Design of Numerical Methods for the Simulation of Multiscale Lithium Ion Battery Models

In this thesis numerical methods for the solution process of the Newman-type lithium ion battery (LIB) model with a distribution of spherical particles with different radii are derived. Since the Newman-type LIB model is a multiscale model, where the scales cannot be completely separated, it has a pseudo twodimensional structure. To be solved it needs the solution of a so called cell problem. Furthermore, it consists of a homogenized and a microscopic part that have to be solved coupled. The solution process of the cell problem is done with the CutCell method to improve reconstruction properties of the microstructure. Therefore, the condition number of a Laplace problem with the CutCell method is investigated and it is shown that a simple preconditioner can improve the condition problems due to the CutCell method. Furthermore, a goal oriented a posteriori error estimator based on the dual weighted residual (DWR) method is derived for the CutCell method. For the LIB model the condition number is investigated and a simple preconditioner is suggested. Based on the DWR method a goal oriented error estimator is derived and tested for the pseudo twodimensional problem. The model behavior of this extension is investigated, especially the occurrence of the different deintercalation properties of the particles with different radii. Furthermore, a simplified model for small charge/discharge rates for an anode is derived and compared to the full model. In the end, the sensitivity of full Newman-type model with respect to two parameters, which are hard to determine experimentally, is investigated

Clarion Composting Project

In Iowa and other parts of the U.S. the number of animals raised in livestock confinement facilities continues to increase. Residents in many rural areas are concerned about the quantities of manure that will be generated at these facilities and how this will affect their quality of life. Land application of the manure is currently the primary method of using the manure. However, environmental concerns may impose regulations that limit how the manure is applied. Alternative methods of manure utilization are needed

Der Nutzen von prädiktiven Faktoren zur Identifikation von Patienten mit primär nicht resektablem Adenokarzinom des Pankreas, welche von einer sekundären Resektion profitieren

Background: The pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most lethal tumor entities. Most patients suffer from a locally advanced or metastasized disease at the time of diagnosis. In this stage, patients regularly receive palliative chemotherapy. However, current studies show a benefit of neoadjuvant intended therapy and subsequent secondary resection for some patients. This investigation aimed to find factors that help identify patients with a good prognosis to justify an intensified neoadjuvant intended therapy with consecutive secondary resection. Methods: Data of patients with pancreatic cancer were collected consecutively within the Comprehensive Cancer Center database of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. The database was screened for patients with primarily not-resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas who underwent a secondary resection after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy from March 2017 to May 2019. We analyzed the data retrospectively regarding the overall survival (OS) dependent on clinical and pathological characteristics. Results: Forty patients were identified for the period mentioned above. The median overall survival (mOS) was 20 months (95 % CI: 17.2 – 22.9). The following factors had a positive impact on the OS of the patients: a normal CA 19-9 (Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9) level (< 37 U/ml) at the time of diagnosis (29 vs. 19 months, p = 0.02) or after neoadjuvant therapy (26 vs. 18 months, p = 0.04) and a BMI (body mass index) below 25 kg/m² after neoadjuvant therapy (15 vs. 24 months, p = 0.01). Additionally, there was a benefit for patients who received at least four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (18 vs. 24 months, p = 0.02). Furthermore, nodal negativity had a positive impact on the OS (25 vs. 15 months, p = 0.003). Overall, neoadjuvant therapy led to a significant decline of CA 19-9 by 44.7 % from a mean value of 4358.3 U/ml to 138.5 U/ml (p = 0.001). Twenty-seven patients (73 %) reached partial remission. Conclusion: In this investigation, the tumor marker CA 19-9 before and after neoadjuvant therapy and the BMI after neoadjuvant therapy were predictive for the OS of the patients. Thus, these factors were predictive for the benefit of a secondary resection. Furthermore, a minimum number of four neoadjuvant cycles led to a significant benefit in survival. Additionally, patients who achieved nodal negativity after neoadjuvant therapy had a significantly prolonged OS. Thus, the diagnosis of the presurgical nodal status should gain more importance.Das Adenokarzinom des Pankreas weist eine der ungünstigsten Prognosen aller Tumorentitäten auf. In den überwiegenden Fällen liegt bei Diagnose ein lokal fortgeschrittener oder bereits metastasierter Befund vor. Für die lokal fortgeschrittene, jedoch nicht metastasierte Situation stand bisher lediglich die palliative Chemotherapie zur Verfügung. Neuere Untersuchungen zeigten jedoch einen möglichen Vorteil einer neoadjuvant intendierten Therapie mit anschließender sekundärer Resektion für ausgewählte Patienten. Die vorliegende Untersuchung dient dazu, prädiktive Faktoren zu identifizieren, mithilfe derer wir Patienten mit einer besseren Prognose identifizieren können, um somit für diese Patientengruppe eine intensivierte Therapie und sekundäre Resektion zu begründen. Methoden Daten von Patienten mit einem Pankreaskarzinom wurden fortwährend in der Datenbank des Comprehensive Cancer Centers der Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin gesammelt. Es erfolgte ein Screening auf Patienten mit einem Adenokarzinom des Pankreas, welche im Zeitraum von März 2017 bis Mai 2019 nach neoadjuvanter Chemotherapie sekundär reseziert wurden. Die Daten der Patienten wurden pseudonymisiert und retrospektiv auf das Gesamtüberleben in Abhängigkeit von klinisch-pathologischen Charakteristika untersucht. Ergebnisse Im genannten Zeitraum konnten 40 Patienten mit ausreichender Datenlage identifiziert werden. Das mittlere Gesamtüberleben der Patienten betrug 20 Monate (95 % CI: 17,2 – 22,9). Präoperative Faktoren, welche sich positiv auf das Gesamtüberleben der Patienten auswirkten, waren ein normwertiger CA 19-9 Wert (< 37 U/ml) bei Diagnose (29 vs. 19 Monate, p = 0,02) und nach neoadjuvanter Chemotherapie (26 vs. 18 Monate, p = 0,04) sowie ein BMI unter 25 kg/m² nach neoadjuvanter Therapie (15 vs. 24 Monate, p = 0,01). Zudem profitierten die Patienten von einer Applikation von mindestens vier Chemotherapiezyklen (18 vs. 24 Monate, p = 0,02). Ein negativer histopathologischer Nodalstatus wirkte sich deutlich positiv auf das Gesamtüberleben aus (25 vs. 15 Monate, p = 0,003). Insgesamt konnte durch die neoadjuvante Therapie ein relevanter Abfall des CA 19-9 um 44,7 % von einem Mittelwert von 4358,3 U/ml auf 138,5 U/ml (p = 0,001) sowie eine partielle Remission bei 27 Patienten (73 %) erreicht werden. Schlussfolgerung In dieser Untersuchung waren der CA 19-9 Wert bei Diagnose und nach neoadjuvanter Therapie sowie der BMI nach Chemotherapie prädiktiv für das Überleben der Patienten und somit auch prädiktiv für den Nutzen einer sekundären Resektion. Zudem brachte die Applikation von mindestens vier neoadjuvanten Zyklen einen deutlichen Überlebensvorteil. Aufgrund des Nutzens für Patienten, die nach neoadjuvanter Therapie einen negativen histopathologischem Nodalstatus aufwiesen, sollte vermehrte Aufmerksamkeit auf dessen prächirurgische Diagnostik gelegt werden

Selected soil chemical properties and corn yield under different manure systems

The management of nitrogen (N) applied to cropland has been the focus of much concern because of the increasing concentration of NO[subscript]3-N in surface and groundwater in recent years. Moreover, sustainable agricultural systems that rely on organic materials such as animal manure to supply a crop\u27s N needs are growing in popularity. The potential for environmental contamination from improper management of these materials must be considered;Livestock confinement operations generate large amounts of animal manure and many have limited acreage where the manure can efficiently be applied. Additionally, it is expensive and time consuming to haul manure from areas of livestock confinement to cropland where the nutrients in the manure can be used. As a result large quantities of manure may be applied to limited areas, increasing the potential for environmental pollution;This dissertation describes results from two field experiments where liquid dairy, swine, and poultry manures and urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) were applied for corn production. The objectives of this research were to evaluate changes in soil inorganic N (N[subscript] i) and determine the potential for NO[subscript]3-N contamination of surface and groundwater from the different systems. Grain yield was measured in an effort to determine differences in N utilization efficiency with different application methods;There were significant differences in soil NO[subscript]3-N with the different systems. Generally, systems where manure was injected will have a greater potential for NO[subscript]3-N movement to groundwater and systems where manure was broadcast over the surface increase the potential for movement into surface water. Corn yields were generally higher when the manure was injected;Soil electrical conductivity (EC) and pH were also measured. After three years there were no significant changes in residual values. Increases in EC were noted following manure application, around the time of seedling emergence and early seedling growth. Soil EC generally returned to initial levels before the next growing season. The elevated EC levels were not considered high enough to effect corn growth except near injection bands where the possibility of isolated areas with high EC values may occur. The application of manure had no significant effect on soil pH values

Spatial and temporal variations in rockwall erosion rates derived from cosmogenic 10Be in medial moraines at five valley glaciers around Pigne d'Arolla, Switzerland

Rockwall erosion in high-alpine glacial environments varies both temporally and spatially. Where rockwalls flank glaciers, changes in debris supply and supraglacial cover will modify ice ablation. Yet, quantifying spatiotemporal patterns in erosion across deglaciating rockwalls is not trivial. At five nearby valley glaciers around Pigne d'Arolla in Switzerland, we derived apparent rockwall erosion rates using 10Be cosmogenic nuclide concentrations ([10Be]) in medial moraine debris. Systematic downglacier sampling of six medial moraines that receive debris from rockwalls with differing orientation, slope, and deglaciation histories enabled us to assess rockwall erosion through time and to investigate how distinct spatial source rockwall morphology may express itself in medial moraine [10Be] records. Our dataset combines 24 new samples from medial moraines of Glacier du Brenay, Glacier de Cheilon, Glacier de Pièce, and Glacier de Tsijiore Nouve with 15 published samples from Glacier d'Otemma. For each sample, we simulated the glacial debris transport using a simple debris particle trajectory model to approximate the time of debris erosion and to correct the measured [10Be] for post-depositional 10Be accumulation. Our derived apparent rockwall erosion rates range between ∼ 0.6 and 10.0 mm yr−1. Whereas the longest downglacier [10Be] record presumably reaches back to the end of the Little Ice Age and suggests a systematic increase in rockwall erosion rates over the last ∼ 200 years, the shorter records only cover the last ∼ 100 years from the recent deglaciation period and indicate temporally more stable erosion rates. For the estimated time of debris erosion, ice cover changes across most source rockwalls were small, suggesting that our records are largely unaffected by the contribution of recently deglaciated bedrock of possibly different [10Be], but admixture of subglacially derived debris cannot be excluded at every site. Comparing our sites suggests that apparent rockwall erosion rates are higher where rockwalls are steep and north-facing, indicating a potential slope and temperature control on rockwall erosion around Pigne d'Arolla

Animal manure-municipal yard waste composting project in Wright County, Iowa

Two of Iowa\u27s waste disposal problems are manure from livestock confinement facilities and yard waste. Considered separately, they present special difficulties in disposal, but when combined they may make a good compost material suitable for use by gardeners and landscapers