General Metasurface Synthesis Based on Susceptibility Tensors

A general method, based on susceptibility tensors, is proposed for the synthesis of metasurfaces transforming arbitrary incident waves into arbitrary reflected and transmitted waves. The proposed method exhibits two advantages: 1)it is inherently vectorial, and therefore better suited for full vectorial (beyond paraxial) electromagnetic problems, 2) it provides closed-form solutions, and is therefore extremely fast. Incidentally, the method reveals that a metasurface is fundamentally capable to transform up to four independent wave triplets (incident, reflected and refracted waves). In addition, the paper provides the closed-form expressions relating the synthesized susceptibilities and the scattering parameters simulated within periodic boundary conditions, which allows one to design the scattering particles realizing the desired susceptibilities. The versatility of the method is illustrated by examples of metasurfaces achieving the following transformations: generalized refraction, reciprocal and non-reciprocal polarization rotation, Bessel vortex beam generation, and orbital angular momentum multiplexing

Sparse Spectrum Sensing in Infrastructure-less Cognitive Radio Networks via Binary Consensus Algorithms

Compressive Sensing has been utilized in Cognitive Radio Networks (CRNs) to exploit the sparse nature of the occupation of the primary users. Also, distributed spectrum sensing has been proposed to tackle the wireless channel problems, like node or link failures, rather than the common (centralized approach) for spectrum sensing. In this paper, we propose a distributed spectrum sensing framework based on consensus algorithms where SU nodes exchange their binary decisions to take global decisions without a fusion center to coordinate the sensing process. Each SU will share its decision with its neighbors, and at every new iteration each SU will take a new decision based on its current decision and the decisions it receives from its neighbors; in the next iteration, each SU will share its new decision with its neighbors. We show via simulations that the detection performance can tend to the performance of majority rule Fusion Center based CRNs

Synergetic Effect Of Permethrin And Dmh On Anti-Oxidation And Damage Response Genes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the Synergetic Effect of Permethrin and 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine (DMH) on Anti-oxidation and Damage Response genes. The animal models used for this study were 8 week old C57/blk6 female mice. The mice were fed a Folate Adequate (FA) diet. At 8 weeks, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with pesticides. Three 8-week old female mice were injected intraperitoneally with a mix of cis and trans permethrin (75%:25% respectively) at 30% median lethal dose (96 mg/kg body weight). Permethrin was dissolved in corn oil and injected 24 hours before sacrifice. In three other mice, DMH was also injected intraperitoneally 24 hours before sacrifice at 30 mg/kg body weight per mouse. Three mice were also injected 24 hours before sacrifice with a combination of DMH and permethrin at the same dosage. High levels of ACF formation and inflammation in the colon were seen in the mice injected with the combination of pesticides (combo) when compared to permethrin and DMH alone. To determine synergism of the pesticides, levels of gene expression was measured using cDNA. Anti-oxidation gene expression studied was glutathione peroxidase (GPx), thioredoxin (TRX), thioredoxin reductase (TRXR), and Peroxiredoxin (PRDX). The damage response genes studied were Tumor Protein p53 (p53), Growth Arrest and DNA Damage (GADD45), Mamalian Target of Rapamycin (mTor), and Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). As a general trend, anti-oxidation genes had increased expression in mice given the combination of pesticides. An exception was the anti-oxidation gene TRXR which saw no change in expression. Damage response genes had unchanged levels of expression. An exception to this was p53 gene which saw increased expression in mice exposed to combo conditions

El Trabajo Social ante el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior, ¿redefinición o continuidad? = Social Work facing the European Higher Education Area, redefinition or continuity?

El artículo reflexiona sobre las posibilidades de (re)definir el Trabajo Social a nivel académico y profesional. Para ello, parte (I) de la posibilidad que se abre con la implantación del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior de evaluar críticamente las reivindicaciones tradicionales del Trabajo Social de nuestro país respecto a un mayor estatus académico. Dos obstáculos supuestamente determinantes que impone la estructura académica de la Diplomatura son la duración de tres años (II) y la imposibilidad de acceder a la formación investigadora (III). Se reflexiona sobre la naturaleza de estos obstáculos y se analizan posibles medidas superadoras de los mismos que no se llevaron a cabo. Posteriormente (IV) se señalan las principales consecuencias que entender estos obstáculos como dificultades insuperables ha tenido para la disciplina y la profesión. Transversalmente a lo largo del texto se argumenta la distinta responsabilidad de los actores (Escuelas, Departamentos, profesores y alumnado de Trabajo Social) en esta situación. Unas conclusiones (V) cierran el texto planteando la situación prospectiva que se abre en los próximos años._______________________________________The article reflects on the possibilities of redefining Social Work at an academic and professional level. It begins (I) at the possibility opened up by the European Higher Education Area, of critically evaluating the traditional demands of Social Work in Spain with regard to a greater academic status. Two supposedly deciding obstacles imposed by the academic structure of the degree in Social Work are (II) its threeyear duration and (III) the impossibility of gaining access to research formation. The paper considers the nature of these obstacles and it examines some feasible measures to overcome them--that were not carried out. Subsequently (IV), the main consequences that understanding these obstacles as insurmountable difficulties has had for the discipline and the profession are pointed out. At the same time, all along the paper the different responsibilities of the main actors in this situation (Social Work Faculties, Departments, lecturers, and students) is argued. We conclude by presenting (V) the coming prospective situation