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Development Of Ultra-Sensitive Fluorescence Photoamplification Assays For The Detection Of Molecular Recognition Events, Tiffany Priscilla Gustafson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During the course of this research a novel method which couples the molecular recognition-triggered photoamplification chain in diaryl ketone adducts of dithiane with a "turn-off" or "turn-on" fluorescence-based assay for the detection of biological targets and ligands, regardless of their nature, through a molecular recognition event has been developed. This research has included several key steps, the most significant being: (1) the design of fluorophore adducts or dyads which recover fluorescence upon photocleavage for a "turn-on" assay and the identification of fluorophores which are quenched upon the photochemical release of a quencher for a "turn off" assay; (2) Optimization of …

An Automated Reflectance Color Meter Instrument For Microbiological And Enzymic Assays, Tsz-Ching Yuan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The development of an automated instrument employing reflectance colorimetry was described. Several models were designed, assembled, and programmed to perform microbial and enzymic tests automatically. Samples were prepared manually or automatically by a Zymate™ II robot. These samples were incubated during the tests to maintain an optimum temperature for reactions and microbial growth. During incubation, color changes of appropriate indicator dyes in the sample/reagent mixtures were measured intermittently, recorded, and compared to previously defined end points. The computer-controlled instrument received data that related time of color changes with the initial numbers of microorganisms or the enzyme activity of the samples. …

Rhizosphere N2 Fixation In A Forest Ecosystem In Situ Assays And Evaluation Of The Acetylene Reduction Technique, Inger Börjesson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In situ assays of N₂ fixation activity, using the acetylene reduction technique, were performed in four successional stages of a Northern Wasatch Mountain subalpine forest ecosystem, elevation 2,800 m. Emphasis was made on rhizosphere fixation in association with Antennaria microphylla and Achillea millefolium. The vegetation period was approximately 100 days.

Assays were performed in Saran bags. A defined amount of propane was injected at initiation of the assay and acetylene was generated from CaC₂. Samples were analyzed for ethylene and propane. Data were evaluated assuming that the ethylene production was directly proportional to the increase in …