Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding The Genetic Basis Of Keloid Susceptibility Through Multi-Ancestry Genomic Studies, Nadine Belony, Sydney Williams, Thomas Last

Research Day

Introduction

Keloids are benign fibroproliferative skin tumors arising from dysregulated wound healing and characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Although nonmalignant, they are frequently associated with pain, pruritus, restricted mobility, and significant cosmetic disfigurement, resulting in substantial impairment in quality of life. The burden of keloid disease is not uniformly distributed across populations, with higher prevalence and severity observed among individuals of African ancestry, suggesting biologic contributors to disease susceptibility. Despite these disparities, mechanisms underlying pathologic scarring remain incompletely defined. Improved characterization of shared and ancestry-specific contributors may advance understanding of dermal fibrosis and support equitable dermatologic care.

Methods

We …

Comparison Of Axillary Lymph Node Size In Cadavers With And Without A History Of Breast Cancer, Adam E. Davis, Harshita Yepuri, Julia Girgis, Sara Kurtovic, Celeste Pak, Erek Arsiniega, Jasdeep Singh, Michael B. Roberts, Shelley Dicecco

Research Day

Axillary lymph nodes play a critical role in breast cancer metastasis and staging. While imaging and surgical studies provide indirect assessments of nodal involvement, few investigations have directly compared lymph node size in breast cancer and non-cancer populations using cadaveric dissection. In this study, twenty-nine female cadavers, including eight with a history of breast cancer and twenty-one controls, were dissected to collect axillary lymph nodes from six anatomical chains: central, humeral, infraclavicular, parasternal, pectoral, and subscapular. Lymph node area (mm²) was measured, and statistical outliers (z ≥ 3) were excluded from analysis. Welch’s t-test was performed to compare overall lymph …

Genetic Architecture Of Coronary Atherosclerosis Across European, African, And Admixed American Populations Using All Of Us Research Program Data, Kensley Philemond, Jodeci L. Mitchell, Thomas J. Last

Research Day

Introduction:

Coronary atherosclerosis, the underlying pathology of most coronary artery disease, is characterized by the accumulation of lipid-rich plaques within the coronary arteries, leading to increased cardiovascular risk. Established genes such as LDLR highlight the importance of lipid metabolism in disease pathogenesis, yet population-specific genetic contributors in African and Admixed American populations remain poorly understood. Identifying additional genetic contributors may improve our understanding of disease mechanisms and support more equitable cardiovascular risk prediction tools.

Methods:

We analyzed Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) summary statistics from the All of Us Research Program using the All-by-All Research Browser to identify genetic variants …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

Collegiate Volleyball Athletes Are Able To Sustain A Greater Level Of Performance Due To Many Recovery Practices., Caleb Rockwood

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Collegiate volleyball demands high-intensity physical and mental work, however athletes often struggle to maintain the recovery processes necessary to sustain a high level performance throughout a season. This project investigates how consistent recovery practices, specifically sleep, nutritional habits, and mobility, influence the ability of college volleyball players to maintain high level performance. The central problem I’ve examined is the trap, where the dual pressures of academic responsibilities and athletic commitments lead to sleep loss and nutritional deficits according to literature.

The ultimate question for this research is whether a consistent recovery routine can mitigate the typical mid-season performance decline often …

Missing Puzzle Piece: Adding Novel Locations To The Map Of Synechococcus A/B Diversity, Max Q. Berndt

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Synechococcus A/B (SynAB) cyanobacteria are found only in North America and include the most thermotolerant photosynthetic organisms on Earth.  As thermophiles, SynAB have intriguing implications for understanding the process of thermal adaptation with potential insights for how organisms may respond to our steadily warming climate. This study aims to compare the genomes and thermotolerance of three newly isolated strains of SynAB from previously unstudied Idaho hot springs. I will first place the isolated strains into an existing phylogenetic tree of SynAB comprised of samples from Oregon and Yellowstone National Park. Next, I will use growth …

Indirect Effects Of Climate Variation On Pollinator Foraging Behavior, Ainsley Jajack

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Many species exhibit intraspecific trait variation in response to climactic factors. When those traits mediate species interactions, the outcome of the interaction may change as a result.  For example, floral color and size have been demonstrated to change in response to temperature, precipitation, and soil moisture. Additionally, floral color and size are important influences on pollinator foraging behavior, which can in turn directly impact plant reproductive fitness. As western Montana’s climate patterns trend towards increased seasonal highs and fewer frost/freeze days, it is important to understand how floral traits may shift under changing conditions, and how those shifts may impact …

Long-Term Banding And Encounter Patterns Of Cinnamon Teal Banded In Utah (1960-2025), Gracie A. Henrie

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Utah is a valuable breeding and nesting ground for a number of waterfowl species, largely because of the Great Salt Lake, which supports over 400,000 acres of wetland habitat (Ducks Unlimited, n.d.). The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources manages 24 wildlife management areas (WMAs) with the purpose of creating high quality waterfowl habitat in these wetlands that can be enjoyed by hunters, recreators, and birds alike (Wildlife/Waterfowl Management Areas (WMAs), 2025). Effective management is supported with an understanding of the movement and demographic patterns of the waterfowl species the WMAs are designed to support. Bird banding is one tool managers …

Differences In Flowering Time And Pollen Deposition For Female And Hermaphroditic Alpine Cushion Plants, Jared Westbrook

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Gynodioecious plants have female and hermaphroditic individuals, but reproductive success varies between the sexes due to differences in reproductive traits. Females allocate more resources to seed production, whereas hermaphrodites allocate resources to both pollen and seed production. Female flowers may also have longer styles and longer stigma papillae, providing a larger surface for pollen receipt compared to hermaphrodites. Although females in gynodioecious systems may have reproductive advantages, it remains unclear whether this advantage is reflected in patterns of pollen deposition. Pollen deposition is also affected by the amount of flowering overlap, or synchrony, with co-flowering neighbors. Increased synchrony with conspecific …

Impact Of Physician Assistant/Associate Integration On Healthcare Quality, Accessibility, And Operational Capacity In Rural United States Communities, Zella Grace Balkenbush

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

As the physician assistant/associate (PA) profession has broadened in scope throughout the United States from the mid-1960s to the 21^st century, rural communities have received the greatest systemic effects. The expansion of health insurance through Medicare and Medicaid, combined with increasing physician specialization, created a greater need for general providers. Physician shortages in remote areas have contributed to patients experiencing decreased access to routine checkups, longer wait times, and constrained emergency resources. This has led to delayed diagnoses and preventable complications. In response, the PA profession has exploded in popularity to fill the gap in providing all-around care. Rural …

The Importance Of Ph Dynamics In Neurodevelopment, Erin K. Santana

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger (Nhe) proteins are essential regulators of intracellular pH in the brain. The importance of these exchangers in brain development is evidenced by the fact that their dysfunction is associated with neural development disorders, including autism spectrum disorders and epilepsy. Our lab studies the role of Nhe proteins in brain development using the model system Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly). Flies have only 3 Nhe proteins (Nhe1-3) compared to 9 in humans, making them a more straightforward model to investigate Nhe functions. Previously, we investigated Nhe2, which maintains cytosolic pH. We found that nhe2 knockout flies exhibited …

Stress As A Potential Triegger: Investigating The Onset Of Myasthenia Gravis Following Major Life Events, Taylor A. Barney

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

I will be studying myasthenia gravis (MG) and its relation to stress, answering the question: Is there a correlation between highly stressful life events and the initial onset of myasthenia gravis by which acute emotional or physical stress triggers myasthenic crisis or exacerbation of symptoms? I am doing this project because my mother has MG and her diagnosis has shaped my outlook on the medical field in which I hope to enter. To carry out this project, I will be using cross-sectional analysis through stress assessment with MG disease severity assessment. This will include trier inventory for assessment of chronic …

Examining Genetic Diversity With Rust And Snakemake, Mckayl U. Bailey

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Analyzing genetic diversity within a host is crucial for understanding disease evolution and population genetics. However, accurately assessing the genetic subgroups within microscopic populations is computationally expensive and complex. Our project addresses this problem by developing a pipeline that uses graph theory and integer linear programming to assess viral strain composition, with the hope that in the future this technique could be used on organisms with longer genomes. We start by taking raw viral genomes, cleaning them, and building a De Bruijn graph that captures genetic similarities and differences. The edges are then cleaned and compressed, deleting redundant information together. …

Head Contact Patterns Among Youth And High School Ice Hockey Athletes, Hunter Naugle

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Head Contact Patterns Among Youth and High School Ice Hockey Athletes
Naugle, H., Jefferson, S., & Moody, VJ: University of Montana

The prevalence of head contact among youth and high school ice hockey athletes continues to be a concern. While significant attention has been given to the identification of concussions, less research has examined the frequency and characteristics of head contact during normal gameplay. The purpose of this study was to examine where, when, and how head contact occurs in Bantam (14U), junior varsity, and varsity-level athletes to identify potential patterns associated with gameplay.

To address this question, we observed …

Temporal Avoidance By Gray Foxes Reflects Growing Pressure From Expanding Coyotes In The Neotropics, Madison Odenbach, Amaia Autor-Cortés, Mark Hebblewhite

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are rapidly expanding their range towards South America, potentially threatening the world’s highest canid diversity. A better understanding of their interactions with native species is needed to anticipate impacts. In Costa Rica, native gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) likely occupy a similar niche to the coyote newcomer, yet little data exists on their interactions in tropical ecosystems. We hypothesized the two segregate temporally, given preliminary data suggesting high spatial overlap. Camera-trap analysis revealed moderate temporal overlap (Δ4 = 0.57). Detection frequencies varied significantly across diel periods (Chi-square: p < 0.001); foxes were primarily nocturnal, while coyotes were more diurnal and crepuscular than expected. Permutation analysis (10,000 iterations) revealed significant temporal segregation in site use across three temporal scales reflecting scent persistence: untruncated, 14-days, and 7-days. At the untruncated scale, observed medians for time-to-encounter were longer than chance for coyote-then-fox (observed: 27.4 days; expected: 16.8 days) and fox-then-coyote (observed: 26.0 days; expected: 12.0 days), though given the large delays at this scale, results may reflect factors beyond avoidance. The effect was strongest at the 7-day scale for coyote-then-fox (observed: 3.78 days; expected: 1.38 days) and fox-then-coyote (observed: 3.15 days; expected: 1.08 days), suggesting mutual avoidance of recently visited sites. While activity patterns moderately overlap, the two species may maintain coexistence through mutual avoidance and diel segregation. Behavioral adjustments imposed on gray foxes may represent a stress cost that foreshadows disruption to native canid communities as coyotes advance toward South America.

Korelasi Kualitas Pembelajaran Geografi Dan Hasil Belajar Terhadap Sikap Peduli Lingkungan Siswa Kelas Xii Ips Sman 1 Ponorogo, Novia Kresnawati

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui: (1) korelasi kualitas pembelajaran Geografi dengan sikap peduli lingkungan, (2) korelasi hasil belajar dengan sikap peduli lingkungan, (3) korelasi kualitas pembelajaran Geografi dengan hasil belajar, (4) korelasi secara serempak kualitas pembelajaran Geografi dan hasil belajar dengan sikap peduli lingkungan. Data dikumpulkan melalui angket dan tes dari 72 siswa kelas XII IPS SMA Negeri 1 Ponorogo, dianalisis dengan regresi. Hasil penelitian adalah (1) adanya korelasi positif kualitas pembelajaran Geografi terhadap sikap peduli lingkungan, (2) terdapat korelasi positif hasil belajar dengan sikap peduli lingkungan, (3) tidak ada korelasi yang signifikan kualitas pembelajaran Geografi dengan hasil belajar, (4) …

Insect Pollination Rates In Alpine Cushion Plants, Mollena W. Sydnor

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

High elevation environments are characterized by a harsh climate, including a short growing season, wind and storms, and cold temperatures. Thus, higher elevation habitats often show lower insect abundance and diversity, and so insect pollination to alpine plants might be limited. Additionally, insect pollination should increase with increased floral abundance, but environmental stress may limit available floral resources for pollinators. In summer of 2025, we collected and processed a series of video recordings of pollinator visits to three alpine plant species, Phlox condensata, Minuartia obtusiloba, and Silene acaulis, across five field sites at the Niwot Ridge LTER, …

Computing The Tree Packing Conjecture, Nathaniel T. Adams

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The Gyárfás tree packing conjecture [1] states that any collection of trees (T1, T2, . . . , Ti) on 1, 2, . . . n vertices can be edge-disjointly packed into a complete graph on n vertices. Alternatively, this conjecture states that such a family of trees can be “glued” together to produce a complete graph on n vertices. Although many partial results are known (See Cisiński and Zak [2], Janzer and Montgomery [3], Balogh and Palmer [4]), ˙ the conjecture has remained open since 1970. This conjecture is computationally challenging, naively requiring superexponential number of computations. This paper …

From Canada To Virginia: Identifying Reference Bias In Whole Genome Sequencing Of Brook Trout, Oliver Jepson

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Advances in genomics now allow us to obtain multiple completed genomes for a given species. A major outstanding knowledge gap in population genomics currently is whether a ‘local’ reference genome is important to use. The use of a reference genome from a distant population may lead to bias in estimated population genomic parameters, something referred to as ‘reference bias’.

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) exist in a native range that extends from the upper reaches of eastern Canada to northern Georgia. Due to this range extent, it has been found that some genetic differentiation exists between the northern and …

Pengaruh Strategi Sq4r Tipe Bantuan Multimedia Vs Buku Teks, Pengetahuan Awal, Gaya Belajar Kolb Terhadap Hasil Belajar Bahasa Inggris Teknik, Meiti Leatemia

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

Penelitian ini bertujuan menyelidiki pengaruh strategi SQ4R tipe bantuan multimedia versus buku teks terhadap hasil belajar.