Digital Commons Network^™

How Do Different Receptor Targets In Glioblastoma Differentially Shape The Tumor Microenvironment And Influence Tumor Progression And Therapeutic Response?, Vedant A. Patel, Rohit V. Borra, Andrew P. Thomas, Emily Berger

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive brain tumors, with a median survival of approximately 15 months despite treatment and a recurrence rate near 90%. Therapeutic failure is largely driven by an immunosuppressive and therapy-resistant tumor microenvironment (TME). GBM progression depends on dysregulated receptor-mediated signaling pathways that regulate angiogenesis, immune evasion, stemness, metabolic adaptation, and phenotypic transition. Although targeting individual receptors has been explored, outcomes remain limited. This literature review evaluates how targeting receptor-mediated pathways—including neuromodulatory targets such as mGluR3—affects the TME and therapeutic response. It also compares the effectiveness of single versus multi-receptor targeting strategies. A PubMed search …

The Aging Muscle Phenotype Of C57bl/6j Wild-Type Mice, Gaurav Shingote

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Aging causes a slow and progressive loss of muscle fiber number and size. Sarcopenia is termed as an age-related loss of muscle mass and function. Here, we characterized the aging skeletal muscle phenotype of C57Bl/6J wildtype mice. 30 weeks old (young) and 2 years old (aged) C57Bl/6J wildtype male mice were utilized in this study. The body weight and hind leg muscle weight were recorded during collection. The hind leg muscle Tibialis anterior (TA) was OCT embedded, cut at the mid- belly region, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain as per our previously published protocol. The 20X images …

Evaluation Of Combined Targeted Therapies In High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Using Colony-Forming Assays, Hannah B. Taylor

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC) remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Although most patients achieve complete responses to frontline surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy, approximately 85% recur. These patients are incurable. Targeted therapies are emerging; however, they are often insufficient as monotherapy and may have overlapping toxicities in combination. Our preliminary data identified the combination of simurosertib (CDC7 inhibitor; CDC7i) and lunresertib (PKMYT1 inhibitor; PKMYT1i) as a promising strategy in recurrent HGSOC. Our findings also suggest that sequential administration may be beneficial compared to concomitant therapy. This study aims to evaluate and optimize sequential versus concomitant CDC7i-PKMYT1i treatment using colony-forming assays. …

Efficacy Of Monoclonal Antibody Treatment On Lowering Infectious Disease Burden In U.S. Elderly Patients, Lyndsey M. White, Daniel Johnson, A'Niya Jackson, Laiba Majid

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Older adults in the United States experience a high burden of infectious diseases due to age related immune decline, reduced vaccine responsiveness, and increased comorbidities. Monoclonal antibody therapies are an important strategy for lowering this burden because they provide immediate and highly specific immune protection. This review evaluates the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies in reducing infectious disease severity in elderly populations and examines how neutrophils and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps interact with antibody based treatments. Throughout the review, these therapies have been shown to be successful against multiple infectious diseases, and clinical findings suggest that hospitalized elderly or …

Leveraging Computer Vision-Based Hand Tracking In Smartphone Xr Exposure Scenarios To Enable Controller-Free Interaction, Alex C. Lim, Trang Nguyen

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Extended reality (XR) has emerged as an effective and convenient solution for broadening accessibility to exposure therapy. Smartphone-based XR, though cost-effective, is often constrained by limited interactivity, engendering a passive experience that can compromise the user-immersion and treatment efficacy. To address this limitation, this study presents a novel computer vision–based hand-tracking approach using Google MediaPipe, integrated within a stereoscopic smartphone-based XR system to enable real-time, controller-free interaction in a dog-fetch scenario. Hand landmark coordinates derived from MediaPipe are algorithmically adjusted based on changes in inter-knuckle distances during anterior/posterior movement to approximate depth, at which point interactive spheres are overlayed to …

Accelerating Protein Engineering: Using Computer Modeling To Identify Beneficial Interleukin-23 (Il-23) Mutations, Andrew S. Chadwell

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Interleukin-23 (IL-23) regulates inflammation, yet its overproduction, driven by genetics or overactive immune triggers, can lead to chronic inflammatory diseases like psoriasis. IL-23 consists of two subunits; an exclusive subunit, p19, and a second subunit, p40, that is shared with Interleukin-12. Driving selectivity of p19-p40 interactions promotes a shift in cytokine formation between IL-23 and IL-12. By integrating computational biology, protein engineering, and structural data from the RCSB Protein Data Bank (entry 4RGW), the research addressed structural challenges like unresolved regions in experimental structures and the difficulty of predicting beneficial mutations. Structural modeling using ColabFold, a prediction tool based on …

Impact Of Private Equity Investments Integration On U.S. And European Sports Industries, Evan Alexander

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Private equity investments in the sports industry have become increasingly prominent in both the United States and Europe, although the dynamics, regulations, and strategies differ between the two regions. In this thesis, I discuss the concept of private equity (PE) investments within the sports industry, evaluating it in the context of the United States of America and Europe.

I analyze the overall impact that the integration of private equity investments has had on several sports leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and European Soccer Clubs, among other sports. I …

Evaluating The Impact Of Bitcoin And Ethereum Etfs On Risk Adjusted Returns In Retirement Portfolios, Brannon Nickles

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Cryptocurrency is no longer that of a topic solely for traders and tech enthusiasts, as crypto ETFs have worked their way into mainstream retirement accounts, bringing with them many questions to financial planners. The question this study addresses is whether small Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF allocations actually improve the risk-adjusted performance of a traditional balanced retirement portfolio. To find out, five different portfolio constructions were tested using real ETF return data, with performance measured across Sharpe ratio, Sortino ratio, maximum drawdown, and correlation, all with quarterly rebalancing built in. Every portfolio that included cryptocurrency outperformed the standard baseline on risk-adjusted …

Sustainable City Design And Policy Impacts: Mental, Health, Productivity, And Quality Of Life, Sawyer B. Bowman

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

As corporations grow larger and consolidate more assets, both human and material, the importance of sustainability in workplace efforts has never been greater. Firms have excised impact over their communities and those employed by said firms, making decisions regarding green operations, triple bottom line considerations, and other sustainable business practices highly needed for the continued operation of firms. As these practices are costly both in the monetary and temporal sense of reality, many firms tend to place sustainability lower on the list of importance as compared to concepts such as productivity or profitability. Based on surveys and interviews with firms …

How The Erosion Of The German Drinking Culture Impacts Social Cohesion And The Economic Progression, Tran B. Duong, Monica Hennawy

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

German drinking culture has begun to wane within the past decade. While this may be viewed as a public health success, it has multifaceted impacts. The lifestyle adjustment threatens the third space which has historically fostered social interaction, making their erosion significant not merely economically but also culturally. Substance use also has a multifaceted impact on mental health, whereas in regulation social drinking can promote bonding. This leads to the need for appropriate policy in alcohol consumption which should help the public draw a balance in sustainable drinking practices. Alternatively, Germany’s third places also serve as a significant source of …

Business Incubation And The Role That It Plays In The Future Economic And Financial Success Of Small Island Developing States, Warren Watkins

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face a unique blend of economic vulnerabilities and untapped potential, often stemming from their heavy reliance on tourism and limited diversification. This thesis explores how business incubation can serve as a strategic mechanism for fostering sustainable economic and financial growth within these nations. Through a comparative analysis of established models in countries such as Singapore, Japan, and Chile, alongside emerging initiatives in Caribbean SIDS, this research identifies the pathways through which foreign investment, education, and technology can jointly stimulate entrepreneurial development. Findings indicate that while foreign partnerships remain essential in the early stages of incubation, …

Corporate Adaptability In The Nil Era: How Athletic Departments Are Navigating A New Landscape, Jake H. Greene

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

The landscape of college athletics was completely restructured in 2021 when NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) legislation passed, and the pace of change has not slowed since. With athletic departments facing new legal frameworks, financial pressures, and compliance demands, the question arises: how essential is corporate adaptability to institutional success in this era? Through content analysis of new laws, NCAA rulings, and two targeted case studies, this study argues that corporate adaptability is not merely advantageous but essential for athletic departments navigating the NIL landscape. Programs that have proactively restructured their operations, staffing, and compliance systems have positioned themselves for …

Perceptions Of The Cpa Evolution Changes And Their Role In Professional Pathways, David Ogrady

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

The CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Evolution, a wide-spanning set of changes made to the CPA Exam, was officially instituted in January of 2024.  In the time since then, research has been done on the reactions of professors and academics regarding the changes to the exam, but little has been done to gauge the reactions of students to the new format.  This study involves surveys and interviews of students with questions about the changes, such as the increased inclusion of testing proficiency with technology and the addition of new sections never seen before on the exam.  Students greatly appreciated some changes, …

The Moderation Of Gender In The Relationship Between Social Cognition And Narrative Language Skills In Autistic Children, Zara Khan, Coral Morley

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Compared to males, autistic females often demonstrate a greater desire for social interactions and may imitate peers’ social behaviors, sometimes masking underlying social-cognitive difficulties (Hull et al., 2017; Lai et al., 2015). To better understand these differences, the present study focuses on two key components of social cognition (i.e., affect recognition and theory of mind (ToM)), and their associations with narrative listening comprehension. Gender may act as a moderator, showing variability between these variables; thereby providing a more nuanced view of autism that may inform assessment and screening practices rather than relying on the traditional male-centered research (Harrop et al., …

Pre-Existing Conditions And Their Effect On Neurological Prognosis And Rehabilitation In Older Cardiac Arrest Population - A Literature Review, Nadia A. Parsotan, Maya Awad, Greta Schmanke, Madeline Yee, Angelin Abraham

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

The effectiveness of cardiac arrest rehabilitation can be influenced by pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension particularly in the older population, where these comorbidities are more prevalent. This literature review aims to understand how these conditions affect the neurological prognosis and rehabilitation in cardiac arrest patients aged 60+. A systematic PubMed search was conducted for peer-reviewed studies published within the past 15 years using terms related to cardiac arrest, neurological outcomes, rehabilitation, and common chronic conditions. Studies were included if they focused on adults aged 60 and older, reported at least one pre-existing medical condition, and provided neurological rehabilitation …

Seniorsafe Ai: Developing An Ai-Powered Chatbot To Support Older Adults Who Are Victims Of Cybercrime, Lovisa Gunnlaugsdottir, Dontavious Ellis, Isabelle Christensen

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Senior citizens are disproportionately targeted by cybercrime, yet many lack accessible resources for prevention and recovery. The SeniorSafeAI project explores how large language model (LLM) chatbots can provide reliable guidance to older adults experiencing or at risk of online fraud. We developed a chatbot trained on a “ground truth” dataset consisting of 589 question–answer pairs covering common cybercrime categories affecting seniors, including identity theft, romance scams, investment fraud, and fake tech support scams. Undergraduate researchers played a central role in constructing this dataset by identifying evidence-based sources and drafting responses grounded in government reports, academic research, and cybersecurity best practices. …

Bidirectional Associations Between Social-Cognitive Processes And Mathematics Achievement In Autistic Children, Carole M. Wadie, Conner Peltier, Quinn Slyker

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Mathematics achievement is a critical component of academic functioning, strongly predicting later educational and life outcomes (Kaskens et al., 2022; Tonizzi & Usai, 2024). Although prior research has examined mathematics achievement and general cognition, limited work has investigated the role of social-cognitive processes in mathematical development among autistic children. Skills such as theory of mind (ToM), affect recognition, and inferencing may support mathematical learning by enabling children to interpret instructions, integrate information, and apply conceptual understanding (Kloo et al., 2022; Kim et al., 2021). Developmental cascade theory suggests that functioning in one domain may influence development in another, with bidirectional …

The Power Of Physical Activity And Sleep: Sex-Specific Pathways To Cognitive Health In Older Adults, Gabriella K. Waldbauer

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Physical activity (PA) and sleep health are associated with cognition. However, limited research has examined the interactive effects of PA and sleep on domain-specific cognitive function in older adults. Although sex differences exist independently across all factors, sex-specific interactive investigations are limited. This study investigated whether the relationship between PA, sleep and cognition varies by sex in older adults. Older adults (N=119; Mage=68.3±5.6; 73 women) completed measures of insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and cognition (NIH Toolbox-Cognitive Battery). Multiple regressions examined whether insomnia severity interacted with physical activity in associations with cognition and tested …

How Can Deep Learning Methods Enhance Dermoscopic Algorithms? Exploring The Synergy Between Ai And Dermatological Imaging, Arika Anwar, Guilherme Murga, Vanessa Crespo, Fengzhou Zhan, Raneem Yassin, Anas Kartoumah

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Dermoscopy refers to an imaging technique that magnifies skin structures not visible to the naked eye, aiding in lesion evaluation for diseases such as skin cancer. Deep learning, a type of artificial intelligence that uses neural networks to learn patterns from data, is used for its high performance in analyzing dermoscopic images, often achieving accuracy levels comparable to dermatologists. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA protocol where 388 total peer reviewed articles were extracted from PubMed and reviewed focusing on key words relevant to dermoscopic algorithms, deep learning, and dermatological imaging. After screening, we selected 33 articles …

Annotation Of The Immunity Cassette In Ay Cluster Phage Lebruni, Kelis Brown, Mehalia Hoyte, Ella King, Bianca Kulcsar, Zayda Perez

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Bacteriophages typically follow either a lytic or lysogenic life cycle, yet the genetic mechanisms controlling the decision in Arthrobacter phages remain poorly understood. In the well-studied phage Lambda, various proteins are found to regulate the control between lysogeny and lysis. Inspired by this model, this research project investigates whether LeBruni contains immunity genes and a defined immunity cassette. LeBruni genes were annotated and analyzed using bioinformatics tools such as NCBI Blast, HHPred, PhageDB, and Phamerator to predict functions of the gene products. The immunity cassette in LeBruni determined to span genes 39 – 54, with gene 39 encoding a tyrosine …

Presidential Clemency, Criminal Contempt, And The Structural Limits Of Judicial Authority: Reconsidering Ex Parte Grossman In The Modern Separation-Of-Powers Framework, Titan L. Sanchez

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Ex parte Grossman (1925) was a landmark Supreme Court case regarding the presidential pardon power granted by the Pardon Clause in Article II of the United States Constitution and whether it extends to criminal contempt of court. The Court ruled that the Clause’s phrasing, “offenses against the United States…” does not ultimately exclude criminal contempt. Among several justifications, Chief Justice Taft included a historical overview and partially relied on English common-law history, as well as monarchical practice, to interpret the scope and help justify the use of the presidential pardon power. This partial analysis relies on the assumption that constitutional …

Strategies To Improve Car-T Efficacy: Preconditioning, Gene Knockouts, And Enhancing Infiltration, Safa A. Khan, Salvina Alexander, Duy Anh Khuc, Tumaris Jarkinova, Fatema-Zahra Vhora, Neha Kunka, Rebecca Detweiler

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is a powerful form of immunotherapy that has shown success in treating blood cancers. CAR-T cells often face challenges that limit their overall effectiveness; hence, researchers are focusing on strategies that improve how well CAR-T cells survive, grow, and target cancer cells. This review was conducted to analyze how CAR-T cells are constructed, highlight the major barriers that limit CAR-T’s efficacy, and determine how to improve it through preconditioning, gene knockouts, and enhanced infiltration. Literature was found through the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The following key search terms and synonyms were …

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, …

Comparative Analysis Of Car-T Cell Therapy Across Cancer Subtypes: Influence Of Antigen Binding Properties On Efficacy And Safety, Isabella Ware, Nadia Rohani, Kai Peñalosa, Samia Khan, Selena Berhie, Sreehitha Sajja

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

CAR-T cell therapy is a personalized immunotherapy that genetically engineers a patient’s own immune T-cells in a lab to recognize and attack specific cancer cells. CAR-T cell therapy has shown remarkable success in hematologic malignancies, where antigen expression is highly uniform. The research question that was addressed is “To what extent does antigen heterogeneity and downregulation in solid tumors reduce CAR-T cell cytotoxicity compared with the more uniform antigen expression seen in hematologic malignancies?” CAR-T cell cytotoxicity is measurably reduced in solid tumors due to the tumor’s capacity to alter antigen expression and downregulate CAR proteins whereas hematologic malignancies exhibit …

Computational Analysis Of Gene Expression Profiles To Identify Novel Biomarkers For Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Autumn Brooks, Saranya Sriramula, Sophia Chadwick, Julia Veronez Da Silva, Stecile Jean Mary, Sreehitha Sajja

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Our research focused on the effectiveness of using computational methods such as sequencing models to find biomarkers that confirm the existence of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) in patients. The research focused on analyzing the importance of being able to detect patterns in genomic sequences that were consistently seen in patients who were TNBC positive. Additionally, our aim was to understand resistance mechanisms that make TNBC harder to treat through sequencing analytics. Understanding these patterns is especially important for early intervention so patients who have TNBC can get started on treatment before the disease progresses. Triple-negative breast cancer lacks hormone receptors …

Reproductive Equity: A Comparative Chemical Analysis Of Emerging Male Contraception Technology, Grace Kim, Esmaralda Pilar-Lopez

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Female oral contraceptives, although abundant in access and successful as contraceptives, pose significant risks to women’s health. Biosocial factors that discourage male contraceptive drugs include harmful hormonal changes and inconsistent efficacy. This research employs comparative analysis of three current methods on potential male contraceptive options, focusing on steroid chemistry, functional group modification, and bioavailability. Emerging male contraceptive drugs of interest include the non-hormonal retinoic acid (vitamin A) receptor to antagonize sperm production, blocking the sperm-specific 〖Ca〗^(+2)  ion channel, and a reversible “Chemical Plug” that limits sperm movement at the vas deferens. Through comparison, this research will use six references to …

Islamic Prayer (Salah) And Stress Regulation: A Structured Review Of Biomarkers And Psychological Outcomes, Qiraat Shaikh, Nadean Shehadeh, Tulip Ghazi, Zaynaa Syed

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

The relationship between Islamic prayer (Salah) and stress regulation has been extensively examined in Muslim populations because of its relevance to mental health. However, findings are dispersed across studies using varied methodologies. This structured literature review synthesizes existing research on Salah and stress reduction, focusing on outcomes such as changes in stress related biomarkers and self reported well being among Muslim populations. A structured literature search was conducted using PubMed, NIH, and Google Scholar. Studies published between 2015 and 2025 that focused on solely adult populations within Asia were selected. Studies that examine populations in both a clinical and non …

How Has Western Biomedical Framing Of Type 2 Diabetes Shaped Prevention And Treatment In South Asian Populations?, Amrita Nayak, Sreehitha Sajja

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

This paper examines how Western biomedical framing of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has shaped prevention and treatment strategies in South Asian populations, often with limited effectiveness. The dominant Western model emphasizes individual responsibility, standardized dietary guidelines, and generalized treatment protocols. While these approaches have proven useful in broader populations, they frequently fail to address the distinct biological, cultural, and structural realities that influence T2D risk among South Asians. A key limitation lies in the underrecognition of earlier metabolic risk. South Asian individuals tend to develop T2D at younger ages and lower body mass index (BMI) levels compared to European populations, …

Retrospective Analysis Of Fda Adverse Event Reporting System (Faers) For Herbal Supplements, Luke Junck, Jennifer Lin, Nikolas Reyes, Teba Albahely, Sreehitha Sajja

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

FAERS is the national database maintained by the FDA in order to monitor the safety of drugs after they reach the market. FAERS supports post-marketing surveillance by helping regulators to detect emerging risks and guide decisions on product labeling changes or further investigations. A systematic review of 21 research articles was conducted, focusing on the population and reasonings behind adverse reports for herbal supplements. Articles were gathered from multiple databases such as Pubmed, ScienceDirect, SpringerNature, and government affiliated websites. This research explored the question, “How do adverse event reports for herbal supplements in FAERS differ across age, race, and geographic …

It's In Your Dna: A Comprehensive Overview Of Forensic Genetic Genealogy And The Future Of Profiling Methods And Legal Implications, Selah A. Thompson

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) is a relatively modern and transformative technique within the field of forensics that allows for precise scientific identification of suspects or victims through DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) analysis, primarily consisting of analyses of Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) found within samples of DNA. While FGG is quite new within the field, the applications for accurate, scientific-based analysis of crime scenes can help make an unsolvable case something that can be resolved, including some of the most famous cold cases of the past century. Current FGG technology provides incredibly valuable investigative leads, but current …