On a 2-Relative Entropy

We construct a 2-categorical extension of the relative entropy functor of Baez and Fritz, and show that our construction is functorial with respect to vertical morphisms. Moreover, we show such a ‘2-relative entropy’ satisfies natural 2-categorial analogues of convex linearity, vanishing under optimal hypotheses, and lower semicontinuity. While relative entropy is a relative measure of information between probability distributions, we view our construction as a relative measure of information between channels.

Code-Switching Knowledge as Heritage Grammar Attainment: A Case Study

This study examines sensitivity to putative grammatical constraints on intra-sentential code-switching, viewed as a relative measure of attainment in heritage bilingual grammars. This is exemplified by a series of interactive tasks carried out with heritage Portuguese speakers in Misiones Province, Argentina. The results demonstrate the viability of deploying a range of experimental techniques in field settings with heritage speakers who do not engage in habitual code switching.

An Information-Entropy Position-Weighted K-Mer Relative Measure for Whole Genome Phylogeny Reconstruction

Alignment methods have faced disadvantages in sequence comparison and phylogeny reconstruction due to their high computational costs in handling time and space complexity. On the other hand, alignment-free methods incur low computational costs and have recently gained popularity in the field of bioinformatics. Here we propose a new alignment-free method for phylogenetic tree reconstruction based on whole genome sequences. A key component is a measure called information-entropy position-weighted k-mer relative measure (IEPWRMkmer), which combines the position-weighted measure of k-mers proposed by our group and the information entropy of frequency of k-mers. The Manhattan distance is used to calculate the pairwise distance between species. Finally, we use the Neighbor-Joining method to construct the phylogenetic tree. To evaluate the performance of this method, we perform phylogenetic analysis on two datasets used by other researchers. The results demonstrate that the IEPWRMkmer method is efficient and reliable. The source codes of our method are provided at https://github.com/ wuyaoqun37/IEPWRMkmer.

entire system of wages and rewards to increase productivity in factory

One of the latest tests to see whether one day or an industrial organization is functioning successfully or less successfully is the product units of that system. This assessment is not directly about the physical equipment, technology, or products of Japanese factories or about capital expenditures, and the stage of the companies being studied. However, there is a close relationship between social organization and the special attention currently paid to the question of productivity, apparently considering some special consideration of the problems which increase the effort to increase productivity in the large Japanese factories. Productivity - of course - is a relative measure, and the standard commonly used by Japanese executives is the output and cost of American factory production. In general, Japanese executives do not flatter their company when it comes to making such comparisons. Estimates need to be rough, and it can be difficult to mislead them to try to get an exact value. However, in comparing their factories to American factories producing the same goods, very few Japanese executives would speculate on a measure of productivity.

A Keszthely-Kultúra Ma

A Keszthely-kultúra fogalma az elmúlt 130 év alatt sokat változott. Az 568 és 630–650 közé keltezhető korai szakasz létét többen kétségbe vonták. A korai szakasz 11 lelőhelyét áttekintve a dolgozat azt igyekszik igazolni, hogy a korai avar korban relatív önállósággal bíró, Keszthely környéki keresztény népességet a tovább élő késő antik elemeken kívül döntően a kelet alpi, dalmáciai, balkáni és germán területekről bevándoroltak alkották. Megjelölésükre a Keszthely-kultúra korai szakasza a megfelelő elnevezés. A késői szakasz a korai szerves folytatása.The concept of the Keszthely culture has changed significantly over the past 130 years. The legitimacy of the early phase dated between 568 and 630–650 has been challenged by some scholars. By reviewing eleven sites of the culture’s early phase, this study seeks to demonstrate that in addition to surviving late antique elements, the Christian population that lived in the Keszthely area and enjoyed a relative measure of independence was predominantly made up eastern Alpine, Dalmatian, Balkanic and Germanic immigrants. The label “early phase of the Keszthely culture” seems an adequate term for their description. The culture’s late phase is an organic continuation of the early one.

INTERNAL BENCHMARKING IN RETAILING WITH DEA AND GIS: THE CASE OF A LOYALTY-ORIENTED SUPERMARKET CHAIN

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a relative measure of efficiency applied to a set of decision units and is being used more and more frequently in the supermarket sector. Nonetheless, given how strongly the sector’s financials depend on demand, companies need to combine this measurement with trade area information to best manage corporate efficiency. In this paper, the proposal consists of integrating DEA with a clearly articulated, structural typology so that supermarkets, based on their particular characteristics, can determine which variables are most critical for improving their efficiency. This methodology has been validated in the case of one of Spain’s five largest supermarket chains. A principal component analysis and a classification analysis were carried out on a series of internal management variables from 61 locations for which DEA had been used to calculate efficiency and to which multiple trade area variables were added using GIS. Some of them are related to the loyalty scheme membership programme. These latter variables described the implantation of the loyalty scheme member programme and were revealed as key elements for the efficiency of the supermarket. This methodology provides marketing profiles that are more adapted to local circumstances, thus allowing companies to set better internal benchmarking objectives.

Could Ankle Muscle Activation Be Used as a Simple Measure of Balance Exercise Intensity?

Few, if any, studies have reported the effects of intensity of balance exercise for balance training and rehabilitation. The aim of the present study was to find a relative measure of intensity of balance exercise. On this basis, we analysed ankle muscle activation in the sagittal plane with increasing difficulty for a one leg stance on a T-board. Ten adults (7 men, 24.1 ± 3.5 years; 3 women, 30.6 ± 5.8 years) performed 3 trials on a T-board within 6 randomly assigned stability levels. T-board swaying velocities in the sagittal plane were manipulated to attain different stability levels (conditions). Concurrently, angular distance of the T-board and active balance time (i.e., percentage of a total time balancing) under each condition were measured. Surface electromyography from the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius and soleus were monitored during one leg stance. The surface electromyography amplitude in the time domain was quantified using the root-mean-square values. Significant effect of stability levels on angular distance (F5,45 = 3.4; p = 0.01) and velocity of the T-board (F5,45 = 4.6; p = 0.002) were obtained. Active balance time decreased by ∼15% (p = 0.001) from the maximal to the minimal stability conditions. The graded level of balance board stability conditions did not generate significantly higher root-mean-square values in any muscles and hence could not be used as a relative measure of intensity of balance exercise. These findings imply that there could be a plateau in difficulty of balance exercise for enhancement of ankle muscle activity.

Societal Poverty: A Relative and Relevant Measure

Poverty lines are typically higher in richer countries, and lower in poorer ones, reflecting the relative nature of national assessments of who is considered poor. In many high-income countries, poverty lines are explicitly relative, set as a share of mean or median income. Despite systematic variation in how countries define poverty, global poverty counts are based on fixed-value lines. To reflect national assessments of poverty in a global headcount of poverty, this paper proposes a societal poverty line. The proposed societal poverty line is derived from 699 harmonized national poverty lines, has an intercept of $1 per day and a relative gradient of 50 percent of median national income or consumption. The societal poverty line is more closely aligned with national definitions of poverty than other proposed relative lines. By this relative measure, societal poverty has fallen steadily since 1990, but at a much slower pace than absolute extreme poverty.