Digital Commons Network^™

Comparing Behavioral And Physiological Methods Of Pain Assessment Used In Veterinary Medicine, Julia Calvi

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

How Poor Classroom Management And Negative Student Behavior Can Impact Student Learning And Teaching Ability, Giuliana Mazzaferro

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

In Process: The Mind Of A Dancer As Seen Through The Eyes Of Ai, William D. Kasheta

Academic Festival

Being one of the most changing forms of art, dance is a construct that grows with the body overtime. This process is one that is personal to every dancer, and one that I wanted to translate for myself. Through the eyes of AI, I was able to create abstract images that represent three stages of my personal process. Notice how each dancer in all three categories looks exactly the same in size, stature, and body type. The eyes of AI prove quite clearly that there is one type of dancer. Therefore, that translates to one process. It is important to …

Clinical Utility Of Melodic Intonation Therapy On Post-Stroke Non-Fluent Aphasia, Ella Bankoski

Academic Festival

Post-stroke non-fluent aphasia, often resulting from left hemisphere damage, impairs speech fluency while leaving cognition intact. Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) utilizes right hemisphere capabilities—such as melody, rhythm, and pitch—to facilitate language recovery. This literature review analyzed clinical studies to determine the most effective use of MIT in treating post-stroke non-fluent aphasia. Findings suggest that MIT is most effective when applied early in the subacute phase, as delayed intervention leads to diminished outcomes. Key elements of successful MIT implementation include unison production, repetition, and personalized, salient tasks that enhance patient engagement. While MIT has shown promise across varying aphasia severities, its …

The Impact Of Bilingualism On Post-Stroke Aphasia Recovery And Language Outcomes, Annabel Kazias

Academic Festival

This literature review explores the impact of bilingualism on recovery outcomes and language proficiency in individuals with post-stroke aphasia. This review synthesizes findings from various studies assessing the rehabilitation trajectories of bilingual and monolingual patients. Key findings indicate that bilingual patients exhibit more favorable recovery outcomes, particularly when therapy is administered in their native language (L1), leading to enhanced naming accuracy and overall recovery rates compared to monolingual peers. While bilingual individuals generally recover better, cross-language generalization effects are limited, emphasizing the importance of targeted therapy in the patient's primary mode of communication. Furthermore, younger bilinguals demonstrated significantly improved recovery …

Service Dogs "Heal": A Service Learning Immersive Experience Raising Puppies For Disabled Teens, Mackenzie Hamilton, Beverly Banerji, Elizabeth Bickett, Jessica Bogucki, Natalia Ferrulli, Julia Parlapiano, Annika Westra, Caroline Campanella, Harley Mae Jimenez

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Capturing Abroad, Kacey Veiking

Academic Festival

While abroad for seven weeks, I brought my camera to document the trip. This experience was much more than sightseeing; I found myself. Through a combination of photos and written experiences, this paper dives into the complexities of traveling abroad through a personal lens. Each country contains a new adventure, dipping my toe into the unknown and grappling with the challenges of traveling the world. My trip has contributed to who I am today, making this work a vulnerable piece. Creatively writing about this trip has demonstrated my growth and allowed me to reflect on my time spent in Europe. …

Black, Asian, And First-Generation Students Report Fewer Opportunities To Belong In College, Gabriela Gomez, Aleksandra Kozak, Jenna Costa

Academic Festival

A sense of belonging in college is essential for students’ academic success, yet opportunities to belong may be inequitable along racial-ethnic and social class lines. We asked two questions: (1) How do belonging opportunities vary within and across (a) higher education institutions and (b) racial-ethnic and social-class groups? (2) What predicts opportunities for belonging? We gathered data from a multi-site randomized controlled trial of a social-belonging intervention at 22 U.S. colleges and analyzed 15,143 control-group students’ belonging opportunities. Students were classified into one of 374 local-identity groups (LIGs) based on their race-ethnicity, first-generation status, cohort, and college. We measured their …

Augmented Reality Triggered Macros, Kristina Riesco, Kyle Mcguinness, Cole Talarek

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Arduino Pcb Design, Doria Lukasik-Drescher

Academic Festival

This project aims to transition a functional Arduino-based Morse code sender and transceiver circuit into a dedicated custom PCB design, enhancing the system's compactness, reliability, and professional appearance while maintaining its core functionality. The Morse code sender and transceiver system, initially developed on an Arduino platform, allows users to input text or signals, transmit them in Morse code, and decode received Morse code back into readable text. Key components of the existing system include an Arduino microcontroller, input/output peripherals such as LEDs, photo resistors, and LCD screens, and communication modules.

To improve the system’s robustness and usability, the project involves …

Object Detection And Avoidance System Using Velodyne 3d Lidar And Matlab, Julia Piascik, Jesse Ortiz, Terry Ruffin

Academic Festival

This project aims to design a system that has the ability to detect objects that could interfere with a drone that is in the process of landing. The implementation of this system includes the use of a 3D Velodyne LiDAR Puck VLP-16, MATLAB, and an Arduino Uno. The system outputs a green light once the program determines it is safe to land and a red light when an object is detected, thus determining it is not safe to land. This project is a continuation and evolution of a past system that used a 2D LiDAR with a tilting mechanism. Current …

A Mobile Application Fostering A Green Mindset On Campus - Ecoheart, Bolen Alfreh, Mira C. Poelzer, Tristan A. Palinkas

Academic Festival

With climate change and waste pollution worsening, we aim to foster a greener mindset in communities. EcoHeart is designed for higher education institutions, their staff, faculty, and students, serving as a hub for exploring sustainable options and incentivizing eco-friendly actions. Our application is designed to engage students, faculty, and staff in sustainability, fostering a more sustainable lifestyle, helping guide their consumption decisions, and thus learning how to better take care of the environment around them. The application includes links to articles, an interactive map of the campus, and a QR scanner to identify the user and give rewards where applicable. …

Research Remix, Tommy Kennedy

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Pioneering Security In The Quantum Era, Maniraj Chahal, Anthony Scardigno

Academic Festival

As quantum computing rapidly evolves, it poses significant threats to classical encryption methods widely used across industries. This paper explores the cybersecurity implications of quantum advancements and presents a proactive strategy for organizations to safeguard their digital infrastructure. By evaluating and comparing leading post-quantum cryptographic algorithms such as, CRYSTALS-Kyber, CRYSTALS-Dilithium, and AES-256, against criteria such as quantum resistance, efficiency, and implementation feasibility, the research identifies optimal solutions for securing both internal and customer-facing systems. The paper concludes with a way to integrate, designed to future-proof organizational operations, maintain regulatory compliance, and strengthen customer trust in the quantum era.

Medical Chatbot, Kervens Buisson, Gregory A. Dort, Afia Owusu-Mensah

Academic Festival

The Medical Chatbot is designed to help healthcare providers, especially nurses and doctors, quickly acquire health information and diagnose symptoms. This application aims to assist healthcare practitioners in gathering necessary patient information, streamlining the diagnosing process, and providing guidance for various medical diseases. The chatbot's conversational features let healthcare workers swiftly access information, validate symptom lists, and provide decision support for patient assessment. The project aims to deliver a secure, accurate, and user-friendly system that meets healthcare data standards and clinical needs. The chatbot aims to enhance healthcare workflows by swiftly providing precise information while respecting patient anonymity. The Medical …

Artificial Intelligence Robotic Arm For Teaching American Sign Language, Julia Piascik

Academic Festival

This project aims to develop a robotic arm that demonstrates American Sign Language (ASL) letters. The system features a custom-designed 3D-printed forearm with thirteen servo motors that allow for various wrist and finger movements, enhancing the dexterity of the arm. To support ASL letter recognition, a dataset was created consisting of letters from A to I, captured against seventeen different colored backgrounds with five to seven variations per letter. A convolutional neural network (CNN) model was then developed using TensorFlow, Keras, and scikit-learn to process the input images and classify them into corresponding ASL letters. The main Python program utilizes …

Decoding Dolphin Dynamics: Observing Object Play Among Bottlenose Dolphins, Samantha Apostolico, Sophia Pertoso, Samantha Gojcaj, Angelika Falandysza, Diego Salles, Deirdre Yeater, Manon Themelin, Kathleen Dudzinski, Heather Manitzas Hill, Rachel Walker

Academic Festival

Whereas several studies focused on object play in dolphins, few have examined details about observers, i.e., individuals just watching the play event without participating. It has been suggested that calves and juveniles are more likely to observe others engaging in object play, but not enough evidence has been collected. Object play among bottlenose dolphins at the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences was documented from 28 sessions recorded underwater. 692 object play events including observers were analyzed, involving 18 dolphins. We expected calf and juvenile dolphins to be the most frequent observers and longer play bouts to attract a greater number …

The Shorthorn: February 25, 1958

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1950s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: January 14, 1958

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1950s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: November 19, 1957

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1950s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: April 16, 1957

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1950s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: March 6, 1956

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1950s

No abstract provided.

Restart (Re-Entry Support, Training, And Reintegration For Today ), Ronaldo S. Broadbent, Maggie E. Gibbons, Aspen M. Nord, Bree Knutson, Brandon Smith, Alyssa Mendez, Marissa Harper, Gabbi Claxton

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Our project is about reducing friction for the re-entry of previously incarcerated, emerging adults. To contribute to the solution of the issues facing emerging adults returning from incarceration in the Missoula community, we will implement three workshop events to foster a sense of community and belongingness in the returning citizens population. The goal of these workshops is to aid in a smoother transition back into society, integrating components of social, personal, and community-based skill sets. We have found through surveying individuals who are currently or previously incarcerated in our targeted age range of 17-25 that a majority of those surveyed …

From Soil To Society: Enhancing Local Food Systems Through Global And Cultural Insights, Lisa Venckus, Wyatt Balius, Madelyn Bouchard, Bryce Hayes, Annie Mclaverty, Rhiannon Morgan, Destiny Santiago, Marley Miller

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This research aims to investigate the extent to which cultural perceptions, ideas, and attitudes influence how individuals interact with their community’s food system and how this relates to sustainable agricultural practices. The overall project stems from the necessity of finding more sustainable solutions to food production in an era defined by large industrial monocultures. The research consists of a series of interviews with experts and stakeholders on sustainable food systems, as well as case studies from Samoa, North America, and Ecuador. Significant themes and patterns will be derived from an analysis of the case studies and interviews. Our research will …

Junior Researcher Training In Lesion Symptom Mapping, Jadan L. Garner

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The concept of localization originated with Paul Broca, who proposed that specific regions of the brain are responsible for particular functions. Lesion-symptom mapping (LSM) advances this idea by depicting brain lesions in a three-dimensional format, enabling researchers to correlate these locations with individuals’ symptoms. Lesions can arise from various causes, including stroke, trauma, or neurodegenerative diseases. This research study aims to train participants to outline these lesions on MRI scans. Participants need a general knowledge of neuroanatomy; however, it does not require extensive education on this topic. The lesions will be outlined using a voxel-based drawing mechanism in a program …

Assessments For Aphasia Outside Of English: A Systematic Review, Shea A. Kasenga, Danielle Fahey

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

I am writing a systematic review paper on Assessments for Aphasia Outside of English. This research examines the availability of aphasia assessments in languages other than English, focusing on identifying bilingual assessments and evaluating their norming status. Aphasia is a speech and language disorder resulting from stroke, traumatic brain injury, or other neurological conditions, impacting individuals across diverse linguistic backgrounds. With over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, many Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) require access to aphasia assessments beyond English to evaluate and treat their clients effectively. This systematic review compiles a comprehensive list of aphasia assessments available in languages other than English, …

Implementing Studio-Style Learning In Geographic Information System And Cartography Education, Ryan M. Fleetwood

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

As the professional world evolves, the higher-education sector needs to improve classroom experiences to prepare students for the modern workforce. Higher education traditionally utilizes the lecture as a primary teaching strategy; however, modern pedagogical research suggests active learning-based classrooms improve student engagement, participation, and learning. Studio-style course design, a research-based instructional practice first implemented in Physics and Calculus courses, aims to provide students a place to apply knowledge and practice skills through a collaborative and hands-on environment. Applications of GIS, an upper-division geographic information systems (GIS) course at the University of Montana, has traditionally employed lectures and step-by-step instructional labs …

Family And Caregiver Reports Of Their Child With Autism’S Interactions With First Responders: A Pilot Study, Taylor C. Sadewic, Addison P. Oneill, Sophia L. Boughey

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted/repetitive behaviors. Current prevalence rates indicate 1 in 36 people have ASD, accounting for around 30,000 Montanans. With increasing rates of diagnoses, it is inevitable that first responders will encounter individuals with ASD. Due to differences in communication styles and reactions in high stress social situations, interactions can look different than with other members of the community. Research shows that interactions between individuals with autism and first responders are often unsatisfactory from the perspective of their parents and/or caregivers. There is a lack of training …

First Responder Perspectives Of Interactions With Individuals With Autism: A Pilot Study, Sophia L. Boughey, Taylor C. Sadewic, Addison P. O'Neill

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Interactions between individuals who experience autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and first responders present unique challenges due to differences in communication, behavior, and sensory processing (Bowers-Campbell et al., 2020). These situations may be dysfunctional due to a lack of training tailored to understanding and responding to ASD related needs (Chown, 2010). Training should be informed by people who experience ASD and ASD experts can help responders build skills in communication, sensory responsiveness, and preparedness in high-pressure environments. The research team hypothesizes that first responders will report minimal training on how to work with an individual with ASD, which leads to suboptimal …

Transfer Of Treatment Effects Between Languages In Bilingual Agrammatic Aphasia: A Systematic Review, Ashlynn Everett

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Aphasia, a language disorder caused by damage to language regions in the brain, can have profound effects on a person’s communication. For speakers of multiple languages, bilingual aphasia research has demonstrated that treatment in one language can transfer to a non-treated language (Faroqi-Shah & Chengappa, 1996; Paradis, 1993). This systematic review evaluates research on bilingual aphasia to discuss: which grammatical structures can exhibit cross-linguistic transfer of treatment effects, including a) sentential structuring, b) morphosyntax, and/or c) lexical category access?

The review produced 131 articles fitting the inclusion criteria, but only 12 addressed cross-linguistic transfer. Each study’s quality was scored for …