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Because of the pandemic, face masks have become ubiquitous in social interactions, but it remains unclear how face masks influence the ability to discriminate between truthful and deceptive statements. The current study manipulated the presence of face masks, statement veracity, statement valence (positive or negative), and whether the statements had been practiced or not. Despite participants' expectations, face masks generally did not impair detection accuracy. However, participants were more accurate when judging negatively valenced statements when the speaker was not wearing a face mask. Participants were also more likely to believe positively rather than negatively valenced statements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positivity resonance theory defines the emotion of love as a collective affective state, referred to as positivity resonance, characterized by shared positive affect, caring nonverbal synchrony, and biological synchrony. This study examined whether daily experiences of positivity resonance concurrently and prospectively influence meaning in life (MIL) through the increment of social connection. At time 1 (N = 144), perceived positivity resonance was measured at the trait level, along with MIL and social connection. Next, perceived positivity resonance was assessed at the episodic level via the Day Reconstruction Method across seven days (N = 135). Finally, two follow-up surveys were administered one (N = 113) and two months (N = 99) later. Participants again completed the questionnaires on MIL and social connection. Results suggest that social connection cross-sectionally and longitudinally mediates the links between perceived positivity resonance and MIL. These mediating effects remain statistically significant even after controlling for the individual-level positive and negative affect and amount of social interaction. These findings indicate that momentary experience of love while interacting with others may be an influential way to a meaningful life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Untangling the abiotic and biotic feedback mechanisms driving animal movements and ranges is a core question in ecology, yet progress is hampered by inadequate modelling procedures. Here we show how a recently developed process‐based modelling approach, combining step‐selection functions and individual‐based models, enables a flexible method to infer movement drivers and multi‐scale emergent space use patterns. As a case study, we examine the movement behaviours of a highly invasive social generalist (wild pigs, Sus scrofa) in relation to conspecific space use and multiple land cover types in a complex agricultural landscape, showing that social interactions are predominantly more important to this species than selection for land cover. Thus, animal movement studies should not neglect the effects of sociality when inferring resource driven movements and, crucially, use multi‐scale techniques that incorporate movement processes to untangle drivers of animal space use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Safety behaviors are commonly used to decrease anxiety in social settings but maintain anxiety. Self-compassion has been shown to reduce anxiety and rumination, but the impact on safety behaviors has not been examined. For the present studies, it was hypothesized that inducing self-compassion would lead to lower safety behaviors compared to controls. Methods: In Study 1 (N = 390), participants with elevated social anxiety recalled a distressing social situation, were randomly assigned to a self-compassionate (n = 186) or control (n = 204) writing exercise, and then reported predicted self-compassion and safety behaviors for a future situation. In Study 2 (N = 114), the impact of self-compassionate (n = 56) or control writing (n = 58) on safety behaviors was investigated during a Zoom interaction. Results/Conclusions: In Study 1, as hypothesized, the self-compassion condition reported fewer expected avoidance behaviors compared to controls. In Study 2, state self-compassion and safety behaviors did not differ between conditions. In both studies, distress significantly mediated the relationship between condition and safety behaviors, such that the self-compassion condition reported significantly lower distress, which was associated with lower safety behaviors. Future research can examine whether reduced distress and safety behaviors allow for greater social connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many restrictions to in-person interactions, and remote social interactions may be especially important for managing loneliness when such restrictions are in place. However, it is unclear how social interactions are related to loneliness when in-person interactions are limited. Data were collected between February 2021 and March 2022 from a sample of 581 university students. Participants reported their loneliness and participation in positive in-person or remote social interactions each day for 14 days. Results from dynamic structural equation models showed that participants felt less lonely than they usually felt on the days they engaged in positive remote interactions at the within-person level. Moreover, participants generally felt less lonely when engaging more frequently in remote interactions, but only when in-person interactions were restricted (between-person level). Some of these results varied by changing COVID-19 restrictions. Finally, for participants who felt lonelier in general, the effect of positive in-person and remote interactions on loneliness was less strong. These findings suggest that social interactions may buffer loneliness but are not as impactful for those who experience greater loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a paucity of studies examining quality of life (QoL) in people with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). Methods: A cross-sectional, online, self-administered survey was distributed. Data elements included demographic and clinical characteristics, and QoL in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL) short form questionnaires. Neuro-QoL domain scores were compared to reference populations, yielding standardized T-scores. Symptom severity was categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, using standard Neuro-QoL cut points. Results: A total of 259 participants completed the survey. Neuro-QoL domain impairment was present in a significant proportion of respondents (anxiety: 58.1%, depression: 30.7%, stigma 29.8%, cognition: 58.5%, social function: 57.7%). T-scores were significantly worse than the reference population for anxiety (p<0.001), stigma (p=0.005), cognitive function (p<0.001) and social interactions (p<0.001). There was no clear association between QoL domains and demographics, disease-modifying therapy class, or type of clinical presentation. A relapsing vs monophasic disease course was associated with worse anxiety, stigma, cognition, and social interactions (p<0.05). Conclusion: People with MOGAD may exhibit impairment in multiple domains of QoL. Practicing clinicians should be aware of this burden in MOGAD. Further research is needed to better understand factors associated with QoL impairment in MOGAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Depression is associated with problems in social interaction and communication. Most of the research conducted in this field uses non-interactive tasks. The theory of economic games as a branch of behavioral economics can provide a new tool for investigating interactions and social decisions in interactive and dynamic conditions and help to better understand neuropsychiatric disorders. In this research, the decision making of depressed people in interactive situations is investigated with a systematic review of economic game theory articles. Methods: By systematic review method, 45 related articles from 2010 to 2023 were extracted from Scopus and Web of Science databases. After removing the duplicate articles and checking the exclusion criteria, finally, 23 articles that analyzed the decision-making process of patients with depression symptoms in economic games were analyzed. Results: The findings showed that the performance of depression sufferers in economic games is different from the healthy group. These differences can be discussed in two groups of cognitive and social components. The cognitive component was classified into the subcomponents of theory of mind, negative cognitive schema, bias in perception, and limited cognitive processing, and the social component was classified into the subcomponents of social avoidance, social comparison and competition, and interpersonal trust. Conclusion: Economic games may help identify suboptimal and maladaptive choices associated with depressive disorder and thus provide a powerful tool for discovering candidate cognitive and social markers of depressive disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how religious participation at the individual level and the dyadic religious similarity at the couple level influenced depressive symptoms via social relationships among older Korean couples aged 65 and above. The sample included 1,191 couples from the seventh assessment of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. The findings indicated that older adults who participated in religious activities more frequently showed lower levels of depressive symptoms through increased social interactions and marital satisfaction. Additionally, older couples with similar religious backgrounds showed higher levels of marital satisfaction than those without similar religious backgrounds, subsequently leading to lower levels of depressive symptoms. Overall, the associations between religion and depressive symptoms were similar for both genders. The findings provided insights into potential mechanisms leading to later-life depressive symptoms at both the individual and couple levels in terms of religion and social relationships and informed practical implications for older couples' marital relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community activities are believed to contribute to the cultivation of social capital and social cohesion. For this study, a community 'living room', a community activity for lonely, elderly people in a mid-sized Dutch city, was studied. Interviews and observations showed that the community activity was experienced positively, and that social interactions in this particular setting were much appreciated in the face of loneliness. This held not only true for the participants, but also for the volunteers. Nevertheless, the activity did not significantly contribute to the development of social capital. Social contacts established during the activity did not extend beyond the setting. A general lack of trust is seen as a major factor inhibiting the development of social contacts beyond the setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Examining loneliness and social isolation during population-wide historical events may shed light on important theoretical questions about age differences, including whether these differences hold across different regions and the time course of the unfolding event. We used a systematic, preregistered approach of coordinated data analysis (CDA) of 4 studies (total N  = 1,307; total observations = 18,492) that varied in design (intensive repeated-measures and cross-sectional), region, timing, and timescale during the first year of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods We harmonized our data sets to a common period within 2020–2021 and created a common set of variables. We used a combination of ordinary least squares regression and multilevel modeling to address the extent to which there was within- and between-person variation in the associations between social isolation and loneliness, and whether these associations varied as a function of age. Results Within- and between-person effects of social interactions were negatively associated with loneliness in 1 study; in follow-up sensitivity analyses, these patterns held across early and later pandemic periods. Across all data sets, there was no evidence of age differences in the within-person or between-person associations of social interactions and loneliness. Discussion Applying the CDA methodological framework allowed us to detect common and divergent patterns of social interactions and loneliness across samples, ages, regions, periods, and study designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social interactions are inevitable in the lives of most animals, since most essential behaviours require interaction with conspecifics, such as mating and competing for resources. Non-avian reptiles are typically viewed as solitary animals that predominantly use their vision and olfaction to communicate with conspecifics. Nevertheless, in recent years, evidence is mounting that some reptiles can produce sounds and have the potential for acoustic communication. Reptiles that can produce sound have an additional communicative channel (in addition to visual/olfactory channels), which could suggest they have a higher communicative complexity, the evolution of which is assumed to be driven by the need of social interactions. Thus, acoustic reptiles may provide an opportunity to unveil the true social complexity of reptiles that are usually thought of as solitary. This review aims to reveal the hidden social interactions behind the use of sounds in non-avian reptiles. Our review suggests that the potential of vocal and acoustic communication and the complexity of social interactions may be underestimated in non-avian reptiles, and that acoustic reptiles may provide a great opportunity to uncover the coevolution between sociality and communication in non-avian reptiles. This article is part of the theme issue 'The power of sound: unravelling how acoustic communication shapes group dynamics'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic signalling is a key mode of communication owing to its instantaneousness and rapid turnover, its saliency and flexibility and its ability to function strategically in both short- and long-range contexts. Acoustic communication is closely intertwined with both collective behaviour and social network structure, as it can facilitate the coordination of collective decisions and behaviour, and play an important role in establishing, maintaining and modifying social relationships. These research topics have each been studied separately and represent three well-established research areas. Yet, despite the close connection of acoustic communication with collective behaviour and social networks in natural systems, only few studies have focused on their interaction. The aim of this theme issue is therefore to build a foundation for understanding how acoustic communication is linked to collective behaviour, on the one hand, and social network structure on the other, in non-human animals. Through the building of such a foundation, our hope is that new questions in new avenues of research will arise. Understanding the links between acoustic communication and social behaviour seems crucial for gaining a comprehensive understanding of sociality and social evolution. This article is part of the theme issue 'The power of sound: unravelling how acoustic communication shapes group dynamics'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractExergames are becoming increasingly popular and have shown potential for motivating physical activity. Past research suggests that social (multiplayer) exergames offer players an engaging experience and good aerobic exercises. Our systematic review summarizes existing work and identifies gaps, trends, and patterns on social exergame research in the domain of health and wellness. A search was conducted in the ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, and PubMed. After screening 2272 records, we identified 73 studies from 2013 to 2023 that meet the inclusion criteria. Our results reveal that step tracking is the most commonly implemented measure of physical activity in social exergames, and that competition, rewards, and cooperation are the most common features used for designing the games. Our results also show that the effectiveness of social exergames is intricately linked to a combination of factors, including group size, player matching, and game features. The main contribution of this paper is (1) an analysis of features and group dynamics employed for designing social exergames, and (2) how game features affect the games’ outcome (both positive and negative) uncovering challenges and opportunities to advance future research in this area. Our findings in the current review provides insights for the design and implementation of social exergaming helping users to experience more socially satisfying game experiences thereby increasing the motivation for exercise, as well as gaining social benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social interactions are essential for well-being. Therefore, researchers increasingly attempt to capture an individual's social context to predict well-being, including mood. Different tools are used to measure various aspects of the social context. Digital phenotyping is a commonly used technology to assess a person's social behavior objectively. The experience sampling method (ESM) can capture the subjective perception of specific interactions. Lastly, egocentric networks are often used to measure specific relationship characteristics. These different methods capture different aspects of the social context over different time scales that are related to well-being, and combining them may be necessary to improve the prediction of well-being. Yet, they have rarely been combined in previous research. To address this gap, our study investigates the predictive accuracy of mood based on the social context. We collected intensive within-person data from multiple passive and self-report sources over a 28–day period in a student sample (Participants: N = 11, ESM measures: N = 1313). We trained individualized random forest machine learning models, using different predictors included in each model summarized over different time scales. Our findings revealed that even when combining social interactions data using different methods, predictive accuracy of mood remained low. The average coefficient of determination over all participants was 0.06 for positive and negative affect and ranged from − 0.08 to 0.3, indicating a large amount of variance across people. Furthermore, the optimal set of predictors varied across participants; however, predicting mood using all predictors generally yielded the best predictions. While combining different predictors improved predictive accuracy of mood for most participants, our study highlights the need for further work using larger and more diverse samples to enhance the clinical utility of these predictive modeling approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experience sampling studies often aim to capture social interactions. A central methodological question in such studies is whether to use event- or signal-contingent sampling. The little existing research on this issue has not taken into account that social interactions occur with unique interaction partners (e.g., Anna or Tom). We analyze one week of social interaction data of 286 students from the University of Pittsburgh (60.8% male, mean age 19.2 years), taking into account the unique interaction partners of each student. Specifically, we investigate the differences between event- and signal contingent sampling in (1) the total number of unique interaction partners captured, as well as (2) the kinds of relationships, and (3) the quality of social interactions with these captured interaction partners. Apart from a larger quantity of interactions and unique interaction partners in the event-contingent sampling design, our analyses indicate subtle differences between the two designs when aiming to assess social interactions with more distant interaction partners, such as coworkers or strangers. Most importantly, in our analyses, specific interaction partners and social roles explained a considerable amount of variance in the quality of social interactions (up to 20.5%), suggesting that future research would benefit greatly from considering "with whom" individuals interact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public urban spaces are vital settings for fostering social interaction among people. However, understanding how spatial layouts can promote positive social behaviors remains a critical and debated challenge for urban designers and planners aiming to create socially sustainable environments. Space syntax, a well-established theory and research method, explores the influence of spatial configurations on social aspects. Despite its significant contributions, there is a lack of comprehensive systematic reviews evaluating its effectiveness in enhancing social interaction within urban public spaces. This study aims to identify the existing scientific gaps in the domain of space syntax studies, with a primary focus on sociability in public urban spaces. Following the PRISMA framework, a thorough literature search was conducted in the Scopus database, yielding 1107 relevant articles. After applying screening and eligibility criteria, 26 articles were selected for in-depth review. This review adopted a novel approach to synthesizing and analyzing the findings for identifying underexplored scientific gaps. The findings suggested a wide variety of research gaps to address, encompassing evidence, knowledge, practical, methodological, empirical, theoretical, and target populations to provide a thorough overview of the current state of knowledge in this field. In conclusion, by exploring the interplay between space syntax and design elements such as the urban infrastructure, landscaping, and microclimate in these areas, future research can bridge this gap, particularly when considering a cross-cultural lens. This study underscores the importance of space syntax in promoting social interaction in urban public spaces, offering a robust foundation for future research and practical applications to create more socially engaging environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of accessible and inclusive public spaces has been proposed as a means to address this gender inequality and promote social inclusion. However, there is a lack of specific analysis on the interactions and integration of Kurdish migrant women in European cities. This study explores the social integration of Kurdish migrant women in European urban settings, with a focus on Vienna and Cologne. It investigates the role of urban public spaces in Kurdish women’s social interactions and integration into host communities. The study analyzes the sociodemographic characteristics of Kurdish women in both cities and examines the nature of interactions, sense of safety, meaningful social activities, and barriers in public spaces. The results show that frequenting public spaces and engaging in meaningful social activities correlate positively with social inclusion, while feelings of safety and barriers do not show significant correlations. The study highlights the importance of considering the unique context of each city and improving access to public spaces and community activities to promote social inclusion. The findings contribute to strategies for promoting social inclusion of immigrant women based on their interactions in urban public spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible and leisure items are often used in behavioral intervention to teach skills or reduce problem behavior. Social interactions, however, have also been shown to function as reinforcers for both typically developing children and children diagnosed with autism. Previous research has been conducted investigating preference displacement between edible, leisure and social items. The current study included edible stimuli and social interactions to evaluate whether patterns of displacement would appear with typically developing children. Multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessments were conducted to identify highly preferred stimuli from both edible item and social interaction classes to use in combined assessments to evaluate displacement. Three of six participants showed complete displacement of social interactions by edible items and three participants showed patterns of partial displacement. Two of the participants demonstrating patterns of partial displacement showed a disproportionate preference for social interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes to the social connectedness literature by exploring the range of social interactions that people experience on a daily basis using time diary data. First, we investigate the different types of people whom individuals encounter in everyday life (i.e., family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, others). Quantifying the degree of this social exposure provides insight into potential sources of support, information, comparison, and control. It further allows us to capture certain types of social connections that are commonly missed in traditional social network questionnaires. Second, we examine how social context fosters interactions between different types of people. Upon analyzing data from the American Time Use Survey, we find that a majority of respondents (69%) engaged in at least one interaction with a non-household member in a 24-hour period. We also found that interactions with different types of people varied according to social context. Interactions with friends, acquaintances, and "others" were significantly more likely to occur in public contexts rather than private or professional contexts. Collectively, our findings highlight the prevalence of social exposure among the American population as well as the important role of social context in making these interactions possible. • Uses time diary data to assess social connectedness in everyday life. • Quantifies number of social interactions people experience in day. • Examines how interactions with different types of people are contextually patterned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rett syndrome (RTT) is the rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene with a prevalence of 1:10,000 worldwide. The hallmark clinical features of RTT are developmental delay, microcephaly, repetitive behaviours, gait abnormalities, respiratory abnormalities and seizures. Still, the understanding on the diagnosis of RTT among clinicians are less. The aim of our work was to study various clinical manifestations and a spectrum of MECP2 genetic heterogeneity in RTT patients from South Indian population. We screened 208 autistic patients and diagnosed 20 RTT patients, who were further divided into classical RTT (group I; N = 11) and variant RTT (group II; N = 9). The clinical severity of RTT was measured using RSSS, RSBQ, SSI, SSS and RTT gross motor scale. The biochemical analysis showed that thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), plasma dopamine and cholesterol levels were higher in group I when compared to group II, whereas the level of blood pressure, calcium, ferritin and high-density lipoprotein levels were significantly decreased in both RTT groups, when compared to the control group. The genetic mutational spectrum of MECP2 mutations were found in 12/20 of RTT patients, which revealed the occurrence of 60% pathogenic mutation and 20% unknown mutation and it was correlated with the clinical finding of respiratory dysfunction, scoliosis and sleeping problems. The significant results of this study provided clinical and genetic aspects of RTT diagnosis and proposed the clinicians to screen abnormal cholesterol, calcium and TSH levels tailed with MECP2 gene mutations for early prognosis of disease severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effects of social interactions, including online review quality and source credibility, on consumers' risk perception and purchase intention in e-commerce based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model. Further, it investigates the role of risk-related feelings (immediate negative emotions) in consumers' decision-making journeys. We used Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to analyze 405 online questionnaires. Our analysis reveals that review quality and source credibility lower perceived risk and risk-related feelings while enhancing purchase intention. Moreover, it indicates that the online decision journey is twofold and varies based on emotions. Our results have considerable theoretical and practical implications. We enrich consumer risk perception and behaviour literature by incorporating social interactions and risk-related feelings. We also provide several impactful suggestions for marketing strategies for e-commerce businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The visual processing differences seen in autism often impede individuals' visual perception of the social world. In particular, many autistic people exhibit poor face recognition. Here, we sought to determine whether autistic adults also show impaired perception of dyadic social interactions—a class of stimulus thought to engage face‐like visual processing. Our focus was the perception of interpersonal distance. Participants completed distance change detection tasks, in which they had to make perceptual decisions about the distance between two actors. On half of the trials, participants judged whether the actors moved closer together; on the other half, whether they moved further apart. In a nonsocial control task, participants made similar judgments about two grandfather clocks. We also assessed participants' face recognition ability using standardized measures. The autistic and nonautistic observers showed similar levels of perceptual sensitivity to changes in interpersonal distance when viewing social interactions. As expected, however, the autistic observers showed clear signs of impaired face recognition. Despite putative similarities between the visual processing of faces and dyadic social interactions, our results suggest that these two facets of social vision may dissociate. Lay Summary: The visual processing differences seen in autism often impede individuals' visual perception of the social world. It has recently been suggested that pairs of individuals shown facing each other—so‐called "facing dyads"—engage a form of visual processing similar to that recruited by faces. Given that many autistic people experience difficulties when asked to identify faces, we reasoned that autistic individuals may also make less accurate judgments about facing dyads. We examined whether groups of autistic and nonautistic participants differed in their ability to judge interpersonal distance—a key visual feature of facing dyads. Contrary to our hypothesis, the autistic and nonautistic participants displayed similar ability to detect changes in interpersonal distance. As expected, however, our autistic participants showed worse face recognition than our nonautistic participants. These findings suggest that the visual processing of faces may be selectively impaired in autism without affecting the perception of facing dyads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research investigates the impact that Montessori alternative education programs have on alleviating the effects of the ADHD symptomatology in the classroom and globally.As a cross-sectional study aimed at the comparative analysis of the academic performance, behavior, reactivity, self-efficacy and social integration, the research intends to provide a deep understanding of how this pedagogical method can contribute to the academic and social development of these pupils, while emphasizing their specific needs. The detailed analysis of the results brings to light the practical implications and the theoretical implications of using the Montessori method in the context of education for children with ADHD nationwide. Data were collected from a group of parents (N=104) who have children enrolled in eithe Montessori or traditional education programs and the analysis was aimed at assessing the significant differences between the two groups, as they were perceived by the respondents.

Housing different animal groups in close-by facilities is common in wildlife centers. However, the impact on animal welfare is insufficiently studied in the literature. In this study, we analyzed the behavior of two adjacently housed chimpanzee groups to investigate how intergroup interactions may affect their behavior and, thus, their welfare. We recorded occurrences of abnormal and self-directed behaviors, two well-known indicators of stress in chimpanzees. Furthermore, we explored the social responses to said intergroup interactions by recording all inter- and intragroup affiliative and agonistic behaviors. Finally, we measured the number of vigilance occurrences that individuals directed towards other chimpanzees as an indicator of interest. Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) were used to assess whether and how social interactions between neighboring groups might influence their behaviors, taking gender, age, group, and intergroup participation into account. Our results suggest that intergroup interactions promoted the occurrence of affiliative behaviors between group members. However, intergroup interactions caused the chimpanzees to exhibit a higher number of abnormal and self-directed behaviors and increased vigilance towards their group members when agonistic intergroup interactions occurred. Thus, adjacent housing does impact the chimpanzees’ behavior and welfare and should be continuously monitored and assessed to promote and maximize welfare.

Background: Attention to social interactions is highlighted as a crucial component in the design of residential spaces. Neglecting environmental and behavioral psychological elements in the design of residential complexes can lead to problems in individual and social life. Despite the importance of this issue, a review of the literature in this field reveals few studies that focus on identifying environmental and behavioral psychological elements aimed at enhancing social interactions in the design of high-rise residential complexes. Aims: The aim of the current research was to identify the psychological environmental and behavioral elements in enhancing social interactions in the design of high-rise residential complexes. Methods: The present research employed a descriptive survey method. The population consisted of all residents of residential complexes in the city of Tehran, from which 11 residential complexes were selected using convenience sampling. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 30 items. Sample size determination was conducted using Cochran's formula, resulting in 315 returned questionnaires out of 1000 distributed questionnaires, all of which were suitable for analysis. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 25. Results: Based on the results and comparisons made, all three examined factors, namely physical, semantic, and functional features, have varying degrees of importance as influential factors on the level of social interactions in the open spaces of residential complexes (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Creating and promoting local social networks and communication platforms for residents can help strengthen social connections and interactions among members of the community. These networks can facilitate the sharing of information related to neighborhood affairs, encourage participation in social activities and local events, and facilitate the formation of local groups and associations. By providing a digital space for residents to connect and engage with one another, these platforms can contribute to a sense of community cohesion and foster a supportive local environment.

This article addresses the profound and multifaceted understanding of interfaces in the modern technological era, focusing on integrating ontological, ethical, and aesthetical approaches in interface research. It considers various aspects of human-machine interaction from philosophical, ethical, and aesthetic viewpoints, revealing the complex connections between technological progress and human experience. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of contemporary approaches to interface research, covering its complexity and diversity, as well as identifying current trends and challenges in the field. The findings indicate that successful interface study requires an integrated approach, including the analysis of functional, ethical, aesthetic, and cultural aspects. The article highlights the importance of cross-disciplinary research in developing interfaces that can reflect and develop contemporary cultural and social contexts. The conclusions of this article are relevant to the researchers in the field of interface design, implementators, and a broad audience interested in understanding the interplay between technological innovations and the socio-cultural context.

Abstract Sociopositive interactions with conspecifics are essential for equine welfare and quality of life. This study aimed to validate the use of wearable ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to quantify the spatial relationships and dynamics of social behaviour in horses by continuous (1/s) measurement of interindividual distances. After testing the UWB devices’ spatiotemporal accuracy in a static environment, the UWB measurement validity, feasibility and utility under dynamic field conditions was assessed in a group of 8 horses. Comparison of the proximity measurements with video surveillance data established the measurement accuracy and validity (r = 0.83, p

During the COVID-19 outbreak, the majority of tertiary institutions preferred virtual laboratories to face-to-face laboratories which posed a challenge to many students. The objective of the study was to examine students’ experiences at a higher institution using both a physical and virtual microscope. This qualitative study involved ten randomly chosen first-year Life Science students. They had to prepare and view onion cells under a real microscope, while the second assignment required them to observe onion cell preparation in a virtual laboratory. Students completed a questionnaire containing open-ended questions. The results were analyzed using themes, and the study found that pupils prefer physical microscopes to virtual microscopes. This is because students interact with the equipment in the laboratory, which encourages intellectual interests, knowledge sharing, and the development of social connections. Students can manipulate actual objects, manually focus microscopes, and interact in real time with microscopic worlds. This hands-on expertise is critical for instructing students and researchers on laboratory practices. Real microscopes are versatile pieces of equipment that can be utilized for a wide range of applications, from basic instruction to advanced research. Although virtual microscopes have advanced in terms of image quality, real microscopes provide better resolution and clarity. The study will make a substantial addition to university laboratory pedagogies and expose students to scientific investigations, given the majority of students come from rural schools with limited laboratory equipment such as microscopes.

Sexual objectification mostly targets women and occurs whenever they are treated as bodies for the use or consumption of others and stripped of their full humanity. While research has mostly focused on sexual harassment and aggression as the main behavioral consequence of sexual objectification, only a few studies have tried to focus on more subtle consequences towards sexually objectified targets. Spontaneous mimicry is an implicit behavior that influences our social interactions in general. It involves the imitation of other people's postures, gestures and emotions and allows one to understand other's emotions and intentions. Therefore, impairments in mimicry behavior are bound to have potentially damaging consequences in everyday social interactions for women who fall victim of sexual objectification. In two studies, using electromyography we measured participants' mimicry behavior towards objectified and non-objectified women who expressed happiness and anger. Results indicated that both male and female participants attributed less mental and human traits and showed less mimicry behavior towards sexually objectified rather than non-objectified women especially when they expressed happiness. Given the fundamental role of mimicry in creating successful everyday interpersonal interactions, the results of this research advance our understanding on the more subtle, but daily consequences of sexual objectification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Housing different animal groups in close-by facilities is common in wildlife centers. However, the impact on animal welfare is insufficiently studied in the literature. In this study, we analyzed the behavior of two adjacently housed chimpanzee groups to investigate how intergroup interactions may affect their behavior and, thus, their welfare. We recorded occurrences of abnormal and self-directed behaviors, two well-known indicators of stress in chimpanzees. Furthermore, we explored the social responses to said intergroup interactions by recording all inter- and intragroup affiliative and agonistic behaviors. Finally, we measured the number of vigilance occurrences that individuals directed towards other chimpanzees as an indicator of interest. Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) were used to assess whether and how social interactions between neighboring groups might influence their behaviors, taking gender, age, group, and intergroup participation into account. Our results suggest that intergroup interactions promoted the occurrence of affiliative behaviors between group members. However, intergroup interactions caused the chimpanzees to exhibit a higher number of abnormal and self-directed behaviors and increased vigilance towards their group members when agonistic intergroup interactions occurred. Thus, adjacent housing does impact the chimpanzees' behavior and welfare and should be continuously monitored and assessed to promote and maximize welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control mechanisms have traditionally been used for managing organizations, but the development of concepts of loosely coupled or flexibly coupled systems offers an alternative for managing unbureaucratic organizations or ones whose broad social interactions and power relationships make them complex to manage, as in the case of university institutions. Tensions between loose and tight coupling are common in university governance, but they have not been adequately researched. Addressing this gap is the objective of this study. To do so, a case study methodology was selected, opting for three methods: documentary analysis, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The findings made it possible to identify three determinant variables of governance: power – social interaction – coupling, which leads us to propose a model with four kinds of governance: control, collegial, self-regulated and concerted managerial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The visual perception of individuals is thought to be mediated by a network of regions in the occipitotemporal cortex that supports specialized processing of faces, bodies, and actions. In comparison, we know relatively little about the neural mechanisms that support the perception of multiple individuals and the interactions between them. The present study sought to elucidate the visual processing of social interactions by identifying which regions of the social perception network represent interpersonal synchrony. In an fMRI study with 32 human participants (26 female, 6 male), we used multivoxel pattern analysis to investigate whether activity in face-selective, body-selective, and interaction-sensitive regions across the social perception network supports the decoding of synchronous versus asynchronous head-nodding and head-shaking. Several regions were found to support significant decoding of synchrony/asynchrony, including extrastriate body area (EBA), face-selective and interaction-sensitive mid/posterior right superior temporal sulcus, and occipital face area. We also saw robust cross-classification across actions in the EBA, suggestive of movement-invariant representations of synchrony/asynchrony. Exploratory whole-brain analyses also identified a region of the right fusiform cortex that responded more strongly to synchronous than to asynchronous motion. Critically, perceiving interpersonal synchrony/asynchrony requires the simultaneous extraction and integration of dynamic information from more than one person. Hence, the representation of synchrony/asynchrony cannot be attributed to augmented or additive processing of individual actors. Our findings therefore provide important new evidence that social interactions recruit dedicated visual processing within the social perception network that extends beyond that engaged by the faces and bodies of the constituent individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a conversation analytic approach, we investigate the emergence of accounts provided by autistic children in small-group discussions. Nine Finnish children (7–10 years old) attending school with special support participated in a five-month-duration pedagogical practice purposefully designed to enhance children's participation in groups. We analyzed videos of sharing circles where children discussed their ideas and interests. Our data show three different account structures, which created different modes of children's participation and gradually changed how they positioned themselves in the group. Results show how accounts can create different focuses of attention; reveal children's reflections on what is relevant to them, and how to promote the exchange of ideas within a small group. Implications for the development of educational practices are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated associations between chronic developmental/behavioral and physical health conditions and social connectedness of adolescents using rich population-based data from a national U.S. birth cohort study. Potentially disabling health conditions were reported by caregivers and categorized by our team as developmental/behavioral or physical. Social connectedness was assessed using a validated scale that measured adolescents' reports of positive social connectedness across relevant contexts (family, friends, school). Of the 3,207 adolescents included, over one third had at least one chronic health condition. Unadjusted and adjusted linear and logistic regression models of associations between the presence of chronic health conditions (any developmental/behavioral health condition and any physical health condition, compared to no conditions) and adolescents' social connectedness outcomes were estimated. Compared to those with no chronic health conditions, adolescents with developmental/behavioral health conditions had lower odds of high positive social connectedness scores (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.80; CI [0.67, 0.94]), having friends they really care about (AOR: 0.76; CI [0.61, 0.94]), having people who care (AOR: 0.65; CI [0.50, 0.84]), and having people with whom to share good news (AOR: 0.77; CI [0.63, 0.94]). Adolescents with chronic physical health conditions had lower odds of reporting having people who care about them (AOR: 0.72; CI [0.55, 0.94]). The findings point to the need for interventions designed to foster the development of positive interpersonal relationships, reduce loneliness, and increase positive social identity among adolescents with chronic health conditions, particularly those with developmental/behavioral health conditions. Public Policy Relevance Statement: In this study of U.S. urban youth, adolescents with chronic developmental/behavioral health conditions had lower odds of positive social interactions compared to their peers with no chronic health conditions. The findings point to the need for interventions designed to foster the development of positive interpersonal relationships, reduce loneliness, and increase positive social identity among adolescents with chronic health conditions, particularly those with developmental/behavioral health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates whether changing the seating arrangement in a classroom can facilitate positive spillovers from top‐performing students to others, using a field experiment conducted in a Chinese high school. Among study groups with balanced abilities, the treatment altered the spatial distribution by assigning the two top students to seats in the spatial center of each group. In the reference groups where students were allowed to choose their own seating arrangements, the lowest performing were significantly less likely to sit next to a top student than they would be under a random assignment. The results suggest that, in the treated groups, there could be enhanced academic spillovers from the top students. The treatment especially benefited the two lowest performing students in science subjects. In contrast, the treatment exerted negative effects on the test scores of the two middle‐performing students, due to a disruption mechanism. The results suggest that the spatial layout of a peer network can have a significant impact on learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trust plays a vital role in shaping numerous socio-economic behaviors. However, little is known about how significant life events, such as adverse and beneficial health events, shape up trust. Therefore, we examine the impact of positive and negative health events on general trust using the LISS panel (3911 respondents) from the Netherlands. The primary health event variable is constructed by comparing self-reported health in 2017 with 2018, while trust measured in 2019 (after the health survey) is used as the outcome variable. We find a significant and negative impact of adverse health events on trust, while positive health events have an insignificant effect. We perform several robustness checks that support our main findings. Further investigation shows that negative health events impact trust by reducing psychological wellbeing and social interactions. The results provide fresh insights into the health events and trust nexus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals moving together in groups are believed to interact among each other with effective social forces, such as attraction, repulsion, and alignment. Such forces can be inferred using "force maps," i.e., by analyzing the dependency of the acceleration of a focal individual on relevant variables. Here, we introduce a force map technique suitable for the analysis of the alignment forces experienced by individuals. After validating it using an agent-based model, we apply the force map to experimental data of schooling fish. We observe signatures of an effective alignment force with faster neighbors and an unexpected antialignment with slower neighbors. Instead of an explicit antialignment behavior, we suggest that the observed pattern is the result of a selective attention mechanism, where fish pay less attention to slower neighbors. This mechanism implies the existence of temporal leadership interactions based on relative speeds between neighbors. We present support for this hypothesis both from agent-based modeling as well as from exploring leader--follower relationships in the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The X-chromosome-linked cell adhesion molecule L1 (L1CAM), a glycoprotein mainly expressed by neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems, has been implicated in many neural processes, including neuronal migration and survival, neuritogenesis, synapse formation, synaptic plasticity and regeneration. L1 consists of extracellular, transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. Proteolytic cleavage of L1's extracellular and transmembrane domains by different proteases generates several L1 fragments with different functions. We found that myelin basic protein (MBP) cleaves L1's extracellular domain, leading to enhanced neuritogenesis and neuronal survival in vitro. To investigate in vivo the importance of the MBP-generated 70 kDa fragment (L1-70), we generated mice with an arginine to alanine substitution at position 687 (L1/687), thereby disrupting L1's MBP cleavage site and obliterating L1-70. Young adult L1/687 males showed normal anxiety and circadian rhythm activities but enhanced locomotion, while females showed altered social interactions. Older L1/687 males were impaired in motor coordination. Furthermore, L1/687 male and female mice had a larger hippocampus, with more neurons in the dentate gyrus and more proliferating cells in the subgranular layer, while the thickness of the corpus callosum and the size of lateral ventricles were normal. In summary, subtle mutant morphological changes result in subtle behavioral changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Attention to social interactions is highlighted as a crucial component in the design of residential spaces. Neglecting environmental and behavioral psychological elements in the design of residential complexes can lead to problems in individual and social life. Despite the importance of this issue, a review of the literature in this field reveals few studies that focus on identifying environmental and behavioral psychological elements aimed at enhancing social interactions in the design of high-rise residential complexes. Aims: The aim of the current research was to identify the psychological environmental and behavioral elements in enhancing social interactions in the design of high-rise residential complexes. Methods: The present research employed a descriptive survey method. The population consisted of all residents of residential complexes in the city of Tehran, from which 11 residential complexes were selected using convenience sampling. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 30 items. Sample size determination was conducted using Cochran's formula, resulting in 315 returned questionnaires out of 1000 distributed questionnaires, all of which were suitable for analysis. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 25. Results: Based on the results and comparisons made, all three examined factors, namely physical, semantic, and functional features, have varying degrees of importance as influential factors on the level of social interactions in the open spaces of residential complexes (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Creating and promoting local social networks and communication platforms for residents can help strengthen social connections and interactions among members of the community. These networks can facilitate the sharing of information related to neighborhood affairs, encourage participation in social activities and local events, and facilitate the formation of local groups and associations. By providing a digital space for residents to connect and engage with one another, these platforms can contribute to a sense of community cohesion and foster a supportive local environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]