Constraints on cosmic strings from the LIGO-Virgo gravitational-wave detectors.

Cosmic strings can give rise to a large variety of interesting astrophysical phenomena. Among them, powerful bursts of gravitational waves (GWs) produced by cusps are a promising observational signature. In this Letter we present a search for GWs from cosmic string cusps in data collected by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors between 2005 and 2010, with over 625 days of live time.

Dual-label studies with [125I]-3(R)/[131I]-3(S)-BMIPP show similar metabolism in rat tissues.

Unlabelled: Biodistribution studies with the radioiodinated 3(R)- and 3(S)-isomers of 15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-methylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) in rats have shown that 3(R)-BMIPP has 20%-25% higher heart uptake than 3(S)-BMIPP (15-180 min). In contrast, the 3(S)-isomer has slightly higher liver uptake, and uptake in other tissues examined is similar.

Methods: To evaluate the possible differences in metabolic fate of the two isomers, a mixture of [125I]-3(R)/[131I]-3(S)-BMIPP was administered to fasted female Fisher rats.

Intra-individual comparison of 3(R)-BMIPP and 3(S)-BMIPP isomers in humans.

Unlabelled: The racemic 15-(p-iodophenyl)-3(R,S)-methylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) is currently used at several centers for myocardial metabolic imaging with SPECT. Recently, the 3(R)-BMIPP isomer showed a 20%-25% higher myocardial uptake and lower liver uptake than 3(S)-BMIPP in fasted rats. The aim of this study was to determine if these differences in myocardial and liver uptake also occur in humans.

Effects of configuration on the myocardial uptake of radioiodinated 3(R)-BMIPP and 3(S)-BMIPP in rats.

Unlabelled: Radioiodinated 3(R)-(+)- and 3(S)-(-)-15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-(R,S)-methylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) were prepared and evaluated in rats to investigate the effects of absolute configuration of the 3(beta)-methyl group on myocardial uptake and release kinetics.

Methods: The 3(R)-(+)-BMIPP analog was synthesized by initial acylation of a thiophene template with the acid chloride of ethyl 3(R)-methylglutarate. 3(S)-(-)-BMIPP was obtained by separation from the mixture of diastereomeric amides prepared from reaction of the acid chloride of racemic BMIPP with the S-(-)-alpha-methylbenzylamine.