Isolation Enhancement in a Compact Four-Element MIMO Antenna for Ultra-Wideband Applications

Mutual coupling reduction or isolation enhancement in antenna arrays is an important area of research as it severely affects the performance of an antenna.In this paper,a new type of compact and highly isolated Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output(MIMO)antenna for ultra-wideband(UWB)applications is presented.The design consists of four radiators that are orthogonally positioned and confined to a compact 40×40×0.8 mm3 space.The final antenna design uses an inverted L shape partial ground to produce an acceptable reflection coefficient(S11<−10 dB)in an entire UWB band(3.1–10.6)giga hertz(GHz).Moreover,the inter-element isolation has also been enhanced to>20 db for majority of the UWB band.The antenna was fabricated and tested with the vector network analyzer(VNA)and in an anechoic chamber for scattering parameters and radiation patterns.Furthermore,different MIMO diversity performance metrics are also measured to validate the proposed model.The simulation results and the experimental results from the constructed model agree quite well.The proposed antenna is compared with similar designs in recently published literature for various performance metrics.Because of its low envelope correlation coefficient(ECC<0.1),high diversity gain(DG>9.99 dB),peak gain of 4.6 dB,reduced channel capacity loss(CCL<0.4 b/s/Hz),and average radiation efficiency of over 85%,the proposed MIMO antenna is ideally suited for practical UWB applications.

Wideband spectrum sensing using step-sampling based on the multipath nyquist folding receiver

Wideband spectrum sensing with a high-speed analog-digital converter(ADC) presents a challenge for practical systems.The Nyquist folding receiver(NYFR) is a promising scheme for achieving cost-effective real-time spectrum sensing,which is subject to the complexity of processing the modulated outputs.In this case,a multipath NYFR architecture with a step-sampling rate for the different paths is proposed.The different numbers of digital channels for each path are designed based on the Chinese remainder theorem(CRT).Then,the detectable frequency range is divided into multiple frequency grids,and the Nyquist zone(NZ) of the input can be obtained by sensing these grids.Thus,high-precision parameter estimation is performed by utilizing the NYFR characteristics.Compared with the existing methods,the scheme proposed in this paper overcomes the challenge of NZ estimation,information damage,many computations,low accuracy,and high false alarm probability.Comparative simulation experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed architecture in this paper.

Comparative impact behaviours of ultra high performance concrete columns reinforced with polypropylene vs steel fibres

Polypropylene(PP) fibres have primarily used to control shrinkage cracks or mitigate explosive spalling in concrete structures exposed to fire or subjected to impact/blast loads, with limited investigations on capacity improvement. This study unveils the possibility of using PP micro-fibres to improve the impact behaviour of fibre-reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete(FRUHPC) columns. Results show that the addition of fibres significantly improves the impact behaviour of FRUHPC columns by shifting the failure mechanism from brittle shear to favourable flexural failure. The addition of steel or PP fibres affected the impact responses differently. Steel fibres considerably increased the peak impact force(up to 18%) while PP micro-fibres slightly increased the peak(3%-4%). FRUHPC significantly reduced the maximum midheight displacement by up to 30%(under 20°impact) and substantially improved the displacement recovery by up to 100%(under 20° impact). FRUHPC with steel fibres significantly improved the energy absorption while those with PP micro-fibres reduced the energy absorption, which is different from the effect of PP-macro fibre reported in the literature. The optimal fibre content for micro-PP fibres is 1% due to its minimal fibre usage and low peak and residual displacement. This study highlights the potential of FRUHPC as a promising material for impact-resistant structures by creating a more favourable flexural failure mechanism, enhancing ductility and toughness under impact loading, and advancing the understanding of the role of fibres in structural performance.

Spatiotemporal mapping of(ultra‐)mafic magmatic mine areas:Implications of economic and political realities in China

The spatiotemporal extension/expansion of mine areas is affected by multiple factors.So far,very little has been done to examine the interaction between mine areas and political or economic realities.The(ultra‐)mafic magmatic mines in China played a specific role in supporting national development and providing an ideal research subject for monitoring their interrelationship.In this study,remote sensing and mining‐related GIS data were used to identify and analyze 1233(ultra‐)mafic magmatic mine area polygons in China,which covered approximately 322.96 km2 of land and included a V–Ti–Fe mine,a copper–nickel mine,a chromite mine,an asbestos mine,and a diamond mine.It was found that(1)the areal expansion of mines is significantly related to the mine types,perimeter,topography,and population density.(2)The mine area variation also reflects market and policy realities.The temporal expansion of the mine area from 2010 to 2020 followed an S‐shaped pattern(with the turning point occurring in 2014),closely related to iron overcapacity and tightened mining policies.(3)The complexity(D)of the mine area may reflect mine design and excavation practices.To be specific,lower D indicates early‐stage or artisanal/small‐scale mining,whereas higher D represents large‐scale mining.This study demonstrates that the detailed mapping of mine land can serve as an indicator to implement miningrelated market and policy changes.The(ultra‐)mafic mines area data set can be accessed at https://zenodo.org/record/7636616#.Y-p0uXaZOa0.

Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra在儿童结核诊断中的应用价值

目的:探讨Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra在儿童结核诊断中的应用价值。方法:选取2010年1月—2022年12月山东省公共卫生临床中心收治的150例患儿作为研究对象。根据临床综合诊断确诊结果将结核病感染患儿纳入试验组(n=100),将非结核病感染患儿纳入对照组(n=50)。计算不同标本类型的敏感度、特异度、阴性预测值、阳性预测值和准确度,评价Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra检出利福平(RIF)耐药性的效能。结果:Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra的检测所有标本总敏感度为77.00%,特异度为96.00%;合并肺内标本敏感度为92.85%,特异度为96.29%,其中肺内标本中肺泡灌洗液敏感度最高为100.00%;合并肺外标本敏感度为77.55%,特异度为95.65%,其中肺外标本中淋巴结敏感度最高为100.00%。结论:不同标本类型中Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra对儿童结核的检出率差异较大,在诊断肺内结核标本时,检测肺泡灌洗液标本价值最高,在诊断肺外结核标本时,检测淋巴结标本价值最高。

Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra对结核性脑膜炎的早期诊断价值

目的:评价Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra(Ultra)对结核性脑膜炎(TBM)的早期诊断价值。方法:对79例患者的临床资料进行分析,用Ultra、Xpert MTB/RIF(Xpert)、宏基因测序(mNGS)和分枝杆菌培养(MGIT)检测脑脊液(CSF)中的结核分枝杆菌。在临床诊断的基础上,分析各方法的检测性能和利福平药物敏感性。结果:Ultra的敏感度(56.4%)、曲线下面积(AUC值)和Kappa值(0.521)均高于MGIT(20%、0.600、0.236)、Xpert(40%、0.700、0.236)和mNGS(32.7%、0.664、0.352)。在31例Ultra阳性病例中,24例对利福平敏感,7例耐药性不确定。结论:与其他方法相比,Ultra检测脑脊液中结核分枝杆菌具有较高的敏感性。因此,Ultra可用于TBM的早期诊断。

MODIFIED ULTRA WIDEBAND CIRCULAR PRINTED MONOPOLE ANTENNA

A simple and compact microstrip-fed ultra wideband （UWB） printed monopole antenna is presented. The antenna is composed of a circular radiator and a finitely grounded plane. The antenna occupies about 16.62 GHz absolute bandwidth and 142.7% relative bandwidth covering from 3.38 GHz to 20 GHz with voltage standing wave ratio （VSWR） below two. A quasi-omnidirectional and quasi-symmetrical radiation pattern in H plane is obtained in the whole bandwidth. The high performance of the antenna is validated with measured and simulated results given. The antenna can be applied for the system design of UWB wireless communication.

Anisotropy of Trabecular Bone from Ultra-Distal Radius Digital X-Ray Imaging: Effects on Bone Mineral Density and Age

Background: When applied to trabecular bone X-ray images, the anisotropic properties of trabeculae located at ultra-distal radius were investigated by using the trabecular bone scores (TBS) calculated along directions parallel and perpendicular to the forearm. Methodology: Data from more than two hundred subjects were studied retrospectively. A DXA (GE Lunar Prodigy) scan of the forearm was performed on each subject to measure the bone mineral density (BMD) value at the location of ultra-distal radius, and an X-ray digital image of the same forearm was taken on the same day. The values of trabecular bone score along the direction perpendicular to the forearm, TBSx, and along the direction parallel to the forearm, TBSy, were calculated respectively. The statistics of TBSx and TBSy were calculated, and the anisotropy of the trabecular bone, which was defined as the ratio of TBSy to TBSx and changed with subjects’ BMD and age, was reported and analyzed. Results: The results show that the correlation coefficient between TBSx and TBSy was 0.72 (p BMD and age was reported. The results showed that decreased trabecular bone anisotropy was associated with deceased BMD and increased age in the subject group. Conclusions: This study shows that decreased trabecular bone anisotropy was associated with decreased BMD and increased age.

An Ultra Wideband VHF CMOS LC VCO

This paper presents a VHF CMOS VCO. The most significant improvement on the VCO is that the cross-coupled MOSFET pairs are divided into several switchable parts so the characteristics can compensate the state change that results from the frequency tuning of the oscillator. This VCO is implemented in 0, 18μm CMOS with a core area of about 550μm × 700μm. The test results show that the tuning range covers 31-111MHz with a power consumption between 0.3-6. 9mW and a phase noise at a 100kHz offset of about - 110dBc/Hz.

Ultra-wideband bilateral tapered slot-line antenna fed by coplanar waveguide

In order to broaden the bandwidth of a tapered slot- line antenna （TSA）, a bilateral tapered slot-line antenna （BTSA） with a new feeding structure of coplanar waveguide （CPW） is developed. Based on the fact that the bandwidth limitation of TSA mainly depends on its feeding structure, an improved CPW-based feed structure etched on the backboard of the BTSA is adopted to perform traveling-wave transition. Both the simulation results and measurement data verify that the proposed feeding structure results in ＂high-pass＂ frequency response for antenna impedance matching. The voltage standing wave ratio （VSWR） is less than 2：1 when the frequency is higher than 3 GHz. The antenna gain exceeds 7 dBi with good radiation patterns when the bandwidth is from 4 to 16 GHz. This ultra wideband （UWB） antenna with a compact size is specially available for the electronic systems of counter-measure and microwave imaging.

Progress in ultra-wideband planar antennas

This paper introduces the advances of ultra-wideband （UWB） and super-wideband （SWB） planar antennas based on the printed monopole, microstrip slot and other planar antenna designs in the last decade. A brief history of the ultrawideband antennas is first provided. Several types of planar antennas for UWB systems with band-notched designs are reviewed. Special SWB planar antenna designs with the bandwidth ratio greater than 10：1 including metal-plate and printed monopole antennas and tapered slot antennas are presented and compared.

Ultra-wideband reflective polarization converter based on anisotropic metasurface

In this paper, we propose an ultra-wideband reflective linear cross-polarization converter based on anisotropic metasurface. Its unit cell is composed of a square-shaped resonator with intersectant diagonal and metallic ground sheet separated by dielectric substrate. Simulated results show that the converter can generate resonances at four frequencies under normal incident electromagnetic（EM） wave, leading to the bandwidth expansion of cross-polarization reflection. For verification,the designed polarization converter is fabricated and measured. The measured and simulated results agree well with each other, showing that the fabricated converter can convert x- or y-polarized incident wave into its cross polarized wave in a frequency range from 7.57 GHz to 20.46 GHz with a relative bandwidth of 91.2%, and the polarization conversion efficiency is greater than 90%. The proposed polarization converter has a simple geometry but an ultra wideband compared with the published designs, and hence possesses potential applications in novel polarization-control devices.

Compact ultra-wideband monopole antenna with dual-band notched function

A kind of compact ultra wideband （UWB） monopole antenna with dual-band notched function is presented.The proposed antenna,using ＂C＂ and ＂L＂ apertures embedded in the annular ring patch and ground patch,gets two bandnotched characteristics in WiMAX3.5 GHz and WLAN 5.5 GHz.The size of antenna is 24 mm × 36 mm × 1.6 mm.The simulation results show that waveband range of the antenna is 2.7-10.6 GHz for S11 ＜-10 dB and the band-notched wavebands are 3.2-3.8 GHz and 5.1-6 GHz.So it has miniaturization,ultra-band and band-notched characteristics.Meanwhile,the radition pattern,directivety and gain are perfect,which meets the practical need.

Ultra-wideband printed antennas for communication applications

A new type of ultra-wideband （UWB） printed monopole antennas is presented, which is composed of a circular or armular patch and a trapeziform ground plane with a tapered CPW feeder in the middle. Both simulated and experimental results are presented, showing good agreement and therefore verifying validity of the design. The proposed antenna with a circular monopole patch achieves an 11.6： 1 measured ratio bandwidth of VSWR ≤2 （ from 0,79 GHz to 9.16 GHz）, while that with an annular patch obtains a measured ratio impedance bandwidth of 10.6：1 （from 0.87 GHz to 9.47 GHz）. In addition, these designs exhibit nearly omnidirectional radiation patterns with simple compact structures, which axe attractive in communications and others UWB applications.

Human Respiration Rate Estimation Using Ultra-wideband Distributed Cognitive Radar System

It has been shown that remote monitoring of pulmonary activity can be achieved using ultra-wideband (UWB) systems, which shows promise in home healthcare,rescue,and security applications.In this paper,we first present a multi-ray propagation model for UWB signal,which is traveling through the human thorax and is reflected on the air/dry-skin/fat/muscle interfaces,A geometry-based statistical channel model is then developed for simulating the reception of UWB signals in the indoor propagation environment.This model enables replication of time-varying multipath profiles due to the displacement of a human chest.Subsequently, a UWB distributed cognitive radar system (UWB-DCRS) is developed for the robust detection of chest cavity motion and the accurate estimation of respiration rate.The analytical framework can serve as a basis in the planning and evaluation of future rheasurement programs.We also provide a case study on how the antenna beamwidth affects the estimation of respiration rate based on the proposed propagation models and system architecture.

Parametric estimation of ultra wideband radar targets

Based on the analysis of impulse response properties, a scattering model of ultra wideband （UWB） radar targets is developed to estimate the target parameters exactly. With this model, two algorithms of multiple signal classification （MUSIC）, and matrix pencil （MP）, are introduced to calculate the scattering center parameters of targets and their performances are compared. The simulation experiments show that there are no differences in the estimation precision of MUSIC and MP methods when the signal-to-noise ratio （SNR） is larger than 13 dB. However, the MP method has a better performance than that of MUSIC method when the SNR is smaller than 13 dB. Besides, the time consuming of MP method is less than that of MUSIC method. Therefore, the MP algorithm is preferred for the parametric estimation of UWB radar targets.

Anti-interference ultra-wideband system based on spreading and interleaving

To suppress the interference in the ultra-wideband （AI-UWB） system is a challenging problem. An anti-interference multiband orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing ultra-wideband （AI-UWB） system, based on spreading and interleaving is addressed. It will exploit the frequency diversity across the subcarriers and provide the robustness to narrow-band interference, by spreading the coded bit streams within each sub-band and interleaving across all sub-bands. Simulating results show that the spreading and interleaving provide about 5 dB to 10 dB advantages over the conventional multiband orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing ultra-wideband system in signal-to-interference ratio. Spreading and interleaving is an effective cure for enhancing the robustness to narrowband interference.

Design of ultra wideband microwave absorber effectual for objects of arbitrary shape

In this paper, we present the design of multilayer microwave absorbers comprised of Co Fe alloy nano-particles and nano-flakes as fillers. The thickness of the unite layer is optimized by using the Genetic Algorithm. Efficient microwave absorptions over a wide frequency band and a range of incident angles are achieved by using multilayer absorbers. We show that the absorbers are effective not only for a planar surface but also for arbitrarily shaped objects as well.

Ultra-wideband circular-polarization converter with micro-split Jerusalem-cross metasurfaces

An ultrathin micro-split Jerusalem-cross metasurface is proposed in this paper, which can efficiently convert the linear polarization of electromagnetic （EM） wave into the circular polarization in ultra-wideband. By symmetrically employing two micro-splits on the horizontal arm （in the x direction） of the Jerusalem-cross structure, the bandwidth of the proposed device is significantly extended. Both simulated and experimental results show that the proposed metasurface is able to convert linearly polarized waves into circularly polarized waves in a frequency range from 12.4 GHz to 21 GHz, with an axis ratio better than 1 dB. The simulated results also show that such a broadband and high-performance are maintained over a wide range of incident angle. The presented polarization converter can be used in a number of areas, such as spectroscopy and wireless communications.

Photonic generation of power-efficient FCC-compliant ultra-wideband waveforms using semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA):theoretical analysis and experiment verification

We theoretically design a power-efficient ultra-wideband pulse generator by combining three monocycle pulses with different weights. We also experimentally demonstrate a feasible scheme to generate such power-efficient ultra-wideband waveforms using cross-phase modulation in a single semiconductor optical amplifier. The designed ultra-wideband pulse fully satisfies the requirements for the spectral mask specified by the Federal Communications Commission with high power efficiency. In the experiment, a power-efficient ultra-wideband waveform with a pulse duration of 310 ps is achieved, and the power efficiency is greatly improved compared with that of a single nlonocycle pulse or a mixture of two monoeycles.