Digital Commons Network^™

Cxcr6+ Natural Killer Cell Immunotherapy Preserves Cd4+ T Helper Cells In Humanized Mice, Naushad Khan, Kayla Frank, Silke Paust

Faculty Research 2026

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) persists despite antiretroviral therapy because long-lived viral reservoirs are not eliminated, and ongoing or rebound infection contributes to progressive loss of CD4⁺ T helper cells. Natural killer (NK) cells can acquire adaptive, antigen-experienced functions, including recall responses to HIV envelope protein, suggesting that defined NK-cell subsets may be therapeutically useful against HIV. Because HIV-responsive adaptive NK-cell activity is enriched among CXC chemokine receptor 6-positive (CXCR6⁺) NK cells, we tested whether CXCR6⁺ NK cells provide enhanced antiviral activity and CD4⁺ T-cell protection compared with CXCR6⁻ NK cells. In co-cultures with HIV-infected …

Integration Of A Neuronal Rnaseq Dataset With The Draft Gryllus Bimaculatus Transcriptome Refines Gene Predictions And Highlights Potential Systematic Response To Injury., Felicia F Wang, Harrison P Fisher, Lisa M Ledwidge, Joel H Graber, Riley A Grindle, Jarod A Rollins, Hadley W Horch

Faculty Research 2026

The cricket Gryllus bimaculatus presents a compelling model for investigating neuroplasticity due to its unusual capability of adult structural reorganization. The molecular pathways underlying these changes remain poorly understood. Here, we reanalyzed RNAseq data, originally collected from deafferented and control prothoracic ganglia one, three, and seven days post-injury, which had previously been used to assemble a de novo transcriptome. In this current analysis, we aligned our original RNAseq data to the publicly available G. bimaculatus draft genome, and used the resulting alignments to refine and update the existing annotations. The integration added 3,868 novel genes, 9,172 new transcript isoforms including …

Identifying Transcriptomic Signatures That Mediate The Causal Effect Of Genotype On Alzheimer's Disease., Simran Kaur, Anna L. Tyler, Giovanna L Durante, Gregory Cary, Gregory W. Carter, J Matthew Mahoney

Faculty Research 2026

The combined effects of thousands of genetic polymorphisms account for Alzheimer's disease (AD) genetic risk. Most AD polymorphisms affect gene expression. Thus, the transcriptome, the set of all gene expression levels for every gene in the genome, is a major mediator between the genotype to phenotype. This study uses genotypes, transcriptomes, and clinical phenotypes to identify the transcriptomic signature that mediates the causal effect of genotype on AD. By utilizing a causal inference method known as high dimensional mediation analysis (HDMA) on the Religious Orders Study/Memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP) longitudinal cohort, the genotype, transcriptome, and phenotype data were reduced …

Can Angiotensin Ii Affect The Inflammatory Response Of Human Dental Pulp Cells In Vitro?, Bella Luna Colombini-Ishikiriama, Thiago José Dionisio, Thais Francini Garbieri, Rafaela Alves Da Silva, Sandra Helena Penha Oliveira, Vanessa Soares Lara, Andrew S Greene, Carlos Ferreira Dos Santos

Faculty Research 2026

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of fibroblasts from permanent and deciduous dental pulp to express inflammatory mediators when exposed to bacterial and inflammatory antigens. It also sought to assess the presence of components of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and the potential modulatory role of ANG-II in this response.

METHODOLOGY: Fibroblasts were cultured from the pulp of permanent and deciduous teeth obtained from three adult and four pediatric donors with informed consent. Cells were stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis and Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharides (LPS) either alone or in combination with ANG-II and, in some cases, with IL-1β. Gene expression …

A New Mouse Mutant With A Discrete Mutation In Pcdhgc5 Reveals That The Protocadherin Γc5 Isoform Is Not Essential For Dendrite Arborization In The Cerebral Cortex., Camille M Hanes, David M Steffen, George Murray, Robert W. Burgess, Joshua A Weiner, Andrew M Garrett

Faculty Research 2026

There are ~ 60 clustered protocadherin (cPcdh) isoforms expressed from three gene clusters (Pcdha, Pcdhb, Pcdhg) arrayed in tandem across nearly 1 Mb in mammals. cPcdhs are homophilic cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) critical for a host of neural developmental functions consistent with a role in cell-cell recognition. Indeed, isoforms make recognition modules in combination to generate recognition diversity far exceeding the ~ 60 individual CAMs. However, there is also growing evidence for specialized functions for specific isoforms, particularly the C-type isoforms found at the 3' ends of the Pcdha cluster (αC1 and αC2) and at the 3' end of the …

Il1a Enhances Tnf-Induced Retinal Ganglion Cell Death., Katherine M Andersh, Michael Maclean, Gareth R Howell, Richard T Libby

Faculty Research 2026

Introduction:

A growing body of literature suggests a role for neuroinflammation in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in glaucoma. For instance, deficiency of three proinflammatory cytokines, complement component 1, subcomponent q (C1q), interleukin 1 alpha (Il1a), and tumor necrosis factor (Tnf), resulted in significant protection of RGCs after glaucoma-relevant insults. While TNF and C1Q have been extensively investigated in glaucoma-relevant model systems, the role of IL1A in RGCs is not well defined.

Methods:

Eyes of 2–4 month-old C57BL/6J mice or mice deficient in either Jun or Sarm1 were intravitreally injected with IL1A alone, TNF …

Nourishing Roots: Supporting Indigenous Food Education In School Gardens, Tatiana Marina Patino Madriaga

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This project asked: How can a school garden at Hoopa Valley Elementary support Indigenous food education, student well-being, and relational learning? To explore this question, I designed and implemented a garden classroom and facilitated hands-on garden and culinary workshops with students.

The garden was planned in September, built in October, and had plants in the ground by November. Over the course of the project, I facilitated four workshops, one Earth Day community event, and weekly garden classes. Approximately 350 students participated in the garden in some capacity, reflecting broad, school-wide engagement.

Methods included participant observation, documentation of student engagement, and …

Bacterial Community Function In Pitcher Plant Leaves As An Experimental And Mathematical Model Of Functional Dynamics, Amelia Jackson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This work looks at two different sites with differing abiotic factors in measures of altitude, temperature and precipitation. The site with higher altitude, larger temperature range, and lower precipitation, located in Plumas National Forest (Quincy, CA), had a flat BEF trend that suggests functional redundancy The site with lower altitude, more moderate temperatures, and higher precipitation located in Six Rivers National Forest (Gasquet, CA), also had a flat BEF trend. These abiotic factors could correlate to the significantly different bacterial compositions between sites. The second portion of this work is modeling the host antagonist relationship between Eyxra moths and their …

Neoliberalism And The Crimes Of The Powerful: Transforming The State During The First Trump Era (2017-2021), Charles Brandon Lonon

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This thesis examines the way the American capitalist state transformed during Donald Trump’s first presidential term (2017-2021), especially focusing on neoliberal policy and the framework of the crimes of the powerful. This thesis aims to answer the question of how neoliberalism transformed the state under Donald Trump. Drawing on Nicos Poulantzas’ theory of authoritarian statism and Frank Pearce’s conception of crimes of the powerful, this thesis examines how the state becomes more authoritarian to protect capital accumulation and the capitalist class. The research shows that Trump weaponized authoritarian populist rhetoric that targeted women, immigrants, and vulnerable populations to build support …

Taking A Seat In The Circle: Decolonizing Gender Roles That Argue Against The Participation Of Feminine Bodies At The Big Drum, Juli Suzukawa

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The origins of the Big Drum can be traced back to the 1860s when Tail Feather Woman, a Dakota woman, had a vision of its creation as a tool of resistance. The Big Drum has since expanded and can now be seen at various Indigenous ceremonies and social events. However, there has been controversy regarding the participation of feminine and queer bodies. While reasons for this vary, it has also contributed to harm amongst Indigenous youths that have a more fluid stand on gender identity and may not conform to colonial “gender norms”. In this paper, I will explore how …

Endocranial Lesions: A Paleopathological Study Of Late Medieval Skeletal Remains From Żelewo Poland, Francesca Aleen Meyer

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The site of Żelewo is located in a rural area of northwestern Poland, a region historically known as Pomerania. Skeletal remains from the cemetery associated with the archaeological site Żelewo 1-3, dating mostly to the 13th-15th centuries, are likely associated with a nearby Cistercian monastery. Numerous individuals from this site show evidence of endocranial lesions. To evaluate potential factors associated with the lesions, a differential diagnosis was performed based on macroscopic observations of endocranial lesion morphology and distribution. This study takes into account estimated age at death, biological sex, and other signs of pathology in the body. Potential confounding factors, …

Depth And Soil Physical Context Govern Soil Organic Carbon, While Woody Cover Moderates Native Vegetation Relationships In California Rangelands, Dabid Zuniga Garcia

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is central to soil function and an important component of climate mitigation in rangeland ecosystems, but the controls on SOC across California’s working rangelands remain understudied. Using data from Point Blue Conservation Science’s Rangeland Monitoring Network, this study evaluated how soil properties, vegetation structure, and recent climate relate to SOC concentration at depths of 0–10 cm and 10–40 cm across 145 ranches spanning four California regions. Linear mixed-effects models showed that SOC was consistently higher in topsoil than subsoil and highest in coastal sites relative to interior valleys. Bulk density was the strongest negative predictor of …

Weaponized Borders: A Contrapuntal Analysis Of Uneven Humanitarian Aid And Comparative Landscapes, Alex Orla-Bukowski

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The proliferation of global border regimes has caused an increased level of state violence against humans and the environment. In this thesis I explore how contemporary border regimes propagate myths on human mobility, obstruct humanitarian policy, and weaponize environmental landscapes to sustain state violence while obscuring political responsibility. Building on this, I argue that borders are the source of violence and create systems of vulnerability as a core-function of state making. My research primarily utilizes semi-structured interviews with humanitarian actors and secondary data analysis to trace the testimonies of those subject to state-based harm and explore the gaps in aid …

Winter 2026 Otterbein Connections, Institutional Advancement

Otterbein Connections

In this issue:

• Welcome Letter by Floyd Akins
• Students Helping to Strengthen Bonds by Jordan Helphrey
• Volunteer Spotlight
• Division Name Update
• Year-End Giving by Jordan Helphrey
• Summer Fun at the 'Bein by Dana Viglietta '96
• Understanding Donor Advised Funds by Kathleen Bonte
• Class of 1975 Celebrates 50th Golden Reunion by Stephanie Clark
• Alumni Spotlight by Michael Hickin '25
• Reminders
• Words of Encouragement by Valerie Gruber '84

Annual Report Of The Officers Of The Town Of Campton, New Hampshire For The Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2025, Campton Town Representatives

Campton, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire.

Town Of Henniker, New Hampshire Annual Report 2025, Henniker Town Representatives

Henniker, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire.

2025 Annual Report Of The Officers, Town Of Orange, New Hampshire, Orange Town Representatives

Orange, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire.

Nutrient-Driven Transcription Factor-Dna Interactions And Their Signaling Mechanisms In Metabolic Disease, Evelyn A. Bates

Theses and Dissertations--Nutritional Sciences

Metabolic homeostasis is maintained through tightly coordinated signaling networks that integrate diverse physiological inputs. Central to this regulation are transcription factors, which sense nutrient, hormonal, and vitamin-derived signals and translate them into coordinated gene expression programs. Transcription factor activity is governed by DNA binding, recruitment of coregulatory proteins, and interactions with specific response elements in gene promoters, which allows them to selectively modulate diverse metabolic pathways. Owing to their multifactorial and tunable nature, transcription factors have emerged as promising targets for the treatment and diagnosis of metabolic diseases, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This dissertation explores the molecular …

Giddy Character Rig, Arden Jean Millhouse-Lewis

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This project was an in-depth investigation into creating a production-ready rig using the widely used industry-standard software, Autodesk Maya. Using a character I designed, modeled, and shaded, I explored the workflow of bringing it to life through the technical lens of rigging, then tested its functionality in animation, troubleshooting, and further refining the overall rig as I went. I revised the prior model’s topology to create optimal edge flow for deformations before I went on to place it in the skeletal hierarchy, accounting for not only the bones of the character but also secondary bones in the clothing, hair, and …

Seasonal And Lunar Patterns Of Peach Blossom Jellyfish (Craspedacusta Sowerbii) In Michigan, Claire Kozal

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The peach blossom jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbii) is the only freshwater medusa found in the United States, yet its distribution, abundance, and mechanisms of dispersal remain poorly understood. Given its uncertain status, understanding the ecology of this species is a priority. To characterize population dynamics during the medusa season, surface water temperature and medusa abundance were surveyed at six inland lakes in Michigan. Occurrence records of C. sowerbii in Michigan were then used to compare co-occurrence patterns with nine aquatic invasives as a window into potential dispersal mechanisms and to create a regional ecological niche model. Medusae were observed in one …

Eastern Languages And Literature Research In Thailand : Past, Present, And Future Perspectives From 25 Years Of Research, Sansanee Ek-Atchariya, Somkiat Chawengkijwanich, Kanokwan Laohaburanakit Katagiri, Aroonwan Kongmebhol, Ruttapond Swanpitak, Sompornnuch Tansrisook, Pitchaya Vipaveenukul, Piyanuch Wiriyaenawat

Manusya, Journal of Humanities

This study examines the evolution of Chinese, Japanese, and Pali and Sanskrit language and literature research in Thailand over the past 25 years (1998–2022). Drawing from research articles, theses, and academic journals, it highlights the unique strengths and trends of each field. Chinese research demonstrates dynamic growth, driven by applied linguistics and educational innovations. Japanese research shows steady development, focusing on education research and analyses of individual literary works. Pali and Sanskrit research excels in cultural preservation and religious studies, reflecting Thailand’s deep-rooted connections with ancient Indian traditions. This comparative analysis underscores the shared focus on applied research and localization …

Brewed Differently: Comparing Subheading Use In Embase And Medline, Cynthia M. Schmidt, Danielle Westmark

Posters and Presentations: Leon S. McGoogan Health Sciences Library

This project compared MEDLINE and Embase indexers' use of therapy subheadings and discusses the implications for literature searching. Objectives Our long experience with MEDLINE searching and attendance at NNLM-sponsored PubMed training sessions taught us to depend on specific patterns of subheading use by MEDLINE’s indexers. For instance, we learned to expect that drug trials would be indexed with a drug heading combined with a therapeutic use subheading. Our library licensed EMBASE in 2012. We soon began to suspect that subheading application was not as predictable in EMBASE as it was in MEDLINE. We wanted the recommendations we provide novice EMBASE …

Vegetation Species And Bed Position May Drive Epifaunal But Not Nekton Habitat Use In Estuarine Submerged Vegetation In The Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, Alabama, Steven Vroljik, Kathryn O'Shaughnessy, Ashley Mcdonald, Zoey Hendrickson, Bethany Kiley, Anna Reimer, Sierra Robertson, Samantha Smith, Edward Sullivan, Charles Martin

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) supports nekton and epifaunal macroinvertebrates, sustaining food webs and ecosystem services in estuaries. Invasive SAV can alter these dynamics by displacing native vegetation and restructuring communities. In Alabama’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta (MTD), Eurasian milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) is rapidly expanding and outcompeting native wild celery (Vallisneria americana). This study compared nekton and epifaunal assemblages between M. spicatum and V. americana, focusing on edge versus interior positions. Nekton surveys identified 22 taxa (M. spicatum, n = 13; V. americana, n = 18), but assemblages did not differ significantly between vegetation types …

I And Ai: Human Personhood In An Age Of Artificial Intelligence, Jonathan A. Powers, Daniel H. Strait

Academic Books

No abstract provided.

2026 Projects Day Booklet, Seattle University

Projects Day Booklets

No abstract provided.

“But I’M Glad I’M Not A Hog!”: The Pig, The Laborer & “Humanity” In Animal Farm (1945) & The Jungle (1905), Madelyn Bell

English Honors Papers

This thesis places The Jungle and Animal Farm in conversation with one another to examine how each text engages, reframes, and complicates Marxist conceptions of labor, class, and (de)individuality through the figure of the pig. Beginning from the pig’s marked similarity to humans – its intelligence, sociality, and symbolic proximity – the analysis considers how this likeness makes the pig a particularly charged symbol for negotiating the moral and conceptual boundary between human and animal, inviting a reading in which human structures are reflected back through the animal form. Attending each novel’s distinct concern with socialism – Sinclair’s investment in …

“Us Who Die For You”: Necropolitics Through The Historiography Of Zombies, Kazi Stanton-Thomas

Gender, Sexuality, and Intersectionality Studies Honors Papers

No abstract provided.

John: A Samaritan Gospel, John Colin Stringfellow

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The Gospel of John is enigmatic; scholars have sought to identify its distinctive features. Is it influenced by Hellenistic culture, Gnosticism, Dositheism, or is it an editorial compilation? These distinct characteristics have led scholars to speculate about the intended recipients of the Fourth Gospel. Identifying the audience is crucial in deciphering these distinct characteristics. Why did the author(s) use specific literary techniques and devices? Why were particular stories selected? This dissertation does not seek to dismiss the existing scholarly analyses that have identified the recurring themes and structure of the Gospel of John; instead, it prompts the question, "Why?" Understanding …

A Vascular And Non-Vascular Flora Of The Mcgee Creek Watershed, Mono County, California, Matthew Yamamoto

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The McGee Creek watershed is a topographically and geologically diverse drainage in the eastern Sierra Nevada of California covering 27.28 sq-mi (70.65 sq-km), with an elevation range of 6750–12,999 ft (2057–3962 m). Relative to nearby watersheds, few plant specimens had been collected in the McGee Creek watershed before 2024, and these were mostly collected along roads and trails. To better understand the flora, 2860 collections of vascular and non-vascular plants were made across the watershed in 2024 and 2025, and 187 specimens collected before 2024 were examined. In total, the flora of the McGee Creek watershed includes at least 970 …

Shared Words, Divided Worlds: Moral Language And The Struggle For Meaning At The Claremont Colleges During The Vietnam War, 1965-1969, Haley Freeth

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This thesis examines the Vietnam War-era campus conflicts at the Claremont Colleges as a profound struggle over the meaning and ownership of moral and political language. Rather than interpreting antiwar and prowar activism as expressions of fundamentally opposed value systems, this study argues that students and administrators alike engaged in an ongoing contest to define ideals such as democracy, responsibility, and conscience. Through a micro-historical lens, the project analyzes how these contested vocabularies were invoked, reinterpreted, and performed in protests, counter-protests, and administrative policies. Drawing from a wide array of archival sources—including student newspapers, protest ephemera, administrative records, and visual …