Computer Sciences Commons^™

Side Channel Detection Of Pc Rootkits Using Nonlinear Phase Space, Rebecca Clark

Honors Theses

Cyberattacks are increasing in size and scope yearly, and the most effective and common means of attack is through malicious software executed on target devices of interest. Malware threats vary widely in terms of behavior and impact and, thus, effective methods of detection are constantly being sought from the academic research community to offset both volume and complexity. Rootkits are malware that represent a highly feared threat because they can change operating system integrity and alter otherwise normally functioning software. Although normal methods of detection that are based on signatures of known malware code are the standard line of defense, …

Ethical Imperatives And Challenges: Review Of The Use Of Machine Learning For Predictive Analytics In Higher Education, Emily Barnes, James Hutson, Karriem Perry

Faculty Scholarship

The escalating integration of machine learning (ML) in higher education necessitates a critical examination of its ethical implications. This article conducts a comprehensive review of the application of ML for predictive analytics within higher education institutions (HEIs), emphasizing the technology's potential to enhance student outcomes and operational efficiency. The study identifies significant ethical concerns, such as data privacy, informed consent, transparency, and accountability, that arise from the use of ML. Through a detailed analysis of current practices, this review underscores the need for HEIs to develop robust ethical frameworks and technological infrastructures to navigate these challenges effectively. The findings reveal …

Reviving The Past: Enhancing Language Models With Historical Text Optimization, Heather D. Broome

Honors Theses

Recent advancements in Natural Language Processing (NLP) have brought attention to the significant potential that exists for widespread applications of Large Language Models (LLMs). As demands and expectations for LLMs rise, ensuring efficiency and accuracy becomes paramount. Addressing these challenges requires more than just optimizing current techniques; it urges novel approaches to NLP as a whole. This study investigates novel data preprocessing methods designed to enhance LLM performance by mitigating inefficiencies rooted in natural language, particularly by simplifying the complexities presented by historical texts. Utilizing the classical text The Odyssey by Homer, two preprocessing techniques are introduced: tokenization of names …

Learning Scene Semantics For 3d Scene Retrieval, Natalie Gleason

Honors Theses

This project presents a comprehensive exploration into semantics-driven 3D scene retrieval, aiming to bridge the gap between 2D sketches/images and 3D models. Through four distinct research objectives, this project endeavors to construct a foundational infrastructure, develop methodologies for quantifying semantic similarity, and advance a semantics-based retrieval framework for 2D scene sketch-based and image-based 3D scene retrieval. Leveraging WordNet as a foundational semantic ontology library, the research proposes the construction of an extensive hierarchical scene semantic tree, enriching 2D/3D scenes with encoded semantic information. The methodologies for semantic similarity computation utilize this semantic tree to bridge the semantic disparity between 2D …

Identifying Temporomandibular Disorder Morphological Risk Factors Via Explainable Deep Learning And Multiscale Biomechanical Modeling, Shuchun Sun

All Dissertations

Clarifying multifactorial musculoskeletal disorder etiologies supports risk analysis and development of targeted prevention and treatment modalities. Deep learning enables comprehensive risk factor identification through systematic analysis of disease datasets but does not provide sufficient context for mechanistic understanding, limiting clinical applicability for etiological investigations. Conversely, multiscale biomechanical modeling can evaluate mechanistic etiology within the relevant biomechanical and physiological context. We propose a hybrid approach combining 3D explainable deep learning and multiscale biomechanical modeling; we applied this approach to investigate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder etiology by systematically identifying risk factors and elucidating mechanistic relationships between risk factors and TMJ biomechanics and …

Comparing And Assessing Four Ai Chatbots' Competence In Economics, Patrik T. Hultberg, David Santandreu Calonge, Firuz Kamalov, Linda Smail

All Works

Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots have emerged as powerful tools in modern academic endeavors, presenting both opportunities and challenges in the learning landscape. They can provide content information and analysis across most academic disciplines, but significant differences exist in terms of response accuracy for conclusions and explanations, as well as word counts. This study explores four distinct AI chatbots, GPT-3.5, GPT-4, Bard, and LLaMA 2, for accuracy of conclusions and quality of explanations in the context of university-level economics. Leveraging Bloom’s taxonomy of cognitive learning complexity as a guiding framework, the study confronts the four AI chatbots with a standard test …

Vr Circuit Simulation With Advanced Visualization For Enhancing Comprehension In Electrical Engineering, Elliott Wolbach

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

As technology advances, the field of electrical and computer engineering continuously demands innovative tools and methodologies to facilitate effective learning and comprehension of fundamental concepts. Through a comprehensive literature review, it was discovered that there was a gap in the current research on using VR technology to effectively visualize and comprehend non-observable electrical characteristics of electronic circuits. This thesis explores the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) technology and real-time electronic circuit simulation with enhanced visualization of non-observable concepts such as voltage distribution and current flow within these circuits. The primary objective is to develop an immersive educational platform that makes …

Cybervictimization And Depression: A Cultural Standpoint, Paige Heagy

University Honors College

The author’s aim was to investigate the relationship between cybervictimization and depression, as well as using peer attachment and culture as moderators by giving questionnaires to 1347 participants (age range = 11-15 years) from India and the United States. Through four questionnaires, adolescents reported their levels of endorsement in either individualism or collectivism culture, levels of cybervictimization, levels of depression/depressive symptoms, and their levels of peer attachment. Adolescents reported that there is a significantly positive correlation between cybervictimization and depression. Differences were found according to culture and peer attachment, as well. Cybervictimization has begun to erupt worldwide as internet usage …

The Effects Of Using Machine Translators On The Performance Of Second Language Learners, Kasey Myer

University Honors College

With the rise of technology has also come the development of various online language translators and artificial intelligence that are often utilized by individuals learning a second language. However, there is a wide range of quality between the different machine translation tools, and many people tend to be under the impression that it is inferior to the quality of interpretations provided by human translators. This paper considers the positives and negatives of machine translation as a tool for second language learning. Variations between the input and output languages on a grammatical and cultural level are analyzed. Machine translation is compared …

From Bits To Beds: Design And Implementation Of A Hotel Booking System A Coding Project, Alexa Gilman

University Honors College

This thesis presents a comprehensive hotel booking system designed and implemented to showcase the transition "From Bits to Beds". There are two main motivations behind this project: firstly, to provide users with a user-friendly and efficient platform for booking accommodations. Secondly, it serves as a great learning opportunity, providing hands-on practice with coding, collaboration with teammates, and exposure to real-world challenges. The system utilizes technologies such as JavaScript, Express.js, and HTML/CSS to offer features like browsing hotels, filtering options, user authentication, and booking management. The implementation of this project demonstrates a successful integration of backend and frontend components, ensuring reliability …

Guardians Of The Data: Government Use Of Ai And Iot In The Digital Age, Jannat Saeed

Honors Theses

The exponential growth of technology, epitomized by Moore's Law – “the observation that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit will double every two years”– has propelled the swift evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. This phenomenon has revolutionized various facets of daily life, from smart home devices to autonomous vehicles, reshaping how individuals interact with the world around them. However, as governments worldwide increasingly harness these innovations to monitor and collect personal data, profound privacy concerns have arisen among the general populace. Despite the ubiquity of AI and IoT in modern society, formal …

Cross-Framework Validation Of Cnn Architectures: From Pytorch To Onnx, Shreya Nandanwar

Theses and Dissertations

This research presents CIPAC (CNN Inter-framework Parameter Analysis and Comparison), a validation approach designed to ensure the integrity of Deep Learning models during their transfer between computational frameworks. Although initially tested on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), CIPAC is versatile enough for various Deep Learning architectures. It goes beyond traditional methods that focus on output accuracy, by examining the models’ architecture, parameters, and components to maintain consistency after transitions, like moving from PyTorch to ONNX framework. Inspired by software architecture’s stringent validation standards, CIPAC addresses the challenges of working with Machine Learning models on different platforms, making it an essential tool …

Dancetag: Using Sensors To Improve Feedback Given To Dance Students, Yanelly Mego

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The structure of dance classrooms has remained unchanged for several years. Very little, if any, technology has been incorporated to improve the quality of teaching. This has motivated our research project, whose goal is to capture dance movements with wearable sensors, to develop DANCETAG (Data Analytics and Notation with Captured Event Tagging). This is a platform that allows the gathering of data captured by Sony’s Mocopi sensors and annotating them with the dancer's movements. The Mocopi sensors make up a motion capture system. It is comprised of six small, round sensors that can be attached to velcro straps and clips. …

Aggregate Games: Computations And Applications, Jared Soundy

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Existing computational game theory studies consider compact representations of games that capture agent interaction in real-world environments and examine computation aspects of computing equilibrium concepts to analyze or predict agent behavior.

One of the most well-studied representations that capture many commonly studied real-world environments is aggregate games. Aggregate games, first systematically studied by Nobel laureate Reinhard Selten, have various applications in modeling the decision-making interdependence of agents, where each agent’s utility function depends on their own actions and the aggregations or summarizations of the actions of all agents. These applications include Cournot oligopoly competition, public good contribution, and voting, where …

Next-Generation Crop Monitoring Technologies: Case Studies About Edge Image Processing For Crop Monitoring And Soil Water Property Modeling Via Above-Ground Sensors, Nipuna Chamara

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has advanced rapidly in the past two decades. Internet of Things (IoT) technology has advanced rapidly during the last decade. Merging these two technologies has immense potential in several industries, including agriculture.

We have identified several research gaps in utilizing IoT technology in agriculture. One problem was the digital divide between rural, unconnected, or limited connected areas and urban areas for utilizing images for decision-making, which has advanced with the growth of AI. Another area for improvement was the farmers' demotivation to use in-situ soil moisture sensors for irrigation decision-making due to inherited installation difficulties. As Nebraska …

Best Practices For Offline Evaluation For Top-N Recommendation: Candidate Set Sampling And Statistical Inference, Ngozi Ihemelandu

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Evaluation of recommender systems is key to ensuring that we are making progress by only promoting proposed algorithms that actually outperform the state-of-the-art. Evaluation can be performed offline using logged historic data, or online such as A/B tests. Offline evaluation is the most popular evaluation paradigm used in recent research publications because of its accessibility. It has been an area of study since its earliest days, and is still currently an active area of research. Even though significant work has been done to improve the process and metrics of offline evaluation, it still faces fundamental difficulties. Given the significant role …

Modeling The Spatiotemporal Variations Of The Magnetic Field In Active Regions On The Sun Using Deep Neural Networks, Godwill Asare Mensah Mensah

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Solar active regions are areas on the Sun's surface that have especially strong magnetic fields. Active regions are usually linked to a number of phenomena that can have serious detrimental consequences on technology and, in turn, human life. Examples of these phenomena include solar flares and coronal mass ejections, or CMEs. The precise predictionof solar flares and coronal mass ejections is still an open problem since the fundamental processes underpinning the formation and development of active regions are still not well understood. One key area of research at the intersection of solar physics and artificial intelligence is deriving insights from …

Automated Composition Of Multivariable Scientific Workflows Considering Scientific Assumptions, Raul Alejandro Vargas Acosta

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Many ground-breaking scientific experiments require the execution of multiple complex scientific computations. Thus, scientific workflows (i.e., a sequence of scientific computations) have received significant attention, more specifically, the automated composition of scientific workflows. Scientific workflows that repurpose data may have unique scientific assumptions that need to be considered when composing a workflow. Workflow composition tools have enabled a wider range of stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, the general public, and researchers) to create and execute workflows; however, domain expertise is still required for these tasks. The overarching goal of this work is to further improve the automatic composition of scientific workflows by …

An Edge Computing System With Amd Xilinx Fpga Ai Customer Platform For Advanced Driver Assistance System, Tsun Kuang Chi, Tsung Yi Chen, Yu Chen Lin, Ting Lan Lin, Jun Ting Zhang, Cheng Lin Lu, Shih Lun Chen, Kuo Chen Li, Patricia Angela R. Abu

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

The convergence of edge computing systems with Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology has shown considerable promise in enhancing real-time applications across various domains. This paper presents an innovative edge computing system design specifically tailored for pavement defect detection within the Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADASs) domain. The system seamlessly integrates the AMD Xilinx AI platform into a customized circuit configuration, capitalizing on its capabilities. Utilizing cameras as input sensors to capture road scenes, the system employs a Deep Learning Processing Unit (DPU) to execute the YOLOv3 model, enabling the identification of three distinct types of pavement defects with high accuracy and …

A Ui-Enhanced Approach To Generic Web-Based Scheduling, Tyler Hinrichs

Honors Scholar Theses

Administrative scheduling is a key aspect of a wide variety of systems, but despite being a widespread need, it is not a straightforward task. Organizational uniqueness introduces complexity when attempting to use algorithmic methods to automate scheduling, as individual organizations often have their own ways of determining various details and constraints of a schedule. However, in this paper, we assert that there are relevant commonalities that many different schedules fundamentally possess, allowing us to create a generic scheduling application that can be productively used for as many different scenarios as possible. After devising a schema that captures this generic representation, …

Database And Machine Learning Model For Classifying Autism Spectrum Disorder From Smartphone Based Electroretinography, Rory Harris

Honors Scholar Theses

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that negatively affects a patient’s cognitive and communication aptitude and, therefore, can severely impact that patient’s quality of life. Because of this, early diagnosis is paramount. In recent studies, electroretinography (ERG), which is a measure of the retina’s electrical response to a brief flash of light into the eye, has shown promise in detecting ASD. Access to these scans can provide early diagnosis, improving well-being. Current ERG devices are very expensive due to their on board processing capabilities. This paper aims to create an ERG device using a smartphone as the main …

Analysis And Numerical Simulation Of Tumor Growth Models, Daniel Acosta Soba

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation we focus on the numerical analysis of tumor growth models. Due to the difficulty of developing physically meaningful approximations of such models, we divide the main problem into more simple pieces of work that are addressed in the different chapters. First, in Chapter 2 we present a new upwind discontinuous Galerkin (DG) scheme for the convective Cahn–Hilliard model with degenerate mobility which preserves the pointwise bounds and prevents non-physical spurious oscillations. These ideas are based on a well-suited piecewise constant approximation of convection equations. The proposed numerical scheme is contrasted with other approaches in several numerical experiments. …

3-D Reconstruction For Underwater Robots With A Monocular Camera And Lights, Monika Roznere

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Before a robot can act, it must perceive its environment. Though, this is not a simple task when considering the challenges in underwater domains -- poor visibility conditions, limited sensor configurations, and lack of readily accessible localization. Underwater robots have, nevertheless, improved dramatically with more extensive sensor and navigation equipment. Robot and sensor use have enabled us to explore all reaches of our oceans. On the other hand, these same robots are not easily accessible or transferable to many practical tasks, including fishery management, infrastructure maintenance, disaster response, site conservation, and ecological surveys. There is a growing need for robots …

The Future Of Brain Tumor Diagnosis: Cnn And Transfer Learning Innovations, Shengyuan Wang

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Honors Projects

For the purpose of improving patient survival rates and facilitating efficient treatment planning, brain tumors need to be identified early and accurately classified. This research investigates the application of transfer learning and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) to create an automated, high-precision brain tumor segmentation and classification framework. Utilizing large-scale datasets, which comprise MRI images from open-accessible archives, the model exhibits the effectiveness of the method in various kinds of tumors and imaging scenarios. Our approach utilizes transfer learning techniques along with CNN architectures strengths to tackle the intrinsic difficulties of brain tumor diagnosis, namely significant tumor appearance variability and difficult …

Care-Teach: Proposing An Open-Source Approach To Personalized Learning, Jaime Augusto Alvarez Perez

Theses and Dissertations

Care-Teach is an algorithmic educational model that provides teachers and educators with the tools to create interactive, text-based lessons that address a student’s need for continuity and reinforcement. Care-Teach is built around two core components: a Student Behavior Profile and the Skill Tree. These models work together to give each student a personalized learning experience that reinforces their pre-existing strengths and inclinations. The Student Behavior Profile model keeps track of a learner’s inclinations and mood, utilizing metrics such as average response time and accuracy to categorize opportunities for educator involvement. The Skill Tree is an organizational …

Detection And Classification Of Diabetic Retinopathy Using Deep Learning Models, Aishat Olatunji

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare analytics leverages extensive patient data for data-driven decision-making, enhancing patient care and results. Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), a complication of diabetes, stems from damage to the retina’s blood vessels. It can affect both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients. Ophthalmologists employ retinal images for accurate DR diagnosis and severity assessment. Early detection is crucial for preserving vision and minimizing risks. In this context, we utilized a Kaggle dataset containing patient retinal images, employing Python’s versatile tools. Our research focuses on DR detection using deep learning techniques. We used a publicly available dataset to apply our proposed neural network and …

An Intelligent Academic Advising System For Course Recommendation Using Large Language Models, Malika Maya Iratni

Theses

Academic advising is an important resource for students, especially in higher education, in order to guide them to make the best possible decisions to improve their overall academic performance and overall academic journey. With the increasing number of students joining these institutions each year, traditional advising becomes a time-consuming and inefficient process that can leave students discouraged, and advisors overwhelmed. Therefore, there is a need to develop intelligent advising systems that make use of the recent advancements in technology, to support the advising process, and increase overall student satisfaction. In this work, an academic advising model that uses Recommender Systems …

Social Balance On Networks: Local Minima And Best-Edge Dynamics, Krishnendu Chatterjee, Jakub Svoboda, Dorde Zikelic, Andreas Pavlogiannis, Josef Tkadlec

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Structural balance theory is an established framework for studying social relationships of friendship and enmity. These relationships are modeled by a signed network whose energy potential measures the level of imbalance, while stochastic dynamics drives the network toward a state of minimum energy that captures social balance. It is known that this energy landscape has local minima that can trap socially aware dynamics, preventing it from reaching balance. Here we first study the robustness and attractor properties of these local minima. We show that a stochastic process can reach them from an abundance of initial states and that some local …

Optimizing Adult Learner Success: Applying Random Forest Classifier In Higher Education Predictive Analytics, Emily Barnes, James Hutson, Karriem Perry

Faculty Scholarship

This study examines the application of the Random Forest Classifier (RF) model in predicting academic success among adult learners in higher education. It focuses on evaluating the model's effectiveness using key statistical measures like accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score across a comprehensive dataset from 2013–14 to 2021–22, which includes variables such as age, ethnicity, gender, Pell Grant eligibility, and academic performance metrics. The research highlights the RF model's capability to handle large datasets with varying data types and demonstrates its superiority over traditional regression models in predictive accuracy. Through an iterative process, the study refines the RF model to …

Leveraging Blockchain Technology To Revamp The Vehicle Electrification Journey: Perspectives Of Accountability And Economic Circularity, Eva Escobar Brown

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The automotive industry is undergoing a significant transition accelerated by global emission regulations for a phase out of internal combustion engines (ICEs) and a transition toward the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). While regulatory measures and incentivized adoption for EVs presents opportunities for reducing emissions and promoting sustainability, it also poses complex challenges. The EV industry faces potential production challenges, particularly in the sourcing, manufacturing, and lifecycle management of critical minerals and raw materials for electric vehicle batteries (EVBs). With a heavy reliance on a steady and diversified supply of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements, …