Introduction to the special issue on Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits (RFIC) design techniques

Peer reviewe

Mixed-mode impedance and reflection coefficient of two-port devices

From the point of view of mixed-mode scattering parameters, Smm, a two-port device can be excited using different driving conditions. Each condition leads to a particular set of input reflection and input impedance coefficient definitions that should be carefully applied depending on the type of excitation and symmetry of the two-port device. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explain the general analytic procedure for the evaluation of such reflection and impedance coefficients in terms of mixed-mode scattering parameters. Moreover, the driving of a two-port device as a one-port device is explained as a particular case of a two-port mixed-mode excitation using a given set of mixed-mode loads. The theory is applied to the evaluation of the quality factor, Q, of symmetrical and non- symmetrical inductors.Ministerio de Innovación y Ciencia TEC2010-14825/MIC, TEC2010-21484Junta de Andalucía TIC-253

Reducing spatial discretization error on coarse CFD simulations using an openFOAM-embedded deep learning framework

We propose a method for reducing the spatial discretization error of coarse computational fluid dynamics (CFD) problems by enhancing the quality of low-resolution simulations using deep learning. We feed the model with fine-grid data after projecting it to the coarse-grid discretization. We substitute the default differencing scheme for the convection term by a feed-forward neural network that interpolates velocities from cell centers to face values to produce velocities that approximate the down-sampled fine-grid data well. The deep learning framework incorporates the open-source CFD code OpenFOAM, resulting in an end-to-end differentiable model. We automatically differentiate the CFD physics using a discrete adjoint code version. We present a fast communication method between TensorFlow (Python) and OpenFOAM (c++) that accelerates the training process. We applied the model to the flow past a square cylinder problem, reducing the error from 120% to 25% in the velocity for simulations inside the training distribution compared to the traditional solver using an x8 coarser mesh. For simulations outside the training distribution, the error reduction in the velocities was about 50%. The training is affordable in terms of time and data samples since the architecture exploits the local features of the physics.PID2023-146678OB-I00 PRE2020-09309

An automated design methodology of RF circuits by using Pareto-optimal fronts of EMsimulated inductors

A new design methodology for radiofrequency circuits is presented that includes electromagnetic (EM) simulation of the inductors into the optimization flow. This is achieved by previously generating the Pareto-optimal front (POF) of the inductors using EM simulation. Inductors are selected from the Pareto front and their S-parameter matrix is included in the circuit netlist that is simulated using an RF simulator. Generating the EM-simulated POF of inductors is computationally expensive, but once generated, it can be used for any circuit design. The methodology is illustrated both for a singleobjective and a multiobjective optimization of a low noise amplifierMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2013-45638-C3-3-R, TEC2013-40430-RJunta de Andalucía PIC12-TIC-1481Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 201350E05

New insights into the morphology, reproduction and distribution of the large-tuberculate octopus Graneledone macrotyla from the Patagonian slope

The new information reported in this paper is based on 11 specimens of the large-tuberculate octopus Graneledone macrotyla. These specimens were caught in bottom trawl surveys ATLANTIS 2009 and 2010 carried out on the Patagonian slope off the Argentinean Economic Exclusive Zone between 24 February and 1 April 2009 and from 9 March to 5 April 2010 respectively. A new diagnosis and a complete description of the species are provided. This is the first time that stylets, beaks and spermatophores are described. This is also the first time in which mature females have been studied and the female genitalia described. Like other eledonid octopods, G. macrotyla does not have spermathecae in the oviducal glands. The presence of fertilized eggs inside the ovary suggests that fertilization takes place within the ovary. The simultaneous occurrence of oocyte cohorts at different oogenic stages suggests that the species is a multiple spawner. G. macrotyla inhabits shallower waters on the Patagonian slope (475-921 m) than in the subantartic area (1647-2044 m). From a biogeographical point of view, our data show that G. macrotyla inhabits the plume of cold subantarctic waters, which is pushed far north into the southwestern Atlantic by the Falkland (Malvinas) Current.Nueva información sobre la morfología, reproducción y distribución del pulpo megatuberculado Graneledone macrotyla del talud continental Patagónico. – La novedosa información que se proporciona en este trabajo se basa en 11 ejemplares del pulpo megatuberculado Graneledone macrotyla. Esos ejemplares se capturaron en las campañas de prospección ATLANTIS 2009 y 2010, realizadas con arte de arrastre bentónico en el talud patagónico por fuera de la Zona Económica Exclusiva de Argentina, entre el 24 de febrero y el 1 de abril de 2009 y desde el 9 de marzo hasta el 5 de abril de 2010, respectivamente. Se ofrece una nueva diagnosis y una descripción completa de la especie. Esta es la primera vez en que se describen los estiletes, picos y espermatóforos. También es totalmente novedoso el estudio de hembras maduras, lo que ha permitido la descripción de su órgano genital. Como ocurre en otros pulpos de la subfamilia Eledoninae, G. macrotyla carece de espermatecas en las glándulas oviductales. La presencia de huevos fecundados en el ovario sugiere que la fecundación acontece dentro de este órgano. La presencia simultánea de varias cohortes de ovocitos de diferente tamaño sugiere que se trata de una especie cuya freza es múltiple. G. macrotyla vive en aguas más someras del talud patagónico (475-921 m) que en la región subantártica (1647-2044 m). Estos datos muestran que G. macrotyla vive en la pluma de aguas subantárticas, que transportan agua fría hacia el norte del Atlántico sudoccidental a través de la corriente de Malvinas (Falkland)

Generating new fanca-deficient hnscc cell lines by genomic editing recapitulates the cellular phenotypes of fanconi anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) patients have an exacerbated risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Treatment is challenging as FA patients display enhanced toxicity to standard treatments, including radio/chemotherapy. Therefore, better therapies as well as new disease models are urgently needed. We have used CRISPR/Cas9 editing tools in order to interrupt the human FANCA gene by the generation of insertions/deletions (indels) in exon 4 in two cancer cell lines from sporadic HNSCC having no mutation in FA-genes: CAL27 and CAL33 cells. Our approach allowed efficient editing, subsequent purification of single-cell clones, and Sanger sequencing validation at the edited locus. Clones having frameshift indels in homozygosis did not express FANCA protein and were selected for further analysis. When compared with parental CAL27 and CAL33, FANCA-mutant cell clones displayed a FA-phenotype as they (i) are highly sensitive to DNA interstrand crosslink (ICL) agents such as mitomycin C (MMC) or cisplatin(ii) do not monoubiquitinate FANCD2 upon MMC treatment and therefore (iii) do not form FANCD2 nuclear foci, and (iv) they display increased chromosome fragility and G2 arrest after diepoxybutane (DEB) treatment. These FANCA-mutant clones display similar growth rates as their parental cells. Interestingly, mutant cells acquire phenotypes associated with more aggressive disease, such as increased migration in wound healing assays. Therefore, CAL27 and CAL33 cells with FANCA mutations are phenocopies of FA-HNSCC cells

The Cherenkov Telescope Array Large Size Telescope

The two arrays of the Very High Energy gamma-ray observatory Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will include four Large Size Telescopes (LSTs) each with a 23 m diameter dish and 28 m focal distance. These telescopes will enable CTA to achieve a low-energy threshold of 20 GeV, which is critical for important studies in astrophysics, astroparticle physics and cosmology. This work presents the key specifications and performance of the current LST design in the light of the CTA scientific objectives.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, In Proceedings of the 33rd International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2013), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). All CTA contributions at arXiv:1307.223

Mutation of Archaeal Isopentenyl Phosphate Kinase Highlights Mechanism and Guides Phosphorylation of Additional Isoprenoid Monophosphates

I sopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and its isomeric part-ner dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) are precur-sors for a diverse collection of primary and second-ary isoprenoid metabolites in all organisms. Following its formation, successive units of IPP are used together either with DMAPP, formed by the action of types I or II IPP isomerases, or with the IPP extended isoprenoid diphosphate chain, to biosynthesize C10, C15, or C20 oligoprenyl diphosphates known as geranyl diphos-phate (GPP), farnesyl diphosphate (FPP), and gera-nylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP), respectively, as well as larger isoprenoid diphosphates. In plants and some mi-croorganisms, GPP, FPP, and GGPP also serve as start-ingmaterials for the biosynthesis of a large class of spe-cialized and often cyclic terpene hydrocarbons (1). FPP is the most ubiquitous of the three isoprenoid diphos-phate building blocks, as it resides at the juncture of bi

Applications of yeast flocculation in biotechnological processes

A review on the main aspects associated with yeast flocculation and its application in biotechnological processes is presented. This subject is addressed following three main aspects – the basics of yeast flocculation, the development of “new” flocculating yeast strains and bioreactor development. In what concerns the basics of yeast flocculation, the state of the art on the most relevant aspects of mechanism, physiology and genetics of yeast flocculation is reported. The construction of flocculating yeast strains includes not only the recombinant constitutive flocculent brewer’s yeast, but also recombinant flocculent yeast for lactose metabolisation and ethanol production. Furthermore, recent work on the heterologous β-galactosidase production using a recombinant flocculent Saccharomyces cerevisiae is considered. As bioreactors using flocculating yeast cells have particular properties, mainly associated with a high solid phase hold-up, a section dedicated to its operation is presented. Aspects such as bioreactor productivity and culture stability as well as bioreactor hydrodynamics and mass transfer properties of flocculating cell cultures are considered. Finally, the paper concludes describing some of the applications of high cell density flocculation bioreactors and discussing potential new uses of these systems.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) – PRAXIS XXI - BD11306/97