Deregulation of the electric power industry : the impact of transmission on market imperfections

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1998.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-46).by Ziad N. Younes.M.S

Skip Connections in Spiking Neural Networks: An Analysis of Their Effect on Network Training

Spiking neural networks (SNNs) have gained attention as a promising alternative to traditional artificial neural networks (ANNs) due to their potential for energy efficiency and their ability to model spiking behavior in biological systems. However, the training of SNNs is still a challenging problem, and new techniques are needed to improve their performance. In this paper, we study the impact of skip connections on SNNs and propose a hyperparameter optimization technique that adapts models from ANN to SNN. We demonstrate that optimizing the position, type, and number of skip connections can significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of SNNs by enabling faster convergence and increasing information flow through the network. Our results show an average +8% accuracy increase on CIFAR-10-DVS and DVS128 Gesture datasets adaptation of multiple state-of-the-art models.Comment: IPDPSW Scalable Deep Learning 202

Ribavirin dose management in HCV patients receiving ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir with ribavirin

Background & Aims: Some individuals with hepatitis C virus infection treated with direct-acting antivirals require ribavirin to maximize sustained virological response rates. We describe the clinical management of ribavirin dosing in hepatitis C virus-infected patients receiving ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir with ribavirin. Methods: We performed a post hoc analysis of patients receiving ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir with ribavirin for 12 or 24 weeks in six phase 3 trials. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression models assessed predictors associated with ribavirin dose adjustments and with developing anaemia. Results: Of 1548 patients, 100 (6.5%) modified ribavirin dose due to haemoglobin declines, of which 99% achieved sustained virological response at 12 weeks post-treatment. Median time to first ribavirin dose reduction was 37 days. Low baseline haemoglobin was significantly associated with an increased risk of requiring ribavirin dose modification (odds ratio: 0.618 [0.518, 0.738]; P < .001) and developing anaemia (odds ratio: 0.379 [0.243, 0.593]; P < .001). Conclusions: Ribavirin dose reductions were infrequent, occurred early in treatment, and did not impact sustained virological response at 12 weeks post-treatment. Patients with low baseline haemoglobin should be monitored for on-treatment anaemia

Obeticholic acid for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: interim analysis from a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial

Background Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common type of chronic liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis. Obeticholic acid, a farnesoid X receptor agonist, has been shown to improve the histological features of NASH. Here we report results from a planned interim analysis of an ongoing, phase 3 study of obeticholic acid for NASH. Methods In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, adult patients with definite NASH,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score of at least 4, and fibrosis stages F2–F3, or F1 with at least oneaccompanying comorbidity, were randomly assigned using an interactive web response system in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive oral placebo, obeticholic acid 10 mg, or obeticholic acid 25 mg daily. Patients were excluded if cirrhosis, other chronic liver disease, elevated alcohol consumption, or confounding conditions were present. The primary endpointsfor the month-18 interim analysis were fibrosis improvement (≥1 stage) with no worsening of NASH, or NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis, with the study considered successful if either primary endpoint was met. Primary analyses were done by intention to treat, in patients with fibrosis stage F2–F3 who received at least one dose of treatment and reached, or would have reached, the month 18 visit by the prespecified interim analysis cutoff date. The study also evaluated other histological and biochemical markers of NASH and fibrosis, and safety. This study is ongoing, and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02548351, and EudraCT, 20150-025601-6. Findings Between Dec 9, 2015, and Oct 26, 2018, 1968 patients with stage F1–F3 fibrosis were enrolled and received at least one dose of study treatment; 931 patients with stage F2–F3 fibrosis were included in the primary analysis (311 in the placebo group, 312 in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 308 in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). The fibrosis improvement endpoint was achieved by 37 (12%) patients in the placebo group, 55 (18%) in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group (p=0·045), and 71 (23%) in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group (p=0·0002). The NASH resolution endpoint was not met (25 [8%] patients in the placebo group, 35 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group [p=0·18], and 36 [12%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group [p=0·13]). In the safety population (1968 patients with fibrosis stages F1–F3), the most common adverse event was pruritus (123 [19%] in the placebo group, 183 [28%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 336 [51%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group); incidence was generally mild to moderate in severity. The overall safety profile was similar to that in previous studies, and incidence of serious adverse events was similar across treatment groups (75 [11%] patients in the placebo group, 72 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 93 [14%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). Interpretation Obeticholic acid 25 mg significantly improved fibrosis and key components of NASH disease activity among patients with NASH. The results from this planned interim analysis show clinically significant histological improvement that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. This study is ongoing to assess clinical outcomes

The Importance of the Availability of the Requirements of using Portable Devices in Teaching English Language of the Higher Basic Stage Students in Amman Private Schools of Jordan

Abstract This study aimed at investigating the importance of the availability of the requirements of using portable devices in teaching English language, from the teachers&apos; point of view of the Higher Basic Stage Students in Amman Private Schools. To achieve the objective of the study a stratified random sample o

Effects of γ-Irradiation and Sample Aging on the AC-Electrical Properties of Epoxy/ZnO/CB Hybrid Nanocomposites

The goal of this paper is to study the effects of gamma irradiation and samples’ aging on the AC-electrical properties of hybrid epoxy resin as a function of frequency, temperature, and (zinc oxide) ZnO content (0, 0.049, 0.099, 0.149, and 0.199 wt) at 0.001 wt of conductive (carbon black) CB nanoparticles. The irradiation processes were administered at room temperature in a gamma chamber utilizing a Cobalt 60 source of average energy = 1.25 MeV with doses = 100, 750, and 1000 Gy. The AC-electrical properties, including the impedance, dielectric constant, dielectric loss, conductivity, and activation energy of the nanocomposites, were initially studied after years of sample preparations. The collected empirical data were later analyzed before and after the gamma irradiation. The results showed that exposing samples to different doses of gamma radiation affects these AC-electrical properties significantly. It was found that the energy gap decreased as the dosage of gamma radiation increased. This could be explained as the gamma-irradiation processes induce changes in the structure of the epoxy hybrid nanocomposites by reinforcing the metal–polymer bonding and hence, causing the release of more free electrons inside the hybrid nanocomposites. Moreover, the sample aging results showed that the AC-electrical conductivity decreased with time for all samples. Hence, this study demonstrated why the γ-irradiation technique can be considered a powerful way to treat, recover, and/or enhance the electrical features of the tested epoxy hybrid nanocomposites

Management of Barrett’s Esophagus

There have been major recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of Barrett’s esophagus and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. The advent of potent acid suppression with proton pump inhibitors and safe, minimally invasive antireflux procedures has made alleviating symptoms and eliminating peptic complications achievable goals for the vast majority of patients. Endoscopic surveillance of Barrett’s esophagus is considered the standard of care and is widely used in clinical practice. Neither medical nor surgical antireflux procedures, however, result in the regression of Barrett’s esophagus in any consistent manner. Thermal and chemical endoscopic ablation techniques show promise in both the management of high grade dysplasia and the reversal of Barrett’s esophagus, but these techniques are still of unproven benefit, and can be costly and risky. Therefore, prospective and controlled studies with long term follow-up are needed before incorporating ablative techniques into routine clinical practice. Management of high grade dysplasia remains controversial. Alternative management strategies include surveillance, resection or ablation, tailored to the individual patient and the available expertise. Targets for future research include defining appropriate surveillance intervals; finding biological markers that identify patients at higher risk of progressing to cancer; defining the cancer risk and the appropriate management of patients with short segment Barrett’s esophagus; understanding the natural history of dysplasia and comparing alternatives for the management of high grade dysplasia; and studying whether surgical management can delay or prevent the progression to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma

Oral Health Status of Institutionalized Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in Lebanon

International audienc