Third Of Energy Research Articles

Dentists knowledge and awareness of different infant feeding practices and their implications

Aim: To assess the knowledge and awareness of the benefits & risk of different infant feeding practices amongst dentists. Materials and methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among 205 dentists by using convenience sampling method. Results: 79.8% of the participants responded that breastfeeding should be initiated within 1 hour of birth whereas only 3.8% reported it to be initiated within 24 hours of birth. Around 78.8% of the participants had the knowledge about commencement of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months after birth. 51.4% participants knew that breastmilk can provide one third of energy between 12 and 24 months. We found that 51.0% participants responded that pumped breastmilk can be stored for 4 hours at room temperature. Conclusion: There is a generalized lack of awareness regarding infant feeding practices among general dentists and most of them are not updated about the latest recommendations.

Resource use and improvement strategy analysis of the livestock and feed production supply chain in Thailand

The aim of this research is to reveal the overall money flows and physical flows of the livestock and feed production supply chain in Thailand in order to analyze the resource use and cost and assess material use efficiency of the whole supply chain. Another aim is to evaluate the options to improve and evaluate trade-off between economic and environmental performance. This research conducted material and monetary flow modeling using material flow analysis (MFA) and input output analysis (IOA). Data collected from the Thai Input-Output Tables 2005 were employed to develop the monetary flow model. Direct and indirect resource consumption (energy, water, and land use) and turnover along the supply chain were assessed using environmentally extended input-output analysis model (EEIOA). Scenario analysis with improvement options was applied to the model to evaluate the effectiveness of the improvement options. One third of energy and water consumption were from the animal farm itself. The rest were from feed production and upstream raw material production. Land use in the system was mainly from maize and paddy field. Feed conversion ratio improvement should play an important role in the strategy for resource efficiency and reduce environmental impact in the whole supply chain. Energy intensity reduction, the best option in overall energy reduction, is the policy that the government is pushing to be implemented in all sectors, and it can also easily be applied along with the other options. Therefore, it should be applied with the other options for improvement. The results from monetary flow and physical material flow can visually show the holistic view of the Thai livestock production supply chain quantitatively and allow the stakeholders to understand the economic structure of the supply chain system. This can enable the decision makers to analyze the interrelation effect and impact of changing one sector demand or changing resource efficiency to impact other sectors in the system.

Physical micro-environment interventions for healthier eating in the workplace: protocol for a stepped wedge randomised controlled pilot trial

BackgroundAn estimated one third of energy is consumed in the workplace. The workplace is therefore an important context in which to reduce energy consumption to tackle the high rates of overweight and obesity in the general population. Altering environmental cues for food selection and consumption—physical micro-environment or ‘choice architecture’ interventions—has the potential to reduce energy intake. The first aim of this pilot trial is to estimate the potential impact upon energy purchased of three such environmental cues (size of portions, packages and tableware; availability of healthier vs. less healthy options; and energy labelling) in workplace cafeterias. A second aim of this pilot trial is to examine the feasibility of recruiting eligible worksites, and identify barriers to the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the interventions in preparation for a larger trial.MethodsEighteen worksite cafeterias in England will be assigned to one of three intervention groups to assess the impact on energy purchased of altering (a) portion, package and tableware size (n = 6); (b) availability of healthier options (n = 6); and (c) energy (calorie) labelling (n = 6). Using a stepped wedge design, sites will implement allocated interventions at different time periods, as randomised.DiscussionThis pilot trial will examine the feasibility of recruiting eligible worksites, and the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the interventions in preparation for a larger trial. In addition, a series of linear mixed models will be used to estimate the impact of each intervention on total energy (calories) purchased per time frame of analysis (daily or weekly) controlling for the total sales/transactions adjusted for calendar time and with random effects for worksite. These analyses will allow an estimate of an effect size of each of the three proposed interventions, which will form the basis of the sample size calculations necessary for a larger trial.Trial registrationISRCTN52923504

Reducing energy use for water supply to China’s high-rises

Pumping water in high-rise buildings has been overlooked in energy calculations for urban water supply, despite being a major contributor. Using data for two commonly used pumping systems and extrapolating results to a megacity in China, we show that over one third of energy for water supply is associated with around one tenth of a city’s population. Buildings can achieve a 45% reduction in pumping energy by replacing traditional break tank systems with pressurized booster systems. The latter capitalize on pressure supplied by the water distribution network, whereas the former lose energy by storing water at atmospheric pressure. Electricity saved by replacing 25% of break tank systems with pressurized booster systems is 11% of high-rise pumping energy in the case city and reduces annual emissions by 8600 tCO2e. Controlled replacement represents a realistic way of reducing emissions associated with water supply as China’s urban population grows and living density increases.

Implementation and rejection of industrial steam system energy efficiency measures

Steam systems consume approximately one third of energy applied at US industrial facilities. To reduce energy consumption, steam system energy assessments have been conducted on a wide range of industry types over the course of 5 years through the Energy Savings Assessment (ESA) program administered by the US Department of Energy (US DOE). ESA energy assessments result in energy efficiency measure recommendations that are given potential energy and energy cost savings and potential implementation cost values. Saving and cost metrics that measure the impact recommended measures will have at facilities, described as percentages of facility baseline energy and energy cost, are developed from ESA data and used in analyses. Developed savings and cost metrics are examined along with implementation and rejection rates of recommended steam system energy efficiency measures. Based on analyses, implementation of steam system energy efficiency measures is driven primarily by cost metrics: payback period and measure implementation cost as a percentage of facility baseline energy cost (implementation cost percentage). Stated reasons for rejecting recommended measures are primarily based upon economic concerns. Additionally, implementation rates of measures are not only functions of savings and cost metrics, but time as well.

Fluids and parameters optimization for the organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) used in exhaust heat recovery of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)

An Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system used in the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) exhaust heat recovery was proposed and techno-economically analyzed based on various working fluids. It is significant to recover ICE exhaust heat (about one third of energy generated from the fuel) by ORC system. In this paper, the suitable working fluids have been screened and recommended for the ORC system, among 20 fluids (boiling point temperature range from −51.60 to 32.05 °C) analyzed on the rated condition of one popular commercial diesel generator set. The cycle parameters, including the thermal efficiency (ηth), the expansion ratio (v2/v1), the net power output per unit mass flow rate of hot exhaust (Pnet), the ratio of total heat transfer area to net power output (A/Wnet), and electricity production cost (Epc), have also been analyzed and optimized. Results show that R141b, R123 and R245fa present the highest ηth and Pnet values ranging from 16.60% to 13.30% (ηth value), and from 60 to 49 kJ/kg (Pnet value). Meanwhile, the three fluids also express the lowest Epc values ranging from 0.30 to 0.35$/kWh, and lowest A/Wnet values ranging from 0.436 to 0.516 m2/kW. The optimum evaporating pressures for R141b, R123, R245fa are ranging from 2.8 MPa to 3.6 MPa.Research Subject: Waste heat recovery technology in internal combustion engine; The key technology on the improvement of ICE efficiency.

High energy neutrino spin light

The quantum theory of spin light (electromagnetic radiation emitted by a Dirac massive neutrino propagating in dense matter due to the weak interaction of a neutrino with background fermions) is developed. In contrast to the Cherenkov radiation, this effect does not disappear even if the medium refractive index is assumed to be equal to unity. The formulas for the transition rate and the total radiation power are obtained. It is found out that radiation of photons is possible only when the sign of the particle helicity is opposite to that of the effective potential describing the interaction of a neutrino (antineutrino) with the background medium. Due to the radiative self-polarization the radiating particle can change its helicity. As a result, the active left-handed polarized neutrino (right-handed polarized antineutrino) converting to the state with inverse helicity can become practically “sterile”. Since the sign of the effective potential depends on the neutrino flavor and the matter structure, the spin light can change a ratio of active neutrinos of different flavors. In the ultra relativistic approach, the radiated photons averaged energy is equal to one third of the initial neutrino energy, and two thirds of the energy are carried out by the final “sterile” neutrinos.

Radiative transitions of high-energy neutrinos in a dense medium

The quantum theory of the ``spin light'' (electromagnetic radiation emitted by a massive neutrino propagating in dense matter due to the weak interaction of a neutrino with background fermions) is developed. In contrast to the Cherenkov radiation, this effect does not disappear even if the medium refractive index is assumed to be equal to unity. The formulas for the transition rate and the total radiation power are obtained. It is found out that radiation of photons is possible only when the sign of the particle helicity is opposite to that of the effective potential describing the interaction of a neutrino (antineutrino) with the background medium. Due to the radiative self-polarization the radiating particle can change its helicity. As a result, the active left-handed polarized neutrino (right-handed polarized antineutrino) converting to the state with inverse helicity can become practically ``sterile''. Since the sign of the effective potential depends on the neutrino flavor and the matter structure, the ``spin light'' can change a ratio of active neutrinos of different flavors. In the ultra relativistic approach, the radiated photons averaged energy is equal to one third of the initial neutrino energy, and two thirds of the energy are carried out by the final ``sterile'' neutrinos. This fact can be important for the understanding of the ``dark matter'' formation mechanism on the early stages of evolution of the Universe.

Interaction of physical activity and diet: implications for haemostatic factors.

Regular moderate intensity physical activity and habitual diet providing no more than one third of energy from fats have been recommended for the prevention of atherosclerotic diseases. The background for these guidelines is the key role of plasma lipids. However, the importance of thrombogenesis in acute myocardial infarction has become obvious during the last decade. Hyperlipidaemia and excess of adipose tissue increase platelet aggregability and blood coagulation, and decrease fibrinolysis. Both regular physical activity and dietary fat reduction decrease blood lipids and body fat thereby diminishing the risk of thrombosis. Currently, data on interactions between physical activity and diet on haemostasis are scarce, and the few studies available have not demonstrated additional effects when these two lifestyle modifications have been combined. This paper is restricted only to studies using controlled randomized design. Regular moderate intensity physical activity as well as diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids decrease platelet aggregability. The effects of regular physical activity on plasma fibrinogen remain contradictory, while the impact of diet is even less clear. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, a possible link between insulin resistance syndrome and coronary heart disease, may decrease due to physical training or low fat diet. It can be hypothesized that moderation in physical activity and diet carries a more powerful impact on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis than either lifestyle modification alone. Studies focusing on the interactions of regular moderate physical activity and fat-modified diet are needed in efforts to optimize the preventive actions by lifestyle changes.