Digital Commons Network^™

Distributed Iot Cyber-Physical System For Non-Invasive Acoustic Mineral Extraction Via Z-Scanning Phased Arrays, Nathan Johnson, Oliver Trost

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

A Distributed IoT Cyber-Physical System for Non-Invasive Acoustic Mineral Extraction via Z-Scanning Phased Arrays

Abstract: Traditional placer mineral extraction relies on energy demanding mechanical mobilization and high-water usage. This research introduces a novel Cyber-Physical System (CPS) that achieves non-invasive vertical migration of high-density within non-Newtonian slurries using low power usage for targeted depths. Unlike conventional vibration which induces segregation (sinking), this system utilizes a floating, waterproof phased acoustic array to generate a Z-Scanning Helical Wavefront carrying Orbital Angular Momentum. This acoustic vortex, in concert with Time-Reversed Acoustics (TRA), creates a "telescoping funnel" logic that entraps particles via centripetal force …

A Persistent Penance: Repetition, Memory, And Moral Stasis In Ethan Frome, Nicholas Howard

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

My project examines Edith Wharton’s novella Ethan Frome through the lens of purgatory. I argue that the story is less a tragedy of failed love than a story about being trapped inside one’s own mistakes, unable to move forward. Rather than reading Ethan’s sled crash as a failed suicide followed by a bleak but ordinary life, I explore the interpretation that the “present-day” Starkfield is a form of purgatory—an endless winter in which Ethan continues the emotional patterns that destroyed him.

My guiding question is: What changes if we read Ethan Frome as already dead, living inside a self-made purgatory? …

Multiyear Stream And Riparian Responses To Beaver Dam Analogs In A Headwater Tributary, Hannah Moon Halvorson, Andrew Lahr

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Beavers are ecosystem engineers who influence the geomorphology and hydrology of streams, as well as riparian vegetation. Beaver-related restoration has become a popular approach with techniques such as beaver dam analogs (BDAs) commonly used to aid in the recovery of stream ecosystems. Despite their extensive use in low-tech restoration, there exist few studies longer than 3 years to demonstrate the effectiveness of BDAs. We conducted a 6-year follow-up study on a project with 14 BDAs in Teepee Creek, a second-order stream near Lolo in Western Montana. We collected data on instream habitat, flow, water temperature, and riparian vegetation and analyzed …

The Predatory Paradox: Evolutionary Neurobiology, Adhd, And The Developmental Impact Of Early Hunting Education, Madalie A. Kershner

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The debate over whether children should be introduced to hunting is centered on ethical concerns regarding desensitized aggression. However, using the Hunter-Gatherer neurotype associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, this paper argues that early-onset hunting has significant neurocognitive benefits when conducted with proper education and a mentored framework.

Drawing on evolutionary psychiatry and neurobiology, this theoretical analysis first reviews relevant literature in both fields and then distinguishes between affective aggression (rage-based violence) and predatory aggression (a goal-oriented, cold-blooded cognitive state). I suggest that traits condemned as maladaptive in the four walls of the modern classroom (i.e. distractibility and hyperfocus) are …

Examining Cardiac Abnormalities In High School Athletes Through Ecg-Integrated Cardiac Screenings, Trevor Reed Held

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

ECG-integrated cardiac screenings serve as valuable tools, ensuring that athletes are healthy prior to the start of their competitive season. For sports that do not require these screenings or a standard physical, underlying cardiac conditions and abnormalities can often go unnoticed, leading to a higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) during athletic activity. The purpose of this pilot study was to identify its feasibility, identify the potential risk factors for SCA, clear athletes for athletic participation that did not exhibit risk factors, and refer athletes with abnormalities to a medical professional. This study included 30 high school hockey athletes …

An Assessment Of Recent Meteoric Variables On The Lower Grant Creek Alluvial Aquifer System, Valerie Sigler

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Lower Grant Creek (LGC) flooding during the 1997 water year prompted the installation of groundwater and surface water monitoring sites to identify the factors leading to residential basement flooding. The Missoula Water Quality District is seeking an updated analysis as rapid land-use change and development is expected in the coming years. I compiled and analyzed groundwater elevation data from 2020-2025 to investigate whether relationships with rainfall and snowmelt are evident in the LGC alluvial aquifer and to characterize whether different locations in the groundwater system gain or lose water from the up-valley surface water system. I compared groundwater elevations and …

Inferring Properties Of Binary Black Hole Mergers From The Ringdown, Serena R. Fink

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The effect of progenitor masses and spins on the inspiral phase of a gravitational wave signal from a binary black hole merger is relatively well understood for the case where spins are aligned with the orbital angular momentum. Less is known about how progenitor properties -- especially misaligned spins -- impact the ringdown. The accuracy and precision with which inspiral parameters (component masses and spins) can be inferred from the ringdown alone remains an open question. As several high-mass (most ringdown-dominated) systems observed by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) have misaligned spins, the ability to predict inspiral properties from …

Mlali Rehabilitation Centre Fundraising Initiative, Benjamin T. Rainford

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This capstone is a qualitative analysis of a fundraising campaign I am conducting to purchase equipment for Mlali Rehabilitation Centre in Tanzania. The Centre serves 75 children with severe physical disabilities. After volunteering twice, Director Br. Gaudence Aikaruwa asked me to help find external funding. They operate on little support, and their 23-year-old tractor is failing, posing a serious food security threat.

I have since encountered significant obstacles. I found grantmakers were mostly invite-only and generally hesitant to support a large capital investment. I pivoted to crowdfunding, which was more promising but a logistical nightmare. I could neither receive money …

Can Ipad Lidar Measure Bark Rugosity?, Cooper E. Littell, Anna C. Ross, Sharon M. Hood, Kimberley T. Davis, Jonathan L. Batchelor, C. Alina Cansler

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Bark is one of the primary tree traits associated with fire resistance. Current research has focused on bark thickness as the dominant structural trait contributing to resistance, yet bark rugosity (e.g. roughness) has also been shown to influence the transfer of heat from fire into the living tissues of trees. Bark rugosity is a challenging trait to quantify, often requiring destructive measuring techniques. We applied the equation developed by Shearman and Varner (2021), which defines rugosity as the ratio of the actual cross-section compared to the area of a convex hull; higher values indicate higher rugosity. We compared contemporary, destructive …

Vestibular-Ocular Reflex Testing Using Commercially Available Mixed-Reality Headsets, Silas W. Acker, Matt Bundle Phd

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex (VOR) stabilizes vision during head movements through a coordinated interaction between the vestibular apparatus’s ability to sense position and acceleration and the ocular muscles that move the eye. Vestibular hypofunction can cause dizziness, blurred vision, create the perception of movement in stationary objects, dizziness, and nystagmus, a condition where the eye moves involuntarily. The presence and extent of dysfunction are typically assessed by evaluating the movement of the eye during tracking and target acquisition tasks. In addition to dedicated clinical equipment specifically designed to track eye movements, currently available mixed reality headsets are also able to perform …

Hydrogen Bond Enhanced Halogen Bonding Anion Transporters, Tony J. Shelton

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Cells use ion transport pathways for osmosis, electrochemical gradients, signaling, and programed cell death. When natural ion channels fail, synthetic alternatives are needed. This project explores the ability of synthetic “transporter” molecules to bind anions (negatively charged atoms) and carry them across lipid bilayers. Preliminary results have shown Hydrogen Bond enhanced Halogen Bonding (HBeXBing) molecules can facilitate anion transport more efficiently than known XBing anion transporter pentafluoroiodobenzene (PFIB). The hydrophobic functional groups clearly increase transport rates of these molecules. We expect that EC50 and Hill coefficients will indicate highly active transporters. Currently the liposome procedure is being optimized to achieve …

Awe On The Brain: Exploring The Impacts Of Awe On Neural Oscillations, Elizabeth A. Kamminga

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This project explores how the human brain exhibits complex patterns of neural activity that interact through oscillatory dynamics controlling cognition and emotion. The main question is whether awe can be understood as a change in how neural oscillators interact, and if so, whether this framework can be applied to other emotions. This project was inspired after taking the Awe and Curiosity course at the Davidson Honors College, where awe was explored as a universal but under-researched emotion that can alter how the brain perceives and interprets the world. To examine this, case studies and experiments were reviewed on the psychological …

Collegiate Volleyball Athletes Are Able To Sustain A Greater Level Of Performance Due To Many Recovery Practices., Caleb Rockwood

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Collegiate volleyball demands high-intensity physical and mental work, however athletes often struggle to maintain the recovery processes necessary to sustain a high level performance throughout a season. This project investigates how consistent recovery practices, specifically sleep, nutritional habits, and mobility, influence the ability of college volleyball players to maintain high level performance. The central problem I’ve examined is the trap, where the dual pressures of academic responsibilities and athletic commitments lead to sleep loss and nutritional deficits according to literature.

The ultimate question for this research is whether a consistent recovery routine can mitigate the typical mid-season performance decline often …

Analyzing The Slurm Scheduler Fairshare Scoring, Nathaniel T. Adams

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Slurm is a workload manager widely used in university research clusters and High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments to allocate computational resources in multi-user systems. Its primary function is to schedule submitted jobs efficiently while ensuring equitable access to shared infrastructure. To achieve this, Slurm assigns each job a priority score, which is influenced by several factors, including a “Fairshare” score. Fairshare is designed to balance resource usage over time by prioritizing users or groups who have consumed fewer computational resources relative to their allocated share. There are two algorithms that make up Fairshare, there is the classic algorithm that was previously …

Impacts Of Air Pollution On Park And Fitness Area Visitation Across The Contiguous United States., Tara C. Brown, Vince Caristo, Vick Zuzia, Sophie Morris

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Air pollution, especially from wildfire smoke, has become an increasing threat to human health as drier, hotter conditions drive more frequent and larger wildfires across the United States. To reduce personal health risks, guidelines suggest staying indoors and limiting physical exertion during days with poor air quality. However, limiting physical exertion can also cause negative health outcomes, especially as the number of poor air quality days continues to increase. Quantifying when action is and isn’t taken to limit exposure is an important prerequisite for interventions designed to mitigate the negative health consequences of air pollution from wildfires, and the economic …

Impact Of Physician Assistant/Associate Integration On Healthcare Quality, Accessibility, And Operational Capacity In Rural United States Communities, Zella Grace Balkenbush

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

As the physician assistant/associate (PA) profession has broadened in scope throughout the United States from the mid-1960s to the 21^st century, rural communities have received the greatest systemic effects. The expansion of health insurance through Medicare and Medicaid, combined with increasing physician specialization, created a greater need for general providers. Physician shortages in remote areas have contributed to patients experiencing decreased access to routine checkups, longer wait times, and constrained emergency resources. This has led to delayed diagnoses and preventable complications. In response, the PA profession has exploded in popularity to fill the gap in providing all-around care. Rural …

Stress As A Potential Triegger: Investigating The Onset Of Myasthenia Gravis Following Major Life Events, Taylor A. Barney

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

I will be studying myasthenia gravis (MG) and its relation to stress, answering the question: Is there a correlation between highly stressful life events and the initial onset of myasthenia gravis by which acute emotional or physical stress triggers myasthenic crisis or exacerbation of symptoms? I am doing this project because my mother has MG and her diagnosis has shaped my outlook on the medical field in which I hope to enter. To carry out this project, I will be using cross-sectional analysis through stress assessment with MG disease severity assessment. This will include trier inventory for assessment of chronic …

Head Contact Patterns Among Youth And High School Ice Hockey Athletes, Hunter Naugle

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Head Contact Patterns Among Youth and High School Ice Hockey Athletes
Naugle, H., Jefferson, S., & Moody, VJ: University of Montana

The prevalence of head contact among youth and high school ice hockey athletes continues to be a concern. While significant attention has been given to the identification of concussions, less research has examined the frequency and characteristics of head contact during normal gameplay. The purpose of this study was to examine where, when, and how head contact occurs in Bantam (14U), junior varsity, and varsity-level athletes to identify potential patterns associated with gameplay.

To address this question, we observed …

Gas Exchange Velocity Variation On The Upper Clark Fork River, Elliot Sanford

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Gas exchange velocity (K) was measured on the Upper Clark Fork River (UCFR) across three seasonal flow regimes to constrain estimates of K used in a dissolved radon groundwater flux model. Dissolved oxygen sensors were deployed at two stations 75 km apart during June (peak runoff), July (irrigation-induced low flow), and October (natural baseflow) for periods of 3-10 days. Gas exchange velocity normalized to a Schmidt number of 600 (K600) was calculated using a two-station Bayesian model, a one-station Bayesian model, nighttime regressions of dissolved O₂ and O₂ saturation deficit, and energy dissipation scaling relationships. Bayesian models failed …

Graph Colorings Up To Symmetries, Stone Cj Cook

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The infamous four-color problem (4CP) dates back to 1852 and asks whether four colors suffice to color a map so that countries sharing a border receive distinct colors. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the problem's resolution. The 4CP inspired a bountiful collection of mathematics in the subject now known as "graph theory." A graph models any sort of network such as the Internet, transportation systems, and the neural networks that underpin modern AI. Graphs consist of two components: "vertices" and "edges." We visualize the vertices as dots on a page and the edges as lines connecting pairs of …

Ursine Transitions: An Analysis Of The Role Of The Bear Attack As A Transitionary Force In The Winter’S Tale And Beyond, Alison R. Liwosz

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale features a curiously specific bear among the pastoral romantic comedy, a bear that chases a character off stage and ends up eating him and another character. This bear’s symbolism and significance to the narrative will be the focus of this essay. This event occurs in the simple stage direction “Exit, pursued by bear” to close out the third act and court setting of the play. A description of the murders come from a character introduced from the pastoral latter half of the narrative, with the bear acting as the hinge between the two. The bear also …

Meet Your Neighbor: A Houseless Services Program Proposal In Missoula, Montana, Victoria K. Hausman

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Within the last three years, Missoula, Montana, has developed a culture of pervasive, systemic, and negative actions against people experiencing houselessness. The transition from funding multi-tiered approaches, including encampments, shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing, has been replaced by decreased resource-availability and an over-funded policy enforcing fines, misdemeanors, and arrests on anyone unsheltered and experiencing houselessness. At the root of this public sentiment is stigma, which manifests itself at all levels of the socio-ecological system and negatively impacts the health, housing, employment, social, mental, and physical outcomes of people experiencing houselessness. To combat stigma, Meet Your Neighbor is a …

Insect Pollination Rates In Alpine Cushion Plants, Mollena W. Sydnor

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

High elevation environments are characterized by a harsh climate, including a short growing season, wind and storms, and cold temperatures. Thus, higher elevation habitats often show lower insect abundance and diversity, and so insect pollination to alpine plants might be limited. Additionally, insect pollination should increase with increased floral abundance, but environmental stress may limit available floral resources for pollinators. In summer of 2025, we collected and processed a series of video recordings of pollinator visits to three alpine plant species, Phlox condensata, Minuartia obtusiloba, and Silene acaulis, across five field sites at the Niwot Ridge LTER, …

Computing The Tree Packing Conjecture, Nathaniel T. Adams

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The Gyárfás tree packing conjecture [1] states that any collection of trees (T1, T2, . . . , Ti) on 1, 2, . . . n vertices can be edge-disjointly packed into a complete graph on n vertices. Alternatively, this conjecture states that such a family of trees can be “glued” together to produce a complete graph on n vertices. Although many partial results are known (See Cisiński and Zak [2], Janzer and Montgomery [3], Balogh and Palmer [4]), ˙ the conjecture has remained open since 1970. This conjecture is computationally challenging, naively requiring superexponential number of computations. This paper …

Development Of A Unified Splatting Ecosystem For Enhanced Spatial Mapping And Accuracy, Jeremy Jeffay

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This report details the foundational development of a unified splatting ecosystem designed to enhance spatial mapping and 3D reconstruction accuracy for autonomous aerial systems. The primary objective was to bridge the gap between academic neural rendering algorithms and practical autonomous operations by building a decentralized, verifiable infrastructure. Methods included deploying containerized GPU workloads via the Akash network, integrating Solana-based on-chain data provenance, and shifting focus toward a photo/video-centric backend validation layer to ensure data sovereignty. Results indicate that the 3D rendering pipeline and core microservices architecture are functional in isolation, with the distributed network components successfully wired for future end-to-end …

Mental Healthcare Providers' Clinical Approaches To Climate Concerns, Lauren N. Schulte

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Previous research has established that climate change poses a serious threat to physical and mental health. Increases in climate change-related mental health concerns, including traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression, highlight the need for climate-aware approaches to mental healthcare. Many mental healthcare providers already report encountering clients with climate-related concerns, but few feel adequately prepared to support these clients. Additionally, providers have expressed the need for further information, training, treatment, and assessment options to assist individuals with climate-related mental health concerns. The present study aims to investigate existing therapeutic strategies used to address climate-related concerns in clinical settings. Data collection from …

Mighty Mobile Microgrids, Nathaniel T. Adams, Charlie F. Marten, Delia J. Schmidt, Buddy G. Wilson, Oliver A. Suhrbier, Katherine B. Labuda

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

A microgrid is a collection of power-generating devices that boost power from the primary electrical grid or serve as a backup when the grid cannot provide sufficient power. Microgrid systems are used where primary grid connectivity can be unreliable due to remote location or natural disasters, serving as renewable alternatives to traditional fossil fuel power production. Recent innovations have given rise to new microgrid technology that can be conveniently deployed in times of need. Mobile microgrids– often in the form of trailers covered in solar arrays– are being used increasingly as tools in disaster response and community grid support. This …

Montana Kaimin, April 2, 2026, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Minutes From The April 2, 2026 Meeting Of The University Of Montana Faculty, University Of Montana--Missoula. Faculty

University of Montana Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes

Meeting minutes from the April 2, 2026 meeting of the University of Montana faculty.

The Role Of The Context For Pupils’ Choice Of Solution Strategies And Representations When Working With Combinatorial Problems, Frode Rønning

The Mathematics Enthusiast

This paper reports on a study based on two classroom sessions in a Norwegian school where pupils in Grade 4 (age 9) worked on two combinatorial problems. Data were collected by video-recording two pairs of pupils collaborating in each session, as well as a whole-class session at the end of the second session. The pupils’ written work during the sessions was also collected as data. The classroom sessions were designed based on principles from the Theory of Didactical Situations. Data were analysed using a dialogical approach and based on theory for multiplicative structures and semiotic representations. The study shows that …