Software Defined Networking (SDN) is an emerging paradigm for network design and management. By providing network programmability and the separation of control and data planes, SDN offers salient features such as simplified and centralized management, reduced complexity, and accelerated innovation. Using SDN, the control and management of network devices are performed by centralized software, called controllers. In particular, Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WANs) have made considerable headway in recent years. However, SDN can be a double-edged sword with regard to network resilience. The great reliance of SDN on the logically centralized control plane has heightened the concerns of research communities and industries about the resilience of the control plane. Although the controller provides flexible and fine-grained resilience management features that contribute to faster and more efficient failure detection and containment in the network, it is the Achilles' heel of SDN resilience. The resilience of control plane has a great impact on the functioning of the whole system. The challenges associated with the resilience of the control plane should be addressed properly to benefit from SDN's unprecedented capabilities. This dissertation investigates the aforementioned issues by categorizing them into two groups. First, the resilient design of the control plane is studied. The resilience of the control plane is strongly linked to the Controller Placement Problem (CPP), which deals with the positioning and assignment of controllers to the forwarding devices. A resilient CPP needs to assign more than one controller to a switch while it satisfies certain Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. We propose a solution for such a problem that, unlike most of the former studies, takes both the switch-controller/inter-controller latency requirements and the capacity of the controllers into account to meet the traffic loads of switches. The proposed algorithms, one of which has a polynomial-time complexity, adopt a clique-based approach in graph theory to find high-quality solutions heuristically. Second, due to the high dynamics of SD-WANs in terms of variations in traffic loads of switches and the QoS requirements that further affect the incurred load on the controllers, adjustments to the controller placement are inevitable over time. Therefore, resilient switch reassignment and incremental controller placement are proposed to reuse the existing geographically distributed controllers as much as possible or make slight modifications to the controller placement. This assists the service providers in decreasing their operational and maintenance costs. We model these problems as variants of the problem of scheduling on parallel machines while considering the capacity of controllers, reassignment cost, and resiliency (which have not been addressed in the existing research work) and propose approximation algorithms to solve them efficiently. To sum up, CPP has a great impact on the resilience of SDN control plane and subsequently the correct functioning of the whole network. Therefore, tailored mechanisms to enhance the resiliency of the control plane should be applied not only at the design stage of SD-WANs but also during their lifespan to handle the dynamics and new requirements of such networks over time. / Graduate

Many “at risk” students are successful in middle school and high school, and are college bound, despite the fact that they face numerous factors that place them at-risk for academic failure or for dropping out of school. One of the key factors that makes these students unique and academically successful is resiliency. Resiliency is identified as the ability to recover or adjust easily from misfortune or change. Resiliency might also be defined as an individual’s ability to effectively cope with challenges in a stressful environment. However, this definition does not account for those who are, at one point, not able to effectively cope with challenges, but who are able to reverse this cycle over time. This study sought to better understand the nature by which Hispanic students who were previously failing academically were able to reverse that cycle and become academically successful. For the purpose of this study, resiliency is defined as a process in which individuals overcome hardship and adversity to create lives that are meaningful and successful. What do Hispanic students do that makes them resilient and academically successful after experiencing academic failure? This research study addresses how students move from school related risk to academic resiliency. Many studies explore the qualities of resilient traits, but do not examine how resilient characteristics develop over time and through the interplay of one’s social and personal experiences. Often times, it is assumed that academically successful students have always been resilient, but in many instances, this might not be the case.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between adversity, resiliency and substance use among Manitoba First Nation girls living on reserve, ages 12 to 17 years. Five hundred and fifty girls completed an in person survey of 138 items on a variety of health and well-being issues. The results of this study indicate that the prevalence of substance use is disturbingly high among First Nation girls. A logistic regression analysis determined that age, family discord, and parental substance abuse were all significant predicators of increased substance use among First Nation girls. Family connectedness, visiting and spending time with family were protective against substance use. Surprisingly, high cultural engagement was not protective against substance use in this study, but beliefs in the importance of cultural activities were protective. In conclusion, this study showed that taking a resiliency approach to examine health behaviors among First Nation girls is beneficial and can best inform policies and programs to reduce substance use.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between adversity, resiliency and substance use among Manitoba First Nation girls living on reserve, ages 12 to 17 years. Five hundred and fifty girls completed an in person survey of 138 items on a variety of health and well-being issues. The results of this study indicate that the prevalence of substance use is disturbingly high among First Nation girls. A logistic regression analysis determined that age, family discord, and parental substance abuse were all significant predicators of increased substance use among First Nation girls. Family connectedness, visiting and spending time with family were protective against substance use. Surprisingly, high cultural engagement was not protective against substance use in this study, but beliefs in the importance of cultural activities were protective. In conclusion, this study showed that taking a resiliency approach to examine health behaviors among First Nation girls is beneficial and can best inform policies and programs to reduce substance use.

Despite varying perceptions and indicators of risk, some children and adolescents labeled at risk are successful in academic endeavors and in life and could be characterized as resilient (Barone, 1999, 2004; Benard, 2004; Waxman, Padron, & Gray, 2004; Wolin & Wolin, 1993). Using a multiple case study design, the purpose of this study was to explore literacy habits and everyday experiences of three African American, female adolescents, who were labeled at risk, yet displayed resilience. Data were collected throughout their senior year of high school, both inside and outside of school, and included observations, interviews, and document analysis. Data collection and analysis were grounded in a social theoretical framework, comprising theories of adolescent literacy, resilience, and identity. Analysis of the individual cases contextualized their unique experiences providing an in-depth understanding of the ways in which the participants enacted their resilient identities. Further, this analysis revealed the complex nature of literacy in their lives and their tremendous literacy growth. The cross case analysis examined overarching themes found across the three participants, which provided a more holistic lens for understanding resilience and literacy by juxtaposing their resilient characteristics and literacy practices with their lived experiences. The findings are discussed, and implications for educators and researchers are provided in an effort to better understand and serve students with at-risk labels.

Art has the power to bring together communities of people who have suffered from traumatic experiences, and allow them to heal, and overall dismantles the stigma associated with it. My work delves into the emotional side of living with pediatric cancer from the child’s perspective, particularly my own experiences as a brainstem tumor survivor, and the overall concerns of fragility. This paper explores these perspectives that are severely lacking throughout studies, while also taking a closer look at how artists, such as Frida Kahlo and Jamie Bates Slone, have used art to reflect on and express emotions concerning personal traumas. My thesis project demonstrates how art, or in my case clay, can emphasize the resiliency of young children in overcoming pediatric cancer, and fosters a greater understanding, by focusing on the hopeful side of the diagnosis, in those who may only recognize fragility.

0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu

<div>Here, we explore methods of counter autonomy defense for aerial autonomous multi-agent systems. First, the case is made for vast capabilities made possible by these systems. Recognizing that widespread use is likely on the horizon, we assert that it will be necessary for system designers to give appropriate attention to the security and vulnerabilities of such systems. We propose a method of learning-based resilient control for the multi-agent formation tracking problem, which uses reinforcement learning and neural networks to attenuate adversarial inputs and ensure proper operation. We also devise a learning-based method of cyber-physical attack detection for UAVs, which requires no formal system dynamics model yet learns to recognize abnormal behavior. We also utilize similar techniques for time signal analysis to achieve epileptic seizure prediction. Finally, a blockchain-based method for network security in the presence of Byzantine agents is explored.</div>

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As the world becomes both more urbanized and both natural and man-made threats increase there is a growing concern for the resiliency of cities. How can a city adapt to absorb and recover from shocks? Public places today are threatened by the existence of terror attacks that result in unprecedented levels of destruction. The recent terror attacks in Paris, Berlin, and London have illustrated the disastrous effects of failing to adequately safeguard our public spaces. The concept for an embassy that is designed not for one nation but for any number of potentially new ones created the opportunity to look at how the building type and technologies could play a larger role in the development of an architecture of defensive resiliency in an urban context. The design of this embassy undertook the challenges associated with the creation of a safe public space integrating with a highly secure facility. By challenging material assumptions and looking toward the present future of material science in the built environment this project sought to establish a new way of implementing a protected structure. This project exposes how current material developments can change how we perceive security in architecture. Defensive structures do not need to present themselves as fortresses within the city, but can be inviting and open. / Master of Architecture / More of the world’s population is living in cities than ever before and threats to their existence have be increasing in frequency. These threats include both natural (flooding, heatwave, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes) and man-made (terrorism, over-population). How can a city adapt to absorb and recover from these events? Public places today are threatened by the existence of terror attacks that result in unprecedented levels of destruction. The recent terror attacks in Paris, Berlin, and London have illustrated the disastrous effects of failing to adequately safeguard our public spaces. The concept for an embassy that is designed not for one nation but for any number of potentially new ones created the opportunity to look at how the building type and technologies could play a larger role in the development of an architecture that can survive these events in cities. The design of this embassy undertook the challenges associated with the creation of a safe public space integrating with a highly secure facility. By challenging material assumptions and looking toward the present future of material science in the built environment this project sought to establish a new way of implementing a protected structure. This project exposes how current material developments can change how we perceive security in architecture. Defensive structures do not need to present themselves as fortresses within the city, but can be inviting and open.