Archaeologic Machine Learning for Shipwreck Detection Using Lidar and Sonar

The objective of this project is to create a new implementation of a deep learning model that uses digital elevation data to detect shipwrecks automatically and rapidly over a large geographic area. This work is intended to apply a new methodology to the field of underwater archaeology. Shipwrecks represent a major resource to understand maritime human activity over millennia, but underwater archaeology is expensive, misappropriated, and hazardous. An automated tool to rapidly detect and map shipwrecks can therefore be used to create more accurate maps of natural and archaeological features to aid management objectives, study patterns across the landscape, and find new features. Additionally, more comprehensive and accurate shipwreck maps can help to prioritize site selection and plan excavation. The model is based on open source topo-bathymetric data and shipwreck data for the United States available from NOAA. The model uses transfer learning to compensate for a relatively small sample size and addresses a recurring problem that associated work has had with false positives by training the model both on shipwrecks and background topography. Results of statistical analyses conducted—ANOVAs and box and whisker plots—indicate that there are substantial differences between the morphologic characteristics that define shipwrecks vs. background topography, supporting this approach to addressing false positives. The model uses a YOLOv3 architecture and produced an F1 score of 0.92 and a precision score of 0.90, indicating that the approach taken herein to address false positives was successful.

505 Support Group Lives on Virtually Despite Pandemic

Introduction Support group for burn survivors is immensely beneficial for reintegration and normalization of the burn recovery. The corona virus pandemic, however, limited in-person interactions significantly and decreased the travel capabilities. Our regional burn center serves an 8-state region, and as such, our every other month in-person support group consisted of survivors and family members from a large geographic area. Methods Support group volunteers and staff members recognized the need for continued support of survivors during the pandemic. Limitations of large, in-person meetings were implemented by our host organization to comply with pandemic safety guidelines. Evaluation of resources available led to development of a virtually supported meeting space. Email addresses were gathered to schedule. This allowed for interaction of survivors from an unlimited geographic area. Results Support group survivor volunteers and staff met to develop parameters, topics, IT support and logistics. Every other month support group was converted to a monthly gathering virtually due to easier access by survivors. Attendees completed a survey to evaluate and make recommendations for opportunities for improvement. The same number of survivors were present for in person and virtual meetings. Conclusions During this pandemic, limitations were placed that further isolate survivors. A virtually based support group has allowed for more frequent interactions between volunteers and new survivors. Various topics were discussed including survivor preparedness for public reintegration, worker’s compensation and care giver burnout. Speakers from multiple disciplines have been able to address issues requested by survivors. In this format, we have been able to continue the support of our survivors as they continue to recover. Social distancing has isolated many people during the pandemic; virtual support group has been paramount in continuing to connect our survivor family.

Bio-GO-SHIP: Shifts in bacterial communities reveal subtle biogeochemical regimes across the Indian Ocean

<p>Historically, our understanding of ecological responses to biogeochemical gradients and physical dynamics in the Indian Ocean has been limited to regional studies. Microbial communities represent in-situ biosensors that are sensitive to changes in the surface ocean. They can therefore be used to identify where subtle changes in the environment occur and to understand links between the ecology and surrounding environment. Here, we perform the largest study of microbial biodiversity in the Indian Ocean, using 505 DNA samples collected on GO-SHIP cruises I07N and I09N. This dataset spans a large geographic area, starting in the southern Indian Ocean gyre, crossing through the equatorial zone, and entering the Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal. We used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to identify transition points in bacterial community structure and to define ecological boundaries. We found that these boundaries aligned with shifts in geochemistry (e.g., nutrient availability) and/or physical dynamics (e.g., ocean fronts, eddies, and salinity), indicating fine-scale regional separation in biogeochemical functioning. Thus, our study demonstrates how using microbial communities provides an integrated approach for evaluating links between the ecology, geochemistry, and physical dynamics of the Indian Ocean.</p>

Review on the Use of ICT Driven Solutions Towards Managing Global Pandemics

A pandemic is a contagious disease outbreak that happens over a large geographic area and affects a great portion of the population while new pathogens appear for which people have less immunity and no vaccines are available. The disease can spread from person to person in a very short time. Health workers are at greater risk of infection because of patients who are carriers. In the 21st century, where everyone is connected through digital technologies, information and communication technology (ICT) plays a critical role in improving healthcare for individuals and larger communities. ICT can be divided into a wide variety of application domains that signify its importance as a major technological paradigm. It is currently drawing large attention because of its potential to alleviate the burden on healthcare systems caused by the rise in chronic diseases, aging populations and pandemic situations. This study surveyed substantial knowledge on how effective ICT healthcare solutions can be used towards managing global pandemics. In order to make it more comprehensive, we also present a four-phase strategic framework that can be deployed to alleviate the strain on healthcare resources during a pandemic, which was derived from the reviewed literature. Further, we also discuss how ICT technologies can be used towards managing pandemic situations chronographically during the transformation from a simple disease outbreak into a global pandemic.

Increased telestroke call burden after the extended thrombectomy window trials

Introduction Clinical trials have proven the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients with large-vessel occlusion presenting within 24 hours of symptom onset. Extending the thrombectomy window to 24 hours resulted in a higher number of thrombectomies being performed. However, little is known about the impact of the extended thrombectomy window on the telestroke call burden. Methods We used the prospectively maintained database of a telestroke network covering a large geographic area in the Southeast USA. We included patients presenting between January 2015 and December 2019. We compared the characteristics and outcomes between patients who presented before and after the publication of the extended window thrombectomy trials. Results A total of 9041 patients presented with stroke-like symptoms during the study period. Of these, 4995 presented after February 2018. There was no difference in the patient demographics in both groups. However, patients in the post extended window group had a lower National Institute of Health Stroke Scale on presentation (3 vs. 4; p < 0.001) and longer symptom-onset-to-door time (124 vs. 85 minutes; p < 0.001). The number of consults per month nearly doubled (200 vs. 103; p < 0.001) in the extended thrombectomy window era. Similarly, the number of mechanical thrombectomies performed per month increased from four to seven since extending the thrombectomy window ( p < 0.001). Discussion The number of telestroke consults nearly doubled after the publication of the extended thrombectomy window trials, with an increase in the number of thrombectomies performed. These findings have important operational implications for hospitals implementing telestroke call coverage.

Effects of Covid-19 Pandemy Over Maritime Transport: An Evaluation of Supply-demand Balance

This research aims to examine the covid-19 pandemic measurements taken in maritime transport and their possible effects on the supply-demand equilibrium and consequently on the freight market. Covid-19 virus which infected quite large geographic area and people within very short time affects negatively not only every part of our life but also the production and service sector within the globalised world. This is mainly because the future tendency and further effects of this virus are unpredictable. Because of that, most countries are focused firstly on measurements to be taken to reduce the spreading speed of the virus. Although measurements and restrictions seem reduced spreading speed in some countries in short term, those measurements increase the operating costs of production and service companies. On the one hand reduction on cargo movements due to low demand and increasing operation cost due to measurements, have effected the supply-demand equilibrium of maritime transportation. This research examined the effects of already taken and could be revised measurements due to the present situation and possible future tendency of covid-19, and its consequential results on the freight market.

COVID 19 - Perceptions of a Primary Health Network in Australia

The Covid-19 pandemic is still current but has been particularly well addressed, so far, in the Australian context. This article presents an analysis of management practice to describe the experience of one Primary Health Network (PHN) and its approach and response to the pandemic within its geographical region in accordance with Federal government directives. The PHN is a large geographic area that includes the Central Coast, just north of the Sydney basin, the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region and the Northwest/New England region that extends from Tamworth to the Queensland Border. The article describes the PHN function within its primary healthcare role (PHC) in respect to responding to national initiatives to address and reduce the impact Of the Covid-19 event. The article recounts the Federal Governments directive described through the ‘National Cabinet’ and the Federal Health Department and the PHN response to those directives and initiatives. The article also recounts the actual cases of Covid-19 over the period of the epidemic. The article describes the governance, leadership, and management initiatives. The article then describes the PHN approach to evaluation of its approach from the perspective of general practice and other PHC providers as well as providing perspectives from governance, management, and staff. The evaluation process identified significant impacts on providers and strong support for the continuation of telehealth measures. There were positive responses to the PHN activity and as a strong sense of trusted information, ongoing education, and general engagement.

Data Deduplication for Efficient Storage on Cloud using Fog Computing Paradigm

Cloud services have taken the IT world by storm by making its services available to everyone over large geographic area. With the increasing amount of data generate every minute it has become increasing difficult to manage resources and the storage. Thus, data compression techniques like data de duplication that aims at executing the redundancy of data and forming chunks of data that can be stored on a distributed system can be proved to a logistic solution. But when it comes to cloud problems like security has always been a major issue. In order to eliminate these challenges, we need to implement a layer of fog computing they would deal with the shortcomings of cloud computing and at the same time present a filtration front before the incoming data.