Passive and active seismic isolation for gravitational radiation detectors and other instruments

Some new passive and active methods for reducing the effects of seismic disturbances on suspended masses are described, with special reference to gravitational radiation detectors in which differential horizontal motions of two or more suspended test masses are monitored. In these methods it is important to be able to determine horizontal seismic accelerations independent of tilts of the ground. Measurement of changes in inclination of the suspension wire of a test mass, relative to a direction defined by a reference arm of long period of oscillation, makes it possible to carry this out over the frequency range of interest for earth-based gravitational radiation detectors. The signal obtained can then be used to compensate for the effects of seismic disturbances on the test mass if necessary. Alternatively the signal corresponding to horizontal acceleration can be used to move the point from which the test mass is suspended in such a way as to reduce the effect of the seismic disturbance and also damp pendulum motions of the suspended test mass. Experimental work with an active anti-seismic system of this type is described

Adenosine A1 receptor activation mediates the developmental shift at layer 5 pyramidal cell synapses and is a determinant of mature synaptic strength

During the first postnatal month glutamatergic synapses between layer 5 pyramidal cells in the rodent neocortex switch from an immature state exhibiting high probability of neurotransmitter release, large unitary amplitude and synaptic depression to a mature state with decreased probability of release, smaller unitary amplitude and synaptic facilitation. Using paired recordings, we demonstrate that the developmental shift in release probability at synapses between rat somatosensory layer 5 thick-tufted pyramidal cells is due to a higher and more heterogeneous activation of presynaptic adenosine A1 receptors. Immature synapses under control conditions exhibited distributions of CV, failure rate and release probability that were almost coincident with the A1 receptor blocked condition; however, mature synapses under control conditions exhibited much broader distributions that spanned those of both the A1 receptor agonised and antagonised conditions. Immature and mature synapses expressed A1 receptors with no observable difference in functional efficacy and therefore the heterogeneous A1 receptor activation seen in the mature neocortex is due to increased adenosine concentrations that vary between synapses. Given the central role demonstrated for A1 receptor activation in determining synaptic amplitude and the statistics of transmission between mature layer 5 pyramidal cells, the emplacement of adenosine sources and sinks near the synaptic terminal could constitute a novel form of long-term synaptic plasticity

Does Cosmological Term Influence Gravitational Lensing?

We analyze the bending of light by galaxies or clusters of galaxies in the presence of the cosmological term. Going over to the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker coordinates, used in fact for the description of actual observations, we demonstrate that the cosmological constant does not influence practically the lensing effect.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Platinum-group element signatures in the North Atlantic Igneous Province: Implications for mantle controls on metal budgets during continental breakup

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.The North Atlantic Igneous Province (NAIP) is a large igneous province (LIP) that includes a series of lava suites erupted from the earliest manifestations of the (proto)-Icelandic plume, through continental rifting and ultimate ocean opening. The lavas of one of these sub-provinces, the British Palaeogene Igneous Province (BPIP), were some of the first lavas to be erupted in the NAIP and overlie a thick crustal basement and sedimentary succession with abundant S-rich mudrocks. We present the first platinum-group element (PGE) and Au analyses of BPIP flood basalts from the main lava fields of the Isle of Mull and Morvern and the Isle of Skye, in addition to a suite of shallow crustal dolerite volcanic plugs on Mull, and other minor lavas suites. BPIP lavas display both Ssaturated and S-undersaturated trends which, coupled with elevated PGE abundances (NMORB), suggest that the BPIP is one of the most prospective areas of the NAIP to host Ni–Cu–PGE–(Au) mineralisation in conduit systems. Platinum-group element, Au and chalcophile element abundances in lavas from West and East Greenland, and Iceland, are directly comparable to BPIP lavas, but the relative abundances of Pt and Pd vary systematically between lavas suites of different ages. The oldest lavas (BPIP and West Greenland) have a broadly chondritic Pt/Pd ratio (~1.9). Lavas from East Greenland have a lower Pt/Pd ratio (~0.8) and the youngest lavas from Iceland have the lowest Pt/Pd ratio of the NAIP (~0.4). Hence, Pt/Pd ratio of otherwise equivalent flood basalt lavas varies temporally across the NAIP and appears to be coincident with the changing geodynamic environment of the (proto)-Icelandic plume through time. We assess the possible causes for such systematic Pt/Pd variation in light of mantle plume and lithospheric controls, and suggest that this reflects a change in the availability of lithospheric mantle Pt-rich sulphides for entrainment in ascending plume magmas. Hence the precious metal systematics and potential prospectivity of a LIP may be affected by contamination of plume-derived magmas by subcontinent.HSRH acknowledges the financial support of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) for funding this work (studentship NE/ J50029X/1) and open access publication

Light-curve modelling constraints on the obliquities and aspect angles of the young Fermi pulsars

In more than four years of observation the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi satellite has identified pulsed $\gamma$-ray emission from more than 80 young pulsars, providing light curves with high statistics. Fitting the observations with geometrical models can provide estimates of the magnetic obliquity $\alpha$ and aspect angle $\zeta$, yielding estimates of the radiation beaming factor and luminosity. Using $\gamma$-ray emission geometries (Polar Cap, Slot Gap, Outer Gap, One Pole Caustic) and radio emission geometry, we fit $\gamma$-ray light curves for 76 young pulsars and we jointly fit their $\gamma$-ray plus radio light curves when possible. We find that a joint radio plus $\gamma$-ray fit strategy is important to obtain ($\alpha$, $\zeta$) estimates that can explain simultaneous radio and $\gamma$-ray emission. The intermediate-to-high altitude magnetosphere models, Slot Gap, Outer Gap, and One pole Caustic, are favoured in explaining the observations. We find no evolution of $\alpha$ on a time scale of a million years. For all emission geometries our derived $\gamma$-ray beaming factors are generally less than one and do not significantly evolve with the spin-down power. A more pronounced beaming factor vs. spin-down power correlation is observed for Slot Gap model and radio-quiet pulsars and for the Outer Gap model and radio-loud pulsars. For all models, the correlation between $\gamma$-ray luminosity and spin-down power is consistent with a square root dependence. The $\gamma$-ray luminosities obtained by using our beaming factors not exceed the spin-down power. This suggests that assuming a beaming factor of one for all objects, as done in other studies, likely overestimates the real values. The data show a relation between the pulsar spectral characteristics and the width of the accelerator gap that is consistent with the theoretical prediction for the Slot Gap model.Comment: 90 pages, 80 figures (63 in Appendices), accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Visfatin reduces gap junction mediated cell-to-cell communication in proximal tubule-derived epithelial cells

Background/Aims: In the current study we examined if the adipocytokine, visfatin, alters connexin-mediated intercellular communication in proximal tubule-derived epithelial cells. Methods: The effects of visfatin (10-200ng/mL) on cell viability and cytotoxicity in HK2-cells were assessed by MTT, crystal violet and lactate dehydrogenase assays. Western blot analysis was used to confirm expression of Cx26, Cx40 and Cx43. The effect of visfatin (10-200ng/mL) on TGF-β1 secretion was confirmed by ELISA, and the effects of both TGF-β1 (2-10ng/mL) and visfatin (10-200ng/mL) on connexin expression were assessed by western blot. Functional intercellular communication was determined using transfer of Lucifer Yellow and paired-whole cell patch clamp electrophysiology. Results: In low glucose (5mM), visfatin (10-200ng/mL) did not affect membrane integrity, cytotoxicity or cell viability at 48hrs, but did evoke a concentration-dependent reduction in Cx26 and Cx43 expression. The expression of Cx40 was unaffected. At 48hrs, visfatin (10-200ng/mL) increased the secretion of TGF-β1 and the visfatin-evoked changes in connexin expression were mimicked by exogenous application of the pro-fibrotic cytokine (2-10ng/ml). Visfatin reduced dye transfer between coupled cells and decreased functional conductance, with levels falling by 63% as compared to control. Although input resistance was increased following visfatin treatment by 166%, the change was not significant as compared to control. The effects of visfatin on Cx-expression and cell-coupling were blocked in the presence of a TGF-β1 specific neutralizing antibody. Conclusions: The adipocytokine visfatin selectively evoked a non-toxic reduction in connexin expression in HK2-cells. The loss in gap-junction associated proteins was mirrored by a loss in functional conductance between coupled cells. Visfatin increased TGF-β secretion and the pattern of change for connexins expression was mimicked by exogenous application of TGF-β1. The effect of visfatin on Cx-expression and dye transfer were negated in the presence of a TGF-β1 neutralising antibody. These data suggest that visfatin reduces connexin-mediated intercellular communication in proximal tubule-derived epithelial cells via a TGF-β dependent pathway. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Base

X-Ray Observations of Black Widow Pulsars

We describe the first X-ray observations of five short orbital period ($P_B < 1$ day), $\gamma$-ray emitting, binary millisecond pulsars. Four of these, PSRs J0023+0923, J1124$-$3653, J1810+1744, and J2256$-$1024 are `black-widow' pulsars, with degenerate companions of mass $\ll0.1 M_{\odot}$, three of which exhibit radio eclipses. The fifth source, PSR J2215+5135, is an eclipsing `redback' with a near Roche-lobe filling $\sim$0.2 solar mass non-degenerate companion. Data were taken using the \textit{Chandra X-Ray Observatory} and covered a full binary orbit for each pulsar. Two pulsars, PSRs J2215+5135 and J2256$-$1024, show significant orbital variability while PSR J1124$-$3653 shows marginal orbital variability. The lightcurves for these three pulsars have X-ray flux minima coinciding with the phases of the radio eclipses. This phenomenon is consistent with an intrabinary shock emission interpretation for the X-rays. The other two pulsars, PSRs J0023+0923 and J1810+1744, are fainter and do not demonstrate variability at a level we can detect in these data. All five spectra are fit with three separate models: a power-law model, a blackbody model, and a combined model with both power-law and blackbody components. The preferred spectral fits yield power-law indices that range from 1.3 to 3.2 and blackbody temperatures in the hundreds of eV. The spectrum for PSR J2215+5135 shows a significant hard X-ray component, with a large number of counts above 2 keV, which is additional evidence for the presence of intrabinary shock emission and is similar to what has been detected in the low-mass X-ray binary to millisecond pulsar transition object PSR J1023+0038.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, submitted to Ap

Impact of dredging on the volute Cymbiolacca pulchra and its environment at Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The impact of dredging operations on the volute Gastropod (Cymbiolacca pulchra) population of a coral reef atoll (Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia) was investigated using data from annual surveys of the population and its environment Comparisons were made of pre-dredging (1984 to 1986), during-dredging (1987) and post-dredging (1988 and 1989) summer densities and size distributions of volutes at eight locations on the reef. There was significant variation among the sites in the pre-dredging years with volutes restricted to four sites characterised by a combination ofre1ative1y low bommie cover « 2%) and high sand cover (> 75%). All four sites were influenced by the dredge plume during dredging operations (September to November 1987 and February 1988). Volute densities declined significantly during dredging (1987) compared to the pre-dredging years. In the following year (1988) the difference was highly significant with zero densities recorded. By 1989 there had been a recovery with no significant difference in the overall density of volutes although the density of small volutes was greater and larger volutes smaller compared to pre-dredging densities. From June 1985 to May 1986 monthly counts were made at all sites to examine seasonal patterns of recruitment Recruitment into the population occurred over much of the year, though it tended to be higher in the autumn months (March to May), presumably following summer breeding. We suggest that the declines in volute densities were probably due to a failure of recruitment during dredging coupled with a loss of large volutes which may have resulted from natural mortality, emigration, or dredging. The recovery probably followed immigration of large volutes from less affected areas. The environmental factors of percent cover of sand, rock, rubble, coral, bommies and macroalgae were also monitored and there were significant changes in the cover of algae, coral, sand and rubble. These changes are interpreted as covariates rather than causes of observed changes in volute densities. Post-dredging increases in the cover of algae persisted beyond the termination of this study