Three Essays on the Substance and Methods of Economic History

This dissertation explores questions on the substance and methods of economic history. Chapter one studies a little-known policy change in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to explore the causal effects of political exclusion on the economic wellbeing of immigrants. Starting in the mid-19th century, twenty-four states and territories expanded their electorates to allow non-citizen immigrants the right to vote; from 1864-1926, however, these same jurisdictions reversed this policy, creating a mass disenfranchisement for which the timing varied across states. Using this variation as well as a discontinuity in nationalization proceedings of the era, I find that political exclusion led to a 25-60% reduction in the likelihood that affected immigrants obtained public sector employment. I also document significant negative intergenerational effects: individuals of immigrant parentage born around the time of disenfranchisement earned 5-9% less as adults than comparable individuals of native parentage. I am able to rule out as mechanisms for this intergenerational effect a variety of policy and spending channels, but find evidence for a reduction in English-language proficiency among disenfranchised immigrants, which may have adversely affected the human capital of their children. Chapter two explores the causes of the adoption and repeal of alien voting in the United States. This policy shift offers a valuable opportunity to understand the forces determining political inclusion and exclusion in a formative period of American democracy, and contributes to the broader literature on theories of democratization. I use qualitative evidence from the historical record to outline competing theories of both adoption and repeal of alien voting, and then rationalize these hypotheses within the context of a median voting model. Using a discrete time hazard specification, I find evidence consistent with the hypothesis that states used alien voting as a locational amenity, with the objective of inducing immigrant in-migration in order to foster agricultural development. The results indicate that the timing of repeal was driven by social costs, rather than economic or political factors, although there is evidence for heterogeneity in correlates of support for repeal across states. Finally, the costs of constitutional change were salient for both adoption and repeal: states for which it was less costly to re-write or amend the constitution were more likely to adopt and repeal alien voting. Chapter three is a co-authored methodological study intended to assess the efficacy of commonly used techniques to create name-linked historical datasets. The recent digitization of historical microdata has led to a proliferation of research using linked data, in which researchers use various methods to match individuals across datasets by observable characteristics; less is known, however, about the quality of the data produced using those different methods. Using two hand-linked ground-truth samples, we assess the performance of four automated linking methods and two commonly used name-cleaning algorithms. Results indicate that automated methods result in high rates of false matches – ranging from 17 to over 60 percent – and the use of phonetic name cleaning increases false match rate by 60-100 percent across methods. We conclude by exploring the implications of erroneous matches for inference, and estimate intergenerational income elasticities for father-son pairs in the 1940 Census using samples generated by each method. We find that estimates vary with linking method, suggesting that caution must be used when interpreting parameters estimated from linked data.PHDEconomicsUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138794/1/morghend_1.pd

A case study of the marital and familial relationships of fire-rescue personnel as they relate to marriage survivability

Marriage is considered the traditional and moral standard for all relationships. There are other relationship types that exist in the life of fire-rescue personnel, but this study explores only marital relationships. Marriage demands are many and not everyone is equipped to handle them. Marriage requires devoted energy and continuous negotiation and compromise. Firefighters and paramedics are subjected to rigorous training to obtain the skill for their respective jobs. Their training equips them for rescuing the sick, injured, and extinguishing fires. However, there is not a protocol or training manual for marriage. This study examines the probable cause and effect that leads to marital dissolutions amongst fire-rescue personnel. This data will be obtained through interview, questionnaire, and document analysis. The case study evaluates occupational and familial relationships as they relate to job accountability, job stress and marriage survivability with focus on a single case study participant

Evaluation of interventions to reduce air pollution from biomass smoke on mortality in Launceston, Australia: Retrospective analysis of daily mortality, 1994-2007

Objective To assess the effect of reductions in air pollution from biomass smoke on daily mortality. Design Age stratified time series analysis of daily mortality with Poisson regression models adjusted for the effects of temperature, humidity, day of week, respiratory epidemics, and secular mortality trends, applied to an intervention and control community. Setting Central Launceston, Australia, a town in which coordinated strategies were implemented to reduce pollution from wood smoke and central Hobart, a comparable city in which there were no specific air quality interventions. Participants 67 000 residents of central Launceston and 148 000 residents of central Hobart (at 2001 census). Interventions Community education campaigns, enforcement of environmental regulations, and a wood heater replacement programme to reduce ambient pollution from residential wood stoves started in the winter of 2001. Main outcome measures Changes in daily all cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality during the 6.5 year periods before and after June 2001 in Launceston and Hobart. Results Mean daily wintertime concentration of PM(10) (particulate matter with particle size <10 µm diameter) fell from 44 µg/m(3) during 1994-2000 to 27 µg/m(3) during 2001-07 in Launceston. The period of improved air quality was associated with small non-significant reductions in annual mortality. In males the observed reductions in annual mortality were larger and significant for all cause (−11.4%, 95% confidence interval −19.2% to −2.9%; P=0.01), cardiovascular (−17.9%, −30.6% to −2.8%; P=0.02), and respiratory (−22.8%, −40.6% to 0.3%; P=0.05) mortality. In wintertime reductions in cardiovascular (−19.6%, −36.3% to 1.5%; P=0.06) and respiratory (−27.9%, −49.5% to 3.1%; P=0.07) mortality were of borderline significance (males and females combined). There were no significant changes in mortality in the control city of Hobart. Conclusions Decreased air pollution from ambient biomass smoke was associated with reduced annual mortality in males and with reduced cardiovascular and respiratory mortality during winter months

Purification, growth, and characterization of Zn(x)Cd(1-x)Se crystals

The purification of starting materials which were used in the growth of Zn(x)Cd(1-x)Se (x = 0.2) single crystals using the traveling solution method (TSM) is reported. Up to 13 cm long single crystals and as grown resistivities of 6 x 10(exp 12) ohm/cm could be achieved. Infrared and Raman spectra of Zn(0.2)Cd(0.8)Se are also presented and discussed

Applications of satellite technology to broadband ISDN networks

Two satellite architectures for delivering broadband integrated services digital network (B-ISDN) service are evaluated. The first is assumed integral to an existing terrestrial network, and provides complementary services such as interconnects to remote nodes as well as high-rate multicast and broadcast service. The interconnects are at a 155 Mbs rate and are shown as being met with a nonregenerative multibeam satellite having 10-1.5 degree spots. The second satellite architecture focuses on providing private B-ISDN networks as well as acting as a gateway to the public network. This is conceived as being provided by a regenerative multibeam satellite with on-board ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) processing payload. With up to 800 Mbs offered, higher satellite EIRP is required. This is accomplished with 12-0.4 degree hopping beams, covering a total of 110 dwell positions. It is estimated the space segment capital cost for architecture one would be about $190M whereas the second architecture would be about$250M. The net user cost is given for a variety of scenarios, but the cost for 155 Mbs services is shown to be about $15-22/minute for 25 percent system utilization

Craft and Job Satisfaction: North Carolina Library and Information Science Graduates

This dissertation examines the sources of job satisfaction among 1,833 library and information science (LIS) master's program graduates in North Carolina from 1964-2009. Only respondents who identified themselves as librarians were included in the analysis. The study first examined the effects of traditional work-related variables such as income, flexibility, co-workers, fringe benefits, and setting on job satisfaction. Based on the outcomes of the first regression analysis, the study goes on to examine perceptions of change in the profession over the previous five years and, in particular, the effects of change on older workers. Finally, the analysis introduces variables related to the notion of craft, professional achievement, and family dynamics to determine what impact they have on job satisfaction. The analysis also examines work-related variables that may have been masking the influence of craft, professional achievement and family dynamics. Craft combines the wish to perform one's work well independent of extrinsic factors or influences and the desire of the worker to create a quality final outcome or product which can be certified as such by objective standards. The major finding of the study is that craft and professional achievement are the largest determinants of job satisfaction among LIS graduates. Meanwhile, variables such as marital status, whether or not one has children, and breadwinner status had no discernible bearing on job satisfaction. Supportive co-workers, being a woman, and membership in professional organizations likewise correlate with job satisfaction, while being a full-time worker, anxiety over job security, and working in an academic library setting contributed to dissatisfaction. Although LIS graduates generally report being very content in their jobs, this study suggests that they are anxious about changes such as the increasing number of temporary and freelance jobs and the perception that full-time staff are doing more work with fewer resources.Doctor of Philosoph

DNA-Protein Complexes Created by Mutant EcoRII Methyltransferase and Quinolone Antibiotics in Escherichia coli

<p>Expression of mutant M.EcoRII protein (M.EcoRII-C186A) in Escherichia coli leads to tightly bound DNA-protein complexes (TBCs), located sporadically on the chromosome rather than in tandem arrays. The mechanisms behind the lethality induced by such sporadic TBCs are not well studied, nor is it clear whether very tight binding but non-covalent complexes are processed in the same way as covalent DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs). Using 2D gel electrophoresis, we found that TBCs induced by M.EcoRII-C186A block replication forks in vivo. Specific bubble molecules were detected as spots on the 2D gel, only when M.EcoRII-C186A was induced, and a mutation that eliminates a specific EcoRII methylation site led to disappearance of the corresponding spot. We also performed a candidate gene screen for mutants that are hypersensitive to TBCs induced by M.EcoRII-C186A. We found several gene products necessary for protection against these TBCs that are known to also protect against DPCs induced with wild-type M.EcoRII (after aza-C incorporation): RecA, RecBC, RecG, RuvABC, UvrD, FtsK, and SsrA (tmRNA). In contrast, the RecFOR pathway and Rep helicase are needed for protection against TBCs but not DPCs induced by M.EcoRII. We propose that stalled fork protection by RecFOR and RecA promotes release of tightly bound (but non-covalent) blocking proteins, perhaps by inducing Rep helicase-driven dissociation of the blocking M.EcoRII-C186A. Our studies also argued against the involvement of several proteins that might be expected to protect against TBCs. We took the opportunity to directly compare the sensitivity of all tested mutants to two quinolone antibiotics, which target bacterial type II topoisomerases and induce a unique form of DPC. We uncovered rep and ftsK as novel quinolone hypersensitive mutants, and also obtained evidence against the involvement of a number of functions that might be expected to protect against quinolones.</p>Dissertatio

Pacification and Gender in Colonial Africa: Evidence from the Ethnographic Atlas

We combine the date-of-observation found in Murdock’s Ethnographic Atlas and a newly-constructed dataset on the date-of-colonization at the ethnic-group level to study the effects of the duration of colonial rule on a variety of political, economic, and social characteristics of ethnic groups in Africa. We find that the duration of colonial rule caused a dramatic shift in gender roles in Africa by increasing the relative status of men in lineage and inheritance systems but also reducing polygyny as a marriage system. A causal role for the duration of colonial rule is confirmed by a difference-in-difference analysis that uses never-colonized ethnic groups as a control group and by an analysis of changes in kinship terminology that tests for within-group changes in descent and inheritance rules. We are able to rule out missionary influence and Islam as mechanisms for these effects

Creating an Interactive Guide to Support Health Disparities Competency

Authors share their educational resource developed for the health sciences, that guides users in awareness of health disparities, vulnerable populations, and social determinants of health, directing them to specific guidance and resources available through the library

Diffusion-mediated HEI10 coarsening can explain meiotic crossover positioning in Arabidopsis.

In most organisms, the number and distribution of crossovers that occur during meiosis are tightly controlled. All chromosomes must receive at least one 'obligatory crossover' and crossovers are prevented from occurring near one another by 'crossover interference'. However, the mechanistic basis of this phenomenon of crossover interference has remained mostly mysterious. Using quantitative super-resolution cytogenetics and mathematical modelling, we investigate crossover positioning in the Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type, an over-expressor of the conserved E3 ligase HEI10, and a hei10 heterozygous line. We show that crossover positions can be explained by a predictive, diffusion-mediated coarsening model, in which large, approximately evenly-spaced HEI10 foci grow at the expense of smaller, closely-spaced clusters. We propose this coarsening process explains many aspects of Arabidopsis crossover positioning, including crossover interference. Consistent with this model, we also demonstrate that crossover positioning can be predictably modified in vivo simply by altering HEI10 dosage, with higher and lower dosage leading to weaker and stronger crossover interference, respectively. As HEI10 is a conserved member of the RING finger protein family that functions in the interference-sensitive pathway for crossover formation, we anticipate that similar mechanisms may regulate crossover positioning in diverse eukaryotes