Community detection of agents interacting through regional innovation policies: structures, processes and functions

The detection of communities of agents that interacted over time through regional innovation policies is analyzed through the application of three methodologies: Clique Percolation Method (CPM) by Palla et al. (2005), Infomap by Rosvall and Bergstrom (2008), and Dynamic Cluster Index analysis (DCI) by Villani et al. (2013). In a economic context of analysis centered on such a complex object as innovation, the three methodologies are applied to investigate different specific aspects of community organizations aimed at developing innovative activities. The investigation of relational structures (through CPM), of shared processes (through Infomap) and of integrated behaviors (through DCI analysis) allowed the identification of communities that reveal, respectively, meaningful characterizations in terms of agents\u2019 participations in specific waves of the policy, of agents\u2019 participations in projects operating in particular technological domains, and in terms of agents\u2019 institutional typologies. The case study regards the policy interventions implemented by region Tuscany (Italy) in 2000-2006 with the aim of supporting innovative network projects among local actors

Multilayer Network Analysis of Innovation Intermediaries' Activities

Policymakers wishing to enhance innovation processes in small and medium-sized enterprises increasingly channel their interventions through innovation intermediaries. However, limited empirical research exists regarding the activities and performance of intermediaries, with most contributions taking a qualitative approach and focusing on the role of intermediaries as brokers. In this paper, we analyse the extent to which innovation intermediaries, through their engagement in different activities, support the creation of communities of other agents. We use multilayer network analysis techniques to simultaneously represent the many types of interactions promoted by intermediaries. Furthermore, by originally applying the Infomap algorithm to our multilayer network, we assess the contribution of the agents involved in different activities promoted by intermediaries, and we identify the emerging multilayer communities and the intercohesive agents that span across several communities. Our analysis highlights the potential and the critical features of multilayer analysis for policy design and evaluation

Preliminary evaluation of sap flow data by stem heat balance method.

Cermak et al. (1973) developed the first version of the heat balance method (HBM), which involves continuous application of heat in a stem segment and quantifying losses by axial and radial wood conduction. The heat flow carried out by the sap is determined from the difference between input power and axial and radial heat losses from the heated stem segment. Currently, this method follows Sakuratani (1981) and Baker & Van Bavel (1987), who modified the first HBM version by applying a constant power on the gauge, so reducing the electronic requirements for the measurements. The HBM is an absolute method that requires simple equipment and some basic procedures in order to minimize errors (Baker & Nieber, 1989; Steinberg et al., 1990; Valancogne & Nasr, 1993; Weibel & de Vos, 1994). However, it is difficult to evaluate sap flow measurements in field conditions since reference methods, such as lysimeters, soil water balance and other techniques are normally difficult to apply, especially for big plants. This paper focuses on this problem and considers some procedures to evaluate data supplied by HBM when reference methods are not available

Innovation intermediaries and performance-based incentives: a case study of regional innovation poles

A growing number of innovation policies rely on publicly funded innovation intermediaries to provide knowledge-intensive services to firms, particularly small and medium-sized ones. The performance of innovation intermediaries is often assessed using indicators that need to be closely aligned with policy objectives to be effective. However, this alignment is difficult to achieve and is often overlooked in practice. We analyse the relationship between performance indicators and the behaviour of intermediaries by examining a case study of innovation intermediaries funded with public resources in Tuscany (Italy). The intermediaries implemented actions that allowed them to achieve their performance targets rapidly. However, due to a misalignment between indicators and policy objectives, these actions were not entirely consistent with the latter. After reviewing the literature on this key issue, we build on our findings to suggest how to design performance indicators that can induce intermediaries to more effectively support the achievement of policy objectives

Microclimatologia de cafezais adensados: bases para a modelagem do consumo hídrico e do balanço de radiação.

Modelo de Penman-Monteith adaptado à estimativa da transpiração individual de lenhosas. Aspectos ecofisiológicos da cultura do cafeeiro. Transpiração e evapotranspiração de cafezais. Métodos micrometeorológicos de determinação da evapotranspiração. Estimativa da evapotranspiração de cafezal em crescimento pelos métodos aerodinâmico e da razão de Bowen. Modelo de Penman-Monteith adaptado à estimativa da transpiração individual de lenhosas. Absorção de energia radiante. Estimativa da transpiração máxima de cafeeiros pelo modelo de Penman-Monteith adaptado a plantas isoladas: um estudo de caso. Estimativa da evapotranspiração de referência. Relação entre a transpiração dos cafeeiros e a evapotranspiração de referência e a do cafezal.bitstream/item/61082/1/livro-doc-118.pd

Singling out the effect of quenched disorder in the phase diagram of cuprates

We investigate the specific influence of structural disorder on the suppression of antiferromagnetic order and on the emergence of cuprate superconductivity. We single out pure disorder, by focusing on a series of Y$_{z}$Eu$_{1-z}$Ba$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{6+y}$ samples at fixed oxygen content $y=0.35$, in the range $0\le z\le 1$. The gradual Y/Eu isovalent substitution smoothly drives the system through the Mott-insulator to superconductor transition from a full antiferromagnet with N\'eel transition $T_N=320$ K at $z=0$ to a bulk superconductor with superconducting critical temperature $T_c=18$ K at $z=1$, YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{6.35}$. The electronic properties are finely tuned by gradual lattice deformations induced by the different cationic radii of the two lanthanides, inducing a continuous change of the basal Cu(1)-O chain length, as well as a controlled amount of disorder in the active Cu(2)O$_2$ bilayers. We check that internal charge transfer from the basal to the active plane is entirely responsible for the doping of the latter and we show that superconductivity emerges with orthorhombicity. By comparing transition temperatures with those of the isoelectronic clean system we deterime the influence of pure structural disorder connected with the Y/Eu alloy.Comment: 10 pages 11 figures, submitted to Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, Special Issue in memory of Prof. Sandro Massid

Evapotranspiration and CROP COEFFICIENTS of a Coffee Plantation in Southern Brazil.

Coffee plants have been cultivated in Brazil since 1727 and have a great importance for the economy of the country. Brazil has more than 2,400,000 ha of commercial plantations of coffee, and in the last 15 years they have been expanded to regions where drought is more intense and normally coincides with fruit expansion, what became irrigation very important and somewhat essential in such regions (Camargo, 1985). Currently, it is estimated that about 200,000 ha of coffee plantations are being grown under irrigation in the country. In spite of great advances in technologies for water supply and the economic importance of coffee crop, irrigation management have been made inadequately in the most Brazilian coffee regions due to the large amount of water applied, which normally exceeds the crop needs (Camargo, 2002). Regarding this point, Carr (2001) postulated that estimates of water requirements for irrigation purposes are still imprecise for this crop and, probably, subject to large errors depending on the local circumstances and the system of irrigation used. The objective of this study was to assess the water use by a drip-irrigated coffee plantation in Southern Brazil using different measurement techniques in order to determine the two components of crop coefficients (Kc), i.e. basal (Kcb) and evaporative (Kce) components. The study also evaluated the micrometeorological factors affecting transpiration, crop and reference evapotranspiration relationships and its implications on actual rates of water use and on irrigation management

Determination of the optimal priming interval of rumen fluids used as inocula for the in vitro digestibility trials through radial enzyme diffusion method

Context: Determination of the neutral detergent fibre digestibility is one of the important parameters to consider when formulating diets. However, the in vitro determination shows low repeatability because of the source of rumen-fluid inoculum. Priming of the rumen fluid inocula, obtained through an oesophageal probe, has been proposed to overcome this issue. Aim: The objective of the study was to investigate the evolution of the microbial enzymatic activities of different rumen fluids during a priming procedure, to establish the fermentation interval that minimises the differences among rumen-fluid degradative potentials. Methods: Three farms for each type of diet were involved in the study. Rumen fluids were obtained from dry and lactating cows fed the following four diet types: 100% hay or a diet with 80: 20 forage: Concentrate ratio (F: C) as dry-cow diets, and ad libitum hay and concentrate, or a total mixed ration (both at 60: 40 F: C) as lactating-cow diets. On each farm, rumen fluid was collected from three Holstein cows by using an oesophageal probe, and mixed. Two aliquots of each rumen fluid mix were added to the medium containing the same priming substrate in an in vitro batch-fermentation system. During the incubation, the fermentation fluids were sampled in duplicate at 0-, 1-, 2-, 4-, 8-, 24- A nd 48-h intervals. Enzymatic activities of amylase, cellulase and xylanase were determined by radial enzyme diffusion method. Key results: Initial enzymatic activities were quite variable and increased with an increasing incubation time. By 24 h, amylase showed similar values among high-concentrate diet fermentation fluids, and a lower data dispersion in comparison to the other intervals cellulase was characterised by similar values in all the fermentation fluids derived from diets including concentrates, and xylanase showed similar activity in the fermentation fluids derived from high-concentrate diets. Development of the enzymatic activity of the fermentation fluids derived from the 100% hay diet differed from the others. Conclusions: A 24-h priming procedure was needed to stabilise and equalise the enzymatic activity of the rumen fluid from cows fed high-concentrate diets. This was not observed in rumen fluid from cows fed hay-based diets. Implications: The 24-h-primed rumen fluid can be used to increase the repeatability of neutral detergent fibre digestibility determination