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Chronic Refractory Cough And Anxiety: Neural Pathways, Mackenzie Erin Majors

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Chronic refractory cough (CRC) is a cough that persists for at least eight weeks following

completion of treatment for sickness. This is often due to increased interoception,

which is the ability to perceive internal sensations in the body, both physical and emotional.

People experiencing CRC are often left feeling anxious and isolated. Several parts of the human

brain serve both anxiety and cough. With similar neural pathways, anxiety could be a precursor

for CRC. My review compares and contrasts the neural pathways of anxiety and cough, as well

as highlights the work of interoception in these disorders and how behavioral …

Estimating Snow Water Equivalent From The Montana Mesonet, Ryan M. Fleetwood

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

As the severity and frequency of drought increases, it has become increasingly important to monitor factors that drive watersheds. In the Rocky Mountain West, snowpack is an important hydrologic input that feeds water supply and agriculture downstream. A greater understanding of snowpack distribution throughout headwater states, such as Montana, allows informed management of irrigation, drought, and flooding. The Montana Mesonet, which is currently comprised of 178 stations across the State of Montana, is one tool that allows the effective monitoring of meteorological and hydrological variables across the State. Current Montana Mesonet stations are only equipped with snow depth sensors. This …

Using Analytical Ultracentrifugation To Characterize Ric8:Gαi Protein Binding, Ephraim Neils Mortenson

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a target of 35% of FDA-approved drugs and play a major role in cellular communication. GPCRs activate various Gα proteins, such as Gαi, which activate downstream effector proteins and result in intracellular signaling. Ric-8A is a molecular chaperone protein required for Gαi biogenesis and has cytosolic guanine nucleotide exchange factor activity. Understanding proteins which regulate GPCR pathways, like Ric-8A, may reveal novel therapeutic targets in G-protein signaling.

As an undergraduate volunteer in the Analytical Ultracentrifugation (AUC) core, my goal is to use AUC to characterize the binding behavior of Gαi and Ric-8A, independently verify association …

Group-Based Bcst For Patients With Rcc, Emily M. Ehli

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Abstract

Background

Refractory Chronic Cough (RCC) is a highly prevalent condition that affects millions of individuals globally. RCC can be effectively treated with behavioral cough suppression therapy (BCST) provided by specialty trained speech- language pathologists (SLP). Access to BCST is a problem due to limited numbers of BCST providers, long travel distances, transportations costs, etc. Research has shown BCST to be effective via telehealth. Group-based BCST would help treat numerous patients with RCC at once, addressing the problem of access to a BCST provider.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of group BCST for patients …

Ensuring Treatment Fidelity, Molia Thi Dao, Emma Pearl Henry

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Some preschool children experience substantial difficulties saying speech sounds and being understood by others. They may receive intervention from a speech-language pathologist to help them increase their intelligibility. The intervention procedures require a high level of treatment fidelity, the implementation of detailed protocols to support consistent and effective treatment. Treatment fidelity is imperative while conducting research to maintain consistency and provide thorough procedures for future interventionists utilizing and replicating the research. The research questions are how to develop a checklist that outlines the procedures and documents accountability and credibility for treatment delivered in a group setting within a specialized clinic …

Individual Accounts Of Interactions With First Responders: A Pilot Study, Addison P. O'Neill, Sophia L. Boughey, Taylor C. Sadewic

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Autistic Individuals Interactions with First Responders: A Pilot Study

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 36 people experience autism, which accounts for over 30,000 Montanans (CDC, 2023). Autism is characterized by differences in social communication and restrictive and repetitive behaviors. With these deficits come differences in communication styles and reactions in high stress situations. The literature shows minimal research on effective training practices for teaching first responders and emergency front-line medical staff how to interact with individuals with autism, especially those with complex communication needs (McGonigle et al, 2014, Cheung, et al, 2019). The research …

The Mmpi-Arc And Mmpi-Af Scales: Psychometric Properties Of The Mmpi-2-Rf’S Restructured Clinical (Rc) And Higher Order Factor Scales When Adapted For Use With Archival Adolescent Mmpi Data., Susan L. Trumbetta, P. Kevin Bolinskey, Irving I. Gottesman

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Objective: To explore the psychometric properties of MMPI-adapted versions of the MMPI-2-RF’s RC and factor scales when applied to archival adolescent MMPI data. Method: We explored the internal consistency, temporal stability, and convergent and criterion validity of newly derived MMPI-adapted RC scales and MMPI-adapted higher-order factors (MMPI-ARC and MMPI-AF) using data from the first normative adolescent MMPI samples: 3,971 ninth graders assessed in Minneapolis public schools in 1947-1948 and 11,329 ninth graders assessed statewide in 1954. Results: Most MMPI-ARC and MMPI-AF scales showed good internal reliability, which did not vary uniformly with the proportion of available items. The MMPI-ARC scales …

The Economic Motivations Behind Climate Change Denial, Eliza Daigle, Brooks Duprey

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Climate change denial is often driven by economic interests, particularly among corporations that profit from industries reliant on fossil fuels. This can lead to companies spreading disinformation, casting doubt on what is considered a consensus by scientists worldwide. Disinformation is generated with the goal of preventing government regulations that could threaten their profits. By funding disinformation campaigns and lobbying against climate policies these corporations are steering the public discourse away from environmental issues and concerns. Understanding the economic motivations behind climate change denial is crucial in addressing misinformation and ensuring that policy decisions are guided by science rather than profit.

Spectrophotometric Analysis Of Water Color Paint Quality, Mick Allen, Anurathi Madasi, Amanda Newton

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Due to the variety of quality and price ranges of watercolor paints available on the commercial market, the ability to test the quality of watercolor paints can be a major benefit to artists. One method of test- ing paint quality would be using spectrophotometry. By shining a light through a sample of watercolor paint suspended in water it is possible to find the parts per million (ppm) and color of a paint sample by comparing the initial and final intensity of light. We will construct a visible light spectrophotometer comprised of a visible light source that can be split into …

Exploring Deep Neural Network Reuse In Computational Natural Science, Karolina Ryzka

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The creation and training of deep learning models pose significant technical, financial, and environmental challenges, which can be addressed through the reuse of pre-trained deep neural network models (PTMs), which enables deep learning methodologies with little comparative cost. While previous research has focused on PTM applications in software engineering, our work investigates their growing role in computational Natural Science. Our ongoing work examines and longitudinally measures PTM reuse in computational Natural Science. Our efforts quantify PTM reuse methodologies, identifies trends regarding the reuse of PTM architectures across Natural Science, and provides insights into how PTMs are progressing science.

The Proceedings Of Great Day Volume 16, Hailey Elizabeth Bernet, Nia Jones

Proceedings of GREAT Day

From transitioning into the new library to the introduction of Baby Spruce, this was a year of new beginnings for the Geneseo campus. This issue of The Proceedings of GREAT Day radiates the interdisciplinary spirit of the liberal arts. This year’s volume features work ranging from scientific studies of Keto mice to often unacknowledged histories, and from gender roles in opera to financial literacy at Geneseo. Exclusive interviews highlight accessibility on campus and new innovations in reading comprehension. Inspire your own GREATness and enjoy the variety of what The Proceedings has to offer.

The Van Tac Vu Program: Psychological Warfare In The Vietnam War, Lucas Schaffer

Proceedings of GREAT Day

During the Vietnam War, the United States ran an extensive program of psychological warfare in order to win the ‘hearts and minds’ of the Vietnamese people. The Van Tac Vu program was one of the many psychological operations conducted by the United States in South Vietnam. Utilizing traveling Vietnamese cultural-drama troupes and drawing from Vietnamese culture, this program sought to win the sympathies of rural Vietnamese whom the Viet Cong were also seeking to influence. The Van Tac Vu cultural-drama troupes had many roles as they worked on the frontlines of the psychological war for Vietnam. They performed propaganda-infused skits, …

Characterization Of Motor Performance In A Mouse Model Of Autism Fed A Ketogenic Diet In Early Adolescence, Sophia Azurin

Proceedings of GREAT Day

The ketogenic diet (KD) has long been used to control epilepsy, but more recently has also been shown to improve symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is a highly prevalent disorder, characterized partially by repetitive behavior. Genetics, environmental conditions, and resultant injury to the brain, have been linked to an increased risk for ASD. KD is thought to work as an anti-inflammatory and has been shown to decrease repetitive behavior in a mouse model of ASD; but, how KD works within ASD is not well understood. This project works with a mouse model of ASD to determine if early …

Fugitive Slaves And Freedom: A Reexamination Of The Connection Between Fugitive Slaves And Abolition, Michael Bogart

Proceedings of GREAT Day

This paper focuses on the connection between fugitive slaves and the abolition of chattel slavery in the United States. It analyzes the various ways in which fugitive slaves not only changed the tides of the American Civil War, but also how their actions and undying determination to become free contributed to the fight for abolition. The main sources of this piece are the firsthand accounts of fugitive slaves themselves, as well as other primary sources which demonstrate the impact these people had on both the war and abolition. It draws the conclusion that there is a direct link between fugitive …

Dance As Identity And Communication: Expression Of Bharatanatyam, Shannon Ervay

Proceedings of GREAT Day

This paper describes the importance of understanding the intention imbued in genres of dance through cultural knowledge, specifically through Bharatanatyam. By investigating the origins of movement from around the world, dance can be understood as a form of language in addition to a source of release and celebrations. By honing empathy towards kinesthetic traditions, we can have a greater understanding of dance as a source of affirming identity and communication.

An Interview With Disability Activist Samuel Healy, Nia Jones, Samuel Healy

Proceedings of GREAT Day

This original 3 minute silent narrative film was created for a visual communication class and tells the story of college student with a disability and their long walk through campus to get to their final destination, filled with mundane trials and tribulations of topography that able bodied students might not notice. The film offers a thoughtful take on the practicality and reality of Geneseo's branding as it follows a student with cerebral palsy on his walk to the Office of Accessibility.

Recruiting Care Workers After The Covid-19 Lockdown, Gabby Bigger, Natalie Mandrycky, Tyler Steinberg

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Recruitment practices have undergone significant changes post-COVID-19, with lingering effects still impacting the workforce. The pandemic led to increased turnover, a focus on work-life balance, and decreased productivity, particularly in the healthcare industry where long hours and stress were prevalent. Women, who make up the majority of workers in this industry, were disproportionately affected and many left the workforce. HR managers now face the challenge of adapting strategies to the new virtual recruitment landscape to try and bring back these care workers. We will present our research findings on new strategies for which are vital for HR professionals to effectively …

Gen(D)Re-Bending In Mtv's Carmen: A Hip Hopera, Alannah Egan

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Georges Bizet’s Carmen has been restaged countless times since its premiere in 1875, in settings ranging from its original staging to Broadway musicals to a “hip hopera.” The opera’s revolutionary and boundary-breaking nature has made it a popular vehicle through which musicians have critiqued myriad social issues in historically divergent contexts. Thanks to innumerable reinterpretations, Carmen has been studied and examined through many lenses, most influentially in Susan McClary’s feminist reading of the work (McClary 2002). However, scholars rarely consider the complexity of gender in modern reinterpretations of the opera such as MTV’s 2001 reimagining, Carmen: A Hip Hopera starring …

Castles, Lands, And Locks: Exploring The Social Capital Of Heritage Sites, Loren Carter

Research Symposium

This Honors thesis aims to analyze the social roles of heritage sites as modes of cultural communication and connection. Through combined ethnographic and archaeological research methods, I argue that while the museumification and industrialization of heritage does provide useful information for populations with little knowledge of cultural processes, the communities most closely related to the heritage sites lose both tangible and intangible cultural connections when their backyards turn to tourist destinations. Studies of heritage have long argued that heritage processes take place not just through tangible heritage artifacts but also through everyday intangible heritage activities (Smith 2006). Throughout this work …

How Does The Cpa Exam Format Influence Candidate Performance?, Emma Preissing

Academic Festival

Abstract

For prospective accountants, passing the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam is a crucial step in the certification process, but the format of the test can have a big effect on how well candidates perform. This paper dives into the changes and evolution of the CPA Exam and the ripple effects it has on how candidates exhibit their knowledge and abilities. It dissects all three core exams that are required. Additionally, the newly introduced specific discipline exams are examined and discussed in depth. The formats of the different exams are explored in relation to candidate performance and difficulty. In the …

Prevention Of Sexual Assault In Women, Carly Codignotto

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

To Follow The Rule Or Not To Follow The Rue, That Is The Question, Beatrice Lovato

Academic Festival

This paper explores the ethical dilemma of whether it is more ethical to obey the law or to resist laws that are morally questionable. To examine this issue, I draw a parallel between two historical and contemporary examples: Nazi officers during World War II who implemented genocidal policies, and modern-day ICE officers involved in the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants. By analyzing the motivations, mindsets, and personal responsibility of individuals who enforce state policies, this essay questions the moral agency of those who "just follow orders." It considers the psychological and ethical consequences of such actions, and challenges readers …

Enhancing Privacy And Usability In Quantum-Resistant Cryptocurrencies, Samuel Oakes

Academic Festival

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are poised to form a foundation of future finance, but their mainstream adoption is impeded by critical usability and security challenges. Users today struggle with managing cryptographic keys and maintaining privacy, leading to frequent losses and breaches . At the same time, rapid advances in quantum computing threaten to undermine the cryptographic primitives (e.g., ECDSA, RSA) underpinning blockchain systems . This paper explores how to enhance the usable security and privacy of cryptocurrencies in light of the looming quantum era. We review the state of usable security in cryptocurrencies, highlighting issues such as poor wallet …

Montana Alternative Music Archive, Kate Widmer

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

My project, titled “Montana Alternative Music Archive,” is an attempt to gather the history of Montana’s underground alternative music scene throughout the entire state and across as many decades as possible, so as to address the lack of historical documentation on this artistic movement. My guiding reason for this project is due to a personal interest in the subject that has been difficult to develop due to lack of available material, as well as to honor the innovative spirit of generations of punk rockers who remained committed to their inspirations despite living in a regional culture that doesn’t necessarily prioritize …

Find Your Fit: Supporting Individuals Experiencing Neurodivergence Through Post-Higher Education Career Transitions, Julia Brink, Faith Marshall, Allison Webster, Kalei Smith, Maya Franscella, Ava Heintzelman, Rosie Sterk, Sophia Boughey

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Individuals experiencing neurodivergence often face unique challenges when transitioning from higher education to the workforce, such as barriers in self-advocacy, workplace accommodations, and professional communication. Despite growing awareness, career readiness resources tailored to their needs and learning styles remain limited both locally and globally. This study seeks to answer the question: “How might communities ensure that people who experience neurodivergence are more successful in the workforce?” To address this question, this study examines the development, implementation, and evaluation of an eight-week neurodiversity-specific career readiness course aimed at addressing gaps in employment support for individuals experiencing neurodivergence in the University of …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Feature Selection And Classification Techniques For Web Attack Classification, Zaman Ahmed Razak Abdul Ali

Al-Bahir

Cybersecurity is seriously threatened by web attacks, which makes it necessary to create strong classification models as soon as possible for early detection and prevention. Networked system security is now a crucial global concern affecting people, businesses, and governments. Attacks on networked systems are occurring far more often, and the attackers' strategies are always changing. One defense against these attacks is intrusion detection. Machine learning is a popular and useful method for creating intrusion detection systems (IDS). Having more representative and discriminative traits greatly enhances an IDS's performance. We do a thorough review of feature selection and classification methods for …

Equipping Teachers To Support Comic Literacy: An Analysis Of The Educational Potential Of Toon Book, Kayla Whitlock, Jewel Yoder Kuhns, Sara Kersten-Parrish Dr.

SANE journal: Sequential Art Narrative in Education

Teachers frequently reach for leveled readers to help facilitate their guided reading groups; however, there can be limits in using these leveled readers. One such limit relates to enjoyment and engagement. An answer to this is using TOON books during guided reading time. TOON books are graphic novel leveled readers and were created in response to a need for high quality books for readers of all levels. However, in reading these books teachers need to be aware of the comics form and how those features impact the reading process. In this article, we outline the features common in graphic novels …

First-Century Roman Approaches To Religious Minorities And The Security Of The Empire, Ilias Bantekas

Journal of Catholic Legal Studies

(Excerpt)

Much of what we know about the relations of first-century AD “Christians” and the authorities of the Roman Empire, as well as the relationship between Jews of this time, is derived from the writings of Paul the Apostle through his various Letters. Moreover, historical research has uncovered a significant amount of information on this subject; yet, so-called Pauline scholarship is central to our understanding of these intricate relationships. Paul occupies a special place in the history and shaping of the Church for numerous reasons. He is loved and hated with equal vigor and he is certainly responsible more than …

Creating Peaceful Coexistence Through Virtue: A Theological Approach To Institutional Religious Freedom, Equality, And The First Amendment, Alex Deagon

Journal of Catholic Legal Studies

(Excerpt)

In the current era of fraught tension between religious freedom and equality, scholars from across the spectrum of perspectives have called for generosity, empathy, and compromise from both sides. Drawing from chapters in my book A Principled Framework for the Autonomy of Religious Communities: Reconciling Freedom and Discrimination, in this Article I propose to give substantive content and criteria to such exhortations by adopting a theological perspective which aims to create peaceful coexistence through cultivating and applying Christian virtues such as love, grace, forgiveness, humility, and patience. Together, these virtues recognise the inherent worth of all humans as …

Table Of Contents

Journal of Catholic Legal Studies

No abstract provided.