Reduced Firing of Nucleus Accumbens Parvalbumin Interneurons Impairs Risk Avoidance in DISC1 Transgenic Mice

A strong animal survival instinct is to approach objects and situations that are of benefit and to avoid risk.In humans,a large proportion of mental disorders are accompanied by impairments in risk avoidance.One of the most important genes involved in mental disorders is disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1(DISC1),and animal models in which this gene has some level of dysfunction show emotion-related impairments.However,it is not known whether DISC1 mouse models have an impairment in avoiding potential risks.In the present study,we used DISC1-N terminal truncation(DISC1-N^(TM))mice to investigate risk avoidance and found that these mice were impaired in risk avoidance on the elevated plus maze(EPM)and showed reduced social preference in a three-chamber social interaction test.Following EPM tests,c-Fos expression levels indicated that the nucleus accumbens(NAc)was associated with risk-avoidance behavior in DISC1-N^(TM)mice.In addition,in vivo electrophysiological recordings following tamoxifen administration showed that the firing rates of fast-spiking neurons(FS)in the NAc were significantly lower in DISC1-N^(TM)mice than in wild-type(WT)mice.In addition,in vitro patch clamp recording revealed that the frequency of action potentials stimulated by current injection was lower in parvalbumin(PV)neurons in the NAc of DISC1-N^(TM)mice than in WT controls.The impairment of risk avoidance in DISC1-N^(TM)mice was rescued using optogenetic tools that activated NAcPV neurons.Finally,inhibition of the activity of NAcPV neurons in PV-Cre mice mimicked the risk-avoidance impairment found in DISC1-N^(TM)mice during tests on the elevated zero maze.Taken together,our findings confirm an impairment in risk avoidance in DISC1-N^(TM)mice and suggest that reduced excitability of NAc^(PV) neurons is responsible.

Multi-path based secure communication in wireless mesh networks

Communication security is a critical aspect of QoS provisioning in wireless mesh network （WMN）. Because of the inherent characteristics of WMN, conventional security mechanisms cannot be applied. In order to guarantee the communication security, a novel communication security mechanism is proposed. The mechanism uses a communication encryption scheme to encrypt data packets and employs a risk avoidance scheme to avoid the malicious nodes during communications. Simulation results indicate that the mechanism is able to provide secure communication effectively and reduce the damage of attacks through multiple paths.

ADDRESSING FINANCIAL OBJECTIONS TO SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

We have the tools and the knowledge to create much healthier,economical,and ecologically responsible buildings at little or no incremental cost over that of conventional buildings.Unfortunately,both actual and perceived financial barriers are preventing widespread adoption of sustainable design,construction,and maintenance practices.Often organizations express a commitment to sustainable design and construction,but limit the actual implementation to only low-hanging fruit and ignore any significant investment.We need to be able to explain the benefits of sustainable design,construction,and facilities management in a more compelling fashion.In addition to talking about important features of green building,such as decreased use of energy,water,and other natural resources,we need to emphasize the benefits of green building in terms that resonate with key decision makers,such as higher net profits,increased asset values,enhanced image and reduced risk.This article provides useful information that could help you address some barriers to sustainable initiatives:•Every executive that you speak to is aware that data can be manipulated and may be skeptical of studies conducted by organizations that could benefit from a particular set of results.So I’ve included information on independent third-party studies.•In challenging economic times,people are particularly concerned about short-term cash flow.So I’ve included information on programs developed by the Building Owners and Management Association(BOMA)International to maximize asset values without sacrificing shorter-term profits.•Often people are risk-averse and feel more comfortable in the middle of the pack than on the cutting edge.So I’m including information on some potential risks of not going green,including decreased asset values and increased operating costs.Many aspects of sustainable design and construction are based upon proven technology and are being increasingly incorporated into best practices for the design and construction industries,which might lead to legal problems for those who do not include the more widely accepted sustainability measures in their projects.It can be difficult to find and navigate through existing incentives for energy efficiency.So I’m including information on a tool to help you find what initiatives are available and some expert advice on how to use this type of tool.•Often an executive may be far more concerned with the next quarter’s financial results than in the long-term profitability of an organization that he or she may very well not be working for in 20 years.Currently accepted financial accounting methods encourage this short-term focus.So I’m including information on the efforts of leaders in the finance sector to change accounting principles to accommodate considerations of long-term profitability.•Normally,people tend to accept the opinions of acknowledged leaders in their own fields.So I’m including examples of how sustainable initiatives are contributing to the bottom lines of several highly respected organizations.I’m also including information about efforts to create a globally accepted framework for accounting for sustainability that brings together financial,environmental,social,and governance information in a single integrated reporting format by a coalition including the Big Four accounting firms-PricewaterhouseCoopers,Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu,Ernst&Young and KPMG.