M.Ing. / In practice, channels with only insertions and deletions are rare. More commonly, additive errors are also present. Therefore, additional redundancy bits are added to the encoded data stream to allow for insertion/deletion correction. In this dissertation, moment balancing templates are used to add a single insertion/deletion capability to an arbitrary additive-error-correcting code. Moment balancing can be used for systematic encoding of number-theoretic codes. The selection of a particular additive-error-correcting codebook has potential influence on the moment balancing template. In direct relation to this, partition distributions of linear sets are considered and their connection to moment balancing templates illustrated. As an alternative to fixed length moment balancing templates, a variable length approach to moment balancing is also considered. It is shown that variable length moment balancing templates result in better performance, in terms of redundancy, than the optimal fixed length moment balancing template. It is assumed that the boundaries of variable length Levenshtein codewords are known. To implement the variable length template in practice, multiple markers are needed. The delimitation of variable length codeword boundaries with these markers leads to longer marker sequences as compared with the fixed length templates.

M.Ing. (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Thesis advisor: Michael McDannald / Uncertainty is a pervasive facet of life, and responding appropriately and proportionally to uncertain threats is critical for adaptive behavior. Aversive prediction errors are signals that allow for appropriate fear responses, especially in the face of uncertainty, and provide a critical updating mechanism to adapt to change. Positive prediction errors (+PE) are generated when an actual outcome of an event is worse than the predicted outcome and increase fear upon future encounters with the related predictive cue. Negative prediction errors (-PE) are generated when the predicted outcome is worse than the actual outcome and decrease fear upon future encounters with the related predictive cue. While some regions have been offered as the neural source of positive and negative prediction errors, no causal evidence has been able to identify their sources of generation. The objective of this dissertation was to causally identify the neural basis of aversive prediction error signaling. Using precise neural manipulations paired with a robust behavioral fear discrimination task, I present causal evidence for vlPAG generation of +PEs and for a ventrolateral periaqueductal grey (vlPAG) to medial central amygdala (CeM) pathway to carry out +PE fear updating. Further, I demonstrate that while dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons are not the source of -PE generation, they appear to receive and utilize this signal. Understanding the neural network responsible for aversive prediction error signaling will not only inform understanding of the neurological basis of fear but also may provide insights into disorders, such as PTSD and anxiety disorders, that are characterized by excessive/inappropriate fear responses. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Psychology.

Researchers raise concerns that the diagnostic approach can create stigma and lead to clinical inferences that focus on dispositional characteristics at the expense of situational variables. From social cognitive theory to strict behavioral approaches there is broad agreement that situation is at least as important as disposition. The present study examined the clinical inferences of graduate student clinicians randomly presented a diagnosis (borderline PD) or no diagnosis and either randomly given context information or no context information before watching a videotaped clinical interaction of a fabricated client. Responses to a questionnaire assessing dispositional or situational attributions about the client’s behavior indicated a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder did not significantly increase dispositional attributions and did not significantly moderate the importance of contextual factors. A notable difference between the attributions made by psychodynamic and third wave behavioral respondents was observed. Conceptual and experimental limitations as well as future directions are discussed.

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Research shows that interracial relationships are more likely to dissolve than same-race relationships (Bratter and King, 2008), with evidence suggesting social disapproval may play a role (Lehmiller and Agnew, 2006). However, people seem to overlook external attributions for failures and minimize internal attributions for successes when judging interracial relationships (Ellithorpe, Colvin, Missel, and Sinclair, 2012), thus making the ultimate attribution error. To test whether individuals make this error, 642 participants read one of 16 vignettes manipulating the race (Caucasian vs. African American) of relationship partners and the opinions of their parents (Approving vs. Disapproving). Participants predicted the likelihood of relationship success and indicated reasons for potential relationship outcomes. Participants were more likely to predict success for relationships that had approval, but were significantly more likely to predict failure for interracial relationships. Consistent with ultimate attribution error theory, individuals scoring high in prejudice were more likely to make these attribution patterns.

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