A concise review of recent few-shot meta-learning methods

Few-shot meta-learning has been recently reviving with expectations to mimic humanity’s fast adaption to new concepts based on prior knowledge. In this short communication, we give a concise review on recent representative methods in few-shot meta-learning, which are categorized into four branches according to their technical characteristics. We conclude this review with some vital current challenges and future prospects in few-shot meta-learning

Spin transfer torques in nonlocal lateral spin valve

We report a theoretical study on the spin and electron transport in the nonlocal lateral spin valve with non-collinear magnetic configuration. The nonlocal magnetoresistance, defined as the voltage difference on the detection lead over the injected current, is derived analytically. The spin transfer torques on the detection lead are calculated. It is found that spin transfer torques are symmetrical for parallel and antiparallel magnetic configurations, which is different from that in conventional sandwiched spin valve.Comment: 7 papges, 5 figure

Highly Conductive Silver Nanoparticle-Functionalized Aramid Fiber Paper for Electrical Heaters with Rapid Response and Chemical Stability

Electrical heaters with rapid response, robust mechanical properties, and reliable chemical stability are highly desirable to meet the requirements for the development of high-performance heating systems that can be used in extreme conditions. Herein, highly conductive silver nanoparticle (AgNPs)-functionalized aramid fiber paper (AFP)-based electrical heaters were fabricated through an efficient plasma treatment and electroless plating method. The AFP/AgNPs show outstanding electrical conductivity with electrical resistance as low as 0.047 Ω/sq and maintain high electrical conductivity after 20 washing cycles and 1000 bending cycles. The AFP/AgNP-based electrical heater could reach a temperature of about 210 °C at a low voltage of 1 V with a rapid response time of 20 s. The electrical heater also exhibited sufficient heating reliability, stability, and repeatability in the long term (up to 10,000 s) and for 180 repeated heating and cooling cycles. Moreover, the electrical heaters maintain satisfactory heating performances even after being treated with acid/alkali solutions and various organic solvents. The overall performance of AFP/AgNP-based electrical heaters has been demonstrated in the application of water heating and ice melting, indicating their great potential for high-performance heating systems that can be used in various harsh conditions

Structure and dynamics of the E. coli chemotaxis core signaling complex by cryo-electron tomography and molecular simulations

To enable the processing of chemical gradients, chemotactic bacteria possess large arrays of transmembrane chemoreceptors, the histidine kinase CheA, and the adaptor protein CheW, organized as coupled core-signaling units (CSU). Despite decades of study, important questions surrounding the molecular mechanisms of sensory signal transduction remain unresolved, owing especially to the lack of a high-resolution CSU structure. Here, we use cryo-electron tomography and sub-tomogram averaging to determine a structure of the Escherichia coli CSU at sub-nanometer resolution. Based on our experimental data, we use molecular simulations to construct an atomistic model of the CSU, enabling a detailed characterization of CheA conformational dynamics in its native structural context. We identify multiple, distinct conformations of the critical P4 domain as well as asymmetries in the localization of the P3 bundle, offering several novel insights into the CheA signaling mechanism

Mechanical oscillations enhance gene delivery into suspended cells

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