State of health estimation of Li-ion batteries with regeneration phenomena: a similar rest time-based prognostic framework

State of health (SOH) prediction in Li-ion batteries plays an important role in intelligent battery management systems (BMS). However, the existence of capacity regeneration phenomena remains a great challenge for accurately predicting the battery SOH. This paper proposes a novel prognostic framework to predict the regeneration phenomena of the current battery using the data of a historical battery. The global degradation trend and regeneration phenomena (characterized by regeneration amplitude and regeneration cycle number) of the current battery are extracted from its raw SOH time series. Moreover, regeneration information of the historical battery derived from corresponding raw SOH data is utilized in this framework. The global degradation trend and regeneration phenomena of the current battery are predicted, and then the prediction results are integrated together to calculate the overall SOH prediction values. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is employed to obtain an appropriate regeneration threshold for the historical battery. Gaussian process (GP) model is adopted to predict the global degradation trend, and linear models are utilized to predict the regeneration amplitude and the cycle number of each regeneration region. The proposed framework is validated using experimental data from the degradation tests of Li-ion batteries. The results demonstrate that both the global degradation trend and the regeneration phenomena of the testing batteries can be well predicted. Moreover, compared with the published methods, more accurate SOH prediction results can be obtained under this framewor

A rest time-based prognostic framework for state of health estimation of lithium-ion batteries with regeneration phenomena

State of health (SOH) prognostics is significant for safe and reliable usage of lithium-ion batteries. To accurately predict regeneration phenomena and improve long-term prediction performance of battery SOH, this paper proposes a rest time-based prognostic framework (RTPF) in which the beginning time interval of two adjacent cycles is adopted to reflect the rest time. In this framework, SOH values of regeneration cycles, the number of cycles in regeneration regions and global degradation trends are extracted from raw SOH time series and predicted respectively, and then the three sets of prediction results are integrated to calculate the final overall SOH prediction values. Regeneration phenomena can be found by support vector machine and hyperplane shift (SVM-HS) model by detecting long beginning time intervals. Gaussian process (GP) model is utilized to predict the global degradation trend, and nonlinear models are utilized to predict the regeneration amplitude and the cycle number of each regeneration region. The proposed framework is validated through experimental data from the degradation tests of lithium-ion batteries. The results demonstrate that both the global degradation trend and the regeneration phenomena of the testing batteries can be well predicted. Moreover, compared with the published methods, more accurate SOH prediction results can be obtained under this framewor

Phylogenetic Evolution and Phylogeography of Tibetan Sheep Based on mtDNA D-Loop Sequences

The molecular and population genetic evidence of the phylogenetic status of the Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) is not well understood, and little is known about this species’ genetic diversity. Phylogenetic relationship and phylogeography of 636 individual Tibetan sheep which were collected from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau area in China and were assessed using 642 complete sequences of the mitochondrial DNA D-loop. Reference data were obtained from the six reference breed sequences available in GenBank. Phylogeography analysis showed that all four previously defined haplogroups were found in the 15 Tibetan sheep populations but that only one haplogroup was found in Linzhou sheep. Furthermore, clustering analysis divided the 636 individual Tibetan sheep into at least two clusters. The estimated genetic distance and genetic differentiation associate with altitude, suggesting geographic and adaptive effects in Tibetan sheep. These results contribute to the knowledge of Tibetan sheep populations and will help inform future conservation programs about the Tibetan sheep native to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in China

Multiphysics modeling approach for micro electro-thermo-mechanical actuator: failure mechanisms coupled analysis

The lifetime of micro electro-thermo-mechanical actuators with complex electro-thermo-mechanical coupling mechanisms can be decreased significantly due to unexpected failure events. Even more serious is the fact that various failures are tightly coupled due to micro-size and multi-physics effects. Interrelation between performance and potential failures should be established to predict reliability of actuators and improve their design. Thus, a multiphysics modeling approach is proposed to evaluate such interactive effects of failure mechanisms on actuators, where potential failures are pre-analyzed via FMMEA (Failure Modes, Mechanisms, and Effects Analysis) tool for guiding the electro-thermo-mechanical-reliability modeling process. Peak values of temperature, thermal stresses/strains and tip deflection are estimated as indicators for various failure modes and factors (e.g. residual stresses, thermal fatigue, electrical overstress, plastic deformation and parameter variations). Compared with analytical solutions and experimental data, the obtained simulation results were found suitable for coupled performance and reliability analysis of micro actuators and assessment of their design

Effects of the manufacturing process on the reliability of the multilayer structure in MetalMUMPs actuators: Residual stresses and variation of design parameters

© 2017 by the authors. Potential problems induced by the multilayered manufacturing process pose a serious threat to the long-term reliability of MEMSCAP® actuators under in-service thermal cycling. Damage would initiate and propagate in different material layers because of a large mismatch of their thermal expansions. In this research, residual stresses and variations of design parameters induced by metal multi-user micro electromechanical system processes (MetalMUMPs) were examined to evaluate their effects on the thermal fatigue lifetime of the multilayer structure and, thus, to improve MEMSCAP® design. Since testing in such micro internal structure is difficult to conduct and traditional testing schemes are destructive, a numerical subdomain method based on a finite element technique was employed. Thermomechanical deformation from metal to insulator layers under in-service temperature cycling (obtained from the multiphysics model of the entire actuator, which was validated by experimental and specified analytical solutions) was accurately estimated to define failures with a significant efficiency and feasibility. Simulation results showed that critical failure modes included interface delamination, plastic deformation, micro cracking, and thermal fatigue, similarly to what was concluded in the MEMSCAP® technical report

Structure of the Mouse TRPC4 Ion Channel

Members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels conduct cations into cells. They mediate functions ranging from neuronally mediated hot and cold sensation to intracellular organellar and primary ciliary signaling. Here we report a cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of TRPC4 in its unliganded (apo) state to an overall resolution of 3.3 Å. The structure reveals a unique architecture with a long pore loop stabilized by a disulfide bond. Beyond the shared tetrameric six-transmembrane fold, the TRPC4 structure deviates from other TRP channels with a unique cytosolic domain. This unique cytosolic N-terminal domain forms extensive aromatic contacts with the TRP and the C-terminal domains. The comparison of our structure with other known TRP structures provides molecular insights into TRPC4 ion selectivity and extends our knowledge of the diversity and evolution of the TRP channels

Composition analysis and preliminary safety evaluation of edible Monascus red pigment

ObjectiveTo provide scientific basis for the development and utilization of edible pigment Monascus red， the analysis of its key components and toxicological evaluation were carried out.MethodsIdentification test and physicochemical indexes test were carried out based on the samples according to the method in National food safety standard GB 1886.181—2016. The content of citrinin （CIT） and Monacolin K were detected through high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）. UPLC-Orbitrap-MS2 were used for chemical composition and content determination， in which the molecular structure was also characterized. The 14-day oral toxicity test of SD rats was carried out， based on the acute oral toxicity test of Monascus red by the limited method.ResultsThe quality and specification of test samples conformed to the provisions of China National Food Safety Standard. The content of CIT and Monacolin K was 0.030 8 mg/kg （converted as one color value） and 0.166 mg/g. Twenty compounds were separated in Monascus red by UPLC-Orbitrap-MS2， red pigment， orange pigment and yellow pigment of it accounted for 88.38%， 2.04% and 5.96%， respectively. The results of acute oral toxicity showed that Monascus red was innocuous （LD50>20 g/kg·BW）. In the 14-day repeated oral dose toxicity test， compared with the control group， rats in 5 g/kg·BW dose group exhibited no significant differences in the general clinical observation， growth and development， hematology， blood biochemistry， routine urine detection， gross anatomy，organ weight，organ-to-body ratio， and histopathological examinations.ConclusionMonascus red is composed of multiple components characterized by red pigments. There is no obvious toxic effects found in the preliminary safety evaluation， which can provide reference for further long-term research

Genome-wide analysis of FRF gene family and functional identification of HvFRF9 under drought stress in barley

FHY3 and its homologous protein FAR1 are the founding members of FRS family. They exhibited diverse and powerful physiological functions during evolution, and participated in the response to multiple abiotic stresses. FRF genes are considered to be truncated FRS family proteins. They competed with FRS for DNA binding sites to regulate gene expression. However, only few studies are available on FRF genes in plants participating in the regulation of abiotic stress. With wide adaptability and high stress-resistance, barley is an excellent candidate for the identification of stress-resistance-related genes. In this study, 22 HvFRFs were detected in barley using bioinformatic analysis from whole genome. According to evolution and conserved motif analysis, the 22 HvFRFs could be divided into subfamilies I and II. Most promoters of subfamily I members contained abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate response elements; however, a large number promoters of subfamily II contained gibberellin and salicylic acid response elements. HvFRF9, one of the members of subfamily II, exhibited a expression advantage in different tissues, and it was most significantly upregulated under drought stress. In-situ PCR revealed that HvFRF9 is mainly expressed in the root epidermal cells, as well as xylem and phloem of roots and leaves, indicating that HvFRF9 may be related to absorption and transportation of water and nutrients. The results of subcellular localization indicated that HvFRF9 was mainly expressed in the nuclei of tobacco epidermal cells and protoplast of arabidopsis. Further, transgenic arabidopsis plants with HvFRF9 overexpression were generated to verify the role of HvFRF9 in drought resistance. Under drought stress, leaf chlorosis and wilting, MDA and O2− contents were significantly lower, meanwhile, fresh weight, root length, PRO content, and SOD, CAT and POD activities were significantly higher in HvFRF9-overexpressing arabidopsis plants than in wild-type plants. Therefore, overexpression of HvFRF9 could significantly enhance the drought resistance in arabidopsis. These results suggested that HvFRF9 may play a key role in drought resistance in barley by increasing the absorption and transportation of water and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. This study provided a theoretical basis for drought resistance in barley and provided new genes for drought resistance breeding

Dynamic phenotypic heterogeneity and the evolution of multiple RNA subtypes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: the PLANET study

Intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH) is a key challenge in cancer treatment, but previous studies have focused mainly on the genomic alterations without exploring phenotypic (transcriptomic and immune) heterogeneity. Using one of the largest prospective surgical cohorts for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) with multi-region sampling, we sequenced whole genomes and paired transcriptomes from 67 HCC patients (331 samples). We found that while genomic ITH was rather constant across TNM stages, phenotypic ITH had a very different trajectory and quickly diversified in stage II patients. Most strikingly, 30% patients were found to contain more than one transcriptomic subtype within a single tumor. Such phenotypic ITH was found to be much more informative in predicting patient survival than genomic ITH and explains the poor efficacy of single-target systemic therapies in HCC. Taken together, we not only revealed an unprecedentedly dynamic landscape of phenotypic heterogeneity in HCC, but also highlighted the importance of studying phenotypic evolution across cancer types