A closed-form solution to the asymptotic part of the MoM impedance matrix and the MoM excitation vector for printed structures on planar grounded dielectric slabs

In the spectral domain method of moments (MoM) solution of printed structures on planar grounded dielectric slabs, the infinite double integrals which appear in the asymptotic parts of the MoM impedance matrix and the MoM excitation vector elements, have been previously transformed to one-dimensional finite integrals, which have been numerically computed using the highly specialized "International Mathematics and Statistics Library" subroutines. In this paper, these one-dimensional integrals are evaluated in closed-form, resulting in an improved efficiency and accuracy for the rigorous investigation of printed antennas and complex millimeter and microwave integrated circuits. Numerical results in the form of mutual impedance between two expansion functions and input impedance of various microstrip antennas are presented to assess the accuracy of these closed-form expressions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

A broadband multilevel fast multipole algorithm with incomplete-leaf tree structures for multiscale electromagnetic problems

An efficient, broadband, and accurate multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) is proposed to solve a wide range of multiscale electromagnetic problems with orders of magnitude differences in the mesh sizes. Given a maximum RWG population threshold, only overcrowded boxes are recursively bisected into smaller ones, which leads to novel incomplete-leaf tree structures. Simulations reveal that, for surface discretizations possessing highly overmeshed local regions, the proposed method presents a more efficient and/or accurate results than the conventional MLFMA. The key feature of such a population-based clustering scenario is that the error is controllable, and hence, regardless of the number of levels, the efficiency can be optimized based on the population threshold. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the superior efficiency and accuracy of the proposed algorithm in comparison to the conventional MLFMA. © 2016 European Association of Antennas and Propagation

A parametric analysis of finite phased arrays of printed dipoles on large circular cylinders and comparisons with the planar case

Finite phased arrays of printed dipoles on electrically large coated cylinders using spatial domain hybrid MoM/Green's function was discussed. Active reflection coefficient and input impedances of the dipoles were calculated and compared with planar counterparts. MoM/Green's function technique was developed to improve the efficiency and accuracy problems in the analysis of conformal arrays. The effects of curvature, dipole orientation and changes in the array and host body parameters was observed

Scan blindness phenomenon in conformal finite phased arrays of printed dipoles

Scan blindness phenomenon for finite phased arrays of printed dipoles on material coated, electrically large circular cylinders is investigated. Effects on the scan blindness mechanism of several array and supporting structure parameters, including curvature effects, are observed and discussed. A full-wave solution, based on a hybrid method of moments/ Green's function technique in the spatial domain, is used to achieve the aforementioned goals. Numerical results show that the curvature affects the surface waves and hence the mutual coupling between array elements. As a result, the array current distribution of arrays mounted on coated cylinders are considerably different compared to similar arrays on planar platforms. Therefore, finite phased arrays of printed dipoles on coated cylinders show different behavior in terms of scan blindness phenomenon compared to their planar counterparts. Furthermore, this phenomenon is completely different for axially and circumferentially oriented printed dipoles on coated cylinders suggesting that particular element types might be important for cylindrical arrays. © 2006 IEEE

An interactive 3-D application for pain management: Results from a pilot study in spinal cord injury rehabilitation

This is the post-print version of the Article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2012 ElevierResearch on pain following spinal cord injury (SCI) has revealed that patients not only experience several types of pain that could prove to be challenging to address, but also that each individual can interpret such pain in different subjective ways. In this paper we introduce a 3-D system for facilitating the efficient management of pain, and thus, supporting clinicians in overcoming the aforementioned challenges. This system was evaluated by a cohort of 15 SCI patients in a pilot study that took place between July and October 2010. Participants reported their experiences of using the 3-D system in an adapted version of the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire. Statistically significant results were obtained with regards to the usability and efficiency of the 3-D system, with the majority of the patients finding it particularly useful to report their pain. Our findings suggest that the 3-D system can be an efficient tool in the efforts to better manage the pain experience of SCI patients

A model with electric fields for the inclusion of mutual coupling effects in the MIMO channel

[No abstract available

Deconstructing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender victim of sex trafficking: Harm, exceptionality and religion–sexuality tensions

Contrary to widespread belief, sex trafficking also targets lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) communities. Contemporary social and political constructions of victimhood lie at the heart of regulatory policies on sex trafficking. Led by the US Department of State, knowledge about LGBT victims of trafficking constitutes the newest frontier in the expansion of criminalization measures. These measures represent a crucial shift. From a burgeoning range of preemptive measures enacted to protect an amorphous class of ‘all potential victims’, now policies are heavily premised on the risk posed by traffickers to ‘victims of special interest’. These constructed identities, however, are at odds with established structures. Drawing on a range of literatures, the core task of this article is to confront some of the complexities and tensions surrounding constructions of LGBT trafficking victims. Specifically, the article argues that discourses of ‘exceptional vulnerability’ and the polarized notions of ‘innocence’ and ‘guilt’ inform hierarchies of victimhood. Based on these insights, the article argues for the need to move beyond monolithic understandings of victims, by reframing the politics of harm accordingly

Neuroinflammation, Mast Cells, and Glia: Dangerous Liaisons

The perspective of neuroinflammation as an epiphenomenon following neuron damage is being replaced by the awareness of glia and their importance in neural functions and disorders. Systemic inflammation generates signals that communicate with the brain and leads to changes in metabolism and behavior, with microglia assuming a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Identification of potential peripheral-to-central cellular links is thus a critical step in designing effective therapeutics. Mast cells may fulfill such a role. These resident immune cells are found close to and within peripheral nerves and in brain parenchyma/meninges, where they exercise a key role in orchestrating the inflammatory process from initiation through chronic activation. Mast cells and glia engage in crosstalk that contributes to accelerate disease progression; such interactions become exaggerated with aging and increased cell sensitivity to stress. Emerging evidence for oligodendrocytes, independent of myelin and support of axonal integrity, points to their having strong immune functions, innate immune receptor expression, and production/response to chemokines and cytokines that modulate immune responses in the central nervous system while engaging in crosstalk with microglia and astrocytes. In this review, we summarize the findings related to our understanding of the biology and cellular signaling mechanisms of neuroinflammation, with emphasis on mast cell-glia interactions

(Pyrazolyl)pyridine ruthenium(III) complexes: Synthesis, kinetics of substitution reactions with thiourea and biological studies

Reactions of 2-bromo-6-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (L1), 2,6-di (1H-pyrazol-1-yl) pyridine (L2) and 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (L3) with RuCl3·3H2O led to the formation of their respective metal complexes [RuCl3(L1)] (1), [RuCl3(L2)] (2) and [RuCl3(L3)] (3). Solid state structure of complex 3 established the formation of a six-coordinate mononuclear compound in which L3 is tridentately bound. The order of reactivity of the studied complexes with thiourea (TU) nucleophile is in the form 1?>?2?>?3, in line with density functional theory (DFT) studies. The complexes displayed minimal cytotoxic activity against the HeLa cell line, consistent with molecular docking experiments which showed weaker DNA binding affinities

Differentially expressed profiles in the larval testes of Wolbachia infected and uninfected Drosophila

BACKGROUND: Wolbachia are endosymbiotic bacteria that are frequently found in arthropods and nematodes. These maternally inherited bacteria manipulate host reproduction by several mechanisms including cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). CI is the most common phenotype induced by Wolbachia and results in the developmental arrest of embryos derived from crosses between Wolbachia-infected males and uninfected females. Although the molecular mechanisms of CI are currently unknown, several studies suggest that host sperm is modified by Wolbachia during spermatogenesis. RESULTS: We compared the gene expression of Drosophila melanogaster larval testes with and without the wMel strain of Wolbachia to identify candidate genes that could be involved in the interaction between Wolbachia and the insect host. Microarray, quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization analyses were carried out on D. melanogaster larval testes to determine the effect of Wolbachia infection on host gene expression. A total of 296 genes were identified by microarray analysis to have at least a 1.5 fold change [q-value < 5%] in expression. When comparing Wolbachia-infected flies to uninfected flies, 167 genes were up-regulated and 129 genes down-regulated. Differential expression of genes related to metabolism, immunity, reproduction and other functions were observed. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) confirmed 12 genes are differentially expressed in the testes of the 3rd instar larvae of Wolbachia-infected and uninfected flies. In situ hybridization demonstrated that Wolbachia infection changes the expression of several genes putatively associated with spermatogenesis including JH induced protein-26 and Mst84Db, or involved in immune (kenny) or metabolism (CG4988-RA). CONCLUSIONS: Wolbachia change the gene expression of 296 genes in the larval testes of D. melanogaster including genes related to metabolism, immunity and reproduction. Interestingly, most of the genes putatively involved in immunity were up-regulated in the presence of Wolbachia. In contrast, most of the genes putatively associated with reproduction (especially spermatogenesis) were down-regulated in the presence of Wolbachia. These results suggest Wolbachia may activate the immune pathway but inhibit spermatogenesis. Our data provide a significant panel of candidate genes that may be involved in the interaction between Wolbachia and their insect hosts. This forms a basis to help elucidate the underlying mechanisms of Wolbachia-induced CI in Drosophila and the influence of Wolbachia on spermatogenesis