1,304 research outputs found
Design of dual-frequency probe-fed microstrip antennas with genetic optimization algorithm
Cataloged from PDF version of article.Dual-frequency operation of antennas has become a
necessity for many applications in recent wireless communication
systems, such as GPS, GSM services operating at two different frequency
bands, and services of PCS and IMT-2000 applications. Although
there are various techniques to achieve dual-band operation
from various types of microstrip antennas, there is no efficient
design tool that has been incorporated with a suitable optimization
algorithm. In this paper, the cavity-model based simulation
tool along with the genetic optimization algorithm is presented for
the design of dual-band microstrip antennas, using multiple slots
in the patch or multiple shorting strips between the patch and the
ground plane. Since this approach is based on the cavity model,
the multiport approach is efficiently employed to analyze the effects
of the slots and shorting strips on the input impedance. Then,
the optimization of the positions of slots and shorting strips is performed
via a genetic optimization algorithm, to achieve an acceptable
antenna operation over the desired frequency bands. The antennas
designed by this efficient design procedure were realized experimentally,
and the results are compared. In addition, these results
are also compared to the results obtained by the commercial
electromagnetic simulation tool, the FEM-based software HFSS by
ANSOFT
A Deeper Look at the New Milky Way Satellites: Sagittarius II, Reticulum II, Phoenix II, and Tucana III
We present deep Magellan/Megacam stellar photometry of four recently
discovered faint Milky Way satellites: Sagittarius II (Sgr II), Reticulum II
(Ret II), Phoenix II (Phe II), and Tucana III (Tuc III). Our photometry reaches
~2-3 magnitudes deeper than the discovery data, allowing us to revisit the
properties of these new objects (e.g., distance, structural properties,
luminosity measurements, and signs of tidal disturbance). The satellite
color-magnitude diagrams show that they are all old (~13.5 Gyr) and metal-poor
([Fe/H]). Sgr II is particularly interesting as it sits in an
intermediate position between the loci of dwarf galaxies and globular clusters
in the size-luminosity plane. The ensemble of its structural parameters is more
consistent with a globular cluster classification, indicating that Sgr II is
the most extended globular cluster in its luminosity range. The other three
satellites land directly on the locus defined by Milky Way ultra-faint dwarf
galaxies of similar luminosity. Ret II is the most elongated nearby dwarf
galaxy currently known for its luminosity range. Our structural parameters for
Phe II and Tuc III suggest that they are both dwarf galaxies. Tuc III is known
to be associated with a stellar stream, which is clearly visible in our
matched-filter stellar density map. The other satellites do not show any clear
evidence of tidal stripping in the form of extensions or distortions. Finally,
we also use archival HI data to place limits on the gas content of each object.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. Minor updates to match accepted
versio
Pressure-tuning of the c-f hybridization in Yb metal detected by infrared spectroscopy up to 18 GPa
It has been known that the elemental Yb, a divalent metal at mbient pressure,
becomes a mixed-valent metal under external pressure, with its valence reaching
~2.6 at 30 GPa. In this work, infrared spectroscopy has been used to probe the
evolution of microscopic electronic states associated with the valence
crossover in Yb at external pressures up to 18 GPa. The measured infrared
reflectivity spectrum R(w) of Yb has shown large variations with pressure. In
particular, R(w) develops a deep minimum in the mid-infrared, which shifts to
lower energy with increasing pressure. The dip is attributed to optical
absorption due to a conduction c-f electron hybridization state, similarly to
those previously observed for heavy fermion compounds. The red shift of the dip
indicates that the - hybridization decreases with pressure, which is
consistent with the increase of valence.Comment: 2 pages, to appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. Supp
Simulating the Effects of Irrigation over the U.S. in a Land Surface Model Based on Satellite Derived Agricultural Data
A novel method is introduced for integrating satellite derived irrigation data and high-resolution crop type information into a land surface model (LSM). The objective is to improve the simulation of land surface states and fluxes through better representation of agricultural land use. Ultimately, this scheme could enable numerical weather prediction (NWP) models to capture land-atmosphere feedbacks in managed lands more accurately and thus improve forecast skill. Here we show that application of the new irrigation scheme over the continental US significantly influences the surface water and energy balances by modulating the partitioning of water between the surface and the atmosphere. In our experiment, irrigation caused a 12% increase in evapotranspiration (QLE) and an equivalent reduction in the sensible heat flux (QH) averaged over all irrigated areas in the continental US during the 2003 growing season. Local effects were more extreme: irrigation shifted more than 100 W/m from QH to QLE in many locations in California, eastern Idaho, southern Washington, and southern Colorado during peak crop growth. In these cases, the changes in ground heat flux (QG), net radiation (RNET), evapotranspiration (ET), runoff (R), and soil moisture (SM) were more than 3 W/m(sup 2), 20 W/m(sup 2), 5 mm/day, 0.3 mm/day, and 100 mm, respectively. These results are highly relevant to continental- to global-scale water and energy cycle studies that, to date, have struggled to quantify the effects of agricultural management practices such as irrigation. Based on the results presented here, we expect that better representation of managed lands will lead to improved weather and climate forecasting skill when the new irrigation scheme is incorporated into NWP models such as NOAA's Global Forecast System (GFS)
The effects of nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies and nitrite addition on the lipid content of Chlorella vulgaris (Chlorophyceae)
The effect of 50% N, 100% N, 50% N plus 50% P and 50% P deficiencies and nitrite addition were treated on Chlorella vulgaris (Chlorophyceae) was studied in laboratory conditions with the aim to determine the effects of the deficient nutrient and different nitrogen sources on lipid and protein contents. Proteinand lipid values of the biomass were found as 50.8 and 12.29% for the control group, 20.3 and 17.5% for 50% N(-), 13.01 and 35.6% for 100% N(-), 21.37 and 20.5% for 50% N(-) and 50% P(-), 38.16 and 16.7% for 50% P(-) and 41.03 and 13.04% for the nitrite group that was added. The highest lipid content was recorded with the culture to which 100% N(-) was treated with 0.18 g/L dry-weight.Key words: Chlorella vulgaris, lipid, nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies, nitrite
Relationship between serum soluble endothelial protein C receptor level and COVID-19 findings
Coronavirus-related disease-2019 (COVID-19)-associated coagulopathy presents predominantly with thrombosis and leads to complications in close association with inflammatory process. Soluble endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR), which is the soluble form of EPCR, reduces the anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory activity of activated protein C. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between sEPCR and the laboratory parameters and thorax computed tomography (CT) findings in the course of COVID-19. Twenty-five laboratory-confirmed [reverse transcription-quantitative polimerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) positive] and 24 clinically diagnosed (RT-qPCR negative) COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study. Blood specimens were collected for sEPCR and haematological and biochemical parameter measurement. Thorax CT was performed to detect COVID-19 findings. These parameters from RT-qPCR positive and negative patients were then compared. Although there was no difference between the groups in terms of symptoms, the time between the onset of symptoms and the admission time was shorter in RT-qPCR positive group (P?=?0.000). sEPCR levels were significantly higher in the RT-qPCR positive group (P?=?0.011). Patients with ground-glass opacity and bilateral involvement on thorax CT have higher serum sEPCR levels (P?=?0.012 and 0.043, respectively). This study has shown for the first time that serum sEPCR levels, which is a member of coagulation cascade and has also been reported to be associated with inflammation, is higher in patients with positive RT-qPCR test and patients with GGO or bilateral involvement on thorax CT regardless of the PCR result. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved
Exploiting Inter- and Intra-Memory Asymmetries for Data Mapping in Hybrid Tiered-Memories
Modern computing systems are embracing hybrid memory comprising of DRAM and
non-volatile memory (NVM) to combine the best properties of both memory
technologies, achieving low latency, high reliability, and high density. A
prominent characteristic of DRAM-NVM hybrid memory is that it has NVM access
latency much higher than DRAM access latency. We call this inter-memory
asymmetry. We observe that parasitic components on a long bitline are a major
source of high latency in both DRAM and NVM, and a significant factor
contributing to high-voltage operations in NVM, which impact their reliability.
We propose an architectural change, where each long bitline in DRAM and NVM is
split into two segments by an isolation transistor. One segment can be accessed
with lower latency and operating voltage than the other. By introducing tiers,
we enable non-uniform accesses within each memory type (which we call
intra-memory asymmetry), leading to performance and reliability trade-offs in
DRAM-NVM hybrid memory. We extend existing NVM-DRAM OS in three ways. First, we
exploit both inter- and intra-memory asymmetries to allocate and migrate memory
pages between the tiers in DRAM and NVM. Second, we improve the OS's page
allocation decisions by predicting the access intensity of a newly-referenced
memory page in a program and placing it to a matching tier during its initial
allocation. This minimizes page migrations during program execution, lowering
the performance overhead. Third, we propose a solution to migrate pages between
the tiers of the same memory without transferring data over the memory channel,
minimizing channel occupancy and improving performance. Our overall approach,
which we call MNEME, to enable and exploit asymmetries in DRAM-NVM hybrid
tiered memory improves both performance and reliability for both single-core
and multi-programmed workloads.Comment: 15 pages, 29 figures, accepted at ACM SIGPLAN International Symposium
on Memory Managemen
Investigating the Day-to-Day Experiences of Users with Traumatic Brain Injury with Conversational Agents
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause cognitive, communication, and
psychological challenges that profoundly limit independence in everyday life.
Conversational Agents (CAs) can provide individuals with TBI with cognitive and
communication support, although little is known about how they make use of CAs
to address injury-related needs. In this study, we gave nine adults with TBI an
at-home CA for four weeks to investigate use patterns, challenges, and design
requirements, focusing particularly on injury-related use. The findings
revealed significant gaps between the current capabilities of CAs and
accessibility challenges faced by TBI users. We also identified 14 TBI-related
activities that participants engaged in with CAs. We categorized those
activities into four groups: mental health, cognitive activities, healthcare
and rehabilitation, and routine activities. Design implications focus on
accessibility improvements and functional designs of CAs that can better
support the day-to-day needs of people with TBI.Comment: In Proceedings The 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on
Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS'23
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