Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals On Fish Reproduction And Reproductive Indicators, Lesley Judith Mills

Open Access Dissertations

The central hypothesis tested in this dissertation is that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in the aquatic environment disrupt reproductive processes in fish. To gain a broad perspective of existing evidence, a review of the current literature was conducted. From this literature review, the lack of a dependable method or indicator to assess reproductive fitness of fish in situ was identified as an outstanding need. In laboratory experiments, reproductive endpoints (egg production, fertility and viablity) were measured in the marine fish Tautogolabrus adspersus , or cunner, implanted with estrogens. Estrone and ethynylestradiol significantly reduced egg production in treated cunner at the …

Nonparametric Approaches For Analysis And Design Of Incoherent Adaptive Cfar Detectors, Ashwin Sarma

Open Access Dissertations

This thesis provides methods for nonparametric analysis and design of incoherent adaptive CFAR detectors. Adaptive CFAR detectors, both parametric and nonparametric, require a reference sample to learn the statistical properties of the noise. An important issue but one that is often overlooked is the need to choose a reference sample that is representative of the noise in the test cell. An approach to dynamically choose these windows is developed and studied. A powerful test for randomness based on the Mann-Kendall rank test is employed in this approach. Next the issue of when to use a nonparametric test versus a parametric …

Functional Silane Based Polymers For Sensing And Separations, Aruna M. Velamakanni

Open Access Dissertations

The work reported in this dissertation has focused primarily on two areas: Synthesis of functional silane based polymers and application of these polymers for separations and sensing. In the first part we reported on the design of a library of silane based copolymers synthesized with various side groups and substitutions on phenyl ring and their characterization using FTIR, UV, H1NMR, TGA and DSC. In the second part of this work, we describe the self-assembly of the above mentioned copolymers into multilayer onto various substrates, characterization of the materials on layered substrates and finally application of these polymers as sensors. The …

Acid-Base Property Of Double-Strand Polyaniline And The Preparation Of Inorganic/Organic Composite By Physical Adsorption, Hui Wan

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation consists of two manuscripts. The first manuscript concerns the question of why the pKa for the conductor-to-insulator transition of polyaniline is shifted significantly when it forms a non-covalent complex with a polymeric anion. The second manuscript concerns the physical adsorption process to form inorganic particles coated with the conducting polymer, the double-strand polyaniline. The experimental data in both manuscripts show that the electrostatic interaction is the underlying driving force for these two apparently different phenomena. In the first manuscript we studied the reason for the large pKa shift of double-strand polyaniline complex. The amount of the pKa shift …

Metabolic Activities In Deep Subseafloor Sediments, Guizhi Wang

Open Access Dissertations

Microbes in subseafloor sediments account for a significant fraction of the Earth's total biomass. It has been argued that these communities are sustained at extremely low respiration rates, based on estimates of sulfate reduction rates and cell abundances. It is conceivable, however, that respiration rates may be much higher due to iron reduction. Iron reduction is difficult to directly quantify due to the removal of dissolved Fe(II) from pore waters. Additionally, hypothetically competing respiration pathways have been suggested to co-occur in deep subseafloor sediments based on qualitative analysis of chemical profiles. Yet, the vertical distributions of these processes and the …

Forensic Tools For Mobile Phone Subscriber Identity Modules, Wayne Jansen, Rick Ayers

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Mobile phones and other handheld devices incorporating cellular capabilities, such as Personal Digital Assistants, are ubiquitous. Besides placing calls, these devices allow users to perform other useful tasks, including text messaging and phonebook entry management. When cell phones and cellular devices are involved in a crime or other incident, forensic specialists require tools that allow the proper retrieval and speedy examination of data present on the device. For devices conforming to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standards, certain data such as dialed numbers, text messages, and phonebook entries are maintained on a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). This paper …

Designing A Data Warehouse For Cyber Crimes, Il-Yeol Song, John D. Maguire, Ki Jung Lee, Namyoun Choi, Xiaohua Hu, Peter Chen

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

One of the greatest challenges facing modern society is the rising tide of cyber crimes. These crimes, since they rarely fit the model of conventional crimes, are difficult to investigate, hard to analyze, and difficult to prosecute. Collecting data in a unified framework is a mandatory step that will assist the investigator in sorting through the mountains of data. In this paper, we explore designing a dimensional model for a data warehouse that can be used in analyzing cyber crime data. We also present some interesting queries and the types of cyber crime analyses that can be performed based on …

The 2006 Analysis Of Information Remaining On Disks Offered For Sale On The Second Hand Market, Andy Jones, Craig Valli, Iain Sutherland, Paula Thomas

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

All organisations, whether in the public or private sector, use computers for the storage and processing of information relating to their business or services, their employees and their customers. A large proportion of families and individuals in their homes now also use personal computers and, both intentionally and inadvertently, often store on those computers personal information. It is clear that most organisations and individuals continue to be unaware of the information that may be stored on the hard disks that the computers contain, and have not considered what may happen to the information after the disposal of the equipment.

In …

The Design Of An Undergraduate Degree Program In Computer & Digital Forensics, Gary C. Kessler, Michael E. Schirling

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Champlain College formally started an undergraduate degree program in Computer & Digital Forensics in 2003. The underlying goals were that the program be multidisciplinary, bringing together the law, computer technology, and the basics of digital investigations; would be available as on online and oncampus offering; and would have a process-oriented focus. Success of this program has largely been due to working closely with practitioners, maintaining activity in events related to both industry and academia, and flexibility to respond to ever-changing needs. This paper provides an overview of how this program was conceived, developed, and implemented; its evolution over time; and …

A Forensic Log File Extraction Tool For Icq Instant Messaging Clients, Kim Morfitt, Craig Valli

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Instant messenger programs such as ICQ are often used by hackers and criminals for illicit purposes and consequently the log files from such programs are of interest in a forensic investigation. This paper outlines research that has resulted in the development of a tool for the extraction of ICQ log file entries. Detailed reconstruction of data from log files was achieved with a number of different ICQ software. There are several limitations with the current design including timestamp information not adjusted for the time zone, data could be altered, and conversations must be manually reconstructed. Future research will aim to …

A Curriculum For Teaching Information Technology Investigative Techniques For Auditors, Grover S. Kearns

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Recent prosecutions of highly publicized white-collar crimes combined with public outrage have resulted in heightened regulation of financial reporting and greater emphasis on systems of internal control. Because both white-collar and cybercrimes are usually perpetrated through computers, internal and external auditors’ knowledge of information technology (IT) is now more vital than ever. However, preserving digital evidence and investigative techniques, which can be essential to fraud examinations, are not skills frequently taught in accounting programs and instruction in the use of computer assisted auditing tools and techniques – applications that might uncover fraudulent activity – is limited. Only a few university-level …

Is Forensic Computing A Profession? Revisiting An Old Debate In A New Field, Bernd C. Stahl

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Forensic Computing is a new and quickly developing field. It is in the process of becoming an academic discipline or sub-discipline with all the features from full undergraduate and postgraduate course provision to conferences and journals. An important question in this process of turning into an established discipline is whether it will coincide with the recognition of the graduates as professionals. This paper hopes to stimulate the debate as to whether forensic computing is or should be a discipline. In order to approach this question, the paper will discuss the concept of forensic computing including the most salient topics of …

Book Review: Digital Crime And Forensic Science In Cyberspace, Gary C. Kessler

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

This issue presents the first Book Review column for the JDFSL. It is an experiment to broaden the services that the journal provides to readers, so we are anxious to get your reaction. Is the column useful and interesting? Should we include more than one review per issue? Should we also review products? Do you have suggested books/products for review and/or do you want to write a review? All of this type of feedback -- and more -- is appreciated. Please feel free to send comments to Gary Kessler ([email protected]) or Glenn Dardick ([email protected]).

Osprey Journal Of Ideas And Inquiry Vol.5 Spring 2006 Editor's Note, Mary O. Borg

All Volumes (2001-2008)

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Power And Negotiation In Online Deception, Chad Albrecht, Conan C. Albrecht, Jonathan Wareham, Paul Fox

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

The purpose of this paper is to advance theoretical understanding of the important role of both power and negotiation during online deception. By so doing, the paper provides insight into the relationship between perpetrator and victim in Internet fraud. The growing prevalence of Internet Fraud continues to be a burden to both society and individuals. In an attempt to better understand Internet fraud and online deception, this article attempts to build an interactive model, based upon the dimensions of power and negotiation from the management and psychology literature. Using the model presented, the article examines the effects of the Internet …

Table Of Contents

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

No abstract provided.

Next Year In Jerusalem: A 21st Century, Medieval Pilgrimage Site, Mark Fafard

All Volumes (2001-2008)

American Protestantism is generally regarded as scripturalist and lacking in such features as Passion plays and pilgrimage. The Holy Land Experience is an Orlando based Christian attraction that includes characteristics of both modern and medieval pilgrimage sites. In addition to the publicized Christian theme, an underlying yet equal message of Jewish heritage is pronounced within several of the park’s attributes. One dimension of this is that it serves as a substitutional pilgrimage; that is, an alternative to traveling to war torn Israel. This ethnography provides an emic perspective of the Holy Land Experience to hypothesize that it is a Christian …

Federal Funds Target Rate Changes And Sector Equity Returns, Michael King, Scott Martin

All Volumes (2001-2008)

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how equities of nine individual economic sectors are affected when monetary policy announcements in the form of federal funds rate changes are made over the period January 1, 1999 to May 11, 2005. This sector-analysis is conducted over a recent time period, when the Federal Open Market Committee has adopted a policy of immediate disclosure of its federal funds target rate changes. Our results indicate that the Consumer Discretionary and Technology sectors’ equity returns are negatively and significantly related to changes in the federal funds target rate. This negative relationship appears to …

Looking Behind The Veil Of An Idealized Past: The Useful Legacy Of A False Prophet, James Holeman

All Volumes (2001-2008)

Traditional Muslim narratives maintain that in 632 C.E., while the Prophet Muhammad (c. 570-632) was on his deathbed, several Arabian tribes apostatized from Islam only to be “recaptured” by Muslim armies during a series of wars fought under the first Caliph Abu Bakr. Muslim traditions attributed leadership of those “apostate” movements to a number of “false prophets.” The most notorious of these “enemies of God” was Musaylima B. Habib, otherwise known as the “archliar” and the “false prophet” of Yamamah. Several scholars have attempted a historical reconstruction of Musaylima’s career, but the problematic nature of the primary source material renders …

Design, Fabrication, And Implementation Of Jump-Cue Testing Machine, Joe Lewandowski, Ivan Faustino

All Volumes (2001-2008)

A device for measuring the effectiveness of a jump cue performing the jump shot in the game of pool is presented. The design, build, integration, and current application of the jump-cue testing machine are described. A physical system model is described that allows for the basic actuation of the mechanical system to be established and understood. The mechanical design embodiment of the jump-cue testing machine is presented with mechanical design and realization aspects of the device emphasized. Examples of current use of the jump-cue testing machine by industry are described.

Isokinetic Hamstring: Quadriceps Strength Ratio In Males And Females: Implications For Acl Injury, Meghan Eileen Lyons

All Volumes (2001-2008)

Although high rates of ACL injuries are seen in contact sports, the majority of injuries occur as a result of a no contact mechanism. The mechanism causing this injury usually falls into one of three categories: planting and cutting, straight knee landing, and one-step stop landing with the knee in hyperextension. Depending on the specific parameters of the group assessed, female athletes are two to eight times more likely to tear the ACL in one of these motions than are male athletes. Numerous studies focusing on different sports at various levels have shown similar trends, demanding that attention be paid …

Falling Into Love, Adam Groff

All Volumes (2001-2008)

No abstract provided.

The Birds In My Life, Christopher Sylvester

All Volumes (2001-2008)

No abstract provided.

The Cult Of Love, Michal Paul

All Volumes (2001-2008)

There can be no doubt that romantic love is, at a minimum, a cultural preoccupation; arguably, it closer resembles a frenzied obsession. Love is the subject of song lyrics, television shows, films, books, watercooler conversation, gossip, scandal, historic tragedy, and uncountable daydreams and fantasies. Type “romantic love” into a Google search and you will retrieve over 4,570,000 hits for websites featuring the topic. We even recognize a national holiday in its honor. Certainly one could say that love is an ultimate concern in American culture. Just how deep, though, is our devotion to its tenets? I argue that people live …

In The Lion’S Den: Orthodox Christians Under Ottoman Rule, 1400-1550, Neil Paradise

All Volumes (2001-2008)

The Ottoman Empire’s conquest of the Balkans and subsequent administration left a perplexing religious legacy. The Islamic Ottoman presence lasted almost five centuries, yet Christianity remained the overwhelming religion of choice in the area. The Ottoman treatment of subject Christians has been long debated, with characterizations ranging from a cosmopolitan haven of freedom to a brutal rule of forced conversion. However, the real picture appears far more complex than these generalizations – the Ottoman relationship with Orthodox Christianity in the Balkans changed over time, depending in part on religious tenets but also largely on the realities and varying situations facing …

Evaluating A Parent Training Program: Scale Analysis And The Effects Of Systematic Training For Effective Parenting (Step) On Child And Parent Behavior, Anne E. Damrad

Open Access Dissertations

Two studies examined archival pretest and posttest data collected from 490 parents who participated in a 7-week Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP; Dinkmeyer & McKay, 1976) program in a large, suburban, public school district in Rhode Island between 1994 and 1999. The first study cross-validated the underlying structure of selected subscales from the Behavior Rating Profile, Second Edition (BRP-2; Brown & Hammill, 1990) and STEP Parenting Assessment Technique (SPAT; Dinkmeyer, 1981). Principal components analyses revealed two components (Externalizing Behavior and Internalizing Behavior) with good to very good coefficient alphas on a revised version of the BRP Parent Rating Scale, …

Analyses Of Sea Surface Height, Bottom Pressure And Acoustic Travel Time In The Japan/East Sea, Yongsheng Xu

Open Access Dissertations

The observed water motions in the Japan/East Sea (JES) and the associated sea surface height and bottom pressure fields are heavily influenced by the semi-enclosed nature and the specific configuration of this marginal sea. As part of the United States Office of Naval Research JES program, a two-dimensional array of pressure-gauge-equipped inverted echo sounders (PIESs) was deployed in the southwestern JES for two years, from June 1999 to July 2001. The PIESs recorded hourly vertical acoustic travel time and pressure, which are respectively good proxies of baroclinic and barotropic sea level variability. Three topics are investigated based on the PIES …

Radium Isotopes As Tracers Of Water Mass Age And Groundwater Flux To Shallow Coastal Salt Ponds, Andrea L. Hougham

Open Access Master's Theses

Water mass age within and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to coastal southern Rhode Island was estimated from measurements of the naturally-occurring radioisotopes of ²²³Ra (t_1/2 = 3.66 days), ²²⁴Ra (t1/2 = 11.4 days), ²²⁶Ra (t1/2 = 1600 yrs) and ²²⁸Ra (t_1/2 = 5.75 yrs). Surface water and porewater samples were collected quarterly in Winnapaug, Quonochontaug, Ninigret, Green Hill, and Pt. Judith-Potter Ponds, as well as nearly monthly in the surface water of Rhode Island Sound, beginning January 2002 through August 2003. Additional porewater samples were collected in August 2005. Surface water activities ranged from …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of An Anger Management Program In A Detention Facility, Heather M. Frank

Open Access Dissertations

Offenders struggle with anger management not only before prison, but also while incarcerated (e.g., difficulty with prison adjustment, institutional behavioral problems). For these reasons, a number of correctional institutions offer anger management programming. However, the literature of these outcome studies within corrections is limited (Dowden, Blanchette, & Serin, 1999). This study is a program evaluation of psycho-educational anger management/substance abuse groups provided to male federal detainees at a privately owned detention facility in the northeastern United States. Objectives of the study were to: understand the demographics of this offender population, assess the effectiveness of the program, and explore participants' group …

Front Matter

SMU Law Review

No abstract provided.