Digital Commons Network^™

Framework For Analyzing The Future Threat Of Wmd Terrorism, James J.F. Forest

Journal of Strategic Security

This article examines theories of practical and strategic constraints that collectively explain why so few terrorist groups in history have crossed (or attempted to cross) the WMD threshold. From this analysis, it becomes clear that a terrorist group's deliberations about WMD can be influenced (positively or negatively) by a variety of factors. Our projections of the future WMD terrorism threat must therefore account for changes in the kinds of practical and strategic constraints that could lead to an increased willingness and/or capability of a group to pursue these kinds of weapons. Further, there are ways in which governments can influence …

Forecasting Terrorism: The Need For A More Systematic Approach, Edwin Bakker

Journal of Strategic Security

This article analyzes a unique branch of terrorism literature—terrorism futures—by academics, think tanks, and governmental agencies published between 2000 and 2012. To this end, it examines over sixty publications that attempt to discern possible futures of terrorism. In general, the track record of forecasting terrorism has not been good. This is particularly true for major changes in the modus operandi of terrorism, the attacks on 9/11 being a case in point. The analyses of the future of terrorism shows an absence of methodologies, and the lack of theoretical foundations, which lead to limited insights about the causes of changes in …

A Primer Of Middle Eastern Leadership Culture, Sheldon Greaves

Journal of Strategic Security

It is natural for someone looking in on a foreign culture from the outside to interpret what they see and frame their reactions based on their own background and assumptions. With cultures as a different as those of the Middle East and the West, the potential for blunders increases dramatically, made worse by the high political, diplomatic, military, and commercial stakes involved. Leadership culture in this region has been shaped over centuries through a variety of factors, such as reputation, family, and religion, which continue to influence decision making. The present study posits that an understanding of these factors and …

Managing The Insider Threat: No Dark Corners. By Nick Catranzos. Boca Raton, Fl.: Crc Press, 2012., Mark J. Roberts

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

In Their Own Words? Methodological Considerations In The Analysis Of Terrorist Autobiographies, Mary Beth Altier, John Horgan, Christian Thoroughgood

Journal of Strategic Security

Despite the growth of terrorism literature in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, there remain several methodological challenges to studying certain aspects of terrorism. This is perhaps most evident in attempts to uncover the attitudes, motivations, and intentions of individuals engaged in violent extremism and how they are sometimes expressed in problematic behavior. Such challenges invariably stem from the fact that terrorists and the organizations to which they belong represent clandestine populations engaged in illegal activity. Unsurprisingly, these qualities make it difficult for the researcher to identify and locate willing subjects of study—let alone a representative sample. In this research …

Exploiting Seams And Closing Gaps: Lessons From Mumbai And Beyond, Andrea Dew

Journal of Strategic Security

This article analyzes a single event—the 2008 Mumbai attacks—in order to consider the strategic and operational lessons for dealing with other armed groups. How and why was Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) able to carry out such a sophisticated attack in the heart of Mumbai? And what lessons does Mumbai hold for strategists seeking to counter other armed groups around the world? While tactical level lessons from Mumbai have been well documented, it is important to also consider what the Mumbai attacks tell us at the strategic and operational levels. Specifically, the Mumbai attacks provide valuable insight into how armed groups use the …

Overcoming Poverty Through Digital Inclusion, Marco Figueiredo, Paola Prado, Mark Cramer

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

A growing body of research is showing how digital inclusion can help communities overcome poverty and injustice. The main challenge lies in how best to achieve this goal. The authors argue that digital inclusion must occur in two distinct stages. The first stage is digital literacy, accomplished with the Symbiotic Computer (SC)-smartphones and tablets. The second stage will be professional capacity-building, accomplished with the more traditional Personal Computer (PC).

Predator-Induced Vertical Behavior Of A Ctenophore, Josefin Titelman, Lars Johan Hansson, Trygve Nilsen, Sean Colin, John H. Costello

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Although many studies have focused on Mnemiopsis leidyi predation, little is known about the role of this ctenophore as prey when abundant in native and invaded pelagic systems. We examined the response of the ctenophore M. leidyi to the predatory ctenophore Beroe ovata in an experiment in which the two species could potentially sense each other while being physically separated. On average, M. leidyi responded to the predator’s presence by increasing variability in swimming speeds and by lowering their vertical distribution. Such behavior may help explain field records of vertical migration, as well as stratified and near-bottom distributions of M. …

Opportunities For Public Aquariums To Increase The Sustainability Of The Aquatic Animal Trade, Michael F. Tlusty, Andrew L. Rhyne, Les Kaufman, Michael Hutchins, Gordon Mcgregor Reid, Chris Andrews, Paul Boyle, Jay Hemdal, Frazer Mcgilvray, Scott Dowd

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

The global aquatic pet trade encompasses a wide diversity of freshwater and marine organisms. While relying on a continual supply of healthy, vibrant aquatic animals, few sustainability initiatives exist within this sector. Public aquariums overlap this industry by acquiring many of the same species through the same sources. End users are also similar, as many aquarium visitors are home aquarists. Here we posit that this overlap with the pet trade gives aquariums significant opportunity to increase the sustainability of the trade in aquarium fishes and invertebrates. Improving the sustainability ethos and practices of the aquatic pet trade can carry a …

Revealing The Appetite Of The Marine Aquarium Fish Trade: The Volume And Biodiversity Of Fish Imported Into The United States, Andrew L. Rhyne, Michael F. Tlusty, Pamela J. Schofield, Les Kaufman, James A. Morris Jr, Andrew W. Bruckner

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

The aquarium trade and other wildlife consumers are at a crossroads forced by threats from global climate change and other anthropogenic stressors that have weakened coastal ecosystems. While the wildlife trade may put additional stress on coral reefs, it brings income into impoverished parts of the world and may stimulate interest in marine conservation. To better understand the influence of the trade, we must first be able to quantify coral reef fauna moving through it. Herein, we discuss the lack of a data system for monitoring the wildlife aquarium trade and analyze problems that arise when trying to monitor the …

The Accidental Supermom: Superheroines And Maternal Performativity, 1963–1980, Laura Mattoon D'Amore

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Discrimination, Crypticity, And Incipient Taxa In Entamoeba, Avelina Espinosa, Guillermo Paz-Y-Miño-C

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Persistent difficulties in resolving clear lineages in diverging populations of prokaryotes or unicellular eukaryotes (protistan polyphyletic groups) are challenging the classical species concept. Although multiple integrated approaches would render holistic taxonomies, most phylogenetic studies are still based on single-gene or morphological traits. Such methodologies conceal natural lineages, which are considered “cryptic.” The concept of species is considered artificial and inadequate to define natural populations. Social organisms display differential behaviors toward kin than to nonrelated individuals. In “social” microbes, kin discrimination has been used to help resolve crypticity. Aggregative behavior could be explored in a nonsocial protist to define phylogenetic varieties …

Educators Of Prospective Teachers Hesitate To Embrace Evolution Due To Deficient Understanding Of Science/Evolution And High Religiosity, Guillermo Paz-Y-Miño-C, Avelina Espinosa

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Acceptance of evolution by educators of prospective teachers remains superficially studied despite their role in having mentored schoolteachers whose weak support of evolution is known. Here, we contrast the views of New England educators of prospective teachers (n = 62; 87% Ph.D./doctorate holders in 32 specializations) with those of the general faculty (n = 244; 93% Ph.D./doctorate holders in 40 disciplines), both members of 35 colleges and universities, and with college students (n = 827; subsample of the 35 institutions) who were polled on: (1) the controversy evolution vs. creationism vs. intelligent design (ID), (2) their understanding of how science/evolution …

Multi-Color Observations Of Short Grb Afterglows: 20 Events Observed Between 2007 And 2010, A. Nicuesa Guelbenzu, S. Klose, J. Greiner, D.A. Kann, T. Krühler, A. Rossi, S. Schulze, P.M.J. Afonso, J. Elliott, R. Filgas, D.H. Hartmann, A. Küpcü Yoldas, S. Mcbreen, M. Nardini, F. Olivares E., A. Rau, S. Schmidl, P. Schady, V. Sudilovsky, Adria Updike, A. Yoldas

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of Heather Mccrea, Diseased Relations: Epidemic, Public Health, And State-Building In Yucatán, Mexico, 1847-1924, Autumn L. Quezada-Grant Dr

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Diseased Relations is an impressive work succinct in its focus on the topic of public health history in the Mexican state of Yucatán. Adding to a growing body of scholarship on the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this book offers a new lens through which to consider the mechanics of state formation. In this turn to the study of disease and public health, McCrea pulls in the unfolding story of science’s understanding of the origin and spread of diseases and reflects upon the dialogue between national officials and state or local officials in the Yucatán. By choosing to focus on …

The Impact Of Macular Pigment Augmentation On Visual Performance Using Different Carotenoid Formulations., James Loughman, J M. Nolan, Alan Howard, E Connolly, K Meagher, S Beatty

Articles

To investigate changes in macular pigment optical
density (MPOD) and visual performance following supplementation
with different macular carotenoid formulations.

Should Any Workplace Be Exempt From Smoke-Free Law: The Irish Experience, M. Mccaffrey, Patrick J. Goodman, A. Gavigan, C. Kenny, C. Hogg, L. Byrne, J. Mcloughlin, Luke Clancy

Articles

Background.

In 2004, the Irish Government introduced national legislation banning smoking in workplaces; with exemptions for “a place of residence”. This paper summarises three Irish studies of exempted premises; prisons, psychiatric hospitals and nursing homes. Methods. PM2.5 and nicotine were measured in nursing homes and psychiatric hospitals, in addition to ultrafine particles in the hospitals. In the prisons, officers (n = 30) completed exhaled breath Carbon Monoxide (CO) measurements. Questionnaires determined officers’ opinion on introducing smoking prohibitions in prisons. Nursing home smoking policies were examined and questionnaires completed by staff regarding workplace secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. Findings. Ultrafine particle concentrations …

Impaired Cleanance And Enhanced Pulmonary Inflammatory/Fibrotic Response To Carbon Nanotubes In Myeloperoxidase-Deficient Mice, Anna A. Shvedova, Alexandr A. Kapralov, Wei Hong Feng, Elena R. Kisin, Ashley R. Murray, Robert R. Mercer, Claudette M. St. Croix, Megan A. Lang, Simon C. Watkins, Nagarjun V. Konduru, Brett L. Allen, Jennifer Conroy, Gregg P. Kotchey, Bashir M. Mohamed, Aidan Meade, Yuri Volkov, Alexander Star, Bengt Fadeel, Valerian E. Kagan

Articles

Advancement of biomedical applications of carbonaceous nanomaterials is hampered by their biopersistence and pro-inflammatory action in vivo. Here, we used myeloperoxidase knockout B6.129X1-MPO (MPO k/o) mice and showed that oxidation and clearance of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) from the lungs of these animals after pharyngeal aspiration was markedly less effective whereas the inflammatory response was more robust than in wild-type C57Bl/6 mice. Our results provide direct evidence for the participation of MPO – one of the key-orchestrators of inflammatory response – in the in vivo pulmonary oxidative biodegradation of SWCNT and suggest new ways to control the biopersistence …

Insight Into Animal Cloning And The Food Chain: A Qualitative Examination Of Key Opinion Leaders And A Cross Section Of The Irish Public., Cathal Murphy

Masters

The ability to clone elite breeding animals, aimed at addressing the needs of modern food production, had been earmarked as a possibility for the agricultural sector since the birth of Dolly the sheep in 1996. A ruling by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States in 2008 that permits under-license, the commercial cloning of agricultural animals has seen this possibility realised. No such ruling exists here in Europe, but the FDA policy not to label cloned-derived products, and a history of wariness to food biotechnology in Europe may expedite this debate. With the plethora of issues that cloning …

Civil Union Equality, Elizabeth M. Glazer

Hofstra Law Faculty Scholarship

2011 was a good year for marriage equality in the United States. President Obama publicly renounced the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and determined that the Department of Justice would refuse to defend it in court. This determination was made despite the DOJ's “longstanding practice of defending the constitutionality of duly- enacted statutes if reasonable arguments can be made in their defense.” The DOJ concluded that there were no such reasonable arguments, making “[t]his ... the rare case where the proper course is to forgo the defense of this statute.” The President's “manifest ... conclu[sion] that the …

College Of Education Annual Report And Findings, Fiscal Year 2011, College Of Education, Illinois State University

Annual Report and Findings

No abstract provided.

The Clarion, 2012, University High School

Yearbooks

The Clarion of University High School, Normal, Illinois, 2012.

Tailoring Remedies To Spur Innovation, Sarah R. Wasserman Rajec

American University Law Review

No abstract provided.

2011 Trademark Law Decisions Of The Federal Circuit, Marynelle Wilson, Antigone Peyton

American University Law Review

No abstract provided.

War, Terror, And The Federal Courts, Ten Years After 9/11, From The 2012 Annual Meeting Of The Association Of American Law Schools

American University Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Vague Law In A Smartphone World: Limiting The Scope Of Unauthorized Access Under The Computer Fraud And Abuse Act, Andrew Hernacki

American University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Rule 3.8, The Jencks Act, And How The Aba Created A Conflict Between Ethics And The Law On Prosecutorial Disclosure, Kirsten M. Schimpff

American University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Comment: A Minor Conflict: Why The Objectives Of Federal Sex Trafficking Legislation Preempt The Enforcement Of State Prostitution Laws Against Minors, Susan Crile

American University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Comment: Until The Plenary Power Do Us Part: Judicial Scrutiny Of The Defense Of Marriage Act In Immigration After Flores-Villar, Jessica Portmess

American University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Note: "Standing" In The Way Of Equality? The Myth Of Proponent Standing And The Jurisdictional Error In Perry V. Brown, Andrew Kim

American University Law Review

No abstract provided.