The transient behaviour of an input protection

The high frequency behaviour of input protections has been measured with electro-optic sampling. These measurements allow the determination of the time dependence of the voltages at internal nodes as well as the time dependence of the current through the input protection. Simulations are performed using a detailed model of the input protection and a simplified model of the integrated circuit, including connections. The measurements are vital to the development of the model, which ultimately aims at explaining the differences found in Human Body Model testing and Charged Device Model testing

Communication and Persuasion Technology: Psychophysiology of Emotions and User-Profiling

A theoretical framework for communication and persuasion technology is introduced, utilizing people’s emotions and personality characteristics. It uses two unobtrusive psychophysiological measures to penetrate people’s emotional space: heart rate variability and the variability of the fundamental frequency of the pitch of the voice. In addition, two experiments are described that validate these measures. Future systems can utilize such technology to sense people’s emotions and adopt suitable persuasion strategies

Exploring the potential of local stakeholders’ involvement in crisis management. The living lab approach in a case study from amsterdam

This article presents the outcome of research into the potential of local stakeholders’ involvement in crisis management in two Amsterdam neighborhoods. It addresses the recognized challenge of enabling and improving collaboration between established formal response organizations and local actors engaged in extending and emergent organizational behavior during crises. To further explore the potential of local actors in responding to a crisis, the authors adopted the living lab approach to bring together actors from established response organizations, the municipality and local stakeholders. The so-called Amsterdam Crisis Resilience Living Lab, set up in the Zuidas and Indische Buurt neighborhoods, enabled the co-creation of knowledge produced by both formal organizations and local stakeholders in close collaboration with researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Institute for Societal Resilience. The results and lessons learned show potential of collaboration between formal, traditional response organizations and local stakeholders in crisis response. Strengthening the links between them can ultimately lead to a more inclusive and resilient crisis management approach.In addition the article shows the added value of the living lab approach in bringing together multiple responding stakeholders from different backgrounds

High tie versus low tie in rectal surgery: comparison of anastomotic perfusion

Both "high tie" (HT) and "low tie" (LT) are well-known strategies in rectal surgery. The aim of this study was to compare colonic perfusion after HT to colonic perfusion after LT. Patients undergoing rectal resection for malignancy were included. Colonic perfusion was measured with laser Doppler flowmetry, immediately after laparotomy on the antimesenterial side of the colon segment that was to become the afferent loop (measurement A). This measurement was repeated after rectal resection (measurement B). The blood flow ratios (B/A) were compared between the HT group and the LT group. Blood flow was measured in 33 patients, 16 undergoing HT and 17 undergoing LT. Colonic blood flow slightly decreased in the HT group whereas the flow increased in the LT group. The blood flow ratio was significantly higher in the LT group (1.48 vs. 0.91; p = 0.04), independent of the blood pressure. This study shows the blood flow ratio to be higher in the LT group. This suggests that anastomoses may benefit from better perfusion when LT is performed

Seven tesla MRI improves detection of focal cortical dysplasia in patients with refractory focal epilepsy

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine whether the use of 7 tesla (T) MRI in clinical practice leads to higher detection rates of focal cortical dysplasias in possible candidates for epilepsy surgery. Methods: In our center patients are referred for 7 T MRI if lesional focal epilepsy is suspected, but no abnormalities are detected at one or more previous, sufficient-quality lower-field MRI scans, acquired with a dedicated epilepsy protocol, or when concealed pathology is suspected in combination with MR-visible mesiotemporal sclerosis-dual pathology. We assessed 40 epilepsy patients who underwent 7 T MRI for presurgical evaluation and whose scans (both 7 T and lower field) were discussed during multidisciplinary epilepsy surgery meetings that included a dedicated epilepsy neuroradiologist. We compared the conclusions of the multidisciplinary visual assessments of 7 T and lower-field MRI scans. Results: In our series of 40 patients, multidisciplinary evaluation of 7 T MRI identified additional lesions not seen on lower-field MRI in 9 patients (23%). These findings were guiding in surgical planning. So far, 6 patients underwent surgery, with histological confirmation of focal cortical dysplasia or mild malformation of cortical development. Significance: Seven T MRI improves detection of subtle focal cortical dysplasia and mild malformations of cortical development in patients with intractable epilepsy and may therefore contribute to identification of surgical candidates and complete resection of the epileptogenic lesion, and thus to postoperative seizure freedom

The Right to Development or the Development of Rights

Sovereignty, International Governance and Global Value