INFORMATION CHARACTERIZATION OF COMMUNICATION CHANNELS FOR SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION

This paper studies identification of systems in which the system output is quantized, transmitted through a digital communication channel, and observed afterwards. The concept of the CR Ratio is introduced to characterize impact of communication channels on identification. The relationship between the CR Ratio and Shannon channel capacity is discussed. Identification algorithms are further developed when the channel error probability is unknown.     

Colony isolation and isozyme variability of the western seep fritillary, Speyeria nokomis apacheana (Nymphalidae), in the western Great Basin

Thirteen Speyeria nokomis apacheana (Edwards) (Nymphalidae) populations from the western Great Basin were assayed for isozyme variability using starch-gel electrophoresis. Eight of the 25 presumptive isozyme loci analyzed were found to be polymorphic. Collections made in 1991and 1992 allowed for between-year comparisons of heterozygosity and the estimation of effective population size for five of the sampled populations. Speyeria nokomis apacheana populations exhibit lower mean heterozygosity levels than other nymphalids. This may be attributed to genetic drift in apparently isolated populations with small effective sizes.     

Temperature-related behavior of some migrant birds in the desert

Behavior of migrant birds in relation to temperature was studied and compared to that of resident species in the northern Mojave Desert. Migrants reduced foraging intensity above 30 C, but resident species showed no striking decrease in intensity of foraging at temperatures up to 35 C. Migrant species shifted activities to shaded microhabitats at temperatures between 20 and 30 C; the resident Verdin showed a similar shift at 35 C. Most migrants decreased the amount of time spent foraging at temperatures above 30; Verdins showed a similar but stronger response to temperatures about 30 C. Significant reductions in the use of hovering and hawking maneuvers were found among migrants at temperatures above 30 C. Migrants showed similar types of behavioral adjustments to temperatures as did resident desert species, but they responded earlier in the daily temperature cycle. Desert birds appear to correlate their daily activity strongly with temperature, but nondesert species may respond either to temperature or time of day.     

Linking innate and adaptive immunity

The evolution of mechanisms to fight pathogens in plants and animals is reflected in the complexity of the components of their so-called immune systems. Higher vertebrates have evolved     

中国〖XC5XHCC.TIF〗目二新种(笛〖XC18.TIF〗科: 长角枝〖XC18.TIF〗亚科, 短角棒〖XC18.TIF〗亚科)

 记述中国〖XC5XCC.TIF〗目2新种, 井冈山无齿股〖XC5XCC.TIF〗Parasipyloideajinggangshanensis Ho, sp nov.及七州瘦〖XC5XCC.TIF〗Macellina qizhouense Ho, sp nov。新种模式标本存放于广州中山大学生物博物馆。     

Mountain ants of Nevada

The nest of the ant Formica propinqua W. M. Wheeler is reported from Washoe Co., Nevada.     

Nest of Formica propinqua (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The nest of the ant Formica propinqua W. M. Wheeler is reported from Washoe Co., Nevada.     

The New Mexico whiptail, Cnemidophorus neomexicanus (Squamata: Teiidae), in the Great Basin of north central Utah

We report the discovery of established populations of Cnemidophorus neomexicanus in the Salt Lake City area. These are the 1st records of this species in Utah and in the Great Basin and are far from all other known populations of the species. We conclude that C. neomexicanus was introduced in the Salt Lake City area, perhaps within the last 30 years.     

How efficient is the European football betting market? Evidence from arbitrage and trading strategies

This paper assesses the international efficiency of the European football betting market by examining the forecastability of match outcomes on the basis of the information contained in different sets of online and fixed odds quoted by six major bookmakers. The paper also investigates the profitability of strategies based on: combined betting, simple heuristic rules, regression models and prediction encompassing. The empirical results show that combined betting across different bookmakers can lead to limited but highly profitable arbitrage opportunities. Simple trading rules and betting strategies based on forecast encompassing are found capable of also producing significant positive returns. Despite the deregulation, globalization and increased competition in the betting industry over recent years, the predictabilities and profits reported in this paper are not fully consistent with weak-form market efficiency. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.