Digital Commons Network^™

Transferring Teaching Strategies From The Classroom To Service-Learning Projects, Kimberly S. Whorton

Academic Summit

Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich learning experiences, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities. What better course than Community Dental Health to create a case study for this concept? Dental hygiene students were taught how to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate community programs. The students were taught these concepts using a variety of different teaching strategies in class. During the spring semester, the students must complete a practicum in which they assess, plan, implement and evaluate a community site of their choice. Two objectives were to for …

From Dolly To Loli?: Female Empowerment And The Lolita Fashion Subculture, Randi Ditta

Academic Summit

This presentation discusses the relationship between the Japanese Lolita fashion subculture and the role of females in both Japanese and American society. Research from journals, dissertations/theses, other publications, and original surveys and interviews into the cultural, literary, and ideological origins of the style are used to demonstrate that Lolita fashion is both a youth movement and a girl power movement, opposing ideas are addressed, and the stigma attached to the name “Lolita” is challenged. Implications include the potential for future activism among Lolitas and the growth of the subculture.

Evaluating Differences In Cognitive Function After N-Acetyl-Cysteine Treatment In A Two-Hit Rat Model Of Schizophrenia, Sarine Janetsian, Nadalie Cayetano

Undergraduate Research Conference

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a chronic mental disorder affecting approximately 1% of the world's population, and is characterized by positive and negative symptoms both of which impair normal functioning. While a number of treatment options exist for positive symptoms, there are virtually none for the negative and cognitive symptoms. Hindering the development of treatments for these symptoms is a lack of translational biomarkers that can be applied across species. Identifying translational biomarkers could significantly improve our understanding of the etiology of SZ and aid in drug development. Therefore, we validated measures of cognitive performance similar to those observed in patients with …

The Counseling Role Of The Speech Language Pathologist, Sara M. Markuson

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Purpose: The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) Scope of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology states that counseling is an integral component of speech-language pathologists’ (SLPs’) application of clinical services. This requirement was implemented in 2007, leaving SLPs who graduated prior to this date lacking in training and education regarding counseling techniques that integrate with remediation. The University of Montana housed the only Communicative Sciences and Disorders (CSD) department in Montana until 1989, when it was closed due to budgetary cuts. There were no CSD programs in Montana from 1990 until 2008 when the program was reinstated, leaving a 20 …

Physical Activity And Body Composition Measures Of Elementary-Aged School Children On An American Indian Reservation, Brian R. Yonts, Caleb Kemp, Ashley Schreiner, Devin Kavanagh

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Physical Activity and Body Composition Measures of Elementary-Aged School Children on an American Indian Reservation

¹Kemp, C., ¹Schreiner, A., ²Kavanagh, D., and ¹Yonts, B.

¹Department of Health and Human Performance, Exercise Science, The University of Montana—Missoula; ²Department of Health and Human Performance, Community Health, The University of Montana—Missoula

Childhood obesity and diabetes are major public health concerns. American Indian (AI) children are at increased risk for these diseases. Physical inactivity and high body mass index (BMI) are risk factors for obesity and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to collect body composition measures …

A Qualitative Analysis On Discourse In Occupational Segregation Along A Gender Dimension, Christine Bilunka

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The objective of this research project is to measure attitudes associated with occupational segregation by sex. Specifically, the researcher seeks to see how subjects participating in the study participate in job typing along gender lines. To do so, the researcher will utilize qualitative methods in a lab setting. These methods will include asking female subjects to view an array of photographs of men and women in occupation-specific attire and situations and write a short response to the photos.

In one condition, subjects will view two photographs of men in female-dominated work settings, in another they will be shown females in …

New Role In Response-To-Intervention: The Speech-Language Pathologist’S Perspective, Melissa Bunch

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Response-to-Intervention (RTI) is a multi-tiered prevention model in which supports are immediately available when children fail to respond to evidence-based instruction. In the traditional model, students were often failing to meet expected learning benchmarks before being evaluated for educational supports, including speech language therapy. If a student met certain criteria, speech therapy could be implemented to assist the student with educational goals. The traditional method of therapy included pulling individual or small groups of students from their instructional classes. This model can cause students to miss valuable class instruction and experience less generalization of skills from the therapy treatments. The …

Preference Of Insect Attraction To Different Wavelengths Of Light, Michael C. Weston

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The relationship between insects, specifically the orders caddisflies (Trichoptera), moths (Lepidoptera) and mayflies (Ephemeroptera) and different wavelengths of light was studied to determine what wavelength is most attractive to these different insect orders and how they differ in their interaction with the light source. This is important information to protect beneficial insects while also helping eradicate destructive insects. This approach is different from previous studies because it is comparing orders of insects rather than grouping them all together. The first part of my research was conducted at night, by shining a flood light on a white sheet to watch how …

Neuroplasticity, Dosage And Repetition Priming Effects In Individuals With Stroke Induced Aphasia, Jesse M. Engen, Molly C. Jones

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Aphasia is an impairment of language production and comprehension that results from damage to the language centers of the brain following stroke and other brain injuries. Approximately 80,000 individuals acquire aphasia from stroke each year in the U.S.; approximately one million people in the U.S. currently have aphasia. The most frequently occurring symptom of aphasia is anomia, a difficulty accessing and retrieving spoken words. Anomia is a frustrating symptom of aphasia for stroke survivors and significantly impacts successful social communication. One way to treat this impairment is through repetitive and intense exposure and practice of picture naming. Our study seeks …

Attachment In Close Relationships And Its Influence On Parenting Practices, Kimberly Garrow, Miranda Bradley

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Attachment theory proposes that caregiving experiences significantly influence children’s socio-emotional development. Interactions with caregivers are internalized as working models of relationships, providing expectations about how to interact with the social world, including future offspring and partners. To contribute to the depth of research on adults, adult attachment classifications were broken down into two dimensions, anxiety and avoidance, to conceptualize attachment in adulthood. Much research has been done that links early relationships to later development, particularly to children’s subsequent experiences in close relationships, including those with their own children. This project examined correlations between attachment-related anxiety and avoidance and aspects of …

Ocean Around, Ocean Above: Intersections Of Archaeoastronomy And Wayfinding In Oceanian Folklore And The Evolution Of Environmental Knowledge Across Polynesian History And Place, Michael P. Capozzoli

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The purpose of this presentation is to examine a specific case study in place identity, environmental knowledge systems, and cultural modification amongst humans to illustrate how oral folklore can encode the practical knowledge of environmental adaptation. Specifically, we will examine how traditional Polynesian myth-motifs and astronomical observation cumulatively predicted seasonal change, allowing for successul long-distance navigation and the manipulation of marine ecosystems for harvest of foodstuffs.

Reflecting the growing prominence of interdisciplinary approaches to human ecology, my wholly qualitative research was conducted as a survey of diverse literature; thus, the project was largely confined to the library. My methodological …

The Effects Of Msra And Msrb In Anoxia Tolerance In Aging Drosophila Melanogaster, Nirthieca Suthakaran

Undergraduate Research Conference

Anoxia occurs when cells are deprived of oxygen. Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) enters a protective coma that allows it to withstand hours of anoxia. The moment of greatest oxidative stress occurs during the period called reoxygenation, When oxygen is reintroduced to the cells, a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes oxidative damage. Methionine is an amino acid that is most susceptible to oxidation because it is common in proteins. This oxidation is reversible with the methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) A and B which reduce the S and R enantiomers, respectively, to functional methionine. Our lab is investigating a link …

Religion And Spirituality In Counseling, Christa Moore

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

In an increasingly secular society, religion and spirituality are not often considered legitimate resources for improving quality of life and overall well-being. My research will delve deeper into the role that they can play in counseling, particularly in the community of Missoula, Montana. I have interviewed four different counselors in the community about their experiences with religion and spirituality at a personal level and how that translates into their work. This is a new approach to this topic because these are qualitative interviews looking into the experiences of these counselors with no focus on numerical data or broad generalizations. This …

The Deadliest Road: Analysis Of Drunk Driving Fatalities In Montana, Jessica Lareau

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The Deadliest Road: Analysis of Drunk Driving Fatalities in Montana

Social Work

Montana holds some of the most deadly roads in the country for impaired driving fatalities. This project examines Driving Under the Influence (DUI) fatalities from the perspective of incarcerated drunk drivers whose crime resulted in the death of another. Two-hour interviews were conducted with both male and female inmates from Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge, MT, the WATCH Program in Warm Springs, MT, the Women’s Prison in Billings, MT, and other Department of Corrections facilities. Inmates were asked about their personal history, specific offense, recall of …

Where’S The Kale? A Search For Food Security On The Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Amy R. Sisk

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Only one small grocery store serves the 5,000 people living on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in rural southeastern Montana. Between its limited stock, fast food from a nearby convenience store and canned goods distributed to residents through the commodity program, it’s hard to come by wholesome meals. That has not stopped health-conscious people from sponsoring a host of programs to curb poor nutrition. But will their efforts go far enough to make a lasting difference across the reservation? And why is accessing quality food so difficult in this part of the state? I set out to answer these questions on …

Women’S Sphere To Women’S Strength: Changing Strategies Of Dress Reformers From 1850-1900, Eliza M. Visscher

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

In the latter half of the nineteenth century, women’s clothing in the United States embodied the societal restrictions imposed on women. Clothing reform represented a critical cog in the holistic wheel of expanding women’s rights in all fields. Through research of contemporary newspapers, meeting minutes, and secondary scholarship I analyzed the language used by these dress reformers to initiate change. The historic and societal aspects have been extensively researched, but I closely examined the specific way dress reformers persuaded men and women. Dress reformers adapted their strategy as social construction evolved over the century. Meeting little success in their initial …

Sustainability Reporting: An Evaluation Of The Sasb Framework, Tess Barker

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Businesses today face more performance risks than ever before. Progressively unjust social spheres, severe environmental disruptions, and corporate governance scandals are just a few issues afflicting the modern business environment. The demand is high for corporate disclosure of these and other sustainability matters. Currently, businesses are not subject to any mandatory sustainability reporting requirements. A number of sustainability reporting frameworks have therefore emerged to help businesses report on sustainability performance. The US nonprofit Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) offers one such framework. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the SASB’s framework and provisional standards for its ability to …

Comparing Variations Of Mood States In College Students Enrolled In Healthcare Professional Programs, Erika M. Berens, Valerie Rich Moody

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Context: Athletic training and nursing programs are one of the few academic programs that students obtain clinical hours concurrently with a full class schedule. The expectations for students are high as evidenced through the work they put into the program. Relationships are often strained because individuals not directly involved in the program have a difficult time understanding the long hours of the program.

Purpose: This study is the first to examine longitudinal changes in mood patterns among college students completing a healthcare professional program and those students not completing a professional program. The significance of this study is to allow …

Exploring The Effects Of Disclosing Versus Concealing Sexual Identity On Self-Esteem, Parker D. Sanders

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Exploring the Effects of Disclosing Versus Concealing Sexual Identity on Self-Esteem

Purpose: Existing literature suggests that identity disclosure can be a double-edge sword for LGBT individuals (Clausell & Roisman, 2009). These individuals are often left with the choice of concealing their identity, which is associated with shame and lower self-esteem (Corrigan & Matthews, 2003), or coming out and risking discrimination and victimization. This exploratory study investigates whether it is better for an LGBT individuals’ self-esteem to conceal their identity, or disclose it in spite of the increased risk for discrimination and victimization (Legate, Ryan, & Weinstein, 2012).

Method: A total …

Synthesis And Resolution Of A Substituted Dioxolane From Glycerol, Susannah Cox

Undergraduate Research Conference

Glycerol is one of the byproducts in the production of biofuels and there is a growing interest in the potential of glycerol as a chemical feedstock. Glycerol can undergo preferential 1,2 cyclic acetalformation with benzophenone under solvent free conditions in the presence of catalytic In(OTf)3 and stoichiometric orthoformate to form a racemic 2,2 substituted dioxolane. Conversion of the unreacted primary alcohol to an ester can be accomplished through reaction with a resolved chiral carboxylic acidor acid chloride. Resolution of the esters yields diastereomerically pure material in two steps from the glycerol starting material.

Nato In Kosovo: Establishing Security Or Purporting State Power?, Christina J. Bloemen

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Constant conflict occurs between and within states, especially in the cases of Syria and Ukraine. The role of international institutions is called into question, particularly in cases where national sovereignty and human rights are concerned. In historical cases of international intervention, the ethnic conflict and wars between post-Yugoslavic states defined the 1990’s. Is it under the jurisdiction of international powers to intervene when human rights are violated or should the international community allow for states in conflict to term the rules of aid and intervention? With this in mind, I intend to explore the question: what factors led to or …

How Should We Teach Human Sexuality At The University Of Montana?, Sandi M. O'Brien

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The University of Montana offers a course, Human Sexuality cross-listed with Anthropology and Biology. As a major in Anthropology, I chose this course to gain an ethnographic cross-cultural perspective on human sexuality. In 2011, the course was taught from a health and human performance pedagogy perspective stressing biological knowledge. The cross-cultural comparison focused on different pedophilias in western, primarily U.S. society. Anthropology of human sexuality reflects every aspect of society and culture. How should the pedagogy of this course span different disciplines and integrate biological, cross-cultural, and also legal issues in K-16 sex education? My initial research reveals that college …

Straightening Out Queer Stereotypes Through Literature, Paige M. Ferro

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Countless stigmas and prejudices abound regarding gender and sexuality issues and the dichotomy between heterosexuality and homosexuality. Even as it has existed as an accepted part of various cultures across time and continents, it continues to go undiscussed and overlooked in many communities due to the fallacies and preconceptions surrounding it. Literature, however, provides an outlet through which one may explore same-sex relationships beyond the common stereotypes and misconceptions. Literature and fiction not only give the writer an opportunity to relate his or her personal or intimate experiences to the world, but also allow the reader a socially-accepted means to …

The Effects Of Prozac On Aggression In Siamese Fighting Fish, Andrew W. Hinkle, Theo Hanson, Lizzie Catudio-Garrett, Schuyler Hollingsworth, Sarah Olafson

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Serotonin is a common neurotransmitter found throughout the brain. Increasing evidence suggests that serotonin plays a key role in aggression and impulsivity in a variety of species. However, the underlying nature of how serotonin functionally impacts aggression has not been discovered. The present study sought to address this unexplored aim by examining the aggressive responses of male Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) to varying concentrations of Prozac. Prozac, a commonly prescribed antidepressant, is designed to increase levels of serotonin in the brain. Recent local news has indicated that Prozac appears in Missoula’s water supply and it is speculated …

Environmental Justice & Hidroaysén: Pristine Waters To Power Santiago, Multinational Mining Interests In Chile, David Schaad

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

On May 9, 2011, the Chilean national government under President Sebastián Piñera approved HidroAysén, a controversial hydroelectric megaproject to be constructed in the Aysén region of southern Chile. With HidroAysén expected to flood 5,900 hectares (15,000 acres) of ecologically unique natural reserves and displace local indigenous and working class people, its development raises major environmental justice concerns among Chileans and the international community. The project stalled in 2012 and was placed on long-term hold due to widespread public protests in which tens of thousands of Chileans took to the streets unified by the motto “Patagonia Sin Represas” (Patagonia Without Dams). …

Barriers To Housing In Missoula Montana, Robert M. Howe

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

In Missoula, there are dozens of new apartments being built today, yet the homeless population continues to grow. The purpose of this research is to better understand what issues will keep a person out of a home and on the streets and to provide insights into alternatives to building more low-income homes. This project asks: what are the barriers to housing in Missoula for people who are already homeless or on the verge of being homeless? In order to understand what those barriers are, I will explore the perceptions that landlords hold toward the homeless population. Data will be collected …

The Not-So-Simple Story Of International Unity, Karla Nettleton

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

In business, public policy governs the actions businesses take. Knowing both what the policy is and how it is changing allows for businesses to be more informed, efficient, transparent and sustainable. Businesses that are efficient, transparent and sustainable help to generate economic growth, which benefits the population as a whole. Additionally, well informed businesses help to generate better policy for the business and economic community as a whole. Currently, the US and the International Community have different accounting standards. The convergence of International Financial Reporting Standards with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles has been an area of tension between policy makers …

Comparing The Effects Of Pulsed Shortwave Diathermy And Static Stretching On Shoulder Range Of Motion., Erika M. Stinchcomb, Taylor C. Baldwin

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Comparing the Effects of Pulsed Shortwave Diathermy and Static Stretching on Shoulder Range of Motion.

Life Sciences

The purpose of a warm-up is to physiologically prepare the body for upcoming physical work. The relative effectiveness of different modes of warm-up, however, is unknown. A common method is a passive warm-up, which is the therapeutic use of an external heat source to warm the muscles. To maximize the benefits of heating modalities, it is thought that an active warm-up such as stretching or exercises should be combined with a passive heating treatment to improve range of motion (ROM) or performance. We …

Turning The Corner On Etds, Ellen C. Ramsey, Jennifer Roper, Christopher Vinson, Andrew Wesolek

Presentations

Presenters from Clemson and UVa, both mid-sized public institutions, discuss differences, similarities, and challenges inherent in implementing an ETD program and the policy implications these programs have.

What's In Your Institutional Repository?, Frances Rice, Nichole M. Rustad

Roesch Library Faculty Presentations

This session focuses on digital collections at the University of Dayton Libraries and how it has evolved from using a stand-alone digital asset management system (CONTENTdm) to a flexible, robust, open-access institutional repository solution hosted by Berkley Electronic Press (Bepress). We share our trials and errors from our first digitization initiatives that began in 2006, to the launch of our first digital collection using CONTENTdm in 2010, to the implementation of our IR, eCommons, in 2013. We demonstrate how we have transformed our IR into a digital platform that not only features faculty scholarship, but also highlights our special collections. …