RMIT University

6 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

JoVE Core

Behavioral Determination of Stimulus Pair Discrimination of Auditory Acoustic and Electrical Stimuli Using a Classical Conditioning and Heart-rate Approach

Simeon J. Morgan¹, Antonio G. Paolini¹

¹School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University

The application of a classical fear conditioning behavioral paradigm for auditory prosthetic research in rats is described. This paradigm provides a mechanism for identifying both detection of, and discrimination between, distinct acoustic and electrical stimuli using heart-rate as an outcome measure.

Neuroscience

A Method for Systematic Electrochemical and Electrophysiological Evaluation of Neural Recording Electrodes

Alexander R. Harris^1,3, Simeon J. Morgan^1,3, Gordon G. Wallace³, Antonio G. Paolini^1,3,4

¹School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, ²Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, University of Wollongong, ³ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, ⁴Health Innovations Research Institute, College of Science, Engineering, and Health, RMIT University

Different electrode coatings affect neural recording performance through changes to electrochemical, chemical and mechanical properties. Comparison of electrodes in vitro is relatively simple, however comparison of in vivo response is typically complicated by variations in electrode/neuron distance and between animals. This article provides a robust method to compare neural recording electrodes.

Engineering

The Evolution of Silica Nanoparticle-polyester Coatings on Surfaces Exposed to Sunlight

Vi Khanh Truong¹, Miljan Stefanovic¹, Shane Maclaughlin², Mark Tobin³, Jitraporn Vongsvivut³, Mohammad Al Kobaisi¹, Russell J. Crawford⁴, Elena P. Ivanova¹

¹School of Science, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, ²BlueScope Steel Research, ³Infrared Microspectroscopy Beamline, Australian Synchrotron, ⁴School of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Health, RMIT University

Two types of surfaces, polyester-coated steel and polyester coated with a layer of silica nanoparticles, were studied. Both surfaces were exposed to sunlight, which was found to cause substantial changes in the chemistry and nanoscale topography of the surface.

Immunology and Infection

Quantification of Monocyte Transmigration and Foam Cell Formation from Individuals with Chronic Inflammatory Conditions

Thomas A. Angelovich^1,2, Anna C. Hearps^1,3, Anna Maisa¹, Theodoros Kelesidis⁴, Anthony Jaworowski^1,3

¹Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, ²School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, ³Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, ⁴University of California, Los Angeles

We describe a protocol to measure transmigration by monocytes across human endothelial monolayers and their subsequent maturation into foam cells. This provides a versatile method to assess the atherogenic properties of monocytes isolated from people with different disease conditions and to evaluate factors in blood which may enhance this propensity.

Immunology and Infection

Cell-free Biochemical Fluorometric Enzymatic Assay for High-throughput Measurement of Lipid Peroxidation in High Density Lipoprotein

Shubhendu Sen Roy¹, Huy Cong Xuan Nguyen¹, Thomas A. Angelovich^2,3, Anna C. Hearps², Diana Huynh^1,4, Anthony Jaworowski^2,4, Theodoros Kelesidis¹

¹University of California, Los Angeles, ²Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, ³School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, ⁴Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University

We describe here a fluorometric cell-free biochemical assay for determination of HDL-lipid peroxidation. This rapid and reproducible assay can be used to determine HDL function in large scale studies and can contribute to our understanding of HDL function in human disease.

Engineering

In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy with Biasing and Fabrication of Asymmetric Crossbars Based on Mixed-Phased a-VO_x

Shruti Nirantar^*1, Edwin Mayes^*2, Sharath Sriram¹

¹Functional Materials and Microsystems Research Group and the Micro Nano Research Facility, RMIT University, ²RMIT Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility, RMIT University

Presented here is a protocol for analyzing nanostructural changes during in situ biasing with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for a stacked metal-insulator-metal structure. It has significant applications in resistive switching crossbars for the next generation of programmable logic circuits and neuromimicking hardware, to reveal their underlying operation mechanisms and practical applicability.