Liouville Models of Black Hole Evaporation

We construct new theories of dilation gravity coupled to conformal matter which are exact $c=26$ conformal field theories and presumably consistent frameworks for discussing black hole physics in two dimensions. They differ from the CGHS equations in the precise dilaton dependence of the cosmological constant. A further modification proposed by Strominger with a view to eliminating unphysical ghost Hawking radiation is also considered. The new classical equations of motion are explicitly soluble, thus permitting an exact analysis of both static and dynamic senarios. While the static solutions are physically reasonable, the dynamical solutions include puzzling examples with wrong-sign Hawking radiation. We indicate how the latter problem may be resolved in the full quantum theory.Comment: 27 pages, revised ("Note Added" is expanded to show how careful treatment of quantum effects makes the Hawking radiation rate proportional to N/12 rather than (N-24)/12 and also to show that the cosmic censorship mechanism proposed by Russo et.al. for a somewhat different model works for our model as well. New references are added and the preprint number is corrected.) PUPT-132

Is Inverse Demand Perverse?

Our non-representative sample of 245 undergraduates had significantly lower scores on questions presented in the standard heterogeneous form (i.e., Direct Demand equation and Inverse Demand graph) than on questions presented in non-standard homogenous forms. This result, which holds for advanced students, highlights one reason why 95 percent of students in economics principles classes do not enter the major---economics can be gratuitously mathematical. We argue that the Inverse Demand standard hurts rather than helps economics when it is used in early courses, but that professors have no incentive to change their methods. We recommend that early classes use either no graphs or a homogenous combination of graph and equation. The standard should be introduced later, when benefits outweigh costs.Demand and Price Analysis,

THE YEAR 2000: A FOOD INDUSTRY FORECAST

Agribusiness,

The scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of the Maltese Archipelago

Past works on scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) from the Maltese Archipelago are reviewed. Based on the literature and contemporary collections, a total of 93 species of scale insects belonging to 12 scale insect families are here reported (Aclerdidae 1 species; Asterolecaniidae 4; Coccidae 17; Diaspididae 46; Eriococcidae 5; Kermesidae 1; Margarodidae 1; Micrococcidae 1; Monophlebidae 2; Pseudoccocidae 11; Putoidae 2 and Rhizoecidae 2). Of these, 17 species represent new distribution records. Ten species are excluded from the scale insect fauna of the Maltese Islands. Of the 93 species present, only 29 (31.18%) are probably indigenous and the rest (68.82%) represent established introductions from elsewhere. More than 65% of the indigenous species are typical Mediterranean in distribution, with a few species having a mainly European chorotype. A quarter of the established aliens originate from Eurasia, followed by an East Asian/ Oriental component (20.31%); European (14.06%); Neotropical (14.06%); cryptogenic (14.06%); African (7.81%) and Australasian (4.70%). Movement of live fruit trees and ornamental plants into the Maltese Archipelago from nearby countries is probably the main route for entry of alien scale insects into the country. Some possible future introductions are discussed.peer-reviewe

THE NECESSITY OF DEVELOPING RESPONSIBLE USE POLICIES: ADVOCACY FOR USE OF WEB 2.0 TOOLS IN A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COMPUTING PROGRAM

Technology is omnipresent in our modern age: anyone with an Internet connection can use a computer, tablet, or phone to access an unfathomable amount of information. Today, teenagers use e-mail, texting, and social media to stay in nearly constant communication with friends and family anywhere in the world. With so much time spent exchanging ideas in cyberspace, there is an increased likelihood of teachers and students regularly crossing paths electronically for both legitimate academic purposes and social contexts. Without sufficient school district policies to guide these interactions, students and teachers could realistically place themselves in awkward situations and face district sanctions due to inappropriate behavior. The purpose of this project is to develop an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) governing student and teacher computer use that must be reviewed and signed by parents, students, and teachers at the start of every school year. The policy advocacy focuses on inclusion of social media and other Web 2.0 tools as legitimate applications for the classroom. Research provides valuable information regarding responsible ways to utilize Web 2.0 tools to enhance teaching and learning and incorporate them into a school’s repertoire of instructional methodologies. These technologies tap into students’ inherent interests, create opportunities for active learning and higher-order thinking, and prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow’s workplace. However, schools also need to protect students against cyberbullies, online predators, and exposure to inappropriate content. The project concludes that allowing Web 2.0 tools into classrooms while developing responsible computing skills across the curriculum outweighs any perceived risks. The proposal outlines an adoption plan that factors in educational activities, staff development, budget, and progress monitoring

A Microbiomic Approach to the Characterization of the Impacts and Influences of Viral, Bacterial, and Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins on the Bottlenose Dolphin

As apex predators that display high site fidelity Tursiops truncatus (bottlenose dolphin) are indicators of marine ecosystem health. Bottlenose dolphins, additionally, display pathogenesis and immune response similar to that of humans. Humans and coastal bottlenose dolphins, in particular, are constantly exposed to the same industrial, agricultural and domestic toxins and pathogens, contaminants and pollutants. Thus, studies on the bottlenose dolphin are also valuable in bridging the gap between ocean and human health. Bottlenose dolphins are susceptible to viral bacterial and toxin infection. Infection in the bottlenose dolphin manifests itself in the form of mass stranding events, unusual mortality events, chronic infection, clinically expressed disease, and unapparent/sustained infections. The focus of this dissertation project is the role and characterization of microorganisms impact on bottlenose dolphin stranding events. In accordance with the three main contributors of bottlenose dolphin stranding events this dissertation employed molecular techniques and next generation sequencing technology for viral, bacterial and harmful algal bloom toxin assessment on dolphins and model organisms. The viromics portion of this dissertation, for instance, took a random hexamer approach towards purified viral RNA and DNA, contributing 86 viruses from BND serum not previously reported in the BND. The bacteriomics portion of this project, additionally, took a 16sPCR approach towards purified bacterial nucleic acid associated with BND skin, demonstrating differences in bacterial diversity and abundance in coastal and offshore BND ecotypes. The effects of harmful algal bloom domoic acid exposure to zebrafish, finally, took a 16sPCR and qPCR approach to illustrate shifts in zebrafish gut microbiome and changes in transcriptional regulation, respectively