Montana State University Research Articles

Investigating the benefits of viewing nature for components of working memory capacity

Prior work regarding nature's benefits to different working memory capacity processes is mixed within the existing literature. These mixed results may be due to an emphasis on tasks rather than focusing on construct validity and the underlying mental processes they are intended to measure. When considering underlying process, all might be sensitive to the benefits of nature or perhaps only specific processes of working memory capacity will receive these benefits. Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan, 1995) would specifically predict that attentional control is the most likely process to benefit from interacting with nature. To address this possibility, three studies investigated whether working memory capacity and its component processes of attentional control, primary memory, and secondary memory benefit from viewing nature images. Montana State University students completed two tasks with a nature or urban image viewed before a block of trials that measured either working memory capacity (Experiment 1), attentional control (Experiment 2), or primary/secondary memory (Experiment 3). Results revealed higher performance after viewing nature images compared to urban images for attentional control but not for working memory capacity or either of its underlying memory components. These results are discussed with respect to the importance of current psychometric standards of measuring behavior when investigating the potential influence of nature on cognition.

Establishing an indoor agriculture system at a rural Montana PreK‐12 school creates hands‐on experiences for college seniors studying horticulture

AbstractIn 2022, seniors studying horticulture at Montana State University (MSU; Bozeman, MT) had the opportunity to participate in a unique community‐based learning project in collaboration with the newly built PreK‐12 public school in the rural town of Winifred, MT, to establish the greenhouse infrastructure to be used in curriculum at the school. The new greenhouse facility presented an opportunity for Winifred students to not only gain experience growing vegetables, but also to provide a source of fresh vegetables for school lunches and for community members. This course presented two unique opportunities for the MSU horticulture students: (1) to experience problem‐solving horticultural challenges through designing and troubleshooting the setup of the cropping systems for the greenhouse and (2) to participate in a course with a real‐world impact on improving food security in rural areas of Montana. Over the course of the semester, the MSU students successfully established the infrastructure for the Winifred School greenhouse, which has continued to be integrated into the curriculum as well as providing fresh produce for students and community members. By the end of the course, MSU students demonstrated program learning outcomes including demonstrating the content knowledge and skills necessary to function successfully in a horticultural career and being able to identify and analyze plant growth problems and develop solutions or strategies to solve those problems.

Archaeology Out of Ice

Archaeology Out of Ice (AOOI) is a traveling exhibit currently installed at the Yellowstone Gateway Museum in Livingston, Montana. AOOI was created by Craig M. Lee (Montana State University), Gregory Pederson (US Geological Survey), Dave McWethy (Montana State University), Shane Doyle (Native Nexus), and Nathan Chellman (Desert Research Institute).

4 Utilizing SmartFeed Pro and SuperSmart Feeders for applied beef cattle research

Abstract Designing research for applied beef cattle production systems has always presented challenges for Land Grant University and USDA Scientist. Specifically, creating study designs that have enough replication for statistical inference has often prompted scientists to use designs that do not closely replicate actual production systems. Past research has often used multiple replications (pens/paddocks/pastures) that utilize replication (group averages; 4 – 8 animals) means as the experimental unit. While effective in measuring average treatment responses, these types of study designs do little to describe the actual individual animal behavior and performance in a more practical production environments. Approaches to increasing statistical observations in actual production environments will be discussed in this presentation. Embracing new technologies such as GPS, activity monitors, EID tags, and feed intake monitors (C-Lock Inc, GrowSafe) combined with multiple regression modeling tools can aid in designing and publishing beef cattle production research in actual beef production environments. Research at Montana State University has utilized SmartFeed Pro and SuperSmart Feeders for strategic supplementation research on extensive rangelands and dry-land pastures for the past seven years. Results of these studies have evaluated self-fed (salt-limited; loose, pelleted, and baked molasses blocks) as well as hand-fed supplements where daily intakes are limited by the locking gate on the feeder. This presentation will summarize these studies with a focus on research designs that were successful and/or unsuccessful in respect to characterizing beef cattle performance in production settings. Our goal will be to assist the audience in the application of feed intake technology in designing future applied beef cattle research.

The Báa nnilah Program: Results of a Chronic-Illness Self-Management Cluster Randomized Trial with the Apsáalooke Nation.

Indigenous people in Montana are disproportionately affected by chronic illness (CI), a legacy of settler colonialism. Existing programs addressing CI self-management are not appropriate because they are not consonant with Indigenous cultures in general and the Apsáalooke culture specifically. A research partnership between the Apsáalooke (Crow Nation) non-profit organization Messengers for Health and Montana State University co-developed, implemented, and evaluated a CI self-management program for community members. This article examines qualitative and quantitative program impacts using a pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial design with intervention and waitlist control arms. The quantitative and qualitative data resulted in different stories on the impact of the Báa nnilah program. Neither of the quantitative hypotheses were supported with one exception. The qualitative data showed substantial positive outcomes across multiple areas. We examine why the data sets led to two very different stories, and provide study strengths and limitations, recommendations, and future directions.

Pea leaf weevil, Sitona lineatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), adult feeding preference and larval development on pulse crop varieties in Montana.

Montana accounts for approximately 45% of US dry pea production and the pea leaf weevil (PLW; Sitona lineatus (L.)) is the most common insect pest in this region. After crop emergence adult PLW feed on the foliage to mature and subsequently mate, and the soil-dwelling larvae feed and develop on the nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Producers commonly apply prophylactic insecticide treatments to the seed at planting as well as one or two post-emergent insecticide sprays to control PLW damage. To develop alternative management strategies based on integrated pest management (IPM), this field study evaluated pulse crops grown in Montana for adult feeding preference and larval development. Ten different field pea varieties, along with two faba bean, lentil and chickpea varieties, were evaluated during the 2020 and 2021 field seasons at the Montana State University Arthur H. Post Agronomy Farm. Significant PLW pest pressure was observed within the research plots during both experimental years. Field pea and faba bean were preferred by the foliage feeding adult stage, with all but one variety averaging 39.2 to 86.3 average notches per plant. The pea variety Lifter was significantly preferred over all other comparisons, averaging 142.4 and 95.0 notches per plant in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Adult PLW feeding on lentil and chickpea was minimal, averaging 3.3 to 8.2 and 0.5 to 1.6 notches per plant, respectively. Numbers of larvae were highest on the roots of pea varieties, a known reproductive host, and almost nil on lentil and chickpea roots. Faba bean is also known as reproductive host, but, unexpectedly, larval populations were also low on the two faba bean varieties. The results from this study provide some limited evidence for alternative IPM strategies for field peas based on host plant tolerance or resistance within the range of varieties tested. Adult preference and larval development of PLW varied between the different pulse crops with field peas and faba beans being the most susceptible and lentils and chickpeas being the least susceptible. Host plant resistance against PLW could provide more sustainable IPM approaches in the future. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Nourishing student success and wellbeing: Unveiling the impact of food environments on student food security challenges through a case study from Montana

Food insecurity among U.S. college and university students surpasses respective levels in the general population. Previous research has primarily focused on demographic and economic explana­tions, neglecting other risk factors such as student place of residence and specific food environments. In addition, most studies have been conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, which further exacerbated food security challenges. To address these gaps, our comprehensive case study at Montana State University (MSU) assessed risk factors for student food insecurity, considering food access and the students’ food environments. From March to November 2020, we collected online survey responses from a diverse sample of 443 MSU students. Approximately one–third experienced food insecurity during this period, with their food insecurity status linked to housing type and academic level. Despite students' reported knowledge of healthy diets and cooking skills, consuming inadequate and insufficient food had a significant impact on their dietary quality, well-being, and physical and mental health. Just under half of the surveyed students (44%) reported increased difficulties in accessing food due to the pandemic. Addressing food insecurity among college students is crucial for their well-being and academic success, not only because of additional stressors such as COVID-19. Dealing with food insecurity requires improving economic situations and creating a reliable and diverse food environ­ment that ensures affordable, healthy, safe, conven­ient, desirable, and sustainable food options. Spe­cial increased support from universities and gov­ernments should be given to students living off-campus. By recognizing these unique challenges and implementing targeted interventions, we can foster a supportive food environment for students.

Stretch broken carbon fiber for primary wind turbine structure

Stretch broken carbon fiber (SBCF) composites offer significant benefits over conventional continuous fiber composites. These include the greatly enhanced formability of unidirectional tape form products prior to cure without any compromise on the mechanical performance after curing. The recent work performed under the US Army funded Stretch Broken Carbon Fiber for Primary Aircraft Structure program by Montana State University (MSU) is reviewed, along with the results achieved by previous efforts to develop this technology. The achievement of shorter stretch break lengths to improve formability is a principal objective of the work and a successful achievement of the recent efforts. In addition, alternate means of manufacturing SBCF prepregs are discussed, including conventional spooled fiber presentation suitable for running on current prepregging equipment, as well as a newly developed direct to prepreg approach, where the stretch breaking of the fibers is done in-line with the prepregging process. While aerospace primary structure has been the focus of current research efforts, applications in other industries such as wind turbine blades are also obvious areas of applications for SBCF technology.

THE USAGE OF COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (CAM): PREVALENCE, HEALTH LITERACY, BELIEFS AND SELF-MANAGEMENT AMONG PEOPLE WITH HYPERTENSION IN A RURAL AREA, PAHANG

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is believed to have had health benefits in treating hypertension in past decades, especially in rural areas. However, CAM is often not supported by scientific evidence. Thus, awareness of the possible toxicity of CAM in the self-management of health is crucial. This study aims to identify CAM users’ prevalence, beliefs, health literacy, and examine the associated factors for the self-management of hypertension. This cross-sectional study used a set of questionnaires consisting of demographic data, health-related characteristics, the Montana State University CAM Health Literacy Scale, the Hypertension Self-Care Activity Level Effect (H-SCALE), and the Beliefs About Medicine Questionnaire (BMQ). The study employed simple random sampling, and it was conducted in four health clinics located in Jerantut, Pahang, from January 2021 to May 2021. The analysis involved a total of 233 hypertensive patients. The study found that 60.9% (n = 142) of the participants used CAM within the last 12 months to treat hypertension, with herbs (n = 71, 50%) being the most preferred alternative medication. Most of the respondents had adequate health literacy regarding CAM usage (mean 44.50 ± 5.67) and held a positive perception toward CAM with Specific-Necessity (mean 17.61 ± 2.91) higher than Specific-Concern (mean 15.02 ± 3.40). The results showed that 96.1% (n = 224) reported adherence to alcohol cessation, 65.7% (n = 153) reported adherence to taking medication, 62.7% (n = 146) reported adherence to quitting smoking, 39.9% (n = 93) reported adherence to good weight management, 25.3% (n = 59) reported adherence to active physical activity, and only 14.2% (n = 33) reported adherence to take a healthy diet. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the female gender was linked to non-adherence with taking medication while having higher health literacy was related to greater adherence to medication. The study also found that female gender was associated with non-adherence with quitting smoking, which was accompanied by a higher belief about medication specificnecessity. In contrast, older age was related to better adherence to quitting smoking. Factors such as being female, having longer disease duration, and having higher health literacy were associated with non-adherence with weight management, while having formal education and a stronger belief in the importance of specific medication were linked to greater adherence to weight management. The study found that a higher belief in the importance of specific medication and being female were related to non-adherence with quitting alcohol use. This study may provide a better understanding of CAM usage among people with hypertension with significant concerns over safety and interaction with the standards prescribed treatment. Further intervention is needed to decrease the possibility of complications and optimize self-management of hypertension with the use of CAM.

The God of Chance and Purpose: Divine Involvement in a Secular Evolutionary World

The God of Chance and Purpose: Divine Involvement in a Secular Evolutionary World

Efficacy and economics of light‐activated sensor‐controlled sprayer for site‐specific weed control

AbstractAn increasing cost of controlling herbicide‐resistant weeds necessitates the development of cost‐effective weed control strategies in the semi‐arid U.S. Great Plains. Two separate field studies were conducted in 2013 and 2014 at the Montana State University Southern Agricultural Research Center near Huntley, MT to (1) evaluate a light‐activated sensor‐controlled (LASC) sprayer compared to a broadcast sprayer for effectiveness and cost savings for weed control in postharvest wheat (Triticum aestivum) stubble, and (2) determine the efficacy of LASC sprayer operated at two different speeds for weed control in fallow fields. Results indicated that both LASC and broadcast sprayers performed similarly for the effectiveness of a majority of herbicides tested on kochia [Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott] and prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola L.). Paraquat alone or in tank‐mixture with linuron, and saflufenacil + 2,4‐D provided 93%–100% control of kochia, 98%–100% control of prickly lettuce, and reduced the total weed biomass by 75%–80% at 28 days after treatment (DAT), regardless of the sprayer used. A simple comparative economic analysis revealed that LASC sprayer reduced the overall chemical use by 23%–55% and resulted in cost savings of $5.83–$30.83 ha−1 across herbicide treatments. Herbicide efficacy was reduced up to 20% for kochia and prickly lettuce control when applied with LASC sprayer at a speed of 16 versus 8 km h−1. Altogether, these results indicate that the LASC sprayer can provide cost‐effective, site‐specific weed control in no‐tillage chemical fallow or postharvest wheat stubble.

Register for the 2023 Northwest Regional Meeting

The Montana Section of the American Chemical Society is hosting the 77th Northwest Regional Meeting (NORM) June 28–30 at Montana State University. The conference theme, “Chemistry, Elevated,” sets the tone for presenting transformative research in the mountainous landscape of southwestern Montana. For more details, visit norm2023.org. Conference highlights. There will be a welcome address by ACS president Judith C. Giordan and a plenary lecture by Montana State University professor Joan Broderick on Wednesday evening. Thursday’s technical sessions will include two sessions honoring Broderick’s research in bioinorganic chemistry. Thursday afternoon, a session titled “Generation and Applications of Quantum States of Light” will highlight research affiliated with the US National Science Foundation’s MonArk Quantum Foundry . Recent progress in nuclear materials processing, another strong area of research in this region, will be highlighted in two sessions on Friday. Other technical sessions will cover topics in analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, as

Scaffolding collective agency curriculum within food-systems education programs

Collective agency (CA) can be defined as the shared understanding, will, and ability of a heterogenous group to take action and work together toward a common goal. We are motivated by the premise that CA is central to meeting the challenges inherent to 21st century food systems. These challenges include maintaining sustainable agricultural production and meeting nutritional needs of a growing population while protecting the climate, wildlife, soil, air and water quality, and enhancing equity, inclusion and justice for those who work in or engage with these systems. Given the importance of CA in food systems, university programs focused on food systems must address it. To date, despite many calls for higher education to build skills in CA, implementation has been minimal. Single courses addressing CA exist in some program-level curricula, but we know of no previous efforts in food-systems degree programs to systematically cultivate CA across their curriculum through scaffolding, i.e., interconnection and integration of learning activities across courses, so as to enhance their complementarity and impact. We (a consortium of university faculty building food systems curricula, located at University of British Columbia, Montana State University, and University of Minnesota) developed our approach to teaching CA through an action-research process, conducted during 2019–2022. In this paper, we report on our process and outline an emergent conceptual model of a curriculum for CA that can be embedded within broader, program-level food systems curricula. We describe its elements and share our experiences in implementing these elements. We conclude by describing current efforts to further develop CA curricula in the context of food-systems degree programs.

Jack Dwayne Farmer April 18, 1947-February 22, 2023.

Jack Dwayne Farmer April 18, 1947-February 22, 2023.

111 Regional Expansion of a TL1 Program to Serve the 5 State Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho Region

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The ITHS TL1 program is designed to grow trainees’ competence and knowledge in translational research. Our objective is to expand the program to the 5-state Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI) region by establishing a TL1 cohort at Montana State University (MSU). METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Interdisciplinary training at the predoctoral level is ideal for preparing the future translational workforce. At this stage in their training, they have developed disciplinary expertise but have not yet narrowed their specializations. By expanding the TL1 program to include both University of Washington (UW) and MSU we are amplifying the robust academic research networks of both institutions, particularly programs in rural health equity, rural and tribal populations, and emerging infectious diseases. Using a collaborative, online educational model we will bring together trainees in a multi directional, joint training effort utilizing existing and emerging collaborations. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The anticipated outcome is to create a single program by bringing together a cohort of scholars from various disciplines spanning the translational science spectrum, with diverse types of research experience which enables them to learn from each other in a diverse setting. This will allow the program to more effectively grow trainee’s competencies and knowledge in multidisciplinary translational research methodology, as well as build skills in team science and cross-disciplinary communication. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: If successful, the ITHS TL1 program will prepare translational scientists with an awareness of diverse perspectives and contemporary research challenges. This would benefit the 5 state WWAMI region, which covers 27% of the total land mass of the US.

90 Developing a Clinical and Translational Research Pathway Across Three Health Sciences Disciplines

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The design and phased roll-out of a CTSA competency-based longitudinal Clinical and Translational Research (CTR) curriculum pathway that can be integrated into the training of health sciences professional degree programs at three regional institutions. The outcome will be an increased number of health science professionals participating in CTR. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Based on an environmental scan, student surveys to assess interest, and feedback from regional stakeholders, a CTR pathway program was developed. The pathway curriculum will be grounded in 6 key focus areas derived from the Core Competencies in Clinical and Translational Research and prioritized based on regional need. The CTR pathway is currently being developed for the University of Washington School of Medicine, with additional implementations at the Washington State University School of Pharmacy and the Montana State University School of Nursing. Students will complete training modules and a mentored research project that is integrated into their specific course of study. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: In addition to the initial assessments and curriculum, an Advisory Committee will be established. Mentors, site leads, and research project partnerships across the region will be identified. Modifications will be made according to the local needs at both Montana State University and Washington State University. After the pilot launch and roll-out, the pathway curriculum will be adapted for other disciplines based on input from content experts and pathway evaluation data. Student retention in CTR fields will be tracked, with a goal to increase the number of CTR investigators and professionals across WWAMI in the next decade. CTR pathway processes and training resources will be shared with the CTSA consortium and other health sciences professional training sites. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Development of the CTR workforce is a priority to increase national capabilities in clinical and translational science. Building on a recognized need for targeted and longitudinal engagement, a CTR pathway is being established for health sciences students in the WWAMI region.

Cluster Amplitudes and Their Interplay with Self-Consistency in Density Functional Methods.

The front cover artwork is provided by the Mosquera group at Montana State University, Bozeman. The image shows theoretical elements involved in the density-functional calculations that are free of spurious fractional charges. Read the full text of the Research Article at 10.1002/cphc.202200592.

Identification and Prevalence of Seedborne Botrytis spp. in Dry Pea, Lentil, and Chickpea in Montana.

Botrytis spp. cause gray mold and are significant pathogens of pulse crops (dry pea, lentil, and chickpea). Seedling infection can result in plant stunting and death. In this study, 100 Botrytis isolates were recovered from pulse crop seed samples that were submitted to the Regional Pulse Crop Diagnostic Laboratory at Montana State University. Nine Botrytis spp. were found to be associated with pulse seeds in Montana based on a combination of cultural characteristics; the amplification of partial sequences of the G3PDH, HSP60, and RPB2 genes; and phylogenetic analysis. Botrytis cinerea (n = 54) was the predominant species, followed by B. euroamericana (n = 22) and B. prunorum (n = 11). There were a few isolates of B. mali and five novel Botrytis spp. that included one cryptic species. To determine the pathogenicity and aggressiveness of the isolates, dry pea cultivar Lifter, lentil cultivar Richlea, and chickpea cultivar Sierra, detached leaves were inoculated using mycelial plugs. Lesion diameter produced by Botrytis isolates on three hosts differed (P < 0.05). Aggressiveness of B. cinerea was high in all three hosts and varied among the tested isolates. Spore inoculations were conducted on greenhouse-grown dry pea, lentil and chickpea plants using one sporulating isolate each of B. cinerea, B. prunorum, and Botrytis sp. 1. Results indicated that these isolates were pathogenic on the tested hosts. This study illustrates that many species of Botrytis are associated with pulse crop seed in Montana and can be aggressive on multiple crops, which may have implications for disease management.

Exploring the world hot springs: A bibliometric analysis of global trends in metagenomics research

The aim of the present study is to utilize bibliometric analytical tools to examine the trends in research publications within the hot spring metagenomics field. To achieve this, an in-depth exploration of the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases was undertaken to recognize scholarly articles within this research domain that were published from 2005 to 2022. As a result, a dataset consisting of 377 articles was obtained. The VOSviewer, RStudio, MS Excel, and MS Access were utilized to investigate the annual publication trend, the most productive journals, organizations/authors/countries, authorship and citation patterns, the most cited documents/articles, and the co-occurrence of keywords. According to the findings, the initial article related to hot spring metagenomics was published in 2005. At the end of 2010, the number of published articles was merely 27. However, since then, there has been a significant rise in the yearly number of publications, and post-2010, more than 20 articles have been published every year. The countries with the highest publication output in the field of hot spring metagenomics from 2005 to 2022 were the United States, India, China, and Japan. Montana State university, University of Nevada, Pennsylvania State University, and Bigelow laboratory for ocean sciences all from US have been most active organizations working in this field. The authors who have the highest number of citations, with Ward M. having 1202 and Bryant A. having 1173, also have the greatest total link strength (TLS) of 643 and 653, respectively. Around 11.40 % of the articles published across various sources and journals were contributed by Frontiers in Microbiology, which had the highest number of publications. Bryant's research article, published in 2007 in the Science journal, about phototrophic microbial mats in alkaline siliceous hot springs, has the highest citation score of 292 as of 2022. This research provides a comprehensive overview of the research landscape in hot spring metagenomics and to identify research trends, patterns, and knowledge gaps in this field. This information could be used by researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to make informed decisions about future research directions and priorities in hot spring metagenomics.

The Ecological Resonance of Imogen’s Journey in Montana’s Parks

In this article Gretchen Minton and Mikey Gray discuss an adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragicomedy Cymbeline that toured Montana and surrounding states in the summer of 2021. Minton’s sections describe the eco-feminist aims of this production, which was part of an international project called ‘Cymbeline in the Anthropocene’, showing how the costumes, set design, and especially the emphasis upon the female characters created generative ways of thinking about the relationship between the human and the more-than-human worlds. Gray’s first-person narrative at the end of each section reflects upon her role of Imogen as she participated in an extensive summer tour across the Intermountain West and engaged with audience members about their own relationship to both theatre and the natural world. This is a story of transformation through environmentally inflected Shakespeare performance during the time of a global pandemic.Gretchen E. Minton is Professor of English at Montana State University, Bozeman, and editor of several early modern plays, including Timon of Athens, Troilus and Cressida, Twelfth Night, and The Revenger’s Tragedy. She is the dramaturg and script adaptor for Montana Shakespeare in the Parks and the co-founder of Montana InSite Theatre. Her directorial projects include A Doll’s House, Timon of Anaconda (see NTQ 145, February 2021), Shakespeare’s Walking Story, and Shakespeare for the Birds. Mikey Gray received her BA in Theatre and Performance from Bard College, New York, with a conservatory semester at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) in Sydney. She has performed in four productions with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, while other actor engagements include Chicago Shakespeare Theater, American Conservatory Theater, Strawdog Theater Company, The Passage Theatre, and McCarter Theatre Center.