Online pairing of VoIP conversations

This paper answers the following question; given a multiplicity of evolving 1-way conversations, can a machine or an algorithm discern the conversational pairs in an online fashion, without understanding the content of the communications? Our analysis indicates that this is possible, and can be achieved just by exploiting the temporal dynamics inherent in a conversation. We also show that our findings are applicable for anonymous and encrypted conversations over VoIP networks. We achieve this by exploiting the aperiodic inter-departure time of VoIP packets, hence trivializing each VoIP stream into a binary time-series, indicating the voice activity of each stream. We propose effective techniques that progressively pair conversing parties with high accuracy and in a limited amount of time. Our findings are verified empirically on a dataset consisting of 1,000 conversations. We obtain very high pairing accuracy that reaches 97% after 5 min of voice conversations. Using a modeling approach we also demonstrate analytically that our result can be extended over an unlimited number of conversations.     

Integration of diamond in fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator technology as buried insulator: A theoretical analysis

We examine here by electro-thermal simulation tools (SILVACO's Atlas) a configuration of Silicon-On-Insulator substrate for Fully-Depleted MOSFET architectures, incorporating diamond as buried insulator, and compare it with traditional silicon dioxide BOX for the future technological nodes of the ITRS (90 nm and below). Our aim is to give major trends to be followed in order to optimize diamond integration from electrical and thermal points of view, constraints that must be kept in mind in parallel with the technological work on thin diamond films. In this theoretical study, we perform a benchmarking between SiO₂ and diamond BOX. We first point out that the BOX thickness should not be more than few hundred nanometers to maintain electrical performances. From thermal point of view, we demonstrate that the replacement of 100 nm thick buried oxide by a 100 nm thick diamond layer can lead to about 50% reduction of the temperature when only 33% decrease can be obtained with Ultra Thin SiO₂ BOX (20 nm). Furthermore, thick diamond BOX avoids the parasitic capacitances issue that reduces Ultra Thin BOX devices working frequency.     

Radiation curing technology: An attractive technology for metal coating

The introduction of new tailor-made (meth)acrylated oligomers has extended the potential use of the radiation curing technology to metal coating applications where adhesion, flexibility and corrosion resistance are of prime importance. In this paper, we discuss the properties of three fairly simple clearcoat systems spanning a range of glass transition temperatures between ≈10 and 70 °C. The systems were obtained by combination of two original urethane acrylate resins and two reactive diluents.Practical performance tests typically used to establish coating profiles in the metal industry (i.e., mechanical testing, adhesion, salt-spray test, etc.) were performed on ultraviolet (UV)-coated galvanised steel. In addition, the barrier properties of coated steel panels were systematically investigated at different coating thicknesses using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. These results are analysed in terms of relevant physico-chemical characteristics such as conversion, volume contraction, swelling, viscoelastic and tensile behaviour determined on free-standing coating layers of the three formulations.     

HERSCHEL—PACS Bolometer Arrays for Submillimeter Ground-Based Telescopes

The Herschel Space Observatory will carry onboard a new kind of bolometric architecture for the PACS (Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer) submillimeter photometer. These new generation CCD-like multiplexed bolometer arrays are buttable and enable the conception of large fully sampled focal planes either for space or for ground-based telescopes. We present here some development for ground-based applications in the context of the ARTEMIS (ARchitecture de bolomètres pour des TElescopes sub-MIllimétriques au Sol) project. We have developed an electro-thermal numerical model that simulates the performances of these semiconducting bolometers under specific ground-based conditions (different wavelengths and background powers for example). This model permits to determine the optimal parameters for each condition and shows that the bolometers can be background limited in each atmospheric transmission window between 200 and 450 microns. We also describe the optical system that provides a high optical efficiency in each submillimeter atmospheric window. Astronomical observations made with a prototype on the APEX telescope are presented.     

Novel TTLL5 Variants Associated with Cone-Rod Dystrophy and Early-Onset Severe Retinal Dystrophy

Variants of the TTLL5 gene, which encodes tubulin tyrosine ligase-like family member five, are a rare cause of cone dystrophy (COD) or cone-rod dystrophy (CORD). To date, only a few TTLL5 patients have been clinically and genetically described. In this study, we report five patients harbouring biallelic variants of TTLL5. Four adult patients presented either COD or CORD with onset in the late teenage years. The youngest patient had a phenotype of early onset severe retinal dystrophy (EOSRD). Genetic analysis was performed by targeted next generation sequencing of gene panels and assessment of copy number variants (CNV). We identified eight variants, of which six were novel, including two large multiexon deletions in patients with COD or CORD, while the EOSRD patient harboured the novel homozygous p.(Trp640*) variant and three distinct USH2A variants, which might explain the observed rod involvement. Our study highlights the role of TTLL5 in COD/CORD and the importance of large deletions. These findings suggest that COD or CORD patients lacking variants in known genes may harbour CNVs to be discovered in TTLL5, previously undetected by classical sequencing methods. In addition, variable phenotypes in TTLL5-associated patients might be due to the presence of additional gene defects.     

Reduced-order models using optimal Laguerre approximations

The letter describes a model order-reduction prodcedure that is based on an optimally truncated Laguerre series expansion. Some of the advantages of the prodcedure are that it simultaneously minimises the error in the impulse response and the energy between the original system and the low-order model.     

Analysis of edge slots in rectangular waveguide using finite-difference time-domain method

A finite-difference time-domain (FD-TD) method for analysing edge slots in rectangular waveguides is suggested. The proposal is supported by an example.<>     

PI3K and AKT: Unfaithful Partners in Cancer

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway regulates multiple cellular processes. An overactivation of the pathway is frequently present in human malignancies and plays a key role in cancer progression. Hence, its inhibition has become a promising approach in cancer therapy. However, the development of resistances, such as the abrogation of negative feedback mechanisms or the activation of other proliferative signaling pathways, has considerably limited the anticancer efficacy of PI3K/AKT inhibitors. In addition, emerging evidence points out that although AKT is acknowledged as the major downstream effector of PI3K, both PI3K and AKT can operate independently of each other in cancer, revealing another level of complexity in this pathway. Here, we highlight the complex relationship between PI3K and AKT in cancer and further discuss the consequences of this relationship for cancer therapy.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of Dimethylzinc to Acyl‐N‐methylimidazole Michael Acceptors: Scope,Limitations and Iterative Reactions

An efficient copper‐catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of dimethylzinc to unsaturated 2‐acyl‐N‐methylimidazoles has been achieved using a chiral bidentate hydroxyalkyl‐NHC ligand. The reactions proceed with excellent regioselectivity (1,4 vs. 1,6 and 1,8) in extended conjugated systems to afford the 1,4‐adducts in high enantioselectivities. This regioselectivity could be ascertained by DFT studies highlighting the crucial role of the imidazole ring. Thanks to the development of efficient protocols to regenerate the unsaturated 2‐acyl‐N‐methylimidazole moiety, an iterative process has been developed ultimately leading to 3,5,7 all‐syn or anti‐anti polydeoxypropionate stereodiads.