Effects of thermoregulation on human sleep patterns: A mathematical model of sleep-wake cycles with REM-NREM subcircuit

In this paper we construct a mathematical model of human sleep/wake regulation with thermoregulation and temperature e ects. Simulations of this model show features previously presented in experimental data such as elongation of duration and number of REM bouts across the night as well as the appearance of awakenings due to deviations in body temperature from thermoneutrality. This model helps to demonstrate the importance of temperature in the sleep cycle. Further modi cations of the model to include more temperature e ects on other aspects of sleep regulation such as sleep and REM latency are discussedPostprint (author's final draft

Covert Waking Brain Activity Reveals Instantaneous Sleep Depth

The neural correlates of the wake-sleep continuum remain incompletely understood, limiting the development of adaptive drug delivery systems for promoting sleep maintenance. The most useful measure for resolving early positions along this continuum is the alpha oscillation, an 8–13 Hz electroencephalographic rhythm prominent over posterior scalp locations. The brain activation signature of wakefulness, alpha expression discloses immediate levels of alertness and dissipates in concert with fading awareness as sleep begins. This brain activity pattern, however, is largely ignored once sleep begins. Here we show that the intensity of spectral power in the alpha band actually continues to disclose instantaneous responsiveness to noise—a measure of sleep depth—throughout a night of sleep. By systematically challenging sleep with realistic and varied acoustic disruption, we found that sleepers exhibited markedly greater sensitivity to sounds during moments of elevated alpha expression. This result demonstrates that alpha power is not a binary marker of the transition between sleep and wakefulness, but carries rich information about immediate sleep stability. Further, it shows that an empirical and ecologically relevant form of sleep depth is revealed in real-time by EEG spectral content in the alpha band, a measure that affords prediction on the order of minutes. This signal, which transcends the boundaries of classical sleep stages, could potentially be used for real-time feedback to novel, adaptive drug delivery systems for inducing sleep

ACCURACY ASSESSMENT OF A CANAL-TUNNEL 3D MODEL BY COMPARING PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND LASERSCANNING RECORDING TECHNIQUES

With recent developments in the field of technology and computer science, conventional methods are being supplanted by laser scanning and digital photogrammetry. These two different surveying techniques generate 3-D models of real world objects or structures. In this paper, we consider the application of terrestrial Laser scanning (TLS) and photogrammetry to the surveying of canal tunnels. The inspection of such structures requires time, safe access, specific processing and professional operators. Therefore, a French partnership proposes to develop a dedicated equipment based on image processing for visual inspection of canal tunnels. A 3D model of the vault and side walls of the tunnel is constructed from images recorded onboard a boat moving inside the tunnel. To assess the accuracy of this photogrammetric model (PM), a reference model is build using static TLS. We here address the problem comparing the resulting point clouds. Difficulties arise because of the highly differentiated acquisition processes, which result in very different point densities. We propose a new tool, designed to compare differences between pairs of point cloud or surfaces (triangulated meshes). Moreover, dealing with huge datasets requires the implementation of appropriate structures and algorithms. Several techniques are presented : point-to-point, cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-mesh. In addition farthest point resampling, octree structure and Hausdorff distance are adopted and described. Experimental results are shown for a 475 m long canal tunnel located in France

Older and younger patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors have similar outcomes in real-life setting

International audienceBACKGROUND: Age-related immune dysfunction might impair the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in older patients. We aimed to evaluate the impact of age on clinical outcomes and tolerance of ICIs in a real-life setting. METHODS: All patients receiving a single-agent ICI (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 [CTLA-4] or programmed death(ligand)1 [PD(L)-1] inhibitors) for the standard treatment of a locally advanced or metastatic cancer were included in this retrospective multicentric series. The primary end-point was overall survival (OS). Progression-free survival (PFS) and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were secondary end-points. The impact of age was assessed using the threshold of 70 years. RESULTS: A total of 410 patients were included, for 435 lines of treatment, including 150 lines (34%) given to patients aged 70 years or older. The primary tumour types were lung cancer (n = 304, 74%), melanoma (n = 79, 19%) and urologic cancer (n = 27, 7%). Most of the administered treatments were PD(L)-1 inhibitors (n = 356, 82%). Median follow-up reached 46 months in the CTLA-4 cohort, and 20 months in the PD(L)-1 cohort. In both treatment cohorts, age did not impact OS (respectively, HR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.5-1.4; log-rank P = 0.49 and HR = 0.9, 95% CI 0.7-1.1; log-rank P = 0.27) or PFS (HR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.4-1.1; log-rank P = 0.13 and HR = 0.9, 95% CI 0.7-1.1; log-rank P = 0.19). Grade 3-4 irAEs rates were not statistically different between older and younger patients (11% vs 12%, P = 0.87). CONCLUSION: In a large real-world series of patients treated by ICI monotherapy, the long-term clinical outcomes were not statistically different between older or younger patients, with no increased immune-related toxicity

DEVISING A VISUAL INSPECTION SYSTEM FOR CANAL TUNNELS: PRELIMINARY STUDIES

International audienc

Influence of alkali and alkaline earth ions on the O-alkylation of the lower rim phenolic-OH groups of p-tert -butyl-calix[4]arene to result in amide-pendants: Template action of K+ and the structure of K+ bound tetra-amide derivative crystallized with a p-tert -butyl-calix[4]arene anion

Role of alkali and alkaline earth ions on the formation of calix[4]arene-amide derivatives through O-alkylation of the lower rim phenolic-OH groups in general and template action of K+ in particular have been explored. Na+ and K+ ions among alkali, and Ca2+ and Sr2+ ions among alkaline earth have shown tetra-amide derivatives bound to metal ion species. Among all these, potassium salts act as template and yields a K+ bound tetra-amide derivative where the charge is counter balanced by a calix[4] arene-monoanion and the product is crystallographically characterized. Change in the amide precursor used in these O-alkylation reactions has no effect on the type of the amide derivative formed. Also demonstrated is a direct one-step reaction for the preparation of 1,3-di-amide derivative in high yield and low reaction period using CsHCO3