Stochastic transition in synchronized spiking nanooscillators.

This work reports that synchronization of Mott material-based nanoscale coupled spiking oscillators can be drastically different from that in conventional harmonic oscillators. We investigated the synchronization of spiking nanooscillators mediated by thermal interactions due to the close physical proximity of the devices. Controlling the driving voltage enables in-phase 1:1 and 2:1 integer synchronization modes between neighboring oscillators. Transition between these two integer modes occurs through an unusual stochastic synchronization regime instead of the loss of spiking coherence. In the stochastic synchronization regime, random length spiking sequences belonging to the 1:1 and 2:1 integer modes are intermixed. The occurrence of this stochasticity is an important factor that must be taken into account in the design of large-scale spiking networks for hardware-level implementation of novel computational paradigms such as neuromorphic and stochastic computing.

Men's Physical Stature: Tackling Heightism and Challenges in Fashion Consumption.

In light of the limitations of previous research on fashion consumption by short men, the present study was undertaken to examine the relationship between male body image, height perceptions, clothing choice, garment fit, and heightism. In this study, 3D body scanning technology and in-depth interviews were employed to investigate the relational effects between men's height, body image, and clothing consumption. In total, twelve men exhibiting a height of 5' 8″ or less participated. The findings indicate that "heightism" is prevalent in today's society. As well, the results reveal that overall appearance and physical stature become less important as people grow older. It is evident that short male consumers encounter challenges when they shop for fashionable and well-fitting clothing. They are underserved by the fashion industry and often impacted by judgmental biases. The study supports that garment alteration and buying clothes from the children's section, or a bespoke tailor are not ideal solutions for short men. Furthermore, many of them just accept the fact that they are short and try to find ways to alleviate their frustration when consuming fashion.

Inherent stochasticity during insulator-metal transition in VO2.

Vanadium dioxide (VO2), which exhibits a near-room-temperature insulator-metal transition, has great potential in applications of neuromorphic computing devices. Although its volatile switching property, which could emulate neuron spiking, has been studied widely, nanoscale studies of the structural stochasticity across the phase transition are still lacking. In this study, using in situ transmission electron microscopy and ex situ resistive switching measurement, we successfully characterized the structural phase transition between monoclinic and rutile VO2 at local areas in planar VO2/TiO2 device configuration under external biasing. After each resistive switching, different VO2 monoclinic crystal orientations are observed, forming different equilibrium states. We have evaluated a statistical cycle-to-cycle variation, demonstrated a stochastic nature of the volatile resistive switching, and presented an approach to study in-plane structural anisotropy. Our microscopic studies move a big step forward toward understanding the volatile switching mechanisms and the related applications of VO2 as the key material of neuromorphic computing.