Cannabinoid receptor 1 signaling in cardiovascular regulating nuclei in the brainstem: A review

Cannabinoids elicit complex hemodynamic responses in experimental animals that involve both peripheral and central sites. Centrally administered cannabinoids have been shown to predominantly cause pressor response. However, very little is known about the mechanism of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R)-centrally evoked pressor response. In this review, we provided an overview of the contemporary knowledge regarding the cannabinoids centrally elicited cardiovascular responses and the possible underlying signaling mechanisms. The current review focuses on the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) as the primary brainstem nucleus implicated in CB1R-evoked pressor response

Electrical performance study of a large area multicrystalline silicon solar cell using a current shunt and a micropotentiometer

In this paper, a new technique using a Current Shunt and a Micropotentiometer has been used to study the electrical performance of a large area multicrystalline silicon solar cell at outdoor conditions. The electrical performance is mainly described by measuring both cell short circuit current and open circuit voltage. The measurements of this cell by using multimeters suffer from some problems because the cell has high current intensity with low output voltage. So, the solar cell short circuit current values are obtained by measuring the voltage developed across a known resistance Current Shunt. Samples of the obtained current values are accurately calibrated by using a Micropotentiometer (μpot) thermal element (TE) to validate this new measuring technique. Moreover, the solar cell open circuit voltage has been measured. Besides, the cell output power has been calculated and can be correlated with the measured incident radiation

Study of the Optical Properties of Zno Nano-structure at Different Ti Content

Zinc oxide (ZnO) and TZO samples having different Ti content were synthesized from doping to composite by Citrate sol-gel method (dissolving and react with citric acid) characterized according to their optical properties. The UV - vis characterization exhibiting good optical properties. The results show there are one absorption edge at pure and low Ti doping but at higher Ti% another edge appeared and slightly shifted around 400 nm. The maximum absorption nearly at 350 nm, and the band gap energy of Ti-doped ZnO increase from 3.16 to 3.20 eV achieving a blue-shift. A red shift from 3.07 to 3.19 eV in the visible range which has a very important application, this improves the optical properties of ZnO and gives an indication how to tune its band gap (increase or decrease by doping or composition)

Implications of a Quantum Mechanical Treatment of the Universe

We attempt to treat the very early Universe according to quantum mechanics. Identifying the scale factor of the Universe with the width of the wave packet associated with it, we show that there cannot be an initial singularity and that the Universe expands. Invoking the correspondence principle, we obtain the scale factor of the Universe and demonstrate that the causality problem of the standard model is solved.Comment: LaTex, 5 pages, 1 figure, to be published in Mod. Phys. Lett.

Structure of the Deformed 7075 Aircraft Al - Alloy with Material Analysis Using Diffraction (MAUD)

This work aims to study the effect of plastic deformation on the 7075 Al - alloy using Material Analyses Using Diffraction (MAUD). Plastic deformation produces dislocation defects. Using a hydraulic press, samples were deformed up to 25%. The XRD was measured for each degree of deformation. The MAUD program was used to analyze the data, and mathematical methods were deployed to understand the various behaviors observed. The lattice parameter, crystallite size, average internal stress, micro-strain, and dislocation density of the 7075Al-alloy were calculated. As the deformation degree increased, there was a progressive decline in the crystallite size as an increase in the micro-strain and dislocation density. The flow stress changes from 5.8 to 49 MPa and the stored dislocation energy varies from 2.62 to 185 kPa

A meta-analysis of fMRI studies of semantic cognition in children

Our capacity to derive meaning from things that we see and words that we hear is unparalleled in other animal species and current AI systems. Despite a wealth of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies on where different semantic features are processed in the adult brain, the development of these systems in children is poorly understood. Here we conducted an extensive database search and identified 50 fMRI experiments investigating semantic world knowledge, semantic relatedness judgments, and the differentiation of visual semantic object categories in children (total N = 1,018, mean age = 10.1 years, range 4–15 years). Synthesizing the results of these experiments, we found consistent activation in the bilateral inferior frontal gyri (IFG), fusiform gyri (FG), and supplementary motor areas (SMA), as well as in the left middle and superior temporal gyri (MTG/STG). Within this system, we found little evidence for age-related changes across childhood and high overlap with the adult semantic system. In sum, the identification of these cortical areas provides the starting point for further research on the mechanisms by which the developing brain learns to make sense of its environment

Influence of Some Agricultural Extension Television Elements on Diffusion of Agricultural Information, Rural Knowledge and New Technologies to Tenants in the Gezira Province

Agricultural extension and rural information services provide rural people with information and rural knowledge which they need in order to increase their production, incomes and consequently improve their standard of living. Therefore, rural information systems must involve rural communities and local needs must also be of prime importance. Field surveys were used to collect data from 120 tenants in the Gezira Province in 2003/2004 growing season selected from a total population of 120000 tenants distributed in eight extension areas in the province by using the simple random sampling technique. The collected data were statistically analyzed using percentage and frequency distributions. The results showed unsuitability of some elements of extension television with tenants conditions and preferences in the Gezira Province. It could be concluded that the inconvenient time of broadcasting of extension television programs and their improper presentation negatively influenced diffusion of agricultural information, rural knowledge and new technologies to tenants in the Gezira Province. Thus, more attention should be given to planning, producing and time of transmitting of extension message through effective use of extension television elements

Dynamic Analysis Of A Novel Manpowered Transportation Vehicle With High Mechanical Efficiency

This paper evaluates the dynamics of a novel manpowered transportation vehicle. The vehicle has a novel mechanism that maximizes the mechanical input work and utilizes the weight of the rider for propulsion. The rider applies reciprocating stepping linear forces to drive chain and ratchet mechanism. The later transfer the reciprocating motion into a unidirectional rotational motion at the rear wheel to propel the vehicle. We analyzed the dynamics of the driving and transmission mechanism and derived the equations of motion, at first. Then, we evaluated the performance of the vehicle. Results show significant advantages of the novel driving mechanism

Design of thermally deformable laminates using machine learning

Recent advances in material science and manufacturing have enabled designers to create objects which respond to changing environmental conditions by controlled deformation, without external mechanical or electrical actuation. The design of such smart materials has mostly been done through trial and error due to their complex nonlinear behavior. This paper will present how this problem is addressed by introducing a novel inverse design workflow. In this, a desired structural deformation is used as an input to a machine learned model which subsequently outputs the required geometric and material properties that will produce said deformation when exposed to an external stimulus. This workflow uses a Generative Adversarial Neural Network (GANN) trained on pairs of input cut-out patterns of laminate layers and their nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulation results. The method offers a significant performance speed-up while maintaining acceptable levels of accuracy, especially at the early design stage. This methodology could be further extended to the design of any nonlinear mechanical deformation

Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of genital Mycoplasmas among a group of pregnant women

AbstractMycoplasma hominis (MH) and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) are important members of genital Mycoplasmas. They are implicated in urogenital infections and complicated pregnancy (chorioamnionitis, preterm delivery, abortion, and preterm birth) as well as bacterial vaginosis and cervicitis. The administration of antimicrobial agents to pregnant women with preterm rupture of the membranes (PROM) may extend the gestation period and decrease the risks of associated complications and neonatal infections. Despite empirical therapy is the rule in cases suspected to have genital infection in Egypt, the surveillance of the susceptibilities of used antibiotics is mandatory to ensure treatment efficacy and good prevention of any possible complications. This study aimed to assess the infection rate of genital Mycoplasmas (MH and UU) among pregnant females and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern to provide a provisional idea about the effectiveness of antibiotics used empirically to treat cases of genital infections in pregnant women. High vaginal swabs of 50 pregnant females were examined using Mycoplasma IES kit, for identification of UU and MH. The kit also provides the antimicrobial susceptibility results for 12 antimicrobials of five different classes. UU and MH were detected in 26/50 (52%), and 7/50 (14%) of cases respectively, of which 5 cases showed mixed infection with both organisms. UU was most sensitive to quinolones (90–95%), followed by tetracyclines (80–85%). The least sensitivity was detected with chloramphenicol and clindamycin (40% and 30% respectively). The two MH isolates (100%) were sensitive to the three tested quinolones in addition to clindamycin and thiamphenicol. MH showed 100% sensitivity to clindamycin and 75% of UU isolates were sensitive to azithromycin. Further studies are needed to detect any future changes in the susceptibility pattern for these drugs or other antibiotics