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Time-of-flight functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a promising technology for non-invasive functional neuroimaging due to the capability to monitor absolute blood oxygen information. Moreover, it holds promise in addressing the spatial resolution limitations of continuous-wave fNIRS through the confocal array. However, ToF-fNIRS requires extensive data measurement and transmission, complex channel calibration, as well as high costs. Perhaps more importantly, absolute value is unnecessary in fNIRS. In light of this, a time-gated photon counting is designed to facilitate the acquisition of depth-resolved data in both confocal and offset optode configurations for cost-effective enhancement of functional near-infrared spectroscopy. To demonstrate the capabilities of the developed system, measurement performance analysis and image performance evaluation are conducted on the experimental data. The findings have demonstrated the efficacy and viability of the developed system: achieving a fluctuation level below 0.5%, relative quantitative enhancement of 32.9%, alongside improvements of 31.6% in signal-to-noise ratio, and 29.5% in spatial resolution during reconstruction. In summary, this time-gated photon counting fNIRS imaging system has the imaging quality equivalent to traditional time-correlated single-photon counter measurement in a cost-effective manner, thereby significantly augmenting the expansiveness of fNIRS-linked studies in the daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low carbon operation of power systems is a key way to achieve the goal of energy power carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. In order to promote the low carbon transition of energy and power and the coordinated and optimized operation of distributed energy sources in virtual power plants (VPP), this paper proposes a framework for collaborative utilization of pumped storage–carbon capture–power-to-gas (P2G) technologies. It also constructs a multi-time scale low carbon economic dispatch model for VPP to minimize the internal resource operation cost of VPP in each time period. During the intraday scheduling stage, the day-ahead scheduling results as the planned output and the energy flow is then dynamically corrected at a short-term resolution in the framework. This allows for the exploration of the low-carbon potential of each aggregation unit within the virtual power plant. The results of the simulation indicate that the strategy and model proposed in this paper can effectively encourage the consumption of renewable energy sources, promote the low-carbon operation of power system power, and serve as a valuable reference for the low-carbon economic operation of the power system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edge structures, thiophene adsorption and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) mechanisms are investigated on the S-edge of triangular MoS2 nanoclusters using density functional theory. The calculated formation energies for different S coverages on the S-edge suggest that the formation of coordinative unsaturated site at the vertex and edge-I (close to the vertex) sites is preferred over the edge-II (away from the vertex) sites. The adsorption of thiophene on the top site of Mo atom mainly occurs at the edge-I, whereas bridge adsorption occurs at the edge-II. The 92% and 50% S-edge coverages involve relatively larger adsorption energies (− 0.68 and − 0.79 eV) among all the possible adsorption configurations. On the S edge with 92% S coverage, the hydrogenation route is more favorable, producing 1-butene. On the S edge with 50% S coverage, the direct desulfurization route is preferred, yielding butadiene. These findings deepen the understanding of edge structures of MoS2 nanoclusters and the corresponding HDS mechanisms for MoS2-based HDS catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanol steam reforming (MSR) is studied on a Pt3Sn surface using the density functional theory (DFT). An MSR network is mapped out, including several reaction pathways. The main pathway proposed is CH3OH + OH → CH3O → CH2O → CH2O + OH → CH2OOH → CHOOH → COOH → COOH + OH → CO2 + H2O. The adsorption strengths of CH3OH, CH2O, CHOOH, H2O and CO2 are relatively weak, while other intermediates are strongly adsorbed on Pt3Sn(111). H2O decomposition to OH is the rate-determining step on Pt3Sn(111). The promotion effect of the OH group is remarkable on the conversions of CH3OH, CH2O and trans-COOH. In particular, the activation barriers of the O–H bond cleavage (e.g., CH3OH → CH3O and trans-COOH → CO2) decrease substantially by ~1 eV because of the involvement of OH. Compared with the case of MSR on Pt(111), the generation of OH from H2O decomposition is more competitive on Pt3Sn(111), and the presence of abundant OH facilitates the combination of CO with OH to generate COOH, which accounts for the improved CO tolerance of the PtSn alloy over pure Pt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel electrochemical biosensor that combines the CRISPR-Cas12a system with a gold electrode is reported for the rapid and sensitive detection of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). The biosensor consists of a gold electrode modified with DNA1, which contains the target sequence of MITF and is labeled with ferrocene, an electroactive molecule. The biosensor also includes hairpin DNA, which has a binding site for MITF and can hybridize with helper DNA to form a double-stranded complex that activates CRISPR-Cas12a. When MITF is present, it binds to hairpin DNA and prevents its hybridization with helper DNA, thus inhibiting CRISPR-Cas12a activity and preserving the DPV signal of ferrocene. When MITF is absent, hairpin DNA hybridizes with helper DNA and activates CRISPR-Cas12a, which cleaves DNA1 and releases ferrocene, thus reducing the DPV signal. The biosensor can detect MITF with high sensitivity (with an LOD of 8.14 fM), specificity, and accuracy in various samples, such as cell nuclear extracts and human serum. The biosensor can also diagnose and monitor melanocyte-related diseases and melanin production. This work provides a simple, fast, sensitive, and cost-effective biosensor for MITF detection and a valuable tool for applications in genetic testing, disease diagnosis, and drug screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined autofluorescence (AF) and diffuse reflectance (DR) spectroscopies have been expected to offer enhanced diagnostic accuracies for noninvasive early detection of mucosa lesions, that is, oral cavity carcinoma and cervical carcinoma. This work reports on a hybrid AF and DR spectroscopic system that is developed for quantification and diagnosis of mucosa abnormalities. The system stability and reliability are firstly assessed by phantom experiments, showing a measurement variation lower than 1% within 20 min. In vitro and in vivo validations are then conducted for tissue identification and lesion differentiation. For enhanced decision, a data‐driven diagnosis algorithm is explored in pilot under different experimental configurations. The results conclude a promising accuracy of >96% for the in vivo classification as well as an excellent sensitivity of >88% for the in vitro mucosa lesions detection, and demonstrate sound potential of the system in early detection of mucosa lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research project presents the development of a fully digital design to manufacture process chain for high‐performance curved steel elements produced by laser cutting thin steel sheets and assembled through elastic deformation. Although there have been developments in industrial robotic setups to automate steel beam bending, these processes rely on an iterative approach and are time‐consuming and costly when there is a need for high accuracy. The paper shows how the production of tailor‐made geometric parts with interlocking connections enables the design of free‐form structure as well as the complete integration of secondary functions such as façade and mounting positions. The research is based on an integrated co‐development of the construction system, structural FEA analysis, as well as manufacturing and assembly methods. A computational tool was developed to combine geometric studies and structural analysis and to automate fabrication data. This project is situated in an industrial context to test the potential for upscaling the system and detailing techniques for the assembly of curved geometries. The potential of the system is demonstrated through the design and fabrication of a 1:1 scale canopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research project presents the development of a fully digital design to manufacture process chain for high‐performance curved steel elements produced by laser cutting thin steel sheets and assembled through elastic deformation. Although there have been developments in industrial robotic setups to automate steel beam bending, these processes rely on an iterative approach and are time‐consuming and costly when there is a need for high accuracy. The paper shows how the production of tailor‐made geometric parts with interlocking connections enables the design of free‐form structure as well as the complete integration of secondary functions such as façade and mounting positions. The research is based on an integrated co‐development of the construction system, structural FEA analysis, as well as manufacturing and assembly methods. A computational tool was developed to combine geometric studies and structural analysis and to automate fabrication data. This project is situated in an industrial context to test the potential for upscaling the system and detailing techniques for the assembly of curved geometries. The potential of the system is demonstrated through the design and fabrication of a 1:1 scale canopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of green finance on export technological complexity by using panel data from 30 provincial-level administrative units in China from 2011 to 2019. The study finds that green finance significantly promotes export sophistication; with the promotion effect varying by the geographical location and institutional environment, the mechanism test shows that upgrading industrial structure and enhancing technological innovation are the two transmission paths for green finance to enhance export sophistication. Additionally, the study finds that green tax moderates the impact of green finance on export sophistication. The threshold effect test reveals that industrial structures, as well as their upgrades and technological innovation, have a single threshold. However, they need to reach a certain threshold value before they can play their role to the fullest, while green tax has a marginal increasing effect. The study provides a new perspective on the relationship between green finance and export sophistication, and the empirical evidence for current green finance policies promotes the development of the real economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a general and systematical investigation of sub‐diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is implemented. A Gegenbauer‐kernel phase function‐based Monte Carlo is adopted to describe photon transport more efficiently. To improve the computational efficiency and accuracy, two neural network algorithms, namely, back propagation neural network and radial basis function neural network are utilized to predict the absorption coefficient μa, reduced scattering coefficient μs′ and sub‐diffusive quantifier γ, simultaneously, at multiple source‐detector separations (SDS). The predicted results show that the three parameters can be predicated accurately by selecting five SDSs or above. Based on the simulation results, a four wavelength (520, 650, 785 and 830 nm) measurement system using five SDSs is designed by adopting phase‐lock‐in technique. Furtherly, the trained neural‐network models are utilized to extract optical properties from the phantom and in vivo experimental data. The results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of our proposed system and methods in mucosal disease diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) regulated by heteroatoms have displayed great potential as electrocatalysts for highly efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER); however, the controllable synthesis of an axial coordination structure of SACs to achieve robust HER performance remains a great challenge. Herein, we have proposed a doping-adsorption-pyrolysis strategy to construct NiN4–Cl active sites with axial Cl coordination for accelerating electrocatalytic HER. The obtained NiN4–Cl SAs/NC catalyst exhibits superior HER activity with low over-potential, small Tafel slope, high turnover frequency, and long-term stability. Density functional theory calculation reveals that the excellent HER performance of NiN4–Cl SAs/NC originates from the axial Cl-coordination-induced electronic localization enhancement, which is beneficial for the adsorption and activation of H* intermediate, thus accelerating the HER process. This work opens a new opportunity for rational design and construction of high-performance SAC catalysts by axial coordination strategy for electrocatalytic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "A CRISPR-Cas12a-based electrochemical biosensor for the detection of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor" published in Microchimica Acta. The correction addresses an error in the affiliation details for one of the authors, Xianjiu Liao. The correct affiliation should be 'West Guangxi Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of High-Incidence Diseases, Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Guangxi, Baise, 533,000, China'. The original article has been corrected. The publisher, Springer Nature, maintains a neutral stance on jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

Adsorption and dehydrogenation of C2–C6n-alkanes are investigated on a Pt substrate using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and the size effects of alkane molecules and Pt substrates are discussed in detail. The Pt(111) surface and Pt55 cluster are chosen to represent large and small Pt nanoparticles, respectively. The C2–C6 straight-chain alkanes show no site preference on Pt(111) drifting over the surface, but prefer to locate along the edge sites of Pt55. Our results suggest that a linear relationship holds for the adsorption energies of n-alkanes against the chain length on Pt(111), in accordance with the experimental observations. Pt55 also exhibits a similar linear relationship for n-alkanes but with larger adsorption energies due to the low-coordinated Pt atoms at the edge site. For the two-step dehydrogenation from alkanes to alkenes, the first dehydrogenation reaction is the rate-determining step (RDS) on Pt(111), and a larger size of alkane molecule will lead to a lower dehydrogenation activity. While on Pt55, no RDS is present and the dehydrogenation activity oscillates slightly as the chain length of n-alkane increases. Generally, Pt55 involves lower energy barriers for most dehydrogenation steps compared to Pt(111), indicating that small Pt particles with more low-coordinated Pt atoms are more active towards alkane dehydrogenation. In addition, a clear BEP relationship is identified for all the dehydrogenation reactions of C2–C6n-alkanes on Pt substrates, and this linear relationship is independent of the particle size of the Pt substrate and the chain length of alkanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant tumor in the central nervous system and the treatment is still unsatisfactory because the mechanism of the disease remains unclear. The abnormal expression of miRNAs and its target proteins play a crucial role in the development of glioblastoma. In this study, we demonstrated that high expression of miR-9-5p and low expression of forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) were related with better outcome in patients with GBM, and down regulated FOXP2 expression was able to inhibit glioma cells proliferation by cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, we found that FOXP2 was the target protein of miR-9-5p in luciferase assay. The results of this study suggest a novel regulatory mechanism that miR-9-5p can inhibit glioma cells proliferation by downregulating FOXP2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For fatigue life prediction, the maximum stress calculated by the structural static analysis is used as load calculation in normal continuous operating conditions, which is not valid in time-varying performing situations. This article proposes a fatigue life prediction method considering repetitive time-varying and asymmetrical stresses as a stress spectrum for calculation loading to predict the accumulative fatigue life for the rotor slot-dovetails of the pumped storage generator/motor (PSGM) under multiple transient situations. The structural transient analysis is performed to calculate the time-varying stress caused by the centrifugal force. Then, the total stress is obtained by superimposing the centrifugal stress with the thermal stress caused by temperature difference, which is used as the loads for fatigue life calculations. Through fatigue life calculation in each condition, the numbers of cycles to failure and the initial sites of impending failures are determined. By the cumulative fatigue damage rule, the practical operating data is to predict the service life. By this prediction method, the fatigue fracture sites are in the slot-dovetail, and the minimum service life is estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study aimed to screen prognostic gene signature of glioblastoma (GBM) to construct prognostic model. Methods. Based on the GBM information in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, training set), prognostic genes (Set X) were screened by Cox regression. Then, the optimized prognostic gene signature (Set Y) was further screened by the Cox-Proportional Hazards (Cox-PH). Next, two prognostic models were constructed: model A was based on the Set Y; model B was based on part of the Set X. The samples were divided into low- and high-risk groups according to the median prognosis index (PI). GBM datasets in Gene Expression Ominous (GEO, GSE13041) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) were used as the testing datasets to confirm the prognostic models constructed based on TCGA. Results. We identified that the prognostic 14-gene signature was significantly associated with the overall survival (OS) in the TCGA. In model A, patients in high- and low-risk groups showed the significantly different OS (P = 7.47 × 10−9, area under curve (AUC) 0.995) and the prognostic ability were also confirmed in testing sets (P=0.0098 and 0.037). The model B in training set was significant but failed in testing sets. Conclusion. The prognostic model which was constructed based on the prognostic 14-gene signature presented a high predictive ability for GBM. The 14-gene signature may have clinical implications in the subclassification of GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cost of Energy Storage System (ESS) for frequency regulation is difficult to calculate due to battery's degradation when an ESS is in grid-connected operation. To solve this problem, the influence mechanism of actual operating conditions on the life degradation of Li-ion battery energy storage is analyzed. A control strategy of Li-ion ESS participating in grid frequency regulation is constructed and a cost accounting model for frequency regulation considering the effect of battery life degradation is established. The estimated operating life and annual average cost of the Li-ion ESS under different dead bands and SOC set-points are calculated. The case studies show that the estimated operating life of the Li-ion ESS under the actual operating condition differs significantly from the nominal life provided by the manufacturer under the standard condition and the full discharge mode. This paper provides an accurate costing method for the ESS participating in grid frequency regulation to help the promotion of the ESS to participate in the ancillary service market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present-day soybeans consist of elite cultivars and landraces (Glycine max, fully domesticated (FD)), annual wild type (Glycine soja, nondomesticated (ND)), and semi-wild type (semi-domesticated (SD)). FD soybean originated in China, although the details of its domestication history remain obscure. More than 500 diverse soybean accessions were sequenced using specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) to address fundamental questions regarding soybean domestication. In total, 64 141 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with minor allele frequencies (MAFs) > 0.05 were found among the 512 tested accessions. The results indicated that the SD group is not a hybrid between the FD and ND groups. The initial domestication region was pinpointed to central China (demarcated by the Great Wall to the north and the Qinling Mountains to the south). A total of 800 highly differentiated genetic regions and > 140 selective sweeps were identified, and these were three- and twofold more likely, respectively, to encompass a known quantitative trait locus (QTL) than the rest of the soybean genome. Forty-three potential quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs; including 15 distinct traits) were identified by genome-wide association mapping. The results of the present study should be beneficial for soybean improvement and provide insight into the genetic architecture of traits of agronomic importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean white mold (SWM), caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum ((Lib.) W. Phillips), is currently considered to be the second most important cause of soybean yield loss due to disease. Research is needed to identify SWM-resistant germplasm and gain a better understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of SWM resistance in soybean. Stem pigmentation after treatment with oxaloacetic acid is an effective indicator of resistance to SWM. A total of 128 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross of 'Maple Arrow' (partial resistant to SWM) and 'Hefeng 25' (susceptible) and 330 diverse soybean cultivars were screened for the soluble pigment concentration of their stems, which were treated with oxalic acid. Four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) underlying soluble pigment concentration were detected by linkage mapping of the RILs. Three hundred and thirty soybean cultivars were sequenced using the whole-genome encompassing approach and 25 179 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected for the fine mapping of SWM resistance genes by genome-wide association studies. Three out of five SNP markers representing a linkage disequilibrium (LD) block and a single locus on chromosome 13 (Gm13) were significantly associated with the soluble pigment content of stems. Three more SNPs that represented three minor QTLs for the soluble pigment content of stems were identified on another three chromosomes by association mapping. A major locus with the largest effect on Gm13 was found both by linkage and association mapping. Four potential candidate genes involved in disease response or the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway were identified at the locus near the significant SNPs (<60 kbp). The beneficial allele and candidate genes should be useful in soybean breeding for improving resistance to SWM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the following state dependent boundary-value problem D0+αy(t)-pD0+βg(t,y(σ(t)))+f(t,y(τ(t)))=0, 0

Linkage maps enable the study of important biological questions. The construction of high-density linkage maps appears more feasible since the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS), which eases SNP discovery and high-throughput genotyping of large population. However, the marker number explosion and genotyping errors from NGS data challenge the computational efficiency and linkage map quality of linkage study methods. Here we report the HighMap method for constructing high-density linkage maps from NGS data. HighMap employs an iterative ordering and error correction strategy based on a k-nearest neighbor algorithm and a Monte Carlo multipoint maximum likelihood algorithm. Simulation study shows HighMap can create a linkage map with three times as many markers as ordering-only methods while offering more accurate marker orders and stable genetic distances. Using HighMap, we constructed a common carp linkage map with 10,004 markers. The singleton rate was less than one-ninth of that generated by JoinMap4.1. Its total map distance was 5,908 cM, consistent with reports on low-density maps. HighMap is an efficient method for constructing high-density, high-quality linkage maps from high-throughput population NGS data. It will facilitate genome assembling, comparative genomic analysis, and QTL studies. HighMap is available at http://highmap.biomarker.com.cn/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale genotyping plays an important role in genetic association studies. It has provided new opportunities for gene discovery, especially when combined with high-throughput sequencing technologies. Here, we report an efficient solution for large-scale genotyping. We call it specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq). SLAF-seq technology has several distinguishing characteristics: i) deep sequencing to ensure genotyping accuracy; ii) reduced representation strategy to reduce sequencing costs; iii) pre-designed reduced representation scheme to optimize marker efficiency; and iv) double barcode system for large populations. In this study, we tested the efficiency of SLAF-seq on rice and soybean data. Both sets of results showed strong consistency between predicted and practical SLAFs and considerable genotyping accuracy. We also report the highest density genetic map yet created for any organism without a reference genome sequence, common carp in this case, using SLAF-seq data. We detected 50,530 high-quality SLAFs with 13,291 SNPs genotyped in 211 individual carp. The genetic map contained 5,885 markers with 0.68 cM intervals on average. A comparative genomics study between common carp genetic map and zebrafish genome sequence map showed high-quality SLAF-seq genotyping results. SLAF-seq provides a high-resolution strategy for large-scale genotyping and can be generally applicable to various species and populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrophoretic displays (EPDs) are attracting a great deal of academic and commercial interest due to the advantages of both electronic displays and conventional paper. The key materials for EPD application of microcapsules are the electrophoretic particles and the capsule wall enwrapping the electrophoretic suspension inside. Here, black and white electrophoretic particles with low density and good dispersity such as titanium dioxide, carbon black, and Cu2Cr2O3 were prepared by surface modification of the pigments. The preparation and properties of the gelatin-based microcapsules prepared by complex coacervation methods are also summarized. The microcapsules have transparent and elastic walls of compact structure, which endows them with good barrier properties and thermal stability for EPD application. EPD prototype devices based on the obtained microcapsules were prepared and could be driven at 9 V. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To investigate mechanisms of rat glutathione S-transferase P1 gene (rGSTP1) expression regulation during chemical carcinogenesis, we studied enhancer elements located in the region between −2.5 kb to −2.2 kb. The region was upstream from the start site of transcription and was divided into two major fragments, GPEI and GPEII. The GPEII fragment was further divided into two smaller fragments, GPEII-1 and GPEII-2. Using a luciferase reporter system, we identified a strong enhancer of GPEI and a weak enhancer of GPEII in HeLa and a rat hepatoma cell line CBRH7919 cell. The enhancer of GPEII was located within the GPEII-1 region. Chemical stimulation by glycidyl methatylate (GMA) and phorbol 12- o-tetradecanoate 13-acetate (TPA) analysis revealed that induction of rGSTP1 expression was mainly through GPEI. Although H2O2could enhance GPEII enhancer activity, the enhancement is not mediated by the NF-κB factor that bound the NF-κB site in GPEII. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and the UV cross-linking assays, we found that HeLa and CBRH79l9 cells had proteins that specifically bound GPEI core sequence and a 64 kDa protein that interacted with GPEII-1. The cells from normal rat liver did not express the binding proteins. Therefore, the trans-acting factors seem to be closely related to GPEI, GPEII enhancer activities and may play an important role in high expression of rGSTP1 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In view of the current problem of severely abandoning wind and photovoltaic in the wind‐photovoltaic‐hydro‐thermal‐energy storage, a multi‐energy complementary coordinated dispatch method for the integrated system of wind‐photovoltaic‐hydro‐thermal‐energy storage is proposed. First of all, the power output of wind and photovoltaic is simulated using the improved Markov chain. Secondly, the load demand, the minimum economic output of thermal power units, and the force output of hydropower units are determined. The feasible operation region of renewable energy power generation is also calculated. Then, the power generation of wind and photovoltaic is prioritized within the feasible operation region of renewable energy power generation. On this basis, the dispatch strategy of hydropower is formulated according to plan for water. Finally, aiming at the minimum cost of thermal power units and life attenuation comprehensively of energy storage within dispatch period, the dispatch strategy for thermal power units and energy storage is proposed. The particle swarm algorithm is used to solve the optimal objective function. The instance shows the correctness and validity of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cost of Energy Storage System (ESS) for frequency regulation is difficult to calculate due to battery's degradation when an ESS is in grid-connected operation. To solve this problem, the influence mechanism of actual operating conditions on the life degradation of Li-ion battery energy storage is analyzed. A control strategy of Li-ion ESS participating in grid frequency regulation is constructed and a cost accounting model for frequency regulation considering the effect of battery life degradation is established. The estimated operating life and annual average cost of the Li-ion ESS under different dead bands and SOC set-points are calculated. The case studies show that the estimated operating life of the Li-ion ESS under the actual operating condition differs significantly from the nominal life provided by the manufacturer under the standard condition and the full discharge mode. This paper provides an accurate costing method for the ESS participating in grid frequency regulation to help the promotion of the ESS to participate in the ancillary service market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arising from: Y. Okazaki et al. 420, 563-573 (2002); Okazaki et al. replyOkazaki et al. have argued that as many as 15,815 of 33,409 non-redundant mouse complementary DNAs may represent functional RNA genes, on the basis of their findings that some of these cDNAs are confirmed by expressed sequence tagging and are found near CpG islands or polyadenylation signals-although many are expressed at such low levels that they could not be detected by microarray analysis. We show here that conservation of these‘non-coding’cDNAs in rats or humans is no better than in an evolutionarily neutral control. Our results indicate that they are either non-functional or, if they are functional, are specific to a given species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]