Search for Gravitational Waves from Primordial Black Hole Binary Coalescences in the Galactic Halo

We use data from the second science run of the LIGO gravitational-wave detectors to search for the gravitational waves from primordial black hole (PBH) binary coalescence with component masses in the range 0.2--$1.0 M_\odot$. The analysis requires a signal to be found in the data from both LIGO observatories, according to a set of coincidence criteria. No inspiral signals were found. Assuming a spherical halo with core radius 5 kpc extending to 50 kpc containing non-spinning black holes with masses in the range 0.2--$1.0 M_\odot$, we place an observational upper limit on the rate of PBH coalescence of 63 per year per Milky Way halo (MWH) with 90% confidence.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, to be submitted to Phys. Rev.

Chronic cyclosporin A (CsA) nephrotoxicity in the rat: the effect of calcium blockade with verapamil

Renal structure and function were assessed in groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats, either surgically intact (SI) or nephrectomized (N), treated with either CsA alone (20 mg/kg, p.o.) or in combination with verapamil (VER; 10 mg/kg/day, i.p.) daily for up to 28 days. Compared to vehicle treated controls, reduced creatinine clearance rates (CCR, mean +/- s.e.m.) were noted following CsA treatment in Sl animals on days 21 and 28 (279 +/- 4 vs 196 +/- 20 and 296 +/- 13 vs 122 +/- 13 ml/h/kg, respectively, both P < 0.05). However, CCR was around 60% of pretreatment values in all N animals from day 7 onwards. A two to three-fold elevation in urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity was noted from day 7 to 28 in all CsA treated animals. In addition, a similar severity of both renal tubular basophilia and corticomedullary microcalcification (but not proximal tubular vacuolation), was noted at all time points in animals receiving CsA alone. Co-treatment with VER reduced the severity of microcalcification in CsA groups, particularly N animals, increased CCR on day 14 in the Sl (196 +/- 23 vs 391 +/- 64) and days 21 and 28 in N (141 +/- 14 vs 357 +/- 32 and 152 +/- 28 vs 261 +/- 20) groups, respectively but had no effect on the magnitude of enzymuria, despite significantly increased trough whole blood CsA levels (20-30%) in both Sl and N groups. These results indicate that calcium blockade reduces both structural and functional features of chronic CsA nephrotoxicity

Is advancement of grapevine maturity explained by an increase in the rate of ripening or advancement of veraison?

Background and Aims: The major phenological events, such as harvest, are critical periods in the wine business calendar requiring much planning and organisation of resources, yet anticipation of the timing of these events is still imprecise. The aims of this study were to better understand why grape maturity (defined here as the day of the year the grapes reached 11.5 Bé) is advancing, and how different cultivars and regions are responding to the seasonal temperature conditions. Methods and Results: Trends in rate of ripening (Bé/day or Bé/°C day) and the day of year veraison (DOYV) were analysed at four Victorian vineyard regions and included 24 cultivars covering 20 years. There was a significant difference between cultivars in their rate of ripening with later ripening cultivars ripening more slowly (Bé/day). Higher yield slowed the rate of ripening (Bé/day), significantly at two vineyards. No significant temporal trends were observed for the rate of ripening nor for the interval between DOYV and day of year maturity (DOYM), as related to Vintage Year or Springtime Temperature (max), although these may become apparent with a longer series of data and resulting smaller confidence intervals. Different cultivars, however, had a significantly different rate of change for this interval over time, and higher yield was associated with a longer interval length. Day of year veraison advanced significantly as related to Springtime Temperature (max) at all vineyards, and at a significantly different rate for different cultivars at three of the four vineyards. There was a positive association between yield and DOYV. Conclusions: These results suggest that the observed advancement of grape maturity can be explained by the advancement of veraison, rather than an increase in the rate of ripening, for these cultivars in these regions. Significance of the Study: The study showed that there is existing cultivar diversity which, if better understood, could help better anticipate phenological timing, improve vineyard management and assist in adapting to climate change