Characterizing the degradation process of Lithium-Ion Batteries using a Similarity-Based-Modeling Approach

This article proposes a Similarity-Based-Modeling (SBM) approach capable of characterizing the degradation process of a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery when discharged under different current rates and different State-of-Charge (SOC) ranges. The degradation process can be represented through a biexponential model. In this regard, it is possible to determine the equivalent cycle-by-cycle efficiency which has low values at the beginning of the degradation process until it reaches a higher and steady value. The lifespan of the batteries is analyzed through the use of Monte Carlo simulations which intends to represent a more realistic way of how the batteries are used.This article proposes a Similarity-Based-Modeling (SBM) approach capable of characterizing the degradation process of a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery when discharged under different current rates and different State-of-Charge (SOC) ranges. The degradation process can be represented through a biexponential model. In this regard, it is possible to determine the equivalent cycle-by-cycle efficiency which has low values at the beginning of the degradation process until it reaches a higher and steady value. The lifespan of the batteries is analyzed through the use of Monte Carlo simulations which intends to represent a more realistic way of how the batteries are used

Procedure for Selecting a Transmission Mode Dependent on the State-of-Charge and State-of-Health of a Lithium-ion Battery in Wireless Sensor Networks with Energy Harvesting Devices

Diverse methods and considerations have been proposed to manage the available energy in an efficient manner in Wireless Sensor Networks. By incorporating Energy Harvesting Devices in these type of networks it is possible to reduce the dependency of the availability of the Energy Storage Devices, particularly the lithium-ion battery. Recently, the State-of-Charge and State-of-Health of the battery have been considered as inputs for the design of the Medium- Access-Control protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks. In this article, different guidelines are proposed for the design of Medium-Access-Control protocols used in Wireless Sensor Networks with Energy Harvesting Devices considering the State-of-Charge and State-of-Health as indicators for the estimation of the transmission time of the sensor node. The proposed guidelines consider different currents used during the transmission to estimate the State-of-Charge and Stateof- Health of the battery. The incorporation of these indicators aim to improve the decision-making process of the sensor node when transmitting.Diverse methods and considerations have been proposed to manage the available energy in an efficient manner in Wireless Sensor Networks. By incorporating Energy Harvesting Devices in these type of networks it is possible to reduce the dependency of the availability of the Energy Storage Devices, particularly the lithium-ion battery. Recently, the State-of-Charge and State-of-Health of the battery have been considered as inputs for the design of the Medium- Access-Control protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks. In this article, different guidelines are proposed for the design of Medium-Access-Control protocols used in Wireless Sensor Networks with Energy Harvesting Devices considering the State-of-Charge and State-of-Health as indicators for the estimation of the transmission time of the sensor node. The proposed guidelines consider different currents used during the transmission to estimate the State-of-Charge and Stateof- Health of the battery. The incorporation of these indicators aim to improve the decision-making process of the sensor node when transmitting

Lithium-Ion Battery End-of-Discharge Time Estimation and Prognosis based on Bayesian Algorithms and Outer Feedback Correction Loops: A Comparative Analysis

Battery energy systems are currently one of the most common power sources found in mobile electromechanical devices. In all these equipment, assuring the autonomy of the system requires to determine the battery state-of-charge (SOC) and predicting the end-of-discharge time with a high degree of accuracy. In this regard, this paper presents a comparative analysis of two well-known Bayesian estimation algorithms (Particle filter and Unscented Kalman filter) when used in combination with Outer Feedback Correction Loops (OFCLs) to estimate the SOC and prognosticate the discharge time of lithium-ion batteries. Results show that, on the one hand, a PF-based estimation and prognosis scheme is the method of choice if the model for the dynamic system is inexact to some extent; providing reasonable results regardless if used with or without OFCLs. On the other hand, if a reliable model for the dynamic system is available, a combination of an Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) with OFCLs outperforms a scheme that combines PF and OFCLs.Battery energy systems are currently one of the most common power sources found in mobile electromechanical devices. In all these equipment, assuring the autonomy of the system requires to determine the battery state-of-charge (SOC) and predicting the end-of-discharge time with a high degree of accuracy. In this regard, this paper presents a comparative analysis of two well-known Bayesian estimation algorithms (Particle filter and Unscented Kalman filter) when used in combination with Outer Feedback Correction Loops (OFCLs) to estimate the SOC and prognosticate the discharge time of lithium-ion batteries. Results show that, on the one hand, a PF-based estimation and prognosis scheme is the method of choice if the model for the dynamic system is inexact to some extent; providing reasonable results regardless if used with or without OFCLs. On the other hand, if a reliable model for the dynamic system is available, a combination of an Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) with OFCLs outperforms a scheme that combines PF and OFCLs

Derecho a la comunicación en América Latina

El libro presenta una discusión teórica haciendo una puesta a punto respecto a la comunicación como derecho humano, mostrando casos concretos que exhiben avances y retrocesos en la implementación y medición de los efectos del derecho en algunos países de la región a nivel de gobierno tanto nacional como local. De esta manera, esta propuesta constituye una referencia ineludible para docentes, investigadores y estudiantes del campo de la comunicación, el derecho y las ciencias sociales en general, debido a que el derecho a la comunicación incide en el alcance de otros derechos como la libertad de expresión, el acceso a la información pública y la libertad de prensa, vitales a la hora de fortalecer la participación política, la toma de decisiones informada, el periodismo de investigación y la calidad de la democracia como régimen político.ITESO, A.C

Adipokines: Linking metabolic syndrome, the immune system, and arthritic diseases

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a cluster of metabolic and cardiovascular complications, including obesity and visceral adiposity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and hypertension, which directly increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Patients with arthritic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, have a higher incidence of CVD. Although recent advances in the treatment of arthritic diseases, the incidence of CVD remains elevated, and MetS has been identified as a possible link between CVD and arthritic diseases. Chronic low-grade inflammation associated with obesity has been established as a significant contributing factor to the increased prevalence of MetS. Adipokines, which play important physiological roles in metabolic activities contributing to the pathogenesis of MetS, are also involved in the regulation of autoimmune and/or inflammatory processes associated with arthritic diseases. Therefore, MetS and dysregulated secretion of pro-inflammatory adipokines have been recognized as a molecular link between CVD and arthritis diseases. In the present paper, we review recent evidence supporting the role played by adipokines, in particular leptin, adiponectin, and lipocalin-2, in the modulation of the immune system, MetS and arthritic diseases. The underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are discussed, as well as potential new therapeutic strategies.Acknowledgments: OG and FL are Staff Personnel of Xunta de Galicia (Servizo Galego de Saude, SERGAS) through a research-staff stabilization contract (ISCIII/SERGAS). VF is a “Sara Borrell” Researcher funded by ISCIII and FEDER (CD16/00111). RG is a “Miguel Servet” Researcher funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and FEDER. CRF is a pre-doctoral research scholar funded by ISCIII and FEDER (Exp.18/00188). OG, MAGG, and RG are members of RETICS Programme, RD16/0012/0014 (RIER: Red de Investigación en Inflamación y Enfermedades Reumáticas) via Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and FEDER. FL is a member of CIBERCV (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares). The work of OG and JP (PI17/00409), RG (PI16/01870 and CP15/00007) and FL (PI15/00681 PI18/00821 and CB16/11/00226) were funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III and FEDER. OG is a beneficiary of a project funded by Research Executive Agency of the European Union in the framework of MSCA-RISE Action of the H2020 Programme (Project number 734899). RG is beneficiary of a project funded by Mutua Madrileña 2018. AM wishes to acknowledge financial support from the European Structural and Social Funds through the Research Council of Lithuania (Lietuvos Mokslo Taryba) according to the activity ‘Improvement of researchers’ qualification by implementing world-class R&D projects’ of Measure No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712 (grant application code: 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-01-0157, agreement No. DOTSUT-215) and the new funding programme: Attracting Foreign Researchers for Research Implementation (2018–2022). The funders had no role in study design, data collection, and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Pooled analysis of WHO Surgical Safety Checklist use and mortality after emergency laparotomy

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has fostered safe practice for 10 years, yet its place in emergency surgery has not been assessed on a global scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate reported checklist use in emergency settings and examine the relationship with perioperative mortality in patients who had emergency laparotomy. Methods In two multinational cohort studies, adults undergoing emergency laparotomy were compared with those having elective gastrointestinal surgery. Relationships between reported checklist use and mortality were determined using multivariable logistic regression and bootstrapped simulation. Results Of 12 296 patients included from 76 countries, 4843 underwent emergency laparotomy. After adjusting for patient and disease factors, checklist use before emergency laparotomy was more common in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI) (2455 of 2741, 89.6 per cent) compared with that in countries with a middle (753 of 1242, 60.6 per cent; odds ratio (OR) 0.17, 95 per cent c.i. 0.14 to 0.21, P <0001) or low (363 of 860, 422 per cent; OR 008, 007 to 010, P <0.001) HDI. Checklist use was less common in elective surgery than for emergency laparotomy in high-HDI countries (risk difference -94 (95 per cent c.i. -11.9 to -6.9) per cent; P <0001), but the relationship was reversed in low-HDI countries (+121 (+7.0 to +173) per cent; P <0001). In multivariable models, checklist use was associated with a lower 30-day perioperative mortality (OR 0.60, 0.50 to 073; P <0.001). The greatest absolute benefit was seen for emergency surgery in low- and middle-HDI countries. Conclusion Checklist use in emergency laparotomy was associated with a significantly lower perioperative mortality rate. Checklist use in low-HDI countries was half that in high-HDI countries.Peer reviewe

Characterization of the degradation process of lithium-ion batteries when discharged at different current rates

The use of energy storage devices, such as lithium-ion batteries, has become popular in many different domains and applications. Hence, it is relatively easy to find literature associated with problems of battery state-of-charge estimation and energy autonomy prognostics. Despite this fact, the characterization of battery degradation processes is still a matter of ongoing research. Indeed, most battery degradation models solely consider operation under nominal (or strictly controlled) conditions, although actual operating profiles (including discharge current) may differ significantly from those. In this context, this article proposes a lithium-ion battery degradation model that incorporates the impact of arbitrary discharge currents. Also, the proposed model, initially calibrated through data reported for a specific lithium-ion battery type, can characterize degradation curves for other lithium-ion batteries. Two case studies have been carried out to validate the proposed model, initially calibrated by using data from a Sony battery. The first case study uses our own experimental data obtained for a Panasonic lithium-ion cell, which was cycled and degraded at high current rates. The second case study considers the analysis of two public data sets available at the Prognostics Center of Excellence of NASA Ames Research Center website, for batteries cycled using nominal and 2-C (twice the nominal) discharge currents. Results show that the proposed model can characterize degradation processes properly, even when cycles are subject to different discharge currents and for batteries not manufactured by Sony (whose data were used for the initial calibration)