Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding The Perceptions Of Threats And Risks People Have Towards Wildlife, Paige King

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Human-wildlife interactions occur in an array of settings. In Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas, a major issue is visitors approaching wildlife. This is a concern for the safety of visitors and wildlife, visitor experience, and preservation of natural and cultural values of the National Park. The goal of the study is to understand the thought process behind trying to approach wildlife. Knowing the threats and the potentials risks of approaching wildlife generally influences decision making when encountering wildlife. Emotional connections people have regarding wildlife may also have a significant impact on their decision-making process. Visitors are likely to have …

Fish On Fluoxetine: Fins Of Fury Or Fins Of Fainéant, Isabella J. Kadrmas, Tori Baur, Serena Gardner, Sayde Reeves, Cassidy Cruciotti, Mariah Oboyle, Lukas Millward, Susan Greene

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

In recent years there has been an increase in chemical disposal of antidepressants, such as Fluoxetine, entering our water system through treated wastewater. Of concern is the small aquatic species being expected to survive and reproduce in this poisoned water system. Various behavioral effects have been found across species around the world, in all ecosystems. Furthermore, these toxins accumulate in aquatic species and can be transferred via consumption to other organisms, spreading the toxins and causing unknown consequences. In smaller organisms, many behavioral effects have already been documented such as changes in movement and motivation. In order to further study …

Similarities And Differences Between French And Universal Consonant Acquisition, Shafer Higgins, Madison Hinshaw

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Consonant acquisition refers to the developmental process of learning to use individual consonants sounds in spoken communication. A consonant is “acquired” when a child can produce it accurately and independently. Each language has its own unique progression of consonants that are acquired by native speakers as they develop linguistically. In the ongoing process of comparing consonant acquisition across languages, many universal patterns have emerged. However, discrepancies exist between these universal patterns of consonant acquisition and the progression of consonant acquisition in individual languages. Speech-language assessments use the consonant acquisition of individual children as one of the benchmarks to identify those …

Parent Storybook Reading Trainings And Their Effects On Early Literacy Acquisition, Morgan K. Anderson

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Early access and exposure to literacy promotes language development and is essential to future academic success. When caregivers and toddlers engage in shared storybook reading, children are exposed to a variety of language experiences. One way to provide a rich language-literacy experience is to incorporate all essential layers of language (e.g. word meaning, sentence structure, principles of sound) simultaneously in a structured way to facilitate language and literacy acquisition. The focus of the Promoting Language Literacy Acquisition-Interaction in Youth (PLLAY) Lab is to identify ways to improve caregiver-child interactions to support early literacy experiences. We know that not only the …

Thermal Calibration Of Infrared Cameras For Use On Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Eleanor I. Serviss

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

There is an increasing demand for infrared cameras aboard small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) for research in wildlife biology, fire, geology, land management practices, and emergency services. The University of Montana’s Autonomous Aerial Systems Office regularly flies missions with infrared cameras on sUAS. Because sUAS generally use infrared cameras without onboard temperature control systems due to weight restrictions, temperature measurements are highly affected by internal camera temperature and the cameras need regular calibration. This project documents an attempt to calibrate one of these cameras without accessing the camera’s internal thermistor.

For calibration, an aluminum mirror reflected the camera’s internal thermal …

The Importance Of Charge Subclusters On Overall Electrostatics Of Human Cytochrome C Site-A Binding To Cardiolipin Nanodiscs, Joseph P. Pennington

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Cytochrome c (Cytc), a membrane associated redox active protein, functions as an electron shuttle in the electron transport chain. Additionally, it participates in the intrinsic pathway for apoptosis, exhibiting peroxidase activity when interacting with the mitochondrial membrane lipid, cardiolipin. The electrostatic binding site of Cytc, site A, has historically been attributed to positively-charged lysines, in particular, the Lys 72/73 and Lys 86/87 subclusters. These charge subclusters are thought to be the predominant site of interaction between cardiolipin and Cytc at pH 8 as they create zones of positive charge on the protein surface that interact with the negative charge of …

Nonpoint Source Nitrate Pollution In Groundwater Of Bitterroot Valley, Montana, Hayden A. Hunter, Hunter Nickel, Michaela Allred, Alexa Clark, Kara Wissenbach, Jordan Thayne, Nick Wetzsteon, Jackson Stephens, Kassidy Webber, Matthew Price, Flloyd Eakle, Bryce Rigler, Aiden Cocozzo

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Using a watershed approach to study nonpoint source pollution over six-years in the Bitterroot Valley, we at Bitterroot College, have identified two wells with dangerous nitrate levels and a consistent loading of 8 pounds per day emerging as spring water from the aquifer beneath Hamilton. Water quality assessments of nutrients and pesticides nationwide show that nonpoint source pollution often leads to impairment of surface water fisheries and drinking water. Excess nitrogen causes eutrophication in the Bitterroot River. Nitrate levels in drinking water above 10 parts per million are potentially dangerous to newborn infants. Nitrate is converted to nitrite in the …

Preparation Of Enantiopure Methyl Nonactate Derivatives From Fermentation And Its Use In Synthesis Of New Antibiotics, Blaik Hopewell

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Nonactin is a cyclic macrotetrolide antibiotic produced by Streptomyces griseus consisting of two monomers of (+)-nonactic acid and two monomers of (-)-nonactic acid. Following extraction and methanolysis of nonactin and its related nactins, e.g. monactin, methyl nonactate can be purified as a 70:30 mixture of the (-) and (+) enantiomers. Methyl nonactates contain four chiral centers, having a total of 16 stereoisomers. The (+) enantiomer has initially been shown to have a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) when tested against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and other Gram-positive pathogens compared to its complimentary (-) enantiomer. The difference of activity between the enantiomers …

Does Relative Condition Predict Probability Of Spawning And Post-Spawning Mortality For A Migratory Inland Trout?, Maggie Wallace

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Fluvial Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) occupy a variety of river habitats over their life, moving long distances in order to complete their life history. Despite being iteroparous, individual Westslope Cutthroat Trout have high mortality associate with spawning and may skip spawning some years. We hypothesized that initial body condition at tagging is positively related to probability of spawning, migration distance, and post-spawning mortality. Additionally, we expect distance moved upstream may explain variation in post-spawning survival. We used radio telemetry to track movements of 70 non-hybridized Westslope Cutthroat Trout greater than 350mm in Rock Creek, Montana from …

Genetic Analysis Of Changes In Body Length In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Mikaya Terzo

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The regulation of the cell cycle is an essential process that contributes to the normal growth and division as well as the prevention of tumor formation. A cell’s progress through mitosis is regulated by a network of proteins that affect the cyclin B–Cdk1 complex. In C. elegans, there are 4 different cyclin B genes that partner with Cdk1: cyb-1, cyb-2.1, cyb-2.2, and cyb-3. Although all are required for completion of embryonic cell divisions, the detailed functions of some of these cyclins, including any contribution to the regulation of animal size, are still unknown. After noticing a …

The Evolution Of Dragons, Laura Janelle Mayfield

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Dragons have been depicted in human art as early as 4500 BCE. For centuries, these fantasy creatures have inspired countless folk and fantasy tales, as well as appearing in the art of different cultures around the world. Now there are thousands of different depictions of these huge, flying, fire-breathing lizards, but are any of them plausible? In this study, I referenced peer-reviewed scientific articles, phylogenetic analysis, and paleoart studies to create biologically-sound dragons. Basing the dragon lineage on a real branch of webbed-winged scansoriopterygids—an extinct family of climbing and gliding maniraptoran dinosaurs—I explored the possible wing-structure, fire-breathing abilities, and effects …

Investigation Of Novel Cyp26 Inhibitor For Treatment Of Traumatic Brain Injury, Jacob M. Leatherwood

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Over 5.4 million Americans are living with traumatic brain injury (TBI) related symptoms today, with 10 million occurring annually on a global level. While once considered an isolated event, current research is redefining TBIs as the initiation of a disease process that can last a lifetime and impact multiple organ systems. Within the nervous system, injury occurs in two phases: the initial insult, and a post-traumatic inflammatory response. Retinoic acid (RA) signal transduction is activated when contusions, compressions, and lacerations occur in the nervous system, and recent studies have shown that endogenous RA in the brain supports neuronal protection, axonal …

Leaf Choice Of Pteronarcys Californica In Rock Creek, Montana, Emily L. Hamant, Art Woods, James Frakes

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The Giant Salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica), the largest species of stonefly in the world, are vital to streams in western North America. Understanding their diet may shed light on interactions between invertebrates and common riparian trees such as alder, cottonwood, chokecherry, dogwood, and willow. P. californica consume primarily fungal and microbial colonies on decomposing ‘conditioned’ leaves in streams. The rate and timing of leaf decomposition varies due to the toughness and chemistry of the leaves and the communities of microbes that colonize them. There are multiple species of leaves in the stream at any time, but they decompose with …

The Study Of Akr1b10 Enzymatic Activity And Expression For Increasing Endogenous All Trans-Retinoic Acid In The Skin, Kassandra L. Boshae

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Retinoic acid (atRA) is used throughout the body as a signaling molecule, and is important in cellular differentiation for many different cell types. atRA is a product of the retinol metabolism pathway. atRA is generally produced within cells by conversion of Retinol (ROL) into Retinaldehyde (RAL). RAL is then either irreversibly converted to atRA or is converted back to ROL via aldo-keto-reductase 1B10 (AKR1B10), thereby lowering the concentration of atRA. This makes AKR1B10 an interesting target for therapies and treatments for many different diseases and conditions. We hypothesized that natural and synthetic compounds would inhibit AKR1B10 activity and increase concentrations …

Culture, Heroism, And Revolution: Mythological Concepts In Modern-Day Iranian Society, Julia Troisi

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

There are many aspects of cultural history that can impact a region throughout time. In this paper, I will address the mythological and/or religious foundations for countless themes in modern-day Iran's cultural and political spheres. There are many mythological foundations represented in the modern-day society of Iran. First, I will identify the themes within these mythologies, then, I will address the mythological foundations of characters in the Shahnameh who have been carried throughout time into the present. Next, I will address the traditions and holidays observed in today’s Iranian-speaking world and their ancient roots. Finally, I will address some aspects …

The Journey Home, Roy W. Savage Jr

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

My PowerPoint Presentation is called "The Journey Home"- A Military Veteran's Timeline. The focus of my project was to discern the amount of emotional and physical trauma that military members are exposed to. In doing so, I want to help people understand the complexities of going from military service and returning to civilian life...a place you don't recognize and people who no longer recognize the person you were before you left. It is important to understand that each phase has a certain level of "shock" associated with transitioning into military service, culminating in the return home and uncertainty.

Developing A Reference Model To Evaluate For Riparian Restoration After The Removal Of Rattlesnake Dam, Kati L. Barreiros, Corey Leach

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Reference models are critical to ecological restoration because they allow managers to understand the condition the project site would have been in if degradation had not occurred, to develop and communicate a shared vision of project targets, and serve as the building blocks for developing treatment plans. However, despite their importance, many restoration projects do not include information on reference conditions or include data from only a single or limited number of reference sites. We are proposing to create a reference model that can be used to evaluate riparian vegetation restoration after the removal of a dam on Rattlesnake Creek …

Singing Beetles? Figuring Out How Male Rhinoceros Beetles Produce Their Courtship Songs., Devin Hunt, Nathan Barton, Chelsey Caldwell, Cole Sander, Romain Boisseau, Cerisse Allen, Douglas J. Emlen

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Insects produce sound in wildly-diverse ways, from the vibrating wings of chirping crickets to the pulsating tympanum of whining of cicadas. Beetles (order: Coleoptera) use sound in aggressive displays, alarm calls, and courtship sequences. Although all beetles appear to generate sounds using stridulation, where a plectrum, or pick, is rubbed against a pars stridens, or file, species differ in the size and location of these structures, resulting in a diverse mechanistic array of sound production within this order. The Japanese rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, was recently observed stridulating during courtship sequences; however, the mechanism of sound production, including …

The Effect Of Familiarity On Truthiness Judgement, Karina M. Carlson

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Judgments on whether a statement is true are influenced by various factors. For example, Newman et al. (2012) found participants rated a statement as true if it was presented with a related photo, even if the photo did not provide any evidence that the statement is true. This phenomenon is known as the truthiness effect. Despite a large number of existing studies, little has been known about the mechanism underlies the truthiness effect. In the memory literature, previous studies demonstrated that simply repeating an item, such as a word, makes it more memorable (Jacoby & Whitehouse, 1989), suggesting that mere …

Re-Interpreting A Complex Maya Burial At Tutu Uitz Na, Justine Marie Bye

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

In 2017, John Walden led an excavation of the Tutu Uitz Na intermediate elite center, found in the Maya site of Lower Dover, Belize. He and his team uncovered two burials, designated SG1-BU2 and SG1-BU3. Their initial report claims that there were three individuals, all sacrificially bound and killed within an eastern triadic shrine. In 2019, Dr. Kirsten Green-Mink and Justine Bye, both of the University of Montana, re-analyzed the Tutu Uitz Na burials and performed a comprehensive bioarchaeological analysis. SG1-BU2 was found to contain three individuals – 2 adults and 1 subadult. SG1-BU3 contained one adult, likely of high …

The Connection Between Mental Health And Physical Activity, Rachel Fisher

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

There is a significant connection between mental health and physical activity. Correlations between severe mental illnesses (SMI), such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, have shown to have a relationship with physical activity. Mental illness alone is something hard to overcome, but research has shown that physical activity can decrease the severity of the illness. Along with the impact that physical activity has on mental health, studies have shown that those who block out physical activity in their lives have higher chances of developing a severe mental illness. Many treatments can be prescribed for a SMI, but one treatment that …

Knee Pain And Injury In Volleyball Athletes, Tori Dube

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Today, athletic programs in schools are becoming increasingly popular. Volleyball is one of these popular athletic programs, along with basketball, soccer, and football. Because of the increased popularity of these sports, there have been increased rates and occurrences of injuries. Among the most common injuries recorded are knee injuries, including ACL tears and overuse injuries like patellar tendinitis. Overuse injuries can be quite painful and are linked to increased risk of osteoarthritis. Athletes tend to set aside this pain to avoid missing playing time. However, it is crucial for overall health to implement intervention strategies and programs to treat these …

Coordinated Approach To Child's Health, Devin Anderson

Graduate Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Movement Motivation, Nicolette S. Harris

Graduate Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Starting Strides Moving Forward, Lei Dunn

Graduate Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

2020 Graduate Research Symposium: Posters From Distance Students, Shannon Bailey

Graduate Research Symposium

Frequently high school students and their parents are less engaged than their elementary and middle school counterparts, especially in relation to the school library. Research shows that students whose parents are engaged achieve more and those whose administrators communicate with them through social media feel a bigger sense of school connectedness. School libraries should promote their program using the social media platforms that parents and students utilize to build a sense of library community. The purpose of this nonexperimental study is to determine the best social media outlets to use in engaging high school library stakeholders.

Biol 250: Snps Found In The Ptc (Bitter Tasting) Gene, Katelin Savage

Virtual 2020 Spring Student Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

No abstract provided.

Digital Liberal Arts Fellows, Tiffini Eckenrod

Library Presentations

This poster describes recent activities of the Digital Liberal Arts (DLA) Fellows at Ursinus College, including workshops and supported technologies.

Introduction To Covid-19 Research, Amanda Scull

Dartmouth Library Workshops and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare, Sushil Pandey

Student Academic Conference

Because of Covid-19, we could do virtual SAC, these are the slides that I used in the virtual SAC.