Analysis of Weather and Time Features in Machine Learning-aided ERCOT Load Forecasting

Accurate load forecasting is critical for efficient and reliable operations of the electric power system. A large part of electricity consumption is affected by weather conditions, making weather information an important determinant of electricity usage. Personal appliances and industry equipment also contribute significantly to electricity demand with temporal patterns, making time a useful factor to consider in load forecasting. This work develops several machine learning (ML) models that take various time and weather information as part of the input features to predict the short-term system-wide total load. Ablation studies were also performed to investigate and compare the impacts of different weather factors on the prediction accuracy. Actual load and historical weather data for the same region were processed and then used to train the ML models. It is interesting to observe that using all available features, each of which may be correlated to the load, is unlikely to achieve the best forecasting performance; features with redundancy may even decrease the inference capabilities of ML models. This indicates the importance of feature selection for ML models. Overall, case studies demonstrated the effectiveness of ML models trained with different weather and time input features for ERCOT load forecasting

Cloning and Characterization of TaTGW-7A Gene Associated with Grain Weight in Wheat via SLAF-seq-BSA

Thousand-grain weight (TGW) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) contributes significantly to grain yield. In the present study, a candidate gene associated with TGW was identified through specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) of DNA bulks of recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from the cross between Jing 411 and Hongmangchun 21. The gene was located on chromosome 7A, designated as TaTGW-7A with a complete genome sequence and an open reading frame (ORF). A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was present in the first exon between two alleles at TaTGW-7A locus, resulting in a Val to Ala substitution, corresponding to a change from higher to lower TGW. Cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) (TGW7A) and InDel (TG9) markers were developed to discriminate the two alleles TaTGW-7Aa and TaTGW-7Ab for higher and lower TGW, respectively. A major QTL co-segregating with TaTGW-7A explained 21.7–27.1% of phenotypic variance for TGW in the RIL population across five environments. The association of TaTGW-7A with TGW was further validated in a natural population and Chinese mini-core collections. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed higher transcript levels of TaTGW-7Aa than those of TaTGW-7Ab during grain development. High frequencies of the superior allele TaTGW-7Aa for higher TGW in Chinese mini-core collections (65.0%) and 501 wheat varieties (86.0%) indicated a strong and positive selection of this allele in wheat breeding. The molecular markers TGW7A and TG9 can be used for improvement of TGW in breeding programs

Study on the general dynamic model of biomass drying processes

[EN] Nowadays most studies of drying processes dynamics are established on empirical models without clear physical meanings, which could not predict the drying characteristic on different dryers. In order to describe the change of temperature and water content in the cut tobacco in different dryers, a mathematical model based on heat and mass transfer phenomena was developed, and the model employed the relationship of equilibrium moisture content and air humidity as basis, the difference of moisture between biomass and wet air as mass transfer driver, and the difference of temperature between biomass and wet air as heat transfer driver. The drying experiments under different air temperature and humidity are carried out on the batch rotary dryer, and the variance of temperature and moisture content in the biomass is obtained by using infrared thermometer and oven. The model is validated by two parameters with experiment data under each condition of air temperature and humidity. The results show that the drying dynamic model is well on accuracy and universality, and it could be applied on different drying device to predict the characteristic of kinds of drying processes.Wang, L.; Li, X.; Li, Q.; Lu, D.; Li, B.; Zhu, W.; Zhang, M.... (2018). Study on the general dynamic model of biomass drying processes. En IDS 2018. 21st International Drying Symposium Proceedings. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1671-1678. https://doi.org/10.4995/IDS2018.2018.7641OCS1671167

The PTEN and INK4A/ARF tumor suppressors maintain myelolymphoid homeostasis and cooperate to constrain histiocytic sarcoma development in humans.

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare malignant proliferation of histiocytes of uncertain molecular pathogenesis. Here, genetic analysis of coincident loss of Pten and Ink4a/Arf tumor suppressors in the mouse revealed a neoplastic phenotype dominated by a premalignant expansion of biphenotypic myelolymphoid cells followed by the development of HS. Pten protein loss occurred only in the histiocytic portion of tumors, suggesting a stepwise genetic inactivation in the generation of HS. Similarly, human HS showed genetic or epigenetic inactivation of PTEN, p16(INK4A), and p14(ARF), supporting the relevance of this genetically engineered mouse model of HS. These genetic and translational observations establish a cooperative role of Pten and Ink4a/Arf in the development of HS and provide mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of human HS

Effects of O₂/Ar Ratio on Preparation and Dielectric Properties of CaZrO₃ Films by Radio Frequency (RF) Magnetron Sputtering

CaZrO3 (CZO) thin films were deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates at 450 °C by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering technology. The microstructures and dielectric properties of CZO thin films were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the perovskite orthogonal CZO phase would be promoted by a higher O2 partial pressure in the flow ratio of O2/Ar after thin films were annealed at 700 °C for 3 h in air. The films prepared under the flow ratio of O2/Ar (20:40, 30:40 and 40:40) show the main perovskite crystal phase of CaZrO3 with a small amount of Ca0.2Zr0.8O1.8. The main crystal phase was Ca0.2Zr0.8O1.8 when the film was deposited under an O2/Ar ratio of 40:10. The annealed film with a 40:40 O2/Ar ratio exhibits a dielectric performance with a high dielectric constant (εr) of 25 at 1 MHz, a temperature coefficient of permittivity of not more than 122.7 ppm/°C from 0 °C to 125 °C, and a low leakage current density of about 2 × 10−7 A/cm2 at 30 V with an ohmic conduction mechanism

Study on heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics in marine S-CO

The S-CO2 power cycle has the advantages of compact structure and high energy density, which can be used to recover the waste heat of ship exhaust, thus improving the energy efficiency of ships and reducing emissions. The hybrid heat exchangers with etched plates and fins can be used as the heat transfer device of S-CO2 and exhaust, its heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics have a great influence on S- CO2 power cycle performance. In this study, a CFD model of the hybrid heat exchangers was established. The effects of different exhaust inlet temperatures, inlet mass flow rates and inlet pressures on the heat transfer and the pressure drop characteristics were analyzed by Fluent. The results show that the inlet temperatures and inlet mass flow rates of exhaust have a great influence on the heat transfer characteristics of the hybrid heat exchanger. The inlet mass flow rates and inlet pressures of exhaust have a great influence on the pressure drop characteristics of the hybrid heat exchangers. In the design of the hybrid heat exchangers, the status of the exhaust need to be considered to ensure efficient operation of the heat exchangers. The study can provide guidance for the design of the hybrid heat exchangers

INFLUENCE OF THE NOSE SHAPE OF PROJECTILES ON THE PENETRATION CHARACTERISTICS OF ALUMINUM HONEYCOMB SANDWICH PLATES

The aluminum honeycomb sandwich plates were impacted by the hemispherical-nosed projectiles and the bluntnosed projectiles launched by a one-stage gas gun,and the influence of the nose shape of projectiles on the ballistic limits,the failure mechanisms of the targets and energy absorption efficiency was analyzed.The results show that the ballistic limit of bluntnosed projectile is higher than hemispherical-nosed projectile,and the nose shape of projectile has a significant effect on the failure mode of aluminum honeycomb sandwich plates.The energy absorption efficiency of sandwich target against blunt-nosed projectile impact is significantly higher than hemispherical-nosed projectile,but the difference between the energy absorption efficiency decreases with the increase of the initial kinetic energy

Upper Palaeozoic gas accumulations of the Yimeng Uplift, Ordos Basin

This paper analyzes the Upper Palaeozoic gas accumulations and conditions of the study area by using the definition and method of petroleum system, and summarizes the natural gas accumulation pattern. The Upper Palaeozoic natural gas in the Yimeng Uplift is mainly from source rocks of Taiyuan and Shanxi Formations in the southern part and Wushenqi area. Braided channel sandbodies of alluvial fan, river channel sandbodies and distributary channel sandbodies of delta plain in the Shanxi and Xiashihezi Formations are the most favorable reservoirs. The thick mudstone layers of the Shangshihezi and Shiqianfeng Formations which cover the whole region constitute the regional seal rock, and there are also many local seal rocks. Oil source, reservoir and seal rocks form a good relationship in time and space and they form two types of assemblage which are the self-generating and self-preserving assemblage in the southern part of the Yimeng Uplift and the lower-generating and upper-preserving assemblage in the southern and northern parts. Natural gas migrated to the north through the migration pathways composed by advantageous sandbody, unconformity, faults and cracks. Structural traps and the distal accumulation pattern dominate in the northern part, while the southern part is characterized by lithologic traps and the proximal accumulation pattern. Key words: Yimeng Uplift, Upper Palaeozoic, geologic accumulation element, migration, trap, accumulation patter

Construction and validation of a PANoptosis-related lncRNA signature for predicting prognosis and targeted drug response in thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most prevalent malignancy of the endocrine system. PANoptosis, a newly discovered cell death pathway, is of interest in tumor research. However, the relationship between PANoptosis-related lncRNAs (PRlncRNAs) and TC remains unclear. The study aimed to develop a prognostic model based on PRlncRNAs in TC. Gene expression data of PANoptosis-associated genes and clinical information on TC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis, univariate/multivariate Cox analysis, and Lasso Cox regression analysis. A PRlncRNA signature was constructed and used to develop a nomogram to predict overall survival (OS). We further explored the correlation between the risk score and tumor immune microenvironment, immune checkpoints, and drug sensitivity. Moreover, we verified the expression and biological function of lncRNAs in TC cell lines. Finally, seven PRlncRNAs were used to construct a prognostic model for predicting the OS of TC patients. We found that the risk score was associated with the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the expression of critical immune checkpoints. In addition, we screened for drugs that high- or low-risk TC groups might be sensitive to. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) results showed differential expression of four PRlncRNAs (GAPLINC, IDI2-AS1, LINC02154, and RBPMS-AS1) between tumor and normal tissues. Besides, a GEO database (GSE33630) was used to verify the expression differences of PRLncRNAs in THCA tissues and normal tissues. Finally, RBPMS-AS1 was found to inhibit the proliferation and migration of TC cells. In conclusion, we developed a PANoptosis-related lncRNA prognostic risk model that offers a comprehensive understanding of TME status in patients with TC and establishes a foundation for the choice of sensitive medications and immunotherapy