Non-intrusive Load Monitoring Based on Graph Total Variation for Residential Appliances

Non-intrusive load monitoring is a technique for monitoring the operating conditions of electrical appliances by collecting the aggregated electrical information at the household power inlet.Despite several studies on the mining of unique load characteristics,few studies have extensively considered the high computational burden and sample training.Based on lowfrequency sampling data,a non-intrusive load monitoring algorithm utilizing the graph total variation(GTV)is proposed in this study.The algorithm can effectively depict the load state without the need for prior training.First,the combined Kmeans clustering algorithm and graph signals are used to build concise and accurate graph structures as load models.The GTV representing the internal structure of the graph signal is introduced as the optimization model and solved using the augmented Lagrangian iterative algorithm.The introduction of the difference operator reduces the computing cost and addresses the inaccurate reconstruction of the graph signal.With low-frequency sampling data,the algorithm only requires a little prior data and no training,thereby reducing the computing cost.Experiments conducted using the reference energy disaggregation dataset and almanac of minutely power dataset demonstrated the stable superiority of the algorithm and its low computational burden.

Direct Imaging of Titania Nanotubes Located in Mouse Neural Stem Cell Nuclei

Titania nanotubes(TiO2-NTs)are a potential drug vehicle for use in nanomedicine.To this end,a preliminary study of the interaction of a model cell with TiO2-NTs has been carried out.TiO2-NTs were first conjugated with a fl uorescent label,fl uorescein isothiocyanate(FITC).FITC-conjugated titania nanotubes(FITC-TiO2-NTs)internalized in mouse neural stem cells(NSCs,line C17.2)can be directly imaged by confocal microscopy.The confocal imaging showed that FITC-TiO2-NTs readily entered into the cells.After co-incubation with cells for 24 h,FITC-TiO2-NTs localized around the cell nucleus without crossing the karyotheca.More interestingly,the nanotubes passed through the karyotheca entering the cell nucleus after co-incubation for 48 h.Atomic force microscopy(AFM)and transmission electron microscopy(TEM)were also employed in tracking the nanotubes in the cell.These results will be of benefit in future studies of TiO2-NTs for use as a drug vehicle,particularly for DNA-targeting drugs.

Promoting oral mucosal wound healing using a DCS-RuB_(2)A_(2) hydrogel based on a photoreactive antibacterial and sustained release of BMSCs

The high occurrence rate and difficulties in symptom control are listed as the major problems of oral mucosal disease by medical professionals.Following the development of oral mucosal lesions,the oral microenvironment changes,immunity declines,and continuous bacterial stimulation causes wound infection.Traditional antibacterial drugs are ineffective for oral mucosal lesions.To overcome this problem,a light-responsive antibacterial hydrogel containing sustained-release BMSCs was inspired by the trauma environment in the oral cavity,which is different from that on the body surface since it mostly remains under dark conditions.In the absence of light,the hydrogel seals the wound to form a barrier,exerts a natural bacteriostatic effect,and prevents invasion by foreign bacteria.Simultaneously,mesenchymal stem cells are presented,and the released growth factors and other substances have excellent anti-inflammatory and angiogenic effects,which result in rapid repair of the damaged site.Under light conditions,after photo-induced shedding of the hydrogel,RuB_(2)A exerts an antibacterial effect accompanied by degradation of the hydrogel.Results in a rat oral mucosal repair model demonstrate that DCS-RuB_(2)A_(2)-BMSCs could rapidly repair the oral mucosa within 4 days.Sequencing data provide ideas for further analysis of the intrinsic molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways.Taken together,our results suggest that this light-responsive antibacterial hydrogel loaded with BMSCs can be used for rapid wound repair and may advance the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of clinical oral mucosal defects.

The cytotoxicity of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes on macrophages

Carbon nanotubes(CNTs) have been developed for medical and biotechnological applications in the past decades. Their widespread applications make it important to understand their potential hazards to human and the environment. In this study, the possible toxicological effects of the oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes(O-MWCNTs) were assessed on RAW 264.7 macrophages in vitro. Several toxicological endpoints, such as cell viability, the release of LDH and IL-8, GSH/GSSG ratio, intracellular calcium concentration and ultrastructural changes in cell morphology, were carried out. The results showed that O-MWCNTs had very limited effects on oxidative stress, cellular toxicity and apoptosis. Transmission electron microscope clearly demonstrates RAW 264.7 macrophages engulfed plenty of O-MWCNTs, and some of them resided in the cytoplasm, while the morphology was not altered by O-MWCNTs. As the control, the pristine MWCNTs(p-MWCNTs) show higher cytotoxicity than O-MWCNTs, damaging cell viability and inducing cell apoptosis. All these toxicological data are of benefit to more wide applications of O-MWCNTs in the future.