Digital Commons Network^™

"Uruk ... We Prefer 'Uruk'": The Representation Of The Orc In The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power, Robert T. Tally Jr.

Journal of Tolkien Research

In Tolkien’s legendarium, there are many complicated characters, vexed figures who combine aspects of what readers might think of as good and evil, but Orcs are, it seems, always and only evil. This despite the fact that Tolkien’s own writings provide ample evidence that Orcs, however loathsome they may appear, are nevertheless people, a “race” that like Elves, Dwarves, Men, and Hobbits maintains social orders and belongs to Middle-earth. The Amazon Prime show The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power offers a glimpse of Orc culture from within, as the audience is introduced to a mysterious new character, …

Betting On The Future By Re-Discovering The Past: History Of Hospital Infrastructure In Early Las Vegas And Southern Nevada, Aidy Weeks

Library Faculty Research

In the summer of 2025, the library director began reviewing resources available from the University Libraries Special Collections Portal to learn about early hospital infrastructure in Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. Using the keyword “hospital”, they reviewed 1,000 records to locate primary resources that could help tell the story of Las Vegas’s first hospital and Southern Nevada early history. In total, they located photos, oral histories, city documents, and newspaper articles, to help put together a timeline of which hospitals, current events, and key figures were critical in establishing a medical presence in Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. Information was …

Host-Derived Interleukin-1Α Drives Tumor Immunosuppression By Reprogramming Tumor-Associated Myeloid Cells, Manikanda Raja Keerthi Raja, Gourab Gupta, Grace Atkinson, Katie Kathrein, Alissa R. Armstrong, R. Michael Gower, Igor Roninson Ph.D., Eugenia Broude, Mengqian Chen Ph.D., Hao Ji, Chang-Uk Lim, Hongjun Wang, Daping Fan, Peisheng Xu Ph.D., Hexin Chen

Faculty Publications

Myeloid cells are highly heterogeneous and play key roles in establishing an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), but the mechanisms controlling their differentiation remain unclear. Using orthotopic murine breast cancer models, we investigated how interleukin-1α (IL-1α) influences this process. Deletion of host Il1α resulted in rejection of transplanted tumors. Single-cell RNA sequencing identified CX3CR1⁺ macrophages as the main source of IL-1α in the TME. Il1α deficiency disrupted monocyte–macrophage differentiation, reducing CX3CR1⁺ macrophages and increasing iNOS⁺ macrophages. Myeloid cells from Il1α⁻/⁻ hosts induced lower PD-1 and CTLA-4 expression in co-cultured CD8⁺ T cells than those from wild-type hosts. CellChat analysis showed …

Inhibition Of Cdk8 Rescues Impaired Ischemic Fracture Healing, Christina A. Capobianco, Michelle J. Song, Easton C. Farrell, Alexander J. Knights, Karen Kessell, Alexis Donneys, Jeanna T. Schmanski, Luke R. Schroeder, Mengqian Chen Ph.D., Igor Roninson Ph.D., Yaday Wagley, Tristan Maerz, Kurt D. Hankenson

Faculty Publications

Annually, 10% of 15 million bone fractures in the US fail to heal, and fractures with compromised blood flow, i.e., ischemia, are five times more likely to become nonunions. While ischemia is known to impair healing, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this deficiency are unclear. Wild-type mice with surgically-induced ischemia underwent tibia fractures, and single-cell RNA-sequencing was performed on calluses at days 4 and 7 post-fracture. We observed delayed chondrogenic differentiation and upregulation of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8 (Cdk8) by stromal progenitors and fibroblasts in the ischemic callus. Hypoxia induced CDK8 gene expression in human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC), …

Paywall Payout: A Three Year Review Of The Soml Open Article Fund, Aidy Weeks

Library Faculty Research

In 2022, the School of Medicine Library launched the Open Article Fund as a way to support faculty, residents, and fellows with their scholarly activities when submitting open access publications that would otherwise be ineligible for funding through the University Libraries fund which limited recipients to tenure-track faculty. After feedback from the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine Office of Research, The pilot fund was structured after the University Libraries funds with some modifications including awarding $2,000 instead of $1500 towards a publication, allowing for publications in hybrid journals, and requiring multi-author team submissions. The fund was initially supported by $30,000 …

Identifying Idealized Firn Core Sample Rates Of Annual Snow Accumulation On Larsen-C Ice Shelf, Saneru A. Williams, Orion L. Schomber, Brad E. Rosenheim

Making Waves REU

• Larsen-C ice shelf (LCIS) (Figure 1) à largest ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula (AP)
• Eastern AP unstable (Table 1)
• Current stability uncertain

• Stable oxygen (δ18O) and hydrogen (δ2H) isotopes in firn and ice provide climactic information
• Seasonality, annual accumulation, large-scale climactic modes
• Underutilized in firn

• Idealized sampling rates in firn have not been investigated across the LCIS
• Clear identification of sampling rates could provide insight for future firn core investigations

Reducing Work-Related Screen-Time In Healthcare Workers During Leisure Time (Reduce Screen) - A Randomized Controlled Trial, Karsten Bartels, Karan Shah, Emelind Sanchez Rodriguez, Julie T Hoffman, Megan L Rolfzen, Juana Mora Valdovinos, Afton L Hassett, Daniel I Sessler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The ubiquitous availability of work-related applications on personal devices makes healthcare workers prone to working during leisure time. We tested the hypothesis that an intervention to reduce work-related screen time during a weekend off reduces stress in healthcare workers in a pragmatic parallel design randomized controlled trial between November 2021 and November 2023. Healthcare workers using a smartphone with a work email application were eligible. Randomization was 1:1 to no treatment or a threefold educational intervention to: 1) activate automated responses to emails received, 2) reduce screen time, and 3) uninstall work applications from personal devices. The primary outcome was …

Foxo1 Inhibition And Fadd Knockdown Have Opposing Effects On Anticancer Drug-Induced Cytotoxicity And P21 Expression In Osteosarcoma Cells, Danielle Walker, Antanay Hall, Alexis Bonwell, Nancy Gordon, Danielle Robinson, Mario G Hollomon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Forkhead box class O1 (FOXO1) and fas-associated death domain (FADD) regulate cell death pathways and homeostatic processes such as cell cycle progression and apoptosis. FADD phosphorylation promotes nuclear localization of FOXO1, and FOXO1 regulates FADD expression. Therefore, it is plausible that FOXO1 and FADD have synergistic or antagonistic effects on cell cycle regulation and the response to anticancer drug treatment in cancer cells. In the present study, we report that AS1842856-mediated inhibition of FOXO1 reverses anticancer drug-induced cytotoxicity, while FADD knockdown increases anticancer drug-induced cytotoxicity in osteosarcoma (OS). Reversed anticancer drug-induced cytotoxicity was accompanied by G2/M cell cycle arrest and …

Premature Aging In Serious Mental Illness, Breno S Diniz, Gabriel R Fries, Chia-Ling Kuo, Ming Xu, Eric J Lenze

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Serious mental illnesses (SMIs), including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, have long been linked to cognitive decline, multiple chronic medical conditions, and premature mortality. These factors significantly contribute to the severe disability seen in SMIs, extending beyond the severity of psychopathology and indicating a premature aging phenotype associated with these conditions. The mechanisms that underlie the relationship between SMIs and the premature aging phenotype are not well understood, but recent evidence suggests that individuals with SMIs may exhibit accelerated biological aging. In this review, we present a comprehensive analysis of the current literature, demonstrating the potential association of …

Plans4care, A Web Application Providing Caregivers Personalized Solutions To Manage Dementia-Related Care Challenges: Proof Of Concept And Efficacy Trial, Laura N. Gitlin, Eric Jutkowitz, Catherine V. Piersol, Sokha Koeuth, Taylor Sivori, Melinda J. Webster, Rachel N. Barnett, David L. Roth

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Few dementia caregivers have access to evidence-based support programs. Web applications (app) may address this gap. Plans4Care, a web app, provides caregivers with on-demand personalized solutions to address care challenges. We present results of a proof-of-concept study and describe a trial protocol to test efficacy.

METHODS: To use Plans4Care, caregivers respond to brief onboarding questions, assess dementia patients' cognitive function, identify care challenges, and generate "action plans" (personalized strategies). Telehealth sessions with dementia-trained care advisors are available. A proof-of-concept study evaluated a clickable prototype using standardized technology scales to determine if >75 % scored positively on four criteria (acceptability, …

The Nostalgia Of Jon Stewart: The Looming Extinction Of Journalism, James C. Smoot

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Death-Drive America: On Scott Wilson's Vision Of The Cultural Politics Of American Nihilism In The Age Of Supercapitalismmark, Mark Featherstone

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

About The Authors, Fast Capitalism Editorial Team

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Fast Capitalism Editorial Team

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

The Aperspectival Playfulness Of Allan Leslie Combs, Zeke Floro

Journal of Conscious Evolution

This commemorative article reflects on the work of the late Dr. Allan Leslie Combs, a pioneering scholar in consciousness studies and an influential mentor. The essay argues that his scholarly writing, characterized by profound openness, heartfelt compassion, and sharp wit, represents an embodiment of the integral consciousness he writes about. Through a close reading of his essays and a personal reflection on his mentorship, the article connects his playful style to Jean Gebser’s concept of aperspectival consciousness and frames his humor within Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy of divine “play” (lila), concluding that, for Combs, scholarship is an embodied practice …

Poetry Chronicle: Erica Jong, Peter Wild, And Others, John Ditsky

Ontario Review

JOHN DITSKY, a former contributor to OR, has published poetry, essays, and reviews in a number of North American journals. He is poetry editor of Windsor Review and Professor of English at the University of Windsor, where he teaches American literature and Modern Drama.

Field Trip, Art Hill

Ontario Review

ART HILL of Birmingham, Michigan is the author of an essay on Malcolm Lowry which appeared in a recent issue of Canadian Literature.

Two Poems: Opening Up; I Preserve My Father's Live Body, Joe David Bellamy

Ontario Review

JOE DAVID BELLAMY's most recent book is The New Fiction: Interviews with Innovative American Writers (University of Illinois Press). An associate professor of English at St. Lawrence University, he is also editor of fiction international. His work has appeared in a number of magazines, including Atlantic Monthly, Partisan Review, and Novel.

In Ettrick Forest, Robert Cockburn

Ontario Review

ROBERT COCKBURN's first collection of poems, That Far Shore, was published this spring. An associate professor of English at the University of New Brunswick, he is the author of The Novels of Hugh MacLennan and an associate editor of English Studies in Canada. His poems have appeared in Dalhousie R eview, West Coast Review, Canadian Forum , and other magazines.

A Dramalife, Gerry Raling Connolly

Ontario Review

GERRY RALING CONNOLLY has worked at the Folger Shakespeare Library and is currently a teaching assistant in the English Department at the University of Maryland.

The Salt Mines, Marian Engel

Ontario Review

MARIAN ENGEL, a resident of Toronto, has contributed fiction and essays to a number of Canadian magazines, most recently Chatelaine and Queen's Quarterly. Among her novels are The Honeyman Festival, No Clouds of Glory, and Monodromos.

Some Questions And Answers, Saul Bellow

Ontario Review

Saul Bellow's new novel is Humboldt's Gift (Viking Press). One of the most distinguished American writers of our time, Bellow has received many honors, among them the National Book Award for Fiction, the International Literary Prize, and the Croix de Chevalier des Arts et Lettres. See Self-Interview for a listing of his books.

Advertisements, Title Page, Contents, Issue 3

Ontario Review

No abstract provided.

Contributors, Advertisements

Ontario Review

No abstract provided.

Multimedia-Based Interventions To Improve Science Learning Outcomes For Deaf Students At Wangsel Institute For The Deaf., Cheten Tshering Mr., Tshering Wangchuk

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Efforts have been made to ensure inclusive learning opportunities for all students, including those from diverse backgrounds. One key strategy to enhance children’s learning and academic performance involves the thoughtful selection and application of instructional tools tailored to meet learners' specific needs. This study examines the impact of multimedia-based instruction on science achievement among deaf students at Wangsel Institute for the Deaf in Bhutan. Using a quasi-experimental design, the research compared pretest and post-test results between a control group and an experimental group. Data analysis included descriptive statistics (t-test) and ANCOVA. The findings indicated a statistically significant differences (p = …

Review Of Thomas P. Wheatland, The Frankfurt School In America: A Transatlantic Odyssey From Exile To Acclaim. Minneapolis, Minnesota: University Of Minnesota Press, 2009, Douglas Kellner

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Marcuse In America — Exile As Educator: Deprovincializing One-Dimensional Culture In The U.S.A, Charles Reitz

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Ethnography, Torture And The Human Terrain / Terror System, Neil L. Whitehead

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Look To Thyself: Ignatow's Notebooks, Robert Leiter

Ontario Review

ROBERT LEITER is a free-lance writer and critic living in Philadelphia. His work has recently appeared in The Nation, Commonweal, Film Heritage, and The New Republic.

A True Lyric Poet: Marya Zaturenska, Robert Phillips

Ontario Review

ROBERT PHILLIPS, poet, fiction writer, and critic, has been book review editor of Modem Poetry Studies and has contributed essays and reviews to numerous periodicals. His books include Denton Welch, Aspects of Alice: Lewis Carroll's Dreamchild, and The Confes sional Poets. He lives in Katonah, New York.