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Documents From The October 7, 2026 Meeting Of The Associated Students Of The University Of Montana (Asum), University Of Montana--Associated Students

Senate Meeting Agendas and Minutes, 2007-Present

Agenda and meeting minutes from the October 7, 2026 meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM). The follow resolutions were discussed during the meeting:

SB03-26/27: Resolution Revising ASUM Fiscal Policy Section 12, Subsection 10

SB04-26/27: Resolution Establishing the ASUM Sports Club Ad-Hoc Committee

Does Farm Size Matter In Agricultural Extension Programs? Insights From Us Agriculture Census Data, Pilja Vitale, Joshua Campbell, Jeffrey Vitale, Michael Patrick, John Garlisch

Journal of Extension

This commentary examines how farm size influences agricultural Extension programs in the United States, highlighting disparities between large and small farms. While large farms dominate production through advanced technologies and economies of scale, small farms are vital for food security, community well-being, and cultural preservation. Key differences include water use, labor, machinery, marketing, financial management, and food safety practices. Extension programs address these disparities through tailored initiatives such as financial literacy training for small farms and technology adoption workshops for large ones. This analysis emphasizes the need for targeted and inclusive Extension programming to enhance sustainability and equity across farm …

Bridging The Gap From Farm To Table Why Today's Youth Are Disconnected And How Extension Can Reconnect Them, Melissa L Bright

Journal of Extension

Despite growing interest in food sustainability, many youth remain unaware of where their food comes from and how it reaches their plates. The farm-to-table movement, intended to connect consumers with local producers, has not effectively engaged the youth demographic. This article advocates for Extension to reframe agricultural education by integrating farm-to-table literacy into youth programs, especially in non-rural areas. It outlines factors contributing to youth disengagement and challenges Extension to take a proactive role in cultivating a generation that not only consumes food but understands its origins, processes, and sustainability implications.

How To Improve Neonatal Beef Calf Health: A Hands-On Workshop Approach, Gabriele Maier, Essam Abdelfattah, Erik Fausak

Journal of Extension

Even though failure or inadequate transfer of passive immunity in beef calves is common, few interventions on the ranch address the issue. A workshop series that used calf simulators and live calves improved rancher knowledge on passive transfer and other topics relevant to neonatal calf health across operation sizes and experience levels. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants expressed a positive attitude towards using pain control for painful procedures in calves, with cost being the most important reason for not using it. Based on participant feedback, roundtable discussions would improve the workshop format.

The Importance Of Social Capital And Community Dynamics For Effective Extension Programming, Samuel Ch Mindes, Katherine Dentzman

Journal of Extension

The Iowa Pest Resistance Management Program was formed to encourage community-level pesticide resistance management. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach collaborated with four Iowa stakeholder communities to establish pilot projects. Despite initial momentum, these programs floundered. We investigated the program's challenges in establishing sustained success in the pilot projects using interviews and focus groups with participants. Our analytical approach considered the critical roles of bonding social capital and bridging social capital in creating entrepreneurial social infrastructure. We provide lessons learned for future community coordination efforts.

Family Farm Succession: Factors Of Business Transfer Intention, Shannon Dill

Journal of Extension

The transfer of farm assets across generations is essential for the continuity and sustainability of farming operations. As the number of farms decreases and the population ages, the need for effective succession planning becomes increasingly urgent. This paper investigates the factors influencing the intention to transfer family farm businesses, providing insights and recommendations. Four critical factors in farm transition were identified: (a) family dynamics and connection to the farm; (b) farm assets, abilities, and innovation for the future; (c) willingness and mechanisms to transfer the farm; and (d) barriers and conflict in farm transfer.

Self And Other, Translingualism And Pan-American Race Thinking In Xul Solar's San Signos, Thomas Genova

Spanish Publications

This article deals with translingualism, race thinking, and Pan-Americanism in Argentine polymath Xul Solar’s Los san signos. The purportedly autobiographic, mystical text is written in Neocriollo, an artificial creole that the author created as a lingua franca for the Americas. Based on visions that he claims to have received using the I Ching, Xul Solar elaborated his work during the 1920s, a period marked by transnational debate on the meaning of Pan-American politics in light of US imperialism and race thinking. Los san signos mobilizes the mystical union of self and Other as a trope for regional unity, …

Project Report: A Pilot Study To Examine Course Syllabi At Stephen F. Austin State University To Select Books For The Ralph W. Steen Library’S Collection, Edward Kownslar

Librarian and Staff Publications

The SFASU library identified and recorded the required books that were listed in the undergraduate course syllabi for English and History for four consecutive years (2023-2026). After checking 1,683 syllabi and classifying and evaluating 1,802 books, the library created a list of titles of titles from the syllabi to purchase for the collection.

Fabrication And In Vitro Evaluation Of A Triphala–Chitosan Nanocomposite Gtr Membrane With Multifunctional Regenerative Potential, Tanmayi Mishra, Priyangha P.T

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

Objective: This study addressed the need for a multifunctional, naturally derived guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membrane by fabricating a Triphala–chitosan nanoparticle-based membrane and evaluating its physicochemical and in vitro biological properties for periodontal regeneration. Triphala provides antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects, while chitosan nanoparticles improve structural stability and cell interactions, offering a novel multifunctional regenerative membrane.
Materials and Methods: An aqueous Triphala extract was prepared, and chitosan nanoparticles were synthesised by ionic gelation. Triphala extract (3% v/v) was incorporated into the nanoparticle suspension (pH 4.5–5.5), cast into membranes, air-dried, neutralised with 1% NaOH, and conditioned. The membranes were characterised by …

Secondary School Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Risk And Protective Factors Associated With A School Shooting, Emily M. Hudson, Susana Verdinelli

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

School shootings have devastating impacts on those directly or indirectly exposed to them. Most school shooters are current or former students. Teachers can play a crucial role in intervening, but their support for intervention strategies can vary depending on their perceptions of the underlying associated factors. This generic qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore 10 secondary education teachers’ perceptions of the risk and protective factors associated with the perpetration of a school shooting. Teachers identified four interrelated domains shaping the risks for and protections against school shooting perpetration: emotional stability and support, the influence of social networks, the normalization …

A Nonlinear Viscoelastic 3d Bellows Microspring Fabricated With Two-Photon Polymerization, Harris J. Hall, Tyler Grunzke, Samuel Campbell, Hengky Chandrahalim

Faculty Publications

In the past decade, two-photon polymerization (TPP) based 3D printing has gained popularity for prototype fabrication of micro and nanoscale structures and mechanical metamaterials. However, practical considerations including response uniformity, nonlinear behaviors, and material aging effects remain challenges for device maturation and are seldom reported. In this work, a pair of cylindrical microscale bellows springs (~ 100 μm diameter), fabricated with a commercial TPP 3D printer, are shown to exhibit nonlinear stiffness profiles under compression (up to ~ 7%), with distinct linear and nonlinear regions, that change significantly after ~ 9–10 months of open air exposure in ambient lab conditions. …

From Familiar Faces To New Spaces: Perceived Social Network Change And Its Association With Loneliness During The Transition To University, Hannah Rachael Slack, Nicola Byrom, Chloe Bate, Aleksandra Hościłowicz, Sophie Homer, Delia Fuhrmann, Juliet Foster, Sarah Crook, Emily Long

School of Psychology

Background: Loneliness among young people is a growing concern, and life transitions can create significant upheaval in social networks. The scale of these changes and their association with loneliness remains underexplored. Objective: This study examined retrospectively recalled changes in network composition and structure across the transition to university and explored associations with loneliness. Methods: We used social network interviews to assess 79 first-year students' networks before and after starting university, measuring loneliness post-transition; 77% of the sample were 18–21 years and 72% were female. Results: Participants recalled substantial change in their network (network churn); on average 58% of social connections …

2026-10-07 In The Age Of Advocacy, Neutrality Is A Choice, Maya Deguzman

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

Preventive Care, Regenerative Biology, And Diagnostic Innovation In Dentomaxillofacial Science: An Editorial Review, Muhammad Ikbal, H. Hasanuddin, Acing H. Mude, Nisrina E. Nasrun, Carolina Stevanie, Erni Marlina, Muhammad Ruslin

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

Objective: To synthesize studies in the Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science (JDMFS, Vol. 11, Iss. 2, 2026) into a coherent account of the field's clinical, biological and public health directions.
Methods: A qualitative thematic synthesis of 13 articles (original articles, systematic reviews, and a case report) published in this issue was performed. The studies were grouped into four domains: public health and patient-centered care, biomaterials, regenerative science and antimicrobial strategies, clinical, surgical and diagnostic innovations, and molecular oncology and rare pathologies. For each, we summarized the knowledge, identified contributions, and outlined research priorities.
Results: Caries risk assessment was the strongest predictor …

Insights From Industry: A Contextualised Analysis Of How Tertiary Accounting Programmes Can Be Redesigned In The Age Of Ai, Lindsay Murray

Irish Journal of Academic Practice

This study examines how artificial intelligence is transforming graduate training in Irish accounting firms and resulting implications for tertiary accounting education. Through qualitative interviews with representatives from top-tier, upper mid-tier, and lower mid-tier firms, the research identifies significant variation in AI adoption across the profession, with larger firms implementing advanced integration while smaller practices adopt more incremental approaches. The findings reveal that entry-level routine tasks are increasingly automated, requiring graduates to develop earlier competency in supervisory, analytical, and governance roles. The study identifies that differing levels of AI integration across firm tiers create unequal graduate exposure, raising concerns about potential …

Developing A Digital Facility Management Framework For Enhancing Operation And Maintenance Of Public Parks In Egypt, Alaa Ezzat, Alia Amer, Yasser M. El Sayed

HBRC Journal

Public parks in Cairo represent important urban assets, however, their operation and maintenance (O&M) face many challenges due to fragmented information, reactive maintenance practices, organizational constraints, and limited digital integration. Digital Facility Management discipline still lacks the tailored framework that adequately addresses the operational needs of public parks in Egypt with all its specific details. This study develops an integrated digital FM framework for improving the efficiency of the management process of public parks. A four-phase methodology was adopted, comprising a literature review, framework development, technical system specification, and expert assessment. The proposed framework integrates BIM, COBie, CMMS, IoT technologies, …

Renewable Research Frontiers In The Weight-Loss Evaluation Of 4-(4-Chlorobenzylideneamino) Antipyrine As An Eco-Friendly Corrosion Inhibitor For Mild Steel In Hcl, Mohanad Muzahem Khalaf, A. M. Mustafa, Ayad Abbood Abdulhasan

AUIQ Conference Proceedings

This study evaluates 4-(4-Chlorobenzylideneamino) antipyrine as an organic corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 1.0 M HCl using weight-loss measurements and SEM surface analysis. The inhibitor produced a clear concentration-dependent protection effect: the corrosion rate decreased from 0.452 mpy for the uninhibited solution to 0.014 mpy at 500 ppm, while the inhibition efficiency increased from 41.84% at 100 ppm to 96.90% at 500 ppm. The adsorption data followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, indicating the formation of a protective adsorbed layer on the steel surface. The calculated Δ Gads value of approximately -29.78 kJ mol-1 suggests spontaneous mixed adsorption involving both …

Wind Energy Pathways Toward Sdg 7 And Sdg 13 For Affordable Clean Energy And Climate Action, Ahmed Jamal Jasim

AUIQ Conference Proceedings

Wind energy has emerged as one of the most cost-competitive and rapidly scalable pathways toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (SDG 13: Climate Action). This review article provides a comprehensive analysis of wind energy technologies, innovation pathways, system integration challenges, and future research frontiers within the dual framework of energy access and climate change mitigation. It covers the full spectrum of wind turbine technologies from established onshore horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) to cutting-edge offshore floating platforms, vertical-axis turbines, and airborne wind energy systems alongside digitalization strategies including artificial …

Battery Energy Storage Systems For Renewable Research Frontiers, Mohanad Muzahem Khalaf, A. M. Mustafa, Ayad Abbood Abdulhasan, Hussain Zuhailawati

AUIQ Conference Proceedings

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) have emerged as a cornerstone technology enabling the large-scale integration of variable renewable energy sources and the transformation of conventional electricity networks into intelligent, resilient, and low-carbon energy systems. This article provides a structured review of BESS within the science-energy (sci-energy) nexus by organizing the discussion around five analytical axes: battery chemistry families, battery management and estimation strategies, thermal and safety engineering, renewable-grid integration pathways, and sustainability and circular-economy issues. The review covers mature lithium-ion systems together with sodium-ion, solid-state, and redox flow batteries, and also examines battery management systems, thermal management, state-of-charge and state-of-health …

Recommendations For Preparticipation Cardiovascular Screening For Athletes In Saudi Arabia: A Consensus Statement From The National Heart Center, Saudi Heart Rhythm Society, And National Center For Sudden Death, Alwaleed Aljohar, Bandar S. Al-Ghamdi, Abdulrahman Y. Sabbagh, Fahad Almehmadi, Fayez Bokhari, Naeem Alshoaibi, Yahya Alhebaishi, Wael Alqarawi

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Vigorous sports participation provides substantial physical and psychological benefits but may be accompanied by a small risk of sudden cardiac arrest and death in individuals with previously unrecognized cardiovascular disease. Preparticipation cardiovascular screening aims to identify athletes at increased risk, facilitate appropriate evaluation and management, and promote safe participation in sport. Despite growing international experience, no national recommendations have previously existed for Saudi Arabia. Recognizing the rapid expansion of organized sports participation driven by Saudi Vision 2030, an expert panel convened to develop consensus recommendations for the implementation of a nationwide preparticipation cardiovascular screening program. A comprehensive review of contemporary …

Academics’ Experiences Of Integrating Open Educational Resources Into Study Guides In Sri Lankan Distance Education, W.M.A.P. Sandamini Fernando, Fareed Mohamed Nawastheen

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Open educational resources (OER) can provide additional learning materials for distance education students. However, limited research has examined academics’ experiences of using OER in distance teacher education study guides. This study examined academics’ perceptions and experiences of integrating OER into the study guides of the Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme at a university offering open and distance education in Sri Lanka. The study used a survey design with 30 purposively selected academics involved in developing courses for the programme. Data were collected through a questionnaire containing 25 items rated on a five-point scale and three open-ended questions. The responses were …

From Consumers To Makers: A Community-Based Model Of The Diy Food And Beverage Kit Ecosystem, Mark Mitchell, Richard Martin, Sheila Mitchell

Atlantic Marketing Journal

The market for do-it-yourself (DIY) food and beverage kits continues to expand as consumers seek experiences that combine convenience, learning, creativity, and participation. This conceptual paper proposes a four-community ecosystem model consisting of consumers, makers, marketers, and consumption communities. Drawing on value co-creation, prosumption, experiential consumption, and diffusion of innovation theories, the model suggests that participation in DIY production transforms consumers into makers, fosters a maker identity, and encourages engagement in product-category consumption communities. Through sharing experiences and outcomes, participants attract new consumers into the marketplace, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of growth. The framework extends value co-creation theory by explaining …

Brand Gravity And Instant Adoption: Consumer Visitation, Loyalty, And Trip Chaining Following The Entry Of A New National Coffee Chain, Mark J. Sciuchetti Jr., Jianping Huang

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This study examines how consumers adopt a strong national brand immediately after its entry into a small regional market. Using anonymized mobile location data from the first twenty-nine weeks of a new Starbucks location in Anniston, Alabama, the analysis evaluates weekly visitation, repeat behavior, visitor origin distance, trip chaining, and temporal demand. The store opened above its subsequent steady state, indicating activation of preexisting demand rather than a gradual diffusion process. Repeat visitors generated 82.6% of visits within the observation window, showing rapid movement from trial to habitual use. The entrant also exhibited a flatter distance decay gradient than adjacent …

Where Shoppers Look First: How Navigation Bar Design Shapes Visual Attention Online, James Coyle, Linh Nguyen, Lee Hillman

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Abstract

Despite the crucial role that a website navigation bar can play in affecting consumer behavior, there has been a lack of theory-driven studies to investigate how to most effectively design navigation bars. Grounded in cognitive fit theory and visual attention theory, this study investigates how the effects of navigation bar design and content can influence visual processing of an unfamiliar online retailer’s website. A total of 40 subjects participated in a controlled experiment in which we gathered eye-tracking data. We find that navigation bar placement strongly affects how quickly participants locate the navigation bar: an unexpected placement more than …

Reducing Cognitive Load To Strengthen Customer Engagement: The Strategic Role Of Digital Tools, Neda Mossaei, Maryam Tofighi

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This paper examines how advanced technological interfaces, particularly chatbots and augmented reality, influence customer engagement by reducing the cognitive effort required to interact with firms. As digital tools become increasingly embedded in everyday life, companies are leveraging these technologies to streamline communication, personalize experiences, and foster long-term relational outcomes. Guided by cognitive load theory, this study argues that minimizing mental effort in customer–firm interactions improve engagement by making interactions more seamless and intuitive. At the same time, relationship marketing theory emphasizes that reducing cognitive barriers can cultivate customer engagement, trust, and loyalty over time. Together, these perspectives suggest that implementing …

How Legal Systems Reflect Societal Views Of Nature, Devorah Corvo

Latin American & Caribbean Law Review

Pre-Columbine Indigenous communities differed from European settlers in many ways. One of the most striking differences was the way each group viewed itself in relation to nature and wildlife. Indigenous communities generally did not see themselves as separate from the natural world, while European settlers often viewed themselves as distinct from it. In the United States today, many people care about the environment but are unsure how to protect it. By contrast, pre-Columbian Indigenous communities were so deeply connected to their surroundings that harm to wildlife would have been seen as harm to the community itself. By examining three pre-Columbian …

Digital Media And Its Effect On Domestic And International Copyright, Jasmine Martin

Latin American & Caribbean Law Review

This article explores the history of modern copyright law and identifies the pitfalls of a legal framework built around physical media, such as the doctrines of first sale and fair use. As markets have shifted to digital distribution, these doctrines have been weakened or displaced by licensing regimes that redefine ownership as limited access. The article argues that this transition has systematically eroded consumer rights, allowing copyright holders to impose restrictions through contracts and technological controls that bypass traditional protections.

Lessons From The Fall Of The Roman Empire: The Patent Law Edition, Emma Masters

Latin American & Caribbean Law Review

This article examines the crises threatening the U.S. Patent System through the historical lens of the fall of the Roman Empire, arguing that a loss of predictability and the hollowing out of property rights threaten to dismantle American innovation. Drawing parallels between the Roman Empire’s economic decay and modern legal trends, this piece explores how costly litigation—often surpassing millions of dollars—and the rise of “efficient infringement” among other troubling phenomena, act as a “tax” on innovation that disproportionately stifles small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The U.S Patent System’s original purpose of incentivizing innovation is being compromised by patent thickets, a …

Pandemic Power Plays: Environmental Deregulation & Erosion Of Indigenous Rights In Latin America During Covid-19, Sabrina Prado

Latin American & Caribbean Law Review

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped global politics. Many governments used their emergency powers under the pretense of maintaining public health and sustaining the economy. However, in Latin America, these powers were exploited and the pandemic became a guise for expanding executive powers and propounding corporate friendly rollbacks which weakens environmental protections and minority rights. This paper will examine how emergency laws were used to sidestep the democratic process and facilitate policies that benefited corporate interests at the expense of environmental regulation and indigenous rights specifically. Brazil, Colombia, and Bolivia were three countries whose leaders centralized power and accelerated environmentally destructive policies …

The Silent Bench: How The Chilean Judiciary Failed To Check Pinochet's Executive Power And The Continued Struggle For Judicial Independence, Daniela González García

Latin American & Caribbean Law Review

Although authoritarian regimes are often associated with lawlessness, many consolidate power through carefully crafted legal framework that create the illusion of illegality. Chile under Augusto Pinochet offers a critical case study of this phenomenon. In Chile, Pinochet ushered in his “authoritarian legality” after spearheading a military coup in 1973 that toppled a democratically elected left-wing government. Through Chile’s 1980 Constitution, drafted by hand-picked loyalists and approved in a tightly controlled setting, Pinochet’s regime embedded executive supremacy, restricted judicial review, and transformed Chile’s courts into a silent bench. Applying David S. Clark’s theory that judicial review must be evaluated within a …