scholarly journals Application of YOLOv4 for Detection and Motion Monitoring of Red Foxes

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1723
Author(s):  
Anne K. Schütz ◽  
Verena Schöler  ◽  
E. Tobias Krause  ◽  
Mareike Fischer  ◽  
Thomas Müller  ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Automatic Detection ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Video Data ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Animal Activity

Animal activity is an indicator for its welfare and manual observation is time and cost intensive. To this end, automatic detection and monitoring of live captive animals is of major importance for assessing animal activity, and, thereby, allowing for early recognition of changes indicative for diseases and animal welfare issues. We demonstrate that machine learning methods can provide a gap-less monitoring of red foxes in an experimental lab-setting, including a classification into activity patterns. Therefore, bounding boxes are used to measure fox movements, and, thus, the activity level of the animals. We use computer vision, being a non-invasive method for the automatic monitoring of foxes. More specifically, we train the existing algorithm ‘you only look once’ version 4 (YOLOv4) to detect foxes, and the trained classifier is applied to video data of an experiment involving foxes. As we show, computer evaluation outperforms other evaluation methods. Application of automatic detection of foxes can be used for detecting different movement patterns. These, in turn, can be used for animal behavioral analysis and, thus, animal welfare monitoring. Once established for a specific animal species, such systems could be used for animal monitoring in real-time under experimental conditions, or other areas of animal husbandry.

Pedestrian Activity Among California Adults

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna E. Mathews ◽  
Natalie Colabianchi ◽  
Brent Hutto ◽  
Delores M. Pluto ◽  
Steve P. Hooker
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Random Digit Dial

Background:The objectives of this study were to assess (1) pedestrian activity levels among adults, (2) where and why adults engage in pedestrian activity, and (3) what adults consider when deciding where to engage in pedestrian activity.Methods:Pedestrian activity was assessed in 12,036 California adults, ≥18 years, using a random digit-dial telephone survey.Results:Significant differences were identified by race, sex, age, and physical activity level in the type, location, and purpose of pedestrian activities. Men engage in pedestrian activity at work, and women engage in pedestrian activity while escorting children to school and running errands. Whites primarily engage in leisure-time pedestrian activity, and non-whites are more likely to engage in pedestrian activity for transportation. Older adults were less active than their younger counterparts.Conclusions:These findings should be considered by public health agencies and their partners as they continue to increase and promote opportunities for pedestrian activity. Additional research is needed to assess older adults’ physical activity patterns and preferences, barriers, and facilitators to effectively tailor physical activity promotion efforts to this at-risk group.

Bayesian nonparametric inference for the overlap of daily animal activity patterns

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 471-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Núñez-Antonio ◽  
Manuel Mendoza ◽  
Alberto Contreras-Cristán ◽  
Eduardo Gutiérrez-Peña ◽  
Eduardo Mendoza
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Nonparametric Inference ◽  
Bayesian Nonparametric ◽  
Animal Activity

scholarly journals Occurence of Echinococcus multilocularis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in southern Poland

2008 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Borecka ◽  
J. Gawor ◽  
M. Malczewska ◽  
A. Malczewski
Keyword(s):  
Echinococcus Multilocularis ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Southern Poland ◽  
Regular Screening ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Epidemiological Situation

AbstractThe prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in 214 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the southern part of Poland (Małopolskie voivodship) was evaluated post mortem in 2005. Infected foxes were found in 8 districts within 17 examined, with the prevalence from 10.0 % to 63.9 % (a mean 20.1 % in the whole study area). The highest prevalence (41.2 % and 63.9 %) was revealed in two districts, in the south and the east of the province, respectively. The high prevalence of E. multilocularis in red foxes in the region previously recognised as that of low parasite endemicity provides evidence for the need of regular screening of the current epidemiological situation in foxes as well as the monitoring of humans from risk groups for early recognition of possible AE cases.

scholarly journals Adaptations of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) to urban environments in Sydney, Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarita Gil-Fernández ◽  
Robert Harcourt ◽  
Thomas Newsome ◽  
Alison Towerton ◽  
Alexandra Carthey
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Canis Lupus Familiaris ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Sydney Australia ◽  
Site Types

Abstract With urban encroachment on wild landscapes accelerating globally, there is an urgent need to understand how wildlife is adapting to anthropogenic change. We compared the behaviour of the invasive red fox (Vulpes vulpes) at eight urban and eight peri-urban areas of Sydney, Australia. We observed fox behaviour around a lure and compared fox activity patterns to those of potential prey and to two domestic predators (dogs—Canis lupus familiaris and cats—Felis catus). We assessed the influence of site type, vegetation cover, and distance from habitation on fox behaviour, and compared the temporal activity patterns of urban and peri-urban red foxes. Urban red foxes were marginally more nocturnal than those in peri-urban areas (88% activity overlap). There was greater overlap of red fox activity patterns with introduced mammalian prey in urban areas compared with peri-urban areas (90% urban vs 84% peri-urban). Red fox temporal activity overlapped 78% with cats, but only 20% with dogs, across both site types. The high degree of overlap with cats and introduced mammalian prey is most likely explained by the nocturnal behaviour of these species, while pet dogs are generally kept in yards or indoors at night. The behavioural differences we documented by urban red foxes suggest they may adapt to human modifications and presence, by being more nocturnal and/or more confident in urban areas.

scholarly journals Economic impact of cross compliance in the field of animal welfare (Acts C18 and C16)

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1s) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisanna Speroni ◽  
Maurizio Capelletti ◽  
Antonio Bruni ◽  
Luigi Degano
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Market Prices ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Public Grant ◽  
Cattle Farms ◽  
Cross Compliance

The paper reports the results of assessment of animal welfare at farm level on two dairy cattle farms, identification of structural and management actions to improve the animal welfare and estimate of the costs of such actions; furthermore the economic impact of the potential support under measure 215 of the Rural Development Plan was also simulated. At the time of assessment, no severe break of compliance was detected at the two farms; however some weaknesses were identified and improvement were proposed in order to maintain the current animal welfare status and avoid future failures. The two use cases showed that investments to improve animal welfare were partly self funded in the mid and long term due to the higher milk yield and the better animal health that were expected as consequence; however, in the short term, a large part of expenses was fully borne by farmers if not supported by a public grant or higher market prices. The support provided by the measure 215 is effective in rewarding farmers who undertake to adopt standards of animal husbandry which go beyond the relevant mandatory standards.

scholarly journals Relation between energy use and indoor thermal environment in animal husbandry: a case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 01042
Author(s):  
Matteo Bilardo ◽  
Lorenzo Comba ◽  
Paolo Cornale ◽  
Andrea Costantino ◽  
Enrico Fabrizio
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Indoor Climate ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Indoor Thermal Environment ◽  
Data Loggers ◽  
Energy Consumptions

Climate control is of the foremost importance in structures for intensive animal rearing because many animals (e.g. pigs and broilers) tolerate a small range of climate conditions (mainly air temperature and relative humidity) that may differ considerably from the outdoor environment. For this reason, the indoor climate in the majority of structures for animal husbandry is guaranteed by HVAC systems. On the one hand, the use of mechanical systems makes it possible to avoid production risks due to the unpredictability of the outdoor weather conditions and to maximize the feed efficiency, with positive effects on both the animal welfare and farm profit. On the other hand, the use of HVAC entails not negligible thermal and electrical energy consumptions. In literature, few data about the real thermo-hygrometric conditions and energy consumption of animal houses are present. In this work (in the framework of the EPAnHaus – Energy Performance certification of Animal Houses –project), the results obtained from a long-term monitoring campaign in two growing-finishing pig houses are presented. The performed measurements concerned environmental parameters and electrical power that were acquired during two production cycles (warm and cool seasons). For the environmental monitoring, both the buildings were equipped with temperature and relative humidity sensors embedded in portable data loggers (10 minutes logging time) that were placed in various spots inside the houses. Outdoor data were obtained through a weather station located near the test site. Concerning the energy monitoring, power transducers connected to portable data loggers (10 seconds logging time) were placed in the electric panel of each house to log the electrical energy consumptions due to ventilation, lighting and automatic feeding. The acquired data were used for carrying out analysis concerning the indoor thermal environment, its characterization in relation with the animal welfare, the electrical energy uses and the existing relations between all these aspects. The obtained data were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the HVAC system in guaranteeing the adequate indoor climate conditions (avoiding heat/cold stress conditions) and to identify electrical energy uses.

scholarly journals High-Precision Noncontact Guided Wave Tomographic Imaging of Plate Structures Using a DHB Algorithm

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4360
Author(s):  
Junpil Park ◽  
Jaesun Lee ◽  
Zong Le ◽  
Younho Cho
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Detection Efficiency ◽  
Detection System ◽  
Automatic Detection ◽  
Guided Wave ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Plate Structures ◽  
Wide Range

The safety diagnostic inspection of large plate structures, such as nuclear power plant containment liner plates and aircraft wings, is an important issue directly related to the safety of life. This research intends to present a more quantitative defect imaging in the structural health monitoring (SHM) technique by using a wide range of diagnostic techniques using guided ultrasound. A noncontact detection system was applied to compensate for such difficulties because direct access inspection is not possible for high-temperature and massive areas such as nuclear power plants and aircraft. Noncontact systems use unstable pulse laser and air-coupled transducers. Automatic detection systems were built to increase inspection speed and precision and the signal was measured. In addition, a new Difference Hilbert Back Projection (DHB) algorithm that can replace the reconstruction algorithm for the probabilistic inspection of damage (RAPID) algorithm used for imaging defects has been successfully applied to quantitative imaging of plate structure defects. Using an automatic detection system, the precision and detection efficiency of data collection has been greatly improved, and the same results can be obtained by reducing errors in experimental conditions that can occur in repeated experiments. Defects were made in two specimens, and comparative analysis was performed to see if each algorithm can quantitatively represent defects in multiple defects. The new DHB algorithm presented the possibility of observing and predicting the growth direction of defects through the continuous monitoring system.

Environmental Influence on Locomotor Activity in Nephrops Norvegicus (Crustacea: Decapoda)

1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. H. Moller ◽  
E. Naylor
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Light Intensity ◽  
Environmental Influence ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Nephrops Norvegicus ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Emergence Patterns ◽  
Role Of Light ◽  
Trawl Catches

Diel variations in the emergence of the burrowing prawn Nephrops norvegicus (L.) have been investigated by direct field observations (Chapman & Rice, 1971; Chapman, Johnstone & Rice, 1975; Chapman & Howard, 1979; Atkinson & Naylor, 1976), and indirectly by sequential trawling during 24 h periods (Höglund & Dybern, 1965; Simpson, 1965; Hillis, 1971; Farmer, 1974; Atkinson & Naylor, 1976; Oakley, 1979). Peak emergence appears to be related to temporal and depth-dependent variations in daylight penetration, since Nephrops are apparently nocturnal in shallow waters, crepuscular as the depth increases, and diurnal at the greatest depths of their occurrence. This lends support to the suggestion that emergence occurs at an optimum light intensity (Hillis, 1971; Chapman, Priestley & Robertson, 1972; Chapman, et al., 1975; Chapman & Howard, 1979). However, additional factors influencing emergence of Nephrops from their burrows have also to be taken in account, since laboratory studies of locomotor activity in Nephrops have consistently revealed nocturnal activity patterns in light-dark (LD) regimes, with light inhibiting locomotor activity even at extremely low irradiance levels (Arechiga & Atkinson, 1975; Atkinson & Naylor, 1973, 1976; Naylor & Atkinson, 1976). Moreover, Hammond & Naylor (1977 a) have presented qualitative evidence that the nocturnal locomotor activity peak appears to be synchronized by falling light intensity at dusk. The differences between these experimental results and emergence patterns deduced from trawl catches and underwater observations of Nephrops have not been fully resolved by studies of the role of light intensity and of gradual light transitions (Arechiga & Atkinson, 1975; Hammond & Naylor, 1977 a, b). Thus the behavioural responses of Nephrops both in the field and in the laboratory need to be assessed in relation to more accurately quantified light changes. Also, despite earlier evaluation of the problem (Atkinson & Naylor, 1976; Hammond & Naylor, 1977a) it is necessary to reconsider the possibility that the patterns of locomotor activity recorded in the laboratory are influenced by experimental conditions, as has been demonstrated for minnows (Jones, 1956), and flatfish (Verheijen & de Groot, 1967).

Species differences in activity patterns during oestrus

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce S. Cushing ◽  
J. Michelle Cawthorn
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Prairie Voles ◽  
Laboratory Activity ◽  
Peromyscus Californicus ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Cotton Rats ◽  
Running Wheels ◽  
Lower Limits

The onset of oestrus in females has been associated with an increase in locomotor activity; however, we predicted that there would be species in which the females would not increase their activity during oestrus. We tested this in the laboratory, using running wheels, with white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) and California mice (Peromyscus californicus), which were predicted to increase activity, and hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), which were predicted to show no change in activity level. The results supported our predictions, as cotton rats showed no change, while both Peromyscus species increased activity during oestrus. Based upon laboratory activity patterns we conducted a field study to examine the relative levels of activity of two species, white-footed mice and prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). We predicted that significantly more white-footed mice than prairie voles would be caught during oestrus. Before trapping we generated a model to predict the probability of capturing oestrous females. Live-trapping results supported our prediction, as significantly more oestrous female white-footed mice were captured than prairie voles (48.8 vs. 7.5%), and capture of oestrous white-footed mice deviated significantly from the model's prediction. The capture of oestrous prairie voles fit within the lower limits of the model's predictions. The results are discussed in terms of mating strategies, how oestrus is achieved, and predation risk.

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