Discussion and Demonstration of RF-MEMS Attenuators Design Concepts and Modules for Advanced Beamforming in the Beyond-5G and 6G Scenario—Part 2

In this paper, different concepts of reconfigurable RF-MEMS attenuators for beamforming applications are proposed and critically assessed. Capitalizing on the previous part of this work, the 1-bit attenuation modules featuring series and shunt resistors and low-voltage membranes (7–9 V) are employed to develop a 3-bit attenuator for fine-tuning attenuations (<−10 dB) in the 24.25–27.5 GHz range. More substantial attenuation levels are investigated using fabricated samples of coplanar waveguide (CPW) sections equipped with Pi-shaped resistors aiming at attenuations of −15, −30, and −45 dB. The remarkable electrical features of such configurations, showing flat attenuation curves and limited return losses, and the investigation of a switched-line attenuator design based on them led to the final proposed concept of a low-voltage 24-state attenuator. Such a simulated device combines the Pi-shaped resistors for substantial attenuations with the 3-bit design for fine-tuning operations, showing a maximum attenuation level of nearly −50 dB while maintaining steadily flat attenuation levels and limited return losses (<−11 dB) along the frequency band of interest

A Chatbot (Juno) Prototype to Deploy a Behavioral Activation Intervention to Pregnant Women: Qualitative Evaluation Using a Multiple Case Study

Background: Despite the increasing focus on perinatal care, preventive digital interventions are still scarce. Furthermore, the literature suggests that the design and development of these interventions are mainly conducted through a top-down approach that limitedly accounts for direct end user perspectives. Objective: Building from a previous co-design study, this study aimed to qualitatively evaluate pregnant women's experiences with a chatbot (Juno) prototype designed to deploy a preventive behavioral activation intervention. Methods: Using a multiple-case study design, the research aims to uncover similarities and differences in participants' perceptions of the chatbot while also exploring women's desires for improvement and technological advancements in chatbot-based interventions in perinatal mental health. Five pregnant women interacted weekly with the chatbot, operationalized in Telegram, following a 6-week intervention. Self-report questionnaires were administered at baseline and postintervention time points. About 10-14 days after concluding interactions with Juno, women participated in a semistructured interview focused on (1) their personal experience with Juno, (2) user experience and user engagement, and (3) their opinions on future technological advancements. Interview transcripts, comprising 15 questions, were qualitatively evaluated and compared. Finally, a text-mining analysis of transcripts was performed. Results: Similarities and differences have emerged regarding women's experiences with Juno, appreciating its esthetic but highlighting technical issues and desiring clearer guidance. They found the content useful and pertinent to pregnancy but differed on when they deemed it most helpful. Women expressed interest in receiving increasingly personalized responses and in future integration with existing health care systems for better support. Accordingly, they generally viewed Juno as an effective momentary support but emphasized the need for human interaction in mental health care, particularly if increasingly personalized. Further concerns included overreliance on chatbots when seeking psychological support and the importance of clearly educating users on the chatbot's limitations. Conclusions: Overall, the results highlighted both the positive aspects and the shortcomings of the chatbot-based intervention, providing insight into its refinement and future developments. However, women stressed the need to balance technological support with human interactions, particularly when the intervention involves beyond preventive mental health context, to favor a greater and more reliable monitoring

Geophysical Characterization of the Interiors of Ganymede, Callisto and Europa by ESA’s JUpiter ICy moons Explorer

The JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) of ESA was launched on 14 April 2023 and will arrive at Jupiter and its moons in July 2031. In this review article, we describe how JUICE will investigate the interior of the three icy Galilean moons, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa, during its Jupiter orbital tour and the final orbital phase around Ganymede. Detailed geophysical observations about the interior of the moons can only be performed from close distances to the moons, and best estimates of signatures of the interior, such as an induced magnetic field, tides and rotation variations, and radar reflections, will be obtained during flybys of the moons with altitudes of about 1000 km or less and during the Ganymede orbital phase at an average altitude of 490 km. The 9-month long orbital phase around Ganymede, the first of its kind around another moon than our Moon, will allow an unprecedented and detailed insight into the moon’s interior, from the central regions where a magnetic field is generated to the internal ocean and outer ice shell. Multiple flybys of Callisto will clarify the differences in evolution compared to Ganymede and will provide key constraints on the origin and evolution of the Jupiter system. JUICE will visit Europa only during two close flybys and the geophysical investigations will focus on selected areas of the ice shell. A prime goal of JUICE is the characterisation of the ice shell and ocean of the Galilean moons, and we here specifically emphasise the synergistic aspects of the different geophysical investigations, showing how different instruments will work together to probe the hydrosphere. We also describe how synergies between JUICE instruments will contribute to the assessment of the deep interior of the moons, their internal differentiation, dynamics and evolution. In situ measurements and remote sensing observations will support the geophysical instruments to achieve these goals, but will also, together with subsurface radar sounding, provide information about tectonics, potential plumes, and the composition of the surface, which will help understanding the composition of the interior, the structure of the ice shell, and exchange processes between ocean, ice and surface. Accurate tracking of the JUICE spacecraft all along the mission will strongly improve our knowledge of the changing orbital motions of the moons and will provide additional insight into the dissipative processes in the Jupiter system. Finally, we present an overview of how the geophysical investigations will be performed and describe the operational synergies and challenges

Measurements and TCAD simulations of innovative RSD and DC-RSD LGAD devices for future 4D tracking

This paper summarizes the beam test results obtained with a Resistive Silicon Detector (RSD) (also called AC-Low Gain Avalanche Diode, AC-LGAD) pixel array tested at the DESY beam test facility with a 5 GeV/c electron beam. Furthermore, it describes in detail the simulation results of DC-RSD, an evolution of the RSD design. The simulations campaign described in this paper has been instrumental in the definition of the structures implemented in the Fondazione Bruno Kessler FBK first DC-RSD production. The RSD matrix used in this study is part of the second FBK RSD production, RSD2. The best position resolution reached in this test is m, about 3.4% of the pitch. DC-RSD LGAD, are an evolution of the AC-coupled design, eliminating the dielectric and using a DC-coupling to the electronics. The concept of DC-RSD has been finalized using full 3D Technology-CAD simulations of the sensor behavior. TCAD simulations are an excellent tool for designing this innovative class of detectors, enabling the evaluation of different technology options (e.g., the resistivity of the n layer, contact materials) and geometrical layouts (shape and distance of the read-out pads)

Constraints on directionality effect of nuclear recoils in a liquid argon time projection chamber

The direct search for dark matter in the form of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP) is performed by detecting nuclear recoils produced in a target material from the WIMP elastic scattering. The experimental identification of the direction of the WIMP-induced nuclear recoils is a crucial asset in this field, as it enables unmistakable modulation signatures for dark matter. The Recoil Directionality (ReD) experiment was designed to probe for such directional sensitivity in argon dual-phase time projection chambers (TPC), that are widely considered for current and future direct dark matter searches. The TPC of ReD was irradiated with neutrons at the INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Sud. Data were taken with nuclear recoils of known directions and kinetic energy of 72 keV, which is within the range of interest for WIMP-induced signals in argon. The direction-dependent liquid argon charge recombination model by Cataudella et al. was adopted and a likelihood statistical analysis was performed, which gave no indications of significant dependence of the detector response to the recoil direction. The aspect ratio R of the initial ionization cloud is R < 1.072 with 90% confidence level

Borane (BmHn), Hydrogen rich, Proton Boron fusion fuel materials for high yield laser-driven Alpha sources

We propose for the first time, a new fuel-material for laser-driven Proton Boron (P-B) fusion nuclear reactions. We propose, Hydrogen rich, Borane (BmHn) materials as fusion fuel as compared to Boron Nitride (BN) presently used. We estimate more than 10-fold increase in the yield of nuclear fusion reactions, and Alpha-prticle flux, when, for example Ammonia Borane (BNH6) laser-target material will be used compared to the state of the art normalized flux ∼108 Alphas/sr/J from BN targets. BNH6 contains ∼1000× higher concentration of Hydrogen compared to BN. We report the manufacture of the first solid-pellets Ammonia Borane laser-targets. To obtain high Flux Alpha sources from repetitive lasers we propose new BNH6 target geometries: liquid (molten) droplets/jets; or translated tape- or disc-targets coated with BNH6 powder. Targets would be irradiated in low pressure, ambient buffer gas. To enhance the fusion/Alpha yield of ultra-high intensity PetaWatt laser-target interaction we propose nano- and micro-structured Borane targets. As applications, we propose to use the Alpha-driven nuclear reactions inside the laser-driven Borane targets for new schemes to produce short-lived medical radioisotopes. Such laser-driven radioisotope beamlines would be installed directly in hospitals. Borane materials, like Diborane (6), B2H6, are also proposed as nuclear-fuels for laser-driven Proton-Boron fusion energy generation. The high dilution of Boron in Hydrgen B/H = 33% would need to be further enahnced to B/H < 15% to cut radiation losses from the hot and dense fusion pellet

Religion And Violence: The Role Of Biblical Hermeneutics In Decolonial Theology, With A Focus On The African Biblical Studies

In his The Philosophy of History, the German philosopher Georg W. F. Hegel presents his interpretation of world history, according to which history is the progress of the Spirit’s (Geist) manifestation and realization of itself in the existence of (some) men and people in the world. The becoming of the Spirit in the world is characterized by different stages of the manifestation of the Absolute Spirit’s consciousness. Hegel sees the global history of humanity as characterized by the dichotomy between East and West and by the progress of the Oriental, Greek, Roman, and German cultures. The Spirit’s consciousness manifests itself in each of them, while the rest of human civilization is only a spectator. Specifically, in Hegel’s account, Africa is not part of the progress of the Spirit’s self-consciousness. This is because, for Hegel, Africa is unhistorical; her spirit is undeveloped and, in the condition of the mere nature, devoid of morality, religion, and political constitutions. Hegel’s perspective was, on one hand, the outcome of the historical prejudices against Africa, developed during the colonial domination; on the other hand, it was a way to consolidate and motivate Africans rationally. The physical violence of colonization has been reduced to epistemic violence, what Aníbal Quijano called “coloniality,” that is, the permanence of colonial thought even after the end of colonization. Hegel’s judgment still weighs on Africa: The West still looks at Africa as an underdeveloped continent, unable to do what the West has done. Africa is still fighting for her recognition. African Biblical Studies (ABS) is a way to contribute to both the epistemic emancipation of African people and the recognition of their originality, a peaceful way to overcome epistemic violence. This way, of course, presupposes that the West is willing to recognize an epistemology different from its own. The purpose of this chapter is to show that the contribution of ABS to decolonial theology goes beyond Africa and biblical studies. The history of the continent, the variety of its traditions and cultures, and the ties it has built with other cultures offer resources and stimuli for anyone who wants to promote the emancipation of theological thought and its practical effects. The novelty of decolonial epistemology concerns the possibility of rethinking the social construction of reality. Biblical texts have always inspired people to act, fight, and change their lives

Modeling of surface plasmon resonance ARROW waveguide and its sensitivity analysis

In this work ARROW SPR waveguide sensor is proposed. The motivation behind present work is that surface plasmon resonance is the interesting topic of study in the bio sensing application. The modeling of SPR design and simulation of the anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguide surface plasmon resonance device (ARROW SPR) is conducted and compared with the previous modeling methods. The visible light incident onto the device using the attenuated total reflection (ATR) principle-based configuration known as Kretschmann configuration. The coupling of light to a surface plasmon (SP) is via waveguide coupler. ARROW SPR is a label free biosensor which gives high sensitivity characteristics to find the bio molecular interaction in the medical applications. The parameters of measurement carried out are loss analysis, light intensity, Q-factor, and Sensitivity. The average sensitivity of sensor obtained is 18.55 nm/RIU

COMPASTA = COMPASS + TASTE

COMPASTA is an ESA study (2021–2022) that aims at integrating the functionalities of the COMPASS and TASTE toolsets. COMPASS is a tool for model-based system engineering (MBSE) developed in a series of ESA studies from 2008 to 2016. It integrates various formal techniques for automated verification, based on model checking. COMPASS supports and automates activities related to requirements engineering, contract-based design, functional verification, safety assessment, fault detection, identification and recovery (FDIR) specification and effectiveness analysis. TASTE is a development environment for real-time embedded systems, developed under the initiative of ESA. It is a composition of heterogeneous tools released under an open source schema, including code generators, middleware layers and a user interface, devoted to support embedded systems design and development in a model-based fashion. The integration of COMPASS into TASTE is based on the idea, namely the COMPASS back-ends are split from the COMPASS front-end, and integrated directly into the TASTE front-end. In this way, the COMPASS functionalities become available in TASTE, to support the analysis of specifications written in different input languages and for different purposes. The novelty of COMPASTA consists in providing a full end-to-end coherent tool chain covering system design, verification, RAMS analyses, HW/SW implementation, deployment and testing. In this paper, we discuss the objectives and technical benefits of COMPASTA, and we demonstrate the COMPASTA approach and technology