While it doesn’t look like we’ll have one of these in our backyard anytime soon, this solar-powered blimp is still something worth dreaming about. This is really a high-altitude reconnaissance and surveillance platform dubbed the Integrated Sensor Is the Structure (ISIS). It is capable enough to hover over the horizon near conflict zones, feeding real-time radar data to troops and smart weapons. It’s fully automated, and is designed to fly automatically to any point on the planet within 10 days. When hovering at the height over six miles, it’s safe from most ground-based attacks, which is important if you want to keep it floating in the air. The blimp is designed to be self-sustaining, thanks to its ability to harvest solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, which can then be combined in a fuel cell to generate the necessary electrical energy. It’s estimated that the blimp will be able to take flight around 2014. Unfortunately there isn’t any estimated date as to when we’ll be able to buy one of these personally.

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Publication Date: 2010 Mar 17 PMID: 20237265Authors: Huxtable, A. G. - Zwicker, J. D. - Alvares, T. S. - Ruangkittisakul, A. - Fang, X. - Hahn, L. B. - Posse de Chaves, E. - Baker, G. B. - Ballanyi, K. - Funk, G. D.Journal: J NeurosciGlia modulate neuronal activity by releasing transmitters in a process called gliotransmission. The role of this process in controlling the activity of neuronal networks underlying motor behavior is unknown. ATP features prominently in gliotransmission; it also contributes to the homeostatic ventilatory response evoked by low oxygen through mechanisms that likely include excitation of preBotzinger complex (preBotC) neural networks, brainstem centers critical for breathing. We therefore inhibited glial function in rhythmically active inspiratory networks in vitro to determine whether glia contribute to preBotC ATP sensitivity. Glial toxins markedly reduced preBotC responses to ATP, but not other modulators. Furthermore, since preBotC glia responded to ATP with increased intracellular Ca(2+) and glutamate release, we conclude that glia contribute to the ATP sensitivity of preBotC networks, and possibly the hypoxic ventilatory response. Data reveal a role for glia in signal processing within brainstem motor networks that may be relevant to similar networks throughout the neuraxis.post to: CiteULike

Publication Date: 2010 Mar 17 PMID: 20237264Authors: Kim, H. J. - Lee, J. H. - Kim, S. J. - Oh, G. S. - Moon, H. D. - Kwon, K. B. - Park, C. - Park, B. H. - Lee, H. K. - Chung, S. Y. - Park, R. - So, H. S.Journal: J NeurosciIn our previous study, we clearly demonstrated the roles of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and IL-6, and subsequent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation on the pathogenesis of cisplatin ototoxicity in vitro and in vivo. ROS generation in cisplatin-treated HEI-OC1 auditory cells was also correlated with changing mitochondrial membrane potential. However, the roles of NADPH oxidase in cisplatin-induced ROS generation and ototoxicity have not been fully elucidated. Herein, immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that treatment of cisplatin induced the expression of NADPH oxidase isoforms NOX-1 and NOX-4 in HEI-OC1 auditory cells. Expression of mRNA for NOX-1, NOX-4, NOXO1, NOXA1, p47(phox), and p67(phox) was also increased. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase with diphenyleniodonium chloride or apocynin abolished ROS production and the subsequent apoptotic cell death in cisplatin-treated cells. Furthermore, suppression of NOX1 and NOX4 expression by small interfering RNA transfection markedly abolished the cytotoxicity and ROS generation by cisplatin. Together, our data suggest that ROS generated, in part, through the activation of NADPH oxidase plays an essential role in cisplatin ototoxicity.post to: CiteULike