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Sonic fragility in compositions for guqin
No full textUniversity of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. May 2025. Major: Music. Advisor: Gabriela Currie. 1 computer file (PDF); iv, 114 pages.This thesis explores sonic fragility—the delicate, vulnerable, and unstable qualities of sound through two of my compositions, Shredded Shades, composed (for guqin and electronic) and Broken... (for soprano, guqin, piano and electronic). Broken... is a musical exploration of fragmentation, pain, and transformation. Central to the composition is the deconstruction of the word "broken," its syllables fragmented and dispersed like scattered shards. Shredded Shades is inspired by the poetic imagery of shimmering light dancing upon water. The piece evokes the delicate interplay of light and shadow, as ripples fragment the sun's rays into a mosaic of fleeting brilliance. This thesis investigates how fragility manifests in sound and how it can be creatively harnessed in composition. This thesis examines sonic fragility into five categories, including material, performative, structural, temporal and digital fragility.Lu, Cixian. (2025). Sonic fragility in compositions for guqin. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/278032
Technology, employee ownership, and the organization of work
No full textUniversity of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. August 2025. Major: Business Administration. Advisor: Avner Ben-Ner. 1 computer file (PDF); vii, 164 pages.This dissertation examines the relationship between technology, employee ownership, and the organization of work. It consists of two chapters. The first examines the effects of robot adoption on employment and skills in U.S. manufacturing plants. Using a difference-in-differences method, I find an increase in job postings and employment in plants that adopt robots compared to non-adopters matched by industry and labor market. Requirements for design, maintenance and other technical skills increase for those who work with robots. Non-adopters lose employment reflecting negative spillover effect from adopters. These findings suggest increased competitiveness of robot adopters that raise output not only in the robotized stage of production but have positive spillover effects in the rest of the plant and in other plants within the same firm. Industry-level employment effects are negligible due to counterbalancing gains and losses. Plant, firm, and industry level analyses suggest that productivity and human-robot complementarity effects dominate displacement, with job losses limited to outcompeted non-adopters. The second chapter explores how broad-based employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) affect employee satisfaction. Examining workers’ reviews of their employers on Glassdoor, I compare employee satisfaction between firms where workers own company shares through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and conventional firms where they do not. Focusing on establishments in U.S. manufacturing, I find employees report greater satisfaction in employee-owned firms overall and with specific job attributes such as culture and work-life balance. The satisfaction premium associated with an ESOP is greater when the ESOP is collectively bargained or employees own a larger stake of firm equity. Employee satisfaction thus differs by ownership arrangement. These studies, therefore, offer insights into how technology and employee ownership can influence the organization of work and employee well-being.Adrianto, Adrianto. (2025). Technology, employee ownership, and the organization of work. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/278749
2024-2025 UMRA Alumni Association UMRA Liaison Annual Report
No full text. (2025). 2024-2025 UMRA Alumni Association UMRA Liaison Annual Report. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/278708
Is Neural Machine Translation viable for low-resource languages? an experimental study of the Irish language
No full textUniversity of Minnesota M.S. thesis. July 2025. Major: Computer Science. Advisor: Ted Pedersen. 1 computer file (PDF); viii, 66 pages.Transformer-based Neural Machine Translation (NMT) models are Large Language Models (LLMs) designed and developed for translating between two or more given languages. These are typically most successful in the context of high-resource languages, languages with plentiful amounts of available online text corpora, such as English, Spanish, or French. In contrast, languages with limited corpora are known as low-resource languages and tend to be overlooked or underrepresented, like Basque, Pashto, or Ojibwe. One of these low-resource languages is Irish (Gaeilge), which has approximately 1.9 million total speakers as of 2022, and an extremely limited pool of publicly available datasets and machine translation systems. In response to this shortage, we created three bilingual English-Irish datasets and three transformer models for translating from English to Irish. Our models were then evaluated on four automatic evaluation metrics, BLEU, TER, CHRF, and METEOR, and demonstrated promising results across all our datasets.Quigley, Jack. (2025). Is Neural Machine Translation viable for low-resource languages? an experimental study of the Irish language. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/277999
The Age of Mobility: bringing Community Economic data into the modern era
No full textThis study explores the transformative impact of mobile data on community and economic development strategies, focusing on Wadena County, Minnesota. Recognizing traditional data boundaries as barriers to understanding regional economic dynamics, the research highlights the importance of integrating mobile data to capture the patterns of mobility among residents. Utilizing innovative methodologies, including the "Middle of Everywhere" approach, the study maps residents' travel habits for work, shopping, and recreation, revealing the interconnectedness of rural communities beyond conventional county lines.
Findings demonstrate that mobile data can help rural communities access accurate representations of economic activity and community engagement, paving the way for more effective regional development strategies. This case study underscores the necessity for modern tools to overcome data limitations and enhance our understanding of how rural populations interact within broader economic landscapes.LeMier, DeeDee; Winchester, Benjamin. (2025). The Age of Mobility: bringing Community Economic data into the modern era. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/278710
2025-03 UMRA Board Packet
No full text. (2025). 2025-03 UMRA Board Packet. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/278550
Assessing winter and hydrological impacts on Manoomin/Psin (wild rice) using generalized additive models (GAMs)
No full textUniversity of Minnesota M.S. thesis. July 2025. Major: Earth Sciences. Advisor: Gene-Hua Crystal Ng. 1 computer file (PDF); vii, 86 pages.Across the Great Lakes region, wild rice (Ojibwemowin: Manoomin; Dakȟótiyapi: Psiŋ; Zizaniapalustris) is an ecologically important plant that holds cultural significance to many Indigenous
peoples. As part of a tribal-university collaborative effort to protect Manoomin/Psiŋ and support
Tribal lifeways, this study investigated the influence of winter-to-spring hydroclimatic conditions
on Manoomin/Psiŋ density. Providing a foundation for interpreting seasonal drivers, this thesis
includes a literature review of winter lake dynamics. Statistical modeling using generalized
additive models (GAMs) was implemented for 23 Manoomin/Psiŋ water bodies across northern
Wisconsin, focusing on variables of concern to Tribal resource managers. Longer lake ice
duration emerged as the strongest predictor of increased Manoomin/Psiŋ density, indicating that
ice cover has direct and/or multi-faceted influences on growth. Snowmelt-driven discharge and
higher SWE in April–May enhanced these positive effects, suggesting that spring pulses may
benefit germination. April thawing degree days also appeared related to Manoomin/Psiŋ density,
reinforcing the importance of timing of these events. Among ice characteristics, ice type (clear
versus opaque) was found to be a more significant predictor of Manoomin/Psiŋ density than total
ice thickness, possibly because ice quality can influence nutrient dynamics. Demonstrating
hydrologic memory, high snowmelt-fed discharge in the spring, together with high summer rains,
was observed to trigger high discharge in June-July, which GAM showed to negatively impact
Manoomin/Psiŋ, likely because of susceptibility to uprooting during the floating leaf growth
stage. This research provides insight into how interacting winter and spring conditions shape
Manoomin/Psiŋ outcomes and highlights winter as a dynamic period with lasting ecological
influence.Gregg, Arianna. (2025). Assessing winter and hydrological impacts on Manoomin/Psin (wild rice) using generalized additive models (GAMs). Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/277967
Episode 316 - Genomic Testing: Is It Worth It and How to Use It Effectively - UMN Extension's The Moos Room
No full textRuntime 00:24:27In this episode, Brad shares his fall updates from western Minnesota before diving into a detailed discussion on genomic testing in dairy herds. Drawing on his experiences from recent farm visits in South Dakota and ongoing University of Minnesota research projects, he explores how producers are using genomics and whether the investment pays off. Brad explains that while some herds use genomic testing solely to decide which animals to breed to beef, he believes the technology’s value lies much deeper — in improving herd genetics, managing inbreeding, verifying parentage, and advancing traits like health, fertility, and production components. He outlines the major testing companies (Neogen, Zoetis, and Genetic Visions), their costs (around 42 per animal), and the kinds of data producers can expect from each, including A2 status, horned/polled traits, and wellness indices.The episode also includes two case studies: A small grazing herd where genomic testing clarified breed composition, revealed unknown sires, and identified A2 status across mixed-breed animals; and A university research herd exploring polled genetics and crossbred performance, where Brad questions how well current evaluations reflect the true genetic potential of crossbreds like Normande and Montbéliarde crosses. Brad closes by summarizing the practical ways to use genomic information — from strategic breeding and heifer selection to developing niche markets like A2 milk products. His key takeaway: genomic testing can be a powerful tool for herd improvement, but it’s only worth the cost when used strategically rather than as a simple breeding filter.Heins, Brad. (2025). Episode 316 - Genomic Testing: Is It Worth It and How to Use It Effectively - UMN Extension's The Moos Room. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/278856
2024-2025 UMRA Social Activities Committee Annual Report
No full text. (2025). 2024-2025 UMRA Social Activities Committee Annual Report. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/278647
Biomechanical mechanisms of rotator cuff deformation during a simulated Volleyball spike
No full textUniversity of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. 2025. Major: Rehabilitation Science. Advisor: Paula Ludewig. 1 computer file (PDF); xi, 165 pages.Background: Shoulder pain accounts for hundreds of thousands of surgeries each year and contributes to enormous healthcare spending. Rotator cuff disorders are the primary driver of physician visits for shoulder pain. Despite this, consistently successful treatment for rotator cuff disorders has been elusive. Rotator cuff repair demonstrates high failure rates and recurrent or ongoing pain is common with nonoperative management including physical therapy. Taken together this suggests a lack of complete understanding of the biomechanical demands on the rotator cuff and the role of complex mechanical stress and strain on rotator cuff disorders. Volleyball players’ spiking shoulders are exposed to repetitive spike motions in high humeral elevation angles known to contribute to rotator cuff compression. Additionally, they experience large angular velocities at extremes of axial rotation during arm cocking and acceleration—positions commonly linked to various glenohumeral joint pathologies. Sports biomechanics research of the shoulder is dominated by optical, and to a lesser extent, electromagnetic motion capture which are limited by skin motion artifact and often ignore contributions of the scapula.
Deformation of the rotator cuff tendons is related to the position and orientation of their bony origins and insertions—information lost without accurate scapular kinematics. Biplanar videoradiography is a precise tool that has been successfully employed to describe glenohumeral kinematics and elucidate normal mechanisms of rotator cuff compression during reaching tasks. However, high-speed, multiplanar shoulder movements have not been pursued due to limitations in capture frequency and field of view. Detailed glenohumeral kinematics during the multiplanar volleyball spike would provide unique information on normal deformation of commonly injured rotator cuff tendons and critical boundary conditions to constrain future modeling studies of rotator cuff behavior which is infeasible to measure directly in vivo.
Objectives: The objectives of this dissertation were three-fold: (1) to determine the effect of velocity control on humerothoracic kinematics of a simulated volleyball spike; (2) to describe glenohumeral kinematics of a simulated volleyball spike; and (3) determine the extent to which foregoing kinematics contribute to compressive deformation of the rotator cuff as compared to scapular plane abduction.
Methods: The objectives of this dissertation were approached through two separate studies. First, I needed to determine the feasibility of capturing high-speed, multiplanar glenohumeral kinematics within the constraints of our custom biplanar videoradiography system. To do this, I chose to examine if humerothoracic kinematics during the arm cocking phase of high-speed spiking were similar to those observed at reduced velocities. Optical motion capture was used to obtain humerothoracic kinematics from 11 recreational volleyball players without shoulder pain during simulated volleyball spikes at high speed and under two velocity conditions regulated by a metronome. Elevation, plane of elevation, and axial rotation were extracted at the instant of maximum external rotation and were compared within-subjects across conditions using a repeated measures analysis of variance.
A custom biplanar videoradiography system was then employed to assess glenohumeral kinematics of 21 competitive volleyball players during scapular plane abduction and a simulated volleyball spike. Subject-specific bone models were segmented from CT scans of the scapula and humerus. 2D-3D shape matching was employed to iteratively match digitally reconstructed radiographs of the scapula and humerus to biplanar image projections for each frame. Glenohumeral joint rotations, translations, combined supraspinatus/infraspinatus tendon footprint-to-acromion (subacromial), and tendon footprint-to-glenoid (internal) proximities were extracted and described for scapular plane abduction and a simulated volleyball spike. Lastly, glenohumeral kinematics and tendon footprint-to-bone proximities were isolated at the instant of arm cocking of the simulated volleyball spike and compared to scapular plane abduction at an equivalent elevation angle using paired t-tests. This is the first study to employ biplanar videoradiography to directly visualize the GH joint during a dynamic sporting activity. The additional GHER that occurs during late cocking as compared to SAB at an EEA appears to convey a protective mechanism against SA impingement.
Results: For the surface motion capture study there was no significant difference in mean humerothoracic elevation (F1.13,10.2 = 0.68, p = 0.45) nor plane of elevation (F2,20 = 0.25, p = 0.78) at the instant of arm cocking across velocity conditions. Mean maximum humerothoracic external rotation was significantly different across velocity conditions (F1.29,12.86 = 5.44, p = 0.03). After adjusting for multiple comparisons, mean maximum ER was significantly less for the 75 BPM (mean maxER = 87.4°) as compared to the 175 BPM and full speed conditions (mean maxER = 100.1° and 107.3°; p = 0.011 and p = 0.04) respectively.
In the biplanar videoradiography study, glenohumeral external rotation (ER) was significantly greater (mean difference = 28.94°, p < 0.001) and subacromial proximity was significantly larger (i.e. more space) during arm cocking of the simulated spike as compared to scapular plane abduction (mean difference = 3.12 mm, p < 0.001) at an equivalent elevation angle. Internal impingement proximity (mean difference = -1.94 mm, p = 0.15), plane of elevation (mean difference = -11.27°, p = 0.07), and glenohumeral SI, AP, and ML translations were not significantly different between tasks (Superoinferior mean difference = -0.007 mm, anteroposterior mean difference = 0.293 mm, and medial-lateral mean difference = 0.002 mm; p = 0.98, p = 0.46, and p = 0.99 respectively).
Conclusions: Feasibility of using biplanar videoradiography to capture fast speed glenohumeral kinematics needed to be established to justify its associated radiation exposure to participants. I found that humerothoracic elevation and plane of elevation angles at arm cocking were consistent across fast-speed and two velocity-controlled conditions; however, axial external rotation was underrepresented at slower speeds. I felt these results supported the use of biplanar videoradiography for more precise kinematic characterization of the glenohumeral joint. Specifically, elevation angle was unchanged across velocity conditions and it is an established kinematic contributor to rotator cuff compression. Researchers should be aware that glenohumeral external axial rotation may be underrepresented in velocity-controlled conditions. Clinically, movement velocity control via metronome is a low-cost tool to provide progressive exposure to increasing external rotation during simulated spike tasks.
This is the first study to employ biplanar videoradiography to directly visualize the glenohumeral joint during a dynamic sport activity. Both tasks involved periods of time where most participants were at risk of both subacromial and internal rotator cuff compression. The additional glenohumeral external rotation during the arm cocking phase of a simulated spike may convey a protective mechanism against subacromial compression as compared to scapular plane abduction.Hellem, Aaron. (2025). Biomechanical mechanisms of rotator cuff deformation during a simulated Volleyball spike. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/278742