Four-state full Q-band phase shifter using smooth-ridged waveguides

A novel four-state full Q-band waveguide phase shifter based on smooth-ridged sections is presented. The waveguide structure combines differential 90° and 180° phase shifters, whose combination provides the four-phase states (0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°) by appropriately controlling a set of millimeter-wave switches. Each differential phase shifter is performed using an E-plane continuous profile ridge to reach the 90° or 180° phase shift, respectively. The phase shifter module provides outstanding performance covering the full Q-band (33-50 GHz) with average phase results of 93.5°, 182.8°, and 270.6°.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Consolider-Ingenio 2010 Program under Grant CSD2010-00064 and Grant ESP2015-70646-C2-2-R

Increasing hydration of the epidermis by microcapsules in sterilized products

This is the accepted version of the following article: Gisbert, J., Ibañez, F., Bonet, M., Monllor, P., Díaz, P. and Montava, I. (2009), Increasing hydration of the epidermis by microcapsules in sterilized products. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 113: 2282–2286, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/app.30210.Some nonserious skin infections can be treated by hydration and antibacterial control. Microcapsules containing aloe-chitin are often used to treat this kind of problem. Microcapsules were applied to cotton fabrics by padding and sleeves were prepared. A hypoallergenic test was applied to the microcapsule emulsion and hydration of the epidermis was evaluated by capacitance methods. The fabric was sterilized by electron beam treatment to satisfy the antibacterial requisite. The results showed that the aloe is transferred from the fabric to the skin, increasing the level of skin hydration. The electron beam method was also shown to be effective for bacteria and fungi and had no effect on the microcapsule properties. It can, therefore, be confirmed that electron beam sterilization has no harmful effects on the type of microcapsule used in this study. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 113: 2282-2286, 2009Gisbert Paya, J.; Ibañez García, F.; Bonet Aracil, MA.; Monllor Pérez, P.; Díaz-García, P.; Montava Seguí, IJ. (2009). Increasing hydration of the epidermis by microcapsules in sterilized products. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 113(4):2282-2286. doi:10.1002/app.30210S22822286113

Módulos de conmutación de fase de 4 estados en banda Q para radioastronomía

Two greater than 30% relative bandwidth phase shifters with four phase states are designed to be integrated in a radio astronomy receiver at Q-band. Two different circuit topologies are presented in order to fulfil requirements. The first circuit is based on planar structures and PIN diodes, while the second design is based on waveguide phase shifters and SPDT MMICs. The planar circuit consists of two 90º out-ofphase microwave phase-shifting branches which are combined by Wilkinson power dividers; each branch is composed of a 180º phase shifter and a band-pass filter. The waveguide solution is based on cascaded 180º and 90º individual phase shifters. Both designs have been manufactured and their experimental characterization have shown significant results, making them suitable for being part of a radio astronomy receiver.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad bajo el programa CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 referencia CSD2010-00064

Conmutador de fase de 4 estados en la banda de frecuencias de 35 a 47 GHz

This document describes the design of a phase switch with four states intended for a radio astronomy receiver which operates in the 35-47 GHz frequency band. The phase switch has two microwave branches which are combined by a Wilkinson divider/combiner. Each branch is based on a 180º phase switch connected in cascade with a different band-pass filter. The phase shift between the two band-pass filters is 90º. The switching devices are microwave PIN diodes. Experimental results have shown average phase shift values of 178º and 87.3º within the operation band for the phase switch and the bandpass filters respectively. The complete phase-switch have been validated by simulations of the cascaded elements including the Wilkinson combiner/divider

Modelado con la temperatura de diodo Schottky para conmutador de fase 90º

This work describes the modelling of a Schottky diode at room (300 K) and cryogenic (15 K) temperatures for its use in a 90º phase switch working in the Ka-band. The phase switch is based on the combination of filters as phase shifting branches and a single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch with Schottky diodes as switching devices. The MA4E2037 Schottky diode is used as switching device and its small signal model is obtained over the temperature. The design of the phase switch is performed in a 254-m thick alumina substrate, showing an average phase shift of 91.05º±5º over the 26-36 GHz band with an amplitude imbalance of 0.3 dB at room temperature. At cryogenic temperatures, the phase switch shows an average phase shift of 88.5º±9º over the 26-36 GHz band with an amplitude imbalance of around 0.1 dB.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad bajo el programa CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 referencia CSD2010-0006

Multi-pixel Ka-band radiometer for the QUIJOTE experiment (Phase II)

This paper presents the configuration of the Ka-band radiometer developed for the Phase II of the QUIJOTE radio astronomy experiment, as well as the design of the different subsystems involved in the instrument. The new configuration, consisting of around 30 modified receivers working in the 26 - 36 GHz band, avoids the need of a rotating polar modulator at cryogenic temperatures, which is a source of mechanical and thermal difficulties. Moreover, the larger number of receivers will increase the instrument sensitivity. These two aspects are a clear advantage over the receiver developed for the experiment Phase I. The present paper also gives detailed information of some designed subsystems such as the feedhorn, the polarizer, the orthomode transducer, the cryogenic low-noise amplifiers and the back-end module.This work has been funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain) under Astronomy and Astrophysics research programme, reference AYA2010-21766-C03-03, and the FPI grant BES-2011-046199

State of the art of language learning design using mobile technology: sample apps and some critical reflection

In this paper, experiences from different research groups illustrate the state-of-the-art of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (henceforth, MALL) in formal and non-formal education. These research samples represent recent and on-going progress made in the field of MALL at an international level and offer encouragement for practitioners who are trying to incorporate these approaches into mainline second language teaching. Furthermore, researchers interested in the field can see that the work presented here exemplifies how fertile it is, which should hopefully serve as motivation to undertake new studies to move the state-of-the-art further on

Detailed spectroscopy of doubly magic Sn-132

The structure of the doubly magic Sn-132(50)82 has been investigated at the ISOLDE facility at CERN, populated both by the beta(-) decay of In-132 and beta(-)-delayed neutron emission of In-133. The level scheme of Sn-13(2) is greatly expanded with the addition of 68 gamma transitions and 17 levels observed for the first time in the beta decay. The information on the excited structure is completed by new gamma transitions and states populated in the beta-n decay of In-133. Improved delayed neutron emission probabilities are obtained both for In-132 and In-133. Level lifetimes are measured via the advanced time-delayed beta gamma gamma(t) fast-timing method. An interpretation of the level structure is given based on the experimental findings and the particle-hole configurations arising from core excitations both from the N = 82 and Z = 50 shells, leading to positive- and negative-parity particle-hole multiplets. The experimental information provides new data to challenge the theoretical description of Sn-132

The thirty gigahertz instrument receiver for the Q-U-I Joint Tenerife experiment: concept and experimental results

This paper presents the analysis, design, and characterization of the thirty gigahertz instrument receiver developed for the Q-U-I Joint Tenerife experiment. The receiver is aimed to obtain polarization data of the cosmic microwave background radiation from the sky, obtaining the Q,U, and I Stokes parameters of the incoming signal simultaneously. A comprehensive analysis of the theory behind the proposed receiver is presented for a linearly polarized input signal, and the functionality tests have demonstrated adequate results in terms of Stokes parameters, which validate the concept of the receiver based on electronic phase switching

Relevance of gastrointestinal manifestations in a large Spanish cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: what do we know?

SLE can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. GI symptoms are reported to occur in >50% of SLE patients. To describe the GI manifestations of SLE in the RELESSER (Registry of SLE Patients of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology) cohort and to determine whether these are associated with a more severe disease, damage accrual and a worse prognosis. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide, retrospective, multicentre, cross-sectional cohort study of 3658 SLE patients who fulfil =4 ACR-97 criteria. Data on demographics, disease characteristics, activity (SLEDAI-2K or BILAG), damage (SLICC/ACR/DI) and therapies were collected. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between lupus patients with and without GI damage to establish whether GI damage is associated with a more severe disease. RESULTS: From 3654 lupus patients, 3.7% developed GI damage. Patients in this group (group 1) were older, they had longer disease duration, and were more likely to have vasculitis, renal disease and serositis than patients without GI damage (group 2). Hospitalizations and mortality were significantly higher in group 1. Patients in group 1 had higher modified SDI (SLICC Damage Index). The presence of oral ulcers reduced the risk of developing damage in 33% of patients. CONCLUSION: Having GI damage is associated with a worse prognosis. Patients on a high dose of glucocorticoids are at higher risk of developing GI damage which reinforces the strategy of minimizing glucocorticoids. Oral ulcers appear to decrease the risk of GI damage. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology