Digital Commons Network^™

The New Professional: Tracking Success: Essential Kpis For Owners And Associates, Amrita Patel Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article underscores the importance of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for data-driven success in modern dental practices. For new practice owners, essential KPIs include production, collections, and overhead ratio to ensure financial stability and operational efficiency. Patient flow metrics, such as new patient numbers and retention rates, are vital for growth. For both owners and associates, case acceptance rate reflects treatment plan conversion, and chair time utilization measures clinical efficiency. Other critical KPIs encompass hygiene production, patient satisfaction scores, online reviews, and accounts receivable aging. Associates can also track personal production and referral patterns for career development.

Staff Matters: Adding Background Checks And Drug Testing To The Hiring Process, Jodi Schafer Sphr, Shrm-Scp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article advises dental practices on legally and carefully implementing pre-employment background checks and drug testing. It emphasizes ensuring non-discriminatory practices by consistently applying policies and clearly defining screening criteria. Practices must obtain written applicant authorization and provide notification of Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) rights before conducting checks. When evaluating results, relevance to the job and timing of convictions should be considered, avoiding blanket bans. For drug testing, transparency is key. Given Michigan's recreational marijuana legality, a positive THC test does not automatically indicate impairment, requiring practices to define their approach. Using a reputable third-party provider for both screenings …

Mda Insurance: How Offering Great Benefits Makes Your Practice Attractive To Employees, Craig Start Mba

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article highlights the critical role of employee benefits in attracting and retaining staff in dental practices, particularly given the low unemployment rates for hygienists and assistants. Beyond competitive pay and flexible hours, a robust benefit package, including both employer-paid and voluntary options, is increasingly vital. The MDA Health Plan offers flexible group health insurance options for members. Voluntary benefits such as vision, life, disability, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance are attractive, with Section 125 (cafeteria) plans allowing pre-tax premium payments and offering payroll tax reductions for employers. These benefits provide essential financial security and enhance overall compensation.

Water Fluoridation: A Personal Perspective On The Effectiveness Of Community Water Fluoridation, William Chase Dds, Maom

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article offers Dr. William R. Chase's personal insights into community water fluoridation, emphasizing its effectiveness in preventing dental caries. It traces the discovery of fluoride's benefits back to Frederick McKay's 1901 observations and highlights the pivotal 1945 Grand Rapids Study, which demonstrated significant caries reduction, especially in younger age groups. Despite long-standing support from the American Dental Association, controversies regarding fluoride's safety persist, leading to recent state-level bans. Dr. Chase's experiences in countries without fluoridated water, where he observed severe decay and life-threatening cellulitis, underscore his belief in fluoride as a "miracle supplement" when properly utilized. The Michigan Dental …

Mda Services: Endorsed Programs News

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Throughh MDA Services, the Michigan Dental Association (MDA) has announced several endorsed programs aimed at supporting dental practices across Michigan: Compass Dental Gas Service is now endorsed by the MDA for its expertise in installing, maintaining, and repairing dental gas systems. Members benefit from exclusive discounts and safety compliance support. MEDVA Virtual Staffing offers HIPAA-compliant, human virtual assistants to handle administrative tasks remotely. This service helps reduce labor costs and allows in-office staff to focus on patient care. MDA Health Plan sponsors are reminded to submit overdue eligibility verification documents, which are essential for compliance and 2026 renewal preparations. DBS …

Human Resource Management And Black Teachers’ Employee Experience In K-12 Urban Public Schools, Danielle Renee Cooper-Williams

Dissertations

National teacher data indicate that publicly funded schools in the United States struggle to retain Black teachers in high-need urban areas and in comparison to other groups (Carver-Thomas & Darling Hammond, 2017). This qualitative investigation employed case study methodology. The case study focused on one school within a charter management organization (CMO), exploring interactions among Black teachers and their supervising administrators at the site and management organization levels. The study was organized around concepts articulated at the nexus of teacher retention scholarship and human resource management theory, two bodies of literature yet to be substantially integrated to understand Black teachers’ …

Commodity Diversification, Technological Innovation, And Market Dynamics: Insights Into Beef Cattle Production And Feeder Cattle Basis In The United States, Nik Berg

All Theses

The beef cattle industry plays an important role in the agricultural economy, contributing to both domestic food supply and global trade. The United States is one of the world's largest producers of beef, with production systems varying widely across regions largely due to differences in available resources and market structures. Market conditions, technological advancements, and policy interventions shape the way producers operate, making research into these factors essential for both industry stakeholders and policymakers.

Producers are continuously adapting to changing economic conditions, environmental challenges, and evolving consumer preferences. By analyzing these factors, researchers can provide insights to support informed decision-making …

The Effects Of Incremental Application Of Chemical Defoliants On Cotton Fiber Quality, Aashish Karki

All Theses

Leaf shedding is a natural process as cotton matures; however, this does not synchronize with harvest timing; therefore, defoliants are used to remove these leaves and improve harvestability of the bolls. A tractor-mounted boom sprayer is typically used to apply defoliants. However, this approach results in low penetration to the bottom canopy, poor defoliation, and, consequently, lower fiber quality. An autonomous robotic spraying system equipped with pulse width modulation technology enables targeted side-spraying of defoliants, overcoming the limitations of conventional over-the-top applications. However, limited information on staggered defoliation timing and its effect on cotton fiber quality is available. Thus, field …

Did California's Mental Health Services Act Improve Mental Health? Evidence From Self-Reported Data, Bennett Rider

All Theses

This analysis evaluates the impact of California’s Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which was implemented in 2006 to increase access and improve quality of mental health care for Californians. Difference-in-differences analyses were applied to evaluate the impact of the MHSA on the number of poor mental health days in the past month (PMHDs) that survey respondents had self-reported, relative to a control group with similar pre-policy trends. Using survey data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), this study found that the MHSA’s full implementation is associated with California respondents reporting 0.118 fewer poor mental health days in the …

Consumer Preferences For Blockchain Technology In Tracking Carbon Footprint And Organic Claims In Animal-Based Foods, Josie Nasekos

All Theses

In 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC) program set aside over $3 billion to be invested in 141 projects for agricultural products produced using practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon sequestration. Although the majority of the PCSC funding was canceled in 2025, save a few selected projects that could potentially receive funding under the USDA’s new Advancing Markets for Producers initiative, there is no USDA-certified label to verify the climate-smart commodities that already received funding or similar products that exist in the market. However, third-party verified carbon footprint labels can …

Association Between Gene Family Expansion And The Rapid Diversification Of Pleurocarpous Mosses, Meredith A. Cobb

All Theses

Mosses are the second most species-rich group of land plants. They represent a critical group for understanding the evolution and diversity of land plants. Mosses comprise two major groups, acrocarps and pleurocarps. Despite having a more recent evolutionary origin than acrocarps, pleurocarps are exceptionally diverse. The difference in species richness reflects a rapid species diversification, roughly coincident with the origin and diversification of flowering plants. The speciation events giving rise to pleurocarp diversity happened so rapidly, making it historically difficult to produce strongly supported phylogenies with which to test evolutionary hypotheses. One such hypothesis is whether large-scale changes at the …

An Empirical Analysis Of The Pitch Clock On Major League Baseball, David Langton Jr

All Theses

The pitch clock was instituted in baseball to speed up the pace of play and make the game more watchable. While it has achieved this effect, it may have affected other areas of the sport, like the balance between offense and defense and pitching injuries. This analysis explores the results of a difference-in-difference regression comparing MLB and AAA 2015-2024 seasons. Overall, it finds that pitching statistics were not significantly affected, including elbow injuries. This includes games, ERA, and times a batter is hit by a pitch. In fact, the number of home runs and walks both went down significantly by …

Small Stream Restoration In The Piedmont Of South Carolina: Comparison Of Evaluation Tools And Water Quality’S Effects On Salamanders, Camryn Lachica

All Theses

For many years, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) used the Guidelines for Preparing a Compensatory Mitigation Plan worksheets to guide pre-restoration evaluation and determine post-restoration mitigation credits in South Carolina. Recently, the USACE in South Carolina transitioned to the Stream Quantification Tool (SQT), which provides a more comprehensive assessment framework. Our first objective was to compare these assessment methodologies across different landscape types to determine what the SQT adds to mitigation calculations that were not considered in prior worksheets. We evaluated 16 streams in the Piedmont of South Carolina, with four replicates each of forested, suburban, urban, …

Summit Max: A Randomized Trial Of The Super Large Bore Hipoint Reperfusion System Versus Vecta System For Aspiration Thrombectomy., Thanh N Nguyen, Guilherme Dabus, Ben Mcguinness, James Caldwell, Ryan Priest, Ansaar T Rai, Osama O Zaidat, Bradley A Gross, Ricardo Hanel, Shane Lee, Shazam Hussain, Hamza Shaikh, Mohamad Abdalkader, Ronald Budzik, Craig Kilburg, Keith Woodward, Marco Colasurdo, Jesse Liu, Albert J Yoo, Priyank Khandelwal, Sohyun Boo, Phong Vu, Eugene Lin, Mohammad Almajali, Jasmeet Singh, Alhamza Al-Bayati, Michael J Lang, Michael Abraham, Ameer E Hassan, Peter Pema, Coleman Martin, Ramesh Grandhi, Daniel A Tonetti, Harry R Hixson, Amin Aghaebrahim, Eric Sauvageau, Santiago Ortega-Gutierrez, Dileep R Yavagal, Esteban Cheng-Ching, Jane Khalife, Italo Linfante, Volodymyr Vulkanov, Jazba Soomro, Johanna T Fifi, Lucien Maidan, Alexander Copelan, Clemens M Schirmer, Mark Bain, Gabor Toth, Mahesh Jayaraman, Roberta Novakovic-White, Sudhakar Satti, Nicolas Villelli, Pascal Jabbour, Matthew Page, Davina J Mcallister, Robert Araujo Contreras, Edgar A Samaniego, David S Liebeskind, Steven W Hetts, Raul G Nogueira, Joey English, Ajit S Puri

Neuroscience Articles

BACKGROUND: Rapid and complete recanalization is a primary goal in the endovascular treatment of large vessel occlusion stroke. The effectiveness and safety of super large bore aspiration catheters (0.088″ inner diameter) for the treatment of large vessel occlusion stroke have not been demonstrated in a randomized trial.

METHODS: SUMMIT MAX (A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Interventional Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of the Route 92 Medical MonoPoint Reperfusion System for Aspiration Embolectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients) was a prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label clinical trial of patients with internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery M1 occlusions, comparing …

"Esta Es Mi Tierra, Esta Es Mi Lucha" An Analysis Of The Intersectional Latino Immigrant Community Organizing In Maywood, California, Alma D. Alvarado

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The city of Maywood serves as a microscope for major systemic issues that happen on a global scale and are often magnified in the Los Angeles area. The location and timeframe serve to analyze how Latino immigrant communities in southeast Los Angeles faced discrimination in the late 90s and early 2000’s. This study shows how these communities come together and organize to combat major problems, exploring topics like immigration, housing, environmental justice, policing, and overall community organizing. This story focuses on how an underrepresented community without a voice became politicized. Maywood is a town that struggles in progress, but its …

The Relationship Between Perceived Racial Discrimination And Psychological Distress: The Role Of Psychological Inflexibility, Kyrah Breann Frank

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Research has shown that marginalized groups experience perceived racial discrimination as traumatic, humiliating, and hurtful (Brown-Iannuzzi et al., 2014). Multiple studies have associated perceived racial discrimination with physical and mental health outcomes such as depression (Brown-Iannuzzi et al., 2014.; Shallcross & Spruill, 2017; Zapolski et al., 2018), cardiovascular problems (Watson-Singleton et al., 2019; Zapolski et al., 2018), anxiety (Zapolski et al., 2018), and stress (Graham et al., 2013; Watson-Singleton et al., 2019). Studies have also shown that mindfulness buffered/moderated the relationship between perceived racial discrimination and health outcomes (Brown-Iannuzzi et al., 2014; Graham et al., 2013; Shallcross & Spruill, 2017; …

Clocking Out: Experiences Of Customer Sexual Harassment, Coping, And Psychological Well-Being Among Waitresses, Paola Lopez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Workplace sexual harassment (WSH) is an ongoing issue which has been growing in literature especially when looking at the effects of WSH on employees. Yet, few studies have looked at workplace sexual harassment that occurs from customers towards employees known as customer sexual harassment (CSH). The current study investigates the role of coping strategies as a moderator when responding to CSH and the effects on employees' short- and long-term psychological well-being in terms of anxiety and depression.

Rural Peer Helpers Speak: How One Program Makes A Difference, Misty S. Whisenhunt

College of Education

The problem this mixed-methods convergent research study aimed to explore was the increasing incidence of rural high school students performing poorly academically, socially, and emotionally. This mixed-methods convergent research study aimed to examine one peer helper program as perceived by rural high school peer helpers. This research study aimed to answer the following research questions: (1) How do rural high school peer helpers perceive their experience as a peer helper? (2) What are the key elements of Thriveway’s Peer Helpers PLUS Program as perceived by rural high school peer helpers? (3) How effective is Thriveway’s Peer Helpers PLUS Program’s training …

Techmatters: Affinity For Design Layout: Turning The Page On Microsoft Publisher, Krista Graham

LOEX Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Six Lineages Of Cercospora Are Responsible For Cercospora Leaf Blight And Purple Seed Stain On Soybean In Brazil, Leandro Luiz Borges, Thiago Freitas Ferreira, Marina Garofalo Lana, Isabela Delpupo Caliman, Newton Deniz Piovesan, Burton H. Bluhm, Luiz Orlando De Oliveira

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The genus Cercospora is widely distributed and causes foliar diseases, including those affecting soybean. Cercosporoid species exhibit high intraspecific variation, and the lack of distinct morphological features has led to host plant association becoming a key criterion for species delimitation. Recently, in addition to C. kikuchii, other species such as C. cf. flagellaris, C. cf. sigesbeckiae, and C. cf. nicotianae have been linked to Cercospora Leaf Blight (CLB) and Purple Seed Stain (PSS) in soybean. In this study, phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses were used to identify six Cercospora lineages responsible for causing CLB and PSS across Brazil. A total of …

Ambidexterity Leadership Behaviors And Their Impact On Organizational Immunity In The Iraqi Ministry Of Education, Donia Mohsen Abbas, Salah Abd- Alqadeer Ahmed Al- Nuiami

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This study investigates the effect of ambidextrous leadership behaviors on organizational immunity in the Iraqi Ministry of Education. Based on ambidextrous leadership theory which is a balance between open and closed leadership behaviors, the study investigates how these two dimensions impact organizational learning, memory, and DNA. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, data was collected through questionnaires and interviews from 183 administrative leaders. The results indicate that organizational immunity is significantly affected by open leadership behaviors as well as closed leadership behaviors. Open behaviors foster innovation, knowledge sharing, and collaborative problem solving, whereas closed behaviors maintain structure, consistency, and focus on goal …

Predicting Stock Market Indicators Using A Hybrid Model (Arima-Garch): An Analytical Study Of Some Gulf Financial Market Indicators, Mohammed H. Adnan, Manaf Ahmed Ahmed

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: The research aims to compare the results of forecasting financial market indicators in the Arabian Gulf using the hybrid ARIMA-GARCH model. This research argues for the efficiency of traditional standard models in forecasting for relatively long periods. Methodology: The hybridization technique initially depends on the selection of the best autoregressive integrated moving average model for prediction according to the automatic selection function for the proposed models that achieve the best statistical conditions. The models chosen in the previous step represent the inputs for using the (1,1,1) GARCH model for the prediction. Both models predict financial market indicators from outside …

Economic Analysis Of The Impact Of Development Programs On Buffalo Milk Producers In The Marshes Of Iraq As A Model, Mowj M. Nadhim, Osama K. Jabara, Mohammed J. Abdulradh

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

The research examined the impact of development programs on local buffalo milk ‎producers in the marsh areas of Iraq, focusing on productivity levels and residents' living ‎standards. Data was collected from 200 producers in the governorates of Dhi-Qar, Maysan, ‎and Basra, all participating in the development program. ‎ The research assumed that the introduction of modern technologies and the provision ‎of production requirements by international organizations or government initiatives would ‎enhance the production levels and productivity of the rural population. Consequently, this ‎improvement may reflect their standard of living and strengthen their connection to the ‎land, thereby reducing migration. These …

Role Of Financial Inclusion In Poverty Alleviation In Jigawa State Nigeria; The Moderating Effect Of Financial Literacy, Abdulnasir Yola Turawa, Aminu Jakada, Nadira Madaki Iliyasu, Abdullahi Dayyabu Marmara

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

A need for research that examines how financial inclusion alleviates poverty in Jigawa state with a specific focus on the moderating effect of financial literacy. The study utilizes Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Financial inclusion was found to contribute to poverty alleviation by granting access to essential financial amenities like loans, savings, and insurance. Additionally, financial literacy significantly curbs this relationship by enhancing the efficiency of financial inclusion in poverty alleviation. Individuals who utilize financial services more effectively were found to have higher financial literacy, resulting in improved financial stability, increased savings, and investments in income-generating activities. Recommendation …

Activation And Suppression Mechanisms Of The Nrg1 Helper Nlrs, Yu-Ru Wang, Ruize Zhang, Daowen Wang, Yong Wang, Zheng Qing Fu

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

2025-2026 Lindenwood University Graduate Course Catalog, Lindenwood University

Course Catalogs

Lindenwood University Graduate Course Catalog

2025-2026 Lindenwood University Undergraduate Course Catalog, Lindenwood University

Course Catalogs

Lindenwood University Undergraduate Course Catalog

Curved Confinement Directs Anchoring-Mediated Structural Transitions In Highly Chiral Liquid Crystal Shells, Sepideh Norouzi, Jeremy Money, Stiven Villada-Gil, José Martínez-Gonález, Monirosadat Sadati

Faculty Publications

Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) confined in curved geometries exhibit a rich spectrum of defectmediated morphologies governed by the interplay between chirality, curvature, surface anchoring, and confinement. This study systematically investigates structural transitions in highly chiral CLC shells under asymmetric anchoring conditions, focusing on the effects of shell thickness and curvature on pitch axis reorientation and defect formation. Utilizing microfluidic techniques, we generate core–shell droplets with independently tunable anchoring at inner and outer aqueous interfaces. Transitioning from planar–planar to planar-homeotropic boundary conditions via surfactant-mediated modulation induces profound reorganizations in the director field, giving rise to focal conic domains (FCDs), stripe patterns, …

Reconsidering “Luxury” Bones: Comprehending The Capacity For Care Coordination In Maine’S Oral Health Policy Environment, Molly S. Williams

All Student Scholarship

Case management takes a comprehensive and coordinated approach to providing healthcare for patients who often have complex or chronic needs. It began as a practice in medical care in the early 1900s, and it has roots in both social welfare and public health. The evolution and formalization in the U.S. medical care system can be traced over time: the earliest practitioners were nurses and social workers engaging with charitable organizations; expansion of some services followed the introduction of general welfare benefits in the Social Security Act and workers’ compensation insurance (1930s); insurance companies began covering services to assist World War …

On The Garoufalidis-Kashaev State-Integral Invariant, Amelia Palmer Dusenbury

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores a construction of the family of topological invariants for certain oriented 3-manifolds based on the state-integral approach developed by Andersen, Garoufalidis, and Kashaev in the Archimedean setting. Starting from an ideal triangulation of a 3-manifold equipped with angle data, variables are assigned to the faces and tetrahedra, taking values in a so-called 'Gaussian group'. The invariant is defined by integrating a distribution defined from the combinatorics of the triangulation and a special function over a product of the Gaussian group. The special function is a quantum dilogarithm, whose valuable feature, the pentagon relation, ensures the resulting integral …