Theoretical Link Research Articles

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) through the lens of previous studies: social sustainability-inhibiting features

PurposeThis study aims to identify the theoretical linkage between work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) and social sustainability to increase awareness of WRMSDs’ social sustainability-inhibiting features and preventive strategies.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative research adopts a systematic literature review (SLR) approach. Adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 303 documents from the Scopus database (2003–2024) were analysed using bibliometric technique and content analysis.FindingsThe study identified key bibliometric metrics such as top journals, most recent authors and publications. The trend shows that documents and citations initially progressed, then stagnated but later rose, and recently, documents have risen independently of citations. Only six journals contribute the most (43 of 85% overall citations; 23 of 73% overall publications), and 13 authors are the most influential. The content analysis revealed that 80% of the recent studies centred on risk assessment (RA) with only 5% on health assessment impact (HAI).Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are limited to the review period.Social implicationsWRMSD is injurious to well-being, impairs performance, and impacts society through reduced productivity, medication use and time off work. Therefore, proactive strategies must be implemented to minimise its occurrence and severity.Originality/valueThis study’s novelty lies in text mining WRMSD literature by raising awareness of its social inhibiting features so that occupational ill health is minimised, project health and workers’ well-being are enhanced, and the industry’s social sustainability is raised.

Promoting mindful consumption through a chatbot with an experiential mind

Purpose To promote long-term sustainability and improve consumers’ quality of life, marketers can use artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to initiate conversations about mindful consumption. Although anthropomorphic designs are integral for successful persuasion, there is scant research on how anthropomorphizing chatbots’ internal traits influences consumers. Integrating the Uncanny Valley Effect (UVE) and the Arousal-Biased Competition (ABC) theory, this study aims to investigate how a chatbot with a higher experiential mind shapes attitudes toward mindful consumption messages by examining people’s emotional responses (i.e. eeriness and amazement) and cognitive engagement. Design/methodology/approach Incorporating real-time interactions with a chatbot, this research adopted an online experiment with a one-factor, two-condition (a higher vs a lower experiential mind) design with eeriness and amazement as parallel mediators, leading to cognitive absorption and, consequently, attitudes toward mindful consumption messages in a serial manner. Findings This study found that a chatbot with a higher (vs lower) experiential mind simultaneously triggers higher levels of eeriness and amazement, leading to higher cognitive absorption and a more positive message attitude. Originality/value This study expands the current anthropomorphism literature by examining the effects of imbuing nonhuman agents with an experiential mind and emphasizing a nuanced view of emotional responses to anthropomorphized chatbots. The findings contribute to establishing a theoretical link between a chatbot’s experiential mind level and persuasion outcomes, offering strategic and ethical insights for anthropomorphized AI use in sustainability marketing.

The Effect of Energy Policy Risk on Renewable Energy

This study explores the association among renewable energy, energy policy risk, economic development, ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) performance and institutional quality in the panel of 137 nations from 2000 to 2022. For the econometric estimations, Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) approach is employed which is robust for the heteroscedasticity. The findings reveal that energy policy risk curbs renewable energy development which is in line with the theoretical linkage. Moreover, the robustness checks conducted by dividing the sample into developed and developing economies also validate that energy policy risk leads to a decline in renewable energy transition. Regarding control variables, economic development, ESG performance and institutional quality, their effects vary depending on the sample of countries.

The wilting jasmine: the erosion of public administration and democratic backsliding in Tunisia

ABSTRACT This article investigates the erosion of public administration in Tunisia and provides evidence that this erosion facilitates the democratic backsliding the country is experiencing. Our analysis identifies two key strategies employed by Tunisian President Kais Saied to undermine the quality of Tunisia’s public administration and solidify his authoritarian control of the country. The first is the compromising of Tunisia’s public administration and bureaucratic independence, and the second is the increasing of pressure and fear bureaucrats face, preventing them from serving their role as firewalls for democracy. This analysis highlights the theoretical linkages between public administration and democracy, which has significant implications for scholars and policymakers alike. The findings also underscore the urgency of safeguarding democratic institutions and fostering resilient public administration to sustain democratic governance in the face of rising authoritarianism around the world.

How does agricultural insurance influence grain production scale? An income-mediated perspective

IntroductionAgricultural insurance has become a vital instrument in risk diversification, loss compensation, and farmer support, with China emerging as the largest agricultural insurance market globally by premium volume. However, the extent to which agricultural insurance influences grain production scale and the underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently explored.MethodsDifferentiating itself from previous studies, this paper conducts a rigorous theoretical and empirical analysis of how agricultural insurance affects grain planting scale. It further examines the mediating role of farmers’ income in this process, providing novel insights into the complex dynamics between agricultural insurance and production behavior. This study applies the von Neumann-Morgenstern expected utility model, coupled with theories on economies of scale, technology diffusion, and rational choice, to examine the theoretical links between agricultural insurance, farmers’ income, and grain production scale.ResultsUsing panel data from 27 Chinese provinces between 2011 and 2021, analyzed through fixed-effects and mediation models, the study finds that agricultural insurance positively, albeit moderately, impacts the scale of grain production, with farmers’ income serving as a partial mediating factor.DiscussionBased on these findings, we recommend expanding agricultural insurance coverage, developing a multi-level insurance framework, and enhancing insurance protection levels to bolster sustainable agricultural development and food security in China.

The Impact of Nationalism on Democracy: Historical, Theoretical and Intellectual Perspectives

This study explores in depth the complex relationship between nationalism and democracy, which have played a central role in shaping modern political systems. While nationalism seeks to create a collective sense of belonging based on a common identity, culture and history, democracy is defined as a system of government in which political authority derives from popular consent and promotes participation and equality. The study examines the historical development of nationalism and democracy, the theoretical links between these two concepts and the ideas presented by leading thinkers. While Mill emphasized the importance of national unity for the success of democratic governments, Rousseau and Renan discussed the role of national identity and common will in the functioning of democracy. Through the contributions of thinkers such as John Stuart Mill, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Ernest Renan, the supporting and conflicting dynamics between nationalism and democracy are analyzed. This article argues that while nationalism can support democracy, it can also threaten democratic principles, especially when it is exclusionary and ethnically based. It also shows how populist nationalism undermines democracy and upsets the balance between these two concepts. By examining the historical and theoretical contexts of nationalism and democracy, the findings of the study help us understand the impact of these two concepts on modern political systems. At a time when globalization and regional integration are challenging the traditional boundaries of the nation-state, understanding this relationship is critical to assessing the impact of the dynamics between nationalism and democracy on political practices.

Research on audience news and information behavior in the application on mobile phone in Chongqing

In the era of rapid advancements in mobile phone media, media integration has progressed into a stage where audience-centred market integration prevails, rendering the exploration of audience information behaviour[1] a paramount priority for both communication research and media practice. This paper delves into news information behaviour within the mobile media landscape, leveraging T.D. Wilson's information behaviour theory [2] as a starting point. It integrates theories such as Uses and Gratifications, Japanese information behaviour theory, media dependency theory, innovation diffusion theory, and consumer behaviour theory [3] to devise a communication information behaviour model. Through interdisciplinary theoretical linkages, this study aims to contribute to theoretical innovations in exploring the behaviour of communication audiences. Utilizing a robust foundation of literature reviews, the primary research methods employed are quantitative research and surveys. Data analysis is conducted using statistical software to discern the characteristics of audience news information behaviour in the mobile media environment. Furthermore, the study compares and contrasts the information behaviour patterns among typical users across different news audience segments. By synthesizing interview insights, the key factors influencing audience news information behaviour are identified, leading to the formulation of a communication news information behaviour model. Employing structural equation modelling (SEM)[4] techniques and statistical software, this paper delves into the intricate relationships between variables that influence the adoption behaviour of mobile news, ultimately constructing a mobile news adoption behaviour model.

Does Energy Risk Lead to Tourism Fall in Europe? Insights from Partially Linear Functional-Coefficient Model

The study empirically assesses the non-linear effect of energy risk on tourism in the case of 28 European countries during the period of 2000-2020. To this end, the partially linear functional-coefficient model (PLFC) is employed. The findings reveal that energy risk negatively impact on tourism, validating the theoretical linkage. As control variables, economic development positively impacts on tourism, whereas government effectiveness and foreign direct investment have negative effects on tourism in Europe. The policy implications such as implementing smart energy management systems, energy decentralisation, transition to renewable energy, cooperation between the different actors and stakeholders for achieving energy efficiency are proposed.

Digital workplace technology intensity: qualitative insights on employee wellbeing impacts of digital workplace job demands

IntroductionDigital workplace technologies are powerful enablers in modern organizations but can also threaten employee wellbeing. Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, this study explores digital workplace job demands, including hyperconnectivity and overload, and their association with health impairment.MethodsUsing a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 employees to capture their experiences of these phenomena. A Critical Realist Reflexive Thematic Analysis was employed to investigate tendencies among digital workers and to draw theoretical links that might reveal underlying mechanisms.ResultsFive overarching themes were identified: hyperconnectivity, techno-overwhelm, digital workplace hassles, Fear of Missing Out, and techno-strain. A connecting thread between these themes is the new concept we label Digital Workplace Technology Intensity, mirroring the dynamics of the existing construct of work intensity.DiscussionThe findings extend JD-R theory by highlighting the wellbeing challenges posed by digital workplace job demands. They emphasize the need for organizations to address the mental and physical health ramifications of the dark side of digital working.

Testing the Mediational Role of Classroom Interactions in the Dynamic Interplay Between Teacher Emotional Exhaustion and Children’s Disruptive Behavior

ABSTRACT Research Findings: Teacher emotional exhaustion and classroom-level disruptive child behaviors are prominent risk factors influencing teacher and child social-emotional and behavioral outcomes. Additionally, theoretical perspectives position links between teacher emotional exhaustion and children’s disruptive classroom behavior as influenced by other proximally occurring teacher-child interactive processes. The purpose of the study is twofold: 1) examine longitudinal bi-directional relationships between teachers’ emotional exhaustion and children’s disruptive classroom behaviors, and 2) examine teachers’ classroom interactions (i.e. emotional support, instructional support, and classroom organization) as mediators of this potentially longitudinal bi-directional relationship. A total of 756 preschool-aged children and 101 preschool teachers across 17 schools serving children from primarily low-income families within the southeastern United States were examined. Data were collected through a multiple-methods approach. Multi-level path models examined the bi-directional associations between teachers’ emotional exhaustion and classroom-level child disruptive behaviors and the mediating role of teacher-facilitated classroom interactions. No bi-directional or mediational links were found; however, teachers’ emotional exhaustion was linked to children’s disruptive classroom behavior, and classroom disruptive behaviors were linked with teachers’ emotional support and classroom organization. Practice or Policy: Facilitating support for teachers’ well-being is critical for school personnel to continue to promote children’s classroom behaviors and maintain effective classroom interactions.

Ownership and inequality: Policy interventions in South Africa and possible ways forward

ABSTRACT This paper examines the link between competition policy and inequality in developing countries. We outline the theoretical linkages between competition and consumption, ownership, and distribution. We then discuss the specific contextual factors relevant to developing countries, such as concentrated product markets, labour markets characterised by high levels of unemployment, and various political and institutional factors related to competition policy including constraints in competition enforcement. These factors may lead to variation in outcomes relative to those seen in more developed economies. It may also necessitate differences in prioritisation and implementation of competition policies. An assessment of the potential impact of traditional competition enforcement in developing countries as well as newer legislative mechanisms that may impact on inequality are discussed.

Translocal Livelihoods, Socio‐Economic Differentiation and Lower Level Urbanisation in Uganda

ABSTRACTIn sub‐Saharan Africa, more than a quarter of the urban population lives in small towns, with rapid lower level urbanisation being driven largely by lacking rural opportunities. A growing interest in translocality considers relationships that position livelihoods within multiple spatial contexts. Terms of inclusion in translocal relationships vary, and the socio‐economic differentiation emerging out of these relationships is understudied. We use a mixed‐methods approach, combining survey data with qualitative data collected in seven small towns in Uganda to shed light on their translocal livelihood dynamics and to elucidate the empirical and theoretical linkages between translocality and socio‐economic differentiation.

Empirical Model For Measuring The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Financial Performance of South African Mining Companies

Since 1950, corporate social responsibility has been receiving scholarly and managerial importance yet its implementation and evaluation remains untapped. The non-existence of a robust tool for measuring the impact of corporate social responsibility on financial performance of South African mining companies via social and environmental dimensions has continued to be a serious concern in literature and in practice. Thus, the focus is to develop this model by collecting a quantitative data through a census of 45 mining companies listed at Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), located in Gauteng and subscribing to Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) index and empirically testing the established theoretical linkages of corporate social responsibility (i.e. social and environmental performance) across their factors/elements with measures of financial performance and putting the tested linkages together. Factor analysis was utilized for data reduction, Chi-square tested for association between categorical variables, Cronbach alpha for internal consistency and reliability of instruments. The findings revealed significant associations between corporate social responsibility, corporate social and environmental performance. Similarly, results suggest that corporate social responsibility performance can translate to financial performance through the elements of social and environmental performance. The implication is that corporate managers can achieve competitive advantage and increase profit by factoring the elements of social and environmental performance, shareholder value, revenue, operational efficiency and access to capital into their decision making models/systems.

Mechanisms and rock strength measurement of two-wing polycrystalline diamond compact drill bits

Mechanisms and rock strength measurement of two-wing polycrystalline diamond compact drill bits

Satiation-Based Theory of Frugal Materialism

Frugal materialism is a tendency of consumer demand to become more elastic in product durability in response to a tightening budget constraint. This paper proposes a value function-based model of frugal materialism and establishes a close theoretical link between frugal materialism and the slope of value satiation as defined in the decision analytic literature; for both their absolute and relative versions, frugal materialism and increasing value satiation are nearly equivalent to each other. Only some shapes of the value function are thus compatible with frugal materialism, and the shape restrictions involve concepts familiar from models of decision making under risk, even though the proposed model of frugal materialism does not involve any risk. Under the additional assumption of relative risk neutrality, the demand for risky assets of a frugally materialistic consumer should exhibit well-known behavioral patterns associated with increasing risk aversion, and there is only a narrow possibility for frugal materialism to coexist with precautionary saving behavior.

Enterprise digitization and marine economic performance: An empirical study of listed enterprises in China's maritime economy.

The scale and connectivity of marine resources make them more complex than land resource management. Although digitization has been recognized as an organizational change process that can effectively improve resource efficiency and enhance network resilience, however, gaps remain in establishing the theoretical links between digitization and marine economic performance. Based on a panel fixed-effects model, this study evaluates the interrelationships and potential mechanisms of different firms with data from annual reports of listed firms in the marine economy in the eastern coastal region of China. The results indicate that there is a 'U-shaped' relationship between digitalization and enterprise efficiency in the maritime sector, and significant heterogeneity exists in the characteristics of these enterprises. Notably, firms' technological innovation capability can modulate the 'U-shaped' relationship through the interaction of economies of scale and economies of scope. This paper highlights how digitization mitigates the fragmentation and sectionalization of marine information and addresses the digital overload and productivity paradox that firms may face in the early stages of digitization. The study suggests that institutional diversity shapes resilience. Governments need to promote top-down regulation and industry collaboration, while marine enterprises need to coevolve collaboratively with them through bottom-up internal communication and external interaction to enhance the value chain of marine enterprises.

Analysing the Relation between Passion, Motivation, and Subjective Well-Being in Sport: A Systematic Review.

Both the Dualistic Model of Passion and Self-Determination Theory suggest that the persistence of a behaviour over time derives from the internalisation of the passion or motivation that the individual feels about the activity. However, the integration of these theoretical assumptions may lead to a better understanding of related outcomes, in particular on subjective well-being (SWB). In this context, this study aimed at systematically reviewing the relation between passion, behaviour regulation (i.e., self-determined motivation), and SWB in sport. The PRISMA 2020 protocol was used to guide the systematic review. Electronic searches were conducted in the Web of Science database and Pubmed. The following descriptors were used: SWB; passion; motivation; behavioural regulation; and sport. After the search, 12 studies were retrieved for analysis that show us the following results tendencies: harmonious passion (HP) and autonomous motivation (AM) (i.e., more self-determined forms of behaviour regulation) are positively related to SWB (i.e., life satisfaction and positive affect), while obsessive passion (OP) and controlled motivation (CM) (i.e., less self-determined forms of behaviour regulation) are negatively associated with SWB. However, no studies were found to simultaneously analyse the three theoretical constructs. These results show us the importance of developing conditions in sport contexts that promote positive feelings that take into account athletes' development of harmonious passion and self-determined behaviour regulation, in order to achieve higher levels of well-being. Nevertheless, these results also lead us to the necessity for more studies to highlight the theoretical link between passion and motivation in the context of sport, especially regarding the mediating role of motivation in the relationship between passion and well-being.

When and Why Does Platform Leadership Drive Employee Intrapreneurship? Moderating Role of Innovation‐Oriented Human Resource Management

ABSTRACTPlatform leadership, a new concept in leadership, along with intrapreneurship, has garnered considerable attention in China. Despite scholarly efforts to establish a theoretical link between leadership and employee intrapreneurship, gaps persist in understanding when and why platform leadership influences intrapreneurship. This study seeks to fill in these gaps by proposing a new model exploring the theoretical relationship between these concepts. Based on social exchange theory, this research examines how platform leadership enhances intrapreneurship by boosting employees' perceived insider status. Moreover, this study investigates how innovation‐oriented human resource management (HRM) moderates this effect. Analysis of two‐stage data from 471 employees in 57 Chinese platform organizations supports the proposed hypotheses, revealing that platform leadership positively influences intrapreneurship, predominantly by enhancing perceived insider status. The effect of platform leadership on perceived insider status and intrapreneurship is also strengthened in the context of superior innovation‐oriented HRM. This study enriches the theoretical understanding of platform leadership and intrapreneurship through social exchange theory and highlights innovation‐oriented HRM as a critical boundary condition. Insights gained from this study offer valuable guidance for advancing leadership and HRM practices within platform organizations.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information Exposure: The Effect of Online Authority vs. Non-Authority Sources on Beliefs, Emotions and Information Engagement Behaviors.

Background/Objectives: Limited research has examined the theoretical linkages between exposure to COVID-19 vaccine information sources, vaccination-related beliefs, vaccination-induced emotions, and vaccine information engagement. Methods: An online survey was conducted with a national sample of adults (N = 630) residing in the U.S. to test these relationships, guided by the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework and the Health Belief Model. Results: Study findings showed that exposure to online authority vaccine information sources was positively related to vaccination-benefit beliefs and negatively related to vaccination-barrier beliefs, in addition to hopeful feelings connected to vaccination. Exposure to non-authority sources was positively associated with vaccination-barrier beliefs, hopeful and fearful feelings connected to vaccination, and vaccine information engagement. While vaccination-benefit beliefs and vaccination-barrier beliefs were negatively and positively linked to vaccine information engagement, respectively, these beliefs were each positively connected to hopeful feelings and fearful feelings toward vaccination in that order. Both hopeful and fearful feelings toward vaccination also emerged as positive correlates of vaccine information engagement. Conclusions: This study contributes to our understanding of how cognitive appraisals of and affective responses to risk information disseminated by different types of sources may be related to risk information engagement behavior in a public health crisis. Results bring evidence-based insights to both researchers and health professionals to better equip them to counter vaccine misinformation and reduce vaccination barriers.

MICROWAVE HEATING EFFECT ON THE OXIDATION AND QUALITY OF COLD-PRESSED SUNFLOWER OIL

Sunflower oil is widely used in the human diet, primarily due to its constituent components and its applications in producing functional products. The use of microwave ovens in food preparation has become widespread in recent years due to certain advantages that include saving time, energy and convenience. As a result of heat treatment of oils, various chemical reactions can occur, leading to the formation of products that may indicate deterioration or a reduction in quality. For this purpose, untreated oil (not subjected to heating) and oil heated in a microwave oven for varying durations (ranging from 4 to 20 minutes) were analyzed in this study. The quality assessment of cold-pressed sunflower oil was conducted using standard official methods to measure peroxide, acid, and iodine values. The progression of oil oxidation was tracked by analyzing conjugated dienes and conjugated trienes through UV-spectroscopy (method AOCS Ch 5-91). Additionally, considering the theoretical link between microwave heating and changes in fatty acid composition, the fatty acid profile of the oil was determined according to MKC EN ISO 12966-4:2015. The results indicate a notable shift in the peroxide value (PV). Specifically, after heating the oil for 4 minutes, the PV exceeds the permitted limits. Furthermore, a decrease in the iodine value is observed with increasing heating time, while no significant changes are noted in the acid value. Additionally, changes in the content of fatty acids are observed in cold-pressed sunflower oil. At specific wavelengths (232 and 268 nm), conjugated dienes and trienes were detected as oxidation products, i.e. the extinction coefficients (K232) and (K268) fell within the ranges of 3,72-4,16 and 1,25-2,56, respectively. These findings lead to the conclusion that microwave heating induces changes in the quality of cold-pressed sunflower oil. To maintain its quality, an appropriate choice of heat treatment is required.