Programmable and autonomous computing machine made of biomolecules.

Devices that convert information from one form into another according to a definite procedure are known as automata. One such hypothetical device is the universal Turing machine, which stimulated work leading to the development of modern computers. The Turing machine and its special cases, including finite automata, operate by scanning a data tape, whose striking analogy to information-encoding biopolymers inspired several designs for molecular DNA computers. Laboratory-scale computing using DNA and human-assisted protocols has been demonstrated, but the realization of computing devices operating autonomously on the molecular scale remains rare. Here we describe a programmable finite automaton comprising DNA and DNA-manipulating enzymes that solves computational problems autonomously. The automaton's hardware consists of a restriction nuclease and ligase, the software and input are encoded by double-stranded DNA, and programming amounts to choosing appropriate software molecules. Upon mixing solutions containing these components, the automaton processes the input molecule via a cascade of restriction, hybridization and ligation cycles, producing a detectable output molecule that encodes the automaton's final state, and thus the computational result. In our implementation 1012 automata sharing the same software run independently and in parallel on inputs (which could, in principle, be distinct) in 120 microl solution at room temperature at a combined rate of 109 transitions per second with a transition fidelity greater than 99.8%, consuming less than 10-10 W.     

South-polar features on Venus similar to those near the north pole

Venus has no seasons, slow rotation and a very massive atmosphere, which is mainly carbon dioxide with clouds primarily of sulphuric acid droplets. Infrared observations by previous missions to Venus revealed a bright 'dipole' feature surrounded by a cold 'collar' at its north pole. The polar dipole is a 'double-eye' feature at the centre of a vast vortex that rotates around the pole, and is possibly associated with rapid downwelling. The polar cold collar is a wide, shallow river of cold air that circulates around the polar vortex. One outstanding question has been whether the global circulation was symmetric, such that a dipole feature existed at the south pole. Here we report observations of Venus' south-polar region, where we have seen clouds with morphology much like those around the north pole, but rotating somewhat faster than the northern dipole. The vortex may extend down to the lower cloud layers that lie at about 50 km height and perhaps deeper. The spectroscopic properties of the clouds around the south pole are compatible with a sulphuric acid composition.     

Coherent zero-state and pi-state in an exciton-polariton condensate array

The effect of quantum statistics in quantum gases and liquids results in observable collective properties among many-particle systems. One prime example is Bose-Einstein condensation, whose onset in a quantum liquid leads to phenomena such as superfluidity and superconductivity. A Bose-Einstein condensate is generally defined as a macroscopic occupation of a single-particle quantum state, a phenomenon technically referred to as off-diagonal long-range order due to non-vanishing off-diagonal components of the single-particle density matrix. The wavefunction of the condensate is an order parameter whose phase is essential in characterizing the coherence and superfluid phenomena. The long-range spatial coherence leads to the existence of phase-locked multiple condensates in an array of superfluid helium, superconducting Josephson junctions or atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. Under certain circumstances, a quantum phase difference of pi is predicted to develop among weakly coupled Josephson junctions. Such a meta-stable pi-state was discovered in a weak link of superfluid 3He, which is characterized by a 'p-wave' order parameter. The possible existence of such a pi-state in weakly coupled atomic Bose-Einstein condensates has also been proposed, but remains undiscovered. Here we report the observation of spontaneous build-up of in-phase ('zero-state') and antiphase ('pi-state') 'superfluid' states in a solid-state system; an array of exciton-polariton condensates connected by weak periodic potential barriers within a semiconductor microcavity. These in-phase and antiphase states reflect the band structure of the one-dimensional polariton array and the dynamic characteristics of metastable exciton-polariton condensates.     

消除7A05铝合金板材各向异性的热处理工艺

为提高7A05铝合金热轧板材的综合力学性能并减少各向异性,对7A05铝合金固溶、预时效、时效和形变处理等工艺对性能的影响进行了系统的研究. 比较了供货态、形变态、回归(RRA)态和采用预时效形变热处理的优化态热处理工艺对综合力学性能的影响. 结果表明:固溶的最佳温度为480 ℃,单级时效最佳工艺为120 ℃,24 h,双级时效中第一级时效最佳工艺为90 ℃,8 h,最佳形变为25%. 通过金相组织和力学性能测试结果表明:由于预时效析出促进形变热处理时亚晶等轴化,优化态强度高,进一步改善了合金性能,减少了轧制板材纵横向力学性能各向异性倾向.     

石墨基体等离子喷涂TiC涂层耐烧蚀性能研究

采用等离子喷涂方法在石墨基体上制备出较为致密的Mo黏结层和TiC耐烧蚀涂层,利用SEM,XRD表征氧乙炔烧蚀试验前后涂层的表面形貌与相结构.结果表明:随着烧蚀距离减小,涂层质量烧蚀率呈现先增加后减小的趋势,最终趋于稳定;随着烧蚀时间增大,致密化区域快速增大,涂层质量烧蚀率略有增加.烧蚀过程中涂层经历了点状熔融、线形连接、网状连接和完全致密4个过程.TiC涂层在高温燃流作用下氧化生成TiO2并熔融,在燃流冲刷和表面张力作用下发生黏性流动,形成TiO2致密层,从而减小了机械剥落,降低了涂层质量烧蚀率.     

一种包边模边界缩进控制方法

 将确定性优化方法用于板料包边设计.汽车板料包边仿真中变形区域小导致有限元模型在变形区域的网格很小,模型计算时间太长.本文针对影响板料包边后边界缩进较大的3个参数,建立目标函数的径向基函数近似模型,并用确定性优化方法对近似模型进行优化,近似模型计算效率高,提高了优化方法计算效率,使板料包边的优化设计成为可能,并为生产中的汽车板料控制包边后的边界缩进提供了一种新的思路.     

浅谈无线网络技术在智能交通系统中的应用

无线网络是一种融合短程无线通讯技术、逐渐被用于智能交通系统等需要数据采集与检测的相关领域.可为智能交通系统的信息采集提供一种有效手段,可监测路口各个方向上的车辆,根据监测结果,改进简化、改进信号控制算法,提高交通效率.