Relative abundance of pelagic sharks in the western North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea

Little information exists on the status of pelagic shark populations in the Atlantic Ocean, especially in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. We derived indices of relative abundance for pelagic sharks based on mandatory logbooks and observer reports from a scientific observer program of the United States (US) pelagic longline fleet. Time series data from the pelagic longline logbook program (1986-2005) and the pelagic longline observer program (1992-2005) were standardized with Generalized Linear Model (GLM) procedures. Declines in relative abundance for the 6 pelagic shark species or genera examined in the logbook data analysis ranged from 43% for mako sharks, Isurus spp., to 88% for blue sharks, Prionace glauca, whereas declines in relative abundance obtained from the observer data analysis were less accentuated than those in the logbook data analysis, with the trend being positive for night sharks, Carcharhinus signatus, and thresher sharks, Alopias spp. There was no significant change in the fork length at capture over the time period considered for blue sharks, shortfin makos Isurus oxyrinchus, or night sharks. The trends obtained must be viewed cautiously given recognized shortcomings, especially of the logbook dataset, and the highly migratory nature of pelagic sharks, which requires a more comprehensive evaluation of trends throughout their range

The Status of the United States Population of Night Shark, Carcharhinus signatus

Night sharks, Carcharhinus signatus, are an oceanic species generally occurring in outer continental shelf waters in the western North Atlantic Ocean including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Although not targeted, night sharks make up a segment of the shark bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery. Historically, night sharks comprised a significant proportion of the artisanal Cuban shark fishery but today they are rarely caught. Although information from some fisheries has shown a decline in catches of night sharks, it is unclear whether this decline is due to changes in fishing tactics, market, or species identification. Despite the uncertainty in the decline, the night shark is currently listed as a species of concern due to alleged declines in abundance resulting from fishing effort, i.e. overutilization. To assess their relevance to the species of concern list, we collated available information on the night shark to provide an analysis of its status. Night shark landings were likely both over- and under-reported and thus probably did not reflect all commercial and recreational catches, and overall they have limited relevance to the current status of the species. Average size information has not changed considerably since the 1980’s based on information from the pelagic longline fishery when corrected for gear bias. Analysis of biological information indicates night sharks have intrinsic rates of increase (r) about 10% yr–1 and have moderate rebound potential and an intermediate generation time compared to other sharks. An analysis of trends in relative abundance from four data sources gave conflicting results, with one series in decline, two series increasing, and one series relatively flat. Based on the analysis of all currently available information, we believe the night shark does not qualify as a species of concern but should be retained on the prohibited species list as a precautionary approach to management until a more comprehensive stock assessment can be conducted

Life history and population dynamics of the finetooth shark (Carcharhinus isodon) in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico

The life history and population dynamics of the finetooth shark (Carcharhinus isodon) in the north-eastern Gulf of Mexico were studied by determining age, growth, size-at-maturity, natural mortality, productivity, and elasticity of vital rates of the population. The von Bertalanffy growth model was estimated as Lt=1559 mm TL (1–e–0.24 (t+2.07)) for females and Lt = 1337 mm TL (1–e–0.41 (t+1.39)) for males. For comparison, the Fabens growth equation was also fitted separately to observed size-at-age data, and the fits to the data were found to be similar. The oldest aged specimens were 8.0 and 8.1 yr, and theoretical longevity estimates were 14.4 and 8.5 yr for females and males, respectively. Median length at maturity was 1187 and 1230 mm TL, equivalent to 3.9 and 4.3 yr for males and females, respectively. Two scenarios, based on the results of the two equations used to describe growth, were considered for population modeling and the results were similar. Annual rates of survivorship estimated through five methods ranged from 0.850/yr to 0.607/yr for scenario 1 and from 0.840/yr to 0.590/yr for scenario 2. Productivities were 0.041/yr for scenario 1 and 0.038/yr for scenario 2 when the population level that produces maximum sustain-able yield is assumed to occur at an instantaneous total mortality rate (Z) equaling 1.5 M, and were 0.071/yr and 0.067/yr, when Z=2 M for scenario 1 and 2, respectively. Mean generation time was 6.96 yr and 6.34 yr for scenarios 1 and 2, respectively. Elasticities calculated through simulation of Leslie matrices averaged 12.6% (12.1% for scenario 2) for fertility, 47.7% (46.2% for scenario 2) for juvenile survival, and 39.7% (41.6% for scenario 2) for adult survival. In all, the finetooth shark exhibits life-history and population characteristics intermediate to those of sharks in the small coastal complex and those from some large coastal species, such as the blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)

Desarrollo de un videojuego de lucha en Unity

[ES] Actualmente, la industria de los videojuegos, se ha convertido en una explotación cuya continua expansión es innegable. Como fruto de ello, han llegado al mercado diferentes herramientas que facilitan el desarrollo de estos. A lo largo del tiempo, ha ido evolucionando no solo el concepto de videojuego en sí, sino también el de videoconsola, hasta el punto de encontrar en el mercado, una gran variedad de hardware que compite con una serie de especificaciones realmente avanzadas a los origines de estas, las máquinas recreativas. Así, este proyecto consiste en el desarrollo de un videojuego ambientado en el entorno de las máquinas recreativas, la llamada temática “arcade”, que comprende un estilo de lucha clásico y que se ha desarrollado con la herramienta de desarrollo de videojuegos Unity.[CA] Actualment, l’industria dels videojocs, s’ha convertit en una explotació de la qual es innegable parlar de las seua continua expansió. Com fruït d’això, han aplegat al mercat diferents ferramentes que faciliten el desenvolupament d’aquests. Al llarg del temps, ha anat evolucionant no sols el concepte de videojoc en sí, si no també el de videoconsola, fins al punt de trobar al mercat, una gran varietat de hardware que competeix amb una sèrie d’especificacions realment avançades als orígens d’aquestes, les màquines recreatives. Així, aquest projecte consisteix en el desenvolupament d’un videojoc ambientat en el entorn de les màquines recreatives, l’anomenada temàtica “arcade”, que compren un estil de lluita clàssic i que s’ha desenvolupat amb la ferramenta de desenvolupament de videojocs Unity.[EN] Nowadays, the industry of video games has become a one whose continuous expansion is undeniable. As a result of this, many different tools have arrived at market that allow us to develop video games. Over time, the concept of video games has evolved and, most important, the concept of video game consoles too. Now, you can see in the market a lot of hardware that compete with specifications that are too much far of his origins, the arcade machines. This project consists in a development of a video game with the environment of arcade machines, that it has a classic fighting style, and it has been developed with Unity, a huge tool to develop video games.Bonet Cortés, E. (2019). Desarrollo de un videojuego de lucha en Unity. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/124354TFG

Nieto Calmaestra, José Antonio y Egea Jiménez, Carmen (2019). Colectivos en desventaja social y habitacional. La geografía de las desigualdades

Obra ressenyada: José Antonio NIETO CALMAESTRA y Carmen EGEA JIMÉNEZ, Colectivos en desventaja social y habitacional. La geografía de las desigualdades. Granada: Universidad de Granada, 2019

Neural Networks Principal Component Analysis for Estimating the Generative Multifactor Model of Returns under a Statistical Approach to the Arbitrage Pricing Theory: Evidence from the Mexican Stock Exchange

A nonlinear principal component analysis (NLPCA) represents an extension of the standard principal component analysis (PCA) that overcomes the limitation of the PCA's assumption about the linearity of the model. The NLPCA belongs to the family of nonlinear versions of dimension reduction or the extraction techniques of underlying features, including nonlinear factor analysis and nonlinear independent component analysis, where the principal components are generalized from straight lines to curves. The NLPCA can be achieved via an artificial neural network specification where the PCA classic model is generalized to a nonlinear mode, namely, Neural Networks Principal Component Analysis (NNPCA). In order to extract a set of nonlinear underlying systematic risk factors, we estimate the generative multifactor model of returns in a statistical version of the Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT), in the context of the Mexican Stock Exchange. We used an auto-associative multilayer perceptron neural network or autoencoder, where the 'bottleneck' layer represented the nonlinear principal components, or in our context, the scores of the underlying factors of systematic risk. This neural network represents a powerful technique capable of performing a nonlinear transformation of the observed variables into the nonlinear principal components, and to execute a nonlinear mapping that reproduces the original variables. We propose a network architecture capable of generating a loading matrix that enables us to make a first approach to the interpretation of the extracted latent risk factors. In addition, we used a two stage methodology for the econometric contrast of the APT involving first, a simultaneous estimation of the system of equations via Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR), and secondly, a cross-section estimation via Ordinary Least Squared corrected by heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation by means of the Newey-West heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation consistent covariances estimates (HEC). The evidence found shows that the reproductions of the observed returns using the estimated components via NNPCA are suitable in almost all cases; nevertheless, the results in an econometric contrast lead us to a partial acceptance of the APT in the samples and periods studied

Extraction of the underlying structure of systematic risk from Non-Gaussian multivariate financial time series using Independent Component Analysis. Evidence from the Mexican Stock Exchange

Regarding the problems related to multivariate non-Gaussianity of financial time series, i.e.,unreliable results in extraction of underlying risk factors - via Principal Component Analysis or Factor Analysis-, we use Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to estimate the pervasive risk factors that explain the returns on stocks in the Mexican Stock Exchange. The extracted systematic risk factors are considered within a statistical definition of the Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT), which is tested by means of a two-stage econometric methodology. Using the extracted factors, we find evidence of a suitable estimation via ICA and some results in favor of the APT

Comparison of Statistical Underlying Systematic Risk Factors and Betas Driving Returns on Equities

The objective of this paper is to compare four dimension reduction techniques used for extracting the underlying systematic risk factors driving returns on equities of the Mexican Market. The methodology used compares the results of estimation produced by Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Factor Analysis (FA), Independent Component Analysis (ICA), and Neural Networks Principal Component Analysis (NNPCA) under three different perspectives. The results showed that in general: PCA, FA, and ICA produced similar systematic risk factors and betas; NNPCA and ICA produced the greatest number of fully accepted models in the econometric contrast; and, the interpretation of systematic risk factors across the four techniques was not constant. Additional research testing alternative extraction techniques, econometric contrast, and interpretation methodologies are recommended, considering the limitations derived from the scope of this work. The originality and main contribution of this paper lie in the comparison of these four techniques in both the financial and Mexican contexts. The main conclusion is that depending on the purpose of the analysis, one technique will be more suitable than another

Satellite tagging of shortfin mako for habitat use and post-release survival: progress report for SRDCP

This paper provides an update of two projects developed within the ICCAT Shark Research and Data Collection Program (SRDCP) using satellite telemetry, specifically a study on habitat use and another on post-release survival. Currently, all phase 1 (2015-2016) tags (23 tags: 9 miniPATs and 14 sPAT) have been deployed by observers on Portuguese, Uruguayan and US vessels in the temperate NE, temperate NW and SW Atlantic. A total of 668 tracking days have been recorded. In terms of post-release survivorship, data from 19 tags/specimens is available. From those, 6 specimens died (31.6%) while the remaining 13 (68.4%) survived the first 30 days after tagging. All planned project milestones and deliverables have been achieved and delivered in due time. For the 2nd phase of the project (2016-2017) 12 miniPATS were acquired and will be deployed during 2017 in various regions of the Atlantic, including temperate, tropical and equatorial waters.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio