Forensic Science and Technology Commons^™

Viability Of Manually Passing Projectiles Through The Barrel Of A Firearm In Lieu Of Test Firing, Mara V. Mineo

Student Theses

Forensic examinations of discharged projectiles are made possible by the toolmarks and striations made by the barrel the projectiles pass through. Suspect barrels are attached to firearms and test fired to compare these toolmarks and striations with found evidence. However, physically damaged barrels could potentially be unable to produce exemplars. This study tests the viability of manually passing projectiles through stationary barrels as a meaningful and accurate means to produce acceptable exemplars that are able to be compared against recovered evidence. A total of 18 projectiles were manually passed between two distinct Glock handgun barrels and viewed under a comparison …

Effect Of Food Resource, Preservation Method, And Preservation Duration On Larval Size Of Forensically Important Fly Species (Order: Diptera), John Zukowski

Student Theses

Forensic entomology is a vital discipline that can aid in the proceedings of criminal cases. Larval age and development are important aspects to consider when utilizing blow flies (Family: Calliphoridae) for estimates pertaining to the initial time of colonization (TOC), which contributes to postmortem interval (PMI) estimations. Thus, it is important to understand the factors that influence larval size and development, since larval size is commonly used as a proxy for age. Larvae of three species of flies, Lucilia sericata (Meigen), Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy), and Phormia regina (Meigen), were reared on five different food resources. Specimens of L. sericata and …

Technique-Level Normalization For Cybersecurity Intelligence: An Empirical Evaluation Of Att&Ck Attribution From Hids Alerts Using Fine-Tuned Transformers And Metadata Re-Ranking, Emad Sherif

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

Cybercrime investigations increasingly depend on the ability to interpret large volumes of automated security events. For organizations without dedicated security operations centres, a situation common among small and medium enterprises, the manual translation of raw alerts into structured threat intelligence represents a critical bottleneck that slows investigative triage and limits cross-case comparability. This paper evaluates an automated enrichment pipeline designed to address this bottleneck by mapping security events to standardised adversary behaviour labels drawn from the MITRE ATT&CK framework, supporting both operational response and cybercrime investigation workflows. We compare three pipeline configurations, a general-purpose encoder model, a cybersecurity domain-adapted variant, …

Stop Blaming My Users: Illumination Of The Technocentric Mythos Bias, Ervin H. Frenzel, Richard Lightcap

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

 Abstract -This conceptual essay addresses the need for systemic and systematic transdisciplinary analytical techniques within cybersecurity and technical security. This conceptual essay is contingent upon recognition that cybersecurity is not simply technical in nature, it does not need an adversary, and more importantly it is based upon systems engineering and systems thinking.  The essay contributes a socio-technical attribution chain and field-specific ontology/taxonomy which distinguish user-triggered events from root causes, latent conditions, technical debt, validation failures, governance failures, and attribution bias before assigning responsibility to end users. It systematically defines an ontology inclusive of developer technical debt, organizational debt arising from …

Adversarial Robustness Of Perceptual Hashing Systems: A Unified Security Evaluation Framework, Avijit Roy

Student Theses

Social network platforms, child safety organizations, and image provenance systems use perceptual hashing to identify known child sexual abuse material (CSAM), support content moderation and reverse image search, and verify image integrity. Perceptual hashing works by producing similar fingerprints for visually similar images, even after common transformations such as compression, resizing, or minor brightness changes. This useful similarity-preserving property also creates an adversarial attack surface, as attackers can use AI-assisted or conventional image manipulation techniques to move a hash across a matching threshold while maintaining visual similarity, often without access to specialized hardware.

The security failures produced by adversarial attacks …

A Qualitative And Quantitative Comparative Analysis Of Ballistic Bone Trauma From Frangible And Full Metal Jacket Projectiles, Hajar S. Hassan

Student Theses

Ballistic bone research is essential as 90% of homicides with the use of a firearm include injuries to bone. Forensic anthropologists use ballistic bone trauma to gather details and reconstruct an event, but ballistic bone trauma depends on many intrinsic and extrinsic factors. These factors include the type of bone, the type of firearm, and the type of ammunition. As new ammunition and firearms emerge, the literature on ballistic bone trauma remains limited. This novel study compares the bone trauma from the most common projectile, the full metal jacket, to a frangible projectile which is made to break upon impact. …

At The Crossroads Of Traditional And Nuclear Forensics: Decontaminating Radiologically Contaminated Dna Evidence Using Magnetic Beads, Rin Nyx Ruby

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Known for its impressive discriminatory power, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fingerprinting stands as the “gold standard” of forensic investigation. However, complications arise when such evidence is contaminated with radioactive material. Though biological samples exposed to ionizing radiation can still yield comprehensive DNA profiles, most forensic laboratories lack the facilities which meet the safety and security requirements necessary for handling radioactive material. While nuclear facilities can decontaminate samples prior to forensic analysis, conventional methods for radiological decontamination – such as mechanical cleaning and chemical washes – may degrade the quality of the forensic evidence. The purpose of this study is to evaluate …

From Prairie To Practice: Forensic Taphonomy, Ethics, And Regional Ecology In Southeastern Nebraska, Jessica F. L. Gammage

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Forensic taphonomy examines the postmortem processes that affect human remains within specific environmental contexts and plays a critical role in medicolegal death investigation. Despite significant advances in decomposition research, experimental studies remain geographically and environmentally uneven, limiting the transferability of postmortem interval (PMI) estimation methods across regions. The Central Great Plains are underrepresented in forensic taphonomic research despite its distinct ecological and geomorphological characteristics.

This thesis evaluates southeastern Nebraska as a specific regional setting for forensic taphonomic research by integrating ecological, pedological, and geomorphological data with current forensic literature. Tallgrass prairie vegetation, loess-derived soils, seasonal moisture variability, and dynamic fluvial …

Understanding Roma Oppression In Europe Through Humantarian Forensic Analysis, Christal L. Quinn

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

This thesis examines the marginalization of Roma people in Europe, and how humanitarian forensic practices may help Roma communities in their quest for justice and recognition. The study draws exclusively on secondary information to examine the social, political, and legal issues affecting the Roma communities, who have endured centuries of institutional discrimination, marginalization, and violence. This thesis identifies ways in which systematic oppression continues to limit Roma communities’ access to education, housing, healthcare, and legal protection through a review of relevant literature and applicable theoretical frameworks. The study also examines the relevance of forensic science, particularly its humanitarian applications, in …

Rehumanizing Anatomized Individuals: Using Osteobiographies As A Step Towards Reparative Justice, Lillie C. Turpin

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

In 1985, India banned the export of human remains. This ended the major trade route for primarily US and European anatomical supply companies. Until this point, companies like Carolina Biological Supply exploited and erased vulnerable people's identities, molding them into anonymous anatomical specimens. This study investigates the life and postmortem history of twenty-five individuals, previously used as anatomical specimens, housed at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Using an osteobiographical approach, this research reconstructs aspects of these individuals' lived experiences and examines how anatomical preparation practices reflect structural violence and apathy.

Skeletal analysis of twenty-five individuals revealed a range of biological profiles, …

Non-Destructive Automated Classification Of Human And Large Mammal Long Bone Fragments: A Deep Learning Approach Using Micro-Ct Histomorphology And Grad-Cam Interpretation, Kathleen Marie Kelley

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

This study explores the development and validation of an automated, deep learning system designed to differentiate human from large mammal long bone fragments using micro-CT imagery. A comprehensive dataset of cross-sectional µCT images was assembled from human and animal skeletal material processed at the DPAA, Nebraska. A convolutional neural network (CNN) based on a ResNet-18 architecture, utilizing transfer learning from ImageNet weights, was trained to classify µCT images as human or animal. The model achieved a mean classification accuracy of 89.85% (± 8.27%) across five sample-level cross-validation folds, with a sensitivity of 96.21% and a 95% bootstrap confidence interval of …

Decomposition Study Using Pigs In Southeastern Nebraska During The Fall And Winter Seasons, Ryan Bodine

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

When an individual is found deceased, one of the tools used in the identification process is estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI). This estimate is used to determine how long an individual has been deceased once their remains are found. To estimate an accurate PMI, knowing how decomposition is affected by external factors is key. The transition period from fall to winter in southeastern Nebraska consists of fluctuating temperatures as the seasons transfer from fall to winter. This thesis investigates how decomposition is affected during this transition period while also looking at two different environments that are common in Nebraska, prairies …

Exploring The Biocultural Profile Of The Undocumented Populations Of The Sonoran Corridor: A Skeletal Assessment Of The Prevention Through Deterrence Strategy, Mary A. Vaughn

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Over the last thirty years the mortality rate of the undocumented population at the US-Mexico border has risen, requiring methods distinguishing US-born individuals from immigrants to improve the likelihood of identification and repatriation through foreign consulates. Forensic anthropologists with the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner (PCOME) have advocated for the use of the biocultural profile, combining the biological profile with factors including oral health, osteological stress, and personal effects. The biocultural profile serves two purposes, functioning both as a tool for identification and with which to document structural inequality within communities of origin.

This study examines changes in …

Program And Proceedings, The Nebraska Academy Of Sciences 1880–2026: 146th Anniversary Year, One Hundred-Thirty-Sixth Annual Meeting

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

Program and abstracts of the proceedings for the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 136th annual meeting, 2025

Sessions

Aeronautics and Space Science

Anthropology

Biological and Medical Sciences

Earth Sciences

Ecology, Sustainability, and Environmental Science

Physics and Engineering

General Poster Session

2026 Maiben Lecture: Shifting Extremes: Understanding Nebraska’s Changing Climate and Preparing for What Lies Ahead, Deborah Bathke

2026 Friends of Science Awards: Julie Shaffer and Irina Filina

2026 C. Bertrand and Marian Othmer Schultz Colleaguate Schoalrship Award: Piper Ryschon and Bryce Reeson

In Memoriam: Paul Royster

Applications Of Suas Thermal Imaging And Lidar At Letort Spring Garden Preserve: An Independent Study, Kelsey Wardell

Harrisburg University Other Works

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Dna Exoneration In The Bloodsworth Case, John T. Brasfield

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

In the Kirk Bloodsworth case, a man was falsely convicted for the rape and murder of Dawn Hamilton. He spent eight years in prison after being convicted through witness testimony, where he learned about DNA profiling. After submitting a request to check his DNA against the DNA left at the scene, he was exonerated. Later, the DNA left at the scene was checked against a database and got a hit on a convicted rapist who had been charged shortly after Mr. Bloodsworth. If there had been the same access to DNA technology during the trial or if they had listened …

Ai's Double Edged Sword: Fighting Against Synthetic Csam, Shekhinah Adra Green

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

The rapid advancements in generative artificial intelligence has introduced new challenges in the production and distribution of synthetic child sexual abuse material (CSAM). AI has the capabilities of creating highly realistic imagery and videos, which  raises serious legal and ethical concerns, increasing the risk of harm, exploitation, and revictimization.

This paper discusses the legal improvements needed in order to lower the change of legal loopholes, how digital forensic analyst use advanced tools to identify and investigate synthetic material, and different methods to start the reduction of synthetic CSAM.

Romance Scam Reporting And Support: Help-Seeking Timing, Trust, And Escalation, Ld Herrera

Research & Publications

Built on social engineering and identity deception, romance scams often create financial loss and distress. For victims, it can be difficult to know where to go, what information is needed, and what outcomes are realistic. This paper reports results from an anonymous survey of people who were targeted by or experienced a romance scam (completed surveys: n=386), focusing on (1) when and whether victims first reach out for help, (2) perceived difficulty and confidence in navigating support, (3) how trust relates to expectations of assistance, and (4) how loss severity relates to transfer-method complexity. When help was sought, it was …

The Psychology Behind Ai-Generated Phishing And Social Engineering Attacks, A’Shya Reynolds

School of Cybersecurity Master's Level Projects and Papers

Cybercrime has evolved significantly with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), transforming traditional phishing and social engineering attacks into highly sophisticated and personalized threats. While early phishing attempts relied on generic messaging and low success rates, modern AI-driven attacks leverage advanced data analytics, natural language processing, and behavioral prediction to manipulate victims more effectively.

This research examines how cybercriminals utilize AI to enhance psychological manipulation techniques in phishing and social engineering attacks, increasing victim susceptibility. Drawing from interdisciplinary literature in cybersecurity and psychology, this study explores key psychological mechanisms, including cognitive biases, emotional triggers, and decision-making processes that influence victim …

Muzzle-To-Target Distance Determination Based On Lead (Pb) Concentration Of Gunshot Residue (Gsr) Using Icp-Oes, Abry Lloyd

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

The determination of muzzle-to-target distance remains a significant challenge in forensic casework. Current approaches to gunshot residue (GSR) analysis rely primarily on colorimetric testing to indicate chemical components present and subjective interpretation, limiting specificity and contributing to ongoing scrutiny within the field. This study investigates a quantitative method for estimating shooting distance based on the concentration of lead present in GSR samples (w/w%) with the utilization of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Test firings were conducted using caliber 22 Long Rifle, 9mm Luger, and 40 S&W semiautomatic handguns at defined distances to evaluate the relationship between lead concentration …

Differentiation Of Cell Populations In Saliva-Skin Mixtures Using Autofluorescence Profiling, Kara Fairfax

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

While DNA profiling of sexual assault evidence can identify biological contributors, determining the tissue source of recovered profiles remains a significant challenge, particularly in cases of suspected oral assault involving mixtures of epithelial cells. The initial goal of this study was to identify non-genetic signatures for differentiating two types of epithelial cells relevant to oral assaults, saliva epithelial cells and epidermal skin cells. To develop tissue-specific signatures, reference cell populations from saliva and epidermal skin surfaces were collected from 20 donors and analyzed using full spectrum flow cytometry.

Results from single-source reference samples showed that saliva-derived particle populations exhibited higher …

Implications Of Substrate Differences In Gunpowder Pattern Analysis: Skin Versus Blotter Paper In Forensic Reconstruction, Faith Duggan

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Tattooing, also known as stippling, is a phenomenon that occurs from excess gunpowder being discharged from a firearm into the skin, and presents as reddish-brown or orange lesions surrounding an entrance wound on the skin. Distance determination is a practice used in many forensic laboratories to establish possible ranges of distances between the muzzle of a firearm and a target, and stippling is commonly used for this comparison. Conclusions are made by comparing the unknown pattern to known distance patterns, and determining which one is most similar. In one case, a firearm was discharged at an unknown distance and there …

Interacting With Ideas: How To Engage Stem Students In Active Learning Of Theory Using Technology, Jessica Elizabeth Whitney, Keith Brian Morris

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Concurrent Session Papers

STEM education in the modern age has been subject to much reform – from the integration of technology to an emphasis on student-centered teaching strategies, such as active learning. However, in the wake of virtual and blended-learning environments, student engagement and teacher assessment of student success have been challenged. Tools such as KAHOOT! and iClicker have been promoted to foster an active learning environment while sometimes falling short in regards to student retention of course material. In light of this technological educational revolution, instructors need to be able to determine the most effective tools for their discipline to aid in …

Operationalizing Cyber-Routine Activities Theory For Senior Cybercrime Prevention: An Evaluation Of The Shield Training-The-Trainer Program, Kyung-Shick Choi, Insun Park, Mijin Kim, Ji Yae Bong

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

Older adults face growing risks of cyber-enabled fraud, yet scalable, evidence-based prevention programs remain limited. Guided by Cyber-Routine Activities Theory (Cyber-RAT), this study evaluates the pilot implementation of the Seniors Harnessing Internet Education for Lasting Defense (SHIELD) Training-the-Trainer program, designed to prepare law enforcement officers and community leaders to deliver cybercrime prevention education to older adults. A key innovation of SHIELD is its integration of interactive game-based simulations, which allow participants to practice verification, refusal, and reporting behaviors in realistic cybercrime scenarios. Following the December 2025 pilot session in Boston, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants from law enforcement, …

From Authorization To Loss: A Blockchain Forensic Analysis Of Transaction-Level Mechanisms In Cryptocurrency Airdrop Scams, Chanwoo Shin, Kyung-Shick Choi

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

Cryptocurrency airdrop scams have emerged as a rapidly growing form of cyber-enabled financial crime, yet remain underexplored in empirical research. This study examines how transaction-level mechanisms and offender strategies influence variation in monetary loss in airdrop scam incidents. Grounded in Cyber-Routine Activities Theory (Cyber-RAT), the study conceptualizes financial harm as occurring within decentralized environments where users’ online behaviors, particularly transaction authorization, intersect with limited digital capable guardianship. Data were drawn from 112 validated airdrop scam cases reported on Chainabuse.com between January and December 2025. Blockchain forensic analysis using Breadcrumbs was conducted to reconstruct transaction pathways, identify exchange interactions, and detect …

Cybercrime, Vulnerability And Digital Guardianship: Opportunity Structures And Prevention In A Changing Online Landscape, Mike Toro-Alvarez, Amy Lim

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

No abstract provided.

Analyzing Modern Scam Typologies: From Pig-Butchering And Nigerian Advance-Fee Fraud To Crypto Airdrop Schemes, Katalin Parti, Sinyong Choi, Thomas Dearden

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

Rapid advancements in digital infrastructure and decentralized networks have fundamentally altered the nature of contemporary cybercrime, making comprehensive empirical and technical analysis more crucial than ever. To address these challenges, this editorial summarizes the research contributions featured in this issue of the International Jour nal of Cybersecurity Intelligence and Cybercrime. The included papers examine the structural on-chain dynamics of sanctioned pig-butchering operations, the representational production and AI-driven evolution of the “Nigerian scam” label, the critical transaction-authorization factors driving losses in crypto airdrop schemes, and the optimization of sentence-transformer models for automated Host Intrusion Detection System (HIDS) alert enrichment. Together, these …

Three-Tier On-Chain Transaction Architecture In A Sanctions-Linked Pig-Butchering Network: A Blockchain-Forensics Case Study, Matthew Stern, Kyung-Shick Choi

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

n October 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 29 Bitcoin addresses asso ciated with the Prince Group and Chen Zhi, providing an opportunity to examine the internal on-chain structure of a sanctions-linked pig-butchering network. This blockchain-forensics case study analyzes the group of 29 addresses using blockchain tracing, cross-plat form attribution checks across multiple commercial analytics platforms, exposure screening, and thematic analysis of transaction be havior. Because the case rests on OFAC designations and DOJ allegations, the traced flows are interpreted as patterns consistent with suspected laundering rather than adjudicated crimes; no fiat …

Attribution Post ‘Aura’ Loss: A Qualitative Discourse Analysis Of The Nigerian Scam Label And Fraud Attribution, Emaediong Akpan

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

In this essay, I employ qualitative discourse analysis of eleven purposively selected literature to examine how “Nigerian scam” became an established yet detached signifier of advance-fee fraud in global discourse. I do not treat this association as a reflection of offender identity or national inclination. Instead, the analysis traces how attribution is produced through representational repetition, institu tional uptake, and the circulation of familiar narrative cues. Using qualitative discourse analysis and an interpretive approach, this paper distinguishes among the socio-technical conditions that enable fraud, the institutional processes that stabilize attribution, and the semiotic dynamics through which national categories acquire durability. …

Confession Contamination And Dna Exonerations, 1989-2025, Brandon L. Garrett

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.