Characterisation of propagation in 60 GHz radio channels (invited)

Narrowband as well as wideband measurements have been performed in various indoor and outdoor environments in order to enable the development of reliable prediction models for 60 GHz radio channels. In addition, results of deterministic modelling on the basis of geometric ray-tracing have been compared with measurement results, showing that simple ray-tracing can be used to estimate both the narrowband and wideband characteristics of a 60 GHz radio channel. This paper reviews the measurement and modelling activities performed by various research institute

Effect of crack propagation on crack tip fields

Crack closure influences fatigue crack growth rate and must be included in the design ofcomponents. Plasticity induced crack closure is intimately linked with the crack tip plastic deformation, whichbecomes residual as the crack propagates. The objective here is to study numerically the effect of crackpropagation on crack tip fields. The transient effect observed at the beginning of crack propagation is linked tothe hardening behavior of material. The effect of mesh refinement is studied, and a singular behavior is evident,which is explained by the sharp crack associated with mesh topology, composed of a regular pattern of squareelements. The plastic zone size measured perpendicularly to crack flank in the residual plastic wake is quantifiedand compared with literature models. Finally, the removal of material at the first node behind crack tip withload cycling was observed for plane strain state and some hardening models in plane stress state

Software Defined 5G Converged Access as a viable Techno-Economic Solution

Software Defined Converged Access represents a feasible solution to effectively address 5G traffic demands. This paper proposes an integrated mobile-optical control for wavelength and bandwidth allocation. Evaluations of bandwidth utilization and technoeconomic viability are provided.This work was partially supported by the Italian Government under CIPE resolution no. 135 (December 21, 2012), project INnovating City Planning through Information and Communication Technologies (INCIPICT) and by the EC through the H2020 5G-TRANSFORMER project (Project ID 761536)

Software Defined 5G Converged Mobile Access Networks: Energy Efficiency Considerations

Software Defined Mobile Networks and Software Defined Access Networks bring programmability principle into mobile and optical domains. In this work we propose an integrated control approach and show the benefit in terms of energy efficiency.This work was partially supported by the Italian Government under CIPE resolution no. 135 (December 21, 2012), project INnovating City Planning through Information and Communication Technologies (INCIPICT) and by the EC through the H2020 5G-TRANSFORMER project (Project ID 761536)

ASILUM: A platform to evaluate advanced combinations of smart antennas and multi-user detection for UMTS FDD and TDD

The purpose of this paper is to present and explain some results of ASILUM, a project included into IST (Information Society Technologies), a research programme of European Community. This project aims to contribute to the technical innovation and policies of the European Community by validating new transceivers concepts to increase the capacity of UMTS (FDD and TDD modes) through new and efficient interference mitigation schemes. These schemes are jointly using smart antennas and multiuser detection. They have been validated through link and system level simulations

Exposure knowledge and perception of wireless communication technologies

The presented survey investigates risk and exposure perceptions of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) associated with base stations, mobile phones and other sources, the key issue being the interaction between both sets of perceptions. The study is based on a cross-sectional design, and conducted with an online sample of 838 citizens from Portugal. The results indicate that respondents’ intuitive exposure perception differs from the actual exposure levels. Furthermore, exposure and risk perceptions are found to be highly correlated. Respondents’ beliefs about exposure factors, which might influence possible health risks, is appropriate. A regression analysis between exposure characteristics, as predictor variables, and RF EMF risk perception, as the response variable, indicates that people seem to use simple heuristics to form their perceptions. What is bigger, more frequent and longer lasting is seen as riskier. Moreover, the quality of exposure knowledge is not an indicator for amplified EMF risk perception. These findings show that exposure perception is key to future risk communication

Learning difficulties : a portuguese perspective of a universal issue

In this article we present findings of a study that was conducted with the purpose of deepening the knowledge about the field of learning difficulties in Portugal. Therefore, within these findings we will discuss across several cultural boundaries, themes related with the existence of learning difficulties as a construct, the terminology, the political, social and scientific influences on the field, and the models of identification and of ongoing school support for students. While addressing the above-mentioned themes we will draw attention to the different, yet converging, international understandings of learning difficulties

A study towards drug discovery for the management of type 2 diabetes: Mellitus through inhibition of the carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase by chalcone derivatives

The inhibition of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes, α-amylase and α-glucosidase, is one of the major therapeutic strategies for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Chalcones have been recognized for their multiple biological activities, including antidiabetic properties, through unclear mechanisms. In the present work, a panel of chalcones bearing hydroxy, methoxy, methyl, nitro, chloro, fluoro and bromo substituents were evaluated against α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities, most of them for the first time. The results showed that the substitution patterns and the type of substituents of chalcones influence their inhibitory activity. The presence of hydroxy groups at C-2’- and C-4’ of the A ring and at C-3 and C-4 of the B ring favors the intended effect. Chalcones holding nitro groups and chloro substituents, together with a hydroxy group in the chalcone scaffold, showed strong inhibition of the α-glucosidase activity. The present study provides related scaffolds that may serve as the basis for the design and synthesis of new structures in order to obtain the ideal antidiabetic chalcone.This work received financial support from the European Union (FEDER funds POCI/01/0145/FEDER/007265) and National Funds (FCT/MEC, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Ministério da Educação e Ciência) under the Partnership Agreement PT2020 UID/QUI/50006/2013, and “Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização” (COMPETE) (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029241). Thanks are due to University of Aveiro, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, FCT/ MEC for the financial support to the QOPNA (FCT UID/QUI/ 00062/2013) and CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013) research Units through national funds and where applicable co-financed by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement, and also to the Portuguese NMR Network. Sónia Rocha acknowledges FCT the financial support for the PhD grant (PD/BD/ 145169/2019), in the ambit of “QREN – POPH – Tipologia 4.1 – Formação Avançada”, co-sponsored by Fundo Social Europeu (FSE) and by national funds of Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MCTES).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Restricted Isometries for Partial Random Circulant Matrices

In the theory of compressed sensing, restricted isometry analysis has become a standard tool for studying how efficiently a measurement matrix acquires information about sparse and compressible signals. Many recovery algorithms are known to succeed when the restricted isometry constants of the sampling matrix are small. Many potential applications of compressed sensing involve a data-acquisition process that proceeds by convolution with a random pulse followed by (nonrandom) subsampling. At present, the theoretical analysis of this measurement technique is lacking. This paper demonstrates that the $s$th order restricted isometry constant is small when the number $m$ of samples satisfies $m \gtrsim (s \log n)^{3/2}$, where $n$ is the length of the pulse. This bound improves on previous estimates, which exhibit quadratic scaling

Low-intensity resistance exercise does not affect cardiac autonomic modulation in patients with peripheral artery disease

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of a single bout of resistance exercise on cardiac autonomic modulation in patients with peripheral artery disease. METHODS: Fifteen patients with peripheral artery disease (age: 58.3±4.0 years) underwent the following sessions in a random order: resistance exercise (three sets of 10 repetitions of the six resistance exercises with a workload of 5-7 in the OMNI-RES scale) and control (similar to the resistance session; however, the resistance exercises were performed with no load). The frequency domain (low frequency, high frequency and sympathovagal balance) and symbolic analysis (0V, 1V and 2V patterns) of heart rate variability were obtained before and until one hour after the interventions. RESULTS: After the resistance exercise and control sessions, similar increases were observed in the consecutive heartbeat intervals (control: 720.8±28.6 vs. 790.9±34.4 ms; resistance exercise: 712.9±30.1 vs. 756.8±37.9 ms;