scholarly journals Always a price to pay: hibernation at low temperatures comes with a trade-off between energy savings and telomere damage

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 20190466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Nowack ◽  
Iris Tarmann ◽  
Franz Hoelzl ◽  
Steve Smith ◽  
Sylvain Giroud ◽  
...  

We experimentally tested the costs of deep torpor at low temperatures by comparing telomere dynamics in two species of rodents hibernating at either 3 or 14°C. Our data show that hibernators kept at the warmer temperature had higher arousal frequencies, but maintained longer telomeres than individuals hibernating at the colder temperature. We suggest that the high-energy demand of frequent arousals is counteracted by a lower temperature differential between torpid and euthermic body temperature and that telomere length is restored during arousals when the body temperature is returned to normothermic values. Taken together, our study shows that hibernation at low body temperatures comes with costs on a cellular level and that hibernators need to actively counterbalance the shortening of telomeres.

1927 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 1175-1175
Author(s):  
I. G. Klebansky

According to studies of I.G. Klebansky blood clotting in warm-blooded animals occurs at a constant rate at a certain temperature, the optimum of which is close to the body temperature of animals. At low temperatures blood coagulation is extremely slowed down, but not accelerated.


1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 573 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Watson ◽  
JAM Graves

We have studied the effects of temperature on the phases of the cell cycle in cells derived from the monotreme mammals, platypus and echidna, which have the unusually low body temperature of 32�C. We report here that M phase and the cycle time conform to expectations, but in the case of cycle time this is due to different effects of high and low temperatures on GI, G2 and S phases. The finding that the G2 and S phases apparently have an inverse linear relationship with temperature up to 37�C (the upper lethal temperature) suggests that the low body temperature of the monotremes is not primitive, but rather has been the result of a lowering of the body temperature during their evolutionary history.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 03-17
Author(s):  
Gazal Dandia ◽  
◽  
Pratheek Sudhakaran ◽  
Chaitali Basu ◽  
◽  
...  

Introduction: High energy consumption by buildings is a great threat to the environment and one of the major causes of climate change. With a population of 1.4 billion people and one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, India is extremely vital for the future of global energy markets. The energy demand for construction activities continues to rise and it is responsible for over one-third of global final energy consumption. Currently, buildings in India account for 35% of total energy consumption and the value is growing by 8% annually. Around 11% of total energy consumption are attributed to the commercial sector. Energy-efficient retrofitting of the built environments created in recent decades is a pressing urban challenge. Presently, most energy-efficient retrofit projects focus mainly on the engineering aspects. In this paper, we evaluate various retrofitting options, such as passive architectural interventions, active technological interventions, or a combination of both, to create the optimum result for the selected building. Methods: Based on a literature study and case examples, we identified various energy-efficient retrofit measures, and then examined and evaluated those as applied to the case study of Awas Bhawan (Rajasthan Housing Board Headquarters), Jaipur, India. For the evaluation, we developed a simulation model using EQuest for each energy measure and calculated the resultant energy savings. Then, based on the cost of implementation and the cost of energy saved, we calculated the payback period. Finally, an optimum retrofit solution was formulated with account for the payback period and ease of installation. Results and discussion: The detailed analysis of various energy-efficient retrofit measures as applied to the case study indicates that the most feasible options for retrofit resulting in optimum energy savings with short payback periods include passive architecture measures and equipment upgrades.


Author(s):  
Johannes Wagner ◽  
Mirko Schäfer ◽  
Long Phan ◽  
Alexander Schlüter ◽  
Jens Hesselbach ◽  
...  

Many industries have significant requirements regarding temperature control, air humidity and air pollution which must be strictly adhered to avoid bacterial formation and contamination. High refrigeration specifications are only required in certain areas. However, these specifications are often applied across the whole production hall which results in unnecessarily high energy demand and usage. A more energy efficient approach is the localized cooling of the product, which conditions the direct environment of the product only. This leads to the consideration of separating or localizing the products specifically requiring refrigeration in the production hall. In this paper, localized product cooling systems are analyzed in order to identify the savings potential associated with a localized refrigeration system. The study shows the energy savings potential for a manufacturing company located in three different locations: in Germany, Canada and the USA.


2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 810-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Joachim Gelegenis ◽  
Douglas Harris ◽  
Danae Diakoulaki ◽  
Helen Lampropoulou ◽  
George Giannakidis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the reduction in efficiency of central heating systems of multi-family buildings when independent heating capability is offered to each apartment, to access the impact of the applied heating cost allocation (HCA) on this deterioration and suggest highly cost-effective ways (operation, control strategy, alternative HCA) of overcoming them at minimum cost. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reveals the problem of reduced efficiency in centrally heated multi-family dwellings through two case studies in real buildings, where data-loggers were installed and performance curve analysis was performed, in combination with detailed simulation. Findings – The paper finds that the enforcement of a suitable HCA regulation is a prerequisite to achieving energy savings in centrally heated multi-family dwellings. In addition the effects of dissimilarly heated apartments on the total energy demand and the significance of indirect heating and how these should be charged, are assessed. It is found that convenient operation of the central heating system may lead to high energy cost savings and higher efficiency at no cost. Research limitations/implications – HCA adopted more than three decades ago should be revised according to the present situation, namely, increasing fuel costs, existence of many low income families, energy poverty, availability of alternative (or supplementary) heating devices and better building envelopes. Practical implications – Occupants of multi-family dwellings should be appropriately educated and agree on rational use of the common heating system of the building. Originality/value – The paper identifies weak points of valid HCA regulation, reveals inefficiencies in centrally heated multi-family dwellings and measures the actual effectiveness of remedying measures. Detailed simulation contributes to the scientific documentation of the findings.


Author(s):  
Michael Keltsch ◽  
Werner Lang ◽  
Thomas Auer

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010 calls for the Nearly Zero Energy Standard for new buildings from 2021 onwards: Buildings using “almost no energy” are powered by renewable sources or energy produced by the building itself. For residential buildings, this ambitious new standard has already been reached. But for other building types this goal is still far away. The potential of these buildings to meet a Nearly Zero Energy Standard was investigated by analyzing ten case studies representing non-residential buildings with different uses. The analysis shows that the primary characteristics common to critical building types are a dense building context with a very high degree of technical installation (such as hospital, research and laboratory buildings). The large primary energy demand of these types of buildings cannot be compensated by building and property-related energy generation including off-site renewables. If the future Nearly Zero Energy Standard were to be defined with lower requirements because of this, the state related properties of Bavaria suggest that the real potential energy savings available in at least 85% of all new buildings would be insufficiently exploited. Therefore, it would be useful to instead individualize the legal energy verification process for new buildings to distinguish critical building types such as laboratories and hospitals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 7919
Author(s):  
Zainal Arifin ◽  
Suyitno Suyitno ◽  
Dominicus Danardono Dwi Prija Tjahjana ◽  
Wibawa Endra Juwana ◽  
Mufti Reza Aulia Putra ◽  
...  

High energy demand is leading to the replacement of fossil energy with renewable sources such as solar energy. Solar cells are devices used to generate solar energy. However, when exposed to sunlight with high intensity, a solar cell can suffer a decrease in performance due to overheating. This issue can be addressing by adding a cooling system. This study used a passive cooling system by adding a heat sink with fins to the body panel of the solar cell. The advantage of the passive cooling system is that it does not require additional energy. The number of fins and types of material were varied to obtain the best passive cooling system. The number of fins used was 5, 10, and 15, and the materials used were aluminum and copper. The wind speed vector and the temperature distribution were investigated through simulation. The results showed an increase in the number of fins provided better cooling capacity and increased the photovoltaic performance. The best cooling capability and performance were obtained using 15 fins with a copper base and fin heat sink materials. The decrease in temperature and the increase in efficiency were 10.2 °C and 2.74%, respectively. Therefore, the use of passive cooling system based on heat sinks with fins could provide a potential solution to increase performance and prevent overheating of photovoltaic (PV) panel systems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Clemens Nikolaus Cislo ◽  
Bernhard Kronthaler ◽  
Bruno Buchmayr ◽  
Christian Weiß

Based on high energy demand of the primary production and losses during secondary production, alternative recycling of aluminum becomes a popular research topic. Compared to both primary and secondary production of aluminum, solid state recycling offers energy savings and reduced material losses during processing by surpassing an inefficient melting step. In this work, a direct recycling route for machining chips via pulsed electric current sintering (PECS) is evaluated. Therefore, necessary processing steps for a complete recycling route are briefly outlined. After cleansing, EN AW 6082 chips, provided by Neuman Aluminium GmbH, Marktl, Austria, are compacted with variable loads and consolidated via PECS on two separate systems to enable a comparison. Produced specimens are examined with density measurements, optical microscopy and the bonding quality is evaluated by Vickers micro-hardness measurements. In combination with elevated temperature and deformation, applied current promotes consolidation amongst chips and improvements in density, hardness and microstructure are achieved. The results of this work clearly show a positive effect of PECS on the bonding amongst chips, but further research will be necessary to separate and understand influences of single processing parameters. Additionally, all processing steps from collection to consolidation have to be taken into account to achieve industrial implementation.


Endocrinology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 161 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel R Schlaepfer ◽  
Molishree Joshi

Abstract Energy homeostasis during fasting or prolonged exercise depends on mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO). This pathway is crucial in many tissues with high energy demand and its disruption results in inborn FAO deficiencies. More than 15 FAO genetic defects have been currently described, and pathological variants described in circumpolar populations provide insights into its critical role in metabolism. The use of fatty acids as energy requires more than 2 dozen enzymes and transport proteins, which are involved in the activation and transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria. As the key rate-limiting enzyme of FAO, carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT1) regulates FAO and facilitates adaptation to the environment, both in health and in disease, including cancer. The CPT1 family of proteins contains 3 isoforms: CPT1A, CPT1B, and CPT1C. This review focuses on CPT1A, the liver isoform that catalyzes the rate-limiting step of converting acyl-coenzyme As into acyl-carnitines, which can then cross membranes to get into the mitochondria. The regulation of CPT1A is complex and has several layers that involve genetic, epigenetic, physiological, and nutritional modulators. It is ubiquitously expressed in the body and associated with dire consequences linked with genetic mutations, metabolic disorders, and cancers. This makes CPT1A an attractive target for therapeutic interventions. This review discusses our current understanding of CPT1A expression, its role in heath and disease, and the potential for therapeutic opportunities targeting this enzyme.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Manjeet Kaur ◽  
Roopam Bassi ◽  
Kiran Mehta ◽  
Deepinder Kaur

ABSTRACT Introduction Pregnancy is accompanied by a high-energy demand of all body functions and an increased oxygen requirement, which can give rise to increased levels of oxidative stress. Aims and objectives The present study was done to assess the levels of oxidative stress in healthy pregnant females by estimating serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and comparing these with nonpregnant females. Materials and methods The study was conducted on 88 female subjects in the age group of 20 to 40 years, who were placed in two groups. Group I consisted of 50 healthy nonpregnant females. Group II consisted of healthy pregnant females further subdivided into three subgroups: Group IIa (1st trimester) n = 38, group IIb (2nd trimester) n = 32, and group IIc (3rd trimester) n = 30. The same subjects were followed up till the 3rd trimester. There was a drop in the number of subjects from 38 to 32 in the 2nd trimester and from 32 to 30 in the 3rd trimester due to noncompliance and development of complications of pregnancy. The subjects were assessed for hemoglobin (Hb), MDA, a marker for lipid peroxidation, and SOD, an antioxidant enzyme along with certain physiological parameters like height, weight, body mass index, and blood pressure in the three trimesters. Results The levels of SOD and MDA were significantly raised with the progression of pregnancy. There was a fall in Hb levels in the 3rd trimester. But no significant correlation could be drawn between the measured parameters in all the trimesters. Conclusion Pregnancy is definitely associated with oxidative stress to the body. Both peroxidation and antioxidation reactions are enhanced during pregnancy. With these findings, we therefore conclude that antioxidant supplements should be prescribed in early pregnancy to prevent the overwhelming of oxidative stress in pregnant females. How to cite this article Bassi R, Sharma S, Mehta K, Kaur M, Kaur D. Study of Serum Superoxide Dismutase and Malondialdehyde Levels during Normal Pregnancy. Curr Trends Diagn Treat 2017;1(1):1-5.


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