Fisheries-based approach to disentangle mackerel (Scomber scombrus) migration in the Cantabrian Sea

Mackerel is an important commercial pelagic species present in the western and eastern North Atlantic. The Northeast Atlantic Mackerel (NEAM) stock has its southernmost spawning area mainly located western Iberian Peninsula and southern Biscay. This species performs extensive annual migrations. The present study is focused on the distribution of this species along the Cantabrian Sea, an essential area of the South Spawning Component (SSC), and the environmental drivers that can affect its migration phenology. We have used data from Vessel Monitoring System and Logbooks of the hand line fishery to estimate the catch per unit of effort (CPUE) as a proxy of its distribution and abundance. CPUEs data of fisheries targeting NEAM provided us with a tool to discriminate the most important predictors for both its prespawning and the postspawning behavior. Among the drivers that can affect mackerel migration, we have analyzed wind speed and direction, temperature at surface (SST) and at 200 m depth, chlorophyll a, mixed layer depth, upwelling intensity, and the most representative geographical variables: depth, slope of the seafloor, and distance to coast. We used generalize additive models to highlight the predictors most closely related to the phenology of the species and to shape the spatial–temporal abundance of NEAM in the southern Bay of Biscay waters. Temperature and wind speed and direction are the most important factors that affect prespawning and postspawning migration of NEAM SSC and shape its niche tracking leading to a gradual advance of the spawning season.Postprint2,04

Beitrag zur Flora der Niederrheinischen Braunkohlenformation

Seit dem Erscheinen von O. WEBER'S Tertiärflora der niederrheinischen Braunkohleformation im 2. und 4. Bande der Palaeontographica (1852 und 1856) sind zwar von verschiedenen Seiten Mitteilungen über Funde fossiler Pflanzen aus dem niederrheinischen Tertiärgebiete gemacht worden, immerhin aber war die Zahl neuer Pflanzenfunde gering; es war daher zu begrüßen, daß im Laufe der letzten Jahre eine größere Anzahl von Pflanzenresten in den Besitz der Königlich Preußischen Geologischen Landesanstalt bzw. der geologischen Sammlung der Technischen Hochschule in Aachen gelangte, welche im Folgenden beschrieben werden sollen

Trophic mechanisms underlying bentho-demersal community recovery in the north-east Atlantic

En prens

The Utility of "Even if..." Semifactual Explanation to Optimise Positive Outcomes

When users receive either a positive or negative outcome from an automated system, Explainable AI (XAI) has almost exclusively focused on how to mutate negative outcomes into positive ones by crossing a decision boundary using counterfactuals (e.g., \textit{"If you earn 2k more, we will accept your loan application"}). Here, we instead focus on \textit{positive} outcomes, and take the novel step of using XAI to optimise them (e.g., \textit{"Even if you wish to half your down-payment, we will still accept your loan application"}). Explanations such as these that employ "even if..." reasoning, and do not cross a decision boundary, are known as semifactuals. To instantiate semifactuals in this context, we introduce the concept of \textit{Gain} (i.e., how much a user stands to benefit from the explanation), and consider the first causal formalisation of semifactuals. Tests on benchmark datasets show our algorithms are better at maximising gain compared to prior work, and that causality is important in the process. Most importantly however, a user study supports our main hypothesis by showing people find semifactual explanations more useful than counterfactuals when they receive the positive outcome of a loan acceptance

Size-spectra across geographical and bathymetric gradients reveal contrasting resilient mechanisms of recovery between Atlantic and Mediterranean fish communities

En prens

Recent MOST space photometry

The Microvariability and Oscillations of STars (MOST) photometric satellite has already undertaken more than 64 primary campaigns which include some clusters and has obtained observations of >850 secondary stars of which ~180 are variable. More than half of the variables pulsate, with the majority being of B-type. Since 2006 January, MOST has operated with only a single CCD for both guiding and science. The resulting increase in read-out cadence has improved precision for the brightest stars. The 2007 light curve for Procyon confirms the lack of predicted p-modes with photometric amplitudes exceeding 8 ppm as we found in 2004 and 2005. p-modes have been detected in other solar-type stars as well as pre-main sequence objects, roAp and delta Scuti variables. g-modes have been detected in a range of slowly pulsating B stars, Be stars and beta Cephei variables. Differential rotation has been defined for several spotted solar-type stars and limits set to the albedo of certain transiting planets and the presence of other perturbing planets. The mission is expected to continue as long as the experiment operates.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, from HELAS-II meetin

Tourism Hub - Junagadh: A Analytical Study

Rajasthan, a land of courage and bravery, is full of colors. Where the fort and the palace are unmatched in mesmerizing their beauty and valor stories. One of the many forts of Rajasthan, the fort of Bikaner Junagadh is a wonderful example of architectural crafts, geographical location, and unique art decoration. The foundation of which was laid by Maharaja Rai Singh of Bikaner on 30 January 1585 AD. It was completed on 12 February 1594 AD. This Dhanwan fort is built of red stones and attracts tourists due to its beauty