Robust cepstral feature for bird sound classification

Birds are excellent environmental indicators and may indicate sustainability of the ecosystem; birds may be used to provide provisioning, regulating, and supporting services. Therefore, birdlife conservation-related researches always receive centre stage. Due to the airborne nature of birds and the dense nature of the tropical forest, bird identifications through audio may be a better solution than visual identification. The goal of this study is to find the most appropriate cepstral features that can be used to classify bird sounds more accurately. Fifteen (15) endemic Bornean bird sounds have been selected and segmented using an automated energy-based algorithm. Three (3) types of cepstral features are extracted; linear prediction cepstrum coefficients (LPCC), mel frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCC), gammatone frequency cepstral coefficients (GTCC), and used separately for classification purposes using support vector machine (SVM). Through comparison between their prediction results, it has been demonstrated that model utilising GTCC features, with 93.3% accuracy, outperforms models utilising MFCC and LPCC features. This demonstrates the robustness of GTCC for bird sounds classification. The result is significant for the advancement of bird sound classification research, which has been shown to have many applications such as in eco-tourism and wildlife management.

Birds of Parque Estadual Ilha do Cardoso: ecology, conservation and natural history

The Parque Estadual Ilha do Cardoso (PEIC), located on extreme South of São Paulo’s cost, in Brazil, holds an important Atlantic Forest remnant which still in a good state of conservation, but lack a deepen study about the avian community that habits the island. This study aimed to elaborate a census of avian species that occur in the park approaching richness, occurrence frequency, occurrence status and the structure of trophic guilds. A total of 25 field expedictions occurred between September 2015 and September 2017 during five days each, the field work included different ecosystems as mangrove, restinga, forest, sandbank, beach and marine. The census was made combine three different techniques used in ornithological studies: visual identification, auditory identification and catch by mist-nets (with five fixed sites in mangrove, restinga and forest). Were recorded 335 avian species, with 28 of them endemic from Brazil and 33 being threatened with extinction. Seventy-three species were recorded in all sampled months (FO 100%), while 46 were recorded in just one month (FO = 4%). About occurrence status, 55% of species are residents, 20% occasional visitors, 13% unusual residents, 6% migratory and 6% visitors. According the recorded species were recognized 25 trophic guilds based on food items, corporal size and strata that commonly forage, which of most representative in the community, the guild of “of insectivorous of medium-strata” (N = 55), “canopy omnivorous” (N = 33), “aquatic invertebrates consummers” and “piscivorous” (N = 31). Finally, with the current study, we aimed through a significative field effort bring a better knowledge about avifauna of PEIC, which could be a good base when is necessary take actions that aim to park management and the Conservation Unities around it.

Problems of using Ukrainian geometric ornament in the context of the national design system development at the beginning of XXI century

The purpose of the article consists in identifying the actual components of the national design system formation at the beginning of the XXI century. In particular, was been researched the study level of the influence of geometric ornaments as identifiers of national culture. Methodology. Analytical, logical, and chronological methods were being used. The scientific novelty consists in fact of first time systematically investigating the meaning of a geometric ornament as an art form that marking Ukrainian culture in the context of cultural globalization. Conclusions. As a result of generalizing the scientific views of various fields of knowledge, were marked the most significant conditions and problems of using the geometric ornament of Ukraine in visual communications at different time periods. Conditions include the «modernization» of graphic techniques and using a wide specter of intersectoral knowledge. The main problems are: unsystematic and insufficiently formed theoretical base, low professional level of designers (ignoring organizing visual-communicative elements rules, disharmony in the color solution, low graphic culture). As a result, were formed main directions for using geometric ornaments in graphic design projects. These directions are a synthesis of intersectoral knowledge, improvement of the designer's stylization and composition skills, using ornamental compositions with considering to context. Keywords: ornament, geometric ornament, graphic design, visual identification of ethnic culture.

Forensic Tools for Species Identification of Skeletal Remains: Metrics, Statistics, and OsteoID

Although nonhuman remains constitute a significant portion of forensic anthropological casework, the potential use of bone metrics to assess the human origin and to classify species of skeletal remains has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to assess the utility of quantitative methods in distinguishing human from nonhuman remains and present additional resources for species identification. Over 50,000 measurements were compiled from humans and 27 nonhuman (mostly North American) species. Decision trees developed from the long bone data can differentiate human from nonhuman remains with over 90% accuracy (>98% accuracy for the human sample), even if all long bones are pooled. Stepwise discriminant function results were slightly lower (>87.4% overall accuracy). The quantitative models can be used to support visual identifications or preliminarily assess forensic significance at scenes. For species classification, bone-specific discriminant functions returned accuracies between 77.7% and 89.1%, but classification results varied highly across species. From the study data, we developed a web tool, OsteoID, for users who can input measurements and be shown photographs of potential bones/species to aid in visual identification. OsteoID also includes supplementary images (e.g., 3D scans), creating an additional resource for forensic anthropologists and others involved in skeletal species identification and comparative osteology.

Identity, place and values. On construction and internalization of festival normalities on the examples of music festivals in Poland

The aim of this paper is to compare of how two different festivals stimulate specific norms and perceptions, and therefore to present the way in which the visions of the festival cities are reproduced by the festival audience based on the axio-normative orders contained in the missions of the events. Based on the shared symbols and life strategies promoted by festivals, participants (re)build their identity which they manifest in chosen cultural practices. The article attempt to answer the following question: what is shared by festival-goers? Are the main motivations for participating in the vent due to shared musical tastes or also specific values and lifestyles, and consequently a common identity? It has been shown that the values promoted during festivals are declared by their organizers – they are present in the visual identification, seminars, workshops, etc. Festivals create their narratives based on symbols such as logos, attitude smartphones, or festival slogans which contain condensed axio-normative systems that create the boundaries of the community. It influencesthe behavior of festival goers: the city’s vision, ways of spending free time, and their identity. The places where the fieldwork was conducted were: “Henryk Rasiewicz National Festival of Unbreakable and Independent Songs in Kraków”, “Ostróda Reggae Festiva” in Ostróda, and the “Song of Our RootsFestival” in Jarosław.

Raman Spectroscopy Enables Non-Invasive Identification of Mycotoxins p. Fusarium of Winter Wheat Seeds

Identification of specific mycotoxins p. Fusarium contained in infected winter wheat seeds can be achieved by visually recognizing their distinctive phenotypic species. The visual identification (ID) of species is subjective and usually requires significant taxonomic knowledge. Methods for the determination of various types of mycotoxins of the p. Fusarium are laborious and require the use of chemical invasive research methods. In this research, we investigate the possibility of using Raman spectroscopy (RS) as a tag-free, non-invasive and non-destructive analytical method for the rapid and accurate identification of p. Fusarium. Varieties of the r. Fusarium can produce mycotoxins that directly affect the DNA, RNA and chemical structure of infected seeds. Analysis of spectra by RS methods and chemometric analysis allows the identification of healthy, infected and contaminated seeds of winter wheat with varieties of mycotoxins p. Fusarium. Raman seed analysis provides accurate identification of p. Fusarium in 96% of samples. In addition, we present data on the identification of carbohydrates, proteins, fiber and other nutrients contaminated with p. Fusarium seeds obtained using spectroscopic signatures. These results demonstrate that RS enables rapid, accurate and non-invasive screening of seed phytosanitary status.

Cathelicidin-3 associated with serum extracellular vesicles enables early diagnosis of a transmissible cancer

The identification of practical early diagnosis biomarkers is a cornerstone of improved prevention and treatment of cancers. Such a case is devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), a highly lethal transmissible cancer afflicting virtually an entire species, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Despite a latent period that can exceed one year, to date DFTD diagnosis requires visual identification of tumour lesions. To enable earlier diagnosis, which is essential for the implementation of effective conservation strategies, we analysed the extracellular vesicle (EV) proteome of 87 Tasmanian devil serum samples. The antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin-3 (CATH3) was enriched in serum EVs of both devils with clinical DFTD (87.9% sensitivity and 94.1% specificity) and devils with latent infection (i.e., collected while overtly healthy, but 3-6 months before subsequent DFTD diagnosis; 93.8% sensitivity and 94.1% specificity). As antimicrobial peptides can play a variety of roles in the cancer process, our results suggest that the specific elevation of serum EV-associated CATH3 may be mechanistically involved in DFTD pathogenesis. This EV-based approach to biomarker discovery is directly applicable to improving understanding and diagnosis of a broad range of diseases in other species, and these findings directly enhance the capacity of conservation strategies to ensure the viability of the imperilled Tasmanian devil population.

Variation in Bird Eggs—Does Female Factor, Season, and Laying Order Impact the Egg Size, Pigmentation, and Eggshell Thickness of the Eggs of Capercaillie?

Despite numerous studies, intra-species variation in bird eggs is still not well explained. In the presented studies, we investigated the possible sources of this variation: female factor, laying order, and season, using the following traits of Capercaillie eggs as an example: egg size and shape, eggshell lightness, and thickness. Samples were collected for three years from three Capercaillie breeding centres located in different parts of Poland, where birds are kept in conditions close to their natural habitat and have a similar diet. The obtained results showed no significant impact of laying order on egg size, shape, pigmentation, nor eggshell thickness. This indicates that the provided nutrition ensures an adequate supply of minerals for the entire laying period. Most results did not show statistically significant differences between eggs from different breeding centres, but in one breeding centre, eggshells had lighter pigmentation. We assume the observed differences may result from females’ individual features or local environmental conditions. Egg traits were highly consistent for individual females, proving that visual identification can be useful in identifying the eggs of different females.

Tracking Filter for Radio Surveillance upon UAV Detection

Unsanctioned intrusion of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on the territory of the guarded object is primarily detected by specialized radio surveillance systems. The results obtained by radio surveillance systems are used for aiming of UAV visual identification and radio jamming systems. In this work, the problems of UAV detection and tracking of the target trajectory are considered. The known tracking filter systems for radio surveillance application were analyzed and a specialized matrix tracking filter system was proposed, which uses in its algorithm a dynamically changing energy potential of the radio surveillance system. The developed tracking filter system efficiency is evaluated using methods of matrix calculation, mathematical modeling, and probability theory. It has been established that the developed tracking filter system lets the radio surveillance equipment most effectively initiate trajectories of UAV, set its movement window, consider radio surveillance equipment characteristics, and approximate the trajectory of UAV at times of missed detections connected to radar cross-section fluctuations of moving targets. A high efficiency of the developed system has been achieved by decreasing the inaccuracy of the target position prediction two times in comparison with the known tracking filter systems. The obtained results allow easy scaling of the developed tracking filter system for its application as a part of any radio surveillance system.