A First Search for coincident Gravitational Waves and High Energy Neutrinos using LIGO, Virgo and ANTARES data from 2007

We present the results of the first search for gravitational wave bursts associated with high energy neutrinos. Together, these messengers could reveal new, hidden sources that are not observed by conventional photon astronomy, particularly at high energy. Our search uses neutrinos detected by the underwater neutrino telescope ANTARES in its 5 line configuration during the period January - September 2007, which coincided with the fifth and first science runs of LIGO and Virgo, respectively. The LIGO-Virgo data were analysed for candidate gravitational-wave signals coincident in time and direction with the neutrino events. No significant coincident events were observed. We place limits on the density of joint high energy neutrino - gravitational wave emission events in the local universe, and compare them with densities of merger and core-collapse events.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, science summary page at http://www.ligo.org/science/Publication-S5LV_ANTARES/index.php. Public access area to figures, tables at https://dcc.ligo.org/cgi-bin/DocDB/ShowDocument?docid=p120000

Use of antibody titers measured via serum synergistic hemolysis inhibition testing to predict internal Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in horses

Objectives: To estimate likelihood ratios (LRs) of correctly identifying internal Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in horses by measurement of antibody titers via serum synergistic hemolysis inhibition (SHI) testing. Design: Retrospective case-control study. Animals: 170 horses (171 records; 92 cases of C pseudotuberculosis infection and 79 controls). Procedures: Medical records were reviewed, and horses were grouped on the basis of evidence of internal or external C pseudotuberculosis infection. The LRs and 95% confidence intervals for identification of internal C pseudotuberculosis infection by use of SHI test results were estimated. Results: LRs for C pseudotuberculosis infection increased as antibody titers increased when all horses were included in analyses; LRs for detecting internal infection were significantly >1 (null value) for reciprocal antibody titers ≥1,280 overall and >160 when horses with external abscesses were excluded. Likelihood ratios for detecting internal infection did not differ from 1 (indicating no change in pretest-to-posttest odds of internal infection) when only horses with external C pseudotuberculosis infection (horses with external and internal abscesses vs those with external abscesses only) were included. The LR for detecting internal infection was 2.98 (95% confidence interval, 2.19 to 4.05) for horses with titers ≥512. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: In the study population, higher titers were typically more indicative of active external or internal C pseudotuberculosis infection than of internal disease specifically. The SHI test was not a useful predictor of internal C pseudotuberculosis infection in horses with external abscesses but was useful in the absence of external disease

Comparison of the use of scapular ultrasonography, physical examination, and measurement of serum biomarkers of bone turnover versus scintigraphy for detection of bone fragility syndrome in horses.

Objective: To define scintigraphic, physical examination, and scapular ultrasonographic findings consistent with bone fragility syndrome (BFS) in horses; develop indices of BFS severity; and assess accuracy of physical examination, scapular ultrasonography, and serum biomarkers for BFS diagnosis. Design: Prospective case-control study. Animals: 48 horses (20 horses with BFS and 28 control horses). Procedures: Horses underwent forelimb scintigraphic evaluation, physical examination, scapular ultrasonography, and serum collection. Scintigraphy was used as a reference standard to which physical examination, scapular ultrasonography, and concentrations of serum biomarkers (carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen crosslinks and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase activity) were compared for assessing accuracy in BFS diagnosis. Results: A diagnosis of BFS was strongly supported on scintigraphy by ≥ 2 regions of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake, including 1 region in the scapular spine and 1 region in the scapular body or ribs; on physical examination by lateral bowing of the scapulae; and on ultrasonography by widening of the scapular spine. None of the tests evaluated were accurate enough to replace scintigraphy for mild disease; however, physical examination and scapular ultrasonography were accurate in horses with moderate to severe BFS. Serum biomarkers were not accurate for BFS diagnosis. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Scintigraphy remained the most informative diagnostic modality for BFS, providing insight into disease severity and distribution; however, physical examination and scapular ultrasonographic abnormalities were diagnostic in horses with moderate to severe disease. Proposed severity indices classified the spectrum of disease manifestations. Clearly defined criteria for interpretation of diagnostic tests aid in the detection of BFS. Severity indices may be useful for assessing disease progression and response to treatment

Estudo anatômico, ultrassonográfico e tomográfico do aparato podotroclear de equinos adultos

RESUMO A síndrome do navicular é uma condição que envolve o aparato podotroclear e representa uma das causas mais comuns de claudicação dos membros torácicos de equinos. Portanto, o estudo complementar da região reveste-se de grande interesse quando se refere ao diagnóstico e tratamento das claudicações dos equinos. O objetivo deste estudo foi demonstrar as diferenças dos achados imagenológicos entre a ultrassonografia e a tomografia computadorizada na avaliação das estruturas palmares do aparato podotroclear de equinos adultos e hígidos, bem como a descrição das estruturas observadas nas imagens obtidas com essas técnicas. Para isso, foram realizadas imagens de quatro peças anatômicas, as quais foram posteriormente seccionadas e utilizadas para a descrição anatômica. A utilização de peças anatômicas auxilia no conhecimento da anatomia normal, o que leva à melhor interpretação das imagens e aumenta a especificidade diagnóstica na detecção das alterações que as doenças acarretam. A ultrassonografia fornece informações relevantes quanto às estruturas estudadas, e sua associação com a tomografia computadorizada aumentou a acurácia da investigação. Apesar de o uso da tomografia computadorizada ser mais indicada para tecido ósseo, ela fornece informações importantes, podendo ser usada como uma ferramenta útil quando não se tem disponível a ressonância magnética em razão do custo ou da disponibilidade