Optimal Operation of Reservoir Systems using Simulated Annealing

A stochastic search technique, simulated annealing (SA), is used to optimize the operation of multiple reservoirs. Seminal application of annealing technique in general to multi-period, multiple-reservoir systems, along with problem representation and selection of different parameter values used in the annealing algorithm for specific cases is discussed. The search technique is improved with the help of heuristic rules, problem-specific information and concepts from the field of evolutionary algorithms. The technique is tested for application to a benchmark problem of four-reservoir system previously solved using a linear programming formulation and its ability to replicate the global optimum solution is examined. The technique is also applied to a system of four hydropower generating reservoirs in Manitoba, Canada, to derive optimal operating rules. A limited version of this problem is solved using a mixed integer nonlinear programming and results are compared with those obtained using SA. A better objective function value is obtained using simulated annealing than the value from a mixed integer non-linear programming model developed for the same problem. Results obtained from these applications suggest that simulated annealing can be used for obtaining near-optimal solutions for multi-period reservoir operation problems that are computationally intractable.     

Indicators of hospital treatment and the organization and management of injuries and diseases in armed combat in 1991 and 1992

Efficiency of organisation of management of the injured and diseased in combat operations in 1991/2 and results of hospital treatment are studied. The questionnaire was established for collection of data about stationary treatment of the wounded and diseased in 7 military and 15 civilian medical institutions. Data about 9.243 injured of whom only 5.57% were civilians are especially analysed. In most cases injuries were inflicted by mine-explosive devices (48.77% in combat and 6.27% in non-combat operations), then those inflicted by bullets (38.58% in combat and 8.02% in non-combat operations). Self-inflicted injuries occurred in 5.79% in combat and 10.32% in non-combat operations. Injuries inflicted in non-combat operations were found in a high percentage (46.60). They mostly occurred in the open air (41.26%). Injuries of extremities are predominant (64.70%), then injuries of the head and neck (17.90%), thorax (9.90%), abdomen and pelvis (7.50%). Young men (20-24 years old) were commonly injured but the older ones (over 40 years) have been also frequently injured (18.30%). Evacuation of the wounded and diseased was performed mainly by ambulances (about 60%) or helicopters (16%), especially to the medical institutions far in the country (to M.M.A. up to 60%). The first aid was given within the first ten minutes after injury in 55.00% and within 30 minutes in 65.58% of cases. Mutual aid was most frequently applied (33.12%) and then first aid given by general practitioners (32.12%). Surgical treatment was provided one hour after injury to every fourth wounded (24.08%) and after six hours to more than one third of the wounded (31.88%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of Representative Heuristic Algorithms for Multi-Objective Reservoir Optimal Operation

Heuristic algorithms (HAs) are widely used in multi-objective reservoir optimal operation (MOROO) due to the rapidity of the calculation and simplicity of their design. The literature usually focuses on one or two categories of HAs and simply reviews the state of the art. To provide an overall understanding and a specific comparison of HAs in MOROO, differential evolution (DE), particle swarm optimisation (PSO), and artificial physics optimisation (APO), which serve as typical examples of the three categories of HAs, are compared in terms of the development and applications using a designed experiment. Besides, the general model with constraints and fitness function, and the solution process using a hybrid feasible domain restoration method and penalty function method are also presented. Taking a designed experiment with multiple scenarios, the mean average of the optimal objective function values, the standard deviation of optimal objective function values, the mean average of the computational time, and population diversity are used for comparisons. Results of the comparisons show that (a) the problem of optimal multipurpose reservoir long-term operation is a mathematic programming problem with narrow feasible region and monotonic objective function; (b) it is easy to obtain the same optimal objective function value, but different optimal solutions using HAs; and (c) comparisons do not result in a clear winner, but DE can be more appropriate for MOROO.

     

Selective Al-Ti reactivity in laser-processed Al/Ti multilayers

Multilayers consisting of five (Al/Ti) bilayers were deposited on (100) silicon wafers. On top was deposited the Ti layer, aimed at preventing Al from diffusing to the surface upon laser treatment. The total thickness of the thin-film structure was 200?nm. Laser irradiations with Nd:YAG picoseconds laser pulses in the defocused regime were performed in air. Laser beam energy was 4?mJ and laser spot diameter on the sample surface was 3?mm (fluence 0.057?J?cm^?2). The samples were treated with different numbers of laser pulses. Structural characterizations were performed by different analytical methods and nano-hardness was also measured. Laser processing induced layer intermixing, formation of titanium aluminides, oxidation of the surface titanium layer and enhanced surface roughness. Aluminum appears at the sample surface only for the highest density of laser irradiation. Laser processing induces increment of nano-hardness by approximately 20% and decrease of residual Young’s modulus for a few percentages from the starting value of the untreated samples. These results can be interesting toward achieving structures with a selective extent of Al-Ti reactivity in this multilayered system, within the development of biocompatible materials.     

An intelligent hybrid system for surface coal mine safety analysis

Analysis of safety in surface coal mines represents a very complex process. Published studies on mine safety analysis are usually based on research related to accidents statistics and hazard identification with risk assessment within the mining industry. Discussion in this paper is focused on the application of AI methods in the analysis of safety in mining environment. Complexity of the subject matter requires a high level of expert knowledge and great experience. The solution was found in the creation of a hybrid system PROTECTOR, whose knowledge base represents a formalization of the expert knowledge in the mine safety field. The main goal of the system is the estimation of mining environment as one of the significant components of general safety state in a mine. This global goal is subdivided into a hierarchical structure of subgoals where each subgoal can be viewed as the estimation of a set of parameters (gas, dust, climate, noise, vibration, illumination, geotechnical hazard) which determine the general mine safety state and category of hazard in mining environment. Both the hybrid nature of the system and the possibilities it offers are illustrated through a case study using field data related to an existing Serbian surface coal mine.     

Parsing human skeletons in an operating room

Multiple human pose estimation is an important yet challenging problem. In an operating room (OR) environment, the 3D body poses of surgeons and medical staff can provide important clues for surgical workflow analysis. For that purpose, we propose an algorithm for localizing and recovering body poses of multiple human in an OR environment under a multi-camera setup. Our model builds on 3D Pictorial Structures and 2D body part localization across all camera views, using convolutional neural networks (ConvNets). To evaluate our algorithm, we introduce a dataset captured in a real OR environment. Our dataset is unique, challenging and publicly available with annotated ground truths. Our proposed algorithm yields to promising pose estimation results on this dataset.     

One View of the Future

Abstract

Floods, droughts, water scarcity, and water contamination are some among many water problems that are present today and will be even more noticeable in the future. In the past, many different tools have been used for simulation and optimization of complex water resources systems in order to provide an improved basis for decision making. The continuing evolution of information technology (hardware and software) creates a good environment for the transition to new tools. Application of the systems approach to water resources planning, management, and operations has been established as one of the most important advances made in the field of water resources engineering. Based on the lessons learned, this contribution provides my personal view on the tools to be used in the future. Two paradigm shifts are discussed. The first one is focusing on the complexity of the water resources domain and the complexity of the modelling tools in an environment characterised by continuous rapid technological development. The second one deals with water-related data availability and natural variability of domain variables in time and space affecting the uncertainty of water resources decision making.     

Evaluation of the origin of nitrate influencing the Klju? groundwater source, Serbia

This paper describes the use of the dual isotope method involving δ(15)N and δ(18)O measurements of dissolved nitrates to assess the origin and fate of groundwater nitrate at the Klju? groundwater source, Serbia. A sampling campaign was conducted in September 2007 during flow conditions obtaining groundwater from observation wells and river water fed by a shallow aquifer hosted in alluvial (sandy-gravel) sediments. Nitrate isotope ratios ranged from +5.3 to +16.9‰ and δ(18)O(NO(3)) values varied from -2.3 to +5.0‰. Two major contamination sources were identified with isotopic compositions characteristic for nitrate derived from nitrification of soil organic nitrogen (+5.3 to +7.8‰ for δ(15)N) resulting in nitrate concentrations of 33.6 and 78.8 mg/L and nitrate derived from animal wastes or human sewage, e.g. via septic systems, yielding δ(15)N values of +9.9 to +11.9‰ and elevated nitrate concentrations of 31.2-245.8 mg/L. The occurrence of nitrification and denitrification was also revealed based on concentration and isotope data for dissolved nitrate.