scholarly journals Distance estimation experiment for aerial minke whale surveys

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Witting ◽  
Daniel G Pike

A comparative study between aerial cue–counting and digital photography surveys for minke whales conducted in Faxaflói Bay in September 2003 is used to check the perpendicular distances estimated by the cue-counting observers. The study involved 2 aircraft with the photo plane at 1,700 feet flying above the cue–counting plane at 750 feet. The observer–based distance estimates were calculated from head angles estimated by angle-boards and declination angles estimated by declinometers. These distances were checked against image–based estimates of the perpendicular distance to the same whale. The 2 independent distance estimates were obtained for 21 sightings of minke whale, and there was a good agreement between the 2 types of estimates. The relative absolute deviations between the 2 estimates were on average 23% (se: 6%), with the errors in the observer–based distance estimates resembling that of a log-normal distribution. The linear regression of the observer–based estimates (obs) on the image–based estimates (img) was Obs=1.1Img (R2=0.85) with an intercept fixed at zero. There was no evidence of a distance estimation bias that could generate a positive bias in the absolute abundance estimated by cue–counting.

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L Borchers ◽  
Daniel G Pike ◽  
Thorvaldur Gunnlaugsson ◽  
Gísli A Víkingsson

We estimate the abundance of minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) from the Icelandic coastal shelf aerial surveys carried out as part of the 1987 and 2001 North Atlantic Sightings Surveys (NASS). In the case of the 1987 survey, the probability of detecting animals at distance zero (g(0)) is very close to 1 but there is substantial random measurement error in estimating distances. To estimate abundance from these data, we use methods which assume g(0)=1 but which includea distance measurement error model. In the case of the 2001 survey, measurement errors were sufficiently small to be negligible, and we use double platform methods which estimate g(0) and assume no measurement error to estimate abundance. From the 1987 survey, we estimate abundance to be 24,532 animals, with 95% CI (13,399; 44,916). From the 2001 NASS survey data, minke whale abundance is estimated to be 43,633 animals, with 95% CI (30,148; 63,149).


1997 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick J Parsons ◽  
Andrew A Reilly ◽  
Debra Esernio-Jenssen

Abstract We describe results of a 3-year study in which 499 paired venous and capillary blood specimens, collected by fingerstick on the same day, were analyzed for lead (BPb) and erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP). False-positive rates (FPRs) and the proportion of false positives were calculated at four BPb thresholds. At the 100 μg/L threshold, the FPR for all data was 13%, but the proportion of false positives was only 5%. The log ratios of capillary-to-venous BPb data indicate that, with the exception of eight outliers, two subpopulations exist that follow a log-normal distribution. These two subpopulations, the “core” (n = 303) and “shifted” (n = 188) groups, on average generated a positive bias at 100 μg/L BPb of 8.6% and 30.3%, respectively. The log ratios of capillary-to-venous EP data followed a normal distribution, indicating that capillary EP is not statistically different from venous EP.


Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Arnaud Millet

The mechanosensitivity of cells has recently been identified as a process that could greatly influence a cell’s fate. To understand the interaction between cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix, the characterization of the mechanical properties of natural polymeric gels is needed. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is one of the leading tools used to characterize mechanically biological tissues. It appears that the elasticity (elastic modulus) values obtained by AFM presents a log-normal distribution. Despite its ubiquity, the log-normal distribution concerning the elastic modulus of biological tissues does not have a clear explanation. In this paper, we propose a physical mechanism based on the weak universality of critical exponents in the percolation process leading to gelation. Following this, we discuss the relevance of this model for mechanical signatures of biological tissues.


2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryuho Kataoka

Abstract Statistical distributions are investigated for magnetic storms, sudden commencements (SCs), and substorms to identify the possible amplitude of the one in 100-year and 1000-year events from a limited data set of less than 100 years. The lists of magnetic storms and SCs are provided from Kakioka Magnetic Observatory, while the lists of substorms are obtained from SuperMAG. It is found that majorities of events essentially follow the log-normal distribution, as expected from the random output from a complex system. However, it is uncertain that large-amplitude events follow the same log-normal distributions, and rather follow the power-law distributions. Based on the statistical distributions, the probable amplitudes of the 100-year (1000-year) events can be estimated for magnetic storms, SCs, and substorms as approximately 750 nT (1100 nT), 230 nT (450 nT), and 5000 nT (6200 nT), respectively. The possible origin to cause the statistical distributions is also discussed, consulting the other space weather phenomena such as solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and solar energetic particles.


Fractals ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 09 (04) ◽  
pp. 463-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
WATARU SOUMA

We investigate the Japanese personal income distribution in the high income range over the 112 years (1887–1998), and that in the middle income range over the 44 years (1955–1998). It is observed that the distribution pattern of the log-normal with power law tail is the universal structure. However, the indexes specifying the distribution differ from year to year. One of the index characterizing the distribution is the mean value of the log-normal distribution; the mean income in the middle income range. It is found that this value correlates linearly with the gross domestic product (GDP). To clarify the temporal change of the equality or inequality of the distribution, we analyze Pareto and Gibrat indexes, which characterize the distribution in the high income range and that in the middle income range, respectively. It is found for some years that there is no correlation between the high income and the middle income. It is also shown that the mean value of Pareto index equals to 2, and the change of this index is effected by the change of the asset price. From these analysis, we derive four constraints that must be satisfied by mathematical models.


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