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For almost 40 years, the Minute Paper has been a quick and easy means of learning assessment, both in the college classroom and in library instruction. More recently, the use of social media, particularly selfies, has gained popularity by connecting with students through the technology with which they are most familiar. This article makes the case for combining the Minute Paper and selfies in order to gain an insight into students' skill development and retention after a library session. Adaptable to a variety of classes and learning outcomes, the activity enables students to actively use the skills they have learned, rather than passively reflecting on them.

Paper and pulp mills generate substantial quantities of cellulose-rich sludge materials that are disposed in landfills at a large scale. For sustainability purposes, sludge materials can be bioprocessed to produce renewable fuels and useful chemicals. The enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose is the process bottleneck that affects the conversion economics directly by using zero-cost raw materials. In order to study and optimize the process, the characteristics of the sludge raw materials should be first evaluated. In this work, sludge samples were obtained from paper mills located at different locations in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Part of the sludge samples was washed (de-ashed) with hydrochloric acid while the other part remained unwashed. The samples were subjected to multiple spectroscopic analyses techniques to evaluate the morphological properties of cellulose fibers and to estimate the total structural carbohydrate content. The results showed that the de-ashing process changed some fiber characteristics and cellulose crystallinity structure in all sludge samples. Sludge sample A (obtained from Kraft pulp and recycled paper mill region) showed a high percentage of fiber, with crystalline cellulose, compared to the other two sludge samples suggesting that sludge A is a valuable source to make value-added products. Aspen Plus mass and energy calculations performed in view of the 'zero' cost and the reliable supply of sludge raw materials producing 2 mol H 2 /mol glucose. Moreover, the results showed that extracting crystalline cellulose from these sludge samples is more profitable than crystalline cellulose made from the other lignocellulosic feedstocks. The results reported here showed that the utilization of these sludge materials would be an economically attractive and promising alternative for the production of hydrogen. Image 1 • A new method for paper mill sludge (PMS) characterization as renewable feedstock. • The deashing step has a major effect on the bioconversion of the PMS. • Studying the crystalline cellulose of the PMS. • A relation between the characterization and potential sugar yield was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the navigating manuscript rejection. Topics include the study demonstrating how common manuscript rejection is among faculty of all academic ranks in hopes to normalize rejection and open conversations about rejection in mentorship; approach, innovations related to the study design, and reason for the rejection of the study to quantify on the fate of manuscripts.

The decision for libraries to make print collections available in a digital format has already been made. The question is how to go digital in a way that is practical (e.g., considering funding, staff time) and useful for patrons (both local and remote). Though creating digital versions of paper maps has been standard practice for a decade or more (Allen, 1999), there have been many useful technological advances in recent years such as increased Internet connection speeds and better file compression technology (Peterson, 2001). Given the decrease in technological costs and the increase in technological efficiencies, making paper maps available in a digital format is more feasible than ever before. Due to the nature of cartographic materials, the next step is more challenging--oversized maps are difficult to present in their entirety given the limitation of screen size. The John R. Borchert Map Library at the University of Minnesota is challenged on how to provide access to these digitized items in a way that is useful for their patrons.

Within the context of a counterbalanced design, 102 students from either a high school or a large Southeastern university were administered two versions of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A): a computer-administered version (CA) and a paper-and-pencil version (PAP). Time between testing sessions was approximately one week. Differences in individual scale means between the CA and PAP were calculated using paired "t" tests, with the Bonferroni correction procedure; no mean differences were statistically significant ( p [greater than] 0.05). To determine if the scale distributions were similar Hartley's homogeneity of variance tests were conducted; there were no differences in the shapes of the scale distributions ( p [greater than] 0.05). Pearson product-moment coefficients were calculated to determine if the relative rankings were similar across administration formats; coefficients for every scale were positive and statistically significant ( p [less than] 0.01). (Contains 4 tables.)

Much recent discussion has focused on the pros and cons of cloud computing. Some institutions are attracted to cloud computing benefits such as rapid deployment, flexible scalability, and low initial start-up cost, while others are concerned about cloud computing risks such as those related to data location, level of service, and security infrastructure. For institutions that have done due diligence and determined that the benefits of cloud computing outweigh the risks, this article serves as a resource to help mitigate those risks through the contract terms with a cloud services provider. It is intended to highlight some best practices and complement, not obviate, an institution's existing legal, contractual, or purchasing policies. (Contains 12 endnotes.)

Identifying tobacco use status is essential to address use and provide resources to help patients quit. Being able to collect this information in an electronic format will become increasingly important, as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has included the assessment of tobacco use as part of its Stage 1 Meaningful Use criteria. The objective was to compare the accuracy of online vs. paper assessment methods to ascertain cigarette smoking status using a face-to-face structured interview as the gold standard. This was a retrospective analysis of a stratified opportunity sample of consecutive patients, reporting in 2010 for a periodic health evaluation, who completed either a scannable paper-based form or an online questionnaire and underwent a standardized rooming interview. Compared with face-to-face structured interview, the overall observed agreement and kappa coefficient for both methods combined (paper and online) were 97.7% and 0.69 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51-0.86) . For the online form they were 97.4% and 0.61 (95% CI 0.33-0.90), and for the paper form they were 97.9% and 0.75 (95% CI 0.54-0.96). There was no statistically significant difference in agreement between the online and paper-based methods ( P=0.76) compared with a face-to-face structured interview. Online assessment of tobacco use status is as accurate as a paper questionnaire, and both methods have greater than 97% observed agreement with a face-to-face structured interview. The use of online assessment of tobacco use status has several advantages and more widespread use should be explored. ( Population Health Management 2014;17:185-189) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with disabilities often require healthcare accommodations in order to access high-quality, equitable healthcare services. While attention has been paid to accommodation needs in specific disability populations, limited research to date has explored healthcare accommodations that cross-cut diverse disability populations.Objective: To identify a deeper understanding regarding accommodations in healthcare settings that could apply across disability populations and promote equitable healthcare.Design: We conducted qualitative focus groups with patients with disabilities and caregivers to understand their experiences and preferences for healthcare accommodations.Participants: We recruited patients and caregivers across all major disability categories to participate in focus groups. Participants were recruited through advocacy organizations and healthcare settings in Southeastern Minnesota.Approach: A total of eight focus groups were conducted with 56 participants. Participants described their healthcare experiences and desires for healthcare accommodations. The multidisciplinary research team recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded all focus groups. The team thematically coded transcripts using content analysis within and across focus groups to identify major themes.Key Results: Patients identified four challenges and corresponding steps healthcare team could take to promote equitable care: (1) consistent documentation of disabilities and needed accommodations in the medical record; (2) allowance for accommodations to the environment, including adapting physical space, physical structures, and scheduling and rooming processes; (3) provide accommodations for administrative tasks, such as completing paper or electronic forms; and (4) adapt communication during interactions, such as speaking slower or using terms that patients can easily understand.Conclusion: These identified themes represent specific opportunities for healthcare teams to effectively provide accessible care to patients with disabilities. Many of the accommodations require minimal financial investment, but did require behavioral changes by the healthcare team to ensure equitable healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We sought to understand the relative impact of fielding mode on response rate among public health alumni. Methods: As part of the 2021 Career Trends Survey of alumni from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, we designed a fielding mode experiment to ascertain whether a paper survey, a postcard with a custom survey link ("postcard push-to-web"), a mobile telephone call or text (mobile), or an email invitation would garner the highest response rates. Invitations were randomly assigned from available contact information. Results: Of 8531 alumni invited, 1671 alumni (19.6%) completed the survey. Among the initial fielding modes, the paper survey had the highest response rate (28%), followed by mobile (19%), email (10%), and postcard push-to-web (10%). More robust recent engagement with alumni relations, paper survey invitation or mode switch, and recent graduation were all significantly associated with a higher likelihood of response. Conclusions: Paper and mobile invitations had the highest response rates to our survey among public health alumni. Findings from this fielding mode experiment are relevant to schools and programs of public health seeking to capture similar information among their alumni, especially given current trends in investment in the public health workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Despite efforts to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS), only 5% of the world's population enjoy smoke-free restaurants and bars. Methods Lifetime excess risk (LER) of cancer death, ischaemic heart disease (IHD) death and asthma initiation among non-smoking restaurant and bar servers and patrons in Minnesota and the US were estimated using weighted field measurements of SHS constituents in Minnesota, existing data on tobacco use and multiple dose-response models. Results A continuous approach estimated a LER of lung cancer death (LCD) of 18×10−6 (95% CI 13 to 23×10−6 ) for patrons visiting only designated non-smoking sections, 80×10−6 (95% CI 66 to 95×10−6 ) for patrons visiting only smoking venues/sections and 802×10−6 (95% CI 658 to 936×10−6 ) for servers in smoking-permitted venues. An attributable-risk (exposed/ non-exposed) approach estimated a similar LER of LCD, a LER of IHD death about 10−2 for non-smokers with average SHS exposure from all sources and a LER of asthma initiation about 5% for servers with SHS exposure at work only. These risks correspond to 214 LCDs and 3001 IHD deaths among the general non-smoking population and 1420 new asthma cases among non-smoking servers in the US each year due to SHS exposure in restaurants and bars alone. Conclusions Health risks for patrons and servers from SHS exposure in restaurants and bars alone are well above the acceptable level. Restaurants and bars should be a priority for governments' effort to create smoke-free environments and should not be exempt from smoking bans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information on the research papers to be presented at the "22nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychophysiological Research" to be held at the Sheraton-Ritz Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from October 21 to October 24, 1982. The majority of the research reports will be given and discussed informally at three Science Fairs. In addition, research reports will be presented at two traditional paper sessions, and specific problem areas will be addressed by several participants in each of four Symposia. Some of the papers are as follows: Artistry and artifact in facial EMG/emotion Studies: Methodology, miscellany, and the multivariate Imperative; Topographical analysis of the Integrated EMG; and Methodological considerations in facial EMG recording.

This article offers responses from various authors to the article "Incarnational immersion-based learning in cultural contexts: A charity model," by Dr. John Trokan (2005.) Mount St. Joseph's program on incarnational immersion-based learning, as described in the article by Dr. John Trokan, will have the participating students' eyes opened to the richness and complexity of spiritual, social, political, and economic issues among peoples of different culture. Civille shares that in his classes, he uses films and case studies to give the students some sense of seeing the world through the eyes of others. But he believes nothing compares to the firsthand experience of living in another culture and experiencing with the people their joys and hopes, their anxieties and fears. Mount St. Joseph College should be commended for its program. As Beckman reads Trokan's essay, she indeed also sees differences between the community-based learning efforts at Mount St. Joseph and her school's own. She attempts to allow Trokan's words to help her rethink what they do. For Green, the Trokan article tells the story of one particular program at one particular school. It shows a willingness that needs to be replicated at other universities and Catholic schools around the country to engage our students' faith formation by creating meaning. It shows that there is an ever increasing awareness to bring students back into relationships and service to others for the common good.

Presents a case study on worker exposures during boiler construction in a pulp and paper plant in Minnesota. Exposure of workers to emissions generated from adjacent boilers; Presentation of signs and symptoms; Conduction of environmental and medical evaluation of boiler at the construction site.

This paper investigates the ability of several generalized Bayesian vector autoregressions to cope with the extreme COVID-19 observations and discusses their impact on prior calibration for inference and forecasting purposes. It shows that the preferred model interprets the pandemic episode as a rare event rather than a persistent increase in macroeconomic volatility. For forecasting, the choice among outlier-robust error structures is less important, however, when a large cross-section of information is used. Besides the error structure, this paper shows that the standard Minnesota prior calibration is an important source of changing macroeconomic transmission channels during the pandemic, altering the predictability of real and nominal variables. To alleviate this sensitivity, an outlier-robust prior calibration is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karen Sames was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. From an early age, she was surrounded by art. An experience with occupational therapy during the third grade jumpstarted her journey connecting art to occupation. Karen believes that art is a necessary part of life and credits much of her own personal success with art to her friends and family for their inspiration and to the instructors at the Eagan Art House in Minnesota. Her piece "Cherry Blossoms," a pastel on paper, is based on a photograph taken by her son, who is currently living in Japan, and graces the cover of the Spring 2024 edition of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article poses a response to one argument supporting the force feeding of political prisoners. This argument assumes that prisoners have moral autonomy and thus cannot be force fed in the early stages of their hunger strike. However, as their fasting progresses, their cognitive competence declines, and they are no longer autonomous. Since they are no longer autonomous, force feeding becomes justified. This article questions the recurrent citation of a paper in empirical support of the claim that hunger strike causes mental disorders or cognitive impairments. The paper, written by Daniel Fessler, partially relies on the Minnesota Starvation Experiment conducted in 1944 to 1945 for scientific support. Using widely accepted criteria for assessing the ethical acceptability of clinical research, we argue that the Minnesota Starvation Experiment had significant scientific shortcomings and is a case of unethical research. From this, we question the appropriateness of citing the Minnesota Starvation Experiment and consequently Fessler's paper. If Citing Fessler's paper becomes problematic, this particular argument for the force feeding of prisoners loses much of its strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This narrative, single-case study examines how liaison librarians at the University of Minnesota (UMN) came to include advocating for reform of the scholarly communication system among their core responsibilities. While other libraries may hire a coordinator or rely on a committee to undertake outreach programs, UMN has defined baseline expertise in scholarly communication for all librarians who serve as liaisons to disciplinary faculty members. By "mainstreaming" scholarly communication duties, UMN is declaring these issues central to the profession. This intrinsic study uses evidence gathered from open-ended interviews with three participants, supplemented by documentation. It explores the context of these changes, systems thinking, and new mental models.

Purpose: The Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) is a UNICEF framework based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). CFCI was launched globally in 1996 to protect children's rights throughout the world. There are child friendly cities in over 44 countries around the globe, but none presently in the United States. The purpose was to establish a Child Friendly City in the United States. Description: Child friendly cities are a child-rights and equity-based approach designed to ensure all children in a community reach their full potential for optimal health, development, and well-being. The paper discusses the development of the guiding principles of the CFCI-Minneapolis Model as well as a community needs assessment. Assessment: The assessment consisted of a digital survey of 60 questions on the SurveyMonkey platform. The sample included 173 Minneapolis youth 10-18 years of age and 85 parents with children less than five years of age. The participants were drawn from four of the 83 Minneapolis neighborhoods that had the highest concentration of children and youth, communities of color, and immigrant families that have historically been under resourced. Conclusion: The results of the community assessment guided the development of four programmatic initiatives. These included child rights learning & awareness, emergency preparedness & planning, community safety, and youth participation in decision making. The paper concludes with the lesson learned to date in the implementation of the CFCI-Minneapolis Model. These include partnership, dedication, leadership, community engagement, coalition building, and celebrating success. CFCI-Minneapolis received full designation from UNICEF USA as a child friendly city in February 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the retraction asked by the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota from the journal "Blood" about a high-profile paper on adult stem cells following a university investigation. The paper has accordingly, reported that mesenchymal stem cells isolated from adult bone marrow could generate a surprising number of tissues but other laboratories had trouble replicating that work.

The article reports on a call for abstract papers for the "Navigating the Future of Environmental Health, Safety, and Security (EHS&S)" conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 7-10, 2008. The conference will be sponsored by the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers (ACHMM). The ACHMM seeks cutting-edge Safety, Health, & Environmental (SH&E) and EHS&S projects or case study papers in seven different tracks and papers that address significant issues in hazardous materials management. It is announced that the ACHMM members and nonmembers may submit abstracts for considerations and the deadline of the submission is on January 16, 2008.

Nearly 100 Minnesota secondary schools offer community service-learning courses. Assessment methods include journal writing, self-assessment, research papers, site observations, and performance evaluation by agency supervisors. A Rochester high-school teacher designed a "community interaction" standard that students may fulfill by completing four assignments. (MLH)

From 2000 through 2003 we used semiochemical-baited traps in northeastern Minnesota, USA, to assess changes in assemblages of subcortical forest insects after a catastrophic wind storm in 1999 and subsequent (1999-2000) fuel-reduction activities (salvage-logging and prescribed-burning). We determined the regional efficacy of fifteen semiochemical blends (pheromones and kairomones) as attractants for target and non-target subcortical insect species (Coleoptera: Anthribidae, Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Cleridae, Cucujidae, Curculionidae, Histeridae, Nemonychidae, Salpingidae, Scolytidae, Tenebrionidae, and Hymenoptera: Siricidae). During the four summers, we trapped 86,471 subcortical insects (143 species) in baited and unbaited Lindgren funnel traps, and 500 beetles (44 species) in baited and unbaited pitfall traps. We report 23 new state collection records of subcortical insects from Minnesota. Trap catches of subcortical insects were greatest in the wind-disturbed areas 2 years after the event, and declined thereafter. Similar trends were observed for subcortical insects in the burned areas. Both wind-disturbance and burning increased the subcortical insect species richness and diversity on the landscape. The subcortical insect species compositions of the salvaged and burned forest areas differed from those of the undisturbed and wind-disturbed areas. Trap catches of subcortical insects in response to semiochemical treatments also varied with year of sampling and land-area treatment. The greatest diversity of subcortical beetle species was in traps baited with attractants for the scolytids, Dendroctonus valens [(+)-α-pinene and (-)-β-pinene] and Dryocoetes spp. [exo-brevicomin and (-)-α-pinene], perhaps reflecting the generic nature of the baits. The most distinct species compositions were collected in response to the woodborer and Dendroctonus simplex baits, whereas the species compositions in traps with the D. valens and Dryocoetes spp. baits, and the unbaited funnel trap were the most similar. The variation in trap catch with time and across landscapes suggests that the responses of subcortical insects to semiochemicals are more complex than previously appreciated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the history and present condition of Minnesota's forestry sector. It notes that Minnesota's forests were affected by logging before professional forestry was introduced. It cites the rise and fall of forest industries such as paper industry. It then mentions the performance of forestry industry to Minnesota's economy. It stresses that the forest sector is affected by forest fragmentation and the like in the 21st century. Future forestry sector forecast is provided.

Jane Frazee, an American music educator, administrator, and author has contributed to music education in the United States. This article surveys the impact of her efforts from 1960 to 2015. A pioneer member and past president of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA), she taught music to children and adults using the Orff approach and has presented at workshops, clinics, and conferences throughout the United States, as well as internationally. She authored several books and Orff arrangement collections, and her articles have been published in prestigious professional journals and other publications. This paper addresses Frazee's early life, training, influential individuals, teaching of children and adults, and her work with AOSA. Her roles in the founding and administration of Orff certification and graduate programs in music education in Minnesota are discussed. Lastly, Frazee's role as an author and the influences of her publications on music educators in the United States were also examined. Although retired from teaching and administration, Frazee continues to publish and inspires current and future generations of music educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Introduction.: High-quality patient care requires that providers understand and optimize each health care team member's roles and responsibilities. Review of Literature.: The purpose of this paper was to examine the contemporary knowledge and perceptions of physical therapist (PT) practice and education held by advanced practice interprofessional (IP) team members, including physicians, physician assistants (PAs), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Subjects.: Physicians, PAs, and APRNs licensed in the state of Minnesota. Methods.: Eligible individuals were invited to participate in an online survey assessing understanding of PT practice and education. Descriptive and nonparametric statistical analyses were used to evaluate respondent demographics, practice characteristics, and perceptions and knowledge of PT education and practice. Results.: Survey responses were analyzed from 442 respondents including 210 APRNs, 182 physicians, 48 PAs, and 2 clinicians of unknown profession. Results demonstrated that most referring providers did not learn about physical therapy during their academic or posttraining education. Those who interacted with PTs more frequently perceived greater benefit for their patients, tended to refer to PTs more often, and demonstrated greater knowledge of PT practice. Poorly understood areas of PT practice and education included PT practice settings, specialties, salary, level of education, and the ability to see patients through direct access. Discussion and Conclusion.: Multiple areas of poor provider knowledge regarding PT education and practice were identified; many unchanged from the literature in the 1980s. Three main areas of growth were identified from which actionable recommendations are made: increase IP interactions with PTs, address areas of poor understanding of PT education and scope, and maximize shifting perceptions of PTs through education and advocacy. This paper illustrates that PT education and practice are not well understood by referring providers, posing a threat to IP collaboration. A lack of collaboration may hinder patient and system outcomes because of suboptimal provider utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk of nitrate contamination became a reality for Fairmont in Minnesota, when water rich in NO3-N exceeded the drinking water standard of 10 mg/L. This was unexpected because this city draws its municipal water from a chain of lakes that are fed primarily by shallow groundwater under row-crop land use. Spring soil thaw drives cold water into a subsurface pipe where almost no NO3-N reduction occurs. This paper focuses on NO3-N reduction before the water enters the lakes and no other nitrogen management practices in the watershed. A novel denitrifying bioreactor was constructed behind a sediment forebay, which then flowed into a chamber covered by a greenhouse before entering a woodchip bioreactor. In 2022 and 2023, water depth, dissolved oxygen, and temperature were measured at several locations in the bioreactor, and continuous NO3-N was measured at the entry and exit of the bioreactor. The results showed better performance at a low water depth with lower dissolved oxygen and higher water temperature. The greenhouse raised the inlet temperature in 2022 but did not in 2023. The forebay and the greenhouse may have impeded the denitrification process due to the high dissolved oxygen concentrations in the influent and the stratification of dissolved oxygen caused by algae in the bioreactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic accidents are a leading cause of premature death for citizens, with millions of injuries and fatalities occurring annually. Due to the fact that a large proportion of accidents are caused by red light running, reduction of the frequency of red light running (RLR) has been extensively researched in recent years. However, most of the previous studies have focused on reducing RLR frequency through driver education or warning sign design, with little attention paid to the relationship between RLR behavior and traffic signal control. Considering RLR is significantly affected by the number of vehicles arriving during yellow, it is possible to identify RLR behaviors in advance by analyzing data on yellow-arriving vehicles. Meanwhile, based on the strong correlation between yellow arriving and RLR frequency, it is possible to reduce RLR by traffic signal control. In this paper, we propose a quantitative model of correlation between RLR frequency and yellow light arrival based on high-resolution traffic and signal event data from Twin Cities, Minnesota. On this basis, the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II) is implemented to find trade-offs between minimizing the RLR frequency and the traffic delay. A case study of a 6-intersection arterial road reveals that in unsaturation, saturation, and supersaturation flow, our approach can converge to a Pareto optimal front in 30–50 iterations, which shows that is possible to simultaneously reduce RLR frequency and enhance traffic efficiency safety, which is conducive to ensuring the life safety of traffic participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The various parts of the traditional financial supervision and management system can no longer meet the current needs, and further improvement is urgently needed. In this paper, the low-frequency data is regarded as the missing of the high-frequency data, and the mixed frequency VAR model is adopted. In order to overcome the problems caused by too many parameters of the VAR model, this paper adopts the Bayesian estimation method based on the Minnesota prior to obtain the posterior distribution of each parameter of the VAR model. Moreover, this paper uses methods based on Kalman filtering and Kalman smoothing to obtain the posterior distribution of latent state variables. Then, according to the posterior distribution of the VAR model parameters and the posterior distribution of the latent state variables, this paper uses the Gibbs sampling method to obtain the mixed Bayes vector autoregressive model and the estimation of the state variables. Finally, this article studies the influence of Internet finance on monetary policy with examples. The research results show that the method proposed in this article has a certain effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on soil nitrogen's damaging effects on plant diversity. Nitrogen is an important element for plants, but too much of it in the soil results in reduced plant diversity. David Tilman's project in studying the effects of nitrogen on plant biodiversity started in 1982. He situated varying amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer onto a patchwork of grassland plots in three fields of Cedar Creek Natural History Area in Minnesota every summer up to 2004. During the spring and summer months, Tilman, and later, ecologist Christopher Clark, harvested and recorded the plants that had came out in the different plots. The results showed that even the lowest amount of nitrogen in the treatments led in the loss of 1 in 6 plant species.

While the majority of adults across the United States report that they believe that global warming is happening, far fewer report discussing global warming (Howe et al., 2015, https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2583; Marlon et al., 2022, https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations‐data/ycom‐us/). One way to inspire further climate action and engagement is to increase individuals' capacity to confidently and effectively discuss climate change. Climate communication science highlights that such communication is most effective when it is anecdotal, narrative, tailored to the audience, and place‐based. To generate climate conversations and inspire action in a variety of communities, partners at the University of Minnesota Extension piloted a program to train community members from across the state of Minnesota in effective climate communication through a series of instructional workshops, coaching, and participant‐led communication activities. Following the training portion of the program, participants identified and hosted their own climate‐related communication activities in their communities. These "climate conversations" took place across Minnesota and included community events, dialogue with elected leaders, and conversations stimulated through literature, among other activities. In their communities, program participants sparked conversations, initiated long‐term climate action efforts, and improved their sense of efficacy in response to climate change. Participants also reported that they improved their climate conversation skills, increased their local climate knowledge, established a support network with fellow participants, had reduced anxiety around communicating, and increased their confidence in being able to communicate about climate change in their communities. This pilot program provides a framework for future cohort‐ and community‐based climate communication programs in the state and beyond. Plain Language Summary: More frequent, effective climate conversations initiated by a diversity of trusted voices can help to increase climate concern and desire for action at the community level. However, in the United States, there is a disconnect between the level of concern individuals have about climate change and the extent to which individuals talk about the issue. To help bridge this gap, the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership developed a training program aimed at inspiring and equipping local community members across Greater Minnesota with the skills and confidence to have effective conversations about climate change in their communities. This paper summarizes the programmatic activities we used to support our goals, and some reflections on the program's results. This pilot program provides a framework for future efforts that can be facilitated by Extension programs, community‐based organizations, universities, and others to inspire and accelerate similar community‐centered climate conversations. Key Points: We piloted a training program to teach Minnesotans to effectively communicate about climate change and its impacts on their communitiesParticipants improved behavioral and conversation skills to communicate about climate change more effectivelyThis program provides a framework for future programs aimed at increasing the diversity of people engaging in local climate conversations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze overall mortality in the U.S. as a whole and several states in particular in order to make conclusions regarding timing and strength of COVID pandemic effect from an actuarial risk analysis perspective. No effort is made to analyze biological or medical characteristics of the pandemic. We use open data provided by CDC, U.S. state governments and Johns Hopkins University. In the first part of the paper, we suggest time series analysis (ARIMA) for weekly excess U.S. mortality in 2020 as compared to several previous years' experience in order to build a statistical model and provide short-term forecast based exclusively on historical mortality data. In the second half of the paper, we also analyze weekly COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths in 2020 and 2021. Two midwestern states, Minnesota and Wisconsin, along with geographically diverse Colorado and Georgia, are used to illustrate global and local patterns in the COVID pandemic data. We suggest vector autoregression (VAR) as a method of simultaneous explanatory and predictive analysis of several variables. VAR is a popular tool in econometrics and financial analysis, but it is less common in problems of risk management related to mortality analysis in epidemiology and actuarial practice. Efficiency of short-term forecast is illustrated by observing the effect of vaccination on COVID development in the state of Minnesota in 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medicalisation of marijuana has occurred rapidly, albeit nonuniformly, across the US and around the world over the past 3 decades. This paper centres on the medicalisation of marijuana in Minnesota—which has one of the most restrictive programs in the country—as a case for evaluating the negotiation of institutional boundaries with the shift from criminalisation to medicalisation after nearly a century of criminal prohibition. Drawing upon Foucauldian discourse analyses of the medical and law enforcement associations' position statements and legislative hearings that shaped medical marijuana policy in Minnesota, this paper demonstrates a symbiotic convergence between medicine and law enforcement through the deployment of shared discursive strategies in their opposition to medical marijuana that reinforce marijuana's criminalised status by solidifying the boundaries between proper medicine and dangerous drugs. Criminal justice and medical institutions draw upon one another's definitions, logics, and practices in a mutually constitutive manner, while still maintaining distinct user subjects and institutional interventions for each based on the user's access to state‐approved forms of marijuana. The consequences for the governing of marijuana in Minnesota are explored, as well as the broader implications for the sociological study of medicalisation and criminalisation with respect to the governance of drugs and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on the 46th meeting of the Society for the History of Technology which took place at the Hyatt Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota in November 2005. Sessions held at the event; Topics that were discussed; Members of the program committee.

In this study, we assess COVID-19-related mortality in Minnesota and Wisconsin with the aim of demonstrating both the temporal dynamics and the magnitude of the pandemic's influence from an actuarial risk standpoint. In the initial segment of this paper, we discuss the methodology successfully applied to describe associations in financial and engineering time series. By applying time series analysis, specifically the autoregressive integrated with moving average methods (ARIMA), to weekly mortality figures at the national or state level, we subsequently delve into a marginal distribution examination of ARIMA residuals, addressing any deviation from the standard normality assumption. Thereafter, copulas are utilized to architect joint distribution models across varied geographical domains. The objective of this research is to offer a robust statistical model that utilizes observed mortality datasets from neighboring states and nations to facilitate precise short-term mortality projections. In the subsequent section, our focus shifts to a detailed scrutiny of the statistical interdependencies manifesting between Minnesota and Wisconsin's weekly COVID-19 mortality figures, adjusted for the time series structure. Leveraging open-source data made available by the CDC and pertinent U.S. state government entities, we apply the ARIMA methodology with subsequent residual distribution modeling. To establish dependence patterns between the states, pair copulas are employed to articulate the relationships between the ARIMA residuals, drawing from fully parametric models. We explore several classes of copulas, comprising both elliptic and Archimedean families. Emphasis is placed on copula model selection. Student t-copula with the marginals modeled by non-standard t-distribution is suggested for ARIMA residuals of Minnesota and Wisconsin COVID mortality as the model of choice based on information criteria and tail cumulation. The copula approach is suggested for the construction of short-term prediction intervals for COVID-19 mortality based on publicly available data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Reports that Missota Paper Co. is selling its paper mill in Brainerd, Minnesota. Claim that the mill was purchased by Missota from Potlach Corp. in February 2004.

Purpose: This paper presents an improved methodological approach for studying life cycle impacts (especially global warming) from changes in crop production practices. The paper seeks to improve the quantitative assessment via better tools and it seeks to break down results in categories that are logically separate and thereby easy to explain to farmers and other relevant stakeholder groups. The methodological framework is illustrated by a concrete study of a phosphate inoculant introduced in US corn production. Methods: The framework considers a shift from an initial agricultural practice (reference system) to an alternative practice (alternative system) on an area of cropland A. To ensure system equivalence (same functional output), the alternative system is expanded with displaced or induced crop production elsewhere to level out potential changes in crop output from the area A. Upstream effects are analyzed in terms of changes in agricultural inputs to the area A. The yield effect is quantified by assessing the impacts from changes in crop production elsewhere. The field effect from potential changes in direct emissions from the field is quantified via biogeochemical modeling. Downstream effects are assessed as impacts from potential changes in post-harvest treatment, e.g., changes in drying requirements (if crop moisture changes). Results and discussion: An inoculant with the soil fungus Penicillium bilaiae has been shown to increase corn yields in Minnesota by 0.44 Mg ha−1 (~ 4%). For global warming, the upstream effect (inoculant production) was 0.4 kg CO2e per hectare treated. The field effect (estimated via the biogeochemical model DayCent) was − 250 kg CO2e ha−1 (increased soil carbon and reduced N2O emissions) and the yield effect (estimated by simple system expansion) was − 140 kg CO2e ha−1 (corn production displaced elsewhere). There were no downstream effects. The total change per Mg dried corn produced was − 36 kg CO2e corresponding to a 14% decrease in global warming impacts. Combining more advanced methods indicates that results may vary from − 27 to − 40 kg CO2e per Mg corn. Conclusion and recommendations: The present paper illustrates how environmental impacts from changes in agricultural practices can be logically categorized according to where in the life cycle they occur. The paper also illustrates how changes in emissions directly from the field (the field effect) can be assessed by biogeochemical modeling, thereby improving life cycle inventory modeling and addressing concerns in the literature. It is recommended to use the presented approach in any LCA of changes in agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past, citation analyses have been used for collection development or to evaluate information literacy instruction effectiveness. These projects often require collaboration with subject-matter experts and are typically backward-looking measures. Citation analysis as a forward-looking planning tool for a library's instruction program is less well known. This project acts as a quantitative exploration in order to organize information literacy instruction efforts, program marketing, and the implementation of Capella University's university-wide information literacy outcome. Many problems revealed through the analyses were consistent with results from other universities and library citation analysis efforts: over-reliance on textbooks, improper online sources, lack of retrieval statements, quickly broken links, and so on. Specific instruction responses to these widespread issues are discussed. The citation analysis insights influenced both Capella's information literacy plan development cycle and a redesign effort for all guides, tutorials, and residency instruction sessions. The resulting initiatives will require myriad assessment strategies. Future assessment and research possibilities are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a dramatic shift to online learning for K-12 public schools, requiring school districts to address inequities that surfaced in the remote learning model. This paper includes the findings of the second study of a multi-year research project exploring the intersection of technology and educational inequities through the pandemic. As the pandemic waned, practitioners evaluated which practices developed during remote learning should be sustained. Five Minnesota technology directors participated in a focus group to discuss how inequities are being addressed in their schools post-pandemic. Technology directors explained that the pandemic was an opportunity to reimagine schools for the success of all students through an infrastructure that includes actions relative to three domains: effective instruction, school-home partnerships, and law and policy. Further research is recommended, such as broadening the geographical location of participants outside of Minnesota, expanding participants beyond the role of technology director (i.e., students, teachers, parents), and analyzing student enrollment in K-12 online schools through a longitudinal study. [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]

Objective: The Non-Opioid Pain Alleviation Information Network (NOPAINMN) project was designed to identify, consolidate, and map evidence-based non-opioid and non-pharmacological pain management complementary and integrative health (CIH) modalities for chronic pain management across Minnesota into a searchable and informational website (www.nopainmn.org ). Methods: The Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health's Pain Task Force White Paper identifying evidence-based research of non-pharmacological pain practice (NPPC) was reviewed and referenced. National and state certifying boards and accrediting organizations for NPPC modalities were accessed to identify Minnesota-based NPPC providers' name, business/health-system affiliation, address, contact information, and credentials. The NOPAINMN website displays these data in a consumer-facing website with searchable fields such as NPPC modality type, and location with varying distances. The website was β-tested by practitioners and stakeholders for optimization. Eight main NPPC modalities and their respective subcategories were identified and mapped: Acupuncture; Integrative Medical Care (Functional medicine consultation and Integrative medicine consultation); Massage Therapy; Mind–Body Therapies (Biofeedback, Clinical Hypnosis, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Music Therapy); Movement Therapies (Tai Chi, qigong, and Yoga Therapy); Psychology (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy); Rehabilitative Therapies (Physical and Occupational Therapy); and Spinal Manipulation. Results: All information compiled resulted in 17,155 providers/practitioners. Physical Therapy had the greatest number of reported providers (n = 5224), followed by Occupational Therapy (n = 3792), Psychology (n = 3324), Chiropractic (n = 3033), Acupuncture (n = 591), and Massage Therapy (n = 544). The Resource Map included 56 major health systems, 686 facilities, 2651 solo or private group practices, and 14 academic training schools. With web-based cross-referencing, providers and facilities were affiliated and linked with health systems to produce an interconnected mapping system. β-Testing with patients found that the website was reported as relatively easy to use and informative. Conclusion: The website was created to assist individuals, health care providers, insurance carriers, and health care facilities in finding evidence-based information and resources on NPPC to guide, support, and proactively manage and engage chronic pain patients across Minnesota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater mussels are threatened with extirpation in North America. They are a sentinel species for ecosystem function and contribute towards many ecosystem services. As mussels require clean water to survive, and since conserving ecosystem services is implicit in the federal Clean Water Act, incorporating mussel conservation into state water policies could serve multiple conservation goals. In this paper we conduct a comprehensive critical review of three topics related to freshwater mussels: their contribution to ecosystem services, their links with water quality, and threats to their survival from water pollutants and extent of protection available from regulation. In so doing, we identify gaps between the water quality requirements of mussels and the protection provided by current water regulation to help inform clean water and conservation goals in Minnesota. We find freshwater mussels to be generally sensitive to a wide variety of pollutants, and particularly to nutrients such as total nitrogen and total phosphorus and to major ions such as chloride. In addition, we find that current state water quality standards may not be sufficiently protective of mussels. We formulate a framework for determining an effective conservation strategy for mussels in Minnesota based on ecological and economic criteria to ensure adequate conservation at a reasonable cost. [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]

Purpose: Despite public health efforts to reduce childhood obesity, there remains an unequal distribution of obesity among rural and urban children, with higher rates in rural areas. However, few studies have compared differences in program delivery. This paper aims to describe differences between an urban and rural program delivery of a family-focused, community-based intervention program to prevent and reduce obesity among children.Methods: This paper uses a case study format to provide a descriptive analysis of similar obesity prevention programs, designed by the same research team, implemented in Minnesota in different settings (i.e., an urban and rural setting) with significant community engagement in the adaptation process. The rural NU-HOME program is compared to HOME-Plus, an urban family-based obesity prevention program for school-aged children.Results: Community engagement in the adaptation process of an urban program to a rural program confirmed some anticipated program content and delivery similarities while identifying key differences that were necessary for adaptation related to engagement with the community, recruitment and data collection, and intervention delivery.Discussion: When adapting research-tested programs from urban to rural areas, it is important to identify the modifiable behavioral, social, and environmental factors associated with obesity to ensure the content of effective childhood obesity prevention programs is relevant. Customizing a program to meet the needs of the community may increase reach, engagement, and sustainability. In addition, long-term dissemination of a tailored program may significantly reduce childhood obesity in rural communities and be implemented in other rural settings nationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind is an abundant, yet intermittent, source of renewable energy, with speeds changing both spatially and temporally over a wide range of time scales. While wind variability is well documented on large meteorological time scales and the behavior of turbulent flow at high frequencies is well understood, there remain questions in the literature regarding the intermediate region of these domains. Understanding wind variability at the microscale, here considering a frequency range of 10−2 Hz < f < 1 Hz, is key for wind turbine control and modeling. In this paper, we quantify the variability of wind conditions for the meteorological tower at the Eolos wind research station in Minnesota using power spectral density analysis. Spectral analysis of wind samples with similar mean wind speeds was conducted to test the hypothesis that the wind spectrum's shape is independent of the mean wind speed. Historical wind speed data were compared and evaluated to identify diurnal, seasonal, and interannual trends in the spectrum of wind at frequencies above 10−3 Hz. We conclude that the shape of the wind spectrum is independent of the mean wind speed following the Kolmogorov −5/3 law for turbulent flows for incoming wind, with some variations in slope and spectrum magnitude. While no conclusive diurnal, seasonal, or interannual trends were observed, it is shown that some variations in both slope and spectrum magnitude can occur on these time scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated medical and social care via community health worker (CHW) services is a growing area of interest, particularly among health care organizations that offer care for underserved populations. Establishing Medicaid reimbursement for CHW services is only one step to improve access to CHW services. Minnesota is one of 21 states that authorize Medicaid payment for CHW services. Despite available Medicaid reimbursement for CHW services since 2007, the actual experience of many Minnesota health care organizations in obtaining reimbursement for CHW services has been challenging due to barriers at multiple levels (e.g., clarifying and operationalizing regulation, navigating complexity of billing, building organizational capacity to reach key stakeholders at state agencies and health plans). This paper provides an overview of the barriers and strategies to operationalize Medicaid reimbursement for CHW services in the state of Minnesota, through the experience of a CHW service and technical assistance provider. Based on lessons learned in Minnesota, recommendations are made to other states, payers, and organizations as they navigate processes to operationalize Medicaid payment for CHW services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automatic detection of traffic accidents has a crucial effect on improving transportation, public safety, and path planning. Many lives can be saved by the consequent decrease in the time between when the accidents occur and when rescue teams are dispatched, and much travelling time can be saved by notifying drivers to select alternative routes. This problem is challenging mainly because of the rareness of accidents and spatial heterogeneity of the environment. This paper studies deep representation of loop detector data using long‐short term memory (LSTM) network for automatic detection of freeway accidents. The LSTM‐based framework increases class separability in the encoded feature space while reducing the dimension of data. The experiments on real accident and loop detector data collected from the Twin Cities Metro freeways of Minnesota demonstrate that deep representation of traffic flow data using LSTM network has the potential to detect freeway accidents in less than 18 min with a true positive rate of 0.71 and a false positive rate of 0.25 which outperforms other competing methods in the same arrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information about the journal's origin and its plan of operation, reported by its editorial chairman. The journal was conceived at a satellite meeting of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, held at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, from October 10-11, 1986. The first issue came in 1987 and since then it is brought out quarterly. The editors reportedly endeavor to select reliable and knowledgeable references and are experts in the topic of the papers.

This paper details a critical ethnography I conducted in my own classroom--an undergraduate children's literature course for pre-service elementary educators--in which I analyze white students' emotional responses to multicultural children's literature through the lens of a cultural politics of emotion (Ahmed, 2015; Zembylas, 2008). In my paper I use critical whiteness studies and critical emotion studies to analyze the effects of these emotional responses, complicating the assumption that emotions are a bridge to empath and exploring how white emotional performativity often serves to deflect from authentic critical discourse, reinforcing white supremacy in educational spaces. I look reflexively at my own pedagogy as a white educator, noticing the ways in which my failure to critically interrogate white emotions contributed to a classroom culture that valued majority voices over the voices of students of color. I conclude with the impacts of this study on my own commitments as a teacher-researcher.