Digital Commons Network^™

Chemical Effects Of Microplastics On Photochemistry In A Coral-Associated Zooxanthella, Meghan A. Hennings, Matz Indergard, John E. Parkinson

OneUSF Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium

Coral bleaching is the process by which corals lose their symbiotic microalgae in response to stressful conditions. These photosymbionts, known as zooxanthellae, give corals their color and sustain host growth through mutualistic nutritional exchange. Bleaching events are becoming more common and severe, driving research into coral conservation and the resilience of each partner in the symbiosis. Yet it is unknown how certain pollutants, such as microplastics, may affect bleaching outcomes. Previous research in our laboratory has demonstrated that the presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics inhibits bleaching recovery in sea anemones (a coral model), but it remains unclear whether the …

The Impact Of Ramadan Fasting On Chronic Disease Management, Abdulwahab Eddib, Aakez Adrak Marjan, Faris Jabbar, Nuzat Indawala

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Every year, 2.06 billion Muslims perform Ramadan fasting, a religious practice involving abstinence from food and drink from dawn to sunset for 30 days. This religious practice changes diet, hydration, sleep, and medication timing, raising clinical concerns for the safety of individuals with chronic diseases who choose to fast. Research reports mixed effects on disease control and treatment safety, emphasizing the need for an overarching analysis of its impact on chronic disease management. This literature review is aimed to examine research on Ramadan and intermittent fasting on chronic disease management and to analyze its effects on disease control, clinical outcomes, …

Don't Self-Opt Out Of Career Opportunities: Proceed With Confidence, Valerie Mendoza

Faculty Publications

While reflecting on your career in the past, have you ever stepped back from an opportunity that you wanted because you doubted yourself? In the workplace, confidence often gets mistaken for competence, and that means talented employees can be overlooked simply because they hesitate. The truth is that confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s a skill you can build. This session will get you started on building that skill.

We’ll explore practical strategies to strengthen your confidence starting today. We’ll also break down the key differences between how confident individuals act compared to those who aren’t, so you can …

More Than Mealtimes: The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Pediatric Feeding For Children With Developmental Disabilities, Anika J. Peters

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Feeding is a foundational occupation essential for growth, development, and family participation. However, children with developmental disabilities often experience significant feeding challenges that impact nutrition and participation in mealtime routines. This capstone project examines the role of occupational therapy in pediatric feeding assessment and intervention within an outpatient setting. Using a descriptive mixed-methods approach, outcomes were evaluated for pediatric clients (N=18) and occupational therapists (N=15) through goal attainment tracking, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), clinician needs assessment data, and resource feedback. Results demonstrated improvements in food acceptance, texture tolerance, oral-motor skills, and engagement in mealtime participation. COPM scores reflected …

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Healthcare Access, Food Desert, And Transportation, Charmaine White, Nicholas Cominos, Hassan Yassine, Nicholas Saeedi, Maria Pacheco Martinez, Miranda Baumbick, Turner Tomatti, Ariel Wallace

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Education, Employment And Nutrition Needs And Reflection, Ninotchka Valdez, Tyler Forbes, John Pirau, Rachel Perez-Cruet, Nicholas Durand, James Ha, Annie Liang, Willa Roberts

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Employment, Education, Fitness, Healthy Food, Pharmacies, And Reflection, Annika Tekumulla, Vamsi Gollapalli, Sebastian Reczek, Alston Prabhu, Matthew Haerens, Ashna Mehra, Susan Dong, Madison Martin

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Social Determinants In Action: A Field Reflection On Community Health, Jamaica Jordan, Razanne Zaghloul, Raj Khuperkar, Lissette Valdez, Nathan Morren, Cole Duvall, Alexis King

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: 48219 Beyond The Zip Code, Justin Darragh, Adhithi Keerthana Athikumar, Muaaz Akhtar, Dania Zeidan, Nathaniel Edwards, Trina Alimi, Jonah Brand, Beatrice White

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Access To Education And Nutritious Foods, Maurgan Lee, Kailey Carner, Tarek Atasi, Michael Mclellan, Alec Brook, Ashley Schehr, Namitha Bhat, Syed Kaushik

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Observation And Reflection Of Education, Transportation, And Food Insecurity At Detroit, Sindi Roko, Kaylee Chan, Sarah Noonan, Alfonso Vaziriyan-Sani, Jelani Shadd, Ritika Tiwary, Samir Khan

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Reflection On Neighborhood Environment And Economic Instability As Barriers To Health, Charity Godbold, Sarah Syeda, Zachary Houslander, Sydney Kelly, Jason Fahmy, Eliezer Ponce De Leon, Jessica Wang, Omar Tayeb

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Systemic Barriers In 48203—Poverty, Food Deserts, And Inadequate Infrastructure—Directly Impact The Health And Futures Of Its Residents., Kerestin Aziz, Sanjana Aiella, Brady Bak, Maanas Sharma, Catherine Hofley, Silas Stewart, Ahmed Marabeh, Samantha Hoey

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

The Delivery Dilemma: Unintended Consequences Of Cesarean Sections, Cecilia Odegard, Ellie Rose Piette

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Cesarean sections (C-sections) are a major surgical procedure intended to minimize the rate of maternal and infant mortality due to complications during birth. While they were originally intended to only be performed when medically necessary, rates of non-medically indicated C-sections have increased significantly. This poster examines the unintended consequences (UICs) that are associated with C-section delivery, focusing on both short-term and long-term effects. A major focus is how C-sections disrupt early microbial exposure during birth, which plays an important role in the development of the infant gut microbiome and immune system. Research has shown that infants born via C- section …

A Bridge Back To The Community, Anna Kemp, Summer Langva, Ulathi Mpofu

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

The Dream Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota, supports adult men aged 18 and older who face challenges such as mental illness, chemical dependency, traumatic brain injury, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities. The center provides stable housing, three daily meals, clothing, and a range of support systems designed to promote rehabilitation and community reintegration. In addition to meeting basic needs, the Dream Center offers faith‑based programming that emphasizes restoration through Christian teachings, including the message of God’s love through Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God. As part of our community service‑learning project, we conducted interviews with residents …

Navigating Hunger And Academic Success: College Students’ Experiences With Food Insecurity And Campus Food Pantries, Casey Weaver

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Food insecurity is a growing issue faced by many college students, and there is an increasing call for more qualitative research examining food insecurity on college campuses. It may be posited that students who experience food insecurity but have access to resources are more likely to succeed academically than those without access to such resources. This research examined how the resources provided to college students experiencing food insecurity influenced their academic success at a university in the United States. This study explored the experience of four students who identified as food insecure and utilized campus resources to address this issue. …

Fifteen Years Of The Abc-Ahp-Ncnpr Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program: What Have We Learned?, Stefan Gafner, Roy Upton, Mark Blumenthal, Ikhlas Khan

Oxford ICSB

Initiated in 2011, the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) was created as a partnership between the American Botanical Council, the 2American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), and the National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) at the University of Mississippi to educate the herbal dietary supplement industry, regulators, and scientists in academia about adulteration of botanical ingredients. The ultimate goal of the Program was to improve the authenticity and quality of herbal dietary supplements to the consumer. Since its inception, the Program has published 100 peer-reviewed documents. Despite herbal ingredient suppliers’ and dietary supplement manufacturers’ implementation of changes in quality control specifications, …

Alkaloid Profiling Of Narcissus Poeticus L. Bulbs And Their Inhibitory Activity Of Cholinesterases, Maël Gainche, Isabelle Ripoche, Elodie Jagu

Oxford ICSB

The Amaryllidaceae family is well known for its rich diversity of alkaloids, including lycorine- and galantamine-type structures with potent cholinesterase inhibitory properties. In this study, we investigated the phytochemical composition and cholinesterase inhibitory activity of alkaloids isolated from Narcissus poeticus L., a species native to the botanically rich Auvergne region of France. Phytochemical analysis and bioguided fractionation of bulb extracts led to the identification of three known alkaloids, pseudolycorine, norgalantamine, and 2-O-(3’-hydroxybutanoyl)-lycorine, as well as a newly characterized tetrahydroquinoline derivative, poeticine A. The inhibitory activities of these compounds against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) were assessed using both a standard …

Unmasking Ashwagandha Controversy: Safety, Toxicity, And Adulteration, Tahir Maqbool Mir

Oxford ICSB

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic shrub valued for its roots, which support systemic health. Increasing use has raised safety concerns about adulteration and hepatotoxicity. The roots of ashwagandha are primarily preferred for systemic health, while the leaves were traditionally reserved for topical applications to treat joint inflammation and promote wound healing.  Although generally considered safe, ashwagandha supplements have been linked to drug-induced liver injury, including cholestasis, jaundice, and pruritus. Reports from various organizations like LARB in the Netherlands indicate a rise in liver toxicity cases, possibly due to cytotoxic withafrin A and DNA-damaging withanone. A major concern is widespread …

Naturally Derived Kratom Extracts: Toxicological Evaluation In Humans And Rodents, Sibyl Swift

Oxford ICSB

Peer-reviewed literature provides limited toxicological data on the consumption of naturally derived kratom extracts. Given the increasing use of kratom products, understanding their safety profile is critical for public health and regulatory decision-making. To address this gap, we conducted a rodent toxicology assessment and a controlled human clinical study. Human Clinical Study: Healthy male and female participants consumed specified kratom extracts daily for 14 consecutive days under controlled conditions. Clinical observations and biochemical markers were monitored throughout the study. Rodent Toxicology Study: Equivalent extract doses were administered to rodents for 90 days to evaluate subchronic exposure. Assessments included body weight, …

A Historical Analysis Of The Development Of Prenatal Care In The U. S., Kristen Montgomery Phd, Cnm, Aprn, Shelby Greene Bsn, Rn, Lauren Griffin Bsn, Rn, Destiny Lewis Bsn, Rn, Lauryn Lewis Bsn, Rn, Bryleigh Newberry Bsn, Rn, Brittany Scott Bsn, Rn

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose: This paper examines the historical development of prenatal care in the United States, tracing its evolution from informal, home—based management to structured, evidence-based systems that are central to maternal and fetal health.

Aims: The specific aim of this project was to determine how prenatal care evolved in the United States.

Methods: A historical methods approach was used. Historical documents were reviewed using PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar to find relevant resources. Relevant articles were reviewed by the research team and analyzed for components regarding the development of prenatal care. All members of the research team reviewed the articles and …

Real World Fertility: From Participatory Research To Clinical Trial, Belinda Tan, Azure Grant, Ayla Barmmer

Oxford ICSB

Nutritional supplements are widely popular for female reproductive health, but their ingredients are typically studied in isolation in the laboratory. Finished products make claims based on these isolated studies, creating a gap in which impact of multi-nutrient formulas in the real world are not investigated, largely due to high research costs. Decentralized clinical research methods are modernizing clinical trials, leading to affordable, efficient evidence generation in large representative populations. Utilizing a decentralized research platform, we tested the hypothesis that specific supplement protocols would be associated with improved female health and fertility in a real world cohort. We present a novel …

Metabolomic Characterizations Of Hericium Erinaceus (Bull.) Pers. And Laricifomes Officinalis (Vill.) Kotl. & Pouzar Fungal Cultures, Kyle Meyer

Oxford ICSB

We present metabolomic characterizations of Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers. (lion’s mane, yamabushitake, etc.), and Laricifomes officinalis (Vill.) Kotl. & Pouzar (syn. Fomitopsis officinalis; agarikon, eburiko, etc.) fungal cultures by high resolution orbitrap mass spectrometry and HPLC-DAD. Primary focus has been applied to the cultivation of these species on brown rice, Oryza sativa L., as a solid substrate.   In the case of H. erinaceus, we have observed key differences in lipid metabolite profiles over a 28-day fermentation time series suggesting possible grain lipid feedstocks for fungal-derived lipid production, providing clear evidence of substrate biotransformation.   For L. officinalis cultures, we observe distinct …

Bioactive Metabolite Markers For Functional Mushrooms: Comprehensive Metabolomic Mapping Of Full-Spectrum Cultivated Mushrooms, Standard Production And Method Development., Julie Daoust, Ivana Blaženović

Oxford ICSB

Functional mushrooms are increasingly used in dietary supplements and functional foods, yet current scientific characterization of their chemistry remains limited by narrow extraction paradigms, limited standards availability and incomplete databases. In 2025, M2 Ingredients, in collaboration with Adikai Insights, completed a metabolomics atlas, a comprehensive untargeted metabolomics investigation of ten cultivated mushroom species grown under controlled indoor conditions in and effort to identify known bioactive molecules in whole mushroom samples to guide standard and quantitative method development targeting bioactive compounds present in the materials.   Using high-resolution mass spectrometry and advanced cheminformatics, a total of 5,139 unique functional mushroom metabolites were …

Authenticated Hericium Erinaceus Mushroom And Selected Mycelia Reference Materials For General Industry Use, Steven Dentali

Oxford ICSB

The establishment of authenticated reference materials is critical for method validation, standards development, and adulteration detection in the medicinal mushroom market. Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane) is widely commercialized, yet historically has lacked species-specific analytical standards. This presentation describes the species identification protocol used by Nammex to develop and maintain authenticated H. erinaceus mushroom reference materials that support ongoing standards work, including advisory contributions to AOAC INTERNATIONAL initiatives. Production partner voucher specimens are authenticated using macroscopic, organoleptic, and morphological examination by qualified personnel, and retained as internal reference materials. Genetic verification using DNA sequencing confirms H. erinaceus identity in voucher specimens …

Determination Of Kratom Alkaloids In Botanical Products Using Multi-Criteria Lc–Ms Analysis, Mengliang Zhang

Oxford ICSB

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a botanical product widely sold in the United States as powders, capsules, tablets, gummies, and beverages. Natural kratom leaves primarily contain mitragynine (MG) as the dominant alkaloid. However, an increasing number of commercial products contain elevated levels of the more potent opioid alkaloid 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and the semi-synthetic compound mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGP). Reliable analytical identification of these compounds is critical for dietary supplement testing, regulatory monitoring, and public health protection. However, kratom matrices contain numerous structurally related alkaloids and isomeric compounds that complicate mass spectrometric identification and may lead to false positive assignments. The objective of …

Advancements In Extraction And Co-Extraction Of Botanicals For Standardization And Efficacy, Rory Coleman

Oxford ICSB

Historically, botanicals have served human health in traditional medicine and supplementation due to their bioactive components. Efficient, clean extractions and clinical validation have become fundamental technologies, rendering access to libraries of efficacious products. However, cost, regulatory status, and speed to market have kept many botanicals in single or simple form. Mixtures of such single botanical extracts often require large quantities for effect, influenced by chemical composition, concentration, and delivery format. During the extraction and concentration process, exogenous "bioenhancers," e.g. piperine or oil blends for hydrophilic molecules, often become a necessity, exasperating the problem.   Here, we will delve into the development …

Yeast As A "Microbial Factory", Kaila Fuller, Betsy Jean Yakes

Oxford ICSB

Yeast are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms that are members of Kingdom Fungi, and in the world of dietary supplements, yeast qualify as a dietary ingredient as a botanical. During fermentation, yeast naturally produce byproducts that can be harvested, purified, and sold in a dietary supplement. Advances in biotechnology have allowed for genetic modification of yeast so that yeast can produce large quantities of native or non-native constituents during fermentation, effectively making yeast a “microbial factory” for various chemicals. Chemicals produced this way can qualify as a dietary ingredient as a constituent of a botanical. Relevant examples of past submitted notifications (public …

Windshield Not The Rearview Mirror, Dan Fabricant

Oxford ICSB

We talk a great deal about the past at ICSB and while the history is important, we still need to skate to where the puck is going. We’ll tee up where we are and where we are going when it comes to: drug preclusion; federal preemption; state regulatory efforts; hemp/cannabis; electronic commerce platforms; claims; essentiality; and much more, like what you can do to affect real change for the future of the industry.

Workplace Relationships, Joe Elabd

LEAP Conference Speaker Slides

No abstract provided.