Novel techniques for electrical impedance metrology

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Nonparametric estimation of the fragmentation kernel based on a PDE stationary distribution approximation

We consider a stochastic individual-based model in continuous time to describe a size-structured population for cell divisions. This model is motivated by the detection of cellular aging in biology. We address here the problem of nonparametric estimation of the kernel ruling the divisions based on the eigenvalue problem related to the asymptotic behavior in large population. This inverse problem involves a multiplicative deconvolution operator. Using Fourier technics we derive a nonparametric estimator whose consistency is studied. The main difficulty comes from the non-standard equations connecting the Fourier transforms of the kernel and the parameters of the model. A numerical study is carried out and we pay special attention to the derivation of bandwidths by using resampling

ANTIOXIDATIVE DEFENSE RESPONSE TO APHID-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. “Nam Dan”

Infestation of cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) induced oxidative stress in leaves of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. “Nam Dan”) with a burst in generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) products such as superoxide anion radical (O2.-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) recorded around 24 hours after aphid feeding. An increase in content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in lipid peroxidation and a defined percentage of injury in aphid-infested leaves were resulted from the cellular oxidative damage. The enhanced activity of the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) in leaves of soybean “Nam Dan” functions as the antioxidative response that controlled both ROS-generation to be enough levels to play as defensive element and ROS-detoxifying to reduce aphid-induced oxidative damage. The enhancement of SOD and CAT also can improve the tolerance of soybean “Nam Dan” to impact from A. craccivora

A Capacitance Build-Up Method to Determine LCR Meter Errors and Capacitance Transfer

We present a capacitance build-up method suitable for the determination of the measurement error of a capacitance meter. The method requires only a small number of uncalibrated base capacitors, to be connected in parallel in various combinations, and a single calibrated capacitor, which provides measurement traceability. The outcome of the method is both the determination of the meter error and the calibration of all the base capacitors; it can therefore be also considered a capacitance scaling method. The method's equations, cast in matrix form, express estimates and uncertainties for all the quantities of interest. As an example of application, a commercial LCR meter is calibrated in the ranges of (100-1000) pF and (1-10) nF at 1.6 and 10 kHz, with an accuracy at the level of a few parts in 10(6). The calibration is validated by comparison with an ultrahigh accuracy capacitance bridge

How Foreign Ownership and Competition Affect the Credit Growth of Commercial Banks: Evidence from A Transitional Economy

This study examines the relationship between foreign ownership and market competition, proxied by bank market power, affecting the credit growth of 32 commercial banks in Vietnam from 2010 to 2020. The Random Effects Model and the Dynamic System Generalized Method of Moments were used to analyze an unbalanced panel of 278 annual observations. The findings report that foreign ownership reduces credit growth, with each percentage increase in foreign ownership reducing credit growth by 0.74%. The results indicate an inverse U-shaped relationship between competitive advantage and credit growth, with a turning point of 0.46. The main findings were found to be robust after employing an alternative market power proxy. The study recommends that bank managers and policymakers limit foreign ownership and control commercial banks’ market power to promote sustainable credit growth

A new calibration setup for lock-in amplifiers in the low frequency range and its validation in a bilateral comparison

partially_open6sìThis paper addresses the calibration of lock-in amplifiers in the low frequency range. A simple but effective calibration setup implemented at INRIM is described. This includes a stable low-voltage source, composed of a digital sine wave generator and a cascade of two voltage dividers, one inductive and one resistive. The magnitude error is the lock-in magnitude error, which can be determined with an uncertainty of the order of 10(-4) or better, that is, two orders of magnitude lower than the typical lock-in accuracy specification. The system can operate with an input voltage from 0.1 mu V to 10 mu V and a frequency from a few hertz to about 1 kHz. The performances of the calibration setup were evaluated at 1 mu V and 10 mu V at 20 Hz and 103 Hz and compared with those of another existing setup, implemented at METAS, through a direct comparison in the framework of an EURAMET research project.openCultrera, Alessandro; Corminboeuf, David; D’Elia, Vincenzo; Tran, Ngoc Thanh Mai; Callegaro, Luca; Ortolano, MassimoCultrera, Alessandro; Corminboeuf, David; D’Elia, Vincenzo; Tran, Ngoc Thanh Mai; Callegaro, Luca; Ortolano, Massim

Statistical deconvolution of the free Fokker-Planck equation at fixed time

We are interested in reconstructing the initial condition of a non-linear partial differential equation (PDE), namely the Fokker-Planck equation, from the observation of a Dyson Brownian motion at a given time $t>0$. The Fokker-Planck equation describes the evolution of electrostatic repulsive particle systems, and can be seen as the large particle limit of correctly renormalized Dyson Brownian motions. The solution of the Fokker-Planck equation can be written as the free convolution of the initial condition and the semi-circular distribution. We propose a nonparametric estimator for the initial condition obtained by performing the free deconvolution via the subordination functions method. This statistical estimator is original as it involves the resolution of a fixed point equation, and a classical deconvolution by a Cauchy distribution. This is due to the fact that, in free probability, the analogue of the Fourier transform is the R-transform, related to the Cauchy transform. In past literature, there has been a focus on the estimation of the initial conditions of linear PDEs such as the heat equation, but to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the problem is tackled for a non-linear PDE. The convergence of the estimator is proved and the integrated mean square error is computed, providing rates of convergence similar to the ones known for non-parametric deconvolution methods. Finally, a simulation study illustrates the good performances of our estimator

Il progetto GIQS: Graphene Impedance Quantum Standard

The project GIQS: Graphene Impedance Quantum standard is a Joint Research Project of the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR). The goal of the project is the realisation of the SI units of electrical impedance by traceability to the quantum Hall resistance in graphene devices. The project, and the role of the Italian partners, is described

Spondylolysis-induced Multilevel Lumbar Spondylolisthesis; Challenges in Lumbar Spine Surgery

Lumbar spondylolysis and multilevel lumbar spondylolysis account for 4.4-5.8% and 0.3% of the general population, and multilevel lumbar spondylolysis resulting in spondylolisthesis is even rarer. Herein, we report two cases of three-level lumbar spondylolisthesis because of spondylolysis: A 49-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for dull lower back pain over the past 8 months, with exacerbating symptoms when standing and walking. Spasticity at lumbar region and radiculopathy at S1 nerve root was found on examination and a 63-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of numbness and perianal sensory disturbances with difficulty urinating 2 weeks ago, the symptoms gradually increased to the time of examination. Both patients were diagnosed with multilevel lumbar spondylolisthesis because of spondylolysis and were indicated for posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). After surgery, both patients recovered well without any significant complications. The improved treatment results suggest the application of PLIF technique to treat spondylolysis-induced multilevel lumbar spondylolisthesis