Bank productivity and performance groups: A decomposition approach based upon the Luenberger productivity indicator

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, in the framework of the strategic groups’ literature, it analyZes changes in productivity and efficiency of Spanish private and savings banks over an eight-year period (1998-2006). Second, by adapting the decomposition of the Malmquist productivity indices suggested by Färe et al. (1994), it proposes similar components decomposing the Luenberger productivity indicator. Initially, productivity is decomposed into technological and efficiency changes. Thereafter, this efficiency change is decomposed into pure efficiency, scale and congestion changes. Empirical results demonstrate that productivity improvements are partially due to technological innovation. Furthermore, it is shown how the competition between private and savings banks develops in terms of the analyzed productivity and efficiency components. While private banks enjoy better efficiency change, savings banks contribute more to technological progress. Consequently, the Luenberger components are used as cluster analysis inputs. Thus, economic interpretations of the resulting performance groups are made via key differences in productivity components. Finally, following the strategic groups’ literature, supplementary insights are gained by linking these performance groups with banking ratios.     

Analysis of lumped models with contact and friction

We consider two mathematical models that describe the vibrations of spring-mass-damper systems with contact and friction. In the first model, both the contact and frictional boundary conditions are described with subdifferentials of nonconvex functions. In the second model, the contact is modeled with a Lipschitz continuous function, and the restitution force is described by a differential equation involving a Volterra integral term. The two models lead to second-order differential inclusions with and without an integral term, in which the unknowns are the positions of the masses. For each model, we prove the existence of a solution by using an abstract result for first-order differential inclusions in finite dimensional spaces. For the second model, in addition, we prove the uniqueness of the solution by using a fixed point argument. Finally, we provide examples of systems with contact and friction conditions for which our results are valid.     

Evaluation of the renal calculi compositions

Thermal analysis and infrared (IR) spectroscopy are modern physical–chemical methods suitable for the investigation of the kidney stones composition. The applications of these methods in our work were anticipated by performing the standard thermal analysis and standard infrared spectra on pure compounds: oxalates, phosphate, carbonate, and uric acid. This work reveals a logical algorithm for correlating the experimental data regarding urolithiasis types and compositions by thermal analysis methods, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and second derivative FT-IR spectra. The limits and performance of each analysis method have been highlighted, and by correlating the results of both methods we have obtained comprehensive information for the identification and/or determination of the main components as well as of organic and/or inert impurities in calculi composition. The data regarding the urinary calculi composition are important for the clinical guideline in the prophilaxy and methaphylaxy of urolithiasis.     

Preparation of CuFe2O4/SiO2 nanocomposite starting from Cu(II)–Fe(III) carboxylates embedded in hybrid silica gels

Nanocomposites of the type 30 % CuFe₂O₄/70 % SiO₂ were synthesized using the modified sol–gel method starting from tetraethylorthosilicate, metal nitrates (Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O, Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O) and the diol: 1,3-propane diol. The obtained hybrid gel, which contains within the pores, the metal nitrates and diol, was thermally treated at 140 °C, when the redox reaction between metal nitrates and 1,3-propane diol takes place forming Cu(II)–Fe(III) carboxylate compounds of malonate type. The thermal decomposition of the carboxylates within the gels pores, at ~300 °C, leads to simple or mixed metal oxides, uniformly distributed within the amorphous silica matrix. The spinel system CuFe₂O₄/SiO₂ was obtained starting with 700 °C. The evolution of the spinel phase with the annealing temperature was investigated and resulted that at 1,000 °C, the matrix crystallizes into cristobalite and quartz. The formation of bulk CuFe₂O₄, starting from the same type of Cu(II)–Fe(III) carboxylate compounds was also investigated. A comparison between the thermal evolution of bulk CuFe₂O₄ and CuFe₂O₄/SiO₂ starting from Cu(II)–Fe(III) carboxylate compounds was made. The magnetic behavior of the ferrite nanocrystallites depending on the annealing temperature was also investigated.     

Coulomb excitation of the odd-odd isotopes 106, 108In

The low-lying states in the odd-odd and unstable isotopes ^{106, 108}In have been Coulomb excited from the ground state and the first excited isomeric state at the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. With the additional data provided here the $ \pi$ g _9/2 ^-1 ? $ \nu$ d _5/2 and $ \pi$ g _9/2 ^-1 ? $ \nu$ g _7/2 multiplets have been re-analyzed and are modified compared to previous results. The observed $ \gamma$ -ray de-excitation patterns were interpreted within a shell model calculation based on a realistic effective interaction. The agreement between theory and experiment is satisfactory and the calculations reproduce the observed differences in the excitation pattern of the two isotopes. The calculations exclude a 6⁺ ground state in ¹⁰⁶In . This is in agreement with the conclusions drawn using other techniques. Furthermore, based on the experimental results, it is also concluded that the ordering of the isomeric and ground state in ¹⁰⁸In is inverted compared to the shell model prediction. Limits on B(E2) values have been extracted where possible. A previously unknown low-lying state at 367keV in ¹⁰⁶In is also reported.     

Profiling the Concentration of Reduced and Oxidized Glutathione in Rat Brain Using HPLC/DAD Chromatographic System

This study aimed to develop a HPLC/DAD method in order to determine and quantify the reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels in rat brain. Due to the presence of the thiol group (-SH), GSH can interact with the Ellman′s reagent (DTNB), with which it forms a reaction product through which the level of GSH can be quantified, using the DAD detection system. Chromatographic separation was achieved after a derivatization process by using a mobile phase acetonitrile (A) and phosphate buffer (20 mM, pH = 2.5) (B). The compounds of interest were detected at 330 nm using a chromatographic C8 column. The method of determination met the validation criteria, specified by the regulatory bodies. The applicability of the method was demonstrated in a chronic toxicology study of central nervous system (CNS), following different treatment regimens with haloperidol.     

Parameters identification of cable stayed footbridges using Bayesian inference

Numerical modeling of actual structural systems is a very complex task mainly due to the lack of complete knowledge on the involved parameters. Simplified assumptions on the uncertain geometry, material properties and boundary conditions make the numerical model response differ from the actual structural response. Improvements of the finite element (FE) models to obtain accurate response predictions can be achieved by vibration based FE model updating which uses experimental measures to minimize the differences between the numerical and experimental modal features (i.e. natural frequencies and mode shapes). Within this context, probabilistic model updating procedures based on the Bayes’ theorem were recently proposed in the literature in order to take into account the uncertainties affecting the structural parameters and their influence on the structural response. In this paper, a novel framework to efficiently estimate the posterior marginal PDF of the selected model parameters is proposed. First, the main dynamic parameters to be used for model updating are identified by ambient vibration tests on an actual structural system. Second, a first numerical FE model is developed to perform initial sensitivity analysis. Third, a surrogate model based on polynomial chaos is calibrated on the initial FE model to significantly reduce computational costs. Finally, the posterior marginal PDFs of the chosen model parameters are estimated. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated using a FE numerical model describing a curved cable-stayed footbridge located in Terni (Umbria Region, Central Italy).

     

Influence of the Crystallinity of Silver Nanoparticles on Their Magnetic Properties

The magnetic properties of noble-metal nanoparticles are a puzzling phenomenon, tentatively often explained as a size effect or a ligand effect. Many experimental studies performed to date have attempted to vary these readily available parameters without reaching a definitive conclusion. In an attempt at better understanding the role of core crystallinity on these magnetic properties, we have compared the behavior of silver nanoparticles, which were either single-crystalline or multi-twinned, of almost identical sizes and with the same ligand coating. Our results indicate that single-crystalline nanoparticles tend to behave as classical paramagnetic materials, whereas multi-twinned ones exhibit a combination of para- and ferro-magnetic behaviors. Our hypothesis is that lattice defects within the core bear magnetic moments which couple through conduction electrons, with dipolar interactions also playing a local and macroscopic role.