Digital Commons Network^™

The Incremental Retributive Impact Of A Death Sentence Over Life Without Parole, Michael L. Radelet

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

In this paper, the author takes a closer look at retribution, which is the primary justification for the death penalty today in the United States and the main component of the additional punishment imposed by the death penalty over and above life imprisonment without parole (LWOP). While all criminal punishments, to varying degrees, punish both the inmate and his or her family, this paper argues that the death penalty’s added punishment over LWOP often punishes the family just as much as the inmate, and after the execution the full brunt of the punishment falls on the family. This added impact …

Retention And Reform In Japanese Capital Punishment, David T. Johnson

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Article focuses on the failure of abolition and of death penalty reform in Japan in order to illustrate contingencies in the trajectory of capital punishment in the modern world. Part I describes three facts about postwar Japan that help explain why it retains capital punishment today: a missed opportunity for abolition during the American occupation of the country after World War II; the long-term rule of a conservative political party; and economic and geopolitical power that has enabled the country to resist the influence of international norms. Part II describes a few ways in which Japanese capital punishment has …

Issue 8

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

The Complement System And Schizophrenia: What If A Psychological Disorder Could Be Treated By Targeting Part Of The Innate Immune Response?, Sarah Hughes

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

No Amygdala, No Worries, Ilana Ascher

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Acknowledgements

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Crossword Corner, Rachel Dan

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Crossword Corner, Rachel Dan

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

The Science Of Cute: What Makes Us Say "Aww!", Allison Murphy

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Crossword Corner, Rachel Dan

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Law's Emotions, Robin West

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

This article explores the intersection of the law and emotions and claims that U.S. law is not only impacted by emotions, but also produces four distinct types of emotions in our society.

2016 Faculty Accomplishments Reception, University Of Richmond

Faculty Accomplishments Reception Programs

Program for the 2016 Faculty Accomplishments Reception

In Honor of University of Richmond Faculty Contributions to Scholarship, Research and Creative Work, January 2015 - December 2015

February 19, 2016, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Boatwright Memorial Library, Research & Collaborative Study Area, First Floor

Forum Magazine, Fall 2016

Forum Magazine

No abstract provided.

Transformation Of Heroes In Film, Allison Connelly Toner

Honors Theses

Heroes research is not a new field, and it is widely accepted that in order for a hero to be accepted as such, he or she must undertake a journey during which he or she transforms in some marked way. The aim of this research is to understand the nature of that transformation in terms of 24 character strengths. This was achieved by watching the top grossing films of all time adjusted for inflation and coding for the transformation of the protagonists on a 1-5 scale. Ten traits were found to have a mean transformation of 1 point or greater, …

Dognition : The Effect Of Pet Ownership On Cognition In Older Adults, Molly Mcsweeney

Honors Theses

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of pet ownership on cognition in older adults. Previous research has indicated that interactions with pets are associated with improved mental and physical health in humans. We predicted that these benefits of human-pet interactions will extend to expose superior cognitive functioning in cat-owning or dog-owning older adults as compared to older adults who do not own pets. More specifically, we hypothesized that dog-owners would perform significantly better than cat-owners and non-pet owners on cognitive tasks as owning a dog requires exceeding attention, training, and exercise. We tested this effect …

Food Insecurity In Nepal : A Cross-Sectional Analysis From 75 Districts, Aarti Reddy

Honors Theses

There are a number of studies regarding food insecurity, but not many that investigate the simultaneous relationships between food insecurity and the measures of well-being (health, education and gender equality). This paper conducts a district-level cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between food insecurity and the measures of well-being in Nepal using an ordered probit model. Instrument variables are used in a two-stage analysis to address the problem of endogeneity. The study finds that health deprivation levels significantly affect levels of food insecurity in a district but education and gender literacy disparity are less significant. Addressing issues of endogeneity and multicolinearity …

Impact Of Vector Range Expansion On Pathogen Transmission Dynamics Of Lyme Disease In Southwestern Virginia, Bishan Bhattarai

Honors Theses

Blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis is the primary vector of Lyme disease in eastern United States. Borrelia Burgdorfei, the etiological agent of Lyme disease is transferred by ticks of Ixodes species. In recent years, its congener, Ixodes affinis has been expanding its range northwards from its southern population. We were interested in studying how the introduction of this new vector affected the interaction between the pathogen genotype and the host. We hypothesized that differential host use by I. affinis and I. scapularis would partly explain observed differences in B. burgdorferi infection prevalence and genotypic structure in southeastern Virginia. The result …

The 1994 Rwandan Genocide: The Religion/Genocide Nexus, Sexual Violence, And The Future Of Genocide Studies, Kate E. Temoney

Department of Religion Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

In recent genocides and other conflicts—for example, the Sudan, Burma, and now Iraq—sexual violence and religion have received increasing but modest systematic treatment in genocide studies. This essay contributes to the nascent scholarship on the religious and sexual dimensions of genocide by providing a model for investigating the intersections among religion, genocide, and sexual violence. I treat the Rwandan genocide as a case study using secondary and primary sources and proffer the reinforcing typologies of “othering,” justification, and authorization as an investigatory tool. I further nuance the influences of religion on forms of sexual violation by arguing that religion …

Masculinities In Cyberspace: An Analysis Of Portrayals Of Manhood In Men’S Rights Activist Websites, Rachel M. Schmitz, Emily Kazyak

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

A growth in cultural ideologies concerned with men and masculinities in contemporary American society has recently emerged. Men’s rights activist (MRA) groups embody a movement emphasizing the crisis of masculinity. Despite men’s privileged societal status, MRAs seek to establish resources for men to utilize in elevating their perceived subordinated position in society in relation to women and social minorities. Little research has systematically investigated MRAs on the Internet, which is rapidly becoming a primary source of information and social connectedness for people. Through a content analysis of the 12 most prominent MRA websites, we explore the various strategies used by …

Low Resting Metabolic Rate In Exercise-Associated Amenorrhea Is Not Due To A Reduced Proportion Of Highly Active Metabolic Tissue Compartments, Karsten Koehler, Nancy I. Williams, Rebecca J. Mallinson, Emily A. Southmayd, Heather C.M. Allaway, Mary Jane De Souza

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Exercising women with menstrual disturbances frequently display a low resting metabolic rate (RMR) when RMR is expressed relative to body size or lean mass. However, normalizing RMR for body size or lean mass does not account for potential differences in the size of tissue compartments with varying metabolic activities. To explore whether the apparent RMR suppression in women with exercise-associated amenorrhea is a consequence of a lower proportion of highly active metabolic tissue compartments or the result of metabolic adaptations related to energy conservation at the tissue level, RMR and metabolic tissue compartments were compared among exercising women with amenorrhea …

Aquaculture Depredation By Double-Crested Cormorants Breeding In Eastern North America, Elizabeth C. Craig, D. Tommy King, Jed P. Sparks, Paul D. Curtis

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) has undergone population expansion throughout much of its historical range since the 1970s, resulting in increased pressure on foraging habitats including real and perceived competition with commercial and sport fisheries and impacts on the aquaculture industry. The specific objectives of this study were to determine the stable isotope ratios of birds wintering at aquaculture facilities and natural freshwater and marine habitats, and to determine what percent of birds at distinct breeding colonies wintered in each of these habitats. We exploited natural variation in isotopic ratios of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur (from feathers) to …

Evaluation Of Estimation Quality Of A General Paradigm For Indexing Animal Abundance When Observations Are Counts, Benjamin Shulman, Brandie D. Wagner, Gary K. Grunwald, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Relative abundance indices are widely applied to monitor wildlife populations. A general indexing paradigm was developed for structuring data collection and validly conducting analyses. This approach is applicable for many observation metrics, with observations made at stations through the area of interest and repeated over several days. The variance formula for the general index was derived using a linear mixed model, with statistical tests and confidence intervals constructed assuming Gaussian-distributed observations. However, many observation methods, like intrusions to track plots or camera traps, involve counts with many zeroes, producing Poisson-like observations. To fill this inferential gap between Gaussian analytical assumptions …

Report To The Chicago Park District On Conflicts With Ring-Billed Gulls And The 2015 Integrated Ring-Billed Gull Damage Management Project, M. L. Bloomquist, J.W. Hartmann, C.K. Pullins, T.G. Guerrant, S. F. Beckerman, R. M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The large ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) population in the City of Chicago has caused various conflicts including general nuisance, property damage, economic losses, and threats to human health and safety. Several studies have shown a relationship between ring-billed gulls and increased levels of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) in nearshore waters. Results of tests for E. coli have led to the issuance of swim advisories at Chicago beaches. The objectives of the Chicago Ring-billed Gull Damage Management Project were to (1) reduce the local production of ring-billed gulls, (2) reduce the …

Identification Of Kill Sites From Gps Clusters For Jaguars (Panthera Onca) In The Southern Pantanal, Brazil, Eric M. Gese, Patricia Terletzky, Sandra M. C. Cavalcanti

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Context. Understanding predator–prey relationships is important for making informed management decisions. Knowledge of jaguar (Panthera onca) predation on livestock and native prey is imperative for future conservation of jaguars in Central and South America.

Aim. As part of an investigation to determine predation patterns of jaguars in the southern Pantanal, Brazil, we examined spatial, temporal and habitat variables, which are useful in categorising location clusters as kill sites and non-kill sites.

Methods. Using GPS-collars on 10 jaguars we obtained a total of 11 784 locations, from which 877 clusters were identified, visited and examined for …

Optimization Of Scat Detection Methods For A Social Ungulate, The Wild Pig, And Experimental Evaluation Of Factors Affecting Detection Of Scat, David A. Keiter, Fred L. Cunningham, Olin E. Rhodes Jr., Brian J. Irwin, James C. Beasley

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Collection of scat samples is common in wildlife research, particularly for genetic capturemark- recapture applications. Due to high degradation rates of genetic material in scat, large numbers of samples must be collected to generate robust estimates. Optimization of sampling approaches to account for taxa-specific patterns of scat deposition is, therefore, necessary to ensure sufficient sample collection. While scat collection methods have been widely studied in carnivores, research to maximize scat collection and noninvasive sampling efficiency for social ungulates is lacking. Further, environmental factors or scat morphology may influence detection of scat by observers. We contrasted performance of novel radial search …

Effects Of Simulated Removal Activities On Movements And Space Use Of Feral Swine, Justin W. Fischer, Dan Mcmurty, Chad R. Blass, W. David Walter, Jeff Beringer, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Abundance and distribution of feral swine (Sus scrofa) in the USA have increased dramatically during the last 30 years. Effective measures are needed to control and eradicate feral swine populations without displacing animals over wider areas. Our objective was to investigate effects of repeated simulated removal activities on feral swine movements and space use.We analyzed location data from 21 feral swine that we fitted with Global Positioning System harnesses in southern MO, USA. Various removal activities were applied over time to eight feral swine before lethal removal, including trapped-and-released, chased with dogs, chased with hunter, and chased with …

Widespread Detection Of Highly Pathogenic H5 Influenza Viruses In Wild Birds From The Pacific Flyway Of The United States, S. N. Bevins, R. J. Dusek, C. L. White, T. Gidlewski, B. Bodenstein, K. G, Mansfield, P. Debruyn, D. Kraege, E. Rowan, C. Gillin, B. Thomas, S. Chandler, J. A. Baroch, B. S. Schmit, M. J. Grady, R. S. Miller, M. L. Drew, S. Stopak, B. Zscheile, J. Bennett, J. Sengl, Caroline Brady, H. S. Ip, E. Spackman, M. L. Killian, M. K. Torchetti, J. M. Sleeman, T. J. Deliberto

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A novel highly pathogenic avian influenza virus belonging to the H5 clade 2.3.4.4 variant viruses was detected in North America in late 2014. Motivated by the identification of these viruses in domestic poultry in Canada, an intensive study was initiated to conduct highly pathogenic avian influenza surveillance in wild birds in the Pacific Flyway of the United States. A total of 4,729 hunter-harvested wild birds were sampled and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was detected in 1.3% (n = 63). Three H5 clade 2.3.4.4 subtypes were isolated from wild birds, H5N2, H5N8, and H5N1, representing the wholly Eurasian lineage H5N8 …

Vertebrate Host Susceptibility To Heartland Virus, Angela M. Bosco-Lauth, Amanda E. Calvert, J. Jeffrey Root, Tom Gidlewski, Brian H. Bird, Richard A. Bowen, Atis Muehlenbachs, Sherif R. Zaki, Aaron C. Brault

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Heartland virus (HRTV) is a recently described phlebovirus initially isolated in 2009 from 2 humans who had leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Serologic assessment of domestic and wild animal populations near the residence of 1 of these persons showed high exposure rates to raccoons, white-tailed deer, and horses. To our knowledge, no laboratory-based assessments of viremic potential of animals infected with HRTV have been performed. We experimentally inoculated several vertebrates (raccoons, goats, chickens, rabbits, hamsters, C57BL/6 mice, and interferon-α/β/γ receptor–deficient [Ag129]) mice with this virus. All animals showed immune responses against HRTV after primary or secondary exposure. However, neutralizing antibody responses were …

Tracking A Deadly Virus Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza In Wild Birds, Tom Deliberto, Gail Keirn

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

For Dennis Kohler, the call was somewhat unexpected. On a cold, windy morning in December 2014, Kohler sat in his Colorado office reviewing research plans for upcoming disease studies. A few hours later, Koehler's colleagues at the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis., called to notify him and other members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Wildlife Disease Program (NWDP) that recent samples collected from wild birds in Washington State had tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Earlier that month, a die-off of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), American wigeon (A. Americana) and northern …

Pathogen Emergence In The Age Of Pandemics, Sarah N. Bevins

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The emergence of novel or previously rare pathogens is not new. Throughout recorded history, catastrophic mortality has followed the arrival of new infectious diseases to areas that had no previous experience with the offending agent. The second plague pandemic, more commonly known as the Black Death, was caused by a bacterium that originated in China but then spread throughout Asia, Europe, and Africa via the Silk Road and other routes of commerce. The emergence of rinderpest in Africa, associated with Asian cattle imported by European colonists, killed millions of domestic livestock and wild animal species in the 1890s. The result …