Digital Commons @ Montana Tech

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  Application of Carbon Nanotubes to Kevlar Fabric for Use in Body Armor

  Curtis Baker and Dario Prieto

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  A Ground Penetrating Radar Survey of the Unexcavated 24BE2206 Site Near Dewey, in the Big Hole Valley of Montana

  Jacob Clarke, Andrew Wilson, Michael Masters, and Marvin Speece

  Stone fire hearths and associated sub-surface cultural remains were the target of a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey at a pre-historic Native American archeological site near Dewey, Montana. GPR is a non-invasive geophysical survey technique. The GPR uses a transmitting antenna with a frequency of 1-1000 MHz to emit electromagnetic waves into the ground. The receiving antenna detects reflections caused by boundaries of contrasting electrical properties. As the distance of a survey progresses, ensuing measurements produce an image based on the returning reflections.

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  Evaluating the Function of an Understudied Family of Antiviral Proteins

  Brittnee N. Crane, Hannah E. Sparks, and Joel W. Graff

  Human immune responses to viral infections are associated with the interferon system, which induces the expression of as many as 300 proteins. Many of these proteins are believed to have antiviral functions, yet many of the interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) remain poorly characterized. The goal of this research is to identify the functional role of ISGs that are members of the tripartite motif (TRIM) family of proteins. Here, we report the progress of TRIM gene cloning into plasmids used in the yeast two-hybrid assays. We hypothesize that protein-protein interactions identified in these assays will provide unbiased insights into the functional role of these putative antiviral proteins. The yeast-two hybrid assay is the cornerstone for a research pipeline designed to more fully characterize the TRIM proteins.

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  GPS and Total Station Plane Survey of the Unexcavated 24BE2206 Site in the Big Hole Valley of Montana

  Liana Galayda, Michael Masters, and Abhishek Choudhury

  Archaeological excavations reveal size and social structure, subsistence strategies, time of occupation & site usage for past human groups. When materials are removed from the excavation site, their provenience can be lost if not carefully recorded.

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  Survey of Colorado Tick Fever Virus Presence in Montana Deer Mice and Wood Ticks

  Zach J. Hart, Joel W. Graff, and Amy Kuenzi

  Colorado Tick Fever Virus (CTFV) is carried by Rocky Mountain wood ticks (Demacetori andersoni). Its double-stranded RNA genome is comprised of twelve segments. In humans, it causes a variety of flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, sensitivity to light, and muscle soreness. Because the symptoms often mimic the flu and other common diseases, it is often overlooked during clinical diagnosis.

  Deer mice (Peromyscus manisculatus) are considered to be a reservoir for the virus. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of CTFV nucleic acid in mouse blood. The whole blood samples were screened from Polson and Gregson, Montana. These samples were collected both prior to the study for a separate Hantavirus study as well as during the study. Only Hantavirus negative samples were screened.

  In addition, ninety ticks were collected. While these have not been tested, they provide another sample set to screen for the presence of CTFV.

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  Design, Construction, and Testing of a Fluidized Bed Reactor

  Tanner Iszler, Dario Prieto, and Jerome Downey

  The fluidization behavior of a solid particle bed is described by the Navier-Stokes equation. Fluidization occurs when an upward flow of fluid is used to suspend and mobilize solid particles.

  Sand was used for the fixed bed and air was used for fluidization. During testing, the flow of air was manually adjusted until fluidization of the sand bed was observed.

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  An Investigation on the Influence of a Biofilm Fertilizer on Plant Growth and Soil Geophysical Properties

  Joseph Natale; Martha E. Apple, Ph.D.; and Xiaobing Zhou

  A biofilm is a grouping of one or more types of microorganisms in which cells stick together. Atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) can be converted into ammonia (NH₃) by organisms in a process called biological nitrogen fixation, becoming more bioavailable for plants to use. Anabaena cylindrica is a non-toxic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (NFC) that has been proposed for use as a biofertilizer.

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  Examination of SAP Enterprise Systems in US College and University Education and its Application to Montana Tech

  Sebastian Perduss and D. Lance Revenaugh, Ph.D.

  SAP (Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing) is the world-leading provider of business software. SAP serves about 290,000 customers in 190 countries including 98 of the 100 most valued companies in the world. The SAP University Alliance allows universities to integrate SAP technology into their curriculums and give students hands-on experience in Enterprise Resource System software.

  Montana Tech is the first university in Montana to be a member of the SAP University Alliance.

  Our research focused on the 348 member universities of the SAP UNiversity Alliance in the United States and Canada to help identify effective pros and cons, successes and failures, and its relationship to Montana Tech.

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  Intraspecific Analysis of Cerebral, Neurobasicranial, Mandibular, & Dental Integration: a Test of Anatomic Relationships among Superinferior Features of the Adult Modern Human Skull

  Derek Ralph and Michael Masters

  Patterns of evolutionary change show a marked increase in brain growth over the past 200,000 to 300,000 years, with a reduction in facial projection, mandibular, and dental characteristics. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons estimates 85% of people will need to have wisdom teeth removed to prevent complications at some point in their life (Cooper 2007). Genes that control quantity of teeth evolve independently from those controlling brain development (Main 2007). 10-25% of Americans are born missing one or more of their third molars with variation among the other modern human groups (Main 2007).

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  Nanoplastic Settling Potential in Saline Environments

  Zachary Smith and Katherine R. Zodrow

  Nanoplastics are produced industrially for uses such as cosmetics and also generated by erosion of consumer plastic products. Nanoplastic properties are largely unstudied; understanding how these particles act will allow us to evaluate their environmental impact, design methods of detection, and remediation. Microplastics bioaccumulate and absorb harmful chemicals. Smaller nano-sized plastics may have an even higher affinity for chemical adsorbtion due to high surface areas, making these tiny particles a contaminant of emerging concern.