Interactive compact device modelling using Qucs Equation Devices (EDD)

The latest Qucs release marks a turning point in the development of the Qucs device and circuitmodeling facilities. Release 0.0.11 introduced component values defined by equations, and for the first time allowed subcircuits with parameters. Release 0.0.12 extends these features to add device model construction using symbolic equations that are similar to model code written in the Verilog-­A language. In designing the latest Qucs modeling features the Qucs team has attemptedto address the need to provide the package with an interactive and easy to use modeling systemthat allows fast compact device and circuit macromodel construction

Verilog-A Compact Semiconductor Device Modelling and Circuit Macromodelling with the QucsStudio-ADMS "Turn-Key" Modelling System

The Verilog-A “Analogue Device Model Synthesizer” (ADMS) has in recent years become an established modelling tool for GNU General Public License circuit simulator development. Qucs and ngspice being two examples of open source circuit simulators that use ADMS. This paper presents a “turn-key” compact device modelling and circuit macromodelling system based on ADMS and implemented in the QucsStudio circuit design, simulation and manufacturing environment. A core feature of the new system is a modelling procedure which does not require users to manually patch the circuit simulator C++ code. At the start of a QucsStudio simulation the software automatically detects any changes in Verilog-A model code, re-compiling and dynamically linking the modified code to the body of the QucsStudio code. The inherent flexibility of the “turn-key” system encourages rapid experimentation with analogue and RF compact device models. In this paper QucsStudio “turn-key” modelling is illustrated by the design of a single stage RF amplifier circuit

To sleep or not to sleep, that is the question: A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of post-trauma sleep on intrusive memories of analog trauma

Distressing intrusive memories of a traumatic event are one of the hallmark symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Thus, it is crucial to identify early interventions that prevent the occurrence of intrusive memories. Both, sleep and sleep deprivation have been discussed as such interventions, yet previous studies yielded contradicting effects. Our systematic review aims at evaluating existing evidence by means of traditional and individual participant data (IPD) meta-analyses to overcome power issues of sleep research. Until May 16th, 2022, six databases were searched for experimental analog studies examining the effect of post-trauma sleep versus wakefulness on intrusive memories. Nine studies were included in our traditional meta-analysis (8 in the IPD meta-analysis). Our analysis provided evidence for a small effect favoring sleep over wakefulness, log-ROM = 0.25, p < .001, suggesting that sleep is associated with a lower number of intrusions but unrelated to the occurrence of any versus no intrusions. We found no evidence for an effect of sleep on intrusion distress. Heterogeneity was low and certainty of evidence for our primary analysis was moderate. Our findings suggest that post-trauma sleep has the potential to be protective by reducing intrusion frequency. More research is needed to determine the impact following real-world trauma and the potential clinical significance

The dopamine D2 receptor mediates approach-avoidance tendencies in smokers

Dopamine D2 receptors (DRD2) have been strongly implicated in reward processing of natural stimuli and drugs. By using the Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT), we recently demonstrated that smokers show an increased approach bias toward smoking-related cues but not toward naturally-rewarding stimuli. Here we examined the contribution of the DRD2 Taq1B polymorphism to smokers’ and non-smokers’ responsivity toward smoking versus naturally-rewarding stimuli in the AAT. Smokers carrying the minor B1 allele of the DRD2 Taq1B polymorphism showed reduced approach behavior for food-related pictures compared to non-smokers with the same allele. In the group of smokers, a higher approach-bias toward smoking-related compared to food-related pictures was found in carriers of the B1 allele. This pattern was not evident in smokers homozygous for the B2 allele. Additionally, smokers with the B1 allele reported fewer attempts to quit smoking relative to smokers homozygous for the B2 allele. This is the first study demonstrating that behavioral shifts in response to smoking relative to natural rewards in smokers are mediated by the DRD2 Taq1B polymorphism. Our results indicate a reduced natural-reward brain reactivity in smokers with a genetically determined decrease in dopaminergic activity (i.e., reduction of DRD2 availability). It remains to be determined whether this pattern might be related to a different outcome after psychological cessation interventions, i.e. AAT modification paradigms, in smokers

Low-frequency noise and intermodulation distortion in resistive FET mixers

Die vorliegende Arbeit berichtet über Eigenschaften von resistiven FET-Mischern. Der erste und umfangreichste Teil behandelt das Niederfrequenz-Rauschen (1/f-Rauschen und Generations-Rekombinations- Rauschen). Hierzu wurde ein neues FET-Rauschmodell entwickelt, das auf fluktuierenden Widerständen basiert. Die anschließend durchgeführten Messungen und Simulationen bewiesen die Existenz von zwei unkorrelierten, niederfrequenten Rauschquellen im linearen Kennlinienbereich eines Feldeffekt-Transistors: Kanal und Gate-Ladewiderstände. Weiterhin konnte erklärt werden, wie der LO-Selbstmischprozeß in symmetrischen und unsymmetrischen resistiven Mischern das Rauschen erzeugt. Der zweite Teil berichtet von Intermodulationen in resistiven MESFET-Mischern. Die Ergebnisse nicht-linearer Schaltungssimulationen zeigten die Abhängigkeiten vom MESFET-Typ, von der Gate-Weite und von der LO-Leistung. Der dritte und letzte Teil berichtet von der Entwicklung und Realisierung eines unsymmetrischen, monolithischen resistiven Mischers und zeigt die Simulations- und Messergebnisse.The work presented here reports on properties of resistive FET mixers. The first and most comprehensive part deals with low-frequency noise (flicker noise and generation-recombination noise). A new FET noise model based on fluctuating resistances was developed. The performed measurements and simulations prove the existence of two uncorrelated low-frequency noise sources in field-effect transistors in linear channel bias regime: The channel and the gate charging resistors. Furthermore, the mechanisms of noise creation due to the self-mixing process of the local oscillator are explained for single-ended and for symmetrical mixers. The second part reports on intermodulation distortion in resistive MESFET mixers. The results of nonlinear circuit simulations showed the dependencies on the MESFET type, on the gate width and on the LO power. The third and last part reports on the development and the realization of a single-ended, monolithic resistive mixer. The results of simulations and measurements are also shown

Klinische Implikationen moderner Lerntheorien (Clinical Implication of Modern Learning Theories)

Die Psychotherapieforschung hat in den letzten Jahren zahlreiche Erkenntnisse hervorgebracht, die wichtige Implikationen für die Praxis der Psychotherapie haben. In diesem Band stellen namhafte deutsche und internationale Autoren aktuelle Konzeptentwicklungen und Forschungsergebnisse aus dem Bereich der Psychotherapieforschung vor. Im ersten Teil wird auf die Epidemiologie psychischer Störungen, die Diagnostik und Erfolgsmessung sowie die Rolle von Ressourcen und Zielen in der Psychotherapie eingegangen. Im zweiten Teil spannt sich der Bogen von der Darstellung körperlicher und sozialer Rahmenbedingungen über aktuelle lerntheoretische Konzepte bis hin zur Frage nach standardisiertem oder individualisiertem therapeutischen Vorgehen. Weiterhin wird der therapeutische Prozess auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen beleuchtet; hierzu werden motivations- und volitionspsychologische Konzepte sowie Modelle zur therapeutischen Beziehungsgestaltung genutzt. Schließlich wird auf Fragen der Qualitätssicherung und auf die Entwicklung sowie den Stand der psychotherapeutischen Versorgung eingegangen

GNU simulators supporting Verilog-A compact model standardization

This poster explains about Qucs: Quite Universal Circuit Simulator, ADMS: Verilog-A Compact Model Generator and NGSpice: mixed-level/mixed-signal circuit simulator

Associative learning in flying phobia

Background and objectives: Modern learning theories suggest that particularly strong associative learning contributes to the etiology and maintenance of anxiety disorders, thus explaining why some individuals develop an anxiety disorder after a frightening (conditioning) event, whereas others do not. However, associative learning has rarely been investigated experimentally in specific phobias. The current study investigated associative learning in patients with flying phobia and healthy controls using a modified version of Olson and Fazio’s associative learning paradigm (Olson & Fazio, 2001). Methods:Under the guise of an attention task, patients with flying phobia (n = 33), and healthy controls (n = 39) viewed a series of distracters interspersed with pairings of novel objects (counterbalancedconditioned stimuli, CSs) with frightening and pleasant stimuli (unconditioned stimuli, USs). Results:After the conditioning procedure patients with flying phobia rated both CSs more frightening and showed stronger discrimination between the CSs for valence compared to healthy controls. Conclusions:Our findings indicate a particularly stronger conditioning effect in flying phobia. These results contribute to the understanding of the etiology of specific phobia and may help to explain why only some individuals develop a flying phobia after an aversive event associated with flying