This paper introduces the design of a circularly polarized metasurface-based antenna array for C-band satellite applications that owns broadband operation and high gain characteristics. The single radiating element comprises a Y-shape patch and an above-placed 2 × 2 unit-cell metasurface. Further improvement in operating bandwidth and broadside gain is achieved by arranging four single elements in a 2 × 2 configuration and a sequential-phase feed network.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRadon-based radiation from natural soil building materials is an important factor likely influencing residents' health as a contributing source of natural radiation. This survey aims to quantify the nuclide-specific α-radiation of isotopes Rn and Rn in common types of houses in a region of northern Vietnam, Đồng Văn karst plateau, to preliminarily (i) evaluate the total annual effective dose rates and (ii) assess the relative risk of cancer induction from indoor α-radiation for inhabitants. The average Rn concentrations in all house types were lower than 100 Bq m, but Rn abundances were far higher than Rn, even up to >1000 Bq m in air close to a wall of unfired-soil bricks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the isolated Aluoi Valley of central Viet Nam, very high levels of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) were measured in soil, fish fat, duck fat, pooled human blood and breast milk samples collected from A So village between 1996 and 1999. The village was situated on a former military base occupied by US Special Forces between 1963 and 1966. TCDD was a contaminant of the herbicide "Agent Orange", aerially sprayed in the valley between 1965 and 1970, and stored at the A So base.
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