Types Of Relationships Research Articles

Comparing three contract types to optimize profits in service firm – digital service platform relationships

PurposeThe importance of service firms cooperating with digital platforms is widely acknowledged. The authors study three contractual relationships (fixed-cost, cost-sharing, and profit-sharing) between service firms (specifically hotels) and digital platforms in a highly fragmented service supply chain to examine which of these contract types optimizes profits.Design/methodology/approachThe authors extend prior models analyzing the optimal expected total profit from the travel service firm (hotel)–digital platform relationship, providing new insights into each contract type’s ability to coordinate decentralized systems and optimize profits for both parties.FindingsThis study finds that fixed cost contracts cannot coordinate the decentralized system. Cost-sharing contracts can coordinate the decentralized system but only allow one channel profit split. In contrast, profit-sharing contracts may not always perfectly coordinate the decentralized system but support alternative profit allocations. Practically, both profit-sharing and cost-sharing contracts are preferable to fixed-cost contracts.Practical implicationsThe paper includes implications for travel service firm managers to consider when structuring contracts with digital platforms to focus on profit optimization. Profit-sharing contracts are most preferable when cost and revenue data are fully shared between parties, while cost-sharing contracts are preferable over fixed-cost contracts.Originality/valueThis study extends prior investigations into the utility of different contract types on the optimal profit of a travel service firm (hotel)-digital platform provider relationship. The research fills a gap in the literature concerning the contracts used in these relationship types.

Orthology and Paralogy Relationships at Transcript Level.

Eukaryotic genes undergo a mechanism called alternative processing, resulting in transcriptome diversity by allowing the production of multiple distinct transcripts from a gene. More than half of human genes are affected, and the resulting transcripts are highly conserved among orthologous genes of distinct species. In this work, we present the definition of orthology and paralogy between transcripts of homologous genes, together with an algorithm to compute clusters of conserved orthologous and paralogous transcripts. Gene-level homology relationships are utilized to define various types of homology relationships between transcripts originating from the same ancestral transcript. A Reciprocal Best Hits approach is employed to infer clusters of isoorthologous and recent paralogous transcripts. We applied this method to transcripts from simulated gene families as well as real gene families from the Ensembl-Compara database. The results are consistent with those from previous studies that compared orthologous gene transcripts. Furthermore, our findings provide evidence that searching for conserved transcripts between homologous genes, beyond the scope of orthologous genes, is likely to yield valuable information.

Decoding the information quantity-quality paradox: How eWOM volume influences consumption value uncertainties

This study explored how the type, quantity, and polarity of information shape customer uncertainty in consumption values, utilizing longitudinal and large-scale user-generated data collected from Yelp. Two types of curvilinear relationships between information quantity and consumer uncertainty were identified. Pattern (a) exhibits an inverted U-shaped trend where uncertainty rises with information volume (under scarcity) but diminishes after a threshold (indicating sufficiency). In contrast, Pattern (b) shows recurrent uncertainty surges after surpassing a volume threshold, signaling information overload. Moreover, the study revealed that the polarity of visual information significantly moderates the impact of information quantity on customer uncertainty. The findings suggest that restaurant managers, within the eWOM context, should tailor information management strategies corresponding to different stages of information diffusion. Lastly, the study underscores the importance of monitoring conflicting information for restaurant managers to effectively mitigate customer uncertainty, emphasizing the utility of the novel big data-based approach to measure customer uncertainty.

A heterogeneous traffic spatio-temporal graph convolution model for traffic prediction

Smart cities require advanced traffic management systems. Traffic forecasting is an essential task of the advanced transportation system. Traffic spatio-temporal data are often heterogeneous. Most existing traffic prediction models predominantly use separate components to extract the temporal and spatial features of traffic data. However, this overlooks the intrinsic connections between the spatio-temporal features of traffic data. To directly mine the spatio-temporal heterogeneity, this study constructs a global heterogeneous traffic spatio-temporal graph and proposes the Heterogeneous Traffic Spatio-Temporal Graph Convolution (HTSTGC). To reduce the complexity of the model, Simple Graph Convolution (SGC) is used to extract semi-structured meta-graph information. The receptive fields that capture temporal and spatial features can be flexibly adjusted separately through clever design, which can balance the performance and efficiency of the model. Finally, the feature fusion module applies Gated Graph Neural Network (GGNN) to fuse temporal and spatial features. The results on the PEMS datasets reveal that jointly modeling different types of relationships can improve the traffic prediction performance of the model. The proposed HTSTGC has better performance than the baseline methods in most cases. The research results can support urban traffic control, traffic pollution reduction, and sustainable urban development.

Qualities of Older Adults’ Family and Friendship Relationships and Their Association with Life Satisfaction

While family and friendship relationship qualities are associated with life satisfaction, evidence on how these types of relationships interact to contribute to older adults’ life satisfaction is sparse. This study examined how family and friendship relationship qualities may be supportive of (compensatory) or conflict with (competing) older adults’ life satisfaction. We adopted a cross-sectional design to analyze data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 1178, females = 54.8%, mean age = 67.9 years, SD = 9.3 years) to examine compensatory (as in social support) and competing (as in social strain) qualities of family and friendship social relationships and their association with life satisfaction in older adults. For greater explanatory power, we also controlled for life satisfaction by sociodemographic variables of age, gender, education, self-reported general health, physical health and activity, depression, and personality traits. Our findings indicate that the spouse/partner support relationship contributes to older adults’ life satisfaction overall and is associated with greater social support and less social strain. Friendship support is associated with improved life satisfaction for older adults reporting spouse/partner strain. Relationship support for the life satisfaction of older adults should consider their need for social support from their social network while minimizing the risk of social strain from adversarial relationships in life situations.

Nanjing Yunjin intelligent question-answering system based on knowledge graphs and retrieval augmented generation technology

Nanjing Yunjin, a traditional Chinese silk weaving craft, is celebrated globally for its unique local characteristics and exquisite workmanship, forming an integral part of the world's intangible cultural heritage. However, with the advancement of information technology, the experiential knowledge of the Nanjing Yunjin production process is predominantly stored in text format. As a highly specialized and vertical domain, this information is not readily convert into usable data. Previous studies on a knowledge graph-based Nanjing Yunjin Question-Answering System have partially addressed this issue. However, knowledge graphs need to be constantly updated and rely on predefined entities and relationship types. Faced with ambiguous or complex natural language problems, knowledge graph information retrieval faces some challenges. Therefore, this study proposes a Nanjing Yunjin Question-Answering System that integrates Knowledge Graphs and Retrieval Augmented Generation techniques. In this system, the ROBERTA model is first utilized to vectorize Nanjing Yunjin textual information, delving deep into textual semantics to unveil its profound cultural connotations. Additionally, the FAISS vector database is employed for efficient storage and retrieval of Nanjing Yunjin information, achieving a deep semantic match between questions and answers. Ultimately, related retrieval results are fed into the Large Language Model for enhanced generation, aiming for more accurate text generation outcomes and improving the interpretability and logic of the Question-Answering System. This research merges technologies like text embedding, vectorized retrieval, and natural language generation, aiming to overcome the limitations of knowledge graphs-based Question-Answering System in terms of graph updating, dependency on predefined types, and semantic understanding. System implementation and testing have shown that the Nanjing Yunjin Intelligent Question-Answering System, constructed on the basis of Knowledge Graphs and Retrieval Augmented Generation, possesses a broader knowledge base that considers context, resolving issues of polysemy, vague language, and sentence ambiguity, and efficiently and accurately generates answers to natural language queries. This significantly facilitates the retrieval and utilization of Yunjin knowledge, providing a paradigm for constructing Question-Answering System for other intangible cultural heritages, and holds substantial theoretical and practical significance for the deep exploration and discovery of the knowledge structure of human intangible heritage, promoting cultural inheritance and protection.

Addressing brain drain through employee development: the interplay of organizational commitment, turnover intention, and individual differences in Lebanon’s health-care sector

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of employee development programs on organizational commitment and its subsequent impact on employee turnover intention by considering individual differences for non-medical staff in a health-care institution in Lebanon. This study is relevant in understanding and addressing the brain drain phenomenon in the Lebanese health-care sector. Design/methodology/approach Correlational analysis and hierarchical regression were conducted to examine the relationships among employee development, organizational commitment and turnover intention. The study also made use of Process by Hayes to examine the existence of a moderated mediated relationship, which is the central point of this research. Findings Results indicate that when holding constant frequency of training, individuals high in commitment report a lesser intention to leave compared to those low in commitment. As a first-stage moderated mediation model is understood, this finding shows that the indirect effect of frequency of training on turnover intention through organizational commitment is moderated by individual differences. Originality/value The findings of this study, based on the human capital theory and social exchange theory, enhance our understanding of how employee development influences organizational commitment, predominantly in the context of Lebanon’s health-care sector grappling with brain drain. Additionally, by integrating both the self-determination theory and the expectancy theory, the study provides a new stance on how intrinsic motivational factors contribute to a better understanding of this complex relationship, especially considering the brain drain dilemma. This study addressed the gap in research studies that failed to explore the extent of the relationship between employee development and turnover intention by highlighting the importance of looking at the relationship as a moderated mediated type of relationship. The findings highlight the importance of organizations implementing the right development programs, as they yield higher levels of organizational commitment and subsequently decrease the intention to leave. This study is important for health-care organizations in Lebanon, suggesting a strategic approach to retain skilled professionals amidst ongoing migration challenges.

Differentiating risk: The association between relationship type and risk of repeat victimization of domestic abuse

Abstract Much of the literature on domestic abuse focuses on those in intimate partner relationships or ex-partners, however, in the UK the Home Office definition also includes those in familial relationships. The Domestic Abuse, Stalking, and Harassment and Honour-Based Violence Risk Assessment assumes homogeneous risk factors across all relationships. This paper therefore examines the risk factors for repeat victimization of domestic abuse by relationship type between the victim and perpetrator in a UK police force. Using police-recorded domestic abuse incident and crime data, a logistic regression model found that the most similar repeat victimization risk profiles for 14,519 victims were amongst partners and ex-partners, with both relationships demonstrating the greatest degree of gender asymmetry, compared with other familial relationships. Physical violence was the strongest predictor of repeat victimization and was a statistically significant predictor for ex-partners, partners, and all familial relationships. Coercive behaviour was also a significant predictor for all relationships apart from partners, but not at the same magnitude as physical abuse. Recognizing the difference in risk by relationship type may assist the police in deciding the most appropriate response and interventions to reduce the risk of further harm.

Social disabling: A qualitative study of interpersonal interaction patterns of shiduers in China

The experience of shidu (i.e., losing one’s only child) completely changes the lives and social interaction patterns of people. However, current research findings on interpersonal interactions of individuals who are experiencing shidu (referred to as “shiduers”) are inconsistent, reducing the effectiveness of support programs. Therefore, a qualitative analysis was conducted on the interpersonal interaction process of shiduers using the classic grounded theory. The results showed that “shidu” as an interpersonal information has two contradictory attributes, “family shame” and “family routine,” which create a social disabling dilemma for shiduers. Shiduers can reset their interpersonal relationships by establishing a clear inner and outer circle of relationships (centralizing) and by sequencing and typing relationships (differentiating). The interpersonal interactions of shiduers are complex and depend on the type of relationship. The current results can help community workers target individual support, family empowerment, and community building for people experiencing shidu.

The morphological variability of the piriformis muscle.

The aim of the study is to create several classifications of the piriformis muscle (PM): proximal and distal attachments, potential fusions, and the relationship with the sciatic nerve. It is the first comprehensive anatomical examination of this subject. One hundred and twenty-four lower limbs from 62 cadavers, fixed in 10% formalin, were examined. The piriformis muscle was present in 120 limbs (96.8% of cases). Four types of proximal attachment were described (I-IV). The most common type was Type I, in which the proximal attachment was at the anterior surface of the sacrum, between S2 and S4 (52 lower limbs; 43.3%). The rarest type was Type IV, in which the proximal attachment was at the gluteal surface of the ilium near the margin of the greater sciatic notch and from the gluteus medius (12 cases; 10%). Three types of distal attachment were distinguished. The most common was Type 1, a single tendon. This type comprised two subtypes: A and B (105 lower limbs; 87.5%). The other two types accounted for 12.5% of the total. Fusions were noted between the piriformis muscle and adjacent muscles in 31.7%. Four patterns were observed in which the sciatic nerve ran against the piriformis muscle. The most common variation in the relationship was the common fibular nerve exiting superior to the piriformis muscle and the tibial nerve passing inferior to it (10 cases; 8.3%). The piriformis muscle is highly morphologically variable in both its proximal and distal attachments and its relationship with the sciatic nerve. There are four types of proximal attachment and three types of distal attachment. The piriformis muscle shows numerous fusions with its adjacent muscles: gluteus medius or minimus or superior gemellus. A new (fourth) type of relationship was demonstrated between the piriformis muscle and sciatic nerve. The piriformis muscle was absent in four cases.

Integration of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation in Second Language Acquisition: Magnetism as a Proposed Theory

Language learning motivation is significantly shaped by both external and internal factors, influencing the learning process in either a positive or negative manner. These factors span educational and environmental domains, particularly in a demotivated learning society. Thus, this paper introduces a theory that combines intrinsic and extrinsic motivation components, aiming to attract learners to language learning, given its relevance to knowledge across diverse domains and global understanding. This theoretical paper not only offers an overview of previously proposed theories, assessing their merits and limitations but also delves into the conceptualized components of the new theory, Magnetism, along with its foundational principles. Magnetism comprises two intricately linked major components elucidating intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, detailing their interaction, mutual influence, and their role in fostering a positive attitude toward language learning. Additionally, the paper delineates three types of relationships that connect the components and their constructs to each other and to the overall framework.

Physiological synchrony in supportive discussions: An examination of co-rumination, relationship type, and heterogeneity.

During times of stress, we look to close others for support. Social support conversations are critical for relationship maintenance and well-being. Yet, certain ways of talking about problems-such as co-ruminating-can exacerbate stress. Since social support and co-rumination are both dyadic processes, it is important to examine physiological responses during these conversations in a dyadic manner. Little research has examined physiological synchrony of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) during social support conversations or co-ruminative conversations. The current research capitalizes on an experimental manipulation of co-rumination using a sample of close friends (147 dyads) and romantic partners (113 dyads) to examine physiological covariation in the context of support. Across both samples, dyads exhibited significant physiological covariation in pre-ejection period reactivity (PEP). Contrary to our hypothesis, dyads in the co-rumination condition did not show more covariation. Close friend dyads did, however, exhibit more covariation as compared to romantic dyads. We also found significant variability in physiological covariation across dyads, with a minority of dyads exhibiting negative covariation of PEP reactivity. The homogeneity of the samples limits the generalizability of the findings and highlights the need for more diverse samples in future work. These findings underline the need for further exploration into the mechanisms that contribute to distinct patterns of physiological synchrony, the conditions in which negative synchrony occurs, and what predicts especially strong positive synchrony. This work extends our understanding of physiological synchrony of the sympathetic nervous system during support conversations and emphasizes the importance of considering heterogeneity in physiological processes.

Physician-Industry Relationships in Vascular Surgery

Interactions between industry and physicians are important in any specialty, but perhaps nowhere more so than in Vascular Surgery. Our field is a highly technological one, and there can be significant mutual benefit when vascular surgeons and our industry partners work together including better device development, improved dissemination of knowledge, and alternative revenue streams. There is, however, potential for inappropriate and unethical behaviour. Here we discuss the types of potential relationships as well as their benefits and risks, and processes for disclosure and reporting.

Who is killing South African men? A retrospective descriptive study of forensic and police investigations into male homicide

Not much is known about the perpetrators of male homicide in South Africa, which has rates seven times the global average. For the country’s first ever male homicide study we...

Framing of the Belt and Road Initiative by Selected India Online Newspapers

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was launched by China in 2013. The Chinese government perceives this initiative as an economic cooperation effort aimed at addressing obstacles that impede development. The intricacies of the China-India relationship have caused India to perceive the BRI from a distinct perspective. The role of relationship type as an external factor in the frame-building process has been neglected until now. This study aims to determine the influence of China-India relationship types on the five generic frames formulated by Semetko and Valkenburg in 2000. The relationship types include cooperation relationship, competition relationship, and friction relationship. The frames under consideration encompass the responsibility frame, human interest frame, conflict frame, morality frame, and economic consequences frame. The study employs quantitative content analysis as its methodology, utilising this approach to analyse news articles sourced from selected India online newspapers, namely The Times of India, The Hindus, and Hindustan Times. A total of 658 news articles were selected in online newspapers, covering the period from September 2013 to September 2022. This study found that relationship types indeed play a significant role in the frame-building process. Cooperation relationship had a very weak positive correlation with the responsibility frame; the competition relationship had a very weak negative correlation with the responsibility frame and a weak negative correlation with the conflict frame; the friction relationship had a weak positive correlation with the conflict frame. Overall, it can be concluded that the highlighted relationship types do indeed influence the framing of news. Keywords: Media framing, frame building, belt and road initiative, China-India relationships, India online newspapers.

일본어 사죄표현에 나타난 전략 및 사회적 관계의 유형별 사용양상 - 「すみません」「ごめんなさい」의 차이를 중심으로 -

일본어 사죄표현에 나타난 전략 및 사회적 관계의 유형별 사용양상 - 「すみません」「ごめんなさい」의 차이를 중심으로 -

Spatial–Temporal Evolution, Impact Mechanisms, and Reclamation Potential of Rural Human Settlements in China

In China’s pursuit of modernization, the government has introduced the rural revitalization strategy to combat rural decline, foster balanced urban–rural development, and reduce the urban–rural gap. Rural human settlements, as key components of this strategy, play a vital role. This paper examines the types and characteristics of human–earth relationships within rural settlements, emphasizing their significance. Using national land use and population census data, we analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of rural settlements at the county level, investigating landscape pattern changes, assessing the degree of coupling coordination between rural population and settlements, categorizing relationship types and features, and estimating the potential for remediation. Our findings reveal a growing trend in the scale of rural human settlements, particularly sourced from arable land, with significant expansions observed in the North China Plain and Northeast Plain, indicating potential for farmland reclamation and village consolidation. Landscape patterns of rural human settlements exhibit increased fragmentation, complex shapes, and aggregation. We categorize the utilization of rural human settlements into two types, each with four distinct features: human–land coordination is observed in regions characterized by either a higher rural population and larger rural settlement areas, or lower rural population and smaller rural settlement areas. Human–land trade-offs are evident in areas where there is either a higher rural population and smaller rural settlement areas, or lower rural population and larger rural settlement areas. This provides valuable insights for the Chinese government’s context-specific implementation of the rural revitalization strategy. It also serves as an experiential reference for the governance of rural human settlements in other developing countries.

Barriers and opportunities for gender-based violence prevention & response at universities in Sub-Saharan Africa

ABSTRACT Globally, one in three women experience physical and/or sexual violence and sub-Saharan Africa displays increased rates of gender-based violence (GBV) compared to other regions. There is limited information on the factors sustaining GBV among university students in sub-Saharan Africa as well as barriers and opportunities towards its effective prevention and management. This study explores and describes the GBV prevention needs at six universities in five sub-Saharan African countries (Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe) using a qualitative approach. In-depth interviews (n = 27) were conducted with key stakeholders (faculty, staff, students, community members). Main findings showed that GBV is influenced by location and types of relationship with the perpetrator, and some of the barriers to implementing GBV prevention programmes are patriarchal norms, lack of awareness, and poor institutional infrastructure. Identified areas for opportunity are raising awareness, early warning signs for prevention, proactive system-wide response, justice for survivors, and fair punishment. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT Current prevention and response resources are not equitably available to individuals of all genders and sexual orientations at universities across sub-Saharan Africa. There is a need for promotion of institutional partnership, shared knowledge, and resources for addressing GBV among all university students within sub-Saharan Africa.

From verbal to physical violence: the different severity perception of stalking behaviors

AbstractStalking is a global spread phenomenon consisting in harassing, annoying, unwanted, and intrusive behaviors, often considered regular in courting. These behaviors are part of the broader range of gender-based violence. In accordance with the theory of ecological systems, this study aimed to investigate the presence of gender differences in the perception of the severity of stalking actions, considering the role of the type of violence perpetrated (physical versus verbal) and the relationship between the author and victim (Resentful ex-partner, Incompetent suitor rejected, Neighbor in dispute). The results showed gender differences in the main dimensions investigated by the questionnaire (Moral Disengagement, Normlessness beliefs, Empathy, and Perception of the Severity of Stalking). In addition, the results show that the perception of severity is influenced by the type of relationship and the type of violence perpetrated, differently between men and women. Results were discussed based on the development of literature on the topic.

GLDL: Graph Label Distribution Learning

Label Distribution Learning (LDL), as a more general learning setting than generic single-label and multi-label learning, has been commonly used in computer vision and many other applications. To date, existing LDL approaches are designed and applied to data without considering the interdependence between instances. In this paper, we propose a Graph Label Distribution Learning (GLDL) framework, which explicitly models three types of relationships: instance-instance, label-label, and instance-label, to learn the label distribution for networked data. A label-label network is learned to capture label-to-label correlation, through which GLDL can accurately learn label distributions for nodes. Dual graph convolution network (GCN) Co-training with heterogeneous message passing ensures two GCNs, one focusing on instance-instance relationship and the other one targeting label-label correlation, are jointly trained such that instance-instance relationship can help induce label-label correlation and vice versa. Our theoretical study derives the error bound of GLDL. For verification, four benchmark datasets with label distributions for nodes are created using common graph benchmarks. The experiments show that considering dependency helps learn better label distributions for networked data, compared to state-of-the-art LDL baseline. In addition, GLDL not only outperforms simple GCN and graph attention networks (GAT) using distribution loss but is also superior to its variant considering label-label relationship as a static network. GLDL and its benchmarks are the first research endeavors to address LDL for graphs. Code and benchmark data are released for public access.