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1.1. Logical Necessity of the Three Dimensions as a Unit of Thought The mathematician does not look kindly on the simple question of why natural space should consist of precisely three dimensions. Instead of giving an answer he assumes a silent smile and shows us a version of space with an infinity of dimensions, as if space were some kind of toy for him to fiddle with to his heart's content.

Finite divisibility of general systems is shown. Based on this result, Lavoisier’s Axiom, introduced in 1789, is verified by using the concept of basic particles, where a basic particle is one particle which can no longer be divided into smaller ones. The conservation principle of ancient atomists is recasted and proved mathematically, based on which the law of conservation of matter‐energy can be seen clearly. A brief history of atoms, elements, and laws of conservation is given and some important open questions are posed.

The purpose of this paper is to reaffirm the suggestion that there are at least two distinct types of laws of trade-off that affect all firms and, in doing so, to contribute toward resolving the persistent trade-off debate in the literature.

Conceptual study using implicit deductive reasoning.

Two types of trade-offs are identified: “internal” can be understood following the dictates of the law of diminishing returns, while “external” can be modeled using the principle of energy conservation.

New insights are provided by discussing the impact of both laws of trade-off on the resource-based view of the firm, on new capabilities such as sustainability and innovativeness and on key strategic choices.

The study explains why trade-offs occur and outlines contextual factors that determine the “strength” of the trade-offs.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous study has attempted to investigate the topic of strategic trade-offs on the basis of the principle of energy conservation.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and discuss policy making process in the field of climate change in China. It aims to describe the main climate change‐related policies and to discuss the role of China in international climate change negotiations.

A qualitative method has been used for this paper. A preliminary desk study based on the analysis of the primary and secondary sources published in both English and Chinese (Mandarin) has been conducted. Literature on policy analysis and evaluation and the role of political actors in it, as well as examples of energy efficiency studies in other countries has been studied to develop an analytical framework for the empirical data interpretation. The main sources for information about China's situation are books, articles, as well as internet resources and newspapers covering China's politics, the climate change regime, and Chinese climate policy.

The paper provides insights into China's climate change policy making process and outlines the main challenges that policy implementation in China is facing today.

It was appreciated that some sources should be used with caution as information given in Chinese is subject to censorship and governmental control in China and therefore may be biased. It is not possible to avoid this problem totally when dealing with a state like China, but using multiple sources and personal observation may improve the reliability of the information.

The paper includes suggestions on policy improvements such as strengthening of supervision mechanisms and creating a Ministry of Energy.

This paper fulfils an identified need to study the climate change policy‐making process in China.

This study aims to improve the availability of regenerative braking for urban metro vehicles by introducing a sensorless operational temperature estimation method for the braking resistor (BR) onboard the vehicle, which overcomes the vulnerability of having conventional temperature sensor.

In this study, the energy model based sensorless estimation method is developed. By analyzing the structure and the convection dissipation process of the BR onboard the vehicle, the energy-based operational temperature model of the BR and its cooling domain is established. By adopting Newton's law of cooling and the law of conservation of energy, the energy and temperature dynamic of the BR can be stated. To minimize the use of all kinds of sensors (including both thermal and electrical), a novel regenerative braking power calculation method is proposed, which involves only the voltage of DC traction network and the duty cycle of the chopping circuit; both of them are available for the traction control unit (TCU) of the vehicle. By utilizing a real-time iterative calculation and updating the parameter of the energy model, the operational temperature of the BR can be obtained and monitored in a sensorless manner.

In this study, a sensorless estimation/monitoring method of the operational temperature of BR is proposed. The results show that it is possible to utilize the existing electrical sensors that is mandatory for the traction unit’s operation to estimate the operational temperature of BR, instead of adding dedicated thermal sensors. The results also validate the effectiveness of the proposal is acceptable for the engineering practical.

The proposal of this study provides novel concepts for the sensorless operational temperature monitoring of BR onboard rolling stocks. The proposed method only involves quasi-global electrical variable and the internal control signal within the TCU.

Future energy consumption in China's building sector will have a considerable influence on both China and the world's energy markets. Although the Chinese government has set out a series of policies to promote building energy efficiency (BEE), the BEE market share remains small. The paper aims to identify the key policy deficiencies that affect such promotion.

Based on the defined roles played by the government, this paper traces the path that China's BEE policies have taken since the 1980s and highlights the key problems. To understand how the Chinese government's BEE policies meet the expectations of market stakeholders, the paper employs data from a questionnaire of building design professionals in the country's major cities to identify the most favourable factors for and existing hurdles to the promotion of the BEE market.

The Chinese government needs to exert greater effort towards overcoming the deficiencies in its roles as policy maker, fiscal hub and advocate. At this stage, China would benefit more from legal and government intervention than from heavy reliance on voluntary schemes for BEE promotion.

The paper shows that both the government and industry need to become better informed of the conditions required to attract market parties towards the promotion of BEE. This study also identifies the main concerns involved, thus providing a strong foundation for further study in this arena.

This paper highlights the mismatch between market expectations and government policies aimed at BEE promotion in China. It fills the knowledge gap between market stakeholders and government for future policy design concerning BEE promotion.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of underwear on the microenvironment of human clothing.

Based on the basic laws of energy and mass conservation, the paper combined the theory of heat and mass transfer to establish the simulation of the influence of underwear on human thermal reaction in microclimate and prediction model of human thermal reaction law.

The impact on the microenvironment affected by tighter underwear is less than the effect of loose underwear and computational flow dynamics (CFD) can accurately predict the thermal reaction parameters’ values of the human body.

It can be effectively used for the prediction of heat exchange between human body and environment in high-temperature environment and human thermophysiological parameters, and overcomes the individual differences of human experiments and the danger and repeatability of high-temperature environmental experiments.

The basic equations (infinitesimal strain‐displacement relations, constitutive equation, conservation of mass, conservation of momentum, conservation of energy, rate of change of entropy, heat conduction equation, and definition of specific heat) and the governing equations (coupled, coupled‐quasi‐static, uncoupled‐quasi‐static, isotropic‐uncoupled‐quasi‐static and isotropic‐uncoupled‐steady) of thermoelasticity for a linear elastic package are briefly mentioned in the present study. The assumptions and limitations of these equations are also highlighted. Furthermore, two electronic packaging examples with closed form solutions using these equations are provided.

This paper aims to explain and discuss the complex nature and value of knowledge as an exploitable resource for business.

The authors propose a conceptual explanation of knowledge based on three pillars: the plurality of its nature, understood to be conservative, multipliable and generative, its contextual value and the duality of carrier incorporating business knowledge, objects or processes. After conceptualizing the nature of knowledge, the authors offer a metaphor based on the classic transformation from “potential” to “kinetic” energy in an inclined plane assuming that the conservative nature of knowledge makes it act as energy.

The metaphor uses the concept of potential and kinetic energy: if energy is only potential, it has a potential value not yet effective, whereas if the potential energy (knowledge) becomes kinetic energy (products and/or services), it generates business value. In addition, business value is a function of the speed acquired and caused by the angle of inclined plan, namely, the company’s business model. Knowledge is the source of the value and can be maintained and regenerated only through continuous investments. Several years later the value extraction reaches a null value of the company (potential energy) which will cease to act (kinetic energy) for triggering both the value generated and the value extracted.

The paper proposes an initial attempt to explain the meaning of the transformation of knowledge using a metaphor derived from physics. The metaphor of the energy of knowledge clearly depicts the managerial dilemma of balancing a company’s resources for both the generating and extracting value. Similarly, future study should try to associate other knowledge peculiarities to physical phenomena.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the knowledge dynamics process based on the energy metaphor and the thermodynamics framework. Knowledge dynamics is analyzed as a transformational process that goes beyond the Newtonian logic used to date.

The research design is based on metaphorical thinking, critical analysis of the mostly used knowledge metaphors to date, and the logic of thermodynamics, which is the science of energy transformation.

Knowledge is conceived as a field, composed of three fundamental forms: rational knowledge, emotional knowledge and spiritual knowledge. Each form of knowledge can be transformed into another form, thus generating an iterative and interactive dynamics. The unity of knowledge is supported by the brain’s organic structure.

Understanding knowledge dynamics as a transformational process helps managers in their problem-solving and implementation of strategies in their organizations. Knowledge dynamics is fundamental to the learning and unlearning processes, and for stimulating innovation. Knowledge dynamics, as a transformational process, is influencing both organizational behavior as well as consumers’ behavior.

The present research uses for the first time a thermodynamics approach in understanding and explaining the knowledge dynamics, which is a transformational process of three fundamental forms of knowledge: rational, emotional and spiritual.