Theoretical Framework Research Articles

How digital transformation mindfulness affects digital business model innovation: the moderating role of digital orientation

PurposeWith the development of digital technology, insufficient research on digital business model innovation (DMI) may bring many confusions to entrepreneurs and policymakers. This study constructs and tests a theoretical framework based on resource orchestration theory, aiming to explore how digital transformation mindfulness affects DMI and the moderating role of digital orientation.Design/methodology/approachUsing data collected from 329 Chinese manufacturing enterprises and using hierarchical regression analysis, we test hypotheses. In addition, we tested the robustness of the results using the congeneric approach and the heterotrait-mornotrait ratio.FindingsDigital transformation mindfulness significantly promotes DMI, and both the depth and breadth of digital technology deployment, respectively, mediate the impact of digital transformation mindfulness on DMI. In addition, digital orientation alleviates the impact of digital transformation mindfulness on digital technology deployment.Research limitations/implicationsOur results provide new insights for enterprises to achieve DMI through fostering digital transformation mindfulness and digital orientation. This study also provides new ideas for increasing social employment opportunities and improving policy formulation.Originality/valueThis study adds to the literature on DMI by confirming the driving role of digital transformation mindfulness and revealing the mediating role of digital technology deployment. Surprisingly, digital orientation has a negative moderating effect, indicating the substitutability between digital transformation mindfulness and digital orientation, enriching the implementation scenarios of DMI.

When game design backfires: unintended consequences on psychological needs

ABSTRACT Drawing on self-determination theory, this research explores the unintended consequences of game design on players’ psychological needs, specifically relatedness, autonomy, and competence. We address the following research questions: ‘How does game design impact psychological needs? What are the potential negative consequences of this impact?’ Data were collected over 2.5 years of netnography study of an online mobile game community, culminating 11,246 posts. Our findings uncover three mechanisms that explain how game design influences players’ psychological needs. Moving beyond prior research focusing on the positive influences of game features and their role in enhancing hedonic experience, our empirically developed theoretical framework demonstrates how game design can backfire and lead to unintended negative psychological outcomes. This understanding helps gaming service providers navigate the tension between design elements that stimulate flow and immersive experiences, which drive revenues, and those that prioritise consumer welfare. Balancing business interests with social well-being is crucial for promoting responsible game design and achieving a win-win situation that supports long-term gaming business success.

Understanding Embodied Experiences in a Traditional Chinese Medicine-Based Health Promotion Program: Insights from In-Depth Interviews and Participant Observations.

This study investigates people's lived embodied experiences in a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)-based health program. Guided by the Management of Meaning in Embodied Experience (MMEE) theoretical framework, we conducted in-depth interviews (n = 32) and participant observations (n = 59) to explore how participants interpreted and constructed the meaning of their embodied health experiences and experienced transformations through TCM practices. We identified four key themes: 1) self-discovery and identity transformation through TCM practices; 2) a process of personal growth; 3) integration of TCM concepts and practices into everyday life; 4) increased health awareness and holistic transformation through embodied practices; and several sub-themes. Observations further reveal that participants demonstrated a clear progression from mechanical imitations to an embodied understanding of TCM practices. These findings extend our understanding of health communication from an embodied and Chinese cultural perspective. We discussed the theoretical and practical implications of the study for researchers and practitioners interested in leveraging embodied experiences to promote holistic health and well-being.

The examination of asset misappropriations in managers’ workplaces using hexagon’s fraud and the moderating impact of perceived strength of internal control

Purpose This study aims to investigate the prevalence of asset misappropriation in managers’ workplaces. Relying on fraud hexagon theory as the theoretical framework, the study examines the effect of pressure, opportunity, rationalization, capability, ego and collusion on asset misappropriation while controlling for the impact of the perceived strength of internal control (PSIC). Design/methodology/approach This study used a quantitative method through a survey administered to finance managers working at multinational companies in Indonesia. A total of 173 respondents participated in this study. The analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling-partial least squares. Findings The findings show that the six elements of Hexagon’s fraud do not fully trigger asset misappropriation; only pressure, capability and ego significantly influence it. Additional evidence suggests that the PSIC weakens the impact of three components of Hexagon’s fraud – pressure, capability and ego – on asset misappropriation. This shows that internal control can be used as an anti-fraud strategy in managers’ workplaces. Originality/value Theoretically, this study represents a pioneering effort in empirically confirming the relevance of the fraud hexagon theory within the field of fraud research. Moreover, it enhances the understanding of occupational fraud by investigating the less-explored domain of asset misappropriation. Additionally, the study underscores the crucial significance of internal controls in reducing occurrences of asset misappropriation in managers’ workplaces.

SEARCHING FOR THE SOURCES OF GOOD: THE IDENTITY OF AN EMIGRANT IN EMMA ANDIEVSKA’S “NOVEL ABOUT A GOOD PERSON”

The paper aims to highlight the issue of an emigrant’s identity in Emma Andievska’s “Novel about a Good Person,” particularly by demonstrating the peculiarities of the authorial techniques that combine the literary representation of the historical epoch with the exploration of philosophical issues. The theoretical frameworks and methodological premises for the research have been shaped by studies on personal and national identity as well as research works in the field of geopoetics. While placing the characters in the Mittenwald DP camp and allowing them to wander through time and space, the writer draws attention to the ‘hell’ of the Soviet totalitarian regime, which denies Ukrainian history and culture, accuses intellectuals of ‘bourgeois nationalism,’ and develops a campaign of denunciatory reports and policies that destroy personality. At the same time, the novel brings to the fore the collective image of Ukrainian emigration with its daily challenges—fear of repatriation commissions and Soviet spies—but also with the fullness of emigrants’ lives, including their love, creativity, lectures, philosophical discussions, and desire to preserve their human dignity. Deliberately blurring the boundaries between geographical coordinates and mental space, Emma Andievska reveals the hidden depths of human identity and traces the markers of national identity in the emigrant milieu (clothing items, folk songs and dances, archetypal and symbolic images). The mythologism of artistic thinking is manifested through various modi of hierophany, including references to folk beliefs, Eastern and ancient culture, Biblical motifs, and European literature. While searching for the sources of good, emigrants ponder over the divine nature of every human person. Goodness can be threatened by human fear and substitution of concepts. However, the characters try to find ‘the catalysts of good’ in the world and ultimately realize that it is the selfless help to the Other that fills the soul with light and enables one to share experience of goodness with another ‘good person.’

Mechanisms and optimization of system bolts in shallow four-track HSR tunnels based on deformation pressure theory

This paper investigates the performance mechanisms of system bolts in China’s first four-track high-speed railway (HSR) tunnels, specifically the XBS tunnels, with spans ranging from 25.93 to 27.12 m and depths of 7 to 53 m. First, a theoretical framework, referred to as the deformation pressure theory arch, is introduced to elucidate the role of bolts throughout the sequential construction phases of four-track HSR tunnels. Subsequently, the effectiveness of system bolts is examined through an eight-month field investigation, and the relative functional partitioning for the tunnels is established. Three optimization schemes are then proposed, and their effects are analyzed using numerical simulations. The results indicate that the tunnel with a depth ranging from αh1c to αh2c represents a transition from deep-buried, small cross-sectional pilot tunnels to shallow-buried, super-large-span cavities. The function of system bolts can be categorized into stitching and anchoring based on the deformation pressure arch. The mechanisms of rock bolts in shallow four-track HSR tunnels can be summarized as ‘anchor first, then stitch; anchor in deep state while stitch in shallow state’. The implementation of the long-short combined scheme reduces the axial force and deformation in Class V rock conditions by 74.15% to 80.04% and 41.91%, respectively. Scheme 3 is recommended for Class V rock, while Scheme 1 is proposed for alternative scenarios.

SEARCHING FOR THE SOURCES OF GOOD: THE IDENTITY OF AN EMIGRANT IN EMMA ANDIEVSKA’S “NOVEL ABOUT A GOOD PERSON”

The paper aims to highlight the issue of an emigrant’s identity in Emma Andievska’s “Novel about a Good Person,” particularly by demonstrating the peculiarities of the authorial techniques that combine the literary representation of the historical epoch with the exploration of philosophical issues. The theoretical frameworks and methodological premises for the research have been shaped by studies on personal and national identity as well as research works in the field of geopoetics. While placing the characters in the Mittenwald DP camp and allowing them to wander through time and space, the writer draws attention to the ‘hell’ of the Soviet totalitarian regime, which denies Ukrainian history and culture, accuses intellectuals of ‘bourgeois nationalism,’ and develops a campaign of denunciatory reports and policies that destroy personality. At the same time, the novel brings to the fore the collective image of Ukrainian emigration with its daily challenges—fear of repatriation commissions and Soviet spies—but also with the fullness of emigrants’ lives, including their love, creativity, lectures, philosophical discussions, and desire to preserve their human dignity. Deliberately blurring the boundaries between geographical coordinates and mental space, Emma Andievska reveals the hidden depths of human identity and traces the markers of national identity in the emigrant milieu (clothing items, folk songs and dances, archetypal and symbolic images). The mythologism of artistic thinking is manifested through various modi of hierophany, including references to folk beliefs, Eastern and ancient culture, Biblical motifs, and European literature. While searching for the sources of good, emigrants ponder over the divine nature of every human person. Goodness can be threatened by human fear and substitution of concepts. However, the characters try to find ‘the catalysts of good’ in the world and ultimately realize that it is the selfless help to the Other that fills the soul with light and enables one to share experience of goodness with another ‘good person.’

Dynamic Influence of Blockchain Technology Cost on Strategic Choice of Agricultural Product Supply Chain

Given the state of technical advancement in modern society, blockchain technology has obvious potential in improving the transparency and efficiency of agricultural product supply chains. However, its high cost greatly influence enterprise strategy choices and adoption. Additionally, the agricultural supply chain faces several challenges, including asymmetric information, difficulties in traceability, complicated circulation links and high cost. This study explores how the deployment cost of blockchain affects the strategic choice of enterprises and to build a basic theoretical analysis framework. Also, the study analyzes the dynamic impact of blockchain technology cost on the strategic choices of agricultural supply chain by studying the case of Carrefour agricultural supply chain. The research concludes that the cost structure of blockchain technology directly drives enterprises to adopt the gradual strategy of "pilot expansion ecology". With the promotion of strategy, enterprises further mitigate the technology cost through large-scale application and ecological synergy, forming a positive cycle of "technology investment strategy upgrade cost optimization larger-scale investment".

Assessing Economic and Infrastructure Constraints on Electric Vehicle Purchase Decisions: A Demographic-Moderated Analysis in Emerging Markets

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is gaining global attention; however, economic and infrastructure barriers remain critical challenges in emerging markets. This study examines the impact of economic constraints (high purchase costs, maintenance expenses, and spare parts availability) and infrastructure limitations (Charging Infrastructure Availability, charging time, and spare parts supply chain inefficiencies) on EV purchase decisions in Jordan. The study further investigates the moderating role of demographics (age, gender, and education level) in shaping consumer responses to these constraints. The research employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) as a quantitative method to examine data obtained from Jordanian EV consumer prospects. The adoption of EVs depends heavily on economic and infrastructure factors where infrastructure play a dominant role. The demographic characteristics determine how consumers handle obstacles that prevent them from adopting electric vehicles. The research enhances theoretical EV adoption frameworks through economic and infrastructure analysis combined with demographic variables which improves our understanding of purchase choices in developing markets. The implementation of policy needs to concentrate on building charging infrastructure along with supply chain optimization and targeted incentives for different groups of people. The research provides strategic guidance for policy makers as well as businesses and industry stakeholders to accelerate sustainable transportation adoption in emerging market settings.

Innovation-oriented makerspaces in academic libraries: A systematic literature review

Makerspaces in academic libraries are increasingly recognized for fostering innovation and creativity in higher education. However, the research domain lacks a comprehensive examination of their role in advancing organizational innovation. This study addresses this gap by conducting a systematic literature review, analyzing 47 carefully selected papers from a pool of 3537 publications focused on academic library makerspaces. The review highlights key themes and methodologies in existing research, with a special focus on the functions, services, and collaborative innovation aspects of these spaces. The study advocates expanding research on innovation-centered makerspaces in academic libraries to better understand their current state, thereby enriching the scholarly literature and guiding future research. The review provides a foundational understanding of the research landscape surrounding academic library makerspaces. It reveals that these spaces serve multiple roles, such as exploration and training hub for emerging technologies, cultivation and research incubation center for innovative literacy, innovation platform, component of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and acting as space arrangements, guidance with new technologies, teaching and services design, consultation on entrepreneurship and intellectual property rights. Additionally, the research explores key collaborative innovation factors within these spaces, including governance, compactness, reliability, and institutionalization. By consolidating various themes and evaluating the current state of research, this study offers a comprehensive insight into the innovative roles, services, and collaborative innovation dynamics within academic library makerspaces as emerging innovation centers. It introduces a theoretical framework to investigate ongoing research, aiming to improve collaborative innovation efficiency in these spaces.

Telemedicine apps and their influence on the tourism industry: a qualitative study

Purpose In spite of increasing interest in telemedicine, its impact on tourism remains underexplored. This study aims to analyse how telemedicine apps improve health-care access for tourists, emphasizing usability, benefits, challenges and safety perceptions while identifying integration barriers and opportunities. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a qualitative approach using grounded theory to develop a structured understanding of telemedicine’s role in tourism. Data collection involved semi-structured in-depth interviews, participant observation and document review with 10 experts from medicine, tourism, app development, consumer advocacy and academia recruited through theoretical sampling. The analysis used ATLAS.ti software with open, axial and selective coding to generate themes and construct a theoretical framework. Findings Telemedicine apps, primarily designed for medical management, also enhance tourist safety. However, usability challenges for older users and poor integration with tourism services hinder their adoption. Experts emphasized the importance of accessibility and user-friendly design, while concerns about medical data security were minimal. Research limitations/implications The findings are based on a small sample size of experts. Future studies could broaden the participant sample and include actual tourists to gain deeper insights. Practical implications Tourism providers should partner with telemedicine developers to enhance tourist safety. Training older users will improve adoption rates. Social implications Integrating telemedicine into tourism can improve access to health care, reduce travel-related health risks and promote proactive health management among tourists, benefiting public health. However, the widespread adoption of telemedicine in tourism requires alignment with existing data protection regulations such as the GDPR in Europe and the HIPAA in the USA. Originality/value This research provides novel insights into the connection of telemedicine and tourism, highlighting how telemedicine apps can enhance tourist safety and convenience. By integrating expert perspectives, the study offers practical recommendations for tourism stakeholders and app developers to foster innovation and adoption in both sectors.

Determinants of Chinese Exporters' Online De-Internationalization

Abstract Given the growing trend of using digital platforms for exporters' internationalization, the management of exporters' online internationalization has become a critical issue. However, academic research in this area remains sparse. Specifically, little is known about when and under what conditions exporters may consider discontinuing the use of a digital platform for exporting, i.e., online de-internationalization. This study develops and tests a theoretical framework for these determinants and the contingencies for exporters' online de-internationalization. Specifically, drawing on the de-internationalization literature, we identify sets of internal and external antecedents of exporters' intention to discontinue the use of digital platforms for exporting. Furthermore, we examine the moderating effect of technological opportunism. Based on a unique sample of Chinese exporters registered on Alibaba.com, the world's largest business-to-business platform, the empirical findings support our proposed determinants of online de-internalization. This article ultimately discusses the theoretical and managerial implications.

Modification of Newtonian Gravity: Implications for hot gas in clusters and galactic angular momentum

In view of the negative results from various dark matter detection experiments, we had earlier proposed an alternate theoretical framework through modification of Newtonian gravity (MONG). Here, the Poison’s equation is modified by introducing an additional gravitational self-energy density term along with the usual dark energy density term. In this work, we extend this model to account for the presence of low-density gas at high temperatures [Formula: see text] in the intra cluster medium (ICM) by estimating the velocities to which particles will be subjected by the modified gravitational force. Considering that the ICM is under the influence of the cluster’s gravity, particle velocities of the ions in the ICM must be balanced by the cluster’s gravitational force. The particle velocities obtained for various clusters from their temperature profiles match the velocity produced by the MONG gravitational force. Thus, the increase in the gravitational potential at the outskirts of galaxies balances the thermal pressure of the ICM, maintaining hydrostatic equilibrium without invoking DM. The effect of MONG on the angular momentum of galaxies is also studied by obtaining a scaling relation between the angular momentum and the mass of a galaxy. MONG predicts a higher dependence on mass in comparison to the [Formula: see text] CDM model. This increased dependence of angular momentum on mass compensates for the halo contribution to the angular momentum. The angular momentum from MONG for galaxies from the spritzer photometry and accurate rotation curves (SPARC) database is compared to the halo angular momentum by a chi-square fit technique. The correlation coefficient is found to be unity, showing a replicable result.

How can supply chain optimization and improvement be achieved in an automotive sector modular consortium?

Purpose Anchored in transaction cost theory and the resource-based view, this study aims to present original insights from primary data on optimizing and improving supply chain management methods within a modular consortium in the automotive industry of an emerging economy (Brazil). Thus, this study explores aspects of supply chain firms and transactions that facilitate optimization and improvement in a modular consortium. Design/methodology/approach This study carried out a significant case study on a modular consortium from the automotive industry with a leading automotive assembler and ten of its leading suppliers in Brazil. This study interviewed the key stakeholders, such as the plant’s supply chain manager, managers of the leading automotive assembler and ten suppliers. This study performed the data analysis and coding using best practices for the selected content analysis method. Findings This study research presents several significant findings, such as: it elucidates the distinction between the concepts of optimization and improvement, demonstrating the specific techniques applied in the case study for each concept; it emphasizes the critical role of continuous improvement methodologies, particularly lean practices, within the context of a modular consortium; it reveals that the complexity of processes and the size of suppliers considerably impact the adoption and efficacy of optimization and improvement methods in such a consortium, offering valuable insights for supply chain managers in the automotive industry; and it provides a theoretical framework for managing suppliers based on their contribution, indicating that higher contributions warrant greater attention from the lead company. Research limitations/implications This paper indicates that the adoption and effectiveness of optimization and improvement programs in a modular consortium may depend on the supplier size and process complexity of supply chain transactions. Originality/value This study introduces a novel framework to evaluate the degree of supplier contribution to supply chain improvement and optimization. This framework is underpinned by two robust theoretical perspectives in transaction cost theory and the resource-based view, adding to the academic discourse on supply chain management in the automotive industry.

Achieving High Fill Factor via Increasing Interfacial Disorder to Inhibit Bimolecular Recombination for Efficient Organic Solar Cells

AbstractThe inferior fill factor (FF) is one of main reasons impeding further improvement of power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in organic solar cells (OSCs). But no theoretical framework for high FFs has been established yet. Herein, an efficient strategy is developed to enhance FFs via introducing a small molecule, CNDT, into active layer to increase electron donor/acceptor interface disorder, raise energy barrier for charge back transfer, and thus reduce bimolecular recombination rate constant (krec). CNDTs tend to distribute over donor/acceptor interfaces and disturb molecular stacking of Y6 to deliver more disordered donor/acceptor interfaces but higher crystal quality in the D18:Y6+ blend film, compared to D18:Y6. Altogether, in the D18:Y6+ blend film, a higher energy of charge transfer state magnifies energy barrier for charge recombination to decrease charge recombination rate/ratio and reduce krec, inhibiting bimolecular recombination in devices. Therefore, FFs of OSCs are improved from 75.78% (D18:Y6) to 81.13% (D18:Y6+), yielding a higher PCE of 19.45%. Moreover, D18:L8‐BO+ based OSCs feature FFs over 83%, a record for OSCs so far. PCE increases subsequently to 19.80%. It demonstrates that increasing interface disorder without sacrificing crystal quality enhances energy barrier of charge recombination and inhibits bimolecular recombination to efficiently improve FFs for higher PCEs.

Exploring Healing Bonds: The Mediator Role of Relational Needs in the Relationship Between Childhood Traumas and Psychological Distress and Well-Being

ABSTRACT Erskine’s Relational Needs Model, a core component of Relationally focused and Developmentally based Integrative Psychotherapy, emphasizes that relational needs are intrinsic to human nature, highlighting their vital role in shaping our emotional well-being and interpersonal interactions. When these needs are met, individuals may experience feelings of importance and love, but when they remain unfulfilled, negative emotions can adversely impact their well-being. These needs develop at the beginning of life and are influenced by childhood experiences. This study’s primary objective was to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma, relational needs, psychological distress, and well-being. We also tested a model incorporating relational needs as a mediator. Measures related to childhood trauma, relational needs, psychological distress, and well-being were administered to a total of 364 adults. Pearson correlation results demonstrated a negative association between the satisfaction of relational needs, childhood traumas, depression, anxiety, and stress, while also revealing a positive correlation with well-being. Structural equation modeling results confirmed the mediating role of relational needs in the relationship between childhood trauma and psychological state (distress and well-being). Our findings are consistent with the theoretical framework of the Relational Needs Model, suggesting that childhood maltreatment negatively affects current relational needs satisfaction, thereby increasing psychological distress and reducing well-being. This study is the first to empirically demonstrate the connection between Erskine’s model and key variables, highlighting the importance of addressing relational needs in psychotherapy to promote client well-being.

Abstract 6523: A multi-omics analysis correlating intratumoral microbial abundance with methylation patterns in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Background: Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (LIHC) is estimated to be the fourth leading cause of cancer worldwide. LIHC is often aggressive, as most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages. Our study aims to understand the molecular mechanisms driving the development and progression of LIHC. The microbiome has been hypothesized to contribute to many diseases, including cancer. Although microbes reside primarily within the gut, they may translocate to the liver by the gut-liver axis. Such microbes may produce metabolites that can regulate epigenetics. DNA methylation influences tumor progression by silencing tumor suppressors and activating oncogenes. Using the theoretical framework of metabolite interactions, we explore the correlation between microbe abundance and methylation patterns to expand research on the pathogenesis of LIHC. Methods: We analyzed sequencing data for 376 primary LIHC tumor samples and 85 solid tissue normal samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Using the PathoScope 2.0 framework, we successfully extracted microbial read counts from 446 samples. Microbial contamination correction was performed by three methods: sequencing date, sequencing plate, and overall microbial abundance. Bacterial species identified as contaminants were excluded from downstream analysis. Differential abundance analysis was conducted to identify bacteria species with altered abundance between normal and tumor samples. We used the Kruskal-Wallis test with a Bonferroni-adjusted p-value threshold of 0.05. Methylation data was downloaded from TCGA and filtered by a panel of genes relevant to LIHC oncogenesis. Methylation score disparities between cancer and normal tissues were assessed by the Kruskal-Wallis test. We employed Spearman's rank correlation to identify associations between microbial counts and methylation scores. Results: We identified 27 differentially expressed microbes and 533 differentially methylated sites in LIHC tissue (p-value < 0.05). Between these microbes and methylation sites, we found 58 statistically significant correlations between the microbial abundance and methylation scores (p-value < 0.05). Notably, species involved in these correlations include the pathogenic E. coli O26:H11 str. 11368 and E. coli UMN026 and the probiotic Ligilactobacillus salivarius. Additional findings indicate significant microbial and methylation correlations, with further analysis underway to integrate these findings with clinical variables including cancer stage and alcohol consumption history. Additionally, microbial metabolic pathways are profiled using the HUMAnN 3.0 pipeline to provide insights into the potential mechanisms by which the microbiome may influence methylation. Further research is needed to elucidate the specific pathways mediating epigenetic modifications induced by the bacterial microbiome. Citation Format: Tianyi Chen, Annie N. Do, Suravi Bajaj, Erin Jang, Rishi Yalamarty, Pranava Gande, Kevin Zhang, Ellie Sang, Wei Tse Li, Jessica Wang-Rodriguez, Weg Ongkeko. A multi-omics analysis correlating intratumoral microbial abundance with methylation patterns in hepatocellular carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 6523.

Abstract 2417: N-Orbit: An interpretable, distance-based framework for comparison of tumor microenvironments and beyond

Abstract The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a major role in cancer progression and treatment resistance. Advances in single-cell resolution spatial omics technologies have facilitated the exploration of the TME and its role in these processes. Recent developments in quantitative methods for tissue cellular neighborhood (TCN) detection have provided further insights into the organization of spatial heterogeneity within individual tissue samples. Yet a theoretical framework for modeling and comparing tissue architecture across time points and clinical subtypes remains lacking. We introduce, N-Orbit, a mathematical model that captures both cell type composition and spatial relationships within tissue cellular neighborhoods, encoding this information in a vector format for computationally efficient distance metric calculations. We benchmark our N-Orbit-based neighborhood distance metric on spatial omics datasets with manually annotated ground truth anatomical regions and on patient datasets with corresponding clinical variables. We also demonstrate that N-Orbit neighborhood distances recapitulate transitions across treatment phases and can be used to identify resistance-enriched neighborhood clusters in triple-negative breast cancer. Additionally, N-Orbit enhances model interpretability by allowing these neighborhood clusters to be traced back to enriched cell-cell interactions. N-Orbit holds significant potential for deepening our understanding of how TMEs, as well as tissue microenvironments more broadly, evolve across treatment timelines and clinical subtypes. Citation Format: Barbara Xiong, Yuxuan Hu, Kai Tan. N-Orbit: An interpretable, distance-based framework for comparison of tumor microenvironments and beyond [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 2417.

New method for analyzing the evolution of coherent state in a generalized harmonic oscillator

In this work, we introduce a generalized harmonic oscillator (GHO) model, which is constructed based on normal harmonic oscillators (HO) and inverted harmonic oscillators (IHO). Employing theoretical frameworks, we meticulously derive the normal ordering form of the time evolution operator and its corresponding quantum transformation for the GHO. Our proposed approach enables a comprehensive comparative analysis of the time evolution of the input coherent states (CSs) in the HO and the IHO. By adjusting the frequency value within the GHO, we conduct a detailed study through the evaluation of key parameters such as fidelity, squeezing effect, and photon distribution characteristics. This novel method provides a fresh perspective on understanding the quantum state evolution under different quantum systems, opening up new research directions in the field of quantum dynamics.

Energetic Ion Composition as a Means of Investigating the Physical Origins of Alpha Particle Heavy Magnetic Switchbacks

Abstract Magnetic switchbacks are of continuing interest to the scientific community because the phenomenon has not been completely understood. Although most of the research into them in the Parker Solar Probe era has largely focused on creating a theoretical framework for causing the field reversal through magnetic interchange reconnection, reconnecting streams of plasma in the solar wind, or shear driven turbulence, it remains unclear as to what extent these models may or may not represent the underlying physical reality of magnetic switchbacks. In this paper, we present the results of our study on the energetic ion composition of magnetic switchback events using statistical methods with the aim of obtaining new insights into the underlying physics. In doing so, we find evidence that switchbacks containing suprathermal alpha flux display traits that are indicative of the Zank model of a magnetic “kink” propagating as a fast magnetosonic wave. These switchbacks also correlated with increased solar activity such as coronal mass ejections, high-speed streams, and solar flares. At the same time, switchbacks not meeting this criteria appear to occur at rates that are unaffected by increasing solar activity, which implies the existence of multiple populations of switchbacks with differing physical mechanisms behind them.