Digital Commons Network^™

Utility-Aware Scheduling Of Stochastic Real-Time Systems, Terry Tidwell

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Time utility functions offer a reasonably general way to describe the complex timing constraints of real-time and cyber-physical systems. However, utility-aware scheduling policy design is an open research problem. In particular, scheduling policies that optimize expected utility accrual are needed for real-time and cyber-physical domains. This dissertation addresses the problem of utility-aware scheduling for systems with periodic real-time task sets and stochastic non-preemptive execution intervals. We model these systems as Markov Decision Processes. This model provides an evaluation framework by which different scheduling policies can be compared. By solving the Markov Decision Process we can derive value-optimal scheduling policies for …

Dietary Shifts, Niche Relationships And Interspecific Competition In Sympatric Grey Langur (Semnopithecus Entellus) And Purple-Faced Langur (Trachypithecus Vetulus) In Sri Lanka, Rajnish Vandercone

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Understanding how niche differences evolve in ecologically similar species and how these differences are maintained ecologically is a fundamental question in ecology. Interspecific competition has been shown to influence the behavior and ecology of organisms in a wide range of ecological communities. However, the broader role of interspecific competition in primate communities is unclear as relatively few studies have explored this question. This is especially true for folivorous primate communities, such as those of colobine monkeys, in which the influence of interspecific competition on aspects of the ecology of these monkeys is yet to be determined. In this dissertation, I …

Development Of Thymic Natural Killer Cells From Double Negative 1 Thymocyte Precursors, Claudia Vargas

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

While there has been much progress in defining the specificity and function of natural killer: NK) cells, their differentiation has not been fully elucidated. Previous studies of thymocyte development in vitro indicate that double negative: CD4&minusCD8&minus, DN) thymocytes can develop into cells with NK cell markers, but these cells have not been well characterized. Moreover, a subpopulation of NK cells which requires an intact thymus, i.e, thymic NK cells, has been described with selective expression of CD127 although their origin and differentiation are also poorly understood. Herein, we generated and characterized NK cells differentiating from thymic DN precursors. We enriched …

Suprachiasmatic Nuclei Development: A Characterization Of Transcription Factors And The Influence Of Retinal Innervation And Vip Signaling, Cassandra Vandunk

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

The suprachiasmatic nuclei: SCN) are highly specialized neural structures with an essential behavioral function; creating the rhythm of the mammalian central clock and entraining that internal clock to the external world. The nuclei each consist of approximately 10,000 neurons, each capable of creating near 24 h rhythms, organized into a highly structured network. While the molecular clockwork underlying the rhythm within neurons and network properties have been well studied, how the nuclei are initially specified and how the network develops is poorly understood. Herein, we seek to elucidate the genes and mechanisms involved in the specification and development of SCN …

Targeting And Activity Of The Aaa+ Atpase Torsina Within The Endoplasmic Reticulum, Abigail Vander Heyden

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

AAA+ ATPase enzymes couple ATP hydrolysis to the exertion of conformational change on a substrate. TorsinA is one of the few AAA+ ATPases that resides within the lumen of the mammalian endoplasmic reticulum: ER). A glutamic acid deletion in the catalytic domain of torsinA causes DYT1 dystonia, but torsinA's function and the basis for disease remain unclear. I show that torsinA is dynamically targeted from the bulk ER to nuclear envelope: NE) upon coexpression with a cofactor protein, LULL1, and that torsinA's movement into the NE is concomitant with displacement of select linker of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton: LINC) complex …

High Speed Networking In The Multi-Core Era, Benjamin Wun

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

High speed networking is a demanding task that has traditionally been performed in dedicated, purpose built hardware or specialized network processors. These platforms sacrifice flexibility or programmability in favor of performance. Recently, there has been much interest in using multi-core general purpose processors for this task, which have the advantage of being easily programmable and upgradeable. The best way to exploit these new architectures for networking is an open question that has been the subject of much recent research. In this dissertation, I explore the best way to exploit multi-core general purpose processors for packet processing applications. This includes both …

Single-Molecule Imaging Studies Of Protein Dynamics, Shannon Kian Zareh

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Single-molecule fluorescence imaging is a powerful method for studying biological events. The work of this thesis primarily focuses on single molecule studies of the dynamics of Green Fluorescent Protein: GFP) and other fluorescent-labeled proteins by utilizing Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence: TIRF) microscopy and imaging. The single molecule experiments of this thesis covered three broad topics. First, the adsorption mechanisms of proteins onto hydrophobic and hydrophilic fused silica surfaces were imaged and reversible and irreversible adsorption mechanisms were observed. The second topic covered a new technique for measuring the diffusion coefficient of Brownian diffusing proteins, in particular GFP, in solution via …

Leishmania Persistence And Host Cell Interactions, Michael Mandell

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Leishmania parasites are the causative agent of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease. An important aspect of Leishmania biology is asymptomatic parasite persistence, which typically occurs after clinical cure. Persistent parasites remain enigmatic despite their importance as reservoirs for transmission, having roles in maintaining protective immunity, and posing the risk of reactivation. I developed methods for assessing parasite replication by BrdU labeling and showed that persistently infected mice harbor two sub-populations of L. major, one labeling similarly to acute-phase parasites, with the other showing much less labeling. That persistent parasite replication occurs without a commensurate increase in parasite number implies parasite …

The Role Of The Complement System In Mousepox Infection, Elizabeth Moulton

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Poxviruses subvert the host immune response by producing immunomodulatory virulence factors, including a complement regulatory protein. Ectromelia virus provides a mouse model for human smallpox infection where the virus and the host's immune response have also co-evolved. Using this model, we investigated the role of the complement system in a poxvirus infection. Ectromelia virus inoculated via multiple routes caused increased mortality by 7 to 10 days post-infection in C57BL/6 mice that lack C3, the central component of the complement cascade. In C3-/- mice, ectromelia virus disseminated earlier to target organs and generated higher peak titers compared to the congenic controls. …

The Role Of Ikkβ In Osteoclastogenesis And Inflammatory Osteolysis, Jesse Otero

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Bone homeostasis is essential for health and is altered in many pathological conditions. A balance in the activity of osteoblasts: bone-building cells) and osteoclasts: boneresorbing cells) determines the state of bone metabolism, and a tip in this balance toward either cell type is detrimental to health. In clinical settings, the most common bone diseases favor increased osteoclast activity and include osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Heightened osteoclast differentiation and activation in these conditions causes bone loss which results in increased fracture risk, bone pain, and deformity. Understanding the mechanisms by which osteoclasts develop will elucidate important targets for therapy in these …

Column: Putting The Science In Digital Forensics, Fred Cohen

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

In a recent study, digital forensics was found to lack a consensus around even the most basis notions and terminology of the field. To quote: “These two preliminary studies individually suggest that (1) scientific consensus in the area of digital forensic evidence examination is lacking in the broad sense, but that different groups within that overall community may have limited consensus around areas in which they have special expertise, and (2) that the current peerreviewed publication process is not acting to bring about the sorts of elements typically found in the advancement of a science toward such a consensus. ... …

Extraction Of Electronic Evidence From Voip: Forensic Analysis Of A Virtual Hard Disk Vs Ram, David Irwin, Jill Slay, Arek Dadej, Malcolm Shore

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

The popularity of Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) is increasing as the cost savings and ease of use is realised by a wide range of home and corporate users. However, the technology is also attractive to criminals. This is because VoIP is a global telephony service, in which it is difficult to verify the user’s identification. The security of placing such calls may also be appealing to criminals, as many implementations use strong encryption to secure both the voice payload as well as to control messages making monitoring such VoIP calls difficult since conventional methods such as wire-tapping is …

Book Review: Ios Forensic Analysis: For Iphone, Ipad And Ipod Touch, Christopher Schulte

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

As Digital Forensics practitioners, we know that our discipline is constantly evolving. Keeping abreast means we need to continually refine and broaden our knowledge pools through experience, education, research, peer exchange, and more. Mobile device forensics can be especially dynamic and challenging. With multiple standards in place at the hardware, operating system, and user interface levels, it can be daunting to preserve, analyze, search and report on these tiny yet ubiquitous hand-held computers. Apple Computer’s line of mobile products (iOS devices - iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) is no exception to this rule.

Technology Corner: Analysing E-Mail Headers For Forensic Investigation, M. T. Banday

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Electronic Mail (E-Mail), which is one of the most widely used applications of Internet, has become a global communication infrastructure service. However, security loopholes in it enable cybercriminals to misuse it by forging its headers or by sending it anonymously for illegitimate purposes, leading to e-mail forgeries. E-mail messages include transit handling envelope and trace information in the form of structured fields which are not stripped after messages are delivered, leaving a detailed record of e-mail transactions. A detailed header analysis can be used to map the networks traversed by messages, including information on the messaging software and patching policies …

Column: The Physics Of Digital Information, Fred Cohen

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Data Remaining On Second Hand Adsl Routers, Patryk Szewczyk

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

In theory, an ADSL router can provide an additional layer of security to a wired and wireless network through; access control, wireless encryption, firewall rule sets, and network event logging. An ADSL router may also contain the users’ usage habits and broadband account credentials. However, end-users may be unaware of the intricacies of the security measures available and the potentially confidential information stored on their device. As a result a second hand ADSL router may contain a wealth of user-specific information if not wiped and disposed of in a secure manner. This paper shows the data that was acquired from …

Exploring The Iphone Backup Made By Itunes, Mario Piccinelli, Paolo Gubian

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Apple’s™ iPhone™ is one of the widest selling mobile on the market, thanks to its simple and user-friendly interface and ever growing pool of available high quality applications for both personal and business use. The increasing use of the iPhone leads forensics practitioners towards the need for tools to access and analyze the information stored in the device. This research aims at describing the process to forensically analyze a logical backup of an iPhone made by the Apple iTunes™ utility, understanding the backup’s structure, and creating a simple tool to automate the process of decoding and analyzing the data. In …

A Survey Of Contemporary Enterprise Storage Technologies From A Digital Forensics Perspective, Gregory H. Carlton, Joseph Matsumoto

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

As the proliferation of digital computational systems continue to expand, increasingly complex technologies emerge, including those regarding large, enterprise-wide, information storage and retrieval systems. Within this study, we examine four contemporary enterprise storage technologies. Our examination of these technologies is presented with an overview of the technological features of each offering and then followed with a discussion of the impact of these technologies on digital forensics methods, particularly regarding forensic data acquisition. We offer a general opinion concerning a recommended data acquisition method when faced with the task of obtaining a forensic image of data contained within these technologies, we …

Legal Issues Regarding Digital Forensic Examiners Third Party Consent To Search, Thomas Lonardo, Doug White, Tricia P. Martland, Alan Rea

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

This paper focuses on Federal law as it relates to consent to search relating to Fourth Amendment privacy in the practice of Digital Forensics. In particular, Digital Examiners should be aware of how decisions in Federal Court may impact their ability to acquire evidence in both civil and criminal settings. Digital Forensics, being a relatively new field, is particularly subject to change as cases and appeals are decided. This paper provides an overview of relevant case law relating to issues in Digital Forensics. More importantly, our research provides Digital Forensic Examiners (DFE), as defined by Lonardo, White, and Rea (2008, …

Investigating Modern Communication Technologies: The Effect Of Internet-Based Communication Technologies On The Investigation Process, Matthew Simon, Jill Slay

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Communication technologies are commonplace in modern society. For many years there were only a handful of communication technologies provided by large companies, namely the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and mobile telephony; these can be referred to as traditional communication technologies. Over the lifetime of traditional communication technologies has been little technological evolution and as such, law enforcement developed sound methods for investigating targets using them. With the advent of communication technologies that use the Internet – Internet-based or contemporary communication technologies – law enforcement are faced with many challenges. This paper discusses these challenges and their potential impact. It …

Technology Corner: Virtual Crime Scene Reconstruction: The Basics Of 3d Modeling, Nick V. Flor

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Digital crime scenes take place in the context of physical crime scenes. Virtual crime scene reconstruction is an activity where investigators create a 3- dimensional (3-D) model of an actual crime scene for the purpose of determining the events that lead to the crime. While virtual crime scene reconstruction is currently used for analyzing physical scenes, it can also help investigators visualize and explore ways digital media could have been used to perpetrate a crime. In this technology corner we explore one of the technologies underlying virtual crime scene reconstruction: 3-D modeling.

An Alternative To Chromates For Corrosion Protection For Aluminum Alloys, Melissa Williams

Open Access Master's Theses

Aluminum alloys, such as Al 6061-T6 and Al 7075-T6, are widely used in industry due to their high strength to weight ratio and good mechanical properties. The corrosion of these alloys, however, is an expensive and critical problem since the alloys are susceptible to pitting and crevice corrosion in marine environments. The most significant environmental factor, which contributes to the corrosion of these alloys, is the chloride ion found in marine environments or water condensed from humid air contaminated with soluble chloride salts.

Traditionally, chromate based conversion coatings have been used for many years for the protection of aluminum alloys. …

Relaxations Of L(1, 1)-Labeling For The Broadcast Scheduling Problem, Shaun N. Joseph

Open Access Dissertations

The broadcast scheduling problem asks how an arbitrary network of broadcast transceivers operating on a shared medium may share the medium in such a way that communication over the entire network is possible. In the case where transmissions are explicitly scheduled, as opposed to be determined by contention, the problem is naturally modeled as a graph coloring problem. The canonical model is the L(1, 1)-labeling, also known as the distance-2 coloring, coloring of the graph square, or strict schedule. This coloring is, however, difficult to obtain even sub-optimally and typically uses many colors, which corresponds to an undesirable over-division …

Examination Of The Diatom-Bound Nitrogen Isotope Proxy: Nitrate Consumption In The Polar Ocean, Matthew G. S. Horn

Open Access Dissertations

The ratio of stable nitrogen isotopes (δ¹⁵N) is used to infer nitrogen utilization in nutrient replete surface waters through time. Typically, the isotopic composition of bulk sedimentary nitrogen (δ¹⁵N_bulk) is measured. However the isotopic composition of this fraction is known to shift due to alteration during sinking and early burial. More recently, the nitrogen bound within silica microfossils (δ¹⁵N_DB) has been targeted. This fraction is hypothesized to be protected from alteration during sinking and early burial by the biominerals encapsulating it, thus preserving the surface nitrate utilization signal through time. …

Objectification, Femininity Ideology, And Sexual Assertiveness: A Model Of Women’S Sexual Functioning, Patricia King Williams

Open Access Dissertations

Numerous research studies have investigated the relationship between sexual objectification and women's experience of their bodies, while fewer have focused on the possible role of endorsement of traditional femininity ideologies in helping to explain adult sexual functioning. The studies that do exist concentrate primarily on illuminating the differences between men and women versus exploring how endorsing particular attitudes or roles may affect women's experience of their bodies. This study investigated the relationships among traditional femininity ideology, sexual victimization, and self-objectification as well as how these variables related to body monitoring, sexual assertiveness for initiation and refusal, body shame, and appearance …

The Accuracy Of Initial Trust Judgments, Rachel Campagna

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

This dissertation is dedicated to answer the questions: are we able to achieve accuracy in our initial trust perceptions: study 1) and what mechanism may account for this accuracy: study 2)? The first study conducted was field based, using temporary student teams. I used the social relations model: SRM) to determine how trust perceptions shift over time relative to individual and team perceptions. I found that individuals' perceptions remain moderately consistent over time and calibrated with their teams' perception only in terms of integrity perceptions. Further, individuals were able to achieve meta-accuracy: "I know how much you trust me") at …

National History And The Novel In 1930s Britain, Erica Delsandro

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Although indebted to scholars whose work has illuminated the distinctiveness of 1930s Britain, "National History and the Novel in 1930s Britain" argues that rather than seeking distinction, writers of the period were more concerned with the task of contextualizing their decade and their own position within a national historiography from which they felt the Great War and military masculinities had excluded them. Focusing on the novelists Christopher Isherwood, Evelyn Waugh, and Virginia Woolf, and the philosopher of history, R. G. Collingwood, I describe how the 1930s inheritors of British cultural privilege found themselves symbolically disenfranchised from a national identity inextricably …

Regulation Of Neutrophil Homeostasis By Chemokines Signaling Through The Cxcr2 And Cxcr4 Receptors, Kyle Eash

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

The number of neutrophils in the blood is tightly regulated to ensure adequate protection against microbial pathogens while minimizing damage to host tissue. Neutrophil homeostasis in the blood is achieved through a balance of neutrophil production, release from the bone marrow, and clearance from the circulation. Accumulating evidence suggests that chemokine signaling in the bone marrow may play a key role in maintaining neutrophil homeostasis. Based on this evidence, we developed a "tug-of-war" model in which opposing chemokine gradients, specifically release-inducing CXCR2 signals and retention-promoting CXCR4 signals, act antagonistically to regulate neutrophil release from the bone marrow. We generated mice …

The Advancement Of Mass Spectrometry-Based Hydroxyl Radical Protein Footprinting: Application Of Novel Analysis Methods To Model Proteins And Apolipoprotein E, Brian Gau

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Fast photochemical oxidation of proteins: FPOP) has shown great promise in the elucidation of the regions of a protein's structure that are changed upon interaction with other macromolecules, ligands, or by folding. The advantage of this protein footprinting method is that it utilizes the reactivity of hydroxyl radicals to stably modify solvent accessible residues non-specifically in a microsecond. The extent of *OH labeling at sites assays their solvent accessibility. We have corroborated the predicted profoundly short timescale of labeling empirically, by FPOP-labeling three oxidation-sensitive proteins and examining their global FPOP product outcomes. The novel test developed to validate conformational invariance …

The Moral Permissibility Of Punishment, Zachary Hoskins

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

This dissertation offers an account of the moral permissibility of criminal punishment. Punishment presents a distinctive moral challenge in that it involves a community’s inflicting harm on individuals, treating them in ways that would typically be morally wrong. We can distinguish a number of different questions of punishment’s permissibility. This dissertation focuses on four central questions:: 1) Why may we punish? Why is it in principle permissible to inflict harm on criminal offenders?: 2) Why should we punish? Is there a compelling reason to do so?: 3) How may we punish? What principles should constrain impositions of punishment? And finally,: …