Security awareness and affective feedback:categorical behaviour vs. reported behaviour

A lack of awareness surrounding secure online behaviour can lead to end-users, and their personal details becoming vulnerable to compromise. This paper describes an ongoing research project in the field of usable security, examining the relationship between end-user-security behaviour, and the use of affective feedback to educate end-users. Part of the aforementioned research project considers the link between categorical information users reveal about themselves online, and the information users believe, or report that they have revealed online. The experimental results confirm a disparity between information revealed, and what users think they have revealed, highlighting a deficit in security awareness. Results gained in relation to the affective feedback delivered are mixed, indicating limited short-term impact. Future work seeks to perform a long-term study, with the view that positive behavioural changes may be reflected in the results as end-users become more knowledgeable about security awareness

Reducing risky security behaviours:utilising affective feedback to educate users

Despite the number of tools created to help end-users reduce risky security behaviours, users are still falling victim to online attacks. This paper proposes a browser extension utilising affective feedback to provide warnings on detection of risky behaviour. The paper provides an overview of behaviour considered to be risky, explaining potential threats users may face online. Existing tools developed to reduce risky security behaviours in end-users have been compared, discussing the success rate of various methodologies. Ongoing research is described which attempts to educate users regarding the risks and consequences of poor security behaviour by providing the appropriate feedback on the automatic recognition of risky behaviour. The paper concludes that a solution utilising a browser extension is a suitable method of monitoring potentially risky security behaviour. Ultimately, future work seeks to implement an affective feedback mechanism within the browser extension with the aim of improving security awareness

Assessing the impact of affective feedback on end-user security awareness

A lack of awareness regarding online security behaviour can leave users and their devices vulnerable to compromise. This paper highlights potential areas where users may fall victim to online attacks, and reviews existing tools developed to raise users’ awareness of security behaviour. An ongoing research project is described, which provides a combined monitoring solution and affective feedback system, designed to provide affective feedback on automatic detection of risky security behaviour within a web browser. Results gained from the research conclude an affective feedback mechanism in a browser-based environment, can promote general awareness of online security

Preliminary results of investigations into the use of artificial neural networks for discriminating gas chromatograph mass spectra of remote samples

Neural networks trained using mass spectra data from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are studied. The investigations also included sample data from the gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GCMS) instrument aboard the Viking Lander, obtained from the National Space Science Data Center. The work performed to data and the preliminary results from the training and testing of neural networks are described. These preliminary results are presented for the purpose of determining the viability of applying artificial neural networks in discriminating mass spectra samples from remote instrumentation such as the Mars Rover Sample Return Mission and the Cassini Probe

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Studies of Some Systems of Chemical Interest

This thesis is subdivided into four parts, which are summarised seperatly below. Part I: An elementary account of the principles of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and a brief description of the spectrometer system are contained in this, the introductory section, of this thesis. Part II: This section describes a study of nitroxide radicals obtained from caryophyllene nitrosite. Eight different nitroxide radicals have been derived from caryophyllene nitrosite. Two are obtained allowing caryophyllene nitrosite in chloroform solution to react with iodine or with bromine; two by irradiating lid caryophyllene nitrosite with red light, or by irradiating solutions of caryophyllene nitrosite in toluene or in benzene with red light; two are obtained by irradiating solutions of caryophyllene nitrosite in ethanol with red light; one by irradiating solid caryophyllene nitrosite with ultraviolet radiation, and one by dissolving the last radical in chloroform. Three of these radicals have been isolated as pure, stable solids. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the eight radicals are described and spin Hamiltonian parameters, extracted from spectra of "glasses" formed at 77 K by dispersing them in chloroform:toluene (3:2) solution or from room-temperature spectra, are given. Structures for the nitroxide radicals, and some information about the mechanisms of the red and ultraviolet photolyses reactions, are deduced from the electron paramagnetic resonance data. Part III: This section deals with a study of the small free radical, di-tertiary-butylnitroxide, within the cavities of Polycrystalline and single crystal electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of di-tertiary-butylunitroxide in Dianin's compound have been examinedl over the temperature range 77°K≤ T ≤ 430°K. The orientations of the radicals in the crystal have been determined, and the motions of the radicals and the magnitudes of the energy barriers hindering these motions in the clathrate, have been characterised. Changes in van der Waals interactions as the temperature changes appear to affect hyperfine tensor components, but it has not been possible to obtain quantitative information about changes in the electron distribution responsible for these effects. Other radicals do not appear to be formed as the temperature is raised. At higher temperatures the lattice sublimes. Part IV In this section the effects of axial interactions on electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of copper(II) chelates re described . X-band e. p. r, spectra in chloroform:toluene (60:40) glasses at 77K show that chloroform forms weak complexes with some planar compounds of copper(II). Spin Hamiltonian parameters for some "isolated" cupric chelates and for some corresponding chloroform-chelate complexes are reported, and these Parameters are equted to the atomic orbital coefficients in some of the molecular orbitals involved in bonding in both types of compound. The relative ordering of the energies of the B2g and A1g levels in planar copper (II) compounds may change if the ligand is changed. Effects of axial perturbations which arise from two axial dipoles acting on planar cupric complexes are considered , and first order perturbation theory is used to obtain relationships which connect the spin Hamiltonian parameters for the "isolated" complexes with those for the perturbed complexes: experimental observations are in accord with the theoretical treatment. Relaxation arising from rotation about the long axis of these cupric complexes controls the line widths in their e. p. r. spectra recorded at 295° K: the effect of chloroform complexing on paramagnetic relaxation phenomena these complexes is noted. E. p. r. methods may be used to discriminate between different isomers of polyketone complexes of copper(ll)

Effect of the Healthy Schools Program on prevalence of overweight and obesity in California schools, 2006-2012.

IntroductionThe Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Healthy Schools Program (HSP) is a national evidence-based obesity-prevention initiative aimed at providing the schools in greatest need with onsite training and technical assistance (TTA) and consultation with national experts (HSP national advisors) to create sustainable healthy change in schools' nutrition and physical activity environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of HSP on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in California schools, from HSP's inception in 2006 through 2012.MethodsWe used statewide body mass index (BMI) data collected annually from 5th-, 7th-, and 9th-grade students to determine whether enrolling in the HSP's onsite intervention reduced the prevalence of overweight and obesity in intervention schools (n = 281) versus propensity-score matched control schools (n = 709) and whether increasing exposure to the program (TTA and contact with HSP national advisors) was associated with reductions in the prevalence of overweight and obesity.ResultsAnalyses showed no difference between HSP schools and control schools in overweight or obesity prevalence. However, program exposure varied widely among participating schools, and each additional contact with TTA or HSP national advisors was associated with a 0.3% decline in overweight and obesity prevalence (P < .05).ConclusionHSP appears to be an important means of supporting schools in reducing obesity. Although participation in HSP alone was not sufficient to improve weight status in California schools, there was a clear dose-response relationship to the program. HSP serves as an effective model for addressing childhood obesity among engaged schools