1. Fluxbranes, generalized symmetries, and Verlinde’s metastable monopoleMirjam Cvetič, Jonathan J. Heckman, Max Hübner, Ethan Torres, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The stringy realization of generalized symmetry operators involves wrapping “branes at infinity”. We argue that in the case of continuous (as opposed to discrete) symmetries, the appropriate objects are fluxbranes. We use this perspective to revisit the phase structure of Verlinde’s monopole, a proposed particle satisfies the Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) condition when gravity is decoupled, but is non-BPS and metastable when gravity is switched on. Geometrically, this monopole is obtained from branes wrapped on locally stable but globally trivial cycles of a compactification geometry. The fluxbrane picture allows us to characterize electric (respectively magnetic) confinement (respectively screening) in the 4D theory as a result of monopole decay. In the presence of the fluxbrane, this decay also creates lower-dimensional fluxbranes, which in the field theory is interpreted as the creation of an additional topological field theory sector.
Keywords: quantum gravity, 4D theory, fluxbranes, generalized symmetries, Verlinde’s metastable monopole
Published in DKUM: 11.11.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 0
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2. Generalized symmetries, gravity, and the swamplandMirjam Cvetič, Jonathan J. Heckman, Max Hübner, Ethan Torres, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Generalized global symmetries are a common feature of many quantum field theories decoupled from gravity. By contrast, in quantum gravity/the Swampland program, it is widely expected that all global symmetries are either gauged or broken, and this breaking is in turn related to the expected completeness of the spectrum of charged states in quantum gravity. We investigate the fate of such symmetries in the context of 7D and 5D vacua realized by compact Calabi-Yau spaces with localized singularities in M theory. We explicitly show how gravitational backgrounds support additional dynamical degrees of freedom which trivialize (i.e., “break”) the higher symmetries of the local geometric models. Local compatibility conditions across these different sectors lead to gluing conditions for gauging higher-form and (in the 5D case) higher-group symmetries. This also leads to a preferred global structure of the gauge group and higher-form gauge symmetries. In cases based on a genus-one fibered Calabi-Yau space, we also get an F-theory model in one higher dimension with corresponding constraints on the global form of the gauge group.
Keywords: quantum gravity, 5D case, F-theory model
Published in DKUM: 11.11.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 0
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3. Evolutionary game theory use in healthcare : a synthetic knowledge synthesisPeter Kokol, Jernej Završnik, Helena Blažun Vošner, Bojan Žlahtič, 2025, review article Abstract: Background: Evolutionary game theory (EGT), originating from Darwinian competition studies, offers a powerful framework for understanding complex healthcare interactions where multiple stakeholders with conflicting interests evolve strategies over time. Unlike traditional game theory, EGT accounts for bounded rationality and strategic evolution through imitation and selection. Aims and objectives: In our study, we use Synthetic Knowledge Synthesis (SKS) that integrates descriptive bibliometrics and bibliometric mapping to systematically analyze the application of EGT in healthcare. The SKS aimed to identify prolific research topics, suitable publishing venues, and productive institutions/countries for collaboration and funding. Data was harvested from the Scopus bibliographic database, encompassing 539 publications from 2000 to June 2025, Results: Production dynamics is revealing an exponential growth in scholarly output since 2019, with peak productivity in 2024. Descriptive bibliometrics showed China as the most prolific country (376 publications), followed by the United States and the United Kingdom. Key institutions are predominantly Chinese, and top journals include PLoS One and Frontiers in Public Health. Funding is primarily from Chinese entities like the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Bibliometric mapping identified five key research themes: game theory in cancer research, evolution game-based simulation of supply management, evolutionary game theory in epidemics, evolutionary games in trustworthy connected public health, and evolutionary games in collaborative governance. Conclusions: Despite EGT’s utility, significant research gaps exist in methodological robustness, data availability, contextual modelling, and interdisciplinary translation. Future research should focus on integrating machine learning, longitudinal data, and explicit ethical frameworks to enhance EGT’s practical application in adaptive, patient-centred healthcare systems
Keywords: evolutionary games theory, healthcare, complex healthcare systems, synthetic knowledge synthesis, thematic analysis
Published in DKUM: 29.10.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 4
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4. Relations between polynomials based on perfect matchings and independent sets of CERSNiko Tratnik, Petra Žigert Pleteršek, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: In this paper, we firstly focus on catacondensed even ring systems (shortly CERS) without any linearly connected adjacent triple of f inite faces. For such a graph G, we describe a bijection between the set of all perfect matchings (Kekulé structures) of G and the set of all independent sets of the inner dual of G, which enables us to prove the equality between three polynomials: the sextet polynomial of G, the independence polynomial of the inner dual of G, and the newly introduced link polynomial of G. These equalities imply that the number of perfect matchings of G equals the number of resonant sets of G and also the number of independent sets of the inner dual of G. Moreover, we show that the number of edges of the resonance graph of G coincides with the derivative of the mentioned polynomials evaluated at x = 1. Finally, we provide the generalization of the results to all peripherally 2-colorable graphs.
Keywords: graph theory, resonance graphs, polynomials
Published in DKUM: 01.10.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 5
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5. Cultural moderators of green product purchase intention : an examination through the lens of the theory of planned behaviorNika Rakuša, Borut Milfelner, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Despite their potential for promoting environmental sustainability, understanding consumer adoption of green products is limited since such behavior is complex, as it may differ from typical purchasing motives and cultural values. Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was used in this study to address the main research problem of how PBC attitudes, subjective norms, environmental (un)concern, and environmental knowledge, influence consumers’ green product purchase intention. It also explores how cultural values moderate these relationships, specifically man-nature orientation and LTO. This study proposes a structural model with multigroup analysis to address the moderating impacts on a sample of 216 respondents participating in an online survey. Results show that attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and environmental knowledge positively influence consumers’ green product purchase intention. The group analysis results imply that the dominant group’s environmental concern negatively impacts purchase intention, while this relationship is not significant in the subordinate group. Also, the influence of subjective norms on purchase intention is significantly stronger in the dominant group. The long-term orientation also moderates the relationship between attitude toward green products and purchase intention. The insights from this research extend the literature in TPB and provide practical implications to marketing managers concerning developing marketing communication strategies, perceived value proposals, and the reputation of green products.
Keywords: theory of planned behavior, man-nature orientation, green products, long-term orientation, purchase intention
Published in DKUM: 01.10.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 7
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6. Percolative dielectric behavior of titanium carbide MXene/cellulose nanofibrils composite filmsVida Jurečič, Subramanian Lakshmanan, Nikola Novak, Vanja Kokol, Vid Bobnar, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Cellulose-based nanomaterials are fascinating renewable biosystems, yet low thermal conductivity and dielectric permittivity often limit their potential applications in flexible electronics. We report dielectric properties of composite films prepared by vacuum filtration or solvent casting method from the native (CNF) or carboxylated (TCNF) cellulose nanofibrils and high electrically and thermally conductive 2D titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXenes. Measurements over broad frequency and temperature ranges revealed the influence of preparation method and type of nanofibrils matrix on the overall dielectric response, as well as a notable impact of absorbed water, particularly on the cellulose’s secondary β and γ relaxations. A detailed investigation of material with the lowest amount of impurities, vacuum-filtered MXene/CNF composites, confirmed that the dielectric response follows the predictions of the percolation theory. The resulting strong enhancement of the dielectric permittivity on increasing MXene content demonstrates the potential of developed composites for applications in eco-friendly dielectric and piezoelectric devices.
Keywords: percolation theory, piezoelectric devices, dielectric properties, nanomaterials, carbides, biological systems, biological models, carbohydrates
Published in DKUM: 08.09.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 3
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7. Degrowth - a transcendence of sensate cultural mentality? P. Sorokin and his theory of social change as a strategy towards socio-ecological transformationRudi Klanjšek, 2025, independent scientific component part or a chapter in a monograph Abstract: There are essentially two fundamental models that explain patterns of social change: the linear model, based on evolutionary theory, and the cyclical model, which posits that human societies, much like many other phenomena, undergo recurring cycles of development. As linear models of “eternal progress,” rooted in the Enlightenment project, have come to dominate interpretations of human history and social transformation, the relevance of cyclical models warrants renewed examination. This study focuses on the cyclical model of social change developed by Pitirim Sorokin, evaluating the concept of degrowth as an indicator of the “progressive disintegration of sensate culture, society, and man,” as well as a sign of the “emergence and gradual growth of the first seeds of a new idealistic/ideational sociocultural order” (Sorokin, 1957, Preface). Drawing on Sorokin’s framework and its derived predictions, the study assesses a range of proposals and strategies aimed at transforming the dominant growth-dependent modes of production, living, and communication. Central to this analysis is Jason Hickel’s work Less is More (2020), which serves as a key reference point.
Keywords: environmental crisis, degrowth, cyclical theory, sensate culture, social and cultural transformation
Published in DKUM: 25.08.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 8
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8. Multilevel investigation of leadership prototype perception : political behavior in relation to effectiveness and trustAykut Arslan, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Background/Purpose: Empirical evidence suggests that a leader’s political skills may act as a moderator that
might decrease the effect of prototypicality’s impact on trust and on leadership effectiveness. The study investigated leading political skills as second-level regulatory variables in connection to leader effectiveness and trust with the purpose of testing a cross-level moderated mediation model within a traditionally collectivist culture like Turkey in efforts to contextualize and expand understanding of leadership prototype perception.
Methods: A total of 442 service sector employees and 28 executive managers were interviewed. Two surveys in two
separate time periods were conducted. Multilevel path analysis was used to evaluate the hypotheses.
Results: The findings suggest that there is a strong and significant impact of leader prototypicality on leadership
effectiveness and a direct impact on trust. Results indicate that leaders who are trusted by their subordinates are
perceived as more effective in their leadership roles. Lower levels of trust from subordinates are negatively associated with leader effectiveness.
Conclusion: If leaders cannot provide their followers a contextualized sense of empowerment and development,
they are perceived to not provide high levels of emotional trust. Therefore, there is greater need for multilevel contextualized studies taking account of collective, two-sided, embedded experiences within groups.
Keywords: leader political behavior, political skills, leader effectiveness, trust, social identity theory, Turkiye
Published in DKUM: 14.08.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 3
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9. Leveraging ChatGPT for enhanced logical analysis in the theory of constraints thinking processTomaž Aljaž, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Background/Purpose: Artificial intelligence (AI) has traditionally been used for quantitative analysis using explicit data. However, much of the information critical to decision making remains undocumented and is not stored in a structured way. This study explores the integration of AI, specifically ChatGPT, into Theory of Constraints (TOC) Thinking Process (TP) tools. Method: In this study, we applied ChatGPT to a real-world IT project management case using a variety of research methods, including international literature analysis, observation, and personal experience. The use of the TOC TP allowed us to understand the decision-making process of ChatGPT and to systematically explore its advantages and limitations in creating logical trees of TOC TP. Results: ChatGPT significantly enhanced efficiency and depth in TOC TP data collection and analysis, effectively addressing logical leaps for more coherent structures. It also promoted deeper analytical thinking and aided root cause identification. The integration of ChatGPT into the TOC TP process led to faster decision-making, reduced bias, and clearer analysis. Challenges of ChatGPT including the need for human oversight, specific TOC TP training, and ethical considerations were noted. Conclusion: This study provides an initial investigation into the use of ChatGPT in TOC TP tools. The results suggest that ChatGPT has the potential to be a valuable tool for organizations seeking to improve their decision making and performance. However, further research is needed to validate these findings and explore the full potential of AI in TOC TP.
Keywords: ChatGPT, artificial intelligence, Theory of Constraints, theory of constraints thinking process, logical analysis, decision making, structured analysis framework
Published in DKUM: 13.08.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 3
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10. Employee motivation in contemporary academic literature : a narrative literature reviewPetra Jarkovská, Martina Jarkovská, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Background: Using the correct type of motivation is pivotal in triggering employees’ affirmative work attitudes, such as work performance, job satisfaction, or voluntary retention, ultimately leading to increasing the organization’s overall efficiency. Despite the ongoing academic debate, academics provide practitioners with mixed results on which motivation factors are relevant for targeted employee groups whose needs are under the economic and socio-psychological pressure of the rapidly evolving environment. Elton Mayo was the first to acknowledge these socio-psychological factors as significant motivation drivers almost a century ago. Methods: Therefore, the purpose of this paper, using the narrative literature review method (supported by a systematic search strategy) on 83 articles, is to evaluate the research findings on employees’ motivation (related to their affirmative work attitudes) and to unfold the motivation theory’s advancement. Results: Key motivation drivers were identified and unified into five motivation sets applicable to different employee groups. The findings also suggest that most academic works, theoretically grounded in classical motivational concepts, are quantitative analysis-based. Conclusion: To increase the efficiency of employees’ performance, internal motivation or internalization of external motivation seems to be the best solution. Employees’ “floating” needs call for practitioners to be trained in techniques from psychology.
Keywords: Elton Mayo, employee motivation, motivation factor, motivation theory
Published in DKUM: 13.08.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 1
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