A Cyber-Physical Systems Approach for Implementing the Receding Horizon Optimal Power Flow in Smart Grids

Two Major challenges in securing reliable Optimal Power Flow (OPF) operations are: (i) fluctuations induced due to renewable generators and energy demand, and (ii) interaction and interoperability among the different entities. Addressing these issues requires handling both physical (e.g., power flows) and cyber aspects (computing and communication) of the energy grids, i.e, a cyber-physical systems (CPS) approach is necessitated. First, this investigation proposes a receding horizon control (RHC) based approach for solving OPF to deal with the uncertainties. It uses forecasts on renewable generation and demand and an optimization model solving a predictive control problem to secure energy balance while meeting the network constraints. Second, to handle the interoperability issues, a middleware using common information model (CIM) for exchanging information among applications and the associated profiles are presented. CIM profiles modelling various components and aspects of the RHC based OPF is proposed. In addition, a middleware architecture and services to collect information is discussed. The proposed CPS approach is illustrated in a distribution grid in Steinkjer, Norway having 85 nodes, 700 customers, 3 hydrogenerators, and various industrial loads. Our results demonstrate the benefits of CPS approach to implement OPF addressing also the interoperability issues.acceptedVersio

A Cyber-Physical Systems Approach for Implementing the Receding Horizon Optimal Power Flow in Smart Grids

Two major challenges in securing reliable Optimal Power Flow (OPF) operations are: (i) fluctuations induced due to renewable generators and energy demand, and (ii) interaction and interoperability among the different entities. Addressing these issues requires handling both physical (e.g., power flows) and cyber aspects (computing and communication) of the energy grids, i.e, a cyber-physical systems (CPS) approach is necessitated. First, this investigation proposes a receding horizon control (RHC) based approach for solving OPF to deal with the uncertainties. It uses forecasts on renewable generation and demand and an optimization model solving a predictive control problem to secure energy balance while meeting the network constraints. Second, to handle the interoperability issues, a middleware using common information model (CIM) for exchanging information among applications and the associated profiles are presented. CIM profiles modelling various components and aspects of the RHC based OPF is proposed. In addition, a middleware architecture and services to collect information is discussed. The proposed CPS approach is illustrated in a distribution grid in Steinkjer, Norway having 85 nodes, 700 customers, three hydrogenerators, and various industrial loads. Our results demonstrate the benefits of CPS approach to implement OPF addressing also the interoperability issues

Phytoremediated marine sediments as suitable peat-free growing media for production of Red Robin photinia (Photinia x fraseri)

Sediments dredged by an industrial port, slightly contaminated by heavy metals and petroleoum hydrocarbons, were phytoremediated and used as peat-free growing media for the red robin photinia (Photinia x fraseri L.). Plants were grown on sediment only (S), sediment mixed with composted pruning residues (S+PR), sediment fertilized with controlled release fertilizers (S+F) and peat-based growing media as control (C). Plant elongation and dry weight, leaf contents of chlorophyll, malondialdehyde (MDA), macronutrients and heavy metals were determined at the end of one growing season. Environmental impact related to the use of sediment-based as compared to peat-based growing media was assessed by the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). Sediment-based growing media presented significantly higher bulk density, pH and electrical conductivity values, lower C and N contents, and significantly higher total and available P. Red robin photinia grown on S+F growing media showed morphological and chemical parameters similar to those of control plants (C), whereas plants grown on S and S+PR showed lower growth. Leaf concentration of nutrients and heavy metals varied depending on the considered element and growing media, but were all within the common values for ornamental plants, whereas the highest MDA concentrations were found in plants grown on traditional growing media. The LCA indicated the use of sediments as growing media reduced the C footprint of ornamental plant production and the contribute of growing media to the environmental impact per produced plant. We concluded that sediments phytoremediation and use in plant nursery is a practical alternative re-use option for dredged sediments

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Pre-Surgical Staging of Breast Cancer: Our Experience

Purpose: To investigate the clinical impact of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of multifocal\u2013multicentric breast cancers, already identified by mammography and ultrasound, and analyzed histologically, to evaluate its role in preoperative staging. Materials and methods: From January 2012 to February 2014, 188 patients, aged 28 to 74\ua0years, newly diagnosed with breast cancer on conventional imaging (mammography and ultrasound) were enrolled. They underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced 3T MRI. Patients underwent surgery according to international guidelines. Results of all diagnostic procedures were compared. Results: Among the 188 patients, 163 (87%) had a unilateral and unifocal tumor at both conventional imaging; MRI diagnosed 22/22 (100%) of multifocal and multicentric tumors, the combination of mammography and ultrasound diagnosed 12/22 (54%), and mammography alone diagnosed 8/22 (36%) multifocal and multicentric tumors. MRI prompted a change in surgical strategy in 10/188 (5%) patients. This change comprised mastectomy instead of conservative surgery (n = 7) and more extensive conservative surgery (n = 3). Conclusions: MRI was confirmed to show higher sensitivity than conventional imaging in detecting multifocal and multicentric breast cancers

Percutaneous Computed Tomography-Guided Lung Biopsies using a Virtual Navigation Guidance: Our Experience

To evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual CT-guided navigation system (Sirio-MASMEC Biomed) in performing lung biopsies, with greater attention to lesions smaller than 1 cm, compared to the traditional procedure

Can Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Related Apparent Diffusion Coefficient be a Prognostic Value in Women With Breast Cancer?

Purpose: To analyze diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and the related apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in women with breast cancer, correlating these values with the presence at 3 years of distant metastases, and to demonstrate that DWI-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and related ADC values may represent a prognostic value in the study of women with breast cancer. Materials and methods: Sixty women (aged 45–73 years) affected with breast cancer with a follow-up in 3 years were enrolled. On DWI, we obtained the ADC values, and these were correlated with the clinical condition of patients at 3 years. Moreover, tumour size, lymph node status, and molecular markers, including estrogens receptor, progesterone receptor, Ki-67 index, and human growth factor receptor 2 protein, were correlated with ADC values. This study was approved by the Scientific Committee of our institution. Results: We considered patients with metastasis at 3 years (12 patients – 20%) and without metastasis (48 patients – 80%). The mean ADC value in patients with no metastases at 3 years was 1.06 ± 0.38, while for patients with metastases it was 0.74 ± 0.34 (p = .011). The receiver–operator curve analysis identified a value of 0.75 (<0.75 with risk to develop metastasis) as the best predictive cutoff for ADC values, with the highest sensitivity (81.25%) and higher specificity (66.67%). After regression analysis, ADC value, positivity to estrogen–progestin receptors, and presence of lymph nodes were the only prognostic factors found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: DWI-MRI and related ADC values may represent a prognostic value in women with breast cancer

Can Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Related Apparent Diffusion Coefficient be a Prognostic Value in Women With Breast Cancer?

Purpose: To analyze diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and the related apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in women with breast cancer, correlating these values with the presence at 3years of distant metastases, and to demonstrate that DWI-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and related ADC values may represent a prognostic value in the study of women with breast cancer. Materials and methods: Sixty women (aged 45-73 years) affected with breast cancer with a follow-up in 3years were enrolled. On DWI, we obtained the ADC values, and these were correlated with the clinical condition of patients at 3years. Moreover, tumour size, lymph node status, and molecular markers, including estrogens receptor, progesterone receptor, Ki-67 index, and human growth factor receptor 2 protein, were correlated with ADC values. This study was approved by the Scientific Committee of our institution. Results: We considered patients with metastasis at 3years (12 patients - 20%) and without metastasis (48 patients - 80%). The mean ADC value in patients with no metastases at 3years was 1.06 +/- 0.38, while for patients with metastases it was 0.74 +/- 0.34 (p = .011). The receiver-operator curve analysis identified a value of 0.75 (&lt;0.75 with risk to develop metastasis) as the best predictive cutoff for ADC values, with the highest sensitivity (81.25%) and higher specificity (66.67%). After regression analysis, ADC value, positivity to estrogen-progestin receptors, and presence of lymph nodes were the only prognostic factors found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: DWI-MRI and related ADC values may represent a prognostic value in women with breast cancer