Macroeconomic effects of the Barcelona Initiative

This paper compares ex post and ex ante assessments of the macroeconomic effects of trade liberalization in the Mediterranean. Using implications from a standard Ramsey growth model augmented for anticipation and implementation effects, we pool cross section and time series data to estimate ex post the effects of trade liberalization on a set of Arabic Southern Mediterranean Partner countries (SMPCs). We find significant and robust evidence for positive effects on major macro variables and discuss the appropriate policies. Second, we review a number of computable general equilibrium (CGE) studies which aimed at assessing the macroeconomic impacts for the same countries ex ante. CGE projections are very much at odds with the econometric findings and the biases seem to be systematic for all macro variables. Third, we use ANOVA techniques to identify possible shortcomings both with respect to design and target country of the CGE study. We find that even well-designed CGE studies targeted to an average type of country do not seem to yield reliable results. Overall, our analysis suggests that there is no sound statistical evidence to believe that CGE analysis has been useful in assessing the macroeconomic effects of trade liberalization in the Mediterranean. But we find considerable econometric evidence to support the view that free trade policies have enhanced growth in the MENA region

Integrating data from vessel monitoring system and fish landings in Menditerranean small fleets, using a PostgreSQL database with PostGIS extension

Geospatial technologies represent an advance in knowledge of marine ecosystems, allowing approach the study of the potential effect of world fishing fleets and their dynamics. Nevertheless, their application to fisheries biology is very recent and its use is generalizing when the ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) proposed one methodology to study fisheries and their impact in Atlantic Ocean ecosystems in the 2008 year. This procedure is based on the use of position data from the "blue boxes" (VMS-Vessel Monitoring System), mandatory since 2006 due to a European regulation, and it's present in most fishing boats. The junction of the VMS, fishing logbooks and landings data enables us to obtain among others results, maps of fishing effort, behaviour of fishing fleet and precise location of fishing grounds at the European waters. However, its design is made for large trawlers and longliners, and extensive Atlantic areas. This fact makes impossible its application for the study of the fleet and fisheries in Mediterranean waters. Because, the boats are much smaller, have lower mobility and they work in small fishing areas. The aim of this work has been to develop and apply a methodology (ICES based) to study fishing effort on species of commercial interest in Catalan coast, using scripting PL/SQL procedures of PostgreSQL system database with Post- GIS extension.Peer Reviewe

Circadian oxygen consumption patterns in continental slope Nephrops norvegicus(Decapoda: nephropidae)in the western Mediterranean.

9 pages, 3 figures, 1 tableThe oxygen consumption of Nephrops norvegicus animals collected from the upper continental slope (400 m depth) in the northwestern Mediterranean was monitored under constant conditions of darkness and temperature. Two experiments were performed starting at the beginning of the expected day and at the beginning of the expected night phases, respectively. Mean oxygen consumption values recorded during the expected night were significantly higher than those recorded during the expected day. The slopes of the time series of oxygen consumption data of the two experiments were recalculated in consecutive 1-h intervals, being then averaged for corresponding 1-h time intervals. The plotting over a 24-h cycle of these mean hourly-values revealed a global nocturnal increase in the oxygen consumption in the laboratory. This result is discussed and compared with previously reported catch patterns accounting for emergence from burrows in the field, and locomotor and cardiac activity rhythms recorded in constant conditions in the laboratory in animals from the same depthThis research was funded by the Spanish CICYT programme (MAR-098-0935) to FSPeer reviewe

Optimal path shape for range-only underwater target localization using a Wave Glider

Underwater localization using acoustic signals is one of the main components in a navigation system for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) as a more accurate alternative to dead-reckoning techniques. Although different methods based on the idea of multiple beacons have been studied, other approaches use only one beacon, which reduces the system’s costs and deployment complexity. The inverse approach for single-beacon navigation is to use this method for target localization by an underwater or surface vehicle. In this paper, a method of range-only target localization using a Wave Glider is presented, for which simulations and sea tests have been conducted to determine optimal parameters to minimize acoustic energy use and search time, and to maximize location accuracy and precision. Finally, a field mission is presented, where a Benthic Rover (an autonomous seafloor vehicle) is localized and tracked using minimal human intervention. This mission shows, as an example, the power of using autonomous vehicles in collaboration for oceanographic research.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Fast discrete homogenization approach for the analysis under out-of-plane loads of unenforced and TRM reinforced masonry panels

A novel discretized homogenization strategy has been developed in order to deal with the analysis of masonry structures. In particular, unenforced and TRM reinforced masonry panels have been simulated under out-of-plane-loads The proposed method provides several advantages when compared with the already existing homogenization approaches. Bricks and mortar have been substituted by elastic cells linked by homogenized interfaces where the non-linear properties are lumped. Such interfaces are modeled as 8-noded 3D bricks along with a Concrete Damage Plasticity model, already available in Abaqus. In fact, the implementation at a structural level of the homogemzed properties results faster and easier. leading to major competitiveness and even ensuring the coupling of the in-plane and out-of-plane actions. The proposed strategy has been tested and validated by comparison with experimental references available in the literature and numerical references, provided by the authors, based on a micro-modeling approach. The results are highly satisfactory in the prediction of the damage pattern and of the global behavior of me analyzed masonry panels.- (undefined

Novel non-linear static numerical model for curved masonry structures based on a combined adaptive limit analysis and discrete FE computations

A new procedure for a fast and comprehensive description of the collapse behavior of curved masonry structures is presented. The first step provides the identification of the exact collapse mechanism and the load-bearing capacity through adaptive NURBS limit analysis. This method is based on the discretization of the masonry vault through very few curved elements, assumed as rigid blocks with internal dissipation allowed only at interfaces, whose shape is iteratively modified until interfaces coincide with the correct position of cracks. On the obtained mechanism, a kinematic non-linear analysis with rigid-softening behavior can be also applied to better understand how the load-bearing capacity decreases during the evolution of the mechanism. A finite element (FE) non-linear static analysis is then applied to obtain the force-displacement curve according to the real elastic-softening behavior. The NURBS optimized model is converted into a discrete FE model composed of three-dimensional elastic units joint together by interfaces where the non-linear mechanical properties are lumped. Within this assumption, non-linear interfaces are applied along the cracks previously found through the limit analysis in a fully automatic way, preventing any mesh dependency effect. Furthermore, the combination of such approaches allows overcoming the respective drawbacks of the methods. Selected masonry arches and vaults are here studied to present the reliability of the presented coupled approach.NSFC - National Natural Science Foundation of China(51576043

Integrating data from vessel monitoring system and fish landings in Menditerranean small fleets, using a PostgreSQL database with PostGIS extension

7th International Workshop on Marine Technology – Martech Workshop 2016, 26-28 October 2016, Barcelona.-- 1 pageGeospatial technologies represent an advance in knowledge of marine ecosystems, allowing approach the study of the potential effect of world fishing fleets and their dynamics. Nevertheless, their application to fisheries biology is very recent and its use is generalizing when the ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) proposed one methodology to study fisheries and their impact in Atlantic Ocean ecosystems in the 2008 year. This procedure is based on the use of position data from the >blue boxes> (VMS-Vessel Monitoring System), mandatory since 2006 due to a European regulation, and it's present in most fishing boats. The junction of the VMS, fishing logbooks and landings data enables us to obtain among others results, maps of fishing effort, behaviour of fishing fleet and precise location of fishing grounds at the European waters. However, its design is made for large trawlers and longliners, and extensive Atlantic areas. This fact makes impossible its application for the study of the fleet and fisheries in Mediterranean waters. Because, the boats are much smaller, have lower mobility and they work in small fishing areas. The aim of this work has been to develop and apply a methodology (ICES based) to study fishing effort on species of commercial interest in Catalan coast, using scripting PL/SQL procedures of PostgreSQL system database with Post- GIS extensionPeer Reviewe

Experimental analysis of the out-of-plane behaviour of a brick masonry wall: preliminary results

Past earthquakes demonstrated that local out-of-plane collapses of brick masonry walls, particularly façades, are common even under moderate loads and a correct interpretation and assessment of their out-of-plane response is still a complex challenge. The present paper aims at contributing to the better understanding of clay brick masonry walls behaviour, through experimental analysis in laboratory environment. An extensive testing programme is carried out in the facility of the University of Minho, encompassing the characterisation of the mechanical properties of the materials through destructive and non-destructive techniques and a quasi-static test with airbag on a clay brick masonry specimen with U-shaped plan. Here, we present and discuss the preliminary results of such a thorough investigation

Encoding the infrared excess (IRX) in the NUVrK color diagram for star-forming galaxies

We present an empirical method of assessing the star formation rate (SFR) of star-forming galaxies based on their locations in the rest-frame color-color diagram (NUV-r) vs (r-K). By using the Spitzer 24 micron sample in the COSMOS field (~16400 galaxies with 0.2 < z < 1.3) and a local GALEX-SDSS-SWIRE sample (~700 galaxies with z = < L_IR / L_UV > can be described by a single vector, NRK, that combines the two colors. The calibration between and NRK allows us to recover the IR luminosity, L_IR, with an accuracy of ~0.21 dex for the COSMOS sample and ~0.27 dex for the local one. The SFRs derived with this method agree with the ones based on the observed (UV+IR) luminosities and on the spectral energy distribution fitting for the vast majority (~85 %) of the star-forming population. Thanks to a library of model galaxy SEDs with realistic prescriptions for the star formation history, we show that we need to include a two-component dust model (i.e., birth clouds and diffuse ISM) and a full distribution of galaxy inclinations in order to reproduce the behavior of the stripes in the NUVrK diagram. In conclusion, the NRK method, based only on rest-frame UV and optical colors available in most of the extragalactic fields, offers a simple alternative of assessing the SFR of star-forming galaxies in the absence of far-IR or spectral diagnostic observations.Comment: 21 pages, 22 figures, in publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic