Commentary- Increasing abuse of anabolic steroids and chemsex drugs as performance and image-enhancing agents

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) are a family of synthetic “Appearance and Performance Enhancing Drugs” (APED) derived from natural sex hormones, such as testosterone and its derivatives or precursors (e.g., dihydrotestosterone)1 . Whereas testosterone is the androgen responsible for the development of male secondary sex characteristics and elicits both anabolic and androgenic effects, AAS mostly simulate the anabolic effect of endogenous testosterone, and induce only partial androgenic effects2 . In the 1930s, anabolic steroids were shown to facilitate muscular growthhand consequently became rapidly popular among bodybuilders and other athletes, and were already widespread in the 1960s. AAS have been and still are among the doping agents most frequently misused by athletes, regardless of the type of sport, both in preparations containing natural anabolic drugs [e.g., testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)] and in those with synthetic substances (e.g., dianazole, nandrolone, stanozolol and tetrahydrogestrinone

Cognitive enhancing drugs: a future challenge for the workplace?

In medical practice, cognitive enhancers (also called nootropics) are defined as therapeutic drugs treating specific cognition impairments in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke schizophrenia or aging. However, the non-medical use of cognitive enhancers with the aim of increasing mental alertness and concentration, improving memory, fighting wakefulness and boosting energy has been spreading worldwide2. In this concern, scarce investigations have been carried out on the possible risks of chronic non-medical use of nootropics, and these risks seem to be largely overlooked, especially among students3. Considering the ever more competitive nature of modern societies, which also reverberates into workplaces, cognitive enhancers are reasonably expected to become even more common over time4. Nonetheless, long-term consequences are as yet unknown. Cognitive enhancers, used by healthy individuals, are widely known as nootropics: they consist of drugs, supplements and other substances that are allegedly known to improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, and to strengthen memory, creativity or even motivation. Pharmaceutical substances and compounds known as ‘cognitive-enhancers’ allegedly boost mental performance and the ability to focus and keep concentration. In broader terms, such drugs are often claimed to heighten and foster the acquisition of motor capabilities and affective skills (i.e., one’s ability to deal with anxiety stemming from performing certain work tasks or eliciting feelings of trust and affiliation). It is worth noting, however, that no drugs are licensed by medical authorities to be recommended and prescribed as ‘cognitive enhancers’. Thus, the definition of ‘performance-enhancing drug’ is usually linked to the off-label use of drugs prescribed for specific medical conditions. These substances are usually stimulants that preferentially target the catecholamines of the prefrontal cortex of the brain to induce their effects5. Historically, amphetamines have been the first drugs used off-label for the purpose of fostering memory consolidation and increasing concentration6. Since these substances are legally controlled as drugs of abuse, they can only be obtained on illegal markets. This purchase channel is also used to obtain methylphenidate, which is undoubtedly the most misused drug as cognitive enhancer5,7. Mostly prescribed for treating Attention Deficit Hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, methylphenidate has been scheduled as an illegal drug in many countries for its abuse liability and side effects, resulting in a rapid expansion of methylphenidate legal analogs onto the drug market. Alternative prescription drugs for the treatment of narcolepsy and ADHD, such as modafinil and armodafinil, are also used as cognitive enhancers8. Finally, two last drugs should be mentioned among nootropics: atomoxetine, a selective nor-adrenaline reuptake inhibitor licensed for the treatment of children with methylphenidate-resistant ADHD or undergoing methylphenidate side effects9, and donepezil, a second-generation acetylcholinesterase inhibitor licensed for the treatment of mild to moderately severe symptoms of Alzheimer-related dementia10. At the same time, there has been renewed interest in older prescription drugs (e.g., beta blockers, to decrease performance anxiety) and illicit psychostimulants (e.g., cocaine, amphetamines), sometimes in different forms or doses. Whereas there is still little consensus on the actual effectiveness and nature of the cognitive benefits of the above-mentioned drugs in healthy subjects13, their use to enhance the level of performance in specific workplaces has been reported for decades14. In fact, cognitive enhancement has been a mainstay of military research in the US since the Second World War with the use of amphetamines, modafinil and other cognitive enhancers in the most recent military operations (e.g., Vietnam war, Korean war, operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Iraq, later sustained military operations in the Middle East)15,16. Whereas the military use of cognitive enhancers has been known for many years, not only in the US but internationally. More recent studies reported that other occupations present a high prevalence of use: medical doctors and health professionals (e.g., surgeons, surgical technicians’ anesthetists), transportation workers (e.g., truck drivers, car drivers, taxi drivers), financial traders, clinical investigators, research managers and lawyers. Finally, the increase of precarious and part-time home works has been recently associated to psychological discomfort and an increase in prescriptions of psychotropic drugs, and a rise in the misuse of cognitive enhancers can be hypothesized17-19. Another important factor to be taken into account is the role of the internet as a source of information through web forums and as a way of obtaining those substances. Such dynamics also constitute a cultural shift in the way drugs are obtained and consumed: they are anonymously received and safer than street drugs trafficking, although the actual composition and nature of the substances cannot be precisely ascertained. This latter fact creates a gap of information on the diagnosis of misuse in cases of possible intoxications and fatalities, since neither analytical screening nor confirmation methodologies are currently available for documenting exposure to those profuse and chemically diverse substances. In addition, apart from intoxications and fatalities, it has to be reminded that several of these substances present a potential for abuse liability and abstinence symptoms, which, instead of improving work pressure and overload, can worsen the environmental situation. In conclusion, we wish to draw the attention of the whole scientific community and policy makers to the increasing importance of the misuse of cognitive enhancers, and to improve public awareness of the phenomenon and contextual political strategies to stop this incoming threat for the health of current and future worker

Bioremediation of Mercury (II) Contaminated Seawater Using the Diatom Skeletonema costatum

The mercury contaminated seawater can pollute fish pond. Bioremediation is an effective process for the removal and recovery of mercury (II) from seawater using organism as an agent of biological degradation. The aim of this study was to know the optimum contact time and concentrations of the Skeletonema costatum cell inoculation on the bioremediation in mercury (II) contaminated seawater. This study has used the concentrations of the cell inoculation (5000; 10000; and 15000 cells/mL), the mercury (II) (0; 0.5; 1; and 2 mg/L), the contact time (24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours), and its replicated five times. The maximum bioremediation capacity of mercury (II) was 2 mg/L at 15 000 cells/mL and contact time 96 hours, with bioremediation efficiency 86.83%. Diatom Skeletonema costatum was efficient at removing 2 mg/L mercury (II) 79.5% for 5 000 cells/L at 72 hours, 83.3 % for 10 000 cells/L at 72 hours and 85% for 15 000 cells/L at 72 hours. The optimum contact time and concentrations of the Skeletonema costatum cell inoculation on the bioremediation in mercury (II) contaminated seawater for 2 mg/L, i.e. 5 000 cells/L for 72 hours (79.5%) Keywords: bioremediation; mercury (II); seawater; Skeletonema costatum

Guidelines for the monitoring of Lucanus cervus

Lucanus cervus is one of the most charismatic saproxylic beetles, widely distributed in Europe. The species is typical of mature deciduous forests, especially oak woodlands. Loss and fragmentation of suitable habitats is one of the major threats for this species which is included in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. Despite several studies carried out in the last years for the monitoring methods of the species, an analytical comparison between them is still lacking. The aims of this paper are (i) to review the current knowledge about systematics, ecology and conservation practices on L. cervus and (ii) to present the research carried out during the Life MIPP project, in order to define a standard monitoring method with a suitable protocol to be used for addressing the obligations of the Habitats Directive. Overall, five methods were tested during three years in two different study areas. Based on these results, a suitable standard method for L. cervus is proposed in this paper and, in order to assess the conservation status of populations and to compare them over time, a simple method for the calculation of a reference value is provided

Characterisation of wine yeasts isolated at different temperatures using the enrichment technique

Research NoteSaccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from fermenting grape must incubated at extreme fermentation temperatures (40 and 5 degrees C) were oenologically characterised. These cultures compared with S. cerevisiae wine strains, show a wider optimum temperature for growth and can ferment vigorously in a wider temperature range (27 to 35 degrees C)

Penggunaan Tanaman Perangkap Tagetes Erecta, Zea Mays, Dan VI Rus HaNPV Untuk Mengendalikan Hama Helicoverpa Armigera Hbn. Pada Tanaman Tomat

Helicoverpa armigera merupakan hama penting pada tanaman tomat. Kehilangan hasil yang diakibatkan dapatmencapai 52%. Penggunaan insektisida yang terus menerus mengakibatkan terjadinya pencemaran lingkungan,pengurangan keanekaragaman fauna, dan resistensi H. armigera terhadap insektisida. Pengendalian cara teknis danpenggunaan musuh alami merupakan cara untuk mengendalikan hama H. armigera dan merupakan komponenpenting dalam konsepsi pengendalian hama terpadu. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui efikasitanaman perangkap Tagetes erecta, Zea mays, dan HaNPV terhadap serangan H. armigera pada tanaman tomat.Penelitian dilaksanakan di Rancaekek, Jawa Barat sejak bulan Juni sampai Sep tem ber 1999. Rancangan percobaanyang digunakan adalah Petak Terpisah, di mana varietas sebagai petak utama dan sistem tanam sebagai anak petak.Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa varietas tomat LV-2471 relatif tahan terhadap serangan H. armigera.Penggunaan tanaman perangkap tagetes (T. erecta) dan jagung (Z. mays) dapat menekan serangan H. armigera.Sedangkan tanaman tomat yang ditumpangsarikan dengan tanaman perangkap tagetes dan diaplikasi dengan vi rusHaNPV, merupakan kombinasi yang efektif dan memberikan harapan yang baik untuk dikembangkan dalampengendalian organisme pengganggu tanaman pada tanaman tomat dan dapat menekan serangan H. armigera sebesar58,04 %.Kata kunci : Solanum lycopersicum; Tanaman perangkap; Tagetes erecta; Zea mays; Helicoverpa armigera; HaNPVAB STRACT. Setiawati, W., T.S. Uhan, E. Purwati, and S. Sastrosiswojo. 2002. The use of trap crops Tageteserecta, Zea mays, and HaNPV vi rus to con trol Helicoverpa armigera on to mato. The to ma toes crops is at tackedheavily by in sects and the most im por tant of which is H. armigera. This pest caused yield losses up to 52 %. Farm ersin creas ingly rely on syn thetic in sec ti cides to man age this pest. This has in creased the risk of en vi ron men tal con tam i na -tion, the loss of biodiversity, and con trib uted to the de vel op ment of in sec ti cides re sis tant H. armigera pop u la tions.Cul tural prac tices and the use of nat u ral en emy are con sid ered im por tant in the sup pres sion of pest pop u la tions in in te -grated pest man age ment programmes. The ob jec tive of this ex per i ment was to known the ef fi cacy of trap crops (T.erecta and Z. mays) and HaNPV to con trol of H. armigera on to mato. The ex per i ment was con ducted in Rancaekek,West Java from June to Sep tem ber 1999. Split Plot De sign was used with va ri ety as a main plot and plant ing sys tem asa sub plot. The re sults of this ex per i ment in di cated that LV-2471 to mato va ri ety was rel a tively re sis tant to H.armigera. The use of T. erecta and Z. mays as a trap crops on to mato can sup press pop u la tion of H. armigera .Intercropping sys tem of to mato and T. erecta with HaNPV ef fec tively re duced pop u la tion and fruit dam age due to H.armigera up to 58.04 % and the best choice as al ter na tive con trol to H. armigera

Radiation therapy for atypical and anaplastic meningiomas: an overview of current results and controversial issues

Meningiomas are the most common intracranial tumors. Most meningiomas are WHO grade 1 tumors whereas less than one-quarter of all meningiomas are classified as atypical (WHO grade 2) and anaplastic (WHO grade 3) tumors, based on local invasiveness and cellular features of atypia. Surgical resection remains the cornerstone of meningioma therapy and represents the definitive treatment for the majority of patients; however, grade 2 and grade 3 meningiomas display more aggressive behavior and are difficult to treat. Several retrospective series have shown the efficacy and safety of postoperative adjuvant external beam radiation therapy (RT) for patients with atypical and anaplastic meningiomas. More recently, two phase II prospective trials by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG 0539) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC 2042) have confirmed the potential benefits of fractionated RT for patients with intermediate and high-risk meningiomas; however, several issues remain a matter of debate. Controversial topics include the timing of radiation treatment in patients with totally resected atypical meningiomas, the optimal radiation technique, dose and fractionation, and treatment planning/target delineation. Ongoing randomized trials are evaluating the efficacy of early adjuvant RT over observation in patients undergoing gross total resection. © 2022, The Author(s

Identification of HRM Improvement Strategy Using Artificial Intelligence in Modern Economic Development

Purpose: This literature review study aims to identify HRM improvement strategies using artificial intelligence (AI) in modern economic development.   Theoretical framework: The study will review existing literature and synthesize the findings to identify best practices and key strategies for implementing AI in HRM. The study will focus on the role of AI in HRM improvement and explore how AI can be used to enhance recruitment, training, performance management, and employee engagement.   Design/methodology/approach: Literature review, the search approach will include keywords and Boolean operators to guarantee that relevant research is located. The study questions and goals will define the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study will also look at the hurdles of implementing AI in HRM and recommend overcoming them.   Findings: The findings of this study will be helpful for organizations seeking to improve their HRM practices using AI and for researchers interested in the intersection of AI and HRM in modern economic development.   Research, Practical & Social implications: The results of the study are useful for policymakers in identifying strategies to improve human resource management using artificial intelligence (AI) in modern economic development.   Originality/value: The research value of this text is its suggestions for conducting more research on how AI affects HRM processes and employee engagement, for creating clear rules and standards for the ethical use of AI in HRM, for teaching HR professionals how to use AI-powered HRM tools and strategies effectively, for fostering collaboration between academic researchers, business leaders, government officials, and other stakeholders, and for overseeing the effects of AI

Pemberian Jamu (Jahe, Kunyit, dan Temulawak) terhadap Performa Produksi Telur Burung Puyuh (Corturnix corturnix japonica)

Jahe, kunyit dan temulawak telah banyak digunakan sebagai bahan baku jamu ternak dan dapat meningkatkan produktivitas ternak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui produksi telur burung puyuh (Corturnix corturnix japonica) yang diberi jamu (jahe, kunyit, dan temulawak). Materi yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini yaitu 80 ekor burung puyuh betina fase layer yang dipelihara selama 6 minggu. Rancangan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) dengan 4 perlakuan yaitu P0 (perlakuan kontrol), P1 (0,25% ekstrak jamu), P2 (0,5% ekstrak jamu), P3 (1% ekstrak jamu) dan masing-masing perlakuan diulang 4 kali. Variabel penelitian meliputi mempengaruhi konsumsi pakan, produksi telur, bobot telur, konversi pakan, dan skor warna kuning telur. Data hasil penelitian dianalisis dengan menggunakan analisis ragam dan perlakuan memberikan pengaruh yang nyata dilanjutkan dengan uji beda nyata terkecil (BNT). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemberian ekstrak jamu tidak mempengaruhi konsumsi pakan, produksi telur, bobot telur, konversi pakan, dan skor warna kuning telur. Nilainya secara berturut-turut berkisar antara 27,40-27,53 g/ekor/hari; 73,04-81,61%; 10,67-11,26 g/ekor; 3,05-3,57 dan 5,75-7,50. Penambahan ekstrak jamu hingga 1% pada air minum belum mampu meningkatkan produksi telur burung puyuh