Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

6 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Chemistry

Preparation of Silica Nanoparticles Through Microwave-assisted Acid-catalysis

Derek D. Lovingood¹, Jeffrey R. Owens², Michael Seeber³, Konstantin G. Kornev³, Igor Luzinov³

¹Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, ²Air Force Research Laboratory, Airbase Technology Division, ³School of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University

Silica nanoparticles were prepared using acid-catalysis of a siloxane precursor and microwave-assisted synthetic techniques resulting in the controlled growth of nanomaterials ranging from 30-250 nm in diameter. The growth dynamics can be controlled by varying the initial silicic acid concentration, time of the reaction, and temperature of reaction.

Immunology and Infection

Developing a Salivary Antibody Multiplex Immunoassay to Measure Human Exposure to Environmental Pathogens

Swinburne A. J. Augustine¹, Tarsha N. Eason², Kaneatra J. Simmons¹, Clarissa L. Curioso³, Shannon M. Griffin¹, Malini K. D. Ramudit¹, Trevor R. Plunkett⁴

¹National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ²National Risk Management Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ³Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, ⁴Department of Biological Sciences, McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, University of Cincinnati

In the current climate of scarce resources, new technologies are emerging that allow researchers to conduct studies cheaper, faster and with more precision. Here we describe the development of a bead-based salivary antibody multiplex immunoassay to measure human exposure to multiple environmental pathogens simultaneously.

Cancer Research

Imaging Approaches to Assessments of Toxicological Oxidative Stress Using Genetically-encoded Fluorogenic Sensors

Elizabeth M. Corteselli¹, James M. Samet², Eugene A. Gibbs-Flournoy^2,3

¹Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, ²Environmental Public Health Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ³Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

This manuscript describes the use of genetically-encoded fluorogenic reporters in an application of live-cell imaging for the examination of xenobiotic-induced oxidative stress. This experimental approach offers unparalleled spatiotemporal resolution, sensitivity, and specificity while avoiding many of the shortcomings of conventional methods used for the detection of toxicological oxidative stress.

Engineering

Processing of Bulk Nanocrystalline Metals at the US Army Research Laboratory

Vincent H. Hammond¹, Billy C. Hornbuckle¹, Anit K. Giri¹, Anthony J. Roberts¹, Thomas L. Luckenbaugh², Joseph M. Marsico³, Scott M. Grendahl¹, Kristopher A. Darling¹

¹Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, US Army Research Laboratory, ²Bowhead Total Enterprise Solutions, LLC, ³Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

This paper provides a brief overview of the ongoing efforts at the Army Research Laboratory on the processing of bulk nanocrystalline metals with an emphasis on the methodologies used for the production of the novel metal powders.

Environment

The Hawaii Protocol for Scientific Monitoring of Coffee Berry Borer: a Model for Coffee Agroecosystems Worldwide

Melissa Anne Johnson^1,2, Robert Hollingsworth², Samuel Fortna^2,3, Luis F. Aristizábal⁴, Nicholas C. Manoukis²

¹Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, ²Daniel K. Inouye US Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, ³College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, ⁴Independent Consultant on CBB Management

Comprehensive monitoring of coffee berry borer and host plant dynamics is essential for aggregating landscape-level data to improve management of this invasive pest. Here, we present a protocol for scientific monitoring of coffee berry borer movement, infestation, mortality, coffee plant phenology, weather, and farm management via a mobile electronic data recording application.

Genetics

Demonstration of the Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility Tool for Rapid Assessment of Protein Conservation

Sara M. F. Vliet¹, Monique Hazemi², Donovan Blatz², Marissa Jensen³, Sally Mayasich⁴, Thomas R. Transue⁵, Cody Simmons⁵, Audrey Wilkinson⁵, Carlie A. LaLone⁶

¹Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ²Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, ³Swenson College of Science and Engineering, Department of Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth, ⁴University of Wisconsin-Madison Aquatic Sciences Center, ⁵General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, ⁶Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Here, we present a protocol to utilize the latest version of the US Environmental Protection Agency Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) tool. This protocol demonstrates the application of the online tool to rapidly analyze protein conservation and provide customizable and easily interpretable predictions of chemical susceptibility across species.