The Advanced Virgo (AdV) detector is composed of different degrees of freedom (DOFs) i.e. Michelson interferometer, two Fabry-Perot arm cavities, signal recycling cavity, and power recycling cavity. ...These DOFs need to be locked to precise accuracy with robust, fast and reliable control systems. The control signals used to lock all the DOFs are mildly decoupled in frequency and the optical response of the DOFs are nonlinear, where the linear range of operation is just some percentage of the fringe for each DOF, thus posing difficulty in resonance lock at input laser wavelength for all the cavities. In particular, the control status of the arm cavities can alter the state of the detector's operational configuration. Using Auxiliary Lasers to lock the arm cavities at different wavelength offers flexible and robust lock of the detector and more spatial margin on the control signals. Second harmonic generation offers the most direct way to have laser beam with different wavelength and phase locked to the AdV input laser beam. We generated upto 97 mW of SH beam in single configuration at 532 nm using fibered amplified laser source at 1064 nm in a 10 mm long Poled Lithium Niobate crystal.
We perform a statistical standard siren analysis of GW170817. Our analysis does not utilize knowledge of NGC 4993 as the unique host galaxy of the optical counterpart to GW170817. Instead, we ...consider each galaxy within the GW170817 localization region as a potential host; combining the redshift from each galaxy with the distance estimate from GW170817 provides an estimate of the Hubble constant, \(H_0\). We then combine the \(H_0\) values from all the galaxies to provide a final measurement of \(H_0\). We explore the dependence of our results on the thresholds by which galaxies are included in our sample, as well as the impact of weighting the galaxies by stellar mass and star-formation rate. Considering all galaxies brighter than \(0.01 L^\star_B\) as equally likely to host a BNS merger, we find \(H_0= 76^{+48}_{-23}\) km s\(^{-1}\) Mpc\(^{-1}\) (maximum a posteriori and 68.3% highest density posterior interval; assuming a flat \(H_0\) prior in the range \(\left 10, 220 \right\) km s\(^{-1}\) Mpc\(^{-1}\)). Restricting only to galaxies brighter than \(0.626 L^\star_B\) tightens the measurement to \(H_0= 77^{+37}_{-18}\) km s\(^{-1}\) Mpc\(^{-1}\). We show that weighting the host galaxies by stellar mass or star-formation rate provides entirely consistent results with potentially tighter constraints. While these statistical estimates are inferior to the value from the counterpart standard siren measurement utilizing NGC 4993 as the unique host, \(H_0=76^{+19}_{-13}\) km s\(^{-1}\) Mpc\(^{-1}\) (determined from the same publicly available data), our analysis is a proof-of-principle demonstration of the statistical approach first proposed by Bernard Schutz over 30 years ago.
In August 2017, Advanced Virgo joined Advanced LIGO for the end of the O2 run, leading to the first gravitational waves detections with the three-detector network. This paper describes the Advanced ...Virgo calibration and the gravitational wave strain h(t) reconstruction during O2. The methods are the same as the ones developed for the initial Virgo detector and have already been described in previous publications, this paper summarizes the differences and emphasis is put on estimating systematic uncertainties. Three versions of the h(t) signal have been computed for the Virgo O2 run, an online version and two post-run reprocessed versions with improved detector calibration and reconstruction algorithm. A photon calibrator has been used to establish the sign of h(t) and to make an independent partial cross-check of the systematic uncertainties. The uncertainties reached for the latest h(t) version are 5.1% in amplitude, 40 mrad in phase and 20 microseconds in timing.
Advanced Virgo is the project to upgrade the Virgo interferometric detector of gravitational waves, with the aim of increasing the number of observable galaxies (and thus the detection rate) by three ...orders of magnitude. The project is now in an advanced construction phase and the assembly and integration will be completed by the end of 2015. Advanced Virgo will be part of a network with the two Advanced LIGO detectors in the US and GEO HF in Germany, with the goal of contributing to the early detections of gravitational waves and to opening a new observation window on the universe. In this paper we describe the main features of the Advanced Virgo detector and outline the status of the construction.
Background & Aims It is important to determine whether infliximab therapy can be safely interrupted in patients with Crohn's disease who have undergone a period of prolonged remission. We assessed ...the risk of relapse after infliximab therapy was discontinued in patients on combined maintenance therapy with antimetabolites and identified factors associated with relapse. Methods We performed a prospective study of 115 patients with Crohn's disease who were treated for at least 1 year with scheduled infliximab and an antimetabolite and had been in corticosteroid-free remission for at least 6 months. Infliximab was stopped, and patients were followed up for at least 1 year. We associated demographic, clinical, and biologic factors with time to relapse using a Cox model. Results After a median follow-up period of 28 months, 52 of the 115 patients experienced a relapse; the 1-year relapse rate was 43.9% ± 5.0%. Based on multivariable analysis, risk factors for relapse included male sex, the absence of surgical resection, leukocyte counts >6.0 × 109 /L, and levels of hemoglobin ≤145 g/L, C-reactive protein ≥5.0 mg/L, and fecal calprotectin ≥300 μg/g. Patients with no more than 2 of these risk factors (approximately 29% of the study population) had a 15% risk of relapse within 1 year. Re-treatment with infliximab was effective and well tolerated in 88% of patients who experienced a relapse. Conclusions Approximately 50% of patients with Crohn's disease who were treated for at least 1 year with infliximab and an antimetabolite agent experienced a relapse within 1 year after discontinuation of infliximab. However, patients with a low risk of relapse can be identified using a combination of clinical and biologic markers.
Aim
Current questionnaires designed to evaluate the burden of haemorrhoidal disease ignore symptoms such as bleeding, pain and itching. A specific questionnaire is needed to evaluate the global ...impact of anal disorders on patients’ daily lives.
Method
We developed a questionnaire (HEMO‐FISS‐QoL) to assess the symptom burden of anal disorders and administered it to 256 patients (mean age 46.2 years; men 60.4%) with haemorrhoidal disease (67.2%), anal fissure (29.3%) or both (3.5%). Psychometric properties were evaluated by testing the acceptability, construct validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Principal components and multi‐trait analyses were used to identify dimensions and to assess construct validity. Backward Cronbach alpha curves and a graded response model were used to reduce the number of items and modalities. External validity was evaluated against SF‐12 and the Psychological Global Well‐Being Index (PGWBI) using Spearman's correlation coefficient.
Results
Principal component analysis defined four dimensions: physical disorders, psychology, defaecation and sexuality. The number of questions was reduced from 38 to 23. The HEMO‐FISS‐QoL scores correlated well with those of the SF‐12 and PGWBI (P < 0.001). Cronbach's coefficients (all > 0.7) reflected good internal reliability of the different dimensions. The total score increased with the severity of the anal disorders and with their consequences (days off work and personal spending related to the disease).
Conclusion
The HEMO‐FISS‐QoL questionnaire reliably evaluates the global impact of haemorrhoids and anal fissures on patients’ daily lives. This simple tool may prove useful for treatment evaluation in clinical trials and daily practice.
Summary Hemorrhoids are a common medical problem that is often considered as benign. The French Society of Colo-Proctology ( Société nationale française de colo-proctologie SNFCP) recently revised ...its recommendations for the management of hemorrhoids (last issued in 2001), based on the literature and consensual expert opinion. We present a short report of these recommendations. Briefly, medical treatment, including dietary fiber, should always be proposed in first intention and instrumental treatment only if medical treatment fails, except in grade ≥ III prolapse. Surgery should be the last resort, and the patient well informed of the surgical alternatives, including the possibility of elective ambulatory surgery, if appropriate. Postoperative pain should be prevented by the systematic implementation of a pudendal block and multimodal use of analgesics.
Anal disorders are largely underestimated in general practice. Studies have shown patients conceal anal symptoms leading to late diagnosis and treatment. Management by general practitioners is poorly ...described. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of anal symptoms and their management in general practice.
In this prospective, observational, national study set in France, all adult patients consulting their general practitioner during 2 days of consultation were included. Anal symptoms, whether spontaneously revealed or not, were systematically collected and assessed. For symptomatic patients, the obstacles to anal examination were evaluated. The general practitioner's diagnosis was collected and a proctologist visit was systematically proposed in case of anal symptoms. If the proctologist was consulted, his or her diagnosis was collected.
From October 2014 to April 2015, 1061 patients were included by 57 general practitioners. The prevalence of anal symptoms was 15.6% (95% CI: 14-18). However, 85% of these patients did not spontaneously share their symptoms with their doctors, despite a discomfort rating of 3 out of 10 (range 1-5). Although 65% of patients agreed to an anal examination, it was not proposed in 45% of cases with anal symptoms. Performing the examination was associated with a significantly higher diagnosis rate of 76% versus 20% (p < 0.001). Proctologist and general practitioner diagnoses were consistent in 14 out of 17 cases.
Patients' concealed anal symptoms are significant in general practice despite the impact on quality of life. Anal examination is seldom done. Improved training of general practitioners is required to break the taboo.
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