Behavioural case linkage : linking residential burglary offences in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

This thesis aims to replicate and extend prior research on behavioural case linkage from the United Kingdom and Finland, using a sample of residential burglaries committed in New Zealand. Eighty-two solved residential burglaries, committed by 47 serial burglary offenders in Napier, New Zealand, are sampled from the New Zealand Police National Intelligence Application (NIA) database. Prior research using behavioural case linkage for residential burglary has found support for the usefulness of crime scene behaviours, inter-crime distance and temporal proximity to accurately predict offences committed by the same offender. Inter-crime distance has consistently shown higher degrees of accuracy in determining whether two crimes are linked to the same offender. Using the methodology followed by previous researchers, 41 linked crime pairs (two offences committed by the same offender) and 41 unlinked crime pairs (two offences committed by different offenders) are created. Three behavioural domains of crime scene behaviours, inter-crime distance and temporal proximity of offences committed by the same offender are compared with offences committed by different offenders. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis is used to determine the ability of the three behavioural domains to accurately predict whether offences are linked or not. Similar to prior studies, all three behavioural domains showed moderate predictive ability in reliably determining the linked status of crime pairs. Contrary to prior studies inter-crime distance was found to be the least accurate predictor in determining the linked status of crime pairs, with an optimal model combining temporal proximity with crime scene behaviours showing the greatest degree in determining whether crimes were committed by the same offender or not. These results provide support for the use of behavioural case linkage for linking residential burglary offences in New Zealand while caution is required when relying on inter-crime distance alone as a linking feature within small geographic areas

Hybrid gene misregulation in multiple developing tissues within a recent adaptive radiation of Cyprinodon pupfishes.

Genetic incompatibilities constitute the final stages of reproductive isolation and speciation, but little is known about incompatibilities that occur within recent adaptive radiations among closely related diverging populations. Crossing divergent species to form hybrids can break up coadapted variation, resulting in genetic incompatibilities within developmental networks shaping divergent adaptive traits. We crossed two closely related sympatric Cyprinodon pupfish species-a dietary generalist and a specialized molluscivore-and measured expression levels in their F1 hybrids to identify regulatory variation underlying the novel craniofacial morphology found in this recent microendemic adaptive radiation. We extracted mRNA from eight day old whole-larvae tissue and from craniofacial tissues dissected from 17-20 day old larvae to compare gene expression between a total of seven F1 hybrids and 24 individuals from parental species populations. We found 3.9% of genes differentially expressed between generalists and molluscivores in whole-larvae tissues and 0.6% of genes differentially expressed in craniofacial tissue. We found that 2.1% of genes were misregulated in whole-larvae hybrids whereas 19.1% of genes were misregulated in hybrid craniofacial tissues, after correcting for sequencing biases. We also measured allele specific expression across 15,429 heterozygous sites to identify putative compensatory regulatory mechanisms underlying differential expression between generalists and molluscivores. Together, our results highlight the importance of considering misregulation as an early indicator of genetic incompatibilities in the context of rapidly diverging adaptive radiations and suggests that compensatory regulatory divergence drives hybrid gene misregulation in developing tissues that give rise to novel craniofacial traits

Enhancing GED Instruction to Prepare Students for College and Careers

To better understand how adult education programs might strengthen pathways to college and careers, MDRC, with financial support from the Robin Hood Foundation and MetLife Foundation, partnered with LaGuardia Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY) to launch a small but rigorous study of the GED Bridge to Health and Business program. The GED Bridge program represents a promising new approach to GED instruction, as it aims to better prepare students not only to pass the GED exam, but also to continue on to college and training programs. MDRC has conducted several evaluations of programs that include GED preparation as one among many program components, but this evaluation is one of only a few to focus specifically on GED curriculum, program design, and efforts to forge a stronger link to college and career training

Saddlepath Learning

Saddlepath learning occurs when agents know the form but not the coefficients of the sad?dlepath relationship defining rational expectations equilibrium. Under saddlepath learning, we obtain a completely general relationship between determinacy and e-stability, and generalise Min?imum State Variable results previously derived only under full information. When the system is determinate, we show that a learning process based on the saddlepath is always e-stable. When the system is indeterminate, we find there is a unique MSV solution that is iteratively e-stable. However, in this case there is a sunspot solution that is learnable as well. We conclude by demon?strating that our results hold for any information set.e-stability, determinacy, learning, saddlepath stability.

Economic Implications of the Transfer of Functions Legislation

Recent introduction of HB 4780 and its companion pieces of legislation (HB 4781-4788) has raised a number of questions about the appropriate level of government to deliver services to Michigan residents. Essentially, under provisions contained in the bill, elections, tax collections, and assessment functions would be transferred from "rural" townships to the county where the township is located. The bill defines a rural township as a township or charter township unit with population less than 10 thousand, or population between 10 and 20 thousand but does not provide police and fire on a 24-hour basis and sewer and water services to more than 50% of its residents. The Michigan Township Association (MTA) expects that 95% of Michigan townships would be subject to this legislation.Public Economics,

Trajectory control sensor engineering model detailed test objective

The concept employed in an existing Trajectory Control Sensor (TCS) breadboard is being developed into an engineering model to be considered for flight on the Shuttle as a Detailed Test Objective (DTO). The sensor design addresses the needs of Shuttle/SSF docking/berthing by providing relative range and range rate to 1500 meters as well as the perceived needs of AR&C by relative attitude measurement over the last 100 meters. Range measurement is determined using a four-tone ranging technique. The Doppler shift on the highest frequency tone will be used to provide direct measurement of range rate. Bearing rate and attitude rates will be determined through back differencing of bearing and attitude, respectively. The target consists of an isosceles triangle configuration of three optical retroreflectors, roughly one meter and one-half meter in size. After target acquisition, the sensor continually updates the positions of the three retros at a rate of about one hertz. The engineering model is expected to weigh about 25 pounds, consume 25-30 watts, and have an envelope of about 1.25 cubic feet. The following concerns were addressed during the presentation: are there any concerns with differentiating attitude and bearing to get attitude and bearing rates? Since the docking scenario has low data bandwidth, back differencing is a sufficient approximation of a perfect differentiator for this application. Could range data be obtained if there were no retroreflectors on the target vehicle? Possibly, but only at close range. It would be dependent on target characteristics