How Virtualized Environments Affect Computer Forensics

Virtualized environments can make forensics investigation more difficult. Technological advances in virtualization tools essentially make removable media a PC that can be carried around in a pocket or around a neck. Running operating systems and applications this way leaves very little trace on the host system. This paper will explore all the newest methods for virtualized environments and the implications they have on the world of forensics. It will begin by describing and differentiating between software and hardware virtualization. It will then move on to explain the various methods used for server and desktop virtualization. Next, it will describe the fundamentals of a traditional forensic investigation and explain how virtualization affects this process. Finally, it will describe the common methods to find virtualization artifacts and identify virtual activities that affect the examination process. Keywords: Hardware-assisted, Hypervisor, Para-virtualization, Virtual Machine, virtualization, VMware, Moka5, MojoPac, Portable Virtual Privacy Machine, VirtualBox

Book Review: The Software IP Detective\u27s Handbook: Measurement, Comparison, and Infringement Detections

Do not the book title fool you into thinking that the book is only for those looking to detect software infringement detection. It is a comprehensive look at software intellectual property. The book covers a wide range of topics and has something to offer for just about everyone from lawyers to programmers

Applying a Contingency Framework to Digital Forensic Processes in Cloud Based Acquisitions

The change in business models to incorporate a wide variety of cloud computing environments has resulted in the escalation of computer crimes in the areas of security breaches and hacking. Methods to acquire evidence in a cloud computing environment are limited due to the complexity of the cloud environment. Since digital acquisition processes in cloud computing environments are still in the infancy stages, there have been no studies in the application of existing frameworks to this type environment based on traditional forensic processes. This paper describes a qualitative study conducted to develop a robust contingency framework for deciding when to use traditional forensic acquisition practices, when to use modified processes, and when it is necessary to develop new forensic acquisition processes more appropriate to the cloud computing environment. The contingency framework was developed through the evaluation of 20 common forensic procedures by a panel of forensic and cloud computing subject matter experts

Analyse des sédiments contaminés de la portion sud-ouest du Lac Saint-Pierre (Québec, Canada)

Des campagnes de terrain ont été menées en automne 2006 dans la portion sud-ouest du lac Saint-Pierre en vue de déterminer la concentration des contaminants dans les sédiments sommitaux (entre 0-50 cm) et de fond (>50 cm) des carottes prélevées. Ces campagnes de forages ont été menées sous la direction d’une équipe d’experts du ministère de la Défense nationale (MDN). La zone à l’étude fait partie de l’ancienne zone de tir (zone CYR 606) du Centre d’essais et d’expérimentation en munitions des Forces armées canadiennes. Elle présente des risques environnementaux en raison de la présence de munitions non explosées (UXO) dans les sédiments. Cette zone a aussi été identifiée comme une zone affectée par divers contaminants, dont des éléments métalliques (EM) et des polluants organiques. Les analyses effectuées dans la portion sud-ouest du lac Saint-Pierre indiquent que les concentrations des EM et autres contaminants (BPC, HAP) dans les sédiments sont relativement faibles sur l’ensemble des sites d’échantillonnage. Ce sont surtout l’arsenic et le chrome qui affichent les plus fortes concentrations, dépassant le seuil des concentrations d’effets occasionnels (CEO) et le seuil des concentrations produisant un effet (CSE), tels que définis par les critères pour l’évaluation de la qualité des sédiments élaborés conjointement par le fédéral et le provincial. Sur le plan granulométrique, ce sont surtout les sables loameux ou les loams sableux qui constituent les matrices dominantes. En comparant avec les travaux antérieurs réalisés dans cette portion du lac Saint-Pierre, la contamination des sédiments serait moins importante que par le passé, ce qui présume à une amélioration de la qualité de l’eau et des sédiments depuis les premières analyses effectuées au cours des années 1976-1986. À la lumière des résultats obtenus, cette partie du bassin n’apparaît pas comme un secteur problématique pour la contamination des sédiments par les éléments métalliques (EM), les biphényles polychlorés (BPC) et les hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAP).Field campaigns were conducted during autumn 2006 in the southwest portion of Lake Saint-Pierre in order to determine the concentration of contaminants in subsurface (0-50 cm) and deep sediments (>50 cm) of the cores collected. These coring campaigns were conducted under the leadership of a team of experts from the Department of National Defence (DND). The study area is part of the former firing range (encompassed by the no fly CYR 606 zone) from the Munitions Experimental Test Centre of the Canadian Armed Forces. It presents environmental risks because Unexploded Explosive Ordnance (UXO) are found in sediments. This zone was also identified as an area affected by various contaminants, including metallic elements and organic pollutants. The analysis in the southwest portion of Lake Saint-Pierre indicates that the concentrations of metallic elements (ME) and other contaminants (PCBs, PAHs) are relatively low at all sampling sites. Arsenic and chromium show the highest concentrations, exceeding the occasional effect level (OEL) and the threshold effect level (TEL), as defined by Federal and Provincial sediment quality guidelines. For sediment classification, loamy sand or sandy loam are the dominant mineral matrices. In comparison with previous work in this portion of Lake Saint-Pierre, sediment contamination has been reduced, which indicates an improvement in the quality of water and sediment. In light of these results, this part of the basin is not seen as a problematic area in terms of sediment contamination by metallic elements (ME), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Thermal, High Pressure, and Electric Field Processing Effects on Plant Cell Membrane Integrity and Relevance to Fruit and Vegetable Quality

Advanced food processing methods that accomplish inactivation of microorganisms but minimize adverse thermal exposure are of great interest to the food industry. High pressure (HP) and pulsed electric field (PEF) processing are commercially applied to produce high quality fruit and vegetable products in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Both microbial and plant cell membranes are significantly altered following exposure to heat, HP, or PEF. Our research group sought to quantify the degree of damage to plant cell membranes that occurs as a result of exposure to heat, HP, or PEF, using the same analytical methods. In order to evaluate whether new advanced processing methods are superior to traditional thermal processing methods, it is necessary to compare them. In this review, we describe the existing state of knowledge related to effects of heat, HP, and PEF on both microbial and plant cells. The importance and relevance of compartmentalization in plant cells as it relates to fruit and vegetable quality is described and various methods for quantification of plant cell membrane integrity are discussed. These include electrolyte leakage, cell viability, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR)

Evaluation of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy in a United States population of women

Copyright @ 2012 Morof et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Objective: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (a U.K.-developed measure of pregnancy intention), in English and Spanish translation, in a U.S. population of women. Methods: A psychometric evaluation study of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP), a six-item, self-completion paper measure was conducted with 346 women aged 15–45 who presented to San Francisco General Hospital for termination of pregnancy or antenatal care. Analyses of the two language versions were carried out separately. Reliability (internal consistency) was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and item-total correlations. Test-retest reliability (stability) was assessed using weighted Kappa. Construct validity was assessed using principal components analysis and hypothesis testing. Results: Psychometric testing demonstrated that the LMUP was reliable and valid in both U.S. English (alpha = 0.78, all item-total correlations .0.20, weighted Kappa = 0.72, unidimensionality confirmed, hypotheses met) and Spanish translation (alpha = 0.84, all item-total correlations .0.20, weighted Kappa = 0.77, unidimensionality confirmed, hypotheses met). Conclusion: The LMUP was reliable and valid in U.S. English and Spanish translation and therefore may now be used with U.S. women.The study was funded by an anonymous donation

Analytical Methods Combined enzymatic and colorimetric method for determining the uronic acid and methylester content of pectin: Application to tomato products

Abstract A simple procedure for determining the galacturonic acid and methanol contents of soluble and insoluble pectins, relying on enzymatic pectin hydrolysis and colorimetric quantification, is described. Pectin samples are incubated with a commercial pectinase preparation, Viscozyme, then the galacturonic acid content of the hydrolyzed pectin is quantified colorimetrically using a modification of the Cu reduction procedure originally described by Avigad and Milner. This modification, substituting the commonly used Folin-Ciocalteau reagent for the arsenic containing Nelson reagent, gives a response that is linear, sensitive, and selective for uronic acids over neutral sugars. This method also avoids the use of concentrated acids needed for the commonly used m-phenylphenol method. Methanol, released by the action of the pectin methylesterase found in the Viscozyme, is quantified using alcohol oxidase and Purpald. This combined enzymatic and colorimetric procedure correctly determined the galacturonic acid and methanol content of purified, soluble citrus pectin. Application of the procedure to water insoluble pectins was evaluated with water insoluble material from apples and oranges. In both cases good agreement was obtained between this method and commonly used methods based on chemical pectin hydrolysis. Good agreement between these procedures was also found in the analysis of both soluble and insoluble pectins from several tomato products

Processing-induced changes in total phenolics and procyanidins in clingstone peaches

Abstract: Clingstone peaches contain a wide array of complex secondary plant metabolites and polyphenolics, and increasing evidence indicates that many of these components are important in human health. Oligomeric flavan-3-ol metabolites (procyanidins) are particularly interesting owing to their potent antioxidant activity and protective cardiovascular effects. To date, little information is available on how postharvest and processing conditions impact levels of phenolics and procyanidins in fruit. This research addresses the impact of lye peeling, freezing, storage temperature (4 and 30°C) and three different time-temperature sterilisation combinations on levels of total phenolics (TPs) in Ross clingstone peaches. Additionally, we describe the profile of procyanidin oligomers (monomers through heptamers) in clingstone and freestone peaches and demonstrate a dramatic decrease in procyanidins in thermally processed peaches. TP levels ranged between 316 and 397 mg kg À1 in peeled peaches and between 376 and 609 mg kg À1 in unpeeled peaches. Cold storage at 4°C for 14 days or freezing and storing at À12°C for 3 months produced no loss in TPs. Peaches stored at 30°C for 24 h resulted in a 1.7-fold increase in TPs. Studies of TPs in peaches processed at temperatures of 213°F for 40 min, 220°F for 10 min and 230°F for 2.4 min indicate that processing above 213°F decreases levels of both TPs (up to 21%) and procyanidins (up to 100%). Processing at 213°F for 40 min produced no significant loss in TPs. Furthermore, studies reveal that a 30-43% loss in phenolic levels occurs during the first 3 months in storage after canning. It is clear that both storage and thermal processing conditions profoundly impact the levels of polyphenolics in peaches. More interestingly, these studies indicate that peaches are a rich source of procyanidins, having profiles similar to those found in cocoa, apples, wine and tea

Transcriptional Signature of Durable Effector T Cells Elicited by a Replication Defective HCMV Vaccine

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a leading infectious cause of birth defects and the most common opportunistic infection that causes life-threatening diseases post-transplantation; however, an effective vaccine remains elusive. V160 is a live-attenuated replication defective HCMV vaccine that showed a 42.4% efficacy against primary HCMV infection among seronegative women in a phase 2b clinical trial. Here, we integrated the multicolor flow cytometry, longitudinal T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing, and single-cell RNA/TCR sequencing approaches to characterize the magnitude, phenotype, and functional quality of human T cell responses to V160. We demonstrated that V160 de novo induces IE-1 and pp65 specific durable polyfunctional effector CD8 T cells that are comparable to those induced by natural HCMV infection. We identified a variety of V160-responsive T cell clones which exhibit distinctive transient and durable expansion kinetics, and revealed a transcriptional signature that marks durable CD8 T cells post-vaccination. Our study enhances the understanding of human T-cell immune responses to V160 vaccination