Consideration of measurement errors for the Norwegian common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata acutorostrata) surveys

A discrete measurement error model for radial distance and angle to detected objects in line transect surveys is considered. This approach directly quantifies the effect of measurement error on the estimated effective strip half-width. We apply the method to experimental data collected over the period 2008-2013 in North Atlantic both under the assumption of multiplicative and additive measurement errors. Our results indicate that the abundance estimates considering the measurement error are consistently larger than the abundance estimates without any measurement error correction.publishedVersio

Lenalidomide in combination with dexamethasone at first relapse in comparison with its use as later salvage therapy in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma

This subset analysis of data from two phase III studies in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM) evaluated the benefit of initiating lenalidomide plus dexamethasone at first relapse. Multivariate analysis showed that fewer prior therapies, along with β2-microglobulin (≤2.5 mg/L), predicted a better time to progression (TTP; study end-point) with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone treatment. Patients with one prior therapy showed a significant improvement in benefit after first relapse compared with those who received two or more therapies. Patients with one prior therapy had significantly prolonged median TTP (17.1 vs. 10.6 months; P=0.026) and progression-free survival (14.1 vs. 9.5 months, P=0.047) compared with patients treated in later lines. Overall response rates were higher (66.9% vs. 56.8%, P=0.06), and the complete response plus very good partial response rate was significantly higher in first relapse (39.8% vs. 27.7%, P=0.025). Importantly, overall survival was significantly prolonged for patients treated with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone with one prior therapy, compared with patients treated later in salvage (median of 42.0 vs. 35.8 months, P=0.041), with no differences in toxicity, dose reductions, or discontinuations despite longer treatment. Therefore, lenalidomide plus dexamethasone is both effective and tolerable for second-line MM therapy and the data suggest that the greatest benefit occurs with earlier use

Investigating Population Genetic Structure in a Highly Mobile Marine Organism: The Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata acutorostrata in the North East Atlantic

Inferring the number of genetically distinct populations and their levels of connectivity is of key importance for the sustainable management and conservation of wildlife. This represents an extra challenge in the marine environment where there are few physical barriers to gene-flow, and populations may overlap in time and space. Several studies have investigated the population genetic structure within the North Atlantic minke whale with contrasting results. In order to address this issue, we analyzed ten microsatellite loci and 331 bp of the mitochondrial D-loop on 2990 whales sampled in the North East Atlantic in the period 2004 and 2007–2011. The primary findings were: (1) No spatial or temporal genetic differentiations were observed for either class of genetic marker. (2) mtDNA identified three distinct mitochondrial lineages without any underlying geographical pattern. (3) Nuclear markers showed evidence of a single panmictic population in the NE Atlantic according STRUCTURE's highest average likelihood found at K = 1. (4) When K = 2 was accepted, based on the Evanno's test, whales were divided into two more or less equally sized groups that showed significant genetic differentiation between them but without any sign of underlying geographic pattern. However, mtDNA for these individuals did not corroborate the differentiation. (5) In order to further evaluate the potential for cryptic structuring, a set of 100 in silico generated panmictic populations was examined using the same procedures as above showing genetic differentiation between two artificially divided groups, similar to the aforementioned observations. This demonstrates that clustering methods may spuriously reveal cryptic genetic structure. Based upon these data, we find no evidence to support the existence of spatial or cryptic population genetic structure of minke whales within the NE Atlantic. However, in order to conclusively evaluate population structure within this highly mobile species, more markers will be required

Hva kan et register over vågehvalens DNA fortelle om atferd og biologi?

DNA-registeret for vågehval inneholder data fra alle de ca. 7000 individene som er tatt av norshe hvalfangere siden 1997. De genetishe profilene gjør det mulig å studere bestandsstruktur, vandringsmønster og bestandsstørrelse. Hvordan kan et DNA-register brukes i forvaltningen av viltressurser og gi økt kunnskap om alder og bestander

Population genetic studies in Northeastern Atlantic minke whales

Minke whales are the most abundance species of baleen whales in the North Atlantic. As part of current management of minke whales in Norwegian and adjacent waters, a DNA-register have been established. The register ensures that samples are taken of each animal caught under the Norwegian catch quota, and that a DNA-profile is established and stored in a database from each individual whale. Previous studies have indicated that genetic population sub-structure exists within the North Atlantic, but sample sizes were limited. We present an analysis based on the sex, mtDNA control region sequences and 10 microsatellite loci from the 4500 individuals that currently constitute the DNA-register. Information about population structure is an essential input to the management procedure applied for North Atlantic minke whales

Historical population assessment of Barents Sea harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus

ABSTRACT We estimate the population size of Barents Sea harp seals to have been around 6 million individuals in the year 1875, when large scale exploitation by Norwegian and Russian hunters started. The estimate is obtained by fitting a population dynamics model to all available sources of data on Barents Sea harp seals. Due to lack of information about several key parameters in the model, the uncertainty associated with the estimate is large. A sensitivity study involving three different mechanisms for density regulation results in the interval estimate 3-7 million individuals for the population size in 1875

Line transects, environmental data and GIS: Cetacean distribution, habitat and prey selection along the Barents Sea shelf edge

Cetacean observations obtained during sighting surveys for abundance estimation can also be used to investigate cetacean habitat and prey selection, the principal processes underlying cetacean distributions. In this paper, we investigate habitat and prey selection of minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), fin (B. physalus) and sperm (Physeter macrocephalus) whales and Lagenorhynchus (Atlantic white-sided L. acutus and white-beaked L. albirostris) dolphins observed along predetermined cruise tracks along the Barents Sea shelf edge in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The observations were combined with simultaneously collected data on habitat (depth, sea surface temperature, and temperature gradients) and prey (plankton, 0-group fish, capelin and herring) distributions in a GeographicInformation System (GIS) to investigate habitat and prey selection. Minke whales were associated with cold waters and herring, and capelin in years with low herring abundance. Fin whales were mainly associated with northern cold and deep waters, as well as capelin, 0-group fish and plankton. Lagenorhynchus dolphins were associated with capelin. Finally, sperm whales were associated with deep waters and 0-group fish. Sperm whales were probably indirectly attracted to 0-group fish through preying on predatory fish such as Sebastes spp. and the squid Gonatus spp. The cetacean species responded differently to annual variation in habitat and prey distributions. Minke and fin whale distributions and abundances remained similar between years within the study area, suggestingthat these species are generalists responding to environmental changes by switching between prey species. Conversely, Lagenorhynchus dolphins shifted northwards, likely due to tracking the shifting capelin distributions. The results are discussed in light of how such cetacean habitat and cetacean prey relationships can be valuable for the proper assessment of population sizes and trends, both through guiding the design of sighting surveys and assessing whether changes in abundances within fixed surveyed areas are due to distribution shifts or changes in population sizes

Feedback Error Learning Neural Network for Trans-Femoral Prosthesis

Feedback-error learning (FEL) neural network was developed for control of a powered trans-femoral prosthesis. Nonlinearities and time-variations of the dynamics of the plant, in addition to redundancy and dynamic uncertainty during the double support phase of walking, makes conventional control methods very difficult to use. Rule-based control, which uses a knowledge base determined by machine learning and finite automata method is limited since it does not respond well to perturbations and environmental changes. FEL can be regarded as a hybrid control, because it combines nonparametric identification with parametric modeling and control. This paper presents simulation of a powered trans-femoral prosthesis controlled by a FEL neural network. Results suggest that FEL can be used to identify inverse dynamics of an arbitrary trans-femoral prosthesis during simple single joint movements (e.g., sinusoidal oscillations). The identified inverse dynamics then allows the tracking of an arbitrary trajectory such as a desired walking pattern within a multijoint structure. Simulation shows that the identified controller responds correctly when the leg motion is exposed to a perturbation such as a frequent change of the ground reaction force or the hip joint torque generated by the user. FEL eliminates the need for precise, tedious, and complex identification of model parameters

Measurement error model for the Norwegian common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata acutorostrata) surveys 2008-2013

A discrete measurement error model for radial distance and angle to detected objects in line transect surveys is considered. This approach directly quantifies the effect of measurement error on the estimated effective strip half-width. We apply the method to experimental data collected over the period 2008-2013 in North Atlantic both under the assumption of multiplicative and additive measurement errors. Our results indicate that the abundance estimates considering the measurement error are consistently larger than the abundance estimates without any measurement error correction