Digital Commons Network^™

Cigarettes And Ice Cream For Lunch: Parent And Student Rights At The Butte Industrial School In The Long Progressive Era, Lauryn N. Tecca

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

In 1903, Butte opened the doors of the Butte Industrial School for truant children. Following the guidelines of truancy schools in places such as Chicago and Cleveland, the school was an attempt to deal with Butte children who habitually skipped school and hold them accountable for their actions. Quickly after opening, juvenile court proceedings became a fixture in The Butte Miner. Scholarship on the school centers around the children's experiences and their treatment in the juvenile courts that sentenced them there. Very little is said about the parents of these children. According to a 1915 U.S. Bureau of Education report …

Ancient Dna Analysis Of Salmonid Remains At Housepit 54, Bridge River, British Columbia, Kara K. Fox

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Salmon was critical to the Indigenous populations of the Pacific Northwest, and the variation in Pacific salmon species has played a vital role in the behavior of fisher-hunter-gatherer societies. This project involves using ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis to identify salmon species in order to test varying evolutionary models. These models include the Diet Breadth Model of Human Behavioral Ecology (HBE), cultural transmission theory, and the parameters of social rank among members at the Housepit 54, Bridge River archaeological site in British Columbia. In essence, these models help understand the social and economic impacts on the fishing behavior of members at …

The Role Of Advisors’ Sexual And Gender Minority Status In Gender And Sexuality Alliances, Bennett Ilac, Kelly M. Davis

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Research has consistently shown that sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth experience higher rates of mental health issues. One protective factor against these issues is the presence of Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) in schools. The presence of a GSA at school has been associated with lower rates of depression and higher levels of academic achievement, self-esteem, and belonging for SGM youth. Though the benefits of GSAs are well-documented, less research exists about the practices of GSAs and the advisors leading them. This study is based on data from a survey of 170 GSA advisors, 86 of whom self-identified as …

Landscape Influences On Microclimate And Tree Growth Cessation In A Semi-Arid Montane Forest, Fin Malone, Kelsey G. Jencso, Zachary H. Hoylman

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

As climate change impacts the severity and frequency of drought, knowledge of hillslope-to-watershed scale ecohydrology is becoming increasingly necessary to inform appropriate conservation, restoration, and management of forested ecosystems. In mountain environments, spatial patterns of water and energy organize forest productivity at plot, hillslope, and watershed scales. These microclimatic patterns are impacted by gradients in elevation, aspect, and local topographic convergence and divergence. In water-limited systems, such patterns of moisture may be first-order drivers of intra-annual tree growth. However, there is limited field-based research characterizing how seasonal limitations of forest growth may vary across complex terrain. In 2016, continuous soil …

Anthropology On Social Media, Danielle Airola M.A.

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

In 2018, only about half of Americans (49%) agreed that “human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals,” and 38% that “the universe began with a big explosion” (Besley and Hill, 2020). These basic facts may be well understood by the scientific and academic communities, but how do we go about disseminating this sort of knowledge to the general public? What about more nuanced and detailed information that may affect people’s understanding of our human heritage or health? Social media has great potential for increasing the reach and broadening the understanding of individuals. However, it …

Y-Dna For Paternal Lineage Research, Jaymes Mozingo

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Since 1999, Y-DNA testing has become a scientific mainstay for genetic studies, as well as a modern pastime among genealogical enthusiasts and researchers using objective data in the study of family lineages, particularly paternal-line ancestors. The company that pioneered the use of this technology is one called Family Tree DNA.

Many DNA testing companies, i.e., websites like 23andMe, Ancestry, MyHeritage, etc., focus primarily on Autosomal and Mitochondrial DNA, typically integrated through maternal lineages; however, this approach has limitations when seeking a broader view with more depth into lineages that span over thousands of years as compared to the mere 150–200 …

Impact Of Forest Plantations On Energy Poverty: An Assessment Of Reforestation Efforts In Uganda, Matilda Kabutey-Ongor

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

This study investigates how forest plantations can help alleviate energy poverty in Uganda, a country facing deforestation and high reliance, on biomass for energy. Energy poverty, predominant in rural regions, is defined by the limited availability of sustainable energy services, affecting areas such as health, education, and overall household welfare. The study hypothesizes that through sustainable afforestation, access to biomass and other renewable energy sources can be improved, thereby alleviating energy poverty. A linear regression model is employed to quantify these relationships, providing a robust statistical framework to explain the complex dynamics between forest plantation stages and energy poverty. Employing …

Ambient Air Pollution, Geomasking, And Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy In Montana, Elizabeth Williams, Jon Graham, Bradley Holbrook, Jonathon Knudson, Erin Landguth, Cindy Leary, Laura Williamson, Holly Winn

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Being one of the leading causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs), including eclampsia, preeclampsia, and gestational hypertension, are a major public health burden. Research links fine particulate matter air pollution (PM_2.5­) to increased risk of HDPs, but such studies are lacking in wildfire-prone rural areas. While PM_2.5 concentrations have been decreasing around most of the US in the last few decades, Montana and other western states have experienced an increase in PM_2.5 concentrations due to increasing wildfire activity.

Moreover, a growing body of research into the health effects …

A Qualitative Study Investigating Perinatal Mental Health Screening: “It’S Maternal Mental Health From A Mom’S Point Of View”, Tess A. Carlson, Jessica L. Liddell, Sarah Reese

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Purpose:

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS) affect approximately 1 in 3 birthing people in Montana, impacting parent-infant bonding and contributing to high rates of maternal suicide. 95-97% of birthing people suffering from PMADS do not reach full remission. This study investigates the barriers that prevent effective screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for PMADS, from the perspective of birthing people in Montana. The results point to systems-level barriers and supports to SBIRT, and provide recommendations for improvements to the perinatal screening process.

Methods:

In 2021, I conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 people, who had given birth in …

“It’S God’S Country”: The University Of Montana, Flathead Indian Reservation, And Dispossession, Dylan Tate Yonce

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

In the early decades of the twentieth century, the University of Montana (UM) developed from a small frontier college into an influential research institution. During its maturation process, the University relied on the acquisition of land to expand. In addition to its main campus in Missoula, the university sought out land for research and recreation. When Congress passed the Flathead Allotment Act (1904), the University became one of many non-Native beneficiaries of federal land dispossession policy in the United States in the 20th century. Existing scholarship has largely honed in on “land grant” universities established through the Morrill Act (1862) …

Human-Bear Conflicts In Southwest Montana: Mapping Attractants And Prevention Efforts In Missoula And Ravalli Counties, Jessica N. Reyes

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Missoula and Ravalli Counties in Montana, renowned for their prime bear habitats encompassing mountains, rivers, creeks, and forests, have witnessed a notable increase in human-bear conflicts over the past two decades. This escalation is attributed to concurrent growth in both human and bear populations, coupled with climate-induced constraints on natural food sources. Human-bear conflicts arise primarily when bears access human-associated foods (attractants), including fruit trees, garbage, and bird feeders. Evaluation of conflicts relies predominantly on voluntary reports, revealing a significant reporting gap between Ravalli and Missoula Counties. Despite this, conflict reports and prevention strategies remain unexamined based on attractant types …

Is Done Perfect?, Kevin C. Vrla

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Is Done perfect?

African American English (AAE) is a distinct, though frequently stigmatized, variety of American English. Historically described as a “vernacular” (and frequently still is to this day) many of the systematic rules that govern the dialect have been glossed over or sporadically described. One such structure is preverbal done, seen in constructions such as “But then I think they done cremate her.”. Previous authors (Green 1993, Edwards 2001, Terry 2010 and Scott 2016) have described this construction as a present perfect, parallelling standard English’s construction using have. More recently, Harris 2019 describes the construction as a …

Exploring How A State Professional Counseling Association Can Support Counselors In Meeting The Mental Health Needs Of Montanans, Cynthia R. Boyle

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

The development of counseling as a profession is notable, evolving as helpers responded to human needs in a variety of specialty areas and ultimately coalescing and conceptualized as a full, unique professional identity. While large national counseling associations support the counseling profession as a whole, there is scant research on the unique needs of counselors in a large, rural state like Montana. Counselors must keep abreast of current research on diagnosis and treatment, innovative clinical interventions and on legislative issues that impact their credentialing, reimbursement, and increasingly seek to determine who can and cannot receive counseling services.

This is an …

Investigating The Germination Of Perennial Grasses: A Key To Restoring Rangelands, Sophia N. Lasche

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Rangelands cover approximately 47% of the Earth’s land surface and are often dominated by perennial grasslands. In recent decades many of these perennial grass populations have been declining due to land use and climate shifts. With this decline of many perennial grass populations, and the vulnerable state of many rangelands, several varieties of perennial grass have been developed for consideration for rangeland restoration in the Southwestern United States. Using three perennial grass restoration “workhorse” species (Bouteoula gracilis, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Sporobolus cryptandrus), several varieties of these species have been developed and are commonly used. Three different types are Cultivars, Wild-collected …

Analysis Of Invalid Vaccination Dose Administration Among U.S. Children: National Immunization Survey-Child 2011-2020, Alexandria N. Albers

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that children receive multiple routine vaccinations to prevent infectious diseases, with most vaccinations requiring multiple doses. Vaccination series have minimum age and interval requirements, and doses provided outside recommended parameters are considered invalid and should be repeated. Our objective was to quantify the number of U.S. children ages 19-35 months who received invalid vaccination doses, those who had invalid vaccinations re-administered, and factors associated with receiving at least one invalid vaccination.

We analyzed provider-verified vaccination records from the 2011-2020 National Immunization Survey-Child to quantify the number of children with invalid vaccinations and …

The Sunflower Lemma, Ryan Wood

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Suppose everyone at Gradcon listed their top 5 favorite movies of all time. To save everyone the trouble of ranking, we'll assume the lists are unordered. Here's the question: how many lists do we need to guarantee we have three lists, any two of which share the exact same titles? For example, three lists that share nothing in common would satisfy our condition. It turns out that such an event is guaranteed if we have 3840 lists. This seems rather large, and is probably far too many, but trying to find a better upper bound has been a project of …

Teachers' Perceptions Of The Behavioral Symptoms Associated With Trauma, Hannah G. Hall

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

School is an integral environment for students to learn the academic and social-emotional skills they need to be successful. However, students are inseparable from the challenges they face at home or in the community, and these dynamics affect their behaviors at school. Children with histories of trauma are often identified through a range of emotional and behavioral concerns and there is an increasing need to intervene. It is reported that by age 16, more than two-thirds of children will be exposed to one traumatic event (SAMHSA, 2022). Despite the prevalence of trauma, the signs manifest differently, making it difficult to …

Women Behind Bars: A History Of Montana Female Offenders And Their Portrayal In Montana Media; 1909-1960, Cassidy A. Vander Voort

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

The Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge opened when the state was still a territory in 1870. While it was open it housed not only men but a number of women. The first female inmate arrived in Deer Lodge in 1867 and the prison quickly realized it had no adequate housing for female prisoners. In the eyes of the general public women were not meant to be criminals and the territory had not prepared for them. Both violent and non-violent female offenders were housed in the prison during this time. The prison records of 189 women have been recently digitized …

Sunrise In The Heartland: The Ahmadiyya Movement And African American Islamic Revival, Hazel F. Videon

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

During the 1920s, an immigrant missionary from colonial India named Muhammad Sadiq established headquarters in Chicago and Detroit for a branch of Islam called the Ahmadiyya movement. During the interwar period, the Ahmadiyya movement became the first institutional expression of Islam in North America. It was especially influential in attracting African American converts through anti-racist messages and its connection to Black Nationalist, Pan-Islamist, and Pan-Africanist groups and ideologies. This project argues that the Ahmadiyya movement developed a “conversion rhetoric” aimed at African Americans that emphasized Islam as a connection to ancestral practice and a means toward liberation. Later African American …

Manbox: A Goodbye Play, Jadd Davis

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

"ManBox: A Goodbye Play" is an original short play that explores the limitations an individualistic patriarchal society forces on members of the dominant hegemony - in this case semi-autobiographically as I am a white male who grew up in the Western United States. In it, the protagonist runs up against multiple walls as he attempts to say something meaningful to a loved one, trying to access something more significant than his rudimentary emotional vocabulary will allow. I wrote this play in response to watching my father grapple with the loss of his own father, seeing him tie himself in knots …

Patterns And Prediction Of The Snowpack Ripening Using Machine Learning Methods, Clement Cherblanc, Joel T. Harper, Javier Perez Alvaro

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

A winter snowpack is not runoff capable until it is warmed to 0 degree Celsius and saturated in liquid water, the achievement of this state is called ripening Whether a snowpack is ripened or not is a critical information of the snowpack state and behavior regarding water availability and floods. Before a snowpack is ripened, it is a buffer to rain and intense melt. Once a snowpack ripens, rain and high temperature will cause water releases that may be available for soil and ecosystems, but can also cause floods. In addition, hydroelectric dams rely on gradual release of water caused …

Montana Kaimin, March 7, 2024, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Finding A Good Fit: Tips On Hiring Rural Personal Assistants, Rayna A. Sage, Krys Standley

Health and Wellness

Living in rural areas means being part of close communities. For people with disabilities in these areas, Personal Assistance Services (PAS) help them live on their own. But finding good PAS workers in rural places can be hard. To help you pick the right PAS worker, we explored what traits make them a good fit.

Introduction To The Special Issue: Responsible Ai In Libraries And Archives, Sara Mannheimer, Doralyn Rossmann, Jason Clark, Yasmeen Shorish, Natalie Bond, Hannah Scates Kettler, Bonnie Sheehey, Scott W.H. Young

Mansfield Library Faculty Publications

Librarians and archivists are often early adopters and experimenters with new technologies. Our field is also interested in critically engaging with technology, and we are well-positioned to be leaders in the slow and careful consideration of new technologies. Therefore, as librarians and archivists have begun using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance library services, we also aim to interrogate the ethical issues that arise while using AI to enhance collection description and discovery and streamline reference services and teaching. The IMLS-funded Responsible AI in Libraries and Archives project aims to create resources that will help practitioners make ethical decisions when implementing …

Stonefly Adaptations, Rachel Lanelle Malison

University Grant Program Reports

In this study we conducted three different laboratory experiments over the course of two summers and one winter to collect three data sets. Our specific objectives were to 1) investigate lactate accumulation as a potential mechanism behind low oxygen tolerance in aquifer stoneflies, and 2) conduct plasticity experiments to measure multi-trait responses to different oxygen and temperature levels in multiple species of stoneflies to better infer how natural populations will respond to climate change.

Flag Algebras, Cory Palmer

University Grant Program Reports

Project Objective: Expand my research into a new area by developing expertise in the Flag Algebra method with the following goals:

1. Become proficient in the flag algebra method with the help of external experts.

2. Apply the flag algebra method to a collection of open research problems.

3. Train graduate students in my research group in the flag algebra method.

4. Develop preliminary results to serve as the basis of an application for external funding.

Cross-Linguistic Characteristics Of Children With Speech Sound Disorder, Amy M. Glaspey

University Grant Program Reports

Grant awarded to stimulate new research or creative activity. This funding lead to the several publications and presentations.

Dance Guest Artist In Residence, Brooklyn L. Draper

University Grant Program Reports

The University of Montana Dance Program in the School of Theatre and Dance was thrilled to have the opportunity to invite Seattle based choreographer, performer, artistic director, and teacher, Noelle Price, to choreograph a world premiere choreographic work titled “Go BE(fore)” for UM students.

Wyoming V. Environmental Protection Agency, Ayden D. Auer

Public Land & Resources Law Review

Wyoming v. EPA consolidated two petitions for review of a portion of Wyoming’s plans to reduce visibility impacts from two powerplants, Wyodak and Naughton. First, the Tenth Circuit held EPA was incorrect to disapprove Wyoming’s best available retrofit technology determination for Wyodak because EPA based its disapproval on noncompliance with guidelines that are optional to determine the best available retrofit technology for Wyodak. These same guidelines are nonbinding on Naughton as well, and the court held the petitioners failed to persuade the court that EPA’s approval of Naughton was arbitrary and capricious because the petitioners did not establish why Wyoming’s …

March 2024 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.