Syracuse University View Institution's Website 12 articles published in JoVE Biology Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics Mehrzad Sasanpour1, Daisy H. Achiriloaie1,2, Gloria Lee1, Gregor Leech1, Maya Hendija1, K. Alice Lindsay3, Jennifer L. Ross3, Ryan J. McGorty1, Rae M. Robertson-Anderson1 1Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, 2W. M. Keck Science Department, Scripps College, Pitzer College, and Claremont McKenna College, 3Department of Physics, Syracuse University This paper presents protocols for engineering and characterizing tunable three-dimensional composite networks of co-entangled actin filaments and microtubules. Composites undergo active restructuring and ballistic motion, driven by myosin II and kinesin motors, and are tuned by the relative concentrations of actin, microtubules, motor proteins, and passive crosslinkers. Biochemistry Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids Prashali Chauhan1, Sumon Sahu1,2, Niaz Goodbee1, Sophia Martin1, Hong Beom Lee1, Ruell Branch1, Jennifer M. Schwarz1, Jennifer L. Ross1 1Physics Department, Syracuse University, 2Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine This article presents a protocol for the formation of microtubule assemblies in the shape of tactoids using MAP65, a plant-based microtubule crosslinker, and PEG as a crowding agent. Environment Simulating Impacts of Ice Storms on Forest Ecosystems John L. Campbell1, Lindsey E. Rustad1, Charles T. Driscoll2, Ian Halm3, Timothy J. Fahey4, Habibollah Fakhraei5, Peter M. Groffman6,7, Gary J. Hawley8, Wendy Leuenberger9, Paul G. Schaberg10 1Northern Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, Durham, NH, 2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, 3Northern Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, North Woodstock, NH, 4Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, 5Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Southern Illinois University, 6Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, 7Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 8Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, 9Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Kentucky, 10Northern Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, Burlington, VT Ice storms are important weather events that are challenging to study because of difficulties in predicting their occurrence. Here, we describe a novel method for simulating ice storms that involves spraying water over a forest canopy during sub-freezing conditions. Behavior Ultrasound Images of the Tongue: A Tutorial for Assessment and Remediation of Speech Sound Errors Jonathan L. Preston1,2, Tara McAllister Byun3, Suzanne E. Boyce2,4, Sarah Hamilton4, Mark Tiede2, Emily Phillips2, Ahmed Rivera-Campos4, Douglas H. Whalen2,5,6 1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Syracuse University, 2Haskins Laboratories, 3Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders, New York University, 4Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Cincinnati, 5Program in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, City University of New York Graduate Center, 6Department of Linguistics, Yale University Ultrasound imaging can be used to display the shape and movements of the tongue in real time during speech. The images can be used to determine the nature of speech sound errors. Visual feedback of the tongue can be used to facilitate improvements in speech sound production in clinical populations. Environment Methods of Soil Resampling to Monitor Changes in the Chemical Concentrations of Forest Soils Gregory B. Lawrence1, Ivan J. Fernandez2, Paul W. Hazlett3, Scott W. Bailey4, Donald S. Ross5, Thomas R. Villars6, Angelica Quintana7, Rock Ouimet8, Michael R. McHale1, Chris E. Johnson9, Russell D. Briggs10, Robert A. Colter11, Jason Siemion1, Olivia L. Bartlett12, Olga Vargas13, Michael R. Antidormi1, Mary M. Koppers9 1New York Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 2School of Forest Resources, University of Maine, 3Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, 4Northern Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, 5Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont, 6Ottauquechee NRCD, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 7Green Mountain National Forest, U.S. Forest Service, 8Direction de la Recherche Forestière, Ministère du Québec, 9Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, 10Division of Environmental Science, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 11White Mountain National Forest, U.S. Forest Service, 12Natural Resources and Earth System Sciences, University of New Hampshire, 13Greenwich, NY Field Office, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Repeated soil sampling has recently been shown to be an effective way to monitor forest soil change over years and decades. To support its use, a protocol is presented that synthesizes the latest information on soil resampling methods to aid in the design and implementation of successful soil monitoring programs. Engineering Combustion Characterization and Model Fuel Development for Micro-tubular Flame-assisted Fuel Cells Ryan J. Milcarek1, Michael J. Garrett1, Amrish Baskaran1, Jeongmin Ahn1 1Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University A protocol for creating a model fuel-rich combustion exhaust is developed through combustion characterization and is applied for micro-tubular flame-assisted fuel cell testing and research. Medicine Minimally Invasive Thumb-sized Pterional Craniotomy for Surgical Clip Ligation of Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms Eric M Deshaies1,2, Mark R Villwock1, Amit Singla3, Gentian Toshkezi4, David J Padalino1 1Neurovascular and Stroke Center, Crouse Neuroscience Institute, 2Department of Biology, Syracuse University, 3Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, 4Department of Neurosurgery, SUNY Upstate Medical University Minimally invasive thumb-sized pterional craniotomy for aneurysm clipping has afforded our patients with a shorter hospital stay at a lower cost compared to the national average. Medicine Generation and Quantitative Analysis of Pulsed Low Frequency Ultrasound to Determine the Sonic Sensitivity of Untreated and Treated Neoplastic Cells Matthew Trendowski1, Timothy D. Christen1, Joseph N. Zoino1, Christopher Acquafondata1, Thomas P. Fondy1 1Department of Biology, Syracuse University Selective damage of human leukemia cells can be achieved through a novel approach of applying low frequency ultrasound both with and without chemotherapeutic pretreatment of leukemic and normal hematopoietic cells. Bioengineering Monitoring Protein Adsorption with Solid-state Nanopores David J. Niedzwiecki1, Liviu Movileanu1 1Department of Physics, Syracuse University A method of using solid-state nanopores to monitor the non-specific adsorption of proteins onto an inorganic surface is described. The method employs the resistive-pulse principle, allowing for the adsorption to be probed in real-time and at the single-molecule level. Because the process of single protein adsorption is far from equilibrium, we propose the employment of parallel arrays of synthetic nanopores, enabling for the quantitative determination of the apparent first-order reaction rate constant of protein adsorption as well as and the Langmuir adsorption constant. Bioengineering Shape Memory Polymers for Active Cell Culture Kevin A. Davis1, Xiaofan Luo1, Patrick T. Mather1, James H. Henderson1 1Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse Biomaterials Institute A method for developing cell culture substrates with the ability to change topography during culture is described. The method makes use of smart materials known as shape memory polymers that have the ability to memorize a permanent shape. This concept is adaptable to a wide range of materials and applications. Biology Using Whole Mount in situ Hybridization to Link Molecular and Organismal Biology Nicole L. Jacobs1, R. Craig Albertson1, Jason R. Wiles1,2 1Department of Biology, Syracuse University, 2Department of Science Teaching, Syracuse University Whole mount in situ hybridization (WISH) was used in an upper level undergraduate Comparative Vertebrate Biology course in addition to vertebrate dissections. This gave students the opportunity to study gene expression patterns as well as gross anatomy, linking the study of molecular and organismal biology within one course. Biology Recording Multicellular Behavior in Myxococcus xanthus Biofilms using Time-lapse Microcinematography Rion G. Taylor1, Roy D. Welch2 1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina (USC), 2Department of Biology, Syracuse University To study Myxococcus xanthus swarm behavior, we have designed a time-lapse microcinematography protocol that can be modified for different assays. It employs standard growth conditions adapted for microscopy, and yields reproducible results by the use of inexpensive, reusable silicone gaskets. We have used this method to quantify multicellular chemotaxis.