A New Approach to the Design of CMOS Inductorless Common-gate Low-noise Amplifiers

This work proposes a new approach to design a simple and effective LNA reaching very competitive results in 1.2V 65-nm standard CMOS technology. The proposed design uses a transconductance enhancement technique to achieve 2.3 dB of noise figure at the 5 GHz band. The paper exposes the advantages of a reduced number of devices in the circuit and analyses the topology. Simulations with complete technology models and statistical analysis are presented for more precise results

Studying Real-Time Audience Responses to Political Messages: A New Research Agenda

Real-time response methods, which were developed by media and communication researchers as early as the 1940s, have significant potential for understanding media audiences today. However, this potential is not realized fully by current methods such as “the worm,” which are limited to collecting positive and negative responses and fail to examine why audience members respond as they do. This article advocates a new research agenda for understanding how audiences respond to political messages through real-time response methods. Instead of measuring preferences, we suggest that realtime response methods should focus on people’s sense of whether their democratic capabilities are advanced—an approach that would provide a more critical as well as a more nuanced understanding of how audiences respond to political communication. We describe an innovative Web-based app our team has designed to capture audience responses to political messages, and we outline some key questions we hope to address in future research

Controlling adhesion using AC electric fields across fluid films

We demonstrate reversible and switchable actuation using AC electric fields to bring two surfaces separated by a thin film of ionic fluid in and out of adhesive contact. Using a Surface Force Balance we apply electric fields normal to a crossedcylinder contact and measure directly the adhesive force and surface separation with sub-molecular resolution. Taking advantage of the oscillatory structural force acting between the surfaces across the fluid, which we show to be unaffected by the AC field, we pick between the distinct (quantized) adhesive states through precise tuning of the field. This proof-of-concept indicates exquisite control of surface interactions using an external field

Job satisfaction and work–family policies through work-family enrichment

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of a bundle of work–family policies on employee’s job satisfaction and (affective) organizational commitment, by using work–family enrichment and conflict as explanatory. Design/methodology/approach: Empirical study is conducted with a sample of 322 employees from 30 Spanish firms that have been granted with the “Flexible Firm Award” or have been certified as “Family Responsible Firms.” Structural equation modeling is used to test hypotheses. Findings: The results show that the higher the use of work–family policies the more positive effects on work–family enrichment and conflict, and that job satisfaction is positively related to (effective) organizational commitment. Research limitations/implications: This is a cross-sectional study which may limit the establishment of causal relationships. Practical implications: Work–family policies may constitute a relevant management tool to balance work and family life by making employees more interested in their jobs, enhancing their well-being and reducing the conflicts between work and family domains. The positive role of work–family enrichment contributes to enhance employees’ job satisfaction and, at the same time, to increase their organizational commitment. Managers should pay attention at how work–family policies are justified because they may influence differently on their outcomes on satisfaction and commitment. Originality/value: There are two main original contributions of the paper. First, the authors study the joint effect of work–family policies on different dimensions of enrichment and conflict. Second, the authors analyze the relationship between different dimensions of enrichment and conflict on job satisfaction and organizational commitment

Feeding Habits and Sexual Dimorphism of the Violet Goby, Gobioides broussoneti Lacepede (Pisces: Gobiidae), in the Estuarine System of Tecolutla, Veracruz, Mexico

Gobioides broussoneti were sampled in Silveña estuary, a branch of the Tecolutla estuary, Veracruz, Mexico, during 2 trips made between February 1998 and June 1999 to evaluate diet and sexual dimorphism. A total of 65 G. broussoneti ranging from 49–401 mm SL (0.7–124.2 g WW) were collected. There was a 1:1.2 sex ratio in favor of females. Seven food types were noted, with filamentous algae (25.4%) and detritus (21.3%) representing the principal food types. A 24 h feeding study revealed that this species feeds continuously throughout the day. The ovaries of all female G. broussoneti contained previtellogenic oocytes, characteristic of immature or regressed fish. In contrast, the lobular testis of the males contained late stages of spermatogenesis, suggesting that the fish examined were at the end of the reproductive season. Sexual dimorphism of G. broussoneti is distinguished by a small urogenital papilla, which is in the ventral region between the anal orifice and the anal fin origin. In the females it is short, blunt and has a yellow coloration; in males it is thin, pointed and has a smooth appearance. Only immature or regressed females were captured during this study indicating that G. broussoneti uses the Tecolutla estuary as a nursery and feeding ground. Questions about reproductive seasonality, ovarian development, and spawning of G. broussoneti need further investigation

Temporal analysis of natural radionuclides deposition at Málaga(2005-2016)

Atmospheric deposition of radionuclides has been investigated in many studies from the aspects of both radiation protection and geochemistry. The present study, carried out in the city of Málaga, in the southeast of Spain, focuses on the assessment of the bulk depositional fluxes of three natural radionuclides: 7Be (cosmogenic origin), and 210Pb and 40K (crustal origin). These three radionuclides are useful markers of particles arising from their respective sources. To obtain fundamental information of atmospheric transportation, sedimentation and geological process of particulate matter, a long-term monitoring of atmospheric deposition has been carried out in Málaga from January 2005-December 2016. Samples of bulk deposition were collected on a monthly basis on a stainless steel tray from January 2005 to December 2016. Afterwards, a volume of 6 L of the bulk deposition was reduced via evaporation to 1 L approximately and transferred to a Marinelli geometry container for gamma counting. Additionally, aerosols samples were collected weekly in cellulose membrane filters of 0.8μm pore size and 47mm diameter with an air sampler lodged in an all-weather sampling station, situated on the roof near the bulk rain collector. Gamma counting of the aerosols and bulk deposition samples was performed using an intrinsic germanium coaxial detector, Re-Ge-type (CANBERRA). This study describes the results and then discusses characteristics of atmospheric deposition of mentioned radionuclides with respect to seasonal variations and dependency on controlling factors. The depositional fluxes of all radionuclides showed a clear seasonal trend with summer minimum and high values in wintertime