Solving wave propagation within finite-sized composite media with linear embedding via Green's operators

The calculation of electromagnetic (EM) fields and waves inside finite-sized structures comprised of different media can benefit from a diakoptics method such as linear embedding via Green's operators (LEGO). Unlike scattering problems, the excitation of EM waves within the bulk dielectric requires introducing sources inside the structure itself. To handle such occurrence, we have expanded the set of LEGO sub-domains - employed to formulate an EM problem - to deal with the inclusion of elementary sources. The corresponding subdomains (bricks) play the role of ``generators'' in the equivalent model. Moreover, if a source is ``turned off'', as it were, the enclosing brick can be utilized as a numerical ``probe'' to sample the EM field. In this paper, we present the integral equations of LEGO modified so as to accommodate generator/probe bricks. Numerical results are provided which demonstrate the validity and the efficiency of the approach

Hybrid LEGO-EFIE method applied to antenna problems comprising anisotropic media

Linear embedding via Green’s operators (LEGO) is a domain decomposition method in which complex radiation and scattering problems are modelled and solved by means of interacting electromagnetic "bricks". We propose an extension of LEGO able to handle bodies with anisotropic constitutive parameters and metallic objects (e.g., antennas). Since the anisotropic objects are dealt with LEGO, and the metallic parts are treated with the electric field integral equation (EFIE), we refer to the overall approach as hybrid LEGO-EFIE. The characterization of an electromagnetic brick which embeds an anisotropic object requires solving a volume integral equation (VIE). Since this procedure is carried out for each brick independently, the LEGO approach per se is extremely advantageous over the direct solution of a global VIE for all the bodies at once. Nonetheless, we further mix the hybrid LEGO-EFIE approach with the eigencurrents expansion method in order to tackle relatively larger problems. The technique is used to analyze a reconfigurable plasma antenna array (PAA) comprised of magnetized-plasma tubes placed around a two-dipole antenna array

An eigencurrent approach to the analysis of electrically large 3-D structures using linear embedding via Green's operators

We present an extension of the Linear Embedding via Greens Operators (LEGO) procedure for efficiently dealing with 3-D electromagnetic composite structures. In LEGOs notion, we enclose the objects forming a structure within arbitrarily shaped domains (bricks), which (by invoking the Equivalence Principle) we characterize through scattering operators. In the 2-D instance, we then combined the bricks numerically, in a cascade of successive embedding steps, to build increasingly larger domains and obtain the scattering operator of the whole aggregate of objects. In the 3-D case, however, this process becomes quite soon impracticable, in that the resulting scattering matrices are too big to be stored and handled on most computers. To circumvent this hurdle, we propose a novel formulation of the electromagnetic problem based on an integral equation involving the total inverse scattering operator of the structure, which can be written analytically in terms of scattering operators of the bricks and transfer operators among them. We then solve this equation by the Method of Moments combined with the Eigencurrent Expansion Method, which allows for a considerable reduction in size of the system matrix and thereby enables us to study very large structures

Sensitivity analysis of 3-D composite structures through linear embedding via green's operators

We propose a methodology --- based on linear embedding via Green's operators (LEGO) and the eigencurrent expansion method (EEM) --- for solving electromagnetic problems involving large 3-D structures comprised of ND = 1 bodies. In particular, we address the circumstance when the electromagnetic properties or the shape of one body differ from those of the others. In real-life structures such a situation may be either the result of a thoughtful design process or the unwanted outcome of fabrication tolerances. In order to assess the sensitivity of physical observables to localized deviations from the "ideal" structure, we follow a deterministic approach, i.e., we allow for a finite number of different realizations of one of the bodies. Then, for each realization we formulate the problem with LEGO and we employ the EEM to determine the contribution of the ND - 1 "fixed" bodies. Since the latter has to be computed only once, the overall procedure is indeed efficient. As an example of application, we investigate the sensitivity of a 2-layer array of split-ring resonators with respect to the shape and the offset of one element in the array

Intrapancreatic accessory spleen false positive to 68Ga-Dotatoc: case report and literature review

Background: Intrapancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS) is an uncommon finding of pancreatic mass. Differential diagnosis with pancreatic tumor, especially with non-functional neuroendocrine tumor (NF-NET), may be very hard and sometimes it entails unnecessary surgery. A combination of CT scan, MRI, and nuclear medicine can confirm the diagnosis of IPAS. 68-Ga-Dotatoc PET/CT is the gold standard in NET diagnosis and it can allow to distinguish between IPAS and NET. Case presentation: A 69-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for an incidental nodule in the tail of the pancreas with focal uptake of 68-Ga-dotatate at PET/CT. NET was suspected and open distal splenopancreatectomy was performed. Pathologic examination revealed an IPAS. Conclusion: This is the second IPAS case in which a positive 68Ga-Dotatoc uptake led to a false diagnosis of pancreatic NET. Here is a proposal of a literature review

Fibrinogen-elongated Chain Inhibits Thrombin-induced Platelet Response, Hindering the Interaction with Different Receptors

The expression of the elongated fibrinogen γ chain, termed γ′, derives from alternative splicing of mRNA and causes an insertion sequence of 20 amino acids. This insertion domain interacts with the anion-binding exosite (ABE)-II of thrombin. This study investigated whether and how γ′ chain binding to ABE-II affects thrombin interaction with its platelet receptors, i.e. glycoprotein Ibα (GpIbα), protease-activated receptor (PAR) 1, and PAR4. Both synthetic γ′ peptide and fibrinogen fragment D*, containing the elongated γ′ chain, inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation up to 70%, with IC50 values of 42 ± 3.5 and 0.47 ± 0.03 μm, respectively. Solid-phase binding and spectrofluorimetric assays showed that both fragment D* and the synthetic γ′ peptide specifically bind to thrombin ABE-II and competitively inhibit the thrombin binding to GpIbα with a mean Ki ≈ 0.5 and ≈35 μm, respectively. Both these γ′ chain-containing ligands allosterically inhibited thrombin cleavage of a synthetic PAR1 peptide, of native PAR1 molecules on intact platelets, and of the synthetic chromogenic peptide d-Phe-pipecolyl-Arg-p-nitroanilide. PAR4 cleavage was unaffected. In summary, fibrinogen γ′ chain binds with high affinity to thrombin and inhibits with combined mechanisms the platelet response to thrombin. Thus, its variations in vivo may affect the hemostatic balance in arterial circulation

Annealing Effects on PECVD-grown Si rich aSiNx Thin Films

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Advanced Nitrogen-Removal Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems

Advanced onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) designed to remove nitrogen from residential wastewater play an important role in protecting environmental and public health. Nevertheless, the microbial processes involved in treatment produce greenhouse gases (GHGs) that contribute to global climate change, including CO2, CH4, N2O. We measured GHG emissions from 27 advanced N-removal OWTS in the towns of Jamestown and Charlestown, Rhode Island, USA, and assessed differences in flux based on OWTS technology, home occupancy (year-round vs. seasonal), and zone within the system (oxic vs. anoxic/hypoxic). We also investigated the relationship between flux and wastewater properties. Flux values for CO2, CH4, and N2O ranged from −0.44 to 61.8, −0.0029 to 25.3, and −0.02 to 0.23 μmol GHG m−2 s−1, respectively. CO2 and N2O flux varied among technologies, whereas occupancy pattern did not significantly impact any GHG fluxes. CO2 and CH4 – but not N2O – flux was significantly higher in the anoxic/hypoxic zone than in the oxic zone. Greenhouse gas fluxes in the oxic zone were not related to any wastewater properties. CO2 and CH4 flux from the anoxic/hypoxic zone peaked at ~22-23 °C, and was negatively correlated with dissolved oxygen levels, the latter suggesting that CO2 and CH4 flux result primarily from anaerobic respiration. Ammonium concentration and CH4 flux were positively correlated, likely due to inhibition of CH4 oxidation by NH4+. N2O flux in the anoxic/hypoxic zone was not correlated to any wastewater property. We estimate that advanced N-removal OWTS contribute 262 g CO2 equivalents capita−1 day−1, slightly lower than emissions from conventional OWTS. Our results suggest that technology influences CO2 and N2O flux and zone influences CO2 and CH4 flux, while occupancy pattern does not appear to impact GHG flux. Manipulating wastewater properties, such as temperature and dissolved oxygen, may help mitigate GHG emissions from these systems

Phase transition in the collisionless regime for wave-particle interaction

Gibbs statistical mechanics is derived for the Hamiltonian system coupling self-consistently a wave to N particles. This identifies Landau damping with a regime where a second order phase transition occurs. For nonequilibrium initial data with warm particles, a critical initial wave intensity is found: above it, thermodynamics predicts a finite wave amplitude in the limit of infinite N; below it, the equilibrium amplitude vanishes. Simulations support these predictions providing new insight on the long-time nonlinear fate of the wave due to Landau damping in plasmas.Comment: 12 pages (RevTeX), 2 figures (PostScript

TOPLHA: an accurate and efficient numerical tool for analysis and design of LH antennas

This paper presents a self-consistent, integral-equation approach for the analysis of plasma-facing lower hybrid (LH) launchers; the geometry of the waveguide grill structure can be completely arbitrary, including the non-planar mouth of the grill. This work is based on the theoretical approach and code implementation of the TOPICA code, of which it shares the modular structure and constitutes the extension into the LH range. Code results are validated against the literature results and simulations from similar code