Alaa Tolah^*

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.87, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.074997 - 10 February 2026

Abstract The rapidly evolving cybersecurity threat landscape exposes a critical flaw in traditional educational programs where static curricula cannot adapt swiftly to novel attack vectors. This creates a significant gap between theoretical knowledge and the practical defensive capabilities needed in the field. To address this, we propose TeachSecure-CTI, a novel framework for adaptive cybersecurity curriculum generation that integrates real-time Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) with AI-driven personalization. Our framework employs a layered architecture featuring a CTI ingestion and clustering module, natural language processing for semantic concept extraction, and a reinforcement learning agent for adaptive content sequencing. By… More >

Simin Tang^1,2,3,4, Zhiyong Zhang^1,2,3,4,*, Junyan Pan^1,2,3,4, Gaoyuan Quan^1,2,3,4, Weiguo Wang⁵, Junchang Jing⁶

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.87, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.073798 - 10 February 2026

Abstract At inference time, deep neural networks are susceptible to backdoor attacks, which can produce attacker-controlled outputs when inputs contain carefully crafted triggers. Existing defense methods often focus on specific attack types or incur high costs, such as data cleaning or model fine-tuning. In contrast, we argue that it is possible to achieve effective and generalizable defense without removing triggers or incurring high model-cleaning costs. From the attacker’s perspective and based on characteristics of vulnerable neuron activation anomalies, we propose an Adaptive Feature Injection (AFI) method for black-box backdoor detection. AFI employs a pre-trained image encoder… More >

Shao-Qiang Ye^*, Azlan Mohd Zain, Yusliza Yusoff

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.87, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.073411 - 10 February 2026

Abstract Engineering optimization problems are often characterized by high dimensionality, constraints, and complex, multimodal landscapes. Traditional deterministic methods frequently struggle under such conditions, prompting increased interest in swarm intelligence algorithms. Among these, the Cuckoo Search (CS) algorithm stands out for its promising global search capabilities. However, it often suffers from premature convergence when tackling complex problems. To address this limitation, this paper proposes a Grouped Dynamic Adaptive CS (GDACS) algorithm. The enhancements incorporated into GDACS can be summarized into two key aspects. Firstly, a chaotic map is employed to generate initial solutions, leveraging the inherent randomness… More >

Hailong Wang¹, Minglei Duan², Lu Yao³, Hao Li^1,*

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.86, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.072942 - 12 January 2026

Abstract In image analysis, high-precision semantic segmentation predominantly relies on supervised learning. Despite significant advancements driven by deep learning techniques, challenges such as class imbalance and dynamic performance evaluation persist. Traditional weighting methods, often based on pre-statistical class counting, tend to overemphasize certain classes while neglecting others, particularly rare sample categories. Approaches like focal loss and other rare-sample segmentation techniques introduce multiple hyperparameters that require manual tuning, leading to increased experimental costs due to their instability. This paper proposes a novel CAWASeg framework to address these limitations. Our approach leverages Grad-CAM technology to generate class activation… More >

Jun Li¹, Chunyan Liang^1,*, Zhiguo Liu¹, Fengpei Ge²

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.86, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.071011 - 12 January 2026

Abstract To enhance speech emotion recognition capability, this study constructs a speech emotion recognition model integrating the adaptive acoustic mixup (AAM) and improved coordinate and shuffle attention (ICASA) methods. The AAM method optimizes data augmentation by combining a sample selection strategy and dynamic interpolation coefficients, thus enabling information fusion of speech data with different emotions at the acoustic level. The ICASA method enhances feature extraction capability through dynamic fusion of the improved coordinate attention (ICA) and shuffle attention (SA) techniques. The ICA technique reduces computational overhead by employing depth-separable convolution and an h-swish activation function and More >

Hongwei Wu^*, Guojian Li, Hanyun Zhang, Zi Ye, Chao Ma

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.86, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.071008 - 12 January 2026

Abstract Federated Learning (FL) protects data privacy through a distributed training mechanism, yet its decentralized nature also introduces new security vulnerabilities. Backdoor attacks inject malicious triggers into the global model through compromised updates, posing significant threats to model integrity and becoming a key focus in FL security. Existing backdoor attack methods typically embed triggers directly into original images and consider only data heterogeneity, resulting in limited stealth and adaptability. To address the heterogeneity of malicious client devices, this paper proposes a novel backdoor attack method named Capability-Adaptive Shadow Backdoor Attack (CASBA). By incorporating measurements of clients’… More >

Weichen Wang¹, Shaofeng Wang¹, Wenjing Liu^1,*, Luncai Zhou², Erqing Zhang¹, Ting Gao³, Grigory Petrishin⁴

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.20, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2025.071278 - 08 January 2026

Abstract In dry-coupled ultrasonic thickness measurement, thick rubber layers introduce high-amplitude parasitic echoes that obscure defect signals and degrade thickness accuracy. Existing methods struggle to resolve overlap-ping echoes under variable coupling conditions and non-stationary noise. This study proposes a novel dual-criterion framework integrating energy contribution and statistical impulsivity metrics to isolate specimen re-flections from coupling-layer interference. By decomposing A-scan signals into Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs), the framework employs energy contribution thresholds (>85%) and kurtosis indices (>3) to autonomously select IMFs containing valid specimen echoes. Hybrid time-frequency thresholding further suppresses interference through amplitude filtering and spectral focusing. More >

Sk. A. Shezan^*

Energy Engineering, Vol.123, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.073418 - 27 December 2025

Abstract Modern power systems increasingly depend on interconnected microgrids to enhance reliability and renewable energy utilization. However, the high penetration of intermittent renewable sources often causes frequency deviations, voltage fluctuations, and poor reactive power coordination, posing serious challenges to grid stability. Conventional Interconnection Flow Controllers (IFCs) primarily regulate active power flow and fail to effectively handle dynamic frequency variations or reactive power sharing in multi-microgrid networks. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes an enhanced Interconnection Flow Controller (e-IFC) that integrates frequency response balancing and an Interconnection Reactive Power Flow Controller (IRFC) within a unified adaptive… More >

Samira Rastbod¹, Mehdi Jahangiri^2,*, Behrang Moradi¹, Haleh Nazari¹

Energy Engineering, Vol.123, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.070089 - 27 December 2025

Abstract Curtain wall systems have evolved from aesthetic façade elements into multifunctional building envelopes that actively contribute to energy efficiency and climate responsiveness. This review presents a comprehensive examination of curtain walls from an energy-engineering perspective, highlighting their structural typologies (Stick and Unitized), material configurations, and integration with smart technologies such as electrochromic glazing, parametric design algorithms, and Building Management Systems (BMS). The study explores the thermal, acoustic, and solar performance of curtain walls across various climatic zones, supported by comparative analyses and iconic case studies including Apple Park, Burj Khalifa, and Milad Tower. Key challenges—including… More > Graphic Abstract

Jin Lin^1,*, Bin Yu², Chao Chen¹, Jiezhen Cai¹, Yifan Wu², Cunping Wang³

Energy Engineering, Vol.123, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.069310 - 27 December 2025

Abstract With the increasing integration of renewable energy, microgrids are increasingly facing stability challenges, primarily due to the lack of inherent inertia in inverter-dominated systems, which is traditionally provided by synchronous generators. To address this critical issue, Virtual Synchronous Generator (VSG) technology has emerged as a highly promising solution by emulating the inertia and damping characteristics of conventional synchronous generators. To enhance the operational efficiency of virtual synchronous generators (VSGs), this study employs small-signal modeling analysis, root locus methods, and synchronous generator power-angle characteristic analysis to comprehensively evaluate how virtual inertia and damping coefficients affect frequency… More > Graphic Abstract