Evidence for High-Frequency QPOs with a 3:2 Frequency Ratio from a 5000 Solar Mass Black Hole

Following the discovery of 3:2 resonance quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in M82X-1 (Pasham et al. 2014), we have constructed power density spectra (PDS) of all 15 (sufficiently long) {\it XMM-Newton} observations of the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC1313X-1 ($L_{X}$ $\approx$ 2$\times$10$^{40}$ erg/sec). We detect a strong QPO at a frequency of 0.29$\pm$0.01 Hz in data obtained on 2012 December 16. Subsequent searching of all the remaining observations for a 3:2/2:3 frequency pair revealed a feature at 0.46$\pm$0.02 Hz on 2003 Dec 13 (frequency ratio of 1.59$\pm$0.09). The global significance of the 0.29 Hz feature considering all frequencies between 0.1 and 4 Hz is $>$ 3.5 $\sigma$. The significance of the 0.46$\pm$0.02 Hz QPO is $>$ 3.5$\sigma$ for a search at 2/3 and 3/2 of 0.29 Hz. We also detect lower frequency QPOs (32.9$\pm$2.6 and 79.7$\pm$1.2 mHz). All the QPOs are super-imposed on a continuum consisting of flat-topped, band-limited noise, breaking into a power-law at a frequency of 16$\pm$3 mHz and white noise at $\gtrsim$ 0.1 Hz. NGC1313X-1's PDS is analogous to stellar-mass black holes' (StMBHs) PDS in the so-called steep power-law state, but with the respective frequencies (both QPOs and break frequencies) scaled down by a factor of $\sim$ 1000. Using the inverse mass-to-high-frequency QPO scaling of StMBHs, we estimate NGC1313X-1's black hole mass to be 5000$\pm$1300 $M_{\odot}$, consistent with an inference from the scaling of the break frequency. However, the implied Eddington ratio, L$_{Edd}$ $>$ 0.03$\pm$0.01, is significantly lower compared to StMBHs in the steep power-law state (L$_{Edd}$ $\gtrsim$ 0.2).Comment: Published in ApJ Letter

Oral Rabies Vaccination of a Northern Ohio Raccoon Population: Relevance of Population Density and Prebait Serology

Ohio’s oral rabies vaccination (ORV) program was established to prevent the westward spread of the raccoon (Procyon lotor) rabies virus (Lyssavirus, Rhabdoviridae) in Ohio, USA. The program, which targets raccoons, distributes vaccine-bait units (VBU) at a target density of 75 units/km2. Few studies have examined the relationship of VBU density and target population density to the prevalence of rabies virus-neutralizing antibodies (RVNA). We conducted experimental VBU distributions in August 2003 and August 2004, 150 km west of the ORV zone where there was no history of raccoon rabies. We measured change in RVNA titers in blood collected from live-trapped raccoons before and after VBU distributions. A closed population mark–recapture estimate of the size of the target population was 91 raccoons/km2, compared to the realized VBU distribution density of 70 units/km2. Surprisingly, 41% of 37 serum samples were RVNA-positive (≥0.05 IU/ml) before VBU distribution in 2003, but all titers were 2 was insufficient to produce a population-wide immunoprotective response against rabies infection in our high-density target population. Presence of RVNA in a presumed naive population before baiting demonstrates that estimating prevalence of RVNA after oral rabies vaccination can be problematic without knowledge of background titers and seasonal changes in prevalence of RVNA before and after baiting

Repelling sandhill cranes from corn: whole-kernel experiments with captive birds

Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) are opportunistic omnivores that incorporate both waste and unharvested cereal grains (Gramineae) in their diets. Limited hunting of cranes to reduce crop damage has had questionable results, and lethal control of depredating species is increasingly contentious. Our objectives were to evaluate anthraquinone-based Flight ControlTM and methyl anthranilate-based ReJeX-iTTM AG-36 as nontoxic avian foraging repellents in separate 2-choice pen tests with captive greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida) fed with whole-kernel corn (Zea mays). In both tests, crane pairs consumed, respectively, 8.6 and 9.8 times more untreated than treated corn. Total corn consumption did not differ among the treatment and control groups during the 8-day experiment. Though both repellents were effective at deterring cranes from treated corn, neither has been tested on corn under field conditions

Finding the Right Distribution for Highly Skewed Zero-inflated Clinical Data

Discrete, highly skewed distributions with excess numbers of zeros often result in biased estimates and misleading inferences if the zeros are not properly addressed. A clinical example of children with electrophysiologic disorders in which many of the children are treated without surgery is provided. The purpose of the current study was to identify the optimal modeling strategy for highly skewed, zeroinflated data often observed in the clinical setting by: (a) simulating skewed, zero-inflated count data; (b) fitting simulated data with Poisson, Negative Binomial, Zero-Inflated Poisson (ZIP) and Zero-inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) models; and, (c) applying the aforementioned models to actual, highlyskewed, clinical data of children with an EP disorder. The ZIP model was observed to be the optimal model based on traditional fit statistics as well as estimates of bias, mean-squared error, and coverage. &nbsp

Intravenous Polyethylene Glycol Inhibits the Loss of Cerebral Cells after Brain Injury

We have tested the effectiveness of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to restore the integrity of neuronal membranes after mechanical damage secondary to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) produced by a standardized head injury model in rats. We provide additional detail on the standardization of this model, particularly the use and storage of foam bedding that serves to both support the animal during the impact procedure and to dampen the acceleration of the brass weight. Further, we employed a dye exclusion technique using ethidium bromide (EB; quantitative evaluation) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP; qualitative evaluation). Both have been successfully used previously to evaluate neural injury in the spinal cord since they enter cells when their plasma membranes are damaged. We quantified EB labeling (90 M in 110 L of sterile saline) after injection into the left lateral ventricle of the rat brain 2 h after injury. At six h after injection and 8 h after injury, the animals were sacrificed and the brains were analyzed. In the injured rat brain, EB entered cells lining and medial to the ventricles, particularly the axons of the corpus callosum. There was minimal EB labeling in uninjured control brains, limited to cells lining the luminal surfaces of the ventricles. Intravenous injections of PEG (1 cc of saline, 30% by volume, 2000 MW) immediately after severe TBI resulted in significantly decreased EB uptake compared with injured control animals. A similar result was achieved using the larger marker, HRP. PEG-treated brains closely resembled those of uninjured animals

Framework For Improving Complex System Performance

This paper introduces a framework for improvement of complex system performance. Complex systems are besieged with conditions marked by increasing uncertainty, emergence, and ambiguity. Additionally, demands for increased productivity, resource efficiencies, and performance improvement make new approaches paramount for modern systems engineers. In response, a framework to improve complex system performance is developed. Following an introduction, the paper pursues four objectives: (1) introduction of Complex System Governance (CSG) as a foundation to describe essential system functions, (2) suggest system `pathologies\u27 as an explanation for deep system performance issues, (3) exploration of system performance improvement as a function of `requisite variety\u27 to compensate for deep system issues, and (4) introduce a framework for complex system performance improvement using system pathologies as `unab-sorbed variety\u27. The paper closes with some challenges for further development of the framework for deployment and application guidance for practitioners