The increasing usage of databases in the storage of critical and sensitive information in many organizations has led to an increase in the rate at which databases are exploited in computer crimes. Databases are often manipulated to facilitate crimes and as such are usually of interest during many investigations as useful information relevant to the investigation can be found therein. A branch of digital forensics that deals with the identification, preservation, analysis and presentation of digital evidence from databases is known as database forensics. Despite the large amount of information that can be retrieved from databases and the amount of research that has been done on various aspects of databases, database security and digital forensics in general, very little has been done on database forensics. Databases have also been excluded from traditional digital investigations until very recently. This can be attributed to the inherent complexities of databases and the lack of knowledge on how the information contained in the database can be retrieved, especially in cases where such information have been modified or existed in the past. This thesis addresses one major part of the challenges in database forensics, which is the reconstruction of the information stored in the database at some earlier time. The dimensions involved in a database forensics analysis problem are identified and the thesis focuses on one of these dimensions. Concepts such as the relational algebra log and the inverse relational algebra are introduced as tools in the definition of a theoretical framework that can be used for database forensics. The thesis provides an algorithm for database reconstruction and outlines the correctness proof of the algorithm. Various techniques for a complete regeneration of deleted or lost data during a database forensics analysis are also described. Due to the importance of having adequate logs in order to use the algorithm, specifications of an ideal log configuration for an effective reconstruction process are given, putting into consideration the various dimensions of the database forensics problem space. Throughout the thesis, practical situations that illustrate the application of the algorithms and techniques described are given. The thesis provides a scientific approach that can be used for handling database forensics analysis practice and research, particularly in the aspect of reconstructing the data in a database. It also adds to the field of digital forensics by providing insights into the field of database forensics reconstruction. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / Computer Science / PhD / Unrestricted

Introdução. Leishmanioses são zoonoses que têm como agentes etiológicos tripanossomatídeos de várias espécies do gênero Leishmania. Elas são transmitidas aos hospedeiros vertebrados por Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae). As infecções por Leishmania podem se manifestar nas formas visceral (LV) e tegumentar (LT); ambas são sérios problemas de saúde pública no Brasil, que se encontra entre os países do mundo com as mais altas incidências. Dentre as atividades de controle das leishmanioses, as da vigilância entomológica estão voltadas para a redução da taxa de contato dos vetores com os hospedeiros vertebrados e identificar áreas de risco de transmissão. Neste sentido, a detecção de fêmeas de flebotomíneos naturalmente infectadas por Leishmania constitui-se numa das estratégias. Essa detecção pode ser realizada apenas por meio de análises moleculares ou estas serem precedidas de dissecção das fêmeas para observação da presença de flagelados em seus tratos digestórios. A observação dessas formas no trato digestório pode indicar a capacidade do parasita em resistir aos processos de sua eliminação, dependendo do local onde se encontra, e a que subgênero (Leishmania ou Viannia) pertence. No Brasil, a LV tem sido associada a espécie Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum. A LT tem como agentes espécies de ambos os subgêneros. O presente projeto teve como objetivo desenvolver um manual no qual são descritos os processos para se realizar a investigação da infecção natural por flagelados em fêmeas de flebotomíneos. Materiais e Métodos. Para a elaboração do manual foram examinadas fêmeas selvagens e outras provenientes de colônias alimentadas em hamsters infectados experimentalmente por Leishmania braziliensis e, posteriormente, dissecadas e examinadas em microscópio. Os parasitas utilizados nos experimentos de infecção em laboratório são oriundos de cultivos mantidos em laboratório. As espécies examinadas foram Lutzomyia longipalpis, Nyssomyia neivai e Pintomyia fischeri. Foram descritos os cuidados necessários à preservação dos espécimes em campo e transporte ao laboratório, de modo a tornar viável a dissecção e exame dos espécimes. As capturas realizadas em campo para o estudo permitiram tanto a obtenção dos espécimes como a elaboração do item que trata dos cuidados com as amostras. A documentação das múltiplas etapas de dissecção e exame dos espécimes necessários para o estudo foram realizados por meio de câmera fotográfica acoplada a microscópio óptico. Resultados. São apresentados na forma de manual. Neste são descritos e ilustrados aspectos das técnicas de captura, cuidados com os insetos no campo e laboratório, transporte de amostras vivas, o processo de dissecção da fêmea e a observação de seu tubo digestório para a investigação da presença de flagelados, e de estruturas de sua genitália, para a identificação da espécie de flebotomíneo. Apresenta-se ainda um protocolo a ser utilizado na preservação dos espécimes que forem encontrados infectados para posterior análise molecular e identificação específica do parasita. Conclusões. Com os tópicos apresentados no manual, espera-se contribuir com o programa vigilância epidemiológica das leishmanioses, em atividades da vigilância entomológica voltadas para a identificação de áreas de risco de transmissão dessas doenças e obter evidências que apontem para o potencial de espécies que possam estar atuando como vetores permissíveis de Leishmania spp. / Introduction. Leishmaniases are zoonoses having trypanosomatids of several species of the genus Leishmania as etiological agents, transmitted to vertebrate hosts by the bite of females of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae). These parasitoses can manifest in visceral (VL) and tegumentary (TL) forms, both being serious public health problems in Brazil, which is among the countries of the world with the highest incidence rates. Among the activities of control of leishmaniases, those of entomological surveillance are aimed at reducing the contact rate of the vectors with the vertebrate hosts and also to identify areas in risk of the disease transmission. In this sense, the detection of sand fly females naturally infected with Leishmania is one of the strategies. This detection can be carried out exclusively by means of molecular analyzes or these being preceded by dissection of the females to observe the presence of flagellates in their guts. The observation of flagellate forms in the gut indicates the ability of the parasites to resist the processes of their elimination, and also to identify the subgenus (Leishmania or Viannia) to which the parasites belong. In Brazil, the VL infection is attributed to Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum, while in TL, there are various agents belonging to both subgenera. Objective. To develop a manual in which the processes for the investigation of the natural infection by flagellates in sand fly females are described and illustrated. Material and Method. For the construction of the manual, observation of infection by flagellates was made through the dissection of wild or laboratory females of Lutzomyia longipalpis, Nyssomyia neivai and Pintomyia fischeri, experimentally infected with Leishmania braziliensis. The description of care in the preservation of the specimens in the field and in their transport to the laboratory, in order to make feasible the dissection, was made based on the collection undertaken in this project. The documentation was made by means of a photographic camera coupled to an optical microscope. Result. A manual is presented describing and illustrating aspects of collection techniques, insect care in the field and laboratory, transport of the live samples, the dissection process and observation, respectively, of the female gut for the investigation of the flagellate presence and genitalia structure for the identification of the phlebotomine species. Protocol is also presented to be used in the preservation of the specimens found infected for subsequent molecular analysis and the specific identification of the parasite. Conclusions. With the topics presented in this manual, we intend to contribute to the program of epidemiological surveillance of leishmaniases, in activities of entomological surveillance, in the identification of areas of risk of transmission of these diseases, as well as to obtain evidence about the potential of species that may act as permissible vectors of Leishmania spp.

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2016-05-12T17:43:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcelo Alves Nunes.pdf: 983327 bytes, checksum: 867fe7eac9d8f63ba9c7a5163a2f0fbd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-12T17:43:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcelo Alves Nunes.pdf: 983327 bytes, checksum: 867fe7eac9d8f63ba9c7a5163a2f0fbd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-12-10 / The proposition of constitutional guarantees in the criminal investigation stage is undoubtedly a significant progress in building a more ethical and fairer criminal case, consistent with republican values embodied in the Constitution of 1988. Thus, as an Estate institution, the Judicial Police has been ideologically remodeled, assuming a more guaranteed conformation in this constitutionalist era of law. This is because, in the early stage of the police investigation, the investigated might suffer serious restrictions on their nuclear legal heritage, as an example of dignity, freedom, intimacy and equity. Indeed, the choice of the legislature by the rule of non-term research officer [not only] demands immediate review, since the lack of regulatory control over the investigative acts fosters abuse of the Estate-police rather than expensive state values of the human person. As a reaction, the guarantee of reasonable duration of administrative procedures, constitutionally erected a fundamental right by EC 45/2004 (CF, art. 5th, inc. LXXVIII), points to the urgent need for critical revisiting of the criminal investigation, taken as a whole, since the delay in the completion of the procedure exacerbates feelings of distress and unfairly stigmatizes the investigated person, on whom an anticipated punishment, that cannot be confirmed by the State court, in a subsequent procedural step of the persecution criminis. Using the timing of the criminal investigation as its centerpiece, this study was initiated, from elementary concepts, positive legislation (ordinary and constitutional), the case law, the phenomenon of constitutionalization of law and specialized doctrine. In the exploration of the object of knowledge, related juridical aspects of sensitive relevance to the subject have not been left aside, especially the unintended consequences of investigation for the penal action, the possible defenses of the subject of prosecution, and the liability of the State and its agents, complementing and enriching excessively theoretical arguments submitted to reflection. / A proposição de garantias constitucionais na fase de investigação criminal constitui, sem dúvida, significativo avanço na construção de um processo penal mais ético e justo, consentâneo com os valores republicanos materializados na Constituição Federal de 1988. E assim, como instituição de Estado, a Polícia Judiciária vem sendo ideologicamente remodelada, assumindo conformação mais garantista nesta era constitucionalista do direito. Isso porque, na prematura fase do inquérito policial, é possível o investigado sofrer sérias restrições em seu patrimônio jurídico nuclear, com afetação de sua dignidade, liberdade, intimidade e patrimônio. Com efeito, a opção do legislador pela regra do não-prazo em matéria de investigação policial [e não só] reclama imediata revisão, vez que a ausência de controle normativo sobre os atos investigatórios fomenta abuso do Estado-polícia em detrimento de caros valores da pessoa humana. Como reação, a garantia da duração razoável dos procedimentos administrativos, constitucionalmente erigida à categoria de direito fundamental pela EC n. 45/2004 (CF, art. 5º, inc. LXXVIII), aponta a premente necessidade de revisitação crítica da investigação criminal, considerada em seu conjunto, posto que a demora na conclusão do procedimento agrava o sentimento de angústia e estigmatiza injustamente a pessoa investigada, a quem é infligida antecipadamente uma pena que poderá não ser confirmada pelo Estado-juiz, em etapa subsequente da persecutio criminis. Tomada a tempestividade da investigação criminal como eixo central, foi desenvolvido o presente estudo acadêmico, a partir de conceitos elementares, da legislação positivada (ordinária e constitucional), da jurisprudência, do fenômeno da constitucionalização do direito e da doutrina especializada. Na exploração do objeto de conhecimento, não foram olvidados aspectos jurídicos correlatos, de sensível relevância para o assunto, notadamente as consequências da investigação intempestiva para a ação penal, as possíveis defesas do sujeito da persecução, e a responsabilidade civil do Estado e de seus agentes, complementando e enriquecendo sobremaneira os argumentos teóricos submetidos à reflexão.

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L’expertise judiciaire pénale consiste à faire intervenir un sachant, spécialiste de son domaine, dans un procès pénal, afin qu’il l’éclaire par sa science. Par la maitrise de son art, l’expert détient une place indispensable au sein de ce procès. Son rôle dans la manifestation de la vérité est essentiel et ne cesse de s’accroitre, notamment du fait des avancées scientifiques. Cette force probante importante influence énormément l’intime conviction des juges. Cela peut se révéler dangereux dans le cadre d’analyses faillibles ou subjectives. Face à ce risque, il est nécessaire d’encadrer strictement chaque étape de la mesure expertale. Ce besoin trouve également son origine dans la confrontation qui peut se produire entre l’expertise et les droits fondamentaux. À l’image de la procédure pénale, cette mesure se heurte à une opposition entre la nécessité de rechercher la vérité afin de protéger l’ordre public et les libertés individuelles atteintes par l’activité de l’expert. L’enjeu de l’encadrement de l’expertise pénale repose donc sur la recherche d’un équilibre entre ces deux objectifs de protection, parfois antagonistes. Cet équilibre se manifeste aussi entre le besoin d’efficacité de la mesure et le respect des règles du procès équitable dans lequel le contradictoire possède une place considérable. Par ailleurs, l’expertise fait face à des obstacles factuels qui peuvent rendre sa mise en œuvre laborieuse. L’encadrement de l’expertise pénale se doit d’en tenir compte. Ainsi, du recrutement de l’expert, jusqu’aux effets du rapport, en passant par la mise en œuvre de la mission, l’encadrement de l’expertise pénale est confronté à des difficultés et répond à un besoin impérieux. Cet encadrement se doit d’être évolutif pour se trouver en conformité avec la société dans laquelle il intervient. Bien que satisfaisant, il reste perfectible. Le système actuel pourrait faire l’objet d’une homogénéisation, dans un but de simplification des procédures. L’encadrement de l’expertise pénale doit être particulièrement simple pour être efficace, car il s’adresse en grande partie aux experts qui, par définition, ne sont pas des spécialistes du droit. / The criminal expertise involves calling upon a specialist, knowledgeable in his/her field to shed light in criminal trial. Because of his/her level of competence, this expert witness is a key element in a criminal trial. His/her role in revealing the truth is essential and even more so when considering scientific progress. This major probative force greatly influences the judges’ personal convictions which can prove risky in the case of fallible and subjective analyses. Accordingly, it is necessary to tightly frame each step of the expert’s testimony. This need also stems from the possible conflict between the expertise and fundamental rights. Just like criminal proceedings, the criminal expertise collides with the contradiction between safeguarding public order by seeking the truth and preventing the expert’s testimony to infringe on individual rights. Therefore, the challenge in framing the criminal expertise lies in finding a balance between these two sometimes conflicting, safeguarding purposes. A need for balance is also evident when considering both the effectiveness of the criminal expertise and the respect of the rules for a fair trial where the principe of audi alteram partem is greatly important. Moreover, the criminal expertise faces factual obstacles which may hinder its implementation. This must be taken into account while establishing the criminal expertise framework. Thus, from the selection of the expert to the impact of the report, through the implementation of the task, the criminal expertise framework has to cope with difficulties and has to answer to a compelling need. This framework must be adjustable and conform to the society to which it applies. Although satisfying, it still could be improved. The current system might be subject to standardization, leading to a simplification of procedures. The criminal expertise framework must be specifically simple to be efficient because it addresses, for the most part, experts who, by definition, are no law experts.

L'objet de cette thèse vise à montrer expérimentalement l'amplification dans le domaine terahertz d'échantillons à base de puits quantiques en nitrure de gallium (GaN), maintenus à basses températures (< 100 K), grâce au mécanisme physique de "résonance du temps de transit des phonons optiques". Po ur ce faire, un banc expérimental permettant de mesurer le spectre en transmission des échantillons dans différentes gammes de fréquences (0.220-0.325, 0.843-1.100 et 0.7-1.7 THz suivant la source utilisée), et sous différentes conditions (température, orientation, champ électrique appliqué) a été développé. Un deuxième banc, servant à mesurer les caractéristiques courant-tension en régime continu ou pulsé a également été réalisé en vue de l'étude électrique des composants à basses températures. Les résultats montrent l'existence d'un effet conséquent sur le spectre de transmission au fur et à mesure que le champ électrique appliqué augmente. / The objective of this thesis is to experimentally demonstrate the amplification in the terahertz frequency domain by quantum wells of gallium nitride (GaN), maintained at low temperatures (< 100 K), thanks to the so called "optical phonon transit time resonance" mechanism. To achieve that goal, an experimental setup have been developed to measure the transmission spectra of the samples under study in different frequency bands (0.220-0.325, 0.843-1.100, and 0.7-1.7 THz depending on the source), and under different experimental conditions (temperature, orientation, applied electric field). Besides this first setup, another bench have been developed to measure the DC and pulsed current-voltage characteristics at low temperatures. The results show a significant enhancement on the transmission spectra as the applied electric field is increased.

This project was designed to develop a method for the collection of environmental samples during prolonged Norovirus (NoV) outbreak investigations, and to develop real-time RT-PCR assays to analyze environmental samples for GI and GII noroviruses. The collection and processing of environmental samples could provide epidemiological data to facilitate investigations of prolonged NoV outbreaks and could guide public health NoV intervention strategies. Real-time RT-PCR assays for the detection of GI and GII NoVs were developed by adapting the State Hygienic Laboratory clinical GI and GII assays to the AB 7500 Fast platform. Analysis of the GI assay performance yielded a dilution curve slope = 3.28, R2 = 0.999 and a calculated amplification efficiency of 102%. The GII assay yielded a dilution curve slope = 3.39, R2 = 0.999 and a calculated amplification efficiency of 97%. Amplification efficiencies determine the sensitivity and the limit of detection of real-time RT-PCR assays. Optimum efficiencies range from 95%-105%, with a 100% efficiency indicating exponential amplification of targeted nucleic acid. To develop a method for the collection of environmental samples, multiple swab types were tested to determine their ability to recover NoV from laboratory spiked environmental surfaces. It was determined that foam swabs moistened with viral transport media were most effective in recovering NoV from spiked surfaces. A field test of the environmental sampling method was conducted by sampling environmental surfaces in four restaurants in one Iowa community. NoVs were not detected in the environmental samples. The collection and processing of environmental samples when conducting an investigation of a prolonged NoV outbreak could provide additional information on the epidemiology of NoV transmission and infection.

Online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is a growing problem that transcends geographical borders. In order to improve cooperation between international law enforcement, knowledge concerning the jurisdiction, procedure and issues with investigations in different countries is needed. This study aims to provide information on the Swedish context by (a) exploring how the Swedish police work with investigations of online CSAM, and (b) identifying potential challenges. The research questions have been answered by qualitative interviews with law enforcement personnel. Systematic text condensation revealed that there is a significant difference in the procedure between the police regions and that four major problems face the police. First, the police are dependent upon digital forensic experts but have limited access to their expertise and other resources due to the crime not being prioritised. Second, Internet Service Providers are not required to save their users IP-addresses, which complicates identification of the suspect. Third, a holistic perspective within the police is required. Investigators should work with all sexual crimes against children and not just CSAM, in order to be able to see reoccurring elements in the identification process. Four, there is a lack of public knowledge concerning CSAM that affects the resources and number of cases the police receive. The Swedish police is currently creating regional cybercrime centres in an attempt to create a national strategy for computer-related investigations. The implications on the victim identification process and development of treatment for offenders are discussed, as well as future directions. Clearer guidelines are needed.

En los últimos años, el periodismo deportivo ha ido ganando protagonismo y espacio dentro de los medios de comunicación peruanos; sin embargo, muchas veces el trabajo realizado por los diarios deportivos ha dejado sensaciones de que realmente no se lleva a cabo un trabajo riguroso en cuanto a la investigación. A raíz de esto, se decidió abordar el caso de uno de los diarios deportivos nacionales más representativos en el mercado actual, el Diario Líbero. Este trabajo busca identificar si se aplican los recursos de investigación y de qué manera se usan en el periodismo deportivo diario peruano. Para esto, se utilizó una metodología cualitativa y se hizo un seguimiento al diario durante 7 días. Así mismo, se diseñó un instrumento a partir de 3 categorías de análisis que nos permitió identificar qué recursos se utilizaban y de qué manera. También, se llevó a cabo una entrevista al director del medio de comunicación para conocer su versión y poder contrastar las observaciones con lo que el encargado del diario menciona. Una vez finalizada la investigación, se llegó a la conclusión de que los diarios deportivos peruanos sí presentan el uso de recursos de investigación; sin embargo, su aplicación no es rigurosa ni sistemática. Así mismo, no se llega a la profundización necesaria y muchos recursos tienen una aplicación parcial. La inmediatez es la prioridad dentro del trabajo del periodista deportivo y sus textos así lo reflejan. / In recent years, sports journalism has been gaining prominence and space within the Peruvian media; However, many times the work carried out by sports newspapers has left feelings that a rigorous research work is not really carried out. Following this, it was decided to address the case of one of the most representative national sports newspapers in the current market, the newspaper Líbero. This work seeks to identify if research resources are applied and how they are used in Peruvian daily sports journalism. For this, a qualitative methodology was used and a daily follow-up was carried out for 7 days. Likewise, an instrument was designed based on 3 categories of analysis that allowed us to identify what resources were used and in what way. An interview with the director of the media was also carried out to know its version and to be able to contrast the observations with what the newspaper manager mentions. Once the investigation was completed, it was concluded that Peruvian sports newspapers do present the use of research resources; however, its application is not rigorous or systematic. Likewise, the necessary deepening is not reached and many resources have a partial application. Immediacy is the priority within the work of the sports journalist and its texts reflect this. / Trabajo de investigación

Thesis (M.A. (Sociology)) --University of Limpopo, 2017. / The study sought to investigate the problem of dissatisfaction by residents of Malamulele in Thulamela Local Municipality (LM) with service delivery. The dissatisfaction of the residents manifested in violent protests in Malamulele and surrounding communities where citizens demanded to have their own municipality separate from Thulamela LM. Residents alleged that the Thulamela LM gives preference to Thohoyandou area and surrounding communities on issues of governance and service delivery while neglecting Malamulele. The problem under study was viewed from a social exclusion and relative deprivation points of view, which elucidate possible causes of dissatisfaction and resultant protests. The study adopted a qualitative research design where data was collected through interviews with sampled residents that were purposively selected took into consideration the manner in which the sample would assist in providing data towards achieving the aim and objectives of the study. Data was analysed using the thematic method of analysis where themes and categories emerged to assist in interpreting the data. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made. Some of the key findings were that Malamulele residents were dissatisfied with poor service delivery and poor governance by Thulamela LM, the violent protests were due to poor service delivery and tribalism and poor service delivery, Malamulele residents needed their own municipality, and that the relationship between the Venda-speaking people and Tsonga-speaking people is bad. Some of the key recommendations are leaders should engage communities to manage their hopes and expectations from government, exercising Constitutional rights should not result in devastating government property and violence, and citizens should be consulted in policy-making and other government activities that involve them. It is believed that these recommendations will go a long way to address similar problems and to enhance literature on the ongoing debate on governance and service delivery issues.