• Energy Research

AbstractHomeothermy requires increased metabolic rates as temperatures decline below the thermoneutral zone, so homeotherms typically select microhabitats within or near their thermoneutral zones during periods of inactivity. However, many mammals and birds are heterotherms that relax internal controls on body temperature when maintaining a high, stable body temperature is energetically costly. Such heterotherms should be less tied to microhabitats near their thermoneutral zones, and because heterotherms spend more time in torpor and expend less energy at colder temperatures, heterotherms may even select microhabitats in which temperatures are well below their thermoneutral zones. We studied how temperature and daily torpor influence selection of diurnal roosts by a heterothermic bat (Myotis thysanodes). We (1) quantified the relationship between ambient temperature and daily duration of torpor, (2) simulated daily energy expenditure over a range of microhabitat (roost) temperatures, and (3) quantified the influence of roost temperature on roost selection. While warm roosts substantially reduced energy expenditure of simulated homeothermic bats, heterothermic bats modulated their use of torpor to maintain a constant level of energy expenditure over the course of a day. Daily torpor expanded the range of energetically economical microhabitats, such that roost selection was independent of roost temperature. Our work adds to a growing literature documenting functions of torpor beyond its historical conceptualization as a last-resort measure to save energy during extended or acute energetic stress.

Metabolism Measurements of total and basal energy in a large cohort of subjects at ages spanning from before birth to old age document distinct changes that occur during a human lifetime. Pontzer et al. report that energy expenditure (adjusted for weight) in neonates was like that of adults but increased substantially in the first year of life (see the Perspective by Rhoads and Anderson). It then gradually declined until young individuals reached adult characteristics, which were maintained from age 20 to 60 years. Older individuals showed reduced energy expenditure. Tissue metabolism thus appears not to be constant but rather to undergo transitions at critical junctures. Science , abe5017, this issue p. [808][1]; see also abl4537, p. [738][2] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abe5017 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abl4537

The design of a building process must consider climat ic variations in the region, the external conditions and the use of available resources in nature, like the sun, vegetation, rain and winds, to provide a built environment with environmental comfort and reduced energy expenditure. But add to urbanization, often with occupancy of disordered ground comes disregarding this knowledge and disregarding local characteristics and as a result reducing the green areas. This disordered occupation associated with the reduction of green spaces is modifying aspects of climate and consequent ly damaging the thermal comfort of users. The objective of this article is to show the use of vegetation in constructive solutions still in project design, presenting the importance of partnership vegetation versus building with a better understanding of the use of vegetation to climate attenuator element. Seeking thereby a healthier

Reduced energy expenditure resulting from huddling in small mammals is mainly attributed to the reduced surface area/volume ratio of the huddling group. Authors propose a model to account for the reduction of the relative exposed area of grouped animals anf for the diminution of metabolic rate during huddling. Authors attempt to expain mechanistically how changes in energy savings may operate. Authors applied model to results obtained by grouping deformable bodies, and also laboratory measurements of oxygen consumption on huddling small mammals of four species.

The advantage of cement-free refractory concretes of the ceramic concrete type compared with low cement types consists in the absence of certain components (VGTs) which impair the properties of the compositions. Certain technological features are characterized for the production of ceramic concretes. A process has been developed for obtaining VKVS with semicontinuous (pulsation) loading, providing an increased productivity and a reduced energy expenditure. Examples are given of the effective service of ceramic concretes as refractories for lining steel melting furnaces and other heating units. Some properties of concretes with clay bonds, bonds from modifications of ρ-alumina, and silica sol are examined.

The ability to control one's personal microclimate allows for customized comfort, reduced energy expenditure, and better human performance. Here we present the design of a multi-zone user-controllable heated jacket. The garment uses a multi-layer textile approach to provide e-textile heating and thermal insulation. Heating zones are controlled by the user through a sleeve-mounted multi-sensor e-textile interface. A custom textile-integrated 3D printed strain-relief support protects the interface and provides a counter-force for manual interaction. The garment is designed for everyday wearability in a physical and aesthetic form intended to blend in with everyday clothing.

Energy expenditure has not declined over the last decades, a period during which obesity rates have increased. Neither is energy expenditure in Western society lower than that in the third world, nor lower from measures of wild terrestrial mammals. The data indicate that reduced energy expenditure due to lowered physical activity induced energy expenditure has not fuelled the increased obesity rates.

Publisher Summary A reduced energy expenditure on non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) has been established as a primary cause of obesity in the genetically obese (ob/ob) and diabetic–obese (db/db) strains of mice. In newborn mammals and in hibernators, the brown adipose tissue (BAT) is the main site of NST, and Foster and Frydman have recently shown that this is also true for cold-exposed adult rodents. The presence of similar thermoregulatory abnormalities in ob/ob and db/db mice suggests that these two mutants may have a common metabolic basis to their obesity. Interscapular BAT, which occurs in two discrete pads between the shoulder blades, is two to three times heavier in the diabetic–obese mutant than in lean mice, and this can be accounted for by elevated lipid content. There are biochemical abnormalities in BAT of the db/db mutant that are similar to those reported for the ob/ob mouse and that are consistent with a reduced energy expenditure on NST.

Obesity became an epidemic public health problem and continuously increasing every year. For the longest time, the pathologic framework for obesity had been simple: caloric intake is greater than the energy output, which by far still true, however, the underlying reasons for increased energy intake and reduced energy expenditure remain largely unknown. Emerging data indicate that obesity can be oftentimes secondary to an underlying pathology, which can be due to genetics, inflammation, microbiome dysbiosis, metabolism, drugs and several other reasons. In this chapter, we described the pathology of obesity and underlying factors are linked or contributing in its progression.

Management practices matter for firm performance. As energy is one input in firm production, management practices may interact with energy use. Using a comprehensive firm-level database covering 31 countries, this study documents the link between structured management practices, energy use, and firm performance. The paper reports several findings. First, although management is negatively correlated with energy expenditure, it bears a positive (or null) relationship with physical energy use, suggesting that management effort is directed toward saving costs but not reducing environmental impact. These results are primarily driven by the manufacturing sector. Second, among the structured management practices examined, those relating to target-setting are associated with reduced energy expenditure intensity. Third, generic management practices are correlated with greater discipline around energy management. Finally, while generic practices are correlated with stronger firm performance in manufacturing and services, energy-centric practices show a positive association only in services. Vast heterogeneity in adoption and outcomes suggests that targeted approaches to encourage energy management practices in firms may be more effective than uniform ones.