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,

Pulsed laser treatment at Fe/C<SUB>6</SUB>H<SUB>6</SUB> interface: a Mossbauer effect study

The pulsed ruby laser induced reactive-quenching process at Fe/C6H6 Ibenzenel has been investigated using conversion electron Mossbauer spectroscopy [CEMS]. It is shown that iron carbide phases can be synthesized when an iron foil immersed in benzene is treated with ruby Laser pulses [&#955;=694 nm, pulse width ~30 ns, energy density =15 J/cm2]. The results indicate the formation of &#949;-carbide and Fe5C2 phases in the as-treated sample and its transformation to Fe3C upon thermal treatment. The result of the CEMS measurements are supported by small angle X-ray diffractometry

Association of Genetic Variants in XPC and XPG Genes with Cervical Cancer Risk in a Rural Population: A Hospital Based Case Control Study

Background: Cervical cancer is a major concern of health risk in urban and rural parts of India.. Aim and Objectives: This study was aimed to find out frequency of polymorphisms in DNA repair genes including Xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C (XPC) and Xenoderma pigmentosum complementation group G (XPG) in patients of cervical cancer from Maharashtra and to evaluate their association with risk of cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: We used polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) to examine gene polymorphisms in 350 patients with cancer of cervix and 400 age and sex matched normal controls. Results: The results obtained indicated that there was no significant difference in the genotype distribution between cervical cancer patients and controls for XPC Lys939Gln, -371promoter and XPG His 1104 Asp. The result showed that genotype frequencies of XPC Val 499 Arg of codon 499 in exon 15 (OR=4.26; 95% CI=(3.007-6.03); p= <0.0001) were increased significantly. Conclusion: This study indicates that polymorphisms in Val499Arg haplotype of XPC gene appear to influence genetic susceptibility of individual to cervical cancer in Maharashtrian patients

Gymnemic acids inhibit hyphal growth and virulence in Candida albicans

Candida albicans is an opportunistic and polymorphic fungal pathogen that causes mucosal, disseminated and invasive infections in humans. Transition from the yeast form to the hyphal form is one of the key virulence factors in C. albicans contributing to macrophage evasion, tissue invasion and biofilm formation. Nontoxic small molecules that inhibit C. albicans yeast-to-hypha conversion and hyphal growth could represent a valuable source for understanding pathogenic fungal morphogenesis, identifying drug targets and serving as templates for the development of novel antifungal agents. Here, we have identified the triterpenoid saponin family of gymnemic acids (GAs) as inhibitor of C. albicans morphogenesis. GAs were isolated and purified from Gymnema sylvestre leaves, the Ayurvedic traditional medicinal plant used to treat diabetes. Purified GAs had no effect on the growth and viability of C. albicans yeast cells but inhibited its yeast-to-hypha conversion under several hypha-inducing conditions, including the presence of serum. Moreover, GAs promoted the conversion of C. albicans hyphae into yeast cells under hypha inducing conditions. They also inhibited conidial germination and hyphal growth of Aspergillus sp. Finally, GAs inhibited the formation of invasive hyphae from C. albicans-infected Caenorhabditis elegans worms and rescued them from killing by C. albicans. Hence, GAs could be useful for various antifungal applications due to their traditional use in herbal medicine

AN APPROPRIATE WELFARE MEASURE OF WILDLIFE DAMAGE

This paper derives the welfare loss to landowners from wildlife damage, which is not the same as the value of yield loss. The paper then estimates the welfare loss to Ontario landowners using willingness to tolerate losses as an indication of on-farm wildlife benefits. Results for Ontario fieldcrop producers in 1998 suggest that the welfare loss is approximately half of the value of the yield loss. A number of variables are significant predictors of willingness to tolerate losses, including wildlife species, prevention activity, changes in local wildlife population levels, and landowners perceptions of the recreational and non-use benefits from wildlife

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

AN APPROPRIATE WELFARE MEASURE OF WILDLIFE DAMAGE

This paper derives the welfare loss to landowners from wildlife damages, which is not the same as the value of yield loss. The paper then estimates the welfare loss to Ontario landowners using willingness to tolerate losses as an indication of on-farm wildlife benefits. Results for Ontario fieldcrop producers in 1998 suggest that the welfare loss is 50% of the value of the yield loss. Willingness to tolerate losses varies by several variables including wildlife species and crop type