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Processing Pea Variety Trial, 2025
Get PDFDistributed to MWFPA Raw Products Committee in November 2025.Pea yields in our trial were outstanding in 2025, and anecdotally, regional yields were very good as well. Soil conditions were rather wet for the early planting in some portions of the field, but the heaviest rain was restricted to late June and early July, during harvest. This was not problematic for our hand-harvested plots. Moderate temperatures certainly helped as well. High temperatures >87ºF were only recorded 4 days in all of June and 3 days in early July, as peas flowered and matured. Four days throughout the season saw stressful low daily temperature above 69ºF.Funding provided by Midwest Food Products Association, Brotherton Seeds, Crites Seeds, Gallatin Valley Seeds, Pure Line Seeds, Seminis Seeds, Storm Seeds, Syngenta Seeds. This researcher’s time was supported in part by the Hatch capacity grant program, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.Rohwer, Charlie. (2025). Processing Pea Variety Trial, 2025. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/277277
Data supporting Large-scale high-throughput screen for cardiac ryanodine receptor targeted therapeutics
Get PDFData to accompany a research article.In high-throughput screening (HTS) assays using fluorescence lifetime (FLT)-detected FRET, we have identified compounds that allosterically modulate the pathologically leaky ryanodine receptor (RyR) calcium release channels. These compounds may prevent or reduce the elevated Ca2+ that fuels arrhythmia, heart failure, and age-related neurodegeneration. RyRs are responsible for intracellular Ca2+ release from endo-plasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum (ER/SR). The resulting [Ca2+] pulse is a signal for many cellular processes, whereas sustained elevated [Ca2+] is pathologic. Our FRET-based HTS detects the pathology-linked RyR leaky state by monitoring binding of the accessory protein calmodulin and the DPc10 peptide (corresponding to RyR2 residues 2460–2495) known to perturb inter-domain interactions within RyR2. Under conditions mimicking a pathological state, we have screened a 50,000-compound chemical library to identify small-molecule modulators of RyR2 in cardiac SR membranes. This screen yielded 603 compounds that reproducibly altered FRET. Based on FRET response profiles that align with therapeutic potential, 83 of those most promising compounds were purchased and validated by FRET dose response evaluation. Focusing on ten chemical scaffolds that desirably increase A-CaM binding, six representative compounds reduced RyR2 activity as measured by [3H]ryanodine binding. Ca2+ dynamics in HEK293 cells expressing human RyR2 or in cardiomyocytes highlighted the isoxazole group of hits as potentially therapeutic by targeting the pathological RyR2 leak state.Rebbeck, Robyn T; Nikolaienko, Roman; Bovo, Elisa; Solberg, Jonathan C; Brinkmann, Marzena A; Treinen, Levy M; Thompson, Andrew R; Berg, Kaja; Thomas, David; Thomas, Jennifer J; Bers, Donald M; Aldrich, Courtney C; Zima, Aleksey V; Cornea, Razvan L. (2025). Data supporting Large-scale high-throughput screen for cardiac ryanodine receptor targeted therapeutics. Retrieved from the Data Repository for the University of Minnesota (DRUM), https://doi.org/10.13020/q0nb-z977
Is it Noble to Die? A Comparative Review of the Death of King Arthur
Get PDFUMD University Honors CapstoneThe legend of King Arthur often gets swept into a vision of glory and gold, known for it’s symbols of the round table, the holy grail and the magic of Merlin. Yet, Arthur’s death at the conclusion of his legend contradicts the success of his reign prior to the battle against his nephew, Mordred. Incidents of usurption, civil war, and political instability within Britain plague the historical contexts at the time of each author’s writing. Arthur’s relationship to Mordred represent tensions regarding British civil war and contributes to the formation of a British identity. Each work legitimizes Arthur’s royal claim through using Arthur’s sword, Excalibur, as a symbol for his identity as King and by purposefully outlining the line of succession both before and after Arthur. When analyzing the battle against Mordred, and the elements of Arthur’s death, his tale serves to emphasize Britian’s anxieties around succession and leadership as a whole.Gutz, Zoe. (2025). Is it Noble to Die? A Comparative Review of the Death of King Arthur. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/277121
Encouraging autonomy support in early adolescence: development and pilot of the ASPIRE parenting program
Get PDFUniversity of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. 2025. Major: Family Social Science. Advisor: Armeda Wojciak. 1 computer file (PDF); ix, 142 pages.Adolescence is a formative time for development of autonomy. Parenting that is supportive of autonomy has been associated with positive developmental and social-emotional youth outcomes. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) provides a foundation for understanding and intervening on autonomy support. There are several preventive interventions which encourage autonomy-supportive parenting in early adolescence. However, because little is understood about parents’ experiences with autonomy support, the existing interventions do not often explore parents’ internal processes, thoughts, and emotions related to autonomy support. This dissertation consists of two studies, conducted with parents of early adolescents aged 10 to 14. Study 1 used focus groups (n = 17 parents) to help fill the gap in understanding parents’ experiences of providing autonomy support. Thematic analysis yielded findings around the internal processes, relational dynamics, and everyday practices involved in autonomy- supportive parenting. Study 2 used sequential exploratory design to develop and pilot a process-oriented parent training prevention program. Directed content analysis on the focus groups informed the initial framework of Autonomy-Supportive Parenting: Intention, Reflection, & Encouragement (ASPIRE), a 6-week virtual prevention group. ASPIRE was implemented with a total of 21 parents attending most sessions and 16 completing the pre- and post-test measures.
Thematic analysis of the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire indicated high acceptability in terms of program structure, content, and process. Preliminary effectiveness was explored through paired t-tests of the Revised Parents as Social Context Questionnaire (R-PSCQ). Results indicated no significant change in autonomy support, but significantly higher parental warmth from pre- to post-test. Implications for future research, implementation, and applications in family therapy are discussed.Driscoll, Janette. (2025). Encouraging autonomy support in early adolescence: development and pilot of the ASPIRE parenting program. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/276753
Saint Paul Campus Strategy Committee Report (short version)
Get PDFThe Saint Paul campus of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities (UMTC) stands at a pivotal moment of opportunity and reinvention. A tripartite vision—centered on Campus Life, Interdisciplinary Scholarship, and Community Engagement—charts a path to reimagine the campus as an intimate, yet vibrant, innovative, and interconnected hub within the broader Twin Cities system.University of Minnesota. Saitn Paul Campus Strategy Committee. (2025). Saint Paul Campus Strategy Committee Report (short version). Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/276923
A preliminary examination of impulsivity as a risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among Native American young people
Get PDFUniversity of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. 2025. Major: Psychology. Advisors: Bonnie Klimes-Dougan, Monica Luciana. 1 computer file (PDF); xii, 206 pages.Native American young people are disproportionately burdened by suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and research has sought to better understand this risk. This dissertation takes a developmental stress and culturally grounded lens to characterize risk as a working model for suicide risk among Native American youth and employs three empirical studies to examine one possible risk factor outlined in this model: impulsivity. Study 1 used data from two epidemiological samples of Native American and non-Native American adolescents to examine reports of suicide attempts among those who reported ideation and reports of suicide ideation among those who reported an attempt. We found that Native American youth were more likely than youth from other racial/ethnic backgrounds to report engaging in a suicide attempt regardless of whether they also reported experiencing suicide ideation in the past year. Though speculative, it is possible that the elevated likelihood of engaging in a suicide attempt with and without reporting suicide ideation is facilitated by impulsive responding to negative affective states. Study 2 used data from an epidemiologically informed sample of Native American youth in late childhood to examine whether lifetime reports of suicide ideation were associated with indexes of impulsivity measured across multiple levels of analysis (self-report, behavioral, neurobiological). We found that negative urgency (i.e., impulsive behaviors in the context of negative emotions) was significantly associated with lifetime suicide ideation. We also found that when looking at these characteristics within-individuals, youth with elevated negative urgency and positive were more likely to report lifetime suicide ideation when compared to youth with “normative” (i.e., the most common) reports. This study marks a considerable advancement to the literature given the use of multiple levels of analysis and direct measurement of impulsivity. Study 3 used data from a short-term longitudinal survey study to examine how suicide ideation changed week-by-week, whether this change was related to same week life stress, and whether impulsivity (i.e., negative urgency, impulse control) was a significant moderator in these associations among Native American emerging adults. We found that Native American emerging adults reported changes in suicide ideation week to week and that these fluctuations tracked with weeks where they experienced greater impacts of stressors (i.e., the impact of the stressor on finances and on one’s feelings about themselves, or self-concept). These weekly associations were exacerbated by difficulties in emotion regulation related to impulse control. Taken together, these three studies provide preliminary evidence for the role of impulsivity in shaping protracted (i.e., lifetime) and proximal (i.e., weekly) suicide risk trajectories among Native American young people. Predicting changes in acute suicide risk is a difficult task, which may be made even more difficult when impulsivity is at play. Because of this critical clinical concern, there is an express need for future research that continues to characterize the role of impulsivity in suicide risk among Native American young people as well as work that identifies approaches to risk assessment and safety planning that are effective for those who do demonstrate greater impulsivity during intense affective states.Wiglesworth, Andrea. (2025). A preliminary examination of impulsivity as a risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among Native American young people. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/277407
Refined Thinking: Wheat Processing for Food Safety and Nutritional Enhancement
Get PDFFaculty Advisor: Joanne Slavin
Committee Members: William Atwell, Mitch KanterWheat processing is an essential practice that ensures that wheat, one of the most widely used ingredients in our food system, is safe to consume and remains a dependable energy source for our growing population. Processing procedures are critical, not only for ensuring the safety and reliability of wheat as an energy source, but also for enhancing its nutritional benefits via increased digestibility and the removal of harmful contaminants and pathogens. Whole grains, and in the case of this review, whole wheat, are often considered superior food ingredients when compared to refined grains due in part to their implicitly acknowledged “unprocessed” nature. However, the contrary is true: these substances can often exhibit a lower nutritive value and reduced digestibility, requiring a higher degree of processing to meet standards for human consumption. Given the growing spread of information promoting the perceived superiority of 'unprocessed' and natural foods, there is a corresponding need to provide the public with accurate, evidence-based information—particularly regarding the processing involved in all wheat products, whether whole or refined. This review examines the physical and nutritional composition of the wheat kernel, the NOVA classification of refined flour and its derivative food products, and the implications of wheat processing. Special attention is given to how processing addresses naturally occurring antinutritional factors and fungal pathogens in unprocessed wheat, while also enhancing the bioavailability of essential micronutrients to help reduce micronutrient deficiencies.Krotts, Katelyn. (2025). Refined Thinking: Wheat Processing for Food Safety and Nutritional Enhancement. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/276536
Minnesota Master Naturalist: 20 Years of Exploring, Teaching & Conserving
Get PDFFor 20 years, the Minnesota Master Naturalist program has proven that informed and inspired individuals produce collective action on a host of natural resource issues. From invasive species removal and trail improvements to outreach education and participatory science, together we have a profound impact on the state of Minnesota. This report celebrates the 20-year anniversary of the program, and includes a timeline, volunteer profiles, and other success stories.
Bray, G., Rager, A., Strauss, A.L. (2025). 20 Years of Exploring, Teaching & Conserving. St. Paul, MN: Regents of the University of Minnesota.Bray, Griffin; Rager, Amy; Strauss, Andrea Lorek. (2025). Minnesota Master Naturalist: 20 Years of Exploring, Teaching & Conserving. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/276890
Novel single cell multiomics approaches to overcome barriers to interspecies chimerism for generating exogenic organs and cells
Get PDFUniversity of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. January 2025. Major: Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics. Advisor: Walter Low. 1 computer file (PDF); v, 78 pages.There is a massive shortage of organ donors available for transplantation therapy, and millions of people die every year waiting for donor organs. The fields of interspecies chimerism and blastocyst complementation have shown promise towards addressing this organ shortage. The goal of these fields is to develop transplantable human organs in host animals like pigs, that can then be extracted and used in the clinic for transplantation therapy. While these fields hold great promise, there are still barriers that need to be overcome.One of the major barriers to successful interspecies chimerism is the mismatch in the developmental stages of the donor and the host cells, in the chimeric embryo. In Aim 1, we interrogated scRNA sequenced datasets of early embryos and stem cells from four commonly used donor and host species- human, marmoset, mouse, and pig. We found that the human blastocyst (E6/E7) best matched with the gastrulating mouse embryo (E6-E6.75), the marmoset late inner cell mass, and the pig late blastocyst.
Another major barrier to successful chimerism is the mismatch in developmental speeds between the donor and host cells in the chimeric embryos. To address this barrier, there is first a need to define developmental speed at the single cell level. In Aim 2, we developed a novel single cell (sc) multiomics approach to simultaneously analyze replication timing (RT) and gene expression, to define developmental speed. RT is an epigenetic cell-type specific feature, that allows us to analyze how genes replicate, early or late, during the S-phase of the cell cycle. We optimized this approach in a well-established cancer cell line HepG2 and for the first time, demonstrated RT and gene expression interactions within single cells. We were able to capture conserved patterns between cells and cell-to-cell variations.
Mouse is the most commonly used host embryo in chimerism studies. Hence, in aim 3, we analyzed wildtype (WT) early mouse preimplantation embryos using the sc-multiomics approach. Analysis of the WT mouse embryos provided us with novel chromatin accessibility, genome, and transcriptome trends that could be observed for the first time, using the sc- multiomics approach. The techniques used in this aim can be used to analyze donor and host cells in chimeric embryos. This provides us with molecular targets for enhancing interspecies chimerism and driving the field towards its end goal of generating exogenic human organs for transplantation therapy in the clinic.Shetty, Anala. (2025). Novel single cell multiomics approaches to overcome barriers to interspecies chimerism for generating exogenic organs and cells. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/277396
2025 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: University of Minnesota Duluth
No full textUniversity of Minnesota. (2025). 2025 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: University of Minnesota Duluth. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/276577