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.
Display omitted
•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.
GABAergic interneurons, which are highly diverse, have long been thought to contribute to the timing of neural activity as well as to the generation and shaping of brain rhythms. GABAergic activity ...is crucial not only for entrainment of oscillatory activity across a neural population, but also for precise regulation of the timing of action potentials and the suppression of slow-timescale correlations. The diversity of inhibition provides the potential for flexible regulation of patterned activity, but also poses a challenge to identifying the elements of excitatory–inhibitory interactions underlying network engagement. This review highlights the key roles of inhibitory interneurons in spike correlations and brain rhythms, describes several scales on which GABAergic inhibition regulates timing in neural networks, and identifies potential consequences of inhibitory dysfunction.
The intrinsic and synaptic properties of GABAergic interneurons shape their impact on temporal patterns in the local circuit.
Synaptic inhibition enhances short-timescale correlations in spiking, such as spike synchrony, but suppresses long-timescale correlations, such as noise correlations.
Different inhibitory interneuron populations, including parvalbumin and somatostatin cells, may engage distinct rhythms in the cortex.
The emergence of circuit timing characteristics is shaped on the developmental timescale by multiple interneuron populations.
•Low amount of VIP is found in CF mice lung, duodenum and sweat glands, prior to tissue damage and represents an early defect.•Older C57Bl/6 homozygous CFTRtm1kth ΔF508 mice show multiple signs of ...well-developed pathology in the lung and small intestine.•Low density of the VIPergic neuronal network and damaged intrinsic cholinergic network in the CF duodenum.•Disruption of the general innervation in the myenteric plexus of the CF duodenum.
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) is the major physiological agonist of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (CFTR) chloride channel activity. VIP functions as a neuromodulator and neurotransmitter secreted by neurons innervating all exocrine glands. VIP is also a potent vasodilator and bronchodilator that regulates exocrine gland secretions, contributing to local innate defense by stimulating the movement of water and chloride transport across intestinal and tracheobronchial epithelia. Previous human studies have shown that the rich intrinsic neuronal networks for VIP secretion around exocrine glands could be lost in tissues from patients with cystic fibrosis. Our research has since confirmed, in vitro and in vivo, the need for chronic VIP exposure to maintain functional CFTR chloride channels at the cell surface of airways and intestinal epithelium, as well as normal exocrine tissues morphology 1. The goal of the present study was to examine changes in VIP in the lung, duodenum and sweat glands of 8- and 17-weeks old F508del/F508del mice and to investigate VIPergic innervation in the small intestine of CF mice, before important signs of the disease development. Our data show that a low amount of VIP is found in CF tissues prior to tissue damage. Moreover, we found a specific reduction in VIPergic and cholinergic innervation of the small intestine. The general innervation of the primary and secondary myenteric plexus was lost in CF tissues, with the presence of enlarged ganglionic cells in the tertiary layer. We propose that low amount of VIP in CF tissues is due to a reduction in VIPergic and cholinergic innervation and represents an early defect that constitutes an aggravating factor for CF disease progression.
•State-of-the-art review of vacuum insulation panel products.•Future research pathways for vacuum insulation panels.•Vacuum insulation panel cores and envelopes.•Vacuum insulation panel ...properties.•Vacuum insulation panels for building applications.
Vacuum insulation panels (VIP) are regarded as one of the most upcoming high performance thermal insulation solutions. At delivery, thermal conductivity for a VIP can be as low as 0.002–0.004W/(mK) depending on the core material. VIPs enable highly insulated solutions, and a measure to reduce the energy usage in both hot-water applications, cold applications and for the construction industry in general. This study gives a state-of-the-art review of VIP products found available on the market today, and explore the future research opportunities for these products.
VIPs have been utilized with success for applications such as freezers and thermal packaging, and during the last decade they have also been used for building applications in increasing numbers, where one of the main driving forces is the increased focus on e.g. passive houses, zero energy buildings and zero emission buildings. Hence, VIPs are now in the early market stages as a building product. Implementation of VIPs in various building constructions have given an increased interest in the possibilities of this product, both in new and refurbished constructions. Even though there is not enough data to conclude the effect over a lifetime of a building yet, the immediate result in decreased energy usage can be seen. However, the problem of guaranteeing a set lifetime expectancy, along with high costs, are some of the major reasons why VIPs are met with scepticism in the building industry. Aiming to give better quality assurance for the users, make further advances in envelope technologies and the development of core materials, along with a further cost reduction, are crucial aspects for VIPs to become a competing thermal insulation solution for buildings.
Display omitted
•Lipidomic has importance in the diagnosis of ovarian endometrioma.•FTIR range 1500 cm−1 and 1700 cm−1 and 2700 cm−1 – 3000 cm−1 may be used for the diagnosis of ...endometrioma.•Proteins and lipids fraction increase with the volume of endometrioma disease.•PLS and VIP analysis suggested that lipids could be helpful in the diagnosis of endometrioma.•IR range originating from lipids vibrations, was more significant, than for protein vibrations.
Endometriomas are typically an advanced form of endometriosis that leads to the formation of scar tissue, adhesions, and an inflammatory reaction. There is no certain serum marker for the diagnosis of endometriosis. This study aims to research the correlation between the amount of peaks corresponding to proteins and lipids with the volume of endometrioma and determine the chemical structure of blood serum collected from women suffering from endometriosis patients with endometrioma and healthy subjects using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR spectroscopy is used as a non-invasive diagnostic technique for the discrimination of endometriosis women with endometrioma and control blood sera. The FTIR spectra of 100 serum samples acquired from 50 patients and 50 healthy individuals were used for this study. For this purpose, multivariate analyses such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Partial Last Square analysis (PLS) with Variables Importance in Projection (VIP), and probability models, were performed. Our results showed that FTIR range 1500 cm−1 and 1700 cm−1 and around 2700 cm−1 – 3000 cm−1, regions may be used for the diagnosis of endometriosis. Also, we find that proteins and lipids fraction increase with the volume of endometrioma. Moreover, PLS and VIP analysis suggested that lipids could be helpful in the diagnosis of endometriosis women with endometrioma.
PURPOSEOur study genotyped pharmacogenes in 200 individuals from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Aim to find distinct pharmacogenomic variations among the Mongolian population and to ...investigate the potential clinically operable gene-drug connection and genotype-phenotype correlation of differential variation in the Mongolian population. METHODSWe sampled 61 variations of 28 genes in PharmGKB and genotyped them using Agena MassARRAY Assay. We also obtained the allele frequency and genotype distribution data of 26 populations from the 1000 Genomes Project (1000G), and then conducted comparison and statistical analysis. RESULTSAfter Bonferroni correction, there were significant genotype frequency distribution differences between the Mongolian and 26 populations: PTGS2 (rs20417), NAT2 (rs1801280, rs1799929, and rs1208), ALOX5(rs2115819), and CYP2D6 (rs1065852). It was also found that the KHV showed the smallest differences from the Mongolian and the GWD showed the largest differences. Furthermore, the differences in variants might be related to the risk of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, the slow acetylation phenotype, and other pharmacological effectiveness and toxicity in the Mongolian population. CONCLUSIONOur study demonstrates different pharmacogenomic variants in the Mongolian and fills the gaps in pharmacogenomic information of the Mongolian. Our analysis of VIPs variants in the Mongolian population may contribute to the development of safer treatment regimens and the use of personalized treatment approaches.
Social competition plays a pivotal role in determining individuals’ social status. While the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) is essential in regulating social competition, it remains unclear ...how information is processed within its local networks. Here, by applying optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulations in a dominance tube test, we reveal that, in accordance with pyramidal (PYR) neuron activation, excitation of the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) or inhibition of the parvalbumin (PV) interneurons induces winning. The winning behavior is associated with sequential calcium activities initiated by VIP and followed by PYR and PV neurons. Using miniature two-photon microscopic (MTPM) and optrode recordings in awake mice, we show that VIP stimulation directly leads to a two-phased activity pattern of both PYR and PV neurons—rapid suppression followed by activation. The delayed activation of PV implies an embedded feedback tuning. This disinhibitory VIP-PV-PYR motif forms the core of a dmPFC microcircuit to control social competition.
Display omitted
•Activation of VIP or inhibition of PV interneurons in dmPFC induces winning•Inhibition of VIP or activation of PV interneurons in dmPFC induces losing•Calcium activities of dmPFC VIP neurons lead those of PYR and PV neurons in winning•MTPM and optrode recordings reveal a disinhibitory VIP-PV-PYR microcircuit in dmPFC
How the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) computes complex information in social competition within its local network is unclear. Here, Zhang et al. reveal a dynamic disinhibitory microcircuit, involving dmPFC VIP+, PV+, and pyramidal neurons, that controls social competition in the dominance tube test.
•A novel methodology for payback analysis of vacuum insulation panels was proposed.•The methodology considers the variation of techno-economic parameters with time.•Space heating energy and emission ...savings were calculated.•Longer lifespan vacuum insulation panel achieved a shorter payback period.•Fumed silica VIPs are economically viable for adoption into non-domestic buildings.
The potential savings in space heating energy from the installation of Fumed Silica (FS) and Glass Fibre (GF) Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) were compared to conventional expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation for three different non-domestic buildings situated in London (UK). A discounted payback period analysis was used to determine the time taken for the capital cost of installing the insulation to be recovered. VIP materials were ranked using cost and density indexes. The methodology of the Payback analysis carried out considered the time dependency of VIP thermal performance, fuel prices and rental income from buildings. These calculations show that VIP insulation reduced the annual space heating energy demand and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by approximately 10.2%, 41.3% and 26.7% for a six storey office building, a two floor retail unit building and a four storey office building respectively. FS VIPs had the shortest payback period among the insulation materials studied, ranging from 2.5years to 17years, depending upon the rental income of the building. For GF VIPs the calculated payback period was considerably longer and in the case of the typical 4 storey office building studied its cost could not be recovered over the life time of the building. For EPS insulation the calculated payback period was longer than its useful life time for all three buildings. FS VIPs were found to be economically viable for installation onto non-domestic buildings in high rental value locations assuming a lifespan of up to 60years.
The Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base, PharmGKB, is an interactive tool for researchers investigating how genetic variation affects drug response. The PharmGKB Web site, http://www.pharmgkb.org , ...displays genotype, molecular, and clinical knowledge integrated into pathway representations and Very Important Pharmacogene (VIP) summaries with links to additional external resources. Users can search and browse the knowledgebase by genes, variants, drugs, diseases, and pathways. Registration is free to the entire research community, but subject to agreement to use for research purposes only and not to redistribute. Registered users can access and download data to aid in the design of future pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics studies.
PDF
