Digital Commons Network^™

Throughput Of Ascon Compared With Popular Iot Encryption Algorithms, Mitchel R. Harvey (Ryan), Andrew M. Kaiser, Garrett W. Hoiness

Military Cyber Affairs

No abstract provided.

Anomaly Detection Of Network Layer Attacks Against Cyber Physical Systems Using Machine Learning And Deep Learning Techniques, James Alger, Michael Tu

Military Cyber Affairs

This research paper presents the analysis of using machine learning and deep learning algorithms on detecting anomalous network traffic in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). Using a real PLC CPS-based system, normal and anomalous network traffic will be captured using Wireshark. The research analyzes a DDoS attack. The focus of the research is to identify the most effective feature combinations and evaluate them on ML and DL models. The emphasis is on enhancing detection strategies rather than exploiting device vulnerabilities. The detection of network attacks often involves handling a vast array of high-level features. Previous studies (Li & Chasaki, 2022) apply machine …

Characterizing Caldera’S Cyber Attack Emulation Capabilities, Caleb Chang, Matthew Cao, Kenyou Teoh, Ekzhin Ear, Shouhuai Xu

Military Cyber Affairs

Autonomous cyber attack emulation can aid cyber defenders to identify and remediate cyber risks. MITRE’s Caldera software is the state-of-the-practice for automated attack emulation. Yet, it has not been systematically analyzed, putting its performance and effectiveness into question. This paper systematically characterizes Caldera’s architecture, abilities and use cases, and assesses its strengths and weaknesses. It draws useful insights, such as: Caldera excels in stealthy access and execution tactics to pilfer data against Windows operating systems. It also discusses two directions for Caldera improvement: module-level automation and end-to-end attack emulation.

The Digital Battlefield: Safeguarding Military Drones Against Cyberattacks, Jason Ashong, Arun Venkitanarayanan, Benjamin Yankson

Military Cyber Affairs

The Internet of Battlefield Things (IoBT) is an advanced network of interconnected devices that significantly enhance military operations through real-time data exchange and situational awareness. While IoBT offers tactical advantages like improved surveillance, reconnaissance, and operational effectiveness, it also introduces substantial cybersecurity risks. Adversaries can exploit vulnerabilities within these networks, potentially compromising mission integrity and national security. This research examines the cybersecurity measures of commercial drone controllers and their correlation with military devices. It aims to enhance future vulnerability assessments with advanced tools and approaches to better secure critical military operations. The study highlights the need for robust security architectures …

Using Blockchain Technology To Help Secure America's Defense Critical Infrastructure, Vimal Buck, Aerin Krebs, Brynn Hillard, Jakob Gerha, Joseph Lutma, Srikar Maduposu, Ted Allen

Military Cyber Affairs

Critical water infrastructure in the United States faces increasing cybersecurity threats from state-sponsored actors, with potentially devastating consequences for national security, economic stability, and public health. (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, 2025). This infrastructure supports defense critical assets and is actively being targeted by various state-sponsored hacking groups, which poses a major concern for civilians and military alike. K. Herath (personal communication, February 24, 2025) reported being aware of two attacks on Ohio water systems during his tenure as Cybersecurity Strategic Advisor to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

Water is essential to everyday life and defense and presents as a high-value …

Network And Multipath Traceroute Visualization, Cameron Makowski

Military Cyber Affairs

TraceCam introduces a new paradigm in network path analysis, leveraging GPU-accelerated WebGL visualization, advanced traceroute integrations, and AI-driven insights to transform complex routing data into actionable intelligence. Early prototypes have demonstrated significant improvements in performance, clarity, and multi-path discovery, overcoming traditional limitations in traceroute analysis. By incorporating retrieval-augmented language models and enriched metadata sources like IPinfo.io, TraceCam enables automated anomaly detection, contextual explanations, and rapid root-cause analysis, enhancing operational efficiency. The platform’s architecture ensures scalability and adaptability, supporting deeper investigations and real-time situational awareness. Future development will focus on clustering-based anomaly detection, expanded geographic visualizations, and enhanced AI-generated analysis to …

Quantifying Adversary Military Forces’ Susceptibility To Cognitive Attacks, Bonnie Rushing, Cole Nelson, Shouhuai Xu, Christofer “Raven” O’Keefe, Olga Karpoyan

Military Cyber Affairs

This paper introduces a method to quantify international populations’ susceptibility to cyber cognitive attacks using press freedom and media trust metrics. We present the Cognitive Influence Calculator, a tool that estimates susceptibility (𝑆) based on Press Freedom Scores (PFS) and media trust levels. Findings show that while authoritarian regimes are harder to reach, successful cognitive attacks have greater impacts due to higher trust in state-controlled narratives. Using U.S. wargaming data and international trust metrics, we compute susceptibility scores for the U.S., Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. Results show an inverse relationship between PFS and media susceptibility, with local/allied …

Forward, Amy Hamilton

Military Cyber Affairs

No abstract provided.

Understanding Russia’S Cyber Policies, Strategies, And Doctrines, Bryan Hancock, Hanh Nguyen, Olga Karpoyan, Ekzhin Ear, Shouhuai Xu

Military Cyber Affairs

This study analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of Russia’s cyber policies, strategies, and doctrines through a systematic set of attributes, leading to key insights: (i) Russia has proactively adapted its cyber policies, strategies, and doctrines to its evolving environment; (ii) Russia actively conducts cognitive warfare, but remains equally vulnerable to it; and (iii) Russia’s cyber posture faces significant challenges, including a limited technological base, shortage of skilled personnel, and restrictive approach to information control, all of which undermine the effectiveness of its strategies. These insights offer valuable implications for US Cyber Command and the Department of Defense.

Characterizing Cyberattacks Against Operational Technology Infrastructures Through The Lens Of Attack Flows, Sherman Kettner, Caleb Chang, Ekzhin Ear, Shouhuai Xu

Military Cyber Affairs

Operational Technology (OT) infrastructures play a critical role in modern society and economy. However, their increasing connectivity with public networks such as the Internet has made them vulnerable to cyberattacks, much like traditional Information Technology (IT) systems. In particular, cyberattacks against OT infrastructures remain relatively underexplored and little understood. In this paper, we aim to deepen our understanding of cyberattacks against OT infrastructures. For this purpose, we propose a methodology, including novel cybersecurity metrics to analyze the attack flows of these attacks in an end-to-end fashion, which allows us to draw useful insights. We demonstrate the utility of the methodology …

The Evolution Of Global Gold And Copper Trade Networks, Oleksandr Hulianskyi

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

Gold and copper have emerged as two of the most vital commodities in global trade. Despite serving distinct purposes, their international trade networks reveal interconnected patterns, critical to understanding the dynamics of global economics. This paper studies these attributes and their evolution during the last 36 years for both metals and finds correlations between them. The first part of the research is focused on the sustainability of networks through efficiency and robustness indexes; the second part is dedicated to interconnectedness – the Louvain and Bayesian SBM algorithms, partition, and modularity instruments are used. Community detection algorithms provide valuable insights into …

Exploring The Potential Of Large Language Models (Llms) To Simulate Social Group Dynamics: A Case Study Using The Board Game "Secret Hitler", Kaj Hansteen Izora, Christof Teuscher

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

This study explores the capacity of large language model-powered agents to simulate human-like behavior in multi-agent social systems. Using Secret Hitler — a hidden-role board game centered on trust, deception, and strategic communication — we evaluate how LLM agents navigate dynamic group interactions. Our findings show that agents exhibit human-like behaviors, including strategic temporal adaptation, contextual reasoning, and complex social cognition such as theory of mind and implicit coordination. Notably, 85% of agent decisions factored in at least two other players’ mental states, highlighting their capacity for multi-agent mental state inference. However, they struggled with key aspects of human gameplay, …

Tweaking Ml-Kem (Kyber) And Ml-Dsa (Dilithium), Kumar Rahul

Master’s Dissertations

Lattice-based cryptography is the use of conjectured hard problems on point lattices in Rn as the foundation for secure cryptographic systems. Attractive features of lattice cryptography include apparent resistance to quantum attacks (in contrast with most number-theoretic cryptography), high asymptotic efficiency and parallelism, security under worst-case intractability assumptions, and solutions to long-standing open problems in cryptography. This work surveys the structure, security, and optimization potential of two leading lattice-based cryptographic schemes: ML-KEM (Kyber) and ML-DSA (Dilithium). Special attention is given to their applicability in government-oriented post-quantum cryptographic systems, focusing on performance, implementation considerations, and resilience against known quantum threats. In …

Replicating Associative Learning Of Rodents With A Neuromorphic Robot In An Open-Field Arena, Tianze Liu, Kang Jun Bai, Hongyu An

Michigan Tech Publications

This study emulates associative learning in rodents by using a neuromorphic robot navigating an open-field arena. The goal is to investigate how biologically inspired neural models can reproduce animal-like learning behaviors in real-world robotic systems. We constructed a neuromorphic robot by deploying computational models of spatial and sensory neurons onto a mobile platform. Different coding schemes—rate coding for vibration signals and population coding for visual signals—were implemented. The associative learning model employs 19 spiking neurons and follows Hebbian plasticity principles to associate visual cues with favorable or unfavorable locations. Our robot successfully replicated classical rodent associative learning behavior by memorizing …

Agent-Based Modeling To Stress Test New York State Healthcare Robustness, Brandon Bedenbedner

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

This study presents an agent-based model (ABM) to assess the resilience of New York State’s healthcare system during public health crises. The model simulates patient interactions, disease spread, and resource allocation, identifying critical vulnerabilities and evaluating strategies to avoid system collapse. Simulation results indicate that with just 10\% of the population infected, hospitals statewide can reach full capacity within ten days, causing significant care delays and an estimated 32,104 deaths within a 30-day period.

Sensitivity analysis revealed infection rates, base mortality, and travel-related delays as primary drivers of system outcomes. These findings highlight the critical need for expanded surge capacity, …

Limb Light - Interactive Lighting Control, Joseph Pandit, Matthew Tran

Computer Science and Engineering Senior Theses

The progression of stage lighting in the modern age has significantly influenced the immersive experience of the audience. Through events like Daft Punk’s 2006 Cochella performance, lighting has become more pivotal to performances in every genre. However, interactive, customized lighting remains inaccessible to small and mediumscale performers. The cost of hiring a lighting director or pre-programing each song is simply too much. Current cost effective solutions, like sound-activated effects, lack in both quality and real-time emotional responsiveness.

This thesis presents an interactive lighting control system designed to bridge this gap and create a novel creative tool. Our approach integrates MIDI-triggered …

Next-Generation Biomaterials For Load-Bearing Tissue Interfaces: Sensor-Integrated Scaffolds And Mechanoadaptive Constructs For Skeletal Regeneration, Rahul Kumar, Kyle Sporn, Pranay Prabhakar, Phani Paladugu, Akshay Khanna, Alex Ngo, Chirag Gowda, Ethan Waisberg, Ram Jagadeesan, Nasif Zaman, Alireza Tavakkoli

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Advancements in load-bearing tissue repair increasingly demand biomaterials that not only support structural integrity but also interact dynamically with the physiological environment. This review examines the latest progress in smart biomaterials designed for skeletal reconstruction, with emphasis on mechanoresponsive scaffolds, bioactive composites, and integrated microsensors for real-time monitoring. We explore material formulations that enhance osseointegration, resist micromotion-induced loosening, and modulate inflammatory responses at the bone-implant interface. Additionally, we assess novel fabrication methods-such as additive manufacturing and gradient-based material deposition-for tailoring stiffness, porosity, and degradation profiles to match host biomechanics. Special attention is given to sensor-augmented platforms capable of detecting mechanical …

Study On Salt Release Mechanism Of Self-Melting Ice Asphalt Mixture And Its Impact On Road Performance, Li Tao, Zhang Xiu ’Ang

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To study the long-term salt release characteri stics of self-melting ice asphalt mixture and the impact of the complete salt release on pavement durability,an accelerated salt release method was developed using a Los Angeles abrasion tester.The salt release mechanism under varying asphalt types,deicing agent contents,and gradation types was revealed.The impact of the complete salt release on road performance was analyzed.Results show that the Los Angeles abrasion tester-based salt release method achieves 91 times and 114 times higher salt release efficiency than the magnetic stirrer and natural immersion methods,respectively.SBS-modified asphalt mixture exhibits a longer salt release duration.The salt release duration is …

Long-Term Water P Ermeability Performance Of Asphalt Mixtures Under Wide-Scope Void Ratio, Chen Sanxi, Guan Hongxin, Yao Ming, Mo Zhiwei, Jiang Wangheng

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to compare the water pe rmeability performance of asphalt mixtures with different void ratios after scouring and clogging,self-developed equipment was adopted to conduct vertical water permeability tests,dynamic water scouring-based water permeability tests,water pressure tests,and simulated clogging tests on semi-open-graded DK- 13 mixtures with void ratios of 9%,11%,and 13%,as well as open-graded PA- 13 mixtures with void ratios of 15%,17%,and 19%.The experimental results show that:① The water permeability performance of the asphalt mixture becomes better as the void ratio increases.The water permeability coefficient changes relatively small after the void ratio of the asphalt mixture reaches 15%,which is attributed to …

Research On Size Effect On Cubic Compressive Strength Of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag-Fly Ash Stabilized Large-Size Macadam, Liu Qunyan, Liu Liping, He Miao, Yuan Lingqing, Zhang Liang

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To analyze the effect of specimen size on the compressive strength of ground granulated blast furnace slag-fly ash (GGBFS-FA ) stabilized large-size macadam,the 200 mm × 200 mm × 200 mm cubic specimen and 3 d compressive strength were designated as a reference specimen and strength in this study,and numerical simulations of compressive strength were performed by using a discrete element method for GGBFS-FA stabilized large-size macadam specimens with a maximum particle size (dmax) of 73 mm and five side lengths of 2.0dmax,2.5dmax,3.0dmax,3.5dmax,and 4.0dmax.The size effect mechanism on the mixture ’s compressive strength was revealed from the perspective of energy.By …

Research On Rc-Uhpc Composite Slab Frame Culvert Technology In Wave-Affected Areas, Qiu Junfeng

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To address the problems in the construction of offshore bridges and culverts such as the structures susceptible to waves,limited layout,and high cost of soft foundation treatment,this paper proposed a new technical solution for reinforced concrete and ultra-high performance concrete (RC-UHPC ) composite slab frame culverts.With supporting engineering,the ordinary box culvert was selected as a comparison scheme for technical and economic analysis,and the design points and construction procedures of new structures were introduced.Based on the calculation results of the overall bearing force,the bearing performance of the top slab under different load conditions was analyzed,along with an investigation of the secondary internal …

Study On Aerodynamic Optimization Of Π-Shaped Cable-Stayed Bridge With Vortex-Induced Vibration In Mountainous Areas, Zeng Min, Liu Hanyun, Mao Na, Chen Baixiang, Han Yan, Li Chunguang

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Given vortex-induced vibrations of bridges caused by high wind attack angles in mountainous canyons,this study investigated the vortex-induced dynamic characteristics of a Π-shaped steel-concrete composite beam cable-stayed bridge in a mountainous canyon under high wind attack angles based on wind tunnel tests and examined aerodynamic measures for vortex suppression.Firstly,a finite element model of the bridge was established,and the dynamic characteristics of the bridge in both the completed and construction states were analyzed.Subsequently,a 1∶50 scale detailed segment model was designed based on similarity theory to analyze the vortex-induced vibration performance of the original main beam under conventional wind attack angles of …

Analysis Of Mechanical Properti Es Of Integral Jacking Basket Arch Bridge During C Onstruction, Chen Tao, Qiu Jingkui, Wang Ji

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Taking the Xindian Bridge in Ni ngbo as the background,this paper analyzed the mechanical properties of the integral jacking basket arch bridge during construction.Midas finite element software was used to establish the spatial model of the main bridge,and the deviation of the suspender force and support reaction force of the completed bridge from the design was 1.84% and 1.8%,respectively.The maximum deviation of the displacement calculation of the tie beam at the bridge completion stage was 22 mm,and the maximum deviation of the displacement of the arch rib at the same stage was ‒ 12 mm,which showed that the finite element …

Numerical Simulation Study On Scour Erosion Of Bridge Pile Foundations In Service, Wang Shang, Mi Jiangchuan, Chen Mingtao, Song Dan, Zhang Qiao, Zhang Yong, Wang Weixiao

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Bridge pile foundations in servic e are subjected to long-term scour erosion caused by sediment-laden water flow,leading to a gradual expansion of the eroded and worn areas.This in turn results in varying degrees of damage to the pile foundation structure and reduces the durability and safety of the bridge.In order to study the impact of scour erosion on bridge pile foundations,this study took the Hanjiang No.1 Bridge in Ankang City as the research object.The ANSYS FLUENT software was used to conduct three-dimensional numerical simulations of the pile foundation and analyze the distribution characteristics and patterns of scour erosion under different …

Internal Force Optimization In Com Pleted Stage And Construction Alignment Control Of Super Long-Span Extradosed Cable-Stayed Bridge, Ba Wenpeng

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

This paper is based on a super long-span extradosed cable-stayed bridge with a main span of 400 m.In view of the technical challenges of high negative bending moment at the quarter point of the bridge and large deformation during the cantilever assembly process in the non-cable area,a systematic solution was proposed in combination with the entire construction process.This paper proposed three schemes:permanent cable over-tensioning,temporary cable setting,and large segment closure.The bending moment ratio (λM) and structural deformation were used as quantitative indicators,and a finite element model was established to compare the three schemes.The results show that all three schemes can improve …

Study On Reasonable Parameters Of Natural Smoke Exhaust Shafts In Tunnels With Different Longitudinal Slopes, Yang Tao, Zeng Yuekai, Li Peijun, Ren Rui, Deng Min, Zhang Aoyu

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To obtain the reasonable parameters of a smoke exhaust shaft in a tunnel under different longitudinal slope conditions,the temperature,flow velocity,and smoke exhaust efficiency of the tunnel were taken as indexes,and the numerical model was established by using fire dynamics simulator (FDS ) software to study the influence of the longitudinal slope of the tunnel,shaft width,and shaft length on the ventilation and smoke exhaust in case of a fire.The results show that under the longitudinal slope conditions,with the increase in the shaft width and length,the maximum temperature in the tunnel decreases,and the smoke exhaust efficiency of the shaft increases.However,the influence of …

Reconstruction Plan Of Small-Spacing Interchange Connection Sections On Expressway : A Case Study Of Xinlong‒Gangkou Interchange On Zhongshan‒Jiangmen Expressway, Jie Qiang, Fu Xinsha

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

The plan design for the small-spacing interchange connection on the expressway directly affects operational efficiency and driving safety.To achieve the conversion of traffic flow between different expressways,this study explored the reconstruction plan of the connection section under the condition that the interchange spacing did not meet the Design Specification for Highway Alignment (JTG D20‒2017 ) and investigated two connection schemes,including auxiliary lane and collector-distributor lane by taking the Xinlong –Gangkou interchange of the Zhongshan‒Jiangmen Expressway reconstruction and expansion project as an example.The results show that the auxiliary lane is recommended in consideration of the long-term service level,speed coordination,operational efficiency,and engineering …

Research On Bridge Jacking Decision Based On Carbon Emission Analysis, Zhang Xinmin, Hu Chengze, Gao Hongbo, Yang Yunping, Sun Zhihong, Cao Hongyou

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To lift the longitudinal section of existing bridges in highway reconstruction and expansion projects due to insufficient under-bridge clearance,this study took the reconstruction of a 32.5 m T-beam bridge in the reconstruction and expansion project of the Guangzhou‒Shenzhen Expressway as the research object.By using a carbon emission factor method,carbon emissions of three reconstruction schemes,including broken-column jacking,conversion of bearing pads into bridge piers,and demolition and reconstruction,were calculated under different lifting heights,and the corresponding construction and installation costs were compared.The results show that when the longitudinal section of the bridge is lifted to a certain height,the economic benefits of the broken-column jacking …

Comparative Study On Differences In Asphalt Pavement Design Between China And Southern Africa, Wang Qing, Lin Yangyang, Yan Hongxiang, Zhao Bin, Xia Moxuan, Li Ning, Si Wei

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To facilitate the successful implementation of projects in the Southern Africa region and promote the application and internationalization of China ’s standards,this study compared the asphalt pavement design systems,construction materials,design parameters,and structural design methods of both regions based on the main asphalt pavement design specifications currently in use in China and Southern Africa.The results show that among Southern African countries,South Africa has a comprehensive and widely applied standard system,while other Southern African countries adopt more varied and less theoretical standards.In contrast,China ’s standard system is complete and highly practical.Due to differences in regional climates,the selection principles and mechanical requirements for …

Distribution Characteristics Of Internal Distress And Maintenance Decision-Making For Asphalt Pavement Based On Three-Dimensional Ground-Penetrating Radar, Li Xiaohua, Song Liang, Ye Wei, Xie Xiaodong, Yang Jiangang, Gao Jie

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

The distribution characteristics of internal distress in pavement structures and the corresponding maintenance decisions are crucial for improving road performance and extending service life.Based on three-dimensional ground-penetrating radar (3D GPR ) technology,this study investigated the internal distress of a 12-kilometer section of both driving and overtaking lanes of an expressway in Hubei Province.High-resolution images of internal pavement distress were obtained,and milling maintenance decisions were optimized by employing these images and a modular decision-making model.Through an efficient and non-destructive technique,the distribution characteristics of internal pavement distress were analyzed,and potential distress types were identified,providing a scientific basis for maintenance decision-making.Data analysis revealed …