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Title: "My life is changed but the trust ain't there to trust somebody else" : experiences of recovery from intimate partner abuse of women of Mexican heritage in a mid-size city in Michigan
Creator: Palma-Ramirez, Evangelina
Date: 2020
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: This exploratory qualitative study aimed to gain an understanding of the experiences of recovery from intimate partner abuse (IPA) of 17 women of Mexican heritage in a mid-size urban city in Michigan. IPA was defined as any type of physical, sexual, stalking, psychological harm or coercive control by a former intimate partner or spouse. Two aspects were explored: experiences of abuse and experiences of recovery from abuse. The study used a feminist theory and intersectionality perspective as...
Show moreThis exploratory qualitative study aimed to gain an understanding of the experiences of recovery from intimate partner abuse (IPA) of 17 women of Mexican heritage in a mid-size urban city in Michigan. IPA was defined as any type of physical, sexual, stalking, psychological harm or coercive control by a former intimate partner or spouse. Two aspects were explored: experiences of abuse and experiences of recovery from abuse. The study used a feminist theory and intersectionality perspective as a guiding framework to understand the experiences of women considering their contextual situation. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using a constructivist grounded theory by Charmaz. The findings revealed that women understand their experiences of abuse as being connected to their early socialization about gender roles, history of child abuse, lack of sexual education, and the influence of the environment. Also, the participants revealed they experienced overlapping types of abuse: psychological, coercion, economic, physical, sexual, and stalking. Despite the negative impact of the abuse on participants' physical and mental health, findings showed that women were able to recover from the abuse and to move on with their lives. Data suggested that the recovery was a gradual ongoing process of physical and psychological healing. Participants identified empowering experiences that helped them in their recovery from IPA. Such empowering experiences included life-changing religious realizations, receiving services in Spanish, acquiring more education, receiving counseling services, and getting a job. Receiving social support from family and friends and having access to resources were identified as factors that aided in the recovery from IPA. However, some participants experienced limited access to such resources due to economic constraints, cultural beliefs about gender roles, and the impact of immigration policies.Lastly, findings revealed that experiences of recovery from IPA vary based on whether women decided to leave their partners or to remain with them. Implications for culturally sensitive interventions for Latinas of Mexican heritage are discussed as well as implications for future research on issues of recovery for this specific Latino subgroup.
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Title: The role of affect in binge eating phenotypes : an examination of individual differences in emotion experience and interactions with ovarian hormones
Creator: Mikhail, Megan Elizabeth
Date: 2020
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Ovarian hormones significantly influence dysregulated eating in females. However, most women do not develop appreciable disordered eating, suggesting that ovarian hormones may not affect all women equally. In the first study of this thesis, I examined whether individual differences in trait negative affect (NA) moderate ovarian hormone-dysregulated eating associations in 446 women who provided saliva samples for hormone measurements and ratings of NA and emotional eating daily for 45...
Show moreOvarian hormones significantly influence dysregulated eating in females. However, most women do not develop appreciable disordered eating, suggesting that ovarian hormones may not affect all women equally. In the first study of this thesis, I examined whether individual differences in trait negative affect (NA) moderate ovarian hormone-dysregulated eating associations in 446 women who provided saliva samples for hormone measurements and ratings of NA and emotional eating daily for 45 consecutive days. Women were at greatest risk for emotional eating when they had high trait NA and experienced a hormonal milieu characterized by low estradiol or high progesterone. While effects were significant in all women, the combination of high trait NA and high progesterone was particularly risky for women with a history of clinically significant binge eating episodes. These findings provide initial evidence that affective and hormonal risk interact to promote dysregulated eating, and that effects may be amplified in women with clinically significant binge eating.Low emotion differentiation (the tendency to experience vague affective states rather than discrete emotions) is associated with psychopathology marked by emotion regulation deficits and impulsive/maladaptive behavior. However, research examining associations between emotion differentiation and dysregulated eating is still nascent. In the second study, I therefore examined associations between several measures of emotion differentiation and binge eating phenotypes across a spectrum of severity.
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Title: Re-calibration of rigid pavement performance models and development of traffic inputs for Pavement-ME design in Michigan
Creator: Musunuru, Gopi Krishna
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: The mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide (AASHTOWARE Pavement-ME) incorporates mechanistic models to estimate stresses, strains, and deformations in pavement layers using site-specific climatic, material, and traffic characteristics. These structural responses are used to predict pavement performance using empirical models (i.e., transfer functions). The transfer functions need to be calibrated to improve the accuracy of the performance predictions, reflecting the unique field...
Show moreThe mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide (AASHTOWARE Pavement-ME) incorporates mechanistic models to estimate stresses, strains, and deformations in pavement layers using site-specific climatic, material, and traffic characteristics. These structural responses are used to predict pavement performance using empirical models (i.e., transfer functions). The transfer functions need to be calibrated to improve the accuracy of the performance predictions, reflecting the unique field conditions and design practices. The existing local calibrations of the performance models were performed by using version 2.0 of the Pavement-ME software. However, AASHTO has released versions 2.2 and 2.3 of the software since the completion of the last study. In the revised versions of the software, several bugs were fixed.Consequently, some performance models were modified in the newer software versions. As a result, the concrete pavement IRI predictions and the resulting PCC slab thicknesses have been impacted. The performance predictions varied significantly from the observed structural and function distresses, and hence, the performance models were recalibrated to enhance the confidence in pavement designs. Linear and nonlinear mixed-effects models were used for calibration to account for the non-independence among the data measured on the same sections over time. Also, climate data, material properties, and design parameters were used to develop a model for predicting permanent curl for each location to address some limitations of the Pavement-ME. This model can be used at the design stage to estimate permanent curl for a given location in Michigan.Pavement-ME also requires specific types of traffic data to design new or rehabilitated pavement structures. The traffic inputs include monthly adjustment factors (MAF), hourly distribution factors (HDF), vehicle class distributions (VCD), axle groups per vehicle (AGPV), and axle load distributions for different axle configurations. During the last seven years, new traffic data were collected, which reflect the recent economic growth, additional, and downgraded WIM sites. Hence it was appropriate to re-evaluate the current traffic inputs and incorporate any changes. Weight and classification data were obtained from 41 Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) sites located throughout the State of Michigan to develop Level 1 (site-specific) traffic inputs. Cluster analyses were conducted to group sites for the development of Level 2A inputs. Classification models such as decision trees, random forests, and Naive Bayes classifier were developed to assign a new site to these clusters; however, this proved difficult. An alternative simplified method to develop Level 2B inputs by grouping sites with similar attributes was also adopted. The optimal set of attributes for developing these Level 2B inputs were identified by using an algorithm developed in this study. The effects of the developed hierarchical traffic inputs on the predicted performance of rigid and flexible pavements were investigated using the Pavement-ME. Based on the statistical and practical significance of the life differences, appropriate levels were established for each traffic input. The methodology for developing traffic inputs is intuitive and practical for future updates. Also, there is a need to identify the change in traffic patterns to update the traffic inputs so that the pavement sections would not be overdesigned or under-designed. Models were developed where the short-term counts from the PTR sites can be used as inputs to check if the new traffic patterns cause any substantial differences in design life predictions.
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Title: The estimation of neighborhood deprivation and preterm birth using longitudinally linked natality records
Creator: McArdle, Cristin Elizabeth
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: This dissertation examined the association between neighborhood-level deprivation and perinatal outcomes. We studied the association between neighborhood poverty rate and pre-term birth (PTB; birth < 37 weeks) using longitudinal maternally-linked natality files of women and their infants in Michigan during the period 1990-2012. This study examined the embodiment of place and role of maternal characteristics during pregnancy in an effort to understand how selection into neighborhood may bias...
Show moreThis dissertation examined the association between neighborhood-level deprivation and perinatal outcomes. We studied the association between neighborhood poverty rate and pre-term birth (PTB; birth < 37 weeks) using longitudinal maternally-linked natality files of women and their infants in Michigan during the period 1990-2012. This study examined the embodiment of place and role of maternal characteristics during pregnancy in an effort to understand how selection into neighborhood may bias our understanding of neighborhood level associations. We looked at pregnancy outcomes across multiple pregnancies for the same woman (the mother) as she changed neighborhoods, and levels of poverty between pregnancies. In the first study examining residential mobility between pregnancies, we reported that approximately half of our sample changed residences between pregnancies. We further exploited our data structure to examine the association with prior PTB on subsequent mobility in two sub-samples restricted by parity: births 1 and 2, and births 2 and 3. We found the strongest risk factors for mobility were related to marital change (Divorce: births 1 to 2 OR: 2.5 95% CI: 2.4-2.6, births 2 to 3 OR: 3.3, 95% CI: 3.1-3.6); Married: births 1 to 2 OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 2.7-2.8, births 2 to 3 OR: 1.9, 95% CI:1.9-2.0) but not prior PTB (prior PTB: births 1 to 2 OR: 1.0, 95% CI:1.0-1.0, births 2 to 3 OR: 1.1 95%CI: 1.0-1.1). In the second study, we report that most women did not experience a change in the level of neighborhood poverty, based on quartile of neighborhood poverty. Women who remained in the poorest neighborhoods experienced the highest percentage of PTB across two births samples, Births 1 to 2 (11.4% PTB) and Births 2 to 3 (12.3% PTB). We found increased odds of PTB for births 1 to 2 with strong downward neighborhood trajectory (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0-1.3) but also increased odds of PTB among strong upward neighborhood poverty trajectory (OR 1.1, 95%CI: 1.1- 1.2) compared to the static trajectory group of lowest neighborhood poverty quartile. In Study 3, we then employed a novel approach, maternal fixed effects, utilizing data linked over time to compare birth outcomes for the same mother under different exposures which allows the mother to act as her own control, analogous to a case-crossover design, while comparing the contextual effects of neighborhood deprivation on PTB. We conducted logistic regression, random effects and fixed effects analysis to evaluate n=2,191,063 eligible births during our study period. Because a fixed effects model relies on variation over time within a mother to identify the estimated association of neighborhood deprivation and PTB, the primary analytic sample was restricted (n=280,277 births to 103,328 women).We found a null association between neighborhood poverty and PTB when using a maternal fixed effects analysis (OR: 1.0, 95% CI: 1.0-1.0). This was one of the first studies to profile the maternal neighborhood mobility patterns over a long period of time, between successive pregnancies and evaluated by neighborhood poverty rate.
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Title: Integrated pest management strategies for control of potato early die in Michigan potato systems
Creator: Cole, Emilie
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus penetrans) in conjunction with the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae create the disease complex, potato early die, which can drastically reduce potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) yields. In Michigan, this disease complex is often managed using broad-spectrum soil fumigants such as methyl bromide, metam sodium and 1,3- dichloropropene, which can be harmful to applicators as well as soil and environmental health. Since the phase-out of methyl bromide in 2005,...
Show moreRoot lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus penetrans) in conjunction with the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae create the disease complex, potato early die, which can drastically reduce potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) yields. In Michigan, this disease complex is often managed using broad-spectrum soil fumigants such as methyl bromide, metam sodium and 1,3- dichloropropene, which can be harmful to applicators as well as soil and environmental health. Since the phase-out of methyl bromide in 2005, alternative control tactics to soil fumigants have become increasingly important to potato growers. In this thesis I investigated the use of (1) manures and manure-based composts and (2) non-fumigant nematicides and fungal-based biocontrols and their efficacy in reducing potato early die incidence. In laboratory trials, poultry manure and a blend of poultry and dairy manure compost (Layer Ash Blend) provided significant control of root lesion nematodes with 0% survivorship at rates of 5% (vol/vol) or higher. In field trials, I did not observe significant (P < 0.05) reductions in nematode populations regardless of treatment but did see a reduction in germinating V. dahliae microsclerotia in plots treated with poultry manure. Of the nematicides tested, Salibro treatments significantly reduced root lesion nematode and V. dahliae populations. From this research, it is clear that non-fumigant alternatives are possible for Michigan potato growers.
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Title: Blow fly (Diptera : Calliphoridae) community structure at a new northern latitude forensic research facility and during aquatic decomposition
Creator: Wydra, Breanna R.
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are necrophagous insects which are attracted to decomposing remains. The presence and life stage of their larvae are an important factors in the estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) during death investigations. The purpose of this study was to survey the blow fly communities present under two separate circumstances: first, in the pre- and early-operation stages of a new outdoor forensic research facility in Northern Michigan (FROST); and second, in...
Show moreBlow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are necrophagous insects which are attracted to decomposing remains. The presence and life stage of their larvae are an important factors in the estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) during death investigations. The purpose of this study was to survey the blow fly communities present under two separate circumstances: first, in the pre- and early-operation stages of a new outdoor forensic research facility in Northern Michigan (FROST); and second, in the context of large vertebrate (Sus scrofa) decomposition in a freshwater aquatic system in Mid-Michigan. Eight blow fly species were collected at the Forensic Research Outdoor Station (FROST) from May-September with Phormia regina, Lucilia illustris, and Cochliomyia macellaria composing a cumulative 94.2% of the total collections. Month was a significant factor in the mean relative abundance of these major species. Two blow fly species were collected over the course of approximately one month during aquatic vertebrate decomposition with Phormia regina composing 90.5% of the collections. Time was not a significant factor in the mean relative abundance of the species collected, but larval length changes over this period suggested multiple oviposition events. The findings in these two studies provide new and important information which can be utilized by forensic entomologists in future research as well as by forensic science professionals during death investigations and related casework.
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Title: Investigating the relationship between uv-b radiation exposure and racial disparities in preeclampsia : a medical geography study
Creator: Kutch, Libbey C.
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Preeclampsia is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Research had demonstrated that adequate levels of vitamin D can help to circumvent the risk of preeclampsia. Vitamin D plays a role in cardiovascular health and in maternal health, and cutaneous exposure to ultra-violet (UV)-B radiation is critical to maintaining healthy vitamin D levels. The majority of vitamin D in humans is produced when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation. UV-B varies...
Show morePreeclampsia is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Research had demonstrated that adequate levels of vitamin D can help to circumvent the risk of preeclampsia. Vitamin D plays a role in cardiovascular health and in maternal health, and cutaneous exposure to ultra-violet (UV)-B radiation is critical to maintaining healthy vitamin D levels. The majority of vitamin D in humans is produced when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation. UV-B varies geographically; therefore geography influences the availability of vitamin D and the potential risk for preeclampsia. However, research on the geographic relationship between UV-B and pregnancy induced hypertensive disorders, including preeclampsia has been relatively neglected. This research investigates the relationship between maternal UV-B exposure and preeclampsia for mothers giving birth in Michigan from 2008 to 2015 during 3 time periods, 1-pre-conception, 2-early pregnancy, and 3-late pregnancy. A medical geographic and human ecological framework conceptualizes the environmental, biological and behavioral factors influencing the UV-B and preeclampsia relationship. UV-B is estimated using the Erythemal Daily Dose calculated form OMI remote sensing data. Preeclampsia is measured using Michigan's Vital Statistics Birth Data 2008-2015. Multilevel models were estimated to study these relationships. This study found that slight increases in UV-B exposure prior to conception and later in pregnancy could reduce the odds of preeclampsia for white but not black mothers. Other important risk factors for preeclampsia were increasing BMI, chronic and gestational diabetes and living in urban areas. Receiving Medicaid was protective for preeclampsia for white mothers but not black mothers. Enrollment in WIC was highly protective for all mothers. This medical geography research demonstrates the importance of utilizing remote sensing to begin to understand UV-B exposure on an important pregnancy outcome from a population perspective. Future research should also focus on reevaluating the measurement of the Erythemal Daily Dose to reflect people with high melanin concentrations. Future research could also branch out to other highly prevalent conditions with low vitamin D susceptibility such as cancers and dementia and Alzheimer's.
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Title: Learner perspectives on farmer education programs in Michigan : engaging a new generation of farmers
Creator: Reed, Kathleen Amelia
Date: 2016
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "This study focuses on three farmer education programs in Michigan and examines how these programs create meaningful experiences for farmer-learners. The study finds that the programs foster the co-creation of knowledge on farm, where knowledge can be shaped and reshaped throughout the program. Programs do this by creating a space in which learners have the flexibility to learn through decision making, through trial and error, and in collaboration with other participants and staff. As...
Show more"This study focuses on three farmer education programs in Michigan and examines how these programs create meaningful experiences for farmer-learners. The study finds that the programs foster the co-creation of knowledge on farm, where knowledge can be shaped and reshaped throughout the program. Programs do this by creating a space in which learners have the flexibility to learn through decision making, through trial and error, and in collaboration with other participants and staff. As learners take part in and then move on from these programs they become part of a growing community of people who are playing a role in the development of a new regional food system and participating in the larger sustainable agriculture movement." -- Abstract.
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Title: Relationships among maternal serum uric acid in mid-pregnancy, maternal blood pressure, fetal growth, and placental pathology
Creator: Zhou, Guoli
Date: 2016
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "In this study, we investigated whether there is a J-shaped association between maternal serum uric acid in mid-pregnancy and three outcomes, mothers' blood pressure, birth weight for gestational age (Z-score), and placental pathology." -- Abstract.

Title: An intervention for families with overweight or obese children delivered by extension : assessment of feasibility, implementation, and participant experiences
Creator: Custack, Amy Marie
Date: 2016
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "The current study ... explored the feasibility, implementation challenges, and participant experiences in an intervention, administered through Michigan State University Extension (MSUE), that specifically targets low-income families with overweight and obese children."--page 146.

Title: Genetic effects on the growth rate and stem form of Scotch pine in Michigan
Creator: Homrich, Stephen Raymond
Date: 1980
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Title: Effects of pasture based dairy farming on grassland bird species in southwest Michigan
Creator: Hunt, Lindsay Elizabeth Frances
Date: 2016
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Changes in land use, agricultural practices, and the subsequent reduction of mosaic grasslands, which vary spatially and temporally in structure, have resulted in dramatic and range wide population declines of grassland birds. These grassland species have exhibited more substantial and continuous population declines than any other behavioral or ecological guild. To understand the impact of agricultural practices, we investigated if grassland bird communities differed on dairy pastures and...
Show moreChanges in land use, agricultural practices, and the subsequent reduction of mosaic grasslands, which vary spatially and temporally in structure, have resulted in dramatic and range wide population declines of grassland birds. These grassland species have exhibited more substantial and continuous population declines than any other behavioral or ecological guild. To understand the impact of agricultural practices, we investigated if grassland bird communities differed on dairy pastures and grassland fragments and if vegetation structure and composition contributed to bird community differences in southwest Michigan, United States. Rather than relying on bird counts, we created utilization distributions to analyze these bird communities. Correspondence analysis indicated that pasture and grassland bird communities differed. Based on this analysis, specific species showed a stronger association with dairy pastures or grassland fragments. Canonical correlation analysis confirmed that vegetation structure and composition contributed to variation in species distributions, suggesting that species-specific associations found in the correspondence analysis were, at least partially, due to the vegetation structure of the dairy pastures and grassland fragment. Species-specific models indicated that some grassland birds were associated with unique vegetation characteristic. We concluded that species-specific habitat requirements are generally fulfilled through mosaic grasslands and that both grasslands and agriculture fields should be managed to maintain mosaic vegetation structure, that varies spatially and temporally in order to maintain a diverse community of grassland bird species.
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Title: Vaccine hesitancy in parents/guardians of school-age children : a qualitative review and case-study analysis in Michigan
Creator: Dutkiewicz, Daniel Gene, II
Date: 2016
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: ABSTRACTVACCINE HESITANCY IN PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN: A QUALITATIVE REVIEW AND CASE-STUDY ANALYSIS IN MICHIGANByDaniel Dutkiewicz IIBackground: Non-medical vaccination exemption rates for kindergartners increased from 4.9% to 5.4% across the state of Michigan and increased from 7.3% to 11.6% in Grand Traverse County (MI) over the 3-year period covering the 2011/12, 2012/13, and 2013/14 school years.Objectives: This thesis seeks to interpret the results of the 2015 Michigan...
Show moreABSTRACTVACCINE HESITANCY IN PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN: A QUALITATIVE REVIEW AND CASE-STUDY ANALYSIS IN MICHIGANByDaniel Dutkiewicz IIBackground: Non-medical vaccination exemption rates for kindergartners increased from 4.9% to 5.4% across the state of Michigan and increased from 7.3% to 11.6% in Grand Traverse County (MI) over the 3-year period covering the 2011/12, 2012/13, and 2013/14 school years.Objectives: This thesis seeks to interpret the results of the 2015 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) administrative rule change modifying complexity of non-medical exemption filing procedures across Michigan and the 2015 special effort by local school and health officials to reduce the proportion of students with non-medical exemptions and incomplete vaccination records in Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS).Study Design: This thesis utilizes a combination review/cross-sectional design to interpret the results of the MDHHS rule change and special effort by local officials in Traverse City.Results: 31.5% decrease in non-medical exemption rates across 73 counties, plus city of Detroit, and 66.27% reduction in total number of students with non-medical exemptions or incomplete vaccination records in TCAPS appear to 1. be consistent with previously observed inverse associations between complexity of non-medical exemption filing procedures and non-medical exemption rates and 2. further validate Peretti-Watel et al.’s theoretical approach to vaccine hesitancy.Conclusion: Increasing complexity of non-medical vaccination filing procedures at state level and requiring school-entry immunization requirement compliance at local level may motivate passively and actively hesitant parents/guardians to fully vaccinate their school-age child/children in Michigan.
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Title: Characterizing the diversity of fungicide resistance in Cercospora beticola on sugarbeet in Michigan and Ontario
Creator: Jiang, Qianwei
Date: 2016
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Cercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by Cercospora beticola (Sacc.), is the most serious foliar disease of sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) worldwide. Timely fungicide application is one of the most effective tools used to manage this disease. However, this strategy has been less effective because resistance has been reported in C. beticola to several classes of fungicides including benzimidazoles, organotin and demethylation inhibitors (DMIs). Thus knowledge of the interaction of C. beticola in...
Show moreCercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by Cercospora beticola (Sacc.), is the most serious foliar disease of sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) worldwide. Timely fungicide application is one of the most effective tools used to manage this disease. However, this strategy has been less effective because resistance has been reported in C. beticola to several classes of fungicides including benzimidazoles, organotin and demethylation inhibitors (DMIs). Thus knowledge of the interaction of C. beticola in Michigan with various fungicides is essential for making management decisions. A study has been conducted to survey the Great Lakes sugarbeet growing region for C. beticola isolates with sensitivity to various fungicides in use in the area. Results showed that most C. beticola isolates (>85%) tested were sensitive to DMI and organotin fungicides during the study (from 2012 to 2014) with EC50 values of less than 1 and 5 ppm respectively. Monitoring for the mutations in commercial fields indicated that resistant mutations were widespread in both Michigan and Ontario sugarbeet production areas. This data will direct the development of effective recommendations specific to production areas.
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Title: Factors influencing participant motivation and engagement in the Michigan Youth Farm Stand Project
Creator: Brander, Ashley Anne
Date: 2008
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Title: The relationship between recruit school evaluations and future job performance in predicting job success for Michigan State Police Troopers
Creator: Parviainen, William John
Date: 1979
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Title: A chronosequence of podzols in northern Michigan
Creator: Franzmeier, Donald Paul
Date: 1962
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Title: How faculty members in school districts experiencing enrollment decline make sense of policy : evidence from Michigan
Creator: Hastings, Alan
Date: 2016
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: This multi-sited qualitative case study explores how faculty members that are in school districts experiencing enrollment decline made sense of a policy that has potential implications to disrupt the work that they do in the school. The study is based on the notion that the context that a policy is playing out in matters for how the policy is enacted. While not a novel idea, this study seeks to examine what can happen when a policy is potentially in conflict with the local context. The push...
Show moreThis multi-sited qualitative case study explores how faculty members that are in school districts experiencing enrollment decline made sense of a policy that has potential implications to disrupt the work that they do in the school. The study is based on the notion that the context that a policy is playing out in matters for how the policy is enacted. While not a novel idea, this study seeks to examine what can happen when a policy is potentially in conflict with the local context. The push to increase the number of students going to college, something that is a feature of recent legislation, has the potential to create tension in places where school districts are losing students because of the threat of future enrollment decline and the negative consequences of enrollment loss. When making sense of the policies in question, there were not major differences with respect to the rural or urban nature of the school that were not associated with the size of the school district or school. The study found that while faulty members were sensitive to their respective contexts, they did not use it directly to help them make sense of the policy. The study also found that faculty members’ connection to community as defined by the study did not prove to be valuable when looking at how faculty members made sense of policy as individuals, but it did help explain why one district was better able to adapt to the policy changes in question.
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Title: Metagenomic analysis of antibiotic resistant genes in a conventional and membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment plant
Creator: McCall, Camille
Date: 2016
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are known environments for the presence and transfer of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), an evolving environmental pollutant. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of ARGs and resistant bacteria in a conventional, and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) WWTP in Michigan (USA). A sequence-based metagenomic approach was implemented to detect the profile of ARGs in the activated sludge (AS), before disinfection (BD), and after disinfection (AD) treatment stages...
Show moreWastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are known environments for the presence and transfer of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), an evolving environmental pollutant. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of ARGs and resistant bacteria in a conventional, and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) WWTP in Michigan (USA). A sequence-based metagenomic approach was implemented to detect the profile of ARGs in the activated sludge (AS), before disinfection (BD), and after disinfection (AD) treatment stages in each WWTP. Metagenomic alignment detected genes resistant to sulfonamide, tetracycline, macrolide, elfamycin, aminoglycoside, and β-lactam classes of antibiotics to be prevalent ARGs in both WWTPs. Effluent samples yielded the highest presence of ARGs in each plant compared to AS and BD samples. Quantitative analysis found that 56.25% and 53.33% of a total of 23 ARGs, which were detected at ≥ 90% gene similarity among all samples, were not detected until after disinfection samples for the conventional and MBR WWTPs, respectively. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report the prevalence of elfamycin resistant genes in WWTPs. In addition to this, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Pasteurella multocida were found to be predominant resistant bacteria in AD samples from each WWTP. The occurrence of ARGs increased in both WWTPs as treatment progressed further suggesting that increased wastewater treatment selects for antimicrobial resistance.
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Title: Perception of hard & natural shorelines on inland water bodies in Michigan
Creator: Smith, Marlena J.
Date: 2016
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Shorelines of inland lakes in regions of Michigan are continuously eroded by wave energy and ice movement. With the erosion of these shorelines sediment builds up changing the ecology of the lake by eliminating fish and other wildlife habitat (“Shoreline Erosion”, 2014). Studies have shown that natural shorelines can provide adequate erosion protection, while providing habitat for wildlife and improving water quality (Bariteau, 2013, Hartig et. al. 2011, & Bilkovic et. al. 2013). This study...
Show moreShorelines of inland lakes in regions of Michigan are continuously eroded by wave energy and ice movement. With the erosion of these shorelines sediment builds up changing the ecology of the lake by eliminating fish and other wildlife habitat (“Shoreline Erosion”, 2014). Studies have shown that natural shorelines can provide adequate erosion protection, while providing habitat for wildlife and improving water quality (Bariteau, 2013, Hartig et. al. 2011, & Bilkovic et. al. 2013). This study uses a picture preference method to determine if there is any significant difference in the perception of natural versus hard shorelines across seven dimensions, namely: aesthetic, maintenance, cost efficiency, erosion protection, recreation opportunities, habitat capacity, and improving water quality. It was found that while people find natural shorelines attractive and know the ecological benefits of them, they perceive them as requiring maintenance and not protecting against erosion as much as a hard shoreline can. Incentive programs and policy need to be put in place to ensure the ecological health of Michigan’s inland lakes.
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