Assessing the Effect of Dynamic Capabilities on the ESG Reporting and Corporate Performance Relationship With Topic Modeling: Evidence From Global Companies.

The primary purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the dynamic capabilities (DCs) embedded in ESG management, which are being pursued by global companies, and corporate performance amid increasing uncertainty. Furthermore, the secondary purpose is to examine the function of environmental uncertainty moderating the DCs-performance relationship. Concerning the analysis tool, this study employs topic modeling with Word2Vec embedding that analyzes unstructured data. This was employed as an alternative method beyond the limitations of the traditional approach, i.e., survey or interview. A DCs dictionary was constructed by redesigning the 12 detailed dimensions of Teece's DCs into 10 dimensions, and then time series scores of individual global companies were extracted by applying this dictionary to the sustainability reports of 97 companies. Sustainability reports of 153 companies among Fortune Global 500 companies announced in 2020 were originally collected, but in the process of collecting additional financial data about these companies from OSIRIS, a total of only 97 companies was selected in the end due to omission of data. A fixed effect panel analysis was conducted, and the main findings are as follows: First, the DCs embedded in ESG management have a positive or negative direct effect on corporate performance. In particular, a statistically significant relationship was not observed in the innovation (technology) oriented capabilities, whereas a statistically significant positive relationship was observed in the customer (market) oriented capabilities. Second, uncertainty moderates the relationship between DCs and corporate performance positively or negatively. Interestingly, the moderating effect of uncertainty only appears in the function of the sensing and reconfiguring capabilities. From this, it can be seen that the function of DCs, which is embedded in the ESG management of global companies, is limited due to the imbalance between the sensing-seizing-reconfiguring capabilities. These findings imply that, despite the positive function of DCs embedded in ESG management, costs and benefits occur at the same time, and DCs can improve performance only if there is an organizational adaptation strategy suitable for uncertainty. Accordingly, business managers need to recognize the importance of pursuing sensing-seizing-reconfiguring capabilities in a balanced way to improve corporate performance through ESG management under uncertainty.

ASSESSMENT OF RADIOLOGICAL DOSES FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN KOREA FOLLOWING ACCIDENTAL RELEASES OF RADIONUCLIDES FROM NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN KOREA AND CHINA.

Accidentally released radionuclides are dispersed into the environment and cause human exposure through various pathways. Concerns about radiological impacts of a possible Nuclear power plant (NPP) accident in neighboring countries, especially in China, are increasing in Korea. Dose assessments for the hypothetical nuclear accidents in Korea (Hanbit and Wolsong NPPs) and China (Tianwan NPP) were conducted using the developed Korean code system. The results show that there is a possibility that a Tianwan NPP accident could have a slightly greater or similar impact on certain parts of Korea compared to accidents occurring at domestic NPPs, and could affect Korea within a few days of the accident. This research is expected to be used as basic material for preparing against nuclear accidents in neighboring countries.

Effects of dietary Forsythia suspensa on feed utilization, rumen fermentation, and immune response of Korean native goats (Capra hircus) / Efectos de la adición dietaria de Forsythia suspensa sobre utilización del alimento, fermentación ruminal y respuesta inmune en cabras nativas coreanas (Capra hircus) / Efeitos na dieta pela utilização de Forsythia suspensa nos alimentos, fermentação ruminal e resposta imune em caprinos nativos coreanos (Capra hircus)

Background: plant extracts of Forsythia suspensa, which contain pinoresinol, have been proposed as an alternative to antibiotics due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microflora modulating effects. Objective: to evaluate the effects of dietary F. suspensa on feed utilization, rumen fermentation, blood parameters and immune response of Korean native goats (Capra hircus). Methods: a total of nine Korean native goats were assigned to one of three dietary treatments: 1) a basal diet without F. suspensa, 2) a basal diet added with 0.25% F. suspensa, or 3) a basal diet added with 0.50% F. suspensa. A change-over design was used in three consecutive periods to give 9 replicates per treatment. Each period lasted 18 days, including 15 days of adaptation to feed and environmental conditions and three days of total collection of feces and urine. Rumen fluid and blood samples were also collected. Nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention, ruminal content, and blood metabolites—including immunoglobulins—were measured. Results: F. suspensa supplementation had no effect on nutrient digestibility, whole body nitrogen retention rate, ruminal pH, acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, butyrate, isovalerate, or valerate content (p>0.05). However, F. suspensa supplementation decreased total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration compared with the control diet, regardless of F. suspensa concentrations (p<0.05). Goats fed a diet containing 0.25% F. suspensa had greater alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentration than those fed a control or a diet with 0.50% F. suspensa (p<0.05). Feeding different concentrations of dietary F. suspensa did not influence plasma IgA and IgM levels (p>0.05), although goats receiving both 0.25% and 0.50% F. suspensa diets had greater plasma IgG than those fed the control diet (p<0.05). Conclusion: supplementation of 0.25% F. suspensa significantly decreased total VFA concentrations and increased plasma IgG in Korean native goats, compared with those fed the control diet.

Antecedentes: los extractos de la planta Forsythia suspensa contienen pinoresinol. Dicha planta se ha propuesto como una alternativa a los antibióticos debido a su contenido de antioxidantes, antiinflamatorios y sus efectos moduladores de la microflora. Objetivo: evaluar los efectos dietarios de F. suspensa sobre la utilización del alimento, fermentación ruminal, parámetros sanguíneos y respuesta inmune en cabras nativas coreanas (Capra hircus). Métodos: un total de nueve cabras nativas coreanas fueron asignadas a 1 de 3 tratamientos: (1) una dieta basal sin F. suspensa, (2) una dieta basal con 0,25%, o (3) 0,50% de F. suspensa dietaría en un diseño change-over por tres periodos consecutivos con nueve réplicas por tratamiento. Cada periodo se prolongó por 18 días, incluyendo 15 días de adaptación al alimento y a las condiciones ambientales, y tres días de colección total de heces y orina. Tambien se colectó fluido ruminal y muestras sanguineas. Se midió la digestibilidad de nutrientes, nitrógeno retenido, contenido ruminal y metabolitos sanguíneos —incluyendo inmunoglobulinas—. Resultados: la suplementación con F. suspensa no tuvo efecto sobre la digestibilidad de los nutrientes, la tasa de retención de N, pH ruminal, ni sobre los contenidos de acetato, propionato, isobutirato, butirato, isovalerato o valerato (p>0,05). Sin embargo, la suplementación con F. suspensa disminuyo la concentración total de ácidos grasos volátiles (VFA) en comparacion con la dieta control, sin tener en cuenta las concentraciones de F. suspensa (p<0,05). Las cabras alimentadas con la dieta de 0,25% de F. suspensa tuvieron mayor concentración de fosfatasa alcalina (ALP) que cuando fueron alimentadas con la dieta control o con la de 0,50% de F. suspensa (p<0,05). Aunque la alimentación con diferentes concentraciones de F. suspensa no influyo en los niveles de IgA y IgM en plasma (p>0,05), las cabras que recibieron 0,25 y 0,50% de F. suspensa tuvieron mayor concentración de IgG en plasma que aquellas alimentadas con la dieta control (p<0,05). Conclusiones: la suplementación de 0,25% de F. suspensa disminuyo significativamente la concentración total de VFA e incrementó la IgG en el plasma de las cabras nativas coreanas, en comparación con aquellas que consumieron la dieta control.

Antecedentes: a Forsythiae suspensa é uma planta e seu extrato contém pinoresinol. Tem sido proposta como uma alternativa aos antibióticos existentes, devido ao seu teor de antioxidantes, anti-inflamatórias e efeitos moduladores da microflora, com base em estudos feitos in vivo e in vitro. Objetivo: avaliar os efeitos na dieta da inclusão de F. suspensa no aproveitamento alimentar, fermentação ruminal, parâmetros sanguíneos e resposta imune em caprinos coreanos nativos (Capra hircus). Métodos: um total de nove cabras coreanas nativas foram assignadas a um de três tratamentos na dieta: (1) uma dieta basal sem F. suspensa, (2) uma dieta basal com 0,25% de F. suspensa, ou (3) com 0,50% de F. suspensa na dieta. Se fez um desenho change-over por três períodos consecutivos com nove repetições por tratamento. Cada período de pesquisa consistiu de 18 dias, incluindo 15 dias de adaptação às condições alimentares e ambientais, e três dias de coleta total de fezes e urina. Também foram coletadas amostras de líquido ruminal e sangue. Mediou-se a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, o nitrogênio (N) retido, o conteúdo ruminal, e os parâmetros sanguíneos —incluindo imunoglobulinas—. Resultados: a suplementação com F. suspensa não teve nenhum efeito sobre a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, a taxa de retenção de N, o pH do rúmen, nem sobre os conteúdos de: acetato, propionato, isobutirato, butirato, isovalerato e valerato (p>0,05). No entanto, a suplementação de F. suspensa diminuiu a concentração total de ácidos gordurosos voláteis (AGV) em comparação com a dieta controle, independentemente das concentrações de F. suspensa (p<0,05). As cabras alimentadas com 0,25% F. suspensa na dieta tiveram maiores quantidades da enzima fosfatasse alcalina (ALP) do que quando elas foram alimentadas com a dieta controle ou com 0,50% de F. suspensa (p<0,05). Ainda que a alimentação com diferentes níveis de F. suspensa não influenciou os níveis de IgA e IgM no plasma (p>0,05), as cabras que receberam na dieta 0,25 e 0,50% de F. suspensa tiveram uma maior concentração de IgG no plasma comparadas as cabras alimentadas com a dieta controle (p<0,05). Conclusões: a suplementação com 0,25% e 50% diminuiu significativamente a concentração de AGV e incrementou a concentração em plasma de IgG em cabras nativas coreanas comparadas com aquelas que consumiram a dieta controle.