Cybercrime Investigation and Digital Forensics Assignment

Cybercrime Investigation and Digital Forensics - Assignment Example At the same time, this provides backdoors for hackers to intrude into the healthcare information systems and get access to highly confidential information like patient medical reports, lab results, and other potentially lucrative information like insurance details. When a healthcare industry’s data is being breached, it not only results in financial and reputation crisis to the industry and the specific organization but also causes dramatic effects to the patients depending on the nature of the disclosed data. When such incidents happen, digital forensics renders a helping hand in investigating the potential crime scene with evidences that can be presented for prosecution. This report provides a detailed description about the investigation procedure from a perspective of a cyber forensic company’s lead forensics investigator which would help in identifying and prosecuting a potential breach incident that happened in a healthcare company. To begin with, it would be more appropriate to explain our company’s approach in providing the overall plan for processing the potential crime incident that has occurred in a healthcare company. Our investigation team comprises of security and digital forensic professionals who work in close coherence with highly experienced corporate investigators and well trained background verification team (â€Å"Investigating a data breach,† n. d). Whenever data breach incidents happen, our response team would provide complete guidance regarding the post incident proceedings and provide services highly specific to the requirement of the healthcare industry. Our overall planning process comprises of collecting and securing the digital evidences, visualizing indications for data breach using a triage approach, rigorous analysis of evidences, presenting the investigation results for prosecution, and providing remediation for preventing future reoccurrences (Nelson,

Attribution Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Attribution Theory - Essay Example For people to interpret the causes of particular behaviour performed by other individuals, it is necessary for them to observe the behaviour, and attribute external or internal causes to it. Any outside body or agent that triggers or causes the event is an external factor while factors that are within the control of an individual and are a part of his/her personality are the internal factors (Shackleton, 1995). An example of how attribution theory can be applied in our daily lives could be our reaction to, say, having a good social circle. An individual who is a loner and has no friends to talk to will always be found complaining about how the world is so cruel and unjust. This is attributing an external factor to the event. However, a person who is the life of a party and is acquainted with a lot of people will be found claiming that it is so because of his being so attractive and smart. As obvious, this case refers to an internal factor or the factor which is within a person. There are many factors which are related to attribution. The determination of the causes depends on three things (Kelly, 1967). Distinctiveness, the first one, tells whether the person's actions are distinct and different from other situations. The second is consensus, which tells whether other people behave in the same way to the same situation. The third factor is consistency, which finds out whether the individual behaves the same way consistently to the same situation. The theory predicts that whenever there is high distinctiveness, the causes of the behaviour are external and with low distinctiveness, the factors are internal. For consensus, it is an external factor whenever there is a high consensus and an internal factor when the consensus is low. High consistency indicates an internal factor while low consistency depicts an external factor. In fact, when we apply attribution theory, there are two types of errors which can result in distorted attributions. One is the fundamental attribution error and the other is self-serving bias. (1) Fundamental attribution error: It occurs when people overestimate the effects of internal factors while underestimating the effects of external factors when judging the behavior of others (Martinko, 1995.) It is when the actions of people are attributed to their traits and personality rather than the external influence that may have led them to such an action. (2) Self-serving bias: This error, also known as attributional bias, refers to the tendency of individuals to claim responsibility for successes while attributing failures to other causes or factors (Martinko, 1995.) It is just one way of imaging what is pleasing to us rather than the realistic situation. One factor which can be related to this bias is whether there is a reward or punishment proclaimed for certain behavior (Harvey & Smith, 1977). It is suggestd that when we suceed, we tend to overestimate the internal factors which could be our talent and effort and underestimate the external factor which could be the help of others. Yet, if we were failed, we would overestimate the external factors which could be lack of collegue's co-operation, and underestimate the internal factors such as our laziness. This indicates that people would explain the same behavior to events differently if it occurred differently (. Systematic bias: It is a form of self-serving bias and occurs when people generally tend to think that they are better at tasks that are

Homeland Security Alert In Lax And Other State Airports Essay Example for Free

Homeland Security Alert In Lax And Other State Airports Essay To overcome the increasing terrorists’ threats in most commercial airports many countries have boosted on their airports security both at home and abroad. Many countries especially Western have experienced many terrorist attack. This has forced them to invent on various alert measures to control these attacks mostly to their airports. Through Transportation Security Administration officers, Los Angeles have stepped forward to scrutiny their passengers and aeroplanes in their airport (Krikorian and Shogren, January 02, 2004). This action has been motivated by particular terror plot bringing about more concern on common remote control toys that are useful in denoting terrorists’ bombs. Aviation authorities in different countries have decided on carrying devices on carry-on bags. Passengers with remote control are subject to intense search. Remote control toys are the most devices used in lax and other airports. Air passengers face heightened security which is geared against possible grandiose terrorist attack. Los Angeles and other country’s government are doing everything to protect their country (Sauter and Carafano, 2005, p. 2). Transport Security Administration inspectors in airports in major cities like Los Angeles are emphasizing on passenger’s screening and their languages. There has been extra watchfulness with an appeal to Los Angeles and other nations not to forgo travel plans in their airports than other transports. There is need for alerts in airports; this should be done through air marshals especially on flights arriving from overseas and undercover observation around airports. Not only lax but also other airports have been on â€Å"Orange Alert† (Oldham, January 23, 2004). There are many places that competes Los Angeles in their potential targets both symbolic and substantial. For better protection against terrorism in airports the main prevention of the attack, always there should understand of the vulnerability that translates to threat. Co-coordinating of anti-terrorism efforts among local airports law enforcement agencies and Joint Terrorism Task Force has been adapted in Lax. They have tried as much as they can to plan and monitor means of preventing terrorism (Byman, 2008, p. 75). Cameras to monitor suspicious activity in airports with pilots completing terrorism awareness training have been adopted in most airports. All airport employees have been trained on security procedures with police increasing their patrol. Gas detection system has been improved to identify biological and chemical toxic. In airlines cockpit doors and locomotive doors has been adopted. There is also screening of passengers and their luggage. Los Angeles has identified potential facilities on terrorist attacks and established security plans. Different agencies through FBI, police departments and sheriff have teamed up to create Joint Regional Intelligence Center in which they can collect, share and analyze intelligence data on terrorism. More anti-chemical suits are required to protect airports from chemical attacks (Hutagalung, November 29, 2008). There is local law enforcement and fire agencies which uses different radio systems. Los Angeles has not established a comprehensive plan on evacuating large number of people in case of chemical or nuclear attack. There is computer software that records routine location and canine search at airports. Police offers data on possible terrorists’ targets and relative significance. These data is subject to change incase of security breach or suspicious activity (Oldham, January 23, 2004). Conclusion Like other airports, lax has been subject to federal rules mandating barriers perimeter around all facilities. A team for handling homeland security has been established incorporating different agencies. Improvement of security in communications, transportation and public infrastructure utilities have expanded ability of different countries in detecting and responding to terrorism. They have better trained those who are called on for first response in contaminated environment. Lax and other airports have tightened their security in response to terrorist. They have raised security alerts to the highest possible level as an indication that terrorist attack are coming up. Some measures are visible and others are not.

Use of Enzymes for Clinical Diagnosis

Use of Enzymes for Clinical Diagnosis Clinical enzymology is branch off medical science deals with the usage of enzymes for diagnosis prognosis of various diseases. In general, each enzyme of clinical significance is found in many tissues of the body, and in healthy individuals, these enzyme exhibit very low levels in serum. In certain disease states or with cell injury, these intracellular enzymes are released into the blood and are indicative of the presence of a pathological condition. Quantification of enzyme levels in serum is useful in determining the presence of disease. Based on the individuals physical symptoms, several enzymes may be chosen for analysis to determine if a pattern develops that aids in identifying the tissue source of the enzyme elevation in the serum(2). The understanding of enzyme kinetics allows for laboratory measurement of plasma levels. Damaged or dying cells within organ can release enzymes into the circulation, these plasma enzyme levels can be used to develop a differential diagnosis of a patient with respect to specific organ disease and dysfunction(1). Like others analyte use for clinical chemistry analysis, specific pre-analytical influences have to be taken into consideration. Analysis of enzyme measurement would involve the process from the start to the end that comprises the pre-analytical factors, analytical and post analytical factors. Pre- analytical issues in the enzyme measurement include the types of specimens, the specific anticoagulants and preservative in the tubes and the specimen collection procedure. Table 2.0 describe the type of enzymes, the specimen of choice and the pre-analytical factors that can affect the enzyme measurement. Slight hemolysis can be accepted as there is no CK ain rbc, however severe or moderate hemolysis can cause enzymes and intermediates (adenylate kinase,ATP,glucose 6-phosphatea) liberated from the erytrocytes and may affect the lag phase and the side reactions occurring in the assay system(3) Lactate Dehydrogenase LDH Serum or heparanised plasma Plasma containing anticoagulant especially oxalate, should not be used. Haemolysed specimen 150 times LDH in rbc than serum(3) Alkaline Phosphatare ALP Serum or haparinized plasma ALP-, free hemolysis. Complexing anticoagulants such as citrate,oxalate, and edta must be avoided. Storage and doing test later than 4 hours can cause loss of activity EDTA concentration in the sample-reagent mixture, causing chelation of metallic cations, and this can affect the activity of the alkaline phosphatase Gamma Glutamyl Transferase GGT Serum free from hemolysis preferred. EDTA -plasma ( up to 1 mg/mL blood) can be used Heparin produces turbidity in the reaction mixture; citrate, oxalate and fluoride depress activity by 10 15 % The rate of disappearance of substrate or the rate of appearance of product had been utilized for enzyme measurement. Usually, measuring small increase in product it is much easier than to measure small decrease in a large amount of substrate. In some enzyme measurements, neither the product not the substrate of a chemical reaction can be measured conveniently. In such cases the enzymatic reaction can be coupled to another reaction that uses the product of the enzyme catalyzed reaction to produce an indicator substance (1). The rate of change in concentration of substrate or product is the principle of kinetic method for most of the enzyme measurement. The accuracy of Kinetic makes it easier to detect changes in reaction conditions and samples requiring dilution. In a kinetic reaction, the rate of reaction can be expressed as ΔP/ΔT, the change in amount of per unit time. The amount of enzyme in a sample is measured by the rate of reaction  catalyzed by the enzyme. This rate is directly proportioned to the amount of enzyme and is expressed in enzyme unit, IU/L (4). Substrate depletion phase is a period during an enzyme assay when the concentration of substrate is falling and the assay is not following zero-order kinetics(5). The amount of substrate must be present in sufficient quantity, so that the reaction rate is limited only by the amount of enzymes. In order to get optimal method of enzyme measurement, the substrate concentration is one of the important parameters. It is essential for the concentration of the substrate(s) is saturating during the measured period of the reaction(6). At saturating substrate concentrations, the reaction velocity is pseudo zero order with respect to the substrate and the velocity is proportional only to the enzyme concentration. Figure 1.0; describe the importance of substrate depletion in enzyme measurement. Enzyme activity High Moderate Low Substrate depletion Substrate depletion Lag phase Absorbance Time Figure 1.0 Enzyme activity can be calculated from a plot of absorbance versus time when monitoring an enzyme-catalysed reaction. When reagents and serum are mixed, there may initially be a period of a time when mixing and any preliminary reactions occur; this is termed the lag period. Following this phase, the reaction will proceed at zero-order kinetics (V max); at this point, the rate of appearance of product (as measured from the slope of the line, ΔA/ΔT) is directly proportional to the enzyme activity present. As the reaction proceeds and substrate is depleted, the rate of reaction will fall below V max and the plot is no longer linear. At this point, the reaction is no longer zero order with respect to substrate concentration; rate of reaction is now dependent on both amount of substrate (which is declining) and amount of enzyme present, making it difficult to calculate amount of enzyme present. (Adapted from Henrys Clinical Diagnostic and Management by Laboratory Metho ds) An organic component of enzymes is called coenzyme. Coenzymes participate in many of the enzyme analyses performed in the clinical laboratory. As the coenzyme make up a part of the active site, the role of this coenzyme in enzymatic transamination is crucial as an example the use of pyridoxal phosphate for expression of enzyme activity for aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase measurement(7). Table 3.0 describe the enzyme, the coenzyme and the clinical relevance of the enzyme measurement for laboratory diagnosis. In conclusion, the type of assay method, sample preparation, age and storage conditions are the variables that have to be taken into consideration in the determination of enzyme activity. Other important variables in determining enzyme activity include temperature, pH, concentration of substrate, concentration of cofactors of the assay, use of other enzyme reactions as indicators, and whether the forward or backward reaction is used to measure the enzyme. All of these variables can lead to significant differences in enzyme activity between methods (1). Enzyme Co-enzyme Clinical relevance Creatinine kinase (CK) Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide Elevations of total CK in serum are associated with cardiac disorders, such as AMI, and skeletal muscle disorder, such as muscular dystrophy. Occasionally,elevations are due to central nervous system, including seizures and cerebral vascular accidents. CK-MB values greater than 6 % of total CK are suggestive of AMI. When AMI is suspected, troponin is assayed in conjunction with CK-MB, and sometimes myoglobin is assayed. Following AMI, Ck-MB levels rise within 4-6 hrs,peak at 12-24 hours, and return to normal within 2-3 days(2). Aspartate aminotransferase pyridoxal phosphate AST is used to evaluate hepatocellular disorders (up to 100 times upper reference limit in infectious mononucleosis, and up to 4 times upper reference limit in cirrhosis), skeletal muscle disorders ( up to 8 times upper reference limit) and acute pancreatitis(8). In AMI, AST rises within 6-8 hours, peaks at 18-24 hours, and return to normal within 4-5 days. AST is not used to diagnose AMI, but awareness of the AST pattern may be useful when ruling out other disorders, including concurrent liver damage(2). Lactate dehydrogenase (LD) NAD Elevated in cardiac disorders (AMI), hepatic diseases (viral hepatitis,cirrhosis,infectious mononucleosis),skeletal muscle diseases, haemolytic and haematological disorders (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) In AMI, LD levels rise within 8-12 hours, peak at 24-48 hours, and return to normal in 7 10 days. Although LD and LD isoenzymes are not used to diagnose AMI, knowledge of their pattern may be useful when assessing concurrent liver damage(2).

Crusades Essay -- essays research papers

In 109 The First Crusade was launched by Christians with the support of the Roman Catholic Church in hopes of recapturing Jerusalem from the Muslims. The Crusades arose out of feudal society in the eleventh century, offering crusaders freedom adventure and a possible economic gain. Pope Urban II gave a speech to the church leaders and nobles in France, telling them to rescue their fellow Christians from the Muslims. He promised them everlasting life in heaven if they went. The Crusades weren’t started for no apparent reason, their were many causes of the first crusade and many effects.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The crusades were mainly directed to Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulcher.(West 5) Jerusalem was taken by the caliph Umar in the 7th century, and early in the 11th century Fatmid caliph Hakim began to persecute the Christians and despoil the Holy Sepulcher. (Colombia 1) In 1004 the caliph Cairo of Cairo ordered the destruction of the church and Holy Sepulcher, but son after he proclaimed himself to be god, and the Muslims got ride of him, the Greek emperor was permitted to rebuild the Holy Sepulcher.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The new spirit of adventure in the art, literature and actions of the western Europeans became a cause for the increase of pilgrimages to the holy lands. Europe was in a period of expansion and its urge for war and conquest had grown during the years of fending off the raids of the Magyars, Viking and Saracens. The spirit of religious reform that led to the Investiture Controversy led to an increase in popular spirituality. People now wanted to participate actively and do something in honor of their god.(Nelson 1) The different groups of European society contributed to the cause of the crusades. The aristocracy found themselves losing the importance they once had when they stood between Europe and its attacker. They needed more land and started to fight with each other over it, their numbers were growing because there we no longer losses in battles.( Nelson 1) In 1054 the Church split into eastern and western organizations and the popes wanted to heal that split. They were also involved in the Investiture Controversy and were looking for allies. Middle classes knew they could become rich by cutting out of the Byzantines and taking the profits for themselves that byzantine merchants had been making on trade with them.(Nel... ...utman 3) The combination of these cultures resulted in the invention of the windmill, the compass, gunpowder, and clocks. The Pope saw the Crusades as a way to assert Church influence as a unifying force, with was as a religious mission. This was a new attitude to religion and it brought religious discipline, previously applicable to monks, to soldiery. Muslim architects began to imitate the European pointed arch, and Europeans learned Greek medicine from the Muslims. They also learned military techniques from one another. As a result of learning new military strategies and uniting themselves against one cause, the Muslims developed a stronger religious nation, which also helped the decline of feudalism and the Byzantine empire. The First Crusade was the only crusade that achieved more than temporary results and is the only crusade to ultimately succeed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Analysis of Stories of Ghost Sightings :: Urban Legends Ghost Story

Ghost Stories The storyteller is 19 years old and attends Chesapeake College, and is transferring this fall to Salisbury University to become a nurse. Her mother works at a local Baptist church as a secretary/receptionist and her father is a mechanic, but will soon be retired. [The storyteller claims to have seen] these ghosts, and the story she told is about what they look like, their actions, their backgrounds, and how it has affected her. She told me four mini-stories: one about a young girl, one about a young boy, one about a middle-aged man, and one about an elderly man. The first ghost [story is] about was a little girl that always appeared on her way home at night: Ok, well there is this little girl that stands in the middle of the road usually near those two farm houses on the way to my house. She is a black girl, probably like 7 or so, and she always stands in the road at night. And sometimes if there is a car in front of me, they hit her†¦but I always try to move so I don’t hit her, or I try to move. I know you think I’m making all this up, but I’m not. I wish I was making it up. Anyway, she might be there in the daytime too but I usually only see her, well spirits in general, at night. I’m not sure why she is there, but I think she was hit by a car a long time ago and just can’t leave. She was walking along the road and got hit and now she can’t leave the road. I see her every time it’s dark and I’m driving home. Sometimes she is standing in the middle of the road and sometimes I see her walking out into the middle of it. I’ve never hit her though, I try to swerve out of th e way ‘cause she freaks me out†¦or I tell her to get out of the way and she will walk across. Or disappear. Yeah, she’s probably second on the list of freak-me-out ghosts. As [the storyteller] was telling this story, her voice was a little shaky, and she was talking somewhat fast, as if she didn’t like talking about it or it scared her. She used her hands a lot, either to help describe her story better or because she was simply nervous or scared. After asking her which ghost she finds scariest or creepiest, [the storyteller told] me this next story about a frightening little boy, whom she has only seen one time:

A Study Of Anatomy And Psychology Essay

The procedure in lifting the leg to climb a stair is a complex one which involves a huge amount of technology inter-transfer between the brain and the eventual skeletal muscle. There is initiation of the movement at the brain which is transmitted via specialized white fibre tracts to the hip flexors via the intermediate spinal cord, involving a very complex mechanism at the cellular level   The initiation of the   process is at the motor cortex (Ms I) of the brain. The primary motor area is located at the precentral gyrus of the frontal lobe. The area controlling the motion of the lower limbs lies towards the superior surface of the brain. Within this area lies the cell body of the primary neuron. These neurons are known as upper motor neurons (UMN). These UMNs receive modulating impulse from the inputs from the cerebellum and the basal ganglia via the extrapyramidal pathways. These tracts modulate the gross movement initiated at the frontal cortex. In turn these areas are modulated by afferent signals from ascending spino cerebellar, and spino-thalamic pathways. The complex the signal initiated at the nucleus of the cell body is transmitted electronically via the axon of the myelinated neuron via the mode of salutatory conduction. The myelin sheath which surrounds the axon of nerves that involve fast transport, breaks at intermediate regions known as Nodes of Ranvier. The electrical impulse moves in   a jumping manner at these nodes nerve transmission as a neural impulse, generated by the formation of a nerve action potential. Like all excitable tissue, nerves maintain a resting membrane potential that is the difference of voltage across the membrane of the neuron. In neurons this value is   – 70 mV. This voltage difference is maintained by the Na/K pump on the membranes. This impulse generated at the axon hillock is transmitted via the depolarizing phase which allows sodium ions ingress into cells via opening of the Na channels. This entry of Na in one portion allows activation of other Na channels, causing depolarization of the adjacent region of the neuron. Subsequently repolarization occurs via the opening of K channels, which restores the membrane potential. Thus this process continues which allows the transmission of impulse. Many such nerves together descend as the descending cortico spinal tract in the pyramidal system, which travels through the midbrain into the spinal cord, decussating at the level of midbrain( 90% of the fibres decussating and forming the lateral spinothalamic tract) and again at the level of spinal cord ( the other 10%, forming the anterior spinothalamic tract) . It is the former which is responsible for the lower limb movements. The cortico-spinal tract travels in the anterior horn cell of the spinal cord till the lumbar level where they synapse with the spinal ventral root neuron (lower motor neuron). A single post-synaptic neuron receives signals from many neurons. At the axon terminal, the propagation of impulses leads to release of neurotransmitters, which are stored in specialized vesicles. The released Ach diffuses into the synaptic cleft and binds with receptors on the post synaptic membrane to produce excitatory post synaptic potentials. This leads to generation and propagation of impulse in nerves which are destined to innervate the neuro-muscular junction. At the neuro-muscular junction, Ach is released, which diffuses into the synovial cleft and binds to receptors in the motor end plate, and triggers a muscle action potential. The released Ach is destroyed by the acetylcholinestrase. At the level of the sarcolemma of the muscles, the muscle AP travels along T-tubules, opening Ca release channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Ca binds to troponin-tropomysin complex, which releases the myosin heads, these then bind to the actin thin filaments, and draws them closer to the M line. Meanwhile bringing the Z disc closer. This leads to muscle fibre contraction. This is a self propagating sequence eventually leading to the contraction of ilio-psoas muscle, which causes the flexion of thigh on the pelvis. Each nerve fibre innervates many musle fibres ( about 150). This is   the motor unit. The greater the number of motor units recruited by the nerve action potential, the greater the force of contraction of the muscles. In the spinal cord, nerve impulse travels along the lumbar plexus (L1-L5) to innervate the iliopsoas ( hip flexion- ilio-inguinal nerve), biceps femors, semitendinosus and semimembranosus ( knee flexion – sciatic nerve), ankle flexors ( EHl, EDL, TA – tibial nerve), leading to the person climbing the step. This excitatory impulse is also associated with the production of inhibitory action potential ( hyperpolarizing impulse) in the antagonists (eg the glutei, which must relax to allow flexors to act. In the event of raising of the upper limb above the head, to lift a book, the impulse travels along the cortico spinal tract till the level of the cervical cord to synapse with the lower motor neurons of the brachial plexus ( C3-T1). From here the nerve impulses travel to shoulder elevators ( supraspinatus, deltoid, trapezius, and latissimus dorsi)- posterior cord ), elbow extensor ( triceps and anconeus – radial nerve) wrist extensor ( ECRL, ECRB – radial nerve), finger flexors ( FDS, FDP – median nerve and the ulnar nerve)   and the intrinsics – ulnar nerve and the median nerve)