Advanced Design and Analysis of UWB U-slot Microstrip Patch Using Theory of Characteristic Modes

Title from PDF of title page viewed January 29, 2018Dissertation advisor: Deb ChatterjeeVitaincludes bibliographical references (pages 74-86)Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Computing and Engineering and Department of Physics and Astronomy. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2017Ultra wide band is rapidly advancing as a high data rate wireless communication technology. As is the case in conventional wireless communication systems, an antenna also plays a very crucial role in UWB systems. However, there are more challenges in designing a UWB antenna than a narrow band one. A suitable UWB antenna should be capable of operating over an ultra-wide bandwidth as allocated by the FCC. At the same time, satisfactory radiation properties over the entire frequency range are also necessary. This thesis focuses on UWB antenna design and analysis. Studies have been undertaken covering the areas of UWB fundamentals and antenna theory. In recent years, the U-slot patch antenna established itself as a versatile, low profile and cost effective antenna that can be fine tuned for ultra-wideband operations. The main objective of this thesis is to propose an effective practical design procedure to design U-Slot antenna and provide physical insight into the design using full wave analysis methods. This research work focuses on developing a novel scheme to design wideband U-Slot antenna. To validate the design technique antenna is fabricated and measured results are compared with the simulated to assess the performance. In this dissertation, effect of reactive loading on probe fed, single layer, U-Slot loaded microstrip antenna is investigated using Theory of Characteristic Modes (TCM). Detailed analysis of reactive loading due to feed location and arm-angle variation is presented. Optimized reactive loading has been shown to produce a modified U-Slot structure without increasing any cost and complexity. The optimized loaded antennas are wideband with a relatively stable radiation pattern. Furthermore, we propose an optimization guideline for a wide band design with stable radiation patterns.Introduction -- Theory of characteristic modes -- Design technique for UWB U-Slot antenna and characteristic mode analysis -- Analysis of reactive loading of UWB U-Slot loaded antenna -- Conclusion and future work -- Appendix A. MATLAB Code for the Method of Dimensional Invariance -- Appendix B. MATLAB Code for Cross-correlation Calculation of Pulse Signal

Does COVID -19 Effect Intention to Adopt Mobile Banking Services? Role of Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior

Abstract: This study aims to measure the impact of this disruption on customers’ intention to adopt Mobile Banking Services (MBS) offered during the pandemic.  This model is designed based on DTPB with a modification of COVID-19. The data were collected from 150 respondents through the convenience sampling technique. The data were analyzed on SPSS and Jamovi, to measure the structure model. According to the results, the relationship of attitude with behavioral intention is significantly positive. However, Social influence does not show any significant direct relationship with behavioral intention. The results also showed the significant positive effect of the direct impact of perceived behavioral control over behavioral intention. The variable representing COVID-19 also showed a direct significant effect on behavior. The findings revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic positively impact the customer’s behavioral intention to adopt MBS and significantly mediated the impact of PBC and social influence. However, customers’ attitudes did not alter by this pandemic. Study provides implications for banking managers to optimize their advanced MBS to attract customers and enhance their attraction towards mobile banking applications. Especially the customers of rural areas can be beneficial for the banking sector. Along with this, banks can also target the educated section of society who has the skill and capabilities to use the technology for their benefit and are technology savvy. The incorporation of DTPB in the banking sector during COVID-19 could implicate theoretical contribution in disruption situations

A Novel Loss Function Utilizing Wasserstein Distance to Reduce Subject-Dependent Noise for Generalizable Models in Affective Computing

Emotions are an essential part of human behavior that can impact thinking, decision-making, and communication skills. Thus, the ability to accurately monitor and identify emotions can be useful in many human-centered applications such as behavioral training, tracking emotional well-being, and development of human-computer interfaces. The correlation between patterns in physiological data and affective states has allowed for the utilization of deep learning techniques which can accurately detect the affective states of a person. However, the generalisability of existing models is often limited by the subject-dependent noise in the physiological data due to variations in a subject's reactions to stimuli. Hence, we propose a novel cost function that employs Optimal Transport Theory, specifically Wasserstein Distance, to scale the importance of subject-dependent data such that higher importance is assigned to patterns in data that are common across all participants while decreasing the importance of patterns that result from subject-dependent noise. The performance of the proposed cost function is demonstrated through an autoencoder with a multi-class classifier attached to the latent space and trained simultaneously to detect different affective states. An autoencoder with a state-of-the-art loss function i.e., Mean Squared Error, is used as a baseline for comparison with our model across four different commonly used datasets. Centroid and minimum distance between different classes are used as a metrics to indicate the separation between different classes in the latent space. An average increase of 14.75% and 17.75% (from benchmark to proposed loss function) was found for minimum and centroid euclidean distance respectively over all datasets.Comment: 9 page

A Comprehensive Review of Deep Learning-based Single Image Super-resolution

Image super-resolution (SR) is one of the vital image processing methods that improve the resolution of an image in the field of computer vision. In the last two decades, significant progress has been made in the field of super-resolution, especially by utilizing deep learning methods. This survey is an effort to provide a detailed survey of recent progress in single-image super-resolution in the perspective of deep learning while also informing about the initial classical methods used for image super-resolution. The survey classifies the image SR methods into four categories, i.e., classical methods, supervised learning-based methods, unsupervised learning-based methods, and domain-specific SR methods. We also introduce the problem of SR to provide intuition about image quality metrics, available reference datasets, and SR challenges. Deep learning-based approaches of SR are evaluated using a reference dataset. Some of the reviewed state-of-the-art image SR methods include the enhanced deep SR network (EDSR), cycle-in-cycle GAN (CinCGAN), multiscale residual network (MSRN), meta residual dense network (Meta-RDN), recurrent back-projection network (RBPN), second-order attention network (SAN), SR feedback network (SRFBN) and the wavelet-based residual attention network (WRAN). Finally, this survey is concluded with future directions and trends in SR and open problems in SR to be addressed by the researchers.Comment: 56 Pages, 11 Figures, 5 Table

Analyzing Global and Local Media Representations of Malala Yousafzai

During the War on Terror, when high rates of violence were occurring and schools were being forcefully torn down in Swat Valley of Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai fought for girls’ education rights. At just 17 years old, Malala Yousafzai has inspired people around the world with her passion and determination to make sure girls everywhere can get an education. When the Taliban tried to silence her, Malala answered their brutality with strength and resolve. Soon in the international media, she was acclaimed as a brave hero and later honored with a Nobel Prize. She received a mixed response for her efforts in Pakistan. While some praised her, others thought her as an opportunist or believed that there was a Western conspiracy behind her promotion on an international level. This article explores the disparities in media representation of Malala Yousafzai on global and local levels. Employing ethnographic research methods, we bring to light the perceptions of people from her hometown and juxtapose it with those of international media outlets. The article will help understand the complex controversies surrounding Yousafzai’s struggle and legacy

Experience of Emergency Peripartum Hysterectomies at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Quetta, Pakistan

Emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The purpose of our paper was to determine the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of EPH done at our institution; the largest tertiary care government hospital in the city of Quetta, Pakistan. During the study period there were 12,642 deliveries, out of which 46 women had undergone an EPH, translating into an incidence of ∼4 per 1,000 births. Disturbingly, 82.6% of these patients had received no antenatal care prior to their presentation. There were 4 (8.7%) maternal deaths and 31 (67.4%) perinatal deaths. The commonest indication noted was uterine rupture in 21 (45.7%) cases. Lack of antenatal care is indeed a modifiable factor that needs to be addressed to help reduce maternal and fetal morbidity/mortality not only from emergency hysterectomies but also from all other preventable causes

Painful ambivalence: A Marxist feminist analysis of moral anxiety and gendered class consciousness in “The Garden Party”

Through the utilization of Marxist feminist literary theory, the current article analyzes Catherine Mansfield's "The Garden Party" to examine the interconnected themes of class consciousness, gender, and social injustice. With a specific focus on the protagonist, Laura Sheridan, and her gradually evolving awareness of class, the article examines the narrative's suburban New Zealand setting and the social hierarchy between the affluent Sheridans and their less fortunate neighbors. The luxurious garden party serves as a poignant reminder of the upper class's disconnection from society and their condescending attitudes towards individuals of lower status. In addition to this, the article delves into gender and its effects on the characters' experiences and expectations. Its objective is to gain an understanding of the social realities of the time through the theoretical lens of Marxist feminism and address the pressing concerns of that era. Specifically, the article examines how Laura's representation of class consciousness reflects the societal power dynamics of the time, how the intersection of gender and class influences Laura's mixed feelings about the class system in her social environment, and how "The Garden Party" demonstrates the impact of class and gender on social hierarchies and power structures in the early twentieth century. The article draws attention to the pressing social concerns of the time. It demonstrates how the theoretical lens of Marxist feminism can aid in understanding the social realities of the past

Gastric Outlet Obstruction – An Etiological Breakup

To evaluate the etiology of gastricoutlet obstruction in Pakistani population.Methods: In this descriptive study patients withgastric outlet obstruction were included .All patientsincluded in the study received intravenous fluidsand electrolytes to correct dehydration andelectrolyte imbalance. Nasogastric suction withgastric lavage was done. Diagnosis was establishedby UGI endoscopy and biopsy and was supported byCT scan and barium studies where required.Results: The total number of patients was 39 with19 males (48.7%) and 20 females(51.3%). The age ofpatients ranged from 15 years to 70 years. The meanage was 43.41 ±16.57. The most common pathologyleading to gastric outlet obstruction was malignancy,in 21 (53.8%) patients whereas 18 patients (46.2%)had benign disease. Among the malignancies, gastriccarcinoma was the most common disease affecting 14patients (35.9%) and among the benign diseases,caustic injury induced stenosis was the mostcommon, involving 14 patients (35.9%). Pancreaticcarcinoma was found in 3 patients (7.7%) and pepticulcer disease in 4 patients (10.3%).Conclusion: Gastric outlet obstruction is a seriousand difficult to manage problem. Malignancy wasthe most common cause (53.8%) of gastric outletobstruction. Post caustic gastric outlet obstructionhas emerged as the second most common(35.9%)cause. Caustic stricture leading to gastric outletobstruction is emerging as a serious health care issuein developing countries, especially among youngfemales with poor socioeconomic status

Monkeypox in a renal transplant recipient: is it a hazard for immunocompromised patients?

There has been a recent outbreak of monkeypox in the United States, mostly among men who have sex with men (MSM). It seems to be a self-limiting disease but can be potentially serious in immunocompromised patients. Monkeypox infection is transmitted mainly through skin-to-skin contact and possibly seminal and vaginal fluids. Very few cases of monkeypox infection in immunocompromised patients have been published in the literature. We report a case of infection in a renal transplant recipient, and describe the clinical course and outcome