Fraud detection in banking systems is crucial for financial stability, customer protection, reputation management, and regulatory compliance. Machine Learning (ML) is vital in improving data ...analysis, real-time fraud detection, and developing fraud techniques by learning from data and adjusting detection strategies accordingly. Feature Selection (FS) is essential for enhancing fraud detection through ML to achieve optimal model accuracy. This is because it helps to eliminate the negative impact of redundant and irrelevant attributes. To enhance the accuracy of the given dataset, the researchers utilized multiple methods to determine the most fitting features. However, it is important to note that when implementing these methods on datasets with larger feature sizes, they may encounter issues with local optimality. Despite this, the researchers continue to work on improving the effectiveness of these methods. This study presents an effective methodology based on the Brown-Bear Optimization (BBO) algorithm to enhance the capacity to accurately identify financial CCF transactions by recognizing pertinent features. BBO has balanced capabilities to reduce dimensionality while enhancing classification accuracy. It is improved by adjusting the positions randomly to enhance exploration and exploitation capabilities, and then it is cloned into a binary variant named Binary BBOA (BBBOA). The Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-nearest Neighbor (k-NN), and Xgb-tree are the ML classifiers used with the suggested methodology. On the Australian credit dataset, the proposed methodology is compared with the basic BBOA and ten current optimizers, such as Binary African Vultures Optimization (BAVO), Binary Salp Swarm Algorithm (BSSA), Binary Atom Search Optimization (BASO), Binary Henry Gas Solubility Optimization (BHGSO), Binary Harris Hawks Optimization (BHHO), Binary Bat Algorithm (BBA), Binary Particle Swarm Optimization (BPSO), Binary Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (BGOA), and Binary Sailfish Optimizer (BSFO). Regarding Wilcoxon’s rank-sum test (α=0.05), the superiority and effective consequence of the presented methodology are clear on the utilized dataset and got an accuracy of classification up to 91% in the utilized dataset combined with an attribute reduction length down to 67%. The proposed methodology is further validated using 10 benchmark datasets and outperformed its competitors in most utilized datasets regarding different performance measures. In the end, the proposed methodology is further validated using ten benchmark datasets from the UCI repository. It outperformed its competitors in most of the utilized datasets regarding different performance measures.
Polar bears are an arctic, marine adapted species that is closely related to brown bears. Genome analyses have shown that polar bears are distinct and genetically homogeneous in comparison to brown ...bears. However, these analyses have also revealed a remarkable episode of polar bear gene flow into the population of brown bears that colonized the Admiralty, Baranof and Chichagof islands (ABC islands) of Alaska. Here, we present an analysis of data from a large panel of polar bear and brown bear genomes that includes brown bears from the ABC islands, the Alaskan mainland and Europe. Our results provide clear evidence that gene flow between the two species had a geographically wide impact, with polar bear DNA found within the genomes of brown bears living both on the ABC islands and in the Alaskan mainland. Intriguingly, while brown bear genomes contain up to 8.8% polar bear ancestry, polar bear genomes appear to be devoid of brown bear ancestry, suggesting the presence of a barrier to gene flow in that direction.
Several species of bears are known to rub deliberately against trees and other objects, but little is known about why bears rub. Patterns in rubbing behavior of male and female brown bears (Ursus ...arctos) suggest that scent marking via rubbing functions to communicate among potential mates or competitors. Using DNA from bear hairs collected from rub objects in southwestern Alberta from 2011-2014 and existing DNA datasets from Montana and southeastern British Columbia, we determined sex and individual identity of each bear detected. Using these data, we completed a parentage analysis. From the parentage analysis and detection data, we determined the number of offspring, mates, unique rub objects where an individual was detected, and sampling occasions during which an individual was detected for each brown bear identified through our sampling methods. Using a Poisson regression, we found a positive relationship between bear rubbing behavior and reproductive success; both male and female bears with a greater number of mates and a greater number of offspring were detected at more rub objects and during more occasions. Our results suggest a fitness component to bear rubbing, indicate that rubbing is adaptive, and provide insight into a poorly understood behaviour.
It is important to understand ovarian physiology when developing an artificial insemination (AI) protocol. Brown bears (Ursus arctos) have a breeding season from May to July, although the type of ...estrus (polyestrus or monoestrus) is still contested. The present study aimed to define the ovarian dynamics, including follicular waves and ovulatory follicle size, and estrus type in brown bears. Six brown bears were used for ovarian ultrasonography; four were observed between April and October (before the start and after the end of the breeding season) and two in June (breeding season). In addition, we attempted to induce ovulation by administering a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. We observed follicular development in April in four bears, but follicles did not develop to greater than 6.0 mm in diameter until May. Thereafter, a group of follicles developed to more than 6.0 mm and grew as dominant follicles, except in one bear. After ovulation and subsequent corpus luteum (CL) formation, the follicular waves disappeared. Furthermore, in three bears treated with GnRH, follicles between 8.2 to 11.2 mm in diameter at the time of treatment ovulated and formed CLs. In two bears, follicles between 5.8 to 8.8 mm ovulated spontaneously within the observation interval. Our results suggest that brown bears may be monoestrous animals. Therefore, AI can only be performed once during the breeding season. Our results also suggest that dominant follicles larger than 8.0 mm are a suitable size for inducing ovulation.
One of the main factors limiting the acceptance of large carnivores is livestock depredation. Reducing damages on livestock requires understanding how depredation varies in space and time. The ...conservation of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) population in the Pyrenees offers a relevant study case to illustrate this issue, with a minimum population size of 41 individuals recorded in 2016 and an average of 103.3 ± 18.9 attacks per year on domestic animals between 2010 and 2016 during the summer pasture period. We analysed the spatial aggregation of depredation events by using the local Getis-Ord analysis of spatial dependence at the management scale (pastoral units) and at a finest scale (250 × 250 m grain). Our results uncover the absence of coldspots of brown bear depredation in the French Pyrenees and the presence of significant hotspots. Depredation hotspots are consistent in time, meaning that a hotspot in one year is likely to exist in the following year(s). The fine scale analysis allowed identifying both inter- and intra-pasture hotspots and we propose a simple method to rescale these fine scale results. We linked this spatial pattern of hotspots (at 250 m resolution) to environmental factors. Hotspot presence is characterized by being close to forest and buildings with a high proportion of grassland and on steep slopes. Moreover, a nonlinear relationship with brown bear activity describes the presence of hotspots. The assessment of depredation hotspots and their link with environmental factors offers some practical guidance about where to focus efforts in order to decrease this human-large carnivore conflict.
The morphological characteristics of the hairs can be used for species identification in ecological and
zoological studies, in forensic and forensic veterinary examinations. Large-scale hairs model ...is one of the important
identification features and can be used as a “fingerprint”. In this study the morphological hairs characteristics of nine
Bulgarian carnivore mammals were investigated. The values for the length, total hairs diameter, medullary diameter
and medullary index were determined. The combined use of hairs parameters and the medullary index (MI) are a
guarantee of greater reliability in species identification. For comparison, we observed under a microscope hairs fixed
by transparent tape in order to offer a quick test for species identification
Many foraging models assume “perfect information” and “free movement” when describing predator foraging behavior, although this is rare in nature. Here, we quantified predation by brown bears ( Ursus ...arctos Linnaeus, 1758) on adult sockeye salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum, 1792)) in a series of spatially proximate ponds that largely satisfied both assumptions. Salmon abundance varied among years, but pond area and depth were fixed, allowing us to examine interactions between prey abundance and habitat features. We applied versions of two models to 25 years of data on the number and proportion of salmon killed by bears, modifying these models to include habitat features and temporal variability. The functional response model with a year effect fit the data well, indicating bears could take almost all salmon in ponds when salmon were scarce, but bears were sated when salmon were abundant. The proportion of salmon killed by bears was similar across habitats after correcting for pond depth and area. Overall, bears foraged across all habitats but killed higher proportions of salmon in smaller and shallower habitats, consistent with ease of capture.
Behavioural observation is an essential part of routine welfare assessment protocols for captive wild animals and Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA) can be included as measure of their ...emotional state. This study aims to develop a QBA Fixed List (FL) for brown bears (Ursus arctos), to test its reliability and to investigate the potential effect of the individual characteristics of the bears and season on the QBA outcomes. Observations and/or video-recordings were performed on 24 brown bears kept in three FOUR PAWS (FP) Sanctuaries. A list of 20 terms was created based on preliminary observations and assessments. Reliability between four observers was tested by calculating the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) of the four main Principal Components (PC) and each QBA term scored on 20 two-minute videos, after online training sessions. The correlation between direct versus video observations was investigated through Spearman rank correlations calculated on the first two PC of QBA performed by one observer on 32 twenty-minute observations. Finally, the effect of sex, age, time since rescue (Length of Stay -LoS-), and season was investigated using non-parametric analysis on QBA PC performed by the same observer on 41 twenty-minute videos. Results showed a good sampling adequacy. The agreement between observers was met in all four PC with ICC values from 0.63 to 0.95 and in most terms with ICC values from excellent (> 0.90) to moderate (0.50–0.75), except for Apathetic and Bored. Data from direct and video observations showed a significant correlation among each PC (Rs =0.69 for PC1, p 0.001; Rs =0.67 for PC2; p 0.001). The four main PC on QBA performed on the 41 twenty-minute videos, used to test the effects of sex, age, LoS, and season, explained 74.5% of variance. Positive and negative mood descriptors loaded on PC1, PC2 described activity levels, PC3 dealt with emotions of joy and suffering and PC4 with frustration. Sex affected PC2, females were more Positively occupied and Inquisitive. Older bears (>20 years) were more Bored and In pain than younger bears. Newly arrived bears ( 4 years. Bears showed more positive mood during spring and more negative during summer. Results of the study encourage the application of the developed FL in routine welfare assessments in FP Sanctuaries to monitor bear welfare throughout the seasons, their adaptation process from rescue onwards and to promptly identify changes due to the aging of the animals.
•Bear characteristics may influence qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA) outcomes.•A fixed list of descriptors for QBA of brown bears was developed.•Inter-observer reliability of the fixed list showed encouraging results.•QBA based on direct and video-recorded observations provided similar results.•FOUR PAWS brown bears showed a more positive mood in spring compared to summer.
For brown bears (
), hibernation is a critical part of the annual life cycle because energy savings during hibernation can be crucial for overwintering, and females give birth to cubs at that time. ...For hibernation to be a useful strategy, timing is critical. However, environmental conditions vary greatly, which might have a negative effect on the functionality of the evolved biological time-keeping. Here, we used a long-term dataset (69 years) on brown bear denning phenology recorded in 12 Russian protected areas and quantified the phenological responses to variation in temperature and snow depth. Previous studies analyzing the relationship between climate and denning behavior did not consider that the brown bear response to variation in climatic factors might vary through a period preceding den entry and exit. We hypothesized that there is a seasonal sensitivity pattern of bear denning phenology in response to variation in climatic conditions, such that the effect of climatic variability will be pronounced only when it occurs close to den exit and entry dates.
We found that brown bears are most sensitive to climatic variations around the observed first den exit and last entry dates, such that an increase/decrease in temperature in the periods closer to the first den exit and last entry dates have a greater influence on the denning dates than in other periods.
Our study shows that climatic factors are modulating brown bear hibernation phenology and provide a further structuring of this modulation. The sensitivity of brown bears to changes in climatic factors during hibernation might affect their ability to cope with global climate change. Therefore, understanding these processes will be essential for informed management of biodiversity in a changing world.
Contemporary efforts to protect biological diversity recognize the importance of sustaining traditional human livelihoods, particularly uses of the land that are compatible with intact landscapes and ...ecologically complete food webs. However, these efforts often confront conflicting goals. For example, conserving native predators may harm pastoralist economies because predators consume domestic livestock that sustain people. This potential conflict must be reconciled by policy, but such reconciliation requires a firm understanding of the effects of predators on the prey used by people. We used a long-term, large-scale database and Bayesian models to estimate the impacts of lynx (
Lynx lynx
), wolverine (
Gulo gulo
), and brown bear (
Ursus arctos
) on harvest of semi-domesticated reindeer (
Rangifer tarandus
) by Sámi pastoralists in Sweden. The average annual harvest of reindeer averaged 25% of the population (95% credible interval = 19, 31). Annual harvest declined by 96.6 (31, 155) reindeer for each lynx family group (the surveyed segment of the lynx population) in a management unit and by 94.3 (20, 160) for each wolverine reproduction (the surveyed segment of the wolverine population). We failed to detect effects of predation by brown bear. The mechanism for effects of predation on harvest was reduced population growth rate. The rate of increase of reindeer populations declined with increasing abundance of lynx and wolverine. The density of reindeer, latitude, and weather indexed by the North Atlantic Oscillation also influenced reindeer population growth rate. We conclude that there is a biological basis for compensating the Sámi reindeer herders for predation on reindeer.
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