Investigation and modelling of cyclic aging using a design of experiment with automotive grade graphite/NMC lithium-ion cells

60 large format automotive grade lithium-ion pouch cells with graphite/NMC chemistry are tested following a design of experiment (DoE) approach. Realistic driving profiles resembling a plugin-hybrid electric vehicle are used with variation of five aging factors: temperature, maximum and minimum state of charge, charging power, and the ratio of charge depleting vs. charge sustaining cycling.Capacity fade is cleaned from calendar aging and multivariate stepwise linear regression is used to parameterize an empirical model of cyclic capacity fade.Temperature and the ratio between charge depleting and charge sustaining cycling show the biggest impact on cyclic aging, whereas charging power has little effect in the chosen range of aging conditions.

Compassionate Conservation and the Challenge of Sustainable Wildlife Management: A Survey of the Urban Public of China

Sustainable wildlife management (SWM) is based on a synergy of traditional/local knowledge, advances in scientific knowledge, and fast-evolving economic and social circumstances. A widely accepted cornerstone of SWM globally is that conservation and utilization need to be effectively integrated, emphasizing the benefits humans can derive from biodiversity, thereby further encouraging people to protect and value wildlife though its management. However, with demand from biological resources growing at an unprecedented rate and the emergence of social media, conservationists must respond quickly to new challenges and conflicts associated with species management and public policy. For example, the rise of the “Compassionate Conservation” (CC) movement, fueled by social marketing and media, which promotes the welfare of individual animals, has introduced a set of challenges for conventional conservation management as it opposes most or all forms of wildlife utilization and hunting. CC advocates are increasingly influential at global and national policy levels; hence, it is imperative that conservationists are informed and aware of the future challenges from a rapidly changing global society. In this paper, we report the findings of a large semi-structured questionnaire in China which investigated the attitude of the urban public toward sustainable wildlife management (SWM) and wildlife conservation across a range of issues and identified the key socio-economic and demographic factor drivers for those attitudes. The survey was conducted from November 2018 to October 2020, across 15 cities randomly selected among China’s seven administrative geographic regions. The survey was initially conducted through face-to-face interviews, but later, due to COVID-19 restrictions, was completed via online questionnaires. A Likert seven-point scale method was used to score the public’s degree of agreement or disagreement for each question; a multivariate stepwise linear regression method was used to analyze whether the overall attitude of the respondents toward SWM and wildlife conservation was affected by their demographic characteristics; and a classification and regression tree (CART) was used to conduct an in-depth analysis of the issues with negative scores in the questionnaire, so as to understand how the respondents’ demographic characteristics affected the public’s attitude about such issues, which could supplement results obtained from the multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis. The results show that the public are broadly supportive of SWM, but only moderately so. On issues of “Animal Welfare and Rights,” “Wildlife Utilization and Captive Breeding,” and “Trophy Hunting”, the core concerns of the “Compassionate Conservation” movement and the overall public view are more antagonistic to conventional SWM. We also find specific demographic characteristics significantly influence attitudes about SWM, with vegetarians, those with religious beliefs, and with lower educational standards demonstrating weaker support for SWM. For younger people, “Animal Welfare and Rights” is a special concern, hence, we identify this as a key issue to be addressed for SWM and conservation in the future. Our research suggests that conservation organisations may need to adapt their management aims and practices to avoid direct conflict with the rising tide of animal rights sentiment, especially among the young. Furthermore, significant investment will be required to promote science-based conservation in social marketing on all social media platforms to help educate and engage the public with the science behind conservation management.

The Standard of Selecting Friends and Its Effect on Friendship Quality among College students

Objective To explore the present status of standard of selecting friends and friendship quality, and analyze the effect of standard of selecting friends on friendship quality among undergraduates. Methods A random sampling was used to select 1002 undergraduates through Internet in Guangdong province. They were investigated with Standard of Selecting Friend Scale for College Students (SSFS) and McGill Friendship Questionnaire (MFQ). Results ⑴ The friendship quality of undergraduates was relatively high, with MFQ total score of (254.16±38.80). ⑵ The most important standards of selecting friends were mutual compatibility and complementarity, followed by personality, physiology condition, social conditions and other conditions. ⑶ Multivariable stepwise linear regression showed that the total score of MFQ was positively correlated with the following 4 factors such as mutual compatibility and complementarity, personality, as well as other conditions (β=.477～.690，all P<.001). Conclusion The overall level of friendship quality among undergraduates is relatively high. Mutual characteristics may be related factors of friendship quality.

Integration of Sentinel-2 Derived Spectral Indices and In-situ Forest Inventory to Predict Forest Biomass

Forest biomass estimation is the central part of sustainable forest management to assess carbon stocks and carbon emissions from forest ecosystem. Sentinel-2 is state-of-art sensor with refined spatial and recurrent temporal resolution data. The present study explored the potential of Sentinel-2 derived vegetation indices for above ground biomass prediction using four regression models (linear, exponential, power and logarithmic). Sentinel-2 indices includes Global environmental monitoring index, transformed normalized difference vegetation index, normalized difference water index, normalized difference infrared index and red-edge normalized difference vegetation index. The performances of Sentinel-2 indices were assessed by simple single variable (index) based regression for GEMI, TNDVI, NDII, NDWI and RENDVI versus AGB values. Further, stepwise linear regression was also developed in which used all indices entered into stepwise selection and the best index was selected in the final model. Results showed that linear model of all indices performance best compared to the rest three models and R2 values 0.12, 0.39, 0.46, 0.44 and 0.37 for Global environmental monitoring index, transformed normalized. Vegetation index, normalized difference water index, infrared index and red-edge vegetation index, respectively. Normalized difference water index was considered the best index among five computed indices in simple linear as well as in stepwise linear regression, whereas rest of the indices were removed because they were not significant under the stepwise criteria. Further, the accuracy of normalized difference water index model was determined by root mean square error and final prediction model has 28.27 t/ha error for both simple linear and stepwise linear regression. Therefore, normalized difference water index was selected for biomass mapping and resultant biomass showed up to 339 t/ha in the study area. The resultant biomass map also showed consistency with global datasets which include global forest canopy height and global forest tree cover change maps. The study suggest that Sentinel-2 product has great potential to estimate above ground biomass with accuracy and can be used for large scale mapping in combination with national forest inventory for carbon emission accounting.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migraine in Japan: a multicentre cross-sectional study

Objectives To assess the impacts of social situation changes due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on headache-related disability and other symptoms in patients with migraine in Japan. Methods We conducted a multicentre, cross-sectional study including 659 outpatients with migraine diagnosed by headache specialists. The participants were asked about the impacts of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on headache-related disability, headache days, headache intensity, stress, physical activity, hospital access and their work and home lives. For headache-related disability, the total Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) score and part A and B scores were analysed. Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis was performed to identify the clinical predictors of changes in the total MIDAS score before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors related to new-onset headache during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Finally, 606 migraine patients (73 M/533 F; age, 45.2 ± 12.0 years) were included in the study, excluding those with incomplete data. Increased stress, substantial concern about COVID-19 and negative impacts of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily life were reported in 56.8 %, 55.1 and 45.0 % of the participants, respectively. The total MIDAS and A and B scores did not significantly change after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. New-onset headache, which was observed in 95 patients (15.7 %), was associated with younger age and worsened mood and sleep in the logistic regression analysis. The multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis of changes in the total MIDAS score before and during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic identified worsened sleep, increased acute medication use, increased stress, medication shortages, comorbidities, the absence of an aura and new-onset headache were determinants of an increased total MIDAS score during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions In this multicentre study, clinical factors relevant to headache-related disability, such as new-onset headache, stress and sleep disturbances, were identified, highlighting the importance of symptom management in migraine patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dementia knowledge and associated factors among older Chinese adults: a cross-national comparison between Melbourne and Beijing

Objectives: This study compared dementia knowledge between older Chinese adults in Melbourne, Australia, and Beijing, China, and explored factors associated with dementia knowledge between these two groups. Ultimately, this study aimed to inform the development of tailored dementia education programs for older Chinese adults. Design: A cross-sectional design was employed in this study. Setting: Participants were recruited from 5 Chinese community senior groups in Melbourne and 10 community health centers in Beijing from March to May 2019. Participants: A total of 379 older Chinese adults aged 50 and over completed the questionnaire, including 153 from Melbourne and 226 from Beijing. Measurements: Dementia knowledge was assessed using the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS). Demographic characteristics, dementia-related experience, and the mental health status of participants were collected. Stepwise linear regression was used to analyze the factors associated with dementia knowledge. Results: In general, older Chinese adults in Melbourne and Beijing reported similar levels of dementia knowledge for both the overall ADKS scale (mean ± SD: 17.2 ± 2.9 in Melbourne vs. 17.5 ± 2.9 in Beijing, p > 0.05) and the seven subdomains. Of the subdomains, the highest correct response rates were observed in the life impact of the dementia subdomain, and the lowest rates were observed in the caregiving subdomain. Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that younger age and self-reported dementia worry were significantly associated with higher levels of dementia knowledge in the Melbourne group, whereas a positive family history of dementia was significantly associated with higher levels of dementia knowledge in the Beijing group. Conclusions: Older Chinese adults living in Melbourne and Beijing share similar levels of dementia knowledge, but factors associated with their knowledge are different. These findings will inform the development of culturally and socially appropriate dementia education programs for older Chinese populations in different countries.

Mental health status and quality of life in elderly patients with coronary heart disease

Background Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among elderly individuals. Patients with CHD are at high risk for mental health disorders, and psychological issues may affect the quality of life (QoL) of these patients. Nevertheless, there is little evidence regarding the psychological issues and QoL of patients with CHD among the elderly population. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between comorbidities and mental status as well as QoL among elderly patients with CHD. Methods Overall, 216 patients were included in this cross-sectional, observational, single-center study. The demographics and clinical manifestations of the patients were collected from electronic medical records. All patients were interviewed using the Chinese version of Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) to assess the mental health status and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) to assess the QoL. Results In total, 96 men and 120 women, with a mean age of 71.69 ± 8.30 years, were included. When controlling for the patients’ sex, marital status and stroke, multiple stepwise linear regression analyses suggested that for CHD patients, comorbid type 2 diabetes mellitus had the significant influence on average positive factors (Coef., 5.809; 95% CI [2.467–9.152] p = 0.001); when controlling for the patients’ sex, marital status and type 2 diabetes mellitus, multiple stepwise linear regression analyses suggested that for CHD patients, comorbid stroke had the significant influence on average positive factors (Coef., 8.680; 95% CI [4.826–12.534]; p < 0.001); when controlling for the patients’ sex, marital status, type 2 diabetes mellitus and stroke, multiple stepwise linear regression analyses suggested that for CHD patients, comorbid primary hypertension had the significant influence on phobic anxiety (Coef., 0.178; 95% CI [0.010–0.347]; p = 0.038). Conclusions For elderly CHD patients, comorbid type 2 diabetes mellitus and stroke were at risk for psychological problems and lower QoL. Our findings may guide patients and clinicians to make better decisions and achieve better outcomes.

More Pace Variation and Pack Formation in Successful World-Class 10,000-m Runners Than in Less Successful Competitors

Purpose: To determine different relationships between, and predictive ability of, performance variables at intermediate distances with finishing time in elite male 10,000-m runners. Methods: Official electronic finishing and 100-m split times of the men’s 10,000-m finals at the 2008 and 2016 Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships in 2013 and 2017 were obtained (125 athlete performances in total). Correlations were calculated between finishing times and positions and performance variables related to speed, position, time to the leader, and time to the runner in front at 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000, and 9900 m. Stepwise linear-regression analysis was conducted between finishing times and positions and these variables across the race. One-way analysis of variance was performed to identify differences between intermediate distances. Results: The SD and kurtosis of mean time, skewness of mean time, and position and time difference to the leader were either correlated with or significantly contributed to predictions of finishing time and position at at least one of the analyzed distances (.81 ≥ r ≥ .30 and .001 ≤ P ≤ .03, respectively). These variables also displayed variation across the race (.001 ≤ P ≤ .05). Conclusions: The ability to undertake a high degree of pace variability, mostly characterized by acceleration in the final stages, is strongly associated with achievement of high finishing positions in championship 10,000-m racing. Furthermore, the adoption and maintenance of positions close to the front of the race from the early stages are important to achieve a high finishing position.