Optical detection of marine mammals

Hypothetical scenario: In the near future, a US Navy submarine is operating in shallow littoral water near a country involved in a deadly civil war. The US Navy is attempting to help the United Nations mission in an effort to restore peace and assist with an orderly transition from the existing tyrannical rule. This submarine is providing intelligence and reconnaissance to help monitor the growing human crisis on the ground. There are concerns that chemical weapons will be used on the native population, and there are concerns with proliferation of WMD and related technology that the country possesses in modest amounts. Up ahead in the water, a dangerous seamount lurks that is not clearly obvious to the crew by their traditional 2D situational awareness display. The data exists in several different electronic chart products in a 2D format, but the operator really requires the data to be visualized in 3D to aid in the safe operation of the submarine. A collision with the seamount occurs, and the submarine must retreat and surface to evacuate the wounded and return to port for extensive repairs. Now return to the same scenario, but the operators have at their disposal a 3D situational awareness display that incorporates all available 2D hydrographic and bathymetric sources for display in a well recognized Google Earth format. The danger from the sea mount is clear to the operator, a course change is enacted and the potential grounding was averted, as the submarine continues its vital mission. Intelligence reveals that the WMD are secured and that no chemical weapons were used as threatened by the previous rulers.

: The approach that will be developed in this project has the potential for operational use by the US Navy as part of its environmental impact assessments. In future, these assessments will likely be required to provide information on the potential population-level consequences of exposure to anthropogenic noise from Navy activities as well as the number of animals that are exposed. In order to issue an incidental harassment authorization to the US Navy under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Office of Protected Resources must ensure that the specified activity cannot be reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival . We have recently developed an interim protocol (Harwood et al. 2014) that can be used to implement the framework for assessing the population consequences of acoustic disturbance for marine mammals originally developed by a panel appointed by the US National Research Council (NRC 2005). However, the interim protocol was designed to assess the potential impact of disturbance associated with the construction and operation of offshore renewable energy developments on marine mammal populations in UK waters.

Simple SummaryMarine mammal welfare research of professionally managed species has primarily focused on enrichment, habitat usage, and activity, as well as the impacts of human-oriented training sessions. However, the importance of sound in the welfare of marine mammals has rarely been mentioned. In this review, methods for acoustic welfare monitoring are discussed, including hearing tests, the incorporation of listening systems to monitor noise and communication, and cataloguing vocalizations in various health contexts. Examples from the US Navy Marine Mammal program are provided, as well as opportunities for facilities to initiate acoustic welfare monitoring. Suggested future directions of study, such as research examining the impact of sound on cognition, are also discussed.Research evaluating marine mammal welfare and opportunities for advancements in the care of species housed in a professional facility have rapidly increased in the past decade. While topics, such as comfortable housing, adequate social opportunities, stimulating enrichment, and a high standard of medical care, have continued to receive attention from managers and scientists, there is a lack of established acoustic consideration for monitoring the welfare of these animals. Marine mammals rely on sound production and reception for navigation and communication. Regulations governing anthropogenic sound production in our oceans have been put in place by many countries around the world, largely based on the results of research with managed and trained animals, due to the potential negative impacts that unrestricted noise can have on marine mammals. However, there has not been an established best practice for the acoustic welfare monitoring of marine mammals in professional care. By monitoring animal hearing and vocal behavior, a more holistic view of animal welfare can be achieved through the early detection of anthropogenic sound sources, the acoustic behavior of the animals, and even the features of the calls. In this review, the practice of monitoring cetacean acoustic welfare through behavioral hearing tests and auditory evoked potentials (AEPs), passive acoustic monitoring, such as the Welfare Acoustic Monitoring System (WAMS), as well as ideas for using advanced technologies for utilizing vocal biomarkers of health are introduced and reviewed as opportunities for integration into marine mammal welfare plans.

This paper describes operation and application of SABT in mission-critical applications on board navy ships. Typically, static automatic bus transfer switches (SABT) use silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) power-switching elements to transfer critical loads from a primary power source to an alternate power source in the event of interruption or abnormal conditions. Since switching occurs in less than four milliseconds (4/1000th of a second), infinitely faster than electromechanical switches, it appears seamless to even the most sophisticated weapon systems. SABT facilitate maintenance by incorporating modular construction down to the LRU level. Self-diagnostic testing and remote monitoring and control features are included. Over 500 SABT successfully installed on US Navy destroyers, submarines and aircraft carriers. The paper also describes the novel solid state dual-function switch (DFS) that acts as a solid-state auto-bus transfer switch (SABT) or as a solid-state current interrupter (SSCI), depending upon whether a source fault or a load fault detected. Various types of semiconductors (thyristor, IGBT, and MCT) were compared. This combined function further reduces the cost, dimensions, and weight of the power system.

BackgroundRecruiting participants for injury and violence-related studies can be challenging, and online data collection opportunities can expand reach, offer convenience and extend a sense of safety to potential participants who may be in unsafe situations or do not want to travel to a location due to safety concerns. While increasing accessibility for some participants, online primary data collection presents challenges around potential fraudulent participants. This methodological paper highlights the strategies for preventing and mitigating fraudulent participants in online qualitative data collection, using a recent firearm violence study in a Northeast city as an example.PurposeUsing a recent data collection effort related to firearm injury as a case study, the purpose of the current methodology paper is to highlight concerns and challenges with online qualitative data collection and provide strategies for preventing, detecting and removing fraudulent participants in qualitative injury and violence prevention research.ResultsVarious predata collection activities can promote a study design that deters fraudulent participants, and additional ‘in-the-moment’ data collection activities can flag potential suspicious participants. Strategies include prescreening participants, requiring video and answers to basic questions relevant to the study topic and confirming certain pieces of information.ConclusionOnline primary data collection can increase accessibility and support the safety of participants in injury and violence research, and there are considerations around detecting and removing fraudulent participants that researchers should note. Like all methods, a balance exists between study access, aims and resources. Researchers new to online qualitative data collection can use the strategies outlined here.

To improve understanding of afferent limb behaviour in acute hospital ward settings, to define and specify who needs to do what differently and to report what afferent limb behaviours should be targeted in a subsequent multi-phase, theory-based, intervention development process. Focused ethnography was used including direct observation of nursing staff enacting afferent limb behaviours and review of vital signs charts. An observation guide focused observation on "key moments" of the afferent limb. Descriptions of observations from between 7 January 2019-18 December 2019 were recorded in a field journal alongside reflexive notes. Vital signs and early warning scores from charts were reviewed and recorded. Field notes were analysed using structured content analysis. Observed behaviour was compared with expected (policy-specified) behaviour. Observation was conducted for 300hr. Four hundred and ninety-nine items of data (e.g., an episode of observation or a set of vital signs) were collected. Two hundred and eighty-nine (58%) items of data were associated with expected (i.e. policy-specified) afferent limb behaviour; 210 (42%) items of data were associated with unexpected afferent limb behaviour (i.e. alternative behaviour or no behaviour). Ten specific behaviours were identified where the behaviour observed deviated (negatively) from policy or where no action was taken when it should have been. One further behaviour was seen to expedite the assessment of a deteriorating patient by an appropriate responder and was therefore considered a positive deviance. Afferent limb failure has been described as a problem of inconsistent staff behaviour. Eleven potential target behaviours for change are reported and specified using a published framework. Clear specification of target behaviour will allow further enquiry into the determinants of these behaviours and the development of a theory-based intervention that is more likely to result in behaviour change and can be tested empirically in future research.

: Quantifying physiological indicators of stress in wild marine mammals and the interrelationships between different stress markers can be used to estimate the impact of anthropogenic stressors on marine mammal populations. The United States Navy, as part of its environmental stewardship, can utilize stress markers to assess the acute and chronic impacts that its actions might have on marine mammals. This approach would permit better mitigation of potential impacts and ensure that Navy activities do not come at a deleterious cost to marine mammal populations.

Every year the development of information and communication technology is getting more advanced so that it has an impact on the ease of humans in completing every job including data collection activities. Case in point in the social fundraising data collection system, data collection activities still use a manual system which still uses books as a data storage medium. This is considered inefficient in terms of time, cost, data security and the energy spent by the owner of the rental house in data collection activities. As well as causing difficulties in obtaining personal information related to available Social Fundraising. These problems provide a clear picture of why an adequate and computerized Social Fundraising data collection system is needed. This system research uses R&D research methods. The results of the application research can run well based on testing the Create, Read, Update, Delete (CRUD) operations with the SQLite database implementation

During fiscal years 1990-92, the water-resources activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in Louisiana consisted of hydrologic data collection and interpretive investigations and research. Data collection activities involved the operation of statewide stream gaging, ground-water, and quality-of-water long-term monitoring networks. Interpretive investigations and research addressed specific hydrologic concerns such as potential organic chemical contamination in the lower Calcasieu River, water quality of the Barataria basin and Mermentau River basin, water quality and flood characteristics of streams, quality and quantity of freshwater in aquifers, and evaluation of ground-water resources. This report briefly describes the problem, objective, approach, progress, and plans for each project. It also includes a description of the District's organization and a list of cooperators.

Studying the effects of anthropogenic noise on marine life is the focus of many ongoing research efforts, and regional studies can provide useful insight into the broader issues. Waters off the central California coast are well known for the rich occurrence of a variety of marine mammal species. The region also contains important ship routes used by vessels transiting between major US west coast ports. Here, we examine the relationship between marine mammal vocalizations collected near Sur Ridge and local shipping patterns determined from automatic identification system (AIS) reports broadcast by ships passing through the region. Passive acoustic recordings of vocalizations were acquired with a moored high-frequency acoustic recording package (HARP) over the frequency bandwidth 10 Hz–100 kHz. Number of vessels within several different radii from the HARP mooring is correlated with presence/absence data of several baleen whale, beaked whale, and dolphin species over 5-min intervals between January 2009 and November 2010. We also examine whether diel patterns of marine mammal distribution are influenced by diel patterns in ship traffic. These data will be useful for establishing mammal-vessel interaction rates in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. [Research supported by US Navy CNO(N45)].

This study was undertaken by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to investigate and make recommendations concerning the impact of the expiration of the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 (EPAA), as amended, on EIA's data collection activities. EIA intends to take immediate action on these recommendations in order to avoid data lapses, patchwork data collection and potential respondent confusion. The prospect of early decontrol adds further urgency to the need for action on the recommendations. Summarized below are the principal assumptions, findings and recommendations, and impact of the study.

Marine traffic is the main contributor to ocean noise at low frequencies, contributing to an observed increase of up to 10 dB over the few decades. It is predicted to further intensify over the coming decades and expand dramatically in the Arctic following new routes made accessible by global warming and sea-ice melt. Anthropogenic noise has a demonstrated impact on marine environment, through masking of intraspecific and interspecific communication, affecting predator-prey interactions hampering settlement cues and reducing threat (including vessel) detection, resulting in increased stress levels and reduction of habitat suitability. The St. Lawrence Estuary (eastern Canada) is a major shipping corridor linking the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, and home to 13 marine mammal species including Endangered Beluga whale and blue whale and Critically Endangered North Atlantic right whale. Understanding and reducing the acoustic footprint of maritime transport is critical to improve its cohabitation with the marine fauna.The Marine Acoustic Research Station (MARS, www.projet/mars.ca/enwww.projet-mars.ca/en) is an applied research project focused on quantifying, understanding and attenuating traffic noise and its effects on marine life. An acoustic recording station was specifically designed to collect high-resolution measurements of the source levels radiated by a significant part of the commercial fleet operating in the St. Lawrence Seaway. The MARS observatory contributes to improving knowledge of the underwater noise emissions in the St. Lawrence Estuary through quantitative measurements, comprehensive analysis and modeling of ship noise. From our high-resolution source level database, we developed a source level model, tailored to the St. Lawrence fleet, to further understand, model and predict the acoustic footprint of traffic noise in the region, critical to conservation actions and traffic management.Over the first three years of operation, we collected over 2500 source level measurements. A suite of autonomous onboard vibration sensors has been developed and deployed on 15 ships for comprehensive characterization onboard vibrations. Our observations provide quantitative information about the underwater noise generated by the St. Lawrence fleet to the government, for informed decisions regarding the establishment of source level limits. We also deliver quantitative feedback to shipowners regarding the contribution of each of their vessels to underwater noise, and we help raising awareness within their teams and identifying suitable attenuation solutions. Finally, the MARS team contributes to improve ship usage, modification and design to reduce noise emissions, through characterization of the mechanical processes, onboard the ships, related to noise generation, transmission, and radiation in the ocean.The long-term operation of the MARS observatory offers a unique framework to advance scientific and technical knowledge regarding ship noise, and a robust measurement infrastructure to test and quantify the effects of noise mitigation solutions for individual vessels through successive measurements, as well as to monitor the fleet-wide effects of traffic management decisions and technology development over the years on the acoustic footprint of maritime transport.

Multichannel passive millimeter-wave (PMMW) imaging systems have advantage in operating speed, however traditional data processing methods for single channel systems are not applicable for such kind of system. This paper describes an 8-mm multichannel PMMW imaging system, points out the specific problems encountered in multichannel systems, and proposes an experimental multichannel calibration approach in microwave unreflected chamber. In the last superresolution algorithms considering imaging process and some related issues are discussed. The imaging result shows the proposed processing approaches are effective.

Helicobacter pylori prevalence is elevated in German submarine crews and in United States Navy (USN) surface fleet personnel, but H. pylori prevalence in USN submariners was unknown. The goal of the study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori in the crews of USN nuclear submarines compared to other military personnel and to the general US population. The presence of H. pylori IgG antibodies was determined in serum samples using a commercial ELISA. Only 47 out of 451 submariners (9.4%) were H. pylori positive, which is similar to that of the US general population with a similar level of education. In contrast, H. pylori prevalence is significantly higher in US Army recruits (26%), USN surface fleet personnel (25%), and German diesel submariners (38%). These data demonstrate that submarine service (and by inference activity requiring isolation and close contact, per se) is not a risk factor for H. pylori infection.

This study evaluates the existing resources and procedures of the Indiana Department of Transportation's (INDOT's) current traffic monitoring program, with the objective of transforming this program into a comprehensive Traffic Monitoring System for Highways (TMS/H). Reliable traffic data is a valuable input for studies and decision-making at various levels and in various phases of highway management including planning and design, finance and taxation, legislation and safety. The nature and scope of the various components comprising a TMS/H for any state were identified in available literature such as the Federal Register and Traffic Monitoring Guide. A complete inventory of the existing resources (personnel and equipment) and procedures used for field data collection and office-based data processing were compiled and evaluated for adequacy and/or accuracy and appropriateness by matching them with requirements stated in available literature to ensure compliance with ISTEA recommendations. In general, the existing traffic monitoring program was found to be adequate in meeting the needs of most management systems, with the exception of vehicle classification monitoring at sections having 'abnormal' traffic conditions. For the Continuous Count program, a large number of additional classification ATR stations are recommended while very few additional WIM sites are needed. All HPMS sample sections and NHS segments are covered under the existing program, although a lack of resources sometimes limits the frequency of data collection. Also, a new schedule for coverage counts is proposed to place greater emphasis on NHS roads and high-growth areas of the state. A new database system is recommended to effectively address data management issues. Also, documentation of field operations and office factoring procedures was carried out in this study. With the recommendations from this study, INDOT intends to streamline its overall data collection activities and to improve the accuracy, adequacy, timeliness, and delivery of data to the end-users.