Single shot temporal measurement of short x-ray pulses using very fast photoconductive detectors

This report gives the status of the development of picosecond photoconductive detectors. The main application of these devices is the single shot temporal measurement of picosecond X-ray, U.V. or visible light pulses. We compare different materials, describe the X-ray autocorrelator and the single shot sampler developed by LETI/SCSI, Grenoble, France

A basal ganglia inspired model of action selection evaluated in a robotic survival task.

The basal ganglia system has been proposed as a possible neural substrate for action selection in the vertebrate brain. We describe a robotic implementation of a model of the basal ganglia and demonstrate the capacity of this system to generate adaptive switching between several acts when embedded in a robot that has to "survive" in a laboratory environment. A comparison between this brain-inspired selection mechanism and classical "winner-takes-all" selection highlights some adaptive properties specific to the model, such as avoidance of dithering and energy-saving. These properties derive, in part, from the capacity of simulated basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loops to generate appropriate "behavioral persistence"

Incidence and Risk Factors of First-Line HAART Discontinuation: Is it Worth Choosing Competing Risk or Standard Survival Approaches?

International audienceObjectives: To estimate the incidences of first-line HAART discontinuation (for intolerance, treatment failure or treatment simplification) and their risk factors by standard survival (1-KM, Cox model) or competing risk approach (CIF, Fine-Gray model) in HIV infected patients. Methods: We studied 1136 patients receiving first-line Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapies (HAART), aged over 18 years, from the Dat'AIDS cohort, Toulouse, France, between January 2000 and June 2008. Cumulative incidence was estimated with 1-KM and CIF estimators and risk factors with Cox and Fine-Gray models. Results: There were 265 discontinuations for intolerance, 136 simplifications, 101 treatment failure and 274 other reasons. One year incidences were 19.0% versus 16.8%, 8.0% versus 6.0%, 6.3% versus 4.8% and 20.0% versus 17.3%, with the estimators 1-KM and CIF, respectively. For intolerance, both models identified similar risk factors. For risk factors of simplification or treatment failure, results differed by the model. Conclusions: As expected, the 1-KM overestimates the incidence of treatment discontinuation. For early and frequent events such as intolerance, the Cox and the Fine-Gray models appear to give similar results. For late and rare events, potentially exposed to competing risk, results differed. The common or specific nature of a factor may also play a role

Facing Counterfeit Medications in Sexual Medicine. A Systematic Scoping Review on Social Strategies and Technological Solutions

Introduction: The counterfeit phenomenon is a largely under-reported issue, with potentially large burden for healthcare. The market for counterfeit drugs used in sexual medicine, most notably type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE5i), is rapidly growing.Aims: To report the health risks associated with the use of counterfeit medications, the reasons driving their use, and the strategies enacted to contain this phenomenon.Methods: A systematic scoping review of the literature regarding counterfeit PDE5i was carried between January and June 2021, then updated in August 2021.Main Outcome Measure: We primarily aimed to clarify the main drivers for counterfeit PDE5i use, the health risks associated, and the currently available strategies to fight counterfeiters.Results: One hundred thirty-one records were considered for the present scoping review. Production of fake PDE5i is highly lucrative and the lacking awareness of the potential health risks makes it a largely exploitable market by counterfeiters. Adulteration with other drugs, microbial contamination and unreliable dosages make counterfeit medications a cause of worry also outside of the sexual medicine scope. Several laboratory techniques have been devised to identify and quantify the presence of other compounds in counterfeit medications. Strategies aimed at improving awareness, providing antitampering packaging and producing non-falsifiable products, such as the orodispersible formulations, are also described.Clinical implications: Improving our understanding of the PDE5i counterfeit phenomenon can be helpful to promote awareness of this issue and to improve patient care.Strengths & Limitations: Despite the systematic approach, few clinical studies were retrieved, and data concerning the prevalence of counterfeit PDE5i use is not available on a global scale.Conclusion: The counterfeit phenomenon is a steadily growing issue, with PDE5i being the most counterfeited medication with potentially large harmful effects on unaware consumers. Copyright (C) 2021, International Society of Sexual Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc