Nonpecuniary Class Action Settlements

Miller and Singer offer a theoretical and empirical analysis of nonpecuniary class action settlements, including coupons, securities and fluid recoveries

Global and radial variations in the efficiency of massive star formation among galaxies

In order to determine the regions within galaxies which give rise to the most efficient star formation and to test the hypothesis that galaxies with high infrared luminosities per unit molecular mass are efficiently producing high mass stars, researchers have undertaken an H alpha imaging survey in galaxies whose CO distributions have been measured as part of the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (FCRAO) Extragalactic CO Survey. From these images researchers have derived global H alpha fluxes and distributions for comparison with far infrared radiation (FIR) fluxes and CO fluxes and distributions. Here, researchers present results on the global massive star formation efficiency (SFE = L sub H sub alpha/M(H2)) as a function of morphological type and environment, and on the radial distribution of the SFE within both peculiar and isolated galaxies. On the basis of comparison of the global L sub H sub alpha/M(H2) and L sub FIR/M(H2) for 111 galaxies, researchers conclude that environment rather than morphological type has the strongest effect on the global efficiency of massive star formation. Based on their study of a small sample, they find that the largest radial gradients are observed in the interacting/peculiar galaxies, indicating that environment affects the star formation efficiency within galaxies as well

Amniotic fluid from healthy term pregnancies does not harbor a detectable microbial community

Abstract Recent studies have conflicting data regarding the presence of intra-amniotic microbiota. Viral communities are increasingly recognized as important although overlooked components of the human microbiota. It is unknown if the developing fetus is exposed to a community of viruses (virome). Given the debate over the existence of an intra-amniotic microbial community and the importance of understanding how the infant gut is populated, we characterized the virome and bacterial microbiota of amniotic fluid from 24 uncomplicated term pregnancies using next-generation sequencing methods. Contrary to expectations, the bacterial microbiota of amniotic fluid was indistinguishable from contamination controls. Viral reads were sparse in the amniotic fluid, and we found no evidence of a core viral community across samples

Net Costs of Wildlife Damage on Private Lands

This study models net welfare impacts on producers who receive utility from on-farm wildlife populations that are not costlessly disposable. Wildlife damage levels where net benefits are zero indicate producers' maximum willingness to pay for on-farm wildlife. An empirical model is developed. Results for Ontario producers suggest the net welfare loss from damage is approximately half of the value of the yield loss for those with damage. In aggregate, however, on-farm wildlife generates net benefits to producers that outweigh costs by about 10-to-1. The distribution of net benefits is highly skewed across producers.random effects probit, tolerance thresholds, wildlife benefits, wildlife damage, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Anolis armouri

Number of Pages: 3Integrative BiologyGeological Science

Genetic variation associated with adaptive traits in the African forest (Loxodonta cyclotis) and savanna elephant (L. africana) [abstract]

Abstract only availableThere are two species of African elephant, the forest (Loxodonta cyclotis) and savanna elephant (L. africana). The savanna elephant is believed to have diverged from the forest species approximately 2.6 million years ago. The different ecologies of the forest and savanna habitat have produced unique adaptations in both species. Variation in behavior and morphological traits are observed between these species, and they likely possess variation in genes underlying adaptive traits. In particular, genetic variation may have helped the savanna elephant adapt to the direct sunlight of the savanna versus the shade of the canopy, and from a browsing diet in the forest that is poor in iron to a grazing diet that is rich in iron. This type of genetic variation is of great importance since patterns of adaptive variation may help predict future effects of adaptive selection in these species. Future conservation efforts may be tailored to fit the species adaptive needs, promoting their long-term survival. We are comparing sequences of genes believed to underlie adaptive mechanisms in both species to determine whether there is variation. DNA was extracted from 15 savanna elephant blood samples and 15 forest elephant fecal samples. We screened three primers used in other species and chose the IRBP and HFE1 loci for amplification and sequencing in the sampled populations. Sequences for both species were aligned and compared. We found variation at the HFE1 locus between the two species. We are currently establishing homology between the elephant sequence and rhinocerous and horse HFE. Once homology is established, we will investigate the nature of the amino acid changes to determine whether they are likely to affect the function of the protein.McNair Scholars Progra

Integrating testing techniques through process programming

Integration of multiple testing techniques is required to demonstrate high quality of software. Technique integration has three basic goals: incremental testing capabilities, extensive error detection, and cost-effective application. We are experimenting with the use of process programming as a mechanism of integrating testing techniques. Having set out to integrate DATA FLOW testing and RELAY, we proposed synergistic use of these techniques to achieve all three goals. We developed a testing process program much as we would develop a software product from requirements through design to implementation and evaluation. We found process programming to be effective for explicitly integrating the techniques and achieving the desired synergism. Used in this way, process programming also mitigates many of the other problems that plague testing in the software development process