Digital Commons Network^™

Log Off To Level Up: The Effect Of Social Media Hiatus On Goal Pursuit, Nekysha L. Y. Jalil, Yong Han Tan, Andree Hartanto, Eddie M. W. Tong

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Concerns are growing that social media, with its constant notifications and attention-grabbing content, may distract individuals and hinder progress toward important goals. Despite its pervasive presence in our lives, the impact of social media on goal achievement has not been thoroughly studied. This within-subject experimental study aims to investigate the effects of social media hiatus (SMH), a short abstinence from social media usage, on goal pursuit processes. Participants (N= 107) completed daily diaries over three consecutive days of SMH and three days of regular social media use. SMH was manipulated by blocking participants’ access to multiple social media platforms. The …

May 2026 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Perception Of Socioeconomic Status: A Meta-Analysis Of Manipulations, Jacinth Jia Xin Tan, Yong En Amos Tai

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

The causal effects of one’s socioeconomic status (SES) on outcomes are typically examined by experimentally manipulating SES self-perceptions based on one of three SES dimensions—absolute resource, relative resource, and general social position. We investigated the efficacy of these manipulations by systematically meta-analyzing their effects on SES self-perceptions. Based on 107 eligible samples (N = 26,203), manipulations of SES self-perceptions across the three SES dimensions were effective overall (g = 0.56–0.95). Explicit priming of absolute resource and relative resource manipulations comparing high versus low SES were consistently effective—although bias-corrected effects were attenuated—suggesting the importance of salient SES information and social comparisons. …

Prairie Haven: Combating Urban Sprawl With Ecological Landscape Assemblage In Forest Lake, Minnesota, Ryan Anthony Calhoun

Landscape Architecture Theses

Contemporary residential developments frequently default to sprawl, creating fragmented environments that lack both environmental resilience and authentic human interconnection. This thesis explores how landscape architects can utilize Assemblage Theory to design residential developments where sustainable materials, ecological systems, and social elements dynamically assemble to create a meaningful, human-scaled sense-of-place. By synthesizing the structural planning efficiency of New Urbanism, the ecological imperatives of Landscape Urbanism, and the metrics-driven performance of Ecological Urbanism, this research develops a hybridized operational approach to residential development. Applied to a master plan in Forest Lake, Minnesota, the design for “Prairie Haven” demonstrates how treating a neighborhood …

Low Methane Emissions From Nutrient-Rich Former River Channels In A Hydrologically Managed Dryland Delta, Siena Stassi, Jude A. Benavides, Chu-Lin Cheng, Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, Nicholas E. Ray, Nathan O. Barros, Rafael M. Almeida

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Anthropogenic stresses in dryland regions can alter hydrology, salinization, and biogeochemical processes. How these pressures influence methane (CH4) cycling and emissions from aquatic ecosystems remains poorly understood. Over the course of 1 year, we measured diffusive and ebullitive CH4 emissions from resacas—shallow, hydrologically managed distributary channels prevalent throughout the Lower Rio Grande Valley along the US–Mexico border. Despite warm, nutrient-rich waters, CH4 emissions from resacas were low, and more comparable to rates observed in estuarine systems. CH4 fluxes were positively related to temperature but negatively related to salinity and rainfall. Elevated salinity, driven by evaporation and source water from the …

Juanita Stout Ray: Life On The Frontier, A 20th Century Latter-Day Saint Woman's Life, Karen Glenn, John Murphy, Elspeth Rayback-Maxwell, Hallie Davidson

Faculty Publications

This exhibit explores the life of Juanita Stout Ray (1891-1954), a Latter-day Saint woman whose journals, letters, photographs, and family records provide a rare and intimate view of women's experiences in the early twentieth-century American West. Born in southern Utah and raised in a polygamous family, Ray spent part of her childhood in the Mormon colonies of northern Mexico before her family fled during the Mexican Revolution. Her life was shaped by many of the defining events of her era, including revolution, pandemic, economic hardship, world war, migration, and profound personal loss.

The exhibit traces Ray's experiences as a teacher, …

“Thomas Jefferson: America’S Flawed Founder Of Freedom.”, Jay H. Buckley

Faculty Publications

Thomas Jefferson was a deeply paradoxical figure—both a founding champion of liberty and a lifelong slaveholder—whose legacy must be understood in its full complexity. While he owned more than 600 enslaved people and participated in a system he publicly condemned, Jefferson consistently articulated and promoted ideals of natural rights, equality, and freedom that reshaped the United States and influenced democratic movements worldwide. He made repeated (though often unsuccessful) efforts to curb or end slavery through legislation, legal cases, and policy, including opposing the slave trade, limiting slavery’s expansion into western territories, and helping abolish the transatlantic slave trade. At the …

Reactive-Fluid-Transport Controls On Co2-Eor Applications In The Upper Red River Carbonate Reservoir, Abdelmalek Abes

Theses and Dissertations

Reactive-transport phenomena during CO2 injection in carbonate reservoir were examined in detail. Three core samples from the primary producing units of North Dakota’s Upper Red River Formation (U2-H055, U4-H069, and U6-H009) were used to experimentally investigate geochemical reactions and petrophysical alterations, impacting carbon dioxide enhanced-oil-recovery (CO2-EOR) and geologic-carbon-storage (GCS) projects. During corefloods using a CO2/brine mixture, two samples demonstrated early permeability increases followed by declines, whereas the third sample demonstrated an early decrease; all samples gradually recovered at a later stage. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements revealed slight porosity increases due to dissolution-induced wormholes, while the pore-size distribution (PSD) shifted …

Student Engagement As A Predictor Of Stem Student Success, Mosab Shaher Abu Al Foul

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study investigates factors influencing engagement, persistence, and degree completion among underrepresented minority (URM) students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Guided by Tinto’s Interactionist Model (1975) and Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory(1977), it examines how institutional practices and socioeconomic conditions contribute to inequities in student outcomes. Using a non-experimental, correlational design, the study analyzes National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) data and institutional records from a Midwestern Research 2 university (N = 620; URM subsample n = 52). Binary logistic regression, MANOVA, and t-tests were used to assess relationships among High-Impact Educational Practices (HIEPs), engagement indicators, faculty interaction, pre-college …

Stigma Is Committing: Public Perceptions Of Race, Substance Use, And Civil Commitment, Meliyah Anderson-Tryon

Theses and Dissertations

Civil commitment in the United States is a legal process through which individuals experiencing severe mental illness may be involuntarily admitted for psychological treatment. Despite its far-reaching consequences, public knowledge and perceptions of civil commitment remain largely underexamined. These gaps may contribute to increased stigma toward individuals with severe mental illness or those who engage in substance use. This study used a vignette-based experimental design manipulating a hypothetical individual’s race and presence or absence of past substance use. The hypothetical individual was portraying symptoms related to schizophrenia, subsequently leading to being civilly committed. Participants (N = 208) evaluated perceived dangerousness …

Climate Messages In An Ai-Integrated Experiment: Interpretive Divergence, Policy Support, And A New Resonance Consistency Framework, Jayme Colosimo

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined how environmental frames—particularly “Mother Earth” and “Mother Nature”—influence public support for climate policy and how these effects differ across demographic groups. Using a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design, the study executed a media survey experiment (N = 470) followed by semi-structured expert interviews to assess responses to two primes using a conventional corporate media message, and a message with similar content that was generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Quantitative findings showed that these metaphors generated uneven and sometimes divergent priming effects. Some groups—most notably White male Republicans—reported higher support for environmental policy under the conventional media prime. Under …

The Speech, Language, And Feeding Development Of One Child With Wiedemann–Steiner Syndrome, Alyssa Ann Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the longitudinal speech, language, and feeding development of a child with Wiedemann–Steiner syndrome (WSS) from birth to age 10. The study aimed to characterize developmental patterns, identify strengths and challenges, and evaluate changes over time within the context of ongoing speech-language intervention. A qualitative longitudinal case study design was used, combining retrospective review of medical, therapeutic, and educational records with direct clinical assessment at age 10. Measures included the Oral and Written Language Scales–Second Edition (OWLS-II)), a spontaneous language sample, a phonemic inventory, a Childhood Apraxia of Speech screening, a caregiver feeding questionnaire, and a clinical feeding …

Machine Learning For Laminar Heat Transfer In Supercritical Fluids, Luke Holtshouser

Theses and Dissertations

In the last 10 years machine learning has become increasingly more used in the field of fluid dynamics and heat transfer. However, with this increase in activity, gaps still exist with respect to supercritical fluids and laminar flows, where laminar flow in general seems understudied. For supercritical fluids, there are many peculiar studies that are isolated to unique systems or they are obscure enough to include everything but the kitchen sink. This strategy provides no real insights into how the field can make further progress in the utilization of the technology available, or rather build-upon previous knowledge. For this reason, …

Self-Talk In Esports: Extending Sport Psychology Frameworks To Digital Competition, Brett Anne Thompson Machamer

Theses and Dissertations

Self-talk is a key mechanism underlying performance, confidence, and emotional regulation, yet its use in esports remains underexplored. This study examined self-talk patterns among esports players, focusing on associations with hours played, self-talk type and valence, and contextual and motivational factors influencing its use. Esports players (N = 102; M = 18.53 hours/week, SD = 13.74) across a range of competitive levels completed an online questionnaire assessing self-talk type, valence, and contextual use. Greater hours played were associated with increased use of strategic self-talk, while self-talk valence was not significantly related to time spent playing. Participants most frequently reported using …

Filling The Gaps: Rural-Remote High School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Professional Training In Student Mental Health Preparedness, Angela N. Muhs

Theses and Dissertations

Rural-remote high school teachers are frequently the first to notice and respond to student mental health concerns, yet they operate within communities characterized by significant shortages in mental health providers. Access to professional mental health services in these settings remains persistently limited, placing considerable responsibility on teachers who may lack adequate preparation. This study employed an interpretive case study design to qualitatively examine how rural-remote high school teachers in North Dakota perceive their professional training and overall preparedness in addressing student mental health concerns. Twelve licensed teachers, whose experience ranged from six months to 33 years, participated in in-depth interviews. …

Stance And Gait Analysis Of Apollo Astronauts On The Moon, Faye Y Chiou-Tan, Conrad Li, Jason P Caffrey, Millard Reschke, Timothy R Macaulay

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction/aim: As humans return to the Moon, safe efficient ambulation and fall prevention on the lunar surface are key concerns. The analysis of gait from archived Apollo mission video footage is now possible with pose estimation video analysis software. Thus, this study aims to retrospectively quantify parameters of Apollo astronauts' stance and gait on the Moon.

Methods: Publicly available National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) footage of astronauts ambulating on the Lunar surface was examined using body pose analysis software. Goniometric lower limb joint/torso angles and width of base of stance and gait were derived. Gait cycle stance phase, swing …

Plasma Metabolites After 10-Weeks Of Glucose Vs Fructose-Sweetened Beverages In Subjects With Overweight/Obesity, Mélanie Guirette, Danielle E Haslam, Jiantao Ma, Peter J Havel, Kimber L Stanhope, Olga Ilkayeva, Christopher B Newgard, Nicola M Mckeown, Mark A Herman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

To identify metabolites as potential biomarkers of fructose vs glucose consumption and related metabolic changes, we conducted exploratory metabolomic profiling of fasting blood samples from participants in a double-blind, parallel-arm trial involving 31 male and female adults with overweight or obesity, both before and after supplementation with glucose- or fructose-sweetened beverages. Orthogonal Partial Least Square Discriminatory Analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to identify metabolites that could discriminate between the 2 intervention groups. Changes in 16 metabolites (5 of which are branched-chain amino acid catabolic pathway metabolites) and the branched chain keto acid (BCKA) composite score showed nominal (FDR adjusted P-value …

Comprehensive Analytical Approaches To Biophysical And Hard Matter Systems, Carlos Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

In this work we define the methods and experimental techniques that are used in the synthesis, characterization, and development of biophysical and hard matter systems. These efforts encompass six principal areas: Comprehensive characterization of pathogenic bacteria, development of novel chemical methods for probing binding affinities in cellular systems, understanding the electronic properties of silicon/silicon dioxide interfaces, characterization of catalytic perovskite oxide materials, and lastly, heteroepitaxial growth of vanadium nitride thin films on the silicon nitride surface.The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi) causes an infection with diverse clinical outcomes, which can include arthritis as well as cardiac and neurological …

Ground Penetrating Radar Spiral Antenna Transient Response Based On Target Radar Cross Section, David Rohde

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a significant advancement in Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) detection technology through the development of a novel method for the detection and classification of buried conductive objects using custom-designed Archimedean spiral antennas. The research demonstrates that the transient electromagnetic response of an Archimedean spiral antenna is strongly correlated with the Radar Cross Section (RCS) characteristics of buried objects operating within the radar resonance scattering, or Mie, region. By leveraging this relationship, the proposed approach enables not only the detection of buried objects, but also generalized classification based on object geometry and size.A primary contribution of this work is …

Exploring Student Emotions And Needs In Pre-Medical Laboratory Science Education: A Control-Value Theory Approach, Allison Jean Waswick

Theses and Dissertations

There is a current workforce shortage of qualified medical laboratory scientists (MLS) in the healthcare field. Without these individuals completing their analysis of patient samples, patients may experience detrimental effects to their health. To help narrow the gap between the number of open positions and the number of MLS graduates per year, MLS programs could better understand pre-MLS students’ needs to better support and retain them. Using Control-Value Theory as the framework for this qualitative study, this study explored pre-MLS students’ needs by examining the emotions they experienced in their programmatic contexts to better understand this population’s needs. Five themes …

Techno-Economic Analysis And Density Functional Theory Modeling Of Hydrogen Fuel Cells With Platinum-Based Catalysts For Effective Deployment In Long-Range Electric Vehicles, Thomas Cheekwang Yap

Theses and Dissertations

The transition to sustainable transportation is constrained by carbon emissions and fossil fuel dependence. Hydrogen fuel cells (HFCs), particularly those utilizing platinum-based catalysts, offer high efficiency and suitability for long-range electric vehicles (EVs). However, the high cost and durability limitations of platinum catalysts remain major barriers to large-scale deployment.

This study integrates techno-economic analysis (TEA) with density functional theory (DFT) modeling to evaluate cost–performance trade-offs of platinum-based catalysts for long-range hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. DFT simulations were conducted to assess platinum alloy compositions and oxygen reduction reaction activity. These performance metrics were incorporated into a MATLAB-based TEA framework to quantify …

Optical Counterparts To X-Ray Sources In Lsst Dp1, Yuankun David Wang, Eric Bellm, Robert I. Hynes, Yue Zhao, Poshak Gandhi, Liliana E. Rivera Sandoval, Sandro Campos, Neven Caplar, Melissa Delucchi, Konstantin Malanchev

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present a crossmatch between a combined catalog of X-ray sources and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Data Preview 1 (DP1) to identify optical counterparts. The six fields targeted as part of DP1 include the Extended Chandra Deep Field South (E-CDF-S), the Euclid Deep Field South, the Fornax Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy (Fornax dSph), 47 Tucanae (47 Tuc), and science validation fields with low Galactic and ecliptic latitude (SV_95_-25 and SV_38_7, respectively). We find matches to 2314 of 3830 X-ray sources. We also compare our crossmatch to DP1 in the E-CDF-S field to previous efforts to identify optical counterparts. The probability …

Ligand-Based Pharmacophore Modeling And Structure-Based Virtual Screening For Identifying Potential Therapeutic Agents Targeting The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Protein-Ace2 Receptor Interaction, Timoteo Delgado-Maldonado, Gilberto Vargas-Salas, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Adriana Moreno-Rodriguez, Eyra Ortiz-Pérez, Gildardo Rivera-Sanchez

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) remains a global health concern due to its high mortality and morbidity. In this study, we combined ligand-based pharmacophore modeling (LBPM) with structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) to identify novel inhibitors targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Ligands from the MolPort database were screened via docking and molecular dynamics simulations at the receptor-binding domain (RBD). Four compounds showed promising docking scores (-8.7 to -6.4 kcal/mol) and dynamic stability (root mean square deviation < 5 Å). In vitro assays confirmed that compounds C3 (IC50 = 0.03 µM) and C4 (IC50 = 10.4 µM) effectively inhibited spike-ACE2 binding with low cytotoxicity (CC50 > 100 µM). These findings show the efficacy of the LBPM technique and highlight 1H-pyrazol-5-ol derivatives as potential building blocks for developing new antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2.

Pattern Dynamics And Stochasticity Of Brain Rhythms And Spike Trains In A Tauopathy Mouse Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Clarissa M. Hoffman

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Systems neuroscience posits that every aspect of perceived physical reality, every aspect of animal and human behavior, and every cognitive phenomenon emerges from patterns of neuronal activity. While most researchers embrace this idea, there are major difficulties in describing and analyzing these complex neuronal dynamics—spike flows produced by cells ensembles, synchronized extracellular field oscillations, and other patterns—which limits our understanding of how the activity of individual neurons and the whole-animal cognition and behavior might be connected. In particular, we lack the approaches and even the semantics for connecting the individual cell outputs and the integrated results of their activity. Current …

Screening For Hypertension And Diabetes In Laundromats In The Largest Hispanic-Majority City In The U.S, Nicholas A Mccann, Vanessa Schick, Jack Tsai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among laundromat users in San Antonio, Texas, and explore laundromats as a novel setting for health interventions regarding these 2 conditions.

Design: This descriptive, cross-sectional study involved demographic, blood pressure and HbA1c screenings to assess the health status of laundromat users.

Setting: The study took place in 7 laundromats in low-income areas of San Antonio.

Subjects: A total of 150 adults aged 18 and older who regularly used the laundromats and spoke either English or Spanish were eligible to participate.

>Measures: Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP …

An Integrated Framework For Early Detection And Transmissibility Assessment Of Emerging Variants In Wastewater, Xingwen Chen, Tin Phan, Wei Lin Lee, Katie Clark, Steven F Rhode, Samantha Brozak, Bruce Pell, Tsultrim Palden, Mats Leifels, Anna Gitter, Yang Kuang, Stefan Wuertz, Janelle Thompson, Kristina D Mena, Eric J Alm, Fuqing Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Tracking the emergence of new viral variants is critical for epidemic preparedness, but remains challenging because variants typically circulate at low prevalence during the early phase of outbreaks. Here, we present an integrated framework that combines sensitive variant detection in wastewater with quantitative assessment of transmissibility through dynamic epidemic modeling. Using the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant as a proof of concept, we developed a novel nested allele-specific RT-qPCR assay (NAS-PCR) that achieved a thousand-fold increase in sensitivity compared with allele-specific RT-qPCR (limit of detection: 0.5 copies/μl). NAS-PCR detected Omicron in wastewater samples from the Greater Boston area starting in September 2021, …

Learning About The Direct Experiences Of Very Young Children With Hearing Loss: A Feasibility Study, Jenni M. Funk

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

We aimed to explore the feasibility of employing a developmentally appropriate, modified puppet interview method to elicit thoughts and perspectives directly from very young children (ages 3 to 6 years old) who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Little is known about the direct experiences of children with hearing loss, making it difficult to improve care. In our field of speech and hearing sciences, there is no current method of gathering direct experiences of young children and placing them at the center of care. We proposed that researchers may be able to learn about the direct experiences of very young children who …

Why Families Stay Or Leave: Experiences In Spanish-English Dual Language Immersion Programs, Rachel L. Hall

All Dissertations

Many school districts across the United States offer dual language immersion (DLI) programs where students learn academic content in two languages, most often English and Spanish. These programs are designed to help students become bilingual and biliterate while also building cultural awareness and appreciation. Although DLI programs continue to grow in popularity, less is known about why some families stay in these programs while others choose to leave. This study examined enrollment and retention patterns in Spanish-English DLI programs in a suburban school district in North Carolina. Using a mixed methods approach, the study combined district enrollment data, parent surveys, …

“Do We Belong?”: Supporting Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students Through Teacher Education, Morohunkeji Orija

All Dissertations

The population of students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds in K-12 education continues to increase, yet the teacher workforce remains largely homogeneous, predominantly White. This imbalance creates a cultural mismatch in educational settings. In teacher education, predominantly White teacher educators prepare predominantly White preservice teachers, further increasing this mismatch. In early childhood education (ECE), which spans birth to 8 years, racial mismatch can lead to misunderstandings and misconceptions, contributing to bias and manifesting as Racial Microaggressions (RMAs). RMAs are mostly unintentional, and research is needed to examine how preservice teachers can identify and address them, given their impact on …

Interplay Between Phase Instability And Deformation Mechanisms In Beta Titanium Alloys In Aggressive Environments, Benjamin Elbrecht

All Dissertations

Modern designs, such as commercial jet turbines, are reliant on the high temperature performance of their constituent materials. Improvements to the strength-at-temperature of materials are critical to the continued advancement of efficiency and payload capacity in these advanced applications. This dissertation presents studies that progress towards this goal through the construction of a new experimental setup for complex temperature and force profiles that also accurately captures deformation behavior through non-contact measurements. Using this setup, studies into two specialty titanium alloys were executed: discovering the microscopic mechanisms responsible for the macroscale behavior and testing in conditions closely replicating aircraft turbine operating …