December 2016: This Month in JoVE

Abstract

Here's a look at what's coming up in the December 2016 issue of JoVE: The Journal of Visualized Experiments. Grant deadlines, training interns, and impossible experiments got your hair turning gray? The first of our videos this month may have just the solution for you...without the toxic chemicals. In JoVE Bioengineering this month, Im et al (our Authors) demonstrate a novel formulation of permanent hair dye using natural plant phenols polymerized by fungal laccase. These environmentally friendly dyes color keratin hairs almost as quickly as commercial dyes, and can produce a variety of colors and shades. So now you can look fabulous once again for that conference presentation or thesis defense, naturally... From looking amazing, to looking at amazing things, our second video highlight this month takes us into the nanoscopic world of three-dimensional super resolution microscopy. In JoVE Bioengineering, Wang et al(our Authors) describe a new 3D microscopy technique based on single-molecule localization and multiphase interferometry. iPALM, or Interferometric PhotoActivated Localization Microscopy, gives the user almost isotropic resolution to 20 nm in all three dimensions, allowing for highly detailed analysis of ultrastructural cell features including the actin cytoskeleton. It's a big development, for some of the tiniest structures around. Do you ever have that nightmare, with the giant insect flying a fighter jet, shooting lasers at you? No? Good, me either. Because in JoVE Bioengineering this month, Ando et al (our Authors) showcase their Insect Controlled Robot, piloted by a living silkmoth. When docked into the cockpit of the robot, moths are exposed to pheromone odor plumes, and can maneuver the vehicle toward the odor source by walking on a modified track-ball. Biomimetic robots have tremendous potential for tasks including locating explosive or contraband materials, finding disaster victims, or detecting hazardous material spills...so think twice about squashing that bug in your house! Our final video highlight this month is sleep-inducing...but it's certainly not dull! In JoVE Medicine Traxdorf et al (our Authors) demonstrate a standardized protocol for Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy, or DISE, to study obstruction patterns during Obstructive Sleep Apnea. In this technique, patients are sedated using target-controlled infusion of the drug propofol. Once the subject reaches the desired precisely-controlled depth of anesthesia, researchers can examine the obstruction levels of even the most heterogeneous groups of patients. This may lead to better outcomes from upper airway surgeries...and possibly less snoring in faculty meetings? You've just had a sneak peek of the December 2016 issue of JoVE. Visit the website to see the full-length articles, plus many more, in JoVE: The Journal of Visualized Experiments.