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STUDYING THE USABILITY OF FRONT OF PACK (FOP) WARNING LABELS IN OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS AS A TOOL TO REDUCE ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS IN OLDER ADULTS.
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Packaging - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are a popular medication option for patients who want a cheap, safe, and effective alternative to prescription drugs. However, they do carry some risks and can cause adverse drug events (ADEs) under specific circumstances. This risk is compounded by the poor design of the warning labels and the lack of expert intervention during the purchase and use of these OTCs. The prevalence of polypharmacy, the changing physiology, and the difference in the pharmacokinetics in the geriatric population make them especially susceptible to ADEs.Effectively communicating with the patients about the contraindications and the interaction risks of the OTCs can help reduce the risk and ultimately the occurrence of ADEs. The drug facts label (DFL) is the primary source of information that patients must rely on to get this information for OTCs, as the process of purchasing and using OTC medication is largely self-guided and lacks any professional intervention. However, the poor design of the DFL, including low readability, high clutter, and small font size, makes the DFL a poor warning communication tool. Front-of-Pack (FOP) labeling is a technique that brings abridged critical information to the principal display panel (PDP) to increase the exposure of this information to the user and hence make it more conspicuous and usable. Though there is no official standard for an FOP label in the United States, FOP labels are becoming increasingly popular in the food packaging industry. Despite their popularity in the food industry, FOP labels are not used with OTC medicines. FOP labels could help increase exposure to critical information and help reduce information overload, both of which are currently issues with the DFL. Preliminary research on FOP labels on OTC packages has been promising, and FOP labels and highlighting have been reported to increase the conspicuousness of critical information and demonstrate improvements in early-stage information processing during habitual processing and goal-directed processing. Therefore, we proposed a novel FOP labeling strategy with OTC drugs to improve the usability of the warning labels. An FOP panel that contained the drug-drug and drug-diagnosis warnings necessary to make an accurate assessment of their appropriateness was created and placed in the PDP. The critical information in the PDP and DFL was also highlighted to garner attention. Before this was tested, we created a study to objectively measure the amount of information needed by the participants to accurately assess 10 commonly available single active-ingredient OTCs. The participants were presented with varying levels of information: only brand name(fictitious), only active ingredient, only purpose (of the med), the entire PDP, and the entire DFL, and tasked with assessing their appropriateness for self-use. The results suggested that providing more visual information to the participants did not make them more accurate, i.e., the DFL trial participant responses (estimated accuracy = 53.2 \ub1 2.88%) were not more accurate than brand name trials (estimated accuracy = 52.5 \ub1 2.88%). The next two studies focused on the impact of FOP and Highlighting (HL) on the participants\u2019 ability to accurately assess the appropriateness of 12 commercially available OTCs. In both experiments, the participants were presented with a standard OTC label or an FOP label and tasked with assessing their appropriateness for self-use; however, in one of the experiments, gray-scale labels with fictitious brand names were used, and in the other, life-like labels with existing OTC brands were used. Eye-tracking was employed to study how often the participants looked at the FOP, and the results suggested that the probability of the participant attending to the information on the FOP when it was present was low (~50%). The presence of an FOP had no measurable effect on the participants\u2019 response, response time, and response confidence in either study. In conclusion, the results suggest that FOP is not effective in improving participant accuracy of their assessment of OTCs\u2019 appropriateness for self-use.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
URBAN CITIZENSHIP OF MIDDLE CLASS SYRIANS IN ISTANBUL : NAVIGATING (IN)VISIBILITY AND (NON)BELONGING
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Sociology - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025As Syria's mass migration to Turkey passes its tenth year, refugees continue to face significant barriers to full settlement in \u130stanbul, the largest refugee-hosting city in the Global South. With global resettlement options increasingly limited, \u130stanbul has become a permanent yet uncertain home for many Syrians. However, the Turkish government has offered no consistent or transparent integration strategy, and access to citizenship remains both limited and unclear. Refugees must navigate a landscape shaped by legal ambiguity, social stigma, and xenophobic attitudes. In this context, this dissertation explores how middle-class Syrian refugees build their lives in \u130stanbul without formal integration support. Drawing on 30 in-depth interviews and over 90 hours of participant observation in refugee-led cultural and public spaces, the research asks: 1) How do refugees develop their own strategies for integration when state-led support is limited or absent? 2) In what ways do legal status and feelings of belonging influence political participation and civic engagement? And 3) How do urban environments and spatial dynamics shape refugees\u2019 experiences of belonging and attachment to the city?The findings reveal two main pathways: Engagers, who try to blend in and live \u201clike a Turk,\u201d and Expats, who maintain a privileged and distanced identity similar to that of Western expatriates. Neither approach ensures full belonging, even for those granted Turkish citizenship. Instead, refugees build partial connections to specific urban spaces, particularly cultural and artistic venues established by Syrians, where they can express themselves, feel safe, and experience dignity and visibility. This dissertation proposes a new model of urban citizenship rooted in self-settlement, everyday practices of belonging, and the right to the city, not through formal political participation, but through cultural creation, spatial claims, and community engagement. Syrian-led spaces emerge as essential sites for expressing identity, forming transnational ties, and resisting exclusion. Addittionally, this research presents a new interpretation of the \u201cright to the city\u201d for middle-class Syrians in \u130stanbul, especially where political participation is limited or impossible. While existing literature often links this right to activism or formal political action, this study shows how refugees claim it through cultural practices, creating and using public spaces for solidarity, self-expression, and connection to both the host society and their homeland. This perspective expands the idea of the right to the city beyond Western-based frameworks and helps explain how displaced people build urban belonging under authoritarian and exclusionary conditions, in both the Global South and increasingly right-leaning contexts in the Global North. In sum, this dissertation contributes to the study of migration and urban citizenship by showing that refugees in long-term displacement are not passive recipients of policy, but active agents shaping their own lives. It highlights the limits of existing citizenship and integration models and offers grounded insights into more inclusive and sustainable practices led from the bottom up.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
MORE THAN HELP : YOUNGER SIBLINGS\u2019 PERSPECTIVES ON SIBLING CARE, FAMILY DYNAMICS, AND CULTURAL MEANING IN KOREAN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Human Development and Family Studies - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Sibling caretaking occurs when an elder sibling takes care of their younger sibling, a common childcare practice among immigrant families (Hernandez et al., 2007). In Western psychology, sibling caretaking is mostly studied in families with special needs children, viewed to be non-normative in Western standards of child care (Crafter & Iqbal, 2022), and often pathologized to be harmful to both the children and the parent-child relationship and referred to as a form of parentification (Early & Cushway, 2002). However, there may be differences in the experiences of parentified siblings of special needs children and sibling caregiving in immigrant families, who navigate and balance their heritage and host cultures. In this dissertation, I examine the perceived experiences of receiving sibling care among adolescents from Korean immigrant families. Both studies recruited participants through pastors (gatekeepers) at churches, boba stores, Korean ethnic grocery stores, and other areas frequented by Korean high schoolers. The sample included ten younger siblings (70% female) from Korean immigrant families, who reported getting care and support from their elder siblings. In Study One, Korean immigrant adolescents reported their daily experiences of receiving care from their older siblings and were later interviewed about their feelings and perceptions of the impact of receiving sibling care on their development. Daily diary findings indicated a trend that gender and age gaps (AG) were influential in the type of care received. Interview findings showed a shift from elder sisters taking on a motherly role to taking on other roles, including friend, mentor, advisor, guide, and protector. Younger siblings perceived a range of care types from their elder siblings, including academic help (homework, class selection, college applications, care about education), instrumental help (driving, food), and relationship help. Lastly, adolescents unpacked how their elder siblings helped them, including hanging out/spending time together, listening and sharing their experiences, wants/and knowing what is best for them, and getting logistical help from their parents. In Study Two, Korean immigrant adolescents were interviewed about their reactions to receiving sibling care and their perceptions of the experience within the context of their family relationships and Korean cultural values. Interview results indicate a blend of positive feelings or a sense of consistency regarding sibling care. Similarly, adolescents perceived either a positive impact on their familial relationships or a consistent presence, as many could not remember a time when sibling care was not present in their family. Finally, adolescents shared how Korean cultural values (i.e., age hierarchy, familism, family obligations, and woo-ae) were integral to their perception of the normalcy of sibling care within their family. The published literature on sibling caregiving in immigrant families focuses primarily on the pathologizing effects of parentification. These findings support the need for a shift in the narrative to a holistic approach of understanding sibling caregiving as it commonly occurs in immigrant families. Considering Korean cultural values, Korean immigrant sibling care is perceived by younger siblings as consistent, supportive, and adaptive, differing from conventional parenting practices in Western cultures. Unlike retrospective caregiver accounts, these studies capture younger siblings\u2019 current experiences of receiving care from an elder sibling. Lastly, these findings can help the development of culturally informed programs that recognize and validate the shared experiences of sibling care within the Korean immigrant community.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
On the large-scale simulation of multibody nonlocal dynamics
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Mechanical Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025This dissertation targets the large-scale simulation of multibody nonlocal dynamics (MND): systems of rigid or flexible bodies interconnected by springs, hinges, joints, or motors, and fully coupled through long-range effects\u2014such as hydrodynamic, electromagnetic, or gravitational interactions\u2014that transmit forces through a shared medium and induce motion across distance. Unlike the robotic and mechanical assemblies central to classical multibody dynamics, MND systems arise predominantly in microbiology and biophysics and include examples such as fiber networks, cell colonies, and intracellular structures. These systems also differ in kind: they are living. Bodies may grow, shrink, divide, and die; they may consume nutrients to self-propel or to drive the dynamic formation and dissolution of bonds. Interactions may encode biochemical communication\u2014not just mechanical force. Such features place unique demands on algorithms, data structures, and computational abstractions. The evolving nature of connectivity stands in stark contrast to the fixed topologies of engines or robotic arms. At the same time, the presence of long-range interactions shifts the dominant computational burden from neighbor detection and constraint resolution to the evaluation of dense, nonlocal couplings, rendering many fast algorithms developed for classical multibody dynamics ineffective or inapplicable. Classical multibody dynamics has excelled at identifying shared structure across seemingly disparate mechanical systems\u2014robotic arms, engines, spacecraft assemblies\u2014and transforming those abstractions into robust, general-purpose infrastructure. Over decades, this has produced libraries whose layered complexity far exceeds what any single developer could achieve. But these tools are built around assumptions\u2014fixed connectivity, inertial motion, pointlike particles, localized interactions\u2014that are fundamentally incompatible with the biologically grounded, structure-evolving, and nonlocally coupled systems that define MND. These domain-specific assumptions are deeply embedded and difficult to circumvent without substantial rewrites.As a result, the software landscape for multibody nonlocal dynamics remains fractured. Each application domain\u2014bacterial colonies, cytoskeletal networks, red blood cells\u2014relies on its own bespoke codebase, with siloed algorithms, incompatible data layouts, and limited interoperability. Improvements in one domain are difficult translate to another, increasing development time and stalling progress toward larger, more realistic simulations. Yet there is no fundamental reason why MND cannot achieve the same level of infrastructure reuse and algorithmic generality as classical multibody dynamics. Doing so requires new abstractions, algorithms, and software design principles tuned to the unique character these systems. The work that follows advances this agenda along three complementary fronts: algorithm development, infrastructure-level software design, and the application of these tools to biophysical systems at scales and fidelities previously unattainable.From the algorithmic side, we introduce the Recursively generated Linear Complementarity Problem (ReLCP), a collision resolution algorithm designed to reduce the number of long-range interaction evaluations in densely packed, non-spherical systems. These evaluations can dominate the cost of multibody nonlocal dynamics, particularly when the numerical stiffness of potential-based collision handling necessitates excessively small timesteps or when optimization-based methods take a many iterations to converge. While optimization approaches offer robustness over potential-based schemes, their performance for smooth, non-spherical bodies has been limited by the poor scalability of discrete surface representations. Such methods approximate geometry using tessellations or rigid sub-objects, often oversampling surfaces to preserve fidelity\u2014resulting in excessively large numbers of constraints. ReLCP avoids this overhead by replacing static surface discretization with a recursive constraint-generation scheme. Starting with a single constraint per near-contact pair, it adaptively introduces new contact points only where unconstrained motion would otherwise lead to overlap. This approach preserves the accuracy of smooth-surface interactions while reducing constraint count\u2014and with it, the number of costly force evaluations\u2014by one to two orders of magnitude. We establish conditions for existence, uniqueness, and convergence to the underlying continuous-time dynamics. The resulting algorithm achieves 10\u2013100
7 speedups and enables large-scale simulations in regimes previously inaccessible to classical methods.On the infrastructure side, we introduce MuNDy, a modular, high-performance simulation library purpose-built for the demands of multibody nonlocal dynamics. MuNDy targets a fragmented landscape\u2014where tools for cell colonies, cytoskeletal networks, and colloidal suspensions have historically evolved in isolation\u2014working toward a unifying, extensible framework capable of supporting heterogeneous particles, dynamic connectivity, and long-range interactions across domains. Built atop Sandia National Lab's Sierra ToolKit Mesh (STK), MuNDy adds a lightweight mathematics library, type-safe component model that decouples memory layout from algorithmic logic, streamlined user interface, and GPU-compatible dynamic connectivity infrastructure. It provides domain-specific capabilities essential for nonlocal simulation, including GPU-compatible boundary integral solvers, fast multipole support, and direct kernel evaluation with coalesced memory access. Benchmarks of MuNDy\u2019s contact resolution algorithm show up to 1000
7 speedup over aLENS\u2014an MPI/OpenMP-based library implementing the same algorithm\u2014by leveraging GPU acceleration and improved scalability. MuNDy's performance matched that of a hand-optimized Kokkos version restricted to homogeneous spheres, demonstrating that the flexibility of STK's runtime extensible heterogeneity and subset selectability do not inhibit performance. Though currently in beta release, MuNDy has already been deployed adopted in multiple simulation studies, with early user feedback guiding improvements to interface design, missing features, and performance bottlenecks. This iterative model reflects the broader aim of this thesis: to establish the architectural foundation for scalable, reusable infrastructure in biologically grounded multibody simulation.The tools developed herein enable four original scientific studies, each resulting in a peer-reviewed publication. These are not merely validations of the infrastructure, but full-scale investigations that yield novel insights, advance domain knowledge, and demonstrate the versatility and scalability of the framework. Spanning active nematics, crowded suspensions, proliferating colonies, and densely packed ciliated media, these studies underscore the unifying power of multibody nonlocal dynamics to tackle diverse, biologically grounded systems through shared abstractions and reusable infrastructure.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
DRIVER RESPONSE TO WINTER WEATHER WARNING SYSTEMS AT BRIDGE OVERPASSES AND HORIZONTAL CURVES
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Civil Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Transportation agencies often deploy warning signs to warn motorists of potentially icy road surfaces during winter travel conditions. However, prior research has shown that standard warning signs tend to have little to no effects on driver behavior or safety performance. The conspicuity and message recognition of traditional winter weather warning signs may be improved by adding a flashing beacon or flashing LED sign border to attract attention, but these systems have limited effectiveness if they flash continuously, regardless of the pavement surface condition. To counter this, some transportation agencies have begun to implement condition-responsive winter weather warning systems such as bridge deck warning systems (BDWS), and slippery curve warning systems (SCWS). Such systems improve upon the \u201calways-on\u201d warnings by providing warning alerts or messages only when warranted based on environmental sensors that provide real-time weather and pavement conditions. Typically, the warning alert consists of an LED sign border or flashing beacon(s) on a standard warning sign or weather warning messages displayed on a changeable message sign (CMS). However, due to the limited implementation of condition-responsive systems in the United States, the effectiveness of these systems on driver behavior during winter travel conditions has not been well established. To that end, a series of field evaluations were performed at multiple freeway bridge overpasses and rural horizontal curves to assess the effectiveness of winter weather warning systems as a speed reduction countermeasure during winter weather conditions. Bridge overpasses and horizontal curves were selected for this study due to their susceptibility towards icing, creating critical safety hazards for speeding drivers. Hand-held LiDAR guns were utilized to track the speeds of free-flowing vehicles traversing each study site during periods when the pavement surface was wet and temperature was below 32\ub0F. Several measures of effectiveness were utilized to assess the effectiveness of the warning system, including the magnitude of the speed reduction, the likelihood of a speed reduction, and compliance with the speed limit or advisory speed. The data were analyzed using either linear regression (magnitude of speed reduction) or logistic regression (likelihood of speed reduction or speed limit compliance). Separate analyses were performed for passenger vehicles and heavy vehicles and for faster drivers (top one-third), average drivers (middle one-third), and slower drivers (bottom one-third) based on their speed upstream of the warning system. Considering all phases of field evaluations, it was concluded that the winter weather warning systems have a significant impact on reducing driver speeds approaching bridge overpasses and horizontal curves during winter weather conditions. Specifically, a BDWS with a flashing light-emitting diode (LED) border reduced motorist speeds when encountering a bridge during winter weather conditions compared with the standard \u201cBridge Ices Before Road\u201d warning sign. The speed reduction effect was consistent between passenger cars and heavy trucks, with a slightly stronger effect was observed at night compared to daytime. Greater speed reductions were observed when the BDWS sign was combined with a dynamic speed feedback sign (DSFS) that displayed a \u201cSLOW DOWN\u201d or \u201cICY ROAD\u201d message to approaching motorists, with the strongest effects observed when the DSFS message was pulsed between high and low brightness intensities. Regarding the CMS winter weather warning messages, the most substantial impacts, both in terms of the speed reduction likelihood and magnitude, were observed when the "SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS / REDUCE SPEEDS" message was displayed on the CMS. Additionally, the winter weather warning messages were found to have the strongest speed reduction effects on the fastest one-third of drivers, which is the most vulnerable group from a crash severity risk standpoint and, thus, are considered the most highly targeted driver group for speed reductions. Furthermore, the evaluation of SCWS also showed a significant speed reduction effect for drivers approaching a horizontal curve during winter weather conditions, and the strongest speed reduction effects were observed among the fastest group of drivers. These findings were subsequently utilized towards the development of guidelines and recommendations for future use of winter weather warning systems.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
BAYESIAN PARADIGMS IN STATISTICAL MODELING WITH APPLICATIONS TO GENOMICS DATA
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Statistics - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025The field of genomic data analysis has experienced significant growth through the integration of Bayesian statistical methodologies, which offer principled frameworks for inference under uncertainty, particularly in high-dimensional and sparse data regimes. Genomic studies often involve thousands of molecular features measured across a relatively small number of biological samples, giving rise to challenges such as overfitting, collinearity, and signal heterogeneity. Bayesian models are well-suited to address these issues by incorporating prior information, enforcing sparsity, and quantifying uncertainty in a coherent manner. This dissertation explores the development and evaluation of Bayesian methods tailored to three central tasks in genomic data analysis: variable selection, multivariate regression, and dimensionality reduction for count data.Feature selection plays a critical role in discovering biomarkers associated with phenotypic outcomes, and Bayesian global-local shrinkage priors provide an adaptive mechanism for discerning informative signals from noise. We examine the theoretical and empirical behavior of various shrinkage families and propose refinements that improve model robustness in the presence of correlated predictors and group structure among covariates. These developments are motivated by real-world applications in transcriptomic and proteomic data analysis, where biological interpretability is essential for downstream validation.In the context of multi-response regression, where multiple phenotypes or experimental conditions are modeled simultaneously, we develop a class of Bayesian models based on spike-and-slab priors that account for shared structure across outcomes. Such models enable joint inference on predictor-outcome associations and accommodate both row- and column-level sparsity. We assess these models under different prior specifications and evaluate their sensitivity to hyperparameters through comprehensive simulation studies. A third major contribution of this dissertation involves the extension of Bayesian principal component analysis (PCA) to discrete and overdispersed count data, which arise frequently in modern genomic technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Classical PCA techniques rely on Gaussian assumptions and are therefore inadequate for modeling zero-inflated, non-negative data. We introduce a novel Bayesian PCA framework based on Poisson and negative binomial likelihoods, incorporating hierarchical priors for sparsity and adaptivity. This approach enables the extraction of low-dimensional representations while accounting for the stochastic nature of count-based measurements. We demonstrate the utility of our method on semi-synthetic and real single-cell datasets, highlighting improvements in clustering accuracy and biological signal preservation.Throughout the dissertation, we emphasize the importance of model validation, interpretability, and computational scalability. The proposed methods are benchmarked through simulation experiments that vary key data-generating conditions such as signal sparsity, overdispersion, and noise level. Where applicable, we also apply these models to public genomic datasets, including bulk and single-cell expression data, to illustrate their practical relevance and limitations. Taken together, this work provides a unified Bayesian perspective on three major analytical tasks in genomics and contributes flexible, generalizable methodologies for understanding complex biological systems through high-dimensional data.These contributions not only expand the statistical toolkit for genomic research but also serve as a foundation for broader methodological innovation in the analysis of structured, sparse, and heterogeneous data. By situating the work within a principled Bayesian framework and by systematically evaluating its empirical performance, this dissertation bridges theoretical rigor with practical applicability. The proposed models are readily extensible to other domains involving similar data structures, such as neuroscience, epidemiology, and ecology, thereby amplifying the broader impact of this research within and beyond the realm of statistical genomics.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
Exploring Integration Within A Mixed Methods Approach to Illuminate Real-Time Academic Experiences Shaping Students' Self-Efficacy
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Physics - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Research on self-efficacy (SE) - one's confidence in their ability to successfully perform a task - has been shown to predict students' achievement in science courses, persistence in science majors, and their science career choices. Traditionally, SE is assessed using quantitative surveys to explore changes in students' SE. However, this method limits the opportunity to capture the specific events shaping students' SE. To address this limitation, qualitative methods like interviews have been used, but they often involve significant time gaps between when specific events occur and when students report on them. My dissertation work aimed to design a mixed methods approach to leverage quantitative and qualitative methods to explore students' SE in real time. For the design, we utilized an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach, which employed the Experience Sampling Method (ESM), a technique for capturing students' experiences throughout their daily lives combined with individualized daily journal prompts. Specifically, in alignment with the Experience Sampling Method (ESM), we randomly distributed four short surveys per day via a phone application to capture students' domain-specific SE (i.e., task-specific, course-level, and career-level). As the ESM data was being collected, I analyzed the survey responses to identify threads that would inform the writing of an individualized daily journal prompt, which were disseminated to each student at the end of the day.Throughout the dissertation work, I leveraged our design to explore how to integrate the ESM survey responses with the individualized daily journal prompts to elicit SE information. Specifically, I utilized a nested case study approach, in which I compared the identified threads and the daily journal prompts written across two iterations of our mixed methods approach (i.e., Fall 2020 and Fall 2021) for six students. From this work, by adding a point of integration (i.e., examining both open- and close-ended ESM survey data to build threads to inform the writing of daily journal prompts), this lead to a more diverse range of threads to inform the daily journal prompts, as such, the daily journal prompts were able to explore the nuances of students' SE by including context-specific information from moments throughout an individual's day. Thus, adding points of integration in a mixed methods design allows for the quantitative and qualitative data to expand on one another to add additional insights about the construct of interest. As a result of the context-specificity that the additional point of integration added, we developed a codebook to explore the ways in which the individualized daily journal prompts were capturing the nuances of students' SE. From this work, we found that by including context-specific information, the prompts were able to further explore the domain-specific nature of SE and well-known sources of SE. This codebook will support STEM education researchers in considering the ways that their qualitative methods can capture the nuances of SE. Finally, the last piece of this dissertation work included identifying the evidence of integration that supports that we are interpreting the ESM survey data with the individualized daily journal prompts to be able to explore students' SE within the data analysis stage. This work is critical for being able to confirm that the individualized daily journal prompt responses are exploring the situations and contexts that the ESM is reporting and measuring SE in relation to; thus, serving as a proof of concept that the individualized daily journal prompt responses and ESM surveys are exploring students' SE in relation to their real-time experiences. As a result of this dissertation work, STEM education researchers have been introduced to an innovative mixed methods approach to explore constructs in relation to students' real time experiences, and provides techniques for integration during the data collection and data analysis stage.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
Harmonies and Hierarchies : A Critical Exploration of High School Band Culture
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Music Education - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Proponents of school band have documented a myriad of benefits, ranging from musical to social. These benefits include helping students solidify their identity as a musician (Abril, 2013), connecting with their emotions and cultures (Peltz, 2016), gaining life skills such as discipline, responsibility, self-esteem, and social awareness (Peltz, 2016; Rogers, 1985), and a sense of community (Adderley et al, 2003; Countryman, 2009). However, scholars have also offered numerous critiques of the activity, such as authoritarian rehearsal techniques (Allsup & Benedict, 2008), employing \u201cethically dubious, \u2018no-pain-no-gain\u2019 means\u201d (Regelski, 2021, p. 299) to achieve their goals, publicly ranking students\u2019 performance abilities (Robinson, 2008), and outdated instructional practices (Johnston Turner, 2021; Kratus, 2007; Williams, 2011). Researchers have also noted the continued male-domination of the field, whether within certain instrument sections (Wrape et al., 2016) or in non-performer roles such as band directors (Leimer, 2012; Music Educators National Conference, 2001) or composers (Boeckman, 2019). Despite the many calls to diversify instructional practices and roles within the field, the school band paradigm has remained largely unchanged since its inception just after World War I.Band has proven to be a popular elective course choice for students in the United States (Abril & Gault, 2008; Elpus & Abril, 2019). Many students leave their band programs grateful for the musical and social experiences they have gained through participation. At the same time, the school band paradigm has many faults that some scholars argue are harmful to students. However, scholars do not always reflect these complexities in literature. The philosophical critiques of the school band paradigm, while perhaps warranted, are generally not paired with careful, nuanced examination of how band culture realistically functions for students and directors. Therefore, it is imperative to examine band culture critically. In this study, I examined high school band culture. The research questions were: 1) What values are important to band members and the band director? 2) What symbols, heroes, and rituals exist within the band program? To answer these questions, I employed ethnographic data collection techniques (Emerson et al., 2011) within a single instrumental case study (Merriam, 1998; Stake, 2005; Yin, 2014), resulting in an ethnographic case study. I used critical theory (Giroux, 2017) as a research paradigm to critique not only the systems of power and hegemonic practices that existed the program, but also how my own role or biases may impact my worldview. I utilized Hofstede\u2019s (2001) Onion Diagram as a conceptual framework, which explores the values, rituals, heroes, symbols, and practices of an organizational culture. I collected data a single data site, the Midwest High School band program. Data sources included 1) fieldnotes from classroom observations, 2) interviews with the band director and student participants, and 3) artifact analysis. I initially used open coding (Salda\uf1a, 2013) to find emergent themes but eventually organized my findings using a priori codes from The Onion Diagram. My analysis suggested the importance of values such as community, musical enjoyment, dedication and hard work, competition, and ownership and power. Though many students had suggestions for improving the program, such as having more input in decisions, playing popular music in marching band, or removing students who do not put effort into band rehearsals, they were overall satisfied with the archetypal school band paradigm and the benefits they received from their participation. Based on the findings of this dissertation, I offered implications for practicing band teachers and music teacher educators in order to both embrace and improve high school band culture.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
Statistical Models and Computational Tools for Cancer Transcriptomics
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Statistics - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Development and commercial introduction of high throughput RNA sequencing technologies has enabled a deeper look into the complex mechanisms present at sub-cellular level in diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Bulk RNA sequencing measures the total or average content of the gene expressions per sample and allows for population level studies. These studies enable comparisons of genes and gene pathways that can predict prognosis outcome of patients or help biologists identify genes to target using immuno-therapies. More recently, spatial RNA sequencing technologies, measure tens of thousands of gene types over a grid of locations on the sample. Spatial RNA sequencing preserves location information of the measurements, hence it can be used to study the highly complex tumor micro-environment. This spatial information is crucial in understanding how immune system shuts down in and around the cancer cells, the interactions between malignant and healthy cells, and tumor metastasis. Spatial RNA sequencing, similar to other high dimensional data, requires a careful selection of important variables, in this case genes, for downstream analysis. Selecting a subset of the genes measured increases the biological signal and reduces the noise present in the data, both of which are crucial steps for any successful downstream analysis.\\In this dissertation, I present a new statistical model and computational framework to select biologically informative genes for further analysis. I demonstrate the strength of this model and the computational framework through extensive simulations and applications on real datasets. In the rest of this dissertation, I present statistical analyses of bulk RNA sequencing data from Head and Neck Squamous Cancers from three different experiments.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
ELUCIDATION OF TRANSPORT MECHANISMS IN ION EXCHANGE MEMBRANES FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL APPLICATIONS
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Materials Science and Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Ion exchange membranes are semi-permeable polymeric materials that selectively permit the transport of specific ionic species while excluding others, due to the presence of ionic groups covalently bound to the polymer matrix. These membranes are integral components in various electrochemical and separation processes, particularly in energy storage and conversion devices such as water electrolysis systems, fuel cells, and reverse electrodialysis. This work seeks to describe key transport phenomena occurring in ion exchange membranes by developing a methodology to select membranes for bipolar membrane (BPM) fabrication. BPMs were subsequently fabricated, and their performance was evaluated in a water electrolyzer with an impure feed (mimicking seawater). This is followed by an investigation of fundamental transport phenomena in ion exchange membranes, including the salt permeability and water diffusion behavior of cation exchange membranes (CEMs).BPMs are a layered structure composed of a cation and anion exchange layer (CEL and AEL), enabling unique ion transport behavior for energy applications. Choosing optimal component layers is challenging due to the wide variety of commercial membranes. To address this, nine anion exchange membranes (AEMs) and nine CEMs were evaluated for salt flux and area resistance in 0.5 mol/L NaCl solutions. A trade-off was observed: membranes with lower resistance exhibited higher salt flux, and vice versa. A selection method was developed to identify BPM components based on their transport properties, resulting in the fabrication of three BPMs. A predictive model was also developed to estimate BPM salt flux and resistance from the properties of individual membranes. Both the model predictions and experimental results demonstrated the same resistance\u2013flux trade-off observed in the individual membranes.Further research explored BPM performance in water electrolysis under two conditions: (1) a symmetric feed of deionized water to both anode and cathode, and (2) an asymmetric feed using 0.5 mol/L NaCl (cathode) and deionized water (anode). Under asymmetric conditions, total chlorine species crossover was measured at a constant current density of 250 mA/cm2 for four BPMs. Among these, the BPM composed of E98-05 (CEL) and FAS-50 (AEL) with a TiO2 water dissociation catalyst at the junction demonstrated the lowest voltage and minimal Cl 12 crossover, making it the best-performing membrane under this configuration. Results showed the cathode-facing CEM played a critical role in limiting Cl 12 crossover, primarily due to Donnan exclusion, which restricts Cl 12 transport through the CEM.Finally, the relationship between salt transport, water diffusion, and nanoscale morphology in four CEMs (Nafion 212, Fumasep FS-720, Fumasep FKE-50, and SPES50) was investigated. Small-angle neutron scattering revealed that the perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes (Nafion 212 and Fumasep FS-720) had well-defined ionomer peaks indicative of organized hydrophilic domains, in contrast to the broader, less distinct features observed in the hydrocarbon membranes (FKE-50 and SPES50). Quasi-elastic neutron scattering showed PFSA membranes had a higher water diffusion coefficient. A positive correlation was found between water diffusion coefficients and the NaCl permeability in a 0.5 mol/L solution, suggesting that molecular-scale water dynamics play a critical role in salt transport. Additionally, membranes with higher salt sorption exhibited increased salt permeability, supporting a solution-diffusion framework where permeability is governed by both mobility and internal ion concentration. These results highlight the importance of nanoscale morphology in dictating water and ion transport in CEMs.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references