mmWave polarization diversity wideband multiple-input/multiple-output antenna system with symmetrical geometry for future compact devices

The fifth generation (5G) of mobile networks is a significant technological advancement in telecommunications that provides faster data speeds, lower latency, and greater network capacity. One of the key technologies that enables 5G is multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems, which allow for the transmission and reception of multiple data streams simultaneously, improving network performance and efficiency. MIMO is essential to meeting the demand for higher data rates and improved network performance in 5G networks. This work presents a four-element MIMO antenna system dedicated to the upper 5G millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum. The suggested antenna system is designed using an ultra-thin RO5880 substrate having total dimensions of 20 x 20 x 0.254 mm(3) with symmetrical geometry. The proposed antenna covers a fractional bandwidth of 46.875% (25-38 GHz), covering potential 5G bands of 26, 28, and 32 GHz, and offers isolation of >18 dB. The proposed MIMO system is fabricated and tested in-house. The antenna showed efficiency >88% at the potential band of interest and a peak gain of 3.5 dBi. The orthogonal arrangement of the resonating elements provides polarization diversity. Also, the MIMO parameters obtained, such as mean effective gain (MEG), envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), diversity gain (DG), channel capacity loss (CCL), and total active reflection coefficient (TARC), are found to have good performance. The measured results obtained are found to be in good agreement with simulations, hence making the proposed MIMO antenna suitable for handheld mmWave 5G devices.Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabi

A survey of knowledge, attitude, and practices of private retail pharmacies staff in tuberculosis care: study from Dera Ismail Khan City, Pakistan

Abstract Background In order to engage pharmacies in tuberculosis (TB) care, a survey was conducted in the Dera Ismail (DI) Khan City of the Khyber Pakhtoon Khwa province, Pakistan. The objectives were to; 1) characterize the retail pharmacies; 2) determine knowledge of the staff on various aspects of pulmonary TB; 3) determine practices related to the sale of anti-TB drugs, and referrals of presumptive TB patient, and willingness to participate in the National Tuberculosis Control Programme’s (NTP) Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) strategy. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted by using a structured questionnaire to collect data from pharmacy staff at all the private retail pharmacies of the DI khan city. Results All the interviewed staff (n = 82) were males, only 38% had formal training as pharmacist (5%) or as a pharmacy assistant (33%). Pharmacies established for a longer period were better staffed and had high customer load. About 92% of the interviewed staff knew that persistent cough is a symptom for TB, 82% knew that TB is diagnosed by examination of sputum. Almost 66% of the pharmacy staff did not know multi-drug resistance TB as a consequence of improper treatment. Those with formal training and longer experience in retail pharmacy had better knowledge of various aspects of TB as compared to the staff with no formal pharmacy training and lesser experience (p < 0.01). Only 57% were aware of NTP while only 30% had heard of the DOTS strategy. All reported sale of first-line TB drugs as fixed dose combinations. The majority (80%) referred presumptive TB patients to chest physicians and no patient was referred to the NTP. Nearly 83% of the interviewed staff was willing to be involved in TB control efforts by getting training and referring patients to the DOTS facility. Conclusion There was shortage of professionally qualified and female staff in private retail pharmacies. Knowledge of professionally qualified staff about TB seemed sufficient to identify presumptive TB patients; however, their knowledge about NTP and DOTS was poor, and referral practices to NTP and DOTS centers were suboptimal. Majority of staff was willing to be involved in TB control efforts

Awareness and reported violations of the WHO International Code and Pakistan's national breastfeeding legislation; a descriptive cross-sectional survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>National legislation in Pakistan adopted the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in 2002 to restrict the promotion of infant formula feeding. Our objectives were to assess health professionals' awareness of this law in urban government hospitals and describe their reports of violations, including receiving free samples, gifts and sponsorship.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Structured interviews were conducted with health staff between July and August 2006 at 12 urban government hospitals in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar including paediatricians, obstetricians, nurses, resident doctors, midwives and lady health visitors (LHVs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 427 health workers interviewed, the majority were not aware of the national breastfeeding law (70.5%; n = 301) or the International Code (79.6%; n = 340). Paediatricians, and staff who had been working for 10 years or more, were more likely to be aware of the law [OR = 7.00, 95% CI 3.12, 15.7 (paediatricians); OR = 2.48, 95% CI 1.45, 4.24 (10 years working)].</p> <p>More than one third (38.4%, n = 164) had received small gifts such as pens, pencils and calendars; 12.4% (n = 53) had received sponsorship for training or conferences; and 15.9% (n = 68) had received free samples of infant formula from the Companies. Staff who were aware of the law were also more likely to report receiving gifts (OR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.08, 2.51) and free samples (OR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.09, 3.19).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Most hospital health professionals were unaware of national breastfeeding legislation in Pakistan, and infant formula companies were continuing to flout the ban on gifts, free samples and sponsorship for health staff.</p

Structural and Magnetoresistance Properties of Transfer-Free Amorphous Carbon Thin Films

The control of the morphologies and thus the optical, electrical, and magnetic effect of 2D thin films is a challenging task for the development of cost-efficient devices. In particular, the angular dependent magnetoresistance (MR) of surface thin films up to room temperature is an interesting phenomenon in materials science. Here, we report amorphous carbon thin films fabricated through chemical vapor deposition at a SiO2 substrate. Their structural and angular magnetoresistance properties were investigated by several analytical tools. Specifically, we used a physical property measurement system to estimate the magnitude of the angular MR of these as-prepared sample thin films from 2 K to 300 K. An angular MR magnitude of 1.6% for the undoped a-carbon thin films was found up to 300 K. Under the magnetic field of 7 T, these films possessed an angular MR of 15% at a low temperature of 2 K. A high disorder degree leads to a large magnitude of MR. The grain boundary scattering model was used to interpret the mechanism of this angular MR