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ResumeIntroduction En aout 2015, la Food and Drug Administration (FDA) des Etats-Unis autorise la mise sur le marche de la flibanserine, premier traitement du trouble du desir sexuel hypoactif (HSDD) chez la femme non menopausee. L’objectif de notre etude etait de realiser une revue de la litterature afin d’evaluer l’efficacite et la securite de la flibanserine. Patients et methodes Une revue systematique de la litterature a partir de la base de recherche PubMed a ete effectuee jusqu’en avril 2016 en utilisant les mots cles suivants : « HSDD », « Flibanserin », « sexual desire » et « ransomised controlled trial ». Resultats Nous avons retrouve 4 etudes randomisees en double aveugle et deux meta-analyses et revues de la litterature. Les resultats etaient evalues en difference de moyenne standard de la flibanserine par rapport au placebo. Concernant le critere principal « evenement sexuel satisfaisant » (SSE), la difference moyenne standard (DMS) variait de 0,49 a 1 (p

Journal de Gynecologie Obstetrique et Biologie de la Reproduction - Vol. 41 - N° 3 - p. 227-234

Le choix d'un debit minimal a maintenir dans le lit d'un cours d'eau est une question particulierement repandue qui a conduit a l'elaboration de modeles predictifs comme la methode des microhabitats. Nous utilisons ici un modele d'habitat statistique pour estimer les impacts de la gestion des debits. Ce nouveau modele est base sur le couplage de modeles hydrauliques statistiques qui predisent les distributions en frequence des variables hydrauliques dans un cours d'eau avec des modeles de preference multivaries qui estiment des indices de densite piscicole en fonction de l'hydraulique. Nous appliquons le modele d'habitat statistique sur differents troncons du Rhone court-circuites par les amenagements hydrauliques. Nous exprimons les predictions a l'echelle du peuplement a l'aide d'indices piscicoles multivaries. Ces simulations nous permettent de comparer les impacts de l'augmentation des debits reserves predits sur les differents troncons, nous amenent a relativiser la notion de debit reserve optimal et a insister sur l'importance du choix des objectifs de gestion. Certains troncons du Rhone presentent un fort interet pour la diversite piscicole du fleuve amenage quel que soit l'objectif de gestion choisi.

When prepared by the sol-gel dip-coating technique, doped tin oxide films need several superimposed layers to reach the expected low sheet resistance. In this paper we show that successive depositions increase the uniformity and homogeneity of multi-layered sol-gel tin oxide films. The final thickness is always found to be lower than a multiple of the initial first layer thickness, indicating that densification occurs. A strong improvement of physical properties is jointly observed in this multilayered configuration. All parameters (atomic density, refractive index, electrical resistivity, optical transmission and reflectivity) evolve towards bulk material values. This is explained by the fact that the sol, in which is dipped the substrate, fills in the pores or cracks remaining in the previously deposited layers. The quality of the sol-gel tin oxide stacked deposits obtained in such a way is evidenced by the M-line spectroscopy experiments presented in this paper. It is shown that multilayered coatings are able to guide light over some millimetres.

With template synthesis nanowires with diameters as small as 5 nm can be fabricated using electrochemical plating in nanopores. In this work contacts are fabricated enabling electrical measurements on one nanowire. A combination of chemical methods and e-beam lithography is used. The successful contacting is demonstrated for the case of Ni wires.

Transparent conducting thin films of antimony-doped tin oxide have been deposited by the sol-gel dip-coating (SGDC) method. Electrical properties are analyzed, and resistivity, Hall mobility, type and nunber of carriers measured as a function of the antimony doping. Optical properties are investigated through the spectral transmision and reflection of the layers. The nature of the forbidden band and the width of the gap are determined. Optical and electrical properties are compared with results obtaned on Sb:SnO 2 thin films elaborated by other methods such as chemical vapour deposition, sputtering and pyrolysis, and specific properties of the SGDC material are outlined.

In the sol-gel technology, either for bulk or thin films, the stability in time of the solutions is a major factor to control. An evolution of the solution may influence strongly the properties of the elaborated material (thickness, cracks, refractive index, conductivity, etc.), and cases have been reported where solutions had to be stored in a dry and cold place to prevent any hydrolysis-condensation reaction, and so any consequent gelation.

The influence of elaboration parameters during the sol-gel process is studied for tin oxide films deposition. The Dip Coating Sol-Gel route can be divided into three elaboration stages: the pulling phase and the drying and densification steps. During the pulling phase, the relative humidity ratio and the withdrawal speed are found to influence the film morphology and the film thickness respectively. Then, we show how a correct control of the sample drying is able to eliminate cracks. The densification step (temperature and duration), leading to the final network, is considered in details, and resulting effects on physical properties are presented: crytallinity, optical behaviour, atomic density, stoichiometry, electrical conductivity etc... We show through these results the specificity of the tin oxide elaborated with our procedure

The antimony doping in SnO2 thin films prepared by the sol-gel dip-coating method has been studied using two characterization techniques. In order to determine the actual doping level directly in the deposited layers, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) have been used. We found that this doping level is systematically lower than expected from the starting solutions composition, and that two oxidation states are present: Sb3+ and Sb5+. As the antimony content increases, there is a competition between Sb5+ and Sb3+ species. The SnO2: Sb thin films have also been observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), showing that the measured mean size of crystallites decreases as the Sb content increases in the oxide. No precipitates of either Sn or Sb oxides (other than SnO2) could be detected.

Aortic stiffness is a functional and structural consequence of ageing and arteriosclerosis. Regional arterial stiffness can be easily evaluated using pOpmetre(®) (Axelife SAS, France). This new technique assesses the pulse wave transit time (TT) between the finger (TTf) and the toe (TTt). Based on height chart, regional pulse wave velocity (PWV) between the toe and the finger can be estimated (PWVtf). pOpscore(®) index is also calculated as the ratio between PWVtoe and PWVfinger and can be considered as a peripheral vascular stiffness index. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between pOpmetre(®) indices and the presence of carotid plaques in a population with cardiovascular risk factors.In 77 consecutive patients recruited for a vascular screening for atherosclerosis (46 men aged 54 ± 2 years; 31 women aged 49 ± 3 years; ns), the difference between TTt and TTf (called Dt-f), the regional pulse wave velocity between the toe and the finger (PWVtf = constant × height/Dt-fm/s) and pOpscore(®) were measured by pOpmetre(®). Presence of carotid plaques was assessed using ultrasound imaging. The local aortic stiffness (AoStiff) was evaluated by the Physioflow(®) system.No difference was found between patients with or without carotid plaques (n=25 versus 52) for Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI: 1.15 ± 0.04 versus 1.12 ± 0.03), nor for diastolic or systolic blood pressure (87 ± 3 versus 82 ± 2; 137 ± 3 versus 132 ± 2 mmHg). The first group was older than the second (59 ± 2 versus 49 ± 2 years, P0.002) with a larger intimae media thickness (0.69 ± 0.02 versus 0.63 ± 0.01 mm, P0.004), a higher AoStiff (10.4 ± 0.7 versus 8.2 ± 0.5m/s, P0.02), and PWVtf (14.3 ± 1.0 versus 10.7 ± 0.7 m/s, P0.004) and a shorter Dt-f (57.9 ± 5.1 versus 73.5 ± 3.5 ms, P0.01). PWVtf (r(2)=0.49, P0.0001) and Dt-f (r(2)=0.54, P0.0001) correlated with age. A significant difference in pOpscore(®) index was observed between both groups (1.51 ± 0.3 versus 1.41 ± 0.2, P0.006).Our results show a significant arterial stiffness indices measured by pOpmetre(®) in patients with and without carotid plaques.

International audience; PURPOSE:Aortic stiffness is a functional and structural consequence of ageing and arteriosclerosis. Regional arterial stiffness can be easily evaluated using pOpmetre(®) (Axelife SAS, France). This new technique assesses the pulse wave transit time (TT) between the finger (TTf) and the toe (TTt). Based on height chart, regional pulse wave velocity (PWV) between the toe and the finger can be estimated (PWVtf). pOpscore(®) index is also calculated as the ratio between PWVtoe and PWVfinger and can be considered as a peripheral vascular stiffness index. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between pOpmetre(®) indices and the presence of carotid plaques in a population with cardiovascular risk factors.METHODS:In 77 consecutive patients recruited for a vascular screening for atherosclerosis (46 men aged 54 ± 2 years; 31 women aged 49 ± 3 years; ns), the difference between TTt and TTf (called Dt-f), the regional pulse wave velocity between the toe and the finger (PWVtf = constant × height/Dt-fm/s) and pOpscore(®) were measured by pOpmetre(®). Presence of carotid plaques was assessed using ultrasound imaging. The local aortic stiffness (AoStiff) was evaluated by the Physioflow(®) system.RESULTS:No difference was found between patients with or without carotid plaques (n=25 versus 52) for Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI: 1.15 ± 0.04 versus 1.12 ± 0.03), nor for diastolic or systolic blood pressure (87 ± 3 versus 82 ± 2; 137 ± 3 versus 132 ± 2 mmHg). The first group was older than the second (59 ± 2 versus 49 ± 2 years, P

The electrical properties of Sb-doped SnO2 films prepared by the sol-gel dip-coating method have been investigated. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technique was utilized to determine the actual Sb content in the layers. This content was found to be lower than that expected from the starting solution composition value. The behaviour of the resistivity of the films as a function of this actual doping appeared quite different from that observed by other authors using other deposition methods. As the Sb content in SnO2 increases, the evolution in the distribution of the Sb5+ and Sb3+ components in the XPS spectra has been analyzed. The results are discussed in relation to the conductivity and the coloration of the films.

THOMSON-CSF Semiconducteurs Specifiques (TCS) and the CEA-LETI have developed a 0.8 /spl mu/m SOI bulk compatible process (HSOI4CB) for space and battle field applications. The main motivation for this process is to allow the transfer of already existing bulk circuits onto SOI with reduced redesign effort and performances degradation. In this paper, SOI process (HSOI4CB) and the 68020 transfer are summarized, including the most significant characteristics of the resulting product (68T020), in terms of Single Event Upset (SEU) and Single Event Latch-up (SEL). For the same revision version, the 68T020 comparisons with bulk or epitaxial 68020 processes are given. >

Starting from alkoxides prepared in the laboratory, undoped and Sb-doped tin dioxide (SnO2) thin films have been deposited using the sol-gel dip-coating method. These layers have been charaterized in relation to the environmental conditions during the pulling phase of the process. Among other parameters, the relative humidity ratio in the dip-coating apparatus has been found to be a key factor, for the morphology of the films as well as for the introduction of Sb-doping atoms. Characterization has been carried out by scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis.

Various statistic predictive models have been developed to predict the status of the non-sentinel lymph nodes (NSLN) when the sentinel one was invaded by tumor cells in the case of breast invasive carcinoma. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of three of these statistic models: the MSKCC nomogram, the Tenon score and the MDA score. The study was conducted at Croix Rousse Hospital, Lyon, France.When sentinel lymph node is invaded by metastasis, complete lymph node dissection of the axilla can be avoided using statistic predictive models especially when talking about micrometastases and moreover about isolated tumor cells in the sentinel lymph node. Over the different existing models, we tested the three most used ones to determine the model that is most adapted to our everyday practice.The study population consisted of 77 women with an invasive breast cancer treated by complete axillary lymph node dissection for metastatic sentinel lymph node. Over the nine models already published, we focused on three of them due to their ease to use as well as their good preliminary results: the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center nomogram (MSKCC), the Tenon score and the M.D Anderson score (MDA). Different criteria are used by these models, but all of them take in consideration: tumor size, multifocality, tumor type, lymphovascular invasion, hormonal receptors, number of sentinel lymph node resected, degree of sentinel lymph node invasion (i.e. macrometastasis, micrometastasis or isolated tumor cells) and histologic method used to diagnose sentinel lymph node invasion. These scores are validated depending on their false negative ratio as well as the proportion of patient selected as having a low risk of non-sentinel lymph node invasion. The major criterion for the MSKCC score is the calibration that compares the predicted likelihood of invasion and the histologically proved one.The rate of non-sentinel lymph node invasion was 37.6%. The discrimination of the three models was good with an AUC of 0.74 for both MSKCC nomogram and Tenon score and of 0.72% for MDA score. MSKCC nomogram was well calibrated (P=0.23). The false negative ratio was 0 (CI 95%: 0-18.1%) for MSKCC nomogram, 16.7% (CI 95%: 8.6%-27.8%) for Tenon score and 16% (CI 95%: 6.8-31%) for MDA score. The percentage of patients considered as having a low risk of invasion of the non-sentinel lymph node was 20.5% for MSKCC nomogram, 34.7% for MDA score and 47.4% for Tenon score.MSKCC nomogram seems to be the statistic model that is most adapted to the population we studied. To validate the Tenon and MDA score, we should have a most important population.

A new rad-hard technology suitable for high energy physics electronics is currently under development. This technology uses a SOI substrate with a thick silicon film. It includes CMOS, CJFET and complementary vertical bipolar transistors with a potential multi-Mrad hardness for all these devices. These devices enable the design of both analog and digital functions. CMOS together with bipolar transistors will constitute a BiCMOS technology which will be useful to build high speed architectures. JFETs, which have an intrinsically high hardness behaviour and low noise, should allow the design of very radiation-hard low-noise front-end electronics and are also good candidates for cryogenic applications.

An 8-bit, 20-MHz flash ADC (analog-to-digital converter) using a radiation-hardened SOI (silicon on insulator) process is presented. The circuit is capable of operating at up to 20 MHz, even after a total dose exposure of 100 Mrad (SiO/sub 2/) (10 keV X-rays). Simultaneous use of a rad-hard technology and optimized design in order to withstand the effects of a total dose made it possible to achieve a rad-hard product. >

Contact resistances of multiwalled nanotubes deposited on gold contact fingers are very large. We show that the contact resistances decrease by orders of magnitudes when the contact areas are selectively exposed to the electron beam in a scanning electron microscope. The focused electron beam enables the selection of one particular nanotube for electrical measurement in a four-terminal configuration, even if a loose network of nanotubes is deposited on the gold electrodes. For all measured nanotubes, resistance values lie in a narrow range of 0.35–2.6 kΩ at room temperature.

Two-level fluctuations of the magnetization state of pseudo-spin-valve pillars $\mathrm{C}\mathrm{o}(10\text{ }\mathrm{n}\mathrm{m})/\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{u}(10\text{ }\mathrm{n}\mathrm{m})/\mathrm{C}\mathrm{o}(30\text{ }\mathrm{n}\mathrm{m})$ embedded in electrodeposited nanowires ($\ensuremath{\sim}40\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{n}\mathrm{m}$ in diameter, 6000 nm in length) are triggered by spin-polarized currents of ${10}^{7}\text{ }\mathrm{A}/{\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{2}$ at room temperature. The statistical properties of the residence times in the parallel and antiparallel magnetization states reveal two effects with qualitatively different dependences on current intensity. The current appears to have the effect of a field determined as the bias field required to equalize these times. The bias field changes sign when the current polarity is reversed. At this field, the effect of a current density of ${10}^{7}\text{ }\mathrm{A}/{\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{2}$ is to lower the mean time for switching down to the microsecond range. This effect is independent of the sign of the current and is interpreted in terms of an effective temperature for the magnetization.

Two-level fluctuations of the magnetization state of pseudo-spin-valve pillars Co(10 nm)/Cu(10 nm)/Co(30 nm) embedded in electrodeposited nanowires ( approximately 40 nm in diameter, 6000 nm in length) are triggered by spin-polarized currents of 10(7) A/cm(2) at room temperature. The statistical properties of the residence times in the parallel and antiparallel magnetization states reveal two effects with qualitatively different dependences on current intensity. The current appears to have the effect of a field determined as the bias field required to equalize these times. The bias field changes sign when the current polarity is reversed. At this field, the effect of a current density of 10(7) A/cm(2) is to lower the mean time for switching down to the microsecond range. This effect is independent of the sign of the current and is interpreted in terms of an effective temperature for the magnetization.

We study the influence of a DC bias voltage V on quantum interference corrections to the measured differential conductance in metallic mesoscopic wires and rings. The amplitude of both universal conductance fluctuations (UCF) and Aharonov-Bohm effect (ABE) is enhanced several times for voltages larger than the Thouless energy. The enhancement persists even in the presence of inelastic electron-electron scattering up to V ~ 1 mV. For larger voltages electron-phonon collisions lead to the amplitude decaying as a power law for the UCF and exponentially for the ABE. We obtain good agreement of the experimental data with a model which takes into account the decrease of the electron phase-coherence length due to electron-electron and electron-phonon scattering., New title, refined analysis. 7 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Europhysics Letters

The aim of the study reported here was to set up a method for echocardiography (EC) and abdominal sonography and to obtain EC reference values for left ventricular (LV) morphology and function and sonographic abdominal aortic morphology, function, and flow values in conscious, unsedated Gottingen minipigs.Applying a standardized investigation procedure, the following parameters were measured by use of M-mode EC, color-coded Doppler imaging, and B-mode sonography, or were calculated, in 58 female minipigs: LV end-diastolic and end-systolic diameter, interventricular septum thickness, LV caudal wall thickness, LV end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume, fractional shortening, ejection fraction, and percentage of thickening of interventricular septum and LV caudal wall. In addition, morphology, pulsatility, flow values, and flow patterns in the abdominal aorta were recorded or calculated during abdominal sonography and color-coded Doppler imaging.Variable EC values were obtained due to individual variations of motor activity. Variation could be reduced by accustoming the animals to a standardized investigation procedure. Reference values could be obtained for EC, partially indicating clear correlation with body weight. Color-coded Doppler and Doppler spectra did not indicate flow disturbances in large arterial abdominal vessels.Results indicate that handling during EC and sonography can cause discomfort in unsedated minipigs that may interfere with recording of valid reference values for functional cardiac parameters in young animals. Accustoming the animals to a standardized investigation procedure reduces stress to a satisfactory level and enables data recording. Thus the minipig is considered suitable for assessment of cardiovascular parameters in experimental or toxicologic studies.

Osteosarcoma-derived osteoblastic cells were exposed to 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) either to 0.001-1,000 nmol.l-1 for 4 days or to 10 nmol.-1 for 1-21 days. Between 0.01 and 10 nmol.l-1, a dose-dependent increase in alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity was found, which rose to a maximum level at 10 nmol.l-1 (+55%). At higher doses (100 and 1,000 nmol.l-1), 1,25(OH)2D3 induced a decrease in AP activity of 40%. After 1 day at 10 nmol.l-1 a slight increase in AP activity was noted (+20%) which augmented with the duration of exposure. This stimulatory effect was highest after 8 days (+130%). In contrast, after 15 and 21 days, AP activity decreased by 30%. Under 1,25(OH)2D3, microtubules were observed mainly in the perinuclear region.

Multilayers composed of Ti : N and Fe 0.50 Co 0.48 V 0.02 produced by DC-magnetron sputtering show interesting stress and magnetic anisotropies within the plane of the coating. In this work the dependence of stress and polarizability on the sputter gas pressure and the thickness of the individual layers is investigated. SQUID and MOKE magnetometry on single Fe 0.50 Co 0.48 V 0.02 films and on multilayers has been performed. The results are related to mechanical and diffractive stress measurements. The anisotropic behaviour of the coatings can be used as neutron beam polarizers in zero-field environment.

Recent publications report a magnetic in-plane anisotropy in FeCo films and multilayers. This property can be exploited for example to polarize neutrons in a small external field and the remanent magnetization can serve to use the mirrors as a spin selective device. In this work a study on Fe0.50Co0.48V0.02 films and multilayers in combination with Ti:N has been performed with regard to the connection between stress in the coating and the in-plane anisotropy using SQUID and MOKE magnetometry as well as mechanical and X-ray stress analysis. The results prove the magnetostrictive nature of the anisotropu resulting from the condensation of sputtered particles arriving at the surface under oblique incidence. The dependence of the remanence on the thickness of the deposited layer is accentuated in this work. For samples as old as 2 years we have observed a small degree of stress relaxation.

Reference EPFL-ARTICLE-147574doi:10.1149/1.1854128View record in Web of Science Record created on 2010-03-23, modified on 2017-05-12

Results are reported for the low-field magnetic susceptibilities and the low temperature isothermal magnetization of anhydrous NiCl 2 . The theoretical analysis, based on a molecular field model, leads to precise values for certain of the magnetic parameters.

The Raman spectrum of NiCl2 has been measured at various temperatures above and below the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature TN=52.3K. Two prominent bands at 175.2 and 270.9 cm-1 (6K) were observed at all temperatures and are assigned to the Eg and A1gk=0 optic phonons, respectively. A careful search was made for Raman peaks due to one- and two-magnon scattering at temperatures below TN but none were found. It is concluded that their intensity must be less than 1/30th the intensity of the A1g phonon. These results, coupled with earlier measurements of Raman scattering by magnons in FeCl2, CoCl2 and CoBr2, indicate a need for theoretical investigations of the magnon-photon coupling mechanism for these highly anisotropic layered compounds.

Two experiments were performed using lactating cows fed various treated and non-treated commodities from AFB1 contaminated peanut cakes. Treatment with ammonia gas by an autoclaving process was used for detoxification. Two methods were used for AFM1 determination in every milk sample: a TLC procedure recognized by AOAC and IDF and an HPLC method with a detection limit of 0.100 and 0.010 microgram/l, respectively. In a first experiment, lactating cows were fed treated and untreated meals during periods separated by uncontaminated soya meals phases. The total excreted AFM1 was 2.6% of the total ingested AFB1 from untreated feed contaminated at 1100 micrograms/kg. During periods receiving treated meals in the diet, AFM1 contents in milk were below 0.1 microgram/l. However, by using AFM1 data obtained using the HPLC method, an AFM1/AFB1 ratio of 4.6% was found from treated feed contaminated at 40 micrograms AFB1/kg. In a second experiment, a herd of 50 lactating cows was used for a long term (16 months) feeding of mixed commodities containing 30% ammoniated peanut cakes. AFB1 residues in the treated diet were below 10 micrograms/kg, the EEC action level, and no AFM1 residue was found up to 0.1 microgram/l in collected milk throughout this experiment.

Neutron diffraction experiments on powder and single crystal have shown that below TIC = 22.8 K NiBr2 orders with a helimagnetic structure in the basal plane, with a propagation vector k = [0.027, 0.027, 3 2] at T = 4.2 K. At TIC a first order transition towards an antiferromagnetic structure occurs. This structure is similar to that of NiCl2 and remains stable up to TN = 52 ± 1 K. At 4.2 K the moment value of Ni2+ is found to be 2.0 ± 0.15 micromB.

Pressure effects on the magnetic properties of NiBr 2 have been determined. While the Neel temperature is practically independent of pressure, the temperature of the transition between the incommensurate and the commensurate phases decreases strongly with pressure (9.5% per kbar) and above 10.6 kbar the stability range of the helical state disappears. The susceptibility in the antiferromagnetic phase is depressed by pressure (4.5% per kbar) whereas it remains unchanged in the helical state.

A neutron diffraction study has been carried out on a sample of powder of NiI 2 : the spectrum at 4.2 K shows only a single magnetic line which cannot be indexed on the 2C lattice. Measurements of the specific heat capacity in the region of the transition show the existence of two peaks at the temperatures T 1 =76K and T 2 =59.5K, which correspond to singularities in the magnetisation.

An attempt has been made to test the cluster theory of Muramatsu and Oguchi by applying it to the case of anhydrous cupric chloride. The magnetic specific heat which has been derived from experimental measurements is shown to fit the theory if the exchange interaction is close to isotropic, with anisotropy parameter η=0.927, showing the Neel point at 23.9 K and a broad maximum around 40 K.