Sagrario Muñoz

Analysis of the influence of the cell geometry, orientation and cell proximity effects on the electric field distribution from direct RF exposure.

This paper shows the importance of using a cell model with the proper geometry, orientation and internal structure to study possible cellular effects from direct radiofrequency exposure. For this purpose, the electric field intensity is calculated, using the finite element numerical technique, in single- and multilayer spherical, cylindrical and ellipsoidal mammalian cell models exposed to linearly polarized electromagnetic plane waves of frequencies 900 and 2450 MHz. An extensive analysis is performed on the influence that the cell geometry and orientation with respect to the external field have in the value of the electric field induced in the membrane and cytoplasm. We also show the significant role that the cytoplasmic and extracellular bound water layers play in determining the electric field intensity for the cylindrical and ellipsoidal cell models. Finally, a study of the mutual interactions between cells shows that polarizing effects between cells significantly modify the values of field intensity within the cell.

Cytoarchitectonic and Dynamic Origins of Giant Positive Local Field Potentials in the Dentate Gyrus

To determine why some pathways but not others produce sizable local field potentials (LFPs) and how far from the source can these be recorded, complementary experimental analyses and realistic modeling of specific brain structures are required. In the present study, we combined multiple in vivo linear recordings in rats and a tridimensional finite element model of the dentate gyrus, a curved structure displaying abnormally large positive LFPs. We demonstrate that the polarized dendritic arbour of granule cells (GCs), combined with the curved layered configuration of the population promote the spatial clustering of GC currents in the interposed hilus and project them through the open side at a distance from cell domains. LFPs grow up to 20 times larger than observed in synaptic sites. The dominant positive polarity of hilar LFPs was only produced by the synchronous activation of GCs in both blades by either somatic inhibition or dendritic excitation. Moreover, the corresponding anatomical pathways must project to both blades of the dentate gyrus as even a mild decrease in the spatial synchronization resulted in a dramatic reduction in LFP power in distant sites, yet not in the GC domains. It is concluded that the activation of layered structures may establish sharply delimited spatial domains where synaptic currents from one or another input appear to be segregated according to the topology of afferent pathways and the cytoarchitectonic features of the target population. These also determine preferred directions for volume conduction in the brain, of relevance for interpretation of surface EEG recordings.

Electric field distribution and energy absorption in anisotropic and dispersive red blood cells

We have studied the influence of the anisotropic and dispersive nature of the red blood cell structure on the energy absorption and electric field distribution within the cell exposed to electromagnetic fields of frequencies in the range from 50 kHz to 10 GHz. For this purpose we have generated a realistic model of a multilayered erythrocyte cell from a set of parametric equations in terms of Jacobi elliptic functions. The effect of dipole relaxations and anisotropic conductivities is taken into account in the dispersion equations for the conductivity and permittivity of each layer (cytoplasmic and extra-cellular bound waters, membrane, cytoplasm and external medium). Using a finite element numerical technique, we have found that the electric field distribution and the energy absorbed in the membrane show well-defined maxima for both normal and parallel orientations of the external field with respect to the symmetry axis of the cell. The normal and tangential conductivities and permittivities of the membrane are shown to be responsible for the different peak amplitudes and frequency shifts of the maxima. A previously unnoticed effect is that the cell shape combined with the dispersion of the membrane permittivity and the influence of bound water layers leads to a very high amplification factor (greater than 300) of the electric field in the membrane at frequencies in the megahertz range.

Influence of the calibration kit on the estimation of parasitic effects in HEMT devices at microwave frequencies

In this paper, we investigate how critical the calibration kit is in an accurate estimation of microwave device parasitic elements. The semiempirical cold FET method has been applied to the extraction of the small signal equivalent circuit of several HEMT devices. Two different measurements were made on the same devices by using two calibration kits. The first kit is a commercial one based on the LRM method, whereas the second kit was designed by the authors and fabricated on the same chip of the devices. The discrepancies found in the calculated parasitic elements provided information on the sensitivity of the elements with respect to the calibration kit, and, therefore, on the physical origin of the parasitics. These discrepancies. show that it is possible to evaluate the influence of the contact pads on the electrical behavior of on-chip semiconductor devices by making measurements with different calibration standards.

Analysis of radiofrequency energy stored in the altered shapes: Stomatocyte-echinocyte of human erythrocytes.

The aim of this study is to analyze the electromagnetic energy stored in stomatocyte, erythrocyte and echinocyte cells exposed to a linearly polarized electromagnetic plane wave at 900, 1800 and 2450MHz radiofrequency signals. This analysis can provide a better understanding of the order of appearance of altered shapes of erythrocytes (RBC) in the stomatocyte-echinocyte transition under radiofrequency exposure in terms of the deposited electromagnetic energy. For this purpose we use a realistic geometrical cell model based on parametric equations that allow for continuous transformations between normal erythrocytes and three stomatocyte subclasses with different degree of invagination and also between normal erythrocytes and echinocytes with an arbitrary number of spicules. We use a finite element technique with adaptive meshing for calculating the electromagnetic energy deposited on the different regions of the cell models. It is found that the echinocyte cell stores the minimum electromagnetic energy and therefore from an energetic point of view it would be the most stable and preferred cell state when this electromagnetic energy is the predominant energy component.

Analysis of the electric field induced forces in erythrocyte membrane pores using a realistic cell model

We calculate the induced electric stress forces on transient hydrophobic pores in the membrane of an erythrocyte exposed to an electric field. For this purpose, we use a finite element numerical technique and a realistic shape for the biconcave erythrocyte represented by a set of parametric equations in terms of Jacobi elliptic functions. The results clearly show that the electrical forces on the base and sidewalls of the pore favour the opening of the pore. A comparison of the force densities obtained for an unstretched flat membrane and for the realistic erythrocyte model shows that the thinning and curvature of the membrane cannot be neglected. We also show that the pore deformation depends strongly on the orientation of the pore with respect to the external field, and in particular is very small when the field is tangent to the membrane surface.

Modeling the bias and temperature dependence of a C-class MESFET amplifier

In this paper, a complete bias and temperature-dependent large-signal model for a MESFET is determined from experimental S-parameters and dc measurements. This model is used in the analysis of the performance of a C-class amplifier at 4 GHz over a -50/spl deg/ to 100/spl deg/C temperature range and for different bias conditions. The dependencies of the elements of the equivalent circuit, as well as the amplifier gain on the temperature and the operating point, are evaluated. The gain optimization and the analysis as a function of temperature of the MESFET amplifier are done by using the describing function technique. Optimum bias device conditions in the C-class are obtained for maximum gain and also the flattest gain versus input power rate. A comparison between theoretical and measured results over temperature and bias ranges is shown. Experimental results show an excellent agreement with the theoretical analysis.

Drain Temperature Dependence on Ambient Temperature for a Cryogenic Low Noise C-Band Amplifier

A comparison between predicted and measured noise temperatures for cryogenic HEMT amplifiers is presented by using the Pospieszalskis noise model. A good agreement between predicted and measured amplifiers noise performance is obtained both at room and cryogenic temperatures. However, the predicted values overestimate noise temperature in the center part of the measured temperature range (50K - 230K). A parabolic dependence for the drain temperature with ambient temperature is proposed to obtain a better fitting to the experimental results.

Elastic energy of the discocyte-stomatocyte transformation.

The aim of this study is to calculate the membrane elastic energy for the different shapes observed in the discocyte-stomatocyte sequence. This analysis can provide a better quantitative understanding of the hypothesis put forward over the last decades to explain how red blood cells produce and maintain their typical shape. For this purpose, we use geometrical models based on parametric equations. The energy model considered for the elastic properties of RBC membrane includes the local and nonlocal resistance effects of the bilayer to bending. In particular, the results confirm the discocyte as the lowest energy value configuration among the sets of different red blood cell deformations considered in the sequence.

Toxicity assessment of biological suspensions using the dielectric impedance spectroscopy technique

Abstract Purpose: This article studies the variation of the electromagnetic parameters of a suspension of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos to assess its potential applications to toxicological and biomedical research areas. Materials and methods: For this purpose, the dielectric impedance spectroscopy technique is applied to a modified coaxial line enclosing the biological suspension to be characterized in the frequency range from 100 kHz to 100 MHz. The electrical parameters of the suspension under test were obtained by fitting the impedance spectra to the resulted from the simulation of the test fixture using finite elements (FE). Results: Variation of the complex permittivity of the suspensions makes possible to identify viable and non-viable embryos after a toxic exposure, as well as different stages during the blastula period of embryonic development of the zebrafish. Conclusions: The approach presented here, combining experimental and simulation techniques, may provide a basis for a non-invasive method to assess toxicity in any biological suspension.