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Seed vigor is an important trait closely related to improved seed quality and long-term germplasm conservation, and it gradually decreases during storage, which has become a major concern for agriculture. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of seed vigor loss in terms of genes remain largely unknown in quinoa. Here, two cultivars of quinoa seeds with different storage performance, Longli No.4 (L4) and Longli No.1 (L1), were subjected to transcriptome sequencing to decipher the pathways and genes possibly related to vigor loss under artificial aging. Multispectral imaging features and germination phenotypes showed significantly less seed vigor loss in L1 than in L4, indicating L1 seeds having stronger aging resistance and storability. Totally, 272 and 75 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were, respectively, identified in L4 and L1 during aging. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed the differences in metabolic pathways, especially, flavonoid biosynthesis, TCA cycle, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis were significantly enriched in L4 seeds, while carbon metabolism in L1 seeds, which involved key genes such as CHS , CHI , AACT , ENO1 , IDH , NADP-ME , and HAO2L. It indicated that the adverse effects on flavonoids and terpenoids induced by aging might be the significant reasons for more vigor loss in storage sensitive seeds, whereas storage tolerant seeds had a stronger ability to maintain carbon metabolism and energy supply. These findings elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism of seed vigor loss in quinoa, which also provided novel insights into improving seed vigor through modern molecular breeding strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses a significant threat to the sustainable development of all countries. The transition to low-carbon energy sources is a crucial strategy for reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change. We investigate the mediating role of clean energy consumption (EC) and fossil energy supply (ES) on the promoting of carbon emission intensity per unit of GDP (CO2/GDP) reduction by green bonds (GBs). We develop a mediating model to analyze how GB influences CO2/GDP reduction through EC and ES, utilizing panel data from 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu province spanning the years 2007 to 2021. Additionally, we assess the model's reliability through endogeneity and robustness tests. We find that GBs contribute to reducing CO2/GDP by facilitating the structural transition of energy supply and consumption. Furthermore, the development of GBs enhance the consumption of clean energy and plays a direct role in advancing the transition in structure of both energy supply and energy consumption. Notably, we observe heterogeneity in the effectiveness of GBs on CO2/GDP reduction across different regions. Therefore, it is imperative for the government to actively promote the development of GBs to achieve sustainable economic growth. Furthermore, both financial and energy policies should be tailored to align with the specific energy structures of various regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper demonstrates how artificial intelligence can be implemented in order to predict the energy needs of daily households using both multilinear regression (MLR) and single linear regression (SLR) methods. As a basic implementation, the SLR makes use of one input variable, which is the total amount of energy generated as an input. The MLR implementation involves multiple input variables being taken from various energy sources, including gas, coal, geothermal, wind, water, biomass, oil, etc. All of these variables are derived from detailed energy production data from the various energy sources. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that it is possible to analyze energy demand and supply directly together as a way to produce a more in-depth analysis. By analyzing energy production data from previous periods of time, a prediction of energy demand can be made. Compared to the SLR implementation, the MLR implementation is found to perform better because it is able to achieve a smaller error value. Furthermore, the forecasting pattern is carried out sequentially based on a periodic pattern, so this paper calls this method the recurrence multilinear regression (RMLR) method. This paper also creates a pre-clustering using the K-Means algorithm before the energy prediction to improve accuracy. Other models such as exponential GPR, sequential XGBoost, and seq2seq LSTM are used for comparison. The prediction results are evaluated by calculating the MAE, RMSE, MAPE, MAPA, and time execution for all models. The simulation results show that the fastest and best model that obtains the smallest error (3.4%) is the RMLR clustered using a weekly pattern period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of policies governing the expansion of renewable energy in Mongolia and selected countries. Against the backdrop of global energy transitions and Mongolia's recent energy challenges, this research aims to identify and evaluate policy frameworks that facilitate the sustainable growth of renewable energy sources. The study delves into the unique socio-economic and geopolitical context of Mongolia, emphasizing the nation's energy dependence on Russia. The findings of this comparative analysis provide valuable insights for Mongolian policymakers, offering recommendations for enhancing domestic policies that encourage the diversification of energy sources and attract foreign investment. By drawing on successful practices from some countries, this paper aims to contribute to the formulation of effective and context-specific strategies for Mongolia to achieve a more sustainable and resilient energy landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed vigor is an important trait closely related to improved seed quality and long-term germplasm conservation, and it gradually decreases during storage, which has become a major concern for agriculture. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of seed vigor loss in terms of genes remain largely unknown in quinoa. Here, two cultivars of quinoa seeds with different storage performance, Longli No.4 (L4) and Longli No.1 (L1), were subjected to transcriptome sequencing to decipher the pathways and genes possibly related to vigor loss under artificial aging. Multispectral imaging features and germination phenotypes showed significantly less seed vigor loss in L1 than in L4, indicating L1 seeds having stronger aging resistance and storability. Totally, 272 and 75 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were, respectively, identified in L4 and L1 during aging. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed the differences in metabolic pathways, especially, flavonoid biosynthesis, TCA cycle, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis were significantly enriched in L4 seeds, while carbon metabolism in L1 seeds, which involved key genes such as CHS, CHI, AACT, ENO1, IDH, NADP-ME, and HAO2L. It indicated that the adverse effects on flavonoids and terpenoids induced by aging might be the significant reasons for more vigor loss in storage sensitive seeds, whereas storage tolerant seeds had a stronger ability to maintain carbon metabolism and energy supply. These findings elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism of seed vigor loss in quinoa, which also provided novel insights into improving seed vigor through modern molecular breeding strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Snap beans (Phaseoulus vulgaris L.) are very sensitive to low temperature during postharvest storage. Pitting, rusting, and water‐soaked patches are typical chilling injury (CI) symptoms of snap beans. The appearance of these symptoms reduces the storage quality of snap beans. The energy, soluble carbohydrates, cell wall, and phenolic metabolisms of refrigerated snap beans and their relationship to CI treated with 35 °C hot water (HW) were investigated. RESULTS: HW treatment reduced CI index and electrolyte leakage and increased the contents of soluble solids, titratable acidity, and chlorophyll. HW treatment maintained higher activities of proton ATPase, calcium ATPase, and cytochrome c oxidase, which resulted in the accumulation of more adenosine triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, and energy charge. The accumulation of soluble sugar induced by HW treatment was correlated with the stimulation of sucrose phosphate synthase and sucrose synthase. The prevention effect of HW treatment on the degradation of cell wall components was related to the inhibition of pectin methylesterase and cellulase. HW‐induced phenol accumulation is associated with an increase in shikimate dehydrogenase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, cinnamate‐4‐hydroxylase, and 4‐coumarine‐coenzyme A ligase, as well as a decrease in polyphenol oxidase. CONCLUSION: The alleviating effect of HW on CI is due to its regulation of energy, soluble sugar, cell wall, and phenolic metabolism. Therefore, HW treatment may be an effective means to reduce CI of snap beans. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a description of the modeling and manufacturing of solar modules of photovoltaic, thermal and photovoltaic thermal designs intended to supply energy to a biogas plant intended for the production of biohydrogen and biomethane. Mathematical modeling of the photovoltaic module was carried out and the calculated temperature of the photovoltaic converters was determined, and also the photovoltaic module was manufactured using the process of sealing the photovoltaic converters with a two-component polysiloxane compound. Mathematical modeling of a solar thermal collector with water radiators in the form of a round copper tube, an oval copper tube, as well as a rectangular water cooling channel ("water jacket") was also carried out, in which pressure losses and the amount of water heating were assessed. The distances between the rectangular channels of the water-cooling radiator for uniform heat removal were determined, and mathematical modeling of the thermal state of a solar thermal collector with a semicircular cross-section of the water-cooling radiator channel was carried out, after which the solar thermal collector was manufactured. Mathematical modeling of the total displacements of the components of a photovoltaic thermal module, the values of which do not exceed acceptable limits, was carried out, after which a photovoltaic thermal module was manufactured using the process of sealing photovoltaic converters with a two-component polysiloxane compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze physiological and energetic demands of elite gymnasts during still-rings routines (SRRs). Methods: Eleven male gymnasts (mean [SD] 23.6 [3.9] y, 65.9 [5.6] kg, 171.1 [6.7] cm) performed a maximal graded exercise test and an individual SRR, during which respiratory gas and heart rate (HR) were measured using a mobile spiroergometer and a paired HR sensor. Metabolic energy and the energy contribution in terms of aerobic, anaerobic lactic, and anaerobic alactic were determined by oxygen uptake (VO2) during exercise, net lactate production, and the fast component of postexercise VO2 kinetics. Results: Mean routine duration of the SRRs was 48.3 (4.5) seconds. VO2 and HR during SRRs were shown to be 86.9% (5.9%) and 91.0% (3.3%), respectively, of the maximal values measured during the graded exercise test. The anaerobic alactic, aerobic, and anaerobic lactic systems provided 50.9% (6.6%), 28.6% (4.8%), and 20.5% (5.2%), respectively, of the total energy required during SRRs. The energy contribution of the anaerobic lactic system correlated negatively with individual anaerobic threshold (r = −.715) and maximal VO2 (r = −.682). Conclusions: The anaerobic alactic system is the predominant energy source for ATP resynthesis during SRRs. The high relative VO2 and HR values reached during SRRs show that these routines strongly stress the cardiovascular system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract More people feel busier than ever. Recognising busyness as an environmental factor that influences food preferences is essential when considering health-related decisions. This research investigates how the subjective perception of busyness—which is referred to as a busy mindset—affects consumers’ food preferences via two studies. Study 1 was a laboratory experiment conducted using a manipulation method with 135 undergraduate student participants. Study 2 used an online self-report questionnaire to repeat the findings of Study 1 and including 209 social participants. The results from the two studies showed that a busy mindset induced individuals to prefer high-calorie foods, and energy expenditure efficiency mediated this effect. Moreover, the subjective perception of busyness increased individuals’ estimated need for calories and induced them to prefer high-calorie foods over high-nutrition or hedonic foods. These findings suggest that food preferences in the busy mindset have potential implications for individuals’ food consumption.

Hui Gao,1 Xi Cheng,1 Xu Zuo,2 Zhaolan Huang2 1Department of General Practice, Tianyou Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Respiratory and Digestive, Geriatric Hospital Affiliated with Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zhaolan Huang, Department of Respiratory and Digestive, Geriatric Hospital Affiliated with Wuhan University of Science and Technology, No. 2, Huangjiahu West Road, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-19819051958, Email 45477428@qq.comBackground: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) progression in the elderly is notably influenced by nutritional, immune, and inflammatory status. This study aimed to investigate the impact of adequate energy supply on these indicators in COPD patients.Methods: COPD patients meeting specific criteria were recruited and categorized into energy-adequate and energy-deficient groups based on their energy supply. Comparable demographic factors such as age, gender, smoking and drinking history, COPD duration, inhaled drug classification, and home oxygen therapy application were observed. Notable differences were found in BMI and inhaled drug use between the two groups.Results: The energy-adequate group exhibited significant improvements in various health indicators, including lymphocyte count, hemoglobin, CRP, total cholesterol, prealbumin, albumin, PNI, SII, SIRI, CAR, and CONUT scores in the secondary auxiliary examination. These positive changes suggest a notable enhancement in nutritional, immune, and inflammatory status.Conclusion: This research highlights the substantial benefits of adequate energy supply in elderly COPD patients. The observed improvements in nutritional, immune, and inflammatory markers underscore the importance of addressing energy needs to positively influence disease-related outcomes in this population. These findings have implications for developing targeted interventions to optimize the well-being of elderly individuals with COPD.Keywords: elderly, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, energy supply, nutritional status, immune function, inflammatory response

More people feel busier than ever. Recognising busyness as an environmental factor that influences food preferences is essential when considering health-related decisions. This research investigates how the subjective perception of busyness—which is referred to as a busy mindset—affects consumers' food preferences via two studies. Study 1 was a laboratory experiment conducted using a manipulation method with 135 undergraduate student participants. Study 2 used an online self-report questionnaire to repeat the findings of Study 1 and including 209 social participants. The results from the two studies showed that a busy mindset induced individuals to prefer high-calorie foods, and energy expenditure efficiency mediated this effect. Moreover, the subjective perception of busyness increased individuals' estimated need for calories and induced them to prefer high-calorie foods over high-nutrition or hedonic foods. These findings suggest that food preferences in the busy mindset have potential implications for individuals' food consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutions of higher learning in South Africa are grappling with occasional power outages in lecture halls, leading to disruptions in academic activities and occasional loss of lecture hours. Therefore, this study presents a comprehensive evaluation of a grid-connected solar PV/Li-ion battery microgrid (μG) system aimed at maintaining a constant power supply to selected lecture halls at a university in the Western Cape, South Africa. The microgrid design, modelling, and simulations, conducted in the MATLAB/Simulink environment, include the solar PV, Li-ion battery, energy consumption of the lecture halls (load profile), boost converter, bidirectional converter, and grid. Using the detailed design, modelling, and simulation, the study evaluates the economic and environmental impacts of integrating μGs, focusing on enhancing energy reliability, reducing operational costs, and mitigating CO2 emissions. The results indicate that integrating the microgrid resulted in a significant 51% reduction in energy cost and a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions by 530 kgCO2e per hour. In Cases 2 and 4, where the battery supplied power, the annual battery degradation costs are 6.08% and 14.9% of the initial cost, respectively. The μG ensures an uninterrupted power supply and improves the overall reliability of the university's energy infrastructure. It promotes environmental sustainability goals of zero emissions and maintains continuous academic activities during grid outages. Furthermore, it fosters a conducive learning environment, supports innovation and creativity in sustainable energy technologies, and sets a standard for other higher education institutions to integrate renewable energy-powered μGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As in the transport sector, it is also necessary to investigate alternatives to fossil diesel fuel in the agricultural sector. In addition to technical feasibility, ecological viability and social acceptance, economic viability is ultimately decisive in determining whether an alternative energy source is competitive. Against this background, in this paper, a cost calculation model is described to analyze the competitiveness of different future technologies and applied on the case of future electrical energy supply concepts. The model is applied to compare a continuous energy supply system via a wide span system (WSS) with a discontinuous battery swapping system (BSS) on the example of tillage. The results show that on area sizes of more than 100 ha, a continuous energy supply for agricultural machinery with a WSS is competitive to a discontinuous BSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of renewable woods for power generation can help improve the energy efficiency of buildings, and promote the concept design and implementation of "smart buildings". Here, with specific chemical treatment and hydrothermal synthesis, we demonstrated the practical value of natural wood for thermoelectric power generation in smart buildings. The prepared wood-based thermoelectric sponges show high Seebeck coefficients of 320.5 and 436.6 µV/K in the vertical and parallel directions of the longitudinal channel of wood. After 500 cycles of the compressive strain at 20%, the corresponding Seebeck coefficients increase up to 413.4 and 502.1 µV/K, respectively, which is attributed to the improved contact and connection between tellurium thermoelectric nanowires. The Seebeck coefficients are much larger than those of most reported inorganic thermoelectric materials. Meanwhile, the thermoelectric sponges maintain excellent thermoelectric and mechanical stability. We further modeled the application value of wood-based thermoelectric sponges in smart buildings for power generation. Relatively high thermoelectric electricity can be obtained, such as in Beijing with over 1.5 million kWh every year, demonstrating the great potential in thermal energy harvest and energy supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small molecule drugs play a pivotal role in the arsenal of anticancer pharmacological agents. Nonetheless, their small size poses a challenge when directly visualizing their localization, distribution, mechanism of action (MOA), and target engagement at the subcellular level in real time. We propose a strategy for developing triple-functioning drug beacons that seamlessly integrate therapeutically relevant bioactivity, precise subcellular localization, and direct visualization capabilities within a single molecular entity. As a proof of concept, we have meticulously designed and constructed a boronic acid fluorescence drug beacon using coumarin–hemicyanine (CHB). Our CHB design includes three pivotal features: a boronic acid moiety that binds both adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP), thus depleting their levels and disrupting the energy supply within mitochondria; a positively charged component that targets the drug beacon to mitochondria; and a sizeable conjugated luminophore that emits fluorescence, facilitating the application of structured illumination microscopy (SIM). Our study indicates the exceptional responsiveness of our proof-of-concept drug beacon to ADP and ATP, its efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth, and its ability to facilitate the tracking of ADP and ATP distribution around the mitochondrial cristae. Furthermore, our investigation reveals that the micro-dynamics of CHB induce mitochondrial dysfunction by causing damage to the mitochondrial cristae and mitochondrial DNA. Altogether, our findings highlight the potential of SIM in conjunction with visual drug design as a potent tool for monitoring the in situ MOA of small molecule anticancer compounds. This approach represents a crucial advancement in addressing a current challenge within the field of small molecule drug discovery and validation.

The building sector is one of the largest energy user and carbon emitters globally. To increase the utilization rate of renewable energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the optimal technical scheme of active public institutions and coupled utilization of renewable energy is studied. In this study, the energy consumption of three types of public institutions in various regions of China was simulated by using DeST building energy consumption software, combined with energy conversion efficiency and data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, and the total energy demand and total energy supply of public institutions were predicted using the load density method. Based on the coupling mechanism of the MARKAL model, the optimal proportion of renewable energy in the energy supply of public buildings in different regions is determined. Through the study of the number of public institutions in various regions of China, energy consumption characteristics, construction area, and other related data, the reverse energy flow method is creatively proposed, and the active and renewable energy coupling algorithm from the energy demand side of public institutions to the energy supply side is established. The results show that the central region has the highest utilization rate of renewable energy in the public sector, reaching 36.18%. The use of renewable energy in public buildings in hot summer and warm winter zones decreased to 35.08%, and it was 12.82% in cold zones. By 2025, the proportion of renewable energy resources in China is expected to reach 29.2%. The energy coupling model and algorithm constructed in this paper can provide a basis for the coupling macro configuration of renewable energy in public institutions in China.

Introduction: The energy supply challenge in wireless charging applications is currently a significant research problem. To address this issue, this study introduces a novel small-scale long-distance radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting system that utilizes a hybrid model incorporating CNN, LSTM, and reinforcement learning. This research aims to improve RF energy harvesting and wireless charging efficiency. Method: The methodology of this study involves data collection, data processing, model training and evaluation, and integration of reinforcement learning algorithms. Firstly, RF signal data at different distances are collected and rigorously processed to create training and testing datasets. Next, the CNN-LSTM model is trained using the prepared data, and model performance is enhanced by adjusting hyperparameters. During the evaluation phase, specialized test data is used to assess the accuracy of the model in predicting RF energy harvesting and wireless charging efficiency. Finally, reinforcement learning algorithms are integrated, and a reward function is defined to incentivize efficient wireless charging and maximize energy harvesting, allowing the system to dynamically adjust its strategy in real time. Results: Experimental validation demonstrates that the optimized CNN-LSTM model exhibits high accuracy in predicting RF energy harvesting and wireless charging efficiency. Through the integration of reinforcement learning algorithms, the system can dynamically adjust its strategy in real time, maximizing energy harvesting efficiency and charging effectiveness. These results indicate significant progress in long-distance RF energy harvesting and wireless charging with this system. Discussion: The results of this study validate the outstanding performance of the small-scale long-distance RF energy harvesting system. This system is not only applicable to current wireless charging applications but also demonstrates potential in other wireless charging domains. Particularly, it holds significant prospects in providing energy support for wearable devices, Internet of Things (IoT), and mobile devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small molecule drugs play a pivotal role in the arsenal of anticancer pharmacological agents. Nonetheless, their small size poses a challenge when directly visualizing their localization, distribution, mechanism of action (MOA), and target engagement at the subcellular level in real time. We propose a strategy for developing triple-functioning drug beacons that seamlessly integrate therapeutically relevant bioactivity, precise subcellular localization, and direct visualization capabilities within a single molecular entity. As a proof of concept, we have meticulously designed and constructed a boronic acid fluorescence drug beacon using coumarin–hemicyanine (CHB). Our CHB design includes three pivotal features: a boronic acid moiety that binds both adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP), thus depleting their levels and disrupting the energy supply within mitochondria; a positively charged component that targets the drug beacon to mitochondria; and a sizeable conjugated luminophore that emits fluorescence, facilitating the application of structured illumination microscopy (SIM). Our study indicates the exceptional responsiveness of our proof-of-concept drug beacon to ADP and ATP, its efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth, and its ability to facilitate the tracking of ADP and ATP distribution around the mitochondrial cristae. Furthermore, our investigation reveals that the micro-dynamics of CHB induce mitochondrial dysfunction by causing damage to the mitochondrial cristae and mitochondrial DNA. Altogether, our findings highlight the potential of SIM in conjunction with visual drug design as a potent tool for monitoring the in situ MOA of small molecule anticancer compounds. This approach represents a crucial advancement in addressing a current challenge within the field of small molecule drug discovery and validation. Drug beacon CHB inhibits energy production by binding to ATP/ADP in mitochondria, disrupting the structure and function of mitochondria, exerting anti-tumor effects. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibilities of organizing a repetitively pulsed process with given frequency characteristics in a cavity of constant volume with an external energy supply to the working gas mixture are considered. Modelling of gas-dynamic and thermal processes is carried out using the numerical solution of the conjugate heat transfer problem. The gas medium is described on the basis of a viscous compressible gas model. To find the temperature field in the walls of the structure, the equation of non-stationary heat conduction is solved. The conjugation of temperature fields in a gas and a solid is carried out using an iterative procedure. In the calculations, the geometrical parameters of the cavity, the density of the energy supply, the initial pressure, and the composition of the working mixture are varied. The results of calculations obtained in the framework of the one-dimensional and two-dimensional formulation of the problem under the action of both a single pulse and a series of pulses are compared. The results obtained demonstrate the possibility of implementing the required frequency characteristics of the process for given geometric and energy parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Import flows are one of the major economic variables that play a significant role in global trade and determine a country’s economy’s performance. The current article imperially scrutinizes the symmetric relationship between energy electricity supply, inflation rate, exchange rate and import flows in South Africa. This objective was achieved through the application of econometric models such as ARDL, ECM and T-Y approaches. These approaches were applied on monthly time series from January 2002 to October 2022. The results indicated the presence of long-run and short-run import flows behaviour electricity supply, inflation and exchange rate volatility. While the inflation rate and electricity supply positively influence long-run import flows, the latter is negatively influenced by exchange rate volatility. To improve import flows in South Africa, the study recommends policymakers’ caution in selecting the country’s adequate exchange rate regime and considering electricity supply and inflation rate while establishing the country’s terms of trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural gas is a fossil resource less polluting compared to oil and coal. Despite the large volumes of proven reserves in Brazil, exploration and production are low because of several factors like the lack of infrastructure along several regions of the country, the regulatory model in the consolidation phase, and legal impasses regarding tariffs. In the Brazilian north region, the expansion of the natural gas market is even more complex due to regional specificities both in relation to natural characteristics and the existence of conflicts of interest that impact regional development. However, natural gas has been gaining notoriety over the years, with the existence of large projects that foster the gas market in some states in the region. This article aimed to discuss the impacts of increasing the participation of natural gas in the regional energy matrix through small-scale LNG projects, analyzing the case of the state of Roraima and the impacts of the Azulão-Jaguatirica II Project on this state. As a result, this research presented an evaluation of the existent regulation in Brazilian's northern states, a bibliometric analysis of natural gas in the Brazilian Amazon which demonstrated how little the topic is covered, and a SWOT matrix about the impacts of natural gas in regional energy supply in order to help future decision-making on the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of WISTA Wirtschaft und Statistik is the property of Statistisches Bundesamt and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Ensuring reliable and sustainable energy access in sub-Saharan Africa requires exploring alternatives to traditional biomass and fossil fuels, crucial for overcoming challenges related to limited electricity and clean cooking energy access. Within this background and to assess the factors affecting energy supply and energy consumption, the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) was applied across 48 sub-Saharan countries and adapted to the regional context considering energy access indicators.Key results showed that economic activity significantly influences both supply and demand growth. However, this growth is restricted by outdated infrastructure, resulting in inefficiencies and increased conversion losses. Policymakers thus face a dual challenge of promoting economic growth while modernizing energy infrastructure to sustain development.Moreover, targeted policies are essential, particularly in energy-intensive in energy-intensive sectors like wholesale and retail, while advocating for a comprehensive approach in the residential sector. This approach involves socioeconomic considerations, energy access enhancement, and the promotion of energy-efficient and renewable technologies to meet rising demand amid population growth and evolving consumption patterns.Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of enhancing both energy access levels and energy efficiency in the residential sector. Unlike the industrial sector, energy intensity is crucial for improving efficiency without compromising the level of access. Enhancing energy efficiency can significantly reduce energy consumption in households, which is important given the high reliance on energy-intensive practices such as cooking with traditional biomass.

The theory of the state emphasizes the energy function associated with the state intensive activity in the search for affordable and cheap energy, alternative sources of its production, ensuring smooth functioning of the energy system of the country and individual regions. The relevance of the article is due to the need to form a unified approach to the nature of such a phenomenon as «energy», taking into account its role in the modern world. Purpose: to perform a retrospective analysis of philosophical and scientific ideas on energy, to reveal their influence on the development of the state, society and personality. The work uses general scientific principles and methods of research. The article is based on monographs and essays on ancient philosophy, medieval society, history of the development of science and technology. In the course of the study, the authors conclude that energy as a scientific category did not exist in Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The word «energy», mentioned in the works of Aristotle, was used by him in the direct lexical sense – as «actuality», «reality». The first scientific definition of energy was given only in 1853. The formation of scientific views on the phenomenon of energy was preceded by ideas and hypotheses about the essence of certain manifestations of energy (fire, heat, magnetism, lightning). Most of such hypotheses emerged in Antiquity and were developed in the Middle Ages. Among the concepts of ancient philosophers, which are interesting for this research, the authors highlight Heraclitus’s doctrine on fire, Democritus’s atomistic theory, as well as the teachings of philosophers of the Milesian school on «beginning of all beginnings». The authors draw attention to the fact that modern views on energy and hypotheses about its nature were originally put forward in Antiquity. In the Middle Ages, a contribution was made to the study of such categories as space, time and movement, without which it is impossible to form holistic views of energy.

The study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of policies governing the expansion of renewable energy in Mongolia and selected countries. Against the backdrop of global energy transitions and Mongolia’s recent energy challenges, this research aims to identify and evaluate policy frameworks that facilitate the sustainable growth of renewable energy sources. The study delves into the unique socio-economic and geopolitical context of Mongolia, emphasizing the nation’s energy dependence on Russia. The findings of this comparative analysis provide valuable insights for Mongolian policymakers, offering recommendations for enhancing domestic policies that encourage the diversification of energy sources and attract foreign investment. By drawing on successful practices from some countries, this paper aims to contribute to the formulation of effective and context-specific strategies for Mongolia to achieve a more sustainable and resilient energy landscape.

This paper demonstrates how artificial intelligence can be implemented in order to predict the energy needs of daily households using both multilinear regression (MLR) and single linear regression (SLR) methods. As a basic implementation, the SLR makes use of one input variable, which is the total amount of energy generated as an input. The MLR implementation involves multiple input variables being taken from various energy sources, including gas, coal, geothermal, wind, water, biomass, oil, etc. All of these variables are derived from detailed energy production data from the various energy sources. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that it is possible to analyze energy demand and supply directly together as a way to produce a more in-depth analysis. By analyzing energy production data from previous periods of time, a prediction of energy demand can be made. Compared to the SLR implementation, the MLR implementation is found to perform better because it is able to achieve a smaller error value. Furthermore, the forecasting pattern is carried out sequentially based on a periodic pattern, so this paper calls this method the recurrence multilinear regression (RMLR) method. This paper also creates a pre-clustering using the K-Means algorithm before the energy prediction to improve accuracy. Other models such as exponential GPR, sequential XGBoost, and seq2seq LSTM are used for comparison. The prediction results are evaluated by calculating the MAE, RMSE, MAPE, MAPA, and time execution for all models. The simulation results show that the fastest and best model that obtains the smallest error (3.4%) is the RMLR clustered using a weekly pattern period.

With the development of the economy, people's demand for green energy has increased significantly. However, the traditional single fossil energy supply system cannot meet the needs of low-carbon. Therefore, this study employs energy hub to establish a multi-energy flow network that enables the integration of carbon flow within the network. Additionally, by utilizing the multi-energy flow trend, a carbon flow tracking method is adopted to achieve real-time carbon flow calculation. Results show that this network calculates the electricity cost of 20043 yuan, gas cost of 67253 yuan, and carbon emission cost of 3152 yuan. Compared with the traditional energy flow system, gas cost is reduced by 4.3% and 1.7%, electricity cost by 21.3% and 15.0%, and carbon emission cost by 8.7% and 6.6%. The two-way sharing carbon flow calculation model calculates that the user side and power supply side of the node each bear half of the network loss, proving two-way sharing effectiveness. Test results on IEEE5 machine 14-node system show that the calculation method can accurately find high-emission and low-emission areas, making the carbon emission allocation between power generation and user more fair and reasonable. This research can effectively reduce emissions cost, accurately calculate emissions flow in real time, and facilitate reasonable emission reduction planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Energy is the most important component of economic development at the level of all countries, and what confirms this is that the interruption of the power supply or its fluctuation negatively affects all economic sectors, which in turn affects the life of society and its future, as the interruption of energy supplies leads to catastrophic effects on vital functions, such as production and care. Medical, security and industrial crises and recurring crises due to the shortage of refined petroleum derivatives, may lead to the cessation of production operations or their damage through the provision of products outside the specifications. For example, a power outage may lead to damage to production equipment and goods produced for industrial projects and its negative impact on productivity, unemployment and economic stability. On the other hand, social: A power outage may lead to poor quality of vaccines, severe damage to sensitive medical equipment and its negative impact on an increase in people with disabilities and unintended medical errors. On the environmental side, a power outage means an increase in diesel consumption (bio generators) and an increase in environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to explore the association between nutrient supply and the incidence of prostate cancer globally. We utilized national nutrient supply data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for 150 countries, including the average supply of total protein (APS), animal protein (AAPS), fat (AFS), animal protein/total protein ratio (ATR), and share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots, and tubers (CR). Prostate cancer incidence data were sourced from the Global Burden Disease 2019 (GBD2019). Correlation, regression analyses, and subgroup analysis were conducted. Our findings imply that incidence of prostate cancer is significantly correlated to APS (ρ = 0.394, p < 0.01), AAPS (ρ = 0.560, p < 0.01), AFS (ρ = 0.522, p < 0.01), ATR (ρ = 0.592, p < 0.01), and CR (ρ = −0.667, p < 0.01). After adjusting for confounders, regression analysis showed linear relationships between the AAPS (β = 0.605, p = 0.006), ATR (β = 70.76, p = 0.005), CR (β = −1.4451, p < 0.01), and age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) of prostate cancer, while no association was observed with APS (β = 0.030, p = 0.483) or AFS (β = 0.237, p = 0.405). Subgroup analysis suggested that dietary supply indicators were associated with ASIR in middle, middle-high, and high SDI, but not in countries with low and middle-low SDI. In summary, prostate cancer rates globally correlate significantly with AAPS, ATR, and CR, but not with APS and AFS. When considering the SDI of countries, the relationship is generally more pronounced in economically advanced nations, but not evident in low and middle-low SDI countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the effects of padel match play on circulating substrates, metabolites, energy balance enzymes, and muscle damage biomarkers and evaluate possible sex-related differences. Twenty-two trained padel players (13 female and 9 male young-adult players) were recruited for this study in which simulated padel matches were analyzed. Circulating levels of substrates (glucose -BG- and triglycerides -TGs-), metabolites (creatinine -Cr- and urea), energy balance enzymes (lipoprotein lipase -LPL-), and muscle damage biomarkers (creatine kinase -CK-, lactate dehydrogenase -LDH-, and fatty acid-binding protein 3 -FABP-3-) were assessed both pre- and post-padel competition. Time analysis of padel matches reported a real time–total time ratio of 0.4. Moreover, players' mean heart rate during padel matches represented around 75% of their individual maximum value. Unaltered BG levels and a slight decrease in TGs were observed post-exercise. Cr, urea, LPL, CK, LDH, and FABP-3 levels increased after padel matches when total group was considered. Moreover, sex-related differences in Cr, CK, and LDH blood concentrations were found in both pre- and post-padel competition. According to our results, the padel competition could be defined as a low- or moderate-impact sport in which aerobic energy system contribution is prevalent although anaerobic metabolism also plays a key role in performing padel shots and other explosive actions. Considering that male and female players exercised at the same relative intensity during padel matches, sex differences found in muscle damage biomarkers could be due to the greater muscle mass in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European energy system is undergoing a drastic change, focusing on reducing natural gas consumption and import. European households, which are responsible for 25 % of final energy consumption, mainly based on natural gas, could play a significant role in such a transition. Therefore, the study aims to understand the perception towards natural gas consumption reduction and imports. An online questionnaire was designed based on an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour, which 257 highly educated respondents filled out. The results delineated the respondents' positive perception of reducing natural gas consumption. Specific attributes (i.e., environmental concerns, national sustainable and efficient energy system, and national energy independence) and personal moral norms (i.e., moral responsibility) significantly impact the willingness and effort to reduce natural gas consumption. The lack of control is the largest perceived control behaviour in reducing the respondents' natural gas consumption compared to available knowledge and affordability. Finally, the respondents care significantly and want to know about natural gas import sources, and they are highly against natural gas imports from Russia, the United States, the Middle Eastern, and Arab countries. Based on the insights, the study provides detailed recommendations. The study provides concrete recommendations for policy-makers to include environmental, humanitarian and energy-independence concerns in their decision-making processes related to natural gas imports and consumption. It also emphasises informing and involving individual households in such decision-making processes.

Institutions of higher learning in South Africa are grappling with occasional power outages in lecture halls, leading to disruptions in academic activities and occasional loss of lecture hours. Therefore, this study presents a comprehensive evaluation of a grid-connected solar PV/Li-ion battery microgrid (μG) system aimed at maintaining a constant power supply to selected lecture halls at a university in the Western Cape, South Africa. The microgrid design, modelling, and simulations, conducted in the MATLAB/Simulink environment, include the solar PV, Li-ion battery, energy consumption of the lecture halls (load profile), boost converter, bidirectional converter, and grid. Using the detailed design, modelling, and simulation, the study evaluates the economic and environmental impacts of integrating μGs, focusing on enhancing energy reliability, reducing operational costs, and mitigating CO2 emissions. The results indicate that integrating the microgrid resulted in a significant 51% reduction in energy cost and a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions by 530 kgCO2e per hour. In Cases 2 and 4, where the battery supplied power, the annual battery degradation costs are 6.08% and 14.9% of the initial cost, respectively. The μG ensures an uninterrupted power supply and improves the overall reliability of the university’s energy infrastructure. It promotes environmental sustainability goals of zero emissions and maintains continuous academic activities during grid outages. Furthermore, it fosters a conducive learning environment, supports innovation and creativity in sustainable energy technologies, and sets a standard for other higher education institutions to integrate renewable energy-powered μGs.

Background: The effects of the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in elite endurance athletes are unclear. This case study reported the blood glucose (BG) levels of a female national-level marathon runner during a real-world marathon race. Methods: Heart rate and BG levels were monitored throughout the race. Results: The runner completed the race in 2:46 h:min, which was an improvement from her previous personal record by just under one min. Her BG levels were stable from approximately 5–40 km of the race at a mean concentration of 7.13 mmol/L, with a standard deviation of 0.20 mmol/L and a coefficient of variation of 2.8%. Increases in BG levels and heart rate were observed 6 min after the race and during the 40–42.195 km section, respectively. Conclusions: The runner broke her own record and exhibited stable BG levels throughout the race, with the highest BG value detected immediately after the race. Considering that quantity, content, and timing of pre-race meals and supplementation during the race can affect BG levels, future studies should assess additional detailed parameters in more detail and monitor multiple races with the same elite endurance athletes to acquire more definitive evidence on CGM usefulness among elite endurance athletes.

As energy is vital in the sustainability of almost every part of daily life, energy security has become more crucial than ever before. One of the main threats to energy security is a possible disruption along the trade network, which jeopardizes the constant energy supply. The purpose of this research is to identify the relation ties between EU countries in order to clarify the characteristics of the network, such as its crucial actors, vulnerabilities, structural holes, etc., to help achieve some proposals for a more sustainable and secure energy supply. This will help identify the underlying causes of recurring energy crises in the EU and provide insight into developing management strategies for further studies. Following this purpose, we examined the trade network density to clarify typical characteristics of the network, applied degree centrality measures to identify the most central importer and exporter countries, and found the dominance and critical vulnerabilities of actors in the network by using domestic import data of the EU countries. Finally, we recommend some policies and management strategies according to the obtained results and previous literature for further discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuronal energy metabolism dysfunction, especially adenosine triphosphate (ATP) supply decrease, is observed in epilepsy and associated with epileptogenesis and prognosis. Zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) is known as an important modulator of energy metabolism and involved in neuronal glucose metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and ketogenesis impairment in seizures, but its effect on neuronal ATP synthesis in seizures and the specific mechanism are unclear. In this study, we verified the localization of ZAG in primary cultured neuronal mitochondria by using double-labeling immunofluorescence, immune electron microscopy, and western blot. ZAG level in neuronal mitochondria was modulated by lentiviruses and detected by western blot. The F0F1-ATP synthase activity, ATP level, and acetyl-CoA level were measured. The binding between ZAG and F0F1-ATP synthase was determined by coimmunoprecipitation. We found that both ZAG and F0F1-ATP synthase existed in neuronal mitochondria, and there was mutual binding between them. Epileptiform discharge-induced decrease of mitochondrial ZAG level was reversed by ZAG overexpression. Epileptiform discharge or ZAG knockdown decreased F0F1-ATP synthase activity and ATP level in neurons, which were reversed by ZAG overexpression, while overexpression of ZAG along only increased F0F1-ATP synthase activity but not increased ATP level. Meanwhile, neither epileptiform discharges nor changes of ZAG level can alter the acetyl-CoA level. Moreover, epileptiform discharge did not alter F0F1-ATP synthase level. In conclusion, epileptiform discharge-induced ZAG decrease in neuronal mitochondria is correlated to F0F1-ATP synthase activity inhibition, which may possibly lead to ATP supply impairments. ZAG may be a potential therapeutic target for treating neuronal energy metabolism dysfunction in seizures with further researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]