Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)

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    Ice-templated ceramic-metal composites modified by interfacial metal aluminates
    (Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Engineering, 2024) Marotta, Amanda Rose; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Stephen W. Sofie; This is a manuscript style paper that includes co-authored chapters.
    Interpenetrating phase (3-3) composites consists of two phases which are fully percolating throughout one system. Research efforts have been made towards routes to fabricate these composites that will allow for them to be utilized for applications like heat spreaders and leading-edge parts. Freeze-tape casting offers a potential avenue for developing 3-3 composites. The system can exhibit complete, long-range alignment through freeze-tape casting, in which both phases of the composite will be in constant periodicity of one another. To explore the potential of such ordering in 3-3 composites, ceramics, such as, yttria- stabilized zirconia (YSZ), alumina (Al 2 O 3) and zirconium diboride (ZrB 2) were freeze-tape casted and sintered to allow for second phase incorporation. Second phases, like copper (Cu) and silicon carbide (SiC) were utilized, so that ceramic-metal (cermet) freeze-tape casted composites and ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC) freeze-tape casted composites could be characterized. Initial composite property predictions were made using rule of mixtures (ROM). The work contained in this dissertation demonstrates that freeze-tape casted 3-3 composites can exhibit novel 3-axial anisotropic thermal behavior, and that, by ordering the percolating phases, high-temperature thermal behavior may be enhanced. This work, also, demonstrated that ceramic-metal interfaces are fragile, exhibiting thermal stress at the interface upon thermal cycling. Fostering interfacial adhesion between metal and ceramic phases is a primary tool for manipulating cermet properties. Common approaches to ceramic-metal joining include metallization and active brazing techniques. Though improvements in mechanical properties are notable, the functional capabilities can be sacrificed. To overcome these limitations, a novel approach, via a metal aluminate (copper aluminate), has been utilized to alleviate thermal stress along a ceramic-metal interface, and maintain adhesion of the ceramic-metal up to 100 psi. Mechanistically, it was not well- understood, as to what role copper aluminate played in modifying ceramic-metal interfaces. Chapter 5 of this work elucidates copper aluminate's role in fostering a ceramic-metal interface. By analyzing the surface and cross-sectional features of the cermet, it is discovered that through the formation of copper aluminate, porosity/roughness occurs to the bulk ceramic, allowing avenues for the metallic phase to penetrate through the thickness, fostering a mechanical interlocked joint.
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    Implementation of the patient health questionnaire- 2 & 9 adolescent modified [PHQ-2 & 9 A] in a pediatric clinical setting: a quality improvement project
    (Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2024) Mock, Devin Michael; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Julie Ruff; This is a manuscript style paper that includes co-authored chapters.
    In Montana, the importance of pediatric depression screening within the pediatric primary care setting cannot be overstated, mainly due to the state's high prevalence of pediatric depression and unique rural challenges. Pediatric primary care is often the first line of defense in identifying and addressing mental health issues in children and adolescents. In such a vast and predominantly rural state, primary care providers play a crucial role in early detection and intervention, overcoming barriers such as limited access to specialized mental health services and cultural stigmas. Effective screening and early intervention strategies immediately benefit the child's mental health and contribute to long-term positive academic and social development outcomes. Integrating mental health services into primary care is essential for improving healthcare outcomes. The American Academy of Pediatrics' current guideline recommends that all children 12 years and older receive annual depression screening using a validated and reliable tool such as the Patient Health Questionnaire- 2 & 9 Adolescent Modified [PHQ-2 & 9 A]. Unfortunately, at an urban Montana pediatric primary care clinic, the number of pediatric patients receiving appropriate screening is below sub-optimal. A Plan, Do, Study, Act cycle was implemented throughout the clinic to increase pediatric depression screening rates through education, reminder-based systems, and standardized hand-off reports.
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    Spectral processing for algae monitoring and mapping (SPAMM): remote sensing methodologies for river ecology
    (Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Engineering, 2024) Logan, Riley Donovan; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Joseph A. Shaw; This is a manuscript style paper that includes co-authored chapters.
    Inland water quality is a growing concern to public health, riparian ecosystems, and recreational uses of our waterways. Many modern water quality programs include measures of the presence and abundance of harmful and nuisance algae. In southwestern Montana, large blooms of the nuisance algae, Cladophora glomerata, have become common in the Upper Clark Fork River due to a combination of warming water temperatures, naturally high phosphorus levels, and an influx of contaminants through wastewater and anthropogenic activity along its banks. To improve understanding of bloom dynamics, such as algal biomass and percent algae cover, and their effects on water quality, a UAV-based hyperspectral imaging system was used to monitor several locations along the Upper Clark Fork River. Image data were collected across the spectral range of 400 - 1000 nm with 2.1 nm spectral resolution during field sampling campaigns across the entirety of the project, beginning in 2019 and ending in 2023. In this dissertation, methodologies for monitoring water quality were developed. These methods include estimating benthic algal pigment abundance using spectral band ratios achieving R 2 values of up to 0.62 for chlorophyll alpha and 0.96 for phycocyanin; creating spatial algae distribution maps and estimating percent algae cover using machine learning classification algorithms with accuracies greater than 99%; combining spatial algae distribution maps and improved pigment estimation using machine learning regression algorithms for creating chlorophyll alpha abundance maps, achieving an R 2 of 0.873, while also comparing abundance values to Montana water quality thresholds; and identifying salient wavelengths for monitoring and mapping algae to inform the design of a low-cost and compact multispectral imager. Throughout all field campaigns, significant spatial variations in algal growth within each river reach and frequent violations of current water quality standards were observed, demonstrating the need for high-spatial resolution monitoring techniques to be incorporated in current water quality monitoring programs.
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    Decreased time-to-treatment delay through clinical guideline implementation for image-guided image biopsies in cancer diagnosis
    (Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2024) O'Dell, Meghan Marie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Molly Secor; This is a manuscript style paper that includes co-authored chapters.
    Background: International guidelines have been established defining the ideal period from referral to diagnosis of malignancy as two weeks. Increased time-to-treatment initiation is associated with a one to three percent increased mortality risk for each week of delayed treatment. Image-guided biopsy has emerged as a transformative tool in cancer diagnosis, impacting the rapid identification and treatment of malignancy. Clinical Problem: A rurally based oncology institute associated with a larger non-profit healthcare system in Montana identified concerns with extended time-to-treatment initiation related to delayed image-guided biopsy. The average wait time for image-guided biopsy was sixty-seven days. Methods: Utilizing the Replicating Effective Programs (REP) Implementation framework, an evidence-based clinical practice guideline was developed to define optimal referral-to-diagnosis timeframe for diagnosis or rule-out of malignancy via image-guided biopsy using the second edition of the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) tool. Interventions: A guideline advisory committee including individuals from relevant professional groups was recruited to act as expert appraisers. Four-phase appraisal of the clinical practice guideline using the AGREE II tool took place over six weeks. The guideline was rated for overall quality based on a seven-point rating scale and appraisers were asked if they would recommend the guideline for use in the target facility. Results: The guideline received an average rating of 6.2 and was recommended for use by 100% of appraisers, with 18% recommending modifications during pre-implementation. During implementation, the guideline received an average rating of 6.7 and was recommended for use by 100 % of appraisers. The final guideline and appraisal data were presented to health system leadership and the guideline was successfully adopted into facility policy. Conclusion: Quality improvement initiatives will need to be implemented to identify and address systems-based complexities that could pose barriers to meeting the goal timeframe as defined by the guideline.
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    Hold fast: cultural resilience in the face of climate change
    (Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2024) LaCalle, John Christian; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Hugo R. Sindelar
    The Cajun Prairie of South Louisiana offers a distinctive lens through which to view the resilience, spirit, identity, and culture of a regional community that is under threat by the impacts of climate change and unsustainable development. Hold Fast explores and captures these struggles using documentary storytelling techniques through the lens of an emblematic subculture in southwest Louisiana in the McNeese State University Rodeo Team. The film presents the challenges of living within a changing climate as the team rebuilds after Hurricane Laura ravaged southwest Louisiana and uprooted their lives in 2020. The short film showcases that in a time of upheaval and widespread displacement, strong cultural identity becomes critical to a community's ability to rebound after disaster. By highlighting the McNeese Rodeo team's journey against the backdrop of Cajun Prairie's challenges, this project seeks to illuminate the interconnectedness of human and environmental stories, showcasing the unwavering spirit of the Cajun community.
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    Impacts of low-tech restoration methods on soil, vegetation, and livestock grazing in Montana�s sagebrush steppe
    (Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2024) Lowing, Nicholas Allen; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Bok Sowell
    In the semi-arid rangelands of western North America, water is a limiting factor for plant growth. In Montana's high elevation rangelands, snowmelt is the primary source of water for ephemeral streams and mesic meadows. Wildlife and livestock rely on these areas especially when surrounding uplands have dried. Less snowpack and early melt times associated with climate change pose a threat to forage resources in this region. In 2018 and 2019, small rock restoration structures were constructed in seven drainages in southwest Montana with the intention of increasing resiliency in these systems. In this study we compare stream reaches with restoration structures to reaches without structures to assess the impacts of this technique on soil moisture, plant cover, diversity, evenness, and production. We observed cattle grazing within and adjacent to treated drainages to determine how they use the landscape. We used soil moisture probes to measure soil water content once per month in June-September of 2021 and 2022. We used 0.5m2 frames to estimate plant cover, diversity, and evenness June-September in both years. At the end of each growing season, vegetation frames were clipped and weighed to estimate production. Soil and vegetation sampling occurred in 54 reaches across 7 drainages. We observed cattle near four treated drainages in mornings and evenings to assess whether cattle prefer mesic or upland areas. Cattle observations occurred in July and August of 2021 and 2022. Using linear fixed effects models, we detected no differences (p > or = 0.05) in soil moisture between treated and untreated reaches during any sampling period. We detected no differences in vegetation cover, richness, diversity, or evenness in 92% of sampling periods. No differences in plant production were detected in 2021 or 2022. Cattle used mesic areas in greater proportion to their abundance on the landscape in both years (p < or = 0.0001). Our results indicate that these structures have not yet had major impacts on soil moisture or vegetation metrics. However, our results indicate that mesic meadows are an important resource for grazing cattle in southwest Montana's high- elevation rangelands, supporting the idea that these areas warrant restoration efforts.
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    Quality improvement project: implementing a standardized postpartum depression screening protocol in an outpatient pediatric setting
    (Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2024) Leaphart, Kassie Marie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Benjamin J. Miller; This is a manuscript style paper that includes co-authored chapters.
    Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) continues to be a common condition following childbirth affecting 1 in 5 birthing parents during the postpartum period. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends screening birthing parents for PPD at well-child visits within the first 6 months of the infant's life. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression scale is a well validated tool used to identify postpartum depression in the birthing parent. Local Problem: A site assessment at an outpatient pediatric clinic identified practice differences among the pediatric providers once a EPDS screen was completed. The provider group expressed interest in standardizing their approach with results of EPDS screens. Methods: To increase screening and referral rates by standardizing care when screening birthing parents for PPD with the utilization of a screening protocol tool. Interventions: A screening protocol was adapted and created with targeted interventions depending on the EPDS score and symptoms expressed by the birthing parent. The protocol utilized for this project was adapted by a stepwise approach protocol created by Olin et al., (2017) called "PPD Stepped Care". Additionally, an educational pamphlet with associated resources was created to aid the providers in creating dialogue about PPD during well-child visits. Results: Surveys revealed most staff and providers within the clinic found screening for PPD to be important for pediatric health and well-being. Screening rates and referral practices improved from baseline data after the implementation of the standardized screening tool. The provider group determined continued use of the standardized screening protocol tool in practice beyond the implementation period for this DNP project. Conclusion: This project provided an outpatient pediatric clinic an improved screening process for PPD and standardized a referral process for birthing parents who have been determined positive using the EPDS tool.
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    Synthetic and mechanistic strategies to achieve unconventional site-selectivity in cross-couplings of dihalo-heteroarenes
    (Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2024) Norman, Jacob Patrick; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Sharon Neufeldt; This is a manuscript style paper that includes co-authored chapters.
    Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings rank among the most powerful methods for constructing substituted biaryls, polyaryls, and heteroarenes. Frequently, di- or polyhalogenated (hetero)arenes are employed as starting materials in cross-couplings to access products with increased structural complexity via multiple cross-coupling or substitution steps. N-heteroarenes bearing multiple reactive handles--such as halides, are of particular interest as starting materials since their cross- coupled products can be medicinally relevant. Non-symmetrical dihalogenated N-heteroarenes typically exhibit a site-selectivity bias for C-X bonds which are adjacent to at least one heteroatom in Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings. However, some Pd catalysts--particularly those with hindered ligands, promote atypical selectivity at distal C-X bonds of 2,X-dichloropyridines and related heterocycles during the selectivity-determining oxidative addition step. This dissertation explores the mechanistic origins of these ligand trends and emphasizes the critical importance of Pd's ligation state--either mono (PdL) or bis (PdL 2), in controlling the site of oxidative addition. Ligation state is also relevant when selecting for the products of mono- vs difunctionalization in cross-couplings of dihalogenated substrates, since bisligated 14 e - Pd dissociates quickly from the monofunctionalized intermediate after an initial cross-coupling cycle, whereas monoligated 12 e - Pd is slow to dissociate and may "ring-walk" to the remaining reactive site(s). Additionally, this dissertation explores alternative methods to access minor regioisomers in cross-couplings of dichloro-azines. One approach involves ligand-free conditions where atypical site-selectivity at dichloropyridines and dichloropyrimidines arises from a change in Pd's speciation from mono- to multinuclearity. Another approach employs a thiolation/Liebeskind-Srogl arylation sequence to achieve site-selectivity which is orthogonal to that of Suzuki-Miyaura couplings.
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    Identification of novel ssDNA and RNA coliphage in wastewater
    (Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2024) Little, Agusta Rio; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Blake Wiedenheft
    Bacteriophages (phages) are the most abundant biological entities on Earth. However, our understanding of their diversity is limited, with a vast gap in knowledge regarding single- stranded DNA (ssDNA) and RNA phages. This study addresses this gap by isolating and characterizing ssDNA and RNA coliphages from wastewater, a suspected rich source of these understudied phages. Traditional phage isolation methods favor double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) phages, resulting in the underrepresentation of ssDNA and RNA phages. To overcome this bias, we employed enrichment strategies using small molecules that inhibit dsDNA phage replication. Additionally, we utilized an RNase-A assay to identify potential RNA phage candidates. These enrichment techniques led to the isolation of a circular ssDNA phage (POI 1) and a ssRNA phage (POI 8). A combination of biochemical assays, sequencing, and microscopy techniques were utilized to characterize these phages. Overall, this work demonstrates the effectiveness of enrichment strategies for isolating ssDNA and RNA phages and underscores the importance of developing optimized techniques to unlock the true diversity of these understudied phage populations.
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    Postpartum depression: standardization of the referral and screening process
    (Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2024) Liedtka-Holmquist, Diana; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Lindsay Benes; This is a manuscript style paper that includes co-authored chapters.
    Approximately 6.5% to 20% of women will experience postpartum depression (PPD), which can have lasting negative effects on both mother and newborn. Universal screening of women for PPD is recommended; however, less than 20% of women undergo guidelines- consistent screening during pregnancy or postpartum. Early identification of PPD through consistent screening, follow-up, and referral can improve maternal outcomes. This project aimed to standardize each part of the process to improve PPD outcomes in a women's health and newborns unit in Western Montana providing comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology, maternal- fetal medicine focusing on high-risk pregnancy and births. The standardized process required RNs to screen all patients with the EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), with scores 13 or greater generating an automatic referral to social work. After receiving the referral, social workers follow up with the patient, addressing concerns, providing education to the patient, and referring to additional resources. Following the implementation of the standardized process, the unit saw an increase in EPDS screening rates from 78% to 92%. Seventy-one percent of patients (5 out of 7) who screened positive on the EPDS received a follow-up by the social worker. Postpartum awareness and education materials identifying signs and symptoms of PPD were provided for all patients and families. Having a plan in place for a positive EPDS screen facilitates effective referral and follow-up treatment for women suffering from postpartum depression allowing for the appropriate intervention.
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