Dielectric properties measurement method in the microwave frequencies range for non-polar/polar liquid mixtures characterization

International audienceWe present a method based on dielectric properties measurements over a large spectrum of frequencies, in themicrowave (MW) domain, in order to characterize a liquid mixture. The liquid mixtures consist of non-polar fluids(silicone oil, diesel fuel) and polar additives, in order to increase the specific MW absorption of the mixture for furtherMW power processing. We have measured the MW specific absorptions for mixtures of silicone oil with 20% and 30%(w/w) isopropanol. In both cases, the mixtures are sufficiently stable over time to allow further studies of thermalconvection dynamics initiated by MW heating. For a mixture of diesel fuel with 10% (w/w) alkyl polyglycoside, the mainobservation was that its MW specific absorption varies over time after the mechanical mixing process

The Sandblaster Software-Defined Radio Platform for Mobile 4G Wireless Communications

We present a tier 2 Software Defined-Radio platform (SDR), built around the latest Sandbridge Technologies' multithreaded Digital Signal Processor (DSP) SB3500, along with the description of major design steps taken to ensure the best radio link and computational performance. This SDR platform is capable of executing 4G wireless communication standards such as WiMAX Wave 2, WLAN 802.11 g, and LTE. Performance results for WiMAX are presented in the conclusion section

Multiple number-naming associations: how the inversion property affects adults’ two-digit number processing

Some number-naming systems are less transparent than others. For example, in Dutch, 49 is named “negen¬enveertig”, which translates to “nine and forty”, i.e., the unit is named first, followed by the decade. This is known as the “inversion property”, where the morpho-syntactic representation of the number name is incongruent with its written Arabic form. Number word inversion can hamper children’s developing mathematical skills. But little is known about its effects on adults’ numeracy, the underlying mechanism and how a person’s bilingual background influences its effects. In the present study, Dutch-English bilingual adults performed an audiovisual matching task, where they heard a number word and simultaneously saw two-digit Arabic symbols and had to determine if these matched in quantity. We experimentally manipulated the morpho-syntactic structure of the number words to alter their phonological (dis)similarities and numerical congruency with the target Arabic two-digit number. Results showed that morpho-syntactic (in)congruency differentially influenced quantity match and non-match decisions. Although participants were faster when hearing traditional non-transparent Dutch number names, they made more accurate decisions when hearing artificial, but morpho-syntactically transparent number words. This pattern was partly influenced by the participants’ bilingual background, i.e., their L2 proficiency in English, which involves more transparent number names. Our findings suggest that, within inversion number-naming systems, multiple associations are formed between two-digit Arabic symbols and number names, which can influence adults’ numerical cognition

Novel insights in the natural history of Short QT Syndrome

OBJECTIVES: This study intends to gain further insights into: the natural history, the yield of familial and genetic screening and the arrhythmogenic mechanisms in the largest cohort of SQTS patients described so far. BACKGROUND: Short QT Syndrome (SQTS) is a rare genetic disorder associated with life-threatening arrhythmias and its natural history is incompletely ascertained. METHODS: Seventy-three SQTS patients (84% males, age 26±15 years, QTc 329±22 ms) were studied and 62 were followed-up for 60±41 months (median 56 months). RESULTS: Cardiac arrest (CA) was the most frequent presenting symptom (40% of probands; range <1 month - 41 years). The rate of CA was 4% in the first year of life and 1.3% per year between 20 and 40 years; the probability of a first CA by the age of 40 years was 41%. Despite the male predominance, females had a risk profile superimposable to that of men (p=0.49). The yield of genetic screening was low (14%), despite familial disease being present in 44% of kindreds. A history of a previous CA was the only predictor of recurrences at follow-up (p<0.0000001). Two patterns of onset of ventricular fibrillation were observed and they were reproducible in patients with multiple CA. Arrhythmias occurred mainly at rest. CONCLUSIONS: SQTS is highly lethal: CA is often the first manifestation of the disease with a peak incidence in the first year of life. Survivors of CA have a high recurrence rate of CA, therefore the implant of a defibrillator is strongly recommended in this group of patients