Broadband double-layered coplanar patch antennas with adjustable CPW feeding structure

In this paper, we have presented the double-layered coplanar patch antennas of enhanced impedance bandwidth and adjustable conductor-backed coplanar waveguide feed lines. The proposed structure retains the advantage of laying the coplanar patch and coplanar waveguide (CPW) feed line on the same surface, which makes direct integration with other devices easier. In addition, the substrate thickness of the radiating patch can be adjusted to achieve a wider impedance bandwidth while the dimensions of the CPW feed line are kept unchanged. Simulation has been done by using commercial electromagnetic (EM) simulation software. Four testing antennas, which have centre frequency at about 10 GHz, were designed. The four testing antennas had the same total thickness, but different thickness combinations. From the measured return loss, gain, and radiation patterns of the antennas, it was demonstrated that different thickness combinations do not affect the characteristics of the antennas seriously. Therefore, the dimensions of the CPW feed structure of the antennas can be adjusted individually and can be selected for different applications

Avalanche noise characteristics of thin GaAs structures with distributed carrier generation

It is known that both pure electron and pure hole injection into thin GaAs multiplication regions gives rise to avalanche multiplication with noise lower than predicted by the local noise model. In this paper, it is shown that the noise from multiplication initiated by carriers generated throughout a 0.1 μm avalanche region is also lower than predicted by the local model but higher than that obtained with pure injection of either carrier type. This behavior is due to the effects of nonlocal ionization brought about by the dead space; the minimum distance a carrier has to travel in the electric field to initiate an ionization even

Chalcogenide phase change materials for nanoscale switching

Since the demonstration of threshold switching in chalcogenide alloys over forty five years ago, phase change materials have been extensively investigated for switching and data storage applications. Phase change switching is based on the reversible change between crystalline and amorphous states of a material and in many chalcogenides this change of state takes place in nanoseconds

Numerical determination of concrete crack width for corrosion-affected concrete structures

Corrosion-induced deterioration of reinforced concrete (RC) structures results in premature failure of the RC structures. In practice concrete crack width is one of the most important criteria for the assessment of the serviceability of RC structures. It is therefore desirable to predict the growth of the crack width over time so that better informed decisions can be made concerning the repairs due to concrete cracking. Literature review shows that little research has been undertaken on numerical prediction of concrete crack width. The intention of this study was to develop a numerical method to predict concrete crack width for corrosion-affected concrete structures. A cohesive crack model for concrete is implemented in the numerical formulation to simulate crack initiation and propagation in concrete. Choices for evaluating the parameters of cohesive elements are extensively discussed which is a key for developing a plausible model employing cohesive elements. The surface crack width is obtained as a function of service time. Accurate prediction of crack width can allow timely maintenance which prolongs the service life of the reinforced concrete structures

Variability of organic and elemental carbon, water soluble organic carbon, and isotopes in Hong Kong

International audienceTo determine the levels and variations of carbonaceous aerosol in Hong Kong, PM2.5 and PM10 samples were collected by high volume (Hi-vol) samplers at three monitoring stations (representing middle-scale roadside, urban-, and regional-scale environments) during winter (November 2000 to February 2001) and summer (June 2001 to August 2001) periods. The highest concentrations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) were found at the middle-scale roadside site with the lowest at the regional-scale site. The percentages of WSOC in total carbon at these sites were inversely correlated with their concentrations (i.e., the highest percentages of WSOC were observed at the regional-scale site). A high WSOC fraction may be associated with aged aerosol because of the secondary formation by photochemical oxidation of organic precursors of anthropogenic pollutants during transport. The annual average of isotope abundances (?13C) of OC and EC were ?26.9±0.5? and ?25.6±0.1?, respectively. There were no notable differences for seasonal distributions of carbon isotopic composition, consistent with motor vehicle emissions being the main source contributors of carbonaceous aerosol in Hong Kong. OC 13C abundances at the regional-scale site were higher than those at the middle-scale roadside and urban sites, consistent with secondary organic aerosols of biogenic origin

Controlling the direction, topological charge, and spectrum of transition radiation with holographic metasurfaces

We show experimentally that wavefront - the direction, spectral composition and phase profile of light emission - stimulated by free electron injection into plasmonic and dielectric media can be controlled with high finesse using holographic nanostructures

Generation of an HFRS Patient-Derived Neutralizing Recombinant Antibody to Hantaan Virus G1 Protein and Definition of the Neutralizing Domain

Hantaan virus (HTNV) in the Hantavirus genus, family Bunyaviridae, is the major cause of severe hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). We prepared a combinatorial phage display library of human Fabs to HTNV from RNA extracted from the blood lymphocytes of a convalescent HFRS patient. We selected two G1 glycoproteinspecific clones and one nucleocapsid protein (N)-specific clone from the Fab library for further studies. The human Fab antibodies were converted to IgG form in baculovirus/insect cells system by using cassette vectors that we developed earlier. Characterization of the recombinant antibodies revealed that the two G1-specific IgGs, could bind to and neutralize HTNV but not Seoul virus (SEOV). The N-specific IgG did not neutralize either HTNV or SEOV. Sequence analysis revealed that the two G1-specific clones differed by only one predicted amino acid in their complementarity determining regions, CDR3. Epitope mapping studies were carried out with one of the two G1-specific clones and synthetic peptides representing portions of HTNV G1. Results indicated that the recombinant antibody recognizes the core amino acid sequence LTKTLVIGQ, which is found near the C-terminus of HTNV G1. These results are the first to define a neutralizing epitope on the G1 protein of HTNV using an antibody derived from an HFRS patient

Generation of an HFRS Patient-Derived Neutralizing Recombinant Antibody to Hantaan Virus G1 Protein and Definition of the Neutralizing Domain

Hantaan virus (HTNV) in the Hantavirus genus, family Bunyaviridae, is the major cause of severe hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). We prepared a combinatorial phage display library of human Fabs to HTNV from RNA extracted from the blood lymphocytes of a convalescent HFRS patient. We selected two G1 glycoproteinspecific clones and one nucleocapsid protein (N)-specific clone from the Fab library for further studies. The human Fab antibodies were converted to IgG form in baculovirus/insect cells system by using cassette vectors that we developed earlier. Characterization of the recombinant antibodies revealed that the two G1-specific IgGs, could bind to and neutralize HTNV but not Seoul virus (SEOV). The N-specific IgG did not neutralize either HTNV or SEOV. Sequence analysis revealed that the two G1-specific clones differed by only one predicted amino acid in their complementarity determining regions, CDR3. Epitope mapping studies were carried out with one of the two G1-specific clones and synthetic peptides representing portions of HTNV G1. Results indicated that the recombinant antibody recognizes the core amino acid sequence LTKTLVIGQ, which is found near the C-terminus of HTNV G1. These results are the first to define a neutralizing epitope on the G1 protein of HTNV using an antibody derived from an HFRS patient

Lattice Calculation of Glueball Matrix Elements

Matrix elements of the form $$ are calculated using the lattice QCD Monte Carlo method. Here, $|G>$ is a glueball state with quantum numbers $0^{++}$, $2^{++}$, $0^{-+}$ and $G$ is the gluon field strength operator. The matrix elements are obtained from the hybrid correlation functions of the fuzzy and plaquette operators performed on the $12^{4}$ and $14^{4}$ lattices at $\beta = 5.9$ and $5.96$ respectively. These matrix elements are compared with those from the QCD sum rules and the tensor meson dominance model. They are the non-perturbative matrix elements needed in the calculation of the partial widths of $J/\Psi$ radiative decays into glueballs.Comment: 12 pages, UK/92-0

Nucleon Axial Form Factor from Lattice QCD

Results for the isovector axial form factors of the proton from a lattice QCD calculation are presented for both point-split and local currents. They are obtained on a quenched $16^{3} \times 24$ lattice at $\beta= 6.0$ with Wilson fermions for a range of quark masses from strange to charm. We determine the finite lattice renormalization for both the local and point-split currents of heavy quarks. Results extrapolated to the chiral limit show that the $q^2$ dependence of the axial form factor agrees reasonably well with experiment. The axial coupling constant $g_A$ calculated for the local and the point-split currents is about 6\% and 12\% smaller than the experimental value respectively.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures (included in part 2), UK/93-0