Metal-Insulator Phase Transition in Quasi-One-Dimensional VO₂Structures

The metal-insulator transition (MIT) in strongly correlated oxides has attracted considerable attention from both theoretical and experimental researchers. Among the strongly correlated oxides, vanadium dioxide (VO2) has been extensively studied in the last decade because of a sharp, reversible change in its optical, electrical, and magnetic properties at approximately 341 K, which would be possible and promising to develop functional devices with advanced technology by utilizing MITs. However, taking the step towards successful commercialization requires the comprehensive understanding of MIT mechanisms, enabling us to manipulate the nature of transitions. In this regard, recently, quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) VO2structures have been intensively investigated due to their attractive geometry and unique physical properties to observe new aspects of transitions compared with their bulk counterparts. Thus, in this review, we will address recent research progress in the development of various approaches for the modification of MITs in quasi-1D VO2structures. Furthermore, we will review recent studies on realizing novel functional devices based on quasi-1D VO2structures for a wide range of applications, such as a gas sensor, a flexible strain sensor, an electrical switch, a thermal memory, and a nonvolatile electrical memory with multiple resistance.</jats:p

Pathological hypersexuality induced by dopamine replacement therapy in a patient with progressive supranuclear palsy

To the Editor: The pathogenesis of pathological hypersexuality is still in controversy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pathological hypersexuality induced by two different dopamine receptor agonists in a single patient with progressive supranuclear palsy. In this case, dopamine D2 receptor agonism, perhaps specifically D3 receptor subclass agonism, might have played a key role in the development of pathological hypersexuality induced by dopamine replacement therapy

Kalman Filter-based Data Recovery in Wireless Smart Sensor Network for Infrastructure Monitoring

Extensive research effort has been made during the last decade to utilize wireless smart sensors for evaluating and monitoring structural integrity of civil engineering structures. The wireless smart sensor commonly has sensing and embedded computation capabilities as well as wireless communication that provide strong potential to overcome shortcomings of traditional wired sensor systems such as high equipment and installation cost. However, sensor malfunctioning particularly in case of long-term monitoring and unreliable wireless communication in harsh environment are the critical issues that should be properly tackled for a wider adoption of wireless smart sensors in practice. This study presents a wireless smart sensor network(WSSN) that can estimate unmeasured responses for the purpose of data recovery at unresponsive sensor nodes. A software program that runs on WSSN is developed to estimate the unmeasured responses from the measured using the Kalman filter. The performance of the developed network software is experimentally verified by estimating unmeasured acceleration responses using a simply-supported beam.clos

PutidaNET: Interactome database service and network analysis of Pseudomonas putida KT2440

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Pseudomonas putida </it>KT2440 (<it>P. putida </it>KT2440) is a highly versatile saprophytic soil bacterium. It is a certified bio-safety host for transferring foreign genes. Therefore, the bacterium is used as a model organism for genetic and physiological studies and for the development of biotechnological applications. In order to provide a more systematic application of the organism, we have constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis system of <it>P. putida </it>KT2440.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>PutidaNET is a comprehensive interaction database and server of <it>P. putida </it>KT2440 which is generated from three protein-protein interaction (PPI) methods. We used PSIMAP (Protein Structural Interactome MAP), PEIMAP (Protein Experimental Interactome MAP), and Domain-domain interactions using iPfam. PutidaNET contains 3,254 proteins, and 82,019 possible interactions consisting of 61,011 (PSIMAP), 4,293 (PEIMAP), and 30,043 (iPfam) interaction pairs except for self interaction. Also, we performed a case study by integrating a protein interaction network and experimental 1-DE/MS-MS analysis data <it>P. putida</it>. We found that 1) major functional modules are involved in various metabolic pathways and ribosomes, and 2) existing PPI sub-networks that are specific to succinate or benzoate metabolism are not in the center as predicted.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We introduce the PutidaNET which provides predicted interaction partners and functional analyses such as physicochemical properties, KEGG pathway assignment, and Gene Ontology mapping of <it>P. putida </it>KT2440 PutidaNET is freely available at <url>http://sequenceome.kobic.kr/PutidaNET</url>.</p

Comparative proteomic analysis of early salt stress-responsive proteins in roots of SnRK2 transgenic rice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The rice roots are highly salt-sensitive organ and primary root growth is rapidly suppressed by salt stress. Sucrose nonfermenting 1-related protein kinase2 (SnRK2) family is one of the key regulator of hyper-osmotic stress signalling in various plant cells. To understand early salt response of rice roots and identify SnRK2 signaling components, proteome changes of transgenic rice roots over-expressing OSRK1, a rice SnRK2 kinase were investigated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Proteomes were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and protein spots were identified by LC-MS/MS from wild type and OSRK1 transgenic rice roots exposed to 150 mM NaCl for either 3 h or 7 h. Fifty two early salt -responsive protein spots were identified from wild type rice roots. The major up-regulated proteins were enzymes related to energy regulation, amino acid metabolism, methylglyoxal detoxification, redox regulation and protein turnover. It is noted that enzymes known to be involved in GA-induced root growth such as fructose bisphosphate aldolase and methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase were clearly down-regulated. In contrast to wild type rice roots, only a few proteins were changed by salt stress in OSRK1 transgenic rice roots. A comparative quantitative analysis of the proteome level indicated that forty three early salt-responsive proteins were magnified in transgenic rice roots at unstressed condition. These proteins contain single or multiple potential SnRK2 recognition motives. In vitro kinase assay revealed that one of the identified proteome, calreticulin is a good substrate of OSRK1.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our present data implicate that rice roots rapidly changed broad spectrum of energy metabolism upon challenging salt stress, and suppression of GA signaling by salt stress may be responsible for the rapid arrest of root growth and development. The broad spectrum of functional categories of proteins affected by over-expression of OSRK1 indicates that OSRK1 is an upstream regulator of stress signaling in rice roots. Enzymes involved in glycolysis, branched amino acid catabolism, dnaK-type molecular chaperone, calcium binding protein, Sal T and glyoxalase are potential targets of OSRK1 in rice roots under salt stress that need to be further investigated.</p