Determination of the step response function of a dielectric in the presence of noise

In the time domain characterization of dielectrics a fundamental measure is the dielectric response function /spl Phi/(t). This function permits the relaxation time and the complex permittivity of the dielectric under test to be determined, allowing the complete characterization of the dielectric properties. To calculate the /spl Phi/(t) function a time domain deconvolution algorithm (TDD), developed in a previous work, is employed. In this paper a new technique to enhance the calculation of the /spl Phi/(t) function in the time domain, is presented, avoiding the instability problems inherent to the TDD algorithm. The method consists in the use of appropriate digital lowpass filter in several stages of the time domain deconvolution algorithm to calculate the /spl Phi/(t) function. This procedure provides an enhanced precision for /spl Phi/(t) even for very short times (/spl ap/ 10 ps for the time domain reflectometry system used).     

A magnetic field simulating device for current measuring instruments testing purpose

In this paper, it presented a device intended to reproduce magnetic fields of differents shapes to help the test or calibration of current measuring instruments based on Ampere's Law (current transformers, current clamps, and Rogowsky probes). In particular, this device can reproduce the effect of uncentered currents without requiring any mechanical displacement of the conductor or the device under test during its operation. Any uncentered or distributed current is approximated by a linear combination of currents flowing along a specific set of conductors. First, the theoretical vectorial analysis is presented, and second, a specific arrangement of conductors is used to illustrate the method. A number of measurements have been taken to check the results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Lipoprotein profile determinants in children and adolescents from a lipid consultation clinic. The impact of diet, body composition and physical activity]

The production of extracellular beta-amylase by some Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus polymyxa [corrected] strains was investigated, and the maximal yields of the enzyme were 3.6; 9.3 and 20.4 U/mL of the culture fluid, respectively (U, 1 mumol of maltose equivalent per min at 30 degrees C). Several cultivation media were used for beta-amylase production. Bacillus cereus and some strains of Bacillus megaterium gave good yields of beta-amylase only in medium with the addition of nutrient broth. However, beta-amylase produced during growth in protein rich medium (nutrient broth) was highly unstable, probably due to inactivation by proteolytic enzymes co-existing in the culture fluid. Bacillus polymyxa [corrected] strains can produce good yields of beta-amylase on a semi-synthetic medium consisting of inorganic salts, potato starch and inexpensive soybean extract instead of costly peptone and meat extract. The most potential beta-amylase producer was the strain Bacillus polymyxa [corrected] NCIB 8524. The tested Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus polymyxa [corrected] strains were apparently differentiated by temperature cultivation (30 and 37 degrees C) suitable for beta-amylase amylase yield.