Robust optimal dispatching model and a benefit allocation strategy for rural novel virtual power plants incorporating biomass waste energy conversion and carbon cycle utilization

To optimize the utilization of rural biomass waste resources (e.g., straw and solid waste), biomass waste energy conversion (BWEC) and carbon cycle utilization (CCU) are integrated into a traditional virtual power plant, i.e., a rural BWEC-CCU-based virtual power plant. Furthermore, a fuzzy robust two-stage dispatching optimal model for the BWEC-CCU-based virtual power plant is established considering the non-determinacy from a wind power plant (WPP) and photovoltaic (PV) power. The scheduling model includes the day-ahead deterministic dispatching model and real-time uncertainty dispatching model. Among them, in the day-ahead dispatching phase, the dispatching plan is formulated with minimum operating cost and carbon emission targets. In the real-time dispatching phase, the optimal dispatching strategy is formulated aiming at minimum deviation adjustment cost by applying the Latin hypercube sampling method. The robust stochastic theory is used to describe the uncertainty. Third, in order to achieve optimal distribution of multi-agent cooperation benefits, a benefit distribution strategy based on Nash negotiation is designed considering the three-dimensional interfering factor of the marginal benefit contribution, carbon emission contribution, and deviation risk. Finally, a rural distribution network in Jiangsu province, China, is selected for case analysis, and the results show that 1) the synergistic optimal effect of BWEC and CCU is obvious, and the operation cost and deviation adjustment cost could decrease by 26.21% and 39.78%, respectively. While the capacity ratio of WPP + PV, BWEC, and CCU is 5:3:2, the dispatching scheme is optimum. 2) This scheduling model can be used to formulate the optimal scheduling scheme. Compared with the robust coefficient Γ = 0, when Γ = 1, the WPP and PV output decreased by 15.72% and 15.12%, and the output of BWEC and CCU increased by 30.7% and 188.19%, respectively. When Γ∈ (0.3, 0.9), the growth of Γ has the most direct impact on the dispatching scheme. 3) The proposed benefit equilibrium allocation strategy can formulate the most reasonable benefit allocation plan. Compared with the traditional benefit allocation strategy, when the proposed method is used, the benefit share of the WPP and PV reduces by 5.2%, and the benefit share of a small hydropower station, BWEC, and CCU increases by 1.7%, 9.7%, and 3.8%, respectively. Overall, the proposed optimal dispatching and benefit allocation strategy could improve the aggregated utilization of rural biomass waste resources and distributed energy resources while balancing the benefit appeal of different agents

Soil aggregate-associated distribution of DDTs and HCHs and bareland soils in the Danjiangkou Reservoir Area of in farmland China

Soil organic matter (SOM) is the principal aggregating agent for soil aggregation and also the main adsorbent for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), which may thereby affect OCP distribution in soils subjected to different land use types. However, the potential effects of land use on SOM and OCP distribution patterns in soil aggregates are not well understood. In this study, soils from farmlands and barelands in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area were analyzed to determine the influence of land use on OCP distribution and composition in different aggregate fractions (>3, 1-3, 0.25-1, and <0.25 mm). The results showed that the levels of Sigma DDTs ranged from 9.01 to 27.48 with a mean of 14.40 ng g(-1), and Sigma HCHs ranged from 2.06 to 4.66 with a mean of 3.19 ng g(-1) in farmland soils. In comparison, bareland soils were less contaminated, with total DDTs and HCHs fell in the range of 0.75-5.01 ng g(-1) and not detected (n.d.)-1.40 ng g(-1) respectively. In regard to the distribution patterns in soil aggregates, the residual levels of Sigma DDTs and Sigma HCHs tended to a certain degree to enrich in microaggregates (<0.25 mm) relative to bulk soils. A further analysis revealed that the enrichment of Sigma DDTs and Sigma HCHs in microaggregates were mainly attributed to the accumulation of p,p'-DDE and beta-HCH. Moreover, SOM was found also enriched in microaggregates. The enrichment of SOM was significantly and positively correlated with these of Sigma DDTs, Sigma HCHs, and the dominant metabolites (i.e., DDE and beta-HCH) in both land use types. Such results indicated that the variations in behavior of OCPs could be linked to the processes of soil aggregate turnover. These findings may help to enrich the theory of soil OCPs sequestration and establish targeted strategies to mitigate their health risks in the environment. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd

Effects of “fixation-fusion” sequence of lumbar surgery on surgical outcomes for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background New-onset neurological symptoms such as numbness and pain in lower extremities might appear immediately after conventional lumbar interbody fusion (LIF) surgery performed in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods and analysis This is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, active-controlled trial investigating the clinical outcomes of modified LIF sequence versus conventional LIF sequence in treating patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. A total of 254 eligible patients will be enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either modified LIF sequence or conventional LIF sequence group. The primary outcome measure is the perioperative incidence of new-onset lower extremity neurological symptoms, including new adverse events of pain, numbness, and foot drop of any severity. Important secondary endpoints include visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score and lumbar Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) recovery rate. Other safety endpoints will also be evaluated. The safety set used for safety data analysis by the actual surgical treatment received and the full analysis set for baseline and efficacy data analyses according to the intent-to-treat principle will be established as the two analysis populations in the study. Conclusion This study is designed to investigate the clinical outcomes of modified LIF sequences in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. It aims to provide clinical evidence that the modified “fixation-fusion” sequence of LIF surgery is effective in treating lumbar spinal stenosis. Trial registration http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx ID: ChiCTR2100048507

Quantitatively Relating Gene Expression to Light Intensity via the Serial Connection of Blue Light Sensor and CRISPRi

The ability to regulate endogenous gene expression is critical in biological research. Existing technologies, such as RNA interference, zinc-finger regulators, transcription-activator-like effectors, and CRISPR-mediated regulation, though proved to be competent in significantly altering expression levels, do not provide a quantitative adjustment of regulation effect. As a solution to this problem, we place CRISPR-mediated interference under the control of blue light: while dCas9 protein is constitutively expressed, guide RNA transcription is regulated by YF1-FixJ-P_FixK2, a blue light responding system. With a computer-controlled luminous device, the quantitative relationship between target gene expression and light intensity has been determined. As the light intensifies, the expression level of target gene gradually ascends. This remarkable property enables sensor-CRISPRi to accurately interrogate cellular activities

Quantitatively Relating Gene Expression to Light Intensity via the Serial Connection of Blue Light Sensor and CRISPRi

The ability to regulate endogenous gene expression is critical in biological research. Existing technologies, such as RNA interference, zinc-finger regulators, transcription-activator-like effectors, and CRISPR-mediated regulation, though proved to be competent in significantly altering expression levels, do not provide a quantitative adjustment of regulation effect. As a solution to this problem, we place CRISPR-mediated interference under the control of blue light: while dCas9 protein is constitutively expressed, guide RNA transcription is regulated by YF1-FixJ-P_FixK2, a blue light responding system. With a computer-controlled luminous device, the quantitative relationship between target gene expression and light intensity has been determined. As the light intensifies, the expression level of target gene gradually ascends. This remarkable property enables sensor-CRISPRi to accurately interrogate cellular activities