Model-Free Reconstruction of Capacity Degradation Trajectory of Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Early Cycle Data

Early degradation prediction of lithium-ion batteries is crucial for ensuring safety and preventing unexpected failure in manufacturing and diagnostic processes. Long-term capacity trajectory predictions can fail due to cumulative errors and noise. To address this issue, this study proposes a data-centric method that uses early single-cycle data to predict the capacity degradation trajectory of lithium-ion cells. The method involves predicting a few knots at specific retention levels using a deep learning-based model and interpolating them to reconstruct the trajectory. Two approaches are used to identify the retention levels of two to four knots: uniformly dividing the retention up to the end of life and finding optimal locations using Bayesian optimization. The proposed model is validated with experimental data from 169 cells using five-fold cross-validation. The results show that mean absolute percentage errors in trajectory prediction are less than 1.60% for all cases of knots. By predicting only the cycle numbers of at least two knots based on early single-cycle charge and discharge data, the model can directly estimate the overall capacity degradation trajectory. Further experiments suggest using three-cycle input data to achieve robust and efficient predictions, even in the presence of noise. The method is then applied to predict various shapes of capacity degradation patterns using additional experimental data from 82 cells. The study demonstrates that collecting only the cycle information of a few knots during model training and a few early cycle data points for predictions is sufficient for predicting capacity degradation. This can help establish appropriate warranties or replacement cycles in battery manufacturing and diagnosis processes

Modelling and Simulation of a River-Crossing Operation via Discrete Event Simulation with Engineering Details

From a military standpoint, a river is an area that should be avoided in a potential engagement because of lack of cover and the necessity of dividing the unit while crossing. Thus, a key point of a river-crossing operation is speed. Many efforts have been made to enable faster river crossing by improvement of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP). However, improvements in TTP are evaluated by modelling and simulation much less frequently than are the toe-to-toe engagements between two opposing forces, and to our knowledge, this is the first simulation model of brigade-level river crossing with engineering details. This study presents a simulation model of the river-crossing operation, applies real world parameters, and evaluates which tactics are preferable in a particular operational environments. This analysis has led to new operational methods of river crossing that have been suggested by experienced subject-matter experts. For instance, the current Republic of Korea Army Field Manual dictates to rotate river-crossing rafts in all situations, but our experiment suggests that no rotation is preferable when the width of river is less than 400 m based on the statistical analyses, which includes the regression-based meta-modelling and the ANOVA, of our simulation model that embodies the engineering details of river-crossing equipment.Defence Science Journal, Vol. 65, No. 2, March 2015, pp.135-143, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.65.814

A subnormal completion problem for weighted shifts on directed trees, II

The subnormal completion problem on a directed tree is to de-termine, given a collection of weights on a subtree, whether the weightsmay be completed to the weights of a subnormal weighted shift on thedirected tree. We study this problem on a directed tree with a singlebranching point,ηbranches and the trunk of length 1 and its subtreewhich is the “truncation” of the full tree to vertices of generation notexceeding 2. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions written interms of two parameter sequences for the existence of a subnormal com-pletion in which the resulting measures are 2-atomic. As a consequence,we obtain a solution of the subnormal completion problem for this pairof directed trees whenη<∞.Ifη= 2, we present a solution writtenexplicitly in terms of initial data

Measurements of the Dimensions and Doppler Flow Velocities of the Aorta, Main Pulmonary Artery, Ductus Arteriosus, and Branch Pulmonary Artery in the Normal Human Fetus-a Preliminary Study on the Flow Distribution-

In order to assess the growth and flow distribution of the great arteries and their major branches in the human fetal heart, a prospective fetal echocardiographic study on 127 pregnant women was performed, The vascular dimensions and Doppler average velociues of the aorta, main pulmonary artery, branch pulmonary artery and ductus arteriosus were measured from videotapes. Dimension ratios and average velocity ratios were calculated only when both values for comparison were measured in the same examination. The flow volumes of the aorta and main pulmonary artery were calculated when possible. The measured and calculated values were correlated with the gestational period. The vessel diameters and average velocities in each site increased linearly from gestational period of 15 weeks to 40 weeks. The diameter ratio of the main pulmonary artery to the aorta increased slightly from 1.13 at gestational age of 15 weeks to 1.31 at term. The diameter ratio of the ductus arteriosus to the branch pulmonary artery was 1.28( +- 0.18) and did not change with gestational period. The average velocity ratio between the main pulmonary artery and the aorta was 0.88( +- 0.24) and the ratio between the ductus and branch pulmonary artery was 1.71 (+- 0.54) and these ratios were not significant when compared to fetal growth. The calculated flow volumes of the aorta and the main pulmonary artery increased polynominally with increasing gestation. The flow ratio between the main pulmonary artery and the aorta was about 1.37. The ductal and branch pulmonary arterial flows were not calculated. However the flow ratio between the ductus arteriosus and one branch pulmonary artery was estimated by the product of (diameter ratio)" x (average velocity ratio) between two sites, which was 2.8. In the human fetus, the relative size of aortic and pulmonary pathways and the flow distribution seem to be different from the results obtained from animal studies

A Novel sLRP6E1E2 Inhibits Canonical Wnt Signaling, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition, and Induces Mitochondria-Dependent Apoptosis in Lung Cancer

Aberrant activation of the Wnt pathway contributes to human cancer progression. Antagonists that interfere with Wnt ligand/receptor interactions can be useful in cancer treatments. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of a soluble Wnt receptor decoy in cancer gene therapy. We designed a Wnt antagonist sLRP6E1E2, and generated a replication-incompetent adenovirus (Ad), dE1-k35/sLRP6E1E2, and a replication-competent oncolytic Ad, RdB-k35/sLRP6E1E2, both expressing sLRP6E1E2. sLRP6E1E2 prevented Wnt-mediated stabilization of cytoplasmic β-catenin, decreased Wnt/β-catenin signaling and cell proliferation via the mitogen-activated protein kinase, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways. sLRP6E1E2 induced apoptosis, cytochrome c release, and increased cleavage of PARP and caspase-3. sLRP6E1E2 suppressed growth of the human lung tumor xenograft, and reduced motility and invasion of cancer cells. In addition, sLRP6E1E2 upregulated expression of epithelial marker genes, while sLRP6E1E2 downregulated mesenchymal marker genes. Taken together, sLRP6E1E2, by inhibiting interaction between Wnt and its receptor, suppressed Wnt-induced cell proliferation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Renal transplantation in a patient with Bartter syndrome and glomerulosclerosis

Bartter syndrome (BS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous inherited renal tube disorder characterized by renal salt wasting, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis and normotensive hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism. There have been several case reports of BS complicated by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Here, we have reported the case of a BS patient who developed FSGS and subsequent end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and provided a brief literature review. The patient presented with classic BS at 3 months of age and developed proteinuria at 7 years. Renal biopsy performed at 11 years of age revealed a FSGS perihilar variant. Hemodialysis was initiated at 11 years of age, and kidney transplantation was performed at 16 years of age. The post-transplantation course has been uneventful for more than 3 years with complete disappearance of BS without the recurrence of FSGS. Genetic study revealed a homozygous p.Trp(TGG)610Stop(TGA) mutation in the CLCNKB gene. In summary, BS may be complicated by secondary FSGS due to the adaptive response to chronic salt-losing nephropathy, and FSGS may progress to ESRD in some patients. Renal transplantation in patients with BS and ESRD results in complete remission of BS

Electro-acupuncture at acupoint ST36 reduces inflammation and regulates immune activity in Collagen-Induced Arthritic Mice

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and immuno-regulatory effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) at ST36 on Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. Male DBA/1J mice were divided into five groups: Normal, Control, NR (needle retention), EAI and EAII. All mice except those in the normal group were immunized with Collagen II for arthritis induction. Acupuncture needles were inserted into mice ST36 and electrical currents at a frequency of 2 Hz in a continuous rectangular wave form were conducted through the needles for 15 min, 3 times a week. EA treatments were administered for 5 weeks in the EAI group and for 9 weeks in the EAII group. The mice in the NR group were acupunctured in the same manner as the EA groups and the needles were retained for 15 min without electrical stimulation. CIA incidence analysis, ELISA, histological analysis and FACS analysis were performed to evaluate the effect of EA on CIA. EA at ST36 significantly reduced CIA incidence, IL-6, TNF-a, INF-γ, collagen II antibody, IgG and IgM levels in CIA mice serum and prevented knee joint destruction. EA at ST36 also reduced CD69+/CD3e+ cells and CD11a+/CD19+ cells in CIA mice lymph nodes, and CD11b+/Gr1+ cells in CIA mice knee joints. The ratios of CD3e+ cells to CD19+ cells, and CD8+ cells to CD4+ cells were maintained closer to the normal range in the EA groups as compared with the control group or the NR group. EAII was more effective than EAI throughout all the measurements. The NR was effective as well, though less effective than EA. EA at ST36 may have an anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and immuno-regulatory effects on CIA in mice. The effectiveness is stronger when EA starts earlier and is applied longer. Needle retention without electrical stimulation may be effective on CIA as well, however less effective than EA. Electrical stimulation and acupoint ST36 may have synergistic effects on CIA