Tens of thousands of farmers are bringing in their first rice harvest just six months after one of the worst typhoons to ever hit the Philippines left their fields in [...]

Building captive colonies for eventual re-introduction to the wild, scientists from Atlanta rescue endangered frogs and other amphibians threatened with extinction by a fatal fungus spreading through South American forests

Selected by William Coupon for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses her work

The city famous for blues and barbecue is a little “ragged around the edges” according to tour guide Tad Pierson, who drives tourists around in his pink 1955 Cadillac by Lucian Perkins

A close look reveals how the famed photographer altered his glass negatives, creating the popular image of Native Americans that still exists today

Deep in the jungles of Brazil, photographer Steve Winter explains how he managed to capture stunning images of one of the world's top predators. Read more about jaguars at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/video/Photographing-the-Elusive-Jaguar.html

Local Burmese fisher Maung Lay shows how his family has traditionally teamed up with rare river dolphins and explains why their partnership is now at risk. (Video by Demelza Stokes and Mark Scialla)

Not to worry—shut-eye comes easily to these aquatic mammals

The predatory pod hunts off the coast of Chile and is led by a matriarch called Dakota

Researchers still don't know what the open-mouth facial expression means or whether it's akin to smiling in humans—but several animals make a similar face during play

Each of the 11 dolphins sampled exhaled at least one suspected particle of microplastic, which researchers say “highlights how extensive environmental microplastic pollution is”

The looming sculpture features a small camera above an eight-foot-tall screen, which displays live video from Lithuania, Poland and Ireland

Take a virtual tour through the streets and sights of England’s capital city with these stunning travel photos submitted to our photo contest

Get acquainted with the Big Apple’s major sights by browsing through these remarkable travel photos submitted to our photo contest

Genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) allow for the noninvasive evaluation of neuronal activity in vivo, and imaging GECIs in Drosophila has become commonplace for understanding neural functions and connectivity in this system. GECIs can also be used as read-outs for studying sleep in this model organism. Here, we describe a methodology for tracking the activity of neurons in the fly brain using a two-photon (2p) microscopy system. This method can be adapted to perform functional studies of neural activity in Drosophila under both spontaneous and evoked conditions, as well as during spontaneous or induced sleep. We first describe a tethering and surgical procedure that allows survival under the microscopy conditions required for long-term recordings. We then outline the steps and reagents required for optogenetic activation of sleep-promoting neurons while simultaneously recording neural activity from the fly brain. We also describe the procedure for recording from two different locations—namely, the top of the head (e.g., to record mushroom body calyx activity) or the back of the head (e.g., to record central complex activity). We also provide different strategies for recording from GECIs confined to the cell body versus the entire neuron. Finally, we describe the steps required for analyzing the multidimensional data that can be acquired. In all, this protocol shows how to perform calcium imaging experiments in tethered flies, with a focus on acquiring spontaneous and induced sleep data.

Sleep studies in Drosophila melanogaster rely mostly on behavioral read-outs to support molecular or circuit-level investigations in this model. Electrophysiology can provide an additional level of understanding in these studies to, for example, investigate changes in brain activity associated with sleep manipulations. In this protocol, we describe a procedure for performing multichannel local field potential (LFP) recordings in the fruit fly, with a flexible system that can be adapted to different experimental paradigms and situations. The approach uses electrodes containing multiple recording sites (16), allowing the acquisition of large amounts of neuronal activity data from a transect through the brain while flies are still able to sleep. The approach starts by tethering the fly, followed by positioning it on an air-supported ball. A multichannel silicon probe is then inserted laterally into the fly brain via one eye, allowing for recording of electrical signals from the retina through to the central brain. These recordings can be acquired under spontaneous conditions or in the presence of visual stimuli, and the minimal surgery promotes long-term recordings (e.g., overnight). Sleep and wake can be tracked using infrared cameras, which allow for the measurement of locomotive activity as well as microbehaviors such as proboscis extensions during sleep. The protocol has been optimized to promote subject survivability, which is an important factor when performing long-term (~16-h) recordings. The approach described here uses specific recording probes, data acquisition devices, and analysis tools. Although it is expected that some of these items might need to be adapted to the equipment available in different laboratories, the overall aim is to provide an overview on how to record electrical activity across the brain of behaving (and sleeping) flies using this kind of approach and technology.

The technique of visualizing axon pathways in the embryonic ventral nerve cord using antibody labeling has been fundamental to our understanding of the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying nervous system wiring in Drosophila. High-resolution microscopic examination of the ventral nerve cord remains an essential component of many experiments in Drosophila developmental neuroscience. Although it is possible to examine the ventral nerve cord in intact whole-mount embryos, to collect the highest-quality images it is often useful to isolate the nervous system away from the other embryonic tissues through embryo dissection. This protocol describes methods for dissecting ventral nerve cords from Drosophila embryos that have been fixed and stained via immunofluorescence or horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immunohistochemistry. The process of making fine dissection needles for this purpose from electrolytically sharpened tungsten wire is also described. Dissected and mounted ventral nerve cords can be examined and imaged using a variety of microscopy techniques including differential interference contrast (DIC) optics, epifluorescence, or confocal microscopy.

The Drosophila embryonic central nervous system has been used for decades as a model for understanding the genetic regulation of axon guidance and other aspects of neural development. Foundational studies using antibody staining to examine the embryonic ventral nerve cord in wild-type and mutant animals led to the discovery of evolutionarily conserved genes that regulate fundamental aspects of axon guidance, including midline crossing of axons. The development of the regular, segmentally repeating structure of axon pathways in the ventral nerve cord can illustrate basic principles of axon guidance to beginning students and can also be used by expert researchers to characterize new mutants, detect genetic interactions between known genes, and precisely quantify variations in gene function in engineered mutant lines. Here, we describe a protocol for collecting and fixing Drosophila embryos and visualizing axon pathways in the embryonic ventral nerve cord using immunofluorescence or immunohistochemical staining methods. As embryogenesis in Drosophila takes ~24 h to complete, a 1-d collection yields embryos representing all stages of development from newly fertilized through ready-to-hatch larvae, allowing investigation of multiple developmental events within a single batch of collected embryos. The methods described in this protocol should be accessible to introductory laboratory courses as well as seasoned investigators in established research laboratories.

Sleep is likely a whole-brain phenomenon, with most of the brain probably benefiting from this state of decreased arousal. Recent advances in our understanding of some potential sleep functions, such as metabolite clearance and synaptic homeostasis, make it evident why the whole brain is likely impacted by sleep: All neurons have synapses, and all neurons produce waste metabolites. Sleep experiments in the fly Drosophila melanogaster suggest that diverse sleep functions appear to be conserved across all animals. Studies of brain activity during sleep in humans typically involve multidimensional data sets, such as those acquired by electroencephalograms (EEGs) or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and these whole-brain read-outs often reveal important qualities of different sleep stages, such as changes in frequency dynamics or connectivity. Recently, various techniques have been developed that allow for the recording of neural activity simultaneously across multiple regions of the fly brain. These whole-brain-recording approaches will be important for better understanding sleep physiology and function, as they provide a more comprehensive view of neural dynamics during sleep and wake in a relevant model system. Here, we present a brief summary of some of the findings derived from sleep activity recording studies in sleeping Drosophila flies and discuss the value of electrophysiological versus calcium imaging techniques. Although these involve very different preparations, they both highlight the value of multidimensional data for studying sleep in this model system, like the use of both EEG and fMRI in humans.

The establishment of neural connectivity is a major part of neural development. The central nervous system (CNS) midline is the most characterized axon guidance choice point, and work in Drosophila has played a pivotal role in understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible. Axons respond to attractive cues such as Netrin via the Frazzled receptor, and repulsive cues such as Slit via Robo receptors. Both signals are expressed at the CNS midline, affect pioneer axons, and have dramatic effects on the axon scaffold as a whole. Here, we focus on previous research analyzing classic mutants in the Slit/Robo pathway, which can readily be detected with a dissecting microscope. We also discuss analyzing these mutants in a teaching lab situation. The combination of sophisticated genetics and reliable axonal markers in Drosophila allows phenotypic analysis to be performed at the single-cell level. The elaborate architecture of neurons is very sensitive to disruption by genetic mutations, allowing the effects of novel mutations to be easily detected and assessed.

Designed in SOLIDWORKS software, this lowriding sport machine becomes nimble highrider on demand

ModernTech Provides Audio Electronics Manufacturer with Design and Communication Tools to Bring Industry-Leading Speakers to Market

After a successful dry dock in Hong Kong, OM Ships’ vessel Logos Hope is en route for a two-port visit to the Philippines from the end of May.

Russian MPs on Tuesday passed in the final third reading controversial legislation banning "propaganda" of remaining childless, the latest measure targeting what Moscow depicts as Western liberal ideas.

Devices being used to treat chronic conditions, COVID-19 Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro has released a consumer alert for users of respiratory devices manufactured by Philips. An estimated 4 million Philips Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP or BiLevel PAP) devices, as well as mechanical ventilators manufactured before April 26, […]

Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, KP Singh, chairman emeritus at DLF, and Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, have been named on the 17th edition of Forbes Asia's Heroes of Philanthropy list released today.

The Division will provide up to $400,000 in matching funds to its FY2022 arts organization grantees in conjunction with the event Wilmington, Del. (November 3, 2021) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is proud to support the arts sector through Delaware’s largest day of giving, Do More 24 Delaware, on March 3-4, 2022. For […]

The Division will provide up to $400,000 in matching funds to its FY2022 arts organization grantees in conjunction with the event Wilmington, Del. (February 1, 2022) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is proud to support the arts sector through Delaware’s largest day of giving, Do More 24 Delaware, on March 3-4, 2022. For […]

The Division will provide up to $400,000 in matching funds to its FY2022 arts organization grantees in conjunction with the event   Wilmington, Del. (February 6, 2023) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is proud to support the arts sector through Delaware’s largest day of giving, Do More 24 Delaware, on March 2-3, 2024. […]

The Delaware Division of the Arts is proud to support the arts sector through Delaware’s largest day of giving, Do More 24 Delaware, on March 7-8, 2024. Now participating for the fourth year, the Division will provide up to $200,000 in matching funds to its FY2024 arts organization grantees in conjunction with the statewide giving day event.

Pathways provides high school and postsecondary students with the opportunity to gain work-based learning experiences for in-demand careers WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Friday announced a $3.25 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to expand access to economic opportunity for Delaware students. Funding will help bolster the Delaware Pathways program, which provides high school […]

HCA’s Buena Vista recently hosted a celebration of life for New Castle’s Wayne “Phil” Proud. He was 85.

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1. Nasa Alert: Massive 'God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis nears earth in closest pass yet  CNBCTV18
2. NASA alert! 'God of Chaos' asteroid approaching Earth on November 13 sparks worldwide concern  The Times of India
3. Giant Meteorite To Hit Earth On November 13? What We Know  News18
4. 'Astonishingly close': A colossal space rock could wreak havoc on Earth in 2029  Business Today
5. Giant 'God of Darkness' Asteroid May Not Escape Earth Unscathed  ScienceAlert