Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

Theory and design of an array of skewed stacked dipoles

We propose a systematic approach to describe planar slot antennas, embedded in generic stratified media. An equivalent transmission line model for the slot is proposed, based on a spectral domain analysis. First, we introduce a method of moments solution to model semi-infinite slots, fed by a deltagap excitation. The solution entails only two basis functions, one located at the feed and the other at the termination. The latter basis function is chosen to properly account for the field diffractive behavior at the antenna end point. An approximate circuit model is then introduced, which describes the main mode propagating along the slot as an equivalent transmission line. Lumped impedances are extracted to accurately describe the source and the end point. This procedure can be used to derive the input impedance of planar antennas with arbitrary length in generic layered media or the interaction between multiple feeds within the same slot.Tera-Hertz Sensin

3D Array Element Design for Pattern Shaping

In this work, antenna arrays with tilted dipoles are investigated in terms of radiation and impedance properties. A spectral method of moments (MoM) was developed for the analysis of doubly-periodic arrays (i.e. periodic in both x and ydirections)with arbitrarily tilted dipole elements, in free space or in the presence of a backing reflector. By the aid of this analysis method, the radiation characteristics of arrays of stacked dipoles over a ground plane are studied, highlighting the variation of thepatterns as a function of the inter-element distance and the angle of inclination of the elements.Tera-Hertz Sensin

Angularly Stable Frequency Selective Surface Combined with a Wide-Scan Phased Array

A five-layer frequency selective surface (FSS) composed of subwavelength elements with large harmonic rejection bandwidth is presented. The FSS design is based on an equivalent circuit model, where the interlayer interaction is only described with a single transmission line representing the fundamental Floquet wave. A prototype of the designed FSS is fabricated, and the measured response exhibits good stability over a wide conical incidence range up to 45°. The FSS is combined with a wide-scanning connected array of dipoles to implement a phased array with integrated filtering properties. A dispersion analysis is performed to define the distance between the array and the FSS that avoids the propagation of surface waves between the combined structures, allowing to maximize the radiation efficiency. The performance of the array combined with the FSS is experimentally characterized, showing high-order harmonic rejection better than 17 dB over a large bandwidth.Accepted Author ManuscriptTera-Hertz Sensin

A Linear Array of Skewed Dipoles With Asymmetric Radiation Pattern for Angular Filtering

In this letter, we present a design of a linear array of tilted dipoles to achieve radiation patterns with asymmetric angular filtering characteristics. To realize the asymmetric radiation, the dipole elements are spaced by a distance larger than half a wavelength, thus allowing for grating lobes to occur in the visible region. Moreover, the dipoles are loaded with artificial dielectrics to increase the front-to-back ratio and consequently to enable higher gain in certain desired angular regions. Based on the design, a linear array with ten elements is manufactured and tested. The measured results show the ability of such an array to achieve stable gain from broadside up to 90° scanning while implementing a stopband angular filter for negative scanning angles.Tera-Hertz Sensin

Wideband Modeling of CMOS Schottky Barrier Diode Detectors for THz Radiometry

A complete system modeling and characterization of a wideband differential terahertz (THz) direct detector, integrated in a commercial CMOS technology, is presented. The detector consists of a recently developed double leaky-slot lens antenna that operates from 200 to 600 GHz in combination with a differential Schottky barrier diode (SBD) direct detection circuit. The proposed methodology, starting from low-frequency measurements on a standalone SBD, is able to adequately model the spectral radiometric performance. The system noise-equivalent power (NEP) is characterized from 325 to 500 GHz in excellent agreement with the proposed system model. The measured NEP, 20 pW/√Hz minimum and 90 pW/√Hz frequency averaged, is compromised with respect to the average NEP of 2.7 pW/√Hz that was initially predicted by simulations using the process design kit (PDK) model, since the available SBDs are operating beyond their cutoff frequency. The diodes and models provided by the PDK proved to be inaccurate in predicting circuit behavior at these high frequencies. By using the proposed analysis and modeling approaches, an accurate wideband antenna–detector codesign could be applied for future passive THz imaging applications based on CMOS technologies.Accepted author manuscriptTera-Hertz SensingElectronic

An Array of Tilted Dipoles Loaded with Artificial Dielectrics with an Asymmetric Pattern

We present the design of an array of tilted dipoles loaded with artificial dielectrics, to achieve asymmetric radiation patterns. First, a simplified array element consisting of skewed stacked dipoles in the presence of a backing reflector is studied, by means of a dedicated spectral periodic method of moments (MoM). The analysis of the stacked dipoles provides guidelines to design arrays with certain radiation characteristics, by varying the tilt angle and the inter-element spacing. Based on the findings of numerical analysis, we then propose a tilted dipole element design with artificial dielectric loading to implement the pattern asymmetry. The design includes the feeding structure and the balun transition to a 50-Ohm coaxial line.Tera-Hertz Sensin

American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) extract affects human prostate cancer cell growth via cell cycle arrest by modulating expression of cell cycle regulators

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, and its prevalence is expected to increase appreciably in the coming decades. As such, more research is necessary to understand the etiology, progression and possible preventative measures to delay or to stop the development of this disease. Recently, there has been interest in examining the effects of whole extracts from commonly harvested crops on the behaviour and progression of cancer. Here, we describe the effects of whole cranberry extract (WCE) on the behaviour of DU145 human prostate cancer cells in vitro. Following treatment of DU145 human prostate cancer cells with 10, 25 and 50 μg ml⁻¹ of WCE, respectively for 6 h, WCE significantly decreased the cellular viability of DU145 cells. WCE also decreased the proportion of cells in the G2-M phase of the cell cycle and increased the proportion of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle following treatment of cells with 25 and 50 μg ml⁻¹ treatment of WCE for 6 h. These alterations in cell cycle were associated with changes in cell cycle regulatory proteins and other cell cycle associated proteins. WCE decreased the expression of CDK4, cyclin A, cyclin B1, cyclin D1 and cyclin E, and increased the expression of p27. Changes in p16(INK4a) and pRBp107 protein expression levels also were evident, however, the changes noted in p16(INK4a) and pRBp107 protein expression levels were not statistically significant. These findings demonstrate that phytochemical extracts from the American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) can affect the behaviour of human prostate cancer cells in vitro and further support the potential health benefits associated with cranberries

Updating Biodiversity Studies in Loricate Protists: The Case of the Tintinnids (Alveolata, Ciliophora, Spirotrichea)

Species determination is crucial in biodiversity research. In tintinnids, identification is based almost exclusively on the lorica, despite its frequent intraspecific variability and interspecific similarity. We suggest updated procedures for identification and, depending on the aim of the study, further steps to obtain morphological, molecular, and ecological data. Our goal is to help improving the collection of information ( e. g. species re-/descriptions and DNA barcodes) that is essential for generating a natural tintinnid classification and a reliable reference for environmental surveys. These suggestions are broadly useful for protistologists because they exemplify data integration, quality/ effort compromise, and the need for scientific collaborations