Theoretical Mechanisms Research Articles

Mapping the potential of meal kits to influence parental food literacy: an application of behaviour change frameworks

Cooking at home and eating together provide opportunities to improve family nutrition and promote healthy dietary habits. Commercial meal kit subscription services (MKSSs) (e.g. HelloFresh™, Marley Spoon™, EveryPlate™) may support parents to overcome obstacles to family meal provisioning and facilitate food literacy development. A gap exists in our understanding of how and why meal kits may elicit behaviour change, and opportunities to increase their behaviour change capability. This study aimed to examine the theoretical potential of Australian MKSSs to promote parental food literacy using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW)(1) and associated Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF)(1) and Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy v1 (BCTTv1)(2). A one-week subscription was purchased for all Australian-based MKSSs (n = 9) and key meal kit components (subscription and meal planning features, meal kit delivery and website content) were coded using the retrospective application of these behaviour change frameworks. Parental food literacy-related behaviours were informed by a Food Literacy framework(3). Identified BCTs were mapped to the TDF using the Theory and Techniques Tool to identify theoretical mechanisms of action. The key meal kit components identified mapped to eight of the nine BCW intervention functions. These components primarily served the functions of enablement and environmental restructuring to support cooking at home. Thirty-five of the 93 possible BCTs were identified across the nine MKSSs reviewed, ranging from 19 to 29 BCTs per company, and linked to 13 of the 14 TDF domains. The most frequently identified mechanisms of action (TDF) targeted changes in motivation (n = 27) and capability (n = 19) to influence parental food literacy. Australian-based MKSSs incorporate a wide range of BCTs that target mechanisms of action associated with food literacy-related behaviours. These findings provide a strong theoretical evidence-base for the potential of commercial MKSSs to enhance parental food literacy. However, the extent to which these services may influence behaviour change or impact family food intakes is currently unknown. Therefore further research is required to evaluate the healthfulness and effectiveness of MKSSs.

How Network Structure Shapes Languages: Disentangling the Factors Driving Variation in Communicative Agents.

Languages show substantial variability between their speakers, but it is currently unclear how the structure of the communicative network contributes to the patterning of this variability. While previous studies have highlighted the role of network structure in language change, the specific aspects of network structure that shape language variability remain largely unknown. To address this gap, we developed a Bayesian agent-based model of language evolution, contrasting between two distinct scenarios: language change and language emergence. By isolating the relative effects of specific global network metrics across thousands of simulations, we show that global characteristics of network structure play a critical role in shaping interindividual variation in language, while intraindividual variation is relatively unaffected. We effectively challenge the long-held belief that size and density are the main network structural factors influencing language variation, and show that path length and clustering coefficient are the main factors driving interindividual variation. In particular, we show that variation is more likely to occur in populations where individuals are not well-connected to each other. Additionally, variation is more likely to emerge in populations that are structured in small communities. Our study provides potentially important insights into the theoretical mechanisms underlying language variation.

The association between number of siblings and delinquent behaviour

ABSTRACT This study examines the association between number of siblings and delinquency, adjusting for family relations and demographic variables. Data is based on a nationally representative school survey in Sweden consisting of approximately 25,000 youths. The results show a positive association for those having five or more siblings (IRR = 1.533, p = < .001), whereas one or two siblings is negatively associated with delinquency compared to those having no siblings. These results remain stable after adjusting for family relations. This study underscores the importance of further exploring the variation and direction of the association between the number of siblings and delinquency, as well as deepening our understanding of the various theoretical mechanisms through which the number of siblings is associated with delinquent behaviour.

Paths and Mechanisms of Rural Transformation Promoted by Rural Collectively Owned Commercial Construction Land Marketization in China

Rural collectively owned commercial construction land marketization (RCCCLM), a land policy that is still being piloted despite being allowed by law, has been regarded as an indispensable policy tool that can meet the land demand for rural development. This study aims to analyze the typical modes and key paths of RCCCLM for rural transformation theoretically and practically. We developed an innovative theoretical framework of “Situation-Structure-Implementation-Outcome” to illustrate the relationship between RCCCLM and rural transformation. By tracing the process of the impact of RCCCLM on rural transformation in typical areas, this study fills the gap in existing research that has not yet explored the theoretical mechanisms between RCCCLM and rural transformation. The results show that a combination of such factors as geographical location and rural land use status brings about three major ways of RCCCLM, namely, local marketization, adjustive marketization and consolidation-based marketization, to promote rural transformation. The influencing mechanism of RCCCLM on rural transformation mainly concerns rights granting, rural land use structure reshaping, the transformation of farmers’ livelihood and improvement in rural governance capacity. Rural transformation follows a basic rule and phased characteristics of evolving from single function to multiple functions, and RCCCLM displays a differentiated driving effect on the evolution of rural functions in different stages of rural development. These findings will provide new insights into rural land use and rural transformation in China and other developing countries and help solve the bottlenecks in rural transformation.

The Role of Games in the Moral Education of Children from an Islamic Perspective

In this article, we will examine moral education through games from an Islamic perspective. To this end, we will first present a discussion of virtue ethics as the theoretical framework of our discussion since a major part of Islamic moral education can be explained through it. As we will explain, virtue ethics emphasizes the effect of following moral patterns in character formation. Then, we will discuss the place of games in the moral education method of the Prophet of Islam and the Shia Imams and show how they paid attention to the moral education of children through games. We will then look at some new games designed by Islamic education experts for this purpose. Finally, we will discuss some theoretical mechanisms to explain the efficacy of these games and examine an empirical case study conducted in this field. Research Objectives: To explore the role of games in the moral education method of the Prophet of Islam and the Shia Imams. Research Methods: A qualitative documentary method to study the place of games in Islamic moral teachings and methods. Research Results: A major part of Islamic moral education can be explained through the virtue ethics framework, which emphasizes the effect of following moral patterns in character formation.

Does China's carbon inclusion policy promote household carbon emissions reduction? Theoretical mechanisms and empirical evidence

China's carbon inclusion policy (CIP) is an innovative voluntary emission reduction mechanism that aims to drive consumption-side emission reductions and achieve dual carbon goals. However, the effectiveness of the policy has not yet been assessed. To fill this research gap, this study evaluated the impact of CIP on urban household carbon emissions based on panel data from 283 cities in China from 2006 to 2020. This was conducted using staggered difference-in-differences (DID), synthetic DID, and spatial DID methods. The results showed that the CIP significantly reduced household carbon emissions through the green consumption awareness enhancing effect and green supply capacity improving effect. Heterogeneity tests indicated that carbon reduction effects are stronger in electricity and gas consumption and relatively modest in the heating and transportation domains. Cities with higher financial technology levels and greater government intervention had better policy outcomes. CIP also exhibited spatial spillover effects on household carbon emissions and synergistically reduced air pollution. Despite incurring certain economic costs, it ultimately promoted regional economic growth. This study can provide theoretical and empirical evidence for China to promote CIP and achieve its dual carbon goals.

Readability of Pension Narrative Disclosures, Pension Regulatory Changes, and Corporate Credit Risk

We examine, using corporate bond yield spreads, whether and how the readability of pension narrative disclosures is associated with corporate credit risk. The empirical results show that lower readability of pension narrative disclosures is associated with higher bond yield spreads. This association is driven by theoretical mechanisms, including incomplete information, asset value volatility, and financial leverage. The implementation of SFAS No. 132R-1 and the Pension Protection Act (regulatory mechanisms) has strengthened this association. We also consider two potential mechanisms that weaken the association between the readability of pension narrative disclosures and bond yield spreads: bond seniority and collateralization and shorter duration of debt to pension liability. Furthermore, our results show that pension plan size strengthens this association, whereas the funded status, actual return on pension assets, and equity allocation of pension assets weaken this association. Lastly, the results still hold when considering endogeneity issues, controlling for the tones and the length of pension narrative disclosure, employing difference-in-differences analysis, and examining firms with defined-benefit pension plans only or those with newly issued bond observations.

Green bonds and sustainable development: theoretical model and empirical evidence from Europe

ABSTRACT As a novel financial instrument, green bonds require further research to understand their causal effects and theoretical mechanisms on sustainable development fully. This paper constructs a theoretical model that characterizes the issuance of green bonds as the extent to which social planners prioritize environmental benefits in bond markets. In this model, we define sustainable development as the geometric mean of environmental factor inputs and final production output. By maximizing consumer utility, this model elucidates the direct and non-linear relationship between green bonds and sustainable development. The paper empirically investigates this proposition using data from 19 European countries between 2018 and 2022. The results indicate that: (1) Green bonds significantly promote sustainable development. This financial instrument, designed to raise funds for environmental projects, can indeed promote sustainable development through clean and green resource allocation. (2) The promotional effect of green bonds on sustainable development increases significantly with improvements in innovation efficiency, industrialization rates, and savings rates. This finding elaborates on the conditions under which the positive impact of green bonds on sustainable development is enhanced. (3) Green bonds only promote sustainable development when a country’s factor endowment structure reaches a specific threshold. Beyond this threshold, as the factor endowment structure becomes very high, the country’s sustainable development gains sufficient momentum, diminishing the role of green bonds. This finding suggests that the positive impact of green bonds on sustainable development is contingent upon certain properties reflecting the economic basis.

Protocol for a cluster-randomized trial of a school-based skin cancer preventive intervention for adolescents

BackgroundAdolescents infrequently use sun protection and engage in intentional tanning more frequently compared to other age groups, leading to increased ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure that heightens skin cancer risk across the lifespan. High schools are therefore an ideal setting for offering skin cancer preventive interventions. Yet, there are limited UVR protection interventions for high school students, especially those that are personalized, tested using randomized designs, and include long-term outcome assessment to determine the durability of intervention effects. MethodThe Sun-safe Habits Intervention and Education (SHINE) cluster-randomized trial will test a novel, personalized intervention that targets high school adolescents' sun protection and tanning behaviors, and tracks their outcomes for up to one year following intervention. Enrolled high schools will be randomized to receive either the personalized SHINE intervention, which includes facial UVR photographs and sun protection action planning, or standard education using publicly available materials. Students in both conditions will receive information about skin cancer, sun protection, and skin self-examination. Outcome variables will include students' sun protection and tanning behaviors and sunburn occurrence. Potential moderators (e.g., race/ethnicity) and mediators (e.g., self-efficacy) will also be assessed and tested. ConclusionsThis trial examines the efficacy of a personalized intervention targeting sun protection and tanning of high school students. The project will lead to new scientific understanding of the theoretical mechanisms underlying outcomes and moderators of the intervention effects, which will inform future intervention tailoring to meet the needs of vulnerable subgroups.

Vocational education facilitating the high-quality development of Chinese SMEs: theoretical mechanisms, real constraints and proposed strategies

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China highlighted that “high-quality development is the primary task in building a modern socialist country comprehensively.” The development quality of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) plays a pivotal role in achieving the modernization of socialism in China. Against the backdrop of the state’s strong support for vocational education, the mechanism and pathway through which vocational education impacts the high-quality development of SMEs remain unclear and warrant further investigation. This study focuses on the theoretical mechanisms and real constraints of vocational education in aiding the high-quality development of SMEs. It explores the following areas: First, starting from the concept of high-quality development and the needs of SMEs, the study discusses the ideal orientation of talent cultivation in vocational education. Secondly, it delves into the pathway mechanism of how vocational education influences the high-quality development of SMEs and clarifies the crucial aspects of vocational education talent training. Finally, the study confronts the real issues faced in the development of vocational education and seeks possible solutions. The key to vocational education talent cultivation lies in how colleges and businesses achieve deep integration of industry and education and science and education. Strengthening the demand orientation of vocational education and promoting the structural match between vocational education talent cultivation and the talent needs of SMEs in high-quality development is crucial for enhancing the quality of talent cultivation in vocational education.

Emergence of new firms: A test of the resource-based view, signaling and behavioral perspectives

The resource-based view, signaling, and behavioral perspectives focus on different theoretical mechanisms through which human capital and the behavioral characteristics of nascent entrepreneurs, in combination with insider and outsider financing, may influence the emergence of new ventures. This work tests the relative explanatory power of these different theoretical perspectives. We estimate a mediation model to disentangle the direct effect of nascent entrepreneur personal characteristics on new firm creation from their indirect effects, mediated by the amount of insider financing committed to new ventures and access to greater outsider financing. Our empirical results are based on data from the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics (PSED II) and improve our understanding of the drivers of new firm creation and their underlying mechanisms. Our findings support the resource-based view and the behavioral perspective in our sample of nascent entrepreneurs, but do not provide evidence of the signaling perspective.

Dynamical onset of light-induced unconventional superconductivity—a Yukawa-Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev study

Using light irradiation to manipulate quantum materials has opened up avenues for transiently inducing superconductivity in some systems. Despite experimental confirmation across various compounds, the mechanism behind the dynamic formation of Cooper pairs remains highly debated, in part due to the strong electronic correlations at play, which pose challenges for theoretical investigations relying on perturbative or phenomenological approaches. Here, we investigate the dynamical onset of superconductivity in the strongly correlated, yet exactly solvable Yukawa-Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev model. Analyzing dynamical protocols motivated by theoretical mechanisms proposed for light-induced superconductivity, that is light-induced cooling and the dressing of Hamiltonian parameters, we investigate the exact relaxation resulting out of undercooling and interaction quenches. While, in contrast to BCS theory, it is not possible for superconductivity to emerge following interaction quenches across the superconducting phase transition, we find that the dynamical relaxation of undercooled states universally leads to superconductivity. Despite the strong correlations, the emerging order parameter dynamics are well captured by a coarse grained Ginzburg-Landau theory. Our study provides an integral stepping stone towards exploring light-induced superconductivity in strongly correlated systems in a theoretically controlled way.

Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Managing Anxiety Disorders among Adolescents: An In-Depth Analysis of Individual, Group, and Digital Approaches

This research article delves into the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in addressing adolescent anxiety disorders. It explores various facets of CBT, including its theoretical underpinnings and mechanisms of change, highlighting its role in altering dysfunctional beliefs and thought patterns that contribute to anxiety. The article underscores the advantages of CBT, such as its structured approach, cost-effectiveness, and the provision of practical coping skills, making it a preferred choice for dealing with adolescent anxiety. The study then investigates the efficacy of different CBT approaches, including individual, group, and computerized CBT (cCBT) in details, specifically in the context of the COVID-19. It encompasses a range of research, from meta-analyses to controlled trials, evaluating the impact of these treatments on anxiety symptoms and their long-term efficacy. Research demonstrates CBT's high efficacy in treating youth anxiety, offering sustained symptom reduction and complementing psychopharmacological treatments backed by extensive studies and neuroimaging advancements. Group CBT for adolescents shows effectiveness in anxiety treatment, offering peer support and shared experiences in a communal setting, enhancing coping strategies and social skill development. The findings indicate cCBT's effectiveness in providing accessible mental health support to adolescents, aligning well with their tech-savvy tendencies. In conclusion, this research underlines CBT’s flexibility in addressing adolescent anxiety in both traditional and digital formats, with an emphasis on the promising potential of cCBT. It calls for future research to focus on standardizing CBT practices and validating the long-term effectiveness of cCBT.

Progress of organic wastewater degradation by atmospheric pressure gliding arc plasma technology: A review

The prevention and treatment of organic pollutants in wastewater have attracted extensive attention because they threaten ecological balance and human health. Traditional wastewater treatment technologies, such as physical, chemical, biological methods, etc., are still limiting and challenging due to some factors, such as high energy consumption, chemical agents, low efficiency, and secondary pollution. At present, gliding arc plasma, based on equilibrium/non-equilibrium in plasma temperature, demonstrates itself to be one of the most promising technologies for the degradation of refractory organics with its fast degradation rates, no secondary contamination, high efficiency, and so on. The theoretical mechanisms and typical applications of gliding arc plasma degradation of wastewater are introduced in detail in this paper. The physical and chemical characteristics of gliding arc plasma and the role of the reactive species in the plasma are reviewed.

The interplay of rational evaluation and motivated reasoning in privacy helplessness: An integrative approach

This study investigated the factors that influence individuals’ privacy helplessness in the context of social media and mobile application use. An integrative research model was proposed, simultaneously examining both rational evaluation processes and directional motivated reasoning. The integrative research model was tested using national survey data collected from Facebook users (Study 1, n = 660) and mobile application users (Study 2, n = 385) in the US. The findings demonstrated significant associations between privacy helplessness and factors related to directional motivated reasoning (e.g. perceived rewards, costs, and benefits) as well as the rational evaluation model (e.g. perceived privacy control, trust in the provider, and response efficacy). Moreover, the interaction effects observed in the studies suggest that the two mechanisms either reinforced or attenuated each other's influence. In conclusion, the results emphasize that privacy research should explore both theoretical mechanisms concurrently, as opposed to independently, since they not only operate in conjunction but also interact to define boundary conditions for one another.

A Scientific Method for Startups

Recent scholarship has sought to develop a “scientific method” for startups. In this paper we contrast two approaches: lean startup and the theory-based view of startups. The lean startup movement has served an important function in calling for a normative and scientific approach to startups and venture creation. The theory-based view shares this agenda. But there are differences in the underlying theoretical mechanisms and practical prescriptions suggested by each approach. We highlight these differences and their implications for both research and practice. For example, we contrast lean startup’s emphasis on bounded rationality and entrepreneur–customer information asymmetry with the theory-based view’s emphasis on generative rationality and belief asymmetry. The theory-based view focuses on contrarian beliefs, associated problem formulation, and the development of a startup-specific causal logic for experimentation, resource acquisition, and problem solving. The right mix of entrepreneurial actions is contingent and startup-specific—guided by a startup’s unique theory. After pointing out differences between the lean and theory-based view of startups, we discuss opportunities for partial reconciliation, as well as opportunities for empirically comparing perspectives. Overall, we emphasize that a scientific method for startups needs to recognize the importance of contingent, discriminating alignment between entrepreneurial theories and the actions they prescribe (including different types of experimentation and validation, search, and forms of organization).

The power of the “weak” and international organizations

By nearly every measure, power in the international system is concentrated, meaning that most states lack significant power resources. And yet international relations theory tends to focus on the behavior of great powers. This special issue instead explores the strategies that “weak” states use in the context of international organizations both to advance their interests and to resist pressure from stronger states. We define weakness as a relative lack of power across one or more dimensions. While the literature, to the extent it has focused on weak actors, has too often defined weakness solely in material terms, we adopt a broader conception that builds on the influential typology of power by Barnett and Duvall (Barnett and Duvall, 2005a, Barnett and Duvall, International Organization59, 39–75, 2005b). A multidimensional conceptualization of power allows analysts to show how actors that are weak in one dimension (often material power) may be stronger on other dimensions, giving them greater capacity for action than is often recognized. From this framework we create a typology of “strategies of the weak” that emphasizes the agency of weaker actors to make the most of their positions. The contributions to the special issue, summarized here, illuminate and substantiate many of these strategies across a diverse range of international organizations, understood as both forums and actors. As the articles show, these alternative theoretical mechanisms help explain how and why seemingly weak states sometimes fare better than a simplistic assessment of their material capabilities might suggest. By deepening our understanding of weakness and how it influences state behavior, the volume advances our theoretical understanding of how power is built, wielded, and resisted in and through international organization.

Multi-spectroscopies and molecular docking insights into the interaction mechanism and antioxidant activity of isoquercetin and zein nanoparticles

The purpose of this study was to compare and characterize the theoretical properties and interaction mechanisms of zein and isoquercetin (ISO) from experimental and theoretical perspectives. Zein nanoparticles with different ISO concentrations (ZINPs) were prepared by the antisolvent precipitation method. The experimental results indicated all particles appeared spherical. When the mass ratio of zein to ISO was 10:1, the encapsulation efficiency of ZINPs reached 88.19 % with an average diameter of 126.67 nm. The multispectral method and molecular docking results confirmed that hydrogen bonding and van der Waals force played a dominant role for the binding of ISO to zein, and the primary fluorescence quenching mechanism for zein by ISO was static quenching. Furthermore, ZINPs had greater solubility and antioxidant activity, as well as inhibited the release of ISO during simulated gastrointestinal digestion processes. This research contributes to the understanding of the non-covalent binding mechanism between zein and ISO, providing a theoretical basis for the construction of ISO active carriers.

Introduction to the special issue of the International Journal of Comparative Sociology on “National identity, nationalism, patriotism, and globalization”

This editors’ introduction into the themed issue of IJCS dedicated to the analysis of comparative survey work on national identity and globalization presents a very brief overview of core hypotheses from the five articles collected in the issue. The articles offer a variety of new, rather differentiated insights into how individual-level national identity attitudes and sibling concepts like national pride, patriotism, and nationalist chauvinism are related to societal-level variables that tend to vary with exposure to aspects of globalization, such as migrant influx and economic competition. Aside from the focus on those new contributions, the introduction also offers a few observations on the challenges that the wider national identity research field still faces. Given that the field is dealing with several overlapping attitude concepts, this centrally concerns a partial lack of conceptual clarity, which sometimes translates into ambiguous operationalizations and incomplete or imprecise explication of theoretical mechanisms. We conclude that the contributions of the themed issue, with their careful attention to particular aspects of measures and multi-level processes, may serve as another stepping stone for overcoming at least some of those challenges in the future.

A tumor on a chip for studying immune-cell infiltration into tumor under chemo/immunotherapy treatments

The combo treatment of chemo/immunotherapy is a promising method in treating cancer patients. The results of Keynote-189 phase III clinical trial showed that chemotherapy drug plus immunotherapy drug reduced mortality compared with chemotherapy drug alone, in which the underlying mechanism has not been well demonstrated. The treatment combination also needs to be tuned for each patient, i.e., personalized medicine. Tumor-on-a-chip aims to mimic the tumor microenvironment (TME) with an in-vitro lung cancer-immune model to provide a potential solution for this application. Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-cancer cells were driven on the ITO electrode track using liquid dielectrophoresis (LDEP) to form the tumor-like hydrogel. Jurkat T cells surrounded the solidified GelMA-A549 cells, resembling the cancer-immune microenvironment. The immune-cell infiltration phenomena of Jurkat T cells into the tumor were activated and enhanced via either IL-1β-treated A549 cells or atezolizumab (immune drugs) on the tumor lab chip. The death of cancer cells significantly increased ∼35% after chemo/immunotherapy combination treatment compared with the single treatment. The distribution of dead cancer cells treated with chemo/immunotherapy revealed their distinct theoretical mechanisms, indicating the promising application of this tumor lab chip for cancer patients in personalized medicine treatments.