Efficient Spiking Neural Networks with Biologically Similar Lithium-Ion Memristor Neurons.

Benefiting from the brain-inspired event-driven feature and asynchronous sparse coding approach, spiking neural networks (SNNs) are becoming a potentially energy-efficient replacement for conventional artificial neural networks. However, neuromorphic devices used to construct SNNs persistently result in considerable energy consumption owing to the absence of sufficient biological parallels. Drawing inspiration from the transport nature of Na+ and K+ in synapses, here, a Li-based memristor (LixAlOy) was proposed to emulate the biological synapse, leveraging the similarity of Li as a homologous main group element to Na and K. The Li-based memristor exhibits ∼8 ns ultrafast operating speed, 1.91 and 0.72 linearity conductance modulation, and reproducible switching behavior, enabled by lithium vacancies forming a conductive filament mechanism. Moreover, these memristors are capable of simulating fundamental behaviors of a biological synapse, including long-term potentiation and long-term depression behaviors. Most importantly, a threshold-tunable leaky integrate-and-fire (TT-LIF) neuron is built using LixAlOy memristors, successfully integrating synaptic signals from both temporal and spatial levels and achieving an optimal threshold of SNNs. A computationally efficient TT-LIF-based SNN algorithm is also implemented for image recognition schemes, featuring a high recognition rate of 90.1% and an ultralow firing rate of 0.335%, which is 4 times lower than those of other memristor-based SNNs. Our studies reveal the ion dynamics mechanism of the LixAlOy memristor and confirm its potential in rapid switching and the construction of SNNs.

A review of memristor: material and structure design, device performance, applications and prospects.

With the booming growth of artificial intelligence (AI), the traditional von Neumann computing architecture based on complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices are facing memory wall and power wall. Memristor based in-memory computing can potentially overcome the current bottleneck of computer and achieve hardware breakthrough. In this review, the recent progress of memory devices in material and structure design, device performance and applications are summarized. Various resistive switching materials, including electrodes, binary oxides, perovskites, organics, and two-dimensional materials, are presented and their role in the memristor are discussed. Subsequently, the construction of shaped electrodes, the design of functional layer and other factors influencing the device performance are analyzed. We focus on the modulation of the resistances and the effective methods to enhance the performance. Furthermore, synaptic plasticity, optical-electrical properties, the fashionable applications in logic operation and analog calculation are introduced. Finally, some critical issues such as the resistive switching mechanism, multi-sensory fusion, system-level optimization are discussed.

Role of PTHrP nuclear localization and carboxyl terminus sequences in postnatal spinal cord development.

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) acts under physiological conditions to regulate normal development of several tissues and organs. The role of PTHrP in spinal cord development has not been characterized. Pthrp knock in (Pthrp KI) mice were genetically modified to produce PTHrP in which there is a deficiency of the nuclear localization sequence (NLS) and C-terminus. Using this genetically modified mouse model, we have characterized its effect on spinal cord development early postnatally. The spinal cords from Pthrp KI mice displayed a significant reduction in its length, weight, and cross-sectional area compared to wild-type controls. Histologically, there was a decreased development of neurons and glial cells that caused decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. The neural stem cells (NSCs) cultures also revealed decreased cell proliferation and differentiation and increased apoptosis. The proposed mechanism of delayed spinal cord development in Pthrp KI mice may be due to alteration in associated pathways in regulation of cell-division cycles and apoptosis. There was significant downregulation of Bmi-1 and upregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27, p21, and p16 in Pthrp KI animals. We conclude that NLS and C-terminus peptide segments of PTHrP play an important role in inhibiting cell apoptosis and stimulation of cellular proliferation necessary for normal spinal cord development.

Efficient degradation of pharmaceutical micropollutants in water and wastewater by FeIII-NTA-catalyzed neutral photo-Fenton process.

Ferric-nitrilotriacetate complex (FeIII-NTA) has been adopted to catalyze the photo-Fenton degradation of emerging pharmaceutical micropollutants in water and wastewater at neutral pH. The generation of hydroxyl radicals (HO) in UVA/FeIII-NTA/H2O2 was identified by using electron spin resonance (ESR) trapping technique. The effects of critical parameters (e.g., NTA:FeIII molar ratio, FeIII-NTA and H2O2 dosages) on the steady-state HO concentrations were studied in terms of the degradation of carbamazepine (CBZ, as a model compound) in Milli-Q water. In addition, the degradation of pharmaceuticals mixtures (including CBZ, crotamiton (CRMT) and ibuprofen (IBP)) in wastewater effluents from a biological aerated filter (BAF) by UVA/FeIII-NTA/H2O2 was studied in continuous-flow mode. The results showed that the efficacies of FeIII-NTA in catalyzing photo-Fenton degradation of pharmaceuticals in wastewater effluents were comparable to those obtained by FeIII-ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (FeIII-EDDS), and far exceeded other FeIII-L complex (e.g., citric acid, malonic acid, oxalic acid and tartaric acid). More than 92% degradation efficiencies of CBZ, CRMT and IBP were obtained in continuous-flow mode under the given conditions of 0.178 mM FeIII-NTA (1:1), 4.54 mM H2O2, UVA intensity 4.05 mW cm-2, hydraulic retention time (HRT) 2 h, influent pH 7.6 (±0.2) and temperature 20 °C. The results presented herein suggest that FeIII-NTA-catalyzed neutral photo-Fenton reaction can be an alternative tertiary process for the treatment of pharmaceutical micropollutants in secondary wastewater effluents.

TCE degradation in groundwater by chelators-assisted Fenton-like reaction of magnetite: Sand columns demonstration.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation in sand columns has been investigated to evaluate the potential of chelates-enhanced Fenton-like reaction with magnetite as iron source for in situ treatment of TCE-contaminated groundwater. The results showed that successful degradation of TCE in sand columns was obtained by nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-assisted Fenton-like reaction of magnetite. Addition of ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) resulted in an inhibitory effect on TCE degradation in sand columns. Similar to EDDS, addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) also led to an inhibition of TCE degradation in sand column with small content of magnetite (0.5 w.t.%), but enhanced TCE degradation in sand column with high content of magnetite (7.0 w.t.%). Additionally, the presence of NTA, EDDS and EDTA greatly decreased H2O2 uptake in sand columns due to the competition between chelates and H2O2 for surface sites on magnetite (and sand). Furthermore, the presented results show that magnetite in sand columns remained stable in a long period operation of 230 days without significant loss of performance in terms of TCE degradation and H2O2 uptake. Moreover, it was found that TCE was degraded mainly to formic acid and chloride ion, and the formation of chlorinated organic intermediates was minimal by this process.

Enhanced Fenton-like degradation of TCE in sand suspensions with magnetite by NTA/EDTA at circumneutral pH.

The present study investigated the degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) in sand suspensions by Fenton-like reaction with magnetite (Fe3O4) in the presence of various chelators at circumneutral pH. The results showed that ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) greatly improved the rate of TCE degradation, while [S,S]-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (s,s-EDDS), malonate, citrate, and phytic acid (IP6) have minimal effects on TCE degradation. Quenching tests suggested that TCE was mainly degraded by hydroxyl radical (HO·) attack, with about 90% inhibition on TCE degradation by the addition of HO· scavenger 2-propanol. The presence of 0.1-0.5% Fe3O4/sand (w/w) contributed to 40% increase in TCE degradation rates. In particular, the use of chelators can avoid high concentrations of H2O2 required for the Fenton-like reaction with Fe3O4, and moreover improve the stoichiometric efficiencies of TCE degradation to H2O2 consumption. The suitable concentrations of chelators (EDTA and NTA) and H2O2 were suggested to be 0.5 and 20 mM, respectively. Under the given conditions, degradation rate constants of TCE were obtained at 0.360 h-1 with EDTA and 0.526 h-1 with NTA, respectively. Enhanced degradation of TCE and decreased usage of H2O2 in this investigation suggested that Fenton-like reaction of Fe3O4 together with NTA (or EDTA) may be a promising process for remediation of TCE-contaminated groundwater.