The study of lithographic variation in resistive random access memory

Reducing the process variation is a significant concern for resistive random access memory(RRAM).Due to its ultrahigh integration density,RRAM arrays are prone to lithographic variation during the lithography process,introducing electrical variation among different RRAM devices.In this work,an optical physical verification methodology for the RRAM array is developed,and the effects of different layout parameters on important electrical characteristics are systematically investigated.The results indicate that the RRAM devices can be categorized into three clusters according to their locations and lithography environments.The read resistance is more sensitive to the locations in the array(~30%)than SET/RESET voltage(<10%).The increase in the RRAM device length and the application of the optical proximity correction technique can help to reduce the variation to less than 10%,whereas it reduces RRAM read resistance by 4×,resulting in a higher power and area consumption.As such,we provide design guidelines to minimize the electrical variation of RRAM arrays due to the lithography process.

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.

Advances of embedded resistive random access memory in industrial manufacturing and its potential applications

Embedded memory,which heavily relies on the manufacturing process,has been widely adopted in various industrial applications.As the field of embedded memory continues to evolve,innovative strategies are emerging to enhance performance.Among them,resistive random access memory(RRAM)has gained significant attention due to its numerousadvantages over traditional memory devices,including high speed(<1 ns),high density(4 F^(2)·n^(-1)),high scalability(~nm),and low power consumption(~pJ).This review focuses on the recent progress of embedded RRAM in industrial manufacturing and its potentialapplications.It provides a brief introduction to the concepts and advantages of RRAM,discusses the key factors that impact its industrial manufacturing,and presents the commercial progress driven by cutting-edge nanotechnology,which has been pursued by manysemiconductor giants.Additionally,it highlights the adoption of embedded RRAM in emerging applications within the realm of the Internet of Things and future intelligent computing,with a particular emphasis on its role in neuromorphic computing.Finally,the review discusses thecurrent challenges and provides insights into the prospects of embedded RRAM in the era of big data and artificial intelligence.

Comparison of resistive index and shear-wave elastography in the evaluation of chronic kidney allograft dysfunction

BACKGROUND Detection of early chronic changes in the kidney allograft is important for timely intervention and long-term survival.Conventional and novel ultrasound-based investigations are being increasingly used for this purpose with variable results.AIM To compare the diagnostic performance of resistive index(RI)and shear wave elastography(SWE)in the diagnosis of chronic fibrosing changes of kidney allograft with histopathological results.METHODS This is a cross-sectional and comparative study.A total of 154 kidney transplant recipients were included in this study,which was conducted at the Departments of Transplantation and Radiology,Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation,Karachi,Pakistan,from August 2022 to February 2023.All consecutive patients with increased serum creatinine levels and reduced glomerular filtration rate(GFR)after three months of transplantation were enrolled in this study.SWE and RI were performed and the findings of these were evaluated against the kidney allograft biopsy results to determine their diagnostic utility.RESULTS The mean age of all patients was 35.32±11.08 years.Among these,126(81.8%)were males and 28(18.2%)were females.The mean serum creatinine in all patients was 2.86±1.68 mg/dL and the mean estimated GFR was 35.38±17.27 mL/min/1.73 m2.Kidney allograft biopsy results showed chronic changes in 55(37.66%)biopsies.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV),and negative predictive value(NPV)of SWE for the detection of chronic allograft damage were 93.10%,96.87%%,94.73%,and 95.87%,respectively,and the diagnostic accuracy was 95.45%.For RI,the sensitivity,specificity,PPV,and NPV were 76.92%,83.33%,70.17%,and 87.62%,respectively,and the diagnostic accuracy was 81.16%.CONCLUSION The results from this study show that SWE is more sensitive and specific as compared to RI in the evaluation of chronic allograft damage.It can be of great help during the routine follow-up of kidney transplant recipients for screening and early detection of chronic changes and selecting patients for allograft biopsy.

A Provable Positivity-Preserving Local Discontinuous Galerkin Method for the Viscous and Resistive MHD Equations

In this paper,we construct a high-order discontinuous Galerkin(DG)method which can preserve the positivity of the density and the pressure for the viscous and resistive magnetohydrodynamics(VRMHD).To control the divergence error in the magnetic field,both the local divergence-free basis and the Godunov source term would be employed for the multi-dimensional VRMHD.Rigorous theoretical analyses are presented for one-dimensional and multi-dimensional DG schemes,respectively,showing that the scheme can maintain the positivity-preserving(PP)property under some CFL conditions when combined with the strong-stability-preserving time discretization.Then,general frameworks are established to construct the PP limiter for arbitrary order of accuracy DG schemes.Numerical tests demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed schemes.

The influence of resistance exercise training prescription variables on skeletal muscle mass,strength,and physical function in healthy adults:An umbrella review

Purpose:The aim of this umbrella review was to determine the impact of resistance training(RT)and individual RT prescription variables on muscle mass,strength,and physical function in healthy adults.Methods:Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)guidelines,we systematically searched and screened eligible systematic reviews reporting the effects of differing RT prescription variables on muscle mass(or its proxies),strength,and/or physical function in healthy adults aged>18 years.Results:We identified 44 systematic reviews that met our inclusion criteria.The methodological quality of these reviews was assessed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews;standardized effectiveness statements were generated.We found that RT was consistently a potent stimulus for increasing skeletal muscle mass(4/4 reviews provide some or sufficient evidence),strength(4/6 reviews provided some or sufficient evidence),and physical function(1/1 review provided some evidence).RT load(6/8 reviews provided some or sufficient evidence),weekly frequency(2/4 reviews provided some or sufficient evidence),volume(3/7 reviews provided some or sufficient evidence),and exercise order(1/1 review provided some evidence)impacted RT-induced increases in muscular strength.We discovered that 2/3 reviews provided some or sufficient evidence that RT volume and contraction velocity influenced skeletal muscle mass,while 4/7 reviews provided insufficient evidence in favor of RT load impacting skeletal muscle mass.There was insufficient evidence to conclude that time of day,periodization,inter-set rest,set configuration,set end point,contraction velocity/time under tension,or exercise order(only pertaining to hypertrophy)influenced skeletal muscle adaptations.A paucity of data limited insights into the impact of RT prescription variables on physical function.Conclusion:Overall,RT increased muscle mass,strength,and physical function compared to no exercise.RT intensity(load)and weekly frequency impacted RT-induced increases in muscular strength but not muscle hypertrophy.RT volume(number of sets)influenced muscular strength and hypertrophy.

Resistive switching properties of SnO_(2)nanowires fabricated by chemical vapor deposition

Resistive switching(RS)devices have great application prospects in the emerging memory field and neuromorphic field,but their stability and unclear RS mechanism limit their relevant applications.In this work,we construct a hydrogenated Au/SnO_(2)nanowire(NW)/Au device with two back-to-back Schottky diodes and investigate the RS characteristics in air and vacuum.We find that the Ion/Io ff ratio increases from 20 to 10^(4)when the read voltage decreases from 3.1 V to^(-1)V under the condition of electric field.Moreover,the rectification ratio can reach as high as 10^4owing to oxygen ion migration modulated by the electric field.The nanodevice also shows non-volatile resistive memory characteristic.The RS mechanism is clarified based on the changes of the Schottky barrier width and height at the interface of Au/SnO_(2)NW/Au device.Our results provide a strategy for designing high-performance memristive devices based on SnO_(2)NWs.

Helically symmetric equilibria for some ideal and resistive MHD plasmas with incompressible flows

In this paper, the problem of finding exact solutions to the magnetohydrodynamic(MHD) equations in the presence of incompressible mass flows with helical symmetry is considered. For ideal flows, a similarity reduction method is used to obtain exact solutions for several MHD flows with nonlinear variable Mach number. For resistive flows parallel to a magnetic field, the governing equilibrium equation is derived. The MHD equilibrium state of a helically symmetric incompressible flow is governed by a second-order elliptic partial differential equation(PDE) for the helical magnetic flux function. Exact solutions for the latter equation are obtained. Also, the equilibrium equations of a gravitating plasma with incompressible flow are derived.

Greatly enhanced corrosion/wear resistances of epoxy coating for Mg alloy through a synergistic effect between functionalized graphene and insulated blocking layer

The poor corrosion and wear resistances of Mg alloys seriously limit their potential applications in various industries.The conventional epoxy coating easily forms many intrinsic defects during the solidification process,which cannot provide sufficient protection.In the current study,we design a double-layer epoxy composite coating on Mg alloy with enhanced anti-corrosion/wear properties,via the spin-assisted assembly technique.The outer layer is functionalized graphene(FG)in waterborne epoxy resin(WEP)and the inner layer is Ce-based conversion(Ce)film.The FG sheets can be homogeneously dispersed within the epoxy matrix to fill the intrinsic defects and improve the barrier capability.The Ce film connects the outer layer with the substrate,showing the transition effect.The corrosion rate of Ce/WEP/FG composite coating is 2131 times lower than that of bare Mg alloy,and the wear rate is decreased by~90%.The improved corrosion resistance is attributed to the labyrinth effect(hindering the penetration of corrosive medium)and the obstruction of galvanic coupling behavior.The synergistic effect derived from the FG sheet and blocking layer exhibits great potential in realizing the improvement of multi-functional integration,which will open up a new avenue for the development of novel composite protection coatings of Mg alloys.

Novel insights into D-Pinitol based therapies:a link between tau hyperphosphorylation and insulin resistance

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the amyloid accumulation in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.The pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease is mainly mediated by the phosphorylation and aggregation of tau protein.Among the multiple causes of tau hyperphosphorylation,brain insulin resistance has generated much attention,and inositols as insulin sensitizers,are currently considered candidates for drug development.The present narrative review revises the interactions between these three elements:Alzheimer’s disease-tau-inositols,which can eventually identify targets for new disease modifiers capable of bringing hope to the millions of people affected by this devastating disease.

Electric-field control of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy by resistive switching via electrochemical metallization

Electric-field control of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) is a feasible way to manipulate perpendicular magnetization,which is of great importance for realizing energy-efficient spintronics.Here,we propose a novel approach to accomplish this task at room temperature by resistive switching(RS) via electrochemical metallization(ECM) in a device with the stack of Si/SiO_(2)/Ta/Pt/Ag/Mn-doped ZnO(MZO)/Pt/Co/Pt/ITO.By applying certain voltages,the device could be set at high-resistance-state(HRS) and low-resistance-state(LRS),accompanied with a larger and a smaller coercivity(H_(C)),respectively,which demonstrates a nonvolatile E-field control of PMA.Based on our previous studies and the present control experiments,the electric modulation of PMA can be briefly explained as follows.At LRS,the Ag conductive filaments form and pass through the entire MZO layer and finally reach the Pt/Co/Pt sandwich,leading to weakening of PMA and reduction of H_(C).In contrast,at HRS,most of the Ag filaments dissolve and leave away from the Pt/Co/Pt sandwich,causing partial recovery of PMA and an increase of H_(C).This work provides a new clue to designing low-power spintronic devices based on PMA films.

Dissemination of Resistance Integrons and Genes Coding for Blse and Cabapenemases in the Urban Drainage Network in Cote d’Ivoire

Antibiotic resistance has become a major threat to human health worldwide. Environment, particularly the water environment, has long been overlooked as a player in the antibiotic resistance cycle, although its role remains unclear. These can provide an ideal setting for the acquisition and dissemination of antibiotic resistance, as they are frequently affected by anthropogenic activities. The objective of this study was to establish a diffusion map of resistance integrons used as genetic markers of resistance associated with antibiotic resistance conferring genes (ARGs). Total DNA extracts from non-cultivable bacterial communities were used for the analyses. These communities were obtained from wastewater samples from 14 sites upstream and downstream of drainage channels or effluents in the cities of Abidjan, Bouaké, and Yamoussoukro. The results obtained correspond to the number of positives among the treated samples (n = 39). Among the genetic markers of dissemination, class 1 integrons were the most evident in 94.8% of samples in Abidjan (93.3%), Bouaké (100%) and Yamoussoukro (91.6%). Class 2 integrons and class 3 integrons were found respectively in 41% and 51% of all samples. Genes coding for β-lactamases and blaTEM was identified in almost all samples at a rate of 97.4%. A co-presence of the three genes blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX-M is also remarkable in the sites of the city of Yamoussoukro. Among the genes coding for carbapenemases, only blaKPC 17.94%, blaNDM 30.76% and blaOXA48 38.46% were detected in the samples.

Study on the formation of arc plasma on the resistive wall liquid metal current limiter

Due to its significant attributes,the liquid metal current limiter(LMCL)is considered a new strategy for limiting short-circuit current in the power grid.A resistive wall liquid metal current limiter(RWLMCL)is designed to advance the starting current-limiting time.Experiments are performed to investigate the dynamic behaviors of liquid metal,and the influence of different currents on the liquid metal self-shrinkage effect is compared and analyzed.Furthermore,the liquid metal self-shrinkage effect is mathematically modeled,and the reason for the formation of arc plasma is obtained by simulation.The laws of arc plasma formation and the current transfer in the cavity are revealed,and the motion mechanisms are explained by physical principles.The simulations are in accordance with the test data.It is demonstrated that the sudden change of the current density at both ends of the wall causes the liquid metal to shrink and depress under the electromagnetic force,and the current starts to transfer from the liquid metal path to the wall resistance path.The RWLMCL can effectively advance the starting current-limiting time.

Natural Products and Antiviral Resistance

Viral diseases are minacious with the potential for causing pandemics and treatment is complicated because of their inherent ability to mutate and become resistant to drugs. Antiviral drug resistance is a persistent problem that needs continuous attention by scientists, medical professionals, and government agencies. To solve the problem, an in-depth understanding of the intricate interplay between causes of antiviral drug resistance and potential new drugs specifically natural products is imperative in the interest and safety of public health. This review delves into natural product as reservoir for antiviral agents with the peculiar potentials for addressing the complexities associated with multi-drug resistant and emerging viral strains. An evaluation of the mechanisms underlying antiviral drug activity, antiviral drug resistance is addressed, with emphasis on production of broad-spectrum antiviral agents from natural sources. There is a need for continued natural product-based research, identification of new species and novel compounds.

Nature’s Pharmacy under Siege: Investigating Antibiotic Resistance Pattern in Endophytic Bacteria of Medicinal Plants

Antibiotic resistance poses a significant global health threat, necessitating a thorough understanding of its prevalence in various ecological contexts. Medicinal plants, renowned for their therapeutic properties, host endophytic bacteria that produce bioactive compounds. Understanding antibiotic resistance dynamics in these bacteria is vital for human health and antibiotic efficacy preservation. In this study, we investigated antibiotic resistance profiles in endophytic bacteria from five medicinal plants: Thankuni, Neem, Aparajita, Joba, and Snake plant. We isolated and characterized 113 endophytic bacteria, with varying resistance patterns observed against multiple antibiotics. Notably, 53 strains were multidrug-resistant (MDR), with 14 exhibiting extensive drug resistance (XDR). Thankuni-associated bacteria displayed 44% MDR and 11% XDR, while Neem-associated bacteria showed higher resistance (60% MDR, 13% XDR). Aparajita-associated bacteria had lower resistance (22% MDR, 6% XDR), whereas Joba-associated bacteria exhibited substantial resistance (54% MDR, 14% XDR). Snake plant-associated bacteria showed 7% MDR and 4% XDR. Genus-specific distribution revealed Bacillus (47%), Staphylococcus (21%), and Klebsiella (11%) as major contributors to MDR. Our findings highlight diverse drug resistance patterns among plant-associated bacteria and underscore the complexity of antibiotic resistance dynamics in diverse plant environments. Identification of XDR strains emphasizes the severity of the antibiotic resistance problem, warranting further investigation into contributing factors.

Community-acquired multidrug-resistant pneumonia,bacteraemia,and infective endocarditis:A case report

BACKGROUND The prevalence of multidrug-resistant(MDR)bacteria has increased globally,with extensive drug-resistant(XDR)bacteria posing a threat to patients.CASE SUMMARY This case report describes a young man admitted for suspected tropical fever infections who experienced rapid deterioration in health.Despite negative results for tropical fever infections,he had neutrophilic leucocytosis,acute kidney injury,and chest imaging findings suggestive of bilateral consolidations.On day two,he was diagnosed with infective endocarditis with possible rheumatic heart disease and MDR methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia,and communityacquired pneumonia.Despite treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics,he did not respond and succumbed to death on day five.CONCLUSION This case highlights that clinicians/public should be aware of MDR communityacquired pneumonia,bacteraemia,and endocarditis which ultimately culminate in high rates of morbidity and mortality.Early identification of pathogenic strain and prompt antibiotic treatment are a mainstay for the management and prevention of early fatalities.Simultaneously,route cause analysis of communityacquired MDR/XDR pathogens is a global need.

Corrigendum to“GmTOC1b negatively regulates resistance to Soybean mosaic virus”.[Crop J.11(2023)1762-1773]

The authors regret to report a mistake in the text and an associated change necessary to section 3.6 of the paper.On page 1766 in the right-hand column,line 4,the heading of subsection 3.6“GmWRKY40 represses the expression of PR genes”should be changed to“GmWRKY40 promotes the expression of PR genes”.The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Salmonella Strains Isolated at the National Clinical Biology and Public Health Laboratory in Bangui, Central African Republic

In Africa, each year, there are estimated to be more than 91 million cases of salmonellosis and 137,000 cases of death. The problem of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella strains is a threat to public health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the antibiotic resistance profile of Salmonella strains isolated in biological products analyzed at the National Laboratory of Clinical Biology and Public Health (NLCBPH) in Bangui. This is, therefore, a cross-sectional study with a descriptive aim, running from January to December 2022. It focused on the strains of Salmonella isolated and identified in stools, urines, and blood samples. For each strain of Salmonella isolated, an antibiogram was carried out following the recommendations of the French Society of Microbiology (CASFM, 2022). A total of 93 strains of Salmonella have been recorded. The age group 0 - 9 years was 29% and that of >50 years was 11%. The median age of patients was 30 years with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 78 years. The female gender was more represented at 52.69% than the male gender at 47.31%, i.e. a sex ratio of 0.89 (M/F). Salmonella strains were much more isolated in stools at 62% followed by urines at 29% and blood at 6%. Salmonella arizonae strains were more represented with 52%. Salmonella strains have a resistance rate to Tetracycline of 62.37% followed by Penicillins of 50%. The rate of multi-antibiotic resistance of the Salmonella strains isolated represented 48.38%. Salmonella spp. strains were multi-resistant at 58.69% followed by Salmonella arizonae strains at 47.91%. There is a significant association between the different families of antibiotics and Salmonella strains (p < 0.05). According to the results obtained, Penicillins, Phenicoles, and Cyclins had a high rate of resistance on Salmonella strains. No strain-producing Broad Spectrum Beta-lactamase has been isolated. Salmonella strains represent a zoonotic health danger, constitute a public health problem and remain a current subject. This germ is resistant to the antibiotics used. It is, therefore, essential to emphasize monitoring the resistance of these germs in the Central African Republic (CAR) to improve the health of the population.

Fate and Behavior of Tetracycline Resistance Genes in Activated Carbon Adsorption

The accessibility of tetracycline resistance gene (tetG) into the pores of activated carbon (AC), as well as the impact of the pore size distribution (PSD) of AC on the uptake capacity of tetG, were investigated using eight types of AC (four coal-based and four wood-based). AC showed the capability to admit tetG and the average reduction of tetG for coal-based and wood-based ACs at the AC dose of 1 g·L-1 was 3.12 log and 3.65 log, respectively. The uptake kinetic analysis showed that the uptake of the gene followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics reaction, and the uptake rate constant for the coal-based and wood-based ACs was in the range of 5.97 × 10-12 - 4.64 × 10-9 and 7.02 × 10-11 - 1.59 × 10-8 copies·mg-1·min-1, respectively. The uptake capacity analysis by fitting the obtained experiment data with the Freundlich isotherm model indicated that the uptake constant (KF) values were 1.71 × 103 - 8.00 × 109 (copies·g-1)1-1/n for coal-based ACs and 7.00 × 108 - 3.00 × 1010 (copies·g-1)1-1/n for wood-based ones. In addition, the correlation analysis between KF values and pore volume as well as pore surface at different pore size regions of ACs showed that relatively higher positive correlation was found for pores of 50 - 100 Å, suggesting ACs with more pores in this size region can uptake more tetG. The findings of this study are valuable as reference for optimizing the adsorption process regarding antibiotic resistance-related concerns in drinking water treatment.

A novel method for determining the resistivity of compressed superconducting materials

The measurement of resistivity in a compressed material within a diamond anvil cell presents significant challenges.The high-pressure exper-imental setup makes it difficult to directly measure the size changes induced by pressure in the three crystallographic directions of the sample.In this study,we introduce a novel and effective method that addresses these technical challenges.This method is anticipated to offer a valuable foundation for high-pressure investigations on quantum materials,particularly those with anisotropic layered structures.