Quantitative Estimation of Turning Point of Ageing Based on a Two-Stage Model for Lithium-Ion Batteries

The capacity fading of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is reported by a linear dependency followed by a nonlinear ageing process, where the former is dominated by solid electrolyte interphase formation and reformation (SEI and SEI-re), while the latter is by lithium plating. In this work, a two-stage model is developed to quantitatively predict the turning point during the capacity fading of LIBs, which couples the electrochemical and thermal models accounting for SEI, SEI-re and lithium plating. Accordingly, a quantitative evaluation method of the turning point is proposed by attributing the transition of the capacity fading to the balance of consumption of active lithium for SEI growth and lithium plating per cycle in the two stages. The characteristics of capacity fading of LIBs are quantitatively analyzed under various operation conditions and design parameters. An NCM111/graphite battery is used to validate the proposed model. The results shows the validity of the proposed model. The turning points of the capacity fading processes are influenced by operation and design parameters of LIBs, where lithium plating or SEI growth reign. According to the effect on the turning point, the order of significance of the factors are charging current, charging cut-off voltage, temperature and N/P ratio, respectively.

Tomato Value Chain Analysis in Yayo And Hurumu Districts of Ilu Aba Bor Zone, Ethiopia

Background: Tomato is one of the most important and widely grown vegetable in Ethiopia. This study was aimed at analyzing tomato value chain in Yayu and Hurumu districts of Ilubabor zone. The specific objectives of the study were to identify actors and their roles in the value chain, to estimate marketing margins of each actor and identifying determinants of market participation decision and level of participation of farm households in tomato market.Methodology: The study used both primary and secondary data. Descriptive statistics, value chain analysis and Heckman two-stage selection model were used to analyze the data.Results: The major tomato value chain actors in the study area are input suppliers, producers, collectors, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. Producer received the maximum profit when they sell directly to consumers. The Heckman first stage model result showed that four variables such as family size, production experience, participation in non-farm activity and quantity produced significantly affect the tomato market participation decision. Heckman second stage model indicated that extension contact, quantity produced and perception of lagged price significantly influence the tomato level of market participation.Conclusion: in the study area Tomato is produced mainly as a source of food and income and it is one of the most important and widely grown vegetable. The market participation decision of the farmers is influenced significantly by family size, production experience, participation in non-farm activity and quantity produced. Similarly, extension contact, quantity produced and perception of lagged price were among determinants which affect significantly tomato producer’s level of market participation. Hence, these significant factors need to be intervening so as to enhance the possible gain that could be drawn from tomato value chain in the study area.

The Rise and Fall of Dopamine: A Two-Stage Model of the Development and Entrenchment of Anorexia Nervosa

Dopamine has long been implicated as a critical neural substrate mediating anorexia nervosa (AN). Despite nearly 50 years of research, the putative direction of change in dopamine function remains unclear and no consensus on the mechanistic role of dopamine in AN has been achieved. We hypothesize two stages in AN– corresponding to initial development and entrenchment– characterized by opposite changes in dopamine. First, caloric restriction, particularly when combined with exercise, triggers an escalating spiral of increasing dopamine that facilitates the behavioral plasticity necessary to establish and reinforce weight-loss behaviors. Second, chronic self-starvation reverses this escalation to reduce or impair dopamine which, in turn, confers behavioral inflexibility and entrenchment of now established AN behaviors. This pattern of enhanced, followed by impaired dopamine might be a common path to many behavioral disorders characterized by reinforcement learning and subsequent behavioral inflexibility. If correct, our hypothesis has significant clinical and research implications for AN and other disorders, such as addiction and obesity.

Use of Software Metrics to Improve the Quality of Software Projects Using Regression Testing

Testing of software is broadly divided into three types i.e., code based, model based and specification based. To find faults at early stage, model based testing can be used in which testing can be started from design phase. Furthermore, in this chapter, to generate new test cases and to ensure the quality of changed software, regression testing is used. Early detection of faults will not only reduce the cost, time and effort of developers but also will help finding risks. We are using structural metrics to check the effect of changes made to software. Finally, the authors suggest identifying metrics and analyze the results using NDepend simulator. If results show deviation from standards then again perform regression testing to improve the quality of software.

A method of seeing in homeopathy: methodological foundations of project "Understanding Homeopathy by Images"

This paper presents the results of conceptual research on the nature and operation of visual signs in homeopathic clinical practice. Aims: to analyze the role of visual signs in homeopathy together with their specific semiotic structure in correlation with the codes leading to possible significations and then to assess the possibility of establishing coherence between the symptoms and signs of patients. Methodology: Sign-complexes are approached through a four-stage model including: 1) delimitation; 2) decomposition; 3) correlation and; 4) reintegration of signs. Data for analysis were collected along 15 years of homeopathic clinical practice and recorded by visual means; theoretical foundations derive from Jakobson’s theory of communication and Peirce’s semiotics. Results: stages of delimitation and decomposition are illustrated by a homeopathic semiology of the tongue; analysis of correlation allowed to identify 9 different possible patterns; reintegration requires a first phase of extension of the connotation and denotation of signs followed by a phase of contraction of meaning leading to decision-making. Conclusion: application of the model proposed results in highly qualified and individual visual signs that bring new elements to reconsider the role of objective signs in homeopathic practice. Keywords: Homeopathy; Semiotics; Semiology; Visual signs  Método de observação em Homeopatia: Fundamentos metodológicos do projeto “Entendendo a Homeopatia através de imagens” ResumoEste artigo apresenta os resultados da pesquisa conceitual sobre a natureza e operação de sinais visuais na prática clínica homeopática. Objetivos: analisar a função de sinais visuais na homeopatia juntamente com a sua estrutura semiótica semiótica, correlacionando-os com os códigos, conduzindo a possíveis significações e, em seguida, para avaliar a possibilidade de estabelecer coeréncia entre os sinais e sintomas dos pacientes. Metodologia: o conjunto de sinais são abordados através de um modelo com quatro fases: 1) delimitação; 2) decomposição; 3) correlação; 4) reintegração de sinais. Os dados para análise foram coletados ao longo de 15 anos de prática clínica homeopática e registrados por recursos visuais; os fundamentos teóricos derivam da teoria da comunicação de Jakobson e semiótica de Peirce. Resultados: as fases de delimitação e decomposição são ilustradas pela semiologia homeopática da língua; a análise de correlação permitiu identificar 9 diferentes padrões; a reintegração exige uma primeira fase de interpretação da conotação e denotação de sinais, seguida por uma fase de contração do significado, levando àtomada de decisão. Conclusão: a aplicação do modelo proposto resulta em sinais visuais altamente qualificados e individualizados, que trazem novos elementos para repensar o papel dos sinais objetivos na prática homeopática. Palavras-chave: Homeopatia, Semiótica, Semiologia, Sinais visuais  Un método de observación en Homeopatía: Bases metodológicas del proyecto "Entendiendo la homeopatía por imágenes" ResumenEste artículo presenta los resultados de la investigación conceptual sobre la naturaleza y el funcionamiento de las señales visuales en la práctica clínica homeopática. Objetivos: analizar el papel de la homeopatía en los signos visuales, junto con su estructura específica semiótica en correlación con los códigos para posibles significaciones y, a continuación, para evaluar la posibilidad de establecer la coherencia entre los signos y síntomas de los pacientes. Metodología: Registro complejos se abordan a través de un modelo de cuatro etapas que incluyen: 1) delimitación, 2) descomposición; 3) correlación y, 4) reintegración de los signos. Datos para el análisis fueron recogidos a lo largo de 15 años de práctica clínica y homeopáticos registrados por medios visuales; los fundamentos teóricos se derivan de la teoría de la comunicación de Jakobson y la semiótica de Peirce. Resultados: las etapas de la delimitación y la descomposición se ilustra con una semiología homeopática de la lengua; la análisis de correlación permitió identificar 9 posibles patrones diferentes; la reinserción requiere una primera fase de ampliación de la connotación y la denotación de los signos seguidos por una fase de contracción de sentido que conducen a la toma de decisiones. Conclusión: la aplicación del modelo propuesto resulta en resultados altamente calificados y signos visuales que aportan nuevos elementos a reconsiderar el papel de los signos objetivos de la práctica homeopática. Palabras-clave: Homeopatía; Semiótica; Semiología; signos visuales  Correspondence author: Gheorghe Jurj, [email protected] How to cite this article: A Method of Seeing in Homeopathy: Methodological Foundations of Project “Understanding Homeopathy by Images”. Int J High Dilution Res [online]. 2009 [cited YYYY Month dd]; 8 (27): 53-69. Available from: http://journal.giri-society.org/index.php/ijhdr/article/view/333/386. ÂÂÂ

Power mode of axisymmetric high-speed combined extrusion of bimetallic road milling picks

The article presents a simplified three-stage model of the transition from a flat to axisymmetric deformation during high-speed, combined extrusion of bimetallic road milling picks. The transition is based on the principle of equality of areas, according to which the area of a figure during a flat deformation is replaced by an equal area of a circle. In this case, it is assumed that the kinematically possible field of the slip lines remains unchanged. This approach makes it possible to reduce the number of necessary calculations and at the same time maintain a high degree of correctness of the obtained equations. The first stage shows the transition to a special case of a flat problem, in which a stepped rectangular part is extruded from the original square blank, in which one of the sides is equal to the square side of the original blank. At the second stage of the transition, a flat-step part having square sections along its entire length is extruded from the original square-section blank. Directly at the third stage, the final transition to the axisymmetric deformation of the cutter is formed, in which the area of the square is replaced by the equal area of the circle. The dependences obtained because of solving the axisymmetric problem can be recommended for calculations in the industrial implementation of the technology of high-speed combined extrusion of bimetallic milling picks.

WhatsApp Emoji in Business Interactions: The Case of Malaysian and Iranian Interactions

WhatsApp emoji has been widely used by users all over the world especially entrepreneurs during their business interactions. In these interactions, WhatsApp emoji has been discovered to be intriguing. Emoji, among other things, were used to replace non-verbal expressions in face-to-face interactions especially during business communications. However, studies related to the usage of WhatsApp emoji in business interactions were found to be limited, particularly in the Malaysian setting. Thus, the purpose of this research was to examine the use of WhatsApp emoji in business communications between a Malaysian entrepreneur and three Iranian counterparts. Content Analysis was used to interpret the messages in the business conversations, and the data was analysed using De Vito's Five-Stage Model of Conversation. The findings revealed that WhatsApp emoji performed a range of functions in business interactions in a BELF setting. In short, WhatsApp has clearly added some useful and valuable features for a variety of uses, including business communications.

The influence of clan social capital on collective biogas investment

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of clan social capital on the willingness to pay (WTP) and WTP value for collective biogas investment.Design/methodology/approachUsing the Heckman two-stage model and a dataset of 1,265 representative observations from three provinces in Central China collected in 2019, this paper utilizes the contingent valuation method to estimate households' WTP value for collective biogas investment. The paper also explores the heterogeneity between households with different clan governance mechanisms and village governance structures.FindingsThe results indicate that clan networks and trust were likely to improve farmer households' WTP, while clan trust and norms could improve their WTP values. For clans with councils and for clans that can influence the decision-making of village committees, their members were more likely to be influenced by the social capital of their clans to pay for collective biogas investment.Originality/valueThis paper focuses on the WTP and WTP values of households for collective biogas investment, which is often neglected in the research. This paper suggests that clans can be used as a medium to urge households to increase their collective power to reduce carbon emissions and climate crises. The findings empirically contribute to efforts to reduce rural carbon emissions.