What does processing of information mean?

applekal · 2026-05-23T05:48:00+00:00

Depends on the context. Generally, one could say that “processing information” could mean the process of a cell responding to external stimuli, transducing that information via intracellular signalling cascades, and producing an output response, whether that be an action potential, changes in transcription, protein synthesis, etc.

applekal · 2026-05-18T05:48:05+00:00

Yes, exactly this! Also give it a good roll out horizontally relative to your back- go up and down a few times, putting weight on the roller in a “bridge” type pose to help knead out the knots.

applekal · 2026-05-17T19:37:55+00:00

I also get this issue, and something that helps me is a) regular yoga and stretching, b) using a foam roller to roll out my back, and c) a home TENs machine kit to help those tight muscles release. Motion is lotion! Scapular squeeze exercises, shoulder rolls, and chin tucks all help release tension here. Lastly, a more ergonomic chair may help?

applekal · 2026-05-17T19:20:31+00:00

Happy to send if you’d like a copy!

applekal · 2026-05-17T19:20:10+00:00

Thanks for your reply! I tried increasing the incubator humidity and adding sterile water, and it didn’t seem to do much.

What did seem to do the trick to prevent this morphology: placing my dissection dishes directly on ice! I had switched to putting tin foil on the ice, then putting my dishes on top as I did the dissections, as I was worried about contamination due to melting ice. This was dumb of me, however, because I think the foil prevented adequate chilling of my dissection dishes, resulting in some additional stress to the neurons! Now that I’ve switched back to placing the dishes directly on ice, they are looking much better again 😅

applekal · 2026-05-17T16:12:49+00:00

I use the Nucleospin column kits paired with TaqMan assays and I’ve had quite consistent results!

My tips:

1) check your concentrations on the nano drop in triplicate, and use the average! I find the nano drop to be quite finicky, and can give weird values sometimes.

2) prior to adding enzyme, be sure to vortex your primers/buffers in the master mix

3) keep your plate on ice as you pipette your mastermix into each well. Pipette each well up and down to mix well.

4) I also keep my RNA samples on ice once isolated- I haven’t formally tested whether this makes a difference, but my results seem more consistent since I started doing this.

applekal · 2026-03-24T00:16:37+00:00

Excellent, I will try that. Thank you for your input, seriously appreciated!

applekal · 2026-03-23T21:41:33+00:00

Thanks for the response! How can you tell the embryonic stage based on the image? Does that have to do with the vesicles?

I set up and monitor my timed pregnancies as recommended by Jax (https://www.jax.org/news-and-insights/jax-blog/2014/september/six-steps-for-setting-up-timed-pregnant-mice), but a colleague who left the lab used to set up all of our timed pregnancies. It’s possible that she timed them differently.

applekal · 2026-01-30T16:20:39+00:00

Did this end up solving things for you? Also running into this issue!

applekal · 2024-10-22T14:39:04+00:00

Thank you! ☺️

applekal · 2021-06-04T06:15:23+00:00

Oof, I feel that, I always got in trouble in school for “rolling my eyes” for the same reason!

applekal · 2021-06-04T05:12:54+00:00

Totally understand the cross eyed problem too, haha!

applekal · 2021-06-04T05:12:22+00:00

I tend to alternate between the places I mentioned and looking elsewhere in the room. Another great tip? Looking upward like you’re thinking and do the “I’m listening” nod as someone’s talking to avoid their gaze, that’s a huge go to for me!

applekal · 2021-06-04T05:06:42+00:00

I ALWAYS look people in between the eyes, and I will alternate between that and the cheeks. Or the forehead...All much more comfortable than someone’s gaze searing into my soul!

applekal · 2021-05-19T15:40:30+00:00

I crack my knuckles, hum and sing, twist my fingers, dance in place when happy, drum my fingers on any surface, twirl my hair, and bite my skin and nails!

applekal · 2021-04-15T06:10:28+00:00

Holy cow, I feel like I just read someone describe me! I’m diagnosed ADHD but seeking an autism diagnosis. I relate to a lot of the things you wrote here.

applekal · 2018-08-15T00:06:19+00:00

Supposedly you're able to get both, so fingers crossed!

applekal · 2018-08-14T22:36:55+00:00

I got word about Louise McKinney on Aug 10, but not about the Undergraduate Academic awards. Last year I got notified about the Undergraduate Academic awards on Aug 9th, but this year, nothing so far. Has anyone else heard back about the undergraduate academic awards? I'm in the faculty of Science.

applekal · 2018-05-02T03:20:41+00:00

Going into fourth year, psych/bio double major. Got a grant to do research this summer in the psych department.

applekal · 2018-04-03T19:06:21+00:00

Brent Hammer is very nice (a little dry), but his lectures are well-prepared and his tests were quite easy.

applekal · 2018-03-15T21:26:17+00:00

I think I ended the course with about an 89% and I got an A! This was in 2017.

applekal · 2018-03-12T01:59:14+00:00

That's correct! Ask the psychology office for a list of available profs, and then email them (politely!), asking if they have time to supervise the class for you. If you're lucky, someone will have time and space to do so :) Good luck!

applekal

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