Utility Model Patent Research Articles

Environmental Protection Tax Policy and Green Innovation of Heavy-Polluting Enterprises: Evidence from China

Since 2018, China has implemented the Environmental Protection Tax as a market-based envi-ronmental regulation tool to encourage enterprises, especially heavy-polluting ones, to reduce emissions and engage in green innovation. The effectiveness of this policy in promoting green innovation has become a focal point of attention for Chinese society, as it directly relates to the coordinated high-quality development of the economy and environmental protection, as well as the achievement of China’s “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals”. This study evaluates the green innovation effect of the Environmental Protection Tax policy on heavy-polluting enterprises in China using micro-data of listed enterprises from 2003 to 2019, based on the new market-oriented environmental regulation tool. We employ the propensity score matching and differ-ence-in-differences method (PSM-DID) to follow up on the green innovation effect of China’s Environmental Protection Tax policy and reveal its implementation effect. Empirical results indicate that, first, the Environ-mental Protection Tax policy contributes to heavy-polluting enterprises’ R&D innovation of green patents, and this conclusion holds through various robustness tests. Second, the policy’s impact on green innovation types of heavy-polluting enterprises exhibits heterogeneity, with a more significant positive effect on the utility model patent than on the invention patent. Third, the green innovation effect of the policy differs ac-cording to regional economic development and enterprise ownership attributes. Finally, financing constraints do not significantly affect the green innovation of heavy-polluting enterprises. These enterprises remain pro-active in green innovation, even under high financing constraints. To further promote green innovation of heavy-polluting enterprises and achieve China’s dual carbon goals, the government should continue to imple-ment and improve the Environmental Protection Tax policy, leveraging its positive effect on green innovation.

Development and application of an smart emergency respirator with open airway

To solve the problems of insufficient airway opening, insufficient or excessive ventilation, ventilation interruption, and the rescuer's physical strength during the process of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) outside the hospital and in the hospital, and to ensure the accuracy of ventilation frequency rate and tidal volume. Zhongnan Hospital and School of Nursing, Wuhan University, jointly designed and developed a smart emergency respirator with open airway function, that has been granted National Utility Model Patent of China (ZL 2021 2 1557989.8). The device is structured of pillow, pneumatic booster pump and mask. It can be used simply by plugging the pillow under the patient's head and shoulder, turning on the power supply and wearing the mask. The smart emergency respirator can quickly and effectively open the patient's airway and give accurate ventilation with adjustable ventilation parameters. The default settings are 10 times/min in respiratory rate and 500 mL in tidal volume. The whole operation does not require the operator have professional operation ability, which can be independently applied used in any cases without oxygen source or power supply, therefore, the application scenario has no limit. The device has the advantages of small size, simple operation and low production cost, which can reduce human source, save physical strength and significantly improve the quality of CPR. The device is suitable for respiratory support in multiple scenes outside and inside the hospital, and can significantly improve the success rate of treatment.

Methodological Basis for Designing Tillage Cutters

Introduction. The paper considers the problem of improving the efficiency of self-propelled small-sized tillage cutters by adapting to changing environments, and in particular, to changing physical and mechanical properties of the soil. The aim of the research is to develop a methodology for designing self-propelled small-sized tillage cutters. Materials and Methods. The study used the basic provisions of the theory of mechanisms and machines and the design theory in mechanical engineering. The main attention is paid to the general scientific principle of adaptation in designing self-propelled small-sized tillage cutters. The authors understand this principle as the ability to automatically provide the required mode of machine operation in relation to the soil conditions. Results. The results presented in the article made it possible to propose a methodological approach to designing efficient self-propelled small-sized tillage cutters with an ability to adapt them to changing environments. The results of the study are a methodology for designing tillage cutters and a new technical solution for their adaptation to soil conditions. On the basis of patents for inventions and utility models, in which this method is implemented, there was developed a prototype tillage cutter, which automatically covers the full range of required operating modes. Discussion and Conclusion. Compared to the known tillage cutters, the proposed technical solution for the soil tillage cutter design allows improving the quality of soil tillage. This is due to the fact that the value of the kinematic index is in the required range, and the agrotechnical requirements for tillage are met.

АНАЛИЗ РАЗРАБОТОК В СФЕРЕ УДАЛЕННОГО ДИАГНОСТИРОВАНИЯ НА АВТОМОБИЛЬНОМ ТРАНСПОРТЕ

The article describes developments in the field of remote diagnostics in road transport. Consider existing patents for inventions and utility models, the main essence of which is remote diagnostics on vehicles.

Can green patents reduce carbon emission intensity?—An empirical analysis based on China’s experience

Achieving “peak carbon” and “carbon neutrality” and designing energy conservation and emission reduction policies in China require giving full play to the effect of green technology innovation. This paper uses annual data from 1993 to 2020 in China, including the number of green invention patents and green utility model patents, and tests the long-term and short-term effects of green innovation on carbon emission intensity by constructing an ARDL model. The results show that the effect of green invention patents and green utility model patents on CO2 emission intensity is different. Specifically, green invention patents contribute to reducing carbon emission intensity in the short term but act as a barrier in the long term. Green utility model patents suppress carbon emission intensity in the short and long terms. In addition, adjustment of the industrial structure characterized by “shrinking the secondary sector and developing the tertiary sector” has the most excellent effect on reducing carbon emission intensity in the short term. The relative energy price’s carbon emission reduction effect is weaker than the industrial structure. Foreign direct investment and non-fossil energy consumption increase carbon emission intensity in the short term. In the long term, increasing the proportion of non-fossil energy is crucial to reducing carbon emission intensity. The carbon emission reduction effect of energy price is insignificant, and foreign direct investment is not conducive to carbon emission reduction. Finally, this paper analyzes the policy implications of the empirical results and proposes recommendations for reducing China’s CO2 emission intensity accordingly.

Industrial Policy and Technological Innovation of New Energy Vehicle Industry in China

Promoting the development of new energy vehicles is one of the important measures to ensure energy security and deal with global warming. Technological innovation is an inexhaustible driving force for the development of the new energy vehicle industry. This study considered listed enterprises in China’s new energy vehicle industry as research samples and used the fixed effect model to study the impact of government subsidies on the quantity and quality of technological innovation in the new energy vehicle industry. The empirical results show that government subsidies have a significant positive impact on the quantity of technological innovation in the new energy vehicle industry; however, government subsidies have no significant impact on the quality of technological innovation. Government subsidies increase the quantity of technological innovation in the new energy vehicle industry by increasing R&D investment, mitigating financing constraints, and improving the external attention of enterprises. Compared to downstream enterprises in the industrial chain, government subsidies have a better incentive effect on the technological innovation of upstream enterprises, which increases the number of patents and enhances the quality of utility model patents. Government subsidies have a better effect on promoting the quantity of technological innovation in large enterprises.

Digital Economy, Technological Innovation, and Environmental Quality Improvement

Based on China’s provincial panel data from 2013 to 2020, this paper makes an empirical study on the influence of digital economy development on regional environmental quality by using the fixed effect model and mediating effect model. The results show that the development of a digital economy can effectively reduce environmental pollution and improve environmental quality. Secondly, a mechanism analysis shows that a digital economy can promote technological innovation and improve environmental quality; that is, there is a mediating effect when the total number of patents and utility model patents is a proxy variable of technological innovation, and there is no mediating effect when invention patents and design patents are proxy variables. Finally, through further analysis of regional differences, it is found that the development of the digital economy has obvious regional heterogeneity characteristics to the improvement of environmental quality, and the central and western regions are higher than the eastern regions. These conclusions provide new policy directions and inspiration for improving the regional environment, improving people’s quality of life, and promoting high-quality economic development.

Development of methods for assessing the quality of snail meat

The meat of edible snails is considered a delicacy and is part of Ukraine's food exports, but there are no regulations or legislation on its quality. The purpose of this work was to develop methods for determining the degree of freshness of snail meat by the content of ammonia and ammonium salts with Nessler's reagent, peroxidase in meat with copper sulfate solution, and processing a smear-print from meat with a fluorescent dye and to determine the quality of meat by the number of green pixels. During the research, first of all, it was determined the organoleptic characteristics of shellfish meat, which reflect their freshness. Next, research was performed to determine the enzymes and ammonia that are produced during meat storage. The following reagents were used: copper sulfate solution, Nessler's reagent, and fluorescent dye – acridine orange. The equipment used for these reactions was used, namely: a KFK-2-UHL 4.2 photometer and an SMT fluorescence microscope with a working current of 2.5 A. Thus, schemes for establishing reactions for determining the degree of freshness of snail meat were developed and tested: biochemical, photometric, and immunofluorescence methods. The stability of the indicators for determining the degree of freshness was established. It is analysed that the data presented relate only to the research on snail meat. Utility model patents have been granted for each method. The proposed methods for assessing the quality of snail meat are effective, technologically simple and fast, have high reliability of the results obtained and can be used in the work of research and experimental, production and regional laboratories of veterinary medicine

Design and application of a new heat-and-moisture exchanger with anti-splash sputum suctioning function

In the emergency department, open endotracheal suctioning for mechanically ventilated patients with endotracheal intubation will lead to the spread of respiratory droplets and aerosols, polluting the surrounding environment and medical staff. The traditional heat-and-moisture exchanger has the effect of warming and humidifying, and can block pathogenic microorganisms, but it does not have the function of inserting a sputum suction tube. When the heat-and-moisture exchanger is pulled out for sputum suction, it is easy to cause sputum splash, which pollutes the surrounding environment and medical personnel. The addition of closed sputum suction devices will increase the economic burden on patients. Thus, the medical staff of emergency department of the First People's Hospital of Tongxiang City of Zhejiang Province designed a new type of heat-and-moisture exchanger with anti-splash sputum suctioning function and obtained the National Utility Model Patent of China (ZL 2021 2 0017615.0). The new heat-and-moisture exchanger is mainly composed of a receiving cavity, a connecting tube, a sputum suction tube intubation tube, a sealing valve, etc. The disposable sputum suction tube can be used to insert sputum suction, and at the same time, it can prevent the secretion from splashing to ensure sealing. The patent combines the humidification and pathogen blocking functions of the heat-and-moisture exchanger with the anti-splash sputum suctioning function, which is suitable for use in the emergency and critical care medicine departments and has clinically practical value.

Value-added tax, product innovation and export quality: evidence from China

ABSTRACT In this study, we examine the relationship between value-added tax burden and export quality. Our results show that the increase of VAT burden leads to lower export quality. We also find that the decline in export quality may be caused by the decrease of product innovation. Moreover, the empirical evidence on patent application shows that VAT burden mainly reduces invention and utility model patents, instead of design patents.

Study on the effect of carbon trading regulation on green innovation and heterogeneity analysis from China

China launched seven pilot areas for climate change mitigation before establishing a unified carbon emissions trading system in 2014. To explore the heterogeneous effect of carbon trading regulation on green innovation in China, we constructed evolutionary games with players of governments and enterprises. We then conducted empirical studies with the difference-in-difference model. With the data of listed Chinese A-share companies from 2008 to 2018, we found that implementing carbon trading pilot projects in China significantly increases the green innovation output of enterprises in the pilot regions. Additionally, the sensitivity to carbon trading policies varies across industries and property rights. Regarding the quality of green innovation triggered by the pilot project, firms in the pilot regions prefer high-quality green invention patent innovations over low-quality green utility model patent innovations. In addition, state-owned enterprises tend to apply for high-quality green invention patents, while firms in high-pollution industries prefer to apply for lower-quality green utility model patents. Finally, we put forward policy suggestions. First, China should accelerate the pilot carbon trading regulation and expand its scope. Second, there should be regional and industrial differences in constricting carbon trading regulations. Third, the government should avoid unreasonable regulatory intensity design.

Research on the impact mechanism of heterogeneous environmental regulation on enterprise green technology innovation

Green technology innovation (GTI) is an effective way to promote the green development of economy, and government environmental regulations are an important means to encourage enterprises to carry out GTI. Taking Chinese A-share listed enterprises from 2010 to 2019 as samples, this paper divides environmental regulations into three categories: command-based environmental regulation (ER1), market-based environmental regulation (ER2) and voluntary environmental regulation (ER3), studies their impact on enterprise GTI, and discusses the joint effect of enterprise research and development (R&D) investment and government support from the perspective of internal and external linkage of enterprises. In addition, this paper also analyzes the compound effect and time effect of environmental regulation. The research conclusions are as follows: (1) From the perspective of policy types, both ER1 and ER 2 could stimulate enterprises to carry out GTI, and the promotion effect of green utility model patents is slightly higher than that of green invention patents. ER3 inhibits enterprise GTI. In addition, this paper finds that the effect of three environmental regulations acting at the same time is greater than that of one of them. (2) The mechanism analysis shows that the R&D investment of enterprise positively could moderate the relationship between ER2 and green invention at the significance level of 5%, positively moderate the relationship between ER2 and green utility model patent at the significance level of 1%, and negatively moderate the relationship between ER3 and green utility model patent at the significance level of 5%. The government support could moderate the relationship between environmental regulation and green utility model patents at the significance level of 5% and 10%. (3) The effect analysis shows that the transformation rate of GTI in China needs to be improved. The three environmental regulations could have an effect on enterprise GTI in a short period, and ER1 has the fastest effect. (4) Considering the differences in the level of economic development and resource endowments in various regions of China, this paper classifies the sample enterprises and finds that the impact of environmental regulation on enterprise GTI is heterogeneous in terms of location, ownership nature, factor density and industry type. The research results provide the important reference for the formulation and implementation of environmental regulation policies according to local conditions.

Whether Green Finance Improves Green Innovation of Listed Companies-Evidence from China.

Facing the intensification of global carbon emissions and the increasingly severe pressure of environmental pollution, listed companies urgently need to promote green innovation, achieve green transformation, and alleviate environmental problems. Green finance policy has played a significant role as a financial strategy for environmental governance in affecting green innovation level over the years. In this context, taking the green finance reform and innovation pilot zone (GFRIPZ) implemented in 2017 in China as a quasi-natural experiment, this paper analyzes the impact of green finance policy on green innovation level of listed companies by the difference-in-difference model. Based on the data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2008 to 2020, the results of empirical analysis show that green finance significantly promotes green innovation of listed companies. The effect is profound on green utility model patents, but less pronounced on green invention patents. Among all these pilot zones, the policy effects of GFRIPZ ranked in descending order are Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Guizhou, and Xinjiang. In addition, green finance has a more significant impact on heavy-polluting industries, large and state-owned enterprises, and listed companies located in the eastern region. Furthermore, the effects of industry heterogeneity ranked in descending order are energy, manufacturing, processing, and engineering industry, while it is not obvious in the service industry. Mechanism analysis suggests that the effect is driven by a reduction in the cost of debt financing and an increase in the long-term debt ratio. The findings provide implications for policymakers to promote the level of green innovation and environmental governance. Therefore, policymakers should support the long-term creative development of green invention patents by reducing the cost of debt financing and increasing the long-term debt ratio and consider the heterogeneous characteristics of listed companies when formulating green finance policies.

Research on the influence of air pollution on Enterprise Green Innovation Based on the adjustment effect of enterprise credit level

Enterprise green innovation is committed to the coordinated development of regional economic growth and ecological environment protection. It is of great practical significance to explore the internal linkage between air pollution and enterprise green innovation in the era of double carbon policy. Based on the data of all A-share listed companies in China from 2014 to 2019, this paper studies the impact of air pollution on enterprise green innovation and the regulatory effect of enterprise credit level on air pollution and enterprise green innovation. The research finds that: first, air pollution will significantly promote enterprises to carry out green innovation, that is, increase the total number of green patent applications; Second, compared with the quality of green innovation, the promotion of air pollution on the number of green innovation is more obvious, that is, the number of green utility model patents is significantly increased; Third, the improvement of enterprise credit level will strengthen the negative effect between air pollution and enterprise green innovation. According to the research conclusion, this paper also puts forward rationalization suggestions for green innovation of enterprises and financial market problems.

Does “low-carbon city” accelerate urban innovation? Evidence from China

• Porter's hypothesis is tested at the city level. • Deriving an analysis model for low-carbon governance on the city's innovation. • Low-carbon city pilot policy induces technological innovation. • Mechanisms: "increasing investment" and "promoting industrial upgradation". • Low-carbon city pilot policy impacts utility model patents and green patents. The “low-carbon city” pilot policy is one of China's essential measures to promote low-carbon development. One of the critical tasks of the policy is to accelerate the innovation and application of low-carbon technologies in pilot cities. Therefore, a quantitative evaluation of the implementation effect of low-carbon city pilot policy is conducive to better promoting low-carbon work in pilot areas. Using a double difference model and the urban innovation index of 268 prefecture-level cities in China from 2001-2018, this study empirically tests the impact of the “low-carbon city” pilot policy on urban innovation and explores its mechanism of action. The results show that the “low-carbon city” pilot policy can induce the overall technological innovation capability of the city to a certain extent and exert a significant impact on utility model patents and green patents. This pilot policy can promote urban innovation by increasing government investment in science and technology and promoting industrial structure upgradation. The heterogeneity analysis shows the significant role of pilot policy in promoting innovation in small, medium and non-provincial capital cities, and cities in high-carbon provinces. This study proposes deepening reforms, optimizing the green financial system, and adapting to local conditions to promote the implementation of the policy.

Design and application of flushing device of a totally enclosed sputum suction tube for reducing the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common infectious diseases in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU). Although the use of closed sputum suction tube for sputum suction is the most common nursing measure for patients with tracheal intubation in ICU, and it is also an important measure to reduce the occurrence of VAP, the existing clinical technology still needs to use external flushing solution for humidification and flushing. In the process of use, the flushing operation has the risk that the amount of flushing fluid cannot be controlled, resulting in a large amount of flushing fluid entering the patient's airway, causing the patient to suffocate. The sputum attached to the wall of the sputum suction tube cannot be completely flushed, and the prolonged retention of the sputum leads to the proliferation of colonized bacteria, aggravating the infection of patients. Repeated pipe flushing not only increases consumables, but also increases the workload of medical staff. For this reason, the author has designed a fully enclosed sputum suction tube flushing device, which has obtained the National Utility Model Patent of China (patent number: CN 2019 2 1198740.5). This device is an integrated design, and the materials used for sputum suction, humidification and flushing are fully enclosed, without air exposure, and can be operated strictly without bacteria. Pulse flushing with syringe can clean the sputum attached to the inner wall and reduce the incidence of VAP. The volume of flushing fluid can be effectively controlled during use to ensure patient safety and reduce waste. It is worth popularizing and applying in clinical practice to optimize the operation steps and reduce the workload of medical staff.

Design and application of an extension tube for ventilator pipeline

At present, the extension tube of the ventilator, a long corrugated tube used in clinical practice, needs to be disconnected from the endotracheal tube when performing open sputum suction. Under positive pressure, the condensed water containing pathogenic microorganisms in the ventilator will be splashed. Some will form aerosol suspended in the air, pollute the air, increase the risk of cross-infection and operator pollution, while the ventilator will emit a corresponding alarm sound, resulting in noise pollution. Based on the above factors, a ventilator pipeline extension tube was designed by the medical staff of department of critical care medicine of the Eighth Medical Center of People's Liberation Army General Hospital and department of critical care medicine of Beijing Friendship Hospital of Capital Medical University, and was obtained the National Utility Model Patent of China (ZL 2020 2 1476518.X). The device consists of the main pipe, first pipe sleeve, second pipe sleeve, valve body, joystick, axial sleeve, etc., which can not only effectively avoid air pollution and reduce the risk of cross-infection, but also reduce noise pollution and the negative impact of loud noise on patients and medical staff.

Air pollution and corporate innovation: incentive or resistance? Evidence from regression discontinuity.

The potentially serious economic consequences of China's severe air pollution problem cannot be overlooked, especially the impact on corporate innovation, which is a core driver guiding firms towards efficient and high-quality development. However, the existing literature has more often investigated the effect of pollution on corporate innovation from the perspective of environmental regulation, while relatively little research is available directly from the perspective of air pollution. In this study, for better causal identification and endogeneity treatment, we consider the Qin ling Mountains-Huai River heating policy as a quasi-natural experiment and explore for the first time the causal effect of air pollution on Chinese industrial firms' innovation through a geographical regression discontinuity (RD) approach. The results find that air pollution has a significant inhibitory effect on the industrial firms' innovation, especially for green innovation, where the innovation of state-owned enterprises, high pollution, and low monopoly firms are more sensitive to pollution. Specifically, a 1% increase in PM2.5 emissions leads to a 0.803% reduction in the corporate total innovation, a 0.924% reduction in invention patents, a 0.574% reduction in utility model patents, and a 1.087% reduction in design patents. We have verified the robustness of this core finding through a series of robustness checks including adjustment bandwidth, IV estimation, and placebo test. Further to this, we find that air pollution may negatively affect corporate innovation through three channels: crowding out R&D investment, reducing total factor productivity (TFP), and reducing labor supply and the proportion of highly skilled employees. This study sheds light on the severe losses caused by air pollution on corporate innovation capabilities at the micro-level, deepening the understanding of the economic harm caused by air pollution. This suggests that as firms strive to improve their innovative capacity and competitiveness, they should also be aware of environmental protection and green development; otherwise, unnecessary losses in innovation dynamics will be incurred.

Design and application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation transport vehicle

With the widespread application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) technology, ECMO centers have been established in most regions of China, and the demand for ECMO transport is also increasing. Critically ill patients with ECMO carry many catheters. ECMO devices and accessories are cumbersome and numerous, requiring a large amount of manpower to assist in the transfer. At present, most of ECMO transport equipment are vertical carts provided by equipment suppliers, which cannot accommodate all ancillary equipment and are difficult to be loaded into ambulances for transportation. Therefore, critically ill patients face many risks if they need to be transported inter-hospital. A specific vehicle for ECMO patients was designed by the medical staff of the department of critical care medicine of Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, which integrates the ECMO host, oxygenator, centrifugal pump, portable ventilator, coagulation instrument, injection pump, monitor, oxygen cylinder, and etc., to greatly facilitate the transportionation. This invention obtained the National Utility Model Patent of China (ZL 2019 2 1201261.4). The new ECMO transport vehicle can facilitate the interhospital transport of critically ill patients, reduce the occurrence of accidents, shorten the transport time and reduce the number of transport personnel, and has a good clinical application value.

Design and application of a new type of biliary-intestinal nutrient tube

The establishment of a nutritional pathway is the premise and basis of nutritional therapy for patients with malignant tumor. The nasogastric tube, nasoenteric tube, and percutaneous endoscopic gastric/jejunostomy are commonly used clinical pathways for enteral nutrition (EN) therapy. However, these EN pathways are often difficult to establish in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ) with pyloric or duodenum primary obstruction. For this reason, a new type biliary-intestinal nutrient tube placed through percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography drainage (PTCD) pathway was designed by the medical staff of hepatobiliary surgery department of Yinchuan First People's Hospital, and National Utility Model Patent of China were obtained (ZL 2020 2 0283951.5, ZL 2020 2 0288938.9). The new biliary-intestinal nutrient tube has two types: double-lumen tube and single-lumen tube, which consists of tube head, tube body, tail ring and developing ring. The double lumen tube realizes bile internal drainage and EN simultaneously through the double lumen structure of the tube body. The single-lumen tube is used for nutrient infusion after bile duct metal stent implantation, which is not limited by the type of nutrient solution. The tail ring of the two types of nutrient tube is placed in the upper jejunum to reduce retrograde infection and unexpected extubation. Compared with the prior art, the utility model has the advantages of simple structure, reasonable design, safe and effective placement through PTCD pathway, and opens up a new EN path for MOJ patients.