Exploration of the inter-annual variability and multi-scale environmental drivers of European spiny lobster, Palinurus elephas (Decapoda: Palinuridae) settlement in the NW Mediterranean

Determining the drivers of key ecological processes of commercial marine species is important to acquire basic and essential knowledge for fisheries management and conservation. Here we report on a long-term monitoring of the settlement of the European spiny lobster, Palinurus elephas, the most commercially important spiny lobster species in the Mediterranean and north-eastern Atlantic. Densities of recently settled individuals (early benthic juveniles –EBJs) were recorded annually, as an approximation to annual settlement, from 2000 to 2016 (17 years) in three zones of the north-western Mediterranean: Catalonia (CAT), the Columbretes Islands (COL), and the Balearic Islands (BAL). Settlement, the end point that integrate most of the variability occurred during dispersion, is a complex ecological process governed by the interaction of biotic and abiotic factors that can be in turn influenced by the atmospheric and oceanographic conditions. Using linear regression of the size structure of EBJs, we demonstrate that settlement occurs synchronously in the three study zones. Densities of EBJs were handled as time series, and regression analysis revealed that CAT and COL covaried significantly, but none of them with BAL. Therefore, CAT and COL were analysed together using generalized linear model and much of their joint variability was explained by the mesoscale oceanographic index IDEA. Settlement in BAL showed a different pattern, explained by the joint effect of the atmospheric oscillations NAO and WEMO. Complexity of P. elephas settlement cannot be fully accounted neither for CAT-COL nor for BAL because settlement seems be driven by more complex unknown multi-factorial processes. Therefore, further studies are necessary to gain insight into other factors that allow short-or medium-term predictions of settlement. Expanding the study area across the Mediterranean would also allow establishing a complete knowledge of the ecology of the species applicable to the management of the fishery.Versión del edito

Ordinary and Extraordinary Movement Behaviour of Small Resident Fish within a Mediterranean Marine Protected Area

It is important to account for the movement behaviour of fishes when designing effective marine protected areas (MPAs). Fish movements occur across different spatial and temporal scales and understanding the variety of movements is essential to make correct management decisions. This study describes in detail the movement patterns of an economically and commercially important species, Diplodus sargus, within a well-enforced Mediterranean MPA. We monitored horizontal and vertical movements of 41 adult individuals using passive acoustic telemetry for up to one year. We applied novel analysis and visualization techniques to get a comprehensive view of a wide range of movements. D. sargus individuals were highly territorial, moving within small home ranges ( 50 m), where they aggregated to spawn. This study advances our understanding about the functioning of an established MPA and provides important insights into the biology and management of a small sedentary species, suggesting the relevance of rare but important fish behaviours

Sustentabilidad vitivinícola para diferentes tipos de agricultores vitivinícolas

Un Desarrollo Rural Sustentable requiere de sistemas agrícolas sustentables, que sean ecológicamente adecuados, económicamente viables y socio culturalmente aceptables Abbona et al, (2004). Sarandon, (2010), define la agricultura sustentable como aquella que es: suficientemente productiva, económicamente viable, ecológicamente adecuada y cultural y socialmente aceptable. En el contexto de cambio de la vitivinicultura, se hace necesario conocer la sustentabilidad de los mismos. En este caso se usó la tipología que propuesta por Martín, (2009) que plantea tres tipos sociales: productores descapitalizados pluriactivos, productores familiares capitalizados y empresarios. El objetivo de este trabajo fue: analizar, mediante el método propuesto por Sarandón (2002) y el uso de indicadores, la sustentabilidad predial de tres modelos productivos vitivinícolas: productores descapitalizados pluriactivos, productores familiares capitalizados y empresarios, de la 1º zona de Mendoza. La propuesta de metodológica estuvo basada en la metodología de Sarandón (2002) y estaba propuesto realizar tres etapas, de 2 años cada una. En una primera etapa se desarrollaron dos acciones. Lo primero fué buscar y analizar antecedentes e información regional sobre el tema y la segunda acción fue buscar y seleccionar 2 fincas del departamento de Lujan de Cuyo que fueran representativas, para cada tipo social, factibilidad de acceso y predisposición de los agricultores. En una segunda etapa se caracterizaría, a través del enfoque sistémico, el funcionamiento de los agroecosistemas en tres dimensiones: ambiental-ecológica, tecnológica, y socioeconómica. Y en una tercera etapa: se construirán indicadores para evaluar la sustentabilidad de los sistemas agrícolas, Se logró la primera etapa y se pudo: conceptualizar y profundizar el concepto de sustentabilidad integral y su aplicación en la agronomía, proponer variables con potencial de indicadores de sustentabilidad y seleccionar las fincas.A Sustainable Rural Development requires sustainable agricultural systems that are environmentally suitable, economically viable and culturally acceptable (Abbona et al, 2004). Sarandon (2010) defines sustainable agriculture as one that is: productive enough, affordable, ecologically appropriate and culturally and socially acceptable. In the context of the viticulture changes, it is necessary to study their sustainability. In this case we take the typology proposed by Martin, 2009 that summarizes it in three social types: pluriactive undercapitalized producers, family farmers and entrepreneurs capitalized. The objective of this work was to analyze, through the method proposed by Sarandón (2002) and the use of indicators, the property sustainability of three vitivinícolas production models: pluriactively de-capitalized producers, capitalized family producers and entrepreneurs, from the first zone of Mendoza. The methodological proposal was based on the methodology of Sarandon (2002) and was proposed to perform three stages, each of 2 years. In the first stage two actions were developed. The first was to seek and analyze regional background and information on the subject; And the second action was to search and select 2 farms in the department of Lujan de Cuyo that were representative for each social type, feasibility of access and predisposition of farmers. In a second stage, the systemic approach would characterize the functioning of agroecosystems in three dimensions: environmental-ecological, technological, and socioeconomic. And in a third stage: indicators will be constructed to evaluate the sustainability of agricultural systems, The first stage was achieved and it was possible to: conceptualize and deepen the concept of integral sustainability and its application in agronomy, propose variables with potential for sustainability indicators and successful selection of farms.Trabajo publicado en Filippini, María Flavia (comp.). Congreso Internacional Aguas, Ambiente y Energía de la Asociación de Universidades Grupo Montevideo: Resúmenes de trabajos. Mendoza: Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, 2017.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Diseño y validación del protocolo de medida para el espectrorradiómetro Ocean Optics USB2000+ en aplicaciones con sensores aeroportados y a bordo de satélite

Las medidas de campo obtenidas mediante espectrorradiómetros son una pieza clave para el trabajo en sinergia con imágenes de sensores aeroportados y a bordo de satélite. Sin embargo, existe muy poca información sobre los detalles técnicos de su funcionamiento. El objetivo de este estudio es establecer y validar el protocolo de medida óptimo de un espectrorradiómetro que opera en espectro visible e infrarrojo cercano. Consideramos el protocolo a seguir para la medida en el campo de reflectividades de objetos naturales y artificiales, y lo validamos con medidas hiperespectrales capturadas simultáneamente por sensores aeroportados. El espectrorradiómetro utilizado es el Ocean Optics USB2000+ (200-1100nm) y los sensores aeroportados son CASI-550 (410-962 nm) y AISA Eagle II (406-994nm)

Sustentabilidad vitivinícola para diferentes tipos de agricultores vitivinícolas

Un Desarrollo Rural Sustentable requiere de sistemas agrícolas sustentables, que sean ecológicamente adecuados, económicamente viables y socio culturalmente aceptables Abbona et al, (2004). Sarandon, (2010), define la agricultura sustentable como aquella que es: suficientemente productiva, económicamente viable, ecológicamente adecuada y cultural y socialmente aceptable. En el contexto de cambio de la vitivinicultura, se hace necesario conocer la sustentabilidad de los mismos. En este caso se usó la tipología que propuesta por Martín, (2009) que plantea tres tipos sociales: productores descapitalizados pluriactivos, productores familiares capitalizados y empresarios. El objetivo de este trabajo fue: analizar, mediante el método propuesto por Sarandón (2002) y el uso de indicadores, la sustentabilidad predial de tres modelos productivos vitivinícolas: productores descapitalizados pluriactivos, productores familiares capitalizados y empresarios, de la 1º zona de Mendoza. La propuesta de metodológica estuvo basada en la metodología de Sarandón (2002) y estaba propuesto realizar tres etapas, de 2 años cada una. En una primera etapa se desarrollaron dos acciones. Lo primero fué buscar y analizar antecedentes e información regional sobre el tema y la segunda acción fue buscar y seleccionar 2 fincas del departamento de Lujan de Cuyo que fueran representativas, para cada tipo social, factibilidad de acceso y predisposición de los agricultores. En una segunda etapa se caracterizaría, a través del enfoque sistémico, el funcionamiento de los agroecosistemas en tres dimensiones: ambiental-ecológica, tecnológica, y socioeconómica. Y en una tercera etapa: se construirán indicadores para evaluar la sustentabilidad de los sistemas agrícolas, Se logró la primera etapa y se pudo: conceptualizar y profundizar el concepto de sustentabilidad integral y su aplicación en la agronomía, proponer variables con potencial de indicadores de sustentabilidad y seleccionar las fincas.A Sustainable Rural Development requires sustainable agricultural systems that are environmentally suitable, economically viable and culturally acceptable (Abbona et al, 2004). Sarandon (2010) defines sustainable agriculture as one that is: productive enough, affordable, ecologically appropriate and culturally and socially acceptable. In the context of the viticulture changes, it is necessary to study their sustainability. In this case we take the typology proposed by Martin, 2009 that summarizes it in three social types: pluriactive undercapitalized producers, family farmers and entrepreneurs capitalized. The objective of this work was to analyze, through the method proposed by Sarandón (2002) and the use of indicators, the property sustainability of three vitivinícolas production models: pluriactively de-capitalized producers, capitalized family producers and entrepreneurs, from the first zone of Mendoza. The methodological proposal was based on the methodology of Sarandon (2002) and was proposed to perform three stages, each of 2 years. In the first stage two actions were developed. The first was to seek and analyze regional background and information on the subject; And the second action was to search and select 2 farms in the department of Lujan de Cuyo that were representative for each social type, feasibility of access and predisposition of farmers. In a second stage, the systemic approach would characterize the functioning of agroecosystems in three dimensions: environmental-ecological, technological, and socioeconomic. And in a third stage: indicators will be constructed to evaluate the sustainability of agricultural systems, The first stage was achieved and it was possible to: conceptualize and deepen the concept of integral sustainability and its application in agronomy, propose variables with potential for sustainability indicators and successful selection of farms.Trabajo publicado en Filippini, María Flavia (comp.). Congreso Internacional Aguas, Ambiente y Energía de la Asociación de Universidades Grupo Montevideo: Resúmenes de trabajos. Mendoza: Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, 2017.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

An integrated view of data quality in Earth observation

Data quality is a difficult notion to define precisely, and different communities have different views and understandings of the subject. This causes confusion, a lack of harmonization of data across communities and omission of vital quality information. For some existing data infrastructures, data quality standards cannot address the problem adequately and cannot fulfil all user needs or cover all concepts of data quality. In this study, we discuss some philosophical issues on data quality. We identify actual user needs on data quality, review existing standards and specifications on data quality, and propose an integrated model for data quality in the field of Earth observation (EO). We also propose a practical mechanism for applying the integrated quality information model to a large number of datasets through metadata inheritance. While our data quality management approach is in the domain of EO, we believe that the ideas and methodologies for data quality management can be applied to wider domains and disciplines to facilitate quality-enabled scientific research

The Guadiaro-Baños contourite drifts (SW Mediterranean). A geotechnical approach to stability analysis

Two Quaternary plastered contourite drifts, with terraced and low-mounded morphologies, make up the continental slope and base-of-slope in the northwestern Alboran Sea, respectively, between the Guadiaro and Baños turbidite systems, close to the Strait of Gibraltar. Considering their significant lateral extent, the link between the contourite drift deposits and landslides may be particularly important for hazard assessment. The physical properties, composition and geometry of contourite drifts have been proposed as key factors in slope stability, although this relationship still needs to be better constrained. In this work, new in-situ geotechnical data (cone penetration tests; CPTu) has been combined with morphostratigraphic, sedimentological, and (laboratory) geotechnical properties to determine the stability of the Guadiaro-Baños drifts. For the depositional domains of both drifts, the resulting sedimentary and geotechnical model describes low-plasticity granular and silty sands on the erosive terraced domain that evolve seawards to silty and silty-clay deposits with a higher plasticity and uniform geomechanical properties. For the shallower coarse-grained contourite sediments, the cohesion (c') and internal friction angle (ϕ') values are 0–9 kPa and 46–30°, respectively, whereas for the distal fine contourites the undrained shear strength gradient (∇Su) is 2 kPa/m. These properties allow us to establish high factors of safety for all the scenarios considered, including seismic loading. Slope failure may be triggered in the unlikely event that there is seismic acceleration of PGA > 0.19, although no potential glide planes have been observed within the first 20 m below the seafloor. This suggests that the contourite drifts studied tend to resist failure better than others with similar sedimentary characteristics. The interplay of several processes is proposed to explain the enhanced undrained shear strength: 1) the geometry of the drifts, defined by an upper contouritic terrace and lower low-mounded shapes; 2) recurrent low-intensity earthquakes with insufficient energy to trigger landslides, favouring increased strength due to dynamic compaction; and 3) cyclic loading induced by solitons/internal waves acting on the sediment.En prens

Prodromal symptoms and the duration of untreated psychosis in first episode of psychosis patients: what differences are there between early vs. adult onset and between schizophrenia vs. bipolar disorder?

To assess the role of age (early onset psychosis-EOP < 18 years vs. adult onset psychosis-AOP) and diagnosis (schizophrenia spectrum disorders-SSD vs. bipolar disorders-BD) on the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and prodromal symptoms in a sample of patients with a first episode of psychosis. 331 patients with a first episode of psychosis (7–35 years old) were recruited and 174 (52.6%) diagnosed with SSD or BD at one-year follow-up through a multicenter longitudinal study. The Symptom Onset in Schizophrenia (SOS) inventory, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the structured clinical interviews for DSM-IV diagnoses were administered. Generalized linear models compared the main effects and group interaction. 273 AOP (25.2 ± 5.1 years; 66.5% male) and 58 EOP patients (15.5 ± 1.8 years; 70.7% male) were included. EOP patients had significantly more prodromal symptoms with a higher frequency of trouble with thinking, avolition and hallucinations than AOP patients, and significantly different median DUP (91 [33–177] vs. 58 [21–140] days; Z = − 2.006, p = 0.045). This was also significantly longer in SSD vs. BD patients (90 [31–155] vs. 30 [7–66] days; Z = − 2.916, p = 0.004) who, moreover had different profiles of prodromal symptoms. When assessing the interaction between age at onset (EOP/AOP) and type of diagnosis (SSD/BD), avolition was significantly higher (Wald statistic = 3.945; p = 0.047), in AOP patients with SSD compared to AOP BD patients (p = 0.004). Awareness of differences in length of DUP and prodromal symptoms in EOP vs. AOP and SSD vs. BD patients could help improve the early detection of psychosis among minors

On a Clique-Based Integer Programming Formulation of Vertex Colouring with Applications in Course Timetabling

Vertex colouring is a well-known problem in combinatorial optimisation, whose alternative integer programming formulations have recently attracted considerable attention. This paper briefly surveys seven known formulations of vertex colouring and introduces a formulation of vertex colouring using a suitable clique partition of the graph. This formulation is applicable in timetabling applications, where such a clique partition of the conflict graph is given implicitly. In contrast with some alternatives, the presented formulation can also be easily extended to accommodate complex performance indicators (``soft constraints'') imposed in a number of real-life course timetabling applications. Its performance depends on the quality of the clique partition, but encouraging empirical results for the Udine Course Timetabling problem are reported