379 research outputs found

    Harnessing energy performance certificates for deep energy renovation : policy recommendations and evidence from testing

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    To achieve the EU's energy efficiency targets, both the rate of building energy renovation and its depth, i.e., the amount of energy savings post renovation need to be improved. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are key to make energy efficiency measures transparent for the building market and to promote the energy efficiency of buildings through renovation. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is seen as a pre-condition to meet the Renovation Wave objectives and to reach a highly energy efficient and decarbonized building stock by 2050. One focus of the current revision of the EPBD is therefore the improvement of EPCs. QualDeEPC - High-quality Energy Performance Assessment and Certification in Europe Accelerating Deep Energy Renovation, funded under the EU's Horizon 2020 programme, is a project that aims to improve EPCs. Following an EU-wide review of existing EPC schemes, and extensive stakeholder discussions in the seven partner countries, QualDeEPC found that EPCs and EPC schemes need to enhance particularly in the following three ways: 1. Establish a close link between EPCs and deep energy renovation 2. Improve the quality of EPC schemes, i.e., both the EPCs and their data, and the processes of assessment, certification, verification 3. Improve cross-EU convergence of EPC schemes

    0230: Effectiveness of switching Prasugrel's ‘low responders’ to ticagrelor after acute coronary syndrome

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    AimsThis study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of switching from Prasugrel to Ticagrelor patients identified as Prasugrel low-responders one month after ACS.Methods and results540 patients admitted for ACS with coronary stent implantation and discharged on Prasugrel 10mg were screened. Prasugrel response was assessed one month after discharge using Platelet Reactivity Index Vasodilatator Stimulated Phosphoprotein (PRI VASP). High on-Treatment Platelet Reactivity (HTPR) was defined as VASP>50%. Patients with HTPR were enrolled and switched to Ticagrelor 90 mg twice a day. They were re-tested a month later. Primary endpoint was defined as: comparison of degree of platelet inhibition and incidence of HTPR one month after switching to Ticagrelor in patients with HTPR on Prasugrel therapy. The safety endpoint was the incidence of bleedings under Ticagrelor as compared with Prasugrel therapy, using the Bleeding Academic Research Consensus definition.Between March 2010 and November 2013, 19 patients were defined as HTPR on Prasugrel 10 mg one month after ACS, with a mean VASP of 59,3%. Among these patients, 14 were switched to Ticagrelor 180 mg daily and, at one month, we observed a significant decrease in PRI VASP, with a mean value at 19.6% (p<0.001). No patients remained HTPR and 4 patients (28.4%) were identified as Very Low on-Treatment Platelet Reactivity (VLTPR) (VASP<10%). No ischemic events were reported after switching, while 3 patients (21%) suffered from bleeding complications (2 BARC1 and 1 BARC2 bleedings) during Ticagrelor therapy.ConclusionSwitch to Ticagrelor in Prasugrel's “low responders” patients is an effective strategy, leading to an adequate platelet inhibition in a large majority of patients. This biological tailored approach could be useful in preventing ischemic complications, in this specific high risk population, potentially increasing bleeding risk. This hypothesis needs to be confirmed in large clinical studies.Abstract 0230 – Figur

    Sentinel-1 backscatter time series for characterization of evapotranspiration dynamics over temperate coniferous forests

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    Forests’ ecosystems are an essential part of the global carbon cycle with vast carbon storage potential. These systems are currently under external pressures showing increasing change due to climate change. A better understanding of the biophysical properties of forests is, therefore, of paramount importance for research and monitoring purposes. While there are many biophysical properties, the focus of this study is on the in-depth analysis of the connection between the C-band Copernicus Sentinel-1 SAR backscatter and evapotranspiration (ET) estimates based on in situ meteorological data and the FAO-based Penman–Monteith equation as well as the well-established global terrestrial ET product from the Terra and Aqua MODIS sensors. The analysis was performed in the Free State of Thuringia, central Germany, over coniferous forests within an area of 2452 km2, considering a 5-year time series (June 2016–July 2021) of 6- to 12-day Sentinel-1 backscatter acquisitions/observations, daily in situ meteorological measurements of four weather stations as well as an 8-day composite of ET products of the MODIS sensors. Correlation analyses of the three datasets were implemented independently for each of the microwave sensor’s acquisition parameters, ascending and descending overpass direction and co- or cross-polarization, investigating different time series seasonality filters. The Sentinel-1 backscatter and both ET time series datasets show a similar multiannual seasonally fluctuating behavior with increasing values in the spring, peaks in the summer, decreases in the autumn and troughs in the winter months. The backscatter difference between summer and winter reaches over 1.5 dB, while the evapotranspiration difference reaches 8 mm/day for the in situ measurements and 300 kg/m2/8-day for the MODIS product. The best correlation between the Sentinel-1 backscatter and both ET products is achieved in the ascending overpass direction, with datasets acquired in the late afternoon, and reaches an R2-value of over 0.8. The correlation for the descending overpass direction reaches values of up to 0.6. These results suggest that the SAR backscatter signal of coniferous forests is sensitive to the biophysical property evapotranspiration under some scenarios

    Guide pratique pour le dĂ©veloppement d’une offre RFID et automates prĂȘt/retour en bibliothĂšque

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    Ce guide propose de façon trĂšs pratique le dĂ©roulement d’un processus d’automatisation d’une bibliothĂšque de la prĂ©sentation du systĂšme RFID Ă  la mise en place d’automates de prĂȘt/retour en passant par les boĂźtes de retour extĂ©rieures

    Halofuginone regulates keloid fibroblast fibrotic response to TGF-ÎČ induction

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    Keloids are characterized by increased deposition of fibrous tissue in the skin and subcutaneous tissue following an abnormal wound healing process. Although keloid etiology is yet to be fully understood, fibroblasts are known to be key players in its development. Here we analyze the antifibrotic mechanisms of Halofuginone (HF), a drug reportedly able to inhibit the TGF-ÎČ1-Smad3 pathway and to attenuate collagen synthesis, in an in-vitro keloid model using patient-derived Keloid Fibroblasts (KFs) isolated from fibrotic tissue collected during the "Scar Wars" clinical study (NCT NCT03312166). TGF-ÎČ1 was used as a pro-fibrotic agent to stimulate fibroblasts response under HF treatment. The fibrotic related properties of KFs, including survival, migration, proliferation, myofibroblasts conversion, ECM synthesis and remodeling, were investigated in 2D and 3D cultures. HF at 50 nM concentration impaired KFs proliferation, and decreased TGF-ÎČ1-induced expression of α-SMA and type I procollagen production. HF treatment also reduced KFs migration, prevented matrix contraction and increased the metallo-proteases/inhibitors (MMP/TIMP) ratio. Overall, HF elicits an anti-fibrotic contrasting the TGF-ÎČ1 stimulation of KFs, thus supporting its therapeutic use for keloid prevention and management

    Influence of incentive networks on landscape changes: A simple agent-based simulation approach

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    International audienceThe aim of this paper is to implement a simple model for exploring the influence of different multi-scale incentive networks affecting farmer decision on landscape changes. Three scales of networks are considered: a global ‘policy’ network promoting specific land uses, an intermediate ‘social’ network where land use practices are shared and promoted collectively and a local ‘neighborhood’ network where land use practices are influenced by those of their neighbors. We assess the respective and combined influence of these networks on landscape pattern (fragmentation and heterogeneity) and dynamics, taking into account agronomic constraints (assimilated to crop successions). Simulations show that combination of incentive networks does not have linear and/or cumulative influence on landscape changes. Comparison of simulated scenarios highlights that a combination of two networks tends to improve landscape heterogeneity and fragmentation; scenarios combining all networks could lead to two opposite landscape configuration illustrating emergence of landscape dynamics. Finally, this study emphasizes that landscape complexity has also to be understood through the multiplicity of pathways of landscape changes rather than the assessment of the resulting landscape patterns

    ModÚles d'apprentissage automatique de la persistance aux médicaments : application au cancer du sein

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    International audienceL'adhĂ©sion aux traitements mĂ©dicamenteux, c'est-a-dire le fait de prendre ses mĂ©dicaments conformĂ©mentĂ  la posologie, aĂ©tĂ© au centre des attentions ces derniĂšres annĂ©es. L'Organisation Mondiale de la SantĂ© souligne dans ses rapports 1 que le fait de ne pas respecter le plan de traitement est en rĂ©alitĂ© un problĂšme majeur, car cela compromet gravement l'efficacitĂ© de thĂ©rapieĂ  long terme et augmente le coĂ»t des services de santĂ©. En effet, dans les pays dĂ©veloppĂ©s, environ 50% seulement des patients atteints de maladies chroniques suivent correctement leurs traitements. Dans cet article, nous prĂ©sentons nos travaux sur la modĂ©lisation de la consommation de mĂ©dicaments par les patientes dans les traitements du cancer du sein. Nous nous concentrons sur la persistance au traitement qui indique si le patient a arrĂȘtĂ© son parcours de soins avant la fin prĂ©vue. Nous dĂ©taillons les diffĂ©rentesĂ©tapes de notre approche. A partir des donnĂ©es de remboursement du systĂšme de santĂ© français, nous reconstruisons les parcours de soins des patients. Ensuite, des mĂ©thodes statistiques sont utilisĂ©es pour prĂ©dire la non-persistance des hormonothĂ©rapies et es-timer les variables explicatives des dĂ©cisions de nos modĂšles. Nous montrons ainsi que les variables explicatives de notrĂ© etude sont conforme auxĂ©tudes mĂ©dicales antĂ©rieures sur les facteurs de non persistance. Nous dĂ©taillons ensuite la com-paraison de plusieurs mĂ©thodes d'apprentissage automatique pour prĂ©dire un arrĂȘt de traitement illĂ©gitime et discutons leurs limites, en particulier sur l'interprĂ©tabilitĂ© de leurs rĂ©sultats.
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