•Composite insulation of polyiso and VIPs were monitored and evaluated for five years.•VIP composite outperformed conventional polyiso during the five years of monitoring.•The R-value of the VIP ...composite was on average twice that of the conventional polyiso.•The long-term performances of the VIPs were within 10% of their initial value.
The use of vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) is under investigation by the National Research Council for use as a complementary material for current insulation systems. VIP composites, consisting of VIPs sandwiched between polyiso panels, were constructed and incorporated into a modified bitumen roofing system in Ottawa, Canada. The VIP composite, as well as a conventional polyiso system, were monitored in-situ for a period of five years to observe their performance. It was found that the composite VIP insulation outperformed the conventional polyiso system for all months and years monitored, providing an increased barrier to heat flow, reduced temperature driving forces for energy loss, and R-values that were on average twice that of the conventional polyiso system. The long-term performance was also assessed for the five year period and it was found that the VIP composite performed within a 10% margin of its original value for consecutive years. This study successfully demonstrated the energy saving potential that can be achieved through incorporating VIPs into current roofing and building applications.
The concept of a dynamic excitation/inhibition balance tuned by circuit disinhibition, which can shape information flow during complex behavioral tasks, has arisen as an important and conserved ...information-processing motif. In cortical circuits, different subtypes of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons are connected to each other, offering an anatomical foundation for disinhibitory processes. Moreover, a subpopulation of GABAergic cells that express vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) preferentially innervates inhibitory interneurons, highlighting their central role in disinhibitory modulation. We discuss inhibitory neuron subtypes involved in disinhibition, with a focus on local circuits and long-range synaptic connections that drive disinhibitory function. We highlight multiple layers of disinhibition across cortical circuits that regulate behavior and serve to maintain an excitation/inhibition balance.
In neural circuits, disinhibition (or inhibition of inhibition) commonly operates in the form of two inhibitory neurons connected to one another in series. Disinhibition requires an inhibitory neuron in an active state such that the activity of this neuron can be inhibited.Across cortical brain regions, synaptic connections between GABAergic inhibitory interneurons create multiple opportunities for circuit disinhibition, which are determined in part by the activity state of the connected interneurons.Although interneurons that express VIP have been largely considered to be disinhibitory, they are a heterogeneous cell population in which distinct subtypes likely participate in distinct inhibitory and disinhibitory microcircuits.A key disinhibitory circuit motif that has been documented across cortical areas implicates inhibition of the interneurons that innervate the distal dendrites of principal cells, such as hippocampal oriens–lacunosum moleculare cells and neocortical Martinotti cells.Mechanistic studies linking cell types to function will be necessary to further clarify the roles of distinct disinhibitory circuits in cortical computations and cognitive functions.
Bacillus thuringiensis
(
Bt
) bacterium is found in various ecological habitats, and has natural entomo-pesticidal properties, due to the production of crystalline and soluble proteins during ...different growth phases. In addition to Cry and Cyt proteins, this bacterium also produces Vegetative insecticidal protein (Vip) during its vegetative growth phase, which is considered an excellent toxic candidate because of the difference in sequence homology and receptor sites from Cry proteins. Vip proteins are referred as second-generation insecticidal proteins, which can be used either alone or in complementarity with Cry proteins for the management of various detrimental pests. Among these Vip proteins, Vip1 and Vip2 act as binary toxins and have toxicity toward pests belonging to Hemiptera and Coleoptera orders, whereas the most important Vip3 proteins have insecticidal activity against Lepidopteran pests. These Vip3 proteins are similar to Cry proteins in terms of toxicity potential against susceptible insects. They are reported to be toxic toward pests, which can’t be controlled with Cry proteins. The Vip3 proteins have been successfully pyramided along with Cry proteins in transgenic rice, corn, and cotton to combat resistant pest populations. This review provides detailed information about the history and importance of Vip proteins, their types, structure, newly identified specific receptors, and action mechanism of this specific class of proteins. Various studies conducted on Vip proteins all over the world and the current status have been discussed. This review will give insights into the significance of Vip proteins as alternative promising candidate toxic proteins from
Bt
for the management of pests in most sustainable manner.
Introdução/Objetivo: A vacina contra a poliomielite, presente no Programa Nacional de Imunizações (PNI), é indicada para crianças a partir de dois meses, com cronograma que inclui 2 ou 3 doses no ...esquema inicial (VIP) e 2 reforços (VOP), provando-se essencial para evitar a reintrodução do poliovírus, já erradicado do Brasil. De forma paradoxal à sua relevância, há uma tendência de queda na cobertura vacinal da poliomielite, que possivelmente se relaciona com a ausência de memória da gravidade da doença, com o isolamento social durante a pandemia de COVID-19 e falta de divulgação em massa das campanhas. Frente a isso, convém analisar as heterogeneidades regionais das capitais brasileiras no que concerne à cobertura vacinal contra a poliomielite entre os anos 2018 e 2022. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo ecológico com dados extraídos do TABNET/DATASUS, coletados em junho/2023, referentes à cobertura vacinal dos imunizantes VIP nas capitais brasileiras no período de 2018-2022. Os dados foram tabulados no Excel, com cálculo de percentual de variação da cobertura vacinal no período estudado. Resultados: Em análise comparativa do período, há uma redução de cerca de 12% na cobertura vacinal da poliomielite, que variou de 89,5% para 77,2%, solidificando o afastamento do índice de 95% recomendado pela OMS. De 2018 para 2019, anos pré-pandêmicos, observou-se decréscimo na taxa de cobertura na maioria das capitais brasileiras (18), com destaque para Fortaleza (-34,1%), Porto Velho (-26,6%) e Rio de Janeiro (-20,1%). Ao confrontar dados relacionados à pandemia, de 2019 para 2021, nota-se redução em 24 capitais, com realce para João Pessoa (-37,3%), Boa Vista (-35,6%), Salvador (-34,4%) e Macapá (-34,0%). Em oposição a tal padrão, somente 2 capitais apresentaram acréscimos na cobertura: Florianópolis (+7,8) e Goiânia (+7,9). A comparação entre os números de 2021 e 2022 ilustram a retomada da vacinação no período pós-pandêmico, com aumento da cobertura vacinal em 18 capitais, com maior significância para Salvador (+22,6%). Conclusão: À luz da análise, confirma-se a tendência de queda da cobertura vacinal de poliomielite pré-pandemia, reforçado pelo período de isolamento social nos anos de 2020 e 2021, com destaque para as regiões Norte e Nordeste, que apresentaram os menores índices de vacinação. É responsabilidade do Estado adotar ações efusivas de conscientização sobre a importância da vacina para que a poliomielite continue na lista de doenças erradicadas no Brasil.
Hypothalamic kisspeptin neurons are the primary modulators of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. It has been shown that circadian rhythms driven by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) ...contribute to GnRH secretion. Kisspeptin neurons are potential targets of SCN neurons due to reciprocal connections with the anteroventral periventricular and rostral periventricular nuclei (AVPV/PeN) and the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH). Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a notable SCN neurotransmitter, modulates GnRH secretion depending on serum estradiol levels, aging or time of the day. Considering that kisspeptin neurons may act as interneurons and mediate VIP's effects on the reproductive axis, we investigated the effects of VIP on hypothalamic kisspeptin neurons in female mice during estrogen negative feedback. Our findings indicate that VIP induces a TTX-independent depolarization of approximately 30% of AVPV/PeN kisspeptin neurons in gonad-intact (diestrus) and ovariectomized (OVX) mice. In the ARH, the percentage of kisspeptin neurons that were depolarized by VIP was even higher (approximately 90%). An intracerebroventricular infusion of VIP leds to an increased percentage of kisspeptin neurons expressing the phosphoSer133 cAMP-response-element-binding protein (pCREB) in the AVPV/PeN. On the other hand, pCREB expression in ARH kisspeptin neurons was similar between saline- and VIP-injected mice. Thus, VIP can recruit different signaling pathways to modulate AVPV/PeN or ARH kisspeptin neurons, resulting in distinct cellular responses. The expression of VIP receptors (VPACR) was upregulated in the AVPV/PeN, but not in the ARH, of OVX mice compared to mice on diestrus and estradiol-primed OVX mice. Our findings indicate that VIP directly influences distinct cellular aspects of the AVPV/PeN and ARH kisspeptin neurons during estrogen negative feedback, possibly to influence pulsatile LH secretion.
•VIP directly depolarizes 30% of AVPV/PeN kisspeptin neurons in diestrus mice.•VIP directly depolarizes approximately 90% of ARH kisspeptin neurons of diestrus females.•Central VIP infusion increases pCREB levels only in AVPV/PeN kisspeptin neurons.•VPACR expression is upregulated in the AVPV/PeN of OVX mice.•VIP responsiveness in AVPV/PeN kisspeptin neurons is similar in diestrus and OVX mice.
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Peptide (PACAP) and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) are neuropeptides involved in a diverse array of physiological and pathological processes through ...activating the PACAP subfamily of class B1 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs): VIP receptor 1 (VPAC1R), VIP receptor 2 (VPAC2R), and PACAP type I receptor (PAC1R). VIP and PACAP share nearly 70% amino acid sequence identity, while their receptors PAC1R, VPAC1R, and VPAC2R share 60% homology in the transmembrane regions of the receptor. PACAP binds with high affinity to all three receptors, while VIP binds with high affinity to VPAC1R and VPAC2R, and has a thousand-fold lower affinity for PAC1R compared to PACAP. Due to the wide distribution of VIP and PACAP receptors in the body, potential therapeutic applications of drugs targeting these receptors, as well as expected undesired side effects, are numerous. Designing selective therapeutics targeting these receptors remains challenging due to their structural similarities. This review discusses recent discoveries on the molecular mechanisms involved in the selectivity and signaling of the PACAP subfamily of receptors, and future considerations for therapeutic targeting.
As thermal energy storage (TES) technologies gain more significance in the global energy market, there is an increasing demand to improve their energy efficiency and, more importantly, reduce their ...costs. In this article, two different methods for insulating TES systems that are either incorporated inside residential buildings or buried underground in direct vicinity of the building are reviewed and discussed. Boundary conditions are storage volumes in the range 10 – 1000 m3 and storage temperatures up to 90 °C. The first method involves the application of thermal insulation materials on the outside of the storage. Thermophysical properties and costs of conventional materials (such as mineral wools and organic foams) are compared against those of state-of-the-art products such as vacuum insulation panels and aerogels. A parametric comparative analysis is conducted to evaluate the combined costs of thermal insulation and living space occupied by the thermal insulation for TES systems integrated inside buildings. It is shown, for example, that the use of vacuum insulation panels becomes advantageous when the economic value of saving living space outweighs the extra cost of the insulation itself. The second method discussed is the so-called evacuated powders, in which the insulation is realized by creating an evacuated double-wall powder-containing envelope around the storage. The theoretical foundations of this method are discussed and the properties of commonly used powders – such as expanded perlite and fumed silica – are provided. Reference costs of double-wall vacuum-insulated TES tanks are provided and the use of evacuated powders is compared against the application of conventional insulation materials.
•Thermal insulation is aspect in the optimization of thermal energy storage (TES) systems integrated inside buildings.•Properties, characteristics, and reference costs are presented for insulation materials suitable for TES up to 90 °C.•State-of-the-art thermal insulation materials can lead to significant space and cost savings in seasonal TES systems.•Double-wall vacuum insulated tanks can be buried underground, eliminating the need for valuable space inside buildings.
•Climate is warming-wetting in west and drying in east of Three North Region (TNR).•ET and GPP both increased in the four sub-regions of TNR since 1982.•In Mongolia-Xinjiang increasing precipitation ...dominated ET and GPP trends.•In Loess Plateau revegetation accelerated GPP at cost of intensifying ET.
Quantifying and distinguishing the contributions of climate change, elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (eCO2) and human activities to evapotranspiration (ET) and gross primary production (GPP) changes is of great significance for assessment of water shortage and land degradation. Based on the Vegetation Interface Processes (VIP) model, the spatial-temporal changes of ET and GPP in the Three-North Region (TNR) of China from 1982 to 2017 were estimated. The results showed that annual ET and GPP increased slightly with a rate of 0.71 mm yr−1 (P<0.001) and 0.002 gC m−2 yr−1 (P<0.001), respectively. The ridge regression presented that the contributions of climate change, eCO2 and human activities to ET and GPP trends were varying noticeably in the four sub-regions, namely: in the Mongolia-Xinjiang Sub-region (MXS), ET and GPP trends were basically attributed to increasing precipitation; in the Loess Plateau Sub-region (LPS), vegetation greening resulted from the Grain to Green Program was the dominant driving factor for GPP enhancement, while the relative contribution of vegetation greening to ET intensifying was lower than the raising net radiation; in the North China Sub-region (NCS), the negative effect of net radiation decline on ET was offset by the positive effect of vegetation greening, -and eCO2 and vegetation greening dominated the upward trend of GPP; in the Northeast China Sub-region (NES), the declines in net radiation and precipitation showed negative impacts on ET and GPP trends. These findings are crucial for better understanding the complicated influences of driving factors on water and carbon cycles over the TNR, which is favorable for evaluation of ecological projects effects and management of water resources.
With continuous evolution of semiconductor process technologies and IC (Integrated Chip) scales, more and more complex functions are integrated. Multi-core multi-thread CPU (Central Processing Unit), ...multi-dimension NoC (Network on Chip), high speed interfaces, kinds of peripherals and so on IP (Intellectual Property) are integrated into SoC (System on Chip). As a result, verification scenarios during IC development become extremely complicated, which leads to great challenges to the SoC development and corresponding verification completeness. Currently PSS (Portable Test Stimulus Standard) has been introduced along with the UVM (Universal Verification Methodology) for generating extensive randomized stimulus with more complicated scenarios.
Significant increases in vegetation cover on the Loess Plateau since the early 2000s have been well documented. However, the relevant hydrological effects are still unclear. Here, we investigated the ...changes in actual evapotranspiration (ETa) from 2000 to 2016 and related them to climate change and vegetation greening in Yanhe River basin (YRB), a typical hilly-gully basin on the Loess Plateau, by using the remote-sensing based VIP model. Results showed that the annual ETa in the YRB increased significantly with a trend of 3.45mmyr−1 (p<0.01) and changes of ETa in summer months dominated the annual trend. Partial correlation analysis suggested that vegetation greening was the dominant driving factor of ETa inter-annual variations in 56% area of YRB. Model simulation experiments illustrated that relative contributions of NDVI, precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration (ETp) to the ETa trend were 93.0%, 18.1%, and −7.4%, respectively. Vegetation greening, which is closely related to the Grain for Green (GFG) afforestation, was the main driver to the long-term tendency of water consumption in the YRB. This study highlights potential water demanding conflicts between the socio-economic system and the natural ecosystem on the Loess Plateau due to the rapid vegetation expansion in this water-limited area.
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•Land use/cover changes caused by GFG greatly affected the reginal water and energy balance.•Simulation of ETa layout in YRB using VIP model showed a clear increase trend.•>90% of the ETa trend can be explained by vegetation greening.•Vegetation greening was mainly driven by GFG and <10% caused by climate change.
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