Mapping and measuring urban-rural inequalities in accessibility to social infrastructures

Equal access to social infrastructures is a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development,but has long been a great challenge worldwide.Previous studies have primarily focused on the accessibility to social infras-tructures in urban areas across various scales,with less attention to rural areas,where inequality can be more severe.Particularly,few have investigated the disparities of accessibility to social infrastructures between urban and rural areas.Here,using the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan urban agglomeration,China,as an example,we investigated the inequality of accessibility in both urban and rural areas,and further compared the urban-rural difference.Accessibility was measured by travel time of residents to infrastructures.We selected four types of social infrastructures including supermarkets,bus stops,primary schools,and health care,which were funda-mentally important to both urban and rural residents.We found large disparities in accessibility between urban and rural areas,ranging from 20 min to 2 h.Rural residents had to spend one to two more hours to bus stops than urban residents,and 20 min more to the other three types of infrastructures.Furthermore,accessibility to multiple infrastructures showed greater urban-rural differences.Rural residents in more than half of the towns had no access to any infrastructure within 15 min,while more than 60%of the urban residents could access to all infrastructures within 15 min.Our results revealed quantitative accessibility gap between urban and rural areas and underscored the necessity of social infrastructures planning to address such disparities.

Spatial Distribution Pattern and Influencing Factors of Bed-and-breakfasts(B&Bs)from the Perspective of Urban-rural Differences:A Case Study of Jiaodong Peninsula,China

There are significant differences between urban and rural bed-and-breakfasts(B&Bs)in terms of customer positioning,economic strength and spatial carrier.Accurately identifying the differences in spatial characteristics and influencing factors of each type,is essential for creating urban and rural B&B agglomeration areas.This study used density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise(DBSCAN)and the multi-scale geographically weighted regression(MGWR)model to explore similarities and differences in the spatial distribution patterns and influencing factors for urban and rural B&Bs on the Jiaodong Peninsula of China from 2010 to 2022.The results showed that:1)both urban and rural B&Bs in Jiaodong Peninsula went through three stages:a slow start from 2010 to 2015,rapid development from 2015 to 2019,and hindered development from 2019 to 2022.However,urban B&Bs demonstrated a higher development speed and agglomeration intensity,leading to an increasingly evident trend of uneven development between the two sectors.2)The clustering scale of both urban and rural B&Bs continued to expand in terms of quantity and volume.Urban B&B clusters characterized by a limited number,but a higher likelihood of transitioning from low-level to high-level clusters.While the number of rural B&B clusters steadily increased over time,their clustering scale was comparatively lower than that of urban B&Bs,and they lacked the presence of high-level clustering.3)In terms of development direction,urban B&B clusters exhibited a relatively stable pattern and evolved into high-level clustering centers within the main urban areas.Conversely,rural B&Bs exhibited a more pronounced spatial diffusion effect,with clusters showing a trend of multi-center development along the coastline.4)Transport emerged as a common influencing factor for both urban and rural B&Bs,with the density of road network having the strongest explanatory power for their spatial distribution.In terms of differences,population agglomeration had a positive impact on the distribution of urban B&Bs and a negative effect on the distribution of rural B&Bs.Rural B&Bs clustering was more influenced by tourism resources compared with urban B&Bs,but increasing tourist stay duration remains an urgent issue to be addressed.The findings of this study could provide a more precise basis for government planning and management of urban and rural B&B agglomeration areas.

Development of Sustainable Urban-Rural Integration:Dongtan Case Study

The environmental impact issues,such as global warming and expansion of the urban zone,seem more serious and have become the biggest defining challenges of the 21st century.Climate change can lead to water shortages,desertification,land degradation,air pollution,rising sea levels,accelerated deforestation,and exacerbated economic pressures.Global urban growth greatly impacts changes in sociability,humanity,and the environment of the Earth.The human presence,especially in cities,seriously affects resource use and waste disposal,and they are consuming natural resources faster than the planet can sustain during urbanization,changing how people live.China,with a population of 1.3 billion,has seen tens of millions of people living in the countryside migrate to cities,especially megacities,since the 1980s.As a result of its decision to industrialize and urbanize to boost the economy,China has become the world’s second-largest consumer of energy.In recent years,China’s government has quickly recognized the lessons of“limits to growth”and has taken action by initiating the construction process in Dongtan,Shanghai,China.They are making efforts to build urban-rural integration communities to promote sustainable development.Based on a literature review focusing on Dongtan,research questions are raised according to the research objective:(1)What are the challenges of sustainable development in urban-rural integration?(2)What practices has Dongtan implemented for sustainable development,or how is sustainable development being applied to Dongtan?(3)What are the social,political,environmental,and economic concerns regarding the sustainable development of Dongtan?The sustainable urban-rural integration concerns the ecological,economic,environmental,and psychological aspects of urban-rural integration design and management.The overall objective is to promote sustainable development in economic,social,ecological,and spatial dimensions.It will be a liveable,complete community that makes economic,environmental,and social sense locally while also contributing to national and global sustainable development.It will serve as a compelling model for how to build sustainable urban-rural integration worldwide.

Spatial pattern of urban-rural integration in China and the impact of geography

Urban-rural integration (URI) is a global challenge that is highly related to inequalities, poverty, economic growth, and other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Existing research has evaluated the extent of URI and explored its influencing factors, but urban-rural linkages are seldom incorporated in evaluation systems, and geographical factors are rarely recognized as the influencing factors. We construct a URI framework including regional economy, rural development, urban-rural linkage, and urban-rural gap. Based on a dataset consisting of 1,669 counties in China in 2020, we reveal the spatial pattern of URI and find a high correlation between the spatial pattern of URI and the relief degree of land surface (RDLS). Using structural equation modeling, we discover that topography has direct ( − 0.18, p < 0.001) and indirect ( − 0.17, p < 0.001) effects on URI. The indirect negative effects are mediated through the infrastructure, and the combination of localized advantages and modern technical conditions could mitigate the negative impact of topography. Finally, we identify 742 counties as lagging regions in URI, which can be clustered into eight types. Our findings could facilitate policy designing for those countries striving for integrated and sustainable development of urban and rural areas.

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Urban-rural Construction Land in Rural Industrialized Areas in China:Case Studies in Changyuan City and Xinxiang County of Henan Province

Since China’s reform and opening up in 1978,the acceleration of industrialization and urbanization in China had led to dramatic changes in the pattern of urban-rural land use.In this paper,we focused on the rural industrialized areas in central China(Xinxiang County and Changyuan City of Henan Province).We used the average nearest neighbor index,spatial statistical analysis,and a structural equation model to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution and influencing factors of urban-rural construction land based on multisource spatial data and survey data.The results showed that:1)from 1975 to 2019,the spatial distribution of urban-rural construction land in rural industrialized areas had evolved from homogeneous distribution to local agglomeration.In terms of comparative analysis of cases,the spatial distribution of urban-rural construction land in Changyuan City had shown a trend from diffusion to agglomeration,and Xinxiang County had overall shown a spatial change from homogenization to agglomeration and then to regional integration development.2)The hot spots with increased urban-rural construction land significantly expanded,and they had a high degree of spatial overlap with industrial development.Among them,Xinxiang County was concentrated in central and marginal areas,and Changyuan was mainly concentrated in central urban areas.3)From the evolution of spatial proximity of urban-rural construction land,rural industrialized areas generally decline,showing the characteristics of internal differentiation in the rate of change.4)Industrial development,social economy,the policy environment,and urban development played a positive role in promoting the expansion of urban-rural construction land in rural industrialized areas.To promote the optimal use of regional land and the integrated development of urban-rural areas,we should combine the advantages of regional endowment,formulate development strategies according to local conditions,and adjust the way that land is used in a timely manner.

A new approach towards the sustainability of urban-rural integration:The development strategy for central villages in the Abbasiya District of Iraq using GIS techniques

The development of rural areas usually has a positive impact on the urban-rural integration. This study explores an innovative approach to stimulate rural development by proposing qualified villages as central villages that can provide basic urban services for their residents and residents of neighboring villages. This approach can contribute to overcoming the various problems that rural areas faced at the social, economic, and environmental levels. It seeks to achieve spatial sustainability of rural areas, representing a new approach by integrating urban development methods to revitalize rural villages. The study analyzed 15 villages belonging to Abbasiya District of AL Kufa City in the Najaf Governorate of Iraq. Based on the GIS techniques and the analysis of urban service indicators(village population, percentage of urban building materials used in villages, distance between village and health centers, distance between village and main roads, nature of economic activity, distance between village and educational institutions, distance between village and drinking water sources, number of communication towers, and distance between village and urban administrative center), this study proposed that Abu Gharb and Albu Ghraib can served as central villages in Abbasiya District in the future. This study establishes a new rural spatial structure to achieve rural sustainable development, improves the development status of rural areas, and provides a theoretical basis for the government and relevant institutions to use urban service indicators, achieving rural sustainable development and formulating relevant development policies in Abbasiya District.

Thinking about Value Realization of Ecological Products under the Background of Urban-rural Integration in Chengdu“Western Control”Area

Chengdu's development strategy of“western control”has laid a solid ecological background for 8 western districts,cities and counties and cultivated good ecological resources.The integrated urban-rural development in the new era will realize the balanced development of urban and rural areas and give full play to the value of rural ecological resources through the“powerful combination”of urban and rural areas.To realize the urban-rural integration and high-quality rural development in Chengdu“western control”area,it is necessary to enhance the awareness of ecological resources and ecological products,and carry out unified planning of ecological infrastructure,ecological material products and ecological service products in the whole“western control”area.Meantime,ecological restoration must be carried out scientifically,and scene design for value transformation of ecological products should be implemented innovatively.

Mutual Information Maximization via Joint Power Allocation in Integrated Sensing and Communications System

In this paper, we focus on the power allocation of Integrated Sensing and Communication(ISAC) with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing(OFDM) waveform. In order to improve the spectrum utilization efficiency in ISAC, we propose a design scheme based on spectrum sharing, that is,to maximize the mutual information(MI) of radar sensing while ensuring certain communication rate and transmission power constraints. In the proposed scheme, three cases are considered for the scattering off the target due to the communication signals,as negligible signal, beneficial signal, and interference signal to radar sensing, respectively, thus requiring three power allocation schemes. However,the corresponding power allocation schemes are nonconvex and their closed-form solutions are unavailable as a consequence. Motivated by this, alternating optimization(AO), sequence convex programming(SCP) and Lagrange multiplier are individually combined for three suboptimal solutions corresponding with three power allocation schemes. By combining the three algorithms, we transform the non-convex problem which is difficult to deal with into a convex problem which is easy to solve and obtain the suboptimal solution of the corresponding optimization problem. Numerical results show that, compared with the allocation results of the existing algorithms, the proposed joint design algorithm significantly improves the radar performance.

Quantized Decoders that Maximize Mutual Information for Polar Codes

In this paper,we innovatively associate the mutual information with the frame error rate(FER)performance and propose novel quantized decoders for polar codes.Based on the optimal quantizer of binary-input discrete memoryless channels(BDMCs),the proposed decoders quantize the virtual subchannels of polar codes to maximize mutual information(MMI)between source bits and quantized symbols.The nested structure of polar codes ensures that the MMI quantization can be implemented stage by stage.Simulation results show that the proposed MMI decoders with 4 quantization bits outperform the existing nonuniform quantized decoders that minimize mean-squared error(MMSE)with 4 quantization bits,and yield even better performance than uniform MMI quantized decoders with 5 quantization bits.Furthermore,the proposed 5-bit quantized MMI decoders approach the floating-point decoders with negligible performance loss.

New construction of mutually unbiased bases for odd-dimensional state space

We study the construction of mutually unbiased bases in Hilbert space for composite dimensions d which are not prime powers.We explore the results for composite dimensions which are true for prime power dimensions.We then provide a method for selecting mutually unbiased vectors from the eigenvectors of generalized Pauli matrices to construct mutually unbiased bases.In particular,we present four mutually unbiased bases in C^(15).

Analytical modeling and approaches of multihelix cables incorporating with interwire mutual contacts

This study aims to develop an analytical model based on the curve beam theory to capture the mechanical response of a multihelix cable considering the internal contact displacements.Accordingly,a double-helix cable subjected to axial tension and torsion is analyzed,and both the line and point contacts between the neighboring wires and strands are considered via an equivalent homogenized approach.Then,the proposed theoretical model is extended to a hierarchical multihelix cable with mutual contact displacements by constructing a recursive relationship between the high-and low-level multihelix structures.The global tensile stiffness and torsional stiffness of the double-helix cable are successfully evaluated.The results are validated by a finite element(FE)model,and are found to be consistent with the findings of previous studies.It is shown that the contact deformations in multihelix cables significantly affect their equivalent mechanical stiffness,and the contact displacements are remarkably enhanced as the helix angles increase.This study provides insights into the interwire/interstrand mutual contact effects on global and local responses.

Robust and Discriminative Feature Learning via Mutual Information Maximization for Object Detection in Aerial Images

Object detection in unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)aerial images has become increasingly important in military and civil applications.General object detection models are not robust enough against interclass similarity and intraclass variability of small objects,and UAV-specific nuisances such as uncontrolledweather conditions.Unlike previous approaches focusing on high-level semantic information,we report the importance of underlying features to improve detection accuracy and robustness fromthe information-theoretic perspective.Specifically,we propose a robust and discriminative feature learning approach through mutual information maximization(RD-MIM),which can be integrated into numerous object detection methods for aerial images.Firstly,we present the rank sample mining method to reduce underlying feature differences between the natural image domain and the aerial image domain.Then,we design a momentum contrast learning strategy to make object features similar to the same category and dissimilar to different categories.Finally,we construct a transformer-based global attention mechanism to boost object location semantics by leveraging the high interrelation of different receptive fields.We conduct extensive experiments on the VisDrone and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Benchmark Object Detection and Tracking(UAVDT)datasets to prove the effectiveness of the proposed method.The experimental results show that our approach brings considerable robustness gains to basic detectors and advanced detection methods,achieving relative growth rates of 51.0%and 39.4%in corruption robustness,respectively.Our code is available at https://github.com/cq100/RD-MIM(accessed on 2 August 2024).

Automatic Extraction of Medical Latent Variables from ECG Signals Utilizing a Mutual Information-Based Technique and Capsular Neural Networks for Arrhythmia Detection

From a medical perspective,the 12 leads of the heart in an electrocardiogram(ECG)signal have functional dependencies with each other.Therefore,all these leads report different aspects of an arrhythmia.Their differences lie in the level of highlighting and displaying information about that arrhythmia.For example,although all leads show traces of atrial excitation,this function is more evident in lead II than in any other lead.In this article,a new model was proposed using ECG functional and structural dependencies between heart leads.In the prescreening stage,the ECG signals are segmented from the QRS point so that further analyzes can be performed on these segments in a more detailed manner.The mutual information indices were used to assess the relationship between leads.In order to calculate mutual information,the correlation between the 12 ECG leads has been calculated.The output of this step is a matrix containing all mutual information.Furthermore,to calculate the structural information of ECG signals,a capsule neural network was implemented to aid physicians in the automatic classification of cardiac arrhythmias.The architecture of this capsule neural network has been modified to perform the classification task.In the experimental results section,the proposed model was used to classify arrhythmias in ECG signals from the Chapman dataset.Numerical evaluations showed that this model has a precision of 97.02%,recall of 96.13%,F1-score of 96.57%and accuracy of 97.38%,indicating acceptable performance compared to other state-of-the-art methods.The proposed method shows an average accuracy of 2%superiority over similar works.

Generative Multi-Modal Mutual Enhancement Video Semantic Communications

Recently,there have been significant advancements in the study of semantic communication in single-modal scenarios.However,the ability to process information in multi-modal environments remains limited.Inspired by the research and applications of natural language processing across different modalities,our goal is to accurately extract frame-level semantic information from videos and ultimately transmit high-quality videos.Specifically,we propose a deep learning-basedMulti-ModalMutual Enhancement Video Semantic Communication system,called M3E-VSC.Built upon a VectorQuantized Generative AdversarialNetwork(VQGAN),our systemaims to leverage mutual enhancement among different modalities by using text as the main carrier of transmission.With it,the semantic information can be extracted fromkey-frame images and audio of the video and performdifferential value to ensure that the extracted text conveys accurate semantic information with fewer bits,thus improving the capacity of the system.Furthermore,a multi-frame semantic detection module is designed to facilitate semantic transitions during video generation.Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed model maintains high robustness in complex noise environments,particularly in low signal-to-noise ratio conditions,significantly improving the accuracy and speed of semantic transmission in video communication by approximately 50 percent.

Performance analysis of the mutual coupling effect on Phased Array Feeds

A phased array feed(PAF)is a type of receiving array that places phased array antennas on the focal plane of a radio telescope to expand its field of view and improve observation efficiency.Owing to the mutual coupling effect between elements caused by a tightly arranged feed array,which changes the performance of a PAF,this paper presents a 7×7 rectangular feed array model for a 25 m reflector telescope.By adjusting the element spacings,the performance of a PAF with different spacings is comprehensively analyzed with respect to the mutual coupling effect via performance statistics and comparison.This research aims to provide a reference for the preliminary design of a related PAF.

Mutual effects between a gliding arc discharge and a premixed flame

Mutual effects between a gliding arc(GA)discharge at atmospheric pressure and a premixed CH_(4)/air flame were experimentally investigated.Effects of the flame on the GA were studied using simultaneous measurements of the current,the voltage,and the instantaneous images of the plasma columns.The GA in the flame has a thicker and more diffusive plasma column,and it is more frequently ignited at a smaller breakdown voltage than that in the air.The GA extension velocity and the gliding velocity in the flame are larger than those in the air.The electrode voltage drop of the GA discharge in the flame is about 160 V,whereas that in the air is about 220 V.Compared with the GA in the air,the different features of the GA in the flame can be explained by high-temperature,weakly ionized,and species-abundant environment that are generated by the premixed CH_(4)/air flame.Effects of the gliding arc discharge on the premixed flames were demonstrated using planar laser-induced fluorescence of hydroxyl radicals(OH)and formaldehyde(CH_(2)O).OH and CH_(2)O can be formed in the CH_(4)/air mixture in the presence of the GA due to kinetic effects,and the increase of OH and CH_(2)O shows the great potential of the GA for combustion enhancement.

A novel fracture-cavity reservoir outcrop geological knowledge base construction method considering parameter collection and processing,mutual transformation of data-knowledge,application and update

This study endeavors to formulate a comprehensive methodology for establishing a Geological Knowledge Base(GKB)tailored to fracture-cavity reservoir outcrops within the North Tarim Basin.The acquisition of quantitative geological parameters was accomplished through diverse means such as outcrop observations,thin section studies,unmanned aerial vehicle scanning,and high-resolution cameras.Subsequently,a three-dimensional digital outcrop model was generated,and the parameters were standardized.An assessment of traditional geological knowledge was conducted to delineate the knowledge framework,content,and system of the GKB.The basic parameter knowledge was extracted using multiscale fine characterization techniques,including core statistics,field observations,and microscopic thin section analysis.Key mechanism knowledge was identified by integrating trace elements from filling,isotope geochemical tests,and water-rock simulation experiments.Significant representational knowledge was then extracted by employing various methods such as multiple linear regression,neural network technology,and discriminant classification.Subsequently,an analogy study was performed on the karst fracture-cavity system(KFCS)in both outcrop and underground reservoir settings.The results underscored several key findings:(1)Utilization of a diverse range of techniques,including outcrop observations,core statistics,unmanned aerial vehicle scanning,high-resolution cameras,thin section analysis,and electron scanning imaging,enabled the acquisition and standardization of data.This facilitated effective management and integration of geological parameter data from multiple sources and scales.(2)The GKB for fracture-cavity reservoir outcrops,encompassing basic parameter knowledge,key mechanism knowledge,and significant representational knowledge,provides robust data support and systematic geological insights for the intricate and in-depth examination of the genetic mechanisms of fracture-cavity reservoirs.(3)The developmental characteristics of fracturecavities in karst outcrops offer effective,efficient,and accurate guidance for fracture-cavity research in underground karst reservoirs.The outlined construction method of the outcrop geological knowledge base is applicable to various fracture-cavity reservoirs in different layers and regions worldwide.

China-Russian Managed to Achieve Closer Collaboration with Mutual Complementarity

This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic relations.Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to China in May.The heads of state of both China and Russia held a sincere,friendly and informative meeting,signed and issued a joint statement,and witnessed the signing of more than 10 important cooperation documents.These bilateral relations have shown a sound momentum of mutual benefit,in-depth coordination and long-term stability.

Strengthening Exchange and Mutual Learning Between China and the Rest of the World

CPPCC member Du Zhanyuan gives an exclusive interview to China Today on how to enhance international communication and tell positive stories of Chinese modernization.AS an ancient Chinese philosopher said,“Amity between peoples holds the key to sound state-to-state relations.”This is often cited by President Xi Jinping to emphasize the importance of exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations in the development of international relations.

Exchanges,Mutual Learning and Looking Forward to the Future The Exhibition of Oil Paintings of China and Five Central Asian Countries

Exchanges and mutual learning between the Chinese and foreign civilizations are an important part of human cultural development.The Chinese civilization adopts an all-embracing,open and inclusive attitude to understand the different views of different civilizations on the connotation of values.The ancient Silk Road has opened a new window of friendship between countries and written a new chapter in the development of mankind.