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Title: Bridging gaps in information : strategies for improving natural resource management in a changing climate
Creator: Tracy, Erin
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "The Great Lakes region has an abundance of natural resources that are ecologically and socioeconomically valuable yet threatened by changing climate. To effectively address impacts of climate change within the Great Lakes region will require managers to mitigate the causes of climate change as well as adapt to current threats and to future changes in both social and ecological systems. This thesis addresses those needs by providing natural resource managers with strategies to increase...
Show more"The Great Lakes region has an abundance of natural resources that are ecologically and socioeconomically valuable yet threatened by changing climate. To effectively address impacts of climate change within the Great Lakes region will require managers to mitigate the causes of climate change as well as adapt to current threats and to future changes in both social and ecological systems. This thesis addresses those needs by providing natural resource managers with strategies to increase support for climate change mitigation policies and by providing them with information on how social and ecological systems may change with changing climate so that they can develop and apply novel management strategies. Results from Chapter 1 show that while Michigan conservation organizations vary in their current engagement with climate change issues and in their willingness to increase engagement with their membership depending on perceived barriers, every organization expressed interest in receiving more information on how climate change will affect the state's fish and wildlife populations. In Chapter 2, we characterized how resilient Michigan river fish habitat may be to anticipated changes in climate. Our results indicate that while cumulative resilience is generally higher in the Upper Peninsula and in the Northern Lower Peninsula, resilient streams are also found in the Southern Lower Peninsula, suggesting that managers have opportunities in every part of the state for protecting and/or improving stream resiliency to changing climate. Collectively, outcomes of this research offer managers new information and strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change, ultimately facilitating the sustainable management of natural resources in a changing climate."--Page ii.
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Title: Co-contractile differences during adaptation to abrupt and gradual dynamic perturbations
Creator: Ptashnik, David W.
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "Adaptation to a novel motor task has been shown to be facilitated through co-contraction as well as exposure to a gradual, rather than an abrupt, dynamic perturbation. In this study, participants performed center out reaching movements in a velocity dependent force field. One group was exposed to a perturbing force of 20 N·m-1·s, another group was exposed to 5 N·m-1·s -step increments of perturbing force up to a total force of 20 N·m-1·s. Adaptation measured by randomly interspersed channel...
Show more"Adaptation to a novel motor task has been shown to be facilitated through co-contraction as well as exposure to a gradual, rather than an abrupt, dynamic perturbation. In this study, participants performed center out reaching movements in a velocity dependent force field. One group was exposed to a perturbing force of 20 N·m-1·s, another group was exposed to 5 N·m-1·s -step increments of perturbing force up to a total force of 20 N·m-1·s. Adaptation measured by randomly interspersed channel trials was found to be better in the group exposed to the gradually increasing perturbation. However, no significant differences were observed in levels of muscle activity during the exposure period. These results suggest that despite both co-contraction, and exposure to a gradual perturbation facilitating dynamic motor adaptation, these two mechanisms are independent of one another."--Page ii.
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Title: Simultaneous system identification and disturbance estimation for linear time varying system with application to active suspension system
Creator: Ghiya, Dhruv Pramod
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "Various control techniques have been developed in order to improve the suspension performance since late 20th century. Controllers have been developed to reject the road disturbance in case of time invariant suspension systems. Although some of these researches give good results for non-linear suspension systems with parameter uncertainties, there is not much research done which treats a time varying system. I propose here an approach based on output tracking state feedback controller with...
Show more"Various control techniques have been developed in order to improve the suspension performance since late 20th century. Controllers have been developed to reject the road disturbance in case of time invariant suspension systems. Although some of these researches give good results for non-linear suspension systems with parameter uncertainties, there is not much research done which treats a time varying system. I propose here an approach based on output tracking state feedback controller with disturbance rejection for linear time varying system to tackle this problem in case of a quarter car suspension model. The proposed controller works even in case of completely unknown plants. This algorithm, combined with a pole placement controller, can be used to ensure ride comfort and to avoid damage to vehicle components. If a nominal model is known, it can also estimate time varying road disturbances which can be written as a summation of sinusoids and this estimate can be used as a preview to enhance the control performance of other vehicles. We compare the proposed algorithm with LQR tracking algorithm in simulation and superior performance is demonstrated. Bounds on the time varying parameters are derived in terms of norm of the states, within which the proposed algorithm is guaranteed to work."--Page ii.
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Title: Exploring the causes of informal housing in California cities from the demand side and supply side
Creator: Li, Wei (Graduate of Michigan State University)
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: In recent years, informal housing in developing countries has received widespread attention, but researchers have largely overlooked informality in developed countries, such as the United States. In fact, many types of informal housing exist in the United States. Recently, some scholars have devoted themselves to the research of informal housing in America, including its definition, types, and causes. However, none of them use quantitative methods to examine the potential causes of informal...
Show moreIn recent years, informal housing in developing countries has received widespread attention, but researchers have largely overlooked informality in developed countries, such as the United States. In fact, many types of informal housing exist in the United States. Recently, some scholars have devoted themselves to the research of informal housing in America, including its definition, types, and causes. However, none of them use quantitative methods to examine the potential causes of informal housing. This research aims to address this issue. In my study, I chose California cities as the unit of analysis due to the large numbers of informal housing units in California. With the definition of informal housing - housing units which are not permitted by local housing regulations or codes - I calculated the share of newly-built informal housing in California cities in the 2000s using previous scholars' methods. I then used fractional response regression models to examine the potential causes of informal housing produced from 2000 to 2010. The results reveal that informal housing arises both from the demand and the supply side. The variables on the demand side suggest that demographic factors - namely immigrants, Hispanics, and African Americans - play different roles in the production of informal housing. The lack of income on the demand side also results in informal housing. Additionally, on the supply side, the result suggests that the future housing provision and existing housing provision play an important role in the production of informal housing, while existing housing conditions, such as the share of single-family houses, is not related to informal housing production.
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Title: The power paradox : intimacy and masculinity in American football
Creator: James, Riley
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: This thesis examines how intimacy-both physical and emotional-in American football affects masculinity. This research is important because it questions the role of masculinity in a sport considered the most popular in terms of participation, attendance at games, and broadcast viewership (Miaschi, 2017). Theories such as hegemonic masculinity theory and inclusive masculinity theory are used to explain how masculinity is constructed through football. Using naturalistic observation, interviews...
Show moreThis thesis examines how intimacy-both physical and emotional-in American football affects masculinity. This research is important because it questions the role of masculinity in a sport considered the most popular in terms of participation, attendance at games, and broadcast viewership (Miaschi, 2017). Theories such as hegemonic masculinity theory and inclusive masculinity theory are used to explain how masculinity is constructed through football. Using naturalistic observation, interviews with seven Michigan State University (MSU) football players, and an analysis of photographs, I found these football players have more intimate relationships with other players on their team when compared to relationships they have with other men outside their sport. Some surprises I found during interviews was that injury during football is not treated as harshly as it once was and one player views being emotional as an important part of being a man. I visually present the intimate aspects of football I witnessed in photographs I created as an employee of Big Ten Network during MSU football games during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, and I offer my analysis of intimacy and masculinity in this sport that includes and explains the meaning behind the power paradox.
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Title: The needs of nutrition and physical activity education for caregivers of Michigan migrant and seasonal farmworker children
Creator: Feighner, Amanda Rose
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "Migrant and seasonal farmworker (MSFW) children have high rates of overweight and obesity, which can lead to health issues through childhood and adulthood. Caregivers of young children have the ability to influence environment and role model behaviors related to nutrition and physical activity for children. Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) programs serve young MSFW children by providing a venue for nutrition and physical activity promotion for extended hours with the ultimate goal of...
Show more"Migrant and seasonal farmworker (MSFW) children have high rates of overweight and obesity, which can lead to health issues through childhood and adulthood. Caregivers of young children have the ability to influence environment and role model behaviors related to nutrition and physical activity for children. Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) programs serve young MSFW children by providing a venue for nutrition and physical activity promotion for extended hours with the ultimate goal of helping at-risk children succeed. We also reported high prevalence of obesity and overweight among MSHS children's caregivers, i.e., parents and MSHS staff. This situation provides important educational opportunities to apply social cognitive theory and policy, systems, and environmental change approaches in order to meet the needs of caregivers (parents and MSHS staff) who can become competent to practice healthy lifestyles for family and MSHS children. In developing nutrition and physical activity education programs targeting caregivers of Michigan MSHS children, this study aimed to identify the perceived needs for content, facilitators and barriers to participating such programs. Of 17 total MSHS centers in Michigan, five of the largest sites were selected for recruitment of MSHS program parents and staff. Twelve focus groups were conducted between July and September 2016 with staff (n = 27), parents (n = 33), and MSHS center directors (n = 13). Focus groups with the consented parents were conducted at MSHS sites in Spanish, with staff in English, and with directors at a central office meeting. Using censuses coding among three researchers, key themes were identified. Quantitative surveys were conducted in parallel to this qualitative study with parents (n = 135) at nine centers and staff (n = 280) at all 17 MSHS centers in Michigan between July-August 2016.We found that desired content for programs included basic nutrition knowledge, cooking and meal planning, physical activity, and budgeting. Facilitators and barriers to participation in a new nutrition and physical activity program included program structure, financial support, education format, and motivation factors. Nutrition education interventions for parents and staff need to be combined with efforts to improve their children's health. We generated key information that can be used in planning future interventions for caregivers of MSHS children. Caregivers who are competent in nutrition and physical activity knowledge may be able to influence the environment and behaviors of their children and MSHS community to promote healthy lifestyles."--Page ii.
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Title: Risk aversion as a factor of player typology
Creator: Price, Brandon
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between participants' willingness to accept risks in real world situations, as well as within games. Participants in the study responded to a survey regarding their attitudes towards risky behaviors, their willingness to engage in those behaviors, and their preferences and motivations for playing video games. The study found that, while teamwork was not a significant factor for risk-seeking gamers, relationship building was. Further,...
Show moreThe goal of this study was to determine the relationship between participants' willingness to accept risks in real world situations, as well as within games. Participants in the study responded to a survey regarding their attitudes towards risky behaviors, their willingness to engage in those behaviors, and their preferences and motivations for playing video games. The study found that, while teamwork was not a significant factor for risk-seeking gamers, relationship building was. Further, positive risk-attitude was not related to self-reported skill, but was related to the amount of time participants spent playing games. Risk-seeking players also valued competition and role-playing, alongside the development of strong social relationships.These results could affect the way in which developers advertise their products, as well as how they design their games. This research offers valuable insights into the habits of gamers, and serves as a counterexample to the "lone gamer" stereotype. Limitations include how well participants understand their own online behaviors, as well as how they view themselves. For example, participants that expressed antisocial behaviors online may have chosen to express more prosocial behaviors to alter the way they appeared in the survey. Future studies may examine the relationship between gender identity and gameplay preferences, as well as the potential relationship between age and gameplay risk-attitudes. Research is also being considered on "trolling" behavior and its relationship to real world behaviors.
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Title: Quality of life of women with breast cancer in Yaunde, Cameroon
Creator: Kunyangna, Prudence
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: This study explored the association between sociodemographic and medical factors and the quality of life of breast cancer patients in Yaunde. A total of 297 women with breast cancer at the Department of Medical Oncology General Hospital in Yaunde, were enrolled in the study. Participants completed the FACT-B instrument and a questionnaire. The medical history of cases was abstracted from the hospital records.In adjusted models, total FACT-G scores were lower for women who; were 2265 45 years,...
Show moreThis study explored the association between sociodemographic and medical factors and the quality of life of breast cancer patients in Yaunde. A total of 297 women with breast cancer at the Department of Medical Oncology General Hospital in Yaunde, were enrolled in the study. Participants completed the FACT-B instrument and a questionnaire. The medical history of cases was abstracted from the hospital records.In adjusted models, total FACT-G scores were lower for women who; were 2265 45 years, had stage II, III and IV disease and higher for women who; had an occupation, had monthly household incomes above 50,000 CFA/month, lived with their husband/boyfriend and, who lived with their families. Total FACT-B scores were lower for women 2265 45 years. Total FACT-B scores were higher for women who; had an occupation, had a monthly household income above 50,000 CFA/month, lived with their husband/boyfriend and, who lived with their family. FACTB-TOI scores were lower for women who; were 2265 45 years, had stage II, III and IV disease compared to stage 0/I and higher for women who; had an occupation, had monthly household incomes over 50,000 CFA/month, lived with their husband/boyfriend and, who lived with families. Our results suggest that clinicians should pay attention to the quality of life of African breast cancer case who are older (> 45 years), live alone, not involved in any type of occupation, have lower household income levels and are diagnosed with advanced-stage disease.
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Title: Environmental controls on phenoregions across an East African megatransect
Creator: Desanker, Gloria
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Semi-arid and savanna-type (SAST) systems in East Africa have unique plant species compositions and characteristics that make quantifying this area's seasonality and inter-annual variability difficult. Phenoregion classification offers a way to use seasonality of vegetation growth dynamics to help understand the phenology of complex landscapes. Here, we used Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series from the Landsat 8 imagery to map phenoregions in scenes centered around...
Show moreSemi-arid and savanna-type (SAST) systems in East Africa have unique plant species compositions and characteristics that make quantifying this area's seasonality and inter-annual variability difficult. Phenoregion classification offers a way to use seasonality of vegetation growth dynamics to help understand the phenology of complex landscapes. Here, we used Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series from the Landsat 8 imagery to map phenoregions in scenes centered around national parks from Mt. Kenya National Park (Kenya) to Limpopo National Park (Mozambique) to assess whether landscape-scale controls on phenology are consistent across the region or if they differ on a latitudinal gradient. We used MODIS Land Cover to assess land cover composition in each phenoregion, and discriminant analysis to determine the role that elevation, slope and aspect play in driving phenological differences. There was no clear latitudinal pattern seen in land cover or geologic composition. Most of the site's phenoregions showed no unique composition of either of the variables, meaning that land cover or geology type did not help in differentiating phenoregions. The discriminant analysis showed that topography was a strong predictor of many of the phenoregions, however, these also did not reveal any clear latitudinal pattern. Using seasonality of the NDVI time series to generate phenoregions provides different and even in some cases more ecologically relevant information, compared to past studies that use only land cover to generate ecoregions. With a significant population of humans and animals that live in and depend on SAST ecosystems, it is important to better understand vegetation processes and the factors that affect them as climate change becomes an increasingly pertinent issue in dry systems.
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Title: Reinvention and adaptation into U.S. communities of five global health innovations
Creator: Rumbold, Yvens
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: This thesis explores a distinction between types of changes made to innovations as they diffuse, based on the agents of those changes and the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) framework: Reinvention by the designers of innovations and adaptations by the implementers of those same innovations. This research was conducted as part of a more extensive study of five global health innovations, conducted by researchers at the Department of Communication at Michigan State University and funded by the...
Show moreThis thesis explores a distinction between types of changes made to innovations as they diffuse, based on the agents of those changes and the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) framework: Reinvention by the designers of innovations and adaptations by the implementers of those same innovations. This research was conducted as part of a more extensive study of five global health innovations, conducted by researchers at the Department of Communication at Michigan State University and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. A portion of the interview data from that project collected via interviews with innovation designers and researchers, on the one hand, and with community-based adopters and implementers, on the other, were transcribed and content analyzed to answer two compelling questions: What is the frequency of changes-counted as instances of reinvention and adaptation, as discussed by designers, on the one hand, and implementers, on the other? Which innovation attributes, and in what proportions, are discussed when designers and implementers address changes to innovations? Results suggest that both designers and implementers discuss reinvention and adaptation in the diffusion process. The changes discussed mostly concerned modifications made to the components of innovations, adjustments made in reaction to a different environmental context or target population, and the tailoring of content. Results suggest that interviewees referred mostly to the innovation attributes of compatibility (24.6% of the comments), relative advantage (12.1%) and observability (11.7%) when discussing changes. Achieving a fit with adopters' needs-compatibility-appears to be most important to innovation designers and the implementers of those global health innovations.
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Title: Morphological and physiological responses of vegetable transplants, herbs, and leafy greens to light quality, quantity, and duration
Creator: Garcia, Charlie
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Controlled-environment (CE) production of vegetables, herbs, and leafy greens is quickly expanding to meet year-round consumer demand for fresh and local produce. However, knowledge gaps exist on how to manage growth and development of certain crops in CEs. Therefore, we evaluated developmental parameters of 10 different basil (Ocimum spp.) species and cultivars and 8 other herbs and leafy greens under a truncated 9-h short day (SD), day-extension lighting, and a 4-h night interruption...
Show moreControlled-environment (CE) production of vegetables, herbs, and leafy greens is quickly expanding to meet year-round consumer demand for fresh and local produce. However, knowledge gaps exist on how to manage growth and development of certain crops in CEs. Therefore, we evaluated developmental parameters of 10 different basil (Ocimum spp.) species and cultivars and 8 other herbs and leafy greens under a truncated 9-h short day (SD), day-extension lighting, and a 4-h night interruption utilizing red+white+far-red (R+W+FR) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) under a constant day/night temperature of 20 and 25 °C, respectively. All basil cultivars, with the exception of 'Red Rubin' can be classified as day-neutral plants (DNP) under a low photosynthetic daily light integral (DLI). Coriander, dill, lavender, and marjoram can be classified as facultative long-day plants (LDPs). While watercress, oregano 'Kirigami' and 'Greek', and spearmint can be categorized as obligate LDPs. Furthermore, six basil cultivars were evaluated under a 9-h SD and 16-h LD utilizing a moderate DLI of 224813 mol2219m-22219d-1 and a high DLI of 224823 mol2219m-22219d-1. For basil, DLI had a greater impact on development than day length. For instance, time to visible bud and open flower were hastened under high DLIs and node number below the first open flower were reduced indicating that basil exhibited a facultative irradiance response (FIR). Additionally, basil 'Genovese', 'Nufar', and 'Sweet Thai', exhibited a facultative LD response under moderate and high DLIs, while 'Red Rubin' exhibited a facultative SD response under low DLIs and a DN response under moderate and high DLIs. In a separate experiment, cucumber 'Elsie', tomato 'Climstar', and pepper 'Kathia' transplants were grown under LED supplemental lighting (SL) providing spectral qualities beyond B and R radiation. Fresh weight and leaf area of all three species was greater when G radiation replaced R and B radiation. However, other plant parameters evaluated in response to radiation quality were found to be species-specific. Results from these studies can provide growers with information on how to manage growth and development of vegetable transplants, culinary and ornamental herbs, and leafy greens in CEs.
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Title: Near and dear : a study in pro-environmental behaviors
Creator: Torres, Sara McMillan
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: In a time of environmental crisis, it's crucial for individuals to transition from expressing concern to exhibiting pro-environmental behavior. Before tangible actions are achieved, we must first understand how pro-environmental behavior is effectively promoted and inspired. In this study we use an experimental approach to measure and analyze seven pro-environmental behaviors in the context of individuals' values, beliefs, and norms; and social and physical distance to the issue of plastic...
Show moreIn a time of environmental crisis, it's crucial for individuals to transition from expressing concern to exhibiting pro-environmental behavior. Before tangible actions are achieved, we must first understand how pro-environmental behavior is effectively promoted and inspired. In this study we use an experimental approach to measure and analyze seven pro-environmental behaviors in the context of individuals' values, beliefs, and norms; and social and physical distance to the issue of plastic pollution in water bodies. The issue of plastic pollution is presented as two video interventions - global and local. Through a unique intervention-based methodology this study attempted to connect an individual's geographical distance from an environmental resource (water body) to their values beliefs and norms towards that resource. By incorporating the Values Beliefs, Norms (VBN) theory and Construal Level theory of psychological distance I have developed a framework to understand how local and global framing of environmental messages might moderate the effect that values, beliefs, and norms have on individual pro-environmental behavior. The findings from this research further supports the VBN theory on self-reported behavior, and highlights the need of integrating psychological distance with VBN to explore actual human behavior.
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Title: A return to brotherhood : nationalism, globalization and the negotiation of identity in Romani brass band music in Serbia
Creator: Kay, Matthew James
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: This thesis tells a story, or more accurately, many stories: The story of the Romani people who have been famed for their musicianship for centuries, but have also been despised and persecuted for their differences and lack of a singular homeland. It tells the story of Serbia; its trials and tribulations; a country keen to be known for its hospitality rather than its wars. There is also my story, and my family's story, the friendships that we made along the way, and how our lives were touched...
Show moreThis thesis tells a story, or more accurately, many stories: The story of the Romani people who have been famed for their musicianship for centuries, but have also been despised and persecuted for their differences and lack of a singular homeland. It tells the story of Serbia; its trials and tribulations; a country keen to be known for its hospitality rather than its wars. There is also my story, and my family's story, the friendships that we made along the way, and how our lives were touched by the Serbian people. There is also the deeper story of human experience through music. One only has to watch the news to feel cynical about the merits of human nature, but this thesis tells the story of a people who were not so long ago torn apart with war, xenophobia, and genocide, now welcoming outsiders and celebrating styles of music that they once sought to eliminate. This thesis will show how Romani brass bands bridged the divide between East and West, local and global, urban and rural, pure and ethnic, and how the Roma, a marginalized race of people, helped rebrand the Serbian identity.
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Title: Integrated cultural and mechanical weed management for organic winter squash systems
Creator: Benzle, Marisa M.
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "The Midwest region is a leader in cucurbit production in the U.S., but weed management is a major constraint to successful production, especially for organic growers. Mechanical weed control is a primary tool for managing weeds in cucurbits, but low selectivity, and excessive soil disturbance limit successful adoption. One approach to improving selectivity of mechanical cultivation tools is to select for varieties that are tolerant to those tools. Traits associated with tolerance to...
Show more"The Midwest region is a leader in cucurbit production in the U.S., but weed management is a major constraint to successful production, especially for organic growers. Mechanical weed control is a primary tool for managing weeds in cucurbits, but low selectivity, and excessive soil disturbance limit successful adoption. One approach to improving selectivity of mechanical cultivation tools is to select for varieties that are tolerant to those tools. Traits associated with tolerance to mechanical cultivation may also be valuable for establishment in reduced tillage systems. Field experiments were carried out in central Michigan to evaluate six varieties of Cucurbita pepo for their 1) tolerance to mechanical cultivation, and 2) ability to establish in a reduced tillage system. Laboratory and greenhouse testing was done to determine which seedling traits may be correlated to field performance. Results confirmed cultivar differences in tolerance to cultivation tools, with inconsistent results across runs of the experiments. No clear cultivar differences in tolerance to reduced tillage were detected. Cultivars varied in traits that may contribute to tolerance to both reduced tillage and cultivation including emergence timing, early vigor, root:shoot partitioning and anchorage force. Germination rate of seeds subjected to aging was well correlated with emergence in reduced tillage systems. Anchorage force of seedlings was positively correlated with tolerance to flextine cultivation. Our results suggest that choosing existing and developing new cultivars tolerant to physical weed control tools, untilled soil, and organic management may improve organic squash production in Michigan."--Page ii.
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Title: Gender differentiated food security : productivity traps in Malawian agriculture
Creator: Rickenbrode, Vanessa Rene
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: After decades of international development efforts aimed at alleviating poverty and hunger, the gender gap in household food security among farming households remains alarming. Many smallholder farmers in Malawi do not have access to material and socio-cultural resources to increase their food production, but women face more barriers due to social gendered norms and practices. Using household level data from Malawi, this study applies a feminist political ecology framework to investigate the...
Show moreAfter decades of international development efforts aimed at alleviating poverty and hunger, the gender gap in household food security among farming households remains alarming. Many smallholder farmers in Malawi do not have access to material and socio-cultural resources to increase their food production, but women face more barriers due to social gendered norms and practices. Using household level data from Malawi, this study applies a feminist political ecology framework to investigate the factors that inhibit food security in farming households. Results suggest that female-headed households are more likely to be food insecure. However, when variables representing different forms of power were controlled, gender of the household head lost statistical significance. These findings suggest that various forms of gendered rights and responsibilities (e.g., land, labor and capital) in Malawi may be structuring the total effect of food insecurity in farmer households, however more research is needed to confirm this. Women farmers have multiple roles to play as a producer, reproducer and consumer, that differ substantially from men's practice as farmers. Understanding the gendered differences in power, by uncovering the barriers and access to productive resources and knowledge along multiple levels, is critical to creating a gender-equitable food system.
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Title: Extending the reach : transnational ties and activism in the Armenian diaspora
Creator: Mirzoyan, Inna
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: This study expands on sociological concepts of transnational ties through a case study of Armenian diaspora members in the United States (U.S.) and Canada. Against the background of modern-day globalization and immigration, this paper explores the simultaneous behavior of Armenian diasporans to maintain homeland and host society ties by focusing on the impact of diaspora organization involvement. Based on 22 in-depth interviews with a younger generation of transnationals from above who have...
Show moreThis study expands on sociological concepts of transnational ties through a case study of Armenian diaspora members in the United States (U.S.) and Canada. Against the background of modern-day globalization and immigration, this paper explores the simultaneous behavior of Armenian diasporans to maintain homeland and host society ties by focusing on the impact of diaspora organization involvement. Based on 22 in-depth interviews with a younger generation of transnationals from above who have acquired resources and capital in their host societies, this paper asks if diaspora organizations are effective in fostering long-term ties to the homeland, even amongst later generations including third and fourth generation migrants. Specifically, in exploring the structure of diaspora organizations, this paper explores the roles of collective memory and of social networks in the mobilization of Armenians and the effectiveness of these two factors in contributing to transnational behavior. This study is particularly important as it uses the case of the 2018 Armenian Velvet Revolution to highlight the impact of globalization and technology by exploring the role of social media in supporting existing social networks in this community. In conclusion, I find that there are changes occurring inside of diaspora organizations as a result of the younger generation of transnationals and I discuss what strategies are needed for the future success of these organizations. This paper intersects concepts of social theory, politics, anthropology, and technology to add to current immigration dialogue.
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Title: Analysis of mice carrying human GNAO1 mutations as a model to study associated movement disorders
Creator: Larrivee, Casandra Lynn
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "Due to the increased availability of genetic screening, patients with idiopathic epilepsy and movement disorders are being identified with mutations in the GNAO1 gene. The GNAO1 gene encodes a heterotrimeric G protein subunit, Galphao, abundantly found within the brain. Patients with de novo mutations in GNAO1 specifically may have early onset seizure disorders and/or involuntary movements. These two phenotypes were later classified as early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE17) and...
Show more"Due to the increased availability of genetic screening, patients with idiopathic epilepsy and movement disorders are being identified with mutations in the GNAO1 gene. The GNAO1 gene encodes a heterotrimeric G protein subunit, Galphao, abundantly found within the brain. Patients with de novo mutations in GNAO1 specifically may have early onset seizure disorders and/or involuntary movements. These two phenotypes were later classified as early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE17) and neurodevelopmental delay with involuntary movements (NEDIM) respectively. Previous work in our lab uncovered a pattern between the in vitro function of mutations and the type of disorder observed in patients. Loss-of-function mutations associated with EIEE17 while gain-of-function mutations or proteins with essentially normal function were seen in NEDIM. To determine whether this pattern could be replicated in vivo, heterozygous mutant mice were created using CRISPR/Cas9. Here we report the first mouse models of GNAO1 disorders, Gnao1+/G203R and Gnao1+/R209H. Using a variety of behavioral battery tests including open field, rotarod and digigait, we were able to show distinct behavioral patterns between the mutant mice. Using these models we began to explore preclinical drug repurposing and neural mechanisms."--Page ii.
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Title: Demographic change and housing markets in an aging society
Creator: Wang, Weijing (Graduate of Michigan State University)
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "Population aging in the United States (U.S.) has reached an inflection point. The population who are aged 65 and above increased by 19.7 percent between 2010 and 2016, compared with a 4.8 percent increase among the total population. There is a lack of research about how population aging impacts local housing markets at the county level in the United States. My thesis aims to address this research gap. I use fixed effects models to study the causal relationship between the increasing size of...
Show more"Population aging in the United States (U.S.) has reached an inflection point. The population who are aged 65 and above increased by 19.7 percent between 2010 and 2016, compared with a 4.8 percent increase among the total population. There is a lack of research about how population aging impacts local housing markets at the county level in the United States. My thesis aims to address this research gap. I use fixed effects models to study the causal relationship between the increasing size of the elderly population and housing prices from 1990 to 2010. The results suggest that population aging has no effect on housing prices in general nor any effect on the price of smaller homes (those with two bedrooms or less). However, there is modest evidence that the increase of the elderly population may contribute significant declines in the price of larger houses (with three bedrooms or more). The findings potentially have important implications for urban planning and housing policy. Identifying the need of housing units inhabited by the elderly population helps planners facilitate the appropriate allocation of permitted newly built housing units (for example, smaller homes for the elderly). It will benefit the well-being of the elderly as population aging becomes an imperative issue."--Page ii.
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Title: Intranasal deformities in dogs : comparative histopathology, diagnostic and functional imaging
Creator: Maduka, Chima Victor
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome (BAS) is a debilitating condition affecting some of the most populous dogs in the USA. Caused by the developmental foreshortening of the skull, BAS constitutes a major welfare concern as dogs lead an overall poor quality of life. The intranasal component to BAS is poorly understood. It is not clear how intranasal anatomical deformities contribute to the pathophysiology underlying BAS. In this study, we have applied high resolution 3-D imaging (computed...
Show moreBrachycephalic Airway Syndrome (BAS) is a debilitating condition affecting some of the most populous dogs in the USA. Caused by the developmental foreshortening of the skull, BAS constitutes a major welfare concern as dogs lead an overall poor quality of life. The intranasal component to BAS is poorly understood. It is not clear how intranasal anatomical deformities contribute to the pathophysiology underlying BAS. In this study, we have applied high resolution 3-D imaging (computed tomography) to simulate function (flow pattern) using computational fluid dynamics. Additionally, as part of steps to characterize age-dependent histopathological intranasal changes in brachycephalic dogs, we described the histopathological changes in puppies of French Bulldogs.This thesis methodically introduces and reviews current literature on BAS while outlining the specific aims, hypotheses and rationale for the study (Chapter 1). Subsequently, the materials and methods used are explained (Chapter 2) and the results are summarized (Chapter 3). The implications of the results, limitations of the study and future directions are discussed (Chapter 4).
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Title: The effect of imagery on meaning and form recognition and recall of idioms
Creator: Masso, Marisol
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "This research project aims at investigating whether the use of imagery -- pictures and etymological notes -- has a facilitative effect on the recognition and recall of the form and meaning of American idioms. Spanish speakers (n = 71) enrolled in English programs in Argentina participated in a pretest, a learning phase activity, and an immediate post-test. One week later, participants (n = 39) took a delayed post-test in-person or online. All tests had the same format: a sentence completion...
Show more"This research project aims at investigating whether the use of imagery -- pictures and etymological notes -- has a facilitative effect on the recognition and recall of the form and meaning of American idioms. Spanish speakers (n = 71) enrolled in English programs in Argentina participated in a pretest, a learning phase activity, and an immediate post-test. One week later, participants (n = 39) took a delayed post-test in-person or online. All tests had the same format: a sentence completion task, a receptive form multiple-choice task, a definition task, and a receptive meaning multiple-choice task. Results indicate that all conditions -- including pictures, etymological notes, and the combination of both -- had no statistically significant differences between them, and thus, they all contributed to idiom learning. However, the data also shows a tendency for pictures to facilitate structural elaboration of idioms in the short-term while etymological notes seem to hinder it."--Page ii.
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