Population inequality: the case of repeat

This paper employs data from the 2000 British Crime Survey for England and Wales to discuss ways of illustrating the degree of inequality in the distribution of crime victimisation. In particular, Lorenz curves are presented for major crime categories, i.e. property, personal and vehicle crime, and their components are presented. They are fitted both nationally (i.e. to victimised and non-victimised people) and amongst victims. Crime Lorenz curves over victims illustrate repeat victimisation. Additional repeat victimisation statistics, such as concentration, the percentage of repeat crimes and the percentage of repeat victims, are also shown. Threats and assaults are the most recurring crimes whereas theft of vehicles shows low rates of repetition within a year

Concentration of personal and household crimes in England and Wales

Crime is disproportionally concentrated in few areas. Though long-established, there remains uncertainty about the reasons for variation in the concentration of similar crime (repeats) or different crime (multiples). Wholly neglected have been composite crimes when more than one crime types coincide as parts of a single event. The research reported here disentangles area crime concentration into repeats, multiple and composite crimes. The results are based on estimated bivariate zero-inflated Poisson regression models with covariance structure which explicitly account for crime rarity and crime concentration. The implications of the results for criminological theorizing and as a possible basis for more equitable police funding are discussed

DNA retention after arrest: balancing privacy interests and protection

The S & Marper judgement of the European Court of Human Rights addresses the question of DNA profile retention in the absence of conviction or admission of guilt. It casts the problem as a question of balancing the principles of individual privacy and public protection. In the Court's view there is a level of public protection conferred by retention of DNA from arrestees against whom no further action is taken which would justify retention, yet relevant data do not exist to determine the level of public protection gained by such retention. A pilot study is reported here showing that a group against whom arrest is followed by no further action exhibits levels of subsequent criminality (measured by frequency, latency and most severe outcome) similar to those of people officially processed by sentence or caution. Survival and count regression analyses suggest statistical approaches to be taken using larger and better samples. A research programme is outlined which would allow evidence-based policy on DNA profile retention

Victim careers and 'career victims'? [In: Farrell, G. and Pease, K., eds., Repeat victimisation, Crime Prevention Studies, vol. 12]

Whereas there is a mature body of work examining criminal careers that has been established over the course of several decades, the study of victim careers is in its infancy. While there has been recent growth in the study of repeat victimization, the natural extension of this work into studies of the life course remains to be undertaken. The present paper suggests why the study of victimization over the life course may prove important for criminological theory and practice, and explores ways in which it might be taken forward. A rich vein of criminological enquiry remains to be exploited that promises to inform theories of criminal victimization as well as crime prevention practice. The paper also proposes the utilization of an accelerated longitudinal design to enhance the study of victim careers. Such designs are rich in promise but typically extremely expensive to conduct. In theory, a study of victim careers using such a design may be possible from extant data sources, which would make it cost-effective. However, even if the design proposed herein did not reach its full potential, theory and practice may be greatly informed through the pursuit of a research agenda that incorporates longitudinal studies of victim careers

The Mariner 5 flight path and its determination from tracking data

Mariner 5 flight path and its determination from tracking dat

The direct role of enzyme hydrolysis on ammonium regeneration rates in estuarine sediments

Benthic ammonium (NH4 +) regeneration in coastal marine sediments has a fundamental role in nitrogen (N) cycling and N supply to primary producers. Nitrogen regeneration involves benthic microbial mineralization of organic-N, which, in turn, depends on protein hydrolysis. These processes were examined in Aransas Bay (Texas, USA) sediments by monitoring NH4 + evolution as a function of enzyme activity in controlled sediment slurries. Casein and tannic acid were added to evaluate the direct role of aminopeptidase on NH4 + production and the effects of a polyphenolic enzyme inhibitor, respectively. Casein additions increased the NH4 + concentration from 19 ± 0.3 to 737 ± 150 μM in 120 h, a final concentration 4.3-fold higher than that of control samples and 2.9-fold higher than that of samples with casein and tannic added together. Lower NH4 + concentration in samples with tannic acid indicated that inhibiting aminopeptidase activity reduced NH4 + production rates. The concentration of the regenerated NH4 + related directly to aminopeptidase activity in controls (r = 0.86, p \u3c 0.01), casein-enriched (r = 0.89, p \u3c 0.01), and casein plus polyphenol treatments (r = 0.71, p \u3c 0.01) over the first 72 h. The results demonstrate the importance of aminopeptidase in regenerating NH4 + in sediments and provide insights about mechanisms of enzyme hydrolysis and NH4 + fluxes in estuarine sediments

Re-Emergence of the Harmful Algal Bloom Species Alexandrium Monilatum in the Chesapeake Bay: Assessing Bloom Dynamics and Potential Health Impacts

Effective management of harmful algal blooms (HABs) within a region requires an understanding of species-specific HAB spatial and temporal distributions, bloom dynamics, as well as potential health impacts. In 2007, the southern Chesapeake Bay witnessed its first blooms of the HAB species Alexandrium monilatum. Since then, A. monilatum has bloomed in the region almost annually. A. monilatum produces the toxin ‘goniodomin A’ and is suspected in local mass mortalities of oyster larvae (Crassostrea virginica) grown for aquaculture and restoration projects. Representatives from Virginia’s multimillion dollar oyster aquaculture industry recently expressed great concern over A. monilatum impacts to their businesses; field and lab studies were designed to address these concerns. Sediment samples were collected from the southwest portion of the Chesapeake Bay in a systematic grid-sampling design to assess cyst (resting cell stage) distributions. Cysts were present in low densities at most sites, and cyst densities were high where blooms had been recorded in previous years. HAB toxicity bioassay methods developed at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science were modified to investigate adverse health impacts of five different A. monilatum cell density treatments on sub-adult oysters (~40-70 mm). Oysters delayed grazing when exposed to high densities (\u3e1000 cells/mL) of A. monilatum. Data from the 2015 bloom season and additional bioassays will be presented. Results from these studies could aid in the prediction of A. monilatum bloom severity and health effects on wild and aquacultured oysters, enabling development of best management practices to minimize impacts to the Virginia oyster industry

Differentiation of Solenopsis invicta social forms using high resolution melt PCR.

Solenopsis invicta Buren (red imported fire ant) are invasive pests that have the capability of major destructive impacts on lifestyle, ecology and economy. Control of this species is dependent, in part, upon ability to estimate the potential spread from newly discovered nests. The potential for spread and the spread characteristics differ between monogyne and polygyne social forms. Prior to this study, differentiation of the two social forms in laboratory test samples commonly used a method involving restriction endonuclease digestion of an amplified Gp-9 fragment. Success of this assay is limited by the quality of DNA, which in the field-collected insects may be affected by temporary storage in unfavourable conditions. Here, we describe an alternative and highly objective assay based upon a high resolution melt technique following preamplification of a significantly shorter Gp-9 fragment than that required for restriction endonuclease digestion. We demonstrate the application of this assay to a S. invicta incursion in Queensland, Australia, using field samples from which DNA may be partially degraded. The reductions in hands-on requirements and overall duration of the assay underpin its suitability for high-throughput testing