bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacteroidesexpand the functional versatility of a universal transcription factor and transcribed DNA to program capsule diversity
Authors: Saba Jason , Flores Katia , Marshall Bailey , Engstrom Michael D. , Peng Yikai , Garje Atharv S. , Comstock Laurie , Landick Robert
Published: June 2024

Human gutBacteroidesspecies encode numerous (eight or more) tightly regulated capsular polysaccharides (CPS). Specialized paralogs of the universal transcription elongation factor NusG, called UpxY (Y), and an anti-Y UpxZ (Z) are encoded by the first two genes of each CPS operon. The Y-Z regulators combine with promoter inversions to limit CPS transcription to a single operon in most cells. Y enhances transcript elongation whereas Z inhibits noncognate Ys. How Y distinguishes among cognate CPS operons and how Z inhibits only noncognate Ys are unknown. Using in-vivo nascent-RNA sequencing andpromoter-less invitrotranscription (PIVoT), we establish that Y recognizes a paused RNA polymerase via sequences in both the exposed non-template DNA and the upstream duplex DNA. Y association is aided by novel ‘pause-then-escape’ nascent RNA hairpins. Z binds non-cognate Ys to directly inhibit Y association. This Y-Z hierarchical regulatory program allowsBacteroidesto create CPS subpopulations for optimal fitness.
Decomposition of L-glutamine and accumulation of ammonium in cell culture media inhibit infectivity of influenza viruses
Authors: Kegel Nathanael B. , Kaufmann Andreas , Matrosovich Mikhail , Bauer Stefan , Dorna Jens
Published: June 2024

Cationic lysosomotropic molecules such as ammonium salts and chloroquine inhibit influenza A virus (IAV) infection in cell culture by counteracting endosomal acidification and hampering viral-endosomal fusion. Here, we studied the effects of storage of L-glutamine-supplemented cell culture media on accumulation of ammonium and inhibition of IAV infection. The storage-related inhibitory effect was observed in the case of DMEM and OptiMEM media, but not RPMI medium, and was more pronounced for the IAV with pH-stable hemagglutinin. Our results highlight the importance to consider potential presence of virus-inhibiting lysosomotropic agents and/or their production in culture media with negative effect on influenza virus infection.
Integrating Bioinformatics and Machine Learning to Investigate the Mechanisms by Which Three Major Respiratory Infectious Diseases Exacerbate Heart Failure
Authors: Yu Yiding , Zhang Juan , Shi Jingle , Yuan Huajing , Han Quancheng , Xue Yitao , Li Yan
Published: June 2024

Background

Heart failure (HF) is a severe cardiovascular disease often worsened by respiratory infections like influenza, COVID-19, and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This study aims to uncover the molecular commonalities among these respiratory diseases and their impact on HF, identifying key mediating genes.

Methods

Datasets from the GEO database were analyzed for differential expression to find common molecular features of the three respiratory diseases. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify gene modules associated with HF. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses determined the biological processes and pathways involved in HF exacerbation by respiratory diseases. Key genes were screened using LASSO, RF, and SVM-RFE machine learning algorithms, with accuracy validated by ROC curves. Single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA) was performed, and the Drug Signature Database (DSigDB) was used for drug prediction. Immune infiltration analysis was conducted using CIBERSORT.

Results

We identified 51 characteristic genes of respiratory diseases and 10 potential genes exacerbating HF, primarily involved in innate immune response, inflammation, and coagulation pathways. Machine learning algorithms identified RSAD2 and IFI44L as key genes with high accuracy (AUC > 0.7). ssGSEA indicated RSAD2’s involvement in complement and coagulation cascades, while IFI44L is associated with myocardial contraction in HF progression. DSigDB predicted six potential therapeutic drugs. Immune infiltration analysis revealed significant differences in eight immune cell types between HF patients and healthy controls.

Conclusion

Our findings enhance the understanding of molecular interactions between respiratory diseases and heart failure, paving the way for future research and therapeutic strategies.
Backtranslation of human RNA biosignatures of tuberculosis disease risk into the preclinical pipeline is condition dependent
Authors: Painter Hannah , Larsen Sasha E. , Williams Brittany D. , Abdelaal Hazem F. M. , Baldwin Susan L. , Fletcher Helen A. , Fiore-Gartland Andrew , Coler Rhea N.
Published: June 2024

It is not clear whether human progression to active tuberculosis disease (TB) risk signatures are viable endpoint criteria for evaluations of treatments in clinical or preclinical development. TB is the deadliest infectious disease globally and more efficacious vaccines are needed to reduce this mortality. However, the immune correlates of protection for either preventing infection withMycobacterium tuberculosisor preventing TB disease have yet to be completely defined, making the advancement of candidate vaccines through the pipeline slow, costly, and fraught with risk. Human-derived correlate of risk (COR) gene signatures, which identify an individual’s risk to progressing to active TB disease, provide an opportunity for evaluating new therapies for TB with clear and defined endpoints. Though prospective clinical trials with longitudinal sampling are prohibitively expensive, characterization of COR gene signatures is practical with preclinical models. Using a 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) approach we reanalyzed heterogeneous publicly available transcriptional datasets to determine whether a specific set of COR signatures are viable endpoints in the preclinical pipeline. We selected RISK6, Sweeney3 and BATF2 human-derived blood-based RNA biosignatures because they require relatively few genes to assign a score and have been carefully evaluated across several clinical cohorts. Excitingly, these data provide proof-of-concept that human COR signatures seem to have high fidelity across several tissue types in the preclinical TB model pipeline and show best performance when the model most closely reflected human infection or disease conditions. Human-derived COR signatures offer an opportunity for high-throughput preclinical endpoint criteria of vaccine and drug therapy evaluations.

One Sentence Summary

Human-derived biosignatures of tuberculosis disease progression were evaluated for their predictive fidelity across preclinical species and derived tissues using available public data sets.
Characterizing neuroinvasion and neuropathology of SARS-CoV-2 by using AC70 human ACE2 transgenic mice
Authors: Hsu Jason C. , Saenkham-Huntsinger Panatda , Huang Pinghan , Octaviani Cassio Pontes , Drelich Aleksandra K. , Peng Bi-Hung , Tseng Chien-Te K.
Published: June 2024

COVID-19 presents with a plethora of neurological signs and symptoms despite being characterized as a respiratory disease, including seizures, anxiety, depression, amnesia, attention deficits, and alterations in consciousness. The olfactory nerve is widely accepted as the neuroinvasive route by which the etiological agent SARS-CoV-2 enters the brain, but the trigeminal nerve is an often-overlooked additional route. Based on this consensus, we initially conducted a pilot experiment investigating the olfactory nerve route of SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion via intranasal inoculation in AC70 human ACE2 transgenic mice. Notably, we found that the trigeminal ganglion is an early and highly efficient site of viral replication, which then rapidly spread widely throughout the brain where neurons were primarily targeted. Despite the extensive viral infection across the brain, obvious evidence of tissue pathology including inflammatory infiltration, glial activation, and apoptotic cell deaths were not consistently observed, albeit inflammatory cytokines were significantly induced. However, the expression levels of different genes related to neuronal function, including the neurotransmitter dopamine pathway as well as synaptic function, and markers of neuronal damage were altered as compared to mock-infected mice. Our findings suggest that the trigeminal nerve can be a neuroinvasive route complementary to the olfactory nerve and that the ensuing neuroinvasion presented a unique neuropathological profile. This study provides insights into potential neuropathogenic mechanisms utilized by coronaviruses.

IMPORTANCE

COVID-19 presents with extrapulmonary signs and symptoms, the most notable of which involve the central nervous system, such as seizures and alterations in consciousness, and can eventually lead to death if severe enough. Some neurological signs and symptoms may continue to persist in some patients even after the resolution of active viral infection in the form of post-acute sequelae. Since the trigeminal nerve is a commonly under-studied route of entry into the brain in studies of coronaviruses and the neuropathogenic mechanisms of COVID-19 are not entirely elucidated, there is a need to thoroughly investigate this route of neuroinvasion. The significance of our research is in providing insights into the possible routes of SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion as well as the discovery of potential neuropathogenic mechanisms which may help guide the development of novel medical countermeasures.
RecA is a reliable marker for bacterial taxonomy, even in the Candidate Phyla Radiation
Authors: Sterzi Lodovico , Panelli Simona , Bonaiti Clara , Papaleo Stella , Bettoni Giorgia , D’Auria Enza , Zuccotti Gianvincenzo , Comandatore Francesco
Published: June 2024

Culture-independent approaches are commonly used to characterise the taxonomic composition of bacterial communities. Among these approaches, the amplicon-based metagenomics relies on specific genetic markers, such as the 16S rRNA gene, while the shotgun metagenomics annotates the whole bacterial DNA. Despite the 16S being the gold standard marker, studies highlighted its inefficiency in characterising and quantifying divergent bacterial groups such as the Candidate Phyla Radiation. On the other hand, shotgun metagenomics is highly informative and accurate but it is more expensive and requires computational resources and time. In this study, we propose RecA as a pan-bacterial genetic marker, particularly suitable for the Candidate Phyla Radiation. Indeed, we found that applying a Random Forest machine learning model on RecA amino acid sequences provides an accurate and fast taxonomic annotation across the whole bacterial tree of life. Ultimately, we produced Forestax, a tool for the characterisation and quantification of bacterial communities in metagenomics data, on the basis of RecA sequences. The analyses showed that RecA-based metagenomics has a taxonomic accuracy comparable to other multi-gene approaches, reinforcing RecA as a powerful marker for taxonomic annotation in bacteria. In perspective, RecA could be considered as a broad-spectrum marker for amplicon-based studies to overcome the limits of 16S rRNA.
Single-stranded DNA binding protein hitches a ride with theEscherichia coliYoaA-χ helicase
Authors: Weeks-Pollenz Savannah J. , Petrides Matthew J. , Davis Robert , Harris Kathryn K. , Bloom Linda B.
Published: June 2024

TheEscherichia coliXPD/Rad3-like helicase, YoaA, and DNA polymerase III subunit, χ, are involved inE. coliDNA damage tolerance and repair. YoaA and χ promote tolerance to the DNA chain-terminator, 3□-azidothymidine (AZT), and together form the functional helicase complex, YoaA-χ. How YoaA-χ contributes to DNA damage tolerance is not well understood.E. colisingle-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) accumulates at stalled replication forks, and the SSB-χ interaction is required to promote AZT tolerance via an unknown mechanism. YoaA-χ and SSB interactions were investigatedin vitroto better understand this DNA damage tolerance mechanism, and we discovered YoaA-χ and SSB have a functional interaction. SSB confers a substrate-specific effect on the helicase activity of YoaA-χ, barely affecting YoaA-χ on an overhang DNA substrate but inhibiting YoaA-χ on forked DNA. A paralog helicase, DinG, unwinds SSB-bound DNA in a similar manner to YoaA-χ on the substrates tested. Through use of ensemble experiments, we believe SSB binds behind YoaA-χ relative to the DNA ds/ss junction and show via single-molecule assays that SSB translocates along ssDNA with YoaA-χ. This is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of a mechanoenzyme pulling SSB along ssDNA.
Architecture matters: exploring audiences’ holistic theatrical experience through social media reviews
Authors: Jiang Shan , Kinney Marcene , Yost Christopher
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Assessing performance art has shifted toward an audience-centric approach, with various factors impacting audiences’ holistic experiences in a theater. Existing theater marketing research has predominantly focused on servicescapes, leaving a research gap regarding audiences’ spatial experience within theater buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

To address this gap, this case study collected crowdsourced data from mainstream social media platforms, including rating scores, textual reviews and reviewer-uploaded photos. The aim was to explore to what extent the theater architecture design impacted audiences’ theatrical experience. The old and new facilities of the case study theater were compared, and a series of quantitative and qualitative techniques were applied for data analysis, including statistics, content analysis, sentiment analysis and thematic analysis.

Findings

The study identified five major themes in social media review: the show, architectural design and attributes, staff and service, neighborhood and amenities, and financial consideration. Comments about theater architecture constituted a substantial portion of reviews, with seating comfort, intimacy and stage visibility being frequently discussed features. Seven subthemes related to architectural design emerged as key contributors to audiences’ spatial experiences, including aesthetics, design and spatial configuration; the bar and lobby; the new facility; seats; sets and stage; acoustics; and intimacy and atmosphere.

Originality/value

The study places the individual experiences of audience members as central and uses an inductive approach to analyze their self-generated data. The research results offer valuable insights into theater design and confirm the belief that architectural design has a significant impact on the overall theatrical experience of audiences.
How do live-streamers attract their consumers: insights from a multi-group analysis
Authors: Xiong Jie , Li Feng
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The rapid development of e-commerce live streaming is inseparable from the important role of live-streamer. However, research exploring the impacts of live-streamers’ characteristics on customer engagement in different types of live streaming rooms remains limited. This study aims to examine the impacts of live-streamers’ characteristics (i.e. expertise, moral reputation, popularity, responsiveness) on consumer engagement in e-commerce live streaming, and verify whether there are differences in the impact of live-streamers’ characteristics on consumer experience for different types of live-streamers.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered from 266 Chinese adults who have experience watching e-commerce live streaming. Partial least squares techniques were used to verify the model.

Findings

The results show that expertise, moral reputation, popularity, and responsiveness of live-streamers have positive impacts on consumer engagement through perceived trust and perceived pleasure. Moreover, through multi-group analysis, this study found that compared with enterprise live-streamers, the moral reputation of individual live-streamers exerts a stronger effect on consumers’ perceived trust, and the popularity of individual live-streamers exerts a stronger effect on consumers’ perceived pleasure. Compared with individual live-streamers, the responsiveness of enterprise live-streamers exerts a stronger effect on consumers’ perceived pleasure.

Originality/value

This study contributes to e-commerce live streaming research by categorizing live-streamers into two types: individual live-streamers and enterprise live-streamers, and verifying the specific difference in the impacts of live-streamers’ characteristics on consumer experience for the two types of live-streamers.
Navigating the adoption landscape of blockchain in food delivery: a UTAUT perspective
Authors: Shukla Vishal , Kumar Jitender , Rana Sudhir , Prashar Sanjeev
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study explores the factors impacting user adoption and trust in blockchain-based food delivery systems, with a spotlight on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). In the evolving food delivery sector, blockchain offers transparency and efficiency. Through the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) lens, this research provides insights for businesses and policymakers, highlighting the importance of blockchain’s integration into food delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employed the UTAUT and its extensions as the theoretical framework. A structured questionnaire was developed and disseminated to users of the ONDC platform, and responses were collected on a seven-point extended Likert scale. The analyses were undertaken employing the partial least squares (PLS) methodology and structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings

Key factors like performance expectancy, effort expectancy and social influence were found influential for adoption. Trust played a central role, while perceived risk didn’t significantly mediate the adoption process. Digital culture didn’t significantly moderate the adoption intention.

Originality/value

This research adds to the existing body of knowledge by providing empirical insights into user adoption and trust in blockchain-based food delivery platforms. It is among the pioneer studies to apply the UTAUT model in the realm of blockchain-based food delivery platforms, thereby offering a unique perspective on the dynamics of user behaviour in this emerging field.
Visual portrayal of Monkeypox outbreak on BBC: is Western media biased against Africa?
Authors: Shodipe Oluwafunmilayo Abimbola , Arowolo Olasunkanmi , Oloyede Isikilu Bayo , Alade Moyosore , Fadeyi Isaac Olajide , Oko-Epelle Lydia
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) portrayal of the May 2022 Monkeypox outbreak in the West. The Monkeypox outbreak and the outcry from African journalists on some Western media outlets’ use of black people to portray the Monkeypox outbreak informed the present study to investigate, through empirical evidence, whether Western media portrays Africa negatively.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for the content analysis method. The news recordings from BBC News analysed for this study were archived videos on Monkeypox retrieved from Blob of Broadcast, an on-demand audio and video streaming service in the UK.

Findings

Findings indicated that videos were the most used visuals by the BBC to depict the Monkeypox outbreak in the observed period. Findings also revealed that Black was the prevalent skin tone used in depicting those affected by the outbreak, while White was the prevalent skin tone used in depicting the scientists interviewed for their expert knowledge and at the forefront of the Monkeypox outbreak.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for Western media outlets on how to portray Africa and its people.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to investigate how Africa is portrayed in Western media through empirical evidence.
A global sensitivity analysis method based on IBWO-SVR-SS
Authors: Cui Yuxin , Li Yong-Hua , Zhang Dongxu , Wang Yufeng , Zhang Zhiyang
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Aiming at the inefficiency of solving the Sobol index using the traditional mathematical analytical method, a Sobol global sensitivity analysis method is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a support vector regression (SVR) surrogate model is constructed to solve the Sobol index. The optimal combination of SVR hyperparameters is obtained by using the improved beluga whale optimization (IBWO). Meanwhile, in order to solve the problem that Sobol sequences will form correlation regions in high-dimensional space leading to the uneven distribution of sampling points, a scrambled strategy is introduced in the Sobol sensitivity analysis using IBWO-SVR. Thus, the IBWO-SVR-SS sensitivity analysis model is established.

Findings

The results of two test functions show that the method further improves the accuracy of the sensitivity analysis. Finally, the first-order Sobol index and second-order Sobol index are solved by the IBWO-SVR-SS method using the metro bogie frame as an engineering example. Through the analysis results, the key design parameters of the frame and the design parameter combinations with more obvious coupling relationships are identified, providing a strong reference for the subsequent analysis and structural optimization.

Originality/value

Sobol sensitivity analysis using the surrogate model method can effectively improve the efficiency of the solution. In addition, IBWO is used for the optimization of the SVR hyperparameters to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the optimization, and finally, the correction of the Sobol sequence through the introduction of the disruption strategy also further improves the accuracy of the sensitivity analysis of Sobol.
Sport spectatorship in a virtual environment: how sensory experiences impact consumption intentions
Authors: Chung Kyu-soo , Goebert Chad , Johnson John David
Published: June 2024

Purpose

With the advance of Web 3.0 and the range of sensory experiences offered by virtual reality (VR) to sport fans, this study examines how VR spectators’ sensory experiences affect their intentions to consume VR products and services. For this purpose, the study puts forth an expanded stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model. In this framework, the stimuli are the sensory imagery and stimuli, the organism factors are presence and arousal and the response is the consumption intention. This model adeptly encapsulates the comprehensive process of stimuli while spectating a sporting event in a virtual environment.

Design/methodology/approach

For a VR stimulus, researchers developed a 3-min collegiate women’s volleyball game. Watching the game in VR were 131 collegiate students, who were then questioned about their visual and aural imagination of the game stimuli, perceived visual and aural stimuli, sense of presence, arousal and VR consumption intentions. To ensure the validity and reliability of the measurement model, confirmatory factor analysis was first conducted. Subsequently, the model was subjected to path analysis.

Findings

The measurement model demonstrated both validity and reliability. The subsequent path analysis yielded the model’s satisfactory fit. In particular, the mental visualization of VR spectators significantly influenced their perception of visual stimuli, while their imaginative engagement with auditory aspects impacted their perception of aural stimuli. The observed visual stimuli positively impacted the degree of presence experienced and the level of arousal induced. Similarly, the auditory stimuli exerted comparable effects on presence and arousal. The sense of arousal exhibited a considerable influence on the sense of presence. Furthermore, arousal emerged as a substantial determinant of individuals' VR consumption intentions.

Originality/value

The study highlights that the affective status of VR sport spectators is dominant in determining their consumption intentions. Also, the study finds the decisive role of presence in processing sensory stimuli in virtual sport spectating. It also provides managerial insight into designing and customizing VR sport experiences to be more enjoyable and impactful.
Improving frictional and insulation performance with silica-coated titanium dioxide additives in grease
Authors: Yang Kuo , Xia Yanqiu , Chen Wenhao , Zhang Yi
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to synthesize composite nanoparticles (TiO2@SiO2) via the chemical deposition method and investigate their efficacy as additives in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) lubricating grease. The focus was on examining the frictional and conductive properties of the TiO2@SiO2 grease using a friction tester.

Design/methodology/approach

Composite nanoparticles (TiO2@SiO2) were synthesized using the chemical deposition method and incorporated into PTFE grease. Frictional and conductive properties were evaluated using a friction tester. Surface morphology and chemical composition of wear tracks were analyzed using scanning electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively.

Findings

Incorporating TiO2@SiO2 at a mass fraction of 1 Wt.% led to a significant reduction in friction coefficient and wear width. The wear depth exhibited a remarkable decrease of 260%, while the contact resistance reached its peak value. This improvement in tribological properties could be attributed to the presence of TiO2@SiO2, where TiO2 served as the core and SiO2 as the shell during the friction process. The high hardness of the SiO2 shell contributed to enhanced load-bearing capacity. In addition, the exceptional insulation properties of SiO2 demonstrated excellent electron-capturing capabilities, resulting in improved friction and insulation performance of the TiO2@SiO2 lubricating grease.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the potential of TiO2@SiO2 composite nanoparticles as additives in lubricating greases, offering improved friction and insulation performance. The findings provide insights into the design of advanced lubricating materials with enhanced tribological properties and insulation capacity, contributing to the development of more efficient and durable lubrication systems.
International taxation and the frustrations of formulary apportionment estimation
Authors: Sadiq Kerrie , Krever Richard , Bhatia Devika
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the challenges faced by empirical researchers investigating a shift from taxing multinational entities using the arm’s length system to a formulary apportionment system. Theoretically, a shift should increase global tax collections as profits currently attributed to low or no tax jurisdictions are allocated to jurisdictions with true input or output factors and shift the allocation between these countries. Before any jurisdiction seriously contemplated a shift from an arm’s length allocation system to a formulary apportionment regime, however, it would want to estimate the revenue impact of such a change.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper systematically analyzes empirical papers that attempt to estimate the effects of formulary apportionment on country and global income revenue collected to determine the challenges faced by researchers.

Findings

The paper determines that there are both data and geo-political constraints that relate to (1) the method used to calculate the global profits of a multinational enterprise, (2) whether jurisdictions wish to adopt a global or regional formulary apportionment, (3) the weightings to be given to the factors used in the formulary apportionment, (4) the challenges of measuring sales at destination and the viability of surrogate measurements, (5) whether natural resources should be included in the measurement of the capital input factor, and (6) whether a redistribution objective should be included in the profit allocation formula.

Originality/value

Estimating the changes is challenging both in terms collecting the data needed for the calculations and the choice of design options to be tested. The paper provides synthesized knowledge in relation to the difficulties in estimating the effects of moving to a formulary apportionment model for taxing multinational entities.
An artist’s journey to self-acceptance
Authors: Claire Victoria
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper provides an insight into the left and career of the sculptress Victoria Claire, told in her own words.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a lived experience narrative.

Findings

Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at the age of 19, Victoria’s life was turned upside down. Plunged into the depths of despair, it was her love for and practice of sculpture and music which saved her and gave her purpose. Years of therapy have helped her to understand and love herself as beautiful imperfection.

Practical implications

The vast majority of us inhabit a “sighted world”. Victoria helps us to understand how many of the things we take for granted are so much harder for the visually impaired.

Social implications

We all need to be sensitive to helping those with sensory difficulties navigate our social world.

Originality/value

When you look at the amazing sculptures that Victoria creates, you cannot help but be impressed that she can create such works of art using her hands, her sculpting tools and her imagination. We can gaze at the beauty of her creations. She cannot.
Exploring the efficacy of writing comics as a tool for enhancing EFL writing skills of undergraduate Ecuadorian polytechnic students
Authors: Estrella Felix
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the effectiveness, student perceptions and impacts of integrating comics into the English as a foreign language (EFL) writing curriculum for undergraduate Ecuadorian polytechnic students.

Design/methodology/approach

This research followed a mixed method design to obtain quantitative information through a researcher-made survey and paired T-test, which would be corroborated by the qualitative data obtained from semistructured interviews.

Findings

From the descriptive and T-test results and the interview answers, it is concluded that students have a favorable view of the effectiveness of using comics to improve their writing skills. They also expressed their engagement and motivation to work with comics.

Research limitations/implications

First, the research sample, comprised of 109 students, may restrict the generalizability of the findings beyond the specific context of this study. This constraint suggests caution in extrapolating these findings to broader student cohorts, emphasizing the need for larger-scale studies to validate the robustness and applicability of the outcomes. Second, the study’s focus solely on students from a polytechnic state university introduces a potential limitation concerning the diversity and representativeness of the participant pool. Consequently, the findings might be limited in their applicability and may not fully encompass students’ varied responses and attitudes from other educational backgrounds.

Practical implications

The scaffolding afforded by comics aligns with genre-based literacy perspectives, valuing instruction in textual genres and social purposes. From a practical pedagogical point of view, this paper’s results suggest the potential of comic narratives and storyboarding. Comics writing could be added to classroom activities to vibrantly aboard brainstorming, drafting and peer reviewing before dealing with higher-stakes assignments. Legitimizing alternative mediums like comics for academic writing tasks has social implications for promoting literacies in a multimedia world.

Social implications

Writing comics nurtures multiliteracies aligned with participatory digital cultures by expanding traditional linguistic-centric norms. This multimodal composing can potentially increase access and representation and amplify voices across identities and cultures.

Originality/value

Although the paper addresses a topic that is not entirely novel in research, its originality lies in its focus on data originating from Ecuador, where specific cultural nuances and educational contexts may influence the effectiveness of using comics to enhance EFL writing skills. Thus, it fills a gap in the existing literature on this subject.
Shallow water multiple attenuation through the reconstruction of Green's impulse response
Authors: Liu Yike , Zhou Xiaopeng , Li Peng
Published: June 2024

Removal of water‐layer‐related multiples in shallow water remains a challenge due to a lack of near‐offset data. We have developed a shallow water multiple attenuation approach by constructing the impulse response of the water bottom for the removal of water‐layer‐related multiples. The impulse response of the seafloor is formed by the convolution of its traveltime response and amplitude response. It uses the superposition of the original shallow water demultiple operator to obtain traveltime information and uses the deconvolution method to estimate its dynamic components from the original shallow water demultiple operator to build new operators. The impulse response can be correctly constructed not only for near offsets but for moderate and far offsets as well. A three‐term subtraction strategy by predicting source‐side, receiver‐side and both source‐side and receiver‐side multiples is adopted in our approach for attenuating shallow multiples without over‐prediction. Numerical examples with two synthetic datasets and 2D and 3D field datasets demonstrate that our approach gives a desirable performance.
What do ministers and their advisers say to the critics of Public–Private Partnerships? Results from a mixed‐methods study
Authors: Zwalf Sebastian
Published: June 2024

Public–private partnerships (PPPs) have become an increasingly common model for government infrastructure delivery around the world. However, despite their widespread use, scholarship has been generally sceptical. This study identified 14 common policy and governance criticisms and observations of PPPs as they relate to the interests of citizens. Through interviews and surveys with 23 former government ministers—including 15 former premiers—and 87 political advisers, it tested levels of agreement with each criticism and observation. Its quantitative results find that politicians and their advisers agree with six of those criticisms/observations, reject three, and are neutral towards five. However, qualitatively, respondents were generally supportive of the PPP model, defending it against many of the criticisms and observations tested, particularly against apparent transparency shortcomings and the notion that the uptake of PPPs is motivated by direct electoral benefits. They also believed many criticisms of PPPs are overstated or could apply equally to the so‐called traditional procurement models. However, respondents cited significant human capital concerns about the ability of governments to achieve superior financial outcomes through effectively negotiated and monitored PPP contracts. The paper then notes that elected decision makers can identify apparent shortcomings in the PPP model, yet still accept its usage and considers why this might be the case.

Points for practitioners

Politicians and their advisers accept some of the criticisms and observations made by scholars in relation to PPPs and citizen interests. Notwithstanding that, politicians and their advisers generally believe that PPPs are a technically superior delivery model when compared against its alternatives.

Politicians and their advisers do not accept a number of assertions made by scholars, including that PPPs have undermined government‐to‐citizen accountability; that PPPs have been associated with a de‐skilling of the public‐sector and that the Public Sector Comparator has been set‐aside when governments have chosen to do so. They also rejected assertions that PPPs had required governments to obscure more information from citizens.

Politicians and their advisers strongly believed that effective PPP contracts were critical to government achieving financial value through the PPP model. They believed the ability of government to achieve this was heavily depending on having capable public servants who could plan, negotiate and monitor PPP contracts. They believe governments can not easily find and retain said capable staff.
The reflexive imperative in the digital age: Using Archer’s ‘fractured reflexivity’ to theorise widening inequities in UK general practice
Authors: Rybczynska‐Bunt Sarah , Byng Richard , Spitters Sophie , Shaw Sara E. , Jameson Ben , Greenhalgh Trisha
Published: June 2024

‘Reflexivity’, as used by Margaret Archer, means creative self‐mastery that enables individuals to evaluate their social situation and act purposively within it. People with complex health and social needs may be less able to reflect on their predicament and act to address it. Reflexivity is imperative in complex and changing social situations. The substantial widening of health inequities since the introduction of remote and digital modalities in health care has been well‐documented but inadequately theorised. In this article, we use Archer’s theory of fractured reflexivity to understand digital disparities in data from a 28‐month longitudinal ethnographic study of 12 UK general practices and a sample of in‐depth clinical cases from ‘Deep End’ practices serving highly deprived populations. Through four composite patient cases crafted to illustrate different dimensions of disadvantage, we show how adverse past experiences and structural inequities intersect with patients’ reflexive capacity to self‐advocate and act strategically. In some cases, staff were able to use creative workarounds to compensate for patients’ fractured reflexivity, but such actions were limited by workforce capacity and staff awareness. Unless a more systematic safety net is introduced and resourced, people with complex needs are likely to remain multiply disadvantaged by remote and digital health care.
Vocabulary exposure to children is enhanced by using both informational and narrative picture books for read‐alouds: A comparative modelling study using data science methods
Authors: Green Clarence , Keogh Kathleen
Published: June 2024

Background

The language that children are exposed to in their early years is enhanced by children's picture books. It is important to better characterise this input, and recent research has begun to explore corpora of narrative picture books. However, previous research has been restricted by methodological limitations that make it difficult to develop large datasets. Further, information texts become increasingly important as children progress through school, but little is known about the language of their earliest form, namely, informational picture books. The current study investigates how informational and narrative picture book exposure might change the language environment of children in a way that supports reading development.

Methods

The study applies data science methods to build a larger language model than previously possible and investigates the lexical profile of over 2000 narrative and information picture books. Picture book vocabulary is innovatively derived from digital sources of books read‐aloud online, which pushes the field forward by providing researchers access to larger pools of data than previously possible. Detailed comparisons of informational and narrative picture books are reported regarding their lexical diversity, density, morphology, academic vocabulary and semantic clusters. Models are developed to estimate the additional word‐type exposure a child may encounter in their language environment from narrative and informational picture books.

Results

The study demonstrates that information and narrative picture books expose children to substantially different semantic environments. It is demonstrated that information picture books provide extensive exposure to academic vocabulary, providing important input aligned with later reading needs. Further, computational models indicate that book reading once every day or second day over a year might boost unique‐word exposure by approximately 10% for some language environments.

Conclusions

Combining informational and narrative picture books enhance the language environment of children more than narratives alone, providing more lexical diversity, density and complex morphology.
Using movers to identify close election effects
Authors: YEANDLE ALEX
Published: June 2024

Many theories of political participation imply that close elections increase voter turnout, but empirical support for this is mixed. One challenge is that close elections occur in unrepresentative places, making it difficult to extend counterfactual inferences across the wider electorate. In this note, I study closeness in an alternative way by leveraging those who move home between elections. With a large‐scale longitudinal survey in Great Britain, comparing individuals who move between safe and competitive parliamentary constituencies, I provide evidence that closeness increases campaign contact but generally fails to affect turnout. British movers are politically comparable to the wider electorate, so the results can be cautiously generalised. This contributes to substantive literature on voter and party‐led theories of participation, while adopting an empirical strategy seldom used in the study of political behaviour.
The effects of loose, firm, fine, and coarse substrates on the movement of the red flour beetle
Authors: Hanna Kimberley , Scharf Inon
Published: June 2024

Movement plays a crucial role in animal behavior. However, despite the prevalence of uneven terrains in nature, many movement studies are conducted in arenas with smooth substrates. This discrepancy raises questions about the ecological validity of such experiments. To address this gap, we investigated the effect of rough substrates on movement properties using the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) as a model organism. Our findings revealed significant variations in movement behavior between rough and smooth substrates. Notably, beetles traveled longer distances on smooth surfaces compared to sandpaper and loose sand. Moreover, variations in step size were influenced by substrate treatment, with the highest values observed on sand and sandpaper treatments. The proportion of time spent standing still also showed sensitivity to substrate conditions. The interaction between substrate properties and beetle sex further influenced several movement properties. Even the spatial configuration of rough and smooth areas in the arena had an impact on beetle movement, with areas along the arena perimeter exhibiting a stronger effect. These results highlight the impact of uneven terrain on beetle movement, underscoring the importance of considering environmental conditions when designing experimental setups. Here, this refers to the substrate on which animals move, but it may refer to other conditions, such as the test arena size and shape, temperature, humidity, and illumination. Failure to account for these background environmental conditions may result in inadvertently examining the interaction of the tested animals with these conditions, rather than focusing on the effect of the treatments applied in the experiment.
Characteristics of soy films as affected by transglutaminase cross‐linking and inclusions of pectin and protein enhancers
Authors: Tan Yuqing , Cao Yumei , Chang Sam K. C.
Published: June 2024

Previously, we showed that water extract (soymilk, except pH was increased to 8 from 6.5) of whole soybean could be used directly as a raw material for producing edible soy films by deposition of the film‐forming solution (soy extract with enhancers). However, the strength of such soy films needed improvement because they were weak. The purpose of this study was to investigate how transglutaminase (TG) cross‐linking reactions and film enhancers, including pectin (low‐ and high‐methoxyl pectin), whey protein isolate (WPI), and soy protein isolate (SPI), improve the physical properties of soy films. Soy films prepared with TG had tensile strength (TS) of 3.01 MPa and puncture strength (PS) of 0.78 MPa, which were higher by as much as 51% and 30% than that of soy films without TG treatment, respectively. Pectin showed significant effects on the mechanical properties of TG‐added soy films in terms of TS, PS, and % elongation. On the other hand, only TS and PS were increased by the addition of WPI or SPI. Heat curing had a significant effect on soy film's physical properties. TG treatment significantly reduced film solubility when soaked in water and various levels of acid (vinegar) and base (baking soda) solutions. Under the experimental conditions of 35 unit TG and 28 min of reaction, the degrees of cross‐linking were evidenced by the disappearance of individual protein subunits, except the basic subunit of glycinin, and the reduction of 21% of lysine residues of the proteins.

Highlights

Edible soy films were made with transglutaminase and about 21% lysine cross‐linked.

The mechanical strength of soy films was increased by incorporating film enhancers.

Transglutaminase enhanced the mechanical properties of soy films.
Rapid and nondestructive watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) seed viability detection based on visible near‐infrared hyperspectral imaging technology and machine learning algorithms
Authors: Sun Jun , Nirere Adria , Dusabe Keza Dominique , Yuhao Zhong , Adrien Guverinoma
Published: June 2024

The improper storage of seeds can potentially compromise agricultural productivity, leading to reduced crop yields. Therefore, assessing seed viability before sowing is of paramount importance. Although numerous techniques exist for evaluating seed conditions, this research leveraged hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology as an innovative, rapid, clean, and precise nondestructive testing method. The study aimed to determine the most effective classification model for watermelon seeds. Initially, purchased watermelon seeds were segregated into two groups: One underwent sterilization in a dehydrator machine at 40°C for 36 h, whereas the other batch was stored under favorable conditions. Watermelon seeds’ spectral images were captured using an HSI with a charge‐coupled device camera ranging from 400 to 1000 nm, and the segmented regions of all samples were measured. Preprocessing techniques and wavelength selection methods were applied to manage spectral data workload, followed by the implementation of a support vector machine (SVM) model. The initial hybrid‐SVM model achieved a predictive accuracy rate of 100%, with a test set accuracy of 92.33%. Subsequently, an artificial bee colony (ABC) optimization was introduced to enhance model precision. The results indicated that, with kernel parameters (c, g) set at 13.17 and 0.01, respectively, and a runtime of 4.19328 s, the training and evaluation of the dataset achieved an accuracy rate of 100%. Hence, it was practical to utilize HSI technology combined with the PCA‐ABC‐SVM model to detect different watermelon seeds. As a result, these findings introduce a novel technique for accurately forecasting seed viability, intended for use in agricultural industrial multispectral imaging.

Practical Application

The traditional methods for determining the condition of seeds primarily emphasize aesthetics, rely on subjective assessment, are time‐consuming, and require a lot of labor. On the other hand, HSI technology as green technology was employed to alleviate the aforementioned problems. This work significantly contributes to the field of industrial multispectral imaging by enhancing the capacity to discern various types of seeds and agricultural crop products.