Digital Commons Network^™

The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium: Discoveries And Directions, Ole A Andreassen, Elizabeth G Atkinson, Karmel W Choi, Aiden Corvin, Helena L Davies, Lea K Davis, Anna R Docherty, Howard J Edenberg, Barbara Franke, Joel Gelernter, Paola Giusti-Rodríguez, John M Hettema, Jens Hjerling-Leffler, Hailiang Huang, Emma C Johnson, Cathryn M Lewis, Yi Lu, Mary-Ellen Lynall, Joanna Martin, Andrew M Mcintosh, Janitza L Montalvo-Ortiz, Niamh Mullins, Caroline M Nievergelt, Kevin S O'Connell, Michael C O'Donovan, Adeniran Okewole, Roseann E Peterson, Danielle Posthuma, Jonathan Sebat, Jordan W Smoller, Reeteka Sud, Biju Viswanath, James T R Walters, Hyejung Won, Naomi R Wray, Patrick F Sullivan, Coordinating Committee Of The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) has fueled discoveries of common and rare genetic variation contributing to liability to many psychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions. This narrative review reflects on major findings from the past half decade of research by this international group of investigators in five priority areas: discovery of common variants using GWAS; rare variation and its interplay with polygenic risk; leveraging genetics to go beyond diagnostic boundaries; ascribing functional attributes to genomic discoveries; and developing and implementing processes for data sharing, outreach to various communities, and training. The insights gained in these domains frame the agenda for the next …

Ambient Documentation Technology In Clinician Experience Of Documentation Burden And Burnout, David Y Ting, Sayon Dutta, Julie C Wang, Amanda J Centi, Molly Macfarlane, Eran Bechor, Jonathan Letourneau, Gabrielle Choo-Kang, Esther H Kim, Cordula Magee, Brian J Lang, Laura Angelo, Jackson Olin, Michelle Frits, Christine Iannaccone, Angela Rui, Ivana Salmikova, Christopher Holland, Bryan Blanchette, Rachel Silverman, David W Bates, Lisa Rotenstein, Rebecca G Mishuris

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Documentation burden is associated with clinician burnout. To address documentation burden, Mass General Brigham (MGB) in Somerville, Massachusetts, and Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia, have piloted ambient documentation technology (ADT), which develops artificial intelligence-drafted clinical notes from clinician-patient conversations.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of ADT use and its association with clinicians' experience of documentation burden and burnout before and after use.

Design, setting, and participants: This survey study included clinicians who used ADT for at least 42 days and responded to both the pre- and postsurveys (onboarded February 27 to July 31, 2024, at MGB and July 19, …

Hospital Experiences And Medical Traumatic Stress In Adults With Spina Bifida, Monique Ridosh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose

This study examined hospital and emergency department (ED) experiences of adults with spina bifida (SB), medical traumatic stress (MTS) and participant characteristics including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and resiliency scores.

Methods

Adults with SB who had a hospital or ED encounter within the last five years were recruited from a medical home clinic and completed a structured interview and validated questionnaires. Narrative inquiry was used and descriptive analyses were conducted. MTS scores were reported per participant characteristics and emotional health questionnaire score counts and percentages.

Results

Twenty-five adults with SB representing 37% of eligible patients were …

What The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Means For Dentists, John Looby Cpa, Theodore C. Schumann Ii Mba, Msf, Cfp, Aif

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Executive Summary: The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), signed July 4, 2025, significantly impacts dentists by extending and making permanent many 2017 tax policies. Key tax changes include permanent tax rates, an increased state and local income tax (SALT) cap, and new deductions for seniors, qualified tips, overtime wages, charitable donations, and auto loan interest. The qualified business income deduction is now permanent, and first-year bonus depreciation is restored. New "Trump Accounts" are established for children. Crucially, the OBBB introduces $50,000 annual and $200,000 lifetime caps on professional degree student loans, effective July 2026, and establishes the Repayment Assistance Plan …

J Mich Dent Assoc August 2025

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association provides news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It stands as the primary publication reaching Michigan dentists. The August issue marks the end of digital only publishing, as the MDA announced it will provide members a bimonthly print issue along with monthly digital distribution. This issue includes:

• A cover feature on the impact on the dental community of the recently adopted Big Beautiful Bill federal budget
• Mandibular Lingual Concavity Evaluation Using CBCT
• A reprinted clinical feature from New York on …

Guest Editorial: Who’S Special Now?, Michael Maihofer Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This editorial discusses a controversial change in Michigan's dental specialty advertising law, which occurred in 2020. Previously, only state-recognized specialists, undergoing rigorous advanced training, could advertise their specialty status. However, a new rule, resulting from an out-of-court settlement, paradoxically allows general dentists not recognized as specialists to advertise as such without following advertising rules. This change is criticized for undermining public protection and creating unethical, misleading situations where general dentists advertise as pediatric dentists, for instance. The Michigan Dental Association (MDA) is actively working to revert this law by supporting House Bills 4593 and 4594 to ensure only recognized specialists …

Mandibular Lingual Concavity Evaluation Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography, Anthony L. Neely Dds, Mdentsc, Phd, Bassam M. Kinaia Dds, Ms, Dicoi, Lidya Jirjis Dds, Ms, Dalia Hasso Dds, Ms, Jonathan Zora Dds, Ms, David Van Winkle Dds, Naiomy Perez-Villanueva, Sharhdad Kazerani Dds, Ms, Samual Korkis Dds, Ms, Omar Masabni Dds, Ms, James R. Geist Dds, Ms

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Dental implant placement in the posterior mandible can be impacted by the presence of the lingual concavity. Perforating the lingual cortical bone could lead to life-threatening hemorrhage/airway obstruction. The aim of this retrospective study is to examine dentate and partially edentulous mandibles to describe anatomical variations related to the lingual concavity by evaluating cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Mda At Your Service: What’S The Mda Doing To Help The Hygienist Shortage?, Rachel Sinacola Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article details the MDA's efforts to address Michigan's dental hygienist shortage, which saw about 3,000 licensed RDHs leave the workforce since 2020. Initiatives include paid social media campaigns targeting potential and former RDHs, although enrollment impacts have been minimal. The MDA is also collaborating with hygiene schools, helping Ferris State University secure funding to double its size and working with North Central Michigan College to establish a new school. Discussions are underway to explore allowing internationally trained dentists to perform hygiene duties. Additionally, the MDA endorses MEDVA for virtual assistant staffing, promoting HIPAA-compliant human professionals who handle remote administrative …

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.

The Back Page: Hospital General Dentistry: Needed Now More Than Ever, Tanaya K. Porter Dds, Craig C. Spangler Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This commentary emphasizes the increasing necessity of hospital-based general dentists. Historically, dentists faced challenges for privileges in hospitals, but today they are crucial, especially for neurodivergent adult patients and those with complex chronic illnesses requiring general anesthesia for dental care. Untreated oral issues can lead to severe infections, complicating acute medical conditions and threatening the success of life-saving surgeries like organ transplants. Hospital dentists provide vital pre-surgical evaluation, diagnosis, and follow-up care to prevent dental complications and improve patient quality of life post-surgery. Despite their critical role, the article highlights a concerning trend of fewer hospitals having general dentists on …

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 …

Definitions Of Cardiogenic Shock And Indications For Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support: Joint Consensus Report Of The Perioperative Quality Initiative And The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Cardiac Society, Stephanie O Ibekwe, Amanda Rea, Christian Stoppe, Alexander Zarbock, Andrew D Shaw, Daniel T Engelman, Manreet K Kanwar, Perioperative Quality Initiative (Poqi) And The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (Eras) Cardiac Society Workgroup

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The management of patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) is complex and resource intensive, particularly given the recent surge in temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) devices. This document was created to establish an approach to the assessment of CS to provide early and targeted therapies, including tMCS.

Methods: An interdisciplinary, international panel of experts, using a structured appraisal of the literature and a modified Delphi method, derived consensus regarding the assessment of CS based on pathophysiologic severity, etiology, and phenotypic clustering to guide escalation of care as well as identify those patients who might benefit from tMCS.

Results: Key principles …

Global Cardiac Anesthesia Workforce Assessment: A Cross-Sectional Observational Survey Study, Jiapeng Huang, Iwan Sofjan, Mohamed R Eltahan, Hong Liu, Chirojit Mukherjee, Fabio Guarracino, Andrew Shaw, Pablo Motta, International Academy Of Cardiac Anaesthesiologists (Iaca) Global Survey Team

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The primary aim of this survey was to assess the demographics, training background, practice setting, and work environment of cardiac anesthesiologists globally.

Design: Cross-sectional study of the global cardiac anesthesia workforce. A multilingual web-based survey was conducted between June 1 and December 31, 2023.

Setting: The survey was distributed via cardiac anesthesia societies, special interest groups, and social media using a non-probabilistic sample and with snowballing techniques.

Participants: Anesthesiologists actively practicing cardiac anesthesia.

Interventions: None.

Measurements and main results: In total, 3,430 participants from 99 countries responded. Results were summarized as descriptive data comparing geographical regions, and noticeable differences …

Prioritizing Privacy In Artificial Intelligence: A Practitioner-Grounded, Layered Framework, Prince Boadi

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems rapidly assume responsibility for processing large volumes of sensitive personal data, organizations struggle to identify which privacy safeguards deserve immediate, sustained investment. This study develops a practitioner-informed framework that ranks and organizes privacy controls for AI environments, thereby bridging the persistent gap between regulatory mandates and implementation realities. Using grounded theory and thematic analysis of 152 qualitative responses drawn from experts in technology, healthcare, government, defense, and education, we coded interview data in ATLAS.ti to surface three interdependent control layers—Strategic Governance Controls, Operational Controls, and Technical Controls—that map closely to the NIST Privacy Framework and …

Mechanoregulation Of Osteogenesis And Adipogenesis Of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Justin Caron

Master's Theses

Bone-related diseases (e.g., osteoporosis) are primarily treated with pharmacologic therapies that often exhibit limited efficacy and substantial side effects. Currently, bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become one of most important cell options in bone regeneration due to readily available sources, strong proliferation abilities, weak immune rejection responses, and strong osteogenic differentiation potential. While identifying the most effective approach to enhance osteogenic differentiation of MSCs for bone regeneration is challenging, understanding the regulatory mechanisms is crucial for improving therapeutic efficacy. Recent research has focused on developing strategies to enhance osteogenesis, which involve biophysical and biochemical stimulation. Mechanical and …

Individual Noise-Tolerance Profiles And Neural Signal-To-Noise Ratio: Insights Into Predicting Speech-In-Noise Performance And Noise-Reduction Outcomes, Subong Kim, Susan Arzac, Natalie Dokic, Jenn Donnelly, Nicole Genser, Kristen Nortwich, Alexis Rooney

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Background/Objectives: Individuals with similar hearing sensitivity exhibit varying levels of tolerance to background noise, a trait tied to unique individual characteristics that affect their responsiveness to noise reduction (NR) processing in hearing aids. The present study aimed to capture such individual characteristics by employing electrophysiological measures and subjective noise-tolerance profiles, and both were analyzed in relation to speech-in-noise performance and NR outcomes. Methods: From a sample of 42 participants with normal hearing, the neural signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)—a cortical index comparing the amplitude ratio between auditory evoked responses to target speech onset versus noise onset—was calculated, and individual noise-tolerance profiles were …

Annual Report, Fy2025, Illinois State University, Textbook Affordability Committee

Textbook Affordability Committee

No abstract provided.

One Step Closer To Greater Understanding! Does A Correlation Exist Between Fluid Intelligence And Player Rank In League Of Legends?, Evan Miller

Dissertations

Chess, one of the oldest modern games, has long been a model domain for expertise research. In comparison, research on video games has historically been influenced by moral panic. Cycles of moral panic tend to revolve around preconceived notions of threats, held at a societal level (typically by older generations). Politicians, quick to capitalize, then advocate for policy change based upon their constituents’ fears. Concurrent media reports draw further attention to the issue, amplifying the perception of harm. As the panic escalates, pressure is placed on scientific communities to perform confirmatory (not exploratory) research. This fundamentally biased approach to research …

A Monte Carlo Analysis Of Cost Competitiveness Of Chinese And U.S. Fine Chemical Exports To Europe Under Europe’S Energy Crisis, Lin Luo

Dissertations

The European energy crisis, driven by geopolitical conflicts, has created a significant supply-demand gap in Europe’s fine chemical sector, necessitating reliance on imports from the United States and China. This quantitative study examined how energy, labor, and logistics costs interacted to shape the cost competitiveness of U.S. and Chinese fine chemical exports to Europe, using a Monte Carlo simulation parameterized with historical data from 2015-2023, to provide a probabilistic forecast of competitive outcomes. The findings revealed that while China holds a 76.55% probability of being the lower-cost supplier, its advantage is characterized by high volatility primarily due to its logistics …

Saliva & Circadian Rhythm In Medical Profiling For Early Disease Prevention, Joseph Lewis

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Circadian rhythms affect almost every biological process from hormone secretion, gene expression, immune regulation, and metabolism. Studies show that disruption to these internal rhythms through irregular sleep, artificial sleep, and irregular sleep can significantly increase risk for chronic disease such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Saliva presents a viable alternative for capturing biomarkers found through blood or cerebrospinal fluid, offering substantial utility for diagnostic and chronobiological profiling. Saliva contains hormones such as cortisol and melatonin while containing inflammatory markers that fluctuate rhythmically throughout the day. Due to its ease of collection, saliva is well suited for longitudinal monitoring, …

Fluoride Toxicity And Benefit: An Integrated Review Of Mechanisms, Risks, And Public Health Impact, Sophia Chavarria

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Fluoride has long been praised for its role in preventing dental caries, primarily through its effects on enamel remineralization and antibacterial effects. However, growing evidence from molecular and cellular studies suggests that excessive fluoride exposure, especially during tooth development, can lead to dental fluorosis and systemic toxicity. This paper examines the biological mechanisms underlying fluoride-induced dental fluorosis, with a focus on stress responses in ameloblasts, oxidative damage, impaired autophagy, and disrupted protein processing. It integrates data from in vitro, in vivo, and human studies to evaluate the cellular thresholds at which fluoride shifts from therapeutic to toxic. Systemic risks, including …

Roadside Asset Extraction From Mobile Lidar Point Cloud, Yushin Ahn, Riadh Munjy, Stephen Choi

Mineta Transportation Institute

Mobile LiDAR systems are powerful tools that help us map roads and their surroundings in 3D with great speed and precision. The data provided by these systems support urban planning efforts, digital mapping, transportation infrastructure maintenance, and more. This report presents a comprehensive workflow for roadside asset extraction using Mobile Terrestrial Laser Scanning (MTLS) data, focusing on road lane detection, cross-section slope analysis, and point cloud classification. Roadside asset extraction is the identification and classification of roadside features like signs and poles. The dataset, acquired using a high-resolution mobile LiDAR system, contains over 5.7 billion points (pieces of data) across …

Predictors Of Healthcare Providers' Readiness For Health System Transformation In Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Ali Alasiri

Health Services Research Dissertations

The healthcare system in Saudi Arabia is undergoing significant health reform to warrant sustainable welfare provision. Privatization or public-private partnerships (PPPs) were introduced in 2021 and outlined the vision for the health system for 2023. The planned initiatives aim to be comprehensive and effectively reach individuals and society, including citizens, noncitizens, and visitors. This dissertation seeks to study and explore privatization, the role of healthcare providers, and their capacity to adapt to the transformation of the healthcare system. To achieve this ambitious goal, several interrelated projects have been undertaken. The first project was a systematic review aimed at studying the …

Dementia- Friendly Interventions In The Hospital Setting And Positive Patient Outcomes, Breanna Wenger

Nurse Residency

PICOT Question: In patients with dementia, what impact does a “dementia-friendly” hospital have on their outcomes in comparison to hospitals that do not employ dementia-friendly practices during their stay?

Addressing Black “Student Outsiders” At Aanapisi/Hsis: Toward (Radical) Transgressive Teaching For Black College Students In Higher Education, Nicholas B. Lacy

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Black students attending AANAPISI/HSI universities have long been overlooked in communication and interdisciplinary research. In this essay, I draw on bell hooks’s (2014) radical transgressive teaching and Patricia Hill Collins’s “outsider within” framework to examine the experiences of Black students at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) such as AANAPISIs and HSIs. Using my autoethnographic and autobiographical experiences as a Black student who graduated from two AANAPISI/HSIs, alongside recent literature on Black student experiences in these contexts, I explore how communication instructors at MSIs can improve engagement with Black students by establishing racially affirming curricula, instructional practices, and instructor-student rapport. I argue that …

Designing A User-Centered Bias System To Enhance Media Literacy And Factual Accuracy, Anjali Majan

Theses and Dissertations

In an era of rapid news consumption, readers often struggle to detect bias and misinformation. This study examined whether interface design can support more critical engagement with news. We developed a progressive disclosure interface that encouraged users to reflect as they read by gradually revealing bias and factual cues. Participants were assigned to either Progressive Disclosure or Ground News. The experiment involved two phases. In the intervention phase, participants used an interface with support features. In the assessment phase, they completed tasks without the tool. We evaluated their performance using five measures: bias recognition accuracy, bias shift, factuality judgment, overlap …

Differential Susceptibility To Friendship Quality, Rebekah B. Clapham, Yuji Kim, Megan M. Davis, Haina H. Modi, Haley V. Skymba, Karen D. Rudolph

Psychology Faculty Publications

Friendships assume a salient role in well-being during mid-adolescence. This research examined (a) how friendship quality (stressful vs. supportive) is differentially associated with mid-adolescents’ social adjustment (engagement in antisocial vs. prosocial behavior); (b) the extent to which these associations are contingent on individual differences in the tendency to base one's self-worth on peer approval; and (c) whether these associations differ in boys and girls. Adolescents (N = 324; 179 girls; M_age = 14.87; SD = 1.22) completed questionnaires during a school-based assessment. For boys, friendship stress was associated with more antisocial behavior among adolescents with high levels of avoidance-oriented …

Insights Gained From Applying Molecular Techniques To Gray Triggerfish (Balistes Capriscus Gmelin, 1789) In The Mexican Caribbean, The Southern And Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico, Geaceli G. Orive

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on Balistes capriscus (Gray Triggerfish), a reef-associated species dependent on hard-bottom habitats in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Using mitochondrial DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analyses, genetic structure across four sites was assessed: Rio Grande Valley (RGV), Veracruz, Chinchorro Bank, and Xahuayxol. Samples from RGV and Veracruz exhibited limited haplotype diversity, minimal nucleotide divergence, and weak genetic differentiation-patterns consistent with recent population expansion and ongoing connectivity within the GOM. While the study centered on B. capriscus, all individuals from Chinchorro and Xahuayxol unexpectedly grouped with Canthidermis maculata (Spotted Oceanic Triggerfish), suggesting misidentification, cryptic diversity, or taxonomic uncertainty in …