A reconfigurable H-shape antenna for wireless applications

The official published version of this article can be obtained from the link below - Copyright @ EuCAP2010This paper presents a novel H-Shaped reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna fed by a Grounded Coplanar Waveguide (GCPW) for wireless applications. The uniqueness in the presented antenna design relies in the ability to select the number of operating frequencies electronically by using a varactor diode. The antenna structure consists of coplanar waveguide (CPW) input with an H-shape printed on a PCB and a varactor diode for reconfigurability. By electronically varying the value of the diode capacitance, the antenna can operate in a single band mode to cover Global Position System (GPS), a dual band mode to cover GPS and Global System for Mobile communications (GSM1900) or a three-band mode to cover GPS, GSM1900 and Bluetooth or Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN)

Widely tunable multiband reconfigurable patch antenna for wireless applications

The official published version can be obtained from the link below - Copyright @ EuCAP 2010A design of a low profile reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna is presented. The antenna consists of four suppatches connected to one feed line, each sub-patch generates a single band. By placing a variable capacitor at the input of the sub-patches, the impedance matching frequency of the antenna can be tuned over a wide range starting from 0.92 GHz to 2.98 GHz with total tunability rang of 2060 MHz. The proposed antenna designed to operate in the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM900, 880-960 MHz)/ Digital Communication System (DCS1800, 1710-1880 MHz)/ Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS, 1920-2170 MHz)/ Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN, 2400-2483.5 MHz)/ and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX, 2495-2700 MHz). The total size of the proposed antenna is 50 x 50 mm2 which is suitable for small wireless devices

A reconfigurable wideband and multiband antenna using dual-patch elements for compact wireless devices

This is the post-print version of the Article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2012 IEEEA reconfigurable wideband and multiband C-Slot patch antenna with dual-patch elements is proposed and studied. It occupies a compact volume of 50 × 50 × 1.57 (3925 mm3), including the ground plane. The antenna can operate in two dual-band modes and a wideband mode from 5 to 7 GHz. Two parallel C-Slots on the patch elements are employed to perturb the surface current paths for excitation of the dual-band and the wideband modes. Two switches, implemented using PIN diodes, are placed on the connecting lines of a simple feed network to the patch elements. Dual-band modes are achieved by switching “ON” either one of the two patch elements, while the wideband mode with an impedance bandwidth of 33.52% is obtained by switching “ON” both patch elements. The frequencies in the dual-band modes can be independently controlled using positions and dimensions of the C-Slots without affecting the wideband mode. The advantage of the proposed antenna is that two dual-band operations and one wideband operation can be achieved using the same dimensions. This overcomes the need for increasing the surface area normally incurred when designing wideband patch antennas. Simulation results are validated experimentally through prototypes. The measured radiation patterns and peak gains show stable responses and are in good agreements. Coupling between the two patch elements plays a major role for achieving the wide bandwidth and the effects of mutual coupling between the patch elements are also studied

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Women and Misyar Marriage: Evolution and Progress in the Arabian Gulf

Women’s status continues to undergo rapid evolution in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC). The modernization policies sweeping the energy-rich region has resulted in unintended social and gender imbalances. Partly due to the wealth distribution policies and the vast influx of foreign labor into the GCC, the region’s indigenous people are facing several challenges as they adapt to their surrounding environment. Improvements to women’s education have resulted in an imbalance of highly educated women relative to their male counterparts in the region, tipping the scales of gender roles. While both men and women accept predominantly paternal values, the strides in women’s status may be contradictory to traditions, customs, and expectations. As a result, high divorce rates plague GCC citizens, while misyar marriage reemerges as a temporary antidote

A reconfigurable CPW antenna for GPS, GSM and WLAN applications

Copyright @ 2011 IEEEMultiband reconfigurable antennas are receiving increasing importance in modern wireless communication systems supporting multiservice applications. The main advantage is the reduction in the size of wireless devices and allowing more space for other electronic components to be fitted. A widely tunable antenna using PIN switches was presented in [1]. Reconfigurable multiband antennas for wireless systems including satellite and terrestrial applications were reported in [2, 3]. This paper presents a new technique to electrically control the resonant frequencies by using a varactor diode. The antenna has an H-shape structure fed by a coplanar waveguide (CPW). It can generate and control up to three resonant frequencies to be used in GPS, GSM and Bluetooth/WLAN applications

A frequency reconfigurable multiband patch antenna for wireless applications

Copyright @ 2011 IEE

Design and Measurements of a Five Independent Band Patch Antenna for Different Wireless Applications

This paper presents the design of a compact microstrip patch antenna with the ability of controlling the number of bands and the operating frequencies independently. Numerical equations are derived using a curve fitting technique to obtain the centre frequency of each band. The antenna comprises a main patch and four sub-patches fed by a 50 microstrip line. It is designed to generate up to five separate modes to cover the frequency range from 900MHz to 3GHz for the operation of wireless devices supporting multiple standards including Global System for Mobile communication (GSM900, 880-960 MHz), Digital Communication System (DCS1800, 1710-1880 MHz), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS, 1920-2170 MHz), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN, 2400-2483.5 MHz) and low band Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX, 2.5 to 2.8 GHz).NPL SMART chamber were supported by the Measurements for Innovators (MFI) program and the National Measurement Office, an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skill

Wind reduction patterns around isolated biomass for wind erosion control in a desertified area of Central Sudan

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of sparse vegetation, feature common in arid zone, to reduce wind force (velocity) and hence protect the surface and regions downwind from drifting sand and their consequences. Respectively 4 (with heights h of 4, 3.2, 2 and 1.66 m), 2 (with h of 3 and 2.5 m) and 3 (with h of 1.04, 0.9 and 0.8 m ) well established single biomass configurations of Leptadenia pyrotechnica trees, Prosopis juliflora trees and Panicum turgidum grass, were selected in the field. Solar powered cup anemometer wind measurements with a data logger system were taken at heights of 0.25 and 0.5 h, at distances 0.5 and 1 h, at four sides of the tree in the prevailing wind direction and perpendicular to it, and additionally at 2, 4 and 6 h windward and leeward. The protection effectiveness of the biomass was calculated as a wind reduction ratio and in terms of objects protection, which was evaluated using the dimensionless protection index (É). The study showed that windward protection provided by Leptadenia and Prosopis at level 0.25h and distance 0.5 h was similar, w ith a wind reduction ratio R0.8, while Panicum showed comparably higher R-values. Even at the 0.5 h level, Panicum showed an R of 0.65 at 0.5 h distance. Leew ard, at 0.25 h level differences were small, R increasing from 0.6/0.7 to 0.8/1 with distance, Leptadenia protecting best. At higher level (0.5 h) at distances 0.5 and 1 h Prosopis gave better protection than the other two at distances 0.5, 1 and 2 h. The research is an exam ple of simple experimental work under difficult environmental conditions in Africa. It was part of studies in which additional attention was paid to quantification aspects under such conditions as well as to the problems it helped solve in the African societies concerned as agrometeorological service

Population's perspectives toward biobanks in scientific research: a study from Jordan.

BackgroundBiobanks (biorepositories) were established to compile collected bio-specimens for future research and usage. The collection/storage of bio-specimens triggers several social, legal, and ethical implications where public attitudes can represent the core measurement/parameter in defining the most acceptable practices and ethical approaches when dealing with biobanks.AimThe aim of this study was to explore and understand population's perspectives, expectations, and concerns toward biobanks in Jordan.MethodsA cross-sectional survey that included closed-ended questions was distributed among Jordanians. A total of 500 participants who are representative of the Jordanian population were included in this study.ResultsThere was overwhelming support (>85%) for the establishment of biobanks in Jordan, and most of the participants agreed on the importance of biobanks and samples' donation for promoting medical research. Enthusiasm in biobanking participation was associated with the sociodemographic characteristics of participants including age, educational level, and previous knowledge of biobanks. Moreover, considering sample donation as a religiously good deed appeared to have the strongest positive correlation with willingness to donate bio-specimens for future research. Also, participants' trust in medical and research services, especially the protection of their privacy and confidentiality, was the most critical concern when they decided to participate in biobanks.ConclusionPopulation's attitude toward biobanks in Jordan was positive and promising, and can encourage the future establishment of different biobanks. It is also necessary to take into consideration certain sociodemographic characteristics when discussing specific information with potential biobanks' donors