Digital Commons Network^™

A Low-Cost Machine Learning Based Network Intrusion Detection System With Data Privacy Preservation, Jyoti Fakirah, Lauhim Mahfuz Zishan, Roshni Mooruth, Michael L. Johnstone, Wencheng Yang

Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Network intrusion is a well-studied area of cyber security. Current machine learning-based network intrusion detection systems (NIDSs) monitor network data and the patterns within those data but at the cost of presenting significant issues in terms of privacy violations which may threaten end-user privacy. Therefore, to mitigate risk and preserve a balance between security and privacy, it is imperative to protect user privacy with respect to intrusion data. Moreover, cost is a driver of a machine learning-based NIDS because such systems are increasingly being deployed on resource-limited edge devices. To solve these issues, in this paper we propose a NIDS …

Human-Controlled Fuzzing With Afl, Maxim Grishin, Igor Korkin, Phd

Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Fuzzing techniques are applied to reveal different types of bugs and vulnerabilities. American Fuzzy Lop (AFL) is a free most popular software fuzzer used by many other fuzzing frameworks. AFL supports autonomous mode of operation that uses the previous step output into the next step, as a result fuzzer spends a lot of time analyzing minor code sections. By making fuzzing process more focused and human controlled security expert can save time and find more bugs in less time. We designed a new module that can fuzz only the specified functions. As a result, the chosen ones will be inspected …

The Amorphous Nature Of Hackers: An Exploratory Study, Kento Yasuhara, Daniel Walnycky, Ibrahim Baggili, Ahmed Alhishwan

Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law

In this work, we aim to better understand outsider perspectives of the hacker community through a series of situation based survey questions. By doing this, we hope to gain insight into the overall reputation of hackers from participants in a wide range of technical and non-technical backgrounds. This is important to digital forensics since convicted hackers will be tried by people, each with their own perception of who hackers are. Do cyber crimes and national security issues negatively affect people’s perceptions of hackers? Does hacktivism and information warfare positively affect people’s perception of hackers? Do individual personality factors affect one’s …

Development And Validation Of A Force Measuring Device For A Laboratory Wave Tank, Jacob K. Colling

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The ability to predict the hydrodynamic force exerted on floating bodies plays a critical role in creating more effective control strategies for wave energy converters (WECs). Developing a test apparatus capable of directly measuring the forces exerted on a floating body subjected to a wavefield provides the means to validate theoretical prediction methods with experimental results and to develop data-based prediction methods for hydrodynamic forces. This report will discuss the development and validation of a device that measures the total vertical force exerted on a test artifact. The device requirements and design are discussed to examine the factors taken into …

Word Games For Education: Investigating The Effectiveness Of Adding Elaboration Tasks To Crosswords For Learning Technical Vocabulary, Warat Khaewratana

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

One challenge in STEM education is the learning of technical terms. In order to reason about higher-order scientific concepts, knowledge of technical vocabulary is often a prerequisite. Improving this knowledge may enhance the learning of higher-order concepts because it reduces cognitive load students experience while learning. To that end, we need innovative learning-aid tools that help students not only in learning and remembering technical terms, but also in applying the learned knowledge to broader concepts. This dissertation investigates the hypothesis that learning gained from crosswords can be used to teach technical terms. Furthermore, I am also examining the hypothesis that …

Machine Learning-Driven Surrogate Models For Electrolytes, Tong Gao

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

We have developed a lattice Monte Carlo (MC) simulation based on the diffusion-limited aggregation model that accounts for the effect of the physical properties of ionic liquids (ILs) on lithium dendrite growth. Our simulations show that the size asymmetry between the cation and anion, the dielectric constant, and the volume fraction of ILs are critical factors to significantly suppress the dendrite growth, primarily due to substantial changes in electric-field screening. Specifically, the volume fraction of ILs has the optimal value for dendrite suppression. The present simulation method indicates potential challenges for the model extension to macroscopic systems. Therefore, we also …

Stability Approximation Method For Pulse Loads In Power Electronic Systems, Eduardo A. Marmol D

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Pulse loads on power electronic distribution systems are becoming very popular nowadays as the components of ships and airplanes are moving to more electric power. However, the pulse loads have a destabilizing effect on the power distribution system. Usually, the method used to study the stability of this type of system are small-signal analyses and are based on a system where the load is modeled as a constant. Since DC-DC systems with pulsed loads are very nonlinear, a small-signal analysis does not provide helpful information related to the stability of the system. The work presented in this thesis focuses on …

A Study Of Inverter-Based Resources On Power Grid Operation Under Uncertain Operating Conditions, Manisha Maharjan

Electrical and Computer Engineering

The electric power grid is undergoing a rapid change predominantly driven by high penetration levels of renewable energy resources (RERs) such as wind and solar. These resources are interfaced with the power grid through power electronic inverters that use control algorithms to define their performance characteristics. As a group, these types of resources are commonly referred to as inverter-based RERs (IB-RERs). While IB-RERs use power electronic controls to change active and reactive power injection, the fast inverter controls, separating the power source from the grid, have changed grid dynamics and posed new challenges to maintaining reliable and safe grid operation. …

A Narrative Review And Longitudinal Data Analysis Method To Evaluate The Association Between Head And Neck Cancer And Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Toan Le

Biomedical Engineering

The pathophysiological mechanisms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and head and neck cancers (HNCs) have not been fully investigated. Currently, investigating the relationship between HNCs and OSA is incomplete due to the restriction of histological, molecular, and clinical evidence. In this research, the first section reviews the common course of therapy in patients with HNCs and OSA, the causal relationship and association between HNCs and OSA, and the scope of statistical methods used to investigate the association between HNCs and OSA. According to the observation from the literature review, more rigorously designed studies with longitudinal data collection should be considered. …

Noise Reduction Of Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing For Improved Extracellular Vesicles Profiling In Cancer Detection, Nega Ejjigu

Biomedical Engineering

EVs have much potential as sensitive, novel biomarkers because they represent the status of their cells of origin and can be used to detect cancer earlier than alternative biomarkers. The size of EVs can be determined by tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS). However, TRPS is susceptible to environmental noise, including mechanical and electrical noise that limits detection precision. To overcome these noises, an external device was designed, guided by flow simulations, to reduce noises that interfere with TRPS measurements. Both mechanical and electrical environmental noise reductions were observed after using the shield. The study also validated the noise reduction function …

A Biological And Chemical Approach To Restoring Water Quality: A Case Study In An Urban Eutrophic Pond, Levi J. Mckercher, Tiffany L. Messer, Aaron R. Mittelstet, Steve D. Comfort

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Efforts to improve water quality of eutrophic ponds often involve implementing changes to watershed management practices to reduce external nutrient loads. While this is required for long-term recovery and prevention, eutrophic conditions are often sustained through the recycling of internal nutrients already present within the waterbody. In particular, internal phosphorus bound to organic material and adsorbed to sediment has the potential to delay lake recovery for decades. Thus, pond and watershed management techniques are needed that not only reduce external nutrient loading but also mitigate the effects of internal nutrients already present. Therefore, our objective was to demonstrate a biological …

Natural Environment: Protocol To Recover Pollen Grains On Bodies, Karl J. Reinhard, A. Barbosa

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Automated Approaches For The Early-Stage Distinguishing Of Palmer Amaranth From Waterhemp, Akhil Venkataraju

Communication

Palmer amaranth is an invasive pigweed species, possessing rapid growth, posing a threat to the economy of crops including corn. Its early detection and mitigation are of utmost importance; however, it is visually similar to waterhemp in the early growth stages. In this study, automated approaches are employed to distinguish palmer amaranth from waterhemp, within two weeks after emergence, from their RGB images. Morphological characteristics of these weeds are estimated and fed to several Machine Learning (ML) models. To improve classification accuracy, RGB images are augmented, and a Convolutional neural network is trained on 16000 images. Validated on images embedded …

Evaluation Of The Relationship Between Size, Feeding Behavior, And Feed Efficency In Beef Cattle, Macie Mosher

Animal Sciences

Feed efficiency in cow-calf operations can be influenced by multiple environmental and physiological factors. The current study examined the association between body size (weight, frame score, and volume), linear body measurements, and feeding behavior with different measures of feed efficiency in multiparous lactating beef cows. Prediction models for dry matter intake in cows using linear body measurements were also developed. Our findings indicate that body size measurements and feeding behavior may influence measures of efficiency. The inclusion of body measurements in prediction models of intake may serve as accurate and feasible methods for estimating intake of cows on farm. The …

Examining Thieno[3,4-B]Pyrazine Through A Multifaceted Lens: From Extended Ring Functionalization To Ambipolar-Acceptor Copolymers, Evan Culver

Chemistry and Biochemistry

A class of materials known as conjugated polymers (CPs) has been shown to integrate the physical properties of organic plastics such as low-weight, flexibility, and synthetic modularity with electronic semiconducting properties typically found in inorganic materials. While a variety of parameters determine the resultant material’s conductivity, a crucial factor is the bandgap (Eg). Specifically, thieno[3,4-b]pyrazine (TP) has found success in generating low Eg CPs (i.e. Eg < 1.5 eV), largely in part due to its ambipolar identity. Two strategies to achieve Eg values < 1 eV include extending the conjugation of TP through ring fusion and pairing TP with strong electron accepting moieties. The investigation into extended ring TPs as low bandgap homopolymers was initially pursued with the synthesis of poly(acenaphtho[1,2-b]thieno[3,4-e]pyrazine), a record setting low Eg homopolymer. Upon this realization of driving Eg¬ values down through ring fusion on the pyrazine portion of TP, additional analogues were considered with 2λ4δ2-dithieno[3,4-b:3’,4’-e]pyrazine as one of the most promising candidates due to its predicted Eg of 0.14 eV. Efforts into this research have produced a variety of precursors and analogues, adding to the family of TPs for further study. A second strategy for Eg reduction is through the pairing of electronically mismatched units known as donors and acceptors. While this does reduce Eg, the underlying principles of the cause is disputed. Thus, to further understand the interactions in these types of copolymer systems, a small molecule study was designed with a strong donor, a strong acceptor, and the ambipolar unit TP in which six possible dimer configurations were synthesized and analyzed to determine the extent of donor-acceptor interactions. Lastly, an investigation into TP-acceptor alternating copolymers was carried out by pairing TP with two acceptors of varying accepting strength and contributions to polymer solubility. Because of the atypical design of these copolymers, a relatively new cross-coupling method known as direct arylation polymerization was used in their synthesis. The optimization of which produced a CP with an Eg of 0.93 eV. These results thus provide evidence for a new design motif for low bandgap CPs that further refines our understanding of donor-acceptor relationships.

New Insights Into Apoptosis-Inducing Factor Mediated Pro-Survival Activity, Sujata Birua

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells and is caused by the accumulation of genetic mutations that contribute to cell division, cell growth, and the DNA repair system. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.9 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2022, hence there is a need to study new molecular mechanisms leading to tumorigenesis and develop novel treatment options.While significant research has been done to understand the underlying mechanisms, cancer still poses challenges as it 1) resists cell death, 2) activates metastasis, 3) sustains proliferative signaling, and 4) deregulates …

Synthesis Of Novel Biomass-Derived Diol And Epoxide Monomers For Coatings Applications, Catherine Sutton

Chemistry and Biochemistry

There are few monomers or precursors in the polymer industry that are more ubiquitous than bisphenol A (BPA). According to the CDC, about 5-6 billion pounds of BPA are produced worldwide annually. For the synthesis of coatings and polymeric materials, BPA is polymerized directly as a diol into polycarbonates or, to a lesser extent, glycidated into an epoxy monomer or resin. For coatings applications, BPA epoxy resins are utilized in protecting metal cans from acidic foods and beverages to heavy machinery like farm equipment from weather-related corrosion. In part, this popularity has led to scrutiny of the popular monomer from …

Conceptual Cost Estimation Of Highway Earthwork Construction In Iowa Using Spatial Statistical Modeling, Martha Sebsibe Hitsanu

Construction Management and Engineering

Estimating cost at the conceptual phase of highway earthwork construction projects is challenging owing to the limited amount of information present at the initial stages. Methods that have been applied in the past to perform such estimates are regression, mathematical equations, artificial intelligence, and others. The objective of this research is to use two spatial statistical methods – indicator kriging and empirical Bayesian kriging – together with exponential, whittle, and k-Bessel semi-variograms to build an appropriate model to predict highway earthwork construction cost at the conceptual stage. Iowa Department of Transportation provided the data for the study. The cross-validation results …

“When Will The Time Finally Come When There Will Only Be Humans”: An Unknown Letter From Beethoven To Heinrich Von Struve, Julia Ronge

The Beethoven Journal

Transcription, translation, and discussion of a recently discovered letter from Ludwig van Beethoven to Heinrich von Struve from 1795. In the letter, Beethoven expresses a yearning for a time when there are only humans, without distinctions of rank and class. This sentiment accords with Schiller’s ode An die Freude, which Beethoven set to music more than once.

Visual Task Classification Using Classic Machine Learning And Cnns, Devangi Vilas Chinchankarame, Noha Elfiky, Nada Attar

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Our eyes actively perform tasks including, but not limited to, searching, comparing, and counting. This includes tasks in front of a computer, whether it be trivial activities like reading email, or video gaming, or more serious activities like drone management, or flight simulation. Understanding what type of visual task is being performed is important to develop intelligent user interfaces. In this work, we investigated standard machine and deep learning methods to identify the task type using eye-tracking data-including both raw numerical data and the visual representations of the user gaze scan paths and pupil size. To this end, we experimented …

Lenses Of Understanding: Socially Constructed Meaning Making In Education Abroad, Callie Dominique Speer

Education

The purpose of this study was to explore meaning making in the context of education abroad. This was conducted through three articles exploring elements of this process, including how programs may be framed through marketing and advising practices; the foundational importance of social and geographic place; the dialectical interactions between embodied experience with conceptual schema, figurative language, and narratives; and the role of student agency within these processes.The first article explored the relationship between virtual delivery and student development as mediated by embodied experience. Through this analysis, concerns about the possibility for the creation of a simulacrum of education abroad …

Ma111 Supplement: 4 Exams, Heather P. Lippert

OER Main

This MA111 supplement is created as a supplemental tool to support student learning for those students enrolled in MA111 College Math for Aviation I. The textbook that it supports is Basic Technical Mathematics with Calculus, 11th edition by Allyn Washington and Richard Evans.

This supplement does not replace the textbooks, book homework, or online homework of these authors, but only acts to support existing materials with the aviation major in mind. No profit is made from this supplement.

The prior supplement which supports Precalculus 4th ed. by Beecher, Penna, and Bittinger, is available as an additional file below.

A Meta-Analysis Of Studies Addressing The Impact Of Gbh On Human, Animal Health And The Environment, Kodjo Barnor

Agribusiness and Applied Economics

The herbicide glyphosate has been tested and approved by both the FDA and the USDA, as evidenced by many published research papers, i.e., they are deemed safe for humans, animals, and the environment. However, evidence is mounting that glyphosate interferes with many metabolic processes in plants and animals, and glyphosate residues have been detected in both. The factors that influence the outcomes of previous scientific research on the potential adverse effects of GBH on human and animal health and the environment were investigated. Using DAGs and Granger causality tests, the study found that while private and public organizations were more …

Development Of Ice Releasing Epoxy-Siloxane Marine Coatings, Morgen Hagerott

Coatings and Polymeric Materials

In this study, epoxy-siloxane coatings were prepared and modified using various polysiloxane oil additives with the goal of developing an ice releasing epoxy-siloxane coating. Contact angle, surface energy, and ice adhesion tests were conducted to study the effect each oil additive had on the surface properties of the coatings. Additionally, antifouling and fouling release properties were assessed using two micro-organisms, Cellulophaga lytica and Navicula incerta, and one macro-organism, Amphibalanus Amphitrite (barnacles). The goal of which was to compare the ice and fouling releasing properties of the coatings to see if any correlations could be made between the two. One of …

Sustainable Thermosetting Polymers: Biobased Epoxy Resin Systems And Aqueous Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes, Raul Setien

Coatings and Polymeric Materials

In recent years, there has been a desire to seek alternatives to petrochemically derived materials. These alternatives can be derived from renewable sources such as vegetable oils. However, methods for achieving sustainability are not limited to only resourcing materials from bio-based sources but can also be achieved by utilizing safer synthesis techniques, reducing cure times, and eliminating volatile organic content in thermoset coating formulations. This dissertation sets out to achieve a goal the sustainability across different fields. Epoxidized sucrose soyate is a versatile bio-based materials that is typically synthesized utilizing hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid. A proposed safer alternative utilizes …

Surface Modifying Amphiphilic Additives For The Improvement Of Fouling-Release Properties Of Siloxane-Polyurethane Coatings, Jackson Benda

Coatings and Polymeric Materials

Since mankind has navigated the world’s oceans, marine biofouling has been a persistent problem with several negative economic and environmental consequences. In modern times, the buildup of biofouling causes a significant reduction in vessel speed, leading to increased power consumption, higher costs of operation, and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Two of the most widely used protection strategies to combat this highly complex and dynamic phenomenon include the application of biocide containing anti-fouling (AF), or more environmentally friendly non-toxic fouling-release (FR) coatings. Traditional FR coatings utilize low surface energy components such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), but often suffer mechanical failure …

Modification Of Diglycidyl Ether Of Bisphenol-A Epoxy Primer For Multi-Substrate Application, Gwendorlene Chea

Coatings and Polymeric Materials

Traditional vehicles and aircraft have consisted primarily of steel and aluminum alloys which due to their density, has resulted in various logistic problems including transportation, maneuverability, fuel efficiency. These hindrances have led to a major increase in the incorporation of composites material into this equipment. As the use of these composite increases, multi-substrate coating systems that can provide adequate corrosion protection to metal components, as well as superior adhesion and flexibility to the composites, are needed. The goal of this work is the modification of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A epoxy coating systems for improved flexibility and adhesion for the development …

Invited Perspective - Engaging Aspirations To Nurture Communities, Kentaro Toyama

Subsistence Marketplaces

For subsistence communities, the question is whether aspirations can be applied to motivate behavior that is, on the one hand consistent with people’s aspirations, but which might otherwise be difficult to elicit. Could poorer households be encouraged to save, to spend more on their children’s education, or to act against unhealthy social norms? A couple of examples suggest this is not only possible, but highly successful in contexts where other appeals fail.

Creation And Implementation Of The Innovation-Based Learning Framework: A Learning Analytics Approach, Lauren Singelmann

Electrical and Computer Engineering

To meet the national and international call for creative and innovative engineers, many engineering departments and classrooms are striving to create more authentic learning spaces where students are actively engaging with design and innovation activities. For example, one model for teaching innovation is Innovation-Based Learning (IBL) where students learn fundamental engineering concepts and apply them to an innovation project with the goal of producing value outsidethe classroom. The model has been fairly successful, but questions still remain about how to best support students and instructors in open-ended innovation spaces. To answer these questions, learning analytics and educational data mining (LA/EDM) …

The Genomic Alteration Landscape Of Pancreatic Duct Adenocarcinoma, David Adeleke

Genomics and Bioinformatics

By 2030, PDAC is projected to be the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. PDAC is a multifactorial disease driven by genomic alterations. Understanding this alteration landscape will both refine the knowledge of disease etiology and enhance disease stratifications, drug design, and targeted treatment. This study aimed to identify novel genetic alterations that are associated with pancreatic cancer biology and prognosis to further refine the genetic focus for therapy development, disease subtyping, and risk assessment in PDAC. To this end, SNV, CNV, and clinical data for PDAC patients were downloaded from the ICGC data portal and analyzed …