Genomewide association study of Aegilops tauschii traits under seedling-stage cadmium stress

Aegilops tauschii Ais a wild relative of common wheat(Triticum aestivum) and acts as an important resource of elite genes including genes for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. To improve the cadmium(Cd) tolerance of wheat varieties using A. tauschii resources, we investigated the genetic variation of biomass-based Cd tolerance in 235 A. tauschii accessions treated with 0(control) and100 μmol L-1CdC l2(as Cd stress). Simultaneously, we performed a genomewide association study(GWAS) using a single-nucleotide polymorphism chip containing 7185 markers. Six markers were found to be significantly associated with Cd tolerance by a general linear model and a mixed linear model. These markers were close to several candidate/flanking genes associated with Cd tolerance according to results in public databases, including pdil5-1, Acc-1, DME-5A,TaA P2-D, TaA P2-B, Vrn-B1, and FtsH-like protein gene. The A. tauschii accessions were classified as high, moderate, and low Cd-tolerant according to a secondary index, the synthetic index(SI), in proportions of 9%, 57%, and 34%, respectively. By the average SI, accessions from Afghanistan,Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran showed relatively high Cd tolerance.

Multi-source coordinated stochastic restoration for SOP in distribution networks with a two-stage algorithm

After suffering from a grid blackout, distributed energy resources(DERs), such as local renewable energy and controllable distributed generators and energy storage can be used to restore loads enhancing the system’s resilience. In this study, a multi-source coordinated load restoration strategy was investigated for a distribution network with soft open points(SOPs). Here, the flexible regulation ability of the SOPs is fully utilized to improve the load restoration level while mitigating voltage deviations. Owing to the uncertainty, a scenario-based stochastic optimization approach was employed,and the load restoration problem was formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear programming model. A computationally efficient solution algorithm was developed for the model using convex relaxation and linearization methods. The algorithm is organized into a two-stage structure, in which the energy storage system is dispatched in the first stage by solving a relaxed convex problem. In the second stage, an integer programming problem is calculated to acquire the outputs of both SOPs and power resources. A numerical test was conducted on both IEEE 33-bus and IEEE 123-bus systems to validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.

A novel nomogram based on routine clinical indicators for screening for Wilson's disease

Background and aims:There is currently no single model for predicting Wilson's disease(WD).We aimed to create a nomogram using daily clinical parameters to improve the accuracy of WD diagnosis in patients with abnormal liver function.Methods:Between July 2016 and December 2020,we identified 90 WD patients with abnormal liver function who had homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the ATP7B gene.The control group included 128 patients with similar liver function but no WD during the same time period.To create a nomogram,we screened potential predictive variables using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator model and multivariate logistic regression.Results:We developed a nomogram for screening for WD based on six predictive factors:serum copper,direct bilirubin,uric acid,cholinesterase,prealbumin,and reticulocyte percentage.In the training cohort,the area under curve(AUC)of the nomogram reached 0.967(95%confidence interval(CI)0.946e0.988),while the area under the precision-recall curve was 0.961.Based on the optimal cutpoint of 213.55,our nomogram performed well,with a sensitivity of 96%and a specificity of 87%.In the validation cohort,the AUC of the nomogram was as high as 0.991(95%CI 0.970e1.000).Conclusions:We developed a nomogram that can predict the risk of WD prior to the detection of serum ceruloplasmin or urinary copper,greatly increasing screening efficiency for patients with abnormal liver function.