Low loss waveguide-based Butler matrix with iris coupling control method for millimeterwave applications

This paper proposes a low loss 4×4 Butler matrix based on rectangular waveguide cavity resonators technology for millimeterwave beamforming network using iris coupling method. This method has the advantage of controlling the electrical fields and the coupling factor inside a complex medium such as waveguide cavity resonators. The coupling factor of 6 dB for 4×4 Butler matrix is achieved by tuning the iris coupling k-value between the waveguide cavity resonators. Thus, avoiding a higher phase difference losses and component losses at upper millimeterwave bands. To validate the proposed method, CST software simulations are performed under several iris coupling k-values to achieve a 6 dB coupling factor. Then, the proposed 4×4 Butler matrix is 3D metal printed using selective laser melting (SLM) technique. The measured reflection and isolation coefficients are observed below −10 dB, with coupling coefficients ranging between −6 and −7 dB. The phase differences of −42.02°, 42.02°, −130.95°, and 133.3° are achieved at the outputs. It confirmed that using this proposed method has the superiority over the conventional microstrip and waveguide coupling methods by a 1 dB coupling factor loss and a 3° phase difference error

A comparison of various double loops frequency selective surfaces in terms of angular stability

This paper presents the comparison of Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSS) structure performance based on three different double loops: square, circular and hexagonal structures. The simulation process of the double loops FFS structures are carried out by using the Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Microwave Studio software. The dielectric substrate used in the simulation is the FR-4 lossy substrate

Keberkesanan penggunaan edubase dalam kalangan pelajar teknikal yang berbeza gaya kognitif, afektif dan psikomotor di Politeknik Malaysia

Bahan bantu pengajaran yang digunakan secara bersesuaian dengan pelajar menyumbang kepada perkembangan pembelajaran mereka. Dalam dunia pendidikan teknikal, aspek kognitif dan psikomotor turut memberi kesan kepada kualiti pembelajaran pelajar. Kajian ini membincangkan tentang kesan penggunaan EDUBASE terhadap pencapaian dan minat pelajar yang mempunyai gaya kognitif, afektif dan psikomotor yang berbeza dalam topik Electromagnetism. Seramai 70 orang pelajar politeknik yang terdiri daripada 33 pelajar kumpulan rawatan dan 37 pelajar kumpulan kawalan telah terlibat dalam kajian yang menggunakan kaedah kuasi-ekperimen ini. Ujian kognitif, psikomotor, ujian pra-pasca dan kaji selidik telah diagihkan untuk memantau kesan penggunaan EDUBASE terhadap pelajar. Dapatan kajian ini telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan statistik MANCOVA, korelasi Pearson dan skor min. Hasil dapatan dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa terdapat perbezaan yang tidak signifikan secara statistik bagi skor pelajar kumpulan kawalan dan kumpulan rawatan. Namun, skor min menunjukkan kumpulan rawatan memberikan skor yang lebih cemerlang dan minat mereka juga turut meningkat dalam topik pembelajaran tersebut berbanding pelajar yang mengaplikasikan pembelajaran secara konvensional. Selain itu, hasil dapatan kajian juga menunjukkan terdapat hubungan yang signifikan terhadap minat dan pencapaian. Di samping itu, EDUBASE yang diaplikasikan telah memenuhi keperluan dan minat pelajar. Secara ringkasnya, hasil kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa penggunaan EDUBASE sebagai alat bahan bantu mengajar dilihat berkesan dalam memberikan kecemerlangan pencapaian dan meningkatkan minat pelajar politeknik terhadap topik Electromagnetism

An Electronically Reconfigurable Patch Antenna Design for Polarization Diversity with Fixed Resonant Frequency

In this paper, an electronically polarization reconfigurable circular patch antenna with fixed resonant frequency operating at Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) frequency band (2.4-2.48 GHz) is presented. The structure of the proposed design consists of a circular patch as a radiating element fed by coaxial probe, cooperated with four equal-length slits etched on the edge along x-axis and y-axis. A total of four switches was used and embedded across the slits at specific locations, thus controlled the length of the slits. By activating and deactivating the switches (ON and OFF) across the slits, the current on the patch is changed, thus modifying the electric field and polarization of the antenna. Consequently, the polarization excited by the proposed antenna can be switched into three types, either linear polarization, left-hand circular polarization or right-hand circular polarization. This paper proposes a simple approach that able to switch the polarizations and excited at the same operating frequency. Simulated and measured results of ideal case (using copper strip switches) and real case (using PIN diode switches) are compared and presented to demonstrate the performance of the antenna

Effect of operating temperature on direct recycling aluminium chips (AA6061) in hot press forging process

A method of solid-state recycling aluminum alloy using hot press forging process was studied as well as the possibility of the recycled chip to be used as secondary resources. This paper presents the results of recycled AA6061 aluminium alloy chip using different operating temperature for hot press forging process. Mechanical properties and microstructure of the recycled specimens and as-received (reference) specimen were investigated. The recycled specimens exhibit a good potential in the strength properties. The result for yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) at the minimum temperature 430˚C is 25.8 MPa and 27.13 MPa. For the maximum operating temperature 520˚C YS and UTS are 107.0MPa and 117.53 MPa. Analysis for different operating temperatures shows that the higher temperatures giving better result on mechanical properties and finer microstructure. The strength of recycled specimen increases due to the grain refinement strengthening whereas particle dispersion strengthening has minor effects. In this study, the recycled AA6061 chip shows the good potential in strengthening as the comparison of using only 17.5% of suggested pressure (70.0/400.0) MPa, the UTS exhibit 35.8% (117.58/327.69) MPa. This shows a remarkable potential of direct recycling by using hot press forging process

Preliminary analysis of knee stress in Full Extension Landing

OBJECTIVE: This study provides an experimental and finite element analysis of knee-joint structure during extended-knee landing based on the extracted impact force, and it numerically identifies the contact pressure, stress distribution and possibility of bone-to-bone contact when a subject lands from a safe height. METHODS: The impact time and loads were measured via inverse dynamic analysis of free landing without knee flexion from three different heights (25, 50 and 75 cm), using five subjects with an average body mass index of 18.8. Three-dimensional data were developed from computed tomography scans and were reprocessed with modeling software before being imported and analyzed by finite element analysis software. The whole leg was considered to be a fixed middle-hinged structure, while impact loads were applied to the femur in an upward direction. RESULTS: Straight landing exerted an enormous amount of pressure on the knee joint as a result of the body's inability to utilize the lower extremity muscles, thereby maximizing the threat of injury when the load exceeds the height-safety threshold. CONCLUSIONS: The researchers conclude that extended-knee landing results in serious deformation of the meniscus and cartilage and increases the risk of bone-to-bone contact and serious knee injury when the load exceeds the threshold safety height. This risk is considerably greater than the risk of injury associated with walking downhill or flexion landing activities

Tunable rectangular ring resonator filter with embedded shunt barium strontium titanate capacitors

Design of a low loss tunable bandpass filter using a microstrip ring resonator is presented. The tunability is achieved through the use of embedded shunt parallel plate variable capacitor implemented into the Low Temperature Cofired Ceramic (LTCC) substrate using thick film Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) paste. Measured data on the filter response, loss, and tunability in the frequency of 10 GHz and 12 GHz is presented. Results show filters produced low insertion loss with narrow tenability range

A Study of the Antioxidant Effect of Alpha Lipoic Acids on Sperm Quality

OBJECTIVE: Assisted reproductive techniques are useful in helping infertile couples achieve successful conception. Initial studies have shown that sperm cryopreservation, one step in assisted reproduction, causes a dramatic reduction in sperm quality. This has been attributed to, among other things, free radical activities. The aim of the present study was to minimize this oxidative attack by adding an antioxidant into the sperm microenvironment. Alpha lipoic acids were selected for this purpose for their efficient free radical scavenging properties and solubility in lipid and aqueous phases. METHODS: For this investigation, semen from six Boer bucks was pooled. Seminal analysis of the baseline prior to incubation of samples with different concentrations of Alpha lipoic acids (0.00625, 0.0125, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1 mmol/ml) was performed, and post-seminal analysis was conducted after a one-hour incubation. The comet assay was used to observe the effect of Alpha lipoic acids on sperm DNA integrity. Statistical analysis using an unpaired t-test with a significance level of p<0.05 was then performed. RESULTS: Our results indicate that the sperm motility rate was improved after incubation with Alpha lipoic acids at a concentration of 0.02 mmol/ml. This concentration was also capable of reducing DNA damage. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, Alpha lipoic acids renders cryoprotection to sperm, thereby improving sperm quality

Temporary epicardial pacing wires in isolated coronary artery bypass graft: Necessity or force of habit?

Objective: To determine the frequency of Temporary epicardial pacing wires usage and its predictors in the immediate postoperative period in isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Methods: The longitudinal study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from September 2019 to August 2020, and comprised adult patients of either gender who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass graft in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Demographic, peri-operative and post-operative Temporary Epicardial Pacing Wires use data was extracted from patient\u27s files and the institutional electronic database. Logistic regression models were built to explore predictors of Temporary epicardial pacing wires usage. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. Results: Of the 322 cases evaluated, 27(8.4%) required the use of Temporary Epicardial Pacing Wires. Mean age of the patients requiring temporary epicardial pacing wires was 66.3±8.9 years compared to 58.7±8.9 years in those who did not require it (p\u3c0.001), while the left ventricular ejection fraction percentage was 44.1±12.8 and 48.9±12.8 respectively (p=0.032). After adjusting for clinically plausible demographics and peri-operative variables, increasing age and low left ventricular ejection fraction were significantly associated with the use of temporary epicardial pacing wires in post-operative period of isolated coronary artery bypass graft patients (p\u3c0.05). Conclusions: The frequency of temporary epicardial pacing wires usage in the post-operative period of coronary artery bypass graft was found to be low

The impact of character presence and entertainment value on brand recall and brand attitude in advergame

The increase of online advertising, in particular advergame, has become popular method in strengthening consumer brand recognition by inserting attractive characters and entertainment value. Studies on using spokes-characters in advertising effectiveness had showed convincing result in marketing communication. However, few studies have examined the link between character presence and consumers‟ brand recall and attitude in advergame. Moreover, how the entertainment value of an advergame influences brand recall and brand attitude and the mediating role of brand recall in influencing character presence and entertainment on brand attitude are still lacking in the advergaming literature. Objective: This paper examines the influence of character presence and entertainment on brand recall and brand attitude in advergame. Results: Using structural equation modeling, the results showed that character presence had no influence but entertainment value had a positive influence on brand recall and brand attitude. This study confirmed the role of brand recall as a mediator of the effect of between entertainment and brand attitude in advergame. Conclusion: This study fills the gap of the relationship between character presence and entertainment on brand recall and attitude in advergame