143258 research outputs found
Sort by
CSLearning AID Checklist: A Research-Informed Tool for Inclusive K-8 CS Integration
Get PDFHigh-quality, inclusive computer science (CS) integration in K–8 education remains inconsistent, with many lessons lacking clear structure, accessible design, or attention to equity. This article presents the CSLearning AID Checklist, a research-informed tool created to help educators and curriculum designers evaluate and strengthen CS-integrated lessons. Developed through an iterative co-design process grounded in Universal Design for Learning, culturally responsive-sustaining pedagogy, and established CS education frameworks, the checklist comprises 45 criteria across five domains: Composition, Student Learning, Assessment, Inclusion, and Digital Accessibility. We describe the theoretical foundations that shaped the checklist, the multi-phase refinement process involving researchers, practitioners, and content experts, and the resulting structure that supports both practical classroom use and systematic curriculum review. The article also illustrates how the checklist clarifies expectations for lesson design, highlights gaps in accessibility and equity, and provides a shared language for professional development, coaching, and research. By offering a rigorous yet classroom-ready tool, the CSLearning AID Checklist contributes to ongoing efforts to broaden participation in computing. It supports educators in designing lessons that are pedagogically sound, culturally responsive, and accessible to diverse learners, while giving researchers a structured framework for analyzing instructional materials and advancing equity-focused CS education.National Science Foundation (Award No. 2401154.)Cannady, Justin; Rosato, Jennifer; Schonfeld, Paul; Cozzolino, Tom. (2025). CSLearning AID Checklist: A Research-Informed Tool for Inclusive K-8 CS Integration. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/277118
Examining Rural Tourism and Guesthouse Development in Rugova, Kosovo
Get PDFThis project examined rural tourism development in Kosovo, focusing on the Rugova region. Rural tourism has gained growing attention as a promising approach to reduce poverty, diversify rural economies, promote sustainability, and improve the well-being of marginalized communities. Rugova was chosen for its potential and since it exemplifies a context of rural environment, economy and history through its remote location, distinct and cultural heritage and economic struggles considering that its population is among the most impoverished in the country. he main goal of this paper was to extract all the key factors required to turn Rugova into a successful rural tourism spot. The methodology of this project is qualitative and based in primary data obtained from the examination of three rural tourism locations in Kosovo (Rugova, Novobërdë and Kaçanik), and secondary data that examined the international, national, and local context of this sector and analyzed developments in nearby countries that are in a more advanced stage of rural tourism development such as Albania, Cyprus and Romania. The case study examinations reveal a number of opportunities for Rugova as an emerging rural tourism destination, which could be actualized through a collaborative effort between public institutions, international organizations and local communities and a number of policy changes. To transform Rugova into a mature rural tourism destination, it is recommended that a national rural tourism association is established which would greatly benefit the rural tourism activity in Kosovo in terms of marketing, offer diversification, and long-term sustainability
Cultural Connections to Pedagogy in English as a Second Language (ESL) Education [poster]
Get PDFThis item was completed for the University Honors program. The URL for the related report is provided on this page.Taggett, Mia D. (2025). Cultural Connections to Pedagogy in English as a Second Language (ESL) Education [poster]. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/277311
Examination of the roles of insulin receptors in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer
Get PDFUniversity of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. June 2025. Major: Pharmacology. Advisor: Douglas Yee. 1 computer file (PDF); xii, 114 pages.The insulin growth factor (IGF) system plays a crucial role in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival across multiple physiological contexts, including normal development and tumorigenesis. Dysregulations of the IGF signaling axis are strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Activation of the type I IGF receptor (IGF1R) and insulin receptor (IR) stimulates downstream signaling cascades such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, promoting oncogenic processes that support tumor initiation, progression, and resistance to endocrine therapies. Although considerable preclinical evidence supported targeting IGF1R in breast cancer, clinical translation has been limited, particularly in endocrine-resistant breast cancer where loss of IGF1R expression is frequently observed. Given that IR remains expressed in these resistant cells, increasing attention has turned to IR as a potential therapeutic target. Recent studies have demonstrated that modulating IR activity can suppress tumor growth and inhibit progression of endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells.In parallel, metabolic dysfunction characterized by obesity and hyperinsulinemia has been increasingly recognized as a modifying factor that further promotes breast cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. Obesity-associated hyperinsulinemia elevates circulating insulin levels, which can directly stimulate IR signaling in tumor cells. Furthermore, breast cancers that develop resistance to endocrine therapies often show downregulated IGF1R expression while shifting sensitivity toward IR, thereby complicating therapeutic strategies that target the IGF system. These observations underscore the need for innovative approaches capable of modulating insulin receptor activity while preserving metabolic homeostasis.
Chapter 2 of my thesis focuses on the functional evaluation of AKS-130, a novel insulin-Fc fusion protein. In both parental estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer cell lines and their tamoxifen-resistant (TamR) derivatives, AKS-130 demonstrated effective downregulation of IR expression and suppression of downstream insulin-mediated signaling. In vivo studies using xenograft models showed that AKS-130 modestly suppressed tumor growth and exhibited enhanced efficacy when combined with tamoxifen treatment. Importantly, these therapeutic effects were achieved without inducing significant metabolic side effects, supporting the feasibility of IR modulation as a complementary approach in the management of endocrine-resistant breast cancer.
Chapter 3 explores the impact of housing and diet condition on mouse metabolism and breast tumor biology. Utilizing a refined xenograft model incorporating diet- and thermoneutral housing-induced obesity, we recreated a physiologically relevant metabolic environment characterized by elevated body mass, hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance. In this context, breast tumor xenografts exhibited modestly accelerated growth, reflecting the tumor-promoting influence of metabolic dysregulation. The effects of AKS-130 differed between obese and lean mice. These findings demonstrate the metabolic alterations that occur under varying environmental and dietary conditions and emphasize the complex interplay between systemic metabolic status and tumor responses to IR-targeted therapies.
The IR exists in two isoforms, IR-A and IR-B. IR-A deletes a 12-amino-acid sequence encoded by exon 11. Chapter 4 investigates an alternative therapeutic strategy aimed at selectively targeting the IR-A isoform using the engineered T7 gene 2 protein (Gp2) protein scaffolds. Given that IR-A is often preferentially expressed in malignant tissues and mediates mitogenic signaling distinct from the metabolic functions of IR-B, isoform-selective inhibition presents an attractive approach to minimize systemic toxicity while disrupting tumor growth in endocrine-resistant breast cancer. A former colleague in the Yee lab successfully generated three lead Gp2 binders to IR using directed evolution, however, subsequent optimization efforts revealed significant challenges: improvements in binding affinity frequently compromised isoform selectivity due to the high structural similarity between IR-A and IR-B. Furthermore, Fc-fusion formatting of promising binders, which was intended to enhance stability and serum half-life, unexpectedly reduced binding capacity and abolished biological activity, likely due to conformational constraints or steric hindrance imposed by the fusion architecture. These observations highlight intrinsic limitations of current scaffold platforms for achieving robust, isoform-specific IR-A binder suitable for therapeutic development.
In this thesis, we explored the complex interactions between insulin receptor signaling, metabolic dysfunction, and endocrine resistance in ER+ breast cancer using multiple complementary approaches. Our findings demonstrate that modulating the insulin receptor holds potential as a strategy to overcome endocrine therapy resistance. Collectively, these studies advance our understanding of how dysregulated IGF1R/IR signaling contributes to ER+ breast cancer progression and underscore both the promise and the challenges of targeting IGF1R/IR pathways for therapeutic gain.Cao, Jingran. (2025). Examination of the roles of insulin receptors in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/277420
Minutes: Health Sciences Faculty Consultative Committee: November 11, 2025
Get PDFIn these minutes: Discussion with Dr. Beilman; Discussion with Provost Ritter; Committee Discussion and DebriefUniversity of Minnesota. Health Sciences Faculty Consultative Committee (HS FCC). (2025). Minutes: Health Sciences Faculty Consultative Committee: November 11, 2025. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/277752
Design, synthesis, and applications of probes to monitor post-translational lipid modifications and protease activity in cells
Get PDFUniversity of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. April 2025. Major: Chemistry. Advisors: Mark Distefano, Edgar Arriaga. 1 computer file (PDF); x11, 173 pages.Post-translational modifications create a diverse set of proteins with different functions and activity from a single genome. As a result of post-translational modifications protein activity can be tightly regulated and the protein’s cellular location can change. Furthermore, when proteins change location, they can activate or inhibit signaling pathways that are necessary for cell cycle progression. This thesis has four different chapters with the first chapter describing protein prenylation, a post-translational lipid modification. Before prenylation, proteins have a cytosolic localization and after prenylation proteins localize to membranes. Thus, chapters 2 and 3 discuss methods to track the localization of prenylated proteins and peptides in cells using fluorescence microscopy. Finally, chapter 4 discusses the design and synthesis of an activity based probe to measure MMP activity in cells and discusses initial experiments to measure MMP-14 activity in cells. Prenylomics is a type of proteomics that involves adding isoprenoid analogues containing an alkyne to cells, then using click chemistry to identify and quantify the types of prenylated proteins in cells. The results from these experiments can identify novel prenylated proteins or track how the amount and type of prenylated proteins change in different diseases. However, it is important to ensure proteins localize properly when modified with isoprenoid analogues to ensure the results obtained are biologically relevant. Additionally, there are two types of protein prenylation, farnesylation and geranylgeranylation. One isoprenoid analogue, referred to as C15AlkOPP, is a dual substrate for farnesylation and geranylation. Thus, this probe identifies the amount and type of prenylated proteins in cells, but does not indicate if the protein is farnesylated, geranylgeranylated, or both. Thus, the first aim of this work involved treating cells expressing GFP-H-Ras with stain, which depletes endogenous isoprenoids and causes GFP-H-Ras to mislocalize to the cytoplasm. Then, different isoprenoid analogues were added to determine how efficiently the probe is incorporated into farnesylated proteins by measuring the amount of GFP-H-Ras plasma membrane localization. The work in this chapter identified that shorter isoprenoid analogues, C15AlkOPP, are more efficient at restoring farnesylation than longer isoprenoid analogues, such as C15PentOPP. Additionally, this work also determined that the bioactive diphosphate, C15AlkOPP is more efficiently incorporated into farnesylated proteins in cells compared to the alcohol precursor, C15AlkOH.
Recently, chaperone proteins, smgGDS-607 and smgGDS-558, have been shown to regulate protein entry into the prenylation pathway, and trafficking of prenylated proteins to their respective cellular membrane, respectively. Several proteins containing a polybasic region can interact with smgGDS-607 and smgGDS-558 in their pre-prenylated and prenylated form, respectively. In chapter 3 a K-Ras peptide was synthesized containing the polybasic region and prenylation motif. The peptide contained a NDBF protected cysteine, which spatiotemporally initiates prenylation by exposing the C-terminal cysteine to Prenyltransferase enzymes. Additionally, a fluorophore was attached to the K-Ras N-terminus and a cell penetrating peptide was attached to the K-Ras peptide using a disulfide bond at the N-terminus of TAT and K-Ras. Initial experiments indicated endosomal entrapment was preventing cytosolic delivery, so a different peptide was synthesized and cytosolic delivery was achieved, but no plasma membrane localization was detected after the NDBF protecting group was removed with UV light which indicates the peptide was not prenylated. Although, the initial goal was not achieved in this work, this work indicates that FTase and GGTase activity may be tightly regulated when apoptosis is initiated, which is why no plasma membrane localization was observed after delivering peptides to the cytoplasm.
Two observations that occur in aging cells include lipid accumulation, and accumulation of senescent cells. It is hypothesized that MMP, matrix metalloprotease, activity may be dysregulated in senescent cells which may contribute to chronic disease development during aging. Thus, in chapter 4 an activity based probe was designed and synthesized to measure MMP activity in cells. MMP activity is essential for embryonic development, wound healing, and angiogenesis. However, it’s activity must be tightly regulated because aberrant activity is involved in fibrosis and cancer. In a bulk cell analysis of senescent cells, there was an increased amount of MMP-14 activity measured. However, there are several different subpopulations of senescent cells, so it is essential to have a probe capable of measuring MMP-14 activity at a single cell level. In this chapter, a covalent MMP inhibitor, was synthesized, then modified to contain an alkyne using organic synthesis. Then, an in-gel fluorescence assay was used to identify labeled proteins, which include MMP-14 and other MMP enzymes. The work in this chapter identified a change in protein labeling when treated with statin which may be related to activation of an ERRα transcription factor.Pedersen, Jodi. (2025). Design, synthesis, and applications of probes to monitor post-translational lipid modifications and protease activity in cells. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/276807
Minutes: P&A Senate: October 3, 2025
Get PDFUniversity of Minnesota: P&A Senate. (2025). Minutes: P&A Senate: October 3, 2025. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/277110
Episode 309 - From the Fair to the Farm: Dairy Research Updates with Brad - UMN Extension's The Moos Room
Get PDFRuntime 21:30In this episode of The Moos Room, Brad shares updates from a busy summer and fall kickoff at the Minnesota State Fair, where his kids showed cows and he helped with 4-H dairy programming. After reflecting on the fair, he dives into the latest research and extension projects happening at the University of Minnesota’s West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris.Brad covers a wide range of studies, including: Virtual fencing trials with heifers, lessons learned from training, and future plans to test with milking cows; Horn fly vaccine research, tracking fly counts across hundreds of cows to evaluate effectiveness; Agrovoltaics and portable solar shade, examining how cows use shade structures to reduce heat stress and the impact on pasture regrowth; Parasite monitoring and exploring connections between genetics and parasite load; Heifer feed efficiency, using precision feeders and methane collectors to measure intake, weight gain, and greenhouse gas output; Mastitis management, including trials with alternatives to antibiotics; Genetics-focused projects on inbreeding effects in Holsteins and the potential of polled genetics; Milk processing exploration, with plans to begin producing value-added products like ice cream and butter from the university herd. From innovative technology like virtual fencing to on-farm challenges like mastitis, Brad shares insights into ongoing research aimed at helping dairy farmers improve efficiency, sustainability, and profitability.Heins, Brad; Krekelberg, Emily. (2025). Episode 309 - From the Fair to the Farm: Dairy Research Updates with Brad - UMN Extension's The Moos Room. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/276585
Vaccine policy & vaccine politics: an analysis of United States vaccine uptake by state-level school and childcare vaccination mandate policies and state-level election results
No full textUniversity of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. August 2025. Major: Environmental Health. Advisor: Michael Osterholm. 1 computer file (PDF); xiv, 168 pages.Childhood vaccinations have transformed public health both in the United States (US) and internationally and are credited with saving millions of lives and trillions of dollars in direct and societal costs. Despite overwhelming evidence supporting vaccine safety and effectiveness, skepticism and hostility toward childhood vaccination has grown in recent decades, and has recently become a partisan political issue in the US. Statewide vaccination mandates in schools and childcare centers have existed for several decades. However, these mandates have not guaranteed vaccination coverage sufficient for herd immunity for several infectious diseases in many states. Exemption processes, provisional enrollment policies, and mandate enforcement all vary widely by state. This dissertation aims to characterize the associations between vaccination coverage and both statewide vaccination policies and statewide political leanings using National Immunization Survey data from 2015-2023. In the first aim, we assess the association between statewide childcare vaccination policies and vaccination coverage in 19–35-month-old children for ten childhood vaccines. In the second aim, we assess the association between statewide childcare vaccination policies and vaccination coverage and reasons for non-vaccination in 13–17-year-old children. In the third and fourth aims, we assess the associations between statewide political leaning and vaccination coverage for 19–35-month-old and 13–17-year-old children, respectively, as well as reasons for non-vaccination in 13–17-year-old children.
We found that associations between statewide vaccination mandates and higher vaccination coverage were present for influenza vaccines and, for some years, hepatitis A vaccines in childcare settings and for meningococcal disease ACWY vaccines in K12 schools. We also found that influenza vaccination coverage in 19–35-month-old children was higher in liberal states and moderate states than conservative states in all years in the analysis, and higher in liberal states than moderate states in most years in the analysis. HPV vaccination coverage in 13–17-year-old children was also higher in liberal states compared to conservative states in all years except 2023. These studies provide insight into the associations between policy, partisan leanings, and vaccination coverage during a time of rapid political and public health change, which may inform policy making decisions and vaccination outreach during a time of increasingly volatile vaccine politics.Redepenning, Sydney. (2025). Vaccine policy & vaccine politics: an analysis of United States vaccine uptake by state-level school and childcare vaccination mandate policies and state-level election results. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/278069
Chinese typewriters speak: the political power of writing machines in 20th-century China
No full textUniversity of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. August 2025. Major: History of Science, Technology, and Medicine. Advisor: Jennifer Alexander. 1 computer file (PDF); xiv, 183 pages.Typewriters have long been recognized as potentially subversive tools. Alphabetic typewriters, in particular, have been regarded as political instruments—states such as the former East Germany and the Soviet Union restricted their ownership, requiring special licenses or banning them outright for ordinary citizens. In the Chinese context, developing a typing system for a character-based language was an enormously complex challenge, leading to the creation of a wide range of typing machines and systems. A remarkably diverse group of prominent figures in the 20th century, including social activists, businessmen, statesmen, literary celebrities, and technocrats, sought to meet this challenge.This dissertation explores the development of Chinese typewriters from the 1910s through the 1960s. The mechanisms of Chinese typewriters varied significantly from one another. Yet a Chinese typewriter was more than just a mechanism—it carried cultural, political, and linguistic significance in ways that alphabetic typewriters did not, and perhaps did not need to. Inventors came from a wide range of backgrounds, including writers, philosophers, linguists, statesmen, businesspeople, and international figures. This dissertation asks: Why, during this period, did such a wide range of Chinese typewriter mechanisms emerge? And why, during this period, did such a diverse array of individuals become involved in their invention? Thus, this dissertation is about the socio-political power of writing and information machines in the 20th-century China. It is not just about typewriters.
This dissertation classifies Chinese typewriters designed in the 20th century into two kinds, rote-typing machines and intuitive-typing machines, and introduces a new and useful analytical method: memory burden, defined as the demand for rote memorization imposed by a machine that held no utility for the typist beyond its operation. Rote-typing machines imposed a heavy memory burden, requiring users to memorize the position or code of thousands of characters loaded in the machine. In contrast, intuitive-typing machines relied on human users’ intuitive abilities, such as recognizing geometric shapes, to reduce or even eliminate the need for rote memorization in operating the machine.
This dissertation argues that the two major kinds of Chinese typewriters developed in the 20th century embodied distinct political orientations. Rote-typing adapted humans to machines, imposing a heavy memory burden and requiring formal training often regulated by the state. By contrast, intuitive-typing adapted machines to humans, drawing on innate cognitive abilities and minimizing the demands on memory. Rote-typing, exemplified by the devices of Shu Zhengdong and Gao Zhongqin, sought to integrate both typists and machines into the nation’s broader modernization goals. These machines emphasized personal sacrifice and subordinated both operators and technology to the authority of the central government. Intuitive-typing machines were made by Zhou Houkun, Gao Lu, and Lin Yutang. They were designed to be intelligible without formal training (buxue erneng), and they allowed users to function independently, eliminating reliance on training schools or specialized typists. These inventors prioritized personal autonomy and considered it fundamental to national prosperity.Yao, Miaofeng. (2025). Chinese typewriters speak: the political power of writing machines in 20th-century China. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/278127