Development of an Open-source, Custom Environmental Data Logger for Spatially Scalable Data Collection

Characterizing the processes that lead to differences in ecosystem productivity and watershed hydrology across complex terrain remains a challenge. This difficulty can be partially attributed to the cost of installing networks of proprietary data loggers that monitor differences in the biophysical factors contributing to vegetation growth or hydrological processes. Studies that aim to compare concurrent time-series data sets across multiple locations must therefore balance the high cost of these data logger systems with the need for spatial resolution in their data. Here, we present the design, implementation, and case study for an open-source “Pinecone” data logger system, released under the GNU General Public License that can be manufactured for under $70 USD per unit. The system was designed to accommodate a wide range of generic and proprietary environmental sensors, and to be inexpensive enough to build and deploy large numbers to a study site. A case study was performed in which 54 data loggers were deployed to North Fork Elk Creek, a mountainous watershed located in Lubrecht Experimental Forest in the Garnet mountain range in Northwest Montana for a one year period. The data loggers were deployed across 6 hillsides in the watershed, representing combinations of differing elevations and aspects, at 9 study locations on each hillslope. At each of these locations we recorded air temperature, vapor pressure, soil water content, sap flow velocity, and tree basal area at 30 minute intervals. We evaluated the reliability of the systems in a case study over an 8 month period in 2016 and 4 month period in 2017. Our results suggest that open-source technologies such as the Pinecone logger can make it possible to develop dependable and spatially distributed sensor network within the confines of a typical research budget

The Effect of Creatine on 24-Hour Blood Pressure, Mean Arterial Pressure, and Pulse Pressure

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of a 1 week creatine supplementation (CrS) on blood pressure (BP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and pulse pressure (PP) in healthy males and females. METHODS: Subjects were 10 males (21±1.2 year) and 4 females (20.3 ± 0.47 year), with VO2max values of 53.53 ± 4.6 ml/kg/min (males) and 47.7 ± 2.9 ml/kg/min (females). Subjects were divided into two groups: placebo supplementation (PS) and CrS. Subjects attended a pre-supplementation and post-supplementation exercise intervention where subjects ran for 30 min at 70-80% of VO2max. Between the exercise interventions, subjects consumed 0.3 g/kg of body weight/day of supplement for 7 days. Following each exercise intervention, subjects wore an ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM) for 24 hr to collect BP, MAP, and PP. RESULTS: A 7 day CrS will result in benefits to cardiovascular health (CVH). The CrS group will have lower mean BP, MAP, and PP when compared to the PS group following the second exercise intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed research will contribute to greater understanding of the effects of CrS on CVH

The GlueX DIRC Project

The GlueX experiment was designed to search for and study the pattern of gluonic excitations in the meson spectrum produced through photoproduction reactions at a new tagged photon beam facility in Hall D at Jefferson Laboratory. The particle identification capabilities of the GlueX experiment will be enhanced by constructing a DIRC (Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov light) detector, utilizing components of the decommissioned BaBar DIRC. The DIRC will allow systematic studies of kaon final states that are essential for inferring the quark flavor content of both hybrid and conventional mesons. The design for the GlueX DIRC is presented, including the new expansion volumes that are currently under development.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

An Investigation of School Socioeconomic Staus on adolescent Athletes\u27 Baseline and Post-Injury Concussion Assessments

Please enjoy Volume 5, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS. In this issue you will find Professional and under graduate research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics. Thank you for viewing this 5th Annual OATA Special Editio

Line Hops and Side Hold Rotation Tests Load Both Anterior and Posterior Shoulder: A Biomechanical Study

# Background Clinical tests should replicate the stressful positions encountered during sport participation. Evaluating the kinetic and electromyographical demands of clinical tests enables clinicians to choose appropriate tests for specific sports. # Purpose To describe the shoulder forces and muscle activation levels during closed chain functional tests of Line Hops (LH) and Side Hold Rotation (SHR). # Study Design Descriptive biomechanical study # Methods Ten asymptomatic participants were examined in a university laboratory. Two functional tests were evaluated using three-dimensional video analysis and electromyography to measure shoulder forces, moments, and muscular activity levels. # Results SHR produced a peak average posterior translation force of 4.84 N/kg (CI~95~ 4.32-5.36N/kg) and a peak average anterior translational force of 1.57 N/kg (CI~95~ 1.10-2.01N/kg). High levels of serratus anterior (98% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and infraspinatus (52 %MVIC) were recorded during SHR. LH produced a posterior translational force of 4.25 N/kg (CI~95~ 3.44–5.06N/kg). High levels of serratus anterior (105 %MVIC) and infraspinatus (87 %MVIC) were recorded during the push off phase of this activity. # Conclusions LH and SHR placed large posterior translational forces that approached half of a person’s bodyweight on shoulder structures. SHR produced an anterior translation force at extremes of horizontal abduction placing approximately 18% of bodyweight on shoulder structures. The LH test required the serratus anterior to provide power to push the upper torso of the ground while both the serratus and the infraspinatus provides scapular and humeral stability, respectively. # Level of Evidence 4: Case serie

Hidden Silicon-Vacancy Centers in Diamond

We characterize a high-density sample of negatively charged silicon-vacancy (SiV$^-$) centers in diamond using collinear optical multidimensional coherent spectroscopy. By comparing the results of complementary signal detection schemes, we identify a hidden population of \ce{SiV^-} centers that is not typically observed in photoluminescence, and which exhibits significant spectral inhomogeneity and extended electronic $T_2$ times. The phenomenon is likely caused by strain, indicating a potential mechanism for controlling electric coherence in color-center-based quantum devices

Embracing different approaches to estimating HIV incidence, prevalence and mortality.

BACKGROUND: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Murray et al. have both produced sets of estimates for worldwide HIV incidence, prevalence and mortality. Understanding differences in these estimates can strengthen the interpretation of each. METHODS: We describe differences in the two sets of estimates. Where possible, we have drawn on additional published data to which estimates can be compared. FINDINGS: UNAIDS estimates that there were 6 million more people living with HIV (PLHIV) in 2013 (35 million) compared with the Murray et al. estimates (29 million). Murray et al. estimate that new infections and AIDS deaths have declined more gradually than does UNAIDS. Just under one third of the difference in PLHIV is in Africa, where Murray et al. have relied more on estimates of adult mortality trends than on data on survival times. Another third of the difference is in North America, Europe, Central Asia and Australasia. Here Murray et al. estimates of new infections are substantially lower than the number of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses reported by countries, whereas published UNAIDS estimate tend to be greater. The remaining differences are in Latin America and Asia where the data upon which the UNAIDS methods currently rely are more sparse, whereas the mortality data leveraged by Murray et al. may be stronger. In this region, however, anomalies appear to exist between the both sets of estimates and other data. INTERPRETATION: Both estimates indicate that approximately 30 million PLHIV and that antiretroviral therapy has driven large reductions in mortality. Both estimates are useful but show instructive discrepancies with additional data sources. We find little evidence to suggest that either set of estimates can be considered systematically more accurate. Further work should seek to build estimates on as wide a base of data as possible