A Feasibility Study of Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Survey Avian Abundance by Using Audio Recording

Roadside counts are commonly used to assess songbird abundance, but they result in oversampling habitat edges and underrepresenting core habitats, areas of steep terrain, and wetlands. Accessing off-road habitats can be logistical challenging and time-consuming, resulting in low survey efficiency. Aerial ecological surveys, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) have already proven to be valuable in wildlife monitoring. Previous studies have used photography or videography to provide permanent documentation of wildlife surveys through low altitude aerial imagery. A significant advantage of UAVs over manned aircraft is their greater safety and lower costs. We propose that UAVs can also be used to conduct audio surveys of vocal species. Here, we report on experiments to test the feasibility of using UAVs to conduct point counts of songbirds. To establish the detection radius of bird songs recorded with a microphone attached to a UAV (DJI Phantom 2.0), recordings of the songs of five regionally abundant bird species (Wood Thrush, Eastern Towhee, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, and Eastern Meadowlark) were broadcast at distances of up to 140m from the UAV, which was flown at three altitudes (20m, 40m, and 60m). We found that detection rates and radial detection distances of the broadcasts did not differ with UAV altitude. Bird recordings were clearly audible at radial distances of 60m. We conclude that it is feasible to use UAVs to conduct aerial point counts that are comparable with traditional terrestrial bird point counts, and describe additional field experimentation needed to refine our survey protocols

The Feasibility of Counting Songbirds Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Obtaining unbiased survey data for vocal bird species is inherently challenging due to observer biases, habitat coverage biases, and logistical constraints. We propose that combining bioacoustic monitoring with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology could reduce some of these biases and allow bird surveys to be conducted in less accessible areas. We tested the feasibility of the UAV approach to songbird surveys using a low-cost quadcopter with a simple, lightweight recorder suspended 8 m below the vehicle. In a field experiment using playback of bird recordings, we found that small variations in UAV altitude (it hovered at 28, 48, and 68 m) didn\u27t have a significant effect on detections by the recorder attached to the UAV, and we found that the detection radius of our equipment was comparable with detection radii of standard point counts. We then field tested our equipment, comparing songbird detections from our UAV-mounted recorder with standard point-count data from 51 count stations. We found that the number of birds per point on UAV counts was comparable with standard counts for most species, but there were significant underestimates for some—specifically, issues of song masking for a species with a low-frequency song, the Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura); and underestimation of the abundance of a species that was found in very high densities, the Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis). Species richness was lower on UAV counts (mean = 5.6 species point−1) than on standard counts (8.3 species point−1), but only slightly lower than on standard counts if nonaudible detections are omitted (6.5 species point−1). Excessive UAV noise is a major hurdle to using UAVs for bioacoustic monitoring, but we are optimistic that technological innovations to reduce motor and rotor noise will significantly reduce this issue. We conclude that UAV-based bioacoustic monitoring holds great promise, and we urge other researchers to consider further experimentation to refine techniques

The Feasibility of Using Drones to Count Songbirds

Point and transect counts are the most common bird survey methods, but are subject to biases and accessibility issues. To eliminate some of these biases, we propose attaching a recorder to a consumer-grade quadcopter (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, or UAV) to estimate songbird populations from audio recordings. We conducted a blind experiment using broadcast recordings to estimate the detection radius of a compact recorder attached to a UAV, and found that the detection radius did not vary significantly when the UAV was flown at elevations of 20, 40 and 60m. We field tested our system by comparing UAV-based bird counts with standard point count surveys at 51 locations on State Game Lands 249, PA. Species richness was similar at standard and UAV point counts, but species composition differed. For most species, the number detections on UAV recordings were similar to standard counts, but UAV surveys under-sampled Mourning Doves Zenaida macroura, Gray Catbirds Dumetella carolinensis, and Willow Flycatchers Empidonax traillii. Birds with quiet or low frequency songs are likely to be under-detected by UAV-based methods, due to masking by the drone noise of the quadcopter. Recordings of bird songs from ground-based recorders show that bird song output was slightly reduced when the quadcopter was overhead. The development of quieter quadcopters would overcome the masking and the possible behavioral response issues that we highlighted. We demonstrate that low-cost UAVs provide a useful new method of surveying songbirds that is accessible to organizations and researchers with restricted budgets

Exposure to the Antifouling chemical Medotomidine Slows Development, Reduces Body Mass, and Delays Metamorphosis in Wood Frog (Lithobates Sylvaticus) Tadpoles

Antifouling chemicals have a long history of causing toxicity to aquatic organisms. We measured growth and developmental timing in wood frog tadpoles exposed to the antifouling chemical medetomidine (10 nM–10 μM) starting at two different developmental stages in static renewal experiments. For tadpoles hatched from egg masses and exposed for 3 weeks to 100 nM and 1 μM, head width/total body length ratio was significantly shorter compared to control. For field-collected tadpoles at Gosner stage 24–25 and exposed for 2 weeks, 1 and 10 μM medetomidine significantly slowed development as measured by Gosner stage. Medetomidine (1 and 10 μM) significantly increased the time to metamorphosis by over 16 days on average, and at 100 nM and 1 μM, it significantly decreased mass at metamorphosis. We discuss the possible effects of antifouling chemicals containing medetomidine on globally threatened groups such as amphibians

Recovery of the Vulnerable Pemba flying fox Pteropus voeltzkowi: population and conservation status

Flying foxes of the genus Pteropus are predominantly island taxa, with high levels of endemism, and face high risks of extinction. Their ecological and economic importance in island ecosystems has been widely recognized. Here we investigate the population size and conservation status of the Vulnerable Pteropus voeltzkowi, endemic to the western Indian Ocean island of Pemba, Tanzania. Direct counts and patch counts were used to determine abundance of flying foxes at roost sites, supplemented with evening dispersal counts, which were conducted to test accuracy of counting techniques under varying conditions of visibility. We estimate that the population size is now a minimum of 18,200–22,100, thus validating reports of annual increases by in-country monitoring teams since the last documented population survey of 4,600–5,500 bats in 1995. Taking into account differences in the counting methodologies for roosting bats we estimate that the population size could be as high as 35,600 individuals. We identified 44 occupied roosting sites, with just four of these supporting up to 87% of the population. Roost disturbance represents a continuing threat to this species and was found to influence roost occupancy and colony size. The implications of the population increase for the local human community are discussed and recommendations provided for continued monitoring and future management of this species on Pemba Island

Chronic conditions in women: the development of a National Institutes of health framework

Abstract Rising rates of chronic conditions were cited as one of the key public health concerns in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 U.S. Senate and House of Representatives appropriations bills, where a review of current National Institutes of Health (NIH) portfolios relevant to research on women’s health was requested. Chronic conditions were last defined by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2010. However, existing definitions of chronic conditions do not incorporate sex or gender considerations. Sex and gender influence health, yet significant knowledge gaps exist in the evidence-base for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic diseases amongst women. The presentation, prevalence, and long-term effects of chronic conditions and multimorbidity differs in women from men. A clinical framework was developed to adequately assess the NIH investment in research related to chronic conditions in women. The public health needs and NIH investment related to conditions included in the framework were measured. By available measures, research within the NIH has not mapped to the burden of chronic conditions among women. Clinical research questions and endpoints centered around women can be developed and implemented; clinical trials networks with expanded or extended eligibility criteria can be created; and data science could be used to extrapolate the effects of overlapping or multiple morbidities on the health of women. Aligning NIH research priorities to address the specific needs of women with chronic diseases is critical to addressing women’s health needs from a life course perspective

Quality of mother-child interaction before, during, and after smartphone use

Studies have demonstrated that parents often exhibit a still face while silently reading their cell phones when responding to texts. Such disruptions to parent-child interactions have been observed during parental media use such as texting and these disruptions have been termed technoference. In the present study, we explored changes to mother-child interactions that occur before, during and after interruptions due to texting using an adapted naturalistic still face paradigm. Specifically, we examined the effect of an interruption due to either maternal smartphone use or use of an analog medium on maternal interaction quality with their 20- to 22-month-old children. Mother-child interactions during free play were interrupted for 2 min by asking the mothers to fill out a questionnaire either (a) by typing on the smartphone (smartphone group) or (b) on paper with a pen (paper-pencil group). Interactional quality was compared between free-play and interruption phases and to a no-interruption control group. Mixed ANOVA across phase and condition indicated that maternal responsiveness and pedagogical behavior decreased during the interruption phase for both the interruption groups (smartphone and paper-and-pencil) but not for the no-interruption group. Children also increased their positive bids for attention during the paper-and-pencil and the smartphone conditions relative to the no-interruption control. These findings are consistent with a large body of research on the still-face paradigm and with a recent study demonstrating that smartphone interruptions decreased parenting quality. The present study, however, connects these lines of research showing the many everyday disruptions to parent-child interactions are likely to decrease parenting quality and that toddlers are likely to detect and attempt to repair such interruptions

Product newsEfficacy of Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine against HPV Infection and Disease in Males

Obstetrics & Gynaecology Forum • October 201

Efficacy of quadrivalent HPV vaccine against HPV Infection and disease in males.

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2014-12-09T19:20:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Giuliano AR Efficacy....pdf: 427095 bytes, checksum: 0157983b386757f031d1f55aa577498c (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2014-12-09T19:20:31Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Giuliano AR Efficacy....pdf: 427095 bytes, checksum: 0157983b386757f031d1f55aa577498c (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-09T19:44:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Giuliano AR Efficacy....pdf: 427095 bytes, checksum: 0157983b386757f031d1f55aa577498c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011Risk Assessment, Detection. Tampa, FL / Intervention Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Tampa, FLUniversity of California San Francisco. Department of Medicine. San FranciscoMount Sinai School of Medicine. New YorkAssociação Obras Sociais Irmã Dulce. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilInstituto de Investigación Nutricional. Lima, PeruUniversity Medical Center. National Institute of Public Health. Morelos, MexicoUniversity of the Witwatersrand. Faculty of Health Sciences. Ndlela Research and Clinical Trials Unit. Johannesburg, South AfricaOslo University Hospital. Faculty of Medicine. Olafia Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinic. OsloPrivate Clinic for Infectious Diseases. BerlinUniversity of Sydney. Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Centre. SydneyTaipei Veterans General Hospital. Division of Urology. Department of Surgery. Taipei, TaiwanMedical College of Georgia. AugustaCentre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal. Montreal. North Wales, PA / Merck. North Wales, PACentre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal. Montreal. North Wales, PA / Merck. North Wales, PACentre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal. Montreal. North Wales, PA / Merck. North Wales, PACentre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal. Montreal. North Wales, PA / Merck. North Wales, PACentre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal. Montreal. North Wales, PA / Merck. North Wales, PACentre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal. Montreal. North Wales, PA / Merck. North Wales, PACentre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal. Montreal. North Wales, PA / Merck. North Wales, PACentre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal. Montreal. North Wales, PA / Merck. North Wales, PABACKGROUND: Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) and diseases caused by HPV are common in boys and men. We report on the safety of a quadrivalent vaccine (active against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18) and on its efficacy in preventing the development of external genital lesions and anogenital HPV infection in boys and men. METHODS: We enrolled 4065 healthy boys and men 16 to 26 years of age, from 18 countries in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. The primary efficacy objective was to show that the quadrivalent HPV vaccine reduced the incidence of external genital lesions related to HPV-6, 11, 16, or 18. Efficacy analyses were conducted in a per-protocol population, in which subjects received all three vaccinations and were negative for relevant HPV types at enrollment, and in an intention-to-treat population, in which subjects received vaccine or placebo, regardless of baseline HPV status. RESULTS: In the intention-to-treat population, 36 external genital lesions were seen in the vaccine group as compared with 89 in the placebo group, for an observed efficacy of 60.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 40.8 to 73.8); the efficacy was 65.5% (95% CI, 45.8 to 78.6) for lesions related to HPV-6, 11, 16, or 18. In the per-protocol population, efficacy against lesions related to HPV-6, 11, 16, or 18 was 90.4% (95% CI, 69.2 to 98.1). Efficacy with respect to persistent infection with HPV-6, 11, 16, or 18 and detection of related DNA at any time was 47.8% (95% CI, 36.0 to 57.6) and 27.1% (95% CI, 16.6 to 36.3), respectively, in the intention-to-treat population and 85.6% (97.5% CI, 73.4 to 92.9) and 44.7% (95% CI, 31.5 to 55.6) in the per-protocol population. Injection-site pain was significantly more frequent among subjects receiving quadrivalent HPV vaccine than among those receiving placebo (57% vs. 51%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Quadrivalent HPV vaccine prevents infection with HPV-6, 11, 16, and 18 and the development of related external genital lesions in males 16 to 26 years of age. (Funded by Merck and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00090285.)