Order Theory Research Articles

Density functional theory study of Chlorine, Fluorine, Nitrogen, and Sulfur doped rutile TiO2 for photocatalytic application

This study uses the Quantum ESPRESSO code to introduce Hubbard correction (U) to the density functional theory (DFT) in order to examine the effects of non-metals (C, F, N, and S) doping on the structural, electronic, and optical characteristics of rutile TiO2. Rutile TiO2 is a substance that shows promise for use in renewable energy production, including fuels and solar energy, as well as environmental cleanup. Its wide bandgap, however, restricts their uses to areas with UV light. In order to move the rutile TiO2 absorption edge toward visible light, one atom of each dopant was substituted at oxygen atom locations in this work. The calculated band structures yielded a bandgap of 3.03 eV for pure rutile TiO2, which is in good agreement with the experimental measurement. The bandgap of all doped materials, with the exception of F-doped TiO2, displayed a redshift. The absorption edges in C, N, and S-doped TiO2 are displaced toward the visible area, as indicated by the imaginary component of the dielectric function peaks. The appropriateness of C, N, and S-doped TiO2 for photocatalysis applications is demonstrated by the shift in the absorption coefficient to the highest wavelength. The presence of extra charges that attenuate the transmission of light in materials is shown by the increase in refractive index following doping. Furthermore, this discovery is crucial for experimentalists since it helps them understand how non-metal doping affects the characteristics of rutile TiO2 for photocatalysis applications.

War and the Transcendence of Life and Death: The Theoretical Foundations of Buddhist Cooperation in the War Effort During the Colonial Period in Korea

This paper examines how Korea’s Buddhist community accepted the ‘Imperial Way’ (J. kōdōshugi; K. hwangdojuui 皇道主義), the wartime ideology of the Japanese Empire, during the colonial period and how it supported and contributed to the war waged by the Japanese Empire. In the process, it analyzes the ways in which the Buddhist community transformed Buddhist theory in order to justify its collaboration with the Japanese war effort. In this paper, the Buddhist doctrinal basis of this wartime collaboration is examined regarding three of its core aspects. First, when the colonial Korean Buddhist community accepted the ideology of the ‘Imperial Way’ and advocated secularism, it did so by means of the logic of the ‘non-duality of the real and the conventional’ (K. jinsokbuli 眞俗不二). Second, when colonial era Korean Buddhism encouraged its own participation in the war, it regarded war as a site of practice that ‘transcends life and death’ and thus affirmed it. Third, the colonial Korean Buddhist community proposed the concept of ‘Buddhist totalitarianism’ (K. Bulgyo Jeonchejuui 佛敎全體主義) to inquire into a totality that transcends individuality in Buddhism. Accordingly, this paper’s goal is to examine how the Buddhist community in colonial Korea transformed Buddhist doctrine for non-Buddhist purposes in a particular historical situation where its cooperation in war was demanded. Additionally, as a starting point for discussion, this issue will also be explored in parallel with the logic of Japanese Buddhism’s war contributions at the time.

Dynamical phases of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a bad optical cavity at optomechanical resonance

We study the emergence of dynamical phases of a Bose-Einstein condensate that is optomechanically coupled to a dissipative cavity mode and transversally driven by a laser. We focus on the regime close to the optomechanical resonance, where the atoms' refractive index shifts the cavity into resonance, assuming fast cavity relaxation. We derive an effective model for the atomic motion, where the cavity degrees of freedom are eliminated using perturbation theory in the atom-cavity coupling and benchmark its predictions using numerical simulations based on the full model. Away from the optomechanical resonance, perturbation theory in the lowest order (adiabatic elimination) reliably describes the dynamics and predicts chaotic phases with unstable oscillations. Interestingly, the dynamics close to the optomechanical resonance are qualitatively captured only by including the corrections to next order (nonadiabatic corrections). In this regime we find limit-cycle phases that describe stable oscillations of the density with a well-defined frequency. We further show that such limit-cycle solutions are metastable configurations of the adiabatic model. Our work sheds light on the mechanisms that are required to observe dynamical phases and predict their existence in atom-cavity systems where a substantial timescale separation is present. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Re-reading Pistorius. How Do Hegemonic Masculinity, Celebrity Status, and Affective Atmosphere Help Us Understand Pistorius's Crime?

Oscar Pistorius's parole in January 2024 offers a new perspective on the South African runner. This article examines Pistorius within the context of social factors that influenced his behavior and the murder of Reeva Steenkamp. Drawing on Connell's gender order theory, Messner's triad of violence, and affective atmosphere, it reveals how Pistorius, despite his disability, embraced hegemonic masculinity and became a sports star. The case highlights professional men's sports as a potential risk factor for violent behavior but underscores the need for contextualizing violence in sports, as predicting its occurrence is complex.

The Decision Problem for Regular First Order Theories

The Entscheidungsproblem , or the classical decision problem, asks whether a given formula of first-order logic is satisfiable. In this work, we consider an extension of this problem to regular first-order theories , i.e., (infinite) regular sets of formulae. Building on the elegant classification of syntactic classes as decidable or undecidable for the classical decision problem, we show that some classes (specifically, the EPR and Gurevich classes), which are decidable in the classical setting, become undecidable for regular theories. On the other hand, for each of these classes, we identify a subclass that remains decidable in our setting, leaving a complete classification as a challenge for future work. Finally, we observe that our problem generalises prior work on automata-theoretic verification of uninterpreted programs and propose a semantic class of existential formulae for which the problem is decidable.

The Wanderers in Shanghai: Russian Fine Art and Hegemonic Meta-Capital in World Politics

This article analyses a Russian art exhibition organised in China in 2017–2018. How did The Wanderers, which arguably represents social criticism, become a heteronomous site of capital accumulation and conversion, and what role did it play in Russia’s status-seeking power pursuits? To answer these research questions, the article focuses on the central forms of capital related to the exhibition. The research data consist of semi-structured interviews and fieldwork in Shanghai. The article’s theoretical-methodological framework is founded on Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory and the field-theoretic account of hegemonic order theory by Daniel Nexon and Iver Neumann.

Application of Stokes’ higher order theory and JONSWAP spectrum in modelling extreme wave events validation with historical data

Accurately modelling wave elevations is critical for the design and safety of offshore structures. This study explores the application of Stokes’ 5th Order Wave Theory and JONSWAP (Joint North Sea Wave Project) spectrum to simulate wave conditions similar to those experienced during the Draugen Ringing Event. Hindcasting on the dataset collected form Norwegian Meteorological Institute sensor system Draugen is performed. Through rigorous analysis performed by integrating these models, we aim to validate their accuracy and reliability against empirical data. The methodology includes generating the JONSWAP spectrum based on significant wave heights and peak periods, followed by computing wave surface elevations using Stokes’ 5th Order Wave Theory and spectral analysis. The outcome of the analysis shows a strong correlation between the modelled irregular wave elevations and actual wave data, demonstrating the effectiveness of these models.

Capital structure specificity in knowledge-intensive industries: A comparative study of EU countries

PURPOSE: This paper aims to examine and compare the capital structure patterns and financial decision-making determinants of knowledge-based firms and traditional industries in selected EU countries over the period 2000–2023. The study seeks to uncover sector-specific features, focusing on the unique financial behaviors of knowledge-intensive enterprises compared to their traditional counterparts. It also explores how factors such as asset structure, profitability, and growth opportunities influence capital structure decisions within these industries, thus providing implications for financial management in innovation-driven sectors. METHODOLOGY: The methodology involves analyzing data from 12 EU countries, categorized by industry (sectors M and J for knowledge-based firms and other sectors for traditional firms) and firm size. The research applies panel data modeling to evaluate the differences and influences on capital structure within these groups. FINDINGS: The study reveals that knowledge-based firms exhibit distinct capital structure characteristics, including a higher reliance on intangible assets and lower ratios of long-term debt compared to traditional firms. Specifically, the findings indicate that intangible assets are positively correlated with total and long-term debt in knowledge-based firms, meaning that an increase in intangible asset value is associated with a corresponding increase in total and long-term debt levels. This relationship aligns with the modified pecking order theory, which posits that firms prioritize funding sources based on their perceived cost and risk. The determinants of capital structure – such as profitability and growth opportunities – also demonstrate differing impacts, revealing the unique financial strategies employed by knowledge-based firms. IMPLICATIONS: This research highlights the importance of adapting financial strategies to the specific needs of knowledge-based firms, which often face unique challenges due to their reliance on intangible assets. Policymakers can use these findings to design targeted financial policies that support the growth and sustainability of innovation-driven enterprises, such as by offering incentives for intangible asset financing or by reducing barriers to accessing long-term debt. For practitioners, the insights highlight the need to align financial decision-making with sector-specific characteristics to optimize capital structure and drive competitive advantage. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: This research makes a unique contribution by providing one of the first comparative analyses of capital structure determinants across knowledge-based and traditional firms in multiple EU countries over an extended timeframe (2000–2023). Unlike prior studies, which often focus on individual sectors or countries, this study offers a comprehensive and cross-sectoral perspective, enriching the understanding of how financial theories operate in diverse economic and institutional contexts. By addressing the financial behaviors of knowledge-intensive firms, the research bridges a critical gap in the literature and informs both academia and practice.

South African Expatriate Teachers in the Gulf Arab States: Push and Pull Factors for Leaving

This study explored the experiences of South African teachers who relocated to teach at schools in the Gulf region (Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait). Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used with 25 educational professionals. Research was guided by the Expectancy-Value Theory and Herzberg’s Motivational Theory in order to situate the findings. Participants revealed that the inability to earn a reasonable salary and lack of professional growth opportunities were two of the main reasons that they left South Africa. Education researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders will benefit from the understanding of how to effectively meet the needs of South African teachers in order to stop further brain drain after qualified teachers graduate; how to acknowledge the challenges of teaching in South Africa in university curricula; and how to encourage recent graduates to stay in South Africa in order to take advantage skills and education.

Cash-rich seasoned equity issuers

We document that a substantial fraction of seasoned equity issuers have large pre-offering excess cash holdings. Cash-rich seasoned equity issuers are not easily reconcilable with the traditional pecking order theory on security choice. We examine the role of market timing, agency costs, precautionary motives, repatriation taxes, catering incentives, real options, and negative cash flows in driving seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) by cash-rich firms. We find that cash-rich equity issuers are more overvalued, use the SEO proceeds more opportunistically, and have a worse post-SEO operating and long-term stock price performance than non-cash-rich issuers. However, we do not detect differences in SEO announcement returns between cash-rich and non-cash-rich issuers, suggesting investors underweight firms’ excess cash holdings when assessing an SEO announcement. Overall, our findings predominantly support a market timing motive for SEOs by cash-rich issuers, while other explanations receive mixed to no support. Our results are robust to alternative empirical specifications.

Design and Preparation of a Self-Inhaling Internal Cooling Grinding Wheel with a Leaf Order Arrangement Structure

Grinding wheels are important tools for precision machining. Traditional grinding wheels have issues such as high grinding forces and temperatures on the machined surface, and excessive use of grinding fluids often leads to significant waste. To solve such problems, this paper proposes a self-inhaling internal cooling structured grinding wheel with a leaf order arrangement based on laser cladding technology, by which the “air barrier effect” in grinding is avoided. In this study, the structure of the grinding wheel substrate, as well as the arrangement of abrasive grain clusters, were optimized. The internal flow field and grinding zone flow field of the grinding wheel were simulated using the computational fluid dynamics method. To ensure stable grinding performance, the effects of different cooling hole positions and sizes on fluid motion were revealed, and the influence of grinding wheel rotational speed and coolant pressure on outlet velocity were analyzed. The results show that uniform coolant outlet velocity distribution can be achieved via matching the grinding wheel’s rotational speed with the initial pressure of the cooling fluid inside the grinding wheel. This study further explored the fluid motion patterns in the grinding zone for four differently structured surfaces. The advantages of using leaf order theory to arrange abrasive clusters were verified. Additionally, orthogonal experiments and range analysis were conducted to study the laser cladding preparation process of grinding wheels. With the optimal process parameters, a self-inhaling internal cooling grinding wheel with a leaf order arrangement structure was fabricated.

Determination of Debt Use on Capital Structure in Indonesia

The use of debt is a strategic decision of the company. The company must make such decisions for the sustainability of its operations. The study investigates the factors influencing debt use in a company's capital structure. The locus of research was a technology business registered on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The sampling was of 17 companies selected through the purposive sampling method. The companies selected as research samples were those that routinely reported financial statements during the research period from 2019 to 2023. Multiple regression analysis was employed to analyze the data. The results showed that liquidity strength negatively correlated with debt use, while the Current Ratio (CR) did not show a significant effect. Tangible assets affect the debt-to-equity ratio (DER), and no significant effect was found on the use of STDTA. Return on Asset (ROA) negatively affects short total debt to total assets (STDTA) and positively affects DER. In contrast, Total Asset Turnover (ATO) and Return on Equity (ROE) positively affected STDTA. ATO had a negative impact on DER. Meanwhile, ROE was not found to have a significant effect on DER. The company uses the pecking order theory approach in its capital structure policy. It pays more attention to internal conditions before adopting a policy of using or increasing debt in the capital structure.

Financial Soundness Indicators and Operational Sustainability of Deposit-Taking Savings and Credit Cooperatives (Saccos) in Kenya

Deposit-taking SACCOs play a crucial role in the financial sector, especially in developing economies where access to traditional banking services is limited. The operational sustainability of SACCOs is essential not only for their members' financial well-being but also for the overall stability of the financial ecosystem. However, despite regulatory interventions aimed at strengthening financial position, many Sacco’s have indicated a declining performance as shown by decreasing returns ROA) in the last 6 years. Anchored on Agency Theory, Financial Intermediation Theory, and Pecking Order Theory, this study investigated the relationship between liquidity, capital adequacy, corporate governance, and operational sustainability in SACCOs. Using secondary data from SASRA annual reports and individual SACCO financial statements covering the period 2018-2023, a systematic review was conducted focusing on deposit-taking SACCOs in Kenya. The study also reviewed past studies undertaken in this area. The review highlighted that liquidity, measured by the current ratio, significantly contributes to the operational sustainability of SACCOs by enabling them to meet short-term financial demands. Capital adequacy, represented by the CAR, was found to be crucial for SACCOs in absorbing financial shocks and maintaining operations during periods of economic stress. Corporate Governance, specifically board independence, was identified as a key determinant in enhancing SACCOs' financial stability and operational efficiency. The study concludes that effective liquidity management, strong capital buffers, and robust corporate governance frameworks are essential for the long-term sustainability of SACCOs. From the findings, it is recommended that SACCOs adopt better liquidity management practices, strengthen their capital reserves, and improve governance structures to ensure their continued growth and ability to serve their members effectively.

Quantum consciousness: A synthesis of SOC and Orch-OR

Despite the advances in the neuroscience field, the nature of consciousness and the mind-body problem are still unsolved. No conventional neurophysiological method has been able to explain consciousness, other than focusing on neural signals. Various theories, such as Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch-OR), Higher Order Theory, Global Workspace Theory, and Integrated Information Theory, also have serious limitations. To better understand the nature of consciousness, the present work explores the connection between Quantum Mechanics and Statistical Physics, in particular through the Orch-OR theory and Self-Organized Criticality (SOC). SOC provides an explanation of how complex systems naturally tend toward critical states, whereas Orch-OR posits that consciousness arises from quantum computations in neuronal microtubules. Here, an integration of these hypotheses is pit forward, proposing that microtubules function as quasi-critical systems that undergo second-order phase transitions, thus generating objective reduction and, consequently, a conscious experience. This idea provides a theoretical framework for the interpretation of how microtubules may contribute to the orchestration of consciousness by integrating quantum coherence and criticality. Future research will be directed toward the biochemical constituents that maintain the essential aspects of microtubule quantum states, their connection to cognitive functions, and experimental verification of these states. This synthesis provides a novel perspective on the role of microtubules in the brain and the quantum foundations of consciousness.

Prekarita práce v období pandemie Covid-19 v perspektivě struktury a subjektivity

The Covid-19 pandemic can be seen as an event that, amongst other things, fundamentally affected the world of work. In particular, the precarity of work has been thematized by researchers. This overview paper builds on contemporary theoretical concepts of precarious work and presents the various manifestations of precarity of work during the pandemic captured in social science research to date. The identified mechanisms of pandemic precarity are liminal phase, the disabling and labour market exclusionary effect of pandemic measures, and various aspects of precarity at work and power in the workplace - the theme being both non-compliance with the safety measures and their enforcement in ways that workers perceive as stressful. Another important theme is the experience of work-life conflict, particularly among the group of parents with pre-school and school-age children. The penultimate topic is pandemics as limitation on the life chances of certain socio-demographic groups, based on life course theory. The last section is devoted to issues of emancipation and agency of workers during the pandemic. The identified forms of precarity are then compared with the aforementioned theories in order to identify which can be considered conceptually new. These are found in particular in the area of precarity at work and include challenges related to safety measures, extreme work and new forms of work-life conflict. The ambiguous nature of these phenomena requires exploration of subjectivity of the actors.

Kryzys humanitarny na granicy polsko-białoruskiej. Analiza zjawiska w perspektywie ładu społecznego

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS ON THE POLISH-BELARUSIAN BORDER: ANALYSIS OF THE PHENOMENON FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIAL ORDER THEORY The article concerns the humanitarian crisis on the Polish Belarusian border. The author describes and explains the phenomenon referring to the concept of social order by Stanisław Ossowski. The entities that create the social order at the Polish-Belarusian border are described and analysed: the EU, the Polish state and its institutions, civil society, inhabitants of the region and migrants crossing the border illegally. In the summary, the author points to the relationship between the social order created at the border and the humanitarian crisis.

Surface Effects Study: A Continuum Approach From Fundamental Modes to Higher Modes and Topological Polarization in Orthotropic Piezoelectric Materials

Abstract The primary goal of the current work is to investigate how wave propagation influences the performance of surface acoustics wave (SAW) macro- and nano-sensors. Therefore, shear horizontal (SH) waves use the surface piezoelectricity theory to explore SH waves in an orthotropic piezoelectric quasicrystal (PQC) layer overlying an elastic framework (Model I), a piezoelectric substrate, and an orthotropic PQC substrate (model II). This study employs a variable-separable technique. The theoretical forms are constructed and used to present the wavenumber of surface waves in any direction of the piezoelectric medium, based on the differential equations and matrix formulation. In addition, we take into account the surface elasticity theory in order to obtain the phase velocity equation. Two configurations are examined: an orthotropic piezoelectric material layer over an elastic framework and a piezoelectric material half-space with a nanosubstrate. Analytical expressions for frequency equations are derived for both symmetric and antisymmetric waves. This study investigates the effects of surface elastic constants, surface density, anisotropic piezoelectric constant, and symmetric and antisymmetric modes on phase velocity. This study is confined to only linear wave propagation. Additionally, the analysis is based on idealized material properties, surface properties, and characteristic length of the material.

(Re)constructing ‘witness vulnerability’: An analysis of the legal and policy frameworks of the statutory regulators of social work and social care professionals in the UK

Abstract This article explores how the legal and policy frameworks of the statutory regulators of social work and social care professionals in the UK approach the question of whether a witness at a Fitness to Practise hearing should be considered as ‘vulnerable’, and the steps that may be taken in response. Our focus is on witnesses who are service users, their families, and wider publics and, in some circumstances, colleagues. This novel socio-legal comparison between the four countries of the UK draws on literature that critically considers how vulnerability is used in the social work and welfare context and feminist vulnerability theory in order to analyse how witness vulnerability is constructed in these texts. We argue that these constructions can be, at the same time, too narrow, too broad, and potentially stigmatizing, and further sit uncomfortably with a social model of disability. We call for a more holistic textual approach to how witness vulnerability is framed and suggest how this may be operationalized in policy and law. Our findings have wider application, beyond the regulation of the UK-wide social work and social care workforce, where regulatory processes designed to protect the public rely on witnesses coming forward to provide evidence.

An application of the theory of categorical many-valued partial orders to sets with fuzzy equalities

A recently proposed theory of categorical many-valued partial orders suggests a new approach to fuzzy equality-based fuzzy partial orders. The present study applies the theory to the category GL-SET of global L-valued sets for a fixed strictly two-sided, commutative quantale L. For a special global L-valued set Ω, we construct a partially ordered Ω-monoidal relation system ϒG, containing an Ω-monoidal relation system G, on GL-SET and formulate fuzzy equality-based fuzzy partial orders on sets as ϒG-partial orders on global L-valued sets in this paper. It is then shown that the category of fuzzy equality-based fuzzy partially ordered sets can be presented as the category of ϒG-partially ordered global L-valued sets. Furthermore, we give explicit characterizations of the Kleisli and Eilenberg-Moore categories of the Ω-monoidal power object monad associated with G.

The Capital Structure Dynamics of SMEs in Kosovo: Evidence Using Panel Data

Abstract This paper evaluates the applicability of capital structure theories in assessing the financial choices made by SMEs in Kosovo. Additionally, it examines whether previously studied determinants of capital structure, such as firm age and size, liquidity, profitability, firm growth, asset structure, effective tax rate, and non-debt tax shield, can explain the capital structure choices of SMEs in Kosovo. Utilizing annual firm-level data, a panel data methodology is employed to test empirical hypotheses on a sample of 90 SMEs in Kosovo from 2013 to 2018. Dynamic panel model findings reveal that the financial behavior of Kosovo’s SMEs is influenced not only by internally generated funds but also by various specific firm characteristics, including liquidity, effective tax rate, non-debt tax shield, size, asset structure and growth. Finding aligns with the pecking order theory, which suggests that more profitable SMEs tend to rely less on debt financing. The study offers implications and recommendations for both firms’ managers and policymakers.