K-State Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Reports: 2004 -
Permanent URI for this collection
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.
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item Open Access Investigating changes in scientists’ ethical decision making and course designsGarcia, TylerOne way to bring about change in higher education is to introduce professional development programs for higher education, however these programs have been found to be ineffective at promoting positive change for individuals and departments. To address the need for better programs, I worked on two projects: one project attempts to identify a way to improve Responsible Conduct of Research training and the other project is an assessment designed to be distributed in a Thermal and Statistical Physics course that supports instructors on improving their curriculum. Many scientists view science as value-free, despite the fact that both epistemic and non-epistemic values structure scientific inquiry. Current Responsible Conduct of Research training usually focuses on transmitting knowledge about high-level ethical concepts or rules and is widely regarded as ineffective. We argue that Responsible Conduct of Research training will be more effective at improving ethical decision making if it focuses on connecting values to science. Due to the investigation of research ethics education in physics being relatively new, we pull from philosophy and psychology to define ethical decision making using the Four Component Model. This model states that in order to make an ethical decision someone must consider four components: moral sensitivity, moral reasoning, moral motivation, and moral implementation. For this study we formed a moderated fellowship of fourteen science faculty from different disciplines who met for ten sessions over the course of a year, where they discussed the values embedded in different scientific norms. We then conducted interviews before and after the year-long fellowship that involved guided reflection of scenarios where there was some kind of ethical misconduct where the scientific practice required value judgements (e.g using unpublished data). From this data we looked at how the fellowship affected the scientists’ ability to recognize ethical dimensions in their work. We found that this fellowship improves moral sensitivity, but their moral reasoning does not change. We then identified a more precise approach to looking at scientists’ moral reasoning. This work can inform future ethical training to align better with what scientists value and introduce useful concepts from philosophy and psychology to education research in physics. There are calls to create assessments that focus on gathering evidence that shows both knowledge of the desired subject and transferable skills between disciplines while providing useful feedback to instructors. To answer this call, we created a thermal and statistical physics assessment that provides evidence of student knowledge and skills in a thermal or statistical physics course that also provides actionable feedback to instructors. To create tasks, we use a knowledge-in-use framework that focuses on identifying the evidence we need to see in student answers to claim students are able to do physics, not just know physics. These “evidence statements" are the observable features students generate that show they have knowledge to complete a claim. We need to determine a way to validate the tasks based on the focus towards obtaining evidence of student abilities when solving tasks. Current literature focuses on bringing in experts to validate whether the tasks are at the right level for the students. We are looking to expand on literature in Physics Education Research (PER) by articulating a way to validate tasks that use evidence-centered design through looking at students’ evidence statements. To validate the assessment, we identified new components to gather evidence towards validation. Using these new components we introduced a new methodology to validate assessments that focus on delivering feedback through evidence. We have conducted and analyzed student think-aloud interviews answering the tasks in a free-response format or in a Coupled Multiple-Response format. We also conducted faculty interviews to see if the tasks are relevant to their courses. Through these interviews we developed a new methodology of contributing to the validation of assessments that focus on faculty feedback. This dissertation introduces new methodologies for future researchers to improve on Responsible Conduct of Research trainings and assessment designed for supporting instructor curriculum. Through these new methodologies scientists can address the calls for better professional development programs in higher education.Item Open Access Grain Weight Retention during Terminal Heat Stress in Hard Winter WheatSchuh, NicholasClimate-resilient wheat cultivars with tolerance to high temperatures after flowering are essential to reliable wheat production in the central and southern Great Plains. Breeders have an experiential understanding of germplasm capable of maintaining test weight under terminal heat stress, yet understanding of underlying genetics is limited. In a preliminary greenhouse/growth chamber experiment to identify post-anthesis heat stress tolerance genetic resources within central and southern Great Planes germplasm, two breeding lines were identified with contrasting tolerance phenotypes: HV9W03-1596R maintained green leaf area, and TX04M410164 maintained grain weight under post-anthesis heat stress. A recombinant inbred population (208 lines) was developed from the progeny of crossing these two lines and grown in ten Kansas field environments. Traits measured were yield, plant height, flowering time, physiological maturity time, grain fill period, test weight, kernel diameter, kernel weight, and kernel hardness. Yield, plant height, flowering time, test weight, kernel diameter, and kernel weight were all found to be highly heritable. In the 2018 field season, average high temperature during the 21 days following anthesis at three trial locations was 29.1C to 30.4C, while the optimal temperature for wheat grain filling is reported to be 21.3C. In three 2018 trial locations, mean test weight ranged from 652 to 758 g L-1, and mean kernel weight ranged from 19.8 to 23.5 mg. In contrast, in three 2020 trial locations, mean test weight ranged from 745 to 830 g L 1, and mean kernel weight ranged from 26.5 to 30.9 mg. Stress sensitivity indices (SSIs) were calculated at seven trials, using three highest yielding trials as the control environment. The SSIs for flowering time and physiological maturity had very little variation under an extreme stress environment and high variation under a moderately stressful environment. We observed the same phenomena in yield and kernel diameter SSIs. Two quantitative trait loci were found on chromosome 1B in a preliminary analysis, and SNP markers were developed. One SNP was significant for kernel diameter, kernel hardness, kernel weight, test weight, grain yield, plant height, and grain fill period length and the other was significant for kernel hardness, test weight, grain yield, plant height, and grain fill period length best linear unbiased predictors. One SNP was significant for kernel diameter and test weight stress sensitivity, and the second SNP was significant for kernel weight, grain fill period, and physiological maturity stress sensitivity. The RIL population also was segregating for the Ppd-D1 and Vrn-D3 genes that affect flowering time. These flowering time genes had significant effects on stress sensitivity. Future work will isolate near isogenic lines from RILs heterozygous at one or both of the 1B regions. These lines will be evaluated for heat tolerance in controlled environments and field environments to quantify the effects of these regions on post anthesis heat stress tolerance.Item Open Access Non-exponential reward discounting in deep reinforcement learningAli, Raja FarrukhThe science of sequential decision making, formalized through reinforcement learning (RL), has driven various recent technological breakthroughs, from mastering complex games that require strategic thinking to driving advancements in natural language processing. Central to an RL agent's learning is how it treats rewards (the learning signal) and adjusts its policy to maximize cumulative rewards. Future rewards are weighed less than immediate rewards, and traditional RL methods employ exponential discounting to balance immediate and future rewards. However, studies from neuroscience and psychology have shown that exponential discounting does not accurately reflect human and animal behavior, who instead exhibit hyperbolic discounting of future rewards. This dissertation explores non-exponential discounting, such as hyperbolic, in different facets of deep RL such that it can mirror the intricate decision-making processes found in humans, and evaluate its impact on agent performance in a variety of settings. First, I revisit the idea of hyperbolic discounting and the auxiliary task of learning over multiple horizons in RL agents while using off-policy value-based methods, studying its impact on sample efficiency and generalization to new tasks while incorporating architectural and implementation improvements. Second, I introduce a two-parameter discounting model based on generalized hyperbolic discounting in the deep RL setting. With its sensitivity-to-delay parameter, this model enriches temporal decision-making in RL, as evaluated through empirical evidence. Third, I apply hyperbolic discounting to multi-agent systems, examining its influence on collective decision-making and performance, revealing the potential for improved cooperation among agents. These contributions highlight the impact of non-exponential discounting on agent performance, linking theory with AI practice, facilitating human-like decision-making, and paving the way for new research directions.Item Open Access An examination of legal representation on plea bargained sentencing outcomes for criminal defendants.Grube, JohnathanThis dissertation examines the pervasive notion that retained attorneys offer superior legal defense compared to appointed attorneys. Such beliefs hold substantial implications for justice equity, as a defendant's financial resources should not dictate the caliber of their defense or the subsequent sentence they receive. Yet, a dearth of understanding persists regarding the influence of attorney type on sentencing outcomes. This study bridges this gap through a quantitative examination of attorney type and its impact on sentencing. Indigent defendants, unable to bear the financial burden of legal representation, are informed by a judge of the attorney appointed to represent them in criminal proceedings. Judges appoint attorneys because these defendants may lack the means to retain an attorney with a proven track record of trial success, which financially able defendants can readily secure. Consequently, a defendant's limited resources may hinder appointed attorneys from mounting a robust defense, potentially affecting the decision to pursue trial. Therefore, it is crucial to ascertain whether indigent defendants receive equitable representation compared to those capable of retaining their own legal counsel. To address this concern, this dissertation employs bivariate logistic regression models to analyze the impact of defense attorney type on the plea negotiation process, as evidenced by negotiated sentencing outcomes, within Kansas state district courts. Specifically, utilizing sentencing data from the Kansas Sentencing Commission spanning fiscal years 2015 to 2019, this study applied logistic regression analysis to investigate the impact of attorney type across three distinct research questions pertaining to sentence disposition, departure sentences, and the choice between concurrent and consecutive sentences. Notably, all three models yield statistical significance and identified significant variables for each research question. Alongside numerous significant demographic variables, the analysis reveals attorney type as a significant predictor of both sentence disposition and departure sentences. The implications of these findings, alongside theoretical and policy considerations, are thoroughly discussed, aiming to inform future academic and policymaking endeavors.Item Open Access Balancing Tradition and Tomorrow: Smart Growth Strategies for the Sustainability of Rural CommunitiesPfeifer, CadenIn the post-World War II era, the globalization of U.S. cities has triggered population decline in many rural communities, prompting a quest for solutions to sustain their prosperity. However, concerns have arisen regarding the impact of standardized development regulations on these communities, affecting their ambiance and distinctive, place-specific character. This research delves into the intricate balance required to foster growth while preserving the unique character of rural communities. Central to this investigation is exploring the Smart Growth concept as a potential solution to enhance local development regulations and safeguard the essence of small towns by taking Dodge City and Garden City, as case studies. The study aims to determine how integrating Smart Growth principles can contribute to addressing challenges related to rural community character. Doing so establishes a foundational understanding for future researchers to delve into applying Smart Growth principles in the rural context, with considerations for broader implications in sustainable planning.Item Embargo Tailored peptide hydrogel-based three-dimensional system improves stem cell maintenance, therapeutic potential and differentiationLi, QuanStem cells are a type of cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation and exist in both fetal and adult tissues. Stem cells can be totipotent, pluripotent and multipotent with decreasing differentiation potentials. Multipotent stem cells like hematopoietic stem cells have already been used to treat some diseases as they can give rise to blood cells, but application of other stem cells is still limited. Pluripotent stem cells, i.e. embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are isolated from early-stage embryos and are thus limited by donor scarcity. Thanks to the development of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), cell source is no longer an issue, but the maintenance of iPSC still poses challenges. Previously we developed a three-dimensional (3D) method that produces large amount of high quality hiPSCs, but the mechanism for 3D iPSC maintenance is still unexplored. Based on the previous established 3D hiPSC culture methods using peptide hydrogel PGmatrix, we found that the better proliferation performance compared to other hydrogel-based 3D culture system was due to ability of the hiPSCs to modify its surrounding environment. During growth in PGmatrix, the hydrogel strength changed. The mechanical cues can be sensed by hiPSC, leading to modulation of proliferation. The novel 3D method can help fulfill the need of high quality iPSCs for downstream applications like therapeutic treatments and differentiation. Liver hepatocytes, as an example, is in large demand not only for disease treatment but also for pharmaceutical development. However, hepatocytes derived from iPSCs are still functionally far from primary hepatocytes, there is a thus need to improve the differentiation method. Compared to differentiation in matrix-free non-adherent plate, the hepatocyte organoids obtained from PG-suspension had significantly higher expression of key hepatocytes genes, some gene expression and in vitro detoxification function were comparable to primary hepatocytes. Besides modeling and treating diseases with cells or organoids differentiated from iPSC, there are also therapies that use stem cells directly. Currently mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are preferred for therapeutics because these cells can release more growth factors and signaling molecules then iPSCs, but 2D-culture MSCs showed varied level of treatment effects mainly because they were not adapted to the in vivo niche. Studies showed that MSC therapeutic potential improved after adopting 3D conformation, but there’s yet a method that steady MSC 3D preparation and delivery for treatment. In therapeutic application, we encapsulated MSCs in PGmatrix overnight before treatment through injection. Compared to hyaluronic acid (HA) and Hystem hydrogel, PGmatrix preserved high cell viability, promoted pluripotency protein expression and improved skin wound healing at an early stage in mice. Together, these results demonstrated improvements in stem cell research through application of PG hydrogel 3D systems. By tailoring peptide hydrogel for different research fields, there may be more advancement in stem cell related applications.Item Open Access Bovine respiratory disease: Treatment outcomes, prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and systematic review of control methodsNeal, KyndallBovine respiratory disease (BRD) is an economically important disease in feedyards influencing both animal welfare and use of antimicrobials. While much research has been completed there are still knowledge gaps regarding the treatment plans and optimal ways to manage cattle with BRD. The objective of the first chapter of the thesis was to identify potential associations between nasopharyngeal microbiota and antimicrobial resistance patterns of clinical cases that lived or died compared to non-diseased controls. Enrolled animals were subdivided based on clinical disease status and case outcome (subsequent mortality or finishing the feeding phase). Deep nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from enrolled animals and submitted for bacterial isolation, antimicrobial susceptibility determination, and metagenomics analysis. Enrolled cattle were represented in three groups: animals at first treatment for BRD that subsequently died (BRDM, n=9), animals at first treatment for BRD that subsequently lived (BRDL, n=15), and animals that were never treated for BRD during the feeding phase (CONT, n=11). Antimicrobial resistance patterns for Pasteurella multocida illustrated that cattle in each outcome category had isolates that were pan-susceptible or only showing resistance to oxytetracycline. Nasal metagenomics analysis showed relative abundance of species and genera with few differences among the three outcomes. Higher alpha diversity was identified in BRDL compared to CONT at the species level and both BRDL and BRDM showed increased alpha diversity compared to CONT at the genera level. Overall, this work illustrated nasopharyngeal microbiota showed relatively few differences among BRD cases that lived or died compared to animals without BRD. The second chapter objective was to identify potential relationships between risk factors known at the time of initial BRD treatment with three post-treatment outcomes: first treatment success (FTS; finishing feeding phase with no further treatments), non-cause specific case fatality risk (CFRALL; post-treatment mortalities from any cause), and cause-specific case fatality risk (CFRBRD; mortalities attributed to BRD). This retrospective analysis used generalized linear mixed models to evaluate relationships between covariates of interest (arrival: sex, weight, month; treatment event: days-on-feed (DOF), rectal temperature, day-of-week, antibiotic drug class) with each outcome (FTS, CFRALL, CFRBRD). Analysis included 132,521 individual-animal initial BRD treatment records from 14 central U.S. feedyards (May 2017 to Dec 2020) with overall FTS of 67.8%, CFRALL of 10.0%, and CFRBRD of 6.3%. The FTS was associated (P < 0.05) with all covariates except sex, CFRALL was associated with all covariates, and CFRBRD was associated with all covariates except day-of-week treated. Treatment early in the feeding phase (DOF 0-10, 11-20) was associated with lower FTS (49.2% ± 0.8; 55.3% ± 0.8), higher CFRALL (12.5% ± 1.3; 12.6% ± 1.4) and higher CFRBRD (6.3% ± 1.1; 6.1% ± 1.0) compared to cattle treated on days 21-70. Rectal temperature in the 39.4-40.0°C category had higher CFRALL (15.3% ± 1.5) and CFRBRD (9.2% ± 1.5) compared to other rectal temperature categories. Increased knowledge of risk factors associated with treatment outcomes has the potential to help inform therapeutic decisions. This systematic review in the third thesis chapter sought to identify published information relative to antimicrobial use in BRD control and metaphylaxis. Specific research questions addressed case fatality risks, first treatment success, switching drug classes between treatments, switching drug classes between metaphylaxis and first treatment, post-metaphylactic or post-treatment intervals, as well as concomitant therapies. Databases searched included PubMed, CAB Direct, and Agricola, resulting in 418 publications meeting the search criteria. Manuscripts were then sorted into topic categories for review. Case fatality risk decreases with treatments of tulathromycin when compared to other antimicrobials. Similar trends were seen with first treatment success and included other macrolides as well, resulting in higher success. Studies showed longer post-treatment intervals had better morbidity resolution when compared to shorter post-treatment intervals. No prospective manuscripts were found regarding switching drug classes between metaphylaxis and first treatment or first and subsequent treatments. The research that evaluated concomitant therapy for BRD treatment did not show an advantage compared to single-antimicrobial treatment. This literature review identified several knowledge gaps related to specific application methods of treatment; and more research in these areas could be conducted to understand the optimal management practices and treatment strategies for BRD in cattle. By looking into more treatment options and outcomes there is hope to improve future BRD treatment outcomes. While much remains to be learned, research is always being conducted and new information leading to BRD successes can be found.Item Open Access Using Contemporary Compositional Techniques in Teaching Improvisation to ChildrenLasko, AgnieszkaThis lecture-recital investigates the inclusion of improvisation within the framework of beginning and intermediate piano students. It includes simplified versions of improvisational techniques known from the works of composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. Elements of improvisation based on clearly defined rules help guide the spontaneous activities of beginners and provide new ideas. To ensure the comfort of both teachers and students, a balance was maintained between structure and creative elements. Consequently, work on the pieces begins with following the score first and then improvising. Additionally, all the pieces were written with a certain musical or technical point in mind to support the development of piano skills at the early stage of their piano education.Item Embargo The effects of social media on the mental health of collegiate male athletesJazsmin, HalliburtonThe purpose of this thesis report is to research how social media is related to mental health in male student athletes focusing on the two most popular sports in the United States: football, and men’s basketball at the collegiate level. The popularity of men’s sports is more prominent than women’s sports, which is way male athletes are the focus for this research. This study is guided by the theoretical framework of framing and uses and gratification. The method of elite interviewing was used with the three division I male athletes participating with in the research. Research suggests athletes may be more likely to downplay or minimize the severity of their own mental health issues. In using the method of elite interviewing of the three former student athletes interviewed, only one said that he has experienced anxiety due to comments made about him by fans on social media platforms. One athlete is not mentally affected by the comments of fans and media due to where he grew up. The third athlete never experienced hurtful comments directed towards him, therefore, he was never mentally affected. Recommendations for future research in this topic would be a higher volume of research participants. An additional recommendation would be research into the discussion of mental health in the Black community, due to a majority of men’s football and basketball players being Black.Item Embargo Machine systems to enhance agronomic response in seeding technologiesGigena Berretta, BautistaThe importance of proper planting and crop establishment cannot be underestimated, as they directly affect crop yield, quality, and overall agricultural productivity. Growers have varying field conditions and adopt different planting strategies, and each requires a unique approach to achieve desired agronomic responses. Hence, proper selection and adoption from existing precision planting technologies suited for their conditions is essential to optimize crop input resources and enhance crop yields. This research examined two essential aspects of precision planting systems and its application into two different growers’ situation. The first study involved assessing the effectiveness of row cleaners within air-seeders in high-residue environments, and, second study analyzes the performance of high-speed planting on no-till fields. A novel methodology based on a computer vision system was developed to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of row cleaners installed on single-disc air seeders in creating optimal seed furrow conditions for improving seed placement. Through the implementation of a tailor-made data acquisition system and the operation of an air seeder across different wheat residue conditions, the study demonstrated the feasibility of quantifying row cleaner operation in real time, exposing the possibility of assessing the performance of varying row cleaner models for air seeders on an unbiased and repeatable way, and also paving the way for automating control decisions during seeding processes. High-speed planting experiment involved comparing the performance of two precision planting systems on corn, evaluating various parameters, including planting accuracy, frame flexibility, overall productivity, downforce control, and section control. Findings revealed subtle differences between the two planting systems on productivity and planting quality. Still, there are notable differences on flexibility depending on the frame of each planter utilized as well as a slight difference in plant spacing. Overall, these studies contribute to advancing agricultural technology by providing objective methodologies for assessing and improving seeding and planting practices, ultimately enhancing efficiency and productivity in modern farming operations. The learning also set a baseline for future research on air seeder row cleaners and for upcoming research on row crop planter performance.Item Open Access Predicting harmful algal blooms and uncovering mortgage bias: a data-intensive thesisKompella, KavyaThis thesis presents two data science approaches for important environmental and social problems: predicting harmful algal blooms (HABs) resulting from cyanobacteria and identifying racial biases inherent in home mortgage systems. In the first chapter, a machine learning model is developed to forecast HABs in Marion Reservoir, Kansas. HABs are a threat to water resources as they emit toxic chemicals that are harmful to agriculture and aquatic species. Early prediction of algae growth will help manage and prevent further growth. Various models are utilized for the prediction, including Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, Gaussian Bayes, Decision Tree, Long Short-Term Memory models, and XGBoost. In addition, using feature analysis, several factors were found that do not significantly affect the accuracy of predictions. Furthermore, the research extends its scope by comparing the algal bloom trends observed in Owasco Lake, New York, with those in Marion Reservoir. The findings of this research highlight the capacity of data science methodologies to tackle environmental issues, hence offering insights into the topic of proactive regulation of the water ecosystem. The second chapter examines an extensive dataset of federal home mortgage data in the United States. This dataset covers 13 years and includes a vast number of loans. By utilizing machine learning methodologies, we reveal a significant correlation between the qualities of borrowers and mortgage data, particularly concerning the borrower's racial background. The results of our study indicate an association between the personal attributes of borrowers and loan data, suggesting that borrower race plays a significant role in the observed racial discrepancies in mortgage lending. Although other historical and present prejudices may be at play, this study offers quantitative evidence of racial biases across the home mortgage system. By identifying and examining these biases, our study makes a valuable contribution to enhancing comprehension of the social concerns about equality and discrimination within the financial industry. Together, these chapters emphasize the significance of employing data-driven research methodologies to address complex environmental challenges and uncover disparities in social equity. This highlights the multidisciplinary capacity of data science in the pursuit of achieving a more sustainable and equitable future.Item Open Access Feminism and Feminist Pedagogy in Two Helping ProfessionsStrowbridge, MichelleIn the past century there has been a significant amount of literature regarding the waves of feminism and the advancement of womxn in higher education. In addition to the waves of feminism and womxn’s influence on higher education, there has also been a thorough recounting of the history of academic advising. However, despite all three of these areas being studied in great detail, the connections between all three has not yet been explored in the literature. This dissertation explored feminism and feminist pedagogy in two helping professions though (a) an examination of the use of feminist pedagogy existing literature in nursing, and (b) the lived experience of female primary-role academic advisors. These findings then shaped a model of feminist academic advising grounded by feminist pedagogy. This dissertation was guided by the following research questions: How do scholars discuss feminist pedagogy in nursing, an exemplary helping profession? How do female primary-role advisors who identify as womxn and feminists express feminist identity in the academic advising workplace? This dissertation consists of three related papers. Paper #1, a structured literature review, explored the available literature of the use of feminist pedagogy in an exemplary helping profession, nursing. Articles from were pulled from Nursing Allied Health and Google Scholar under the designators of including “feminist pedagog*” in nursing and written in English to include articles that used the term feminist pedagogy and feminist pedagogies. After a 5-phase protocol, 12 articles were accepted into the final sample. Three themes emerged: classroom climate, curriculum design, and care versus cure. The implications for the field were: the need of feminist pedagogy in the education of nurses due to the hierarchical nature of medical fields, the need for nurses to be prepared to fight against the policies in healthcare that oppress certain populations, and the importance of feminist pedagogy in nursing for the education of all gender identities. Paper #2, a phenomenology, explored how primary-role advisors who identify as womxn and feminists describe the role feminism plays in their advising practice. This study explored the use of feminism in the practice of 22 participants. Data was collected through three semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: mindfulness of physical space as a cornerstone for comfort, power of communication in forging meaningful connection and relationships, and empowering students to make their own decisions. There were three implications for this research: the focus on the experience of the academic advisor themselves, the impact personal identity has on advising practice, and how feminism can impact academic advising as a field. In Paper # 3, I introduce a new approach to academic advising incorporating feminist pedagogy with seven tenets: the positionality of the advisor, relationship-centered approach, mindful of power dynamics, intentionality of physical space, social justice and advocacy, a holistic understanding, and resilience and community building. The adoption of a feminist model in academic advising promises a transformative shift within the educational landscape, poised to redefine interactions between advisors and students, the institutional approach to student support, and the broader scholarly understanding of advising practices. Collectively, the papers from this dissertation suggest four important overarching themes: an emphasis on inclusive and welcoming environments, challenging traditional power dynamics, integrating personal experiences and social justice, and a holistic approach to education and advising. These findings have important implications for the profession of academic advising in the available research that advisors and institutions can use as a basis for new advising approaches. Additionally, this dissertation will introduce new ways to increase social justice, advocacy, and inclusion, and use other helping professions as examples of how to incorporate new and potentially innovative ideas into advising practice.Item Open Access Modeling counter-current spontaneous imbibition and its scaling application to underground gas storageSenevirathna, ShalukaSpontaneous imbibition (SI) is a process by which a liquid (e.g., water or oil) is naturally drawn into a partially saturated porous medium under capillarity. Understanding the SI and its mechanisms have broad applications, particularly to underground gas storage in deep aquifers or depleted reservoirs. For instance, injecting CO2 under the supercritical conditions into subsurface, known as CO2 sequestration, is a practical solution to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and help fight climate change. Modeling and scaling the counter-current SI has been a long- standing issue, and various approaches have been proposed in the literature. In this study, to model the SI we generalize fractional flow theory (GFFT) using fractional derivatives and apply non- Boltzmann scaling. In our approach, the imbibition distance is proportional to the time to the power 𝛼/2 in which 𝛼 is fractional order (0 < 𝛼 < 2). We analyzed the SI data reported in literature including 25 sandstones, 2 diatomites, carbonates, clay samples, 6 synthetic porous media and silty clay soil samples. By plotting the normalized liquid recovery against the dimensionless time, we found that the non-Boltzmann transformation (variable α) yielded a better collapse in the SI data than the Boltzmann transformation (𝛼 = 1). More specifically, results showed that 𝛼 ranged between 0.88 and 1.54. Also, we fit the solution of GFFT to experimental and stimulation data reported in literature including soil, clay and carbonate samples to show that non-Boltzmann transformation model the SI resulting in variable α values accurately than the traditional Boltzmann approach (fixed α=1). We demonstrate that the variation in 𝛼 value can be attributed to contact angle of the fluid, dynamic viscosity, fracture dynamics and pore structure. However, further investigations are still required. Using the GFFT, we expect to more accurately predict the rate and amount of fluid that can spontaneously imbibe into a porous medium if characteristics such as porosity, permeability, initial and maximum saturations, viscosity, and wettability are known.Item Open Access READ THIS FOR ‘GUARANTEED RESULTS’: A feminist analysis of masculinity, health, and body through a case study of gym-bros and fit-fluencersWood, RachaelModern fitness has shifted with the rise of social media platforms like TikTok. The accessibility and interactive nature of visual platforms has allowed for “gym-bros” and “fit-fluencers,” as well as everyday gym goers to share their health and fitness journeys, work-out advice, and “transformation” (i.e., physical body changes) videos. The current exploratory sociological research project is in pursuit of understanding how masculinity, body, and health are discussed on TikTok, Reddit, Instagram, and YouTube. Feminist theory, in particular, intersectionality helps to highlight not just race, class, gender, but injuries, disabilities, and health/body conditions. Results and conclusions include how gym-bros and fit-fluencers, as well as everyday users on GymTok present themselves online, the relations that emerge out of this space, and the collective, unified shared experiences in the fitness community. The sentiments of “gains,” “anything is possible,” and “guaranteed results” purported by fitness community members online are embedded in neoliberal ideologies of self-responsibility and individualism. This research project provides insight into how GymTok and other social media platforms facilitate dialogues around body, health, and overall well-being.Item Open Access Exploring employee perspectives of branding: a case study of Purple Wave AuctionChumchal, HannahPurple Wave Auction, an auction house based in Manhattan, Kansas, has established itself as a trailblazer in the online equipment auction industry since its founding in 2000. Specializing in the direct selling of agricultural, construction, and fleet equipment through fully online, no-reserve auctions, Purple Wave Auction has earned a reputation for reliability and transparency. This paper proposes a case study analysis to probe Purple Wave Auction's employees, aiming to assess their impact on overall brand identity. By understanding how their branding is perceived by employees, Purple Wave Auction and other businesses can identify areas for improvement and strengthen their brand presence in the market amidst changing dynamics and stiff competition.Item Open Access Traces of colonialism in english language teaching (ELT) materials: a raciolinguistic justice exploration of decolonizing ELT curriculaRamirez Quimbayo, Maria CamilaDecolonizing world language education represents a multifaceted approach that questions some traditional pedagogies in foreign, second, and heritage language contexts. This current trend challenges monoglossic ideologies, western thought, and stereotypes that perpetuate harmful narratives about minoritized linguistic groups while seeking to embrace diverse perspectives, value linguistic diversity, and ensure the inclusion of multiple cultural identities and communities. Therefore, the process of transforming world language education practices requires didactic materials to be thoroughly analyzed to create awareness of the need for decolonizing language education. Thus, the current research study, rooted in Raciolinguistic Justice, primarily aims to identify if there are traces of colonial ideologies in English Language Teaching (ELT) curricula and materials at the college level. Additionally, this study will exemplify to what extent raciolinguistic justice frameworks can be employed to thematically categorize and analyze the crossways of language, race, and education in the representation of decolonizing epistemologies within language education. Furthermore, a sample lesson will be provided for language instructors to be equipped to make pedagogical decisions to decolonize language education. A thorough analysis of the intersection of language and race in ELT materials will be carried out, to evaluate the hypothesis that most world language teaching materials are embedded in colonial ideologies that prioritize monolingualism, Eurocentric thinking, and white speech.Item Open Access Essays on the impact of conflict on household welfare in NigeriaAtilola, BolanleThe farmer-herder conflict has escalated in Nigeria in recent years, causing detrimental impacts on agriculture, livelihoods, and human welfare. However, limited research exists on how this conflict affects children's health and nutrition in Nigeria. This dissertation aims to bridge the gap in the literature by estimating the causal impact of conflict on households' nutrition and health outcomes, as well as income. We assessed how the impact of conflict differs by conflict timing, geographical regions, and sub-population groups. In the first chapter, we employ a difference-in-differences approach using data obtained from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey and Armed Conflict Location and Event Dataset to analyze the impact of farmer-herder conflict exposure on children's anthropometric outcomes. Our findings, while not showing a general impact of conflict exposure on children's anthropometric outcomes, reveal a significant and heterogeneous impact on children living in farm households when using a triple difference model. Findings reveal that conflict significantly reduces weight-for-age and height-for-age Z-scores of exposed farm household children by 2.14 and 2.43 standard deviations, respectively, indicating increased underweight and stunting conditions. However, we find no statistically significant impact of conflict on weight-for-height Z-scores. The second chapter analyzes the impact of farmer-herder conflict on crop income in Nigeria. Using panel data from the Nigeria General Household Survey (2010-2016) and geo-referenced conflict data, we implement a panel fixed effects model exploiting spatial and temporal variation in conflict events. Results reveal that exposure to conflict events within 10km does not have a statistically significant impact on crop income. This finding is robust at different levels of conflict exposure. Further analysis shows no differential impact across different phases of the agricultural cycle.Item Embargo Application of scalable and inexpensive modification on carbon in clean technologiesHossain, Md ZawadCarbon can be a game-changing material to meet the global challenges in freshwater production and renewable conversion and storage devices due to their versatile nature. However, its hydrophobic characteristics, poor stability, low electrical conductivity, and small number of active sites limit its functions. Therefore, numerous efforts have been made to develop modified carbon materials to enhance their properties as electrocatalysts and electrode materials. This research focuses on developing modified nanocarbon materials for applications in water desalination by capacitive deionization (CDI) and electrochemical H2O2 synthesis via oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In the first application, a systematic study has been conducted for controllable and quantifiable impregnation of a cationic surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and an anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on activated carbon (AC) electrodes, respectively, and used to construct a asymmetric electrochemical cells. The electrochemical properties have been thoroughly characterized with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) measurements. The electrochemical cells consisting of a pair of such electrodes are then studied for CDI by flow of 1000 ppm NaCl solution between the two electrodes, i.e., in the flow-by configuration. Three different CDI modes have been investigated, including normal CDI (applying a voltage waveform with positive voltage bias at the CTAB-modified AC electrode for charge and zero voltage for discharge), inverted CDI (applying a reverse voltage waveform from the normal CDI), and bipolar CDI (applying a positive voltage bias on CTAB-modified AC electrode for a period and the reversed voltage in the following period). The electrochemical and normal CDI studies have shown that the increase of surfactant loadings reduces the electrochemical double layer capacitance and salt adsorption capacity. However, the CDI stability and charge efficiency are enhanced. The energy consumption is lower for surfactant-modified AC electrodes. The inverted CDI has demonstrated the effectiveness of surfactant modification as a charge-selective membrane. The bipolar CDI has demonstrated an enhanced salt adsorption capacity with surfactant-modified AC electrodes and the improved stability against carbon oxidation. In the second application, a preliminary study was conducted on developing electrocatalysts for ORR via N-doped carbon. A new type of graphitic carbon with a unique structure (crumbled balls with turbostratic multi-layer graphene sheets) produced by a high-temperature gas detonation process is explored for N-doping via a post-growth thermal annealing process. From the linear sweep voltammetry in O2-saturated 0.50 M H2SO4 solution by rotating disk electrode (RDE), it has been demonstrated that, after N-doping on the carbon, the onset potential of ORR is increased by +317 mV and half-wave potential is improved by +270 mV compared to the pristine graphitic carbon. The study by rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) further demonstrates that N-doped graphitic carbon exhibits a 2e- ORR mechanism with a high H2O2 selectivity of ~60%. With further optimization, this could be a good candidate for selective H2O2 production by electrolysis.Item Embargo Extraction, extrusion processing, and functional behavior of plant proteinsXiao, RuoshiDue to environmental, health, social, and ethical concerns associated with animal-based protein production, there is a growing demand for alternative protein sources. Plant-based proteins offer advantages such as cost-effectiveness, environmental sustainability, and nutritional value. In addition to widely utilized proteins such as soy protein, pea protein, or wheat gluten, sorghum proteins are gaining interest due to their gluten-free nature and unique functional features. The goal of this study is to extract proteins from grain sorghums and investigate their physicochemical properties and functionalities, as well as exploring physicochemical and functional changes of plant proteins during extrusion texturization. The specific objectives were to: 1) investigate the impact of genotype and fermentation on the physicochemical and functional properties of sorghum kafirins; 2) develop an efficient method for sorghum protein concentrate extraction, optimize its extraction process and analyze their physicochemical and functional properties; 3) evaluate the effects of raw material formulation and extrusion processes on the properties and structural conformation of plant-based proteins (including soy protein, pea protein, and wheat gluten). The extracted kafirins had protein content ranging from 75 to 85%. Protein molecular weights were consistent across different sorghum types but altered after fermentation, likely due to high-temperature fermentation conditions. Kafirin properties, including structure, color, and surface hydrophobicity, varied among sorghum types, with fermentation showing minimal effects. Kafirins from distiller’s grains (DGs) demonstrated lower solubility but varied emulsifying properties, water holding capacity (WHC), and oil holding capacity (OHC). Black sorghum DG kafirin had slightly lower in vitro protein digestibility (around 74%) compared to other sorghum DGs (75-79%), possibly due to higher residue tannin content. A novel process was developed for extracting sorghum protein concentrate with 85% protein content and approximately 95% protein recovery rate. Sorghum proteins extracted from flour exhibited higher α-helix and random coil structures, total sulfhydryl content, WHC, OHC, and in vitro digestibility compared to proteins from sorghum gluten meals, likely due to the different procedures. The sorghum protein concentrate also displayed higher crude fat content, α-helix and random coil structures, surface hydrophobicity, and OHC compared to commercial plant proteins (soy protein, pea protein, and wheat gluten), attributed to differences in amino acid compositions and protein structures. Texturized proteins with varying cold-swelling protein (CS) proportions experienced decreased α-helix and increased β-sheet content post-extrusion, indicating significant conformational changes. Disulfide bonds were identified as primary forces forming fibrous structure integrity. After extrusion, free amino and sulfhydryl groups, along with surface hydrophobicity, experienced a notable decline. Protein digestibility, WHC, and OHC displayed fluctuating patterns with varying CS ratios, whereas emulsifying, foaming, and gel-formation properties deteriorated in texturized proteins. In conclusion, different pretreatments and extraction methods influence sorghum protein properties and functionalities. Extrusion processes significantly alter protein structures and properties. Therefore, the processing method plays an important role in addition to the type of protein source in determining protein functionalities and practical applicability across various plant sources.Item Open Access Unravelling the factors behind differences in Sindbis virus load in Aedes aegypti after oral infectionHodoameda, PeterArbovirus transmission to their vertebrate hosts by mosquito vectors continues to linger on, causing major public health concerns. One of the reasons why mosquitoes that transmit arboviruses persist is due to failure of robust vector control strategies to limit or eradicate mosquitoes of public health importance. The shortfall of effective vector control strategies is due to insufficient understanding of what factors contribute to mosquito vector competence. The arbovirus load, or the amount of infectious virus in a mosquito, has been reported to affect vector competence. Related to this, after oral infection of inbred mosquitoes there is a high level of variation in virus load observed among individual mosquitoes. Unfortunately, there have been few studies conducted to understand what factors contribute to this titer variation. For this reason, Sindbis virus (SINV) was used as a model virus to better understand the factors contributing to variation in virus load among individual Aedes aegypti mosquitoes after oral infection. To achieve this goal, two specific aims were established. In Aim 1, the biological factors associated with variability in virus load in Ae. aegypti after SINV oral infection were investigated, while in Aim 2, the virus factors that contribute to variation in virus load after oral infection were examined. To address the first aim, highly inbred mosquitoes were reared and infected with SINV. The amount of virus load in the mosquitoes was determined and the results were analyzed to ascertain the biological factors contributing to titer variation. Results from this study showed that higher titer variation is observed after oral infection compared to intrathoracic infection, suggesting that the midgut is an important tissue barrier introducing variation in virus load. Additionally, decreased titer variation was observed with increased incubation period. This suggests that Ae. aegypti increasingly resist SINV infection over time following virus exposure. Biological factors such as mosquito age, mosquito strain, virus genotype, mosquito weight, amount of blood mosquito ingested, time after adult mosquito emergence, and the batch of eggs used to produce adult mosquitoes did not affect titer variation. Furthermore, virus collected from high titer mosquitoes replicated better in cultured cells compared to virus from low titer mosquitoes, suggesting there may be genetic differences between these virus populations. To address the second aim, the virus populations from individual low and high titer infected mosquitoes were sequenced, and the amount of sequence variation among the different populations was analyzed. Results from this study showed that there was a significant reduction in sequence variation when SINV moved from midguts to carcasses of low titer mosquitoes but not in high titer mosquitoes, suggesting that the midgut escape barrier is stronger in low titer mosquitoes compared to high titer mosquitoes. Also, carcasses of high titer mosquitoes had significantly higher population diversity and complexity than carcasses of low titer mosquitoes. Stronger purifying selection was also observed in the midguts and carcasses of low titer mosquitoes compared to high titer mosquitoes. Together these findings suggest that the virus populations present in low titer mosquitoes are less fit than those found in high titer mosquitoes, possibly due to genetic founder effect. Surprisingly, when the amount of SINV genomes was determined in the low and high titer mosquitoes it was found that the genome levels did not vary significantly, despite the large difference in infectious virus load. Additional analyses showed that high titer mosquitoes had significantly greater specific infectivity, or the ratio of infectious particles to viral genomes, than low titer mosquitoes. Low titer mosquitoes also had less viral protein translation and virion assembly than viruses from high titer mosquitoes. This could possibly contribute to the lower specific infectivity in low titer mosquitoes than high titer mosquitoes. Finally, immune suppression by antibiotic treatment caused an increase in specific infectivity, indicating that these differences were immune-related. Altogether, this dissertation has contributed fundamental knowledge towards understanding the factors contributing to arbovirus titer in mosquitoes, which is driven by tissue barriers to infection and dissemination and immune-related differences in specific infectivity of SINV in the carcasses of mosquitoes.
