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From Adversarial Attacks to Robust Classifiers - A Study in Social Media Spam Detection - Black Box & White Box
No full textAdversarial attacks pose a significant threat to the reliability of machine learning-based spam detection systems in social media. This undergraduate thesis, From Adversarial Attacks to Robust Classifiers: A Study in Social Media Spam Detection – Black Box & White Box, systematically examines the impact of both black-box and white-box adversarial attacks on a range of spam classifiers, including Logistic Regression, Decision Trees, Random Forests, K-Nearest Neighbors, Bagging, Gradient Boosting, and Support Vector Machines. Leveraging a novel dataset derived from Twitter spam messages and enhanced with adversarial perturbations such as synonym replacement and character-level modifications, this study evaluates classifier performance under realistic attack scenarios. Exploratory data analysis reveals how adversarial manipulation alters linguistic features and classification outcomes. Experimental results demonstrate that adversarial attacks can significantly degrade model accuracy, with white-box attacks generally proving more effective than black-box attacks. The thesis further discusses defense strategies and model robustness, offering practical insights for developing more resilient spam detection systems in the face of evolving adversarial threats. This work contributes to the fields of natural language processing, cybersecurity, and social media analytics by highlighting the urgent need for robust classifiers capable of withstanding adversarial manipulation
From Surviving to Thriving: Trauma Informed Models for Survivors of Human Trafficking
Get PDFThis qualitative study explored the lived experiences of seven educators, program leaders, and other direct service providers who support the learning and development of human trafficking survivors in trauma-informed agencies in Kentucky. Using narrative inquiry methods (Clandinin & Connelly, 1990), this study identified the trauma-informed models and strategies currently employed in Kentucky agencies that serve trafficking survivors, participants’ experiences with successful strategies, and the barriers they have experienced. This study addressed research gaps between the effects of trauma on learning, trauma-informed educational models, the unique needs of trafficking survivors, and trauma-informed care for trafficking survivors in non-educational settings. The theoretical framework that guided this study is Bronfenbrenner’s (1977) ecological systems theory. Participants’ stories were collected through artifact presentations, semi-structured interviews, and guided questionnaires using Microsoft Teams meeting recordings and transcriptions. The primary themes identified in participants’ transcriptions were (1) resources, (2) education and training for providers and community partners, (3) safety, (4) involving survivors in decision-making, (5) standards of care, (6) building relationships, (7) a person-centered approach, and (8) survivor education.
This study addresses the following research questions: What trauma-informed educational models and/or strategies are currently employed in agencies that serve trafficking survivors? Which specific components of these models and/or strategies have proven successful with trafficking survivors? What are the greatest barriers to success, as identified by the educators of trafficking survivors
The Impact of IMF Policies on Argentina’s Economic Decline and the Institutional Legacy of the Kirchners
No full textArgentina’s recurrent economic crises and its contentious relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have profoundly shaped the country’s political economy and contributed to the emergence of Kirchnerist populism in the post-2001 era. This thesis investigates the intertwined effects of external financial pressures and domestic governance failures, arguing that Argentina’s instability cannot be explained by either factor alone but rather by their evolving interaction. To assess these dynamics, the study integrates a broad literature review with an original empirical analysis using a time-series panel model of Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela. The findings reveal that IMF lending exhibits a strong and statistically significant positive relationship with central government debt, supporting the hypothesis that IMF involvement meaningfully influences sovereign debt trajectories for these three countries. Additional variables including GDP growth, voter turnout, and foreign direct investment, also demonstrate varying levels of statistical significance, though some coefficients diverge from theoretical expectations, suggesting the influence of political and structural volatility. In contrast, the analysis does not find sufficient empirical support for a significant relationship between populism and central government debt with a p-value of 25%, possibly due to lack of data limiting the model. By situating Argentina within a broader Latin American context, the thesis offers a nuanced account of the forces driving its persistent economic turmoil and the rise of populist responses, contributing to wider studies on international financial intervention and economic governance in the region
Forging Freedom: Black Male Teachers, Their Maroon Communities, and Their Decision to Remain in the Elementary Classroom
Get PDFAmerica’s lack of Black male teachers continues to be an astonishing problem. This study explores Black male educators who have chosen to remain elementary school teachers in the southern region of America. Moreover, this dissertation examines how Black male elementary teachers create or engage in maroon communities. Through qualitative case study methods including a focus group, interviews, artifacts, and journal entries, the following questions were explored: How do Black male teachers describe the lived experiences that contribute to their retention in elementary classrooms in urban areas in the South? How do Black male teachers participate in or create maroon communities to establish autonomous educational spaces?
Findings from this research illustrate the impact positive student relationships, cultural awareness, and perceptions of school administration have on the retention of Black male elementary teachers. Additionally, findings indicate that the maroon communities Black male elementary teachers engage with are professional and personal, they are spaces that provide support and social relaxation to play, and they are spaces of humanity. The significance of findings in this study informs the retention of Black male elementary teachers, and the ways these educators create autonomous spaces of freedom
An Exploration of Behavioral Sex Differences Due to a Parkinsonian Gene, pdr-1, in C. elegans.
Get PDFParkinson’s disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system classified by the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Males and females exhibit different symptoms however, the cause remains unknown. Through the use of a model organism, C. elegans, we will investigate an ortholog of a Parkinsonian gene, pdr-1, to explore whether or not there are statistical differences between the hermaphrodites and males through known behavioral assays such as Swimming Induced Paralysis and Basal Slowing Rate. In order to compare gender differences, we successfully conducted CRISPR, where we inserted the him-8 mutation, resulting in an increased population of males from less than 1% up to about 37%. To synchronize worm development, we have modified a procedure and methods from Kudumala et. al (2019) and have had consistent and accurate results. This procedure allows us to have C. elegans of the same age to eliminate age as a factor during behavioral assays. For the behavioral assays, we have been working with the Computer Science department to develop software to analyze and track the worms. Our results indicate that there is no statistical difference between the males and the hermaphrodites in the pdr-1; him-8 strain. However, there was a statistical difference found between the him-8 strain between both sexes, as well as when compared to the N2s. The pdr-1 data along with the pdr-1; him-8 data, were also not congruent with established literature, and the reason for this difference is unknown. Further experimentation needs and will continue to occur, to see if the results are repeatable or due to some underlying cause from the him-8 mutation. But if the reversal of differences present between the hermaphrodite and male worms are due to the pdr-1 gene, then it could ultimately reveal sex-based differences in humans being attributed to genetic reasons, which could allow for better and more personalized treatment options
After The Play: A Collection of Creative Nonfiction Short Stories on the Mental Health and Pressures Surrounding College Athletes
Get PDFThis collection of creative nonfiction forefronts the often-overlooked mental health struggles and pressures that collegiate athletes face. These short stories explore the usefulness of the genre to engage readers on a deeper level and reveal real experiences. Each of the three stories incorporates nonfiction aspects collected in interviews conducted with current collegiate athletes and creatively models the literary style and technique of a prominent literary figure. In sharing these creative nonfiction short stories, this project works to build a connection between the reader and these athletes, fostering future support, empathy, and understanding
Assessing the Impact of Immersive Simulation on Pre-Clinical Physcian Associate Students\u27 Uncertainty Tolerance
No full textBackground: Uncertainty tolerance is crucial for healthcare providers facing complex clinical situations. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding effective interventions for developing this skill in the physician associate population.
Purpose: This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the impact of multiple immersive simulations, each involving an ambiguous diagnosis, on pre-clinical physician associate students\u27 uncertainty tolerance.
Methods: Fifty-five pre-clinical physician associate students were invited to participate in the study. Using a quasi-experimental pre- and post-design, uncertainty tolerance was measured using both the Tolerance of Ambiguity in Medical Students and Doctors scale and the Tolerance for Ambiguity scale.
Results: Pre- and post-intervention surveys revealed a statistically significant reduction in uncertainty tolerance. While survey scores improved during simulation cases three and four, these gains were not sustained. Repeated scale assessments showed no significant difference between active participation and observation simulation roles, and prior healthcare experience was not correlated with uncertainty tolerance. Psychometric analyses revealed limitations in the reliability and validity of the scales in this population.
Conclusions: This study is the first to contribute to the literature on uncertainty tolerance among physician associate students, offering evidence on the use of immersive simulation with diagnostic ambiguity to influence this critical non-technical skill. It highlights the impact of the mode of engagement (role) during simulation and the effect of prior healthcare experience. The results emphasize the need for the inclusion of clinical uncertainty in health professions curricula and support the use of simulation-based strategies to shape learners\u27 ability to navigate uncertainty
The Influence of Family Literacy Playgroups on Early Childhood Development and Parent Efficacy in Hispanic Families: A Qualitative Phenomenological Case Study
No full textThis qualitative phenomenological case study is focused on the engagement of Hispanic children between 18 and 36 months of age and their parents in a family literacy program. Participation in a family literacy program was associated with changes in the cognitive, social, and emotional development of children, as well as the self-efficacy of their parents in parenting skills. Grounded in the social theories of Vygotsky, Bandura, and Bronfenbrenner, this study relates the importance of language acquisition, literacy skills, and self-efficacy to a community setting where conversation is encouraged and reading engagement is modeled. The Hispanic population is underrepresented in the literature, which makes this study particularly significant. It highlights the growth in children’s language skills and their interest in books, along with the increased confidence of their parents in continuing to promote language and literacy at home. This qualitative phenomenological case study adds a valuable contribution to understanding family literacy outcomes within a community
EXPLORING PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATES’ PERCEPTIONS OF MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY
Get PDFLonger lifespans across the population are contributing to a rise in chronic illnesses that require ongoing treatment. This increase has furthered the need for evidence-based clinical tools to effectively treat long-term diseases. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based method used by physicians and other healthcare practitioners, including physician associates (PAs), to help patients facilitate health behavior changes. PAs are licensed, highly trained healthcare professionals who practice medicine across all specialties and settings. PAs focus on patient-centered, team-based care and play a key role in expanding access to healthcare and improving overall health outcomes (AAPA, 2023b). While MI’s efficacy has been proven, PAs’ perceptions of using MI in practice have not been thoroughly explored. A transcendental phenomenological study of physician associates’ (PAs) experiences using motivational interviewing was performed with the aim of answering the research question: Do physician associates perceive MI to be an effective clinical tool in influencing patient outcomes, specifically health behavior changes? Semi-structured interviews and fieldnotes from 11 participants were gathered and analyzed to produce a thorough understanding of the MI experience for the participants. Giorgi’s five step method was employed for interview data analysis. Three major themes materialized: (1) Improving Outcomes by Changing Behaviors, (2) MI: Assets and Obstacles, and (3) MI: Learning the Basics, Developing the Skills. The study offers key insights into PAs\u27 clinical experiences and highlights implications for research, practice, and education, while making recommendations for future research
The Effects of Exposure to Ultraviolet Light on the Activity of Catalase in Internal and External Tissues of the Sea Urchin Lytechinus variegatus
Get PDFExposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can have negative impacts on organisms that are exposed to it. The sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus is an organism that resides in shallow waters which can experience exposure to UVR. One negative impact that can occur from UVR is an increase in production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to cell stress. In this experiment, two treatments were performed on L. variegatus in the adult state. The first included an exposure to UV-B radiation for 8 hours, and the second was an 8-hour UV-B exposure with temperatures at 30 °C to replicate environmental conditions in line with warming. Cell stress was assessed by looking at the activity of the antioxidant enzyme catalase in external tissues (tube feet) and internal tissues (gut). No significant difference in catalase activity was observed between the experimental or control groups for either treatment. However, there was a significant difference observed between the catalase activity of the tube feet tissue and the gut tissue. The current study explores the effect that stress can have on the enzymatic activity of L. variegatus, but future research needs to be done to determine what about each tissue type leads to the differences in enzymatic activity