Compact structure representation in discovering frequent patterns for association rules

Frequent pattern mining is a key problem in important data mining applications, such as the discovery of association rules, strong rules and episodes. Structure used in typical algorithms for solving this problem operate in several database scans and a large number of candidate generation. This paper presents a compact structure representation called Flex-tree in discovering frequent patterns for association rules. Flex-tree structure is a lexicographic tree which finds frequent patterns by using depth first search strategy. Efficiency of mining is achieved with one scan of database instead of repeated database passes done in other methods and avoid the costly generation of large numbers of candidate sets, which dramatically reduces the search space

Supporting knowledge transfer in web-based managed IT support

Purpose &ndash; The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance and complexities of the knowledge transfer process in the provision of effective managed after-sales IT support, when the web is used for service delivery.Design/methodology/approach &ndash; The paper features an interpretive case study of a multinational Managed Service Provider (MSP) and a focus group of representatives from five comparable MSPs.Findings &ndash; The paper finds that MSPs that use web-based channels for the provision of after-sales IT support services need to address a range of important social and organisational issues in order to realise cost and efficiency-based benefits.Research limitations/implications &ndash; The paper provides a four stage processual model of knowledge transfer in the provision of web-based managed after-sales IT support services. The barriers and enablers of knowledge transfer at each stage are identified. The paper adopts a MSP perspective and suggests that further research from the customer perspective is required.Practical implications &ndash; The paper highlights some important social and organisational enablers and barriers, which will guide MSPs when providing managed after-sales IT support using webbased channels.Originality/value &ndash; The paper provides the first staged model of inter-organisational knowledge transfer in a complex multi-organisational and multi-channel web-based context.<br /

Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults

Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities 1,2 . This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity 3�6 . Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean BMI segregated by place of residence (a rural or urban area) from 1985 to 2017. We show that, contrary to the dominant paradigm, more than 55 of the global rise in mean BMI from 1985 to 2017�and more than 80 in some low- and middle-income regions�was due to increases in BMI in rural areas. This large contribution stems from the fact that, with the exception of women in sub-Saharan Africa, BMI is increasing at the same rate or faster in rural areas than in cities in low- and middle-income regions. These trends have in turn resulted in a closing�and in some countries reversal�of the gap in BMI between urban and rural areas in low- and middle-income countries, especially for women. In high-income and industrialized countries, we noted a persistently higher rural BMI, especially for women. There is an urgent need for an integrated approach to rural nutrition that enhances financial and physical access to healthy foods, to avoid replacing the rural undernutrition disadvantage in poor countries with a more general malnutrition disadvantage that entails excessive consumption of low-quality calories. © 2019, The Author(s)

The Consideration of Meta-Abilities in Tacit Knowledge Externalization and Organizational Learning

This research is concerned with studying the elements that can encourage staff members to contribute inputs for learning-based systems development. To achieve this aim, this research developed a conceptual framework based on the concepts of meta-abilities and tacit knowledge externalization and sharing. Meta-abilities, in turn, are developed by using the elements of understanding organizational roles, internal strengths, formal and informal discussions and rational discourse. The processes undertaken in the novel conceptual framework of this research will ensure that organizational IS are subject to continual reexamination and modification. By internalizing a system’s operations, individuals can improve actions through better knowledge and understanding – the learning process. The framework is tested using fieldwork experimentation in Malaysia. It is concluded that the future focus when managing information for OL should be toward an individual’s meta-abilities development and creating the correct organizational culture and infrastructure that promotes knowledge sharing

Applying meta-abilities to outsourcing: an individual based conceptual framework

Original paper can be found at: http://is2.lse.ac.uk/asp/aspecis/default5.asp Copyright ECIS Standing CommitteeTo cope with the current turbulent times, organisations’ are seeking a range of solutions and one of the most publicised strategies for this in recent times is outsourcing. In the Information Systems (IS) area, outsourcing has fast become an essential part of an organisation’s IS strategy. By signing outsourcing agreements, firms expect to reduce their overall Information Technology (IT) costs, focus on their core competencies, and gain superior technical resources. This paper offers a conceptual model for the area of outsourcing, which is based primarily on meta-abilities