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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Analysis Of Trade On El Salvador Post Dollarization, Jorge Raul Rivera Jan 2007

Analysis Of Trade On El Salvador Post Dollarization, Jorge Raul Rivera

LSU Master's Theses

Dollarization has been suggested as an option for emerging economies. This policy might, among other goals, promote trade between a country adopting the dollar and the United States. Recent research suggests that adopting a common currency increases bilateral trade. Those findings have been widely critiqued for the lack of consistency over different currencies specially the case of dollarization. This thesis is primarily concerned with the impact of dollarization in El Salvador regarding bilateral trade flows. Utilizing the framework of the Gravity Model, bilateral trade flows for 13 trading partners of El Salvador were examined. This study found that dollarization has …


An Analysis Of The Processor Preferences For The Adoption Of Potential Crawfish Peeling Machines, Darius J. Lewis Jan 2007

An Analysis Of The Processor Preferences For The Adoption Of Potential Crawfish Peeling Machines, Darius J. Lewis

LSU Master's Theses

Over the past decade, the peeling segment of the Louisiana crawfish industry has faced the challenge of remaining competitive in an increasingly global market. Since the mid-1990’s, there has been escalated discussion among Louisiana crawfish processors on the need for a crawfish peeling machine. The International Trade Commission determined that the U.S. crawfish industry had been “materially injured” by the imported tailmeat and ruled China was, in fact, dumping crawfish in the U.S. by selling below fair market value in the host country. The development of a suitable crawfish peeling machine could potentially increase production and lower cost of production, …


Intracellular Lipids In Bos Indicus And Box Taurus Oocytes, Casey Bryant Ballard Jan 2007

Intracellular Lipids In Bos Indicus And Box Taurus Oocytes, Casey Bryant Ballard

LSU Master's Theses

It has been proposed that Bos indicus when compared with Bos taurus embryos are more sensitive to cryopreservation procedures due to higher intracellular lipid content of the embryos. With cyropreservation of Bos indicus embryos increasing for export, it is essential to improve the viability of these cryopreserved embryos. In Experiment I, M-II oocytes from mice, pigs and cows were subjected to two different procedures to evaluate lipid content. The lipid content present in pig oocytes was significantly (P<0.05) higher when compared with mouse and cow oocytes. Pig oocytes had a lower settling point in the sucrose buoyant density gradient and higher Nile Red units, which indicated higher lipids present in the oocytes. In Experiment II, it was determined that M-II oocytes aspirated from superstimulated Brahman donors were significantly higher (P<0.05) in lipid content compared with English breed donors. The lipid content present in Brahman oocytes was higher when compared with English breeds when tested with a sucrose buoyant density gradient and Nile Red staining. In addition, donor females with higher body condition scores were significantly (P<0.05) higher in oocyte lipid content when compared with donor females of lower body condition scores. Furthermore, animal body condition scores, cholesterol and triglyceride levels prior to oocyte aspiration may be indicators of intracellular lipids in the oocytes and embryos. To our knowledge, this is the first report that evaluated intracellular lipid content of M-II oocytes of different beef breed types using a sucrose buoyant density gradient and Nile Red staining.


Record-Keeping Systems Adoption By Louisiana Dairy Farmers, Elisabeth Grisham Jan 2007

Record-Keeping Systems Adoption By Louisiana Dairy Farmers, Elisabeth Grisham

LSU Master's Theses

Fifty Louisiana dairy farmers were interviewed to gather production amounts, costs of production, management techniques, technologies adopted, and demographic information. These data were used to analyze what record-keeping systems the farmers were adopting and to what extent the systems were being used. Logit, ordered probit, negative binomial regression, OLS regression, and double hurdle models were used to determine adoption and intensity. In this study, age was found to decrease the probability that a farmer would believe their computer was not at all useful and also of limited usefulness, while increasing the probability that a farmer would believe the computer was …


Modeling The Eu-Us Cereal Trade - The Post 'Agenda 2000' Analysis, Sachin Chintawar Jan 2007

Modeling The Eu-Us Cereal Trade - The Post 'Agenda 2000' Analysis, Sachin Chintawar

LSU Master's Theses

Significant changes in attitudes toward farm policy and trade have occurred within the European Union and the United States in the past decade. Trade negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) specifically the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) and later under the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have bought about considerable changes in the market structure in the cereals trade. Bilateral trade has further been impacted by the cessation of concession treaties like the Blair House Accord that expired at the end of the 2004 marketing year (WTO). Domestic budget pressures in the United States …


Psychological Correlates Of Exercise Behavior Among Adolescents, Kevin C. Paul Jan 2007

Psychological Correlates Of Exercise Behavior Among Adolescents, Kevin C. Paul

LSU Master's Theses

According to the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, 33% of youth in grades 9-12 participated in an insufficient amount of vigorous and moderate physical activity (PA), and 11% reported no vigorous and moderate PA. Although researchers have examined the psychological correlates of exercise behavior among youth, limited research investigating moderators of the theories of reasoned action (TRA; Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980) and planned behavior (TPB; Ajzen, 1985) in this population exists. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to examine socioeconomic status (SES) as a moderator of the psychological correlates of exercise intention and behavior using the TRA/TPB …


Cold Adaption Behaviors Of Vibrio Vulnificus And Vibio Parahaemolyticus In Oysters, Chiung-Ta Wu Jan 2007

Cold Adaption Behaviors Of Vibrio Vulnificus And Vibio Parahaemolyticus In Oysters, Chiung-Ta Wu

LSU Master's Theses

Vibrio vulnificus is an estuarine bacterium that can cause primary septicemia as well as other serious wound infections. Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a gram-negative, halophilic bacterium that may cause gastroenteritis, diarrhea, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and is the leading cause of gastroenteritis in United States. Consumption of raw oysters is believed to closely relate with infection with Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. All strains of V. parahaemolyticus produce tlh genes and the major virulence factors of V.parahaemolyticus are the tdh and trh genes. This study was conducted to determine if Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus clinical and environmental strains display …


Cryopreservation Of White-Tail Deer Epididymal Sperm For Artificial Insemination, Jesse Ray Saenz Jan 2007

Cryopreservation Of White-Tail Deer Epididymal Sperm For Artificial Insemination, Jesse Ray Saenz

LSU Master's Theses

The ability to cryopreserve epididymal sperm from mature postmortem bucks has long been of interest to both wildlife conservationists and deer ranchers. Increased understanding of the cryobiology of epididymal sperm from a non domestic species, such as White-tail deer, could aid in development of future protocols to assist in the preservation of endangered species. In Experiment I, results showed that after cooling postmortem bull testes for 22 hours, no significant difference was noted between sperm parameters of epididymal sperm collected at room temperature or at a cool enviorment. In Experiment II, it was shown that White-tail deer sperm could be …


Effect Of Culture Conditions On Gene Expression In Manipulated Bovine Embryos, Megan Nicole Purpera Jan 2007

Effect Of Culture Conditions On Gene Expression In Manipulated Bovine Embryos, Megan Nicole Purpera

LSU Master's Theses

Numerous studies have reported aberrant gene expression levels attributed to suboptimal in vitro culture conditions presented to embryos. Since the culture environment is a common aspect of both in vitro production (IVP) and nuclear transfer (NT), research focusing on the in vitro culture system will have the potential to improve both techniques. This study investigated the effects of different culture systems and protein sources on the developmental competence of IVP embryos measured by cleavage and blastocyst rates, cell number, and relative abundance of oct-4, nanog, connexin 43, and GLUT-1 transcripts when compared to in vivo embryos. Experiment 1 compared IVP …


Impact And Interaction Of Samea Multiplicalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) And Cyrtobagous Salviniae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) On Salvinia Minima In South Louisiana And The Foraging Behavior Of Solenopsis Invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) On Salvinia Minima, Sunil Tewari Jan 2007

Impact And Interaction Of Samea Multiplicalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) And Cyrtobagous Salviniae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) On Salvinia Minima In South Louisiana And The Foraging Behavior Of Solenopsis Invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) On Salvinia Minima, Sunil Tewari

LSU Master's Theses

A field study was conducted in 2005 and 2006 to evaluate the impact and interaction of the herbivores Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands and Samea multiplicalis Guenee on common salvinia, Salvinia minima Baker in south Louisiana. It was a completely randomized experimental design in which treatments consisted of C. salviniae and S. multiplicalis feeding on common salvinia both independently and together along with a control. Our study revealed that treatments consisting of C. salviniae and S .multiplicalis feeding both independently and together had a significant impact on the biomass of common salvinia. Sampling done in October of both 2005 and …


An Hedonic Analysis Of Southwestern Louisiana Wetland Prices Using Gis, Baifu Xu Jan 2007

An Hedonic Analysis Of Southwestern Louisiana Wetland Prices Using Gis, Baifu Xu

LSU Master's Theses

Louisiana is the beneficiary of more than 30% of the U.S. coastal wetlands, but the state’s wetland loss accounts for about 90% of the total throughout the continental United States. The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act of 1990 and the $1.9 billion that has recently been dedicated by Congress for coastal restoration activities will certainly aid in restoration efforts. However, these dedicated funds are but a small fraction of the total monies that will be required to maintain/restore Louisiana’s degraded wetlands. Recent estimates suggest restoration activities will cost, at a minimum, about $14 billion. The research, based on …


Effect Of Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis Invicta Buren) On The Nesting Success Of Northern Bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus L.), Michael Andrew Seymour Jan 2007

Effect Of Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis Invicta Buren) On The Nesting Success Of Northern Bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus L.), Michael Andrew Seymour

LSU Master's Theses

The Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus L.) has experienced average yearly decline of 3% in the United States from 1966-2005. Factors implicated in decline include habitat destruction, alteration of farm practices, and red imported fire ant (RIFA) (Solenopsis invicta Buren). Effect of RIFA on bobwhites has been a hot topic leading to formation of polarized camps – those who believe RIFA have little effect and those who believe the effect will further threaten the species’ survival. The main objective of this study was to determine if RIFA affect nesting of bobwhites and at what stage in nesting birds are most vulnerable. …


An Economic Evaluation Of Sugarcane Combine Harvester Costs And Optimal Harvest Schedules For Louisiana, Francis Gil Barker Jan 2007

An Economic Evaluation Of Sugarcane Combine Harvester Costs And Optimal Harvest Schedules For Louisiana, Francis Gil Barker

LSU Master's Theses

Rising production costs, primarily associated with increasing fuel and fertilizer prices, combined with a relatively flat to slightly declining market price trend, have significantly reduced profit margins from sugarcane production in Louisiana over the past few years. Harvest operations are one area in which growers can have considerable influence on costs per unit. Estimation of current sugarcane harvest costs as well as economic evaluation of the impact of various factors on the performance and cost of this production phase are important to growers in conducting these harvest operations as efficiently and cost effectively as possible. The general objective of this …


Low Crude Protein, Amino Acid-Supplemented Diets, And The Glycine Requirement In Low Crude Protein Diets For Broilers, April Marie Waguespack Jan 2007

Low Crude Protein, Amino Acid-Supplemented Diets, And The Glycine Requirement In Low Crude Protein Diets For Broilers, April Marie Waguespack

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this research was to determine the optimal level of crystalline amino acid (AA) supplementation that supports maximum growth performance in broilers, and to determine the Gly requirement in broilers. Treatments were replicated with a minimum of 7 pens with 6 broilers per pen. Experiments (Exp.) were conducted from 0- to 18- days (d) post-hatching in brooder batteries. Three Exp. were conducted to determine the maximum level of L-Lys•HCl that could be supplemented to corn-soybean meal (C-SBM) diets without negatively affecting growth performance of broilers. The results of these Exp. indicate that broilers can achieve maximum growth performance …


Effects Of Protein Sources On Growth And Hormonal Status Of Weaned Dairy Calves, Christopher Aaron Sissell Jan 2007

Effects Of Protein Sources On Growth And Hormonal Status Of Weaned Dairy Calves, Christopher Aaron Sissell

LSU Master's Theses

Eight Holstein calves approximately 6 months of age (mean BW 185.15 + 16.16 kg) were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin Square experiment to study effects of protein sources on performance of weaned dairy calves. Dietary treatments consisted of 16% CP diets with three sources of ruminally undegradable protein (RUP). Experimental diets were corn-silage based, with soybean meal (SBM) as the source of ruminally degradable protein (control) and 3 sources of RUP including heat treated soybean meal (SBM) (SoyPLUS®), animal protein blend (PRO-LAK), and extruded-expelled SBM, included at 45% of the dietary CP. The animals were fed their …


Effects Of Amino Acids On The Properties Of White-Fleshed And Orange-Fleshed Beauregard Sweet Potato Starch, Stephanie Helen Lockwood Jan 2007

Effects Of Amino Acids On The Properties Of White-Fleshed And Orange-Fleshed Beauregard Sweet Potato Starch, Stephanie Helen Lockwood

LSU Master's Theses

This study assessed the effects of amino acid additives, aspartic acid, leucine, lysine, and methionine, on the pasting and thermal characteristics of white-fleshed and orange-fleshed Beauregard sweet potato starches. Also, the white-fleshed and the orange-fleshed sweet potato starches were compared for any differences in their resistant starch and crystalline properties. This study was performed using Differential Scanning Calorimetery (DSC), Rapid Visco Analysis (RVA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Resistant Starch Determination. The orange-fleshed starch granules began to gelatinize at a lower temperature (56.8°C) than the white-fleshed starch (70.1°C), but the two starches needed the same amount of energy to gelatinize. Lysine …


Evaluating Precision Agricultural Technologies In A Louisiana Cotton Insect Pest Management System, Joshua Heath Temple Jan 2007

Evaluating Precision Agricultural Technologies In A Louisiana Cotton Insect Pest Management System, Joshua Heath Temple

LSU Master's Theses

A variable rate pesticide application system was developed and tested during 2001 for an agricultural aircraft in Louisiana. Using technology available to the agricultural aviation industry, a variable rate prescription of insecticide was successfully applied to a cotton field in 2002. These studies compared the efficacy and value of spatially variable insecticide (SVI) applications based on yield maps to the producer standard, whole-field broadcast treatments. Insecticide prescriptions were created from historical yield and production data. Treatments included whole-field broadcast sprays, yield-based SVI sprays, and profit-based SVI sprays. Twenty-two SVI applications were made to test fields from 2002-2005 using two aircraft …


Reproductive And Metabolic Effects Of Recombinant Equine Leptin On Seasonally Anovulatory Mares, Pamela Boliew Mitcham Jan 2007

Reproductive And Metabolic Effects Of Recombinant Equine Leptin On Seasonally Anovulatory Mares, Pamela Boliew Mitcham

LSU Master's Theses

Mares of poor body condition have low plasma leptin concentrations, while obese mares have the highest concentrations. Leptin is a primary signal of body condition to the brain in other species; therefore, low leptin concentrations in thin mares could contribute to their extended anovulatory period in winter compared to obese mares. The current experiment was designed to determine whether recombinant equine leptin, administered to seasonally anovulatory mares, would induce ovarian activity and ovulation in the winter. Leptin effects on metabolism were also studied. Beginning January 7, leptin-treated mares (n = 9) received daily i.m. injections of 10 mg recombinant equine …


The Effects Of Various Feed Additives On Growth Performance Of Nursery Pigs, Jennifer Tucker Jan 2007

The Effects Of Various Feed Additives On Growth Performance Of Nursery Pigs, Jennifer Tucker

LSU Master's Theses

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of various feed additives on growth performance of nursery pigs. An experiment was conducted in which pigs were fed a conventional Phase 1 diet containing: 1) no salmon protein hydrolysate (SPH) or spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP); 2-3) 1.5% SPH or SDPP; 4-5) 3.0% SPH or SDPP; or 6) 1.5% SPH and 1.5% SDPP. The results of this experiment showed growth performance was unaffected by source or level of protein during any growth phase. Overall gain:feed was greater (P = 0.08) for pigs fed the 1.5% level of protein than for …


Predictors Of Adl Disability In Culturally Diverse Older Adults, Fernanda Holton Jan 2007

Predictors Of Adl Disability In Culturally Diverse Older Adults, Fernanda Holton

LSU Master's Theses

Almost 42% of adults over 65 years of age live with at least one disability. Further, people of lower socioeconomic status and Blacks have greater risks for disability than Whites and individuals at higher socioeconomic status. The consequences of disability include loss of independence, decreased quality of life, increased chances of depression, consumption of health care services, and institutionalization. The purpose of this study was to utilize the disablement process framework to examine the contribution of physical function, dyspnea, and pain to disability in activities-of-daily-living (ADL) in culturally diverse older adults (i.e., diverse according to race, income, and education). Participants …


Analyzing The Cost Of Harvesting And The Economic Structure Of Florida Grouper Fishery, I. Cristian Nedelea Jan 2007

Analyzing The Cost Of Harvesting And The Economic Structure Of Florida Grouper Fishery, I. Cristian Nedelea

LSU Master's Theses

This study uses a translog cost function to investigate the technical and economic relationships present among a sample of Florida grouper longline vessels. The existence of jointness-in-inputs and non-separability between inputs and outputs suggests that resource management should be based on multiproduct production theory, and that explicit recognition of the economic interactions among species should be incorporated in any regulatory process. The cross-price elasticities of input demands showed substitution relationships between input pairs, implying that imposed regulation on the single input will be compensated for by increases in the other inputs. Furthermore, model results showed apparently substantial economies of scope, …


Chemical Ecology, Fungal Interactions And Forest Stand Correlations Of The Exotic Asian Ambrosia Beetle, Xylosandrus Crassiusculus (Motschulsky) (Curculionidae), Eric Paul Ott Jan 2007

Chemical Ecology, Fungal Interactions And Forest Stand Correlations Of The Exotic Asian Ambrosia Beetle, Xylosandrus Crassiusculus (Motschulsky) (Curculionidae), Eric Paul Ott

LSU Master's Theses

Increasing evidence of non-indigenous ambrosia beetles aggressively attacking hosts in their new environment in the United States has led to concern over the potential for damage to urban trees, nurseries, orchards, and forests. A novel technique of flooding host trees was devised to stimulate ambrosia beetle attacks, with ambrosia beetle attraction peaking four days following flooding. In-situ sampling identified significant differences in the composition, quantity and point of release (leaf or bole) of volatiles emitted by the flooded and non-flooded trees. Coupled gas chromatography electroantennographic detection revealed olfactory sensitivity by the ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) to 29 of these …


An Assessment Of The Risk Mapping System For The Use Of Managing Loblolly Pine Decline Sites Within Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Habitat, Roger Dale Menard Jan 2007

An Assessment Of The Risk Mapping System For The Use Of Managing Loblolly Pine Decline Sites Within Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Habitat, Roger Dale Menard

LSU Master's Theses

A decline of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), characterized by expanding areas of declining and dead trees, has become prevalent at Fort Benning, Georgia. A 3 year study was conducted to determine the kinds of fungi, insects, and site disturbances associated with this problem. The insects Dendroctonus terebrans, Hylastes salebrosus, Hylastes tenuis, Pachylobius picivorus and Hylobius pales were significantly more abundant in symptomatic than in asymptomatic loblolly pine plots. These root and lower stem-infesting insects consistently carried the fungi Leptographium terebrantis, L. procerum, and L. serpens. Root sampling revealed high levels of root damage and mortality, staining and infection with …


Detection Of Vibrio Vulnificus By Direct Colony Immunoblot, Reshani Nisansala Senevirathne Jan 2007

Detection Of Vibrio Vulnificus By Direct Colony Immunoblot, Reshani Nisansala Senevirathne

LSU Master's Theses

Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) is a natural occurring bacterium of world wide estuarine environments, which concentrate on filter feeding shellfish. Under cooked seafood contaminated with this pathogen is a leading cause of 95% of seafood-related, foodborne deaths. The development of a rapid, reliable and user-friendly method for Vv enumeration would help to reduce mortality rate. A direct colony immunoblot (DCI) method was developed and used as a rapid enumeration with high sensitivity and the specificity. This method was optimized using Vv agar plates incubated for 16 h at 35 °C. Colonies were transferred from incubated plates to polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes …


Mechanism Of Intraspecific Toxin Inhibition In Aspergillus Flavus, Changwei Huang Jan 2007

Mechanism Of Intraspecific Toxin Inhibition In Aspergillus Flavus, Changwei Huang

LSU Master's Theses

Atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus was demonstrated by others as a promising biocontrol agent to minimize preharvest aflatoxins in susceptible crops. But the mechanism was unclear. A filter insert-well plate system was used to study the mechanism in lab. There was no inhibition when toxigenic A. flavus isolate 53 and inhibitory atoxigenic isolates were separated by 0.4 µm membrane, approximately 50% inhibition occurred when separated by 12 µm membrane, and complete inhibition occurred when a 74 µm membrane was used. This result suggested that touching or close physical interaction is needed for toxin inhibition and the nutrient competition hypothesis was not supported. …


An Analysis Of The World Shrimp Market And The Impact Of An Increasing Import Base On The Gulf Of Mexico Dockside Price, Pawan Poudel Jan 2007

An Analysis Of The World Shrimp Market And The Impact Of An Increasing Import Base On The Gulf Of Mexico Dockside Price, Pawan Poudel

LSU Master's Theses

As a result of increased cultured activities, the world shrimp market has been expanded significantly during the past two decades. Because the growth in world supply has exceeded that of growth in demand, the deflated world shrimp price has fallen significantly since the mid-1980s. While a large producer of shrimp (primarily in the Gulf of Mexico), the United States is also the world’s largest importer. In general, the Gulf of Mexico dockside price is determined by the world export price and, as such, the Gulf of Mexico price has fallen sharply in recent years. This study quantifies the impact on …


Best Management Practices Adoption Rates And Alternative Land Usage Among Southwest Louisiana Rice Producers, Heidi Landry Jan 2007

Best Management Practices Adoption Rates And Alternative Land Usage Among Southwest Louisiana Rice Producers, Heidi Landry

LSU Master's Theses

The EPA has identified agriculture to be a major contributor of nonpoint source water pollution. The production of rice poses two major water quality issues: the application of a large amount of water that is held on the field for long periods of time during the growing season and the disposal of that water at a later time in the production cycle. Louisiana has developed the voluntary adoption of Best Management Practices (BMPs). These practices have been promoted through educational programs such as the Master Farmer program. This program, developed by the LSU AgCenter, targets conservation practices that are both …


Pathology And Seedling Nutrition Of Spartina Alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass), Clark Lane Robertson Jan 2007

Pathology And Seedling Nutrition Of Spartina Alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass), Clark Lane Robertson

LSU Master's Theses

Transplants of Spartina alterniflora Loisel. (smooth cordgrass, Poaceae) are effective in stabilizing and protecting vulnerable coastal wetlands from erosion. However, the expense and labor associated with propagation and transplanting restrict the widespread use of S. alterniflora in coastal restoration and protection projects. As an alternative, seeding of S. alterniflora by aircraft has been proposed as a more useful and economical approach for revegetating denuded marsh sites. However, a period of stalled growth, which lasts for 12 or more weeks, has been observed in smooth cordgrass seedlings, and this increases their susceptibility to being washed away by inundating tides. This stalled …


In Vitro Development Of Bovine Embryos Cultured In A Frozen-Thawed Commercial Culture Medium, Jeanne Lee Glaser Jan 2007

In Vitro Development Of Bovine Embryos Cultured In A Frozen-Thawed Commercial Culture Medium, Jeanne Lee Glaser

LSU Master's Theses

As in vitro fertilization (IVF) becomes more acceptable for the treatment of human infertility, it is essential for clinics to have in place an optimal embryo culture system. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether freezing and storing human embryo culture medium will alter embryo post-thaw viability. In consecutive experiments, commercial culture medium was frozen at -20°C and at -80°C and stored at 4°C until its use in IVF. Each IVF-derived replicate of bovine embryos contained a laboratory control group, a fresh commercial culture medium group(s) and a frozen-thawed commercial culture medium group(s). The commercial culture medium was …