An Improvement Study of the Decomposition-based Algorithm Global WASF-GA for Evolutionary Multiobjective Optimization

The convergence and the diversity of the decompositionbased evolutionary algorithm Global WASF-GA (GWASF-GA) relies on a set of weight vectors that determine the search directions for new non-dominated solutions in the objective space. Although using weight vectors whose search directions are widely distributed may lead to a well-diversified approximation of the Pareto front (PF), this may not be enough to obtain a good approximation for complicated PFs (discontinuous, non-convex, etc.). Thus, we propose to dynamically adjust the weight vectors once GWASF-GA has been run for a certain number of generations. This adjustment is aimed at re-calculating some of the weight vectors, so that search directions pointing to overcrowded regions of the PF are redirected toward parts with a lack of solutions that may be hard to be approximated. We test different parameters settings of the dynamic adjustment in optimization problems with three, five, and six objectives, concluding that GWASF-GA performs better when adjusting the weight vectors dynamically than without applying the adjustment.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Variation of bone mineral density induced by exercise in postmenopausal women

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la variación de la densidad mineral ósea (DMO) en columna lumbar (CL) y cuello femoral (CF).MÉTODO: 77 mujeres con osteopenia y menopausia, formaron cuatro grupos. Dos con ejercicio físico: uno tratamiento de estrógeno/Calcitonina (n=16), y otro ingesta de Calcio/Vitamina D (n=7). Dos sin ejercicio físico, uno tratamiento estrógeno/Calcitonina (n=27) y otro ingesta Calcio/Vitamina D (n=27). El ejercicio consistió en Fuerza Muscular (65% a 75% de 1RM) y multisaltos de baja a moderada intensidad. La DMO se midió mediante absorciometría. RESULTADOS: En ANOVA 2x2 se encontró homogeneidad (p<0,05) en la DMO tanto en CL y CF entre los tratamientos farmacológicos y nutricionales, heterogeneidad entre los grupos activos y sedentarios (CL p<0,05, CF p<0,01) y heterogeneidad en la interacción (p<0,01) de ambos tratamientos con el ejercicio físico. CONCLUSIONES: El ejercicio físico programado junto con los tratamientos habituales conduce a un mayor incremento de la DMO de en mujeres postmenopáusicasOBJECTIVE: Assess the variation of Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in Lumbar Spine (LS) and Femoral Neck (FN). METHOD: 77 postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Four groups, two groups with exercise: one Estrogen/Calcitonin treatment (n=16), another supplement Calcium/Vitamin D (n=7); two groups without exercise, one Estrogen/Calcitonin treatment (n=27), and another supplement Calcium/Vitamin D (n=27). The exercise program consisted of resistance training (65% to 75% 1RM) and multi-jumps of low-to-moderate intensity. The BMD was evaluated by absorptiometry. RESULTS. ANOVA 2x2, homogeneity (p<0,05) in the BMD in both LS and FN between the pharmacological and nutritional treatments, and heterogeneity between the active and sedentary groups (LS p <0,05, FN p<0,01) as also in the interaction (p<0,01) of the pharmacological/nutritional treatments with the physical exercise were found. CONCLUSION. Physical exercise program with the usual treatments, lead to a greater increase in the BMD of LS and FN in postmenopausal wome

Selectivity of 130 mm Mesh Size in Deep Sea Bottom Trawl Fishery in NAFO Regulatory Area

In February 1995 the European Union carried out a selectivity survey on board a Spanish commercial trawler, using the codend-cover method. The objective was to study the selectivity of 130 mm mesh size for the deep sea trawl fisheries in the NAFO Regulatory Area. One hour and four hour hauls were carried out and results obtained for Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides), roughhead grenadier (Macrourus berglax) and threebeard rockling (Gaidropsarus ensis). For the two flatfish species, the proportion of retention increased with the duration of the haul. This increase reflected in a decrease of the corresponding selection factor. It also varied with the size of fish. The selection factor was greater in smaller individuals, and this induced an asymmetry in the selectivity curve. For the groundfish species, data were enough only to fit the four hour selectivity curves, which appeared more symmetrical than the flatfish ones

Selectivity of 130 mm Mesh Size in Deep Sea Bottom Trawl Fishery in NAFO Regulatory Area

In February 1995 the European Community carried out .a selectivity campaign on board of a Spanish commercial trawler, using the codend cover method. The objective was to study the selectivity of 130 mm mesh size for the deep sea trawl fisheries in the NAFO Regulatory Area. One hour and four hour hauls were used and results obtained for Greenland halibut, American plaice, roughhead grenadier and theebeard rockling. For the two flatfish species the proportion of retention increase with the duration of the haul. This increase, reflected in a decrease of the corresponding selection factor, also varies with the size of fish, being greater in smaller individuals, and induces an asymmetry in the selectivity curve. For the roundfish species data were enough only to fit the four hour selectivity curves, both appearing more symmetrical than the flatfishes ones

Maturity Ogives Analysis of European Hake from Southern Stock

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Reproductive strategies of common dentex Dentex dentex: management implications

The common dentex Dentex dentex is an iconic endangered species in the Mediterranean, where it is a target species that is sought after for small-scale, recreational and spearfishing fisheries. The reproductive biology of D. dentex in the natural environ¬ment is poorly known; therefore, the reproductive strategy of the species was assessed through a combination of reproductive traits and growth characteristics (estimated from length-at-age data), the size/age of sexual maturity and the energetic dynamics. A total of 358 wild fish, ranging in total length (LT) from 19 to 84.7 cm, was sampled at Mallorca Island (Western Mediterranean) from March 1996 to June 1999. The sex ratio was skewed towards females (1.361); however, the length composition was not different between sexes (p = 0.551). Three young immature individuals (< 28 cm LT, 0.8% individuals) were rudimentary hermaphrodites, offering support for classification as a late gonochoristic species. The age composition, determined based on the sagittal otolith, ranged from 0 to 26 years (yr). The von Bertalanffy growth function did not differ between sexes (F = 2.58, p = 0.762): L∞ =76.581 cm, K = 0.127 yr-1, t0 = -2.335 in a combined function. The maturity ogives for size and age showed that females achieved 50% maturity at 34.922 cm LT and 3.3 yr, and males, at 33.812 cm LT and 2.5 yrs. The onset of annual ripening took place in December, whereas vitellogenesis occurred from February to April. The spawning peak was in April and May for both males and females. A generalised linear model (GLM) showed that female size did not significantly affect the spawning season, whilst the seasonal component affected both the onset and end of spawning (GLM, p < 0.005). The gonadosomatic index (IG), hepatosomatic index (IH) and relative condition index (KR) varied significantly with the reproductive season for females, and IG varied for males. The microscopic observation of the gonads showed that fecundity is likely determinate, with an asynchronous oocyte development before spawning and a clear ovarian bimodal organization after the onset of spawning. The oocyte density variance of 85% was explained by the oocyte diameter, which also offered support for the trait of determinate fecundity. Female weight explained 84% of the observed variance for fecundity. Liver storage seemed to be the primary source of energy for maturity, which suggests a combination of capital and income breeding. The results suggested a reproductive strategy of type A, with balanced trade-offs be¬tween survival, growth and reproduction. At present, no management measures are being directed to D. dentex; herein, we suggest a minimum landing size of 35 cm LT to ensure a higher proportion of larger fish to preserve the stockVersión del editor0,568

Combined effects of spray‐drying conditions and postdrying storage time and temperature on Salmonella choleraesuis and Salmonella typhimurium survival when inoculated in liquid porcine plasma

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the spray-drying process on the inactivation of Salmonella choleraesuis and Salmonella typhimurium spiked in liquid porcine plasma and to test the additive effect of immediate postdrying storage. Commercial spray-dried porcine plasma was sterilized by irradiation and then reconstituted (1:9) with sterile water. Aliquots of reconstituted plasma were inoculated with either S. choleraesuis or S. typhimurium, subjected to spray-drying at an inlet temperature of 200°C and an outlet temperature of either 71 or 80°C, and each spray-drying temperature combinations were subjected to either 0, 30 or 60 s of residence time (RT) as a simulation of residence time typical of commercial dryers. Spray-dried samples were stored at either 4·0 ± 3·0°C or 23·0 ± 0·3°C for 15 days. Bacterial counts of each Salmonella spp., were completed for all samples. For both Salmonella spp., spray-drying at both outlet temperatures reduced bacterial counts about 3 logs at RT 0 s, while there was about a 5·5 log reduction at RT 60 s. Storage of all dried samples at either 4·0 ± 3·0°C or 23·0 ± 0·3°C for 15 days eliminate all detectable bacterial counts of both Salmonella spp.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Acoustic detection of larval fish aggregations in Galician waters (NW Spain)

14 páginas, 3 tablas, 7 figurasAn acoustic study was conducted on the Galician shelf (NW Spain) during late winter 2012 to detect and assess larval fish abundance. An echo sounder operating with 18, 38, 70, 120 and 200 kHz split-beam, hull-mounted transducers was employed. We analysed the acoustic records in order to describe vertical and horizontal distribution patterns of larval fish aggregations. Regressions between acoustic backscattered energy and density of the most abundant species (Micromesistius poutassou) indicated that larvae with a swimbladder incremented notably the acoustic response at 38, 70 and 120 kHz. However, the predicted acoustic resonance at larval size and depth shows that the frequency of 120 kHz was likely ineffective in detecting fish larvae. The contribution of zooplankton (fish larvae excluded) to total scattering was negligible, even at the higher frequencies, except for several groups of fluid-like zooplankton, such as chaetognaths and polychaetes. Horizontal and vertical distributions of acoustic backscattering also indicated that larval fish aggregations can be detected in Galician waters with acoustics and suggest that this technique is a useful tool for overcoming difficulties associated with larval ecology and fish recruitment studiesVersión del editor2,483

The Organizational Account of Function is an Etiological Account of Function

The debate on the notion of function has been historically dominated by dispositional and etiological accounts, but recently a third contender has gained prominence: the organizational account. This original theory of function is intended to offer an alternative account based on the notion of self-maintaining system. However, there is a set of cases where organizational accounts seem to generate counterintuitive results. These cases involve cross-generational traits, that is, traits that do not contribute in any relevant way to the self-maintenance of the organism carrying them, but instead have very important effects on organisms that belong to the next generation. We argue that any plausible solution to the problem of cross-generational traits shows that the organizational account just is a version of the etiological theory and, furthermore, that it does not provide any substantive advantage over standard etiological theories of function