Digital Commons Network^™

Online Application Monitoring Tool, Sathya Anandan

Master's Projects

In some classes, students take online tests and some types of network activity (for example trying to find the answers in www.google.com) will be considered as cheating during the exam. It would be useful if instructor could monitor online activities of each student to detect cheating. The goal of this project is to develop such a tool using client/server architecture. Tool should display the student's hostname and the website visited during unauthorized web activity. Professor should able to see the applications opened by all students and he will have an option to view the log files of all the students …

Approximate Disassembly Using Dynamic Programming, Abhishek Shah

Master's Projects

Most commercial anti-virus software uses signature based techniques to detect whether a file is infected by a virus or not. However, signature based detection systems are unable to detect metamorphic viruses, since such viruses change their internal structure from generation to generation. Previous work has shown that hidden Markov models (HMMs) can be used to detect metamorphic viruses. In this technique, the code is disassembled and the resulting opcode sequences are used for training and detection. Due to the disassembly step, this process is not efficient enough to use when a decision has to be made in real time.

In …

One Social, Sowmya Sampath

Master's Projects

Facebook streams and Twitter tweets represent user content in two common social media systems. Users often have accounts on both these systems and to keep their content current for both of them they must update each separately. It is thus difficult to manage and maintain both of these social networks together. The goal of this project is to build a social website called One Social, where users can view their Facebook streams and Twitter tweets in one single view and thereby easily organize and maintain their updates. In One Social, users can enter a status message and can share it …

Web-Based Ide For Interfacing View Controller, Tejasvi Palvai

Master's Projects

The main idea of this project is to develop a web-based IDE, which helps users to avoid installing or configuring the Desktop IDE. It also enables users to create XHTML pages using the drag and drop mechanism in Struts. Struts extends the Java Servlet API to encourage developers to adopt the MVC (Model-View- Controller) architecture. In this project, a web application for interfacing the view and controller parts of the MVC architecture was developed. This web-based IDE connects the View and Controller components when the user drags and drops HTML elements in the UI of the IDE. With this project, …

Computational Mirna Target Prediction In Animals, Leyan Tang

Master's Projects

miRNAs are a class of small RNA molecules about 22 nucleotides long that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. The discovery of the second miRNA 10 years ago was as much a surprise in its own way as the very structure of DNA discovered a half century earlier[1]. How could these small molecules regulate so many genes? During the past decade the complex cascade of regulation has been investigated and reported in detail[2]. The regions of the genome called untranslated regions, or UTRs, proved true to their name: they were indeed untranslated, but certainly not unimportant: they act as …

Automatic Execution Path Finding Tool, Fan Yang

Master's Projects

Today, there are many hackers trying to break software using reverse engineering tech- niques. To better protect software, we need to understand reverse engineering methods. This project presents a tool that automatically analyzes executable code in a manner simi- lar to the way an attack might analyze code.

Using reverse engineering techniques, executables can be disassembled to yield an as- sembly code representation of the program. Assembly code is much more human reada- ble than binary code. With assembly code, an attacker can attempt to modify the program to do something other than what was intended by the developer.

The …

A Microrna Target Prediction Algorithm, Rupinder Singh

Master's Projects

MicroRNA target prediction using the experimental methods is a challenging task. To accelerate the process of miRNA target validation, many computational methods are used. Computational methods yield many potential candidates for experimental validation. This project is about developing a new computational method using dynamic programming to predict miRNA targets with more accuracy. The project discusses the currently available computational methods and develops a new algorithm using the currently available knowledge about miRNA interactions.

Intrusion Detection And Prevention System: Sql-Injection Attacks, Varian Luong

Master's Projects

Personally identifiable information (PII) is information regarding things such as bank accounts, retirement or stock investment accounts, credit card accounts, medical records, or insurance claims. There is a need to protect the PII in databases that are connected to the ubiquitous, global network that is the Internet. If there is any vulnerability in the protection in a system that holds PII, then it presents an opportunity for an unauthorized person to access this PII. One of the techniques available to would- be information thieves is SQL injection (SQL-I). In this project, a system is developed to analyze the values submitted …

Improved Worm Simulator And Simulations, Arnold Suvatne

Master's Projects

According to the latest Microsoft Security Intelligence Report (SIR), worms were the second most prevalent information security threat detected in the first half of 2010 – the top threat being Trojans. Given the prevalence and damaging effects of worms, research and development of worm counter strategies are garnering an increased level of attention. However, it is extremely risky to test and observe worm spread behavior on a public network. What is needed is a packet level worm simulator that would allow researchers to develop and test counter strategies against rapidly spreading worms in a controlled and isolated environment. Jyotsna Krishnaswamy, …

A Study On Masquerade Detection, Lin Huang

Master's Projects

In modern computer systems, usernames and passwords have been by far the most common forms of authentication. A security system relying only on password protection is defenseless when the passwords of legitimate users are compromised. A masquerader can impersonate a legitimate user by using a compromised password.

An intrusion detection system (IDS) can provide an additional level of protection for a security system by inspecting user behavior. In terms of detection techniques, there are two types of IDSs: signature-based detection and anomaly-based detection. An anomaly-based intrusion detection technique consists of two steps: 1) creating a normal behavior model for legitimate …

Japanese Kanji Suggestion Tool, Sujata Dongre

Master's Projects

Many times, we can see that if we enter a misspelled search term in any of the search engines like Google, it will provide some help with "Did you mean:...." In my project, I am providing some suggestions for the wrong Japanese text entered by a user.

The Japanese language has three types of writing styles - hiragana, katakana and the most difficult, kanji. A single kanji symbol may be used to write one or more different compound words. From the point of view of the reader, kanji symbols are said to have one or more different "readings." Hence, sometimes …

View Component Of Web-Based Ide To Develop Web Applications In Cakephp, Swathi Vegesna

Master's Projects

The aim of the project is to build a Web-based IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that enables users to create a Web application in PHP on the CakePHP framework. The view component of the IDE allows the users to build the CakePHP view templates, which include the HTML tags which can be properly linked with the controller functions. Users will be able to create the HTML form elements only by performing certain drags, drops and clicks. This project will create dynamic view elements, which is achieved by connecting them to the Controllers components. This IDE helps the users to create dynamic …

Extending Owl With Finite Automata Constraints, Jignesh Borisa

Master's Projects

The Web Ontology Language (OWL) is a markup language for sharing and publishing data using ontologies on the Internet. It belongs to a family of knowledge representation languages for writing ontologies. Answer Set Programming (ASP) is a declarative programming approach to knowledge representation. It is oriented towards difficult search problems. In this project, we developed an extension to OWL add support for collection class constraints. These constraints come in the form of membership checks for sets where these set are computed by finite automata. We developed an inference engine for the resulting language. This engine extends the Java-based Pellet library …

Spartan Daily November 17, 2010, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily (School of Journalism and Mass Communications)

Volume 135, Issue 43

Spartan Daily November 10, 2010, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily (School of Journalism and Mass Communications)

Volume 135, Issue 40

Spartan Daily November 2, 2010, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily (School of Journalism and Mass Communications)

Volume 135, Issue 35

Multiple Visions Of Teachers' Understandings Of Mathematics, Ann Kajander, Ralph Mason, Peter Taylor, Edward Doolittle, Tom Boland, Dan Jarvis, Wes Maciejewski

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

In this dialog, the notion of mathematical understanding as might be needed by classroom teachers is critically examined by mathematics educators, mathematicians, and a classroom teacher, based on the outcomes of recent work with expert classroom teachers. Terminology, assumptions and examples are discussed and analysed from a number of points of view. Ultimately, the goal is to construct common ground from which appropriate mathematics courses for future teachers might be developed and taught. The need for common terminology and a unifying framework from which to work becomes apparent as multiple interpretations and visions are discussed.

Knowledge Area Module 1: Principles Of Societal Development, Francis E. Howard

Faculty and Staff Publications

In the Breadth component of the KAM, I explore the question of why the U.S. education system throughout the history of the country has failed to provide students a quality education. An analysis of the views of Abraham Maslow, Jean Piaget, and John Dewey, and others who emphasized the importance and relevance of being able to learn and think critically, are reviewed. The ability to communicate what is learned for the betterment of the individual,l as well as society as a whole, is explored.

A Comparative Study Of Captioned Video And Face-To-Face Instruction In Library Instruction For Secondary School Students With Hearing Impairment, Morayo Ibironke Atinmo, Rotimi Adesina Egunjobi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study compared the effects of captioned video instruction and face-to-face instruction on library use instruction of secondary school students with hearing impairment. This study adopted the quasi-experimental pre-test, post -test control group design. This study employed two treatment groups comprising captioned video instruction group and face to face instruction group as well as a control group. Two research instruments, Library Use Instruction Test and Library Practical Use Checklist were used as data collection tools. The study concluded that both instructional strategies are effective in giving library instructions to persons with hearing impairment

Scientific Research In Librarianship: A Panacea For Library Development In Nigeria, Tony I. Obaseki, Salisu Dasuki Ibrahim, Julliet N. Momoh

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper critically examines the issue of research in librarianship and how the dearth of scientific research in the field affects its development in Nigeria. Problems such as lack of government support and interest in the profession, lack of research-minded librarians, etc., are responsible for the lack of scientific research in the profession. The result is the lack of popularity of the profession. Solutions for improving the adequacy of research techniques in librarianship are offered.

On Boredom, Information Systems, And The Practice Of Good Reading, Alberto Salarelli

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Boredom is one of most characteristic features of modern humans. In fact, the large amount of time available, due to the development of information systems, has made it possible to delegate various types of tasks to automatic machines. Traditionally, by boredom we mean a sort of defence mechanism used by humans against an excessive lack of stimuli which can lead to a progressive reduction in cerebral activity. Today, after the build up of systems which allow one to obtain great quantities of information from all parts of the world immediately, boredom seems to manifest itself as a symptom of “information …

Bibliometric Analysis Of The Journal Library Philosophy And Practice From 2005-2009, S. Thanuskodi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The present study is a bibliometric analysis of articles and references in Library Philosophy and Practice from 2005 to 2009. The analysis covers the number of articles, authorship patterns, subject distribution of articles, average number of references per article, forms of documents cited, year-wise distribution of cited journals, rank list of journals, etc. Strong and weak points are discussed, as the basis for improvement and development.

Model Development As A Research Tool: An Example Of Pak-Nisea, Farzana Shafique, Khalid Mahmood

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study consists of two parts. The first briefly highlights the research methods used in library and information science (LIS). It identifies model development as an effective research method for LIS research. It also reviews different aspects of models and their use in LIS research in Pakistan. The second part illustrates an example of a draft model entitled “PAK-NISEA” recently proposed for a PhD project. Related issues of the proposed model, i.e. rationale, objectives, research methodology, data collection process, important characteristics of PAK-NISEA, are also discussed.

Bedrock Erosion By Root Fracture And Tree Throw: A Coupled Biogeomorphic Model To Explore The Humped Soil Production Function And The Persistence Of Hillslope Soils, Emmanuel Gabet, Simon Mudd

Faculty Publications

In 1877, G. K. Gilbert reasoned that bedrock erosion is maximized under an intermediate soil thickness and declines as soils become thinner or thicker. Subsequent analyses of this “humped” functional relationship proposed that thin soils are unstable and that perturbations in soil thickness would lead to runaway thinning or thickening of the soil. To explore this issue, we developed a numerical model that simulates the physical weathering of bedrock by root fracture and tree throw. The coupled biogeomorphic model combines data on conifer population dynamics, rootwad volumes, tree throw frequency, and soil creep from the Pacific Northwest (USA). Although not …

Calibration Of The Total Carbon Column Observing Network Using Aircraft Profile Data, D. Wunch, G. Toon, P. Wennberg, Steven Wofsy, B. Stephens, M. Fischer, O. Uchino, J. Abshire, P. Bernath, S. Biraud, J.-F. Blavier, C. Boone, K. Bowman, E. Browell, T. Campos, B. Connor, B. Daube, N. Deutscher, Minghui Diao, J. Elkins, C. Gerbig, E. Gottlieb, D. W. Griffith, D. Hurst, R. Jimenez, G. Keppel-Aleks, E. Kort, R. Macatangay, T. Machida, H. Matsueda, F. Moore, I. Morino, S. Park, J. Robinson, C. Roehl, Y. Sawa, V. Sherlock, C. Sweeney, T. Tanaka, M. Zondlo

Faculty Publications, Meteorology and Climate Science

The Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) produces precise measurements of the column average dry-air mole fractions of CO2, CO, CH4, N2O and H2O at a variety of sites worldwide. These observations rely on spectroscopic parameters that are not known with sufficient accuracy to compute total columns that can be used in combination with in situ measurements. The TCCON must therefore be calibrated to World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in situ trace gas measurement scales. We present a calibration of TCCON data using WMO-scale instrumentation aboard aircraft that measured profiles over four TCCON stations during 2008 and 2009. These calibrations are …

Chemistry–Climate Model Simulations Of Twenty-First Century Stratospheric Climate And Circulation Changes, Neal Butchart, I. Cionni, V. Eyring, T. G. Shepherd, D. W. Waugh, H. Akiyoshi, J. Austin, C. Brühl, M. P. Chipperfield, Eugene C. Cordero, M. Dameris, R. Deckert, S. Dhomse, S. M. Frith, R. R. Garcia, A. Gettelman, M. A. Giorgetta, D. E. Kinnison, F. Li, E. Mancini, S. Pawson, G. Pitari, D. A. Plummer, E. Rozanov, F. Sassi, J. F. Scinocca, K. Shibata, B. Steil, W. Tian

Faculty Publications, Meteorology and Climate Science

The response of stratospheric climate and circulation to increasing amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and ozone recovery in the twenty-first century is analyzed in simulations of 11 chemistry–climate models using near-identical forcings and experimental setup. In addition to an overall global cooling of the stratosphere in the simulations (0.59 ± 0.07 K decade⁻¹ at 10 hPa), ozone recovery causes a warming of the Southern Hemisphere polar lower stratosphere in summer with enhanced cooling above. The rate of warming correlates with the rate of ozone recovery projected by the models and, on average, changes from 0.8 to 0.48 K decade …

The Great Library Of Alexandria?, Heather Philips

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Though it was Alexandria's Pharos lighthouse that was counted among the Seven Wonders of the World, Ancient Alexandria was a city in which wonders abounded. The city featured wide boulevards laid out in a grid, and buildings constructed of granite and marble. Some say that Alexander himself had a hand in planning this great city. One of the most notable wonders of the city was the Great Library of Alexandria (hereinafter Great Library or Library), an institution which has assumed legendary proportions in the mythos of western civilization. However, institutions which assume mythological proportions are often obscured by the very …

Sql Querie Recommendations: A Query Fragment-Based Approach, Jayad Akbarnejad, Magdalini Eirinaki, Suju Koshy, Duc On, Neoklis Polyzotis

Faculty Publications

Relational database systems are becoming increasingly popular in the scientific community to support the interactive exploration of large volumes of data. In this scenario, users employ a query interface (typically, a web-based client) to issue a series of SQL queries that aim to analyze the data and mine it for interesting information. First-time users, however, may not have the necessary knowledge to know where to start their exploration. Other times, users may simply overlook queries that retrieve important information. In this work we describe a framework to assist non-expert users by providing personalized query recommendations. The querying behavior of the …

Personal Vs. Social, Magdalini Eirinaki

Faculty Publications

The last few years we witnessed an impressive growth in social networks and in applications that add value to their amassed information. At the same time, the continuing expansion of mobile platforms and applications (e.g. iPhone), combined with the overwhelming supply of information and services, makes effective personalization and context-awareness much required features. One may consider "personal" and "social" data management as comprising two distinct directions with conflicting characteristics. However, it can be argued that they complement each other and that in future applications they will ultimately converge. This "personal vs. social" predicament presents a number of interesting topics that …

Standardised Library Instruction Assessment: An Institution-Specific Approach, Shannon M. Staley, Nicole A. Branch, Tom L. Hewitt

Faculty and Staff Publications

Introduction
We explore the use of a psychometric model for locally-relevant, information literacy assessment, using an online tool for standardised assessment of student learning during discipline-based library instruction sessions.

Method
A quantitative approach to data collection and analysis was used, employing standardised multiple-choice survey questions followed by individual, cognitive interviews with undergraduate students. The assessment tool was administered to five general education psychology classes during library instruction sessions.

Analysis
Descriptive statistics were generated by the assessment tool. Results. The assessment tool proved a feasible means of measuring student learning. While student scores improved on every survey question, there was uneven …