Digital Commons Network^™

The Forgotten Epidemic: Identification Of Mtbc In The Neolithic Trypillia Of Verteba Cave, Ukraine, Tre Blohm

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Microorganisms have plagued humankind for millennia and frequently participate in an evolutionary arms race against their hosts. Diseases from various microorganisms have crippled entire countries or led to massive population declines in recent history. However, much is unknown about epidemiology in ancient times. My project will be the first comprehensive paleoepidemiological approach to understand disease across populations in Europe during the Neolithic era (7000-1700BC). The Neolithic was one of the most profound transformations in human history, both culturally and biologically. Massive migrations, formations of the earliest settlements in Europe, and introduction of agriculture and pastoralism led to new environments for …

Determining The Efficacy Of Manual Therapies For Treatment Of Headache And Dizziness: A Systematic Review Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Nicholas Verlanic, Shane Murphy

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Title: Determining the Efficacy of Manual Therapies for Treatment of Headache and Dizziness: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Purpose: Headache and Dizziness are two common symptoms in concussion patients. These two symptoms are often persistent and the limiting factors in return to play protocols. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy of different manual therapy treatments as a method of treating headache and dizziness.

Methods: We selected to search the database PubMed in October 2021. Studies eligible for inclusion were peer-reviewed articles in which the authors collected either visual analog scale (VAS) or numeric …

Pharmacy-Based Immunization Laws And Adolescent Well-Child Checkup Tradeoffs: Results From The Nis-Teen, Teigan Avery

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Pharmacy-based immunization (PBI) has been heralded as a barrier-reducing way to immunize Americans and reach public health targets. PBI programs vary by state; some states prohibit child vaccination in pharmacies while others allow pharmacists to prescribe and administer immunizations to persons of any age. Pediatricians are concerned generous PBI programs may boost vaccination rates at the cost of well-child visits, an unacceptable tradeoff they argue. This is logical when considered in the lens of economic theory regarding health investments; parents may see PBI as an alternative to the doctor’s office rather than as a complement and choose to immunize their …

Assessing The Vulnerability Of At-Risk Amphibians To Regional Climate Change, Ross K. Hinderer

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Title: Assessing the Vulnerability of At-Risk Amphibians to Regional Climate Change

Purpose: Climate change threatens the persistence of many species worldwide. However, the effects of climate change on a particular species or in a particular location vary based on many factors. Some amphibians may benefit from climate changes while others will not, so understanding the factors associated with higher risks of detrimental effects will allow decision-makers to focus on protecting particularly vulnerable species and populations. Unfortunately, many amphibian species are not well-studied so ecologists are missing key details about their habitat use or life cycle making typical methods …

Measures Of Cardiovascular Risk In Wildland Firefighters (Wffs), Md Zahid Hasan

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Measures of cardiovascular risk in wildland firefighters (WFFs)

Purpose: As the population across the western United States grows, and as fires increase in size and intensity, an increasing number of wildland firefighter operations are needed to protect vulnerable communities. WFFs are involved directly or indirectly in fire suppression activities and have high exposure to smoke and other risk factors including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These exposures affect respiratory health, cardiovascular health, and oxygen-carrying capability. Notably, cardiovascular health is implicated in a huge percentage of sudden deaths of WFFs both on and off …

American Indian Traditional Ceremonial Practices As A Potential Community-Informed Intervention Against Problem Substance Use, D'Shane Barnett, Julie Cahoon, Jeffery Peterson

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

The impacts of historical and intergenerational trauma on American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN) are widely documented. While the rate of lifetime alcohol use for AIANs is lower than that of non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), AIAN individuals continue to report the highest rates of heavy alcohol and illicit drug use for any racial or ethnic group in the United States. In response to this trend, substance use programming for AIAN populations will often draw from evidence-based practices (EBP) developed for mostly non-AIAN populations. Sometimes, these EBPs are then adapted to integrate cultural approaches to decrease alcohol and illicit drug use in …

Health, Land, And Heritage: Understanding Montana Suicide Through Culture, Emory C. Padgett

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

From Norman Maclean’s A River Runs Through It (1976) to the popular series Yellowstone, stories loom large in Montana, and their use goes beyond entertainment. Stories about the state are informative in understanding Montana culture and heritage because the myths, perspectives, and truths revealed through literature, art, and television are closely intertwined with the memories and values of its people; in an ongoing feedback, stories simultaneously originate in lived experience and actively shape experiences. Grounded in this cultural significance, I use media as an ethnographic lens through which to study social change in rural Montana, which has faced economic …

Happy Schools: Examining A Psychoeducational Curriculum And Small Group Intervention For High School Students, Dylan Wright, Lillian Martz

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Poor mental health is a growing problem among youth in schools. More than one in three high school students report experiencing persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness and one in six youth report making a suicide plan in the past year (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2019). The COVID19 pandemic has only exacerbated mental health challenges in youth; with emergency rooms reporting a 30% increase in pediatric suicide attempts beginning in 2020 (CDC, 2021). Now more than ever, mental health support and preventative efforts are needed to bolster positive mental health and prevent mental health crises.

Positive Psychology, …

A Novel Lens To Examine The American West, Megan Moore

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Collective memory is a useful lens to examine post-industrial communities in the American West as they face transitions. Collective memory is formed by individuals in groups or communities who have shared memories, which contribute to their identity. Collective memories can exist in various mediums, including but not limited to public symbols, conversations, traditions, rituals, or texts. Research has examined collective memory in post-industrial mining communities to elucidate how it impacts the desire to embrace change, the ability to envision a new future, or connections to the landscape. Anaconda is a rural town located in southwest Montana with a legacy of …

Predicting Huckleberry Habitat Using Species Distribution Models, Rebekah Brassfield

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Geographic distribution of plants and animals is determined by a variety of overlapping habitat factors like soil type, elevation, or canopy cover. Understanding the complicated interactions between these factors and the impacts they have on species’ distributions is increasingly important in the face of changing environments and climates. Species distribution models (SDM) measure the importance of habitat variables in determining the spatial distribution of certain species. Because SDMs include a variety of habitat variables, they can be used to answer questions about habitat suitability, predict future distributions, and inform conservation efforts.

Huckleberries (Vaccinium spp.) are a common understory …

Beaver Dam Analogs (Bdas) Alter Carbon Pools And Fluxes In Intermountain Headwater Streams, Hilary Schultz

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

The use of Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) is a widely adopted, low-cost stream restoration technique that mimics the structure and function of natural beaver dams. Analogous to beaver dams, BDAs restore the stream’s connectivity with its floodplain by increasing water residence time and facilitating sediment retention in the stream channel. Greater connectivity afforded by BDAs is expected to drive changes in carbon pools and fluxes in ways similar to those in active beaver meadows where beaver engineering causes landscape-scale C storage but also releases the greenhouse gasses CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere. It is assumed that carbon storage in …

Perceived Efficacy Of School Violence Prevention Programs And School Climate In Rural Schools, Jennifer Rotzal

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

School violence has been of great concern to policy makers and school professionals for the past several decades. During the 2015-16 school year, 79 percent of public schools reported that one or more incidents of violence, theft, or other crimes had taken place on school grounds, amounting to 1.4 million crimes (Zhang et al., 2016). Schools have reported the most common form of violence being physical fights and threats, which accounted for over 50 percent of disciplinary violations (Cornell, 2017). There are numerous school violence prevention programs implemented across the nation; however, despite knowing how events of violence negatively affect …

Cfac Research Project: Expanding Double Snap Dollars Equitably, Andrew T. Besser

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

The Community Food and Agriculture Coalition (CFAC) is a local Missoula nonprofit that works to grow a healthy food community and make food accessible for all. CFAC coordinates Double SNAP Dollars (DSD), a program since 2015 that allows eligible Montanans to double their benefit dollars from SNAP to purchase fresh and local food. CFAC’s Equity and Growth Subcommittee is currently looking to expand the DSD program in Montana equitably after receiving a grant from the USDA. This report used data on counties within Montana to determine areas of priority for DSD expansion based on SNAP participation, percentage of population over …

The Influence Of Metal Contamination On The Fishery Of The Upper Clark Fork River, Montana, Usa, Taylor Gold Quiros

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Historical mining and mineral processing have led to heavy metal contamination in the flood-plain of the Upper Clark Fork River of western Montana. This contamination has acted as a long-term stressor on the river and its inhabitants, the effects of which can be seen in changes in fish populations along the river's gradient of decreasing metal concentration with distance from the mining source. Understanding the relationships between stressors and ecological responses is essential for management and restoration goals pertaining to ecosystems negatively affected by anthropogenic activities. This study analyzed population distribution of salmonid species based on long-term monitoring and recent …

Does Diversification In The Face Of Increased Climate Risks Depend On Individual Risk Preferences? Evidence From Rondônia, Brazil, Brenna Y. Swinger

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Risk exposure and risk management are inherent to smallholder farmers and their activities. One of the larger risks farmers are facing is climate change. Climate change decreases rainfall, increases frequency of drought, adds heat stress to crops from higher temperatures, and leads to higher variability in rainfall. The threat of rainfall variability causes higher production in some years and lower production in others. Even if the average income remains the same year to year, people that tend to be risk averse don’t like the uncertainty. This will be particularly true if they don’t have a safety net to help them …

A Solution To An Open Problem In Random Graph Theory, John Finlay

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

In Graph Theory we describe an object called a graph G(V,E) which is a set of vertices, V, and the set of edges, E, between the vertices. Practically any type of system which can be described by a network, such as the interaction between neurons in the brain, the connections within a crime ring, or species migration between islands in the South Pacific, can be modeled at some level by a graph. Within theoretical mathematics they provide an enormous field of study in combinatorics with applications in geometry, number theory, and probability.

One graph model we explore in our research …

“Two Weeks Away:” How Montana Farmers Adapt To Drought, Austin Schuver

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

In Montana, farmers may use phrases like “drought is always two weeks away” to describe the inevitable and uncertain impacts of weather and climate on their operations. Better understanding how farmers are affected by and can (or cannot) adapt to both present day and future impacts is a burgeoning area of social science research. One part of adaptation includes farmers’ material changes—the “things” that enable (or constrain) adaptation—including crop selection, machinery, and inputs. Another part is non-material factors—the “ideas” that enable (or constrain) adaptation—including farmers’ use of climate information, their ability to overcome barriers, and how they weigh the tradeoffs …

Q Methodology: An Underutilized And Powerful Approach To The Scientific Study Of Beliefs And Values, Adrienne Tauses

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Social scientists often utilize either qualitative or quantitative methodology to study the human experience through gathering information or data on human behavior. This leads to insights into how we view individuals, learn about relationships, ways people make decisions, and relationships between beliefs and behaviors. One overlooked and underused dynamic methodology is the Q method. Q methodology offers a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods that accurately provides a unique way of gathering, sorting, and studying the values and beliefs of participant (Watts, & Stenner, 2005). The following presentation overviews the purpose, history, and practical application of the Q methodology. Examples …

Indian Treaty-Based Climate Change Claims: Legal Strategies To Advance Tribal Sovereignty & Hold Government Accountable For The Climate Crisis, Kirsten D. Gerbatsch

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Climate change is an existential threat facing all of humanity, disproportionately threatening the very existence of American Indian tribes. Around the globe, citizens, states, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations are suing to hold their governments accountable for climate-related commitments and climate change impacts. To date, however, no Indian tribe has directly used its trust relationship nor treaty rights to hold the United States government accountable for climate change harms to land, water, wildlife habitat, or cultural resources.

Yet, Indian tribes are uniquely situated to do so. Unlike other plaintiffs, tribes have, since time immemorial, occupied lands and relied on natural resources …

Montana Kaimin, March 3, 2022, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Sb90_21-22_Resolution Adding The Asum Bear Necessities Agency To Personnel Policy, Noah Durnell

Senate Resolutions, 2007-Present

SB90_21-22_Resolution Adding the ASUM Bear Necessities Agency to Personnel Policy. This resolution passed unanimously during the March 2, 2022 meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM).

Sb90-21/22-Resolution Adding The Asum Bear Necessities Agency To Personnel Policy, Noah Durnell

Senate Resolutions, 2007-Present

SB90-21/22-Resolution Adding the ASUM Bear Necessities Agency to Personnel Policy. This resolution passed unanimously during the March 2, 2022 meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM).

Documents From The March 2, 2022 Meeting Of The Associated Students Of The University Of Montana (Asum), University Of Montana--Missoula. Associated Students

Senate Meeting Agendas and Minutes, 2007-Present

Agenda and minutes from the March 2, 2022 meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM). The following resolutions were discussed:

SB90-21/22: Resolution Adding the ASUM Bear Necessities Agency to Personnel Policy

SB91-21/22: Resolution Amending the ASUM Constitution Clarifying Ballot Referenda and Initiatives

March 2022 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Montana Travel Experience Survey, 2021 Interim Report, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This preliminary report summarizes select findings from the nonresident 2021- 2022 Montana Travel Experience Survey. Through the end of 2021, 866 surveys were collected. Questions included topics related to visitors’ use of public lands, trip planning, and questions for first time and repeat visitors. Some highlights are summarized here.

Montana Voices Amplified: My Perspective: Planning For Crisis – Benefits Of A Family Safety Plan, Elizabeth Cummings, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

Crisis can be a part of many families’ experiences, including those with a loved one with special needs. It can be hard to talk about, and too often a source of shame or stigma. Like many other families, mine has experienced a crisis, so I understand the challenges as well as the need to discuss the subject. The hard part is knowing where to start.

Montana Residents: Attitudes Towards Tourism 2021, Carter Bermingham, Megan Schultz, Matthew Pettigrew

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

Since 1992, ITRR has asked residents questions specific to their attitudes towards tourism during the 4th quarter of each year as a way of tracking the current trends in perception towards the industry.

This study was conducted to continue tracking the perception of the tourism industry in Montana, as well as expanding the original survey to include topics such as the perceived economic benefit tourism provides to local communities, crowding at the local community level, and the impact COVID-19 has had on residents comfort level in welcoming visitors to their community in addition to their own willingness to travel outside …

Gli Weekly, February 28, 2022, Franke Global Leadership Initiative

GLI Weekly

Beatrix Frissell: Truman Finalist -- First Takes: Russia and Ukraine -- Montana World Affairs Council Roundtable Discussion: Germany's relationship with Montana and current events in German -- Montana World Affairs Council Roundtable Discussion: Working for Peace through Legacies of War: The Case of Vietnam -- Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium 2022

Preview; Daniels V. Gallatin County: Increased Liability As A Result Of Excess Insurance, Samuel Doxzon

Montana Law Review Online

No abstract provided.

Sb89-21/22-Resolution Calling For The Immediate Resignation Of Clayton Looney, Lauren O'Neill, Jorgia Hawthorne, Margaret Bell, Emma Kiefer, Ajaysia Hill

Senate Resolutions, 2007-Present

SB89-21/22-Resolution Calling for the Immediate Resignation of Clayton Looney. This resolution passed 19Y-1N-0A during the February 27, 2022 meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM).