<p>The purpose of this thesis work was to make a survey of presently existing devices available in the market to store encryption keys; how the hacker intrudes into the device; what are the attacks behind</p><p>theft of the keys; how can we store encryption keys securely?</p><p>To achieve this purpose, an overview of the storage devices and attacks made by hackers was acquired through academic books and papers, Internet sites and magazines. Basic cryptography and related</p><p>algorithms were studied for the purpose of knowing how the encryption key is generated from these algorithms.</p><p>Under the category of storage devices, USBs (Universal Serial Bus), PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) and Smart Cards were examined. Under the category of attacks on devices, attacks from hackers,</p><p>attacks from malicious code (Trojan Horses, viruses, worms), attacks from PDAs, attacks from Smart Cards, dictionary attacks and brute force attacks were studied.</p><p>Based on these requirements we have discussed and analyzed a proposed system to store the encryption keys securely to avoid these attacks.</p>

Accurate age estimates for the commercially-important Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, would greatly enhance analyses of life history and population dynamics. Previous estimates of their age based on size and growth may be inaccurate because of variable growth in the wild. An established technique for aging crustaceans – histologically-determined lipofuscin content in the nervous system – was used on lobsters reared in the laboratory for up to five years. We verified the presence of lipofuscin in eyestalk neural tissue and described its distribution in cell cluster A of the hemiellipsoid body. Neurolipofuscin content of both sexes increased linearly over the five-year age range, with seasonal oscillations. Growth of these animals, on the other hand, showed sex differences and began to asymptote after three years. Neurolipofuscin concentrations in the two eyestalks from the same animal were similar. These results suggest that the neurolipofuscin technique will be valuable for estimating age of wild-caught P.argus.

The purpose of this thesis work was to make a survey of presently existing devices available in the market to store encryption keys; how the hacker intrudes into the device; what are the attacks behind theft of the keys; how can we store encryption keys securely? To achieve this purpose, an overview of the storage devices and attacks made by hackers was acquired through academic books and papers, Internet sites and magazines. Basic cryptography and related algorithms were studied for the purpose of knowing how the encryption key is generated from these algorithms. Under the category of storage devices, USBs (Universal Serial Bus), PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) and Smart Cards were examined. Under the category of attacks on devices, attacks from hackers, attacks from malicious code (Trojan Horses, viruses, worms), attacks from PDAs, attacks from Smart Cards, dictionary attacks and brute force attacks were studied. Based on these requirements we have discussed and analyzed a proposed system to store the encryption keys securely to avoid these attacks.

The Lower Keys marsh rabbit (LKMR, Sylvilagus palustris hefneri), a subspecies of marsh rabbit endemic to the Lower Keys, Florida, is threatened with extinction due to extensive coastal development of salt marsh habitats. LKMR recovery is limited by habitat loss and degradation from brush encroachment, predation by freeroaming cats (Felis catus) and raccoons (Procyon lotor), sea-level rise, and hurricanes. This study sought to determine local and landscape factors that influence LKMR metapopulation ecology and dynamics and to evaluate strategies for their recovery. I evaluated the influence of patch and landscape characteristics on LKMR densities, extinction, and colonization rates following Hurricane Wilma, and the response of LKMRs and salt marsh habitats to prescribed fire. I used estimates of population change based on annual monitoring data to validate vital rates, constructed a spatially explicit demographic model to evaluate various levels and spatial configurations of recovery scenarios implemented throughout the LKMRs range, and validated expected changes in parameter estimates using measures of habitat degradation and raccoon activity from known LKMR populations. I found LKMR densities were higher in patches with greater numbers of bunchgrasses and forbs and less edge and lower in patches with higher measures of raccoon activity. In response to a hurricane, I found the distance between LKMR patches and the coast had a negative influence on extinction probability; the distance between an extirpated and occupied LKMR patch had a negative influence on colonization probability and patch size had a positive influence. Adult LKMRs increased as woody cover <0.5 m decreased, herbaceous cover <0.5 m increased, and food availability increased in at least one site following prescribed fire. Model results indicated habitat management actions that improve carrying capacity of local rabbit populations and juvenile survival and control raccoon populations to increase rabbit reproductive rates are effective population recovery strategies. In total, my results provide a conservation planning tool that can be used to select recovery strategies and locations that will maximize benefits to LKMRs, thus improving their viability and recovery.

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Studies of larger symbiont-bearing foraminifers on reefs have revealed their potential as indicators of environmental stress because of their physiological analogies to corals (dependence on algal symbionts for growth and calcification) and relatively short life cycle (a few months to 2 years or more). The purpose of this study is to report distribution patterns and population densities of larger benthic foraminifers (LBF) of the Florida reef tract, specifically reporting abundance data collected from offshore (1995-2000, 2006, 2007) and patch reefs (1996, 2006, 2007). Six years of quarterly data collected from two offshore reefs, Conch (10, 18 and 30m) and Tennessee (8 and 20m), revealed that LBF assemblages primarily varied with habitat depth, in turn reflecting available light and water motion.These assemblages were dominated by Amphistegina gibbosa d'Orbigny and Laevipeneroplis proteus d'Orbigny, which tended to occur together, making up ~40-50% of the assemblages and up to 80% at the Tennessee 20m site. Both overall abundance and evenness of the LBF assemblage structure exhibited the greatest variability at shallower depths. Evenness was inversely related to densities of A. gibbosa, which were typically higher at depth keeping evenness below 0.5. Across the Keys, region (location along the reef tract), reef type (offshore shallow, deep or patch reefs) and symbiont type strongly influenced LBF assemblage dynamics. Upper Keys sites shared the highest degree of inter-region similarity among assemblages (73%), while Biscayne National Park (BNP) and lower Keys sites had the lowest similarity (~60%). This likely reflects the greater variability of habitats found in the latter areas, mainly patch reefs.Chlorophyte-bearers were typically more abundant in shallower turbid waters, with diatom-bearers more abundant at depth. Additionally, I observed a significant two-fold decrease in the proportion of chlorophyte-bearers in the middle Keys likely due to light-limitation by turbid Florida Bay outflow. Finally, data comparisons revealed an inverse relationship between LBF abundances and percent coral cover. Coral cover (2005) was staggeringly low on offshore reefs (5%), but was significantly higher on nearshore patch reefs (12%). Contrastingly, LBF species showed either no difference in abundance between reef types or a greater abundance on offshore reefs.

Thesis (Ph. D. in English)--Vanderbilt University, Aug. 2007. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

As espécies da subfamília Astrodoradinae foram revisadas e uma análise filogenética conduzida. Foram reconhecidas 21 espécies distribuídas em sete gêneros. Acanthodoras e Agamyxis, outrora considerados próximos a Platydoras foi considerado sinônimo ju nior de A. weddellii e uma nova espécie é descrita do alto Araguaia. Os gêneros Merodoras e Physopyxis foram considerados sinônimos A. ananas, A. bolivarensis, A. cristatus, A. lyra e A. nheco. Duas novas espécies de Astrodoras são reconhecidas, ocorrendo sintopicamente com A. asterifrons em alguns lugares da bacia amazônica. Scorpiodoras calderonensis é revalidado e sua localidade tipo elucidada, revelando-se ser Tabatinga. Além disso, uma nova espécie de Scorpiodoras foi descrita no médio rio Madeira. A análise cladística foi feita com base em 101 caracteres codificados para 28 táxons, resultando em uma única árvore mais parcimoniosa com 279 passos. O monofiletismo de Astrodoradinae foi sustentado por sete sinapomorfias não exclusivas: fontanela craniana anterior oval ou circular, número reduzido de costelas (oito ou menos), coracóide não coberto completamente por musculatura ventral, número reduzido de vértebras (34 ou menos), para-hipural fusionado aos hipurais 1 e 2, infra-orbital 1 participando da órbita e terceiro escudo timpânico expandido. Anadoras é considerado o gênero mais basal de Astrodoradinae, seguido por (Acanthodoras + Agamyxis) (Amblydoras (Scorpiodoras (Hypodoras + Astrodoras))). / The species of the subfamily Astrodoradinae was revised and a phylogenetic analysis performed. Twenty-one species, belonging to seven genera, are recognized as valid. Acanthodoras and Agamyxis, formely considered to be related to Platydoras,are included into Astrodoradinae. Anadoras regani is considered as a junior synonym of A. weddellii and a new species is described from the upper Araguaia. The genera Merodoras and Physopyxis are placed in synonym with Amblydoras,which has six valid species: A. affinis, A. ananas, A. bolivarensis, A. cristatus, A. lyra and A. nheco.Two new species of Astrodoras are described and occur syntopically in some places in the Amazon basin. Scorpiodoras calderonensis is reerected and its type locality elucidated as Tabatinga. Furthermore, a new species of Scorpiodoras is discribed from the middle rio Madeira. The cladistic analysis was performed based on 101 characters coded for 28 taxa and resulted in a single most parcimonious tree with 279 steps. The monophyly of Astrodoradinae is supported by seven non-exclusive synapomorphies: anterior cranial fontanel oval or circular, reduced number of ribs (eigth or less), ventral face of coracoid not completely covered by muscles, reduced number of vertebrae (34 or less), parhypural fused to hipural 1 and 2, infra-orbital 1 participating of orbit and third tympanic scute expanded. Anadoras is considered the most basal genus of Astrodoradinae, followed by (Acanthodoras + Agamyxis)(Amblydoras (Scorpiodoras (Hypodoras + Astrodoras))).

The stonefly genus Isogenoides is revised following a holomorphological approach utilizing traditional morphology and behavioral lines of evidence. Species keys are provided for all life stages. One species, I. krumholzi (Ricker) is considered a synonym of I. doratus (Frison). Detailed species descriptions are provided for males, females, nymphs and ova. Distributions are updated utilizing all known published accounts and materials examined. The vibrational communication (drumming) behavior is reported for males and all but one species for females. The signals were species-specific and ranged in complexity from ancestral sequenced duets to derived grouped exchanges. I. olivaceus is least specialized, having mostly sequenced duets, and I. zionensis most specialized, displaying ancestral sequenced, derived grouped and complex derived exchanges containing both sequenced and grouped elements. Laboratory egg incubation experiments over a 2-4 year period show that Isogenoides has a great capacity for extended, sometimes-asynchronous diapause and hatching. The eggs of six species were incubated at a single, ca. simulated San Miguel River, Colorado, seasonal temperature regime. Direct hatch within two weeks occurred only for I. zionensis (Leopard Creek, Colorado) with small numbers hatching again after one, two, and four years. Eggs of I. doratus and I. varians hatched after an over summer, 3-5 month diapause, and I. varians again in August the next year. Populations of I. colubrinus, I. elongatus, I. frontalis and San Miguel River, I. zionensis began hatching after a 9-11 month diapause and again during spring-summer temperatures in 2nd through 4th years. I. zionensis in the San Miguel River, Colorado, exhibited a semivoltine life cycle over the two-year study period. Adults emerged in June-July when stream temperature reached ca. 11-17°C. Reared females at Quartz Creek, Pitkin, Colorado, deposited up to three egg batches. Mean fecundity of females was 691 egg/female. Oviposition in the field was observed and described. Nymphal growth was exponential from June to December, followed by slow growth until April, then declined until emergence. The greatest growth occurred between July and December as stream temperature decreased to minimum and maximum size was obtained in March while stream temperature began to increase.

This master thesis has two main objectives, the first is to develop a list of impressionistic key features and the second is to apply those key features when writing idiomatic music for the guitar. The composers of the impressionist era tried to capture the sense of an emotion through the musical language, something this master thesis investigates further. During the process of gathering information about impressionistic key features, I found important building blocks that made me aware of the impressionistic musical language. The four methods I used were arranging and analyzing sheet music, interviews with composers, literature studies and video interpretation. When I found enough material, I started to write music using the impressionistic key features. It resulted in three impressionistic sounding pieces. The pieces are presented with sheet music and an audio recording. As a reader and musician, one can gain knowledge about the impressionistic sound, how to write idiomatic music for the guitar and methods how one can intertwine these two subjects. The discussion part of the thesis addresses problems I struggled with during the process and how I could move away from these difficulties using composing methods and utilizing the impressionistic key features in a creative manor.