International Cooperation Project Research Articles

Inventory of Roman Mosaics in Portugal. Cataloguing and Analysis of Geometric Motifs: 2. The Pelta

As part of the RoGeMoPorTur international cooperation project and in parallel with the Inventory of Roman Mosaics in Portugal, a catalogue of the different geometric motifs present on these pavements is being drawn up. In the present work - the second in a series that began with the study of the meander (Duran Kremer 2016) and is dedicated to analysing the meaning and iconography of the motifs chosen for the decoration of Roman mosaics in the current territory of Portugal - we focus on one of the oldest motifs present in the decoration of the pavement - the pelta.

Building inclusion: participation and circularity for accessible architectures in Palestine

This paper describes the outcome of an international cooperation project aiming at contributing to the protection and the promotion of rights of people with disabilities and to their participation in increasingly inclusive and accessible communities. In Palestine, military occupation causes a lack of basic infrastructures, empty land and planning, de-facto making public areas rare. The opportunity to access an inclusive and safe space is a fundamental factor in quality of living. The participatory processes applied here to implement spatial transformation through sustainable micro-infrastructures foster awareness and knowledge sharing among the participants, despite the obstacles and limits acknowledged herein, opening to possible future developments.

Critical Discourse Analysis of the Portuguese Media’s Coverage of the Belt and Road Initiative: The Case of Portuguese Mainstream Media, Público

Since 2013, when the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by China, this transnational cooperation initiative has attracted a lot of attention and discussion on a global scale. Portugal has been one of the EU countries actively supporting the Belt and Road Initiative and has signed a formal cooperation agreement with China. Coverage of the Belt and Road initiative has become a window into Portugal’s attitude and impression of China. This work uses newspaper-based data from Público to deconstruct the attitudes of the main Portuguese media towards the Belt and Road Initiative in terms of language use, discursive practices, and social practices, using content analysis and critical discourse analysis. The results show that Público uses both positive and negative terms in its coverage of the Belt and Road initiative, reflecting a complex attitude towards it. Criticism of the Belt and Road initiative reflects concern that Chinese policies could affect Portugal’s national interests, including concerns about human rights and environmental protection, among others. In general, media coverage of the Belt and Road initiative in Portugal has been both approving and supportive, as well as critical and challenging, and this attitude is closely related to Portugal’s international policies, economic interests, and social values. Analysis of this coverage provides a better understanding of the complex global impact of international cooperation projects such as the “One Belt, One Road” initiative and the way they are presented in the media of different countries.

Optimal Salesforce Compensation with General Demand and Operational Considerations

Problem definition: We investigate the optimal salesforce compensation scheme in the context of private information and unobservable actions, considering common operational factors encountered in practice, including inventory costs, contractible versus censored demand information, and controlled versus delegated ordering. Methodology/results: Based on an agency model with general demand and cost functions, we derive optimality conditions for implementable contracts that can achieve the second-best outcome in all scenarios. The contracts are in the forms of a menu with linear compensation for demand or sales, incorporating inventory costs. Moreover, the contracts feature adjustments in compensation corresponding to the ordering level if it is delegated. Managerial implications: Our study reveals that, under reasonably mild conditions, optimal salesforce contracts can still maintain relatively simple forms, even when confronted with common operational factors and generalized demand and cost functions. However, the contracts must be tailored to suit the operational settings. Intriguingly, neither the loss of demand information nor the delegation of inventory decisions would compromise system efficiency at optimum. Funding: H. Song is partially supported by the Key International Cooperation and Exchange Projects of the NSFC [Grant W2411062] and the Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the NSFC [Grant 71821002]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0400 .

Coopetition in Platform-Based Retailing: On the Platform’s Entry

We study the dynamic incentive interactions between a platform and a third-party seller over two stages, where the seller exerts product-value-enhancement effort in the first stage in anticipation of the platform’s potential entry in the second stage. Upon entry, the platform can exert effort to boost the value of the product sold by the platform, with positive spillovers to the value of the product sold by the platform. We show the existence of both the protective and the receptive regimes, characterizing the necessary and sufficient conditions for each regime. These conditions are of thresholds type with respect to the parameters including the degree of spillover, the referral rate, and the competition intensity. In the protective (receptive) regime, the seller is worse (better) off with the platform’s entry than without, thereby distorting effort downward (upward) from the first best to deter (induce) the platform’s entry to the products of intermediate value. Notably, if the spillover effect is negative, only the protective regime will arise. We also provide the necessary and sufficient conditions under which the platform’s nonentry commitment strictly improves the platform’s profits by restoring the seller’s effort to the first best, achieving the win-win outcome for both the platform and the seller. This paper was accepted by Jeannette Song, operations management. Funding: H. Song is partially supported by the Key International Cooperation and Exchange Projects of the NSFC [Grant W2411062] and the Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the NSFC [Grant 71821002]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.00260 .

Knowledge based interventions for sustainable development cooperation: insights from knowledge systems mapping in Zambia

Knowledge is an essential determinant and component of the international development cooperation agenda and projects. Therefore, it is vital to understand and reflect on how knowledge in international development cooperation is created, what knowledge counts, and how it influences the planning, implementation, and outcomes of international development cooperation projects. In this paper, we critically examine the knowledge system of the development cooperation of the Czech Republic, an emerging donor country, by applying system theory and utilizing system properties as an analytical tool. To this end, we carried out a multi-phase qualitative research with actors from the Czech Republic and Zambia. Subsequently, we analysed the knowledge system properties and identified those often overlooked by development actors, such as taboos, mistrust, and development burden, revealing how knowledge flows can be obstructed by these characteristics. In addition, we compiled a set of suitable interventions to tackle the overlooked system properties and foster knowledge cross-fertilisation. These interventions include, among others, active engagement of traditional leaders, active work with narratives of success, and introducing action-reflection-reaction cycle into the development practice. Furthermore, the proposed interventions clearly emphasize the need for more collaborative and transdisciplinary processes. Finally, we discuss that it is essential to uncover deep layers of the international development cooperation knowledge system to shift and leverage it towards more inclusive and just outcomes.

WMO Typhoon Landfall Forecast Demonstration Project (2010–22): A Decade of Transition from Track Forecasts to Impact Forecasts

Abstract The Typhoon Landfall Forecast Demonstration Project (TLFDP) (2010–22) was an international cooperative scientific project conducted under the framework of the WMO. The primary objectives of the TLFDP were to enhance the capability of tropical cyclone (TC) forecasters and support related decision-makers in effective utilization of the most advanced forecasting techniques for the ultimate purpose of reducing and preventing disasters associated with TC landfall. Forty agencies/organizations/projects globally participated in the activities of the TLFDP following its inception in 2010, although the primary focus was on landfalling TCs in the western North Pacific. The TLFDP facilitated collaborations and workshops that realized notable achievements in four key areas: 1) the collection, production, and sharing of TC data; 2) the development and application of TC forecast verification metrics; 3) research on TC forecast skill; and 4) development of new techniques for TC forecasting. An obvious outcome was the shift from prediction of TC features, including track and intensity, toward prediction of TC impacts with more probabilistic conception. The final years of the project also promoted increasing application of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques in various techniques for analysis and forecasting of TCs. Although the TLFDP ended in 2022, its core activities have continued to be extended through new WMO projects and regional cooperative initiatives.

우간다 동부 부탈레자 주 모자보건 증진 사업의 비용편익분석

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of a Uganda Butaleja Maternal Newborn and Child Health Project which has been implemented by a Korean NGO from 2015 to 2018. Originality: Economic evaluation has been acknowledged as a crucial method for gauging the effectiveness of international development cooperation projects in the health sector, but it is being carried out on a limited basis due to limitations in financial and human capabilities. It is significant that the economic evaluation was conducted to complement the limitations of existing cost-benefit analysis studies. In particular, it is meaningful in that it confirmed the economic feasibility of integrated maternal and child health projects that combine hardware and software, including capacity building, awareness improvement, and behavioral change. Methodology: This study employs cost-benefit analysis and evaluates the economics of the targeted project through (i) Net Present Value (NPV), (ii) Cost-Benefit Ratio (BCR), and (iii) Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR). Additionally, sensitivity analysis has been conducted to mitigate potential errors in the assessment process. Result: The cost-benefit analysis yields a NPV of $83,909,933, an EIRR of 71%, and a BCR of 21. The project is deemed cost-effective, as the net present value exceeds 0, the EIRR surpasses the social discount rate, and the BCR is greater than 1. Conclusion and Implication: The results of this study confirmed that integrated maternal and child health ODA projects that combine hardware and software are economically effective, even when long-term maintenance costs are included.

Integration and Innovation of Renewable Energy Technology in International Cooperation Projects

In the tide of global energy transformation, the application of mechatronics technology in the new energy sector has become a pivotal force in advancing sustainable development. This paper thoroughly explores the integration of mechatronics with new energy sources such as solar and wind energy, aiming to enhance energy conversion efficiency, reduce costs, and stimulate technological innovation. By examining the current state of mechatronics technology in the research, development, manufacturing, and promotion of new energy equipment, this paper proposes a range of strategies and recommendations. These are designed to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, foster technological innovation, and enhance international cooperation to achieve sustainable global energy development.

Study on the New Path of Local Government Co-operation and Development in the Coastal Areas of China and South Korea - An analysis of rootedness based on Guangdong’s international cooperation projects

Study on the New Path of Local Government Co-operation and Development in the Coastal Areas of China and South Korea - An analysis of rootedness based on Guangdong’s international cooperation projects

Developed Status and Forecast of Intelligent Ship Application

The concept of smart ships is not limited to ship autonomous driving, it covers a broader scope, including the full life cycle of ship design, construction, operation and maintenance. By integrating advanced sensors, navigation systems and data analysis platforms, smart ships are able to monitor ship status and the Marine environment in real time, optimize route planning and improve fuel efficiency, thereby reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, smart ships can revolutionize the shipping industry by improving maritime safety and reducing human error through remote control and autonomous decision-making. In recent years, smart ship technology has gradually moved from the theoretical research stage to practical application, and has attracted wide attention from the global shipping industry. A number of international cooperation and research projects have been launched to explore the practical application potential and promotion paths of smart ships. However, the development of smart ships also faces many challenges, including technical difficulties, legal and regulatory restrictions, and public acceptance issues. This paper will deeply discuss the current development status of smart ships, analyze the main challenges it faces, and forecast the future development trend, in order to provide reference and inspiration for the innovative development of the shipping industry.

COOPERATION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION

Purpose of the study: to identify the features of international cooperation between Russia and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in the field of maritime security. Methodology. The author, based on a wide range of the latest domestic and foreign sources, studies the political and legal foundations for Russia’s activities in the Indian Ocean region, and conducts a step-by-step analysis of the structure and priorities of the IORA activities. The main methodology of the study consists of systematic and comparative approaches, contributing to an objective and comprehensive analysis of international cooperation between the Russian Federation and IORA in the Indian Ocean region. Conclusions. It is shown that Russia, based on its accumulated experience with the multilateral regional systems, advocates the development of cooperation between the system of interstate interaction mechanisms formed in the Asia-Pacific region around ASEAN, and multilateral structures of the Indian Ocean zone. It has been revealed that Russia, like other IORA countries, sees the advantages of further developing maritime transport and navigation, coastal areas and tourism, sustainable fishing, the fight against marine pollution, and the joint study of ocean resources. Particular attention is paid to international cooperation projects in the field of the “blue economy”, which are carried out by the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, the state corporation Rosatom and IORA. Russia’s international cooperation with IORA will help expand Russia’s strategic presence and influence in the Indian Ocean.

CROSS-CULTURAL TEACHING IN INTERCULTURAL EDUCATION FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS

The study investigated foreign student teaching conditions through cross-cultural interactions with modern educators. Notably, the authors employed a two-fold framework of cross-cultural education: objective and subjective. Objective factors encompass external variables like curriculum structure, teaching mechanisms, academic environment, literacy, teacher attitudes, research skills, teaching style, and leadership level. The study also identified student motivation, attitude, ability, cultural differences, conflict resolution strategies, and cross-cultural communication skills as influential elements. Ultimately, the research concluded that incorporating a multicultural environment within international cooperation projects fosters greater cross-cultural exposure.

An International Perspective and Theoretical Framework for the Construction of Business Courses in Private High-Tech Institutions in Shaanxi

This study aims to explore the international perspective and theoretical framework for the construction of business courses in private high-tech institutions in Shaanxi. With the acceleration of globalization, educational internationalization has become a crucial pathway to enhance the quality and competitiveness of higher education. Through literature review and theoretical analysis, this paper systematically examines the current research on the internationalization of business course construction both domestically and internationally. It integrates the spirit of the "Two Conferences" and current social hotspots to propose internationalization strategies and a theoretical framework for business course construction in private institutions in Shaanxi. Initially, a comprehensive review of existing literature analyzes the theoretical and practical advancements in international curriculum design, international talent cultivation models, and cross-cultural education. Subsequently, considering the actual conditions of private institutions in Shaanxi, the study explores specific paths for internationalizing curriculum construction, including the introduction of international cases, bilingual teaching, and international cooperation projects. Finally, based on theoretical analysis and literature review, a theoretical framework for the internationalization of business courses in private high-tech institutions in Shaanxi is proposed, emphasizing the importance of an international perspective in curriculum design, teaching methods, faculty development, and student cultivation. The findings indicate that private institutions in Shaanxi should actively incorporate an international perspective into business course construction, enhancing the international competitiveness of their courses through diversified teaching methods and international cooperation, and cultivating business talents with international vision and cross-cultural communication skills. This research provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the internationalization of business courses in private institutions in Shaanxi, with significant academic and practical significance.

통합적 접근법 실현을 위한 ODA 정책과제

Purpose: This research aims to identify policy tasks for international development cooperation (ODA) projects in order to implement an integrated approach and evaluate them. In this context, the paper redefines the definitions and classifications of integrated approaches, explores methodological changes, and evaluates the potential for mainstreaming.
 Originality: An integrated approach has been emerging at a time when ODA projects have been packaged or enlarged, emphasizing a holistic and comprehensive perspective. This study aims to derive practical concepts shaped by discourse and consensus among experts in the field.
 Methodology: The policy agenda for integrating ODA projects is identified through a Delphi survey involving 30 distinguished experts in the field of international development cooperation. The survey assesses the importance, urgency, and feasibility of each agenda item.
 Result: External factors are more urgent compared to internal factors, but they are not considered more important or highly feasible. The high-priority policy tasks include facilitating adequate discussions on supply and demand between donor and recipient countries (partner countries), enhancing cooperation with relevant departments/agencies in recipient countries, and improving the project management capacity of Korean specialized institutions.
 Conclusion and Implication: These results are expected to contribute to the development of related policies and program design based on the integrated approach. Furthermore, this research can contribute to the formulation of relevant national policies and enhance the national brand.

MONITORING OF GLACIERS ON HORSESHOE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA BASED ON A DEEP LEARNING APPROACH FROM HIGH-RESOLUTION ORTHOPHOTOS (TAE-6 & TAE-7)

Abstract. Global climate change is a phenomenon that seriously affects the balance of a wide variety of ecosystems and is the intense focus of climate scientists and environmental researchers. In this context, periodic monitoring of glacier areas in terms of a better understanding of atmosphere-ocean interactions; thus, predicting the effects of climate change and planning against future threats by evaluating environmental impacts is an important research area. Especially the polar regions, where the melting of glaciers and the rise of sea levels are visibly observed, are important for climate scientists in providing crucial observations to understand and predict global climate change. In this study, within the scope of the international bilateral cooperation project carried out in cooperation with Istanbul Technical University (ITU) and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) (Project No: 121N033), the spatial changes in snow/glacier areas obtained from UAV Photogrammetry products generated during the 6th and 7th Antarctic National Science Expeditions. Snow/glacier areas were segmented with the K-Net deep learning approach which has been previously tested for accuracy and provides glacier mapping with accuracy metrics over 99%, on the high spatial resolution orthophotos produced during the two periods. The snow/glacier areas difference between the two periods were calculated and compared and water bodies which are critical areas, were specifically examined. The result of this comparison shows that the glacier area decreased by approximately 11% in just 1 year. However, to better understand these changes in snow/glacier areas, the region needs to be observed closely for longer time periods. It is thought that future studies will contribute to efforts to manage global environmental impacts and cope with climate change by focusing on monitoring and better understanding changes in these critical regions.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Preliminary risk assessment of in-vessel leakage accident in ITER

The ITER project is one of the largest international cooperative scientific projects in the world, aiming to verify the feasibility of magnetic confinement controlled nuclear fusion technology and provide a technical basis for the subsequent construction of fusion energy power stations. The success or failure of ITER will greatly affect the commercialization process of fusion energy. The probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) was a powerful means to evaluate the risk and reliability of nuclear facility and achieved great success in safety assessment of fission power plants. Based on this, the PSA progress for ITER was proposed in this paper. And the in-vessel leakage accident was investigated to verify the effectiveness of proposed method. The result shows the maximum possible radiological consequences of ITER in-vessel leakage accident of ITER is 1.6E−3 mSv, and the frequencies of this consequence is 1.63E−8/year. The reason of this consequence was also discussed in this paper. Those result could provide some valuable reference for radiation risk assessment and safety supervision of fusion commercial reactor in the nuclear future.

La tutela formale del patrimonio architettonico modermo: la Facultad de Arte Teatral della Universidad de Las Artes dell’Avana.

The international cooperation project between Italy and Cuba, ¡Que no baje el telón! is aimed at the restoration and functional recovery of the Facultad de Arte Teatral of the Universidad de las Artes in La Havana (Cuba). The project has made possible to address the delicate issue of relationship between the work of the conservator, the will of the author of the work and the artefact itself. Despite the existence of specific provisions of the law, the formal protection of modern and contemporary architecture (in the absence or in the presence of restrictions) is a delicate operation. Those people called to intervene must have the capability to manage an articulated set of premises, from the state of conservation of the building to the needs of the community that uses it.

MECHANISMS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF THE REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN AND THE POSSIBILITIES OF THEIR USE BY THE ENTITIES OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

In a turbulent economic macro-environment, to ensure sustainable development of the state and its regions, classical commodity exchange operations are being reformatted both through changing basic partners, changing the geography of markets and product lines, and through intensifying the launch of new multinational production projects that make it possible to compensate for the loss of part of foreign supplies in the format of import substitution , generate innovative solutions based on synergy that become domestic intellectual property. The Republic of Tatarstan is one of the supporting regions of the Russian Federation, a leader in many macroeconomic indicators, investment attractiveness and quality of life. Its developments in the field of international relations and trade are analyzed from the standpoint of efficiency, features of the work of infrastructure elements, such as special economic zones, foreign representative offices, business missions, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Investment Development Agency, and the Export Support Center. Conclusions are drawn about the intensification of all types of cooperation with the People's Republic of China, countries of the Muslim world and with various countries of the EAEU and the CIS, indicating the determining role of the economic structure of all partners, including the presence of preferential regimes of interaction. If increasing global trade turnover is clearly a positive process, then the selection of international industrial cooperation projects should be accompanied by in-depth business analysis of the complementarity of the goals and capabilities of the countries participating in industrial cooperation. Another important conclusion is the need to analyze the potential of Russian regions to identify opportunities for scaling the experience of Tatarstan - the presence of a foundation of industrial cooperation that is mutually beneficial for all parties and infrastructure that ensures the effectiveness of international cooperation. Differences between the Russian and regional economy as its meso-level may lead to an unsuccessful attempt to scale the best practices of the Republic of Tatarstan. In this regard, it is proposed to create a system for connecting part of the regions of the Russian Federation to the channels of international cooperation created in the Republic of Tatarstan to enhance interaction primarily with partners from the countries of the Islamic world.

On the status quo of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in autumn 2023

The United Nations Organization is a project of international peace cooperation undertaken by the peaceful nations of the world, which have learned from history. Throughout its history, this global international organisation has prevented many international armed conflicts, avoided many and ended many. Despite the enormous human, moral and material sacrifices of all the wars fought around the world, it is clear that a part of the world’s human population has not yet learned the lessons of the history of wars. The persistence of war conflicts between nations in the 21st century is a testimony to this fact. One of the most recent armed conflicts to erupt and threaten the entire world is the genocidal war waged between the Palestinian-Arab organisation Hamas and the State of Israel. This article highlights some of the stages of its emergence, its course and its possible implications for the world peace.