Predicting Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings Using Advanced Machine Learning Algorithms

The share of residential building energy consumption in global energy consumption has rapidly increased after the COVID-19 crisis. The accurate prediction of energy consumption under different indoor and outdoor conditions is an essential step towards improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints in the residential building sector. In this paper, a PSO-optimized random forest classification algorithm is proposed to identify the most important factors contributing to residential heating energy consumption. A self-organizing map (SOM) approach is applied for feature dimensionality reduction, and an ensemble classification model based on the stacking method is trained on the dimensionality-reduced data. The results show that the stacking model outperforms the other models with an accuracy of 95.4% in energy consumption prediction. Finally, a causal inference method is introduced in addition to Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) to explore and analyze the factors influencing energy consumption. A clear causal relationship between water pipe temperature changes, air temperature, and building energy consumption is found, compensating for the neglect of temperature in the SHAP analysis. The findings of this research can help residential building owners/managers make more informed decisions around the selection of efficient heating management systems to save on energy bills. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Energies (19961073) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Rapid evaluation of heterologous chimeric RBD-dimer mRNA vaccine for currently-epidemic Omicron sub-variants as booster shot after inactivated vaccine

Graphical With continuous mutations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the severe immune escape of Omicron sub-variants urges the development of next-generation broad-spectrum vaccines, especially as booster jabs after high-level vaccination coverage of inactivated vaccines in China and many other countries. Previously, we developed a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) protein subunit vaccine ZF2001® based on the tandem homo-prototype receptor-binding domain (RBD)-dimer of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. We upgraded the antigen into a hetero-chimeric prototype (PT)-Beta or Delta-BA.1 RBD-dimer to broaden the cross-protection efficacy and prove its efficiency with protein subunit and mRNA vaccine platforms. Herein, we further explored the hetero-chimeric RBD-dimer mRNA vaccines and evaluated their broad-spectrum activities as booster jabs following two doses of inactivated vaccine in mice. Our data demonstrated that the chimeric vaccines significantly boosted neutralizing antibody levels and specific T-cell responses against the variants, and PT-Beta was superior to Delta-BA.1 RBD as a booster in mice, shedding light on the antigen design for the next-generation COVID-19 vaccines.

Rapid evaluation of heterologous chimeric RBD-dimer mRNA vaccine for currently-epidemic Omicron sub-variants as booster shot after inactivated vaccine.

With continuous mutations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the severe immune escape of Omicron sub-variants urges the development of next-generation broad-spectrum vaccines, especially as booster jabs after high-level vaccination coverage of inactivated vaccines in China and many other countries. Previously, we developed a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) protein subunit vaccine ZF2001® based on the tandem homo-prototype receptor-binding domain (RBD)-dimer of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. We upgraded the antigen into a hetero-chimeric prototype (PT)-Beta or Delta-BA.1 RBD-dimer to broaden the cross-protection efficacy and prove its efficiency with protein subunit and mRNA vaccine platforms. Herein, we further explored the hetero-chimeric RBD-dimer mRNA vaccines and evaluated their broad-spectrum activities as booster jabs following two doses of inactivated vaccine (IV) in mice. Our data demonstrated that the chimeric vaccines significantly boosted neutralizing antibody levels and specific T-cell responses against the variants, and PT-Beta was superior to Delta-BA.1 RBD as a booster in mice, shedding light on the antigen design for the next-generation COVID-19 vaccines.

Immunogenicity, efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines: an update of data published by 31 December 2021.

The unprecedented coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a disaster for public health in the last 2 years, without any sign of an ending. Various vaccines were developed rapidly as soon as the outbreak occurred. Clinical trials demonstrated the reactogenicity, immunogenicity and protection efficacy in humans, and some of the vaccines have been approved for clinical use. However, waves of infections such as the recently circulating Omicron variant still occur. Newly emerging variants, especially the variants of concern, and waning humoral responses pose serious challenges to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, we summarized the humoral and cellular immunity, safety profiles and protection efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines with clinical data published by 21 May 2021. In this review, we summarize and update the published clinical data of COVID-19 vaccines and candidates up to December 31, 2021.

Protective prototype-Beta and Delta-Omicron chimeric RBD-dimer vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.

Breakthrough infections by SARS-CoV-2 variants become the global challenge for pandemic control. Previously, we developed the protein subunit vaccine ZF2001 based on the dimeric receptor-binding domain (RBD) of prototype SARS-CoV-2. Here, we developed a chimeric RBD-dimer vaccine approach to adapt SARS-CoV-2 variants. A prototype-Beta chimeric RBD-dimer was first designed to adapt the resistant Beta variant. Compared with its homotypic forms, the chimeric vaccine elicited broader sera neutralization of variants and conferred better protection in mice. The protection of the chimeric vaccine was further verified in macaques. This approach was generalized to develop Delta-Omicron chimeric RBD-dimer to adapt the currently prevalent variants. Again, the chimeric vaccine elicited broader sera neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants and conferred better protection against challenge by either Delta or Omicron SARS-CoV-2 in mice. The chimeric approach is applicable for rapid updating of immunogens, and our data supported the use of variant-adapted multivalent vaccine against circulating and emerging variants.

A tandem-repeat dimeric RBD protein-based covid-19 vaccine zf2001 protects mice and nonhuman primates.

Safe, efficacious, and deployable vaccines are urgently needed to control COVID-19 in the large-scale vaccination campaigns. We report here the preclinical studies of an approved protein subunit vaccine against COVID-19, ZF2001, which contains tandem-repeat dimeric receptor-binding domain (RBD) protein with alum-based adjuvant. We assessed vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy in both mice and non-human primates (NHPs). ZF2001 induced high levels of RBD-binding and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody in both mice and non-human primates, and elicited balanced TH1/TH2 cellular responses in NHPs. Two doses of ZF2001 protected Ad-hACE2-transduced mice against SARS-CoV-2 infection, as detected by reduced viral RNA and relieved lung injuries. In NHPs, vaccination of either 25 µg or 50 µg ZF2001 prevented infection with SARS-CoV-2 in lung, trachea, and bronchi, with milder lung lesions. No evidence of disease enhancement was observed in both animal models. ZF2001 has been approved for emergency use in China, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and Columbia. The high safety, immunogenicity, and protection efficacy in both mice and NHPs found in this preclinical study was consistent with the results in human clinical trials.

Recombinant chimpanzee adenovirus AdC7 expressing dimeric tandem-repeat spike protein RBD protects mice against COVID-19.

A safe and effective vaccine is urgently needed to control the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Four adenovirus-vectored vaccines expressing spike (S) protein have been approved for use. Here, we generated several recombinant chimpanzee adenovirus (AdC7) vaccines expressing S, receptor-binding domain (RBD), or tandem-repeat dimeric RBD (RBD-tr2). We found vaccination via either intramuscular or intranasal route was highly immunogenic in mice to elicit both humoral and cellular immune responses. AdC7-RBD-tr2 showed higher antibody responses compared to either AdC7-S or AdC7-RBD. Intranasal administration of AdC7-RBD-tr2 additionally induced mucosal immunity with neutralizing activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Either single-dose or two-dose mucosal administration of AdC7-RBD-tr2 protected mice against SARS-CoV-2 challenge, with undetectable subgenomic RNA in lung and relieved lung injury. AdC7-RBD-tr2-elicted sera preserved the neutralizing activity against the circulating variants, especially the Delta variant. These results support AdC7-RBD-tr2 as a promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

A Universal Design of Betacoronavirus Vaccines against COVID-19, MERS, and SARS.

Vaccines are urgently needed to control the ongoing pandemic COVID-19 and previously emerging MERS/SARS caused by coronavirus (CoV) infections. The CoV spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) is an attractive vaccine target but is undermined by limited immunogenicity. We describe a dimeric form of MERS-CoV RBD that overcomes this limitation. The RBD-dimer significantly increased neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers compared to conventional monomeric form and protected mice against MERS-CoV infection. Crystal structure showed RBD-dimer fully exposed dual receptor-binding motifs, the major target for NAbs. Structure-guided design further yielded a stable version of RBD-dimer as a tandem repeat single-chain (RBD-sc-dimer) which retained the vaccine potency. We generalized this strategy to design vaccines against COVID-19 and SARS, achieving 10- to 100-fold enhancement of NAb titers. RBD-sc-dimers in pilot scale production yielded high yields, supporting their scalability for further clinical development. The framework of immunogen design can be universally applied to other beta-CoV vaccines to counter emerging threats.