External Regulation Research Articles

Forming the conceptual foundations of a sustainable development accounting system and reflecting its results in reporting

The subject of this study is sustainable development accounting, particularly its role in shaping environmental and social indicators of enterprises. The paper pays special attention to the issue of insufficient integration of environmental and social aspects into conventional financial accounting. It identifies the need to devise methodologies that include social and ecological indicators in financial reporting, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of enterprise activities on society and the environment. The results demonstrate that the implementation of sustainable development accounting allows for a comprehensive assessment of the financial, social, and environmental impact of the enterprise. Analysis of sources proves that enterprises that use this approach have better opportunities for risk forecasting and resource management, which increases their competitiveness and responsibility to society. The interpretation of the results emphasizes that the success of sustainable development accounting is conditioned by the ability to integrate comprehensive data about the impact of enterprise activities on the environment and society into the general management system. Such integration allows enterprises not only to meet regulatory requirements but also to enhance their overall value and image. The features and distinctive characteristics of the results are that they enable companies to conduct more transparent and responsible business. The implementation of sustainable development accounting systems gives enterprises the ability not only to reduce the negative impact on the environment but also to effectively engage resources to address social issues. The domain of practical application of the results extends to corporate governance, socially responsible business, investment analysis, and environmental assessment. It includes internal and external regulation, stakeholder requirements, and strategic planning at enterprises

Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of PHEEM applied on a sample of medical residents in Syria

BackgroundThe clinical learning environment (CLE) plays a crucial role in shaping the learning experiences and professional development of medical professionals. Understanding and optimising this environment is essential for improving doctors’ knowledge acquisition, clinical skills, and overall well-being. The development of the Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM) and its translation to numerous languages has been a milestone in clinical education. Even though PHEEM was recently translated into Arabic, its psychometric properties in this form remain unevaluated. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a comprehensive psychometric analysis of the Arabic version of the PHEEM questionnaire.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional questionnaire survey validation study. The defined population were medical residents in Damascus, Syria. A paper-based survey as well as an online-based one were conducted using several non-probability sampling methods namely, convenience, river and, snowball sampling between June 15, 2023, and June 21, 2023. Both exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses were conducted. Several psychometric criteria were applied including scree plot, eigenvalue > 1.5 and the ‘proportion of variance accounted for’ criterion.ResultsA total of 543 participants completed the questionnaire (56.9% female). Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure for sample adequacy was high (0.937) and the P-value for Bartlett’s test was < 0.001. EFA revealed five meaningful factors which were labelled: perception of teachers, learner’s engagement and social participation, external regulation, work culture, and living conditions. These factors had the following eigenvalues: 12.6, 2.18, 2.03, 1.86, and 1.41 respectively, with a total explained variance of 43.45%. Cronbach’s Alpha was 0.938. CFA confirmed the model structure of EFA (SRMR = 0.067 and RMSEA = 0.066). The Average Variance Explained (AVE) value of any given factor was > 0.7.DiscussionThe Arabic PHEEM inventory demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties. The extracted domains are of theoretical relevance to the psychosocial-material conceptual framework for learning environment. Nonetheless, this validation was performed in the Syrian context; therefore, future studies in other Arabic countries are recommended to support the applicability of Arabic PHEEM in the wide Arab World.

Risk Perception Disparities in E-Business: Analyzing SME Roles, Experience and Legal Compliance Challenges

This study examines how e-business experience and organizational roles impact on the perception of dependency risks including external service provider risks, legal and compliance risks, and security risks among SMEs. Thus, the first research objective is to examine how and to what extent general and specific e-business experience influence the perceived risks and their priorities. In the present research, a mixed research approach and Kruskal-Wallis test were adopted to compare the risk perception of the respondents. We dissect the findings further by applying qualitative analysis on the impressions shared by the respondents. The findings show that e-business experience has direct effects on risk perception and the firms with less e-business experience perceive dependency risks as more severe, especially in terms of website developer, hardware, and software dependencies. On the other hand, larger and more experienced SMEs consider legal and compliance risks as more important especially where the cross-border transactions and data privacy issues are involved. Moreover, IT staff showed better appreciation of the reputational and employee risk factors more than the non-IT staff showing that technical knowledge is key to risk perception. Based on these results, this study posits that as SMEs gain e-business experience, their risk perceptions change and so do their understanding of external vulnerabilities and regulations.

A conversation on academic freedom and freedom of expression at the university

In this academic interview, Yale law professor Robert C. Post elucidates the distinction between freedom of expression and academic freedom, emphasizing that universities are communities guided by the twin missions of education and knowledge production. At their best, universities function as ‘disciplinary communities’ who must act in professionally competent ways. Post characterizes academic freedom as a ‘two-faced coin’. On the one hand, academic freedom embodies the values and principles essential for the governance of a healthy university community; on the other hand, it shields universities from external regulations that might hinder their mission of advancing education and research. Post also addresses the significant challenges to freedom of expression posed by the cosmopolitan public sphere, particularly in the age of social media and AI. As a trustee of Meta’s Oversight Board, Post highlights the complex issue of harmful speech online, noting that it is not only a matter of scale but also of scale, producing harms that are stochastic in nature.

Diffusion model of multi-agent collaborative behavior in public crisis governance network based on complex network evolutionary game

In order to explore the phenomenon of diffusion of group decision making formed by the emergence of decision-making behaviors of governance agents in public crisis governance systems, this research uses a complex network evolutionary game approach, considers BA scale-free networks as network vectors of public crisis governance systems, and develops a diffusion model of collaborative governance decision making behaviors. Simulation experiments are also conducted to show the macro-level impact of micro-subjects’ decision-making behavior on group “Emergence-Diffusion”. The results of this study show that the cost of collaborative governance has the most significant effect on the depth and breadth of the spread of collaborative behavior in governance networks. The size of the network determines the speed of network diffusion. The smaller the network size, the more sensitive it is to the spillover benefits of collaborative governance, and the larger the network size, the more sensitive it is to the penalties of non-compliance. The findings of the study have implications for the collaborative behavior of multiple agents in public crisis governance. The main findings are that (1) in order to ensure the stability of the collaborative governance system, decision making options should be selected according to the size of the network. (2) A reasonable penalty mechanism for breach of contract should be set up to avoid the phenomenon of “free-riding” in collaborative governance. (3) Reasonable allocation of collaboration benefits and maintenance of cooperative relationships between nodes in the neighborhood. (4) External regulators should ensure that information in the network is disseminated without barriers and reduce the phenomenon of information asymmetry.

Development and Validation of the Motivation for Healthy Eating Behavior Scale (MHEBS) in the Bengali-Speaking Adults

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and validate a scale to assess the motivation for healthy eating behavior in Bengali-speaking adults. Methodology: The study was cross-sectional in nature and was conducted online via Google Forms. A total of 220 Bengali-speaking adults participated in the study. A literature review was conducted to generate an item pool regarding motivation for healthy eating. The content validity of the items was evaluated by an expert panel from related fields. Based on their responses, the items were modified, and 15 items were assessed for face validity. The scale’s construct validity was assessed by performing an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The reliability of the scale was examined using the internal consistency reliability coefficient or Cronbach’s alpha. To establish the convergent and divergent validity of the scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) scale were used. Major Findings: The MHEBS showed good content and face validity. The internal consistency reliability of the scale was in the acceptable range with Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.820. The EFA suggested a three-factor scale structure, and the factors were “benefits of healthy eating”, “external regulation”, and “affordability”. The scale also showed acceptable convergent and divergent validity with SWLS and FCV-19S respectively. Implications: MHEBS — a 15-item 5-point Likert scale — is the first developed scale to measure the motivation for healthy eating behavior in the Bengali-speaking adult population. The scale would help identify what motivates Bengali adults to for maintaining healthy eating behavior. In addition, it would aid program planners to effectively design health promotion strategies as well as health practitioners and dietitians to counsel patients before applying dietary behavior change interventions. Bioresearch Commu. 10(2): 1557-1564, 2024 (July)

Upscaling waste human hairs into micro/nanorobots for adsorptive removal of micro/nanoplastics

The escalating spread of micro/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs), originating from plastic waste fragmentation in the environment, is a growing global concern with detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems. Previous methods for MPs/NPs treatment/removal poses significant challenges such as filtration, sedimentation efficiency, potential introduction of additional pollutants and expensive fabrication steps. In the current work, for the first-time keratin (KER)-based biohybrid micro/nanorobots obtained by facile decorations of iron-oxide microspheres with magnetic capabilities designed to dynamically remove (MPs/NPs) through various chemical/physical interactions, precise magnetic actuation, and improved surface functionalities. By integrating iron-oxide microspheres, keratin biohybrids achieve accurate motility and manipulation via external magnetic field regulation. This fuel free keratin magnetic micro/nanorobots (KMNRs) exhibit notable adsorptive removal efficiencies of 95% and 82% for (MPs/NPs) in water, offering diverse potentiality. Additionally, KMNRs demonstrated excellent recyclability, enhancing their sustainability. With eco-friendly, cost-effective, and real-world application attributes, designed KMNRs present an appealing approach to addressing MPs/NPs pollution.

Efficient industrial-current-density H2O2 production in neutral medium via external-shell boron regulation on single-atom VN4 sites

The unamiable electrolyte environment and insufficient kinetics of electrochemical two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e− ORR) hinders its application in producing H2O2. To address this issue, nitrogen-coordinated single atom vanadium with external shell boron regulation is designed for efficient H2O2 production in neutral medium. The optimal catalyst VN4B/NC showcase a 2e− ORR pathway selectivity of 96.6 % in 0.1 M Na2SO4. And the high current density (1.1 A cm−2) and excellent production rate (16.23 mmol cm−1 h−1) in flow cell further confirm its superior activity. Moreover, VN4B/NC exhibits potential application in solid electrolyte reactor, which is demonstrated by the production rate of 10.18 mmol cm−1 h−1 and long-term stability up to 100 h. Mechanism study suggest the external shell B regulation optimize the adsorption of OOH* intermediates on V sites, boosting the 2e− ORR pathway. This work provides novel insights to rational design of electrocatalysts for commodity chemicals production.

Assessing Telemedicine Demand and Viability in Indonesian Geriatric Clinics: A Comprehensive HOT FIT and Sociotechnical Analysis.

The growing elderly population in Indonesia presents challenges for the healthcare system, prompting the exploration of telemedicine as a solution. However, its effective implementation in Indonesia faces obstacles. This research aimed to develop a comprehensive geriatric telemedicine framework in Padang City by studying multiple stakeholders. We employed qualitative methods, including in- -depth interviews, across two hospitals, a Health Office, and a Community Health Center, involving 18 elderly participants. The study identified ten key dimensions for geriatric telemedicine services: technology, Human-Computer Interface (HCI), infrastructure, system workflow, clinical content, people (diverse roles), organization (ecosystem, service workflow, internal and external regulations), and financing (social security agency on health and independent). We used the Human-Organization- Technology Fit and Sociotechnical System approaches for analysis. The study suggests implications for future implementation and advocates for broader participant involvement, information technology (IT) studies for system development, and longitudinal evaluations to assess the impact on elderly health outcomes.

Coach–athlete relationship as a predictor of contextual motivation in weightlifters

Coach behaviour is an important predictor of athlete motivation (Jowett, 2017). The coach–athlete relationship can be defined as a dynamic interaction wherein the feelings, thoughts and behaviours of both athlete and coaches are mutually and causally interconnected (Jowett and Shanmugam, 2016, In Schinke, McGannon &amp; Smith (Eds.), Routledge International Handbook of Sport Psychology, Relational Coaching in Sport: Its psychological underpinnings and practical effectiveness (pp. 471–484). Routledge). This present study explored the coach–athlete relationship through the lens of Self-Determination Theory. This multidimensional theory underscores various facets of motivation suggesting that coaches' behaviours influence athletes' motivation by directly influencing their three basic psychological needs (Deci &amp; Ryan, 2008, Can Psych, 49, 182–185). The study builds on previous research highlighting the pivotal role of coaches in shaping positive sporting environments and the significance of closeness, commitment and compatibility in the coach–athlete relationship (Jowett &amp; Nezlek, 2012, J Soc Pers Rel, 29, 287–301). The purpose of the present study was to further understanding of the association between the coach–athlete relationship and contextual motivation among weightlifters. Previous studies have expounded a motivational model of the coach–athlete relationship that outlined a sequence wherein coaches’ actions bear influence on athletes’ intrinsic and self-determined extrinsic motivation by shaping their perceptions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness (Mageau &amp; Vallerand, 2003, J Sports Sci, 21, 883–904). It was hypothesised that a coach–athlete relationship scores would be a negative predictor of amotivation and external regulation (H1). It would, however, be a positive predictor of more intrinsic forms of motivation (H2). Specifically, those who perceive their coaches as supportive, understanding and competent will report higher levels of intrinsic motivation within the training environment. Following institutional ethical clearance (33249-A-Nov/2023-47988-1), a sample of male and female weightlifters (N = 20; females = 11) were asked to complete an 11-item version of Coach–Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q; Jowett &amp; Ntoumanis, 2003) and the 18-item Sports Motivation Scale (SMS-2; Pelletier et al., 2013). There was no time gap in the administration of the two questionnaires. A series of standard linear regression analyses was computed using CART-Q subscales as predictor variables and each SMS-2 subscale as the dependent variable. H1 was not supported, as the CART-Q subscales were not a significant negative predictor of amotivation and external forms of motivation. H2 was supported given that the CART-Q subscales were positive predictors of intrinsic motivation subscales.

Making it work in practice: how heads of quality negotiate the third space

Recent decades have seen increasingly complex external regulation applied to higher education providers. This has accentuated the role of heads of quality, who require considerable specialist knowledge and insight to ensure that organisational practices align with regulatory expectations. However, while the existing literature recognises that heads of quality do not perform a uniform role, it does not typically discuss the key organisational features which explain the differences in the role or necessarily position of heads of quality as third space professionals. Drawing on a comparative case study of three universities, the article extends our understanding by confirming that heads of quality can legitimately be termed third space professionals and by showing that heads of quality must navigate their environment in different ways according to the degree of access to the third space offered by their organisation. A more structurally situated explanation of third space activity is thus required. The article also reflects on the tendency to discuss a particular group of third space professionals and to characterise their experience as though it were broadly common. It argues for a more nuanced explanation, taking account of organisational structure as a further variable which may help to explain the experience of the third space professional.

Research on Competitive Compliance System based on Lawler-Porter Comprehensive Incentive Model

在竞争合规领域，普遍存在的“威慑陷阱”现象反映了我国传统简单威慑的固有缺陷，有鉴于此，一套能将外部法律规制等效转化为企业合规自觉的激励体系必不可少。在将Lawler-Porter综合激励模型引入到我国竞争合规制度领域的过程中，达成“工作绩效”是激励机制的基本目标，立法、执法、司法是法律上的三大主要推进路径。适用严格责任、将合规作为法定量刑情节等立法措施能从外在环境上激发企业的合规努力，合规风险提示、宽恕政策等执法手段在事后奖励方面推进企业合规体系建设，综合认定的司法理念则会进一步增强企业的公平感。通过以Lawler-Porter内在逻辑为核心，借鉴海外企业合规的先进经验构建的一套完整循环的竞争合规激励机制，能够从根源上提高企业合规参与度与积极性，从而为推动我国竞争合规制度的不断完善提供参考路径。 In the field of competitive compliance, the widespread phenomenon of “deterrence trap” reflects the inherent defects of China’s traditional simple deterrence. In view of this, a set of incentive mechanism that can equivalently change the external regulation into the compliance consciousness of enterprises is essential. In the process of introducing Lawler-Porter Comprehensive Incentive Model into the field of China’s competition compliance system, achieving “job performance” is the basic goal of the incentive mechanism, legislation, law enforcement and justice are the three main promotion paths in law. The application of legislative measures such as strict liability and taking compliance as a legal sentencing circumstance can stimulate the compliance efforts of enterprises from the external environment. Law enforcement means such as compliance risk prompt and leniency policy can promote the construction of enterprise compliance system in terms of afterwards reward, and the comprehensive judicial concept will further enhance the sense of fairness of enterprises. Through a complete cycle of competitive compliance incentive mechanism and with the help of advanced experience in compliance from overseas enterprises, we can improve the compliance participation and enthusiasm of enterprises from the root, thus offering a reference path for promoting the continuous improvement of China’s competitive compliance system.

Endocrine and Transcriptome Changes Associated with Testicular Growth and Differentiation in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.).

Sexual maturation of Atlantic salmon males is marked by dramatic endocrine changes and rapid growth of the testes, resulting in an increase in the gonad somatic index (GSI). We examined the association of gonadal growth with serum sex steroids, as well as pituitary and testicular gene expression levels, which were assessed with a DNA oligonucleotide microarray. The testes transcriptome was stable in males with a GSI < 0.08% despite the large difference between the smallest and the largest gonads. Fish with a GSI ≥ 0.23% had 7-17 times higher serum levels of five male steroids and a 2-fold increase in progesterone, without a change in cortisol and related steroids. The pituitary transcriptome showed an upregulation of the hormone-coding genes that control reproduction and behavior, and structural rearrangement was indicated by the genes involved in synaptic transmission and the differentiation of neurons. The observed changes in the abundance of testicular transcripts were caused by the regulation of transcription and/or disproportional growth, with a greater increase in the germinative compartment. As these factors could not be separated, the transcriptome results are presented as higher or lower specific activities (HSA and LSA). LSA was observed in 4268 genes, including many genes involved in various immune responses and developmental processes. LSA also included genes with roles in female reproduction, germinal cell maintenance and gonad development, responses to endocrine and neural regulation, and the biosynthesis of sex steroids. Two functional groups prevailed among HSA: structure and activity of the cilia (95 genes) and meiosis (34 genes). The puberty of A. salmon testis is marked by the predominance of spermatogenesis, which displaces other processes; masculinization; and the weakening of external regulation. Results confirmed the known roles of many genes involved in reproduction and pointed to uncharacterized genes that deserve attention as possible regulators of sexual maturation.

High-resolution dynamic thermal programming platform based on micro thermoelectric device assisted by laser integrated manufacturing

Thermoelectric devices (TEDs) exhibit much application potential in thermal camouflage and encrypted display recently, requiring that TEDs possess large responsivity, high resolution and rapid response with flexible configuration design, which are hardly realized by the traditional complex fabrication process. In this work, an innovative laser integrated manufacturing technology including double-side-printing selective laser melting (D-SLM) and selective laser ablation (SLA) is developed for the construction of the dynamic thermal platform based on micro TEDs. Through experimentally determining the laser process window assisted by external temperature field regulation, a flat p-type film can be directly transformed from n-type Bi2Te3 film by D-SLM. Thus, high-precision p-n patterns without metal joints are obtained from a single locally modified film, whose thermoelectric properties are further boosted by increasing energy density and introducing a post-annealing process. Then, a dynamic thermal platform with designable shapes and small dimensions can be fabricated rapidly whose working principle is also demonstrated. The thermal platform with 4*4 arrays exhibits imaging function with a pixel size of 2 mm×2 mm, a temperature difference of ∼3 K, and a fast response time of 0.143 s. This work offers an exciting yet effective approach to fabricating TEDs for dynamic thermal programmable information displays.

Understanding food waste sorting behavior in institutional food services: An integrated psychological framework

Food waste from institutional food services accounts for a significant part of global food waste. Food waste sorting (FWS) at the source reduces waste management costs and environmental impacts in organizations. Yet what drives individual FWS behavior remains underexplored. This study explores the psychological process of FWS in institutional catering environments, integrating the value-belief-norm model, the theory of planned behavior, and self-determination theory. Data were collected from 431 university students in China and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results indicated the interplay of values, beliefs, norms, and motivations in shaping FWS behaviors. Social value orientations (SVO) indirectly affected FWS through awareness of consequences and personal norms. Subjective norms, potentially attributed to external regulations in canteens, influenced FWS intention through personal norms and induced FWS primarily via controlled motivations. The findings imply that behavioral strategies to induce FWS may leverage social influence and external regulation while also translating values and knowledge into intrinsic motivations through educational programs and awareness campaigns.

Behind the bubble: Exploring the motivations of NFT buyers

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) represent a multibillion-dollar global market. While considerable speculation exists about the future utility of NFTs, there has been limited research into the consumer behaviors of market participants. This research paper examines the motivations of NFT buyers through the lens of self-determination theory. Using a sample of 482 participants, the authors tested a conceptual framework to better understand both NFT buyers' intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. This study expands the literature on NFTs in three different ways: i) it is the first study, as far as we know, to focus exclusively on NFT buyers and their motivations in purchasing NFTs; ii) it explores a variety of potential motivations theorized in the literature; and iii) it tests the expected future value of NFTs as both a motivation and as a moderator for NFT buyers. The authors determined that intrinsic motivation had the most substantial effect on purchase intention, and the expectations of NFTs’ future value positively moderated the effect of amotivation on purchase intention. In contrast, high expectations of future value moderated the effect of external regulation on purchase intention. The results suggest that NFT buyers are not as impacted by potential social or monetary gain as often characterized in the academic literature but behave more like traditional buyers of luxury goods.

Motivation for physical activity in the Jordanian military: Possible determinants of physical activity in male and female recruits

ABSTRACT Given the obligatory nature of physical fitness training in the military and in order to guide intervention development, our study assessed possible motivational determinants as suggested by self-determination theory in addition to other possible determinants. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 218 military recruits during their basic training in Jordan. Physical activity and lifestyle behaviors were measured using the Arab Teens Lifestyle Study (ATLS). Psychosocial variables were assessed using the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESE), Behavioral Regulation Exercise Scale (BREQ-2) and Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS). Bivariate correlation analysis revealed that identified self-regulation, introjected regulation and exercise self-efficacy scores were positively associated with higher Metabolic Equivalent of Task (METs) and minutes per week of physical activity among male recruits and the overall sample respectively. Among females, only external regulation was positively associated with the total METs/week. Being a male was significantly associated with higher minutes of physical activity among the overall sample. Multivariate regression analyses showed that identified regulation was significantly and positively associated with higher minutes of physical activity among the overall sample and male recruits in addition to higher METs per week among the male recruits. Also, the amotivation score was significantly and positively associated with higher minutes of physical activity among the overall sample and male recruits. A multivariate regression analysis for female recruits showed no significant associations. Intervention developers are advised to increase autonomous forms of motivation through structured enjoyable physical fitness programs in order to enhance intrinsic motivation in the long term.

Research on multilateral collaboration strategies in agricultural seed quality assurance.

Seeds, as the initial products in agricultural systems, play a pivotal role in ensuring quality, fundamental to national food security and sustainable agricultural development. This study introduces a concept integrating public governance and evolutionary game theory to construct a quadripartite evolutionary game model involving seed companies, certification agencies, farmers, and governmental departments. It considers the strategic choices of these stakeholders under varying economic motivations and market mechanisms, as well as the influence of external regulation and incentives on game strategies. The existence conditions for evolutionarily stable strategy combinations are determined using the Lyapunov first method, and MATLAB is employed for numerical simulation analysis to validate the game analysis under initial conditions. The simulation results reveal two potential equilibrium points corresponding to different strategic choices among stakeholders. The study finds that producing high-quality seeds and the refusal of certification agencies to engage in rent-seeking are crucial for ensuring seed quality. Additionally, the cost-benefit ratio of seed companies, the speculative cost of certification agencies, and the rights-protection cost of farmers are key determinants in the evolution of seed quality assurance strategies. This research also holds practical significance in enhancing seed quality assurance mechanisms and fostering sustainable development in agriculture.

Enhancing external oversight: The complementary role of regulatory minority shareholders in China

In 2014 the China Securities Investor Services Center (CSISC) was set up to serve as a government-backed entity to represent minority shareholders. Does CSISC achieve its role as a complementary external regulator? We present empirical evidence to show that CSISC can effectively alleviate the severity of the minority shareholder expropriation problem. Further, the effect is particularly noticeable in firms that lack measures to prevent misconduct by blockholders, which implies that CSISC significantly complements existing external regulation.

Heritable epigenetic changes are constrained by the dynamics of regulatory architectures

Interacting molecules create regulatory architectures that can persist despite turnover of molecules. Although epigenetic changes occur within the context of such architectures, there is limited understanding of how they can influence the heritability of changes. Here, I develop criteria for the heritability of regulatory architectures and use quantitative simulations of interacting regulators parsed as entities, their sensors, and the sensed properties to analyze how architectures influence heritable epigenetic changes. Information contained in regulatory architectures grows rapidly with the number of interacting molecules and its transmission requires positive feedback loops. While these architectures can recover after many epigenetic perturbations, some resulting changes can become permanently heritable. Architectures that are otherwise unstable can become heritable through periodic interactions with external regulators, which suggests that mortal somatic lineages with cells that reproducibly interact with the immortal germ lineage could make a wider variety of architectures heritable. Differential inhibition of the positive feedback loops that transmit regulatory architectures across generations can explain the gene-specific differences in heritable RNA silencing observed in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. More broadly, these results provide a foundation for analyzing the inheritance of epigenetic changes within the context of the regulatory architectures implemented using diverse molecules in different living systems.