Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Managing The Spread Of Alfalfa Stem Nematodes (Ditylenchus Dipsaci): The Relationship Between Crop Rotation Periods And Pest Re-Emergence, S. Jordan, Claudia Nischwitz, R. Ramirez, Luis F. Gordillo

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Alfalfa is a critical cash/rotation crop in the western region of the United States, where it is common to find crops affected by the alfalfa stem nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci). Understanding the spread dynamics associated with this pest would allow growers to design better management programs and farming practices. This understanding is of particular importance given that there are no nematicides available against alfalfa stem nematodes and control strategies largely rely on crop rotation to non-host crops or by planting resistant varieties of alfalfa. In this paper we present a basic host-parasite model that describes the spread of the …

How The Magnitude Of Prey Genetic Variation Alters Predator-Prey Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics, Michael H. Cortez

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Evolution can alter the stability and dynamics of ecological communities; for example, prey evolution can drive cyclic dynamics in predator-prey systems that are not possible in the absence of evolution. However, it is unclear how the magnitude of additive genetic variation in the evolving species mediates those effects. In this study, I explore how the magnitude of prey additive genetic variation determines what effects prey evolution has on the dynamics and stability of predator-prey systems. I use linear stability analysis to decompose the stability of a general eco-evolutionary predator-prey model into components representing the stabilities of the ecological and evolutionary …

Sexual Assault And The Doctrine Of Chances In The Courtroom, Ryan Wallentine

Research on Capitol Hill

Sexual assault can have devastating and long-lasting effects on victims, but many assailants get away with their crime without being prosecuted.

The doctrine of chances is a rule of evidence allowing evidences of past crimes, wrongs, or acts to show it is unlikely a defendant would be repeatedly and innocently involved in similar, suspicious circumstances.

Given that about 63.3% of assailants are repeat offenders, the doctrine of chances could effectively be used in sexual assault cases.

The main objective is to determine a precise probabilistic threshold for allowing the use of the doctrine of chances in sexual assault cases such …