Summary
“Societal metabolism” provides the appropriate conceptual basis for the rapidly growing development and analylical and policy interest in materials flow analysis (MFA). Following the review of the earlier intellectual background of societal metabolism in the first installment of this two-part article, this paper focuses on the current state of the art by examining more recent research referring t o societal metabolism in terms of material and substance flows. An operational classification of the literature according to frame of reference (socioeconomic system, ecosystem), system level (global, national, regional, functional, temporal), and types of flows under consideration (materials, energy, substances) highlights some of its characteristic features. There follows an integrated discussion of some of the major conceptual and methodological properties of MFA, with a particular focus on the field of bulk materials flows on a national level, comparing the major empirical results. Finally, the theoretical stringency research productivity, and political relevance of the MFA-related studies are assessed.

Society's Metabolism-The Intellectual History of Materials Flow Analysis, Part I, 1860-1970

Energy quality, emergy, and transformity: H.T. Odum’s contributions to quantifying and understanding systems

This is a review of recent research on world-systems. We cover studies of the current system and studies that compare the contemporary global system with earlier, smaller intersocietal systems. Research on the cycles and secular trends found in the modern world-system is discussed at length. This includes an examination of economic cycles of various lengths as well as their links with broader cycles like the rise and fall of hegemonic core powers, international financial crises, and the cycle of global war. We also survey recent studies of core-periphery hierarchy.

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World-Systems Analysis

https://www.exeter.ac.uk/energysecurity/documents/publications/Cherp_and_Jewell%202011.pdf

The three perspectives on energy security: intellectual history, disciplinary roots and the potential for integration

Globally there is profuse literature on the continuous developments of box type solar cookers and solar ovens. A lot of research work has been carried out in recent passed years in the world which clearly shown the utilization of solar energy towards the greatest needs of mankind obviously solar cooking, fuel saving, non-polluting environment and to save and produce electricity. In the present literature the efforts have been made to focus on diverse developments of box type solar cooker till now. An attempt has been made to optimize the various major parameters such as geometries of box-cooker, glazing system, cooking vessels design, heat storage, insulation, mirror boosters and financial feasibility of solar cooker box. All the discussed factors have been taken into account in the fabrication of a simple solar box cooker and a good improvement has been found in the performance of box cooker with efficient working in low ambient temperatures. A wiper type mechanism to remove vapor droplets from the bottom of glazing, during the cooking process has been introduced and discussed with a new designed cooking vessel. The investigational testing of the fabricated box cooker has been carried out under the climate conditions of Moradabad (latitude – 28°58′north and longitude – 78°47′east) Uttar Pradesh.

A thermodynamic review on solar box type cookers

The historical development of energy and power resources is discussed and the magnitude of our expanding need for power is examined. The economic, social, and environmental problems created by our rapidly expanding needs are described. The outlook for continued energy development is discussed.

M.K. Hubbert

Papers

Energy and power