Field induced evolution of regular and random 2D domain structures and shape of isolated domains in LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃

The shapes of isolated domains produced by application of the uniform external electric field in different experimental conditions were investigated experimentally in single crystalline lithium niobate LiNbO3 and lithium tantalate LiTaO3. The study of the domain kinetics by computer simulation and experimentally by polarization reversal of the model structure using two-dimensional regular electrode pattern confirms applicability of the kinetic approach to explanation of the experimentally observed evolution of the domain shape and geometry of the domain structure. It has been shown that the fast domain walls strictly oriented along X directions appear after domain merging

Evaluation of mechanical and electrical parameters of individual polyaniline nanoparticles

The work was carried out according to the state task of the Omsk Scientific Center SB RAS (project registration number AAAA-A17-117041210227-8)

Shape of isolated domains in lithium tantalate single crystals at elevated temperatures

The shape of isolated domains has been investigated in congruent lithium tantalate (CLT) single crystals at elevated temperatures and analyzed in terms of kinetic approach. The obtained temperature dependence of the growing domain shape in CLT including circular shape at temperatures above 190 °C has been attributed to increase of relative input of isotropic ionic conductivity. The observed nonstop wall motion and independent domain growth after merging in CLT as opposed to stoichiometric lithium tantalate have been attributed to difference in wall orientation. The computer simulation has confirmed applicability of the kinetic approach to the domain shape explanation. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC

Differential proteome analysis of pea roots at the early stages of symbiosis with nodule bacteria

In this paper, we have analyzed changes in the proteomic spectrum of pea Pisum sativum L. roots during inoculation with rhizobial bacteria with the aim of revealing new regulators of symbiosis development. To study the changes in the proteome spectrum of pea roots, a differential twodimensional (2-D) electrophoresis was performed using fluorescent labels Cy2 and Cy5. The images obtained made it possible to identify differences between the control variant (uninoculated roots) and the root variant after inoculation with Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae RCAM 1026 (24 hours after treatment). 20 proteins were revealed and identified, the synthesis of which was enhanced during the inoculation of pea roots by nodule bacteria. To identify the proteins, a mass spectrometric analysis of tryptic peptides was performed on a quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer combined with a high-performance liquid chromatograph. Among such proteins, the beta-subunit of the G protein and the disulfide isomerase/phospholipase C were first found, whose function can be related to the signal regulation of symbiosis. This indicates that G-proteins and phospholipases can play a key role in the development of early stages of symbiosis in peas. Further experiments are expected to show whether the beta-subunit of the G protein interacts with the receptors to Nod factors, and how this affects the further signaling. Other proteins that might be interesting were annexin D8 and D1, protein kinase interacting with calcinerin B, actin-binding protein profilin, GTP-binding protein Ran1. They may be involved in the regulation of reactions with calcium, the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and other important processes in plants. The study of the role of such regulatory proteins will later become the basis for understanding the complex system of signal regulation, which is activated in pea plants by interaction with nodule bacteria

Spatial Memory in a Spiking Neural Network with Robot Embodiment

Cognitive maps and spatial memory are fundamental paradigms of brain functioning. Here, we present a spiking neural network (SNN) capable of generating an internal representation of the external environment and implementing spatial memory. The SNN initially has a non-specific architecture, which is then shaped by Hebbian-type synaptic plasticity. The network receives stimuli at specific loci, while the memory retrieval operates as a functional SNN response in the form of population bursts. The SNN function is explored through its embodiment in a robot moving in an arena with safe and dangerous zones. We propose a measure of the global network memory using the synaptic vector field approach to validate results and calculate information characteristics, including learning curves. We show that after training, the SNN can effectively control the robot’s cognitive behavior, allowing it to avoid dangerous regions in the arena. However, the learning is not perfect. The robot eventually visits dangerous areas. Such behavior, also observed in animals, enables relearning in time-evolving environments. If a dangerous zone moves into another place, the SNN remaps positive and negative areas, allowing escaping the catastrophic interference phenomenon known for some AI architectures. Thus, the robot adapts to changing world

Self-organized growth of dendrite domains in lithium niobate and lithium tantalate single crystals

The equipment of the Ural Center for Shared Use “Modern nanotechnology” UrFU was used. The research was made possible by Russian Science Foundation (Project №14-12-00826)

Field Induced Evolution of Regular and Random 2D Domain Structures and Shape of Isolated Domains in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3

The shapes of isolated domains produced by application of the uniform external electric field in different experimental conditions were investigated experimentally in single crystalline lithium niobate LiNbO3 and lithium tantalate LiTaO3. The study of the domain kinetics by computer simulation and experimentally by polarization reversal of the model structure using two-dimensional regular electrode pattern confirms applicability of the kinetic approach to explanation of the experimentally observed evolution of the domain shape and geometry of the domain structure. It has been shown that the fast domain walls strictly oriented along X directions appear after domain merging.The research was made possible in part by Grant 03-51-6562 of INTAS; by Grant 04-02-16770 of RFBR; by Grant 03-02-39004 of RFBR-NNSF; by Grant 04-02-04007 of RFBR-DFG and by Grants 48859, 49130 and RNP 2.1.1.8272 of Program ”Development of the Scientific Potential of High Education,” by Grant MK-2434.2005.2 of President Program of Federal Agency of Education; by PhD Award Y1-P-05-20/4146 of the U.S. CRDF BRHE and Federal Agency of Education, by Grant RUE1-5037-EK-04 of CRDF FSTM

Proteomic similarity of the Littorinid snails in the evolutionary context

Background The introduction of DNA-based molecular markers made a revolution in biological systematics. However, in cases of very recent divergence events, the neutral divergence may be too slow, and the analysis of adaptive part of the genome is more informative to reconstruct the recent evolutionary history of young species. The advantage of proteomics is its ability to reflect the biochemical machinery of life. It may help both to identify rapidly evolving genes and to interpret their functions. Methods Here we applied a comparative gel-based proteomic analysis to several species from the gastropod family Littorinidae. Proteomes were clustered to assess differences related to species, geographic location, sex and body part, using data on presence/absence of proteins in samples and data on protein occurrence frequency in samples of different species. Cluster support was assessed using multiscale bootstrap resampling and the stability of clustering—using cluster-wise index of cluster stability. Taxon-specific protein markers were derived using IndVal method. Proteomic trees were compared to consensus phylogenetic tree (based on neutral genetic markers) using estimates of the Robinson–Foulds distance, the Fowlkes–Mallows index and cophenetic correlation. Results Overall, the DNA-based phylogenetic tree and the proteomic similarity tree had consistent topologies. Further, we observed some interesting deviations of the proteomic littorinid tree from the neutral expectations. (1) There were signs of molecular parallelism in two Littoraria species that phylogenetically are quite distant, but live in similar habitats. (2) Proteome divergence was unexpectedly high between very closely related Littorina fabalis and L. obtusata, possibly reflecting their ecology-driven divergence. (3) Conservative house-keeping proteins were usually identified as markers for cryptic species groups (“saxatilis” and “obtusata” groups in the Littorina genus) and for genera (Littoraria and Echinolittorina species pairs), while metabolic enzymes and stress-related proteins (both potentially adaptively important) were often identified as markers supporting species branches. (4) In all five Littorina species British populations were separated from the European mainland populations, possibly reflecting their recent phylogeographic history. Altogether our study shows that proteomic data, when interpreted in the context of DNA-based phylogeny, can bring additional information on the evolutionary history of species