Acquistion of an Image Analysis Work Station at Wesleyan College

卫斯理学院购买图像分析工作站

• 批准号: 0116189
• 负责人: Holly Boettger-Tong
• 金额: $ 11.32万
• 依托单位: Wesleyan College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-09-01 至 2004-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0116189&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Acquistion; Image; Analysis; Work; Station

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Holly Boettger-Tong at Wesleyan College, an undergraduate liberal arts college for women, to acquire an imaging workstation. The specific components of this imaging workstation include an imaging research microscope with digital camera, combined with imaging software capable of high resolution image acquisition and morphologic analysis capabilities. A scanning laser densitometer, with software capable of quantifying stained electrophoresis gels, blotting membranes and autoradiographs is also an integral component of this workstation. Acquisition of this equipment is vital to the research activities of the Biology faculty, and represents a significant improvement in our ongoing efforts to integrate education and research by introducing students to modern technologies which they will use to develop independent research projects. In collaboration with faculty, students will explore the role of cytoskeletal signaling in spermatogenesis, fertilization and early development. In addition, students will examine the regulation of gene expression in epithelial tissues during differentiation. This instrumentation will greatly enhance the research training opportunities available at Wesleyan College and will directly translate into more opportunities for scientific discovery by both faculty and undergraduate researchers. At Wesleyan College, the Biology department curriculum is student-centered, with specific emphasis on student-directed research experiences. Students gain these experiences working as research assistants with department faculty, and through independent research projects in upper division Biology courses. Basic research applications of the equipment will include use of the Axioplan II and imaging software for molecular and immunohistochemical studies to analyze the expression pattern of select cytoskeletal proteins in the reproductive tract and during early development. In addition, the scanning densitometry equipment and software will be used for quantitation of mRNA expression by Northern blotting, as well as the comparison of levels of mRNA expression with protein expression by densitometry of Western blots. This equipment will also serve to modernize courses in Histology, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology and DNA Technology. Acquisition of this image analysis workstation will assist the Biology faculty at Wesleyan College in their goal of successfully providing women with excellent research opportunities using modern scientific methods. As a culturally diverse (35% minority) College, Wesleyan recognizes that it has a unique opportunity to favorably impact the recruitment of minority women into the sciences. This equipment will make a direct impact on the preparation of young women for careers in the sciences and will greatly enhance their competitiveness for admission at quality postgraduate institutions.

卫斯理学院（Wesleyan College）是一所女子本科文理学院，该校的 Holly Boettger-Tong 博士获得了一笔赠款，用于购买成像工作站。该成像工作站的具体组件包括带有数码相机的成像研究显微镜，以及具有高分辨率图像采集和形态分析功能的成像软件。扫描激光密度计以及能够量化染色电泳凝胶、印迹膜和放射自显影照片的软件也是该工作站的一个组成部分。 购买该设备对于生物学教师的研究活动至关重要，并且代表着我们通过向学生介绍现代技术来整合教育和研究的持续努力的重大改进，他们将使用这些技术来开发独立的研究项目。学生将与教师合作，探索细胞骨架信号在精子发生、受精和早期发育中的作用。此外，学生将检查分化过程中上皮组织基因表达的调节。该仪器将极大地增加卫斯理学院的研究培训机会，并将直接转化为教师和本科生研究人员进行更多科学发现的机会。 在卫斯理学院，生物系课程以学生为中心，特别强调以学生为导向的研究经验。学生通过担任系教师的研究助理以及通过高年级生物学课程的独立研究项目获得这些经验。该设备的基础研究应用将包括使用 Axioplan II 和成像软件进行分子和免疫组织化学研究，以分析生殖道和早期发育过程中选定细胞骨架蛋白的表达模式。此外，扫描密度测定设备和软件将用于通过Northern blotting定量mRNA表达，以及通过Western blotting密度测定比较mRNA表达水平与蛋白质表达水平。该设备还将用于组织学、发育生物学、遗传学、细胞和分子生物学以及 DNA 技术课程的现代化。 收购该图像分析工作站将有助于卫斯理学院的生物学教师实现利用现代科学方法成功为女性提供绝佳研究机会的目标。作为一所文化多元化（35% 少数族裔）的学院，卫斯理安学院认识到它拥有独特的机会，可以对少数族裔女性进入科学领域产生积极影响。该设备将对年轻女性从事科学职业的准备产生直接影响，并将大大提高她们进入优质研究生机构的竞争力。