Digital Commons Network^™

Aadej Comm 11 1 2025

AADEJ - The Communicator

The Communicator is the Journal of the American Association of Dental Editors. It is published quarterly and distributed digitally via email to members and posted on the Association’s website aadej.org.

This inaugural issue of 2025 for The Communicator, the official publication of the American Association of Dental Editors & Journalists (AADEJ), sets a forward-looking tone for dental journalism. It prominently features crucial topics such as expanding circulation and archiving publications through ADA Commons, a comprehensive guide to copyright law for protecting journalistic work, and an in-depth analysis of Generative AI's impact and ethical considerations in dentistry. The issue also serves …

And The Word Of The Year Is…, Daniel L. Orr Ii, Dds, Ms, Ph.D., Jd, Md

AADEJ - The Communicator

This issue’s editorial explores three popular word-related websites for writers and editors: WordDaily, Word Smarts, and Dictionary.com. WordDaily offers quick definitions and origins without distractions. Word Smarts is described as a site for writers to delve into grammar and obscure punctuation, aiming to make learning fun, and it has previously published articles on topics like the Oxford comma. Dictionary.com, the site the author has used the longest, provides comprehensive content including definitions, pronunciations, etymologies, and Latin derivations, and also publishes a "Word of the Year". For 2024, Dictionary.com's Word of the Year is "demure," chosen due to a 1,200% increase …

Safeguarding Our Literature, Christopher J. Smiley

AADEJ - The Communicator

AADEJ President Chris Smiley draws a parallel between his personal experience of a well-intentioned but chaotic "stealth cleaning campaign" of his study by his wife, which left him unable to locate important documents, and the systematic scrubbing of freely available resources by federal agencies. He highlights concerns that politically driven directives are restricting information dissemination, citing examples from the CDC and USDA related to terms like "evidence-based," "science-based," and climate change, as well as vital health topics. The article quotes the British Medical Journal's strong condemnation of such actions, calling it "absurd" and "egregious" to erase medically relevant terminology. Smiley …

2024 Aadej-Adea Gies Foundation Editorial Award - Third Place: Gen Ai, Marisa Watanabe Dds, Ms, Ficd

AADEJ - The Communicator

This article is featured as a recipient of a 2024 AADEJ-ADEAGies Foundation Editorial Award. It explores the growing presence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in everyday life and its specific implications for dentistry. While AI shows great promise in improving diagnostic accuracy in dentistry, the author cautions that it is not without limitations and potential mistakes, such as overfitting, lack of contextual information, limited data diversity, false positives/negatives, inadequate training data, and sensitivity to image quality. The piece stresses that AI should augment, not replace, dental professionals, serving as a supportive aid rather than a definitive diagnostic tool. Key benefits …

Aadej Comm 11 2 2025

AADEJ - The Communicator

The Communicatoris the journal of the American Association of Dental Editors. It is published quarterly and distributed digitally via email to members and posted on the Association’s website aadej.org.

This issue of The Communicator continues its focus on the evolving landscape of dental journalism, offering insightful perspectives for editors and communicators. A major highlight is the celebration of the over 50-year partnership between AADEJ and the International College of Dentists (ICD), emphasizing their joint efforts and the forthcoming shared Annual Meeting and awards reception in San Diego. The publication delves into the critical concept of professional and publication standards, …

Aadej — Keeping Pace With New Challenges And Evolving Technologies, Mali Schantz-Feld Ma, Cde

AADEJ - The Communicator

Associate Editor Mali Schantz-Feld discusses the evolving responsibilities of dental journal editors, who must navigate not only dental topics but also broader non-dental trends and technological advancements. She highlights how new communication methods, such as teledentistry, social media, and online reviews, have become imperative for dental practices and, by extension, for dental publishing. Referencing Dr. J. Tim Wright's editorial on "Critical Challenges Facing Dentistry," Schantz-Feld notes that emerging technologies like AI, while challenging to adopt, also present opportunities to improve patient data analysis, diagnostics, and workflow efficiency. She asserts that AADEJ is dedicated to providing relevant information, continuing education (CE), …

A Practical Guide To Digital Publishing, Katherine Fiorillo Ma

AADEJ - The Communicator

In this feature, Katherine Fiorillo, Senior Editor, Michigan Alum, provides a strategic overview of the benefits and best practices of digital publishing in the dental field. While acknowledging the authority of print, the author demonstrates that digital platforms offer essential advantages, including immediate engagement, measurable analytics, and targeted content distribution. The guide outlines technical considerations for single articles and full digital issues, emphasizing the importance of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and web accessibility.

A Feminist Evaluation Of The Joint Programme: Assessing The Cultural Sensitivity Of Unicef And Unfpa's Strategies On Female Genital Cutting/Circumcision In Senegal And Nigeria, Coumba Soumare

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Female Genital Cutting/Circumcision (FGC) encompasses procedures involving the partial or total removal of female external genitalia or other genital injuries, performed for non-medical reasons. Typically carried out on young girls, often between infancy and age 15, FGC is widely condemned in global discourse as a harmful and barbaric practice. However, within certain cultures, it is viewed as a rite of passage or a necessary tradition. I argue that to effectively address FGC, organizations must adopt a culturally sensitive approach. This research examines the United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) initiatives in Senegal and Nigeria. …

Shattering The Glass Ceiling: Comparative Narratives Of Women Leaders In Public Relations In Ghana And The United States Of America, Adriana Kukuwaa Adu

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study explores the lived experiences of women in public relations (PR) leadership roles in both Ghana and the United States, focusing on the cultural, institutional, and societal barriers that shape their professional journeys. Employing a qualitative research design, the study involved ten women in senior PR positions, five from each country, through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis identified six key themes: institutional barriers and gendered expectations; double standards in leadership communication; the influence of stereotypes; mentorship and support; intra-gender competition; and leadership agency and optimism. Guided by Social Role Theory, Glass Ceiling Theory, Feminist Standpoint Theory, and Transformational Leadership …

Exploring Facilitators’ Experiences Addressing Students’ Needs In A Higher Education Work-Based Engineering Program, Cody D. Mann

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study addresses a critical gap in higher education by examining the unique facilitator position at Iron Range Engineering (IRE), a work-based program at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Facilitators are full-time teaching staff in support roles that focus on helping students achieve positive outcomes, such as students successfully transitioning into working professionals. No formal research has been conducted to explore the comprehensive support and overall implications of this role. This qualitative study focused on phenomenography to capture the different experiences of 12 facilitator participants. Data collection was guided by role theory to explore the expectations and perceptions of facilitators, and …

Laser Based Metal 3d Printer, Inura Goonawardena

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The technology and applications of additive manufacturing (AM) have advanced significantly in recent years. Research from hobbyist to industrial scale has evolved and has seen advancements in materials that can be utilized for industrial manufacturing. The Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) developed the reAM250, an open-source research platform for Powder Bed Fusion with a Laser (LPBF). It was made available to facilitate study into component-level innovation, control techniques, and process monitoring without the budgetary and intellectual property constraints of commercial machines. This paper delves into the concept and production of the …

Implementing Information Literacy Practices In Curriculum, Ongelle Schroeder

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This literature review explores the value of integrating information literacy instruction into existing curricula, with a focus on collaboration between faculty and librarians. As students face an overwhelming volume of information, equipping them with the skills to navigate, evaluate, and use sources effectively is increasingly essential—especially in course that require source-based writing, research, and critical analysis. The review highlights key approaches and resources to support educators in embedding information literacy into instruction. While this literature review was written for the contexts of ENG 101 and COMM 100/102, its themes are applicable to a wide range of teaching contexts.

Climate Variability Study For Arid Regions, Faisal Almutairi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Water is the primary source for all living species to thrive, and water scarcity has been a primary concern for biological species and plants in arid regions due to urban planning, population growth, poor water management, and overgrazing. The objective of this research was to study the climate variability in precipitation and temperature for an arid region. This research encompasses two distinct studies. The first study examined the impact of climate variability on precipitation in Phoenix. Precipitation data were acquired from NOAA from 1948 to 2023 and the study was broken down into three time scales: annually, seasonally, and monthly. …

Development Of Food Preservative Hydrogel Using Bioactive Compounds Extracted From Canola Meal, Kayla Christopherson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With an ever-growing population comes the need for a greater food supply. Yet land and other agricultural resources put a limit on the availability of food production. As farmers strive to optimize higher produce yields, society must turn to greener, more sustainable food preservation techniques to reduce food spoilage. The inclusion of extracted bioactive compounds found in canola meal into a food preservative hydrogel is such a solution for food spoilage reduction. In this thesis, extraction parameters of glucosinolates were examined along with their inhibition of E. coli DH5αZ1 when incorporated into 2 developed hydrogels: gelatin A Schiff-base and agar-agar. …

Remote Sensing - Based Mapping And Analysis Of Winter Cover Crop Adoption For Sustainable Agriculture, Minnehaha County, Belinda Buechler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Winter cover crops planted by farmers such as cereal rye, crimson clover, radishes, hairy vetch, and winter wheat are used to conserve and protect the soil during winter. These crops offer numerous benefits such as improving soil health, reducing erosion, fixing nitrogen, increasing carbon sequestration, and weed suppression. Over time, winter cover cropping has been recognized as a sustainable agricultural practice and has gained attention from Federal and State conservation programs, farmers, and non-governmental organizations. Due to their vital benefits, agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conversation Services (NRCS) have partnered with cost-share programs …

Design And Optimization Of The Injection Molding Process Of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymeric Car Fender Using Computational Simulation, Synthia Ferdouse

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The increasing demand for lightweight and energy-efficient materials in the automotive industry has accelerated the adoption of fiber-reinforced polymer composites. This research presents the design and optimization of the injection molding process for glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) car fenders using computational simulation. The effects of various gate types and locations on key process parameters, including fiber orientation, volumetric shrinkage, shear rate, and fill time, were investigated using Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Autodesk Moldflow Insight 2024, and MATLAB-based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCMD) techniques. Simulations were conducted across multiple configurations involving three, four, and five gates, with several variations in location. Among all, …

Biopolymer-Induced Soil Ductility Enhancement: Mitigating The Effects Of Desiccation Cracks, Rabindra Prasad Bohara

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the formidable challenges of expansive clayey soils, notorious for their swelling-shrinkage characteristics, which often lead to ground instability and structural damage. While effective in mitigating soil swell-shrink potential and enhancing strength, traditional calcium-based stabilizers can react with higher sulfate content to form ettringite, causing volumetric changes and infrastructure distress. To assess the impact of stabilizing sulfate-rich soils and determining the various engineering properties, samples of both control and stabilized soils were prepared using lime, biopolymer (guar gum), and lime with guar gum at concentrations of 2% and 4% lime only, 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% guar gum only, …

Improving K-Mean Clustering: A Comparative Study Of Parallelized Version Of Modified K-Mean Algorithm For Clustering Of Satellite Images, Yuv Raj Pant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Efficient clustering of high-dimensional satellite image datasets remains a critical challenge, particularly due to the computational demands of spectral distance calculations, random centroid initialization, and sensitivity to outliers in conventional K-Mean algorithms. This study presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of eight parallelized variants of the K-means algorithm, designed to enhance clustering efficiency and reduce computational burden for large-scale satellite image analysis. The proposed parallelized implementations incorporate optimized centroid initialization for better starting point selection, a Dynamic K-mean sharp method to detect the outlier to improve cluster robustness, and a Nearest-Neighbor Iteration Calculation Reduction method to minimize redundant computations. These enhancements …

Investigating The Ruminal Metagenome Of Grass And Forage-Fed Bison To Uncover Metabolic Activities That Impact The Efficiency Of Plant Fiber Utilization, Anlly Fresno Rueda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the ruminal microbiome of American plains bison (Bison bison) to uncover the metabolic activities that enable efficient utilization of plant fiber, with a particular focus on bacterial composition and functional capabilities in response to forage quality. Using both 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomic approaches, this research provides a comprehensive view of microbial diversity and metabolic potential in the rumen of bison, offering insights into their ecological resilience and efficiency in nutrient extraction. Chapter 2 focuses on the metabolic potential of bacterial communities in the rumen of bison fed a grass-based diet. Using high-throughput sequencing and metagenomic …

Development Of A Collagen-Based Bioink For 3d Printing Biomimetic Tendon-To-Bone Tissue Grafts For Rotator Cuff Repair, Samiul Nibir

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study presents the development of a collagen-based bioink for 3D printing tendon-to-bone tissue grafts, specifically designed for rotator cuff repair applications. Three different bioink formulations were developed: (i) 5.1% (w/v) collagen I, (ii) 5% (w/v) collagen I and collagen II, and (iii) 4.5% (w/v) collagen I combined with β-TCP. The bioink containing collagen I and collagen II was prepared by mixing the two components in a 1:1 ratio, while the collagen I plus β-TCP formulation was made by incorporating 20 wt % β-TCP into the collagen I solution. These formulations were developed to replicate the natural tendon-to-bone complex interface …

Modeling Fluid Flow In Complex Biological Systems: Implications For Dense Tumor Microenvironments, Metastasis, And Bone Cancer, Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Akash

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The transport of biofluids in physiological systems plays a critical role in understanding and optimizing therapeutic interventions for diseases such as cancer and respiratory infections. This dissertation focuses on developing and validating a comprehensive computational framework for studying multiphase transport in complex biological environments. The research emphasizes the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to simulate and analyze plasma perfusion in solid tumors, particle deposition in respiratory airways, and fluid transport in cancer metastasis and bone cancer systems. By addressing the challenges of modeling biological transport phenomena, this work provides valuable insights into therapeutic planning and experimental validation. The study …

God's Problem Of Cut-And-Paste, Noah Gordon

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

Shifting Waters: A 41-Year Time-Series Analysis Of Surface Water Change In The Prairie Pothole Region, Madison Dejarlais

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Prairie Pothole Region (PRR) is a landscape defined by a dynamic surface water system, with wetlands, lakes, and rivers playing critical roles in supporting biodiversity, regulating floods, and maintaining hydrological balance. This study conducts a time-series analysis of surface water change in the PPR from 1984 to 2024, using remote sensing tools including Google Earth Engine, ArcGIS Pro, and ENVI. 41 annual surface water presence rasters were compiled into a cumulative dataset, allowing for both year-to-year comparisons and broader trend analysis. Results indicate that the presence of surface water in the PPR has not followed a simple linear trend. …

Synchronization Protocols Utilizing Progesterone Implants Associated With Estrus Expression, Vaginal Microbiome, And Immune Response In Beef Cattle, Riley James Puck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis aims to provide a deep understanding of presynchronization strategies and the varying factors affecting their efficacy. Beginning with a literature review of the estrous cycle and the endocrinology driving it. Building on this foundation, the physiological basis for estrous synchronization is described, followed by the advancement of pre-synchronization protocols designed to increase estrus and conception. Further, we will focus on the influence of estrus expression on insemination time and conception rates. Finally, how the immune system interacts with the conception process. In addition, the review goes beyond exogenous endocrine manipulation and dives into the emerging role of the …

Semantic Think-On-Graph (Semtog) : Enhancing Graphrag Through Semantic Community Detection, Sugam Mishra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Graph-based Retrieval-Augmented Generation (GraphRAG) enhances large language models (LLMs) by grounding their reasoning in structured knowledge graphs, making them more reliable for multi-hop reasoning and factual QA. A central mechanism in Think-on-Graph systems such as ToG[14] and FastToG[7] is community detection, which groups locally related nodes into compact subgraphs so that LLMs can reason over focused, information-rich neighborhoods instead of traversing the entire graph. However, these methods rely purely on structural connectivity, often scattering semantically related entities across different communities and weakening the evidence provided to the LLM. We propose Semantic Think-on-Graph (SemToG), a semantic-aware extension of FastToG[7] that integrates …

Quantification Of Auxin-Cytokinin Response During Lateral Root And Nodule Development In Medicago, Aniket Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lateral roots (LRs) and nodules are post-embryonic root organs in legumes formed through the activity of de novo meristem. LRs, which are present in all vascular plants, are developed primarily via intrinsic developmental cues, whereas root nodules, found only in a small group of plants known as legumes, are formed in response to legume–rhizobium symbiosis. LRs arise from the pericycle layer of the root, whereas nodule initiation can begin either in the pericycle (indeterminate nodules with persistent meristem, as in Medicago) or in the cortex (determinate nodules with transient meristem, as in soybean), pointing toward a conserved developmental origin, especially …

Generative Ai In The Workplace: Adoption Patterns, Innovation Attributes, And Equity Implications At Bhssc, Andrew Ley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This case study explores generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) adoption patterns, innovation attributes, and equity implications within a diverse educational cooperative in western South Dakota. A mixed methods approach was employed to analyze adoption trends, perceived productivity differentials, and the significance of key innovation characteristics to 40 employees representing a range of divisions, roles, and levels of digital competence. Employees with lower self-reported digital competence and higher average age reported disproportionately higher perceived productivity gains from GenAI tools. This may suggest GenAI may level the playing field for aging individuals who have previously felt marginalized by rapid technological change in the …

Distributed Energy Resources (Der) Capacity Estimation With Spatiotemporal Downscaling For Transmission And Distribution Coordination, Abhilasha Suvedi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary objective of this thesis is to accurately estimate the capacity of distributed energy resources (DERs) using the spatiotemporally downscaled local solar irradiance for their efficient integration into transmission-level grid operations. Accurate estimation of DER capacity is crucial for their enhanced integration into real-time electricity markets. Different methods of spatiotemporally downscaling the solar irradiance are presented in this thesis, followed by their integration into the 12 house distribution network – a low voltage residential distribution system. Grid support functions (GSFs) like Volt-Watt Control, Volt-VAR control, and Frequency-Watt Control are applied to effectively regulate the frequency and maintain the voltage …

Optimizing Hypersonic Scramjets: A Numerical Study Of Fuel Type And Cavity Flameholder Design Impacts On Supersonic Combustion, Delaney Baumberger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents recommendations for optimizing hypersonic scramjets via a numerical study focusing on fuel type and cavity flameholder design and the impacts they have on supersonic combustion. The research is divided into two main investigations aimed at improving scramjet engine efficiency using two distinct geometrical configurations, a square cavity engine and an axisymmetric cavity engine. Each configuration is examined under Mach 2 inflow conditions to assess the role of geometric variation and fuel selection on combustion stability, flameholding, and overall performance. The first study focuses on a comparative assessment of hydrogen and ethylene as scramjet fuels to evaluate their …

Studying Associations Among Mental Health And Psycap In Persons With Stuttering, Jasmine Lydia Selvaraj, James R. Spears, Priscilla Rose Prasath, Gayathri Purushothaman

Counseling Faculty Publications and Presentations

This cross-sectional, psychometric validation and comparative analysis study investigates the associations between mental health and Psychological Capital (PsyCap) in persons with stuttering (PWS; n = 60) and fluent speakers (FS; n = 60), while validating the Tamil translations of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) and Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ). Exploratory Factor Analyses, Cronbach’s alphas, and item-total correlations were used to evaluate the scales with a sample size of 120 participants. The conducted factor analyses demonstrated that the translated MHC-SF aligns structurally with prior studies, as compared to the PCQ, which diverged in factor loadings. The study also applied Independent …