Temporal Separation Research Articles

Improving Flow Discharge-Suspended Sediment Relations: Intelligent Algorithms versus Data Separation

Information on the transport of fluvial suspended sediment loads (SSL) is crucial due to its effects on water quality, pollutant transport and transformation, dam operations, and reservoir capacity. As such, adopting a reliable method to accurately estimate SSL is a key topic for watershed managers, hydrologists, river engineers, and hydraulic engineers. One of the most common methods for estimating SSL or suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) is sediment rating curve (SRC), which has several weaknesses. Here, we optimize the SRC equation using two main approaches. Firstly, three well recognized metaheuristic algorithms (genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA)) were used together with two classical approaches (food and agriculture organization (FAO) and non-parametric smearing estimator (CF2)) to optimize the coefficients of the SRC regression model. The second approach uses separation of data based on season and flow discharge (Qw) characteristics. A support vector regression (SVR) model using only Qw as an input was employed for SSC estimation and the results were compared with the SRC and its optimized versions. Metaheuristic algorithms improved the performance of the SRC model and the PSO model outperformed the other algorithms. These results also indicate that the model performance was directly related to the temporal separation of data. Based on these findings, if data are more homogenous and related to the limited climatic conditions used in the estimation of SSC, the estimations are improved. Moreover, it was observed that optimizing SRC through metaheuristic models was much more effective than separating data in the SCR model. The results also indicated that with the same input data, SVR was superior to the SRC model and its optimized version.

Variations in bovine milk oligosaccharides after calving using p-aminobenzoic ethyl ester closed-ring labeling and negative ion electrospray LC/MS/MS.

A strategy was proposed to analyze bovine milk oligosaccharides using p-aminobenzoic ethyl ester (ABEE) closed-ring labeling and C18 capillary liquid chromatography negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Linkage specific fragment ions were used to identify oligosaccharide isomers. By constructing the mass chromatograms using linkage specific fragment ions, isomers were differentiated based on m/z values as well as temporal separation provided by liquid chromatography. In addition to disialyllactose and the single isomer lacto-N-neohexaose, four pairs of linkage isomers including 3'/6'-sialyllactose (3'/6'-SL), 3'/6'-sialyllactosamine (3'/6'-SLN), 3'/6'-sialylgalactosyl-lactose (3'/6'-SGL), and lacto-N-tetraose/lacto-N-neotetraose (LNT/LNnT) in bovine milk were investigated. Variations of bovine milk oligosaccharides in a lactation period of 72 h after calving were studied. Sialylated oligosaccharide was found to be distinctively more abundant in milk of the first 24 h, decreasing in successive milkings. For the first time, the variation of lacto-N-tetraose in bovine milk was reported.

Temporal order of signal propagation within and across intrinsic brain networks

We studied the temporal dynamics of activity within and across functional MRI (fMRI)-derived nodes of intrinsic resting-state networks of the human brain using intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) and repeated single-pulse electrical stimulation (SPES) in neurosurgical subjects implanted with intracranial electrodes. We stimulated and recorded from 2,133 and 2,372 sites, respectively, in 29 subjects. We found that N1 and N2 segments of the evoked responses are associated with intra- and internetwork communications, respectively. In a separate cognitive experiment, evoked electrophysiological responses to visual target stimuli occurred with less temporal separation across pairs of electrodes that were located within the same fMRI-defined resting-state networks compared with those located across different resting-state networks. Our results suggest intranetwork prior to internetwork information processing at the subsecond timescale.

Does the interference phenomenon affect strength development during same-session combined rehabilitation program in hemodialysis patients?

This study aimed to assess if an interference effect could blunt the neuromuscular gains induced by a same-session combined rehabilitation in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Patients exercised twice a week, for 16 weeks, over their HD sessions. They were either always trained with resistance and endurance exercises (continuous training, "CONT") or alternatively with 1 week of resistance alternated with 1 week of endurance (discontinuous training, "DISC"). Adherence and workload were continuously recorded. Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score, one-leg balance test, and handgrip and quadriceps strength were evaluated before and after training intervention. Adherence to both programs was high (>90%). SPPB score had significantly improved (CONT: +1.5 point, DISC: +1.2 pt, p < 0.001), like one-leg balance test (CONT: +3.7 s, DISC: +5.5 s, p < 0.05), handgrip strength of exercised (CONT: +5.5 kg, DISC: +5.6 kg, p < 0.001) and of nonexercised arm (CONT: +4.4 kg, DISC: +2.8 kg, p < 0.01) as well as maximal quadriceps strength (+22 N·m for dominant and +29 N·m for nondominant leg in both groups, p < 0.001) bearing no difference between the trainings. Same-session combined training does not induce an interference effect in HD patients and temporal separation of exercises does not optimize strength gains. These practical data may be relevant for clinicians and practitioners to alternate endurance and resistance exercises.

Comparative dental study between Homo antecessor and Chinese Homo erectus: Nonmetric features and geometric morphometrics

The Chinese Middle Pleistocene fossils from Hexian, Xichuan, Yiyuan, and Zhoukoudian have been generally classified as Homo erectus s.s. These hominins share some primitive features with other Homo specimens, but they also display unique cranial and dental traits. Thus, the Chinese Middle Pleistocene hominins share with other European and Asian hominin populations the so-called ‘Eurasian dental pattern’. The late Early Pleistocene hominins from Gran Dolina-TD6.2 (Spain), representing the species Homo antecessor, also exhibit the Eurasian dental pattern, which may suggest common roots. To assess phylogenetic affinities of these two taxa, we evaluated and compared nonmetric and metric dental features and interpreted morphological differences within a comparative hominin framework. We determined that the robust roots of the molars, the shelf-like protostylid, the dendrite-like pattern of the enamel-dentine junction surface of the upper fourth premolars and molars, the strongly folded dentine of the labial surface of the upper incisors, and the rare occurrence of a mid-trigonid crest in the lower molars, are all characteristic of Chinese H. erectus. With regard to H. antecessor, we observed the consistent expression of a continuous mid-trigonid crest, the absence of a cingulum in the upper canines, a complex root pattern of the lower premolars, and a rhomboidal occlusal contour and occlusal polygon and protrusion in the external outline of a large a bulging hypocone in the first and second upper molars. Using two-dimensional geometric morphometrics, we further demonstrated that H. antecessor falls outside the range of variation of Chinese H. erectus for occlusal crown outline shape, the orientation of occlusal grooves, and relative locations of anterior and posterior foveae in the P4s, P3s, M1s, M2s, and M2s. Given their geographic and temporal separation, the differences between these two species suggest their divergence occurred at some point in the Early Pleistocene, and thereafter they followed different evolutionary paths.

Deep Learning-Based Computer-Aided Detection System for Automated Treatment Response Assessment of Brain Metastases on 3D MRI.

BackgroundAlthough accurate treatment response assessment for brain metastases (BMs) is crucial, it is highly labor intensive. This retrospective study aimed to develop a computer-aided detection (CAD) system for automated BM detection and treatment response evaluation using deep learning.MethodsWe included 214 consecutive MRI examinations of 147 patients with BM obtained between January 2015 and August 2016. These were divided into the training (174 MR images from 127 patients) and test datasets according to temporal separation (temporal test set #1; 40 MR images from 20 patients). For external validation, 24 patients with BM and 11 patients without BM from other institutions were included (geographic test set). In addition, we included 12 MRIs from BM patients obtained between August 2017 and March 2020 (temporal test set #2). Detection sensitivity, dice similarity coefficient (DSC) for segmentation, and agreements in one-dimensional and volumetric Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Brain Metastases (RANO-BM) criteria between CAD and radiologists were assessed.ResultsIn the temporal test set #1, the sensitivity was 75.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 69.6%, 79.9%), mean DSC was 0.69 ± 0.22, and false-positive (FP) rate per scan was 0.8 for BM ≥ 5 mm. Agreements in the RANO-BM criteria were moderate (κ, 0.52) and substantial (κ, 0.68) for one-dimensional and volumetric, respectively. In the geographic test set, sensitivity was 87.7% (95% CI: 77.2%, 94.5%), mean DSC was 0.68 ± 0.20, and FP rate per scan was 1.9 for BM ≥ 5 mm. In the temporal test set #2, sensitivity was 94.7% (95% CI: 74.0%, 99.9%), mean DSC was 0.82 ± 0.20, and FP per scan was 0.5 (6/12) for BM ≥ 5 mm.ConclusionsOur CAD showed potential for automated treatment response assessment of BM ≥ 5 mm.

Is variation in inter-annual precipitation a mechanism for maintaining plant metabolic diversity?

In order for diverse species to coexist in ecological communities, they must vary in ways that reduce competition. Often, this is done by some form of spatial niche separation where small differences in environment allow for coexistence among species. However, temporal separation of resources could also be a factor in driving community diversity. Here, we ask whether inter-annual variation in growing season precipitation could provide sufficient variation in water availability to allow plant species with different intrinsic metabolism to co-occur. We hypothesized that species would differentially respond to soil water availability, and that species with a metabolic strategy to conserve water at the expense of carbon gain would grow better in dry conditions relative to species with a metabolic strategy to gain carbon at the expense of foliar water loss. We measured above-ground biomass and leaf-level metabolism using carbon and oxygen stable isotope ratios for seven Asteraceae species across five experimental water treatments. Species differentially responded to variation in growing season water availability and, importantly, how they responded could be explained by differences in metabolism. Water-conservative species grew best in the dry treatments and had lower growth in wet treatments. Carbon-acquisitive species displayed the opposite pattern, with maximal growth in wet treatments and steep declines in dry treatments. Metabolic differences among co-occurring species may help explain temporal variation in growth, and could provide an underlying physiological mechanism for long-term dynamics that promote biodiversity.

Spatial Coherence of Speckle for Repeat-Pass Synthetic Aperture Sonar Micronavigation

Accurate positioning of autonomous underwater vehicles is a major challenge. The long-term drift is problematic if global position updates are not available, and for applications such as repeat-pass interferometry and coherent change detection, millimeter accuracy is needed. Repeat-pass synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) micronavigation is one potential technique for countering both challenges. While single-pass SAS micronavigation enabled successful coherent processing within one track, the potential is that repeat-pass SAS micronavigation can support coherent processing between passes. Both techniques are based on recognizing the speckle pattern in the seafloor return, but repeat-pass SAS micronavigation has additional challenges with the larger temporal and spatial separations between the observations. In this study, we investigate the spatial correlation of speckle as observed from SAS systems. We divide the different contributions to spatial decorrelation into three groups: 1) speckle decorrelation; 2) footprint mismatch; and 3) stretching. We examine each contribution separately and develop simplified formulas for their decorrelation baselines. When correlating synthetic aperture images, decorrelation from stretching dominates. When correlating single-element data recorded at low grazing angles common to SAS, speckle decorrelation dominates. We validate our findings on experimental data, and by combining elements into larger effective elements, we demonstrate increasing the across-track baseline for repeat-pass SAS micronavigation updates from less than 1 to 10 m.

Use of timelapse photography to determine flower opening time and pattern in banana (Musa spp.) for efficient hand pollination

Sterility and low seed set in bananas is the main challenge to their conventional genetic improvement. The first step to seed set in a banana breeding program depends on pollination at the right time to ensure effective fertilization. This study aimed at determining bract opening time (BOT) to enhance efficient pollination and seed set in bananas. A Nikon D810 digital camera was set-up to take pictures of growing banana inflorescences at five-minute intervals and time-lapse movies were developed at a speed of 30 frames per second to allow real-time monitoring of BOT. Genotypes studied included wild banana (1), Mchare (2), Matooke (4), Matooke hybrid (1), and plantain (1). Events of bract opening initiated by bract lift for female flowers (P < 0.01) started at 16:32 h and at 18:54 h for male flowers. Start of bract rolling was at 18:51 h among female flowers (P < 0.001) and 20:48 h for male flowers. Bracts ended rolling at 02:33 h and 01:16 h for female and flowers respectively (P < 0.05). Total time of bract opening (from lift to end of rolling) for female flowers was significantly longer than that of male flowers (P < 0.001). On average, the number of bracts subtending female flowers opening increased from one on the first day, to between one and four on the fourth day. The number regressed to one bract on day eight before start of opening of bracts subtending male flowers. There was a longer opening interval between bracts subtending female and male flowers constituting spatial and temporal separation. Bract rolling increased from partial to complete rolling from proximal to the distal end of the inflorescence among female flower. On the other hand, bracts subtending male flowers completely rolled. Differences in BOT of genotypes with the same reference time of assessment may be partly responsible for variable fertility. Hand pollination time between 07:00 and 10:00 h is slightly late thus an early feasible time should be tried.

Contradiction and consistency: Deconstruction of landscape bridges based on multiple temporal-spatial scales

This study explores the essential issues pertaining to a landscape bridge based on a multi-scale methodology, in view of the paucity of design theories for contemporary landscape bridges. We contribute to reinterpret landscape bridges on their physical temporal-spatial scales, instead of from perspectives of individual disciplines or their mechanical cooperation. Envisaged in a new systematized framework, we elaborate the dominant and their opposite counterparts of landscape bridges from a binary deconstruction point of view, i.e., (1) Development and retrogression on the temporal scale, (2) connection and separation on the spatial topographic scale, (3) skyphilia and topophilia on the spatial landscape scale, and (4) extroversion and introversion on the spatial architectural scale. The deconstructed multifaceted scales are instrumental in understanding landscape bridges from various perspectives, with a pyramid model proposed afterward to mediate the discovered oppositions and stimulate the cross-scale interactions. Various possible design paths could be derived from this well-organized and open-minded multiple system, which is initially expected in this study to inspire bridge designers with dissimilar backgrounds and calls for a wider ramification.

Diurnal regulation of oxidative phosphorylation restricts hepatocyte proliferation and inflammation.

The principles guiding the diurnal organization of biological pathways remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we perturb the hepatic transcriptome through nutrient regulators (high-fat diet and mTOR signaling components) to identify enduring properties of pathway organization. Temporal separation and counter-regulation between pathways of energy metabolism and inflammation/proliferation emerge as persistent transcriptome features across animal models, and network analysis identifies the G0s2 and Rgs16 genes as potential mediators at the metabolism-inflammation interface. Mechanistically, G0s2 and Rgs16 are sequentially induced during the light phase, promoting amino acid oxidation and suppressing overall mitochondrial respiration. In their absence, sphingolipids and diacylglycerides accumulate, accompanied by hepatic inflammation and hepatocyte proliferation. Notably, the expression of G0s2 and Rgs16 is further induced in obese mouse livers, and silencing of their expression accentuates hepatic fibrosis. Therefore, diurnal regulation of energy metabolism alleviates inflammatory and proliferative stresses under physiological and pathological conditions.

Reactive HiPIMS deposition of Al-oxide thin films using W-alloyed Al targets

The outstanding oxidation resistance, thermo-mechanical stability, and chemical inertness of alumina, but also the synthesis of phase pure polymorphs attract particular attention in academia and industry. Especially, the difficulties regarding the synthesis of α- or γ-structured Al 2 O 3 by physical vapor deposition techniques are still strong limitations. Within this study, we investigated in detail the influence of 2 at.% tungsten in the Al-target on the process stability and phase formation during reactive DC magnetron sputtering as well as high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) of Al 2 O 3 -based coatings. The small addition of W to the Al target allows to increase the oxygen partial pressure by more than 200% while maintaining a stable deposition process. Ion mass spectroscopy measurements yield a promising high fraction of 16 O + and 32 O 2 + , when operating the W-containing target in the metal-to-poisoned transition mode. A significant increase of 16 O + is further provided by the target surface oxide in poisoned mode. Detailed time-of-flight ion mass spectroscopy investigations during one HiPIMS pulse show a clear temporal separation of the individual ions arriving at the substrate plane during the pulse on-time, allowing for controlled ion attraction by synchronizing the bias pulse to the discharge impulse. Equal amounts of 27 Al + and 32 O 2 + can be attracted using a bias on-time between 400 μs and 900 μs in the “off-time” (after glow) leading to a dense and nano-crystalline coating. Detailed electron microscopy investigations show the presence of metallic phase fractions for higher duty cycles (7.5%). Decreasing the duty cycle to 3.75% leads to amorphous coatings when operating the Al-target at the highest oxygen partial pressure in metallic mode. • R-HiPIMS deposition of W alloyed Al 2 O 3 coatings to control the poisoning behavior • W alloying increases the oxygen partial pressure by more than 200% before poisoning. • Despite of the target condition (poisoning mode) the Al + /O + ratio is still above 1.

A Bright Fast Radio Burst from FRB 20200120E with Sub-100 Nanosecond Structure

Abstract We have detected a bright radio burst from FRB 20200120E with the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) 70 m dish (DSS-63) at radio frequencies between 2.2 and 2.3 GHz. This repeating fast radio burst (FRB) is reported to be associated with a globular cluster in the M81 galactic system. With high time resolution recording, low scattering, and large intrinsic brightness of the burst, we find a burst duration of ∼30 μs, comprised of several narrow components with typical separations of 2–3 μs. The narrowest component has a width of ≲100 ns, which corresponds to a light travel time size as small as 30 m. The peak flux density of the narrowest burst component is 270 Jy. We estimate the total spectral luminosity of the narrowest component of the burst to be 4 × 1030 erg s−1 Hz−1, which is a factor of ∼500 above the luminosities of the so-called “nanoshots” associated with giant pulses from the Crab pulsar. This spectral luminosity is also higher than that of the radio bursts detected from the Galactic magnetar SGR 1935 + 2154 during its outburst in April 2020, but it falls on the low-end of the currently measured luminosity distribution of extragalatic FRBs, further indicating the presence of a continuum of FRB luminosities. The temporal separation of the individual components has similarities to the quasiperiodic behavior seen in the microstructure of some pulsars. The known empirical relation between the microstructure quasiperiodicity timescale and the rotation period of pulsars possibly suggests a possible pulsar as the source of this FRB, with a rotation period of a few milliseconds.

Modulated comb-like pulse distribution induced by intracavity Sagnac filtering in a fiber laser

We demonstrate experimentally a modulated comb-like pulse distribution generated from a mode-locked fiber laser with an intracavity Sagnac interferometer. The modulated comb-like pulse bunch profile is composed of a sequence of symmetrically distributed pulses with a fixed temporal separation. The modulated bunch profiles can be dynamically adjusted by manipulating the pump power and the polarization settings of the fiber laser. The pulse separation in the bunch is determined by the optical delay line of the Sagnac interferometer. We develop a theory to model our experimental results and calculate the transient generation process of the comb-like pulse bunch. The theoretical results are in accordance with the experimental results. For the first time the generation of the modulated comb-like pulse distribution is proved by theoretical and experimental analyses to be a result of intracavity Sagnac filtering. These results will help in realizing adjustable modulated pulse bunch generation in noise-driven dissipative systems for potential applications in laser measuring and information processing.

A Draft Genome of the Ginger Species Alpinia nigra and New Insights into the Genetic Basis of Flexistyly.

Angiosperms possess various strategies to ensure reproductive success, such as stylar polymorphisms that encourage outcrossing. Here, we investigate the genetic basis of one such dimorphism that combines both temporal and spatial separation of sexual function, termed flexistyly. It is a floral strategy characterised by the presence of two morphs that differ in the timing of stylar movement. We performed a de novo assembly of the genome of Alpinia nigra using high-depth genomic sequencing. We then used Pool-seq to identify candidate regions for flexistyly based on allele frequency or coverage differences between pools of anaflexistylous and cataflexistylous morphs. The final genome assembly size was 2 Gb, and showed no evidence of recent polyploidy. The Pool-seq did not reveal large regions with high FST values, suggesting large structural chromosomal polymorphisms are unlikely to underlie differences between morphs. Similarly, no region had a 1:2 mapping depth ratio which would be indicative of hemizygosity. We propose that flexistyly is governed by a small genomic region that might be difficult to detect with Pool-seq, or a complex genomic region that proved difficult to assemble. Our genome will be a valuable resource for future studies of gingers, and provides the first steps towards characterising this complex floral phenotype.

A Canonical Scheme of Bottom-Up and Top-Down Information Flows in the Frontoparietal Network.

Goal-directed behavior often involves temporal separation and flexible context-dependent association between sensory input and motor output. The control of goal-directed behavior is proposed to lie in the frontoparietal network, but the computational architecture of this network remains elusive. Based on recent rodent studies that measured and manipulated projection neurons in the frontoparietal network together with findings from earlier primate studies, we propose a canonical scheme of information flows in this network. The parietofrontal pathway transmits the spatial information of a sensory stimulus or internal motor bias to drive motor programs in the frontal areas. This pathway might consist of multiple parallel connections, each controlling distinct motor effectors. The frontoparietal pathway sends the spatial information of cognitively processed motor plans through multiple parallel connections. Each of these connections could support distinct spatial functions that use the motor target information, including attention allocation, multi-body part coordination, and forward estimation of movement state (i.e., forward models). The parallel pathways in the frontoparietal network enable dynamic interactions between regions that are tuned for specific goal-directed behaviors. This scheme offers a promising framework within which the computational architecture of the frontoparietal network and the underlying circuit mechanisms can be delineated in a systematic way, providing a holistic understanding of information processing in this network. Clarifying this network may also improve the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral deficits associated with dysfunctional frontoparietal connectivity in various neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease.

Individual‐resource network between Xylocopa bees and plant resources: generalist species, specialist individuals?

1. The resource partitioning hypothesis states that sympatric, morphologically, and functionally similar species can coexist by temporal separation or low food overlap. Also, the interindividual variations about the use of resources, i.e. individual specialisation, can promote the resilience and stability of their populations when an environmental disturbance affects food availability.2. Two sympatric and polylectic species of carpenter bees to test both the hypotheses of food niche partitioning and the occurrence of individual specialisation were used.3. The study was conducted in two Brazilian Savanna areas and the trophic niches of Xylocopa grisescens and X. frontalis were determined by the diversity of pollen types obtained from larval food samples. Individual‐resource networks were constructed to elucidate the patterns of resource use by the individuals of each species.4. The populations of the two bee species moderately overlapped their trophic niche. Xylocopa grisescens mainly used the pollen of non‐poricidal plants, whereas X. frontalis used pollen from plants with poricidal anthers. Individual‐resource networks of both species are weakly connected, highly specialised, and modular.5. In conclusion, the results suggest that the coexistence between Xylocopa grisescens and X. frontalis probably occurs due to food resource partitioning. Furthermore, the results about individual‐resource networks of both species seem to reveal the occurrence of interindividual variations regarding food resource foraging.

Borders and Butterflies in José Manuel Prieto’s Livadia/Nocturnal Butterflies of the Russian Empire

In Cuban novelist José Manuel Prieto’s ‘Russian Trilogy’, and in particular, in the novel Livadia/Nocturnal Butterflies of the Russian Empire (1997), the experience of crossing borders and the reflection on how to pass safely, and often secretly, is vital. The geographical borders that take center stage are those of the former Soviet Union of the 1990s and adjacent Northern and Eastern countries as well as the Black Sea. In a first step, this essay examines the portrayals of changing borders, changing concepts of the border as well as the protagonist’s main strategies of border-crossing in the novel. In a second step, it explores the impact of a seemingly lighthearted metaphor, that of the butterfly and in particular its wings, to elucidate what I see as Prieto’s protagonist’s innovative approach of reacting to the experience of the border and his previous hyper-individualist attitudes when facing it. This experience is intrinsically linked to the role of writing and reading. Both hold a transcending potential for the narrator, as it is through acts of reading and reiterated attempts at writing that he begins to engage in a process of care for himself and others and devise transformative forms of being with others, even virtually, when a spatial or temporal separation prevents real encounters. His pondering on his previous restless crisscrossing of national confines may thus help, in the most fortunate moments, transcend spatial and conceptual confines and broaden what he calls the notion of an “imaginación aduanal.”

Continuous Cyclic Organizations – Coordination across Time Cycles

Much of ordinary social life is organized in cycles: those of the day, the week, and the year. More and more organizations adapt to these cycles. As a result, an organization might frequently change its mode of operation resulting in time cycle for then coming back to where it started to begin a new time cycle. These organizations we call continuous cyclic organizations. Continuous cyclic organizations feature a temporal separation of tasks. While this temporal separation amplifies the challenges of coordination, we know little about the challenges organizations face in temporal coordinating continuous cyclic organizations. To investigate how task coordination unfolds in a continuous cyclic organization, we investigated day, evening, and night shifts in an emergency department in a regional hospital in Denmark. We collected data by interviewing and observing employees in their everyday work. Results show interesting differences in how coordination unfolds when an organization transitions from one stage to another in a cycle. We contribute with empirical insights into the concept of continuous cyclic organizations and extend the literature on coordination to understand the temporal dimension of coordination in continuous cyclic organizations.

The Benefits of Time Budgeting While Working From Home During COVID-19

COVID-19 has created one of the most challenging working-from-home experiments in history. Overnight, most tactics that employees use to manage work-nonwork boundaries have been removed. Drawing on boundary theory, we introduce a new boundary management tactic––time budgeting––that involves creating temporal separation between work and nonwork domains as well as within work and nonwork activities. Survey data from 568 employed adults working from home as a result of COVID-19 provided support for our prediction that time budgeting was associated with better work-from-home experiences in terms of well-being and task performance. However, contrary to prior work and our prediction, the benefits of time budgeting were not moderated by employees’ preference for work-home segmentation (vs. integration). Follow-up interviews with 16 survey respondents provided additional insights about time budgeting, including the role of sense of control as a potential mediator. Overall, our paper broadens theory by introducing time budgeting as a new boundary management tactic that can help employees cope with blurred boundaries.