bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automating Contextualized Maintenance Documentation
Authors: Koornneef Hemmo  , Verhagen Wim J.C.  , Curran Richard
Published: February 2025

Currently, task support information in aircraft maintenance is mostly provided using paper-based solutions, which are burdensome, slow and prone to error. Aircraft maintenance documentation contains vast amounts of information irrelevant for the task at hand and even for the simplest tasks multiple documents need to be consulted. Next to these issues with the documentation itself, Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) have very limited on-site access to support information. These factors lead to 15–20% of hands-on-aircraft time being wasted on acquiring the right information or not using maintenance documentation for task support at all, risking maintenance error. This paper describes the development of a system for a first level of contextualization of maintenance documentation to simplify the retrieval of task support information. Combining a tailor-made ontology with a relational database system for Ontology-Based Data Access (OBDA), maintenance documents relevant to a specific aircraft registration mark can be identified. The system contributes to the research field of knowledge management by using OBDA for selecting relevant maintenance documents stored in a regular file folder. Future work will focus on increasing the level of contextualization, development of a mobile tool for on-site access and prototype verification and validation in an operational environment.
Amorphous Transdisciplinary Engineering: Object Orientation Meets Service Orientation with Emergent Multifidelity Management
Authors: Sobolewski Michael
Published: February 2025

Amorphous transdisciplinary engineering is the application of back-end object-oriented provider services and front-end service-oriented micro- and macro-services. Macroservices define dynamic aggregates of large number of provider services (applications, tools, and utilities) with emergent multifidelity management. On the one hand, provider services are local/remote objects having independent limited functionalities that are dynamically bound to microservices. On the other hand, macroservices are request services in terms of microservices and other macroservices with metafidelities that specify required federations of provider services. Metafidelities are fidelities of fidelities. A metafidelity is used by a fidelity management system to select (morph) for a macroservice a collection of microservices at runtime. A macroservice request is called a mograms – model or program, or both. Service mograms created by the end users at the system of system level exhibit emergent behavior of service federations at runtime. A mogram's service federation with associated fidelity management is continuously morphing to the most effective collections of provider services while skipping unsatisfactory transient federations at runtime.
Characterizing the Value Creation in Organizations That Implement Big Data Environments
Authors: Furtado Leonel  , Dutra Moisés  , Macedo Douglas
Published: February 2025

The identification of value creation in organizations is a complex process that involves internal and external factors to them. When applied to Big Data environments, this process becomes even more challenging because it takes also into account, from predictive analytics, the uncertainty about future processes of value creation. Big Data environments operate in a scale of large volumes of parallel-processed data; and aim to generate relevant information that otherwise would be impossible for traditional systems, especially if we expect a good performance of transaction speed and of coping with the extensive variety of data types, inherent to such environments. This paper aims to characterize the creation of value in organizations that implement Big Data. In order to fulfill this purpose, we undertook a theoretical study, which relied in a qualitative method approach of bibliographical, exploratory and descriptive nature. Finally, since this work is still on progress and it is not yet a conclusive proposal, we aim to compare our preliminary results to the typical perception of value creation, found in the literature. We also propose a discussion about the characterization of value creation in Big Data environments, to be taken further.
Bacterial Burden in Disease, Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Shoemark Deborah K.  , Allen Shelley J.
Published: February 2025

This review shows how our microbiome influences health and ultimately how well we age. Evidence linking oral bacteria to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is discussed in the context of aging, drawing together data from epidemiological, experimental, genetic and environmental studies. Immunosenescence results in increased bacterial load as cell-mediated and humoral immune responses wane, with the innate immune system contributing to a rise in circulating proinflammatory cytokines such as TNFand IL1&bgr;. Aging may favor the proliferation of anaerobes in the mouth eliciting a robust TNFresponse from the oral epithelium. Maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) against a backdrop of increasing bacterial load is important; prolonged exposure to high levels of TNFcompromises its integrity. Sensitive techniques now detect the “asymptomatic” presence of bacteria in areas previously thought as sterile, providing new insights into the wider distribution of components of the microbiome. These “immune-tolerated” bacteria may slowly multiply elsewhere until they elicit a chronic inflammatory response; some being considered causal in instances of atherosclerosis and back pain. Inflammatory processes, long associated with AD, have recently been further elucidated, in particular revealing the role of the inflammasomes. We propose for a subset of AD patients, aging favors the overgrowth of oral anaerobes, established earlier in life, provoking a pro-inflammatory innate response that weakens the BBB allowing bacteria to spread and quietly influence the pathogenesis of AD. Finally, we suggest that human polymorphisms, considered alongside components of the microbiome, may provide new avenues of research for the prevention and treatment of disease.
Anti-Viral Properties of Amyloid-&bgr; Peptides
Authors: Bourgade Karine  , Dupuis Gilles  , Frost Eric H.  , Fülöp Jr. Tamàs
Published: February 2025

Amyloid-&bgr; (A&bgr;) peptides generated by the amyloidogenic pathway of amyloid-&bgr; protein precursor processing contribute significantly to neurodegeneration characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The involvement of A&bgr; peptides in the etiology of AD remains a subject of debate. Data published in the last 6 years by three different groups have added a new twist by revealing that A&bgr; peptides could act as antimicrobial peptides (AMP) in in vitro assays against some common and clinically relevant microorganisms,inhibit replication of seasonal and pandemic strains of influenza A and HSV-1 virus. These observations are of significance with respect to the notion that pathogens may be important contributors to the development of AD, particularly in the case of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, which often resides in the same cerebral sites where AD arises. Here, we review the data that support the interpretation that A&bgr; peptides behave as AMP, with an emphasis on studies concerning HSV-1 and a putative molecular mechanism that suggests that interactions between A&bgr; peptides and the HSV-1 fusogenic protein gB lead to impairment of HSV-1 infectivity by preventing the virus from fusing with the plasma membrane. A number of avenues for future research are suggested.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and Other Pathogens are Key Causative Factors in Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Harris Steven A.  , Harris Elizabeth A.
Published: February 2025

This review focuses on research in epidemiology, neuropathology, molecular biology, and genetics regarding the hypothesis that pathogens interact with susceptibility genes and are causative in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Sporadic AD is a complex multifactorial neurodegenerative disease with evidence indicating coexisting multi-pathogen and inflammatory etiologies. There are significant associations between AD and various pathogens, including Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), Cytomegalovirus, and other Herpesviridae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, spirochetes, Helicobacter pylori, and various periodontal pathogens. These pathogens are able to evade destruction by the host immune system, leading to persistent infection. Bacterial and viral DNA and RNA and bacterial ligands increase the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules and activate the innate and adaptive immune systems. Evidence demonstrates that pathogens directly and indirectly induce AD pathology, including amyloid-&bgr; (A&bgr;) accumulation, phosphorylation of tau protein, neuronal injury, and apoptosis. Chronic brain infection with HSV-1, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and spirochetes results in complex processes that interact to cause a vicious cycle of uncontrolled neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Infections such as Cytomegalovirus, Helicobacter pylori, and periodontal pathogens induce production of systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines that may cross the blood-brain barrier to promote neurodegeneration. Pathogen-induced inflammation and central nervous system accumulation of A&bgr; damages the blood-brain barrier, which contributes to the pathophysiology of AD. Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) enhances brain infiltration by pathogens including HSV-1 and Chlamydophila pneumoniae. ApoE4 is also associated with an increased pro-inflammatory response by the immune system. Potential antimicrobial treatments for AD are discussed, including the rationale for antiviral and antibiotic clinical trials.
Inflammatory Aspects of Alzheimer Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders
Authors: Schwab Claudia  , McGeer Patrick L.
Published: February 2025

Alzheimer and a number of other neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the presence of reactive microglia and reactive astrocytes in association with the lesions. The classic view that microglia exist primarily in either a resting or activated state needs to be broadened in view of recent results. Resting microglia are in constant activity sampling their surround. Activated microglia may be pro-inflammatory, releasing inflammatory cytokines and other inflammatory mediators, or anti-inflammatory, promoting the healing process. There is evidence that microglial phagocytosis is more powerful in the anti-inflammatory state. Activated astrocytes also have pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties. In the pro-inflammatory state they release inflammatory cytokines. In the anti-inflammatory state they release various growth factors. In AD and other neurodegenerative diseases, both microglia and astrocytes are in a pro-inflammatory state. From a therapeutic point of view it is desirable to find methods of tipping the balance towards an anti-inflammatory state for both types of glia.
Amyloid: Friend and Foe
Authors: Jain Neha  , Hammer Neal D.  , Wang Xuan  , McGuffie Bryan A.  , Chapman Matthew R.
Published: February 2025

Amyloidogenesis is the aggregation of soluble proteins into structurally conserved fibers. Amyloid fibers are distinguished by their resistance to proteinase K, tinctorial properties and &bgr;-sheet-rich secondary structure. Amyloid formation is a hallmark of many human diseases including Alzheimer's, Huntington's and the prion diseases. Therefore, understanding amyloidogenesis will provide insights into the development of therapeutics that target these debilitating diseases. A new class of ‘functional’ amyloids promises a unique glimpse at how nature has harnessed the amyloid fiber to accomplish important physiological tasks. Functional amyloids are produced by organisms spanning all domains of life. Understanding how functional amyloid assembly is coordinated will provide new perspectives on what can go wrong when proteins adopt &bgr;-rich polymers. Herein we review amyloidogenesis, with special attention focused on the similarities and differences between the best characterized disease-associated amyloidogenic protein, amyloid-&bgr; (A&bgr;), and the formation of several functional amyloids. The implications of studying functional amyloidogenesis and the strategies organisms employ to limit exposure to toxic intermediates will also be discussed.
Bacterial Amyloid and DNA are Important Constituents of Senile Plaques: Further Evidence of the Spirochetal and Biofilm Nature of Senile Plaques
Authors: Miklossy Judith
Published: February 2025

It has long been known that spirochetes form clumps or micro colonies in vitro and in vivo. Cortical spirochetal colonies in syphilitic dementia were considered as reproductive centers for spirochetes. Historic and recent data demonstrate that senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are made up by spirochetes. Spirochetes, are able to form biofilm in vitro. Senile plaques are also reported to contain elements of biofilm constituents. We expected that A&bgr;PP and A&bgr; (the main components of senile plaques) also occur in pure spirochetal biofilms, and bacterial DNA (an important component of biofilm) is also present in senile plaques. Histochemical, immunohistochemical, and in situ hybridization techniques and the TUNEL assay were used to answer these questions. The results obtained demonstrate that A&bgr; and DNA, including spirochete-specific DNA, are key components of both pure spirochetal biofilms and senile plaques in AD and confirm the biofilm nature of senile plaques. These results validate previous observations that A&bgr;PP and/or an A&bgr;PP-like amyloidogenic protein are an integral part of spirochetes, and indicate that bacterial and host derived A&bgr; are both constituents of senile plaques. DNA fragmentation in senile plaques further confirms their bacterial nature and provides biochemical evidence for spirochetal cell death. Spirochetes evade host defenses, locate intracellularly, form more resistant atypical forms and notably biofilms, which contribute to sustain chronic infection and inflammation and explain the slowly progressive course of dementia in AD. To consider co-infecting microorganisms is equally important, as multi-species biofilms result in a higher resistance to treatments and a more severe dementia.
Possible Conceptual Approaches to the Renewal of Control over the State Border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation
Authors: Derkach Olga
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this article is to describe possible conceptual approaches to the renewal of control over the state border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation under the circumstances of the military aggression and temporary occupation of the sovereign territory of Ukraine by Russia. With regard to the usage of the only political-diplomatic means of conflict solving, two conceptual approaches were developed. The first one focuses on the assistance of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. The second one touches upon the deployment of the OSCE Police Armed Mission on the territory of the temporarily uncontrolled districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.
Corruption in the Ukrainian Defence Sector: A Threat to National Security
Authors: Wawro Leah
Published: February 2025

Corruption in the defence sector diminishes public trust, reduces military effectiveness, and damages the legitimacy of the state. In Ukraine, high levels of corruption are having an impact in the conflict in the East. Despite some reform efforts, tackling corruption remains a vital need. Drawing on the findings of the Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index 2015, published by Transparency International, this paper examines the main corruption risks facing the Ukrainian defence establishment. It identifies policy and budget transparency, procurement, operations, personnel and public engagement as key corruption risk areas, and makes recommendations for reform.
Protection and Recovery of Tampered Images Using Self-Embedding Procedures
Authors: Asatryan David  , Asatryan Naira
Published: February 2025

In this paper, the problem of detecting unauthorized changes to the content of a digital image, identifying distorted parts of the image, and partially recovering lost information are considered. The basic approach for tamper detection is a watermarking procedure where the type and parameters of the distortion of the watermark can be used to infer fraud, locate the damaged parts of the image, and to recover them. In this paper, a watermarking procedure is used that allows manipulation of different size ratios of the image-container and watermark. Using this technique, a self-embedding procedure is developed where part or all of the original image are embedded as a watermark. The effectiveness of proposed technique is shown through numerical experiments.
Terrorism as a Threat to Tourism
Authors: Rodzoś Jolanta
Published: February 2025

This paper discusses the problem of terrorism in the context of the travelling and tourism industry. It presents regions especially vulnerable to politically motivated violence, debates types of threats in different countries, and describes their causes. It shows some examples of places which, in spite of having huge natural or cultural heritage, have lost their former importance as a tourism destination because of terrorist activities. The financial and social effects of the decline in the tourism industry is emphasized. The paper also describes the difficult process of restoring the safety, good image and attractiveness of places affected by terrorism.
Toward a Better Future Through Maritime Security
Authors: Mucedola Andrea
Published: February 2025

Maritime security operations are extremely costly activities. Nations are trying to match their limited resources to increasing political demands. The ocean's role has only grown since the end of the cold war, and presents new challenges that must be resolved. Where once battleships reigned, flexible, multi-role ships are now engaged in constabulary operations to preserve security and stability at sea. This calls for a more holistic approach, and new models to reduce judgment subjectivity.
Hide and Seek in the Information Age
Authors: Markarova Gayane
Published: February 2025

This chapter focuses on the history and basics of data hiding. Its main goal is to explain data hiding and data hiding methods using examples from day-to-day life.
Real Time Streaming Algorithm
Authors: Margarov Gevorg  , Markosyan Mher  , Alaverdyan Yeghisabet
Published: February 2025

Timely behavior of modern information security and protection is the defining characteristic of real time systems when faced with deadlines by which control responses must be produced or catastrophic failures may occur. In this chapter we present an algorithm to obtain end-to-end security for real-time communication systems, particularly in IP telephony. This chapter presents an asymmetric streaming cipher to encrypt real-time data units produced by an analogue-to-digital device. The robustness of the introduced one-way trapdoor function is grounded on the complexity of inverting highly non-linear Boolean permutations designed over non-commutative and non-associative algebraic structures. Moreover, the efficiency of the proposed method is achieved by providing real-time computation, and by eliminating the preliminary latent generation of embedded components and session keys.
Secure Real-Time Data Transfer in the Cloud
Authors: Hovsepyan Vladimir
Published: February 2025

A new method is developed for securing data exchange processes. A compute module is used to secure data transferred from different devices to the cloud environment. Encryption is done through a symmetric algorithm, which is adapted to the compute module in order to provide a high level of speed and security. A corresponding software solution for managing the encryption and decryption process is also described.
Distributed Data Storage in Cloud Systems Based on Error Correcting Codes
Authors: Khemchyan Artak
Published: February 2025

A new method was developed for secure storage of data in cloud systems. Data is distributed across different areas of cloud storage. The distribution is performed through a threshold scheme based on error-correcting codes for faster calculations, which provides a high level of data security, integrity and availability.
Arguing About Uncertain Heterogeneous Information for Threat Assessment
Authors: Rogova Galina  , Llinas James
Published: February 2025

This chapter presents a mixed initiative threat assessment model combining evidential and abductive reasoning. The evidential reasoning produces pro and contra arguments for the each threat component (intent, opportunity, and capability) while considering uncertain heterogeneous (soft and hard) transient information as pieces of alternative stories (hypotheses) based on “what might happen.” The belief-based abductive reasoning computes probabilities of these stories by combining beliefs in all the arguments expressed within different uncertainty frameworks (probability, possibility, beliefs). Beliefs in the arguments are fused and used for selecting decisions on either alerting an analyst on potential or imminent threat, or as a basis for continuing observations for making a better decision. The fusion process is complicated by different models used for representing uncertainty characterizing soft and hard data. The chapter addresses this problem by utilizing a unified framework of credibility representation within the Transferable Belief Model. The results of a case study designed to illustrate the described model are also presented.
Information Security – Basis of the Education System for Digital Generation Z
Authors: Margarov Gevorg
Published: February 2025

This article investigates the problem of updating the education system for the digital generation (Generation Z) based on the latest information security methods and practices. The generations timeline is presented. Aims and objectives of security education are revealed. Basic ideas of security and privacy are considered for using social networks in education. It is concluded that information security will continue to be a central concern for all sectors, most notably in the education sector.
Building Agile Human/Machine Teams with Controlled Natural Language
Authors: Braines Dave
Published: February 2025

The military and civilian cyber environment continues to grow in complexity with new capabilities and services appearing regularly. This richness of structure and variety needs to be understood and where possible mapped or modelled to enable situation awareness of the current status and potential threats as well as the constant changes to the environment. In our ongoing research for the International Technology Alliance, we have been investigating the potential value of Controlled Natural Languages (CNLs) to support agile human-machine systems to support shared situation awareness in a variety of domains and to enable intelligence reporting, fusion and dissemination. In this paper, we present this approach and provide a number of examples of use from a variety of domains, including profiles of insurgents, contacts, communities, and networks to support intelligence analysts and other operatives in the field. We have also applied this approach to the sensemaking process, and to a variety of activities to support intelligence analysts including hypotheses, exploration of rationale and assumption, presentation of complex information through storytelling, and interacting with information using a conversational interaction. We have also started human experiments with a conversational software agent to enable the field user to directly interact with such information in our CNL knowledgebase.
Are We Ready to Educate Security Professionals?
Authors: Genči Jan
Published: February 2025

Speaking about security education seems to be useless. Practically every information technology university teacher is ready to claim that students are adequately prepared in the area of security. But considering security education in terms of data analysis shows that the topic is much wider than at first expected. It spans not only different areas of technologies and data analysis, but covers unexpected areas such as psychology or sociology. In this sense, we have to educate security specialists in an interdisciplinary manner, and be ready to work in teams with members trained in different areas.
Outreach and Public Awareness
Authors: Cameron Ian
Published: February 2025

Telemedicine and communications are global companions – often sharing the same digital highways, platforms, and codecs to deliver various forms of data including video and graphical images from one person to another in a different county, country, or continent. During a disaster, both telemedicine and telecommunications have the potential to support a positive response. However, there are fundamental differences – telemedicine can bypass many political, economic, social, technical, legal and organizational barriers so that someone from a deprived background who has been injured and lost everything during a disaster can have access to a medical consultation from the most expensive and highly qualified physicians anywhere in the world. But communications, such as traditional and social media, are often limited by location, social, economic, technical and demographic factors and most importantly the content of the message is subject to the vagaries of personal perception, emotional distortion or false propaganda. Therefore, in order to show the benefits of the NATO Multinational Telemedicine System (MnTS) and share the findings of this project with a global audience we needed to take great care about the content of our outreach and public awareness program as well as the media platforms we chose to disseminate our message. The objective of this chapter is to share the methodology and ethics that underpin the outreach and public awareness strategy. Over the course of the MnTS, 3 videos were created. There are 4 appendices at the end of this chapter – one showing the 3 scripts which were used for creating 3 films and the other showing some Videographer Guidelines: these are provided as a record of the video content and also because they might be of use to those of you who want to make videos of your own to showcase your own projects.
Incorporation of Telemedicine in Disaster Management
Authors: Latifi Rifat  , Doarn Charles R.  , Zoicas Claudiu  , Arafat Raed  , Hostiuc Filip
Published: February 2025

Disasters present a world-wide problem that requires systematic, methodological preparation, and response by multiple partners. The disaster management cycle includes mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery. To effectively respond to major disaster crises and engage in management of disasters, often a multi-national coordinated system is implemented. Telemedicine technologies should be incorporated into these systems based on the effectiveness of mobile technologies and capabilities of providing remote expertise in crisis situations. Multiple projects and organizations are engaged in testing the effectiveness of training, preparation, and simulated responses in order to better manage disaster response and recovery. NATO has recently tested the effectiveness of a coordinated Multinational Telemedicine System (MnTS) that provides a model for effective disaster management using telemedicine technology. The solution for effective disaster management is to create telemedicine technology prior to a disaster that can be incorporated into the management phases. This solution will ultimately save lives and reduce costs associated with disaster response.
Contention-Aware Scheduling Policies for Fairness and Throughput
Authors: Haritatos Alexandros-Herodotos  , Papadopoulou Nikela  , Nikas Konstantinos  , Goumas Georgios  , Koziris Nectarios
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a fast and simple contention-aware scheduling policy for CMP systems that relies on information collected at runtime with no additional hardware support. Our approach is based on a classification scheme that detects activity and possible interference across the entire memory hierarchy, including both shared caches and memory links. We schedule multithreaded applications taking into account their class, targeting both total system throughput and application fairness in terms of fair distribution of co-execution penalties. We have implemented a user level scheduler and evaluated our policy in several scenarios with different contention levels and a variety of multiprogrammed multithreaded workloads. Our results demonstrate that the proposed scheduling policy outperforms the established Linux and Gang schedulers, as well as a number of research contention-aware schedulers, both in system throughput and application fairness.
Building Counter Narratives to Terrorism?
Authors: Buschbom Jan
Published: February 2025

Based on more than 15 years of work experience with ideologicalized and radicalized clienteles, the paper starts depicting a working model of the entangled psycho-social dynamics of ideologicalization and radicalization, the Ideologicalization/Radicalization Cycle, and draws methodological conclusions from there on how to approach an ideologicalized and / or radicalized clientele. Everybody who works on a professional level with such a clientele has to draw into account that ideology and radicalization are deeply rooted in a person's needs, drives to draw sense, and to build up self-esteem, argues the author. Thus, simply countering the ideological narrative runs into danger of confirmation of the ideologicalized interpretation regimes instead of revoking them. The pedagogical concept promoted by the author is explicitly based on a non-confrontational approach.
Counter-Terrorist Operations Using Drones in the Context of the Right to Life
Authors: Jankuloska Marija
Published: February 2025

Tackling the threats involving contemporary terrorism that employs unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or ‘drones’) for targeted killings during counter-terrorist operations has raised serious concerns regarding the purported non-compliance with the international-legal principles and standards. It consequently revived the debates over the complex relationship of International Law of Armed Conflict (ILOAC) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) and the difficulties that arise from the parallel application of both legal regimes. Therefore, this article seeks to elucidate the conceptual differences between the two legal frameworks in the light of the current counter-terrorist operations carried out by the means of UAV technology, particularly in the context of the right to life. Furthermore, this article seeks to contextualize the rules of both the legal paradigms in respect of drone usage and to infer upon how the frequent utilization of advanced technology in counter-terrorist operations can be reconciled with the current international law of the use of force.
The Nexus Between Cybercrime and Cyberterrorism
Authors: Stytz Martin R.  , Banks Sheila B.
Published: February 2025

The opposing commander's mind is an important target and successfully striking it can provide a decisive advantage – Liddell Hart
Security Challenges on the South-Eastern Flank of the Euro-Atlantic Border
Authors: Pop Adrian
Published: February 2025

The paper addresses several security challenges and scenarios pertaining to the South-Eastern flank of the Euro-Atlantic border: the rise of anti-European, nationalist and populist movements and the resurgence of separatist movements in the EU, the refugee crisis, the prospects for a two speed Europe, the Ukrainian crisis, the rekindling of some unresolved/frozen conflicts in the Black Sea-Caucasus region, the turmoil in Russia and Central Asia, the unfinished state-building and nation-building processes in the Western Balkans, the corruption-organized crime-terrorism nexus, and the new wave of terrorism. Last but not least, the paper puts forward some conclusions and recommendations that could help combating terrorism.
Identifying Some Issues in the NATO Zone Through Trajectories About the Future of Terrorism and Counter-Terror Strategies
Authors: Destatte Philippe  , Florescu Elisabeta  , Kessler Garry  , von Reibnitz Hélène  , Steinmüller Karlheinz
Published: February 2025

The participants to the workshop were divided into three working groups, to develop potential scenarios that would help identifying some possible developments concerning the future of terrorism and counterterrorism in the NATO zone at the horizon 2035. Using previous days' inputs and the trajectories approach, the bifurcations method has been applied to illustrate alternative scenarios. The three groups were: Ethics; Science & Technology; and Counter-Terror Strategies. Working with given hypothesis and five variables identified during a former exercise, the groups designed potential futures based on three centers of gravity in the system: 1. The defence of democracy, the UN values and ethics; 2. Terrorists' goals, preparedness, and strategies; and 3. Technology as an anticipative tool to terrorism.
Emerging Technologies and Potential Measures for the Pre-Detection of Terrorism Intent
Authors: Gordon Theodore J.  , Florescu Elisabeta  , Sharan Yair
Published: February 2025

While some technological breakthroughs enable the development of increasingly destructive weapons, others will provide security agencies with new pre-detection tools. In preamble to a NATO Advanced Research Workshop on the potential role of new technologies and methods to pre-detect potential terrorism intent, an expert RTD was conducted on this subject. It assessed the potential effectiveness, likelihood, and easiness of implementation of some 19 new technologies and detection methods as well as their eventual unintended consequences. This chapter presents the results and analysis of that assessment.
The “Swarm Wolf”. Understanding to Prevent the Evolution of Terror
Authors: Antinori Arije
Published: February 2025

From Mohammed Merah to Omar Mateen, the progressive spread of the Jihadisphere shows the increasing pervasion and persuasion power of Jihadi “culture”. The Jihadisphere is expanding its borders, fostering the convergence of violence, xenophobia, hate speech, extremism and terrorism, transforming itself in a huge cyber-“hub of hate”. By turning inspiration into experience, the Jihadisphere is changing its original nature: it is converting the Islamic State ideology and propaganda supporters into “Islamic State of Mind” supporters. In the near future, it will globally interconnect vulnerable and atomized lone actors in “real world”, giving life to a sort of totalitarian “Swarm Wolf” intelligence. Therefore, in terms of prevention of the evolution of terror, the author underlines the need to deeply explore and understand the multilayered dynamic structure of the (cyber-)placenta where the “Swarm Wolf” seed is rising.
How to Counter the Extremists on Social Media
Authors: Al Adwan Awni  , Brancalion Lind Daniel
Published: February 2025

Social media in the 21st century has become an instrumental tool in various terrorist groups in their attempts to recruit new members, finance their organizations, and plan attacks. Of these groups, ISIS is the most notable. Starting in 2004 with the filming of the murder of Nick Berg by Al-Zarqawi, the figurehead of ISIS, legions of fans inspired by this event took to the internet and created the violent online jihad that we see today. Social media has today become the most important tool for terrorist organizations such as ISIS to spread their message, attracting international attention through sensational acts, such as widely publicized massacres and beheadings. There is, however, more to it than that; at the same time, social media is used to spread the “positive” side of the Caliphate with interviews of people who depict a life in Eden, where “true Islam” can flourish. It is used to groom and convince individuals across the world to move to the territories of the terrorist organizations, to help them in their cause and if that is not possible, to plan an attack in their home countries. The response to this has been insufficient, but new ways are being tested and, with cooperation, there could be a solution to the problems social media has posed in the hands of extremists.
The Foreign Fighter Phenomenon: Case Study of the Netherlands
Authors: de Roy van Zuijdewijn Jeanine
Published: February 2025

This chapter looks at the foreign fighters coming from the Netherlands. Firstly, it will present facts and figures about the Dutch foreign fighter phenomenon, and compare this information to what is known about other European foreign fighters. The second part of the paper will look at the response to the foreign fighter phenomenon: how has it made its way into threat assessments and what kind of policies have been developed to respond to this development? The chapter concludes that the Netherlands has seen large numbers of citizens leaving for Syria and Iraq, but that it has not witnessed any concrete jihadist plots linked to foreign fighters on its own soil. However, it has been confronted with other developments that show that the transnational threat of foreign fighters is also real for the Netherlands.
The Elephant in the Room: Russian Foreign Fighters in Ukraine
Authors: Rácz András
Published: February 2025

This chapter addresses the question of Russian foreign fighters in Ukraine fighting for or against the Ukrainian government. An effort is made to determine their numbers, channels of recruitment as well as their main motivations to take up arms. All in all, the main conclusion is that the active involvement of the Russian state in the flow of foreign fighters makes this case a highly unique one.
From a Place at the Table to Participation: The Opportunities and Constraints Created by the 1325 Framework in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Davis Laura
Published: February 2025

The wars that ravaged the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the late twentieth century were formally brought to an end with the Global Accord of 2002. Yet violent conflict involving armed groups and State security agents continues and may well increase further as political tensions mount in the country and the region. Women's experience of the conflict—particularly as victims of sexual violence—has come to international attention, not least through the framework of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325. This article draws on extensive research conducted in the DRC between 2006 and 2015 to analyse the 1325 National Action Plan (2010) and to identify the opportunities and constraints the 1325 framework presents for women and girls in the DRC. It closes by recommending ways in which donors in the DRC and in other contexts may promote gender equality and women's participation through and beyond the 1325+ framework.
From Instrumental Awareness-Raising Plans Towards Impact Plans? Finland's Implementation of National Action Plans on UNSCR 1325
Authors: Haapalainen Sara
Published: February 2025

This article examines the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325, and the subsequent related resolutions on women, peace, and security, in Finland and among Finnish actors. Alongside other Nordic countries, Finland is often considered as “a 1325 champion” in international arenas. However, there are many challenges involved in achieving the goals of the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda in Finland. This article examines Finland's National Action Plans (NAP) on WPS and their implementation processes. It provides an overview of Finland's first and second NAPs, showcases some progress made after the adoption of the first NAP in 2008, and addresses key challenges that have emerged in the implementation of these NAPs. Lastly, the article discusses the way forward and outlines some core concerns for the future.
Terrorist Use of the Internet and Cyberspace: Issues and Responses
Authors: Kavanagh Camino  , Carr Madeline  , Bosco Francesca  , Hadley Adam
Published: February 2025

The authors of this paper consider recent developments involving terrorist use of the internet and cyberspace for a range of purposes, as well as renewed concerns relating to potential terrorist attacks against critical infrastructure and their control systems. Following from an overview of recent trends, they discuss public and private efforts to respond to existing and emerging threats. The authors anchor these within the context of current efforts to manage a range of interrelated cyber security challenges, focusing predominantly on the international and regional response, as well as efforts by industry actors to deal with terrorist use of their products and services.
Interrupting Engagement with Online Extremist Content: Utilising “Noisy” Foreign Fighters
Authors: Barnes Jamal  , Lucas Kosta
Published: February 2025

The problem of foreign fighters travelling to Iraq and Syria has drawn attention to the role the Internet plays in radicalisation and in the spreading of terrorist propaganda. The European Union and Member States have sought to prevent foreign fighters from leaving Europe by taking down violent online content and punishing foreign fighters. This chapter argues that although some foreign fighters pose a security threat to Europe and other countries around the world, not all foreign fighters are terrorists. We argue that returned foreign fighters that do not pose a security risk should play a role in counter-narrative strategies by engaging with potential foreign fighters. We show that returned foreign fighters have a credible voice and unique knowledge of the conditions under terrorist groups such as the Islamic State (IS) and this experience should be drawn upon to develop effective counter-narratives to counter violent extremism.
Interpreting Public Reactions to Terrorist Events Using Open Source Network Analysis
Authors: Grinnell Daniel
Published: February 2025

This chapter explores how post-event open source media analysis can provide new insights to usefully inform the work of strategic and operational decision makers. Informed by the analysis of empirical data deriving from a technique for the rapid measurement of the proportional impact that individual accounts and the ideological stance to which they belong is having on public discourse, this chapter aims to identify aspects of public reactions which could be better understood in the wake of terrorist events. Developing the implications of this approach, the chapter considers the opportunities and challenges for police, security, and governmental bodies in using these kinds of data to understand the segmentations, the polarisations, and the generation of conflict which take place as a result of the differing opinions and stances of those participating in open source communications.
Beyond Big Data: Surveillance, Metadata and Technology-Enabled Intelligence Opportunities in Counter-Terrorism
Authors: Wells David
Published: February 2025

In an increasingly digital world, intelligence agencies in 2016 have potential access to more data, and more types of data, than ever before. Simultaneously, three of the key terrorism trends since 2012 point to the potential benefits of taking a big data approach to counterterrorism. Firstly, terrorism is bigger in size and scale than ever before, meaning that many intelligence agencies are attempting to monitor more individuals than a traditional approach allows. Terrorism is also transnational; narrow, domestically focused datasets are unlikely to hold all of the pieces of the puzzle. Finally, data-generating technology is central to the activities of the predominant terrorist group Islamic State. There are potential obstacles to a big data approach, most notably the spread of encryption as standard. But big data offers unique benefits for intelligence agencies, allowing them to operate at scale, respond to threat intelligence quickly, and identify new intelligence targets. As in other fields including science and big business, data collection is just the first part of the process. Intelligence agencies need to interrogate the data with smart, focused questions, whether algorithmic or analyst - driven. And while these methods offer unique value, they should only supplement, not replace, other intelligence collection methods. To succeed in modern counter-terrorism, nations require specialist capabilities such as big data analysis combined with intelligence sharing partnerships at a national and international level.
Internet Forensics as a Tool for Responding to Cyber-Fronts
Authors: Gunestas Murat  , Yilmaz Kamil
Published: February 2025

In addition to the use that terrorists have been making of the Internet for a variety of purposes and ends, there are also a number of cyber-criminal organisations doing likewise. These groups, which we refer to as “cyber-fronts”, organise in support of terrorist groups, and have members who are very active on the Internet. Political motivations ensure the need for these groups to survive and to continue to grow online. They will continue to use the Internet to their advantage, in particular the opportunity it affords to remain anonymous – one of the biggest motivators for these groups to devote such time to Internet activities. This chapter suggests that Internet forensics is a powerful tool against such highly active cyber-fronts, and argues that the use thereof would add another significant dimension to the way investigations are currently conducted.
(En)gendering Cyberterrorism in the UK News Media: A Discursive Analysis
Authors: Jarvis Lee
Published: February 2025

This chapter explores how the UK news media represents – or constructs – the threat of cyberterrorism. Drawing on original empirical research, it argues that the news media relies upon a relatively coherent discursive framework in which a vulnerable, passive and weak ‘self’ is juxtaposed with a proactive, resourceful and determined cyber-terrorist other. The chapter then argues that this construction is reflective of the gendered character of this discourse more widely in which news media round cyberterrorism is overwhelmingly: written by male and gender-less authors; reliant upon male and gender-less experts; focused on the actions of male characters; and far more frequently illustrated by images of men, architecture and technology than it is by images of identifiably female characters.
Critical Infrastructure Cyber-Security Risk Management
Authors: Spyridopoulos Theodoros  , Maraslis Konstantinos  , Tryfonas Theo  , Oikonomou George
Published: February 2025

Traditional IT cyber-security risk management methods are based on the evaluation of risks calculated as the likelihood of cyber-security incidents occurring. However, these probabilities are usually estimations or guesses based on past experience and incomplete data. Incorrect estimations can lead to errors in the evaluation of risks that can ultimately affect the protection of the system. This issue is also transferred to methods used in Industrial Control Systems (ICSs), as they are mainly adaptations of such traditional approaches. Additionally, conventional methods fail to adequately address the increasing threat environment and the highly interdependent critical nature of ICSs, while proposed methods by the research community are as yet far from providing a solution. The importance of securely managing ICS infrastructures is growing, as they are systems embedded in critical national infrastructure (e.g. city traffic lights controls) and thus a potentially attractive target for organized cyber-criminals and terrorists. In this Chapter we present a novel approach that combines Stafford Beer's Viable System Model (VSM) with Game Theory in order to develop a risk management process that addresses the above issues. The model we develop provides a holistic, cost-efficient cyber-security solution that takes into account interdependencies of critical components as well as the potential impact of different attack strategies.