Stable Operation of a 300-m Laser Interferometer with Sufficient Sensitivity to Detect Gravitational-Wave Events within our Galaxy

TAMA300, an interferometric gravitational-wave detector with 300-m baseline length, has been developed and operated with sufficient sensitivity to detect gravitational-wave events within our galaxy and sufficient stability for observations; the interferometer was operated for over 10 hours stably and continuously. With a strain-equivalent noise level of $h\sim 5 \times 10^{-21} /\sqrt{\rm Hz}$, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 30 is expected for gravitational waves generated by a coalescence of 1.4 $M_\odot$-1.4 $M_\odot$ binary neutron stars at 10 kpc distance. %In addition, almost all noise sources which limit the sensitivity and which %disturb the stable operation have been identified. We evaluated the stability of the detector sensitivity with a 2-week data-taking run, collecting 160 hours of data to be analyzed in the search for gravitational waves.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Rates of serious intracellular infections in autoimmune disease patients receiving initial glucocorticoid therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The Japanese National Hospital Organization evidence-based medicine (EBM) Study group for Adverse effects of Corticosteroid therapy (J-NHOSAC) is a Japanese hospital-based cohort study investigating the safety of the initial use of glucocorticoids (GCs) in patients with newly diagnosed autoimmune diseases. Using the J-NHOSAC registry, the purpose of this observational study is to analyse the rates, characteristics and associated risk factors of intracellular infections in patients with newly diagnosed autoimmune diseases who were initially treated with GCs. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A total 604 patients with newly diagnosed autoimmune diseases treated with GCs were enrolled in this registry between April 2007 and March 2009. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to determine independent risk factors for serious intracellular infections with covariates including sex, age, co-morbidity, laboratory data, use of immunosuppressants and dose of GCs. Survival was analysed according to the Kaplan-Meier method and was assessed by the log-rank test. There were 127 serious infections, including 43 intracellular infections, during 1105.8 patient-years of follow-up. The 43 serious intracellular infections resulted in 8 deaths. After adjustment for covariates, diabetes (Odds ratio [OR]: 2.5, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.1-5.9), lymphocytopenia (≦1000/μl, OR: 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-5.2) and use of high-dose (≧30 mg/day) GCs (OR: 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.3) increased the risk of intracellular infections. Survival curves showed lower intracellular infection-free survival rate in patients with diabetes, lymphocytopaenia and high-dose GCs treatments. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Patients with newly diagnosed autoimmune diseases were at high risk of developing intracellular infection during initial treatment with GCs. Our findings provide background data on the risk of intracellular infections of patients with autoimmune diseases. Clinicians showed remain vigilant for intracellular infections in patients with autoimmune diseases who are treated with GCs

Infection (intracellular or non-intracellular) -free survival curves.

<p><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0078699#pone-0078699-g003" target="_blank">Figure 3A</a>: Cumulative probability of intracellular or non-intracellular infection-free survival for the complete follow-up period between patients receiving high-dose of GC (≥30 mg/day) and those not receiving high-dose of GC. 3B: Cumulative probability of intracellular or non-intracellular infection-free survival for the complete follow-up period in patients with or without diabetes at time of presentation. 3C: Cumulative probability of intracellular or non-intracellular infection-free survival for the complete follow-up period in patients with or without lymphocytopenia (<1000/μl) at time of presentation.</p

ROC curve on predictability of mean steroid dose.

<p>Receiver operating characteristics (CRC) curve for different cut-off values, as shown in the graph, of mean steroid dose to predict intracellular infections.</p

Details of 31 patients with intracellular infections.

<p>Abbreviations: CMV;Cytomegalovirus, PCP; Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, TB; Tuberculosis, NTM; Nontuberculous mycobacterious, EBV; Epstein-Barr virus, SLE; Systemic lupus erythematosus, MCTD; Mixed connective-tissue disease, CVA; Cerebrovascular accident.</p

Baseline characteristics of the 604 patients with autoimmune diseases treated with glucocorticoid.

<p>Abbreviations: AOSD;Adult Onset Still's Disease, CIDP;Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, CDK;Chronic kidney disease, CVA;Cerebro-vascular accident, SLE;Systemic lupus erythematosus, MCTD;Mixed connective-tissue disease, PBC;Primary biliary cirrhosis, TB;Tuberculosis Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or number (percentage).</p

Kaplan-Meier curves for time to first intracellular infections and non-intracellular infections according to time since initiation of GC treatment.

<p>Kaplan-Meier curves for time to first intracellular infections and non-intracellular infections according to time since initiation of GC treatment.</p