Resistive switching behavior and mechanism of HfO_(x) films with large on/off ratio by structure design

Different bilayer structures of HfO_(x)/Ti(TiO_(x)) are designed for hafnium-based memory to investigate the switching characteristics. The chemical states in the films and near the interface are characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and the oxygen vacancies are analyzed. Highly improved on/off ratio(~104) and much uniform switching parameters are observed for bilayer structures compared to single layer HfO_(x) sample, which can be attributed to the modulation of oxygen vacancies at the interface and better control of the growth of filaments. Furthermore, the reliability of the prepared samples is investigated. The carrier conduction behaviors of HfO_(x)-based samples can be attributed to the trapping and de-trapping process of oxygen vacancies and a filamentary model is proposed. In addition, the rupture of filaments during the reset process for the bilayer structures occur at the weak points near the interface by the recovery of oxygen vacancies accompanied by the variation of barrier height. The re-formation of fixed filaments due to the residual filaments as lightning rods results in the better switching performance of the bilayer structure.

Contribution of mechanical forces to structural synaptic plasticity:insights from 3D cellular motility mechanisms

Cells,tissues,and organs are constantly subjected to the action of mechanical forces from the extracellular environment-and the nervous system is no exception.Cell-intrinsic properties such as membrane lipid composition,abundance of mechanosensors,and cytoskeletal dynamics make cells more or less likely to sense these forces.Intrinsic and extrinsic cues are integrated by cells and this combined information determines the rate and dynamics of membrane protrusion growth or retraction(Yamada and Sixt,2019).Cell protrusions are extensions of the plasma membrane that play crucial roles in diverse contexts such as cell migration and neuronal synapse formation.In the nervous system,neurons are highly dynamic cells that can change the size and number of their pre-and postsynaptic elements(called synaptic boutons and dendritic spines,respectively),in response to changes in the levels of synaptic activity through a process called plasticity.Synaptic plasticity is a hallmark of the nervous system and is present throughout our lives,being required for functions like memory formation or the learning of new motor skills(Minegishi et al.,2023;Pillai and Franze,2024).

Depression mechanism of sulfite ions on sphalerite and Pb^(2+)activated sphalerite in the flotation separation of galena from sphalerite

The depression mechanism of sulfite ions on sphalerite and Pb^(2+)activated sphalerite in the flotation separation of galena from sphalerite still lacked in-depth insight.Therefore,the depression mechanism of sulfite ions on sphalerite and Pb^(2+)activated sphalerite in the flotation separation of galena from sphalerite was further systematically investigated with experiments and density functional theory(DFT)calculations.The X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy(XPS)results,DFT calculation results,and frontier molecular orbital analysis indicated that sulfite ions were difficult to be adsorbed on sphalerite surface,suggesting that sulfite ions achieved depression effects on sphalerite through other non-adsorption mechanisms.First,the oxygen content in the surface of sphalerite treated with sulfite ions in creased,which enhanced the hydrophilicity of the sphalerite and further increased the difference in hydrophilicity between sphalerite and galena.Then,sulfite ions were chelated with lead ions to form PbSO_(3)in solution.The hydrophilic PbSO_(3)was more easily adsorbed on sphalerite than galena.The interaction between sulfite ions and lead ions could effectively inhibit the activation of sphalerite.In addition the UV spectrum showed that after adding sulfite ions,the peak of perxanthate in the sphalerite treated xanthate solution was significantly stronger than that in the galena with xanthate solution,indicating that xanthate interacted more readily with sulfite ions and oxygen mo lecules within the sphalerite system,leading to the formation of perxanthate.However,sulfite ions hardly depressed the flotation of ga lena and could promote the flotation of galena to some extent.This study deepened the understanding of the depression mechanism o sulfite ions on sphalerite and Pb^(2+)activated sphalerite.

Decoding molecular mechanisms:brain aging and Alzheimer's disease

The complex morphological,anatomical,physiological,and chemical mechanisms within the aging brain have been the hot topic of research for centuries.The aging process alters the brain structure that affects functions and cognitions,but the worsening of such processes contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders,such as Alzheimer's disease.Beyond these observable,mild morphological shifts,significant functional modifications in neurotransmission and neuronal activity critically influence the aging brain.Understanding these changes is important for maintaining cognitive health,especially given the increasing prevalence of age-related conditions that affect cognition.This review aims to explore the age-induced changes in brain plasticity and molecular processes,differentiating normal aging from the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease,thereby providing insights into predicting the risk of dementia,particularly Alzheimer's disease.

Pyroptosis,ferroptosis,and autophagy in spinal cord injury:regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic targets

Regulated cell death is a form of cell death that is actively controlled by biomolecules.Several studies have shown that regulated cell death plays a key role after spinal cord injury.Pyroptosis and ferroptosis are newly discovered types of regulated cell deaths that have been shown to exacerbate inflammation and lead to cell death in damaged spinal cords.Autophagy,a complex form of cell death that is interconnected with various regulated cell death mechanisms,has garnered significant attention in the study of spinal cord injury.This injury triggers not only cell death but also cellular survival responses.Multiple signaling pathways play pivotal roles in influencing the processes of both deterioration and repair in spinal cord injury by regulating pyroptosis,ferroptosis,and autophagy.Therefore,this review aims to comprehensively examine the mechanisms underlying regulated cell deaths,the signaling pathways that modulate these mechanisms,and the potential therapeutic targets for spinal cord injury.Our analysis suggests that targeting the common regulatory signaling pathways of different regulated cell deaths could be a promising strategy to promote cell survival and enhance the repair of spinal cord injury.Moreover,a holistic approach that incorporates multiple regulated cell deaths and their regulatory pathways presents a promising multi-target therapeutic strategy for the management of spinal cord injury.

Concurrent occurrence of adenocarcinoma and urothelial carcinoma of the prostate:Coexistence mechanisms from multiple perspectives

This article discusses the coexistence of prostate adenocarcinoma and prostate urothelial carcinoma.Combining existing literature and research results,the potential mechanisms of the co-occurrence of these two cancers are explored,including the role of androgen receptor,gene mutations,and their complex interactions in cell signaling pathways,etc.Also,the hypothesis of prostate cancer transformation into urothelial carcinoma is explained from some perspectives,including tumor multipotent stem cell differentiation,epithelial-mesenchymal transition,mesenchymal-epithelial transition,and other mechanisms.Ultimately,the goal is to provide more accurate diagnoses and more personalized treatments in clinical practice,as well as to lay the foundation for improving patient prognoses in the future.

Acupuncture for postoperative ileus:Advancement and underlying mechanisms

Postoperative ileus(POI)remains a prevalent and significant challenge following abdominal surgeries,precipitating patient distress,prolonged hospital stays,and escalated medical expenditures.Conventionally addressed via pharmacological interventions,POI is increasingly being explored through adjunctive therapeutic strategies,with acupuncture gaining recognition as a promising option.Acupuncture has demonstrated encouraging potential in promoting gastrointestinal motility in patients with POI.Moreover,recent research has shed light on the therapeutic mechanisms underlying its efficacy.This article aims to present a comprehensive overview of acupuncture as a treatment for POI,highlighting advancements in clinical research and recent elucidations of its mechanistic underpinnings.It aspires to contribute a pivotal reference point for scholars and enthusiasts keen on garnering a deeper understanding of acupuncture’s role in managing POI.

Research progress on the physiological,biochemical and molecular regulatory mechanisms of fruit tree responses to high-temperature stress

Fruit trees face various adverse environmental factors,such as extreme hydrothermal changes,soil salinization and low precipitation,leading to different types of stress.High temperature is one of the main factors affecting the growth of fruit trees,and an appropriate ambient temperature is a necessary condition for the normal growth and development of fruit trees.Since the 20th century,due to the intensification of the greenhouse effect and global warming,there has been a significant increase in the occurrence and duration of extreme hot weather in summer has been occurring frequently and for longer durations.Thus,the growth and production of fruit trees are affected by severe hightemperature stress.Therefore,this paper primarily summarized the impacts of high-temperature stress on fruit growth and development,flowering,fruiting,fruit setting and quality.It also discussed the physiological and biochemical responses of fruit trees to high-temperature stress,research progress on the molecular mechanisms and signal transduction pathways underlying fruit tree resistance to heat or high temperature,and research on the investigation of relevant metabolites of fruit trees under stress conditions.The future research directions were discussed,and prospects and potential difficulties were proposed to serve a reference for further investigation on the high-temperature tolerance of fruit trees.

Investigation of magnesium phosphate cement on river dredged sludge with varying humic acid content and solidification mechanism

This paper investigated the use of magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) for solidifying sludge with different humic acid (HA) content (ranging from 0 to 4.5%) and explored the solidification mechanism. Fluidity, setting time, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), the strength formation mechanism, and the spontaneous imbibition process of solidified sludge (SS) were studied. The results indicate that MPC can be used as a low-alkalinity curing agent. As the HA content increases, fluidity and setting time also increase, while hydration temperature and strength decrease. Additionally, the failure mode of SS transitions from brittleness to ductility. The strength of SS is composed of the cementation strength provided by MPC hydration products, matric suction, osmotic suction, and the structural strength of the sludge. MPC reduces the structural strength caused by the shrinkage of pure sludge under the action of matric suction, but the incorporation of MPC significantly improved the strength when the sludge is eroded by water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that the sludge and MPC can form a dense solid body, forming various hydration products, and synergistically improve the mechanical properties of the sludge.

Using fracture mechanics method to analyze the failure mechanism and equilibrium equation of interfacial loess-mudstone landslides

Loess-mudstone landslides are common in the Loess Plateau.Investigations into the mechanical theory of loess-mudstone landslides have become a challenging undertaking due to the distinctive interfacial properties of loess-mudstone and the unique water sensitivity characteristics of mudstone.Hence,it is imperative to develop innovative mechanical models and mathematical equations specifically tailored to loess-mudstone landslides.In this study,we analyze the fracture mechanism of the loess-mudstone sliding zone using plastic fracture mechanics and develop a unique fracture yield model.To calculate the energy release rate during the expansion of the loess-mudstone interface tip region,the shear fracture energy G is applied,which reflects both the yield failure criterion and the fracture failure criterion.To better understand the instability mechanism of loess-mudstone landslides,equilibrium equations based on G are established for tractive,compressive,and tensile loess-mudstone landslides.Based on the equilibrium equation,the critical length Lc of the sliding zone can be used for the safety evaluation of loess-mudstone landslides.In this way,this study proposes a new method for determining the failure mechanism and equilibrium equation of loessmudstone landslides,which resolves their starting mechanism,mechanical equilibrium equations,and safety evaluation indicators,thus justifying the scientific significance and practical value of this research.

A Generative Adversarial Network with an Attention Spatiotemporal Mechanism for Tropical Cyclone Forecasts

Tropical cyclones(TCs)are complex and powerful weather systems,and accurately forecasting their path,structure,and intensity remains a critical focus and challenge in meteorological research.In this paper,we propose an Attention Spatio-Temporal predictive Generative Adversarial Network(AST-GAN)model for predicting the temporal and spatial distribution of TCs.The model forecasts the spatial distribution of TC wind speeds for the next 15 hours at 3-hour intervals,emphasizing the cyclone's center,high wind-speed areas,and its asymmetric structure.To effectively capture spatiotemporal feature transfer at different time steps,we employ a channel attention mechanism for feature selection,enhancing model performance and reducing parameter redundancy.We utilized High-Resolution Weather Research and Forecasting(HWRF)data to train our model,allowing it to assimilate a wide range of TC motion patterns.The model is versatile and can be applied to various complex scenarios,such as multiple TCs moving simultaneously or TCs approaching landfall.Our proposed model demonstrates superior forecasting performance,achieving a root-mean-square error(RMSE)of 0.71 m s^(-1)for overall wind speed and 2.74 m s^(-1)for maximum wind speed when benchmarked against ground truth data from HWRF.Furthermore,the model underwent optimization and independent testing using ERA5reanalysis data,showcasing its stability and scalability.After fine-tuning on the ERA5 dataset,the model achieved an RMSE of 1.33 m s^(-1)for wind speed and 1.75 m s^(-1)for maximum wind speed.The AST-GAN model outperforms other state-of-the-art models in RMSE on both the HWRF and ERA5 datasets,maintaining its superior performance and demonstrating its effectiveness for spatiotemporal prediction of TCs.

Plastic deformation mechanism of γ-phase U–Mo alloy studied by molecular dynamics simulations

Uranium–molybdenum(U–Mo) alloys are critical for nuclear power generation and propulsion because of their superior thermal conductivity, irradiation stability, and anti-swelling properties. This study explores the plastic deformation mechanisms of γ-phase U–Mo alloys using molecular dynamics(MD) simulations. In the slip model, the generalized stacking fault energy(GSFE) and the modified Peierls–Nabarro(P–N) model are used to determine the competitive relationships among different slip systems. In the twinning model, the generalized plane fault energy(GPFE) is assessed to evaluate the competition between slip and twinning. The findings reveal that among the three slip systems, the {110}<111>slip system is preferentially activated, while in the {112}<111> system, twinning is favored over slip, as confirmed by MD tensile simulations conducted in various directions. Additionally, the impact of Mo content on deformation behavior is emphasized. Insights are provided for optimizing process conditions to avoid γ → α′′ transitions, thereby maintaining a higher proportion of γ-phase U–Mo alloys for practical applications.

Functional metabolomics analysis of the protective mechanism of total flavonoids of Scutellaria baicalensis on acute myocardial ischemia rats

Background:The study aimed to investigate the protective effect and mechanism of total flavonoids of Scutellaria baicalensis(TFSB)on acute myocardial ischemia(AMI)rats by using functional metabonomics.Methods:Rats were divided into the Control,Model,AMI positive control(Propranolol hydrochloride,30 mg/kg),low dose TFSB(50 mg/kg),and high dose TFSB(100 mg/kg)groups.Rats received the corresponding treatment by intragastric administration once daily for 10 consecutive days.Electrocardiogram,myocardial enzyme,triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining,hematoxylin-eosin,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to evaluate the protective effect of TFSB on AMI rats.Then,the UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS method based on serum metabolomics was utilised to search for metabolic biomarkers and metabolic pathways.Subsequently,Western blot and RT-PCR techniques were employed to identify the respective genes and proteins.Results:Pharmacodynamics revealed that TFSB could ameliorate AMI in rats.The results of the metabolomics analysis indicated that the alterations in metabolic profile observed in rats with AMI were partially improved by treatment with TFSB.Moreover,the mRNA expression levels of 5-lipoxygenase(5-LOX)and 15-lipoxygenase(15-LOX)and the protein expression levels of 5-LOX,15-LOX,interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and NF-κB p65 were reduced following treatment with TFSB.Conclusion:The potential treatment of TFSB in AMI may be ascribed to its ability to regulate arachidonic acid metabolism.

Adaptive synchronization of uncertain chaotic systems via switching mechanism

This paper deals with the problem of synchronization for a class of uncertain chaotic systems. The uncertainties under consideration are assumed to be Lipschitz-like nonlinearity in tracking error, with unknown growth rate. A logic-based switching mechanism is presented for tracking a smooth orbit that can be a limit cycle or a chaotic orbit of another system. Based on the Lyapunov approach, the adaptation law is determined to tune the controller gain vector online according to the possible nonlinearities. To demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed scheme, the well-known chaotic system namely Chua＇s circuit is considered as an illustrative example.

Nonvolatile Resistive Switching and Physical Mechanism in LaCrO3 Thin Films

Polycrystalline LaCrO3（LCO） thin films are deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates by pulsed laser deposition and used as the switching material to construct resistive random access memory devices. The unipolar resistive switching（RS） behavior in the Au/LCO/Pt devices exhibits a high resistance ratio of ~104 between the high resistance state（HRS） and low resistance state（LRS） and exhibits excellent endurance/retention characteristics.The conduction mechanism of the HRS in the high voltage range is dominated by the Schottky emission, while the Ohmic conduction dictates the LRS and the low voltage range of HRS. The RS behavior in the Au/LCO/Pt devices can be understood by the formation and rupture of conducting filaments consisting of oxygen vacancies,which is validated by the temperature dependence of resistance and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results.Further analysis shows that the reset current IR and reset power PR in the reset processes exhibit a scaling law with the resistance in LRS（R0）, which indicates that the Joule heating effect plays an essential role in the RS behavior of the Au/LCO/Pt devices.

Toward a Scalable SDN Control Mechanism via Switch Migration

Dynamic Controller Provisioning Problem(DCPP) is a key problem for scalable SDN. Previously, the solution to this problem focused on adapting the number of controllers and their locations with changing network conditions, but ignored balancing control loads via switch migration. In this paper, we study a scalable control mechanism to decide which switch and where it should be migrated for more balanced control plane, and we define it as Switch Migration Problem(SMP). The main contributions of this paper are as follows. First, we define a SDN model to describe the relation between controllers and switches from the view of loads. Based on this model, we form SMP as a Network Utility Maximization(NUM) problem with the objective of serving more requests under available control resources. Second, we design a synthesizing distributed algorithm for SMP--- Distributed Hopping Algorithm(DHA), by approximating our optimal objective via Log-Sum-Exp function. In DHA, individual controller performs algorithmic procedure independently. With the solution space F, we prove that the optimal gap caused by approximation is at most 1/βlog|F|, and DHA procedure is equal to implementation of a time-reversible Markov Chain process. Finally, the results are corroborated by several numerical simulations.

Switching mechanism for TiO_2 memristor and quantitative analysis of exponential model parameters

The memristor, as the fourth basic circuit element, has drawn worldwide attention since its physical implementation was released by HP Labs in 2008. However, at the nano-scale, there are many difficulties for memristor physical realization. So a better understanding and analysis of a good model will help us to study the characteristics of a memristor. In this paper, we analyze a possible mechanism for the switching behavior of a memristor with a Pt/TiO2/Pt structure, and explain the changes of electronic barrier at the interface of Pt/TiO2. Then, a quantitative analysis about each parameter in the exponential model of memristor is conducted based on the calculation results. The analysis results are validated by simulation results. The efforts made in this paper will provide researchers with theoretical guidance on choosing appropriate values for(α, β, χ, γ) in this exponential model.

A Distributed Decision Mechanism for Controller Load Balancing Based on Switch Migration in SDN

Software Defined Networking(SDN) provides flexible network management by decoupling control plane from data plane. And multiple controllers are deployed to improve the scalability and reliability of the control plane, which could divide the network into several subdomains with separate controllers. However, such deployment introduces a new problem of controller load imbalance due to the dynamic traffic and the static configuration between switches and controllers. To address this issue, this paper proposes a Distribution Decision Mechanism(DDM) based on switch migration in the multiple subdomains SDN network. Firstly, through collecting network information, it constructs distributed migration decision fields based on the controller load condition. Then we choose the migrating switches according to the selection probability, and the target controllers are determined by integrating three network costs, including data collection, switch migration and controller state synchronization. Finally, we set the migrating countdown to achieve the ordered switch migration. Through verifying several evaluation indexes, results show that the proposed mechanism can achieve controller load balancing with better performance.

Molecular mechanisms of ＂off-on switch＂ of activities of human IDH1 by tumor-associated mutation R132H

Human cytosolic NADP-1DH （IDH1） has recently been found to be involved in tumorigenesis. Notably, the tumorderived IDH1 mutations identified so far mainly occur at Arg132, and mutation R132H is the most prevalent one. This mutation impairs the oxidative IDH activity of the enzyme, but renders a new reduction function of converting a-ketoglutarate （aKG） to 2-hydroxyglutarate. Here, we report the structures of the R132H mutant IDH1 with and without isocitrate OCT） bound. The structural data together with mutagenesis and biochemical data reveal a previ- ously undefined initial ICT-binding state and demonstrate that IDH activity requires a conformational change to a closed pre-transition state. Arg132 plays multiple functional roles in the catalytic reaction; in particular, the R132H mutation hinders the conformational changes from the initial ICT-binding state to the pre-transition state, leading to the impairment of the IDH activity. Our results describe for the first time that there is an intermediate conformation that corresponds to an initial ICT-binding state and that the R132H mutation can trap the enzyme in this conforma- tion, therefore shedding fight on the molecular mechanism of the ＂off switch＂ of the potentially tumor-suppressive IDH activity. Furthermore, we proved the necessity of Tyr139 for the gained aKG reduction activity and propose that Tyr139 may play a vital role by compensating the increased negative charge on the C2 atom of aKG during the trans- fer of a hydride anion from NADPH to aKG, which provides new insights into the mechanism of the ＂on switch＂ of the hypothetically oncogenic reduction activity of IDH1 by this mutation.

A low-jitter self-triggered spark-discharge pre-ionization switch: primary research on its breakdown characteristics and working mechanisms

MV pulsed switch plays a key role as the transfer switch in large electromagnetic pulse simulators. To broaden the range of self-triggering time, a novel spark-discharge pre-ionization switch, in which the main gap electric field is superposed at the trigger gap to let the electrons in its spark channel also become initial electrons, is proposed and tested. The design idea is: as electrons in the spark channel of the trigger gap always exist after its breakdown, the injection time of pre-ionization should have a more negligible effect on reducing the switch jitter. The experiment results under pulses with a rise time of ~100 ns support the above assumptions.When the operating voltage is from ~300 to ~800 kV and the self-triggering time is ~45% to~75% of the peak time, the breakdown time delay jitter is less than 2 ns, and the breakdown voltage jitter is smaller than 1.25%. Under specific self-triggering time, the breakdown time delay jitter is less than 1.5 ns, and the breakdown voltage jitter is smaller than 0.8%.