Energy Balance Data Research Articles

Re-determination of National Thermal Energy Statistics from the Perspective of Energy Consumption

Since carbon neutrality requires reducing dependence on fossil fuels, an accurate analysis of final energy consumption is essential for an effective transition. According to major international reports, thermal energy accounts for approximately 50% of final energy consumption. However, in the Republic of Korea (Korea), the proportion of thermal energy, limited to heat supply, is only 1-2%. This discrepancy, due to a lack of national statistics and policies on thermal energy, highlights a significant difference from the international reality where thermal energy constitutes a major part of energy demand, posing challenges for formulating effective policies for carbon neutrality. This study aims to recalculate Korea’s national thermal energy statistics from an energy consumption perspective, using only the nationally recognized Energy Statistical Yearbook and its revised energy balance data, based on 2018 data. Final energy was categorized into nonelectric and electric thermal energy, and thermal energy consumption was calculated for the industrial, building, and transportation sectors. The key findings indicate that thermal energy accounted for 55% of final energy, with 46% from the non-electric sector and 9% from the electric sector. By sector, the industrial sector accounted for 37% and the building sector for 18%. Additionally, 68% of total energy in the industrial sector and 32% in the building sector was attributed to thermal energy. These figures closely align with estimates from previous studies that used more complex methodologies, demonstrating high reliability. The results suggest that thermal energy, particularly in the industrial and building sectors, should be prioritized for reduction and transition in the pursuit of carbon neutrality. This recalculation method of thermal energy statistics could enhance understanding of thermal energy, contributing to more efficient policy development and the establishment of an information system.

Simulation of the Discharge of a Supercapacitor Storage Device during Current Stabilization in the Windings of a Multi-Section Magnetic System

Introduction. The magnetic systems of high power microwave generators, such as relati­vistic reverse wave lamps and klystrons, are powered with a direct current of up to 1 000 A from supercapacitor storage for several seconds. When designing power supplies for these magnetic systems, there is always necessary to determine the energy characteristics of the storage device. The analytical calculation of the characteristics is difficult, because of dynamic changes in some parameters of the magnetic system and storage device during current flow.Aim of the Study. The aim of the article is to create and experimentally test a mathematical model describing the process of powering a multi-section magnetic system with direct current from a supercapacitor storage device.Materials and Methods. The simulation takes into account the dynamic changes in the magnetic system parameters when current flows. The supercapacitor storage device is represented as a simple RC-circuit, the parameters of which are the nameplate data of its capacitance and internal resistance. The description of a storage device discharge process is based on the energy balance data. This model is implemented in the National Instruments LabView 2012 software package and has a user-friendly graphical interface. The simulation results were tested on equipment consisting of a power supply based on a supercapacitor storage device and two-section magnetic system.Results. The simulation results showed a good agreement with the experimental ones. According to the experiment results, the waveform of the current and voltage of the sto­rage device, and the maximum duration of current stabilization were close to the simulation results. At the same time, the nameplate data of the capacity and internal resistance of the storage device characterize well its real parameters, taking into account the peculiarities of working together with the current regulator and the pulsed nature of energy consumption.Discussion and Conclusion. The slight difference in the results is explained by the deviation of the actual parameters of the storage device from its passport data and by the diffe­rence in the temperature of the windings used in the experiment and simulation. The calculation of the energy characteristics of the storage device is performed on the basis of the energy balance, which allows scaling the load through adding any number of energy consumers with independent current stabilization in each.

Pengurangan Impor Sodium Klorat di Indonesia melalui Desain ClO2 Semi-Integrated pada Modifikasi ClO2 R8 Plant 10 Ton/Hari

Pulp production always has a bleaching process that uses chlorine dioxide (ClO2) as a bleaching pulp agent. One of the ClO2 production units that are used in the Pulp Industry in Indonesia is a ClO2 R8 non-integrated plant with the process of reacting sodium chlorate, sulfuric acid, and methanol. This ClO2 production type has a weakness, especially in supplying the raw material sodium chlorate, which is needed to import, and the characteristics are easy to explode, making production costs high. This research aims to modify the ClO2 R8 non-integrated by changing to a ClO2 semi-integrated plant. In this research, HYSYS was used to simulation to get mass and energy balance and other component data, and the design of equipment based on the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Kern, internal data company, and others to get the specification equipment and also drawn using Autocad. The last step is to account for the economic for getting cost of production before and after modification, fixed capital cost, benefit, payback period, and return on investment. The resulting area, the first, modification of the ClO2 R8 plant by changing to ClO2 semi-integrated could produce chlorate solution 510 g/l which they use electrolyzers system from Chemetics with 20 cell M25 and hypo system. Second, the cost production for the ClO2 semi-integrated plant is 1393 USD/T, the benefit is 599.79 USD/year, the Payback period (PBP) is 6,65 years with an investment of about 3988 KUSD and RoI 15%.

Carbon Footprint Analysis on Phosphoric Acid Production Using Wet Process at PT Petrokimia Gresik

Phosphoric acid is one of the main commodities in the fertilizer industry, which is very important in agricultural countries such as Indonesia. One of the biggest players in Indonesia’s fertilizer industry is PT Petrokimia Gresik, which owns a phosphoric acid plant that produces 200,000 MT/year phosphoric acid using the hemi-dihydrate process. Phosphoric acid production can be energy intensive and involve a lot of material transport, which usually corresponds with a high carbon footprint. To date, there is no literature regarding carbon footprint of Indonesia’s phosphoric acid. Thus, a carbon footprint analysis was done on phosphoric acid production at PT Petrokimia Gresik based on the inventory from their material and energy balance data. The electricity emission factor was calculated from their coal unit power plant, while the emission factor for raw materials was estimated from literature. The carbon footprint is 1378.25 kg CO2/ton P2O5. The largest carbon footprint contribution comes from sulphuric acid (43.81%), followed by material transport (36.78%). The sensitivity analysis shows that the carbon footprint was very sensitive to sulphuric acid and sea transport emission factor.

Prediction of net energy of feeds for broiler chickens

Net energy (NE) enables the prediction of more accurate feed energy values by taking into account the heat increment which is approximately 25% of apparent metabolizable energy (AME) in poultry. Nevertheless, application of NE in poultry industry has not been practiced widely. To predict the NE values of broiler diets, 23 diets were prepared by using 13 major ingredients (wheat, corn, paddy rice, broken rice, cassava pellets, full-fat soybean, soybean meal, canola meal, animal protein, rice bran, wheat bran, palm kernel meal and palm kernel oil). The diets were formulated in order to meet the birds' requirements and get a wide range of chemical compositions (on DM basis; 33.6% to 55.3% for starch; 20.8% to 28.4% for CP, 2.7% to 10.6% for ether extract [EE] and 7.0% to 17.2% for NDF), with low correlations between these nutrients and low correlations between the inclusion levels of ingredients allowing for the calculation of robust prediction equations of energy values of diets or ingredients. These diets were fed to Ross 308 broilers raised in 12 open-circuit respiratory chambers from 18 to 23 d of age (4 birds per cage) and growth performance, diet AME content and heat production were measured, and dietary NE values were calculated. The trial was conducted on a weekly basis with 12 diets measured each week (1 per chamber), 1 of the 23 diets (reference diet) being measured each week. Each diet was tested at least 8 times. In total, 235 energy balance data values were available for the final calculations. Growth performance, AME (15.3 MJ/kg DM on average) and AME/GE (79.4% on average) values were as expected. The NE/AME value averaged 76.6% and was negatively influenced by CP and NDF and positively by EE in connection with efficiencies of AME provided by CP, EE and starch for NE of 73%, 87% and 81%, respectively. The best prediction equation was: NE = (0.815 × AME) – (0.026 × CP) + (0.020 × EE) – (0.024 × NDF) with NE and AME as MJ/kg DM, and CP, EE and NDF as % of DM. The NE prediction equations from this study agree with other recently reported equations in poultry and are suitable for both ingredients and complete feeds.

Evapotranspiration adjustment for irrigated maize-soybean rotation systems in Nebraska, USA.

Irrigation water requirements are commonly estimated based on the estimated crop evapotranspiration (ETc) as determined by the reference evapotranspiration (ETr) and crop coefficient (Kc). Recent studies show that, at high evaporative demand (high ETr), Kc tends to decrease, creating an inverse ETr-Kc relationship. The focus of this long-term study is to, if at high atmosphere demand, there is the same inverse ETr-Kc relationship in Nebraska, USA, one of the most intensely irrigated regions in the world, and as a result, propose an adjustment to the Kc-ETr approach. The study was carried out in eastern Nebraska for maize-soybean rotation fields for the period 2002-2012. The Kc was estimated based on energy balance data from eddy covariance flux towers installed in the field and a nearby automated weather station throughout the growing seasons. We found that average Kc values varied depending on the year under high ETr; measured ETc agreed reasonably well with the FAO-56 manual predicted values, but in years with high ETr such as 2012 and 2002 affecting ETc values over the growing season. It was observed that Kc decreased as ETr increased, mainly when ETr reaches values greater than 6mm d-1 (P values < 0.001). This most likely was due to internal plant stomatal resistance to vapor release from the leaves diffusing to the atmosphere at high atmospheric demands. So, the time-based Kc curves described by FAO 56 manual should be adjusted for the analyzed crops considering different ranges of ETr to improve the required irrigation depth and irrigation management.

Dose-Response of Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis To Ingested Whey Protein During Energy Restriction in Overweight Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

BackgroundDiet-induced weight loss is associated with a decline in lean body mass, as mediated by an impaired response of muscle protein synthesis (MPS). The dose-response of MPS to ingested protein, with or without resistance exercise, is well characterized during energy balance but limited data exist under conditions of energy restriction in clinical populations. ObjectiveTo determine the dose-response of MPS to ingested whey protein following short-term diet-induced energy restriction in overweight, postmenopausal, women at rest and postexercise. DesignForty middle-aged (58.6±0.4 y), overweight (BMI: 28.6±0.4), postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: Three groups underwent 5 d of energy restriction (∼800 kcal/d). On day 6, participants performed a unilateral leg resistance exercise bout before ingesting either a bolus of 15g (ERW15, n = 10), 35g (ERW35, n = 10) or 60g (ERW60, n = 10) of whey protein. The fourth group (n = 10) ingested a 35g whey protein bolus after 5 d of an energy balanced diet (EBW35, n = 10). Myofibrillar fractional synthetic rate (FSR) was calculated under basal, fed (FED) and postexercise (FED-EX) conditions by combining an L-[ring-13C6] phenylalanine tracer infusion with the collection of bilateral muscle biopsies. ResultsMyofibrillar FSR was greater in ERW35 (0.043±0.003%/h, P = 0.013) and ERW60 (0.042±0.003%/h, P = 0.026) than ERW15 (0.032 ± 0.003%/h), with no differences between ERW35 and ERW60 (P = 1.000). Myofibrillar FSR was greater in FED (0.044 ± 0.003%/h, P < 0.001) and FED-EX (0.048 ± 0.003%/h, P < 0.001) than BASAL (0.027 ± 0.003%/h), but no differences were detected between FED and FED-EX (P = 0.732) conditions. No differences in myofibrillar FSR were observed between EBW35 (0.042 ± 0.003%/h) and ERW35 (0.043 ± 0.003%/h, P = 0.744). ConclusionA 35 g dose of whey protein, ingested with or without resistance exercise, is sufficient to stimulate a maximal acute response of MPS following short-term energy restriction in overweight, postmenopausal women, and thus may provide a per serving protein recommendation to mitigate muscle loss during a weight loss program. Trial registryclinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT03326284).

Environmental impact assessment of green ammonia coupled with urea and ammonium nitrate production

This study aims to explore more sustainable ammonia production routes for urea and ammonium nitrate fertilizers to support the rising global food demand and help achieve the Net Zero Emissions scenario by 2050. The research uses process modelling tools and Life Cycle Assessment methodology to evaluate the technical and environmental performance of green ammonia production compared to blue ammonia production, both pathways coupled with urea and ammonium nitrate production processes. The blue ammonia scenario uses steam methane reforming for H2 production, while the sustainable approach scenarios consider water electrolysis with renewable resources (i.e., wind, hydro and photovoltaics) and nuclear power as a carbon-free source for H2 generation. The study assumes an annual productivity of 450,000 tons for both urea and ammonium nitrate. The environmental assessment uses mass and energy balance data derived from process modelling and simulation. A cradle-to-gate environmental evaluation is conducted using GaBi software and the Recipe 2016 impact assessment method. Results show that green ammonia production requires less raw materials but has higher energy consumption due to electrolytic H2 production (i.e., >90% of total energy requirements). The use of nuclear power achieves the highest reduction in global warming potential (i.e., 5.5 times for urea and 2.5 times for ammonium nitrate production processes), while hydro power coupled with electrolytic H2 production shows lower environmental impacts in most categories (i.e., six out of ten impact categories). Overall, the sustainable scenarios prove to be suitable alternatives for fertilizer production towards achieving a more sustainable future.

Assessment of water demands for irrigation using energy balance and satellite data fusion models in cloud computing: A study in the Brazilian semiarid region

Assessment of water demands for irrigation using energy balance and satellite data fusion models in cloud computing: A study in the Brazilian semiarid region

Cэргээгдэх эрчим хүчийг дэмжих замаар эрчим хүчний үйлдвэрлэлээс үүсэх хүлэмжийн хийн ялгарлыг бууруулах боломж

Share of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by energy production sector are about 30% in total GHG emission by Mongolia while it is about 60% of total emissions by the total energy sector. Thus, this study presents some results of potential emission reductions of greenhouse gas by the energy production sector based on the increase in the share of renewable in electricity production using greenhouse gas emission data, demographic end economic data of Mongolia, energy balance data, and transport data are taken from national and international various sources. LEAP model that plans future of energy sector and some scientific tools were used for the computation of projection of GHG emission and its reduction for a period from 2010 to 2030.

Correlations for the Performance, Efficiency, and Energy Losses for Single Cylinder, Four-Cycle Internal Combustion Engines With Displaced Volumes Ranging From 40 to 200 cc

AbstractFive commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) engines ranging from 40 to 200 cc were tested as potential power plants for Group Two RPAs. The maximum brake power ranged from 1.8 to 5.0 kW. Of the five engines, two were designed for hobby aircraft (similar in size to Group Two RPAs) while the other three were designed for powered equipment applications. These five engines were run at WOT through their respective operating speed ranges to develop energy balances, specifically quantifying the split of energy between brake power, cooling load, exhaust enthalpy, and incomplete combustion. Using the energy balance data, general correlations for BMEP and fuel conversion efficiency as functions of displaced volume were generated to compare with previous two stroke engine results. Furthermore parametric studies capturing the effects of throttle setting, combustion phasing, cylinder head temperature, and equivalence ratio on the peak BMEP and fuel conversion efficiency were performed. The study data was used to develop normalized correlations to predict peak brake power, incomplete combustion, exhaust enthalpy, and cooling load as normalized deltas from the baseline condition. These correlations can be used to help engine designers understand the effect of these parameters for four stroke engines in the size class of 40–200 cc.

Modeling net energy partition patterns of growing-finishing pigs using nonlinear regression and artificial neural networks.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the net energy (NE) partition patterns of growing-finishing pigs at different growing stages and to develop the corresponding prediction models using nonlinear regression (NLR) and artificial neural networks (ANN). Twenty-four pigs with an initial body weight (BW) of ~30 kg were kept in metabolic cages and fed ad libitum and were moved into six respiration chambers in turns until ~90 kg. The NE partition patterns, i.e., NE for maintenance (NEm), NE retained as protein (NEp), and NE retained as lipid (NEl), were calculated based on indirect calorimetry and nitrogen balance techniques. The energy balance data collected through the animal trial was then randomly split into a training data set containing 75% of the samples and a testing data set containing the remaining 25% of the samples. The NLR models and a series of ANN models were established on the training data set to predict the metabolizable energy intake, NE intake, NEm, NEp, and NEl of pigs. The best-fitted ANN models were selected by 5-fold cross-validation in the training data set. The prediction performance of the best-fitted NLR and ANN models were compared on the testing data set. The results showed that the average NE intakes of pigs were 17.71, 23.25, 24.56, and 28.96 MJ/d in 30 to 45 kg, 45 to 60 kg, 60 to 75 kg, and 75 to 90 kg, respectively. The NEm and NEl (MJ/d) kept increasing as BW increased from 30 kg to 90 kg, while the NEp increased to its maximum value and then kept in a certain range of 4.64 to 4.88 MJ/d. The proportion of NEm for pigs at 30 to 90 kg stayed within the range of 42.0% to 48.6%, while the proportion of NEl kept increasing. For the prediction models built based on the animal trial, ANN models exhibited better performance than NLR models for all the target outputs. In conclusion, NE partition patterns changed in different growth stages of pigs, and ANN models are more flexible and powerful than NLR models in predicting the NE partition patterns of growing-finishing pigs.

Влияние формы электродов и их расположения на энергетический баланс получения графитового порошка электролизом

the authors present a method for calculating the energy balance of the process of obtaining graphite powder by electrolysis. Energy balance data are important for assessing the energy efficiency of an electrochemical device and identifying reserves for reducing the specific energy consumption. The regularities of energy distribution inside the electrolyzer system are determine

Simultaneous free fatty acid elevations and accelerated desaturation in plasma and oocytes in early postpartum dairy cows under intensive feeding management

A severe negative energy balance and high circulating free fatty acids (FFA) in postpartum cows impair fertility. The lipotoxicity of FFA has been shown to decrease the quality of bovine oocytes in vitro. Therefore, excess FFA in cells is converted to triacylglycerol (TAG), a non-toxic form, to avoid lipotoxicity. We recently reported that the TAG content in oocytes was higher in postpartum lactating cows subjected to grazing management than in heifers (Theriogenology 176: 174–182, 2021). The present study investigated the compositions of the energy metabolism-related lipids, FFA and TAG, in the plasma and oocytes of cows at different lactation stages under indoor intensive feeding management in order to obtain insights into lipotoxicity in oocytes, particularly those in early postpartum cows. Blood and oocytes were collected from 20 lactating cows categorized into the following lactation groups: 20–30 days in milk (DIM) (n = 5), 40–50 DIM (n = 5), 60–80 DIM (n = 5), and 130–160 DIM (n = 5). Daily energy balance data were obtained for 3 weeks prior to oocyte collection using the ovum pick up (OPU) method. The contents and compositions of FFA and TAG in plasma and oocytes were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. As expected, plasma FFA was high at 20–30 DIM, decreased by 50 DIM, and was maintained at a low level for the remainder of the experimental period. Similar changes were observed in oocyte FFA and TAG with DIM as plasma FFA. Oocyte FFA positively correlated with plasma FFA (P < 0.05), but negatively correlated with the mean energy balance 1 and 21 days before OPU (P < 0.05). Relationships were noted between the composition and content of FFA in plasma and oocytes, with the FFA 16:1/16:0 and 18:1/18:0 ratios positively correlating with the total amount of FFA (P < 0.05). Elevated oocyte FFA in cows in the early postpartum period under intensive feeding management suggested that oocytes were at a high risk of FFA lipotoxicity. Furthermore, the present results implied that the severe negative energy balance in the previous few weeks was closely related to increases in oocyte FFA, which supports the importance of long-term cow feeding management for preserving the quality of oocytes in the early postpartum period. The present results provide insights into the effects of high circulating FFA on the fertility of postpartum cows.

Neural net implementation of steam properties on FPGA

Real time applications like model predictive control, monitoring and data reconciliation of power plants and industrial processes employ nonlinear mathematical models and require thermodynamic properties and their derivatives of working fluids. Applications like super heater temperature control based on energy balance and real time data reconciliation, require an efficient and a compact method for simultaneous estimation of thermodynamic properties, and their partial derivatives suitable for implementation in field-programmable gate array (FPGA). However, the complex mathematical formulations of these properties prohibit direct implementations in FPGAs. Single artificial neural network (ANN) architecture is used to replace the entire code in higher level languages, running into a few thousand lines. FPGA implementation of a compact neural network for the entire range of thermodynamic properties is presented. Large arguments in sigmoid function are factored into a product of integer and a fractional part which is represented using series approximation with five terms only and the integers are represented in look up table (LUT). This ensures optimum storage and computational burden for the above applications. The ANN is implemented in IEEE 754 floating point with synthesis in Xilinx ISE design suite using Verilog HDL. The results are presented for a typical pressure versus saturation temperature.

Derivation of the maintenance energy requirements and efficiency of metabolizable energy utilization for dry and lactating Jersey cows

Maintenance energy is the energy required to conserve the state of an animal when no work is completed. Dietary energy must be supplied to meet maintenance requirements before milk can be produced. The objectives of the current experiment were to quantify the maintenance energy requirement of Jersey cows when lactating or dry. Energetic measures were collected on 8 Jersey cows and evaluated across 3 physiological phases and nutritional planes: lactation, dry cows fed at maintenance, and fasted dry cows. Through total collection of feces and urine as well as using headbox-style indirect calorimeters, energy balance and heat production data were measured across all phases. Lactation data were collected across four 28-d periods. Data for cows fed at maintenance were collected after 14 d and fasting heat production was measured during the last 24 h of a 96-h fast. Net energy for maintenance (NEM) requirements, and the efficiency of converting metabolizable energy (ME) into net energy were compared between lactating and dry (maintenance or fasting phase) cows. Heat production of dry cows fed at maintenance, which represents ME for maintenance, was 0.146 ± 0.0087 Mcal per unit of metabolic body weight (BW0.75, MBW). Fasting heat production, which represents NEM, was 0.102 ± 0.0071 Mcal/MBW. Energy balance was calculated as tissue energy plus milk energy. When estimated via regressing energy balance on ME intake, NEM was not different between dry and lactating cows (0.120 ± 0.32 vs. 0.103 ± 0.0052 Mcal/MBW). However, the slope of the regression of energy balance on ME intake was greater for dry compared with lactating cows (0.714 ± 0.046 vs. 0.685 ± 0.010) when evaluated with a fixed intercept. This suggests that dry cows were more efficient at converting ME into net energy and that the efficiency of utilizing ME for maintenance may be greater than for lactation. Our measurements of NEM and the slope of ME on energy balance were greater than the value used by the National Research Council (2001), which are 0.080 Mcal/MBW for NEM and approximately 0.64 for the slope. Results of this study suggest that NEM and the efficiency of converting ME into NEM of modern lactating Jersey cows are similar to recent measurements on modern Holstein cows and greater than previous measurements.

Comparison of the carbon, water, and energy balances of mature stand and clear-fell stages in a British Sitka spruce forest and the impact of the 2018 drought

Sitka spruce is the major conifer species in British upland forests and is predominantly managed as even-aged, single-species plantations with rotation lengths of less than 50 years using a “patch clear-felling” system. Evidence on the impact of clear-felling on the carbon, water and energy balances of plantation forestry is sparse and extreme weather events, such as the 2018 drought that occurred across Europe, are expected to have considerable impact. We used energy balance and gas flux data from a typical mature stand and a clear-felled site on peaty-gley soil at Harwood Forest in Northumberland, UK, over 4 years to quantify the impact of clear-felling and investigate how the drought of 2018 affected these fluxes. Felling resulted in an annual CO2 source (7.05 tCha−1yr−1) of similar magnitude in absolute terms to the mature stand sink (−7.09 tCha−1yr−1). The source was reduced with the growth of ground vegetation, and after tree replanting two years post-felling, the site was a weak source. Felling increased reflected radiation by 92%, reduced evapotranspiration by 28% and therefore increased site wetness by 8%, while replanting and the spread of ground vegetation increased evapotranspiration by 16% on average. The warm, dry spring and summer in 2018 increased evapotranspiration and reduced net carbon uptake of the mature stand by 30% compared to the mean of the previous three years, because of a small decrease in photosynthetic uptake and a small increase in ecosystem respiration. The drought conditions also increased ecosystem losses of CO2 at the clear-felled site by 28%. The clear-fell site would have turned into a small CO2 sink in the second year after replanting, if there had not been a drought.

A prospective pilot study of the energy balance profiles in acute non-severe burn patients

BackgroundMajor burn patients have been shown to exhibit a hyper-metabolic state of activity which can persist for up to two years after burn. The relationship between total body surface area (TBSA) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) has been investigated in larger burns (≥20% TBSA), however not in non-severe burns (≤15% TBSA). The primary aim of this observational study was to examine the association between the acute effects of burns <15% TBSA with RMR in patients using indirect calorimetry, as well as any potential covariates. The secondary aim was to determine 24-h energy balance. MethodsThe study included data from 39 participants (82% male), all admitted to the State Adult Burn Unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital. Each patient was recruited upon admission and RMR data was collected on day four (± one day) after burn. ResultsThe pooled data bivariate correlation showed a significant relationship between RMR and TBSA (r=0.435, p=0.009). A stronger relationship was also found between RMR and TBSA in males (r=0.634, p=0.001). Patients recorded a caloric deficit of 116kcal/day. ConclusionThis study demonstrated that a moderately strong linear association exists between RMR and TBSA in males for burns of ≤15% TBSA. The energy balance data indicated that supplementation of calorific intake for non-severe burns suggests careful consideration.

Estimating water balance components in irrigated agriculture using a combined approach of soil moisture and energy balance monitoring, and numerical modelling

AbstractInformation on water balance components such as evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge are crucial for water management. Due to differences in physical conditions, but also due to limited budgets, there is not one universal best practice, but a wide range of different methods with specific advantages and disadvantages. In this study, we propose an approach to quantify actual evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge and water inflow, i.e. precipitation and irrigation, that considers the specific conditions of irrigated agriculture in warm, arid environments. This approach does not require direct measurements of precipitation or irrigation quantities and is therefore suitable for sites with an uncertain data basis. For this purpose, we combine soil moisture and energy balance monitoring, remote sensing data analysis and numerical modelling using Hydrus. Energy balance data and routine weather data serve to estimate ET0. Surface reflectance data from satellite images (Sentinel‐2) are used to derive leaf area indices, which help to partition ET0 into energy limited evaporation and transpiration. Subsequently, first approximations of water inflow are derived based on observed soil moisture changes. These inflow estimates are used in a series of forward simulations that produce initial estimates of drainage and ETact, which in turn help improve the estimate of water inflow. Finally, the improved inflow estimates are incorporated into the model and then a parameter optimization is performed using the observed soil moisture as the reference figure. Forward simulations with calibrated soil parameters result in final estimates for ETact and groundwater recharge. The presented method is applied to an agricultural test site with a crop rotation of cotton and wheat in Punjab, Pakistan. The final model results, with an RMSE of 2.2% in volumetric water content, suggest a cumulative ETact and groundwater recharge of 769 and 297 mm over a period of 281 days, respectively. The total estimated water inflow accounts for 946 mm, of which 77% originates from irrigation.

Feasibility and Acceptability Findings of an Energy Balance Data Repository of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Cancer.

Cancer patients suffer changes in energy balance (EB), the combination of energy intake (nutrition) and energy expenditure (physical activity (PA)), which may influence cancer-related morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. Significant gaps remain in our understanding of the frequency and magnitude of these EB changes. Herein, we report on the feasibility and acceptability of a longitudinal repository of EB outcomes in children, adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer along the cancer continuum to fill these gaps. This EB repository includes PA, nutrition, and physical function (PF) parameters. PA data were gathered through activity trackers. Nutritional data were gathered through food diaries and micronutrient labs. PF was assessed with validated objective and patient-reported measures. Feasibility was achieved with >50% enrollment of eligible patients (n = 80, Mage = 18.1 ± 7.5); 26 were children with cancer and 54 were AYAs with cancer. An 88.75% retention rate indicated acceptability. Despite COVID-19 disruptions, >50% of participants provided completed data for PA and micronutrient labs as of April 2020. Food diaries and PF data collection experienced disruptions. Methodological adaptations are in progress to minimize future disruptions. Overall, our findings demonstrate that prospective EB assessments are feasible and acceptable among children and AYAs with cancer.