The development of artificial intelligence has posed a challenge to machine vision based on conventional complementary metal‐oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuits owing to its high latency and ...inefficient power consumption originating from the data shuffling between memory and computation units. Gaining more insights into the function of every part of the visual pathway for visual perception can bring the capabilities of machine vision in terms of robustness and generality. Hardware acceleration of more energy‐efficient and biorealistic artificial vision highly necessitates neuromorphic devices and circuits that are able to mimic the function of each part of the visual pathway. In this paper, we review the structure and function of the entire class of visual neurons from the retina to the primate visual cortex within reach (Chapter 2) are reviewed. Based on the extraction of biological principles, the recent hardware‐implemented visual neurons located in different parts of the visual pathway are discussed in detail in Chapters 3 and 4. Furthermore, valuable applications of inspired artificial vision in different scenarios (Chapter 5) are provided. The functional description of the visual pathway and its inspired neuromorphic devices/circuits are expected to provide valuable insights for the design of next‐generation artificial visual perception systems.
Biological vision is an exciting source of inspiration for the development of artificial vision systems. Using neuromorphic devices to simulate the functions of different parts in the biological vision pathway is beneficial to realize ultra‐low power consumption and high‐speed machine vision. Meanwhile, the development of photoelectric materials and the novelty of device structure accelerate the realization of this goal.
Unlike the sensory thalamus, studies on the functional organization of the midline and intralaminar nuclei are scarce, and this has hindered the establishment of conceptual models of the function of ...this brain region. We investigated the functional organization of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT), a midline thalamic structure that is increasingly being recognized as a critical node in the control of diverse processes such as arousal, stress, emotional memory and motivation, in mice. We identify two major classes of PVT neurons-termed type I and type II-that differ in terms of gene expression, anatomy and function. In addition, we demonstrate that type II neurons belong to a previously neglected class of PVT neurons that convey arousal-related information to corticothalamic neurons of the infralimbic cortex. Our results uncover the existence of an arousal-modulated thalamo-corticothalamic loop that links the PVT and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.
Memristor with low‐power, high density, and scalability fulfills the requirements of the applications of the new computing system beyond Moore's law. However, there are still nonideal device ...characteristics observed in the memristor to be solved. The important observation is that retention and speed are correlated parameters of memristor with trade off against each other. The delicately modulating distribution and trapping level of defects in electron migration‐based memristor is expected to provide a compromise method to address the contradictory issue of improving both switching speed and retention capability. Here, high‐performance memristor based on the structure of ITO/Ni single‐atoms (NiSAs/N‐C)/Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/Au is reported. By utilizing well‐distributed trapping sites , small tunneling barriers/distance and high charging energy, the memristor with an ultrafast switching speed of 100 ns, ultralong retention capability of 106 s, a low set voltage (Vset) of ≈0.7 V, a substantial ON/OFF ration of 103, and low spatial variation in cycle‐to‐cycle (500 cycles) and device‐to‐device characteristics (128 devices) is demonstrated. On the premise of preserving the strengths of a fast switching speed, this memristor exhibits ultralong retention capability comparable to the commercialized flash memory. Finally, a memristor ratioed logic‐based combinational memristor array to realize the one‐bit full adder is further implemented.
In this paper, a novel Ni single‐atoms (NiSAs/N‐C) based non‐volatile memristor to address the contradictory issue of improving both switching speed and retention capability is designed. The device exhibits an ultrafast switching speed of 100 ns and ultralong data retention capability (106 s). After fitting the Arrhenius equation to achieve a data retention lifetime over 10 years.
Reef-building corals rely on both heterotrophy and endosymbiotic dinoflagellate autotrophy to meet their metabolic needs. Those looking to culture these organisms for scientific or industrial ...purposes must therefore consider both feeding regimes and the light environment. Herein the effects of three photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) levels were assessed in fed and unfed specimens of the model coral Pocillopora acuta that were cultured in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Half of the corals were fed Artemia sp. brine shrimp in a separate feeding tank to prevent biofouling, and fragments were exposed to PAR levels of 105, 157, or 250 μmol quanta m
s
over a 12-h period each day. All cultured corals survived the 140-day treatment, and the physiological response variables assessed-buoyant weight, specific growth rate, linear extension, color, and Fv/Fm-were significantly influenced by feeding, and, to a lesser extent, light. Specifically, fed corals grew faster and larger, and presented darker pigmentation; corals fed at the highest light levels grew at the fastest rate (6 cm year
or 175 mg g
week
). Given the high physiological performance observed, we advocate the active feeding of brine shrimp in RAS by those looking to cultivate P. acuta, and likely other corals, over long-term timescales.
Edge computing is an important tool for smart computing, which brings convenience to data processing as well as security problems. In particular, the security of data storage under edge computing has ...become an obstacle to its widespread use. To solve the problem, the mechanism combing blockchain with regeneration coding is proposed to improve the security and reliability of stored data under edge computing. Our contribution is as follows. 1) According to the three-tier edge computing architecture and data security storage requirements, we proposed hybrid storage architecture and model specifically adapted to edge computing. 2) Making full use of the data storage advantages of edge network devices and cloud storage servers, we build a global blockchain in the cloud service layer and local blockchain is built on the terminals of the Internet of things. Moreover, the regeneration coding is utilized to further improve the reliability of data storage in blockchains. 3) Our scheme provides a mechanism for periodically validating hash values of data to ensure the integrity of data stored in global blockchain.
Display omitted
•Lithium-modified mesoporous zeolite as a phase boundary catalyst for biodiesel production.•Monodisperse of catalyst in methanol promote the formation of CH3O–.•The excellent reuse ...performance and regeneration performance of zeolite catalyst.•The highest biodiesel yield reached 99.68% by Response Surface Methodology.
A zeolite derived catalyst was prepared by lithium modified zeolites, which can be used as a phase boundary catalyst for the reaction of soybean oil or palm oil with short chain alcohols such as methanol or ethanol. The zeolite derived catalyst was characterized by XRD, TG, SEM, CO2-TPD, DLS and contact angles (CA). The results showed that Li3AlSiO5, the main active components of the zeolite derived catalyst, had excellent catalytic activity. The surface of the zeolite derived catalyst possess the complex pore structure, and zeolite derived catalyst belonged to monodisperse system in methanol suspension. Small molecules such as methanol could diffuse easily, and fully contacted the active sites on the surface of zeolite derived catalyst, which would promote the formation of CH3O–. Interestingly, the optical contact angle indicated that the zeolite derived catalyst had a strong hydrophilicity, so that the zeolite derived catalyst was located between the two-phase boundary of the alcohol and oil. It would offer large interfacial area and overcome the mass transfer obstacles between the multi-phase, effectively enhanced the reaction rate. Furthermore, the stability test confirmed that the zeolite derived catalyst had good reusability and universality. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the process parameters of palm oil and methanol in the synthesis of biodiesel, which has better guiding significance for the industrial production of biodiesel in the future.
Inulin, as a prebiotic, could modulate the gut microbiota. Burn injury leads to gut microbiota disorders and skeletal muscle catabolism. Therefore, whether inulin can improve burn-induced muscle ...atrophy by regulating microbiota disorders remains unknown. This study aimed to clarify that inulin intake alleviates gut microbiota disorders and skeletal muscle atrophy in burned rats. Rats were divided into the sham group, burn group, prebiotic inulin intervention group, and pseudo-aseptic validation group. A 30% total body surface area (TBSA) third-degree burn wound on dorsal skin was evaluated in all groups except the sham group. Animals in the intervention group received 7 g/L inulin. Animals in the validation group received antibiotic cocktail and inulin treatment. In our study inulin intervention could significantly alleviate the burn-induced skeletal muscle mass decrease and skeletal myoblast cell apoptosis. Inulin intake increased the abundances of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria but decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria. The biosynthesis of amino acids was the most meaningful metabolic pathway distinguishing the inulin intervention group from the burn group, and further mechanistic studies have shown that inulin can promote the phosphorylation of the myogenesis-related proteins PI3K, AKT and P70S6K and activate PI3K/AKT signaling for protein synthesis. In conclusion, inulin alleviated burn induced muscle atrophy through PI3K/AKT signaling and regulated gut microbiota dysbiosis.
Diabetes aggravates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury because of the combination effects of changes in glucose and lipid energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammatory ...response. Studies have indicated that myocardial I/R may coincide and interact with sepsis and inflammation. However, the role of LPS in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury in cardiomyocytes under high glucose conditions is still unclear. Our objective was to examine whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) could aggravate high glucose- (HG-) and hypoxia/reoxygenation- (H/R-) induced injury by upregulating ROS production to activate NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in H9C2 cardiomyocytes. H9C2 cardiomyocytes were exposed to HG (30 mM) condition with or without LPS, along with caspase-1 inhibitor (Ac-YVAD-CMK), inflammasome inhibitor (BAY11-7082), ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC), or not for 24 h, then subjected to 4 h of hypoxia followed by 2 h of reoxygenation (H/R). The cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, caspase-1 activity, and intracellular ROS production were detected by using assay kits. The incidence of pyroptosis was detected by calcein-AM/propidium iodide (PI) double staining kit. The concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in the supernatants were assessed by ELISA. The mRNA levels of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 were detected by qRT-PCR. The protein levels of NF-κB p65, NLRP3, ASC, cleaved caspase-1 (p10), IL-1β, and IL-18 were detected by western blot. The results indicated that pretreatment LPS with 1 μg/ml not 0.1 μg/ml could efficiently aggravate HG and H/R injury by activating NLRP3 inflammasome to mediate pyroptosis in H9C2 cells, as evidenced by increased LDH release and decreased cell viability in the cells, and increased expression of NLRP3, ASC, cleaved caspase-1 (p10), IL-1β, and IL-18. Meanwhile, Ac-YVAD-CMK, BAY11-7082, or NAC attenuated HG- and H/R-induced H9C2 cell injury with LPS stimulated by reversing the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. In conclusion, LPS could increase the sensitivity of H9C2 cells to HG and H/R and aggravated HG- and H/R-induced H9C2 cell injury by promoting ROS production to induce NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis.
Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play a key role in homeostasis of protein acetylation in histones and other proteins and in regulating fundamental cellular activities such as transcription. A wide range ...of brain disorders are associated with imbalances in protein acetylation levels and transcriptional dysfunctions. Treatment with various HDAC inhibitors can correct these deficiencies and has emerged as a promising new strategy for therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative disease. Here, we review and discuss intriguing recent developments in the use of HDAC inhibitors to combat neurodegenerative conditions in cellular and disease models. HDAC inhibitors have neuroprotective, neurotrophic and anti-inflammatory properties; improvements in neurological performance, learning/memory and other disease phenotypes are frequently seen in these models. We discuss the targets and mechanisms underlying these effects of HDAC inhibition and comment on the potential for some HDAC inhibitors to prove clinically effective in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
Wireless body area networks (WBANs) are expected to play a vital role in the field of patient-health monitoring shortly. They provide a convenient way to collect patient data, but they also bring ...serious problems which are mainly reflected in the safe storage of the collected data. The privacy and security of data storage in WBAN devices cannot meet the needs of WBAN users. Therefore, this paper adopts blockchain technology to store data, which improves the security of the collected data. Moreover, a storage model based on blockchain in WBAN is proposed in our solution. However, blockchain storage brings new problems, for example, that the storage space of blockchain is small, and the stored content is open to unauthorized attackers. To solve the problems above, this paper proposed a sequential aggregate signature scheme with a designated verifier (DVSSA) to ensure that the user's data can only be viewed by the designated person and to protect the privacy of the users of WBAN. In addition, the new signature scheme can also compress the size of the blockchain storage space.
PDF
