Objective10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk scores are calculated using algorithms, including Framingham (worldwide) and QRISK2 (UK). Recently, an updated QRISK3 model was introduced, which ...considers new variables including SLE and steroid prescription, not included in QRISK2 and Framingham algorithms. We sought to determine the extent to which QRISK3 improves identification of high-risk patients with SLE and whether the score relates to standard and novel markers of SLE-specific endothelial dysfunction.MethodsFramingham and QRISK2/3 scores were calculated in patients with SLE (n=109) and healthy controls (n=29) using clinical measures. In a smaller cohort (n=58), markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, including CD144+ endothelial microvesicles (EMVs), triglycerides, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) were quantified by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively.ResultsPatients with SLE demonstrated significantly higher QRISK3 scores than controls (5.0%vs0.3%, p<0.001). 21/109 patients with SLE (19%) and 24/109(22%) were newly identified as being at high risk of a CV event when using QRISK3 versus QRISK2 (29vs8patients) and QRISK3 versus Framingham (29vs5patients; p<0.001), respectively. These ‘new QRISK3’ patients with SLE were more likely to have lupus nephritis, be anticardiolipin antibody positive, currently prescribed corticosteroids, had a higher Body Mass Index and systolic blood pressure (BP) than low-risk patients with SLE. Rates of antiplatelet (8/21) and statin use (5/21) were low in the new QRISK3 group. EMVs, hsCRP and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in new QRISK3 patientscompared with low-risk patients with SLE (p<0.05). Furthermore, pulse wave velocity and VCAM were significantly elevated in all high versus low QRISK3 patients.ConclusionsQRISK3 captures significantly more patients with SLE with an elevated 10-year risk of developing CVD, which is associated with measures of endothelial dysfunction; EMVs and systolic BP. The adoption of QRISK3 will enhance management of CVD risk in patients with SLE for improved outcome.
The authors propose a hybrid L-shaped array composed of two sparse scalar arrays and a single triangular spatially-spread electromagnetic-vector-sensor (SS-EMVS) for two-dimensional (2D) ...direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation. These two sparse but uniform scalar arrays are placed along the x-axis and y-axis, respectively, which constitute two arms of the L-shaped array. These two arms are connected by an SS-EMVS, which consists of a spatially-spread dipole-triad plus a spatially-spread loop-triad. Further, the inter-dipole/loop spacings of SS-EMVS follow a coprime relationship with the inter-sensor spacings of the L-shaped scalar array. In proposed DOA estimation algorithm, they first perform the vector-cross-product algorithm to SS-EMVS to obtain a high-accuracy but ambiguous direction cosine estimation; they then apply the ESPRIT algorithm to the scalar array on each arm to get another high-accuracy but cyclically ambiguous direction cosine estimation; finally, they adopt the Chinese Remainder Theorem to disambiguate the ambiguous estimations. Because the authors’ proposed array has 2D array aperture extension, it can achieve a high angular estimation performance. Moreover, one component of triangular SS-EMVS rather than an SS-EMVS is used as the array unit of two scalar arrays; thus, the whole array cost decreases dramatically. Simulation results validate the array configuration and the developed algorithm.
This paper investigates a two-dimensional angle of arrival (2D AOA) estimation algorithm for the electromagnetic vector sensor (EMVS) array based on Type-2 block component decomposition (BCD) tensor ...modeling. Such a tensor decomposition method can take full advantage of the multidimensional structural information of electromagnetic signals to accomplish blind estimation for array parameters with higher resolution. However, existing tensor decomposition methods encounter many restrictions in applications of the EMVS array, such as the strict requirement for uniqueness conditions of decomposition, the inability to handle partially-polarized signals, etc. To solve these problems, this paper investigates tensor modeling for partially-polarized signals of an L-shaped EMVS array. The 2D AOA estimation algorithm based on rank- ( L 1 , L 2 , · ) BCD is developed, and the uniqueness condition of decomposition is analyzed. By means of the estimated steering matrix, the proposed algorithm can automatically achieve angle pair-matching. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the present algorithm has the advantages of both accuracy and robustness of parameter estimation. Even under the conditions of lower SNR, small angular separation and limited snapshots, the proposed algorithm still possesses better performance than subspace methods and the canonical polyadic decomposition (CPD) method.
In multiple regression under the normal linear model, the presence of multicollinearity is well known to lead to unreliable and unstable maximum likelihood estimates. This can be particularly ...troublesome for the problem of variable selection where it becomes more difficult to distinguish between subset models. Here we show how adding a spike-and-slab prior mitigates this difficulty by filtering the likelihood surface into a posterior distribution that allocates the relevant likelihood information to each of the subset model modes. For identification of promising high posterior models in this setting, we consider three EM algorithms, the fast closed form EMVS version of Rockova and George (J Am Stat Assoc,
2014
) and two new versions designed for variants of the spike-and-slab formulation. For a multimodal posterior under multicollinearity, we compare the regions of convergence of these three algorithms. Deterministic annealing versions of the EMVS algorithm are seen to substantially mitigate this multimodality. A single simple running example is used for illustration throughout.
In this paper, the geometry of a general spatially spread electromagnetic vector sensor (SSEMVS) array is firstly presented. This array has a special cross product structure of the array manifold ...vector. The g parameters are then defined to uniquely characterize the cross product. With g parameters, the identifiability analysis of the cross product vector based direction finding algorithms of the general SSEMVS array is carried out. The analysis shows that the array has to be carefully designed to avoid ambiguity directions. Finally, a cross-product based Enumerative NonLinear Programming (ENLP) algorithm for the direction of arrival (DOA) estimation with the general SSEMVS array is proposed. The algorithm finds the optimum estimation of DOA in least square sense. Extensive simulations show that the proposed algorithm outperforms existing algorithms, and can approach the CRB effectively.
► A general SSEMVS array geometry is proposed. ► The g parameters uniquely characterize the cross product of the array manifold. ► Identification analysis helps the design of the array. ► An estimation algorithm for the general SSEMVS array geometry is proposed.
The secretion of extracellular membrane vesicles (EMVs) is a common phenomenon that occurs in archaea, bacteria, and mammalian cells. EMVs contain biologically active proteins, which have diverse ...roles in biological processes. The outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) of Gram-negative bacteria and membrane vesicles (MVs) of Gram-positive bacteria have been discovered in various species. The main issues related to bacterial EMVs are their virulence, biogenesis mechanisms, host cell interaction mechanisms, and their potential use as new vaccine candidates. Recently, proteomics has become an essential tool for the characterization of EMVs. Proteomics is useful for the identification, quantification, and protein-protein interaction analysis of EMV protein components. This review describes the current understanding of secretory EMVs based on proteomic methods and the characteristics of various bacterial secretory EMVs. Finally, evidence for their potential roles and future applications are discussed.
MADRID SOCIAL HOUSING Pani, E
International journal for housing science and its applications,
01/2011, Letnik:
35, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The program developed by the Empresa Municipal de la Vivienda y Suelo in Madrid is part of the transformation process experienced by the city in the last years. No less than 59.000 new dwellings will ...be realized by the government between 2003 and 2011, 32.500 of which are VPO (Vivienda de Protecion Official). The goal is represented by a wide program of urban regeneration supported by the government, together with a new ground policy and the sustainable requalification of the existing heritage in the consolidated urban areas through tax incentives. The first target is to assure an easier access to quality dwellings for people with low income, offering prices 30% lower than the market ones. This scheme is based on national and international competitions, and on the participation to European programs I+D+I for the definition of innovative materials and new housing typology responding to the user's needs. As a result, Madrid gained a range of public housing for rent and sale, which not only is an example of architectural quality, but also contributes to the balance of the territory and to the growth and transformation of the urban landscape. According to the effective urban regeneration and to the importance of the contribution of social housing to the quality of life of its citizens, Madrid was chosen to participate to the Shanghai Expo 2010 "Better City, Better Life".
EVALUATION OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS USING EMVS Cutovoi, Iara Tonissi Moroni; Salles, José Antonio Arantes; Vanalle, Rosangela Maria
Independent Journal of Management & Production,
10/2014, Letnik:
5, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
This paper evaluates a PDP model application in an auto parts company, leader in its segment. From the application of lean thinking in the supply chain and the EMVS performance analysis methodology ...for PDP, a check list is created to avoid waste in project management. In this paper, we show that EMVS can be positively impacted through active management of knowledge within a project. This paper suggests that the value-enabling portion of a project manager's role requires aligning knowledge across these three key domains regarding PDP Gates (Phases) at company manufacturers of auto parts, Lean Thinking and Value Stream, and methodology for managing projects through performance-term rates and costs. The results show that the methodology has positive aspects, but its implementation takes time and has repercussions throughout the supply chain. Further this research try to explain the types of wastes and view of new products' development is enhanced and associates a manufacturing strategy focus on EMVS performance analysis and lean thinking, PDP and value stream mapping showing the important of contribution this tools at reduction of waste.
In this paper, we develop a joint transmit and receive diversity smoothing technique to estimate two dimensional direction-of-arrival (2D-DOA) of coherent targets with electromagnetic vector sensor ...(EMVS) array elements in multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radar. The DOA estimates are obtained through the estimation of the six components of the EMVS based on subspace based rotational invariance algorithm. It is based on the cross product of the vectors signal's electric-field and the associate magnetic-field, which directly computes the direction cosines of the three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates. The proposed method utilizes the waveform diversity benefit drawn from the coherent MIMO radar. Compared to receive-only spatial smoothing, this scheme has more number of covariance matrices for averaging which reduces the correlation among the coherent targets leading to better estimation results.
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