University of Western Sydney, NSW Australia View Institution's Website 15 articles published in JoVE Neuroscience Stochastic Noise Application for the Assessment of Medial Vestibular Nucleus Neuron Sensitivity In Vitro Sebastian P. Stefani1,2, Paul P. Breen3, Jorge M. Serrador4, Aaron J. Camp1,2 1Discipline of Physiology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, 2Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, 3The MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University, 4Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Galvanic vestibular stimulation in humans exhibits improvements in vestibular function. However, it is unknown how these effects occur. Here, we describe how to apply sinusoidal and stochastic electrical noise and evaluate appropriate stimulus amplitudes in individual medial vestibular nucleus neurons in the C57BL/6 mouse. Biochemistry Cortisol Measurement in Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Fur Renae Charalambous1, Edward Narayan1 1School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University We present a protocol to determine the optimal extraction solvent to measure cortisol from koala fur. The solvents used in this protocol are methanol, ethanol and isopropanol. Determining an optimal extraction solvent will aid in reliably measuring fur to determine the impact of chronic stress on koalas. Behavior Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community Ana-Maria Bliuc1, Muhammad Iqbal2, David Best3 1School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, 2Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities (ISILC), Victoria University, 3Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University The article describes a novel approach for analyzing dynamic online social interactions (in an online context) exemplified by a study of an online community of recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. Environment Detection of Viruses from Bioaerosols Using Anion Exchange Resin Joshua W. Schaeffer1, Jeffrey C. Chandler2, Margaret Davidson1,3, Sheryl L. Magzamen1, Alma Pérez-Méndez4, Stephen J. Reynolds1, Lawrence D. Goodridge5, John Volckens6, Alan B. Franklin2, Susan A. Shriner2, Bledar Bisha7 1High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, 2National Wildlife Research Center, Wildlife Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 3Western Sydney University, 4Leprino Foods, Inc, 5Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University, 6Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 7Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming An anion exchange resin-based method, adapted to liquid impingement-based bioaerosol sampling of viruses is demonstrated. When coupled with downstream molecular detection, the method allows for facile and sensitive detection of viruses from bioaerosols. Neuroscience Prolonged Incubation of Acute Neuronal Tissue for Electrophysiology and Calcium-imaging Morven A. Cameron1, Orsolya Kekesi1,2, John W. Morley1,2, Alba Bellot-Saez1,2, Sindy Kueh2, Paul Breen1, André van Schaik1, Jonathan Tapson1, Yossi Buskila1,2 1The MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University, 2School of Medicine, Western Sydney University Once removed from the body, neuronal tissue is greatly affected by environmental conditions, leading to eventual degradation of the tissue after 6 - 8 h. Using a unique incubation method, which closely monitors and regulates the extracellular environment of the tissue, tissue viability can be significantly extended for >24 h. Chemistry Capillary Electrophoresis to Monitor Peptide Grafting onto Chitosan Films in Real Time Joel J. Thevarajah1,2,3, Michael D. O'Connor1,4, Patrice Castignolles2,3, Marianne Gaborieau1,2,3 1Molecular Medicine Research Group, Western Sydney University, 2Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science, Western Sydney University, 3School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, 4School of Medicine, Western Sydney University Free solution capillary electrophoresis is a fast, cheap and robust analytical method that enables the quantitative monitoring of chemical reactions in real time. Its utility for rapid, convenient and precise analysis is demonstrated here through analysis of covalent peptide grafting onto chitosan films for improved cell adhesion. Bioengineering Correlative Light- and Electron Microscopy Using Quantum Dot Nanoparticles Murray C. Killingsworth1,2,3,4, Yuri V. Bobryshev3,4,5 1South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales Australia, 2School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, 3Correlative Microscopy Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, 4Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Sydney South West Pathology Service, New South Wales Health Pathology, 5School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales Australia A method is described whereby quantum dot (QD) nanoparticles can be used for correlative immunocytochemical studies of epoxy embedded human pathology tissue. We employ commercial antibody fragment conjugated QDs that are visualized by widefield fluorescence light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Chemistry Curtain Flow Column: Optimization of Efficiency and Sensitivity Sercan Pravadali-Cekic1, Danijela Kocic1, Stanley Hua1, Andrew Jones1, Gary Dennis1, Andrew Shalliker1 1School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney Here, we present a protocol for the operation and optimization of Active Flow Technology (AFT) column in Curtain flow (CF) mode for enhanced separation performance. Chemistry Post Column Derivatization Using Reaction Flow High Performance Liquid Chromatography Columns Andrew Jones1, Sercan Pravadali-Cekic1, Stanley Hua1, Danijela Kocic1, Michelle Camenzuli2, Gary Dennis1, Andrew Shalliker1 1School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, 2Van′t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam A protocol for the use of reaction flow high performance liquid chromatography columns for methods employing post column derivatization (PCD) is presented. Chemistry Tuning a Parallel Segmented Flow Column and Enabling Multiplexed Detection Sercan Pravadali-Cekic1, Danijela Kocic1, Stanley Hua1, Andrew Jones1, Gary R. Dennis1, R. Andrew Shalliker1 1School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney Here, we present a protocol for the operation and tuning of parallel segmented flow chromatography columns to enable multiplexed detection. Chemistry Amide Coupling Reaction for the Synthesis of Bispyridine-based Ligands and Their Complexation to Platinum as Dinuclear Anticancer Agents Michael G. Apps1, Ben W. Johnson2, Oliver B. Sutcliffe3, Sarah D. Brown4, Nial J. Wheate1 1Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, 2School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, 3Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, 4Nature Publishing Group This protocol describes the use of amide coupling reactions of isonicotinic acid and diaminoalkanes to form bridging ligands suitable for use in the synthesis of multinuclear platinum complexes, which combine aspects of the anticancer drugs BBR3464 and picoplatin. Medicine Utility of Dissociated Intrinsic Hand Muscle Atrophy in the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Parvathi Menon1,2, Steve Vucic1,2 1Department of Neurology, Westmead Hospital, 2Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia Dissociated atrophy of intrinsic hand muscles, termed the split hand, appears to be a specific feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Consequently, a novel neurodiagnostic test, termed the split hand index, was developed to quantify the clinical phenomenon of the split hand, which differentiated ALS from mimic disorders. Neuroscience Implementing Dynamic Clamp with Synaptic and Artificial Conductances in Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells Jin Y. Huang1, Klaus M. Stiefel2, Dario A. Protti3 1Discipline of Biomedical Science, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, 2The MARCS Institute, University of Western Sydney, 3Discipline of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney This video article illustrates the set-up, the procedures to patch cell bodies and how to implement dynamic clamp recordings from ganglion cells in whole-mount mouse retinae. This technique allows the investigation of the precise contribution of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs, and their relative magnitude and timing to neuronal spiking. Biology Using High Resolution Computed Tomography to Visualize the Three Dimensional Structure and Function of Plant Vasculature Andrew J. McElrone1,2, Brendan Choat3, Dilworth Y. Parkinson4, Alastair A. MacDowell4, Craig R. Brodersen5 1U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California - Davis, 3Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney, 4Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 5Citrus Research & Education Center, University of Florida High resolution x-ray computed tomography (HRCT) is a non-destructive diagnostic imaging technique that can be used to study the structure and function of plant vasculature in 3D. We demonstrate how HRCT facilitates exploration of xylem networks across a wide range of plant tissues and species. Bioengineering Fabrication and Application of Rose Bengal-chitosan Films in Laser Tissue Repair Antonio Lauto1, Marcus Stoodley2, Matthew Barton1, John W. Morley1, David A. Mahns1, Leonardo Longo3, Damia Mawad1 1Bioelectronics and Neuroscience (BENS) research group, University of Western Sydney, NSW Australia, 2Australian School of Advanced Medicine, Macquarie University, NSW Australia, 3School of Medicine, University of Siena, Italy Sutures are usually needed to repair tissue during surgical procedures. However, their application can be problematic as they are invasive and may damage tissue. The fabrication and application methods of a novel tissue adhesive are here reported. This adhesive film is laser-activated and does not require the use of sutures.
