Perception costs of reproduction can magnify sexual selection

We outline two avenues for future research:(1) in model organisms (for example, D. melanogaster), manipulating perception costs in males of varying quality and subsequently testing whether this results in an increase or decrease of male fitness variance; and (2) comparing short-term (that is, no perception costs) versus long-term estimations of male fitness variance in single cohorts via meta-analysis or ad hoc behavioural experiments

Molecular identification of six species of Calliphoridae (Diptera) with forensic interest in Bogotá, Colombia

Taxonomic identification of the species involved in the processes of cadaveric decomposition is a fundamental procedure in forensic entomological analysis. Among the species involved in the processes of decay, those of the Calliphoridae family are particularly important because they come to the body in the early stages of decomposition. The aim of this research is to identify six species of Calliphoridae (Calliphora nigribasis, Calliphora vicina, Compsomyopsis verena, Sarconesiopsis magellanica, Chrysomia albiceps and Roraimomusca roraima) with forensic interest found in Bogotá. For that, sequences of 599 bp from mitochondrial gene COII wereas obtained. The identification was made by analysis of genetic distances under Jukes-Cantor model. The results showed levels of interspecific distances greater than 3.7%, while intraspecifics levels does not exceed 2.3%. The genetic distances obtained were used to construct a phenogram under the Maximum Likelihood model and the topology of that tree agrees with the current taxonomic organization for the family Calliphoridae family

Solid phase extraction of copper traces using poly (styrene-divinylbenzene) membrane disks modified with pyridoxal salicyloylhydrazone in water samples

A simple technique for the isolation, concentration and matrix simplification of Cu(II) ion in natural waters is proposed. This method has been developed using poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) membrane disks modified with the synthesized ligand pyridoxal salicyloylhydrazone (PSH). The retained ions on the disks were eluted with 10mL 1mol L 1 HNO3 and measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry at 324.8nm. The influence of pH, amount of ligand, type and amount of eluent for the stripping of copper ion from the membrane over extraction efficiency were evaluated. Extraction efficiencies 499% were obtained by elution of the disks with minimal amount of solvent with a preconcentration factor up to 100. The precision of the method for 10 replicate measurements of aqueous solutions containing 40 mg L 1 Cu(II) was 1.5% at significance level of 95%. The breakthrough volume for 5 mg of Cu(II) was found to be 1000mL and the detection limit of the method was 4ngL 1 of metalion. The present method was successfully applied to the extraction and determination of copper in lake and sea waters

Evaluación de la contaminación física, química y bacteriológica del agua del río Nanay en los tramos: bocatoma agua potable/zanjón refinería Iquitos-Loreto-2018

The objective of this research is to evaluate the physical, chemical and bacteriological contamination of the water of the Nanay river – drinking water intake intake – Pampachica and Petroperú Refinery trench, located in the province of Loreto, Peru; during the months of August and December of the year 2018. The physical analysis used the HASH-Electrometric technique to measure electrical conductivity, pH and air temperature. In the chemical analysis, the techniques of titration, colorimetry, and spectrometry were used, and in the bacteriological analysis, the technique of multiple NMP fermentation tubes was used. Four stationary reference points 500 m above and 500 m below were taken for in situ and laboratory analyses. The results of the problem samples of the physical parameters were found: pH with a variation of 6.03 in the intake 500 m below the pH unit to 6.07 pH unit in the intake 500 m above the drinking water catchment and chemical parameters: Dissolved oxygen from 0.97 mg/L to 1.75 mg/L of the water in the Petroperú intake and refinery, which presents a high risk level for the aquatic environment, normalized by Supreme Decree No. 004-2017 -MINAM, which approves Environmental Quality Standards (ECA); for water, the average iron ranges between 0.83 mg/L – 8.16 mg/L which does not present what is admissible in the standards of the World Health Organization and the European Union.Esta investigación tiene como objetivo evaluar la contaminación física, química y bacteriológica del agua del rio Nanay – bocatoma de captación de agua potable – Pampachica y zanjón Refinería Petroperú, localizado en la provincia de Loreto, Perú; durante los meses de agosto y diciembre del año 2018. El análisis físico, utilizó la técnica de HASH-Electrométrico para medir conductibilidad eléctrica, pH y temperatura del aire. En el análisis químico se utilizó las técnicas de titulación, colorimetría, espectrometría y en el análisis bacteriológico se usó la técnica de los tubos múltiples de fermentación NMP. Se tomaron cuatro puntos de referencia estacionarias a 500 m arriba y 500 m abajo para los análisis in situ y laboratorio. Se encontró los resultados de las muestras problemas de los parámetros físicos: pH con una variación de 6,03 en Bocatoma a 500 m abajo unidad de pH a 6,07 unidad de pH en la Bocatoma a 500 m arriba de captación de agua potable y parámetros químicos: Oxígeno disuelto de 0,97 mg/L a 1,75 mg/L del agua en la Bocatoma y refinería Petroperú, la cual presenta un nivel de alto riesgo para el medio acuático, normalizada por el Decreto Supremo No 004-2017-MINAM, que aprueban Estándares de Calidad Ambiental (ECA); para agua el hierro el promedio oscila entre 0,83 mg/L – 8,16 mg/L el cual no presenta lo admisible en los estándares de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y Unión Europea

When are Cartels more likely to be formed or broken? The role of business cycles

The literature presents mixed contributions about the economic conditions under which cartels form and collapse, and about how stable they are across firm-specific and industry-wide business cycles. The relationship between cartel life cycles and business cycles has not been sufficiently analyzed to date. In this paper, we study in depth whether collusion is pro-cyclical or counter-cyclical. We analyze the relationship between cartel startups/breakups and economic cycles using a dataset of sanctioned cartels by the European Commission that were active between 1997 and 2012, after the leniency program had already been introduced. We also double check whether this relationship has changed with respect to the pre-leniency period from 1991 to 1996. Our results show that cartels are more likely to be formed in upturns, but that cartels tend to breakup also in booms. Upturns in economic cycles appear to cause cartel turnovers: existing cartels die while new ones are set up. Collusion appears to be pro-cyclical with respect to cartel creation, while it seems to be counter-cyclical with regard to cartel demise

Cartel destabilization effect of leniency programs

This paper investigates the theoretically and empirically unsettled question of the effect of the leniency programs on cartel duration, cartel fines and the length of the investigation. The fact that leniency programs were implemented in two different jurisdictions (EU and Spain) at different moments of time, and the exogeneity of the date of introduction, allow us to identify and quantify the effect of the programs on the outcomes using difference-in-difference program evaluation techniques. We empirically show that leniency programs destabilize existing cartels in the short run as expected from theory and previous empirical papers, and then dissuade the creation of new cartels in the long run. Deterrence effects dominate empirically in the long run, although theoretically they might not dominate, and previous empirical findings were inconclusive. Fines per firm increase substantially after the introduction of the leniency policy, despite whistleblowing firms are partially or totally exempted from fines. The duration of the investigation increases with the introduction of the leniency programs. Leniency programs have sharp and clear short-run cartel destabilization and long-run cartel dissuasion effects

Managers' expectations, business cycles and cartels' life cycle

The literature presents mixed findings regarding the economic conditions under which cartels form and collapse, and regarding how stable they are across firm-specific and industry-wide business cycles. The relationship between cartel life cycles and business cycles has been insufficiently analyzed to date. In this paper, we study in depth whether collusion is pro-cyclical or counter-cyclical. We analyze the relationship between cartel start-ups/break ups and economic cycles using a dataset of sanctioned cartels by the European Commission (EC) that were active between 1997 and 2018, after the leniency program had already been introduced. We also double check whether this relationship has changed with respect to the pre-leniency period from 1991 to 1996. Our results show that cartels are more likely to be formed when the business has evolved positively in the previous months, and cartels are less likely to collapse when the business has evolved positively, and managers expect prices to decline. The EC's sanctioning activity has been an effective deterrent and has had a destabilizing effect on cartels. However we found no evidence that managers' expectations on prices affect cartel formation. All these results are an important issue for anti-cartel policy enforcement since knowing when cartels are more prone or less likely to occur would help authorities prevent their formation or their early detection

25 years of leniency programs: a turning point in cartel prosecution

This contribution reviews what we know about the effectiveness of leniency or amnesty programs in cartel prosecutions. Leniency programs have gradually been adopted by as many as 53 competition policy jurisdictions around the globe during the last 25 years. We show that the available evidence supports that the leniency programs have had a strong impact on anti-cartel policy design and effectiveness. (...

Determination of ultra-trace amounts of silver in water by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry using a new modified carbon paste electrode

A highly sensitive and selective new procedure for the determination of silver in aqueous media was developed using a modified carbon paste electrode (MCPE) by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The modified electrode was based on the incorporation of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde benzoylhydrazone (2-HBBH) in the carbon paste electrode. Silver ions were preconcentrated on the modified electrode at open-circuit by complexation with the ligand and reduced to zero valent at a potential of 0V, and followed by the reoxidation of adsorbed ions on to the electrode by scanning the potential in a positive direction. The oxidation peak of Ag (I) was observed at 0.2V (versusAg/AgCl). The analysis of Ag (I) was carried out in a cell containing the sample solution (20mL) buffered by 0.1molL 1K2HPO4/NaOH at pH 5.5 in aqueous solution and nitric acid (pH1) in real water samples. The optimum conditions for the analysis of silver include are duction potential of 0V and a pulse amplitude of 100mV, among others. The optimum carbon paste composition was found to be 14.1% (w/w) 2-HBBH, 56.2% (w/w) graphite powder and 29.7%(w/w) paraffin oil. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetric response was used as the analytical signal. Under the selected conditions, the voltammetric signal was proportional to the Ag(I) concentration in the range of 0.001–100 μg L 1 with favorable limits of detection and quantification of 1.1ngL 1 and 3.7ngL 1 after 3 min of accumulation time, respectively. By increasing the accumulation time to 10 min, detection and quantification limits can be further improved up to 0.1ngL 1 and 0.34ngL 1, respectively. In addition, the results showed a highly reproducible procedure showing a relative standard deviation of 1.5% for 12 replicate measurements. Many coexisting metal ions were investigated and very few interferences were found on the determination of Ag(I). The proposed method was validated using certified reference estuarine waters (SLEW-3) with a relative error of 1.3% and applied to the determination of silver ions in three river water samples collected from Guadalquivir river (relative errors of þ3.4%, þ1.5% and 0.7%). Moreover,the method was successfully applied to the speciation analysis of total silver, free silver ions and silver nanoparticles in aqueous solutions. The results were in good agreement with those obtained by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)