Search For Events Research Articles

Reasons for Long-term Opioid Prescriptions After Guideline-directed Opioid Prescribing and Excess Opioid Pill Disposal.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and reasons for long-term opioid prescriptions (rxs) after surgery in the setting of guideline-directed prescribing and a high rate of excess opioid disposal. Although previous studies have demonstrated that 5% to 10% of opioid-naïve patients prescribed opioids after surgery will receive long-term (3-12 months after surgery) opioid rxs, little is known about the reasons why long-term opioids are prescribed. We studied 221 opioid-naïve surgical patients enrolled in a previously reported prospective clinical trial which used a patient-centric guideline for discharge opioid prescribing and achieved a high rate of excess opioid disposal. Patients were treated on a wide variety of services; 88% of individuals underwent cancer-related surgery. Long-term opioid rxs were identified using a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program search and reasons for rxs and opioid adverse events were ascertained by medical record review. We used a consensus definition for persistent opioid use: opioid rx 3 to 12 months after surgery and >60day supply. 15.3% (34/221) filled an opioid rx 3 to 12 months after surgery, with 5.4% and 12.2% filling an rx 3 to 6 and 6 to 12 months after surgery, respectively. The median opioid rx days supply per patient was 7, interquartile range 5 to 27, range 1 to 447 days. The reasons for long-term opioid rxs were: 51% new painful medical condition, 40% new surgery, 6% related to the index operation; only 1 patient on 1 occasion was given an opioid rx for a nonspecific reason. Five patients (2.3%) developed persistent opioid use, 2 due to pain from recurrent cancer, 2 for new medical conditions, and 1 for a chronic abscess. In a group of prospectively studied opioid-naïve surgical patients discharged with guideline-directed opioid rxs and who achieved high rates of excess opioid disposal, no patients became persistent opioid users solely as a result of the opioid rx given after their index surgery. Long-term opioid use did occur for other, well-defined, medical or surgical reasons.

Development and characterization of a water-based muon veto for the v-Angra Experiment

The ν-Angra experiment has developed an antineutrino detector intended to operate at sea level, a few dozen meters from the core of a nuclear reactor. The operating principle of the detector is based on the water Cherenkov light detection to be in compliance with the safety rules of the power plant operator. The detector is exposed to a high rate of background events, mainly due to cosmic rays, making its veto system a key element for efficient background rejection. The ν-Angra Collaboration has designed a veto detector composed of three layers filled with water for both passive shielding and active detection of crossing particles. The veto surrounds a volume of 1.50 × 1.05 × 1.39 m3, in which a target detector is placed, where the search for anti-neutrino events occurs. Any external particle hitting the detector must cross at least 25 cm of water before reaching this internal volume, which is protected by the veto structure, thus providing an important barrier against neutrons and low energy particles. In addition, the veto system has been instrumented with eight 8-inch photomultiplier tubes to detect external particles that may eventually reach the target detector. By making use of a trigger system based on scintillating paddles, energy distribution and detection efficiency of the veto system were assessed for different detector positions. This paper, therefore, presents the achieved results related to the characterization of such system concerning the detection of cosmic-ray muon particles passing through it.

^{222}Rn\xa0\xa0emanation measurements for the XENON1T experiment

The selection of low-radioactive construction materials is of utmost importance for the success of low-energy rare event search experiments. Besides radioactive contaminants in the bulk, the emanation of radioactive radon atoms from material surfaces attains increasing relevance in the effort to further reduce the background of such experiments. In this work, we present the ^{222}Rn emanation measurements performed for the XENON1T dark matter experiment. Together with the bulk impurity screening campaign, the results enabled us to select the radio-purest construction materials, targeting a ^{222}Rn activity concentration of 10,mathrm{,}upmu mathrm{Bq}/mathrm{kg} in 3.2,mathrm{t} of xenon. The knowledge of the distribution of the ^{222}Rn sources allowed us to selectively eliminate problematic components in the course of the experiment. The predictions from the emanation measurements were compared to data of the ^{222}Rn activity concentration in XENON1T. The final ^{222}Rn activity concentration of (4.5pm 0.1),mathrm{,}upmu mathrm{Bq}/mathrm{kg} in the target of XENON1T is the lowest ever achieved in a xenon dark matter experiment.

Searches for compact binary coalescence events using neural networks in the LIGO/Virgo second observation period

We present results on the search for the coalescence of compact binary mergers using convolutional neural networks and the LIGO/Virgo data, corresponding to the O2 observation period. Two-dimensional images in time and frequency are used as input, and two sets of neural networks are trained separately for low mass ($0.2\ensuremath{-}2.0\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{M}}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$) and high mass ($25\ensuremath{-}100\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{M}}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$) compact binary coalescence events. We explored neural networks trained with input information from a single or a pair of interferometers, indicating that the use of information from pairs leads to an improved performance. A scan over the full O2 data set using the convolutional neural networks for detection demonstrates that the performance is compatible with that from canonical pipelines using matched filtering techniques, opening the possibility for an online implementation in future observation periods. No additional events with significant signal-to-noise ratio are found in the O2 data.

Search for Low-energy Electron Antineutrinos in KamLAND Associated with Gravitational Wave Events

Abstract We present the results of a search for MeV-scale electron antineutrino events in KamLAND coincident with the 60 gravitational wave events/candidates reported by the LIGO/Virgo collaboration during their second and third observing runs. We find no significant coincident signals within a ±500 s timing window from each gravitational wave and present 90% C.L. upper limits on the electron antineutrino fluence between 108 and 1013 cm−2 for neutrino energies in the energy range of 1.8–111 MeV.

HUNTER: precision massive-neutrino search based on a laser cooled atomic source

We describe a project that brings together researchers from atomic physics, nuclear physics and sub-atomic particle physics, to develop a high-precision laboratory-scale experiment able to search for very weakly coupled sterile neutrinos in the mass range extending from 5–10 keV/c 2 to several 100 keV/c 2. Observed neutrino flavor eigenstates are known to be quantum mixtures of at least three sub-eV/c 2 mass eigenstates. There is a strong theoretical belief that there may exist further neutrino mass eigenstates at higher mass levels, and which, if in the keV/c 2 mass range, might form all or part of the galactic dark matter. This has led to many searches for anomalous events in both astrophysical and particle physics experiments, and searches for distortions in beta decay spectra. The present experiment will utilize K-capture events in a population of 131Cs atoms suspended in vacuum by a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Using AMO and nuclear physics techniques, individual events will be fully reconstructed kinematically. Normally each event would be consistent with an emitted neutrino mass close to zero, but the existence of a sterile neutrino of keV/c 2 mass that mixes with the electron type neutrino produced in the decay would result in a separated population of events with non-zero reconstructed missing mass (up to the Q = 352 keV available energy of the reaction). Detailed calculations and simulations of all significant background processes have been made, in particular for scattering in the source itself, radiative K-capture, local radioactivity, cosmic ray muons, and knock-out of electrons by x-rays. A phase 1 of the experiment, under construction with funding from the W M Keck Foundation, has the potential to reach sterile neutrino mixing angles down to sin2 θ ∼ 10−4. With further upgrades this technique could be progressively improved to eventually reach much lower coupling levels ∼10−10, in particular reaching the level needed to be consistent with galactic dark matter below the astrophysical x-ray limits.

Tychonis: A model-based approach to define and search for geometric events in space

Space missions need software in order to be aware of the occurrence of geometric events in different phases of their project lifecycle. However, current software packages that provide capabilities to search for geometric events might lack desirable software qualities such as extensibility and reusability, and some conflate the definition of events with the search for the same. In order to improve the state of the art, we propose a framework named Tychonis that, via metamodeling techniques and conscious use of object-oriented design best practices, (i) can integrate with current and future mission software, (ii) enables end-users to extend opportunities and search algorithms without modifying the tools that use the framework, and (iii) promotes the cross-mission reusability of the framework and its extensions. These attributes make it less costly for projects to develop software to search for geometric events. Tychonis is provided as a software library that allows missions to add their own data structures and constructs to the framework, including geometric event types and search algorithms. This is accomplished with Tychonis’ use of the Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) to capture its metamodel, which enables the generation of Java classes that represent built-in or user-developed Tychonis constructs. In the present paper, we elaborate on the impetus for the development of Tychonis, show its proposed design and use, and discuss growth opportunities for future consideration.

Science in Underground Laboratories and DULIA-Bio

This paper reports a brief introduction to Deep Underground Laboratories (DULs) and the connection they have with research on biology in extreme environments and the effect of radiation in life. Presently, there are 14 DULs in operation worldwide. Although the main research activity in these infrastructures concerns the search for rare events in astroparticle physics and neutrino physics, DULs offer a unique opportunity to undertake experiments in astrobiology and biology in extreme environments. This is the main motivation of Deep Underground Laboratory Integrated Activity in biology (DULIA-bio) 2019 Workshop, which was held at the Gran Sasso (Italy) underground laboratory. This paper aims to give an introduction to the subject of the Workshop by reviewing the main features of DULs.

Resource Efficient Geo-Textual Hierarchical Clustering Framework for Social IoT Applications

The Social Internet of Things (SIoT) paradigm incorporates social networking concepts with the Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to support novel services. The massive amount of data (big data) produced by SIoT necessitates efficient information processing frameworks to exploit social relationships and comprehend actionable information from real-world observations. Data from AI-enabled sensors (AIS) is typically geo-tagged, thus demanding geo-textual processing for information retrieval and analysis. Social media applications are the main source of geo-textual data as mobile users connect with millions of posts daily. The processing of big geo-textual data requires resource-efficient algorithms and frameworks. Clustering algorithms are often applied to geo-textual data to examine spatial, textual, and temporal information for event detection, sentiment analysis, and search query response. Clustering algorithms on big data are resource-hungry requiring comparisons among all data points to calculate similarity and distance metrics. Existing hybrid clustering techniques execute algorithms collectively on geo-textual data resulting in a enormous footprint for big data. We propose a resource-efficient clustering framework for AIS that hierarchically performs geo-textual clustering without significantly lowering the clustering quality. The proposed framework achieves substantial time and memory efficiency while reducing the overall resource requirements for constrained end-user and edge devices compared to the standard hybrid geo-textual clustering framework. Moreover, we augment the research work by developing open-source scripts for both hierarchical and hybrid clustering frameworks.

Low-dimensional offshore wave input for extreme event quantification

In offshore engineering design, nonlinear wave models are often used to propagate stochastic waves from an input boundary to the location of an offshore structure. Each wave realization is typically characterized by a high-dimensional input time-series, and a reliable determination of the extreme events is associated with substantial computational effort. As the sea depth decreases, extreme events become more difficult to evaluate. We here construct a low-dimensional characterization of the candidate input time series to circumvent the search for extreme wave events in a high-dimensional input probability space. Each wave input is represented by a unique low-dimensional set of parameters for which standard surrogate approximations, such as Gaussian processes, can estimate the short-term exceedance probability efficiently and accurately. We demonstrate the advantages of the new approach with a simple shallow-water wave model based on the Korteweg–de Vries equation for which we can provide an accurate reference solution based on the simple Monte Carlo method. We furthermore apply the method to a fully nonlinear wave model for wave propagation over a sloping seabed. The results demonstrate that the Gaussian process can learn accurately the tail of the heavy-tailed distribution of the maximum wave crest elevation based on only $$1.7\%$$ of the required Monte Carlo evaluations.

Explaining muon {g}-2 data in the mu nu SSM

We analyze the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon g-2 in the mu nu SSM. This R-parity violating model solves the mu problem reproducing simultaneously neutrino data, only with the addition of right-handed neutrinos. In the framework of the mu nu SSM, light left muon-sneutrino and wino masses can be naturally obtained driven by neutrino physics. This produces an increase of the dominant chargino-sneutrino loop contribution to muon g-2, solving the gap between the theoretical computation and the experimental data. To analyze the parameter space, we sample the mu nu SSM using a likelihood data-driven method, paying special attention to reproduce the current experimental data on neutrino and Higgs physics, as well as flavor observables such as B and mu decays. We then apply the constraints from LHC searches for events with multi-leptons + MET on the viable regions found. They can probe these regions through chargino–chargino, chargino–neutralino and neutralino–neutralino pair production. We conclude that significant regions of the parameter space of the mu nu mathrm{SSM} can explain muon g-2 data.

Search for double beta -decay modes of ^{64}Zn using purified zinc

The production of ultra-pure raw material is a crucial step to ensure the required background level in rare event searches. In this work, we establish an innovative technique developed to produce high-purity (99.999%) granular zinc. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the refining procedure by measuring the internal contaminations of the purified zinc with a high-purity germanium detector at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. The total activity of cosmogenic activated nuclides is measured at the level of a few mBq/kg, as well as limits on naturally occurring radionuclides are set to less than mBq/kg. The excellent radiopurity of the zinc sample allows us to search for electron capture with positron emission and neutrinoless double electron capture of ^{64}Zn, setting the currently most stringent lower limits on their half-lives, T_{1/2}^{varepsilon beta ^+} > 2.7times 10^{21}~text {year} (90% CI), and T_{1/2}^{0nu 2varepsilon }> 2.6times 10^{21}~text {year} (90% CI), respectively.

How to Search for Multiple Messengers—A General Framework Beyond Two Messengers

Abstract Quantification of the significance of a candidate multi-messenger detection of cosmic events is an emerging need in the astrophysics and astronomy communities. In this paper we show that a model-independent optimal search does not exist, and we present a general Bayesian method for the optimal model-dependent search, which is scalable to any number and any kind of messengers, and applicable to any model. In the end, we demonstrate it through an example for a joint gravitational wave, high-energy neutrino, short gamma-ray burst event search; which has not been examined heretofore.

Performance of a large area photon detector for rare event search applications

We present the design and characterization of a large-area Cryogenic PhotoDetector designed for active particle identification in rare event searches, such as neutrinoless double beta decay and dark matter experiments. The detector consists of a 45.6 cm2 surface area by a 1-mm-thick 10.6 g Si wafer. It is instrumented with a distributed network of Quasiparticle-trap-assisted Electrothermal feedback Transition-edge sensors with superconducting critical temperature Tc=41.5 mK to measure athermal phonons released from interactions with photons. The detector is characterized and calibrated with a collimated 55Fe x-ray source incident on the center of the detector. The noise equivalent power is measured to be 1×10−17 W/Hz in a bandwidth of 2.7 kHz. The baseline energy resolution is measured to be σE=3.86±0.04 (stat.)−0.00+0.19 (syst.) eV. The detector also has an expected timing resolution of σt=2.3 μs for 5 σE events.

Status and results from the CUORE experiment

The Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events (CUORE) is a tonne-scale cryogenic experiment located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso that exploits bolometric technique to search for neutrinoless double beta decay [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text]Te. The detector consists of a segmented array of 988 natural [Formula: see text] cubic crystals arranged in a cylindrical compact structure of 19 towers. The detector construction was completed in August 2016 and data taking started in Spring 2017. In this work, we present a brief description of the bolometric technique for rare events search and the CUORE detector, then we concentrate on the data analysis results. In this respect, we focus on the procedure for data processing and on the first [Formula: see text] results we obtained from a total [Formula: see text] exposure of [Formula: see text]. Next, we illustrate the main background sources and the CUORE background model, from which we obtain the most precise measurement of [Formula: see text]Te [Formula: see text] half-life to date. Finally, we discuss the improvements achieved with 2018 and 2019 detector optimization campaigns and the current perspectives of our experiment.

PATH-26. RNA SEQUENCING OF FORMALIN-FIXED PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED SPECIMENS IN DIAGNOSTIC ROUTINE IDENTIFIES CLINICALLY RELEVANT GENE FUSIONS

Pediatric brain tumor entities harbor a variety of gene fusions. Whilst other molecular parameters like somatic mutations and copy number alterations have become pivotal for brain tumor diagnostics, gene fusions are only less well covered by routinely applied methylation arrays or targeted next-generation sequencing of DNA. In a routine diagnostic setting we established and optimized a workflow for investigation of gene fusions in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissues by using RNA sequencing. Assessing different tools for calling fusions from raw data, we found relevant fusions in 66 out of 101 (65%) analyzed cases in a prospective cohort collected over 26 months. In 43 (43%) cases the fusions were of decisive diagnostic relevance and in 40 (40%) cases the fusion genes rendered a druggable target. Besides the relevance of pathognomonic fusions for diagnostics, especially the detection of druggable gene fusions yields direct benefit to the patients. This approach allows for an unbiased search for fusion events in the tested samples. Besides rare variants of established fusions which were not detected by prior targeted analyses, we identified previously unreported fusion events. Exemplified on KIAA1549:BRAF fusion, we in addition provide an overview of the detection accuracy of different methods, including breakpoint detection in DNA methylation array data and fusion gene detection in DNA panel sequencing data. Our data show that RNA sequencing has great diagnostic as well as therapeutic value by clinically detecting relevant alterations.

Method of an Automated Search for Rare Events of Superheavy Nuclei Decay Using Phosphate Glass Detectors

Method of an Automated Search for Rare Events of Superheavy Nuclei Decay Using Phosphate Glass Detectors

A search for gamma-ray counterparts to gravitational wave events in Konus-Wind data

The recent discoveries in multi-messenger astronomy allow us to study the Universe in a new way. The Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo gravitational-wave (GW) detectors have opened the possibility for regular detection of transients from compact binary merger events. The Konus-Wind (KW) spectrometer continuously observes the whole sky and enables searches for transient events over various timescales from milliseconds to hours. It provides a unique opportunity to study high energy transients, in particular, gamma-ray counterparts to gravitational wave detections. In this paper, we present the methodology and results of the search for gamma-ray counterparts to 56 GW events in KW data. While no counterpart candidate was found in our search, we report upper limits on soft gamma-ray emission from these events, including several events not observed by other wide-field high-energy instruments such as Fermi-GBM, INTEGRAL-SPI-ACS and Swift-BAT. We finally discuss the potential of KW to detect bursts as weak as GRB 170817A.

A pulsed compact low-background X-ray generator

A novel type of pulsed X-ray generator especially suitable for rare event searches, as dark matter and neutrino experiments, has been developed. Being compact and built with selected radio-pure materials, it is appropriate for low-background experiments. UV light generated by a pulsed lamp produces photoelectrons on a metallic cathode, which are subsequently accelerated to produce X-rays. The X-rays are emitted in bunches with a time resolution better than 1 ns and the system provides a fast trigger for event tagging. We present the idea of the new X-ray generator as well as experimental results showing the proof of concept of the device. Data are in good agreement with simulation results and future optimisations of the system are also discussed.

VUV Transmission of PTFE for xenon-based particle detectors

Liquid xenon (LXe) based detectors for rare event searches in particle and astroparticle physics are optimized for high xenon scintillation light collection and low background rate from detector materials. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, TeflonTM) is commonly used to encapsulate the active LXe volume due to its high reflectance for VUV LXe scintillation light with peak emission at 178 nm. Reflectance, transmission and number of background signals arising from PTFE depend on the thickness of the PTFE detector walls. In this work, we present VUV transmission measurements for PTFE of various thicknesses often considered in the design phase of LXe detectors. PTFE samples are measured in an apparatus previously used for reflectance measurements in LXe using collimated light at a wavelength of 178 nm. Measurements in vacuum as well as gaseous xenon are described by the Kubelka and Munk model, as well as by Beer-Lambert's law for samples of ⩾ 0.7 mm thickness, yielding a transmission coefficient of λBL = (0.89 ± 0.05) mm. The PTFE wall thickness of the XENONnT dark matter experiment was optimized by these measurements and selected as ⩾ 3 mm.