An automated treatment planning strategy for highly noncoplanar radiotherapy arc trajectories

Radiation therapy is a technology-driven cancer treatment modality that has experienced significant advances over the last decades, due to multidisciplinary contributions that include engineering and computing. Recent technological developments allow the use of noncoplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), one of the most recent photon treatment techniques, in clinical practice. In this work, an automated noncoplanar arc trajectory optimization framework designed in two modular phases is presented. First, a noncoplanar beam angle optimization algorithm is used to obtain a set of noncoplanar irradiation directions. Then, anchored in these directions, an optimization strategy is proposed to compute an optimal arc trajectory. The computational experiments considered a pool of twelve difficult head-and-neck tumor cases. It was possible to observe that, for some of these cases, the optimized noncoplanar arc trajectories led to significant treatment planning quality improvements, when compared with coplanar VMAT treatment plans. Although these experiments were done in a research environment treatment planning software (matRad), the conclusions can be of interest for a clinical setting: automated procedures can simplify the current treatment workflow, produce high-quality treatment plans, making better use of human resources and allowing for unbiased comparisons between different treatment techniques.     

Revisiting the Parallel Strategy for DOACROSS Loops

Journal of Computer Science and Technology - DOACROSS loops are significant parts in many important scientific and engineering applications, which are generally exploited pipeline/wave-front...     

Topology optimization for crashworthiness of thin-walled structures under axial crash considering nonlinear plastic buckling and locations of plastic hinges

Although topology optimization is established for linear static problems, more effort is required for solving nonlinear plastic problems. A new topology optimization approach with equivalent static loads (ESLs) is suggested to find the optimum topologies and locations of plastic hinges of thin-walled crash boxes by considering crash-induced deformation, the main crash energy-absorbing mechanism. Together with finite element method crashworthiness analyses, considering all nonlinearities with rate-dependent plasticity, the method was developed using an appropriate time-incremental scheme of ESLs without removing any high values of loads. Analyses show that the crash boxes with optimum topologies have energy-absorbing capabilities equivalent to the original structure. The proposed method is evaluated for two crashes: a crash box at low speed and a double cell subjected to high-speed collision. The results indicate that this method captures nonlinear crushing behaviours and accurate locations of plastic hinges where, if proper reinforcements are made, energy absorption can be enhanced.     

基于(火用)效率目标的环冷机余热回收系统操作参数优化

摘要：针对烧结环冷机余热回收利用率不高的难题，采用分析法建立了评价某钢铁厂烧结环冷机余热回收系统运行效率的效率模型。基于多孔介质模型、局部非热平衡方程、真实气体SRK方程建立环冷机内气固两相换热模型。通过CFD仿真模拟，探究料层高度、循环风机输入烟气温度、烧结矿底部入口风速三项可控环冷机运行工艺参数对系统效率的影响规律。结果表明，料层厚度在1～1.5 m区间每增加0.1 m，效率增加0.8%～1.1%；循环风温在100～140℃之间每增加10℃，效率增加1.4%～1.5%；烧结矿底部入口风速在0.9～1.9 m/s之间每增加0.1 m/s，效率降低0.18%～0.24%。在此基础上，基于工业运行数据建立效率正交试验优化模型，提高了该余热回收系统3.42%的效率。     

Improving the multi-objective evolutionary optimization algorithm for hydropower reservoir operations in the California Oroville–Thermalito complex

This study demonstrates the application of an improved Evolutionary optimization Algorithm (EA), titled Multi-Objective Complex Evolution Global Optimization Method with Principal Component Analysis and Crowding Distance Operator (MOSPD), for the hydropower reservoir operation of the Oroville–Thermalito Complex (OTC) – a crucial head-water resource for the California State Water Project (SWP). In the OTC's water-hydropower joint management study, the nonlinearity of hydropower generation and the reservoir's water elevation–storage relationship are explicitly formulated by polynomial function in order to closely match realistic situations and reduce linearization approximation errors. Comparison among different curve-fitting methods is conducted to understand the impact of the simplification of reservoir topography. In the optimization algorithm development, techniques of crowding distance and principal component analysis are implemented to improve the diversity and convergence of the optimal solutions towards and along the Pareto optimal set in the objective space. A comparative evaluation among the new algorithm MOSPD, the original Multi-Objective Complex Evolution Global Optimization Method (MOCOM), the Multi-Objective Differential Evolution method (MODE), the Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA), the Multi-Objective Simulated Annealing approach (MOSA), and the Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization scheme (MOPSO) is conducted using the benchmark functions. The results show that best the MOSPD algorithm demonstrated the best and most consistent performance when compared with other algorithms on the test problems. The newly developed algorithm (MOSPD) is further applied to the OTC reservoir releasing problem during the snow melting season in 1998 (wet year), 2000 (normal year) and 2001 (dry year), in which the more spreading and converged non-dominated solutions of MOSPD provide decision makers with better operational alternatives for effectively and efficiently managing the OTC reservoirs in response to the different climates, especially drought, which has become more and more severe and frequent in California.     

A web-based software tool for participatory optimization of conservation practices in watersheds

WRESTORE (Watershed Restoration Using Spatio-Temporal Optimization of Resources) is a web-based, participatory planning tool that can be used to engage with watershed stakeholder communities, and involve them in using science-based, human-guided, interactive simulation–optimization methods for designing potential conservation practices on their landscape. The underlying optimization algorithms, process simulation models, and interfaces allow users to not only spatially optimize the locations and types of new conservation practices based on quantifiable goals estimated by the dynamic simulation models, but also to include their personal subjective and/or unquantifiable criteria in the location and design of these practices. In this paper, we describe the software, interfaces, and architecture of WRESTORE, provide scenarios for implementing the WRESTORE tool in a watershed community's planning process, and discuss considerations for future developments.     

Experimental optimization of power-function-shaped drive pulse for stick-slip piezo actuators

Motion of a stick-slip piezo actuator is generally controlled by the parameters related to its mechanical design and characteristics of the driving pulses applied to piezoceramic shear plates. The goal of the proposed optimization method is to find the driving pulse parameters leading to the fastest and the most reliable actuator operation. In the paper the method is tested on a rotary stick-slip piezo actuating system utilized in an atomic force microscope.The optimization is based on the measurement of the actuator response to driving pulses of different shapes and repetition frequencies at various load forces. To provide it, a computer controlled testing system generating the driving pulses, and detecting and recording the corresponding angular motion response of the actuator by a position sensitive photo detector (PSPD) in real time has been developed. To better understand and interpret the experimental results, supportive methods based on a simple analytical model and numerical simulations were used as well.In this way the shapes of the single driving pulses and values of the load force providing the biggest actuator steps were determined. Generally, the maximal steps were achieved for such a combination of the pulse shapes and load forces providing high velocities at the end of the sticking mode of the actuator motion and, at the same time, lower decelerations during the slipping mode.As for the multiple driving pulses, the pulse shapes and values of repetition frequency ensuring the sticking mode of the actuator motion during the pulse rise time together with the maximum average angular rotor velocity were specified. In this way the effective and stable operation conditions of the actuator were provided.In principle, the presented method can be applied for the testing and optimization of any linear or angular stick-slip actuator.     

NSGA-Ⅱ和NSGA-Ⅲ应用于换热网络多目标优化的对比

针对换热网络多目标优化问题，采用目前应用较广泛的两种多目标遗传算法，即NSGA-Ⅱ和NSGA-Ⅲ，对两种算法的性能进行对比研究。案例研究结果表明，NSGA-Ⅱ算法比NSGA-Ⅲ算法运行效率更高，NSGA-Ⅲ的运行时间是NSGA-Ⅱ的2倍以上；NSGA-Ⅱ算法的应用并不严格地受限于3个目标的最大目标数量，NSGA-Ⅱ在求解大于3个目标的多目标优化问题时也可能具有良好的性能，目标数量并非选择NSGA-Ⅱ和NSGA-Ⅲ算法的严格标准。对10×5换热网络案例进行4个相关目标改造优化时，从换热网络的单一性能指标来看，NSGA-Ⅱ算法更容易获得各目标的极值。从最小年度总费用的评价指标来看，两种算法的最优方案效果相近。对7×3换热网络案例进行6个目标的优化时，NSGA-Ⅲ算法得到各目标的极值较优。从最小年度总费用的评价指标来看，NSGA-Ⅲ算法获得的投资费用和年度总费用更小。对于目标函数数量不超过3个，或者3个以上具有一定相关性的多目标优化问题，推荐优先使用NSGA-Ⅱ算法实现快速寻优；而NSGA-Ⅲ算法由于其基于参考点的选择机制，运行效率较慢，更适合用于收敛困难的高维多目标优化问题。