Digital Commons Network^™

Building A Digital Decolonial Archive, Isabella Paluzzi Steele, Sofia Peralta

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Our research was to aid in developing an archive for a Women Studies and Gender Studies and Anthropology course on decolonization.

We studied Cherrie Moraga, Gloria Anzaldua, Anibal Quijano, and Enrique Dussel to first frame our research. Then, we visited the Field Museum, the National Museum of Mexican Art, the American Indian Center, and the Newberry Library in Chicago to see if these institutions are effectively decolonizing.

With this project, we aimed to create an archive that would address how Eurocentric ideas ignore the history of the countries they exploited, recognize how colonizer nation hypocrisy is dangerous and creates the …

Investigating The Enzymatic Redox Activity Of Human Phosducin-Like Protein 2a, Sara Tyszkowska

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Phosducin-like proteins (PhLPs) are a subclass of the thioredoxin (Trx) superfamily of proteins. The CryoEM structure of the chaperonin TriC/CCT complexed with PhLP2A supports the hypothesis that PhLPs are involved in the folding of cytoskeletal proteins, actin, and tubulin. However, the precise function of PhLP is not well understood. Several members of the Trx family of proteins are redox active and act as chaperones to assist protein folding. Additionally, the amino acid sequence alignment between TXNDC9 and PhLP2A reveals the redox-active cysteine to be conserved. We hypothesize that PhLP2A, like its structural homolog TXNDC9, is redox active.

Investigating The Dual Impacts Of Flooding And Nitrogen Management On Soil Biological Health Indicators Across The Growing Season, Elena Zakolski

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Flooding reduces crop yield and disrupts soil nitrogen (N) cycling; however, flooding and N fertilization effects on soil health are understudied. This study investigates how short-term flooding and N fertilization treatments influence soil health across the corn growing season. A split-plot randomized complete block design (main factor: flooding, sub-factor: N fertilization) assessed soil organic carbon (C) (POXC) and soil organic N (ACE protein). Soil samples were collected pre-flood, post-flood, and pre-harvest. POXC variability depended on fertilization; ACE protein increased significantly, regardless of fertilization. Findings suggest that flooding disrupts plant-microbe interactions, and ACE protein may be a stable soil health metric.

Thinking Matters Summit, Thomas D. Wreck Mr.

Thinking Matters Symposium

Climate Migration Outcomes: Work Now! Oar! Fail-Later

"Oaring like madmen of the sea "

Abstract

Based in four potential climate migration outcomes as described by Khanna (2021) this student research article will outline these scenarios to substrate current concerns and hurdles obstructing favorable and humane outcomes. In this pursuit some of the most vulnerable populations and potential outcome scenarios will be highlighted. Key questions surrounding the plight of climate migration as a result of climate drivers will also be examined. Current urgent issues surrounding support for southern hemisphere locations will be discussed and supported by data. Issues of refoulement policy …

Addressing Violent Extremism And Implicit Bias: Mindbridge’S Neuroscientific And Psychological Approach, Adriana Lovric, Sarah Lockridge

Thinking Matters Symposium

Violence has long been embedded in American culture and history, often linked to ideological struggles, racial oppression, and religious conflicts (Mayer et al.,2024). In recent years, violent extremism—characterized by the use or threat of violence to advance ideological, political, or social agendas—has surged, particularly in attacks on government institutions, infrastructure, and marginalized communities (Mayer et al.,2024). At the same time, implicit biases—unconscious prejudices—continue to reinforce societal inequalities across race, gender, and class, often manifesting as micro-inequities that have a cumulative impact (Brennan,2014). According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program (2020), 138 law enforcement agencies reported 8,263 hate crime …

Inequities In The Rehabilitation Process Of Musculoskeletal Injuries In Maine, Devon A. Grant

Thinking Matters Symposium

Since 2016, Maine’s population has grown as a result of migration and a welcoming of refugees. Changes in state demographics influence the population’s and individuals’ social determinants of health (SDOH) (ie., “where people live, learn, work, and play”) and health literacy (ie., a person’s ability to find, understand, and use information to inform health-related decisions). This project aims to identify the health inequities or disparities throughout Southern Maine in the care of injuries to the lower extremity, such as the knee or ankle, as well as explore factors that influence the healthcare outcomes of athletes in surrounding communities. This study …

The Impact Of High Deductible Health Plans On Mental Health Treatment, Kristian D. Dambrino, Laura Gray, R. David Phillippi

DNP Projects

Background and Rationale: High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) are designed to reduce overall healthcare spending by shifting more upfront costs to patients to discourage overutilization of care, yet HDHPs often increase financial burden, particularly in outpatient mental health care. Patients covered by HDHPs often face substantial out-of-pocket costs before reaching their deductible. This can lead to potential delays or discontinuation of psychiatric treatment. Financial transparency interventions by the mental health provider may mitigate these barriers through more-informed patient decision-making regarding payment options. This project evaluates the impact of a financial transparency intervention on reducing payment responsibility for HDHP patients in …

Expression, Characterization, And Comparative Analysis Of Bacillus Bacteriophage Endolysins, Stephen D. Zdgiebloski

Research and Creativity Symposium

Bacteriophages present a promising alternative for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria without disrupting the normal microbiome or harming human cells. The antibacterial properties of lytic bacteriophages are largely attributed to endolysins, enzymes active in the lytic cycle. Endolysins recognize bacterial cell walls and cleave the peptidoglycan matrix, leading to cell wall disruption. Their specificity and effectiveness against bacterial hosts are determined by two functional domains, including the cell wall binding domain. Our research focuses on characterizing Bacillus phage endolysins. We analyzed the protein sequences of endolysins from six Bacillus phages isolated at the University of Mary Washington. Although these phages were isolated …

The Decadal Effects Of Wildfire On Macroinvertebrate Communities In Southwest Montana, Mason J. Wiggins

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

In the western United States, wildfires are increasing in frequency, intensity, and size due to climate change and historical land management practices. These environmental events have reshaped forested landscapes, affecting stream ecosystems and riparian zones. High-intensity wildfires can increase sediment and nutrient loading, reduce riparian canopy cover, and alter in-stream habitat, leading to changes in macroinvertebrate community composition. While the immediate (1-10 years) wildfire effects on macroinvertebrates are fairly well documented, decadal (10+ years) responses remain understudied. This research gap limits our understanding of post-fire trajectory and stream ecosystem resilience. To address this knowledge gap, we can identify how wildfires …

Human Connection, Experience, And Focal Points In An Era Of Technology, Georgia Balius

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Human Connection, Experience, and Focal Points in an Era of Technology

Georgia Balius, UMCUR 2025 Abstract

In an era of rapid technological development, we have become increasingly intertwined with our devices and online spaces. Proponents of the rise of technology point out that we have made significant advancements in areas such as medical and automation that add great overall benefit to society. Opponents point out that technology has increasingly isolated us and created a whole host of new problems we are not equipped to deal with. Philosophical work in this vein has often taken one side or the other when …

Xr(Extended Reality) Explorations In Gis World-Building, Jeremy Jeffay

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Extended reality (XR) in geospatial data visualizations presents exciting opportunities to enhance existing analysis and visualization tools. The goal is to help academics deliver immersive experiences that promote a deeper understanding of their subjects. This project is being developed using Unreal Engine and various related emerging tools and APIs. As a solo developer, I am creating environments using satellite map data and building digital assets with LiDAR scans and Gaussian Splatting, then geo-referencing them onto a virtual twin of the Earth. The next step in this research involves streaming real-time data to drive environmental simulations.

Experiencing XR first-hand can feel …

Year Of The Snake: A Children's Lunar New Year In Missoula, Luke J. Jensen

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The focus of this project is to analyze and examine the process of child culture acquisition and engagement. Both are being examined through participant observation during a children’s Lunar New Year event at Missoula public library. The author examines the participation, ease of access and focus on children's activities observed at the event and compares them to child language acquisition, as a means of examining culture shock. With more time the author would like to interview organizers of the event, and examine immersion language learning practices in Missoula, especially with young people, but both fell outside of the scope of …

Intra-Seasonal Shifts In Summer Elk Diet Composition, Ava E. Window

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Elk (Cervus canadensis) require adequate forage to fulfill their seasonal nutritional requirements. Elk undergo their highest nutritional demands during summer to support critical life functions such as late gestation, lactation, and juvenile growth. During this period, variations in plant phenology significantly influence the quality and quantity of forage on the landscape. Recent literature has concentrated on late summer due to it's limiting nature. Yet, growing evidence suggests that both early and late summer forage often fail to meet the nutritional demands of lactating and reproducing female elk. Further, there is limited knowledge surrounding the intra-seasonal dynamics of elk …

Lost & Found, Amber Nicole Durbin

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Lost & Found is a coming-of-age memoir centered around the first-person narrator Amber’s relationship with her dog Buddy. Months after six-year-old Amber and her family go through the loss of her maternal grandmother her parents surprise Amber and her two younger siblings by gifting them a puppy on Christmas Day. Amber struggles through her faltering belief in religion being raised Catholic, and witnessing cracks form in the foundation she once considered solid. She encounters the joys and pains of growing up as Buddy offers all the unwavering love and support he can muster as an eight-pound miniature poodle mix. He …

No Evidence For Warming Effects On Tallgrass Prairie Plant Extirpation In Kalamazoo Michigan, Emily D. Horner

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Title: No evidence for warming effects on tallgrass prairie plant extirpation in Kalamazoo Michigan

Author list: Emily Horner, Meredith Zettlemoyer

Abstract:

More and more species face extinction as our climate warms. Understanding how climate change influences local extinctions may help us comprehend and predict global extinctions. Ultimately, local extinction originates from declines in vital rates such as survival, growth, and reproduction. One way to examine how warming affects local extinctions is to compare responses between locally extinct (or “extirpated”) versus still present (or “extant”) species. In this comparative framework, more negative effects of warming on extirpated species’ vital rates would …

Christian Mission To An Indigenous Tribe During American Westward Expansion, Caelan Christopher Milligan

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

From it’s conception the Christian Church from its was given was the task to preach the message of salvation to all people. Henry H. Spalding (1803 – 1874) was a Presbyterian missionary to the Nez Perce nation from 1836 – 1847 during American Westward Expansion which witnessed the active encroachment of several indigenous tribes and their lands from the United States and its people. Henry Spalding and his wife, Eliza Spalding, left the United States for a season to live among the Nez Perce in attempt to preach the gospel of Jesus. In twenty pages this research will consider the …

Evaluation Of The Efficacy Of The Pay-What-You-Want Pricing Model, Zach T. King

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Pay-what-you-want (PWYW) is an economic model popularized in 2007 where rather than goods/services having a fixed price decided by the producer, the consumer themselves decides the price they pay as an individual. Classical economic theory evaluates consumers through the lens of them behaving as “rational agents”. Within this perspective, consumers would be expected to choose to pay nothing in order to maximize their consumer surplus and therefore utility. The empirical successes of PWYW models suggest that there are additional behavioral elements involved in utility maximization, where consumers are paying more than the required price.

My research project is an evaluation …

Balancing Timber Harvest And Biodiversity: Wildlife Impacts Of Selective Logging In The Chiquibul, Kilynn E. Groen

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Selective logging is often promoted as a sustainable forestry practice that maintains biodiversity and ecosystem function, yet its ecological consequences remain under examined, particularly in tropical forests. This study investigates how selective logging affects wildlife communities in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize. Using remote camera trap data from 22 sites (9 unlogged forest sites and 13 logged (stump) sites) we assessed species richness, trophic structure, and environmental predictors of wildlife abundance. While overall wildlife captures and species richness did not differ significantly between forest and stump habitats, principal component analysis revealed strong community-level separation, with stump habitats supporting distinct species …

The Greatest Shame Of The World: Tomás Cerdán De Tallada’S Pioneering Analysis Of Sixteenth Century Spanish Jails In Visita De La Carcel, Riley Emerson Carney

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

During the 16^th century, prisons as we know them did not exist in Spain nor in most of Western Europe. Jails, as a temporary place to hold criminals before their trial, did exist but were quickly filling up with a wave of new criminals and debtors. This system of jails was poorly organized and poorly understood until Tomás Cerdán de Tallada wrote his treatise Visita de la carcel, which was the first in Spain to analyze the system of jails as a whole, and one of the first to offer criticisms of the system. Core to Cerdán’s understanding …

An Exploration Of Zoroastrian Influence On Early Judaism, Luke J. Jensen

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The focus of this project and presentation is examining and describing the influence and appearance of Zoroastrian and Rigvedic traits in neighboring religions, predominantly Judaism. Zoroastrians are currently culturally underrepresented in the historical record, despite their proximity and influence on nearby Abrahamic faiths as well as ancient and classical middle eastern culture. This fact makes them appealing to do research on, procure information on, and spread information about. By reading and analyzing Zoroastrian texts, primarily the Gathas, the Venidad and the Yasht, Orthodox Jewish texts such as The Book of Esther, The Book of Ezekiel, The Book of Ezra, and …

Exploring Environmental Drivers Of Antarctic Krill Reproductive Output, Katie Coates

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba (referred to as "krill" hereafter), are vital to the Antarctic pelagic ecosystem. They serve as primary consumers of phytoplankton, a key food source for apex predators such as blue whales, and play a significant role in carbon sequestration in the Southern Ocean. Additionally, krill are economically important, as they are the target of the largest fishery in the Southern Ocean. However, the Antarctic Peninsula (AP), one of the fastest warming regions in the world, is experiencing substantial changes in its pelagic ecosystem. The impact of this warming on krill population dynamics and reproductive success remains unclear. …

Abdominal Wall Pain Is Frequently Underdiagnosed Leading To Wasted Healthcare Resources, Bailey Cook

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Myofascial abdominal wall pain (AWP) is a well-recognized presentation of chronic abdominal pain which can be diagnosed solely based on history and a focused physical exam in the out-patient setting. However, current clinical practices rely on diagnostic imaging studies and invasive procedures which can lead to incorrect or delayed diagnosis. We assessed the clinical implications of AWP misdiagnosis and associated healthcare costs in diagnosing AWP in a tertiary care medical practice. In this retrospective single center study, patients undergoing trigger point injections (TPI) for suspected AWP were selected based on the current procedural terminology code 20552. AWP was defined based …

The Role Of Diet And Exercise In Reducing Risk Of Dementia Development In Type Ii Diabetics; A Meta Analysis., Silas W. Acker

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Dementia, particularly vascular dementia, is increasingly recognized as a complication of type II diabetes. The goal of this review is to determine whether a healthy diet and adequate physical activity can effectively manage common comorbidities of diabetes that lead to the development of dementia. This review pulls from a variety of sources examining the shared risk factors between type II diabetes and dementia, and the effectiveness of evidence-based lifestyle modifications focused on prevention.

A comprehensive review of twenty peer-reviewed medical studies, articles, and journals was conducted to investigate the link between Diabetes Mellitus and Dementia. The review aimed to identify …

Exploring An Endemic Species: Flower And Leaf Trait Variation In A Missoula Wildflower, Maxwell Lee Hirrill, Julie Cox

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Studies investigating intraspecific variation in morphological traits within endemic species often determine the geographic range that a species can occupy. We quantified intraspecific variationin floral morphology and leaf traits in anendemic wildflower, Phlox missoulensis, which is only found in the North Hills of the Missoula Valley in Western Montana. We collected floral, leaf, and pistil samples from over 100 Phlox missoulensis individuals across two populations in the Missoula North Hills. We used ImageJ software to measure 7 morphological traits: floral color, floral diameter, petal length and width, corolla tube length, pistil length, leaf length, and specific leaf area. We selected …

Field Notes From The Crumbling Ivory Tower, Emily Van Hoose

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Gone is the era of academic neutrality as American culture continues to grow and ride the turbulent waters of its political societal pillars. The saying “leave your baggage at the door” is not only incredibly outdated, but for anthropology students at UM it is impossible. The worries and curiosities of our students do not inexplicably stop when they open the doors to the social science building. Their concerns follow them not only into the classroom, but into their career prospects as well. Anthropology classes do not have the luxury of neutrality that other disciplines like mathematics, chemistry, and physics are …

Missoula Atmospheric Chemistry Mobile Lab Overview And Preliminary Controlled Wildfire Data, Joseph Knudsen

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The Missoula Atmospheric Chemistry Mobile Lab (MAC Lab) is a modular array of chemical and particulate matter (PM) quantification instruments networked to a central data logger and two computers. It is designed for prolonged field deployment in the challenging environmental and terrain conditions of wildfire research as part of the NSF EPSCoR SMART FIRES project. Our contribution to the many thrusts of this collaborative work is to elucidate the efficacy of prescribed burns in reducing wildfire emissions, quantify constituents of fire emissions, and provide scientific evidence to carry out prescribed burns efficiently and effectively to reduce smoke emissions. Much of …

Exploring The Reproductive Phenology Of Feral Horses In North America, Mattie Budine

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) are a prolific species in western North America. Due to their history of domestication, it is believed they have an extended foaling period compared to native ungulates, such as elk (Cervus canadensis) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), yet there are few (or no) studies examining this assumption. I am examining this assumption by comparing the observed foaling seasons of different regional herds throughout North America to identify if foaling seasons are uniform across latitudes. My dataset consists of various research studies and unpublished observations of different feral horse herds throughout North America. The result is …

Rewilding Rattlesnake Creek, Cameron M. Kirwan, Ethaniel Marshall

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Rattlesnake Creek north of Missoula lacks significant in-stream structure in the form of large wood downstream of the National Recreation Area. The natural introduction of large wood from the “derecho” wind event in July of 2024 has the potential to provide much needed aquatic habitat and stream complexity.

The focus of this project is monitoring the process of “rewilding” on Rattlesnake Creek through surveys of large wood and pool habitat. The Rattlesnake has historically been subject to various forms of degradation. It was dammed in 1904, with the dam being removed 116 years later in 2020 as part of stream …

Nature, Community And Suicidality: A Cross-Cultural Study Between Frankfurt, Germany And Missoula, Usa, Cyrus Hanan Gertz

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The ideas, thoughts, and plans around suicide are often treated with hospitalization and psychotherapy. However, connection is often glossed over in the conversation on treatment. Research suggests having a sense of belonging within our human and natural communities is crucial for human health. Globally, young men are the most likely to report high degrees of loneliness and are more likely to live alone, strong risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempt and men in both Frankfurt and Missoula show higher suicide risk than women. In contrast, according to research by ecopsychologists, Integration of Nature into Self (one's perceived relationship …

Social Engagement And Minority Stress In Lgbt+ Elders, Eyza Y. Abbas Carrasco

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Social engagement is crucial to elders' well-being. Prior research suggests that social interaction, community engagement, and support networks improve quality of life for older LGBTQ adults (Reyes et al., 2024). Additionally, social connectedness, particularly diverse networks and strong support systems, has been linked to better health outcomes in this population (Kim et al., 2024). However, gaps remain in understanding how minority stress relates to social engagement in older LGBTQ adults. This study examines these connections through a secondary analysis of data from a parent study on support networks and mental health in elders. Participants (N = 153, aged 55+) completed …