Critical Spots Research Articles

Critical spots in undergraduate cartographic education: analysis of final tests and oral examinations

Critical spots in undergraduate cartographic education: analysis of final tests and oral examinations

Design and Construction Aspects of Concrete Block Paved Vertical Traffic-Calming Devices Located in Home Zone Areas

In recent years, speed reduction measures have been increasingly used, especially in heavily urbanised areas. If local conditions allow, traffic-calming schemes are implemented, which include a variety of traffic-calming measures (TCM). Some of the most common traffic-calming measures are concrete block paved vertical traffic-calming devices (VTCDs), including speed tables, speed humps, speed bumps and raised pedestrian crossings. Different design and construction recommendations apply to the respective VTCD types. The aim of this article is to examine the effectiveness of VTCDs in speed reduction and the impact of horizontal forces on pavement conditions, both within and beyond VTCDs, after over a dozen years of exposure to traffic. For this purpose, speed surveys were carried out on selected two-way streets running through home zones in Poland. The pavements on selected VTCDs were identified and visually assessed for damage, and subsidence areas were estimated using the terrestrial laser scanning (TSL) technique. The analysis resulted in the development of the Deviation Model 3D (DM3D), showing local deviations from the theoretical surface, obtained by superimposing the two models, the Real Surface Digital Terrain Model (RS DTM) and the Theoretical Surface Digital Terrain Model (TS DTM). A comparative analysis of the pavement surface condition and the magnitudes of horizontal forces allowed us to identify the locations of critical spots in VTCDs. The results were used as the basis for developing recommended pavement structures and deriving engineering recommendations for concrete block paving in VTCDs.

The integration of GIS location‐based APIs and urban growth modeling for improved geographic access to hospital services

AbstractThis article aims to present an integration model of GIS with open data sourced from application programming interface (API) as a solution for the location set covering problem (LSCP) with an urban land dynamics model. The development of GIS which is increasingly advanced makes traditional GIS transition in the open data era to become more modern. One of the benefits is to help urban planners in determining the allocation of health facilities such as hospitals. This research takes the case of hospital service coverage during emergencies, especially during the COVID‐19 extraordinary event in Metropolitan Semarang, Indonesia. In addition to utilizing API‐base Location, the model process also uses a Cellular Automata‐based land use prediction model. Thus, the facility location plan not only considers service coverage but also land use growth which is a reflection of population growth. To analyze the problem of inequity of hospital services, this research combined the location‐based APIs‐based service area model with the urban growth model to evaluate the existing condition and predict the future of hospital service demand. It also uses the emergency standard with a maximum service distance of 1500 m and a maximum travel time of 7 min. The model confirmed that there are still critical spots not served by hospitals in Semarang City. According to the concept of health and place, it is essential to recommend adding two hospitals in unserved areas so that services are more evenly distributed in the future, especially in emergencies.

A comparative environmental life cycle assessment of road asphalt pavement solutions made up of artificial aggregates

The construction and maintenance of road pavements entail detrimental impacts on the consumption of resources and damage to the natural environment but also make up an opportunity for the large-scale application of circular economy principles and innovative waste valorisation paths. The present study focuses on developing a comprehensive procedure to evaluate the technical and environmental sustainability of replacing high percentage of limestone aggregates with artificial aggregates from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) into hot or cold recycled asphalt mixtures for asphalt pavements.The technical feasibility of the designed mixtures was investigated in terms of the main physical and mechanical properties of both the raw materials and the asphalt mixtures with content of artificial aggregates or sand in the range 25–40 % by mass. The environmental feasibility of the asphalt mixtures was evaluated through the SEM-EDS technique, the analysis of the eluate of the leaching test and the ecotoxicity for living organisms.Afterwards, the life cycle assessment (LCA) was applied to detect the critical spots of the life cycle of 1 m2 of a 6 cm-thick binder layer with high percentage of artificial aggregates or sand built and maintained through 30 years analysis period according to 18 impact category indicators.The main results show that, recycling the artificial aggregates into hot asphalt mixtures has on average a negligible effect on the overall environmental performance of the life cycle, and appears to be detrimental only for the consumption of fossil resources due to the higher optimum bitumen content. Looking at the results for cold mixes, the introduction of the artificial aggregates has an effect on the predicted durability of the asphalt layers, which is maximized in the case of coarse artificial aggregates. Consequent environmental benefits regard the global warming potential, fossil resource scarcity and freshwater eutrophication indicators.

Experimental Monitoring of Dynamic Parameters of the Sub-Ballast Layers as a Prerequisite for a High-Quality and Sustainable Railway Line

Monitoring dynamic load transfer from train traffic to sub-ballast layers is crucial for verifying the reliability and safety of railway lines, assessing the design cost-effectiveness and achieving minimum environmental impact. For this purpose, measurements in labs, in situ or modeling the influence of dynamic loads on the immediate and long-term roadway quality are often performed using suitable software. The available test sections enabled monitoring of the dynamic loads and optimizing the critical spots where increased dynamic effects from railway traffic may occur. The subject of this paper is the calibration of the sensors installed in the different test sections of the trans-European corridor number V. As a result, the necessary input parameters for the subsequent numerical modeling of the dynamic effects on the track substructure and vibration propagation on the available sections of the upgraded railway line were obtained. The sensor calibration was carried out on the experimental field, part of the Experimental Basis of the Department of Railway Engineering and Track Management. As part of the calibration, the sensitivity of the sensors embedded in the track bed to the applied dynamic loads resulting from the impact effects of the lightweight deflectometer was assessed. The result of the calibration was the demonstration of sufficient sensitivity of the sensors and their suitability for implementation in an actual railway track structure, with the aim of obtaining relevant values of the response of the sub-ballast layers to dynamic loads and assessing the operational impacts on the sustainable environment. Also, the main result of the research was the possibility of using the theoretical–experimental route to optimize the layers of the railway body.

Chilling effect: Turning the poison into an antidote for fundamental rights in Europe

In the famous case of Baka v. Hungary, Judge Sicilianos proposed that the European Court of Human Rights should recognize a subjective right for judges to have their individual independence safeguarded and respected by the State. Such a reading of Article 6 of the Convention would enable national judges to claim a violation of that provision each time their individual independence is interfered with. It would also allow the Court to address one of the critical blind spots in the Convention system. However, the Court left the proposal dormant until recently. It is now put before the parties in three pending cases. This article argues that the Court should seize the opportunity to enhance the protection of judicial independence, but not by employing the proposed subjective right approach. Instead, it should rely on the better alternative: the chilling effect. Such an approach would enable the Court to fill the gaps in the Convention while remaining faithful to the text and avoiding the impression that judicial independence is a privilege of judges.

Point of care testing in Croatia: a survey of the Working group for point of care testing of the Croatian society of medical biochemistry and laboratory medicine.

The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes and routine procedures in point of care testing (POCT) among non-laboratory and laboratory healthcare professionals in Croatia. The Working Group (WG) for POCT of the Croatian society of medical biochemistry and laboratory medicine has designed two anonymous surveys for laboratory staff and non-laboratory staff with a total of 44 questions/statements on POCT (27 questions for non-laboratory staff and 17 for laboratory staff). Surveys were sent to 184 medical biochemistry laboratory (MBL) managers, the Croatian medical chamber and the Croatian chamber of nurses. The survey was disseminated using the online survey platform SurveyMonkey. A total of 112 non-laboratory healthcare professionals and 50 laboratories participated in the survey, which represents a response rate of 0.25% for non-laboratory professionals and 27% for MBLs. The majority of non-laboratory staff stated that POCT enables better medical care for the patient (90/112) and that the implementation of new POCT devices should be the responsibility of a POCT team comprising laboratory and clinical healthcare professionals. The great majority of responding MBLs (42/50) acknowledge that POCT is necessary for better patient care, and also realize that validation of POCT devices and comparison to the central laboratory is necessary before implementation (49/50). The majority of participants consider POCT as a medical tool that enables better patient care but there is still a lack of communication between laboratory and clinical staff. The study identified some critical spots that will help to create national guidelines to ensure high patient safety when using POCT devices.

Environmental safety from radioactive radiation perspective-A preliminary research

A preliminary cum. exploratory research is carried out to explore the few selected areas within Chandigarh to introspect our living and surrounding environmental conditions that whether it’s safe from radiation perspective or not. The radiation here in this paper signifies the highly energetic radioactive radiation emitted from inside the nucleus. The motivation for performing this work is to ensure the safety of living beings from the radioactive exposure. Effects of the radiation, especially in case of prolonged exposure, can be extremely dangerous or even fatal in near future if its dose limit exceeds than permissible limits. This brief investigation accounts for the background radiation manifested from natural radioactivity in building materials like gray cement or paint samples of various kinds. The study is also carried out at some critical spots in the Chandigarh city like hospitals which have radiology and radiotherapy centres, such as educational institutions (physics and chemistry labs), waste management unit, dumping ground etc. Radiation sensitive G.M counter apparatus have been used to analyse the presence and account for the presence of radiations persisting in that particular area. Henceforth, to acknowledge the radiation levels with a gas filled detection system (G.M. Counter) for that an optimal value of operating voltage is figured out. A preliminary investigation has revealed that the radiation counts/minute observed by us in the selected zones and spots is well within the permissible limits. A much systematic study with more accurate devices especially in the radiation prone areas of the country is highly required.

Investigating the optimal design of all-on-four technique adopting finite element analysis: the aspect of framework material, kind and position of implants

Nowadays, the dental implant surgery is a sophisticate and accurate sector with techniques increasingly innovative such as rapid prototyping, guided implant surgery and stem cell-based approaches. An example is certainly the use of multiple implants (4–6), instead of several prosthesis in case of human edentulous condition. The aim of this research is to investigate the mechanical behavior of the All-on-Four technique for different boundary conditions such as the value of load, framework material, type and position of implant. The goal was essentially trying to find out, by the application of structural static Finite Element Analysis (FEM), the best design for this specific treatment. After that, a stress-life fatigue numerical analysis was conducted for the optimal configuration in order to estimate the fatigue life in accordance with both Gerber and Goodman mean stress theory. The coupling involved the implants supported by an arch and a human mandible composed of cortical and cancellous part. After the simulations, it was found that the stress/strain field was very sensitive to the boundary conditions imposed. In particular, the position of the implants and the material framework yielded different responses depending on the implant design. Finally the use of ultrashort implants provided a significant decrease in the developed efforts than the long ones if the first premolar position was assumed. More specific, the stress peaks were in the range 100–225MPa for the implants, 300–537MPa for the framework, 50–124MPa for the cortical bone and 3–35MPa for the cancellous bone and they were located essentially in the abutment-framework connection as much as in implant neck-bone coupling. The best design saw the presence of ultra-short implant, first premolar position and Co-Cr alloy as framework material. The fatigue test confirmed the stability of the structure even with dynamic loads, but critical spots were present in the framework. In conclusion, the All-on-Four technique is a valid and safe alternative, even in case of ultrashort implants, for human edentulism care.

The link of socioeconomic importance to the conservation status of the Mediterranean endemic plants in Egypt

Abstract. Shaltout K, Bedair H, El-Khalafy MM, Keshta A, Halmy MWA. 2023. The link of socioeconomic importance to the conservation status of the Mediterranean endemic plants in Egypt. Nusantara Bioscience 15: 189-211. Mediterranean Basin is the second world's richest hotspot and one of the most critical spots on the planet for endemic species. Therefore, the present study aimed at screening the Mediterranean endemics and evaluating the uses of recorded taxa quantitively through developing new indices and updating the existing ones. Indeed, Semi-structured interviews were used with 43 informants. Relative Cultural Importance (RCI), Species Conservation Importance (SCI), and Relative Medicinal Importance (RMI) indices were applied to determine the most valuable taxa. A preliminary list of 65 Mediterranean endemic species belonging to 49 genera and 22 families in Egypt was compiled from the available literature. Fifty-seven (87.7%) species have at least one aspect of the potential or actual economic value. The most represented use category was the medicinal value (39 taxa: 69.6%). Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. was mentioned in the highest use categories (NU: 5). Veronica syriaca Roem. & Schult. attained the maximum ethnobotanical Relative Importance (RI) index value. It is crucial to shed light on the cultural value of Mediterranean endemics to guide future management planning to support the conservation and sustainable use of these critical species.

Thermomechanical Modeling of Aircraft Tire–Runway Contact for Transient Maneuvers

ABSTRACT The aircraft tire is the link between the aircraft and the runway and transmits forces and moments within the contact area. During ground maneuvers, the tire is exposed to a wide range of operating conditions. The tires support the weight of the aircraft, they ensure safe rolling during taxiing, and they transfer the required forces to the runway during takeoff and landing. Temperature development during these maneuvers is of great importance because temperature can affect both material stiffness and friction behavior as well as wear characteristics. Heat is generated inside the tire due to energy dissipation caused by the cyclic loading of the tire during rolling. In addition, heat is generated due to friction in the tire–runway contact. Experimental measurements of the temperature distribution in the entire tire are not yet possible. The tire temperatures can only be determined at selected critical spots. Simulation models can help to obtain a better understanding of the overall tire temperature distribution during transient maneuvers. In this work, the transient thermomechanical processes of a rolling aircraft tire, e.g., directly following the touchdown process or during taxiing, are modeled based on a simple physical tire model. An extended brush model is used to simulate the contact forces. The tire temperature is determined via the transient heat conduction equation in radial and circumferential directions. The mechanical and thermal models are coupled via the coefficient of friction and the sliding velocities in contact. The free model parameters are parameterized using experimental data, and the overall model is validated by measurements on the whole tire. The validated thermomechanical tire model is used for simulations or the analysis of different driving maneuvers to get a better understanding of the temperature development in the aircraft tire.

Investigation of Linear Dynamic Analysis and Duc-tile Design of High Rise Structure as per Revised Indian Code

Abstract: This thesis gives a comparative seismic analysis of high rise structure in zone III and zone IV using the New IS 13920- 2016 standards. The recent earthquakes in India revealed unequivocally that conventional structural design and construction techniques fail to meet fundamental seismic resistance standards. The use of ductile design and detailing methods in conventional construction is a critical topic that requires attention. The ductility of reinforced concrete structures as a whole is a difficult topic. However, specific design factors and reinforcing details may be used in particular critical spots of the building structure to reduce seismic damage and life-threatening collapse. The approaches are straightforward, affordable, and extensively detailed in the Indian Bureau of Standard Code of Practice's standard code of practise (IS13920). It is recommended to conduct a comparative analysis of the dynamic behaviour of high-rise structures using the response spectrum approach in accordance with IS 1893 Part1-2016 The investigation of characteristics including displacement, base shear, and tale drift. Examining factors including modal frequencies and acceleration in response spectrum load instances in both the X and Y directions. Ductile design of high rise structures in accordance with IS 13920-2016's new codal requirements. Additionally, it is recommended to analyse and design multi-story buildings using computational software such as ETABS and compare characteristics such as storey displacement, base shear and storey drift. The shear wall at the corner reduces storey X displacement by 46.245%. The intermediate shear wall reduces displacement by 54.617%. The central shear wall reduces displacement by 68.72%. Lower level shear wall displacement is central. Shear wall at corner reduces storey drift in X direction by 49.374%. Shear wall at centre reduces drift by 39.716%. Shear wall at centre reduces drift by 2.638%. Lower story drift in central shear wall. Shear wall at corner base shear drift is 63.646% greater than without shear wall. Base shear is 64.006% higher with a middle shear wall. Shear wall at the centre increases base shear by 65.765%. Center shear wall has stronger base reaction.

A metabolism targeting three-pronged attack significantly attenuates breast cancer stem cell related markers toward therapeutic application

Tumor metabolism has provided researchers with a promising window to cancer therapy. The metabolic pathways adopted by cancer cells are different from those of normal cells. Thus, metabolism can be considered a linchpin in targeted cancer therapy. Glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, and mitochondria represent three critical metabolic spots with important roles in cancer cell survival and proliferation. In the present study, we aimed to target these pathways using three different inhibitors: 2-deoxyglucose, 6-aminonicotinamide, and doxycycline, separately and in combination. Accordingly, cell viability, lactate production, cell cycle profile, apoptotic profile, and expression of surface and molecular markers of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines were investigated under adherent and sphere conditions. Our results from our set conditions indicated various inhibitory effects of these compounds on the breast cancer cell lines. Based on this all-around attack, the combination of drugs demonstrated the most effective inhibitory action compared to separate usage. This study suggests the combined application of these drugs in future investigations and more experimental settings in order to introduce this therapeutic strategy as an efficient anti-cancer treatment.

Hodnotenie vplyvu technologických parametrov na mikroštrutúru vysokotlakových odliatkov

A number of technological parameters influence the mechanical properties of a high pressure die casting. The aim of the presented paper was to perform microstructural analysis of AlSi9Cu3(Fe) alloy casting fabricated with high-pressure die casting (HPDC) technology. Several castings with varying casting parameter – maximum plunger speed vmax were cast. In pre-selected critical spots, the effect of vmax was observed on the shape and size of the structural components, where at lower vmax the eutectic Si shortened in length and thickened. EDS analysis determined found intermetallic phases to be α-Al(Fe,Mn,Cr)Si in the shape of a rhombic dodecahedron with sizes as small as 2 µm and Al2Cu being present in both modifications – oblong grains and globular ternary eutectic. There was no significant change in microhardness of α(Al) phase found, that would be caused by the varying vmax

Preliminary testing of a simplified methodology for indoor environments evaluation correlated to airborne transmission: the case of a university classroom with vertical low-velocity ventilation

This work presents and tests a simplified evaluation methodology for indoor environments in relation to airborne transmission. The tests were carried out in a university classroom with vertical low-velocity ventilation. The methodology is focused on aerosols that are one of the most dangerous carriers of infectious disease being able to transport pathogens for long distances. It consists in tracing the aerosols generated through an ultrasonic emitter as well as in the correlation between their dispersion and the artificial ventilation. The methodology aims to identify the critical zone of an indoor volume and to give useful suggestions on how to improve the ventilation of the environment. The tests carried out in a university room show a negligible difference between the deposition occurred with and without ventilation, accordingly with the extremely low velocity measured. These results show that in the specific case study the actual ventilation system does not alter the propagation of small droplets in the environment and does not create critical spots, therefore it is advisable to maintain the ventilation turned ON.

Fatigue during Long-Haul Flights of Different Crew Compositions under Exemption from Layover and Flight Time during COVID-19.

Pilot fatigue and alertness are critical for civil aviation safety. Intercontinental pilots are more prone to fatigue and sleepiness due to jet lag, prolonged workdays, and disrupted rhythms. The Civil Aviation Administration of China excused enlarged flight crews from mandatory layovers and reimposed flight duration restrictions during COVID-19. This study investigates the sleep quality and attentional performance of pilots on intercontinental flights. The fifteen pilots who performed intercontinental flights in different crew compositions wore a body movement recorder, which has been proven to accurately estimate sleep duration and sleep efficiency. The crew’s attentional performance and self-report were monitored at specified flight phases. In conclusion, the larger crews slept longer and more efficiently on board, particularly pilots in charge of takeoff and landing responsibilities. Crews on four-pilot layover flights were more alert before the takeoff of the inbound flights than exempt flights, but there was no significant difference towards the end of the mission. The new long-haul flight organization did not result in fatigue or decreased attention in the pilots. This study expands on the research by validating a novel intercontinental flight operation model under the COVID-19 scenario and highlighting critical spots for future fatigue management in various crew compositions.

Laboratory policies and practices for thyroid function tests in Croatia: survey on behalf of Working Group for Laboratory Endocrinology of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine.

IntroductionLaboratory plays important part in screening, diagnosis, and management of thyroid disorders. The aim of this study was to estimate current laboratory preanalytical, analytical and postanalytical practices and policies in Croatia.Materials and methodsWorking Group for Laboratory Endocrinology of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine designed a questionnaire with 27 questions and statements regarding practices and protocols in measuring thyroid function tests. The survey was sent to 111 medical biochemistry laboratories participating in external quality assurance scheme for thyroid hormones organized by Croatian Centre for Quality Assessment in Laboratory Medicine. Data is presented as absolute numbers and proportions.ResultsFifty-three participants returned the questionnaire. Response rate varied depending on question, yielding a total survey response rate of 46-48%. All respondents perform thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). From all other thyroid tests, most performed is free thyroxine (37/53) and least TSH-stimulating immunoglobulin (1/53). Laboratories are using nine different immunoassay methods. One tenth of laboratories is verifying manufacturer’s declared limit of quantification for TSH and one third is verifying implemented reference intervals for all performed tests. Most of laboratories (91%) adopt the manufacturer’s reference interval for adult population. Reference intervals for TSH are reported with different percentiles (90, 95 or 99 percentiles).ConclusionThis survey showed current practices and policies in Croatian laboratories regarding thyroid testing. The results identified some critical spots and will serve as a foundation in creating national guidelines in order to harmonize laboratory procedures in thyroid testing in Croatia.

Faeces traits as unifying predictors of detritivore effects on organic matter turnover

• Detritivores are diverse animals which role in soil processes is difficult to predict. • We argue that detritivore faeces characteristics may be promising effect traits. • Two case studies show that faeces traits predict organic matter turnover. • This could unify groups of animals so far separated between soil- and litter-feeding. In the last decade, our understanding of plant litter decomposition and soil organic matter formation substantially improved but critical blind spots remain. Particularly, the role of detritivores, i.e. soil animals that feed on litter and soil, is poorly understood and notoriously missing from biogeochemical models. This major gap results from methodological difficulties to isolate their effect and from the astonishing diversity of detritivorous organisms with few common features, thereby hampering the identification of general patterns. In this viewpoint, we propose that the characteristics of their faeces can predict detritivore effects on soil processes related to organic matter turnover across the large detritivore diversity. Indeed, faeces are common to all detritivores, and a large part of organic matter is transformed into faeces in many ecosystems. Two recent studies presented here showed that faeces characteristics are powerful predictors of the fate and turnover of this transformed organic matter. We suggest that faeces characteristics, such as water-holding capacity, size and spatial organisation of the faecal pellets and of their constituting particles, particulate organic matter connectivity, as well as the characteristics of dissolved organic matter in faecal pellets, are promising ‘effect traits’. By focusing on similar features rather than differences, this approach has the potential to break down barriers of this highly fragmented soil animal group, in particular between earthworms that are often studied as ecosystem engineers and classical litter transformers such as millipedes, woodlice, or snails. We discuss ways of tackling the complexity of using such traits, particularly regarding the composite determinism of faeces characteristics that are driven both by the detritivore identity and the ingested organic matter. Rigorous and hypothesis-based use of faeces characteristics as effect traits, including clear identification of studied processes, could allow integrating detritivores in our current understanding of organic matter turnover.

Interactive effect of urbanization and flood in modulating microplastic pollution in rivers

Freshwater ecosystems play an important role in transporting and accumulating microplastics. Spatial and temporal variability in microplastic pollution can create critical spots and moments of elevated pollution, however, the consequences of their interaction are still poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the interaction between urbanization and flood episodes on river microplastic pollution. The water surface was sampled in two sites of the Garonne River, upstream and downstream a large urban area, during two flood episodes. Samples were chemically digested to facilitate particles isolation, and microplastics (700 μm–5 mm) were characterized through infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Microplastic concentration increased by 5–8 fold during flood episodes, driven by river discharge. This increase was more significant in the downstream site. During the flood, there was an overall increase of larger particles on water surface, but only in the downstream site microplastic colours and polymeric compositions significantly varied. Principal component analysis of infrared spectra from polyethylene microplastics revealed that the main variance in the spectral region corresponded to hydroxyl and carbonyl groups. The carbonyl content in microplastics was significantly higher for particles collected during the flood, likely indicating a higher level of degradation. Urbanization modulates freshwater microplastic pollution during floods, and changes in microplastic physicochemical profile should be further integrated within toxicity studies to evaluate risks potentially elevated to animal and human health.

Thickness change and jelly roll deformation and its impact on the aging and lifetime of commercial 18650 cylindrical Li-ion cells with silicon containing anodes and nickel-rich cathodes

Two types of commercial cylindrical cells in the format 18650 both with NCA cathode and anodes containing different silicon materials were electrochemically long-term cycled. Two voltage windows and their influence on the aging of the cells were investigated. Multiple CT images after a pre-determined number of completed cycles reveal volume expansion and jelly roll deformation during the aging of the cells. With an optical micrometer, the reversible and irreversible thickness change was studied in operando. Furthermore the electrode expansion was investigated with an electrochemical dilatometer. Depending on the type of silicon active material used, differences in the aging behavior of the cells were observed. These findings were linked to the rest of the non-destructive, destructive and post-mortem analyses. With the help of differential voltage analysis, pulse tests and different evaluations using the generated CT data, the inhomogeneous thickness change of the cells especially at critical spots could thus be revealed and reasons for capacity degradation or resistance increase can be directly seen. Due to post-mortem analysis a much better understanding of the underlying aging mechanisms was generated. With SEM/EDX analysis, ICP-OES and TGA, the formation of passivation layers on the electrodes was observed. By comparing the results with new cells, individual causes of failure were revealed. It was found that the main aging mechanism is the loss of lithium from the cathode together with the volume change of the anode. Cells with pure Si instead of SiOx have exhibited a faster degradation because of the additionally higher thickness change during charging and discharging. Delamination of the electrode coating because of particle swelling, binder failure and jelly roll deformation is seen after unrolling the aged cells. Limiting the voltage range leads to longer lifetime, less resistance increase and overall less aging of silicon in all tested cells.