Browsing by Author "Mathews, Mark"
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Item Androgen receptor mutation affects testes organization in an African cichlid A. burtoni(2022-04-14) Mathews, MarkAndrogen receptors (AR) are a ligand-dependent transcription factor that modulate the expression of androgen target genes. Androgens are hormones that bind to ARs and are essential to reproductive development and fertility. Past research illustrates that mutations in AR lead to small testes, disorganization of seminiferous tubules, and delay the process of spermatogenesis. The objective of this research is to investigate how the mutation of both ARalpha and ARbeta affect the organization of the testes and the process of spermatogenesis in the African cichlid fish, Astatotilapia burtoni. Firstly, we used a cryostat to section the testes at a thickness of 10 microns. Once the slides were dry, we conducted a Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain on the tissue in order to differentiate cell types. Photomicrographs were then taken of multiple sections in each testis and a grid of randomly generated points was overlaid. The cell type underneath 50 points was counted on a random section of the tissue; cell types of spermatogonia, spermatids, spermatozoa, and interstitial tissue were quantified as a measure of spermatogenesis. The homozygous ARalpha;ARbeta mutants appear to have numerous holes relative to the wild type (WT) testes and this will be quantified in the future. Furthermore, quantifications of cell types will be analyzed between WT and mutants in the future as well as the fertility of the sperm of the mutants.Item Evaluating SAT and College-based, High School Mentorship Program from Fall 2019 to Fall 2021(2022-04-14) Mathews, Mark; Zhao, PeijunStandardized testing is an integral part of college admissions and is one of the major determinants of educational access in the United States. Higher SAT scores are linked to a higher college GPA and scholarship qualifications, but there exist financial and social barriers against higher education for low-income, minority populations. To address these disparities, undergraduate students from the University of Houston Honors College created Aspire, a student-led mentorship program educating high school juniors and seniors on SAT and college readiness. During analysis, it was determined that the COVID-19 pandemic student registration, attendance, and retention rates significantly dropped compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Registration numbers between Spring 2020 compared to Fall 2021 halved from 69 students to 36 students. Although SAT score differences between pre-program and post-program students increased by roughly 56 points, these numbers are smaller than previous literature values. Before COVID-19, student attendance percentages ranged from 51% to 70%, while post-COVID-19 lockdowns, student attendance rates ranged from 39% to 44%. Less than 10 students participated virtually during the COVID-19 lockdown. Thus, COVID-19 significantly decreased program outreach and mentorship quality. Structural program changes relating to mentee retention rates, advertising, and improving mentor training are necessary to facilitate a more effective program.