bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Creatine in Sports Products
Authors: Frølich Wenche , Børsheim Elisabet , Raastad Truls , Frøyland Livar , Halvorsen Ragnhild , Iversen Per Ole , Lillegaard Inger Therese L. , Lyche Jan Ludvig , Mansoor Azam , Meltzer Helle Margrete , Narvhus Judith , Haugen Margaretha 
Published: August 2021

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) has at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) conducted an assessment of creatine in sports products (e.g. supplements). The evaluation has been performed by an ad hoc group, and assessed by the VKM Panel on nutrition, dietetic products, novel food and allergy.

The evaluation of safety and possible risks of creatine supplementation in this opinion is based on previous reports, 23 original papers and 14 reviews from literature searches.

Marketing and sales of sport products are increasing in the Nordic countries, with creatine supplements being one of four most common categories. In addition to be used by athletes, the use of creatine supplements seems to increase among general exercisers and young people. Creatine supplements are mainly used for their supposed effects on muscles mass and high intensity and short duration sport performances. Supplementation has been shown to result in higher concentration of creatine phosphate in the muscles, which is the limited substrate.

For athletes, it is recommended a loading dose of 10-20 g/day for 4-7 days and a maintenance dose of 2-5 g/day for weeks or months. Some athletes continue the maintenance dose for several years. It is well documented that creatine supplementation has positive effects on muscle mass combined with strength training and performance during maximal exercise. There are however large individual variation in the response, and there are responders and non-responders.

The new scientific literature, including long term studies, is in line with the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) opinion from 2004.

VKM Panel on nutrition, dietetic products, novel food and allergy supports the EFSA conclusion that supplementation of creatine in doses below 3 g/day is unlikely to pose any risks if the purity of the creatine compound is adequate.

Scientific long-term studies with doses up to 5-10 g/day in adult athletes have shown no harmful effects, but there are no dose-response studies indicating a safe upper limit for creatine.

The potential negative effects (impaired kidney function, weight gain and gastrointestinal disturbances) which have been published in non scientific journals and anecdotal reports have not found support in controlled systematic studies on healthy subjects. It has been indicated that individuals with impaired kidney functions should refrain from creatine supplements.

Creatine-monohydrate is the most studied form of creatine supplements, and only creatine monohydrate has been included in the scientific investigations on adverse effects.
Efficacy of Novel Organic Liquid Nutrient and Novel Plus Organic Liquid Nutrient on Quantitative Traits of Indian Bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet]
Authors: Champaneri D. D. , Patel N. K. , Desai C. S. , Desai D. H. 
Published: August 2021

Background: Indian bean is established as a prime vegetable crop in India and it attracts a huge market in its seasonal time period due to its multiple uses. Using of organic liquid fertilizer is demand of recent era. Concept of application of organics is vegetable crops is recent trend as it improves yield and helps to extent growth without any adverse effects on ecosystem.
Methods: In this experiment, two organic based nutrient formulations viz. Novel organic liquid nutrient and Novel Plus organic liquid nutrient were applied as a foliar spray at 30 days after sowing and 60 days after sowing on Indian bean variety Gujarat Navsari Indian Bean 22 and evaluated its effects on different growth parameters and yield parameters. The experiment was arrayed with Randomized Block Design having three replications and seven treatments i.e., No spray (T1), 0.5 % Novel organic liquid nutrient (T2), 1.0 % Novel organic liquid nutrient (T3), 1.5 % Novel organic liquid nutrient (T4), 0.5 % Novel Plus organic liquid nutrient (T5), 1.0 % Novel Plus organic liquid nutrient (T6) and 1.5 % Novel Plus organic liquid nutrient (T7).
Result: Treatment T6 executed maximum plant height and highest number of branches. Maximum fresh weight (30.87 g per plant) and dry weight (8.01 g per plant) were also registered under the same treatment T6. Similar treatment has proved to be superior for acquiring highest pod weight, maximum number of pods per plant, pod yield per plant and pod yield per individual plot. In terms of apex total pod yield per plot (3,641 g) and pod yield per hectare (5,619 kg) treatment T6 have performed the best as well. Predominantly, application of 1.0 % Novel Plus organic liquid nutrient on Indian bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet] as a foliar spray had positive effects in aspects of growth as well as yield parameters.
Water Related Diseases in Adamawa Region, Cameroon: A Prospective and Retrospective Case Study
Authors: Fodouop Siméon Pierre Chegaing , Gingir Beatrice , Nodem Steve Francky Sohanang , Yaou Fadimatou Mouni , Roselyne Tepongning Nzangue , Talom Binjamen Tangue , Donatien Gatsing 
Published: August 2021

Water related disease is defined as any significant or widespread adverse effects on human health, such as death, disability, illness or disorders, caused directly or indirectly by the condition, or changes in the quantity or quality of any water. This crossectional and analytical study, carried out from July to December 2019 at the Ngaoundere Regional Hospital and Protestant Hospital aimed to determine the prevalence of water related diseases in the Vina Division. Retrospective data of patients records covered the period of five years (2014 to 2018) were analyzed in order to identify common water related diseases in the study area. Document review technique was adopted in this study; outpatients/inpatients registers were reviewed and information on socio-demographic characteristics of each individual patient were collected. Also, the bacteriological characterization of stool samples collected from patients was done to identify the most frequent bacteria responsible for water related disease in the area, followed by an antibacterial susceptibility testing of some isolated bacteria using standard methods. Results show that, out of 153073 patients recorded from 2014 to 2019, 63750 were clinically diagnosed for water related diseases, giving a prevalence of 41%. Overall, typhoid fever and malaria were the most prevailing water related diseases confirmed clinically with a prevalence of 43%. Parasitic infections were the least prevailing (3.7%). The study revealed that, females was more prone to water related cases than males. Bacteria were more sensitive to streptomycin and resistant to amoxicillin. This study shows that water related diseases are a major health problem in the Vina Division. Routinely monitoring of drinking water sources is recommended to the different users in order to limit the spread of water related diseases.
Induction of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP 3′:5′‐cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activities in neuroblastoma lines under differentiating conditions
Authors: Giorgi Mauro , Giordano Daniela , Caniglia Cristiana , Biagioni Stefano , Augusti‐Tocco Gabriella 
Published: July 2002

AbstractIt is now widely accepted that cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) play fundamental roles in signal transduction pathways; they show a remarkable molecular complexity, different tissue distribution and complex regulatory mechanisms. Here we report PDE isoforms expression in two dibutyryl cyclic AMP differentiated murine cell lines: the hybrid neuroblastoma‐glioma 108CC15 and the parental neuroblastoma N18TG2. They differ for the ability to establish functional synapses, a feature present only in the former. Ionic exchange chromatography elution profiles of N18TG2 and 108CC15 undifferentiated cell extracts show two main peaks of activity. The first one hydrolyzes cyclic GMP and is specifically inhibited by Zaprinast, thus representing a member of the PDE5 family. The second peak hydrolyzes cyclic AMP and is significantly inhibited by rolipram, as all the PDE4 family members. The induction of differentiation by dibutyryl cyclic AMP in both clonal lines results in an increase of PDE activities only after 3 hr of treatment, suggesting that protein neosynthesis is involved. Interestingly in both clones, besides the increase in cyclic AMP hydrolyzing specific activity (3.1 folds in 108CC15 and 2.5 folds in N18TG2), we also observed an increase in cyclic GMP hydrolyzing activity (1.7 folds in 108CC15 and 4.3 folds in N18TG2). While the induction of PDE4, previously reported also in other cellular systems, could be considered as a feedback response to the higher cyclic AMP levels, this is not true for the isoform that hydrolyzes cyclic GMP. These data suggest that the induction of PDE isoforms in neuroblastoma cells could be related to the activation of neuronal differentiative pathway.
Ca2+ mobilization and capacitative Ca2+ entry regulate DNA synthesis in cultured chick retinal neuroepithelial cells
Authors: Sugioka Miho , Zhou Wen‐Liang , Hofmann Hans‐Dieter , Yamashita Masayuki 
Published: July 2002

AbstractRelease of Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ stores (Ca2+ mobilization) and capacitative Ca2+ entry have been shown to be inducible in neuroepithelial cells of the early embryonic chick retina. Both types of Ca2+ responses decline parallel with retinal progenitor cell proliferation. To investigate their potential role in the regulation of neuroepithelial cell proliferation, we studied the effects of 2,5‐di‐tert‐butylhydroquinone (DBHQ), an inhibitor of the Ca2+ pump of intracellular Ca2+ stores, and of SK&F 96365, an inhibitor of capacitative Ca2+ entry, on DNA synthesis in retinal organ cultures from embryonic day 3 (E3) chicks and in dissociated cultures from E7 and E9 chick retinae. We demonstrate that both antagonists inhibit [3H]‐thymidine incorporation in a dose‐dependent manner without affecting cell viability or morphology. The inhibition of [3H]‐thymidine incorporation by SK&F 96365 occurred in the same concentration range (IC50: ∼4 μM) as the blockade of capacitative Ca2+ entry in the E3 retinal organ culture. At a concentration of 5 μM SK&F 96365, DNA synthesis was reduced by 71, 40 and 32% in the E3, E7 and E9 cultures, respectively. Application of DBHQ at concentrations which led to depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores also inhibited [3H]‐thymidine incorporation with IC50 values of 20–30 μM in the different cultures. Our results suggest the involvement of Ca2+ mobilization and capacitative Ca2+ entry in the regulation of DNA synthesis in the developing neural retina.
Automatic segmentation of rectal tumor on diffusion‐weighted images by deep learning with U‐Net
Authors: Zhu Hai‐Tao , Zhang Xiao‐Yan , Shi Yan‐Jie , Li Xiao‐Ting , Sun Ying‐Shi 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPurposeManual delineation of a rectal tumor on a volumetric image is time‐consuming and subjective. Deep learning has been used to segment rectal tumors automatically on T2‐weighted images, but automatic segmentation on diffusion‐weighted imaging is challenged by noise, artifact, and low resolution. In this study, a volumetric U‐shaped neural network (U‐Net) is proposed to automatically segment rectal tumors on diffusion‐weighted images.MethodsThree hundred patients of locally advanced rectal cancer were enrolled in this study and divided into a training group, a validation group, and a test group. The region of rectal tumor was delineated on the diffusion‐weighted images by experienced radiologists as the ground truth. A U‐Net was designed with a volumetric input of the diffusion‐weighted images and an output of segmentation with the same size. A semi‐automatic segmentation method was used for comparison by manually choosing a threshold of gray level and automatically selecting the largest connected region. Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) was calculated to evaluate the methods.ResultsOn the test group, deep learning method (DSC = 0.675 ± 0.144, median DSC is 0.702, maximum DSC is 0.893, and minimum DSC is 0.297) showed higher segmentation accuracy than the semi‐automatic method (DSC = 0.614 ± 0.225, median DSC is 0.685, maximum DSC is 0.869, and minimum DSC is 0.047). Paired t‐test shows significant difference (T = 2.160, p = 0.035) in DSC between the deep learning method and the semi‐automatic method in the test group.ConclusionVolumetric U‐Net can automatically segment rectal tumor region on DWI images of locally advanced rectal cancer.
Biomimetic Lamellar Chitosan Scaffold for Soft Gingival Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Feng Yanhuizhi , Gao Huai‐Ling , Wu Di , Weng Yu‐Teng , Wang Ze‐Yu , Yu Shu‐Hong , Wang Zuolin 
Published: August 2021

AbstractMucogingival surgery has become a common procedure for soft gingival tissue reparation in dental clinical practice, which mainly relies on autograft or commercial collagen membranes (CM). However, the autograft faces grand challenges in source availability and long‐term post‐surgery pain management, and the CM is restricted by its poor mechanical properties in an aqueous environment. Here, it is reported that a bio‐inspired lamellar chitosan scaffold (LCS) with long range ordered porous structure, manufactured through a bidirectional freezing method, can serve as a promising gingival tissue engineering material. The LCS not only exhibits excellent mechanical properties in the hydrated state but also accelerates vessel formation and soft tissue regeneration in vivo. Most interestingly, the LCS is found to be capable of inducing macrophage differentiation to M2 macrophages, which is thought to play an important role in tissue regeneration. These advantages combined with its easy and low‐cost preparation process make the LCS a promising candidate for dental clinical applications.
Biomimetic Glycopolypeptide Hydrogels with Tunable Adhesion and Microporous Structure for Fast Hemostasis and Highly Efficient Wound Healing
Authors: Teng Lin , Shao Zhengwei , Bai Qian , Zhang Xueliang , He Yu‐Shi , Lu Jiayu , Zou Derong , Feng Chuanliang , Dong Chang‐Ming 
Published: August 2021

AbstractDespite clinical applications of the first‐generation tissue adhesives and hemostats, the correlation among microstructure and hemostasis of hydrogels with wound healing is less understood and it is elusive to design high‐performance hydrogels to meet worldwide growing demands in wound closure, hemostasis, and healing. Inspired by the microstructure of extracellular matrix and mussel‐mimetic chemistry, two kinds of coordinated and covalent glycopolypeptide hydrogels are fabricated, which present tunable tissue adhesion strength (14.6–83.9 kPa) and microporous structure (8–18 µm), and lower hemolysis <1.5%. Remarkably, the microporous size mainly controls the hemostasis, and those hydrogels with larger pores of 16–18 µm achieve the fastest hemostasis of ≈14 s and the lowest blood loss of ≈6% than fibrin glue and others. Moreover, both biocompatibility and hemostasis affect wound healing performance, as assessed by hemolysis, cytotoxicity, subcutaneous implantation, and hemostasis and healing assays. Importantly, the glycopolypeptide hydrogel‐treated rat‐skin defect model achieves full wound closure and regenerates thick dermis and epidermis with some hair follicles on day 14. Consequently, this work not only establishes a versatile method for constructing glycopolypeptide hydrogels with tunable adhesion and microporous structure, fast hemostasis, and superior healing functions, but also discloses a useful rationale for designing high‐performance hemostatic and healing hydrogels.
Coexistence of Negative and Positive Photoconductivity in Few‐Layer PtSe2 Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Grillo Alessandro , Faella Enver , Pelella Aniello , Giubileo Filippo , Ansari Lida , Gity Farzan , Hurley Paul K. , McEvoy Niall , Di Bartolomeo Antonio 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPlatinum diselenide (PtSe2) field‐effect transistors with ultrathin channel regions exhibit p‐type electrical conductivity that is sensitive to temperature and environmental pressure. Exposure to a supercontinuum white light source reveals that positive and negative photoconductivity coexists in the same device. The dominance of one type of photoconductivity over the other is controlled by environmental pressure. Indeed, positive photoconductivity observed in high vacuum converts to negative photoconductivity when the pressure is raised. Density functional theory calculations confirm that physisorbed oxygen molecules on the PtSe2 surface act as acceptors. The desorption of oxygen molecules from the surface, caused by light irradiation, leads to decreased carrier concentration in the channel conductivity. The understanding of the charge transfer occurring between the physisorbed oxygen molecules and the PtSe2 film provides an effective route for modulating the density of carriers and the optical properties of the material.
Laserjet Printed Micro/Nano Sensors and Microfluidic Systems: A Simple and Facile Digital Platform for Inexpensive, Flexible, and Low‐Volume Devices
Authors: Bamshad Arshya , Cho Hyoung Jin 
Published: August 2021

AbstractA facile and digital do‐it‐yourself technique is proposed to fabricate inexpensive sensors on flexible substrates (paper, cloth, and plastic film). A set of office‐grade equipment (i.e., laserjet printer, thermal laminator, computer‐aided paper cutter), and commercially available supplies (i.e., baking wax paper, furniture restoration metal‐leaf) are used. Forming electrodes through traditional printing and defining a fluidic confinement region through crafting practice enable fabrication of a wide range of devices without requiring customized specialty instruments, costly infrastructure, and complicated fabrication steps, unlike previously introduced methods. Three different levels of experiments are designed to assess the comprehensiveness and responsiveness of the proposed method to the needs of existing research fields. The performances of the fabricated features at each level are evaluated to cover various application domains in environmental monitoring and biomedical diagnostics utilizing conductometric, colorimetric, biochemical, and chemoresistive detection principles. Devices with varying size of features, from nanometers to centimeters, are fabricated and characterized. This method provides an alternative route to decentralized production of low‐cost flexible sensors and other devices, with a minimal step, time, and facilities. The operation of such devices is simple and can be further empowered by smartphones for data analysis and transmission.
Self‐Aligned Non‐Centrosymmetric Conjugated Molecules Enable Electro‐Optic Perovskites
Authors: Gao Yuan , Sachinthani K. A. Niradha , Zheng Chao , Jarrett‐Wilkins Charlie , Johnston Andrew , Sun Meng‐Jia , Najarian Amin Morteza , Wang Ya‐Kun , Saidaminov Makhsud I. , de Arquer F. Pelayo García , Seferos Dwight S. , Hoogland Sjoerd , Sargent Edward H. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSolution‐processed organic electro‐optic (EO) chromophores are well suited for integration in optical modulators on silicon photonics chips. They contain highly conjugated molecules with polar functional groups offering large dipoles and a large nonlinear optical response. However, these molecules form centrosymmetric aggregates that hinder poling efficiency and the resultant macroscopic EO response. Furthermore, at elevated temperatures, the alignment of poled molecules can be lost, leading to a reduction in the EO response. Inorganic EO materials exhibit excellent thermal stability but lower performance. Here 2D metal halide perovskite scaffolds that align EO molecules are reported. The approach heralds a material design strategy that combines the features of organic and inorganic EO materials. The EO material exhibits promising thermal stability with a performance approaching that of organic EO materials. Anchor diammonium non‐centrosymmetric molecules are anchored inside a 2D metal halide perovskite scaffold, thereby avoiding aggregation. The authors lever the thermal stability of this compound and pole the organic molecules under an electric field at 533 K. The 2D perovskites exhibit a macroscopic EO coefficient of 68 pm V−1—a twofold increase over LiNbO3. Density functional theory calculations show that the in‐plane alignment of the molecular dipole moments can account for the EO response.
A Multifunctional Tyrosine‐Immobilized PAH Molecule as a Universal Cathode Interlayer Enables High‐Efficiency Inverted Polymer Solar Cells
Authors: Kim Young‐O , Moon Byung Joon , Lee Aram , Kim Jin Il , Lee Seoung‐Ki , Lee Yoon‐Sik , Bae Sukang , Hong Byung Hee , Jung Yong Chae 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAmong the various biological components in the photosynthesis reaction, tyrosine (Tyr) is considered crucial for facilitation of charge/proton transfer. However, the practical realization of this capability in recent artificial solar‐energy conversion systems is limited by the required alignment of Tyr molecules with both host materials and themselves. In this work, Tyr−perylene diimide−Tyr (PDI‐Y) is designed for implementation of a molecular‐based artificial photosystem II, where PDI and Tyr act as an antenna and internal mediator, respectively. The experimental and theoretical investigations prove that the presence of covalently immobilized Tyr can enhance the intramolecular charge separation, leading to a significant reduction of the exciton recombination probability. To explore the feasibility of using Tyr‐immobilized PDI in practical applications, PDI‐Y is applied as a universal cathode interlayer in an inverted polymer solar cell (iPSC). The result demonstrates potential multifunctional roles of PDI‐Y as a sub‐photosensitizer and electron transport layer, leading to a superior photovoltaic performance in both fullerene (PC71BM) and nonfullerene (Y6) based iPSCs. Consequently, the simple yet efficient Tyr‐immobilization approach is expected to offer tremendous opportunities for the advancement of electronic and optoelectronic applications.
Effects of nitrogen type on rainfed maize nutrient uptake and grain yield
Authors: Guo Jinjin , Fan Junliang , Xiang Youzhen , Zhang Fucang , Zheng Jing , Yan Shicheng , Yan Fulai , Hou Xianghao , Li Yuepeng , Yang Ling 
Published: August 2021

AbstractUrea blended with slow‐release nitrogen fertilizer (UNS) is considered as a promising alternative to increase crop yields compared with the conventional split urea (U) application or slow‐release nitrogen fertilizer (SRF). However, the yield‐increasing effect and mechanism of UNS under different rainfall conditions is still unclear. A field experiment was conducted during 2016–2020 to evaluate the effects of UNS on dry matter (DM), nutrient uptake, and grain yield of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) in Northwest China. The results showed that UNS increased the average total DM and N uptake by 19.6 and 27.5% compared with U, and by 15.8 and 18.2% relative to SRF, respectively. The average maximum DMaccumulation and N uptake rates in UNS were increased by 26.5 and 6.5% compared with those in U, and by 20.4 and 14.0% relative to those in SRF, respectively. Compared with U and SRF, UNS increased N remobilization from vegetative organs to grains after silking by 51.9 and 40.7%, respectively. Dry matter accumulation, NPK uptake, and N remobilization in 2017 (“pre‐dry”) and 2018 (“normal”) were greater than those in 2016 (“post‐dry”), 2019 (“wet”), and 2020 (“wet”). Grain yield in U was relatively low and stable over the five growing seasons, while grain yield followed the order of 2017 > 2018 ≈ 2019 ≈ 2020 > 2016 in UNS, and 2018 ≈ 2019 > 2020 > 2017 > 2016 in SRF. The UNS increased grain yield by 46.2 and 28.6% compared with U and SRF, respectively. Therefore, UNS can be used as a promising N management practice to improve the ability of agricultural ecosystems to cope with climate change, and ultimately maintain high crop yields.