Preconditioned iterative solver on the coarsest level of a multi-grid method for high frequency time harmonic electromagnetic field analyses

A multi-grid method is one of the most powerful linear solvers for finite element electromagnetic field analysis. However, as the discretized model has recently been enlarged, a solution process for a linear system arising on the coarsest level tends to be problematic in a complete multi-grid solution process. Whereas a linear system on the coarsest level is generally solved by a direct solver, we solve it here by means of an iterative solver to reduce the memory requirements. Since a conventional preconditioning technique is not effective for such a linear system, we introduce preconditioning techniques based on Arnold, Falk, and Winther’s and on Hiptmair’s smoothers. Numerical tests show that the newly installed preconditioning technique greatly improves the convergence rate.     

Secondary electron emission and surface charging evaluation of alumina ceramics and sapphire

The breakdown of alumina rf windows is mostly caused by multipactor, as well as by material defects and contamination. Since multipator induces localized surface heating, leading to surface melting, it is necessary to observe secondary electron emission (SEE) coefficients of alumina ceramics under high temperature conditions. The SEE coefficients of commercial alumina ceramics and sapphire were measured by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with a single short-pulsed electron beam (100 pA, 1 ms) at room temperature and at 650degC. Additive materials used for sintering alumina, such as SiO ₂ and MgO, were also investigated. Surface charging evaluations have also become important because the accumulated charges are discharged at the threshold Held, resulting in surface discharge. The surface charging evaluations were carried out by multi-pulse measurements with the injection of successive pulses on the sample. As a result, reductions in the SEE coefficients with temperature were confirmed, except for sapphire. The multi-pulse measurement results indicated that surface charging of the sapphire was higher than that of other samples. This may be one of the factors that causes sapphire not to be durable for rf window applications, compared with alumina ceramics. Although there are few exceptions, it was found that the SEE coefficients of alumina ceramics increased with the purity and the average grain size     

A simple adaptive PI controller for linear systems with constantdisturbances

It is known that an adaptive controller via high-gain output feedback can globally stabilize a class of minimum phase systems with relative degree one. However, exact output regulation is difficult for systems with disturbances. In this paper, we consider linear single-input/single-output (SISO) systems with unknown constant disturbances. We present a simple adaptive output feedback controller with an integral action and show that it can asymptotically stabilize those disturbed systems. The proposed PI type adaptive controller can also deal with the output tracking problem of a step reference     

Molecular pharmacology of voltage-dependent calcium channels

Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels serve as the only link to transduce membrane depolarization into cellular Ca(2+)-dependent reactions. A wide variety of chemical substances that have the ability to modulate Ca2+ channels have been demonstrated both for their clinic utility and for importance in elucidating the molecular basis of various biological responses. Recently, introduction of molecular biology to pharmacology has brought a great deal of information about the molecular basis of drug action in Ca2+ channels. In this review, we attempt to overview recent progress in understanding the interactions between Ca2+ channels and their blockers, namely Ca2+ antagonists, from a molecular and structural point of view.     

Global adaptive stabilization of infinite-dimensional systems

The purpose of this paper is to show that a first-order adaptive regulator globally stabilizes a class of infinite-dimensional systems having no right half plane zeros. Knowledge of the spectrum of the model's high-frequency gain is not required.     

Error grid analysis of noninvasive glucose monitoring via gingival crevicular fluid.

In order to realize a noninvasive blood glucose monitor, we monitored the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). In this paper, the clinical evaluations were performed on not only normal subjects but also diabetic subjects using a GCF-glucose monitor to determine blood glucose levels. Meal load tests were carried out and the time-course changes in blood glucose level and GCF glucose level were measured continuously. A positive correlation of more than 0.9 was found between blood glucose level and GCF glucose level, necessitating the calibration of individual correlations for every subject. Finally, the performance of the GCF-glucose monitor was evaluated using Error Grid Analysis. As the results, significant information for the glucose level decision was obtained not only for normal subjects, but also for diabetic subjects.     

A variational method for geometric regularization of vascular segmentation in medical images

In this paper, a level-set-based geometric regularization method is proposed which has the ability to estimate the local orientation of the evolving front and utilize it as shape induced information for anisotropic propagation. We show that preserving anisotropic fronts can improve elongations of the extracted structures, while minimizing the risk of leakage. To that end, for an evolving front using its shape-offset level-set representation, a novel energy functional is defined. It is shown that constrained optimization of this functional results in an anisotropic expansion flow which is usefull for vessel segmentation. We have validated our method using synthetic data sets, 2-D retinal angiogram images and magnetic resonance angiography volumetric data sets. A comparison has been made with two state-of-the-art vessel segmentation methods. Quantitative results, as well as qualitative comparisons of segmentations, indicate that our regularization method is a promising tool to improve the efficiency of both techniques.     

Cluster Properties Investigated From a Series of Ultrawideband Double Directional Propagation Measurements in Home Environments

Results from double directional ultrawideband (UWB) channel sounding in a wooden house are described. The double directional channel sounder estimates directional information at both ends of the link, so that we can separate antenna directivity from the channel sounding results. We investigated the dominant propagation mechanisms by introducing cluster analyses. The detected propagation paths from the channel sounding were first classified into clusters in the angular-delay domain, and then properties of the clusters such as standard deviation of path positions, dynamic range of path power, and power distribution of clusters were derived. From the results, we discussed the similarities and differences between the measurement environment and the physical propagation phenomena. Finally, different types of scattering losses of the propagation paths were derived and modeled. The results from sounding and analysis contribute in the development of UWB propagation models and can be used in UWB propagation simulations     

Dielectric spectroscopy of metal nanoparticle doped liquid crystal displays exhibiting frequency modulation response

Twisted nematic liquid crystal displays (TN-LCDs), doped with the nanoparticles of metal, such as Pd, Ag, or Ag-Pd, which are protected with ligand molecules, such as nematic liquid crystal, exhibit a frequency modulation (FM) electro-optical (EO) response with short response time of milliseconds (ms) or sub-ms order together with the ordinary rms voltage response. These devices are called FM/AM-TN-LCDs; they are distinct from the ordinary LCDs featured by the amplitude modulation (AM) response. The phenomena of the FM/AM LCDs may be attributed to the dielectric dispersion of a heterogeneous dielectric medium known as the Maxwell-Wagner effect. It is experimentally shown that the frequency range spreads from several tens hertz to several tens kilohertz and the spectrum is more or less centered about the dielectric relaxation frequency. We formulated a theory based on an equivalent circuit model to evaluate the dielectric relaxation frequency and the dielectric strengths; and we succeeded in explaining the dependence of the dielectric relaxation frequency on the concentration of nanoparticles and the their dielectric and electrical properties, whereas conventional theories based on electromagnetic theory are unable to explain this concentration dependence. This paper reports on the experimental results of the EO effects and the dielectric spectroscopy including the dielectric relaxation times and the dielectric strengths of nematic liquid crystal, 5CB (4-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl), doped with the metal nanoparticles of I'd alone and Ag-Pd composite; and discusses how the observed dielectric relaxation frequency or dielectric relaxation time depend on the concentration of the doped nanoparticles and also their electrical and dielectric properties.