Gain Pattern Research Articles

Compact dual band 4-port MIMO antenna for 5G-sub 6 GHz/N38/N41/N90 and WLAN frequency bands

In this investigation, a dual-band 4 port MIMO antenna is designed, fabricated and measured. The MIMO design consists of perturbed hexagonal patch along its periphery on the top of the substrate and the connected ground plane on the bottom. The MIMO design has an overall dimension of 50 × 50 × 0.8 mm3. The proposed antenna structure demonstrates the dual frequency band of 2.47–3.38 GHz and 4.94–7.24 GHz, respectively covering the 5G sub-6 GHz/WLAN/HiperLAN band applications. Moreover, the radiation efficiency, gain and far-field patterns are also presented across both the operating bands. The antenna diversity parameters which include ECC, DG, MEG, CCL and TARC are studied and found excellent for the MIMO antenna implementation. The channel loss of the proposed 4 × 4 MIMO antenna is calculated and found 21.54 b/s/Hz at SNR of 20 dB. The proposed design is modeled in CST Microwave Studio and the results are compared with the fabricated prototype antenna for the practical implementations.

A Single Plane Low profile Patch Antenna π-Shaped Slots and Low Side Lobe Level for Directive Wireless Communications

The patch antenna was used recently for ISM band (5.725 – 5.875) GHz, the patch antenna suffers of being an antenna with low gain as well as narrow operating bandwidth with high side lobe level (SSL) radiation pattern. A single plane with low profile and easy fabrication microstrip patch antenna has been proposed in this work was presented for directive communications and operates in Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band 5.8 GHz with low SLL radiation pattern and gain of 5.20 dB for pint to point (directive). The gain of antenna has been increased while SLL decreased due to shifting the radiating patch and feeder of antenna with specific distance toward –ve side of the X-axis without any need for using techniques which would increase overall dimensions of antenna. The antenna has been printed on Arlon AD 250 substrate. The simulated results of antenna’s gain, operating frequency, bandwidth, return loss, and radiation pattern are presented. CST Microwave studio software was used in this design simulation.

Influence of Random Errors in Element Positions on Performance of Antenna Arrays Considering Mutual Coupling Effect

In engineering, random errors in radiating element positions caused by the manufacturing and assembly process could lead to degradation of the radiation performance of an antenna array. In order to accurately evaluate the deterioration of the antenna performance in the design phase, a statistical analysis method considering the mutual coupling effect between array elements is developed herein. The mutual coupling effect is described in terms of modal coupling and is governed by the modal coupling equilibrium equation. The statistical characteristics such as the mean and variance of the gain pattern are obtained based on the second-order Taylor expansion, and the expansion coefficients are obtained by the adjoint method. The correctness and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified through a comparison with the standard Monte Carlo method.

CubeSat-Based Observations of Lunar Ice Water Using a 183 GHz Horn Antenna: Design and Optimization

Technological advancements have revolutionized the space industry, facilitating deep space exploration using CubeSats. One objective is to locate potential life-support elements, such as water, on extraterrestrial planets. Water possesses a distinct spectral signature at 183 GHz, useful in remote sensing and environmental monitoring applications. Detecting this signature provides crucial information about water and ice presence and distribution on celestial bodies, aiding future exploration and colonization efforts. Mostly in space remote sensing uses corrugated horn antennae due to high gain and radiation patterns but fabrication of corrugated antenna is very challenging or even impossible in some cases. To ease this challenge, in our research we propose ideas to transform a corrugated horn antenna into a smooth-walled design by using MATLAB Cubic smoothing Splines algorithms. We compare simulation results between smooth-walled and corrugated antennas, and we can see some improvements in insertion losses, Voltage Standing Wave ratio (VSWR), and gain. We also manufactured this 183 GHz antenna using a commercially available 3D printer by utilizing Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) material. The antenna surface was then coated with a thin layer of copper using conductive paint. In the end, we practically evaluate smooth-walled antenna functionality and compare it with the theriacal results. Validating the antenna’s functionality proposes a cost-effective and accessible production method to be used in a CubeSat engineering model or university students’ project.

A 220 GHz to 325 GHz Grounded Coplanar Waveguide Based Periodic Leaky-Wave Beam-Steering Antenna in Indium Phosphide Process

This paper presents a novel periodic grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW) leaky-wave antenna implemented in an Indium Phosphide (InP) process. The antenna is designed to operate in the 220 GHz–325 GHz frequency range, with the goal of integrating it with an InP uni-traveling-carrier photodiode to realize a wireless transmitter module. Future wireless communication systems must deliver a high data rate to multiple users in different locations. Therefore, wireless transmitters need to have a broadband nature, high gain, and beam-steering capability. Leaky-wave antennas offer a simple and cost-effective way to achieve beam-steering by sweeping frequency in the THz range. In this paper, the first periodic GCPW leaky-wave antenna in the 220 GHz–325 GHz frequency range is demonstrated. The antenna design is based on a novel GCPW leaky-wave unit cell (UC) that incorporates mirrored L-slots in the lateral ground planes. These mirrored L-slots effectively mitigate the open stopband phenomenon of a periodic leaky-wave antenna. The leakage rate, phase constant, and Bloch impedance of the novel GCPW leaky-wave UC are analyzed using Floquet’s theory. After optimizing the UC, a periodic GCPW leaky-wave antenna is constructed by cascading 16 UCs. Electromagnetic simulation results of the leaky-wave antenna are compared with an ideal model derived from a single UC. The two design approaches show excellent agreement in terms of their reflection coefficient and beam-steering range. Therefore, the ideal model presented in this paper demonstrates, for the first time, a rapid method for developing periodic leaky-wave antennas. To validate the simulation results, probe-based antenna measurements are conducted, showing close agreement in terms of the reflection coefficient, peak antenna gain, beam-steering angle, and far-field radiation patterns. The periodic GCPW leaky-wave antenna presented in this paper exhibits a high gain of up to 13.5 dBi and a wide beam-steering range from −60° to 35° over the 220 GHz–325 GHz frequency range.

Epilepsy-associated SCN2A (NaV1.2) variants exhibit diverse and complex functional properties.

Pathogenic variants in voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channel genes including SCN2A, encoding NaV1.2, are discovered frequently in neurodevelopmental disorders with or without epilepsy. SCN2A is also a high-confidence risk gene for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and nonsyndromic intellectual disability (ID). Previous work to determine the functional consequences of SCN2A variants yielded a paradigm in which predominantly gain-of-function variants cause neonatal-onset epilepsy, whereas loss-of-function variants are associated with ASD and ID. However, this framework was derived from a limited number of studies conducted under heterogeneous experimental conditions, whereas most disease-associated SCN2A variants have not been functionally annotated. We determined the functional properties of SCN2A variants using automated patch-clamp recording to demonstrate the validity of this method and to examine whether a binary classification of variant dysfunction is evident in a larger cohort studied under uniform conditions. We studied 28 disease-associated variants and 4 common variants using two alternatively spliced isoforms of NaV1.2 expressed in HEK293T cells. Automated patch-clamp recording provided a valid high throughput method to ascertain detailed functional properties of NaV1.2 variants with concordant findings for variants that were previously studied using manual patch clamp. Many epilepsy-associated variants in our study exhibited complex patterns of gain- and loss-of-functions that are difficult to classify by a simple binary scheme. The higher throughput achievable with automated patch clamp enables study of variants with greater standardization of recording conditions, freedom from operator bias, and enhanced experimental rigor. This approach offers an enhanced ability to discern relationships between channel dysfunction and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dual-Band MIMO Antenna with Four CPW Elements using Polarization Diversity for 5G Mobile Communication Networks and Satellite

In this paper, a novel design of compact quad-element MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antenna for 5G communication networks and satellites is proposed. The four similar elements of this antenna are placed perpendicularly to each other on a 40x40 mm2 FR4 substrate. Each element is fed by a CPW (coplanar waveguide) line. Two slits and an I-shaped slot are etched into the patch, and by varying their parameters; a good matching is achieved in the lower (4.9 GHz) and upper (17 GHz) frequency bands. However, 25 and 30 dB isolations are attained in the lower and upper bands, using the polarization diversity technique and adding stubs on the ground plane. A prototype of the proposed antenna is fabricated and measured. Moreover, the performance of the MIMO antenna is studied in terms of ECC (envelope correlation coefficient), DG (diversity gain), TARC (total active reflection coefficient), realized gain, efficiency, and radiation pattern, validated with the measured results, and showed a good agreement.

System Design of Optimal Pig Shipment Schedule through Prediction Model

We propose an optimal system for determining the shipping schedule for pigs using a predictive model using machine learning based on big data. This system receives photographic and weight measurement information for each pig from a camera and a weighing machine installed in a pig pen for raising pigs corresponding to a predetermined fattening period. Then, the photographic information of each of these pigs is applied to a predictive model machine-learned in advance to determine whether or not there are candidate pigs for determining the presence or absence of abdominal fat-forming pigs. And if there is a candidate pig, it is determined using a machine-learning model for predicting whether the candidate pig is an abdominal fat-forming pig by analyzing the pattern of weight increase of the abdominal fat-forming pig and changes in weight of a candidate. If the candidate pig is an abdominal fat-forming pig, the timing of shipping is determined by predicting when the weight of the candidate pigs, specifically the abdominal fat-forming pigs, will reach a predetermined minimum shipping weight. This prediction is made using a machine-learning model that considers the weight gain trend pattern of abdominal fat-forming pigs and tracks changes in the weight of the candidate pig. A machine-learning model is used to predict the timing of weight gain in candidate pigs, specifically those that develop abdominal fat, in order to determine the optimal shipping time. By analyzing the weight gain patterns of abdominal fat-forming pigs and monitoring the weight changes in the candidate pig, the model can predict when the candidate pig will reach the minimum weight required for shipping. In this paper, we would like to present a point of view based on the body type and weight of pigs corresponding to the fattening period through this system, whether intramuscular fat has adhered or abdominal fat is excessively formed by the fed feed and appropriate shipment as the fattening status of pigs.

Weekly, Seasonal, and Festive Period Weight Gain Among Australian Adults

Obesity is a major global health concern. A better understanding of temporal patterns of weight gain will enable the design and implementation of interventions with potential to alter obesity trajectories. To describe changes in daily weight across 12 months among Australian adults. This cohort study conducted between December 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021 in Adelaide, South Australia, involved 375 community-dwelling adults aged 18 to 65 years. Participants wore a fitness tracker and were encouraged to weigh themselves, preferably daily but at least weekly, using a body weight scale. Data were remotely gathered using custom-developed software. Time assessed weekly, seasonally, and at Christmas/New Year and Easter. Data were visually inspected to assess the overall yearly pattern in weight change. Data were detrended (to remove systematic bias from intraindividual gradual increases or decreases in weight) by calculating a line of best fit for each individual's annual weight change relative to baseline and subtracting this from each participant's weight data. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression analysis was used to compare weight across days of the week and seasons and at Christmas/New Year and Easter. Of 375 participants recruited, 368 (mean [SD] age, 40.2 [5.9] years; 209 [56.8%] female; mean [SD] baseline weight, 84.0 [20.5] kg) provided at least 7 days of weight data for inclusion in analyses. Across the 12-month period, participants gained a median of 0.26% body weight (218 g) (range, -29.4% to 24.0%). Weight fluctuated by approximately 0.3% (252 g) each week, with Mondays and Tuesdays being the heaviest days of the week. Relative to Monday, participants' weight gradually decreased from Tuesday, although not significantly so (mean [SE] weight change, 0.01% [0.03%]; P = .83), to Friday (mean [SE] weight change, -0.18% [0.03%]; P < .001) and increased across the weekend to Monday (mean [SE] weight change for Saturday, -0.16% [0.03%]; P < .001; mean [SE] weight change for Sunday, -0.10% [0.03%]; P < .001). Participants' weight increased sharply at Christmas/New Year (mean [SE] increase, 0.65% [0.03%]; z score, 25.30; P < .001) and Easter (mean [SE] weight change, 0.29% [0.02%], z score, 11.51; P < .001). Overall, participants were heaviest in summer (significantly heavier than in all other seasons), were lightest in autumn (mean [SE] weight change relative to summer, -0.47% [0.07%]; P < .001), regained some weight in winter (mean [SE] weight change relative to summer, -0.23% [0.07%]; P = .001), and became lighter in spring (mean [SE] weight change relative to summer, -0.27% [0.07%]; P < .001). In this cohort study of Australian adults with weekly and yearly patterns in weight gain observed across 12 months, high-risk times for weight gain were Christmas/New Year, weekends, and winter, suggesting that temporally targeted weight gain prevention interventions may be warranted.

Trident-shaped monopole antenna withp-methoxy-benzylidene-p-n-butyl aniline (MBBA) nematic liquid crystal (NLC) for C- and X-band applications

AbstractIn this research article, a novel MBBA nematic liquid crystal (NLC) based circular trident-shaped antenna is proposed for both C-band and X-band microwave applications. The proposed antenna contains a trident-shaped radiating patch, which is made of copper material, and glass material is utilized as a dielectric substrate for the proposed novel MBBA-based trident shaped antenna. The dielectric substrate contains two glass plates with a thickness of 1 mm each and is separated by an air gap of 0.003 mm to fill MBBA nematic liquid crystal. So, the overall size of the proposed antenna will become 15 × 20 × 2.003 mm3. The dielectric constant of each glass plate is chosen as 5.438. However, the antenna operates at a single frequency band, when MBBA material is not present between the glass plates and produces two distinct resonant frequencies when the air gap between the glass plates is filled with MBBA NLC. Antenna radiation parameters such as gain, radiation efficiency, reflection coefficient, and radiation patterns are compared for both simulation and measurement.

A compact printed hybrid‐mode antenna for dual‐band dual‐sense circular polarisation

AbstractA compact printed hybrid‐mode antenna for dual‐band dual‐sense circular polarisation (CP) has been proposed. To achieve dual‐band dual‐sense CP, a hybrid mode produced by an L‐shaped element and a loop element is used. In the lower frequency band, the left‐handed CP is radiated by a vertical electric field from the L‐shaped element and a horizontal electric field from the loop element. In the higher frequency band, the right‐handed CP is radiated by a horizontal electric field from the L‐shaped element and a vertical electric field from the loop element. Both the L‐shaped and the loop elements produce resonances in the lower and higher frequency bands. The operational principle for dual‐band dual‐sense CP is clarified using the simulated orthogonal components of the electric fields and the simulated electric current distributions. Parametric studies are discussed in the design procedure. The simulated and measured input reflection coefficient, axial ratio, absolute gain, and radiation pattern are presented. The measured bandwidths of −10dB‐input reflection coefficient with a 3dB‐axial ratio are 2.37–2.55 GHz (7.32%) in the lower frequency band and 3.38–3.70 GHz (9.04%) in the higher frequency band. The antenna size is 0.0741λ2.452 and 0.151λ3.52 (λ f is a wavelength at f GHz).

Prenatal Weight Change Trajectories and Perinatal Outcomes among Twin Gestations.

Despite an increase in twin pregnancies in recent decades, the Institute of Medicine twin weight gain recommendations remain provisional and provide no guidance for the pattern or timing of weight change. We sought to characterize gestational weight change trajectory patterns and examine associations with birth outcomes in a cohort of twin pregnancies. Prenatal and delivery records were examined for 320 twin pregnancies from a maternal-fetal medicine practice in Austin, TX 2011-2019. Prenatal weights for those with >1 measured weight in the first trimester and ≥3 prenatal weights were included in analyses. Trajectories were estimated to 32 weeks (mean delivery: 33.7 ± 3.3 weeks) using flexible latent class mixed models with low-rank thin-plate splines. Associations between trajectory classes and infant outcomes were analyzed using multivariable Poisson or linear regression. Weight change from prepregnancy to delivery was 15.4 ± 6.3 kg for people with an underweight body mass index, 15.4 ± 5.8 kg for healthy weight, 14.7 ± 6.9 kg for overweight, and 12.5 ± 6.4 kg for obesity. Three trajectory classes were identified: low (Class 1), moderate (Class 2), or high gain (Class 3). Class 1 (24.7%) maintained weight for 15 weeks and then gained an estimated 6.6 kg at 32 weeks. Class 2 (60.9%) exhibited steady gain with 13.5 kg predicted total gain, and Class 3 (14.4%) showed rapid gain across pregnancy with 21.3 kg predicted gain. Compared to Class 1, Class 3 was associated with higher birth weight z-score (β = 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31,0.96), increased risk for large for gestational age (IRR = 5.60, 95% CI: 1.59, 19.67), and birth <32 weeks (IRR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.10, 5.4) that was attenuated in sensitivity analyses. Class 2 was associated with moderately elevated birth weight z-score (β = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.48, p = 0.050). Gestational weight change followed a low, moderate, or high trajectory; both moderate and high gain patterns were associated with increased infant size outcomes. Optimal patterns of weight change that balance risk during the prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal periods require further investigation, particularly in high-risk twin pregnancies. · A majority gained weight below IOM twin recommendations.. · Three patterns of GWC across pregnancy were identified.. · Moderate or high GWC was associated with infant size..

Design of Compact Wideband/Bi-Band Frequency Reconfigurable Antenna for IoT Applications

This paper discusses the design and performance of a frequency reconfigurable antenna for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The antenna is designed to operate on multiple frequency bands and be reconfigurable to adjust to different communication standards and environmental conditions. The antenna design consists of monopole with one PIN diode and 50Ω feed line. By changing the states of the diode, the antenna can be reconfigured to operate in a dual-band mode and a wideband mode. The performance of the antenna was evaluated through simulation. The antenna demonstrated good impedance matching, acceptable gain, and stable radiation patterns across the different frequency bands. The antenna has compact dimensions of (26×19×1.6) mm3. It covers the frequency range 2.95 GHz -8.2 GHz, while the coverage of the dual- band mode is (2.7-3.8) GHz and (4.57-7.4) GHz. The peak gain is 1.57 dBi for the wideband mode with omnidirectional radiation pattern. On the other hand, the peak gain of the dual-band mode is 0.87 dBi at 3 GHz and 0.47 dBi at 6 GHz with an omnidirectional radiation pattern too.

Do preterm infants with Bronchopulmonary dysplasia have a unique postnatal weight gain pattern?

Objectives To investigate the weight gain pattern of preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) during the hospital stay using weekly weight assessment methods. Methods This single-center, retrospective, cohort study was carried out in Zekai Tahir Burak Maternal Health Education and Research Hospital between 2014 and 2018. One hundred fifty-one preterm infants <32 weeks of gestation and <1500 g of birth weight with BPD were compared to 251 babies without BPD in terms of weekly weight gain, standard deviation score (SDS), and fall in weight SDS till discharge. Results Mean body weight was significantly lower in babies with BPD in all weeks except postnatal week (PW) 8. The groups had similar daily weight gain between birth and discharge (p = .78). Infants with BPD had lower weight SDS on postnatal day (PD) 14 and 21, and discharge, however similar on PD 28. The fall in SDS between PW 4 and discharge was significantly higher in the BPD group. Infants with BPD had higher fall in weight SDS between birth and discharge (p = .022). Discharge weight SDS was associated with gestational age and weight SDS on PW 4 in the whole cohort. Conclusion Infants with BPD showed a unique and unsteady pattern of growth compromise during the NICU course, most explicitly in early postnatal life and between PD 28-discharge. Future studies should consider not only the early postnatal life but also the period after four weeks of life till discharge to design an optimal nutrition strategy and decent growth for preterm infants with BPD.

A Mixed Decoupling Scheme Based on AMC and ADS for Dual-Polarized Antenna Array

This communication investigates a mixed decoupling scheme for dual-polarized antenna array. The array considered here is a “2-1-2” staggered scheme for base station, with both non-negligible E-plane and H-plane coupling between antenna elements. To suppress the mutual coupling, a novel decoupling scheme is proposed, combining an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) and an array-antenna decoupling surface (ADS). The decoupling principle of AMC is discussed in detail. The AMC utilized here can not only reduce the antenna profile, but also suppress the E-plane coupling. After adding the ADS, both E-plane and H-plane coupling can be suppressed at the same time, reaching an isolation of better than 22 dB from 3.2 GHz to 3.8 GHz, with an obvious decoupling point in the passband. The realized gain, total efficiency and radiation patterns are also improved after decoupling. In addition, the total profile of the dual-polarized antenna array is only 0.315λ <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0</sub> based on the mixed decoupling scheme.

The Design Methods and Experiments for a 220-GHz Quasi-Optical Cryogenic Schottky Subharmonic Mixer of High Performance

In this article, we present systematic design methods and experimental verifications of a 220-GHz quasi-optical cryogenic Schottky subharmonic mixer. To maximize device performance over a wide bandwidth and overcome the difficulties in conjugate matching designs, an impedance optimization-based cooperative design method is proposed for such quasi-optical mixer that includes the on-chip antenna and heterodyne mixing circuit. A coplanar waveguide (CPW) tuning network is utilized and optimized to offset the parasitic reactance effect of Schottky diodes. Besides, a dual-band log-periodic-slot integrated lens antenna is presented for coupling the radio frequency and local oscillator radiations with high efficiency. A reversed field tracing method is proposed to acquire the position and size of the equivalent Gaussian waists at both frequencies, thus offering the guidance for optimizing the substrate thickness and lens dimensions for improved antenna gain and radiation pattern. A 220-GHz quasi-optical mixer prototype was fabricated and experimentally verified at both room and cryogenic temperatures. At 134 K, the single-sideband noise factor and the conversion loss are around 4.2–8.5 and 6–11 dB over a wide intermediate-frequency bandwidth of 0.5–20 GHz, showing the superior device performance at the comparable bands.

A Low-Profile Broadband Dual-Polarized Omnidirectional Antenna for LTE Applications

In this letter, a broadband dual-polarized antenna with a very low profile and omnidirectional gain patterns is designed for 1.7-2.7 GHz Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile communications. The designed antenna is constituted by a miniaturized tapered monopole for vertical polarization (VP) and four planar dipoles arranged in a ring for horizontal polarization (HP). The HP antenna is used as the metal ground of the VP antenna, which can avoid the feeding intersection and solve the problem of impedance matching degradation when distance between the HP antenna and the metal ground of the VP antenna is close. By sharing the partial structure, the designed antenna achieves a compact size of 110 mm × 110 mm × 13 mm and an extremely low height of 0.07 <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">λ</i> <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">min</sub> ( <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">λ</i> <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">min</sub> is the free-space wavelength at the minimum operating frequency). The design achieves an overlapping bandwidth of 45% (1.7-2.7 GHz) with an isolation higher than 20 dB. High efficiency, low cross polarization and good omnidirectivity in the horizontal plane are obtained. The designed antenna is fabricated and measured, and it performs a great consistency between the simulation and measurement.

Trajectory of blood pressure levels and weight gain in pregnant women: A group-based approach

Background and objectivesMorbidities associated with increased blood pressure levels during pregnancy represent one of the main causes of maternal mortality. The objective was to identify patterns of systolic blood pressure (SPB) trajectory in pregnant women undergoing prenatal care at the Unified Health System, and associations with weight gain trajectory, demographic, obstetric, anthropometric data, and health related behaviors. Methods and resultsCohort study with pregnant women using the public health services in Brazil. Data were collected through questionnaires and medical records. Trajectory patterns of SBP and weight gain were identified by a group-based trajectory model. For trajectory analysis, 460 women had SBP information available, totaling 2839 measurements, with an average of 6.2 measurements during pregnancy. Three SBP trajectory patterns were identified and classified as “Group 1” (48.0%), with a mean of 103 mmHg (95% CI 102.5–103.7 mmHg), “Group 2” (42.7%) with a mean of 114 mmHg (95% CI 113.7–114.9 mmHg), and “Group 3” (9.1%) with the highest mean SBP value of 130 mmHg (95% CI 128.8–131.5 mmHg). It was observed that regardless of the weight gain trajectory group, women classified in the group with the highest SBP had the highest SBP levels. The probability of being classified in Group 3 was higher among women with higher education, who started pregnancy presenting obesity, and who were using antihypertensive drugs. ConclusionThe probability of belonging to groups with a greater trajectory of SBP during pregnancy was associated with obesity, education, and hypertension under treatment.

The Effect of Chia Seeds on High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol.

Chia seeds are touted as a healthy food capable of providing a beneficial effect on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Similar claims have been made for oats in various forms, claiming that they improve cholesterol or are in some way "heart healthy." This study aims to demonstrate the effect of daily consumption of chia seeds, if any, on HDL cholesterol levels and compare this to the effects of oats on HDL levels. This pilot study is a randomized controlled trial performed at an academic primary care center. Participation was voluntary, and all participants provided written consent prior to enrollment. There were no exclusion criteria other than that participants must be adults and willing to come in to get their cholesterol profiles checked at the beginning and end of the study. The participants consumed their assigned breakfast in a standard serving size for a month with blood draws and weights recorded before and after the diet. The patients' cholesterol profiles were also compared with their weights. To standardize the delivery of chia seeds, the group consuming chia seeds mixed them with oatmeal. The three meal groups consisted of Cheerios (red group), oatmeal (white group), and oatmeal with chia seeds (blue group). Initially, there were a total of 11 subjects, three in the red group, four in the white group, and four in the blue group. Two subjects were lost to follow-up, one each from the red and white groups. Statistical analysis including one-way analysis was done with the means, Wilcoxon/Kruskal-Wallis, and one-way analysis tests. The results showed a similar weight gain pattern between the three groups, with an average of 2.8 lbs gained in the red group, 2.4 lbs gained in the white group, and 2.6 lbs gained in the blue group. The average HDL levels decreased by 1.00 mg/dL in the red group (standard deviation (SD) 2.82843), increased by 2.00 mg/dL in the white group (SD 8.88819), and increased by 5.75 mg/dL in the blue group (SD 8.01561). The HDL:total cholesterol ratios decreased by 0.00748 in the red group (SD 0.002660), an average of 0.04053 in the white group (SD 0.028138), and an average of 0.01614 in the blue group (SD 0.023808). The results suggest that both chia seeds and oatmeal may be good dietary sources to naturally increase HDL cholesterol, more substantially so with the diet including chia seeds, but may or may not improve total cholesterol:HDL ratios. The effect of weight gain is unclear, as all groups gained weight similarly. Hence, further study is warranted.

Numerical simulations of an integrated radio-frequency/wireless coil design for simultaneous acquisition and wireless transfer of magnetic resonance imaging data

Objective. A novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radio-frequency (RF) coil design, termed an integrated RF/wireless (iRFW) coil design, can simultaneously perform MRI signal reception and far-field wireless data transfer with the same coil conductors between the coil in the scanner bore and an access point (AP) on the scanner room wall. The objective of this work is to optimize the design inside the scanner bore to provide a link budget between the coil and the AP for the wireless transmission of MRI data. Approach. Electromagnetic simulations were performed at the Larmor frequency of a 3T scanner and in a WiFi wireless communication band to optimize the radius and position of an iRFW coil located near the head of a human model inside the scanner bore, which were validated by performing both imaging and wireless experiments. Main Results. The simulated iRFW coil with a 40 mm radius positioned near the model forehead provided: a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) comparable to that of a traditional RF coil with the same radius and position, a power absorbed by the human model within regulatory limits, and a gain pattern in the scanner bore resulting in a link budget of 51.1 dB between the coil and an AP located behind the scanner 3 m from the isocenter, which would be sufficient to wirelessly transfer MRI data acquired with a 16-channel coil array. The SNR, gain pattern, and link budget for initial simulations were validated by experimental measurements in an MRI scanner and anechoic chamber to provide confidence in this methodology. These results show that the iRFW coil design must be optimized within the scanner bore for the wireless transfer of MRI data. Significance. The MRI RF coil array coaxial cable assembly connected to the scanner increases patient setup time, can present a serious burn risk to patients and is an obstacle to the development of the next generation of lightweight, flexible or wearable coil arrays that provide an improved coil sensitivity for imaging. Significantly, the RF coaxial cables and corresponding receive chain electronics can be removed from within the scanner by integrating the iRFW coil design into an array for the wireless transmission of MRI data outside of the bore.