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University of Massachusetts, Amherst

5 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Biology

Large-scale Gene Knockdown in C. elegans Using dsRNA Feeding Libraries to Generate Robust Loss-of-function Phenotypes

Kathryn N. Maher¹, Mary Catanese², Daniel L. Chase³

¹Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, ²Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, ³Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

While dsRNA feeding in C. elegans is a powerful tool to assess gene function, current protocols for large scale feeding screens result in variable knockdown efficiencies. We describe an improved protocol for performing large scale RNAi feeding screens that results in highly efficacious and reproducible knockdown of gene expression.

Biology

Extraction and Analysis of Cortisol from Human and Monkey Hair

Jerrold Meyer^1,2, Melinda Novak^1,2, Amanda Hamel², Kendra Rosenberg¹

¹Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, ²Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Cortisol (CORT) accumulates in the growing hair shaft of humans and nonhuman primates. We describe methods for extracting and analyzing hair CORT with high precision and sensitivity. Measurement of hair CORT is particularly well-suited for assessing chronic stress over periods of weeks to months.

Biology

Generating a "Humanized" Drosophila S2 Cell Line Sensitive to Pharmacological Inhibition of Kinesin-5

Anna A. Ye¹, Thomas J. Maresca¹

¹Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Group, Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

This protocol describes how to generate a Drosophila S2 cell line that is sensitive to small molecule inhibitors of kinesin-5. The use of these cells in a cell-based error correction assay is also outlined.

JoVE Core

Printing Fabrication of Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells and In Situ Morphology Characterization

Feng Liu¹, Sunzida Ferdous², Xianjian Wan¹, Chenhui Zhu³, Eric Schaible³, Alexander Hexemer³, Cheng Wang³, Thomas P. Russell^1,2

¹Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, ²Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, ³Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Here, we present a protocol to fabricate organic thin film solar cells using a mini-slot die coater and related in-line structure characterizations using synchrotron scattering techniques.

Environment

Kinematic History of a Salient-recess Junction Explored through a Combined Approach of Field Data and Analog Sandbox Modeling

Zeshan Ismat^*1, Kevin Toeneboehn^*2

¹Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Franklin and Marshall College, ²Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Kinematic histories of fold-thrust belts are typically based on careful examinations of high-grade metamorphic rocks within a salient. We provide a novel method of understanding fold-thrust belts by examining salient-recess junctions. We analyze the oft-ignored upper crustal rocks using a combined approach of detailed fault analysis with experimental sandbox modeling.