Digital Commons Network^™

Democracy, Expertise, And The Disinformation Problem, Richard Randall Frohock Iv

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Experts are an essential part of our social epistemology. They grant us access to knowledge that would otherwise be inaccessible. Because of this, experts are also typically seen as invaluable political contributors. Without expert contributions, public policy risks being ill-informed and therefore incapable of addressing society’s needs. Recently, however, the extent to which expertise should inform public policy has come into question. Fueled largely by disinformation, there is a growing movement against traditional experts. Those within this movement argue that experts have overstepped their bounds and are working against the societies they are meant to be helping. Fearing that that …

The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Ecojustice And Ethics, Vishnu S. Pendyala

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has attained human-level performance in tasks like text summarization, machine translation, and code generation while handling multimodal data. Despite these advances, AI poses challenges such as generating false or biased outputs, causing discrimination, and exhibiting opaque decision-making processes that hinder bias mitigation. Additionally, training large language models (LLMs) for AI consumes substantial energy and can enable autonomous warfare, posing a threat to eco-justice, and raising sustainability concerns. Their ability to create realistic content poses the risk of misuse and perpetuating misinformation. This article addresses these ethical issues and presents solutions through regulation and technology, with examples of …

Kolmogorov–Smirnov-Based Edge Centrality Measure For Metric Graphs, Christina Durón, H. Kravitz, Moysey Brio

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this work, we introduce an edge centrality measure for the Helmholtz equation on metric graphs, a particular flow network, based on spectral edge energy density. This measure identifies influential edges whose removal significantly changes the energy flow on the network, as indicated by statistically significant p-values from the two-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov test comparing edge energy densities in the original network to those with a single edge removed. We compare the proposed measure with eight vertex centrality measures applied to a line graph representation of each metric graph, as well as with two edge centrality measures applied directly to each …

Author Correction: Beta Activity In Human Anterior Cingulate Cortex Mediates Reward Biases, Jiayang Xiao, Joshua A Adkinson, John Myers, Anusha B Allawala, Raissa K Mathura, Victoria Pirtle, Ricardo Najera, Nicole R Provenza, Eleonora Bartoli, Andrew J Watrous, Denise Oswalt, Ron Gadot, Adrish Anand, Ben Shofty, Sanjay J Mathew, Wayne K Goodman, Nader Pouratian, Xaq Pitkow, Kelly R Bijanki, Benjamin Hayden, Sameer A Sheth

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Mediating Role Of Self-Efficacy In The Association Between Fatigue And Depressive Symptoms In Females With Rheumatoid Arthritis, I-Yu Hsiao, Hanoch Livneh, Chieh-Tsung Yen, Ming-Chi Lu, Wei-Jen Chen, Tzung-Yi Tsai

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background and Objectives: Extant research on the relationship between fatigue and depression in people with rheumatic diseases portrays a divergent picture. While caring for persons with this medical condition, one issue that represents individual confidence in carrying out specific tasks, namely self-efficacy level, has attracted significant attention. Yet, the information regarding whether self-efficacy may pose a clue linking these two major symptoms is still unknown. The aim of this study, therefore, is to examine whether self-efficacy mediates the association between fatigue and depressive symptoms among persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and Method: A cross-sectional study of 224 …

Environmental Consciousness And Pro-Environmental Behavior On Waste Management Of Secondary School Students, Siwaporn Phupan, Jidapa Koomklang, Somsak Amornsiriphong, Dhanakorn Mulaphong, Yuthpong Chantrawarin, Khemtida Petchtam, Shanana Rodsoodthi, Sauwakon Ratanawijitrasin

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

The young generation is considered as one important group that is driving societies to more sustainable development. This study focuses on personal attributes—environmental consciousness and pro-environmental behavior—in the context of youth. The purposes of this study are (a) to analyze the levels of environmental consciousness and pro-environmental behaviors on waste management of secondary school students and (b) to analyze the components of environmental consciousness attributed to Thai youth. This study employed a cross-sectional survey design. The research sample was 414 secondary school students. Overall, the results showed that the overall environmental consciousness of secondary school students is at a high …

An Exploratory Study On University Students’ Perceptions Of Flagship Species: Implications For Sustainable Tourism, Tairan Huang, Chuan Hu, Minzhi Xia, Ziyu Liu, Weishan Zhou, Robert Charles Capistrano

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

This research explores the perceptions of university students in relation to flagship species in Hainan, China, and its implications for sustainable tourism. The province has an enormous wealth of biodiversity with great development potential and value for tourism. However, there is little or no empirical evidence about Chinese students’ interest in flagship species, their conservation, or their contribution to sustainable tourism in general. The study utilized a mixed method approach through an explanatory sequential design, beginning with a self-administered survey among university students in Hainan, recruiting 531 participants, followed by individual interviews with 14 students. The results have implications for …

Islamic Premarital Education In Malaysia Through The Lens Of Moral Education, Worapong Charoenwong

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

Premarital education in Malaysia is recognized as exemplary, given that it has become a model for the development of similar endeavors in other countries in Southeast Asia. Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the provision of premarital education in Malaysia. However, it was found that an evaluation through a moral-educational framework was missing, even though premarital education should be viewed as part of moral education. To fill this gap, this paper offers an analysis and assessment of Islamic premarital education in Malaysia through Sanger and Osguthorpe’s (2005) two-level framework. Data were collected from official documents, non-participant observation, and in-depth …

An Analysis Of The Role Of Sugar Industry Leaders In The Formulation Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Excise Tax Using Advocacy Coalition Framework, Samantha Franchezka S. Ching, Sherwin E. Ona

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

This paper examines the case of the Philippines in formulating its sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) excise tax policy through the lens of the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF). This case study used qualitative techniques to establish the networks and analyze the dynamics and interactions between the local sugar industry leaders and beverage manufacturing companies, as well as their advocacy strategies that influenced policy brokers from the government. The paper also highlights the complexities and the delicate balance needed to reconcile the differing interests of well-established political and economic groups and their effects on policy formulation. Their interactions were examined through the ACF, …

Political Regimes And Paradigms In Bangladesh, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Talukdar

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

When scholars, stakeholders, and the international community consider revitalizing democracy in Bangladesh a terrific challenge, the substantive question arises: did the country hold democracy in the true sense under any regime? Throughout its long political history, it has attained some structural democracy, but it still falls short of institutional democratic standards. Following a glorious, challenging, and victorious struggle for independence, it underwent post-independence governance, military dictatorship, and the democratic movement that resulted in structural democracy and “particracy.” The essay offers a comprehensive examination and critique of the political regime’s perspectives in Bangladesh with respect to this issue. This article helps …

Dynamics Of Development Of The Main Areas Of Cooperation Between Kazakhstan And Japan: Comparative Analysis And Assessment Of Prospects, Laila Nurseitova, Zhanar Ashinova, Shioya Akifumi, Aliya Rymbekova

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

The importance of the study is defined by the need for a complete assessment of the existing situation and the potential for further growth of major sectors of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Japan in the context of increasing global instability. The purpose of the study is to assess the current state and outline prospects for further intensification of political dialogue, trade, economic ties, and humanitarian contacts, considering the national interests of the parties. Historical-genetic and comparative-historical methods, methods of typologisation, analysis, and comparative and statistical analysis are used to assess the dynamics of the development of bilateral relations. The steady …

Enabling Privacy-Compliant And Context-Aware Tool Use By Artificial Intelligence Agents, Victor Carbune, Nevan Wichers, Oriana Riva

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes techniques that enable an AI agent to learn the appropriate mode of access to user data. In a first mode, the agent can obtain user-related data by directly asking the user and obtaining explicit permission from the user. In a second mode, the AI agent determines situations where it is appropriate to obtain, with user permission and based on user interactions and settings, user data via authenticated apps. The techniques enable the agent to discern when to access a certain personalization tool based on inferring what the user may find appropriate. The techniques enable an AI agent …

Powerful Usb-C, Hp Inc

Defensive Publications Series

This concept is a new USB-C connector to deliver higher power and Extra bandwidth with simplified, single-cable installation.

Ai Assisted Pen Drop Detection, Hp Inc

Defensive Publications Series

Active pens have been a tool to enhance productivity in office environments and in school class. This publication proposed a method to enable active pen drop detection by utilizing IMU/Gyro sensor with AI assisted algorithm to detect active pen dropping events and implement buzzer, haptic module, or Bluetooth communication to host computer system to alert end users that their active pen is lost. This function can prevent end users losing their active pens causing productivity loss in the office or in the school.

Director, Military Cyber Institute, Joseph Schafer

Military Cyber Affairs

No abstract provided.

Throughput Of Ascon Compared With Popular Iot Encryption Algorithms, Mitchel R. Harvey (Ryan), Andrew M. Kaiser, Garrett W. Hoiness

Military Cyber Affairs

No abstract provided.

Anomaly Detection Of Network Layer Attacks Against Cyber Physical Systems Using Machine Learning And Deep Learning Techniques, James Alger, Michael Tu

Military Cyber Affairs

This research paper presents the analysis of using machine learning and deep learning algorithms on detecting anomalous network traffic in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). Using a real PLC CPS-based system, normal and anomalous network traffic will be captured using Wireshark. The research analyzes a DDoS attack. The focus of the research is to identify the most effective feature combinations and evaluate them on ML and DL models. The emphasis is on enhancing detection strategies rather than exploiting device vulnerabilities. The detection of network attacks often involves handling a vast array of high-level features. Previous studies (Li & Chasaki, 2022) apply machine …

Characterizing Caldera’S Cyber Attack Emulation Capabilities, Caleb Chang, Matthew Cao, Kenyou Teoh, Ekzhin Ear, Shouhuai Xu

Military Cyber Affairs

Autonomous cyber attack emulation can aid cyber defenders to identify and remediate cyber risks. MITRE’s Caldera software is the state-of-the-practice for automated attack emulation. Yet, it has not been systematically analyzed, putting its performance and effectiveness into question. This paper systematically characterizes Caldera’s architecture, abilities and use cases, and assesses its strengths and weaknesses. It draws useful insights, such as: Caldera excels in stealthy access and execution tactics to pilfer data against Windows operating systems. It also discusses two directions for Caldera improvement: module-level automation and end-to-end attack emulation.

The Digital Battlefield: Safeguarding Military Drones Against Cyberattacks, Jason Ashong, Arun Venkitanarayanan, Benjamin Yankson

Military Cyber Affairs

The Internet of Battlefield Things (IoBT) is an advanced network of interconnected devices that significantly enhance military operations through real-time data exchange and situational awareness. While IoBT offers tactical advantages like improved surveillance, reconnaissance, and operational effectiveness, it also introduces substantial cybersecurity risks. Adversaries can exploit vulnerabilities within these networks, potentially compromising mission integrity and national security. This research examines the cybersecurity measures of commercial drone controllers and their correlation with military devices. It aims to enhance future vulnerability assessments with advanced tools and approaches to better secure critical military operations. The study highlights the need for robust security architectures …

Using Blockchain Technology To Help Secure America's Defense Critical Infrastructure, Vimal Buck, Aerin Krebs, Brynn Hillard, Jakob Gerha, Joseph Lutma, Srikar Maduposu, Ted Allen

Military Cyber Affairs

Critical water infrastructure in the United States faces increasing cybersecurity threats from state-sponsored actors, with potentially devastating consequences for national security, economic stability, and public health. (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, 2025). This infrastructure supports defense critical assets and is actively being targeted by various state-sponsored hacking groups, which poses a major concern for civilians and military alike. K. Herath (personal communication, February 24, 2025) reported being aware of two attacks on Ohio water systems during his tenure as Cybersecurity Strategic Advisor to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

Water is essential to everyday life and defense and presents as a high-value …

Network And Multipath Traceroute Visualization, Cameron Makowski

Military Cyber Affairs

TraceCam introduces a new paradigm in network path analysis, leveraging GPU-accelerated WebGL visualization, advanced traceroute integrations, and AI-driven insights to transform complex routing data into actionable intelligence. Early prototypes have demonstrated significant improvements in performance, clarity, and multi-path discovery, overcoming traditional limitations in traceroute analysis. By incorporating retrieval-augmented language models and enriched metadata sources like IPinfo.io, TraceCam enables automated anomaly detection, contextual explanations, and rapid root-cause analysis, enhancing operational efficiency. The platform’s architecture ensures scalability and adaptability, supporting deeper investigations and real-time situational awareness. Future development will focus on clustering-based anomaly detection, expanded geographic visualizations, and enhanced AI-generated analysis to …

Quantifying Adversary Military Forces’ Susceptibility To Cognitive Attacks, Bonnie Rushing, Cole Nelson, Shouhuai Xu, Christofer “Raven” O’Keefe, Olga Karpoyan

Military Cyber Affairs

This paper introduces a method to quantify international populations’ susceptibility to cyber cognitive attacks using press freedom and media trust metrics. We present the Cognitive Influence Calculator, a tool that estimates susceptibility (𝑆) based on Press Freedom Scores (PFS) and media trust levels. Findings show that while authoritarian regimes are harder to reach, successful cognitive attacks have greater impacts due to higher trust in state-controlled narratives. Using U.S. wargaming data and international trust metrics, we compute susceptibility scores for the U.S., Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. Results show an inverse relationship between PFS and media susceptibility, with local/allied …

Forward, Amy Hamilton

Military Cyber Affairs

No abstract provided.

Understanding Russia’S Cyber Policies, Strategies, And Doctrines, Bryan Hancock, Hanh Nguyen, Olga Karpoyan, Ekzhin Ear, Shouhuai Xu

Military Cyber Affairs

This study analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of Russia’s cyber policies, strategies, and doctrines through a systematic set of attributes, leading to key insights: (i) Russia has proactively adapted its cyber policies, strategies, and doctrines to its evolving environment; (ii) Russia actively conducts cognitive warfare, but remains equally vulnerable to it; and (iii) Russia’s cyber posture faces significant challenges, including a limited technological base, shortage of skilled personnel, and restrictive approach to information control, all of which undermine the effectiveness of its strategies. These insights offer valuable implications for US Cyber Command and the Department of Defense.

Characterizing Cyberattacks Against Operational Technology Infrastructures Through The Lens Of Attack Flows, Sherman Kettner, Caleb Chang, Ekzhin Ear, Shouhuai Xu

Military Cyber Affairs

Operational Technology (OT) infrastructures play a critical role in modern society and economy. However, their increasing connectivity with public networks such as the Internet has made them vulnerable to cyberattacks, much like traditional Information Technology (IT) systems. In particular, cyberattacks against OT infrastructures remain relatively underexplored and little understood. In this paper, we aim to deepen our understanding of cyberattacks against OT infrastructures. For this purpose, we propose a methodology, including novel cybersecurity metrics to analyze the attack flows of these attacks in an end-to-end fashion, which allows us to draw useful insights. We demonstrate the utility of the methodology …

Christianity, Conception, And Consciousness: Why A Conscious Human Mind Is Necessary To Fulfill The Conception Requirement, Vittoria L. D'Addesi

Liberty University Law Review

As artificial intelligence (“AI”) advances, it not only affects our daily life, but also implicates patent law. The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals has already held in Thaler v. Vidal that only a natural human person can be an “inventor” entitled to receive a patent, thereby excluding AI. The rationale in Thaler centers on statutory interpretation, leaving open the question of whether AI is capable of fulfilling the conception requirement—an essential element of qualifying as an inventor and receiving a patent. This Comment aims to expand the rationale of Thaler and argues that AI cannot fulfill the conception requirement; thus, …

Silicon Sentinels: Using Whistleblower Protections To Manage Information Asymmetry And Ai Risk, Jason Green-Lowe, Fynn Fehrenbach, Mark Reddish

Liberty University Law Review

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (“AI”) development, policymakers face a critical challenge: obtaining accurate and timely information about the potential risks and impacts of advanced AI systems. This Article examines the pivotal role of whistleblower protections as a mechanism to address the information asymmetry between AI companies and government officials. Employees inside AI companies are uniquely positioned to share information that can help outside regulators make wise policy decisions, but employees might be reluctant to do so unless their decision to share that information is legally protected. We propose a comprehensive framework for AI whistleblower protections as …

Open-Source; Open-Season; Open-Fire: Google V. Oracle And The Vulnerability Of Code To Copyright Infringement By Ai Harvesting, Kent Pederson

Liberty University Law Review

In Google v. Oracle, the Supreme Court was forced to decide if Google’s copying of 11,500 lines of computer code from Oracle without permission constituted copyright infringement. Much was on the line, including precedent concerning the copyright status of millions of lines of code nation-wide. In the lengthy decision, the Supreme Court avoided the central issue of holding whether the copied “declaring code” could be protected by copyright or instead was a functional tool outside of the Copyright Act. Instead, it punted the issue, assuming for the sake of argument that the declaring code that was taken was in …

Is Ai A Horse Or A Zebra: Do Ai Free Speech Concerns Require New Legal Tools?, Jennifer Huddleston

Liberty University Law Review

In 1996, as the internet was emerging into more popular use among the general public, Judge Frank Easterbrook published Cyberspace and the Law of the Horse. In this essay and lecture, Judge Easterbrook warned against the rise of specialized law for general purpose technology and instead posited that many common law legal principles will be able to evolve. As this essay and lecture posit, new technologies provide may provide an opportunity to examine if existing legal principles function optimally, but we should be cautious of interventions in the name of protecting the public from new and rapidly evolving technologies.

Nearly …

The Measure Of A Man: Considering Science Fiction And Christianity In The Regulation Of Artificial Intelligence Models, Andrew P. Connors

Liberty University Law Review

Does artificial intelligence “think,” and if it does, what should the law do about it? This article examines popular culture and the Turing Test to assess whether artificial intelligence “thinks,” applying the author’s engineering background and his Christian worldview. The author concludes that artificial intelligence mimics rather than creates and considers the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence given that conclusion. The author suggests that legal regulation should be measured, leaving important decisions to humans while at the same time encouraging development of this important, misunderstood technology.