Variable dimension weighted universal vector quantization and noiseless coding

A new algorithm for variable dimension weighted universal coding is introduced. Combining the multi-codebook system of weighted universal vector quantization (WUVQ), the partitioning technique of variable dimension vector quantization, and the optimal design strategy common to both, variable dimension WUVQ allows mixture sources to be effectively carved into their component subsources, each of which can then be encoded with the codebook best matched to that source. Application of variable dimension WUVQ to a sequence of medical images provides up to 4.8 dB improvement in signal to quantization noise ratio over WUVQ and up to 11 dB improvement over a standard full-search vector quantizer followed by an entropy code. The optimal partitioning technique can likewise be applied with a collection of noiseless codes, as found in weighted universal noiseless coding (WUNC). The resulting algorithm for variable dimension WUNC is also described

Using Stable Isotope Analysis to Infer Breeding Latitude and Migratory Timing of Juvenile Pacific-Slope Flycatchers (Empidonax Difficilis)

Effective conservation of migratory species is hindered by a lack of knowledge of population links between breeding, wintering and stopover habitats. The Pacific-slope flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) is one of the many Neotropical migratory songbirds whose populations are steadily declining throughout western North America. This research contributed to the assessment of connectivity in this species by inferring relative breeding origins and habitat selection of juvenile birds that migrate along the Pacific Flyway to the South San Francisco Bay Area in the fall. Feather data collected from July 20 to October 12, 2014 were analyzed for three stable isotopes (δ2H, δ13C, δ15N). Findings revealed that populations migrated sequentially from western regions throughout expected breeding latitudes, with early season migrants most likely coming from the more southern, warmer, and dryer regions of northern California, Oregon, and southern Washington while late season migrants had probable origins in the more northern, cooler, and wetter regions of northern Washington and southwestern British Columbia. This study provided new information on the annual cycle and migratory timing of Pacific-slope flycatchers, and lays the foundation for future assessments of migratory connectivity of this species

Creating an Interactive Visual Database of Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus)

Piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) face many threats, substantially reducing their populations. Conservation strategies have included predator control and symbolic fencing, and complex records of plovers’ reproductive success have been kept for many beaches. In creating an interactive visual database with data from Massachusetts, the data becomes more comprehensible and conclusions can be drawn on the implications of conservation techniques. This information can be used to influence decisions about future conservation efforts at other breeding locations

Evolutionary Computation, Optimization and Learning Algorithms for Data Science

A large number of engineering, science and computational problems have yet to be solved in a computationally efficient way. One of the emerging challenges is how evolving technologies grow towards autonomy and intelligent decision making. This leads to collection of large amounts of data from various sensing and measurement technologies, e.g., cameras, smart phones, health sensors, smart electricity meters, and environment sensors. Hence, it is imperative to develop efficient algorithms for generation, analysis, classification, and illustration of data. Meanwhile, data is structured purposefully through different representations, such as large-scale networks and graphs. We focus on data science as a crucial area, specifically focusing on a curse of dimensionality (CoD) which is due to the large amount of generated/sensed/collected data. This motivates researchers to think about optimization and to apply nature-inspired algorithms, such as evolutionary algorithms (EAs) to solve optimization problems. Although these algorithms look un-deterministic, they are robust enough to reach an optimal solution. Researchers do not adopt evolutionary algorithms unless they face a problem which is suffering from placement in local optimal solution, rather than global optimal solution. In this chapter, we first develop a clear and formal definition of the CoD problem, next we focus on feature extraction techniques and categories, then we provide a general overview of meta-heuristic algorithms, its terminology, and desirable properties of evolutionary algorithms

The JCMT Gould Belt survey: Dense core clusters in Orion B

The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope Gould Belt Legacy Survey obtained SCUBA-2 observations of dense cores within three sub-regions of OrionB: LDN1622, NGC2023/2024, and NGC2068/2071, all of which contain clusters of cores. We present an analysis of the clustering properties of these cores, including the two-point correlation function and Cartwright’s Q parameter. We identify individual clusters of dense cores across all three regions using a minimal spanning tree technique, and find that in each cluster, the most massive cores tend to be centrally located. We also apply the independent M–Σ technique and find a strong correlation between core mass and the local surface density of cores. These two lines of evidence jointly suggest that some amount of mass segregation in clusters has happened already at the dense core stage

Improved Multi-Verse Optimizer In Text Document Clustering For Topic Extraction

This study aims to propose a suitable TE approach, which provides a better overview of the text documents. To achieve this aim: First, A new feature selection method for TDC, that is, binary multi-verse optimizer algorithm (BMVO) is proposed to eliminate irrelevantly, redundant features and obtain a new subset of more informative features. Second, three multi-verse optimizer algorithm (MVOs), namely, basic MVO, modified MVO, hybrid MVO is proposed to solve the TDC problem; these algorithms are incremental improvements of the preceding versions. Third, a novel ensemble method for an automatic TE from a collection of text document is proposed to extract the topics from the clustered document

Trophic Relationships Among Caribou Calf Predators in Newfoundland

Using specially trained scat detection dogs we located fecal samples from black bear (Ursus americanus) and coyote (Canis latrans) throughout three study areas in Newfoundland, Canada, to describe these predators diet. Our sampling efforts were designed around seasons which were important to woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) calving and resource use. We identified hairs microscopically to prey species and grouped other remains to facilitate our analysis. Bear exhibited an omnivorous diet throughout the study areas, ecological seasons and inside and outside the caribou calving grounds while coyote were limited to caribou, moose and snowshoe hare