bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulation of gastroscopy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for medical student education
Authors: Falon Jessica , Brodaric Alen Maximillian , Whereat Sarah , Storey David
Published: December 2024

Background

Simulation training has become part of medical student education, however endoscopy simulators have mostly been reserved for speciality training. Evidence suggests that simulation training has the potential to educate future doctors about endoscopy procedures and improve their communication with patients. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an endoscopic procedure that is technically challenging and poorly understood by medical students. This study aimed to investigate whether simulating gastroscopy and ERCP using an anatomical model of the upper gastrointestinal tract improves procedural knowledge, confidence, and performance in medical students.

Methods

Students completed three attempts at gastroscopy and one attempt at ERCP using the model. Participants rated knowledge and confidence relating to endoscopic procedures before and after completing the simulation. Students also reported their attitudes towards endoscopic simulation training after their participation.

Results

There was a significant increase in self‐perceived knowledge of the purpose of and steps involved in endoscopy (P < 0.001), gastrointestinal anatomy (P = 0.003), and biliary system anatomy (P = 0.002) after using the simulator. Participants also reported significantly increased skills confidence in performing gastroscopy and duodenoscopy (P < 0.001), including in their ability to explain endoscopic procedures to a patient (P < 0.001). All participants agreed (5%) or strongly agreed (95%) that simulation training is a useful addition to their learning, and that they would like more simulation training in the medical curriculum.

Conclusion

Simulation training is an effective and engaging method of promoting procedural awareness and understanding of basic endoscopic procedures in medical students, with the potential to improve doctor–patient interactions in early clinical practice.
Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility and Tariff Policies: The Timing of Commitments and Policy Implications
Authors: Xu Lili , Su Fanrui , Lee Sang‐Ho
Published: December 2024

In the context of international trade, we explore the role of strategic commitments by a local government concerning tariffs in the presence of firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. We examine and compare committed tariff and time‐consistent tariff regimes when a domestic or foreign firm engages in CSR activities, respectively. We demonstrate that under domestic CSR, the committed tariff yields lower optimal tariffs and higher strategic CSR than the time‐consistent tariff, resulting in higher welfare and lower profits for the CSR firm. Under foreign CSR, when firms’ products are more independent (substitutable), the committed tariff results in lower (higher) optimal tariffs, higher (lower) strategic CSR, and higher (lower) welfare than the time‐consistent tariff. We also examine an endogenous choice of commitment and find that the committed tariff is a desirable equilibrium under domestic CSR, whereas the time‐consistent tariff may be a desirable equilibrium under foreign CSR when firms’ products are more independent.
The impact of residual diabetic toe osteomyelitis at the conservative surgical resection margins on prognosis
Authors: Sun Haojie , Deng Weidong , Si Shanwen , Liu Xuekui , Geng Houfa , Liang Jun
Published: December 2024

Aims

The study is to investigate how residual osteomyelitis at conservative surgical resection margins affects the prognosis of diabetic toe osteomyelitis.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 67 participants with diabetic toe osteomyelitis who underwent conservative surgery were evaluated. The diagnosis of osteomyelitis was based on histopathology, and bone histopathology was done on the resection bone. After discharge, a 16‐week follow‐up was conducted, focusing on the wound healing time as the primary outcome. Cox regression analysis was employed as the primary method to analyse the risk factors that influence wound healing.

Results

Among the 67 participants, 48 (71.6%) had positive bone margins, while 19 (28.4%) had negative bone margins. Participants with positive bone margins experienced an average healing time of 60.78 ± 18.50 days, whereas those with negative bone margins had an average healing time of 55.19 ± 14.60 days (p = 0.285). Bone margins (positive vs. negative) did not have an impact on wound healing (HR, 1.195 [95% CI, 0.668–2.136]; p = 0.549). Ankle‐brachial index was identified as a factor influencing wound healing (HR, 5.399 [95% CI, 1.145–25.455]; p = 0.033). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of wound healing rates (40 of 48 [83.3%] vs. 16 of 19 [84.2%], p = 0.93), inpatient days (19.48 ± 5.25 vs. 18.26 ± 4.79 days, p = 0.385) and duration of antibiotics (32.33 ± 5.64 vs. 30.53 ± 6.93 days, p = 0.272).

Conclusion

The residual osteomyelitis in diabetic toe osteomyelitis post‐conservative surgery does not impact the wound healing.
From Virtual Reality to Reality: Fine‐Tuning the Taxonomy for Extended Reality Simulation in Dental Education
Authors: Serrano Carlos M. , Atenas María J. , Rodriguez Patricio J. , Vervoorn Johanna M.
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Digital simulation in dental education has substantially evolved, addressing several educational challenges in dentistry. Following global lockdowns and sustainability concerns, dental educators are increasingly adopting digital simulation to enhance or replace traditional training methods. This review aimed to contribute to a uniform taxonomy for extended reality (XR) simulation within dental education.

Methods

This scoping review followed the PRISMA and PRISMA‐ScR guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched. Eligible studies included English‐written publications in indexed journals related to digital simulation in dental/maxillofacial education, providing theoretical descriptions of extended reality (XR) and/or immersive training tools (ITT). The outcomes of the scoping review were used as building blocks for a uniform of XR‐simulation taxonomy.

Results

A total of 141 articles from 2004 to 2024 were selected and categorised into Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), Augmented Reality (AR), Augmented Virtuality (AV) and Computer Simulation (CS). Stereoscopic vision, immersion, interaction, modification and haptic feedback were identified as recurring features across XR‐simulation in dentistry. These features formed the basis for a general XR‐simulation taxonomy.

Discussion

While XR‐simulation features were consistent in the literature, the variety of definitions and classifications complicated the development of a taxonomy framework. VR was frequently used as an umbrella term. To address this, operational definitions were proposed for each category within the virtuality continuum, clarifying distinctions and commonalities.

Conclusion

This scoping review highlights the need for a uniform taxonomy in XR simulation within dental education. Establishing a consensus on XR‐related terminology and definitions facilitates future research, allowing clear evidence reporting and analysis. The proposed taxonomy may also be of use for medical education, promoting alignment and the creation of a comprehensive body of evidence in XR technologies.
The Role of Planning in Cognitive Processing During L2 Writing
Authors: Abdi Tabari Mahmoud , Golparvar Seyyed Ehsan
Published: December 2024

This study adopted a cognitive‐processing approach to explore the role of planning modes in L2 writing production and the allocation of attentional resources by L2 learners during planning and writing. A total of 120 L2 learners in an ESL writing course at a university in the United States were assigned to one of four conditions: (1) written planning (10 min note‐taking + 40 min writing), (2) visual planning (10 min using visual tools + 40 min writing), (3) collaborative planning (10 min discussing with peers + 40 min writing), or (4) no planning (40 min writing without pre‐task planning). After completing the writing task, participants took part in a stimulated recall interview. The findings showed that different planning modes had significant effects on the syntactic and lexical complexity and accuracy of L2 writing compared to no planning. However, planning modes did not affect L2 writing fluency. The stimulated recalls revealed that attentional resources primarily focused on content and organization during pre‐task planning, regardless of the planning mode used. Attention was also directed toward lexical and grammatical encodings during pre‐task planning and writing. Additionally, regardless of the planning mode, attentional resources were predominantly dedicated to monitoring during the writing stage. This mixed‐methods study provided deeper insights into the cognitive processes involved in planning and writing.
Premature hair graying: a multifaceted phenomenon
Authors: Desai Deesha D. , Karim Maria , Nohria Ambika , Needle Carli , Brinks Anna , Kearney Caitlin A. , Ridge Amy , Mesinkovska Natasha , Shapiro Jerry , Lo Sicco Kristen I.
Published: December 2024

Premature hair graying (PHG) is the early loss of natural hair color, influenced by genetic, biological, and environmental factors. This review discusses the significant psychological impacts of PHG and explores its underlying mechanisms, related health conditions, and available treatments. The review examines the roles of genetics, oxidative stress, and lifestyle factors such as smoking and diet in premature graying. It also considers associated medical conditions and current and emerging treatment options. This overview aims to improve understanding of PHG and its broader implications.
Disparities and longitudinal complications in opioid prescriptions after dermatologic surgery: An international propensity score‐matched, retrospective cohort study
Authors: Lauck Kyle C. , Limmer Emily , Nguyen Kaycee , Tolkachjov Stanislav N.
Published: December 2024

Background

In dermatology, the majority of opioid prescriptions occur in dermatologic surgery. Even short courses of opioids are linked to substance abuse. Reported rates of opioid prescription in dermatologic surgery are variable, with no consensus on when they should be prescribed. Little population data currently exists on opioids in dermatologic surgery and the potentially serious complications that result. Here, we use an international patient data network to evaluate trends in postoperative opioid prescription in the setting of dermatologic surgery and complications that may result.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study analyzed patients within the TriNetX research network. A total of 1,160,223 dermatologic surgery patients were extracted. Risk analyses were conducted examining (1) oral opioid prescription within 2 days postsurgery; (2) adverse events related to opioid use 3 months to 5 years postsurgery. Propensity score matching included variables: age, gender, race, ethnicity, complex regional pain syndrome, back pain, osteoarthritis, and malignancy.

Results

A total of 124,292 (13.6%) patients received postsurgical opioids. Black or African American race, female gender, and Latino ethnicity were associated with significantly higher absolute risk of postsurgical opioid prescription. A positive history of prior opioid prescription, opioid abuse or dependence, or substance abuse yielded a significant increase in the absolute risk of receiving postsurgical opioids (P < 0.0001). Patients prescribed postsurgical opioids had a statistically significantly higher risk of subsequent oral opioid prescription (P < 0.0001), opioid abuse (P = 0.0005), substance abuse (P < 0.0001), overdose by opioids (P = 0.031), constipation (P < 0.0001), and chronic pain (P < 0.0001) 3 months to 5 years after surgery.

Conclusions

This study finds female, African American, and Latino populations have a higher risk of being prescribed opioids postoperatively. This prescription may confer risks of potentially serious complications related to opioid use. Dermatologic surgeons should be aware of the risks these populations face when determining candidacy for postsurgical opioid analgesia.
Healthcare Providers' Experiences With and Perspective on Delivering the Enhanced Recovery After Elective Caesarean Birth Pathway With Next‐Day Discharge: Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Digenis Christianna , Cusack Lynette , Salter Amy , Winter Amelia , Turnbull Deborah
Published: December 2024

Aims

To understand the perspectives and experiences of healthcare providers who have experience working with an enhanced recovery care after elective caesarean birth pathway with next‐day discharge and home midwifery.

Design

This study applies a qualitative study design with a pragmatic realist approach. The realist framework was used while also taking a post‐positivist philosophy.

Methods

The work was conducted in South Australia, Australia between May and October 2019. Twenty‐three semi‐structured interviews were completed with 5 doctors and 18 midwives who had occupational experience working with the pathway. Interviews were analysed using following the six‐phase qualitative thematic analysis process outlined by Braun and Clarke. COREQ guidelines were followed.

Results

Four main themes and 11 sub‐themes were identified. Main themes identified were as follows: The pathway is more than just early discharge; experiences with the process; staff engagement with the pathway; and the impact of the pathway within the health system.

Conclusion

Healthcare providers generally accepted the pathway and found enhanced recovery care to be a positive and beneficial model of care. Staff identified five main challenges with implementing the pathway: early discharge; eligible women's automatic inclusion on the pathway; engaging women; change for staff and organisational constraints and procedures. Elements that support integration include the following: education for women; reassurance and communication with women and families; prepared care and supports including home midwifery; staff education and communication of the evidence; clear guidelines and protocols; defined staff roles; enough clinical time and clinical flexibility.

Impact

Knowledge from staff in this study would be useful for other health services to consider when looking to deliver similar models of care.

Patient or Public Contribution

The health service and health providers were involved with the initiation and development of the research aims and design.
The Support Needs of Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Study Based on the Nurturing Care Framework
Authors: Li Fei , Li Qinling , Shen Qiao , Zhang Xin , Leng Hongyao , Liu Yue , Zheng Xianlan
Published: December 2024

Aim

To explore the support needs of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in China under the guidance of the nurturing care framework (NCF).

Design

A descriptive qualitative study design was used.

Methods

Fourteen parents of 2–6‐year‐old children with autism were recruited for face‐to‐face individual interviews in Chongqing between July and November 2023. NVivo 12.0 software was used to manage the data, and a directed content analysis was performed to extract themes.

Results

Five nurturing care needs of parents of children with autism were extracted, including acquisition of health‐ and disorder‐related knowledge and information, maintenance of psychological and physical wellbeing, desire for individualised caregiver skills training, creation of multi‐agent social support network, and accessibility of high‐quality and coordinated services.

Conclusion

Parents of children with autism have multidimensional unmet nurturing care needs. It is crucial to address these needs and develop targeted family support programs with consideration of the extracted need components.

Implications for Profession and/or Patient Care

This study implies that health education, parental empowerment and psychological support should be prioritised in future family support programs. The findings also emphasise the importance of establishing a cross‐departmental coordination mechanism and building a multi‐agent social support network for families of children with autism.

Impact

This study expands our understanding on the support needs of families of children with autism and enriches the theoretical connotation of nurturing care framework, and the results may inform the development of tailored support programs for families of children with autism in China.

Reporting Method

The results are reported in accordance with the reporting guidelines of the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ).

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient and public contribution.
Racism, Speciesism, and the Argument from Analogy: A Critique of the Discourse of Animal Liberation
Authors: Cantens Kristian
Published: December 2024

Peter Singer's argument against ‘speciesism’ has served as the theoretical foundation for the modern animal rights movement. His argument is that the wrongs we do to animals are analogous to those committed against marginalized humans; that if we are opposed to one, then we should also be opposed to the other. Despite the argument's popularity, those historically oppressed groups to whom animals are compared have been critical of it, perceiving the analogy as dehumanizing. Animal activists have struggled to understand this criticism, arguing that the analogy is only dehumanizing if one believes animals to be inferior in the first place – which is exactly what they dispute. What they fail to realize, I argue, is that the disagreement cannot be reduced to a difference in what one chooses to value. It is, instead, fundamentally conceptual. To be likened to an ‘Animal’ is something different for they who have never been regarded as ‘fully human’ in the first place. It is only after animal activists appreciate this – the singular character of human oppression, how it differs conceptually from the injustice that animals can be subject to – that the building of alliances and the work of collaboration can begin in earnest.
The effect of fabrication procedures and thermomechanical loading on the structural properties of screw‐retained metal‐ceramic implant restorations: An in vitro study
Authors: Mohebbi Hosein , Habibzadeh Sareh , Alikhasi Marzieh , Mosaddad Seyed Ali , Ghodsi Safoura
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Metal‐ceramic screw‐retained implant restorations persist as a fundamental choice in specific clinical scenarios. Little is known about the effects of fabrication steps and aging on their structural properties. This study aimed to investigate how laboratory fabrication procedures and thermomechanical loading affect the structural properties of screw‐retained metal‐ceramic implant restorations.

Materials and Methods

Ten screw‐retained metal‐ceramic restorations were conventionally cast using UCLA chromium‐cobalt overcast abutments. After 500 cycles of thermocycling and 500,000 cycles of mechanical loading, changes in connection dimensions and rotational freedom (RF) were measured and compared at various fabrication steps and post‐thermomechanical loading. A generalized estimating equations (GEE) model was employed to analyze trends across the studied time points within the fabrication stage and after thermomechanical loading, with LSD post‐hoc tests applied for pairwise comparisons. The level of significance was set at α = 0.05.

Results

Significant changes were observed across the analyzed time points: the average hexagonal side length (L) decreased (p < 0.001), and the average hexagonal angle deformation (P) increased, with notable differences observed in most comparisons between different fabrication steps (p < 0.001). Short (T1) and long (T2) diagonals of the hexagon showed downward trends (p < 0.001), while concentricity (O) and RF increased (p < 0.001), except between porcelain firing and loading steps for RF (p = 0.637). Casting had the greatest impact on variations in O (93.33%), T1 (88.88%), and T2 (45%), while porcelain firing significantly affected L (71.42%), P (71.42%), with the greatest effect on RF (75.32%).

Conclusions

The fabrication processes and simulated clinical use adversely impacted the structural integrity and RF of abutments in screw‐retained chromium‐cobalt overcast implant restorations.
Continuity of supervision: Balancing continuous and episodic relationships for assessment and learning
Authors: Lee Ann , Jere Anoushka , Du Plessis Lihani , Van Gerven Pascal W. M. , Heeneman Sylvia , Ross Shelley
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Meaningful supervisor–resident relationships enhance feedback and learning, yet not all relationships reach this potential. While there is increasing interest in continuity of supervision (CoS) to build relationships that support feedback and promote learning, there remains a limited understanding of how relationships develop and influence assessment over time. The aim of this study was to explore how supervisors and learners in postgraduate medical education perceive CoS relationships and their impact on feedback and assessment.

Methods

We used constructivist grounded theory informed by the educational alliance to develop insight into how supervisor and resident perceptions of episodic and continuous relationships impact feedback and assessment. We interviewed 22 participants, including 14 family medicine residents and eight faculty advisors. We iteratively analysed the data concurrently with data collection.

Results

In episodic relationships, participants accepted superficiality for variety and diversity in feedback. In continuous relationships, we identified four sub‐types. Our participants described how each of these relationships impacted their perceptions of the feedback and assessment information given or received and resulted in different steps taken in response to their perceptions: (i) Not developing—tolerate feedback and seek out additional assessors, (ii) deteriorating—avoid feedback and seek out alternative assessors, (iii) developing—value and tailor feedback and (iv) becoming a friendship—question bias in feedback and advocate for more assessors.

Conclusions

Episodic and continuous relationships offered feedback and assessment value. However, deeper analysis of the continuous relationships revealed additional complexity. Understanding the nuances of CoS relationships is important for supporting successful relationships and improving feedback and assessment.
A narrative of arrival and return in Imbolo Mbue's Behold the Dreamers
Authors: Gasztold Brygida
Published: December 2024

Imbolo Mbue's novel Behold the Dreamers offers a conscious contextualizing of the movement back to the homeland by those who arrive uninvited and face the hostility of reluctant hosts. For centuries, North America has attracted many with a prospective dream of happiness, better conditions of living, higher purchasing power, and a share of all the good things of modern life, from industrial products to education. The glamour of greener pastures abroad has held a steady grip on the generations of potential immigrants. While the U.S. cherishes the idea of itself as a land so abundant in promise and possibility that no newcomer would ever want to leave, the reality turns out to be more complex for Mbue's protagonists—the Cameroonian immigrants Jende and Neni Jonda, who enjoy few privileges but endure varying degrees of hardships and discrimination. Their story falls into the category of what Adam Kirsch (2016) no longer calls “immigrant” but “migrant” literature:— “[m]igrant novels focus on characters for whom America is a stage of life rather than a final destination. Their protagonists may come to the First World legally or illegally, from a position of strength or weakness. But they see life in America, and often Europe, as means to an end—education, wealth, political freedom—rather than ends in themselves” (Kirsch, The global novel: Writing the world in the 21st century. Columbia Global Reports 2016, 82). My paper examines the reasons for their arrival in the American Promised Land, discussing push and pull factors, and follows their decision to go back to Cameroon, signaling those aspects of the North American experience that challenge and impede their success. Return as the critical paradigm shifts the perspective, bringing Africa from the periphery of the developing world to the narrative center. I adopt a post‐colonial feminist approach, to demonstrate how gender impacts the experience of immigration and their decision‐making process, gesturing towards return migration as a viable alternative to a traumatic existence for those with no legal rights to remain in the U.S.
The limits of labels: Jane Addams and her views on self‐determination and imperialism, 1899–1923
Authors: Gordon Sheryl
Published: December 2024

Despite the vast scholarship on Jane Addams, her views on imperialism and self‐determination have not been closely studied. Understanding her views can help to disentangle knotted ideas of anti‐imperialism, pacifism, and pragmatism. Using her understudied post–World War I public statements, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) correspondence, and personal correspondence, this article analyzes her responses to a few major issues of the early twentieth century in which imperialism was viewed as a core issue. It argues that Addams remained deeply committed to her core beliefs of pacifism and democracy, but she switched from a grassroots approach to political, social, and economic reform adopted before the war to an internationally centralized supra‐governmental approach after. It also argues that Addams's perspective and position on Irish independence and the mandate system differed from her colleagues in the WILPF in more profound ways than previously understood.
Design Guidelines for Vibration Energy Dissipation in Three-Layer Sandwich Cantilever Beams
Authors: Hodaei Mohammad Amin , Hamidzadeh Hamid R.
Published: December 2024

This paper presents an analytical method and provides design guidelines for reducing vibrations in fully covered constrained three-layer beams. The analysis is based on the previous well-established studies carried out to investigate the passive vibration control of structures using constrained layer damping treatment. The main objective of this paper is to present guidance for accurate and appropriate practice in the design of a damped cantilever beam using constrained viscoelastic layers subjected to a harmonic force at its free end. The analysis provides the frequency-reacceptance responses, modal natural frequencies, and loss factors. The provided results depict this information for the first three resonance conditions for a wide range of geometries and material properties. The accuracy of the computed results is validated by comparing them with other published results.
Can early diaphragm dysfunction in critically ill ventilated patients predict clinical outcomes? A pilot study
Authors: Dias Silva Virgílio , Pação Catarina , Palacios Diana Buendía , Alves Mariana , Santos Silva João , Nobre de Jesus Gustavo
Published: December 2024

Aim: Diaphragm dysfunction (DD) is a keystone factor in difficult weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Diaphragm ultrasound (DUS) is the preferred method for the evaluation of diaphragm function in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) setting, namely through the diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF). However, its potential role in the decision-making process of mechanical ventilation weaning is yet to be established. We aimed to assess the incidence of early DD and its role as a predictor of prolonged IMV.Material and methods: We conducted a prospective, non-interventional study in a university hospital ICU. Non-consecutive adult patients subject to at least 48h of IMV were enrolled. Exclusion criteria was a prior period of IMV in the past three months. DUS was performed at 48h of IMV. End-inspiratory and end-expiratory diaphragm thickness were measured using M-mode, with a high-frequency linear probe placed at the zone of apposition of the diaphragm. The mean values of three measurements were used to calculate DTF. Interobserver measurement variability was not evaluated.Results: Forty-five patients were included. Thirty-eight percent were female, average age was 62.3 years. Mean Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) at admission were 50.9 and 9.02, respectively. Mean DTF was 23.46%±17.15. Average IMV duration was 9.36±7.66 days. Half of patients had DD at 48h of IMV. A weak negative correlation was observed between DTF, days of endotracheal intubation (Sp -0.27; p=0.07) and days of IMV (Sp -0.25; p=0.09). Using DTF cut-off values of 20% and 30%, DTF at 48h of IMV was not associated with prolonged IMV (p-values 0.17 and 0.58, respectively).Conclusion: In our study, there was a high prevalence of DD at 48h of IMV, as suggested in previous literature. Diaphragm dysfunction at 48h when measured through DTF did not seem to predict prolonged IMV. Late VAP incidence was associated with DD. Diaphragm ultrasound is well-established for diaphragm functional assessment, but further research regarding its trajectory during critical illness is needed to clarify its application in clinical practice.
Dust Aerosol from the Northern Caspian Sea Regions in Near-Surface Air in the Center of European Russia
Authors: Vinogradova A. A. , Gubanova D. P. , Lezina E. A. , Ivanova Yu. A.
Published: December 2024

Dust aerosol from the regions of sandstorms is transported by air masses to thousands of kilometers, affecting the optical properties of the atmosphere, climate, and terrestrial natural objects. The northern Caspian region (Kalmykia, the Volga Delta, the Transcaspian lowlands, and northwestern Kazakhstan) is a year-round source of dust aerosol. Based on the data of Mosecomonitoring stations for 2011–2021 we analyzed the episodes of an increase in the level of aerosol pollution in Moscow near-surface air associated with long-range atmospheric transport of dust from the Caspian region. Eight months (about 6%) with the daily PM10 concentration in Moscow higher than MPC value during 3 or more days were revealed. The duration of each episode ranged from 3 to 10 days, and as a total they did not exceed 9% of days per year on average. During those episodes the maximal daily PM10 concentration in the near-surface Moscow air was 2.7 ± 1.1 times higher than the corresponding monthly values. The months with episodes of long-range atmospheric dust transport to Moscow are characterized by 1.9 ± 2.0°C higher air temperature and by 9 ± 13 mm lower precipitation amount relative to the corresponding norms for Moscow.
Studying the Finiteness of a Tracking Technique with Random Distances and Velocities that Reduces the Collision Time Between a Brownian Particle and a Nanosensor in the Fluid
Authors: Allah El-Hadidy Mohamed Abd , Alzulaibani Alaa A.
Published: December 2024

The tracking technique that is examined in this study considers the nanosensor’s velocity and distance as independent random variables with known probability density functions (PDFs). The nanosensor moves continuously in both directions from the starting point of the real line (the line’s origin). It oscillates while traveling through the origin (both left and right). We provide an analytical expression for the density of this distance using the Fourier-Laplace representation and a sequence of random points. We can take the tracking distance into account as a function of a discounted effort-reward parameter in order to account for this uncertainty. We provide an analytical demonstration of the effects this parameter has on reducing the expected value of the first collision time between a nanosensor and the particle and confirming the existence of this technique.
Fast Room-Temperature Mg-Ion Conduction in Clay-like Solid Electrolytes
Authors: Yang Xiaochen , Gupta Sunny , Ceder Gerbrand
Published: December 2024

The discovery of mechanically soft solid-state materials with fast Mg-ion conduction is crucial for the development of solid-state magnesium batteries. Herein, we present novel solid magnesium electrolytes that achieve high ionic conductivity of 0.47 mS/cm at room temperature. These Mg-ion conductors exhibit clay-like mechanical properties, enabling intimate contact at the electrode-electrolyte interface during battery cycling. By combining spectroscopic characterization and molecular dynamics simulations with a machine learning-based interatomic potential energy model, we identify that partial anion exchange between the precursors leads to the formation of GaCl3-like domains within the amorphous structure, which is responsible for the soft mechanical properties. This partial anion exchange creates undercoordinated magnesium ions in a chlorine-rich environment, yielding fast Mg-ion conduction. Our work demonstrates the potential of clay-like halide electrolytes for all-solid-state magnesium batteries, with possible further extension to other multivalent battery systems.
Cycling Stability Based on the Morphological Characteristics of Si-Based Anode Materials for Sulfide-Based All Solid-State Batteries
Authors: Gong Hyun-Woo , Cho Hye-Young , Kim Tae-Kyeong , Lim Ji-Min , Kim Hae-Ryoung , Kim Hong-Kyu , Ahn Jae-Pyoung
Published: December 2024

Sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) have emerged as promising next-generation energy storage devices due to their high safety and energy density. Si, with its high theoretical capacity (3579 mAh g-1 for Li3.75Si), is a promising anode material for ASSBs. However, its large volume change (~300%) during cycling remains a significant challenge. Recent studies have shown excellent performance of micron-sized pure Si in sulfide-based ASSBs, but inconsistent cycle life characteristics complicate understanding of Si anode degradation mechanisms. To address this, nanolayer Si-coated graphite (Si/Gr) composites have been proposed, but their performance and degradation mechanisms in sulfide-based ASSBs remain unclear.

This study investigates the impact of Si morphological characteristics on the cycle stability of sulfide-based ASSBs and compares the degradation mechanisms of Si/Gr and pure Si composite anodes. Half-cells were fabricated using Si/Gr composites (~10 μm spherical particles, ~50 nm Si coating) and pure Si (1-5 μm). Cycle performance was evaluated for 50 cycles. Microstructural and chemical changes were analyzed using m-XRD, SEM/EDS, XPS, and TEM/EDS/EELS.

The initial capacity of Si/Gr was about 820 mAh g-1, which was higher than that of pure Gr(340 mAh g-1), but after 50 cycles, the cycle retention was 82%, which was faster than that of pure Gr(97%). Pure Si, on the other hand, showed a sharp decrease in capacity to nearly 0% in 10 cycles. The faster degradation of Si/Gr compared to pure Gr was attributed to interactions between Si and Gr within the composite, which had a greater impact than interfacial reactions with the solid electrolyte. Specifically, the Si coating gradually reduced Gr crystallinity during cycling, diminishing lithium storage capacity. For pure Si, crack formation at the Si/SE interface and excessive SEI formation during delithiation led to rapid capacity loss. In conclusion, Si/Gr offered higher capacity than Gr but degraded faster, while the thin Si coating had local volume changes better than micron-sized Si, resulting in higher capacity and improved cycle life.

This research elucidates the degradation mechanisms of Si-C composites in sulfide-based ASSBs and provides insights for optimizing Si-based anodes. These findings offer valuable guidance for developing high-performance sulfide-based ASSBs with enhanced long-term reliability.
Techno-Economic Modelling of Flow Batteries to Analyze the Component-Wise Optimisation Potential, the Manufacturing Phase and the Operating Phase with Degradation Rates in a Simulation-Integrable Stand-Alone Software
Authors: Gerlach Daniel , Noack Jens , Dev Rabin Siva , Trupp Sabine , Pinkwart Karsten
Published: December 2024

The challenges of climate change are becoming increasingly important for society. This is accompanied by a growing need for a wider use of renewable energies, which also increases the need for the possibility of intermediate storage in other forms of energy due to their fluctuating availability. Flow batteries (FB) have the advantage that they store electrical energy chemically in electrolytes and are scalable in terms of power and energy. For a successful broad market launch of FBs, not only the technical performance but also the economic efficiency of the system is important. Known FBs must therefore be technically and economically optimized for specific applications. Not every technically possible improvement has the same positive impact on power or energy-specific costs.

Within the EU project SONAR, a techno-economic model was therefore developed in such a way that it can map inorganic and organic as well as aqueous and non-aqueous FBs and is suitable for automated applications such as machine learning. Based on extensive validation measurements with standardized test cycles, Vanadium FBs and Organic FBs (MV/TEMPOL and AQDS/BQDS) were analyzed in different molarities and compared techno-economically using the model (see Figure 1).

The component-wise sensitivity analyses of that model show battery-specific optimization potentials. With those techno-economically appropriate optimizations can be planned (see Figure 2 and Figure 3).

The additionally developed stand-alone software, into which the model was transferred, can simulate various aqueous flow batteries, which offers versatile application possibilities. Additional relevant areas, such as infrastructure and financing costs, can also be included (see Figure 4). Upscaling of the simulated FBs to industrial applications is possible, as is use for machine learning and high-throughput screening.

In this talk, some results of this techno-economic approach will be presented.

Figure 1
Highly Aligned Graphene-Based Anodes Via Microfluidic Pulse Freezing Method
Authors: Zarrin Hadis , Liu Yifan , Hwang Dae Kun
Published: December 2024

Over the past decades, there has been a notable surge in the adoption of renewable energy sources and techniques for storage. Despite this growth, advancements in energy storage devices have been somewhat limited. Among the various renewable energy options like solar, hydrogen, hydropower, and thermal energy, lithium-ion batteries stand out as a promising solution due to their rapid discharge, stability, capacity, and durability. However, as demands increase for applications such as electric vehicles and smaller electronic devices, which necessitate higher specific capacity, faster charging/discharging rates, and enhanced stability, considerable efforts and resources are being dedicated to developing new and efficient battery materials.

Nanocarbon materials, renowned for their chemical stability and conductivity, have been extensively studied for decades as both cathode and anode components. Their ability to form a conjugated 3D porous network holds great promise for enhancing the kinetic and chemical properties of lithium-ion batteries. In this project, a novel approach is proposed to create a free-standing conjugated 3D porous carbon system utilizing modified graphene and its analogous materials. A new fabrication technique based on microfluidic methods has been developed to reliably produce the 3D aligned porous structure of nanocarbon anodes for lithium-ion batteries. Various 3D free-standing films were produced by optimizing conditions such as precursor suspension concentration, flow rate, and microfluidic channel dimensions. Through comprehensive characterization employing techniques it was confirmed that the 3D porous films possessed anisotropic vertical alignment and macro-porosity, significantly enhancing battery performance.

Notably, the fabricated batteries exhibited substantially increased specific capacity and cyclability compared to those utilizing commercial or unmodified anodes. For instance, by using our 3D free-standing anodic film of MXene/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite, the resulting battery achieved a specific capacity over 400% higher than its counterparts. This achievement represents a novel advancement, as the preparation of vertically aligned anisotropic 3D free-standing films with suitable dimensions for battery applications, coupled with their superior performance as battery anodes, has not been previously reported.

Thus, the development of the modified microfluidic method, along with the structural and compositional innovations outlined in this project, holds significant potential for revolutionizing the fabrication of high-performance and durable anodes for the lithium-ion battery industry.
Bimetallic Cofe Nanoparticles Embedded in Hierarchically Meso-Macroporous N-Doped Carbon Nanospheres As Electrocatalyst for Excellent Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Li Yulin , Guo Yanna , Yusuke Yamauchi , Sugahara Yoshiyuki
Published: December 2024

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are regarded as a highly promising technology for clean and sustainable energy conversion, but face challenges due to their reliance on costly noble metals and sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics[1]. Therefore, development of effective catalysts to serve as the alternatives of platinum group metals is required. So far, metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) materials are considered as the most promising electrocatalysts for ORR[2]. Their performance, however, are still impeded by the low density and accessibility of active metal sites. In this work, we developed a remarkable ORR electrocatalysts by assembling bimetallic CoFe nanoparticles on hierarchically meso-macroporous N-doped carbon nanospheres. This hierarchically structured meso-macroporous N-doped carbon serves as a conductive carrier and provides abundant exposed sites for the active metal species. In turn, the bimetallic CoFe nanoparticles significantly increase the total density of active catalytic sites for ORR. As a result, the optimized CoFe nanoparticles embedded in meso-macroporous N-doped carbon (CoFe@MesoMacroNC) delivered superior ORR activities in both alkali (half-wave potential = 0.943 V vs. RHE) and acid media (half-wave potential = 0.811 V vs. RHE). In addition, when the CoFe@MesoMacroNC was assembled in a Zn-air battery, it showed a higher power density of 155 mW cm-2 than commercial Pt/C (137 mW cm-2) as well as a better stability.

References:

[1] Jiao, K.; Xuan, J.; Du, Q.; Bao, Z.; Xie, B.; Wang, B.; Zhao, Y.; Fan, L.; Wang, H.; Hou, Z.; Huo, S.; Brandon, N. P.; Yin, Y.; Guiver, M. D. Nature 2021, 595 (7867), 361-369.

[2] Asahi, T.; Xu, X.; Wang, T.; He, J.; Yamauchi, Y. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144 (21), 9280-9291.

Figure 1
Operando Dilatometry and Gas Analysis of Na-Hard Carbon Half Cells with Carbonate Electrolytes
Authors: Röttgen Niklas , Petit Jan , Heugel Philipp , Klein Franziska , Tübke Jens
Published: December 2024

Sodium-ions that are dissolved in carbonate-based electrolytes do not intercalate well into graphite. Therefore, alternative anode materials are needed for sodium-ion batteries (SIB). Hard carbon anodes are a promising and widely used negative electrode for SIB, showing reversible gravimetric capacities in the range of 150-350 mAh g-1. [1] Volume changes and parasitic side reactions with the electrolyte are undesirable ageing effects which can happen during cycling and shorten the lifespan of a battery. Operando dilatometry and operando mass spectrometry are useful methods to characterize possible degradation mechanisms.

In this work we analyzed the volume changes of hard carbon electrodes in carbonate electrolytes during cycling with operando dilatometry, paying special attention to irreversible volume changes e. g. due to sodium plating. In addition, we carried out operando mass spectrometry to investigate gaseous substances produced due to the parasitic side reactions at the electrodes. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) reveals the relevant species. The electrolyte consisted of 1M NaPF6 dissolved in EC:DMC (1:1, by weight). All measurements were carried out in specially developed test setups.

A relationship between the thickness change and voltage profile was established. The thickness changes can be correlated with the different storage mechanisms in the hard carbon electrodes. Additionally, the cyclic formation of the gaseous degradation products could be observed. A possible correlation between gas evolution and thickness change is discussed.

In conclusion, the results of this study contribute to a more detailed understanding of possible degradation mechanisms that occur during cycling of hard carbon anodes in carbonate-based electrolytes. A better understanding of the degradation mechanisms could be used to develop strategies to mitigate the negative influence on battery cycle life.

[1] Escher, I.; A. Ferrero, G.; Goktas, M.; Adelhelm, P.; In Situ (Operando) Electrochemical Dilatometry as a Method to Distinguish Charge Storage Mechanisms and Metal Plating Processes for Sodium and Lithium Ions in Hard Carbon Battery Electrodes. Adv Materials Inter 2021, 2100596. DOI: 10.1002/admi.202100596.
Development and Characterization of Structural Batteries
Authors: Abdou Nicole , Pipertzis Achilleas , Xu Johanna , Asp Leif E. , Swenson Jan , Martinelli Anna
Published: December 2024

The structural battery (see figure) is a modern battery concept that integrates mechanical strength and conductive properties of carbon fibres, that hence constitute an intimate part of both electrodes [1]. The core components in a structural battery are composites, developed to provide multiple functions. The structural electrolyte, for instance, needs to both transfer load and conduct ions, whilst a glass fibre reinforced fabric acts as a separator between the electrodes. Good chemical and morphological properties are also crucial at the electrolyte/fiber interface. Similarly to more mature and commercially available batteries, currently tested structural batteries also rely on the conduction of Li ions. It is crucial to realise that highly functional structural batteries can revolutionise the lightweight design of many transport modes. However, such progression requires composite materials able to provide ionic conductivities above 10-4 S/cm and, simultaneously, good mechanical properties, targeting strength higher than 300 MPa and an elastic modulus over 70 GPa. Unfortunately, materials with exactly this set of properties do not exist yet and their development is the focus of our research. In this presentation, I will share recent progress done on the development of structural batteries, emphasising on the results that we have recently obtained from measurements by dielectric spectroscopy, NMR diffusometry, Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry [2]. In particular, I will demonstrate the successful integration of protic ionic liquids into the concept of structural battery electrolytes and show the enhancement of local dynamics as an effect of nano-confinement. I will also show results on tests done by battery cycling and on dielectric spectroscopy measurements by which we were able to catch both ionic and electronic conduction.

[1] Leif E. Asp et al.; Structural battery composites: a review; Functional Composites and Structures
1 (2019)

[2] A. Pipertzis, et al.; Ion transport, mechanical properties and relaxation dynamics in structural battery electrolytes consisting of an imidazolium protic ionic liquid confined into a methacrylate polymer. Energy Materials 300050 (2023)

Figure 1