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We detail our experience running an annual four-day workshop at the University of Minnesota, called the Mathematics Project at Minnesota (MPM). The workshop is for undergraduates who come from groups underrepresented in mathematics and aims to increase the participation and success of such groups in the mathematics major at the University. In this paper, we explain how MPM is organized, discuss its objectives, and highlight some of the sessions that we feel are emblematic of the program's success. The paper concludes with an analysis of achievements and obstacles in the programs' first three years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, prevailing wage laws authorize minimum remuneration by locality and occupation for public construction. The policy's goal of leveling the playing field between local and lower wage, nonlocal builders is shared by fair wage policies in Canada and posted worker rules in the European Union. This is the first paper to test if the wage policy reduces bid disparities between these two types of contractors. The statistical analysis of over 600 subcontractor bids for schools built within the Minnesota's largest metropolitan area examines differences in low, winning bids between Minnesota-based contractors and those from neighboring states with lower average construction wages. Findings indicate that prevailing wage requirements substantially reduce bid disparity between in- and out-of-state subcontractors. Additional results illustrate estimation issues related to measuring the influence of prevailing wage laws and unionized construction labor on construction costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing started publishing the journals of scholarly societies in 2018. This paper provides background on the publishing context at the University of Minnesota (UMN) Libraries, discusses the service expansion to include scholarly societies, and reflects on working directly with scholarly societies. The paper will also document some of the challenges and workflows involved in publishing society journals in hopes of encouraging more library publishers to enter into publishing partnerships with societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heuristic-systematic model (HSM) suggests that when presented with a choice, individuals will use either heuristic or systematic processing modes to arrive at a judgment. In this paper, we evaluate the HSM model in the context of hunter perceptions toward chronic wasting disease (CWD), a neurological disease found in members of the family Cervidae that threatens the health of cervid populations and the flow of benefits humans derive from them. Data were obtained from surveys of hunters who harvested inside (N = 1500) and outside (N = 3500) of Disease Management Areas (DMAs) across the state of Minnesota with an overall response rate of ∼33%. Results suggested that self-efficacy and information sufficiency were associated with heuristic processing, while motivation was associated with systematic processing. Heuristic processing was associated with lower levels of perceived risk than systematic processing. Our results have implications for the communication efforts related to CWD management and engagement with the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Place of last drink (POLD) is a law enforcement strategy designed to decrease the service of alcohol to intoxicated patrons (i.e., overservice). When officers respond to an alcohol-related incident, they inquire about and record the place where the involved individuals last drank alcohol; this information can help identify licensed alcohol establishments that show a pattern of overserving alcohol. We evaluated the effects of a POLD initiative on various types of crime. Methods: The POLD initiative was conducted in the state of Minnesota (USA). We compared 26 intervention jurisdictions to 26 matched comparisons. Outcomes were six crime measures (e.g., driving under the influence, violent, nonviolent). Predictors were levels of participation and implementation of POLD. We fit a separate Poisson regression model for each crime outcome and each predictor. Results: In all models, we found little difference in crime rates between intervention and comparison jurisdictions. No effect on crime was observed for either participation or implementation levels of POLD. However, we found implementation levels were relatively low across jurisdictions. Conclusion: This study adds to a very limited literature addressing the effects of POLD on public health harms such as crime. The particular POLD initiative did not appear to affect crime rates. We found POLD implementation levels showed considerable room for improvement and could help to explain some of the lack of effects of POLD on crime. More research is needed in additional localities and to assess whether specific aspects of implementation could help to strengthen POLD efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities, including the movement of harvested cervids, pose significant risks for spreading chronic wasting disease (CWD) to new locations. This study used hierarchical agglomerative clustering to compare Minnesota, USA hunters' carcass disposal habits and likelihood of CWD testing as a function of individual differences in risk perceptions and hunting area. We utilized a survey of Minnesota hunters conducted during Spring 2020 that included a random sample of individuals that hunt statewide and in a local disease management zone (N = 5,000, response rate = 33%). We did not detect a significant difference in disposal behaviors as a function of CWD risk perceptions, but rather because of increased accessibility of low-risk disposal methods. Conversely, we found perceived likelihood of conducting CWD testing was positively associated with perceptions of risk. These findings have implications for vector tracing for future CWD outbreaks and highlight the benefit of understanding constituent habits and regulation compliance in disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bayesian vector autoregressive (BVAR) model with the Minnesota prior proposed by Litterman [Litterman RB. Forecasting with bayesian vector autoregressions-five years of experience. J Business Economic Statist.1986;4(1):25–38.] has been very successful in multivariate time series modelling, providing better forecasting performance. However, the conventional Minnesota prior for BVAR depends only on the latest lag; in turn, it is not suitable for multivariate long memory time series forecasting. This study extends BVAR to (possibly) high-dimensional long memory time series. To this end, we incorporate a vector heterogeneous autoregressive (VHAR) structure to accommodate long-term persistence and impose priors on distant lags as well. Our proposed Bayesian VHAR (BVHAR) models, the so-called BVHAR-S and BVHAR-L, are easy to implement by using the Normal-inverse-Wishart prior and added dummy variable approach of [Bańbura M, Giannone D, Reichlin L. Large bayesian vector auto regressions. J Appl Econom. 2010;25(1):71–92.]. A supporting simulation study also proves posterior consistency. We further apply our models to nine CBOE Volatility Indices (VIXs) and show that our BVHAR models perform best in forecasting with the narrowest forecasting region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design standards for the Federal Interstate Highway System in the US are generally higher than those on other roads within most states, making it the safest road system in the US. Federal law prevents states from enforcing vehicle weight limits on interstate highways that deviate from established Federal weight limits or state-specific grandfathered weight limits or exceptions. As a result, trucks hauling logs at state-legal limits must travel on other roads, passing through towns/cities and school zones where they may encounter on-coming traffic and intersections. All these encounters increase the risk of an accident. This study compared fatality rates of log trucks to other heavy trucks in the lower 48 states, road damage cost estimates for interstate and non-interstate roads and assessed the impact of relaxing interstate weight limits on various factors for hauling logs along three travel corridors in Wisconsin and Minnesota, USA. On a per-load basis, log trucks have a lower fatality rate than other heavy trucks in 83% of the lower 48 states. Due to the higher design standards, pavement damage costs are lowest on interstate highways as compared to other road types. Allowing state-legal, loaded log trucks access to federal interstate highways would improve the overall safety and efficiency of timber transportation and reduce pavement damage costs and CO2 emissions within the study areas. Overall, the study findings suggest that allowing state-legal, loaded log trucks to operate on interstate highways would improve the safety and efficiency of timber transportation in Wisconsin and Minnesota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of a single abnormal finding on electrocardiography (ECG) is not recommended for stratifying the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in low-risk general populations because of its low discriminative power. However, the value of a scoring system containing multiple abnormal ECG findings for predicting CV death has not been sufficiently evaluated. In a prospective community-based cohort study, 8417 participants without atherosclerotic CV diseases (ASCVDs) and any related symptoms were followed for 18 years. The standard 12-lead ECGs were recorded at baseline and the ECG findings were categorized using the Minnesota code classification. CV deaths were defined as death from myocardial infarction (MI), chronic ischemic heart disease, heart failure, fatal arrhythmia, cerebrovascular event, pulmonary thromboembolism, peripheral vascular disease and sudden cardiac arrest and identified using the Korean National Statistical Office (KOSTAT) database. In a multivariate Cox proportional hazard (CPH) model, major and minor ST-T wave abnormalities, atrial fibrillation (AF), Q waves in the anterior leads, the lack of Q waves in the posterior leads, high amplitudes of the left and right precordial leads, left axis deviation and sinus tachycardia were associated with higher risks of CV deaths. The ECG score consisted of these findings showed modest predictive values represented by C-statistics that ranged from 0.632 to 760 during the follow-up and performed better in the early follow-up period. The ECG score independently predicted CV death after adjustment for relevant covariates in a multivariate model, and improved the predictive performance of the 10-year ASCVD risk estimator and a model of conventional risk factors including age, diabetes and current smoking. The combined ECG score (Harrell's C-index: 0.852, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.828–0.876) composed of the ECG score and the conventional risk factors outperformed the 10-year ASCVD risk estimator (Harrell's C-index: 0.806; 95% CI, 0.780–0.833) and the model of the conventional risk factors (Harrell's C-index: 0.841, 95% CI, 0.817–0.865) and exhibited an excellent goodness of fit between the predicted and observed probabilities of CV death. The ECG score could be useful to predict CV death independently and may add value to the conventional CV risk estimators regarding the risk stratification of CV death in asymptomatic low-risk general populations. The ECG score based on the Minnesota code classification can independently predict CV death and significantly improve the predictive power of the conventional CV risk estimators in asymptomatic low-risk general population. The combined ECG score comprised the ECG score, age and the presence of diabetes and current smoking predicted CV mortality more accurately than the conventional SV risk estimators. ECG may still be a viable CV risk stratification tool for population-based health screening projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weigh-in-motion technology plays a crucial role in efficiently collecting data for traffic monitoring and controlling freight weight limits, with accuracy influenced by pavement temperature. However, research in asphalt pavement temperature modeling faces challenges due to limited environmental data and a lack of comprehensive insight into prediction performance across various sensor installation depths. To address this, an investigation was conducted through a field study at MnROAD in Minnesota, USA, predicting asphalt pavement temperature using data from an on-site weather station. Nine weather factors were considered, and these weather factors were utilized to predict pavement temperature through four regression analysis methods, including linear regression, two types of polynomial regression, and an artificial neural network (ANN) model. To validate the predictions, real pavement temperature data was collected at various depths using embedded sensors. The results showed that the ANN model outperformed other statistical regression models, achieving an R-squared value of up to 0.96. The findings also suggested an optimal sensor installation depth of 2.25 inches, achieving an R-squared over 80% with the ANN model while only considering three highly correlated weather factors for pavement temperature. Additionally, the consistent results from a secondary weather station validate the developed pavement temperature models in this study.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa) (Desvaux in Loiseleur) J. Groves is an invasive macro alga that can take over entire water columns and outcompete native species. Previous research has quantified seasonal life history and phenology but there is no research quantifying carbohydrate allocation. The current study utilized samples harvested from Lake Koronis, Minnesota, USA from 2020 and 2021 to quantify starch allocation patterns in N. obtusa. Starch was quantified using the amylase/amyloglucosidase method. Starch data were compared to light transmittance (%), pH and water temperature (°C) via mixed procedures models in SAS. Seasonal average low and high points of starch storage were observed to be June (3.3%) and April (9.9%) for thalli biomass then June (41.7%) and November (54.6%) for bulbils. In regard to allocation patterns, above ground thalli reallocates carbohydrate stores to the below ground rhizoids in May. Carbohydrates are then transported to bulbils from July through September as rhizoid starch decreases and the bulbil starch increases. Ultimately, the carbohydrates are converted to starch and stored in bulbils (21.0–73.7%). In its invaded range, bulbils are important for energy store, vegetative reproduction and spread, as well as temporal distribution. These bulbils spread easily, spread rapidly, can store a lot of energy (73% starch), and are a major concern for the invasion of N. obtusa. Water temperature and light availability were shown to negatively influence starch content of thalli. These findings suggest that in the invaded range, N. obtusa is capable of accumulating large amounts of starch later into the growing season. The energy reserves may give N. obtusa a competitive advantage over native species by allowing a longer growing season resulting in the production of more vegetative propagules and greater longevity in the environments it invades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrative medicine is an approach to healthcare that acknowledges the stories of patients' lives both within and beyond the clinical setting. Narrative medicine has been increasingly recognized as a promising tool to support modern educational needs in health professions training, such as interprofessional practice, while enhancing quality of care. Here, we describe the development, implementation, and application of a narrative medicine program at the University of Minnesota Phillips Neighborhood Clinic. First, in a qualitative analysis of patient stories (n = 12) we identified themes regarding the value of the storytelling experience; patients' personal journeys; and patients' experiences in healthcare and other systems. Second, an interprofessional educational activity for student volunteers (n = 57) leveraging a patient narrative was observed to be satisfactory, significantly improve attitudes toward the underserved, and enhance quality of care from the perspectives of trainees. Together, findings from the two studies imply the potential benefits of broader incorporation of narrative medicine into interprofessional service settings, for both learners and patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) funds comprehensive services for people living with HIV to support viral suppression (VS). We analyzed five years of RWHAP data from the Minneapolis-St. Paul region to (1) assess variation and (2) evaluate the causal effect of each RWHAP service on sustained VS by race/ethnicity. Sixteen medical and support services were included. Descriptive analyses assessed service use and trends over time. Causal analyses used generalized estimating equations and propensity scores to adjust for the probability of service use. Receipt of AIDS Drug Assistance Program and financial aid consistently showed higher probabilities of sustained VS, while food aid and transportation aid had positive impacts on VS at higher levels of service encounters; however, the impact of services could vary by race/ethnicity. For example, financial aid increased the probability of sustained VS by at least 3 percentage points for white, Hispanic and Black/African American clients, but only 1.6 points for Black/African-born clients. This study found that services addressing socioeconomic needs typically had positive impacts on viral suppression, yet service use and impact of services often varied by race/ethnicity. This highlights a need to ensure these services are designed and delivered in ways that equitably serve all clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary care practices face significant challenges as they pursue the Quadruple Aim. Redistributing care across the interprofessional primary care team by expanding the role of the medical assistant (MA) is a potential strategy to address these challenges. Two sequential, linked processes to expand the role of the MA, called Enhanced Rooming and Visit Assistance, were implemented in four family medicine residency clinics in Minnesota. In Enhanced Rooming, MAs addressed preventive services, obtained a preliminary visit agenda, and completed a warm hand-off to the provider. In Visit Assistance, MAs stayed in the room the entire visit to assist with the visit workflow. Enhanced Rooming and Visit Assistance processes were successfully implemented and sustained for over one year. MAs and providers were satisfied with both processes, and patients accepted the expanded MA roles. Mammogram ordering rates increased from 10% to 25% (p < 0.0001). After Visit Summary (AVS) print rates increased by 12% (p < 0.0001). Visit Turn-Around-Time (TAT) decreased 3.1 minutes per visit (p = 0.0001). Expanding the MA role in a primary care interprofessional team is feasible and a potentially useful tool to address the Quadruple Aim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunters in the United States are motivated to obtain and benefit from diverse experiences or experience preferences. Using a mail survey conducted during the 2015–2016 hunting season, we examined goal-oriented, introspective, and leadership experiences among hunters on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Management Area (WMAs). We used k-means cluster analysis to identify six clusters based on experience preferences. We defined these clusters using their ranked experience preferences and segregated them into categories of either participants or enthusiasts. These clusters showed differences in demographic characteristics, as well as support for management actions on WMAs. Hunters in clusters with lower importance ratings of experience preferences also reported less attachment to WMAs. High levels of support for management actions were closely related to high levels of place attachment. Using information gained from describing the heterogeneity of desired experiences, managers may be better able to understand their constituents and prioritize management goals to provide a variety of hunting experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood malnutrition and its later life effects were important concerns in European and North American social policy in the early twentieth century. However, there have been few studies of the long-term socioeconomic consequences of malnutrition in childhood. We use a unique longitudinal dataset to provide credible causal estimates of the effects of childhood nutrition on early-adult educational and employment outcomes. Our dataset includes 2,499 children in Saint Paul, Minnesota who were weighed and measured in a national children's health survey in 1918/1919 at 0–6 years of age. We observe those same people in the 1920, 1930 and 1940 U.S. censuses allowing us to measure childhood socioeconomic status, adolescent school attendance (1930) and early-adult wages, and employment and educational attainment (1940). Examining variation between biological siblings, we are able to obtain credibly causal estimates of the relationship between childhood stature and weight and later life outcomes, largely canceling out the bias otherwise resulting from their joint correlation with genes and socioeconomic background. Because the initial survey located children within households, we identify the effect of differences in early childhood nutrition from differences between male siblings. Consistent with contemporary evidence from developing countries, we find that being taller and heavier in early childhood is associated with better educational and labor market outcomes. Identifying all effects within families to control for socioeconomic background and family structure, we find a standard deviation increase in BMI in early childhood was associated with a 3% increase in weekly earnings and that boys who were heavier for their age at the initial survey were 10% less likely to be unemployed in 1940. Taken together, these results confirm the importance of investments in early-life health for later-life outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2022, a benchmarking survey was completed to gage learner satisfaction with library services, spaces, and resources across 10 Mayo Clinic Libraries. The discussion for this project began around a previously published survey of what medical students wanted from their library. Librarians were asked if Mayo Clinic Libraries could do a similar survey, as a full survey of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science had not been done. Overall, the findings were positive and provide a baseline for future surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent e-cigarette use has increased dramatically in recent years and is quickly becoming a serious public health issue. While studies have identified the influence of social norms on the use of traditional cigarettes, few have examined these factors in the context of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices. Objective: The goal of this study was to examine social norms predictors of past 30-day e-cigarette use among high school students in 10 communities located in Minnesota. Results: In our sample (N = 3,285), students who believe most students in their school vape daily are more likely to have vaped in the past 30 days than those who believe most students vape weekly or less frequently. Further, students were likely to have used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days if they perceived that most students approved of vaping (i.e., they disagreed with the statement that, "vaping is not a good thing for anyone their age to do"). Findings from this study highlight social norms related to perceptions that increase the likelihood of past 30-day e-cigarette use. Conclusions: Results from this study lend themselves to norms-based prevention science strategies that are critical to reducing e-cigarette use among high school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are an aquatic invasive species generalist with known ecological and economic impacts due to their settlement and attachment characteristics as well as their filtration abilities. Although zebra mussel attachment to abiotic substrates has been extensively studied, the importance of organic substrates for established zebra mussel populations in North American waters has not been evaluated. We assessed organic substrates in four west-central Minnesota lakes. Using qualitative analysis, we found most substrates were used proportionally to their availability. A quantitative assessment revealed significantly more zebra mussels attached to detritus than pondweeds (P < 0.05). Algae (filamentous and Chara spp.) were a significant suitable substrate for zebra mussel attachment (P < 0.05). Furthermore, more juvenile zebra mussels were found on organic substrates than were adults (P < 0.001). Although not always a consistent substrate, biological material as a vector for zebra mussel spread and settlement should be considered in further research to mitigate subsequent invasions and manage already naturalized populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality of life (QoL) is important to nursing home (NH) residents, yet QoL is only publicly reported in a few states, in part because of concerns regarding measure stability. This study used QoL data from Minnesota, one of the few states that collects the measures, to test the stability of QoL over time. To do so, we assessed responses from two resident cohorts who were surveyed in subsequent years (2012–2013 and 2014–2015). Stability was measured using intra-class correlation (ICC) obtained from hierarchical linear models. Overall QoL had ICCs of 0.604 and 0.614, respectively. Our findings show that person-reported QoL has adequate stability over a period of one year. Findings have implications for higher adoption of person-reported QoL measure in long-term care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Vaping rates among college students have been increasing significantly in recent years, due in large part to the diffusion of pod vaping devices (i.e., JUUL, Suorin) on American college campuses. In this study, we explore the ecological system of knowledge, attitudes, and practices in regards to this trend. Participants: Participants were 26 undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota. Method: Following a KAP (knowledge, attitudes, practices) approach, 8 focus groups were conducted in April/ May 2019. Results: Knowledge themes include awareness of the addictiveness of the devices and uncertainty regarding the health risks. Attitudinal themes include a dual perspective, wherein social use is acceptable, but everyday use is stigmatized. Practice themes included three evident stages: social connection, wherein the devices were used to achieve social advantage with peers; addiction, characterized by solitary, habitual use; and detachment, sometimes marked by a dramatic, public action filmed for social media. Conclusions: As we consider intervention points on college campuses, an understanding of knowledge, attitude, and practice themes can guide our approach. Recommendations for college vaping campaigns are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is one of the key soil components for cultivated soils. SOC is regularly monitored and mapped to improve the quality, health, and productivity of the soil. However, traditional SOC-level monitoring is expensive for land managers and farmers. Estimating SOC using satellite imagery provides an easy, efficient, and cost-effective way to monitor surface SOC levels. The objective of this study was to estimate the surface SOC distribution in selected soils of Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA), 102A (Rolling Till Plain, Brookings County, SD), and 103 (Central Iowa and Minnesota Till Prairies, Lac qui Parle County, MN), using satellite imagery with different resolutions (Landsat 8 and PlanetScope). The dominant soils in the study area are Haplustolls, Calciustolls, and Endoaquolls, which are formed in silty sediments, local silty alluvium, and till. Landsat 8 and PlanetScope spectral bands were used to develop SOC prediction models. Parametric and data-driven methods were employed to predict the SOC. Multiple linear regression and Linear Spatial Mixed Model (LSMM) were used on the Landsat 8 and PlanetScope data. In addition to the parametric models, Regression Trees and Random Forest were also employed on both satellite data. The results showed that reduced LSMM provided the lowest RMSE, which are 0.401 and 0.367 for Landsat 8 and PlanetScope, respectively. Furthermore, the random forest has the highest RPD and RPIQ for Landsat 8 (RPD of 2.67 and RPIQ of 2.49) and PlanetScope (RPD of 2.85 and RPIQ of 3.7). In all cases, models obtained from PlanetScope are better than those obtained from Landsat 8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine whether bacterial contamination of rider's hands is less with a novel ergonomic wheelchair (EW) than a standard wheelchair (SW). After wheelchair hand rims were disinfected, volunteers wearing nitrile gloves propelled each wheelchair through a standardised "run" in hospital. Post-run cultures were obtained from riders' gloved hands. Bacterial hand counts were compared between runs matched by rider (same rider, different chairs) or time (different riders in each chair, running concurrently), and overall. Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System (MVAHCS), a large tertiary care facility. Eleven employee volunteers. EW, as compared with SW. With SW, co-location of hand rims and tyres potentially exposes the user's hands to tyres, which risks contaminating the user's hands with ground-source bacteria. Our novel ergonomic wheelchair (EW) separates drive wheel and hand rims, potentially reducing hand contamination. Bacterial hand counts. Post-run bacterial hand counts were over 10-fold lower with the EW than the SW. This was true (i) when the same rider tested both chairs sequentially (n = 8 pairs) (median counts, 40 vs. 1030; p = 0.008), (ii) when different riders tested the two chairs concurrently (n = 9 pairs) (median counts, 40 vs. 660; p = 0.004), and (iii) overall (median counts, 40 [n = 9 runs] vs. 550 [n = 10 runs]; p < 0.001). Separation of wheelchair hand rims from tyres significantly reduces bacterial hand contamination. Reduced hand contamination could decrease bacterial infections and dissemination of resistant bacteria, warranting further study. The novel design of the ergonomic wheelchair, removing the push rim from proximity to the wheelchair tyre, keeps the hands of wheelchair users cleaner. The re-design of the standard manual wheelchair was implemented initially to improve shoulder ergonomics during manual wheelchair propulsion and has the added benefit of reduction in the transfer of bacteria from floors to hands for manual wheelchair users. Since the ergonomic wheelchair has the potential to decrease rates of bacterial infection in manual wheelchair users, further testing is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research with rural LGBTQ + youth suggests their experiences of stigma and victimization, as well as related health concerns, may be greater than that of urban LGBTQ + youth. Regional differences may also affect their experiences, yet we lack research on the nuanced contextual factors affecting LGBTQ + youth in the rural Midwest. This study examined the lived experiences pertaining to community and school environments among LGBTQ + youth in rural Minnesota (N = 7). Specifically, we aimed to understand how youth navigated their gender and sexual identities, including authenticity, within these contexts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with LGBTQ + youth and then analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings include three themes: (1) school-related hostility and challenges; (2) community intolerance affecting personal authenticity; and (3) affirming environments, support, and authenticity. The findings indicate rural LGBTQ + youth in Minnesota have difficulty accessing inclusive resources and navigating rural environments; also highlighting the resiliency of youth and their ability to identify people and spaces that provided opportunities to practice authenticity and wholeness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presenters demonstrated the most recent results and insights from a long-running, iterative Collection Management Technology (CMT) project. Demonstrations included a journal package level analysis report, an interactive subject analysis report, several data visualization designs for journal package analysis, and a program to automate report production, including data visualizations. Finally, the current, cyclical journal collection review process was compared to a past cycle to highlight how the CMT team's development priorities have changed. Instead of focusing primarily on efficiency and information yield in the tools they build, the team has now prioritized the development of tools that enable interaction with the data and broaden understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charter schools have emerged as the most prominent manifestation of educational reform in the United States. As an alternative to traditional public schools, charter schools have been the schools of choice for Somalis. Through in-depth interviews, this phenomenological study explored the experiences of a dozen Somali parents of children who attended Somali-operated charter schools in Minnesota, United States. The study found that the schools protected Islamic values and culture, functioned as an extended home for Somali children, and facilitated communication considered essential to the social well-being of resettled refugees. Additionally, the study shed light on the importance of religious principles and cultural values in shaping parents' choice of schools for their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]