An Attention-Based Multilayer GRU Model for Multistep-Ahead Short-Term Load Forecasting†.

Recently, multistep-ahead prediction has attracted much attention in electric load forecasting because it can deal with sudden changes in power consumption caused by various events such as fire and heat wave for a day from the present time. On the other hand, recurrent neural networks (RNNs), including long short-term memory and gated recurrent unit (GRU) networks, can reflect the previous point well to predict the current point. Due to this property, they have been widely used for multistep-ahead prediction. The GRU model is simple and easy to implement; however, its prediction performance is limited because it considers all input variables equally. In this paper, we propose a short-term load forecasting model using an attention based GRU to focus more on the crucial variables and demonstrate that this can achieve significant performance improvements, especially when the input sequence of RNN is long. Through extensive experiments, we show that the proposed model outperforms other recent multistep-ahead prediction models in the building-level power consumption forecasting.

Spire localization via zinc finger-containing domain is crucial for the asymmetric division of mouse oocyte.

Zinc plays an essential role in mammalian oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early embryogenesis, and depletion of zinc impairs cell cycle control, asymmetric division, and cytokinesis in oocyte. We report that zinc, via the actin nucleator Spire, acts as an essential regulator of the actin cytoskeleton remodeling during mouse oocyte maturation and fertilization. Depletion of zinc in the mouse oocyte impaired cortical and cytoplasmic actin formation. Spire is colocalized with zinc-containing vesicles via its zinc finger-containing Fab1, YOTB, Vac 1, EEA1 (FYVE) domain. Improper localization of Spire by zinc depletion or mutations in the FYVE domain impair cytoplasmic actin mesh formations and asymmetric division and cytokinesis of oocyte. All 3 major domains of the Spire are required for its proper localization and activity. After fertilization or parthenogenetic activation, Spire localization was dramatically altered following zinc release from the oocyte. Collectively, our data reveal novel roles for zinc in the regulation of the actin nucleator Spire by controlling its localization in mammalian oocyte.-Jo, Y.-J., Lee, I.-W., Jung, S.-M., Kwon, J., Kim, N.-H., Namgoong, S. Spire localization via zinc finger-containing domain is crucial for the asymmetric division of mouse oocyte.

Distinct roles of Cep192 and Cep152 in acentriolar MTOCs and spindle formation during mouse oocyte maturation.

Mammalian oocytes lack a centriole that acts as a microtubule organization center (MTOC) in most somatic cells. During oocyte maturation, MTOCs undergo remodeling processes, including decondensation, fragmentation, and self-organization. However, the underlying mechanisms of MTOC remodeling in mouse oocytes are not well understood. We showed that two pericentriolar proteins, Cep192 and Cep152, play crucial roles during MTOC remodeling in mouse oocytes. Cep192 is present in MTOCs at all stages of oocyte maturation, and its depletion induces ablation of MTOCs, delay in spindle formation, and abnormal chromosomal alignment in spindles. In the case of Cep152, its localization on MTOCs is limited at the germinal vesicle stage and then disappears from the MTOCs after the germinal vesicle breakdown stage. Cep152 exclusion from MTOCs is involved in the fragmentation of MTOCs, and it is regulated by cyclin-dependent kinase 1 activity. Our results demonstrate the different roles of Cep192 and Cep152 in MTOC remodeling and a novel regulatory mechanism during meiotic spindle formation in mouse oocytes.-Lee, I.-W., Jo, Y.-J., Jung, S.-M., Wang, H.-Y., Kim, N.-H., Namgoong, S. Distinct roles of Cep192 and Cep152 in acentriolar MTOCs and spindle formation during mouse oocyte maturation.

The risk of osteoporotic fractures according to the FRAX model in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The aim of the current study is to identify patients without osteoporosis who met the criteria of the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) only. The incidence of fractures was investigated in patients who met only the FRAX criteria of the NOF and patients who presented osteoporosis. Five hundred and forty five patients with rheumatoid arthritis who visited a single center were recruited in Korea. In the follow-up period of median 30 months, the new onset of fractures was investigated. Of 223 patients who have no osteoporosis, 39 (17.4%) satisfied the FRAX criteria for pharmacological intervention. During the follow-up period, 2 new onset fractures occurred in patients who met only the FRAX criteria and 22 new onset fractures did in patients with osteoporosis by bone mineral density. The incidence rate for new onset fractures of patients who met only the FRAX criteria was with 295.93 per 10,000 person-years higher than in the general population with 114.99 per 10,000 person-years. Patients who met the FRAX criteria of the NOF only need pharmacological intervention because their numbers of incidence for new onset fractures are similar to those of patients with osteoporosis by BMD.

Modeling forecast errors for microgrid operation using Gaussian process regression.

Microgrids, denoting small-scale and self-sustaining grids, constitute a pivotal component in future power systems with a high penetration of renewable generators. The inherent uncertainty tied to renewable power generation, typified by photovoltaic and wind turbine systems, necessitates counterbalancing mechanisms. These mechanisms encompass Energy storage systems or conventional thermal fossil-fuel generators imbued with heightened flexibility. Addressing the uncertainty stemming from renewable generators mandates a cost-effective assessment and operational strategy for said compensatory devices. To this end, myriad uncertainty factors warrant scrutiny, conceivably concretized into a unified probability distribution function (PDF) that takes into account their temporal inter-dependencies. Diverse uncertainty factors, characterized by varying marginal distributions and scales, can be assimilated into a multivariate probability distribution through a conversion to normal distributions via rank correlation. However, with the escalation in the number of uncertainty factors embraced within a microgrid context, the endeavour becomes notably intricate when aiming to define conditional probability distributions originating from joint PDFs. This paper presents a method proposing the modelling of net-load forecast error distribution, considering the interplay among uncertainty factors. The approach introduces a data-driven Gaussian process regression technique for training and validating conditional PDFs among these uncertainty factors. Notably, this approach facilitates the transformation of said factors into normal distributions while preserving their inherent marginal characteristics. The resultant conditional density function, as per the proposed methodology, exhibits enhanced suitability for estimating net-load error distribution. Consequently, the conditional density function stemming from this proposed approach demonstrates superior aptitude in approximating the distribution of net load error.

Visceral fat obesity is highly associated with primary gout in a metabolically obese but normal weighted population: a case control study.

INTRODUCTION: Gout is a chronic inflammatory disease the development of which is associated with obesity-induced metabolic abnormalities. However, a substantial number of non-obese patients (body mass index [BMI] <25 kg/m(2)) also develop gout in Korea. It was suggested that accumulation of visceral fat rather than subcutaneous fat is associated with metabolic abnormalities and hyperuricemia in patients with gout; therefore, we hypothesized that visceral fat accumulation was increased in non-obese gout patients. METHODS: One hundred and three male patients with primary gout and 204 age-matched healthy controls who attended a health check-up examination were recruited after the review of medical charts. The visceral fat area (VFA) was measured using the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method, and a VFA >100 cm(2) was defined as visceral fat obesity (VFO). The frequency of VFO was compared in patients and control groups. The frequencies of metabolic syndrome and related parameters were also investigated. RESULTS: BMI, waist circumference, total fat mass, serum triglycerides, and serum glucose levels were significantly greater in patients compared with controls. VFA and the prevalence of VFO was increased in gout patients compared with controls. There were positive correlations between VFA and serum triglyceride levels and serum glucose levels. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that VFO is an independent risk factor for gout (odds ratio 2.488, 95% confidence interval 1.041-4.435). In non-obese subgroup analyses (gout patients, n = 38; healthy controls, n = 150), VFA (98.7 ± 19.3 vs. 91.0 ± 16.7, P = 0.016) and the frequency of VFO (47.4 vs. 27.3%, P = 0.017) remained significantly higher in gout patients. There was no difference in either BMI or total fat mass between patients and controls in the non-obese subgroup. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with gout was 31.7% (33/104), compared with 13.2% (5/38) in the non-obese subgroup according to modified ATP III criteria. CONCLUSION: VFO, measured using BIA, is observed more frequently in patients with primary gout compared with healthy controls, even in non-obese individuals. Therefore, VFO might more properly represent metabolic derangements in patients with gout than general obesity.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Training Using Eye Blink Switch for Locked-in Syndrome Patient.

Locked-in Syndrome is a severe pontine stroke causing quadriplegia, lower cranial nerve paralysis, and mutism with preservation of only vertical gaze and upper eyelid movement in a conscious patient. We present a case of a Locked-in Syndrome patient who received communication training with augmentative and alternative communication equipment by using eye blinks. After 3 weeks of training, the patient was able to make an attempt to interact with other people, and associate a new word by Korean alphabet selection. Augmentative and alternative communication equipment which uses eye blinks might be considered to be beneficial in improving the communication skills of locked-in syndrome patients.

Gastric Metastasis from Ovarian Adenocarcinoma Presenting as a Submucosal Tumor without Ulceration.

Metastatic gastric cancer is extremely rare and gastric metastasis from ovarian adenocarcinoma has rarely been reported. All of the previously reported metastatic lesions presented as an ulcerative lesions. We report a case of 49-year-old woman in which gastric metastasis from ovarian adenocarcinoma presented as a submucosal tumor without ulceration on endoscopic examination. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor was suspected on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) examination. It was confirmed histopathologically as metastatic ovarian adenocarcinoma after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with enucleation. Submucosal tumor of the stomach in patients with ovarian carcinoma should not be overlooked and ESD with enucleation may be a viable option when EUS with fine needle aspiration is not available.