Strox (Novel Synthetic Cannabinoids) in Egypt: Medical and Legal Challenges

Besides traditionally abused substances, the use of novel synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) emerged in Egypt a few years ago. Strox is a popular synthetic cannabis in Egypt that consists of smokable herbal products laced with unidentified synthetic cannabinoids. Unfortunately, threats from the escalating use of Strox in Egypt are increasing, which is a challenge for medical and legal systems. Acute Strox intoxication manifested by acute toxic psychosis and severe cases could develop cardiovascular instability and fatal coma. Strox-related toxicity could be attributed to THC analogs and anticholinergic agents along with the presence of additives such as ketamine. Limited knowledge considering exact Strox ingredients makes its identification in biological samples using standard toxicology impossible. In 2018, Egyptian law criminalized the usage of five THC analogs that are rapidly followed by alteration of Strox constituents by its manufacturer using non-prohibited cannabinoids to escape legal prohibition. Therefore, comprehensive studies are needed to identify common Strox constituents with subsequent successful detection. Moreover, the amendment of the law is essential to include any substances that have cannabis-like actions in the schedules of a prohibited substance

Compressed Transmission Mode: An Optimizing Decision Tool

In this paper we address the problem of host to host communication. In particular, we discuss the issue of efficient and adaptive transmission mechanisms over possible physical links. We develop a tool for making decisions regarding the flow of control sequences and data from and to a host. The issue of compression is discussed in details, a decision box and an optimizing tool for finding the appropriate thresholds for a decision are developed. Physical parameters like the data rate, bandwidth of the communication medium, distance between the hosts, band rate, levels of discretization, signal to noise ratio and propagation speed of the signal are taken into consideration while developing our decision system. Theoretical analysis is performed to develop mathematical models for the optimization algorithm. Simulation models are also developed for testing both the optimization and the decision tool box

Operator/System Communication : An Optimizing Decision Tool

Copyright 1990 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.In this paper we address the problem of operator/system communication. In particular, we discuss the issue of efficient and adaptive transmission mechanisms over possible physical links. We develop a tool for making decisions regarding the flow of control sequences and data from and to the operator. The issue of compression is discussed in details, a decision box and an optimizing tool for finding the appropriate thresholds for a decision are developed. Physical parameters like the data rate, bandwidth of the communication medium, distance between the operator and the system, baud rate, levels of discretization, signal to noise ratio and propagation speed of the signal are taken into consideration while developing our decision system. Theoretical analysis is performed to develop mathematical models for the optimization algorithm. Simulation models are also developed for testing both the optimization and the decision tool box.http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2549

2D Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Solitons Interaction in Dusty Plasma

Molecular Dynamics (MD) method is used to simulate a dusty plasma system as a one component plasma (OCP).  The heavy dust particles are considered as discrete particles interacting with each other through the Yukawa potential. This assumption is justified by the screening effect due to the lighter plasma components (electrons and ions). Solitons excitation at different values of the Coulomb coupling parameter (Γ) is simulated. The formation of solitons in the system using electric field pulse in a narrow region is studied. Different scenarios of the interaction of solitons are studied for: A) Two solitons with the same amplitude and opposite directions.  B) Two solitons with different amplitudes and opposite directions.  C) Two solitons with different amplitudes and propagating in the same direction

A Computational Approach for Constructing the Reachable Workspaces for Redundant Manipulators

An efficient computation of 3D workspaces for redundant manipulators is based on a “hybrid” algorithm between direct kinematics and screw theory. Direct kinematics enjoys low computational cost, but needs edge detection algorithms when workspace boundaries are needed. Screw theory has exponential computational cost per workspace point, but does not need edge detection. Screw theory allows computing workspace points in prespecified directions, while direct kinematics does not. Applications of the algorithm are discussed

A Hybrid System For Computing Reachable Workspaces For Redundant Manipulators

Copyright 1991 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.An efficient computation of 3D workspaces for redundant manipulators is based on a "hybrid" algorithm between direct kinematics and screw theory. Direct kinematics enjoys low computational cost, but needs edge detection algorithms when workspace boundaries are needed. Screw theory has exponential computational cost per workspace point, but does not need edge detection. Screw theory allows computing workspaces points in prespecfic directions, while direct kinematics does not. Applications of the algorithm are discussed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2538

3-D Perception and Recognition Under Uncertainty

Copyright 1991 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.This paper presents an efficient system for recovering the structural properties of objects with unknown 3-D shape. In this approach, we build adaptive maps for interpreting the object structure under uncertainty. We decompose the system into four major modules: sensing interface, knowledge base, map building and decision making, and the controller. The sensing interface acquires visual data and performs low and intermediate vision tasks for enhancing the acquired image sequences. The knowledge base contains different visual primitives and the possible exploratory actions. The map building and decision making module utilizes the different predicates that are stored in the knowledge base in order to resolve possible uncertainties. The decisions made in the map building and decision making module are then utilized by the controller module which resolves possible inconsistencies. The above process is repeated until the map stored in the third module contains a minimal number of three dimensional interpretations that cannot be reduced further. Motion primitives are used as sensing actions. Uncertainty models are developed for the sensor and for the image processing techniques being used. Further filtering and a rejection mechanism are then developed to discard unrealistic motion and structure estimates. This system is capable of recognizing the object structure efficiently and adaptively.http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.5881

Magnetotaxis as a Means for Nanofabrication

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), discovered in early 1970s contain single-domain crystals of magnetite (Fe3O4) called magnetosomes that tend to form a chain like structure from the proximal to the distal pole along the long axis of the cell. The ability of these bacteria to sense the magnetic field for displacement, also called magnetotaxis, arises from the magnetic dipole moment of this chain of magnetosomes. In aquatic habitats, these organisms sense the geomagnetic field and traverse the oxic-anoxic interface for optimal oxygen concentration along the field lines. Here we report an elegant use of MTB where magnetotaxis of Magnetospirillum magneticum (classified as AMB-1) could be utilized for controlled navigation over a semiconductor substrate for selective deposition. We examined 50mm long coils made out of 18AWG and 20AWG copper conductors having diameters of 5mm, 10mm and 20mm for magnetic field intensity and heat generation. Based on the COMSOL simulations and experimental data, it is recognized that a compound semiconductor manufacturing technology involving bacterial carriers and carbon-based materials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes would be a desirable choice in the future

Physical properties of large cardamom cultivated in north eastern Himalayan region of Sikkim, India

The large cardamom is one of the most important spice crops grown in Himalayan region of Sikkim, India.  The capsules of the harvested large cardamom are dried before consumption.  The paper presents the physical properties of  freshly harvested and dried large cardamom capsules.  The geometrical mean diameter, sphericity, bulk density and mean values of angle of repose of the freshly harvested large cardamom capsules were observed to be 18.53±1.73 mm, 0.76, 332.21±14.24 kg m-3 and 28.74±4.04°, respectively.  Whereas for dried large cardamom capsules the values were found to be 11.113±0.92 mm, 0.56, 393.109±9.622 kg m-3 and 29.84±2.93°, respectively.  The peak static coefficient of friction of freshly harvested large cardamom over mild steel, plywood and plastic film surfaces were 0.386, 0.463 and 0.359, respectively.  However, for dried large cardamom capsules, the observed values were 0.436, 0.394 and 0.155, respectively.   Keywords: large cardamom, spice crop, physical propertie

Spin configurations in circular and rectangular vertical quantum dots in a magnetic field: Three-dimensional self-consistent simulation

The magnetic field dependence of the electronic properties of \textit{real} single vertical quantum dots in circular and rectangular mesas is investigated within a full three-dimensional multiscale self-consistent approach without any {\it \'a priori} assumptions about the shape and strength of the confinement potential. The calculated zero field electron addition energies are in good agreement with available experimental data for both mesa geometries. Charging diagrams in a magnetic field for number of electrons up to five are also computed. Consistent with the experimental data, we found that the charging curves for the rectangular mesa dot in a magnetic field are flatter and exhibit less features than for a circular mesa dot. Evolution of the singlet-triplet energy separation in the two electron system for both dot geometries in magnetic field was also investigated. In the limit of large field, beyond the singlet-triplet transition, the singlet-triplet energy difference continues to become more negative in a circular mesa dot without any saturation within the range of considered magnetic fields whilst it is predicted to asymptotically approach zero for the rectangular mesa dot. This different behavior is attributed to the symmetry "breaking" that occurs in the singlet wave-functions in the rectangular mesa dot but not in the circular one.Comment: 12 pages, 8 gifure