Analytical Model for Predesigning Probe-Fed Hybrid Microstrip Antennas

Based on the equivalent resonant cavity model, an effective analysis methodology of probe-fed hybrid microstrip antennas is carried out in this paper, resulting in a better understanding of the parameter interrelations affecting their behavior. With that, a new design criterion focused on establishing uniform radiation patterns with balanced 3 dB angles is proposed and implemented. Results obtained with the proposed model closely matched HFSS simulations. Measurements made on a prototype antenna, manufactured with substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology, also showed excellent agreement, thus validating the use of the cavity model for predesigning hybrid microstrip antennas in a simple, visible, and time- and cost-effective way

DISTRIBUIÇÃO E BIOMASSA DE MACROALGAS EM UM MANGUEZAL DA BAÍA DA BABITONGA, SC: RESULTADOS PRELIMINARES

This work aims to assess distribution and biomass of epiphyte macroalgae of mangrove roots in the Babitonga Bay. The macroalgae were collected monthly in three topographyc levels into the mangrove (Places A, B and C). In each place the collect was stratified in the trees (0 to 10 cm high, 10 to 20 cm , etc). The observed Rhodophyta, from higher to smaller biomass, were: Bostrychia calliptera, Bostrychia pinnata, Bostrychia radicans f. radicans, Bostrychia montagnei, Catenella caespitosa, Caloglossa leprieurii, Bostrychia tenella, Caloglossa ogazawaraensis, Bostrychia radicans f. moniliforme, Bostrychia moritziana, Polysiphonia howei, Bostrychia binderi, Gelidium spp., Polysiphonia tepida. The observed Chlorophyta were: Bloodleopsis pusilla, Cladophoropsis membranacea, Rhizoclonium spp., Ulvaria oxysperma, Enteromorpha spp. There are strong variation on horizontal and vertical biomass and on contribution of each species to total biomass. In the mangrove fringe (place A) the algae occur from 0 to 60 cm high in the trees, the mean biomass along this high varies 30 and 45 g m-2 of substrate. Higher values of biomass occur between 10 and 30 cm high, rising to 75 g m-2. On place B (intermediate tidal flooding) the algae occur from 0 to 30 cm high in the trees, the mean biomass along this high varies 20 and 30 g m-2 of substrate. Higher values of biomass occur between 0 and 10 cm high (50 g m-2 of substrate), but high values may also occur between 10 and 20 cm high. In the inner mangrove (place C) the algae occur from 0 to 20 cm high in the trees, the mean biomass along this high varies 10 and 20 g m-2 of substrate. Like place B, higher values of biomass occur between 0 and 10 cm high (35 g m-2 of substrate), but high values may also occur between 10 and 20 cm high. The green algae, Bloodleopsis pusilla, Cladophoropsis membranacea, Rhizoclonium, and the red algae, Bostrychia montagnei, Caloglossa leprieurii and Caloglossa ogazawaraensis were mainly present from 0 to 10 cm high, and rarely occur above 20 cm. Bostrychia radicans f. radicans presents the most broad distribution, has the higher frequency of occurrence in all places and all strata, and it is the main algae in the upper strata. The higher values of biomass, specially on place A, are due to Bostrychia calliptera and Bostrychia pinnata. This two algae also have a broad vertical and horizontal distribution, but they have higher values from 10 to 30 cm high. The results found until now suggest that macroalgae may be an important component of mangrove primary production. Meanwhile, to evaluate the mangrove magroalgae biomass, we need to include algae epiphytic on pneumatophores. And to evaluate the contribution of these algae to the total primary production of the mangrove, it will be necessary to complement biomass data with ecophysiological experiments, including the responses of growth and photosynthetic rates to environmental factors.Este trabalho tem como objetivo determinar a distribuição e quantificar a biomassa de macroalgas presentes nas raízes e troncos das árvores de manguezal da Baía de Babitonga. Para tal, as macroalgas foram coletadas mensalmente (setembro/1997 a junho/1998) em 3 níveis topográficos dentro do manguezal (Linhas A, B e C). Em cada linha a coleta foi estratificada de acordo com a altura das algas no tronco (0 a 10 cm de altura, 10 a 20 cm , etc). As espécies de Rhodophyta observadas, em ordem decrescente de biomassa, foram: Bostrychia calliptera, Bostrychia pinnata, Bostrychia radicans f. radicans, Bostrychia montagnei, Catenella caespitosa, Caloglossa leprieurii, Bostrychia tenella, Caloglossa ogazawaraensis, Bostrychia radicans f. moniliforme, Bostrychia moritziana, Polysiphonia howei, Bostrychia binderi, Gelidium spp., Polysiphonia tepida. As Chlorophyta são Bloodleopsis pusilla, Cladophoropsis membranacea, Rhizoclonium spp., Ulvaria oxysperma, Enteromorpha spp. Há uma forte variação horizontal e vertical na biomassa e na contribuição de cada espécie para a biomassa total. Na franja do manguezal (linha A) as algas ocupam uma altura de 60 cm, e a biomassa média por tronco varia entre 30 e 45 g m-2 de tronco. A maior biomassa ocorre entre 10 e 30 cm, chegando a 75 g m-2 de tronco. Na porção intermediária (linha B) as algas ocupam uma altura de 30 cm e a biomassa média varia entre 20 e 30 g m-2 de tronco. A biomassa é maior nos primeiros 10 cm (50 g m-2 de tronco), mas pode atingir altos valores também entre 10 e 20 cm. Na porção interna do manguezal (linha C) as algas ocupam uma altura de 20 cm, e a biomassa média varia entre 10 e 20 g m-2 de tronco. Assim como na linha B, a biomassa é maior nos primeiros 10 cm (35 g m-2 de tronco), mas pode atingir altos valores também entre 10 e 20 cm. As algas verdes Bloodleopsis pusilla, Cladophoropsis membranacea, Rhizoclonium, e as algas vermelhas Bostrychia montagnei, Caloglossa leprieurii e Caloglossa ogazawaraensis estão presentes principalmente nos primeiros 10 cm de altura, raramente ocorrendo acima de 20 cm. Bostrychia radicans f. radicans é a alga mais amplamente distribuída, com maior freqüência de ocorrência e a mais abundante na região superior do tronco nas três linhas. As algas que apresentam a maior biomassa, especialmente na linha A, são Bostrychia calliptera e Bostrychia pinnata, que também apresentam distribuição vertical e horizontal ampla, mas são mais abundantes entre 10 e 30 cm de altura. Os resultados obtidos até o momento indicam que as macroalgas podem ser vistas como um componente produtor representativo dentro do manguezal. Entretanto, para uma avaliação da biomassa de macroalgas no manguezal como um todo, é necessário quantificar a biomassa de algas em pneumatóforos. Para avaliar a contribuição destas algas para a produção primária do manguezal, os dados de biomassa devem ser complementados com experimentos de crescimento e produtividade, com relação aos fatores ambientais

Polarimetric SAR Image Segmentation with B-Splines and a New Statistical Model

We present an approach for polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image region boundary detection based on the use of B-Spline active contours and a new model for polarimetric SAR data: the GHP distribution. In order to detect the boundary of a region, initial B-Spline curves are specified, either automatically or manually, and the proposed algorithm uses a deformable contours technique to find the boundary. In doing this, the parameters of the polarimetric GHP model for the data are estimated, in order to find the transition points between the region being segmented and the surrounding area. This is a local algorithm since it works only on the region to be segmented. Results of its performance are presented

Hygienisation, gentrification, and urban displacement in Brazil

This article engages recent debates over gentrification and urban displacement in the global South. While researchers increasingly suggest that gentrification is becoming widespread in “Southern” cities, others argue that such analyses overlook important differences in empirical context and privilege EuroAmerican theoretical frameworks. To respond to this debate, in this article, we outline the concept of higienização (hygienisation), arguing that it captures important contextual factors missed by gentrification. Hygienisation is a Brazilian term that describes a particular form of urban displacement, and is directly informed by legacies of colonialism, racial and class stigma, informality, and state violence. Our objective is to show how “Southern” concepts like hygienisation help urban researchers gain better insight into processes of urban displacement, while also responding to recent calls to decentre and provincialise urban theory

Clinical standards for drug-susceptible TB in children and adolescents

BACKGROUND: These clinical standards aim to provide guidance for diagnosis, treatment, and management of drug-susceptible TB in children and adolescents. METHODS: Fifty-two global experts in paediatric TB participated in a Delphi consensus process. After eight rounds of revisions, 51/52 (98%) participants endorsed the final document. RESULTS: Eight standards were identified: Standard 1, Age and developmental stage are critical considerations in the assessment and management of TB; Standard 2, Children and adolescents with symptoms and signs of TB disease should undergo prompt evaluation, and diagnosis and treatment initiation should not depend on microbiological confirmation; Standard 3, Treatment initiation is particularly urgent in children and adolescents with presumptive TB meningitis and disseminated (miliary) TB; Standard 4, Children and adolescents should be treated with an appropriate weight-based regimen; Standard 5, Treating TB infection (TBI) is important to prevent disease; Standard 6, Children and adolescents should receive home-based/community-based treatment support whenever possible; Standard 7, Children, adolescents, and their families should be provided age-appropriate support to optimise engagement in care and clinical outcomes; and Standard 8, Case reporting and contact tracing should be conducted for each child and adolescent. CONCLUSION: These consensus-based clinical standards, which should be adapted to local contexts, will improve the care of children and adolescents affected by TB.National Institutes of HealthRevisión por pare

Are dairy cows with a more reactive temperament less efficient in energetic metabolism and do they produce more enteric methane?

It remains unknown whether dairy cows with more reactive temperament produce more enteric methane (CH4) and are less bioenergetically efficient than the calmer ones. The objectives of this study were (a) to evaluate the relationship between cattle temperament assessed by traditionally used tests with energetic metabolism and enteric CH4 emissions by crossbred dairy cows; (b) to assess how cows? restlessness in respiration chambers affects energetic metabolism and enteric CH4 emissions. Temperament indicators were evaluated for 28 primiparous F1 Holstein-Gyr cows tested singly in the handling corral (entrance time, crush score, flight speed, and flight distance) and during milking (steps, kicks, defecation, rumination, and kick the milking cluster off). Cows? behaviors within respiration chambers were also recorded for each individual kept singly. Digestibility and calorimetry trials were performed to obtain energy partitioning and CH4 measures. Cows with more reactive temperament in milking (the ones that kicked the milking cluster off more frequently) spent 25.24% less net energy on lactation (P = 0.04) and emitted 36.77% more enteric CH4/kg of milk (P = 0.03). Furthermore, cows that showed a higher frequency of rumination at milking parlor allocated 57.93% more net energy for milk production (P < 0.01), spent 50.00% more metabolizable energy for milk production (P < 0.01) and 37.10% less CH4/kg of milk (P = 0.04). Regarding the handling temperament, most reactive cows according to flight speed, lost 29.16% less energy as urine (P = 0.05) and tended to have 14.30% more enteric CH4 production (P = 0.08), as well as cows with a lower entrance time (most reactive) that also lost 13.29% more energy as enteric CH4 (P = 0.04). Temperament and restless behavior of Holstein-Gyr cows were related to metabolic efficiency and enteric CH4 emissions. Cows? reactivity and rumination in the milking parlor, in addition to flight speed and entrance time in the squeeze chute during handling in the corral, could be useful measures to predict animals more prone to metabolic inefficiency, which could negatively affect the sustainability of dairy systems

On the interpretative essence of the term "interaction-free measurement": The role of entanglement

The polemical term "interaction-free measurement" (IFM) is analyzed in its interpretative nature. Two seminal works proposing the term are revisited and their underlying interpretations are assessed. The role played by nonlocal quantum correlations (entanglement) is formally discussed and some controversial conceptions in the original treatments are identified. As a result the term IFM is shown to be consistent neither with the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics nor with the lessons provided by the EPR debate.Comment: accepted in Found. Phy

Affective recognition from EEG signals: an integrated data-mining approach

Emotions play an important role in human communication, interaction, and decision making processes. Therefore, considerable efforts have been made towards the automatic identification of human emotions, in particular electroencephalogram (EEG) signals and Data Mining (DM) techniques have been then used to create models recognizing the affective states of users. However, most previous works have used clinical grade EEG systems with at least 32 electrodes. These systems are expensive and cumbersome, and therefore unsuitable for usage during normal daily activities. Smaller EEG headsets such as the Emotiv are now available and can be used during daily activities. This paper investigates the accuracy and applicability of previous affective recognition methods on data collected with an Emotiv headset while participants used a personal computer to fulfill several tasks. Several features were extracted from four channels only (AF3, AF4, F3 and F4 in accordance with the 10–20 system). Both Support Vector Machine and Naïve Bayes were used for emotion classification. Results demonstrate that such methods can be used to accurately detect emotions using a small EEG headset during a normal daily activity