Compact broadband frequency selective microstrip antenna and its application to indoor positioning systems for wireless networks

This study presents a low-profile broadband microstrip patch antenna with filtering response. The proposed antenna consists of a rectangular patch and four parasitic gap-coupled elements, two L- and two rectangular-shaped patches. A broadband quasi-elliptic boresight gain response is obtained without using any extra filtering circuits. The input impedance of each radiating element, i.e., driven patch and parasitic elements, is matched to its radiating quality factor and the couplings between patches are optimised for broadband impedance bandwidth with filtering response. Prototype hardware is designed and fabricated on Kappa 438 substrate with a relative permittivity of 4.4 and thickness of 3.2 mm. The antenna exhibits a total size of 25 × 23 × 3.2 mm 3 with relative impedance bandwidth (voltage standing wave ratio<;2) of 60% ranging from 4.4 to 7.8 GHz. The experimental results demonstrate good performance with nearly flat gain and good filtering response. The proposed filtering antenna exhibits low pulse distortion in time domain which makes it a good candidate for location-aware Internet-of-things applications employing the IEEE 802.15.4 ultra-wideband standard. Switchable sector base-station antenna system is studied to demonstrate the capability of this design to enhance the localisation and communication performance of the wireless network

Factors affecting survival in Mediterranean populations of the Eurasian eagle owl

The survival rate is a key parameter for population management and the monitoring of populations. Thus, an analysis of survival rate variations and the factors influencing the same is essential for understanding population dynamics. Here, we study the factors determining the survival and the causes of mortality of the Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo) in two Spanish Mediterranean populations (Murcia and Seville) where the species has a high population density and breeding success; yet its survival rates and the factors that affect them are unknown. Between 2003 and 2010, 63 breeding owls were captured and radio-tracked. Three monthly (quarterly) survival rates were estimated using known-fate models in the program MARK. The mean overall annual survival rate was 0.776 (95 % CI: 0.677, 0.875). We observed survival differences between sexes, and between the breeding and non-breeding periods, although no overwhelming support was found for any particular model. We concluded that (i) females have a lower survival rate than males, probably due to their larger home ranges, which increase the risk of mortality; (ii) the survival rates of both sexes were lower during the non-breeding period; and (iii) the causes of mortality differed significantly between the two populations, gunshot being the main cause in Seville and electrocution in Murcia.Peer Reviewe

Benthic and Hyporheic Macroinvertebrate Distribution Within the Heads and Tails of Riffles During Baseflow Conditions

The distribution of lotic fauna is widely acknowledged to be patchy reflecting the interaction between biotic and abiotic factors. In an in-situ field study, the distribution of benthic and hyporheic invertebrates in the heads (downwelling) and tails (upwelling) of riffles were examined during stable baseflow conditions. Riffle heads were found to contain a greater proportion of interstitial fine sediment than riffle tails. Significant differences in the composition of benthic communities were associated with the amount of fine sediment. Riffle tail habitats supported a greater abundance and diversity of invertebrates sensitive to fine sediment such as EPT taxa. Shredder feeding taxa were more abundant in riffle heads suggesting greater availability of organic matter. In contrast, no significant differences in the hyporheic community were recorded between riffle heads and tails. We hypothesise that clogging of hyporheic interstices with fine sediments may have resulted in the homogenization of the invertebrate community by limiting faunal movement into the hyporheic zone at both the riffle head and tail. The results suggest that vertical hydrological exchange significantly influences the distribution of fine sediment and macroinvertebrate communities at the riffle scale