Green roof assemblies influence the total roof surface energy balance for a building. The energy balance for a green roof depends mostly on the selection of plants and substrates suitable for the building’s location. This study measured thermal properties of common green roof materials and selected two types of plants and substrates to simulate transient thermal performance of different green r...

Over the past century more than 100 indices have been developed and used to assess bioclimatic conditions for human beings. The majority of these indices are used sporadically or for specific purposes. Some are based on generalized results of measurements (wind chill, cooling power, wet bulb temperature) and some on the empirically observed reactions of the human body to thermal stress (physiol...

1. The thermic effect of a glucose load (50 g) was studied in ten control and eleven obese female subjects, using both direct and indirect calorimetry simultaneously. Experiments were done under conditions of thermal equilbrium (28 degrees and 30% relative humidity). 2. Thermal balance (heat production measured by indirect calorimetry minus heat losses measured directly) was negative in the con...

In a spatial thermal gradient, Caenorhabditis elegans migrates toward and then isothermally tracks near its cultivation temperature. A current model for thermotactic behavior involves a thermophilic drive (involving the neurons AFD and AIY) and cryophilic drive (involving the neuron AIZ) that balance at the cultivation temperature. Here, we analyze the movements of individual worms responding t...

A significant step in the design of Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) systems is to calculate room thermal loads. The heating/cooling loads encountered by the room often vary dynamically while the common practice in HVAC-R engineering is to calculate the loads for peak conditions and then select the refrigeration system accordingly. In this study, a self-adjusti...

Laser and photocell quantum heat engines (QHEs) are powered by thermal light and governed by the laws of quantum thermodynamics. To appreciate the deep connection between quantum mechanics and thermodynamics we need only recall that in 1901 Planck introduced the quantum of action to calculate the entropy of thermal light, and in 1905 Einstein's studies of the entropy of thermal light led him to...

The size of existing commercial solar trough plants poses new challenges in applying advanced control strategies to optimize operation. One these is obtain a better thermal balance the loops’ temperature. Since are made up many loops, efficiency loops can vary substantially if group has been cleaned or affected by dust. This leads need defocus collectors most efficient avoid overheating problem...