Establishment of Regional Green Innovation Value Chains:A Case Study on Tackling the Impeded Diffusion of Green Products

The green innovation value chain is a key step in transforming green,innovative scientific,and technological achievements into productive forces.The establishment of green innovation value chains based on value distribution rather than technical conditions can effectively overcome the common bottleneck faced by different nations during their green innovation endeavors,namely,the substitution of conventional products with green alternatives.This study investigates the impeded diffusion of green products and their underlying causes,analyzes the internal structure and mechanism of the green innovation value chain,and explores the establishment of regional green innovation value chains and the models available for value chain upgrading.

Multi‐objective particle swarm optimisation of complex product change plan considering service performance

Design change is an inevitable part of the product development process.This study proposes an improved binary multi‐objective PSO algorithm guided by problem char-acteristics(P‐BMOPSO)to solve the optimisation problem of complex product change plan considering service performance.Firstly,a complex product multi‐layer network with service performance is established for the first time to reveal the impact of change effect propagation on the product service performance.Secondly,the concept of service performance impact(SPI)is defined by decoupling the impact of strongly associated nodes on the service performance in the process of change affect propagation.Then,a triple‐objective selection model of change nodes is established,which includes the three indicators:SPI degree,change cost,and change time.Furthermore,an integer multi‐objective particle swarm optimisation algorithm guided by problem characteristics is developed to solve the model above.Experimental results on the design change problem of a certain type of Skyworth TV verify the effectiveness of the established optimisation model and the proposed P‐BMOPSO algorithm.

Trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services in Yutian County along the Keriya River Basin,Northwest China

The Keriya River Basin is located in an extremely arid climate zone on the southern edge of the Tarim Basin of Northwest China,exhibiting typical mountain-oasis-desert distribution characteristics.In recent decades,climate change and human activities have exerted significant impacts on the service functions of watershed ecosystems.However,the trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services(ESs)have not been thoroughly examined.This study aims to reveal the spatiotemporal changes in ESs within the Keriya River Basin from 1995 to 2020 as well as the trade-offs and synergies between ESs.Leveraging the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs(InVEST)and Revised Wind Erosion Equation(RWEQ)using land use/land cover(LULC),climate,vegetation,soil,and hydrological data,we quantified the spatiotemporal changes in the five principal ESs(carbon storage,water yield,food production,wind and sand prevention,and habitat quality)of the watershed from 1995 to 2020.Spearman correlation coefficients were used to analyze the trade-offs and synergies between ES pairs.The findings reveal that water yield,carbon storage,and habitat quality exhibited relatively high levels in the upstream,while food production and wind and sand prevention dominated the midstream and downstream,respectively.Furthermore,carbon storage,food production,wind and sand prevention,and habitat quality demonstrated an increase at the watershed scale while water yield exhibited a decline from 1995 to 2020.Specifically,carbon storage,wind and sand prevention,and habitat quality presented an upward trend in the upstream but downward trend in the midstream and downstream.Food production in the midstream showed a continuously increasing trend during the study period.Trade-off relationships were identified between water yield and wind and sand prevention,water yield and carbon storage,food production and water yield,and habitat quality and wind and sand prevention.Prominent temporal and spatial synergistic relationships were observed between different ESs,notably between carbon storage and habitat quality,carbon storage and food production,food production and wind and sand prevention,and food production and habitat quality.Water resources emerged as a decisive factor for the sustainable development of the basin,thus highlighting the intricate trade-offs and synergies between water yield and the other four services,particularly the relationship with food production,which warrants further attention.This research is of great significance for the protection and sustainable development of river basins in arid areas.

Characterization of Small-Scale Farmers and Assessment of Their Access to Crop Production Information in Selected Counties of Kenya

Small-scale farming accounts for 78% of total agricultural production in Kenya and contributes to 23.5% of the country’s GDP. Their crop production activities are mostly rainfed subsistence with any surplus being sold to bring in some income. Timely decisions on farm practices such as farm preparation and planting are critical determinants of the seasonal outcomes. In Kenya, most small-scale farmers have no reliable source of information that would help them make timely and accurate decisions. County governments have extension officers who are mandated with giving farmers advisory services to farmers but they are not able to reach most farmers due to facilitation constraints. The mode and format of sharing information is also critical since it’s important to ensure that it’s timely, well-understood and usable. This study sought to assess access to geospatial derived and other crop production information by farmers in four selected counties of Kenya. Specific objectives were to determine the profile of small-scale farmers in terms of age, education and farm size;to determine the type of information that is made available to them by County and Sub-County extension officers including the format and mode of provision;and to determine if the information provided was useful in terms of accuracy, timeliness and adequacy. The results indicated that over 80% of the farmers were over 35 years of age and over 56% were male. Majority had attained primary education (34%) or secondary education (29%) and most farmers in all the counties grew maize (71%). Notably, fellow farmers were a source of information (71%) with the frequency of sharing information being mostly seasonal (37%) and when information was available (43%). Over 66% of interviewed farmers indicating that they faced challenges while using provided information. The results from the study are insightful and helpful in determining effective ways of providing farmers with useful information to ensure maximum benefits.

Spatiotemporal variations of ecosystem services and driving factors in the Tianchi Bogda Peak Natural Reserve of Xinjiang,China

Nature reserves play a significant role in providing ecosystem services and are key sites for biodiversity conservation.The Tianchi Bogda Peak Natural Reserve(TBPNR),located in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China,is an important ecological barrier area in the temperate arid zone.The evaluation of its important ecosystem services is of great significance to improve the management level and ecological protection efficiency of the reserve.In the present study,we assessed the spatiotemporal variations of four ecosystem services(including net primary productivity(NPP),water yield,soil conservation,and habitat quality)in the TBPNR from 2000 to 2020 based on the environmental and social data using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs(InVEST)model.In addition,the coldspot and hotspot areas of ecosystem services were identified by hotspot analysis,and the trade-off and synergistic relationships between ecosystem services were analyzed using factor analysis in a geographic detector.During the study period,NPP and soil conservation values in the reserve increased by 48.20%and 25.56%,respectively;conversely,water yield decreased by 16.56%,and there was no significant change in habitat quality.Spatially,both NPP and habitat quality values were higher in the northern part and lower in the southern part,whereas water yield showed an opposite trend.Correlation analysis revealed that NPP showed a synergistic relationship with habitat quality and soil conservation,and exhibited a trade-off relationship with water yield.Water yield and habitat quality also had a trade-off relationship.NPP and habitat quality were affected by annual average temperature and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI),respectively,while water yield and soil conservation were more affected by digital elevation model(DEM).Therefore,attention should be paid to the spatial distribution and dynamics of trade-off and synergistic relationships between ecosystem services in future ecological management.The findings of the present study provide a reference that could facilitate the sustainable utilization of ecosystem services in the typical fragile areas of Northwest China.

Tourism-Oriented Cultural Product Design: A Case Study of Yami Culture in Lanyu

Due to the prevalence of modern commerce and mainstream culture, many indigenous cultures around the world are rapidly diminishing. These cultures, with their unique primitiveness distinct from modern culture, often attract tourists. This study integrates the indigenous Yami culture of Lanyu Island, Taiwan Region, into innovative designs from the perspective of tourists’ understanding of the local culture. In this way, tourists can experience the harmonious coexistence of the Yami tribe and nature, while these culturally rich products foster deeper experiential and emotional resonance. This study employs the Mandala thinking method for concept expansion and the Osborn checklist method for the analysis and transformation of design elements. Subsequently, designers were invited to conduct on-site travel experiences, leading to the creation of a series of Yami cultural products. Through the evaluation and validation of cultural product assessment indicators, functional commercialized products were ultimately produced. This study aims to establish a design process for cultural products through this design case. It seeks to help users recall their Lanyu Island travel experiences and appreciate the often-overlooked cultural beauty, thereby raising awareness of cultural preservation.

Evolution of Handicraft Industries in the Textile Sector in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Analysis of Trends and Innovations

This review explores the evolution of the textile handicraft industry in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing its cultural and economic significance. The study highlights the transition from traditional practices to modern innovations and examines the impact of globalization and technological advancements on the industry. Key innovations are discussed, demonstrating their role in enhancing textile production while preserving cultural heritage. Major challenges, such as competition from industrial textiles and the need for sustainable practices, are identified. Opportunities for growth are explored, including leveraging tourism and international markets to promote Saudi handicrafts. The social and cultural impacts of the sector are underscored, particularly in sustaining community traditions and providing economic opportunities for artisans. Strategic recommendations for supporting and advancing the industry are offered, ensuring its continued relevance and sustainability in a rapidly changing global market. This analysis provides a robust framework for understanding the current state and future potential of Saudi Arabia’s textile handicraft industry.

Analysis of the Characteristics and Development Direction of Services Trade in Shandong Province of China

Shandong is a significant province for foreign trade in China;however,it still faces shortcomings in the development of its service trade,as outlined below.Firstly,the scale of service trade is limited.Shandong’s service trade volume ranked sixth in China in 2022,lagging considerably behind Shanghai,Guangdong,Beijing,Zhejiang,and Jiangsu.Secondly,the proportion of service trade in Shandong compared to the overall national services trade volume falls below the national average,with the per capita scale even lower than the national average.Thirdly,Shandong’s service trade accounts for less than 10% of the province’s foreign trade,which is 3 percentage points below the national average.The insufficient development of Shandong’s service trade is mainly attributed to the weak performance of its own service industry and the limited scale of attracting foreign services investment.Accelerating the development of producer services in Shandong,promoting the intelligent upgrading of consumer services,and continuously promoting reform and opening up in the service sector will be conducive to achieving high-quality development of services trade in Shandong.

An Analysis of Innovative Contributions to the Important Discourse on the Development of New Quality Productivity

The discourse on developing high-quality productivity marks a significant theoretical innovation,which is conducive to the modernization and sinicization of Marxism.It refines our understanding of“new quality productivity,”defining it as an advanced form driven by innovation,embodying“high technology,efficiency,and quality,”with the aim of comprehensively enhancing productivity.It elucidates the necessity of cultivating such forces,asserting that they are crucial for achieving high-quality development,securing a leading position in global technology,and fulfilling the aspirations for a better life.Moreover,it outlines a new implementation route,emphasizing strategies such as fostering technological autonomy,nurturing emerging industries,integrating education and talent in technology,adopting a“build through challenges”approach,adjusting solutions locally,and providing categorized guidance,all of which are based on the ongoing comprehensive reforms.

Can environmental regulation promote industrial innovation and productivity?Based on the strong and weak Porter hypothesis

This paper constructed extended CDM model to study the effects of environmental regulation on industrial innovation and productivity based on the perspective of strong and weak "Porter hypothesis",by using 28 manufacturing industry panel data of 2003-2014. The findings reveal that:(1) the impact of environmental regulation on R&D intensity lags behind. In the long run,environmental regulation intensity has a significant role in promoting R&D investment in manufacturing industry.(2) The R&D has a significant role in promoting the substantial innovation of manufacturing industry, and has a strong lag and continuity. However, the R&D intensity has no obvious effect on strategic innovation of manufacturing industry.(3) The substantial innovation doesn't significantly promote the economic performance of manufacturing industry, but it has a significant role in promoting the energy performance of manufacturing industry, and the substantial innovation plays a significant role in promoting environmental performance in the long term. The strategic innovation significantly promotes the economic performance of manufacturing industry, and it inhibits the energy performance and has no significant effect on environmental performance in the short term. It can promote the energy performance of manufacturing industry, but significantly inhibit environmental performance in the long term.(4) Environmental regulation has significantly suppressed the substantive innovation and strategic innovation of manufacturing industry, and the weak Porter hypothesis has not yet been supported. In the short term, environmental regulation inhibits manufacturing economic performance, but it can promote energy and environmental performance. In the long run, environmental regulation promotes the economic and energy performance of manufacturing industry, but it inhibits environmental performance. The establishment of strong Porter hypothesis has a certain scenario.

Impact of the Built Environment on the Spatial Heterogeneity of Regional Innovation Productivity:Evidence from the Pearl River Delta,China

With the global economy increasingly dependent on innovation,urban discourse has shifted to consider what kinds of spatial designs may best nurture innovation.We examined the relationship between the built environment and the spatial heterogeneity of regional innovation productivity(RIP)using the example of China's Pearl River Delta(PRD).Based on a spatial database of 522546 patent data from 2017,this study proposed an innovation-based built environment framework with the following five aspects:healthy en-vironment,daily interaction,mixed land use,commuting convenience,and technology atmosphere.Combining negative binomial regression and Geodetector to examine the impact of the built environment on RIP,the results show that the spatial distribution of innovation productivity in the PRD region is extremely uneven.The negative binomial regression results show that the built environment has a significant impact on the spatial differentiation of RIP,and,specifically,that healthy environment,mixed land use,commuting convenience,and technology atmosphere all demonstrate significant positive impacts.Meanwhile,the Geodetector results show that the built environment factor impacts the spatial heterogeneity of RIP to varying degrees,with technology atmosphere demonstrating the greatest impact intensity.We conclude that as regional development discourse shifts focus to the knowledge and innovation economy,the innovation-oriented design and updating of built environments will become extremely important to policymakers.

Personalization for Massive Product Innovation Using Open Architecture

Product innovation is creation of new concepts to plan and realize technological and functional details in the product to satisfy market and customer needs. One of the key drivers to product innovation is reactions of the product to users’ needs. Product innovation needs a cognitive design method based on needs of variant users for the product personalization. In this paper, an open concept is introduced to provide ways to meet user’s individual need in product lifespan. It is for industries to propose product concepts based on open sources, develop and support the product on the public capability. Using the open concept in the product architecture, called open?architecture product(OAP), can improve the product personalization leading to massive product innovation. To promote this promise of the OAP, effective methods are discussed for the OAP development. This paper introduces research on OAPs using adaptable design methods to meet product personalization. Adaptable design is based on the modular structure for product adaptability using function modules and adaptable interfaces. The proposed method provides solutions for planning modules and implementation of OAPs. Methods of OAP module planning, detail and interface design are described for transformation of product concepts into physical structures. A multiple?purpose electrical car is developed in a case study to show effectiveness of the proposed method.

Challenges of a negative work load and implications on morale,productivity and quality of service delivered in NHS laboratories in England

The National Health Service(NHS)is a term used to describe the publicly funded healthcare delivery system providing quality healthcare services in the United Kingdom.There are several challenges militating against the effective laboratory service delivery in the NHS in England.Biomedical scientists work in healthcare to diagnose disease and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment through the analysis of body fluids and tissue samples from patients.They provide the"engine room"of modern medicine with 70%of diagnosis based on the laboratory results generated by them.This review involved the search of literature for information on working condition of biomedical scientist in the NHS in England.Laboratory service delivery in the NHS in England faces numerous daunting challenges;staffing levels in the last few years have become dangerously low,less remunerated,relatively less experienced and predominantly band 5's,multidisciplinary rather than specialty based,associated with working more unsocial hours without adequate recovery time,de-banding of staff,high staff turnaround,profit and cost driven rather than quality.These factors has resulted in burn out,low morale,high sickness absences,increased error rate,poor team spirit,diminished productivity and suboptimal laboratory service delivery.There is the urgent need to retract our steps on unpopular policies to ensure that patient care is not compromised by ensuring adequate staffing level and mix,ensuring adequate remuneralion of laboratory staff,implementing evidenced-based specialty oriented service,determining the root cause/s for the high staff turnover and implementing corrective action,identifying other potential sources of waste in the system rather than pruning the already dangerously low staffing levels and promoting a quality delivery side by side cost effectiveness.

Circulation Service System for the Agricultural Products in Shandong

The construction and improvement of agricultural product circulation is one of the important solutions to the issues of agriculture. Although great achievements have been made in the construction of agricultural product, many problems still exist in the basis, principal role and service contents of service system. It needs the great improvement on infrastructure, service modes and management of service system to prompt the economic development in rural areas.

Modeling optimal oil production paths under risk service contracts

Due to the rigorous fiscal terms and huge potential risk of risk service contracts,optimizing oil production paths is one of the main challenges in designing oilfield development plans.In this paper,an oil production path optimization model is developed to maximize economic benefits within constraints of technology factors and oil contracts.This analysis describes the effects of risk service contract terms on parameters of inputs and outputs and quantifies the relationships between production and production time,revenues,investment and costs.An oil service development and production project is illustrated in which the optimal production path under its own geological conditions and contract terms is calculated.The influences of oil price,service fees per barrel and operating costs on the optimal production have been examined by sensitivity analysis.The results show that the oil price has the largest impact on the optimal production,which is negatively related to oil price and positively related to service fees per barrel and operating costs.

Potential Applications of Milk Fractions and Valorization of Dairy By-Products: A Review of the State-of-the-Art Available Data, Outlining the Innovation Potential from a Bigger Data Standpoint

The unique composition of milk makes this basic foodstuff into an exceptional raw material for the production of new ingredients with desired properties and diverse applications in the food industry. The fractionation of milk is the key in the development of those ingredients and products;hence continuous research and development on this field, especially various levels of fractionation and separation by filtration, have been carried out. This review focuses on the production of milk fractions as well as their particular properties, applications and processes that increase their exploitation. Whey proteins and caseins from the protein fraction are excellent emulsifiers and protein supplements. Besides, they can be chemically or enzymatically modified to obtain bioactive peptides with numerous functional and nutritional properties. In this context, valorization techniques of cheese-whey proteins, by-product of dairy industry that constitutes both economic and environmental problems, are being developed. Phospholipids from the milk fat fraction are powerful emulsifiers and also have exclusive nutraceutical properties. In addition, enzyme modification of milk phospholipids makes it possible to tailor emulsifiers with particular properties. However, several aspects remain to be overcome;those refer to a deeper understanding of the healthy, functional and nutritional properties of these new ingredients that might be barriers for its use and acceptability. Additionally, in this review, alternative applications of milk constituents in the non-food area such as in the manufacture of plastic materials and textile fibers are also introduced. The unmet needs, the cross-fertilization in between various protein domains,the carbon footprint requirements, the environmental necessities, the health and wellness new demand, etc., are dominant factors in the search for innovation approaches;these factors are also outlining the further innovation potential deriving from those “apparent” constrains obliging science and technology to take them into account.

Expansion of Technical Innovation and Demand Determines Production Organization Pattern in Strategic Emerging Industries——Taking Example of TFT-LCD Industry

Taking the evolution process of TFT-LCD industry as an example,this paper applied history-friendly model to analyze the effect of technology innovation and learning,and market demand growth and fluctuation on the evolution of production organization pattern in strategic emerging industries.Our research indicates that:(1) when market demand maintains linear growth,continuous technology innovation capabilities of vertically integrated enterprises in leading position of an industry are the key factor in deciding whether dominant production organization pattern will shift from vertical integration to specialization;(2) when market demand is in cyclical fluctuation,the technology learning capabilities of specialized enterprises in catch-up position are the key factor in deciding whether dominant production organization pattern will shift from vertical integration to specialization;(3) when market demand growth is under cyclical fluctuation,if the relative gap between technology innovation capabilities of vertically integrated enterprises and technology learning capabilities of specialized enterprises remains constant,the phase when industry cycle moves from trough to plateau is the best time window for specialized enterprises to catch up with and overtake vertically integrated enterprises.Hence,policy design supporting the development of strategic emerging industries should give full consideration to factors like market demand environment and technology innovation and learning capabilities of domestic enterprises.

Fuzzy integral based measurement and assessment of medium and small enterprises'product innovation

A fuzzy integral based way of measurement assessment has been established by using linguistic varia-bles and combining fuzzy integral with hierarchy analysis for measurement of medium and small enterprises'product innovation. The conclusions drawn from analyses made with 20 medium and small enterprises providebases for governments to formulate applicable policies and for medium and small enterprises to enhance theirproduct innovation.

Knowledge-intensive Business Services in National Innovation Systems

In order to find the roles of knowledge-intensive business services （KIBS） in the innovation activities, This paper focus on three perspectives. First, we find that KIBS possess good prerequisites to function as vehicles in innovation distribution, the sources of innovation and the facilitators of innovation in their client firms. Second, we further discuss KIBS as the knowledge and innovation infrastructure of society in parallel with the research, educational and other public institutions. Third, we present some research policies and agenda to promote the development of KIBS. It is regarded that much remains to be studied both in the use of KIBS and in their own activities, including integrating and networking the knowledge-intensive services into the client companies, the convergence of various services and closer connection with the client companies＇ strategy, and the national policies to connect the KIBS to the different sectors.

Study on Customer Demands for Product Innovation

In order to improve the satisfaction degree of customers’individual demands for products and reduce the risk of the product innovation,the characteristics of customer demands for product innovation are analyzed,and the type and content of customer demands are discussed.Then the framework of customer demands acquisition for product innovation is established.Final- ly,the prototype system of customer demands information acquisition and product customization for product innovation which takes mobile phone as the example is developed successfully.