Essays on the Economics of Crime and Econometric Methodology: Dissertation Summary

The research presented in this thesis covers two topics: the economics of crime and econometric methodology. The first chapter addresses the question of whether higher wages reduce teenage crime rates. I exploit exogenous variation in the wages of teenagers resulting from federal minimum wage legislation. The second chapter examines the effect of crime on the labor market outcomes of victims. I use longitudinal data from the National Crime Victimization Survey to estimate the employment-related costs of crime. Estimates suggest that being the victim of a violent crime causes a transitory decline in the employment rates and household income of victims 2 to 3 percent

Pigeons: a novel GUI software for analysing and parsing high density heterologous oligonucleotide microarray probe level data

Genomic DNA-based probe selection by using high density oligonucleotide arrays has recently been applied to heterologous species (Xspecies). With the advent of this new approach, researchers are able to study the genome and transcriptome of a non-model or an underutilised crop species through current state-of-the-art microarray platforms. However, a software package with a graphical user interface (GUI) to analyse and parse the oligonucleotide probe pair level data is still lacking when an experiment is designed on the basis of this cross species approach. A novel computer program called Pigeons has been developed for customised array data analysis to allow the user to import and analyse Affymetrix GeneChip® probe level data through XSpecies. One can determine empirical boundaries for removing poor probes based on genomic hybridisation of the test species to the Xspecies array, followed by making a species-specific Chip Description File (CDF) file for transcriptomics in the heterologous species, or Pigeons can be used to examine an experimental design to identify potential Single-Feature Polymorphisms (SFPs) at the DNA or RNA level. Pigeons is also focused around visualization and interactive analysis of the datasets. The software with its manual (the current release number version 1.2.1) is freely available at the website of the Nottingham Arabidopsis Stock Centre (NASC)

Sable Island - A Dune Adrift

Sable Island lies some 300 kilimetres of the coast of Atlantic Canada. It is a tiny sand isalnd, the home of two researchers, a herd of ferral horses and the largest breeding colony of grey seals in the world. It is a place of shipwrecks and fable. It is also very significantly ecologically. This programme explored the importance of Sable Island in art, science and literature

At Cupid's Cove

In 1610, the first British settlement in what is now Canada was established by John Guy, at Cuper's - or Cupid's Cove, on the Eastern coast of Newfoundland. 400 years on, this programme explored the archeological work that has revealed traces of this first settlement, and the implications to both Canada and Britain of this redicovered part of history

Yeast m6 A methylated mRNAs are enriched on translating ribosomes during meiosis, and under rapamycin treatment

Interest in mRNA methylation has exploded in recent years. The sudden interest in a 40 year old discovery was due in part to the finding of FTO’s (Fat Mass Obesity) N6-methyladenosine (m6 A) deaminase activity, thus suggesting a link between obesity-associated diseases and the presence of m6 A in mRNA. Another catalyst of the sudden rise in mRNA methylation research was the release of mRNA methylomes for human, mouse and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, the molecular function, or functions of this mRNA ‘epimark’ remain to be discovered. There is supportive evidence that m6 A could be a mark for mRNA degradation due to its binding to YTH domain proteins, and consequently being chaperoned to P bodies. Nonetheless, only a subpopulation of the methylome was found binding to YTHDF2 in HeLa cells.The model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has only one YTH domain protein (Pho92, Mrb1), which targets PHO4 transcripts for degradation under phosphate starvation. However, mRNA methylation is only found under meiosis inducing conditions, and PHO4 transcripts are apparently non-methylated. In this paper we set out to investigate if m6 A could function alternatively to being a degradation mark in S. cerevisiae; we also sought to test whether it can be induced under non-standard sporulation conditions. We find a positive association between the presence of m6 A and message translatability. We also find m6 A induction following prolonged rapamycin treatment

Teaching data science and cloud computing in low and middle income countries

Large, publicly available data sets present a challenge and an opportunity for researchers based in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC). The challenge for these researchers is how they can make use of such data sets given their poor connectivity and infrastructure. The opportunity is the ability to perform leading edge research using these data sets and hence avoid having to invest substantial resources in generating the data sets. The offshoot of this will be to generate solutions to the substantial local problems encountered in these countries and create an educated workforce in data science. Cloud computing in particular may well close the infrastructural gap here. In this paper we discuss our experiences of teaching a variety of summer schools on data intensive analysis in bioinformatics in China, Namibia and Malaysia. On the basis of these experiences we propose that a larger series of summer schools in data science and cloud computing in LMIC would create a cadre of data scientists to start this process. We finally discuss the possibility of the provision of cloud computing resources where the usage costs are controlled so that it is affordable for LMIC researchers

Optimising the analysis of transcript data using high density oligonucleotide arrays and genomic DNA-based probe selection

Background: Affymetrix GeneChip arrays are widely used for transcriptomic studies in a diverse range of species. Each gene is represented on a GeneChip array by a probe-set, consisting of up to 16 probe-pairs. Signal intensities across probe-pairs within a probe-set vary in part due to different physical hybridisation characteristics of individual probes with their target labelled transcripts. We have previously developed a technique to study the transcriptomes of heterologous species based on hybridising genomic DNA (gDNA) to a GeneChip array designed for a different species, and subsequently using only those probes with good homology. Results: Here we have investigated the effects of hybridising homologous species gDNA to study the transcriptomes of species for which the arrays have been designed. Genomic DNA from Arabidopsis thaliana and rice (Oryza sativa) were hybridised to the Affymetrix Arabidopsis ATH1 and Rice Genome GeneChip arrays respectively. Probe selection based on gDNA hybridisation intensity increased the number of genes identified as significantly differentially expressed in two published studies of Arabidopsis development, and optimised the analysis of technical replicates obtained from pooled samples of RNA from rice. Conclusion: This mixed physical and bioinformatics approach can be used to optimise estimates of gene expression when using GeneChip arrays

SB37-08/09: LGBTIQ Bills in the Montana Legislature

SB37-08/09: LGBTIQ Bills in the Montana Legislature. This resolution passed 18Y-1N on a roll call vote during the February 4, 2009 meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM)

MORAL MATURATION AND MORAL CONATION: A CAPACITY APPROACH TO EXPLAINING MORAL THOUGHT AND ACTION

We set out to address a gap in the management literature by proposing a framework specifying the component capacities organizational actors require to think and act morally. We examine how moral maturation (i.e., moral identity, complexity, and metacognitive ability) and moral conation (i.e., moral courage, efficacy, and owner- ship) enhance an individual\u27s moral cognition and propensity to take ethical action. We offer propositions to guide future research and discuss the implications of the proposed model for management theory an