A Ka‐band reflectarray consisting of modified cross loop is investigated in this article for millimeter‐wave broadband dual‐polarization applications. It consists of 40 × 40 unit cells that covered an area of 200 × 200 mm2 and a multimode conical horn antenna which is connected to an orthomode transducer as the offset feed. Its unit cell is composed of a solid cross inside and a cross loop outside, which can lead to nearly 550° linear phase shift curve by varying its length. After this proposed structure has been analyzed and compared with the traditional wideband element (i.e., double cross loop), it is used in the reflectarray. An equivalent circuit model with an insightful field distribution is used to analyze their different behaviors when it resonated at the same operating frequency. For vertical and horizontal polarization modes, the peak gain are measured to be 34.3 and 33.5 dB, the aperture efficiency are 48.6% and 40.4% at the center frequency of 32 GHz, respectively. The 1.5 dB gain bandwidth are close to 18% and 15%, which is better than conventional millimeter‐wave single‐layer ones. This new reflectarray antenna is especially useful for millimeter‐wave broadband dual‐polarization applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:287–293, 2014

A novel wideband design of a Ka-band compact dual polarized horn is presented. In order to suppress multimode affection, a novel multimode conical horn replaces conical horn. The simulated 10dB return loss bandwidth is approximately 15.6% (ranging from 29.5 to 34.5GHz). The simulated insertion loss of the orthomode transducer is less than -0.15dB, the isolation less than -55dB, and the VS WR is less than 1.3 in the operating frequency (ranging from 31 to 33GHz). This structure has properties of not only a wide band, ultra-low insertion loss and high isolation, but also good impedance match, small size, and radiation pattern. A prototype has been manufactured and measured. S ince the simulated results are consisted with the measured ones, this novel compact structure has enormous potential for the dual polarized antenna.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized patients with rheumatic diseases in China. The efficacy of the Padua scale was evaluated and an improved model for predicting VTE in hospitalized patients with rheumatic diseases was developed. Methods Records of 2282 patients hospitalized in the department of rheumatology of the Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The risk factors for VTE were analyzed. The efficacy of the Padua scale was evaluated, Padua-combined prediction model and the independent risk factor-combined prediction model for predicting VTE were assessed using the receiver operating curve (ROC). Results A total of 50 patients in the VTE group and 2232 in the non-VTE group were included. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), VTE history, a hospital stay of over 3 days, high D-dimer (D-D), and decreased serum albumin were independent risk factors for VTE. APS was very closely associated with VTE (OR = 19.446). Padua scores in the VTE group and the non-VTE group were 3 (2, 6) and 2 (1, 2) points, respectively (p < 0.05), and the proportion of high-risk patients were 48.0% and 7.4%, respectively (p < 0.05). The incidence of VTE in the high-risk (Padua score ≥4) and low-risk (Padua score <4) groups was 12.7% and 1.2%, respectively (p < 0.05). The area under curve (AUC) of the Padua scale, Padua combined prediction model (Padua scale along with D-D and serum albumin), and the independent risk factor-combined prediction model was 0.771, 0.836, and 0.873, respectively. Conclusion The Padua scale has limited predictive efficacy of VTE in hospitalized rheumatic patients. The independent risk factor-combination prediction model was superior in predicting VTE compared to Padua scale and Padua-combined prediction model.

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Background: The association and potential role of the protein hormone adiponectin in autoimmune diseases causing musculoskeletal disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), are controversial. Conflicting results may arise from the influences of confounding factors linked to genetic backgrounds, disease stage, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and patients’ metabolic characteristics. Here, we examined serum level of adiponectin and its relationship with disease activity score 28 with erythrocytes sedimentation rate (DAS28[ESR]) and Sharp score in a treatment-naïve Han Chinese RA population.Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 125 RA patients. Serum level of total adiponectin was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Other important clinical and laboratory parameters were collected from the hospital database. DAS28(ESR) was calculated according to the equation previously published. Sharp score was evaluated based on hands radiographs by an independent radiologist. The correlation between serum adiponectin level and DAS28(ESR) or the Sharp score was investigated by univariable and multivariable regression analyses. Multiple imputation by chained equations was used to account for missing data.Results: Univariable analyses showed significant positive correlation between DAS28(ESR) and age or C-Reactive Protein (CRP) (both p = 0.003), while serum adiponectin level was negatively correlated with DAS28(ESR) (p = 0.015). The negative correlation between adiponectin level and DAS28(ESR) remained true in multivariable analyses adjusted for confounders. In addition, the univariable analyses revealed positively correlations of Sharp score to disease duration (p < 0.001), CRP (p = 0.023) and ESR (p < 0.001). In the multivariable model adjusted for confounders, adiponectin was negatively correlated with Sharp score (p = 0.044).Conclusion: In this single-institution cross-sectional study, serum adiponectin level in treatment-naive RA patients is negatively correlated with DAS28(ESR) and the Sharp score after adjustment for prominent identified confounders. Serum adiponectin may be potentially useful for assessing disease activity and radiographic progression of RA.