A Duty to Share: The Opportunities and Obstacles of Federal Counterterrorism Intelligence Sharing with Nonfederal Fusion Centers

Little is known about how effectively federal agencies share terrorism intelligence with state and local governments through fusion centers. As a result, there is a risk that local governments do not receive critical intelligence that would allow them to collaboratively prevent catastrophic terrorist attacks. Using Dawes\u27 interagency information sharing model, the purpose of this exploratory case study was to evaluate how effectively federal agencies share terrorism intelligence with fusion centers. Data were collected through interviews with 25 senior leaders, federal agents deployed to fusion centers, and intelligence analysts in 5 fusion centers on the East Coast. These data were inductively coded and then subjected to a thematic analysis procedure. Findings indicated that, among these leaders, information sharing was hindered by both technology and inter-organizational relationships between the fusion centers and federal agencies. Participants also noted that obstacles to information sharing regarding classified data has not been sufficiently mitigated. Dawes\u27 interagency information-sharing theory was found to be explanatory regarding intelligence sharing activities. Implications for positive social change include recommendations to the Department of Homeland Security to utilize Dawes\u27 work on information sharing in order to alleviate the tension between federal and local agencies and remove obstacles, particularly related to classified intelligence related to counterterrorism. Doing so can be useful in developing policy recommendations to improve the dynamics between federal and local agencies, thereby allowing critical information to be shared with state and local governments in a proactive manner that may better protect communities

The Effects of Kinship on Land Transfer: A Study of Settlement on the Cumberland Plateau of Kentucky and Tennessee

This thesis examines specific aspects of nineteenth century Euroamerican settlement on the Cumberland Plateau of Kentucky and Tennessee. Primary historical documents i.e. county deed records, are used as the principal data source in a study of the effects of kin relationship on the process of land transfer. Blevins family property transfers, recorded between 1800 and 1910 in Wayne County, Kentucky and Scott County, Tennessee are examined systematically to: 1) test previous ethnographic and ethnohistoric empahses placed on kinship as a primary settlement determinant and the principal basis for local group solidarity; and 2) demonstrate the utility of deed record information to historical, geographical and anthropological studies of settlement. Analysis procedures involve synchronic and diachronic comparisons of deed record variables, i.e. transfer frequency, tract acreage, and distance from the transferred tract to the grantors\u27 homeplace, calculated for transactions among Blevins kin, and between Blevins family members and non-kin. Records of land transfer are evaluated as a logical data source for investigating aspects of historic settlement by reconstructing local Blevins family property history, utilizing a sample of sequentially-ordered land transfers. Examinations of land transfers indicate that variation in purchases and sales are largely dependent upon changing social and economic conditions and prevalent states of settlement. Overall results dispute previous contentions emphasizing preferences shown toward kin in land transfer and support expanded use of county deed records in further research

Antropotsentrism ja jätkusuutlikkuse probleem

Chapter I will, using scientific research, explain the nature of the environmental crisis and show that it is indeed caused by what I refer to as the prevailing human culture. Key concepts used in this thesis will be defined (such as ecology and prevailing human culture). I will reject views that do not think the current human moral sensibility is the problem concerning the environment. Various opposition arguments will defend the current conservative moral boundary between humans and nature, including M. Sagoff’s artificialist proposal. Also, solutions in terms of a human-centered cost-benefit analysis along with the “Abrahamic” conception of human dominance over nature will be rejected. Chapter II will focus on the philosophical inadequacies of the human prejudice in all its forms. I will argue mainly against opponents who reject ‘humanism’ but wish to preserve some sort of human moral privilege or status. The chapter will address the ambiguity of the moral inclusion of being “human” to which D. McNaughton and P. Taylor provide talking points. I will reject B. Williams's concept of the human “us” thus arguing it is an irrational belief adopted by the prevailing human culture. Another opponent for this chapter is M. Bookchin who places a special status on humans based on the human capacity to value. I will also criticize Bookchin’s claims that “mystical” biocentric notions belittle and demonize human achievements. Chapter III will address the ethical and political consequences of internalizing a biocentric moral code and argue against those who believe the consequences are too steep. While they may seem costly to us that is only because we still have the mindset of the prevailing human culture which will not exist in future generations. Opponents in the chapter include consequentialists who argue there's more ‘good’ in maintaining the human prejudice, as well as all those who defend anthropocentric society. I will maintain that the core values defined in this thesis can be preserved and progressed without anthropocentrism

Structural Prediction and Mutational Analysis of the Gifsy-1 Xis Protein

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The <it>Gifsy-1 </it>phage integrates into the <it>Salmonella </it>Typhimurium chromosome via an integrase mediated, site-specific recombination mechanism. Excision of the <it>Gifsy-1 </it>phage requires three proteins, the <it>Gifsy-1 </it>integrase (Int), the <it>Gifsy-1 </it>excisionase (Xis) protein, and host encoded Integration Host Factor (IHF). The <it>Gifsy-1 xis </it>gene encodes the 94-residue <it>Gifsy-1 </it>excisionase protein that has a molecular weight of 11.2 kDa and a pI of 10.2. Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assays (EMSA) suggested at least one region of the protein is responsible for protein-DNA interactions with a tripartite DNA binding site composed of three direct imperfect repeats.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we have undertaken experiments to dissect and model the structural motifs of <it>Gifsy-1 </it>Xis necessary for its observed DNA binding activity. Diethyl sulfate mutagenesis (DES) and mutagenic PCR techniques were used to generate <it>Gifsy-1 xis </it>mutants. Mutant Xis proteins that lacked activity in vivo were purified and tested by EMSA for binding to the <it>Gifsy-1 </it>Xis <it>attP </it>attachment site. Results from mutagenesis experiments and EMSA were compared to results of structural predictions and sequence analyses.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Sequence comparisons revealed evidence for three distinct structural motifs in the <it>Gifsy-1 </it>Xis protein. Multiple sequence alignments revealed unexpected homologies between the <it>Gifsy-1 </it>Xis protein and two distinct subsets of polynucleotide binding proteins. Our data may suggest a role for the <it>Gifsy-1 </it>Xis in the regulation of the <it>Gifsy-1 </it>phage excision beyond that of DNA binding and possible interactions with the <it>Gifsy-1 </it>Int protein.</p

The Nature of Lyman Break Galaxies in Cosmological Hydrodynamic Simulations

What type of objects are being detected as $z\sim 3$ "Lyman break galaxies"? Are they predominantly the most massive galaxies at that epoch, or are many of them smaller galaxies undergoing a short-lived burst of merger-induced star formation? We attempt to address this question using high-resolution cosmological hydrodynamic simulations including star formation and feedback. Our $\Lambda$CDM simulation, together with Bruzual-Charlot population synthesis models, reproduces the observed number density and luminosity function of Lyman break galaxies when dust is incorporated. The inclusion of dust is crucial for this agreement. In our simulation, these galaxies are predominantly the most massive objects at this epoch, and have a significant population of older stars. Nevertheless, it is possible that our simulations lack the resolution and requisite physics to produce starbursts, despite having a physical resolution of \la 700 pc at z=3. Thus we cannot rule out merger-induced starburst galaxies also contributing to the observed population of high-redshift objects.Comment: 5 pages, contribution to the Proceedings of Rencontres Internationales de l'IGRAP, Clustering at High Redshift, Marseille 199

Theoretical Modeling of the High Redshift Galaxy Population

We review theoretical approaches to the study of galaxy formation, with emphasis on the role of hydrodynamic simulations in modeling the high redshift galaxy population. We present new predictions for the abundance of star-forming galaxies in the Lambda + cold dark matter model (Omega_m=0.4, Omega_L=0.6), combining results from several simulations to probe a wide range of redshift. At a threshold density of one object per arcmin^2 per unit z, these simulations predict galaxies with star formation rates of 2 msun/yr (z=10), 5 msun/yr (z=8), 20 msun/yr (z=6), 70-100 msun/yr (z=4-2), and 30 msun/yr (z=0.5). For galaxies selected at a fixed comoving space density n=0.003 h^3 Mpc^{-3], a (50 Mpc/h)^3 simulation predicts a galaxy correlation function (r/5 Mpc/h)^{-1.8} in comoving coordinates, essentially independent of redshift from z=4 to z=0.5. Different cosmological models predict global histories of star formation that reflect their overall histories of mass clustering, but robust numerical predictions of the comoving space density of star formation are difficult because the simulations miss the contribution from galaxies below their resolution limit. The LCDM model appears to predict a star formation history with roughly the shape inferred from observations, but it produces too many stars at low redshift, predicting Omega_* ~ 0.015 at z=0. We conclude with a brief discussion of this discrepancy and three others that suggest gaps in our current theory of galaxy formation: small disks, steep central halo profiles, and an excess of low mass dark halos. While these problems could fade as the simulations or observations improve, they could also guide us towards a new understanding of galactic scale star formation, the spectrum of primordial fluctuations, or the nature of dark matter.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figs. To be published in "Photometric Redshifts and High Redshift Galaxies", eds. R. Weymann, L. Storrie-Lombardi, M. Sawicki & R. Brunner, (San Francisco: ASP Conference Series