Low-Energy Optical Conductivity of TaP: Comparison of Theory and Experiment

The ab-plane optical conductivity of the Weyl semimetal TaP is calculated from the band structure and compared to the experimental data. The overall agreement between theory and experiment is found to be best when the Fermi level is slightly (20 to 60 meV) shifted upwards in the calculations. This confirms a small unintentional doping of TaP, reported earlier, and allows a natural explanation of the strong low-energy (50 meV) peak seen in the experimental ab-plane optical conductivity: this peak originates from transitions between the almost parallel non-degenerate electronic bands split by spin-orbit coupling. The temperature evolution of the peak can be reasonably well reproduce by calculations using an analog of the Mott formula.

Undeclared Doping Substances are Highly Prevalent in Commercial Sports Nutrition Supplements

Sports nutrition supplements have previously been reported to contain undeclared doping substances. The use of such supplements can lead to general health risks and may give rise to unintentional doping violations in elite sports. To assess the prevalence of doping substances in a range of high-risk sports nutrition supplements available from Dutch web shops. A total of 66 sports nutrition supplements - identified as potentially high-risk products claiming to modulate hormone regulation, stimulate muscle mass gain, increase fat loss, and/or boost energy - were selected from 21 different brands and purchased from 17 web shops. All products were analyzed for doping substances by the UK life sciences testing company LGC, formerly known as the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, using an extended version of their ISO17025 accredited nutritional supplement screen. A total of 25 out of the 66 products (38%) contained undeclared doping substances, which included high levels of the stimulants oxilofrine, β-methylphenethylamine (BMPEA) and N,β-dimethylphenethylamine (NBDMPEA), the stimulant 4-methylhexan-2-amine (methylhexaneamine, 1,3-dimethylamylamine, DMAA), the anabolic steroids boldione (1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione) and 5-androstene-3β,17α-diol (17α-AED), the beta-2 agonist higenamine and the beta-blocker bisoprolol. Based upon the recommended dose and the potential variability of analyte concentration, the ingestion of some products identified within this study could pose a significant risk of unintentional doping violations. In addition to inadvertent doping risks, the prescribed use of 3 products (4.5%) could likely impose general health risks.

Synthesis of High-Density Indium Oxide Nanowires with Low Electrical Resistivity

In this study, indium oxide nanowires of high-density were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) through a vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) mechanism without carrier gas. The indium oxide nanowires possess great morphology with an aspect ratio of over 400 and an average diameter of 50 nm; the length of the nanowires could be over 30 μm, confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Characterization was conducted with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence spectrum (PL). High-resolution TEM studies confirm that the grown nanowires were single crystalline c-In2O3 nanowires of body-centered cubic structures. The room temperature PL spectrum shows a strong peak around 2.22 eV, originating from the defects in the crystal structure. The electrical resistivity of a single indium oxide nanowire was measured to be 1.0 × 10−4 Ω⋅cm, relatively low as compared with previous works, which may result from the abundant oxygen vacancies in the nanowires, acting as unintentional doping.

Pharmacists as a Source of Advice on Medication Use for Athletes

Background: The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) specifies substances that competitive sportspersons are not allowed to take. Some of these substances are contained in common medicines used in everyday medical practice and could be used by athletes by accident. Objectives: This study aimed to explore pharmacists’ knowledge and confidence in guiding athletes about the use of medicines in professional sport. Methods: Registered pharmacists in Australia were invited to participate in an online survey. The survey had five domains and aimed to identify pharmacists’ demographic information, interest in sport, familiarity with WADA guidelines, knowledge on prohibited drug classes, and their opinion about the role of pharmacists in educating athletes on medication use. Descriptive statistics were provided and where appropriate, Chi-square, Mann–Whitney and independent t-test were used to identify potential associations and difference between means. Results: One hundred and thirty-five pharmacists (response rate of 10.6%) completed the survey, with the majority indicating that they were not confident in advising athletes on medication use. Although most respondents believed that pharmacists have a role in the education of athletes to help avoid unintentional doping, only about a quarter indicated that they had sufficient knowledge to advise athletes. About one-half of the respondents could provide fully correct answers when asked to identify the WADA status of some commonly used drugs. Conclusions: The results of the survey indicate that upskilling is required to enable pharmacists in Australia to provide accurate medication advice to professional athletes.

Unintentional Doping Effects on Atomically-Thin Nb-doped MoS2 Observed by Scanning Nonlinear Dielectric Microscopy

Two-dimensional semiconductors such as atomically-thin MoS2 have recently gained much attention because of their superior material properties fascinating for the future electronic device applications. Here we investigate the nanoscale dominant carrier distribution on atomically-thin natural and Nbdoped MoS2 mechanically exfoliated on SiO2/Si substrates by using scanning nonlinear dielectric microscopy. We show that a few-layer natural MoS2 sample is an n-type semiconductor, as expected, but Nb-doped MoS2, normally considered as a p-type semiconductor, can unexpectedly become an n-type semiconductor due to strong unintentional electron doping.

Evaluation of knowledge and perceptions of pharmacy students towards doping and the need for doping education

Background: Despite the need for doping prevention strategies, information about doping awareness among pharmacy professionals is limited. Therefore, developing a pharmacy workforce or specialized pharmacists with expertise in sports pharmacy is a necessity, but also a subject of global health significance. Objective: Objective of this study was to assess pharmacy student’s knowledge and perceptions of doping and anti-doping in sports and to explore the curricular needs in the field of sports pharmacy. Methodology: An 18 item questionnaire developed according to World Anti-Doping Code and the FIP Statement on pharmacist’s role against doping in sports was employed to collect data from pharmacy students at Ezhuthachan College of pharmaceutical sciences. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Questionnaires were distributed to 300 pharmacy students, among them 237 students participated in the survey, with a response rate of 79%. respondents said that they were familiar with the word doping were 78%. 39 respondents (16.5%) had attended a lecture about doping, (83%) had not. 222 respondents held the view that it is not fair for the athletes to use prohibited substances to improve their performance were (94%). According to 40 respondents (17%), most common doping violation in India is unintentional doping and 175 respondents (74%) claimed it to be intentional doping. Only a few respondents correctly recognized the WADA- banned drugs. Most of the respondents think that pharmacist should get involved in anti-doping activities for athletes. Many (73 %) are interested to have training for doping. Conclusion: The study highlights the need to provide pharmacy students with advanced theoretical background and practical training concerning doping.