Profitability of the Mediterranean and NE Atlantic new target sea cucumber species: some repercussions for their fisheries management

The term profitability can be understood as the ratio in percentage between fresh weight of animals and the dry weight of the obtained beche-de-mer depending on the body wall thickness of sea cucumbers and water content. Specimens decrease their weight and length considerably, when they are processed. However, scarce information about profitability of commercial sea cucumber from Mediterranean and NE Atlantic has been published until now. In this study, we focused on Holothuria tubulosa, Holothuria polii, Holothuria mammata and Holothuria arguinensis. For most of the species considered, a good lineal regression was found between eviscerated length (EL) vs eviscerated weight (EW), and EW vs dried weight (DW)however, H. arguinensis showed a high dispersal of data and low regression coefficients. The highest profitability (20.57 % +/- 4.40) was registered on H. arguinensis and the second one (15.36 % +/- 2.68) on H. polii. H. mammata and H. tubulosa showed lower profitability (11.95 % +/- 0.54 and 10.75 % +/- 0.55, respectively). Significant differences were found between profitability values of the studied species. Some implications for fisheries management were deduced from the relationships between profitability vs EW.CUMARSUR project - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia [PTDC/MAR-BIO/5948/2014]HOLREMAR project - Sayanes Mar S.L.FCTPortuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [IF/00998/2014, CCMAR/BI/0007/2015

On the Adaptation of an Agile Information Systems Development Method

Little specific research has been conducted to date on the adaptation of agile information systems development (ISD) methods. This article presents the work practice in dealing with the adaptation of such a method in the ISD department of one of the leading financial institutes in Europe. Two forms of method adaptation, static adaptation and dynamic adaptation, are introduced and discussed in detail. We provide some insights plus an instrument that the ISD department studied uses to deal with the dynamic method adaptation. To enhance our understanding of the observed practice, we take into account two complementary perspectives: the engineering perspective and the socio-organizational perspective. Practical and theoretical implications of this study are discussed.Keywords: agile method; information systems development; method adaptation; method engineerin

Simplified Earthquake Analysis of Suspensi

This paper presents the finite element analysis of a suspension bridge subjected to earthquake ground motion using simplified models. For this purpose, two simplified models are considered. It is assumed that each element compose of the deck, cable and hangers in the first model. As second model, the elastic foundation analogy method is used. Also, actual bridge model is selected. Finite element earthquake analyses of the simplified and real bridge models are performed. One of the world's longest modern type suspension bridges, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, is selected as a numerical example. As ground motions, Kocaeli earthquake occurred on August 17, 1999 in Kocaeli, Turkey is chosen since it took place at the vicinity of the bridge. The response values obtained from simplified and actual bridge models are compared with each other

Comparison of CT and PET-CT based planning of radiation therapy in locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma

Abstract Background To compare computed tomography (CT) with co-registered positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) as the basis for delineating gross tumor volume (GTV) in unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma (LAPC). Methods Fourteen patients with unresectable LAPC had both CT and PET images acquired. For each patient, two three-dimensional conformal plans were made using the CT and PET-CT fusion data sets. We analyzed differences in treatment plans and doses of radiation to primary tumors and critical organs. Results Changes in GTV delineation were necessary in 5 patients based on PET-CT information. In these patients, the average increase in GTV was 29.7%, due to the incorporation of additional lymph node metastases and extension of the primary tumor beyond that defined by CT. For all patients, the GTVCT versus GTVPET-CT was 92.5 ± 32.3 cm3 versus 104.5 ± 32.6 cm3 (p = 0.009). Toxicity analysis revealed no clinically significant differences between two plans with regard to doses to critical organs. Conclusion Co-registration of PET and CT information in unresectable LAPC may improve the delineation of GTV and theoretically reduce the likelihood of geographic misses.</p

Effects of fishery protection on biometry and genetic structure of two target sea cucumber species from the Mediterranean Sea

Sea cucumber fisheries are now occurring in most of the tropical areas of the world, having expanded from its origin in the central Indo-Pacific. Due to the overexploitation of these resources and the increasing demand from Asian countries, new target species from Mediterranean Sea and northeastern Atlantic Ocean are being caught. The fishery effects on biometry and genetic structure of two target species (Holothuria polii and H. tubulosa) from Turkey, were assessed. The heaviest and largest individuals of H. polii were found into the non-fishery area of Kusadasi, also showing the highest genetic diversity. Similar pattern was detected in H. tubulosa, but only the weight was significantly higher in the protected area. However, the observed differences on the fishery effects between species, could be explained considering the different percentage of catches (80% for H. polii and 20% for H. tubulosa)