Digital Commons Network^™

Cryptography Using Steganography: New Algorithms And Applications, Jonathan Blackledge

Articles

Developing methods for ensuring the secure exchange of information is one of the oldest occupations in history. With the revolution in Information Technology, the need for securing information and the variety of methods that have been developed to do it has expanded rapidly. Much of the technology that forms the basis for many of the techniques used today was originally conceived for use in military communications and has since found a place in a wide range of industrial and commercial sectors. This has led to the development of certain industry standards that are compounded in specific data processing algorithms together …

Risk Management Trends: Currency Trading Using The Fractal Market Hypothesis, Jonathan Blackledge, Kieran Murphy

Articles

We report on a research and development programme in financial modelling and economic security undertaken in the Information and Communications Security Research Group (ICSRG, 2011) which has led to the launch of a new company - Currency Traders Ireland Limited - funded by Enterprise Ireland. Currency Traders Ireland Limited (CTI, 2011) has a fifty year exclusive license to develop a new set of indicators for analysing currency exchange rates (Forex trading). We consider the background to the approach taken and present examples of the results obtained to date. In this ‘Introduction’, we provide a background to and brief overview of …

Rethinking Radicalization, Randy Borum

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Radicalization Into Violent Extremism I: A Review Of Social Science Theories, Randy Borum

Journal of Strategic Security

In discourse about countering terrorism, the term "radicalization" is widely used, but remains poorly defined. To focus narrowly on ideological radicalization risks implying that radical beliefs are a proxy—or at least a necessary precursor—for terrorism, though we know this not to be true.Different pathways and mechanisms of terrorism involvement operate in different ways for different people at different points in time and perhaps in different contexts. This article explores the problems in defining radicalization and radicalism, and suggests that radicalization—and more specifically, involvement in terrorism—might best be viewed as a set of diverse processes. It goes on to review several …

Radicalization Into Violent Extremism Ii: A Review Of Conceptual Models And Empirical Research, Randy Borum

Journal of Strategic Security

Over the past decade, analysts have proposed several frameworks to explain the process of radicalization into violent extremism (RVE). These frameworks are based primarily on rational, conceptual models which are neither guided by theory nor derived from systematic research. This article reviews recent (post-9/11) conceptual models of the radicalization process and recent (post-9/11) empirical studies of RVE. It emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between ideological radicalization and terrorism involvement, though both issues deserve further empirical inquiry.Finally, it summarizes some recent RVE-related research efforts, identifies seven things that social science researchers and operational personnel still need to know about violent radicalization, …

Cover & Front Matter

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Radical Islamism And Migrant Integration In Denmark: An Empirical Inquiry, Marco Goli, Shahamak Rezaei

Journal of Strategic Security

It has been suggested that alienation and failed integration may be causes of "Homegrown Radical Islamism" in Western societies. Western countries often expect that migrants and their descendants residing there as citizens will embrace or support common democratic ideals as a predicate for—or consequence of—their societal integration. Conventional wisdom suggests: "The more you associate yourself with the cherished and established goals and means, the more you will disassociate yourself from Radical Islamism," and vice versa. We believe that, quite surprisingly, an empirical test of this idea is lacking. Based on a nationally representative sample of 1,113 youth (ages 15–30) in …

Friction: How Radicalization Happens To Them And Us. By Clark Mccauley And Sophia Moskalenko (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), Robin L. Thompson

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Four Lessons From The Study Of Fundamentalism And Psychology Of Religion, Sara Savage

Journal of Strategic Security

What lessons can the study of fundamentalism and the psychology of religion teach the newer field of Radicalization and Involvement in Violent Extremism (RIVE)? Four lessons and an intervention are offered in this article: (1) Religion is a robust human experience and cultural product that adopts a defensive shape when its worldview is threatened. (2) This does not mean that all "fundamentalisms" or radical versions of religion are somehow linked or perform similar functions; rather, they reflect the limited human repertoire to threat, yet within different cultural and historical contexts. (3) Causal explanations on the level of the individual are …

Gangs, Terrorism, And Radicalization, Scott Decker, David Pyrooz

Journal of Strategic Security

What can street gangs tell us about radicalization and extremist groups? At first glance, these two groups seem to push the boundaries of comparison. In this article, we examine the important similarities and differences across criminal, deviant, and extremist groups. Drawing from research on street gangs, this article explores issues such as levels of explanation,organizational structure, group process, and the increasingly important role of technology and the Internet in the context of radicalization. There are points of convergence across these groups, but it is important to understand the differences between these groups. This review finds little evidence to support the …

Evaluating Ict Adoption In Rural Brazil: A Quantitative Analysis Of Telecenters As Agents Of Social Change, Paola Prado, Mauro Araújo Câmara, Marco Aurélio De Figueiredo

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

This quantitative study surveyed 538 adults in isolated rural settings in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, to examine whether telecenters operated by the non-profit organization Gems of the Earth improve digital literacy and promote social change. Using multivariate logistic regression, the study examined how individuals use information and communication technologies (ICTs) at the telecenter, and tested for predictors of their use. The findings confirm that these rural communities use ICTs for entertainment, to engage in civic participation, and to practice professional skills. The findings suggest that digital inclusion impacts these isolated communities by creating opportunities that may foster human …

You Can’T Go To Zion With A Carnal Mind: Slackness And Culture In The Music Of Yellowman, Brent Hagerman

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Jamaican deejay Yellowman is best known for “slackness” lyrics centred on masculine heterosexual potency, sexist objectification of women and graphic sexual narratives. Yet a deeper look at Yellowman’s life and recorded output suggests that when his slackness is read in the context of Afro-Jamaican culture, reggae history and his Rastafarian faith, a more complex interpretation of his slackness is needed. This study will draw on Carolyn Cooper’s (2001) theory that slackness is a “metaphorical revolt against law and order, an undermining of consensual standards of decency” (p. 141). Whereas the term “culture” is used in reggae to depict music that …

The Social Ethic Of Religiously Unaffiliated Spirituality, Siobhan Chandler

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Since the sixties, sweeping social change has led to a massive restructuring of North American religious life. This includes the emergence of privatized forms of religiosity that operate without an institutional context. This trend is captured by the growing prevalence of individuals who describe themselves as ‘spiritual but not religious’. Despite its popularity, critics worry that privatized religiosity is undermining more socially responsive forms of traditional religious engagement. They think that private religion does not lead to the types of face-to-face interactions needed to build social trust and foster a vibrant public sphere. In short, they think it lacks social …

To Tell Or Not To Tell: Predictors Of Disclosure And Privacy Settings Usage In An Online Social Networking Site (Facebook), Amanda Nosko

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Use of social networking sites has grown exponentially over the last decade. Facebook, a popular social networking site, currently boasts membership of over 500 million users (www.facebook.com). In the present research, four studies were conducted to examine factors that impact on self-disclosure and privacy settings use. The primary goal for Studies 1 A, B and C involved developing methods for organizing and understanding the information that individuals disclose through social networking sites. Specifically, in Study 1 A, a scoring tool was developed in order to comprehensively assess the content of the personal profiles. In Study 1 B, grouping categories (default/standard …

Interprofessional Empathy In An Acute Healthcare Setting, Keith Adamson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Interprofessional collaboration is emerging as a key factor in reshaping healthcare practices in Canada over the last eight years. Collaboration in healthcare necessarily implies health providers sharing responsibility and partnering with each other in order to provide comprehensive patient care. A review of the empirical literature on teamwork in healthcare settings suggests that relationships between service providers remain conflictual and variable in their commitment to interprofessional collaboration (Zwarnstein & Bryant 2000). Recently, social psychologists have given considerable attention to the possibility that empathy could be used to improve intergroup attitudes and relations (Batson & Ahmad, 2009). Although empathy may be …

Neural Mechanisms Of Interference And Storage In Vibrotactile Working Memory, Tyler D. Bancroft

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Vibrotactile working memory has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Substantial research into the neural correlates has been conducted, especially using single-cell paradigms in non-human primates (Romo & Salinas, 2003). The vibrotactile working memory system uses a relatively simple neural code for the representation of stimuli, making it possible to determine when stimulus information is present in the various cortical areas thought to be involved. In humans, vibrotactile working memory displays properties (such as overwriting mechanisms of interference) that make it an ideal system for testing general theories of working memory. In the present study, we demonstrate that vibrotactile working …

Exploring Perfectionism, Rumination And Social Anxiety: Theoretical And Causal Implications, Jaclyn R. Brown

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Clark and Wells’ (1995) cognitive model of Social Anxiety (SA) posits that those with (SA) have a strong fear of negative evaluation and engage in excessive rumination following social interactions or performances. Fear of negative evaluation is also a key component of perfectionism; perfectionism has also been correlated with rumination. The purpose of the research was to examine the relationships among SA, rumination and perfectionism across two studies. For Study 1, participants were recruited (N=232) to complete online questionnaires. Psychometrics, including factor structure, were examined. It was expected that SA and rumination, rumination and perfectionism, and SA and …

The Internalization Of Mathematics Stereotypes In Elementary School Children, Amanda Schell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study investigated mathematics-related gender stereotypes, internalization of these stereotypes in 2nd and 5th grade children, and whether there is a relationship between internalization and the underperformance of girls in mathematics. There is evidence that gender stereotype internalization occurs throughout elementary school with an increasing impact on girls’ mathematical competence and performance (e.g., Muzzatti & Agnoli, 2007). However, there has been no definite determination with respect to the point at which this process begins. Parents and teachers have displayed gender stereotypical beliefs concerning children as young as three years of age (Lee & Schell, under review). This factor can influence …

An Exploration Of Factors Impacting Youth Volunteers Who Provide Indirect Services, Andrea M. Mcarthur

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Youth volunteerism is highly researched by volunteer organizations, but little is known about the factors impacting youth who provide indirect volunteering and the strengths and challenges which they face. Volunteering is indirect when the results of a volunteer’s work travels through more than one channel, (usually stakeholders spreading a message or raising funds), before reaching the intended client. Awareness raising and fundraising activities are two common examples of indirect volunteering that are attractive to many youth.

Ten youth volunteers from five different organizations in the Greater Toronto Area were interviewed in order to investigate three important questions about indirect volunteering. …

Summer Library Reading Programs And Literacy: An Assessment Of Children’S Reading Progress After Having Participated In A Summer Library Reading Program, Ashley Kristina Van Andel

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study examined the effects of a summer library reading program on children’s reading progress. Sixty-nine children in second to fifth grade, ages 7–11, completed reading ability measures at two points: before and after participating in the summer library reading program, for the duration of July and August. For this quasi-experimental design, the treatment group consisted of 16 children who participated in the program, while the control group included 53 classmates who did not participate. Results showed that those who participated in the summer library reading program scored higher than the control group only in reading comprehension and not other …

Multi-Tasking: The Effects Of Interacting With Technology On Learning In A Real-Time Classroom Lecture, Lucia Zivcakova

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

An experiment was conducted with the primary purpose of determining whether multitasking while listening to lectures impacts on learning performance. Four digitally-based multi-tasking activities (texting using a cell-phone, emailing, MSN messaging and Facebook) were compared to 3 control groups (a paper-and-pencil note-taking, a word-processing note-taking and a natural technology/note condition) over three sessions. The natural use control group was included to assess what level of multi-tasking, if any, occurs naturally in an authentic classroom lecture. The 7 (condition) X 3 (session) mixed design, revealed that participants m the Facebook and MSN conditions performed more poorly than participants in the paper-and-pencil …

Integrated Computational Intelligence And Japanese Candlestick Method For Short-Term Financial Forecasting, Takenori Kamo

Doctoral Dissertations

"This research presents a study of intelligent stock price forecasting systems using interval type-2 fuzzy logic for analyzing Japanese candlestick techniques. Many intelligent financial forecasting models have been developed to predict stock prices, but many of them do not perform well under unstable market conditions. One reason for poor performance is that stock price forecasting is very complex, and many factors are involved in stock price movement. In this environment, two kinds of information exist, including quantitative data, such as actual stock prices, and qualitative data, such as stock traders' opinions and expertise. Japanese candlestick techniques have been proven to …

Effect Of Web Atmospheric Cues On Users' Emotional Responses In Ecommerce, Tanvi Joginapelly

Masters Theses

"The internet has revolutionized the shopping experience. As consumers' emotional responses play an important role in predicting behavioral intentions and satisfaction, it is imperative to study e-commerce from an affective perspective and identify the website design features that influence consumers' emotional responses. This research adopted the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model to examine the effects of web atmospheric cues. mainly vividness and interactivity, on users' emotional responses in e-commerce, and their influence on users' purchasing intentions.

The study had three stages: First, experts in human computer interaction (HCI) were recruited and asked to evaluate and rate 25 different e-commerce websites on interactivity …

The Legal Academy As Dinner Party: A (Short) Manifesto On The Necessity Of Inter-Interdisciplinary Legal Scholarship, Paul Stancil

Faculty Scholarship

This Article explores the need for an increase in inter-interdisciplinary legal scholarship, suggesting that legal scholars from different traditions and backgrounds need to sit down at the same table and start talking to one another. The author presents an argument in favor of an integrated model of legal scholarship in which norms of intellectual modesty and cooperation fuel the development of interdisciplinary work. He develops a functional hierarchy which allows scholars to start with the first, threshold question, then work down to the operational details as they carefully consider our accumulated learning about why and how people actually act. After …

Findings: College Of Education Research Report, 2010, College Of Education, Illinois State University

Annual Report and Findings

No abstract provided.

Sotl At Isu, Vol. 5, January 2011, Illinois State University, Scholarship Of Teaching And Learning

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Newsletter

Newsletter for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Investment Recommendations And The Essence Of Duty, Onnig H. Dombalagian

American University Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Freedom Of Information Act Trial, Margaret B. Kwoka

American University Law Review

This Article examines the paucity of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases that go to trial and courts’ preference for resolving these disputes at the summary judgment stage. Using traditional legal analysis and empirical evidence, this Article explores whether we should expect FOIA cases to go to trial and how the scarcity of FOIA trials compares to the trial rate in civil litigation generally. It concludes that the unusual use of summary judgment in FOIA cases has unjustifiably all but eliminated FOIA trials, which occur in less than 1% of FOIA cases. It further examines how conducting FOIA trials in …

School Counseling Site Supervisor Training: An Exploratory Study, Lorraine Dekruyf, Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

This study explored the supervision training needs of site supervisors of master’s program school counseling interns via the construct of selfefficacy. Using the Site Supervisor Self-Efficacy Survey developed for this study, the authors surveyed school counseling site supervisors in the states of Oregon and Washington (N = 147) regarding their hours of supervision training and their supervisor self-efficacy. Results indicated that 54% of school counseling site supervisors had little or no counseling supervision training. Supervisor self-efficacy appeared to be relatively strong, consistently so for school counseling site supervisors with over 40 hours of supervision training. A partial correlation indicated a …

The Financial Management Behavior Scale: Development And Validation, Jeffrey P. Dew, Jing Jian Xiao

Faculty Publications

Although research on financial management behavior is common, few financial management behavior scales exist that are simultaneously multi-dimensional, psychometrically validated, and validated using nationally representative data. Using data from a nationally representative sample of adults, this study developed and examined the psychometric properties of a new scale of financial management behaviors. The Financial Management Behavior Scale (FMBS) displayed adequate reliability (alpha = .81). The FMBS was highly associated with other measures of financial management behaviors and was predictive of participants’ actual levels of savings and consumer debt. These findings suggest that the full FMBS is a reliable and valid measure …