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No description available.

Intra-cellular sodium (23Na) concentration is directly related to cellular health. Thus, sodium magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide metabolic information on tissue health that a routine clinical (proton) MRI cannot. 23Na-MRI could be a valuable tool to assist physicians in the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of a variety of pathologies. However, due to factors that include quantum mechanical limitations and biological restrictions, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a sodium scan is much lower than that of a standard proton scan, which limits the practicality of 23Na-MRI in a clinical setting. This project looks to improve the viability of 23Na-MRI and focuses on an often overlooked facet of MRI development, the radio frequency (RF) coil. Fractal antennas have been used in telecommunication systems for years, and are generally exploited for their compact nature, allowing for the same performance of a larger antenna, in a smaller space. They have also been shown to be capable of a wider transmission bandwidth (BW) than a standard antenna and with MRI applications they have been shown to provide a small SNR increase in proton imaging. It is hypothesized that a surface coil with a Koch snowflake fractal geometry can provide increased SNR for a sodium MRI scan, compared to that of a standard circular geometry coil, by producing a more homogeneous magnetic field in both space and frequency. To test the hypothesis two coils, one circular and the other a Koch snowflake fractal, were simulated. The simulated magnetic fields were compared on their homogeneity and magnitude before the two coils were constructed and implemented with a variety of sodium MRI scans. B1+ maps were acquired to measure RF field homogeneity, and SNR was determined for both coil geometries. The coils were also tested for their homogeneity over varied transmit BWs by comparing images with various field of view (FOV) sizes. Finally the coils were compared for clinical viability in a test of healthy human knee imaging. The circular coil had a more homogeneous B1+ field than the fractal at depths between 10-40mm, and had a higher SNR in its produced images. The circular coil acquired more signal in vivo which provided a higher detail image, but the fractal coil's SNR was higher due to reduced noise. The fractal coil performed better over a wider BW which indicates that further research should be conducted into the applications of fractal coils in multi-nuclear MRI scans. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

The use of fractals in fields such as molecular biology, epidemiology, landscape, ecology, geology, physics, etc., is becoming more common. In order to use fractals to model many phenomena, the researcher requires the knowledge of the fractal, or Hausdorff-Besicovitch, dimension. However, no statistical properties of the usual estimator, the entropy estimator, are known. In addition, the entropy estimator is biased high when an inefficient net is used. This dissertation develops a new estimator, the relative entropy estimator, which is asymptotically unbiased and is consistent. The estimator is asymptotically normal, and asymptotic confidence intervals are presented. An estimate of the variance of the estimator is given which does not depend on the dimension, or its estimate, using an occupancy model. The exact distribution of the estimator is also derived. Applications of the theory to various fields are presented. For example, I find that from the point of view of dimension, the logarithms of stock prices behave consistently with the classical Brownian function. Also, the relative entropy estimator gives a more realistic estimate of the dimension of surface terrain than an ad hoc estimate found in the literature. The Hausdorff dimensions of nursery-grown tree roots were estimated, and it was found that the dimension is related to the probability of the tree’s survival when the tree is planted in the wild. The dimensions of Julia sets and of the Hénon attractor were also investigated. A computer program for calculating the estimates is included. / Ph. D.

The term quantization refers to the process of estimating a given probability by a discrete probability supported on a finite set. The quantization dimension Dr of a probability is related to the asymptotic rate at which the expected distance (raised to the rth power) to the support of the quantized version of the probability goes to zero as the size of the support is allowed to go to infinity. This assumes that the quantized versions are in some sense ``optimal'' in that the expected distances have been minimized. In this dissertation we give a short history of quantization as well as some basic facts. We develop a generalized framework for the quantization dimension which extends the current theory to include a wider range of probability measures. This framework uses the theory of thermodynamic formalism and the multifractal spectrum. It is shown that at least in certain cases the quantization dimension function D(r)=Dr is a transform of the temperature function b(q), which is already known to be the Legendre transform of the multifractal spectrum f(a). Hence, these ideas are all closely related and it would be expected that progress in one area could lead to new results in another. It would also be expected that the results in this dissertation would extend to all probabilities for which a quantization dimension function exists. The cases considered here include probabilities generated by conformal iterated function systems (and include self-similar probabilities) and also probabilities generated by graph directed systems, which further generalize the idea of an iterated function system.

We consider random fractals generated by random recursive constructions, prove zero-one laws concerning their dimensions and find their packing and Minkowski dimensions. Also we investigate the packing measure in corresponding dimension. For a class of random distribution functions we prove that their packing and Hausdorff dimensions coincide.

Alcançar altas taxas de dados em comunicações sem fio é difícil. Altas taxas de dados para redes locais sem fio tornou-se comercialmente um sucesso por volta do ano de 2000. Redes de longa distância sem fio ainda são projetados e utilizados principalmente para serviços de voz em baixas taxas. Apesar de muitas tecnologias promissoras, a realidade de uma rede de área ampla que atenda muitos usuários com altas taxas de dados e largura de banda e consumo de energia razoáveis, além de uma boa cobertura e qualidade no serviço ainda é um desafio. O objetivo do IEEE 802.16 é projetar um sistema de comunicação sem fio para obter uma internet de banda larga para usuários móveis em uma área metropolitana. É importante perceber que o sistema WIMAX tem que enfrentar desafios semelhantes aos existentes sistemas celulares e seu desempenho eventual será delimitado pelas mesmas leis da física e da teoria da informação. Em muitas áreas da engenharia elétrica, tem-se direcionado atenção à miniaturização de componentes e equipamentos. Em particular, antenas não são exceções. Desde que Wheeler iniciou estudos sobre os limites fundamentais de miniaturização de antenas, o assunto tem sido discutido por muitos estudiosos e várias contribuições nesse sentido foram feitas desde então. Os avanços das últimas décadas na área de microeletrônica permitiram a miniaturização dos demais componentes empregados no desenvolvimento de equipamentos eletrônicos e disponibilizaram o uso de aparelhos compactos, leves e com diversas funcionalidades e aplicações comerciais. No entanto, ainda que a integração de circuitos seja uma realidade, a integração completa de um sistema de comunicação sem fio, incluindo a antena, é ainda um dos grandes desafios tecnológicos. No caso de antenas impressas procura-se continuamente desenvolver antenas que, além de compactas, apresentem maior largura de banda, ou operação em múltiplas bandas dada sua inerente característica de banda estreita em projetos convencionais. Neste trabalho, o foco está na miniaturização de antenas impressas através da aplicação de fractais. São apresentadas comparações entre antenas fractais quadradas de Minkowski e fractais triangulares de Koch. Inicialmente, antenas 6 impressas com geometrias convencionais quadradas e triangulares foram projetadas para ter a mesma frequência de ressonância. Depois disso, as estruturas fractais de Minkowski Island e Koch Loop foram implementadas nas antenas quadrada e triangular, respectivamente, até a terceira iteração. As frequências escolhidas foram as de 2,4 GHz, 3,5 GHz, 5,0 GHz e 5,8 GHz. Diversos protótipos foram construídos em dois substratos de permissividade diferentes, o FR-4 e o DUROID 5870. Para validar os resultados foram construídas antenas na frequência de 3,5 GHz para as geometrias quadrada e triangular e suas iterações fractais. A contribuição deste trabalho está na análise sobre as vantagens e desvantagens de cada uma das estruturas propostas. Dependendo dos requisitos de um projeto, a opção pode ser por antenas miniaturizadas com maior largura de banda, como normalmente acontece em alguns projetos comerciais. Entretanto, o interesse por bandas estreitas muitas vezes pode ser um requisito, principalmente para emprego militar, onde por vezes a máxima discrição na transmissão é uma exigência. Além disso, também foi feita uma análise sobre as geometrias que atingiram maior miniaturização. / Achieving high data rates in wireless communication is difficult. High data rates for wireless local area networks became commercially successful only around 2000. Wide area wireless networks are still designed and used primarily for low rate voice services. Despite many promising technologies, the reality of a wide area network that services many users at high data rates with reasonable bandwidth and power consumption, while maintaining high coverage and quality of service has not been achieved. The goal of the IEEE 802.16 was to design a wireless communication system processing to achieve a broadband internet for mobile users over a wide or metropolitan area. It is important to realize that WIMAX system have to confront similar challenges as existing cellular systems and their eventual performance will be bounded by the same laws of physics and information theory. In many areas of electrical engineering, miniaturization has been an important issue. Antennas are not an exception. After Wheeler initiated studies on the fundamental limits for miniaturization of antennas, this subject has been extensively discussed by several scholars and many contributions have been made. The advances of recent decades in the field of microelectronics enabled the miniaturization of components and provided the use of compact, lightweight, equipments with many features in commercial applications. Although circuit integration is a reality, the integration of a complete system, including its antenna, is still one of the major technological challenges. In the case of patch antennas, the search is for compact structures with increased bandwidth, due to the inherent narrowband characteristic of this type of antenna. In this work the focus is on a comparison between the Minkowski and the Koch Fractal Patch Antennas. Initially, patch antennas with conventional square and triangular geometries were simulated to present the same resonance frequency. After that, fractal Minkowski and Koch Island Loop antennas were implemented in the square and triangular geometries, respectively, to the third iteration. A comparison was made for two substrates of different permittivities FR-4 and DUROID 5870 at the frequencies of 2,4 GHz; 3,5 GHz; 5,0 GHz and 5,8 GHz. 8 Prototype antennas were built using FR-4 and DUROID 5870 to resonate at a frequency of 3,5 GHz to validate simulation results. The contribution of this work is the analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each proposed fractal structure. According to the project requirements, the best option can be use a miniaturized antenna with a wider band, as in commercial projects. Particularly in military applications, a narrow band antenna can be a requirement, as sometimes maximum discretion in transmission is a paramount. An additional analysis was performed to verify which of the geometries fulfilled the miniaturization criteria of Hansen.

Alcançar altas taxas de dados em comunicações sem fio é difícil. Altas taxas de dados para redes locais sem fio tornou-se comercialmente um sucesso por volta do ano de 2000. Redes de longa distância sem fio ainda são projetados e utilizados principalmente para serviços de voz em baixas taxas. Apesar de muitas tecnologias promissoras, a realidade de uma rede de área ampla que atenda muitos usuários com altas taxas de dados e largura de banda e consumo de energia razoáveis, além de uma boa cobertura e qualidade no serviço ainda é um desafio. O objetivo do IEEE 802.16 é projetar um sistema de comunicação sem fio para obter uma internet de banda larga para usuários móveis em uma área metropolitana. É importante perceber que o sistema WIMAX tem que enfrentar desafios semelhantes aos existentes sistemas celulares e seu desempenho eventual será delimitado pelas mesmas leis da física e da teoria da informação. Em muitas áreas da engenharia elétrica, tem-se direcionado atenção à miniaturização de componentes e equipamentos. Em particular, antenas não são exceções. Desde que Wheeler iniciou estudos sobre os limites fundamentais de miniaturização de antenas, o assunto tem sido discutido por muitos estudiosos e várias contribuições nesse sentido foram feitas desde então. Os avanços das últimas décadas na área de microeletrônica permitiram a miniaturização dos demais componentes empregados no desenvolvimento de equipamentos eletrônicos e disponibilizaram o uso de aparelhos compactos, leves e com diversas funcionalidades e aplicações comerciais. No entanto, ainda que a integração de circuitos seja uma realidade, a integração completa de um sistema de comunicação sem fio, incluindo a antena, é ainda um dos grandes desafios tecnológicos. No caso de antenas impressas procura-se continuamente desenvolver antenas que, além de compactas, apresentem maior largura de banda, ou operação em múltiplas bandas dada sua inerente característica de banda estreita em projetos convencionais. Neste trabalho, o foco está na miniaturização de antenas impressas através da aplicação de fractais. São apresentadas comparações entre antenas fractais quadradas de Minkowski e fractais triangulares de Koch. Inicialmente, antenas 6 impressas com geometrias convencionais quadradas e triangulares foram projetadas para ter a mesma frequência de ressonância. Depois disso, as estruturas fractais de Minkowski Island e Koch Loop foram implementadas nas antenas quadrada e triangular, respectivamente, até a terceira iteração. As frequências escolhidas foram as de 2,4 GHz, 3,5 GHz, 5,0 GHz e 5,8 GHz. Diversos protótipos foram construídos em dois substratos de permissividade diferentes, o FR-4 e o DUROID 5870. Para validar os resultados foram construídas antenas na frequência de 3,5 GHz para as geometrias quadrada e triangular e suas iterações fractais. A contribuição deste trabalho está na análise sobre as vantagens e desvantagens de cada uma das estruturas propostas. Dependendo dos requisitos de um projeto, a opção pode ser por antenas miniaturizadas com maior largura de banda, como normalmente acontece em alguns projetos comerciais. Entretanto, o interesse por bandas estreitas muitas vezes pode ser um requisito, principalmente para emprego militar, onde por vezes a máxima discrição na transmissão é uma exigência. Além disso, também foi feita uma análise sobre as geometrias que atingiram maior miniaturização. / Achieving high data rates in wireless communication is difficult. High data rates for wireless local area networks became commercially successful only around 2000. Wide area wireless networks are still designed and used primarily for low rate voice services. Despite many promising technologies, the reality of a wide area network that services many users at high data rates with reasonable bandwidth and power consumption, while maintaining high coverage and quality of service has not been achieved. The goal of the IEEE 802.16 was to design a wireless communication system processing to achieve a broadband internet for mobile users over a wide or metropolitan area. It is important to realize that WIMAX system have to confront similar challenges as existing cellular systems and their eventual performance will be bounded by the same laws of physics and information theory. In many areas of electrical engineering, miniaturization has been an important issue. Antennas are not an exception. After Wheeler initiated studies on the fundamental limits for miniaturization of antennas, this subject has been extensively discussed by several scholars and many contributions have been made. The advances of recent decades in the field of microelectronics enabled the miniaturization of components and provided the use of compact, lightweight, equipments with many features in commercial applications. Although circuit integration is a reality, the integration of a complete system, including its antenna, is still one of the major technological challenges. In the case of patch antennas, the search is for compact structures with increased bandwidth, due to the inherent narrowband characteristic of this type of antenna. In this work the focus is on a comparison between the Minkowski and the Koch Fractal Patch Antennas. Initially, patch antennas with conventional square and triangular geometries were simulated to present the same resonance frequency. After that, fractal Minkowski and Koch Island Loop antennas were implemented in the square and triangular geometries, respectively, to the third iteration. A comparison was made for two substrates of different permittivities FR-4 and DUROID 5870 at the frequencies of 2,4 GHz; 3,5 GHz; 5,0 GHz and 5,8 GHz. 8 Prototype antennas were built using FR-4 and DUROID 5870 to resonate at a frequency of 3,5 GHz to validate simulation results. The contribution of this work is the analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each proposed fractal structure. According to the project requirements, the best option can be use a miniaturized antenna with a wider band, as in commercial projects. Particularly in military applications, a narrow band antenna can be a requirement, as sometimes maximum discretion in transmission is a paramount. An additional analysis was performed to verify which of the geometries fulfilled the miniaturization criteria of Hansen.