3-D twelve-port multi-service diversity antenna for automotive communications

This paper presents a twelve-port ultra-wideband multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)/diversity antenna integrated with GSM and Bluetooth bands. The twelve-port antenna is constructed by arranging four elements in the horizontal plane and eight elements in the vertical plane. The antenna element, which is created using a simple rectangular monopole, exhibits a frequency range of 3.1 to 12 GHz. The additional Bluetooth and GSM bands are achieved by introducing stubs into the ground plane. The size of the MIMO antenna is 100 × 100 mm2. The antenna offers polarization diversity, with vertical and horizontal polarization in each plane. The diversity antenna has a bandwidth of 1.7–1.9 GHz, 2.35–2.55 GHz, and 3–12 GHz, the radiation efficiency of 90%, and peak gain of 2.19 dBi. The proposed antenna offers an envelope correlation coefficient of < 0.12, apparent diversity gain of > 9.9 dB, effective diversity gain of > 8.9 dB, mean effective gain of < 1 dB, and channel capacity loss of < 0.35 bits/s/Hz. Also, the MIMO antenna is tested for housing effects in order to determine its suitability for automotive applications.

Circular Complementary Split Ring Resonator Rotation for Linear Array Millimeter Wave Microstrip Patch Antenna

This paper proposes multiple linear array millimeter wave MPAs that could operate at various frequencies depending on the angular rotation of the CSRR structure. The main contribution of this work is the range of frequencies of the linear array MPA found when the position of the CSRR structure is changed angularly. This is achieved by positioning the CSRR structure on the ground plane of the MPA and rotate it to an incremental of 22.5°. Computer Simulation Technology software is used to simulate the antenna designs. The performance of the antenna is evaluated against the single element millimeter wave MPA with similar angular rotation to the CSRR structure. The reflection coefficient graph shows at 0° rotation, the antenna has dual band performance at 26 GHz and 28 GHz. At 22.5° and 45° CSRR structure rotation, the antenna shows triple band performance with different operational frequencies and different polarization depending on the frequencies. Finally, at 67.5° CSRR structure rotation, the antenna now is operational only at 20 GHz frequency with horizontal polarization performance. Plus, the results between the single element MPA with circular CSSRR and the linear array MPA with circular CSRR shows similar behavior in which the rotation of the CSRR did not affect the antenna differently even with an increase of the number of elements. The millimeter wave MPA with CSRR angular rotation can be utilized in various applications as it covers multiple frequencies depending on the angle of rotation of the CSRR structure.

The Asymmetrical Effect of Polarization on Support for Independence: The Case of Catalonia

The article analyses the consequences of elite polarization at the mass level in the centre-periphery dimension. We analyse the rapid rise in support for independence in Catalonia, focusing on the role of party competition around the centre-periphery cleavage. We argue that mainstream actors’ adoption of centrifugal party strategies with respect to the national question produced a polarizing dynamic in the party system that eventually caused voters’ attitudes regarding the centre-periphery issue to harden. Indeed, we posit that this increase in mass polarization was a consequence of party agency that subsequently helped to drive attitudes regarding independence. To test this hypothesis, we measure centre-periphery polarization (as perceived by voters) by adopting two different perspectives—inter-party distances (horizontal polarization) and party-voter distances (vertical polarization)—and then run logistic regressions to explain support for independence. The findings show an asymmetrical effect on polarization. While the centrifugal strategy implemented by Catalan regionalist parties paved the way for a radicalization of voters on the Catalan nationalist side, among voters for non-regionalist parties, attitudes towards independence were initially less conditioned by this polarization. The results provide evidence of the political effects of elite polarization.

Retrieval of Raindrop Size Distribution Using Dual-Polarized Microwave Signals from LEO Satellites: A Feasibility Study through Simulations

In this paper, a novel approach for raindrop size distribution retrieval using dual-polarized microwave signals from low Earth orbit satellites is proposed. The feasibility of this approach is studied through modelling and simulating the retrieval system which includes multiple ground receivers equipped with signal-to-noise ratio estimators and a low Earth orbit satellite communicating with the receivers using both vertically and horizontally polarized signals. Our analysis suggests that the dual-polarized links offer the opportunity to estimate two independent raindrop size distribution parameters. To achieve that, the vertical and horizontal polarization attenuations need to be measured at low elevation angles where the difference between them is more distinct. Two synthetic rain fields are generated to test the performance of the retrieval. Simulation results suggest that the specific attenuations for both link types can be retrieved through a least-squares algorithm. They also confirm that the specific attenuation ratio of vertically to horizontally polarized signals can be used to retrieve the slope and intercept parameters of raindrop size distribution.

Waveguided nematic liquid crystal random lasers

In waveguided nematic liquid crystal random lasers (NLCRLs), we realize polarized random laser (RL) emission and discover that the waveguide effect reduces the transmission loss of the RL whose polarization is parallel to the liquid crystal molecules (LCMs). Compared with the traditional liquid crystal random lasers, the waveguide NLCRLs can achieve the regulation of RLs strength, polarization, and wavelength in the same structure. The electric field can drive the rotation of LCMs to control the RL polarization and intensity. The drop of horizontal polarization laser and the increase of vertical polarization laser prove the role of the waveguide effect. In addition, the disorder of the waveguided NLCRLs is highly sensitive to temperature, which makes it easy to control the wavelength and intensity of the RL. As the temperature rises, the waveguide effect is weakened, resulting in a weakening of the restriction along liquid crystal (LC) cell normal direction. The reduced laser intensity verifies the role of the waveguide effect.

Assessing the benefits of specific attenuation for quantitative precipitation estimation with a C-band radar network

Recent advances demonstrate the benefits of radar-derived specific attenuation at horizontal polarization (AH) for quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) at S and X band. To date the methodology has, however, not been adapted for the widespread European C-band radars such as installed in the network of the German Meteorological Service (DWD, Deutscher Wetterdienst). Simulations based on a large dataset of drop size distributions (DSDs) measured over Germany are performed to investigate the DSD dependencies of the attenuation parameter αH for the AH estimates. The normalized raindrop concentration (Nw) and the change of differential reflectivity (ZDR) with reflectivity at horizontal polarization (ZH) are used to categorize radar observations into regimes for which scan-wise optimized αH values are derived. For heavier continental rain with ZH > 40 dBZ, the AH-based rainfall retrieval R(AH) is combined with a rainfall estimator using a substitute of specific differential phase (). We also assess the performance of retrievals based on specific attenuation at vertical polarization (AV). Finally, the regime-adapted hybrid QPE algorithms are applied to four convective cases and one stratiform case from 2017 to 2019, and compared to DWD’s operational RAdar-OnLine-ANeichung (RADOLAN) RW rainfall product, which is based on Zh only but adjusted to rain gauge measurements. For the convective cases, our hybrid retrievals outperform the traditional R(Zh) and pure R(AH/V) retrievals with fixed αH/V values when evaluated with gauge measurements and outperform RW when evaluated by disdrometer measurements. Potential improvements using ray-wise αH/V and segment-wise applications of the ZPHI method along the radials are discussed.

Influence of the Antenna Orientation on WiFi-Based Fall Detection Systems

The growing elderly population living independently demands remote systems for health monitoring. Falls are considered recurring fatal events and therefore have become a global health problem. Fall detection systems based on WiFi radio frequency signals still have limitations due to the difficulty of differentiating the features of a fall from other similar activities. Additionally, the antenna orientation has not been taking into account as an influencing factor of classification performance. Therefore, we present in this paper an analysis of the classification performance in relation to the antenna orientation and the effects related to polarization and radiation pattern. Furthermore, the implementation of a device-free fall detection platform to collect empirical data on falls is shown. The platform measures the Doppler spectrum of a probe signal to extract the Doppler signatures generated by human movement and whose features can be used to identify falling events. The system explores two antenna polarization: horizontal and vertical. The accuracy reached by horizontal polarization is 92% with a false negative rate of 8%. Vertical polarization achieved 50% accuracy and false negatives rate.

Design of a 94 GHz Millimeter-Wave Four-Way Power Combiner Based on Circular Waveguide Structure

This paper introduces a four-way power combiner operating in the 94 GHz millimeter-wave based on spatial power combining technology. The four millimeter-waves with Gaussian beams are combined in the waveguide, increasing the output power. The combiner is composed of five circular waveguides connected by four long and narrow coupling slots. Four sub-waveguides are separately connected to four input ports and one main waveguide is connected to a common output port. The TE11-mode is used as the input mode, which has two vertical and horizontal polarization directions. Four sub-waveguides are respectively input corresponding to polarization directions TE11-wave with Gaussian beams. The power of TE11-wave is transmitted to the main waveguide by the coupling slots, combined in the main waveguide, and output with the common port. We analyze the combiner and verify the availability of the design structure by numerical stimulation with CST MWS (Microwave Studio) software. The power-combining efficiency can be over 97%, and the output beams remain Gaussian beams with nearly fourfold increased power. The proposed model provides technological approaches for power combiner application in millimeter-wave.

Analysis of Amoxicillin’s Antibacterial Activity Using Biological Sensor With Clit Acoustic Wave

The possibility of antibacterial activity assay using an acoustic non-contact biological sensor based on two piezoelectric plates separated by an air gap was demonstrated on the example of amoxicillin and Escherichia coli for the first time. An acoustic wave with transverse horizontal polarization is excited in the bottom plate of the sensor. The upper plate serves as the bottom of the container with the studied cell suspension. It was shown that the addition of an antibiotic to the cell suspension leads to a change in the parameters of the sensor. The effect of amoxicillin on microbial cells was monitored by laser microscopy and standard microbiological culture. The possibility of express analysis of the drug’s antibacterial activity using a biological sensor based on the use of a slit acoustic wave is shown.