Examining the importance of Aberdeenshire (UK) coastal waters for North Sea bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates)

Using land- and vessel-based surveys, data on the relative abundance, distribution and habitat use of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Aberdeenshire waters were collected between 1999 and 2001. Bottlenose dolphins were present throughout the year, with peak abundance during the months of March to May. The occurrence of calves was seasonal, With the proportion of calves highest during the spring months. Foraging behaviour was recorded mainly in the vicinity of Aberdeen harbour. Dolphins photographed in Aberdeenshire waters were successfully matched and confirmed as Moray Firth animals. The results of the present study suggest that Moray Firth bottlenose dolphins utilize Aberdeenshire waters more frequently than previously reported. Aberdeen harbour is apparently an important feeding area, and Aberdeenshire waters are regularly used by another-calf pairs. This has important management implications since this area of coastline does not currently form part of the designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for this population

Using machine learning techniques to automate sky survey catalog generation

We describe the application of machine classification techniques to the development of an automated tool for the reduction of a large scientific data set. The 2nd Palomar Observatory Sky Survey provides comprehensive photographic coverage of the northern celestial hemisphere. The photographic plates are being digitized into images containing on the order of 10(exp 7) galaxies and 10(exp 8) stars. Since the size of this data set precludes manual analysis and classification of objects, our approach is to develop a software system which integrates independently developed techniques for image processing and data classification. Image processing routines are applied to identify and measure features of sky objects. Selected features are used to determine the classification of each object. GID3* and O-BTree, two inductive learning techniques, are used to automatically learn classification decision trees from examples. We describe the techniques used, the details of our specific application, and the initial encouraging results which indicate that our approach is well-suited to the problem. The benefits of the approach are increased data reduction throughput, consistency of classification, and the automated derivation of classification rules that will form an objective, examinable basis for classifying sky objects. Furthermore, astronomers will be freed from the tedium of an intensely visual task to pursue more challenging analysis and interpretation problems given automatically cataloged data

Assessment of the feasibility of an ultra-low power, wireless digital patch for the continuous ambulatory monitoring of vital signs.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vital signs are usually recorded at 4–8 h intervals in hospital patients, and deterioration between measurements can have serious consequences. The primary study objective was to assess agreement between a new ultra-low power, wireless and wearable surveillance system for continuous ambulatory monitoring of vital signs and a widely used clinical vital signs monitor. The secondary objective was to examine the system's ability to automatically identify and reject invalid physiological data. SETTING: Single hospital centre. PARTICIPANTS: Heart and respiratory rate were recorded over 2 h in 20 patients undergoing elective surgery and a second group of 41 patients with comorbid conditions, in the general ward. OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measures were limits of agreement and bias. The secondary outcome measure was proportion of data rejected. RESULTS: The digital patch provided reliable heart rate values in the majority of patients (about 80%) with normal sinus rhythm, and in the presence of abnormal ECG recordings (excluding aperiodic arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation). The mean difference between systems was less than ±1 bpm in all patient groups studied. Although respiratory data were more frequently rejected as invalid because of the high sensitivity of impedance pneumography to motion artefacts, valid rates were reported for 50% of recordings with a mean difference of less than ±1 brpm compared with the bedside monitor. Correlation between systems was statistically significant (p<0.0001) for heart and respiratory rate, apart from respiratory rate in patients with atrial fibrillation (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Overall agreement between digital patch and clinical monitor was satisfactory, as was the efficacy of the system for automatic rejection of invalid data. Wireless monitoring technologies, such as the one tested, may offer clinical value when implemented as part of wider hospital systems that integrate and support existing clinical protocols and workflows

Fractal Characterizations of MAX Statistical Distribution in Genetic Association Studies

Two non-integer parameters are defined for MAX statistics, which are maxima of $d$ simpler test statistics. The first parameter, $d_{MAX}$, is the fractional number of tests, representing the equivalent numbers of independent tests in MAX. If the $d$ tests are dependent, $d_{MAX} < d$. The second parameter is the fractional degrees of freedom $k$ of the chi-square distribution $\chi^2_k$ that fits the MAX null distribution. These two parameters, $d_{MAX}$ and $k$, can be independently defined, and $k$ can be non-integer even if $d_{MAX}$ is an integer. We illustrate these two parameters using the example of MAX2 and MAX3 statistics in genetic case-control studies. We speculate that $k$ is related to the amount of ambiguity of the model inferred by the test. In the case-control genetic association, tests with low $k$ (e.g. $k=1$) are able to provide definitive information about the disease model, as versus tests with high $k$ (e.g. $k=2$) that are completely uncertain about the disease model. Similar to Heisenberg's uncertain principle, the ability to infer disease model and the ability to detect significant association may not be simultaneously optimized, and $k$ seems to measure the level of their balance

Infrared observations of the gravitational lens system B1422 + 231

Images of the multiple-component radio source B1422 + 231 at 2.2 μm show the structure of this source to be essentially the same at radio and infrared frequencies. The most natural explanation for this achromatic structure is gravitational lensing

Impact and Implementation of an Early Years Fundamental Motor Skills Intervention for Children 4–5 Years

Fundamental motor skills (FMS) are the cornerstone of a child’s motor development, but concerns remain on the current level of FMS competencies, and intervention is required. This evaluation investigated if a targeted Early Years FMS intervention, delivered by a specialist physical education (PE) provider, improved the FMS of 4–5-year-old children across multiple sites. Methods: The Early Years FMS intervention ran for 18 weeks, 1 h/week, using a standardised programme of activities to develop FMS competencies across 219 children from 15 schools in the Midlands, UK. An adapted assessment was employed as a measure of FMS, assessing locomotor, object control, and stability skills at weeks 1, 9, and 18. The FMS were each rated as green = competent, amber = working towards, or red = not meeting the standards of the skill. A description of key programme implementation characteristics was described. Findings: Statistically significant increases in FMS competencies were achieved for 80% of participants at 18 weeks. Key implementation characteristics for the intervention included consistent staffing, a standardised programme, and a variety of pedagogical approaches delivered by specialist PE staff. Conclusion: This evaluation provided important insights into the effectiveness and implementation of the Early Years FMS intervention to improve FMS competencies in children aged 4–5 years

The thermodynamics of perchlorates. I. Heat capacity of ND4ClO4 from 7 to 345 K and the analysis of heat capacities and related data of NH4ClO4 and ND4ClO4

The heat capacity of the orthorhombic salt: deuterated ammonium perchlorate, ND4 ClO4 , was measured from 7 to 345 K using adiabatic calorimetry. The heat capacity against temperature curve is smooth, continuous and without anomaly. Values of the standard molar thermodynamic quantities are presented up to 340 K. The heat capacities of ND4 ClO4 and NH4 ClO4 have been analyzed. The contributions to the vibrational heat capacity from the external optical modes of NH+4 or ND+4, ClO−4 and libration from the external modes of ClO−4 along with those of vibration from the internal optical modes of NH+4 or ND+4 and ClO−4, and the acoustic lattice modes for these ions have been calculated. The difference between the experimental and calculated heat capacity, called the residual heat capacity, equals the contribution from ammonium ion rotation and the thermal expansion of the lattice. With recent thermal expansion data, the correction from constant stress to constant strain has been applied and the derived rotational heat capacities of the NH+4 and ND+4 are determined to be in qualitative agreement with those derived from various rotational models.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70290/2/JCPSA6-91-1-399-1.pd

Searches for New Quarks and Leptons Produced in Z-Boson Decay

We have searched for events with new-particle topologies in 390 hadronic Z decays with the Mark II detector at the SLAC Linear Collider. We place 95%-confidence-level lower limits of 40.7 GeV/c^2 for the top-quark mass, 42.0 GeV/c^2 for the mass of a fourth-generation charge - 1/3 quark, and 41.3 GeV/c^2 for the mass of an unstable Dirac neutral lepton