Raw material accounts for a large proportion (approximately 75 percent) of a sawmill’s operating costs. However, about 15 percent of raw material ends up as low valued sawdust and planer shavings due to inaccurate cutting. Sizable financial benefits can be realized through maximizing conversion of raw material into valuable solid wood. Advanced process control in a sawmill can help achieve straighter cuts closer to final product dimensions and reduce loss of valuable raw material. A novel and practical method for enhanced process control in a sawmill is presented. A laser arrangement consisting of industrial point and line scanners is used to obtain a surface profile of the entire (two-dimensional) top and bottom surfaces of a lumber board. Each surface profile is independent of the other and free of data contamination caused by relative motions between the measured surface and sensors. Point scanners and line scanners simultaneously record 1-D and 2-D height data, respectively, along the length of the board. One-dimensional height data are used to identify relative motions through a mathematical technique based on linear inverse theory. Subtracting relative motion information from raw line scanner data provides an accurate 2-D surface profile. A second line scanner placed below the board can be used to obtain a separate 2-D profile of the bottom lumber surface. Separate-sided profiling is advantageous because typically a different saw or machine mills each side of a board. Thus, knowing the surface profile of each side of a board is crucial not only in diagnosing a deficiency in the milling process but also in determining the location of this deficiency. Results demonstrate that two-dimensional surface profiling can identify common surface defects such as step, washboard and knot tear-out with an accuracy of 0.3mm. Reproduction of each surface is rapid (approximately 0.2 seconds) and stable.

The innovative forensic technique of DNA profiling has been acclaimed as the most important advance in forensic science since fingerprinting. Whilst there is much anecdotal information on the impact of DNA profiling on criminal investigation, prosecution and adjudication, there is little quantitative and control comparison data on the routine use of forensic DNA profiling. This study evaluates the effect of the introduction of DNA profiling in Victoria on a number of key points in the criminal justice system. The overall impact of DNA profiling was low as determined by the percentage of criminal cases which utilise DNA profiling. However, in certain classes of cases its impact was measurable, most notably in sex offences committed by “strangers”. Less than one quarter of sexual offence cases of DNA profiled resulted in a contested trial, suggesting that the focus of DNA profiling on the criminal justice system should swing to the pre-trial phase. DNA profiling was most often used in sexual offence cases and a database comparison of these cases before and after the advent of DNA profiling was examined. Whilst not statistically significant, trends indicated there were more solved cases, more guilty pleas and fewer trials after the introduction of DNA profiling, but more individuals were drawn into the investigatory process. The number of trials of sexual offences in which consent was an issue was slightly greater than previously. The increase in guilty pleas with DNA profiling was only for stranger type crime. Further research is recommended as DNA profiling becomes the cornerstone of biological forensic analysis.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-101).

Thesis (M.A. in communication)--Washington State University, June 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-118).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Notre Dame, 2004. / Thesis directed by Alexandra F. Corning for the Department of Psychology. "July 2004." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 40-44).

Over the past two decades, technology has developed tremendously, at an almost exponential rate. While this development has served the nation in numerous different positive ways, negatives have also emerged. One such negative is that of computer crime. This criminality has even grown so fast as to leave current digital forensic tools lagging behind in terms of development, and capabilities to manage such increasing and sophisticated types of crime. In essence the time taken to analyse a case is huge and increasing, and cases are not fully or properly investigated. This results in an ever-increasing number of pending and unsolved cases pertaining to computer crime. Digital forensics has become an essential tool in the fight against computer crime, providing both procedures and tools for the acquisition, examination and analysis of digital evidence. However, the use of technology is expanding at an ever-increasing rate, with the number of devices a single user might engage with increasing from a single device to 3 or more, the data capacity of those devices reaching far into the Terabytes, and the nature of the underlying technology evolving (for example, the use of cloud services). This results in an incredible challenge for forensic examiners to process and analyse cases in an efficient and effective manner. This thesis focuses upon the examination and analysis phases of the investigative process and considers whether automation of the process is possible. The investigation begins with researching the current state of the art, and illustrates a wide range of challenges that are facing the digital forensics investigators when analysing a case. Supported by a survey of forensic researchers and practitioners, key challenges were identified and prioritised. It was found that 95% of participants believed that the number of forensic investigations would increase in the coming times, with 75% of participants believing that the time consumed in such cases would increase. With regards to the digital forensic sophistication, 95% of the participants expected a rise in the complexity level and sophistication of digital forensics. To this end, an automated intelligent system that could be used to reduce the investigator’s time and cognitive load was found to be a promising solution. A series of experiments are devised around the use of Self-Organising Maps (SOMs) – a technique well known for unsupervised clustering of objects. The analysis is performed on a range of file system and application-level objects (e.g. email, internet activity) across four forensic cases. Experiment evaluations revealed SOMs are able to successfully cluster forensic artefacts from the remaining files. Having established SOMs are capable of clustering wanted artefacts from the case, a novel algorithm referred to as the Automated Evidence Profiler (AEP), is proposed to encapsulate the process and provide further refinement of the artefact identification process. The algorithm led to achieving identification rates in examined cases of 100% in two cases and 94% in a third. A novel architecture is proposed to support the algorithm in an operational capacity – considering standard forensic techniques such as hashing for known files, file signature analysis, application-level analysis. This provides a mechanism that is capable of utilising the A E P with several other components that are able to filter, prioritise and visualise artefacts of interest to investigator. The approach, known as Automated Forensic Examiner (AFE), is capable of identifying potential evidence in a more efficient and effective manner. The approach was evaluated by a number of experts in the field, and it was unanimously agreed that the chosen research problem was one with great validity. Further to this, the experts all showed support for the Automated Forensic Examiner based on the results of cases analysed.

O presente estudo investiga a possibilidade do uso da perfilagem geofísica de Gama Natural e Resistividade na discriminação de estratos carbonosos, em relação a outras litologias presentes em quatro depósitos de carvão localizados no Rio Grande do Sul (áreas B3, CALOMBO, CERRO e SEIVAL). Uma vez observada a possibilidade de identificação dos estratos carbonosos com estes dois perfis geofísicos apenas, fez-se uma verificação da acuracidade na determinação das espessuras das camadas de carvão e também um exame da existência de correlação entre os registros geofísicos e parâmetros de qualidade do carvão (especificamente cinzas, enxofre e voláteis). Neste contexto, as espessuras das camadas de carvão foram comparadas com as espessuras observadas em testemunhos de sondagem, sendo que o reconhecimento das assinaturas das camadas pode ser feito com boa acuracidade para todos os depósitos, exceto no depósito do Cerro, onde o sinal do carvão confunde-se arenitos, inviabilizando muitas vezes a discriminação. Os parâmetros de qualidade do carvão foram determinados por meio de análise laboratorial, para posterior comparação com as leituras de perfilagem. Os resultados mostraram uma boa correlação entre a emissão de radiação gama natural em camadas de carvão e o teor de cinzas para os depósitos do CALOMBO e CERRO, mas uma correlação apenas razoável para os depósitos de B3 e SEIVAL. Além disso, os resultados indicaram que não há correlação entre teor de enxofre ou voláteis e os registros geofísicos. Vale ressaltar a importância deste tipo de avaliação, especialmente quanto às espessuras de camadas de carvão no planejamento de mina de curto prazo, onde não é exequível a sondagem com recuperação de testemunhos em bancadas de lavra simultaneamente ao processo extração de carvão, em função da demora da atividade de sondagem. / This study investigates the possibility of using geophysical logging of natural gamma and resistivity in the identification of carbonaceous strata in relation to other lithologies present in four coal deposits located in Rio Grande do Sul (areas B3,CALOMBO, CERRO and SEIVAL). Once observed, the possibility of identifying carbonaceous strata with these two geophysical logs, the degree of accuracy in the determination of the thicknesses of the coal seams and the existence of correlation between the geophysical logs and coal quality parameters (specifically ash, sulfur and volatile) were determined. In this context, the thicknesses of the coal seams were compared with the thickness of the core samples recovered in the boreholes and the result showed that the recognition of the coal seam signatures can be obtained with good accuracy for all deposits except the CERRO deposit, where the coal seam signature can be confused for that of sandstone which often precludes identification. The coal quality parameters were determined by laboratory analysis and later compared with the readings from geophysical logging. The results showed good correlation between natural gamma radiation emitted by the coal seams and the ash content in the CALOMBO and CERRO deposits but weak correlation in the B3 and SEIVAL deposits. Furthermore, the results showed no correlation between sulfur or volatile and the geophysical data. It is worth mentioning, the importance of this type of evaluation, especially in regards to the thickness of coal seams in short term mine planning, where it is not possible to recover core samples during the coal extraction process as a result of excessive time delay with respect to core sample recovery in boreholes.

O presente estudo investiga a possibilidade do uso da perfilagem geofísica de Gama Natural e Resistividade na discriminação de estratos carbonosos, em relação a outras litologias presentes em quatro depósitos de carvão localizados no Rio Grande do Sul (áreas B3, CALOMBO, CERRO e SEIVAL). Uma vez observada a possibilidade de identificação dos estratos carbonosos com estes dois perfis geofísicos apenas, fez-se uma verificação da acuracidade na determinação das espessuras das camadas de carvão e também um exame da existência de correlação entre os registros geofísicos e parâmetros de qualidade do carvão (especificamente cinzas, enxofre e voláteis). Neste contexto, as espessuras das camadas de carvão foram comparadas com as espessuras observadas em testemunhos de sondagem, sendo que o reconhecimento das assinaturas das camadas pode ser feito com boa acuracidade para todos os depósitos, exceto no depósito do Cerro, onde o sinal do carvão confunde-se arenitos, inviabilizando muitas vezes a discriminação. Os parâmetros de qualidade do carvão foram determinados por meio de análise laboratorial, para posterior comparação com as leituras de perfilagem. Os resultados mostraram uma boa correlação entre a emissão de radiação gama natural em camadas de carvão e o teor de cinzas para os depósitos do CALOMBO e CERRO, mas uma correlação apenas razoável para os depósitos de B3 e SEIVAL. Além disso, os resultados indicaram que não há correlação entre teor de enxofre ou voláteis e os registros geofísicos. Vale ressaltar a importância deste tipo de avaliação, especialmente quanto às espessuras de camadas de carvão no planejamento de mina de curto prazo, onde não é exequível a sondagem com recuperação de testemunhos em bancadas de lavra simultaneamente ao processo extração de carvão, em função da demora da atividade de sondagem. / This study investigates the possibility of using geophysical logging of natural gamma and resistivity in the identification of carbonaceous strata in relation to other lithologies present in four coal deposits located in Rio Grande do Sul (areas B3,CALOMBO, CERRO and SEIVAL). Once observed, the possibility of identifying carbonaceous strata with these two geophysical logs, the degree of accuracy in the determination of the thicknesses of the coal seams and the existence of correlation between the geophysical logs and coal quality parameters (specifically ash, sulfur and volatile) were determined. In this context, the thicknesses of the coal seams were compared with the thickness of the core samples recovered in the boreholes and the result showed that the recognition of the coal seam signatures can be obtained with good accuracy for all deposits except the CERRO deposit, where the coal seam signature can be confused for that of sandstone which often precludes identification. The coal quality parameters were determined by laboratory analysis and later compared with the readings from geophysical logging. The results showed good correlation between natural gamma radiation emitted by the coal seams and the ash content in the CALOMBO and CERRO deposits but weak correlation in the B3 and SEIVAL deposits. Furthermore, the results showed no correlation between sulfur or volatile and the geophysical data. It is worth mentioning, the importance of this type of evaluation, especially in regards to the thickness of coal seams in short term mine planning, where it is not possible to recover core samples during the coal extraction process as a result of excessive time delay with respect to core sample recovery in boreholes.

Distributed computing systems are becoming more and more important in everyday life as well as in industrial and scientific domains. The Internet and its capabilities enable people to communicate and cooperate all over the world. One way to construct distributed systems is to use a communication model with distributed objects as CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture). Distributed objects give many advantages, but suffer from some performance problems. In order to handle the performance problem it is important to find where in the event chain the delays occur. Therefore a tool for performance measurement and for identifying the bottlenecks in a distributed system should be a great help. This report answers the question: Can a profiling tool for CORBA applications, constructed with Interceptors as instrumentation for measuring points, give sufficient information for identify performance problems? This report investigates the possibilities to measure performance in a distributed system and if it s possible to automatically find the bottlenecks in a distributed system. The needs of a profiling tool are discussed and analyzed. The different ways of constructing a tool for distributed profiling is discussed. For verifying the ideas evolved in the investigation a prototype tool for profiling and performance measures is constructed. The profiling tool is constructed with Interceptors as instrumentation of the different nodes in the distributed system. A presentation program is also constructed for making the captured information more readable. The tool and presentation program constructed give the flow of the system in different callgraphs and also produces some call statistics in different levels. The constructed tool is tested and verified in a distributed environment. In the experiments we shows that the principle of the tool can work in a distributed environment and gives sufficient information for finding the bottlenecks and identifying the performance problems of the system.

Memory profiling is an important technique which aids program optimization and can even help tracking down bugs. The main problem with the current memory profiling techniques and tools is that they slow down the target software considerably therefore making them inadequate for mainline integration. Ideally, the user would be able to monitor memory consumption without having to worry about the rest of the software being affected in any way. This thesis provides a comparison of existing techniques and tools along with the description of a memory profiler implementation which tries to provide a balance between the information it is able to retrieve and the influence it has on the target software.