Second Law efficiency is a useful parameter for characterizing the energy requirements of a system in relation to the limits of performance prescribed by the Laws of Thermodynamics. However, since energy costs typically represent less than 50% of the overall cost of product for many large-scale plants (and, in particular, for desalination plants), it is useful to have a parameter that can chara...

in this work, thermal degradation behavior of a fuel-rich energetic mixture containing epoxy binder was studied by thrmogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry under dynamic nitrogen atmosphere at different heating rates. variation of the thermal degradation activation energy of the mixture was evaluated by differential and integral isoconversional methods via akts software p...

How do humans achieve such remarkable energetic efficiency when walking over complex terrain such as a rocky trail? Recent research in biomechanics suggests that the efficiency of human walking over flat, obstacle-free terrain derives from the ability to exploit the physical dynamics of our bodies. In this study, we investigated whether this principle also applies to visually guided walking ove...

Energy balance studies with weanling ratsand mice were carried out to investigate the chronic effects of diets containing white sugar, unrefined sugar, and starch as sole carbohydrate on body composition and energetic efficiency. The results show no significant differences in energetic efficiency and in body composition of both rats and mice fed the different carbohydrate diets. However, there ...

Parasites, by altering the nutritional and energetic state of their hosts, can significantly alter their foraging behaviour. In honeybees, an infection with Nosema ceranae has been shown to lower the energetic state of individual bees, bringing about changes in behaviours associated with foraging. Comparing the foraging trip times, hive times in between trips, and the crop contents of uninfecte...

Is the common folklore, that oars are less efficient at propulsion than propellers, correct? Here we examine the propulsive efficiency of the oars used in competitive rowing. We take the propulsive efficiency η of rowing to be the ratio of the energetic benefit, the energy Db dissipated by boat drag, to the energetic cost, the work Wr performed by the rower. Air drag is neglected as is the ener...

Degradation in a high efficiency polymer solar cell is caused by the formation of states in the bandgap. These states increase the energetic disorder in the system. The power conversion efficiency loss does not occur when current is run through the device in the dark but occurs when the active layer is photo-excited.