Assumptions Of Theory Research Articles

Influential factors in the consumption of water by schoolchildren in Mexico

Purpose Based on the assumptions of the social ecological theory (SET), this study aims to identify the factors that influence water consumption by the schoolchildren segment in urban communities in Mexico, to further develop a community-based social marketing intervention. Design/methodology/approach This study was formative research, quantitative and qualitative in nature, consisting of a survey, focus groups and in-depth interviews. It was conducted in public and private elementary schools in central Mexico (five states), during 2023. Findings It was identified that parents are aware of the benefits of drinking water for their children’s health. However, various factors in the sociocultural environment, perceptions, customs and habits were noted as barriers to water consumption. Consequently, children’s behaviors are influenced by their family context as the strongest environment. Likewise, the school environment and the social environment are identified as other influential factors. Each system acts as a motivator or barrier in the child’s behavior, creating and supporting consumption behaviors learned from an early age. Originality/value Interventions on water consumption should target the most influential SET systems; the microsystem and the mesosystem, achieving the participation and co-responsibility of stakeholders in changing the environment and thus behavior.

Does Reputation Matter? Explaining China’s Evolving Strategy in South China Sea Disputes

What drives China’s approach to disputes in the South China Sea? While conventional wisdom often attributes Beijing’s actions primarily to material interests, this overlooks the possible influence of non-material factors such as China’s desire to uphold its national reputation. Contrary to the assumptions of traditional prospect theory, China’s behavior is not driven solely by calculations of gains and losses but also by considerations for its international reputation. Beijing may temper its assertiveness when its reputation is declining but still manageable, as demonstrated by its increased willingness to resolve disputes multilaterally after its global image was tarnished following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Contrarily, China may resort to more assertive actions when these do not significantly hurt its reputation or when the damage seems irreversible, as seen in its unwavering stance during the 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff with the Philippines.

No need to execute: Omitted responses still yield response-response binding effects.

In the literature on human action control, the binding and retrieval of responses are assumed to shape the coordination of more complex actions. Specifically, the consecutive execution of two responses is assumed to result in their integration into cognitive representations (so-called event files) and can be retrieved from that upon later response repetition, thereby influencing behavior. Against the background of ideomotor theory and more recent theorizing in the binding and retrieval in action control framework (Frings et al., 2020), we investigated whether response execution is necessary for binding and retrieval of responses. We manipulated whether the retrieving response (Experiment 1), as well as the to-be-bound response (Experiment 2), is executed or omitted. The results showed that responses do not need to be executed to retrieve other responses or to be bound to other responses. Apparently, activating the cognitive representation of a response sufficed for this response to trigger event file binding and retrieval. Our results are the first to show that response-response binding is not dependent on executing responses. Together, the results support the core assumptions of ideomotor theory and the binding and retrieval in action control framework, namely a common coding of action and perception. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Linking invariants for valuations and orderings on fields

The mod-2 arithmetic Milnor invariants, introduced by Morishita, provide a decomposition law for primes in canonical Galois extensions of Q\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\mathbb {Q}$$\\end{document} with unitriangular Galois groups and contain the Legendre and Rédei symbols as special cases. Morishita further proposed a notion of mod-q arithmetic Milnor invariants, where q is a prime power, for number fields containing the qth roots of unity and satisfying certain class field theory assumptions. We extend this theory from the number field context to general fields, by introducing a notion of a linking invariant for discrete valuations and orderings. We further express it as a Magnus homomorphism coefficient and relate it to Massey product elements in Galois cohomology.

Explaining the territorial trap: Revisiting the geographical assumptions of International Relations theory

Explaining the territorial trap: Revisiting the geographical assumptions of International Relations theory

New intergovernmentalism: European council and environmental policy

ABSTRACT The article tests the theory of the new intergovernmentalism on environmental policy of the EU with the main objective of applying the alternative approach to European integration beyond its traditional policy focus. The research question is whether the quantity and quality of the engagement of the European Council (EUCO) in environmental policy has increased in the post-Maastricht period examining the EUCO Conclusions from 1993 to 2023 through the qualitative theme content analysis combining deductive and inductive coding and the holistic grading method. The findings did not confirm that the EUCO is a pivotal actor in the further integration of environmental policy. It rather seems that the analyzed policy is driven altogether by supranational and intergovernmental actors. It thus indicates a relatively broad consensus among EU bodies for an ambitious environmental policy. The findings, therefore, challenge the core assumptions of the NI theory.

Predictive Model of Risk Behaviour in the University Student Community

Aim. The study aimed to attempt to explain the probable causality of undertaken risk behaviours in a group of university students, from the perspective of various predictors (which included low individual and social resources, as well as other risk behaviours). The choice of predictors was dictated, among other things, by the assumptions of risk behaviour theory and gateway theory. Methods. The research was conducted among university students from many cities in Poland. Empirical data were collected using the survey method. The tool was a survey questionnaire, constructed from the author's scale and the Resilience Scale by Gail Wagnild in the Polish adaptation by Janusz Surzykiewicz and Karol Konaszewski (2019). The data were statistically analysed. The target procedure became path analysis. Results. The study revealed several plausible predictive factors for specific risk behaviours of students. Analyses included behavioural categories such as the use of psychoactive substances and behaviour associated with them, risky sexual contact, low physical and psychosocial health care, dangerous behaviour in daily life, and disclosure of images and private data on the Internet. Each form of risky behaviour was situated in the model. The predictive factors in the path structure were identified as, among others, low social and cultural resources and low levels of resilience. It also appeared that some risk behaviours may be predictors for others. Conclusion. The study reveals that not only syndromes of risk behaviours, but even entire risk pathways creating the possibility to infer probable causality, are noticeable in the group of university students.

Monitorowanie procesu pisania w języku obcym. Analiza przerw z perspektywy Teorii Systemów Dynamicznych

The paper investigates the dynamic character of pausing behaviour in foreign language writing. In a longitudinal study on Polish learners of Swedish, pause length and frequency, as well as the interplay between pause length and the development of lexical diversity, syntactic complexity, accuracy, and fluency, were investigated. According to the assumptions of Dynamic Systems Theory, intra- and inter-subject variability were analysed. The study has shown that the mean length of pauses did not change during the three-year period of second language learning; however, the frequency of pauses significantly decreased, as demonstrated by the increasing number of words written between pauses. There was a considerable variation within subjects during the entire period, and even moderate inter-subject variability was noticed. The occurrence of longer pauses was almost always interconnected with a higher level of accuracy, syntactic complexity, and fluency. This interplay, however, could only be confirmed at the individual level, showing the necessity of following the development of a second language in individuals rather than for the entire group.

Care seeking during pregnancy: testing the assumptions behind service delivery redesign for maternal and newborn health in rural Kenya

Abstract A health systems reform known as Service Delivery Redesign (SDR) for maternal and newborn health seeks to make high-quality delivery care universal in Kakamega County, in western Kenya, by strengthening hospital-level care and making hospital deliveries the default option for pregnant women. Using a large prospective survey of new mothers in Kakamega County, we examine several key assumptions that underpin the SDR policy’s theory of change. We analyse data on place of delivery, travel time and distance, out-of-pocket spending, and self-reported quality of care for 19 127 women prospectively enrolled during antenatal care (ANC) and surveyed two times after their delivery. We analyze changes in womens’ delivery location preferences in recent years in Kakamega, and over the course of their most recent pregnancy. We also evaluate travel time, out-of-pocket expenditures and patient satisfaction for women who deliver in public hospitals vs primary health centres. We find substantial changes in delivery location at the population level over time and for individual women over the course of pregnancy. Facility delivery has increased from 50.4% in 2010 to 89.5% in 2019; 70% of respondents deliver at a different facility than their reported intention at ANC. Out-of-pocket delivery expenditures are on average 1351 Kenyan shillings (Ksh) in hospitals compared to 964 Ksh in PHC (primary health care)s (P < 0.01). Transport expenditures are 337 Ksh for PHC level deliveries vs 422 Ksh for hospitals (P < 0.01). Self-reported average travel time is 51 min (PHC delivery) vs 47 min (hospital delivery) (P = 0.78). The average distance to a delivery location is 15.1 km for PHC deliveries vs 15.2 km for hospitals (P = 0.99). There were no differences in overall patient-reported quality scores, while some subcomponents of quality favoured hospitals. These findings support several key assumptions of the SDR theory of change in Kakamega County, while also highlighting important challenges that should be addressed to increase the likelihood of successful implementation.

A psychodynamic study of the sexual exploitation of adolescent girls

The literature on the risk of child (commercial) sexual exploitation (C(C)SE) contains limited reference to victim-related factors in the victimisation process. Similarly, the possible links between these factors and adolescence have rarely been considered. However, there is agreement that the age at which most victimisation occurs is between 11 and 14 years. This study seeks to demonstrate how a psychoanalytical approach to adolescence can clarify sexual victimisation behaviours (including sexual exploitation) observed in young girls and enable social workers to deal effectively with these paradoxical behaviours, which appear incomprehensible and discouraging. After presenting the epistemological assumptions of psychoanalytical theories, this study illustrates how early phases of adolescence are considered vulnerable. This study refers to the resurgence of Oedipal fantasies, which, actualised by adolescents’ sexual maturity, threaten family homoeostasis and can lead adolescents to act out. These include risky sexual behaviours leading to multiple victimisations (including sex trafficking), often with irreversible consequences. Based on diverse situations, including that of a young female victim of sexual exploitation, this study attempts to highlight sexual trajectories with multiple victimisations.

Hydrodynamic Performance of an Inverted Trapezoidal Breakwater with Permeable Retrofit

Abstract The scattering of incident waves by a surface-piercing inverted trapezoidal breakwater (SPTB) encircled by retrofit is numerically examined based on the assumptions of potential flow theory. The dual boundary element method is adopted to evaluate the hydrodynamic performance of the retrofitted SPTB breakwater. The scattering coefficients (i.e., wave transmission, wave reflection, energy loss), and force coefficients acting on the inner SPTB and outer retrofit are reported against relative water depth for various input values of breakwater and incident waves. The SPTB with 10% porosity, spacing S/h=0.25, width varied within 1.5≤B/W≤2, and depth d/h=0.2 is suggested against the incident waves to secure the coastal infrastructure.

The effect of cumulative eye movements’ guidance of experts on transition from novice to expert

AbstractBased on the assumptions of cognitive load theory, this study aims to utilize the eye movement data collected from multiple experts to scaffold novice graphic designers. The study has two main stages. In the first stage, eye tracking was used to record the eye movements of 7 experts, who covered eight topics explaining how to use Photoshop. The areas of interest and fixation durations were analyzed for each topic to extract the common patterns. Instructional videos were produced with the guidance of both eye movement patterns and multimedia design principles. In the second stage of this study, those videos were delivered to 30 university students. The experiment group watched the guided videos, whereas the control group watched straight videos, i.e., content without guidance. The guidance elements were reduced (faded) as students got familiar with the interface. All participants were assigned to perform tasks as soon as they completed the videos. The findings showed that the knowledge scores did not significantly differ between groups. Still, the average performance scores of the experiment group were considerably higher than that of the control group. Considering the transition process, the experiment group outperformed the others. The topics in which experts’ eye movements highly matched each other resulted in high-performance gaps among groups.

Wave excited motion of a body floating on water confined between a semi-infinite ice sheet and a side wall

In this paper, we investigate the diffraction and radiation coupling problem of a floating body confined between a fixed wall and a semi-infinite ice sheet under the action of incident waves. Based on the linear water wave theory and Kirchhoff Love elastic thin plate assumption, the ice sheet is considered as an elastic beam, and the boundary conditions of fluid boundaries covered by the ice sheet are obtained. Dividing flow domains with different upper surfaces, the eigenfunction expansion method was used to obtain the velocity potential expansion equations for each sub-domain. Then, through the matching conditions at the interface of sub-domains, a system of equations was constructed to solve the unknown coefficients of the expansion equations. The influence of the existence of the ice sheet on the diffraction and radiation motion of the floating body is analyzed. The effects of changes in the draft and open water width of the floating body on the wave excitation force and hydrodynamic coefficient of the floating body are discussed. The influence of the reflection effect of the ice sheet on the added mass and damping coefficient of the floating body has been discovered, especially the changes and oscillation rules of their extreme points. This research achievement provides theoretical support for the safety design of floating structures in frozen harbors.

Traveling wave vibration characteristic analysis of FRC sandwich cylindrical shells with FGP-GPLRC core under discontinuous elastic boundary conditions

In this study, a fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) sandwich cylindrical shell with a functionally graded porous graphene platelet reinforced composite (FGP-GPLRC) core is investigated, and the traveling wave vibration characteristics of this new sandwich cylindrical shell under discontinuous elastic boundary conditions are analyzed for the first time. The influences of centrifugal and Coriolis forces are introduced into the model. By employing the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and the continuity assumption of the layerwise theory, the governing equations of the rotating sandwich shell are obtained. The artificial springs are implemented at the ends of the sandwich shell to represent the discontinuous elastic boundary conditions. The natural frequency of the shell is solved via the Rayleigh-Ritz method and the state space method. Then, the approach proposed is validated by comparing the present results with those reported in the literature and the finite element method. Finally, the effects of various parameters on the traveling wave frequency of the shell are evaluated. It was found that in practical engineering, the appropriate thickness of the FGP-GPLRC core should be selected according to the boundary conditions and other factors, and the ply angle should be adjusted to obtain more stability of vibration.

Regional drivers of industrial decarbonisation: a spatial econometric analysis of 238 EU regions between 2008 and 2020

ABSTRACT The European context of socio-economic integration and physical proximity likely plays an essential role in explaining the decarbonisation outcomes of industrial sectors. However, there is hardly any spatial regional analysis on CO2 emissions drivers in European countries. This study investigates the role of geographical space and regional determinants in industrial decarbonisation by analysing how socio-economic drivers and their interregional relationships impact industrial carbon emissions in European regions. We employ a spatial panel data econometric model to a novel panel dataset comprising 13 years (2008–20) of carbon emissions from hard-to-abate industrial sectors from 238 NUTS-2 regions across 27 European Union countries. Results indicate the presence of endogenous spatial interactions and high-time persistence between CO2-eq emissions in European Union regions. As such, industrial carbon emissions of regions follow similar patterns to their neighbours, supporting the evolutionary economic geography and growth theory assumptions of the spatial interaction of carbon emissions between regions. Furthermore, the use of a spatial econometric model illustrates the negative direct and spillover effects that higher levels of education and regional investment in research and development have on industrial CO2-eq emissions.

Revisiting the Spatial Cycle: Intra-Regional Development Patterns and Future Population Dynamics in Metropolitan Athens, Greece

Being intertwined with economic development, urbanization determines the present and future development path of regions and countries. The intimate relationship between urban expansion and economic development is of particular interest in the case of large regions with complex (and mostly non-linear) socio-demographic dynamics and a relevant primacy in the metropolitan system of a given country. Typical examples of advanced economies with settlement systems characterized by a high degree of city primacy are peripheral and disadvantaged European countries such as Portugal and Greece. For instance, the administrative region of Attica—centered on Athens, the Greek capital city—represents the largest metropolitan area of the country, hosting almost 3.8 million inhabitants in 2021 (36.2% of the Greek population). In this context, this study investigates the internal redistribution of the resident population in metropolitan Athens and the progressive development of satellite cities over a relatively longtime interval, testing the assumptions of the Spatial Cycle Theory (SCT) between 1951 and 2021 and predicting future development paths up to 2051. To investigate past, present, and future intra-regional population trends, we used data released from decadal (1951–2021) censuses and demographic forecasts for the years 2031, 2041, and 2051. Being in line with the SCT, the empirical results of our study document how demographic dynamics of individual centers influence largely—and independently—the long-term development of metropolitan regions, both with policy/planning regulation and in conditions of non-intervention (spontaneous urban growth).

Psychometric validation of the FACE-Q Aesthetics Satisfaction with Temples scale in individuals seeking minimally invasive treatment to improve temple hollowing.

The FACE-Q Aesthetics is used extensively to measure patient reported outcomes for minimally invasive and surgical facial aesthetic treatments. We recently developed a new FACE-Q scale to assess satisfaction with the appearance of the temples. The aim of this study was to field test the FACE-Q Satisfaction with Temples scale to examine its psychometric properties. The FACE-Q Satisfaction with Temples scale was administered to 171 adults (22 years or older) seeking minimally invasive treatment to improve temple hollowing as part of a clinical trial. The severity of temple hollowing was established through the clinician-reported Allergan Temple Hollowing scale (clinician-rated). The psychometric properties of the FACE-Q Satisfaction with Temples scale were established by testing Rasch Measurement Theory (RMT) assumptions and model fit; unidimensionality by principal component analysis; and construct validity by hypothesis testing. The study sample consisted of 171 adults (mean age 54.7 ± 9.9, range, 25-82 years). RMT analysis provided evidence for the scientific soundness of a 12-item Satisfaction with Temples scale. The data fit the Rasch model (χ2 = 20.47, df = 24, p = 0.67), all items had ordered thresholds, and good item fit. Scale reliability was high, with Person Separation Index and Cronbach alpha values with and without extremes ≥0.93. Principal component analysis revealed a single component with high factor coefficients. Construct validity was established as scores for the Satisfaction with Temples and Face Overall scales were correlated (r = 0.623, p < 0.001). The FACE-Q Satisfaction with Temples scale is a reliable and valid measure that can be used in clinical practice and research to measure outcomes following treatment for temple hollowing.

Optimizing Oxford Shoulder Scores with computerized adaptive testing reduces redundancy while maintaining precision.

The Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) is a 12-item measure commonly used for the assessment of shoulder surgeries. This study explores whether computerized adaptive testing (CAT) provides a shortened, individually tailored questionnaire while maintaining test accuracy. A total of 16,238 preoperative OSS were available in the National Joint Registry (NJR) for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the States of Guernsey dataset (April 2012 to April 2022). Prior to CAT, the foundational item response theory (IRT) assumptions of unidimensionality, monotonicity, and local independence were established. CAT compared sequential item selection with stopping criteria set at standard error (SE) < 0.32 and SE < 0.45 (equivalent to reliability coefficients of 0.90 and 0.80) to full-length patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) precision. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for unidimensionality exhibited satisfactory fit with root mean square standardized residual (RSMSR) of 0.06 (cut-off ≤ 0.08) but not with comparative fit index (CFI) of 0.85 or Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) of 0.82 (cut-off > 0.90). Monotonicity, measured by H value, yielded 0.482, signifying good monotonic trends. Local independence was generally met, with Yen's Q3 statistic > 0.2 for most items. The median item count for completing the CAT simulation with a SE of 0.32 was 3 (IQR 3 to 12), while for a SE of 0.45 it was 2 (IQR 2 to 6). This constituted only 25% and 16%, respectively, when compared to the 12-item full-length questionnaire. Calibrating IRT for the OSS has resulted in the development of an efficient and shortened CAT while maintaining accuracy and reliability. Through the reduction of redundant items and implementation of a standardized measurement scale, our study highlights a promising approach to alleviate time burden and potentially enhance compliance with these widely used outcome measures.

Work statistics for the adiabatic assumption in nonequilibrium many-body theory.

Keldysh field theory, based on adiabatic assumptions, serves as a widely used framework for addressing nonequilibrium many-body systems. Nonetheless, the validity of such adiabatic assumption when addressing interacting Gibbs states remains a topic of contention. Interestingly, the knowledge of work statistics developed in nonequilibrium thermodynamics helps us to quantitatively explore this problem. Consequently, we deduce a universal theorem delineating the characteristics of evolutions that transition an initial Gibbs state to another. Based on this theorem, we analytically ascertain that adiabatic evolutions fail to transition a noninteracting Gibbs state to its interacting counterpart. However, the adiabatic evolution remains a superior approximation relative to its nonadiabatic counterparts. Numerics verifying our theory and predictions are also provided. Furthermore, our findings render insights into the Gibbs state preparation within the domain of quantum computation.

Using ECHO program data to develop a brief measure of caregiver support and cognitive stimulation using the home observation for measurement of the environment-infant/toddler (HOME-IT).

Data from three NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program cohorts that collected the HOME-Infant-Toddler (HOME-IT age 0-3 years) version were used to examine the reliability of a brief scale of caregiver support and cognitive stimulation. Participants with HOME-IT data (N = 2518) were included in this analysis. Mean child age at HOME-IT assessment was 1.51 years, 48% of children were female, and 43% of children identified as Black. A four-stage analysis plan was used to evaluate item response theory assumptions, item response theory model fit, monotonicity, scalability, item fit, and differential item functioning. Results indicate the feasibility of developing a reliable 10-item scale (reliability >0.7) with particularly high precision for children with lower levels of cognitive stimulation.