bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dual‐mode bandpass substrate integrated waveguide filter with a complementary split ring resonator
Authors: Guo Hui , An Xiang , Lv Zhi‐Qing 
Published: February 2018

AbstractWe present a new bandpass filter by combining an isosceles right‐triangle substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavity with a complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) together. The first and second modes of the SIW cavity are used to form a desirable passband with the help of a perturbation metallic via‐hole. We introduce a CSRR at the ground plate of the SIW cavity to produce two controllable transmission zeros at the upper stopband, which improve the upper stopband characteristic greatly. Moreover, at the lower stopband, we make use of a pair of T‐shape stub‐loaded resonators to generate a transmission zero, and thus improve the out‐of‐band rejection greatly. To validate our design scheme, a filter sample has been fabricated and measured. The measured results and simulation ones are in good agreements. The filters show advantages of compactness, sharp stopband rejection, high frequency‐selectivity, and controllable passband and transmission zeros.
Dual linear polarized cavity‐backed patch rectenna with DC power management network for optimized wireless RF power transfer
Authors: Lee D.‐J. , Khang S.‐T. , Chae S.‐C. , Yu J.‐W. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn this paper, we present a compact dual linear polarized cavity‐backed patch rectenna for optimized wireless RF power transfer with DC power management network. The proposed rectenna is composed of a minimized patch radiator with a backed cavity, the feeding network and a rectifying circuit with DC power management network. The minimized patch radiator with the backed cavity reduces the physical size and enhances the bandwidth. The feeding network is designed to receive all kinds of polarized waves. The rectifying circuit converts received RF energy to DC energy and effectively combines DC energy from each polarization port by DC power management network. The DC power management network also properly operates a load with certain constant voltage. The proposed rectenna is simulated and measured to verify the performance. Each antenna shows about 5.3 dBi peak gain and each rectifying circuit shows about 50% RF to DC conversion efficiency at 0 dBm input power. Due to dual linear polarization, it is observed that received output efficiency is larger than 46% regardless of incident polarization angle.
Design of a high‐gain omni directional microstrip dipole array with low side lobe level in the elevation plane
Authors: Darvazehban Amin , Khaledian Seiran , Manoochehri Omid , Salari Mohammad Ali 
Published: February 2018

AbstractA novel low‐cost high‐gain antenna array with omnidirectional radiation pattern for applications in X‐band (8.5–11.5 GHz) is proposed. A maximum gain of 13.6 dB and a side lobe level of −18 dB in the elevation plane have been achieved using an array consisting of 16 microstrip dipole antennas. Synthesis of Chebyshev amplitude distribution was done by using constant attenuators. This system is specifically useful for point‐to‐ multipoint communications and direction finding systems. The whole system was fabricated and simulation results are in good agreement with the measurements.
A wideband wide‐angle ultrathin low profile metamaterial microwave absorber
Authors: Marathe Dushyant , Kulat Kishore 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn the recent article, Sood and Tripathi (Microwave Opt Technol Lett., 58: 1131–1135. doi:10.1002/mop.29741) proposed metamaterial absorber structure composed of inclined hexagonal patch printed on grounded dielectric substrate. The reported structure was shown to have wideband absorptivity having 10‐dB bandwidth of 5.02 GHz from 8.81 GHz to 13.83 GHz. In this report, we claim that the reported structure is not a metamaterial absorber. We find that for reported structure peak absorptivity is less than 13%. The low value of absorption in our opinion is caused due to crosspolarization effect rather than absorption.
A 1.8 GHz wideband high power amplifier with flat gain response by exploiting microstrip high‐pass‐filter
Authors: Malik Waqar Ahmad , Sheta Abdelfattah Ahmed , Elshafiey Ibrahim 
Published: February 2018

AbstractA 1.8 GHz broadband high power amplifier (PA) with 144% fractional bandwidth is presented in this article. The proposed PA achieves a power added efficiency of 40%–56% for the entire band. To ensure flat gain response, a novel idea of integrating a microstrip high pass filter (HPF) in the input matching network is proposed. The incorporation of HPF reduces the unusual high gain at low frequency and thus results in a flat gain of 14.4 ±1 dB for the entire band. The matching circuits are realized on Taconic RF35 with dielectric constant of 3.5 and thickness of 0.76 mm. The high fractional bandwidth of the proposed PA makes it suitable to be used for the recent and future wireless communication systems.
A dual‐band MIMO antenna decoupled by a meandering line resonator for WLAN applications
Authors: Deng Jing Ya , Wang Zhu Jun , Li Jin Yong , Guo Li Xin 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn this article, a couple of dual‐band MIMO antenna operating in 2.4–2.48 GHz and 5.15‐5.825 GHz bands for WLAN applications is presented. The WLAN MIMO antenna system comprised double dual‐band monopole structures and a meandering line decoupling resonator connected to the ground. The two antenna elements have a distance of 15.3 mm which is about 1/8 wavelength at 2.4 GHz. The coupling between two ports at 2.4 GHz is decreased from −9 dB to −25 dB by involving the meandering‐line resonator. Since the return loss becomes worse after the meandering line resonator is involved for decoupling, the parasitic elements are used to improve the matching performance in the working frequency band. The simulation model is designed and manufactured. The measurement results show the antenna system is an eligible candidate in MIMO WLAN applications.
Raman amplification by employing data modulated pump signals for bi‐directional communication
Authors: Farooq Muhammad Ahmad , Ghafoor Salman 
Published: February 2018

AbstractWe propose a symmetric 10 × 10 Gb/s bidirectional wavelength division multiplexed passive optical link having a length of 80‐km supported only by Raman amplification through pre‐amplified data modulated uplink channels. The conventionally ignored wavelength region of E‐band has been utilized for employing pre‐amplified data modulated Raman pumps. The proposed network allows the use of single low‐cost and low‐power amplifier for distributed Raman amplification instead of multiple high‐cost Raman laser pump modules.
Miniaturized wideband bandpass filter with enhanced selectivity and stopband suppression
Authors: Huang Tao , Shao Zhen Hai , Chen Zhizhang 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn this article, a wideband microstrip bandpass filter with cross‐coupling is presented. The filter adopts a short‐stub‐loaded dual‐mode resonator (SSL‐DMR) and two stepped‐impedance spurline resonators (SISLRs) to achieve size miniaturization. Meanwhile, the trisection topology is utilized to achieve two transmission zeros (TZs) on both sides of the passband, with which good sideband selectivity can be exhibited. Furthermore, the SISLRs at the input and output ports can also contribute to another TZ at higher frequency of the upper stopband, which cannot be acquired by utilizing the conventional uniform‐impedance resonator (UIR) or stepped‐impedance resonator (SIR). To verify the aforementioned concept, a filter with a miniaturized size of 0.16 λg × 0.75 λg is designed, fabricated, and measured (λg denotes to the guided wavelength at central frequency). Measured results of the fabricated prototype are in good agreement with the simulated ones. Meanwhile, the fabricated filter achieves a fractional bandwidth about 44.5%, a minimum in‐band insertion loss of 0.6 dB, and a stopband rejection over 20 dB up to the fourth harmonic of the operation center frequency.
Monte Carlo simulations of elemental imaging using the neutron‐associated particle technique
Authors: Abel Michael R. , Nie Linda H. 
Published: February 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to develop and employ a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation model of associated particle neutron elemental imaging (APNEI) in order to determine the three‐dimensional (3D) imaging resolution of such a system by examining relevant physical and technological parameters and to thereby begin to explore the range of clinical applicability of APNEI to fields such as medical diagnostics, intervention, and etiological research.MethodsThe presented APNEI model was defined in MCNP by a Gaussian‐distributed and isotropic surface source emitting deuterium + deuterium (DD) neutrons, iron as the target element, nine iron‐containing voxels (1 cm3 volume each) arranged in a 3‐by‐3 array as the interrogated volume of interest, and finally, by high‐purity germanium (HPGe) gamma‐ray detectors anterior and posterior to the 9‐voxel array. The MCNP f8 pulse height tally was employed in conjunction with the PTRAC particle tracking function to not only determine the signal acquired from iron inelastic scatter gamma‐rays but also to quantitate each of the nine target voxels’ contribution to the overall iron signal — each detected iron inelastic scatter gamma‐ray being traced to the source neutron which incited its emission.ResultsWith the spatial, vector, and timing information of the series of events for each relevant neutron history as collected by PTRAC, realistic grayscale images of the distribution of iron concentration in the 9‐voxel array were simulated in both the projective and depth dimensions. With an overall 225 ps timing resolution, 6.25 mm2 imaging plate pixels assumed to have well localized scintillation, and a DD neutron, Gaussian‐distributed source spot with a diameter of 2 mm, projective and depth resolutions of < 1 cm and <3 cm are achievable, respectively, for iron‐containing voxels on the order of 1,000 ppm Fe.ConclusionsThe imaging resolution offered by APNEI of target elements such as iron lends itself to potential applications in disease diagnosis and treatment planning (high resolution) as well as to ordnance and contraband detection (low resolution). However, experimental study beyond simulation is required to optimize the layout and electronic configuration of APNEI system components — including realistic shielding and phantom materials — for background signal reduction in order to accurately determine the detection limits and spatial resolution of iron and other elements of interest on a case‐by‐case basis.
Separating fast and slow exchange transfer and magnetization transfer using off‐resonance variable‐delay multiple‐pulse (VDMP) MRI
Authors: Chen Lin , Xu Xiang , Zeng Haifeng , Chan Kannie W.Y. , Yadav Nirbhay , Cai Shuhui , Schunke Kathryn J. , Faraday Nauder , van Zijl Peter C.M. , Xu Jiadi 
Published: February 2018

PurposeTo develop a method that can separate and quantify the fast (>1 kHz) and slow exchange transfer and magnetization transfer components in Z‐spectra.MethodsZ‐spectra were recorded as a function of mixing time using a train of selective pulses providing variable‐delay multipulse build‐up curves. Fast and slow transfer components in the Z‐spectra were separated and quantified on a voxel‐by‐voxel basis by fitting the mixing time–dependent CEST signal using a 3‐pool model.ResultsPhantom studies of glutamate solution, bovine serum albumin solution, and hair conditioner showed the capability of the proposed method to separate fast and slow transfer components. In vivo mouse brain studies showed a strong contrast between white matter and gray matter in the slow‐transferring map, corresponding to an asymmetric component of the conventional semisolid magnetization transfer contrast. In addition, a fast‐transferring proton map was found that was homogeneous across the brain and attributed to the total contributions of the fast‐exchanging protons from proteins, metabolites, and a symmetric magnetization transfer contrast component.ConclusionsThis new method provides a simple way to extract fast and slow transfer components from the Z‐spectrum, leading to novel MRI contrasts, and providing insight into the different magnetization transfer contrast contributions.
Importance of the lipid‐related pathways in the association between statins, mortality, and cardiovascular disease risk: The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Talbot Denis , Delaney Joseph A. (Chris) , Sandfort Veit , Herrington David M. , McClelland Robyn L. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPurposeEstimating how much of the impact of statins on coronary heart diseases (CHD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and mortality risk is attributable to their effect on low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and triglycerides.MethodsA semi‐parametric g‐formula estimator together with data from the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (a prospective multi‐center cohort study) was utilized to perform a mediation analysis. A total of 5280 participants, men and women of various race/ethnicities from multiple sites across the United States, were considered in the current study.ResultsThe adherence adjusted total relative risk reduction (RRR) estimate (95% confidence interval) of statins on CHD was 14% (−16%, 37%), and the indirect component through LDL was 23% (−4%, 58%). For CVD, the total RRR was 23% (2%, 40%), and the indirect component through LDL was 5% (−13%, 25%). The total RRR of mortality was 18% (−1%, 35%), and the indirect component through LDL was −4% (−17%, 12%). The estimated indirect components through HDL and triglycerides were close to zero with narrow confidence intervals for all 3 outcomes.ConclusionsThe estimated effect of statins on mortality, CVD, and CHD appeared to be independent of their estimated effect on HDL and triglycerides. Our study provides evidence that the preventive effect of statins on CHD could be attributed in large part to their effect on LDL. Our g‐formula estimator is a promising approach to elucidate pathways, even if it is hard to make firm conclusions for the LDL pathway on mortality and CVD.
Electropolymerization and characterization of ionic diffusion in poly(diphenyldithieno[3,2‐b;20,30‐d]thiophene)
Authors: Charron Alexia , Esnault Charles , Abada Zahra , Marcel Corinne , Schmaltz Bruno , Tran‐Van François 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPoly(diphenyldithieno[3,2‐b;20,30‐d]thiophene) was synthesized by electropolymerization on Pt quartz crystal and on an indium tin oxide electrode by cyclic voltammetry. Ionic diffusion through the electronic conducting film (for the p‐doping process) was studied by cyclic voltammetry coupled to a quartz crystal microbalance (E‐QCM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), using different electrolyte salts such as LiTFSI, LiClO4 or LiCF3CO2. The molar ratio of insertion/expulsion of anions and cations was estimated from E‐QCM. By comparison between E‐QCM and EIS, the intrinsic ionic diffusion mechanisms in the electronic conducting film were highlighted depending on the salts used in acetonitrile. Moreover, the different mechanisms are in good agreement with the molar ratio of anion/cation insertion/expulsion. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Surface, interface and electronic properties of F8:F8BT polymeric thin films used for organic light‐emitting diode applications
Authors: Borges Bruno GAL , Veiga Amanda G , Gioti Maria , Laskarakis Argiris , Tzounis Lazaros , Logothetidis Stergios , Rocco Maria Luiza M 
Published: February 2018

AbstractUltrathin polymeric films consisting of poly(9,9‐di‐n‐octylfluorenyl‐2,7‐diyl) (F8) blended with poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐alt‐benzothiadiazole) (F8BT) grown onto PEDOT:PSS/ITO/PET were investigated by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), depth‐profiling XPS, reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) and angle‐dependent X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to gain information on the films' electronic, order and interface properties. AFM studies provide valuable information on the films' nanotopographical properties and homogeneity. Spectroscopic ellipsometry and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used also to obtain information on the optoelectronic properties. Well‐ordered films were observed from the XAS analysis, measured at the sulfur K absorption edge. XPS measurements demonstrated that the surface composition of the polymer thin films prepared by a spin‐coating wet‐chemical deposition method matches the expected F8:F8BT blend stoichiometry. The interfacial properties were studied through an argon ion sputtering process coupled to the XPS acquisition, showing an enhancement of oxygen components at the interface. The films' inhomogeneity was verified by AFM images and analysis. We obtained a value of 3.1 eV as the electronic bandgap of the F8:F8BT film from REELS data, whereas analysis of the spectroscopic ellipsometry spectra revealed that the optical bandgap of F8:F8BT has a value of 2.4 eV. A strong green emission was obtained for the produced films, which is in agreement with the expected emission due to the 1:19 ratio of the F8 and F8BT blended polymers. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Stress Impacts the Regulation Neuropeptides in the Rat Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex
Authors: Li Wenxue , Papilloud Aurelie , Lozano‐Montes Laura , Zhao Nan , Ye Xueting , Zhang Xiaozhe , Sandi Carmen , Rainer Gregor 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAdverse life experiences increase the lifetime risk to several stress‐related psychopathologies, such as anxiety or depressive‐like symptoms following stress in adulthood. However, the neurochemical modulations triggered by stress have not been fully characterized. Neuropeptides play an important role as signaling molecules that contribute to physiological regulation and have been linked to neurological and psychiatric diseases. However, little is known about the influence of stress on neuropeptide regulation in the brain. Here, we have performed an exploratory study of how neuropeptide expression at adulthood is modulated by experiencing a period of multiple stressful experiences. We have targeted hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) brain areas, which have previously been shown to be modulated by stressors, employing a targeted liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) based approach that permits broad peptide coverage with high sensitivity. We found that in the hippocampus, Met‐enkephalin, Met‐enkephalin‐Arg‐Phe, and Met‐enkephalin‐Arg‐Gly‐Leu were upregulated, while Leu‐enkephalin and Little SAAS were downregulated after stress. In the PFC area, Met‐enkephalin‐Arg‐Phe, Met‐enkephalin‐Arg‐Gly‐Leu, peptide PHI‐27, somatostatin‐28 (AA1‐12), and Little SAAS were all downregulated. This systematic evaluation of neuropeptide alterations in the hippocampus and PFC suggests that stressors impact neuropeptides and that neuropeptide regulation is brain‐area specific. These findings suggest several potential peptide candidates, which warrant further investigations in terms of correlation with depression‐associated behaviors.
Stress and marital adjustment in families of children with cancer
Authors: Lavi Iris , Fladeboe Kaitlyn , King Kevin , Kawamura Joy , Friedman Debra , Compas Bruce , Breiger David , Gurtovenko Kyrill , Lengua Liliana , Katz Lynn Fainsilber 
Published: February 2018

AbstractObjectivePediatric cancer is highly stressful for parents. The current prospective study examines the impact of several stressors (financial strain, life threat, treatment intensity, treatment‐related events, and negative life events) on the trajectory of marital adjustment across the first year following diagnosis. We examined whether average level of stressors across the year was related to (1) levels of marital adjustment at the end of the first year of treatment and () the rate of change in marital adjustment.MethodOne hundred and thirty families of children newly diagnosed with cancer (M age = 6.33 years, SD = 3.61) participated. Primary caregivers provided 12 monthly reports on marital adjustment and stressors.ResultsMultilevel models indicated that although marital adjustment was stable across the first year on average, random effect estimates suggested that this was the result of differing trajectories between families (eg, some increasing and others decreasing). Five individual stress constructs and a cumulative stress composite were then used to predict this variability. Higher average economic strain was related to consistently poorer marital adjustment across time. Higher average frequency of treatment‐related events and negative life events were associated with decreasing adjustment over time and lower adjustment at the end of the first year of treatment. Perception of life threat and treatment intensity were not associated with final levels or trajectory of adjustment. Finally, higher cumulative stress was associated with consistently poorer marital adjustment across time.ConclusionImplications for identification of at‐risk families are discussed, and importance of delivering tailored interventions for this population.
High‐Resolution Label‐Free Detection of Biocompatible Polymeric Nanoparticles in Cells
Authors: Pancani Elisabetta , Mathurin Jérémie , Bilent Sylvie , Bernet‐Camard Marie‐Françoise , Dazzi Alexandre , Deniset‐Besseau Ariane , Gref Ruxandra 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe design of efficient drug nanocarriers necessitates a deep understanding of their interaction with targeted cells. Polymeric poly(lactic acid) (PLA) or poly(d,l‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) nanoparticles (NPs) with sizes lower than 200 nm are among the most employed nanocarriers in drug delivery. Their detection inside cells requires appropriate labeling for high‐resolution imaging techniques, which unfortunately often alter their physicochemical properties and biological fate. Moreover, nowadays no high‐resolution method allows precise detection simultaneously to the identification of NPs chemical composition in cells, which is of outmost interest to gain insights on their fate. Here, this challenge is addressed by using an innovative atomic force microscope coupled with a tunable infrared laser source (nanoIR). NanoIR is used to unambiguously identify PLA NPs of around 170 nm with high resolution. A reliable, nondestructive, and direct method able to precisely locate and chemically characterize PLA NPs within a cell without the need of labeling is presented.
Designed Synthesis and Supercapacitor Electrode of V2O3@C Core‐shell Structured Nanorods with Excellent Pseudo‐capacitance in Na2SO4 Neutral Electrolyte
Authors: Zhang Yifu 
Published: February 2018

AbstractV2O3@C core‐shell structured nanorods (VCNR) were successfully prepared using V2O5 nanowires and glucose via a facile hydrothermal route combination of calcination. VCNR comprised of core‐shell structures with V2O3 cores and amorphous carbon shells. Electrochemical properties of VCNR as supercapacitor electrodes were studied in Na2SO4 neutral electrolyte. Results demonstrated that VCNR featured capacitive behavior originating from pseudocapacitance. Specific capacitances of VCNR at 0.5, 1, 2, 5 and 10 A⋅g−1 were achieved to 219, 192, 148, 127 and 119 F⋅g−1, respectively, and VCNR displayed higher specific capacitance than the values of carbon spheres and V2O3 particles. Maximum specific capacitance of VCNR reached 219 F⋅g−1 at 0.5 A⋅g−1 in present study, which was superior to the reported values of V2O3‐based materials and VO2‐based materials. Capacitance retention of VCNR was 100% after 700 cycles and 66% after 1000 cycles. Findings in present study proved that VCNR could be promising candidate as an ideal material for supercapacitors’ electrode.