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Non-volatile memories will play a decisive role in the next generation of digital technology. Flash memories are currently the key player in the field, yet they fail to meet the commercial demands of scalability and endurance. Resistive memory devices, and in particular memories based on low-cost, solution-processable and chemically tunable organic materials, are promising alternatives explored by the industry. However, to date, they have been lacking the performance and mechanistic understanding required for commercial translation. Here we report a resistive memory device based on a spin-coated active layer of a transition-metal complex, which shows high reproducibility (∼350 devices), fast switching (≤30 ns), excellent endurance (∼10 12  cycles), stability (>10 6  s) and scalability (down to ∼60 nm 2 ). In situ Raman and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy alongside spectroelectrochemistry and quantum chemical calculations demonstrate that the redox state of the ligands determines the switching states of the device whereas the counterions control the hysteresis. This insight may accelerate the technological deployment of organic resistive memories. Organic resistive memories based on a spin-coated layer of a ruthenium complex with azo-aromatic ligands show high endurance, stability and fast switching speed, as well as good device reproducibility.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/nmat5009.

Background Previous studies, which were primarily based on the fluorescent in-situ hybridisation (FISH) technique, revealed conflicting evidence regarding male foetal microchimerism in endometriosis. FISH is a relatively less sensitive technique, as it is performed on a small portion of the sample. Additionally, the probes used in the previous studies specifically detected centromeric and telomeric regions of Y chromosome, which are gene-sparse heterochromatised regions. In the present study, a panel of molecular biology tools such as qPCR, expression microarray, RNA-seq and qRT-PCR were employed to examine the Y chromosome microchimerism in the endometrium using secretory phase samples from fertile and infertile patients with severe (stage IV) ovarian endometriosis (OE) and without endometriosis. Methods Microarray expression analysis followed by validation using RNA-seq and qRT-PCR experiments at the RNA levels and further validation at the DNA level by qPCR of target inserts for selected targets in eutopic endometrium samples obtained from control (CON) and stage IV ovarian endometriosis (OE), either from fertile (FCON and FOE; n  = 30/each) or infertile (ICON and IOE; n = 30/each) women, were performed. Results Six coding (AMELY, PCDH11, SRY, TGIF2LY, TSPY3, and USP9Y) and 10 non-coding (TTTY2, TTTY4C, TTTY5, TTTYY6, TTTY8, TTTY10, TTTY14, TTTY21, TTTY22, and TTTY23) genes exhibited a bimodal pattern of expression characterised by low expression in samples from fertile patients and high expression in samples from infertile patients. Seven coding MSY-linked genes (BAGE, CD24, EIF1AY, NLGN4Y, PRKY, VCY and ZFY) exhibited differential regulation in microarray analysis, and this change was validated by RNA-seq or qRT-PCR. DNA inserts for 7 genes in various samples were validated by qPCR. The prevalence and concentration of PCR-positive target inserts for BAGE, PRKY, TTTY9A and ZFY displayed higher values in the fertile, control (FCON) patients compared with the fertile, endometriosis patients (FOE). Conclusion Several coding and non-coding MSY-linked genes displayed microchimerism as evidenced by the presence of their respective DNA inserts, along with their differential transcript expression, in the endometrium during endometriosis and in cases of infertility.

In this work, a semi-analytic method has been developed to perform the hydroelasticity analysis of containerships. For the solution of the hydrodynamic problem, a time-domain method is developed based on impulse response function (IRF); however, for the solution of the structural responses, modal superposition technique is used assuming the ship is based on Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. The time-domain amplitude of the displacements and velocities corresponding to several modes is then determined using a semi-analytic approach using Duhamel integral technique. In this paper, the effect of structural flexibility in the calculation of structural displacement, shear force, and bending moment is studied. To check the efficiency and correctness of the proposed semi-analytic method, initially, the computed results are compared with published and experimental results for two container ships with different lengths. In the second phase, a comparative study has been made to check the effect of several physical and geometric parameters such as ship length, vessel speed, and wavelength to ship length ratio. It is seen from the comparative study that ship length, Froude number, wave to ship length ratio, etc. have a significant effect in the calculations of global bending moment, shear force. From the computed results, it may be concluded that the proposed semi-analytic approach is capable of generating results within an acceptable range of engineering accuracy with negligible computational effort, and thus, it can be a very useful tool for preliminary design load for larger vessels.

Non-mechanical nano- and microscale pumps that function without the aid of an external power source and provide precise control over the flow rate in response to specific signals are needed for the development of new autonomous nano- and microscale systems. Here we show that surface-immobilized enzymes that are independent of adenosine triphosphate function as self-powered micropumps in the presence of their respective substrates. In the four cases studied (catalase, lipase, urease and glucose oxidase), the flow is driven by a gradient in fluid density generated by the enzymatic reaction. The pumping velocity increases with increasing substrate concentration and reaction rate. These rechargeable pumps can be triggered by the presence of specific analytes, which enables the design of enzyme-based devices that act both as sensor and pump. Finally, we show proof-of-concept enzyme-powered devices that autonomously deliver small molecules and proteins in response to specific chemical stimuli, including the release of insulin in response to glucose. Self-powered micropumps that are turned on by the presence of their respective substrates are formed from surface-immobilized, ATP-independent enzymes. Coupling substrate-sensing with transport enables the design of devices that deliver cargo in response to specific stimuli. Demonstrated here is the release of insulin at a rate proportional to ambient glucose concentration.

The insecticidal crystal protein derived from gram positive soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis plays an important role in controlling lepidopteran infestation. The present study seeks to protect chickpea plants from Helicoverpa armigera infestation by over expressing cry1Ac. Homologous Ubiquitin and RuBisCO small subunit (rbcS) promoters were used to transcribe cry1Ac in transgenic chickpea both constitutively and in a tissue specific manner through Agrobacterium mediated transformation of chickpea var. ICCV89314. Expressed Cry1Ac was specifically targeted to the chloroplast rich tissues using transit peptide sequence. After monitoring transgene integration by Southern hybridization, transgenic chickpea lines were further analyzed by western blot, ELISA and insect bioassay. Expression of cry1Ac in chickpea under the control of above two promoters conferred a high level of protection against pod borer infestation, where chloroplast targeting system was found to be more efficient in controlling this particular devastating lepidopteran pest.

Major, minor, and pseudomillet have a variety of bioactive components that have been promoted, including their potential to manage and prevent cancer. Nevertheless, the effects of millets and millet-based food products containing millet on cancer have not received enough attention. This research note describes a systematic-narrative hybrid method that can be used in a literature review paper to gather information about the effects of consuming millet on cancer prevention, including the bioactive compound in millet that fights cancer and different techniques for elucidating the anti-cancer potential of millet. The method prevents the reader from being overwhelmed with excessive information. The result showed that according to the findings of forty-nine investigations, phytochemicals, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, fibers, probiotics, and prebiotics are the main bioactive components of millet . Plant-based compounds inhibit cancer growth by suppressing mutations, enhancing apoptosis, managing redox signaling, preventing cell division, halting metastasis, lowering oxidative stress, and influencing neovascularization. Moreover, food products made from millet, such as bakery, confectionery, dairy, and extruded food items, have been shown to have anticancer properties. Even though some millet includes allergies, it does have cancer-fighting compounds. However, interestingly, millet also lessens negative effects brought on by chemotherapy. Suitable millet protein-based delivery systems are therefore desperately needed to improve millet's bioavailability, particularly for cancer patients. Nutrition is crucial in cancer treatment, and further research should focus on implementing optimal millet-based nutrition strategies, including supplementing nutritious foods for those unable to obtain them.

Background Previous studies of expression profiles of major endometrial effectors of steroid physiology in endometriosis have yielded markedly conflicting conclusions, presumably because the relative effects of type of endometriosis, fertility history and menstrual cycle phases on the measured variables were not considered. In the present study, endometrial mRNA and protein levels of several effectors of steroid biosynthesis and action in patients with stage III-IV ovarian endometriosis (OE) with known fertility and menstrual cycle histories were compared with the levels in control endometrium to test this concept. Methods Endometrial samples were collected from patients without endometriosis ( n  = 32) or OE stages III-IV ( n  = 52) with known fertility and cycle histories. qRT-PCR and immunoblotting experiments were performed to measure levels of NR5A1, STAR, CYP19A1, HSD17Bs, ESRs and PGR transcripts and proteins, respectively. Tissue concentrations of steroids (P4, T, E1 and E2) were measured using ELISAs. Results The levels of expression of aromatase and ERβ were lower ( P  < 0.0001) and 17β-HSD1 ( P  < 0.0001) and PRA ( P  < 0.01) were higher in OE endometrium. Lower aromatase levels and higher 17β-HSD1 levels were detected in fertile (aromatase: P  < 0.05; 17β-HSD1: P  < 0.0001) and infertile (aromatase: P  < 0.0001; 17β-HSD1: P  < 0.0001) OE endometrium than in the matched control tissues. Both proliferative (PP) and secretory (SP) phase OE samples expressed aromatase ( P  < 0.0001) and ERβ (PP: P  < 0.001; SP: P  < 0.01) at lower levels and 17β-HSD1 ( P  < 0.0001) and PRA (PP: P  < 0.01; SP: P  < 0.0001) at higher levels than matched controls. Higher 17β-HSD1 ( P  < 0.01) and E2 ( P  < 0.05) levels and a lower ( P  < 0.01) PRB/PRA ratio was observed in infertile secretory phase OE endometrium than in control. Conclusions We report that dysregulated expression of 17β-HSD1 and PGR resulting in hyperestrogenism and progesterone resistance during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, rather than an anomaly in aromatase expression, was the hallmark of eutopic endometrium from infertile OE patients. Furthermore, the results provide proof of concept that the fertility and menstrual cycle histories exerted relatively different effects on steroid physiology in the endometrium from OE patients compared with the control subjects.

Agrobacterium rhizogenes root oncogenic locus B (rolB) is known to induce hairy roots along with triggering several physiological and morphological changes when present as a transgene. However, it is still unknown how this gene triggers these changes within the plant system. In this study, the effect of rolB in‐planta, when present as a transgene, was assessed on the gene expression levels of auxin response factors (ARFs)—transcription factors which are key players in auxin‐mediated responses. The goal was to uncover Auxin/ARF‐driven transcriptional networks potentially active and working selectively, if any, in rolB transgenic background, which might potentially be associated with hairy root development. Hence, the approach involved establishing rolB‐transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants, selecting ARFs (NtARFs) for context‐relevance using bioinformatics followed by gene expression profiling. It was observed that out of the chosen NtARFs, NtARF7 and NtARF19 exhibited a consistent pattern of gene upregulation across organ types. In order to understand the significance of these selective gene upregulation, ontology‐based transcriptional network maps of the differentially and nondifferentially expressed ARFs were constructed, guided by co‐expression databases. The network maps suggested that NtARF7‐NtARF19 might have major deterministic, underappreciated roles to play in root development in a rolB‐transgenic background—as observed by higher number of “root‐related” biological processes present as nodes compared to network maps for similarly constructed other non‐differentially expressed ARFs. Based on the inferences drawn, it is hypothesized that rolB, when present as a transgene, might drive hairy root development by selective induction of NtARF7 and NtARF19, suggesting a functional link between the two, leading to the specialized and characteristic rolB‐associated traits. Significance statement In this study, it was observed that NtARF7 and NtARF19 are upregulated in rolB‐transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants. To understand their potential relevance, Gene Ontology‐based transcriptional network maps for differentially and nondifferentially expressed ARFs were constructed. Higher number of “root‐related” biological processes were observed for differentially upregulated ARFs as compared with nondifferentially expressed ARFs. Based on the inferences, the existence of a functional link was postulated between rolB and auxin via NtARF7‐NtARF19 leading to the characteristic rolB‐associated hairy root development in rolB‐transgenic background.

Background: Biotrophic interaction between host and pathogen induces generation of reactive oxygen species that leads to programmed cell death of the host tissue specifically encompassing the site of infection conferring resistance to the host. However, in the present study, biotrophic relationship between Fusarium oxysporum and chickpea provided some novel insights into the classical concepts of defense signaling and disease perception where ROS (reactive oxygen species) generation followed by hypersensitive responses determined the magnitude of susceptibility or resistant potentiality of the host. Methodology/Principal Findings: Microscopic observations detected wound mediated in planta pathogenic establishment and its gradual progression within the host vascular tissue. cDNA-AFLP showed differential expression of many defense responsive elements. Real time expression profiling also validated the early recognition of the wound inducing pathogen by the host. The interplay between fungus and host activated changes in primary metabolism, which generated defense signals in the form of sugar molecules for combating pathogenic encounter. Conclusions/Significance: The present study showed the limitations of hypersensitive response mediated resistance, especially when foreign encounters involved the food production as well as the translocation machinery of the host. It was also predicted from the obtained results that hypersensitivity and active species generation failed to impart host defense in compatible interaction between chickpea and Fusarium. On the contrary, the defense related gene(s) played a critical role in conferring natural resistance to the resistant host. Thus, this study suggests that natural selection is the decisive factor for selecting and segregating out the suitable type of defense mechanism to be undertaken by the host without disturbing its normal metabolism, which could deviate from the known classical defense mechanisms.