Digital Commons Network^™

The Hidden Consequences Of Mass Deportation, Gracie Patriarco

Academic Festival

Can mass deportation of immigrants, as some political leaders claim, effectively protect local workers and stimulate the local economy? This research analyzes the impact of mass deportations on the U.S. economy using historical data and case studies. During periods of economic recession, mass deportation can lead to reduced consumption, shrinking markets, and the disruption of production chains. By examining the mass deportation of Mexican immigrants during and after the Great Depression, this study demonstrates that such a policy did not improve the job market for native workers. Even when jobs were created because of the loss of this workforce, the …

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 …

Marx + Keynes Seminar, Anwar Shaikh Phd

Archives of Anwar Shaikh

This collection includes:

• Handwritten notes titled Short-run (fast) adjustment process (1988, November)
• A Ph.D. qualifying exam in political economy (1987, July 23)
• Handwritten notes titled Keynes / finance
• A document titled A general framework linking aggregate demand, supply and finance (summary of basic equations) (1987, March 4)
• Handwritten notes titled I. Basic accounting relations between demand, supply & finance, including Figure 1: Keynesian / Kaleckian model (1986, October)
• Handwritten notes titled Keynesian multiplier: Textbook presentation and its implicit credit path (undated, October 28)
• Duplicate handwritten notes titled I. Basic accounting relations between demand, supply & finance, including Figure 1: Keynesian …

Effects Of Ethical Teaching In Conjunction With Mindfulness Meditation Training (Msbr), Wade Pose

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This study explores the integration of ethical teaching within Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs to address both practical outcomes and ethical concerns related to the adaptation of cultural practices. While MBSR has been widely adopted for stress reduction and mental health improvement, the current body of literature reveals persistent methodological challenges, including inconsistent definitions, a notable lack of longitudinal studies, and ethical concerns regarding cultural appropriation. This proposal examines three approaches: maintaining the integrity of traditional Buddhist ethical values, implementing secular ethical values, and excluding ethics training from MBSR instruction. To contribute to this growing body of research a four-year, …

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 …

Situating Standing Doctrine In Environmental Litigation, Wyatt Balius

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Controversies over issues of standing in federal civil litigation are hotly contested, as they strike at the heart of separation of powers issues and broader notions of the intent of civil action. Here I identify two competing theories of the purpose of standing and its requirements as such. Restrictive standing, as argued by Professor Ann Woolhandler, seeks to inherently link civil redress with an injury-in-fact requirement for both public and private law claims. Expansive standing, as argued by Professor Cass R. Sunstein, seeks to ground civil redress exclusively within violations of Congressionally designated causes of action. I argue that the …

Flight Of The Germans: The Displacement And Survival Of Eastern European Germans In The 1940s, Kadin Markus Hawley

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Throughout the 1940s, millions of Europeans were displaced by the infrastructural destruction of war, government actions and prejudices. While the first half of the decade saw many displaced by the implementation of ethnic polices like Generalplan Ost (General Plan East) in Eastern Europe by Nazi Germany, displacement would continue into the late 1940s as postwar politics created new political and ideological borders. This project will focus on the experiences of ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe under Nazi occupation and in the aftermath of war. It will ask how Nazi policies, the International Refugee Organization’s actions, postwar reconstruction efforts led by …

Bronze And Bulletin Boards: Indigenous Language In Formal And Informal Campus Space, Adria Capozzoli

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

What histories and lives are acknowledged in officially sanctioned institutional memorials and place-names? In recent years, academic institutions in the United States and other Anglophone nations have installed a significant amount of Indigenous-language signage on their campuses. Administrators at the University of Montana have installed a number of signs in Indigenous languages, including an intended new "centerpiece" monument at the Oval due to be installed in 2025. Also in 2025, UM is simultaneously finalizing installation of an expensive three-meter-tall sign at a new "gateway" to campus. This project seeks to inquire where, and in what contexts, acknowledgement of Indigenous languages …

Granting Rights To Nature: Environmental Personhood In The U.S. And Worldwide, Daxton W. Summers

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This project explores the concept of granting legal personhood to natural environments, with a focus on the Clark Fork River in Missoula, Montana. Granting legal personhood rights to the environment has been used around the world to recognize and protect rivers, mountains, and other environmental entities. However, the U.S. legal systems have been slow to adopt this approach. This research essay examines why the U.S. has been lagging, analyzes foreign legal frameworks that have granted personhood to environmental entities and examines if any could be adapted to grant rights and protections to the Clark Fork River.

The research process involves …

The War Is Not Enough: Exploring The Thematic And Geopolitical Interplay Between Western And Soviet Spy Films Of The Cold War, Sean Kunau

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

One of the most visible, yet seldom intently regarded depictions of Cold War relations between the Western and Soviet blocs, can be found in the exciting world of the spy film sub-genre. Complementing the complex nature of the various cultural experiences and ideologies spanning this era, the spy films of the Cold War contain the potential to provide viewers with a unique access point for exploring popular depictions and commentaries of such narratives. This analytical research project aims to dissect the thematic resonance of espionage as a valuable concept in understanding the transference of cultural and political ideology between East …

Brick Biographies, Molly O'Dell

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Every brick has a story. Some have witnessed decades of students rushing to class, others have felt the weight of graduation caps landing. For years, the personalized bricks on the University of Montana’s Oval served as small but sturdy tributes, etched with names, messages, and memories. Now, as these bricks are starting to be worn away, are their stories shifting too?

This ethnographic study follows the journey of these commemorative bricks from 1993 and 2004, exploring their significance to the individuals who purchased them and the community that walked across them daily. Through interviews, archival research, and a bit of …

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 …

Recreation Repair Reimagined, Luca Welle, Koson Verkler, Sam Garza, Fraser Ormiston

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Textile waste, including that produced by the outdoor industry, is a huge environmental and social problem. An incomprehensible number of items are discarded each year, many of which end up contributing to pollution across the globe. Some of this equipment is costly, both in terms of the externalities of production and disposal and the price tag consumers see, the latter of which poses an issue of accessibility to many people. We have worked to address these challenges by facilitating an opportunity as well as a space in which people can repair and repurpose worn gear and textiles so as to …

Foraging Opportunists: Encouraging Reconnection With The Land, Madelyne Miller, Aine Fannon, Ada Scott, Sylvia Blodorn, Luke Pruitt

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

There is a large cultural disconnect between humans and natural areas, and the utilization of natural resources is rarely reciprocal. In addition, opportunistic (commonly called invasive) plants can outcompete native species if they are not managed, though this management typically involves heavy chemical use. There is also a deficit in resources surrounding other management strategies such as foraging for non-native species. To address these issues, our group has explored the potential uses of opportunistic plants. Initially introduced to novel areas both intentionally and unintentionally, these plants can serve as food, medicine, and art materials. We aim to reduce chemical use …

Rooseveltian Maxim: How Theodore Roosevelt's Naval Diplomacy Shaped U.S. Power, Nicholas Painter

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) saw the United States rise to a position of considerable geopolitical power, largely due to Roosevelt himself. His administration’s development of foreign policies shaped the influence of the United States in the Pacific Region and eventually positioned the U.S. as a global power. By focusing on Roosevelt’s dealings with the Empire of Japan, it is clear how Roosevelt shaped the global view of the United States before World War I. Roosevelt’s power as a diplomat is clear in his relationship with Japan, and examining this relationship offers a snapshot of how Roosevelt’s actions influenced …

Bridging Divides: Addressing Sustainable Goal 16 In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Maya Trajanoska

Student Research Symposium

Thirty years later, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) continues to confront the persistent challenges stemming from its post-conflict legacy following the 1992–1995 Bosnian war and genocide, particularly the systemic issues of corruption, weak governance, and deep ethnic divisions established by Western powers through the Dayton Peace Agreement. These factors not only hinder BiH's socio-economic development but also obstruct its aspirations for European Union (EU) integration and regional stability. This paper emphasizes the critical importance of addressing domestic justice and anti-corruption efforts as a means to achieve lasting peace and stability. Utilizing a threefold framework—considering external and domestic influences alongside environmental governance …

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 …

Assess The Impact Of Prophylactic Measures And Adjunctive Medications In Preventing Covid-19 Infections And Lowering The Rates Of Affected Cases Worsening :A Comparative Study, Zainab Najim Abdul-Nabi, Nadheerah F Neamah, Noora Sgheerghaleb

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Repurposed medications were the only means of aiding in the prevention and initial treatment of COVID-19 infections in the lack of effective treatment, objective: The goal of this study is to determine whether preventive measures affect the rate of COVID-19 infection in the contact people and whether age, sex, and medication use correlate to prognosis.

Methods

The questionnaire responses were used as a source of data, and 829 patients have a full recovery. With the exception of 114 volunteers who interacted with COVID-19 patients, the patients served as respondents; however, their outcomes were negative.

Results

The use …

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 …

Detail-Controllable Real-Time Contrast Enhancement, Chengliang Jhou, Chunlei Zhu, Bojian Li

Defensive Publications Series

Insufficient contrast can make it difficult to view an image or certain portions of the image. While existing software offers contrast enhancements to ease viewing, simultaneous enhancement of both contours and texture detail is difficult. This disclosure describes contrast-enhancement techniques controllable by a single parameter. The techniques enable a user to easily trade off texture detail against contour enhancement. A simple user interface such as a slider is provided that enables users to quickly adjust display results for different scenarios, such as reinforcing contours for textual material or emphasizing textures for fibered (e.g., paper, textile) material. Regardless of the value …

Procreation After Passing: Balancing Interests In Levirate Marriage And Posthumous Reproduction, Alice Aronov Tepler

Journal of Catholic Legal Studies

(Excerpt)

After the heart-wrenching death of a partner, a child, or a family member, it is difficult for those left behind to imagine how to bring their loved one with them into the future. Memories fade, people move on with their lives, and it seems almost inevitable that the dead will be left behind, static. For some, especially those whose loved one died early in life, posthumous reproduction can seem like a way to keep the deceased alive. With relatively new technology and a myriad of associated ethical concerns, however, society, courts, and individuals struggle to determine who should have …

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 …

Volume 63, 2025

Journal of Catholic Legal Studies

No abstract provided.

Officers Of Administration And Faculty

Journal of Catholic Legal Studies

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

Journal of Catholic Legal Studies

No abstract provided.

Low-Frequency Noise Reduction From Mipi C-Phy Interfaces, Sayed Mobin, Xu Wang

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes techniques for improved routing of high speed C-PHY signal traces and the placement of power conversion components on a logic board of a camera system. Per techniques of this disclosure, low frequency power supply noise coupling into high speed MIPI C-PHY signals is reduced or eliminated by placing the power converter components at a minimum distance from the MIPI C-PHY high speed channels. Additionally, the ground (GND) return of the power supplies is improved for better noise reduction. In some implementations, the wide (high frequency) and ultra-wide (low frequency) channels are swapped. The low frequency coupled noise …

Extending Mipi C-Phy Channel Length By Using A Micro-Coaxial Cable And Micro-Coaxial Connector, Sayed Mobin, Xu Wang

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes techniques to passively improve channel length constraints in camera systems. Per techniques of this disclosure, a micro-coaxial cable is utilized in the camera module subsystem to enable extension of the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) C-PHY channel length. The camera module is connected to the main logic board (MLB) by using a micro-coaxial cable and a micro-coaxial connector. The camera module subsystem further includes an interposer board that is utilized to connect the camera side flexible printed circuit (FPC). The interposer board includes a micro-coaxial connector to enable the MLB side connection and a B2B connector to …

Identifying Ideal Stellar Candidates In Gaia For Future Precise Angular Accelerations, Chloe Alannah Marini

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

The Basis Expression Problem In Elliptic Curve Cryptosystems, Tucker Quering

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.