Competitive Effects of Partial Ownership: Financial Interest and Corporate Control

In this article, we set up an economic framework for analyzing the competitive effects of partial ownership interests. We have three main goals. First, we conceptually derive and explain the competitive effects of partial ownership, explaining its key elements and drawing analogies to the key ideas behind the analysis of horizontal mergers. Second, we present a general framework for evaluating the competitive effects of partial ownership that is analogous to, but at the same time recognizes key differences in the standard analysis for evaluating horizontal mergers. Third, we examine several methods of quantifying these competitive effects

Factors Influencing Asiatic Oak Weevil Interactions with Native Ecosystem Engineers Over Time

I sought to build a model to predict current and future abundance of Asiatic oak weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cyrtepistomus castaneus) by using the relative abundance of leaf tying and leaf rolling caterpillars. The Asiatic oak weevil is an exotic species that has been observed inside leaf ties and leaf rolls made by native Lepidoptera caterpillars. Chapter one is a review of the known relationships between animal constructs and exotic species. Within this review I transition from natural structures, to animal architects, and to ecosystem engineers and how they have a population dynamic impact on the invasive species. I also discuss the mechanisms behind why the exotic species is using the construct, and the ecological implications for the engineer and the natural community. In chapter two I present the meta-data analysis I performed on the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project data that were collected over a period of 11 years. The focus of this analysis was to evaluate which variables are important for understanding the relationship between Asiatic oak weevils and leaf tying caterpillars and the relationships between Asiatic oak weevils and leaf rolling caterpillars. I found four main relationships. First, canopy counts from both types of shelter builders can be used to accurately predict Asiatic oak weevil abundance. The second finding was that if we are evaluating a region where the trees are mostly the same age then having understory and canopy counts from either group of shelter builders will increase the accuracy of predicting Asiatic oak weevils in that region. Third, clear cutting has a dramatic impact on the abundance of many species of insects including shelter building species and the Asiatic oak weevil. Finally, one can predict Asiatic oak weevil abundance two and three years into the future, based on the abundance of leaf rolling caterpillar

Hazardous Materials Transportation Flow Survey: An Evaluation of Hazardous Materials Transported in Washington County.

This study examines the transportation of hazardous materials through Washington County, Tennessee. This study incorporates federal, state, and local data in assessing current transportation trends. Data gathering activities included local chemical inventories, hazardous materials transportation flow surveys, hazardous materials rail transportation trends, and hazardous materials incident data. All data were compiled and then analyzed to identify hazardous materials transportation trends in Washington County, Tennessee. This information is pertinent to emergency planners for the preparation of hazardous materials transportation incidents. The data gathered further revealed the need for this type of study to identify changing trends in the transportation of hazardous materials through Washington County, Tennessee. This type of study is essential in identifying risks posed from the transportation of hazardous materials through rural communities