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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Open Access
Teaching small ensemble chamber playing in the large ensemble rehearsal
(2025) Selander, Brian
The lessons demonstrated in this report are focused on teaching small ensemble playing during the large group rehearsal setting. Playing in a small ensemble requires a different level of playing compared to playing in a larger ensemble. In many ways, it creates a better musician because of the attention to detail needed when only one player is assigned per part. The improvement in musicianship within the smaller ensembles can improve the musicianship when placed back in the larger ensembles. Many schools in our region have well-established small ensemble programs within their band programs. This was something I had yet to develop when I started this project. My outcome for this project was to help establish our small ensemble program by equipping our students with the skills needed to do this on their own next year, without having to go as extensively into the larger group demonstrations as we did with this project. My hope is to build confidence and leadership within my older students and have them pass down what they learned through this project to develop a successful and self-sustaining small ensemble program for years to come. We started by playing through each of the four parts of three different quartets in unison. I then split the band into thirds and assigned each a different quartet. Within each quartet, I assigned each student one of the four parts from their assigned quartet. They played through each part together in their small group, and eventually were able to play as a single player on each of the four parts. Throughout this process, I was teaching them the skills needed to play within a smaller group, and eventually, down to a quartet. Over the course of my master’s program at Kansas State University, I have developed and honed many areas of my music teaching. For starters, I developed my skills and understanding of research. While I spent time in my undergraduate studies developing skills in research, it was nothing compared to what I learned over the course of my time at KSU. I feel more confident in searching for and finding materials for not only the courses I took, but also as an educator looking for ways to improve my craft. I also feel the courses I have taken have provided me with more confidence as a teacher. I feel a strength of mine as a teacher/educator has been my presence in front of my students. I have no problem getting in front of my students/ensembles. However, I feel I am providing better feedback for my students, have enhanced my conducting and rehearsing, and am helping develop musicians within a music program and not just “teaching band,” all because of the things I have learned at KSU. I know I still have not learned everything I can, but I know that going through my graduate studies has given me the passion to want to continue getting better, even as I finish up the work for my master's degree.
Open Access
An investigation of the social, emotional, and character development practices and perceptions of Kansas school-based agricultural education teachers
(2025) James, KaCee
For decades, schools have addressed students’ basic needs from dental to eye exams in addition to teaching them academic content. Given the increasing concern for student mental health, many states have recently begun requiring educators to incorporate social and emotional learning into the educational setting. In 2012, the Kansas State Department of Education adopted a framework to promote social, emotional, and character development (SECD) competencies. The Kansas SECD standards provide a framework for schools to incorporate social and emotional learning (SEL) alongside character development, supporting students in their personal, social, and character growth. These standards include practicing citizenship, personal safety, problem-solving, risk prevention, and promoting a positive school culture. This study investigated the perceptions and practices of Kansas school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers regarding social, emotional, and character development. SBAE teachers are uniquely positioned to foster these skills through the major areas of agricultural education that encompass the three-component model – classroom instruction, student organization, and work-based learning. The Kansas SECD standards and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning guided this research. The central question was, “How do Kansas SBAE teachers perceive they foster social, emotional, and character development in their programs?’ A collective case study was conducted to examine the perceptions and teaching strategies of six Kansas SBAE teachers to understand how they incorporate social, emotional, and character skills in their programs. The teacher participants were interviewed via Zoom using a semi-structured interview protocol. After the interviews, additional supporting documents, including pictures of learning spaces, lesson plans, and sample classroom rules and expectations, were gathered from the teacher participants. The supporting documents provided triangulation and added to the credibility of the findings. The data collected through the case study was used to explain how teachers integrate social, emotional, and character learning in their classrooms and FFA chapters. This study identified key themes related to Kansas SBAE teachers’ perceptions and practices concerning SECD. Teachers saw themselves as both educators and mentors, roles reflected in recurring themes: SECD as a foundation, relationships and safe environments, and challenges of formal SECD. Additionally, four themes emerged in relation to how teachers implement SECD in their classrooms: creating a supportive and relational learning environment, intentionally integrating SECD through agricultural education, empowering students through responsibility, and modeling desired behaviors and attitudes for student development. The findings from this study contribute to the growing body of knowledge on SECD within SBAE and can inform teachers, teacher educators, and professional development efforts. Additional research is needed to measure the impact of SBAE teachers’ SECD practices on student outcomes. Teacher preparation programs should explicitly incorporate strategies to develop pre-service teachers’ confidence and fluency in SECD, including examining ways to model positive behaviors, build strong relationships, and create supportive learning environments.
Open Access
Student ownership in the band classroom: Assessing student understanding and increasing student buy-in
(2025) Whitaker, Brayden
In this project, I developed techniques and rehearsal strategies that give students more ownership and musical decision-making opportunities in the middle school and high school band setting. When students are able to make musical decisions and effectively lead their peers in music making experiences, it shows a competent understanding of musicality. It also enhances the cohesive atmosphere of the music classroom, giving the students a bigger stake in the learning occurring. Overall, these techniques have proven to be effective and a useful form of informal assessment during daily lesson planning. Students have been more engaged during lessons and have shown more buy-in to the rehearsal process. The experiences I have had during my Master’s degree program have helped me become a better teacher by exposing me to different philosophies of music education, which in turn has helped me form my own philosophies that inspire my daily teaching. One such self-developed philosophy, which inspired this project, is that the music classroom is a collaborative experience between the teacher and the students. The students have an equal say in the music education experience, and we as teachers need to make sure we plan for that and give our students a chance to take ownership and express their thoughts and feelings. Another development in my teaching due to my Master’s program experience would be an increase in my understanding of pedagogical aspects of music education. For example, I now have a better understanding of what makes quality literature and what aspects of that literature I can look for to address the needs of the ensembles I teach. I have also learned new rehearsal techniques that make me a more effective, more engaging teacher in the classroom.
Open Access
Developing musicianship through performance in schola: Gregorian chant as the blueprint for musicality
(2025) Phillips O'Neil, Trenton
This report identifies the regular practice of Gregorian chant as a key factor in developing singers’ musicianship, particularly through energized breathing, ensemble awareness of vowel uniformity, and a collective sense of forward motion in the phrasing. In my work with choral ensembles, I often encountered frustration when students produced a weak tone and demonstrated inconsistent intonation – issues I initially attributed to a lack of note accuracy. The typical response involved repetitively plunking out individual parts, yet this yielded little improvement in overall musicality. Upon further reflection, I hypothesized that if students developed a deeper understanding of ensemble singing – specifically in tone production, blend, and intonation – their pitch and rhythmic accuracy would also improve. Teaching in a Catholic school provided a unique opportunity: each music class began with prayer, typically one of the seasonal Marian antiphons. I observed that my choir often sounded its best while chanting these prayers, even before formal warm-ups. The consistent use of monophonic melodies and free rhythms simplified the singing experience for less-trained voices, eliminating the challenges of dense harmonic textures and complex rhythmic notation. This allowed singers to redirect their focus toward healthy vocal technique and ensemble unity, fostering improved expression, phrasing, and overall musicality. Completing graduate studies in music at Kansas State University has been a transformative experience. The practical courses, most notably Advanced Choral Rehearsal Techniques, provided rich opportunities for collaboration and experimentation with colleagues and professors as we explored innovative approaches to teaching music through performance in choir. Implementing creative warm-ups, musically responsive gestures, and pedagogical insights has transformed my choral rehearsals into dynamic, engaging music-making experiences. It has been deeply fulfilling to synthesize my passion for sacred music, particularly Gregorian chant, with these practical innovations to meet the unique needs of my students and school community. The most rewarding aspect of the program has certainly been the didactic courses, especially History and Philosophy of Music Education and Theories of Music Teaching, which challenged me to reflect on my core values as an educator. Each course inspired a renewed commitment to professional development, a deepened engagement with current literature in music education, and a stronger drive to offer the highest quality instruction to my students. Ultimately, this journey has empowered me to more intentionally use Gregorian chant not only as a meaningful expression of faith, but also as a powerful, research-informed tool for cultivating ensemble skills and musical excellence.
Open Access
When the well runs slow: How declining well yields and pumping interference reshape irrigation in the High Plains Aquifer
(2025) Haroon Bin Farrukh, Syed
Groundwater is a critical resource for agricultural resilience against climate change and surface water variability, yet depletion poses significant risks to irrigation sustainability and food security. A key concern is declining well yields—the rate at which water can be extracted—which constrain farmers’ ability to meet crop water demand at critical stages of growth. While prior studies recognize the importance of well yields in irrigation decisions, empirical evidence on their impact remains scarce. Additionally, economic analyses of pumping externalities overlook well interference spillover effects despite their hydrological and economic significance. This study address three key gaps in the literature: (1) estimating well yields and analyzing their spatial and temporal variation across the High Plains Aquifer region of Kansas, (2) evaluating farmers’ irrigation response to limited well yields along extensive (irrigated acreage), indirect intensive (crop choice), and direct intensive (water application depth) margins, and (3) estimating well yield spillover effects and analyzing how these affect water use. Using a 24-year panel dataset of over 6000 wells, we find substantial well yield declines (up to 33%) in high depletion districts, driven by reduced saturated thickness. Econometric analysis reveals that a 100 GPM decrease in well yield decreases irrigated area by 13.5 acres, water application depth by 0.47 inches and the probability of planting corn by 3 percentage points. Water use adjustments are most responsive at low to moderate well yields (250-750 GPM), with three quarters of adjustment in water use occurring at the extensive margin. Furthermore, well interference generates spillover effects on the neighboring farmers, with median well yield reductions ranging from 6% in low transmissivity areas to 20% in high transmissivity areas. High well density (10 neighbors) can reduce water use by 22.3% compared to isolated wells. Future groundwater governance could benefit from spatially explicit regulations that account for hydrological constraints revealed by well interference effects. Future research should explore how well yields influence efficient irrigation technology adoption, agricultural land values and market-based water trading mechanisms.
Open Access
Nutritional and management practices for improved sow productivity and progeny performance
(2025) Jenkins, Abigail
A total of 7 experiments structured in 6 chapters were performed to investigate the effects of yeast probiotics in lactation and a pre/probiotic combination in nursery diets, evaluate the impact of increased histidine in lactation diets, assess increased standardized ileal digestible lysine levels through additional soybean meal in late gestation, examine allotment strategies in the nursery, assess calcium administration protocols around farrowing, and determine the optimal litter size in relation to functional teat count during lactation. Chapter 1 utilized 720 pigs to evaluate three allotment strategies aimed at assessing variation and determining replications required to detect statistical significance in nursery pig research. Overall, allotting pigs to pens using a bodyweight (BW) grouping strategy resulted in the least within-pen and pen-to-pen variation. The BW grouping method required the fewest pens to detect statistically significant differences. Chapter 2 utilized 28 mixed-parity sows and their offspring to evaluate live yeast supplementation during lactation with or without a pre/probiotic combination during the nursery period on lactation performance, lifetime growth performance, and immune response. The effects of combining a yeast probiotic in lactation diets and a pre/probiotic in nursery diets were not additive. However, feeding a live yeast probiotic during lactation resulted in increased progeny final BW and hot carcass weight. Chapter 3 utilized 87 mixed-parity sows and their offspring to evaluate the effects of increasing standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine in late gestation diets on lactating sow and litter performance. Increased SID lysine through additional soybean resulted in increased late gestation sow weight gain and piglet average daily gain (ADG) during early lactation. However, litter ADG during late lactation and overall lactation was maximized in litters from sows fed 15.8 g/d of SID lysine. Chapter 4 utilized a total of 88 mixed-parity sows and their litters to evaluate the effects of increasing SID histidine:lysine ratio on sow and litter performance. Overall, sows fed diets with an SID histidine:lysine ratio of 50% had heavier litters on day 7 of lactation and at weaning and greater calculated average daily milk yield. Chapter 5 utilized 1,005 mixed-parity sows and their litters to evaluate the effect of initial litter size relative to functional teat count on sow and litter performance. Overall, sows with 1 less pig than functional teats after cross-fostering had the lowest pig mortality and sow BW loss and greatest pig weaning weight. However, for the greatest number of pigs weaned per litter and pigs weaned per sow per year, 2 more pigs than functional teats after cross-fostering was ideal. Chapter 6 utilized 933 mixed-parity sows and their litters to evaluate calcium administration protocols around farrowing on sow performance. In the overall population, topdressing calcium chloride before farrowing or injecting calcium gluconate peripartum altered sow metabolites but did not influence farrowing performance. However, when comparing at-risk sows among the 3 treatments, administration of calcium gluconate decreased stillbirths and increased percentage of pigs born alive.
Open Access
Multiscale statistical modeling of large-scale structure: from baryon acoustic oscillations to galaxy formation histories
(2025) Behera, Jayashree
This dissertation presents a comprehensive study of the large-scale structure of the Universe through two interrelated avenues: the modeling of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAOs) in higher-order statistics, and the prediction of galaxy formation histories using machine learning with semi-stochastic corrections along with the validation of such models using dark matter-only simulations. The overarching goal is to improve the extraction of cosmological information and the realism of galaxy property predictions by leveraging both simulation-driven statistics and data-driven inference. The first part (Chapters 1 and 2) focuses on modeling the BAO feature in the bispectrum—the Fourier-space analogue of the three-point correlation function. Unlike the power spectrum, the bispectrum captures non-Gaussianity and mode coupling from nonlinear gravitational evolution and galaxy bias. We develop a “wiggle-only” framework that isolates the oscillatory BAO component from the broadband bispectrum shape. Using GLAM N-body simulations (with and without BAO), we analyze signal evolution across redshifts and triangle configurations. Our aligned-template method enables percent-level recovery of the BAO dilation parameter α, accounting for template systematics. Robustness and precision are demonstrated using 1000 h⁻³ Gpc³ of realizations, showing the bispectrum’s potential to complement two-point statistics in surveys DESI and Euclid. The second part of the thesis (Chapters 3, 4 and 5) addresses the limitations of machine learning in modeling the baryonic assembly history of galaxies within dark matter halos. Traditional models tend to smooth over short-timescale variability in star formation and chemical enrichment histories, due to their architectural bias toward minimizing global loss functions. We propose a novel correction scheme that decomposes galaxy histories in Fourier space, identifies missing high-frequency power, and re-injects statistically consistent fluctuations into the predicted histories. This framework is applied to galaxies from the IllustrisTNG simulation. The modified histories restore variability, improving accuracy on observables such as the stellar-halo mass and mass-metallicity relation, spectral energy distributions (SEDs), and photometric color distributions. The corrections particularly enhance the bimodality of galaxy colors, the scatter in metallicity at fixed mass, and the recovery of quenched populations in satellite systems. This framework is further extended to dark matter-only simulations to evaluate the generalizability of neural network-based predictions in the absence of baryonic training data. We assess the role of mass accretion history, halo concentration, and cosmic environment in enabling accurate galaxy property inference, and demonstrate how semi-stochastic corrections improve the fidelity of the generated histories. These components address distinct but complementary aspects of large-scale structure modeling. The bispectrum-based analysis enhances the precision and robustness of cosmological distance measurements by leveraging higher-order statistics, unlocking additional information from the nonlinear regime of structure formation. In contrast, the semi-stochastic modeling of galaxy formation histories improves the realism of mock galaxy catalogs, correcting biases in data-driven predictions and enriching their utility in forward-modeling frameworks. Additionally, the thesis includes several complementary studies (Chapter 6): an angular multipole analysis of the bispectrum for probing anisotropic clustering, the mitigation of imaging systematics in galaxy survey data, and spectroscopic classification of AGN and QSO targets within DESI. Together, these efforts support the broader goal of connecting theory, simulation, and observation — advancing both the accuracy of cosmological inference and the fidelity of galaxy population modeling for current and future surveys. Note on Chapter-End Quotations: In keeping with my roots in Odisha, India, each chapter concludes with a short quotation in Odia, my native language. These reflective excerpts are drawn from Odia literature, classical philosophy, and folk tradition, and are intended to symbolically parallel the cosmological and astrophysical ideas explored in this work. Each quote is followed by an English translation to maintain accessibility while honoring the worldview that shaped my earliest engagement with science.
Open Access
The value of context in determining the sustainability and effectiveness of feedback practices in higher education: A case study of a general education program
(2025) Buchanan, Jaime
This evaluative case study investigated the situated feedback practices of a prescribed general education program at a university in the Middle East. It examined the extent to which the feedback practices on this program could be considered effective and sustainable as evidenced by the extant feedback literature in higher education. To facilitate this, the study employed a qualitative design and utilized a dual theoretical framework. First, the study interrogated feedback practices from a socioconstructivist or sociocultural perspective, since this is the educational paradigm upon which the program is premised. Second, it investigated feedback practices from a sociomaterial lens, in order to reveal the influence of non-human actors such as technology, time, and space on feedback. Data were collected using document analyses from institutional policies and other records associated with semester-specific course-related documents, faculty interviews, and an object interview with the bespoke learning management system (LMS). Purposive sampling was utilized, and data were collected and analyzed iteratively using reflexive thematic analysis. The study found that the feedback practices of the program under investigation were neither effective nor sustainable from a socioconstructivist perspective due to a lack of alignment with three foundational aspects of sociocultural theories of learning: active student positioning, opportunities for scaffolding, and culturally situated interactions. Further, the sociomaterial analysis revealed that non-human actors significantly shaped feedback practices, constraining the modality, timing, and focus of feedback information. In particular, this analysis found that the LMS exerted powerful influence on faculty feedback practices through many of its design features and data analytics. Ultimately, the study concluded that the feedback practices of the general education program were found to be more aligned with technocratic views of education that prioritize managerialism and accountability over teacher professionalism and agency out of a concern for upholding the “science of learning”. These findings highlight the need for institutions to critically evaluate the purpose and place of feedback in program design and delivery, and how their technological infrastructure shapes pedagogical practices, with implications for LMS design, faculty agency, and institutional policies that govern feedback in higher education contexts.
Embargo
Bed-based ballistocardiography: physiological assessment and system design
(2025) Knapp, Calder
The ballistocardiogram (BCG) is an information-rich bio-signal that can give researchers an additional perspective on the complex dynamics of the cardiac cycle. As a relevant alternative to the electrocardiogram (ECG), the BCG represents the transduced force produced by the ejection of blood from the heart around the aortic arch. Due to its characteristic propagation through the participant’s body and corresponding measurement system, the BCG offers a combination of physiological information about the participant. In its current state of research, integrated BCG systems are being developed to predict various physiological health measures. This thesis seeks to further develop the range of physiological predictions available to BCG, focusing on Kansas State University’s bed-based BCG acquisition system. Specific physiological prediction of instantaneous blood pressure is first investigated in this thesis. Utilizing parallel BCG sensors integrated into a bed, frequency-domain analysis is used to predict instantaneous blood pressure during simulated apnea events. With 16/20 participants resulting in strongly correlated predicted blood pressure and an average mean absolute error (MAE) across all participants less than 5 mmHg, this frequency analysis method could offer improved morphology-independent blood pressure prediction using BCG. Preliminary classification of apnea events is also performed for a single extended run (~10 minutes) of simulated apnea and rest events. With an average of 95% balanced accuracy across six folds, further investigation on a larger dataset should be performed to follow up on this preliminary connection between beat-by-beat apnea classification and the BCG frequency domain. This analysis seeks to expand the use case of the BCG as an “all-in-one” apnea detection signal. The frequency domain is chosen for investigation due to a key limitation often observed in BCG research. System-level differences and participant-specific body positions can lead to morphological changes between participants. Time-domain analysis is often limited to individual systems/participants due to a combination of factors such as system design, sensor coupling, and cardiac output. With the intuition that the bed-body system can be characterized and has an effect on the BCG’s morphology, the next logical step in the included research is to identify if the BCG can be used to predict relevant participant-specific characteristics. Using DEXA as a gold standard to measure regional and total body fat percentage, the BCG morphology is investigated to identify any features relevant to body composition. Through the use of a feature search of common BCG signal characteristics, a baseline improvement from BMI-only body composition prediction can be observed. The inclusion of BCG features in BMI-based body composition estimation provides preliminary evidence that BMI-based body composition can be improved. BCG could offer improved predictive performance, similar to current body composition estimates, using a combination of predictors (BMI, bioimpedance, anthropometric measurements, etc.). After discussing the relevant analysis performed on collected BCG data, this thesis concludes with design and analysis documentation relevant to Kansas State University’s bed-based BCG acquisition system. This documentation includes design history and implementation details that are recommended for future BCG system modifications. To expand future Kansas State research pathways, the BCG system at Kansas State should be further improved with the end goal of data collection related to the preliminary investigations discussed in this thesis.
Open Access
Wheat bran valorization for proteins and bioactive peptides
(2025) Stump, Michael
Over the past several decades, significant efforts have been made towards the valorization and value-addition of agricultural waste and byproducts. One area being explored is the valorization of wheat bran: a major byproduct of the wheat milling industry. Wheat bran has excellent nutritional value, containing approximately 10 to 15% protein by weight. However, its direct incorporation in human diets has been limited due to unappealing sensory characteristics, which has resulted in wheat bran being used primarily for animal feeds. To address this challenge, we propose that the separation of proteins in wheat bran from undesirable components could enhance its suitability as a food ingredient for human consumption. In addition to the use of wheat bran protein as a food ingredient, there has also been a surge in the study of bioactive peptides for use in nutraceuticals, or ‘functional foods”. We have also proposed that wheat bran proteins could be used as a readily available feedstock for the production of bioactive peptides. The objectives of this study were specifically focused on the following goals: 1) Optimization of protein extraction efficiency and purification methods, 2) Production and characterization of peptides from purified wheat bran proteins, and 3) Screening of wheat bran proteins and peptides for antioxidant and anti-aging activities using in-vitro bioactivity assays. The experiments conducted in this study focused on optimization of protein extraction methods based on Osborne fractionation, alkaline extraction, and deep-eutectic solvent (DES) extraction methods. Each of these protocols were performed and evaluated via LECO analysis of the bran residues after extraction and by performing Bradford assays on protein extracts. A chromatographic purification method was then adapted for use with wheat bran protein extracts using inexpensive, 500Å underivatized silica gel with a two-phase capture and elution phase step gradient. The effectiveness of this method was further confirmed using size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography (SEC-HPLC) analysis. The purified proteins were then used to produce peptides via enzymatic hydrolysis catalyzed by pepsin and trypsin. Each Osborne protein fraction, and each corresponding tryptic- and peptic-peptide were then screened for potential biological activity via the DPPH assay, as well as the percent inhibition of enzymes associated with skin cellular aging. The results of these assays were evaluated using one-way ANOVA statistical analysis, and the activity of each protein or peptide sample was compared to the standard, ascorbic acid. The results of this study showed that the modified Osborne fractionation extraction protocol was the most efficient, achieving a percent recovery of 74.75% of the total protein in the bran. The alkaline extraction and the DES extraction achieved percent recoveries of only 24.77% and 24.84% of the total protein in the bran, respectively. The purity of each Osborne fraction extracted from wheat bran was then tested using SDS-PAGE and SEC-HPLC. Significant impurities were observed in every sample as visible in the SEC-HPLC chromatograms. These impurity peaks disappeared from the chromatograms of proteins purified by the 500Å silica gel column and matched the retention times of the species isolated during the capture phase. This confirmed that the adapted 500Å silica gel column method successfully and reliably removed lower molecular weight impurities from each protein fraction. Analysis of the bioactivity assay results using the one-way ANOVA identified seven different peptide and protein samples that were statistically comparable to ascorbic acid. UPLC-MS analysis of these samples confirmed the presence of peptides through observation of characteristic peptide clusters in the mass spectra. This study details the optimization of a protein extraction method, the adaptation of an inexpensive, efficient, and effective method for purifying wheat bran proteins, and the screening of wheat bran proteins and protein hydrolysates for in-vitro biological activity. The results of these studies suggest that wheat bran has excellent potential for valorization from a low-value industrial byproduct into more valuable nutraceutical products for the consumer market.
Open Access
Multi-agent multi-objective coordination in humanitarian logistics
(2025) Farooq, Ayesha
Humanitarian crises are escalating in both frequency and complexity, placing unprecedented demands on response systems composed of government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private actors. These entities must coordinate their operations in a decentralized manner under limited resources and often competing objectives. Existing coordination frameworks rely on centralized control or assume alignment of goals, thereby falling short in settings where autonomous decision-makers require assurances of fairness to remain engaged. Addressing this deficiency requires a formal methodology capable of reconciling multiple objectives, preserving incentive compatibility, and quantifying the concessions necessary to sustain coordination. This research advances the body of knowledge in multi-objective multi-agent humanitarian logistics through a sequence of interlinked contributions. First, it delivers a systematic literature review that maps existing work at the intersection of game theory and optimization for coordination in humanitarian contexts. The review categorizes existing studies by modeling approaches, coordination mechanisms, and decision contexts. It identifies four primary coordination mechanisms: resource sharing, information sharing, contracting, and strategic action. The review also reveals the absence of models that consider fairness in decentralized settings with conflicting objectives. Building on the review insights, a new mathematical concept Chebyshev least core is introduced and formalized, extending classical cooperative game theory, to quantify the smallest uniform concession necessary to achieve near-stable outcomes when perfect equity is unattainable. Moreover, a novel mathematical framework is developed by integrating cooperative game theory with multi-objective optimization to enable equitable and sustainable coordination by computing the Chebyshev least core. Specifically, a Cooperative Goal Optimization (CGO) model is proposed to identify fair allocations by minimizing the maximum relative shortfall each actor experiences compared to their stand-alone performance. The model also incorporates the preference core and nondominance core concepts into a single model, allowing practitioners to distinguish solutions that satisfy all imposed conditions from those that involve trade-offs. Computational experiments demonstrate that the CGO approach yields more stable, equitable, and scale-invariant outcomes than conventional allocation rules, and that it accommodates objectives expressed in disparate units without the need for commensurability assumptions. Finally, the framework is validated with a case study using real-world data on hurricane staging-area planning. The case study offers empirical evidence on how coordination mechanisms reshape operational choices in hurricane response. Joint planning alters routing, and pre-positioning decisions to make the disaster response more effective, efficient, and equitable. By applying the developed framework, it is demonstrated that equitable cost and benefit-sharing rules can be constructed so that no organization has an incentive to deviate from coordinated arrangements. Lastly, the study bridges theory and practice by quantifying the exact price of coordination for multi-objective multi-agent relief operations.
Open Access
A synergetic wellness model for first responders targeting cardiovascular risk through myofascial release, nutrition, and breathwork
(2025) Burgess, Kimberly
First responders, including firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement officers, face an escalating health crisis fueled by chronic psychological stress, physical trauma, and occupational strain. Elevated rates of myocardial infarction, substance use, PTSD, and suicide persist despite growing awareness and national intervention efforts. This thesis proposes a trauma-informed, integrative wellness model designed to enhance both cardiovascular and psychological resilience in first responders through three synergistic modalities: myofascial release therapy (MFR), structured breathwork, and targeted nutritional intervention. Drawing on over 60 peer-reviewed studies, this research outlines a theoretically grounded, 12-month randomized controlled trial involving 180 career firefighters across three study arms: control, written-only, and a hands-on intervention group receiving weekly MFR, daily breathwork, and biweekly group nutrition sessions. Primary outcomes include myocardial infarction risk (biomarkers, blood pressure, HRV), psychological stress (PSS, cortisol), substance use (AUDIT-C), and quality of life (SF-36, WHOQOL-BREF), with secondary measures assessing sleep, anxiety, depression, and physical activity. Recent evidence illustrates that nutrition profoundly influences fascial elasticity, inflammation, and recovery potential, making it a critical determinant of MFR efficacy. Additionally, manual therapy modalities such as MFR have demonstrated measurable reductions in anxiety symptoms among first responders and trauma-exposed populations, due in part to their impact on autonomic recalibration and interoception. Furthermore, emerging data from wildfire deployments underscores the need for systemic interventions to address the long-term physical and emotional toll on EMS personnel. This thesis argues that the integration of these three modalities, each with evidence of standalone benefit, can produce compounding, cross-disciplinary effects. By addressing the biological, emotional, and somatic dimensions of stress through a unified protocol, this model moves beyond symptom management toward root-cause prevention and long-term resilience building. The proposed framework represents a scalable, low-cost solution with the potential to reshape occupational health standards in high-risk service professions.
Open Access
Identifying the bottlenecks limiting medium-chain fatty acid accumulation in transgenic pennycress seeds.
(2025) Alisha, Fnu
Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) is an emerging oilseed biofuel crop within the Brassicaceae family, closely related to Arabidopsis thaliana. It holds significant potential as a platform for the production of biotechnologically derived compounds, such as medium-chain fatty acids. These are saturated hydrocarbon chain molecules with 8 to 14 carbon atoms. These are abundant in plants like coconut and species of Cuphea, including Cuphea viscosissima and Cuphea var. avigera pulcherrima, which can comprise up to 94 mol percent of the oil content. To enhance medium chain production, pennycress was genetically engineered to express a medium chain specific thioesterase and two MCFA-specific acyltransferases, resulting in the accumulation of carbon 10 chain fatty acids at 7 mol percent. Using systems biology approaches, this study aims to identify the bottlenecks in carbon 10 chain production in transgenic pennycress. Fatty acid composition analysis reveals increased levels of carbon 16 chain fatty acids in transgenic plants compared to wild-type plants, with a higher total fatty acid content throughout seed development. Lipidomic analysis reveals the production of altered carbon-10-containing triacylglycerols and acyl-sterol glucosides in transgenic plants, particularly during the later stages of seed development. Moreover, the levels of triacylglycerol containing multiple medium-chain fatty acids decline as seed development progresses. Transcriptomic analysis shows no significant changes in gene expression for most genes associated with fatty acid and triacylglycerol synthesis, degradation, and peroxisomal beta oxidation pathways. Notably, transcriptomic data also highlight several upregulated genes in transgenic seeds related to stress responses, including heat shock proteins and genes associated with hypoxia response.
Open Access
The lived experiences of Black women who completed their doctorate through a cohort model Community College Leadership Program in the United States
(2025) King, Millette
This hermeneutic phenomenological study was designed to understand the lived experiences of Black women who completed their doctorate through a cohort model Community College Leadership Program. Black women were not completing doctoral degrees at the same rate as their peers. The National Center for Education Statistics (2023) states that in 2020-21, 61% of the doctorates earned by females were White females, 12% were earned by Black females, 10% earned by Hispanic females, 13% earned by Asian/Pacific Islanders and .4% American Indian/Alaska Native (NCES, 2023). The following research questions guided this study: What are the lived experiences of Black women who have completed their doctorate through a cohort model Community College Leadership Program? What factors supported Black women’s completion of the Community College Leadership Program? This study utilized the hermeneutic circle to gain insight into the lived experiences of 14 Black woman who completed a cohort model community college leadership program. Themes that emerged from the semi structured interviews, when viewed through the conceptual lens of Black Feminist Thought, included that Black women formed strong bonds with their cohort members that lasted well beyond the doctoral journey. The participants in this study were impacted by COVID during their journey both in a positive and negative way. Family illness and divorce also impacted the doctoral journey of the women interviewed. Finally, relationships with faculty, staff and peers impacted the doctoral journey of Black women in this study. Recommendations for future research include exploring the lived experiences of other marginalized populations, conducting a qualitative study to survey all people of color that attend a community college leadership program, exploring other doctoral concentration areas and research on how cliques impact the learning environment in cohort models.
Open Access
The development of American economic warfare in World War II, 1940-1941
(2025) Richards, Robert Benjamin
This dissertation examines the development of American economic warfare during World War II, focusing on the critical years of 1940-1941. During this period, military and civilian leaders responsible for the development and direction of economic strategy conceived, built, and employed economic warfare capabilities as an integral part of American grand strategy. Since 1959, no historian has comprehensively analyzed America's complete World War II economic warfare campaign, and no published historical work has thoroughly explained its origins. Existing scholarship is fragmented—chronologically silent for over 75 years, British-centric, and overshadowed by studies of strategic bombing and submarine campaigns—leaving the role of economic warfare in U.S. grand strategy unexplored. Utilizing largely untapped archival records from the US Foreign Economic Administration (RG 169), this dissertation provides the first US-focused analysis and reestablishes economic warfare within the history of the US and Allied grand strategy. The evidence presented in this dissertation supports four key findings. First, although often overlooked by historians, economic warfare was a core component of US grand strategy by at least July 1940. Second, in July 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Office of the Administrator of Export Control to conduct a steadily expanding economic warfare campaign that, by August 1941, had largely cut the Axis Powers off from sources of strategic raw materials in Latin America and significant parts of Asia. Third, while both derived from their respective experiences with the “blockade” in World War I, US economic warfare theory, doctrine, and organization developed independently of British economic warfare theory and practice. Finally, contrary to post-World War II assessments, both the American and combined American-British economic warfare campaigns were efficient and effective in reducing the number of suitable, feasible, or acceptable strategic options available to Germany and Japan. The economic warfare campaigns began to significantly impact Axis capabilities, resources, and morale starting in early 1941.
Open Access
Harvesting well-being: an exploration of community considerations in farming decisions across diverse social-ecological contexts
(2025) Francois, Jean Ribert
The historical development of agriculture in the United States has been extensively studied and well-documented in the literature. Similarly, research has thoroughly established the impacts of the U.S. agricultural sector – home to some of the most advanced farming systems in the world – on both the environment and human well-being. For example, numerous studies have explored the connections between agriculture and community well-being over the past century, often guided by the influential Goldschmidt hypothesis, which suggests that the shift toward large-scale farming operations is associated with substantial sustainability challenges for individuals and communities. These well-established negative consequences are often the result of a complex interplay of various factors and circumstances inherent in the organization, structure, and management of modern agricultural systems. Addressing these challenges requires data-driven research to inform and support potential policies and interventions to mitigate the multiple community concerns that arise from human management practices. In three specific studies, this dissertation examines the interactions between agricultural systems, farmer decision-making, and community well-being, emphasizing the extent to which and how community concerns are considered in farming decisions across different agricultural contexts in the U.S. Study 1 investigates, through spatial analysis and descriptive statistics of county-level data from 2010 to 2019, how well-being varies across communities that differ in their levels of crop diversity and productivity, and the intensity levels of farming systems. Findings suggest that community well-being is generally high across most diversity–productivity categories. However, notable exceptions and variability within groups highlight the influence of contextual factors, such as social infrastructure and economic diversification, beyond agricultural indicators alone. Next, the second study, using both interview and survey data, explores how farmers incorporate community concerns into their decisions across diverse contexts of crop diversification. The analysis identifies key themes such as economic contributions, community health, education, and community care that farmers consider when making agricultural decisions while also noting misalignment between awareness of community impacts of farming and action to include community considerations in decision-making. Lastly, study 3 investigates the core attributes of farmers and contextual factors that shape the inclusion of community considerations in farming decisions. Through modeling techniques, the analysis emphasizes the role of awareness, community values, coordination, and structural challenges in influencing individual decision-making related to considering community well-being in farming decisions. These studies, taken together, have implications for advancing the inclusion of community considerations in farming decisions, which is important for the sustainable relationship between agricultural systems and communities.
Open Access
Investigation of highly efficient particulate air filter media performance in existence of internal leak
(2025) Abraham, Daniel M.
High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and ultra-low particulate air (ULPA) filters are extensively utilized in nuclear and National Bio and Agro-Defense facilities as the last line of defense for eliminating particles from a contaminated gas stream prior to its release into the surrounding environment. The objective of the present study is to develop a computational tool capable of simulating the microstructure of such a filter medium. This tool will provide valuable information for enhancing the design and manufacturing of the scanning device used in the leak penetration test. It will also help in investigating the testing criteria set in the standards for classifying filter types. Consequently, it will assist in assessing the likelihood of a successful filtration leak test, thereby reducing the risk of an inaccurate test. The initial phase of this study was the design and construction of a biofiltration testing rig that adheres to the standards set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 52.2 for HEPA testing. The purpose of this rig is to assess various prototypes of biocontainment housings used in the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), along with their corresponding auto scan technologies against the traditional penetration test method. We evaluated the local and overall filter efficiency of two of the available housing units using their associated auto scanning methodologies, and we compared the results with the efficiency obtained using the conventional penetration test approach described in ASHRAE 52.2. A series of prerequisite tests were carried out to verify aerosol distribution uniformity upstream and downstream as well as the consistency of the injection and sampling probe measurements. This allowed us to investigate the impact of the filter pinholes (leaks) on the pressure drop and efficiency of the filter and enhanced our understanding of the protocols and requirements for comprehensive testing of large-scale pleated 610×610×292 mm³ HEPA and other filters at different flow rates. In the second part of the study, following an understanding of the scanning technology used to test the filter in the first part, we developed a three-dimensional fibrous computational model featuring non-homogenous fibers that replicates the HEPA filter sheet. This model was utilized to simulate and analyze the pressure drop and collection efficiency of the HEPA filter sheet, considering scenarios both with and without leaks. We expanded our work by building a small-scale filter sheet testing rig to compare experimental and computational results and determine a correlation between HEPA intact and leaky filter efficiencies. Our research revealed the optimal most penetrating particle size (MPPS) at which to test a filter and the minimum leak size at which the filter efficiency becomes independent of particle size and filtration velocity, which can be used to derive a designated leak penetration value for a successful leak penetration test under particular sampling and scanning conditions.
Open Access
Hydrogen relative permeability modeling: applications to underground hydrogen storage (UHS)
(2025) Agbamu, Deborah Olabisi
The transition toward a low-carbon energy system has intensified interest in underground hydrogen storage (UHS) as a means to balance the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. The accurate modeling of hydrogen flow in subsurface porous media is crucial for optimizing storage efficiency and ensuring successful retrieval. A key parameter in this process is hydrogen relative permeability (k_rh), which governs multiphase flow dynamics in geological formations. In this study, we develop a theoretical model for k_rh using the effective-medium approximation (EMA) and percolation theory (PT) concepts. Our model incorporates pore-scale characteristics such as pore size distribution, connectivity, and critical hydrogen saturation S_hc. The model is validated against eight experimental datasets and eleven pore-network simulations, demonstrating reasonable agreement in most cases. However, discrepancies are observed in certain carbonate samples, likely due to secondary porosity effects (e.g., vugs and fractures) and in sandstones with possible microfractures. The findings highlight the critical role of accurately estimating S_hc in predicting k_rh and suggest that improvements in pore structure characterization could enhance modeling accuracy.
Embargo
Developing a measure of intrapreneurial self-efficacy (ISE): assessing employees’ confidence in their ability to create improvements at work
(2025) Warren, Chi-Leigh
This thesis develops and validates an intrapreneurial self-efficacy (ISE) scale. There are two overarching goals of this study: first, to clarify and improve the construct validity of intrapreneurship (often operationalized with behavior) and subsequently, intrapreneurial selfefficacy (or one’s confidence in performing intrapreneurial behavior), with a definitional analysis, and second, to develop an improved, reliable, validated measure of intrapreneurial selfefficacy that demonstrates discriminant validity from other self-efficacy measures and predicts individual-level intrapreneurial behavior. Referencing a proposed model of intrapreneurship by Neessen et al. (2019), this study further clarifies the construct of intrapreneurship and addresses key gaps in the literature by connecting individual-level attitudes of intrapreneurship, such as ISE, to individual-level intrapreneurial behavior. RQ1: Does intrapreneurial self-efficacy have five subdimensions: innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, opportunity recognition, and networking? A definitional analysis was conducted first to clarify the intrapreneurship construct and inform the writing of the 72 items in the initial item pool, which was evaluated and reduced by subject matter experts (SMEs) to 40 items. Using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the scale’s factor structure was explored and confirmed with a 36-item measure. To test H1 and H2, factor-level second-order CFA models assessed for discriminant validity of ISE to identify if it was a unique measure from entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and general self-efficacy (GSE). H1: Intrapreneurial self-efficacy (ISE) will account for unique model variance, suggesting it is a unique construct from entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE). H2: Intrapreneurial self-efficacy (ISE) will account for unique model variance, suggesting it is a unique construct from general self-efficacy (GSE). Finally, hierarchical regression models predicting intrapreneurial behavior were used to test H3 and the criterion-related validity of intrapreneurial self-efficacy as additional variables were added. H3: Intrapreneurial self-efficacy (ISE) will be a positive, significant predictor intrapreneurial behavior above and beyond entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and general selfefficacy (GSE). ISE was found to be a 5-factor model with 36 items that uniquely predicts intrapreneurial behavior from GSE and ESE. ISE remained a positive, strong, and significant predictor of intrapreneurial behavior even after controlling for GSE, ESE, personality, job attitudes (job satisfaction and prior knowledge of intrapreneurship), and organizational factors (such as work discretion, time available, management support, and rewards/reinforcement). This study refines the construct of ISE and intrapreneurship, develops an improved ISE measure, and investigates the discriminant and criterion-related validity of intrapreneurial selfefficacy, finding support that ISE is unique from ESE and GSE as both a construct and predictor of intrapreneurial behavior.
Open Access
Bridging past and present: integration of modern stormwater infrastructure into a historic interpretation site
(2025) Holliday, Devin
How can modern stormwater management practices be integrated into a historical preservation site like the Marlatt Homestead, ensuring both ecological health and the preservation of cultural heritage, while also creating opportunities for public education on sustainable water management? This research investigates the intricate balance between watershed management and the preservation of historical homesteads, a challenge that sits at the intersection of environmental sustainability and cultural heritage. Watershed management involves practices designed to protect and manage water resources, which can sometimes conflict with the preservation of historical structures that contribute to a site’s cultural value. This study aims to explore how landscape architecture can reconcile these competing interests through a multidisciplinary approach. By reviewing literature on both historical preservation and watershed management, conducting field assessments, and analyzing case studies, the research will identify best practices for integrating modern environmental strategies with the conservation of historical sites. Key areas of focus include evaluating the environmental impacts of preserving historical features, navigating regulatory challenges, and engaging with community stakeholders. The research will also explore innovative design solutions and adaptive reuse strategies that respect historical integrity while addressing contemporary environmental needs. Ultimately, this study seeks to develop practical recommendations for landscape architects and policymakers to create designs that harmonize ecological health with cultural preservation, ensuring sustainable and culturally sensitive land use.

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