Digital Commons Network^™

Cardiomegaly As A Risk Factor For Hemorrhagic Stroke: A Cadaveric Case Study, Erica L. Parker, Brayton C. Myers, Alexander F. Capello, Grace E. Bang, Anuksha A. Gotmare, Diana Petrucello

Research Day

INTRODUCTION:

This case study examines the gross cardiac morphology of a 66-year-old male with a history of heart disease whose cause of death was hemorrhagic stroke, with emphasis on correlating cardiac structural changes with systemic vascular disease and cerebrovascular outcome.

METHODS:

Gross anatomical dissection of the thoracic cavity was performed. Cardiac measurements included transverse width and thickness ventricular walls. The width of the thoracic cavity was also measured to assess proportional cardiac size. Measurements and photographs were taken to document.

RESULTS:

Gross examination revealed increased ventricular wall thickness relative to expected adult reference ranges, and the myocardium appeared diffusely thickened …

Calvarial Lesions In A Cadaver With Metastatic Osteosarcoma: A Case Study And Differential Diagnoses, Madelyn N. France, Louis G. Deavers, Shelley Dicecco

Research Day

Introduction

This case study aims to investigate suspicious bony lesions on the calvarium of a 22-year-old cadaver whose cause of death was reported to be respiratory failure/metastatic osteosarcoma. Respiratory failure, left total femur replacement, and evidence of metastasis to the lungs raise suspicion for widespread metastatic disease. This case study aims to investigate the observed lesions and review potential differential diagnoses for the bony skull-based lesions observed in this cadaver.

Methods

A right-sided frontotemporal protrusion was identified on examination of the cadaver’s face and head during gross anatomy lab. Further dissection revealed erythematous, thickened bony lesions localized to the right …

Exblifep, A New Antibacterial For The Treatment Of Urinary Tract Infections And Pyelonephritis, Olivia Wilcock, Leonard Clark, Shashidharamurthy Taval, Vicky Mody

Research Day

Antibiotic resistance is an ever-present threat that demands constant innovations in order to treat urinary tract infections and pyelonephritis. Bacteria are known to develop various adaptations in order to evade eradication by antibiotic agents. In this project we have reviewed, Exblifep, one of the newer drugs that have been developed to target resistant bacteria. Exblifep, a combination of cefepime with enmetazobactam. Cefepime is a fourth-generation cephalosporin that contains a cephem nucleus and a side chain with a quaternary amine. It is considered a broad-spectrum antibiotic whose coverage includes most gram-negative bacteria and some gram positives, including MSSA and streptococcus spp. …

Denervation Injuries In The Lower Limbs: A Cadaver-Based Case Study, Gavin G. Scott, Kedarnath Malapati, Rohan S. Patel, Ethan M. Cook, Atharva M. Athalye, Jordan E. Pullins, Mackwan Sringam, Rishab Prakash, Shelley Dicecco

Research Day

INTRODUCTION: Denervation injuries result from an interruption of the neural input necessary for the normal contraction and maintenance of skeletal muscle. Without proper innervation, skeletal muscles atrophy and are replaced by adipose and fibrous tissue. Prolonged denervation can result in gross anatomical changes, such as reduced muscle mass, muscle pallor, and fatty tissue replacement, which are easily observed during dissection of the cadaveric body. This case presents bilateral muscular degeneration of the lower extremities observed in a 98-year-old cadaveric donor.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objectives of this case study are to document the gross anatomical findings associated with chronic denervation in …

Social Power, Moral Inhibition, And Risk-Taking: A Theory-Driven Review Of The Approach–Inhibition Framework, Samantha Loitsch, Ishaa Dubey, Shari N. Allen

Research Day

INTRODUCTION: The approach–inhibition theory of power proposes that perceived social power changes how people tend to process information by increasing approach tendencies (such as reward pursuit and automatic cognition) while decreasing inhibition tendencies (such as threat monitoring and controlled processing). These changes can thereby influence a person’s emotions, thinking, and behavior (Keltner, Gruenfeld, & Anderson, 2003). Extensive meta-analytic work in moral psychology shows that moral disengagement – where individuals justify or minimize harmful actions – is strongly linked to transgressive and antisocial behavior, and that both personal and environmental factors influence this relationship (Luo & Bussey, 2023). This suggests that …

I’M Going To Disney World: Regenerative Injection Therapy(Regenexx) Enabling Functional Recovery In Chronic Ankle Dorsiflexion, Marzena Buzanowska, Kévin Borgella

Research Day

Chronic foot drop, weakness or inability to dorsiflex the ankle and toes. Gait deficits such as this can originate from issues in the motor pathway of the cerebral cortex or from injury to peripheral nerves that innervate the foot musculature. The most common cause is L5 radiculopathy and peroneal nerve injury, but can also include lumbar herniation, spinal stenosis, and degenerative nerve diseases. Physical therapy has been the fundamental means of treating this issue with a focus on muscle strengthening, adjusting gait patterns and engaging the mechanisms of neural plasticity to improve muscle activation. In lieu of these methods, Ankle-foot …

Hepatomegaly In Cadaver Dissection: Clinical Correlations And Preventative Implications, Teralan Hobson-Matthews, Selena Berry, Toby Cisco, Thomas Nguyen, Chloe Phillips, Diana Petrucello

Research Day

Introduction: Hepatomegaly is an objective finding associated with various pathophysiologies. Some of the most common sources of hepatomegaly in the United States include fatty liver and cirrhosis. We performed a routine cadaveric dissection on a 71-year-old truck driver that passed from respiratory failure with a history of tobacco abuse and lung malignancies. During the dissection, the patient was found to have an enlarged liver. This case study explored possible etiologies of the patient's hepatomegaly. This research provided insight into comorbidities and prevention for complex patients like this case.

Methods: Measurements of the liver were obtained in the horizontal, vertical, and …

The Affect Of Technology On Parenting Toddlers, Ashia Cannon

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Mining Bacterial Genome: Identifying Unkown Bacterial Immune Systems, Mason Z. Mazzola

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Bacterial viruses, called bacteriophages, constitute a major threat to bacteria, driving a vast evolutionary arms race three billion years in the making. Out of this arms race bacteria have developed numerous types of bacterial immune systems varying in levels of complexity. The most notable bacterial immune system, CRISPR-Cas, is a suite of bacterial proteins which have enabled life-saving technologies through gene-editing and revolutionized biological research. CRISPR is only one of hundreds of anti-phage immune systems, most of which remain undiscovered. Since antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens is rising, one solution to the crisis is using phages to kill pathogenic bacteria. …

Multimodal Comparison Of Electrical, Structural, And Functional Brain Connectivity, Braelyn A. Hewitt-Holbein, Sarah Bethea, Kellan Stempin, Jose Carmona-Sanchez

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This project examines how relationships among brain regions can be characterized through two complementary perspectives of connectivity: structural connectivity measured with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional connectivity measured with resting-state fMRI.

The central question is how signals recorded at electrodes in one region may relate to signals at electrodes in other regions through the combined influence of anatomical pathways and coordinated neural activity. Understanding these relationships is important for improving interpretation of electrophysiological recordings and for clarifying how different definitions of “connectivity” capture distinct aspects of brain organization.

To address this question, the project compares electrode-by-electrode correlation (or similarity) …

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 …

Using Herbarium Specimens To Morphologically Delineate Three Western Phlox Species, Jack Hager

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Using Herbarium Specimens to Morphologically Delineate Three Western Phlox Species

Jack Hager, Meredith Zettlemoyer

Western Phlox are incredibly ecologically diverse, found in a variety of habitats spanning deserts, sagebrush, and mountains. The genus contains around 65 unique species, often with overlapping trait variation that makes morphological delineation difficult. Phlox missoulensis is an endemic cushion plant species found only in the Missoula Valley; it occupies lower-elevation, windy, arid ridgelines that mimic alpine conditions. Two other Phlox species found nearby,  Phlox kelseyi and Phlox pulvinata, occupy overlapping ecological niches. P. kelseyi is found in wetlands spanning from valleys to montane environments at …

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 …

Testing Queer Theory: Body Image Diversity In Lesbian/Bisexual And Heterosexual Women’S Social Media Content, Johnathon E. Byrd, Cara S. Brauen

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Queer and feminist theory explore the concept of the “male gaze”, referencing the social expectations placed on women’s bodies to conform to the socially constructed expectations of how women should look and act to be more “appealing” to men. Queer theory discusses the way that Lesbian and Bisexual women “de-center” men in their lives and move away from this expectation to conform to the male gaze. In turn, this distance from the male gaze allows for more diverse representation of appearance in body size, clothing, and age as they reject the concept of needing to appeal to men.

This qualitative …

Effects Of Invasive Spotted Knapweed On Native Pollinator Foraging Behavior In Glacier National Park, Dean Sheldon

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Invasive species can often reduce native species’ performance. Competition for pollinators between native and invasive species can decrease pollination and reproduction of native plants. However, the effects of invasive species on competition for pollination may be complex. Invasive species that form large, dense populations with high numbers of flowers and copious rewards may attract more pollinators. In this case, invaders can either draw pollinators away from native plants or can increase pollinator visitation to native plants by attracting pollinators that otherwise would not have visited. Few studies examine how invasive species compete vs. facilitate pollinator services for native species. We …

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 …

Passenger Rail For Montana College Students Survey, Emmi Highness, Elizabeth Kamminga

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The objective of this survey is to collect data to inform the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA) about college student perspectives on passenger rail. BSPRA is the main organization in Montana advocating for the reinstatement of the Big Sky North Coast Corridor (formerly called the North Coast Hiawatha) passenger rail line, which would span from Chicago to Seattle and/or Portland with 10 to 12 stops in southern Montana and an additional 30 to 40 stops in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Through our research, we determined that Montana university students are an under-informed demographic about …

The Risks And Benefits Of Spaying And Neutering Your Dog, Laci Bernosky

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Spaying and neutering dogs is one of the first decisions pet owners make after acquiring a dog. It is a large component of what is understood to be responsible pet ownership in the US over the past 60 years, due to its great elimination of unwanted animals, reducing how many are euthanized each year in shelters from overcrowding. However, there has been research, mostly in the past 20 years, re-evaluating the benefits and bringing to light the costs dogs can pay from being spayed or neutered. This paper examines the health and behavioral effects of spaying and neutering dogs. The …

Coactivator Self-Oligomerization Through Auc, Anna Stensrud, Ephraim Mortenson, Borries Demeler, Nicholas Oconnor, Reece Lott, Travis Hughes

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Coregulator proteins bind to nuclear receptors, thereby modulating transcription activity. Coregulators are required by these nuclear receptors for efficient transcriptional regulation. [2] The equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of coregulator proteins to nuclear receptors can be measured in solution using techniques such as isothermal calorimetry (ITC) and fluorescence anisotropy (FA). Coregulators' ability to self associate is relevant in how nuclear receptors are activated. Furthermore, self-association of coregulators comprises the modeling reliability of ITC and FA data, thus introducing errors into ITC and FA data. [3].

The Hughes Lab has purified various coregulator proteins to be used for in vitro experimentation.

Using …

Head Size Allometry Supports Differences In Digging Ability Between Sexes In A Semi-Fossorial Lizard, Gwendalyn Thompson, David Tevs

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

In lizards, sexual dimorphism in head shape has commonly been studied from a male perspective, with larger heads being associated with greater fighting ability during male-on-male combat or for displaying colored throats. However, reductions in overall head size and length are also associated with adaptation to a fossorial lifestyle. Consequently we hypothesize that reduced female head size in sub-surface nesting lizards may also confer greater digging ability and provide greater freedom when selecting suitable nest sites. We collected western skinks (Plestiodon skilontianus) by turning rocks on dry-pine slopes in the Bitterroot National Forest (Montana, USA). For each lizard, we recorded …

Soil Pyrogenic Carbon Response And Redistribution Under Shortening Wildfire Intervals, Jacob Baldner, Dalton Brantley, Declan Clark, Kimberley Davis

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Over the past century, wildfires have become more frequent and severe across North America's conifer forests. Although high-severity fire is ecologically integral to subalpine lodgepole pine ecosystems, shortened fire return intervals, compared to historical variability, have altered vegetation structure and composition.  This has been well documented, as have many other aboveground ecological processes, including those related to carbon pools.  However, the effect of shortening intervals on belowground processes and pools, such as pyrogenic carbon (PyC), is poorly understood.  While repeated fire is generally associated with declines in soil organic C, responses of pyrogenic carbon (PyC)—a thermally transformed and decomposition-resistant C …

Exploring Dental Health Behaviors And Access To Care At The University Of Montana, Kylee J. Bridges

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Oral health is a very important part of everyone's health. But regular dental care is often overlooked among college students. This project explores how frequently college students visit the dentist and identifies the barriers that prevent them from receiving routine dental care. Young adulthood and coming into college is a transitional period that explores new independence, and financial responsibility. These things may influence health related behaviors, including dental care utilization. The research question of this study is: How frequently do college students visit the dentist, and what barriers contribute to irregular dental visits?

To address this question, a cross sectional, …

Company Data At Risk: The Case Against Unified Search, Corbin D. Heser Rayl

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The average modern enterprise uses hundreds of disconnected Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications, leading to a problem known as SaaS sprawl. SaaS sprawl leads to the fragmentation of data, which makes it difficult to locate files, increases the potential to use outdated versions of files, and causes an overall loss in productivity and workplace inefficiencies. To combat this, platforms like Dropbox, Microsoft, Google, and Glean are developing AI-powered unified search engines. These tools utilize natural language processing to index cross-platform files, allowing employees to instantly retrieve context-aware answers from a centralized hub.

However, this project argues that unified search engines currently present …

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 …

Defining How Adrenergic Receptors May Translate Gut Nutrient Signals ​ Into Starvation Resistance And Fecundity, Calvin W. Orser

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Calvin Orser1, Emily Gagliano, Sarah J Certel2

Research on the gut-brain axis is a major focus in biology because the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system communicate continuously. This bidirectional signaling helps organisms maintain homeostasis by relaying information from the gut to the brain and shaping innate behaviors such as feeding and reproduction. The adrenergic, “fight or flight”, system has emerged as a key component of this signaling. Adrenergic receptors are expressed in multiple gut epithelial cell types, including enteroendocrine cells (EEs), the main secretory cells of the gut, which synthesize and release the neuropeptides that can communicate with the …

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 …

Ear Differences And Working Memory, Taci Lane Watkins

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Title: Ear Differences and Working Memory

Introduction: Previous research has demonstrated performance differences between the right and left ears on auditory perception tasks, suggesting a right ear advantage in auditory processing and speech perception. The present study investigated whether such ear-related differences extend beyond perception into the cognitive domain of working memory, specifically during tasks that require the manipulation and recall of verbal information.

Methods: Twenty-four right-handed adults (ages 18–30) with normal hearing completed backward digit span tasks under three listening conditions: right ear, left ear, and binaural presentation. Stimuli consisted of digit sequences ranging from three to eight numbers. …

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 …