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Sheep Wagons & Wheels: How the Ivan Doig Archive Brought Digital Inclusivity to the Big Sky Country State Fair
No full textAccording to the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), digital equity is defined as “a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy” (2017). NDIA further explains that digital equi-ty is “necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to es-sential services” (2017). Article X, Section 1 of the Montana Constitution states, “it is the goal of the people to establish a system of education which will develop the full educational potential of each per-son. Equality of educational opportunity is guaranteed to each person of the state” (Montana Legisla-tive Services, 2017), while Title 22, Part. 4 states that the purpose of libraries is “to provide the bene-fits of quality public library service to all residents of Montana”, which includes “building digitally inclusive communities” (American Library Association, 2015). In the summer of 2017, two Montana libraries, one public and one academic, teamed up to achieve this purpose by bringing quality library service to an unlikely crowd by collaborating with their local county fair
Synergistic Effects of Road Closure, Climate and Vegetation Change on Elk Counts: Implications for Management
Get PDFIncreasing our understanding of the effects motor vehicles have on elk populations is vital to their management and past research has consistently shown that elk avoid roads and traffic. However, the fine-scale impact of traffic volume is rarely quantified and the environmental context experienced by elk at the time of disturbance is systematically ignored in these studies. We use an experimental design where roads are opened or closed to motorized traffic at specific times of year, and where motorized traffic has been quantified. We provide an environmental context to the study of the impacts of road closure on elk counts by accounting for climatic and vegetation changes over the course of the study. We specifically quantify the impact of road access, vegetation green-up, and snow dynamics on Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) counts along the main road in the Gros Ventre River drainage, WY, before and after two gates were sequentially opened to the public during the spring and early summer of 2010–2014. Elk counts increased with snow depth along the main road, and counts decreased as snow receded and vegetation greened over a 5-year period (p < 0.001). An increase in vehicle traffic resulted in a significant decline in elk counts (p < 0.001), which decreased at a rate of 1.42% for each unit increase in vehicle traffic. Our results indicate that gate closures in the Gros Ventre River Drainage decreased vehicle-related anthropogenic disturbance for elk, and that environmental variables affect elk counts and distribution further. Wildlife managers should consider both motorized vehicle traffic and the environmental context elk experience when managing road access in elk habitat
How Far Have They Slithered? Genetic Variation Among Garter Snakes in Western Montana
No full textSnake gene flow across wide geographic regions is poorly understood. Limited sampling opportunities and the challenges posed by microsatellite analysis often prevent researchers from assessing the impact of topographic barriers and the influence of human settlement on the genetics of snake populations. Last year we demonstrated that SNPs significantly improve our understanding of Isolation by Distance for both species of garter snake in Western Montana. Since then we have initially analyzed larger sample sets of Wandering Garters (N=192) and Common Garters (N=160). These samples were obtained at 77 sites during the 2014-2017 seasons. With these samples we hope to initially understand gene flow on both sides of the Continental Divide. Moreover, herpetologists traditionally assumed that the Continental Divide instigated a subspecies barrier for Common Garters. We hope to determine the efficacy of this assumption in the initial analysis of our data
Limited Permit Mule Deer Buck Hunting Restrictions in Eastern MT- Historical Information, Analysis and Public Expectation of Hunting District 652
No full textHunting District 652 is a limited permit mule deer buck only area, found along the east side of Fort Peck Lake in FWP Administrative Region 6. The district was initially established in 1987 to meet public desire to produce “more and bigger mule deer bucks”. Population and harvest objectives were established within the Mule Deer Adaptive Harvest Management (2001) guidelines. Mule deer demographics in this district are monitored annually through post-season aerial survey methods. Hunting and harvest metrics are monitored through an annual survey of successful permit applicants via a mailed questionnaire, along with request for a front incisor for cementum age analysis. We reviewed these data to assess whether management objectives set for HD 652 are being met for buck:doe ratios, density of deer and age structure of harvested bucks. These data were compared to similar mule deer buck data from other general hunting season districts collected at the Havre Check Station. During most years since its inception, management objectives set forth for hunting district 652 are met. The general deer season structure is also producing similar metrics during those years. Wildlife managers considering adapting a limited permit mule deer hunting district should have a clear picture of the public's desired outcome for such a season structure, as they relate to measurable management objectives and the likelihood of meeting public expectation
Nest Success, Behavior, and Disturbance of Two Nightjar Species in Western Montana (Poster)
No full textThe Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nutallii) and Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) are two nocturnal species breeding in western Montana. These ground-nesting insectivores deploy similar reproductive strategies, but have unique behavioral adaptations for nest success. From 2015-2018, we used cameras and monitoring to document phenology, disturbance, and success at 20 Common Poorwill and 14 Common Nighthawk nests. Poorwills arrived from mid-April to May, and laid their first eggs in May to early June. Nighthawks arrived a full month later, and initiated nests soon after arrival. Both sexes of poorwills incubate, brood and feed chicks. Poorwills often had two nests per breeding season. In contrast, just female nighthawks performed nesting duties, and their late arrival allowed for only one nest in a season. We documented disturbances from six different intruder types, from insects like grasshoppers, to rodents like chipmunks. We observed nine behavioral responses to intruders, including flushing off the nest, defensive posturing, and standing over or beside the nest. Poorwill and nighthawk nests were disturbed most by humans, unknown intruders, and rodents. Poorwills were most likely to flush off of nests upon disturbance, while nighthawks often defended the nest with aggressive posturing. Of the nests that we could determine fate, we confirmed failure at eight poorwill (40%) and two nighthawk (12.5%) nests. Most poorwill nests failed when nestlings were left unattended by adults. We don’t know what caused nighthawk nest failure. Future monitoring may give more understanding of how nest disturbances impact nesting success in both poorwills and nighthawks
Science Education Exploration
No full textWhat inspires college-bound people to enter science-related majors? This question is critical to understanding the complex issue of getting more people to go into STEM fields in order for the USA to remain competitive and to advance our economy and society. The objectives of this study was to: explore what variables have influenced undergraduate student’s decision to select a science-related major at Montana Tech; gain an understanding of students’ attitudes toward K-12 education; examine the influences from K-12 teachers; and explore the level of external support to choose a science major. I hypothesized that studying these influences, along with prior research, would lead to a greater understanding of students who selected a science major as well as reveal ideas of how to support and recruit a diverse group of students for these majors. My research indicates that over half of our responders felt that their K-12 education prepared them for college and that their favorite subject influenced their chosen major. A new understanding could lead to improved techniques in science education in the Montana school systems, including high school and elementary, to engage and interest the students
Chicken Tail Vertebral Fusion Sheds Light on a Human Backbone Disease
No full textAnkylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory disease that causes vertebral fusion, affecting approximately 0.6% of the US population. Genome-wide association studies have shown that over 90% of AS patients harbor the HLA-B27 allele, which is associated with the histocompatibility complex. Still, underlying cellular mechanisms of AS are little understood, and a trigger has not been identified. Since AS mechanisms are difficult to study in humans, we require a suitable animal model. The chicken naturally fuses four of its last tail vertebrae during post-hatching growth, forming a compound bone called the pygostyle. As part of this fusion process, cartilaginous intervertebral discs remodel to become bone, and the nuclei pulposi at the centers of the discs completely degrade. How do chicken discs mineralize and does this phenomenon follow a similar path as human AS? We have observed several analogous features between chicken and AS vertebral fusion, including tissue bands bridging fusing vertebrae and fat deposits at the base of fusing vertebrae. Also, we observe an infiltration of neutrophil-like cells, suggesting that chicken vertebral fusion, like in AS, involves the immune system. Histology stains indicate that mineralization is present, but osteoid and osteoclasts are absent; fusion does not occur by endochondral ossification. We hypothesize this phenomenon represents the unusual transchondral ossification, where chondrocytes transform into osteoblasts. Currently, we’re testing for cell death using TUNEL assays. Cell deaths would suggest that chondrocytes are dying not transforming. A possible trigger scenario involves transdifferentiation of disc chondrocytes into osteoblasts. Dying notochordal cells may cause the release of Complement 3 which facilitates transchondral ossification by recruiting neutrophil cells and promotes transdifferentiation of chondrocytes to osteoblasts. Finally, this study provides insights into AS mechanisms and elevates the chicken as an animal mode
Comparison of Words and Phrases Used for Categories in Risk Assessment Matrices
No full textOccupational safety has moved from a rule-based practice to a progression making use of risk assessments. A core assessment tool in risk assessment is a risk matrix consisting of two or three categories for assessing a hazard. This project addressed the words and used to define the categories of severity, likelihood and exposure frequency. We identified from literature 16 words for each category and created a 16-page paper survey to obtain numerical ratings of all of the words. After obtaining Institutional Review Board approval, we surveyed senior engineering design courses and an OSH senior course. These courses were selected because the students are likely to be involved in risk assessments during their career. Respondents rated each word on a 100-point rating scale. An initial quality check was performed to identify respondents who made reasonable efforts and understanding to provide a genuine rating. Data from the selected booklets were used to determine the mean and standard deviation of each word. The last phase of the analysis involved Montana Tech Occupational Safety and Health faculty with professional credentials to identify recommended word sets. We had 82 qualified survey results. The faulty meeting resulted in recommended sets of ordered words of 3, 4, 5 and 6 word-sets for severity, likelihood and exposure. For example, an exposure category we recommend a 4-word categorization of very frequent, frequent, infrequent and very infrequent with mean values of 85, 72, 23, and 15, respectively
Design, Build, and Testing of Resonant Air Compressor
No full textMechanical resonance of a system is achieved when the oscillation amplitude of a system is maximized and the resultant velocity and input force are in phase. In theory, a vacuum pump running at resonance should be more efficient when compared to an off-the-shelf air compressor. The focus of this project was to build a resonant compressor, obtain efficiency values from that compressor, and compare those values to that of an off-the-shelf compressor. An off-the-shelf air compressor was tested by pulling a vacuum of a bell jar while collecting data for every 100 mmHg of vacuum that was pulled to the vacuum pressure of 400 mmHg. The values collected were the current, voltage, power, and time it took to reach each vacuum value. In building the resonant air compressor various pieces were printed using 3D printing technology, machining various parts out of steel, and purchasing steel springs. In the design of the new compressor, the piston and valving from the off-the-shelf compressor were used. A copper wire was coiled around a 3D printed bobbin and the compressor was assembled. Alternating current was sent through the copper wire and the current, voltage, and power values were all collected during the same vacuum test as previously defined. These values were then compared to the values collected from the off-the-shelf air compressor