(Speaking) Mr.Gbagbo says that thanks to the support of the international community, and in particular thanks to the work and desire for peace of his fellow Ivorians, the electoral process has entered an irreversible phase.

VOA: standard.2009.09.29

get back to the initial point is going to require some input from outside, like heat or extra work or extra heat or something because you've done an irreversible process.

如果要逆转它,回到初始点，就需要外界的投入，比如额外的功，额外的热量等等,因为你进行了一个不可逆过程。

麻省理工公开课 - 热力学与动力学课程节选

So w, the work is less for the irreversible process than the reversible process.

不可逆过程中系统对外界,做的功要比可逆过程时小。

麻省理工公开课 - 热力学与动力学课程节选

Progress across the public services was taking place but that progress was not irreversible and the work needed to go on, said Mr Barber.

BBC: At-a-glance: Blair news conference