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Automated behavioural classification and identification through sensors has the potential to improve health and welfare of the animals. Position of a sensor, sampling frequency and window size of segmented signal data has a major impact on classification accuracy in activity recognition and energy needs for the sensor, yet, there are no studies in precision livestock farming that have evaluated the effect of all these factors simultaneously. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of position (ear and collar), sampling frequency (8, 16 and 32 Hz) of a triaxial accelerometer and gyroscope sensor and window size (3, 5 and 7 s) on the classification of important behaviours in sheep such as lying, standing and walking. Behaviours were classified using a random forest approach with 44 feature characteristics. The best performance for walking, standing and lying classification in sheep (accuracy 95%, F-score 91%-97%) was obtained using combination of 32 Hz, 7 s and 32 Hz, 5 s for both ear and collar sensors, although, results obtained with 16 Hz and 7 s window were comparable with accuracy of 91%-93% and F-score 88%-95%. Energy efficiency was best at a 7 s window. This suggests that sampling at 16 Hz with 7 s window will offer benefits in a real-time behavioural monitoring system for sheep due to reduced energy needs.

The Lower Limestone Group, which outcrops extensively on the east coast of Fife, southeast Scotland, consists of interbedded sandstones, siltstones and claystones with occasional coal seams, and limestone beds. Several of the coals have been mined economically in the past.The sequence was deposited in a shallow-water, deltaic setting. Three facies associations have been distinguished; (1) laminated claystones, and marine bioclastic limestones, which were deposited in prodelta and marine shelf environments, (2) crudely coarsening-upward sandstone units, interpreted as delta front deposits of fluvially-dominated though wave-influenced, shallow-water deltas, and (3) interbedded clastic sedimentary rocks and coals, deposited in delta plain environments. The sequence as a whole accumulated by repeated progradation and abandonment of deltaic complexes.Palaeosol profiles of four types are superbly preserved within the delta plain facies association. These are (1) organic soils (peats), now coal seams, (2) gley palaeosols, which formed in persistently waterlogged conditions, (3) freely drained soils which formed on a quartz sand-rich substrate, and (4) similar profiles formed by free drainage through variable substrates and involving B horizon accumulation of concretionary iron oxides. Compound palaeosols are common.Deposition of the Lower Limestone Group was influenced by the tectonic and volcanic instability of the Fife area during Visean times. Frequent seismic events centred on active fault lines caused local uplift of parts of the normally waterlogged delta plain environment, allowing the formation of well-drained soils. Peats (coals) were best developed and least affected by oxidation in an elongate, fault bounded zone of enhanced subsidence.

The generally accepted interpretation of the structure of the Southern Uplands has been that of an anticlinorium to the north-west flanked by a synclinorium to the south-east. This structure, however, has always been illustrated as one large anticlinorium since the Hawick rocks in the core of the synclinorium have been considered to be older than the Riccarton (Wenlockian) Beds which lie to the south. In Kirkcudbrightshire, a reverse age relationship is demonstrated with the result that the beds could in fact form the southern limb of the synclinorium. When this is shown to be the case doubts are thrown on the validity of the fold and two alternative interpretations are given.

New sedimentary structures are described from a thick greywacke/ mudstone succession. The structures include modified ripple marks, nodule trails and orthocone prod marks. Further evidence is given and comment made on the genesis of longitudinal ridges, chevron marks and large-scale current bedding. Palaeocurrent directions statistically determined from 353 observations show that the dominant turbidity currents during Riccarton (Wenlock) and Upper (?) Silurian times came from the north-east (i.c. parallel to the axis of the Caledonian geosyncline) with minor currents from the south-west. Currents at right angles to the axis of the geosyncline deposited the transverse ripples. CONTENTS