Digital Commons Network^™

A Generation Of Katnisses: The New Power Of Female Protagonists In Young Adult Dystopian Literature, Mckenzie K. Watterson

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Considering emerging heroines in young adult dystopian fiction, this project first examines them in a literary review. Using feminist ethics of care as a baseline, the review considers their unique worlds, agency, and motivation. Secondly, informed by the research, it attempts to add to their cannon with a new piece of creative writing.

Hillary Rodham Clinton And Shifts In Gendered Rhetorical Style, Mackenzie Lombardi

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Hillary Rodham Clinton is arguably the most visible and controversial female political figure of our time. As First Lady, the Senator from New York, the Secretary of State, and a two-time Presidential candidate, the rhetorical space around Clinton is saturated with cultural assumptions of gender, power, and politics. In many ways Clinton is emblematic of the infamous “double bind” that all women who seek to challenge normative gendered roles must inevitably face. Much academic and cultural focus has been centered on the ways in which Hillary Rodham Clinton is a subject of gendered rhetoric. This project, instead, builds on the …

Choreography Conversations: Collaborating At A Distance, Carissa M. Lund

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

As a choreographer, I find my voice through dance. I look to tell stories as clearly as possible so audiences can watch my narrative. This got me thinking, is it possible for two choreographers to create a piece through conversation? Essentially a back-and-forth dialogue that will end in a piece.

For this project my partner and I will be exploring just that. How two choreographers can develop a piece through a back-and-forth collaboration. Focusing on innovating methods of discussion and how that can influence our final work. This conversation element will be featured given the fact that my partner and …

An Exploration Of The Bioethical Dilemmas Associated With The Costs Of End-Of-Life Care, Aaron J. Held

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Background: Medical Care for patients nearing the end of their lives is an extremely complicated bioethical topic. From determining what is futile care, to finding a clear and concise definition of patient death, the field of bioethics explores a huge variety of issues regarding end-of-life (EOL) care. Cost is a major issue that is discussed with reservation in bioethical literature. Purpose: This project explores the bioethical dilemmas associated specifically with the costs of EOL care. Methods: Database wide searches in Pubmed, EconLit, JSTOR, and Web of Science using the search words “End-of-Life care costs” yielded data regarding the costs of …

The Adaptation Of A Culturally Relevant Arts-Based Mental Health Intervention For The People Of Guyana, Christopher L. Morucci

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Many forms of educational outreach programs today are directed towards disease prevention and physical health. However, there is a troubling disparity with programs that exist to focus specifically on mental health. Mental health care and systemic intervention are an increasing necessity as the World Health Organization has declared depression the leading cause of disability worldwide. Though not the only precipitating factor, depression and other forms of mental disorder are often seen in cases of completed suicide. The South American country Guyana is of specific interest in the implementation of mental health interventions as it currently faces the highest suicide rates …

Patterns Of Physical Activity, Sleep, And Screen Time In Urban American Indian Children, Ashley Batistich, Brittay Groesbeck, Megan Serumgard

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Purpose: Obesity in American Indian (AI) children is a major public health concern. This is important as childhood obesity increases the risk of chronic disease. The purpose of this study is to explore the physical activity (PA), sleep, screen time and demographic (grade, gender, and BMI percentile) behaviors in AI children.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted using a voluntary sample of AI children in the 6th- 8th grade between ages of 10-14, attending four Missoula Middle Schools. Participants were recruited through school meetings and letters sent home to parents. BMI percentile was calculated using an established algorithm.[1] Surveys …

Analysis Of The Activity Areas And Cleaned Zones Of Floor Iib Of Housepit 54 At The Bridge River Site (Eerl4), Nicole Musci

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The Bridge River Archaeological Project has been active since 2003 and consists of a collaborative partnership between The Department of Anthropology at The University of Montana, and Xwisten, the Bridge River Indian Band. Since the beginning of the project numerous studies and excavations have been conducted in the Bridge River area to develop an understanding of the ancient history of the area focusing on the ancient peoples who lived there during the past 2000 years. This project involves utilizing “heavy fractions,” which are rock and bone materials left over from a process that separates “light fraction” materials (such as botanicals), …

Defining An Agency: Animals, Fire, And The U.S. Forest Service, Ellen A. Ipsen

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Today, the United States Forest Service has established itself as an enduring authority on federal lands management. However, in 1905 when the federal government established the agency, its fate was far from secure. Prior to 1905, people living in the West had unchecked access to public land resources and many disapproved of an expansion of federal power. It was the issue of forest fire fighting that gained public support for the agency, and animals, in large part, helped them succeed. Horses and mules were used for transportation, scouting missions and trail building before adequate technology existed. Every ranger was required …

Factors Influencing Mountain Lion Kill Rates, Steven Cross

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Kill rate, defined as the number of prey killed per predator per unit time, is a key component to understanding predator-prey dynamics. A multitude of factors may affect kill rates, including, variation in age, sex, weight, or presence of offspring of either predator or prey species (intraspecific variation) and events such as the theft of a kill made by another animal (kleptoparasitism). These factors may influence the time a predator spends locating prey (search time) and the pursuing, killing, and consumption of prey (handling time). The sum of search time and handling time may be measured as the time between …

Iggy Azalea's Dialectal Disguise: A Pursuit Of Power Through Speech And Privilege, Caroline Jh Allen

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

White Australian hip-hop artist Iggy Azalea has been the subject of recent criticism forher use of African American English (AAE). Eberhardt and Freeman (2015) demonstratethat Iggy, a native speaker of Australian English who uses Australian English in all of herpublic speech, makes consistent and context-sensitive use of AAE throughout her entirediscography. In order to account for this unique behavior, Eberhardt and Freeman use thetheoretical notion of linguistic appropriation (Hill 2008) which describes the powerimbalance evident when outgroup members (e.g. Iggy) benefit from the use of certainvarieties of speech that ingroup members (e.g. speakers of AAE) are stigmatized forusing. Drawing on …

How Do Stream Confluences Influence Stream Diversity And Function?, Jeremy Brooks

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Aquatic communities, species that live and interact with each other, each have a unique composition and function (i.e collection of decomposers, predators, and grazers). Broad ecological theory provides a variety of models that can predict communities and their functions across riverscapes. For example, the River Continuum Concept (RCC) explains general shifts in stream communities and their function along longitudinal (upstream to downstream) gradients, but it fails to consider the more narrow effects of tributaries and confluences. Conversely, dendritic stream networks theory helps explain the potential role of river confluences and how they connect communities, but fails to explain general longitudinal …

Climate Change: Our Adaptive Future In The Columbia And Mekong River Basins, Cassidy D. White, Brandon D. Lowry, Lauren Swett, Thiago Cardoso, Hannah Tibke, Alex Braun

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

From the semi-arid cities and ranches of western Montana to the tropical villages and rice farms of southern Vietnam, the threat of climate change is imminent. Temperatures are rising, precipitation patterns are changing, and the resulting effects on the world's river systems are both drastic and unprecedented. Rivers are the arteries of the nations, sending water, the most basic building block for life, flowing across continents and providing for nature and society alike. Food, habitat, recreation, transportation, economics, and more all stem from the liquid resource rivers supply. Every environment has evolved around the ebb and flow of water resources …

Managing Stress Through Mindfulness, Christopher Morucci, Alyssa Fusco, Natalia Boise

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The University of Montana consists of a large campus community of students who experience many different stressors. The limited avenues for stress outlet resources available on and off campus often cause these stresses to build up for students. Research has shown that unremitted stress leads to increased levels of illness, cuts years off of people's lives, and decreases happiness. Resources to relieve stress should be a priority on every campus because students who are left untreated are more likely to drop out of college or become a danger to themselves or others. The support at UM for stress reduction should …

The Role Of The Glpd Cap Domain In Borrelia Burgdorferi, Bethany Crouse

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, is transmitted between vertebrate hosts by a tick vector in an enzootic cycle. While in a mammal, B. burgdorferi uses the sugar glucose from the blood of its host as a source of carbon for glycolysis, a metabolic pathway that converts the glucose into energy. While in the tick, however, there is a period of time when the blood meal is consumed and a different source of carbon needs to be utilized. A set of genes called the glp operon allows B. burgdorferi to use the sugar alcohol glycerol as a carbon …

Improving Landowner Access To Effective Invasive Weed Management Methods, Mackenzie Prichard, Maizie Smith, Mariah Mcintosh, Brittan Austin, Kenley Crisp

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Invasive plants threaten native biodiversity, degrade range and agricultural land, and have the potential to cost billions of dollars annually. Despite plentiful scientific information and resources on this topic, landowners and managers often fail to manage weeds effectively. Successful weed management requires proactive and effective action relevant to particular weed species and environmental conditions, and persistence over time. We have created an easy-to-use web tool designed specifically for private landowners that integrates environmental conditions input by users (including, but not limited to, weed species and coverage, and desired management outcome) and current scientific information in order to recommend best practices …

Vocabulary And Morphological Awareness Development In Young Children, Maya Z. Anger, Kelcie Cassidy, Mogan Williams, Cheska Deitsch, Sarah Moen, Julie Wolter

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Purpose. The purpose of this small feasibility study is to provide data to inform the use of a experimenter-developed task, the Morphological Awareness Semantics Task to examine the vocabulary conceptualization in kindergarten children’s development of morphological (word meaning) in a child-friendly paradigm. Significance. Morphological awareness refers to the smallest linguistic unit of meaning where base words and affixes come together to form new meaning (teach to teacher has a new meaning). There is now good evidence that children rely on morphemes when developing vocabulary and reading (Carlisle & Stone, 2005; Deacon, Whalen, & Kirby, 2011; Wolter, Wood, D'Zatko, 2009). Children’s …

Examination Of Parent Understanding Of Yeti Evidence Based Practices, Kyle Dyrud Mr, Carson Macintyre, Lacey Desalles

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Parent Training for the Understanding of YETI Evidence Based Practices

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is defined as “persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts…” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The most effective treatment to teaching children with ASD is using evidence based practices (EBP’s), which are….this includes the best available research in the field along with practitioners personal experiences of what is most effective (Stoltenberg & Pace, 2008). Youth Engagement Through Intervention (YETI) is a group-based treatment that integrates EBP’s in practices and strategies to enhance social skills for children with ASD. In a previous study, parents …

Raspberry Pi Controlled Greenhouse, Zane A. Zanzig

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Being born and raised in Missoula I have always enjoyed the outdoors. From a very young age I was taught how to care for plants. This project will help people be able to grow plants even if they do not have a green thumb.

For my research project I am making a computer automated greenhouse using a raspberry pi and a few different sensors and actuators. The project is to have a raspberry pi monitor and control temperature, humidity, and soil moisture levels. I believe there is a lot of potential for this device. It will help the people that …

An Analysis Of How Different Types Of Capital Can Be Used To Mitigate The Impacts Of Natural Disasters, Jared Halvorson

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

According to the UN, natural disasters have killed 700 thousand people, injured 1.4 million people, and left 23 million people without homes since 2005. When natural disasters occur in developing nations, international organizations like the United Nations and the Red Cross have historically provided much needed aid. This type of aid occurs after the fact. Perhaps it would be better to take a more proactive approach to relief, providing tools to mitigate loss beforehand.If these outside parties invested in capital that would allow the stricken country to more adequately mitigate risk for severe weather events, would it be more cost …

Detecting Regional Groundwater Discharge To The Clark Fork River, Melinda Horne

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This study applied the use of environmental tracers to constrain the quantity of groundwater discharge along a 22 km reach of the Clark Fork River as it runs through Missoula, MT. The primary environmental tracer used was Radon-222 (²²²Rn), a radioactive isotope in the uranium decay series that is absorbed by water from subsurface media, and is thus a sensitive indicator of groundwater discharge. Dissolved ²²²Rn samples were taken at 2 km intervals along a reach extending from confluence of the Clark Fork and the Blackfoot River near Bonner, MT, and extending across the Missoula Valley to …

The Zika Awareness Program At The University Of Montana - Zap Um, Caleb Chestnut, Kierney Ross, Janette Chacon, Madison Quammen

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Massive technological advances have made it easier than ever to connect with opportunities abroad and study in countries outside of the United States. An increase in students studying abroad has obliged institutions to provide increasing preparation and protection for those leaving the country. In several regions, vector-borne diseases are of chief concern. The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease that had a particularly devastating impact during the summer of 2016. Implications of a Zika infection can include: flu-like symptoms, joint and muscle aches, rashes, and, more seriously, a birth defect called microcephaly and an autoimmune disorder known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome. …

Genetic Differences In Whitebark Pine After A Mountain Pine Beetle Outbreak, Clare E. Vergobbi

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a high elevation tree in serious decline.. It is experiencing high mortality due to white pine blister rust, an exotic disease, and outbreaks of the native mountain pine beetle, as well as the effects of climate change. It is unknown how this massive mortality has altered the genetic diversity of whitebark pine populations. Furthermore, large die-offs can act as strong selection events, removing individuals with lower fitness. It is possible that survivors of mountain pine beetle outbreaks have different genotypes than trees killed and may be better adapted to current and future warmer …

Integrating Cellular Percolation Fire Spread Into An Existing Landscape Model, Michael D. Kinsey

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The U.S. Forest Service uses the Simulating Patterns and Processes at Landscape Scales (SIMPPLLE) application to simulate landscape ecological processes and evaluate treatment options on National Forests in Montana, Northern Idaho, and the Dakotas. Wildfires are an influential process on the landscape; therefore, the model must accurately simulate ecological processes over long time periods. OpenSIMPPLLE, an open-source version of SIMPPLLE, contains an algorithm that spreads fire in all directions, regardless of wind and elevation, resulting in rectangular fires, which does not reflect realistic fire behavior. We integrated a more accurate cellular percolation spread algorithm developed by Keane et al. (2006) …

Eaat This: How Eaat1 Knockdown In Astrocytes Alters Aggression In Drosophila Melanogaster, Haley N. Shepard

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

How behavior and information is encoded in brain circuits and how individual neurons influence these brain circuits is a growing question in neuroscience. In the nervous system of many organisms, including humans and Drosophila, exists a subset of neurons that are capable of releasing more than one neurotransmitter, a phenomena called co-transmission. How co-transmission may alter circuits dedicated to behavior is a challenging question. To begin to answer this question we used the genetic tools available in Drosophila to investigate how the release of two neurotransmitters from a single neuron can alter aggression. Astrocytes surround the synapses of neurons …

Editing: The Value Of Quality Content In An Online-First Industry, Megan Giddings

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

As the journalism industry shifts away from the traditional print newspaper model and toward a faster-paced, online standard, the commitment to editing content is steadily diminishing. This research project aims to examine the current state of editing within this industry and to determine whether this reduced emphasis on revision and correction is detrimental to news organizations and similar journalistic publications. Through an investigative assessment of recent studies, relevant publications and materials, and interviews with industry professionals, I attempt to define the editorial profession and what it means to be a “good editor.” I also observe employment trends and assess alternative …

Using Satellite Altimetry To Measure Lake Volume Changes In The Western U.S., Norland Raphael Hagen

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Monitoring changes in lake volumes globally in the Western U.S is essential for understanding the hydrologic response to climate change and for predicting the physical and ecological response to vanishing water resources. Unfortunately, the monitoring of lakes in many areas of the world is limited by local resources, so that fluctuations in volumes over time are poorly known. This makes managing water resources difficult. In this study, we test the viability of using space-based LIDAR altimetry data as a tool to measure changes in lake elevation which is then used to calculate changes in volume over time. The study concentrates …

Analysis Of Montana Snowpack Trends, Ben Uhlenbruck

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The annual storage of water in the form of snow is crucial to Montana’s ecosystem and economy. Agriculture depends on the steady release of water during drier months, and many species rely on winter snowpack for protection. Studies by P.W. Mote (2003, 2005) have shown a declining snowpack in the Pacific Northwest due to increasing winter temperatures region wide. These studies are no longer up to date, and focus more regionally than Montana alone. The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) uses SNOTEL sites to monitor mountain snowpack in the western United States. The data from these sites is available on …

Responding To Soil Fungal Communities: A Look At Interactions Between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi And The Common Yellow Monkeyflower, Mariah Mcintosh

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The obligate fungal mutualists arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonize the roots approximately 80% of vascular plants, generally thought to provide mineral nutrition, pathogen protection, or drought resistance to plants in exchange for photosynthetic carbon. Because of the ecological and evolutionary significance of these interactions, much work has been done to understand this symbiosis at the community level. However, much remains to be understood about how AMF affect plant fitness on an individual level. In this study, I took advantage of the tractability of the emerging model species Mimulus guttatus, the common yellow monkeyflower, to identify genetic differences in how contrasting …

Habitual Intravenous Drug Use And The Connection To Self-Medication, Meaghan Gaul

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) about one-third of people living with mental illness in the US also experience substance abuse. It’s becoming apparent that dual diagnosis is common in our nation. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) insists that one doesn’t simply cause the other.

The purpose of this study is twofold. First, to examine the relationship between mental illness and intravenous drug use as self-medication among clients visiting the non-profit, Open AID Alliance (OAA), in Missoula, MT. Second, to explore the barriers to seeking mental health care among intravenous drug users who report mental …

Wild Places And A Thing Called Gender. Does This Social Construction Inform How We Work And Play Outside? A Qualitative Narrative Of Working In The White Mountain National Forest, Eliza I D Hazen

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The purpose of this paper is to explore a connection between gender and wilderness in a very specific lens: the Appalachian Mountain Club trail crew and hut crew employees in the White Mountain National Forest. Nine female employees of the Appalachian Mountain Club working for the High Mountain Huts as well as the Professional Trail Crew were interviewed. Three male employees were also interviewed to provide alternative prospective and context. Through these in-person and remote qualitative interviews, I gained insight into the gender-based challenges for women working in wilderness. The interviews I conducted revealed common themes related to gender, including …