Defence Science Research Articles

Design, Development, and Validation of a Military Orientated Re-configurable Cognitive Task Battery

The United Kingdom’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has developed an innovative military cognitive task battery tool titled: Interactive Measures of Performance and Assessment of Cognitive Tasks (IMPACT). The purpose of the tool is to support the objective assessment of cognitive task performance and task demand across a range of military system types, use cases and experimental settings. IMPACT consists of six, reconfigurable, generic military tasks, and an intuitive user interface for the experimenter to configure the tool and collect data. Initial validation of the IMPACT tool has been undertaken and a number of early adopters have used the tool to support trials, system development and experimentation. The validation results show that the six individual IMPACT tasks broadly stimulate the associated cognitive attributes; as mapped and originally conceived during the design and development of the tool; as measured by subjective assessment techniques, psychophysiological monitoring, and performance measures. IMPACT continues to be refined in response to feedback from the validation exercise and early adopters of the tool.

UK National Fingerprint Collaborative Exercise 2022-23

In 2022–2023 the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) designed and conducted a two-part fingerprint Collaborative Exercise (CE). The CE focussed on fingermarks contaminated in blood as they provide a complex scenario for forensic units and it involved both fingermark visualisation and comparison elements. Participants were requested to treat the exercise as a major crime submission following internal protocols and were invited to provide comments relating to how the marks were deposited (if appropriate). Overall, forensic units performed well within both parts of the exercise. The exercise highlighted the importance of conducting sequential fingermark visualisation techniques, utilising additional lighting techniques and maintaining detailed notes throughout the fingerprint examination process. The outputs from the CE provided opportunities for forensic units to learn from one another, raise the level of understanding of blood contaminated fingermarks and identify areas of improvement which can be incorporated into internal processes.

State Information Security – Threats and Risks in the Third Decade of the 21st Century

The article is devoted to the categories of threats and risks to state information security. The author starts from the assumption that the dynamic development of modern society has become an important factor of change in the security and defence environment. The aim of the publication is to identify threats to the shielding apparatus of processes related to the flow of news. It is worth mentioning that the intercessory-defensive nature of the institution can be understood directly or indirectly, as destructive actions interfering with the security subject. The concept of risk is associated with the uncertainty resulting from the security subject's actions, with its consequences, especially undesirable and unforeseen. The author therefore puts forward a thesis proclaiming the necessity for authorities (understood as a security subject) to acquire defensive and offensive skills in the infosphere. In doing so, he makes two points: mastering the capabilities mentioned above only reduces the level of risk, but does not eliminate it. Realistically taming these skills requires first and foremost education on many levels, from the basics of ‘cyber security’ behaviour to the professional training of information security specialists eo ipso, and thus capable of applying both IT and engineering knowledge and at the same time social sciences, above all defence sciences.

Revisiting the HMAS Swan Scandal and Histories of Sexual Harassment in the Australian Defence Force

In September 1993, the Australian media was abuzz over a Naval Board of Inquiry which investigated allegations of sexual abuse on the HMAS Swan. Following the Board of Inquiry and media coverage, the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel referred the matter to a new, broader Senate Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in the Australian Defence Force. This inquiry received 122 submissions and handed down its final report in August 1994. The HMAS Swan inquiries were neither the first nor the last major reports investigating abuse in the Australian armed forces. Indeed, media reports and new inquiries every few years suggest a cycle of serial epiphanies – to borrow a phrase from Aboriginal researcher Maggie Walter – about cultures of abuse within the ADF. Yet, what set the HMAS Swan scandal apart from earlier ones was: 1. The interest and interventions taken by the political class, and 2. That it centred on sexual abuse and the status of women in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This article revisits the HMAS Swan inquiries thirty years later, exploring their findings, legacies and shortcomings. It explores why what could have been a turning point in the treatment of women in the ADF instead became just another inquiry.

MyoD Over-expression Reprograms Elephant Seal Fibroblasts into Muscle Cells

Ex vivo tissue culture allows the study of complex cellular mechanisms that are relevant to physiological responses while overcoming the challenges presented by studying animals that are not tractable. In a primary cell culture system, certain proliferating cells can be functionally reprogrammed into other cell types via overexpression of key genes. Dermal fibroblasts can theoretically be reprogrammed into muscle cells, which are often challenging to obtain from wild organisms but offer a unique system to study metabolic responses, by overexpression of the myogenic transcription factor myoD. We derived primary dermal fibroblasts from Northern elephant seal (NES) skin samples and propagated them in primary culture. NES cells respire, stain positive for fibroblast markers (vimentin and PDGFR), and are amenable to electroporation. We overexpressed GFP-myoD in NES fibroblasts and conducted antibiotic selection and purification by FACS. As expected, expression of myoD was higher in transfected cells than in controls according to qPCR analysis (t-test p< 0.05). Treatment with small molecules (CHIR99021, Forskolin and Repsox) enhanced myoD expression. Furthermore, fibroblasts overexpressing myoD also expressed downstream myogenenic markers (myogenin, myosin heavy chain 1 and myosin heavy chain 8). MyoD-overexpressing cells differentiate into myotubes, become multinucleated and stain positively for myosin heavy chain 1. RNAseq analysis confirmed a transcriptional profile of myoD expressing cells, which is unique and different from the naive dermal elephant seal fibroblasts. Establishing differentiated muscle fibers from other mature cell types could provide a unique platform to conduct mechanistic studies in species where muscle tissue samples cannot be obtained from live animals. The Department of Defense National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Non-geodesic winding design method for the composite shell of unequal-pole-hole solid rocket motor

Advanced composite materials have the advantages of high specific strength, high specific modulus, good fatigue resistance, good shock absorption performance, and strong designability. They are widely used in the fields of national defense science and technology and civil engineering. To make a more accurate winding design of the composite shell of the non-equidistant solid rocket motor, based on the ANSYS ACP composite structure design and analysis software, this paper uses the cubic spline function method to design the fiber winding thickness of the shell head section for a solid rocket motor. The Runge-Kutta method is used to calculate the changing winding angle of the non-geodesic line, and the changing winding angle and winding thickness on the head are simulated based on the look-up table interpolation table module in ACP. Finally, the mechanical properties of the designed shell under certain internal pressure are simulated and analyzed. Through the simulation analysis of the designed engine model, it is found that the connection between the front head and the barrel section is a weak profit, and the follow-up study should reinforce this area.

Countering Hybrid Threats: Challenges and the Role of Defense Science

This study examines hybrid threats' evolution, national security implications, and defense science's role in countering and strengthening defense capabilities using secondary data analysis. The research aims to identify key trends and strategies for countering hybrid threats effectively, with a focus on the role of defense science in enhancing national defense capabilities. Qualitative research methods are employed to analyze existing literature and case studies on hybrid threats and defense science contributions. Findings suggest that hybrid threats have evolved significantly in the contemporary security landscape, necessitating adaptive and innovative defense strategies. Defense science plays a critical role in developing advanced technologies and methodologies to counter hybrid threats, including cybersecurity measures, information warfare tactics, and strategic communication strategies. Recommendations are provided for policymakers and defense practitioners to strengthen defense capabilities and mitigate the challenges of hybrid warfare, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, international cooperation, and human capital development. In conclusion, the study underscores the importance of integrating insights from defense science into defense planning and preparedness efforts to effectively counter hybrid threats and safeguard national security.

The Role of Defense Science Philosophy in Determining Strategies to Maintain The Sovereignty and Integrity of The Unitary State of The Republic Indonesia in Industrial Revolution 4.0

The Role of Defense Science Philosophy in Determining Strategies to Maintain The Sovereignty and Integrity of The Unitary State of The Republic Indonesia in Industrial Revolution 4.0

Na krawędzi odkrywki. Praktyki postartystyczne i zaangażowanie klimatyczne na plenerach w Opolnie-Zdroju

The author analyzes the network of activist-artistic practices carried out as part of transdisciplinary gatherings in Opolno-Zdrój, located on the edge of the Turów open-pit coal mine, where the pioneering artistic ecological plein-air event Ziemia Zgorzelecka “Science and art in defense of the natural human environment” took place in 1971. The author describes these activities, conducted by the Office for Post-Artistic Services, using the theory of post-artistic practices and “usology,” and pointing out similarities and differences with related concepts of artivism, socially engaged art, or art with community. Borrowing concepts from the field of environmental humanities and written art theory in the context of the climate crisis, the author shows how those associated with the Office experiment with using art as a tool to enter into relationships and intervene in the reality of Opolno-Zdrój. The post-artistic practices carried out in Opolno-Zdrój are a successful exercise in “ecologizing” the methods and language of art, which allow for meaningful engagement with the issues of the planetary climate and environmental crisis, and provide a valuable tool for expanding imagination, useful speculation, and practical shaping of the future. Key-words: climate, ecology, post-art, post-artistic practices, extractivism, plein-air, Opolno-Zdrój, “Turów” mine

Axiological Review of the Philosophy of Defense Science in Efforts to Improve National Defense Capabilities

The purpose of this study is to ascertain how defense science philosophy fits into efforts to strengthen the nation’s fundamental defense capabilities. With the researcher serving as the primary research instrument and a descriptive and explanatory design approach, the research employs a descriptive qualitative methodology. With this method, a literature evaluation of the research that has been done is used to obtain more precise and in-depth information, some of which is gained later on by the researchers. Only by studying the philosophy of defense science using a succinct approach to outline the philosophy of defense science will it be possible to improve national defense capabilities through the application of an in-depth understanding that is critical, systematic, methodological, and fundamental. The emergence of the globalization, science, and technology eras can be advantageous to a nation, but they can also be dangerous for its security and defense. particularly about the state’s necessity to fulfill its national objectives, where security can only be attained via defense. Stated differently, defense is an essential human urge that cannot be suppressed. The fundamental idea behind this acknowledgment is that everyone and every person has a duty and responsibility to take part in defending their nation, which includes working to instill a strong sense of nationalism, patriotism, and fighting spirit in the Indonesian state

AI and the Future of War: The Impact of Machine Learning in Security Practice

This paper explores the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and future wars, and focuses on how machine learning strengthens safety practice. Based on Wu Qianze's paper in National Defense Science, Technology and Industry, Issue 5,2019, this paper expounds the wide application of AI in the military field and the great potential of machine learning in improving security protection. Through a review of existing studies, this paper presents a series of recommendations to enhance safety practices designed to provide guidance for future research and applications.

Antiviral effectiveness and survival correlation of azvudine and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in elderly severe patients with COVID-19: a retrospective real-world study

Azvudine and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir are approved to treat mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults with a high risk for progression to severe infection. We sought to compare the antiviral effectiveness and clinical outcomes of elderly severe patients with COVID-19 receiving these two antiviral agents. In this observational study, we identified 249 elderly patients with severe COVID-19 infection who were admitted to the Second Medical Center of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital from December 2022 to January 2023, including 128 azvudine recipients, 66 nirmatrelvir/ritonavir recipients and 55 patients not received antiviral treatments. We compared the cycle threshold (Ct) value dynamic change of all three groups. The primary outcome was a composite outcome of disease progression, including all-cause death, intensive care unit admission, and initiation of invasive mechanical ventilation. The outcomes of all enrolled patients were followed up from the electronic medical record system. Kaplan-Meier and Cox risk proportional regression analyses were used to compare the clinical outcomes of all three groups. To more directly compare the effectiveness of the two antiviral drugs, we performed propensity-score matching between the two antiviral groups and compared antiviral efficacy and clinical outcomes in the matched population. Among 249 patients (mean age, 91.41 years), 77 patients died during the follow-up period. When compared to patients who did not receive any antivirals, neither nirmatrelvir/ritonavir nor azvudine demonstrated a survival benefit. The Cox analysis of the all-cause death of the three groups showed that the risk of death was 0.730 (0.423-1.262) in the azvudine group 0.802 (0.435-1.480) and in the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir group compared with the non-antiviral group. After propensity score matching, we included 58 azvudine recipients and 58 nirmatrelvir/ritonavir recipients. The fitted curve of the Ct value after matching illustrated that the rate of viral decline in the early stage of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment seems to surpass that of azvudine, but there was no statistical significance. Azvudine was seemly associated with a lower risk of composite outcomes (HR:1.676, 95% CI:0.805-3.488) and short-term all-cause death (HR: 1.291, 95%CI: 0.546-3.051). Patients who received azvudine have a similar antiviral effectiveness and survival curve trend compared to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. In this limited series, antiviral treatment was not associated with a significant clinical benefit. This lack of clinical benefit might be attributed to potential bias. This study was supported by the "National Key R&D Program of China" (Funding No. 2020YFC2008900) and the National Defense Science and Technology Innovation Special Zone Project (223-CXCY-N101-07-18-01).

Large-scale free-piston-driven multi-mode shock expansion tunnel

X3/R is a new large-scale free-piston-driven dual-mode shock expansion tube, developed and operated collaboratively by the University of Queensland (UQ) and Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). The facility can be converted between a long-duration reflected shock tunnel (RST), a super-orbital expansion tube (X-mode), and a non-reflected shock tube (NRST). In RST mode, the facility is currently capable of producing 600 mm diameter Mach 7 test flows at 25–50 kPa dynamic pressure for more than 10 ms. In expansion tube mode, the facility can reach enthalpies up to 80 MJ/kg for test times on the order of 500–1000 μ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\mu }$$\\end{document}s. This paper presents the new facility, summarizes its current operational capabilities, and discusses key the technical challenges overcome during its development.

Research Status and Trend of Axis-torsion Two-Component Force Senso

Axis-torsion two-component force sensor can simultaneously detect axial force and torque component information. With the progress of modern engineering technology and the improvement of the requirements for measurement accuracy and dynamic response ability, the sensor is widely used in many fields such as industry, national defense science and technology, and medical treatment. The axis-torsion twocomponent force sensor based on the measurement principles of resistance strain type, capacitance type and magnetostrictive effect is introduced. Because the resistance strain type axis-torsion two-component force sensor has a high degree of accuracy, good stability, simple structure and strong anti-electromagnetic interference ability, the resistance strain type axis-torsion two-component force sensor is the most widely used and the most technologically mature class of sensor. The structural characteristics of the elastic body of the combined and integral axis-torsion two-component force sensor are summarized. At present, the elastic body structure of the axis-torsion two-component force sensor is mainly studied and improved. The purpose is to improve the sensor’s measurement accuracyand reduce the inter-dimensional coupling error, so as to achieve accurate measurement in practical applications. The application status of the axis-torsion two-component force sensor in the cutting force detection, torque coefficient detection of high-strength bolted joints, and quantitative analysis of traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture techniques were analyzed. Finally, combined with the research and application status of the axis-torsion two-component force sensor, the development trend of the axis-torsion two-component force sensor is prospected.

Radiological training for the defence sciences: a unique playing field

Radiological training for the defence sciences: a unique playing field

A "Colour Revolution" in Iran? Attack it with a Social Stability Model based on TOPSIS!

A "color revolution" achieves regime change by attacking the weakest link in society, but once the ratio of each link in society is out of balance, it will cause social deformation and thus affect social stability. To study the factors affecting social stability and avoid "color revolutions", it is necessary to establish an effective social stability index system, and on this basis, to build a social stability coefficient model. To establish a complete social stability index system, this paper selects population, defense science and technology, environment, education, economy, and agriculture after dimensionality reduction. The six indicators were then downscaled to obtain population, national defense, science and technology, environment, education, economy, and agriculture, and the social stability coefficient was classified into five levels from 0 to 1 using the TOPSIS evaluation algorithm, with the higher the level the worse the social stability. Using Spearman and Akaike Causality to test the indicator system, it was found that there was a significant correlation and causality between the stability coefficient and each indicator, and the indicator system was well established. For regions that failed to launch "color revolutions", this paper takes Iran as an example, and after bringing its 44 indicators into the social stability coefficient model in 2018, it comes out that the social stability coefficient of Iran is 0.637, and the social stability level is in the second level of stability to the third level of stability, which is a more stable state at this time. There may be some precursors of social unrest. At the same time, Iran's population development and education level are at a high level, and the general education and knowledge of the Iranian people are high, so the number of people who participate in internal conflicts and revolutions is reduced, which leads to the failure of color revolutions.

Hydrogen energyOne of the best solutions under the background of energy saving

As the new energy cars are more and more welcome by the society and Chinese government supporting for hydrogen energy continues to increase, those company such as TESLA and BYD, two typical electronic car producer, are taking the main part of family use cars. In the future, hydrogen energy batteries will be put into all aspects of life, and it will also play an important role in the development of new energy. Making full use of hydrogen fuel cell plays an important role in promoting Chinas national defence science and technology and economic life. Under the impetus of FCH JU, the EU is preparing to enter the market on a large scale and accelerate the implementation of demonstration operation projects. At the same time, the large-scale use of hydrogen fuel cells brings less carbon emissions to the EU, and energy efficiency will increase by 27% in the next 10 years.

Corruption From The Perspective Of Defense Strategy

This research aims to analyze corruption crimes from the perspective of defense strategies using the theories of defense science, defense economics, and corruption. The research method used is qualitative literature study by collecting literature sources as research data classified according to the established research formula. The background of this research is the ongoing problem of corruption in Indonesia, which does not provide a deterrent effect for corrupt actors, resulting in significant negative impacts and losses for the state, as well as weakening defense. The results of the study show that defense strategies can be used as a way to reduce corruption in Indonesia by integrating defense science, defense economics, and corruption theories. Effective defense strategies can minimize the risk of corruption and enhance national resilience. Essentially, the support of national defense, in the face of corruption crimes, demands the implementation of Defense Strategies in accordance with the applicable regulations.

Biological Weapons Testing at Porton Down

This article focuses on the use of nonhuman animals for biological weapons testing by military scientists at Porton Down Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, 1948–1955. After the end of the Second World War and the beginning of the Cold War, the British state and its allies invested in new military technologies which could ensure their superiority in times of conflict. My analysis reveals the partial workings of the Porton Down Laboratory through its historical use of nonhuman animals. I demonstrate that nonhuman animals were simultaneously effaced and made visible during biological warfare experiments. This effacement and visibility was dependent on anthropocentric notions of animal subjection whereby their use in experiments made them “seen” as resources for use, yet paradoxically elicited their nonexistence as subjects. I extend the notion of “strategic ignorance” to develop a novel concept of “strategic effacement” to demonstrate this contradictory relationship which both impacted scientific “objectivity” and contributed to the continued exploitation of animals in the laboratory.

Presentación de la Revista de Ciencia e Investigación en Defensa Vol 4 Num 2

The strategic planning of national security involves the harmonization of the processes regulated in the regulations of Legislative Decree No. 1129, Legislative Decree that regulates the National Defense System, which has had difficulties in its implementation process, reflecting what was said by Carl Von Klausewitz, it is necessary to contemplate that the strategic environment will always be affected by the “fog” and “friction” that human nature itself – many times – reveals; To which is added the advance of modernity that we must not fail to attend to. In this sense, the Journal of Defense Science and Research has considered – in this issue – articles related to technology, social conflicts that affect governance and higher education.