Approximately 10% of adults living in the United States meet criteria for a Substance Use Disorder. Although 12-step groups are considered evidence-based practices for substance use problems, an understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which they facilitate recovery practices remains in its infancy. The purpose of the current study was to explore whether attachment could be considered a possible mediator of the effects of recovery practices on positive psychosocial outcomes. Participants (N = 112) were self-identified NA members from 26 U.S. states who completed an online survey assessing attachment style, psychosocial sense of community, psychological well-being, and various other recovery and psychosocial constructs. Results indicated a number of recovery-related practices emerged as significant predictors of secure attachment, over and above covariates. For example, higher levels of home group comfort were associated with increased probability of secure attachment classification (by self-report). In general, psychological sense of community did not significantly predict secure attachment, over and above covariates. Although attachment predicted psychological well-being in univariate models, it generally failed to predict psychological well-being in models that included covariates and recovery-related predictors. Theoretically, these data suggest that functional social support variables are primary recovery-related predictors implicated in NA-involvement, above and beyond other structural social support variables. This further suggests that attachment-related dimensions of 12-step interventions may be integral to recovery outcomes.

The integrated pedagogy in Alcoholics Anonymous as a community of practice In this paper I have studied the integrated pedagogy in Alcoholics Anonymous using Wenger’s theoretical model of communities of practice and from a point of view of situated learning. Focus has been on recovery from alcohol addiction as a process of social identity change where learning is seen as an appropriation of artefacts by an interaction between participation and reification which leads to a higher level of competence and a change in identity. A diversity of methods has been used such as text analysis of printed material from AA in combination with direct observations at AA-meetings and qualitative interviews with long-time, high intensity participants in the AA-community. The results indicate that Alcoholics Anonymous has a powerful pedagogic system in which a whole of norms, principles and stories are represented in all its parts. The interviewed participants report similar changes in identity and capacity to function in life, despite the differences between them in background as well as in which part of the specific activities in AA they focused on during their trajectory in AA. The study has limitations though all the participants are long-time sober members with a strong identification as members of AA and consequently not representative for the cohort of attenders at AA. The background search for literature makes it clear that the phenomenon of Alcoholics Anonymous is practically not studied from a pedagogical perspective which opens possibilities for future research.

Diploma thesis deals with an anonymous transmit of messages using protocol for anonymous authentication. In first part, we introduce theoretical familiarization to the issues and description protocol for anonymous authentication. Further, it describes the suggestion of the communication between the client and the server. Finally, contains a description of the created system for anonymous transmit of messages, which consists of the server and clients, who can leave challenges on the server for other users and they obtains challenges from the server. The thesis explains how to start and control program. There are also discussed methods of computing verification values, encryption keys and messages and authentication of receivers.

In recent years, whistleblowing has lead to big headlines aroundthe world. This thesis looks at whistleblower systems, which are systems specically created for whistleblowers to submit tips anonymously. The problem is how to engineer such a system asto maximize the anonymity for the whistleblower whilst at the same time remain usable.The thesis evaluates existing implementations for the whistle-blowing problem. Eleven Swedish newspapers are evaluated for potential threats against their whistleblowing service.I suggest a new system that tries to improve on existing systems. New features includes the introduction of JavaScript cryptography to lessen the reliance of trust for a hosted server. Use of anonymous encryption and cover traffic to partially anonymize the recipient, size and timing metadata on submissions sent by the whistleblowers. I explore the implementations of these features and the viability to address threats against JavaScript integrity by use of cover traffic.The results show that JavaScript encrypted submissions are viable. The tamper detection system can provide some integrity for the JavaScript client. Cover traffic for the initial submissions to the journalists was also shown to be feasible. However, cover traffic for replies sent back-and-forth between whistleblower and journalist consumed too much data transfer and was too slow to be useful.

No description available.

KLETEČKOVÁ, D. Anonymous child abandonment in the Czech Republic. Prague: Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague, 2014. 131 s. Diploma thesis. In the theoretical part the student aims to map the situation of leaving children anonymously in the Czech Republic in comparison with selected countries in Europe, the history of this phenomenon, the current situation and possible insights into the future. Anonymous leaving of children is studied from several perspectives, in terms of legal, psychological, medical and mainly social point of view. In the empirical part the method of inquiry, namely the interview technique is used. For this purpose experts on the specific areas were interviewed - lawyers, psychologists, doctors and social workers. In the conclusion part the research data are evaluated and possible measures suggested. Key words Anonymous abandoment, secret delivery, babybox, family, child

Alcohol use disorders are a major health problem in the United States; approximately 7.4% of the population meets the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence. However, Reed, Levin, and Evans (2012) reported a lack in research regarding alcoholism's risk factors and how these influence Alcoholics Anonymous involvement. Though there is evidence for several risk factors, researchers have found mixed results regarding gender and impulsivity. Social learning theory was the theoretical foundation of this study and guided the exploration and interpretation of these risk factors. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental study was to understand the relationship that impulsivity (as measured from the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-15) and gender contribute to involvement (as measured by the Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement scale), as well how impulsivity may moderate gender-based differences. Based on this goal, the target population included individuals who have been a part of the Alcoholics Anonymous program in an urban location in a Western state. This study followed a purposive sampling procedure to target this population, which resulted in a final sample of 136 participants. A series of analyses including chi squares, t-tests, and an ANCOVA did not provide any evidence that involvement depended on gender or impulsivity. This study provides a better understanding of how gender and impulsivity influence attendance and will enhance intervention practices and improve outcomes for people suffering from alcohol addiction. By increasing knowledge on Alcoholics Anonymous involvement, and why it works for some and not for others, the study provides support for professionals, families, and communities involved with participants of the program.

People all around the world have their internet access censored or monitored by governments or large corporations. Whistleblowers and human rights activists oftentimes need to communicate in secret to avoid persecution by the powerful organization monitoring their communications. Current anonymity systems often depend on the public internet, and as such are subject to some degree of interference. Cloak is a textual communication network created to hide the existence of the network itself from an outside observer, such as a repressive government or corrupt corporation. Cloak does not use the public internet, and as such would evade the majority of the monitoring in place today. Cloak also does not use any special infrastructure or create its own infrastructure, minimizing the risk of infrastructure attacks. Finally, Cloak provides plausible deniability for its users should they be investigated. Cloak works by hiding its messages inside of normal phone activity. Two Cloak nodes can identify each other by looking at wifi probe messages that are generated by phones in the vicinity of an open wifi hotspot. They can then connect to the hotspot and browse like normal, while hiding messages inside their browsing. Because this is open wifi, the other nodes can see the hidden messages and store them, and carry them closer to their destination. Cloak can hide its messages in a lot of ways. It can first send images with messages embedded in them. It can also use places where a website asks for data in a opaque format, such as YouTube video ids. Finally, if encrypted browsing is available, a Cloak node can just send the encrypted message and act like something went wrong with its encrypted browsing.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第20883号 / 理博第4335号 / 新制||理||1623(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科数学・数理解析専攻 / (主査)教授 西村 進, 教授 上 正明, 教授 長谷川 真人 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

La tesi ha ricostruito la disciplina degli scritti anonimi nel diritto amministrativo. In particolare, in assenza di disposizioni di carattere generale, la ricerca ha avuto l’obiettivo di comprendere la rilevanza attribuita dall’ordinamento pubblicistico alle segnalazioni anonime, sia sul versante processuale sia su quello procedimentale. Nel diritto amministrativo, il fenomeno degli scritti anonimi è stato meno esplorato che nel diritto penale. Di recente, tuttavia, si è registrata una progressiva attenzione per il tema, come si evince soprattutto da due elementi: le numerose pronunce della giurisprudenza relative alla presentazione di denunce anonime volte a sollecitare l’avvio del procedimento amministrativo e i regolamenti delle Autorità amministrative indipendenti che hanno esplicitamente disciplinato il fenomeno. Anche le indicazioni che provengono dal legislatore in alcuni settori speciali sono significative dell’importanza che gli scritti anonimi hanno progressivamente assunto nel diritto amministrativo. La tesi, pertanto, ha analizzato gli indici, peraltro spesso contraddittori, desumibili dall’ordinamento pubblicistico per comprendere le dimensioni del fenomeno degli scritti anonimi e per valutarne la compatibilità con i principi generali dell’attività amministrativa. Domandarsi se la presentazione di una denuncia anonima imponga l’avvio del procedimento significa, infatti, riflettere sulla compatibilità dell’eventuale impiego di tali denunce con i principi che governano l’esercizio dell’azione amministrativa all’interno di un ordinamento democratico. / The dissertation aims to conduct an in-depth examination of anonymous reports’ legal framework in administrative law. In the absence of general provisions on the topic, the research focused on understanding the relevance attributed to anonymous reports by italian public law, both substantive and procedural. Much has been written on the subject of anonymous documents in the field of criminal law, yet the topic was much less studied in administrative law. Recently, though, attention to this theme increased, as demonstrated both by the issuance of regulations concerning anonymous reporting by several independent authorities and the numerous court rulings about anonymous reporting and its effects on the initiation of administrative proceedings. Significant signs of the increasing importance of the phenomenon in administrative law can also be inferred from the specific legislation of certain sectors of the law. The dissertation analyzed the various and often contradictory occurrences of anonymous reports in administrative law, in order to understand the scope of the phenomenon of anonymous reporting and to evaluate its compatibility with the general principles of administrative action. Indeed, the question of whether the submission of an anonymous report can bind the administration to initiate administrative proceedings calls for a in-depth consideration of the compatibility of the use of these reports with the principles governing administrative action in a democracy.