A scalable, satellite-transmitted data product for monitoring high-activity events in mobile aquatic animals

AbstractA growing number of studies are using accelerometers to examine activity level patterns in aquatic animals. However, given the amount of data generated from accelerometers, most of these studies use loggers that archive acceleration data, thus requiring physical recovery of the loggers or acoustic transmission from within a receiver array to obtain the data. These limitations have restricted the duration of tracking (ranging from hours to days) and/or type of species studied (e.g., relatively sessile species or those returning to predictable areas). To address these logistical challenges, we present and test a satellite-transmitted metric for the remote monitoring of changes in activity, measured via a pop-off satellite archival tag (PSAT) with an integrated accelerometer. Along with depth, temperature, and irradiance for geolocation, the PSAT transmits activity data as a time-series (ATS) with a user-programmable resolution. ATS is a count of high-activity events, relative to overall activity/mobility during a summary period. An algorithm is used to identify the high-activity events from accelerometer data and reports the data as a count per time-series interval. Summary statistics describing the data used to identify high-activity events accompany the activity time-series. In this study, we first tested the ATS activity metric through simulating PSAT output from accelerometer data logger archives, comparing ATS to vectorial dynamic body acceleration. Next, we deployed PSATs with ATS under captive conditions with cobia (Rachycentron canadum). Lastly, we deployed seven pop-off satellite archival tags (PSATs) able to collect and transmit ATS in the wild on adult sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus). In the captive trials, we identified both resting and non-resting behavior for species and used logistic regression to compare ATS values with observed activity levels. In captive cobia, ATS was a significant predictor of observed activity levels. For 30-day wild deployments on sandbar sharks, satellites received 57.4–73.2% of the transmitted activity data. Of these ATS datapoints, between 21.9 and 41.2% of records had a concurrent set of temperature, depth, and light measurements. These results suggest that ATS is a practical metric for remotely monitoring and transmitting relative high-activity data in large-bodied aquatic species with variable activity levels, under changing environmental conditions, and across broad spatiotemporal scales.

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O8B.1 Risk of heat related illness in latino agricultural workers: environmental temperature and activity levels

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oem-2019-epi.192 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A71.3-A72

Author(s):

Marc Schenker ◽

Diane Mitchell ◽

Tracey Armitage ◽

Daniel Tancredi

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Analysis Data ◽

Activity Level ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Activity Data ◽

Work Activity ◽

Piece Rate ◽

Work Related ◽

Increased Risk ◽

And Gender

IntroductionFarmworkers are at risk of heat related illness (HRI). The main contributors are thought to be environmental temperatures and activity levels, but the association has not been objectively assessed.MethodsCalifornia farmworkers were monitored for one work-shift each in the summers of 2014 and 2015. Interviewers recorded personal and demographic information. Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) was collected in minute intervals over the shift as were accelerometer activity data from each participant. This data was grouped into physiologically meaningful 15 min increments, with the average used for analysis. Data from the previous 15 min were used to predict current activity. Generalized Additive Modeling was used to determine the form of the association between WBGT and activity level. This information was used to build an appropriate repeated measures model including demographics and work-related attributes.ResultsFinal analyses included 318 Latina/o farmworkers. Only 70 subjects (22%) were a healthy BMI, and 115 subjects (36%) were considered obese (BMI ≥30). None were underweight. The majority of participants were paid hourly (n=233, 73%) as opposed to piece-rate (n=85, 27%). Activity counts averaged 452, or a low intensity activity level. In the final repeat measures model, work activity was inversely associated with WBGT, for every oC increase in WBGT activity decreased by 4.5 counts (95% CI 1.2–7.6) P 0.01. Other independent negative associations with activity were found with age and male gender. An interaction was found between piece-rate workers and gender. Male piece rate workers did not decrease activity levels with WBGT, but females and hourly paid workers did.ConclusionIn general, farmworkers decrease their work activity with increasing environmental heat. Men, especially piece-rate workers are less likely to decrease their activity levels putting them at increased risk of HRI.

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Stellar activity analysis of Barnard’s Star: Very slow rotation and evidence for long-term activity cycle

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society ◽

10.1093/mnras/stz1975 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

B Toledo-Padrón ◽

J I González Hernández ◽

C Rodríguez-López ◽

A Suárez Mascareño ◽

R Rebolo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Spectroscopic Data ◽

Rotation Period ◽

Photometric Data ◽

Activity Level ◽

Slow Rotation ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Stellar Activity

Abstract The search for Earth-like planets around late-type stars using ultra-stable spectrographs requires a very precise characterization of the stellar activity and the magnetic cycle of the star, since these phenomena induce radial velocity (RV) signals that can be misinterpreted as planetary signals. Among the nearby stars, we have selected Barnard’s Star (Gl 699) to carry out a characterization of these phenomena using a set of spectroscopic data that covers about 14.5 years and comes from seven different spectrographs: HARPS, HARPS-N, CARMENES, HIRES, UVES, APF, and PFS; and a set of photometric data that covers about 15.1 years and comes from four different photometric sources: ASAS, FCAPT-RCT, AAVSO, and SNO. We have measured different chromospheric activity indicators (Hα, Ca II HK and Na I D), as well as the FWHM of the cross-correlation function computed for a sub-set of the spectroscopic data. The analysis of Generalized Lomb-Scargle periodograms of the time series of different activity indicators reveals that the rotation period of the star is 145 ± 15 days, consistent with the expected rotation period according to the low activity level of the star and previous claims. The upper limit of the predicted activity-induced RV signal corresponding to this rotation period is about 1 m/s. We also find evidence of a long-term cycle of 10 ± 2 years that is consistent with previous estimates of magnetic cycles from photometric time series in other M stars of similar activity levels. The available photometric data of the star also support the detection of both the long-term and the rotation signals.

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Informants’ ratings of activity level in infancy predict ADHD symptoms and diagnoses in childhood

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579418000597 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (04) ◽

pp. 1255-1269 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mirjam Meeuwsen ◽

Oliver Perra ◽

Stephanie H.M. van Goozen ◽

Dale F. Hay

Keyword(s):

High Activity ◽

Middle Childhood ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Preschool Age ◽

Activity Level ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Adhd Symptoms ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Clinical Impairment ◽

Regulatory Problems

AbstractWe tested the hypothesis that high activity levels in infancy would predict self-regulatory problems and later symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a longitudinal study of British families (N = 321). Infants’ activity levels were assessed at 6 months, using 3 informants’ reports from the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) and ActiGraphs during baseline, attention, and restraint tasks. At a mean of 33 months, the children were assessed on self-regulatory tasks; at a mean of 36 months, 3 informants reported symptoms of ADHD. At a mean of 7.0 years, the children were assessed on executive function tasks; 3 informants reported on the child's symptoms of ADHD; and diagnoses of disorder were obtained using the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment. Informants’ reports of high activity levels at 6 months predicted ADHD symptoms in early childhood and diagnoses of ADHD with clinical impairment at age 7. The IBQ activity scale was also associated with the children's later performance on self-regulation tasks in early and middle childhood. Activity level in infancy reflects normal variation and is not a sign of psychopathology; however, these findings suggest that further study of the correlates of high activity level in infancy may help identify those children most at risk for disorder.

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The short-term effect of radio-packages on a free-ranging large herbivore, the northern hairy-nosed wombat

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr98009 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 25 (5) ◽

pp. 561 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrew P. Woolnough ◽

Christopher N. Johnson ◽

Alan B. Horsup

Keyword(s):

Term Effect ◽

Activity Level ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Initial Activity ◽

Short Term ◽

Large Herbivore ◽

Activity Data ◽

Short Term Effect ◽

Data Loggers ◽

Free Ranging

The short-term effect of radio-packages on the activity of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii, was investigated using activity data-loggers. Adjustment to the radio-package occurred between 10 and 18 days following capture and fitting of the radio-package. Following the adjustment period, activity levels were some 84–97% less than that of the initial activity level after the attachment of the radio-package. We believe that the adjustment period needs to be considered in studies involving the attachment of radio- packages.

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Gender Disparity in Structured Physical Activity and Overall Activity Level in Adolescence: Evaluation of Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data

ISRN Public Health ◽

10.5402/2012/674936 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Clare M. Lenhart ◽

Alexandra Hanlon ◽

Youjeong Kang ◽

Brian P. Daly ◽

Michael D. Brown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

High Activity ◽

Risk Behavior ◽

Gender Disparity ◽

Activity Level ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Sports Teams ◽

Relative Contribution ◽

Highly Active ◽

Youth Risk Behavior

Background. Adolescent girls are less likely to meet physical activity recommendations than boys. This study examined the relative contribution of structured physical activity opportunities including physical education (PE) class and sports teams to overall activity levels for girls and boys. Methods. Data from 591 9th–12th grade students who completed the 2009 Philadelphia Youth Risk Behavior Survey were examined. Logistic regression was used to estimate the relationship between PE and sports teams and physical activity levels. Models were stratified by gender to estimate gender differences. Results. Girls were less likely to be active than boys: 27.9% of girls were sedentary as compared to 10.6% of boys. PE class was not related to activity levels among boys, while highly active girls were seven times more likely to participate in daily PE than were sedentary girls. Playing on one or more sports teams was associated with low-moderate and high activity in girls; among boys, sports team participation was only associated with high activity. Conclusions. The structured physical activity opportunities of PE and sports teams may contribute more to overall activity levels in girls than boys. A more rigorous assessment of this hypothesis is warranted to inform efforts to promote activity levels in girls.

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Early-life behaviour predicts first-year survival in a long-distance avian migrant

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2020.2670 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 288 (1942) ◽

pp. 20202670

Author(s):

Shay Rotics ◽

Sondra Turjeman ◽

Michael Kaatz ◽

Damaris Zurell ◽

Martin Wikelski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Life ◽

Daily Activity ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Activity Level ◽

First Year ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Long Distance ◽

Body Acceleration ◽

In The Wild ◽

Migratory Experience

Early-life conditions have critical, long-lasting effects on the fate of individuals, yet early-life activity has rarely been linked to subsequent survival of animals in the wild. Using high-resolution GPS and body-acceleration data of 93 juvenile white storks ( Ciconia ciconia ), we examined the links between behaviour during both pre-fledging and post-fledging (fledging-to-migration) periods and subsequent first-year survival. Juvenile daily activity (based on overall dynamic body acceleration) showed repeatable between-individual variation, the juveniles' pre- and post-fledging activity levels were correlated and both were positively associated with subsequent survival. Daily activity increased gradually throughout the post-fledging period, and the relationship between post-fledging activity and survival was stronger in individuals who increased their daily activity level faster (an interaction effect). We suggest that high activity profiles signified individuals with increased pre-migratory experience, higher individual quality and perhaps more proactive personality, which could underlie their superior survival rates. The duration of individuals’ fledging-to-migration periods had a hump-shaped relationship with survival: higher survival was associated with intermediate rather than short or long durations. Short durations reflect lower pre-migratory experience, whereas very long ones were associated with slower increases in daily activity level which possibly reflects slow behavioural development. In accordance with previous studies, heavier nestlings and those that hatched and migrated earlier had increased survival. Using extensive tracking data, our study exposed new links between early-life attributes and survival, suggesting that early activity profiles in migrating birds can explain variation in first-year survival.

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Validation of the Human Activity Profile Questionnaire as a Measure of Physical Activity Levels in Older Community-Dwelling Women

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2012-0283 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 348-356 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Alessandra de Carvalho Bastone ◽

Bruno de Souza Moreira ◽

Renata Alvarenga Vieira ◽

Renata Noce Kirkwood ◽

João Marcos Domingues Dias ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Women ◽

Human Activity ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Activity Level ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Accelerometer Data ◽

Activity Profile ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Cutoff Points

The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the Human Activity Profile (HAP) by comparing scores with accelerometer data and by objectively testing its cutoff points. This study included 120 older women (age 60–90 years). Average daily time spent in sedentary, moderate, and hard activity; counts; number of steps; and energy expenditure were measured using an accelerometer. Spearman rank order correlations were used to evaluate the correlation between the HAP scores and accelerometer variables. Significant relationships were detected (rho = .47−.75, p < .001), indicating that the HAP estimates physical activity at a group level well; however, scatterplots showed individual errors. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to determine HAP cutoff points on the basis of physical activity level recommendations, and the cutoff points found were similar to the original HAP cutoff points. The HAP is a useful indicator of physical activity levels in older women.

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On the multi-scale nature of large geomagnetic storms: an empirical mode decomposition analysis

Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics ◽

10.5194/npg-19-667-2012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 667-673 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

P. De Michelis ◽

G. Consolini ◽

R. Tozzi

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Empirical Mode Decomposition ◽

Geomagnetic Activity ◽

Geomagnetic Storms ◽

Decomposition Analysis ◽

Activity Level ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Geomagnetic Disturbances ◽

Multi Scale ◽

Mode Decomposition

Abstract. Complexity and multi-scale are very common properties of several geomagnetic time series. On the other hand, it is amply demonstrated that scaling properties of geomagnetic time series show significant changes depending on the geomagnetic activity level. Here, we study the multi-scale features of some large geomagnetic storms by applying the empirical mode decomposition technique. This method, which is alternative to traditional data analysis and is designed specifically for analyzing nonlinear and nonstationary data, is applied to long time series of Sym-H index relative to periods including large geomagnetic disturbances. The spectral and scaling features of the intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) into which Sym-H time series can be decomposed, as well as those of the Sym-H time series itself, are studied considering different geomagnetic activity levels. The results suggest an increase of dynamical complexity and multi-scale properties for intermediate geomagnetic activity levels.

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Accelerometry to study fine-scale activity of invasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in the wild

Animal Biotelemetry ◽

10.1186/s40317-020-00227-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nicholas M. Whitney ◽

Connor F. White ◽

Brian J. Smith ◽

Michael S. Cherkiss ◽

Frank J. Mazzotti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Florida ◽

Diel Activity ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Fine Scale ◽

Data Logger ◽

Bird Populations ◽

Lack Of Information ◽

Acceleration Data ◽

In The Wild ◽

Python Bivittatus

Abstract Background The establishment of Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA, has been connected to a > 90% decline in the mesomammal population in the park and is a major threat to native reptile and bird populations. Efforts to control this population are underway, but are hampered by a lack of information about fine-scale activity cycles and ecology of these cryptic animals in the wild. We aimed to establish a technique for monitoring the activity of Burmese pythons in the wild using acceleration data loggers (ADLs), while attempting to identify any behavioral patterns that could be used to help manage this invasive species in the Greater Everglades and South Florida. Results We obtained continuous acceleration and temperature data from four wild snakes over periods of 19 to 95 days (mean 54 ± 33 days). Snakes spent 86% of their time at rest and 14% of their time active, including transiting between locations. All snakes showed at least one period of continuous transiting lasting 10 h or more, with one animal transiting continuously for a period of 58.5 h. Acceleration data logger-derived transiting bout duration was significantly correlated with the distance snakes traveled per hour for two snakes that also carried GPS loggers. Snakes were most active in midday or early-night depending on individual and time of year, but all snakes were least likely to be active in the early mornings (0400–0700 h local time). Very little movement took place at temperatures below 14 °C or above 24 °C, with most movement taking place between 15° and 20 °C. One animal showed a highly unusual rolling event that may be indicative of a predation attempt, but this could not be confirmed. Conclusions Fine-scale activity and some behaviors were apparent from ADL data, making ADLs a potentially valuable, unbiased tool for monitoring large-bodied snakes in the wild. Snakes spent the majority of their time resting, but also moved continuously for several hours at a time during bouts of transiting. Results suggest that individuals may shift their diel activity pattern based on season. Understanding seasonal differences in activity levels can improve the accuracy of population estimates, help detect range expansion, and improve managers’ ability to find and capture individuals.

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Activity measurement in pediatric chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic Illness ◽

10.1177/1742395320949613 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 174239532094961

Author(s):

Bernardo Loiacono ◽

Madison Sunnquist ◽

Laura Nicholson ◽

Leonard A Jason

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Activity Level ◽

Activity Measurement ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Activity Data ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Delayed Initiation

Objectives Individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) experience debilitating symptoms, including post-exertional malaise, an intensification of symptoms after physical or cognitive exertion. Previous studies found differences in the activity levels and patterns of activity among individuals with ME and CFS, compared to healthy controls; however, limited research exists on the activity levels of pediatric patients. The objective of this study was to examine differences in activity between healthy children and youth with ME and CFS. Methods The present study examines the objective (i.e., ActiGraphy) and self-reported levels of activity among children (ages 5 to 17) enrolled in a community-based study of pediatric CFS. Results Children with ME and CFS evidenced lower activity levels than healthy control children. Moreover, participants with ME and CFS evidenced increased nighttime activity and delayed initiation of daytime activity. Participants’ self-reported activity data significantly correlated with their ActiGraph data, suggesting that children with ME and CFS are able to accurately describe their activity level. Discussion This study highlights differences in activity level and diurnal/nocturnal activity patterns between healthy children and those with ME and CFS. These differences should be considered in identifying appropriate supports and accommodations for children with ME and CFS.

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