K-State Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Reports: 2004 -
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/2097/4
This is the collection for doctoral dissertations and masters theses and reports submitted electronically by K-State students. Electronic submission of doctoral dissertations was required beginning Fall semester 2006. Electronic submission for masters theses and reports was required beginning Fall 2007. The collection also contains some dissertations, theses, and reports from the years 2004 and 2005 that were submitted during a pilot test project. Some items before 2004 have been digitized and are available in K-State Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Reports: pre-2004. Check the Library catalog for dissertations, theses, and reports not found in these collections.
All items included in this collection have been approved by the K-State Graduate School. More information can be found on the ETDR Information Page. Items within this collection are protected by U.S. Copyright. Copyright on each item is held by the individual author.
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Item Open Access Comparative Analysis of Eastern and Western Cultures Crisis Communication Methods within the Israel-Gaza Conflict(2025) Patty, EmmaThis study examines the differences in crisis communication strategies between Eastern and Western media in their coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict. Using framing theory and Hofstede’s cultural dimensions as analytical frameworks, this research explores how victimhood, conflict escalation, and resolution are presented in news narratives. The findings indicate that Eastern media employ highly emotive storytelling, explicit blame attribution, and a focus on immediate crisis impacts, aligning with collectivist cultural values and high uncertainty avoidance tendencies. In contrast, Western media adopt a more analytical and policy-driven approach, integrating diplomatic efforts and expert commentary to provide structured narratives that mitigate uncertainty. These differences in framing have significant implications for global crisis communication, influencing audience perception, public sentiment, and international discourse. This study highlights the need for culturally sensitive media strategies that account for the diverse ways in which different societies interpret and respond to conflict narratives. Future research should explore audience reception to these framing strategies and the role of social media in shaping crisis communication.Item Open Access Genetic architecture for drought tolerance in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Br.) germplasms(2025) Parray, Sabreena AyoubDrought and heat stress are major challenges to crop productivity, especially in semi-arid regions with limited water and erratic rainfall. Pearl millet, the sixth most widely cultivated cereal for food, forage, and feed, has emerged as a promising climate-resilient crop to address these challenges. However, its potential remains underexplored due to limited breeding efforts. This thesis focuses on identifying drought-tolerant pearl millet germplasms and uncovering genomic regions associated with drought resilience to support the development of improved forage hybrids, particularly for drought-prone areas like western Kansas. Two experiments were conducted to achieve these objectives. The first experiment evaluated 188 diverse pearl millet accessions under irrigated and rainfed conditions at Kansas State University’s Agricultural Research Center in Hays in summer 2023 and 2024. Agronomic traits such as days to 50% flowering, chlorophyll index, plant height, number of productive tillers, staygreen, and biomass were measured. Accessions were grouped into early, medium, and late maturity classes based on flowering time. Principal component analysis using genotyping-by-sequencing single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) data revealed broad genetic diversity within maturity groups. Drought-tolerant accessions were identified using multiple selection indices including Rank Summation Index, BLUP-based GGE biplot, MTSI, MGIDI, and FAI-BLUP. Nine stable and widely adapted drought-tolerant accessions were selected, with chlorophyll content, staygreen, and biomass proving to be reliable drought resilience indicators due to their moderate to high heritability. The second experiment involved genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on 187 accessions genotyped using GBS, yielding 35,071 high-quality SNP markers. Phenotypic data on ten traits and calculated stress tolerance indices were used to identify quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) linked to drought tolerance. Sixty-two QTNs were mapped across all seven chromosomes using four GWAS models (MLMM, FarmCPU, Blink, and 3vRMLM). These QTNs co-localized with 77 candidate genes, including PMF1G04719, PMF2G07960, and PMF1G07862, many of which are involved in drought response mechanisms, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, abscisic acid pathway and so on. After validation, together, these findings will serve as valuable genetic and genomic resources for improving pearl millet breeding programs and to advance climate resilience in dryland agriculture.Item Open Access Genome-wide association study of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus resistance in a Nested Association Mapping population of winter wheat using Skim Exome Capture and Practical Haplotype Graph imputation(2025) Unzain Moreno, Enzo G.Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) is a major constraint to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production, causing severe yield losses due to stunted growth, chlorosis, and reduced kernel weight. While chemical and cultural control strategies offer limited effectiveness, genetic resistance remains the most sustainable approach. In this study, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to identify loci associated with BYDV resistance in a Nested Association Mapping (NAM) population of winter wheat derived from ‘Overland’. Phenotypic evaluations were conducted under natural BYDV infection, assessing disease severity, chlorophyll content, plant height, and flowering date. To characterize genetic variation, exome capture sequencing was performed on the parental lines, while skim exome capture sequencing coupled with Practical Haplotype Graph (PHG)-based imputation was used for high-density genotyping of the recombinant inbred lines (RILs). A GWAS approach was employed using Bayesian-information and Linkage-disequilibrium Iteratively Nested Keyway (BLINK) and Multi-Locus Mixed Model (MLMM). Significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected on chromosomes 5B, 6A, 7B, and 7D, with BLINK identifying stronger associations for BYDV severity and MLMM capturing additional loci for flowering date. A subset of significant markers was tested for validation through Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) assays. Despite strong marker-trait associations in the discovery population, validation in an independent field trial did not replicate all associations, highlighting the complexity of trait expression and the importance of conducting evaluations across diverse conditions and seasons to ensure robustness of results. These findings provide novel insights into the genetic architecture of BYDV resistance in winter wheat and highlight the value of integrating exome capture sequencing and PHG-based imputation for association mapping in polyploid crops.Item Open Access Cluster housing alternatives: site layout strategies to address single family housing needs in Kansas(2025) Perdomo, GabrielleThis research investigates how modular housing and site planning strategies can provide more single family housing options for middle income households in Kansas. Many middle income families fall between income thresholds, earning too much to qualify for housing assistance but unable to afford newly built conventional homes. "Missing Middle Housing" refers to smaller, diverse housing types such as duplexes, cottage courts, and courtyard apartments that fit within walkable residential neighborhoods. In Kansas, there is an estimated 42 percent gap between the number of households seeking these housing types and the available supply (National Association of Home Builders 2023). Focusing on three communities: Strawberry Hill (Kansas City), Salina, and Cottonwood Falls, this research uses Area Median Income (AMI) data (U.S. Census Bureau 2023), precedent studies (Parolek 2020, Sim and Gehl 2019, Carney et al. 2023), and projective design proposals to compare traditional development patterns with more adaptable models. Many existing homes are too large for occupants, and zoning and land use policies often restrict the creation of smaller clustered units that better reflect today’s household sizes and family types (Karim 2006, La Gory, Ward, and Mucatel 1981). This study proposes planning strategies such as modular housing, shared open space, and flexible land use to better support community needs. These strategies respond to the current housing crisis by offering more attainable, adaptable options that middle income households are more likely to consider (Davis 2010, Webb 2014).Item Open Access Yawing Toward Charybdis: Intelligence Influence on Johnson Administration Cold War Policy in 1964-5(2025) McIntosh, ScottThis work analyzes the Johnson Administration’s decision-making in U.S.-Soviet relations during 1964 and 1965—specifically the period between the August 1964 Tonkin Gulf Incident and Premier Aleksei Kosygin’s visit to Hanoi in February of 1965. Following relatively closely behind both the Cuban Missile Crisis and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and within the context of a burgeoning U.S. commitment to Southeast Asia, this period was perilous, making the administration’s decision process regarding its principal Cold War adversary worthy of analysis. However, instead of employing the world’s most robust intelligence apparatus to inform its decision making, the Johnson White House used it to justify policy choices it had made. To explore this phenomenon, there are two important questions that this work seeks to address. First, were senior decision-makers at the National Security Council (NSC) receiving accurate intelligence on Soviet attitudes toward these major events? Second, did it undergo alteration before these decision-makers pondered available courses of action? The findings will allow an investigation of the Johnson administration’s decision process and the influence that observations from both information collectors and analysts had on that process. While much analysis has occurred regarding the Intelligence Cycle, as well as intelligence’s influence on foreign policy, this study will, by parsing the model into its components, derive where the cycle succeeded or failed to influence policymaking during three crises in 1964 and 1965 that shaped U.S.-Soviet relations and the Johnson Administration’s decision to begin a full-scale intervention in South Vietnam. In these three crises, U.S. policymakers succeeded in preventing a direct conflict with the Soviet Union and/or the People’s Republic of China, which was important. However, in Vietnam, as these chapters will elucidate, the Intelligence Cycle failed to influence policy: the policy was already in place, and the Intelligence Cycle was disregarded if its products failed to support the policy; or it was twisted to provide narrow results that validated predetermined policies. At the strategic level, the United States possessed excellent intelligence, and policy-makers accepted and acted upon it, as this work will elucidate in its narrative on the U.S.-Soviet bilateral relationship during this period. Simultaneously, however, in its policy toward Vietnam, the administration focused its attention on tactical over operational intelligence products; the intelligence apparatus—beginning at the Tonkin Gulf Incident—served more as a cheerleader for the policy in place, and not to provide guidance to American policy-makers. The Kennedy and Johnson Administrations’ Basic National Security Policy (BNSP), drawn up by Walt Rostow, provided the broad outline for the administrations’ perception of the Soviet Union, as well as the doctrine for coping with it. Rostow’s document offers a guide for how the United States government intended to respond to difficult Cold War questions, including: How the U.S. should answer Soviet attempts to influence formerly colonized states; how to deal with growing tensions between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the USSR; and under what circumstances the government would risk American troops in another land war inside Asia. Understanding the BNSP that the Johnson administration inherited and preserved is critical to deriving the influence of available intelligence reporting and analysis on the actions that occurred within the scope of this work.Item Open Access Timing as a side-channel vulnerability: neural network analysis of generalized PIN prediction(2025) Clendenen, MasonThis study explores a potential side-channel vulnerability in Personal Identification Number (PIN) entry systems (PEDs), by analyzing keystroke timing patterns with machine learning techniques. PIN-based authentication, ubiquitous in securing physical and digital access, struggles to balance usability and security, with prior research focusing on direct threats like visual observation and proposing countermeasures such as extended PINs, or haptic feedback. This research hypothesizes that human timing behavior during 4-digit PIN entry may reveal detectable patterns exploitable by machine learning to predict PINs, posing a novel risk distinct from traditional attack vectors. Using a supervised learning model trained on latency data from a virtual keypad, the study assesses whether these patterns generalize across users, testing a 10,000-class classification problem with out-of-sample k-fold cross-validation. Results show limited pattern detection—a top-1 accuracy of 0.115% and a top-10 of 1.198%, exceeding random guessing but insufficient for practical targeted attacks— with a bias toward top-row digits (e.g., 73, 77), possibly reflecting psychological preferences for numbers like 3 and 7. While generalization remains limited by participant variability, and dataset constraints, the findings suggest a context-specific vulnerability more relevant to large-scale, non-targeted scenarios than individual breaches. This work underscores the need to consider subtle behavioral leaks in PED design, advocating for continued innovation to address emerging machine learning-driven threats.Item Open Access From theory to practice: Assessing student progress in designing net-zero energy prefabricated buildings(2025) Alshawaf, BaderEnergy efficiency is becoming a key part of architectural education, making it important to explore how students engage with related design concepts. This thesis investigates how students’ understanding of energy efficiency concepts developed over a semester-long studio course, participating in the Gateway Decathlon Project competition. The real-world interdisciplinary project involved designing and constructing a prefabricated net-zero energy building, giving students experience in applying energy efficiency strategies and solving real-world challenges in sustainable design. The study applied a longitudinal mixed-method approach to track students' learning progression over the semester. Data were collected through pre- and post-surveys, weekly observations, semi-structured interviews, and tracking building performance outcomes, which include source energy use and daylight analysis. Findings reveal that students developed a stronger understanding of how design decisions affect building performance, applied energy efficiency strategies more effectively, and benefited from interdisciplinary collaboration. Given that the final design was not fully constructed, the project experience still enabled substantial growth in students' ability to design a net-zero energy building. Overall, these findings suggest that hands-on, real-world learning experiences offer an effective approach to developing the knowledge and skills needed for sustainable architectural practice, particularly when aiming to achieve net-zero energy goals.Item Open Access Regulatory challenges affecting the adoption of uncrewed aircraft systems in agriculture(2025) Schrader, SpencerIn August of 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released regulations for Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS), or drones, operating in a commercial manner. These regulations (Part 107) allowed for the widespread adoption of drones weighing less than 55 pounds for countless industries. One use that many are still hopeful will adopt drone technology is agriculture, specifically for crop spraying. However, since the majority of aerial applicating drones fall outside of the weight restriction of Part 107, this particular use hasn’t quite taken off as expected because of the regulatory framework for drones weighing 55 pounds or larger. This paper focuses on the processes that the FAA took for developing and releasing Part 107 and outlines what the future could look like for commercial drones that fall outside of that regulatory environment, including drones used for aerial applicating. Additionally, this paper will discuss general views of farmers in Kansas on the use of drone technology in agriculture and how that affects adoption rate. Finally, this paper will consider the types of drones available on the commercial market today as well as how other countries are using them for agricultural purposes.Item Open Access Tapeworms of dogs and cats in North America(2025) Miller, Kamilyah R.Dipylidium caninum and Echinococcus multilocularis are zoonotic tapeworms that infect domestic dogs and cats worldwide. Dipylidium caninum is transmitted by Ctenocephalides felis (the cat flea); recent reports show two host-adapted D. caninum strains, cat and dog, and resistance to praziquantel. Echinococcus multilocularis, transmitted by rodents, causes alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in domestic dogs and humans, and is a major public health concern in North America. This thesis addresses gaps in the prevalence of D. caninum in fleas and E. multilocularis in wild canids and the need to improve molecular diagnostics for E. multilocularis in domestic dogs and wild canids. In Chapter 2, our lab utilized a useful method for pool testing fleas for surveillance and assessing infection rate of D. caninum. This work demonstrated the prevalence of D. caninum in fleas of 3.8% through pool testing of fleas collected from the environment and on-animal. Molecular epidemiology also revealed the feline genotype of D. caninum was present in fleas collected from cats, matching D. caninum cat strains previously reported. In Chapter 3, our surveillance revealed that 47% of coyotes in Kansas and 42% in Missouri are infected with Echinococcus multilocularis, a new endemic region, plus a single red fox in Missouri. Additionally, 20% of coyotes in Illinois and 16% in Indiana were infected with E. multilocularis, which are known endemic regions. Molecular epidemiology revealed the European haplotype is present in wild canids in the Midwest United States, instead of the, previously reported, N2 North American haplotype. Thus, documents the expanding range of E. multilocularis and the highly pathogenic and zoonotic Europeans strains in North America. In Chapter 4, our work concluded that adult cestode recovery remains ‘the gold standard’ when compared to common diagnostic techniques such as fecal flotation, sedimentation and copro-PCR. I described the importance of developing a reliable method for extracting taeniid egg DNA for large scale surveillance of E. multilocularis in domestic dogs and wild canids. This thesis provides useful methods for surveillance of D. caninum in fleas through pool testing and data on the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis that can aid in the design of control and prevention programs.Item Open Access Adapting workforce development programs in times of crises: A multi-case study of administrative leaders and faculty representing three community colleges(2025) Donahue, CraigDisastrous events often cause crises that affect higher education institutions' operations, including workforce development (WD) and career education (CE) programs. Hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, earthquakes, floods, campus shootings, terrorist attacks, and the recent 2020 COVID-19 pandemic have all created crises requiring dramatic pedagogical and facility environmental shifts at educational institutions. Higher educational institutions working through crises without much advanced notice often require immediate organizational responses from leaders and other employees to ensure learning continues. At the same time, facilities must remain available for continued educational practices. Institutional responses in times of crises require administrative leadership and faculty to quickly alter regular operations for students to continue workforce development (WD) and career educational (CE) courses and programs. Transitioning from in-person, hands-on course training modalities and environments to being solely online or virtual often requires immediate pedagogical changes when disaster-causing crises arise. At times, these environmental changes to online and virtual learning settings do not adequately meet employer needs or include state or federal career education requirements, and these shifts can cause disruptions to students’ academic success plans. Many college leaders and faculty confronted with crises may be unprepared when responding to crisis-induced operational challenges. Institutions must minimize interruptions of WD and CE programs; therefore, administrative leaders and faculty may find training in some form of crisis management (CM) to significantly assist with continued student learning and higher education institutional success. This study explored community college administrative leaders' and faculty's decisions, actions, and practices, including what the leaders and faculty learned when they faced sudden disaster-causing occurrences. Occurrences that required immediate responses to maintain normal or near-normal operations while transitioning from in-person, hands-on WD and CE courses to other environments while meeting student, institutional, career-specific, and employer needs and requirements. This study addressed WD and CE programs adapting in times of crises, often transitioning from in-person, hands-on WD and CE courses to online or other modalities during and post-crisis. Institutional leaders' and faculty’s decisions and actions, through semi-structured interviews, including reviews of CM or emergency response (ER) documents, served as data analyzed. The study explored whether crisis management (CM) strategies, policies, procedures, and preparation training took place before and during disasters to alleviate the negative aspects caused by crises. Additionally, this study examined the environmental and pedagogical changes higher educational institutions implemented in WD and CE programs to minimize course interruptions during and post-crisis. Institutional leaders and faculty responses, along with the CM documents from community colleges serving various regions, were studied to account for different disaster-causing crises. Pearson and Clair’s (1998) Crisis Management served as this study’s theoretical framework, with Pearson and Mitroff’s (1993) Five Phases of Crisis Management serving as the conceptual framework. This study incorporated a qualitative multi-case approach involving semi-structured interviews with community college administrative leaders and faculty serving three community colleges in two different regional locations throughout the United States. These leaders and faculty members served as the participants in this study and offered information and personal experiences regarding crisis-management preparation plans, policies, decisions, actions, and what was learned. The data collected, analyzed, and reported in this study may be helpful to organizations and institutions considering reviewing and possibly implementing crisis- management plans and practices in the future to minimize interruptions of WD and CE program environments and pedagogical practices prior to and when disaster-causing crises arise.Item Open Access Ammonia adsorptive capture and Sequential Phosphorus Recovery as two nutrient products from anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) swine permeate(2025) Mckee-Rist, NicholasManaging swine wastewater presents environmental challenges and resource recovery opportunities within a circular economy framework. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for agricultural productivity, yet its primary source, phosphate rock, is a finite resource. Swine wastewater, a byproduct of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), contains high concentrations of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), which contribute to eutrophication and greenhouse gas emissions if not adequately managed. This study explores the potential for nutrient recovery from swine wastewater using a combination of physicochemical processes to sequester phosphorus and ammonia in reusable forms. Specifically, anaerobic treatment systems, including Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors (AnMBRs), were employed to facilitate microbial fermentation and selective nutrient capture, with a focus on optimizing the production of recoverable phosphorus precipitates and ammonia-based fertilizers. The sequential recovery process involved pH adjustment to 4.5 using hydrochloric acid (HCl) to strip bicarbonate ions, followed by the addition of calcium oxide (CaO) and magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) to precipitate phosphorus. Two chemical addition sequences were tested: CaO followed by MgCl₂ and MgCl₂ followed by CaO. The CaO-first sequence at a 0.5:1 Ca:P molar ratio, followed by MgCl₂ at a 1:1 Mg:P ratio, demonstrated the highest phosphorus removal efficiency (89.60% after 7 hours) and favored the formation of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), a highly soluble quick-release fertilizer. Struvite formation was also observed at lower Ca ratios, indicating the potential for producing mixed fertilizers with varying nutrient release rates. Controlled pH conditions (7-9) were critical for enhancing phosphorus precipitation, while high alkalinity led to unwanted calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) formation, reducing the fertilizer value of the product. In addition to phosphorus recovery, ammonia capture on clinoptilolite was evaluated as a precursor to liquid fertilizer production, with adsorption capacities influenced by influent concentration and contact time. The findings highlight the importance of optimizing chemical addition sequences, reaction times, and pH conditions to maximize nutrient recovery and produce high-quality fertilizer products. This research provides a framework for integrating phosphorus and nitrogen recovery into agricultural and municipal wastewater treatment systems, reducing reliance on mined phosphate, and promoting sustainable nutrient management. By recovering valuable nutrients from swine wastewater, this study contributes to the development of circular nutrient use, enhancing fertilizer production from waste streams, and mitigating the environmental risks associated with nutrient-laden agricultural runoff. The integration of these technologies underscores the potential for decentralized wastewater treatment systems to contribute to sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardshipItem Open Access William Kraft’s Concerto No. 1, and Michael Daughtery’s Raise the Roof: A pedagogical and historical study of contemporary timpani concerti(2025) Fleischmann, HoustonThis report presents an examination of the historical, pedagogical, and musical significance of two contemporary timpani concerti: William Kraft’s Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra, No. 1, and Michael Daugherty’s Raise the Roof. By researching the composers and observing the compositional advancements written for timpani by each composer, the study explores how both composers have contributed to the advancement of timpani as a solo instrument and the expansion of the timpani repertoire in the 20th and 21st centuries. The research investigates the stylistic and technical demands of each concerti, its historical genesis, and its role in modern timpani pedagogy. Through a detailed examination of the timpani parts, performance practices, and the author’s individual notes from preparing Raise the Roof, this report aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of these works, highlighting their relevance in both academic and professional settings. The study also offers insights into how contemporary timpani concerti challenge traditional playing techniques, while offering pedagogical tools for the development of future timpani performers.Item Open Access Against all odds: a qualitative exploration of how adolescent mothers become career women(2025) Ngafeeson, VincentBackground: Adolescent motherhood presents significant challenges, including socio-cultural, economic, systemic, and educational barriers that can impede long-term success. Despite these obstacles, some adolescent mothers transition into successful career women. Understanding how these women overcome such barriers is important for developing strategies to support current and future adolescent mothers. Objective: This study explored the trajectories of career women who were once adolescent mothers, focusing on how they found the motivation to overcome various barriers and achieve career success. It sought to identify common themes and strategies that can inform support programs for adolescent mothers. Methods: This study employed a qualitative research design rooted in a phenomenological approach. Five participants who became mothers during adolescence and are now regarded as career women were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were gathered through in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom. The interviews focused on participants' experiences, challenges, sources of motivation, and support systems. Data was analyzed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to uncover themes and patterns. Results: The interviews produced three main themes: Unyielding Resolve, Resourcefulness and Strategic Prioritization, and Urgency as a Catalyst for Personal Growth and Change. These themes highlight the participants' determination, strategic efforts, and proactive approaches to personal development. Conclusion: The study sheds light on the remarkable journeys of adolescent mothers who have successfully transitioned into career women. The findings underscore the crucial role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, as well as the significance of relatedness, autonomy, and competence in the career development of adolescent mothers.Item Open Access Exploring sustainability careers in the fashion industry(2025) Esch, ElizabethThis research project explores job positions focused on sustainability in the fashion industry to better understand the knowledge and skills required for this career field. Two research questions are presented to meet this goal. (1) What jobs exist in the fashion industry where the primary responsibility of the position is to advance sustainability initiatives within the business? (2) What knowledge and skills relating to sustainability are required for individuals working in sustainability-focused careers in the fashion industry? Data was collected in two phases to answer these questions. The first phase gathered current job descriptions relating to positions associated with sustainable fashion, while the second phase interviewed industry professionals about their experiences working in sustainable fashion and what knowledge and skills are needed. To analyze the data, a qualitative approach was employed, utilizing In Vivo and Pattern coding. Results found that greater levels of resiliency are required, experience and industry allies are often of more value than high levels of education, and a wide variety of knowledge and skills are needed. There are many opportunities for future research, which include understanding the future of sustainability jobs in fashion, individuals’ motivations for advancing sustainability efforts, and exploring strategies for overcoming challenges and driving meaningful change within the fashion industry. Insights from this study aim to help individuals prepare for careers in sustainable fashion.Item Open Access The Economics of Information in the Search for Financial Planners(2025) Yerger, DanielThe theory of the economics of information posits that consumers will engage in a search for additional information so long as they anticipate that the marginal utility of doing so will yield a more optimal economic outcome, e.g., that they will obtain a better price for goods or services. In turn, sellers of products and services may utilize signals such as advertising and price to enhance the amount of business they do, whether by attracting additional customers or sending strong enough price signals to reduce the marginal utility of additional searches by consumers. Financial planners benefit from a significant information asymmetry between themselves as sellers of their services and consumers as their potential clients, as they are known as credence claim providers; those service providers whose service is difficult to ascertain the quality or value of before engaging in their services, and the results thereof are difficult to clearly attribute to the services performed. Because of this, consumers have difficulty determining the value of a financial planner both before and after engaging with a financial planner, making the search for quality signals difficult. Financial planners will regularly market their services using all-encompassing terms such as “comprehensive” and “holistic” but often offer a variety of services that may differ dramatically from financial planning firm to financial planning firm and even planner to planner within that firm. Additionally, many financial planners receive commissions for the sale of investment or insurance products that may not be explicitly known to the buyer of those products, or use a blend of explicit fees and less obvious commissions to generate revenue, which leads to greater difficulty for consumers attempting to compare their total costs with the total value received from a financial planner’s services. Utilizing primary data gathered from an online sample, this dissertation aims to examine how transparency of price and services benefits consumers in the process of selecting a financial planners. Also examined are what consumers consider the optimal blend of cost, services, and consumer preferences for transparency of fees and services. The results of the study suggest that information plays very little role in influencing the net costs of financial planning services or the selection of a financial planner based on the quantity or type of services offered. Despite clear data on both price and services, those with perfect information in the study did not obtain statistically significant advantages in pricing or services. Conversely, those who had only pricing data engaged in more information search and still did not obtain preferable pricing, and those with only services data did not use the services data available to them to produce any noticeable trend in the quantity or type of services received. Further, the study found that many consumers of financial planning services will opt for the first planner they research, rather than engaging in additional search for information for more optimal price or value considerations. This suggests that while financial planning professionals and those involved in the marketing of financial planning services may hold strong views about price and service transparency, members of the public are not significantly affected by the availability of either, and that obfuscation of either piece of information may not materially disadvantage consumers of financial planning services, at least insofar as how they opt to select a specific financial planner.Item Open Access Cold plasma treatment of chickpeas: Disinfestation potential, milling and baking quality of the flour(2025) BOMMINA, HEMANTHChickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) are an essential legume known for their high protein content, dietary fiber, and micronutrient composition. However, post-harvest losses due to insect infestations, particularly from Callosobruchus maculatus (F.), and Cowpea Weevil, pose significant storage and food security challenges. Traditional fumigation techniques rely on chemical treatments, contributing to environmental pollution and raising concerns about pesticide resistance and food safety. This research uses cold plasma technology, an innovative non-thermal pest control method for disinfesting C. maculatus different life stages. This research involved subjecting chickpea samples infested with C. maculatus eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults to varying cold plasma exposure conditions (15-25 kV for 5-15 min). The effectiveness of treatment was evaluated based on insect mortality rates and changes in physicochemical properties. Results demonstrated significant mortality rates, with 100% larval mortality achieved at 25 kV for 10 min and complete egg eradication at 20 kV for 15 min. Further, cold plasma treatment preserved the physical and nutritional properties of chickpeas, ensuring no adverse effects on bulk density, true density, moisture content, or kernel weight. Beyond disinfestation, this research also examined the potential of cold plasma-treated chickpea flour in food formulations, particularly in cookie production. Cookies made with treated chickpea flour were assessed for physical properties, texture, and sensory attributes. The findings confirmed that cold plasma treatment maintains the overall quality of the final product. This research showcases cold plasma as a sustainable alternative to chemical fumigation, effectively reducingpost-harvest losses from C. maculatus. Its findings advance food safety, grain storage, and non-thermal processing and play a key role in sustainable agriculture and food security.Item Open Access Conserving soil moisture with mulches to maintain soil health and improve yield for vegetable production in Kansas(2025) Barnhart, ClaireMaintaining soil health for open field and high tunnel (HT) production of vegetables has become increasingly prioritized by growers in recent years. High tunnels (HT) are utilized by vegetable growers to extend the growing season and improve the yield and quality of crops. Meanwhile, the use of non-permeable polyethylene tarps has become popular for urban and small-scale vegetable farmers to manage weeds through occultation. Similar tarps could also be used as mulch, but little is known about how this will affect soil and crop productivity compared to other mulch types. This thesis aims to investigate how established and novel mulch types can help growers manage soil temperature, moisture, and health conditions across growing systems and climatic conditions and how these practices may affect the yield and quality of tomato and lettuce. Tomato and lettuce trials were conducted from 2022 to 2024 in HTs and open-field plots to determine the effect of various mulch treatments (bareground, black plastic film, black woven fabric, paper mulch, white silage tarp, and black silage tarp) on soil temperature, moisture, health, crop yield, and crop quality. Soil moisture and temperature were recorded throughout the growing seasons for both crops. Electrical conductivity (EC), bulk density, and respiration data were collected at termination of all trials to assess soil health. For tomato, harvesting occurred weekly to monitor yield. Texture and organoleptic quality were assessed from 3 harvests across the two years. In 2023, lettuce plants were harvested, and yield and quality data were collected. In the tomato trials, the application of black plastic mulch, fabric mulch, and black silage tarp was associated with higher average soil temperatures (23.7°C-28.9°C), compared to (22.4°C-26.8°C) under white tarp and paper mulch. In the fall lettuce trials, all mulch types retained soil heat in the early season (0.7°C-2.2°C) compared to bareground. The use of silage tarp maintained up to 21% more soil moisture than the bareground treatment for tomato. In the fall lettuce trials, all mulches were effective at managing moisture loss. Limited effects on soil health criteria were observed, though higher measurements of bulk density and EC may be associated with increases in soil moisture. This study indicates that mulch color and material affect soil temperatures and soil moisture in the summer, whereas in fall all mulches may reduce heat loss in the early period of the growing season and soil moisture (5-7%) in the late season. In the HT tomato trials, mulch had the greatest effects on yield during the early season, and the application of white silage tarp and plastic film mulch increased early marketable fruit yield by 58% compared to the bareground treatment. Mulch type had no significant effect on tomato or lettuce postharvest qualities that were assessed. Our data indicate that silage tarps may be an effective mulch, particularly for HT growers looking to conserve soil moisture and ultimately improve soil health, while maintaining yield. As growers address soil health concerns, it is likely that an integrated approach will need to be adopted that utilizes a combination of practices. The development of regional growing practices that ensure soil health and promote yield will be instrumental in supporting a growing population, and our study indicates that the use of mulches for vegetable production can contribute towards this goal.Item Open Access Do Loyalty Customers Feel Manipulated by Preservice Suggestive Tipping? A Moderated Mediation Model(2025) Lenglain, MatthieuPre-service tipping is a new and growing trend of tipping in which consumers pay tips upon order placement, specifically before the fulfillment of service (Warren et al., 2021). Fan et al. (2024) investigated that the implementation of suggestive tipping can nudge consumers to tip. Research in tipping behavior has primarily focused on post-service tipping: There is a need to focus on how suggestive tipping formats influence consumers’ tipping behavior in the preservice tipping phase. Warren et al. (2021) found whether preservice tipping led consumers to question whether the service provider had manipulative intentions. Furthermore, preservice tipping creates high levels of uncertainty (Wen et al., 2024), where consumers have not yet been served. When loyalty is high, consumers tend to trust the information provided by the restaurant (Chang et al., 2013). The purpose of this study is to investigate suggestive tipping format and consumers’ loyalty interactively influence their perceived manipulation. This study also examines consumers’ perception of how manipulation mediates the interactive effect of the tipping format, loyalty, and willingness to tip. The objective of this study is to examine the moderated effect of customers’ loyalty (LOY) on the mediating effect of perceived manipulativeness (PM) on the relationship between suggestive tipping (ST) and willingness to tip (WTT). Drawing on the elaboration likelihood model (ELM), the results suggest that when consumers’ loyalty is low, all three formats, which are the following: F#1 is that consumers are presented with only customary percentages for a given amount of the check (15%, 18%, and 20%). The second format (F#2) presents not only the customary percentage but also the tip dollar amounts based on the tip percentage: 15% ($2.25), 18% ($2.70), and 20% ($3.00). In the last format (F#3), consumers are presented with customary percentages along with the total amount of the bill after tip—15% ($17.25), 18% ($17.70), and 20% ($18.00)—of suggestive tipping is perceived as manipulative by consumers, leading to lower willingness to tip. However, when consumers’ loyalty is high, the tipping suggestion format with both percentage and tip dollar amount was perceived as less manipulative, which results in a higher willingness to pay. The results suggest that loyal consumers would still prefer the calculation assistance format with percentage and dollar amount in the preservice context. We argue that when the information displayed is written and clearly expressed, consumers feel less manipulated and are more likely to tip more. The findings of this study carry several important implications for restaurant management and customer behavior. First, preservice tipping is perceived as inherently risky, even among loyal consumers. Restaurant managers may apply these insights by strategically designing tipping suggestions that display both percentage and tip dollar amounts, which could enhance consumer motivation to tip more generously. Second, the study highlights the importance of consumer loyalty, as loyal consumers tend to feel less manipulated when presented with suggestive tipping amounts. Restaurant practitioners should prioritize strengthening their loyalty programs, aiming to encourage repeat patronage where consumers are more receptive to preservice tipping suggestions.Item Open Access How applicable is the USDA Thrifty Food Plan for the average college student?(2025) Alsaati, MalakBackground: Eating balanced meals and meeting the dietary guidelines has become a major problem among college students, significantly affecting their academic performance and overall health. The USDA Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), designed to help consumers obtain the necessary nutrient needs within a budget, may also be adopted by college students. Financial limitations and time management are some barriers that prevent college students from meeting dietary recommendations and the guidelines recommended by TFP. Objective: This study aims to determine the applicability of the USDA Thrifty Food Plan to college students by assessing how well college students are meeting recommendations for food spending, dietary intake, and food security according to the TFP. In addition to examining whether food insecurity affects nutritional adequacy within budgetary limits. Methods: A cross-sectional study of (n=171) college students at a midwestern university participated in an online survey. The survey collected data on demographic information, grocery habits, food security status, and dietary intake. Students were asked to provide information about their knowledge of the USDA Thrifty Food Plan and if they follow a budget-friendly food plan. Descriptive analysis was used to calculate students' monthly food spending, percentage of meeting the dietary guidelines, and level of food insecurity against the Thrifty Food Plan allowance. Results: Most students (96%) never attempted to follow the USDA Thrifty Food Plan. The Monthly food spending for students who didn’t purchase a meal plan ranged from $139 - $240, which is below the TFP recommended budget of $241.40-$309.90. Food insecurity affected a small portion of students who reported experiencing occasional food insecurity and stating they could not afford nutritious food regularly. In addition, only a few (6.4%) of respondents met MyPlate dietary recommendations for the five food groups. The gap between student food spending and the TFP allowance, and food insecurity, created barriers for students to achieve nutritional balance.Item Open Access Assessment of vulnerability and contamination potential of Ozark Plateau Aquifer in Cherokee County, KS(2025) Okolo, ChineduAbstract Access to clean drinking water is essential for public health. However, groundwater contamination by toxic metals like lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) as well as nitrate poses a significant threat to drinking water supplies, particularly in areas with a history of mining. These metals can cause neurological disorders in children, heart disease, kidney problems, and more. This study investigates the vulnerability of aquifer systems in Cherokee County, Kansas, a former mining district within the Tri-State Mining District, designated as a Superfund site by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to environmental degradation. Limited research exists regarding the vulnerability of Cherokee County's aquifers to heavy metal contamination. This study employs the DRASTIC model, a well-established method that considers seven hydrogeological parameters: depth to water table (D), net recharge (R), aquifer media (A), soil media (S), topography (T), impact of the vadose zone (I), and hydraulic conductivity (C) to evaluate aquifer vulnerability. The DRASTIC analysis identified two vulnerability zones within Cherokee County: very low (risk index 31-80) and low vulnerability (risk index 80-120). The very low vulnerability index is primarily concentrated in the southwest and northeast parts of the study area, whereas the low vulnerability index dominates the study area. The model’s model performance assessed using water quality data, which revealed a weak correlation between DRASTIC index and concentrations of lead (R2=0.44) and nitrate (R2=0.46) which suggests the model effectively identified areas where this contaminant is prone to aquifer contamination. The weak correlation for zinc (R2=0.25) highlights the need for integration of additional geochemical and isotopic analysis to confirm contamination sources and enhance accuracy of prediction. This study provides valuable insights into future research and resource management strategies in Cherokee County. By identifying vulnerable areas, these findings can inform land-use planning, pollution prevention measures, and potential remediation efforts, ultimately aiming to protect public health and ensure sustainable groundwater resources. The findings also highlight the broader applicability of the DRASTIC framework for assessing aquifer vulnerability regions facing similar contamination challenges.
