Energy Requirements Research Articles

Advances in Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Coupled with Alcohol and Aldehyde Oxidation: Mechanistic Insights and Economic Feasibility.

Electrocatalytic H2 generation via conventional water splitting is gaining attention, but challenges such as high overpotentials, energy demands, and slow kinetics limit its scalability. Here, a novel approach: coupling hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) with alcohol and aldehyde oxidation reactions (AAORs) is explored. This strategy decreases energy requirements, improves HER efficiency, and enables dual H2 generation. Additionally, it facilitates the cogeneration of valuable chemicals such as formate, acetate, and 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA), enhancing economic feasibility. A detailed analysis of alcohol and aldehyde oxidation mechanisms and their integration into electrocatalytic systems are provided here. Furthermore, it examines the technoeconomic advantages of HER coupled with AAORs, emphasizing cost efficiency and industrial scalability. It is aimed here to advance renewable energy technologies and optimize processes for large-scale H2 generation, contributing to a sustainable energy future by addressing these aspects.

Effects of food supplementation from tourism on crocodile bioenergetics and abundance.

Tourism operators frequently use supplemental feeding to enhance wildlife viewing experiences, particularly in wildlife tours. While the effects of such feeding practices on animal behaviour are well-documented, their contribution to the energetic requirements of the target species has received significantly less attention. In Australia, jumping crocodile tours utilise meat to attract estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) to boats, encouraging them to leap from the water. This study aimed to assess the extent to which the meat provided by these tours sustains the daily energy requirements of the crocodiles and how this, in turn, might influence crocodile abundance and biomass. The amount fed during crocodile tours is not generally measured and varies within and between tours. Therefore, we estimated a range of feeding scenarios, from which 60%-180% of the daily energetic requirements for the crocodiles residing in the designated feeding area could be met. We also found that crocodile abundance and biomass were statistically greater within the feeding area. While our findings do not definitively indicate a positive or negative effect of feeding upon the local estuarine crocodile population, it does provide insights into the potential impact tourism-based supplemental feeding may have on wild crocodile populations and provide information to assist the development of practice guidelines.

Evaluating plate waste in Lebanese hospitals: Implications for nutrition and resource management.

Evaluating plate waste in Lebanese hospitals: Implications for nutrition and resource management.

Assessment of dietary intake in adults with cystic fibrosis pre and post commencement of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor.

Assessment of dietary intake in adults with cystic fibrosis pre and post commencement of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor.

Development of updated maintenance energy requirements of cattle using calorimeter data of growing cattle and suckler cows

Development of updated maintenance energy requirements of cattle using calorimeter data of growing cattle and suckler cows

Technical-economic performance of fuel cell integration in autonomous hybrid systems

Increasing energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions reinforce the importance of renewable resources in energy systems. This study evaluates the technical and economic viability of integrating a fuel cell (FC) in autonomous hybrid systems to supply a community in Algeria, with an average power of 6.91 kW and a daily energy requirement of 165.6 kWh. Four hybrid system configurations were compared using HOMER software: i) photovoltaic (PV) and batteries (BAT), ii) PV, BAT, and diesel generator (DG), iii) PV, BAT, and FC, and iv) PV, BAT, DG, and FC. The PV/BAT/DG/FC system was identified as the optimal configuration, balancing energy efficiency, reducing energy surpluses, reducing reliance on DG, and reducing CO2 emissions while maintaining competitive energy costs. These results demonstrate that the integration of FC can improve the sustainability and stability of autonomous hybrid energy systems.

Assessment and characterisation of refuse-derived fuel biochar briquettes

Increasing global demand for clean and sustainable energy sources has prompted interest in biomass as a viable alternative to fossil fuels, particularly coal, due to its lower carbon emissions and renewability. This study aimed to assess and characterise briquettes using various pyrolytic chars to improve properties for clean cooking applications through multivariate analysis. The study produced briquettes from a catalytic pyrolysis char comprising refuse-derived fuels (RDF) combined with catalysts from agricultural waste residues: cassava peels, sugarcane peels, and rice husk chars. Three binder types (clay, starch, and sawdust) were used in two char-to-binder ratios (50:50 and 70:30). Physicochemical properties of the briquettes; high heating values, boiling time, proximate, bulk density, and compressive strength were determined. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were employed to identify optimal compositions. Produced briquettes recorded a calorific value ranging from 9.84 to 19.30 MJ/kg, with a mean of 14.70 MJ/kg. The study found that a 70:30 char: binder ratio significantly improved energy content, while a 50:50 ratio enhanced compressive strength, with clay and starch outperforming sawdust. Statistical analysis revealed that higher fixed carbon was linked to increased calorific value, and moisture negatively impacted calorific value and compressive strength. Also, briquettes were classified into four grades based on energy content and structural integrity. Trade-offs between energy efficiency and strength were highlighted, emphasising that binder type and ratio play a vital role in production outcomes, with material selection adaptable based on availability. The proposed classification system provides a framework for categorising and selecting briquettes to meet various energy requirements.

Exploring Fish Varieties and Biofloc Technology

Aquaculture is a fast-growing industry that requires efficient resources and space utilization. Various technologies have been developed to overcome challenges, with "Biofloc systems" being a recent innovation aiming to address water pollution, optimize water usage, and recycle nutrients through bacteria communities. By adopting this system, aquaculture farms can reduce or eliminate water exchange, while also benefiting from microbial by-products. Fish experience quicker response times due to elevated water respiration rates but may face seasonal performance issues in sunlight-exposed systems. Alkalinity supplements may be necessary, along with increased energy requirements for mixing and aeration, a startup period, and potential pollution risks from nitrate accumulation and notification instability.

Aircraft-level sensitivities of electric network component performance for (hybrid-) electric aircraft

Research on electric aviation energy networks tends to focus on either detailed studies of individual subsystems, or full-aircraft analyses that use highly simplified network (component) models. This paper aims to bridge that gap by performing sensitivity studies for various network parameters (HVDC cables, power converters, and motors), evaluating their effect on both the system and aircraft level. This is achieved through a combination of higher-fidelity explicit modeling of the network components and conceptual aircraft design software. This analysis is applied to a parallel-electric regional jet and a fully-electric commuter aircraft. The effects of parameter variations within literature-supported ranges are evaluated on component, network and aircraft mass for a given mission profile. Results show that the most influential parameters are the level of DC voltage in power transmission, the cable material, and the achievable mission-average efficiency of the electric motor. Individual component mass variations of over 100% can be observed within the investigated ranges; with variations of up to 10% of the aircraft mass for the parallel-electric jet. Aircraft mass variations for the fully-electric aircraft are up to 5%, with the required battery size due to component efficiency changes as driving factor. Results show that for large aircraft, the network is highly sensitive to power requirements. For small aircraft the network is more sensitive to mission energy requirements.

A novel lightweight hybrid cryptographic framework for secure smart card operations

In this digital age, with exponential usage of smart cards for financial transactions are secured with latest and advanced crypto standards which are prone to advanced cyber threats and quantum attacks. Currently, there are many crypto standards techniques that tend to experience challenges regarding computational overhead, energy requirements, and vulnerable towards modern cyber-attacks. Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is a crucial necessity to secure financial transactions from the future quantum attacks also. The primary objective is to offer strong security, better performance, and energy efficiency while integrating PQC into prevailing financial transactions. In this article, we propose a novel hybrid crypto standard to enhance the security and privacy of the transactions using smart cards, to achieve this we integrate Elliptic Curve Cryptography Curve25519 to generate secure keys, SPECK block cipher for lightweight encipherment with a powerful hash function for message authentication and integrity checks called PHOTON. Our hybrid model is better than the existing crypto models which need more computational overhead in terms of key length, encryption time, decryption time, energy efficiency that are not fit for lightweight smart card transactions. The proposed hybrid crypto standard shows the considerable performance in terms of various key factors as compared to the several existing hybrid crypto standards. Our standard accomplishes the quick key generation time of 8 ms and minimal energy consumption of 0.34 mJ while preserving the encryption speed of 150 Mbps and decryption speed of 160 Mbps with least memory utilization of 164 KB, our standard key generation time is 88% lesser, encryption time is 25% lesser, decryption time is 27% lesser, energy consumption is 43% lesser, memory utilization is 69% lesser as compared to RSA-2048 + AES-128 hybrid model. Likewise, our model performance is superior to ECDH (P-256) + AES-128 hybrid standard in terms key generation time is 47% lesser, encryption time is 23% lesser, decryption time is 25% lesser, energy consumption is 5% lesser. Based on the experimental outcomes, the proposed hybrid crypto standard is well-suited for lightweight and resource constrained environments such as smart card and IoT applications, posing better performance, low energy utilization, and robust post-quantum security.

Production of High Tensile Strength Bio-Based Carbon Fibers: Advances, Challenges, and Emerging Applications.

The transition to sustainable materials has spurred significant interest in high tensile strength bio-based carbon fibers (CFs), which utilize renewable precursors such as lignin, cellulose, and bio-polyacrylonitrile (bio-PAN). Recent advancements in lignin fractionation and cellulose processing have enabled the production of bio-based CFs with tensile strengths approaching 1.72 and 172GPa of moduli, narrowing the gap with petroleum-based counterparts. Innovations in stabilization and carbonization, including low-energy microwave techniques, have reduced energy requirements by up to 30%, enhancing economic feasibility. Despite these advances, challenges persist, such as the heterogeneity of lignin precursors, high production costs, and scalability barriers, which currently limit widespread adoption. Future opportunities lie in tailoring precursor molecular structures through genetic engineering and developing hybrid materials that combine bio-based and traditional fibers to optimize performance. With the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 50% and utilize abundant industrial by-products, bio-based CFs represent a pivotal step toward sustainable high-performance materials. These fibers promise transformative impacts across sectors such as supercapacitors, batteries, biosensors, biocatalytic materials and automotive, aligning material innovation with global environmental goals.

Memory optimized random forest classifier for EEG seizure detection in implantable monitoring and closed-loop neurostimulation devices

Objective. Up to one third of epilepsy patients do not achieve satisfactory seizure control and may benefit from implantable devices for responsive neurostimulation or online seizure monitoring. Beyond energy efficiency, the limited memory capacity in these devices, imposes significant constraints to algorithmic design of seizure detection models. This study aims to evaluate the performance of cross-patient random forest (RF) models optimized for low-power microcontroller applications by assessing various channel integration strategies and measuring their memory requirements.Approach. Fifty patients undergoing electroencephalographic monitoring with 362 seizures were included in the analysis, with approximately one hour of signal for each seizure. One central and four peripheral electrodes over the epileptogenic focus were selected to resemble the layout of a novel neurostimulation device. Fifteen features were extracted from 2 s non-overlapping segments. RF models comprised either 500 or 125 trees, with varying depths. Three early channel integration (EI) strategies were compared with late integration (LI), using three channel fusion methods. A leave-one-patient-out cross-validation approach was used for evaluation, and memory requirements, alongside with inference energy and latency for 8-bit integer and 32-bit floating point models were computed on a microcontroller.Main results.The performance of EI feature sorting and LI were comparable. LI was favored by the 32-bit floating point format and more complex models, with the median channel fusion achieving a median area under the receiver operating characteristic curve score of 0.925. Feature sorting performed best with medium-sized models and was largely unaffected by the 8-bit integer format. Following causal output post-processing, false stimulations per hour were reduced to 5.5 at 100% sensitivity and fell below 3 at∼80% sensitivity.Significance. Our findings suggest that RF models with minimal energy and memory requirements can achieve state-of-the-art performance, making them well-suited for embedded applications in implantable devices. The complex interplay of the investigated factors is critical to performance, and along hardware specifications, should guide algorithmic design.

How different are conventional and biofuel sprays applied to aviation? An infodynamic comparative analysis

The transition from fossil to sustainable and alternative fuels is imperative to address environmental concerns and meet energy requirements. Thus, the implementation of alternative fuels requires a deeper investigation of spray behavior. This study explores conventional jet fuel (Jet A-1) and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in terms of breakup length and spray dynamics over a wide range of operating conditions. The normalized mean breakup length was measured, and an empirical correlation was developed based on the experimental data. Focusing on the droplet sizes in fuel sprays, which are critical for optimizing combustion, an informational perspective for comparative analysis was explored. The terms informature, infotropy, and infosensor were introduced to quantify and capture the non-deterministic nature of physical systems. The results revealed similar drop size distributions for HVO and Jet A-1, with the Gamma function effectively characterizing the distributions. Both fuels exhibit spray evolution toward higher complexity states, emphasizing the role of aerodynamic forces and minimum development distance in atomization. The new lexicon of infodynamics views sprays as networks of information flow, with infotropy indicating that both fuels produce sprays with similar degrees of transformation. HVO is endorsed as a viable alternative with broader implications for sustainable aviation solutions and understanding complex engineering processes.

Rapid Scan Cyclic Voltammetry (RSCV) investigation of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on gold ultramicroelectrode (UME): a novel methodology to study kinetics of formation of transient intermediates

This study employs Rapid Scan Cyclic Voltammetry (RSCV) with a gold ultramicroelectrode (Au UME) to investigate transient species in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) under alkaline conditions. Gold was purposefully chosen as the electrode material due to its ability to generate peroxide radicals via a two-electron transfer mechanism. RSCV on Au UME shows cathodic peaks, C1 and C2, linked to the sequential reduction of oxygen to peroxide anion and then to hydroxyl anion, and along with an anodic peak, A1, corresponding to peroxide anion oxidation back to oxygen. Quantitative analysis of these peaks, performed by integrating the peak areas, enabled rate determination for the formation of transient species. Thermodynamic and kinetic analyses further show a preference for decomposition over reduction, attributed to lower activation energy requirements. These findings demonstrate RSCV-UME’s effectiveness for real-time ORR intermediate detection and highlight how scan rate adjustments can alter reaction pathways, offering a powerful approach for exploring electrochemical mechanisms relevant to electrocatalysis and energy conversion technologies.

Host selection and cocoon web variation induced by the parasitoid wasp Acrotaphus chedelae

AbstractParasitoid wasp adult females need to select optimally sized hosts to ensure sufficient nourishment for their larvae. Ichneumonid polysphinctine spider‐ectoparasitoids have commonly been observed attacking medium‐sized host spiders. This behavior may result from a trade‐off between ensuring enough mass for larvae and avoiding larger, more dangerous spiders. However, exceptions to this tendency have been documented. Acrothapus chedelae, for example, seems to mainly target medium‐small individuals of Argiope argentata. We hypothesized that medium‐small spiders can be optimal hosts if they provide enough mass for the wasp larvae. Instead, a higher incidence of parasitoids was noted in small spiders. Despite this, the hypothesis was supported since spiders in this category had body masses significantly greater than those of adult wasps. This mass surplus is likely crucial for larval development, given the energy expenditure required until pupation and the possibility that some host spiders may not acquire enough prey during the brief period of parasitoidism. This study advances our theoretical understanding of size biases in host selection by parasitoid wasps. Most previous studies have focused solely on parasitoid‐host size relationships, often overlooking the mass available in the hosts and the energy requirements for larval development. Finally, we also described the variation in cocoon webs and their construction induced by A. chedelae larva on female A. argentata spiders.

Secure routing in RPL-based IoT networks considering behavioral trust and energy requirements

Secure routing in RPL-based IoT networks considering behavioral trust and energy requirements

Provoking tumor disulfidptosis by single-atom nanozyme via regulating cellular energy supply and reducing power

Disulfidptosis, a recently identified form of programmed cell death, is initiated by depletion of endogenous nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) under glucose starvation. Tumor cells, owing to their heightened requirements of energy and nutrients, are more susceptible to disulfidptosis than normal cells. Here, we introduced an effective strategy to induce tumor disulfidptosis via interrupting cellular energy supply and reducing power by integrating a copper single-atom nanozyme (CuSAE) and glucose oxidase (GOx). GOx induces glucose starvation, impeding generation of NADPH through pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). CuSAE mimics NADPH oxidase, depleting existing NADPH, which intensifies the blockade of disulfide reduction and efficiently triggers disulfidptosis of tumor cells. Furthermore, CuSAE exhibits peroxidase- and glutathione oxidase-mimicking activities, catalyzing generation of •OH radical and depletion cellular GSH, which enhances oxidative stress and exacerbates cell damage. Disulfidptosis is confirmed as the predominant type of cell death induced by GOx/CuSAE. In vivo assays demonstrated the high antitumor potency of GOx/CuSAE in treating with female tumor-bearing mice, with minimal systemic toxicity observed. This work introduces a promising strategy for designing antitumor agents by inducing disulfidptosis. The enzyme hybrids that combine nanozymes and natural enzymes offer a feasible approach to achieve this multifaceted therapeutic goal.

Intelligent Battery Management in a Hybrid Photovoltaic Using Fuzzy Logic System

LiFePO4 batteries need a battery management system (BMS) to improve performance, extend their lifespan, and maintain safety by utilizing advanced monitoring, control, and optimization techniques. This paper presents the design, development, and implementation of an intelligent battery management system (i-BMS) that integrates the real-time monitoring and control of batteries. The system was extensively tested using multiple datasets, and the results show that the system was able to maintain battery temperature within the set range, balance the cell voltages, and distribute energy according to load prioritization. It uses a fuzzy logic system approach to effectively manage farm energy requirements. Additionally, the proposed method embedded a three-level load prioritization algorithm woven into the fuzzy rule set to allocate energy dynamically among essential, regular, and non-essential loads.

A New Perspective on Overfeeding in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU): Challenges, Dangers and Prevention Methods.

Overfeeding, currently defined as providing excessive energy and nutrients beyond metabolic requirements, is a common yet often overlooked issue in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. Understanding the factors contributing to overfeeding and implementing strategies to prevent it is essential for optimizing patient care in the ICU. Several factors contribute to overfeeding in the ICU, including inaccurate estimation of energy requirements, formulaic feeding protocols, and failure to adjust nutritional support based on individual patient needs. Prolonged overfeeding can lead to insulin resistance and hepatic dysfunction, exacerbating glycemic control, increasing the risk of infectious complications, and worsening clinical outcomes. Clinically, overfeeding has been linked to delayed weaning from mechanical ventilation, prolonged ICU stay, and increased mortality rates. Regular review and adjustment of feeding protocols, incorporating advances in enteral and parenteral nutrition strategies, are essential for improving patient outcomes. Clinicians must be proficient in interpreting metabolic data, understanding the principles of energy balance, and implementing appropriate feeding algorithms. Interdisciplinary collaboration among critical care teams, including dieticians, physicians, and nurses, is crucial for ensuring consistent and effective nutritional management. Overfeeding remains a significant concern in the ICU after discharge as well, implying further complications for patient safety and integrity. By understanding the causes, consequences, and strategies for the prevention of overfeeding, healthcare providers can optimize nutrition therapy and mitigate the risk of metabolic complications. Through ongoing education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based practice, the ICU community can strive to deliver personalized and precise nutritional support to critically ill patients.

76 Lactation feed intake and seasonal effects on reproductive performance and downstream impact on lifetime performance

Abstract Improved genetics in commercial pig production have resulted in larger litter sizes that require increased milk production and increased energy requirements for the sow to raise the litter. Individual sow (n=10,797) data collected from June 2018-December 2023 at United Animal Health’s Research Farms were analyzed to examine potential factors impacting sow and progeny performance. Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags were applied to all pigs, and the LeeO individual animal identification system was used to collect individual sow and piglet data. Research farrowing rooms (216 total farrowing crates) were equipped with computerized feed system which recorded individual daily lactation feed intake and was used to calculate lactation average daily feed intake (ADFI). Sows were ad libitum fed a 1.10% SID Lys commercial lactation diet. During analysis, sows were divided by parity into lactation feed intake levels or season. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the impact of lactation ADFI and seasonal effects on sow and litter performance. Sows with increased lactation ADFI, regardless of parity, weaned heavier pigs (Table 1), that were also heavier at the end of nursery and the sows better maintained BW during lactation (P < 0.001). Post-weaning, a larger percentage of high feed intake females returned to heat by day 5, compared to low feed intake females (P < 0.05). Higher lactation ADFI females had improved conception rates, along with higher total born in subsequent litters (P < 0.05). Parity 1 females weaned during summer months, compared to all other seasons, had lower lactation ADFI (Table 2) and weaned lighter litters (P < 0.001). Compared to all other seasons, when parity 1 females were weaned during summer months, a lower percentage of females returned to heat by day 5 and conception rates had reduced (P < 0.05). Parity 1 females weaned during the summer lost more BW during lactation and had smaller subsequent litters in compared to being weaned in Winter or Fall (P < 0.05). Similar to parity 1 females, parity 2-5 females weaned during summer months had decreased lactation ADFI, weaned lighter litters and lost the most weight during lactation (P < 0.001). These data confirm the importance of strategies to improve sow lactation feed intake, resulting in improved sow reproduction and downstream progeny performance. Seasonal differences play a significant role in U.S. sow herds so implementing management practices that improve lactation feed intake during summer months will help reduce negative seasonal effects.