bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can creatine supplementation form carcinogenic heterocyclic amines in humans?
Authors: Pereira Renato Tavares dos Santos , Dörr Felipe Augusto , Pinto Ernani , Solis Marina Yazigi , Artioli Guilherme Giannini , Fernandes Alan Lins , Murai Igor Hisashi , Dantas Wagner Silva , Seguro Antônio Carlos , Santinho Mirela Aparecida Rodrigues , Roschel Hamilton , Carpentier Alain , Poortmans Jacques Remi , Gualano Bruno 
Published: July 2015

Key points
There is a long‐standing concern that creatine supplementation could be associated with cancer, possibly by facilitating the formation of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HCAs).
This study provides compelling evidence that both low and high doses of creatine supplementation, given either acutely or chronically, does not cause a significant increase in HCA formation.
HCAs detection was unrelated to creatine supplementation. Diet was likely to be the main factor responsible for HCAs formation after either placebo (n = 6) or creatine supplementation (n = 3).
These results directly challenge the recently suggested biological plausibility for the association between creatine use and risk of testicular germ cell cancer.
AbstractCreatine supplementation has been associated with increased cancer risk. In fact, there is evidence indicating that creatine and/or creatinine are important precursors of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HCAs). The present study aimed to investigate the acute and chronic effects of low‐ and high‐dose creatine supplementation on the production of HCAs in healthy humans (i.e. 2‐amino‐1‐methyl‐6‐phenylimidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine (PhIP), 2‐amino‐3,8‐dimethylimidazo[4,5‐f]quinoxaline (8‐MeIQx), 2‐amino‐(1,6‐dimethylfuro[3,2‐e]imidazo[4,5‐b])pyridine (IFP) and 2‐amino‐3,4,8‐trimethylimidazo[4,5‐f]quinoxaline (4,8‐DiMeIQx)). This was a non‐counterbalanced single‐blind crossover study divided into two phases, in which low‐ and high‐dose creatine protocols were tested. After acute (1 day) and chronic supplementation (30 days), the HCAs PhIP, 8‐MeIQx, IFP and 4,8‐DiMeIQx were assessed through a newly developed HPLC–MS/MS method. Dietary HCA intake and blood and urinary creatinine were also evaluated. Out of 576 assessments performed (from 149 urine samples), only nine (3 from creatine and 6 from placebo) showed quantifiable levels of HCAs (8‐MeIQx: n = 3; 4,8‐DiMeIQx: n = 2; PhIP: n = 4). Individual analyses revealed that diet rather than creatine supplementation was the main responsible factor for HCA formation in these cases. This study provides compelling evidence that both low and high doses of creatine supplementation, given either acutely or chronically, did not cause increases in the carcinogenic HCAs PhIP, 8‐MeIQx, IFP and 4,8‐DiMeIQx in healthy subjects. These findings challenge the long‐existing notion that creatine supplementation could potentially increase the risk of cancer by stimulating the formation of these mutagens.
Guarded Negation
Authors: Bárány Vince , Cate Balder Ten , Segoufin Luc 
Published: July 2015

We consider restrictions of first-order logic and of fixpoint logic in which all occurrences of negation are required to be guarded by an atomic predicate. In terms of expressive power, the logics in question, called GNFO and GNFP, extend the guarded fragment of first-order logic and the guarded least fixpoint logic, respectively. They also extend the recently introduced unary negation fragments of first-order logic and of least fixpoint logic.
We show that the satisfiability problem for GNFO and for GNFP is 2ExpTime-complete, both on arbitrary structures and on finite structures. We also study the complexity of the associated model checking problems. Finally, we show that GNFO and GNFP are not only computationally well behaved, but also model theoretically: we show that GNFO and GNFP have the tree-like model property and that GNFO has the finite model property, and we characterize the expressive power of GNFO in terms of invariance for an appropriate notion of bisimulation.
Our complexity upper bounds for GNFO and GNFP hold true even for their “clique-guarded” extensions CGNFO and CGNFP, in which clique guards are allowed in the place of guards.
Estimating the contribution of infrastructure to national productivity in Europe
Authors: Thoung Chris , Tyler Peter , Beaven Rachel 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
While there is much interest in understanding the contribution that investment in different types of infrastructure can make to the economic development of cities, regions and nations, such research is constrained by various methodological difficulties. Following the approach of Égert, Kozluk and Sutherland (2009), this paper seeks to identify whether countries might be over- or under-investing in infrastructure relative to other forms of capital investment, from the point of view of raising productivity. While subject to various limitations (and also highlighting the continuing data constraints in this area), such an analysis provides a consistent and comparable basis on which to assess whether countries might benefit from additional infrastructure investment or, conversely, whether they might in fact stand to gain from alternative forms of fixed capital formation.
The article analyses five types of infrastructure in the 27 Member States of the European Union (prior to 2013), Norway and Switzerland. We find some evidence of over-investment in electricity-generation capacity (investment in other forms of capital would likely yield higher productivity returns) and under-investment in roads, motorways and telephone infrastructure (there is potential for greater productivity growth from investing in these infrastructures). The evidence of a relationship between rail investment and productivity is less clear. While the results suggest that countries might stand to improve their national productivity by shifting the balance between infrastructure and other capital, higher productivity is not a country’s only objective. Resilient infrastructure provision and/or upgrades with a view to pursuing other objectives such as climate-change mitigation may take precedence, necessitating at least some degree of ‘non-optimal’ investment.
Enhanced Catalytic Reduction of NO by H2 over Nanoporous Nickel Phosphate VSB-5-Type Catalysts
Authors: Wang Chaonan , Zhou Dantong , Chen Zhi , Gao Tong , Naito Shuichi 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Nanoporous Co-VSB-5 and Fe-VSB-5 are prepared by isomorphous substitution of nickel ions in the framework with Co and Fe ions. The included nickel phosphate Ni-VSB-5 is employed as the active components for the catalytic reduction of NO by hydrogen in the absence of oxygen. Enhanced catalytic activities and selectivity are observed on the substituted samples compared with that of pure nickel phosphate VSB-5. A large amount of NO can be adsorbed in the nanopores of these materials and confirmed by in-situ FTIR. The possible active components for the reaction are discussed and the reaction mechanism is proposed.
An ORCID based synchronization framework for a national CRIS ecosystem
Authors: Mendes Moreira João , Cunha Alcino , Macedo Nuno 
Published: July 2015

PTCRIS (Portuguese Current Research Information System) is a program aiming at the creation and sustained development of a national integrated information ecosystem, to support research management according to the best international standards and practices. This paper reports on the experience of designing and prototyping a synchronization framework for PTCRIS based on ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID). This framework embraces the "input once, re-use often" principle, and will enable a substantial reduction of the research output management burden by allowing automatic information exchange between the various national systems. The design of the framework followed best practices in rigorous software engineering, namely well-established principles in the research field of consistency management, and relied on formal analysis techniques and tools for its validation and verification. The notion of consistency between the services was formally specified and discussed with the stakeholders before the technical aspects on how to preserve said consistency were explored. Formal specification languages and automated verification tools were used to analyze the specifications and generate usage scenarios, useful for validation with the stakeholder and essential to certificate compliant services.
Understanding the direct and indirect costs of patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Tajima-Pozo Kazuhiro , de Castro Oller María Jesús , Lewczuk Adrian , Montañes-Rada Francisco 
Published: July 2015

Background: Schizophrenia is a disabling mental disorder with high prevalence and that usually requires long-term follow-up and expensive lifelong treatment. The cost of schizophrenia treatment consumes a significant amount of the health services' budget in western countries.Objective: The aim of the study was to find out about the costs related to schizophrenia across different european countries and compare them.Results: Schizophrenia treatment costs an estimated 18 billion euros annually worldwide. The direct costs associated with medical help are only part of the total expenditure. The indirect costs are an equally (or even more)important part of the total cost. These expenses are related to the lack of productivity of schizophrenic patients and the cost that relatives have to bear as a result of taking care of their affected relatives.Conclusions: Although data on the cost of schizophrenia may vary slightly between different european countries, the general conclusion that can be drawn is that schizophrenia is a very costly disorder. Not only because of direct costs related to medical procedures, but also due to the non-medical (indirect) costs. Together this suggests the need to investigate cost-efficient strategies that could provide a better outcome for schizophrenic patients, as well as the people who care for them.
Safety evaluation of the non-hormonal correction of climacteric disorders in patients with the metabolic syndrome (short report)
Authors: Бериханова  , Berikhanova R. , Миненко  , Minenko R. 
Published: July 2015

The safety evaluation of the complex non-hormonal correction of climacteric disorders was carried out among 120 women with the metabolic syndrome during the period of peri- and post-menopause. Three equal groups of 40 patients were formed. In the main group a non-pharmacological complex was applied (diet therapy, psychotherapy, physical therapy, exercise therapy) and the intake of the extract of dry red clover (Trifoliumpratense), standardized to 40% of the Isoflavones in a dose of 160 mg (1 capsule) oral per day was prescribed. In the first control group only non-pharmacological methods were used. The women of the second control group took the extract of dry red clover only.
The degree of severity of the climacteric syndrome was measured by the Kupperman index. Before and six months after treatment in all groups the thickness of endometrium was estimated by trans-vaginal sonogra-phy, cytologic examination of PAP-tests and breast examinations. After six months of treatment the Kupperman index has significantly declined in the first group – to 4,3±2,2, i.e. more by five times (&#60;0,05 in comparison to the index registered before treatment). Only one case of individual intolerance was registered – in the first group on the second day of the intake of the extract of the dry red clover. As a result this patient was excluded from the research. No initiations of proliferation processes in the endometrium, mammary glands and no oncogenic influence on the epithelium of uterine cervix have been registered in any of experimental groups. Thus, the optimal effective and safe treatment for climacteric disorders among women with the metabolic syndrome showed to be a comprehensive treatment approach with the use of phyto-estrogen and non-pharmacological correction incorporated.
Nutzerbasierte Bewertung von Büroimmobilien
Authors: Krupper Dirk 
Published: July 2015

Zusammenfassung
Das Management von Büroimmobilien beschränkt sich meist auf die Reduktion der Raumkosten. Dabei findet typischerweise keine Berücksichtigung des Trade-off zwischen Arbeitsplatzkosten und Mitarbeiterproduktivität statt. Der vorliegende Aufsatz greift dieses Problem auf und untersucht die Zusammenhänge zwischen Büroumgebung und deren Wirkungen auf Nutzer. Zunächst werden theoretische Erkenntnisse zu einzelnen Effekten auf Zufriedenheit, Leistungsfähigkeit und Gesundheit aus dem Forschungsfeld der Umweltpsychologie zusammengeführt und in einem Rahmenmodell aufgezeigt. Darauf aufbauend wird anhand einer empirischen Untersuchung die simultane Betrachtung solcher Beziehungen mittels einer Kausalanalyse dargelegt. Die Ergebnisse stellen die Bedeutung einer adäquaten Büroumgebung für den Erfolg sowohl des einzelnen Mitarbeiters als auch der ganzen betrieblichen Organisation heraus. Das Potenzial zur Steigerung der Leistung lässt sich für die vorliegende Erhebung im Mittel auf 20 % beziffern und stellt somit die einseitigen Bestrebungen von Kosteneinsparungen im Immobilienmanagement grundsätzlich in Frage. Als wesentlicher Baustein einer standardisierten Bewertung wird zudem das Konzept der Post-Occupancy Evaluation vorgestellt, welches Leitlinien zum Abgleich von Immobilie und Nutzeranforderungen bietet. Schließlich werden auch Integrationsmöglichkeiten von nutzerorientierten Bewertungen in das Management von Büroimmobilien als betriebliche Ressource aufgezeigt.
Incentives for green innovations in French manufacturing firms
Authors: Galia Fabrice , Ingham Marc , Pekovic Sanja 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Over the last few decades, there has been increasing interest in understanding (and supporting through public policies) innovative activities related to environmental protection. This article examines the incentives related to investment in environmental innovation in French manufacturing firms. The study engages in a theoretical analysis to identify the factors that could be associated to firms’ decisions to invest in environmental innovation. Our findings, which are based on a survey of 2270 firms, indicate that investment in environmental innovation is largely influenced by factors internal to the firm. In particular, size, performance, training, cooperation and openness are shown to have significant impact on green innovation.
An analysis of the effect of information technology (IT) adoption and staff knowledge capabilities on the innovative behaviour of universities in Northern Nigeria
Authors: Dutse A. Y. 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Nowadays information technology (IT) adoption is considered to be the main driver of improved performance in all types of knowledge-based organizations. This article is an attempt to provide insight into whether IT adoption (ITA) increases innovation tendency by universities and what kind of influence the level of staff capabilities exerts in this relationship. By using data from a survey of 228 individuals drawn from universities in Northern Nigeria, three models were developed and tested by means of parametric analyses of multiple correlation and regression to explain the relationships between ITA, staff knowledge capabilities (SKC) and universities’ innovative behaviour (UIB). Results of the analysis show a positive link between the variables, signifying that universities exhibiting high level of innovative output are those that have intensely adopted IT and employ and train staff to increase their knowledge capabilities.
Crucial stem cell experiments? Stem cells, uncertainty, and single-cell experiments
Authors: Fagan Melinda 
Published: July 2015

I have previously argued that stem cell experiments cannot in principle demonstrate that a single cell is a stem cell ([reference omitted for anonymous review]). Laplane and others dispute this claim, citing experiments that identify stem cells at the single-cell level. This paper rebuts the counterexample, arguing that these alleged ‘crucial stem cell experiments’ do not measure self-renewal for a single cell, do not establish a single cell’s differentiation potential, and, if interpreted as providing results about single cells, fall into epistemic circularity. I then examine the source of the dispute, noting differences in philosophical and experimental perspectives.
Estrutura de capital, eficiência e retorno na indústria da aviação civil mundial
Authors: Pires Heloisa Márcia , Fernandes Elton 
Published: July 2015

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><p align="left">Este artigo estuda a estrutura de capital, a eficiência e o retorno financeiro de empresas da indústria de aviação civil. Foi identificada uma relação negativa entre endividamento e retorno financeiro. Neste caso, os resultados confirmam as teorias do</p></font></font></span><font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><p align="left"> </p></font></span><p align="left"><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;">pecking order </span></span></em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;">e dos custos de insolvência, que prevêem que empresas lucrativas usam menos capital de terceiros como fonte de financiamento. O trabalho também identificou empresas eficientes no uso do capital para a obtenção de retornos.</span></span></p>
Fluxos mínimos de veículos para implantação de faixas adicionais em aclives de rodovias de pista simples
Authors: Almeida de Melo Ricardo , Setti José Reynaldo 
Published: July 2015

<p align="left">Este trabalho trata de uma adaptação do critério de fluxos mínimos de veículos, proposto pela AASHTO, para avaliar a necessidade de implantação de faixas adicionais em aclives de rodovias brasileiras. Os fluxos mínimos de veículos foram obtidos por análise econômica com uso de relação benefício/custo. Os benefícios considerados foram a redução dos custos operacionais dos veículos e dos tempos de viagens, quando implantada a faixa adicional. Os benefícios foram calculados do ganho de velocidade média, redução do tempo de viagem e da porcentagem de veículos em espera nos pelotões; essas informações foram extraídas de mais de 20.000 simulações efetuadas com o simulador</p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left"><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;">TRARR</span></span></em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;">. O custo do investimento foi composto por duas parcelas: custo de construção e custo de manutenção da faixa adicional. Os fluxos mínimos obtidos foram aqueles em que a relação benefício/custo era igual à unidade. O critério mencionado complementa uma proposta de adaptação das diretrizes da AASHTO, para análise da necessidade de faixas adicionais de subida em rodovias de pista simples brasileiras que, se adotadas, irão possibilitar a melhoria do nível de serviço e da segurança do trânsito.</span></span></p>
Taxas de geração de viagens em condomínios residenciais de Niterói – estudo de caso
Authors: Grieco Elisabeth Poubel , Portugal Licinio Da Silva 
Published: July 2015

<p><strong>Resumo:</strong> Este artigo apresenta um estudo sobre a geração de viagens em residências, realizado em duas regiões distintas na Cidade de Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. A hipótese levantada investigou que fatores de localização e de uso do solo influenciam diretamente no padrão de viagens. O procedimento proposto foi aplicado em onze condomínios e, a partir dos dados levantados, elaboraram-se as taxas e os modelos de geração de viagens, pela regressão linear, relacionando os volumes de tráfego com as variáveis que expressam a quantidade de unidades residenciais e o número de vagas disponíveis nos empreendimentos. Complementarmente, pode-se calcular o percentual de fluxo nos horários de pico e as viagens realizadas a pé, analisando os resultados obtidos nas duas regiões e comparando-os às estimativas das viagens derivadas dos modelos americanos. Concluiu-se, por meio dos modelos de regressão, a confirmação da hipótese. Com este trabalho, espera-se poder contribuir para o estudo mais abrangente da geração de viagens em uso residencial, oferecendo aos planejadores urbanos ferramenta importante na concepção de cidades mais sustentáveis.</p><p><strong>Abstract:</strong> This article presents a trip generation study for a residential area, at two distinct regions of the city of Niterói, state of Rio de Janeiro. The procedure was applied in eleven condominiums, and, with these data, the rates and trip generation models have been developed, using linear regression. For each region, the variables were the occupied units and the total parking spaces. Complementing the results, the percentage of flow in peak periods and the trips produced by foot were calculated. It is expected that this work may contribute for the study of trip generation in residential areas, essential tool for urban planners who wish to design more sustainable cities.</p>
PRÁTICAS DE AVALIAÇÃO DE PAVIMENTOS NOS ESTADOS E MUNICÍPIOS BRASILEIROS
Authors: Bourahli Abdelkader , Jacques Maria Alice Prudêncio 
Published: July 2015

<p>Este trabalho apresenta parte da pesquisa efetuada no Mestrado em Transportes Urbanos da Universidade de Brasília sobre as praticas de avaliação de pavimentos nos órgãos municipais e estaduais. Seu objetivo foi o de fornecer subsídios para a elaboração de um modelo de avaliação de pavimentos urbanos. A pesquisa visou o conhecimento da situação real que prevalece nesses órgãos, tanto sobre o ponto de vista dos procedimentos empregados, quanto sobre as suas disponibilidades de recursos humanos e materiais. Os resultados da pesquisa indicam que a maioria dos municípios não tem condições de empregar métodos sofisticados de avaliação de pavimentos. Em relação aos DER's, observou-se que os métodos utilizados para avaliação dos pavimentos são derivados da experiência do DNER.</p><p> ABSTRACT</p><p>This paper presents some aspects of the study conducted at the Master Degree Program in Urban Transportation, University of Brasilia, regarding the pavement evaluation practice in Brazilian states and local governments. The study was aimed on the knowledge of the actual situation in the governmental agencies, in regards to both the adopted process and the available human and financial resources.</p>
Examination of the selenium content of wheat grasses produced in different soil types in Csik Basin
Authors: Tamás M. , Csapó J. 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
In the course of the research, we determined selenium and dry matter content of 35 wheat grass and 35 wheat seed samples. The selenium content of the preparation plant probes was measured by spectrofluorimetric determination (λexcitation = 380 nm, λemission = 519 nm) of the resulted piazselenol complex. It was established that between the selenium content of the wheat grass and wheat seed the correlation coefficient was 0.36 at p = 0.05 level, which indicates a medium-close correlation. Similarly, there was a medium-close correlation between the selenium content of the wheat grass calculated on dry-matter basis and total selenium content of the wheat, with a correlation coefficient of 0.40 at p = 0.02 level. Afterwards, beside the selenium content, we measured the selenomethionine content by ion-exchange chromatography and highperformance liquid chromatography, and the organic selenium content was calculated. A very close correlation was established between the total selenium, selenomethionine and calculated organic selenium content of wheat (the correlation coefficients were between 0.92 and 0.99 at p = 0.01 level). The correlation between the selenomethionine content of wheat grass and wheat seed was very weak (r = 0.23).