Investigating the impact of combining handwritten signature and keyboard keystroke dynamics for gender prediction

© 2019 IEEE. The use of soft-biometric data as an auxiliary tool on user identification is already well known. Gender, handorientation and emotional state are some examples which can be called soft-biometrics. These soft-biometric data can be predicted directly from the biometric templates. It is very common to find researches using physiological modalities for soft-biometric prediction, but behavioural biometric is often not well explored for this context. Among the behavioural biometric modalities, keystroke dynamics and handwriting signature have been widely explored for user identification, including some soft-biometric predictions. However, in these modalities, the soft-biometric prediction is usually done in an individual way. In order to fill this space, this study aims to investigate whether the combination of those two biometric modalities can impact the performance of a soft-biometric data, gender prediction. The main aim is to assess the impact of combining data from two different biometric sources in gender prediction. Our findings indicated gains in terms of performance for gender prediction when combining these two biometric modalities, when compared to the individual ones

Coexistência de duas espécies exóticas de lagostins (Pacifastacus leniusculus e Procambarus clarkii) na bacia hidrográfica do rio Sabor (NE Portugal)

Em Portugal existia uma única espécie europeia de lagostim de água doce, Austropotamobius pallipes, o lagostim-de-patas-brancas, que se considera actualmente extinta no país. No nordeste de Portugal continental onde anteriormente ocorria esta espécie, os cursos de água estão actualmente a ser colonizados por duas espécies de lagostins norte americanos. Na década de 70, proveniente de Espanha onde foi intencionalmente introduzido, o lagostim-vermelho-da-Luisiana, Procambarus clarkii, colonizou rapidamente os rios do sul de Portugal, propagando-se depois por todas as massas hídricas do país. Em 1994, as autoridades espanholas introduziram uma outra espécie, o lagostim sinal, Pacifastacus leniusculus, na província de Zamora, que foi detectada em Portugal, no rio Maçãs (Bacia do Sabor) três anos depois. A propagação e evolução das populações destas espécies no rio Maçãs têm sido seguidas anualmente desde 2000. P. clarkii, espécie sub-tropical, nunca atingiu neste curso abundâncias muito elevados. Pelo contrário, P. leniusculus, espécie de águas mais frias, apresenta valores mais elevados, cerca de seis vezes superiores aos de P.clarkii. O lagostim sinal encontra-se bem adaptado, continuando a sua expansão neste rio e prevendo-se que venha a colonizar outras massas hídricas adjacentes. A expansão do lagostim vermelho de jusante para montante parece ser menos efectiva, não tendo, desde 2005, sido observado em novos locais deste rio. A coexistência das duas espécies verifica-se actualmente num troço fluvial de cerca de 45 km de extensão, apesar das diferenças notórias ao nível das características dos seus habitats

Dispersal and coexistence of two non-native crayfish species (Pacifastacus leniusculus and Procambarus clarkii ) in NE Portugal over a 10-year period

NE Portugal is one of the most isolated and low populated regions of Western Europe. Recently, two American crayfish species reached this area: signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus coming from Spain and red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii in its northward expansion. The dispersion of both species was followed throughout the last decade in river Maçãs (Douro catchment). Our results support the hypothesis of faster downstream colonisation. The mean spread rate of signal crayfish was faster for the downstream expansion, 2.8 km·yr-1, while the upstream rate was 1.7 km·yr-1. Exceptionally, in one period, the rate of spread reached 6.7 km·yr-1, which was apparently caused by downstream washing in extreme conditions of flow. The mean rate of spread is higher than the observed in other studies which may also be related to the low current velocity of late spring and summer that provides favourable conditions for a fast upstream colonisation. Coexistence of signal and red swamp crayfish was detected in a large river sector. Signal crayfish strongly dominates in the upper and intermediate sectors which are the colder part of the river and in the lower sectors, species abundances are not significantly different. Winter temperature in the higher altitude reaches seems to moderate the competitive abilities of P. clarkii

European joint action sobre prevenção de doenças crónicas e promoção do envelhecimento saudável (JA-CHRODIS)

Os relatórios de todos os países envolvidos, incluindo o relatório de Portugal elaborado pelo INSA em colaboração com a DGS e a APDP desenvolvidos no primeiro ano de execução do projeto foram apresentados em Bruxelas dia 19 e 20 de fevereiro e encontram-se disponíveis no website da JA-CHRODIS. Este relatório português reúne informação sobre o cenário e o estado atual da promoção da saúde e prevenção das doenças crónicas em Portugal no que respeita à sua implementação a nível nacional, regional ou local

Colonization and dispersal rates of two non-native crayfish species (Pacifastacus leniusculus and Procambarus clarkii) in NE Portugal

In Europe, a generalized regression of the native crayfish was observed during the past decades. Simultaneously, several non-native species spread in most countries. In Portugal, the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, is now occurring in most inland waters. The NE Portugal is one of the most isolated and low populated regions of Western Europe. Most rivers in these region present low levels of human impact and some are actually pristine. Recently, two American crayfish species reached the area: signal crayfish (Pacfastacus leniusculus) coming from Spain and red swamp crayfish. The isolation and the natural conditions of these rivers make them particularly valuable for the study of crayfish colonization and spreading. The colonization by both species was followed throughout the last decade in the Maçãs river (Douro catchment). Sampling was undertaken every year with baited traps. The average dispersal rate of signal crayfish was approximately 2 km/year, although a great variability among sectors was observed. Coexistence of signal and red swamp crayfish was detected in a large part of the river system. Signal crayfish developed well adapted and persistent populations. The lower abundance of red swamp crayfish is apparently caused by the low winter temperatures

Movement and interaction of two exotic crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus and Procambarus clarkii) using PIT telemetry in experimental conditions

The coexistence of two exotic crayfish species (Procambarus clarkii and Pacifastacus leniusculus) was observed in a stretch of Rio Maçãs (Douro basin, Northeast of Portugal). The red swamp crayfish, P. clarkii, a sub-tropical species, was first detected in 1979 in Rio Caia (Alentejo) and from there rapidly spread through most freshwater bodies. This species is extremely resistant to severe climatic conditions, living in such contrasting environments as South or Northeast streams of Portugal. The signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, a cold-water crayfish recently reached Portuguese waters and is now spreading in Rio Maçãs. To characterise movements, activity patterns and interactions of both species an experiment was developed in a confined area using PIT telemetry equipment with a multi-point decoder unit connected to eight circular panel antennae. Data were collected from sympatric tagged populations monitored during several days, to detect interactions between individuals during night and day

Phenolic Acids, Phenolic Aldehydes and Furanic Derivatives in Oak Chips: American vs. French Oaks

Phenolic acids (gallic, vanillic, syringic and ellagic acids), phenolic aldehydes (vanillin, syringaldehyde,coniferaldehyde and sinapaldehyde) and furanic derivatives (furfural, 5-methylfurfural and5-hydroxymethylfurfural) were quantified in commercial American and French oak chips. Chips withdifferent sizes and toast degrees were used. Compounds were extracted directly from the wood samples inorder to determine possible differences among woods as well as toast degree. Likewise, the compounds wereextracted from a synthetic wine solution to which the chip woods had been added. The results show thatFrench wood chips are generally richer than the American ones. The total amount of phenolic compoundsincreases with toasting level, with the non-toasted chips being the poorest ones. The degree of extractionfrom the synthetic wine solution seems to be related to the shape of the chips, rather than to the wood typeor toast degree