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Creation of a care coordination tool to streamline care for children with complex medical care needs
No full textChildren with complex medical care needs require extensive resources, and their families face significant challenges in coordinating care, managing insurance, and integrating various care plans. Pediatric Palliative Care has proven effective in filling gaps in care coordination, but access to Pediatric Palliative Care services is limited in many areas, including Michigan. This project aims to develop a comprehensive care coordination tool tailored to the needs of these families. The tool will be developed with input from caregivers, primary care providers, and nurse coordinators, ensuring it is user-friendly and accessible. It will help families manage appointments, medications, and care plans while promoting collaboration between caregivers and providers. Initially, the tool will require manual updates, with future plans for integration with electronic medical records. Surveys will collect data from caregivers, primary care providers, and nurse coordinators to assess the tool's effectiveness, usability, and impact on workload. The results will guide refinements to ensure the tool meets user needs and minimizes burdens. This initiative aims to improve care coordination, reduce stress for families, enhance provider efficiency, and improve outcomes for children with complex medical needs. By addressing gaps in Pediatric Palliative Care access and care coordination, the project seeks to create a scalable and adaptable solution for families navigating pediatric chronic careThesis (D.N.P.)--Michigan State University. Other, 2025Includes bibliographical references (pages 38-43
TRACING DISPLACEMENT THROUGH EMOTION : AFGHAN REFUGEE EXPERIENCES OF RUPTURE, UNCERTAINTY, AND TRANSNATIONAL INTIMACY
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Anthropology - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025ABSTRACTIn August 2021, the United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, marking the end of nearly two decades of war, the longest in U.S. history. Deprived of U.S. military and logistical support, the Afghan government, already weakened by internal divisions and corruption, quickly collapsed, enabling the Taliban\u2019s return to power. Amid the ensuing chaos, thousands of Afghans fled the country, many through emergency airlifts organized by the United States and its allies. Among them were evacuees resettled in Michigan, whose experiences of displacement, evacuation, and resettlement form the basis of this dissertation. Focusing on these experiences, this study examines how emotions both shape and are shaped by Afghan evacuees\u2019 migratory trajectories, and how centering emotion as an analytical lens can illuminate aspects of migration that conventional approaches often overlook. This dissertation analyzes the emotional dimensions of Afghan evacuees\u2019 experiences across three interconnected phases: the fall of Kabul and the decision to flee the country; evacuation and flight; and the processes of resettlement and adaptation in the United States. Drawing on ethnographic research, narrative analysis, and attention to everyday practices, the study investigates how emotions shape decision-making, perception, and meaning-making throughout these phases of displacement and resettlement. Expanding the analytical frameworks of rupture and uncertainty as experiential conditions through which emotions emerge and shape lived experiences, this project examines how Afghan evacuees navigated ongoing rupture, layered uncertainties, throughout the migration process, and the challenges of building lives in exile. Furthermore, rather than privileging a single aspect as the defining feature of emotion, a tendency in scholarly work on emotions, this project examines their multidimensionality, attending to their subjective, temporal, and embodied dimensions, as well as their relation to past experiences, present navigation, and future anticipations. The analysis also highlights the intersubjective dimensions of emotions and their embeddedness within broader sociocultural, political, and historical contexts. While migration research has often prioritized the legal, political, and economic dimensions of displacement, neglecting the emotional dynamics embedded within them, this study foregrounds emotions as constitutive rather than peripheral to the migration process. Emotions are employed both as analytical tools and as sites of experience, demonstrating that emotional and rational processes, which are often framed as separate in conventional dichotomies, are not experienced as distinct in Afghan migratory trajectories. In turn, emotions shape evacuees\u2019 interpretations, perceptions, decisions, and responses throughout displacement and resettlement.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
MECHANISTIC INVESTIGATIONS AND ADVANCEMENTS IN CATALYTIC ASYMMETRIC HALOFUNCTIONALIZATION REACTIONS
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Chemistry - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Chapter I outlines the importance and mechanistic diversity of catalytic asymmetric halofunctionalization reactions. It reviews classical stepwise pathways via haliranium or \u3b2-halocarbenium intermediates and introduces the concerted NAAA (nucleophile-assisted alkene activation) mechanism. The concept of halenium affinity (HalA) is discussed as a predictive tool for electrophilic halogenation. The chapter also introduces key kinetic analysis methods, including Reaction Progress Kinetic Analysis (RPKA) and Variable Time Normalized Analysis (VTNA), emphasizing VTNA for its simplicity. Finally, practical considerations for reaction monitoring techniques, such as in situ NMR and React-IR, are discussed to support mechanistic studies in subsequent chapters. Chapter 2 presents an in-depth mechanistic study of the (DHQD)2PHAL-catalyzed asymmetric chloroetherification of alkene amides, serving as a representative case of intermolecular halofunctionalization. Through kinetic isotope effect (KIE) studies, variable time normalization analysis (VTNA), and in situ NMR monitoring, we reveal a unique multi-regime kinetic profile. Under different reaction concentrations and catalyst loadings, three distinct rate laws are observed, highlighting a dynamic mechanistic landscape in which the rate-determining step shifts based on the relative concentrations of reactive intermediates. This chapter lays the foundation for understanding the interplay between nucleophile activation, halogen donor binding, and substrate reactivity in asymmetric intermolecular halofunctionalization. Chapter III focuses on the catalytic asymmetric chloroamidation of alkene amides. While this reaction shares several mechanistic features with the chloroetherification system\u2014including nucleophile-assisted alkene activation and formation of key halogenating complexes\u2014differences in solvent environment and nucleophile structure lead to notable shifts in rate law behavior and catalytic resting states. Mechanistic probing reveals that catalyst turnover is influenced by the increased nucleophilicity of the amide nitrogen, as well as potential catalyst\u2013substrate aggregation phenomena. These findings further underscore the sensitivity of the catalytic cycle to small variations in substrate and solvent properties. Chapter IV explores the mechanistic details of the catalytic asymmetric chlorocyclization of alkene amides\u2014an intramolecular transformation that closely resembles the previously studied chlorolactonization pathway. Despite their mechanistic similarities, including the involvement of concerted nucleophile-assisted alkene activation (NAAA), these two transformations exhibit opposite facial selectivities. This difference is rationalized through kinetic and stereochemical analysis, as well as catalyst\u2013substrate docking considerations. The investigation also highlights the influence of solvent polarity and hydrogen bonding on conformational bias and transition state geometry, offering deeper insight into stereocontrol in cyclization-based halofunctionalization. Building upon these mechanistic studies, Chapter V introduces the synthesis and application of a CF3-substituted (DHQD)2PHAL catalyst, specifically designed to facilitate direct 19F NMR tracking of catalyst-bound intermediates. This fluorinated catalyst enables real-time monitoring of catalyst speciation and kinetic behavior in both chloroetherification and chlorolactonization reactions. The use of 19F NMR enabled the observation of resting-state complexes and catalyst-product inhibition, providing direct spectroscopic evidence in support of the mechanistic hypotheses established in earlier chapters. These results not only validate the proposed kinetic models but also demonstrate the utility of 19F NMR as a powerful tool in the study of complex catalytic systems. Collectively, this dissertation presents a unified mechanistic framework for a family of (DHQD)2PHAL-catalyzed asymmetric halofunctionalization reactions. By combining experimental kinetics, spectroscopic studies, and mechanistically informative isotopic labeling techniques, these studies reveal how subtle variations in substrate structure, nucleophile identity, and reaction conditions can profoundly alter the catalytic cycle. These insights provide a platform for future rational catalyst design and underscore the importance of detailed mechanistic understanding in asymmetric synthesis.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
HARNESSING THE POWER OF APPLIED STATISTICS TO CONTRIBUTE TO SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Statistics - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025This dissertation research integrates applied statistical modeling, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public policy relevance to support climate-resilient agriculture and deepen understanding of scientists' philosophical commitments. The researcher has structured their training around applied statistical projects across diverse domains including agroecology, environmental science, economics, and the social sciences.A primary focus of this work is the development of Bayesian hierarchical models to assess the impacts of soil-health practices, specifically crop diversification, on field-level corn yields under variable climate conditions. The researcher designed statistical models that quantify the risk-mitigating effects of regenerative agricultural practices. These models provide field-level corn yield estimates for dry and average seasons, incorporating expert knowledge from agroecologists via principled Bayesian prior elicitation. The models serve policy-relevant purposes, such as informing USDA Farm Bill provisions, guiding Farm Service Agency programs, and influencing Risk Management Agency insurance pricing. Methodological innovations include neighborhood-based spatial modeling to manage edge effects and spatial correlations, as well as the use of high-performance computing to handle large-scale Midwestern datasets from states such as Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, and South Dakota.The current federal crop insurance system incentivizes simplified crop rotations, which are more vulnerable to weather stress, in part because they can be detrimental to soil health. This increases the risk for farmers and insurers. This is why field-level data is necessary for lenders and insurers to incorporate soil health into their risk assessments. The researcher integrated economic risk modeling by linking field-level yield predictions to revenue distributions under commodity price volatility. This analysis uses a combination of national price risk via Black-Scholes modeling and local elevator-based pricing data to estimate farm-level revenue uncertainty. Results suggest that input cost variability outweighs weather-related risks and that soil-health practices can reduce downside yield and revenue risks without sacrificing performance. Evidence also indicates a reduction in revenue variance when increasing crop rotation complexity, such as moving from two-crop to three-crop rotations. The research I have accomplished will help farmers capture more of the ecosystem services\u2019 societal value of diversifying around cash crop rotations and adopting cover crops and other soil-healthy practices; and will help public and private policy-makers take steps to increase the adoption of these practices.Ongoing work aims to extend the modeling framework to more spatially diverse regions such as Michigan, where conventional assumptions about spatial scale and practice effects may not apply. In addition, the researcher will support the future development of a software tool for lenders and insurers to assess risk-reduction benefits of conservation practices. Our contributions will emphasize accessibility and interpretability for stakeholders unfamiliar with statistical modeling.Complementing this agricultural research, the researcher is also contributing to an NSF-funded project investigating the philosophical (ontological, epistemological, and axiological) commitments of U.S. scientists. This interdisciplinary effort includes philosopher, sociologist, and anthropologist collaborators, and involves a standardized survey administered to a stratified random sample of 4,113 tenure-system faculty at 83 Carnegie R1 institutions. The researcher has been involved in survey design, sampling frame development, and statistical analysis using latent variable structural equation modeling (SEM), further deepening expertise in measuring scientific disciplinarity.Together, these research experiences demonstrate the researcher\u2019s capacity to develop and apply rigorous statistical tools across domains. By integrating Bayesian inference, agricultural economics, and structural equation modeling in the social sciences, the work aims to support agricultural resilience, inform public policy, and contribute to broader societal and environmental well-being.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
WITHIN- AND TRANS-GENERATIONAL PLASTICITY OF SELF-FERTILIZING PLANTS IN THE CONTEXT OF PLANT-SOIL INTERACTIONS
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Plant Biology - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025When environments undergo rapid change (e.g., within the lifetime of an individual), phenotypic plasticity may be an important mechanism through which organisms may acclimate to novel and/or stressful conditions. Plasticity may occur within or across generations and, if it functions to increase the fitness of individuals that exhibit plastic changes, can provide an opportunity for population persistence and/or selection to operate. While numerous environmental stressors have been shown to elicit plastic responses within and between generations, the capacity for invasive plants to induce plastic responses in native plants via belowground root exudation is less understood. Biological invasions are a major environmental issue leading to global change, with many invasive plants classified as allelopathic. The process of allelopathy has been associated with decreased performance of native plants and has also been linked to the evolution of resistance in native plant populations exposed to allelopathic invaders. Here, I use a combination of greenhouse studies and bioinformatics to untangle the effects of allelopathic garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata, Brassicaceae) root exudates (i.e., leachate) on the performance of native wildflowers, with emphasis on Lobelia inflata (Campanulaceae). I found evidence that the allelopathic effects of garlic mustard were species- and genotype-specific, lending support to prior research that has found the negative effects of garlic mustard to be context specific. I also found evidence that garlic mustard allelochemicals can act as a cue for phenotypic plasticity within and across generations of native plants. In the context of Lobelia inflata, transgenerational effects of garlic mustard allelochemical exposure were beneficial for offspring experiencing the same soil conditions as their parental plant but appeared to come at a cost if offspring were grown in mismatched soils. Finally, we began building a molecular toolkit for Lobelia inflata, and in doing so, utilized transcriptome analyses to test the effect of garlic mustard leachate exposure against pH soil-mediated stress in this species. We found complex responses in Lobelia inflata to soil pH alterations, but comparatively few differentially expressed genes in response to leachate exposure. Our results provide detailed insights into the response of Lobelia inflata to garlic mustard allelochemicals. Moving forward, we envision studies utilizing multigenerational frameworks as well as omics tools to further elucidate the temporal dynamics of invasion by allelopathic plant species.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
A FUNDAMENTAL STUDY ON THE THERMOMECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF ELASTIC SPHERES CHARGED WITH A TWO-PHASE FLUID
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Mechanical Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Several studies have examined the elasticity of expanding spheres containing either pure gas or pure liquid. Several other studies have examined encapsulated, phase change materials for energy storage with the focus on solid-solid and solid-liquid phase change. However, it appears that a study characterizing an expanding and contracting elastic sphere charged with a two-phase fluid has yet to be addressed in the open literature. This dissertation aims to fill this gap in the literature by developing an analytical model, along with a numerical investigation and experimental validation, that characterize a slightly more sophisticated system. The system comprises an elastic sphere partially filled with a liquid along with a mixture of its vapor and air. This model predicts the sphere\u2019s volume variation following variations in the conditions of its environment by merging a non-linear elasticity model of the shell with the 1st law of thermodynamics, ideal gas law, law of mass conservation and the theory of psychrometrics.Although the model is based on the quasistatic thermodynamic assumptions and zero permeability of the sphere rubber shells, experimental observations demonstrate that the model adequately describes the sphere-fluid system under both transient and static operating conditions. Two experimental methods were pursued to produce these operating conditions; The first method visually records the sphere expansion and contraction during the evacuation of air out of a vacuum chamber within which the sphere is suspended. In the second equilibrium method, the sphere is submerged in water, and the pressure of the environment (i.e., a vacuum chamber) is reduced to a low enough value to allow for some evaporation of the encapsulated liquid. The spheres were fabricated using a lab-made rubber press, and an elaborate procedure that yields bubble-free spherical shells and perfectly sealed ethanol-charged spheres. A parametric study was conducted with a basis of six parameters to characterize the spheres; the parameters include the initial diameter of the spherical shell, the final temperature of the fluid, the initial liquid fill level, the fluid used, the elastic shell stiffening factor, and elastomer shear modulus. Prior to conducting an experiment, the shells need to be inflated and deflated ten times to obtain a repeatable elastic response to internal pressure. A laser aligned setup was used to capture the sphere pressure-stretch behavior. It also used a camera fitted with a prime lens to minimize the distortion in the sphere photographs. The same camera was used in the transient experiments. The error between the analytical model and the transient experiments ranged from 17% to 35%. The larger error is due to the sagginess of the larger spheres. The uncertainty in the model output did not exceed 7% when computed using a Monte Carlo simulation. The error between the analytical model and equilibrium experiments ranged from zero to 14.8%. The uncertainty in the equilibrium experimental procedure, however, was not entirely quantifiable due to imperfections in the testing apparatus, which is largely a consequence of using a webcam to measure the sphere diameter, in addition to submerging the spheres in water. The webcam and the water buoyancy effects distorted the sphere dimensions. The reason why water was used was to maintain a constant surrounding temperature. Two other promising methods for maintaining a constant surrounding temperature, without water involvement, were attempted only as proof of concept. The first is black body radiant heating and the second is induction heating. The former only worked in a small plexiglass vacuum chamber lined with aluminum foil. The latter reached the proof-of-concept stage in the custom-built large vacuum chamber. The numerical part of this work was considered sufficient for describing the equilibrium behavior of the spheres, as it strictly adheres to the quasistatic assumption. The transient experiments demonstrated that ignoring the permeability of the elastomer was reasonable provided that the experiment duration remains below 30 minutes.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
HENS GONE WILD! STUDYING ACTIVITY AND PLAY IN CAGE-FREE BROWN LAYING HENS
No full textThesis (M.S.)--Michigan State University. Animal Science - Master of Science, 2025The laying hen industry is transitioning toward cage-free systems such as aviaries; however, limited research has examined how different aviary designs influence hen behavior and welfare. This study evaluated the effects of housing system design on hen activity levels and play behavior. 2,464 Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly assigned at 16 weeks of age (WOA) to two styles of multi-tiered aviary systems with litter area: NATURA 60 (N60) or NATURA Step (STEP). Each aviary design was replicated in two rooms, with four pens per room (N60:144 hens/pen
7 8 pens; STEP: 164 hens/pen
7 8 pens). Horizontal and vertical activity of two focal birds per pen (n = 32 birds/WOA) were recorded at 18, 28, and 59 WOA across four one-hour time periods per day (Time of Day, TOD). Both activity measures showed significant age
7 TOD
7 design interactions, indicating that hens\u2019 movement patterns changed not only with age and time of day but also differed depending on aviary design. Play behavior was recorded at the pen level at 17, 21, 27, and 32 WOA. The occurrence of running and wing flapping was influenced by aviary design, and the relative proportions of frolicking, running, wing flapping shifted with age in a design-specific manner. Overall, this study demonstrates that aviary design can influence both how and when hens move and play, with implications for behavior-based welfare assessments. Recognizing these dynamic, age-dependent patterns is essential for optimizing housing environments throughout the production cycle.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
Polyether Design for Human Health : Their Role in Therapeutics, Diagnostics, and Society
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Chemical Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and PEG derivatives, i.e., polyethers, have transformed medicine in the 21st century primarily due their biocompatibility and tunable properties. PEG derivatives with functional groups attached as pendants and at the chain ends (hetero-multifunctional polymers) provide numerous opportunities for synthetic modification. In this work, we aimed to exploit these functionalities through precise initiator design, resulting in highly tunable, biocompatible polyethers with clinical relevance in therapeutics (i.e., hapten-targeted immunotherapies) and diagnostics (i.e., CT medical imaging). Aluminum-based initiators were synthesized which (1) incorporate highly reactive small molecules to functional polyether chain ends, (2) produce nanoparticle-polyether conjugates with controlled brush properties through surface-initiation, and (3) yield block-co-polymers consisting of a PEG block and a functional poly(epichlorohydrin) (PECH) block for facile routes of synthetic modification to achieve desired properties. The structural and compositional control was established for polymerizations from all novel initiators and synthetic modification was achieved for the anticipated use in therapeutics and/or diagnostics. Finally, societal perceptions play a major role in implementation of novel pharmaceutical interventions. Therefore, the societal barriers to effective treatment outcomes were explored in a population associated with one targeted application in this work, hapten-targeted immunotherapies for treating opioid use disorders. Ultimately, this work furthers our understanding of polymer chemistry/synthesis and informs future design and effective implementation of polymer-based materials for applications in human health.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
Non-thermal Plasma Synthesis of Carbon Nanoparticles
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Chemical Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy, 2025Carbon nanoparticles are highly valued for their unique physicochemical properties and diverse applications in fields such as energy storage, catalysis, sensing, and biomedicine. These materials are typically produced through various chemical or physical processes; however, synthesizing well-structured carbon nanoparticles directly from methane\u2014a highly abundant but chemically inert greenhouse gas\u2014remains a significant challenge. Methane's strong C-H bonds and low reactivity often lead to the formation of amorphous carbon rather than the more desirable crystalline graphitic structures. This study addresses these limitations by leveraging a non-thermal flow-through plasma reactor to synthesize crystalline carbon nanoparticles directly from methane, demonstrating potential pathway for both greenhouse gas mitigation and material synthesis. Careful tuning of plasma reactor parameters enabled the controlled formation of crystalline graphitic nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provided clear evidence of graphitic crystallinity, showing well-defined lattice fringes that confirmed the structural quality of the synthesized nanoparticles. Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) identified the presence of the diatomic carbon radical (C2) within the plasma, a key precursor species necessary for nanoparticle formation. Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) further complemented these findings by providing spatially resolved absolute density measurements of C2 along the reactor. These measurements revealed that C2 concentration was highest near the powered electrode, where the plasma is most intense, and gradually decreased downstream as the radicals were consumed in the growth of carbon nanoparticles. The insights gained from this study underscore the critical role of plasma parameters and reactive species in governing the synthesis process. By controlling the spatial and temporal dynamics of key intermediates like C2, it is possible to steer the growth of nanoparticles toward crystalline graphitic structures. This work not only advances the understanding of methane activation in plasma environments but also demonstrates the viability of using plasma technology as a sustainable and efficient route for transforming a potent greenhouse gas into high-value nanomaterials.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references
HOW DOES SOIL HEALTH RESPOND TO WILDFIRE IN MIXED-CONIFER FORESTS, CALIFORNIA?
No full textThesis (M.S.)--Michigan State University. Crop and Soil Sciences - Master of Science, 2025Currently, severe wildfires in California forests threaten soil health functions and processes influencing overall forest ecosystem health and sustainability. Understanding the impact of fire energy and severity on soil properties is crucial for developing effective fire management strategies aimed at reducing wildfire risk. Our objective was to evaluate how wildfire influences key metrics of soil health in mixed-conifer forests in California, USA. We collected soil samples and leveraged existing field measurements of immediate pre-, active-, and post-wildfire forest characteristics from a 17-year chronosequence of time since fire. We analyzed eight soil extracellular enzyme activity rates (EEAs) and soil properties such as permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), bioavailable nitrogen (NCitrate), total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N), pyrogenic carbon (PyC), and soil pH. Our findings showed that the interaction between fire energy and time since fire had a significant and negative impact on POXC, TC, TN, and NCitrate. Soil pH significantly increased with fire energy and decreased with time since fire. Fire severity and time since fire were poorly correlated with soil enzyme activity. In contrast, we observed a significant decrease in most EEAs such as carbon-acquiring enzymes and phosphatase in response to fire energy. Notably, the nitrogen-acquiring enzyme such as \u3b2-N-acetyl glucosaminidase (NAG) was the only enzyme that showed a significant response to the interaction between fire energy and time since fire. There was no significant response to fire energy or fire severity, times since fire and the interaction between time since fire and fire indexes for nitrogen-acquiring enzyme like leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), C:N, and PyC. Despite the increasing use of burn severity metrics in field studies, our results indicate that variation in post-fire soil processes may be better explained by fire energy than by burn severity and that these metrics may not always be closely related.Description based on online resource. Title from PDF t.p. (Michigan State University Fedora Repository, viewed ).Includes bibliographical references