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The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ-B) is an instrument that allows the experiences around fear of childbirth to be examined after the birth. It is currently the most widely used to measure different aspects related to the fear of childbirth and enables healthcare and additional assistance to women after birth to be adapted according to their needs. The objective of this study was to translate the W-DEQ-B into Spanish and analyse its reliability and validity. The study was carried out in two phases: (1) transcultural adaption of the questionnaire to Spanish and (2) a transversal study in a sample of 190 postpartum women from Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinics in the province of Barcelona (Spain). The psychometric properties were examined in terms of reliability (internal consistency and temporal stability) and construct validity (confirmatory factorial analysis [CFA] and exploratory factorial analysis [EFA]). The results of the CFA did not confirm unidimensionality of the W-DEQ-B questionnaire. The EFA suggested four very similar, but not identical, dimensions to those obtained in other studies in which the W-DEQ-B has been evaluated. Both the Cronbach's alpha and the omega coefficient were adequate for the total questionnaire and for each of the four dimensions. The results of this study confirm that the W-DEQ-B is multi-dimensional. In the Spanish version of the W-DEQ-B-Sp four dimensions have been identified that allow the experiences around fear of childbirth to be examined after the birth. The Spanish version of the WDEQ-B (WDEQ-B-Sp) is reliable and valid for the measurement of fear of childbirth in clinical practice and for use in future research.

International audience; This work proposes a novel approach for the design of high-quality on-chip sinusoidal signal generators using digital circuitry. The proposed generation technique is based on a simple digital shift-register that provides a set of phase-shifted versions of a digital square-wave signal. These square-wave signals are conveniently combined using a harmonic cancellation strategy to yield a spectrally pure sinusoidal output signal. The proposed strategy allows cancelling low-frequency harmonics close to the fundamental component of the generated sinusoidal signal, while a simple first order low-pass filter is used to attenuate higher or- der harmonic components. A simple one-shot calibration strategy is also presented in order to compensate the effects of the main non-idealities affecting the dynamic linearity of the generator. Statistical behavioral simulations are provided to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed generator.

International audience; Testing analog, mixed-signal and RF circuits represents the main cost component for testing complex SoCs. A promising solution to alleviate this cost is the Alternate Test strategy. Alternate test is an indirect test approach that replaces costly specification measurements by simpler signatures. Machine learning techniques are then used to map signatures and performances. One key point that still remains as an open problem is the conception of adequate simple measurement candidates. This work presents efficient algorithms for selecting information rich signatures.

International audience; Digital techniques for an embedded dynamic test of ∑Δ ADCs have been recently presented in the literature. These techniques are based on the use of ∑Δ streams for the stimulation of the ADC. Binary and ternary test stimuli have been proposed. In this chapter, we aim at the validation of these embedded test techniques, comparing the results obtained with the different types of digital stimuli with a standard high-resolution analog sinusoidal stimulus. This validation is done in terms of the expected yield loss and test escapes of the proposed embedded techniques. However, performing this validation at the design stage demands extensive computational resources, which may render electrical simulations infeasible. Thus, we propose an advanced simulation framework for this validation. The proposed simulation strategy relies on a combination of transistor-level simulations, behavioral simulations, and statistical tools.

International audience; Validation of an embedded test technique in terms of its expected yield loss and test escape metrics is a key step before it can be deployed in high-volume manufacturing. However, performing this validation at the design stage usually demands extensive computational resources, which may render electrical simulations infeasible. In this paper, we propose a digital test technique for dynamic test of ΣΔ ADCs based on a digital ternary stimulus together with an advanced simulation framework for its validation. The proposed simulation strategy relies on a combination of transistor-level simulations, behavioural simulations, and statistical tools. To show the feasibility of our approach, we use the proposed validation framework to compare the ternary stimulus with a digital bitstream stimulus, as well as with a standard high-resolution analog sine-wave stimulus.

International audience; Testing analog, mixed-signal and RF circuits represents the main cost component for testing complex SoCs. A promising solution to alleviate this cost is the Alternate Test strategy. Alternate test is an indirect test approach that replaces costly specification measurements by simpler signatures. Machine learning techniques are then used to map signatures and performances. One key point that still remains as an open problem is the conception of adequate simple measurement candidates. This work presents efficient algorithms for selecting information rich signatures.

Background: The etiology and outcomes of blood-stream infections (BSI) among paediatric patients is not well described in resource-limited countries including Georgia. Methodology: Patients with positive blood cultures at the largest paediatric hospital in the country of Georgia were identified by review of the medical and laboratory records of patients who had blood for cultures drawn between January 2004 and June 2006. Results: Of 1,693 blood cultures obtained during the study period, 338 (20%) were positive; of these, 299 were included in our analysis. The median age was 14 days from a range of 2 days to 14 years of which 178 (60%) were male; 53% of the patients with a positive culture were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) represented 165 (55%) of 299 cultures. Further speciation of 135 (82%) of 165 Gram-negative rod (GNR) was not possible because of lack of laboratory capacity. Overall, mortality was 30% (90 of 299). Among the 90 children who died, 80 (89%) were neonates and 68 (76%) had BSI caused by Gram-negative organisms. In multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality included an age of less than 30 days (OR=4.00, 95% CI 1.89-8.46) and having a positive blood culture for a Gram-negative BSI (OR = 2.38, 95% CI 1.32-4.29). Conclusions: A high mortality rate was seen among children, particularly neonates, with positive blood cultures at the largest paediatric hospital in Georgia. Because of limited laboratory capacity, microbiological identification of common organisms known to cause BSI in children was not possible and susceptibility testing was not performed. Improving the infrastructure of diagnostic microbiology laboratories in countries with limited resources is critical in order to improve patient care and clinical outcomes, and from a public health standpoint, to improve surveillance activities.