Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Review Of Distributed Identity Technology In Iot Devices, Myles Perry

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Distributed identity technology provides solutions to many of the faults currently found in federated identity systems. Applying this technology to internet of things devices has many possible benefits in the realm of device authentication. However, this also provides new challenges not present in existing distributed identity systems. The large number of devices that would enter and leave the system means balancing sybil attack vulnerability and linkage attack vulnerability becomes challenging. Internet of things devices also have less memory and computing power than a standard personal computer or phone. This means any protocol to execute distributed identity in these devices must …

Corporate Cybersecurity In The Context Of M&A Transactions, Cameron Beck

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

The rapid rise of digital devices has unlocked a new dimension of innovation and prosperity in the 21st century. Computers are now an integrated and ubiquitous part of our global culture. You would be hard-pressed to walk into any given room without several computer chips humming inaudibly inside the machines that facilitate our modern world. Even lightbulbs and doorbells are connected to the Internet, capturing information from the world around them and sending that information to the Cloud. The Internet expands access to communication, international marketplaces, entertainment, professional resources, and nearly every book in the world.

Random Password Generation, Kirk Smith

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

This paper will discuss the topic of random generation, first by explaining the topic, followed by how the literature review was performed. Then, a literature review will be performed, followed by a discussion of human biases and the strength of random password generation.

Cybersecurity & Correctional Institutions, Kelly Himelwright

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly important aspect of correctional operations. To properly maintain security, more jails and prisons are using comprehensive cyber protection techniques. Correctional facilities face risks that were perhaps unimaginable only a few decades ago. Many organizations have used information technology to help them run their businesses, but few have the resources or vision to foresee and adequately manage the cyber dangers that come with it. Institutions need to be more aware of these hazards, as well as have more information security experts on staff.

Digital Forensic Investigation, Dejuan Green

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Finding, acquiring, processing, analyzing, and reporting data on electronically stored data is the main goal of the forensic science discipline known as "digital forensics." Nearly all illegal acts include the use of electronic evidence, making digital forensics support essential for law enforcement investigations. Furthermore, digital forensics is very important to cases aiding in many cases and can lead to saving lives/ victims and locking up criminals. A wide range of devices, including laptops, cellphones, remote storage, unmanned aerial systems, shipborne equipment, and more, can be used to gather electronic evidence. [2] Digital forensics' major objective is to take data from …

Understanding The Effectivity And Increased Reliance Of Credit Risk Machine Learning Models In Banking, Grishma Baruah

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Credit risk analysis and making accurate investment and lending decisions has been a challenge for the financial industry for many years, as can be seen with the 2008 financial crisis. However, with the rise of machine learning models and predictive analytics, there has been a shift to increased reliance on technology for determining credit risk. This transition to machine learning comes with both advantages, such as potentially eliminating human error and assumptions from lending decisions, and disadvantages, such as time constraints, data usage inabilities, and lack of understanding nuances in machine learning models. In this paper, I look at four …

Cyber Threat On The High Seas. A Growing Threat To Infrastructure, James Cummins

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

In a growing digital and cloud-connected world, all aspects of our lives are becoming interconnected. All these interconnections breed a possibility for ever-increasing cybersecurity threats. The oceans are not impervious to these attacks. In this research paper, we address the following questions.

What threats do commercial ships face today?

What actions are necessary to mitigate these threats?

Examining Trends And Experiences Of The Last Four Years Of Socially Engineered Ransomware Attacks, William Seymour

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

This study examines and reports the trends of social engineering-based ransomware attacks over the past four years from three major technology corporations. The focus of the reports was on major threat actors and their attacks against the corporations and their clients. The data were organized chronologically by year, and prevalent or abnormal findings were shared in this report. It was found that social engineering attacks were tremendously effective. Many ransomware attacks stemmed from Phishing. Social engineering approaches allowed attackers to conduct breaches using ransomware applications like GandCrab and Ryuk. Humans are incredibly susceptible and fall for social engineering tactics- primarily …

Security Issues With Network Connected Scada Systems, Chad Holm

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

The use of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems has become common place and are being used in several different industries. These have evolved as the technology has progressed. The use of Internet of Things (IOT) devices makes for less human intervention to run daily operations in these industries. This can also allow hackers to gain access to these devices due to security holes that are overlooked. There have several different ways that have been exploited on SCADA networks and the goal is to recognize and secure them so hackers cannot gain access to them.

Building Interest And Knowledge In Geosciences Through Place- & Field-Based Teacher Professional Learning Programs: A Comparative Multi-Case Study, Emily Gochis

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The focus of this study was to develop and evaluate a geoscience professional development model that would improve K-12 teachers’ capacity to effectively build geoscience literacy and interests in students from a variety of settings and cultural groups. The research compared the application of a geoscience professional development model realized through multiple case studies of varying settings and scales. The study investigated the capacity of each approach in improving teachers’ geoscience background knowledge, awareness of local geologically and culturally significant examples, and ability to integrate place-based, field investigations into standards-based curricula. By using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, the study …

Optical And Single Particle Properties Of North Atlantic Free Tropospheric Aerosols And Implications For Aerosol Direct Radiative Forcing, Megan Morgenstern

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Human-induced climate change has steadily become a reality rather than a possibility. One factor that plays into climate change is radiative forcing due to aerosol-radiation interactions (ARI). As such, it is important to understand how aerosols (atmospheric particles) interact with solar radiation. This work looks at seven samples of well-aged aerosols (aerosols traveling in the atmosphere for at least a few days) collected at Pico Mountain Observatory in the summer of 2015. Pico Mountain Observatory is located in a remote, high elevation site in the Azores, in the Eastern-North Atlantic Ocean. The goals of the study were to analyze the …

Searching For Anomalous Extensive Air Showers Using The Pierre Auger Observatory Fluorescence Detector, Andrew Puyleart

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Anomalous extensive air showers have yet to be detected by cosmic ray observatories. Fluorescence detectors provide a way to view the air showers created by cosmic rays with primary energies reaching up to hundreds of EeV . The resulting air showers produced by these highly energetic collisions can contain features that deviate from average air showers. Detection of these anomalous events may provide information into unknown regions of particle physics, and place constraints on cross-sectional interaction lengths of protons. In this dissertation, I propose measurements of extensive air shower profiles that are used in a machine learning pipeline to distinguish …

Image-Data-Driven Deep Learning For Slope Stability Analysis, Behnam Azmoon

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Landslides cause major infrastructural issues, damage the environment, and cause socio-economic disruptions. Therefore, various slope stability analysis methods have been developed to evaluate the stability of slopes and the probability of their failure. This dissertation attempts to take advantage of the recent advancements in remote sensing and computer technology to implement a deep-learning-based landslide prediction method.

Considering the novelty of this approach, this dissertation leads with proof-of-concept studies to evaluate and establish the suitability of deep learning models for slope stability analysis. To achieve this, a simulated 2D dataset of slope images was created with different geometries and soil properties. …

Machine Learning-Driven Surrogate Models For Electrolytes, Tong Gao

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

We have developed a lattice Monte Carlo (MC) simulation based on the diffusion-limited aggregation model that accounts for the effect of the physical properties of ionic liquids (ILs) on lithium dendrite growth. Our simulations show that the size asymmetry between the cation and anion, the dielectric constant, and the volume fraction of ILs are critical factors to significantly suppress the dendrite growth, primarily due to substantial changes in electric-field screening. Specifically, the volume fraction of ILs has the optimal value for dendrite suppression. The present simulation method indicates potential challenges for the model extension to macroscopic systems. Therefore, we also …

Synthetic Augmentation Methods For Object Detection In Overhead Imagery, Nicholas R. Hamilton

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The multidisciplinary area of geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) is continually changing and becoming more complex. From efforts to automate portions of GEOINT using machine learning, which augment the analyst and improve exploitation, to optimizing the growing number of sources and variables, there is no denying that the strategies involved in this collection method are rapidly progressing. The unique and inherent complexities involved in imagery analysis from an overhead perspective--—e.g., target resolution, imaging band(s), and imaging angle--—test the ability of even the most developed and novel machine learning techniques. To support advancement in the application of object detection in overhead imagery, we …

Fine Scale Mapping Of Laurentian Mixed Forest Natural Habitat Communities Using Multispectral Naip And Uav Datasets Combined With Machine Learning Methods, Parth P. Bhatt

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Natural habitat communities are an important element of any forest ecosystem. Mapping and monitoring Laurentian Mixed Forest natural communities using high spatial resolution imagery is vital for management and conservation purposes. This study developed integrated spatial, spectral and Machine Learning (ML) approaches for mapping complex vegetation communities. The study utilized ultra-high and high spatial resolution National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) datasets, and Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Complex natural vegetation community habitats in the Laurentian Mixed Forest of the Upper Midwest. A detailed workflow is presented to effectively process UAV imageries in a dense forest environment …

Poor Man’S Trace Cache: A Variable Delay Slot Architecture, Tino C. Moore

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

We introduce a novel fetch architecture called Poor Man’s Trace Cache (PMTC). PMTC constructs taken-path instruction traces via instruction replication in static code and inserts them after unconditional direct and select conditional direct control transfer instructions. These traces extend to the end of the cache line. Since available space for trace insertion may vary by the position of the control transfer instruction within the line, we refer to these fetch slots as variable delay slots. This approach ensures traces are fetched along with the control transfer instruction that initiated the trace. Branch, jump and return instruction semantics as well as …

Theoretical Investigation On Optical Properties Of 2d Materials And Mechanical Properties Of Polymer Composites At Molecular Level, Geeta Sachdeva

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The field of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials provides a new platform for studying diverse physical phenomena that are scientifically interesting and relevant for technological applications. Theoretical predictions from atomically resolved computational simulations of 2D materials play a pivotal role in designing and advancing these developments. The focus of this thesis is 2D materials especially graphene and BN studied using density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In the first half of the thesis, the electronic structure and optical properties are discussed for graphene, antimonene, and borophene. It is found that the absorbance in (atomically flat) multilayer antimonene (group …

An Exploration On Apts In Biocybersecurity And Cyberbiosecurity, Xavier-Lewis Palmer, Lucas Potter, Saltuk Karahan

School of Cybersecurity Faculty Publications

Novel and complex digital threats that are increasingly interwoven with means and products of biology that can affect society. Much work in Biocybersecurity/Cyberbiosecurity (BCS/CBS) discuss vulnerabilities, but few deeply address malicious actor varieties as attacks at this intersection are new. The path to those attacks remains mostly theoretical, presenting considerable difficulty to accomplish in practical scenarios. In terms of advanced persistent threats (APTs) this of course needs to change as biomanufacturing facilities are at risk, considering Covid-19 and other potential pandemics. Further attacks are not out of reach and thus we must start to imagine how BCS APTs may appear. …

The Vagabond Flourine Atom Revisited: Dissociative Photoionization Of Tri- And Pentafluoropropene, Jessica K. De La Cruz

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Photoelectron Photoion Coincidence (PEPICO) Spectroscopy studies on two unsaturated hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), also known as hydrofluoroolefines (HFOs), are presented here. Previously, the Sztáray group has studied the dissociation of trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene (ElixClean), which is a fourth-generation refrigerant and propellant and has lower global warming potential than its precursors. My study is an extension of the ElixClean study as it aims to explore how the different number of fluorine atoms impact the dissociation reactions of these molecules. Both 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (TFP) and cis-1,2,3,3,3- pentafluoropropene (PFP) are also utilized as propellants and refrigerants.Measurements were carried out with remote access to the CRF-PEPICO (combustion reactions followed …

Gas-Phase Acid-Base Properties And Conformations Of Oligopeptides Through Mass Spectrometry And Computational Studies, Yuntao Zhang

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a comprehensive study of the peptides of interest to deeper understand the gas-phase acid-base properties in relation to their conformations and chirality. In the first part of the study, two pairs of alanine (A)-based isomeric peptides consisting of a basic probe, lysine (Lys) or 2,3-diaminopropionic acid (Dap), were investigated to understand the nature of the enhanced basicity when the basic probe was moved from the N-terminus to the C-terminus. In the second part of the study, alanine-based peptides containing a cysteine (C) as the acidic probe were investigated to understand the chirality effects on the gas-phase acidity …

A Biological And Chemical Approach To Restoring Water Quality: A Case Study In An Urban Eutrophic Pond, Levi J. Mckercher, Tiffany L. Messer, Aaron R. Mittelstet, Steve D. Comfort

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Efforts to improve water quality of eutrophic ponds often involve implementing changes to watershed management practices to reduce external nutrient loads. While this is required for long-term recovery and prevention, eutrophic conditions are often sustained through the recycling of internal nutrients already present within the waterbody. In particular, internal phosphorus bound to organic material and adsorbed to sediment has the potential to delay lake recovery for decades. Thus, pond and watershed management techniques are needed that not only reduce external nutrient loading but also mitigate the effects of internal nutrients already present. Therefore, our objective was to demonstrate a biological …

A Pivotal New Approach To Groundwater Quality Assessment, M. L. Cherry, T. Gilmore, T. Messer, Y. Li, J. Westrop

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Toxic Effects Of Silver Ions On Early Developing Zebrafish Embryos Distinguished From Silver Nanoparticles, Martha S. Johnson, Preeyaporn Songkiatisak, Pavan Kumar Cherukuri, Xiao-Hong Nancy Xu

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Currently, effects of nanomaterials and their ions, such as silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and silver ions (Ag⁺), on living organisms are not yet fully understood. One of the vital questions is whether nanomaterials have distinctive effects on living organisms from any other conventional chemicals (e.g., their ions), owing to their unique physicochemical properties. Due to various experimental protocols, studies of this crucial question have been inconclusive, which hinders rational design of effective regulatory guidelines for safely handling NPs. In this study, we chronically exposed early developing zebrafish embryos (cleavage-stage, 2 hours post-fertilization, hpf) to a dilution series of …

Production Of Nimn2o4 Hollow Spheres And Cofe2o4 Bowl-Like Structures By Using Block Copolymer Stabilized Polystyrene Spheres As A Hard Template, Gökhan Koçak, Vural Bütün

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The aim of this study is to highlight the use of polystyrene (PS) latexes stabilized with block copolymers as a hard template in the production of metal oxide hollow spheres. PS latexes produced by dispersion polymerization by stabilizing with tertiary amine methacrylate-based diblock copolymer were used as a hard template in the preparation of nickel manganese oxide (NiMn2O4) hollow spheres and cobalt iron oxide (CoFe2O4) bowl-like structures. Thanks to the diblock copolymer stabilizer with tertiary amine functional groups on the PS surface, precursor salts of CoFe2O4 and NiMn2O4 were first homogeneously deposited on the surface of PS latexes with a …

The Study Of Fe3o4@Sio2-Nh2 Nano-Magnetic Composite Modified By Glutaraldehyde To Immobilized Penicillin G Acylase, Monier Alhadi Abdelrahman Mohammed, Zhenbin Chen, Ke Li, Boyuan Zhang

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Preparation of biocatalyst dependent on immobilized penicillin G acylase (PGA) was of substantial importance for proteomic research, organic synthesis, and industrial applications. Herein, we developed an easy method for nano-magnetic composite to immobilize PGA. Fe3O4 nano-magnetic particles were co-precipitated with Fe3+ and Fe2+ in an ammonia solution (NH3) and treated with silicon dioxide (SiO2), which was developed using the sol-gel process. Thereafter, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) was used to modify the silica-coated Fe3O4, which would result in the attachment of the primary amine groups to the particle surface. After that, the attachment of primary amine group was reacted with glutaraldehyde (Glu) to …

Synthesis, Molecular Modeling, And Biological Evaluation Of Novel Imatinib Derivatives Asanticancer Agents, Fulya Günay, Sevcan Balta, Yuk Yin Ng, Özlem Ulucan Açan, Zühal Turgut, Ömer Tahi̇r Günkara

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Different derivatives of imatinib were synthesized by a 3-step reaction method. The structures of the new compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods. For quantitative evaluation of the biological activity of the compounds, MTT assays were performed, where four BCR-ABL negative leukemic cell lines (Jurkat, Reh, Nalm-6 and Molt-4), one BCR-ABL positive cell line (K562), and one non-leukemic cell line (Hek293T) were incubated with various concentrations of the derivatives. Although imatinib was specifically designed for the BCR-ABL protein, our results showed that it was also effective on BCR-ABL negative cell lines except for Reh cell line. Compound 9 showed lowest IC50 …

Effect Of Poly(Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) Pour Point Depressant On The Cold Flow Properties And Crystallization Behavior Of Soybean Biodiesel Blends Fuel, Jinbao Liu, Chunhua Wang, Qian Liu, Fen Zhang, Xiaojie Liu, Min Sun

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Although biodiesel-diesel blends are being widely used in diesel engines, investigations on its cold flow properties and crystallization behavior are still scarce. In this paper, poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) (PEVA) pour point depressant and petroleum diesel were worked together to enhance the cold flow properties of soybean biodiesel. PEVA presented a better positive effect in reducing the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of biodiesel blends. B40 treated with 1% PEVA exerted the best cold flow properties, and its CFPP was decreased by -14 °C. In addition, the crystallization behavior was changed variously. The sizes of crystals were decreased as well as the …

A Simple And Rapid Rp-Hplc Method For The Assessment Of Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) Intilapia And Snoek Fishes, Labaran Ibrahim, Aminu Usman

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

This study developed a rapid reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method equipped with a UV-Vis detector. The aquaponics system?s tilapia and marine snoek fishes were extracted using an autoclaving process and enzymatic treatment. The technique enabled the separation and quantification of cobalamin present in these fishes extracts. Phenomenex Luna® 5 μm C18 (2) 100 A LC-column (150 × 4.6 mm) was used as a stationary phase, while the mobile phase consisted of methanol and phosphoric acid in a ratio of 35:65 (v/v), respectively. The developed method was revealed to be rapid (a retention time of less than 5.0 min), linear …

Clerodendrum Serratum Extract Attenuates Production Of Inflammatory Mediators Inovalbumin-Induced Asthma In Rats, Poonam Arora, Shahid Hamid Ansari, Lalit Mohan Nainwal

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

In the present study, ethanolic extract of Clerodendrum serratum roots was investigated for its potential to reverse some features of bronchial asthma in ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma. Clerodendrum serratum commonly called bharangi, (family Solanaceae) is a well-known anti-allergic drug in Asian folk system of medicines. In the present work, pharmacological studies are done to provide scientific evidence for therapeutic potential of plant in allergic asthma. Asthma was induced in experimental rats with allergen suspension of ovalbumin and aluminum hydroxide followed by treatment with dexamethasone (2.5 mg/kg, po) or C. serratum root extract (0.53 and 5.3 mg/kg, b. w., po). …