Mechanism of electric-pulse-induced resistance switching in manganites

We investigate the electric-pulse-induced resistance switching in manganite systems. We find a "complementarity" effect where the contact resistance of electrodes at opposite ends show variations of opposite sign and is reversible. The temperature dependence of the magnitude of the effect reveals a dramatic enhancement at a temperature T*, below the metal-insulator transition. We qualitatively capture these features with a theoretical model, providing evidence for the physical mechanism of the resistance switching. We argue that doping control of the electronic state of the oxide at the interfaces is the mechanism driving the effect.     

Activation of Sperm EGFR by Light Irradiation is Mediated by Reactive Oxygen Species

To acquire fertilization competence, spermatozoa must undergo several biochemical and motility changes in the female reproductive tract, collectively called capacitation. Actin polymerization and the development of hyperactivated motility (HAM) are part of the capacitation process. In a recent study, we showed that irradiation of human sperm with visible light stimulates HAM through a mechanism involving reactive‐oxygen‐species (ROS), Ca²⁺ influx, protein kinases A (PKA), and sarcoma protein kinase (Src). Here, we showed that this effect of light on HAM is mediated by ROS‐dependent activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Interestingly, ROS‐mediated HAM even when the EGFR was activated by EGF, the physiological ligand of EGFR. Light irradiation stimulated ROS‐dependent actin polymerization, and this effect was abrogated by PBP10, a peptide which activates the actin‐severing protein, gelsolin, and causes actin‐depolymerization in human sperm. Light‐stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of Src‐dependent gelsolin, resulting in enhanced HAM. Thus, light irradiation stimulates HAM through a mechanism involving Src‐mediated actin polymerization. Light‐stimulated HAM and in vitro‐fertilization (IVF) rate in mouse sperm, and these effects were mediated by ROS and EGFR. In conclusion, we show here that irradiation of sperm with visible light, enhances their fertilization capacity via a mechanism requiring ROS, EGFR and HAM.     

Reactivity of metal-containing monomers 70. Preparation and magnetic properties of metal-containing nanocomposites

Nanocomposites containing magnetically active nanoparticles stabilized by the carbon-containing matrix formed in parallel were obtained by the polymerization—destruction synthesis. The composition, structure, and magnetic properties of nanocomposites synthesized by the thermal decomposition of unsaturated metal carboxylates and transition metal (Co^II, Ni^II, Fe^III) acrylamide complexes were studied by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The key macro stages and kinetic features of thermolysis of the metal-containing monomers were identified. The variation of the conditions of thermal transformations allows one to control the magnetic properties of nanocomposites from ferromagnetic to superparamagnetic behavior.

     

Range Minima Queries with Respect to a Random Permutation,and Approximate Range Counting

In approximate halfspace range counting, one is given a set P of n points in ℝ ^d , and an ε>0, and the goal is to preprocess P into a data structure which can answer efficiently queries of the form: Given a halfspace h, compute an estimate N such that (1−ε)|P∩h|≤N≤(1+ε)|P∩h|.