The next-generation sequencing technology: A technology review and future perspective

As one of the most powerful tools in biomedical research, DNA sequencing not only has been improving its productivity in an exponential growth rate but also been evolving into a new layout of technological territories toward engineering and physical disciplines over the past three decades. In this technical review, we look into technical characteristics of the next-gen sequencers and provide prospective insights into their future development and applications. We envisage that some of the emerging platforms are capable of supporting the $1000 genome and $100 genome goals if given a few years for technical maturation. We also suggest that scientists from China should play an active role in this campaign that will have profound impact on both scientific research and societal healthcare systems.

Neuro-Stimulus Chip with Photodiodes Array for Sub-retinal Implants

A prototype neuro-stimulus chip for sub-retinal implants in blind patients affected by Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) or Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is presented in this paper. This retinal prosthetic chip was designed to replace the degenerated photoreceptor cells, and in order to stimulate directly the remaining healthy layers of retinal neurons. The current stimulus circuits are monolithic integrated with photodiodes (PD) array, which can convert the illumination on the eyes into bi-phasic electrical pulses. In addition, a novel charge cancellation circuit is used to discharge the electrodes for medical safty. The prototype chip is designed and fabricated in HJTC 0.18 mu m N-well CMOS 1P6M Mix-signal process, with a +/- 2.5 V dual voltage power supply.

Reduction-Based Model Updating of a Scaled Offshore Platform Structure

This paper attempts to develop a reduction-based model updating technique for jacket offshore platform structure. A reduced model is used instead of the direct finite-element model of the real structure in order to circumvent such difficulties as huge degrees of freedom and incomplete experimental data that are usually civil engineers' trouble during the model updating. The whole process consists of three steps: reduction of FE model, the first model updating to minimize the reduction error, and the second model updating to minimize the modeling error of the reduced model and the real structure. According to the performance of jacket platforms, a local-rigidity assumption is employed to obtain the reduced model. The technique is applied in a downscale model of a four-legged offshore platform where its effectiveness is well proven. Furthermore, a comparison between the real structure and its numerical models in the following model validation shows that the updated models have good approximation to the real structure. Besides, some difficulties in the field of model updating are also discussed.

Analysis of current induced by long internal solitary waves in stratified ocean

An approximate theoretical expression for the current induced by long internal solitary waves is presented when the ocean is continuously or two-layer stratified. Particular attention is paid to characterizing velocity fields in terms of magnitude, flow components, and their temporal evolution/spatial distribution. For the two-layer case, the effects of the upper/lower layer depths and the relative layer density difference upon the induced current are further studied. The results show that the horizontal components are basically uniform in each layer with a shear at the interface. In contrast, the vertical counterparts vary monotonically in the direction of the water depth in each layer while they change sign across the interface or when the wave peak passes through. In addition, though the vertical components are generally one order of magnitude smaller than the horizontal ones, they can never be neglected in predicting the heave response of floating platforms in gravitationally neutral balance. Comparisons are made between the partial theoretical results and the observational field data. Future research directions regarding the internal wave induced flow field are also indicated.

全永磁ECR离子源研究进展

Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion source is regarded as the most efficient machine to produce stable multiple charge state ion beams. Because of the special characteristics, all-permanent magnet ECR ion sources have been widely adopted around the world to produce stable ion beams of multiple charge state with good repetition have been widely adopted around the world to produce stable ion beams of multiple charge state with good repetition and high duty factor for compact research platforms and ion beam implanters. In this paper, all-permanent magnet ECR ion sources developed at IMP are presented, and typical parameters and performances are discussed. The high charge state source, LAPECR2, is mainly used to produce intense high charge state ion beams, and the LAPECR1 source is designed to produce intense ion beams of medium and low charge state. An improved LAPECR1-M is specially designed to produce heavy metal ion beams of low charge state. These ECR ion sources have been adopted by different experimental terminals at IMP and, with their nice performance, many experimental studies could be possible. 中文文摘：ECR(电子回旋共振)离子源是产生稳定的强流多电荷态离子束流最有效装置。全永磁ECR 离子源因其独特的特点为很多中小型多电荷态离子束流实验平台与离子注入机等系统所采用，为后者产生重复性好、稳定性强的多电荷态离子束流。本文着重论述了中国科学院近代物理研究所研制的几台全永磁多电荷态ECR 离子源及其特性与典型性能，如能产生强流高电荷态离子束流的高性能全永磁离子源LAPECR2，能产生强流中 低电荷态离子束流的LAPECR1，能产生多电荷态重金属离子束流的LAPECR1-M 等。这些性能稳定的离子源为提高近代物理研究所相关试验平台的性能提供了关键的束流品质保障。

The Compact Pulsed Hadron Source: A Design Perspective

During the past. decades, large-scale national neutron sources have been developed in Asia, Europe, and North America. Complementing such efforts, compact hadron beam complexes and neutron sources intended to serve primarily universities and industrial institutes have been proposed, and some have recently been established. Responding to the demand in China for pulsed neutron/proton-beam platforms that are dedicated to fundamental and applied research for users in multiple disciplines from materials characterization to hadron therapy and radiography to accelerator-driven sub-critical reactor systems (ADS) for nuclear waste transmutation, we have initiated the construction of a compact, yet expandable, accelerator complex-the Compact Pulsed Hadron Source (CPHS). It consists of an accelerator front-end (a high-intensity ion source, a 3-MeV radio-frequency quadrupole linac (RFQ), and a 13-MeV drift-tube linac (DTL)), a neutron target station (a beryllium target with solid methane and room-temperature water moderators/reflector), and experimental stations for neutron imaging/radiography, small-angle scattering, and proton irradiation. In the future, the CPHS may also serve as an injector to a ring for proton therapy and radiography or as the front end to an ADS test facility. In this paper, we describe the design of the CPHS technical systems and its intended operation.

Flourescent Switch Constructed Based on Hemin-Sensitive Anionic Conjugated Polymer and Its Applications in DNA-Related Sensors

Here, a fluorescent switch is constructed combining hemin, hemin aptamer, and a newly synthesized anionic conjugated polymer (ACP), poly(9,9-bis(6'-phosphate-hexyl) fluorenealt-1,4-phenylene) sodium salt (PFHPNa/PFP). In the "off-state", the fluorescence of PFP is sensitively quenched by hemin, with a high K-sv value of similar to 10(7). While in the "on-state", the formation of the aptamer/hemin complex recovers the fluorescence intensity. The fluorescent switch is sensitive and selective to hemin. To testify the universality and practicality of the fluorescent switch, a series of label-free DNA-related sensing platforms are developed, containing three DNA sensing strategies and one ATP recognition strategy. The fluorescent switch developed is simple, sensitive, and universal, which extends applications of the anionic conjugated polymers.

Controlled nucleation and growth of surface-confined gold nanoparticles on a (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane-modified class slide: A strategy for SPR substrates

The thickness of the gold film and its morphology, including the surface roughness, are very important for getting a good, reproducible response in the SPR technique. Here, we report a novel alternative approach for preparing SPR-active substrates that is completely solution-based. Our strategy is based on self-assembly of the gold colloid monolayer on a (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane-modified glass slide, followed by electroless gold plating. Using this method, the thickness of films can be easily controlled at the nanometer scale by setting the plating time in the same conditions. Surface roughness and morphology of gold films can be modified by both tuning the size of gold nanoparticles and agitation during the plating. Surface evolution of the Au film was followed in real time by UV-vis spectroscopy and in situ SPRS. To assess the surface roughness and electrochemical stability of the Au films, atomic force microscopy and cyclic voltammetry were used. In addition, the stability of the gold adhesion is demonstrated by three methods. The as-prepared Au films on substrates are reproducible and stable, which allows them to be used as electrodes for electrochemical experiments and as platforms for studying SAMs.

Hydrazines probe of interaction of horseradish peroxidase with cryo-hydrogel

The interaction between horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the cryo-hydrogel was probed by using hydrazines which show high specificity of the reaction of the edge in the prosthetic heme of horseradish peroxidase. For comparison, the interaction of hydrazine with the horseradish peroxidase adsorbed on graphite electrode was also carried out by using steady-state response of the enzyme electrode and cyclic voltammetry. In order to obtain a proper explanation of the kinetic parameters for the enzymatic reaction, the theoretical expressions of I-max and K-M' in the Michaelis-Menten equation for the experimental system were provided. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

Numerical simulation of tides and tidal currents in Liaodong Bay with POM

A three-dimensional ocean circulation model, called Princeton Ocean Model (POM), is employed to simulate tides and tidal currents in Liaodong Bay. The nested grid technique is adopted to improve the computation precision. Computed harmonic constants of M-1, M-2 tides at five tidal gauge stations and surface elevations at two oil platforms are compared with those observed, and show good agreements with them. Based on the calculated results, the co-amplitude and co-phase tag lines of nil and M-2 tidal constituents, the residual current field of M-2 constituent, tidal form, tidal Current ellipse and the moving style of tidal current are given. It is found that diurnal tidal constituents have no amphidromic point whereas semi-diurnal constituents have one in the region of interest. Meanwhile, some meaningful results are concluded and presented, which are conducive to a thorough knowledge of the characteristics of tides and tidal currents in the Liaodong Bay.

Impact of astaxanthin-enriched algal powder of Haematococcus pluvialis on memory improvement in BALB/c mice

The impact of astaxanthin-enriched algal powder on auxiliary memory improvement was assessed in BALB/c mice pre-supplemented with different dosages of cracked green algal (Haematococcus pluvialis) powder daily for 30 days. The supplemented mice were first tested over 8 days to find a hidden platform by swimming in a Morris water maze. Then, for 5 days, the mice were used to search for a visible platform in a Morris water maze. After that, the mice practised finding a safe place-an insulated platform in a chamber-for 2 days. During these animal experimental periods, similar algal meals containing astaxanthin at 0, 0.26, 1.3 and 6.4 mg/kg body weight were continuously fed to each group of tested mice. Profiles of latency, distance, speed and the direction angle to the platforms as well as the diving frequency in each group were measured and analyzed. The process of mice jumping up onto the insulated platform and diving down to the copper-shuttered bottom with a 36 V electrical charge were also monitored by automatic video recording. The results of the Morris maze experiment showed that middle dosage of H. pluvialis meals (1.3 mg astaxanthin/kg body weight) significantly shortened the latency and distance required for mice to find a hidden platform. However, there was no obvious change in swim velocity in any of the supplemented groups. In contrast, the visible platform test showed a significant increase in latency and swim distance, and a significant decrease in swim speed for all groups of mice orally supplemented with H. pluvialis powder compared to the placebo group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Mice supplemented with the algal meal hesitantly turned around the original hidden platform, in contract to mice supplemented with placebo, who easily forgot the original location and accepted the visible platform as a new safe place. These results illustrate that astaxanthin-enriched H. pluvialis powder has the auxiliary property of memory improvement. The results from the platform diving test showed that the low and middle dosage of H. pluvialis powder, rather that the high dosage, increased the latency and reduced the frequency of diving from the safe insulated platform to the electrically stimulated copper shutter, especially in the low treatment group (P < 0.05). These results indicate that H. pluvialis powder is associated with dose-dependent memory improvement and that a low dosage of algal powder (<= middle treatment group) is really good for improving the memory.

基于MontaVista Linux的开放式机器人控制器研究与实现

本文提出了一种基于MontaVista Linux操作系统的开放式机器人控制器,该系统采用CAN总线作为控制器的系统总线。由于MontaVista Linux操作系统的开放性和良好的移植性,使得系统可以方便扩展、定制不同的应用软件模块和操作系统模块,并且在各种硬件平台间具有良好的移植性。同时由于采用CAN总线作为系统总线,使得系统可灵活配置且可以通过现场总线与其它设备共享数据。

基于并联机器人的船载炮半物理仿真试验系统研究

20世纪90年代以来，并联机器人被广为注意，成了机器人技术新的热点。并联机器人技术被广泛地应用在工业、航天、航海等领域，尤其是并联机床，佩一出现就引起了广泛的关注，被称为是“21世纪的机床”，“20世纪机床首次革命性改型”。为了提高船载炮射击训练效益，解决船载炮兵训练的保障问题，同时也为船载炮兵训练的保障工作探索新的路子，提出研制基于并联机器人的船载炮半物理仿真试验系统，使训练可以不受天气、场地的限制。本系统采用模拟船、操瞄炮等设备与计算机图形虚拟技术相结合的方式组成船载炮半物理仿真试验系统。系统既要虚拟船载炮的作战环境，又要实现船在海浪中的6维运动。采用3自由度并联机器人平台构建模拟船，实现船的3维转动；采用计算机仿真虚拟作战环境，并实现船的3维移动。本文介绍了整个系统的软硬件构成，硬件从三自由度并联机构的运动学到控制系统的结构，软件从形成虚拟视景的图形驱动原理到主程序界面，最后展示了系统的硬件实物和软件界面的照片。基于并联机器人的船载炮半物理仿真试验系统具有以下特点：1．采用变频调速技术，研制了三自由度并联机构模拟系统，实现了船炮平台的运动模拟，使系统具有负载能力强、成本低、性能可靠等特点。2.整个系统由计算机图形分系统、动态数据采集与处理分系统、船的运动模拟分系统等组成，实现了船载炮兵射击指挥和火炮操作的模拟训练。 3．应用了多传感器信息融合技术，实现了多信息实时处理，达到了实时仿真的要求。系统能够实时检测船姿态和火炮操作状态等信息，评价射击效果。4.采用三自由度的旋转模拟与图像三自由度的平移运动相结合的方法，实现了六自由度的炮目相对运动模拟效果。该系统可用于模拟炮兵部队实施渡海登陆作战，对岸防目标、海上目标射击和指挥训练。完成船载炮兵的火炮操瞄和射击指挥的教学、训练及考核任务。

制造系统的可重构性

可重构制造模式是一种指导管理和控制制造系统重构过程的制造哲理 ,它使制造系统有效地响应不断变化的环境。制造系统具有可重构能力是其生存和发展的基本手段 ,具有较高可重构性的公司在风云突变的环境中将远远超过其竞争对手。本文探讨了可重构制造模式的基本定义和内涵 ,并从组织、过程、产品、加工系统和信息平台等五个方面研究了制造系统的可重构性。

一种并联机床运动平台位姿测量方法

提出一种采用附加测量机构直接测量并联机床运动平台位姿精度的方法。其基本思想是根据运动平台的运动特性在固定平台和运动平台之间增设附加测量机构，当运动平台运动时带动测量机构运动，通过安装在测量机构上的传感器测得广义坐标参量， 经运动学建模即可得到运动平台的位姿。当测量机构位姿正解求解速度满足实时控制要求时，利用该反馈信息对机床进行实时精度补偿和控制。基于上述思想建立的并联机床位姿测量系统可部分排除机床切削力变形和运动副间隙等误差， 从而提高机床的位姿测量精度。以一种五坐标并联机床为例，介绍采用附加测量机构直接测量运动平台位姿精度的建模方法。其中， 测量机构的综合十分重要。测量机构的组成决定了运动学模型的复杂程度， 即决定了运动学模型的计算效率。