Digital Commons Network^™

An Examination Of Virtual Environment Training Fidelity On Training Effectiveness, Roberto K. Champney, Kay M. Stanney, Laura Milham, Meredith Carroll, John V. Cohn

Aeronautics Faculty Publications

Live training is a vital component of military training. Unfortunately it can be expensive, resource intensive, of limited accessibility or impossible to achieve due to the risks involved. Virtual environment (VEs) training environments can provide trainees with opportunities to practice key skills and work out performance issues in a more cost effective environment, which may lead to more efficient use of live training time. The current study explored this premise by conducting a transfer of training study that examined the question of whether pre-training in low and/or high fidelity VEs can lead to time savings and improved performance in live …

Application Of Artificial Intelligence For Detecting Derived Viruses, Omotayo Asiru, Moses Dlamini, Jonathan Blackledge

Conference papers

Computer viruses have become complex and operates in a stealth mode to avoid detection. New viruses are argued to be created each and every day. However, most of these supposedly ‘new’ viruses are not completely new. Most of the supposedly ‘new’ viruses are not necessarily created from scratch with completely new (something novel that has never been seen before) mechanisms. For example, most of these viruses just change their form and signatures to avoid detection. But their operation and the way they infect files and systems is still the same. Hence, such viruses cannot be argued to be new. In …

A Hardware One-Time Pad Prototype Generator For Localising Cloud Security, Jonathan Blackledge, Paul Tobin, Lee Tobin, Mick Mckeever

Conference papers

Abstract: In this paper, we examine a system for encrypting data before storing in the Cloud. Adopting this system gives excellent security to stored data and complete control for accessing data by the client at different locations. The motivation for developing this personal encryption came about because of poor Cloud security and doubts over the safety of public encryption algorithms which might contain backdoors. However, side-channel attacks and other unwanted third-party interventions in Cloud security, probably contribute more to the poor security record history. These factors led to the development of a prototype for personalising security locally which defeats cryptanalysis. …

Application Of Artificial Intelligence For Detecting Computing Derived Viruses, Jonathan Blackledge, Omotayo Asiru, Moses Dlamini

Conference papers

Computer viruses have become complex and operates in a stealth mode to avoid detection. New viruses are argued to be created each and every day. However, most of these supposedly ‘new’ viruses are not completely new. Most of the supposedly ‘new’ viruses are not necessarily created from scratch with completely new (something novel that has never been seen before) mechanisms. For example, most of these viruses just change their form and signatures to avoid detection. But their operation and the way they infect files and systems is still the same. Hence, such viruses cannot be argued to be new. In …

A New Approach To Pulse Deinterleaving Based On Adaptive Thresholding, Mostafa Bagheri, Mohammad Hossein Sedaaghi

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Since histogram-based methods are formed by some simple differences, they are very desirable for deinterleaving. However, their main imperfection concerns recognizing complex pulse repetition interval (PRI) patterns like jittered and staggered ones.In this paper, we present new thresholds to detect jittered and staggered PRI from histogram-based methods even in complex circumstances such as noisy time of arrival (TOA), complex PRI patterns, and large missing pulses. Simulation results demonstrate that our method can detect and extract constant, jittered, and staggered PRI correctly. Moreover, the method is proved to be considerably robust and reliable at a missing pulses rate up to 30%.

Design Of A Framework For Sharing And Generating Combat Damage Assessment(Cda) Of A Hla/Rti Federation, Hongseon Park

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this paper, a new framework for sharing Combat Damage Assessment(CDA) is proposed to find out the differences of each CDA system between military combat units belonging to their own federate in a HLA/RTI federation. When there are engagements in a battle among combat units belonging to their own federate in the HLA/RTI federation, each result of damage assessments is very different. This affects the HLA/RTI federation’s confidence and needed to be overcome because it is also one of the major issues to generate reliable engagement data. Also, a RTI can generate only qualitative data about combat damage while quantitative …

Secrecy Rates And Optimal Power Allocation For Full-Duplex Decode-And-Forward Relay Wire-Tap Channels, Lubna Elsaid, Leonardo Jimenez-Rodriguez, Nghi H. Tran, Sachin Shetty, Shivakumar Sastry

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper investigates the secrecy rates and optimal power allocation schemes for a decode-and-forward wiretap relay channel where the transmission from a source to a destination is aided by a relay operating in a full-duplex (FD) mode under practical residual self-interference. By first considering static channels, we address the non-convex optimal power allocation problems between the source and relay nodes under individual and joint power constraints to establish closed-form solutions. An asymptotic analysis is then given to provide important insights on the derived power allocation solutions. Specifically, by using the method of dominant balance, it is demonstrated that full power …

Attitudes Towards Face-To-Face Meetings In Virtual Engineering Teams: Perceptions From A Survey Of Defense Projects, Lawrence R. Blenke, Abhijit Gosavi, William Daughton

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Modes of communication used in virtual defense projects have changed dramatically over the years with tools such as email and video-conferencing dominating face-to-face (FTF) meetings. We conducted a survey at a defense firm with an aim to test current attitudes towards FTF meetings – with respect to significant problems faced, project success, transfer of technical requirements, preference for FTF vis-à-vis virtual meetings, differences between virtual and co-located environments, criticality of various forms of communication, and whether FTF meetings were scheduled as often as desired. Our survey participants, about one hundred in number, were experienced engineers, technicians, and program managers – …

Finding The Balance Between Price And Protection: Establishing A Surface-To-Air Fire Risk-Reduction Training Policy For Air-Carrier Pilots, Earl W. Burress Jr.

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Currently, U.S. air carriers do not provide equipment or training necessary to mitigate the risk posed by surface-to-air fire (SAFIRE) threats. These threats consist of self-guided weapons (infrared shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles), manually-aimed threats (small arms, recoilless grenade launchers, rockets, and light anti-aircraft artillery), and hand-held lasers. Technological solutions to counter infrared shoulder-fired missiles have been explored, but were rejected due to prohibitive equipment and maintenance costs. A lower cost option, providing air-carrier pilots with SAFIRE risk-reduction training, has not been formally addressed by the air-carrier industry or the U.S. federal government. This effort will use a business concept, the Cost-Benefit …

Electrical Power And Storage For Nasa Next Generation Aircraft, Saif Al-Agele

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Next generation aircraft will incorporate more electrical power generation and storage for both a distributed electric propulsion system and onboard subsystems. The power generation in this type of aircraft will require orders of magnitude higher than today’s commercial aircrafts, thus producing many challenges. For this reason, a unique, high-powered electric propulsion system primarily powered by a turbo-generator system with electrical storage is being considered. A Simulink/Matlab model has bee created for the electrical power system of the next generation blended wing commercial aircraft proposed by NASA. The components of the electrical system include turbo-generators, generators, battery banks, and electrical distribution …

Ionic Liquids Tethered To Activated Carbon For Capture Of Airborne Toxins, Devin Peck

Dissertations and Theses

Ionic liquids (ILs) were investigated for functionalization of activated carbon (AC) adsorbents for the filtration of warfare toxins. Preliminary steps were taken by testing absorption capacity of neat ILs and tethering ionic liquids to the surface of AC. AC is known to have good adsorption ability for warfare agents. Functionalizing the AC with ILs could enhance the capture ability significantly. ILs have been found to be good absorbents for a variety of gaseous species. The absorption selectivity and capacity can be tuned by changing the anion-cation pair. By tethering ILs to AC, the beneficial properties of gas absorption from ILs …

An Alternative Approach To The Design Of Multiple Beam Constrained Lens Antennas, Rasi̇me Uyguroğlu, Abdullah Yücel Öztoprak

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Rotman lenses are constrained lenses that are used as beam-forming networks to feed array antennas. Their design is based on three focal points, producing three beams with perfect phase fronts. This paper introduces an alternative constrained lens, which has phase equality at five radiating array elements for each beam position. In addition, the center point of the feed curve produces a perfect beam at broadside. The performance of this lens is analyzed and compared to the conventional Rotman lens. The analysis demonstrates that the new lens has better phase performance for wide angle designs. Our study shows that the phase …

Growth And Characterization Of Anisotropic Gase Semiconductor For Radiation Detection And Thz Applications, Haseeb Nazir

Theses and Dissertations

Anisotropic wide-bandgap gallium selenide (GaSe) crystals were grown using high purity (7N) Ga and zone refined (ZR) Se precursor materials. The crystal growth was performed using a modified vertical Bridgman method (VBM) with a slow crystallization from the melt and with a pre-determined temperature profile. The structure, surface morphology, and the composition of the grown crystals were characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive analysis by x-rays (EDAX), respectively. Optical absorption and transmission properties were characterized and optical bandgap was determined. Electrical resistivity has been determined using current-voltage (I V) measurements using van der Pauw …

Investigating The Parameters That Influence The Particle Mass Concentration Rates In A Grade C Cleanroom., Nazar H. Baker

Theses

The cleanroom design engineers use the guidelines tables, in which the Air Change Rates (ACHs) are determined based on the room cleanliness class. These guidelines are based on experience and do not fully address many other critical variables that influence the particulate level and particle distribution. These simplified approaches could often cause significant energy waste. In the last five decades, a number of mathematical models were developed to determine the airflow required in cleanrooms. As a consequence of the approximation of many critical variables in these models, these models can only be used as a qualitative indicator of the airflow …

Analysing The Behaviour Of Online Investors In Times Of Geopolitical Distress: A Case Study On War Stocks, James Usher, Pierpaolo Dondio

Conference papers

In this paper we analyse how the behavior of an online financial community in time of geopolitical crises. In particular, we studied the behaviour, composition and communication patterns of online investors before and after a military geopolitical event. We selected a set of 23 key-events belonging to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, the Arab Spring and the first period of the Ukraine crisis. We restricted our study to a set of eight so called military stocks, which are US-manufacturing companies active in the defence sector. We studied the resilience of the community to information shocks by comparing the community …

Performance Simulation And Optimization Of A Simultaneous Transmit And Receive Phased Antenna Array Using Adaptive Beamforming And Genetic Algorithm Techniques, Ian Thomas Cummings

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The development of simultaneous transmit and receive capabilities is on the cutting-edge of research in phased array technology [1, 2, 3]. The large disparity in power between the transmitted and received signals in antenna systems has traditionally prevented operation in a simultaneous mode. However, simultaneous transmit and receive offers great opportunities for increased capabilities and performance in communications, radar, and electronic warfare applications [3]. This technology will be made feasible by realizing a high level of isolation between the transmitted and received signals through a variety of techniques. This work explores the feasibility of choosing non-standard array partitions that--when paired …

Global Command And Control For The Future Operating Concept: Implications For Structural Design And Information, Ian M. Slazinik, Benjamin T. Hazen

Faculty Publications

Due to increasing demands on air mobility aircraft, US Transportation Command(USTRANSCOM) has more recently advocated retaining operational control (OPCON)of aircraft it might have transferred to a requesting combatant command in the past. This recent approach mirrors that of similar-type civilian logistics operations that are centrally managed to maximize efficiencies by flowing resources to the point of need without having to navigate through time-consuming sourcing processes. Furthermore, the acceleration of information availability has condensed decision timelines and changed how similar civilian organizations organize and perform, allowing them to react seemingly on a dime to changing market conditions anywhere.4While retaining OPCON might …

The 2016 Analysis Of Information Remaining On Computer Hard Disks Offered For Sale On The Second Hand Market In The Uae, Thomas Martin, Andy Jones, Mohammed Alzaabi

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

This research describes our survey of data remaining on computer hard disks sold on the second hand market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is a repetition of the first survey conducted in 2012 (Jones, Martin, & Alzaabi, 2012). Similar studies have been carried over the last ten years in the United Kingdom, Australia, USA, Germany and France: (Jones, Mee, Meyler, & Gooch, 2005), (Jones, Valli, Sutherland, & Thomas, 2006), (Jones, Valli, Dardick, & Sutherland, 2008), (Jones, Valli, Dardick, & Sutherland, 2009). This research was undertaken to gain insight into the volumes of data found on second-hand disks purchased …

The Design Of An Articulating Five-Headed In-Water Grooming Tool To Maintain Ships Free Of Fouling, Caglar Erdogan

Theses and Dissertations

Biofouling is a major concern to ship owners. Biofouling increases hull roughness, increasing the frictional resistance and fuel consumption while decreasing maximum speed. Finding a way to maintain hulls free from fouling has, therefore, become a research challenge for scientists and engineers. Grooming has been proposed as a novel method for controlling fouling (Tribou and Swain 2010). It refers to the regular proactive light cleaning to maintain the hull free of fouling with minimal impact to ship coatings. The purpose of this thesis is to design, build, and deploy a compliant multiheaded grooming tool which utilized five polypropylene vertically rotating …

The Utility Of Table-Top Exercises In Teaching Nuclear Security, Christopher Hobbs, Luca Lentini, Matthew Moran

International Journal of Nuclear Security

In the emerging field of nuclear security, those responsible for education and training are constantly seeking to identify and engage with tools and approaches that provide for a constructive learning environment. In this context, this paper explores the nature and value of Tabletop exercises (TTX) and how they can be applied in the nuclear security context. On the one hand, the paper dissects the key components of the TTX and considers the broader pedagogical benefits of this teaching method. On the other hand, the paper draws lessons from the authors’ experience of running TTXs as part of nuclear security professional …

Network Forensic Investigation Of Internal Misuse/Crime In Saudi Arabia: A Hacking Case, Abdulrazaq Al-Murjan, Konstantinos Xynos

Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law

There are ad-hoc guidelines and a limited policy on computer incident response that does not include computer forensic preparation procedures (e.g. logging incidents). In addition, these guidelines do not consider the requirement of Islamic law for admissible evidence at an organisational level in Saudi Arabia. Network forensic investigation might breach the Saudi law if they follow ad-hoc or international digital forensic standards such as Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) guidelines. This might put the organisation in a costly situation when a malicious employee sues an Islamic court. This is because the law of Saudi Arabia is complying with Islamic …

Designing A Data Warehouse For Cyber Crimes, Il-Yeol Song, John D. Maguire, Ki Jung Lee, Namyoun Choi, Xiaohua Hu, Peter Chen

Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law

One of the greatest challenges facing modern society is the rising tide of cyber crimes. These crimes, since they rarely fit the model of conventional crimes, are difficult to investigate, hard to analyze, and difficult to prosecute. Collecting data in a unified framework is a mandatory step that will assist the investigator in sorting through the mountains of data. In this paper, we explore designing a dimensional model for a data warehouse that can be used in analyzing cyber crime data. We also present some interesting queries and the types of cyber crime analyses that can be performed based on …

Parametric Investigation Of A Laboratory Drop Test To Simulate Base Acceleration Induced By Wave Impacts Of High Speed Planing Craft, John D. Barber

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

High speed operations in a small craft can be physically punishing and, in some circumstances, even dangerous for the crew. The aspect of small craft operations that make them punishing for the crew is wave slamming generated by wave impacts as the craft is traveling over the seas at high speed.

The initial step of this thesis effort was to perform a literature survey to determine what knowledge existed within the technical and academic community about wave slamming and simulating them with drop tests.

Eventually, a final experiment strongly influenced by the experiment model found in (Protocol 1, 2014) was …

An Outcome-Based Competency Model For Systems Engineering Trainees, Vanessa J. Pietrzyk

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Dominant theories relating to outcome-based learning and workforce competency were synthesized into a singular outcome-based competency model to evaluate systems engineering training. A baseline model was developed using leading theories from the academic literature pertaining to competencies for systems engineers across three categories: cognitive, skill-based, and behavioral. The model was further refined via qualitative and quantitative analysis of formal interviews of subject matter experts in the field of systems engineering workforce management. The refined model classifies 28 critical competencies for systems engineers into three tiers of workforce functionality: foundational, specialized, and leadership. The resultant theoretical model is both grounded in …

Optimal Control Of An Uninhabited Loyal Wingman, Clay J. Humphreys

Theses and Dissertations

As researchers strive to achieve autonomy in systems, many believe the goal is not that machines should attain full autonomy, but rather to obtain the right level of autonomy for an appropriate man-machine interaction. A common phrase for this interaction is manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), a subset of which, for unmanned aerial vehicles, is the concept of the loyal wingman. This work demonstrates the use of optimal control and stochastic estimation techniques as an autonomous near real-time dynamic route planner for the DoD concept of the loyal wingman. First, the optimal control problem is formulated for a static threat environment and …

Methods To Facilitate Community Participation In Humanitarian Engineering Projects: Laying The Foundation For A Learning Platform, Andrea Mazzurco

Open Access Dissertations

Humanitarian engineering (HE) is a new interdisciplinary field that is rapidly emerging worldwide. Many not-for-profit organizations such as Engineers Without Borders, Practical Action, and International Development Enterprise have been flourishing with the goal of providing technological solutions to those who need them the most. In engineering programs across the U.S., HE, service-learning, community engagement, and similar programs are gaining popularity because they offer an efficient way to meet ABET accreditation criteria, while also teaching valuable technical and professional skills to engineering students. However, the cultural, social, and political differences among communities and engineers often add degrees of difficulty that cannot …

Material Selection And Testing For A Radiation Therapy Catheter, Philip James Wadlow

Master's Theses

Three different polymers (a high-density polymer and two other polymers) were tested for use as an x-ray catheter in a radiation therapy application. This report describes the testing of these three materials to determine which material is the best option for a long use catheter. Tests included tensile, simulated clinical life, and other tests. Some testing was performed using nitrogen and an industrial coolant. Testing revealed significant non-circularities for some catheters. With increasing pressure, the circularity of these catheters increased. The tensile tests were performed on samples with varying doses of radiation. Tensile testing showed significant decreases in ultimate tensile …

Enhancing Mobile Cloud Computing Security Using Steganography, Hassan Reza, Madhuri Sonawane

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Cloud computing is an emerging and popular method of accessing shared and dynamically configurable resources via the computer network on demand. Cloud computing is excessively used by mobile applications to offload data over the network to the cloud. There are some security and privacy concerns using both mobile devices to offload data to the facilities provided by the cloud providers. One of the critical threats facing cloud users is the unauthorized access by the insiders (cloud administrators) or the justification of location where the cloud providers operating. Although, there exist variety of security mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access by unauthorized …

Effects Of Emf Emissions From Undersea Electric Cables On Coral Reef Fishes, Robert F. Jermain

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this project was to determine if the electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions from undersea power cables impacted the local and transient marine life, with an emphasis on reef fishes. The work was done at South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Broward County, Florida. This facility functions as the hub for a range of active undersea detection and data transmission cables. It has multiple active submarine power cables that extend several miles offshore and which can deliver power and enable data transmission to and from a range of acoustic and EMF sensors. The …

Experimental Data Extraction And In Silico Prediction Of The Estrogenic Activity Of Renewable Replacements For Bisphenol A., Huixiao Hong, Benjamin G Harvey, Giuseppe R Palmese, Joseph F. Stanzione Iii, Hui Wen Ng, Sugunadevi Sakkiah, Weida Tong, Joshua M Sadler

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous compound used in polymer manufacturing for a wide array of applications; however, increasing evidence has shown that BPA causes significant endocrine disruption and this has raised public concerns over safety and exposure limits. The use of renewable materials as polymer feedstocks provides an opportunity to develop replacement compounds for BPA that are sustainable and exhibit unique properties due to their diverse structures. As new bio-based materials are developed and tested, it is important to consider the impacts of both monomers and polymers on human health. Molecular docking simulations using the Estrogenic Activity Database in …