A Generalized Data Extraction System for Vehicle Accident Information With Application to Selective Law Enforcement.

The purpose of this work is twofold: (1) to create a compre­hensive and complete data processing system specifically designed to permit efficient access to specific information contained in traffic accident information files, and (2) to demonstrate an appli: :ion of the system using a model developed for the optimal allocation of per­sonnel to reduce accidents by means of selective law enforcement. The Generalized Data Extraction System consists of two totally integrated programs: (1) the Accident Data File Creation Program, and (2) the Generalized Data Extraction Program. The Accident Data File Creation Program extracts information from a master accident data file, edits the information, and creates a reformatted permanent Accident Data File. The objective is to perform all those operations in file creation which would be time consuming and inefficient if performed during the search routines conducted during data extraction. The Generalized Data Extraction Program is specifically designed to interface directly with the Accident Data File and to be utilized by persons not trained in computer programming. In essence, this program permits the user to \u27ask the computer a question\u27 and obtain the answer in the form of three different formats the program is capable of generating. The three output formats the program is capable of generating are: (1) an accident swmnary report, (2) a high accident location report, and (3) a histogram depicting the accident experience for given stretches of roadway. To demonstrate an application of the Generalized Data Extrac­ tion System, a model is developed which provides for the optimal assignment of law enforcement personnel to maximize the reduction in the number of violations which have resulted in accidents subject to the constraints imposed by the scarcity of the resource and other relevant factors. Using a combination of concepts developed in this work and existing computer hardware/software systems, a total real-time program with the specific objective of optimally reducing accidents by timely and appropriate assignment of personnel has been discussed. The feasibility and efficiency of the Generalized Data Extrac­tion System and the concepts underlying the system have been successfully demonstrated. While the original system was designed to accommodate vehicle accident data, the underlying concepts extend far beyond this one specific application. Use of these concepts can provide the researcher or the manager with specific information neces­sary to analyze specific problems without resorting tu more costly and time consuming techniques

Current Account Imbalances Within the Eurozone

Widening Current Account imbalances were a key feature of the run-up to the global financial crisis. Within the European Monetary Union, large surpluses and deficits emerged among member countries. The imbalances were initially viewed as evidence of the success of the Euro, but they continued to grow and contributed to the recent financial crisis. The problem of imbalances is still with us today and could hamper future growth in the deficit countries

Early life history of a landlocked amphidromous fish: migration, critical traits and ontogeny

Life-history plays a key role in determining species distributions and population structuring. Many studies evaluate the role of adult characteristics when predicting species distribution and population structuring, but very few evaluate the role of early life-history which is often the most vulnerable, and therefore limiting, phase of life-history. This thesis examines the role of early life-history in distribution and population structuring leading to divergence, and potentially speciation, by evaluating short and long term population structuring mechanisms, and the role of early life-history alteration in a facultatively amphidromous fish. Landlocked populations of Galaxias brevipinnis were found to be genetically divergent from diadromous populations, despite no obvious physical barriers to population connectivity. On shorter timescales, catchment level meta-populations were formed within lakes and along coasts. Larvae were found to be highly rheotactic through lab trials, and the majority of larvae were found to be retained within river plumes through larval trawling and otolith microchemistry, suggesting a simple behavioural mechanism responsible for both the long term isolation leading to divergence and short term meta-population structuring patterns seen here. Egg and larval size was larger in diadromous populations than in landlocked populations suggesting a potential pathway for the formation of landlocked populations and adaptation to local conditions. Despite size differences, responses to behavioural cues were similar in both diadromous and landlocked populations likely due to retaining a bipartite fluvial-pelagic life-history pattern. A review of amphidromous fish shows landlocking and life-history plasticity is common both within species and families, suggesting patterns seen here may be applicable across many amphidromous fish taxa. Further, the consistent use of pelagic rearing environments highlights amphidromy as an obligate benthic-pelagic migration where the various life-history patterns are a response to landscape centered on rapidly moving larvae to a pelagic environment. This thesis shows landlocked populations of an amphidromous fish diverging from their diadromous counterparts, due to a simple behavioural response, resulting in adaptation of early life-history in a novel environment, allowing fecundity optimization and providing the potential for context dependent isolation, adaptation, divergence and speciation