bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The shape of dendritic tips: a test of theory with computations and experiments
Authors: Alexandrov Dmitri V. , Toropova Liubov V. , Titova Ekaterina A. , Kao Andrew , Demange Gilles , Galenko Peter K. , Rettenmayr Markus
Published: July 2021

This article is devoted to the study of the tip shape of dendritic crystals grown from a supercooled liquid. The recently developed theory (Alexandrov & Galenko 2020Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A378, 20190243. (doi:10.1098/rsta.2019.0243)), which defines the shape function of dendrites, was tested against computational simulations and experimental data. For a detailed comparison, we performed calculations using two computational methods (phase-field and enthalpy-based methods), and also made a comparison with experimental data from various research groups. As a result, it is shown that the recently found shape function describes the tip region of dendritic crystals (at the crystal vertex and some distance from it) well.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Transport phenomena in complex systems (part 1)’.
The impact of a demand-side sanitation and hygiene promotion intervention on sustained behavior change and health in Amhara, Ethiopia: a cluster-randomized trial
Authors: Freeman Matthew C. , Delea Maryann G. , Snyder Jedidiah S. , Garn Joshua V. , Belew Mulusew , Caruso Bethany A. , Clasen Thomas F. , Sclar Gloria D. , Tesfaye Yihenew , Woreta Mulat , Zewudie Kassahun , Gebremariam Abebe
Published: July 2021

Background

Behaviors related to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are key drivers of infectious disease transmission, and experiences of WASH are potential influencers of mental well-being. Important knowledge gaps exist related to the content and delivery of effective WASH programs and their associated health impacts, particularly within the contexts of government programs implemented at scale.

Methods

We developed and tested a demand-side intervention calledAndilaye, which aimed to change behaviors related to sanitation, personal hygiene, and household environmental sanitation. This theory-informed intervention was delivered through the existing Ethiopian Health Extension Programme (HEP). It was a multilevel intervention with a catalyzing event at community level and behavior change activities at group and household level. We randomly selected and assigned 50kebeles(sub-districts) from threeworedas(districts), half to receive theAndilayeintervention, and half the standard of care sanitation and hygiene programming (i.e., community-led total sanitation and hygiene [CLTSH]). We collected data on WASH access, behavioral outcomes, and mental well-being.

Results

A total of 1,589 households were enrolled into the study at baseline; 1,472 households (94%) participated in an endline assessment two years after baseline, and approximately 14 months after the initiation of a multi-level intervention. The intervention did not improve construction of latrines (prevalence ratio [PR] 0.99; 95% CI: 0.82, 1.21) or handwashing stations with water (PR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.72, 1.26), or the removal of animal feces from the compound (PR=1.10; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.28). Nor did it impact anxiety (PR 0.90; 95% CI: 0.72, 1.11), depression (PR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.64, 1.07), emotional distress (PR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.67,1.09) or well-being (PR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.74, 1.10) scores.

Discussion

We report limited impact of the intervention, as delivered, on changes inbehavior and mental well-being. The effectiveness of the intervention was limited by poor intervention fidelity. While sanitation and hygiene improvements have been documented in Ethiopia, behavioral slippage, or regression to unimproved practices, in communities previously declared open defecation free is widespread. Evidence from this trial may help address knowledge gaps related to challenges associated with scalable alternatives to CLTSH and inform sanitation and hygiene programming and policy in Ethiopia and beyond.

Trial registration

This trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03075436) on March 9, 2017.
Genetically-based adaptive trait shifts at an expanding mangrove range margin
Authors: Kennedy John Paul , Johnson Giles N. , Preziosi Richard F. , Rowntree Jennifer K.
Published: July 2021

Many species are expanding beyond their distributional range margins in response to a warming planet. Due to marginal environmental conditions and novel selection pressures, range margins may foster unique genetic adaptations that can better enable species to thrive under the extreme climatic conditions at and beyond their current distributional limits. Neotropical black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) is expanding poleward into temperate salt marsh along Atlantic Florida, USA, with field evidence of adaptive trait shifts within range-margin A. germinans populations. However, whether these adaptive shifts have a genetic basis remains to be answered.

We monitored twenty A. germinans maternal cohorts from areas in both the Atlantic Florida range core and margin in a greenhouse common garden with annual temperatures analogous to range-margin conditions. We measured variation in a series of phenotypic traits starting at initial planting of field-collected propagules and continuing until two years development.

Maternal cohorts from the Atlantic Florida range margin consistently outperformed those from the range core throughout the experiment. Range-margin cohorts survived in greater numbers, established faster, and were less stressed under winter chilling and sub-zero temperatures that are often reached at the Atlantic range margin, but not within the range core. Range-margin cohorts did not grow taller, but instead invested more into lateral growth and biomass accumulation that presumably reflects adaptation to their colder and open canopy environment. Range-margin cohorts also exhibited leaf traits consistent with greater resource acquisition that may compensate for a shorter growing season and reduced light quality at higher latitude.

Synthesis. We confirmed that there is a genetic basis to adaptive trait shifts towards an expanding mangrove range margin. Our results suggest that genetically-based phenotypic differences better enable these range-margin mangroves to thrive within their stressful environment and may facilitate further poleward expansion in the future. In addition, our documentation of adaptive trait variation among maternal cohorts of an ecologically-important mangrove foundation species, quantitative data that is lacking for mangroves, should help inform mangrove restoration initiatives.
Darwin’s small and medium ground finches might have taste preferences, but not for human foods
Authors: Lever D. , Rush L. V. , Thorogood R. , Gotanda K. M.
Published: July 2021

Urbanization is rapidly changing ecological niches. On the inhabited Galapagos Islands, Darwin’s finches consume human-introduced foods preferentially; however, it remains unclear why. Here we presented pastry with flavour profiles typical of human foods (oily, salty, sweet) to small ground finches (Geospiza fuliginosa) and medium ground finches (Geospiza fortis) to test if latent taste preferences might drive selection of human foods. If human-food flavours were consumed more than a neutral or bitter control only at sites with human foods, then we predicted tastes were acquired after urbanization; however, if no site-differences were found then this would indicate latent taste preferences. Contrary to both predictions, we found little evidence that human-food flavours were preferred compared to control flavours at any site. Instead, finches showed a weak aversion to oily foods, but only at remote (no human foods present) sites. This was further supported by behavioural responses, with beak wiping occurring more often at remote sites after finches tasted flavours associated with human foods. Our results suggest, therefore, that while Darwin’s finches may have acquired a tolerance to the flavours of human food, latent taste preferences are unlikely to have played a major role in their dietary response to increased urbanization.
ARF4-mediated Retrograde Trafficking Drives Chemoresistance in Glioblastoma
Authors: Budhiraja Shreya , Baisiwala Shivani , Perrault Ella , Cho Sia , Nandoliya Khizar , Dara Gabriel , Zolp Andrew , Chen Li , Dmello Crismita , Park Cheol H. , Sonabend Adam M , Ahmed Atique U
Published: July 2021

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common type of adult malignant brain tumor, with a median survival of only 21 months. This is partly due to the high rate of resistance to conventional therapy, including temozolomide (TMZ), leading to recurrence rates close to 100%. It still remains unknown what drives the development of this resistance. To identify the unknown genes driving the development of this resistance, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen comparing a DMSO-treated population with a TMZ-treated population over 14 days. We identified 4 previously unstudied genes – ARF4, PLAA, SPTLC1, and PIGK – that showed significant elevations in expression in recurrent tumors in patient datasets, along with significant survival benefits corresponding to low gene expression. Further investigation of ARF4, known to be involved in retrograde trafficking, allowed us to identify a mechanism of resistance that is mediated by increased retrograde transport of EGFR into the nucleus. Ultimately, our CRISPR-Cas9 screen has identified a promising therapeutic target, ARF4, which may drive GBM’s high resistance to chemotherapy.
The age and mouse sperm quality – a flow cytometry investigation
Authors: Zacchini Federica , Bochenek Michal , Bisogno Simona , Chan Alan , Ptak Grazyna Ewa
Published: July 2021

Postponement of fatherhood is growing worldwide due to socio-economic factors. The choice to conceive the first child above the age of 35 years is often associated with reduced fertility and poor pregnancy outcome. As widely known, several factors (e.g., lifestyle, environment, health problems) can affect spermatogenesis leading to poor reproductive outcome. Currently, the debate on the influence of aging on male gametes and safety/risk of conception at advanced age is still ongoing. Controversial results have been published so far on the changes in semen features of aging men and other mammalian species (mainly rodents). In this study, we aimed to assess how aging affects sperm quality in an inbreed mouse model, without underlying infertility, using a flow cytometry approach. Our data showed that aging is associated with increased sperm chromatin condensation, but not changes in the DNA integrity, metabolic activity or viability. These data suggest a mild effect of aging on sperm quality in a mouse model without underlying infertility.
Identification and characterization of hPSC-derived FOXA2+ progenitor cells with ventricular cardiac differentiation potential
Authors: Calderon Damelys , Wickramasinghe Nadeera , Sarrafha Leili , Schaniel Christoph , Chen Shuibing , Tomishima Mark , Dubois Nicole C.
Published: July 2021

While much progress has been made in understanding early cardiac development, the precise mechanisms that specify the different cardiomyocyte subtypes remain poorly understood. Recent data from our lab have shown that transient Foxa2 expression identifies a progenitor population with exclusive ventricular differentiation potential in the mouse heart. Here we have translated this concept to the human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) system. Using a FOXA2-GFP reporter cell line we characterized expression of FOXA2 during hPSC cardiac differentiation and found that a subset of cardiac mesoderm precursors transiently expresses FOXA2. Gene expression analysis of FOXA2+ and FOXA2- cardiac mesoderm revealed that both populations similarly express early cardiac specification markers such as PDGFRA, TBX5, and ISL1, while other key candidates including TBX20 and GATA4 are significantly upregulated in the FOXA2+ population. Isolation and subsequent differentiation of FOXA2+ and FOXA2- populations demonstrates their comparable differentiation potential to both cardiomyocytes and epicardial cells. However, cardiomyocytes derived from FOXA2+ precursors showed enhanced differentiation efficiency toward ventricular cardiomyocytes compared to cardiomyocytes derived from FOXA2- precursors. To identify new mechanisms that regulate ventricular specification, we performed small molecule screening and found that inhibition of the EGFR pathway strongly increased the cardiac mesoderm population in general, and the FOXA2+ precursors in particular. Finally, we have identified a combination of cell surface markers to specifically isolate FOXA2+ cardiac precursors. In summary, our results suggest that FOXA2+ cardiac mesoderm harbors ventricular-specific differentiation potential and isolation of these cells permits the generation of cultures enriched for ventricular cardiomyocytes. Generating such enriched cardiac populations will be relevant for regenerative medicine approaches, as well as for disease modeling from induced pluripotent stem cells.
SARS-CoV-2 infection in fully vaccinated individuals of old age strongly boosters the humoral immune response
Authors: Müller Lisa , Andrée Marcel , Ostermann Philipp Niklas , Jazmati Nathalie , Flüh Greta , Fischer Johannes , Bölke Edwin , Wisplinghoff Hilmar , Schaal Heiner , Drexler Ingo , Walker Andreas , Adams Ortwin , Timm Jörg
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Prophylactic vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is one of the most important measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, break-through infections following vaccination against this virus have been reported. Here, we describe the humoral immune response of break-through infections in fully vaccinated individuals of old age from an outbreak in a nursery home.

Methods

In cooperation with the local health authority, blood samples from fully vaccinated and infected as well as fully vaccinated and uninfected residents of the nursery home were collected four weeks after the onset of the outbreak. The humoral immune response was determined in a neutralisation assay with replication-competent virus isolates and by a quantitative ELISA.

Results

In this outbreak a total of 23 residents and four health care workers were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Four residents were unvaccinated, including one with a severe course of disease who later deceased. Despite their old age, all vaccinated residents showed no or only mild disease. Comparison of the humoral immune response revealed significantly higher antibody levels in fully vaccinated infected individuals compared to fully vaccinated uninfected individuals (p<0.001). Notably, although only a minority of the vaccinated uninfected group showed neutralisation capacity against SARS-CoV-2, all vaccinated and infected individuals showed high-titer neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2 including the alpha and beta variant.

Discussion

Large SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks can occur in fully vaccinated populations, but seem to associate with mild disease. SARS-CoV-2 infection in fully vaccinated individuals is a strong booster of the humoral immune response providing enhanced neutralisation capacity against immune evasion variants.
The impacts of introducing voids combinations on indoor ventilation performance in high-rise residential buildings
Authors: Laloui Hamza , Abdul Majid Noor Hanita , Sanusi Aliyah Nur Zafirah
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate and evaluate the impacts of the voids combination as a passive design feature on wind-driven ventilation performance in high-rise residential building units. It proposes a series of building models and thereon indoor ventilation performance and outlining why and how these building models designed with architectural design features are important. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how natural ventilation as a passive cooling strategy in living units of high-rise residential buildings can be applied through improving the provision of the architectural design feature of voids configurations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was carried out through field measurements experiment and the computational fluid dynamics methods. A series of numerical simulations were carried out to calculate the indoor ventilation rate inside the case studies of the generated building models based on various variables such as horizontal voids type, size and wind directions.

Findings

The results indicate that the provision of a single-sided horizontal voids in building models can improve the indoor ventilation rate in units with cross ventilation mode up to 4 times, depending on wind direction and living unit location. The indoor ventilation performance in units located in models with single-sided horizontal voids is 17.54% higher than the units located in models without voids configuration. Furthermore, higher indoor ventilation performance was achieved in the case scenarios located at higher levels compared to the middle and lower levels in both horizontal voids types.

Originality/value

This study explores the application of voids combinations for natural ventilation performance, investigates the numerical simulation results and validates field measurements experiment data using CFD simulation.
Radiative MHD hybrid-nanofluids flow over a permeable stretching surface with heat source/sink embedded in porous medium
Authors: Agrawal Priyanka , Dadheech Praveen Kumar , Jat R.N. , Baleanu Dumitru , Purohit Sunil Dutt
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the comparative analysis between three hybrid nanofluids flow past a permeable stretching surface in a porous medium with thermal radiation. Uniform magnetic field is applied together with heat source and sink. Three set of different hybrid nanofluids with water as a base fluid having suspension of Copper-Aluminum Oxide

(Cu−Al2O3), Silver-Aluminum Oxide

(Ag−Al2O3) and Copper-Silver

(Cu−Ag) nanoparticles are considered. The Marangoni boundary condition is applied.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing model of the flow is solved by Runga–Kutta fourth-order method with shooting technique, using appropriate similarity transformations. Temperature and velocity field are explained by the figures for many flow pertinent parameters.

Findings

Almost same behavior is observed for all the parameters presented in this analysis for the three set of hybrid nanofluids. For increased mass transfer wall parameter (

fw) and Prandtl Number (Pr), heat transfer rate cuts down for all three sets of hybrid nanofluids, and reverse effect is seen for radiation parameter (R), and heat source/sink parameter (

δ).

Practical implications

The thermal conductivity of hybrid nanofluids is much larger than the conventional fluids; thus, heat transfer efficiency can be improved with these fluids and its implications can be seen in the fields of biomedical, microelectronics, thin-film stretching, lubrication, refrigeration, etc.

Originality/value

The current analysis is to optimize heat transfer of three different radiative hybrid nanofluids (

Cu−Al2O3/H2O,

Ag−Al2O3/H2O and

Cu−Ag/H2O) over stretching surface after applying heat source/sink with Marangoni convection. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is new and never published before.
Problems of adoption of solar power and subsequent switching behavior: an exploration in India
Authors: Roy Subhadip , Mohapatra Subhalaxmi
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The challenges and factors of household adoption and the use of alternative energy sources have been a point of discussion among researchers. The purpose of this study is to apply a variant of the unified theory of adoption and use of technology (i.e. UTAUT 2) to explore the effect of various constructs that influence technology adoption on the consumers’ intention to adopt (and use) solar power generators (SPG) at the household level and the subsequent switching behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on survey data collected from six cities in India (n = 1,246), factor analysis and structural equation modeling are applied for data analysis and testing the study hypotheses.

Findings

The results of the structural equation model found UTAUT constructs performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and hedonic to positively affect behavioral intentions to adopt SPG. However, facilitating conditions and perceived value was not found to affect behavioral intentions to adopt SPG. Behavioral intentions to adopt SPG was found to positively influence the switching behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The present study augments the domain of alternative energy usage behavior by applying the UTAUT 2 in the adoption of alternative energy sources (namely, solar) and subsequent switching behavior from traditional sources at the household level.

Practical implications

The findings from the present study will guide the marketers and policymakers on the consumer attitudinal and behavioral aspects of solar energy usage at the household level and subsequent switching behavior.

Originality/value

The present study is novel as it moves beyond household-level behavioral intention to use solar energy and includes the switching behavior to shift to solar power from traditional energy sources.
Advantages and disadvantages of regularly using a laptop computer in class, in primary and secondary schools and in higher education from the point of view of preservice teachers
Authors: Zilka Gila Cohen
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Education systems worldwide are facing the question whether to adopt the “Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)” approach and allow students to bring their personal laptops to school. The purpose of the study was to understand the advantages and disadvantages of using a laptop during lessons in schools and in institutions of higher education, from the perspective of preservice teachers who watch the lessons and practice teaching in schools, while studying at an institution of higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The research questions were: What are the pros and cons of a regular use of personal laptops during lessons? How do learners use their laptop during lessons in schools and colleges? This was a mixed-method study with emphasis on quality analysis. Methods. Participants were 215 preservice teachers studying at academic institutions for teacher training in Israel.

Findings

The findings indicate that the benefits of using laptops are in the availability and accessibility of the digital environments and the many possibilities to integrate these environments and achieve goals of acquiring skills in the process of learning and teaching that takes place in the classroom. The findings further show that all learners, and especially adolescents, extensively and frequently use various digital developments.

Research limitations/implications

This study examined the integration of laptops in the teaching and learning processes of preservice teachers who are in the process of forming their identity as future professionals teaching in the twenty-first century. The lessons chosen by preservice teachers to conduct during their teaching practicum have not been examined, therefore it is desirable that future studies examine the way in which preservice teachers choose the lessons to teach and how they practice teaching: whether in the traditional or the constructivist way, and if so, why?

Practical implications

It is advisable to enable preservice teachers to look at a combination of digital environments in teaching and to experience teaching in these environments, to increase e-readiness for teaching in a digital environment.

Social implications

How do learners use their laptops during lessons in school and in higher education?

Originality/value

Acquiring skills in the process of learning and teaching that takes place in the classroom.
Regional economic integration, natural resources and foreign direct investment in SADC
Authors: Adika Gameli
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the role of economic integration and natural resources and foreign direct investment (FDI) complementarity in explaining economic growth in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed the ordinary least square-random effects and the generalized two-stage least square instrumental variables (IV) regression to examine the relationship between the variables.

Findings

The authors find that regional economic integration and natural resource abundance are essential for promoting economic growth. The results further show a potential resource curse phenomenon, offset by the complementary effect of FDI in resource-rich countries. The findings are robust after conditioning for different measures of institutional quality.

Practical implications

The findings suggest the need for deeper regional trade integration and international cooperation, prudent natural resource management and concerted effort toward economic diversification.

Originality/value

Many studies have examined the determinants of economic growth in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). However, these studies did not incorporate or assess the potential of economic integration in the region. Moreover, studies that examined the growth effects of FDI did not assess the complementary role of the region's natural resource endowment which potentially drives FDI inflows. This study fills these gaps and provides a robust analysis of economic growth drivers in the region.
How do executive pay and its gap with employee pay influence corporate performance? Evidence from Thailand tourism listed companies
Authors: Ferry Laurence , He Guanming , Yang Chang
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The authors investigate how executive pay and its gap with employee pay influence the performance of Thailand tourism listed companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors manually collect data on the executives' and employees' remunerations for Thailand tourism listed companies and use the data for the authors’ OLS regression analysis. To check the robustness of the results to potential endogeneity issues, the authors employ the two-stage least-squares regression analysis and the impact threshold for a confounding variable approach.

Findings

The authors find that short-term executive compensation enhances firm performance, and that long-term executive compensation reduces the likelihood of unfavorable corporate performance. The authors also find that the gap in short-term pay between executives and employees has an inverted-U relation with firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study suggests that higher executive pay relative to employee pay could encourage executives to work hard to improve corporate performance, but that too large a pay gap between executives and employees could impair employees' morale and harm firm performance.

Practical implications

It is important for tourism companies to not only pay executives well but also avoid too large a pay gap between executives and employees.

Social implications

This study implies the important role of compensation design in contributing to employee engagement and good performance for tourism firms.

Originality/value

This study sheds light on agency problems between executives and employees in tourism companies and provides new evidence and insights on compensation research in the tourism sector in emerging markets.
Selection of Islamic banking in a multicultural context: the role of gender and religion
Authors: ElMassah Suzanna , Abou-El-Sood Heba
Published: July 2021

Purpose

As the popularity of Islamic banking and financial instruments continues to rise globally, a recurring empirical question is what specifically makes consumers choose Islamic banking. This paper aims to investigate the determinants of bank type selection, especially in culturally diverse settings where the Islamic banking sector is well-established. It further examines whether consumers’ gender/religion influences their choices. One intuitive prediction is that Muslim consumers opt for Islamic banking products as “ethical” because of conviction-related reasons. However, the reality is not necessarily straightforward.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses structural equation modeling to examine data collected from a survey questionnaire of 790 respondents in an emerging market setting. Further analysis is made based on gender and religion to remove related bias.

Findings

Results suggest that overall consumer awareness significantly affects the selection of Islamic banking products. The positive effect of awareness is more significant for Muslim consumers relative to non-Muslims. Interestingly, social stimuli and bank attributes have an insignificant effect on the banking choices of both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Practical implications

Results suggest that Islamic banks’ marketing managers should adopt differentiated strategies for men and women, focusing on the core benefits of the service or personal interactions with consumers, respectively, along with a focus on different aspects of personal service for each gender. Awareness should be enhanced by adopting informative and effective marketing strategies to attract and retain consumers in the competitive bank environment. Islamic banks (IB) should pay attention to the religious effect without considering it as the sole variable motivating potential customers. They should design segmented and customized marketing strategies based on gender-religion market segmentation to suit different groups’ needs.

Originality/value

The findings fill a gap in the literature and provide Islamic bankers with insights to help design and articulate their business strategies to appeal to consumers in a multicultural context. Examining an integral part of gender and religion mitigates biased estimates due to the omission of variables. The study contributes to the existing literature on customer preferences for IB with a relatively large, new data set.
Supportless printing of lattice structures by metal fused filament fabrication (MF3) of Ti-6Al-4V: design and analysis
Authors: Shaikh Mohammad Qasim , Graziosi Serena , Atre Sundar Vedanarayan
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the feasibility of supportless printing of lattice structures by metal fused filament fabrication (MF3) of Ti-6Al-4V. Additionally, an empirical method was presented for the estimation of extrudate deflection in unsupported regions of lattice cells for different geometric configurations.

Design/methodology/approach

Metal-polymer feedstock with a solids-loading of 59 Vol.% compounded and extruded into a filament was used for three-dimensional printing of lattice structures. A unit cell was used as a starting point, which was then extended to multi-stacked lattice structures. Feasible MF3 processing conditions were identified to fabricate defect-free lattice structures. The effects of lattice geometry parameters on part deflection and relative density were investigated at the unit cell level. Computational simulations were used to predict the part quality and results were verified by experimental printing. Finally, using the identified processing and geometry parameters, multi-stacked lattice structures were successfully printed and sintered.

Findings

Lattice geometry required considerable changes in MF3 printing parameters as compared to printing bulk parts. Lattice cell dimensions showed a considerable effect on dimensional variations and relative density due to varying aspect ratios. The experimental printing of lattice showed large deflection/sagging in unsupported regions due to gravity, whereas simulation was unable to estimate such deflection. Hence, an analytical model was presented to estimate extrudate deflections and verified with experimental results. Lack of diffusion between beads was observed in the bottom facing surface of unsupported geometry of sintered unit cells as an effect of extrudate sagging in the green part stage. This study proves that MF3 can fabricate fully dense Ti-6Al-4V lattice structures that appear to be a promising candidate for applications where mechanical performance, light-weighting and design customization are required.

Originality/value

Supportless printing of lattice structures having tiny cross-sectional areas and unsupported geometries is highly challenging for an extrusion-based additive manufacturing (AM) process. This study investigated the AM of Ti-6Al-4V supportless lattice structures using the MF3 process for the first time.
Antifungal weapons of Lysobacter, a mighty biocontrol agent
Authors: Lin Long , Xu Kangwen , Shen Danyu , Chou Shan‐Ho , Gomelsky Mark , Qian Guoliang
Published: July 2021

Bacteria interact with fungi in a variety of ways to inhibit fungal growth, while the underlying mechanisms remain only partially characterized. The plant‐beneficial Bacillus and Pseudomonas species are well‐known antifungal biocontrol agents, whereas Lysobacter are far less studied. Members of Lysobacter are easy to grow in fermenters and are safe to humans, animals and plants. These environmentally ubiquitous bacteria use a diverse arsenal of weapons to prey on other microorganisms, including fungi and oomycetes. The small molecular toxins secreted by Lysobacter represent long‐range weapons effective against filamentous fungi. The secreted hydrolytic enzymes act as intermediate‐range weapons against non‐filamentous fungi. The contact‐dependent killing devices are proposed to work as short‐range weapons. We describe here the structure, biosynthetic pathway, action mode and applications of one of the best‐characterized long‐range weapons, the heat‐stable antifungal factor (HSAF) produced by Lysobacter enzymogenes. We discuss how the flagellar type III secretion system has evolved into an enzyme secretion machine for the intermediate‐range antifungal weapons. We highlight an intricate mechanism coordinating the production of the long‐range weapon, HSAF and the proposed contact‐dependent killing device, type VI secretion system. We also overview the regulatory mechanisms of HSAF production involving specific transcription factors and the bacterial second messenger c‐di‐GMP.
Constitutive Powers of Executive Bodies: a Functional Analysis of the Single Resolution Board
Authors: Mendes Joana
Published: July 2021

Executive bodies can acquire constitutive powers, even if subject to detailed substantive strictures. Constitutive powers give executive bodies the possibility to transform normative understandings of the meaning of norms and of the goals of public action into legal forms. These bodies thus engage in a jurisgenerative process that enables them to progressively delimit their legal mandates in reaction to socio‐economic and political realities. The article illustrates this argument by examining the power of the EU Single Resolution Board (SRB) to determine the resolution of a bank in crisis. It concludes that, in view of constitutive powers, the normative demands that the EU legal system places on executive and administrative bodies must be reconsidered. On that basis and to that effect, mechanisms of accountability should be reconceptualised and reoriented.
Characterization of a traditional ripened cheese, Kurdish Kope: Lipolysis, lactate metabolism, the release profile of volatile compounds, and correlations with sensory characteristics
Authors: Esmaeilzadeh Peiman , Ehsani Mohammad Reza , Mizani Maryam , Givianrad Mohammad Hadi
Published: July 2021

Kope cheese has been characterized based on gross chemical composition, free fatty acids (FFAs), organic acids (OAs), volatile compounds (VCs), and sensory attributes (SAs) during 187 days of the ripening period. C16:0, C18:1cisΔ9, and C14:0 were the most abundant FFAs. Lactic and acetic acids were the most prevalent OAs affecting sensory properties. principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that butanoic acid, butyl hexanoate, and 2,3‐butanediol were as key VCs. Protein contents, pH (based on FFA and OA), salt in the moisture (S/M), and water activity (aw) (based on VC and SA) were highly correlated with PC2, resulted in two distinct groups. Based on lipolysis and glycolysis studies, early‐ripened cheese samples showed lipolysis and lactate metabolism more intensely compared to medium and old‐ripened ones. Based on the data of VC and SA, the samples may be classified into three groups: (1) early‐ripened cheeses with a salty taste, waxy to cheesy odor, and rubbery texture, (2) medium‐ripened cheese with a sweet taste and cheesy odor, and (3) old‐ripened cheese with a bitter taste, cheesy to pungent odor, a firm and fragile texture. Textural attributes were highly correlated with proteolysis indices and pH. The results of sensory desirability indicated a significant correlation with pungency, bitterness, and OAs. The cheese samples ripened on the day 127 were selected as the most desirable product. Ripening time had a significant effect on the chemical composition, especially on S/M, pH, and aw parameters, which determine the pattern as well as the intensity of biochemical pathways and the final sensory attributes.

Practical Application

The current study intends to characterize and develop a standardized procedure for producing a traditional cheese called “Kope cheese” by determining the appropriate duration time for the ripening process, determining the main chemical/biochemical compounds that are highly correlated with its unique flavor and texture and distinguishing the key processing factors (such as curd salting, pH values during brining) that have to be altered or controlled carefully during the manufacturing process. The data would help cheese manufacturers determine the optimum time of ripening in order to achieve the best flavor and texture attributes in the final product.
Classification of organic and ordinary kiwifruit by chemometrics analysis of elemental fingerprint and stable isotopic ratios
Authors: Xu Lu , Hai Chengying , Yan Simin , Wang Shuo , Du Shijie , Chen Hengye , Yang Jian , Fu Haiyan
Published: July 2021

Elemental fingerprint, stable isotopic analysis, and chemometrics were combined to identify organic kiwifruit from ordinarily cultivated kiwifruit. Samples of organic (n1 = 78) and ordinary kiwifruit (n2 = 85) were collected from neighboring areas. For elemental fingerprint, the contents of 15 elements in fresh fruits, including Al, Cr, Mg, Pb, Zn, Ca, Cu, Mn, Se, Cd, Fe, Na, Sr, Co, and K, were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES). Three stable isotopes, including δ13C, δ15N, and δ18O, were analyzed using an isotope‐ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). Different classification methods including soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA), and least squares support vector machines (LS‐SVM), were used to discriminate the organic and ordinary kiwifruits by fusion of elemental and stable isotopic. As a result, the sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of SIMCA model were 0.885, 0.857, and 0.864, respectively. PLSDA and LS‐SVM obtained 0.950 and 0.983 classification accuracy of organic and ordinary kiwifruits, respectively. It was demonstrated that elemental fingerprint and stable isotopic analysis would provide useful chemical information for the identification of organic fruits, and the capacity of these methods could be enhanced by chemometrics.

Practical Application

The classification of kiwifruit usually relies on the label assigned by the merchant, which is prone to deceive consumers. This research has developed an accurate and effective classification method based on stable isotopes and mineral elements for the identification of ordinary kiwifruit and organic kiwifruit, providing a tool for the quality monitoring of organic food.
Pollution level and risk assessment of lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic in edible mushrooms from Jilin Province, China
Authors: Liu Sijie , Fu Yao , Shi Mao , Wang Hui , Guo Jinzhi
Published: July 2021

To evaluate the pollution level of toxic elements in edible mushrooms from Jilin Province, China, the lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic content present in them were monitored and evaluated. A total of 610 edible mushroom samples, including fresh and dried, were collected from nine cities in the Jilin Province. The concentrations of lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic ranged from 0.007 to 3.31, 0.006 to 48.52, 0.003 to 0.56, and 0.008 to 57.34 mg/kg, respectively, in dried samples, and 0.007 to 0.06, 0.006 to 0.17, 0.003 to 0.06, and 0.008 to 0.12 mg/kg, respectively, in fresh samples. The concentration  of cadmium and arsenic exceeded the standard (Cd ≤ 0.2 mg/kg, Cd of Lentinus edodes ≤ 0.5 mg/kg, and As ≤ 0.5 mg/kg) in some mushroom samples. The bioconcentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic depended on the edible mushroom species, environment, and the physicochemical properties of lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic. The results of the single factor pollution index, a method used to calculate the level of single elements in substances, showed that all edible mushrooms were at the level of unpolluted except Tricholoma matsutake and Pleurotus eryngii. The comprehensive factor (P) for T. matsutake was 1.093. The comprehensive factor pollution index, a method used to calculate the level of combined mixture in substances, was in the unpolluted level, except for T. matsutake. The pollution index results showed that cadmium and arsenic concentrations were lightly polluting in some mushroom samples. The health risk index for arsenic was the highest. Therefore, more attention should be paid to arsenic contamination in T. matsutake and P. eryngii in the Jilin Province, China.

Practical Application

In this paper, we evaluated the contamination levels and associated safety issues of four toxic elements, lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic, in edible mushrooms. The results showed that cadmium and arsenic concentrations were lightly polluting in some mushroom samples.
Opioid treatment program and community pharmacy collaboration for methadone maintenance treatment: results from a feasibility clinical trial
Authors: Wu Li‐Tzy , John William S. , Morse Eric D. , Adkins Steve , Pippin Jennifer , Brooner Robert K. , Schwartz Robert P.
Published: July 2021

Background and aims

Pharmacy administration and dispensing of methadone for methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) can expand treatment access for opioid use disorder (OUD). This study investigated the feasibility and acceptability of a novel model permitting an opioid treatment program (OTP) physician to prescribe methadone for OUD treatment through collaboration with a partnered pharmacy.

Design

Non‐randomized, single‐arm, open‐label feasibility trial.

Setting

One OTP and one community pharmacy in the United States.

Participants

One OTP physician, two pharmacists and 20 MMT patients receiving between six and 13 take‐home methadone doses at 5–160 mg/day.

Intervention

Patients’ methadone administration and dispensing of take‐home doses was transferred from the OTP to the pharmacy for 3 months.

Measurements

Primary outcome was medication adherence. Secondary outcomes were recruitment, treatment retention, substance use, counseling attendance at the OTP, pharmacist prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) use, safety and satisfaction.

Findings

Of 29 patients eligible at pre‐screen, 20 patients (69%) enrolled into the study. Recruitment occurred from 6 August 2020 to 10 October 2020. Treatment retention rate at month 3 was 80% (16 of 20). Two participants returned early to the OTP because of a work/schedule change, one due to pregnancy and one following a non‐study‐related hospitalization. Medication adherence among 16 patients who were retained was 100%. Intervention fidelity was 100%. All participants attended random call‐back visits. None showed evidence of tampering/diversion of methadone. Pharmacists checked the PDMP at all visits. All participants attended psychosocial counseling as planned. There were no positive urine screens for illicit opioid use and no study‐related adverse events. All participants endorsed ‘pharmacy is the right location for receiving methadone for MMT’, 88% endorsed ‘convenient or very convenient to receive methadone at the pharmacy’ and 88% were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of treatment offered.

Conclusions

This feasibility trial has found pharmacy administration and dispensing of physician‐prescribed methadone for methadone maintenance treatment to be feasible and acceptable.
Adolescent electronic cigarette use and tobacco smoking in the Millennium Cohort Study
Authors: Staff Jeremy , Kelly Brian C. , Maggs Jennifer L. , Vuolo Mike
Published: July 2021

Aims

To evaluate the catalyst, diversion and common liability hypotheses by examining associations between e‐cigarette use and tobacco cigarette smoking at modal ages 14 and 17 years, controlling for adolescent and infancy risk factors.

Design

Intergenerational, prospective cohort data from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS). Nationally representative sample of infants born September 2000 to January, 2002.

Setting

United Kingdom.

Participants

Parent and child data from 10 625 youth assessed in infancy and modal ages 11, 14 and 17 years.

Measurements

Age 14 and 17 e‐cigarette and combustible cigarette use (recency, frequency). Potential confounders were age 11 risk factors (e.g. alcohol use, externalizing behaviors, parental tobacco use, permissiveness), infancy risk factors (e.g. maternal smoking during pregnancy, smoke exposure in infancy) and demographic characteristics.

Findings

Among youth who had not smoked tobacco by age 14 (n = 9046), logistic regressions estimated that teenagers who used e‐cigarettes by age 14 compared with non‐e‐cigarette users, had more than five times higher odds of initiating tobacco smoking by age 17 [odds ratio (OR) = 5.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.28–8.38] and nearly triple the odds of being a frequent tobacco smoker at age 17 (OR = 2.91, 95% CI = 1.56–5.41), net of risk factors and demographics. Among youth who had not used e‐cigarettes by age 14 (n = 9078), teenagers who had smoked tobacco cigarettes by age 14 had three times higher odds of initiating e‐cigarettes by age 17 (OR = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.74–5.09) compared with non‐tobacco smokers and nearly three times higher odds of frequently using e‐cigarettes at age 17 (OR = 2.90, 95% CI = 1.21–6.95), net of confounders. Similar links between e‐cigarette and tobacco cigarette use were observed in regressions following coarsened exact matching.

Conclusions

E‐cigarette use by age 14 is associated with increased odds of tobacco cigarette initiation and frequent smoking at age 17 among British youth. Similarly, tobacco smoking at age 14 is associated with increased odds of both e‐cigarette initiation and frequent use at age 17.
The influence of different NiTi instrumentation techniques on postoperative pain after single‐visit root canal treatment
Authors: Kandemir Demirci Gözde , Miçooğulları Kurt Seniha , Serefoglu Burcu , Kaval Mehmet E. , Çalışkan Mehmet K.
Published: July 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of multi‐file rotary (Protaper Universal) and reciprocating single‐file (Reciproc Blue) root canal preparation techniques on the occurrence of postoperative pain in asymptomatic mandibular molar teeth with large periapical lesions in single‐visit root canal treatment (RCT). A hundred and twenty teeth were randomly assigned to two groups: Protaper Universal (PTU) or Reciproc Blue (RB) instruments. Postoperative pain at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 h and 7 days after obturation was measured. Mann–Whitney U‐test was performed to compare the pain scores between the groups and to assess the relation of pain with patients’ age and gender. Spearman’s rank correlation was utilized to correlate the pain intensity and analgesic intake at different time points. There was no significant difference between the instrumentation techniques regarding postoperative pain at any time points evaluated (P > 0.05). There was a correlation between analgesic intake and intensity of pain (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found among the groups assessed in the study in terms of analgesic intake (P > 0.05).