Classification methods for noise transients in advanced gravitational-wave detectors

Noise of non-astrophysical origin will contaminate science data taken by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (aLIGO) and Advanced Virgo gravitational-wave detectors. Prompt characterization of instrumental and environmental noise transients will be critical for improving the sensitivity of the advanced detectors in the upcoming science runs. During the science runs of the initial gravitational-wave detectors, noise transients were manually classified by visually examining the time-frequency scan of each event. Here, we present three new algorithms designed for the automatic classification of noise transients in advanced detectors. Two of these algorithms are based on Principal Component Analysis. They are Principal Component Analysis for Transients (PCAT), and an adaptation of LALInference Burst (LIB). The third algorithm is a combination of an event generator called Wavelet Detection Filter (WDF) and machine learning techniques for classification. We test these algorithms on simulated data sets, and we show their ability to automatically classify transients by frequency, SNR and waveform morphology

Chronic Kidney Disease Requiring Healthcare Services: A New Approach to Evaluate Epidemiology of Renal Disease

Screening-based CKD estimates may not provide a sufficient insight into the impact of CKD on the use of healthcare resources in clinical practice.The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of \u201cmedicalized\u201d CKD, that is, CKD requiring healthcare services, in an outpatient setting. Design, Setting, Participants, and Measurements. This is a retrospective, longitudinal population-based study conducted in a large general practice setting in Southern Italy (Caserta) using a healthcare database. Over 2006\u20132011, all patients with a CKD diagnosis, either through CKD-related indications of use associated with drug prescriptions or through CKD-related hospital discharge diagnoses/procedures,were identified using this database.The prevalence of \u201cmedicalized\u201d CKD in the general population of Caserta was estimated by age, gender, and calendar year. Results. Overall, 1,989 (1.3%) patients with a diagnosis of CKD were identified from2006\u20132011 in the Caserta general population.The one year prevalence increased from 0.9% in 2006 to 1.6% in 2011, which ismuch lower compared to previous screening-based studies.Theprevalence was slightly higher in males and increased significantly with advancing age (in 2011, 0.2% in 6444 years old versus 9.2% in >80 years old). Conclusions. The findings of this study suggest that, in the general population, the prevalence of \u201cmedicalized\u201d CKD is lower compared to the screening-based CKD prevalence

Association of individual non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and chronic kidney disease: a population-based case control study

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) are known to be associated with renal damage. No clear evidence exists regarding differential risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), specifically, across various NSAIDs. Aim: The aim of this population-based case-control study was to evaluate the association between use of individual NSAIDs and risk of CKD in a general population of Southern Italy. Methods: A nested case-control study was carried out using the general practice Arianna database, identifying incident CKD patients as cases and matched controls from 2006 to 2011. The date of first CKD diagnosis was defined as the index date (ID). Conditional logistic regressions were performed to estimate the risk of CKD associated with NSAIDs by class and individual drugs as compared to non-use during different time windows (within one year, six or three months prior to ID), with the latter being defined as current users. Among current users, the effect of cumulative exposure to these drugs was evaluated. Results: Overall, 1,989 CKD cases and 7,906 matched controls were identified. A statistically significant increase in the risk of CKD was found for current users of oxicams (adjusted OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.15-2.44) and concerning individual compounds, for ketorolac (adj. OR: 2.54; 95% CI: 1.45-4.44), meloxicam (adj. OR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.01-3.87) and piroxicam (adj. OR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.19-3.21). Conclusions: The risk of CKD varies across individual NSAIDs. Increased risk has been found for ketorolac, which may precipitate subclinical CKD through acute renal damage, and long-term exposure to oxicams, especially meloxicam and piroxicam

The Management of Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Population-Based Study in Southern Italy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is known as diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Pharmacological management of DKD is challenging due to reduced renal excretion of some antidiabetic drugs. The aim of this population-based study was to explore antidiabetic drug use in DKD patients from Southern Italy. METHODS: The Arianna database from Caserta Local Health Unit was used. Diabetic patients with incident CKD [first diagnosis date: index date (ID)] were identified by searching for specific ICD9-CM codes among hospital discharge diagnoses/procedures and/or indication of use associated with drug prescriptions. To evaluate any change in the use of antidiabetic drugs after the CKD diagnosis, the prevalence of antidiabetic drug use among DKD patients was calculated within 1 year prior to/after ID and after dialysis entry. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess the time to discontinuation of antidiabetic drugs after CKD diagnosis. The frequency of antidiabetic drugs contraindicated in renal disease in DKD patients was measured. RESULTS: Overall, 725 diabetic patients (mean age 72.8 ± 11.4 years) had incident CKD from 2006 to 2011. The use of combination antidiabetic drugs, biguanides and sulphonamides decreased by approximately 10, 7 and 5%, respectively, after the ID. The use of insulins increased by 10% after the ID and by 20% after entry into dialysis. The use of antidiabetic drugs not contraindicated in CKD decreased marginally after the diagnosis of CKD. CONCLUSION: In a general practice of Southern Italy the management of diabetes mellitus changed only marginally in newly diagnosed CKD patients, suggesting a therapeutic inertia on the part of prescribers

The Burden of Nephrotoxic Drug Prescriptions in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Retrospective Population-Based Study in Southern Italy

Background: The use of nephrotoxic drugs can further worsening renal function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. It is therefore imperative to explore prescribing practices that can negatively affect CKD patients. Aim: To analyze the use of nephrotoxic drugs in CKD patients in a general population of Southern Italy during the years 2006-2011. Methods: The general practice "Arianna" database contains data from 158,510 persons, registered with 123 general practitioners (GPs) of Caserta. CKD patients were identified searching: CKD-related ICD-9 CM codes among causes of hospitalization; CKD-relevant procedures undergone in hospital (e.g. dialysis); drug prescriptions issued for a CKD-related indication. A list of nephrotoxic drugs was compiled and validated by pharmacologists and nephrologists. The summary of product characteristics was used to classify drugs as 'contraindicated' or 'to be used with caution' in renal diseases. Frequency of nephrotoxic drug use, overall, by drug class and single compounds, by GPs within one year prior or after first CKD diagnosis and within one year after dialysis entry was calculated. Results: Overall, 1,989 CKD patients and 112 dialysed patients were identified. Among CKD patients, 49.8% and 45.2% received at least one prescription for a contraindicated nephrotoxic drug within one year prior or after first CKD diagnosis, respectively. In detail, 1,119 CKD patients (56.3%) had at least one nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) prescription between CKD diagnosis and end of follow-up. A large proportion of CKD patients (35.6%) were treated with NSAIDs for periods exceeding 90 days. Contraindicated nephrotoxic drugs were used commonly in CKD, with nimesulide (16.6%) and diclofenac (11.0%) being most frequently used. Conclusions: Contraindicated nephrotoxic drugs were highly prescribed in CKD patients from a general population of Southern Italy. CKD diagnosis did not seem to reduce significantly the prescription of nephrotoxic drugs, which may increase the risk of preventable renal function deterioration

Statin treatment and mortality in community-dwelling frail older patients with diabetes mellitus: A retrospective observational study

Background: Older adults are often excluded from clinical trials. Decision making for administration of statins to older patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is under debate, particularly in frail older patients with comorbidity and high mortality risk. We tested the hypothesis that statin treatment in older patients with DM was differentially effective across strata of mortality risk assessed by the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI), based on information collected with the Standardized Multidimensional Assessment Schedule for Adults and Aged Persons (SVaMA). Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we estimated the mortality risk in 1712 community-dwelling subjects with DM 65 65 years who underwent a SVaMA evaluation to establish accessibility to homecare services/nursing home admission from 2005 to 2013 in the Padova Health District, Italy. Mild (MPI-SVaMA-1), moderate (MPI-SVaMA-2), and high (MPI-SVaMA-3) risk of mortality at baseline and propensity score-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of three-year mortality were calculated according to statin treatment. Results: Higher MPI-SVaMA scores were associated with lower rates of statin treatment (MPI-SVaMA-1 = 39% vs MPI-SVaMA-2 = 36% vs MPI-SVaMA-3 = 24.9%. p<0.001) and higher three-year mortality (MPI-SVaMA-1 = 12.9% vs MPI-SVaMA-2 = 24% vs MPI-SVaMA-3 = 34.4%, p<0.001). After adjustment for propensity score quintiles, statin treatment was significantly associated with lower three-year mortality irrespective of MPI-SVaMA group (interaction test p = 0.303). HRs [95% confidence interval (CI)] were 0.19 (0.14-0.27), 0.28 (0.21-0.36), and 0.26 (0.20-0.34) in the MPI-SVaMA-1, MPI-SVaMA-2, and MPI-SVaMA-3 groups, respectively. Subgroup analyses showed that statin treatment was also beneficial irrespective of age. HRs (95% CI) were 0.21 (0.15-0.31), 0.26 (0.20-0.33), and 0.26 (0.20-0.35) among patients aged 65-74, 75-84, and 65 85 years, respectively (interaction test p=0.812). Conclusions: Statin treatment was significantly associated with reduced three-year mortality independently of age and multidimensional impairment in community-dwelling frail older patients with DM

Association of Individual Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Population-Based Case Control Study

BACKGROUND:Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) are known to be associated with renal damage. No clear evidence exists regarding differential risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), specifically, across various NSAIDs. AIM:The aim of this population-based case-control study was to evaluate the association between use of individual NSAIDs and risk of CKD in a general population of Southern Italy. METHODS:A nested case-control study was carried out using the general practice Arianna database, identifying incident CKD patients as cases and matched controls from 2006 to 2011. The date of first CKD diagnosis was defined as the index date (ID). Conditional logistic regressions were performed to estimate the risk of CKD associated with NSAIDs by class and individual drugs as compared to non-use during different time windows (within one year, six or three months prior to ID), with the latter being defined as current users. Among current users, the effect of cumulative exposure to these drugs was evaluated. RESULTS:Overall, 1,989 CKD cases and 7,906 matched controls were identified. A statistically significant increase in the risk of CKD was found for current users of oxicams (adjusted OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.15-2.44) and concerning individual compounds, for ketorolac (adj. OR: 2.54; 95% CI: 1.45-4.44), meloxicam (adj. OR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.01-3.87) and piroxicam (adj. OR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.19-3.21). CONCLUSIONS:The risk of CKD varies across individual NSAIDs. Increased risk has been found for ketorolac, which may precipitate subclinical CKD through acute renal damage, and long-term exposure to oxicams, especially meloxicam and piroxicam

J/ψ\psi production as a function of charged-particle multiplicity in p-Pb collisions at sNN = 8.16\sqrt{\textit{s}_{\rm NN}}~=~8.16 TeV

Inclusive J/ψ yields and average transverse momenta in p-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 8.16 TeV are measured as a function of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density with ALICE. The J/ψ mesons are reconstructed at forward (2.03 < y$_{cms}$< 3.53) and backward (−4.46 < y$_{cms}$< −2.96) center-of-mass rapidity in their dimuon decay channel while the charged-particle pseudorapidity density is measured around midrapidity. The J/ψ yields at forward and backward rapidity normalized to their respective average values increase with the normalized charged-particle pseudorapidity density, the former showing a weaker increase than the latter. The normalized average transverse momenta at forward and backward rapidity manifest a steady increase from low to high charged-particle pseudorapidity density with a saturation beyond the average value

Elliptic Flow of Electrons from Beauty-Hadron Decays in Pb-Pb Collisions at sNN\sqrt {s_{NN}} = 5.02 TeV

The elliptic flow of electrons from beauty hadron decays at midrapidity (|y|<0.8) is measured in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The azimuthal distribution of the particles produced in the collisions can be parametrized with a Fourier expansion, in which the second harmonic coefficient represents the elliptic flow, $v_2$. The $v_2$ coefficient of electrons from beauty hadron decays is measured for the first time in the transverse momentum ($p_T$) range 1.3–6 GeV/c in the centrality class 30%–50%. The measurement of electrons from beauty-hadron decays exploits their larger mean proper decay length cτ ≈ 500 μm compared to that of charm hadrons and most of the other background sources. The $v_2$ of electrons from beauty hadron decays at midrapidity is found to be positive with a significance of 3.75 σ. The results provide insights into the degree of thermalization of beauty quarks in the medium. A model assuming full thermalization of beauty quarks is strongly disfavored by the measurement at high $p_T$, but is in agreement with the results at low $p_T$. Transport models including substantial interactions of beauty quarks with an expanding strongly interacting medium describe the measurement within uncertainties