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Title
(de)(anti)(intra) : Queer Self-Storying as Embodied, Community, and Theory-Building Processes
Creator
de Sostoa-McCue, Tania
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
This cultural rhetorics project asserts that story is theory, and surfaces self-storying as an embodied, theory-building process. I undertook phased interviews with three queer creative writers, holding space for their stories in order to witness, interact with and to learn from the ways in which queer authors discuss and approach relationships with one another through storying and composing. This desire to learn from other queer-identified community stakeholders led to the emergence of a...
Show moreThis cultural rhetorics project asserts that story is theory, and surfaces self-storying as an embodied, theory-building process. I undertook phased interviews with three queer creative writers, holding space for their stories in order to witness, interact with and to learn from the ways in which queer authors discuss and approach relationships with one another through storying and composing. This desire to learn from other queer-identified community stakeholders led to the emergence of a story-theory, through which a narrative thread of failure, survival and agency emerged. I articulate a reorientation and reframing of guiding concepts of community, composition and embodiment within queer spaces as (intra)community, (de)composition, and the (anti)body. An important impetus for this project was a desire to address the future of Queer in the academy. I utilize tools and theories from queer theory and cultural rhetorics not only to build, but to show spaces in which these conceptual frames can inform future, positive shifts. I do so to provide my own insights and to offer tools to continue the work Queer in the academy and to bridge the space between academic Queer and non-academic queer. I utilize cultural rhetorics to continue the work of what I see as one of Queer’s primary purposes: to subvert, to disrupt and to re-imagine the ways in which the queer community and Queer can thrive and effect systemic change.
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Title
Level Structures on Finite Group Schemes and Applications
Creator
Guan, Chuangtian
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
The notion of level structures originates from the study of the moduli of elliptic curves. In this thesis, we consider generalizing the notion of level structures and make explicit calculations on different moduli spaces. The first moduli space we consider is the moduli of finite flat (commutative) group schemes. We give a definition of $\Gamma(p)$-level structure (also called the ``full level structure") over group schemes of the form $G\times G$, where $G$ is a group scheme or rank $p$ over...
Show moreThe notion of level structures originates from the study of the moduli of elliptic curves. In this thesis, we consider generalizing the notion of level structures and make explicit calculations on different moduli spaces. The first moduli space we consider is the moduli of finite flat (commutative) group schemes. We give a definition of $\Gamma(p)$-level structure (also called the ``full level structure") over group schemes of the form $G\times G$, where $G$ is a group scheme or rank $p$ over a $\Z_p$-scheme. The full level structure over $G\times G$ is flat over the base of rank $|\GL_2(\F_p)|$. We also observe that there is no natural notion of full level structures over the stack of all finite flat commutative group schemes. The second moduli space we consider is the moduli of principally polarized abelian surfaces in characteristic $p>0$ with symplectic level-$n$ structure ($n\ge 3$), which is known as the Siegel threefold. By decomposing the Siegel threefold using the Ekedahl--Oort stratification, we analyze the $p$-torsion group scheme of the universal abelian surface over each stratum. To do this, we establish a machinery to produce group schemes from their Dieudonn\'e modules using a version of Dieudonn\'e theory due to de Jong. By using this machinery, we give explicit local equations of the Hopf algebras over the superspecial locus, the supersingular locus and ordinary locus. Using these local equations, we calculate explicit equations of the $\Gamma_1(p)$-covers over these strata using Kottwitz--Wake primitive elements. These equations can be used to prove geometric and arithmetic properties of the $\Gamma_1(p)$-cover over the Siegel threefold. In particular, we prove that the $\Gamma_1(p)$-cover over the Siegel threefold is not normal.
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Title
Essays in Labor Economics
Creator
VanderBerg, Bryce Scott
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
This dissertation consists of two empirical studies and one applied theoretical study in labor economics. In the first chapter, I study the extend to which an observed layoff is used by employers to infer a worker's unobserved ability early in their labor market career. In the second chapter, I develop a theoretical model of wage dynamics that extends the employer learning and statistical discrimination model of Altonji and Pierret (2001) to allow for discrete changes in observable...
Show moreThis dissertation consists of two empirical studies and one applied theoretical study in labor economics. In the first chapter, I study the extend to which an observed layoff is used by employers to infer a worker's unobserved ability early in their labor market career. In the second chapter, I develop a theoretical model of wage dynamics that extends the employer learning and statistical discrimination model of Altonji and Pierret (2001) to allow for discrete changes in observable characteristics. In the third chapter, which is joint work with Gabrielle Pepin at the W.E. Upjohn Institute, we study the contribution of occupational sorting and mismatch to child penalties in the United States. I: The Signaling Role of Early Career Job LossI examine the extent to which ability signaling explains long-term wage losses suffered by young workers who experience layoffs. Young workers are of particular interest because employers have limited information about their ability, so signaling theoretically plays a larger role in determining wages. In addition, young workers are unlikely to experience wage losses due to loss of industry-specific human capital or separation from high-quality job matches, which may explain long-term wage decreases among older workers. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, I show that young workers of all ability levels initially experience similar wage losses following layoffs, but high-relative ability workers fully recover within five years while low-relative ability workers experience persistent wage losses. Consistent with traditional learning models, relative, not actual, ability affects wage trajectories. I illustrate a conceptual model of layoff signaling that varies by pre-layoff experience and can explain divergent wage trajectories across high- and low-relative ability workers. I test the model empirically and find that low-relative ability workers' inability to overcome negative layoff signals explains a substantial proportion of long-term wage losses among young workers. Employer learning effects vary by race and gender.II: Employer Learning and Statistical Discrimination with Unexpected InformationThe Employer Learning and Statistical Discrimination (EL-SD) model of Altonji and Pierret (2001) assumes that employers learn about a worker's unobserved ability in a smooth, continuous manner, holding observable characteristics constant. In practice, observable characteristics, such as years of education, often change discretely over time for many workers. I extend the EL-SD model to allow for changes in observable characteristics to influence an employer's belief about a worker's ability. I show that changes in observable characteristics that are correlated with ability lead to discrete changes in employers' beliefs about the worker's ability, interrupting the smooth, continuous employer learning processes described in the EL-SD model. I further show that this discrete change in employer learning is larger for workers early in their labor market career, with the effect diminishing as labor market experience increases. I then use data from the NLSY97 to empirically test these predictions in the context of the signaling role of returning to school. I find suggestive evidence that returning to school to receive a GED or graduate degree sends a positive ability signal to the labor market, while returning to school to receive an associate or bachelor's degree does not.III: Occupational Sorting, Multidimensional Skill Mismatch, and the Child Penalty among Working MothersWe study the extent to which occupational sorting explains child penalties---gender gaps in labor market outcomes due to children---among working parents. Using an event-study approach and data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth (NLSY) 1979 and 1997, we estimate that children generate long-run earnings gaps of over \$200 per week among working parents. In the NLSY79, we find that children lead mothers to sort into lower-paying occupations in which employees tend to work fewer hours. We estimate that children increase multidimensional occupation-skill mismatch among working mothers by 0.3 standard deviations, relative both to their own levels of mismatch from before birth and to those of fathers. In the NLSY97, results suggest that improvements in labor market outcomes among fathers in response to children, rather than a worsening of labor market outcomes among mothers, seem to drive child penalties.
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Title
The Aging Mind and Body in Eighteenth-Century British Literature and Culture, 1680-1830
Creator
Oh, June Young
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
Aging Mind and Body offers a literary history of the concept of aging between 1680 and 1830. I trace the interplay between the century’s literature and developing medical theories of the human body, revealing the long eighteenth century to be a crucial cultural moment that transformed what aging meant both for writers and for the broader public. While in the early modern period authors predominantly associated aging with wisdom and spiritual growth, Enlightenment science reconceived aging as...
Show moreAging Mind and Body offers a literary history of the concept of aging between 1680 and 1830. I trace the interplay between the century’s literature and developing medical theories of the human body, revealing the long eighteenth century to be a crucial cultural moment that transformed what aging meant both for writers and for the broader public. While in the early modern period authors predominantly associated aging with wisdom and spiritual growth, Enlightenment science reconceived aging as radically debilitating for both the body and the mind. I argue that this shift spurred significant literary innovations as writers exploited, negotiated, and subverted scientific assumptions about growing old. Excavating the history behind the emergence of derogatory terms for aging such as “senility” and “senescence,” I show that the literary portrayal of aging was effectively turned into a contested site for reimagining normative human life and progress. Each of my chapters examines a different supposed problem of aging—rising immobility, mental disability, changing physical appearance, and declining sexuality—as it emerges in the major works of Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Mary Leapor, John Cleland, and Jane Austen. In particular, I undertake a critical re-reading of aging as it intersects with racism, sexism, ableism, and classism. Reading these works in terms of aging, I argue, complicates our traditional story of the long eighteenth century’s attention to progress, revealing not simply an ongoing struggle to marginalize the aging mind and body but also an important literary attempt that refigured “decline” as a constitutive and meaningful part of the whole life experience.
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Title
Trade, Finance & the Macroeconomy
Creator
Rowe, Nicholas
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
This paper investigates the effects of financial development on firm export when lenders specialize in lending against different borrower activities. Using Italian microdata on manufacturing firms, we document that financial development driven by locally-focused banks can boost export participation but can depress the export sales of incumbent exporters. We explain these patterns through an industry equilibrium model of international trade with heterogeneous firms and banks. Locally-focused...
Show moreThis paper investigates the effects of financial development on firm export when lenders specialize in lending against different borrower activities. Using Italian microdata on manufacturing firms, we document that financial development driven by locally-focused banks can boost export participation but can depress the export sales of incumbent exporters. We explain these patterns through an industry equilibrium model of international trade with heterogeneous firms and banks. Locally-focused financial development eases the entry of credit-rationed firms into export by increasing the pledgeability of their domestic inventory assets; however, it also induces credit-satiated exporters to partly redirect their production capacity to domestic markets. Model calibration reveals that when financial development is too local, increased domestic output and export participation can come at the cost of reduced aggregate exports.
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Title
EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS AND MODEL DEVELOPMENT OF DUAL MODE, TURBULENT JET IGNITION (DM-TJI) ENGINE OPERATING WITH GASOLINE AND ALTERNATIVE FUELS
Creator
Ayele, Yidnekachew Messele
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
Gasoline fuel is the most convenient energy source for light-duty vehicles in energy density and refueling time. However, the emission regulations for internal combustion engines force the industry to exploit innovative combustion technologies. The spark-ignition engine was forced to be cleaner and more efficient, changing from regular combustion engines to a more advanced internal combustion engine and electrification. The current scenario shows that automotive companies and researchers are...
Show moreGasoline fuel is the most convenient energy source for light-duty vehicles in energy density and refueling time. However, the emission regulations for internal combustion engines force the industry to exploit innovative combustion technologies. The spark-ignition engine was forced to be cleaner and more efficient, changing from regular combustion engines to a more advanced internal combustion engine and electrification. The current scenario shows that automotive companies and researchers are exploring hybrid powertrains with advanced internal combustion engine technologies with electrification or pure electric vehicles. The Dual Mode, Turbulent Jet Ignition (DM-TJI) system is one of the promising advanced combustion systems, powered by active air/fuel scavenging pre-chamber ignition systems. The distributed ignition sites created by the pre-chamber flames improve the combustion engine's efficiency, simultaneously mitigating combustion knock at a high engine compression ratio and enabling lean-burn or high level of external EGR dilution operation. This study analyzes the performance of a single-cylinder DM-TJI metal engine with gasoline and alternative fuels. The first part of the study presents the experimental investigations on three pre-chamber nozzle orifice diameters at various engine speeds and 10 bar engine load. The combustion parameters for each tested orifice diameter are presented for the incremental engine speeds. A numerical analysis was conducted using the GT-Power model simulation tool to support the experimental result. The DM-TJI engine's maximum gross indicated efficiency was examined and found to be 44.56%, with a higher EGR dilution rate of 45%. This orifice diameter study reported on the first published results of the desertion. Additional experimental data were collected for the selected orifice diameter at a wide range of engine operating test matrices. A predictive engine model was introduced with experimental data validation. The experimental data and predictive model generated the engine performance and fuel map for a real-world fuel economy study. Conventional and hybrid powertrain vehicles were developed with GT-Suite commercial software. Each powertrain model was calibrated in terms of components (battery, electric motors) capacity, internal combustion engine operative points, energy management strategy, and gear ratios with chassis dynamometer measured data of the vehicle drive cycle. A selected U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) driving schedule was implemented on the GT-Suite powertrain. The DM-TJI engine drive cycle fuel economy is compared to an industry-based conventional vehicle with the same powertrain except for the engine map. The results show the DM-TJI engine fuel economy improvement between 10.5%-17.29% and CO2 emissions reductions between 9.51%-14.75% for the selected driving schedule. Mild and parallel hybrid powertrain further improve the fuel economy by 9.23% and 29.88%, respectively, compared to the conventional powertrain of the DM-TJI engine. The CO2 emission was reduced by 23%. Finally, the single-cylinder DM-TJI metal engine performance under different alternative fuels was studied. An experimental test was carried out at stoichiometric conditions with different fuels, engine speed, engine load, and EGR dilution rates. Compared to gasoline fuel, E80 ethanol blend fuel produces 4.47% less CO2 and 25.75% less CO emission, and methane fuel produces 27.91% less CO2 and 57.85% less CO emission. E80 ethanol blend has the highest indicated efficiency of 45.61% with 45% EGR dilution. Methane fuel has a maximum indicated efficiency of 45.03% with 38.5% EGR dilution.
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Title
Sustainable Public Place Development with Community Participant Process : A Case Study of Belle Isle Park, MI
Creator
Guminik, Bridget
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
There are many positive influences from greenspaces which are even more crucial in large urban cities such as Detroit, Michigan. The abandoned area of the old Belle Isle Park Zoo has been the subject of numerous redevelopment proposals. However, there is a gap in what designers have done and what this research proposes, which is that previous designs lacked community engagement. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the importance and value in including community engagement into design...
Show moreThere are many positive influences from greenspaces which are even more crucial in large urban cities such as Detroit, Michigan. The abandoned area of the old Belle Isle Park Zoo has been the subject of numerous redevelopment proposals. However, there is a gap in what designers have done and what this research proposes, which is that previous designs lacked community engagement. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the importance and value in including community engagement into design choices. With a series of public workshops with stakeholders, landscape performance research has been adopted to assess the impact of the final design proposal. The success of a final design after community engagement aims to promote the use of community engagement in design as a beneficial and necessary factor when installing public space developments. The study will utilize the abandoned zoo space in Belle Isle Park to demonstrate that the community will benefit more from having input in what changes are made to their own community spaces while still allowing the designers room to implement environmental and socioeconomic beneficial tactics.
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Title
TEACHERS’ BELIEFS, PERCEPTIONS, EXPERIENCES, AND STRATEGIES IN TEACHING AND ENGAGING MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS IN MATHEMATICS CLASSROOMS
Creator
Kursav, Merve Nur
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
The number of Multilingual Learners (MLs) enrolled in U.S. schools increased from 8.1% of the total student population to more than 10% between the 2000-2001 school year and the 2016-2017 school year (NCELA, 2016; U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES, 2020). Like all learners, MLs need support to ensure their engagement in mathematics classrooms (Kena et al., 2015; Silva & Kucer, 2016). While the number of MLs has been increasing, there has been limited research about how teachers support these...
Show moreThe number of Multilingual Learners (MLs) enrolled in U.S. schools increased from 8.1% of the total student population to more than 10% between the 2000-2001 school year and the 2016-2017 school year (NCELA, 2016; U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES, 2020). Like all learners, MLs need support to ensure their engagement in mathematics classrooms (Kena et al., 2015; Silva & Kucer, 2016). While the number of MLs has been increasing, there has been limited research about how teachers support these students’ engagement in content area classrooms (Hos, 2016). A notable paucity of studies focuses specifically on mathematics teachers’ experiences supporting MLs’ learning and engagement in mathematics classrooms (Warren et al., 2014). This study investigated mathematics teachers' beliefs, perceptions, experiences, and strategies in teaching and engaging MLs in 6th -12th grade mathematics classrooms. The dissertation study contributes to the field of mathematics education by providing practical and theoretical implications.This dissertation is built on an extensive review of the relevant literature about 6th-12th-grade mathematics teachers’ beliefs, perceptions, and experiences in teaching and engaging MLs in the mathematics classroom. I used a combination of Teacher Cognition (TC) and Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) as the theoretical framework. Mixed methods were used, and data were collected in two phases: (1) quantitative data (i.e., adapted survey using Karabenick and Noda’s (2004) survey and Rhodes’s (2017) CRT survey) and (2) qualitative data (i.e., teacher interviews). Results revealed that teachers frequently used appropriate materials, instructional resources, standards, objectives, scaffolding strategies (e.g., grouping, pacing, wait time, transparency in teaching, comprehensible input), and assessment tools to support MLs’ learning and engagement in the mathematics classroom. Data sources clearly illustrated that teachers strongly agreed they were comfortable with having MLs in their classroom and were willing to support MLs in learning mathematics by boosting their engagement. The results also showed that teachers needed to (1) learn and design strategies for academic support of MLs, (2) learn about the systematic school and district resources available to support for MLs’ identification and placement; (3) learn about district and school-level supports available at the administrator level; (4) make data-driven decisions about curriculum and instruction for MLs; (5) have more willingness to work with MLs; (6) have professional development and support for culturally responsive teaching and MLs' learning and engagement; (7) notice their beliefs about language acquisition (bilingualism and translanguaging); (8) establish inclusion; (9) encourage autonomy and cultural awareness of students and collaborative decision making with all; (10) establish trust and relationships; and (11) provide transparent feedback and assessment. It is believed that the results of the study will help teachers of MLs to comprehend the prominence of culturally responsive teaching. Additionally, implications include advising policymakers to acknowledge that covering the curriculum in a timely manner for MLs is not enough for sustained success.
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Title
Examining Perceptions of Motivation, Athlete Burnout, and Injury-Related Fear in Patients Following ACL Reconstruction
Creator
Murray, Megan
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
Approximately 1 out of 3 patients fail to return to previous levels of sport participation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), with injury-related fear identified as a potential barrier for return to sport. However, we do not know how injury-related fear is associated with other meaningful psychological responses to injury, or how patient perceptions of these psychological responses relate to their rehabilitation experiences. The purpose of this cross-sectional,...
Show moreApproximately 1 out of 3 patients fail to return to previous levels of sport participation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), with injury-related fear identified as a potential barrier for return to sport. However, we do not know how injury-related fear is associated with other meaningful psychological responses to injury, or how patient perceptions of these psychological responses relate to their rehabilitation experiences. The purpose of this cross-sectional, explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was to explore how perceptions of self-determined motivation, athlete burnout, and injury-related fear affected psychological experiences during ACLR rehabilitation in patients between 4- and 6-months post-ACLR. 13 participants were recruited and completed questionnaires measuring self-determined motivation, athlete burnout, perceived stress, and injury-related fear. A sub-sample of 5 participants participated in a semi-structured interview to further underline patient experiences during ACLR rehabilitation. A strong, positive relationship was observed between perceived stress and injury-related fear (rho = 0.70, p = 0.008). Thematic analysis revealed five themes related to the rehabilitation experience: 1) struggling with the recovery process, 2) acknowledging negative emotional states, 3) drive to return to sport and normal life, 4) understanding and finding purpose in rehabilitation, and 5) successfully navigating the recovery process. These preliminary data suggest that negative emotional states, such as injury-related fear and athlete burnout, may be related to self-determined motivation and perceived stress after ACLR.
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Title
Neutron-unbound states in the nucleus 31Ne
Creator
Chrisman, Dayah Nichole
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
Studies of nuclei far from stability reveal trends among groups of neighboring nuclei where new and unexpected properties appear. One such region, the Island of Inversion near the N=20 shell gap, is home to nuclei with reordered single-particle energy levels compared to the spherical shell model. Studies of the 31Ne nucleus have revealed that its ground state has a halo component, characterized by a valence neutron orbiting a deformed 30Ne core. This lightly-bound nucleus with a separation...
Show moreStudies of nuclei far from stability reveal trends among groups of neighboring nuclei where new and unexpected properties appear. One such region, the Island of Inversion near the N=20 shell gap, is home to nuclei with reordered single-particle energy levels compared to the spherical shell model. Studies of the 31Ne nucleus have revealed that its ground state has a halo component, characterized by a valence neutron orbiting a deformed 30Ne core. This lightly-bound nucleus with a separation energy of Sn=0.15(+0.16, -0.10)$~MeV is expected to have excited states that are neutron-unbound. This work presents a first study of the neutron-unbound excited states of 31Ne. Neutron-unbound states in 31Ne were populated in a two-proton knockout reaction from an 89 MeV/u 33Mg beam incident on a segmented Be reaction target. The 30Ne fragment and associated neutron from the decay of 31Ne* were detected by the MoNA-LISA-Sweeper experimental setup at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. Invariant mass spectroscopy was used to reconstruct the two-body decay energy (30Ne+n).The two-body decay energy spectrum exhibits two features: a low-lying peak at 0.30 (+/- 0.17) MeV and a broad enhancement at 1.50 (+/- 0.33) MeV, each fit with an energy-dependent asymmetric Breit-Wigner line shape representing a resonance in the continuum. Accompanying shell model calculations combined with cross-section calculations using the eikonal reaction theory indicate that these features in the decay energy spectrum originate from multiple resonant states in 31Ne.
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Title
Environmental Microbial Surveillance : From Source Tracking in Watersheds to Pathogen Monitoring in Sewersheds
Creator
Flood, Matthew Thomas
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
Understanding of the connections between water and health, through the use of water quality monitoring, surveys and surveillance, can help to address the impacts of anthropomorphic changes on the environment. This study sought to understand these connections through the water quality monitoring within watershed basins as well as pathogen surveillance within sewersheds. Specifically, this dissertation sought to 1) understand the sources of pollution and their connections with land use in the...
Show moreUnderstanding of the connections between water and health, through the use of water quality monitoring, surveys and surveillance, can help to address the impacts of anthropomorphic changes on the environment. This study sought to understand these connections through the water quality monitoring within watershed basins as well as pathogen surveillance within sewersheds. Specifically, this dissertation sought to 1) understand the sources of pollution and their connections with land use in the various subsections of watersheds; 2) to find a cost-effective way to surveil the spread of SARS-CoV-2 using wastewater surveillance; and 3) to understand the differences in wastewater surveillance between communities. Water quality monitoring using microbial source tracking (MST) was performed with a survey of five mixed-use watersheds in Michigan. Through the use of spatial clustering, it was found that temporal contamination was primarily driven by precipitation and its associated variables (e.g., streamflow, turbidity, overland flow), while spatial contamination is driven by land uses (e.g., septic tank density, tile drain proportions, and tillage). Additionally, porcine fecal contamination was more often correlated with nutrients in streams than either bovine or human contamination. The development of a cost-effective workflow for the detection and quantification of SARS-COV-2 in wastewater was undertaken. Wastewater from communities around Michigan were collected and analyzed along with viral surrogates for SARS-CoV-2 to investigate different workflow options. The Pseudomonas phage Phi6 was seeded in different wastewater matrices to test concentration and recovery by ultrafiltration-based method and polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation. The PEG method provided better virus recovery than the ultrafiltration-based methods as measured using RT-ddPCR. The comparison of two communities (A and B) wastewater results for SARS-CoV-2 analyzed against case data was undertaken. These results were significantly correlated with cases in both communites, but the level of correlation differed based on spatial (e.g., zipcode vs county level cases) and temporal (e.g., date of symptom(s) onset vs. the referral date for cases) resolution. Wastewater surveillance was more representative of higher spatial resolution (zipcode data) of cases in both communities. When examining the temporal resolution of the communities, community B’s wastewater results were more closely tied to the onset of symptoms and not the case referral date. The ability to monitor indicators of pollution in watersheds and surveil etiological agents of disease in sewersheds provide non-intrusive methods for evaluating the potential risks and current burdens to community health. The first part of the work could be considered “downstream” monitoring identifying sources and potential exposures with the goal of reducing waterborne disease. While “upstream” monitoring was used for identifying the disease trends in the community and was focused on public health measures to prevent transmission. This project contributed novel methods, results and analysis providing valuable knowledge ultimately addressing the role of monitoring strategies to protect public health.
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Title
Application of density functional theory in nuclear structure
Creator
Li, Tong
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
The nuclear density functional theory (DFT) is a microscopic self-consistent framework suitable for describing heavy nuclei and performing large-scale studies. In this dissertation I discuss my research works on the development and application of the Skyrme nuclear-DFT framework, covering a broad range of topics, including the nucleon localization in rotating systems, the origin of reflection-asymmetric deformations, the parameter calibration for beta decays, and the development of a new...
Show moreThe nuclear density functional theory (DFT) is a microscopic self-consistent framework suitable for describing heavy nuclei and performing large-scale studies. In this dissertation I discuss my research works on the development and application of the Skyrme nuclear-DFT framework, covering a broad range of topics, including the nucleon localization in rotating systems, the origin of reflection-asymmetric deformations, the parameter calibration for beta decays, and the development of a new coordinate-space DFT solver.The nucleon localization function (NLF), discussed in the first part, is a useful tool for the visualization of structure information. It has been utilized to characterize clustering and shell structure. How the NLF pattern evolves in rotating systems, how it visualizes internal nuclear structure, and how it is connected with single-particle (s.p.) orbits are discussed in this dissertation. The second part deals with nuclei having reflection-asymmetric shapes, which are important candidates for the search of permanent electric dipole moments. In this dissertation, the origin of pear-like deformation is investigated through both the multipole expansion of the energy density functional and the spectrum of canonical s.p. states. Theoretical predictions of beta-decay rates are discussed next; they are important for r-process simulations that involves nuclei whose experimental beta-decay data are unknown. To provide reliable predictions with quantified uncertainties, the χ^2 optimization is performed to constrain parameters that significantly affect beta-decay transitions in proton-neutron finite-amplitude-method calculations. Besides a well calibrated functional, a reliable and efficient DFT solver is also crucial. The Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) method in the coordinate space is preferred for deformed and weakly bound nuclei, as solvers based on basis expansions often have difficulty correctly describing continuum effects. A new HFB solver based on the canonical-basis HFB formalism in the three-dimensional coordinate space is developed in this dissertation. It is a well parallelized solver and has been carefully benchmarked against other established HFB solvers.
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Title
STUDENTS’ CONCEPTIONS OF THEIR CAMPUS LGBTQ+ CENTER
Creator
Noble, Chelsea E.
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and similar identities (LGBTQ+) resource centers on college campuses provide services, resources, programming, and advocacy focused on gender and sexuality, especially minoritized genders and sexualities. As center staff enact this work at the individual and organizational levels, LGBTQ+ centers seek to promote students’ thriving, especially among students with minoritized genders and sexualities. Although students are the animating reason for LGBTQ...
Show moreLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and similar identities (LGBTQ+) resource centers on college campuses provide services, resources, programming, and advocacy focused on gender and sexuality, especially minoritized genders and sexualities. As center staff enact this work at the individual and organizational levels, LGBTQ+ centers seek to promote students’ thriving, especially among students with minoritized genders and sexualities. Although students are the animating reason for LGBTQ+ centers’ existence, relatively little is known about how students experience and conceptualize campus LGBTQ+ resource centers. The purpose of this study was to understand LGBTQ+ resource centers from students’ perspectives. Guided by a critical adaptation of an ecological model of development (Bronfenbrenner, 1993; Renn & Arnold, 2003), I undertook a qualitative study drawing on interviews with 15 students who felt in some way connected to their campus LGBTQ+ center. I also included data from observations and publicly available center documents. The participants were all current students at a Midwestern university where the LGBTQ+ center had at least one full-time staff member and a clear commitment to social justice. The campus LGBTQ+ center often served as an important force in students’ ecosystems. Students’ ecosystems reflected common elements of university education (e.g., classes, student organizations, and friends), LGBTQ+ campus spaces, families and communities of origin, as well as broader forces including U.S. politics, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a number of oppressive systems. In the midst of highly variable, often unsupportive, and sometimes hostile contexts, students found support and guidance through their LGBTQ+ center. Students experienced their center in five major ways: physical space, source of relationships, organizational navigation and tools, virtual presence, and symbol of institutional commitment. Students emphasized and interacted with each of these aspects in accordance with their needs as they navigated their academic pursuits and daily lives in the face of racism, cissexism, heterosexism, and a host of other oppressive forces. Ultimately, students’ experiences with their campus LGBTQ+ center were frequently a means of survival and a boost towards students thriving on campus and in their lives.
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Title
ALFALFA, CUCUMBER, DRY BEAN, AND SUGARBEET RESPONSE TO BICYCLOPRYONE AND MESOTRIONE
Creator
Wilkinson, Daniel Douglas
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
Bicyclopyrone and mesotrione are a HPPD-inhibiting herbicide (Group 27) registered for use in corn. Mesotrione is sold alone or in premixture with other herbicides; bicyclopyrone is sold only in premixtures. There is limited data available on the response of other crops planted into fields where these herbicides were applied. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate alfalfa, cucumber, black and kidney bean, and sugarbeet response to bicyclopyrone and mesotrione. In the...
Show moreBicyclopyrone and mesotrione are a HPPD-inhibiting herbicide (Group 27) registered for use in corn. Mesotrione is sold alone or in premixture with other herbicides; bicyclopyrone is sold only in premixtures. There is limited data available on the response of other crops planted into fields where these herbicides were applied. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate alfalfa, cucumber, black and kidney bean, and sugarbeet response to bicyclopyrone and mesotrione. In the greenhouse, cucumber, black bean, kidney bean, and sugarbeet were more sensitive to mesotrione compared with bicyclopyrone. Sugarbeet was the most sensitive to both bicyclopyrone and mesotrione followed by alfalfa. Cucumbers were the most tolerant to bicyclopyrone and mesotrione followed by kidney bean and black bean. In field research, bicyclopyrone at 50 and 100 g ha-1 (1 and 2X rate), and mesotrione at 210 g ha-1 were applied in early June to V4 corn at two locations in 2015 and 2016. The following spring, alfalfa and sugarbeet were planted in mid-April and cucumber and dry edible bean in early-June and crop response was measured. In 2016, injury in all crops was less than 20%, regardless of herbicide treatment at either location. In 2017 at East Lansing, sugarbeet was severely injured and did not survive where mesotrione was applied the previous year. Sugarbeet and kidney bean injury was 15 and 5%, respectively from the 2X rate of bicyclopyrone. Neither mesotrione or bicyclopyrone affected crop growth or yield at Richville in 2017. Soil pH was 6.0 and soil organic matter was 4.2 to 4.5% at East Lansing and soil pH was 7.8 and soil organic matter 2.6% at Richville. While there were differences in soils at the two locations, rainfall within the first 30 days following application contributed to differences in herbicide carryover. At East Lansing, rainfall was 20.5 and 2.8 cm within the first 30 days following application in 2015 and 2016, respectively, contributing to more herbicide carryover in the 2017 growing season than in the 2016 growing season. Rainfall at Richville had a 60% reduction in precipitation within the first 30 days however, no herbicide carryover was experienced. From this research it appears that alfalfa, dry bean or cucumber can be planted the year following mesotrione or bicyclopyrone application. However, sugarbeet should not be planted the year following applications of mesotrione or bicyclopyrone.
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Title
Patient-specific prediction of abdominal aortic aneurysm expansion using efficient physics-based machine learning approaches
Creator
Jiang, Zhenxiang
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
Computational vascular Growth and Remodeling (G&R) models have been developed to capture key physiological and morphological features during the arterial disease progression and have shown promise for aiding clinical diagnosis, prognosis prediction, and staging classification. However, the translation of computational G&R models into their applications has yet to wait for clinical practice. Partly, due to the high complexity of the arterial adaptation mechanism, high-fidelity arterial G&R...
Show moreComputational vascular Growth and Remodeling (G&R) models have been developed to capture key physiological and morphological features during the arterial disease progression and have shown promise for aiding clinical diagnosis, prognosis prediction, and staging classification. However, the translation of computational G&R models into their applications has yet to wait for clinical practice. Partly, due to the high complexity of the arterial adaptation mechanism, high-fidelity arterial G&R simulations typically require hours or even days, which hinders its time-consuming applications such as patient-specific parameter estimation, disease prediction, verification, validation, and sensitivity analysis. Furthermore, the typical Finite Element Method (FEM) based computational G&R model should be extended to provide the uncertainty quantification associated with simulation and prediction results. Therefore, to enhance practicality of the G&R modeling, we develop a novel and computationally efficient simulation framework that comprehensively combines physics-based G&R simulations and data-driven machine learning methods using a Multi-Fidelity Surrogate (MFS) approach. This greatly enhances the computational efficiency of arterial G&R simulations, enabling more time-consuming applications such as personalized parameter estimation. The proposed framework is then tested for a specific disease, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAAs), by estimating G&R model parameters from follow-up CT images in 21 patients.
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Title
IT’S LIKE LOOKING IN A MIRROR, ONLY NOT : THE INFLUENCE OF ACQUIRER-TARGET SIMILARITY ON CORPORATE ACQUISITIONS
Creator
Wuorinen, Stefan
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
With the recent explosion of behavioral acquisition research, the collective knowledge in respect to acquisition behavior and outcomes has advanced tremendously. Despite these advancements, due to the rapid growth in this literature, various shortcomings have also developed. One such shortcoming is that the vast majority of this literature has examined acquisition influences emanating from the acquirer or the target but has rarely investigated the joint effects of these two entities. As such,...
Show moreWith the recent explosion of behavioral acquisition research, the collective knowledge in respect to acquisition behavior and outcomes has advanced tremendously. Despite these advancements, due to the rapid growth in this literature, various shortcomings have also developed. One such shortcoming is that the vast majority of this literature has examined acquisition influences emanating from the acquirer or the target but has rarely investigated the joint effects of these two entities. As such, in an attempt to contribute to the growing wealth of acquisition knowledge, the aim of this dissertation is to extend this research by examining how the degree of similarity between the acquirer and target can contribute to the outcomes of acquisition decisions. Specifically, this dissertation first investigates the implications for post-acquisition innovation due to pre-acquisition authority structure similarity, while also introducing and testing the arguments of Structural Adaptation Theory to the macro-organizational level and acquisition literature. Second, the influence of CEO regulatory fit between acquirer and target executives and the degree to which their respective orientations align with each manager’s negotiation roles within an acquisition are argued to influence acquisition premium and market reactions. Collectively, these studies begin to illuminate the joint affects that acquirers and targets have on distinct acquisition outcomes.
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Title
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS OF Al-BASED INITIATIOR FOR (CO)POLYMERIZATION OF EPOXIDES AND EPISULFIDE AND APPLICATION TOWARD MEMBRANE SYNTHESIS
Creator
Safaie Ashtiani, Niloofar
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
We developed a novel aluminum-based initiator for epoxide polymerization which facilitated polymerization of various epoxides (epichlorohydrin, propylene oxide, etc.) and episulfide up to molecular weights of 100 kg/mol while maintaining relatively narrow polydispersity (Ð < 1.3). The initiator was simply synthesized through the reaction of a thiol ligand and trialkyl aluminum, with the thiol ligand choice enabling polymer end group control. Copolymerization of epichlorohydrin and propylene...
Show moreWe developed a novel aluminum-based initiator for epoxide polymerization which facilitated polymerization of various epoxides (epichlorohydrin, propylene oxide, etc.) and episulfide up to molecular weights of 100 kg/mol while maintaining relatively narrow polydispersity (Ð < 1.3). The initiator was simply synthesized through the reaction of a thiol ligand and trialkyl aluminum, with the thiol ligand choice enabling polymer end group control. Copolymerization of epichlorohydrin and propylene oxide and copolymerization of different epoxides with episulfide demonstrated the ability of this method to control polymer architecture. We further investigated the effect of catalyst concentration and initiator structure on the kinetics of epoxide polymerizations through 1H NMR spectroscopy. Finally, we combined our method of polymerization with another facile method, reversible addition fragmentation with chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, to synthesize block-co-polymers made from vinyl and epoxide monomers. To do this, we made a macroinitiator from polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), synthesized by RAFT polymerization, and further polymerized epoxide from it. Therefore, this new synthetic tool allows for the facile and controlled polymerization of epoxides into well-defined, functional, polyether materials. Furthermore, the introduced innovative and reliable methodology for the synthesis of SAl initiators enabled us to tune the polymer architecture to readily access more complex structure of polyepisulifides. We synthesized di-functional (d-H) and tetra-functional (t-H) SAl initiators to produce ABA and star-(co)polymers consisting of propylene sulfide and PO or ECH. Finally, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used as a macroinitiator to create PEG-b-PPS block copolymers and characterized by 1H, 13C NMR spectroscopy, DOSY, DSC, and SEC. Motivated by the result, we prepared the star shape cross linked membrane from t-H initiator. The composition was controlled through the monomer feed ratio of propylene oxide (PO) and epichlorohydrin (ECH) for synthesis of PPO-PECH membrane in the presence of poly(ethylene oxide)-diglycidyl ether as a cross linker and the most optimized PPO-PECH with the ratio of 90:10 resulted optically clear and flexible film. We further modified the membrane with a range of amines like trimethylamine (TEA), dimethylamine (DMA), triethylamine (TEA), and diethylamine (DEA) by membrane dipping method. The chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of resultant secondary amine grafted and quartenized membranes were characterized as a candidate for CO2 transport. Moreover, we designed the facilitated transport membranes of crosslinked ether-based PPO-PECH membranes with the range of hindered and unhindered primary amines using previously reported mono(μ-alkoxo)- bis(alkylaluminum) (MOB). The physical and chemical properties of the membranes investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy, DSC, TGA, and rheology. This method demonstrated a simple and robust strategy to prepare copolymers cross linked membranes containing amines for CO2 transport. This enables us to compare the effect of different amines in the structure of facilitated transport membranes. In this thesis research we seek to develop a SAl initiator as a platform that is both simple to use and can synthesize new polymeric materials. This methodology is simple and tunable to produce robust crosslinked membranes for molecu
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Title
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT RELATED SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT ON SURVIVORS : AN EXPLORATORY SEQUENTIAL MIXED METHODS STUDY
Creator
PettyJohn, Morgan E.
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
In recent years, hashtag activism movements (i.e., using a common message or phrase to unite user voices to address injustice; Yang & Kaun, 2016) have unfolded across social media (SM) platforms to bring attention to the prevalence and impacts of sexual assault. Specifically, the online #MeToo Movement went viral around the world in 2017, resulting in increased news coverage and public discourse surrounding this topic (Anderson & Toor, 2018). Indeed, nearly half (44%) of women in the United...
Show moreIn recent years, hashtag activism movements (i.e., using a common message or phrase to unite user voices to address injustice; Yang & Kaun, 2016) have unfolded across social media (SM) platforms to bring attention to the prevalence and impacts of sexual assault. Specifically, the online #MeToo Movement went viral around the world in 2017, resulting in increased news coverage and public discourse surrounding this topic (Anderson & Toor, 2018). Indeed, nearly half (44%) of women in the United States experience unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime (Smith et al., 2018) and these violations are associated with increased risk for negative mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Mason & Lodrick, 2013). After experiencing interpersonal violence, reminders of the trauma (e.g., words, images) can trigger psychophysiological reactions for survivors, such as emotional dysregulation, physical symptoms (e.g., heart racing), and increases in adverse mental health symptomatology (Mchugo et al., 2001; Moser et al., 2015). Given the popularity of SM among women in the U.S. (78% report usage; Pew Research Center, 2019), survivors of sexual assault are presumably being exposed to trauma related content connected to popular hashtag activism movements while spending time online. However, little is known about how exposure to sexual assault narratives and related discourse in this context could impact the mental health and relationships of survivors.The present study aims to address this gap in the literature by using an exploratory sequential mixed methods design to better understand survivors’ online experiences during this unique cultural moment. The qualitative strand of the study utilized thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews (n = 12) to explore the lived experiences of young women survivors (18-34 years old) using SM since initiation of the #MeToo Movement. Survivors described adverse changes in their mental health during periods of intense media coverage relating to sexual assault stories (e.g., Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s Senate testimony). Some survivors also reported negative changes in their personal relationships with people in their life based on how they discussed sexual assault on these platforms. Findings from the qualitative strand were used to inform development of an online, cross-sectional quantitative survey, facilitated through CloudResearch’s MTurk toolkit. Multiple regression analyses found general SM use, exposure to sexual assault content, and exposure to unsupportive attitudes (i.e., victim blaming or perpetrator supporting) to be significantly predictive of depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptomatology among young women, both survivors (n = 312) and non-victims (n = 171). Survivors reported noticing people from their support systems (e.g., family, friends, co-workers) posting unsupportive attitudes about other victims’ stories at significantly higher rates than non-victims. Findings from the present study implore clinicians to assess SM use and level of exposure to sexual assault related content among clients, particularly those who have experienced sexual assault. Further, clinicians should stay informed about viral news stories and hashtag activism movements addressing sexual assault and provide space for clients to process this content during times of high saturation on SM platforms.
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Title
THE ROLE OF ARID1A IN ENDOMETRIOSIS-RELATED INFERTILITY
Creator
Marquardt, Ryan Michael
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
The inner lining of the uterus, the endometrium, is composed of a luminal epithelial cell layer supported by an underlying stroma which contains epithelial gland structures. These distinct cell types coordinate with complex and dynamic molecular crosstalk tightly controlled by ovarian steroid hormones to regulate a healthy menstrual cycle and support the initiation and maintenance of a healthy pregnancy. Endometriosis occurs when endometrium-like tissue forms lesions outside the uterine...
Show moreThe inner lining of the uterus, the endometrium, is composed of a luminal epithelial cell layer supported by an underlying stroma which contains epithelial gland structures. These distinct cell types coordinate with complex and dynamic molecular crosstalk tightly controlled by ovarian steroid hormones to regulate a healthy menstrual cycle and support the initiation and maintenance of a healthy pregnancy. Endometriosis occurs when endometrium-like tissue forms lesions outside the uterine cavity, and this painful disease afflicts about 10% of reproductive-age women, an estimated 176 million worldwide. Up to 50% of these individuals also experience infertility, and many cases cannot be explained by morphological or ovarian defects, which implicates a uterine environment that is non-receptive to embryo implantation. The molecular basis for the correlation between endometriotic lesion presence and a non-receptive endometrium is unclear, but available evidence suggests that dysregulation of epigenetic regulators may play a role. Expression of AT-rich interaction domain 1A (ARID1A), a chromatin remodeling factor, is lost in some endometriotic lesions and markedly reduced in endometrial biopsies from infertile women with endometriosis, but it is essential in the uterus for fertility. This dissertation evaluates the overarching hypothesis that ARID1A loss connects endometriosis and infertility by causing increased lesion development and a non-receptive endometrium. Chapter 1 provides a review of the current literature on the topics of normal ovarian steroid hormone regulation of endometrial function, the dysregulation that occurs in endometriosis with its clinical implications and therapeutic options, and the specific involvement of ARID1A in endometrial pathophysiology. Chapter 2 delineates a critical role for endometrial epithelial ARID1A in uterine gland function for fertility. Chapter 3 reports the need for endometrial epithelial ARID1A to maintain uterine immune homeostasis during early pregnancy. Chapter 4 explores the involvement of endometrial ARID1A loss in a mouse model of endometriosis-related infertility. Chapter 5 describes a method for in vivo photoacoustic imaging of this endometriosis mouse model through the application of nanoparticle labeling. Finally, Chapter 6 summarizes the findings, discusses conclusions from the synthesized data in the context of the current literature, and provides ideas for future studies of related topics. Together, the studies herein make the case that endometrial ARID1A loss contributes to endometriosis-related infertility by exacerbating endometriotic lesion formation and compromising the ability of the endometrium to maintain the gland function and immune homeostasis necessary for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Continued investigation through studies like these is key to understanding endometrial pathophysiology at the molecular level in order to enable development of targeted treatment options for women suffering the devastating effects of endometriosis and related infertility.
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Title
When is "Tough Love" Too Much? An Exploratory Study of Tough Love Coaching in Sport
Creator
Saxton, Sarah
Date
2022
Collection
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description
Tough love is often discussed in sport, but there is not a clear understanding of what tough love is, which tough love behaviors are commonly used by coaches and how effective they are, or which factors may influence the effectiveness of tough love strategies. Additionally, tough love may cross over into abuse or maltreatment if approached incorrectly. The purpose of this study was to propose a definition of tough love coaching, identify effective tough love strategies, determine whether...
Show moreTough love is often discussed in sport, but there is not a clear understanding of what tough love is, which tough love behaviors are commonly used by coaches and how effective they are, or which factors may influence the effectiveness of tough love strategies. Additionally, tough love may cross over into abuse or maltreatment if approached incorrectly. The purpose of this study was to propose a definition of tough love coaching, identify effective tough love strategies, determine whether tough love coaching can be inappropriate or harmful to the athlete, and identify individual factors that influence the way in which tough love is received by athletes. This study adopted a basic interpretive approach to qualitative research by using semi-structured interviews to investigate athletes’ experiences with and feelings toward tough love in sport. Specifically, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 current and former athletes (three males, nine females) ranging in age from 18 to 27 who had or were participating in a variety of sports. Thematic analysis was conducted on the transcribed interviews to identify relevant themes, subthemes and categories in the data. Four major results were found. First, a definition of tough love coaching was proposed. Second, examples of effective, ineffective, and harmful tough love strategies were provided. Third, factors perceved to influence tough love’s effectiveness were identified, including the coach-athlete relationship, coach demographics, athlete characteristics, sport demographics, encouragement and support, clear feedback, frequency of use, motivational climate, and privacy. Fourth, the “line” between tough love and harmful or abusive coaching was identified. Results are discussed relative to the coaching feedback and approaches as well as maltreatment in sport reseach literature.
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