Enhanced linear and symmetric synaptic weight update characteristics in a Pt/p-LiCoO/p-NiO/Pt memristor through interface energy barrier modulation by Li ion redistribution.

Artificial synaptic devices have been extensively investigated for neuromorphic computing systems, which require synaptic behaviors mimicking the biological ones. In particular, a highly linear and symmetric weight update with a conductance (or resistance) change for potentiation and depression operation is one of the essential requirements for energy-efficient neuromorphic computing; however, it is not sufficiently met. In this study, a memristor with a Pt/p-LiCoO/p-NiO/Pt structure is investigated, where a low interface energy barrier between the Pt electrode and the NiO layer makes for a more linear and symmetric conductance change.

Ultrastrong and ductile steel welds achieved by fine interlocking microstructures with film-like retained austenite.

The degradation of mechanical properties caused by grain coarsening or the formation of brittle phases during welding reduces the longevity of products. Here, we report advances in the weld quality of ultra-high strength steels by utilizing Nb and Cr instead of Ni. Sole addition of Cr, as an alternative to Ni, has limitations in developing fine weld microstructure, while it is revealed that the coupling effects of Nb and Cr additions make a finer interlocking weld microstructures with a higher fraction of retained austenite due to the decrease in austenite to acicular ferrite and bainite transformation temperature and carbon activity.

Isolation of new lactobionic acid-producing microorganisms and improvement of their production ability by heterologous expression of glucose dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas taetrolens.

Lactobionic acid (LBA) is a specialty organic acid that is widely employed in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. In the present study, we screened new LBA-producing bacteria from the soil of a poultry farm. Among the 700 bacterial colonies, five that exhibited LBA-producing ability were successfully isolated.

Elimination of microcystin-LR and residual Mn species using permanganate and powdered activated carbon: Oxidation products and pathways.

The oxidation of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) in deionized water (DI) and river water using potassium permanganate (KMnO) at a neutral pH and at 23 ± 2 °C was investigated. These two aqueous systems (i.e.

Substrate-immobilized electrospun TiO2 nanofibers for photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals: The effects of pH and dissolved organic matter characteristics.

A substrate-immobilized (SI) TiO2 nanofiber (NF) photocatalyst for multiple uses was prepared through electrospinning and hot pressing. The rate of furfuryl alcohol degradation under UV irradiation was found to be the highest when the anatase to rutile ratio was 70:30; the rate did not linearly increase as a function of the NF film thickness, mainly due to diffusion limitation. Even after eight repeated cycles, it showed only a marginal reduction in the photocatalytic activity for the degradation of cimetidine.

Comparative metabolic flux analysis of an Ashbya gossypii wild type strain and a high riboflavin-producing mutant strain.

In the present study, we analyzed the central metabolic pathway of an Ashbya gossypii wild type strain and a riboflavin over-producing mutant strain developed in a previous study in order to characterize the riboflavin over-production pathway. (13)C-Metabolic flux analysis ((13)C-MFA) was carried out in both strains, and the resulting data were fit to a steady-state flux isotopomer model using OpenFLUX. Flux to pentose-5-phosphate (P5P) via the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) was 9% higher in the mutant strain compared to the wild type strain.

Tonicity-responsive enhancer binding protein regulates the expression of aldose reductase and protein kinase C δ in a mouse model of diabetic retinopathy.

Recent studies revealed that Tonicity-responsive enhancer binding protein (TonEBP) directly regulates the transcription of aldose reductase (AR), which catalyzes the first step of the polyol pathway of glucose metabolism. Activation of protein kinase C δ (PKCδ) is dependent on AR and it has been linked to diabetic complications. However, whether TonEBP affects expressions of AR and PKCδ in diabetic retinopathy was not clearly shown.

Hypoxia inducible factor-1α directly regulates nuclear clusterin transcription by interacting with hypoxia response elements in the clusterin promoter.

Differential transcription of the clusterin (CLU) gene yields two CLU isoforms, a nuclear form (nCLU) and a secretory form (sCLU), which play crucial roles in prostate tumorigenesis. Pro-apoptotic nCLU and anti-apoptotic sCLU have opposite effects and are differentially expressed in normal and cancer cells; however, their regulatory mechanisms at the transcriptional level are not yet known. Here, we examined the transcriptional regulation of nCLU in response to hypoxia.