Power Product Research Articles

External financing, channel power structure and product green R&D decisions in supply chains

PurposeThis study aims to focus on the optimal green R&D of a capital-constrained supply chain under different channel power structures as well as the impact of capital constraint, financing cost, channel power structure and cost-reducing efficiency on green R&D and supply chain profitability.Design/methodology/approachA two-echelon supply chain is considered. The upstream firm engages in green R&D but has capital constraints that can be overcome by external financing. Green R&D is beneficial to reduce production costs and increase consumer demand. Based on whether or not the upstream firm is capital constrained and dominates the supply chain, four models are developed.FindingsCapital constraints significantly lower green R&D and supply chain profitability. Transferring leadership from the upstream to the downstream firms leads to higher green R&D levels and downstream firm profitability, whereas the upstream firm's profitability is increased (decreased) if green R&D investment efficiency is high (low) enough. Greater financing costs reduce green R&D and downstream firm profitability; however, the upstream firm's profitability under the model in which it functions as the follower increases if the initial capital is sufficient. More importantly, empirical analysis based on practice data is used to verify the theoretical results reported above.Practical implicationsThis study reveals how upstream firms in supply chains decide green R&D decisions in situations with capital constraints, providing managers and governments with an understanding of the impact of capital constraint, channel power structure, financing cost and cost-reducing efficiency on supply chain green R&D and profitability.Originality/valueThe major contributions are the exploration of supply chain green R&D by taking into consideration channel power structures and cost-reducing efficiency and the validation of theoretical results using practice data.

Designing New Sport Supplements Based on Aronia melanocarpa and Bee Pollen to Enhance Antioxidant Capacity and Nutritional Value.

With a high number of athletes using sport supplements targeting different results, the need for complex, natural and effective formulations represents an actual reality, while nutrition dosing regimens aiming to sustain the health and performance of athletes are always challenging. In this context, the main goal of this study was to elaborate a novel and complex nutraceutical supplement based on multiple bioactive compounds extracted from Aronia melanocarpa and bee pollen, aiming to support physiological adaptations and to minimize the stress generated by intense physical activity in the case of professional or amateur athletes. Our proposed formulations are based on different combinations of Aronia and bee pollen (A1:P1, A1:P2 and A2:P1), offering personalized supplements designed to fulfill the individual requirements of different categories of athletes. The approximate composition, fatty acid profile, identification and quantification of individual polyphenols, along with the antioxidant capacity of raw biological materials and different formulations, was performed using spectrophotometric methods, GS-MS and HPLC-DAD-MS-ESI+. In terms of antioxidant capacity, our formulations based on different ratios of bee pollen and Aronia were able to act as complex and powerful antioxidant products, highlighted by the synergic or additional effect of the combinations. Overall, the most powerful synergism was obtained for the A1:P2 formulation.

Energy analysis of solar powered hydrogen production system with CuO/water nanofluids: An experimental investigation

Electrolysis is the process used to produce hydrogen using external electrical energy. Because of less initial and operating cost, less maintenance required, and simple construction, hydrogen production via water electrolysis has gained more attention among users globally. In this current attempt, a novel solar-powered hydrogen generation system was established and tested in different operating circumstances. Throughout the study, nanofluids with concentrations of 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.2% were utilized, and their effect on electrical performance and hydrogen production rate was examined. Compared to conventional solar panels, the usage of nanofluids resulted in a significant improvement in electrical power productivity and hydrogen output rate. The highest electrical efficiency is with a 0.2% volume fraction of CuO/water nanofluids at 13.5% at Noon. During the same period, the lowest and highest hydrogen yield rates are found for the conventional PV module and 0.2% volume fraction CuO/water nanofluids-based system as 7.9 ml/min and 18.2 ml/min, respectively.

Electronic coupling between metallic Ni and VN nanoparticles enables g-C3N4 nanosheet as an efficient photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution

Developing highly efficient hydrogen evolution cocatalysts is of great significance for semiconductor photocatalysts toward the large-scale conversion of solar light energy into clean hydrogen fuel. Herein, a novel Ni/VN hetero-nanosheets is reported for the first time, as precious metal-free co-catalyst for g-C3N4, and the electronic coupling between Ni and VN greatly promotes the photocatalytic hydrogen production activity of g-C3N4 nanosheet (CNNS) under visible-light irradiation. As expected, CNNS with 3 wt% Ni/VN (CNNS/Ni/VN) exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity with hydrogen production rates are as high as 417.1 μmol h−1g−1. In addition, CNNS/Ni/VN has excellent cyclic hydrogen production stability for 24 h. This excellent performance is attributed to the strong electron coupling between Ni and VN. Therefore, the Ni/VN cocatalysts will open a newfangled way for powerful solar-fuel production.

Switched Reluctance Motor Converters for Electric Vehicles Applications: Comparative Review

Through comprehensive study for the power converters that have emerged previously for switched reluctance machine (SRM) drive system, this paper proposes an evaluation approach to determine the suitability of these converters for using in SRM-based electric vehicle (EV) drive system. This evaluation reflects the relative differences of these converters in terms of their cost as well as their capability to offer best technical performance for the drive system of EVs. From technical viewpoint, four factors are considered as follow: the converter efficiency, the converter reliability, the capability of the converter to reduce torque ripple, and to increase power productivity. A benchmark consists of number of converter characteristics is identified. The operation of the converters is analyzed to determine, in quantitative way, their fulfillments to these characteristics. Expressions for the evaluation factors are proposed in terms of the converters’ characteristics. Accordingly, the converters are relatively scored to reflect their differences in cost as well as in technical impact on the SRM drive system. The results provide useful indication for trade-off between gaining some of advantages and losing others for EV applications. In addition, they identify of potentials for optimization based on the cost and the technical performance of different SRM converters.

ПСИХОЛОГІЯ СПРИЙНЯТТЯ УПАКОВКИ СПОЖИВАЧАМИ

Brands need to work hard to stand out in today's highly competitive market. Product marketing managers must do more than just create effective solutions. They also need to convince their customers that their brand is the best choice. So, product packaging has evolved from a product container to a powerful product and brand marketing strategy, exerting a powerful psychological influence on every consumer. The influence of packaging on consumer behavior is significant, according to a survey conducted by Elgaaied-Gambier: 72% of people believe that the design of a product's packaging plays a decisive role in their purchase decision, and 81% consider it an important factor when buying gifts. Quality packaging can convince consumers to trust the product inside and justify the cost of the product, especially luxury items. Premium branding and packaging can influence consumer behavior, with 61% of shoppers more likely to purchase a luxury product again if it comes in premium packaging. Overall, understanding the psychology of packaging provides businesses with information that can help with branding and marketing strategies. By effectively using elements such as color, typography, shapes, images and textures, brands can create attractive packaging that speaks directly to their target audience and meets the main goal: increase sales.

Post-Cold War Historicism: Perceptions, Progress, and Praxis

Post-Cold War literature was a historicist effort to remake the international order and prolong American hegemony. Major works by Bernard Lewis and Samuel Huntington describe a world of conflict and disorder while Francis Fukuyama and Thomas Friedman showed that the world was headed toward unstoppable progress. Some were critical of these efforts. John Mearsheimer, Michael Hardt, and Antonio Negri saw the world as a product of power, albeit from different ontological standpoints: the state versus unseen forces, respectively. The first section defines historicism and highlights how literature can be considered historicist, what Karl Popper would deem pseudoscientific. One goal of historicism is the transformation of the world to fit a specific vision. Antonio Gramsci refers to this as praxis. The second section will summarize the Post-Cold War literature and highlight historicism.

Environmentalism in photovoltaics substitution, nationalism in photovoltaics rivalry and youth’s choice of solar power banks in Lanzhou

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how environmentalism in photovoltaic (PV) substitution and nationalism in PV rivalry with the USA are associated with the trade-offs made by young consumers in Lanzhou when selecting Chinese brand portable solar power banks.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the choice-based conjoint survey was conducted to investigate mobile power bank consumers aged 18–28 in Lanzhou urban districts. A total of 2,004 valid questionnaires were collected and 1,813 sample was used in analyses. Logit and ordinary least squares regression models were run for empirical analyses.FindingsThe research results show that consumers tend to sacrifice certain levels of affordability for moderate technological capability, a reputable brand, better portability and advanced charging functions or sacrifice certain levels of technological capabilities for a moderate price. Consumers with stronger environmentalism in PV substitution tend to prioritize median price levels, larger battery capacity and better portability, while being less sensitive to brand and showing less preference for advanced charging functions. Consumers with stronger nationalism in PV rivalry tend to prioritize reasonably higher prices, bigger brands, enhanced portability, more solar panels and advanced charging functions.Practical implicationsThis research sheds light on consumer trade-offs between price, brand, portability, technological capability and charging function. It also explores how environmentalism and nationalism sentiments are associated with consumer decision-making. These insights carry valuable policy implications for fostering product innovation, supporting brand-building initiatives for small and medium-size enterprises, promoting market competition and preventing the weaponization of consumer nationalism.Originality/valueAs an emerging solar power product, the portable solar power bank holds significant potential for widespread adoption as a means to drive energy transition. Within the current context, two notable sentiments have surfaced: environmentalism, which pertains to the adoption of PV technology as a substitute for conventional energy sources and nationalism, which manifests in the PV rivalry between China and the USA. This research aims to investigate consumer preference related to this emerging product, specifically focusing on its relationship with these two sentiments.

On Recovery of a Non-Negative Relaxation Spectrum Model from the Stress Relaxation Test Data.

The relaxation spectra, from which other material functions used to describe mechanical properties of materials can be uniquely determined, are important for modeling the rheological properties of polymers used in chemistry, food technology, medicine, cosmetics, and many other industries. The spectrum, being not directly accessible by measurement, is recovered from relaxation stress or oscillatory shear data. Only a few models and identification methods take into account the non-negativity of the real spectra. In this paper, the problem of recovery of non-negative definite relaxation spectra from discrete-time noise-corrupted measurements of relaxation modulus obtained in the stress relaxation test is considered. A new hierarchical identification scheme is developed, being applicable both for relaxation time and frequency spectra. Finite-dimensional parametric classes of models are assumed for the relaxation spectra, described by a finite series of power-exponential and square-exponential basis functions. The related models of relaxation modulus are given by compact analytical formula, described by the products of power of time and the modified Bessel functions of the second kind for the time spectrum, and by recurrence formulas based on products of power of time and complementary error functions for frequency spectrum. The basis functions are non-negative. In result, the identification task was reduced to a finite-dimensional linear-quadratic problem with non-negative unknown model parameters. To stabilize the solution, an additional smoothing constraint is introduced. Dual approach was used to solve the stated optimal identification task resulting in the hierarchical two-stage identification scheme. In the first stage, dual problem is solved in two levels and the vector of non-negative model parameters is computed to provide the best fit of the relaxation modulus to experiment data. Next, in second stage, the optimal non-negative spectrum model is determined. A complete scheme of the hierarchical computations is outlined; it can be easily implemented in available computing environments. The model smoothness is analytically studied, and the applicability ranges are numerically examined. The numerical studies have proved that using developed models and algorithm, it is possible to determine non-negative definite unimodal and bimodal relaxation spectra for a wide class of polymers. However, the examples also demonstrated that if the basis functions are non-negative and the model is properly selected for a given type of the real spectrum (unimodal, multimodal), the optimal model determined without non-negativity constraint can be non-negative in the dominant range of its arguments, especially in the wide neighborhood of the spectrum peaks.

Juniper berry essential oils as natural resources of biological and pharmacological high-valuable molecules

Dried juniper berries (Juniperus communis L.) as a source of nutritionally valuable essential oil (EOs) were used for their isolation by conventional hydrodistillation (HD) and modern technique - microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MWHD). The chemical composition, and biological and microbiological potential of the isolated EOs, prepared by using different microwave energy power and microwave treatment time, were investigated. The essential oil kinetic release curves were mathematically modeled. Results of the research indicate that MWHD was a more favorable technique for EO isolation with higher biological activity than HD, where lower power of microwave radiation was more suitable for realizing a higher antioxidant activity. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the composition of essential oils obtained by different distillation techniques. Reduction of the isolation time of MWHD contributes to obtaining EOs with a very pronounced ability to inhibit excessive enzyme activity, while the production of EOs with strong microbiological activity requires a long isolation time. The EO of juniper berries obtained by MWHD could be characterized as a powerful natural product for the creation and formulation of new, as well as improving the quality of already existing food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products.

The balance of power consumption of the process of grain grinding

The purpose of the research is to determine the power consumption of the process of grain grinding with a grinder. When conducting theoretical studies to determine the amount of energy spent on grinding grain during the operation of the grinder, the physical and mechanical properties of the grain, the parameters and mode of operation of the grinder, the energy consumption to overcome harmful resistances, to grind grain and to discard the crushed mass were taken into account. The technological scheme of the grain grinder is given. A mathematical dependence is proposed to determine the power consumption of the grain grinding process by a grinder. It has been established that the power consumption of a hammer grinder is mainly influenced by the number of hammers, the angular velocity of the hammer, the area of the front part of the hammer, the radius of the grinding chamber, and the physical and mechanical properties of the grain. As a result of the research, graphical dependences of power consumption and productivity on the number of revolutions of the hammer propeller were built.

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ULTRA HIGH-THROUGHPUT PROTEIN PRODUCTION PLATFORM (ULTRA 96) FOR EARLY STAGE IN VITRO STUDIES

Abstract Proteins are known as the building blocks of life which play many critical roles in the body. In early stage drug discovery, numerous μg to mg scale high quality proteins need to be produced for in vitro functional studies and therapeutic evaluation, including antigens, monoclonal antibodies (mAb), bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) as well as other Fc fusion proteins. High-throughput production (HTP) of various proteins with high quality in very short time is a big challenge in industry. Here we present how WuXi Biologics has created a powerful ultra HTP protein production platform (termed as “Ultra 96”) that can automatically produce proteins within 3 weeks with one step purification at 1~3mL expression scale by using 96 and 24 well DWP. High titer of expression, high quality of products, short timeline as well as low cost make “Ultra 96” a robust platform which can empower our clients and dramatically accelerate their early stage drug discovery projects.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of bee venom against multi-drug resistant pathogens.

Bee venom with an antimicrobial effect is a powerful natural product. One of the most important areas where new antimicrobials are needed is in the prevention and control of multi-drug resistant pathogens. Today, antibacterial products used to treat multi-drug resistant pathogen infections in hospitals and healthcare facilities are insufficient to prevent colonisation and spread, and new products are needed. The aim of the study is to investigate the antibacterial effect of the bee venom (BV), a natural substance, on the species of Methicillin resistantStaphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin resistantEnterococcus faecalis, Carbapenem resistantEscherichia coli, Carbapenem resistantKlebsiella pneumoniaeand Carbapenem resistantAcinetobacter baumannii. As a result of this study, it was found that MIC90and MBC90values ranged from 6.25 μg/mL - 12.5 μg/mL and numbers of bacteria decreased by 4-6 logs within 1-24 h for multi-drug resistant pathogens. In particular, Vancomycin resistantEnterococcus faecalisisolate decreased 6 log cfu/mL at 50 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL concentrations in the first hour. The effective bacterial inhibition rate of bee venom suggests that it could be a potential antibacterial agent for multi-drug resistant pathogens.Contribution:The treatment options of antibiotic-resistant pathogens are a major problem in both veterinary and human medicine fields. We have detected a high antibacterial effect against these agents in this bee venom study, which is a natural product. Apitherapy is a fashionable treatment method all over the world and is used in many areas of health. Bee venom is also a product that can be used as a drug or disinfectant raw material and can fill the natural product gap that can be used against resistant bacteria.

Stakeholder Perspectives on Energy Auctions: A Case Study in Roraima, Brazil

Energy auctions are commonly used to contract energy projects and are extensively studied from the regulator’s perspective. However, analyzing auctions from the stakeholders’ perspective is critical to determine the impact of regulatory details on the bidder’s revenues. In this study, we analyze a public energy auction in Roraima, a Brazilian state with a significant energy deficit and no grid connection, where many projects were successful in the non-intermittent Power Product category, typically unfavorable for biomass. Using Linear Programming to maximize bidders’ revenues, we examine the regulatory formulas that contributed to the success of these projects and compare the optimization results to actual revenues. Our analysis shows that certain regulatory elements can benefit stakeholders by allowing them to make unconventional project design decisions. In addition, we identify a possible loophole in the formula that can have the opposite effect of the regulator’s intent in the renewable Power Product category. Our findings can help bidders increase profits through optimization and regulators to change formulas if objectives are not met. This study brings the often-overlooked perspective of stakeholders to energy auctions, adding to the literature on this topic.

The association between intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass power and complications after cardiac surgery.

Low cardiac power (product of flow and pressure) has been shown to be associated with mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction, but has not been studied in cardiac surgical patients. This study's hypothesis was that cardiac power during cardiopulmonary bypass for cardiac surgery would have a greater association with adverse events than either flow or MAP (mean arterial pressure) alone. We undertook a retrospective observational study using patient data from February 2015 to March 2022 undergoing cardiac surgery at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth Australia. Excluded were patient age less than 18years old, patients undergoing thoracic transplantation, ventricular assist devices, off pump cardiac surgery and aortic surgery. The primary outcome was a composite outcome of 30-days mortality, stroke or new-onset renal insufficiency. Overall, 1984 cardiac surgeries were included in the analysis. Neither duration nor area below thresholds tested for power, MAP or flow was associated with the primary composite outcome. However, we found that an area below MAP thresholds 35-50mmHg was associated with new renal insufficiency (adjusted odds ratio 1.17 [95% CI 1.02 to 1.35] for patients spending 10min at 10mmHg below 50mmHg MAP compared to those who did not). This study suggests that MAP during cardiopulmonary bypass, but not power or flow, was an independent risk factor for adverse renal outcomes for cardiac surgical patients.

Endogenous Development as Strategic Resource of Agrarian Growth in Conditions of Global Challenges

Each stage of the development requires correction of economic course, especially in conditions of global challenges. The period of orientation to external sources of growth at the expense of selling raw materials and power products abroad is over, thus it is necessary to pass over to endogenous development of Russian economy, especially agriculture. Information provided in the article gives evidence to a big share of exported resources in respect to the volume of their production or extraction. Four fifth of mineral fertilizers produced in the country is sold abroad, though home agriculture uses them in insufficient volume. Additional amounts of mineral fertilizers in Russian fields could increase the volume of food that is in demand on global markets. Power resources that cannot be used due to anti-Russian sanctions could be directed to internal needs, which could give an opportunity to convert them into goods with high added value. Putting resources that were not used by western countries in home economy can create extra capacities and extend taxation base, which could compensate for losses on foreign market. In agriculture priority shall be given to the development of local economy mobilizing local labour and material resources, which apart from production effect could provide opportunities for resolving a number of social and economic problems caused by big agricultural producers. The author came to the conclusion about the promising nature of endogenous development, which can ensure the quality of Russian economy growth and its agrarian sector.

An innovative approach for utilizing waste heat of a triple-pressure cogeneration combined cycle power plant by employing TRR method and thermodynamic analysis

The aim of this study is to examine the possible locations where heat recovery can occur in a triple-pressure cogeneration combined cycle power plant and calculate the amount of waste heat that can be recovered. To complete this objective, an adjusted cycle layout is created and the energy system is analyzed from both thermodynamic and exergetic viewpoints. Furthermore, the Total Revenue Requirement (TRR) method and thermoeconomic analysis are used to determine the price of products produced. The optimization results are displayed in a Pareto chart diagram, utilizing a new model with two objective functions - power cost and product heat. This method allows for identifying the best operating point for these types of power plants, accounting for electricity and heat prices across various regions. The implications of this study for the energy sector are significant as it highlights how waste heat recovery plays a crucial role in cogeneration combined cycle power plants. By pinpointing potential heat recovery locations and determining how much waste heat can be recovered, valuable insights are gained that can inform both design and operation decisions for these power plants. Additionally, using the TRR method and thermoeconomic analysis provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating the economic feasibility of this type of system.

Optimal bidding strategy of multi-carrier systems in electricity markets using information gap decision theory

This paper proposes a novel optimization framework based on information gap decision theory (IGDT) for strategic participation of multi-carrier systems (MCS) in the electricity market under price uncertainty. The proposed framework helps the operator of MCS to take advantage of flexible generation units such as combined heat and power (CHP) systems, boilers, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) and participate in the electricity market considering the strategies presented by IGDT against the uncertainty in the market clearing price. The proposed optimization framework is developed as a bilevel problem, in which the risk-based bidding strategy of the MCS operator is modeled in the upper-level problem, and the energy market is cleared by the bulk power system operator in the lower-level problem. Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions are used to transform the bilevel problem into a single-level optimization problem. Duality theory is later used to approximate the product of power and market clearing price in the MCS operation problem, and the non-linearity enforced by the implementation of IGDT is handled by a linearization method called Triangle method. The studied optimization framework is modeled as a single-level mixed-integer linear programming problem, and CPLEX is used to solve it. The simulations are carried out on the modified IEEE 6-bus transmission network, and the results are analyzed to verify the economic and computation efficiency of the studied model. According to the simulation results, by taking a risk-averse bidding strategy provided by the IGDT, the operation cost of MCS increases 16.6% in order to increase the robustness level of MCS up to 36%, indicating that MCS becomes robust against 36% of the increase in the electricity market price, compared to the case with a risk-neutral bidding strategy being taken.

Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers and Their Applications in Several Areas.

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have a broad spectrum of applications, including sensor manufacturing, electrochemical catalysis, and energy storage. Among different manufacturing methods, electrospinning, due to its simplicity and efficiency, has emerged as one of the most powerful commercial large-scale production techniques. Numerous researchers have been attracted to improving the performance of CNFs and exploring new potential applications. This paper first discusses the working theory of manufacturing electrospun CNFs. Next, the current efforts in upgrading the properties of CNFs, such as pore architecture, anisotropy, electrochemistry, and hydrophilicity, are discussed. The corresponding applications due to the superior performances of CNFs are subsequently elaborated. Finally, the future development of CNFs is discussed.

Optimal design and operation of damping controllers in PV–wind integrated sustainable energy grids considering system uncertainties

AbstractThis paper aims to present an optimization method for the best bus selection (BBS) in the large‐scale power systems in order to send the input signals to the damping controllers. In this regard, a submodular function is first defined to calculate the distance between the unstable vectors of the system and the controllability Gramian leading to find a set of buses for installation of the damping controllers. Based on the results obtained from the BBS approach, the number of candidate buses will be increased to deal with the inter‐area oscillations by introducing an event‐triggered based auxiliary scheme. According to the candidate buses and the power system operating condition, the most critical buses of the candidate set is allowed to participate as the input signals of damping controllers to reduce the inter‐area oscillations. The proposed algorithm is implemented on an interconnected large power system in the presence of wind and solar farms. These renewable energy resources are connected to the power system through the multi‐terminal DC network, so that their power products can be damped and injected into the power grid by designing the damping controllers. The simulations have been analysed using MATLAB software under different scenarios.