Digital Commons Network^™

Chronic Exposure To Porphyromonas Gingivalis Disrupts Macrophage Innate Immune Responses, Corey Allen Foulk

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) is a pathogenic, “red-complex” bacteria found in higher concentrations in advanced gingivitis and periodontitis. Macrophages are capable of adopting numerous phenotypes depending on the surrounding environment. Classic M1 macrophages are the result of inflammatory signals including IFNγ. This study investigated whether naïve M0 macrophages can transition into classic M1 macrophages following stimulation with traditional agonists after cells have been exposed to formalin killed P. gingivalis.Methods: The THP-1 monocytes were differentiated into naïve macrophages (M0) using PMA treatment. The M0 cells were challenged with formalin killed P. gingivalis for 24 hours. After prolonged exposure to P. gingivalis, …

Advanced Literacies In The 21st Century: Examining A Narrative-Based Video Game As A Stealth Assessment For Comprehension, Joseph Paul Fiorentini

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In our technology-rich 21st Century, the need for valid, reliable, and fair literacy assessments remains pertinent to the field of education. This study defines literacy as advanced literacy where comprehension is considered a holistic product of applying acquired knowledge, skills, or abilities (KSA) to contextualized situations. Conventional assessment methods have traditionally parceled out the construct into its component parts (i.e., vocabulary, phonics, fluency, etc.) as a means of understanding the meaning making process from a traditional literacy perspective. Stealth assessments utilize the Evidence-Centered Design (ECD) framework as a robust method for assessing complex constructs holistically within technology rich environments. Adapting …

Participant 011: Reiki Master With 21 Years Of Experience (Turkish; Female; Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

0885: Reiki and Well-Being Interviews

This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding 21 years of experience (Turkish; Female; Dubai, United Arab Emirates). She was interviewed on May 15, 2025. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about her use of Reiki and other healing modalities; experiences as a corporate trainer; the many miracles she has experienced with others as a conduit of Reiki (e.g. MS patients and women with fertility issues); and Reiki's ability to help her …

Sub Terra, Daniel J. Forest

MFA Thesis Exhibit Catalogs

Abstract

Sub Terra is an immersive exhibition that renders intangible states of mind through sculptural installation. These constructions speak to internalized angst and complexity, mirroring what is seldom looked at, witnessed, or acknowledged. Many symbolic elements are suspended from either the walls and ceiling or within constructed frames, evoking entanglement. My work is an attempt to express the emotion turmoil inherent to living in an increasingly bureaucratic society and its effect on someone with an anxiety disorder.

The fabrication entails several broad skill sets, requiring familiarity with psychology, physiology, fine woodworking, ceramics, felting, and drafting. Preliminary sketches guided construction and …

Imágenes De Silencio, Compromiso, Persecución Y Tortura: La Teología De La Liberación Y Su Encrucijada Con Las Dictaduras Del Cono Sur Desde Una Representación Cinematográfica, Marcial Martínez

Spanish and Portuguese ETDs

This dissertation examines the interaction between liberation theology and the

dictatorships of the Southern Cone from the 1960s to the 1980s through cinematic

representation. Filmmakers from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay

depict the political upheavals of the time, including the rise of leftist movements,

military regimes, and the influence of liberation theology, a progressive religious

ideology advocating for the oppressed. The study focuses on what is defined here

as the "cinematic canon of liberation theology," a body of films and documentaries

that legitimize, contest, or obscure ideologies tied to this movement vis-à-vis the

dictatorships. These films contest the silence …

Policy Analysis Of Assessments To Award Seals Of Biliteracy In Spanish In The United States, Lisa J. Harmon-Martínez

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

The Seal of Biliteracy (SoBL) honors high school graduates demonstrating proficiency in two or more languages, yet its policies often perpetuate inequities. Focusing on New Mexico and Spanish language assessments, I explored how the SoBL's recognition of bilingualism intersects with biases against Spanish speakers. While the SoBL aims to celebrate bilingualism, disparities arise from state-to-state variations in assessment requirements, particularly affecting Spanish-speaking students and those receiving English Language Development services. Many states rely on standardized exams that inadequately capture students’ linguistic abilities, exacerbating inequalities. Using an Open Systems policy framework and Translanguaging theory, which values students’ full linguistic repertoires, I …

Post-Fire Delayed Tree Mortality In Mesic Coniferous Forests Reduces Fire Refugia And Seed Sources, Alec S. Dyer, Sebastian Busby, Cody Evers, Matthew Reilly, Aaron Zuspan, Andres Holz

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

Context Ecological functions provided by fire refugia are critical for supporting conifer forest resiliency under increased fire activity across the western United States. The spatial distribution and persistence of fire refugia over time are uncertain as fire-injured trees continue to die over subsequent years post-fire. Objectives We examined how post-fire delayed tree mortality affects the spatial distribution and attributes of fire refugia at patch and landscape scales following high-severity wildfires. Methods To explore changes in fire refugia patch size, isolation, and fragmentation over time, we used high-resolution satellite imagery (3 m pixel size) following high-severity fires in Oregon’s western Cascades …

Acute Kidney Injury Triggers Hypoxemia By Lung Intravascular Neutrophil Retention That Reduces Capillary Blood Flow, Yohei Komaru, Liang Ning, Carine Lama, Anusha Suresh, Eirini Kefaloyianni, Mark J. Miller, Shinichi Kawana, Hailey M Shepherd, Wenjun Li, Daniel Kreisel, Andreas Herrlich

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Sterile acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in the clinic and frequently associated with unexplained hypoxemia that does not improve with dialysis. AKI induces remote lung inflammation with neutrophil recruitment in mice and humans, but which cellular cues establish neutrophilic inflammation and how it contributes to hypoxemia is not known. Here we report that AKI induced rapid intravascular neutrophil retention in lung alveolar capillaries without extravasation into tissue or alveoli, causing hypoxemia by reducing lung capillary blood flow in the absence of substantial lung interstitial or alveolar edema. In contrast to direct ischemic lung injury, lung neutrophil recruitment during remote …

A Theory-Based Examination Of Factors Influencing Caregivers’ Intentions To Disclose Sickle Cell Trait Status To Their Children, Christine A. Chaba

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Sickle cell trait (SCT), the heterozygous form of sickle cell disease, has significant implications for health and reproductive decision-making. Timely disclosure of SCT status to children by their caregivers is critical for promoting genetic awareness and supporting informed reproductive choices. However, many caregivers delay or avoid this conversation. This study examined the psychosocial and behavioral factors influencing caregivers’ intentions to disclose SCT status to their children, guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Theory of Regret Regulation. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 78 caregivers of Children with SCT, who completed an online survey. The study addressed …

Systems And Methods For Binaural Audio Reproduction, Kellie Shaw

Defensive Publications Series

A computer-implemented method for binaural audio reproduction may include (i) retrieving binaural audio data captured by a device that comprises at least one microphone and at least one camera, (ii) isolating a subset of the binaural audio data that represents audio captured from objects within a field of view of the at least one camera, and (iii) balancing audio levels for the binaural audio data such that the subset of the binaural audio data is more clearly audible than data that is not within the subset and spatial cues for the binaural audio data are preserved. Various other methods, systems, …

Too Hot, Too Cold: The Search For Just-Right Platform Liability For Recommendation Algorithms, Hannah May

University of Cincinnati Law Review

No abstract provided.

.Com Or .Gov: Should The First Amendment Care? A Proposed Alternative To Moody V. Netchoice, Llc's Editorial Discretion Rule, Jt Degrinney

University of Cincinnati Law Review

No abstract provided.

Paper Houses: Identifying The Housing Remedies Gap And How To Close It, Shannon Price

University of Cincinnati Law Review

No abstract provided.

Ncaa Women Athletes And Nil Pay Disparities: Are They Students Under Title Ix, Employees Under Title Vii, Or Both?, Michael H. Leroy

University of Cincinnati Law Review

Title IX requires schools to eliminate gender disparities in financial benefits and publicity for athletes. This Article shows that men’s basketball players in major National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) conferences were paid an average of $171,272 in 2024, compared to $16,222 for women. Analysis of a prominent basketball program shows that it coordinates with its Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collective to monetize NIL donor access in favor of men.

This Article provides legal arguments to show that NIL pay disparities create Title IX liability for NCAA schools: (1) Congress intended Title IX to end sex discrimination against students, (2) …

The Joy Of Quitting [Book Review], Jj Pionke

Disability in LIS (DisLIS)

The Joy of Quitting is a day in the life kind of comic of Keiler Roberts where she focuses on child-rearing, relationships, her art, multiple sclerosis, depression, and many other topics.

The Haunting Of Alejandra [Book Review], Amanda Boyer

Disability in LIS (DisLIS)

This review explores V. Castro’s The Haunting of Alejandra as a powerful portrayal of postpartum depression and generational trauma through the lens of horror and magical realism. Drawing on personal experience, the review highlights how the novel offers an unflinching look at the emotional weight of motherhood and the lasting impact of inherited pain.

Educational Broadcasting

Communication Research Trends

Pioneers of new communication technologies such as Edison and Marconi hoped that one of the major uses of their inventions would be to bring education to the masses. Lord Reith, the founder of the BBC public service concept of broadcasting, emphasized education in his famous triad, summarizing the aims of the BBC: 'to educate, to inform and to entertain'. The biggest markets and returns on capital investment were to be found in providing entertainment, however, and the less regulated broadcasters moved steadily in that direction. Today, broadcasting is firmly fixed in the minds of the public as primarily a means …

Being In Community With Children And Engaging Their Full Range Of Civic Capabilities. A Response To "Learning To Talk And Listen In Elementary Social Studies: Exploring A Third-Grade Teacher’S Decision To Use Classroom Talk For Community Building", Katherina A. Payne

Democracy & Education

Early childhood social studies should open opportunities for children to make sense of their social world; the civic question of how we live together is central to the social world. Elementary classrooms are uniquely positioned to support democratic civic education given the amount of time children and adults spend together, the emphasis placed on cultivating a positive classroom community, and children’s capabilities to cultivate relationships full of care and concern for people from outside their close familial relations. In response to Lo’s (2025) examination of a third-grade teacher’s use of discussion to engage in contentious topics while cultivating a sense …

The Roles Of Productivity, Emotions, And Identities In Classroom Discourse. A Response To "Productive Discussion Across Political Differences: Understanding Students’ Experiences With Comfort And Discomfort Within Structured Discussions Of Public Policy Issues", Anne-Lise Halvorsen, Thomas (Tomás) Aviles

Democracy & Education

“Productive Classroom Discussion across Political Differences: Understanding Students’ Experiences of Comfort and Discomfort within Structured Discussion Strategies” offers a fresh perspective on high school classroom discussions by centering the role of emotions–in particular comfort and discomfort–and their relationship to students’ identities. In this response, we describe how this perspective on emotions and identities is vital and humanizing. We then build on the study’s considerations of emotions and identities in discussion, particularly for students from marginalized backgrounds, and offer additional perspectives about the purpose, format, and framing of these kinds of discussions.

Toward Discussion Facilitation That Enacts Collective Care. A Response To “Teaching Dobbs Where Divisive Concepts And Abortion Are Restricted”, Jenni Conrad

Democracy & Education

For both teacher candidates and teacher educators, facilitating discussions of contested issues in hyper-polarized climates remains a heavy lift. This response to “Teaching Dobbs…” celebrates the successes apparent in Geller’s team’s work and identifies key features that supported it. While cautioning readers against adopting avatar rehearsals elsewhere, I distill four themes of planning and enactment that show clear promise for broad transference in teacher education. Drawing from research exploring the interfaces of justice-oriented, practice-based, and democratic social studies scholarship, I offer pedagogical and logistical considerations for other teacher educators and researchers engaged in this ambitious and necessary work to sustain …

A Plea For Deliberation In The Classroom. A Response To "Fostering Open-Minded Political Engagement Through Online Interscholastic Discussions, Alice Siu

Democracy & Education

This response to “Fostering Open-Minded Political Engagement through Online Interscholastic Discussions” reviews the strengths of the study, highlights the limitations, and discusses the importance of continuing and scaling fostering open-minded political engagement in schools, particularly in middle and high schools. Polarization, both affective and political, is one of the most pressing issues of contemporary civic life, and this study takes this issue head-on and enables students to be thoughtful in their exchanges with diverse others. The authors leverage deliberative democracy theory and educational frameworks to explore how boundary-crossing discussions can enhance students' political open-mindedness and engagement. While the paper contributes …

Developing Reliable Epistemic Processes For Civic Life: A Response To “‘Beyond “Yelling At Them’: Exploring The Impact Of A Political Simulation In Polarized Times”, Elizabeth C. Reynolds, Sarah Mcgrew

Democracy & Education

PurpleState, the political communications simulation at the heart of “Beyond ‘Yelling at Them,’” was designed to foster in students the epistemic aim of building knowledge by investigating a civic issue and the epistemic ideal of considering multiple perspectives on an issue (Chinn et al., 2014, 2021). These aims and ideals are essential for contemporary civic actors to become more informed about controversial issues. The authors offered evidence that PurpleState supported students to better understand multiple perspectives on issues in ways that may reduce the effects of polarization. We argue, however, that students may not fully achieve the epistemic aims and …

Learning To Talk And Listen In Elementary Social Studies: Exploring A Third-Grade Teacher’S Decision To Use Classroom Talk For Community Building, Jane C. Lo

Democracy & Education

With mounting polarization in the political arena and media sources, trust of one’s neighbors and of teachers are facing increasing strain in the United States. Furthermore, teachers continue to struggle with how to teach high-quality, nuanced, social studies, especially in the elementary setting, where time and resources for social studies has been depleting for decades (e.g., Fitchett et al., 2014; Heafner, 2018). Within this context, this study presents a case of a third-grade teacher who chooses to use discursive talk as a way to support high-quality social studies and to build community in her classroom. Findings suggest that classroom talk …

Teaching Dobbs Where Divisive Concepts And Abortion Are Restricted: Teacher Learning, Controversial Issues, And Mixed-Reality Technology, Rebecca C. Geller

Democracy & Education

Though scholarship has long championed the positive impacts of classroom considerations of controversial or difficult issues, teachers have often hesitated to broach divisive topics for numerous reasons, including legislation purporting to limit controversy in classrooms and, often, that they had limited or no preparation to teach controversies, especially not politically contentious sociopolitical contexts. I worked with a research team to use a mixed-reality teaching simulation of a controversial issue discussion as a low-stakes learning context for developing skills for collective pedagogical reasoning. The teaching simulation centered on Dobbs v. Jackson, the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. …

Fostering Open-Minded Political Engagement Through Online Interscholastic Discussions: Toward Reducing Affective Political Polarization, Brett L. M. Levy, Alina Lewis

Democracy & Education

This study explores how political discussions among diverse youth can support students’ open-minded political engagement. For this study, we collaborated with two teachers to adapt and enact instruction aimed at supporting students’ discussion of controversial issues across political, geographic, and cultural boundaries. During an instructional unit exploring various ways to strengthen our election system, students engaged in discussions with their classmates and with peers from another school via an online video discussion board. We collected data through observations and interviews. Our findings indicate that the instruction enhanced students’ understanding of their political bubbles and their motivation to engage in boundary-crossing …

Beyond “Yelling At Them”: Exploring The Impact Of A Political Simulation In Polarized Times, Jeremy Stoddard, Jais Brohinsky, Jason A. Chen, Derek Behnke, M. Shane Tutwiler, Janice Robbins

Democracy & Education

This paper explores how PurpleState, a political simulation designed to foster skills and knowledge for informed civic participation, develops students’ abilities to counter or resist the effects of political polarization and partisanship. Throughout the simulation, which has been implemented in Virginia and Wisconsin, students are asked to analyze, reason with, and communicate using evidence on a state policy issue (e.g., gun control) with a particular focus on local context. They are also asked to reflect on how what they are learning helps them understand the political information environment and their role in it. Student participants from focus groups (n=32) consistently …

The Role Of Consumers In The Retail Design Process, Constant Berkhout, Katelijn Quartier

Designing Retail and Services Futures SIG

Marketing and design emphasise consumer-centricity and advocate for a participatory, co-creative role for consumers. However, retail designers often view consumers as constraints with limited influence on store design. A literature review analysing retail design from a consumer perspective reveals three key approaches: brand-based frameworks, which align retail design with brand identity; handover-based frameworks, which incorporate consumer insights in a design brief; and empathy-based frameworks, focused on understanding consumers through iterative design. In these frameworks consumer participation remains minimal. Barriers to greater involvement are largely linked to the role of the designer. The review suggests that a more creative and participatory …

The Shop Window As A Communication Platform: From Product Showcase To Experiential Narratives, Vittorio Linfante

Designing Retail and Services Futures SIG

Fashion has always been closely linked to communication, evolving from aesthetic styles to a language expressing social identities and values. This process has been amplified by digital tools, creating dynamic communicative networks across media. Contemporary fashion communication encompasses all stages of production and meaning-making, blending tangible and intangible elements. Shop windows, traditionally just product displays, have taken on a new role as spaces for experimentation that bridge the physical and digital. This article examines how shop windows have evolved from simple boundaries between store interiors and real life to active spaces for engaging the public, transforming them from passive observers …

The Facade As Communication Tool Between Brand Identity, Localism And Sustainability, Giulia Gerosa, Federica Guarnieri

Designing Retail and Services Futures SIG

This article explores the intersection of localism and sustainability in retail design, analyzing how a strong connection with the context can contribute to achieving a more sustainable approach. Through the analysis of case studies, the article will specifically focus on the design of retail spaces, highlighting best practices in which local aesthetics, languages, and materials are integrated and reinterpreted through the use of technology to foster a sustainable design approach. In a historical period where environmental awareness and the importance of local identities are increasingly recognized, it is essential to understand the opportunity for collaboration between designers and brands to …

Matching The Narrative Fragments And Customer Identity Fragments In Omni-Channel Fashion Retail, Jinze Lyu

Designing Retail and Services Futures SIG

Omni-channel fashion retail integrates diverse channels and touchpoints, generating complex overlaps and combinations. In this dynamic environment, fashion brand narratives need to shift from selling products to selling experiences. This transformation challenges brands to maintain narrative coherence while adapting to distinct channel characteristics. Simultaneously, consumers exhibit varied identity expressions across channels, reflecting different consumption needs. However, existing narrative design approaches struggle to accommodate this fluidity. This study introduces a Narrative Design Alignment Framework, examining narrative fragments from the brand’s perspective and identity fragments from the consumer’s perspective. By mapping brand narratives and consumer identities across channels, the framework aligns these …