Modelling Health Impacts of Air Pollution and Their Valuation: An Application to Santiago, Chile

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Effects of Varying Levels of Soil pH on the Preservation and Appearance of Gallus gallus domesticus

Results from past studies noted that the carnivore digestion process results in the enlargement of foramina and expansion of Haversian canals within bones. However, it is not known whether acid erosion from soil produces similar signatures. Although bones are oftentimes found within soil matrices, some at highly acidic levels, and the time spent therein undoubtedly affects the preservation and appearance of the remains, these taphonomic effects are still poorly understood. Most studies on bone surface modification focused on how soil affects bone, particularly the diagenic processes involved, such as root and insect activity. The processes studied included root activity, insect movement, and geologic processes, while mostly ignoring the effects of the actual soil itself. Studies of soil erosion on bones have mainly focused on gastric erosion from carnivore ingestion, but the effects of acidity from soil pH levels is still a poorly-studied area within archaeology. The present study aimed to help elucidate this process by examining the effects of erosion due to soil acidity in a controlled environment. Gallus gallus domestics bones (n=24) were placed in containers filled with soil, whose pH values ranged from 4.5-12.6 for five weeks. This study has far-reaching implications within the field of anthropology, expanding upon previous comparative work on taphonomic signatures from hominid-modified and gastrically-modified remains recovered from fossil assemblages. The results of this study added to the literature base on the ways in which soil acidity affects the appearance of skeletal remains. Results from this study indicated that soil acidity expanded the grooves for biceps brachii muscle attachment like previously observed expansion of foramina from effects of gastric erosion, thus highlighting the need for further research into this process

Letter from R. Bowland to James B. Finley

Mr. Bowland regrets that he may have violated prison rules by writing lengthy letters to his son, Robert. He felt that the letters would prevent Robert from becoming bitter and morbid concerning his own fate. He thanks Rev. Finley for writing him, and asks him to see Robert as often as possible and soothe his wounded pride. He still hopes that Robert will be pardoned. Abstract Number - 1070https://digitalcommons.owu.edu/finley-letters/2054/thumbnail.jp

Robust estimates of value of a statistical life for developing economies

Environmental economists use the value-of-statistical-life (VSL) approach to value mortality changes resulting from environmental improvement. Because of scarce data, VSL estimates are unavailable for most developing countries. Using robust regression techniques, we conduct a meta-analysis of VSL studies in industrialized countries to derive a VSL prediction function for developing economies accounting for differences in risk, income, human capital levels, and other demographic characteristics of these economies. We apply our estimated VSL to assess the willingness to pay for reduction in mortality linked to air pollution in Santiago, Chile. We find willingness-to-pay estimates in the range of 1992 purchasing power parity (PPP) $519,000–675,000 per life

Diet of serval Felis serval in a highland region of Natal

Serval Felis serval diet was determined using faecal analysis. A combination of quantification techniques best illustrated the relative importance of various prey species. Small mammals (Rodentia and Insectívora) accounted for 94% of prey item occurrences. Otomys irroratus was the most important prey species in terms of biomass and number. There was no evidence for servals eating lambs or other medium-sized mammals in the study area

Biotribology of Osteochondral Grafts in the Knee

Osteochondral grafts as a regenerative early intervention therapy provide a solution for the repair of osteochondral defects and in the long-term may prevent the requirement for total knee replacement. The successful application of osteochondral grafts and novel regenerative solutions is heavily reliant on the biomechanical, tribological and biological properties of the constructs. In order to successfully deliver novel early intervention solutions, there is a requirement to develop robust and stratified preclinical test methods. The aims of the project were twofold; firstly, using simple geometry biomechanical and biotribological models, investigate the stability, friction and wear of osteochondral grafts post implantation in the knee. Secondly, develop a method for the preclinical, functional assessment of friction and wear following osteochondral implantation in a natural knee simulation model. Initial biomechanical evaluation of osteochondral grafts indicated that the most significant factor determining graft stability post implantation was the ratio between graft and defect length and tissue species used. Porcine grafts and grafts implanted into defects longer than the graft length, were less inherently stable and subject to subsidence below congruency at lower loads. A simple geometry pin-on-plate reciprocating friction model was used to investigate the effects of osteochondral grafts on the tribology of the opposing articulating cartilage surface. Osteochondral grafts were compared with the native state (negative control), cartilage defects and stainless steel pins inserted both flush and proud of the cartilage surface (positive controls). The ability of osteochondral grafts to restore a congruent, low friction and wear articulation was evaluated. The simple geometry study demonstrated that osteochondral grafts have the potential to restore the articular surface without significantly disrupting the local tribology. A whole joint natural knee simulator capable of reproducing the physiological conditions in the knee was used to develop a novel preclinical test method to evaluate the friction and wear properties of osteochondral grafts in a porcine knee model. In summary, increased wear levels did not correlate with significant increases in shear force; osteochondral grafts demonstrated the potential to restore a low friction and wear articulation with no significant differences to the native state. The development of the simulation model represents a significant step in the preclinical testing of osteochondral grafts and may be applied to test regenerative osteochondral interventions, disease models and aid in the development of stratified interventions

'Black gold' or ' the excrement of the devil'? : Examining the traditional and emerging theories of oil governance and the challenges for Africa.

While a vast body of literature exists examining the causal mechanisms behind the negative effects of natural resource abundance on economic growth – the so-called ‘natural resource curse’ - an emerging body of literature can be seen which provides a more holistic perspective on natural resource governance. This emerging literature is especially relevant for the African continent, where the challenges of poverty, low levels of good governance, and histories of conflict and authoritarianism, make natural resource governance even more complex. Thus this study makes an in-depth examination of both the traditional and emerging literature in order to examine the shift that has occurred in the literature. To provide practical relevance to this literary shift, this study proceeds with two independent case studies of Ghana and Uganda. By practically analysing the existing institutional, legislative and regulatory frameworks in both countries, this study examines the areas of variation in the current practices as opposed to the policy prescriptions of the emerging literature. In this way this study makes recommendations for the future of petroleum governance in both countries