External Perspective Research Articles

Code-switching is metaphor, translanguaging is metonymy: a transdisciplinary view of bilingualism and its role in education

ABSTRACT How we talk about bilingualism has an effect on how others think about bilingual individuals, and in turn, how active bilingual learners/users of English (ABLE) students are assessed and taught in schools. I use a transdisciplinary approach of bridging social semiotics, applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, and cognitive linguistics to explain how code-switching is metaphor, an external perspective of bilingualism as inter-domain linguistic mapping and translanguaging is metonymy, an internal perspective of intra-domain linguistic mapping. By placing translanguaging/metonymy on the syntagmatic axis and code-switching/metaphor on the paradigmatic axis, I demonstrate through example sentences of monolingual and bilingual speech and figures, how accepting the inaccurate metaphor of bilingualism as just code-switching alone, sets in motion countless dichotomies that act to create the bilingualism-as-problem orientation for ABLE students in U.S. schools; most specifically for those at the intersection of bilingualism and disability. A transdisciplinary view of bilingualism includes both an internal perspective (translanguaging, metonymic combination of parts of the whole linguistic repertoire on the syntagmatic axis), plus an external perspective (code-switching, metaphoric alternation of linguistic features from diverse named languages on the paradigmatic axis). I conclude with implications for a more appropriate description of bilingualism and its role in education.

Sustainability performance efficiency in the banking sector

Traditional sustainability reporting is based on an internally developed methodology and does not fully cope with the sustainability performance evaluation, especially from an external perspective. This study aims to fill this gap by offering a tool that may be used to assess the company’s performance based on the results presented to external users. For this purpose, a two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) is proposed, that enables a comparison of the sustainability performance disclosed in non-financial reports in the banking industry in Poland, Croatia, and Romania. The findings of our study identify differences between the efficiency of sustainability performance in the banking sectors of all three countries. The proposed approach to compare hard-to-compare sustainability performance may significantly contribute to the decision-making process for stakeholders and, therefore, to the advancement of sustainability performance measurement research.

Impact Analysis of Driver Takeover Under a Connected Environment: A Study of the External Effects on Vehicle Conversions

The moment we face cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC), driver takeover, that is, drivers actively take over vehicles to avoid unknown risks, is a necessary concern in reality, especially with the distrust or low acceptance of automated driving technology in the early stage of CACC development. However, the impact of driver takeover on traffic flow has not been accurately presented, as researchers only focused on the taken-over vehicle and neglected the external effects on surrounding vehicles. Departing from the literature, this study provides a novel external perspective for the impact analysis of driver takeover under a connected environment, that is, it considers the resulting communication heterogeneity and specifies multi-class conversions in the entire traffic flow. To be specific, we subdivide the dynamic process of driver takeover into 10 vehicle conversions considering vehicle degradation and platoon reorganization, then analyze their contributions to traffic stability, emissions, and fuel consumption. What is also innovative is that two forms of driver takeover are first developed in this study, which is determined by whether drivers continue opening the communication device after the takeover. On this basis, this study indicates that driver takeover has the potential to cause greater heterogeneity of the traffic flow in contrast to that in the literature and proposes theoretical models for the changed traffic flow configuration and traffic stability after the takeover. Finally, numerical experiments verify the theoretical results with discussions on multiple factors, for example, vehicle proportion, platoon length, and driving behaviors. The findings extend the external effects of driver takeover on multi-class vehicle conversions in heterogeneity traffic flow and provide a more realistic basis for the evaluation of driver takeover.

Research on the Influencing Factors of Construction Enterprises’ Digital Transformation Based on DEMATEL-TAISM

The ongoing shift from an industrial to a digital economy is a significant global phenomenon. However, the driving forces behind and the tactical approach to digital transformation are still unclear to the construction industry, thereby posing challenges for construction enterprises seeking to undergo digital transformation. Therefore, this paper conducted an investigation on the subject, including the following: (1) the 17 influencing factors in the complex system of digital transformation of construction enterprises were screened and summarized from four perspectives: Environment, Technology, Organisation, and Resources. The attributes of the influencing factors were analyzed using the Decision-Making Experimentation and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method, and the key factors were identified. (2) The Total Adversarial Interpretive Structure Model (TAISM) method was used to develop a multi-perspective adversarial recursive structure model with integrated impact values, which reflected the interrelationships between the influencing factors and the hierarchical structure. (3) Based on the analysis of the influencing factors of digital transformation of construction enterprises, the clear path mechanisms were elucidated and suggested measures from the internal and external perspectives of government and construction firms were recommended. The results can offer theoretical backing and serve as a stepping stone for the digital transformation of the construction industry.

A Historical-Structural Understanding of Political Decay

The past few years have seen severe political decay in a number of countries across the world, having attracted wide attention from the international community. While existing research has delved into the causes of political decay from both internal and external perspectives, there has been a notable lack of attention given to the disproportionate influence wielded by armed forces, political parties, and bureaucrats. Taking the case of Egypt as an example, we demonstrate how the interplay between the military, parties and bureaucrats created a stable nexus that contributes to prolonged political decay. Furthermore, we draw comparisons between the well-known case of civil–military relations in Thailand and that of Egypt, highlighting how the social cognition forged in the historical process may contribute to the political power imbalance that makes it difficult for some countries to escape political decline. This research provides novel insights into understanding political decay in certain countries, shedding light on the complex dynamics at play and offering potential avenues for addressing this pressing issue.

Valeska Bopp-Filimonov and Martin Jung, eds. Kaleidoskop Rumänien. Einblicke in die aktuelle Vielfalt des interdisziplinären Faches Rumänistik

Valeska Bopp-Filimonov and Martin Jung, eds. <i>Kaleidoskop Rumänien. Einblicke in die aktuelle Vielfalt des interdisziplinären Faches Rumänistik</i>

Effects of casein phosphopeptides on thermal stability and sensory quality of whey protein emulsions containing calcium beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate

This study aimed to elucidate the effect of casein phosphopeptides (CPP) on the thermal stability and sensory quality of whey protein emulsions containing calcium beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (WPEs-HMB-Ca). The interaction mechanism among CPP, HMBCa, and WP in the emulsions before and after autoclaving (121 °C, 15 min) was systematically investigated from macroscopic external and microscopic molecular perspectives. It was found that WPEs-HMB-Ca treated by autoclaving resulted in an increase in droplet size (d4,3 = 24.09 μm) due to aggregation/flocculation of proteins, along with a stronger odor with higher viscosity, compared to those without autoclaving. When CPP:HMB-Ca = 1:25 (w/w) in the emulsion, the droplets exhibited a more uniform and consistent state in the emulsion. In addition, CPP was able to inhibit the formation of complex spatial network structures of proteins during autoclaving by binding with Ca2+, thus improving the thermal stability and storage stability of WPEs-HMB-Ca. This work might provide theoretical guidance for developing functional milk drinks with good thermal stability and flavor.

Green Bond Pricing and Optimization Based on Carbon Emission Trading and Subsidies: From the Perspective of Externalities

In this paper, we establish a model based on real options theory and fractional Brownian motion (FBM) with jumps to price green bonds, and thus alleviate the externalities of green bonds. We assume that the floating value of green bonds is linked to the carbon price. The carbon emission trading mechanism and government subsidy policy are introduced into this model, and the expression is derived from the stochastic differential utility framework based on the fast Fourier transform method. Based on the numerical analysis and the simulations, this paper analyzes when governments are facing financial and carbon emission constraints and how policymakers balance the allocation between carbon allowances and government subsidies to help green bonds reach the exogenous equilibrium price. Our results have implications in terms of optimizing the distribution of economic resources by the reasonable pricing of green bonds. It is in line with the current theme of global energy conservation and emission reduction, and also has certain guiding significance for the development of the carbon emission trading market.

The Factors That Affect Goals Setting and Performing

Theories about goal setting have been around for decades, and most of them focus on external goal setting and the relationship between goal acceptance and performance. This paper aimed to explore the factors that affect goal-setting and achievement from both an internal and external perspective. Using the method of survey, the data shows that the inner factor, or the inner desire, plays a more significant role both in the progress of goal setting and performance. Different genders and ages show divergent choices not in inner factors but in external factors, which implies that inner desire is the most common factor that influences people when making decisions.

Changing Identities at the Turn of the Common Era: The Case of Semiramis

Babylon, a city of shifting identities, was a constant point of reference for the Mediterranean world. This article explores the portrayal of the Babylonian queen Semiramis in Greek and Roman sources, demonstrating how ancient Near Eastern identities were constructed from the external perspective of Mediterranean cultures. Herodotus first mentioned Semiramis in the fifth century bce, associating her with Babylon’s architectural wonders. Ctesias described her as an outstanding, but in many respects flawed military leader. In contrast, during the final stage of the Roman Republic, Diodorus Siculus reshaped Ctesias’ narrative and portrayed her more positively, emphasizing her beauty, virtues, courage, and intelligence. During the Roman Empire, Semiramis remained a remarkable figure who accomplished great deeds, but later authors introduced negative aspects to her story. The Augustan Age portrayed her negatively, with new elements added, such as sodomy and murder, and used her as a stand-in for Cleopatra. Both queens were denigrated as female rulers and foreigners, emphasizing cultural differences between Mesopotamian and Roman identities. The portrayal of Semiramis served to categorize and describe Mesopotamian culture, rather than to understand it. Ultimately, this article shows how Semiramis reflects different perceptions of Babylonia/Assyria and how her portrayal shifted over time in ancient literature, serving as part of Augustan propaganda to pass judgment on Cleopatra and emphasize cultural differences.

A risk identification model for ICT supply chain based on network embedding and text encoding

Public bidding for the information and communication technology (ICT) products offers an external regulatory perspective to identify endogenous risks of ICT supply chain. Owing to the multi-level outsourcing, the modeling methods of the first-order topological similarity are prone to misjudgment. Moreover, only using basic structural attributes (such as enterprise type, registered capital, etc.) is difficult to accurately quantify the enterprise' supply capacity, resulting in the models cannot identify the risky nodes with insufficient supply capacity. In this work, a risk identification Model for ICT supply chain based on Network Embedding and Text Encoding (NETEM) is proposed. In addition to the basic business features of enterprises, the DeepWalk is utilized to obtain the high-order topological representation of the ICT supply chain. Meanwhile, the TextCNN combined with keyword sequence extraction is utilized to supplement text semantic information, and excavate the association between business scope and supply capacity of enterprises. Finally, the basic business features, high-level topological features and text semantic features are spliced to obtain the final enterprise node representation vector, then the node risk classification model is trained. In addition, an ontology is developed for ICT supply chain integration and risk knowledge reuse. The experimental results show that NETEM improves the F1 value of the optimal baseline algorithm by 7.3% on the ICT risk identification data set, and the case study in financial industry demonstrates that the model can be practically applied to identify the risk of supply interruption.

‘False hope’ in assisted reproduction: the normative significance of the external outlook and moral negotiation

Despite the frequent invocation of ‘false hope’ and possible related moral concerns in the context of assisted reproduction technologies, a focused ethical and conceptual problematisation of this concept seems to...

Carbon reduction behavior of waste power battery recycling enterprises considering learning effects

The carbon reduction behavior of waste power battery recycling (WPBR) enterprises is essential for promoting resource conservation and environmental protection. Introducing the learning effects of carbon reduction research and development (R&D) investment, this study constructs an evolutionary game model between local governments and WPBR enterprises to study the behavior choice of carbon reduction. The paper explores the evolutionary process and factors affecting carbon reduction behavior choices of WPBR enterprises from internal R&D motivation and external regulation perspectives. The critical results reveal that the existence of learning effects significantly reduces the probability of environmental regulation by local governments while effectively increasing the probability of WPBR enterprises implementing carbon reduction. The learning rate index positively correlates with the likelihood of enterprises implementing carbon emissions reduction. In addition, carbon reduction subsidies considerably maintain considerably negative relation with the probability of enterprise carbon reduction behavior. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) The learning effect of carbon reduction R&D investment is the intrinsic driving force for WPBR enterprises' carbon reduction behavior, which can promote enterprises to proactively implement carbon reduction under fewer constraints of government environmental regulation; (2) Pollution fines and carbon trade prices in environmental regulation can promote enterprises carbon reduction, while carbon reduction subsidies inhibit their reduction behavior; (3) There exists an evolutionarily stable strategy between government-enterprise game only under the dynamic mechanism. The research provides insights for decision-making on enterprises' carbon reduction R&D investment and local government environmental regulation policy under carbon reduction targets.

Does carbon emission trading policy promote the corporate technological innovation? Empirical evidence from China's high-carbon industries

Global warming can be solved with carbon trading. When carbon emissions become a commodity, it can be a powerful motivator for companies to optimize production capacity and innovate technologically. The goal of this paper is to examine the way in which China's carbon emissions trading policy (CET) influences firm technological innovation in seven pilot regions, using a sample of firms in eight high-carbon industries. We employ difference-in-difference (DID) as well as DID-based propensity score matching (PSM-DID) models to investigate the influence of China's carbon emission policy on firms' technological innovation by using 4745 observations of 749 A-share listed firms in eight high-carbon industries in mainland China from 2007 to 2021. According to the findings, China's CET policy significantly boosts firms' technological innovation, and this beneficial effect persists even after a series of robustness tests that change the policy's implementation year and the technological innovation measure. Further analysis shows that this positive effect is heterogeneous across high-carbon industries and firms with different ownership. In addition, based on the external governance perspective, we find that CET policy performs better in firms in high-carbon industries with a sizable portion of ownership held by institutional investors. This study suggests the effectiveness of CET policy in promoting firms' technological innovation, confirms empirical evidence for Porter's hypothesis, and provides a basis for Chinese firms to achieve their emission reduction targets by improving technological innovation.

Unlocking supply chain product and process innovation through the development of supply chain learning capabilities under technological turbulence: Evidence from Egyptian SMEs

PurposeIn light of the current challenges in the business environment, firms, particularly those involved in supply chains, must foster innovation. In this context, the current study employs the theory of dynamic organizational capabilities (DOCs) to track supply chain learning capabilities (SCLCs) and independently uncover their relationship to innovation at both the product and process levels. Similarly, the study intends to investigate the influence of technological turbulence (TT) on these relationships as a moderating variable.Design/methodology/approachThe data were gathered using in-person interviews with 189 CEOs with some supply chain management proficiency from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the industrial zones of eastern Egypt. The study used a survey approach to collect data, and the SEM-PLS technique was utilized to analyze the data.FindingsStudy findings revealed that SCLCs positively affect product and process innovation. In addition, TT positively moderates the relationship between SCLCs and product and process innovation, except for risk-taking capability. Further theoretical and practical implications are derived from the study findings.Originality/valueThis research adds to the knowledge of the dynamic capabilities theory (DCT), which affects how firms interact with their external environment. Studying learning capabilities are employed as essential competencies to counterbalance high levels of TT in the external environment in terms of innovative performance and vice versa if firms do not attempt to strengthen their dynamic learning capabilities in supply chains. In addition, this study contributes to the literature by studying learning capabilities from the external perspective, where SCLCs are being developed as a new variable to improve innovation.

A Study on the Impact of Digital Transformation on Corporate ESG Performance: The Mediating Role of Green Innovation

Corporate performance in ESG has received increased attention; however, the discussion on how digital development will affect corporate practice of ESG needs to be deepened. This paper discusses the impact of digital transformation on corporate ESG performance using multiple linear regressions with STATA 17.0 for 2707 companies listed in China A-shares in the period 2010–2021. Based on principal–agent theory, resource-based theory and signaling theory, the study finds that digital transformation can improve corporate ESG performance. From an external perspective, the contribution of digital transformation to ESG performance diminishes when environmental uncertainty increases; from an internal perspective, the positive effect of digital transformation on ESG performance is more significant in larger-scale enterprises. In addition, digital transformation will further enhance ESG performance by promoting green innovation, i.e., green innovation has a mediating role in the relationship between the two factors. The findings of the study introduce new thinking on the factors that influence corporate ESG performance, advance relevant research and provide important references for corporate managers and government departments who are concerned about ESG performance to make appropriate decisions.

Study of the Spectral Analyzes Radioactivity in Soils for Elected Regions in Diyala Province (Iraq)

In this current review, 18 examples of surface soils are taken from various regions from Diyala Province. Diyala Province is stay in eastern Iraq, 57 km away from the capital Baghdad, northward. All soil samples are assembling from an external perspective of the soil by utilizing sifter by then set 1 kg was taken from each sample. The ORTIC MCB radiation detector was used, where one kilogram of soil was placed that was filtered and cleaned well and for two hours for each examination sample and six natural radionuclides were obtained inside each soil sample examined. Through the detection and laboratory results that we conducted, we found that presence of the cesium-137 contamination element was not observed in the samples taken. The ordinary unequivocal activities of the radionuclides in Diyala samples are within the permitted ran, which means that the soil in those areas does not contain high amounts of radioactivity and can be cultivated naturally without fear of side effects as a result of the radiation falling from the universe.

Enhancing Thailand’s Durian Export Capabilities Through SCOR Model: Thailand to China

Because there is the significance of Thailand’s durian export but obstacles from some related factors linking to the points of external and internal perspectives, this article, therefore, aims at providing the guideline to enhance Thailand's durian export capabilities through SCOR model. The SCOR model is important to business chain since it can evaluate and display related business activities from assessing customer needs, sourcing materials, creating the products and fulfilling customer satisfaction. SCOR model to enhance Thailand's durian export capabilities encompass with 6 major processes including plan, source, make, deliver, return and enable. Successfully enhancing Thailand's durian export capabilities through SCOR model can contribute advantages for durian exporters.

Investigating the impact of visual perspective in a motor imagery-based brain-robot interaction: A pilot study with healthy participants.

Motor Imagery (MI)-based Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) have raised gained attention for their use in rehabilitation therapies since they allow controlling an external device by using brain activity, in this way promoting brain plasticity mechanisms that could lead to motor recovery. Specifically, rehabilitation robotics can provide precision and consistency for movement exercises, while embodied robotics could provide sensory feedback that can help patients improve their motor skills and coordination. However, it is still not clear whether different types of visual feedback may affect the elicited brain response and hence the effectiveness of MI-BCI for rehabilitation. In this paper, we compare two visual feedback strategies based on controlling the movement of robotic arms through a MI-BCI system: 1) first-person perspective, with visual information that the user receives when they view the robot arms from their own perspective; and 2) third-person perspective, whereby the subjects observe the robot from an external perspective. We studied 10 healthy subjects over three consecutive sessions. The electroencephalographic (EEG) signals were recorded and evaluated in terms of the power of the sensorimotor rhythms, as well as their lateralization, and spatial distribution. Our results show that both feedback perspectives can elicit motor-related brain responses, but without any significant differences between them. Moreover, the evoked responses remained consistent across all sessions, showing no significant differences between the first and the last session. Overall, these results suggest that the type of perspective may not influence the brain responses during a MI- BCI task based on a robotic feedback, although, due to the limited sample size, more evidence is required. Finally, this study resulted into the production of 180 labeled MI EEG datasets, publicly available for research purposes.

Business Strategy Proposal for Solar Energy EPC Company

Catur Elang Energi (CEE), as one of the business diversifications of PT. Catur Elang Perkasa was established in 2020 to support Indonesian government to increase the new and renewable energy contribution in Indonesia by providing EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) service for roof top solar power plant. In 2022, revenue generated from their operations is not good enough to achieve the target given by management. This research conducted to know the external and internal factor and propose strategy to improve CEE performance. This study further analyzes how the company runs its business from an external and internal perspective. This study uses external analysis such as PESTEL analysis, Porter’s five forces, and competitor analysis. Moreover, there are also internal analysis such as Segmenting, Targeting Positioning (STP) analysis, Marketing Mix. Then a further analysis was conducted by using a SWOT analysis to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of Catur Elang Energi business. Business Model Canvas used to define and communicate Catur Elang Energi business and TOWS Matrix will help Catur Elang’s develop its business and sales. the recommendation given include product development for solar energy related product, promotional campaign, developing agent network, and partnership with financial institution. Strategy implementation in the form of Gantt chart also made based on recommendation that can be implemented by PT. Catur Elang Perkasa.