Digital Commons Network^™

The Influence Of Fluorescent Light On The Development Of In Vitro Fertilized Bovine Oocytes, Jared Bunch

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Advances in in vitro fertilization and in vitro culture techniques have allowed considerable progress in identifying physiological requirements of mammalian embryos. Parrish et al. (11) reported a major breakthrough on in vitro fertilization when his group identified heparin as an important factor for the capacitation of spermatozoa. Capacitation is necessary for fertilization of matured oocytes. During the precoculture era of embryos (prior to 1980), the development of early preirnplantation embryos was vary limited regardless of medium, medium supplement, gas atmosphere, osmolarity or pH used (7). Coculture techniques of fertilized oocytes using somatic cells during in vitro production, particularly of bovine …

The Effect Of Thyroid Hormone On The Expression Of A7 Myosin Heavy Chain Mrna In Xenopus Laevis, Bradley Thomas Butkovich

Master's Theses

It has long been known that thyroid hormone (TH) is responsible for metamorphosis in tadpoles. It is also known that A7 MHC, an adult muscle isoform, is expressed in adult Xenopus laevis frogs, but not in larvae. Furthermore, the appearance of A7 corresponds with the onset of metamorphosis. The present study investigated the relationship between TH and the expression of A7 MHC mRNA in Xenopus laevis. Isolated tails in culture and 6-n-propyl 2-thiouracil (PTU) treated tails were treated with TH and the presence of A7 mRNA analyzed with in-situ hybridization, and RT-PCR. It was found that TH caused substantial …

Development Of An Ovine Genome Map With Emphasis On In Situ Hybridization, Melanie R. Heaton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Livestock genome maps are used to identify economic trait loci and loci proximal to genes affecting economically important traits. This research contributes to the development of the ovine genome map by establishing techniques to physically map large DNA inserts to ovine chromosomes using fluorescent in situ hybridization. Fluorescent in situ hybridization techniques were established using yeast artificial chromosomes as DNA probes. Probes were as large as 1,000,000 kilobases and hybridized to fixed ovine metaphase chromosomes from a callipyge ewe. Three yeast artificial chromosome probes contained a genetic marker for the ovine callipyge gene. Probes were assigned to ovine chromosome pair …

Development Of An Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay Capable Of Detecting Antibodies Specific To The Cytomegalovirus, Rachel Bird

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The cytomegalovirus (CMV) is capable of causing serious illness and death in immunocompromised individuals. The objective of this research is to develop a method of detecting antibodies against CMV. This has lead to the development of an Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) that is capable of detecting CMV or anti-CMV antibodies. The process in the development of such an assay involves; 1) the purification of Hyperimmune Rabbit Serum containing anti-CMV antibodies, 2) determination of the appropriate concentrations necessary to provide a clear and concise response to the test, and 3) testing of monoclonal antibodies to determine their specificity towards the …

Integrating Knowledge And Action: A Study Of Leadership In The Development Of Master's Degree Programs In Liberal Studies, Janet L. Littrell Edd

Dissertations

Master's degree programs in liberal studies (MALS programs) have proliferated in the United States over the past twenty years. Studying the leadership relationships that faculty and administration form during the MALS program development process provides insight into how non-traditional graduate programs may be developed in the future. The purposes of the study were to investigate the development of MALS programs, and to examine the leaders and followers who successfully advanced the MALS program development agenda. The specific objectives of the study were (1) to examine the theoretical bases and curricular frameworks of MALS programs; (2) to explore how individuals and …

Development Of An Educational Overburden Index For New Mexico Schools, Karen Marie Stansfield-Paquette

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop an educational overburden index (EOI) as a component in the New Mexico Public School Funding Formula. This is part of an ongoing research effort to develop a methodology for the distribution of funds based on the unique characteristics and needs of individual school districts. Research indicated that measuring and predicting populations containing at-risk students can be accomplished through application of multiple variables which reflect home, school, and community concerns. The study initially began with a selection of indicators from data provided by the New Mexico State Department of Education and the U.S. …

Development Of Fluoroimmunoassays For The Determination Of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid, Steven Daniel Kohl

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The focus of this project was to develop fluorescence-based immunoassays for the determination of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Three formats using polyclonal anti-2,4-D sera were developed, the first being a homogeneous, competitive assay based on the principle of fluorescence energy transfer. This assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 100 ppb to 100 ppm; The next two formats are heterogeneous, competitive assays that were developed using a prototype KinExA{dollar}\rm\sp{TM}{dollar} immunoanalyzer. The assay formats use either antibody or antigen coated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads as a renewable solid phase. The KinExA{dollar}\rm\sp{TM}{dollar} assay was demonstrated in buffered saline solution as well as in aquatic …

The Role Of The Pastor In Lay Development In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Papua New Guinea, Aaron M. Lopa

Professional Dissertations DMin

Statement of the Problem

The task of this study was to rethink the role of pastors as shepherd-equippers of lay leaders in view of the explosive growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Papua New Guinea.

Method

The dissertation has two parts. Part One covers: (1) institutional factors which provided the background for this study, (2) biblical and theological dimensions as the basis for the new pastoral paradigm in PNG, and (3) cultural and sociological factors as means to understand the local cultures in order to contextualize ministry to make it more relevant to the people. Part Two synthesizes the …

The Critical Period For The Development Of Tactile Sensitivity, Wendy L. Roos

Honors Capstones

The focus of this project was to ascertain whether or not there is a critical period, or "Window of Opportunity" in the development of the sense of touch, and its impact on an individual's braille reading ability. A proposed solution to this problem is needed in order to evaluate the need for beginning braille instruction as early as possible or tactile sensitivity training in low vision readers with the potential to lose their sight later on in life. The theoretical aspectsof tactile sensitivity are first discussedto provide a background into the exploration of this topic. The research study designed to …

The Effects Of Thyroid Hormone On Myosin Heavy Chain A-7 Production In Xenopus Laevis Tail And Leg Muscles, Andrew R. Noble

Honors Theses

The present research examines the expression of myosin heavy chain genes in muscle fibers in Xenopus laevis. Characteristically different muscle fibers are expressed before and after metamorphosis. The embryonic myosin proteins that are synthesized during the tadpole stages are replaced with adult myosin heavy chains at metamorphosis. At least one of the adult myosin genes, called A-7, is expressed only in the adult animals, not in tadpoles. The controlling factor or trigger for the expression of this adult gene still remains unknown. There are a number of possible explanations for the A-7 regulation at metamorphosis, including changes in particular hormone …