2015 UMKC Dissertations - Access Restricted to UMKC
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The items in this collection are dissertations that are available only to members of the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus. Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the works.
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Item College Football in Turmoil: How Violence, Virility and Social Darwinism Defined College Football, 1880-1915(University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2015) McDuffie, Clinton E.This study investigates the influence of the reform movement within the United States on college football between 1880 and 1915. In response to industrialization and urbanization, reform advocates used sports and athletics to develop America’s youth. Concern mounted from critics that young boys were too physically weak and mentally soft. It was during this period that college football rose in prominence because proponents argued it offered an opportunity for physical and mental fitness. Critics countered on grounds it was too violent, and they went so far as to recommend abolishing the sport. Since the first collegiate game between Princeton and Rutgers, football players have died either directly or indirectly from football-related injuries. The game’s rules and regulations promoted physical play while doing little to protect players. As a result, by 1880 proponents debated measures that ensured the game’s longevity. A result of their debates was the creation of the Intercollegiate Football Association (IFA). The IFA’s clout rested with its member institutions: Yale, Harvard, Princeton and Columbia. The IFA’s challenge from its inception was to establish consistency in officiating and development of new rules. Through the work of the IFA, such advocates as President Theodore Roosevelt and Walter C. Camp directly influenced play on the field. Both Roosevelt and Camp defended football’s physicality as a virtue. This study examines the influence of the reform movement on college football as it was used by proponents to preserve the game’s violence. It informs about the practical use of football as a means to develop youth as well as how cultural and scientific theories aided in preserving college football’s violence.Item Segmentation and Feature Extraction Methods for Ocular Modalities(University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2015) Tankasala, Sriram Pavan; Derakhshani, RezaThe demand for better and robust security is an undisputed part of our interconnected world. Biometrics based solutions offer an alternative to passwords and other form of authentications. Especially, Ocular biometrics has gained higher demand based on their proven recognition rates and reliable texture patterns over time. Physical and psycho-physiological aspects of human eye reveal unique signatures from physical appearance and cognitive state. Physical aspects of human eye include unique texture pattern from Iris, Retina and Sclera. Based on uniqueness, universality and availability, ocular modalities can be potentially be used as biometric token. Iris biometrics is considered as the optimal solution with given image acquisition in near infrared environment. Iris biometrics in visible spectrum (due to darker irises) and off-angle iris recognition is challenging. As an attempt to address the limitation from Iris recognition, we design a hyper focal imaging platform for visible spectrum iris recognition. Lateral lighting is used for illumination and hyper focal imaging technique is used to acquire super sharp iris image. In this study, visible spectrum iris recognition is successfully performed but the proposed setup limits its applications to cooperative users and requires additional light source. Usage of conjunctival vasculature (CV) recognition is one of the alternative solutions to overcome limitations from iris recognition. Red blood vessel pattern seen on white of eye is termed as conjunctival vasculature. CV can be potentially used as biometric modality due to its uniqueness, availability in visible spectrum and its maximum exposure in gazing. In this dissertation, we design and evaluate the scleral segmentation algorithms, vascular pattern enhancement techniques, feature extraction methodologies and feature enhancement methods for CV recognition. We introduce a new sclera segmentation algorithm using morphological properties of human eye in visible spectrum. This study demonstrates the effective use of the multi-scale multi-directional transform (MSMDT) for feature extraction from CV. Non-linear feature enhancement and feature mapping in various MSMDT domain are successfully demonstrated for the differentiation of texture. Psycho-Physiological aspects of human eye reveal cognitive state of human brain. In this dissertation, startle eye blink signals are used for assessment of credibility from 250 FPS video records. Using upper eyelid tracking at 250 FPS and ensemble of SVMs, we were able to detect deceptive individuals with sensitivity, specificity, correct rate of up to 0.7857, 1, and 0.8636 (5-fold cross validation).Item Refinement and Applications of Light Controlled Biological Processes(University of Missouri–Kansas City, 2015) Kala, Ashish; Friedman, Simon H. (Simon Hilary), 1966-For understanding of biological processes, a spatiotemporal control over these processes is needed. Controlling these processes using light can give us the advantage of a precise control over spacing, timing and degree of biological functions. Thus, biological processes can be turned on/off using an external light source. Multiple groups have worked on controlling cellular processes using photo-caged biomolecules. In this dissertation work, several approaches to control biological processes using caged molecules are described. In addition, applications and refinement of these processes are also discussed in detail. First chapter of this dissertation deals with various strategies used to enhance light activated RNA interference (LARI). LARI is a technique developed in our laboratory to control spacing, timing and degree of gene expression using light. We have demonstrated that incorporation of just two phosphorothioate linkages in strands of double stranded RNA leads to a significant increase in the window of toggled expression in cells. In second chapter, we have demonstrated that cells can be successfully patterned by spatially manipulating biology as oppose to spatial manipulation of the surfaces on which cells are grown. To pursue this, we incorporated PTEN siRNA into the LARI process. Additionally, photo-caged apoptosis inducers were also evaluated for the purpose of patterning the cells. In final chapters of this dissertation, we discussed about construction of light activated siRNA nanoparticles and synthesis of light activated proteins. We have successfully demonstrated caging of proteins using commercially available photo-labile group. Furthermore, we have shown that with the use of these caged proteins, the activity of protein can be spatiotemporally controlled using light.Item Experiences of African American Baccalaureate Nursing Graduates: Entrance, Culture, and Retention in Nursing School(2015) Manney, Ronalda; Butner, Bonita K., 1950-The experiences of African American Baccalaureate Nursing Graduates is becoming a phenomenon of interest among university and college administrators, faculty, and staff. Currently there are 2.4 million registered nurses (RN’s) in the United States (U.S.); 10.7% (311,177) self-identify themselves as minority. Specifically, 4.2% of this minority population self-describe their race as Black or African American. At present, only 18% of students enrolled in nursing school are from minority backgrounds. This enrollment is somewhat static, and is not reflective of the growth of minority populations. The lack of diversity in nursing deserves the immediate collaboration of all students, professors, researchers, institutions, and practitioners. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the perception of African American baccalaureate nursing graduates with respect to their educational experience. During the years 2008-2011, thirty-one African American alumni of a Midwestern nursing program were contacted to participate in this study, with six students ultimately participating in interviews. Each student was sent an e-mail from the alumni office with a cover letter (see Appendix D) explaining the scope and purpose of the study and requesting their participation. A SurveyMonkeyᵀᴹ link was attached in the letter for completion of the survey documents, which implied their consent to participate. Three research questions guided this study: 1. How do African American baccalaureate nursing graduates describe their nursing school experience? a) What does each graduate identify as personal supports and barriers? b) What does each graduate perceive to be institutional supports and barriers? 2. What do graduates perceive as factors that influenced their admission into the baccalaureate nursing program? a) What strategies does each graduate suggest should be considered for admission? 3. What do graduates perceive as factors that influenced their retention in the baccalaureate nursing program? Results from this study identify themes and factors that affect African American student admission and retention, along with strategies to improve matriculation and retention in nursing programs. Three themes developed through repetitious conversation. The findings of isolation, support, and personal strength and determination were most commonly expressed by the participants.Item Physical activity in adolescents with orthopedic limitations: The use of human-animal interaction in the form of dog-walking(2015) Vitztum, Coley Marie; Kelly, Patricia J. (Patricia Jane)Nine out of ten adolescents fail to achieve Healthy People 2020 recommended levels of aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity leading to deleterious consequences for individuals and a public health epidemic (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). Whereas all adolescents comprise a vulnerable population because of minimal levels of physical activity, those with an orthopedic limitation, including slipped capitol femoral epiphyses or Blount’s disease, are at greater risk despite shared characteristics with the general adolescent population such as normal cognition and independent ambulation. Few, if any, interventions examine effective strategies for physical activity in this population. Therapy dog-walking is proposed as an original approach for physical activity. Although this form of human-animal interaction is a potential strategy for increasing physical activity and overall health, it lacks credibility due to a paucity of studies using well-constructed, experimental designs (Marino, 2012). The objective of this pilot study was to use a one group (n=7), prospective, pre/post design to assess feasibility and acceptability, and to serve as the foundation for future research on therapy dog-walking in this population. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed by results of the recruitment strategy, by process evaluation, and by participant satisfaction survey and interview. Descriptive statistics summarized participant demographics and protocol requirements, including the use of accelerometers. Wilcoxon matched pairs tests were used to assess participants’ experience with the dogs. Paired samples t-tests compared physical activity levels before, during, and after the dog-walking intervention. Pender’s health promotion model was the guiding framework for this study. Physical activity levels were significantly increased during the intervention compared to before (p=.049) and after (p=.025) as well as during the walking sessions themselves (p=.000). Participants and parents expressed high enthusiasm for the program: six of the seven participants attended 100% of the walking sessions when no restrictions to physical activity participation were present. No differences between the participant’s pre and post-intervention dog experience were found. These findings indicate a therapy dog-walking program is an acceptable and feasible strategy for increasing physical activity in this population. Additional research with more rigorous methodological design and refinement of the data collection methods is required.