143258 research outputs found
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BBER News (2025-05)
No full textUniversity of Minnesota Duluth. Bureau of Business and Economic Research. (2025). BBER News (2025-05). Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/272425
Love thy Neighbor(hood Association): Neighborhood Perspectives on City Support in Minneapolis following the Neighborhood Revitalization Project
No full textThe City of Minneapolis’ approach to local planning and engagement efforts has shifted over the past four decades. In the 1990s and 2000s the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) positioned neighborhood associations as the principal agents of change in their communities.
Over time as city-level goals have changed, so has the City’s approach to neighborhood association support and empowerment. Prior literature on the NRP has focused primarily on assessing its outcomes, finding that the program disproportionately benefited middle-class, white
homeowners. Previous research has relied on analyses of spending patterns and neighborhood level outcomes. I employ qualitative interviewing in order to look beyond an impact analysis, to better understand how the transition from the decentralized model of the NRP to a more centralized model today has impacted the operations and work of neighborhood associations. I find that the models of neighborhood oversight that followed the NRP, principally Neighborhoods 2020, have devalued the role of neighborhood associations in community level
outreach and planning. Whereas during the NRP neighborhood associations were responsible for local planning and outreach, today they are seen as one of many tools in the City’s approach to local planning and equitable engagement. This shift has had tangible effects on the operations of neighborhood associations, with many feeling their ability to sustain themselves financially is in jeopardy, and thus so is their ability to meet the expectations the City has for neighborhood associations.Johnson-Taubmann, Alexander. (2025). Love thy Neighbor(hood Association): Neighborhood Perspectives on City Support in Minneapolis following the Neighborhood Revitalization Project. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/272022
What Every Executive Needs to Know About Sustainability: Insights from Human and Artificial Experts
No full textHonors Capstone programAs sustainability becomes an increasingly critical issue for businesses and society, executives need reliable, current resources to understand the issues and adopt sustainable business practices. Unfortunately, existing sustainability-related literature reviews normally cater to academics rather than executives. This forces executives to understand the impact of sustainability on and by their business, and their business response to it, on their own. This domain is often unfamiliar, and one in which they normally have but limited expertise.
This study bridges the gap and informs executives by leveraging both human expertise and artificial intelligence to identify key sustainability readings appropriate for executives at different stages in their sustainability journeys. I surveyed sustainability scholars from AACSB-accredited institutions and the Academy of Management to gather their literature recommendations. Additionally, I tested the ability of ChatGPT to generate reading recommendations and compared its selections to those of the human experts.
While the human experts provided a wide range of recommendations with limited consensus on specific readings (only 9 books or articles were recommended more than once), several central themes emerged. In contrast, ChatGPT’s recommendations, while sometimes insightful, included instances of hallucination and citations to apparently non-existent sources. This study emphasizes the importance of human expertise while exploring the potential use and limitations of AI-generated recommendations. Ultimately, the results offer guidance for business leaders seeking to deepen their sustainability knowledge while cautioning against the validity and reliability of Artificial Intelligence.Thomsen, Clair. (2025). What Every Executive Needs to Know About Sustainability: Insights from Human and Artificial Experts. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/271557
Refining A Protocol for Preparation for RNAScope of Swine and Pediatric Biopsy Samples
No full textFaculty Advisor: Alexandra ArmstrongBone and cartilage samples can be difficult to prepare for histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular analysis techniques due to their cellular characteristics, the need for decalcification, and issues with tissue adherence to slides. Our objective was to develop a protocol for RNAscope assessment of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) bone and cartilage samples that minimizes tissue loss and preserves RNA adequately. We evaluated multiple protocols to optimize the presence of high quality RNA based on the relative expression of medium and low expression markers by RNAScope assay. Through an iterative process, we determined that our protocol 1) was effective based on the evaluation of positive controls, 2) that pre-baking slides at 34°C for 6 improved tissue adherence, and 3) that RNA was present in adequate amounts within human osteochondral tissue to be detected using our protocol. Collectively, these findings will guide future protocol optimization for RNAScope evaluation of RNA in FFPE bone and cartilage samples by our laboratory.This research was supported by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP).Hodgins, Megan. (2025). Refining A Protocol for Preparation for RNAScope of Swine and Pediatric Biopsy Samples. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/271253
Minutes: Senate Committee on Educational Policy: Classroom Advisory Subcommittee: March 3, 2025
No full textIn these minutes: Review Summary of 23-24 Classroom Needs Survey Results;
Review Updated Active Learning Classroom Data; Approve Survey for Deans and Department Heads; 2025-26 Meeting Modality Discussion; 2025-26 Chair OpeningUniversity of Minnesota: Classroom Advisory Subcommittee. (2025). Minutes: Senate Committee on Educational Policy: Classroom Advisory Subcommittee: March 3, 2025. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/271488
Applying Chemical Composition to Understand Pollution Sources: From the Metals in Dust at the Salton Sea to PFAs in Precipitation in the Great Lakes (2025-02-07)
No full textDr. Alexander Frie, Research & Fellowship Coordinator, Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota Duluth; February 7, 2025; 3:00 p.m. - Chem 200; Host: Dr. Kathryn SchreinerFrie, Alexander; University of Minnesota Duluth. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. (2025). Applying Chemical Composition to Understand Pollution Sources: From the Metals in Dust at the Salton Sea to PFAs in Precipitation in the Great Lakes (2025-02-07). Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/272325
Effects of Baclofen on Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Sucrose-Seeking
No full textThis research was supported by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP).Rao, Indira. (2025). Effects of Baclofen on Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Sucrose-Seeking. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/271518
Minutes: Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs (SCFA): March 4, 2025
No full textIn these minutes: TFAPS Update; AF&T Task Force Update; Updates from Vice
Provost Beth LewisUniversity of Minnesota: Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs. (2025). Minutes: Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs (SCFA): March 4, 2025. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/271490
Accounting for soil and weather conditions: Methods and tools to help fine-tune your N
No full textRuntime 38:02On this episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart (https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/search/label/Nitrogen%20Smart) we discuss methods and tools to account for soil and weather conditions as you execute your nitrogen management strategy. Which tissue and nitrate testing options are the most beneficial, and when should you test? How does understanding the nitrogen cycle help you interpret these results? How do drought and /or saturated conditions affect available nitrogen? What can be reasonably achieved with rescue treatments? Why is it important to end your season with the right amount of residual nitrogen in the field? Brad and Dan discuss this - and much more - on today's show. Additional resources: Corn supplemental N rate calculator (https://extension.umn.edu/nutrient-management/crop-specific-needs); Soil Testing Laboratory: Farm / Field and Commercial Horticulture Crops (https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/farmhorticultural-field); Research Analytical Laboratory (https://ral.cfans.umn.edu/); The nitrogen cycle (https://youtu.be/pRa26VhmXvY); Why understanding the nitrogen cycle is key to managing soil fertility (https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/2025/04/the-nitrogen-cycle-n-transformations-in.html)Carlson, Brad; Kaiser, Daniel. (2025). Accounting for soil and weather conditions: Methods and tools to help fine-tune your N. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/272885
Structuring Content for Retrieval-Augmented Generation Chatbots: An Analysis of Current Best Practices
No full textBackground. As generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools become more popular, information-seeking behaviors are shaping how businesses produce content and how users access information. However, mass-market chatbots like ChatGPT are prone to producing inaccurate information due to their broad training data. Objective. My research aimed to identify broadly recognized best practices for structuring content to enhance the effectiveness of Retrieval-augmented Generation (RAG) chatbots. Methods. To find practical information on RAG chatbots, I analyzed source content from practitioner spaces, including Software as a Service (SaaS) blogs and professional conference materials, focusing on broadly recognized recommendations for structuring content for RAG models. Results. I analyzed 16 unique practitioner sources and coded recurring themes into seven best practice heuristics for structuring content to improve RAG chatbot performance. Conclusion. While no universal standards exist yet for structuring content for RAG chatbots, my research identified overlapping best practices that can guide the implementation of RAG chatbots with an organization’s documentation source. To be successful, organizations must test and adapt these strategies to their specific content and remain committed to ongoing performance monitoring.Conner, Amari. (2025). Structuring Content for Retrieval-Augmented Generation Chatbots: An Analysis of Current Best Practices. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/271556