Implementing Resiliency of Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication Systems

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is getting increasingly more popular to safeguard systems from unauthorized users access. Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication (A-MFA) is an enhanced version of MFA that provides a method to allow legitimate users to access a system using different factors that are changing based on different considerations. In other words, authentication factors include passwords, biometrics among others are adaptively selected by the authentication system based on criteria (e.g., whether the user is trying to log in from within system boundary, or whether or not the user is trying to access during organization operating hours). The criteria (i.e. triggering events) that A-MFA uses to select authentication factors adaptively are usually pre-defined and hard-coded in the authentication system itself. In this paper, the graphical user interface application is designed to add more resiliency to the existing Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication (A-MFA) method by enabling system administrators to rank the triggering criteria based on the users’ roles, system assets, tolerance to risks, etc. The proposed tool allows system administrators to determine when to tighten and soften user access to the system. The tool uses multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) method to allow system admins to access the trustworthiness of user. Based on the trustworthiness of the user, the tool selects the number and complexity of the authentication methods. This tool will help to utilize the systems administrator situational awareness to improve security. This work aims to preserve the AMFA strengths and at the same time give system administrators more flexibility and authority in controlling access to systems

Toward a New Erie Boulevard East in Syracuse and Dewitt, New York: Bus Rapid Transit and Urban Forestry in a Time of Climate Challenge

Erie Boulevard is a major corridor that runs east-west in the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County. It is a corridor that lacks sufficient multi-modal transportation options and pedestrian infrastructure. This study looked at design and design analysis to test the viability of: bus rapid transit and biophilic urbanism, to identify impacts on ecological systems, economy, and social well-being of communities and residents. The design was evaluated through i-Tree programs, Design, Canopy, and Hydro. The results revealed an increase in ecological and economic benefits. This project is important because it is relevant to many mid-size cities with major streets that are both urban and suburban in nature, have lost their design coherence, and need major revitalization that offers the opportunity for the application of new design concepts

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE, WATER ACTIVITY AND CINNAMON ESSENTIAL OIL ON THE GROWTH OF ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS LA01 AND ASPERGILLUS NIGER LA04

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of temperature, water activity and cinnamon essential oil on the growth of Aspergillus flavus LA01 and Aspergillus niger LA04 and these factors were further optimized to inhibit their growth. Both strains were isolated by Potato Dextrose Agar medium (PDA) and identified by sequencing method from rice collected in Long An province. Evaluating these factors’ inhibition on the fungi growth was based on growth rate at the various points of water activity (aw) (v/v) such as 0.85, 0.90, 0.95, 0.99 and at 25 oC, 30 oC, 37 oC, 42 oC; at various concentrations of the oils 0 %, 1 %, 3 %, 5 %, 7.5 %, 10 % and 15 % at  30 oC incubated for 5 days - the disc diffusion method. The results showed that             30 oC and aw = 0.95 - 0.99 were optimum conditions for Aspergillus flavus LA01 and Aspergillus niger LA04 growth. However, at 42 oC, 37 oC and aw = 0.85 - 0.9 could control Aspergillus flavus LA01 and Aspergillus niger LA04 growth. At concentration of 10 - 15% cinnamon essential oils (EOs), 30 oC and aw = 0.9 - 0.95 could also inhibit them

Standardization of Methods for Characterizing the Physiological Profiles of Aquatic Microbial Communities using EcoPlates

Microbial physiology is often studied by observing pure cultures of isolated organisms grown in a lab setting. This approach is not realistic when trying to understand how a community of bacteria, which includes a variety of bacterial species, is functioning while coexisting in a specific ecosystem. By using BioLOG EcoPlates, the metabolic functioning of a microbial community in response to 31 different carbon sources may be assessed in just one plate. Each well in an EcoPlate contains a single common carbon source and a tetrazolium dye that will turn purple in color if any microbe in the sample is able to metabolize that carbon source. The intensity of the purple color in a well will increase over time in proportion to how much metabolic activity occurred. If water samples taken from the same ecosystem sites at different times are used to inoculate EcoPlates, we can determine if microbial community function has changed over time and use these findings, along with other variables like water chemistry, nitrogen uptake, coliform counts, and temperature and weather patterns, to more completely understand how a freshwater ecosystem is functioning. This pilot study was performed to standardize our sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods by using samples from a local aquatic ecosystem (e.g., the Augustana Slough). Baseline data were also collected for two watersheds in Davenport, IA which will continue to be evaluated this summer for signs of urban stream syndrome in conjunction with an ongoing project through the Augustana Upper Mississippi Center