Fractional interval observers and initialization of fractional systems

International audienceIn this paper an interval observer is synthesized for fractional linear systems with additive noise and disturbances. The contribution of system whole past to future output is taken into account as an initialization function. Provided the initialization function is upper and lower bounded, it is shown in this paper that the fractional interval observer (FIO) allows to bound pseudo-state free responses by an upper and a lower trajectory. In case interval observers cannot be synthesized straightforwardly, so as to obtain a stable and non-negative estimation error, it is shown that a change of coordinates allows to overcome this problem. The proposed methodology allows to bound fractional systems trajectories when the whole past is unknown but can be bounded. Finally, a numerical example is given to show the effectiveness of the proposed methods on the initialization of fractional linear systems

Time resolved and temperature dependence of the radiative properties of thiol-capped CdS nanoparticles films

In this work, we present the temperature-dependence and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) of CdS nanoparticles capped independently with three different ligands thiophenol, thioglycerol, and l-cysteine over a broad temperature range from 10 to 300 K. The respective nanoparticles sizes in the three systems studied in this work are 1.5, 4, and 2 nm as determined from X-ray diffraction (XRD). From the analysis of AFM images, it was found that the lateral particle sizes of capped CdS nanoparticles are greater than those deduced from XRD or optical absorption measurements. The aim of this study is the investigation of the impact of the organic ligands on the radiative recombination dynamics in organically capped CdS nanoparticles. From the PL study and based on the temperature-dependence and time-resolved emission spectroscopy, we conclude that the emission of CdS QDs film originates from recombination of the delocalized carriers in the internal core states with a small contribution of the localized carriers at the interface. The PL decay reveals a biexponential behavior for the entire three samples at all temperatures. One of the two exponential components decays rapidly with a time τ(1) in the range 0.5–0.8 ns, whereas the other decays much more slowly, with a time τ(2) in the range 1–3 ns. The weak activation energy (32–37 meV) deduced from the temperature dependence of the PL intensity suggests the involvement of shallow traps. The analysis of the experimental results reveals a relatively narrow size distribution, an efficient surface passivation, and a satisfactory thermal stability of CdS nanocrystals

Effect of CdS nanocrystals on the photoluminescence of Eu3+-doped silicophosphate sol gel glass

In this work, we investigate the effect of co-doping with CdS nanoparticles on the photoluminescence properties of Eu3+ doped silicophosphate glass prepared via the sol gel method. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the insertion of phosphorus within the silicate network. XRD and TEM analyses revealed the presence of CdS nanoparticles dispersed in the glass matrix. Based on the optical study and the effective mass theory for spherical quantum dots, it was found that CdS nanocrystals have a gap of nearly 3.53 eV and a size of 2.42 nm. The enhancement of Eu3+ emission induced by CdS nanocrystals and thermal annealing was assigned to either an energy transfer via defect states or structural alteration of the glass network around the rare earth ions

Estimation of the economic impact of a bluetongue serotype 4 outbreak in Tunisia

IntroductionSince 1999, Tunisia has experienced multiple occurrences of Bluetongue (BT) outbreaks, leading to numerous reported cases of infection and mortality in flocks. The re-emergence of the disease in 2020 caused substantial economic losses in cattle, attributed to the incursion of serotype BTV-4.MethodsTo evaluate the economic impact of the recent BT episode, we conducted a retrospective study on outbreaks that occurred in Tunisia between August and November 2020, focusing on the impact at the owner’s level and its effects on both small ruminants and cattle. A total of 234 ruminant farms (sheep, cattle, and mixed) were randomly selected across Tunisian governorates and included in the study to estimate both the direct and indirect costs of these outbreaks.ResultsTotal costs were calculated as the sum of losses and expenditures resulting from the BT outbreaks. At the animal level, total losses were estimated to range between 116.280 and 207.086 TND for one infected ewe (€33.721 and 60.055). For one lactating cow, costs varied between 2,590.724 and 3,171.107 TND (€751.310 and 919.621). In cattle, exposure to BTV led to a daily unit milk yield decrease of 12.50 to 14.66 L over an average period of 5 months. Diseased sheep experienced weight loss ranging between 4 and 10 kg during the BT outbreaks. The total mean cost of the 2020 BT outbreak in Tunisian investigated farms was estimated at 1,935 million TND (million €561.15) (range: 1,489 and 2,474 million TND; 431.81 and million €717.46). The most influential costs of the total BT outbreaks were the decrease in milk yield, mortality, and veterinary treatment.DiscussionThis study gives valuable insights on the economic impact of the incursion of a new serotype of BT in a naive population in Tunisia. Considering the substantial costs incurred, it is imperative that this disease receives increased attention from stakeholders, including animal owners, veterinary services, practitioners, and decision-makers

Observer-based feedback stabilization for Lipschitz nonlinear systems with extension to H∞H_{\infty } performance analysis: Design and experimental results

International audienceThis brief proposes design of a robust observerbased feedback stabilization for Lipschitz nonlinear systems. The objective is the use of the differential mean value theorem to introduce a general condition on the nonlinear functions. To ensure asymptotic stability, sufficient conditions that are expressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities. High performances are shown through real-time implementation with digital signal processing device (ARDUINO MEGA 2560)

Untangling the causal relationship between tax burden distribution and economic growth in 23 OECD countries: Fresh evidence from linear and non-linear Granger causality

The aim of the paper is to investigate the linear and nonlinear causality between a set of alternative tax burden ratios and economic growth in 23 OECD countries. To that end, the linear causality approach of Toda– Yamamoto (1995) and the nonparametric causality method of Kyrtsou and Labys (2006) are applied to annual data spanning from 1970 to 2014. Results obtained from the nonlinear causality test tend to reject the neutrality hypothesis for the tax structure–growth relationship in 19 of the 23 OECD countries. In the majority of the countries under investigation, the evidence is in line with the growth hypothesis where causality running from economic growth to tax burden ratios was detected in Australia, Denmark, Finland, Japan, New Zealand, and Norway. The opposite causality running from tax structure to economic growth was found in Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden. In contrast, the neutrality hypothesis was supported in Austria, Italy, Luxembourg, and the USA, whereas the feedback hypothesis was supported in Turkey and the UK. Additional robustness checks show that when the signs of variations are taken into account, there is an asymmetric causality running from positive tax burden shocks to positive per capita GDP shocks for Belgium, France, and Turkey. Overall, our findings suggest that policy implications of the tax structure-economic growth relationships should be interpreted with caution, taking into account the test-dependent and country-specific results

Use of MPA-capped CdS quantum dots for sensitive detection and quantification of Co 2+ ions in aqueous solution

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Untangling the causal relationship between tax burden distribution and economic growth in 23 OECD countries: Fresh evidence from linear and non-linear granger causality

The aim of the paper is to investigate the linear and nonlinear causality between a set of alternative tax burden ratios and economic growth in 23 OECD countries. To that end, the linear causality approach of Toda– Yamamoto (1995) and the nonparametric causality method of Kyrtsou and Labys (2006) are applied to annual data spanning from 1970 to 2014. Results obtained from the nonlinear causality test tend to reject the neutrality hypothesis for the tax structure–growth relationship in 19 of the 23 OECD countries. In the majority of the countries under investigation, the evidence is in line with the growth hypothesis where causality running from economic growth to tax burden ratios was detected in Australia, Denmark, Finland, Japan, New Zealand, and Norway. The opposite causality running from tax structure to economic growth was found in Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden. In contrast, the neutrality hypothesis was supported in Austria, Italy, Luxembourg, and the USA, whereas the feedback hypothesis was supported in Turkey and the UK. Additional robustness checks show that when the signs of variations are taken into account, there is an asymmetric causality running from positive tax burden shocks to positive per capita GDP shocks for Belgium, France, and Turkey. Overall, our findings suggest that policy implications of the tax structure-economic growth relationships should be interpreted with caution, taking into account the test-dependent and country-specific results

Interaction of l-cysteine functionalized CdSe quantum dots with metallic cations and selective binding of cobalt in water probed by fluorescence

International audienceWater-soluble CdSe quantum dots (QDs) capped with l-cysteine (Cys-CdSe) were synthesized in aqueous medium and analyzed by X-ray diffraction, electronic microscopy, absorption spectroscopy and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. We have measured the average diameter of Cys-CdSe QDs, 4.15 nm, the true molecular mass, 1.43 × 105 g mol−1 and the molar extinction coefficient, ε480 = 3 × 105 cm−1 M−1 at maximum of band edge (480 nm). The number of grafted l-cysteine chains per individual QD was measured to be ∼100. The interaction of these functionalized Cys-CdSe QDs at a concentration of 0.2 μM with seventeen different metal ions were evaluated by fluorescence. Only the interaction with Co2+ ions resulted in fluorescence quenching in the range 0.5–20 μM when the true concentration of QDs is 0.2 μM, with a saturation behavior at Co2+ concentration of ∼20 μM, in agreement with 100 grafted l-cysteines per QD. The quenching mechanism involves both static and dynamic fluorescence quenching processes. A model of interaction is derived for the selective binding of Co2+ to Cys-CdSe QDs, involving the carboxyl functions of l-cysteine. The comparison with other QD-systems shows the need for a systematic analysis of the parameters influencing the QD-ions interaction and fluorescence emission, especially their true concentration, in order to understand the fundamental mechanisms at the origin of the specificity for metal binding to a particular QD