Digital Commons Network^™

A Historical Study Of The Nursing Role, Kristen Montgomery, Jessica Aranda Bsn, Rn, Amanda Dalton Bsn, Rn, Machea Scott Bsn, Rn, Lisa Desantis Bsn, Rn, Halle Hilton Bsn, Rn

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose: Historically, nurses have been at the bedside simply following the direction of physicians, but much has changed since then.

Aims: The purpose of this study is to examine how the roles of nurses have changed over the decades, from pre-professional caregiving to advanced practice. This study focuses on the birth of nursing as a profession, the direct experiences of nurses from different generations, the shift in physician-directed care to collaborative care, how nurses interpret the impact of major healthcare transformations on their role, and the emergence and development of the nurse practitioner role.

Methods: The study was conducted using …

Frankincense (Boswellia Spp.) Essential Oils: Chemistry-Driven Authentication, Chemotype Discovery, And Sustainability Insights Across My Published Studies, Prabodh Satyal

Oxford ICSB

Frankincense, which comes from the oleo-gum resins of Boswellia species, is one of the most important botanicals in global trade. However, its essential oils often face issues like variations in chemical makeup, mislabeling, and adulteration. This presentation summarizes findings from ten peer-reviewed studies conducted between 2016 and 2023. These studies create a chemistry-based framework for authenticating frankincense and ensuring sustainable sourcing.  Research on various Boswellia species, including B. sacra, B. carteri, B. papyrifera, B. frereana, B. occulta, B. ogadensis, and B. rivae, shows strong patterns in volatile profiles at both the species and tree levels. This supports distinguishing between species …

In Vitro Vs. In Vivo Studies On The Interaction Of Natural Products With The Gut Microbiota: The Example Of Stw 5, Olaf Kelber

Oxford ICSB

Background: Recent evidence suggests that natural products can modulate microbiome composition, offering health benefits. This study evaluates the effects of STW 5 (Iberogast) on microbiota in functional dyspepsia (FD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) through a comparison of in vitro and in vivo data. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed and other scientific databases to collate data on STW 5's impact on the gut microbiome at phyla and genera levels. Results: In vitro studies demonstrated an increase in Enterococcus and a decrease in Clostridium and Bacteroides. Further in vitro research confirmed an increase in Firmicutes and a …

A Historical Analysis Of The Development Of Childbirth In The U. S., Kristen Montgomery, Kayleigh Berg Bsn, Rn, Emily Greer Bsn, Rn, Marsha Hedgecough Bsn, Rn, Emma Holden Bsn, Rn, Halle Ingle Bsn, Rn, Alexis Tolbert Bsn, Rn

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose: The purpose of this project is understand the historical development of childbirth from early documentation of birth in the home to modern day obstetrics, where most deliveries occur in the hospital. Approximately 3.5 to 4 million births occur each year in the U. S.

Aims: The aim of this study is to understand the historical development of childbirth in the U.S. with a particular emphasis on maternal autonomy. Depending on the amount of materials available, the research may be limited to the Appalachian Region.

Methods: Using a historical method, materials were located that traced the trajectory of childbirth from …

West Chester Porchfest & Sustainability, Margaret Hudgings, Molly Hanford

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Dr. Margaret Hudgings and Molly Hanford of the West Chester Green Team present "West Chester Porchfest and Sustainability."

Uscis-Grounded Ai: Preventing Hallucinations In Immigration Legal Services, Hephzibah Igwe

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Artificial intelligence chatbots increasingly provide legal information to consumers, but AI "hallucinations" (confidently stated but incorrect responses) pose serious risks in immigration law. Incorrect information about USCIS forms, fees, processing times, or filing procedures can result in visa denials, deportation proceedings, or permanent bars to entry.

This research presents a novel "source-grounded AI" system that eliminates hallucinations in immigration legal information. Rather than relying solely on large language models (LLMs) trained on general internet data, the system uses USCIS.gov as the primary source of truth for all operational data including current forms, fees, processing times, filing addresses, and policy updates. …

A Trojan Attack On Tdma Synchronization In Energy-Harvesting Wireless Networks, Ethan Berei

ONU Student Research Colloquium

This paper investigates a Trojan attack targeting the time-division multiple access (TDMA) synchronization mechanism in single-hop energy-harvesting wireless networks. The attack compromises a single node, which subtly skews its transmission timing to operate outside its assigned time slot, causing localized transmission overlaps and triggering repeated network-wide resynchronization events. This behavior shortens the synchronization interval, significantly increases control-plane traffic, and leads to higher energy consumption and delay in energy-constrained networks. The attack is modeled within a finite state machine (FSM) framework and experimentally evaluated under varying energy-harvesting conditions. Experimental results show that the number of synchronization events can increase by up …

The Use Of Nams To Screen For Developmental And Reproductive Toxicity (Dart) Of Botanicals, Cynthia Rider

Oxford ICSB

No abstract provided.

Botanical Safety Consortium: Overview And Progress, Connie Mitchell

Oxford ICSB

No abstract provided.

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 …

Efficacy And Safety Of Red Ginseng Extract Powder (Kgc05pg) In Achieving Glycemic Control In Prediabetes Korean Subjects: A 12-Week, Single-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Placebo-Controlled Study, Namhan Cho

Oxford ICSB

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Red Ginseng Extract Powder (RGEP) in achieving glycemic control in prediabetic Korean subjects. Methods: The study consisted of 49 subjects in the RGEP group and 49 in the placebo group.  The participants were orally given 2 tablets of RGEP and placebo (500 mg/day twice daily in the morning and the evening within 30 min after meal), respectively.  The subjects were followed duration of 12-week.  The participants glycemic control parameters, such as fasting blood glucose levels, 30-, 60-, 90-, and 120-min blood glucose levels at 75gm oral glucose tolerance …

Ginsenoside-Based Theranostic Agents For Alzheimer's Disease: Implications For Brain Penetration, Cellular Uptake, And Anti-Aging Effects, Hak Soo Choi

Oxford ICSB

Red ginseng and its bioactive constituents, ginsenosides, have long been associated with neuroprotection and anti-aging effects, yet their limited ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and poorly characterized biodistribution have hindered therapeutic translation. To address this, we developed a library of “ginsenoprobes” by conjugating major red ginseng components (Rg1, Rg3, Rb1, Rh2, Rk1, Rg5) and red ginseng extract (RGE) to a zwitterionic near-infrared (NIR) fluorophore (ZW800-1C), enabling real-time tracking of their fate in vitro and in vivo. All ginsenoprobes were purified to >95% homogeneity via preparative HPLC and rigorously characterized for optical properties, including molar extinction coefficients and dye-to-ginsenoside …

Metabolite Profiling Of Chamaelirium Luteum (False Unicorn) Roots And Related Commercial Products By Hptlc And Lc-Msms, Wendy Strangman, Wilmer Perera, Wilmer Perera

Oxford ICSB

Throughout history, medicinal plants have been used as herbal treatments in women’s health.  However, they remain poorly characterized at the chemical level, limiting standardization and safety assessment. Chamaelirium luteum (false unicorn), traditionally used for reproductive health in the Eastern United States, has previously been shown to possess both conventional steroidal saponins as well as more rare open-chain saponins whose bioactivities are largely unexplored. Incorporation of C. luteum into commercial products, and subsequent overharvesting of wild populations has increased the urgency for robust methods to verify authenticity and detect adulteration. In this study, we coupled HPTLC-based profiling with detailed LC-MSMS analyses …

Hptlc: The New Front Line Of Global Botanical Surveillance, Tiên Do, Ilona Trettin, Ehab Mahran, Sonja Drobnjak

Oxford ICSB

Quality control of botanicals is approaching a breaking point. Regulators, industry, and pharmacists are now forced to answer questions faster and at larger scale than ever before: What plant is actually in the product? Is it the right species—or a look-alike? Is it pure or adulterated? Is it safe? Is the chemistry consistent? And how can labs make confident decisions when analytical capacity and staffing are finite? This presentation demonstrates how modern HPTLC— far beyond its historical role as a simple identity test— now provides clear, interpretable chemical evidence that supports analyst with a practical tool for risk-based surveillance 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 …

Botanical Hepatotoxicity: Are We Accurately Characterizing Risk Vs. Hazard, Rick Kingston

Oxford ICSB

No abstract provided.

Navigating Through Covid: How Has Covid Impacted College Student Adjustment?, E'Lena E.H Johnson

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

College adjustment is the way incoming and continuing college students cope with the demands of college life, including academic, mental, socioemotional, and developmental components. The purpose of this research project is to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on college students' ability to adjust to college living across three distinct phases: pre-pandemic, during the pandemic, and post-pandemic. A cross-sectional sample of 1,515 participants from Georgia Southern University completed the Wooster-Wickline College Adjustment Test (WOWCAT; Wickline et al., 2009) between 2019-2024, which was administered online via Qualtrics, a secure web-based survey platform. Although the WOWCAT has been successfully …

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 …

Using Natural Products In Patients With Cancer: More Than Chemotherapy, Gailen D. Marshall

Oxford ICSB

The fundamental goal of cancer therapy is to cure the cancer. However, the approach to that goal is complicated and varies depending upon the type and stage of the tumor as well as the clinical characteristics of the patient. Cancer treatment focused on killing the tumor has considerable comorbidities associated with each therapy. Common side effects such as systemic immunosuppression, bleeding, anemia and specific organ-based pathologies each have their own significant morbidity/mortality risk. The use of natural products, both as direct antitumor agents and as moderators/mitigators of side effects of antitumor agents has a long history. Recent studies seek to …

Application Of Aqbd Principles To Build A Robust Compendial Analytical Method For The Quantification Of Phytochemicals In Mate And Guayusa Leaf Dietary Ingredients, Maria Monagas, Salika Jeelani, Greg Winter, Natalia Kouznetsova

Oxford ICSB

Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) and Guayusa (Ilex guayusa), both members of the Aquifoliaceae family, have traditionally been consumed as herbal teas in South America. Their leaves are rich in methylxanthines and hydroxycinnamoylquinic acids—quinic acid derivatives of caffeic and gregrferulic acids—which provide stimulant and antioxidant properties. These compounds make them valuable for use in health and energy beverages as well as dietary supplements. We applied the Analytical Quality-by-Design (AQbD) approach to develop a robust UHPLC method for simultaneous quantification of methylxanthines and hydroxycinnamoylquinic acids. The method and sample preparation were designed in alignment with USP General Chapter < 1220> Analytical Procedure Life Cycle and …

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.

Functional Genomics Of Streptococcus Mutans: Identifying Critical Genes For Oral Biofilm Formation, Cara E. Pirani

Create@State

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is a pathogen found in the human oral cavity that plays a central role in the development of dental caries, or tooth decay. This pathogen thrives on the sugars consumed in the diet, contributing to the breakdown of tooth enamel, especially in the presence of poor oral hygiene. S. mutans produces a glycosyltransferase enzyme that converts sucrose into the polysaccharide glucan. Glucan allows the pathogen to attach to the enamel of the tooth and begin metabolizing the sugar on the teeth, resulting in lactic acid. The acid under the biofilm layer lowers the pH of the …

Purr-Spectives: Connections Between Feline Coat Color And Human Preferences And Perceptions In Northeast Arkansas, Tiffany L. Batchelor

Create@State

Felines have played an important role in the lives of humans for thousands of years. This study investigated perceptions of felines and feline demographics in Northeast Arkansas (NEA). For Study 1, data on phenotype and health conditions was collected from 2,305 patient files from three NEA veterinary clinics. For Study 2, an anonymous survey generated using Qualtrics was published through College of Agriculture social media accounts to gather opinions from cat owners on feline coat color and ownership trends. Study 1 identified up to 6 pattern-based and up to 18 color-based phenotypes per clinic and a total of 129 unique …

Skin Pattern As A Potential Monitoring Tool For Frog Populations, Lídize Sagarnaga Rivera, Virginie Rolland Dr., Lorin Neuman-Lee Dr.

Create@State

Skin pattern as a potential monitoring tool for frog populations

Population monitoring, which requires identifying individuals, is crucial for species conservation. Common techniques involve marking, which can harm animals and alter their behaviors. Natural markings are an alternative not yet explored for amphibians. Yet, the traditional method with elastomers (fluorescent implants) is invasive and not completely reliable—the tag may become lost or hard to see. The American green tree frog (Dryophytes cinereus) possesses naturally occurring and distinct golden dots on their dorsal side.  Therefore, we aim to assess whether patterns of golden dots on the skin of green …

Reinforcement Learning Approaches For Intelligent Budget Management: A Comparison Of Traditional Budget Model With Q-Learning, And Deep Q-Network Models, Danish Yaqub

Create@State

This study explores the application of Reinforcement Learning (RL) techniques to improve personal budget management and financial decision-making. A traditional rule-based budgeting model is first developed as a baseline approach, where income is allocated to expenses, savings, and debt payments using fixed financial ratios and predefined rules. Although this approach provides a structured framework for financial planning, it lacks adaptability and cannot dynamically optimize decisions when financial conditions change.To address these limitations, two reinforcement learning models—Q-Learning and Deep Q-Network (DQN) are implemented and compared with the traditional budgeting model. In the Q-Learning model, an agent interacts with simulated financial states …

Can Eye-Tracking Predict Survey Choices? The Case Of Financial Risk Tolerance, Sravya Kasireddy

Create@State

Financial risk tolerance is traditionally measured using self-report questionnaires which provide incomplete information.

Mental Health In Healthcare Workers: Is It Just A Myth Or A Fact, Considering The Abundant Access To Healthcare, Shiwani Ranjitkar

Create@State

Healthcare workers have direct access to healthcare resources, yet many continue to experience significant mental health challenges. This study investigates the factors contributing to this issue and its implications for healthcare systems. Using data analysis and a review of recent literature, national surveys, and public health reports, key factors identified include heavy workloads, emotional strain from patient care, staffing shortages, workplace harassment, and stigma associated with seeking mental health support. Research indicates that healthcare professionals frequently experience burnout, anxiety, depression, and compassion fatigue even when support resources are available. For instance, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention …