Spatial Patterns of Urban Innovation and Their Evolution from Perspectives of Capacity and Structure: Taking Shenzhen as an Example

Innovation is a key factor for a country’s overall national strength and core competitiveness. The spatial pattern of innovation reflects the regional differences of innovation development, which can provide guidance for the regional allocation of innovation resources. Most studies on the spatial pattern of innovation are at urban and above spatial scale, but studies at urban internal scale are insufficient. The precision and index of the spatial pattern of innovation in the city needs to be improved. This study proposes to divide spatial units based on geographic coordinates of patents, designs the innovation capability and innovation structure index of a spatial unit and their calculation methods, and then reveals the spatial patterns of innovation and their evolutionary characteristics in Shenzhen during 2000–2018. The results show that: (1) The pattern of innovation capacity of secondary industry exhibited a pronounced spatial spillover effect with a positive spatial correlation. The innovation capacity and innovation structure index of the secondary industry evolved in a similar manner; i.e., they gradually extended from the southwest area to the north over time, forming a tree-like distribution pattern with the central part of the southwest area as the “root” and the northwest and northeast areas as the “canopy”. (2) The pattern of innovation capacity of tertiary industry also had a significant spatial spillover effect with a positive spatial correlation. There were differences between the evolutions of innovation capacity and innovation structure index of tertiary industry. Specifically, its innovation capacity presented a triangular spatial distribution pattern with three groups in the central and eastern parts of the southwest area and the south-eastern part of the northwest area as the vertices, while its innovative structure showed a radial spatial distribution pattern with the southwestern part of the southwest area as the source and a gradually sparse distribution toward the northeast. (3) There were differences between the evolution modes of secondary and tertiary industries. Areas with high innovation capacity in the secondary industry tended to be more balanced, while areas with high innovation capacity in the tertiary industry did not necessarily have a balanced innovation structure. Through the method designed in this paper, the spatial pattern of urban innovation can be more precise and comprehensive revealed, and provide useful references for the development of urban innovation.

Characteristics of Dough Rheology and the Structural, Mechanical, and Sensory Properties of Sponge Cakes with Sweeteners

Changes in the rheological properties of dough, as well as the microstructural, mechanical, and sensory properties of sponge cakes, as a function of the substitution of sucrose in a formulation with maltitol, erythritol, and trehalose are described. Moreover, the relationship between the examined properties was investigated. The replacement of sucrose with maltitol or trehalose did not affect the consistency index, whereas erythritol caused a decrease in its value. X-ray tomography was used to obtain the 2D and 3D microstructures of sponge cakes. All studied sweeteners caused the sponge cakes to have a typical porous structure. Erythritol and maltitol resulted in about 50% of the pores being smaller than 0.019 mm2 and 50% of the pores being larger than 0.032 mm2. Trehalose resulted in a homogeneous microstructure, 98% of whose pores were similar in size (0.019 to 0.032 mm2). The sponge cakes with polyols had a higher structure index than did the trehalose and sucrose samples. There were also significant differences in color parameters (lightness and chromaticity). The crust of the sponge cake with sweeteners was lighter and had a less saturated color than the crust of the sponge cake with sucrose. The sponge cake with maltitol was the most similar to the sponge cake with sucrose, mainly due to the mechanical and sensory properties. Trehalose led to the samples having high adhesiveness, which may limit its application as a sucrose substitute in sponge cake. Sensory properties were strongly correlated to cohesiveness, adhesiveness, and springiness and did not correlate to the 2D and 3D microstructures. It was found that 100% replacement of sucrose allows for a porous structure to be obtained. These results confirm that it is not the structure, but most of all the flavor, that determines the sensory perception of the sponge cakes.

Contribution of the Optimization of Financial Structure to the Real Economy: Evidence from China’s Financial System Using TVP-VAR Model

How the financial structure promotes the development of real economy has always been a research topic in academia. By analyzing the characteristics of China’s financial system, this paper constructs the Finance Structure Index (FSI) from the perspectives of structural efficiency, financing structure and industry structure, and interprets the trend of the FSI. Based on the quarterly data of China from 2004 to 2020, this paper constructs a time-varying parameter-vector autoregression (TVP-VAR) model to study the dynamic impact of finance structure on the growth and optimization of the structure of the real economy. The empirical analysis results show that the response of the real economy has time-varying characteristics. Early on, financial structure has a promotion effect on the scale of the real economy, but the impact on the structure is not clear. In the middle, the effect of promoting the scale decreases slightly and then rebounds rapidly, while the optimization of the structure is inhibited. Later, it has a significant promoting effect and an obvious time-lag effect. Moreover, the impact of the financial structure is unstable. It is necessary to improve the efficiency and quality of the transmission of the optimization of the financial structure to the real economy.

Prediction of gas pressure in thin coal seams in the Qinglong Coal Mine in Guizhou Province, China

Thin coal seams in mines usually lack gas data. Thus, preventing and controlling gas outbursts of thin coal seams are difficult. In this study, a coal structure index, which is used to express the damage degree of coal, was estimated by logging curve. In accordance with the contour line of the floor of the coal seam, structural curvature was calculated to express the complexity of the coal seam structure quantitatively. Subsequently, relationships among the burial depth, thickness, coal structure index, structural curvature were analyzed on the basis of the gas pressure of coal seam. The gas pressure values of the coal seams of Nos. 22, 24, and 27 in the study area were predicted by multiple linear regression (MLR) and were then verified and analyzed. The deviation rate of the MLR method was 6.5%–19.7%, with an average of 13.0%. The average deviation rate between the predicted value and the measured value was 11.6%, except for the measuring point of No. 2, which had a large deviation. Results show that the prediction accuracy of the aforementioned method is acceptable and has practical value in the prediction of gas pressure in thin coal seams without measured data. The results in the gas pressure prediction provide a basis for evaluating the risk of gas outbursts in thin coal seams.

use of methods of the biocrystallomics in personification of the treatment with high diluted drugs

Background: One of most important trends in modern medicine is its transformation to personalized diagnostics and treatment. This tendency fully applies to homeopathy, especially considering that this discipline is based on the principles of individual approach to the patient. At the same time, the methods of individualization of treatment in homeopathy are relatively few. Aims: Develop of methodology and methods of application biocrystalloscopic tests to personalize the homeopathic treatment. The proposed technology became previously proposed for ozone therapy practice as biocrystallomics pre-test. It includes study of the result of co-crystallization of a biological liquid of a patient with the intended dose of the drug. At the same time, the character of co-crystallization of biological liquid with several doses of tested drug or different parameters of the action of the studied factor is comparatively estimated for the purpose of individualization. Most appropriate for a particular patient believe the dose that causes optimal structuring in the dried microscopic slides obtained from a mixture of biological fluid and a solution containing a given dose of the drug. The comparison is made with a control sample of biological fluid, which has not been exposed to any effects. The optimal result is a sample that matches the control sample as much as possible. It is most preferably for biocrystallomics pre-test to use blood serum or plasma as an analyzed biological fluid. Methodology: To study the characteristics of the structuring of the semicroscopic slides we use the previously created system of semi-quantitative parameters. They are calculated on a straight four-point scale and include: crystallizability (semi-quantitative indicator of crystallization activity), structure index (complexity criterion for constructing crystal elements of facias), facia destruction degree (indicator of “correctness” of crystal formation) and clearity of facia marginal zone (parameter indicating the amount of native protein in the sample of biological fluid). These indicators comprehensively characterize all the main features of the process of dehydration structurization of biological substrate. Conclusion: It should be noted that the technique described above is universal and can be applied to any liquid or soluble compounds with potential therapeutic activity, including their ultra-high dilutions. The data obtained by us indicate the possibility of using this technology in homeopathy.

Vegetation Structure Index (VSI): Retrieving Vegetation Structural Information from Multi-Angular Satellite Remote Sensing

Utilization of the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) model parameters obtained from the multi-angular remote sensing is one of the approaches for the retrieval of vegetation structural information. In this research, the potential of multi-angular vegetation indices, formulated by the combination of multi-spectral reflectance from different view angles, for the retrieval of forest above-ground biomass was assessed in the New England region. The multi-angular vegetation indices were generated by the simulation of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) BRDF/Albedo Model Parameters Product (MCD43A1 Version 6)-based BRDF parameters. The effects of the seasonal (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) composites of the multi-angular vegetation indices on the above-ground biomass, the angular relationship of the spectral reflectance with above-ground biomass, and the interrelationships between the multi-angular vegetation indices were analyzed. Among the existing multi-angular vegetation indices, only the Nadir BRDF-adjusted NDVI and Hot-spot incorporated NDVI showed significant relationship (more than 50%) with the above-ground biomass. The Vegetation Structure Index (VSI), newly proposed in the research, performed in the most efficient way and explained 64% variation of the above-ground biomass, suggesting that the right choice of the spectral channel and observation geometry should be considered for improving the estimates of the above-ground biomass. In addition, the right choice of seasonal data (summer) was found to be important for estimating the forest biomass, while other seasonal data were either insensitive or pointless. The promising results shown by the VSI suggest that it could be an appropriate candidate for monitoring vegetation structure from the multi-angular satellite remote sensing.

Groundcover Mulching in Mediterranean Vineyards Improves Soil Chemical, Physical and Biological Health Already in the Short Term

Vineyards are among the land uses with the highest soil degradation rate in Mediterranean Europe, mainly due to intensive tillage management. Therefore, practices able to foster soil health are critical to promote sustainable wine production. We studied the following treatments in two organic farms in Chianti Classico (Italy): conventional tillage, spontaneous vegetation, pigeon bean (Vicia faba var. minor) incorporated in spring and a mixture of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and squarrosum clover (Trifolium squarrosum), both incorporated and left as mulch. An innovative approach, based on gamma-ray and apparent electrical conductivity, was used to account for the fine-scale soil variability that was included in the statistical model. Mulched groundcovers were associated with higher soil organic matter compared to tillage, already after two years. An increased N availability was found under all groundcovers compared with tillage. The effect of soil management practices on P2O5 strongly varied across farms and years, while it was not statistically significant on K availability. Spontaneous vegetation positively influenced the soil structure index, soil penetration resistance and soil biological health. The results show that mulched groundcovers can improve soil health already in the short term, thereby potentially increasing the sustainability of the wine sector.

Dapatkah Megabentos Epifauna Tumbuh pada Geobag? Studi Kasus di Desa Banyuurip, Gresik

Berbagai upaya telah dilakukan untuk mengatasi masalah abrasi di wilayah pesisir pantai Desa Banyuurip, Gresik. Upaya yang dilakukan salah satunya adalah reboisasi mangrove, namun upaya tersebut belum efektif, sehingga salah satu solusinya adalah dengan dipasangnya geosyntheticbag (geobag), yang merupakan kantong ramah lingkungan berisi pasir yang disusun dan dapat berfungsi sebagai perangkap sedimen dan pelindung pantai. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pada bulan ke berapa biota dapat tumbuh pada geosintetik dan struktur komunitas biota yang tumbuh menggunakan metode random transek. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa megabentos epifauna dapat tumbuh pada geobag pada bulan ke-4 setelah pemasangan, yang terdiri dari 3 spesies yaitu Metopograpsus sp., Ostrea edulis, dan Fistulobalanus albicostatus. Kelimpahan jenis megabentos pada bulan ke-4 rata-rata mencapai 198 individu/m2, sedangkan kelimpahan pada bulan ke-5 mencapai 259 individu/m2. Hasil perhitungan indeks struktur komunitas megabentos pada bulan ke-4 dan ke-5 secara berurutan meliputi indeks keanekaragaman (H’) bernilai 0,10 dan 0,11; indeks keseragaman (c) bernilai 0,09 dan 0,10; dan indeks dominansi bernilai 0,96 dan 0,96. Berdasarkan penelitian ini, dapat disimpulkan bahwa geobag berfungsi sebagai pencegah abrasi serta sekaligus dapat menyatu dengan media di sekitarnya sehingga diklaim ramah lingkungan, karena dapat ditumbuhi biota yang tidak mengganggu atau merubah struktur komunitas biota di wilayah tersebut. Various attempts have been made to solve the abrasion in the coastal area of Banyuurip Village, Gresik. To overcome this problem, the community planted the mangroves, but these have not been effective. One solution to this problem is to install a geosynthetic bag (geobag), which is an environmentally friendly bag that is arranged and can be function as a sediment trap. The purpose of this study was to determine when the megabenthos can grow in the geosynthetic and how the community structure grow using the quadrant random transect method. The result showed that epifaunal megabenthos could grow on geobag at the fourth month after installation, which consisted of 3 species. The abundance of megabenthos at the 4th month averaged 198 individuals/m2, while the abundance at the 5th month reached 259 individuals/m2. The structure index (H’) in January and February were 0.10 and 0.11, respectively. The similarity index (C) were 0.09 and 0.10, and while the dominance index was 0.96 and 0.96. This study is suggested that the geobag can be function both as a deterrent to abrasion and simultaneously integrate with the surrounding media and be claim as environmentally friendly, because it can be overgrown with biota that does not disturb or change the structure of the biota community in the area.

Vegetation Structure Index (VSI): Retrieving Vegetation Structural Information from Multi-angular Satellite Remote Sensing

Utilization of Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) model parameters obtained from the multi-angular remote sensing is one of the approaches for the retrieval of vegetation structural information. In this research, the potential of multi-angular vegetation indices, formulated by the combination of multi-spectral reflectance from different view angles, for the retrieval of forest above ground biomass was assessed. This research was implemented in the New England region with the availability of a high quality forest inventory database. The multi-angular vegetation indices were generated by the simulation of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) BRDF/Albedo Model Parameters Product (MCD43A1 Version 6) based BRDF parameters. The effects of seasonal (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) composites of the multi-angular vegetation indices on above ground biomass, angular relationship of the spectral reflectance with above ground biomass, and the interrelationships between the multi-angular vegetation indices were analyzed. Among the existing multi-angular vegetation indices, only the Nadir BRDF-adjusted NDVI ( and Hot-spot incorporated NDVI ( showed significant relationship (more than 50%) with the above ground biomass. This research proposed two more sensitive vegetation structural indices, Fore-scattering Back-scattering NDVI and Vegetation Structure Index (VSI). The Fore-scattering Back-scattering NDVI showed higher sensitivity (R2 = 0.62, RMSE = 52.46) towards the above ground biomass than existing multi-angular vegetation indices. Furthermore, the VSI performed in the most efficient way explaining 64% variation of the above ground biomass, suggesting that the right choice of the spectral channel and observation geometry should be considered for improving the estimates of the above ground biomass. In addition, the right choice of seasonal data (summer) was found to be important for estimating the forest biomass while other seasonal data were either insensitive or pointless. The promising results shown by the VSI suggest that it could be an appropriate candidate for monitoring vegetation structure from the multi-angular satellite remote sensing.