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Browsing by Author "Pflugrath, Brett D."

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    Lab-on-a-Fish: Wireless, Miniaturized, Fully Integrated, Implantable Biotelemetric Tag for Real-Time In Vivo Monitoring of Aquatic Animals
    Yang, Yang; Lu, Jun; Pflugrath, Brett D.; Li, Huidong; Martinez, Jayson J.; Regmi, Siddhartha; Wu, Bingbin; Xiao, Jie; Deng, Zhiqun Daniel (IEEE, 2022-07-01)
    In vivo electronic monitoring systems for underwater applications are promising technologies for obtaining information about aquatic animals. State-of-the-art devices are constrained by limits on the number of integrated sensors, large dimensions and weight, and short device longevity. Here, we report the Labon-a-Fish: the world's first biotelemetry tag that combines edge computing with wireless sensing of in vivo physiology [electrocardiogram (ECG) and electromyogram (EMG)], behavior [activity level and tail beat frequency (TBF)], and ambient environment (temperature, pressure, and magnetic field). The Lab-on-a-Fish has a miniaturized form (dry weight: 2.4 g; wet weight: 0.8 g; and dimensions: 5.5 mm x 6.5 mm x 37 mm) for studying small animals. Engineering efforts spanning improvements in battery chemistry, electronic circuit efficiency, and power-saving algorithms extend the longevity of the device to as much as eight months. The designed piezoelectric transducer and its driving circuit enable underwater wireless communication of multiplexed digital sensor data over a distance up to 400 m. The Lab-on-a-Fish can also store the raw data using flash memory for use in locations that are challenging for acoustic communications or when more complex data postprocessing is needed. Long-term in vivo validation in three species-rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), and walleye (Sander vitreus)-demonstrated the device's sensing potential for biological and environmental applications.
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    Over or under? Autonomous sensor fish reveals why overshot weirs may be safer than undershot weirs for fish passage
    Pflugrath, Brett D.; Boys, Craig A.; Cathers, Bruce; Deng, Zhiqun Daniel (2019-07)
    Many riverine fish species disperse downstream as eggs, juveniles, or adults, which can expose them to injury and death at hydraulic structures. Low-head weirs are one example of a structure that can kill fish, and this impact has been shown to be substantially higher for undershot weirs when compared to overshot weirs. In this study, autonomous sensor devices were released at an overshot and undershot weir under similar discharges to assess what stressors maybe contributing to differences in the survival rates of fish. Although the undershot weir was more likely to expose fish to rapid decompression, the intensity of decompression was mild and it is more likely that higher levels of fluid shear at the undershot are more damaging to early life stage and small-bodied fish. Both weirs showed potential for strike, but this could be managed through improvements in design.