Digital Commons Network^™

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, …

To The Man I Once Was: Exploring Future Technology, Climate Change And Human Relationships In Our Future, Amanda Bitkauskaite

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

From flying cars, evil corporations, killer robots and cybernetic enhancements, creatives have always liked to imagine what the future will be. This novella is no different, drawing from developing technology, climate change predictions and global political discourse to try and estimate what our future will look like.  Told as a simple ‘day in the life’ story, it follows a cyborg who saves a young human girl, taking her through what is an envisioned future of America; a country struggling with the effects of desertification, water crises, mass surveillance, wealth disparity and a growing divide between what it means to be …

The Overestimation Of Minority Group Size, Kennedy Tennant, Kiara Overstreet, Ty Curci

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Politicians and citizens often claim that a problem is "growing" or even "out of control" without providing metrics to support their claim. We wondered if people who fear immigration might be prone to overestimate the percentage of people who they perceive as "foreign" and further, whether that overestimation is moderated by the degree of fear or contempt held towards that group. In Study 1, participants viewed fictitious graduate school applications and then estimated the percentage of applicants that were from the Middle East. In study 2, participants viewed fictitious head shots and estimated the percentage of individuals who were wearing …

Teens And Technology Leverage Health Information Technology, Joshua Gerges, Emily Gerges, Lauren Rielly Mcconnell, Lauren Rae Selent

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Adolescents seeking health information have multiple sources including physicians, families, schools, organized activities outside of school, “the street” and the Internet. Teens struggle to decide which sources provide them with information that is understandable, particularly related to potentially risky health behaviors. The purpose of this study was to better understand how high-school students use electronic tools. A quantitative, causal comparative approach as used to identify differences across groups. The independent variables were the student grade level. The dependent variables were the students’ response to the following questions, Students who utilized: 1) a computer at home 2) the Internet at home; …

Students And Obesity Awareness Shape Health Behaviors, Joshua Gerges, Emily Gerges, Lauren Rielly Mcconnell, Lauren Rae Selent

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Per the World Health Organization, obesity refers to an excessive fat accumulation posing a risk to one’s health. A body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 identifies individuals as overweight. BMI’s greater than 30 denotes obesity and associated with heightened mortality risk.1,2 A causal comparative design was used to identify difference across groups. The independent variable was the students grade level. The dependent variables were the students’ response to the following questions. Students who: 1) consider obesity a national health problem; 2) have been on a weight loss diet in the last year; 3) exercise 3X a week; 4) consume …

Anesthesiologists Shape Perioperative Clinical Decision-Making With Point Of Care Ultrasound (Pocus), Joshua Gerges, Emily Gerges, Lauren Reilly Mcconnell, Lauren Rae Selent

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

POCUS is increasingly used by anesthesiologists during perioperative care to support clinical decision-making by providing rapid bedside imaging, POCUS can assist clinicians in evaluating patient status, identifying potential risks, and determining appropriate interventions. Understanding how anesthesiologists incorporate POCUS findings into their clinical decision-making processes is important in order to optimize perioperative care and guide future training and implementation of this technology. A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was conducted to identify differences across groups. The independent variable was the type of POCUS examination. The dependent variables included:1) the patient was pre-op, 2) history was available, 3) overall risk potential, 4) …

Investigation Of Antimicrobial Properties In Bacteria Of Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta Caretta) Nesting Beaches, Norah P. Nunez

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) are considered threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Identifying bacteria of Loggerhead turtle nesting beaches can shed light on antimicrobial properties of agents that could impact turtle hatchling survival. Bacteria from beaches in Fort de Soto and Lido Key were isolated and analyzed for antimicrobial properties, as these beaches are commonly Loggerhead nesting sites. Isolates were chosen for apparent inhibition of bacterial growth then tested against medically significant bacteria in two rounds of modified Kirby-Bauer. The identities of the bacteria were investigated through a series of differential and selective tests and confirmed with …

Prehistoric Indigenous Foodways At A Northwest Florida Shell Midden, Layla M. Alvarado

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Florida archaeology can give us further understanding of the ecology and environmental changes that occurred in the past and could re-occur in the present. In this thesis, I examine one site left by the indigenous peoples from prehistoric northwest Florida between about 1500 to 500 years ago to try to understand the environmental conditions they lived in and their food waste. The Van Horn Creek shell midden site (8Fr744) is in the Apalachicola River valley region, about 50 miles west of Tallahassee. In my research, I studied cultural materials from Test Unit 1 at the site, which was excavated in …

Gopher Tortoise Burrow Census And Population Estimate In The University Of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Conservation Area, Anthony J. Richard, Linda Vesser

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is a threatened species in Florida, and both the tortoise and its burrow are protected in their range across the southeastern United States.  The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM) campus is home to a 6.6-acre conservation area that supports a population of gopher tortoises as well as other native and threatened plant and animal species. As an initial determination of population size, we mapped all current burrow locations using a Garmin GPSMAP 64st.  As tortoises spend most of their time inside their burrows, estimates of population size can be difficult.  However, burrow surveys are …

The Invasive Black Spiny-Tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura Similis): Insights From Diet, Parasites, And Genetics, Spence Gerber, Andre Aquino, Valentin Basarevskij, Abigail Pal

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

The Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura similis), native to Mexico and Central America, is invasive to Florida following its introduction in the 1980s. Research on C. similis integrates anatomical examination, parasite identification, genetic characterization, and gut content analysis to better understand its ecological impact. Specimens culled by authorized agencies were utilized as a source of otherwise unused biological samples. To date, nearly 30 carcasses have been dissected, yielding data on diet and endoparasite fauna as well as providing insight into the species’ potential effects on native ecosystems through resource competition and predation. Although their identification has been problematic, a …

Type 2 Diabetes As A Predictor Of Fibrosis And Mortality In Mafld: A Literature Review, Abrahim Khan, Guna Krita Ranjith Kumar, Lara Santa Cruz, Ahmed Kandil, Muhamed Jaber, Ryan Singh

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a leading driver of progressive liver fibrosis and premature mortality. However, MAFLD is clinically heterogeneous, comprising three distinct metabolic sub-phenotypes: obesity- driven, diabetes-driven, and metabolically dysregulated. Whether specific sub-phenotypes confer differential risk of fibrosis progression and mortality remains unclear. To identify which MAFLD sub-phenotype is associated with the greatest risk of advanced liver fibrosis and all-cause mortality through review of existing literature. A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed with search terms “liver fibrosis,” “metabolic dysfunction,” “cardiovascular,” “diabetes,” and “obesity,” yielding 151 papers screened. Articles not explicitly addressing MAFLD or published more …

Biopsy-Free Diagnosis Of Celiac Disease: A Review Of Current Evidence And Emerging Technologies, Chanith Gunaratne, Kylie Labra, Angelina Ott, Addie Prasal, Sandi Wadie, Mark Shaker, Ryan Singh

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Celiac disease is a common immune-mediated disorder often overlooked due to vague or asymptomatic presentations. Current diagnosis depends on endoscopy and biopsy, which are invasive, costly, and frequently inaccessible, leading many patients to avoid or delay testing. To evaluate clinical evidence of new diagnostic methods including blood tests, genetic tests, biosensors, and AI tools, and assess whether these non-invasive techniques serve as alternatives to endoscopic biopsy in diagnosing celiac disease. Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed with keywords “Celiac Disease,” “Diagnosis,” “Biopsy,” “Non-invasive,” “Detection,” and “Methods,” yielding 343 articles published between 2021 and 2026. Of these, 152 abstracts …

Comparative Evaluation Of Surgical And Non-Procedural Intervention On Fibroid Burden In Women Aged 30-50, Skylar Skupienski, Hiba Boumahdi, Vienna Nguyen, Brianna Casasu, Maimouna Dembele, Ryan Singh

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors arising from the uterine wall that commonly affect women aged 30–50. While surgical options such as hysterectomy and myomectomy remain the most prevalent treatments, emerging non-procedural approaches including dietary and lifestyle strategies show promise as alternatives. However, the comparative effectiveness of surgical versus non-procedural interventions on fibroid size and symptom burden remains unclear.

To compare the effectiveness of surgical, hormonal, and non-procedural interventions, including dietary and lifestyle strategies, on fibroid size reduction and symptom burden in women aged 30–50. A literature review was conducted using PubMed with search terms including “Uterine Fibroid Management,” “Dietary Interventions,” …

Circadian Regulation Of Viral Replication And Immune Responses: Implications For Covid-19 And Other Viral Infections, Carolina Santa Cruz, Saanvi Dhala, Raneen Daoud, Arianna Skevington-Olivera, Ruhani Dashmesh, Arjun Tummala

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Circadian rhythms are 24-hour biological cycles regulating sleep, metabolism, and immune activity. Recent research shows circadian clock genes can influence immune responses. Studies on SARS-CoV-2 and influenza show clock genes regulate viral entry, replication, and immune signaling. However, their role in infection risk, immune defense, replication dynamics, and disease outcomes remains undefined. This study evaluates how circadian rhythms regulate viral replication and immune responses in COVID-19 and other viral infections. This review utilized PubMed to identify articles from the past five years using the terms “(immunity) AND (circadian) AND (viruses OR virus OR viral).”After reviewing 149 abstracts, 44 peer-reviewed articles …

Effectiveness Of Mindfulness-Based Interventions In Treating Behavioral Addictions, Arjun Tummala, Eshal Farhan, Tina Zhang, Ayesha Menon, Harshini Janapaty

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Behavioral addictions are non-substance compulsive disorders creating urges to engage with actions such as gambling and internet gaming disorder (IGD). Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) use conscious awareness of the present to improve both mental and physical health. However, their long-term effectiveness remains unclear compared to other therapies. This literature review explores how the use of MBIs, compared to other therapeutic techniques, help adults and adolescents struggling with behavioral addictions. A systematic screening of peer-reviewed articles was conducted using PubMed. Of 135 articles published from 2021-2026, “mindfulness”/“meditation”, “behavioral addiction”/”gambling”/“gaming disorder”/“internet”, and “long-term”/“relapse”, only studies that explored MBIs for behavioral addiction with experimental …

Citing The Usage Of Generative A.I. In Academic Articles: Avoiding Plagiarism And Staying Authentic, Amanda Bitkauskaite

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

The usage of generative A.I. increases day by day as the technology improves and remains accessible to the public. Inside academia, many argue the technology will help students and scholars to write papers quicker, to improve their writing, and/or to organize data quicker. However, there is the issue of if A.I. really improves workflow, and if it can correctly be used in the realm of publishing without impeding on the merit of their research and without insulting readers and editors alike, as is explained in “When and how to disclose AI use in academic publishing: AMEE Guide No.192” (L. Cleland, …

The Effectiveness Of Ube3a To Reduce Tau Pathology, Rishabh Katla

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the buildup of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and cognitive impairment. NFTs are caused by the buildup and aggregation of the Tau protein due to hyperphosphorylation. Damaged proteins are degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, however, this system is dysregulated in AD leading to protein accumulation. UBE3A, one of many proteins that are responsible for ubiquitination of proteins for degradation, is reduced in AD. Therefore, we hypothesized that overexpression of UBE3A in mouse models with tau overexpression may lead to improved pathological outcomes. We used the Tg4510 mouse model which has a …

Differential Effects Of Testosterone And Estrogen On Inflammation And Disease Severity In Asthma And Copd, Samyslandine B. Eugene, Prisha Gupta, Srimayi Yeedara, Abdulwahab Eddib, Tanya Joseph, Tanmayee Maddineni

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, and airflow obstruction, while Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory condition characterized by irreversible airflow limitation. Although previous research has examined hormonal influence, the specific effects of sex hormones in asthma and COPD remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate how testosterone and estrogen influence inflammation, disease severity and exacerbation frequency in adults with asthma and COPD. A comprehensive literature review using PubMed with keywords (asthma OR COPD) AND (sex hormones OR estrogen OR testosterone) AND (inflammation OR disease severity OR exacerbations) yielded 145 articles. After screening …

Functional And Phenotypic Analysis Of Kimona Gp55 And Gp56, Kyrillos E. Takla

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Bacteriophages encode many proteins with limited functional annotation, making it difficult to predict how individual gene products influence bacterial hosts. Phenotypic assays that directly test expressed proteins provide a more reliable way to assess biological function. Here, I evaluated the effects of Kimona phage proteins gp55 and gp56 following inducible expression in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Based on conserved sequence features, I hypothesized that gp55 functions as a DNA primase but lacks the metal-binding motif, whereas gp56 lacks the catalytic domains required for primase activity, and that neither protein would exhibit cytotoxic effects. Gene 55 encodes gp55, a 219-amino-acid protein containing core …

Cardiometabolic Diseases And Immune-Responsive Metabolic Enzymes: Roles Of Lipoxygenases (5, 12, 15), Cyclooxygenases (1, 2), And Cytochrome P450, Shayla Pham

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) encompass interrelated disorders involving cardiovascular dysfunction and metabolic dysregulation. Lipoxygenase (5-, 12/15-LOX), cyclooxygenase (COX-1/2), and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes regulate fatty acid metabolism and inflammatory signaling, significantly contributing to CMD pathogenesis. This review synthesizes recent evidence on LOX, COX, and CYP450 pathway crosstalk and evaluates their therapeutic and biomarker relevance in clinical cardiometabolic disease. A comprehensive PubMed literature search identified studies examining LOX, COX, and CYP450 enzymes inflammatory and metabolic pathways linked to CMD. Inclusion criteria were limited to human and animal studies published from 2010 to 2025, focusing on cardiac function, enzyme activity, or clinical outcome. …

Demographics Of Published Nonfiction Authors In Literary Magazines And What It Means For Academia, Amanda Bitkauskaite

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

In a 2023 survey done by The Author’s Guild (“Key Takeaways from the Authors Guild’s 2023 Author Income Survey”), the demographic of published authors has shifted from what many perceive to be a male dominated field–with the data collected showing that published authors are majority women, writing romance and fantasy. This survey study was conducted to see if this applies to academic creative writing, in particular, non-fiction. The study took a look at 100 writers who were published in 6 different academic literary magazines, looking at several demographics—age, gender, and sexuality. It also examined their education level, job, and whether …

A Pooled Analysis Of Efficacy Outcomes Of Til In Advanced Mel Patients Treated At Moffitt Cancer Center, Joel Kuriakose

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy induces durable responses in a subset of patients with metastatic melanoma, yet determinants of efficacy remain incompletely defined. We performed integrated immunophenotypic and spatial transcriptomic profiling of TIL infusion products and matched tumor microenvironments (TMEs) from patients treated in early-phase TIL-based trials at Moffitt Cancer Center. The objective response rate was 36%, with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 10 months. Responders exhibited infusion products enriched for CD8⁺ T cells, stem-like memory (TSCM) CD8⁺ subsets, and LAG3⁺CD8⁺ T cells, along with enhanced TIL persistence in the periphery. Notably, prior exposure to immune checkpoint was associated with …

The Economic And Social Effects Of Early Educational Tracking In Germany, Vitaly S. Buravtsov, Colin Britton

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

For over a century, Germany has utilized a three-pronged approach to secondary schooling. This includes the Gymnasium path, targeted at students preparing to enter university studies; Hauptschule, which prepares students for vocational employment; and Realschule, which bridges the gap between the two. Students are selected for these paths around ages 10-11 after completing primary schooling. Through researching German law, analyzing government-provided and privately written research data, and personal testimony from former students of the German education system, we find that the “channeling” effects of the education system produce substantial economic and social effects. This channeling can lead to competing effects—achieving …

Occupational Copd: Emerging Risks And Preventive Strategies In High-Risk Work Environments, Stacy N. Rodriguez, Matthew Lim, Oluwabusayo Michael-Asalu, Anish Punukollu

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease marked by persistent airflow limitation, intensified by occupational exposure to dust, chemicals, fumes, and airborne hazards. Healthcare workers and first responders operate in complex environments that may contribute to COPD development. This review evaluates occupational risk factors and prevention strategies relevant to high-risk workers. A PubMed search using the terms “COPD” and “occupational” identified 130 articles, of which 40 peer-reviewed studies were selected following relevance-based screening. The literature showed that long-term exposure to gases, fumes, vapors, and dust significantly increases COPD risk and is associated with chronic respiratory symptoms, reduced …

Testing Elicitors Of Homologous Jadr2 Proteins To Regulate Natural Product Production, Carzon J. Williams, Emilee A. Patterson, Allison S. Walker

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has and will contribute to global economic and public health concerns in the foreseeable future leading into 2050. As mortality rates derived from AMR are projected to reach 10 million if no viable solution is found to combat it through hastened drug discovery. The use of natural products to mitigate AMRs effects is viable as more than 50% of FDA approved drugs are natural products. These natural products are synthesized by biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC), found in bacteria with a regulatory protein not allowing transcription until unbound . Current methods of eliciting the …

Exploring The Relationship Between Energy Use And Sectoral Output At The Useful Stage, Daniel Chester, Ritika Susarla, Paul Brockway, Emmanuel Aramendia, Matthew Magness, Matthew Kuperus Heun

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

1.Develop a publicly-available dataset of sectoral useful energy/exergy intensities

• And final, where not already existing

• How do global sector-level trends change when viewed from the useful stage?
• Are similar convergence patterns observed compared to previous analysis?
• How do sectoral differences explain aggregate convergence/divergence?

Improving Continuity Of Care: Evaluating Universal Nursing Handoff Sheets, Elizabeth Ifeloluwa Sanya

Doctor of Nursing Practice Posters and Presentations

Effective communication during nursing handoffs is essential for safe, patient-centered care, as breakdowns in communication are a leading cause of adverse patient outcomes. At a large academic level I trauma center, inconsistent nursing handoff practices were identified across progressive care units following the COVID-19 pandemic. This variability contributed to incomplete transfer of patient information and was associated with increased patient safety incidents, including delayed wound care, central line dressing lapses, and medication errors involving high-alert therapies. The purpose of this DNP project was to plan, implement, and evaluate the use of  standardized nursing handoff sheet and its impact on continuity …

Presentation – The Crel Framework: Structuring Ttrpgs For Real Learning, Cristo Leon

STEM for Success Resources

Welcome everyone. I want to begin not with a definition, but with an image. This poster is not only announcing an event. It is showing what role-playing games do. They gather many worlds into a shared space. In this image, the shamanic figure becomes a bridge among languages, traditions, stories, disciplines, and communities. That is also the purpose of the 10th International Colloquium on Role-Playing Game Studies: to create a space where people who care about role-playing games can meet, listen, connect, and recognize the knowledge already being created through play.

Mobility And Flexibility For The Tactical Athlete, Nancy Henderson, Haley Worst, Michelle Geter, Mikal Mascarello, Josie Stirling

Tactical & Occupational Performance Conference

Mobility and Flexibility for the Tactical Athlete

Hypothesis: Ai Changes Everything—Findings From The Elite Lab, Shara W. Gonzalez

Teaching & Learning with AI

This presentation outlines an experimental, faculty-centered approach to integrating AI into teaching and learning at Miami Herbert Business School. Grounded in a strategic goal to deliver personalized, technology-enhanced education by 2029, it presents a framework built on lowering barriers to faculty adoption through targeted entry points, hands-on workshops, pilot programs, and iterative experimentation. The work emphasizes supporting instructors across varying levels of readiness, using data collection (e.g., faculty engagement and survey feedback) to inform continuous improvement. Findings suggest that structured support and experimentation can increase AI integration in course design and better prepare students for AI-influenced professional environments.