Rethinking Trust, Crime Policy and Social Theory,

This article analyses the relationship of ‘trust’ to crime, power and criminal justice policy. The theoretical model employed to analyse this relationship draws from Owen’s (2009a), conceptually driven argument that is based on an ontologically-flexible critique of agency-structure, micro-macro and time-space. This relationship stands at the interface of competing pressures working to produce the increasing complexity of crime and criminal justice policy (Powell 2005). We then move the attention to the conceptual problems of ‘trust’ which is linked with uncertainty and complexity whilst law and order and crime policies rest on the specialist knowledge claimed by a range of professional “experts” and technologists that inhabit powerful spaces through which crime policy and practice is governed and articulated

A Comparison of U.S. and European University-Industry Relations in the Life Sciences

We draw on diverse data sets to compare the institutional organization of upstream life science research across the United States and Europe. Understanding cross-national differences in the organization of innovative labor in the life sciences requires attention to the structure and evolution of biomedical networks involving public research organizations (universities, government laboratories, nonprofit research institutes, and research hospitals), science-based biotechnology firms, and multinational pharmaceutical corporations. We use network visualization methods and correspondence analyses to demonstrate that innovative research in biomedicine has its origins in regional clusters in the United States and in European nations. But the scientific and organizational composition of these regions varies in consequential ways. In the United States, public research organizations and small firms conduct R&D across multiple therapeutic areas and stages of the development process. Ties within and across these regions link small firms and diverse public institutions, contributing to the development of a robust national network. In contrast, the European story is one of regional specialization with a less diverse group of public research organizations working in a smaller number of therapeutic areas. European institutes develop local connections to small firms working on similar scientific problems, while cross-national linkages of European regional clusters typically involve large pharmaceutical corporations. We show that the roles of large and small firms differ in the United States and Europe, arguing that the greater heterogeneity of the U.S. system is based on much closer integration of basic science and clinical development.University-Industry Relations; National Innovation Systems; R&D Networks; Spatial Clustering; Network Visualization

Automated Magnetic Field Scanning System

One of Jefferson Laboratory’s research areas is in Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) science and technology. SRF cavities are tested in the Vertical Testing Area (VTA) at Jefferson Laboratory, within a series of large cylindrical dewars. The measured quality factor (Q factor) of the SRF cavity is directly influenced by any existing magnetic field. Because the VTA previously housed a cyclotron, all the rebars within the building have residual magnetic fields emanating from them. This magnetic field effect of the building renders the measurements of Q factor on the devices inaccurate and the testing data unreliable. A magnetic field scanning system must be employed to accurately map the magnetic field within the testing dewar so that an existing set of current-carrying coils installed around the dewar can be used properly for cancellation of the residual magnetic fields. This process will ensure the initial testing conditions are free of any unwanted magnetic fields that could cause unreliable testing data. The proposed system will scan the residual magnetic field inside vertical dewars of varying sizes (16”- 34” diameter by 72”- 132” depth) in three dimensions and log data for later use, as well as display a visual mapping of the data to the operator through LabView. A sensor with a sensitivity of at least 0.1 milligauss will be attached to the bottom of a long pole that will be lowered into the dewar. Translation in the z direction, on the dewar’s central axis, will be achieved by using a pair of stepper motors controlling a rack and pinion set up on the center pole. To achieve incremental mapping in the x-y plane, an arm will be attached to the bottom of the pole that will house additional sensors. The platform holding the stepper motors will turn on a dial with degree measurements, allowing for rotational movement of the entire center pole and arm. By calculating the x-y values for each sensor on the arm at that set degree amount, mapping of set increments in the x-y plane can be achieved.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/capstone/1036/thumbnail.jp

Did the Lamont Glass Company (Trenton, nS, ca. 1890-1897) Produce Pressed Glass Tableware? Conflicting Evidence from Artifacts and Folklore

Large amounts of soda-lime pressed glass tableware, lamp chimneys, bottles and other glass objects were manufactured in Trenton, where three glassworks (Nova Scotia Glass Co., Lamont Glass Co. and Humphreys Glass Co.) operated between ca. 1881 and 1917. Most Trenton pressed glass tableware has traditionally been assigned to the Nova Scotia Glass Co., but based on interviews dating to the 1950s of individuals not directly connected with the industry, standard reference books on historical Canadian glass have attributed specific patterns to Lamont, notwithstanding that virtually none of this glass, other than bottles, is marked by the maker. Colourless Lamont bottles contain 1.2-2.6 wt% barium oxide (BaO). This ingredient increases the refractive index of glass to which it is added, giving it a brilliant luster akin to that of lead crystal, an attribute that clearly would be advantageous in pressed glass. Barium, however, was not detected in any analyzed Nova Scotian pattern glass, thereby casting doubt not only on the suggestion that Lamont produced tableware, but also on the research methodology that gave rise to this apparent myth in the first place. Résumé De grandes quantités de vaisselle de verre sodocalcique pressé, verres de lampes à pétrole, bouteilles et autres objets de verre, ont été produites à Trenton, où trois verreries (Nova Scotia Glass Co., Lamont Glass Co. et Humphreys Glass Co.) étaient en activité entre 1881 environ et 1917. La plupart des objets de verre de Trenton étaient traditionnellement attribués à la Nova Scotia Glass Co., mais, en nous fondant sur des entrevues remontant aux années 1950 d’individus qui n’étaient pas directement liés à l’industrie, on s’aperçoit que les ouvrages de référence typologique sur le verre historique au Canada ont attribué des séries spécifiques à Lamont, en dépit du fait que quasiment aucun des objets de verre, hormis les bouteilles, ne porte de marque de fabrique. Les bouteilles incolores Lamont contiennent de 1,2 à 2,6 % d’oxyde de baryum (BaO). Cet additif accroît l’indice de réfraction du verre, lui donnant un lustre et un brillant comparable à celui du cristal de plomb, attribut nettement avantageux dans le cas du verre pressé. On n’a pas, cependant, décelé de barium dans la verrerie usuelle en Nouvelle-Écosse, ce qui permet de mettre en doute le fait que Lamont aurait produit de la verrerie de table, mais aussi la méthodologie de recherche qui a donné naissance en premier lieu à ce qui semble être un mythe

A comparison of two model averaging techniques with an application to growth empirics

Parameter estimation under model uncertainty is a difficult and fundamental issue in econometrics. This paper compares the performance of various model averaging techniques. In particular, it contrasts Bayesian model averaging (BMA) — currently one of the standard methods used in growth empirics — with a new method called weighted-average least squares (WALS). The new method has two major advantages over BMA: its computational burden is trivial and it is based on a transparent definition of prior ignorance. The theory is applied to and sheds new light on growth empirics where a high degree of model uncertainty is typically present

Spatial modelling improves genetic evaluation in smallholder breeding programs

Background Breeders and geneticists use statistical models to separate genetic and environmental effects on phenotype. A common way to separate these effects is to model a descriptor of an environment, a contemporary group or herd, and account for genetic relationship between animals across environments. However, separating the genetic and environmental effects in smallholder systems is challenging due to small herd sizes and weak genetic connectedness across herds. We hypothesised that accounting for spatial relationships between nearby herds can improve genetic evaluation in smallholder systems. Furthermore, geographically referenced environmental covariates are increasingly available and could model underlying sources of spatial relationships. The objective of this study was therefore, to evaluate the potential of spatial modelling to improve genetic evaluation in dairy cattle smallholder systems. Methods We performed simulations and real dairy cattle data analysis to test our hypothesis. We modelled environmental variation by estimating herd and spatial effects. Herd effects were considered independent, whereas spatial effects had distance-based covariance between herds. We compared these models using pedigree or genomic data. Results The results show that in smallholder systems (i) standard models do not separate genetic and environmental effects accurately, (ii) spatial modelling increases the accuracy of genetic evaluation for phenotyped and non-phenotyped animals, (iii) environmental covariates do not substantially improve the accuracy of genetic evaluation beyond simple distance-based relationships between herds, (iv) the benefit of spatial modelling was largest when separating the genetic and environmental effects was challenging, and (v) spatial modelling was beneficial when using either pedigree or genomic data. Conclusions We have demonstrated the potential of spatial modelling to improve genetic evaluation in smallholder systems. This improvement is driven by establishing environmental connectedness between herds, which enhances separation of genetic and environmental effects. We suggest routine spatial modelling in genetic evaluations, particularly for smallholder systems. Spatial modelling could also have a major impact in studies of human and wild populations