Cooperation Partners Research Articles

The effect of a physically formidable competitor or cooperator on attraction to violent video games

Typically, men prefer violent video games more than women do. However, little is known about the motivational factors driving this greater preference for violent games in men. The integrative motivational model of violent video games (IMT-VVG) suggests that the pull of violent video games should be strongest in men because men have faced stronger evolutionary pressures to physically compete within an explicit hierarchy relative to women. In two experiments, individuals were led to believe they were competing (Experiment 1; N = 122) or cooperating (Experiment 2; N = 121) with an ostensible same-gender partner to complete a physical strength program. The partner was presented as either high or low in physical formidability. Participants then selected a violent or non-violent video game to play for up to 15 min. In Experiment 1, men showed a stronger preference for violent video games than women when they anticipated facing a stronger opponent in an impending physical strength competition. In Experiment 2, for the physical cooperation task, men also chose the violent game over the non-violent game, but did so independent of the formidability of their cooperation partner. In sum, these data suggest that men may be attracted to violent video games when faced with a competitive task that requires physical strength, but not necessarily a cooperative task. In support of this hypothesis, participants who played the violent games reported greater subjective toughness after game play. These results provide evidence for a new integrative motivational theory of violent video game play.

A Study on the Design of Incentive Contracts for Platform Economy Regulation Based on Dual Principal–Agents

A system of incentives can be established to encourage several parties to unite as a community of interest and become jointly committed to the platform economic governance. The platform economy involves progressively more complex subjects of interest and relationships, which are not the typical principal–agent one-time cooperative relationship. This study investigates the problem of regulatory incentives in the platform economy, specifically focusing on the relationship between the government, platform enterprises, and merchants. It analyzes this issue under conditions of asymmetric information by constructing and solving a dual principal–agent model. The findings indicate the following: (1) the government’s incentives and regulatory mechanisms can be considered as interchangeable to some extent, with decisions made by evaluating their respective costs; (2) the government’s optimal incentives and regulations ultimately shape the self-regulatory behavior of merchants through platform enterprises; and (3) the optimal level of incentives for both the government and the platform enterprise is influenced by factors such as the ability coefficient, the social transformation coefficient, and the merchants’ reliance on the platform enterprise. Additionally, the optimal effort level of the platform enterprise and the merchants increases with higher levels of the regulatory effort, risk sensitivity coefficient, and ability coefficient. A win–win scenario and a long-term, stable cooperative partnership can be reached by the three parties under the ideal incentive intensity. The study’s conclusions can serve as a theoretical foundation and support for the creation of incentive contracts for platform economy regulation.

Keabsahan Tindakan Gubernur Maluku Menunjuk PT Bumi Perkasa Timur Sebagai Mitra Kerja Sama Pemenfaatan Ruko Dikawasan Mardika

Introduction: Based on Regional Regulation No. 9 of 2017 stipulates that the determination of cooperation partners for the utilization of regional property is carried out through a tender, not a direct appointment by the Governor. However, the Governor of Maluku made the direct appointment of PT. Bumi Perkasa Timur as a cooperation partner for the use of shophouses in the Mardika area as regional property.Purposes of the Research: To analyze the legitimacy of the actions of the Governor of Maluku, he appointed PT BUMI PERKASA TIMUR as a Cooperation Partner for the Utilization of Shophouses in the Mardika Area as regional property. To analyze the legal consequences of the actions of the Governor of Maluku, he appointed PT BUMI PERKASA TIMUR as a Cooperation Partner for the Utilization of Shophouses in the Mardika Area as regional property.Methods of the Research: This research uses normative juridical research methods. The research approach used by the author is a statutory approach (Statute Approach) and a conceptual approach (Conceptual Approach). The procedure for collecting legal materials is carried out by means of library research. The legal materials used by the author in this study are primary legal materials, secondary legal materials, and tertiary legal materials.Results of the Research: The actions of the Governor of Maluku made the appointment of PT. Bumi Perkasa Timur as a cooperative partner in the use of shophouses in the Mardika area is an action that has no validity, because it is not in accordance with the established procedures.

Brand Awareness : PT Nutrifood Indonesia

Brand awareness is an important aspect for all companies to be known by their target market. This is important to ensure brands can survive the increasingly fierce business competition. In the midst of the increasing number of healthy sachet drink brands that have emerged, each brand needs to show their differentiating side in order to be able to compete. This is what encourages PT Nutrifood to increase brand awareness, one of which is through an event sponsorship strategy. This research aims to find out how PT Nutrifood can increase brand awareness through sponsorship events. This study uses marketing communication mix theory and qualitative methodology with a descriptive case study research type. The data collection techniques used are observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. In-depth interviews were conducted with four informants: key informants, first informants, second informants and third informants. This study shows that the marketing communication used by PT Nutrifood in increasing brand awareness by using several elements or communication mixes that are interrelated. The results of the study show that event sponsorship activities carried out by PT Nutrifood and its cooperation partners have succeeded in increasing brand awareness.

Tanggungjawab Atas Kerugian pada Kerja Sama Usaha Ternak Ayam Boiler dengan PT. Japfa Comfeed Ditinjau dari Kompilasi Hukum Ekonomi Syariah: Studi Kasus di Dusun Kerpai Kecamatan Selesai Kabupaten Langkat

This case began with the implementation of boiler chicken cultivation cooperation between PT. Japfa Coveed with its cooperation partners. PT. Japfa Comveed has entered into a cooperation agreement with partners, one of which is to support the health and quality improvement of the chicken. In fact, the agreement was not implemented at all and only demanded sales targets. In this study, the author formulated a study on the implementation of the shirkah contract in the risk sharing agreement between PT Japfa Comfeed and partners in Kerpai Hamlet, Finish District, Langkat Regency, the factor that PT Japfa Comfeed does not want to be responsible for the partners that occur in Kerpai Hamlet, Finish District, Langkat Regency, and the responsibility for the losses made by PT Japfa Comfeed to partners in boiler chicken cultivation reviewed from the Compilation of Sharia Economic Law in Kerpai Hamlet, Selesai District, Langkat Regency. This study uses an empirical method. The empiric method is a research method that uses data from the field and direct research to get accurate data. This empirical research is used to make it easier for writers. The results of this study prove that the responsibility carried out by PT japfa Comfeed itself is not in accordance with Kompilasi Hukum Ekonomi Syariah (KHES). This is because Japfa Comfeed itself deliberately reduces its obligations to its partners by not fulfilling the responsibilities that have been previously agreed. This is done to reduce partial losses felt by the company. This accountability has never been carried out by PT Japfa Comfeed so that as a result partners suffer losses ranging from inappropriate chicken weights, health conditions of cages and shirkah objects, to not being able to compete in the regional and regional markets.

Competence building in software technologies: the case of the German automotive industry

ABSTRACT The transformation to a software-defined car and the necessary competence building in software pose severe problems and threats for established car manufacturers. This study examines the adaptation of German car manufacturers to new digital technologies with their own competence building in software and with external partnerships. The firm’s resource- and competence-based views are used as the theoretical foundation. The empirical analysis includes an explorative case study of two German automotive firms and their external cooperation partners. Case studies show that automotive firms have chosen different pathways to build digital competencies. They realise a firm-specific mixture of competence building by investing their own resources or by partnering with external cooperation partners. The results showed remarkable differences in competence levels and successes between the two firms. The main theoretical result of the explorative case studies is that the management of dependencies, building or dissolution of relationships with other firms, aspect of time, and aspect of firm organisation must be included as endogenous factors in the theoretical analysis of competence building.

Academia and journalism: Two different worlds? How scientific institutions can successfully collaborate with journalistic organizations

Traditionally, researchers have played only a limited role as experts or qualified sources for journalists—and journalists were the subject of investigation for researchers rather than cooperation partners. The rapid pace of transformation processes in media use poses various challenges for media practitioners today, which is why they increasingly rely on the support of media researchers and their valuable insights into consumer attitudes and behaviour. However, the cooperation between scientific institutions and media practitioners is marked by many challenges and apart from individual temporary projects, lasting collaborations have not yet been established. This paper presents a long-term transfer initiative that aims to promote news use and news literacy among young people in close cooperation between a scientific institution and a wide range of private and public service media. Using this initiative as an example, we analyse the opportunities, challenges, and productive dynamics that result from this project. Based on our experience, we propose four main pieces of advice for how researchers can enhance long-term collaboration with newsrooms.

Hyperglycemia Stimulates the Irreversible Catabolism of Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Generation of Ketone Bodies by Cultured Human Astrocytes.

Astrocytes are considered to possess a noticeable role in brain metabolism and, as a partners in neuron-glia cooperation, to contribute to the synthesis, bioconversion, and regulation of the flux of substrates for neuronal metabolism. With the aim of investigating to what extent human astrocytes are metabolizing amino acids and by which compounds are they enriching their surroundings, we employed a metabolomics analysis of their culture media by 1H-NMR. In addition, we compared the composition of media with either 5 mM or 25 mM glucose. The quantitative analysis of culture media by 1H-NMR revealed that astrocytes readily dispose from their milieu glutamine, branched-chain amino acids, and pyruvate with significantly high rates, while they enrich the culture media with lactate, branched-chain keto acids, citrate, acetate, ketone bodies, and alanine. Hyperglycemia suppressed the capacity of astrocytes to release branched-chain 2-oxo acids, while stimulating the generation of ketone bodies. Our results highlight the active involvement of astrocytes in the metabolism of several amino acids and the regulation of key metabolic intermediates. The observed metabolic activities of astrocytes provide valuable insights into their roles in supporting neuronal function, brain metabolism, and intercellular metabolic interactions within the brain. Understanding the complex metabolic interactions between astrocytes and neurons is essential for elucidating brain homeostasis and the pathophysiology of neurological disorders. The observed metabolic activities of astrocytes provide hints about their putative metabolic roles in brain metabolism.

Channel diversity, constructive and destructive conflicts: the moderating role of network centrality

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the impact of channel diversity on constructive and destructive conflicts in manufacturer-distributor relationships, as well as the mediating role of distributor opportunism and the moderating role of distributor network centrality.Design/methodology/approachThis paper collected channel dual data to represent channel behavior in manufacturer-distributor relationships accurately. Using 208 matched manufacturer distributor bilateral data from Chinese B2B firms validate the conceptual model. This paper tested the proposed hypothesis using AMOS 24.0 software.FindingsChannel diversity strengthens constructive conflict and weakens destructive conflict between manufacturers and distributors. Distributor opportunism plays a mediating role between channel diversity and constructive conflict. Distributor network centrality reinforces the positive impact of channel diversity on constructive conflict and the impact of channel diversity on destructive conflict.Originality/valueThis research contributes significantly to developing channel diversity and conflict theory by expanding the dyadic view to a network view. It also provides valuable insights for managers, highlighting the importance of maintaining a good relationship with distributors with high network centrality. The research results allow the constructive aspects of channel conflict to manifest fully and enhance the effectiveness of channel management. Distributor firms should prioritize communication and contact with network members to increase their network centrality, enabling them to take more initiative, exert influence and establish advantageous cooperative partnerships with manufacturers.

Membandingkan Keberhasilan Pengembangan Food Estate Berbasis Reforma Agraria Di Desa Karangwangi, Mekarmukti dan Desa Sukawargi, Cisurupan, Kabupaten Garut

Food estate is a concept for developing food production which is carried out in an integrated manner and consists of agriculture, plantations and even animal husbandry on large areas of land. This article aims to examine the development of food estates based on agrarian reform which is being carried out in Java, especially in West Java. The material for this article was obtained through qualitative methods. The type of qualitative method used is multiple case studies. Data collection is divided into two, namely primary data collection techniques and secondary data. Secondary data was obtained through document study, while primary data was obtained through observation and interviews. The research results show that food estates in West Java, especially in the case of development in Sukawargi Village, have shown quite encouraging results. Farmers can streamline production costs while increasing production yields. The Agribusiness Operational Cooperation (KOA) partnership model allows farmers to gain increased income and also be free from the ties of middlemen. There has been a significant change where farmers, who previously continued to carry out traditional agricultural practices passed down from generation to generation, have changed to modern agriculture based on agricultural mechanization and innovation. Different things happen in Mekarwangi Village where basic problems related to agricultural supporting infrastructure are not yet available. This condition shows that Mekarwangi Village needs to be encouraged to fulfill the basic prerequisites for food estate development so that its success and sustainability can also be ensured.

Horses look longer at skilled humans than unskilled ones despite similar outcomes in an object manipulation task

Evaluating others based on skillfulness and prosociality is an important ability in choosing a cooperative partner. Such abilities have been studied in nonhuman species such as primates and dogs; however, few studies have examined whether horses could evaluate humans based on their skillfulness. Here, we investigated whether horses (Equus caballus) could evaluate humans based on their skillfulness in a situation related to their own interests (food). We showed horses a pair of experimenters, one that could open the lid of a container (skilled actor) and another that could not open the lid of the container (unskilled actor). The unskilled actor ‘accidentally’ dropped the container during the demonstration phase, causing the lid to open, allowing him to remove the object and thus achieve the same outcome as the skilled actor. The experimental trials involved two conditions, one in which the container had food inside, and one in which it was empty. This was because we thought the horses would have an expectation that the skilled actor would give them food after opening the container, so we predicted that horses would look longer at the skilled actor than the unskilled actor only in the food condition. We measured the gaze duration of horses toward each experimenter. Horses looked longer at the skilled actor overall and looked at the two actors longer in the food condition than in the non-food condition, and there was no interaction between role and condition. Post-hoc tests showed that the horses looked at the skilled actor longer than the unskilled actor in both conditions. They also looked at the skilled actor for longer in the food condition compared with the no-food condition. These results suggest that the horses were able to visually discriminate between humans based on their skillfulness.

Community-based Economic Development and Partnership Cooperation: The Economics Strategy for Prosperity of the Ummah

Community-based Economic Development and Partnership Cooperation: The Economics Strategy for Prosperity of the Ummah

THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE PROJECT APPROACH IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AT THE LEVEL OF UNITED TERRITORIAL COMMUNITIES OF THE DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM OF TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION OF POWER

The article is devoted to the issue of project management implementation by public management bodies of the decentralized system of territorial organization of power, in particular the functional features and advantages of implementing project management tools in the activities of united territorial communities of Ukraine. It is determined that the project approach to project management today is one of the most popular ways of management in the modern world. The relevance of the widespread introduction of project management methodology and project approach in the practice of public administration as a new culture of management and effective tools for good governance in a crisis, instability and uncertainty is substantiated, solving industrial, scientific and social problems. It was concluded that the use of project management methodology at the national level of the decentralized system of territorial organization of power is both strategic and tactical in nature. In strategic terms, the project approach makes it possible to focus the efforts of public authorities on solving urgent problems of long-term development of society in its key areas, reducing tensions in the socio-political sphere, by increasing the efficiency of public authorities to strengthen their legitimacy and resilience to internal and external threats establish a stable partnership dialogue with communities and civil society institutions. In terms of tactics, budget savings, reduction of implementation of state programs and national projects, some optimization of government structures and improved coordination of public authorities, cooperation and public-private partnerships with business entities.

Inherent linguistic preference outcompetes incidental alignment in cooperative partner choice

Abstract An important quality to assess in others is their cooperativeness. We hypothesized that people use linguistic markers in their partners’ speech as a proxy of their cooperativeness in other tasks: specifically, we predicted that participants would prefer syntactically similar conversation partners as cooperation partners in a monetary game. We found that, indeed, participants preferably selected syntactically similar conversation partners as cooperation partners, but only when the participants could communicate using their naturally preferred constructions. In contrast, when participants were forced to communicate using dispreferred constructions, they rather cooperated with those partners that matched their natural preference than with those that matched their overt linguistic use. This pattern of results was likely driven by participants valuing representational alignment (i.e., being aligned on both linguistic features and their mental representations) more than incidental behavioral alignment (i.e., superficial convergence on similar linguistic features during interaction). This is because representational alignment is a potential indicator of group membership and may be associated with in-group benefits such as reputation, reciprocity and normative behavior. Those benefits may outweigh the benefits of simple behavioral alignment, which could be a potential indicator of others’ willingness to cooperate. This has important implications for communication in intercultural settings where members of diverse linguistic groups negotiate cooperative actions.

Antisocial Personality Disorder as a Form of Adaptive Strategy

Background: in contemporary domestic psychiatry the evolutionary explanations of antisocial personality disorder are practically lacking. The aim of study: the analysis of the significant concepts of the evolutionary approach to understanding the origins and typology of antisocial, or dissocial, personality disorder. Material and methods: a narrative review of contemporary English-language psychiatric and psychological literature using all available search engines using the keywords “antisocial psychopathy” and “evolutionary psychiatry and psychology”. Discussion and conclusion: in English-language psychiatric and psychological literature the affective component of antisocial traits, emphasized only in ICD-10, is called “primary psychopathy,” while the behavioral component of antisocial traits, associated with “sensation seeking” and “hyperactivation,” is called “secondary” psychopathy. Evolutionary and ecological approaches emphasize the adaptive role of aggressive and antisocial behavior, viewing such behavior as a “high-risk strategy” in social and sexual competition, as “costly” but potentially adaptive (rather than as “behavioral dysfunctions”). The understanding of persistent antisocial behavior as a social “trickster” strategy exploiting the trust and cooperative behavior of others is based on the R. Axelrod-W. Hamilton “iterated” prisoner’s dilemma. In the Prisoner’s Dilemma evolutionary model, the player’s payoff is determined by the effects on “fitness”: survival and fertility. Participating in several interactions with individuals, an antisocial “deceiver” with high mobility is able to exist, manifesting itself with a fairly low frequency in the population. Non-cooperative behavior in both animals and humans reduces the fitness of others and includes aggressive behavior, deception, betrayal, predation and social parasitism. From the point of view of the concept of “economic games,” people with subclinically expressed primary psychopathic traits (emotional coldness, manipulativeness, Machiavellianism) are represented as “strategists” with cooperation partners: they give with reciprocity to those partners whom they consider “highly valuable” (with the potential for great benefits in future), and only “take”, manipulating and deceiving, from those of “low value”. In a broad sense, evolutionary psychologists and psychiatrists find in the characteristics of antisocial individuals a predominance of a set of properties of “fast” life strategies, while the concept of “fast strategies” is also used to explain geographical differences in the prevalence of aggressive behavior.

Critical Policy Analysis of the Second Round of the Double First-Class Project in China

Purpose This critical policy analysis aims to comprehensively examine the second round of China's first-class discipline development project, commonly known as the “Double First-Class Project” (DFC Project or Shuang Yi Liu Project). Design/Approach/Methods We conducted desk research between May 2022 and December 2023 using relevant policy documents, academic literature, news sources, and commentaries that specifically focused on the second round of the DFC Project in China. Employing a critical policy analysis approach, we analyzed the gathered data from three key perspectives: policy as text, policy as discourse, and policy effects (including both first- and second-order effects). Findings The second round of the DFC Project was implemented within the context of strengthened state regulation, prevalent managerialism, and an emphasis on promoting education equality in China's higher education development. A notable shift in structural dynamics occurred between the first and second round. These include the possibility of universities being added to or removed from the official list, increased academic autonomy for selected universities, and the promotion of interdisciplinary research within specific institutions. The implementation of the second round of the DFC Project reflects China's commitment to developing an internationalization strategy with Chinese characteristics. This strategy aims to align with China's national strategic needs and position the country as a cooperative partner, promoter, competitor, and potential leader in global scholarship. Originality/Value By employing a critical policy analysis approach, this study offers a comprehensive examination of the second round of the DFC project in China, contributing to existing knowledge on the development of world-class university policies in the country.

Cross-kingdom nutrient exchange in the plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus-bacterium continuum.

The association between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) affects plant performance and ecosystem functioning. Recent studies have identified AMF-associated bacteria as cooperative partners that participate in AMF-plant symbiosis: specific endobacteria live inside AMF, and hyphospheric bacteria colonize the soil that surrounds the extraradical hyphae. In this Review, we describe the concept of a plant-AMF-bacterium continuum, summarize current advances and provide perspectives on soil microbiology. First, we review the top-down carbon flow and the bottom-up mineral flow (especially phosphorus and nitrogen) in this continuum, as well as how AMF-bacteria interactions influence the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients (for example, carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen). Second, we discuss how AMF interact with hyphospheric bacteria or endobacteria to regulate nutrient exchange between plants and AMF, and the possible molecular mechanisms that underpin this continuum. Finally, we explore future prospects for studies on the hyphosphere to facilitate the utilization of AMF and hyphospheric bacteria in sustainable agriculture.

Cooperative partners’ heterogeneity and supplier empowerment: impact on the performance of digital technology collaborative innovation in supply chain

ABSTRACT The rapid advancement of digital technology has stimulated collaboration between core companies and suppliers to pursue innovation activities. However, a theoretical framework is necessary to explain the impact of cooperative partners’ heterogeneity on the digital technology collaborative innovation performance in the supply chain. This study employed a multi-case analysis to investigate the collaborative innovation process of four Chinese case companies with their suppliers. Based on interviews and analyses, this study found that cooperative partners’ heterogeneity influences the digital technology collaborative innovation performance through supplier empowerment. Aligned strategic objectives, similar digital technology maturity, and complementary digital resources help achieve supplier empowerment and thus promote the performance improvement of digital technology collaborative innovation, such as digital technology R&D, resource access, and process improvement.

What affects parent companies’ innovation more in joint venture relationships?

Forming joint ventures with potential partners in acquiring the needed resources and technology provides benefits and creates competitive advantage and innovation for multinational enterprises. While cooperative partners can provide JVs with various resources and technologies, allocation of the position of organizational resources remains unclear and needs to be further addressed. The main purpose of the current paper is to emphasize organizational slack resources (e.g., available slack and potential slack) to illuminate the settings that facilitate the effects of investment attractiveness and employee involvement on JV innovation performance. To demonstrate the real industry of JVs and examine the research purpose, we used various databases, including the National Bureau of Economic Research U.S. patent data file, Harvard DVN patent database, Compustat database and SDC global joint ventures databank to examine the hypotheses. The results show the positive and significant direct effects of investment attractiveness and employee involvement on JV innovation performance. Additionally, the findings demonstrated that the above direct effects are more pronounced when there is higher available slack and potential slack. The current study contributes by offering new viewpoints on JV, offering new understandings of organizational slack and developing an uncharted bridge between the types of slack and JV innovation studies.

The Rise of India's Second Republic

Abstract: At first glance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s narrow 2024 general election victory—a win only made possible thanks to the cooperation of alliance partners—suggests a return to a previous era of coalition government in India. While the ruling party may be weakened, the nature of the political order has fundamentally shifted in ways that will have a lasting impact on Indian democracy. India is witnessing the dawn of a "Second Republic," an inflection point that is equal in magnitude to the constitutional moment in 1950, when India's "First Republic" was established. Several elements of the Second Republic were visible prior to these elections, and the BJP's narrow victory has not dislodged them. The nature of electoral democracy, liberal constitutionalism, national identity, secularism, and federalism have all undergone significant transformations. Yet, true to India's nature, its new political settlement cannot be readily captured using simple binary distinctions.