Key Capabilities Research Articles

Resilience Measurements and Dynamics of Resource-Based Cities in Heilongjiang Province, China

In the process of sustainable transformation, resource-based cities (RBCs) in Heilongjiang are in a dilemma. Resilience is a key capability to help RBCs deepen sustainable development, adapt to shocks, and exit the transformation dilemma. This study aims to clarify the resilience measurements and dynamics of RBCs and propose targeted resilience enhancement strategies. First, we construct a resilience indicator system based on the urban complex adaptive system (CAS) and use principal component analysis (PCA) to specify indicator weights to obtain the resilience values of RBCs in Heilongjiang Province during 2010–2019, then use cluster analysis to classify five resilience grades. Second, we identify and analyze the resilience dynamics of RBCs in Heilongjiang Province from 2010–2019 based on the adaptive cycle framework. The results indicate that the overall resilience dynamics of RBCs have exhibited an upward trend over the past decade, but there are clear variations in the level of resilience values and dynamics between the different types of RBCs. The petroleum-based city has the highest level of resilience, is less affected by shocks, and recovers quickly. Forest-based cities have a medium level of resilience and are able to recover from shocks, but they fail to improve and remain at a medium level for a long time. Coal-based cities have a low level of resilience and find it difficult to recover from shocks, but this has improved since 2017. Finally, we propose targeted resilience enhancement strategies for RBCs of different types and resilience levels in Heilongjiang Province to provide RBCs with directional guidance for overcoming the development dilemma through resilience measures.

Fast verification and public key storage optimization for unstructured lattice-based signatures

A recent work of Sipasseuth, Plantard and Susilo proposed to accelerate lattice-based signature verifications and compress public key storage at the cost of a precomputation on a public key. This first approach, which focused on a restricted type of key, did not include most NIST candidates or most lattice representations in general. In this work, we first present a way to improve even further both their verification speed and their public key compression capability by using a generator of numbers that better suit the method needs. We then also generalize their framework to apply to q-ary lattice schemes as well as classical lattices using Hermite Normal Form, improving their security and applicable scope, thus exhibiting potential trade-offs to accelerate lattice-based signature verification in general and compression of the public key on the verifier side for unstructured lattices.

Single Cell Killing Kinetics Differentiate Phenotypic Bacterial Responses to Different Antibacterial Classes.

With the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria, there has been an increasing focus on molecular classes that have not yet yielded an antibiotic. A key capability for assessing and prescribing new antibacterial treatments is to compare the effects antibacterial agents have on bacterial growth at a phenotypic, single-cell level. Here, we combined time-lapse microscopy with microfluidics to investigate the concentration-dependent killing kinetics of stationary-phase Escherichia coli cells. We used antibacterial agents from three different molecular classes, β-lactams and fluoroquinolones, with the known antibiotics ampicillin and ciprofloxacin, respectively, and a new experimental class, protein Ψ-capsids. We found that bacterial cells elongated when treated with ampicillin and ciprofloxacin used at their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). This was in contrast to Ψ-capsids, which arrested bacterial elongation within the first two hours of treatment. At concentrations exceeding the MIC, all the antibacterial agents tested arrested bacterial growth within the first 2 h of treatment. Further, our single-cell experiments revealed differences in the modes of action of three different agents. At the MIC, ampicillin and ciprofloxacin caused the lysis of bacterial cells, whereas at higher concentrations, the mode of action shifted toward membrane disruption. The Ψ-capsids killed cells by disrupting their membranes at all concentrations tested. Finally, at increasing concentrations, ampicillin and Ψ-capsids reduced the fraction of the population that survived treatment in a viable but nonculturable state, whereas ciprofloxacin increased this fraction. This study introduces an effective capability to differentiate the killing kinetics of antibacterial agents from different molecular classes and offers a high content analysis of antibacterial mechanisms at the single-cell level. IMPORTANCE Antibiotics act against bacterial pathogens by inhibiting their growth or killing them directly. Different modes of action determine different antibacterial responses, whereas phenotypic differences in bacteria can challenge the efficacy of antibiotics. Therefore, it is important to be able to differentiate the concentration-dependent killing kinetics of antibacterial agents at a single-cell level, in particular for molecular classes which have not yielded an antibiotic before. Here, we measured single-cell responses using microfluidics-enabled imaging, revealing that a novel class of antibacterial agents, protein Ψ-capsids, arrests bacterial elongation at the onset of treatment, whereas elongation continues for cells treated with β-lactam and fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The study advances our current understanding of antibacterial function and offers an effective strategy for the comparative design of new antibacterial therapies, as well as clinical antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Automated classification of eclipsing binary systems in the VVV Survey

ABSTRACT With the advent of large-scale photometric surveys of the sky, modern science witnesses the dawn of big data astronomy, where automatic handling and discovery are paramount. In this context, classification tasks are among the key capabilities a data reduction pipeline must possess in order to compile reliable data sets, to accomplish data processing with an efficiency level impossible to achieve by means of detailed processing and human intervention. The VISTA Variables of the Vía Láctea Survey, in the southern part of the Galactic disc, comprises multiepoch photometric data necessary for the potential discovery of variable objects, including eclipsing binary systems (EBs). In this study, we use a recently published catalogue of one hundred EBs, classified by fine-tuning theoretical models according to contact, detached, or semidetached classes belonging to the tile d040 of the VVV. We describe the method implemented to obtain a supervised machine-learning model, capable of classifying EBs using information extracted from the light curves of variable object candidates in the phase space from tile d078. We also discuss the efficiency of the models, the relative importance of the features and the future prospects to construct an extensive data base of EBs in the VVV survey.

Characterizing Methods for Surveying Partner Nation Medical Capabilities.

Medical capability surveys provide information about how U.S. forces can coordinate with partner nations to leverage partners' capabilities to deliver care to sick or injured U.S. service members. Rotating forces routinely conduct these surveys. Currently, medical capability surveys are conducted based on individual unit requirements and personnel expertise and stored locally on component-specific sites or individual computers. The lack of a systematic approach and a centralized survey depot may undermine the ability to access previous surveys, leading to redundant surveys and conflicting information, and may have critical implications for force health protection. Partner nation facilities could have capabilities that may be leveraged to care for U.S. service members when U.S. medical care is unavailable. A lack of understanding of medical capabilities at partner nation facilities may undermine the ability to plan missions that mitigate risks. This paper presents the results of 12 semi-structured focus groups with representatives from the U.S. Africa Command Surgeon's office, the U.S. Transportation Command Patient Movement Requirements Center-East, and 9 U.S. Africa Command service components, sub-unified commands, and force providers. The focus group discussions considered questions on the following four topics: (1) methods for conducting surveys, (2) guidance about how to conduct surveys, (3) nodes of care and ancillary services included in surveys, and (4) how medical capability surveys are used to inform medical planning. The team conducted thematic analysis to identify emergent themes and subthemes. The team identified five primary, overarching themes: (1) guidance for conducting medical capability surveys, (2) methods and tools for conducting surveys, (3) content and focus of medical capability surveys, (4) archiving and sharing surveys, and (5) uses of medical capability surveys. Implementing guidance and standardized templates for conducting medical capability surveys could improve the accuracy and completeness of surveys. Templates would likely increase the likelihood that surveyors collect relevant information on key medical capabilities. Training, along with guidance and templates, would provide a common understanding of how to conduct surveys. The lack of a DoD Global Health Engagement collaborative depot for storing and sharing surveys may undermine the ability to access previous surveys to inform future surveys and, thereby, results in inefficiencies in how surveys are conducted. The DoD should consider establishing a collaborative depot for medical capability surveys along with guidance or requirements for uploading surveys. Guidance, templates, training, and a collaborative depot could improve the effectiveness and efficiency of medical planning and thereby increase mission readiness.

The effect of key user capability on supply chain digital and flexibility in improving financial performance

Organizational competitiveness is enhanced by implementing supply chain integration. Organizations, through information technology, can integrate internal and external cross-functional. The team assigned to run the integration system in its function is designated as the key user who can implement and maintain an ongoing basis. Key user capabilities are needed to maintain a digital supply chain in information technology systems to integrate internally and externally. Data analysis using Partial least squares (PLS) on 89 hotel organizations with a one-star category or more shows that key user capability significantly affects internal cross-functional integration (β = 0.728) and external cross-functional integration (β = 0.127). Key user capability has an impact on supply chain flexibility (β = 0.370) while internal cross-functional integration influences increasing supply chain flexibility (β = 0.373) and financial performance (β = 0.421). External cross-functional integration increases supply chain flexibility (β = 0.316) and financial performance (β = 0.441). Lastly, supply chain flexibility impacts increasing financial flexibility (β = 0.192). The research contributes enrichment to the theory of digital supply chain and practical contribution to enlighten top management in information technology investment.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Today’s Economy is rapidly facing changes in globalization and Knowledge-based products and services. The survival and performance of an organization are influenced by its ability and speed in Developing knowledge-based competencies among the employees (Salina and Fadzilah,2008) According to Goh, SC. (2002), One of the major challenges an organization faces are managing its knowledge assets. Increasingly, knowledge transfer is seen as a basis for competitive advantage. Organizations always face issues with the kind of information, competencies, and expertise that are essential for it to take widespread advantage of available opportunities (Husnain et al., 2021). In addition to these competencies, an organization must possess unique features that competitors find difficult to imitate while operating in the same market and industry (Sousa and Rocha 2019; Sohail et al., 2020). This paper explores, in-depth, the role that key strategic organizational capabilities play in facilitating or preventing knowledge transfer. The paper converses knowledge transfer in an organizational context, then discusses significant organizational capabilities that trigger knowledge transfer and further discuss how these organizational capabilities influence the ability to transfer knowledge, an important area of knowledge management. Each of these key capabilities and their influence on Knowledge transfer is discussed separately and then integrated into a framework to explain how effective knowledge transfer can be managed in an organization with such capabilities. Conclusions are drawn about the complexity of knowledge transfer and the need to take a balanced approach to the process.

IMFREE: A versatile software tool for modelling machining processes with particle methods

The current state-of-the-art for the simulation of machining process is the application of the FEM (finite element method). Nevertheless, the cost of FEM analyses for such problems is high due to their complex multi-physics nature, mesh regeneration issues, and small time-length scales. In contrast, particle methods are an alternative numerical approach well-suited for large deformations as in material's chip formation. In this work, the key features and simulation capabilities of iMFREE are presented, which is a massively parallel and robust particle-based code for machining simulations developed at the ETH Zürich. Various applications of iMFREE are shown, where the efficiency is demonstrated in orthogonal cutting simulations for the optimisation of material removal rates, a chip formation study, the inverse identifications of friction law parameters and material constitutive law parameters. Further, the applicability to single and multiple grain grinding simulations of Ti6Al4V and silicon is shown.

ЦИФРОВИЗАЦИЯ: ВЗГЛЯД НА ДИНАМИЧЕСКИЕ ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ ПРЕДПРИЯТИЙ В УСЛОВИЯХ КРИЗИСА

The article examines the features of overcoming the global crisis by enterprises of different categories using the opportunities provided by digitalization. The key dynamic capabilities of enterprises in times of crisis are systematized. Recommendations are offered for the purpose of developing an effective strategy for enterprise development in times of crisis.

Colloidal Ag2Se intraband quantum dots.

With the emergence of the Internet of Things, wearable electronics, and machine vision, the exponentially growing demands for miniaturization, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness have imposed critical requirements on the size, weight, power consumption and cost (SWaP-C) of infrared detectors. To meet this demand, new sensor technologies that can reduce the fabrication cost associated with semiconductor epitaxy and remove the stringent requirement for cryogenic cooling are under active investigation. In the technologically important spectral region of mid-wavelength infrared, intraband colloidal quantum dots are currently at the forefront of this endeavor, with wafer-scale monolithic integration and Auger suppression being the key material capabilities to minimize the sensor's SWaP-C. In this Feature Article, we provide a focused review on the development of sensors based on Ag2Se intraband colloidal quantum dots, a heavy metal-free colloidal nanomaterial that has merits for wide-scale adoption in consumer and industrial sectors.

Features of the organization of students independent work in the conditions of distance education

The article reveals the peculiarities of the organization of students' independent work in the conditions of distance learning. Considering the peculiarities of independent work of students in the conditions of distance learning, the article emphasizes independent work outside the classroom. The conditions that ensure the successful performance of extracurricular independent work are highlighted. A number of key ICT capabilities have been identified. The main tasks of students' independent work in modern conditions are revealed. The main factors affecting the effectiveness of students' independent work are shown. The measures that create the prerequisites and conditions for the implementation of independent work, which should provide for the provision of each student, are disclosed. New information technologies have huge opportunities for intensifying the process of creation and implementation of forms and methods of education, oriented on the development of the student's personality. Hence, the features of distance learning emerge. The following can be attributed to them: the student and the teacher are territorially separated; normal learning process – learning is carried out by means of postal correspondence or the use of other means of communication; training is individualized; learning is carried out through the independent activity of the student; the most convenient place of study is the student's own place of residence (by place of residence, work); the student is responsible for his success and is free to choose the terms and pace of work. We also want to emphasize that the peculiarity of independent work is that the student turns from the object of study into its subject. The teacher's role in creating independent work is to create learning conditions.

An improved damping adaptive grid‐forming control for black start of permanent magnet synchronous generator wind turbines supported with battery energy storage system

Permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSGs) equipped with back-to-back grid-forming converters have the ability to form a 100% renewable energy power grid. Black-start is the key capability of grid-forming converters when restoring the system from a blackout. It is necessary for a grid-forming converter of the PMSG to operate in black-start and grid-connected active support modes. This paper investigates an improved damping adaptive grid-forming (DA-GFM) control method for PMSG wind turbines to suppress system frequency fluctuations and achieve a smooth black start. The proposed DA-GFM control introduces the frequency variations and natural constant function to adaptively adjust its damping coefficient in the dynamic operating progress. The implementations and effects of the proposed DA-GFM control method on the grid-forming converter are theoretically evaluated. Additionally, the detailed black-start operation process is completely studied through a microgrid system with two PMSG wind turbines and energy storages. Compared with the conventional grid-forming control, the proposed control scheme can not only suppress frequency fluctuations better, but also achieve a smooth forming power grid process. Finally, experiment tests on a controller-level hardware-in-the-loop simulation platform are carried out to validate the proposed control strategy for achieving a smooth black start.

The contribution of initial concussive forces and resulting acrolein surge to β-amyloid accumulation and functional alterations in neuronal networks using a TBI-on-a-chip model.

Trauma-induced Alzheimer's disease (AD) is rapidly emerging as a major consequence of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), with devastating social and economic impacts. Unfortunately, few treatment options are currently available due to a limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms. A clinically-relevant, in vitro experimental model that emulates in vivo scenarios with high levels of spatial and temporal resolution is critical for demystifying the pathways of post-TBI AD. Using a unique, recently established "TBI-on-a-chip" system with murine cortical networks, we demonstrate the correlative elevation of oxidative stress (acrolein), inflammation (TNF-α), and Aβ42 aggregation, with concomitant reduction of neuronal network electrical activity post-concussive impact. These findings confirm that TBI-on-a-chip could provide a novel paradigm to supplement in vivo studies of trauma, while simultaneously validating the interaction of these alleged, key-pathological factors in post-TBI AD development. Specifically, we have shown that acrolein, acting as a diffusive factor of secondary injury, is both critical and sufficient in promoting inflammation (TNF-α) and Aβ42 aggregation, two known contributors of AD pathogenesis. Furthermore, using a cell-free preparation with TBI-on-a-chip, we have confirmed that both force and acrolein can independently and directly stimulate the aggregation of purified Aβ42, highlighting the key capabilities of primary and secondary injury mechanisms towards inducing Aβ42 aggregation, independently and synergistically. In addition to morphological and biochemical assessment, we also demonstrate parallel monitoring of neuronal network activity, further validating the chief pathological role of acrolein in not only inflicting biochemical abnormalities, but also functional deficits in neuronal networks. In conclusion, through this line of investigations, we have shown that by recapitulating clinically-relevant events, the TBI-on-a-chip device is capable of quantitatively characterizing parallel force-dependent increases in oxidative stress, inflammation, protein aggregation, and network activity, offering a unique platform for mechanistic investigations of post-TBI AD, and trauma-induced neuronal injury in general. It is expected that this model could provide crucial insights into pathological mechanisms which will be critical in developing novel, effective diagnostics and treatment strategies that significantly benefit TBI victims.

Entangling remote qubits using the single-photon protocol: an in-depth theoretical and experimental study

The generation of entanglement between remote matter qubits has developed into a key capability for fundamental investigations as well as for emerging quantum technologies. In the single-photon, protocol entanglement is heralded by generation of qubit-photon entangled states and subsequent detection of a single photon behind a beam splitter. In this work we perform a detailed theoretical and experimental investigation of this protocol and its various sources of infidelity. We develop an extensive theoretical model and subsequently tailor it to our experimental setting, based on nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. Experimentally, we verify the model by generating remote states for varying phase and amplitudes of the initial qubit superposition states and varying optical phase difference of the photons arriving at the beam splitter. We show that a static frequency offset between the optical transitions of the qubits leads to an entangled state phase that depends on the photon detection time. We find that the implementation of a Charge-Resonance check on the nitrogen-vacancy center yields transform-limited linewidths. Moreover, we measure the probability of double optical excitation, a significant source of infidelity, as a function of the power of the excitation pulse. Finally, we find that imperfect optical excitation can lead to a detection-arm-dependent entangled state fidelity and rate. The conclusion presented here are not specific to the nitrogen-vacancy centers used to carry out the experiments, and are therefore readily applicable to other qubit platforms.

A Critical Investigation of Factors Influencing Ugandan Family-Owned Manufacturing Businesses’ Performance

Objective: This study investigated the role of resources, capabilities, entrepreneurial orientation, and stewardship on the performance of family-owned manufacturing businesses in Uganda to establish how a firm can identify the rare and valuable resources that simultaneously enable better performance levels and competitive advantage. Research Design & Methods: A qualitative study with 15 participants from six family manufacturing businesses using interviews. The transcribed data was analysed and grouped into themes. Findings: General management skills, financial management, marketing management, and technology benefits are key resources and capabilities that enhance the smooth operations of the family manufacturing businesses and play are pivotal in achieving better performance and sustainability. Secondly, it was found that proactiveness, risk management, and continuous evaluation and appraisals of their performance were practised among family-owned manufacturing businesses. Thirdly, decision-making systems and lines of authority, enabling them to constantly analyse market trends and know about competitors were in place. Lastly, although there are supporting programmes for the manufacturing industries to help family-owned manufacturing businesses acquire start-up resources and import raw materials, there still needs to be more consistency in implementing such support programmes in Uganda. Implications & Recommendations: Family business owners should embrace proactivity, risk management, and continuous evaluation and appraisals of business performance. Furthermore, a review of current government policies, particularly those about industry financing and labour management, is recommended. Contribution & Value Added: The study was the first attempt to examine the performance of family-owned manufacturing businesses in Uganda. An improved framework was developed for their entrepreneurial success.

Why does omni-channel allow retailers to foster supply chain resilience? Evidence from sequential mixed methods research

ABSTRACT The omni-channel (OC) approach improves efficiency under normal conditions and fosters resilience when a crisis hits, e.g. COVID-19. We adopt the sequential mixed methods research to conduct a two-stage investigation to explore how OC retailers achieve supply chain resilience (SCR). In stage 1, three key capabilities of OC retailers to foster SCR are identified qualitatively, i.e. collaboration, flexibility, and redundancy, as well as the conceptual model is developed based on the dynamic capabilities view. In stage 2, the roles of key capabilities in fostering SCR in three phases, i.e. preparedness, responsiveness, and recovery, is quantitatively examined, by using partial least squares structural equation modelling to test the hypotheses based on a sample of 225 Chinese OC retailers. The findings indicate that flexibility and redundancy are more significant for responsiveness, whilst collaboration is more crucial for recovery, offering valuable insights for supporting retailers in OC transformation and in setting a capabilities portfolio to withstand supply chain disruptions.

Palliative care education in an Australian undergraduate pharmacy curriculum: an exploratory descriptive study.

To examine the self-perceived knowledge, confidence and preparedness of undergraduate pharmacy students to provide palliative care. A descriptive exploratory analysis was conducted in 2021 at an Australian university involving final-year pharmacy students (n = 200) who were provided with the opportunity to complete a survey on self-perceived knowledge, confidence and preparedness overall and with respect to a range of graduate capabilities which are essential to provide care in palliative care settings. Key capability areas include: communication, showing empathy, making clinical judgements and self-reflection. This was measured using the Palliative Care Curriculum for Undergraduates Questionnaire which was distributed electronically. Descriptive statistics were undertaken and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to explore any differences in outcomes with respect to factors related to demographics, personal experience and education. Thematic analysis was utilised for qualitative data. Forty-five percent of the student cohort (n = 89) responded, 70% of whom were female, and the median age for students was 22 years. Median scores (interquartile range) were modest for overall self-perceived knowledge: 5.0 (3.0-5.0), confidence: 4.0 (3.0-5.0) and preparedness: 4.0 (2.5-5.0). Students who had participated in learning about palliative care through clinical placements (n = 25, 28%), self-directed learning activities (n = 18, 20%) or case-/problem-based learning (n = 14, 16%) demonstrated a statistically significant increase in overall preparedness (P = 0.017), confidence with specific capabilities including evidence-based practice (P = 0.013), responding to medication queries (P < 0.05) and managing symptoms other than pain (P = 0.018). Findings suggest students were confident to manage symptoms and medication-related issues but less confident to address distress or discuss sensitive matters with patients and their families. There may be a need for greater exposure and practical experience in palliative care settings.

Key performance measurement capabilities for managing distributed teams

Distributed teams are a reality for several companies nowadays, many authors covered their benefits and problems, and the rate of adoption of such team's structure by companies is growing fast. Since these teams are more present in companies, a performance measurement system must get adapted to fulfill the gap of not having a vast theory about the subject. To fill that gap, this paper brings results from previous steps in the research (Systematic Literature Review and Qualitative analysis of the data). It presents to a group of experts to reach a consensus on which capabilities are essential to managing/developing distributed teams’ performance. The experts were exposed to the information following a Delphi Panel format and provided output that reached consensus and refined the list. The experts indicated that a group of six capabilities (engagement, development of a culture of performance measurement, organizational learning, alignment between planning and execution, accurate information and consistency) are essential to have their performance measurement system working correctly and reaching all functions. The work also identified the success factors for virtual teams, providing directions for the adoption and the monitoring of this kind of team that gained importance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Study of the Impact of Strategic Human Resource Management on Organizational Resilience.

Organizational resilience is a key capability for modern firms to survive and thrive in the VUCA environment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism of strategic human resource management on organizational resilience and the mediating and moderating roles of self-efficacy and self-management, respectively, in the relationship between the two. A total of 379 valid questionnaires were obtained from employees of Chinese companies in August 2022, and the data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 and Amos. The results showed that strategic HRM can effectively contribute to organizational resilience; self-efficacy plays a mediating role in the relationship between strategic HRM and organizational resilience; self-management can effectively contribute to the impact of self-efficacy on organizational resilience; and self-management can hinder the ability of strategic HRM to contribute to organizational resilience. This paper breaks with the previous literature that studied organizational resilience from a single perspective by studying organizational resilience from the perspective of strategic human resource management (SHRM) and verifies that SHRM can be a possible path for Chinese firms to improve organizational resilience.

Cropbox: a declarative crop modelling framework

AbstractWe introduce Cropbox, a novel modelling framework that supports various aspects of crop modelling in a unique yet concise style. Building a crop model can be easily riddled with technical details looking trivial at first but later becoming major obstacles that hamper the whole development or application process. This is particularly the case when implementing models from scratch without relying on an established framework. Cropbox adopts a declarative approach providing a domain-specific language to reduce technical debt and assist modellers to focus on high-level abstraction formed by relations between variables and enclosing systems, rather than tinkering with low-level implementation details. The syntax of Cropbox framework is based on the Julia programming language and is deliberately constrained to avoid unintended side effects caused by common mistakes while its architecture remains open to extension. We highlight key capabilities of the framework through case studies featuring a leaf gas-exchange model and a whole-plant simulation model. We also illustrate potential extensions for supporting functional-structural plant modelling by demonstrating a 3D root architectural model as an example.