Dissertations
Browse by
This collection of dissertations consists of digital copies of doctoral theses submitted for degree at the colleges and departments of the Wichita State University. The collection includes dissertations beginning of fall 2005.
The complete set of all WSU dissertations may be found in WSU Library Catalog. University Libraries has two paper copies of each dissertation submitted before 2006 and microfilms for all WSU dissertations.
All items in SOAR are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved. They may be viewed from SOAR for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission of the Wichita State University. Contact: susan.matveyeva@wichita.edu
Recent Submissions
-
Bullard, Lisha Marie (Wichita State University, July , 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: The additive and synergistic effects of a parent-peer model in the development of child antisocial behavior from the ages of 5 to 7 was examined. Participants included a community sample of 267 children at kindergarten entry, 134 boys and 133 girls. Participants’ mean age was 5.3 years at the start of data collection (fall of kindergarten), with final data collection in the spring of first grade (mean age 7.2 years). Multi-method, multi-informant methods were used to examine skilled and unskilled parenting, as well as peer processes, including coercion, rejection, and deviancy training to the development of overt and covert antisocial behavior. Both ineffective parenting and deviant peer processes were related to chronic levels of covert and overt antisocial behavior, but peer processes contributed in a stronger fashion. However, only ineffective parenting processes reliably predicted individual differences in children’s growth in overt and covert antisocial behavior. These results support the notion that interventions may need to target social processes in multiple settings, to include parents and peers, and perhaps teachers. Further implications for prevention and intervention are discussed. Description: Thesis (Ph.D.)--Wichita State University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10057/5062 Files in this item: 1
d11016_Bullard.pdf (720.5Kb) -
Probst, Adam C. (Wichita State University, July , 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: The installation and use of computerized systems in health care, particularly Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), has rapidly expanded over the past decade. Overall, their implementation has led to positive outcomes. However, despite their many beneficial contributions to the medical field, EMR use has been shown to alter the way in which clinicians provide care to patients and has broadly resulted in changes to medical decision making. One possible explanation for why EMRs alter medical decision making relates to the structure of the choice environment they create for clinicians. For example, EMRs have the capability to list every avenue of patient care on a single screen to clinicians that can be ordered via simple checkboxes. This new choice environment might lead to changes in the ordering procedures of practitioners. Furthermore, when using choice environments of this nature, the options people request may be manipulated with pre-selected defaults (i.e. a checkbox already selected). This project examined how the ordering practices of clinicians changed as a result of selection defaults on admissions orders written for six fictitious patients. Clinicians were found to order more laboratory tests when all tests were pre-selected for them compared to when no laboratory tests were pre-selected. This increase in the number of tests requested led to increased cost of admitting the fictitious patients to the hospital. Moreover, practitioners were found to order significantly more tests that were deemed ‘Very Relevant’ by expert physicians when those tests alone were pre-selected for them, demonstrating that practitioner performance can be optimized with proper default utilization. Description: Thesis (Ph.D.)--Wichita State University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10057/5061 Files in this item: 1
d11023_Probst.pdf (2.052Mb) -
Morris, Nichole Leann (Wichita State University, July , 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: Watching a speaker‘s face can improve a listener‘s speech understanding, especially at poorer signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Little is known, however, about the effects of visual impairments on speechreading. In a series of studies, young adults‘ visual enhancement to speech intelligibility under normal vision and simulated cataract vision was tested. In Study 1, speech intelligibility was tested while Central Institute for the Deaf Everyday Speech Sentences were presented via live-voice at a fixed -13 dB SNR under normal vision and mild cataract conditions. In Study 2, speech intelligibility was tested while Speech in Noise (SIN) Sentences were presented via high luminance, recorded talker at SNRs ranging from 0 to -21 dB under normal vision and moderate-to-severe cataract vision. In Study 3, speech intelligibility was tested while SIN Sentences were presented via natural luminance, recorded talker at SNRs ranging from 0 to -21 dB under normal vision and simulated mild cataract vision. In Study 4, speech intelligibility was tested while SIN Sentences were presented via natural luminance, recorded talker at SNRs ranging from 0 to -21 dB under normal vision and simulated severe cataract vision. In Study 5, speech intelligibility was tested while SIN Sentences were presented via recorded talker at eight luminance levels using neutral density (ND) filters ranging from 0 to 4.2 ND at .6 steps under normal vision and simulated mild cataract vision. In Study 6, speech intelligibility was tested while SIN Sentences were presented via recorded talker at eight luminance levels using neutral density filters ranging from 0 to 4.2 ND at .6 steps under normal vision and simulated severe cataract vision. Participants‘ ability to use visual information to support speech understanding was significantly reduced under simulated mild cataracts and was nearly eliminated under simulated severe cataracts. This effect was observed under natural levels of luminance of the talker‘s face and was mitigated by high levels of luminance. Description: Thesis (Ph.D.)--Wichita State University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10057/5060 Files in this item: 1
d11022_Morris.pdf (2.744Mb) -
Malagari, Srinivasulu (Wichita State University, July , 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: This work is concerned with semi-globally and globally exponential observer/controllers for robotic plants. This dissertation work culminated in the following six [6] journal publications: 1. Malagari, S. and Driessen, B.J., “Globally Exponential Continuous Controller/Observer for Position Tracking in Robot Manipulators with Hysteretic Joint Friction,” Robotica, Vol. 28, No. 5, 2010, pp. 759-763. 2. Malagari, S. and Driessen, B.J., “Semi Globally Exponential Tracking Observer/Controller for Robots with Joint Hysteresis and Without Velocity Measurement,” Journal of Intelligent and Robotic Systems, 2011, Vol. 62, No. 1, pp. 29-58. 3. Malagari, S. and Driessen, B.J., “Adjustable-Rate Semi-Globally Exponential Observer/Controller for Tracking in Robots With Actuator Dynamics and Only Link Position Measurement,” Control and Intelligent Systems, Vol. 38, No. 1, 2010, pp. 249-262. 4. Malagari, S. and Driessen, B.J., “Globally Exponential Controller/Observer for Tracking in Robots Without Velocity Measurement,” accepted to Asian Journal of Control, doi: 10.1002/asjc.297. 5. Malagari, S. and Driessen, B., “Globally Asymptotic Adaptive Controller/Observer for Tracking in Robots Without Velocity Measurement,” under minor revision at the International Journal of Adaptive Control and Signal Processing. 6. Malagari, S. and Driessen, B., “Globally Exponential Controller/Observer for Tracking in Robots with DC Motor Dynamics and Only Link Position Measurement,” under first-round review at the journal, Robotica. Paper 1 developed a controller and observer for estimation of unknown hysteretic joint friction for a multiple DOF robot manipulator. The first four papers are already published. The fifth paper is under second-round reviews at the International Journal of Adaptive Control and Signal Processing, and the sixth paper is still under first round review at the journal Robotica. For a combination of logistical and proprietary reasons, the fifth and sixth journal papers will not be included as chapters of this dissertation, but we will give some summary of them here in Chapter 1. The first four journal papers constitute Chapters 2-5. Description: Thesis (Ph.D.)--Wichita State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10057/5059 Files in this item: 1
d11021_Malagari.pdf (4.699Mb) -
Kollalpitiya, Konara Yamuna (Wichita State University, July , 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: The adverse effects of copper on the catecholaminergic nervous system have been well documented and primarily attributed to its redox related properties. To determine the significance of the redox properties of copper, a comprehensive study of the catecholaminergic toxicity of Cu(II) has been carried out using MN9D, PC12 and SH-SY5Y cells and compared the results with that of non-redox active Zn(II) and nonneuronal HepG2 cells. While Cu(II) is more toxic than Zn(II), membrane permeable metal chelators increase the toxicities of the both metals to catecholaminergic cells in comparison to HepG2 cells. The toxicities of the two metals are parallel to their uptakes and no protection from toxicity is observed with high concentrations of bathocuproine which stabilizes the redox active Cu(I). Thus, the redox properties of Cu(II) are not the primary cause of catecholaminergic toxicity. The increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the apoptotic DNA fragmentation induced by both metals suggest that the apoptotic cell death is due to the excessive ROS production. Significance these findings with respect to intracellular calcium perturbation is discussed. Part II of my research is focused on structural characterization of cyt b561. The protein was isolated from bovine adrenal glands and pre-steady state kinetics of oxidized protein was carried out using stopped-flow absorption spectrophotometry. The reduction kinetics was complex and would be fitted into a linear combination of three exponential functions, providing further evidence for the presence of two heme b centers in the protein. Description: Thesis (Ph.D.)--Wichita State University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Chemistry URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10057/5058 Files in this item: 1
d11020_Kollalpitiya.pdf (1.887Mb)
