In the course of their lives, most animals must find different specific habitat and microhabitat types for survival and reproduction. Yet, in vertebrates, little is known about the sensory cues that mediate habitat recognition. In free flying bats the echolocation of insect-sized point targets is well understood, whereas how they recognize and classify spatially extended echo targets is current...

This paper describes the application of the recently developed metaheuristic algorithm for simultaneous analysis, design and optimization of Water Distribution Systems (WDSs). In this method, analysis is carried out using Colliding Bodies Optimization algorithm (CBO). The CBO is a population-based search approach that imitates nature’s ongoing search for better solutions. Also, design and cost ...

We present an algorithm for creating realistic animations of characters that are interacting with fluids. Our approach combines dynamic simulation with data-driven (motion capture) and related kinematic motions to produce realistic animation in a fluid. The interaction of the articulated body with fluids is done by (a) incorporating joint constraints with rigid animation, and by (b) extending t...

We present an algorithm for creating realistic animations of characters that are interacting with fluids. Our approach combines dynamic simulation with data-driven (motion capture) and related kinematic motions to produce realistic animation in a fluid. The interaction of the articulated body with fluids is done by (a) incorporating joint constraints with rigid animation, and by (b) extending t...

This paper introduces a 300-m global map of open permanent water bodies derived from multi-temporal synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. The SAR dataset consisted of images of the radar backscatter acquired by Envisat Advanced SAR (ASAR) in Wide Swath Mode (WSM, 150 m spatial resolution) between 2005 and 2010. Extended time series of WSM to 2012, Image Mode Medium resolution (IMM) and Global Mo...

This chapter describes standardized sampling techniques for routine monitoring and population assessment of warmwater sport and prey fishes in small standing water bodies. Although water temperature regulates growth, survival, and reproduction of fishes, there are no specific criteria that define a warmwater fish community. Dodds (2002) noted that warmwater fish communities tend to be dominated...

Heavy metals and dyes are major contributors in contamination of water streams. These contaminants enter into our eco- system, thus posing a significant threat to public health, ecological equilibrium and environment. Thus a combined discharge of these contaminants results in water pollution with high chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, color, particulate matter, suspended particl...

The water content and habitability of terrestrial planets are determined during their final assembly, from perhaps 100 1,000-km "planetary embryos " and a swarm of billions of 1-10-km "planetesimals. " During this process, we assume that water-rich material is accreted by terrestrial planets via impacts of water-rich bodies that originate in the outer asteroid region. We present analysis of wat...