Digital Commons Network^™

Mda Services: Don’T Get Bogged Down: Regulatory Compliance, Reva Darling

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This column encourages dental practice owners to utilize MDA-endorsed vendors to simplify business operations and ensure regulatory compliance. It specifically recommends Eagle Associates for HIPAA and OSHA training and Complete Dental IT for managing technology-related security risks. The author argues that using these pre-vetted services saves members time on vendor interviews and negotiation while providing favorable pricing that individual practices could not achieve on their own.

Ce Spotlight:, David Foe

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This source highlights on-demand continuing education courses provided by the MDA to help dental professionals meet state relicensure requirements. Featured topics include diagnosing trigeminal neuropathy, identifying human trafficking warning signs, ethics and dental jurisprudence, and 2026 updates for infection control. The courses are designed to be convenient and are counted toward specific Michigan Board of Dentistry requirements, such as pain management and delegation of duties.

Global Perspectives On Cns Drug Innovation: Achievements, Barriers, And Priorities For The Next Decade, Hiroyuk Uchida, Gabriella Gobbi, Joseph Zohar, Allan Young, Dan Rujescu, Ming-Chyi Huang, Suresh Sundram, Lukoye Atwoli, Jana Vukovic, Kazutaka Ikeda

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background Over the past decade, neuropsychopharmacology has shifted from stagnation to momentum, with first-in-class mechanisms and biomarker-enabled trials spanning psychiatry and neurology.

Methods We narratively synthesized advances from 2013 to 2026 across central nervous system (CNS) discovery and development, including pivotal trials, regulatory actions, digital/real-world evidence, genetics, artificial intelligence (AI), and implementation/global-access themes that are endorsed by international societies.

Results Therapeutic gains include rapid-acting drugs for treatment-resistant depression (intranasal esketamine); psychedelic-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression; neuroactive steroid γ-aminobutyric acid-A receptor positive allosteric modulators (brexanolone, zuranolone) for postpartum depression; non-dopaminergic muscarinic agonists (xanomeline–trospium) for schizophrenia; orexin receptor antagonists …

Revised - The Role Of Gad67/65 In The Therapeutic Effects Of Ketamine And Fluoxetine In Fear-Conditioned Mice, Alex G. Ottimer

All NMU Master's Theses

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder and the most common disorder following exposure to a traumatic event. The most commonly used drugs in PTSD treatment are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), though only about 50% of patients respond to this treatment. Previous work in our lab demonstrated the combination of chronic fluoxetine (FLX) and acute ketamine treatment decreased fear response in a contextual fear paradigm in male C57/BL mice. In rodents, fear conditioning (FC) is commonly used in the literature to induce behaviors related to PTSD. The mammalian central fear memory circuit involves a dynamic interplay between …

Post-Truth Gaming: Fictional Pasts And Constitutive Rhetoric In Video Game Nostalgia, Hunter Bishop

All NMU Master's Theses

What happens when we become nostalgic for experiences we never had? How do video game companies impact what we are nostalgic for? What might a fictional nostalgia look like, and how can it help us better understand the role of nostalgia in Western culture? These are the central questions that this thesis seeks to answer. As seen in the United States’ current cultural and political infatuation with the past, nostalgia has become a dominant rhetorical strategy. Nostalgia is especially prevalent in the medium of video games, where a steady stream of remakes, remasters, and rereleases attempts to repurpose the past …

Enhancing Occupational Balance And Well-Being Among Significant Others Of First Responders, Alexis M. Ziegler

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Stress is defined as “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation” (World Health Organization [WHO], 2023). It is common in daily life, however the amount and intensity of it is variable. First-responders, such as police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics, have a predisposition to stress due to the requirements of their position. Because of the increased and consistent stress, these professions are at an increased risk for mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; O’Toole et al., 2022). This relationship between stress and negative mental health, such as …

Leveraging Generative Artificial Intelligence To Launch An Independent Game Studio, Douglas Evans

Theses

This project report examines how Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI) can be integrated into the early formation and operations of an independent/indie game studio. Using a qualitative, practice-based single-case study approach, the project focused on Boar’s Head Studio, LLC. A human-in-the-loop approach was maintained with Generative AI used to support company formation, ideation, planning, documentation, analysis, coding assistance, marketing preparation, and community-building preparation

The report concludes that Generative AI can serve as a meaningful system integrated into the studio pipeline when used with structured, repeatable, human-in-the-loop processes. The project contributes a practical, case-based framework that may be useful to other …

Edvard Munch And The Feminine Sublime, Saralyn Goodspeed

Theses

This paper explores the theory of the sublime in relation to Edvard Munch’s depictions of women. Departing from the common view that Munch was simply anxious about the “New Woman” that emerged in the late nineteenth-century, I argue that Munch’s conflicting emotions regarding women were sublime in nature, rooted in his childhood relationship with his mother. A formal analysis is conducted on three of Munch’s works: Inheritance (1897), Three Stages of Woman or Sphinx (1894), and Madonna (1895). These analyses link Munch’s representations of women to a maternal sublime.

Small College Registrars As Leaders: A Multiple Case Study Of Shared Leadership, Kyle John Wigboldy

Dissertations

This study investigates the leadership relationship between the small college registrar and the people with whom they work most closely. The college registrar is not structured to be a strategic leader within the small college, but their leadership contributions across the campus are constantly felt. This research uses a qualitative case study approach to explore how three college registrars lead and participate with coworkers.

This investigation used a multiple case study design where data collection involved exploring three small colleges of fewer than 1,000 students. The study used semi-structured interviews with the registrar at each of the three colleges, and …

Clinical Case Study: The Effects Of Task Dynamics And Saltatory Pneumotactile Stimulation On Cerebral Oxygenation, Cognitive Performance, And Sensorimotor Function In An Adult Following Left Ischemic Mca Stroke, Bridget Slagle

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In the chronic stage of stroke recovery, neuroplasticity is thought to require external influence, and is often considered to be experience-dependent, or “Hebbian,” plasticity. Current studies have been investigating multiple ways to induce plasticity to enhance recovery, including investigating the role of sensory stimulation in cortical priming to enhance the effects of rehabilitation interventions.

This case study of an 80-year-old female with aphasia after L-MCA ischemic stroke included 18 neurotherapeutic sessions over 10 weeks. Each session included pneumotactile somatosensory stimulation to the glabrous hand and perioral face, delivered to both the left and right side via the GALILEO, as well …

Beyond The Cycle: How Menstruation Influences Gender Identity And Well-Being In Binary And Non-Binary Adults, Rin Nguyen

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Approximately 1.8 billion people worldwide menstruate, including transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people, yet their experiences remain underrepresented in research. Given that menstruation can affect gender alignment and psychological well-being, understanding its impact on TGD people is critical. Gender congruence, or alignment between one’s gender identity and expression, is a key factor influencing well-being, with research linking it to reduced depression and anxiety. Furthermore, emerging research on gender euphoria, the joy experienced when gender congruence is experienced, suggests it may serve as a protective factor for mental health and well-being. Gender euphoria has been associated with reduced psychological distress and increased …

Ultrasonic Cavity Preparation With Cvd Diamond Tips: A Scanning Electron Microscopy Study Of Dentin Surface Morphology And Smear Layer Formation, Mauricio Schneider, Jefferson David Melo De Matos, Mário Alexandre Coelho Sinhoreti, Diego Telomaro Peiter, José Eduardo Bastian, Daher Antonio Queiroz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Minimally invasive dentistry has driven the development of alternative cavity preparation techniques aimed at preserving tooth structure and improving biological outcomes. Ultrasonic systems associated with chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond tips have emerged as a potential alternative to conventional rotary instruments; however, evidence regarding their effects on dentin surface morphology and smear layer characteristics under SEM remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the morphological characteristics of dentin surfaces after cavity preparation using ultrasonic and conventional rotary techniques.

Materials and methods: Twenty extracted human teeth were sectioned longitudinally to obtain standardized specimens. Samples were assigned to ultrasonic preparation using …

Recruitment Of Chrysaora Chesapeakei On Floating Docks Versus Bulkhead Surfaces: Which Axis Is Foulset?, Alyssa Lamberto

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Blooms of Chrysaora chesapeakei (bay nettles) have increased sharply in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, reducing both ecological integrity and economic value. Because population expansion is driven primarily by the benthic polyp stage, where individuals attach to hard substrates and reproduce asexually, effective management must target the surfaces where polyps settle and clone themselves. The rapid growth of artificial infrastructure, particularly vinyl docks and bulkheads, has expanded available habitat for polyp recruitment. Scrubbing these structures has been shown to reduce ephyrae production, but it remains unclear whether both docks and bulkheads warrant equal management attention. This study compared recruitment on horizontal …

Dean's Research Newsletter, May 2026, Neil W. Schluger

SOM Dean's Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Creative Roots, Strategic Outcomes: Ceo Childhood Imprints And The Pursuit Of Innovation, Puya Kahhali, Alexandru Roman, Haibo Liu

American Business Review

This study examines how CEOs’ early-life experiences shape strategic decision-making, focusing on the influence of parental creativity. Drawing on imprinting and upper echelons theories, we argue that CEOs with creatively employed parents develop an exploratory mindset that promotes greater investment in firm R&D. Crucially, we propose that this learning stems from behavioral modeling of exploratory mindsets through creative problem-solving—rather than the transmission of socioeconomic capital. Using a proprietary dataset of Fortune 100 CEOs and their parents’ occupations, we find robust support for this relationship. The effect is amplified under strong firm performance, while CEO age does not consistently weaken the …

Cultivating Inclusive Behavior Of Undergraduate Internship Students Using The Reasoned Action Approach, Shamika Almeida, Flevy Lasrado, Geraldine Hardie

American Business Review

This study takes place at a regional Australian university and its international campus in the United Arab Emirates, involving third-year business internship undergraduate students. As part of a formative learning activity and summative assessment process, students undertake an implicit bias test and critically reflect on their unconscious biases to explore how these biases may have influenced their behavior. Temporality is central to this reflective process, as students engage in retrospective analysis of past experiences, present awareness, and prospective consideration of future professional conduct. Using an autoethnographic approach, teaching staff interpret their experiences of facilitating these discussions and assessing student reflections. …

The Association Between Csr Disclosure-Action Portrayal Gap And Employee Work-Related Attitudes, April Moses, Amy Tung, Kevin Baird

American Business Review

This paper provides an empirical insight into organizational impression management practices by examining the CSR disclosure-action portrayal gap, specifically the discrepancy between CSR disclosures and CSR actions, from an employee’s perspective. The paper examines the association between this gap and employee work-related attitudes (job satisfaction, employee organizational commitment, and the propensity to remain) using survey data collected from 186 lower-level managers across various industries in the U.S. The hypotheses were examined using structural equation modelling (SEM) with maximum likelihood estimate using AMOS Graphics version 25 software. It was found that many employees perceived that the CSR disclosures of their organization …

Does Greater Economic Freedom Lower The Nominal Interest Rate Yield And Help Offset The Interest Rate Impact Of The Primary Budget Deficit? An Ardl Analysis Of The 7-Year Treasury Yield, Richard J. Cebula

American Business Review

This study seeks to gain insight into the impact of economic freedom on the nominal interest rate yield on 7-year U.S. Treasury notes, an interest rate yield that has received effectively no attention in the scholarly literature during the 21st century to date. It is hypothesized that greater economic freedom acts to reduce the nominal interest rate yield on 7-year Treasury issues. Additionally, this study seeks to investigate the interest rate impact of federal government overspending. To reflect the latter, this study adopts the primary budget deficit rather than the much more commonly studied total budget deficit. The primary deficit …

Antimicrobial Activity Of Sulbactam-Durlobactam Against Acinetobacter Baumannii-Calcoaceticus Complex Strains Causing Non-Respiratory And Non-Bloodstream Infections From The United States (2023–2025), Erik Munson

Clinical Lab Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Acinetobacter baumannii most often causes pneumonia in critically ill patients. However, A. baumannii is also an important cause of a broader range of infections, including skin/wound and urinary tract infections. This study aims to evaluate the in vitro activity of sulbactam-durlobactam and comparator antibiotics, including meropenem and cefiderocol against A. baumannii-calcoaceticus complex isolates from non-respiratory and non-bloodstream sources. Samples included 285 A. baumannii-calcoaceticus complex isolates enriched for carbapenem resistance collected across 17 states in the United States (January 2023–May 2025). Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted by manual broth microdilution and interpreted according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and …

Integrating Ai Into Collection Development Workflows: Prompts, Rubrics, And Responsible Use, Ivan Portillo, David Carson, Margaret Puentes

Library Presentations, Posters, and Audiovisual Materials

AI technologies are advancing at a rapid pace and offer new opportunities for library advancement. This session highlights practical ways AI can support collection development and discusses opportunities to improve library workflows.  Attendees will also learn how AI can strengthen library resource management by optimizing decision making and use of resources.

Learning Outcomes: 

• Attendees will learn about approaches to integrating artificial intelligence into collection development
• Attendees will learn about artificial intelligence tools and their applicability to collections 
• Attendees will learn about the ethical use of artificial intelligence tools 

May 2026 Endorsed Programs News, Reva Darling

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This source details several MDA-endorsed services intended to improve practice efficiency and profitability. Key topics include selecting a fiduciary financial adviser, the regulatory requirements for surcharging credit cards to offset processing fees, and the cost-competitive benefits of the MDA Health Plan. It also promotes iCore solutions for Revenue Cycle Management, which automate insurance verification and billing to reduce administrative friction and enhance financial performance.

Dentistry And The Law: The Importance Of Termination Rights, Daniel Schulte Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This column explores the legal importance of termination rights in contracts with dental product suppliers. It explains that termination provisions—including notice periods and termination fees—must be carefully negotiated upfront, as they are generally enforceable once signed. The author clarifies that large termination fees may be deemed unenforceable penalties if they do not reasonably approximate actual losses. The article advises dentists to shop around for favorable contract terms and seek explanations for restrictive clauses.

Staff Matters: Should I Negotiate A Starting Salary With A Final Candidate?, Jodi Schafer Sphr, Shrm-Scp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article provides guidance for dental practice owners on handling salary negotiations with final job candidates. The author emphasizes the need for a well-defined salary structure based on market data to avoid internal pay inequities and budget strain. It recommends that employers communicate their compensation philosophy transparently and broaden the discussion beyond base pay to include the value of the total benefits package, such as health insurance, retirement plans, and professional development.

J Mich Dent Assoc May 2026

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association delivers news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200-plus members. It remains the main publication reaching Michigan dentists and is available worldwide through ADA Commons.

The May 2026 (Volume 108, No. 5) issue of the Journal is published in print format to provide updates and insights for Michigan's oral health community and MDA members. Print editions occur every other month beginning with January.

The May 2026 issue of the MDA Journal introduces Dr. Melanie Mayberry as the new association president, highlighting her …

The Back Page: Thanks, Mda, For 35 Years, David Foe

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Retiring managing editor Dave Foe reflects on his 35-year tenure with the Michigan Dental Association. He traces the technological evolution of the Journal and the association's member communications from paper-based systems and typewriters to the digital era. Foe underscores the vital role of dental journalism as a pillar of the profession and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to have served Michigan dentists and documented their history for over three decades.

May 2026 Government And Insurance Affairs, James Budd Mpp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This report summarizes the MDA’s participation in the ADA's annual Lobby Day in Washington, D.C.. MDA representatives met with congressional offices to advocate for student loan reform, including interest-free deferment during residency (H.R. 2028), and ERISA reform to ensure consistent patient protections across all dental insurance plans (H.R. 7931). The update also highlights efforts to protect the federal oral health infrastructure and introduces the "Member Minute" program for submitting legislative and insurance questions directly to the advocacy team.

Editorial: Grateful And Thankful, Michelle C. Dziurgot

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Dr. Michelle Dziurgot reflects on her concluding three-year term as the Editor-in-Chief of the Michigan Dental Association Journal. She describes her personal growth through volunteerism, starting as a local component editor and advancing to the MDA Board of Trustees. The author emphasizes that the most value from membership comes through immersion and service, encouraging others to volunteer their time and talent to the association. She credits the MDA’s mentorship with shaping her professional career and practice.

The 2026 Mda Award Winners: Recognizing Outstanding Service, David Foe

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article lists the recipients of the 2026 MDA awards, highlighting their contributions to the dental profession and public health. Notable winners include Dr. Christopher Smiley, recipient of the Meritorious Award for a lifetime of achievement in dental journalism and leadership, and Dr. Charles Burling, honored as Dentist Citizen of the Year for his community service. The feature also recognizes educators, legislative advocates, and volunteers in the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program who provide care to vulnerable populations.

Drug Therapy Of Anxiety Disorders And Depression: Considerations For Dental Treatment, David Tindle Dds, Ms

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This clinical article examines the dental implications for patients taking psychiatric medications. It reviews major drug classes, including SSRIs, SNRIs, and benzodiazepines, focusing on oral side effects like xerostomia and bruxism. The author details critical drug interactions with local anesthetic vasoconstrictors and macrolide antibiotics. Crucially, the source explores research suggesting that SSRIs may significantly increase the risk of dental implant failure by interfering with bone metabolism and osseointegration.

Your New Mda President: Dr. Melanie Mayberry, David Foe

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This feature introduces Dr. Melanie Mayberry, the 2026-27 president of the Michigan Dental Association. An interview details her extensive background in private practice, DSOs, academia, and public health. Dr. Mayberry discusses the primary challenges facing dentists, specifically workforce gaps and flat reimbursement models. Her agenda for the upcoming year includes finalizing a new strategic plan, modernizing the Annual Session, and enhancing member engagement through mentorship programs for new graduates.