bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fear of crime — Rational or not?
Authors: Mugford Stephen 
Published: January 2011

Fear of crime is discussed in relation to various concomitants. This article suggests that fear of crime has two components. One is related to group membership and social support. These affect general levels of anxiety and hence fear (of crime and of other things). The second relates to likelihood of victimization. Thus the fear of crime of, for example, elderly persons may be greater than that of younger persons, despite lower victimization. At the same time two elderly samples may report a level of fear directly related to different victimization experience. This model is discussed with the use of some Australian data on fear of crime in relation to victimization and general psychological distress of Australian women. It is suggested that small differences in fear of crime between married and never married women despite higher victimization rates of the former, are a result of higher levels of distress among the latter, which largely “cancel out” the effect of victimization.
Prison Officers' Work Attitudes: The Influence of Background and Work Experience
Authors: Soutar Geoffrey N , Williams Trevor A 
Published: January 2011

A number of work related attitudes were obtained from a sample of prison officers employed by the Western Australian Prisons Department. Prison officers were first cluster analysed to determine if there were any distinct groups with different attitudes. It was found that there were six such groups. A number of background and work experience variables were then examined to determine if there were any significant intergroup differences. It was found that only previous Prisons Department experience differed over the six groups and that other variables, such as age and previous work history, which others had suggested may explain prison officers' attitudes did not differ significantly. In two previous papers data collected from prison officers in the Western Australian Prisons Department were analysed (Williams, 1983; Williams and Soutar, 1983). The papers examined first the relationships between a number of work related attitudes and second differences in the attitudes of officers in different institutions. However, these analyses did not examine possible relationships between officers' personal, social and work background and these work related attitudes. This appears to be a desirable extension of the previous analysis because Emery (1970), in his study of Bristol Prison, suggested that officers' social backgrounds may be important, while Morris and Morris (1960) argued that previous work experience may also be important in that they considered officers with a military background to be more authoritarian than other officers. Consequently, the prison officers' data were re-examined to determine whether or not such effects were apparent in the Western Australian prison system.
Public perception of sentencing in Perth, Western Australia
Authors: Indermaur David 
Published: January 2011

The present study replicates some of the key findings of earlier “revisionist” studies of public attitude towards the punishment of offenders: 554 Perth residents were interviewed from a sample frame of 800. Most respondents overestimated the amount of crime which involves violence, and tended to see the murder rate as “increasing” when it is not. Most (76%) said that sentences “are not severe enough”. However, 80% of these reported that they were thinking of a violent criminal when answering that question. It is suggested that general questions about crime may essentially reflect respondent concern about violence. The second part of the interview involved a split sample designed to test differences in responses to two types of item presentation. Approximately half the sample (288) were asked to chose a penalty they considered appropriate for three offences. The other half were given brief descriptions of the offence and the offender and then asked to choose an appropriate penalty. The minimum sentences were significantly lower for the group given the case descriptions. The results are interpreted as suggesting that public responses to questions of punishment are largely influenced by stereotypes. A good deal of acceptance was found for proposed alternatives to imprisonment. The most popular (75%) said “year, in all or most cases”) was the use of attendance centres. Most respondents also favoured programmes for fine defaulters, on-the-spot fines for petty offences and a day fine system “in all or most cases”. The implications of the results are discussed in terms of survey methodology and sentencing reform.
Prohibition or regulation: an economist's view of Australian heroin policy
Authors: Marks Robert 
Published: January 2011

Concern for the spread of HIV infection and with the growing social costs associated with the policy of heroin prohibition have recently led many to reconsider the policy. A large question facing advocates of decriminalisation or legalisation is to what extent the numbers of users would grow under a more regulated scheme. “More regulated” because under prohibition there is a completely unregulated market, which is, however, illegal: lawless laissez-faire. This article advocates some degree of regulation for the supply of heroin, and abandonment of the unsuccessful policy of prohibition. In attempting to answer the question of the number of users under different regimes — and their importance to society — the article closely examines the structure of the black market, using a previously unpublished survey of the illegal industry performed in Victoria some years ago by the illicit industry itself. This confirms recent findings that there are relatively large numbers of occasional users who seldom come to the attention of medical or law-enforcement authorities, and whose heroin use per se imposes little cost on society.
Escapes from new south wales gaols: placing the risk in perspective
Authors: Gorta Angela , Sillavant Tony 
Published: January 2011

This article seeks to place the risk posed by escapees in perspective by presenting information on escapees from NSW gaols, based on a detailed record study of the 812 prisoners who escaped during the 6 year period, July 1983 to June 1989. Escapes from NSW gaols are a relatively rare occurrence. The majority of escapes (68.4%) occurred from within minimum security institutions. A further 12.3% of escapes refer to prisoners who fall to return on time from an unescorted temporary absence from the gaol, such as day/weekend leave, attendance at technical college or university, etc. Escapees tended to be younger, more likely to be serving sentences for property offences, more likely to be held in minimum security, more likely to have lower security classifications and less likely to be held on remand than prisoners in general. There is no particular point in their sentence when escapees are more likely to escape. While there are variations in patterns of escape or characteristics of escapees from year to year, there are no clear trends over time. The characteristics of escapees determined in this study suggest that reasons exist for escaping other than the presentation of the opportunity. More than one-quarter (28.6%) of the escapees were recaptured on either the day they escaped or the following day. Half (50%) of the escapees were recaptured within 8 days of their escape. The majority of escapees (74.2%) were not convicted of committing any offences whilst at large. Of those who were convicted, offences committed whilst at large are most commonly property offences (74.9%) such as break, enter and steal or larceny of a motor vehicle
Your Money and Your Life: Cash Transaction Reporting Legislation, Neo-Liberal Philosophy and the Governance of the Self
Authors: McQueenf Rob 
Published: January 2011

Opponents of enactments such as the Financial Transactions Reports Act 1988 (Cth) and Proceeds of Crime Act 1987 (Cth) have principally based their opposition on the basis that such legislation and the regimes which it supports represent a fundamental attack on traditional domains of ‘privacy’. This paper questions the validity of such small T critiques and suggests that such analyses may play into the hands of ‘New Right’ agendas, rather than acting contrary to them. The assumptions lying behind the introduction of financial transaction reporting (FTR) are examined in the context of a variety of ‘New Right’ analytical frameworks. In particular the paper examines FTR in light of the assumption that commercial actors should be ‘free’ of government intervention to pursue their entrepreneurial activities. In this and other respects it is asserted that FTR acts contrary to, rather than as component of, a New Right agenda. The paper also explores the applicability of the Foucauldian notion of ‘governmentality’ in respect to recent developments in financial reporting and monitoring. The manner in which FTR legislation has influenced the ‘conduct’ of commercial actors is examined in some depth. So too is the question of the potential limits (if any) to the encroachment by the state into the previously ‘private’ conduct of both those who operate and those who use the banking and financial system.
Prisons are the Problem: A Re-Examination of Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
Authors: Harding Richard W. 
Published: January 2011

The background to the establishment in 1987 of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody was a belief that the defining risk characteristic of persons dying in custody was their Aboriginality. Australia's long history of violence and injustice towards its Indigenous population underpinned the expectation that continuing racism in custodial situations was the principal driver of high Aboriginal mortality rates. On that basis, analysis and proposed solutions would focus upon the specifics of Aboriginal custodial experience as well as broader issues of criminal justice system administration. This paper suggests that, in the context of prison custody, equal or greater emphasis should have been placed on the nature of prison regimes and prisoner management generally, as they impact upon all prisoners. Rates of prison deaths have remained unacceptably high since the RCIADIC, in contrast to police custodial death rates which have improved markedly. A great deal was generally known about the epidemiology of prison custodial deaths before the work of the RCIADIC. Across-the-board implementation of this prior and subsequently acquired knowledge would arguably have made more effective impact upon Aboriginal as well as non-Aboriginal deaths. The defining risk characteristic of prison mortality was, and still is, the nature of prison custodial regimes.
Characterization of a core fragment of the rhesus monkey TRIM5α protein
Authors: Kar Alak K , Mao Youdong , Bird Gregory , Walensky Loren , Sodroski Joseph 
Published: January 2011

Abstract

Background
Like all tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins, the retroviral restriction factor TRIM5α consists of RING, B-box 2 and coiled-coil domains, with a C-terminal B30.2(SPRY) domain. Although structures have been determined for some individual TRIM domains, the structure of an intact TRIM protein is unknown.

Results
Here, we express and characterize a protease-resistant 29-kD core fragment containing the B-box 2, coiled coil and adjacent linker (L2) region of TRIM5α. This BCCL2 protein formed dimers and higher-order oligomers in solution. Approximately 40% of the BCCL2 secondary structure consisted of alpha helices. Partial loss of alpha-helical content and dissociation of dimers occurred at 42°C, with the residual alpha helices remaining stable up to 80°C.

Conclusions
These results indicate that the B-box 2, coiled-coil and linker 2 regions of TRIM5α form a core dimerization motif that exhibits a high level of alpha-helical content.
Island species radiation and karyotypic stasis in Pachycladonallopolyploids
Authors: Mandáková Terezie , Heenan Peter B , Lysak Martin A 
Published: January 2011

AbstractBackgroundPachycladon(Brassicaceae, tribe Camelineae) is a monophyletic genus of ten morphologically and ecogeographically differentiated, and presumably allopolyploid species occurring in the South Island of New Zealand and in Tasmania. AllPachycladonspecies possess ten chromosome pairs (2n = 20). The feasibility of comparative chromosome painting (CCP) in crucifer species allows the origin and genome evolution in this genus to be elucidated. We focus on the origin and genome evolution ofPachycladonas well as on its genomic relationship to other crucifer species, particularly to the allopolyploid Australian Camelineae taxa. As species radiation on islands is usually characterized by chromosomal stasis, i.e. uniformity of chromosome numbers/ploidy levels, the role of major karyotypic reshuffling during the island adaptive and species radiation inPachycladonis investigated through whole-genome CCP analysis.ResultsThe four analyzedPachycladonspecies possess an identical karyotype structure. The consensual ancestral karyotype is most likely common to allPachycladonspecies and corroborates the monophyletic origin of the genus evidenced by previous phylogenetic analyses. The ancestralPachycladonkaryotype (n = 10) originated through an allopolyploidization event between two genomes structurally resembling the Ancestral Crucifer Karyotype (ACK, n = 8). The primary allopolyploid (apparently with n = 16) has undergone genome reshuffling by descending dysploidy toward n = 10. Chromosome "fusions" were mediated by inversions, translocations and centromere inactivation/loss.Pachycladonchromosome 3 (PC3) resulted from insertional fusion, described in grasses. The allopolyploid ancestor originated in Australia, from the same or closely related ACK-like parental species as the Australian Camelineae allopolyploids. However, the two whole-genome duplication (WGD) events were independent, with thePachycladonWGD being significantly younger. The long-distance dispersal of the diploidizedPachycladonancestor to New Zealand was followed by the Pleistocene species radiation in alpine habitats and characterized by karyotypic stasis.ConclusionsKaryotypic stasis inPachycladonsuggests that the insular species radiation in this genus proceeded through homoploid divergence rather than through species-specific gross chromosomal repatterning. The ancestralPachycladongenome originated in Australia through an allopolyploidization event involving two closely related parental genomes, and spread to New Zealand by a long-distance dispersal. We argue that the chromosome number decrease mediated by inter-genomic reshuffling (diploidization) could provide thePachycladonallopolyploid founder with an adaptive advantage to colonize montane/alpine habitats. The ancestralPachycladonkaryotype remained stable during the Pleistocene adaptive radiation into ten different species.
Unusual conservation of mitochondrial gene order in Crassostreaoysters: evidence for recent speciation in Asia
Authors: Ren Jianfeng , Liu Xiao , Jiang Feng , Guo Ximing , Liu Bin 
Published: January 2011

Abstract

Background
Oysters are morphologically plastic and hence difficult subjects for taxonomic and evolutionary studies. It is long been suspected, based on the extraordinary species diversity observed, that Asia Pacific is the epicenter of oyster speciation. To understand the species diversity and its evolutionary history, we collected five Crassostrea species from Asia and sequenced their complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes in addition to two newly released Asian oysters (C. iredalei and Saccostrea mordax) for a comprehensive analysis.

Results
The six Asian Crassostrea mt genomes ranged from 18,226 to 22,446 bp in size, and all coded for 39 genes (12 proteins, 2 rRNAs and 25 tRNAs) on the same strand. Their genomes contained a split of the rrnL gene and duplication of trnM, trnK and trnQ genes. They shared the same gene order that differed from an Atlantic sister species by as many as nine tRNA changes (6 transpositions and 3 duplications) and even differed significantly from S. mordax in protein-coding genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the six Asian Crassostrea species emerged between 3 and 43 Myr ago, while the Atlantic species evolved 83 Myr ago.

Conclusions
The complete conservation of gene order in the six Asian Crassostrea species over 43 Myr is highly unusual given the remarkable rate of rearrangements in their sister species and other bivalves. It provides strong evidence for the recent speciation of the six Crassostrea species in Asia. It further indicates that changes in mt gene order may not be strictly a function of time but subject to other constraints that are presently not well understood.
Identification of genes for small non-coding RNAs that belong to the regulon of the two-component regulatory system CiaRH in Streptococcus
Authors: Marx Patrick , Nuhn Michael , Kovács Martá , Hakenbeck Regine , Brückner Reinhold 
Published: January 2011

AbstractBackgroundPost-transcriptional regulation by small RNAs (sRNAs) in bacteria is now recognized as a wide-spread regulatory mechanism modulating a variety of physiological responses including virulence. InStreptococcus pneumoniae, an important human pathogen, the first sRNAs to be described were found in the regulon of the CiaRH two-component regulatory system. Five of these sRNAs were detected and designated csRNAs for cia-dependent small RNAs. CiaRH pleiotropically affects β-lactam resistance, autolysis, virulence, and competence development by yet to be defined molecular mechanisms. Since CiaRH is highly conserved among streptococci, it is of interest to determine if csRNAs are also included in the CiaRH regulon in this group of organisms consisting of commensal as well as pathogenic species. Knowledge on the participation of csRNAs in CiaRH-dependent regulatory events will be the key to define the physiological role of this important control system.ResultsGenes for csRNAs were predicted in streptococcal genomes and data base entries other thanS. pneumoniaeby searching for CiaR-activated promoters located in intergenic regions that are followed by a transcriptional terminator. 61 different candidate genes were obtained specifying csRNAs ranging in size from 51 to 202 nt. Comparing these genes among each other revealed 40 different csRNA types. All streptococcal genomes harbored csRNA genes, their numbers varying between two and six. To validate these predictions,S. mitis,S. oralis, andS. sanguiniswere subjected to csRNA-specific northern blot analysis. In addition, a csRNA gene fromS. thermophilusplasmid pST0 introduced intoS. pneumoniaewas also tested. Each of the csRNAs was detected on these blots and showed the anticipated sizes. Thus, the method applied here is able to predict csRNAs with high precision.ConclusionsThe results of this study strongly suggest that genes for small non-coding RNAs, csRNAs, are part of the regulon of the two-component regulatory system CiaRH in all streptococci.
Evaluation of external RNA controls for the standardisation of gene expression biomarker measurements
Authors: Devonshire Alison S , Elaswarapu Ramnath , Foy Carole A 
Published: January 2011

Abstract

Background
Gene expression profiling is an important approach for detecting diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and predicting drug safety. The development of a wide range of technologies and platforms for measuring mRNA expression makes the evaluation and standardization of transcriptomic data problematic due to differences in protocols, data processing and analysis methods. Thus, universal RNA standards, such as those developed by the External RNA Controls Consortium (ERCC), are proposed to aid validation of research findings from diverse platforms such as microarrays and RT-qPCR, and play a role in quality control (QC) processes as transcriptomic profiling becomes more commonplace in the clinical setting.

Results
Panels of ERCC RNA standards were constructed in order to test the utility of these reference materials (RMs) for performance characterization of two selected gene expression platforms, and for discrimination of biomarker profiles between groups. The linear range, limits of detection and reproducibility of microarray and RT-qPCR measurements were evaluated using panels of RNA standards. Transcripts of low abundance (≤ 10 copies/ng total RNA) showed more than double the technical variability compared to higher copy number transcripts on both platforms. Microarray profiling of two simulated 'normal' and 'disease' panels, each consisting of eight different RNA standards, yielded robust discrimination between the panels and between standards with varying fold change ratios, showing no systematic effects due to different labelling and hybridization runs. Also, comparison of microarray and RT-qPCR data for fold changes showed agreement for the two platforms.

Conclusions
ERCC RNA standards provide a generic means of evaluating different aspects of platform performance, and can provide information on the technical variation associated with quantification of biomarkers expressed at different levels of physiological abundance. Distinct panels of standards serve as an ideal quality control tool kit for determining the accuracy of fold change cut-off threshold and the impact of experimentally-derived noise on the discrimination of normal and disease profiles.
A new implementation of high-throughput five-dimensional clone pooling strategy for BAC library screening
Authors: You Frank M , Luo Ming-Cheng , Xu Kenong , Deal Karin R , Anderson Olin D , Dvorak Jan 
Published: January 2011

Abstract

Background
A five-dimensional (5-D) clone pooling strategy for screening of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones with molecular markers utilizing highly-parallel Illumina GoldenGate assays and PCR facilitates high-throughput BAC clone and BAC contig anchoring on a genetic map. However, this strategy occasionally needs manual PCR to deconvolute pools and identify truly positive clones.

Results
A new implementation is reported here for our previously reported clone pooling strategy. Row and column pools of BAC clones are divided into sub-pools with 1~2× genome coverage. All BAC pools are screened with Illumina's GoldenGate assay and the BAC pools are deconvoluted to identify individual positive clones. Putative positive BAC clones are then further analyzed to find positive clones on the basis of them being neighbours in a contig. An exhaustive search or brute force algorithm was designed for this deconvolution and integrated into a newly developed software tool, FPCBrowser, for analyzing clone pooling data. This algorithm was used with empirical data for 55 Illumina GoldenGate SNP assays detecting SNP markers mapped on Aegilops tauschii chromosome 2D and Ae. tauschii contig maps. Clones in single contigs were successfully assigned to 48 (87%) specific SNP markers on the map with 91% precision.

Conclusion
A new implementation of 5-D BAC clone pooling strategy employing both GoldenGate assay screening and assembled BAC contigs is shown here to be a high-throughput, low cost, rapid, and feasible approach to screening BAC libraries and anchoring BAC clones and contigs on genetic maps. The software FPCBrowser with the integrated clone deconvolution algorithm has been developed and is downloadable at http://avena.pw.usda.gov/wheatD/fpcbrowser.shtml.