COST EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF COLORLESS APPROPRIATIONS IN NAVY AND DOD SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PILOT PROGRAMS

Modernization of the Defense Acquisition Management and federal budget appropriation systems is necessary to ensure technological warfighting advantage, particularly in support of the Department of Defense’s software and cyber transition to a Development Operations (DEVOPS)/Development Security Operations (DEVSECOPS) environment. In appropriations, one modernization effort has been reform initiatives utilizing “colorless” appropriations for software-intensive defense acquisition programs. This thesis examines a sample of these pilot efforts through a combination of cost-effectiveness analysis and qualitative reflection to evaluate for efficiencies gained. While quantitative assessment identifies improved effectiveness at lower costs, sparsity of available data and program-specific external variables limit the statistical significance. However, qualitative insights in combination with commercial industry best practices may enhance the efficacy of this and other future reform efforts. These recommendations include additional selection criteria for pilot programs, additional metrics for quantitative and qualitative data collection, and further policy updates to enable a more effective transition from traditional appropriations. These conclusions derive from Defense Acquisition Management; federal budgeting and financial management; defense Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution processes; DEVOPS/DEVSECOPS practices; and Agile and Lean principles.Lieutenant, United States NavyLieutenant, United States NavyLieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Volume 14

Table of Contents: Introduction: Dr. Amorette Barber From the Editor: Dr. Larissa Kat Tracy From the Designers: Rachel English, Rachel Hanson Hungry Like the Wolf: The Wolf as Metaphor in Paramount Network’s Yellowstone: Ireland Seagle “Floating Cities”: Illustrating the Commercial and Conservation Conflict of Alaskan Cruise Ship Tourism: Dalton C. Whitby What Can You Do When Your Genes are the Enemy? Current Applications of Gene Manipulation and the Associated Ethical Considerations: Cassandra Poole La doble cara: un tema romántico en las obras de Larra y Hawthorne: Rachel Cannon Resolving a Conflict: How to Teach Evolution to Students with a Religious Background: Heidi Parker-Combes A History of Secret Societies at Longwood University and Their Relationship to Student Power and Agency: Devon G. Shifflett Policy Brief: Addressing Petroleum Pollution in the Chesapeake Bay around Naval Station Norfolk: Antonio Harve

Use of Trusted Software Modules for Emergency-Integrity Display

This report provides summary of the interface, mechanisms and semantics for high integrity display of information in a secure computer system, based on the use of a high assurance separation kernel and trusted software modules in both the application domain and the trusted software domain.Grant number: CNS-0430566 and CNS-0430598.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

LISA observations of massive black hole mergers: event rates and issues in waveform modelling

The observability of gravitational waves from supermassive and intermediate-mass black holes by the forecoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), and the physics we can learn from the observations, will depend on two basic factors: the event rates for massive black hole mergers occurring in the LISA best sensitivity window, and our theoretical knowledge of the gravitational waveforms. We first provide a concise review of the literature on LISA event rates for massive black hole mergers, as predicted by different formation scenarios. Then we discuss what (in our view) are the most urgent issues to address in terms of waveform modelling. For massive black hole binary inspiral these include spin precession, eccentricity, the effect of high-order Post-Newtonian terms in the amplitude and phase, and an accurate prediction of the transition from inspiral to plunge. For black hole ringdown, numerical relativity will ultimately be required to determine the relative quasinormal mode excitation, and to reduce the dimensionality of the template space in matched filtering.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures. Added section with conclusions and outlook. Matches version to appear in the proceedings of 10th Annual Gravitational Wave Data Analysis Workshop (GWDAW 10), Brownsville, Texas, 14-17 Dec 200

SecureCore software architecture: Trusted Management Layer (TML) Kernel Extension Module Integration Guide

A mobile computing device has more inherent risk than desktops or most other stationary computing devices. Such mobile devices are typically carried outside of a controlled physical environment, and they must communicate over an insecure medium. The risk is even greater if the data being stored, processed and transmitted by the mobile device is classified. The purpose of the SecureCore research project is to investigate fundamental architectural features required for the trusted operation of mobile computing devices so the security is built-in, transparent and flexible. A building block for the SecureCore project is a Least Privilege Separation Kernel (LPSK). The LPSK together with extension modules provides the security base. Integration of extension modules with the LPSK is described, including coding techniques, and compile and link directions.Funding number: CNS-0430566.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

The Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) Tir Effector Inhibits NF-κB Activity by Targeting TNFα Receptor-Associated Factors

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) disease depends on the transfer of effector proteins into epithelia lining the human small intestine. EPEC E2348/69 has at least 20 effector genes of which six are located with the effector-delivery system genes on the Locus of Enterocyte Effacement (LEE) Pathogenicity Island. Our previous work implied that non-LEE-encoded (Nle) effectors possess functions that inhibit epithelial anti-microbial and inflammation-inducing responses by blocking NF-κB transcription factor activity. Indeed, screens by us and others have identified novel inhibitory mechanisms for NleC and NleH, with key co-operative functions for NleB1 and NleE1. Here, we demonstrate that the LEE-encoded Translocated-intimin receptor (Tir) effector has a potent and specific ability to inhibit NF-κB activation. Indeed, biochemical, imaging and immunoprecipitation studies reveal a novel inhibitory mechanism whereby Tir interaction with cytoplasm-located TNFα receptor-associated factor (TRAF) adaptor proteins induces their proteasomal-independent degradation. Infection studies support this Tir-TRAF relationship but reveal that Tir, like NleC and NleH, has a non-essential contribution in EPEC's NF-κB inhibitory capacity linked to Tir's activity being suppressed by undefined EPEC factors. Infections in a disease-relevant intestinal model confirm key NF-κB inhibitory roles for the NleB1/NleE1 effectors, with other studies providing insights on host targets. The work not only reveals a second Intimin-independent property for Tir and a novel EPEC effector-mediated NF-κB inhibitory mechanism but also lends itself to speculations on the evolution of EPEC's capacity to inhibit NF-κB function

Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines in Ambulatory and Inpatient Care Settings

BACKGROUND There are limited data on the effectiveness of the vaccines against symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) currently authorized in the United States with respect to hospitalization, admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), or ambulatory care in an emergency department or urgent care clinic. METHODS We conducted a study involving adults (≥50 years of age) with Covid-19–like illness who underwent molecular testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We assessed 41,552 admissions to 187 hospitals and 21,522 visits to 221 emergency departments or urgent care clinics during the period from January 1 through June 22, 2021, in multiple states. The patients’ vaccination status was documented in electronic health records and immunization registries. We used a test-negative design to estimate vaccine effectiveness by comparing the odds of a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 infection among vaccinated patients with those among unvaccinated patients. Vaccine effectiveness was adjusted with weights based on propensity-for-vaccination scores and according to age, geographic region, calendar time (days from January 1, 2021, to the index date for each medical visit), and local virus circulation. RESULTS The effectiveness of full messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination (≥14 days after the second dose) was 89% (95% confidence interval [CI], 87 to 91) against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to hospitalization, 90% (95% CI, 86 to 93) against infection leading to an ICU admission, and 91% (95% CI, 89 to 93) against infection leading to an emergency department or urgent care clinic visit. The effectiveness of full vaccination with respect to a Covid-19–associated hospitalization or emergency department or urgent care clinic visit was similar with the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines and ranged from 81% to 95% among adults 85 years of age or older, persons with chronic medical conditions, and Black or Hispanic adults. The effectiveness of the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine was 68% (95% CI, 50 to 79) against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to hospitalization and 73% (95% CI, 59 to 82) against infection leading to an emergency department or urgent care clinic visit. CONCLUSIONS Covid-19 vaccines in the United States were highly effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring hospitalization, ICU admission, or an emergency department or urgent care clinic visit. This vaccine effectiveness extended to populations that are disproportionately affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: We conducted a study involving adults (≥50 years of age) with Covid-19-like illness who underwent molecular testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We assessed 41,552 admissions to 187 hospitals and 21,522 visits to 221 emergency departments or urgent care clinics during the period from January 1 through June 22, 2021, in multiple states. The patients' vaccination status was documented in electronic health records and immunization registries. We used a test-negative design to estimate vaccine effectiveness by comparing the odds of a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 infection among vaccinated patients with those among unvaccinated patients. Vaccine effectiveness was adjusted with weights based on propensity-for-vaccination scores and according to age, geographic region, calendar time (days from January 1, 2021, to the index date for each medical visit), and local virus circulation. Results: The effectiveness of full messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination (≥14 days after the second dose) was 89% (95% confidence interval [CI], 87 to 91) against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to hospitalization, 90% (95% CI, 86 to 93) against infection leading to an ICU admission, and 91% (95% CI, 89 to 93) against infection leading to an emergency department or urgent care clinic visit. The effectiveness of full vaccination with respect to a Covid-19-associated hospitalization or emergency department or urgent care clinic visit was similar with the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines and ranged from 81% to 95% among adults 85 years of age or older, persons with chronic medical conditions, and Black or Hispanic adults. The effectiveness of the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine was 68% (95% CI, 50 to 79) against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to hospitalization and 73% (95% CI, 59 to 82) against infection leading to an emergency department or urgent care clinic visit. Conclusions: Covid-19 vaccines in the United States were highly effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring hospitalization, ICU admission, or an emergency department or urgent care clinic visit. This vaccine effectiveness extended to populations that are disproportionately affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. (Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)

Trusted Computing Exemplar: Software Development Standards

This document describes the Life Cycle Management Plan for the development of a high assurance secure product. A high assurance product is one for which its users have a high level of confidence that its security policies will be enforced continuously and correctly. Such products are constructed so that they can be analyzed for these characteristics. Lifecycle activities ensure that the product reflects the intent to ensure that the product is trustworthy and that vigorous efforts have been made to ensure the absence of unspecified functionality, whether accidental or intentional. This document provides policy and process for developing and approving software-related Configuration items (CIs), giving more detail than was covered in the Life Cycle Management Plan (LCMP). This document does not replace the LCMP, it expands on the principles and processes the LCMP defined, and should not conflict with the LCMP in any way. Other documents will describe the standards for hardware development.Prepared for United States Navy, OPNAV N2/N6 and funded in part by United States Navy, OPNAV N2/N6. A portion of the material presented here is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. CNS-0430566 and CNS-0430598.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited