Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring in Smart Grids: A Comprehensive Review

Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) is pivotal in today's energy landscape, offering vital solutions for energy conservation and efficient management. Its growing importance in enhancing energy savings and understanding consumer behavior makes it a pivotal technology for addressing global energy challenges. This paper delivers an in-depth review of NILM, highlighting its critical role in smart homes and smart grids. The significant contributions of this study are threefold: Firstly, it compiles a comprehensive global dataset table, providing a valuable tool for researchers and engineers to select appropriate datasets for their NILM studies. Secondly, it categorizes NILM approaches, simplifying the understanding of various algorithms by focusing on technologies, label data requirements, feature usage, and monitoring states. Lastly, by identifying gaps in current NILM research, this work sets a clear direction for future studies, discussing potential areas of innovation.Comment: a comprehensive summary with a dataset lis

Prognostic nomogram for bladder cancer with brain metastases: a National Cancer Database analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to establish and validate a nomogram for predicting brain metastasis in patients with bladder cancer (BCa) and assess various treatment modalities using a primary cohort comprising 234 patients with clinicopathologically-confirmed BCa from 2004 to 2015 in the National Cancer Database. METHODS: Machine learning method and Cox model were used for nomogram construction. For BCa patients with brain metastasis, surgery of the primary site, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, palliative care, brain confinement of metastatic sites, and the Charlson/Deyo Score were predictive features identified for building the nomogram. RESULTS: For the original 169 patients considered in the model, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were 0.823 (95% CI 0.758-0.889, P \u3c 0.001) and 0.854 (95% CI 0.785-0.924, P \u3c 0.001) for 0.5- and 1-year overall survival respectively. In the validation cohort, the nomogram displayed similar AUCs of 0.838 (95% CI 0.738-0.937, P \u3c 0.001) and 0.809 (95% CI 0.680-0.939, P \u3c 0.001), respectively. The high and low risk groups had median survivals of 1.91 and 5.09 months for the training cohort and 1.68 and 8.05 months for the validation set, respectively (both P \u3c 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our prognostic nomogram provides a useful tool for overall survival prediction as well as assessing the risk and optimal treatment for BCa patients with brain metastasis

Brain glucose metabolism is associated with hormone level in Cushing's disease: A voxel-based study using FDG-PET

AbstractChronic exposure to elevated levels of glucocorticoids can exert a neurotoxic effect in patients, possibly manifesting as molecular imaging alterations in patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between brain metabolism and elevated hormone level using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. We retrospectively enrolled 92 consecutive patients with confirmed diagnosis of Cushing's disease. A voxel-based analysis was performed to investigate the association between cerebral 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake and serum cortisol level. Relatively impaired metabolism of specific brain regions correlated with serum cortisol level was found. Specifically, notable correlations were found in the hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebellum, regions considered to be involved in the regulation and central action of glucocorticoids. Moreover, some hormone-associated regions were found in the frontal and occipital cortex, possibly mediating the cognitive changes seen in Cushing's disease. Our findings link patterns of perturbed brain metabolism relates to individual hormone level, thus presenting a substrate for cognitive disturbances seen in Cushing's disease patients, as well as in other conditions with abnormal cortisol levels

<em>In silico</em> analysis of bacterial arsenic islands reveals remarkable synteny and functional relatedness between arsenate and phosphate

In order to construct a more universal model for understanding the genetic requirements for bacterial AsIII oxidation, an in silico examination of the available sequences in the GenBank was assessed and revealed 21 conserved 5–71 kb arsenic islands within phylogenetically diverse bacterial genomes. The arsenic islands included the AsIII oxidase structural genes aioBA, ars operons (e.g., arsRCB) which code for arsenic resistance, and pho, pst, and phn genes known to be part of the classical phosphate stress response and that encode functions associated with regulating and acquiring organic and inorganic phosphorus. The regulatory genes aioXSR were also an island component, but only in Proteobacteria and orientated differently depending on whether they were in α-Proteobacteria or β-/γ-Proteobacteria. Curiously though, while these regulatory genes have been shown to be essential to AsIII oxidation in the Proteobacteria, they are absent in most other organisms examined, inferring different regulatory mechanism(s) yet to be discovered. Phylogenetic analysis of the aio, ars, pst, and phn genes revealed evidence of both vertical inheritance and horizontal gene transfer (HGT). It is therefore likely the arsenic islands did not evolve as a whole unit but formed independently by acquisition of functionally related genes and operons in respective strains. Considering gene synteny and structural analogies between arsenate and phosphate, we presumed that these genes function together in helping these microbes to be able to use even low concentrations of phosphorus needed for vital functions under high concentrations of arsenic, and defined these sequences as the arsenic islands

Promoting tau secretion and propagation by hyperactive p300/CBP via autophagy-lysosomal pathway in tauopathy.

BackgroundThe trans-neuronal propagation of tau has been implicated in the progression of tau-mediated neurodegeneration. There is critical knowledge gap in understanding how tau is released and transmitted, and how that is dysregulated in diseases. Previously, we reported that lysine acetyltransferase p300/CBP acetylates tau and regulates its degradation and toxicity. However, whether p300/CBP is involved in regulation of tau secretion and propagation is unknown.MethodWe investigated the relationship between p300/CBP activity, the autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) and tau secretion in mouse models of tauopathy and in cultured rodent and human neurons. Through a high-through-put compound screen, we identified a new p300 inhibitor that promotes autophagic flux and reduces tau secretion. Using fibril-induced tau spreading models in vitro and in vivo, we examined how p300/CBP regulates tau propagation.ResultsIncreased p300/CBP activity was associated with aberrant accumulation of ALP markers in a tau transgenic mouse model. p300/CBP hyperactivation blocked autophagic flux and increased tau secretion in neurons. Conversely, inhibiting p300/CBP promoted autophagic flux, reduced tau secretion, and reduced tau propagation in fibril-induced tau spreading models in vitro and in vivo.ConclusionsWe report that p300/CBP, a lysine acetyltransferase aberrantly activated in tauopathies, causes impairment in ALP, leading to excess tau secretion. This effect, together with increased intracellular tau accumulation, contributes to enhanced spreading of tau. Our findings suggest that inhibition of p300/CBP as a novel approach to correct ALP dysfunction and block disease progression in tauopathy

Intestinal Cgi-58 Deficiency Reduces Postprandial Lipid Absorption

Comparative Gene Identification-58 (CGI-58), a lipid droplet (LD)-associated protein, promotes intracellular triglyceride (TG) hydrolysis in vitro. Mutations in human CGI-58 cause TG accumulation in numerous tissues including intestine. Enterocytes are thought not to store TG-rich LDs, but a fatty meal does induce temporary cytosolic accumulation of LDs. Accumulated LDs are eventually cleared out, implying existence of TG hydrolytic machinery in enterocytes. However, identities of proteins responsible for LD-TG hydrolysis remain unknown. Here we report that intestine-specific inactivation of CGI-58 in mice significantly reduces postprandial plasma TG concentrations and intestinal TG hydrolase activity, which is associated with a 4-fold increase in intestinal TG content and large cytosolic LD accumulation in absorptive enterocytes during the fasting state. Intestine-specific CGI-58 knockout mice also display mild yet significant decreases in intestinal fatty acid absorption and oxidation. Surprisingly, inactivation of CGI-58 in intestine significantly raises plasma and intestinal cholesterol, and reduces hepatic cholesterol, without altering intestinal cholesterol absorption and fecal neutral sterol excretion. In conclusion, intestinal CGI-58 is required for efficient postprandial lipoprotein-TG secretion and for maintaining hepatic and plasma lipid homeostasis. Our animal model will serve as a valuable tool to further define how intestinal fat metabolism influences the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes

Effect of Sleep Time and Sleep Quality on the Risk of Low Back Pain among the Middle-aged and Elderly People in China

BackgroundAs one of the disabling pains, low back pain seriously affects the quality of life of patients and causes a huge economic burden to them. Studies have shown that poor sleep quality has a certain effect on the occurrence of low back pain, but the dose-response relationship between sleep time and the risk of low back pain has been currently unclear, and there is a lack of relevant research in this area in China.ObjectiveTo explore the effect of sleep time and sleep quality on the risk of low back pain among the middle-aged and elderly people in China.MethodsUsing the longitudinal data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) between 2011 to 2015, all middle-aged and elderly people with a baseline age &gt;45 year sat baseline from the three surveys in 2011, 2013, and 2015 were selected as the research subjects. The cut-off time of follow-up was 2015-12-31, and the self-reported low back and back pain was used as the outcome event, and follow-up was terminated upon the occurrence of the outcome event. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess the effect of sleep time and sleep quality on the risk of low back pain and the combined effect of them. Restricted cubic spline model was used to analyze the dose-response relationship between sleep time and the risk of low back pain.ResultsA total of 4 459 subjects were included, with an average follow-up of (3.6±0.8) years; sleep duration: &lt;7 h/d in 1 549 subjects (34.74%) , 7-8 h/d in 1 843 subjects (41.33%) , ≥9 h/d in 1 067 subjects (23.93%) ; 2 700 people (60.55%) with good sleep quality and 1 759 people (39.45%) with impaired sleep quality. A total of 643 people developed low back pain, the incidence rate was 14.42% (643/4 459) . The prevalence of low back pain in middle-aged and elderly people with sleep time &lt;7 h/d was higher than that in middle-aged and elderly people with sleep time of 7-8 h/d and ≥9 h/d 〔the prevalence rates were 20.92% (324/1 549 ) , 10.91% (201/1 843) and 11.06% (118/1 067) 〕 (P&lt;0.05) . The prevalence of low back pain among middle-aged and elderly people with impaired sleep quality was higher than that of middle-aged and elderly people with good sleep quality 〔21.38% (376/1 759) and 9.89% (267/2 700) 〕 (P&lt;0.05) . The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that, compared with sleep time of 7-8 h/d, sleep time &lt;7 h/d was the influential factor of low back pain 〔HR=1.63, 95%CI (1.37, 1.95) , P&lt;0.05〕; compared with better sleep quality, impaired sleep quality was an influential factor of low back pain 〔HR=1.85, 95%CI (1.58, 2.17) , P&lt;0.05〕; compared with male and female sleeping for 7-8 h/d, the risk of low back pain in male and female sleeping &lt;7 h/d was 1.47 times 〔95%CI (1.09, 1.98) , P&lt;0.05〕 and 1.76 times 〔95%CI (1.41, 2.20) , P&lt;0.05〕.The data changed to 2.09 times 〔95%CI (1.60, 2.74) , P&lt;0.05〕 and 1.73 times 〔95%CI (1.41, 2.11) , P&lt;0.05〕 when comparing happened between impaired and good sleep quality (P&lt;0.05) . Restricted cubic spline model analysis showed a linear dose-response relationship between sleep time and the risk of low back pain (Ptrend&lt;0.05, Pnon-linear=0.33) , and the risk of low back pain increased with the decrease of sleep time. There was a linear dose-response relationship between sleep time and the risk of low back pain in male and female (male: Ptrend&lt;0.05, Pnon-linear=0.66; female: Ptrend&lt;0.05, Pnon-linear=0.23) , and the risk of low back pain in male and female increased with the decrease of sleep time (&lt;7 h/d) .The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that, only sleep time ≥9 h/d with good sleep quality was not associated with the risk of low back pain compared to sleep time 7-8 h/d with good sleep quality (P&gt;0.05) , sleep time&lt;7 h/d with good sleep quality, sleep time&lt;7 h/d with impaired sleep quality, sleep time 7-8 h/d with impaired sleep quality, sleep time≥ 9 h/d with impaired sleep quality all increased the risk of low back pain (P&lt;0.05) .ConclusionInsufficient sleep time and impaired sleep quality are closely related to the occurrence of low back pain, and the risk of low back pain is significantly increased when insufficient sleep time and impaired sleep quality coexist

Effects of straw and plastic film mulching on microbial functional genes involved in soil nitrogen cycling

IntroductionMicroorganisms regulate soil nitrogen (N) cycling in cropping systems. However, how soil microbial functional genes involved in soil N cycling respond to mulching practices is not well known.MethodsWe collected soil samples from a spring maize field mulched with crop straw (SM) and plastic film (FM) for 10-year and with no mulching (CK) in the Loess Plateau. Microbial functional genes involved in soil N cycling were quantified using metagenomic sequencing. We collected soil samples from a spring maize field mulched with crop straw (SM) and plastic film (FM) for 10-year and with no mulching (CK) in the Loess Plateau. Microbial functional genes involved in soil N cycling were quantified using metagenomic sequencing.ResultsCompared to that in CK, the total abundance of genes involved in soil N cycling increased in SM but had no significant changes in FM. Specifically, SM increased the abundances of functional genes that involved in dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (nirB, napA, and nrfA), while FM decreased the abundances of functional genes that involved in ammonification (ureC and ureA) in comparison with CK. Other genes involved in assimilatory nitrate reduction, denitrification, and ammonia assimilation, however, were not significantly changed with mulching practices. The nirB and napA were derived from Proteobacteria (mainly Sorangium), and the ureC was derived from Actinobacteria (mainly Streptomyces). Mental test showed that the abundance of functional genes that involved in dissimilatory nitrate reduction was positively correlated with the contents of soil microbial biomass N, potential N mineralization, particulate organic N, and C fractions, while ammonification related gene abundance was positively correlated with soil pH, microbial biomass C and N, and mineral N contents.DiscussionOverall, this study showed that SM could improve soil N availability and promote the soil N cycling by increasing the abundance of functional genes that involved in DNRA, while FM reduced the abundance of functional genes that involved in ammonification and inhibited soil N cycling

Electronically phase separated nano-network in antiferromagnetic insulating LaMnO3/PrMnO3/CaMnO3 tricolor superlattice

Strongly correlated materials often exhibit an electronic phase separation (EPS) phenomena whose domain pattern is random in nature. The ability to control the spatial arrangement of the electronic phases at microscopic scales is highly desirable for tailoring their macroscopic properties and/or designing novel electronic devices. Here we report the formation of EPS nanoscale network in a mono-atomically stacked LaMnO3/CaMnO3/PrMnO3 superlattice grown on SrTiO3 (STO) (001) substrate, which is known to have an antiferromagnetic (AFM) insulating ground state. The EPS nano-network is a consequence of an internal strain relaxation triggered by the structural domain formation of the underlying STO substrate at low temperatures. The same nanoscale network pattern can be reproduced upon temperature cycling allowing us to employ different local imaging techniques to directly compare the magnetic and transport state of a single EPS domain. Our results confirm the one-to-one correspondence between ferromagnetic (AFM) to metallic (insulating) state in manganite. It also represents a significant step in a paradigm shift from passively characterizing EPS in strongly correlated systems to actively engaging in its manipulation