A current-mode interface (CMI) with mixed single/dual slope integration (MSDSI) for differential capacitive sensors (DCSs) is presented in this article. The proposed design is based on the integration of the reference current flowing through the capacitors of the DCS. The integration of the capacitor of a smaller capacitance is performed with a dual slope. Contrary, the integration on the capacitor of a larger capacitance is performed with only one slope. The normalized differential capacitance (NDC) defined as the difference-to-sum ratio of the DCS capacitances is proportional to the duration of only one time interval which is digitized using the counting method. There is no need for postprocessing in the proposed NDC-to-time-to-digital conversion. It has been prototyped using discrete off-the-shelf components mounted on a printed circuit board, with a single supply voltage of 3.3 V. The measured NDC is in the range $|\text {NDC}| < 0.612$ , with the constant sum of DCS capacitances of 970 pF. Achieved full-scale error is smaller than 0.3%, with a range of conversion speed from 1770 to 2755 NDC-to-time-to-digital conversions per second.

An <italic>RC</italic> -to-digital converter (RCDC) for the measurement of the <italic>RC</italic> time constant of the resistor and capacitor connected in series is presented in this article. A simple RCDC design insensitive to parasitic capacitances is based on the single-slope integration. The output voltage of the integrator is linearly changed from half the value of the reference voltage to its final value. The <italic>RC</italic> time constant is equal to the duration of the single-slope integration and is independent of any other parameter. The proposed RCDC has been prototyped using discrete off-the-shelf components mounted on a printed circuit board, with a single supply voltage of 2.7 V. Measurements have been performed for 36 different combinations of the resistors and capacitors connected in series, where the measured time constant is in the range <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$45.77 \mu \text{s} < $ </tex-math></inline-formula> <italic>RC</italic> < 2.32 ms, for three different reference voltages. The achieved relative error is smaller than 1.96% for the largest reference voltage used.

Economic supply shocks and fiscal expansion coupled with monetary expansion are suspected causes of the rise in inflation that we observe in most of the developed and developing economies today. In this paper we look at the effect of the government budget deficit(surplus) or fiscal policy stance, and quantitative easing on inflation while controlling for economic shocks using the method of cointegration as we find data series in our model to be integrated of order one and having support of one cointegrating equation between the variables. Our analysis is performed using Federal Reserve monthly data from 1994 to 2022 using Two-Step Engle-Granger (1987) method and Fully Modified OLS by Phillips and Hansen (1990). We compare these models to Auto Regressive Distributed Lag model of Pesaran and Shin (1998) which allows for analysis irrespective of the order of integration to provide for more robustness regarding the estimated relationships in cases of misspecification of stationary properties in our time series. Both cointegrating models lend support to the initial postulated relationship where expansionary fiscal policy has significant positive impact on the price level during the long run but also enhances the effect of the Quantitative Easing on the price level as the interaction term between these variables is significant, indicating that during the periods of expansionary fiscal policy, expansionary monetary policy through Quantitative easing has bigger effect. Our analysis is performed controlling for effect of economic shocks and price of real exchange rate on the price level. Stability of the cointegration model tests reveal presence of structural breaks which when included in the cointegrating equation change the importance of the impact that fiscal stance has on inflation and reveal that inflation is mainly result of the expansion in central bank assets after 2008, which coincides with period of unconventional monetary policy

The main ambition of this paper is to explain and analyze the difficult relations between China and Taiwan and its possible consequences for the regional and international security. The role of the United States is considered as a key actor. It permits to understand the strategies of the different actors due to the strong support given by Washington to Taiwan. The economic relations between the two neighbors are also interesting, to show how the topic is complex and sensitive. Our goal is to propose an analysis mentioning the ambitions of the different sides and their limits due to the realpolitik.

The primary aim of the paper is to conduct research on the personality traits in esport players and athletes, in addition to confirming differences in personality between the two examined groups. The research has been conducted on 67 (N=67) examinees, 30 of whom are semi-professional or professional esports players who participate in state-level and regional-level competitions. The remaining 37 examinees are the highest-ranked athletes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. T-test, a type of inferential statistic, has been used to determine statistical differences in disposition between the arithmetic means of the two groups, using the BFI-44 (a=0.78) measuring instrument. It has been anticipated that esports players would be ranked lower on Extraversion (E), Agreeableness (A), and Conscientiousness (C), but higher on the Neuroticism (N) and Openness (O) dimensions compared to athletes. The research indicates that four of the five hypotheses have been confirmed - on the scale of Extraversion (E) with significance levels of p=.000 (p<0.0001); Agreeableness (A) showing p=.002 (p<0.01); Neuroticism (N) showing p=.042 (p<0.05); and Conscientiousness (C) showing significance levels of p=.004 (p<0.01) The fifth hypothesis was not confirmed on this sample. The results gathered on this sample could significantly contribute to understanding the differences between esports players and athletes.

Background/Aim:Dental age estimation in adults is a challenging process due to the lack of sufficient information on the accuracy of dental methods applied in the identification of persons without information on identity. Previous studies on dental age estimation in adults suggested that each method should be tested on a population other than one which was used to develop the specific method. The aim of this study was to estimate dental age in adults from Bosnia and Herzegovina with the radiographic analysis of the pulp/tooth ratio of lower canines and to determine differences from chronological age. Material and Methods: The sample for the research comprised 50 periapical radiographs, with visible intact lower canine teeth, derived from an archive of the Department of Dental Morphology, Dental Anthropology and Forensics. After the selection process, all radiographs were digitalized. Additional information used is the chronological age and sex of the person to whom the images belonged. The measurements of the pulp space and the lower canine tooth were performed using the ImageJ computer methods. The results of measurements were entered in formulas for assessments of dental age, as per equations given by the authors. Results: The research has shown that there is a significant difference in examined population between the dental age estimated by the analysis of pulp/tooth ratio of lower canine teeth and the chronological age. The standard error of regression for Cameriere model was 14.12 years, and this model proved to be statistically significant (p= 0.0017). Kvaal-Solheim model from 1994 has shown a standard error of 15.07 years, and did not prove to be statistically significant (p= 0.054), while another model from 1995, by the same authors, shows a standard error of 14.64 years, and it proved to be statistically significant (p= 0.011). Conclusions: It is possible to estimate dental age by means of pulp/tooth ratio. However, it is necessary to conduct further research that will include a larger number of examinees and different age groups and also consider the specificity of teeth in Bosnia - Herzegovina's population to acquire more accurate data on accuracy and reliability of those methods in this population.

With the expansion of renewables in the electricity markets, research on electricity storage economics is needed for a better understanding of the utilization of these systems and for improving the performance of intermittent variable generation. Collected up-to-date research of electricity storage systems published in a wide range of articles with high impact factors gives a comprehensive review of the current studies regarding all relevant parameters for storage utilization in the electricity markets. Valuable research of technical characteristics from the literature is broadened with the electricity storage analyses from an economic point-of-view. Analysis of selected technologies, considering different perspectives such as their profitability, technical maturity, and environmental aspect, is a valuable addition to the previous research on electricity storage systems. Comparing conducted analysis with the selected literature, electricity storage technologies are analyzed concerning their viability in the electricity markets. Given the current outlook of the electricity market, the main problems for storage's wider integration are still energy storage costs. These can be overcome with different applications of energy storage systems, integration of new market players, or a combination of storage technologies along with the implementation of new energy policies for storage.