Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

What Drives Clinic Follow-Up After Traumatic Spinal Injury? An Observational Cohort Study From Tanzania, Chibuikem A Ikwuegbuenyi, Julie Woodfield, Romani Roman Sabas, Sean Inzerillo, Noah Willett, Magalie Cadieux, Scott L Zuckerman, Francois Waterkeyn, Halinder S Mangat, Hamisi K Shabani, Roger Härtl

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate factors associated with clinic follow-up after traumatic spinal injury (TSI) in Tanzania, focusing on demographic, injury-related and hospital variables. We hypothesised that socioeconomic and injury-specific factors would predict follow-up adherence.

DESIGN: Retrospective observational cohort study.

SETTING: Tertiary government referral centre for neurosurgery and orthopaedics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

PARTICIPANTS: 443 adults with TSI admitted between September 2016 and October 2021. Inclusion criteria included survival to discharge and availability of the discharge date. Patients with missing data were excluded.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were any clinic follow-up and 1-year follow-up post-discharge. Secondary outcome was …

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.

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 …

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.

Computers: Their Human And Cultural Impact

Communication Research Trends

In January 1983 the cover ofTIME magazine featured not the usual photograph of the Man of the Year but an illustration of the Machine of the Year: the personal computer.

TIME's cover was a dramatic illustration of how the computer, in only six or seven years, had entered the everyday world of the average American. The computer was becoming ubiquitous and commonplace, as familiar a household item as television set and telephone.

But the TIME cover reminds us that the computer is more than a mere consumer durable. According to TIME the "greatest influence for good or evil" in 1982 …

Media Education: Growth And Controversy

Communication Research Trends

Media education has come a long way since 1977 when UNESCO made the first international survey. In industrialised countries of the West, media education is increasingly accepted as part of primary and secondary school education. In Australia and Britain, for example, it is now offered as an optional course, and in other countries it is taught as part of social studies, art or language/literature curricula. In regions such as Latin America there are programmes for working-class women in poor neighbourhoods or for rural families. There has been a boom in textbooks, teaching packs and audiovisual materials. Teacher training has long …

Interpersonal Communication

Communication Research Trends

The story is told of a novice interpreter who once translated the English Biblical phrase 'The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak' into Russian as 'The vodka is excellent, but the meat is bad'!

Translation is not simply a problem for professional interpreters. All of us have to translate what other people are saying into words we can understand. More often than not we translate badly and the intended message is misunderstood. Even when talking with our closest friends and immediate family we can find ourselves struggling to reach a common understanding. How often is our speech littered …

The Squandering Of Critical Thinking In Our Schools And What We Can Do About It, Nick Pocius

Essays in Education

In the face of increasing disinformation, reduced student engagement, and rigid educational structures, this article critiques the current U.S. public school system’s failure to cultivate critical thinking in students. Drawing from over two decades of classroom experience, the author argues that the systemic emphasis on standardized testing, prescribed curricula, and diminished access to arts and physical education have contributed to a decline in curiosity and creative inquiry. Furthermore, the omnipresence of smartphones and social media has robbed students of the boredom that often sparks critical thought. The article proposes several pragmatic solutions, including banning phones during school hours, reintroducing recess …

Successful Primary Coronary Intervention During Prolonged Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation For Acute Myocardial Infarction-Related Cardiac Arrest, Sadeq Tabatabai, Mosaad Abushabana, Ahmed Najah, Prasad Padmakar Kulkarni, Jasem Mohammed Alhashmi

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

We report a case of a male patient with an acute inferior myocardial infarction who underwent successful primary coronary intervention during prolonged cardiac arrest (220 minutes) and continuous resuscitation using a mechanical chest compression device. He achieved full neurological recovery. Mechanical compression devices may help maintain perfusion and improve outcomes in such scenarios.

Customer Lifetime Value: Dimensionalities And Conceptual Connections, Sharmistha Bhattacharyya, Mrinmoy Kumar Sarma

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) has a strong relationship to customer satisfaction and firm profitability . This review indicates that once such a relationship is developed and cemented, multiple benefits accrue to the brand and the firm. The review lays the groundwork for further studies of CLV, especially in the emerging economies.

Global Trends In Youth Employment: Key Statistics And Cultural Commentary, Anatolii Mazaraki, Tetiana Melnyk, Oksana Losheniuk

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

The issue of youth employment receives constant attention of global organizations, governments, and researchers. Young people have the potential to positively reshape the national and global economies. Furthermore, the youth also constantly reshape the social, cultural, technological, and political environments. Global unemployment rate among youth, however, is three times higher than among older workers. In 2023, one in five young people did not work, study, or acquire professional skills. The negative factors of the Ukrainian youth labor market have been significantly exacerbated by the war, which has caused an economic crisis in the country, a huge migration of young people, …