bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Skyline refinement exploiting fuzzy formal concept analysis
Authors: Haddache Mohamed , Hadjali Allel , Azzoune Hamid 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThe study of the skyline queries has received considerable attention from several database researchers since the end of 2000's. Skyline queries are an appropriate tool that can help users to make intelligent decisions in the presence of multidimensional data when different, and often contradictory criteria are to be taken into account. Based on the concept of Pareto dominance, the skyline process extracts the most interesting (not dominated in the sense of Pareto) objects from a set of data. Skyline computation methods often lead to a set with a large size which is less informative for the end users and not easy to be exploited. The purpose of this paper is to tackle this problem, known as the large size skyline problem, and propose a solution to deal with it by applying an appropriate refining process.Design/methodology/approachThe problem of the skyline refinement is formalized in the fuzzy formal concept analysis setting. Then, an ideal fuzzy formal concept is computed in the sense of some particular defined criteria. By leveraging the elements of this ideal concept, one can reduce the size of the computed Skyline.FindingsAn appropriate and rational solution is discussed for the problem of interest. Then, a tool, named SkyRef, is developed. Rich experiments are done using this tool on both synthetic and real datasets.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors have conducted experiments on synthetic and some real datasets to show the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. However, thorough experiments on large-scale real datasets are highly desirable to show the behavior of the tool with respect to the performance and time execution criteria.Practical implicationsThe tool developed SkyRef can have many domains applications that require decision-making, personalized recommendation and where the size of skyline has to be reduced. In particular, SkyRef can be used in several real-world applications such as economic, security, medicine and services.Social implicationsThis work can be expected in all domains that require decision-making like hotel finder, restaurant recommender, recruitment of candidates, etc.Originality/valueThis study mixes two research fields artificial intelligence (i.e. formal concept analysis) and databases (i.e. skyline queries). The key elements of the solution proposed for the skyline refinement problem are borrowed from the fuzzy formal concept analysis which makes it clearer and rational, semantically speaking. On the other hand, this study opens the door for using the formal concept analysis and its extensions in solving other issues related to skyline queries, such as relaxation.
An in-depth case study of a modular service delivery system in a logistics context
Authors: Ponsignon Frédéric , Davies Phil , Smart Andi , Maull Roger 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThe objective of this work is to empirically investigate the design of a service delivery system that supports the provision of modular service logistics offerings.Design/methodology/approachAn in-depth single-case study relying on interview data and extensive documentary evidence is carried out in the business-to-business (B2B) logistics sector. Three main analytical techniques are used to make sense of the qualitative data: thematic analysis, process mapping and the application of modular operators.FindingsA modular service delivery system comprises three types of processes that collectively deliver modular offerings. The platform consists of core processes that enable the collection, transport and delivery of physical items for all offerings (modular and non-modular). Dedicated modular processes are mandatory and exclusive to individual modular offerings. Optional modular processes are shared across several modular offerings. Interfaces regulate physical (e.g. parcels or parts) and information (e.g. booking data) inputs provided by the customer in order to control the interdependencies within these different process types.Practical implicationsThe identification of three process types and their interdependencies provides detailed insights into how managers can design modular logistics services that benefit from economies of scale and meet increasingly variable customer requirements. The importance of well-designed interfaces among the customers, the service offering and the service delivery system is highlighted.Originality/valueThis study extends previous modularity studies in service logistics. It is the first study to apply modular operators to determine the presence of modularity in the service delivery system and to establish the role of different process types in enabling modularity in the service delivery system.
Strategic management accounting in the public sector context: the case of the Swedish Transport Administration
Authors: Höglund Linda , Holmgren Caicedo Mikael , Mårtensson Maria , Svärdsten Fredrik 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThe objective of this paper is to generate further knowledge about strategic management accounting (SMA) in the public sector context. The authors attempt to do this through a study of SMA work in a public sector agency (PSA), the Swedish Transport Administration (STA). The paper elaborates on the formation of the agency's strategies and the challenges the agency's SMA work had to deal with, and focuses its analysis on the interplay between SMA and the characteristics of the public sector as well as how it is constitutive of strategy.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical material was gathered between 2013 and 2015 and consists of documents that include the STA's appropriation, mandate, strategic and operational plans, and balanced scorecard, as well as interviews with 35 civil servants at various levels of the STA.FindingsThe study finds that, depending on the performances of PSAs in their specific environment and the influences from the environment's constituents, SMA may function as an instrument that makes or breaks strategies. The characteristics of the public sector context may therefore affect SMA, and by extension, strategy, in several ways. First, the present case shows that the inherent reduction that the focus of SMA techniques entails, and their inability to deal with the complexity of a PSA's context, places them at constant risk of becoming strategically irrelevant in the eyes of knowledgeable local managers in a PSA. Second, interventions from the government may override a PSA's SMA and in effect make a PSA's strategic focus ambiguous. Third, outside monitoring performed by such actors as the National Audit Office and the mass media may influence a PSA's SMA work both directly and indirectly when the agency and the government are responsive to the agenda set by such scrutiny.Originality/valueThe paper broadens the scope of earlier SMA research in the public sector by including the specific characteristics of the public sector in the analysis and how accounting techniques may come to compete for strategic placement as they are propelled from within and from without the organization.
Capability components of supply chain resilience for readymade garments (RMG) sector in Bangladesh during COVID-19
Authors: Ali Mohammad , Rahman Syed Mahbubur , Frederico Guilherme F. 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThe readymade garments (RMG) industry acts as one of the foremost vital catalysts for financial as well as social advancement of Bangladesh. Due to the harsh impact of COVID-19, RMG sector has been confronting a never-seen-before phenomenon. Since the supply chain has seriously been influenced, concern raises among industry and policymakers on how to support against disturbances resulting from pandemics. Accordingly, this research aims to explore the vulnerability and capability factors of RMG sector in Bangladesh, their relationship and how these variables affect supply chain resilience.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research design has been employed. In the first stage, content analysis has been performed. Since COVID-19 is a new experience, newspapers were the source to become acquainted with the vulnerability and capability factors following the guidelines provided by Pettit et al. (2010). In the second stage, in-depth interviews with key informants were conducted to investigate the relationship among the variables and how these factors may influence supply chain resilience.FindingsThis study identifies fourteen capability factors and their sub-factors of RMG industry in Bangladesh in order to improve the resilience capacity against the vulnerabilities in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is based on the setting of particular industry in Bangladesh, where respondents are immersed in a unique culture. Special care is required to generalize the results to other segments and phenomena.Practical implicationsThe framework recognizes the balanced and unbalanced strength with the capability's components and find the relation between capabilities and vulnerabilities within the fashion industry. By creating the resilience network with the four conceivable positions, companies can find themselves with their capability's components and natural vulnerabilities.Originality/valueThis study investigates diverse components of capability figure against vulnerabilities to create the supply chain resilience. This paper, moreover, develops with four conceivable positions with their capabilities against existing vulnerabilities which brings timely contribution considering the context of COVID-19.
Policing nonfatal strangulation within the context of intimate partner violence
Authors: Garza Alondra D. , Goodson Amanda , Franklin Cortney A. 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThe current study examined police response, specifically identification and arrest decisions, to nonfatal strangulation occurring within the context of intimate partner violence.Design/methodology/approachData for the present study were derived from a sample of 117 possible nonfatal strangulation case reported to a police agency located in one of the fifth largest and most diverse US cities. A series of logistic regression models were employed to examine the role of victim, suspect and case characteristics on officer formal identification of strangulation and officer arrest decisions.FindingsResults revealed that 14% of all intimate partner violence (IPV) cases reported to the police agency involved possible nonfatal strangulation and less than half of all possible nonfatal strangulation cases were formally identified as such by officers. The odds of formal identification of strangulation by police increased when strangulation was manual and when victims reported difficulty breathing. Injury and formal identification increased the odds of arrest.Originality/valueThis study is the first to examine predictors of police formal identification and arrest decisions in nonfatal strangulation occurring within intimate partner violence incidents.
Sustainable Development Goals, are we there yet?–challenges and shortcomings
Authors: Inieke Otobong 
Published: April 2021

PurposeLiterature reviews were conducted with the aim of analysing and deriving evidence and reference points. A qualitative research approach was also used in order to properly identify situations, problems and solutions related to the particular context of sustainable development with Africa as a focus.Design/methodology/approachThe Sustainable Development Goals are a commendable metric and framework by which to measure practical improvements in various governments, communities or socio-economic regions. There is also the reality of adapting and implementing this framework to the dynamic nature of myriad environments consisting of many distinct cultures, ideologies and lifestyles. The purpose of this article is to briefly and pointedly assess the African status quo in relation to achieving the United Nations’ (UN) prescribed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The African challenges and shortcomings in this regard are addressed and ideas for solutions are also looked into.FindingsEconomic inadequacies and poor development are not always rooted in a lack of resources or the will to act but usually as a result of bad governance, corruption and poor adoption of suggested strategies for recovery. This brings into focus the facet of the resource curse. It is seen in multiple contexts across continents that having reserves of resources does not translate to economic prosperity if the concerned region is weighed down by poor governance or stagnant policies. The article shows that though the journey to implementing solutions is challenging, consistent commitment to trusted development frameworks and social programs will benefit many communities and spark projects for economic self-sufficiency.Originality/valueThis article is important because it is a quick and concise snapshot about the realities experienced by a contemporary African attempting to evaluate the cumulative value and worth of the UN prescribed SDGs. This work is also valuable to academic institutions and young/aspiring researchers alike, it can serve as a compact reference point that analyses the realities of the concept of the “resource curse” in relation to attainable SDGs.
Current situation of carbapenem‐resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter in Japan and Southeast Asia
Authors: Akeda Yukihiro 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn the recent years, issues related to drug‐resistant bacteria have evolved worldwide, and various countermeasures have been taken to control their spread. Among a wide variety of drug‐resistant bacterial species, carbapenem‐resistant Gram‐negative bacteria, including carbapenem‐resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and carbapenem‐resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAb), are those for which countermeasures are particularly important. Carbapenems are the last resort antibiotics for any bacterial infection; therefore, infectious diseases caused by these drug‐resistant bacteria are difficult to treat. In the case of CRE, since carbapenemases responsible for carbapenem resistance are mostly encoded on transmissible plasmids, it is known that susceptible bacteria can easily become carbapenem‐resistant by transfer of plasmids between Enterobacteriaceae. In addition, Enterobacteriaceae are common bacterial species found in the guts of animals, including humans. Acinetobacter is ubiquitously isolated in the environment. Due to these characteristics, it is quite difficult to prevent the intrusion of multi‐drug resistant pathogens in hospitals. Therefore, effective countermeasures should be developed and utilized against such dangerous pathogens based on molecular epidemiological analyses. In this review, there are also some examples presented on how to manage to monitor and control those troublesome drug‐resistant bacteria conducted in Japan and Southeast Asia.
Geographic Inequality in Income and Mortality in Germany*
Authors: Redler Peter , Wuppermann Amelie , Winter Joachim , Schwandt Hannes , Currie Janet 
Published: April 2021

AbstractWe use data from the German Federal Statistical Office on population counts, births, deaths and income to study the development of socio‐economic inequality in mortality rates from 1990 to 2015 for different age groups and both genders. Ranking the 401 German districts by average disposable income per capita, we observe large inequalities in district‐level mortality rates in 1990, which had almost disappeared, or at least been flattened considerably, by 2015 particularly for infants, children and the very old. The most important driver of this reduction in inequality is German reunification in 1990. As indicated by more detailed analyses comparing districts in the former East and the former West, even five years after reunification there was a large gap in disposable income, with all Eastern districts considerably poorer than the poorest district in the West. At the same time, mortality rates were higher for all age groups and both genders in the East. Income has caught up, to the extent that there are equally poor districts in the East and West in most recent years (although the West is still much richer on average). Mortality rates in the East have improved considerably and are even below mortality rates for similarly poor districts in the West in the most recent data.
971. PECTEILIS SUSANNAE
Authors: Wah Lee Kit , Kumar Pankaj , Gale Stephan W. 
Published: April 2021

SummaryViable populations of threatened orchids can be re‐established in the wild through integrated conservation that combines a scientific understanding of species ecology with applied knowledge of horticultural requirements. Previously abundant in South China,Pecteilis susannaehas declined due to habitat loss and collection, both for its magnificent flowers and its fleshy tubers, which are of purported medicinal value. To illustrate the steps being taken for the conservation of this and other orchids in Hong Kong, the history, taxonomy and ecology ofP. susannaeare discussed, and information on its propagation and culture are provided.
Statistical upscaling of ecosystem CO2 fluxes across the terrestrial tundra and boreal domain: Regional patterns and uncertainties
Authors: Virkkala Anna‐Maria , Aalto Juha , Rogers Brendan M. , Tagesson Torbern , Treat Claire C. , Natali Susan M. , Watts Jennifer D. , Potter Stefano , Lehtonen Aleksi , Mauritz Marguerite , Schuur Edward A. G. , Kochendorfer John , Zona Donatella , Oechel Walter , Kobayashi Hideki , Humphreys Elyn , Goeckede Mathias , Iwata Hiroki , Lafleur Peter M. , Euskirchen Eugenie S. , Bokhorst Stef , Marushchak Maija , Martikainen Pertti J. , Elberling Bo , Voigt Carolina , Biasi Christina , Sonnentag Oliver , Parmentier Frans‐Jan W. , Ueyama Masahito , Celis Gerardo , St.Louis Vincent L. , Emmerton Craig A. , Peichl Matthias , Chi Jinshu , Järveoja Järvi , Nilsson Mats B. , Oberbauer Steven F. , Torn Margaret S. , Park Sang‐Jong , Dolman Han , Mammarella Ivan , Chae Namyi , Poyatos Rafael , López‐Blanco Efrén , Christensen Torben Røjle , Kwon Min Jung , Sachs Torsten , Holl David , Luoto Miska 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe regional variability in tundra and boreal carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes can be high, complicating efforts to quantify sink‐source patterns across the entire region. Statistical models are increasingly used to predict (i.e., upscale) CO2 fluxes across large spatial domains, but the reliability of different modeling techniques, each with different specifications and assumptions, has not been assessed in detail. Here, we compile eddy covariance and chamber measurements of annual and growing season CO2 fluxes of gross primary productivity (GPP), ecosystem respiration (ER), and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) during 1990–2015 from 148 terrestrial high‐latitude (i.e., tundra and boreal) sites to analyze the spatial patterns and drivers of CO2 fluxes and test the accuracy and uncertainty of different statistical models. CO2 fluxes were upscaled at relatively high spatial resolution (1 km2) across the high‐latitude region using five commonly used statistical models and their ensemble, that is, the median of all five models, using climatic, vegetation, and soil predictors. We found the performance of machine learning and ensemble predictions to outperform traditional regression methods. We also found the predictive performance of NEE‐focused models to be low, relative to models predicting GPP and ER. Our data compilation and ensemble predictions showed that CO2 sink strength was larger in the boreal biome (observed and predicted average annual NEE −46 and −29 g C m−2 yr−1, respectively) compared to tundra (average annual NEE +10 and −2 g C m−2 yr−1). This pattern was associated with large spatial variability, reflecting local heterogeneity in soil organic carbon stocks, climate, and vegetation productivity. The terrestrial ecosystem CO2 budget, estimated using the annual NEE ensemble prediction, suggests the high‐latitude region was on average an annual CO2 sink during 1990–2015, although uncertainty remains high.
The early development of tempo adjustment and synchronization during joint drumming: A study of 18‐ to 42‐month‐old children
Authors: Yu Lira , Myowa Masako 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHumans have a unique ability to coordinate their rhythmic behaviors with those of others. Previous studies have demonstrated the early development of spontaneous responses to external rhythmic stimuli; however, there is little evidence regarding when and how infants begin to adjust their movement tempo and synchronize it with that of others, due to the difficulty of detecting continuous rhythmic movements of infants in a laboratory setting. In the current study, we analyzed children in age‐groups of 18, 30, and 42 months and adapted a joint‐drumming task used by Kirschner and Tomasello (Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 2009, 102, 299–314). The children were enticed to play the drum under four conditions (Speed: 400 or 600 ms ISI; Partner: mother or robot). The results demonstrated that children's ability to adjust their tempo and synchronize with that of 600 ms ISI, which is slower than the spontaneous motor tempo of children at these ages, starts to develop at around 30‐month‐olds. We also found early evidence of this ability in 18‐month‐old infants who drummed with their mother. These findings indicate that children's ability for rhythmic coordination develops dynamically between 18 and 30 months of age, and a child's social partner plays an important role in facilitating this development.
Reproduction and early life stages of the poecilosclerid sponge Crella incrustans
Authors: Strano Francesca , Micaroni Valerio , Davy Simon K. , Maldonado Manuel , Bell James J. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractDespite their important ecological roles in marine ecosystems, reproduction and early life stages of the majority of marine sponges remain undescribed. Here we characterize the mode of reproduction and the early life stages of an abundant sponge in temperate Pacific waters, Crella incrustans. Through histology, we characterized the production of gametes and the sequential steps of larval ontogeny. Using in vivo observations, we described larval release, settlement, and metamorphosis. Specimens of C. incrustans presented spermatocytes, oocytes, and several developmental stages in the sponge mesohyl during the Australasian summer (from January to March 2020), demonstrating this sponge to be a simultaneous hermaphrodite with internal fertilization, asynchronous development, and brooded embryos. As in other viviparous demosponges, mature embryos were released during the Australasian summer as free‐swimming non‐tufted parenchymella larvae. Under laboratory conditions, 94.3% of larvae settled within 2 days and metamorphosed into functional settlers within a week. Gametogenesis, embryonic development, larval characteristics, settlement, and metamorphosis of C. incrustans are consistent with the reproductive features common to the majority of poecilosclerid sponges. Overall, our study provides important information on the early life stages of this temperate model species for future ecophysiological experiments.