bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal variation in cutin polymerization and remodeling mediated by GDSL-hydrolase enzymes during tomato fruit development
Authors: Philippe Glenn , Sørensen Iben , Guérault Aurore , Cross Marcella J. , Domozych David S. , Clausen Mads H. , Rose Jocelyn K. C.
Published: January 2025

Land plants produce a cuticle, an extracellular hydrophobic layer that covers aerial organs and is involved in many critical protective roles, most notably in preventing desiccation. The predominant component of the cuticle is the lipidic polyester, cutin, which is deposited in the epidermal primary cell wall. Most of cutin of tomato fruit, a model for cuticle research, is polymerized by the extracellular GDSL-hydrolase enzyme CUTIN SYNTHASE-LIKE 1 (CUS1). However, other enzymes involved in cutin assembly remain to be identified and characterized. In this current study, we investigated whether other GDSL-hydrolases that are highly expressed in fruit epidermis might also contribute to cutin polymerization and restructuring. Candidates include homologs ofArabidopsis thalianaCUTICLE DESTRUCTIVE FACTOR 1 (CDEF1), which has been reported to catalyze cutin hydrolysis, as well as other phylogenetically diverse and distantly related GDSL-hydrolases. We determined that members of the CUS and CDEF families can catalyze the transesterification of cutin precursorsin vitro, and can modify tomato fruit cutin structure in semi-in vivoassays. Tomato mutant knockout lines ofCUSandCDEFgenes generated by CRISPR/Cas9and cross mutations withcus1(previouslycd1) were found to exhibit different fruit and flower phenotypes related to cutin assembly, including an effect on cutin monomer esterification, composition and content, cutin nanoridge formation in flowers, fruit cuticle permeability and permeance. Characterization of the mutant phenotypes, in combination with the enzyme analysis and bioassays, revealed distinct differences in the contribution of CUS and CDEF enzymes to cutin biosynthesis and remodeling. Our analysis also revealed unexpected spatiotemporal variation in cutin polymerization and structure coordinated by distinct GDSL-hydrolase enzymes over the fruit surface, which further suggests great complexity in cutin deposition and cuticle functions during organ development.

Highlights

Cutin polymerization in tomato is catalyzed by coordinating the spatiotemporal expression of CUTIN SYNTHASE enzymes in different organs, including during fruit development.

Extracellular cutin polymerization is not a function limited to the canonical CUTIN SYNTHASE family members but can be also be catalyzed by other GDSL-hydrolase enzymes, as suggested by evidencein vitro.

Tomato CDEF enzymes, a clade within the GDSL-hydrolase superfamily, are involved in remodeling cutin structure during fruit development.

The biosynthesis and remodeling of cutin over the tomato fruit surface is spatially heterogeneous.
Multiomics reveal associations between CpG methylation, histone modifications and transcription in a species that has lost DNMT3, the Colorado potato beetle
Authors: Länger Zoe M. , Israel Elisa , Engelhardt Jan , Kalita Agata I. , Valsecchi Claudia I. Keller , Kurtz Joachim , Prohaska Sonja J.
Published: January 2025

Insects display exceptional phenotypic plasticity, which can be mediated by epigenetic modifications, including CpG methylation and histone modifications. In vertebrates, both are interlinked and CpG methylation is associated with gene repression. However, little is known about these regulatory systems in invertebrates, where CpG methylation is mainly restricted to gene bodies of transcriptionally active genes. A widely conserved mechanism involves the co-transcriptional deposition of H3K36 trimethylation and the targeted methylation of unmethylated CpGs by thede novoDNA methyltransferase DNMT3. However, DNMT3 has been lost multiple times in invertebrate lineages raising the question of how the links between CpG methylation, histone modifications and gene expression are affected by its loss.

Here, we report the epigenetic landscape ofLeptinotarsa decemlineata,a beetle species that has lost DNMT3 but retained CpG methylation. We combine RNA-seq, enzymatic methyl-seq and CUT&Tag to study CpG methylation and patterns of H3K36me3 and H3K27ac histone modifications on a genome-wide scale. Despite the loss of DNMT3, H3K36me3 mirrors CpG methylation patterns. Together, they give rise to signature profiles for expressed and non-expressed genes. H3K27ac patterns, which show no association with CpG methylation, have a prominent peak at the transcription start site that is predictive of expressed genes. Our study provides new insights into the evolutionary flexibility of epigenetic modification systems that urge caution when generalizing across species.

Research highlights

Despite lacking DNMT3, EM-seq revealed CpG methylation in the Colorado potato beetle. CUT&Tag showed an association of H3K36me3 and H3K27ac with transcription, while only H3K36me3 aligns with CpG methylation, demonstrating epigenetic flexibility.
Histone H4 lysine 20 monomethylation is not a mark of transcriptional silencers
Authors: Segert Julian A. , Bulyk Martha L.
Published: January 2025

Transcriptional silencers arecis-regulatory elements that downregulate the expression of target genes. Although thousands of silencers have been identified experimentally, a predictive chromatin signature of silencers has not been found. H4K20me1 previously was reported to be highly enriched among human silencers, but our reanalysis of those data using an appropriate background revealed that the enrichment is only marginal. We generated H4K20me1 ChIP-seq profiles inDrosophilaS2 cells, which similarly showed that H4K20me1 does not markDrosophilasilencers and instead is associated with active transcription. Silencers remain a poorly annotated, difficult to predict class ofcis-regulatory elements whose specific chromatin features remain to be identified.
Loss of Effort in Chronic Low-Back Pain Patients: Motivational Anhedonia in Chronic Pain
Authors: Alldritt Samuel , Jammoul Mohammad , Makary Meena , Becker Susanne , Maeng Daniel , Keane Brian , Zald David , Geha Paul
Published: January 2025

The motivational and affective properties of chronic pain significantly impact patients’ lives and response to treatment but remain poorly understood. Most available phenotyping tools of chronic pain affect rely on patients’ self-report. Here we instead directly studied the willingness of chronic low-back pain (CLBP) patients to expend effort to win monetary rewards available for wins at different probabilities and different levels of difficulties in comparison to matched pain free controls and obtained functional brain imaging on a sub-group of our sample to link behavior to brain properties. We aimed to specifically test for a differential relationship of the functional connectivity in reward and effort related brain networks, and measures of effort in patients and pain free controls. Consistent with the hypothesis of “negative hedonic shift” in chronic pain we observed that CLBP patients are significantly less willing than pain free controls to expend effort to go for high cost/high reward choices and their reported low-back pain intensity predicted increased effort discounting. Furthermore, patients’ task performance was directly correlated to functional connectivity between the ventral striatum and ventro-medial prefrontal cortex, which are major nodes in the reward processing network. Patients’ performance was not explained by their self-reported depressive symptoms. Our results present new behavioral evidence characterizing the nature of anhedonia in chronic pain and links it directly to cortico-striatal connectivity highlighting the role of this circuitry in the pathophysiology of chronic pain.
Multi-omics analysis of keratinocytes reveals dermokine-dependent regulation of cell-cell adhesion via p120
Authors: Canbay Vahap , Wüstemann Till , Tian Weihua , Beyer Tobias A. , Elbæk Camilla Reiter , Stumpe Michael , Restivo Gaetana , Christiansen Chatpakorn , Herranz Anabel Migenda , Mailand Susanne , Hafner Jürg , Damgaard Rune Busk , Goletz Steffen , Dengjel Jörn , auf dem Keller Ulrich , Francavilla Chiara
Published: January 2025

Loss of keratinocyte differentiation is a leading cause in several skin diseases and needs to be controlled in adult homeostasis by for instance growth factors and proteases. Among them, we studied the role of isoform-rich dermokine – a wound- and tumour-related matrix metalloproteinase 10 substrate – via functional multi-omics. We generated dermokine isoform-dependent keratinocyte knockouts and three dimensional (3D) organotypic skin cultures and analyzed changes in their proteome and phosphoproteome by quantitative mass spectrometry. Through functionalin vitroassays, we demonstrate that in the absence of dermokine-isoforms, p120 phosphorylation increases while cell-cell adhesion decreases in keratinocytes. Furthermore, we validate the link between decreased dermokine expression and phosphorylated p120-mediated adhesion in non-healing wounds samples derived from patients. Our data reveal a novel dermokine-p120-dependent cell-cell adhesion phenotype in keratinocytes and improve our understanding of wound-edge keratinocytes, expanding the hypothesis that dysregulated wounds resemble cancer.
Machine learning identifies routine blood tests as accurate predictive measures of pollution-dependent poor cognitive function
Authors: Johnson Hamish , Longden James , Cameron Gary , Waiter Gordon D. , Waldron Fergal M. , Gregory Jenna M. , Spence Holly
Published: January 2025

Background

Several modifiable risk factors for dementia and related neurodegenerative diseases have been identified including education level, socio-economic status, and environmental exposures – however, how these population-level risks relate to individual risk remains elusive. To address this, we assess over 450 potential risk factors in one deeply clinically and demographically phenotyped cohort using random forest classifiers to determine predictive markers of poor cognitive function. This study aims to understand early risk factors for dementia by identifying predictors of poor cognitive performance amongst a comprehensive battery of imaging, blood, atmospheric pollutant and socio-economic measures.

Methods

Random forest modelling was used to determine significant predictors of poor cognitive performance in a cohort of 324 individuals (age 61.6 ± 4.8 years; 150 males, 174 females) without extant neurological disease. 457 features were assessed including brain imaging measures of volume and iron deposition, blood measures of anaemia, inflammation, and heavy metal levels, social deprivation indicators and atmospheric pollution exposure.

Results

Routinely assessed markers of anaemia including mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were identified as robust predictors of poor general cognition, where both extremes (low and high) were associated with poor cognitive performance. The strongest, most consistent predictors of poor cognitive performance were environmental measures of atmospheric pollution, in particular, lead, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Feature analysis demonstrated a significant negative relationship between low mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and high levels of atmospheric pollutants highlighting the potential of routinely assessed blood tests as a predictive measure of pollution-dependent cognitive functioning, at an individual level.

Conclusions

Taken together, these data demonstrate how routine, inexpensive medical testing and local authority initiatives could help to identify and protect at-risk individuals. These findings highlight the potential to identify individuals for targeted, cost effective medical and social interventions to improve population cognitive health.

Graphical Abstract
The microbiota of fresh unfermented date palm sap: a culturomics and metagenomics investigation
Authors: Djemal S. , Gdoura M. , Mathlouthi N.E. , Gdoura R. , Cassagne C. , Hama H. Oumarou
Published: January 2025

Palm sap is an artisanal fermented beverage, the consumption of which has been historically attested for millennia. Despite this, the underlying fermentative microbiota is poorly known. Here, three date palm sap samples collected and bought in Tunisia were investigated for bacteria, methanogenic archaea, and fungi using culturomics and molecular detection techniques, including metagenomics. Metagenomics yielded 250 bacteria, two fungi, and no archaea. Culturomics yielded 36 bacteria, eight fungi, and no archaea. Taken together, these approaches detected 250 bacteria and nine fungi, including 28 bacteria and eight fungi which had been previously unreported in date palm sap, in addition to three potentially new bacteria. Specifically, the bacteriaZymomonas mobilisandLeuconostoc mesenteroidesand the fungusSaccharomyces cerevisiaewere the most abundant, fermentative species found in the three samples, by culturomics and metagenomics. While determining the source of these microbes of interest was beyond the scope of the study, the data reported here may pave the way for a better understanding of the organic and organoleptic qualities of date palm sap in productive countries.

IMPORTANCE

This study provides valuable insights into the microbial composition of date palm sap, a traditional fermented beverage with deep historical roots. Despite its widespread consumption and cultural importance, the microbes driving its fermentation remain largely unexplored. Using advanced methods like metagenomics and culturomics, we uncovered a diverse array of bacteria and fungi, including species crucial for fermentation, such asZymomonas mobilis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, andSaccharomyces cerevisiae. Moreover, the discovery of previously unreported microbes highlights the potential for further research into their roles in sap fermentation and quality. Improving our understanding of the microbial communities involved in the fermentation of date palm sap underscores its importance to the field of applied and environmental microbiology.
The trimeric thylakoidal Tat receptor complex consists of a homo-oligomeric TatC core with associated TatB subunits
Authors: Reimers Matthias , Jakob Mario , Klösgen Ralf Bernd
Published: January 2025

The Twin-arginine translocation (Tat) machinery, which is found in most cellular membranes containing a respiratory or photosynthetic electron transport chain, is characterized by its unique ability to catalyze membrane transport of folded proteins without impairing the membrane potential. In plant thylakoids, Tat machinery consists of three subunits, TatA, TatB, and TatC, with the latter two, TatB and TatC, forming membrane-integral multimeric TatBC receptor complexes. Here we have analyzed the stability and the subunit composition of these complexes after solubilization of thylakoids with the mild detergent digitonin as well as after additional affinity-purification. Employing different detergent combinations and/or heat treatment (40°C) followed by BN-PAGE and Western analysis we could identify four distinct Tat complexes with apparent molecular masses ranging from approximately 230 kDa to 620 kDa. Treatment of the largest Tat complex with either heat or detergents like DDM or Triton X-114 led to its stepwise breakdown into the three smaller complexes resulting from the successive release of TatB subunits from a relatively stable TatC core complex. From these data we conclude that the fully assembled, physiologically active TatBC receptor complex consists of a stable, trimeric TatC core to which three TatB subunits are bound independently from each other.
Encapsulation-enhanced genetic switches in lactobacilli
Authors: Blanch-Asensio Marc , Tadimarri Varun Sai , Martinez Roberto , Dahiya Gurvinder Singh , Lale Rahmi , Sankaran Shrikrishnan
Published: January 2025

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, a versatile member of the lactobacillus family, is widely recognized for its potential in healthcare, food production, and environmental biotechnology. Despite its inherent advantages and demonstrated potential as microbial chassis for biotechnological applications, its broader utility is constrained by a limited genetic toolbox, particularly the lack of robust genetic switches for inducible gene expression. Addressing this gap, we report the development of a novel genetic switch forL. plantarumbased on a strong bacteriophage-derived promoter and the food-grade inducer, cumate. The dynamic range and temporal profile of this switch exhibits interesting temperature and growth phase dependence that influence its leakiness and induced protein production levels. In the process of identifying ways to overcome both dependencies, we discovered that encapsulation ofL. plantarumin alginate seemingly traps them in a growth-phase that maximizes the performance of the switch. For the first time, we show how a material-oriented strategy can be leveraged to improve an engineered gene regulation function in bacteria. Furthermore, this engineered living material approach is promising for developingL. plantarumtowards advanced applications in biotechnology, pharmaceutics, and living therapeutics.
Corticosteroid resistance is predetermined by early immune response dynamics at acute Graft-versus-Host disease onset
Authors: Le Grand Sophie , Marie Yannick , Bouteiller Delphine , Robert Émilie , de Latour Régis Peffault , Socié Gérard , Vallet Nicolas , Michonneau David
Published: January 2025

Steroid-resistant acute graft versus host disease (SR-aGVHD) is the leading life-threatening complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Novel therapeutics development is impeded by scares knowledge on biological pathways leading to steroid resistance at time of aGVHD diagnosis. To gain insight into our understanding on circulating immune cell subsets and functions at time of aGVHD, a single cell deep phenotyping and transcriptome analysis was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with aGVHD before steroid treatment or without aGVHD. We aimed at identifying biological patterns associated with steroid resistance at early onset of aGVHD. First, circulating immune cell subsets were associated with increased incidence of aGVHD, but not with steroid sensitivity. Then, pathway analysis and inferred ligand/receptor interactions revealed major functional divergences between steroid-sensitive (SS-) and SR-aGVHD, including enrichment of TNFα activation in SR-GVHD, as well as TNF/TNFR, CCL3, CCL4 and IL18 signaling, and decreased interferon α and γ signaling pathways, suggesting that steroid resistance in an intrinsic property of immune cells before any treatment. To go deeper into the understanding of mechanisms at play during SR-aGVHD, we modeled immune trajectories within CD8+T cells and evidenced specific direct transition, from an early naive state to a highly activated one. By contrast, SS-aGVHD involved specific gene signatures across multiple intermediate differentiation stages during cell-to-cell transitions. These findings provide evidence that steroid resistance is driven by intrinsic mechanisms already present at the onset of alloimmune response, that may serve as potential new therapeutic targets.
Interactive visualization and interpretation of pangenome graphs by linear reference–based coordinate projection and annotation integration
Authors: Miao Zepu , Yue Jia-Xing
Published: January 2025

With the increasing availability of high-quality genome assemblies, pangenome graphs emerged as a new paradigm in the genomic field for identifying, encoding, and presenting genomic variation at both the population and species level. However, it remains challenging to truly dissect and interpret pangenome graphs via biologically informative visualization. To facilitate better exploration and understanding of pangenome graphs toward novel biological insights, here we present a web-based interactive visualization and interpretation framework for linear reference–projected pangenome graphs (VRPG). VRPG provides efficient and intuitive support for exploring and annotating pangenome graphs along a linear-genome-based coordinate system (e.g., that of a primary linear reference genome). Moreover, VRPG offers many unique features such as in-graph path highlighting for graph-constituent input assemblies, copy number characterization for graph-embedding nodes, and graph-based mapping for query sequences, all of which are highly valuable for researchers working with pangenome graphs. Additionally, VRPG enables side-by-side visualization between the graph-based pangenome representation and the conventional primary linear reference genome–based feature annotations, therefore seamlessly bridging the graph and linear genomic contexts. To further demonstrate its functionality and scalability, we applied VRPG to the cutting-edge yeast and human reference pangenome graphs derived from hundreds of high-quality genome assemblies via a dedicated web portal and examined their local genome diversity in the graph contexts.
CryoCrane: an open-source GUI for analyzing cryo-EM screening data sets
Authors: Ruickoldt Jakob , Wendler Petra
Published: January 2025

Screening of cryo-EM samples is essential for the generation of high-resolution cryo-EM structures. Often, it is cumbersome to correlate the appearance of specific grid squares and micrograph quality. Here, CryoCrane (Correlate atlas and exposures), a visualization tool for cryo-EM screening data, is presented. It aims to provide an intuitive way to visualize micrographs and to speed up data analysis.
Structural characterization of the ACDC domain from ApiAP2 proteins, a potential molecular target against apicomplexan parasites
Authors: Le Berre Marine , Tubiana Thibault , Reuterswärd Waldner Philippa , Lazar Noureddine , Li de la Sierra-Gallay Ines , Santos Joana M. , Llinás Manuel , Nessler Sylvie
Published: January 2025

The apicomplexan AP2 (ApiAP2) proteins are the best characterized family of DNA-binding proteins in Plasmodium spp. malaria parasites. Apart from the AP2 DNA-binding domain, there is little sequence similarity between ApiAP2 proteins. However, a conserved AP2-coincident domain mostly at the C-terminus (ACDC domain) is observed in a subset of the ApiAP2 proteins. The structure and function of this domain remain unknown. We report two crystal structures of ACDC domains derived from distinct Plasmodium ApiAP2 proteins, revealing a conserved, unique, noncanonical, four-helix bundle architecture. We used these structures to perform in silico docking calculations against a library of known antimalarial compounds and identified potential small-molecule ligands that bind in a highly conserved hydrophobic pocket that is present in all apicomplexan ACDC domains. These ligands provide a new molecular basis for the future design of ACDC inhibitors.
Attitudes towards autistic characters in mainstream series and connections with viewers’ own characteristics: an exploratory study
Authors: Steiner-Hofbauer Verena , Dorczok Marie Celine , Mittmann Gloria
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This exploratory study aims to investigate viewers’ attitudes towards series with autistic characters. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the depiction of autistic characters or characters displaying autistic symptoms in mainstream series. While research calls for a more realistic portrayal of these characters, little is known about viewers’ attitudes towards the portrayal of autistic characters.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an online questionnaire, the authors collected data from 348 young adults regarding their media consumption habits related to 15 different series featuring autistic characters. Additionally, the authors used an emotion recognition task (ERT).

Findings

The results show that participants expressed a stronger preference for series depicting characters with savant abilities compared to more “realistic” portrayals of autism. However, participants with lower scores in the ERT tended to watch series without savantism significantly more often. The findings revealed no significant differences based on sex in terms of viewership or preference for these series. These results suggest that biased or stigmatising portrayals may in part be influenced by viewers’ inclination towards savant characters. This study sheds light on viewers’ perceptions of television series featuring autistic characters, revealing potential preferences and the influence of certain character traits.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the exploratory nature of this study, further research is needed to enhance our understanding of the impact of media portrayals on attitudes towards autism.

Originality/value

The results suggest that biased or stigmatising portrayals may in part be influenced by viewers’ inclination towards savant characters. This study sheds light on viewers’ perceptions of television series featuring autistic characters, revealing potential preferences and the influence of certain character traits.
Giving a little to many or a lot to a few? Examining the role of firms’ strategy and capital in industrial era 4.0
Authors: Blouch Riffat , Khan Muhammad Majid
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to advance and analyze the influence that firms’ diversification approach brings to the businesses’ performance via competitive advantage (CA) and access to capital in a developing economy.

Design/methodology/approach

Using primary mode, the present study uses the sample of 104 diversified manufacturing firms to analyze the conditional indirect effect of firms’ diversification approach on efficient resource allocation using SAS process macros.

Findings

This study corroborates that in the era of uncertainty (when businesses are struggling to survive), a diversification approach can help the firms to build resilience against uncertainties to achieve resource allocation efficiency. Furthermore, findings also reveal that for successful strategic implementation firm’s access to capital (tangible and intellectual capital) play a critical role.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretically, this study has made a sizeable contribution to the resource-based theory of a firm’s literature with a new compositional-based theoretical perspective and also by providing an insight into the relationship between strategic approaches, access to capital and resource allocation efficiency. However, the current study’s ability to provide a deep understanding of the phenomenon was restricted by the lack of data availability and a self-reporting questionnaire approach.

Practical implications

Potential applications of the current research exist for manufacturing industry managers and policymakers to achieve efficiency and CA. This study provides evidence of the obstacles to diversification discounts while allocating resources. At the same time, it provides a crucial connotation for maintaining distinctive tangible and intangible capital for value addition.

Originality/value

The current study fills out by investigating the conditional indirect effect of access to capital in industrial era 4.0. Moreover, according to researchers’ knowledge, this study is the first to establish and empirically investigate a comprehensive model that involves a strategic approach, access to tangible and intellectual capital and performance outcome obtained through the integration of all these crucial factors.
Entropy analysis of convective nanofluid flow with Brownian motion in an annular space between confocal elliptic cylinders
Authors: Mustapha Boussouffi , Sabeur Amina
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of entropy generation (EG) during natural convection within the annular space between confocal elliptic cylinders, with a specific focus on the influence of Brownian motion on nanofluid behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

A finite volume control method was used to conduct a detailed numerical analysis, examining the behavior of various nanofluids across a range of volume concentrations (2%–6%) and Rayleigh numbers. The study explores heat transfer (HT) and fluid flow mechanisms, particularly highlighting the role of nanoparticle Brownian motion in enhancing thermal conductivity.

Findings

The findings reveal that increased Rayleigh numbers significantly improve HT rates, while at lower Rayleigh values, EG is primarily governed by thermodynamic irreversibility. At higher Rayleigh numbers, this irreversibility plays a less dominant role in overall entropy production.

Originality/value

This study offers a novel perspective on the interplay between Rayleigh numbers, Brownian motion and EG, providing valuable insights for optimizing HT processes in engineering applications involving nanofluids.
Rayleigh-type wave in thermo-poroelastic media with dual-phase-lag heat conduction
Authors: Kumar Manjeet , Lather Priyanka , Fu Li-Yun , Kumari Neelam , Kaswan Pradeep , Nianqi Li , Kumari Manjeet
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the propagation of Rayleigh-type surface wave in a porothermoelastic half-space. This study addresses the impact of surface pores characteristics, specific heat, temperature, porosity, wave frequency, types of rock frame and types of pore fluids on the propagation characteristics of Rayleigh-type wave.

Design/methodology/approach

A secular equation is derived, based on the potential functions for both sealed and open surface pores boundary conditions at the stress-free insulated surface of the porothermoelastic medium.

Findings

Propagation characteristics (velocity, attenuation and particle motions) of Rayleigh wave are significantly influenced by boundary conditions (opened or sealed surface pores) and thermal characteristics of materials. Furthermore, the path of particles throughout the propagation of Rayleigh-type waves is identified as elliptical.

Originality/value

A numerical example is considered to examine the effect of thermal characteristics of materials on the existing Rayleigh wave’s propagation characteristics. Graphical analysis is used to evaluate the behavior of particle motion (such as elliptical) at both open and sealed surface of the porothermoelastic medium.
Investigation of tribological performance of PAI and PAI/graphite/PTFE composites under different mediums and working conditions
Authors: Unal Huseyin , Yetgin Salih Hakan , Yılmaz Yasin , Findik Fehim
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the tribological performance of neat polyamide-imide (PAI) and PAI composite (PAI + 12% graphite + 3% polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]) under varying mediums and conditions, including dry sliding, distilled water and seawater lubrication, to determine their suitability for high-stress applications.

Design/methodology/approach

Tribological tests were conducted using a pin-on-disc setup with AISI 316 L stainless steel (SS) as counterface. Experiments were carried out under loads of 150 and 300 N and sliding speeds of 1.5 and 3.0 m/s. Values of temperatures, friction coefficients and wear rates were recorded to analyze the effect of fillers and lubrication mediums.

Findings

The PAI composite outperformed the neat PAI under all conditions, showing significant reductions in friction coefficients and wear rates. Seawater lubrication yielded the best results, achieving friction coefficients of 0.05 and 0.01 and specific wear rates of 18.10−16 m²/N and 1.10 −15 m²/N, for neat PAI and PAI composite, respectively. Graphite and PTFE fillers enhanced lubrication, reduced surface temperatures and mitigated abrasive and adhesive wear mechanisms. Superior cooling and lubrication effects of the seawater contributed to these improvements.

Originality/value

Previous studies mainly focused on dry sliding and distilled water lubrication for the PAI and its composites, with no research on the seawater conditions. This study compares the tribological behaviors of the neat PAI and PAI composite against AISI 316 L SS under dry sliding, distilled water and seawater lubrication.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-08-2024-0302/
Learning and playing style differences between K12 and university students related to educational video games
Authors: Bontchev Boyan , Antonova Albena , Terzieva Valentina , Villarroya Soler Edelia
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This paper presents an in-depth study of learners’ learning and playing styles and their implications for educational video games. This study aims to scrutinize the manifestation of learning and playing styles among learners, to identify the style predispositions and dominance and to assess the implication of these results for educational video games.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a structured model with a detailed methodology for evaluating and categorizing style predisposition and the learner’s dominant learning and playing style. The multimodal style predisposition aggregates several manifested styles at three distinguished levels to achieve more precise differentiation. The authors analyze the outcomes of an empirical field study of 676 K12 and university students, making an in-depth evaluation of their learning and playing styles.

Findings

Based on the presented model to determine the level of preferences and dominance of styles, the study reveals that multimodal style predisposition prevails for both learning and playing styles. Most learners manifest several dominant styles. While the Kinesthetic Visual, Auditory, Read/Write and Kinesthetic (VARK) learning style and Logician and Strategist playing styles prevail, the Read/Write and Competitor styles are the least preferred.

Research limitations/implications

The survey explores particular learning and playing styles – VARK and adaptive technology-enhanced platform for edutainment (ADOPTA). It covers only Bulgarian students, who share common national cultural predispositions. The different sizes of the samples (234 K12 and 432 university students) are also a limitation. Further studies should involve international and equal samples of participants.

Practical implications

Educational video games should reflect the findings about learners’ preferences and predispositions at the planning, design and practical application level.

Social implications

Game-based learning and gamification approaches in education should focus on aspects other than competition.

Originality/value

This paper presents an original methodology for modeling, evaluating and categorizing style predisposition and students’ dominant learning and playing styles and results about these styles of K12 and university students in the context of educational video games.
Viewpoint: from Star Trek to “Service Trek”: these are the voyages of the service community
Authors: Wetzels Martin , Wetzels Ruud , Grewal Dhruv
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Science fiction analogies have been shown to be an effective vehicle for disseminating scientific knowledge and building a better understanding of scientific principles. Toward this end, this study aims to use the Star Trek universe as a lens in an effort to remove barriers to understanding the science of service research.

Design/methodology/approach

This study synthesizes research on using science fiction narratives in sparking dialogue within and beyond scientific communities, draws parallels between the Star Trek universe and the service research domain and uses these insights to identify pertinent ways forward.

Findings

In the service research domain, science fiction analogies and dramaturgical metaphors can challenge researchers to reflect beyond the domain’s traditional boundaries. In fact, the Star Trek universe lends itself as visionary backdrop to assess leadership principles, understand the evolution of scientific paradigms and inspire future service research.

Originality/value

This article contributes to the service research literature by introducing the notion of drawing on science fiction analogies to facilitate key dialogues in a scientific context and demonstrates how such analogies can be used to provide guidance in moving the service research discipline forward.
China’s unnatural(ized) “Aliens”: the ongoing saga of non-citizen, internal migrants
Authors: Solinger Dorothy J.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to assess the enduring lack of citizenship for rural migrants coming to cities to work, and the extent to which there has been any progress in altering their status in past decades.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a narrative approach, relying on documentary sources. It takes a chronological approach in evaluating signs of progress but mainly tells a story of long-term continuity in the treatment of outsiders – even though they are from their own country – by urban officials and citizens.

Findings

The main finding is that the management of rural migrants in China’s cities has not fundamentally improved in the 40-plus years since they were released from the communes and permitted to come to cities to work. This is despite various pronouncements of change, most of which mattered little, if at all, in the implementation.

Originality/value

This study applies the concept of “citizenship” to what has been done and, mostly not done, for migrants over the past decades.
Transactive memory systems in supply chain teams: role of lone wolf tendencies, technology ease of use and team collaboration
Authors: Yang Willow , Riley Jason M. , Ellegood William A.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to understand the influence of lone wolf tendencies, technology ease of use and team collaboration on the development of transactive memory systems (TMSs) and, consequently, their impact on the performance of supply chain and operations teams.

Design/methodology/approach

By using a comprehensive operations management simulation involving 160 business student teams, this research tests five hypothesized relationships using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Lone wolf tendencies, technology ease of use and team collaboration contribute positively to an efficient TMS. This group cognitive system, in turn, strengthens a team’s competitive position and operational efficiency. This study highlights the need to reevaluate traditional management practices that discourage candidates with lone wolf characteristics. In addition, it shows that technology ease of use not only affects individual productivity as highlighted by the technology acceptance model but also influences the team knowledge system.

Originality/value

This study deepens understanding of the antecedents and consequences of TMSs in supply chain management. Lone wolf tendencies, characterized by independent work proclivity, are common in supply chain teams due to task complexities. Prior research on the impact of lone wolf behavior has yielded mixed results. Furthermore, although Industry 4.0 technologies are widely adopted in supply chain operations, it remains unclear how ease of using these complex technologies affects TMSs and team performance. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is among the first to investigate the influence of lone wolf tendencies and technology ease of use on group cognitive systems.
Approximation for reflection and transmission at a thin isotropic poroelastic bed between two isotropic elastic half‐spaces
Authors: Yang Chun , Stovas Alexey , Wang Yun , Qu Jie , He Xueming
Published: January 2025

Seismic responses from a horizontal poroelastic layer provide chances to detect fluids and characterize reservoirs. The poroelastic layer can be considered a thin poroelastic bed if the layer's thickness is less than about one‐eighth of the P‐wave wavelength. Most previous theoretical studies on the reflection and transmission of waves in a model containing a thin poroelastic bed employ fluid or poroelastic medium as the overlying media. Existing approximate formulas of PP‐wave reflection coefficients are given for P‐wave normal‐incidence. Thus, this paper derived the wave reflection and transmission approximate formulas of a thin poroelastic bed between two elastic half‐spaces with P‐wave oblique incident. First, we illustrated the exact reflection and transmission matrix equations for P‐wave incidents based on poroelasticity theory and the boundary conditions. Assuming the poroelastic bed's thickness is far less than wavelengths of S‐ and P‐waves, approximate reflection and transmission formulas are expanded in Taylor series centred at value of the parameter defined as the product of angular frequency, thickness and slowness. Numerical results show that the thinner the poroelastic layer, the closer the approximate reflection and transmission coefficients are to the exact ones. The approximate formulas are valid for small and medium angles. Approximated PP‐wave reflection and transmission coefficients are closer to the exact values than those of the converted waves, which is caused by the fact that P‐wave has a lower slowness than S‐wave.
Strategic planting and nutrient amendments to accelerate the revegetation of rapidly retreating coastal dunes
Authors: Morton Joseph P. , Fischman Hallie S. , Cordero Orlando , Crabill Jonathan T. , Anthony Morgen R. , Schneider Mary A. , Adams Peter N. , Angelini Christine
Published: January 2025

The increasing frequency and severity of disturbances to coastal dune ecosystems requires developing and implementing restoration strategies that rapidly accelerate re‐establishment of vegetation, enhance dune accretion, and ultimately preserve dune ecosystem services.

To assess how to rapidly re‐establish vegetation to counter ecosystem losses, we conducted a manipulative field experiment on a created foredune crest in Northeast Florida, USA to determine what combinations of planting density, outplant species composition, and nutrient addition maximize dune revegetation rate.

Above‐ground biomass in densely planted plots with added nutrients was 4.7–7.3 times that of plots planted at conventional restoration densities after only 3 months.

Critically, thickly vegetated, high‐density plots with nutrient addition accreted 1–5 cm more sediment after 3 months and 7.5–22 cm more sediment after 15 months, demonstrating that this planting method can rapidly kickstart dune‐building processes.

Additionally, above‐ and below‐ground biomass in densely planted, fertilized plots containing bitter panicum (Panicum amarum) were consistently higher and accreted more sand than similar plots planted with sea oats (Uniola paniculata), suggesting that planting schemes involving this early successional species may be most effective for rapid dune‐building.

Synthesis and applications. Because coupling nutrient addition with dense planting can trigger self‐sustaining, reinforcing plant growth and dune‐building feedbacks within only months, this planting approach may help to enhance the long‐term success of dune restoration projects.
Product innovation of non‐alcoholic barley‐based teas and kombucha: Consumer preferences and emotional responses
Authors: Martínez‐Subirà M. , Colonna A. , Hayes P.
Published: January 2025

This research explores consumer preferences and emotional reactions to beverages made from roasted barley and examines the possibility of launching a new product line featuring Streaker barley grown in the Pacific Northwest. Utilizing hedonic scales, just‐about‐right scales, and check‐all‐that‐apply questions, a sensory evaluation was conducted. The study reveals two distinct consumer clusters, each exhibiting contrasting preferences and responses to novel beverages incorporating Streaker barley. Cluster 1 comprises younger individuals with prior exposure to barley teas and kombucha, exhibiting a preference for bold flavors and displaying resilience toward harsher product attributes like astringency. Products utilizing a bolder flavor profile, achieved through the roasting process of Streaker barley, resonate well with this segment, particularly the ginger‐infused barley tea and innovative barley kombucha variants. In contrast, Cluster 2 consumers, characterized by adverse reactions to strongly flavored, bitter, and astringent beverages, demonstrate a lack of enthusiasm toward these offerings. The study underscores the significance of understanding consumer preferences and tailoring product formulations accordingly. Familiarity with traditional beverages and openness to novel experiences significantly influence consumer responses, highlighting the importance of striking a balance between familiarity and innovation. These findings provide valuable insights for developing Streaker barley beverages that align with diverse consumer tastes, ultimately facilitating market acceptance and success. By leveraging consumer insights, producers can navigate the evolving landscape of beverage preferences and effectively position Streaker barley products in the market.

Practical Application

This research can inform beverage companies in developing roasted barley‐based beverages that cater to diverse consumer preferences and emotions. By understanding consumer preferences and emotional responses, companies can tailor their product development strategies to create appealing beverages that resonate with different consumer segments. This could lead to the introduction of new barley‐based beverages that meet the growing demand for healthier, flavorful, and innovative options in the market.
Roles of oolong tea extracts in the protection against Staphylococcus aureus infection in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Meng Xiaolin , Liu Yuju , Yang Ximiao , Chen Jianwen , Liu Tong , Liao Zhenlin , Fang Xiang , Wang Jie
Published: January 2025

Oolong tea, a popular traditional Chinese tea, possesses various bioactivities, but little is known about its roles in the protection against pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, in vivo. This study investigated the roles of the water‐soluble oolong tea extracts (OTE) on S. aureus infection in Caenorhabditis elegans, a promising model to study the host‐microbe interactions in vivo. Pretreatment with OTE (0.6% and 1.2%) and co‐treatment with OTE and S. aureus extended the lifespan by 11.16%–30.37%, increased the body bends by 36.49%–101.39%, inhibited the lipid accumulation by 11.71%–35.21% and S. aureus colonization in the intestine by 5.02%–30.68%, and enhanced the mitochondrial transmembrane potential by 51.92%–74.83%, compared with the control groups where worms were fed with S. aureus. Moreover, pretreatment with OTE and co‐treatment with OTE and S. aureus suppressed the production of reactive oxygen species, increased the production of glutathione and superoxide dismutases (SODs), and altered the transcripts of genes encoding SODs, glutathione‐S‐transferases, and antimicrobial proteins and peptides in different ways. Furthermore, pretreatment with OTE failed to extend the lifespan of the nematode mutants defective in age‐1, akt‐2, skn‐1, or hsf‐1, and co‐treatment with OTE and S. aureus could not extend the lifespan of the nematode mutants defective in age‐1, akt‐2, sek‐1, pmk‐1, mpk‐1, or skn‐1. These findings indicated that OTE exhibited the preventive and protective effects on S. aureus infection by increasing the antioxidant properties and expression of antimicrobial proteins and peptides via insulin/IGF‐1 and/or p38/ERK mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and transcription factor SKN‐1 and/or HSF‐1, which implied OTE could be used as a potential food additive to prevent S. aureus infection.

Practical Application

Staphylococcus aureus is harmful to animal and human health, such as leading to immune system disorders. This study demonstrated that oolong tea extracts could be a potential additive used in food and feeds to protect animal and human from S. aureus infection by increasing the antioxidant properties and the expression of antimicrobial proteins and peptides.