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In recent years, the installed capacity of renewable energy sources, such as wind power and photovoltaic generation, has been steadily increasing in power systems. However, the inherent randomness and volatility of renewable energy generation pose greater challenges to grid frequency stability. To address this issue, this paper first introduces the Minkowski sum algorithm to map the feasible regions of dispersed individual units into a high-dimensional hypercube space, achieving efficient aggregation of large-scale schedulable capacity. Compared with conventional geometric or convex-hull aggregation methods, the proposed approach better captures spatio-temporal coupling characteristics and reduces computational complexity while preserving accuracy. Subsequently, aiming at the coordination challenge between day-ahead planning and real-time dispatch, a “hierarchical coordination and dynamic optimization” control framework is proposed. This three-layer architecture, comprising “day-ahead pre-dispatch, intraday rolling optimization, and terminal execution,” combined with PID feedback correction technology, stabilizes the output deviation within ±15%. This performance is significantly superior to the market assessment threshold. The research results provide theoretical support and practical reference for the engineering promotion of vehicle–grid interaction technology and the construction of new power systems. Full article

Against the backdrop of global energy transition and sustainable development, advancing the new energy industry has become a critical pathway for optimizing energy structures and achieving the dual carbon goals. However, while China’s new energy sector has experienced rapid growth, it has also exposed a series of challenges, including insufficient innovation momentum, irrational resource allocation, and low conversion rates of R&D outcomes. To delve into the root causes and propose improvement pathways, this study selected 76 listed new energy enterprises from 2021 to 2023 as samples. It comprehensively employed the DEA-BCC model, Malmquist productivity index, and Tobit regression model to conduct empirical analysis across three dimensions: static, dynamic, and influencing factors. The findings revealed: firstly, during the study period, overall static efficiency remained low, with only about 32.90% of enterprises operating efficiently. Efficiency decomposition indicated that low and unstable pure technical efficiency constrained overall efficiency gains. In contrast, while scale efficiency was relatively high, its growth was sluggish, and some enterprises exhibited significant scale irrelevance. Secondly, dynamic total factor productivity exhibited fluctuating growth primarily driven by technological progress. However, declining technical efficiency—particularly the deterioration of scale efficiency—indicated that while the new energy industry advanced technologically and expanded in scale, its management capabilities had not kept pace. This mismatch among the three factors trapped the industry in a “high investment, low efficiency” dilemma. Thirdly, regression analysis of influencing factors indicated that corporate governance and market competitiveness were pivotal to innovation efficiency: the proportion of independent directors and revenue growth rate exerted significant positive impacts, while equity concentration showed a significant negative effect. Firm size had a weaker influence, and government support did not demonstrate a significant positive impact. Accordingly, this paper proposes pathways to enhance innovation efficiency in new energy enterprises, including optimizing corporate governance structures, formulating differentiated subsidy policies, and improving the innovation ecosystem. The findings of this study not only provide empirical references for the innovative development of the new energy industry but also offer theoretical support for relevant policy formulation. Full article

In the preliminary design stage of wind farms, the theoretical energy output must be adjusted by multiple reduction factors to estimate the actual grid-connected power. As renewable energy becomes increasingly integrated into electricity markets, the conventional approach using static, averaged reduction coefficients for annual yield estimation can no longer meet the market’s demand for high-resolution power time series. Addressing this gap, the novelty of this paper lies in shifting the focus from total annual estimation to hourly-level dynamic allocation. This paper proposes a time-series reduction coefficient evaluation method based on the time-varying entropy weight method (TV-EWM). Under the assumption that the total annual reduction quantity adheres to standard design specifications, this method utilizes long-term wind measurement data, integrates unique ultra-high-altitude wind resource characteristics, and constructs a scenario-based indicator system. By quantifying the coupling relationships between key meteorological variables and incorporating a dynamic weighting mechanism, the proposed approach achieves hourly refined reduction estimation for theoretical power output. Comparative analysis was conducted against the traditional static average reduction method. Results indicate that, compared to the traditional average reduction method, the TV-EWM approach significantly enhances the model’s ability to capture seasonal variability, increasing the coefficient of determination (R²) by 4.19% to 0.7061. Furthermore, it demonstrates higher stability in error control, reducing the Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) by 4.51% to 15.45%. The TV-EWM more accurately captures the temporal evolution and coupling effects between meteorological elements and curtailed generation under various reduction scenarios, retains full-load operational features, and enhances physical interpretability and time responsiveness, providing a new analytical framework for market-oriented power generation assessment. Full article

Rare earth elements (REEs) are not scarce in nature; however, they rarely occur in economically viable concentrations. Over recent decades, demand for REE has increased substantially due to advances in high-technology industries and the expansion of clean energy technologies. At present, global REE production is highly concentrated, leading to instability in the international market and reinforcing the need to identify new resources. This study presents a mineralogical characterization of REE+Y occurrences in the Serra da Mesa Granitic Massif (SMGM), the type granite of the Tocantins Subprovince, Goiás Tin Province, Brazil. The objective is to evaluate its potential for REE+Y enrichment in ion-adsorption–type (IA-type) weathering profiles. Petrography, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were applied to samples of the parental granite and associated alluvial sediments. The main REE-bearing minerals identified are allanite, bastnäsite-(Y), fluocarbonates, xenotime-(Y), zircon, and fergusonite-(Y), showing wide compositional variability. Bastnäsite-(Y) and xenotime display the highest REE+Y contents, reaching up to 74.2 wt.% and 65.1 wt.%, respectively. Bastnäsite and other fluocarbonates occur as alteration products of allanite, indicating REE+Y mobilization associated with F- and CO₂-rich fluids under low-temperature hydrothermal conditions. Alteration textures and low EPMA analytical totals suggest hydration, metamictization, and fluid-mediated neoformation processes. The abundance of REE+Y-bearing minerals, their susceptibility to weathering, and the presence of secondary fluocarbonates indicate that the SMGM represents a promising target for IA-type REE+Y mineralization within the Goiás Tin Province. Full article

The electrification of transport is rapidly reshaping power distribution networks, introducing new technical, regulatory, and operational challenges for Distribution System Operators (DSOs). This article presents an international review of electromobility integration strategies, analyzing experiences from Europe, Canada, Australia, and Greece. It examines how DSOs address grid impacts through smart charging, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services, and demand flexibility mechanisms, alongside evolving regulatory and market frameworks. European initiatives—such as Germany’s Energiewende and the UK’s Demand Flexibility Service—demonstrate how coordinated planning and interoperability standards can transform electric vehicles (EVs) into valuable distributed energy resources. Case studies from Canada and Greece highlight region-specific challenges, such as limited access in remote communities or island grid constraints, while Australia’s high PV penetration offers unique opportunities for PV–EV synergies. The findings emphasize that DSOs must evolve into active system operators supported by digitalization, flexible market design, and user engagement. The study concludes by outlining implementation barriers, policy implications, and a roadmap for DSOs. Full article

Lexicographic preference trees (LP-Trees) provide a compact and expressive representation for modeling complex decision-making scenarios, yet measuring similarity between complete or partial structures remains a challenge. This study introduces PLPSim, a novel metric for quantifying alignment between partial lexicographic preference trees (PLP-Trees) and develops three coalition formation algorithms—HRECS1, HRECS2, and HRECS3—that leverage PLPSim to group agents with similar preferences. We further propose ContractLex and PriceLex protocols (comprising CLF, CFB, CFW, CFA, CFP) for coalition-based contract and pricing strategies, along with a new evaluation metric, F@Lex, which is designed to assess satisfaction under lexicographic preferences. To illustrate the framework, we generate a synthetic dataset (PLPGen) contextualized in a hybrid renewable energy market, where consumers’ PLP-Trees are aggregated and matched with suppliers’ tariff contracts. Experiments across 162 market scenarios, evaluated using Normalized Discounted Cumulative Gain (nDCG), Davies–Bouldin dispersion, and F@Lex, demonstrate that PLPSim-based coalitions outperform baseline approaches. The combination HRECS3 + CFP yields the highest consumer satisfaction, while HRECS3 + CFB achieves balanced satisfaction for both consumers and suppliers. While electricity tariffs and renewable energy contracts—static and dynamic—serve as the motivating example, the proposed framework generalizes to diverse multi-agent systems, offering a foundation for preference-driven coalition formation, adaptive policy design, and sustainable market optimization. Full article

Electromobility provides an effective solution for developing countries to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, enhance energy security, and increase environmental sustainability. The current study evaluates the feasibility of implementing electric vehicles (EVs) powered by renewable energy in developing countries. Based on qualitative methods, including expert interviews, it discusses existing transportation systems, the benefits of EVs, and significant constraints such as poor infrastructure, high initial investment, and ineffective policy structures. Evidence further suggests that EV adoption is likely to bring considerable benefits, particularly in cities with high population densities, adequate infrastructure, and supportive regulations that facilitate rapid adoption. Countries like India and Kenya have reduced their fuel import bills and created new jobs. At the same time, cities such as Bogota and Nairobi have seen improved air quality through the adoption of electric public transit. However, the transition requires investments in charging infrastructures and improvements in power grids. Central to this is government backing, whether through subsidy or partnership. Programs like India’s Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) initiative and China’s subsidy program are prime examples of such support. The study draws on expert interviews to provide context-specific insights that are often absent in global EV discussions, while acknowledging the limitations of a small, regionally concentrated sample. These qualitative findings complement international data and offer grounded implications for electromobility planning in developing contexts. It concludes that while challenges remain, tailored interventions and multi-party public–private partnerships can make the economic and environmental promise of electromobility in emerging markets a reality. Full article

The global demand for new ingredients and healthier food products is on the rise. Global challenges like rapid population growth, climate change, and emerging pandemics are putting a strain on food security for future generations. This makes it crucial to seek alternatives for producing nutrient-rich foods using more sustainable methods. In this context, proteins are an essential macronutrient for humanity. Plant-based proteins are becoming increasingly popular for the following reasons: their sustainability, as they have a lower environmental impact compared to animal-based proteins, provided they are consumed locally; their nutritional value, since they contain all the essential nutrients when consumed in a varied way and do not contain limiting amino acids; their potential accessibility; and the health benefits they offer. Consequently, the food industry is developing an increasing market of protein concentrates and isolates from plant sources using wet or dry methods. In particular, dry fractionation is expected to play a key role in enhancing food sustainability, as it allows protein enrichment without the use of water or energy-consuming operations. This review provides a detailed description of the application of dry fractionation method to Andean grains, with quinoa, amaranth, and kañiwa as prominent examples. The narrative review covers the essential primary processing and pretreatments, assesses the properties of the resulting fractions, and discusses their applications and future trends. This work aims to promote the development of innovative and sustainable food solutions. Full article

To achieve China’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, it is essential to increase the market penetration of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) and understand consumer attitudes. Based on a big data set of over 20,000 online user reviews, this study employs the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model to extract themes, popular brands, and focal points across different time windows. The research constructs a data-driven threshold filtering mechanism that integrates topic probability, frequency, keyword weight, and cross-temporal topic similarity to quantify consumer reviews, enabling an in-depth analysis of the dynamic evolution of attitudes in the NEV market. The findings reveal a dual shift in consumer sentiment: first, a transition in focus from basic configurations and aesthetics toward quality experience; and second, a shift in purchasing decisions toward a socially driven model dominated by word-of-mouth and family collaboration. Full article

With the rapid development of the automotive industry, particularly the year-on-year growth in sales of new energy vehicles, automobile outer panel materials have shown a trend toward high-strength lightweight solutions. Regarding steel for outer panels, existing research has paid less attention to the UF steel that has entered the market in recent years. Moreover, studies on the similarities and differences in deformation behavior among various outer panel steels are lacking. In this study, room-temperature tensile tests at 5% and 8% strain were conducted in accordance with the stamping deformation range on commonly used ultra-low carbon automotive outer panel steels of comparable strength grades, namely, UF340, HC180BD, and DX53D+Z. Prior to deformation, the three materials exhibited similar texture components, predominantly characterized by the γ-fiber texture beneficial for deep drawing, and their room-temperature tensile deformation behaviors were fundamentally identical. After transverse tensile deformation, the textures concentrated towards {111}<112> texture. After 8% deformation, UF340 demonstrated a more rapid stress increase and a higher degree of work hardening. This phenomenon is attributed to the presence of the precipitate free zone (PFZ) near grain boundaries in the UF340, which facilitates the continuous generation of dislocations at grain boundaries during deformation, leading to a rapid increase in dislocation density within the grains. Consequently, this induces accelerated work hardening under small-strain conditions. This mechanism enables UF steels to achieve a strength level comparable to that of bake-hardened (BH) steels, exhibiting a significant performance advantage. Full article

This study explores the core competencies required for sales and marketing roles in the rapidly evolving NEV sector. Adopting an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design, it employs a big data-driven approach to construct a competency framework: web crawlers collected NEV-related recruitment data across over 20 major Chinese cities, the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model identified core competency items, and a multi-dimensional consensus scoring process via the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) refined the framework. The resulting validated model comprises nine thematic clusters, reflecting a shift from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales’ traditional skill set. Beyond enriching conventional competencies (customer reception, sales service, CRM, sales support), it highlights emerging capabilities: live-streaming/short-video marketing, digital media operations, and ecosystem-oriented resource collaboration. Further, NGT-based multi-dimensional evaluations (frequency, importance, difficulty) generated a four-quadrant matrix, offering actionable guidance for vocational education and corporate training (VET) curriculum design. Theoretically, this study redefines digital-era automotive sales roles: not mere product sellers, but core actors in user experience co-creation and ecological value integration, which enriches discourse on sales role evolution. Full article

The rapid expansion of renewable energy has posed significant challenges for the power system, including supply adequacy and operational flexibility. Nuclear power, as a stable and clean baseload source, plays a significant role in developing a new-type power system. However, its weak modulation capabilities significantly constrain its peak shaving and frequency regulation performance. The integrated operation of nuclear power and pumped storage, known as “nuclear-pumped storage integration”, can not only compensate for energy shortages but also provide auxiliary services, making it a viable solution for ensuring regional power supply stability. Nevertheless, a significant problem resides in achieving an appropriate benefit allocation between the two entities. To solve this issue, this research presents a mechanism for measuring and allocating the benefits of “nuclear-pumped storage integration” operation in a diverse power market. First, an integrated operating model is built, together with a joint clearing model encompassing the spot energy market and frequency modulation ancillary service market. A full-chain cost–benefit accounting system is designed to evaluate the value of joint operations accurately. Second, by incorporating indicators such as peak-shaving compensation and participation degree, a benefit allocation correction factor is derived, and an improved Shapley value approach is proposed to enhance the rationality and incentive effect of the allocation scheme. Case study results suggest that the “nuclear-pumped storage integration” operation mode can significantly increase overall benefits. Moreover, compared with existing techniques, the suggested improved Shapley value method provides fairness and rationality in benefit allocation, offering a sound decision-making basis for advancing the “nuclear-pumped storage integration” model. Full article

Iron is essential for numerous physiological processes, including oxygen transport, energy metabolism, and immune function. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of three iron formulations combining heme and non-heme iron, comparing them with existing market products and the original form of iron. The formulations tested were GlobiFer^® Forte, a combination of heme and non-heme iron containing 18 mg of elemental iron (hereinafter referred to as nutraceutical product 1); GlobiFer^®, a combination of heme and non-heme iron containing 14 mg of elemental iron (hereinafter referred to as nutraceutical product 2); and a double dose of nutraceutical product 2. Using an in vitro 3D intestinal barrier model, all three formulations significantly increased tight junction protein expression and TEER values, indicating preserved barrier integrity. Iron absorption analysis revealed that all three iron formulations had higher absorption rates than controls. Nutraceutical product 1 showed the highest absorption, associated with increased expression of the iron transporters such as the primary non-heme iron transporter, DMT1, and the leading apical heme transporter, HCP-1. All three new formulations increased ferritin and ferroportin levels, markers of systemic iron storage and regulation. Nutraceutical product 1 was found to be the most effective, based on percentage. Overall, combining heme and non-heme iron improved intestinal absorption and supported iron metabolism, with Nutraceutical Product 1 proving the most promising in terms of efficacy and safety. These results support the development of optimised dual-source iron supplements to improve bioavailability and maintain intestinal barrier integrity, prerequisites for better efficacy and tolerability in clinical use. Full article

Europe’s energy transition beyond 2025 faces a resilience gap as reconfigured pipeline flows, stricter methane rules, and rising variable renewables increase the need for seasonal flexibility and system adequacy. This study examines how Ukraine’s gas transmission network and underground gas storage—among the largest in Europe—can serve as a “seasonal battery” for the EU. We integrate a policy and market review with quantitative scenarios for 2026–2030. Methods include security-of-supply indicators (the rule that the system must keep operating even if its largest single infrastructure element fails, peak-day coverage, and winter adequacy), estimates of market-accessible storage volumes and withdrawal rates for European market participants, and a techno-economic screening of hydrogen-readiness comparing repurposing with new-build options. Methane intensity constraints and compliance with monitoring, reporting, and verification and leak detection and repair requirements are applied. The results indicate that reallocating part of Europe’s seasonal balancing to Ukrainian underground gas storage can enhance resilience to extreme winter demand and liquefied natural gas price shocks, reduce price volatility and the curtailment of variable renewables, and enable phased, cost-effective hydrogen corridors via repurposable pipelines and compressors. We outline a policy roadmap specifying transparent access rules, interoperable gas quality and methane standards, and risk mitigation instruments needed to operationalise cross-border storage and hydrogen-ready investments without carbon lock-in. Full article

China’s nuclear power plants traditionally operate to meet baseload needs, with minimal involvement in peak load regulation. However, as the share of renewable energy generation rapidly increases, the volatility of the power system and the demand for peak load regulation have significantly risen, necessitating greater nuclear power flexibility to meet the new power system’s requirements. Our study forecasts the energy structure and load demand for the Province of Liaoning in Northeastern China in 2035. Under this vision, it analyzes the flexibility challenges faced by nuclear generation units. A joint clearing model for spot electricity and ancillary services, along with an energy storage revenue model, was established. Based on this, this study analyzed the clearing results for various typical scenarios in the Province of Liaoning in 2035. The simulation results demonstrate that nuclear units will participate in peak shaving by the target year. This study demonstrates the feasibility of solid-state thermal storage in improving both flexibility and economic efficiency of nuclear generation. Based on these findings, policy recommendations are proposed, including improving regulation compensation mechanisms and promoting multi-energy coupling, providing crucial theoretical and practical support for the role transformation of nuclear generation entities in the new power system. This study establishes a full lifecycle economic assessment model for combined heat and power revenue versus thermal storage investment costs, considering integrated nuclear power–solid thermal energy storage heating systems as the primary technical pathway. Taking a configuration plan with a 715 MW heating capacity and a 6000 MWh thermal storage capacity as an example under Liaoning Province’s 2035 long-term scenario, the simulation results indicate that introducing solid thermal energy storage can significantly improve the revenue structure of nuclear units while meeting deep peak shaving demands, reducing the project’s static payback period to under 11 years. Full article