Data driven disaggregation method for electricity based energy consumption for smart homes

Sustainable energy systems must be capable of ensuring sustainable development by providing affordable and reliable energy to consumers. Hence, knowledge and understanding of energy consumption in the residential sector are indispensable for energy preservation and energy efficiency which can only be possible with the help of consumer participation. New energy efficiency methods are developed due to the global adoption of smart meters that monitor and communicate residential energy consumption. Moreover, energy monitoring of each appliance is not feasible, as it is a costly solution. Therefore, energy consumption disaggregation is an answer for cost-cutting and energy saving. Contrary to the non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) approaches, which are based on high-frequency power signals, we propose a data-driven algorithm that requires only a time-series energy meter dataset, a few appliances' data, and energy consumption data from a consumer-based online questionnaire. Afterward, the proposed algorithm disaggregates whole house energy consumption into nine different energy consumption sectors such as lighting, kitchen, cooling, heating, etc. The energy consumption disaggregation algorithm is applied to datasets of 10 homes under experimentation. One of the homes provides us with the knowledge of 96.8% energy consumption, where only 28% knowledge is reported by monitoring plugs and 68% knowledge obtained by unmonitored means. Finally, the energy consumption obtained by the algorithm is compared with actual energy consumption, which shows the excellent functioning of the developed method

La piattaforma digitale nazionale INNOVance a supporto della filiera delle costruzioni

Il primo volume della collana presenta il quadro generale, evidenziando gli strumenti messi a punto e integrati in INNOVance e mostrando come questi siano indispensabili per traguardare fattivamente la transizione al digitale del settore delle costruzioni. Dopo un’introduzione di carattere generale, vengono descritti il sistema di classificazione e co- difica definiti per poter identificare in modo univoco i diversi oggetti contenuti nella banca dati, dai prodotti della costruzione sino alle opere, passando attraverso livelli di comples- sità tecnologica, ovvero gli elementi in opera, i sistemi assemblati, i sistemi tecnologici co- struttivi e impiantistici, nonché quelli spaziali e quelli relativi alla gestione dei processi, ovvero le attività, con le risorse umane e i mezzi d’opera necessari per svilupparle.In secondo luogo si riportano le schede tecniche digitali che rappresentano la struttura della Banca Dati INNOVANCE, e in particolare in questo volume quelle relative ai livelli di più elevata complessità tecnologica, come quelle relative all’opera in quanto tale e al si- stema funzionale-spaziale. A seguire si presenta la Banca Dati INNOVance e quindi il portale, con i suoi contenuti, ov- vero la BIM Library, il BIM server e gli strumenti utili per la gestione delle gare indispen- sabili per poter affrontare le nuove frontiere del digitale secondo quanto previsto dal nuo- vo Codice degli Appalti in una prospettiva rivolta a Industria 4.0, oltre che naturalmente le funzionalità relative alla profilazione degli utenti e alla gestione degli oggetti contenuti nella Banca Dati. Per concludere il volume riporta in sintesi gli sviluppi della Banca Dati INNOVance in merito all’interoperabilità potenzialmente verso qualsiasi tipo di software e la sua applicazione agli aspetti di efficienza energetica, nonché le ricadute sulla normativa in primo luogo na- zionale nelle diverse parti delle norme UNI 11337 “Gestione digitale dei processi informa- tivi delle costruzioni”, utili anche per poter dare un contributo nazionale alle norme in- ternazionali in fase di sviluppo nei gruppi di lavoro ISO TC 59 SC 13 “Organization of infor- mation about construction works” e CEN TC 442 Building Information Modelling (BIM)

1H, 13C, and 15N resonance assignments for the tandem PHD finger motifs of human CHD4

The plant homeodomain (PHD) zinc finger is a structural motif of about 40–60 amino acid residues found in many eukaryotic proteins that are involved in chromatin-mediated gene regulation. The human chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 4 (CHD4) is a multi-domain protein that harbours, at its N-terminal end, a pair of PHD finger motifs (dPHD) connected by a ~30 amino acid linker. This tandem PHD motif is thought to be involved in targeting CHD4 to chromatin via its interaction with histone tails. Here we report the 1H, 13C and 15N backbone and side-chain resonance assignment of the entire dPHD by heteronuclear multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. These assignments provide the starting point for the determination of the structure, dynamics and histone-binding properties of this tandem domain pair

Metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents - criteria for diagnosis

In recent years, there has been a greater concern about the presence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. However, there is no consensus regarding the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. It is evident that each component of the syndrome must be identified as early as possible in order to prevent definitive lesions. The question is how to do this and which cut-offs must be adopted for this diagnosis. For a matter of convenience, the definition chosen as the most appropriate is the one proposed by the IDF, with cut-offs fixed for pressure, lipids and glycemia, and abdominal circumference points assessed by percentile. Although on the one hand this definition could fail to include some children in the diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome, on the other hand, it would be of easier acceptance as it does not use multiple tables to assess several anthropometric and metabolic criteria

EGCG Disrupts the LIN28B/Let-7 Interaction and Reduces Neuroblastoma Aggressiveness

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most commonly diagnosed extracranial solid tumor in children, accounting for 15% of all childhood cancer deaths. Although the 5-year survival rate of patients with a high-risk disease has increased in recent decades, NB remains a challenge in pediatric oncology, and the identification of novel potential therapeutic targets and agents is an urgent clinical need. The RNA-binding protein LIN28B has been identified as an oncogene in NB and is associated with a poor prognosis. Given that LIN28B acts by negatively regulating the biogenesis of the tumor suppressor let-7 miRNAs, we reasoned that selective interference with the LIN28B/let-7 miRNA interaction would increase let-7 miRNA levels, ultimately leading to reduced NB aggressiveness. Here, we selected (−)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) out of 4959 molecules screened as the molecule with the best inhibitory activity on LIN28B/let-7 miRNA interaction and showed that treatment with PLC/PLGA-PEG nanoparticles containing EGCG (EGCG-NPs) led to an increase in mature let-7 miRNAs and a consequent inhibition of NB cell growth. In addition, EGCG-NP pretreatment reduced the tumorigenic potential of NB cells in vivo. These experiments suggest that the LIN28B/let-7 miRNA axis is a good therapeutic target in NB and that EGCG, which can interfere with this interaction, deserves further preclinical evaluation

Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET) of the kidney: a case report

BACKGROUND: A case of Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET) of the kidney in a 27-year-old woman is presented. Few cases are reported in the literature with a variable, nonspecific presentation and an aggressive behaviour. In our case, a radical nephrectomy with lymphadenectomy was performed and there was no residual or recurrent tumour at 24-month follow-up. METHODS: The surgical specimens were formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded. The sections were stained with routinary H&E. Immunohistochemistry was performed. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical evaluation revealed a diffuse CD99 positivity in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells. Pankeratin, cytokeratin AE1/AE3, vimentin, desmin, S100, cromogranin were negative. The clinical presentation and the macroscopic aspect, together with the histological pattern, the cytological characteristic and the cellular immunophenotype addressed the diagnosis towards primary PNET of kidney. CONCLUSIONS: Since sometimes it is difficult to discriminate between PNET and Ewing's tumour, we reviewed the difficulties in differential diagnosis. These tumors have a common precursor but the stage of differentiation in which it is blocked is probably different. This could also explain their different biological behaviour and prognosis

Profile, Healthcare Resource Consumption and Related Costs in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Patients: A Real-World Analysis in Italy

Introduction: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) are rare autoimmune diseases triggering inflammation of small vessels. This real-world analysis was focused on the most common AAV forms, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), to describe patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics, therapeutic management, disease progression, and the related economic burden. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on administrative databases of a representative sample of Italian healthcare entities, covering approximately 12 million residents. Between January 2010 and December 2020, adult GPA patients were identified by payment waiver code or hospitalization discharge diagnosis, and MPA patients by payment waiver code with or without hospitalization discharge diagnosis. Clinical outcomes were evaluated through AAV-related hospitalizations, renal failure onset, and mortality. Economic analysis included healthcare resource utilization deriving from drugs, hospitalizations, and outpatient specialist services. The related mean direct costs year/patient were also calculated in patients stratified by presence/absence of glucocorticoid therapy and type of inclusion criterion (hospitalization/payment waiver code). Results: Overall, 859 AAV patients were divided into GPA (n = 713; 83%) and MPA (n = 146; 17%) cohorts. Outcome indicators highlighted a clinically worse phenotype associated with GPA compared to MPA. Cost analysis during follow-up showed tendentially increased expenditures in glucocorticoid-treated patients versus untreated (overall AAV: €8728 vs. €7911; GPA: €9292 vs. €9143; MPA: €5967 vs. €2390), mainly driven by drugs (AAV: €2404 vs. €874; GPA: €2510 vs. €878; MPA: €1881 vs. €854) and hospitalizations. Conclusion: Among AAV forms, GPA resulted in a worse clinical picture, higher mortality, and increased costs. This is the first real-world pharmaco-economic analysis on AAV patients stratified by glucocorticoid use on disease management expenditures. In both GPA and MPA patients, glucocorticoid treatment resulted in higher healthcare costs, mostly attributable to medications, and then hospitalizations, confirming the clinical complexity and economic burden for management of patients with autoimmune diseases under chronic immunosuppression

WNT signalling in prostate cancer

Genome sequencing and gene expression analyses of prostate tumours have highlighted the potential importance of genetic and epigenetic changes observed in WNT signalling pathway components in prostate tumours-particularly in the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer. WNT signalling is also important in the prostate tumour microenvironment, in which WNT proteins secreted by the tumour stroma promote resistance to therapy, and in prostate cancer stem or progenitor cells, in which WNT-β-catenin signals promote self-renewal or expansion. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential of inhibitors that target WNT receptor complexes at the cell membrane or that block the interaction of β-catenin with lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 and the androgen receptor, in preventing prostate cancer progression. Some WNT signalling inhibitors are in phase I trials, but they have yet to be tested in patients with prostate cancer

A Randomized Controlled Phase IIb Trial of Antigen-Antibody Immunogenic Complex Therapeutic Vaccine in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

BACKGROUND: The safety of the immune complexes composed of yeast-derived hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies (abbreviated as YIC) among healthy adults and chronic hepatitis B patients has been proved in phase I and phase IIa trial. A larger number of patients for study of dosage and efficacy are therefore needed. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Two hundred forty two HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients were immunized with six injections of either 30 microg YIC, 60 microg of YIC or alum adjuvant as placebo at four-week intervals under code. HBV markers and HBV DNA were monitored during immunization and 24 weeks after the completion of immunization. The primary endpoint was defined as loss of HBeAg, or presence of anti-HBe antibody or suppression of HBV DNA, while the secondary endpoint was both HBeAg seroconversion and suppression of HBV DNA. Statistical significance was not reached in primary endpoints four weeks after the end of treatment among three groups, however, at the end of follow-up, HBeAg sero-conversion rate was 21.8% (17/78) and 9% (7/78) in the 60 microg YIC and placebo groups respectively (p = 0.03), with 95% confidence intervals at 1.5% to 24.1%. Using generalized estimating equations (GEEs) model, a significant difference of group effects was found between 60 microg YIC and the placebo groups in terms of the primary endpoint. Eleven serious adverse events occurred, which were 5.1%, 3.6%, and 5.0% in the placebo, 30 microg YIC and 60 microg YIC groups respectively (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Though statistical differences in the preset primary and secondary endpoints among the three groups were not reached, a late and promising HBeAg seroconversion effect was shown in the 60 microg YIC immunized regimen. By increasing the number of patients and injections, the therapeutic efficacy of YIC in chronic hepatitis B patients will be further evaluated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR.org ChiCTR-TRC-00000022

Treatment options in end-stage heart failure: where to go from here?

Chronic heart failure is a major healthcare problem associated with high morbidity and mortality. Despite significant progress in treatment strategies, the prognosis of heart failure patients remains poor. The golden standard treatment for heart failure is heart transplantation after failure of medical therapy, surgery and/or cardiac resynchronisation therapy. In order to improve patients’ outcome and quality of life, new emerging treatment modalities are currently being investigated, including mechanical cardiac support devices, of which the left ventricular assist device is the most promising treatment option. Structured care for heart failure patients according to the most recent international heart failure guidelines may further contribute to optimal decision-making. This article will review the conventional and novel treatment modalities of heart failure