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Warding the Walls: A Guide to Enhancing Cybersecurity for City Governance
Get PDFThis paper presents a strategic framework for strengthening municipal cybersecurity, explicitly designed for city governments seeking to protect critical infrastructure, essential services, and citizen data from cyber threats. As cities expand their digital capabilities and integrate smart technologies, they face increased exposure to ransomware, phishing, data breaches, and service disruptions. These threats pose significant risks to operational continuity, public trust, and financial stability without a comprehensive approach. This paper aims to equip municipalities with practical, evidence-based guidance for building and maintaining a robust security program. Drawing from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework and CISA's Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPGs), this paper outlines essential actions across six key areas: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover, and Govern [1] [2]. It also highlights proven strategies adopted by cities to address resource limitations. It explores federal and state funding opportunities through programs such as the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) and the Rural and Municipal Utility Advances Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program (RMUC) [3] [4]. By following this structured approach, city governments can strengthen their cybersecurity posture, reduce risk, and ensure critical services remain secure and operational, supporting public safety and resident trust in an increasingly digital environment
Cybersecurity Project at Company X
Get PDFn today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, organizations must proactively assess and enhance their cybersecurity safeguards, postures, and tools to stay ahead of emerging threats. With cybercriminals continuously seeking new vulnerabilities to exploit, businesses face mounting challenges in protecting sensitive data and critical infrastructure. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Report 2023, there was a significant rise in both the frequency and financial impact of online fraud in 2023. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received a record 880,418 complaints from the public, with reported losses exceeding $12.5 billion, representing a 10% increase in complaints and a 22% increase in losses compared to 2022 [1]. Identity and Access Management (IAM) is an essential component of modern cybersecurity. Organizations must effectively manage user identities and control access to critical corporate resources to maintain security and operational efficiency. IAM refers to a structured approach that combines policies, procedures, and technologies to verify users, assign them appropriate access levels, and control their interaction with organizational systems and data. Implementing IAM not only strengthens overall security but also simplifies access for users and helps organizations adapt to the increasing reliance on cloud services, remote work, and mobile technologies. With cyber threats such as malware, phishing, and ransomware attacks increasingly targeting user credentials, safeguarding digital identities has never been more critical. Unauthorized access can result in significant data breaches and financial losses, making IAM a crucial component of modern cybersecurity strategies. As a result, many organizations are adopting IAM solutions to protect their sensitive information and workforce from evolving security threats [2]. For my Semester-in-Residence project, I accomplished multiple projects in the Cybersecurity department at Company X. I worked in the Identity and Access Management (IAM) subdivision. During this time, I gained hands-on experience in how the IAM team manages user identities, access control, authentication, security policies, and application integrations, ensuring secure and seamless access across the organization. This experience provided valuable insight into how organizations implement IAM strategies to protect digital assets while maintaining operational efficiency. As members of the IAM subdivision, Furthermore, I participated in the Local Administrator Removal Project. This project aims to strengthen organizational security by systematically removing domain accounts from the local administrators group on all computers across the organization. This initiative ensures that administrative access is restricted only to authorized individuals, reducing the attack surface and promoting centralized control. Beyond IAM, I also contributed to evaluating and managing technology risks to strengthen the organization's security posture. One of my primary responsibilities was refining the Risk-Register-Tool, a comprehensive database catalogs of all the cyber threats currently facing the company
Navigating Without a Map: Latino Men in Community College
Get PDFLatino men are one of the most underrepresented and underserved groups in higher education despite the high enrollment rates in California Community Colleges. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of Latino men who attended community college by focusing on the structural, cultural, and challenges they face while they are learning how to navigate these institutions. By utilizing qualitative methods, I conducted eight semi-structured, in-depth interviews with participants who were currently or formally enrolled in community college. Findings revealed recurring themes that include institutional neglect, barriers navigating through community college, cultural expectations, outside responsibilities, and familial support. Participants also discussed their feelings of isolation and how they must carve their own path to achieve academic success, often without proper guidance from institutional agents. This study also draws on Latino Critical Race Theory (LatCrit), validation theory, and hope theory to examine how Latino men persist in their academics within unsupportive environments. The findings reveal the need to culturally support and serve Latino men in community colleges and improve their retention rates
The State of Nutrition: Unpacking Government Responses to Diet-Related Illness Across Borders
Get PDFDiet-related illness is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths globally. Poor nutrition is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers. Government-led efforts to address health challenges caused by poor diet have varied in effectiveness. The purpose of this qualitative non-experimental study was to explore the most effective national approaches adopted to reduce diet-related illness in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Spain. A content analysis was conducted with data utilized from peer-reviewed journals, non-profit organizations, and government websites, to examine commonalities and differences in each nation's strategies. A codebook was developed to guide the identification and coding of recurring themes across the data set. The findings emphasize the effectiveness of different approaches, such as fiscal interventions, nutrition education, excise taxes, food labeling, and physical activity. Recommendations were based on the most effective approaches, such as the UK's traffic light system, Japan's street infrastructure, and Spain's commitment to the Mediterranean diet. Government efforts to reduce diet-related illness with policy design and implementation can be the most effective when examining the best evidence-based approaches across different regions
Phosphoproteomics to unravel signaling pathways in soybean's response to phosphate and iron deficiency
Get PDFSoybean (Glycine max) is an important food crop in the US and worldwide; preserving soybean crop yields is critical for the global economy and food security. Phosphate (Pi) and Iron (Fe) deficiencies are common problems in calcareous soils of the soybean-growing regions of the US and limit soybean production worldwide. Significant research has been devoted to understanding plant responses to prolonged nutrient deficiencies. In recent years, phosphoproteomics approaches have significantly advanced our understanding of how plants respond to Pi and Fe deficiency. However, the underlying signal transduction pathways are not yet well understood.The goal of this project is to identify the signal transduction pathways by which soybeans sense and respond to Pi and Fe deficiency. I implemented a quantitative phosphoproteomics approach to identify proteins that were differentially phosphorylated in soybean roots at 0, 10, 20, and 40 minutes of either phosphate or iron deficiency. I used this approach as signal transduction often involves differential phosphorylation of proteins, rather than differential gene expression.In the long term, a better understanding of signal transduction pathways that integrate nutrient stress responses is needed to aid breeding and bioengineering efforts toward crop plants that better utilize available nutrients
The Journal on Technology and Persons With Disabilities, Volume 13
No full textJournal on Technology and Persons with Disabilities Scientific/Research Proceedings, Online 2025 The 40th Annual CSUN Assistive TechnologyConference and the 13th Volume of the Journal Table of Contents Leveraging a Tactile mHealth Guide for Blind Users, by Soyoung Choi, p. 1 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/7s75dp17m Accessible LMS Design for Blind and Low-Vision Learners, by Earl W. Huff, Jr., p. 12 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/s7526n796 Evaluating an Accessible Science Tool for Students with Blindness, by Shari Gardner, Jennifer Nakamura, and Morgan Solender, p. 29 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/v979vc06p MAC-U-Vision+: An Improved Application for Individuals with AMD, by Wilmer Chang Cen, Haolan Li, Max Sehaumpai, William H. Seiple, and Zhigang Zhu, p. 43 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/mk61rt13c Top-Down Browsing, a Modern Approach to Screen Readers, by William Zimmer, p. 59 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/000009146 A 3D Printer Build for Students with Visual Impairments, by Thomas Madura, Carol Christian, Skye O'Beollain, Tiffany Wild, and Kenneth Silberman, p. 70 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/3197xx04d Wearable Digital Eyes Using Intelligent Stereo Vision, by Brandon Cai, p. 88 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/rr172656s Explore Cloud-Based Live Streaming for Closed Captioning, by Giovanni Galvez and Chris Zhang, p. 107 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/gf06gb850 Eye-Tracking eSports for Gamers with Severe Disabilities, by Katsuhiro Kanamori, Nariki Osugi, Kohei Kajiyama, Ibuki Shoji, and Taisei Oe, p. 120 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/1g05fn16r Artificial Intelligence Use of Perceptions by Disabled Adults, by Raeda K. Anderson, S. Delaney Cowart, Ben Lippincott, and John Morris, p. 129 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/sq87c4232 Systematically Evaluating Digital Map Tools Based on the WCAG, by Brandon Biggs, James M. Coughlan, and Bruce N. Walker, p. 145 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/qn59qf178 MABLESim: A Tool for Simulating Indoor Accessibility, by Francisco Javier Rafful Garfias, and Vinod Namboodiri, p. 169 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/kk91fw127 User Study: Smart Speakers and Visual Disabilities, by Hyung Nam Kim, Imonkhae Ugboya, and Vincent Ogunmwonyi, p. 181 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/0r967d327 Gamification Aimed at Raising Awareness of Color Universal Design, Yuto Iwakami, Kai Matsuguma, and Hiroyuki Nakamura, p. 195 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/44558q39j Gait with a Walker under Cognitive Load and Physical Fatigue, by Manaka Hirao andTetsuya Hirotomi, p. 213 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/1r66j976z Understanding Factors Affecting Tactile Graphics Complexity and Perception, by Chandrama Mallick and Richa Gupta, p. 224 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/wh247257f Haptic Feedback in Movies with a Sony PS5 Controller, by Addison Gage, Anthony Sahaf, Pranav Pidathala, Matthew Seita, Raja Kushalnagar, and Christian Vogler, p. 240 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/db78tm99f Indoor Navigation System as a Cognitive Mapping Aid for the Blind, by Ajay Abraham and Vinod Namboodiri, p. 256 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/7h14b021d Co-Designing Screen Reader-friendly Apps by Visually Impaired Developers and Users: An Interview Study, by Kazuto Kitabatake, Masaki Matsuo, Takahiro Miura, Junji Onishi, and Masatsugu Sakajiri, p. 267 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/ks65hn77m A Mobile Application to Facilitate Non-Visual Perception of 2D Shapes, by Ajay Abraham and Vinod Namboodiri, p. 285 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/j6731d12j A Comparison of Different Styles of Speech for Mathematics, by Neil Soiffer, p. 298 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/3b591k538 Accessible Flowcharts: A Feasibility Study with BVI Participants, by Brianna Wimer, Kelly Avery Mack, Ronald Metoyer and Jennifer Mankoff, p. 317 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/t435gp85z Braille Reading Speed: The Role of Line Length and Dimension, by Natalina Martiniello, p. 333 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/1831cv59s Exploring Accessible Explainable AI: Promising Avenues, by Maria J.P. Peixoto, Chukwunonso Henry Nwokoye, Akriti Pandey, Ahsan Zaman, and Peter R. Lewis, p. 350 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/ks65hn795 Novel Stimuli to Benchmark and Train Echolocation Skills, by Haydée G. García-Lázaro and Santani Teng, p. 367 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/2v23w452g2330-421
Increase engagement, Grow Exposure and Create a thriving community around a Revolutionary Live Music Experience
Get PDF[ABSTRACT ONLY; NO FULL TEXT] For this final project myself, in collaboration with a group, I will be attempting to help a company that is working with us we will call Company E. Company E owns a venue alongside with two merchandise warehouses in the greater Los Angeles area. This venue has the equipment to put extremely high-level productions within their walls. They have an online service that can stream multiple cameras at once to give fans a unique listening experience, an elite staff that is capable of anything, and the leadership to make vision reality. Company E has an issue of visibility. Company E puts on shows that rival the quality of anyone else in the world so why don't they have more high level performers at the venue. They are coming to us to increase v viewership on their online platform worldwide and to increase ticket sales in person. We are limited in how we get data for Company E , they send us data for things as we ask for them but in the chaotic world of live performance, things can get held up. We turn to the customer experience and looks to what can be improved in this regard. We noticed that Company E has an online presence but ,in proportion to its quality of product, it is very weak. Their social media is lacking any form of consistency, and they have no surrounding community to their services. Our solutions have been focused into the world of Marketing. As a group we need to find ways to make their social media and online community a place for musicians and fans alike. Company E will never catch on or go viral without both things. It is our goal to help Company E in any way possible and we feel he best use of our time with them is to focus on building their community and social media presence to increase viewership online and ticket sales in person
Amplifying Online Entertainment: Driving Visibility and Engagement in the Live Music Space
Get PDF[ABSTRACT ONLY; NO FULL TEXT] This graduate project examines the challenges faced by an online entertainment organization, specifically focusing on enhancing sales, brand awareness, and engagement traffic. The research identifies key issues including a clear lack of brand awareness and market penetration, impractical monetization strategies, and a lack of community engagement. To address these issues, multiple in-depth interviews were conducted with the organization's management and team to analyze their operations, challenges, and goals. Additionally, thorough secondary research was conducted to learn more about the organization's business model, social media presence, and marketing outreach efforts. These research efforts aimed to aid in the creation of recommendations ready for immediate implementation by the organization. My personal contribution to this project involved assessing the challenges and risks. By developing mitigation strategies, the consulting team could provide well-defined recommendations to maximize the organization's potential in the competitive market. I emphasized the importance of clear and consistent communication internally and externally, in-depth research across all project aspects, and effective time management and goal achievement strategies. Through our findings, the study concludes that there is a need for a strengthened marketing outreach presence. The organization has significant potential to thrive with its technology, mission, and passionate team. By implementing new marketing and online strategies, the organization can achieve its goals and establish a well-known position within the online entertainment industry
Do Neck Exercises Have an Effect on the Prevalence of Concussions Among Young Athletes?
Get PDF[ABSTRACT ONLY; NO FULL TEXT] Concussions are a major concern in high school football, with potential long-term neurological effects. This study examines the impact of neck exercises on concussion rates among high school football athletes during the 2022-2024 seasons. The goal is to determine whether neck exercises could reduce concussions, potentially making neck exercises a requirement for high school football programs. One hundred fifteen Athletic Trainers were contacted via email, which included California State University, Northridge-affiliated and California Certified Athletic Trainers. Eligible participants were aged 25-65, had 3 years of concussion data, and had a football team on campus. Those who did not meet the criteria or did not sign the informed consent were excluded. Data was collected through a survey on Qualtrics XM, where Athletic Trainers reported on concussion incidents, athlete numbers (varsity and junior varsity), exposures (games, practices, scrimmages), and whether neck exercises were incorporated during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons. Concussions reported were confirmed by physicians, and any athletes with concussions within the past year or ongoing symptoms were excluded. The survey took a minimum of 30 minutes to complete. Four participants volunteered to participate, representing four schools. Data revealed that schools with neck exercises had lower concussion rates compared to those without. The results indicate that schools implementing neck exercises reported lower concussion rates (School 2: 3.23%, School 3: 2.94%, School 4: 0%) as compared to schools that did not (School 1: 14.17%) for the year 2022. For the year 2023, schools implementing neck exercises reported lower concussion rates (School 2: 5.75%, School 3: 0%, School 4: 1.85%) as compared to schools that did not (School 1: 15%). For the year 2024, schools implementing neck exercises reported lower concussion rates (School 2: 2.6%, School 3: 5.41%, School 4: 8.33%) as compared to schools that did not (School 1: 14.17%). Schools that implemented neck exercises used a variety of methods, such as weighted extension, lateral flexion, barbell shrugs, DB scapular raise, banded neck movements and Iron Neck equipment. These findings demonstrated a higher concussion rate at the school without an exercise program when compared to the schools that implemented exercises, further research with larger sample sizes and controlled variables is needed to establish a definitive relationship that can determine a correlation. While the data suggest that neck exercises may help reduce concussions, variability across schools indicates that other factors, such as protective equipment, type of exercise, preexisting conditions in athletes, playing style, athlete conditioning, and coaching strategies, must be considered. Future studies should focus on controlled trials with muscle strength testing to better understand the role of neck strengthening in minimizing concussion risks for young athletes
Reaching New Heights and Audiences
Get PDF[ABSTRACT ONLY; NO FULL TEXT] This graduate project investigates a music products company who specialize in music technology. This project will investigate their demographics, potential partnerships and sponsorships, sub-brand visibility, and barriers of entry for their customers. This project has had several approaches, first, has been the secondary research through gathering information from the company, articles, books, etc. Second is the collection of the primary research through interviews with company employees and several different surveys that were sent out to different organizations. The goal of this project is to target a new audience of a younger generation and raise more awareness to the company and its sub-brands. Our findings indicate that the current audience for the company are typically older Caucasian males. Through our surveys, we have found that most people know of the main company but not its sub-brands. Our recommendation to reach a younger audience is to appeal to the popularity that social media has with the younger generation. Our recommendation for sub-brand visibility v is to bring awareness to the sub-brands through social media as well as some slight rebranding. We have also recommended some potential partnerships with social media influencers, educational institutions, and other companies that use these products. For the barriers of entry that the younger generation could have, we recommend bringing down prices, making educational videos for beginners, and having a more diversified representation throughout all brands. The personal contribution I gave to this project was research my assigned sub-brand, the financial analysis of my sub-brand, analyzing the social media presence of my sub-brand, researching case studies on the overall company, finding recommendations for potential sponsorships and partnerships deals for the overall company, and how the group will be measuring success. The study so far concludes that there is an incredibly big opportunity to attract a younger audience. In addition, brining awareness to all sub-brands would be beneficial to other subbrands as well as the overall company