Characterisation of large changes in wind power for the day-ahead market using a fuzzy logic approach

Wind power has become one of the renewable resources with a major growth in the electricity market. However, due to its inherent variability, forecasting techniques are necessary for the optimum scheduling of the electric grid, specially during ramp events. These large changes in wind power may not be captured by wind power point forecasts even with very high resolution Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models. In this paper, a fuzzy approach for wind power ramp characterisation is presented. The main benefit of this technique is that it avoids the binary definition of ramp event, allowing to identify changes in power out- put that can potentially turn into ramp events when the total percentage of change to be considered a ramp event is not met. To study the application of this technique, wind power forecasts were obtained and their corresponding error estimated using Genetic Programming (GP) and Quantile Regression Forests. The error distributions were incorporated into the characterisation process, which according to the results, improve significantly the ramp capture. Results are presented using colour maps, which provide a useful way to interpret the characteristics of the ramp events

PIN92 Quality of Life Among Hiv Patients: Results from the Ianua Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES To understand the relationship between socio-demographic variables, clinical factors, highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) and health related quality of life (QoL) in HIV-infected individuals participants in the IANUA multicenter study. METHODS Data relating to patients with HIV infection admitted to 3 infectious disease units in Genoa (Italy) between 2012 and 2014 are collected and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate association of demographic and clinical factors with QoL (computed using EQ-5D-3L) are examined. QoL determinants are assessed using a tobit model, while a logistic model is implemented in order to investigate the relation between specific patients characteristics and the likelihood of having higher QoL. RESULTS Results of the empirical modeling suggest that being Italian and having a job are positively associate with QoL, whereas being a female, taking other drugs in addition to anti-retroviral drugs and being subsidisied are negatively related to QoL. Among clinical factors, CD4 cell count level cannot be considered as significant predictor of QoL, while higher QoL seem to be defined by single tablet regimens. CONCLUSION The study investigates the major determinants of QoL among HIV patients and the results provide some informative tools useful to improve strategies aiming at maximizing QoL. As monitoring of QoL is nowadays a priority for clinicians, further work will be based on \u201cdynamic\u201d analysis comparing QoL at the initial time and QoL at 6-months follow up

The impact of liver disease: a leading cause of hospital admissions in people living vith HIV

Background: This study reviews recent trends of HIV inpatient admissions over 5 Infectious diseases Units in Liguria, in 2012. Patients and Methods: Five infectious diseases Units in Liguria, Italy, collected data on inpatient HIV admissions from January to December 2012, including patient demographic, discharge diagnosis, CD4 Tcell count, viral load (VL) and combined anti-retroviral treatment (cART). Results: Rate of patient admissions per 100 years was 6.12 (number=257), in 62.6% (n=161) of admissions a VL under 50 copies/ml was observed. Furthermore, 86.4% (n=222) of admissions were on active cART. Median age was 49 years. Mortality rate was 10.2%. Hepatitis C coinfection occurred in 64.6% of patients (n=166). The most common diagnosis was infectious diseases (29.1%), respiratory diseases (16.6%) and neoplasms (15.%). Chronic HCV infection and its complications (cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) accounted for 31% of all discharging diagnosis. Conclusions: The majority of inpatients admitted during 2012 in our Units were on cART and virologically suppressed. The complications of hepatitis C coinfection have a major impact on mortality rates and hospitalization rates in Italy. According to these observations, the availability of new drugs for chronic hepatitis C imposes a further effort to improve the quality of life of our patients

Gallarija

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Minn qiegħ l-għammieq ta’ F. X. Mangion – Kana ta’ J. P. Vassallo – Ċekoslovakkja ta’ Amante Buontempo – L-uċuħ kollha ta’ Oliver Friggieri – Jien naf ta’ Oliver Friggieri – Ħdejn il-baħar ta’ Alfred Massa – Għodwa sajfija ta’ Alfred Massa – Odysseus ta’ J. P. Vassallo – Gallarija ta’ Albert M. Cassola.peer-reviewe

Lil Marija Bambina

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Xrar ta’ J. P. Vassallo – Awtonekroloġija ta’ Albert M. Cassola – Ħajja ta’ Peter A. Caruana – Ir-reġina tar-raħal ta’ Pawlu Mifsud – Lil Malta ta’ Oliver Friggieri – Taqbida ta’ Joseph Sciberras – Il-bejta ta’ Pawlu Aquilina – Lil Marija Bambina ta’ Ġużè Delia.peer-reviewe

Twelid ta’ poeżija

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Mhux hekk? ta’ E. Attard – Il-ħarufa ta’ l-Għid ta’ Pawlu Mifsud – Fl-għaxija ta’ P. P. Theuma – Fariżina ta’ Charles Coleiro – Bott vojt ta’ E. Attard – Lill-poeti ta’ Albert M. Cassola – Daqsxejn ta’ annimal.....imbagħad tgħid! ta’ Manwel F. Attard – Relatività ta’ Wallace Ph. Gulia – Fantasija u realtà ta’ Spiro Buhagiar – Twelid ta’ poeżija ta’ Manwel Nicholas Borg.peer-reviewe

Lill-Patri Ġużeppi Delia, S.J.

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Ir-rebbiegħa ta’ Bro. Henry – Il-filosofija fil-ħanut tal-kafè ta’ Albert M. Cassola – Lil Malta ta’ Ġużepp Abela – Waħda minn tagħhom ta’ Pawlu Mifsud – Nawfraġju ta’ Ġużepp Abela – Għadira ta’ V. M. Pellegrini – Din tassew ta’ V. M. Pellegrini – Memento ta’ V. M. Pellegrini – Nofs in-nhar ta’ Joe Mejlak – Żewġt erwieħ ta’ P. P. Theuma – Nieqa mqaddsa ta’ Ġużè Galea – Il-kelb tas-Sur Manifk ta’ Pawlu Cachia – Lill-Patri Ġużeppi Delia, S.J. ta’ Ġużè Cardona.peer-reviewe

Effects of comorbid anxiety disorders on the longitudinal course of pediatric bipolar disorders

OBJECTIVE: To examine the longitudinal effects of comorbid anxiety disorders in youth with bipolar spectrum disorder (BP). METHOD: As part of the Course and Outcome of Bipolar Youth study, 413 youth, who were 7 through 17 years or age and who met criteria for DSM-IV BP-I (n = 244), BP-II (n = 28), and operationally defined bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (BP-NOS) (n = 141) were included. Subjects were followed on average 5 years using the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation. Effects of anxiety on the time to mood recovery and recurrence and percentage of time with syndromal and subsyndromal mood symptomatology during the follow-up period were analyzed. RESULTS: At intake and during the follow-up, 62% of youth with BP met criteria for at least 1 anxiety disorder. About 50% of the BP youth with anxiety had ≥2 anxiety disorders. Compared to BP youth without anxiety, those with anxiety had significantly more depressive recurrences and significantly longer median time to recovery. The effects of anxiety on recovery disappeared when the severity of depression at intake was taken into account. After adjusting for confounding factors, BP youth with anxiety, particularly those with ≥2 anxiety disorders, spent significantly less follow-up time asymptomatic and more time with syndromal mixed/cycling and subsyndromal depressive symptomatology compared to those without anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety disorders are common and adversely affect the course of BP in youth, as characterized by more mood recurrences, longer time to recovery, less time euthymic, and more time in mixed/cycling and depressive episodes. Prompt recognition and the development of treatments for BP youth with anxiety are warranted

Daħla

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Iva le ta’ Charles Coleiro – Dak li Alla jrid għalih ta’ G. Z. A. – L-univers ta’ P. P. Theuma – Għaddej iż-żmien ta’ Wallace Ph. Gulia – Dawl ċkejken ta’ Dun Frans Camilleri – Meta l-qalb ma tweġibx ta’ A. Cremona – Ħerba ta’ Oliver Friggieri – Is-siġar ta’ Albert M. Cassola – Lill-bandiera Maltija ta’ Mario Agius – Daħla ta’ Emanuele Attard.peer-reviewe

Impact of social determinants on antiretroviral therapy access and outcomes entering the era of universal treatment for people living with HIV in Italy

Background: Social determinants are known to be a driving force of health inequalities, even in high income countries. Aim of our study was to determine if these factors can limit antiretroviral therapy (ART) access, outcome and retention in care of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Italy. Methods: All ART naïve HIV+ patients (pts) of Italian nationality enrolled in the ICONA Cohort from 2002 to 2016 were included. The association of socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, risk factor for HIV infection, educational level, occupational status and residency area) with time to: ART initiation (from the first positive anti-HIV test), ART regimen discontinuation, and first HIV-RNA < 50 cp/mL, were evaluated by Cox regression analysis, Kaplan Meier method and log-rank test. Results: A total of 8023 HIV+ pts (82% males, median age at first pos anti-HIV test 36 years, IQR: 29-44) were included: 6214 (77.5%) started ART during the study period. Women, people who inject drugs (PWID) and residents in Southern Italy presented the lowest levels of education and the highest rate of unemployment compared to other groups. Females, pts aged > 50 yrs., unemployed vs employed, and people with lower educational levels presented the lowest CD4 count at ART initiation compared to other groups. The overall median time to ART initiation was 0.6 years (yrs) (IQR 0.1-3.7), with a significant decrease over time [2002-2006 = 3.3 yrs. (0.2-9.4); 2007-2011 = 1.0 yrs. (0.1-3.9); 2012-2016 = 0.2 yrs. (0.1-2.1), p < 0.001]. By multivariate analysis, females (p < 0.01) and PWID (p < 0.001), presented a longer time to ART initiation, while older people (p < 0.001), people with higher educational levels (p < 0.001), unemployed (p = 0.02) and students (p < 0.001) were more likely to initiate ART. Moreover, PWID, unemployed vs stable employed, and pts. with lower educational levels showed a lower 1-year probability of achieving HIV-RNA suppression, while females, older patients, men who have sex with men (MSM), unemployed had higher 1-year risk of first-line ART discontinuation. Conclusions: Despite median time to ART start decreased from 2002 to 2016, socio-demographic factors still contribute to disparities in ART initiation, outcome and durability