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At least 55 records · Page 3

Mean Field Type Control with Congestion (II): An Augmented Lagrangian Method

This work deals with a numerical method for solving a mean-field type control problem with congestion. It is the continuation of an article by the same authors, in which suitably defined weak solutions of the system of partial differential equations arising from the model were discussed and existence and uniqueness were proved. Here, the focus is put on numerical methods: a monotone finite difference scheme is proposed and shown to have a variational interpretation. Then an Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers for solving the variational problem is addressed. It is based on an augmented Lagrangian. Two kinds of boundary conditions are considered: periodic conditions and more realistic boundary conditions associated to state constrained problems. Various test cases and numerical results are presented.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Evaluating the frequency and severity of ovarian venous congestion on adult computed tomography

Purpose: While pelvic congestion syndrome and chronic pelvic pain are relatively common in women, no large- or medium-sized studies have been conducted to our knowledge to evaluate the frequency and severity of ovarian vein dilatation (OVD) on computed tomography (CT). The purpose of our study was therefore to analyze a large number of consecutive abdominal and pelvic CT scans in adult women to determine OVD frequency and severity. Methods: An IRB-approved, single-institution retrospective analysis of 1042 consecutive abdominal and pelvic CT scans in women ages 25–65 was performed. Scans were evaluated for the presence and severity of OVD and association with “nutcracker anatomy.” A gradation scheme was developed based on quartile analysis. Results: 143 of the CT scans had OVD (13.7%). Of the positive scans, 96 were bilateral, 29 were left-side only, 18 were right-side only, and 18 had nutcracker-type compression of the left renal vein (14.4% of scans with left or bilateral OVD). In positive scans, the mean and median left OVD were 7.5 and 7 mm, respectively, and right-side were 7.2 and 7 mm, respectively. Based on quartile analysis, OVD grading was mild (< 6 mm), moderate (6–8 mm), or severe (> 8 mm), with moderate including the middle 50% of patients. Conclusions: OVD was found on 13.7% of 1042 consecutive female abdominal and pelvic CT scans, with “nutcracker anatomy” present in 14.4% of the scans with left OVD. Moderate dilatation was defined as an OVD of 6–8 mm at the iliac crests.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Embolization of Incompetent Pelvic Veins for the Treatment of Recurrent Varicose Veins in Lower Limbs and Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

We present our experience with embolization of incompetent pelvic veins (IPV) in women with recurrence of varicose veins (VV) in lower limbs, as well as symptoms of pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS), after first surgery. In addition, we evaluated the effects of embolization in decreasing the symptoms of VV before surgery as well as its effects on PCS symptoms. We included 10 women who had consulted a vascular surgeon because of recurrent VV in lower limbs after surgery. All of these patients were included in the study because they also had symptoms of PCS, probably due to IPV. In patients who had confirmed IPV, we performed embolization before a second surgery. VV and PCS were assessed before and at 3 months after embolization (before the second surgery) using a venous clinical severity score (VCSS) and a visual analog pain scale (VAS), respectively. Patients were controlled between 3 and 6 months after embolization. Paired Student t test analysis was used for comparing data before and after embolization. Fifteen vein segments in 10 women were suitable for embolization. There was a significant (p < 0.001) decrease of VCSS after embolization, and recurrence of VV was not detected within a period of 6 months. There was also significant (p < 0.01) relief of chronic pelvic pain related to PCS evaluated using VAS at 3 months after embolization. Embolization decreases the risk of VV recurrence after surgery and also improves PCS symptoms in women with VV in lower limbs and IPV.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Endovascular Treatment of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome: Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Long-Term Follow-up Clinical Evaluation in 202 Patients

PurposeThis study was designed to evaluate the clinical outcome and patients' satisfaction after a 5 year follow-up period for pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) coil embolization in patients who suffered from chronic pelvic pain that initially consulted for lower limb venous insufficiency.MethodsA total of 202 patients suffering from chronic pelvic pain were recruited prospectively in a single center (mean age 43.5 years; range 27-57) where they were being treated for lower limb varices. Inclusion criteria were: lower limb varices and chronic pelvic pain (>6 months), >6 mm pelvic venous caliber in ultrasonography, and venous reflux or presence of communicating veins. Both ovarian and hypogastric veins were targeted for embolization. Pain level was assessed before and after embolotherapy and during follow-up using a visual analog scale (VAS). Technical and clinical success and recurrence of leg varices were studied. Patients completed a quality questionnaire. Clinical follow-up was performed at 1, 3, and 6 months and every year for 5 years.ResultsTechnical success was 100 %. Clinical success was achieved in 168 patients (93.85 %), with complete disappearance of symptoms in 60 patients (33.52 %). Pain score (VAS) was 7.34 {+-} 0.7 preprocedural versus 0.78 {+-} 1.2 at the end of follow-up (P < 0.0001). Complications were: groin hematoma (n = 6), coil migration (n = 4), and reaction to contrast media (n = 1). Twenty-three cases presented abdominal pain after procedure. In 24 patients (12.5 %), there was recurrence of their leg varices within the follow-up. The mean degree of patients' satisfaction was 7.4/9.ConclusionsCoil embolization of PCS is an effective and safe procedure, with high clinical success rate and degree of satisfaction.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Evaluation of Effectiveness of Embolization in Pelvic Congestion Syndrome with the New Vascular Occlusion Device (ArtVentive EOS™): Preliminary Results

PurposeThis study aimed to collect confirmatory data in support of the safety and efficiency of the ArtVentive EOS™ for the treatment of the pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS). This study was based on the OCCLUDE 1 Study Protocol approved by the Local Ethics Committee.Materials and MethodsA prospective study carried out in June and July 2014 included 12 women aged 21–48 years (mean 31 years) scheduled for PCS embolization using the ArtVentive EOS™. The inclusion criteria were clinical symptoms of PCS documented by transvaginal Doppler ultrasound and pelvic MRI. The pelvic pain was assessed by VAS score from 0 to 10 (0 represents lack of pain and 10 unbearable pain). A decrease in pelvic pain intensity based on the VAS was considered a clinical success.ResultsSuccessful embolization procedures with ArtVentive EOS™ were performed in 11 out of 12 patients. Nine patients underwent unilateral embolization of the left ovarian vein, and two had bilateral embolization of the ovarian veins. Complete ovarian vein occlusion confirmed by post deployment venography was achieved in all 11 patients. Procedures lasted from 19 to 45 min (average 28 min). Pain intensity decrease was observed in all 11 patients—a decrease of 5.6 points—from 7.3 pre-procedure to 1.6 post-embolization (standard deviation: 0.67). In one case, the left ovarian vein was injured by guide wire manipulation with contrast extravasation—not clinically significant.ConclusionsThe use of ArtVentive EOS™ for occlusion of the ovarian veins in PCS patients is safe and effective.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Extracting Charge and Mass Information from Highly Congested Mass Spectra Using Fourier-Domain Harmonics

Native mass spectra of large, polydisperse biomolecules with repeated subunits, such as lipoprotein Nanodiscs, can often be challenging to analyze by conventional methods. The presence of tens of closely spaced, overlapping peaks in these mass spectra can make charge state, total mass, or subunit mass determinations difficult to measure by traditional methods. Recently, we introduced a Fourier Transform-based algorithm that can be used to deconvolve highly congested mass spectra for polydisperse ion populations with repeated subunits and facilitate identification of the charge states, subunit mass, charge-state-specific, and total mass distributions present in the ion population. Here, we extend this method by investigating the advantages of using overtone peaks in the Fourier spectrum, particularly for mass spectra with low signal-to-noise and poor resolution. This method is illustrated for lipoprotein Nanodisc mass spectra acquired on three common platforms, including the first reported native mass spectrum of empty “large” Nanodiscs assembled with MSP1E3D1 and over 300 noncovalently associated lipids. It is shown that overtone peaks contain nearly identical stoichiometry and charge state information to fundamental peaks but can be significantly better resolved, resulting in more reliable reconstruction of charge-state-specific mass spectra and peak width characterization. We further demonstrate how these parameters can be used to improve results from Bayesian spectral fitting algorithms, such as UniDec. .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Influence of Androgen Deprivation Therapy on All-Cause Mortality in Men With High-Risk Prostate Cancer and a History of Congestive Heart Failure or Myocardial Infarction

Purpose: It is unknown whether the excess risk of all-cause mortality (ACM) observed when androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is added to radiation for men with prostate cancer and a history of congestive heart failure (CHF) or myocardial infarction (MI) also applies to those with high-risk disease. Methods and Materials: Of 14,594 men with cT1c-T3aN0M0 prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy-based radiation from 1991 through 2006, 1,378 (9.4%) with a history of CHF or MI comprised the study cohort. Of these, 22.6% received supplemental external beam radiation, and 42.9% received a median of 4 months of neoadjuvant ADT. Median age was 71.8 years. Median follow-up was 4.3 years. Cox multivariable analysis tested for an association between ADT use and ACM within risk groups, after adjusting for treatment factors, prognostic factors, and propensity score for ADT. Results: ADT was associated with significantly increased ACM (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-2.34; p = 0.0001), with 5-year estimates of 22.71% with ADT and 11.62% without ADT. The impact of ADT on ACM by risk group was as follows: high-risk AHR = 2.57; 95% CI, 1.17-5.67; p = 0.019; intermediate-risk AHR = 1.75; 95% CI, 1.13-2.73; p = 0.012; low-risk AHR = 1.52; 95% CI, 0.96-2.43; p = 0.075). Conclusions: Among patients with a history of CHF or MI treated with brachytherapy-based radiation, ADT was associated with increased all-cause mortality, even for patients with high-risk disease. Although ADT has been shown in Phase III studies to improve overall survival in high-risk disease, the small subgroup of high-risk patients with a history of CHF or MI, who represented about 9% of the patients, may be harmed by ADT.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Multi-parametric analysis for mixed integer linear programming: An application to transmission upgrade and congestion management

Upgrading the capacity of existing transmission lines is essential for meeting the growing energy demands, facilitating the integration of renewable energy, and ensuring the security of the transmission system. This study focuses on the selection of lines whose capacities and by how much should be expanded from the perspective of the Independent System Operators (ISOs) to minimize the total system cost. We employ advanced multi-parametric programming and an enhanced branch-and-bound algorithm to address complex mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problems, considering multi-period time constraints and physical limitations of generators and transmission lines. To characterize the various decisions in transmission expansion, we model the increased capacity of existing lines as parameters within a specified range. This study first relaxes the binary variables to continuous variables and applies the Lagrange method and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions to obtain optimal solutions and identify critical regions associated with active and inactive constraints. Moreover, we extend the traditional branch-and-bound (B&B) method by determining the problem’s upper and lower bounds at each node of the B&B decision tree, helping to manage computational challenges in large-scale MILP problems. Here, we compare the difference between the upper and lower bounds to obtain an approximate optimal solution within the decision-makers’ tolerable error range. In addition, the first derivative of the objective function on the parameters of each line is used to inform the selection of lines for easing congestion and maximizing social welfare. Finally, the capacity upgrades are selected by weighing the reductions in system costs against the expense of upgrading line capacities. The findings are supported by numerical simulations and provide transmission-line planners with decision-making guidance.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Avoiding Steric Congestion in Dendrimer Growth through Proportionate Branching. A Twist on da Vinci's Rule of Tree Branching

In making defect-free macromolecules, the challenge occurs during chemical synthesis. This challenge is especially pronounced in dendrimer synthesis where exponential growth quickly leads to steric congestion. To overcome this difficulty, proportionate branching in dendrimer growth is proposed. In proportionate branching, both the number and the length of branches increase exponentially but in opposite directions to mimic tree growth. The effectiveness of this strategy is demonstrated through the synthesis of a fluorocarbon dendron containing 243 chemically identical fluorine atoms with a MW of 9082 Da. Monodispersity is confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and small-angle X-ray scattering. Moreover, growing different parts proportionately, as nature does, could be a general strategy to achieve defect-free synthesis of macromolecules.

Yue, Xuyi↗

Cascade alkylation and deuteration with aryl iodides via Pd/norbornene catalysis: an efficient method for the synthesis of congested deuterium-labeled arenes

An efficient approach for synthesizing congested deuterium-labeled arenes via cascade alkylation and deuteration with aryl iodides has been disclosed. Here, we found that the adoption of sodium formate-$d$ as a deuterium source is the key for achieving high deuterium incorporation >98%.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Frequency Response and Congestion Management using Multi-Terminal HVDC Overlay

Continental level power system interconnections using a High Voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines have been considered to bring economic benefits such as interregional power exchange. This paper describes the modeling process and studies the technical benefits of having multiple HVDC lines, including a grid of HVDC lines (macrogrid) configuration, connecting the North American Eastern and Western electric power interconnections. The models developed provide steady state and stability analysis for multiple HVDC overlay topologies and provide technical benefit analysis in terms of frequency response and congestions management. The paper also provides a comparison of different HVDC topologies performance and their grid support in case of major disturbances

Tbaileh, Ahmad↗

Eco-Trajectory Planning with Consideration of Queue along Congested Corridor for Hybrid Electric Vehicles

At signalized intersections, vehicle speed profile plays a vital role in determining fuel consumption and emissions. With advances of connected and automated vehicle technology, vehicles are able to receive predicted traffic information from the infrastructure in real-time to plan their trajectories in a fuel-efficient way. In this paper, an eco-driving model is developed for hybrid electric vehicles in a congested urban traffic environment. The vehicle queuing process is explicitly modeled by the shockwave profile model with consideration of vehicle deceleration and acceleration to provide a green window for eco-vehicle trajectory planning. A trigonometric speed profile is applied to minimize fuel consumption and maximize driving comfort with a low jerk. A hybrid electric vehicle fuel consumption model is built and calibrated with real vehicle data to evaluate the energy benefit of the eco-vehicles. Simulation results from a real-world corridor of six intersections show that the proposed eco-driving model can significantly reduce energy consumption by 8.7% on average and by 23.5% at maximum, without sacrificing mobility.

Engineering↗

Autonomous Ride-Share Fleet to Reduce Traffic Congestion for Suburban Commuters

As urbanization progresses in areas across the United States, traffic is worsening as more personal vehicles are required to ferry suburban commuters between home and work. Many suburban commuters would prefer public transportation over driving a personal vehicle to use their commute time more efficiently, but existing infrastructure can make conventional public transit inconvenient or impossible. There is a need for a wide-spread system that can safely, conveniently, and cost-effectively transport suburban commuters to and from work. This will decrease congestion on roads, allowing suburban areas to continue growing in population without dramatically increasing commute times. The customer (suburban commuters) needs a system that enables them to commute to and from work more efficiently. This efficiency can be thought of as both the total time spent commuting, as well as the quality of that time spent commuting. The “quality” of the time is subjective, but in general is a metric of the ability of the commuter to focus on things other than traveling during the commute process. The new system should decrease the total time commuting, but increase the quality of the commute time. Collectively Americans spend a total of 55.2 minutes per day commuting, up from 43.4 minutes per day in 1980. Additionally, as of 2013, 76% of Americans get to work by driving alone, up from 64% in 19803. The 40-hour work-week was established in the U.S in 1940 and has not changed since. The result is that Americans spend an increasing amount of time commuting and at a lower quality, but the standard work week has not changed. This decreases the amount of time adults in the U.S have for leisure, friends, and family. A system solution has the potential to improve this, particularly with the advent of new and future technologies. This system is picked specifically for suburban commuters, as they have the highest potential to be helped.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Congestion Management Solutions for Enhanced Distribution System Operations with Aggregated Distribution Grid Resources Providing Grid Services and Market Participation

Microgrids and other aggregations of distribution grid resources (DGRs) are poised to actively participate in electricity markets and provide essential grid services in the coming years. In fact, DGRs already play such a role through behind-the-meter (BTM) demand response programs and small-scale BTM dispatchable generation initiatives. At the same time, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency datacenters imposes significant, often unpredictable, demands on the power distribution system. Aggregated DGRs can serve as flexible resources that help mitigate these pressures by using available transmission and distribution capacity more efficiently, supporting resource adequacy and other reliability services, and providing bridge strategies while long-term transmission infrastructure is being developed. The impacts this activity will have on distribution networks are not fully understood and could present significant challenges for distribution utilities due to capacity constraints and the need for congestion management. Technical issues include reverse power flow, variability and possible degradation of equipment integrity, voltage violations, and customer power quality concerns. These issues will likely intensify as electricity market operators across the United States implement Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Order 2222 over the next few years.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

I/O Congestion Avoidance via Routing and Object Placement

As storage systems get larger to meet the the demands of petascale systems, careful planning must be applied to avoid congestion points and extract the maximum performance. In addition, the large size of the data sets generated by such systems makes it desirable for all compute resources in a center to have common access to this data without needing to copy it to each machine. This paper describes a method of placing I/O close to the storage nodes to minimize contention on Cray's SeaStar2+ network, and extends it to a routed Lustre configuration to gain the same benefits when running against a center-wide file system. Our experiments show performance improvements for both direct attached and routed file systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Routing packets based on congestion metric thresholds and weights

A technique includes receiving a packet at a network device, wherein the packet is to be routed in a network to a destination network device; determining a plurality of candidate routes for the packet to be routed to the destination network device; grouping the plurality of candidate routes into a first set of candidate routes and a second set of candidate routes based on hop counts associated with the plurality of candidate routes; selecting one of the first or second sets based on a congestion metric threshold; selecting a candidate route from the selected first or second set based on weight metric values associated with the candidate routes of the selected first or second set; and selecting an egress port associated with the selected candidate route.

McDonald, Nicholas George↗

Route selection based on buffer congestion

A switch includes a plurality of ingress ports, a plurality of egress ports, and a plurality of buffers comprising a buffer coupled to each ingress port, egress port pair. An ingress port is to determine a plurality of potential egress ports for a packet. The ingress port is to select an egress port of the plurality of potential egress ports based on congestion of the corresponding buffers coupled to the ingress port and to each of the plurality of potential egress ports. The ingress port is to place the packet into the corresponding buffer coupled to the ingress port and the selected egress port.

Olson, David↗