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The avian scavenger raptors guild of Patagonia, the southernmost region of South America (3756[degrees]S), comprises 3 species of obligate scavengers and 7 species of facultative scavengers. Despite the species richness, there is little information about the anthropogenic threats this guild might face. Here, based on 164 h of observations and photographic records across 3 austral winters, we reveal a broad range of lesions (missing legs, digits or talons, fractures, luxations, pododermatitis, necrosis, hyperkeratosis, and beak and ocular lesions) and mortalities among scavenger raptors in Argentine Patagonia at 2 anthropogenic food-rich sites located 1,750 km apart at 38[degrees] and 54[degrees] S. Wc photographed 146 individuals with 174 physical lesions and found 61 dead individuals, including one obligate scavenger species (Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus) and 4 facultative scavenger species (Crested Carneara, Caracara plancus; Chimango Caracara, Daptrius chimango; White-throated Caracara, D. albogularis; and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Geranoaetus melanoleucus). Ninety percent of the lesions we recorded on the individuals were located on their hindlimbs. None of the carcasses we found exhibited any apparent lesions. The precise nature and origins of these lesions and mortalities remain uncertain. However, the hindlimb lesions align with the effects of leg-hold traps, while poisoning emerges as the most likely cause of mortality among individuals foraging at these anthropogenic food-rich sites. These findings suggest a notable human-induced threat to the avian scavenger raptors guild in Patagonia. Received 3 February 2024. Accepted 19 June 2024. Key words: Black-chested Buzzard Eagle, Black Vulture, carnearas, field-photography, hindlimbs, leg-hold traps. (Spanish)--El gremio de rapaces carroneras de la Patagonia, la region mas austral de Sudamerica (37-56[degrees] S), comprende 3 especies de carroneros obligatorios y 7 especies de carroneros facultativos. A pesar de la riqueza especifica, hay poca informacion sobre las amenazas antropogenicas que este gremio podria enfrentar. Basandonos en 164 h de observaciones y registros fotograficos a lo largo de tres inviernos australes, revelamos una amplia gama de lesiones (amputacion de patas, dedos o garras, fracturas, luxaciones, pododermatitis, necrosis, hiperqueratosis, y lesiones oculares y del pico) y mortalidades de rapaces carroneras en la Patagonia argentina en dos sitios de recursos alimentarios antropogenicos ubicadas a 1750 km de distancia a 38[degrees] y 54[degrees] S. Fotografiamos 146 individuos con 174 lesiones y encontramos 61 individuos muertos, incluyendo una especie carronera obligada (Coragyps atratus) y cuatro especies carroneras facultativas (Caracara planeas, Daptrius chimango, D. albogularis y Geranoaetus melanoleucus). El 90% de las lesiones que registramos en los individuos se encontraban en sus patas. Ninguno de los especimenes muertos que encontramos presentaba lesiones aparentes. La naturaleza precisa y el origen de estas lesiones y mortalidades son inciertos. Sin embargo, las lesiones en las patas concuerdan con los efectos de las trampas de zorros, y el envenenamiento emerge como la causa mas probable de mortalidad en los individuos que forrajean en estos sitios de recursos alimentarios antropogenicos. Estos hallazgos sugieren una notable amenaza de origen antropico para el gremio de rapaces carroneras en la Patagonia. Palabras clave: caracaras, Coragyps atratus, extremidades posteriores, fotografia de campo, Geranoaetus melanoleucus, trampas para zorros., Scavenging, a common foraging strategy in avian species, serves as an essential function in the ecosystem as scavengers consume a diverse set of organic waste, helping to reduce bacteria and [...]

The software requirement selection problem endeavors to ascertain the optimal set of software requirements with the dual objectives of minimizing software cost and maximizing customer satisfaction. The intricate nature of this problem stems from the interdependencies among individual software requirements, rendering it a complicated NP-hard problem. In this paper, we introduce a novel multi-objective optimization algorithm christened the Quantum -Inspired Multi-Objective African Vulture Optimization Algorithm with Hierarchical Structures (QMO_HSAVOA), where hierarchical structure and in-quantum computation ideas are introduced to improve the performance of the algorithm in QMO_HSAVOA. To gauge the efficacy of QMO_HSAVOA in tackling the software requirement selection problem, we empirically apply it to the problem, orchestrating three distinct simulation experiments. The ensuing evaluation of QMO_HSAVOA's performance is conducted with meticulous scrutiny through the application of Friedman's statistical test to the experimental outcomes. These results decisively demonstrate that the proposed QMO_HSAVOA not only delivers exceptionally competitive outcomes but also outshines alternative algorithms. This finding provision is an innovative and highly efficient solution for addressing the software requirement selection problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the spatial–social interface requires tools that distinguish between social and spatial drivers of interactions. Testing hypotheses about the factors determining animal interactions often involves comparing observed interactions with reference or 'null' models. One approach to accounting for spatial drivers of social interactions in reference models is randomizing animal movement paths to decouple spatial and social phenotypes while maintaining environmental effects on movements. Here, we update a reference model that detects social attraction above the effect of spatial constraints. We explore the use of our 'wrap-around' method and compare its performance to the previous approach using agent-based simulations. The wrap-around method provides reference models that are more similar to the original tracking data, while still distinguishing between social and spatial drivers. Furthermore, the wrap-around approach results in fewer false-positives than its predecessor, especially when animals do not return to one place each night but change movement foci, either locally or directionally. Finally, we show that interactions among GPS-tracked griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) emerge from social attraction rather than from spatial constraints on their movements. We conclude by highlighting the biological situations in which the updated method might be most suitable for testing hypotheses about the underlying causes of social interactions. This article is part of the theme issue 'The spatial–social interface: a theoretical and empirical integration'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wireless communication, the shortage of bandwidth has motivated the investigation and study of the wireless access technology called massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO). In multi-tier heterogeneous Fifth Generation (5G) networks, energy efficiency is a severe concern as the power utilization of macro base stations' is comparatively higher and proportional to their traffic load. In this paper, a novel African Vulture Shepherd Optimization Algorithm (AVSOA) is established that relies on macro cells and small cell system load information to determine the highly energy-efficient traffic offloading system. The proposed AVSOA model is a combination of the African Vulture Optimization Algorithm (AVOA) and the Shuffled Shepherd Optimization Algorithm (SSOA). The system load is predicted here by exploiting a Deep Quantum Neural Network (DQNN) algorithm to perform the conditional traffic offloading in that every macro-Base Station (BS) conjectures the offloading systems of other macro cells. The experimental evaluation of the adopted model is contrasted with the conventional models considering the energy efficiency, spectral efficiency, throughput, and system load. Finally, the performance analysis of the proposed model achieved better energy efficiency, spectral efficiency, and throughput of 0.250598, 0.184527, and 0.820354 Mbps and a minimum system load of 697. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific evidence has documented we are undergoing a mass extinction of species, caused by human activity. However, allocating conservation resources is difficult due to scarce evidence on damages from losing individual species. This paper studies the collapse of vultures in India, triggered by the expiry of a patent on a painkiller. Our results suggest the functional extinction of vultures—efficient scavengers that removed carcasses from the environment—increased human mortality by over 4 percent because of a large negative shock to sanitation. We quantify damages at $69.4 billion per year. These results suggest high returns to conserving keystone species such as vultures. (JEL I12, O13, O15, Q53, Q57, Q58) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the conservation measures of the globally near-threatened cinereous vulture is restoring populations via translocations, with some vultures originating from breeding centers. These centers need to have reproductive success, and securing good welfare levels should be a priority due to the negative implications a compromised welfare has on reproduction. Thus, assessing welfare in breeding centers is essential. Remote methods should be preferred, such as behavior analysis and use of space using camera systems. The study’s first objective was to develop an activity budget that could be used as a baseline for detecting behavior irregularities. The second was to determine if behavior analysis and use of space could detect potential welfare issues in a breeding center. The study developed an activity budget that could be used as a standard for behavior analysis for the captive population. Behavior irregularities were detected, and the potential need to improve the enclosure and its surroundings were noticed. Altogether, the proposed methodology and results will contribute to the detection of possible welfare issues in breeding centers and, consequently, improve reproductive success and species’ conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vultures play a crucial role in scavenging communities as apex scavengers. Scavenging communities in turn are a key component of terrestrial ecosystems, ensuring that dead biomass is removed quickly and efficiently. Anthropogenic disturbances, particularly mass poisonings, have caused crashes in vulture populations in Africa and Asia. We ask if vultures can re‐establish themselves in a scavenging community from a point of near extirpation. To allow for maximum knowledge transfer across ecosystems, we focus on an ecosystem that is otherwise considered pristine. We chose Kruger National Park (KNP), a well‐documented African scavenging community, as our focal ecosystem and parameterised a mathematical model of scavenging‐community dynamics using field data from the park. We predicted the upper limit of vulture population size in an ecosystem like KNP. We then analysed vultures' path to recovery, using this empirically parameterised scavenging‐community model. We used perturbation methods to determine how parameter values that may be specific to KNP influence our predictions. Comparisons of predicted vulture carrying capacity with recent population estimates suggest that the cumulative effect of human activities on vulture abundance is larger than previously believed. Our analysis shows that vulture populations can reach their carrying capacity approximately five decades after a poisoning event that would almost extirpate the population. Over shorter time scales, we predict a decade of enhanced mammal abundance (i.e. mesoscavenger release) before the mammals are excluded from the scavenging community. In our study system, jackals and hyenas are the mammalian groups predicted to benefit from the absence of vultures. However, neither group removes biomass as efficiently as vultures and animal carcasses are predicted to accumulate in the ecosystem while the vulture population recovers. In our framework, the carrying capacity for vulture populations is determined by carcass availability. As evidence for an alternative regulating factor is lacking, we conclude that present‐day vulture population densities are orders of magnitude below their upper limits. Our results therefore suggest that with a recovery plan in place, the long‐term prospects for vulture species and the associated ecosystems are positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free ranging-dogs are being recognized as a potential threat for native wildlife around the globe. They interact with native wildlife at multiple levels, ranging from predation, competition, acting as a reservoir for diseases and hybridization with the native carnivores. We have recorded cases that focus on interactions of dogs with wildlife in and around Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR). Between 2017–2020, we collected data on free-ranging dogs interacting with native wildlife of RTR. We classified the interactions into two categories: resource acquisition and predation. Based on our results we propose that dogs in rural settings around wildlife reserves can cause more resource competition for the existing carnivore scavenging guild resulting in reduced biomass consumption for the native scavengers. When present in large numbers, they can have a negative interaction with native wildlife through predation and harassment. To understand how dogs can pose threats to the native wildlife, there is a need for an extensive study on the ecology of dogs around wildlife reserves, pertaining to their feeding ecology and their raging behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the movements and mortality of individuals across different life stages is crucial for the effective conservation of wild populations. We used data from 32 Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) tagged with GPS transmitters as nestlings in three Iberian breeding areas to study their dependence period, migration routes, movements in Africa, and mortality at each stage. Our results show no significant differences in the timing of nest departure or the duration of the dependence period between individuals of different sexes or breeding nuclei. Most juveniles migrated to sub‐Saharan Africa in their first year, but some (3 of 32, 9.4%) remained in the Iberian Peninsula. Individuals that migrated to Africa did so annually, while those remaining in Iberia never migrated to the Sahel, indicating distinct migratory and non‐migratory strategies. Non‐migratory individuals consistently moved northward during the breeding season to their natal territories. Siblings did not coordinate their migration strategy or timing. All juveniles showed extensive overlap in the vast areas used in Africa, where females arrived before males, and in the Iberian Peninsula. Our study also revealed that no juveniles died immediately after fledging, but that none of the tagged individuals lived more than 7 years or were recruited as breeders. Although most casualties occurred during the longer stay in the Sahel, the mortality rate was highest during the few days of the first migration. Our results show that despite small variations in movement patterns between breeding nuclei and sexes, Egyptian vultures face similar challenges during the years before recruitment as breeders, mostly determined by their migratory strategy. These findings are relevant for designing conservation strategies, both in breeding areas and, more importantly, in wintering areas and along migration pathways. Such strategies will significantly impact the entire Iberian population of this endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile devices are pervasive in today's world, and the ability to create ad-hoc networks among these devices enables increased connectivity. Peer-to-peer (P2P) Mobile Ad-hoc Network (P2P MANET) offer flexibility and scalability. Devices can join or leave the network seamlessly, and the network can adapt to changing conditions. This makes them suitable for scenarios with varying numbers of devices or where the network topology changes frequently. Moreover, the P2P network is a robust, fault-tolerant, and distributed network for sharing the resources like CPU, memory, files, etc. However, solid mobility, malicious behavior and short wireless transmission range more risk to searching the mobile P2P network resources. In this paper, a novel Vulture-based Deep Belief Model (VbDBM) is designed to enhance the performance of resource search in a mobile P2P network. Also, it will neglect the attacks and errors are presented during the transmission stage. In addition, the VbDBM framework is implemented in the NS-2 tool, and there are nine nodes created for resource search. Initially, the developed technique analyzes the user needs and identifies the neighboring peer of the user location with the help of vulture fitness. At next, the proposed technique provides the resource to the volunteer node (neighboring peer). Finally, the volunteer node offers the resource to the user. The attained performance metrics of developed VbDBM are compared with other existing techniques in terms of search rate, simulation time, data transfer rate, number of Data, and throughput. From the comparison proposed algorithm has improves 350 kbps throughput and 28% search rate respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culture is formed by knowledge, so that, the episteme defines ontology. The universality of modernity defines the existence of the colonized with promises of development and salvation. This is with an imperial undertone to foster the cultural violence of coloniality in the postcolonies. This paper is an evaluation of epistemic politics and the emergence of the pluriverse in Ola Rotimi's Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again and Emeka Nwabueze's A Parliament of Vultures. These plays from our review of related literature are dominated by studies on satire, gender relations, and political imaging of present-day Nigeria. From a decolonial perspective, our study engages modernity as an agent of coloniality in these selected plays. The paper argues that coloniality employs the rhetoric of modernity in transforming knowledge, power, and being as its strategy of encroachment. Therefore, delinking knowledge, power, and being are examined as decolonial motifs for a pluriversal ontology. Pluriversality however, emerges in place of universality as an ontological order marked with alternatives to modernity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compressive strength of concrete depends on various factors. Since these parameters can be in a relatively wide range, it is difficult for predicting the behavior of concrete. Therefore, to solve this problem, an advanced modeling is needed. The aim of the literature is to achieve an ideal and flexible solution for predicting the behavior of concrete. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new approaches. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have evolved from a theoretical method to a widely utilized technology by successful applications for a variety of issues. Actually, ANNs are a strong computing tool that provides the right solutions to problems that are difficult to use conventional methods. Inspired by the biological neural system, these networks are now widely used for solving a wide range of complicated problems in civil engineering. This study"s target is evaluating the performance of developed African vulture optimization algorithm (DAVOA)-Elman neural networks (ENNs) by considering different input parameters in predicting the self-compacting concrete compressive strength. Hence, once 8 parameters and again to get as close as possible to the prediction conditions in the laboratory, 140 parameters entered to the improved version of Elman Neural Networks as input. According to the results, the element network has the lowest mean squares of the test error in predicting the compressive strength of 7 and 28 days in 100 repetitions. Further, in predicting both compressive strengths, the element grid with the Logsig-Purelin interlayer transfer function has the lowest test error, which determines the optimal transfer function. Moreover, the results showed that DAVOA as a reliable tool with time and cost savings have high power in predicting the desired characteristics. Also, in predicting both 7-day and 28-day compressive strength, networks built with 140 parameters have a 74.54 and 70.44% improvement in test error over 8-parameter networks, respectively, which directly affects this effect. Further parameters are considered as input to the network error rate in predicting the desired properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the current biodiversity crisis, understanding how animals move across a landscape dotted with different anthropogenic threats and the consequences of those threats for animals is paramount to devising evidence‐based conservation interventions. Vultures roam across large areas and are highly exposed to poisoning, which represents a particularly damaging form of wildlife crime. In this study, we introduce a framework for quantifying the exposure to threats and illustrate an example of poisoning risk as a threat in an endangered African vulture species, the Lappet‐faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). We combined GPS tracking data of 19 individuals collected between 2012 and 2022 with food availability and spatial threat maps of both intentional (poachers directly targeting vultures) and unintentional (farmers aiming to kill carnivores, with vultures being secondarily affected) poisoning across most of Southern Africa. We identified poisoning hotspots in northern Botswana and south‐eastern Namibia. These areas were also associated with a high number of vulture mortalities, providing additional support for poisoning risk. Northern Botswana and areas at the border between Botswana and South Africa were characterized by high food availability, potentially amplifying the mortality rate by attracting vultures from surrounding areas. Our results offer valuable insights for regional vulture conservation, together with a methodological framework for quantifying and mapping the spatial exposure to threats for mobile species of conservation concern, enabling improved targeting of conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scavenging is critical for nutrient cycling and maintenance of healthy ecosystems. While there is substantial research into the identification of taphonomic signatures from facultative mammalian scavengers, early stage scavenging signatures by vultures remain unknown. Further, some vulture species are opportunistic predators, highlighting the need to define signatures observed in the course of normal scavenging behavior. We placed stillborn neonatal calves in an unoccupied pasture and used motion-trigger camera traps to quantify scavenging effort, then conducted necropsies to evaluate the effect of black vulture (Coragyps atratus) and turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) scavenging effort on carcass consumption. We measured the order of consumption of different tissue types to delineate which anatomic structures vultures consume first. Scavenging trials with higher numbers of vultures feeding on the carcass for longer were associated with decreased remaining tongue and abdominal viscera, and a larger umbilical wound. Greater maximum flock sizes were associated with decreased remaining tongue and abdominal viscera, a larger umbilical wound, and greater biomass consumption. Black vultures targeted the perineum and tongue earlier, while turkey vultures targeted the eyes, perineum, and tongue. These results are consistent with the idea that vultures prefer tissues that are easy to access and contain high nutrient content. These patterns form a distinctive taphonomic signature that can be used to identify early scavenging by black and turkey vultures. Our results demonstrate that criteria commonly used to identify livestock depredation by black vultures only document vulture presence and not predation. This distinction implies that new and more definitive criteria need to be developed and put into practice for more accurate decision criteria in livestock depredation compensation programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an improved African vulture optimization algorithm (IROAVOA), which integrates the random opposition-based learning strategy and disturbance factor to solve problems such as the relatively weak global search capability and the poor ability to balance exploration and exploitation stages. IROAVOA is divided into two parts. Firstly, the random opposition-based learning strategy is introduced in the population initialization stage to improve the diversity of the population, enabling the algorithm to more comprehensively explore the potential solution space and improve the convergence speed of the algorithm. Secondly, the disturbance factor is introduced at the exploration stage to increase the randomness of the algorithm, effectively avoiding falling into the local optimal solution and allowing a better balance of the exploration and exploitation stages. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, comprehensive testing was conducted using the 23 benchmark test functions, the CEC2019 test suite, and two engineering optimization problems. The algorithm was compared with seven state-of-the-art metaheuristic algorithms in benchmark test experiments and compared with five algorithms in engineering optimization experiments. The experimental results indicate that IROAVOA achieved better mean and optimal values in all test functions and achieved significant improvement in convergence speed. It can also solve engineering optimization problems better than the other five algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase of wind turbine installations to limit climate change may affect bird populations because of collisions with rotor blades. Birds may respond to wind turbine presence along a gradient of behavioral changes: avoiding the wind farm (macro-scale) or the wind turbines either by anticipating wind turbine locations (meso-scale) or engaging in last-minute flee attempts (micro-scale). We investigated flight responses of 25 adult Gyps fulvus (Griffon Vulture) equipped with GPS tags over 3 years in an area that included 10 wind farms in Causses, France. At the macro-scale, foraging range and habitat use revealed that G. fulvus did not avoid wind farms. To investigate avoidance at meso- and micro-scales, we focused on the 4 most visited wind farms. We compared vulture flights to null movement models, which allowed us to keep the correlation between flights and topography while creating movement independent of wind turbine locations. At most sites, G. fulvus did not show avoidance behavior. Overall, our results suggest wind farm-specific responses by soaring birds as a function of landscape topography. Thus, to reduce collision risks, stakeholders should first avoid constructing wind farms close to vulture nesting colonies. When siting, developers should investigate G. fulvus use of local topography to avoid areas in which birds are likely to travel. Finally, managers must prioritize the detection of species not able to avoid turbines when designing preventive measures, such as switching off on-demand technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many vulture populations have severely declined in the past decades, showing high juvenile mortality. To support these populations, feeding stations are used to increase food availability and to supply food without antibiotics and toxic compounds. Yet, supplying food at feeding stations may affect vulture behavior. We present a large-scale field experiment testing how different food provision schemes affected the movement of Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus). We used GPS transmitters harnessed to 18 vulture chicks and described their movements post-fledging. We categorized the vultures into 3 groups according to the feeding scheme used at feeding stations near their nests: frequent and spatially dispersed food supply (FD); non-frequent and spatially dispersed food supply (NFD); and frequent food supply, concentrated in one location (FC). We found that birds from all three groups increased their roosting distances from the nest with fledgling age, with the NFD and FC groups showing a greater increase than the FD group. Additionally, all 3 groups increased their daily flight distances, with the NFD group presenting the largest increase and the FD group presenting the smallest increase. Our findings offer new insights into the relevance of spatiotemporal differences in the management of feeding stations and show its effect on movement during birds' early life stages, creating 2 main movement patterns: local and regional. Our findings can help decide upon the preferable feeding scheme in a way that will either encourage or reduce the early dispersal distances of fledglings, according to long- and short-term conservation objectives. For example, local movements during the post fledging period to known and stable food resources may reduce the risk of anthropogenic-induced mortality, while it may negatively affect long-term survival by hindering foraging, flight, and exploring skills and affect dispersion to future breeding sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critically endangered Hooded Vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus Temminck, 1823), like many vulture species globally, are experiencing rapid population declines due to anthropogenic factors such as poisonings, human persecution, trading for belief-based use, and habitat loss/degradation. The Hooded Vulture is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa. Although it is considered one of the most abundant vultures in West Africa, this vulture species is less common in East and southern Africa, with the population at the southern-most edge of the distribution (in South Africa and Eswatini) estimated at only 100–200 mature individuals. The distribution of Hooded Vultures has contracted dramatically in southern Africa, with breeding populations largely confined to protected areas such as the Greater Kruger National Park. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of the southern African range-edge population and assess if the recent contraction in the distribution has resulted in the population experiencing a genetic bottleneck. Sixteen microsatellite loci were amplified for samples collected along the Olifants River in the Greater Kruger National Park (n = 30). The genetic diversity in the South African population was compared to samples (n = 30) collected in Ghana, where Hooded Vultures are more abundant. Contrary to expectations, the South African peripheral Hooded Vulture population showed higher levels of heterozygosity (HO = 0.495) than the Ghanaian population (HO = 0.315). Neither population showed signs of recent bottleneck events when tested using demographic modelling and Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC). However, both populations showed high levels of inbreeding and relatedness. Our results suggest that despite being a small peripheral population, the South African Hooded Vulture population showed a similar level of genetic diversity as individuals sampled from a core population within the species distribution (in Ghana). This study supports the need for Hooded Vulture conservation efforts in the southern African region and highlights the evolutionary importance of range-edge populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prediction of the containerized freight index has important economic and social significance. Previous research has mostly applied sub-predictors directly for integration, which cannot be optimized for different datasets. To fill this research gap and improve prediction accuracy, this study innovatively proposes a new prediction model based on adaptive model selection and multi-objective ensemble to predict the containerized freight index. The proposed model comprises the following four modules: adaptive data preprocessing, model library, adaptive model selection, and multi-objective ensemble. Specifically, an adaptive data preprocessing module is established based on a novel modal decomposition technology that can effectively reduce the impact of perturbations in historical data on the prediction model. Second, a new model library is constructed to predict the subseries, consisting of four basic predictors. Then, the adaptive model selection module is established based on Lasso feature selection to choose valid predictors for subseries. For the subseries, different predictors can produce different effects; thus, to obtain better prediction results, the weights of each predictor must be reconsidered. Therefore, a multi-objective artificial vulture optimization algorithm is introduced into the multi-objective ensemble module, which can effectively improve the accuracy and stability of the prediction model. In addition, an important discovery is that the proposed model can acquire different models, adaptively varying with different extracted data features in various datasets, and it is common for multiple models or no model to be selected for the subseries.The proposed model demonstrates superior forecasting performance in the real freight market, achieving average MAE, RMSE, MAPE, IA, and TIC values of 9.55567, 11.29675, 0.44222%, 0.99787, and 0.00268, respectively, across four datasets. These results indicate that the proposed model has excellent predictive ability and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoring ecological dynamics is a key objective of conservation translocations. Exemplarily, reconnecting the reintroduced alpine populations with native Pyrenean populations through re‐establishing locally extinct populations in between, in the Causses and the Pre‐Alps, is a major goal for the long‐term conservation of Bearded Vultures in Europe. Understanding Bearded Vultures' post‐release movements and foraging behavior is critical to understanding the settlement of newly restored populations and to supporting conservation measures. The telemetric monitoring of 43 translocated and wild‐born juveniles allowed us to investigate whether differences exist in post‐release movements and foraging behavior during the first year of life between reintroduced and native populations. Medium‐ and long‐distance exploration movements start during the spring following fledging for both translocated and wild‐born individuals. However, birds translocated in the most distant release site (Causses) exhibited greater exploration distances with no clear directional movement pattern, had smaller home ranges, and had a stronger preference for supplementary feeding stations than those from other populations. Although some birds translocated in the Pre‐Alps displayed similar behaviors, the pattern is not as strong as in the Causses, likely because of the proximity to the breeding populations reintroduced in the Alps or differences in the number and management of supplementary feeding stations. Preference for supplementary feeding stations (SFS) mostly occurred in the Pre‐Alps and the native populations, but was lower in the Causses. Seasonal variations in SFS preference were consistent among populations, with a peak in the first spring following fledging. Beyond documenting post‐release movements in Bearded Vultures, we suggest better accounting for the demographic consequences of behaviors to track conservation translocation effectiveness, at both local and regional scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Image captioning using deep learning find useful in various applications, including aiding visually impaired individuals, improving content indexing and retrieval, and enhancing user experiences in fields like e-commerce and entertainment. Recently, deep learning models, particularly Convolutional Neural Networks can be used for the generation of effective text descriptions of the input images. Therefore, this study designs a novel Taylor African vulture optimization algorithm with hybrid deep learning for image captioning system (TAVOHDL-ICS) technique. The purpose of the proposed technique is to exploit deep learning models for the generation of the textual image captioning of the input images. To accomplish this, the presented technique applies BERT word embedding which generates good captions of the image and understand the semantics of words. For deriving feature vectors of the input image, the Inception ResNetv2 model can be employed. Moreover, the hybrid attention bidirectional gated recurrent unit model can be utilized for the effectual generation of image captions and its hyperparameters can be tuned by the TAVO algorithm. The simulation analysis of the proposed technique can be performed on the Flickr400 dataset and the outcomes are inspected under several measures. The comparison examination demonstrated the better performance of the proposed model over other existing algorithms with METEOR, CIDEr, and Rouge-L of 33, 183, and 60. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds on a Wire is a discussion of Mustafa Çevrim’s, ”The Vulture in the Room”, a beautifully intersubjectively focused clinical paper. This discussion focuses on the bidirectional, self (therapist)regulation and self with “other” (patient and therapist) regulation. Çevrim’s elegant adherence to contemporary Self Psychological/Intersubjective Systems theory is spotlighted, as the emergent self object twinship transference highlights the dyad’s shared understandings through their co-created metaphoric use of bird imagery. Çevrim’s application of a Brandchaftian model of systems of pathological accommodation and his tracking of therapeutic rupture and repair sequences reveals a process of transformation and growth for patient and analyst. Finally, there is a consideration of the impact of what I term, the analyst’s “generative thoughts” on therapeutic process and contextualization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless Sensor Networks have been used for sensing and gathering data about an environment from a remote location for many years in a variety of engineering applications. In WSN, nodes must overcome energy consumption to function efficiently. To resolve these issues and extend the usefulness of the network, clustering and routing algorithms are promising. One of the main issues with WSNs is that they lack restricted energy sources. To overcome this issue, a Hybrid Optimized Energy-Efficient Adaptive Clustered Routing approach (HOEEACR) has been proposed for WSNs. This paper presents the Genetic Bee Colony (GBC) Algorithm for Cluster Head Selection by considering distances to neighbors, residual energy, node degrees, and node centralities. Furthermore, an optimal routing path for the cluster heads is found by utilizing the Aquila with African Vulture Optimization (AAVO) algorithm. The AAVO optimizes network performance using residual energy, node degree, and distance. The proposed HOEEACR method has been extensively tested to ensure network lifetime and energy efficiency. According to experimental results, the proposed HOEEACR method consistently outperforms existing techniques on a variety of performance metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus, a medium-sized scavenging bird, is the most-threatened bird species in Italy, with only 10–12 breeding pairs in 2019 distributed in three regions of Southern Italy. With this study, we aim to describe the first documented breeding of Egyptian vulture in Sardinia and to understand which temporal and environmental factors affected its frequentation of a supplementary feeding station. We monitored the nest used during 2019 through direct observations, and the use of the feeding station through camera traps. We fitted a Bayesian Generalised Additive Model to model the effect of the day of the year, the hour of the day, wind direction and wind speed on the presence of Egyptian vulture in a specific hourly time slot at the supplementary feeding station. The chick hatched around 5 July 2019, and it fledged around 21 September. The Egyptian vulture had two peaks of frequentation at the supplementary feeding station: a first one in June, and a second, more important one, between late August and early September. The probability of recording Egyptian vulture peaked between 10:00 and 16:00, and was affected by wind direction, with a slightly higher chance of recording Egyptian vulture when winds came from South-West, West or even North-West, and a lower chance when winds were eastward. This study marks an important step in the conservation of the Egyptian vulture in Italy; it provides an example of spontaneous colonisation, and of the increased attractiveness of the habitat for scavenging birds linked to the actions implemented within a LIFE project. To better target future conservation efforts, it is important to continue with the monitoring and to perform genetic analyses to assess the origin of the individuals. First reproduction of Egyptian vulture in Sardinia. Assessing the effect of the day of the year, the hour of the day, wind direction and wind speed on the probability of presence at a feeding station near the nest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For most animals, the microbiome is key for nutrition and pathogen defence, and is often shaped by diet. Corbiculate bees, including honey bees, bumble bees, and stingless bees, share a core microbiome that has been shaped, at least in part, by the challenges associated with pollen digestion. However, three species of stingless bees deviate from the general rule of bees obtaining their protein exclusively from pollen (obligate pollinivores) and instead consume carrion as their sole protein source (obligate necrophages) or consume both pollen and carrion (facultative necrophages). These three life histories can provide missing insights into microbiome evolution associated with extreme dietary transitions. Here, we investigate, via shotgun metagenomics, the functionality of the microbiome across three bee diet types: obligate pollinivory, obligate necrophagy, and facultative necrophagy. We find distinct differences in microbiome composition and gene functional profiles between the diet types. Obligate necrophages and pollinivores have more specialized microbes, whereas facultative necrophages have a diversity of environmental microbes associated with several dietary niches. Our study suggests that necrophagous bee microbiomes may have evolved to overcome cellular stress and microbial competition associated with carrion. We hypothesize that the microbiome evolved social phenotypes, such as biofilms, that protect the bees from opportunistic pathogens present on carcasses, allowing them to overcome novel nutritional challenges. Whether specific microbes enabled diet shifts or diet shifts occurred first and microbial evolution followed requires further research to disentangle. Nonetheless, we find that necrophagous microbiomes, vertebrate and invertebrate alike, have functional commonalities regardless of their taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations of African vulture species (Gyps rueppelli and Gyps africanus) in Iberia have increased in recent years, probably anticipating a process of progressive colonization. Thus, it is fundamental to analyze the movement ecology of those species using GPS-tracking devices. Here, we tracked an immature White-backed Vulture (G.africanus) for the first time in Europe and analyze the dispersal patterns within Iberia, including wandering movements and settlement areas, seasonal differences, habitat use and spatial overlap with other Iberian vulture species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rüppell's Vulture, formerly restricted to a strictly African distribution, has recently been classified as a Critically Endangered species worldwide. However, in recent decades, observations of the species in Europe, particularly in the south of Spain, have been on the rise. In this study, we conduct a diagnosis of the situation of this species in southern Europe through the analysis of the Sahel Precipitation Index (SPI) and Griffon Vulture autumn migration counts as quantitative measures, with the aim of identifying possible drivers of these changes and population trends. The analyses demonstrated that a number of Griffon Vultures during autumn passage through the Strait of Gibraltar, together with Sahel precipitation anomalies from the previous year, are the best predictors of the number of Rüppell's Vultures during autumn passage through the same strait in the following year, explaining 68.7% of the variance. The proportion of Griffon Vultures in the Sahel has markedly increased as populations of other vultures have declined. Under these circumstances, it seems more than likely that Rüppell's Vultures would be prone to moving to Europe, following Griffon Vultures. This effect has also been favored by increases in number of raining days and floods in the Sahel due to climate change, which can lead to escapes of Rüppell's Vultures outside their usual ranges. Under these circumstances, it appears likely that the Rüppell's Vulture will soon become a new species among European vultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vultures are potent scavenges of forest ecosystem. Their food preference includes carcasses of mammals and farm livestock animals, like other raptors they are not true hunters instead they depends on hunters kill. They are top members in food chain making ecosystem neat and clean from the dreadful pathogens spreading diseases among mammals, thus helps to maintain ecological balance of the existing ecosystem. In India there is existence of nine vulture species, prominently among them Himalayan Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Slender billed Vulture, Red-Headed Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Bearded Vulture, Eurasian Griffon and White-rumped Vulture. As per IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature White-rumped Vulture is categorized as Critically Endangered. Henceforth proper conservation measure is need of time. During survey in Kanha National Park, we found nesting of White-rumped Vulture at the tallest Saal Tree serving as best habitat within reserved forest area. Our study helps conservators to understand the habitat ecology and conservation tactics for future management to conserve them in natural habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the influence of public information sharing on foraging strategies is of growing interest, empirical studies exploring intraguild social information use and facilitation roles between individuals with different trophic specializations remain scarce. Heterospecific facilitation should be more common in specialist foragers, for example, the bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus, a solitary bone‐eating scavenger. We monitored 133 carcasses of different types/sizes in open and shrubland landscapes in the Spanish Pyrenees to explore bearded vulture foraging in relation to social information transfer and adaptive trophic behavior. We hypothesized that they might (1) feed on carcasses after initial heterospecific exploitation; (2) use heterospecifics to locate and/or exploit carcasses; and (3) prefer old carcasses over fresh ones. We recorded bearded vultures scavenging at 44 carcasses; 95.5% had been previously exploited by heterospecifics (93.2% by griffon vultures Gyps fulvus and 2.3% by golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos) while only two small‐sized carcasses were scavenged without previous heterospecific exploitation. Bearded vultures were not observed scavenging at carcasses used only by mammals. Both griffon and bearded vultures took longer to find carcasses in shrublands than in open landscapes. However, bearded vulture arrival times between landscapes after carcass discovery by griffon vultures were similar. Bearded vultures were more likely to discover a carcass the greater the number of griffon vultures exploiting it. Only 10.4% bearded vulture scavenging events occurred after the third week following heterospecific exploitation, suggesting that recently opened carcasses were preferred. Clearly, heterospecifics play an essential role in bearded vultures foraging success, and griffon vultures are fundamental facilitators for specialist foragers, both in providing visual cues to food location and in opening up carcasses to enable access to food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beginning in the mid‐1990s, populations of three species of Gyps vultures declined by more than 97% in South Asia in little more than a decade, caused by unintentional poisoning by the non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac. This led to a ban on the veterinary use of the drug, and establishment of conservation breeding programmes, throughout the region. Once much of Nepal had been confirmed as being free from diclofenac, beginning in 2017 White‐rumped Vultures Gyps bengalensis were released from the captive breeding population. A total of 99 birds (n = 50 wild and n = 49 released) were fitted with GPS transmitters between 2017 and 2022 and monitored daily. Tag fixes suggesting death or ill‐health were followed up and dead vultures were retrieved for post‐mortem analysis. The estimated annual survival of wild adult vultures was 0.974 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.910–0.997), while that of wild subadults was 0.880 (95% CI 0.721–0.966). Survival rates of released birds were lower than those of wild birds, being 0.644 (95% CI 0.490–0.778) for adults and 0.758 (95% CI 0.579–0.887) for subadults. Post‐mortem analysis of dead vultures indicated several possible causes of death, including predation, infection and electrocution. There was no evidence that any birds died of NSAID poisoning. The high survival rates of wild birds, especially adults, and the lack of evidence for NSAID‐caused mortality, suggest that vulture habitat in the Nepal Vulture Safe Zone is free from diclofenac and that other hazards are sufficiently infrequent to allow the vulture population to recover. The lower survival of released birds compared with their wild counterparts suggests a need to improve the conservation breeding programme and release protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most widely distributed scavenger birds on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Himalayan vultures (Gyps himalayensis) feed on the carcasses of various wild and domestic animals, facing the dual selection pressure of pathogens and antibiotics and are suitable biological sentinel species for monitoring antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study used metagenomic sequencing to comparatively investigate the ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) of wild and captive Himalayan vultures. Overall, the resistome of Himalayan vultures contained 414 ARG subtypes resistant to 20 ARG types, with abundances ranging from 0.01 to 1,493.60 ppm. The most abundant resistance type was beta-lactam (175 subtypes), followed by multidrug resistance genes with 68 subtypes. Decreases in the abundance of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS) resistance genes were observed in the wild group compared with the zoo group. A total of 75 genera (five phyla) of bacteria were predicted to be the hosts of ARGs in Himalayan vultures, and the clinical (102 ARGs) and high-risk ARGs (35 Rank I and 56 Rank II ARGs) were also analyzed. Among these ARGs, twenty-two clinical ARGs, nine Rank I ARG subtypes, sixteen Rank II ARG subtypes were found to differ significantly between the two groups. Five types of MGEs (128 subtypes) were found in Himalayan vultures. Plasmids (62 subtypes) and transposases (44 subtypes) were found to be the main MGE types. Efflux pump and antibiotic deactivation were the main resistance mechanisms of ARGs in Himalayan vultures. Decreases in the abundance of cellular protection were identified in wild Himalayan vultures compared with the captive Himalayan vultures. Procrustes analysis and the co-occurrence networks analysis revealed different patterns of correlations among gut microbes, ARGs, and MGEs in wild and captive Himalayan vultures. This study is the first step in describing the characterization of the ARGs in the gut of Himalayan vultures and highlights the need to pay more attention to scavenging birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discussing Mustafa Çevrim’s clinical paper, this article focuses on what it means to feel competent in the treatment room. The felt questioning of our competence or perceived rejection of our therapeutic efforts often activates our trailing edge. It is therefore essential that therapists also reflect on their experiences in an intersubjective context. In addition, therapeutic competencies must be acquired in a process that closely links theory and practice. The article uses Mustafa’s case to examine which abilities and skills are of central importance for progress in treatment from the perspective of intersubjective Self Psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the historical development of psychoanalysis, the solitude of the patient in the session room has evolved over time in the direction that the mind cannot be considered separately from one’s story and external reality. While I was working on writing a discussion paper on Mustafa’s case, I was under the devastating effect of the earthquake disaster that occurred in my country. Therefore, my discussion paper is shaped by my associations of the vulture in Mustafa and Eva’s room and the context in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study explores the story of Eva, a 37-year-old woman who has embarked on a journey of psychotherapy to navigate the complexities of her past traumas and their manifestations in her present inability to set boundaries and assert her needs. The narrative unfolds through the intersubjective therapeutic relationship with a novice therapist who is also grappling with personal issues of competence and parallel dynamics of past abuse. The case illuminates the complexities of Eva’s life, from her violent childhood and oppressive family environment that demanded success at all costs to her traumatic experiences in academia and romantic relationships. Through the lens of intersubjective-systems theory and focusing on Brandchaft’s systems of pathological accommodation, the paper explores the patient’s struggle with self-cohesion and the internalized need to accommodate others to maintain a sense of security and attachment. The therapeutic encounter, characterized by a twinship in trauma becomes a site of transformation in which both patient and therapist navigate their vulnerabilities and strengths. The turning point in therapy occurs when the therapist inadvertently assumes the role of an authoritative figure, prompting Eva to express her own experience assertively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT:Concrete plate structures’ compressive strength and natural frequency are connected by the mechanical characteristics of the material and structural dynamics. Concrete’s elastic modulus rises along with its compressive strength, making the structure stiffer. Since the natural frequency is proportional to the square root of the stiffness over the mass, the increased stiffness raises the natural frequency. In this work, the relationship between natural frequency and compressive strength in advanced concrete constructions reinforced with graphene oxide particles is examined. Also, the structure is under applied pressure. By using a trigonometric shear deformation plate theory, we hope to improve compressive strength prediction accuracy. Navier’s technique is used as the analytical solution process in the analysis. This study contributes to the design and assessment of more durable and effective structural systems by offering a reliable framework for estimating the compressive strength of reinforced concrete structures. This paper presents a novel method by combining Elman Neural Networks (ENNs) with the developed African Vulture Optimization Algorithm (DAVOA) to estimate the frequency of the structure. With the help of this integration, researchers and engineers can now more precisely estimate the compressive strength of sophisticated concrete structures, leading to the creation of stronger and more robust structural solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smart grid is a network that utilizes a digital network to monitor the passage of electricity from one node to another within the network. Some of the applications of the smart grid are dynamic control of voltage, substation automation, outage management, and so on. The smart grid become an important topic since the inclusion of digital systems to monitor the electricity flow enhances usage and at the same time, it is affected by malicious attacks. Hence, it is necessary to protect the smart grid from attackers so that the authenticated user gets all the benefits without any scarcity. For this, many approaches have proposed by the researchers and have shortcomings of less accuracy in classifying the normal and abnormal flow, computational complexities, and less throughput. In context with these problems, we proposed a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based African Vulture Optimization Algorithm (AVOA) for the enhancement of cybersecurity in the blockchain-based Smart grid. To offer a novel way for improving smart grid security and defect detection in the industry by utilising block chain technology with deep learning architectures. The smart grid network's security performance can be improved by the use of a blockchain-based smart grid node based network module. In addition, the simulation results are carried out utilising a hybrid framework to monitor the attacks in the network. The data from the switches and PMU wascollected in the physical layer of the system. Then a blockchain controller controls the data. This also monitors the transaction details in the smart grids. The data are pre-processed with the aid of a Label encoder, and MIN–MAX scaling approaches. Then the features are extracted by using the CNN and the classification data is also performed by the CNN; however, the conventional CNN lacks scalability, and to enhance the scalability we utilize the AVO algorithm. The AVO algorithm effectively improves the scalability and thus our proposed classifies the normal and abnormal data from the smart grid. For the experimental purpose, we have taken the UNSW_NB15 dataset and compared it with the state of artworks in terms of different parameters. From the analysis, it is observed that the proposed method enhances the cybersecurity level by enhancing the throughput, accuracy (97.40%), F1-score (99.17%), precision (98.25%), recall (98.37%)computational time (1.34 ms) and detection rate (97.3%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal soaring, a technique used by birds and gliders to utilize updrafts of hot air, is an appealing model-problem for studying motion control and how it is learned by animals and engineered autonomous systems. Thermal soaring has rich dynamics and nontrivial constraints, yet it uses few control parameters and is becoming experimentally accessible. Following recent developments in applying reinforcement learning methods for training deep neural-network (deep-RL) models to soar autonomously both in simulation and real gliders, here we develop a simulation-based deep-RL system to study the learning process of thermal soaring. We find that this process has learning bottlenecks, we define a new efficiency metric and use it to characterize learning robustness, we compare the learned policy to data from soaring vultures, and find that the neurons of the trained network divide into function clusters that evolve during learning. These results pose thermal soaring as a rich yet tractable model-problem for the learning of motion control. Thermal soaring, inspired by gliding birds, is an appealing model behavior for understanding motion control and how it is learned by animals and engineered autonomous systems. The authors propose a deep reinforcement learning framework to study the learning process of thermal soaring under horizontal wind conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many threatened species require ongoing management, which is often funded through short project cycles. Evaluating whether the management is effective in protecting a species is important to inform future management investments. For migratory species, management may affect only part of a species' annual cycle, and reversing a population decline is challenging to achieve and demonstrate. Here, we evaluate whether conservation management projects funded by the European LIFE programme to safeguard a migratory vulture population achieved their major objective of stabilizing the target breeding population. Between 2012 and 2022, an international alliance of conservation organizations implemented multiple actions to reduce poisoning, direct persecution, and electrocution and collision with power lines along the Eastern Mediterranean flyway. We monitored breeding territories of the Balkan population of the globally endangered Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus between 2006 and 2022, and tracked 60 young birds with GPS transmitters since 2010. We used these data to examine whether population growth rate and survival probability had increased since project implementation. The mean annual survival probability of adult territorial birds increased by 1.9% since 2014 from 0.937 to 0.955, and the monthly survival probability of wild juvenile birds increased by 9.7% from 0.833 to 0.914 since 2018. The population growth rate across the Balkans increased by 6.9% from 0.939 before 2018 to 1.005 since 2018. This indicates that the Egyptian Vulture population has remained stable for the past 5 years (2018–2022), but at a population size that is only half (105 adult territorial birds in 2022) than at the beginning of the time series (204 in 2006). We caution that ongoing management along the flyway and reinforcement are required to ensure that the Egyptian Vulture population on the Balkans can recover, but we show that flyway‐scale collaboration of direct conservation actions can have lasting benefits for migratory species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malware remains a big threat to cyber security, calling for machine learning-based malware detection. Malware variations exhibit common behavioral patterns indicative of their source and intended use to enhance the existing framework's usefulness. Here we present a novel model, i.e., African Vulture Optimization-based Decision Tree (AVO-DT) to increase the overall optimization. The datasets from Android apps and malware software train the AVO-DT model. After training, the datasets are pre-processed by removing training errors. The DT algorithm is used by the developed AVO model to carry out the detection procedure and predict malware activity. To detect malware activities and improve accuracy, such an AVO-DT model technique employs both static and dynamic methodologies. The other measurements on Android applications might be either malicious or benign. Here we also developed malware prevention and detection systems to address ambiguous search spaces in multidimensionality difficulties and resolve optimization challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-level threshold image segmentation is widely used in medical image segmentation. Traditional methods for selecting optimal thresholds suffer from exponentially increasing time complexity as the number of threshold levels increases. In order to solve these problems, we choose African vultures optimization algorithm (AVOA) and introduce a novel modified African vultures optimization algorithm method called OLAVOA that combines predatory memory and logarithmic spiral based on opposition learning. In addition, we also apply 2D Kapur's entropy as a fitness value function of OLAVOA for multi-threshold image segmentation to solve the problem of traditional method. In the 30 benchmark function experiments at IEEE CEC2014, the average value of the experimental results of OLAVOA mostly outperforms the other algorithms. In the experimental convergence graph, OLAVOA's performance showed its convergence's velocity and capacity to depart from the local best. In addition, to demonstrate the effectiveness of OLAVOA on medical image segmentation, the image segmentation experiment included chest X-ray image of patients with COVID-19 and brain MRI image. Additionally, it was demonstrated that OLAVOA outperformed other approaches in segmentation trials by having greater adaptability in different threshold levels. Therefore, OLAVOA is effectively utilized to segment medical images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Hooded Vulture populations in West Africa have decreased substantially. However, in some areas within this region, the species is still relatively abundant. To find out more about the situation in West Africa, we assessed the status of Hooded Vultures in Benin, one of the countries where their status is not well known. We conducted road counts on paved and unpaved roads and along small trails over a total of 1451 km. We also conducted interviews with local abattoir watchmen, veterinarians, butchers and foresters to examine potential threats to this species. A total of 52 Hooded Vultures were counted mostly in the departments of Atacora (32) but also in Alibori (10) and Borgou (10). The relative abundance was four Hooded Vultures per 100 km, highlighting the near extirpation of this bird from Benin. A total of 49 interviews revealed that poaching for belief‐based use (through shooting and traps) and decreasing food availability remain the most important threats for Hooded Vultures in northern Benin. If these threats are not mitigated, we predict the extirpation of the Hooded Vulture outside protected areas in Benin within the next two decades, possibly even sooner. Conservation measures, including awareness campaigns, and the improvement and enforcement of environmental legislation, must be urgently implemented to improve the protection of this Critically Endangered vulture species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scavenging mammals and vultures can exploit and deplete carcasses much faster than other birds and invertebrates. Vultures are strongly influenced by habitat type, e.g. tree cover, since they rely on their eyesight to detect carcasses. It remains unclear whether and how facultative scavengers – both other birds and mammals – are influenced by tree cover and how that affect carcass decomposition time, which in turn affects biodiversity and ecological processes, including the cycle of energy and nutrients. We studied whether the carcass detection and consumption, hence carcass decomposition speed, by facultative avian and mammalian scavengers varies with tree cover in areas without vultures. Fresh mammal carcasses were placed in different landscapes across the Netherlands at locations that widely varied in tree cover. Camera traps were used to record carcass exploitation by facultative avian and mammalian scavengers and to estimate carcass decomposition time. We found that carcass detection and consumption by birds, wild boar, and other mammals varied between locations. Carcass decomposition speed indeed increased with carcass detection and exploitation by mammals, especially by wild boar. However, this variation was not related to tree cover. We conclude that tree cover is not a major determinant of carcass exploitation by facultative scavengers in areas without obligate scavengers and large carnivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to improve the performance of radial distribution systems (RDSs) by accurately solving the optimal energy management of the active powers of distributed generation units based on renewable energy and the reactive powers of shunt compensator-based flexible AC transmission system technology. An adaptive African vultures optimizer (AAVO) is proposed and applied to optimize individually and simultaneously various objective functions, including the minimization of total power loss, minimization of total voltage deviation and maximization of the loading margin. The efficacy of the proposed AAVO method is validated on three RDSs, the 33-bus, the 85-bus and the large RDS with 141-bus, under normal conditions and considering uncertainties of loads. Compared to many other techniques, the results clearly demonstrate the robustness and competitiveness of the proposed new variant in solving the power management optimization of a large-scale RDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many aspects of the spatial ecology of the cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) are still unknown. The Iberian population is thought to be predominantly sedentary, but the spatial patterns of young individuals have been barely studied. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the juvenile dispersal of the Iberian cinereous vultures. To this end, we GPS-tagged 41 Cinereous Vultures and tracked their movements during the period 2002–2021, from the end of parental care to the beginning of reproductive age. We examined the influence of age, season and sex on movement metrics (accumulated distances, distances to nest and home range sizes). During the juvenile dispersal period, cinereous vultures travelled over large areas of the Iberian Peninsula and southern Europe. Despite the high individual variability, we found a negative age-related trend in all movement metrics: the younger individuals (<1 year old) often performed farther movements and occupied larger areas, stabilising their movements during immature (1–3 years) and subadult (4 years) phases. On the other hand, season influenced the accumulated distance within all age classes; warm months positively influenced flight effort. Finally, females flew farther and occupied larger areas than males, consistently within age classes. This study did not take into account many factors which may explain part of the high variability observed: landscape, supplementary feeding sites, dumps, colony size, interspecific interactions, stochastic events, etc. Further studies are needed to investigate the influence of these factors on the dispersal of the species in more detail, but this work provides the first approach to the juvenile dispersal of the cinereous vulture in Iberia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vulture populations are declining across Africa and the conservation status of Rüppell's Vulture Gyps rueppelli has changed from Near Threatened in 2007 to Critically Endangered in 2015. Its global population was estimated at 30 000 individuals in the early 1990s and since then there have been no accurate estimates. During that period, it was observed that this cliff-nesting species stood out as one of the least studied vultures, particularly within the region of West Africa. During the 1960s there were breeding records of this species in Senegal, but these were later discarded on the ground that they had been misidentified, because they were tree-nesting events. It is noteworthy that, during a period when the decline of known populations and the scarce availability of data on the species is highlighted, Rüppell's Vulture is frequently sighted beyond its typical range, namely in both Europe and southern Africa. In this study, we verify the breeding of Rüppell's Vulture in Senegal, consistently noting nesting on trees. Based on the conducted counts, we provide an estimation of age ratio and conservative values regarding the abundance of the species in the area. We also give information on the characteristics of the nests and on the phenology of reproduction in the area. Finally, we discuss the potential implications for the species of the recently discovered regular movement of Rüppell's Vultures between West Africa and Europe, where the species now breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]