Digital Commons Network^™

Ml-Based User Identification Through Mouse Dynamics, Rakshit Gupta

Master's Projects

User authentication and identification plays a crucial role in ensuring the security and integrity of digital systems. Traditional authentication methods, such as passwords and biometrics, have inherent limitations that can compromise system security. This research proposes a novel approach to user authentication by leveraging machine learning techniques and behavioral biometrics, specifically mouse dynamics. The primary objective is to develop a sophisticated framework that can accurately identify individuals based on their unique mouse behavior patterns. The study explores and compares multiple deep learning architectures, including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Long Short-Term Memory networks (LSTM), and Transformer models, to generate embeddings from …

Analysis And Application Of Adaptive Ml Algorithms For Malware Classification, Rashmi Boddukuri

Master's Projects

Malware classification is the process of distinguishing malware samples into categories of malware families that it is associated with and remains a critical step in the process of mitigating malware-related threats. In recent years, machine learning techniques have emerged as a powerful tool for such malware classification tasks. In this study, we explore the application of adaptive machine learning models to malware classification in order to analyze and determine how they compare in performance to similar but non-adaptive algorithms. The results achieved in this study share insight into the strengths and limitations of adaptive learning models when applied towards malware …

Distinguishing Chatbot From Human, Gauri Anil Godghase

Master's Projects

There have been many recent advances in the field of Generative Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models, with GPT 3 or ChatGPT model being one of the frontrunners in this field. These large language models have become so powerful that it has become difficult to differentiate between text written by humans and machine-generated text. This paper proposes a solution to the problem of classification of the origin of data (human or chatbot) by using Machine Learning. In addition, the proposed solution also helps us analyze the text generated by such Language Models and understand the underlying patterns present in the …

Exploring Gender Bias In Large Language Models: Cross-Linguistic Comparisons And Evaluation Letters Analysis, Athira Kumar

Master's Projects

Large language models (LLMs) play a significant role in modern human-computer interaction. They have exploded in popularity recently, becoming widely used for various tasks. However, concerns persist regarding potential biases within these models. This project investigates gender bias in the popular LLMs - GPT-3.5, GPT-4, Gemini, and LLAMA. The first part of our study focuses on analyzing biases using ambiguous sentences across three languages - English, Malayalam, and Tamil. We evaluate the LLMs to see if they associate occupations with commonly held gender stereotypes, by using specific professions within our test sentences. Through the use of two low-resource languages, this …

California Carbon Sequestration And Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Regulation In An Era Of Climate Change: Technology And Policy, Robert A. Mason

Master's Projects

This report serves primary purpose of finding prospective policies that could be useful in CARB’s new carbon sequestration program as mandated by S. B. 905. The bill states program goals and provides several objectives that direct the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), the California Air Resource Board (CARB), and the California Geological Survey (CGS, or just Survey) with various responsibilities. Curiously, S.B. 905 does not mention the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM or CalFire), although it has primary responsibility for issuing permits for hazardous pipelines as an agent of the federal Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

Pipelines …

Lexigen: Lexical-Driven Image Generation, Sangram Prashant Chincholkar

Master's Projects

This research project proposes a novel approach to user-driven image editing via natural language descriptions. The aim is an accurate change of certain features of an image with respect to the descriptive text while maintaining, with equal concern, the integrity of the remaining parts of the image not affected by the description. The task is particularly relevant for fields like content creation, personalized design, and automated image editing that require both coherence of a visual scene and textual description. We propose a generative model, LexiGen, which perfectly integrates natural language descriptions with their corresponding visual changes within an image. The …

Adaptive Metric-Driven Load Balancing For Specialized Clusters Using Nginx, Juhi Raju Malkani

Master's Projects

Adaptive Metric-Driven Load Balancer is an innovative two-tier load-balancing system that uses NGINX and Prometheus to optimize resource allocation in specialized cloud clusters. This framework is built to give great performance and flexibility and runs on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), but it may also be deployed on local cloud environments for added security. The first tier of our system uses an NGINX-based load balancer to route incoming requests based on content type, sending traffic to hardware-optimized clusters for processing requests through specialized hardware. In our algorithm, the second tier dynamically modifies load distribution throughout each cluster by calculating pod weights …

Embracing Mindfulness-Based Professional Development In Early Childhood Education, Drew Giles

Dissertations

There is a growing need for school districts to identify additional strategies to support the work-related stress and emotional labor ingrained in an early educator’s career. By orienting early childhood education (ECE) staff to mindfulness practices, education leaders may identify new approaches to assist early childhood educators’ well-being, building healthy work atmospheres, and activities to shift the culture in early childhood settings. This study employs a qualitative exploratory research design, specifically video documentary methodology to better understand how early childhood educators experience a mindfulness-based professional development (MBPD) program designed for ECE staff, explore what they say education leaders should know …

(Miss)Educated Latino Males: Academic Preparedness, Navigation, And Retention At 2-Year Colleges, Nannette Stephanie Regua

Dissertations

This study centers Latino males, first generation, first year students at four 2-year colleges in the Silicon Valley by understanding their experiences in transferable English 1A Writing Composition course and looking at the acts of instilling a sense of belonging and mattering by institutional agents and support services that are invaluable to student retention and success. The purpose of this study is to determine Latino male students’ perceptions of academic preparation, navigation, and success in higher education after the implementation of California Assembly Bill 705. My findings revealed important themes that map onto conceptual frameworks, most notably the Community Cultural …

How Are Mcps Doing On Achieving Assessed Calaim Requirements? A Comparative Analysis Of Selected Not-For-Profit, Publicly Governed Health Plans In California, Junell Chen

Master's Projects

At the heart of a larger societal movement, the imperative to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is a resounding call to action across all sectors. This pressing concern underscores the need for proactive and equity-centric solutions, including within the American healthcare system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has been instrumental in shaping policies and initiatives, such as Healthy People, aimed at promoting health equity and reducing health disparities. Similarly, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has instituted supplementary compliance requirements to hold healthcare stakeholders accountable for implementing equitable programs designed to eliminate health disparities …

The 1-Back Matching/Mismatching Paradigm With Pigeons (Columba Livia): Evidence For Explicit Learning?, Daniel Peng

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

With humans, a distinction can be made between explicit and implicit learning. language can be used to describe rule-based learning commonly seen in explicit, but not implicit learning. Unfortunately, we cannot do so with animals. Therefore, a non-verbal paradigm is needed to differentiate the types of learning. One method to make such a distinction is by training animals under a conditional discrimination task such as matching-to-sample with reinforcement delayed until a choice is made on the next trial: otherwise known as a 1-back procedure. In this experiment an alternating matching/mismatching to sample task under a 1-back schedule of reinforcement was …

Neural Hyperactivity During Value-Based Decision-Making In People With Daily/Near Daily Cannabis Use, Miranda Ramirez

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Value-based decision-making involves the coordinated effort of multiple brain regions to guide future choices based on past experiences. These processes are disrupted in cannabis use disorder, where individuals continue to use cannabis despite negative consequences. Reinforcement learning (RL) paradigms can be used to capture changes in the value of available options and may inform how the brain is impacted by frequent cannabis use. This study combined fMRI with behavioral modeling of probabilistic choice task data to compare value-based choices between young adults reporting daily/near daily cannabis use (CAN) and controls (CTRL). Participants selected one of two options reinforced ($0.25) at …

Effect Of A Brief Coping Intervention On Activity Of Target Organs Of The Sympathetic And Parasympathetic Nervous Systems During Stress, Kyle P. Rawn

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Stress is a critical aspect of the human experience and how an individual responds to stress can shape future outcomes, such as physical and mental health, as well as shape the patterns of stress responding that persist throughout one’s lifespan. Coping is a central element of stress responding and can strongly influence the outcome of the stress process. Successful coping can alleviate stress, but ineffective coping may lead to less-than-optimal responding. For example, aspects of the biological stress response, such as activity of target organs for the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, have important implications for future susceptibility to health …

Influence Of Oral Contraceptives On Alcohol Use In Young Adult Women, Ashley Strzelecki

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Rates of heavy drinking and Alcohol Use Disorder are rising dramatically in young adult women, making it important to better understand female-specific risks for problematic drinking. Circulating levels of ovarian hormones are one potential mechanism influencing alcohol use in women. Many young adult women use oral contraceptives (OCs) that alter endogenous hormone levels, and little is known about how OCs and the synthetic hormones they contain may influence alcohol use. This dissertation consists of three studies that investigated alcohol consumption in women using OCs and explored potential mechanisms through which OCs may influence alcohol use. Study 1 compared self-reported alcohol …

It Takes A Village: Impact Of Lgbtq+ Community On The Relationship Between Parenting Stress, Parent Mental Health, And Child Adjustment, Kevin Mcaweeney

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

While LGBTQ+ parented families are largely the same as their cis-het parent counterparts, they still experience unique factors exclusive to them. One such factor is access to the LGBTQ+ community. While research has emphasized the importance of community within the family system, the role the LGBTQ+ community can play for LGBTQ+ parented families is largely unexplored. Additionally, LGBTQ+ research examining parents of adolescents is similarly lacking. Utilizing a sample of LGBTQ+ parents with adolescent children, and informed by ecological systems theory, self-determination theory, and the parenting stress model, I examine the influence parent’s sense of LGBTQ+ community has on the …

Characterizing Resting Cerebral Blood Flow In Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder With Arterial Spin Labeling, Hannah R. Wild

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) profoundly impacting daily functioning and quality of life. Neuroimaging studies using various techniques have revealed inconsistent resting cerebral blood flow (rCBF) patterns in OCD patients, particularly within the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuit and sensorimotor network. Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) MRI offers a promising, noninvasive method for directly measuring rCBF. This study, using data from the Yale HCP Trio study, analyzed unmedicated OCD patients and healthy controls, who underwent two consecutive resting pulsed-ASL scans. OCD patients with lower obsessional severity exhibited higher perfusion in the pre- and …

Relationship Of Criterion A Level Of Personality Functioning With Borderline Personality Disorder Over The Course Of Brief Treatment, Michelle M. Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

The Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD) housed within DSM-5 Section III posits that impairments in personality functioning, operationalized by the Level of Personality Functioning Scale (LPFS) “constitute the core of personality psychopathology” (APA, 2013, p. 762). If this is the case, there should be strong associations between LPFS and DSM personality disorders, including borderline personality disorder (BPD). BPD Compass is a comprehensive CBT-based treatment for BPD which aims to reduce BPD symptoms over the course of 18 weekly sessions. This study examined if a) LPFS would be associated with changes in BPD symptoms, b) whether LPFS has incremental validity …

Factors That Contribute To Perceptions Of Police-Civilian Interactions, Shelby Wynne

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Perceptions of police-civilian interactions have been found to be impacted by the perspective in which they are viewed, with first-person perspectives eliciting negative perceptions of civilians and positive perceptions of police. However, the nature of the relationship between race and camera-perspective has not been fully explored. Black people are more likely to harmed by police at a disproportionate rate compared to White people, and consequently, have more negative perceptions of police. Three studies investigated what factors informed perceptions of police encounters, particularly when camera perspectives differed. Results showed partial support for my prediction that Black people are as not susceptible …

The Experience And Regulation Of Posttraumatic Shame Among Women With Interpersonal Trauma Histories, Jordyn M. Tipsword

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Posttraumatic shame – an emotion stemming from harsh attitudes about the self after trauma – is central to PTSD for many women following physical or sexual assault or abuse (interpersonal trauma [IPT]). However, knowledge of the frequency, intensity, and stability of shame in the daily lives of women post-IPT is lacking. Additionally, while some work has explored shame-specific emotion regulation (ER), or processes aimed at changing emotional responses, it remains unclear which ER strategies are effective in reducing shame, and the role of PTSD severity in shame regulation also remains unexplored. This project explored daily experiences and regulation of posttraumatic …

Development Of The Trait Response To Emotion Dimensional Measure For Use In Minoritized Populations, Anita Adams

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Trait responses to emotion (TREs) are personality traits that develop from how one consistently responds to and copes with emotions. TRE development is influenced by demographic factors, such as age, gender, and early life adversity, and TREs can influence how one copes with a variety of stressors. TRE theory and measurement is relatively new, and although TREs have been validated in majority race samples, TRE theory and measurement have not been validated in minority race samples, particularly in African American populations. This dissertation is taking the first preliminary steps for the development of a cross-cultural trait response to emotion dimensional …

Extracellular Free Water As An Imaging Biomarker Of Neuroinflammation, Cristina N. Pinheiro

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Older adults experience a chronic state of heightened immune response referred to as “inflammaging” which can be observed by detecting levels of proinflammatory cytokines in blood serum. These proinflammatory cytokines are secreted in the central nervous system and may also enter the brain through the blood brain barrier. Previous literature has suggested that extracellular free water, a magnetic resonance imaging metric, may allow us to detect alterations in the extracellular space which are thought to correlate with inflammation in the central nervous system. This study examined the correlation between two proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and TNFα, collected longitudinally and cross-sectionally imaged …

Hormonal Effects On Adhd Symptoms In Adolescents Across The Menstrual Cycle, Ashley G. Eng

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Background: Females with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) become particularly impaired during adolescence, experiencing increased rates of depression and anxiety, as well as important public and personal health outcomes like increased suicide attempts, risky sexual behavior, and substance use. However, female-specific risk factors for ADHD have been vastly understudied despite this increased impairment and comorbidity. One particularly understudied risk factor is the dramatically rising and fluctuating levels of ovarian hormones during late puberty that begin cycling monthly. In adult women, rapid decreases in estrogen levels increase risk for ADHD symptoms across the menstrual cycle, particularly for those with high trait impulsivity. Preliminary …

The Effect Of Cytomegalovirus Infection On Daily Stress Processes In Early Adulthood, Elana Gloger

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Chronic stress increases risk for disease, poor health, and early mortality. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common latent herpes virus, may promote neurological changes that increase vulnerability to chronic stress by way of self-regulatory deficits, though this has yet to be directly tested. Investigating CMV at younger ages is crucial to understand the effect of CMV across the lifespan and identify modifiable health-factors for future anti-aging interventions. The present study aimed to investigate how, and for whom, CMV associates with daily stress processes in early adulthood.

Participants (N = 108, M_age = 19.7, 83.3% female, 72% White) completed an in-person lab …

A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy As A Strategy To Promote Tobacco Treatment Equity At Cancer Center Cessation Initiative Sites, Marguerite A. Webster

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a safe, efficacious smoking cessation treatment for cancer patients; however, equitable access is limited due to insurance gaps. Offering free NRT to patients with cancer has potential to increase tobacco treatment engagement and promote equity. This mixed-methods study aims to describe how some Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I) sites implemented free NRT within their tobacco treatment programs (TTPs) to inform future development of equitable TTPs. Participating sites’ (N=9) TTP and patient population characteristics were assessed via survey and analyzed with descriptive statistics. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 individuals and analyzed using directed …

Fluctuations In Alcohol Impairment Of Working Memory Across The Menstrual Cycle, William Mcgarrigle

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Behavioral endocrinology studies in women suggest that higher circulating levels of the ovarian sex hormone estradiol (E2) may be linked to better working memory performance, especially under conditions of cognitive impairment (e.g., age-related cognitive decline). Phases of the menstrual cycle characterized by different levels of E2 may therefore influence the degree to which women are vulnerable to alcohol impairment of working memory. The current thesis used a within-subjects design to test the hypothesis that women are less sensitive to acute alcohol-induced impairment of working memory when E2 is elevated during the menstrual cycle. A sample of 75 premenopausal women completed …

Disinhibition And Bac Estimation As Predictors Of Risky Driving Behavior While Intoxicated, Sarah Heymsfeld

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Alcohol-related driving fatalities persist as a public health problem in the United States. Recent studies have begun focusing on driver risk-taking as a factor in DUI occurrences and consequent driving fatalities. Key factors that could contribute to risky intoxicated driving are a lack of self-awareness concerning intoxication levels and consequent risk in addition to alcohol-induced increases in the driver’s impulsivity. Fifty young adult drivers received 0.65 g/kg of alcohol (target BAC = 80 mg/dl) or a placebo in a counterbalanced order on two different days and performed a simulated driving test that measured driver risk-taking as reduced distance to other …

Power Of Perception: The Role Of Perceived Caregiver Mindset Beliefs On Undergraduate Student Academic Engagement, Katherine R. Tanaka

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Promoting academic engagement is vital for college student success. Researchers have explored factors like growth mindset, the belief that intelligence can improve with effort, as a driver of academic engagement. Beyond personal mindset, students’ perceptions of key social influences, such as caregivers, also play a role. This study examined how undergraduate students’ own mindsets and perceptions of their caregivers’ mindsets relate to four components of academic engagement: behavioral and emotional engagement, and behavioral and emotional disaffection. Data from undergraduates (N = 1417) were analyzed using surveys, descriptive statistics, hierarchical regression, and exploratory moderation. Students generally reported both a personal …

Cognitive-Behavioral Effects And Sex Differences In Alcohol Use, Mia Radevski

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Addiction models (e.g., iRISA model) suggest that excessive substance use can result in behavioral consequences such as decreased response inhibition and increased salience attribution toward alcohol cues. The primary goal of this project was to explore potential sex differences in these characteristics of addiction. This dissertation is comprised of two separate but related studies. Study 1 investigated sex differences in inhibitory control and attentional bias. The central hypotheses are 1) women who reported heavy-drinking would display greater disruptions in behavioral inhibitory control following alcohol-related cues, 2) men who reported heavy-drinking would display greater attentional bias toward alcohol-related cues, and 3) …

Establishing The Feasibility Of Crowdsourcing To Study Value-Based Decision-Making In Substance Use Disorders, Thomas Shellenberg

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are characterized by repeated choices to use drugs despite adverse consequences. Value-based decision-making theory posits that choices are guided by predicted values of available options which are updated based on outcomes. Computational modeling of reinforcement learning (RL) during choice tasks has shown promise for uncovering latent mechanisms of decision-making. Recruiting people with SUD is difficult, but crowdsourcing offers an alternative for accelerating data collection. However, the validity of computational modeling using online choice task data has not been well-established. This thesis aimed to use the online crowdsourcing platform Prolific to 1) compare online and in-person choice …

Menstrual Cycle Phase And Hormonal Effects On Emotional Eating In Females With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Urveesha Nirjar

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Previous research has shown that cyclical fluctuations in ovarian hormones can predict changes in ADHD symptoms as well as eating behaviors, particularly emotional eating across the menstrual cycle. Previous studies have so far only examined the effects of estrogen (E2), progesterone (P4) and cycle phase in predicting individual symptoms or disorders such as ADHD or eating disorders or related behaviors separately. The aim of this study is to examine how emotional eating is influenced by naturally occurring hormonal and cycle changes in a sample overrecruited for ADHD. Seventy-eight individuals (assigned female at birth) with menstrual cycles overrecruited for ADHD provided …