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INVESTIGATING THE EFFECT OF NANOCLAY, AND CHAIN EXTENDERS ON THE MECHANICAL AND BARRIER PROPERTIES OF POLY (GLYCOLIC ACID) AND POLY (BUTYLENE ADIPATE-CO-TEREPHTHALATE) BLENDS
No full textThesis (M.S.)--Michigan State University. Packaging - Master of Science, 2025Multilayer packaging materials are widely used in food and pharmaceutical packaging by extending shelf life and improving product protection. However, it is estimated that 2.6 million tons of multilayer packaging end up being incinerated or landfilled annually in the US alone. Poly (glycolic acid) (PGA) has the advantage of having an excellent gas barrier, along with very high mechanical strength, while poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) has the advantage of being flexible and easy to melt-process. Despite the high barrier of PGA, it is a brittle and moisture-sensitive polymer, while PBAT has low barrier properties and low mechanical strength. This study aims to enhance the properties of PBAT/PGA polymer blends using epoxy chain extenders as compatibilizers and nanoclay as a reinforcing and gas and moisture barrier enhancing agent. 70 wt.% PBAT+30 wt.% PGA with 1 phr Joncryl and 3 wt.% nanoclay cast films showed a 119.6% increase in tensile strength, a 22.5% increase in tensile modulus, and a 12.6% decrease in elongation at break with respect to un-compatibilized 70 wt.% PBAT+30 wt.% PGA blend with no nanoclay. The addition of nanoclay resulted in a 64.8% improvement in oxygen and 24.55% improvement in water vapor barrier as compared to blend without nanoclay.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
IMPACT OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON BLUEBERRY RIPENING AND QUALITY
No full textThesis (M.S.)--Michigan State University. Horticulture - Master of Science, 2025Blueberry production in the United States has increased six-fold over the past decade, with Michigan\u2019s annual output valued at over USD 100 million. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) have long been integral to managing fruit development in tree fruit and grape systems, yet their use in blueberry remains limited despite clear potential. This thesis examines the role of PGRs in northern highbush blueberry through a systematic review and meta-analysis, original field trials, and an observational study on the effects of PGRs on fruit quality uniformity. The meta-analysis synthesizes existing literature, revealing significant research gaps, limited product registration, and opportunities to address production challenges such as fruit set, ripening, and postharvest quality. Across species, gibberellic acid (GA3) and cytokinins (CKs) increase fruit set; CKs increase berry size; abscisic acid (ABA) and GA3 do not influence berry size; GA3 increases yield; and ABA does not enhance anthocyanin concentration. A field trial evaluated the impact of two jasmonate forms on \u2018Bluecrop\u2019; methyl jasmonate (MeJA) increased total soluble solids (TSS), anthocyanin content, and volatile compounds associated with flavor. Jasmonates also increased uniformity in ripeness metrics at harvest (TSS and mass) while reducing uniformity in firmness. Together, these studies demonstrate that PGRs can influence not only the mean fruit quality in blueberry but also the distribution of ripeness traits at harvest. By showing that certain PGRs can compress the spread of ripeness, while maintaining or even enhancing desirable quality attributes, this work highlights a practical, scalable avenue for improving both production efficiency and market competitiveness.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
Bayesian spatio-temporal models for forest inventory small area estimation
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Forestry - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Environmental and ecological data collection efforts have proliferated as innovative technologies such as remote sensing platforms have advanced. At the same time, national forest inventory (NFI) programs have been implemented to monitor forest ecosystem structure and health through the systematic measurement of forest attributes, including carbon storage and aboveground biomass density. These data have traditionally been used to estimate forest parameters of interest, which inform management and policy-making decisions. Still, efforts to better model environmental data and produce reliable estimates of parameters of interest at varying scales have also received recent attention. Now, increased demand for estimates within small domains has led to the development of specialized statistical methods to produce reliable estimates in sparse data settings, known collectively as small area estimation (SAE) methods. Further, NFI data are routinely indexed in both space and time, meaning statistical associations can be defined for both spatial and temporal domains, allowing researchers to implement a wide variety of models based on the well-developed theory of spatio-temporal statistics. Together, these methodological developments allow for reliable estimation of forest parameters of interest in small areas, and provide seamless quantification of forest changes and trends over time. In subsequent chapters, we apply these methodological developments to United States (US) NFI data to evaluate their effectiveness and to examine trends in forest carbon and biomass change in response to prominent disturbance agents. In Chapter 2, we extend the traditional Fay\u2013Herriot (FH) SAE model to a spatio-temporal setting to quantify forest carbon dynamics for counties within the contiguous US over a 14-year study period. Chapter 3 presents an improved spatio-temporal SAE model that better leverages sparse NFI data and bypasses the use of direct estimates required in traditional SAE approaches. Finally, Chapters 4 and 5 implement zero-inflated spatio-temporal SAE models to quantify fine-scale changes in forest parameters associated with natural gas development in the Appalachian region and wildfires on the West CoastDescription based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
MULTISCALE INVESTIGATION OF SWELLING-INDUCED INSTABILITIES AND PHOTOCHEMICAL MANIPULATION OF PEG HYDROGELS
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Materials Science and Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Polymer gels - cross-linked networks capable of large volumetric changes - develop significant internal stresses during solvent uptake, leading to a range of transient instabilities from mesoscale surface patterning to catastrophic fracture. While these phenomena affect performance in applications from biomedical devices to adaptive coatings, the links between network architecture, swelling-driven stress evolution, and mechanical stability remain incompletely understood. This dissertation presents a multiscale experimental investigation of swelling-induced instabilities in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based gels, with emphasis on the interplay between network structure, solvent transport, and photoresponsive cross-linking. Together these studies connect molecular scale design parameters to meso- and macroscale behavior, showing that swelling instabilities, network mechanics, and fracture resistance can be tailored - and in some cases tuned in real time - by combining structural control during synthesis with targeted photochemical reactions in use. The design principles demonstrated here enable spatiotemporal programming of surface morphology, stiffness, and mechanical lifetime in polymer gels, opening new pathways for adaptive membranes, responsive coatings, drug delivery systems, and soft actuators.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
VECTOR COST BIMATRIX GAMES FOR ADVERSARIAL MOTION PLANNING
No full textThesis (M.S.)--Michigan State University. Electrical and Computer Engineering - Master of Science, 2025The vector cost bimatrix game is a method for multi-objective decision making that enables agents to optimize for multiple goals at once while avoiding the neglect of other objectives. We formulate this vector cost alternative to the scalarization method for weighting and combining multi-objective costs. The algorithm produces solutions to bimatrix games that are simultaneously pure, unique Nash equilibria and Pareto optimal with guarantees for avoiding worst-case outcomes. We achieve this by enforcing exact potential game constraints to guide cost adjustments towards equilibrium while minimizing the deviation from the original cost structure. The magnitude of this adjustment serves as a metric for differentiating between Pareto optimal solutions. We implement this approach in a racing competition between agents with heterogeneous cost structures, resulting in fewer collision incidents with a minimal decrease in performance.We then expand this approach to arbitrary numbers of objectives and conduct an in-depth comparative study using state-of-the-art validation tools. Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) software is used to aid in the analysis of high dimensional decision-making data. Statespace Exploration of Multidimensional Boundaries using Adherence Strategies (SEMBAS) is applied to explore performance modes in the parameter space as a sensitivity study for the baseline and proposed frameworks. While some works have explored aspects of game theoretic planning and autonomous vehicle validation separately, we combine each of these into a novel and comprehensive simulation pipeline. This integration demonstrates a dramatic improvement of the vector cost method over scalarization and offers an interpretable and generalizable framework for autonomous vehicle behavioral planning.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
Empowering communities : a DNP project on advisory board development for substance use and maternal health services
No full textEngaging community members in developing healthcare initiatives for substance use disorder (SUD) among pregnant individuals remains a significant challenge. Establishing an integrated addiction medicine, obstetric, and family-centered clinic in Michigan highlights the need for a Community Advisory Board (CAB) that represents Metro Detroit's diverse needs. Despite the importance of community-driven care, mechanisms to effectively engage and utilize the CAB's insights to influence clinic operations and policy have not been established. This evidence-based practice (EBP) project aims to develop a CAB to empower the community and improve maternal health services for pregnant and postpartum individuals with SUD. A Community Needs Assessment (CNA) was conducted to identify key challenges. Some of the challenges identified included stigma, transportation barriers, limited treatment access, and healthcare coordination gaps. Using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice model, the project focused on stakeholder engagement and addressing disparities in maternal and SUD treatment. Findings from the CNA highlighted significant care gaps, including transportation challenges, inconsistent medication-assisted treatment (MAT) access, and the need for culturally competent care. The implementation of a CAB will help to bridge these gaps by fostering community trust, improving access to resources, and strengthening communication between consumers and providers. This project reinforces the importance of community driven initiatives in addressing maternal health disparities and proposes a sustainable CAB model that can be adapted in similar healthcare settings. Future efforts should evaluate the long-term impact CABs have on reducing pregnancy-associated mortality rates and improving SUD treatment outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals.Thesis (D.N.P.)--Michigan State University. Psychiatric mental health practitioner, 2025Includes bibliographical references (pages 41-47
House Bill 4935 : nursing licensure compact in Michigan: a policy analysis
No full textThesis (D.N.P.)--Michigan State University. Psychiatric mental health practitioner, 2025Includes bibliographical references (pages 45-48
Beyond a seat at the table : Investigating gender differences in leaders\u2019 strategic conversation networks
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Psychology - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Theories related to the strategic management of organizations, such as the UpperEchelons Theory (Hambrick & Mason, 1984) and the Resource-Based View (Wernerfelt, 1984), suggest that gender diversity in leadership groups can enhance organizational strategy because women will have a tangible and unique impact on strategic decision-making. However, empirical studies based on the Upper Echelons Theory and the Resource Based View have predominantly relied on demographic representation as a proxy for women\u2019s impact on strategy, assuming that the presence of women in leadership equates to their influence on strategic decision-making. Research on gender and networks would suggest that women leaders are not consistently involved in critical strategic conversations\u2014even if they are demographically represented in leadership groups. This raises an important question: Are women leaders participating in strategic conversations at the same rate as their men counterparts, or are they still on the sidelines? My dissertation addressed this question by drawing from theory and research at the intersection of gender and networks. I hypothesized that homophily tendencies, combined with the gender composition of organizations, makes women leaders (1) less likely than men to be connected with men leaders, but more likely than men to (2) reach outside of their own work groups to form connections, and (3) to form gender heterogeneous ties. In turn, the composition of women\u2019s network ties makes them less likely to occupy powerful, stable, and strong positions in strategic conversation networks. Further, I hypothesized that the extent to which leaders have connections with men leaders would be more strongly and positively associated with powerful network positions for women leaders than for men leaders. I tested my hypotheses in a sample of 673 upper- and middle-managers from 13 organizations across different industries who completed social network surveys. Results showed complex patterns. Despite women having lower network \u2018power\u2019 than men, results showed that women had significantly fewer men contacts in their strategic networks, and that such differences were unexpectedly related to increased network \u2018power\u2019 (degree centrality). The relationship between the proportion of men leader contacts and network power was more positive, but not significant for women leaders. Contrary to expectations, women also had fewer contacts outside of their immediate work groups, which led to increased network \u2018stability\u2019 (contact density). When considering the larger gender composition of each organization, having more women in organizational leadership positions or on the top management team strengthened the positive indirect effect of gender on network power through having fewer men contacts. Rather than being excluded from strategic conversations as the gender and networks literature might suggest, women appear to develop alternative networking approaches that can effectively increase their involvement in strategy networks. By moving beyond demographic representation to analyze how men and women leaders participate in strategic networks, the present dissertation offers important insights into the mechanisms that shape involvement in organizational strategy networks and women\u2019s career advancement.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
Enhancing Urban Park Safety : A CPTED-Based Approach to Community-Driven Design in Detroit
Full text linkThesis (M.A.)--Michigan State University. Environmental Design - Master of Arts, 2025Urban parks play a crucial role in supporting physical activity, psychological well-being,and overall public health, making them vital resources for community life (Wolch et al., 2014; Raap et al., 2022). As cities invest in park improvements to promote resilience and livability, users\u2019 perceptions of safety often shape their success (Mohan and Chani, 2025). Growing attention among planners has focused on the role of the built environment - particularly strategies rooted in Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) - to reduce fear and crime and improve quality of life (Hussain & Said, 2015). For CPTED strategies to succeed, community input is critical, as shown in research emphasizing the importance of participatory planning and localized knowledge (Hou et al., 2025; Nubani et al., 2023). This study explores how CPTED principles, guided by community input, can enhance perceptions of safety in LaSalle-Ford Park in Detroit, Michigan. The study employed a two-phase survey process. In Phase 1, community members were surveyed on safety concerns in the existing park, and crime data from the Detroit Police Department were analyzed. These insights informed a CPTEDbased redesign visualized through 3D renderings. In Phase 2, a separate group of participants evaluated the redesigned proposal to assess changes in perceived safety. While the role of engagement was not measured, community input was foundational to the redesign. Statistical analysis using the Mann-Whitney U test showed significant improvements in perceptions of safety related to visibility, seating, and overall comfort, while perceptions of accessibility, community activity, and nighttime safety remained unchanged. These findings highlight the value of integrating community-informed CPTED strategies in urban park design and emphasize the importance of considering both environmental and social factors when designing safe, inclusive public spaces.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
\u201cPREPARE THEM TO LEAVE WELL\u201d : STORIES OF FORMER STUDENT AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS\u2019 CAREER CHANGE
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the career changes of former student affairs (SA) professionals who left campus-based work for adjacent or new industries to understand their experiences. This study expands the SA career scholarship and helps current SA scholars and professionals understand the full range of career experiences in the field by presenting the stories of former SA professionals with diverse positionalities who broke away from the SA career. Using story as a methodology and an interpretive framework informed by life course perspectives, I aimed to answer the following research question: How did former student affairs professionals experience their career change? The findings suggested that former SA professionals experienced career change in the following ways: (1) Career Needs, Values, and Turning Points, which refer to the influence of early life career needs and values of stability, support, consistency, well-being, agency, and inclusion as well as turning points in the student affairs career involving concerns with salary, workplace exclusion, privileged students, work-life integration, and supervisors in driving participants\u2019 decision to change careers; (2) Constraints and Resources, which illustrate the role the student affairs profession, family and community, and new workplaces, and the linked lives within these contexts, in shaping participants\u2019 transitions through constraints (i.e., lack of information, disapproval from colleagues and mentors, skepticism, and exclusion) and resources (i.e., supportive colleagues, transferable skills and knowledge, financial assistance, informational support, networking, work-life integration, social support, and professional growth opportunities); and (3) Exercising Agency, which points to participants\u2019 efforts to shape their experience by planning their career change and supporting others\u2019 career development in student affairs, even after leaving the field. Considering the findings, this dissertation argues that former SA professionals experienced career change based on the interaction between their early lives and career turning points, external settings and actors, and individual decisions, reflecting their diverse positionalities. This study calls on the SA field to meet its workforce\u2019s diverse career development needs by not only improving SA careers for those who choose to remain or return but also by further studying and supporting career changes beyond campus-based education.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references