Farm Crime and Farmer-Police Relationships in Rural Australia

This article presents select findings from ‘farm crime’ victimisation surveys undertaken in the two most populous Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria. We examine the findings in relation to farmer crime victimisation, their willingness to report crime, and their worry about crime, as well as farmer perspectives on policing generally and the policing of farm crime specifically. In both states, there are high levels of victimisation, high levels of worry, low- to mid-levels of confidence in the police, and there remains a gap between experiences of farm crime and reporting. Both states have police tasked specifically with addressing farm crime. The Victoria Police have Farm Crime Liaison Officers that specialise in assisting with farm related crimes, however this is a voluntary role which forms part of an officer’s larger workload. By contrast, the New South Wales Police Force Rural Crime Prevention Team is a dedicated team consisting of specialised rural crime investigators and intelligence practitioners focused on proactive and preventative interventions in farm crime. Farmers in both states were surveyed regarding their awareness and engagement with these rural policing teams, and we examined how this may shape victimisation, reporting, worry and the relationships between police and farmers. In New South Wales, awareness and direct contact with rural crime police led to both increased satisfaction with police and crime reporting. Respondents with awareness of this team also express significantly less worry of crime, whilst those with direct contact did not. We conclude the article by discussing and contextualising these findings within rural criminology and considering ways forward for the policing of farm crime

Photogrammetric Analysis of the 2013 El Reno Tornado Combined with Mobile X-Band Polarimetric Radar Data

Abstract This study presents rapid-scanning X-band polarimetric radar data combined with photogrammetry of the El Reno tornado of 31 May 2013. The relationship between the hook echo, weak-echo hole (WEH), weak-echo column (WEC), and the rotational couplet with the visual characteristics of the tornado are shown. For the first time, cross-correlation coefficient (ρhv) and differential reflectivity (ZDR) data are included in the photogrammetric analyses. The tornado was accompanied by a large tornadic debris signature (TDS) with a diameter ~2 km wide during the analysis time. The center of the TDS was not collocated with the WEH and the rotational couplet. Instead, the TDS was displaced ~1 km to the north and within the weak-echo notch of the hook echo. A “debris overhang” was identified in vertical cross sections of the ρhv fields. The overhang was located in a weak-echo trench and a notch of high ρhv, consistent with the position of the tornado updraft. The updraft was hypothesized to be carrying small debris particles to heights that produced the overhang signature. A U-shaped band of high ρhv and ZDR was resolved in a vertical cross section and positioned at the periphery of the WEC during one of the analysis times. It was proposed that the band formed as a result of hydrometeors encircling the WEC while being surrounded on all sides by relatively hydrometeor-free air. The characteristics of the scatterers within the WEC were resolved and believed to be composed of a low concentration of very small, randomly oriented, debris particles, even in the presence of strong centrifuging, and a general absence of hydrometeors

Augmenting fighter pilot training with a non-invasive eye-tracking system: An evaluation in an operational training context

Objective & Significance The proposed presentation discusses research indicating that pilot training can be improved using eye tracking technology. This study has been conducted with subject matter experts in an operational training context, demonstrating feasibility for real-world use. Background A pilot’s eye behaviour can give important clues about how they are allocating their attention and what their level of situation awareness is. Eye tracking systems have considerable potential as a training tool, as they provide an accurate and objective way to measure eye behaviour. While many previous systems have been impractical outside of laboratory settings, new console-mounted tools have emerged which enable precise eye and head-tracking without requiring a physical device to be worn by the pilot. The current research involves a mixed methods study of a console-mounted eye-tracking system for flight crew training in an introductory fighter pilot training context. The primary aim is to determine whether providing instructors with an objective real-time visualisation of students’ scanning behaviour facilitates training

Exploring aspects of agile software development risk – results from a MLR

Agile software development methods are widely used by software organisations, focusing on short developmental life cycles and customer satisfaction through the iterative and incremental development of software products. Despite their popularity, these methods present risks that may be underappreciated. This paper examines certain risks attributed to agile software development, with a focus on the lack of documentation, scope creep, technical debt and job satisfaction. Through the application of a multivocal literature review, we find that agile software development can greatly benefit projects. However, when agile methods are implemented inappropriately or sub-optimally, projects risk over-spending, delayed or defective software, employee turnover, and overall decreased productivity. Understanding the risks associated with agile software development can help practitioners to achieve higher efficiency and success in their software development projects

Aerial Damage Survey of the 2013 El Reno Tornado Combined with Mobile Radar Data

A detailed damage survey of the El Reno, Oklahoma, tornado of 31 May 2013 combined with rapid-scanning data recorded from two mobile radars is presented. One of the radars was equipped with polarimetric capability. The relationship between several suction vortices visually identified in pictures with the high-resolution Doppler velocity data and swath marks in fields is discussed. The suction vortices were associated with small shear features in Doppler velocity and a partial ringlike feature of high spectral width. For the first time, a suction vortex that created a swath mark in a field was visually identified in photographs and high-definition video while the rotational couplet was tracked by radar. A dual-Doppler wind synthesis of the tornadic circulation at low levels near the location of several storm chaser fatalities resolved ground-relative wind speeds in excess of 90 m s−1, greater than the minimum speed for EF5 damage. The vertical vorticity analysis revealed a rapid transition from a single tornadic vortex centered on the weak-echo hole (WEH) to suction vortices surrounding the WEH and collocated with the ring of enhanced radar reflectivities. Several bands/zones of enhanced convergence were resolved in the wind syntheses. One of the bands was associated with an internal or secondary rear-flank gust front. An inner band of convergence appeared to be a result of the positive bias in tornado-relative radial velocity owing to centrifuging of large lofted debris swirling within the tornado. An outer band of convergence formed at the northern edge of a region of strong inflow that was lofting small debris and dust into the storm

Crystallographic analyses illustrate significant plasticity and efficient recoding of meganuclease target specificity

The retargeting of protein-DNA specificity, outside of extremely modular DNA binding proteins such as TAL effectors, has generally proved to be quite challenging. Here, we describe structural analyses of five different extensively retargeted variants of a single homing endonuclease, that have been shown to function efficiently in ex vivo and in vivo applications. The redesigned proteins harbor mutations at up to 53 residues (18%) of their amino acid sequence, primarily distributed across the DNA binding surface, making them among the most significantly reengineered ligand-binding proteins to date. Specificity is derived from the combined contributions of DNA-contacting residues and of neighboring residues that influence local structural organization. Changes in specificity are facilitated by the ability of all those residues to readily exchange both form and function. The fidelity of recognition is not precisely correlated with the fraction or total number of residues in the protein-DNA interface that are actually involved in DNA contacts, including directional hydrogen bonds. The plasticity of the DNA-recognition surface of this protein, which allows substantial retargeting of recognition specificity without requiring significant alteration of the surrounding protein architecture, reflects the ability of the corresponding genetic elements to maintain mobility and persistence in the face of genetic drift within potential host target sites

Thin channel β-Ga2O3 MOSFETs with self-aligned refractory metal gates

We report the first demonstration of self-aligned gate (SAG) β-Ga2O3 metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) as a path toward eliminating source access resistance for low-loss power applications. The SAG process is implemented with a subtractively defined and etched refractory metal, such as Tungsten, combined with ion-implantation. We report experimental and modeled DC performance of a representative SAG device that achieved a maximum transconductance of 35 mS mm-1 and an on-resistance of ∼30 Ω mm with a 2.5 μm gate length. These results highlight the advantage of implant technology for SAG β-Ga2O3 MOSFETs enabling future power switching and RF devices with low parasitic resistance. © Not subject to copyright in the USA. Contribution of Wright-Patterson AFB