Digital Commons Network^™

Predictors Of Ransomware From Binary Analysis, Aaron M. Otis

Master's Theses

Ransomware, a type of malware that extorts payment from a victim by encrypting her data, is a growing threat that is becoming more sophisticated with each generation. Attackers have shifted from targeting individuals to entire organizations, raising extortions from hundreds of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. In this work, we analyze a variety of ransomware and benign software binaries in order to identify indicators that may be used to detect ransomware. We find that several combinations of strings, cryptographic constants, and a large number loops are key indicators useful for detecting ransomware.

Living Like A Dog: Can The Life Of Non-Human Animals Be Meaningful?, Michael Hauskeller

Between the Species

Most philosophers addressing the issue of meaning in life seem to think that non-human animals cannot have a meaningful life because only humans have what it takes to do so. In this paper, I discuss three prominent philosophical theories of meaning in life, all of which implicitly or explicitly deny non-human animals the possibility of living a meaningful life. I will argue that none of them is convincing and that we should embrace a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of meaning in life that allows for non-human lives to be meaningful and in their own right worth living.

Feasibility Of A Fiber Reinforced Polymer Retrofit For Non-Ductile Concrete Walls, Rory S. De Sevilla, Jerry Hue Truong Luong, Anahid A. Behrouzi, Peter T. Laursen, Mike J. Deigert

Architectural Engineering

A significant number of pre-1980’s non-ductile reinforced concrete (RC) structures in California have been identified as deficient, many of which utilize RC shear wall systems to resist earthquake lateral forces. These non-ductile wall systems are typically lightly reinforced and lack adequate boundary element detailing. Engineers suspect these walls to susceptible to brittle, compression-controlled failure modes due to damage from concrete crushing and bar buckling. As a result, one approach designers are taking is to seek fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) retrofit solutions that improve the compression capacity of high-stressed wall end zone regions based on effectiveness of these approaches with columns. …

Improving The Accuracy Of Wood Diaphragm Deflection Computations And Its Impact On Asce 41 Pseudo-Lateral Force Estimates, John Lawson

Architectural Engineering

Structures with flexible seismic resisting systems tend to develop less seismic forces than their stiffer counterparts. While it has been commonly known that taller buildings in general have longer periods that result in a reduced spectral response, the analysis of one-story buildings with large, wide horizontal flexible diaphragms supported by stiff shear walls are now recognized as having a similar response. This building type often referred to as rigid wall – flexible diaphragm (RWFD) is very common in warehousing and big-box retail occupancies. Estimating the diaphragm deflection has become more important recently, not only because diaphragm deflections are more frequently …

Interlocking Rocking Clt Shear Walls With Viscous Dampers, Sydney Gallion, Abby M. Lentz, John Lawson

Architectural Engineering

While the use of cross laminated timber (CLT) has become more common, the implementation of CLT as shear walls remains rare because there is no universally recognized response modification coefficient, R, currently adopted for base shear. In addition, CLT shear walls are relatively stiff as a seismic force resisting system and inelastic behavior of the system is often relegated to vulnerable connections. There is also an inherent issue with instability due to overturning in multi-story buildings due to transportation limitations on the size of CLT panels. Past research by others has successfully utilized post-tensioning to create self-centering rocking CLT …

Space Telescope And Optical Reverberation Mapping Project. Viii. Time Variability Of Emission And Absorption In Ngc5548 Based On Modeling The Ultraviolet Spectrum, G. A. Kriss, G. De Rosa, J. Ely, B. M. Peterson, Vardha Nicola Bennert, Y. Zu

Physics

We model the ultraviolet spectra of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548 obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope during the 6 month reverberation mapping campaign in 2014. Our model of the emission from NGC 5548 corrects for overlying absorption and deblends the individual emission lines. Using the modeled spectra, we measure the response to continuum variations for the deblended and absorption-corrected individual broad emission lines, the velocity-dependent profiles of Lyα and C iv, and the narrow and broad intrinsic absorption features. We find that the time lags for the corrected emission lines are comparable to those for the original …

A Single Fast Radio Burst Localized To A Massive Galaxy At Cosmological Distance, K. W. Bannister, A. T. Deller, C. Phillips, J.-P. Macquart, Vardha Nicola Bennert, C. D. Wilson

Physics

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are brief radio emissions from distant astronomical sources. Some are known to repeat, but most are single bursts. Nonrepeating FRB observations have had insufficient positional accuracy to localize them to an individual host galaxy. We report the interferometric localization of the single-pulse FRB 180924 to a position 4 kiloparsecs from the center of a luminous galaxy at redshift 0.3214. The burst has not been observed to repeat. The properties of the burst and its host are markedly different from those of the only other accurately localized FRB source. The integrated electron column density along the line …

Are You Ready For A Non-Binary Job Applicant And Co-Worker? Creating A Fabulous And Accepting Workplace For Non-Binary Employees, Mark Bieraugel

Library Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Visualization Using R To Support Scientific Research And Data Analysis, Samantha L. Claveau, Romarie Morales Rosado, Lyndsey Franklin, Lee Burke, Paul Whitney

STAR Program Research Presentations

As technology continues to develop, scientists are gathering data at an accelerated pace. Yet in order for this data to be useful, scientists need to be able to make sense of these large quantities of data, glean crucial information, and highlight essential details. Therefore, it has become increasingly important to explore different avenues for displaying data, in order to successfully extend this information to the broader community. The goal of this project was to experiment with and evaluate the visualization capabilities of R. More specifically, to determine how the Shiny package within R can be used to create interactive visuals …

Exploring Delay Dispersal In Us Airport Network, Brandon Sripimonwan, Arun Sathanur

STAR Program Research Presentations

The modeling of delay diffusion in airport networks can potentially help develop strategies to prevent the spread of such delays and disruptions. With this goal, we used the publicly-available historical United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight data to model the spread of delays in the US airport network. For the major (ASPM-77) airports for January 2017, using a threshold on the volume of flights, we sparsify the network in order to better recognize patterns and cluster structure of the network. We developed a diffusion simulator and greedy optimizer to find the top influential airport nodes that propagate the most …

Fucus Distichus: Investigating Humidity And Temperature Between Tides, Jason Thomas, Andrew Chang, Julia Blum, Chela Zabin

STAR Program Research Presentations

Environmental elements such as changing rapidly changing temperature, prolonged periods of low to no water exposure, desiccation, predation and increased wave action can influence the diversity of microhabitats that inhabit the littoral zones. When making observations of various shorelines, specifically the physical conditions of the surrounding marine vegetation (i.e. Fucus distichus), an inquiry is made as to the role of Fucus in the amelioration of stressors on the marine habitat during low tide (MLLW), however, due to time considerations, temperature and humidity are the focus of this study. Using temperature and humidity probes, monitoring data shows that Fucus provides …

The Search Of Ancient Life Through The Use Of Geologic Samples, Amber Paturzo

STAR Program Research Presentations

The Astrobiogeochemistry Laboratory (abcLab) is interested in exploring molecular and mineralogical biosignatures in ancient and recent Earth samples to provide evidence of early signs of life. Currently, in the abcLab, scientists are utilizing a lipid biomarker extraction and analysis method to remove organic material from geologic samples taken from several sites around the world including Australia, the United States and West Wales. This study focuses primarily on samples collected from the Mochras borehole on the Cardigan Bay Basin, West Wales, dating back to the Early Jurassic to identify biomarkers such as hopanes (derived from prokaryotes) and steranes (derived from eukaryotes) …

Strawberries And Gut Health, Mia Abram, Karli Mccarthy, Margaux Greb, Hannah Sanders, Morgan Macniell

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

Microbial populations that live within the human gut have been shown to impact human health status. Limited microbial diversity within the gut has been associated with increased risk for several diseases including obesity, low-grade inflammation, and intestinal inflammation3. Exogenous factors that influence bacterial diversity in the gut include diet, exercise, stress level, and smoking1. The consumption of polyphenols in the diet, found in various fruits and vegetables, has been linked to beneficial microbial gut and metabolic health. Polyphenols have shown to encourage the growth of benign microbes while suppressing the growth of pathogens2. This free-living diet intervention trial investigated the …

Insulated Solar Electric Cooking In Ghana, Matthew Walker

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

In August 2019, we travelled to the unelectrified village of Agbokpa, Ghana to test out our ISEC in real world conditions and acquire personal feedback from real intended users. In surveying this village, we found that all households used biomass cooking either indoors or outdoors, sometimes using up significant quantities of biomass daily, resulting in a large monthly expense. We noticed that predominately women and children spent their time in close proximities to the fires and smoke, which we presume to negatively affect their respiratory health. From our US lab, we brought several ISECs, and basic materials to build more …

Pnnl Dark Matter Bubble Chamber Simulation, Carl M. Krutz

STAR Program Research Presentations

Based on observations of interactions between objects on a cosmic scale, scientists have determined that a large percentage (85%) of the universe’s mass is not visible. Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) are one of the primary candidates for this dark matter. Many current projects seek to find WIMPs through various search methods. The PICO dark matter experiment involves observing an underground chamber at SNOLAB for bubbles created when energy in the form of radiation is deposited in a superheated liquid. The group at Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL) working on the PICO project seeks to develop improvements to the project’s …

Distance And Its Effect On Betta Aggression, Sydnie Hanson

STAR Program Research Presentations

Betta Splendens are typically known to act very aggressive towards one another, especially between two males. These acts of aggression are shown through flaring of ones fins, chasing and striking opposing Bettas, biting, etc. This experiment shows how distance affects how aggressive male Bettas are with one another

Glycolic Acid Utilization In Two Species Of Marine Bacteria, Erik S. Timsak

STAR Program Research Presentations

Interactions between bacteria and phytoplankton are crucial for the cycling of organic matter in marine environments. Around 50% of organic carbon taken up by marine bacteria is converted into inorganic carbon. The uptake of organic carbon by marine bacteria exuded from phytoplankton is a key factor in regulating the marine carbon cycle. One such molecule that is exuded by phytoplankton and then uptaken by marine bacteria is called glycolate - the anion of glycolic acid, a two caron molecule. Glycolate is exuded by phytoplankton during photorespiration and 10-50% of dissolved organic carbon in marine environments is comprised of glycolate. Additionally, …

Assessing Climatological Impacts Of Precipitation And Temperature At The Ncar Marshall Field Site From 1994-2018, Caleb N. Scott, Scott Landolt

STAR Program Research Presentations

The Marshall Field Site, located about ten miles southeast of Boulder, Colorado, is home to various precipitation and wind testing instruments to create data for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Precipitation data has been recorded for nearly 30 years using three main types of instruments, the Ott Pluvio II rain gauge, the Geonor 16” Single Alter gauge, and the Geonor double fence intercomparison reference (DFIR) gauge located in the southern region of the Marshall Site. The Ott Pluvio II gauge has data ranging back to 2012, the 16” Geonor dates back to 1994, and the DFIR Geonor dates …

Planetary Protection Requirements For Robotic And Human Missions, Karen Duenas

STAR Program Research Presentations

Planetary Protection involves the development and implementation of policies and requirements to protect solar system bodies from forward and backward contamination during human or robotic space missions. As stipulated by the United Nations Outer Space Treaty (Article IX) and interpreted by the Committee on Space Research, over 100 nations abide by the treaty and its objectives. Since the beginning of the space age, NASA has complied with planetary protection requirements across more than 250 robotic and human missions, especially those involving Mars, which is a planet with potentially habitable conditions for microbial life. A sample of past, current, and future …

Dripline: A Distributed Experiment Control System, Eric Gonzalez, Ben Laroque, Noah Oblath

STAR Program Research Presentations

Project 8 is a nuclear physics experiment which seeks to measure the mass of neutrinos. The experiment requires the use of various pieces of hardware which need to be controlled, and from this need, a software system named Dripline is being developed. Because most researchers have some knowledge in Python and it is easier to understand the syntax of Python as opposed to C++, a Python application programming interface (API) is being created to allow any researcher working with Dripline ease of use. As development progresses, features may be added or removed as needed which requires constant testing, debugging, and …

Abundance And Community Composition Of Invasive Intertidal Watersipora On The San Francisco Bay Area Outer Coast, Kevin Myron, Meredtyh Duncan, Jaden Stone, C. Sarah Cohen

STAR Program Research Presentations

Invasive species can lead to serious ecological changes. The San Francisco Bay area is one of the most invaded areas in the world due to the commercial shipping industry and recreational water vessels. While the intertidal is not widely invaded, the harbors and docks are. One exception to this is the invasive, colonial filter-feeding bryozoan Watersipora, which has been found at various rocky outer coast sites. Further investigation into how the sites are invaded by this organism and their impact on native species must be carried out. In this project, at four intertidal sites around the SF Bay outflow, we …

Heavy Metal-Induced Oxidative Stress On Seed Germination And Seedling Development: A Critical Review, Mihiri Seneviratne, Nishanta Rajakaruna, Muhammad Rizwan, H. M. S. P. Madawala, Yong Sik Ok, Meththika Vithanage

Biological Sciences

Heavy metal contamination in soils can influence plants and animals, often leading to toxicosis. Heavy metals can impact various biochemical processes in plants, including enzyme and antioxidant production, protein mobilization and photosynthesis. Hydrolyzing enzymes play a major role in seed germination. Enzymes such as acid phosphatases, proteases and α-amylases are known to facilitate both seed germination and seedling growth via mobilizing nutrients in the endosperm. In the presence of heavy metals, starch is immobilized and nutrient sources become limited. Moreover, a reduction in proteolytic enzyme activity and an increase in protein and amino acid content can be observed under heavy …

The Future Of Work: How Employers Are Adjusting To Millennial Expectations, Felipe Vallejo

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this research was to examine how agricultural based companies are staying ahead while new technology advancements and millennial expectations are influencing future labor markets.

Customization Of Aneurysm Scaffold Geometries For In Vitro Tissue-Engineered Blood Vessel Mimics To Use As Models For Neurovascular Device Testing, Camille D. Villadolid

Master's Theses

Cerebral aneurysms occur due to the ballooning of blood vessels in the brain. Rupture of aneurysms can cause a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which, if not fatal, can cause permanent neurologic deficits. Minimally invasive neurovascular devices, such as embolization coils and flow diverters, are methods of treatment utilized to prevent aneurysm rupture. The rapidly growing market for neurovascular devices necessitates the development of accurate aneurysm models for preclinical testing. In vivo models, such as the rabbit elastase model, are commonly chosen for preclinical device testing; however, these studies are expensive, and aneurysm geometries are difficult to control and often do not replicate …

Effects Of Sudangrass Cover Crop And Soil Solarization On Weed And Pathogen Management In Organic Strawberry Production, Timothy Jacobs

Master's Theses

Field and lab experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy of sudangrass (Sorghum X drumondii (Nees ex Steud.) Millsp. & Chase) cover crop management techniques and soil solarization on important agricultural weeds and pathogens in organic strawberry production in Central California. Lab experiments assessed the time needed to kill weed seeds at temperatures typically achieved during soil solarization (40°C, 45°C, 50°C, 55°C, and 60°C) in California. Seeds tested included little mallow, redstem filaree, bristly oxtongue, annual sowthistle, common purslane, nettleleaf goosefoot, and redroot pigweed. Efficacy of simulated …

Mechanisms Of Reduced Vascular Tone Following Arteriogenesis Induced By Femoral Artery Ligation, Christopher Hatch

Biomedical Engineering

The presence of a developed, native collateral network can decrease the severity of ischemic injury proceeding arterial occlusion. The collateral network must under arteriogenesis to enlarge and increase blood flow to the ischemic region. Although there has been tremendous effort attempting to understand the mechanisms of arteriogenesis, no therapies have been successful in improving patient outcome. To better understand the mechanisms involved in arteriogenesis, the effect of nitric oxide production, myogenic tone, and a-adrenergic receptors were evaluated as these have been identified as playing an important role in vascular injury. Arteriogenesis was induced by ligating the femoral artery between the …

Children's Acceptability Of Vegetables: The Relationship Between Food Neophobia, Vegetable Neophobia, Picky Eating, Bitter Sensitivity, And Mouth Behavior, Tara Lynn Egigian

Master's Theses

Although vegetables provide many beneficial nutrients and have been shown to help reduce the risk of dietary related chronic diseases, children in the United States are not meeting the national recommendations of vegetable servings. The overall goal of this research was to study the relationship between children’s vegetable acceptance and the following children’s characteristics: food neophobia (FN), vegetable neophobia (VN), picky eating (PE), 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) sensitivity, Mouth Behavior (MB). The specific objectives were to: (1) develop a novel method for evaluating children’s MB, (2) assess the FN, VN, PE, PROP sensitivity, and MB levels in children in San Luis Obispo …

Proteomic Changes Across A Natural Temperature Gradient In A Marine Gastropod, M Christina Vasquez, Marilla R. Lippert, Crow White, Ryan K. Walter, Lars Tomanek

Physics

Responses of marine ectotherms to variable environmental temperature often entails maintenance of cellular homeostasis and physiological function through temperature compensation and physiological changes. We investigated the physiological response to thermal stress by examining proteomic changes in the marine kelp forest gastropod and emerging fisheries species Kellet's whelk (Kelletia kelletii) across a naturally-existing thermal gradient that ranges from a warmer-water site inside the species' native range and extends to the northern, cold-water edge of the range. We hypothesized that abundance of cellular stress response and energy metabolism proteins would increase with decreasing temperature in support of cold-compensation. Our exploratory …

2017 Mexico City Earthquake: Analyses Of Reinforced Concrete Building Damage, Anisha Datta

Architectural Engineering

The main objectives of this research study was to organize and examine the information collected in the NSF RAPID and UNAM data sets from the 2017 Mexico Earthquake to: (i) study the damage patterns of the buildings impacted, (ii) observe how the unique characteristics of the soil regions effect building response, and (iii) provide an automated protocol using MATLAB and ArcGIS for effective analysis of large structural damage data sets collected after future earthquakes.

Same Polytechnic College: Structural Design Exploration, Emma Morley

Architectural Engineering

The Same Polytechnic College is a response to a lack of vocational training and higher learning opportunities for residents of Same, Tanzania and surrounding areas. The College will address the region’s need for skilled farmers, builders, teachers, and entrepreneurs by providing a pathway from secondary school graduation to continued education. This will generate a framework that strengthens the East African economy by supplying the region with educated professionals that make impactful contributions to society.

Construction will occur following a five-phase development plan, and the buildings will utilize simple but effective architectural techniques and modular structural design. These solutions are low-cost …