Articles and Scholarly Works
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Open access articles authored by members of the University of Minnesota community. For more information, see the University of Minnesota Open Access Policy for Scholarly Articles that went into effect January 2015.
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Item CD38: A Novel Modulator of Morphine Antinociception in the Spinal Cord(2025-06-13) Quintana, Ruth; Singh, Dhananjay; Graeff, Richard; Titus, David; Guedes, AlonsoOpioid analgesics remain essential for managing moderate to severe pain, but the development of tolerance and hyperalgesia limits their clinical utility. CD38 is a multifunctional enzyme that generates calcium-mobilizing second messengers and plays a role in the supraspinal actions of opioids, yet its role in pain processing and spinal opioid effects remains undetermined. In this study, we investigated the function of CD38 in basal processing of acute heat and pressure noxious stimuli and spinal morphine antinociception using wild-type (WT) and CD38 knockout (CD38KO) mice of both sexes. CD38 enzymatic activity was highest in the spinal cord and predominantly localized to astrocytes. While CD38 deletion had no effect on baseline thermal or mechanical acute nociception, spinal morphine-induced antinociception was significantly reduced in CD38KO mice across both noxious modalities, with diminished magnitude and duration of response. Morphine-induced thermal hyperalgesia was attenuated in CD38KO females but not in males, indicating a possible sex-dependent role for CD38 in opioid-induced hyperalgesia. In contrast, spinal morphine tolerance developed similarly in both genotypes, suggesting these adaptations occur independently of CD38. Morphine administration did not alter spinal CD38 activity, and μ-opioid receptor expression was comparable between WT and CD38KO mice, indicating that CD38 modulates spinal opioid antinociception downstream or parallel to MOR signaling. These findings suggest that astrocytic CD38 plays a critical role in mediating opioid-induced antinociception without contributing to opioid-induced tolerance, highlighting its potential as a novel target for enhancing opioid efficacy.Item Remote measures and remote policies: A critique of remote sensing in Indian forests and environmental policy with suggestions for moving forward(CRC Press, 2025-05-31) Fleischman, Forrest; Choksi, Pooja; Ramprasad, VijayItem Utilizing a Novel Hippotherapy Simulation for Neuromuscular Therapeutic Intervention in a Resident with Mowat-Wilson Syndrome (MWS)(2024-05-27) Vernekar, MayureshThis study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a Hippotherapy simulation setup (HT-sim) in enhancing physical adaptations rooted in the mind-body connection, preparing patients for real-time Hippotherapy, and providing mental and emotional benefits. The case study focuses on a resident with Mowat-Wilson Syndrome (MWS) whose engagement with HT-sim was monitored over five quarters. Key metrics, including self-realignments (S-R), accordance periods (ACC), and discordance periods (DCC), were analyzed to assess motor control, stability, and synchronization with external stimuli. Results indicated a clear trajectory of improvement, with a significant increase in S-R and ACC metrics and a decrease in DCC metrics over time. Initially, our resident struggled with stability and self-led postural adjustments, but consistent engagement with HT-sim led to refined motor responses and improved balance. By the final quarters, he demonstrated mastery in maintaining stability, highlighting the effectiveness of HT-sim in fostering neuromotor functions. The study also explored the emotional and mental benefits of HT-sim, noting reduced physical tension, increased well-being, and enhanced quality of life. The findings support the potential of HT-sim as a preparatory or supplementary intervention for traditional Hippotherapy, offering significant therapeutic benefits in a cost-effective and accessible manner. This research underscores the value of HT-sim in neurorehabilitation, particularly for individuals with conditions like MWS. The results suggest that HT-sim can be a practical and effective tool for enhancing motor control, stability, and emotional well-being, paving the way for future applications in clinical and therapeutic settings.Item The Association Between Depression and Risky Sexual Behaviors in US Adolescents Aged 14-17 in 2023(2025-05-13) Gowlovech, TatianaItem Integration of AI in STEM Education – Addressing Ethical Challenges in K-12 Settings(2025-05-16) Lodhi, ShaounaThe rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into K-12 STEM education presents transformative opportunities alongside significant ethical challenges. While AI-powered tools, such as Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS), automated assessments, and predictive analytics, enhance personalized learning and operational efficiency, they also risk perpetuating algorithmic bias, eroding student privacy, and exacerbating educational inequities. This paper examines the dual-edged impact of AI in STEM classrooms, analyzing its benefits (e.g., adaptive learning, real-time feedback) and drawbacks (e.g., surveillance risks, pedagogical limitations) through an ethical lens. We identify critical gaps in current AI education research, particularly the lack of subject-specific frameworks for responsible integration and propose a three-phased implementation roadmap paired with a tiered professional development model for educators. Our framework emphasizes equity-centered design, combining technical AI literacy with ethical reasoning to foster critical engagement among students. Key recommendations include mandatory bias audits, low-resource adaptation strategies, and policy alignment to ensure AI serves as a tool for inclusive, human-centered STEM education. By bridging theory and practice, this work advances a research-backed approach to AI integration that prioritizes pedagogical integrity, equity, and student agency in an increasingly algorithmic world. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, STEM education, algorithmic bias, ethical AI, K-12 pedagogy, equity in educationItem Policy Landscape For Rural Utility-Scale Solar Deployment: A Comparative Policy Analysis of Four US states(2025-05-09) Fogarty, Mike; Henneberry, Conor; Hohensee, Taylor; McMullen, Molly; Ndiaye, LeoAs utility-scale solar systems continue to expand across the United States, rural agricultural communities are increasingly at the forefront of land use decisions that will shape the renewable energy transition. While these large infrastructure projects offer significant climate and economic benefits, their sizable footprint and perceived impacts on farmland, rural character, and local autonomy can create significant resistance. This capstone report provides a comparative policy analysis of four states, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and New York, to examine how both local and state policies affect the deployment of utility-scale solar and align with community values, environmental protection, and agricultural preservation. The report identifies policies and practices that balance the needs of solar developers with the priorities of communities in which that are sited. Key areas of focus include zoning and local regulatory processes, community benefits and participation, and strategies for minimizing land use impacts through dual-use approaches such as agrivoltaics or ecovoltaics. The analysis is based on review of state regulatory frameworks, ordinance reviews, and specific case studies that illustrate how policy tools have been implemented in both supportive and restrictive ways. Findings emphasize that well-crafted policy instruments, such as specialized zoning districts, vegetation and agricultural mitigation plans, solar scorecards, and community benefit mechanisms, can be designed to align with community values and foster more mutually beneficial and environmentally integrated approaches to utility-scale solar development. This report aims to support the ongoing efforts of the Great Plains Institute and the PV-SuCCESS project to develop a comprehensive decision-making framework for solar development that integrates science-based environmental factors with the sociocultural priorities of Midwest communities.Item Assessment of Urban Stormwater Chloride and its Impact on Surface Water Trends(2025-05-07) Janke, Ben D.; Finlay, Jacques C.This project examined chloride in stormwater and in urban streams and lakes in Minnesota to better understand the factors that influence chloride concentrations, long term trends, and seasonal dynamics. The project built on a large Twin Cities metro stormwater monitoring dataset assembled by the team in a previous project by incorporating stream and lake monitoring datasets and spatial data across the state. Analyses of this substantial dataset (over 100,000 observations of chloride in surface waters and runoff) provided insights into spatial patterns of stormwater chloride, and seasonality and long-term trends in Minnesota lakes and streams. We found strong, increasing long-term trends in lakes and streams, with higher chloride in surface waters associated with greater urban land cover and road density. Hydrologic flow paths impacted warm season chloride concentrations, with generally low chloride in stormwater runoff but much higher in baseflow and groundwater-dominated streams, while lakes showed contrasting patterns of accumulation versus seasonal flushing that depended on lake hydrology and morphology. We used long-term data to provide an assessment of chloride pollution risk in lakes and streams, identifying 80 lakes and streams at high or moderate risk that are not currently included on the MPCA’s lists of impaired and at-risk waters. Project results can help watershed managers better understand the where and when of lake and stream vulnerability to chloride pollution and provide a foundation for future studies of methods to assess un-monitored surface waters and of understanding the impact of stormwater management practices on chloride transport in urban watersheds.Item Using Participant Feedback to Iteratively Improve Training for Positive Recovery Jouranling, an Intervention for Substance Use Disorders(2024-12-10) Harris, Sonia Rose; Krentzman, Amy R.Background: Recovering from substance use disorders is challenging given the biopsychosocial stressors encountered in recovery. Positive Recovery Journaling (PRJ), developed by the second author, is a daily therapeutic practice rooted in concepts of positive psychology and values affirmation, with pilot data suggesting a positive impact during early recovery. The purpose of the present study was to develop and iteratively improve procedures for teaching PRJ to 5 cohorts (N = 37) of counselors for implementation in their practice settings. Methods: In this mixed-methods study, we assessed feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability of PRJ after the training using Weiner et al. (2017)’s scales. The percent who chose to implement PRJ after the 4.5h training provided additional evidence of these constructs. Based on survey feedback from Cohort 1, we made improvements to subsequent training sessions. We compared Cohort 1 to subsequent cohorts to determine whether training improvements enhanced ratings of PRJ feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability and decision to use PRJ after the training. Findings: Qualitative feedback from Cohort 1 indicated that participants found the 4.5h training too long, the language in PRJ group session slides too advanced, and the training insufficient for some components of PRJ. As a result, in subsequent trainings, we split the training from one to two sessions, made the language more accessible, and thoroughly covered all components. Comparing the first cohort with all subsequent cohorts combined, 90% (n = 10) versus 96% (n = 27) chose to implement PRJ (Fisher’s exact test p = .473). Based on a 5-point scale, PRJ was rated by Cohort 1 versus subsequent cohorts after the training as acceptable (mean=4.4, sd=.6 versus 4.8, SD=.3, t(11)= -2.0, p = .078), appropriate (mean=4.2, SD=.6 versus 4.8 sd=.4, t(12)= -2.5, p = .028), and feasible (mean=4.3, sd=.7 versus 4.8, SD=.4, t(11)= -2.4, p = .037). Implications for D&I Research: Participant feedback is crucial for adapting interventions to fit real-world settings. This study highlights how an iterative process can be used to adapt an existing training to support improved perception of an intervention and rates of implementation.Item E-Supplement 1: EXAMINING THE CONTRIBUTION OF WILDLIFE REHABILITATION TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH(2025-04-17) Daentl, Kaycee; Winter, John; Nault, Andre; Willette, MichelleItem Modified local option sales tax analysis for Nisswa, Minnesota: Estimated contributions of residents and non-residents to a local option sales tax(UMN Extension, Community Economics, 2024-11-01) King, Eric; LeMier, DeeDee, A.Nisswa is a small town in central Minnesota, surrounded by popular tourist destinations and resorts. Its charming downtown is home to many gift shops and restaurants, with the Paul Bunyan bike trail running through it. The location of Nisswa’s downtown has allowed the community to draw tourists to the region, either visiting for the day or staying overnight at one of the town’s seven lodging businesses—including one of the largest resorts in the state. A small resident population combined with a strong tourism economy challenges local leaders when making decisions about balancing financial investments made by residents with providing infrastructure used by everyone. To address this dynamic, the City of Nisswa is exploring how a local option sales tax (LOST) would impact residents while also providing the necessary amenities desired by the community. With advances in technology, University of Minnesota Extension’s community economics team partnered with the City of Nisswa to pilot using mobile data to supplement the traditional ways of estimating a LOST impact. Findings provided not only an estimate based on the available sales tax information but also confirmed visitor trends using mobile data. This innovative approach provides the community with an estimate that would have previously been unavailable.Item Coexistence of unconventional spin Hall effect and antisymmetric planar Hall effect in IrO2(Applied Physics Letters, 2025-03-11) Yang, Yifei; Nair, Sreejith; Fan, Yihong; Chen, Yu-Chia; Jia, Qi; Benally, Onri Jay; Lee, Seungjun; Jeong, Seung Gyo; Yang, Zhifei; Low, Tony; Jalan, Bharat; Wang, Jian-PingCrystal symmetry plays an important role in the Hall effects. Unconventional spin Hall effect (USHE), characterized by Dresselhaus and out-of-plane spins, has been observed in materials with low crystal symmetry. Recently, antisymmetric planar Hall effect (APHE) was discovered in rutile RuO2 and IrO2 (101) thin films, which also exhibit low crystal symmetry. In this study, we report the observation of both USHE and APHE in IrO2 (111) films, using spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance and harmonic Hall measurements, respectively. Notably, the unconventional spin-torque efficiency from Dresselhaus spin was more than double that of a previous report. Additionally, the temperature dependence of APHE suggests that it arises from the Lorentz force, constrained by crystal symmetry. Symmetry analysis supports the coexistence of USHE and APHE and demonstrates that both originate from the crystal symmetry of IrO2 (111), paving the way for a deeper understanding of Hall effects and related physical phenomena.Item Societal-level Determinants of Mental Health & Well-being: A Socio-Ecological Model and Report(2024-08-01) Erickson, Paige; Cermak, Ashlee; Benning, Sara; Michaels, Cari; Lynn, AnnaItem Ten Core Competencies Assessment Scales (CCAS): Validity Evidence for Measures of Core Competencies in Liberal Arts Education(2025-03-21) Koerner, Ascan F.; Anderson, Judith; McFadden, Colin; Nickodem, Kyle; Dupuis, Danielle; Abuela, Mohammed A. A.It is generally accepted that college education in general, and liberal arts education in particular, helps students develop important career and world readiness competencies (Boyer 2030 Commission, 2023). There is, however, no well established instrument supporting a scalable approach to the reliable and valid assessment of students' development of these competencies. In a series of eight studies involving data from more than 55,000 undergraduate students, we report on the development of an assessment instrument for ten core career and world readiness competencies, from theoretical conceptualization to demonstrating predictive validity of the instrument. Specifically, we collected four sources of validity evidence that support score interpretations and uses: (a) validity evidence based on the assessment content, (b) validity evidence based on response processes, (c) validity evidence based on internal structure, and (d) validity evidence based on association with other variables. Stated differently, we evaluated the psychometric properties of the assessment scales, demonstrated their factor structures, score reliability, and measurement invariance across demographic groups. We then present empirical evidence that shows scores obtained from the scales are not only reliable, but also have convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity. We conclude that score interpretations from the ten Core Competency Assessment Scales developed as part of the RATE™ (reflect, articulate, translate, evaluate) tool are a reliable, valid, and scalable solution for institutions interested in assessing their students’ competency development to aid student learning and document institutional effectiveness.Item Data from Pride + Joy Community Conversations: Developing the Strengthening Voices Toolkit(2025) Hainsworth, Sydney; Alvar, Mel; Martin, Lauren; McMorris, BarbaraItem Flowering phenology in a common garden among invasive Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense, and native Cirsium species of the Upper Midwest 2025(2025-03-20) Katovich, Elizabeth J.; Becker, Roger L.Native thistle (Cirsium) species occupy a critical, but often misunderstood position in landscapes across North America. Of significance, native thistle flowers produce a high sugar nectar and pollen source for native pollinators, including a variety of butterflies, bees and other insects. Additionally, native thistle flowers and vegetation provide a food source for insect defoliators and seed feeders and the seeds provide a food source for numerous species of birds. The University of Minnesota herbarium lists six thistles in the Cirsium genus as native to Minnesota. These include three biennials; tall thistle (Cirsium altissimum), field thistle (Cirsium discolor), and swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum), and three perennials: Flodman’s thistle, (Cirsium flodmanii), wavyleaf thistle (Cirsium undulatum) and Hill’s thistle (Cirsium pumilum var. hillii). Although not endemic to Minnesota, Pitcher’s thistle (Cirsium pitcheri), is native to the dune ecosystem of the Great Lakes and is a threatened species. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) the ubiquitous invasive perennial, present in the Upper Midwest, is native to Europe and the Mediterranean and has been introduced world-wide. It is considered as one of the worst weeds of agricultural and natural systems. The objective of this study was to compare the flowering phenology of native thistles from the upper Midwest in relation to Canada thistle in a common garden where all thistles grew under the same environmental conditions. The phenology of flowering times could be of interest in native pollinator research or host range studies of biological weed control agents. The length of time between first bud appearance and first flower (defined as the time when ray florets were expanding from the receptacle) was approximately one month for the perennial Flodman’s and Canada thistle. In contrast, the length of the bud stage for the biennial tall, swamp and field thistles ranged from one-and-a-half to two months. Biennial thistle plants formed buds in late-May to early-June, but did not flower until late-July to early-August. The lengthy bud stage of biennial thistles overlapped with bud production and flowering of Canada thistle.Item How will ADA Title II affect East Asian electronic resources?(2025-03-13) Ye, Shuqi; Li, LucyItem Experimentally created intensity scales for the five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami(2025-06-30) Karalus, Melinda; Pontet, Celia; Vickers, Zata; University of Minnesota, Department of Food Science and Nutrition Sensory CenterScaling of the intensity of the basic tastes is common in descriptive analysis techniques; however, universal taste scales that have been experimentally constructed so a specific numerical point represents equal intensities across all tastes have not been experimentally determined or validated. Such universal scales would aid in the interpretation within and across descriptive analysis studies. The objective of this study was to experimentally create universal intensity scales (intensity values 0 = 20) for the five basic tastes: sour, salty, bitter, sweet and umami. These scales are “universal” in that specific numerical points on these scales represent equal intensities across all taste scales.Item A Speech Science Homework Assignment using Transmasculine Speech(2025-02-25) Munson, BenjaminItem The Articulation of Student Success(Association of College and Research Libraries, 2025-04-14) Lai, PaulItem 2SLGBTQIA+ Students Involved in Trading Sex: Data from the 2022 Minnesota Student Survey(2024) McMorris, Barbara; Brightly-Brown, Shari; McKinney, Kate; Filoteo, Montana; Martin, Lauren; Rider, G. Nic