Seasonal differences in migration patterns of a soaring bird in relation to environmental conditions: a multi-scale approach

Many studies suggest that migratory birds are expected to travel more quickly during spring, when they are en route to the breeding grounds, in order to ensure a high-quality territory. Using data recorded by means of Global Positioning System satellite tags, we analysed at three temporal scales (hourly, daily and overall journey) seasonal differences in migratory performance of the booted eagle (Aquila pennata), a soaring raptor migrating between Europe and tropical Africa, taking into account environmental conditions such as wind, thermal uplift and day length. Unexpectedly, booted eagles showed higher travel rates (hourly speed, daily distance, overall migration speed and overall straightness) during autumn, even controlling for abiotic factors, probably thanks to higher hourly speeds, more straight routes and less non-travelling days during autumn. Tailwinds were the main environmental factor affecting daily distance. During spring, booted eagles migrated more quickly when flying over the Sahara desert. Our results raise new questions about which ecological and behavioural reasons promote such unexpected faster speeds in autumn and not during spring and how events occurring in very different regions can affect migratory performance, interacting with landscape characteristics, weather conditions and flight behaviour.

An introduction to alysidal algebra (V): phenomenological components

Purpose – This paper aims to refer to a subjective approach to a type of complex system: human ecosystems, referred to as deontical impure systems (DIS) to capture a set of properties fundamental to the distinction between human and natural ecosystems. There are four main phenomenological components: directionality, intensity, connection energy and volume. The paper establishes thermodynamics of deontical systems based on the Law of Zipf and the temperature of information. Design/methodology/approach – Mathematical and logical development of human society structure. Findings – A fundamental question in this approach to DIS is the intensity or forces of a relation. Concepts are introduced as the system volume and propose a system thermodynamic theory. It hints at the possibility of adapting the fractal theory by introducing the fractal dimension of the system. Originality/value – This paper is a continuation of other previous papers and developing the theory of DIS.

The current challenges of Color Physics and Chemistry

Day of Chemistry, Invited conference, San Alberto Magno 2014

Question answering and multi-search engines in geo-temporal information retrieval

In this paper we present a complete system for the treatment of both geographical and temporal dimensions in text and its application to information retrieval. This system has been evaluated in both the GeoTime task of the 8th and 9th NTCIR workshop in the years 2010 and 2011 respectively, making it possible to compare the system to contemporary approaches to the topic. In order to participate in this task we have added the temporal dimension to our GIR system. The system proposed here has a modular architecture in order to add or modify features. In the development of this system, we have followed a QA-based approach as well as multi-search engines to improve the system performance.