Digital Commons Network^™

Bioh 105n.H52: Basic Human Biology Laboratory, Eric Gren

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2026-2030

No abstract provided.

Biob 567.01: Molecular Analysis Of Development, Ekaterina Voronina

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2026-2030

No abstract provided.

Bioo 335.00: Rocky Mountain Flora, Lila Fishman

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2026-2030

No abstract provided.

Anty 601.02: Research Design & Proposal Preparation, Anna M. Prentiss

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2026-2030

No abstract provided.

The Promise Of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Stress-Reduction Strategy For Testicular Cancer Survivors' Health-Related Quality Of Life, Michael J. Rovito, Colin F. Mahony, Kamalie Thomas, Keith Brazendale, Ciaran Fairman Ph.D., Cscs, Cet

Faculty Publications

Background: Testicular cancer (TC) disproportionately affects younger men and carries unique psychosocial and physiological consequences that extend well beyond treatment. Despite favorable survival rates, TC survivors frequently report diminished health-related quality of life (HRQoL). These burdens are often compounded by masculinity-related identity disruptions, fear of recurrence, sexual dysfunction, and a lack of tailored psychosocial support. Existing interventions remain limited, with most programs focused on physical rehabilitation or early detection. Few address the multidimensional stressors that shape the TC survivorship experience.

Aims: This narrative review examines the literature on HRQoL among TC survivors and evaluates the potential of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) …

How To Measure, Analyze, And Interpret Age-Related Changes In Caenorhabditis Elegans: Lessons For Mechanistic And Evolutionary Theories Of Aging, Zuzana Kocsisova, Brian M. Egan, Andrea Scharf, Xavier Anderson, Franziska Pohl, Aaron Anderson, Kerry Kornfeld

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Aging is characterized by progressive degenerative changes in tissue organization and function, some of which increase the probability of mortality. Major goals of aging research are to elucidate the series of events that cause degenerative changes, and to identify environmental, pharmacological, and genetic factors that influence these changes; this information might lead to new strategies to extend health span and lifespan. Mechanistic studies of aging depend on accurate and precise descriptions of age-related changes, since these descriptions define the aging phenotype. Here, we review studies that describe age-related changes in C. elegans, including measurements of integrated functions such as behavior …

Numerical Investigation Of A Dual-Mode Shape Memory Alloy Stent Enabling Secondary Expansion Via Focused Ultrasound: A Potential Strategy For Correcting In-Stent Restenosis, Stephen Asare, Lucinda Duncan, Josiah Owusu-Danquah, Brian L. Davis

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Coronary stent implantation is an invasive procedure performed to correct atherosclerosis. The aftermath of this procedure is identified with neointimal hyperplasia, which contributes to in-stent restenosis (ISR), and thus remains a significant clinical challenge. This study introduces a novel, noninvasive conceptual approach for addressing ISR through the thermal activation of shape memory alloy (SMA) stent using focused ultrasound (FU) in a controlled manner to restore luminal patency. COMSOL Multiphysics and ABAQUS finite element software were employed to perform the numerical modeling to simulate the thermal and mechanical responses of the SMA stent integrated into the arterial wall. After 15 s …

The Role Of C-Terminal Crosslinking Telopeptide Of Type Ii Collagen (Ctx-Ii) After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review., Ali Naderi, S Ali Ghasemi, Andrea Fabregas, Gene Shaffer, James Raphael

Orthopedic Surgery Resident Research

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are known to accelerate cartilage degradation and predispose patients to early-onset osteoarthritis. C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II), a biomarker of cartilage breakdown, can be detected in various body fluids, including urine, offering a non-invasive method for evaluating cartilage degeneration. This systematic review aimed to assess existing evidence on urinary CTX-II (uCTX-II) levels following ACL reconstruction (ACLR). A systematic search of two medical databases was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies were screened for inclusion based on their assessment of CTX-II in human subjects undergoing ACLR, and methodological quality was evaluated using …

Rectal Adenocarcinoma Presenting As Full-Thickness Prolapse With External Haemorrhoids: Case Report., Samantha Temucin, Sean Singh, Valerie Bauer, Roy Sandau

General Surgery Resident Research

We present a case of a 51-year-old male with a colonic adenocarcinoma that presented as a full-thickness rectal prolapse with external haemorrhoids. This patient had no significant medical or surgical history and presented to the emergency department with a rectal prolapse which had become incarcerated and increasingly painful over the previous 2 weeks. A computed tomography (CT) abdomen and pelvis appeared benign, demonstrating a full-thickness rectal prolapse with no definite rectal mass. A colonoscopy was performed, revealing anterior rectal mucosal edema, fibrosis, and a possible mass. This prompted the patient to be taken to the operating room for a low …

Bch 482.01: Advanced Biochemistry Ii, J. Stephen Lodmell

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2026-2030

No abstract provided.

Insomnia In Stimulant Use Disorders: Prevalence And Associations With Negative Affect, Isabella G Bourtin, Constanza De Dios, Jessica Vincent, Joy M Schmitz, Scott D Lane, Heather E Webber

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Research suggests that sleep disturbances are common among people who use psychostimulants, including cocaine use and methamphetamine use. These sleep disturbances hinder recovery, heighten relapse risk, and worsen physical and mental health outcomes. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and severity of insomnia among individuals who use cocaine and methamphetamine and to explore potential psychological factors that are associated with more severe insomnia. The sample included participants who completed in-person screening assessments for ongoing studies at an outpatient research clinic. As a part of this screening, participants completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and validated assessments of psychological domains …

Lc-Ms/Ms Method Development For The Analysis Of Cannabinoids In Wastewater, Abigail M. Castellanos, Ava La Lande

The Kean Review: Journal in Student Research

The goal of this research was to establish a reliable method to detect the presence of cannabinoids in wastewater and increase the sensitivity of detection. Since the legalization of cannabis in many states, toxicology research has expanded on methods of detection in hopes of identifying usage patterns. At the Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties, it was established that cannabinoids are not thoroughly accounted for in the process of filtering wastewater in addition to our limited understanding of consumption trends. This stands true for many wastewater facilities, especially as the intake of cannabis remains prevalent for various populations across …

Fisheries Management Paper No. 311: West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean Resource Harvest Strategy, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Harvest strategies for Western Australia’s (WA) aquatic resources are formal documents developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, the Department) to support decision-making processes that ensure the outcomes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002a) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2012). Harvest strategies are a key component of all contemporary fishery management systems and a requirement for certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objectives of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA).

This West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean …

Dean's Research Newsletter, February 2026, Neil W. Schluger

SOM Dean's Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Variation In Antiviral Immunity And Inflammation Pathways Precedes Hiv-1 Infection In A High-Risk African Cohort, Mwikali Kioko, Shaban Mwangi, Lynn Fwambah, Amin Hassan, Jason Blackard, Philip Bejon, Eduard Sanders, Thumbi Ndung’U, Eunice Nduati, Abdirahman Abdi

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

BACKGROUND. Susceptibility to HIV-1 infection varies between individuals, but the biological determinants of acquisition risk remain poorly defined.

METHODS. We conducted a case-control study nested within a high-risk cohort in Kenya. We compared the plasma extracellular RNA collected before HIV-1 acquisition with that from matched uninfected individuals acting as controls to identify immunological processes linked to infection risk.

RESULTS. Individuals who later acquired HIV-1 exhibited upregulation of immune processes that facilitate viral infection, including T cell suppression and type II IFN and Th2 immune responses. In contrast, processes associated with antiviral defence and tissue repair, such as …

An Itpr1 Variant In The Ip3-Itpr1 Binding Pocket Associated With A Clinical Phenotype Of Athetoid Cerebral Palsy., Thania Ordaz, Jagadish Chandrabose Sundaramurthi, Adam S Arterbery, Anita M Bagley, Michael A Gargano, Jeremy P Bauer, Daniel Danis, Philip Giampietro, Ellen Raney, Lauren Rekerle, Mallory Shingle, Jon R Davids, Peter N Robinson

Faculty Research 2026

A de novo, missense variant in ITPR1-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 (ITPR1), p.(Tyr567Cys), was identified by trio whole-genome sequencing in an individual diagnosed with Spinocerebellar ataxia 29 (SCA29) who was affected by cerebral palsy and global developmental delay. The variant affects a residue involved in Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-ITPR1 binding. Genotype-Phenotype correlation analysis of the set of missense variants affecting nine residues involved in IP3-ITPR1 binding in the current case and 170 reports of individuals with ITPR1 variants showed a significantly higher frequency of phenotypic features related to neurodevelopmental delay in these variants than in other ITPR1 variants. Our proband was …

Elevated Serum Lipopolysaccharides And Intrinsic Factor Autoantibodies Correlate With Macrocytic Anemia Among People With Hiv, Daniel Amakye, Samuel Hammond, Osbourne Quaye, Upal Roy, Peter Puplampu, Vincent Ganu, Emmanuel Ayitey Tagoe

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with various comorbidities, including macrocytic anemia, though the role of the infection is unclear. HIV has been implicated in microbial translocation and altered immune responses. This study aimed to establish the relationship between gut microbial translocation and immune response, and macrocytic anemia among people with HIV (PWH).

Materials and methods: Fifty-five PWH on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) were age-matched with 55 HIV-negative individuals. Demographic data and blood samples were collected from February to July 2023. Hematological indices, including red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin concentration, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), were measured. …

Flow State As A Counter Measure Against Cognitive Decline: What Counselors Should Know, Isaac Burt

Adultspan Journal

This perspective article explores the utilization of the neuroscience concept of flow state for therapeutic usage with older adult populations. Operationally defined, flow state is an altered state of consciousness (ASOC) that emerges when a person engages in an activity or endeavor. Once engrossed within this physical or cognitive undertaking, the person performs at their best (optimal) while expressing a feeling of joy and/or extreme satisfaction. To attain a flow state, there are several neurobiological mechanisms people must undergo. Due to beliefs that quality of life cannot increase in late adulthood, many older adults stop engaging in flow state activities. …

International Governance Of Ocean Iron Fertilization Research: A Case Study Of The Proposed Exploring Ocean Iron Solutions Field Experiments, Ashwin Murthy, Romany M. Webb

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

Ocean iron fertilization (OIF) has been a subject of scientific research since the 1980s. The primary international legal instruments regulating OIF are the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention or LC) and the 1996 Protocol to that Convention (London Protocol or LP). To guide regulation of research activities, under the LC and LP, the Assessment Framework was developed.

To demonstrate how domestic regulators might use the Assessment Framework, this paper explores its application to recently proposed OIF field trials advanced by the Exploring Ocean Iron Solutions (ExOIS) research consortium. …

Nrn1 As A Therapeutic Target For Alzheimer's Disease., Derian A Pugh, Gregory Cary, Kelsey M Greathouse, Lauren C Nassour-Caswell, Emma L Hobby, Nicholas T Seyfried, Jeremy H Herskowitz

Faculty Research 2026

INTRODUCTION: Neuritin-1 (NRN1) was identified as a synaptic protein associated with cognitive resilience to Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS: Target risk score and cell type expression profiles were generated for NRN1 using methods developed by the Emory-Sage-SGC-JAX Target Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer's Disease (TREAT-AD) Center and Seattle Alzheimer's Disease Brain Cell Atlas (SEA-AD). Antibody characterization was conducted using Western blots and densitometry to assess the relative protein abundances of NRN1 in rodents, humans, and cell models.

RESULTS: NRN1 has a TREAT-AD target risk score of 3.29 out of 5. Based on single-nucleus RNA sequencing from SEA-AD, NRN1 expression …

Beyond The Streetlight: A Treat-Ad Perspective On Where To Find New Alzheimer's Targets., Gregory Cary, Jesse C Wiley, Gregory W. Carter, Allan I Levey

Faculty Research 2026

Despite extensive investments in Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapeutic development, progress toward effective interventions remains modest. The landscape of potential novel therapeutic strategies is rapidly growing, but prioritization, validation, and tools to advance targets to trial are lagging. The Target Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer's Disease (TREAT-AD) consortium has integrated systems-level data from large-scale studies profiling thousands of human brains, yielding target-specific risk scores that partition disease risk into discrete biological domains and enable data-driven target interrogation. Here, we compared clinical trial targets with top-ranked TREAT-AD targets and found a limited overlap as well as differences in the biology …

International Society Of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Effects Of Dietary Antioxidants On Exercise And Sports Performance, Drew E. Gonzalez, Broderick L. Dickerson, Brandon M. Roberts, Jennifer A. Kurtz, Hunter S. Waldman, Adam M. Gonzalez, Matthew J. Mcallister, Jeffery L. Heileson, Richard J. Bloomer, Shawn M. Arent, Darren G. Candow, Jeffrey R. Stout, Karen A. Hecht, Bill Campbell, Chad Kerksick, Douglas Kalman, Jose Antonio, Richard B. Kreider

Faculty Scholarship

Following a comprehensive review, the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) has developed an official position on the role of dietary antioxidants in exercise and sport. Antioxidants play a complex, context-dependent role in vivo; they can facilitate recovery from exercise but may also hinder training adaptations when consumed at supraphysiological doses. While endogenous antioxidant systems can effectively maintain redox balance, dietary sources, particularly whole foods, can help mitigate excessive oxidative stress following intense/heavy training or inadequate recovery. The influence of dietary antioxidants depend on timing, dosage, type, and individual factors. The ISSN’s official position encompasses the following: (1) Redox balance …

Inflection Points In Academic Career Trajectories: Statistical Modeling And Interactive Visualization, Aicha Malouche

Theses

This thesis examines the temporal structure of academic career trajectories, with a particular focus on identifying non-linear patterns of research productivity and moments of maximum acceleration in scientific impact. Situated within the broader context of bibliometric evaluation, the study responds to long-standing limitations of aggregate and linear career models that obscure heterogeneity across disciplines and national research systems. Drawing on theories of cumulative advantage, life-cycle productivity, and structural stratification, the research seeks to clarify how and when elite researchers experience peak growth in impact over the course of their careers. The study is guided by four research questions: (1) when …

American Kestrel Population Trends And Vital Rates At The Continental Scale, Paige E. Howell, Abigail J. Lawson, Kristin P. Davis, Guthrie S. Zimmerman, Orin J. Robinson, Matthew A. Boggie, Mitchell J. Eaton, Fitsum Abadi, Jessi L. Brown, Julie A. Heath, John A. Smallwood, Karen Steenhof, Ted Swem, Brian W. Rolek, Christopher J.W. Mcclure, Jean Francois Therrien, Karl E. Miller, Brian A. Millsap

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The American kestrel (Falco sparverius, hereafter referred to as kestrel) has declined across much of its North American range since at least the mid-1960s. Kestrel population dynamics have been explored through a multitude of local studies and two broad reviews of available data. Across large geographic extents, however, the demographic cause(s) of kestrel population declines remain(s) largely unknown. As part of a collaborative effort to elucidate the drivers of kestrel population declines, we developed a continental-scale integrated population model using band-recovery data, productivity data, and Breeding Bird Survey indices from 1986 to 2019 to estimate indices of annual population sizes, …

Nrn1 As A Therapeutic Target For Alzheimer's Disease., Derian A Pugh, Gregory Cary, Kelsey M Greathouse, Lauren C Nassour-Caswell, Emma L Hobby, Nicholas T Seyfried, Jeremy H Herskowitz

Faculty Research 2026

INTRODUCTION: Neuritin-1 (NRN1) was identified as a synaptic protein associated with cognitive resilience to Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS: Target risk score and cell type expression profiles were generated for NRN1 using methods developed by the Emory-Sage-SGC-JAX Target Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer's Disease (TREAT-AD) Center and Seattle Alzheimer's Disease Brain Cell Atlas (SEA-AD). Antibody characterization was conducted using Western blots and densitometry to assess the relative protein abundances of NRN1 in rodents, humans, and cell models.

RESULTS: NRN1 has a TREAT-AD target risk score of 3.29 out of 5. Based on single-nucleus RNA sequencing from SEA-AD, NRN1 expression …

Beyond The Streetlight: A Treat-Ad Perspective On Where To Find New Alzheimer's Targets., Gregory Cary, Jesse C Wiley, Gregory W. Carter, Allan I Levey

Faculty Research 2026

Despite extensive investments in Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapeutic development, progress toward effective interventions remains modest. The landscape of potential novel therapeutic strategies is rapidly growing, but prioritization, validation, and tools to advance targets to trial are lagging. The Target Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer's Disease (TREAT-AD) consortium has integrated systems-level data from large-scale studies profiling thousands of human brains, yielding target-specific risk scores that partition disease risk into discrete biological domains and enable data-driven target interrogation. Here, we compared clinical trial targets with top-ranked TREAT-AD targets and found a limited overlap as well as differences in the biology …

Lsab Minutes February 2026, Shawna Battle, Maryke Barber

WRL: Library Student Advisory Board Minutes

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Peripheral Sympathetic Denervation On Phytohemagglutinin (Pha) Induced Cutaneous Swelling In The Hock And Tail Of Mice, Ayusha Pokharel '27, Masyn Naegele '26

Annual Student Research Poster Session

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) carries stress signals directly to the site of injury and activates the immune system via direct neuronal innervation or release of systemic hormones. 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is a neurotoxin that causes denervation of the SNS by eliminating the peripheral nerve terminals, which are responsible for sending the stress signals. The effect of sympathetic denervation on the localized immune response is unexplored in the literature. Therefore, our study aims to investigate the effect of 6-OHDA-induced sympathetic denervation on local inflammation following phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced swelling. Even under resting circumstances, some baseline level of stress is communicated to the …

Investigating The Effects Of Novel Hexylamine Compounds On Hn6 Carcinoma Cell Survival, Lydia Neven '27, Dominic Pittman '26

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Cancer is a broad term encompassing hundreds of distinct diseases, each arising from unique genetic and environmental factors. Because of this diversity, there is a continual need to develop new chemotherapies. Oral cancer, in particular, remains one of the most common cancers worldwide, yet effective therapeutic options for this malignancy remain limited. Although billions of dollars are invested annually in cancer drug discovery in the United States, the process of evaluating and advancing candidate compounds often represents a critical bottleneck, leading many promising therapies to be abandoned before their full potential is understood. In collaboration with the Hansen lab, we …

Impact Of Iron-Bearing Fillers On The Mechanical Strength And Chemical Stability Of Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Matrices Incorporating Rhenium, Sergey Sayenko, Volodymyr Shkuropatenko, Hans Conrad Zur Loye, Petr Vecernik, Monika Kiselova, Vlastislav Kašpar, Vlastimil Miller, Petr Bezdicka, Jan Šubrt, Petra Ecorchard, Natalija Murafa, Iva Milisavljevic, Scott T. Misture

Faculty Publications

We report on the study of the immobilization process of non-radioactive rhenium (Re), a chemical analogue of technetium-99 (⁹⁹Tc), in compounds based on magnesium potassium phosphate (MKP), as well as the possibility of enhancing their properties with iron-bearing additives/fillers. Powdered Re2O7 was used as the initial Re-containing source. Because of the solubility and high leachability of Tc (VII), which is also volatile at high temperatures, its immobilization for long-term storage and disposal poses a serious challenge to researchers. Taking this into account, low-temperature stabilization technology based on MKP, a cementitious material, is currently considered promising. We prepared experimental …