External Point Of View Research Articles

Evaluation and Standardisation of the Approach to Using Environmental Isolates in the AstraZeneca Microbiology Laboratories

A thorough evaluation and standardisation of the use of environmental isolates (EIs) in AstraZeneca's microbiology laboratories was performed. The study was prompted by the increasing use of EIs in pharmaceutical microbiology laboratories over the past two decades and aimed to ensure robust methods for recovering all types of microorganisms that may pose a risk to the quality of medicines. The cost, time and robustness of the testing performed with environmental isolates was identified as an area for continuous improvement by internal audit of site procedures. The review identified a wide variety of interpretations of where and what to include for EIs in growth promotion tests, methods, and disinfection efficacy studies across AstraZeneca's microbiology laboratories, leading to potential overuse. The study involved a global cross-site review that utilized a risk assessment process, involving 10 expert pharmaceutical microbiologists with significant industry experience and a risk management subject matter expert. The review assessed various uses of environmental isolates, such as growth promotion testing, disinfectant qualification studies, and method suitability testing, with a focus on regulatory requirements, external audit commitments, and scientific rationale. Regulatory guidance for the use of environmental isolates was reviewed, and a requirement for their use was noted in specific documents, such as the EU Guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practice for Medicinal Products² and various USP chapters. The literature review provided external viewpoints and aligned with the approach within AstraZeneca, confirming the need for a risk assessment in the use of isolates. The paper concludes by outlining the scientific rationale for the use of environmental isolates and provides guidance on when and how to select the most appropriate EIs for different test types. The study resulted in the production of a global guidance guideline, allowing sites to implement a standard approach to the use of EIs, leading to a significant reduction in their overuse and a standardisation across the business. The conclusion emphasises the importance of utilising environmental isolates where they add the most value or where they are required by regulations. This paper provides valuable insights into the evaluation and standardisation of the approach to using environmental isolates in AstraZeneca's microbiology laboratories, offering a foundation for a global standard and a reduction in their overuse.

Urban regeneration in Mexico city's historic center in the 21st century

Mexico City has experienced significant revitalization in a few major areas over the first two decades of the twenty-first century. During the past 25 years, this process has been accompanied by social, economic, and urban shifts. Numerous urban initiatives have included housing, transportation, cultural institutions, urban infrastructure, and numerous other public buildings in an effort to reverse the urban deterioration that was present in different areas of the city. Without a doubt, the city's historic center is the most crucial location for urban regeneration. The purpose of this article is to examine the physical urban changes that have occurred in the historic center over the years, with a focus on the various actors and their initiatives that have been involved in initiating and managing the regeneration processes. It accomplishes this by looking at government records, books, and site observations. In addition to showing how important urban physical changes have contributed to the historic center's urban recovery, this study also draws attention to the divergent local and external viewpoints and aspects that have shaped the regeneration's outcomes. Urban regeneration processes are influenced by global market forces in a variety of ways to meet economic interests, but local forces can also be very significant in opposing and diverting these efforts to propel regeneration in the direction of the demands of the local community.

Teachers’ and students’ beliefs on developing argumentative competence

When we deal with argumentative competence in class there are many points of view: teacher’s and student’s point of view and the external point of view of knowledge (in a theoretical sense). The research shows a qualitative experimental study that allows a comparison between different perspectives in order to measure argumentative competence. The study involved 5 classes and 9 teachers. First, the idea of argumentative competence was discussed from a theoretical and institutional point of view in the Italian school system. Then questionnaires were administered to teachers and deep interviews were conducted with students. Finally, teachers participated in focus groups, and this allowed reflections and encouraged discussion. The process implemented allowed an in-depth key on the concept of argumentative competence. Also, the analysis of the results of the questionnaire and interviews shows how classroom practices are related to teacher and students’ attitudes and beliefs in mathematics.

Beyond clinical observations: a scoping review of AI-detectable observable cues in borderline personality disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), impacting approximately 2% of adults worldwide, presents a formidable challenge in psychiatric diagnostics. Often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, BPD is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This scoping review embarks on a comprehensive exploration of observable cues in BPD, encompassing language patterns, speech nuances, facial expressions, nonverbal communication, and physiological measurements. The findings unveil distinctive features within the BPD population, including language patterns emphasizing external viewpoints and future tense, specific linguistic characteristics, and unique nonverbal behaviors. Physiological measurements contribute to this exploration, shedding light on emotional responses and physiological arousal in individuals with BPD. These cues offer the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and complement existing diagnostic methods, enabling early identification and management in response to the urgent need for precise psychiatric care in the digital era. By serving as possible digital biomarkers, they could provide objective, accessible, and stress-reducing assessments, representing a significant leap towards improved psychiatric assessments and an invaluable contribution to the field of precision psychiatry.

Ceasing to Exist and Harm Due to Loss of Vitality: A Different Approach to Metaphysics of Death

According to the Epicurean tradition, there is something misleading about our common intuition that we are harmed at death. In contemporary literature, we find proponents of the anti-Epicurean view as well as staunch defenders of the no-harm theory. In this paper, I first deal with the question of the possibility of worldly presence after death and, secondly, with the idea of harm due to death of a person. The gist of my claim is that a non-absolutistic approach to the whole problematic of harm seems to have a better explanatory power in this context. In the course of my discussion, I coin and elucidate the phrase “loss of vitality” and assert that it may provide us with a more useful notion in the metaphysical treatment of death and harm. I also distinguish two perspectives with regard to being harmed and claim that there is a notable issue about being harmed at death especially when the matter is regarded internally, in contrast to an external point of view.

Analyzing engagement strategies in argument chain: A comparison between high- and low-scoring EFL undergraduate argumentative essays

Drawing on Appraisal theory within Systemic Functional Linguistics, this study employs a corpus-based approach to examine how EFL writers of high- and low-scoring argumentative essays use Engagement resources both individually and in combination to construct arguments within the argument chain at the paragraph level. The quantitative analysis reveals that while both groups use Contract Heterogloss more frequently to assert claims and conclusions, low-scoring writers heavily depend on Pronounce, whereas high-scoring writers utilize a diverse range of Contract Heterogloss. The qualitative analysis indicates that high-scoring writers develop and strengthen their assertive claims by presenting solid reasons and credible evidence to engage with potentially dissenting readers. These elements are incorporated into their writing through combinations of Engagement resources, such as Counter + Entertain/Deny/Justify and Endorse/Entertain + Entertain. However, low-scoring writers failed to adequately support their claims by skillfully deploying Engagement resources across different stages of argument, ultimately weakening the persuasiveness of their arguments. Our findings highlight the importance of providing students with instruction on Engagement strategies and their persuasive impact from a dialogic perspective. The identified strategies can therefore serve as pedagogical tools to assist students in constructing effective arguments by adeptly utilizing Engagement resources, facilitating interaction with external viewpoints and readers.

The impact of financing efficiency in defense industry base on non‐technological innovation: Evidence from China

AbstractThe innovation of defense industry base requires not only technological progress but also scientific organization and management and reasonable business model. Based on the data of A‐share listed companies related to defense industry base in China from 2013 to 2021, this paper employs panel‐probit model with instrumental variable to empirically test the relationship and influence mechanism of financing efficiency on non‐technological innovation. It is found that the financing efficiency of the defense industry base has a significantly positive effect on organizational innovation and market innovation, which is more prominent in state‐owned enterprises and military enterprises. The influence mechanism is mainly to improve information symmetry and reduce agency costs. Internally, the defense industry base should strengthen the management of financing and innovation activities; from the external point of view, the government needs to improve the construction of capital market, and financial institutions need to play the role of professional institutional investors and external supervisors, which is conducive to improving the non‐technical innovation ability of defense industry base.

Causes and Ways of Relieving Parents' Anxiety Under the Double Reduction Policy

With the continuous implementation of the nine-year compulsory education policy, parents are increasingly anxious about their children's education. According to the analysis of various existing situations, parents' anxiety is still in a very serious degree, and it is urgent to understand and analyze parents' anxiety. On this basis, through the research review and analysis of different literatures, this paper makes an in-depth analysis, clarifies the internal logic of parental anxiety, and understands the different internal and external factors that lead to parental anxiety. Internal factors are due to parents' worries about their children's education, their worries about their children's future and the success of their education. Not only that, parents' comparison psychology, fear of policy uncertainty, as well as parents' own age and cultural background and other factors concentrate on the internal factors of parents' anxiety. From the external point of view, with the actual situation has been changing the education policy, the current social tension employment situation, the influence of traditional concepts and social public opinion, and the uneven distribution pattern of education resources have further deepened the anxiety of parents. In addition, the reform form of cram school is not optimistic, the influence of parents' education of children around them and the unsatisfactory home-school cooperation have also made parents' anxiety gradually become diversified and complicated. Parents need to change their concept of education, regain confidence in their children's education, change the way of education and use advanced network technology to build home-school cooperation.

The Wheel of Women: Global Female Artists Expound Lifecycle Themes through 'Calendar'

Since the emergence of the second wave of feminism in the late 1960s, feminist scholars have significantly influenced the study of visual culture, while female artists have made notable strides in exploring form, subject matter, and avant-garde expression. This paper examines the utilization of the "Calendar" motif by several feminist artists as a symbol representing the passage of time. Through this visual language, these artists convey themes intricately linked to the female experience, such as growth, change, maturity, and aging. Their transformative approach extends beyond mere subjects and artistic techniques to encompass a unique perspective characterized by the liberation from external viewpoints and the male-dominated gaze, redirecting attention to the inner world of women. In doing so, female artists offer a nuanced and profound exploration of humanity, emotions, and life experiences, transcending simplistic gender labels and feminist advocacy. The paper explres the evolution of Calendar paintings, shedding light on their depiction of historical and aesthetic shifts in Chinese society. Serving as a hallmark of its era, the Calendar not only chronicles the progression of national capitalism but also mirrors the cultural metamorphosis of old China. Furthermore, the paper explores contemporary female artists' engagement with cyclical themes, illustrating how they navigate the life cycle, natural rhythms, and women's experiences across diverse mediums. Finally, the author's photographic creation is discussed, offering reflections on Chinese women's pursuit of autonomy amidst the interplay of tradition and modernity.

Teacher appraisal system and professional learning. Insights from Italian school principals’ and teachers’ views on multiple sources of data and indicators

ABSTRACTThis paper explores school principals’ and teachers’ views of the Italian teachers’ appraisal system and related indicators. In particular, the research aimed at examining the opinions of school principals and teachers regarding the domains to be considered for teacher appraisal purposes. An investigation involving 37 school principals and 868 in service teachers, from three Italian regions, is presented. The data was collected through a questionnaire and statistically analysed. Findings suggest operationalising new data sources – specifically students and parent, - is beneficial to evaluate teacher quality as a construct in data-based professional learning communities. They show different positioning: teachers seem to be really inclined to be evaluated, especially by students and parents, while school principals still seem very cautious in entrusting the teachers’ appraisal to an external point of view. This paper adds to the existing research showing the perspective of a new teachers’ appraisal, inspired by multi-faceted models based on multiple points of view (students, parents, not only principals) and not reduced to simplistic solutions of an accounting type. Furthermore, the study answers the call for research into teachers’ appraisal as part of the professional learning actions and in view of more integrated professional leadership.

공직 내 적극행정의 내·외재적 선행요인에관한 실증분석

Proactive administration is important in that it is emphasized not only in terms of the internal mission for providing improved services to the public, but also in terms of strengthening government capabilities in the global society. Accordingly, public officers' motives, perceptions, and attitudes were divided into intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and the impact on proactive administration was analyzed by intrinsic factors; public service motivation, public service satisfaction, organizational commitment, also external factors; recognition of remuneration, welfare and work support. In addition, it tried to delve whether work autonomy and transformational leadership control this relationship at the organizational level.
 As a result of the analysis, we revealed that public service motivation and organizational commitment as intrinsic factors, and remuneration recognition and welfare recognition as external factors had a positive effect on active administration. In addition, the cross-level interactions of 1) public service motivation and transformational leadership, 2) remuneration recognition and transformational leadership, 3) public office satisfaction and work autonomy, 4) remuneration recognition and work autonomy showed meaningful moderating effects on active administration.
 This study tried to shed light on the effectiveness of various factors related to public officers with internal and external viewpoints, confirming the influence of the interactions of organizational management variables, as well as providing major theoretical, policy, and practical implications on the basis of the empirical results.

Do conferences drive quality improvement in accounting research?

Research aims: In Indonesia, the Simposium Nasional Akuntansi (SNA) and regional accounting conferences (RAC) exist. Prior studies on their database are constrained and predominantly adopt an external viewpoint. Therefore, using an "insider" perspective, this study aims to reveal how scientific conferences impact knowledge quality and dissemination in accounting research.Design/Methodology/Approach: This study took the case of the Konferensi Ilmiah Akuntansi (KIA) X Jakarta at Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta. Data were analyzed descriptively sourced from the KIA X committee and the selection process of 235 manuscripts until acceptance/rejection by the journal.Research findings: The results demonstrated that, first, KIA X engaged 58 institutions and 235 manuscripts as participants, with 70 reviewers representing cohosting institutions and journal editorial teams across Indonesia. Second, reviewers independently deemed 160 manuscripts suitable for journal publication and 75 for proceedings. Among these, 130 were accepted by SINTA 2-5 journals, and 30 await confirmation. Third, accounting conferences seem to satisfy formalities rather than significantly enhancing knowledge or practice quality.Theoretical contribution/Originality: Regional conferences like KIA X aim to foster discussions on accounting concepts, knowledge, and innovations. Nevertheless, if proceedings reflect poor quality, the intended scientific objectives falter. Hence, this study delves into this concern through conference database analysis.Practitioner/Policy implication: The RAC committees face challenges in balancing convenience, appeal, and competitiveness, all while dispelling the notion of lower manuscript quality compared to SNA.

The Influence of Social Media towards Students' Learning Results at Grade 7 MTSN 1 Kota Payakumbuh

This study aims to determine the impact of social media use on the academic achievement of grade 7 MTsN 1 students in Payakumbuh City. Qualitative research was used in this study. The data collection technique of this study is the literature review method, which is to record one of the information about student academic achievement, combine student test scores based on students' initial tests, public standards are used to review the information in this review. Research shows that social media use has a significant impact on poor academic performance. Based on preliminary surveys conducted by researchers, the results suggest that the use of social networks can affect students' academic performance. In addition, many factors affect student learning outcomes. This section can emerge from an external point of view and in the use of social media. Events that affect student academic achievement make social media an external variable. Fewer students regularly use social networks, which makes learning outcomes interesting and learning outcomes decrease

Sexual Minorities - Men who have Sex with Men1, Transgender2 and Lesbian3 Women in Côte d'Ivoire: Between Life Paths and Hesitations in the Process of Constructing Gender Identity

The construction and acceptance of the identity or sexual orientation of sexual minorities by society and the individual are realities that are constantly in crisis. This reality is all the more perceptible in societies where minorities are strongly discriminated against as a result of certain social considerations. In Côte d'Ivoire, the legal vacuum on the issue of sexual minorities leaves them prey to practices that are sometimes demeaning to certain members of the community. This article provides an insight into the lives of some of Côte d'Ivoire's sexual minorities (MSM, TG and Lesbian) and the hesitations that mark the construction of their gender identity. Based on a qualitative approach with four (04) leaders of the LGBTQ+ community on the one hand, and referring to social identity theory on the other, it emerges that the construction process is discontinuous or disjointed due to hesitations created by internal and external factors. Internally, the individual's decisions or choices help to create hesitations or set up these situations. From an external point of view, the family or social context and certain discriminatory behaviours with regard to the sexual orientation of individuals have a strong influence on the acceptance and definition of a gender identity within this category of the population.

Strategie testuali, paratestuali e discorsive in Manuscrito cuervo di Max Aub

"Manuscrito cuervo is part of El laberinto mágico, the narrative cycle in which Max Aub returns his personal memory about the Spanish Civil War, the prison camps and exile. The tale is one of Aub’s apocryphal works. It is in fact a false manuscript written by a crow, who in Le Vernet internment camp studies the human species for the benefit of its own companions. As Aub did during his captivity, the crow notes what he observes and reports the facts in his own way. The result is an anthropological pseudo-reflection written by an unlikely chronicler, whose external point of view gives the real events – personally experienced by Aub, who is the true witness – the status of literary fiction. In this way, Aub speaks about his own experience but not from an autobiographical perspective, and transmits a personal memory that is both individual and collective."

Design Thinking for Organizational Innovation at PepsiCo

While design thinking has gained popularity in product innovation, scholars argue that design thinking can also trigger and sustain organizational innovation. This study investigates the adoption of design thinking in the Design+Innovation unit at PepsiCo. It reveals nine design thinking practices that enable organizational innovation: valorizing personal attitudes and desires, engaging stakeholders in the design discourse, leveraging the design unit as an agent of change, fostering abductive reasoning, empowering decision making through prototypes, crafting proof points, absorbing external viewpoints, searching for co-conspirators, andaligning personal and organizational purposes.

The Internal and External Factors of Environmental Destructive Behavior in the Supply Chain: New Evidence from the Perspective of Brand-Name Products

Frequent environmental incidents in the supply chains of brand-name products have dire consequences on the ecological environment and in terms of social development. There have been few considerations of supply chains and enterprise characteristics included in previous research. This paper focuses on the supply chains of brand-name products, and systematically identifies principal factors that influence environmentally destructive behaviors in the supply chain of brand-name products from internal and external viewpoints of the supply chain. Considering the characteristics of the polluting industries, 416 valid questionnaires were obtained by investigating the supply chain of brand-name products in chemical, mechanical, food, and agricultural products, the light industry, and other industries. The results show that: (1) environmentally destructive behavior is differently exhibited in different industries among the investigated supply chains of brand-name products; (2) the enterprises’ attitudes, policies, and investments in pro-environment approaches play a fundamental role in the environmental management of the brand-name products supply chain; (3) environmental legislation and public supervision have significant effects on the environmental management of the brand-name products supply chain; (4) only when environmental regulation is combined with environmental legislation and public supervision is a restriction of environmentally destructive behavior in the supply chain of brand-name products triggered. Thus, we suggest that the attribution and sharing mechanisms of environmental responsibility in the supply chain of brand-name products should be established; a “push-pull-anchor” mechanism and coordinated co-governance supervision system for environmentally destructive behavior in the supply chain of brand-name products should be built.

Barriers to blockchain adoption: Empirical observations from securities services value network

Blockchain can support the transition to a sustainable business by facilitating the traceability of activities that drives responsible behavior in a value delivery network. Despite its potential utility, the adoption rate is still relatively slow, and there are barriers to adopting this radical new technology. This research explores these barriers both from the organizational and business network perspectives. A qualitative study with interview data from financial service sector experts was conducted. In particular, informants represented securities services value network (SSVN). Using abductive reasoning, we found barriers that are further categorized into four dimensions: psychological-internal, functional-internal, psychological-external, and functional-external. For managers, this study offers new in-depth insights for facilitating new technology adoption, taking into account both company's internal and external viewpoints.

SpaceART SpaceWire Sniffer for Link Monitoring: A Complete Communication Analysis in a Time-Constrained Test Scenario.

The on-board communication standard adopted in current generation space missions of the European Space Agency, and many other agencies as well, is SpaceWire (SpW). In a SpW network, data are exchanged as well-formed packets, whose structure offers low packet overhead and allows developers to tailor their implementation for SpW applications. The development of SpW-compliant devices requires a specific set of test instruments, namely Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE), to verify the correct functionality of SpW units under test. An example of a SpW EGSE is the SpaceART EGSE Emulator, an EGSE for generation and processing of SpW packets for a time-constrained use-case scenario. This EGSE has been developed to address a mission-related SpW communication between a device and an Instrument Control Unit (ICU). It has allowed the generation and processing of specific SpW packets, which cannot be provided by the mostly used general-purpose SpW EGSEs. In this scope, the SpaceART SpW Sniffer, a SpW link analyser for unobtrusive monitoring of SpW link, has been employed to run a comprehensive set of tests and provide further information on the considered scenario. The SpaceART EGSE Emulator-ICU communication has been thoroughly tested through the SpaceART SpW Sniffer, unobtrusively analysing the exchanged data and allowing to assess the compliance with the defined time constraints from an external point of view. The use of the Sniffer has been crucial for testing the on-board communication, providing important support for the success of the mission employing the tested ICU.

Strategic Management in Mover School Program: A Multi-Site Study at Antasan Kecil Timur 1 and Kebun Bunga 3 Banjarmasin

This study aims to examine the strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and strategy evaluation of the Mover School Program at SDN Antasan Kecil Timur 1 and SDN Kebun Bunga 3 Banjarmasin, with a multi-site descriptive qualitative technique. The main instrument as well as data sources and methods for gathering information were from principals, instructors, and supervisors in each field of research through observation and documentation study. Individualized and cross-site data analysis were used in data analysis. The reliability, dependability, and confirmability of the data using the criteria. The results showed that both sites had established their vision and mission, identified the opportunities and challenges facing the organization from an external point of view, identified the organization's strengths and weaknesses from an internal point of view, and prepared a long-term plan, resources, motivating employees, allocating resources, developing a culture that supports strategy, and creating budgets for the development and utilized information systems as a tool for strategic preparation.