Baylor University 7 articles published in JoVE Environment Isolation of Quartz Grains for Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) Dating of Quaternary Sediments for Paleoenvironmental Research Liliana C. Marin1, Steven L. Forman1, Victoria T. Todd1, Connor Mayhack1, Ashley Gonzalez1, Peng Liang2 1Geoluminescence Dating Research Laboratory, Dept. of Geosciences, Baylor University, 2School of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University This protocol is for the isolation of quartz grains by size for luminescence dating of sediments. Outlined are physical cleansing and chemical digestions by soaking sequentially in H2O2, HCl, HF, and HCl again to isolate quartz grains. The quartz purity is quantified with microscopic assessment, Raman spectroscopy, and IR depletion ratio. Engineering Femtosecond Laser Filaments for Use in Sub-Diffraction-Limited Imaging and Remote Sensing Matthews M. Springer1, Benjamin D. Strycker1,2, Kai Wang1, Alexei V. Sokolov1,2, Marlan O. Scully1,2 1Texas A&M University, 2Baylor University High-intensity femtosecond pulses of laser light can undergo cycles of Kerr self-focusing and plasma defocusing, propagating an intense sub-millimeter-diameter beam over long distances. We describe a technique for generating and using these filaments to perform remote imaging and sensing beyond the classical diffraction limits of linear optics. Environment Experimental Protocol for Examining Behavioral Response Profiles in Larval Fish: Application to the Neuro-stimulant Caffeine W. Baylor Steele1,2, Rachel A. Mole1, Bryan W. Brooks1,2 1Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, 2Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University Here, we present a protocol to examine larval zebrafish and fathead minnow locomotor activities and photomotor responses (PMR) using an automated tracking software. When incorporated in common toxicology bioassays, analyses of these behaviors provide a diagnostic tool to examine chemical bioactivity. This protocol is described using caffeine, a model neurostimulant. Immunology and Infection Generation of Immature, Mature and Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells with Differing Metabolic Phenotypes Wen Jing Sim1, Frano Malinarich1, Anna-Marie Fairhurst2, John Edward Connolly1,3 1Translational Immunology, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 2Singapore Immunology Network, 3Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University Immature dendritic cells can be selectively differentiated into tolerogenic or mature dendritic cells to regulate the balance between immunity and tolerance. This work presents a means to generate from immature monocyte derived dendritic cells (moDCs), in vitro tolerogenic and mature moDCs that differ in metabolic phenotypes. Behavior Testing for Odor Discrimination and Habituation in Mice Erin P. Arbuckle1, Gregory D. Smith1, Maribel C. Gomez2, Joaquin N. Lugo2 1Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, 2Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University This manuscript describes a protocol to examine the olfactory system of rodents. The olfactory habituation/dishabituation test will allow investigators to determine whether a mouse habituates to a repeatedly presented odor and whether the mouse demonstrates dishabituation when presented a novel odor. Biology Measurement of mRNA Decay Rates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Using rpb1-1 Strains Megan Peccarelli1, Bessie W. Kebaara1 1Department of Biology, Baylor University The steady state level of specific mRNAs is determined by the rate of synthesis and decay of the mRNA. Genome-wide mRNA degradation rates or the decay rates of specific mRNAs can be measured by determining mRNA half-lives. This protocol focuses on measurement of mRNA decay rates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Behavior Trace Fear Conditioning in Mice Joaquin N. Lugo1,2, Gregory D. Smith2, Andrew J. Holley1 1Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, 2Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University In the following experiment we describe a protocol for trace fear conditioning in mice. This type of associative memory includes a trace period that separates the neutral stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus.
