bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Revealing the Equilibrium of Lithium Cations Across a Solid–Electrolyte Interface by $$T_1$$ NMR Relaxation
Authors: Schleker P. Philipp M. , Eichel Rüdiger-A. , Granwehr Josef 
Published: September 2023

AbstractBattery fast charging is pivotal for broader acceptance of electric mobility. While demonstrated for lithium titanate $$(\text {Li}_4\text {Ti}_5\text {O}_{12},$$

(

Li
4

Ti
5

O
12

,

LTO) anodes, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Recently, NMR $$T_1$$

T
1

relaxation time constants of $${}^7\text {Li}$$

7

Li

in the bulk of LTO were found to change if the surrounding electrolyte was altered. It was explained by interdiffusion of mobile lithium ions between the two phases, facilitated by unpinning of polarons from surface defects and leading to a pseudocapacitive effect that potentially influences fast charging. This effect is explored further by systematically varying the lithium salt concentration in an aprotic electrolyte in contact with LTO. Spectrally resolved $${}^7\text {Li}$$

7

Li

$$T_1$$

T
1

NMR relaxation times were used as a measure for bulk concentration changes of paramagnetic polaronic charges in LTO. Correlation of electrolyte concentration and $${}^7\text {Li}$$

7

Li

$$T_1$$

T
1

showed qualitatively different behavior above and below a salt concentration of about 5 mM, leading to a relaxation dispersion maximum in the LTO bulk. At intermediate concentrations, relaxation was consistent with a $${}^7\text {Li}$$

7

Li

exchange equilibrium between LTO and electrolyte. Upon contact of the two phases, yet without insertion into an electrochemical cell or applying an external potential, lithium ions redistributed between LTO bulk and liquid electrolyte. The results can be understood analogously to the distribution of mobile lithium ions between two phases separated by a $$\text {Li}^{+}$$

Li
+

permeable membrane. This is the first demonstration of such an equilibrium for non-faradaic lithium exchange at an interface between a solid ceramic electrode and a liquid electrolyte outside an electrochemical cell, substantiating our previous hypothesis of a polaron-supported mechanism. This study provides a basis for more quantitative (surface)-defect engineering, which is key to optimize battery fast-charging properties.
Real-world use of Safinamide in motor fluctuating Parkinson’s disease patients in Italy
Authors: Bovenzi Roberta , Liguori Claudio , Canesi Margherita , D’Amelio Marco , De Pandis Maria Francesca , Marini Carmine , Monge Alessandra , Padovani Alessandro , Tessitore Alessandro , Stefani Alessandro , Zappia Mario ,   for the SYNAPSES Study Investigators Italian Group, Abbruzzese G. , Aguggia M. , Avarello T. , Barone P. , Bentivoglio A. R. , Bosco D. , Calabresi P. , Callegarini C. , Cannas A. , Centonze D. , Ceravolo R. , Colosimo C. , Comi C. , Contardi S. , Cortelli P. , Cossu G. , Di Lazzaro V. , Eleopra R. , Fabbrini G. , Gasparoli E. , Guidi M. , Iliceto G. , Lopiano L. , Manganotti P. , Marconi R. , Mauri M. , Moleri M. , Morgante F. , Negrotti A. , Nordera G. , Onofrj M. , Pacchetti C. , Pontieri F. E. , Priori A. , Provinciali L. , Quatrale R. , Sensi M. , Spagnolo F. , Tamma F. , Tinazzi M. , Vitale C. , Volontè M. A. , Zambito Marsala S. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Safinamide is a recent antiparkinsonian drug that modulates both dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems with positive effects on motor and nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here, we aimed to describe the efficacy and safety of safinamide in the Italian PD patients in real-life conditions.

Methods
We performed a sub-analysis of the Italian cohort of the SYNAPSES study, a multi-country, multi-center, retrospective-prospective cohort observational study, designed to investigate the use of safinamide in routine clinical practice. Patients received for the first time a treatment with safinamide and were followed up for 12 months. The analysis was conducted on the overall population and in subgroups of interest: i) patients > 75 years, ii) patients with relevant comorbidities and iii) patients affected by psychiatric symptoms.

Results
Italy enrolled 616/1610 patients in 52 centers, accounting for 38% of the entire SYNAPSES cohort. Of the patients enrolled, 86.0% were evaluable at 12 months, with 23.3% being > 75 years, 42.4% with psychiatric conditions and 67.7% with relevant comorbidities.
Safinamide was effective on motor symptoms and fluctuations as measured through the Unified PD rating scale III and IV scores, and on the total score, without safety issues in none of the subgroups considered.

Conclusion
The SYNAPSES data related to Italian patients confirms the good safety profile of safinamide even in special groups of patients. Motor fluctuations and motor impairment improved at the follow-up suggesting the significant role of safinamide in managing motor symptoms in PD patients.
Efficacy and safety of intraurethral Erbium:YAG laser treatment in women with stress urinary incontinence following failed intravaginal laser therapy: a retrospective study
Authors: Tseng Yung-Ling , Su Chi-Feng 
Published: September 2023

AbstractUrinary incontinence (UI) is a prevalent condition affecting 25–45% of women and is linked to factors such as menopause, parity, high body mass index, and radical pelvic surgery. Among the three types of UI, stress incontinence (SUI) is the most common, accounting for almost 50% of cases, followed by urgency and overflow incontinence. UI has been found to be associated with reduced quality of life and mental stress. Non-invasive laser treatment is the safest and most effective option for managing SUI, with intraurethral Erbium SMOOTHTM laser treatment holding promise for patients experiencing SUI even after undergoing previous failed intravaginal Erbium:YAG laser treatment. The study recruited 93 female patients with mild to moderate SUI who had received two courses of intravaginal Erbium:YAG laser between January 2015 and June 2018. Of these, 22 patients (23%) who continued to experience SUI after a four-week interval for a second intravaginal Erbium:YAG laser were selected for intraurethral laser treatment in January 2019. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by comparing the pre- and post-treatment ICIQ-UI SF score. The urethral length was measured before the procedure. The main procedure involved delivering non-ablative laser energy using Erbium SMOOTHTM technology 2940 nm via a 4-mm cannula with personalized length and fluence was 1.5 J/cm. The 22 female patients with persistent SUI received intraurethral Erbium:YAG laser treatment. Their average age was 47.5 years, with an average of 2 parities and a mean body mass index of 20.97. All patients completed the ICIQ-SF questionnaire before and 3 months after the procedure. Of the patients, 77% reported improvement in symptoms, with 6 reporting strong improvement and 11 reporting improvement. The treatment was well-tolerated, with mild and transient adverse effects such as urinary infection in 1 patient (4.5%) and mild pain in 7 patients (31.8%). Intraurethral laser treatment may be helpful for Taiwanese women with persistent SUI after vaginal laser treatment. However, patients with prior pelvic surgery or pelvic organ prolapse history may limit the efficacy of intraurethral laser. Additional research is necessary to comprehensively investigate the advantages of intraurethral laser therapy. However, using intraurethral Erbium SMOOTHTM laser treatments to rejuvenate tissues and enhance structural support could be a promising avenue for managing stress urinary incontinence in Taiwanese women.
Towards measuring and quantifying the comprehensibility of process models: the process model comprehension framework
Authors: Winter Michael , Pryss Rudiger , Fink Matthias , Reichert Manfred 
Published: September 2023

AbstractProcess models constitute crucial artifacts in modern information systems, and their proper comprehension is of utmost importance in utilizing such systems. Generally, process models are considered from two different perspectives: process modelers and readers. Both perspectives share similarities and differences in the comprehension of process models (e.g., diverse experiences when working with process models). The literature proposed many rules and guidelines to ensure proper comprehension of process models for both perspectives. As a novel contribution in this context, this paper introduces the process model comprehension framework (PMCF), constituting a first approach towards the measurement and quantification of the perspectives of process modelers and readers, as well as the interaction of both regarding the comprehension of process models. Therefore, the PMCF describes an Evaluation theory tree based on the communication theory and the conceptual modeling quality framework and considers a total of 96 quality metrics to quantify process model comprehension. Furthermore, the PMCF was evaluated in a survey with 131 participants and has been implemented and applied successfully in a practical case study including 33 participants. To conclude, the PMCF allows for the identification of pitfalls and provides related information about how to assist process modelers and readers in fostering and enabling a proper comprehension of process models.
Nest size parameters of Great Tits and Blue Tits: a long-term study
Authors: Glądalski Michał , Kaliński Adam , Markowski Marcin , Skwarska Joanna , Wawrzyniak Jarosław , Bańbura Jerzy 
Published: September 2023

AbstractNest construction behaviour is widespread among bird species. Causes for the occurrence and great variation in nest characteristics between and within populations are still poorly understood. In this study, we present results concerning nest parameters of Great Tits Parus major and Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus over a period of 11 breeding seasons (2012–2022) in two structurally and floristically contrasting study areas in central Poland. The nest depth differed significantly between young (yearlings) and older females (≥ 2 years after hatching) in Blue Tits (but not in Great Tits): younger females tended to build deeper nests. The size and mass of the nest were very variable in both tit species. Blue Tits tended to build deeper and heavier nests than Great Tits. The depth of the nest was positively correlated with nest mass in Great and Blue Tits. In Great Tits, the nest mass (but not nest depth) differed between study sites, with nests being heavier in the forest and the nest depth differed between years; in Blue Tits, there was an interaction between year and study site that affected nest depth. The nest mass (but not depth) from the same nestbox tended to be consistently similar within species in Great Tits and Blue Tits. We argue that the large amount of variation in nest parameters between and within populations of both tit species may be a multi-factorial result of female age, breeding area, breeding season, individual predispositions and the size of the nestbox/natural hole.
Male’s age and plumage coloration predicts brood sex ratio in the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Authors: Lucia Rubáčová , Mária Melišková , Monika Cepková , Mária Balážová , Beata Matysioková 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPlumage ornaments of birds, both pigment-based and structural, are considered age or condition-dependent, honestly signalling male quality, sexually selected traits, influencing the variation in breeding performance as well as adaptive sex allocation. In the present study, we examine the effect of age of males on the plumage structural colour in Common Kingfisher, and evaluate the breeding output (laying date, total number of young per breeding season, mean number of young per nest, total number of broods) and sex ratio in relation to two ornamental traits (forehead and rump structural colour). During the three years 2016–2018 in the Danube river system (south-western Slovakia), we collected data from 49 males, 102 broods and 645 nestlings. Our data demonstrate that structural colour is a condition-related and age-sensitive signal, while males with increased weight expressed less saturated blue forehead feathers, and old males displayed more saturated cyan rump feathers than young ones. Moreover, the brood sex ratio varies with male coloration in an age-dependent manner. The plumage colour of young males did not affect the brood sex ratio, whereas old males with increasing intensity of cyan rump had more sons than duller ones. Neither single ornamental trait nor age predicted breeding output of kingfisher males. Nevertheless, our results indicate that the blue structural plumage of kingfisher males may serve as an indicator of age and a certain kind of quality with a consequence on adaptive sex allocation in this species.
A scenario-based approach for immediate post-earthquake rockfall impact assessment
Authors: Alvioli Massimiliano , Poggi Valerio , Peresan Antonella , Scaini Chiara , Tamaro Alberto , Guzzetti Fausto 
Published: September 2023

AbstractDifferent approaches exist to describe the seismic triggering of rockfalls. Statistical approaches rely on the analysis of local terrain properties and their empirical correlation with observed rockfalls. Conversely, deterministic, or physically based approaches, rely on the modeling of individual trajectories of boulders set in motion by seismic shaking. They require different data and allow various interpretations and applications of their results. Here, we present a new method for earthquake-triggered rockfall scenario assessment adopting ground shaking estimates, produced in near real-time by a seismological monitoring network. Its key inputs are the locations of likely initiation points of rockfall trajectories, namely, rockfall sources, obtained by statistical analysis of digital topography. In the model, ground shaking maps corresponding to a specific earthquake suppress the probability of activation of sources at locations with low ground shaking while enhancing that in areas close to the epicenter. Rockfall trajectories are calculated from the probabilistic source map by three-dimensional kinematic modeling using the software STONE. We apply the method to the 1976 MI = 6.5 Friuli earthquake, for which an inventory of seismically-triggered rockfalls exists. We suggest that using peak ground acceleration as a modulating parameter to suppress/enhance rockfall source probability, the model reasonably reproduces observations. Results allow a preliminary impact evaluation before field observations become available. We suggest that the framework may be suitable for rapid rockfall impact assessment as soon as ground-shaking estimates (empirical or numerical models) are available after a seismic event.
Do regular morbidity and mortality conferences reduce preventable death rates? Our experience at Princess Marina Hospital
Authors: Motsumi Mpapho J. , Chinyepi Nkhabe , Rackara Samuel , Lwango Rashid , Kapinga Getrude , Ngwako Karabo , Sentsho Maranatha , Leshomo Tefo , Chilisa Unami , Motlaleselelo Pako , Lekgowe Elijah K. 
Published: September 2023

Summary
Background
The role of morbidity and mortality conferences (M&MC) in surgical departments is to provide education and improve patient care. However, there is sparse evidence in the literature that M&MCs reduce preventable deaths. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of routine M&MC on reducing the preventable death rate over 4 years at a tertiary hospital in Botswana.

Methods
This study used a quantitative research methodology. In this retrospective audit of the M&MC data, we collected all mortality data for the surgery department from the time the database started, July 2016, to December 2019. The department adopted and adapted the criteria and definitions of preventability based on the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for trauma quality improvement programs. We used the Pearson correlation statistic to evaluate the correlation between the time (years) since the start of routine M&MC and the preventable death rate. Ethical approval for the study was obtained.

Results
There were 4660 registered admissions from July 2016 to December 2019. Of these, 267 deaths were recorded, resulting in a crude mortality rate of 6%. Overall, the department considered 23% (61/267) of the deaths as preventable. A strong linear correlation (R2 = 0.982, p = 0.009) was found between the preventable death rate and time (years) since the commencement of routine M&MC. Trauma was the leading cause of preventable deaths (24.6%, 15/61).

Conclusion
Our findings suggest that routine M&MCs have the desired effect of reducing preventable death rates. Further studies are required to investigate this observed effect.
The importance of food in studying economic hardship and well-being: Does food insecurity mediate the associations between income and stress and well-being in a UK representative sample?
Authors: Pepper G. V. , Defeyter M. A. , Stretesky P. , Mann E. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Aim
Efforts to tackle the global mental health crisis must be underpinned by a robust literature on the social determinants of mental health. Existing studies show consistent effects of economic hardship on mental health, emphasising the importance of basic needs, such as food. Outcomes are affected by family structure, with larger families and households with single adults experiencing greater budgetary strain. Our study aimed to investigate the extent to which effects of income on stress and well-being are mediated by food insecurity, whilst accounting for the effects of family size.

Subject and methods
We surveyed a nationally representative sample (n = 1004) of UK adults, collecting key demographic information, plus data on food security (Household Food Security Survey Module Six-Item Short Form), perceived stress (four-item Perceived Stress Scale), and well-being (Office for National Statistics’ four-item personal well-being measure).

Results
Our results demonstrated that meaningful portions of the effects of income on stress (44%) and well-being (37%) can be accounted for by food insecurity. We also found that 42% of the effect of family size on perceived stress could be accounted for by the increased food insecurity experienced by larger families.

Conclusion
Our results add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that tackling economic hardship and ensuring the satisfaction of material needs would support improved mental health outcomes. Further, given that evidence demonstrates important impacts of stress on other factors such as obesity and cognition, we argue that tackling poverty and ensuring food security would also have physical health benefits.
Measurements in a Turbulent Channel Flow by Means of an LDV Profile Sensor
Authors: Pasch Saskia , Leister Robin , Gatti Davide , Örlü Ramis , Frohnapfel Bettina , Kriegseis Jochen 
Published: September 2023

AbstractSpatially and temporally resolved velocity measurements in wall-bounded turbulent flows remain a challenge. Contrary to classical laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) measurements, the laser Doppler velocity profile sensor (LDV-PS) allows the combined measurement of tracer particle position and velocity, which makes it a promising tool. To assess its feasibility a commercial LDV-PS is employed in a turbulent channel flow at $$Re_\tau =350$$

R

e
τ

=
350

. Additionally, the measurement and signal-processing accuracies of velocity and location are evaluated for various tracer-object sizes and velocities. On this basis, the turbulent channel flow measurements are evaluated and compared to reference data from direct numerical simulations. Thus, potentials of the LDV-PS are investigated for different regions of the flow and various data processing routines as well as the experimental practice are discussed from an application perspective.
DNS-Based Turbulent Closures for Sediment Transport Using Symbolic Regression
Authors: Stöcker Yvonne , Golla Christian , Jain Ramandeep , Fröhlich Jochen , Cinnella Paola 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis work aims to improve the turbulence modeling in RANS simulations for particle-laden flows. Using DNS data as reference, the errors of the model assumptions for the Reynolds stress tensor and turbulence transport equations are extracted and serve as target data for a machine learning process called SpaRTA (Sparse Regression of Turbulent Stress Anisotropy). In the present work, the algorithm is extended so that additional quantities can be taken into account and a new modeling approach is introduced, in which the models can be expressed as a scalar polynomial. The resulting corrective algebraic expressions are implemented in the RANS solver SedFoam-2.0 for cross-validation. This study shows the applicability of the SpaRTA algorithm to multi-phase flows and the relevance of incorporating sediment-related quantities to the set of features from which the models are assembled. An average improvement of ca. thirty percent on various flow quantities is achieved, compared to the standard turbulence models.
Vortex Ring Formation Following Shock Wave Diffraction in Low-Pressure Environments
Authors: Cao Ziqu , Kontis Konstantinos , Hosano Hamid , White Craig , Chang Ting-Tsung , Agir Muhammed Burak 
Published: September 2023

AbstractCompressible vortex rings have been widely investigated for decades under ambient atmospheric conditions, and understanding this transient phenomenon is important for improving the thrust vector and avoiding surface impingement and contamination. However, how the vortex ring behaves in a reduced pressure environment remains unknown. This work provides schlieren imaging and pressure measurement results of the vortex ring when the environmental pressure is lower than 1 atm. The basic structure of the compressible vortex ring in low-pressure environments has been captured. The reduced environmental pressure will degenerate the internal flow structure, including the shock wave, the CRVRs, and the vortices due to the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, which is consistent with the conclusion of previous numerical work. The vortex ring is confirmed to exist when the environmental pressure is approximately 1.0 kPa.
Parallel line identification for line-implicit-solvers
Authors: Rempke Arne 
Published: September 2023

AbstractLine-implicit preconditioners are well known in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solvers and are an essential component to handle meshes with cells of very high aspect ratio (> 1000:1). Such anisotropic cells are commonly used to resolve steep gradients in the boundary layer of a turbulent flow with high Reynolds number. To date, this technique has rarely been used to solve other partial differential equations. We show that the advantages of such preconditioners do not depend on the partial differential equation or discretization used, but also apply to other problems like a node-based mesh deformation with linear elasticity on such meshes. We show the influence of the selection of these lines, and present a new algorithm for identifying lines for line-implicit preconditioners. This new algorithm makes better use of parallel processors and leads to more homogeneous lines. Finally, we see that using the same line-implicit preconditioner, but the new line identification algorithm, even leads to faster convergence for the mesh deformation problem based on linear elasticity.