Digital Commons Network^™

Decision Tools For Transporting Critically-Ill Pediatric Patients & Parents, Anthony Iandoli

Academic Festival

It was identified that the Boston Med Flight critical care helicopter agency lacked a sufficient process for deciding the appropriate method of bringing parents with the medical crews on critical-care transport flights of pediatric patients to level 1 trauma centers. That being said, we reviewed information from the AJCC, the FAA and other sources to design a decision tree to aid the direction in decision making for the flight nurses, pilots and paramedics when it comes to parents coming along.

Heart Failure Education On An Intermediate Care Unit To Prevent Readmission, Samantha Abbott

Academic Festival

Presentation Type

Poster

Heart Failure Education to Prevent Readmission on an Intermediate Care Unit

Mentor

Dr. Susan Goncalves

College

College of Nursing

Abstract

Education is a key component to achieving quality patient outcomes for hospitalized CHF patients and avoidance of preventable hospital readmissions. The presentation titled “Heart Failure Education to Prevent Readmission on an Intermediate Care Unit” supports registered nurses discharge instructions educational efforts for CHF patients with the goal of decreasing 30 day readmission rates to the Intermediate Care Unit at Greenwich Hospital. Congestive heart failure is an extremely prevalent condition in the U.S., and its adequate management can …

The Effects Of Family Structure In Childhood On Young Adult Peer Relationships, Rosanna Furano

Academic Festival

This study investigates family structure home life and the long term consequences to quality of social relationships. My hypotheses are 1) Young adults from nontraditional parental structures will be significantly lower on quality of relationships than those that are from traditional families, 2) As the level of disruptive family experiences increase, the quality of relationships will decrease and 3) As the level of family conflict increases the quality of relationships will decrease. To test these, a quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted. The purposive sample consisted of 57 students from universities in the Northeast. Of three hypotheses, the third was confirmed.

Di-Butyl Phthalate (Dbp) Induces Defects In Eye Development In Zebrafish, Emily Orosco

Academic Festival

Di-butyl phthalate (DBP) is commonly added to make plastics softer and more pliable and is found in a variety of consumer and industrial products. Alarmingly high levels of DBP have been detected in water and sediment as DBP leaches from products. These levels are concerning and has led the Environmental Protection Agency to label DBP as a priority environmental pollutant and the European Commission to label DBP as a priority substance. Given the ubiquitous presence of DBP globally and continuous exposure to DBP, studies on the developmental toxicity of DBP are needed. There is a wealth of literature supporting the …

Immigration: How The Media Influences Your Perception, Leela Gallucci

Academic Festival

This paper discusses how various forms of media have a direct effect on how we perceive immigrants in our society. Through technology, the news, film, and television, we get a plethora of misconceptions regarding the views of immigration. It is important to understand how the media works to influence our knowledge of the information that we receive from these sources.

Alcohol-Related Ecological Covariates Of Identity Stress Among College Students, Nikole Rudis, Nicolin Goodin

Academic Festival

Very little is known about the relationship between alcohol use and identity distress among college students, despite the elevated rates of alcohol use and identity distress among this age group. The use of an ecological model serves as a framework to identify alcohol-related covariates that may be related to identity distress to better understand the relationship between these two issues. The current study examined alcohol-related covariates across multiple levels of the ecosystem (i.e., intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, etc.) among a sample of college students. An online survey was emailed to undergraduates that assesses alcohol and drug use, perceptions, experiences and consequences …

The Impact Of Anadamide On The Ampk Pathyway Of C2c12 Cells, Amanda M. Witkowski, Ryan Sledzik, Julia Scherer

Academic Festival

In 2015, the CDC reported that the number of obese adults in the U.S. was 93.3 million. A well-known association between metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity exists. Diabetes leads to increased levels of blood glucose due to a decrease in insulin production or insulin resistance. Rather than being used as energy within cells, excess blood glucose is stored in adipose tissue, leading to obesity. The current research literature shows that capsaicin, a constituent of chili peppers, increases glucose uptake in C2C12 mouse skeletal myoblasts, making capsaicin a potential therapeutic for obesity and diabetes.Capsaicin activates the AMP- activated …

The Association Of Co-Occurring Health Risk Behaviors And Mental Health In College Students, Laila Mcgeorge, Hailey Loreth, Tracy Nguy, Abdullah Alavi

Academic Festival

Background: National data indicates that large numbers of college students are engaging in a range of health risk behaviors. These risk behaviors include public health issues, such as binge drinking, poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, and low levels of exercise. Studies have linked individual health risk behaviors with mental health symptoms among college students, although more research is needed to understand the association of co-occurring risk behaviors and mental health. Purpose: The purpose of the current study is to identify prevalence rates of four common health risk behaviors, examine the extent to which these health risk behaviors co-occur, and …

Effect Of Storm Events On Submarine Groundwater Discharge Measured By Radon Flux, Victoria Schoenwald

Academic Festival

The study of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is of growing importance due to its potential to carry pollutants into the coastal zone. Radon (²²²Rn) has been used as a tracer of SGD because its concentration is very high in groundwater but low in seawater, due to its source being naturally occurring uranium in rocks. Determining the flux of SGD is important for establishing marine geochemical mass balances in a system. In areas with high rainfall there is the potential for a high rate of SGD, which in turn carries pollutants into the coastal zone rapidly and in large …

Social Behavior In Belugas (Delphinapterus Leucas), Stephanie N. Leson, Ashley F. Penczynzyn, Erin S. Perotta, Garrett P. Roy

Academic Festival

Although belugas are considered to be highly affiliative in nature, juvenile females show less social affiliations overall compared to the juvenile males. These social patterns appear to continue into adulthood, since adult female belugas are also reported to have weaker social bonds than males both in the wild (reviewed in Michaud, 2005) and in managed care (Hill et. al., 2016, 2018). •Animals in controlled settings that produce spontaneous behavior that is similar to their free-ranging conspecifics, may be evidence that acontrolled environment is supportive of their welfare. •The purpose of this study was to longitudinally assess social interactions and behaviors …

Overcoming The Barriers Of Poverty: Intersectionality And Single Black Mothers Of P.T. Barnum Apartments, Laura James

Academic Festival

This research investigated the ways in which intersectionality and various forms of support have influenced the ability of single black mothers to overcome the barriers of poverty. Qualitative research included analysis of three interviews of single black mothers from P.T. Barnum, a public housing complex located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The use of an online coding tool, Dedoose, proved effective in identifying where various forms of support have aided these women. These supports included social and community supports. The women cited having various forms of social support, including informational, tangible, and emotional. They also cited having various forms of community support, …

Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Issues And Its Applications In Cyber Security, Nathan Vargoshe

Academic Festival

Artificial Intelligence is becoming an increasingly large part of today’s society. The technology, while still fairly new, impacts peoples’ lives every day. The current technology can be classified as Artificial Narrow Intelligence, and is able to effectively perform one task. ANI, however, is weak compared to the theoretical Artificial General Intelligence, which is proposed to be able to surpass human cognition. Topics including how AI works and learns, its risks, and its applications in cybersecurity are discussed in this paper. Cybersecurity is a branch of computer science dedicated to the defense of computer systems from malicious attacks and exploits from …

The Controversial F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: America's Most Expensive Weapons System And Its Global Impact, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Creative Materials

Presentation describing my 2019 Palgrave Macmillan book Global Defense Procurement and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. It describes this aircraft and places particular emphasis on the government information resources from multiple countries used in writing this book.

British Government Information Resources, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Creative Materials

Provides an overview of British Government information resources. Contents include basic British economic and political background and information from British Government websites including the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Brexit related material produced by British government agencies such as the Department for Exiting the European Union,, the Ministry of Defence, the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the Home Office Visas and Immigration Section, the Office of National Statistics, Her Majesty's Treasury, the British Parliament including parliamentary committees and research agencies, the website of Member of Parliament (MP) Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative-North East Somerset), a webcast of House …

Three Minute Presentation Round 2, Jessica Sanchez, Jennifer Nelson, Parker Joyner

Graduate Research Symposium

Jessica Sanchez
Reading Literacy & Learning
"Clear the flight pattern! Rise to the top!

Jennifer Nelson
School Librarianship
"Broken Mirrors"

Parker Joyner
Special Education
"It's all about the Placement"

Sex Education Program Evaluation, Abbey Stoneman, Amy Trowbridge, Carly Moore, Marie Danner

Graduate Research Symposium

Sex education is a program of which most public schools in the United States implement with children and adolescence. Unfortunately, there is a profound gap in the literature that is available on this topic. The literature which does exist on sex education programs implies that current programs do not yield successful practice of safe sex by students and that there may be more effective interventions to consider when developing a sex education program. To create an effective sex education program which will generate lower rates of risky sexual behavior in adolescence, a program evaluation should be completed to gather data …

Treatment Programs For Military Veterans With Ptsd And Comorbid Mental Health Diagnoses, Mackenzie R. Shornak, Savannah Pierce, Diamond Ray

Graduate Research Symposium

Throughout the world, there are veterans in inpatient treatment programs that have been diagnosed with PTSD (and possibly comorbid mental health diagnoses) that are entering the real world and not getting the help they need after treatment. Inpatient treatment programs are not focusing on each individual diagnosis for veterans with PTSD in order to see positive and effective changes. The comorbid mental health issues we plan to research include substance abuse, suicide, and pain symptoms.

Factors And Information Related To Nurses Administering Medication To Patients With Dysphagia: A Pilot Study, Abigail Dubois, Ashley Atkins, Abbey Lovelace, Aspen Mickles

Graduate Research Symposium

The purpose of this study is to determine what factors or information nurses take into consideration in order to provide proper care for patients. As information is gathered, it can reveal the specific impact it may have on the patient’s quality of life as well as identify possible discrepancies in the method of care for patients with dysphagia. This data will be gathered through a questionnaire and two case studies that assess nurses decision-making strategies in regard to administering medication to patients with dysphagia.

Three Minute Presentation Round 1, Mikayla Norton, Reghan Slater, Makayla Hostetter, Amelia Erickson

Graduate Research Symposium

Mikayla Norton
Counselor Education
"Understanding Chronic Pain in the Elderly"

Reghan Slater
Communication Sciences & Disorders
"Bridging the Gap"

Makaya Hostetter & Amelia Erickson
Special Education
"Once is Not Enough"

Children’S Evaluations Of Excluding An In-Group Member Who Help An Out-Group, Janel Cuevas, Lily Samiee, Makeda Mayes, Annabelle Farina, Santiago Gonzalez, Ariel Kasoff, Sabrina Ortiz, Aline Hitti Dr.

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

What factors contribute to children’s exclusion of in-group members? Past research indicates that children and adolescents are often not willing to exclude in-group members, but might be more willing if in-group members challenged moral group norms (Hitti, Mulvey, Rutland, Abrams, & Killen, 2013). Additionally, it has been found that while children are more likely to help an in-group member but are willing to help an out-group member if they are in need (Sierksma, Thijs, and Verkuyten, 2015). Less is known about exclusion of in-group members who help out-groups in ways that come at a cost to one’s own group. The …

Population Change In Appalachia Since 1910, Colton Snyder

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

Appalachian population trends over the last century have fluctuated from large gains to enormous losses. This has led to extreme economic swings across the region. Past studies have shown Appalachia as a whole saw major growth and development in the early 1900’s due to mining and manufacturing, as well as the fall of the region’s main economic suppliers in the latter half of the 20^th century. This study analyzes population variations across Appalachia since the early 20^th century. The purpose was to show where population has varied and the links between economic changes among the sub-regions within Appalachia. …

Adopting A Military Strategy For Smb Cyber Security Incident Response, John Williams

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Responding to data breach incidents are a significant concern for businesses of all sizes and industry sectors. Recovering from these incidents is particularly challenging for small to midsize businesses (SMB) due to the limited support staff and institutional knowledge of incident response strategies for cyber attacks. Incident response is an organized approach to addressing and managing the aftermath of cybersecurity data breach attacks by information technology (IT) professionals. Military strategies present a unique opportunity for improving cybersecurity incident response. This case study examines incident response documentation of data breaches occurring at SMBs using the lens of military strategy. Industry best …

The Construction Of A Graphic Novel, Emma Thorp

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

A graphic novel is a book of any genre told through the medium of comic panels. Each picture drawn is literally worth a thousand words of the story. Comic books of the ‘50s were the beginning of this phenomenon, but their popularity really rose after the recession of 2008 as a unique form of storytelling. I have been studying graphic novels, comic theory, and the lives of comic artists since a young age. Over my studies, I have written many short comic strips and an eighteen-page comic book. My art has improved, my understanding of the comic medium has increased, …

Biotic And Abiotic Associations With Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus Clarkii Lewisi) Occurrences In The North Fork Flathead River In British Columbia, Ca And Northern Montana, Usa Under Current And Future Climate Scenarios., Kadie Heinle, Lisa Eby, Clint Muhlfeld, Vincent D'Angelo, Amber Steed, Andrew Whiteley, Mark Hebblewhite

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi; hereafter WCT) is an economically and ecologically important trout subspecies in western North America. WCT populations are declining across much of their native range due to a number of threats such as habitat degradation and fragmentation, competition with non-native species, and climate change. Understanding how habitat characteristics (e.g., stream temperature) impact distributions of nonhybridized populations of WCT throughout relatively pristine ecosystems is needed to inform management and conservation efforts for WCT. We analyzed field habitat data, fish presence/absence data, and temperature predictions in a mixed effects logistic regression analysis of WCT presence …

Repurposing Wasted Food In Missoula, Lia Volpa, Sarah Griffin

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Studies show that wasted food alone accounts for approximately 15 percent of total municipal solid waste in the United States. With the addition of all other compostable and recyclable materials, the total amount of waste that can be salvaged, repurposed, and redirected from landfills reaches 86.9 percent. Missoula’s ZERO by FIFTY plan attempts to answer the question: How can the City of Missoula reduce waste production 90 percent by 2050?

This proposal addresses wasted food through expanded food redistribution programs and the implementation of city-wide three-bin systems (compost, recycle, and landfill infrastructure, also known as zero-waste stations). This proposal was …

The Effect Of Vented Helmets On Heat Stress During Wildland Firefighter Simulation, Skyler J. Hilden

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Uncompensable heat from Wildland firefighter (WLFF) personal protective equipment decreases the physiological tolerance while exercising in the heat. Purpose: This study compares heat accumulation at simulated working conditions while wearing standard non-vented WLFF helmets (H) versus a vented helmet (VH). Method: Ten male subjects with VO2max of 59.8 ± 3.6 ml/kg/min completed two trials. Following a 10 minute acclimation period, subjects walked 180 minutes (at 3.5 mph, 5% grade) in a heat chamber (35℃ and 30% relative humidity) with three intervals of 50 minutes of exercise and 10 minutes rest followed by a work capacity test to exhaustion. Separated by …

Uganda: Factors Affecting Low Vaccination Rates, Aubrey Mullins

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

According to the most recent available research, just over half of all Ugandan children are fully vaccinated. Every year more than 1 million child mortalities in developing countries are due to vaccine preventable diseases. Drawing on available studies and health reports, this paper examines the factors that contribute to low vaccination rates of Ugandan infants and children. It will also explore the current qualitative observations and experiences of Ugandan physicians in Iganga, Uganda regarding barriers that influence infant and child vaccination rates. Reviewing factors like maternal education, socioeconomic considerations, maternal health care utilization and availability, vaccination availability, and other cultural …

Behavioral Impacts Of Octopamine Release On A Global Vs. Local Scale, Thomas Bisom, Elizabeth L. Catudio-Garrett, L. Sherer, Sarah J. Certel

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Out -of-context aggression is being recognized more in disease and injury states. In the Certel Lab, we are using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to understand the cellular mechanisms that regulate aggression, and we are particularly interested in the roles of neuromodulators, such as monoamines, in regulating aggression. Monoamines are released at synaptic sites via synaptic vesicles, but they are also released at extrasynaptic sites, such as the cell body, via large dense-core vesicles (LDCVs). In Drosophila, the monoamine octopamine (OA) is similar in structure and function to norepinephrine, and it is required for male aggression. In the current …

Language Contributions To Early Word Reading Success, Kelsey Johnson, Janis Nelson, Sarah Floyd

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Literacy success depends on various language components such as, morphological awareness, phonological awareness, and orthographic knowledge. Morphological awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate morphemes, the smallest meaningful parts of language. Phonological awareness is the ability to identify and manipulate speech sounds and sound patterns. Orthographic knowledge is the ability to store and recall written forms of words. Currently, morphological awareness is not taught until later elementary and middle school years despite emerging evidence that morphological awareness develops before the onset of formal reading instruction. Evidence also suggests that morphological awareness intervention may boost literacy skills for children with …

Identifying Causes Of Unregulated Cell Proliferation And Changes Body Length In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Mikaya H. Terzo

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The regulation of cell divisions is an essential process that contributes to the normal growth and division as well as the prevention of tumor formation. The decision to enter mitosis is mediated by a network of proteins which effect the cyclin B–Cdk1 complex. After noticing a potential increase in length of fbf-2;cyb-2.1(h) worms, we started to investigate the relationship between abnormal somatic cell proliferation and hyperactive cyb-2.1.

Similar findings in research on C. elegans transcription factor, rnt-1, (Nimmo, Antebi, and Woolard 2005), lead to our hypothesis that over-production of CYB-2.1 could increase the rate of cell entry into mitosis leading …