K-State Current - March 25, 2020

K-State Current is a weekly news update for the Kansas Board of Regents to apprise the Regents on a few of the many successes and achievements made by K-State faculty, staff and students.

K-State News

We are #kstatestrong.

We find ourselves in a difficult and unprecedented time. We are away from our K-State family, away from our friends and away from a spot we love full well. But no one is alone because we are in this together. Be encouraged. Be #kstatestrong.

Watch a #kstatestrong video with Kansas State University President Richard Myers, who offers words of encouragement during this difficult time.

There will be new videos with new K-Staters every day in K-State Today. You can watch all the videos at k-state.edu/kstatestrong.

The Division of Communications and Marketing is collecting videos and photos of encouragement from K-Staters. Share your own video or photo on social media and use the hashtag to shows us how you are #kstatestrong. We may feature it on the website or K-State social media channels.

Technology Development Institute helps Overland Park racing aftermarket parts company gain traction Custom parts made by the Technology Development Institute at Kansas State University for BOE Fabrication in Overland Park.

The Technology Development Institute, or TDI, at the Kansas State University Carl R. Ice College of Engineering is helping BOE Fabrication, an Overland Park company, in its drive to success in the Lotus car high-performance racing market.

As part of a current U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration University Center grant, TDI's mission is to advance technologies, people, and companies through collaborative engineering and business development partnerships. A prime example in achieving this mission is assisting BOE Fabrication, a leader in engineering, fabrication and performance tuning specializing in the modern Lotus line of both race and high-performance streetcars.

TDI has been assisting this small business with development and customization of Lotus car parts to meet the needs of the company's customers while at the same time providing TDI engineering interns the opportunity to fabricate production parts and experience customer order fulfillment.

Andrew Moreau, owner of BOE, which stands for Beyond Original Equipment, said K-State has played a significant role in his company's success.

"With the assistance of TDI's engineering and fabrication services, we have been able to go beyond expectations and develop unique, custom parts that satisfy Lotus customers looking to tune up and fabricate their car," Moreau said. "I have been partnering with their engineers and student interns to serve as a part of our design/fabrication team. Because of our abilities and their assistance in customizations for Lotus cars, we are able to meet our customers' needs and become a successful leader in this market."

TDI's capabilities are no surprise to Moreau. As a K-State mechanical engineering alumnus, he was a student intern while attending school. The opportunity gave him the chance to work directly with clients and gain real-world experience. As an intern, he worked with staff engineers to design projects, develop a prototype design and evaluate the performance and feasibility of the client's project. This process, Moreau said, is similar to what he does every day at BOE.

"To have the opportunity to partner with K-State and provide future engineers with the same opportunities I was afforded through my internship experience has been especially gratifying," said Moreau, who credits his K-State education and intern experience with providing him the engineering, design and manufacturing skills needed to succeed in his career and business.

"It has been rewarding to work with BOE as a longtime small business partner to both increase market competitiveness and provide our engineering interns with hands-on fabrication and order fulfillment experience they will benefit from upon graduation," said Jeff Tucker, executive director of TDI. "Our partnership is at the intersection of the university's economic and workforce development missions."

The K-State Technology Development Institute, a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration University Center, provides a broad range of engineering and business development services to both private industry and university researchers to advance the commercial readiness of new products or technologies. Additional information is available at k-state.edu/tdi. The BOE Fabrication shop in Overland Park. The Kansas State University Technology Development Institute has been assisting the business with development and customization of Lotus car parts to meet the needs of its customers.

K-State Faculty Highlights

K-State scientist earns early career award for fighting weeds

Vipan Kumar, an assistant professor of weed science at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center in Hays, received one of the top awards for young professionals during a joint meeting of the Weed Science Society of America and Western Society of Weed Science.

At the annual meeting in Maui, Hawaii, the organizations named Kumar as the recipient of the award for outstanding early career weed scientist. Each year, the group selects one scientist who has earned the doctoral degree within the previous 10 years.

As its name suggests, the award recognizes outstanding achievements in weed science early in the individual’s career, which includes innovative approaches that result in learning, the ability to clearly communicate ideas, excellence in research accomplishments, and more.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized by my peers,” Kumar said.

Kumar, a native of northwestern India, began work at the Agricultural Research Center in 2017. His research includes several weed-related issues, but focuses on herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth and kochia – aggressive weeds that steal water and nutrients in Kansas cropping systems.

Last year, Kumar’s research team confirmed the first report on a strain of Palmer amaranth in central Kansas that resists the 2,4-D herbicide, one of the most commonly-used broadleaf weed killers.

Since 2017, he has secured more than $1.2 million in extramural grants and contracts to conduct his research. He has published 38 refereed journal articles; written 14 extension articles and technical reports, and 104 abstracts; and documented four new cases of herbicide resistant weeds across the Great Plains.

Kumar also hosts numerous extension meetings and events, and has supervised several graduate students, visiting scholars and postdoctoral researchers.

At the same meeting, Kumar also was recognized by the Weed Science Society of America with an award as an outstanding reviewer. He is currently a reviewer for seven publications: Weed Technology, Weed Science, Pest Management Science, Crop Protection, Agronomy Journal, Nature Scientific Reports and PLoS ONE.

The Weed Science Society of America was founded in 1956 to promote knowledge about weeds and their impact on the environment.

Learn more about the K-State Agricultural Research Center online.

K-State Student News

Three graduate students receive awards for their State Capitol poster presentations Dryden Baumfalk doctoral student in kinesiology, was Kansas State University's winner of the BioKansas Scholarship at the 17th Capitol Graduate Research Summit. Baumfalk studies the effect of moderate-intensity exercise on skeletal and cardiac muscle mass in prostate cancer patients.

Three Kansas State University graduate students received statewide recognition for their Kansas-related research at the 17th Capitol Graduate Research Summit, Feb. 26, at the State Capitol in Topeka.

Dryden Baumfalk, Colby, doctoral student in human ecology specializing in kinesiology; Arvind Damodara Kannan, doctoral student in civil engineering, India; and Ashish Kumar, doctoral student in biochemistry, India, were the three Kansas State University winners at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit. Kannan was the Kansas State University winner and recipient of a $500 scholarship. Kumar and Baumfalk were selected as award recipients by BioKansas. Kumar received a $500 award sponsored by MO Valley PDA, and Baumfalk received a $100 award sponsored by Labcono. Both Kumar and Baumfalk received a $250 certificate for enrollment in a professional development workshop sponsored by BioKansas.

The Capitol Graduate Research Summit is a statewide event that features current research of graduate students at Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, the University of Kansas Medical Center, Wichita State University, Fort Hays State University, Emporia State University and Pittsburgh State University. Each university invited a university professor and an industry representative to judge the student poster presentations. The top presenters from each university received awards. Additionally, BioKansas judges selected one winner from each school whose research best aligns with the mission of BioKansas. BioKansas judges also selected four award recipients for research related to drug development.

Baumfalk's poster was "Effects of prostate cancer and exercise training on left ventricular function and cardiac and skeletal muscle mass." His adviser is Bradley Behnke, professor of kinesiology.

Baumfalk's research deals with prostate cancer and exercise. Prostate cancer is the most common solid tumor diagnosis among men, and the incidence rate of prostate cancer in Kansas is higher than the national average. Baumfalk's research demonstrates the atrophic effects of prostate cancer on cardiac and skeletal muscle mass independent of anti-cancer treatments that can be mitigated with moderate-intensity exercise. These findings have notable implications for potentially improving therapeutic outcomes and quality of life for prostate cancer patients.

"The Capitol Graduate Research Summit was a unique experience to share my research among a diverse group of graduate students and attendees," Baumfalk said. "At times I was presenting to peers who had constructive questions and criticism, while at other times I was conversing with an audience seeing this type of scientific information for the first time. The differing styles required for properly disseminating my research to both audiences will be very valuable to my future presentations and personal growth as a graduate student."

Kannan's poster was "Beneficial recovery of ammonia from swine wastewater for reuse as a targeted slow-release fertilizer." His adviser is Prathap Parameswaran, assistant professor of civil engineering.

Kannan's research examines anaerobic membrane bioreactor treatment of swine wastewater from animal feeding operations to extract valuable fertilizer macronutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The major goal of this work is to produce an ammonia-based soil fertilizer to enhance soil quality, prevent nitrate and phosphorus contamination in surface water and groundwater aquifers, and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions due to land application of agriculture waste biosolids. This could create a greener workforce in rural Kansas communities pivoted around nutrient product marketing, water and renewable energy — biogas — management, as well as reused water reallocation budgeting, without compromising cropland and food safety.

"I had the opportunity of interacting with people from a variety of backgrounds and learned a lot from them," Kannan said. "This includes legislators, industry representatives, the scientific community and anyone who was interested in learning more about the research we do at K-State. This was a two-way learning experience where I learned from legislators about their policy vision and provided them with insight on how they could incorporate my research findings to frame policies addressing environmental issues in Kansas."

Kumar's poster was "Fluorescence assays for detection, discrimination, and quantification of siderophores." His adviser is Phillip Klebba, university distinguished professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biophysics.

Kumar's research focuses on creating fluorescent sensors that detect, discriminate and quantify small molecules in the environment. His research demonstrated this technology by studying microbial iron chelators, called siderophores, that are secreted by bacterial pathogens to obtain iron in human and animal hosts. The sensors are useful for many purposes, including rapid identification of siderophores in clinical and food samples, and detection of specific infectious bacteria in blood, serum, tissues or foods.

"The Capitol Graduate Research Summit was a first of kind opportunity for me to present my research in front of a diverse group of students, professors and industry representatives from all over the state of Kansas, and especially state legislators who seemed so kind and interested to know about our research," Kumar said. "I would also thank K-State for giving me this wonderful opportunity."

To learn more about the Capitol Graduate Research Summit and who participated in the event visit the Capitol Graduate Research Summit website. Arvind Damodara Kannan, a doctoral student in civil engineering at Kansas State University, received recognition for his research on development of fertilizer from swine wastewater at the 17th Capitol Graduate Research Summit. Ashish Kumar, doctoral student in biochemistry at Kansas State University, was selected for a drug development-related research award from BioKansas for his research on the use of fluorescent sensors that can be used to detect infectious bacteria in blood, tissues and food.

Student broadcasters/podcasters honored in national and statewide awards

Two K-State seniors have won Awards of Excellence in the 2020 Broadcast Education Association's Festival of Arts Competition.

Bri Womack and Zach St. Clair were honored for documentaries that were entered into the worldwide competition, which annually draws about 1,500 entries. Womack wrote, produced and voiced her documentary for the BEA radio/podcasting competition, "Women in… Crime," which covered the gendered conception of serial killers in the U.S. St. Clair's production placed in the educational program category, and was a historic focus on Lecco's "Lemma," a hip-hop specialty show in Boston in the late 80s.

Both productions aired on student-operated KSDB-FM and were produced as part of the station's growing focus on podcasting as a viable extension of radio broadcasting.

"This is just the beginning of our growth as a radio station and a podcasting program," said Ian Punnett, K-State professor of practice and KSDB chief operator and faculty adviser, who is also developing a new podcasting class to be taught in the upcoming May intersession. Wildcat 91.9 was the only radio station/podcasting program from all of the colleges and universities in the state of Kansas to be featured at the BEA.

The Kansas Association of Broadcasters has also announced that 23 K-State students won awards in 20 separate competitions in the 2020 KAB student award division.

Students working at KKSU-TV were big award winners, as the student-produced news and public affairs program "MHK All Day" and the weekly newscast "Channel 8 News" garnered awards in the Television Division. Senior Anna Christianson was singled out for excellence in three separate categories, including two first-place finishes that included recognition for the show "MHK All Day." Recent graduates Isabel Lauby and Bridget Howard were recognized twice. Senior Jared Sleppy won awards in both the TV and the radio competitions.

"Our students take great ownership for their journalism, and it shows in the finished product," said Andrew Smith, KKSU-TV news director and journalism professor. "They seek out the interesting and important stories in our community and tell them with balance and integrity. The students at Channel 8 have a long history of excellence and being recognized against their peers is a great honor."

KSDB-FM and KKSU-TV are licensed broadcast stations and are operated by the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

In the radio/podcasting division, KSDB-FM afternoon drive news anchor Trey Kuhlmann received two first-place awards and was among 11 radio/podcasting honorees, all part of the Wildcat 91.9 staff.

The complete list of KAB award winners

Undergraduate/TV:

Public Affairs Program — First place, "MHK All-Day" with Isabel Lauby, Bridget Howard and Dylan Lierz.

Complete Newscast, three days/week or less — Honorable mention, "MHK All-Day" with Isabel Lauby, Bridget Howard and Dylan Lierz.

Hard News Package — Honorable mention, "Spotlighting Domestic Abuse" by Anna Christianson

Enterprise News Package — Second place, "Silver Lake — A Food Desert Story" by Casey Campbell, Jared Sleppy.

Complete News Package — Honorable mention, "Moped Safety Tips" by Molly Hackett.

Complete Sports Feature — Honorable mention, "Pound the Stone!" by Stephanie Nutt.

Sportscast — First place, K-State Sportscast, "MHK All-Day" for Feb. 14, 2020, by Anna Christianson and Amelia Andrews.

Documentary — Honorable mention, "Hungry Heartland: Arkenburg Farms" by Alex Galey and Jacen Clapp.

Entertainment program — First "MHK All-Day" on Feb. 14, 2020, with Sara Wallace, Anna Christianson and Kaylie McLaughlin.

Undergraduate/Radio

Promotional Audio — First place, "Climate Change" PSA by Bri Womack.

Hard News Package — First place, "Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers Budget" by Trey Kuhlmann.

Entertainment News Package: First place: Hale Yeah News, Trey Kulhmann 2nd Place: Nintendo Tour, Zandt Durham.

Complete Sports Feature — First place: "Sports Talk" with Jared Sleepy and Tyler Krenzin; second place, "Sports Talk" with Kyle Helie and Logan Henricks.

DJ Radio Personality — Second place, Claire Todd; honorable mention, Chase Swenson and Bret Huntington.

Sports Play-By-Play — Second place for K-State vs. OU women's game by Jared Sleppy.

Documentary — Second place for "The Women in . . . Crime" Podcast by Bri Womack; honorable mention for "Haunted Kansas" by Laura Keener.

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