Consistent Theory Research Articles

A Scary tale: the archetypal content of A.P. Chekhov's drama "Three Sisters"

The object of the study is A.P. Chekhov's drama "Three Sisters" – one of the most popular and at the same time mysterious plays. For several months, Chekhov scrupulously worked on the text of this work, making edits even during rehearsals of the theatrical production, striving for a more accurate correspondence of the play to the original idea. Interpretations that reduce Chekhov's plan to a certain idea, as a rule, seem extremely one-sided, while the drama "Three Sisters" is complex and multi-layered. It can be assumed that by saturating the play with random, at a superficial glance, but significant details in a holistic perception, Chekhov forms a super-ideological meaning, thanks to which the work acquires deep psychologism and does not lose its relevance. The supersense that stands above other ideas and attitudes is the archetype – the image of the collective unconscious, which even before the emergence of fiction was embodied in myths and fairy tales. If we consider the drama "Three Sisters" from the standpoint of archetypal analysis, then much of what seems strange in the play gets a fairly clear explanation, and the details that seem "accidental" occupy an important place in the overall structure of the work. Archetypal analysis also provides an answer to the question of why the author himself called the drama "Three Sisters" "vaudeville" and "funny comedy". The comic in the play goes back to the theory of inconsistency formulated in the works of I. Kant and G.V.F. Hegel. Chekhov creates a phantasmagoric world, a half-tale, in which the problem of man's collision with mortality and the temporary nature of all things is comprehended: all the experiences and troubles of the heroes eventually devalue, turn into nothing.

Gilbert Simondon and speech communication

The understanding of speech communication in the thinking of the outstanding French philosopher and thinker in the field of technology and technological innovations Gilbert Simondon (1924–1989) is aporetic, is a riddle, not a solution and, moreover, cannot give convincing definitions of the sought-after concepts, such as truth and virtue. Although, it seems, Simondon had all the conditions for developing an original and consistent theory of "speech communication", which in the space of linguistic communication is the dominant form of interaction. However, in his works there are only scattered reflections that do not provide a basis for a strict theory, but rather lead to an unsystematized criticism of language. Moreover, Simondon always criticized the topic of "speech communication", since in the middle of the twentieth century its theory was a paradigm of structuralist fashion. Therefore, with an emphasis on the dialectical method of research, we will try to determine those hypotheses that can explain such an absence of the theory of "speech communication" in his works. In conclusion, the author of the article came to the following conclusions. First, Simondon did not need to use the concept of "speech communication" to rethink the conditions of thinking in his theory of "individuation". Second, Simondon posed the question of speech communication differently, namely in the form of a theory of "technosocial communication" based on the relationship between technologies, information and meanings that go beyond and embrace the question of language. Third, based on these two hypotheses, an important assumption is made that Simondon sought to derive philosophy from logocentrism and the reductionist anthropocentrism that supports it, which implies a fundamental relativization of speech communication.

Bottling it? Consumer responses to less environmentally friendly products: A choice experiment for water in plastic packaging in the UK.

Consumers have several options when confronted with less environmentally friendly packaging like water in single use plastic bottles - they can ignore environmental concerns and proceed with a purchase, refuse to buy any such product, seek out a less damaging version like water in biodegradable bottles, and/or engage in offsetting/compensatory behavior such as donating to a charity. Understanding how consumers value these options is an important academic and management challenge. To address this, a stated choice experiment is employed. It considers the preferences of a representative sample of UK consumers for bottled water with the attributes: packaging (PET versus biodegradable), charity donation (environment/social/none), origin (domestic/foreign), and price. Data were analyzed using random parameter logit modeling, incorporating a latent variable into the model, which captured environmentally conscious behavior. Based on the model estimations, domestic origin, biodegradable packaging, and charity donations (both for environmental and social causes) positively affect decision-makers' perceived utility. In keeping with moral consistency theory, as consumers' level of nature relatedness and green consumption values increase, biodegradable packaging becomes more preferable than non-biodegradable packaging, and the likelihood of refusing to purchase any bottled water option, rises, respectively. In contrast, high levels of materialist values are associated with lower environmental consciousness. The paper provides evidence to managers regarding consumers' valuation of more environmentally friendly packaging, and strategies to increase uptake.

Quantitative analysis model of wind energy resources in adjacent area of existing wind farms

To accurately analyze the risk resource reserves in the vicinity of wind farms and optimize the application of wind energy resources, a quantitative analysis model of wind energy resources in the vicinity of existing wind farms considering the roughness index and interference characteristics is studied. Collect and preprocess the wind energy resource data in the vicinity of existing wind farms in the national meteorological-related Internet, and build a risk resource analysis index system consisting of wind energy density, roughness index and interference characteristics according to relevant national standards; The parameter estimation method of Weibull distribution is used to calculate the density index of wind energy resources and the available hours index of wind energy resources. The roughness index is determined using the Monin–Obukhov consistent theory, and the correlation coefficient and stability are used to describe the interference characteristic index. The quantitative analysis results of wind energy resources in the vicinity of existing wind farms are obtained according to the calculation results. The experimental results show that the model can accurately calculate the roughness index and interference characteristics of the study area, and obtain high-precision quantitative analysis results for wind energy resources.

Does executives’ prior experience matter for corporate green innovation? Evidence from China

ABSTRACT This paper explores whether executives’ experience related to green innovation developed in their former firms affect green innovation performance of their successor firms when they change jobs between different firms. By tracking executives’ movement across Chinese listed firms, we find a significantly positive association between the green innovation performance of the former and the successor firm for the same executive, which supports the behavioral consistency theory. This pattern is more pronounced when the successor firm has stronger environmental attention and lower top management team age heterogeneity. Overall, our findings corroborate the importance of executives’ prior experience in corporate green innovation.

Entropy production due to spacetime fluctuations

Abstract Understanding the quantum nature of the gravitational field is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges in theoretical physics. Despite significant progress, a complete and consistent theory remains elusive. However, in the weak field approximation ---where curvature effects are small--- we can explore some expected properties of such a theory. Particularly relevant to this study is the quantum nature of gravitational waves, which are represented as small perturbations in flat spacetime. In this framework, a quantum description of these perturbations, as a quantum field, is feasible, leading to the emergence of the graviton. Here we consider a non-relativistic quantum system interacting with such a field. We employ the consistent histories approach to quantum mechanics, which allows us to frame classical questions in a quantum context, to define a fluctuation relation for this system. As a result, thermodynamic entropy must be produced in the system due to its unavoidable interaction with the quantum fluctuations of spacetime.

Mixed gauge-global symmetries, elliptic modes, and black hole thermodynamics in Hořava-Lifshitz gravity

In Hořava-Lifshitz gravity, a putative consistent theory of quantum gravity for which there is evidence for both black hole thermodynamics and a holographic construction, spacetime is endowed with a preferred dynamical spacelike foliation. The theory has a leaf reparameterization symmetry that is neither global nor local gauge, hyperbolic and elliptic equations of motion, a lack of splittability, and universal horizon black hole solutions. The reparameterization symmetry is “mixed”: it is a local symmetry in one coordinate yet global on each leaf. More broadly it is an example of both unfree and projectable gauge symmetries. The mixed symmetry and associated charge has not yet been accounted for in calculations of universal horizon thermodynamics in Hořava-Lifshitz gravity. This has led to problems, in particular the failure of the first law in a class of asymptotically AdS solutions where the normal to the leaves of the foliation is not aligned with the time translation Killing vector at infinity. We show how the dynamics of the charge corresponding to this symmetry coupled with the other features above resolves this issue. We then briefly comment how this mixed symmetry, the corresponding charge, and the elliptic equations of motion also conspire to evade recent holographic arguments for only local gauge fields in consistent theories of quantum gravity due to the lack of splittability of the elliptic equation and associated mode.

Embracing Virtual Reality in Destination Marketing: A Serial Mediation Model to Investigate the Role of Virtual Tourism Experiences in the Formation of Place Attachment

Technological innovation is important for destination marketing organisations (DMOs) in achieving sustainable destination development. However, few studies have considered the marketing potential of emerging immersive technologies in promoting local destinations, as well as their impacts on tourists’ place attachment. Drawing upon cue consistency and place attachment theory, this study established a serial mediation model to examine the impact of sensory information acquired from online virtual tourism experiences, such as visual and auditory cues, on tourists’ place attachment formation during the post-trip stage. The PLS-SEM approach was adopted to analyse the data, which were collected from 408 respondents via an online survey. The results showed that tourists’ sensory information significantly influenced their virtual attachment and sense of presence. Furthermore, tourists’ perceived information and image consistency significantly influenced their place attachment. In addition, the serial mediation effect among sensory information, cue consistency, and place attachment was confirmed. The theoretical and managerial implications are also discussed.

Bounds and dualities of Type II Little String Theories

We explore the symmetry structure of Type II Little String Theories and their T-dualities. We construct these theories both from the bottom-up perspective starting with seed Superconformal Field Theories, and from the top-down using F-/M-theory. By exploiting anomaly inflow and unitarity of the LST worldsheet theory, we derive strong conditions on the possible 6D bulk theories and their flavor algebras. These constraints continue to apply if gravity is coupled to the theory. We also study the higher form symmetry structure of these theories and show how they get exchanged under T-duality. Finally, we comment on seemingly consistent bottom-up Little String Theories that cannot be constructed from the top-down approach.

Non-existence of causal, standard classical electrodynamics with point charged particle

Abstract The existence of consistent, standard and causal theory of point charged particle (for example electron) interacting with electromagnetic field was the subject of many investigations. This problem is often stated as the description of the system of electromagnetic pulse of radiation interacting with single point charged particle (for example electron). The correct theory should give the causal particle trajectory for any electromagnetic pulse of radiation. Up to now no such theory was formulated. We show that for certain electromagnetic pulse of radiation and point particle being initially at rest, there does not exist a causal and physical particle trajectory that satisfies energy and momentum conservation. This shows that the causal, standard electrodynamics of scalar point particles, valid for all possible external pulses, does not exist.

Symmetry reduction, gauge reduction, backreaction, and consistent higher order perturbation theory

Symmetry reduction, gauge reduction, backreaction, and consistent higher order perturbation theory

How hotel VR photography previews enhance customers’ immediate booking intention through mental imagery and perceived value

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine how a hotel virtual reality photography (VRP) preview enhances customers’ immediate booking intention compared to a picture preview. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using a one-factor between-subject experimental design and time-based systematic sampling. Respondents were asked to read a scenario on an iPad and assess a hotel preview (VRPs vs pictures) before answering the questionnaire. Findings The results show that a hotel VRP preview generates more mental imagery than a picture preview in terms of quantity, vividness, modality and valence. These four dimensions of mental imagery indirectly influence customers’ immediate booking intentions through perceived utilitarian value and hedonic value, among which modality has the greatest influence on utilitarian value and valence has the greatest influence on hedonic value. Moreover, utilitarian value has a stronger impact on customers’ immediate booking intentions than does hedonic value. Originality/value The results obtained in this study contribute to hospitality research by using cognitive consistency theory as the overarching framework, combining mental imagery theory, media richness theory and perceived value theory to explain the mechanism of tourists’ hotel booking decision-making from hotel previews. Comparing this study’s results with previous studies shows the difference in the effects of 360° (head-mounted) videos, VRPs and pictures on evoking mental imagery across tourism and hotel products, updating our knowledge of VR technology in tourism marketing.

Cubic interactions for massless and partially massless spin-1 and spin-2 fields

We perform a complete classification of the consistent two-derivative cubic couplings for a system containing an arbitrary number of massless spin-1, massless spin-2, and partially massless (PM) spin-2 fields in D-dimensional (anti-)de Sitter space. In addition to previously known results, we find a unique candidate mixing between spin-1 and PM spin-2 fields. We derive all the quadratic constraints on the structure constants of the theory, allowing for relative “wrong-sign” kinetic terms for any of the fields. In the particular case when the kinetic terms in each sector have no relative signs, we find that the unique consistent non-trivial theory is given by multiple independent copies of conformal gravity coupled to a Yang-Mills sector in D = 4. Our results strengthen the well-known no-go theorems on the absence of mutual interactions for massless and PM spin-2 fields.

Covariant Representation of Spin and Entanglement—A Review and Reformulation

A consistent theory of quantum entanglement requires that constituent single-particle states belong to the same Hilbert space, the coherent eigenstates of a complete set of operators in a given representation, defined with respect to a shared continuous parameterization. Formulating such eigenstates for a single relativistic particle with spin, and applying them to the description of many-body states, presents well-known challenges. In this paper, we review the covariant theory of relativistic spin and entanglement in a framework first proposed by Stueckelberg and developed by Horwitz, Piron, et al. This approach modifies Wigner’s method by introducing an arbitrary timelike unit vector nμ and then inducing a representation of SL(2,C), based on pμ rather than on the spacetime momentum. Generalizing this approach, we construct relativistic spin states on an extended phase space {(xμ,pμ),(ζμ,πμ)}, inducing a representation on the momentum πμ, thus providing a novel dynamical interpretation of the timelike unit vector nμ=πμ/M. Studying the unitary representations of the Poincaré group on the extended phase space allows us to define basis quantities for quantum states and develop the gauge invariant electromagnetic Hamiltonian in classical and quantum mechanics. We write plane wave solutions for free particles and construct stable singlet states, and relate these to experiments involving temporal interference, analogous to the spatial interference known from double slit experiments.

Consistent theories for the DESI dark energy fit

We search for physically consistent realizations of evolving dark energy suggested by the cosmological fit of DESI, Planck and Supernovae data. First we note that any lagrangian description of the standard Chevallier-Polarski-Linder (CPL) parametrization for the dark energy equation of state w, allows for the addition of a cosmological constant. We perform the cosmological fit finding new regions of parameter space that however continue to favour dark energy with w < -1 at early times, that is challenging to realize in consistent theories. Next, in the spirit of effective field theories, we consider the effect of higher order terms in the Taylor expansion of the equation of state of dark energy around the present epoch. We find that non-linear corrections of the equation of state are weakly constrained, thus opening the way to scenarios that differ from CPL at early times, possibly with w > -1 at all times. We present indeed scenarios where evolving dark energy can be realized through quintessence models. We introduce in particular the ramp model where dark energy coincides with CPL at late times and approximates to a cosmological constant at early times. The latter model provides a much better fit than ΛCDM, and only slightly worse than w 0 w a CDM, but with the notable advantage of being described by a simple and theoretically consistent lagrangian of a canonical quintessence model.

The Difference between Consistent and Inconsistent Planned Impulse Buying Based on External Stimulus and Virtual Cart Use

Impulse-buying behavior is enjoyable for consumers and profitable for marketers. Selecting what they want and putting it in the shopping cart gives customers a sense of shopping enjoyment. However, the virtual shopping cart feature can be a barrier to impulse-buying behavior due to the abandonment of virtual carts. Sellers can overcome abandonment behavior in virtual carts by understanding consumer behavior, one of which is when exposed to external stimuli. The application of different external stimuli also produce different consumer behavior as well. The research aimed to validate the differences between Consistent Planned Impulse Buying (CPIB) and Inconsistent Planned Impulse Buying (IPIB) based on the influence of external stimuli: informativeness, appearance, and sales promotion, with the virtual cart used as the mediator variable using cognitive consistency theory. Data collection was carried out by distributing online questionnaires to 364 participants in Indonesia from October to November 2021 using a hierarchical linear model as the data analysis method. The analysis shows that sales promotion distinguishes between CPIB and IPIB. Sales promotions do not influence CPIB. Meanwhile, sales promotion affects IPIB. Hence, e-marketplace owners and their seller partners can apply the most appropriate external stimulus to induce impulse-buying behavior of different types. The research results also reveal a positive and significant relationship between the independent variables on virtual cart use and virtual cart on CPIB and IPIB.

The space of transport coefficients allowed by causality

As an effective theory, relativistic hydrodynamics is fixed by symmetries up to a set of transport coefficients. A lot of effort has been devoted to explicit calculations of these coefficients. Here we adopt a more general approach, deploying bootstrap techniques to rule out theories that are inconsistent with microscopic causality. What remains is a universal convex geometry in the space of transport coefficients, which we call the hydrohedron. The landscape of all consistent theories necessarily lies inside or on the edges of the hydrohedron. We analytically construct cross-sections of the hydrohedron corresponding to bounds on transport coefficients that appear in sound and diffusion modes’ dispersion relations for theories without stochastic fluctuations.

Thermodynamically consistent model of dislocation-mediated plasticity

ABSTRACT We present a thermodynamically consistent damage theory of deformation where the damage mechanism is determined by the presence of dislocations and their motion is the origin of plasticity. The damage parameter is proportional to the square root of the dislocation density of a network. For the evolution of damage, a gradient-flow equation, which describes the relaxation process of plastic deformation, is derived. Analysis shows that the dislocation-mediated plasticity is an activated process with upper and lower yield points, as opposed to a barrierless plasticity with a single yield point, which may be realised by other mechanisms of deformation. Dislocation nucleation is not a limiting factor of the dislocation-mediated plasticity because the free energy barrier for the nucleation is rather low. Application of the theory to the description of uniaxial deformation revealed many features of the experimentally observed deformation processes of metals, e.g. three stages of strain hardening with various characteristics dependent on the material and rate of loading. Applications of the theory to processes of dynamic loading of materials, which simultaneously undergo phase transformations, can bring deeper understanding of the material behaviour.

Methods for estimating integrated variance: Jump robustness issues in high frequency time series

Integrated variance is a volatility measure of a process in continuous time, which is applicable in financial mathematics as a means to optimize a portfolio, project dynamics of a price of a financial asset. The consistency of an estimator for integrated variance of a random process is at the core of this article. A fundamental diffusion process is extended by adding a jump component as a means of improving the descriptive function of the process. It is activity of jumps that is a factor subject to which is the consistency of the estimator for integrated variance. Due to this fact, consistency is defined as an extent to which the estimator at hand is jump robust. Two main methods for estimating integrated variance are considered and the capacity of corresponding estimators to withstand the effect of jumps while converging is briefly analyzed. The arguments indicating a necessity for further research of the effect of jumps with reference to works of the authors who have established a ground for analysis of integrated variance and those works containing main asymptotic results for consistency of integrated variance estimators are elaborated. Based on this, avenue for further research and development of asymptotic theory for consistency of an estimator for integrated variance is identified.

Nonequilibrium dynamics and atom-pair coherence in strongly interacting Bose-Fermi mixtures

Theoretical treatments of nonequilibrium dynamics in strongly interacting Bose-Fermi mixtures are complicated by the inherent non-Gaussian nature of the vacuum two-body physics, invalidating the typical Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approximation. Here we apply the cumulant expansion to study nonequilibrium Bose-Fermi mixtures, which allows us to explicitly include the missing non-Gaussian quantum correlations, leading to a consistent dynamical theory of a Bose-Fermi mixture near an interspecies Feshbach resonance. We first apply our theory to a study of atom-pair coherence in the gas, which is significantly enhanced by the competing influences of the Fermi sea and Bose-Einstein condensation, in agreement with analytical calculations. Then we study the depletion of a degenerate Bose-Fermi mixture following a quench to the unitary regime, characterizing the resulting depletion of the Bose-Einstein condensate, the deformation of the Fermi surface, and the production of molecules. We find that at early times, the population dynamics scale quadratically with the hold time, and define an associated characteristic timescale set by the parameters of the mixture and the width of the Feshbach resonance. Published by the American Physical Society 2024