Papers by B. Sterba-boatwright
Frontiers in Physiology, 2019
Man-made environmental change may have significant impact on apex predators,
like marine mammals.... more Man-made environmental change may have significant impact on apex predators,
like marine mammals. Thus, it is important to assess the physiological boundaries
for survival in these species, and assess how climate change may affect foraging
efficiency and the limits for survival. In the current study, we investigated whether
the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) could estimate tidal volume (VT) in resting
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). For this purpose, we measured respiratory
flow and electrocardiogram (ECG) in five adult bottlenose dolphins at rest while breathing
voluntarily. Initially, an exponential decay function, using three parameters (baseline heart
rate, the change in heart rate following a breath, and an exponential decay constant) was
used to describe the temporal change in instantaneous heart rate following a breath.
The three descriptors, in addition to body mass, were used to develop a Generalized
Additive Model (GAM) to predict the inspired tidal volume (VTinsp). The GAM allowed us
to predict VTinsp with an average ( SD) overestimate of 3 2%. A jackknife sensitivity
analysis, where 4 of the five dolphins were used to fit the GAM and the 5th dolphin used
to make predictions resulted in an average overestimate of 2 10%. Future studies
should be used to assess whether similar relationships exist in active animals, allowing
VT to be studied in free-ranging animals provided that heart rate can be measured.
This paper explores estimates for the best possible water level predictions for test stations in ... more This paper explores estimates for the best possible water level predictions for test stations in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The predictions are made by Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Statistical Modeling. Namely, here we use the theory of stochastic processes and spectral analysis to evaluate the best possible quality of forecasts by using the stochastic properties of the inputs as well as the given goodness criteria of predictions. As a result of such investigation we can outline limitations of the ANN predictions of water levels in the bays and estuaries of the Texas coast.
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Papers by B. Sterba-boatwright
like marine mammals. Thus, it is important to assess the physiological boundaries
for survival in these species, and assess how climate change may affect foraging
efficiency and the limits for survival. In the current study, we investigated whether
the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) could estimate tidal volume (VT) in resting
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). For this purpose, we measured respiratory
flow and electrocardiogram (ECG) in five adult bottlenose dolphins at rest while breathing
voluntarily. Initially, an exponential decay function, using three parameters (baseline heart
rate, the change in heart rate following a breath, and an exponential decay constant) was
used to describe the temporal change in instantaneous heart rate following a breath.
The three descriptors, in addition to body mass, were used to develop a Generalized
Additive Model (GAM) to predict the inspired tidal volume (VTinsp). The GAM allowed us
to predict VTinsp with an average ( SD) overestimate of 3 2%. A jackknife sensitivity
analysis, where 4 of the five dolphins were used to fit the GAM and the 5th dolphin used
to make predictions resulted in an average overestimate of 2 10%. Future studies
should be used to assess whether similar relationships exist in active animals, allowing
VT to be studied in free-ranging animals provided that heart rate can be measured.
like marine mammals. Thus, it is important to assess the physiological boundaries
for survival in these species, and assess how climate change may affect foraging
efficiency and the limits for survival. In the current study, we investigated whether
the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) could estimate tidal volume (VT) in resting
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). For this purpose, we measured respiratory
flow and electrocardiogram (ECG) in five adult bottlenose dolphins at rest while breathing
voluntarily. Initially, an exponential decay function, using three parameters (baseline heart
rate, the change in heart rate following a breath, and an exponential decay constant) was
used to describe the temporal change in instantaneous heart rate following a breath.
The three descriptors, in addition to body mass, were used to develop a Generalized
Additive Model (GAM) to predict the inspired tidal volume (VTinsp). The GAM allowed us
to predict VTinsp with an average ( SD) overestimate of 3 2%. A jackknife sensitivity
analysis, where 4 of the five dolphins were used to fit the GAM and the 5th dolphin used
to make predictions resulted in an average overestimate of 2 10%. Future studies
should be used to assess whether similar relationships exist in active animals, allowing
VT to be studied in free-ranging animals provided that heart rate can be measured.