Developing high-efficiency base editors by combining optimized synergistic core components with new types of nuclear localization signal peptide

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)–CRISPR-associated protein(Cas) system has been widely used for genome editing. In this system, the cytosine base editor(CBE) and adenine base editor(ABE) allow generating precise and irreversible base mutations in a programmable manner and have been used in many different types of cells and organisms. However, their applications are limited by low editing efficiency at certain genomic target sites or at specific target cytosine(C) or adenine(A) residues. Using a strategy of combining optimized synergistic core components, we developed a new multiplex super-assembled ABE(sABE) in rice that showed higher base-editing efficiency than previously developed ABEs. We also designed a new type of nuclear localization signal(NLS) comprising a FLAG epitope tag with four copies of a codon-optimized NLS(F4NLS^(r2)) to generate another ABE named F4NLS-sABE. This new NLS increased editing efficiency or edited additional A at several target sites. A new multiplex super-assembled CBE(sCBE) and F4NLS^(r2) involved F4NLS-sCBE were also created using the same strategy. F4NLS-sCBE was proven to be much more efficient than sCBE in rice. These optimized base editors will serve as powerful genome-editing tools for basic research or molecular breeding in rice and will provide a reference for the development of superior editing tools for other plants or animals.

Design of a Broadband E-Plane Power Combiner Based on Quarter-Arc Bent Rectangular Waveguides for Sub-THz and THz Wave

A method of designing an E-plane power combiner composed of two quarter-arc bent rectangular waveguides is proposed for sub-THz and THz waves. The quarter-arc bent-waveguide power combiner has a simple geometry which is easy to design and fabricate. By HFSS codes, the physical mechanism and performance of the power combiner are analyzed, and the relationship between the output characteristics and the structure/operating parameters is given. Simulation results show that our power combiner is suitable for the combining of two equalpower and reversed-phase signals, the bandwidth of the combiner is wide and can be adjusted by the radius of the quarter-arc, and the isolation performance of the combiner can be improved by adding thin film resistive septa at the junction of two quarter-arc bent waveguides. Meanwhile, an approximate method based on the analytic geometrical analysis is given to design this power combiner for different frequency bands.

Hepatic CT image retrieval based on the combination of Gabor filters and support vector machine

Content-based image retrieval has been an active area of research for more than ten years. Gabor schemes and support vector machine （SVM） method have been proven effective in image representation and clas-sification. In this paper, we propose a retrieval scheme based on Gabor filters and SVMs for hepatic computed tomography （CT） images query. In our experiments, a batch of hepatic CT images containing several types of CT findings are used for the retrieval test. Precision comparison between our scheme and existing methods is presented.

Development on astable multivibrators using the combination of linear and non-linear materials as switching elements based on all optial method

In this communication we propose a method to implement an all-optical astable multivibrator using the non-linear material based switches and logic gates. The scheme can operate in real time. The delay time can achieve ps(pico-second). The pulse duration can be made very low and may cross the THz easily by selecting proper material and laser source.

Unsteady flow characteristic analysis of turbine based combined cycle(TBCC)inlet mode transition10.1016/j.jppr.2015.07.006

A turbine based combined cycle(TBCC)propulsion system uses a turbine-based engine to accelerate the vehicle from takeoff to the mode transition flight condition,at which point,the propulsion system performs a“mode transition”from the turbine to ramjet engine.Smooth inlet mode transition is accomplished when flow is diverted from one flowpath to the other,without experiencing unstart or buzz.The smooth inlet mode transition is a complex unsteady process and it is one of the enabling technologies for combined cycle engine to become a functional reality.In order to unveil the unsteady process of inlet mode transition,the research of over/under TBCC inlet mode transition was conducted through a numerical simulation.It shows that during the mode transition the terminal shock oscillates in the inlet.During the process of inlet mode transition mass flow rate and Mach number of turbojet flowpath reduce with oscillation.While in ramjet flowpath the flow field is non-uniform at the beginning of inlet mode transition.The speed of mode transition and the operation states of the turbojet and ramjet engines will affect the motion of terminal shock.The result obtained in present paper can help us realize the unsteady flow characteristic during the mode transition and provide some suggestions for TBCC inlet mode transition based on the smooth transition of thrust.

Improved all-optical OR logic gate based on combined Brillouin gain and loss in an optical fiber

Improved all-optical OR gates are proposed, using a novel fiber nonlinearity-based technique, based on the principles of combined Brillouin gain and loss in a polarization-maintaining fiber （PMF）. Switching contrasts are simulated to be between 82.4%-83.6%, for two respective configurations, and switching time is comparable to the phonon relaxation time in stimulated Brillouin scattering （SBS）.

Humidity and temperature sensor based on GOQDs-PVA coated tapered no-core fiber combined with FBG

A simple structure optical fiber sensor for relative humidity(RH) and temperature measurement is proposed and verified in this paper, which is based on graphene oxide quantum dots and polyvinyl alcohol(GOQDs-PVA) composite coated tapered no-core fiber(NCF) combined with a fiber Bragg grating(FBG). FBG is insensitive to humidity and sensitive to temperature, which is used to compensate temperature of the sensor. Experimental results show this sensor has humidity sensitivity of 143.27 pm/%RH ranging from 30%RH to 80%RH and the temperature sensitivity of 9.21 pm/℃. The proposed sensor has advantages of simple structure, good repeatability, and good stability, which is expected to be used in both RH and temperature measurement in biological and chemical fields.

Unsteady supercritical/critical dual flowpath inlet flow and its control methods

The characteristics of unsteady flow in a dual-flowpath inlet, which was designed for a Turbine Based Combined Cycle（TBCC） propulsion system, and the control methods of unsteady flow were investigated experimentally and numerically. It was characterized by large-amplitude pressure oscillations and traveling shock waves. As the inlet operated in supercritical condition,namely the terminal shock located in the throat, the shock oscillated, and the period of oscillation was about 50 ms, while the amplitude was 6 mm. The shock oscillation was caused by separation in the diffuser. This shock oscillation can be controlled by extending the length of diffuser which reduces pressure gradient along the flowpath. As the inlet operated in critical condition, namely the terminal shock located at the shoulder of the third compression ramp, the shock oscillated,and the period of oscillation was about 7.5 ms, while the amplitude was 12 mm. At this condition,the shock oscillation was caused by an incompatible backpressure in the bleed region. It can be controlled by increasing the backpressure of the bleed region.