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The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of extended embryo culture in advanced maternal age (AMA) patients (37–43 years). In this retrospective analysis, 21,301 normally fertilized zygotes from 4952 couples were cultured until the blastocyst stage. Blastocyst development, including kinetics and morphology, transfer rate, implantation and live birth rates, were measured. In AMA patients, the blastocyst rate was significantly decreased as compared to that in younger women. On day 5, blastocysts underwent growth retardation in AMA patients, which was highlighted by a decreased rate of full/expanded blastocysts. Organization of the cells (trophectoderm and inner cell mass) was unaffected by age. However, in AMA patients, a ‘good’ morphology blastocyst had a decreased probability to implant compared with an ‘average’ morphology blastocyst in younger women. While the rates of blastocyst transfer and useful blastocysts were similar to younger patients, in AMA patients, both implantation and live birth rates were significantly reduced. Our results support the idea that extended embryo culture is not harmful for AMA patients. However, embryo selection allowed by such culture is not powerful enough to avoid chromosomal abnormalities in the developed blastocysts and therefore cannot compensate for the effect of a woman’s age.

Resume Introduction Le present article constitue le rapport de la reunion de travail multi-disciplinaire organisee par le GRAPPPA (groupe de recherche appliquee a la pathologie pelvi-perineale des personnes âgees). L’objectif est de dresser une synthese de l’utilisation de la toxine botulinique A (TBA) dans la prise en charge des troubles pelvi-perineaux du sujet âge. Methodes Le present article a ete construit comme une revue comprehensive de la litterature, associant donnees issues de la litterature scientifique et avis d’experts. La revue systematique de la litterature a ete menee a partir de la base de donnees bibliographique MedLine (National Library of Medicine). Concernant les injections intra-detrusoriennes de TBA, seuls les articles rapportant des resultats specifiques chez les sujets âges (> 65 ans) etaient inclus. Concernant les autres localisations, compte-tenu du nombre restreint de donnees, tous les articles rapportant les resultats de la TBA etaient systematiquement inclus, quelle que soient la population etudiee. En cas de donnees manquantes ou insuffisantes, des avis d’expert etaient formules. Resultats Bien que les donnees issues de cette population specifique soient limitees, il semble que la TBA pourrait etre proposee chez le sujet âge sans critere de fragilite dans la prise en charge de l’HAV, avec taux de succes comparable aux patients jeunes a 3 mois (88,9 % vs 91,2 %), 6 mois (49,4 % vs 52,1 %) et 12 mois (23,1 % vs 22,3 %), et une diminution significative du nombre de mictions quotidiennes (11,4 vs 5,29 p Conclusion La TBA presente un interet dans la prise en charge de divers troubles pelvi-perineaux du sujet âge, et ses differentes applications devraient etre mieux evaluees au sein de cette population specifique tant en termes de securite que d’efficacite.

Proceedings of SPIE, 11852, ISSN:0277-786X, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2020

Background and purposeThe Meta-Analysis of Chemotherapy in squamous cell Head and Neck Cancer (MACH-NC) demonstrated that concomitant chemotherapy (CT) improved overall survival (OS) in patients without distant metastasis. We report the updated results.Materials and methodsPublished or unpublished randomized trials including patients with non-metastatic carcinoma randomized between 1965 and 2016 and comparing curative loco-regional treatment (LRT) to LRT+CT or adding another timing of CT to LRT+CT (main question), or comparing induction CT+radiotherapy to radiotherapy+concomitant (or alternating) CT (secondary question) were eligible. Individual patient data were collected and combined using a fixed-effect model. OS was the main endpoint.ResultsFor the main question, 101 trials (18951 patients, median follow-up of 6.5years) were analyzed. For both questions, there were 16 new (2767 patients) and 11 updated trials. Around 90% of the patients had stage III or IV disease. Interaction between treatment effect on OS and the timing of CT was significant (p&nbsp

Contains fulltext : 235407.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) BACKGROUND: Randomised, controlled trials and meta-analyses have shown the survival benefit of concomitant chemoradiotherapy or hyperfractionated radiotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer. However, the relative efficacy of these treatments is unknown. We aimed to determine whether one treatment was superior to the other. METHODS: We did a frequentist network meta-analysis based on individual patient data of meta-analyses evaluating the role of chemotherapy (Meta-Analysis of Chemotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer [MACH-NC]) and of altered fractionation radiotherapy (Meta-Analysis of Radiotherapy in Carcinomas of Head and Neck [MARCH]). Randomised, controlled trials that enrolled patients with non-metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer between Jan 1, 1980, and Dec 31, 2016, were included. We used a two-step random-effects approach, and the log-rank test, stratified by trial to compare treatments, with locoregional therapy as the reference. Overall survival was the primary endpoint. The global Cochran Q statistic was used to assess homogeneity and consistency and P score to rank treatments (higher scores indicate more effective therapies). FINDINGS: 115 randomised, controlled trials, which enrolled patients between Jan 1, 1980, and April 30, 2012, yielded 154 comparisons (28 978 patients with 19 253 deaths and 20 579 progression events). Treatments were grouped into 16 modalities, for which 35 types of direct comparisons were available. Median follow-up based on all trials was 6·6 years (IQR 5·0-9·4). Hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concomitant chemotherapy (HFCRT) was ranked as the best treatment for overall survival (P score 97%; hazard ratio 0·63 [95% CI 0·51-0·77] compared with locoregional therapy). The hazard ratio of HFCRT compared with locoregional therapy with concomitant chemoradiotherapy with platinum-based chemotherapy (CLRT(P)) was 0·82 (95% CI 0·66-1·01) for overall survival. The superiority of HFCRT was robust to sensitivity analyses. Three other modalities of treatment had a better P score, but not a significantly better HR, for overall survival than CLRT(P) (P score 78%): induction chemotherapy with taxane, cisplatin, and fluorouracil followed by locoregional therapy (IC(TaxPF)-LRT; 89%), accelerated radiotherapy with concomitant chemotherapy (82%), and IC(TaxPF) followed by CLRT (80%). INTERPRETATION: The results of this network meta-analysis suggest that further intensifying chemoradiotherapy, using HFCRT or IC(TaxPF)-CLRT, could improve outcomes over chemoradiotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer. FUNDINGS: French Institut National du Cancer, French Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, and Fondation ARC.

Pediatric heart failure (HF) patients have been a historically underserved population for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) therapy. To address this clinical need, we are developing a low cost, universal magnetically levitated extracorporeal system with interchangeable pump heads for pediatric support. Two impeller and pump designs (pump V1 and V2) for the pediatric pump were developed using dimensional analysis techniques and classic pump theory based on defined performance criteria (generated flow, pressure, and impeller diameter). The designs were virtually constructed using computer-aided design (CAD) software and 3D flow and pressure features were analyzed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. Simulated pump designs (V1, V2) were operated at higher rotational speeds (~5,000 revolutions per minute [RPM]) than initially estimated (4,255 RPM) to achieve the desired operational point (3.5 L/min flow at 150 mm Hg). Pump V2 outperformed V1 by generating approximately 30% higher pressures at all simulated rotational speeds and at 5% lower priming volume. Simulated hydrodynamic performance (achieved flow and pressure, hydraulic efficiency) of our pediatric pump design, featuring reduced impeller size and priming volume, compares favorably to current commercially available MCS devices.

Introduction Les patients hemodialyses sont a risque de forme severe d’infection a SARS-CoV2. Les facteurs cliniques et biologiques correles a la severite ne sont pas connus et aideraient a l’orientation precoce des patients. Description Il s’agit d’une etude retrospective sur la cohorte des hemodialyses en secteur COVID du centre, comprenant nos patients prevalents atteints et ceux ayant eu au moins une seance en repli. Methodes Les donnees sont recueillies depuis les informations du dossier medical, du logiciel de biologie et des compte-rendus d’hospitalisation. On definit les formes graves par une oxygenorequerance ≥ 6 L/min. Les caracteristiques des patients, leur biologie a l’entree et lors de l’evolution, les traitements entrepris sont analyses. Resultats Trente et un patients ont ete inclus du 12 mars au 17 avril 2020, deux tiers provenant de l’exterieur : âge median 59 ans, 69 % d’hommes, IMC median 25,6 kg/m2, anciennete mediane en dialyse 28 mois. Treize (42 %) ont recu de l’azithromycine, 10 (32 %) un traitement specifique (1 tocilizumab, 3 oseltamivir, 5 hemisuccinate d’hydrocortisone ou 1 hydroxychloroquine), 12 (39 %) ont presente une forme grave, avec une mortalite totale de 20 % (6/31). Les facteurs de gravite identifies ont ete l’IMC eleve (p = 0,025), les elevations de la CRP (p = 0,0024), des LDH (p = 0,037) et des polynucleaires neutrophiles (p = 0,013) des le diagnostic. L’âge, l’IL-6 et le diabete n’ont pas ete pronostiques dans cette etude. Conclusion Cette serie de 31 patients permet d’identifier des facteurs de gravite simples (IMC, CRP, LDH, polynucleaires neutrophiles) d’infection SARS-CoV2 frequemment severe chez les hemodialyses et compliquee d’une mortalite elevee. En complement de la clinique, le profil du malade et sa biologie initiale doivent conduire a une hospitalisation chez des patients ambulatoires.

Introduction L’impact de la modalite du traitement de suppleance renale sur l’evolution de l’infection a SARS-CoV2 est indetermine. Les patients transplantes developpent une immunodepression secondaire a leur traitement tandis que les patients dialyses sont generalement plus âges et fragiles. Le but de notre etude est de determiner l’impact de la modalite du traitement de suppleance sur le pronostic de l’infection a SARS-CoV2. Description Nous avons mene une etude de cohorte retrospective utilisant l’entrepot de donnees de sante de notre institution. Une recherche automatique sur les dossiers des patients ayant eu au moins un contact medical dans notre service de Nephrologie a ete effectuee sur la base de codes CIM-10. Ont ete inclus les patients hospitalises pour une infection a SARS-CoV2 dans un des hopitaux de notre institution (criteres « Sante Publique France »). Methodes Un modele de Cox stratifie sur l’âge et la presence d’un antecedent de coronaropathie a ete utilise pour determiner des Hazard Ratios (HR) ajustes estimant le risque de deces ou d’hospitalisation en reanimation. Resultats Nous avons inclus 72 patients : 47 dans le groupe « transplantation » et 25 dans le groupe « dialyse ». Vingt-et-un deces ou hospitalisations en reanimation sont survenus au cours du suivi (15 (32 %) dans le groupe « transplantation », 6 (24 %) dans le groupe « dialyse » ; p = 0,45). En analyse multivariee, le HR ajuste de deces ou admission en reanimation etait de 1,70 [IC95 % : 0,59-4,86] pour les transplantes en comparaison aux dialyses (p = 0,32). Conclusion Dans notre etude, chez des patients hospitalises pour une infection a SARS-CoV2, nous n’avons pas mis en evidence de difference significative de risque de deces ou d’hospitalisation en reanimation entre les patients transplantes et dialyses. Des etudes supplementaires sont necessaires pour confirmer ou infirmer ces resultats.

This paper describes the elastic tire–pavement tractive rolling contact, by means of a semi-analytical method, in order to analyse top-down cracking. The model includes the actual tire profile and ...

Obesity is a major public health problem. Pregnant women are also affected by this epidemic. In pregnant women, obesity increases obstetric and neonatal complications, and is associated with alterations in the quality of labor that could be explained by reduced myometrial contractility. This leads to an increase in the rate of caesarean sections and postpartum haemorrhages in this population at risk. Adipokines, hormones secreted by adipose tissue, may have a role in altering the myometrial contractility. Weight loss in these patients is based on dietary management and on physical activity, which could be a way to improve adipokines action and uterine contractility. The objective of this literature review was to review current knowledge about the role of adipokines on uterine contractility in obese pregnant women and to assess the interest of sport in improving contractility and in reducing obstetric complications in these women.

Resume Objectif L’objectif de cet article etait d’effectuer une revue des donnees de la litterature concernant les effets cardiovasculaires des traitements anticholinergiques a visee urinaire chez la personne âgee. Methodes Une revue de la litterature a ete effectuee en octobre 2017 a l’aide de la base de donnees Medline/Pubmed en limitant la recherche aux travaux en anglais ou en francais. Resultats Au total, 602 articles de mars 1964 a octobre 2017 ont ete releves, 60 articles ont ete analyses et 19 essais prospectifs ont ete selectionnes. Plus de 20 % de la population geriatrique presente une hyperactivite vesicale dont 41,4 % serait traite par anticholinergiques. La prevalence des comorbidites cardiovasculaires est elevee avec 24,4 % de cardiopathies chez les 65–74 ans et 36,9 % chez les ≥ 75 ans. L’evaluation des effets cardiovasculaires des anticholinergiques dans la population geriatrique est rendue difficile par l’exclusion dans cette population au cours des essais des comorbidites cardiovasculaires. Neanmoins, certains evenements cardiovasculaires severes sont rapportes comme la survenue d’une fibrillation auriculaire, d’un bloc auriculo-ventriculaire ou de syncopes sur torsades de pointe. Des etudes complementaires semblent necessaires tout particulierement dans la « vraie vie » avec suivi longitudinal des patients âges traites par anticholinergiques pour preciser l’impact cardiovasculaire de ces prescriptions. Conclusion En l’absence de donnees d’evidence, et compte tenu du tropisme cardiovasculaire des anticholinergiques, meme a visee specifiquement vesicale en raison de leur manque de selectivite, il semble raisonnable d’introduire avec precaution un traitement anticholinergique dans la population geriatrique, et ce au-dela des effets indesirables notamment cognitifs deja connus.

Objective Three months after hysteroscopic sterilisation with Essure ® , a confirmation test is required to evaluate the correct location of the inserts. The test may be conducted using a pelvic ultrasound (2D or 3D) or an abdominal X-ray. Should the location not look satisfactory on these tests, a follow-up hysterosalpingography (HSG) would be required. The objective of our study is to assess whether the Essure ® 3-month confirmation test using a single X-ray or a combination of X-ray and ultrasound could reduce the use of HSG. Study design This retrospective study examined patients who underwent birth control Essure ® procedure between 2009 and 2015 in the Gynaecological Surgery Department at the Regional University Hospital Centre (CHRU) in Lille. We divided patients into two groups based on the imaging tests performed: single X-ray (2009–2010) versus X-ray and pelvic ultrasound (2014–2015). We then compared the results of the imaging tests and the use of HSG between the two groups. Results One hundred and thirty-four patients were tested, of which 60 (44.8%) using a single X-ray and 74 (55.2%) using a combination of X-ray and ultrasound. We note that the combined X-ray/ultrasound test reduces significantly the number of HSG performed (26.7% versus 12.2%, P = 0.04). Conclusion Compared to a single X-ray, the combination of X-ray and ultrasound enables to significantly limit the use of HSG.

International audience

The pioneers that blazed the trail for the development of circulatory support devices were highly motivated to develop technology so that they could operate on pediatric patients with congenital heart diseases. Without diagnostic imaging or cardiopulmonary bypass, surgeons could only guess at a diagnosis and attempt to surgically repair the tiny pediatric heart within minutes. Step by step, the window to operate was extended by introducing hypothermia, novel oxygenators, and ultimately with cleverly designed pumps. Cardiopulmonary bypass was the product of pediatric surgeons and engineers. This chapter reviews many of the events and pioneers that led to the birth of pediatric circulatory support.

Tire—road surface contact is a complex combination of stresses and deformations that depend on tire and road factors, such as vehicle speed, weight, tire material and type, tire pressure inflation, camber and texture of the surface layer. In this paper, the problem of the tire-pavement contact is studied using a realistic description in normal section and corner. Mechanical field is validated with a press system under different inflation pressures and loads. The model requires precise tire geometry and an equivalent Young’s modulus. For this purpose, an optical method based on a photogrammetry method provided a 3D field of displacement. The estimation of the equivalent Young’s modulus is also proposed as a function of the inflation pressure resulting from the press load tests. Finally, a comparison is made between the measured footprint of the tire, the result of the semi-analytical calculation as well as the effect of tire inclination (corner/turn) on the distribution of surface stresses that is demonstrated.

According to national guidelines, conventional management of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is hospitalization until induction. Outpatient management could be another option. Our objective was to compare latency period between patients managed in hospital versus outpatients. A retrospective before/after monocentric study that occured from 2002 to 2015. Were included all patients with PPROM prior to 35 weeks with homecare inclusion criteria. The primary outcome measure was to study length of latency period (delay between PPROM and delivery). Second outcome measures were maternal and perinatal morbidities and mortalities. Among the 395 women included after PPROM, 191 were managed as outpatients and 204 in hospital. In the outpatient group, the length of latency period was longer than in the inpatient group [39 (IQR 20 to 66) versus 21 (IQR 13 to 42) days; p

Background This study aimed at applying the restricted mean survival time difference (rmstD) as an absolute outcome measure in a network meta-analysis and comparing the results with those obtained using hazard ratios (HR) from the individual patient data (IPD) network meta-analysis (NMA) on the role of chemotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) recently published by the MAC-NPC collaborative group (Meta-Analysis of Chemotherapy [CT] in NPC). Patients and methods Twenty trials (5144 patients) comparing radiotherapy (RT) with or without CT in non-metastatic NPC were included. Treatments were grouped in seven categories: RT alone (RT), induction CT followed by RT (IC-RT), RT followed by adjuvant CT (RT-AC), IC followed by RT followed by AC (IC-RT-AC), concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CRT), IC followed by CRT (IC-CRT), and CRT followed by AC (CRT-AC). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS); secondary endpoints were progression-free survival and locoregional control. The rmstD was estimated at t* = 10 years in each trial. Random-effect frequentist NMA models were applied. P score was used to rank treatments. Heterogeneity and inconsistency were evaluated. Results The three treatments that had the highest effect on OS with rmstD were CRT-AC, IC-CRT, and CRT (respective P scores of 92%, 72%, and 64%) compared to CRT-AC, CRT, and IC-CRT when using HR (respective P scores of 96%, 71%, and 63%). Of the 32 HR and rmstD analyzed, 5 had a different interpretation, 3 with a direction change (different direction of treatment effect) and 2 with a change in significance (same direction but a change in statistical significance). Results for secondary endpoints were overall in agreement. Conclusion The use of either HR or rmstD impacts the results of NMA. Given the sensitivity of HR to non-proportional hazards, this finding could have implications in terms of meta-analysis methodology. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13643-019-0984-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background:Tocilizumab, a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, is a recombinant humanized monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 antibody against the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R). MSB11456 is a proposed biosimilar to the US-licensed tocilizumab and EU-approved tocilizumab. Prior to initiation of its clinical development program, MSB11456 was considered highly similar to the reference products based on extensive in vitro pharmacological testing and functional activity assays.Objectives:This double-blind, parallel-group phase I study (NCT03282851) assessed the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) equivalence of MSB11456 to US-licensed and EU-approved tocilizumab and provided data on the similarity of safety profiles and immunogenicity of MSB11456 and the reference products in healthy adult subjects.Methods:Healthy adult volunteers were randomized to receive a single 162 mg subcutaneous injection of MSB11456, US-licensed tocilizumab, or EU-approved tocilizumab. Samples for PK/PD and immunogenicity analysis were taken predose, up to 29 days postdose, and at the end of study visit (day 48). Primary endpoint PK parameters were natural log transformed and analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) methods; results were then transformed back to the original scale. Secondary PD analysis measured serum soluble IL-6R and serum C reactive protein (sCRP) parameters, and data were analyzed using a method similar to that for PK data. Safety data were collected throughout the study and analyzed descriptively.Results:685 subjects were randomized and treated. Results of the primary PK analysis demonstrated bioequivalence between MSB11456 and both US-licensed and EU-approved tocilizumab, as well as between the reference products, since all corresponding 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for the geometric least squares mean (LSM) ratios were within the predefined 80.00% to 125.00% equivalence margin (Table 1). PD analyses also demonstrated equivalence of MSB11456 and both US-licensed and EU-approved tocilizumab, as well as between the reference products. Safety, tolerability and immunogenicity were also comparable between treatments. The incidence of tocilizumab-specific neutralizing antibodies was low (Conclusion:PK and PD equivalence of MSB11456, US-licensed tocilizumab, and EU-approved tocilizumab were demonstrated with comparable immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability for the three products. This study adds to the totality of evidence in support of MSB11456 as a proposed biosimilar to tocilizumab.Table 1.Results of primary PK analysisParameterTreatmentnRatio of geometric LSMs (%)90% CI of ratioMSB11456 vs US-licensed tocilizumabAUC0–∞MSB11456194106.1696.80, 116.43US-licensed tocilizumab190AUC0–tMSB11456230104.1593.58, 115.90US-licensed tocilizumab226CmaxMSB11456230104.4595.05, 114.77US-licensed tocilizumab226MSB11456 vs EU-tocilizumabAUC0–∞MSB11456194104.0394.96, 113.96EU-approved tocilizumab200AUC0–tMSB1145623094.7885.15, 105.50EU-approved tocilizumab224CmaxMSB1145623094.8386.28, 104.22EU-approved tocilizumab224US-licensed vs EU-approved tocilizumabAUC0–∞US-licensed tocilizumab19097.9989.40, 107.41EU-approved tocilizumab200AUC0–tUS-licensed tocilizumab22691.0181.71, 101.36EU-approved tocilizumab224CmaxUS-licensed tocilizumab22690.7982.57, 99.84EU-approved tocilizumab224AUC, area under the serum concentration-time curve (µg·h/mL); AUC0–∞, AUC from time zero to infinity; AUC0–t, AUC from time zero to the time of the last quantifiable concentration; Cmax, maximum concentration (µg/mL)Acknowledgements:Medical writing support was provided by Caroline Spencer and Dr Sue Chambers (Rx Communications, Mold, UK), funded by Fresenius Kabi SwissBioSim.Disclosure of Interests:Christian Schwabe: None declared, Chris Wynne: None declared, Andras Illes Employee of: Fresenius Kabi SwissBioSim, Martin Ullmann Employee of: Fresenius Kabi SwissBioSim, Emmanuelle Vincent Employee of: Fresenius Kabi SwissBioSim, Vishal Ghori Employee of: Fresenius Kabi SwissBioSim, Corinne Petit-Frere Employee of: Biosimilars, Fresenius Kabi SwissBioSim, Anne-Sophie Racault Employee of: Fresenius Kabi SwissBioSim, Isabelle Morin Employee of: Former employee of Fresenius Kabi SwissBioSim

In the current study, the safety of the 2014/2015 Northern Hemisphere formulation of Vaxigrip® (Sanofi Pasteur) was assessed to satisfy European Union requirements. Individuals ⩾6 months of age eligible for seasonal influenza vaccination were included. Children 6 months–8 years of age received one dose (0.25 ml for 6–35 mo; 0.5 ml for 3–8 y) on day 0, and those who were previously unvaccinated received a second dose of the same volume on day 28. Participants ⩾9 years of age received one full dose (0.5 ml) on day 0. Frequency categories for solicited reactions were compared with historical data for the closest age group available. A total of 527 participants were included (6 mo–5 y, n = 106; 6–12 y, n = 105; 13–17 y, n = 106; 18–65 y, n = 105; >65 y, n = 105). Frequency categories were higher in this study than for the historical comparator for fever (very common vs. common) in participants 6 months–5 years of age; shivering (very common vs. common), rash (uncommon vs. very rare), and grade 3 injection-site induration (common vs. uncommon) in participants 6–12 years of age; and shivering in participants 13–17 years of age (very common vs. common) and >65 years of age (very common vs. common). However, these increases were not considered clinically significant because confidence intervals for proportions were overlapping and because most of the reactions were of grade 1 to 2 and resolved rapidly and spontaneously. No treatment-related serious adverse events were recorded and no safety concerns or safety signals were detected. These results indicate that the 2014/2015 Northern Hemisphere formulation of Vaxigrip was well tolerated and safe to use in all age groups, with no specific concerns identified, although the study was not powered to detect rare or very rare events.

Adaptive-Optics (AO) pre-compensation of atmospheric turbulence effects is one of the most promising technologies for achieving very high throughput optical GEO feeder links. However, its great performance has been proven mostly through numerical simulations until now, and experimental work on the subject is still at a very preliminary stage [1]. The FEEDELIO experiment (FEEDELIO for FEEDEr Link adaptive Optics), contracted to ONERA by ESA and described in this paper, goes one step further towards an experimental validation of this concept. This paper describes the experimental implementation of an AO pre-compensated link on a 13 km slant path in Tenerife, Canary Islands. This experiment is designed to be representative of a GEO feeder link, and aims at demonstrating a significant increase of the mean received power and decrease of the power fluctuations thanks to AO. It will also allow to study the impact of the point-ahead angle on overall performance of the AO system. The FEEDELIO experiment is planned for spring 2019.

International audience; The design and performance of an adaptive optics flood illumination ophthalmoscope (AO-FIO) platform, based on eye motion and dynamic aberrations experimental analysis, are described. The system incorporates a custom-built real-time controller, enabling up to 70 Hz loop rate without jitter, and an AO-corrected illumination capable of projecting high-resolution features in the retina. Wide-field (2.7°×5.4°) and distortionless images from vessel walls, capillaries, and the lamina cribrosa are obtained with an enhanced contrast and signal-to-noise ratio, thanks to careful control of AO parameters. The high spatial and temporal resolution (image acquisition up to 200 Hz) performance achieved by this platform enables the visualization of vessel deformation and blood flow. This system opens up the prospect of a return to favor of flood illumination adaptive optics systems provided that its high pixel rate and structured illumination capabilities are exploited.; La conception et la performance de l’ophtalmoscope plein champ assisté par Optique Adaptative (OA), basés sur des analyses expérimentales des mouvements et aberrations oculaires, sont décrites. Le système est composé d’un calculateur en temps-réel qui permet d’atteindre une vitesse de boucle d’asservissement de 70Hz. Le système permet aussi la projection de motifs dans la rétine. Grâce au contrôle et la maîtrise d’un système d’Optique Adaptative, des images à grand champ (2.7x5.4°) sans distorsion des différentes régions de la rétine présentent une amélioration de contraste et de rapport signal sur bruit. La haute résolution spatio-temporelle permet également la visualisation des déformations vasculaire et du flux sanguin. Ce système ouvre des nouvelles perspectives en ophtalmoscopie plein-champ, qui pourrait s'imposer dans les années à venir à condition que sa haute résolution temporelle et sa capacité de projeter des motifs d’illumination soient exploitées.

We present the recent developments preparing the construction of a new visible 6T beam combiner for the CHARA Array, called SPICA. This instrument is designed to achieve a large survey of stellar parameters and to image surface of stars. We first detail the science justification and the general idea governing the establishment of the sample of stars and the main guidance for the optimization of the observations. After a description of the concept of the instrument, we focus our attention on the first important aspect: optimizing and stabilizing the injection of light into single mode fibers in the visible under partial adaptive optics correction. Then we present the main requirements and the preliminary design of a 6T-ABCD integrated optics phase sensor in the H-band to achieve long exposures and reach fainter magnitudes in the visible.

The ICAN beam combining system may require a control with thousands of degrees of freedom. The methods developed for the control of adaptive optics are presented. The recent issues raised by the European-Extremely Large Telescope are introduced as well as the solutions presently studied. The possible benefits which could be drawn for ICAN are analysed.

Background Pharmacy practice is highly regulated and the medication circuit is complex in healthcare settings. Required organisational practices of the national accreditation authority also provide a normative framework. Purpose To describe the reorganisation of the medication circuit in the operating (OR) and delivery (DR) room. Material and methods A prospective descriptive study was conducted in OR and DR in a 500 bed teaching hospital. Following a review of literature, an Ishikawa diagram was developed to identify failure modes. Thereafter, a semi-structured direct observation in OR and DR was done to identify key issues. Corrective measures were discussed and adopted by consensus with a multidisciplinary group, including pharmacists, anaesthesiologists, nurses and respiratory therapists. Results 10 failure modes associated with the medication circuit and 18 key issues were identified. A total of 30 corrective measures were proposed. While all inpatient care areas have designated pharmacists to provide decentralised pharmaceutical care in the hospital, the OR and DR have none. Pharmacists were identified to share such coverage within their current intensive care and surgical care daily duties. Automated dispensing cabinets were implemented to better control drug dispensing and stock replenishing for each room. A safe anaesthesia box system was chosen and the drug content standardised with a detailed record sheet, improving the management and the documentation of prepared and administered doses, including residual quantities at the end of a shift. The system was pre-tested and improved before implementation. A radio-identification based system was also developed to manage RFID labels and anaesthesia box replenishing steps within the central pharmacy. A monitoring system was chosen to monitor cold chain of drugs stored in refrigerators. Expiration dates were reviewed according to current standards to minimise risks of contamination. Drug utilisation reviews were identified for drug targets to offer feedback to drug prescribers. Conclusion OR and DR are often less supported by pharmacy to insure an optimal medication circuit. With a view to ensuring continuous improvement of quality of patient care, audits should be performed to measure the impact of corrective actions implemented. References and/or acknowledgements Thanks to pharmacists and medical and paramedical staffs for their collaboration. No conflict of interest

Homebound services involve the delivery of special education in settings other than school sites. Such settings typically include students’ homes or hospitals. Most often associated with early childhood special education and with students who are medically or physically fragile, homebound services can also be for those in need of interim alternative educational settings (IAES). Although homebound services have been available to some students with disabilities for more than 50 years, little research exists on that delivery model. This study investigated the training, practices and perceptions of service providers who work in homebound settings. Data from a self-administered survey of a national sample were analyzed. Key findings included: a widespread lack of training for professionals who delivered homebound services; an absence of school district or agency policies or procedure concerning the delivery of such services; and statistically significantly higher perceptions of self-efficacy by those who did receive training.

Resume Objectifs Decrire les effets sur le systeme nerveux central des medications anticholinergiques utilisees dans le traitement de l’hyperactivite vesicale chez le sujet âge. Methodes Une etude de la litterature apres une recherche Medline des articles publies jusqu’a mars 2014 a ete effectuee. Les mots cles portaient sur l’hyperactivite vesicale, les medicaments anticholinergiques et antimuscariniques, le systeme nerveux central, la cognition, la personne âgee. Les articles retenus etaient les articles pertinents sur le traitement anticholinergique de l’hyperactivite vesicale du sujet âge. Resultats Plusieurs anticholinergiques sont disponibles pour le traitement de l’hyperactivite vesicale : oxybutynine, tolterodine, fesoterodine, darifenacine, trospium chloride, solifenacine. Parmi toutes ces molecules, le passage de la barriere hemato-encephalique est le plus important pour l’oxybutynine, moindre pour la solifenacine, la darifenacine et la tolterodine, et le plus bas pour la fesoterodine et le trospium. Les effets secondaires centraux dependent de la susceptibilite pharmacologique du patient, de la permeabilite de la barriere hemato-encephalique, de l’importance de la degenerescence neuronale cholinergique, de la charge anticholinergique totale et du statut cognitif de base du patient. Les effets anticholinergiques centraux sont varies allant du trouble mnesique a la confusion, des hallucinations a la deterioration, jusqu’au coma. Parmi les differents anticholinergiques, l’oxybutynine a la moins bonne tolerance et la fesoterodine et le trospium la meilleure. Conclusion Les anticholinergiques ameliorent significativement les symptomes urinaires d’hyperactivite vesicale mais ils affectent les performances cognitives particulierement chez la personne âgee. Leur frequence et la pertinence clinique de la degradation cognitive restent assez mal evaluees. L’existence de ces effets centraux doit conduire a une evaluation stricte avant le traitement et au cours de son suivi afin de re-evaluer l’interet du traitement dans cette population fragile.

Objective To compare the effectiveness of a free-mix of aspart (A) and detemir (D) insulins (ADIM) with a commonly used premixed fixed-ratio aspart and neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin mixture (ANIM) in young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) treated with twice-daily injections. The trial thus compares not only D vs. NPH, but also flexible, personalized insulin preparations vs. a fixed premixed preparation. Research design and methods This single-center, open-label, randomized trial included 82 children with T1D. Patients stayed on ANIM for 1 yr of optimization of disease management, then were randomized to either ANIM (N = 41) or ADIM (N = 41) for another year. Outcomes Frequency of severe or symptomatic episodes, glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and blood glucose (BG) values. Results Compared with ANIM, ADIM decreases symptomatic hypoglycemia by approximately 2 fold (p < 0.001) and severe hypoglycemia by 7–10 fold (p = 0.04). ADIM somewhat reduced BG variation. Mean HbA1c was comparable on ADIM (7.9 ± 0.8 %; 63 ± 9 mmol/mol) and ANIM (8.2 ± 0.7 %; 66 ± 8 mmol/mol). Conclusions Using a free-mixing preparation of aspart and detemir insulin decreases hypoglycemia in young children with type 1 diabetes.

Resume Objectifs Definir des recommandations, sous forme d’un algorithme, pour l’evaluation pratique et le traitement de premiere ligne de l’incontinence urinaire de la personne âgee. Methodes Elaboration de recommandations de bonne pratique par consensus formalise valide par un groupe de 40 experts puis par un groupe de lecture et d’analyse independant multidisciplinaire (urologue, medecin generaliste, neurologue, gynecologue, geriatre, medecin de medecine physique et de readaptation). Resultats Apres 3 tours d’interrogation du panel d’experts, l’algorithme GRAPPPA a pu etre etabli. Cet algorithme prend en consideration tant l’evaluation que le traitement de premiere ligne des differents types d’incontinence urinaire observes dans cette population âgee (incontinence d’urgence, d’effort ou mixte). L’evaluation initiale doit depister une retention d’urine (et sa cause tel un fecalome, la prise d’anticholinergiques ou de morphiniques), une infection urinaire et des alterations cognitives. Une hematurie, des douleurs pelvi-vesicales, des antecedents de radiotherapie ou de chirurgie pelvienne recente doivent conduire a referer le patient a une equipe specialisee. Le traitement de premiere ligne repose sur la reeducation perineale, l’estrogenotherapie locale pour les femmes, les mesures hygienodietetiques. En cas d’incontinence sur urgence mictionnelle, les anticholinergiques peuvent etre essayes. Conclusion Le respect de cet algorithme devrait permettre une meilleure prise en charge pratique de l’incontinence urinaire de la personne âgee.

This paper presents a numerical finite element (FE) model used to predict the dynamic modulus of porous asphalt mixes. The material considered is modeled as a biphasic medium composed of granular inclusions with linear elastic properties and a porous matrix of bituminous mastics containing a given percentage of air voids (5–6% for the purpose of this article), exhibiting linear viscoelastic behavior at small strain values. With this heterogeneous numerical model, a custom software (called “MOA”, French acronym for Random Object Modeler) developed in our laboratory has been used to generate random inclusions of various sizes and shapes in order to derive the aggregate skeleton of the particular asphalt mixture model. The chosen aggregate sizes must comply with a specific aggregate grading curve. This model is subjected to a cyclic load at a given frequency. The generalized Maxwell model has been used to determine the viscoelastic behavior of the matrix. The complex modulus and phase angle of the asphalt mixes generated from our numerical approach were compared to those obtained by Qingli Dai [1] , resulting in a good agreement. This comparison leads to confirming the feasibility of the proposed heterogeneous numerical procedure. Lastly, localized stress and strain distribution results provide the basis for an interesting discussion on material design optimization in the aim of improving the mechanical properties under study.

Background Several studies show that bone marrow (BM) microenvironment and hypoxia condition can promote the survival of leukemic cells and induce resistance to anti-leukemic drugs. However, the molecular mechanism for chemoresistance by hypoxia is not fully understood. Methods In the present study, we investigated the effect of hypoxia on resistance to two therapies, methotrexate (MTX) and prednisolone (PRD), in two cell models for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). To look for an implication of hypoxia in chemoresistance, cell viability, total cell density and cell proliferation were analyzed. Survival and death signaling pathways were also screened by “reverse phase protein array” (RPPA) and western blotting experiments conducted on selected proteins to confirm the results. Results We found that hypoxia promotes chemoresistance in both ALL cell lines. The induction of drug-resistance by hypoxia was not associated with an increase in total cell density nor an increase in cell proliferation. Using RPPA, we show that chemoresistance induced by hypoxia was mediated through an alteration of cell death signaling pathways. This protective effect of hypoxia seems to occur via a decrease in pro-apoptotic proteins and an increase in anti-apoptotic proteins. The results were confirmed by immunoblotting. Indeed, hypoxia is able to modulate the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins independently of chemotherapy while a pro-apoptotic signal induced by a chemotherapy is not modulated by hypoxia. Conclusions Hypoxia is a factor in leukemia cell resistance and for two conventional chemotherapies modulates cell death signaling pathways without affecting total cell density or cell proliferation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-2776-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Recent advances in adaptive optics (AO) have led to the implementation of wide field-of-view AO systems. A number of wide-field AO systems are also planned for the forthcoming Extremely Large Telescopes. Such systems have multiple wavefront sensors of different types, and usually multiple deformable mirrors (DMs). Here, we report on our experience integrating cameras and DMs with the real-time control systems of two wide-field AO systems. These are CANARY, which has been operating on-sky since 2010, and DRAGON, which is a laboratory adaptive optics real-time demonstrator instrument. We detail the issues and difficulties that arose, along with the solutions we developed. We also provide recommendations for consideration when developing future wide-field AO systems., Accepted for publication in MNRAS

International audience; Asphalt concrete is a heterogeneous material containing a viscoelastic bituminous matrix and elastic aggregates. During fatigue testing in the laboratory, the material stiffness decreases as a result of increase in temperature due to self-heating. The objective of this study was to quantify such self-heating, during fatigue testing, as one of the biases affecting the fatigue life estimation of bituminous materials. A heterogeneous approach, which consists of separating the viscoelastic matrix from the elastic aggregates, has been adopted. According to a complex domain approach, a finite element simulation of a cyclic mechanical loading is proposed by taking into account the dissipated energy, internal thermal evolution, temperature dependence of the matrix stiffness and the heat transfer process. In considering a thermomechanical coupling, the numerical simulation results indicate that dissipated energy in the bituminous matrix is influenced by material heterogeneities. A higher dissipated energy can be observed in thin matrix films, where the strain level exceeds that of thicker films. An estimation of temperature evolution using dissipated energy as a heat source is in a good agreement with experimental results. Local temperature variations are dependent on the local heat source, the thermal properties of each phase and aggregate distribution.

Aim To compare continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) profiles on vildagliptin versus sitagliptin in addition to metformin, in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (HbA 1c 6.5–8.0%). Methods A multicenter, prospective, randomised, open-label study with blinded endpoint analysis. CGM data acquired over three days – firstly on metformin alone and then 8 weeks after the addition of either vildagliptin ( n =14) or sitagliptin ( n =16) –were blinded and analyzed centrally. Results In comparable populations with a mean baseline HbA 1c of 7.1%, 24-hour glucose variability – measured by mean amplitude of glucose excursions and standard deviation of mean glucose concentration – showed similar improvement on both drugs versus metformin alone. In contrast, a series of predefined parameters reflecting daily glycaemic control – mean 24-hour blood glucose concentration, and the times spent in the optimal glycaemic range (70–140 mg/dL) and above the hyperglycaemic thresholds of 140 and 180 mg/dL together with the corresponding AUC values – were significantly improved from baseline only in the vildagliptin arm. In addition, overall hyperglycaemia (AUC[24h] >100mg/dL) significantly dropped from baseline on vildagliptin [–37%] but not on sitagliptin [–9%], while postprandial hyperglycaemia (AUC[0–4h]×3) was significantly reduced on both, and basal hyperglycaemia (overall – postprandial hyperglycaemia was reduced only on vildagliptin [–41%; P =0.04]). Conclusions The addition of a DPP-4 inhibitor significantly reduced glycaemic variability with no difference between the two drugs. However, vildagliptin induced better circadian glycaemic control than sitagliptin with a significant decrease on overall hyperglycemia, mainly driven by reduction on basal hyperglycaemia.

OBJECTIVE Gain-of-function ABCC8/sulfonylurea (SU) receptor 1 mutations cause neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) or late-onset diabetes in adult relatives. Given the effectiveness of SU treatment in ABCC8-NDM patients, we further characterized late-onset ABCC8-associated diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Seven adult subjects from three NDM families and one family with type 2 diabetes were studied. Insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity were assessed using clamp techniques. We screened 139 type 2 diabetic patients who were well controlled by SU for ABCC8 mutations. RESULTS ABCC8 mutation carriers exhibited glucose intolerance, frank diabetes, or insulin-requiring diabetes since diagnosis. HbA1c improved in five SU-treated patients. Insulin secretion capacity was impaired in three patients compared with adult control subjects but was restored after a 4-week SU trial in two patients. Cohort screening revealed four SU-treated patients with ABCC8 mutations, two of which are likely causal. CONCLUSIONS Although of rare occurrence, recognition of adult-onset ABCC8-associated diabetes may help in targeting patients for SU therapy.

OBJECTIVE We investigated the relationship between carbohydrate intake and postprandial blood glucose (BG) levels to determine the most influential meal for type 2 diabetic subjects treated with basal insulin and needing prandial insulin. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Three-day BG profiles for 37 type 2 diabetic subjects, with A1C levels of 7.7%, treated with sulfonylurea and metformin, and well titrated on insulin glargine, were analyzed using a continuous glucose monitoring system. Food intake from 680 meals was recorded and quantified during continuous glucose monitoring. RESULTS The median BG excursion (ΔBG) was higher at breakfast than at lunch or dinner (111 [81; 160] vs. 69.5 [41.5; 106] and 82.5 mg/dl [53; 119] mg/dl, P < 0.0001). There was a weak overall correlation between ΔBG and carbohydrate intake. Correlation improved when mealtime was taken into account. Simple relationships were established: ΔBG (mg/dl) = 65 × carbohydrate/body weight + 73 for breakfast (R2 = 0.20, P < 0.0001); the slope was reduced by half at lunch and by one-third at dinner. Twelve relevant variables likely to affect ΔBG were integrated into a polynomial equation. This model accounted for 49% of ΔBG variability. Two groups of patients were identified: responders, in whom ΔBG was well correlated with carbohydrate intake (R2 ≥ 0.30, n = 8), and nonresponders (R2 < 0.30, n = 29). Responders exhibited a greater insulinopenic profile than nonresponders. CONCLUSIONS The carbohydrate intake in responders clearly drives ΔBG, whereas, in nonresponders, other factors predominate. This sort of characterization should be used to guide therapeutic choices toward more targeted care with improved type 2 diabetes management.

Summary: A phaeomycotic cyst in a 47-year-old man, caused by Phialophora richardsiae, was treated successfully by excision. A critical review of the literature indicates that the pathological course of P. richardsiae infections usually follows a similar pattern to that of the present case, viz. generation of a well-defined and limited nodule following traumatic subcutaneous introduction of the fungus. The nodule typically accumulates a viscous yellow fluid. The infection remains localized, often being encapsulated by a fibrous layer; adenopathy is not observed. Concomitant bacterial infections are also common; in the present case Pseudomonas stutzeri was identified. Neither bacterial nor fungal infection recurred after surgery. Zusammenfassung: Eine Phaeohyphomykose verursacht durch Phialophora richardshe bei einem 47-jahrigen Mann, wurde durch chirurgische Entfernung der Zyste erfolgreich behandelt. Die Durchsicht der Literatur zeigt, das der Verlauf einer P. richardsiae-Infektion, ahnlich wie bei unserem Fall, einem bestimmten Muster folgt: Regelmasig bildet sich nach der traumatischen, subkutanen Infektion ein umschriebener Knoten. Die Zyste enthalt eine viskose, gelbliche Flussigkeit und wird oft durch eine Fibrinschicht eingekapselt. Eine Adenopathie wird nicht beobachtet. Eine gleichzeitige bakterielle Infektion ist haufig; im vorliegenden Fall handelt es sich um Pseudomonas stutzeri Keine der beiden Infektionen trat nach der Entfernung der Zyste erneut auf.

Fever in a returned traveller may be the manifestation of a self-limiting, trivial infection but it can also presage an infection that can be rapidly progressive and lethal. We studied the diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin (PCT) as a biomarker for a bacterial cause of fever in a cohort of 157 consecutive travellers with fever after a stay in the (sub)tropics. Elevated procalcitonin levels were observed not only in about 50% of travellers with proven bacterial infection, but also in a significant proportion of travellers with a likely infection. Using a cutoff point of 0.5 ng/mL, procalcitonin had a sensitivity of 0.52 and a specificity of 0.76 for a bacterial cause of fever on admission. Interestingly, only 1 out of 16 patients with a proven viral infection had a marginally elevated PCT concentration on admission, suggesting that an increased PCT level likely excludes a viral infection as the cause of fever. However, the diagnostic accuracy of this semiquantitative procalcitonin test for a bacterial cause of fever on admission is too poor to advocate its use in the initial clinical evaluation of fever in a setting of ill-returned travellers.

We describe an adaptive optics approach for single-mode fiber coupling, developed jointly for interferometry and space communications. The aberrations downstream the wavefront sensor are estimated and corrected, statically or dynamically with atmospheric turbulence.

International audience; In the field of reflective cracking initiation and propagation in pavement structures, an Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) has been developed. The numerical method is also supported. Numerical results obtained by calculations made with the finite element CESAR-LCPC software are then compared with the experimental data. The reflective cracking APT experience is the first step in the development of a new laboratory equipment to evaluate the design of bituminous layers to repair pavements. The experiment was performed on a 30 m track where eight discontinuities were established by cutting-off the sub-bases in order to ensure a crack development in the bituminous layer. The conditions that promote crack propagation were reproduced by the application of heavy periodic loads using the Fabac ALT-APT test rig. The width of the bituminous layer was decreased to facilitate the observation of the crack propagation, while avoiding creep of the material. The structure has a large number of sensors that measure longitudinal and transverse deformations at the bottom and at the surface of the bituminous layer. The deflections and the displacements are measured at several levels of the structure, as well as the temperature and the lateral edge cracking which is monitored by cracking sensors on both sides of the track. Preliminary results on two joints were used to determine the mechanisms of rupture of the structure. Four more tests with improved sensors have completed the information. Experimental and numerical results are compared in order to validate the analysis of the fatigue process (debonding, damage and cracking) in full scale pavement.

Ultra-thin gate oxide reliability, in large area MOSFETs, can be monitored by measuring the gate current when the substrate is depleted. When the channel length is scaled down, the tunneling current associated with the source/drain extension region (SDE) to the gate–overlap regions can dominate the gate current. In N-MOSFETs, as a function of the negative gate voltage two components of the gate–drain leakage current should be considered, the first for VFB

Background and purpose. Regaining control of sitting posture is one of the first goals in the rehabilitation of patients with stroke. So, it requires a precise quantification of this postural behaviour. The purpose of the present investigation was thus to assess postural control during sitting in people with hemiparesis through a biomechanical analysis. Methods. Centre-of-pressure displacements were recorded by means of a force platform on which 10 patients with stroke and 10 age-matched healthy subjects were sitting. Centre-of-pressure trajectories were processed through space-time and frequency analyses. Results. These centre-of-pressure displacements of the patients with stroke were characterised by an increased control for maintaining sit position and by reduced postural performance, as enlightened by the larger surfaces covered by the centre-of-pressure displacements (P < .05) and increased velocities (P < .001), respectively. As shown from the frequency analysis, the impairment have affected predominantly the displacements occurring along the antero-posterior axis (P < .05). Interpretations. The analysis of centre-of-pressure displacements during sitting posture indicates an increased postural disturbance in patients with stroke. A platform device, because of the non-invasive, easy and fast measures carried out, should thus be viewed as an attractive tool for assessing the postural dysfunctioning encountered in sat patients with stroke. This tool could also be used for evaluating, the rehabilitation process following stroke. 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

It has been shown that the low voltage gate current in ultrathin oxide metal?oxide?semiconductor devices is very sensitive to electrical stresses. Therefore, it can be used as a reliability monitor when the oxide thickness becomes too small for traditional electrical measurements to be used. In this work, we present a study on n-MOSCAP devices at negative gate bias in the direct tunneling (DT) regime. If the low voltage stress-induced leakage current (LVSILC) depends strongly on the low sense voltages, it also depends strongly on the stress voltage magnitude. We show that two LVSILC peaks appear as a function of the sense voltage in the LVSILC region and that their magnitude, one compared to the other, depends strongly on the stress voltage magnitude. One is larger than the other at low stress voltage and smaller at high stress voltage. From our experimental results, different conduction mechanisms are analyzed. To explain LVSILC variations, we propose a model of the conduction through the ultrathin gate oxide based on two distinctly different trap-assisted tunneling mechanisms: inelastic of gate electron (INE) and trap-assisted electron (ETAT).

Ultra-thin gate-oxide reliability is an essential factor in CMOS technologies. The low voltage gate current in ultra-thin oxide of metal–oxide–semiconductor devices is very sensitive to electrical stresses. It can be used as a reliability monitor when the oxide thickness becomes too small for traditional electrical measurements. In this paper, the low voltage stress induced leakage current (LVSILC) for various oxide thicknesses ranging from 1.2 to 2.3 nm is investigated during constant voltage stress (CVS). From the LVSILC measurements, we shown that time to breakdown can be deduced as a function of the stress voltage. We also study the effect of elevated stress temperature on the time to breakdown. We show that temperature dependence of the time to breakdown is non-Arrhenius and decreases in a drastic way with a slope of ∼0.036 decade/°C.

Organic conductors such as PEDOT:PSS are commonly used for the fabrication of OLEDs or OTFT transistors. Conductivity measurement is mandatory to improve both material composition and process parameters, and to allow device and circuit modeling. Film deposition using spin-coating on circular TLM electrode structures is a straightforward method for extracting both the film resistance and the contact resistivity, providing an accurate model is used. A practical measurement procedure is described in detail and applied to the measurement of PEDOT:PSS solutions.

In this paper, a simple prediction tool based on a two-dimensional model is developed for a slab track system composed of two rails with rail pads, sleepers with sleeper pads, and a concrete base slab. The track and the slab are considered as infinite beams with bending stiffness, loss factor and mass per unit length. The track system is represented by its impedance per unit length of track and the ground by its line input impedance calculated using a two-dimensional elastic half-space ground model based on the wave approach. Damping of each track component is modelled as hysteretic damping and is taken into account by using a complex stiffness. The unsprung mass of the vehicle is considered as a concentrated mass at the excitation point on the rail head. The effect of the dynamic stiffness of the sleeper pads on the vibration isolation is studied in detail, the vibration isolation provided by the track system being quantified by an insertion gain in dB per one-third octave band. The second part of this paper presents an experimental test rig used to measure the dynamic stiffness of the sleeper pads on a full width section of the track (two rails). The experimental set-up is submitted to vertical as well as horizontal static loads (via hydraulic jacks) and an electrodynamic shaker is used for dynamic excitation of the system. The determination of the dynamic stiffness of the sleeper pads is based on the approach called the “direct method”. The limitations of the experimental set-up are discussed. The measurement results for one type of sleeper pad are presented.