Acquisition Behavior Research Articles

A Cross-Regional Study on the Public's Channel Preferences for Accessing Information

In this study, an online questionnaire was administered simultaneously in Beijing and Seoul to investigate the public's channel preferences for air quality index (AQI) information and risk perception of air pollution in order to comparatively analyze the public's information acquisition behaviors in different media environments. As people become more aware of the health risks of air pollution, the AQI has become routine information released when there is a need to warn of health hazards, and many countries are releasing it to the public through a variety of information channels to ensure that the public can perceive the risks and take appropriate measures in a timely manner. This study, through a comparative cross-regional analysis, found that public preferences for accessing AQI information varied across regions with differing media environments. In addition, the correlation between air pollution risk perceptions and information access behaviors varied across regions.

REVEALS: an open-source multi-camera GUI for rodent behavior acquisition.

Deciphering the rich repertoire of mouse behavior is crucial for understanding the functions of both the healthy and diseased brain. However, the current landscape lacks effective, affordable, and accessible methods for acquiring such data, especially when employing multiple cameras simultaneously. We have developed REVEALS (Rodent Behavior Multi-Camera Laboratory Acquisition), a graphical user interface for acquiring rodent behavioral data via commonly used USB3 cameras. REVEALS allows for user-friendly control of recording from one or multiple cameras simultaneously while streamlining the data acquisition process, enabling researchers to collect and analyze large datasets efficiently. We release this software package as a stand-alone, open-source framework for researchers to use and modify according to their needs. We describe the details of the graphical user interface implementation, including the camera control software and the video recording functionality. We validate results demonstrating the graphical user interface's stability, reliability, and accuracy for capturing rodent behavior using DeepLabCut in various behavioral tasks. REVEALS can be incorporated into existing DeepLabCut, MoSeq, or other custom pipelines to analyze complex behavior. In summary, REVEALS offers an interface for collecting behavioral data from single or multiple perspectives, which, when combined with deep learning algorithms, enables the scientific community to identify and characterize complex behavioral phenotypes.

Individual- and environmental-level determinants of fruit and vegetable intakes in rural Georgia.

To investigate the ways in which food insecurity, food acquisition behaviors, and perceived and objective food access influence fruit and vegetable intakes among rural Georgians. A population-based survey was merged with USDA's Food Access Research Atlas, and multilevel modeling was used to determine individual-level (eg, food insecurity, food acquisition behaviors, perceived access) and environmental-level (eg, census tract food access) predictors of fruit and vegetable intakes. Twenty-four rural census tracts in 6 counties in Georgia, USA. One thousand four hundred and seventy-four adults. Residing in a low food access census tract was not associated with fruit or vegetable intake. Food insecurity had negative effects on both fruit and vegetable intakes. Perceived access to fresh fruits and vegetables was positively associated with fruit intake, and obtaining fresh fruits and vegetables from community or home gardens was positively associated with both fruit and vegetable intakes. Findings are unique from previous research on census tract-level fruit and vegetable determinants, underscoring the need for a better understanding of influences on fruit and vegetable intakes among rural populations. Interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in rural areas should prioritize food security.

Understanding the Housing Acquisition Behavior of Muslim Generation Y in Malaysia: A Conceptual Framework Based on ABC Theory

House is the most important basic need for the human survival, however many people especially those who are categorised in the category of generation Y do not acquire a house due to various factors (internal salient belief factors, personal factor, and extra factor). In accordance, the volume of residential transaction and homeownership rate among youths in Malaysia has been decreasing for the past few years. It is proven as the number of residential property transaction has dropped from 272,669 transactions in 2012 to 250,586 transactions in 2023. Thus, it is important to examine the behavior of generation Y towards house acquisition in Malaysia. This study focuses on Muslim Generation Y in West Malaysia, specifically on those who have purchased a home and those who have not. The research proposes to examine the internal salient belief factors (attitude and perceived religiosity on property), personal factors (lifestyles) as well as external factors (house features, house location, financing factors, and government support) in influencing house acquisition behavior among Muslim Generation Y in Malaysia. As such, this study proposes to adapt Attitude-Behavior-Context (ABC) theory in discovering the behavior.

Study on the Identification of Unfair Competition in the Acquisition of Business Data

In the era of the digital economy, competition among operators has expanded to include competition for business data, and Unfair competition cases have sprung up around the acquisition of business data by major internet operators. In current judicial practice, referees often cite existing provisions such as the “General provisions” and “Internet specific provisions” of the anti-unfair competition law to determine the illegality and legitimacy of commercial data Unfair competition. And in the determination of such acts, there are some problems, such as the conflict between “Rights and interests protection” and “Behavior legitimacy”, the definition of data rights and interests tends to protect the interests of operators, and the judgment of legality boundary of data acquisition behavior is fuzzy. Therefore, it is suggested to correct the way of identifying the commercial data acquisition behavior, return to the nature of competition, and establish the behavior regulation paradigm. Changing the division of data ownership, confirming the portability of personal data, expanding the reasonable limit of data portability while playing the function of public-private synergy. To refine the judgment standard of justifiability of behavior, it is necessary to establish the behavior paradigm of “Reasonable legal interest test”, and to explore the rules of fact identification and cognizance of Data Acquisition Technology, in order to achieve the existing rules under the commercial data acquisition pattern of behavior identification optimization.

The Impact of Brand Value Perception on Consumer Adoption Behavior of Distributed Energy Systems (DERs)

Consumer perceptions of brand value significantly influence the adoption of Distributed Energy Systems (DERs), a topic often overlooked due to insufficient information. This study investigates the impact of brand value perception on consumers' intention to adopt DERs using regression equations. It involves a comprehensive analysis considering factors like popularity and quality of service. Data was collected through structured surveys, and results indicated that higher consumer confidence and acceptance of DERs are directly linked to positive brand valuation. The SEM technique helped identify both direct and indirect consequences, revealing a strong relationship between brand value perception and DER adoption behavior, with a path coefficient of 0.65 and a p-value of less than 0.01. This statistically significant relationship underscores the critical role of brand perception in consumer behavior. Additionally, the model accounts for 54% of variations in customer acquisition behaviors, highlighting the importance that DERs place on their brand values. These findings provide valuable insights for enhancing consumer adoption strategies by emphasizing brand strength and trust in renewable energy solutions.

Artificial Multimodal Neuron with Associative Learning Capabilities: Acquisition, Extinction, and Spontaneous Recovery.

Associative multimodal artificial intelligence (AMAI) has gained significant attention across various fields, yet its implementation poses challenges due to the burden on computing and memory resources. To address these challenges, researchers have paid increasing attention to neuromorphic devices based on novel materials and structures, which can implement classical conditioning behaviors with simplified circuitry. Herein, we introduce an artificial multimodal neuron device that shows not only the acquisition behavior but also the extinction and the spontaneous recovery behaviors for the first time. Being composed of an ovonic threshold switch (OTS)-based neuron device, a conductive bridge memristor (CBM)-based synapse device, and a few passive electrical elements, such observed behaviors of this neuron device are explained in terms of the electroforming and the diffusion of metallic ions in the CBM. We believe that the proposed associative learning neuron device will shed light on the way of developing large-scale AMAI systems by providing inspiration to devise an associative learning network with improved energy efficiency.

Associations among drug acquisition and use behaviors, psychosocial attributes, and opioid-involved overdoses

AimsThis study sought to develop and assess an exploratory model of how demographic and psychosocial attributes, and drug use or acquisition behaviors interact to affect opioid-involved overdoses.DesignWe conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA/CFA) to identify a factor structure for ten drug acquisition and use behaviors. We then evaluated alternative structural equation models incorporating the identified factors, adding demographic and psychosocial attributes as predictors of past-year opioid overdose.Setting and participantsWe used interview data collected for two studies recruiting opioid-misusing participants receiving services from a community-based syringe services program. The first investigated current attitudes toward drug-checking (N = 150). The second was an RCT assessing a telehealth versus in-person medical appointment for opioid use disorder treatment referral (N = 270).MeasurementsDemographics included gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, and socioeconomic status. Psychosocial measures were homelessness, psychological distress, and trauma. Self-reported drug-related risk behaviors included using alone, having a new supplier, using opioids with benzodiazepines/alcohol, and preferring fentanyl. Past-year opioid-involved overdoses were dichotomized into experiencing none or any.FindingsThe EFA/CFA revealed a two-factor structure with one factor reflecting drug acquisition and the second drug use behaviors. The selected model (CFI = .984, TLI = .981, RMSEA = .024) accounted for 13.1% of overdose probability variance. A latent variable representing psychosocial attributes was indirectly associated with an increase in past-year overdose probability (β = .234, p = .001), as mediated by the EFA/CFA identified latent variables: drug acquisition (β = .683, p < .001) and drug use (β = .567, p = .001). Drug use behaviors (β = .287, p = .04) but not drug acquisition (β = .105, p = .461) also had a significant, positive direct effect on past-year overdose. No demographic attributes were significant direct or indirect overdose predictors.ConclusionsPsychosocial attributes, particularly homelessness, increase the probability of an overdose through associations with risky drug acquisition and drug-using behaviors. Further research is needed to replicate these findings with populations at high-risk of an opioid-related overdose to assess generalizability and refine the metrics used to assess psychosocial characteristics.

Multiple Goals Theory and Communication Quality Analysis for Fellows Communication Training.

End-of-life communication skills are vital to high-quality critical care. Patients and families often report deficiencies in end-of-life communication by providers. However, formalized training is difficult to implement and study on a large scale. Furthermore, curricula are often designed with early-stage clinical trainees in mind and are not tailored to advanced clinician learners. The goal of this pilot study was to explore educational and practical implications of using Multiple Goals Theory (MGT), Communication Quality Analysis (CQA), and communication logs as a three-pronged, reflective communication curriculum for advanced trainees. We describe design and qualitative evaluation of a novel, pilot, longitudinal curricular intervention for pulmonary and critical care fellows and program directors at a tertiary academic medical center. The 2-year longitudinal communication curriculum incorporates 1) a theoretical framework from communication science (MGT), with 2) a novel training modality of analyzing audio-recorded intensive care unit family meetings (CQA), and 3) written communication logs after an intensive care unit family meeting. The sample included 13 pulmonary and critical care medicine fellows and two program directors. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted on seven fellow interviews and on 23 communication logs completed. Four themes emerged from interviews: 1) fellows incorporated the skills into real-life practice and found the curriculum useful and valuable; 2) a key takeaway from MGT was the deemphasis of task goals; 3) CQA was an engaging opportunity for self-reflection and learning; and 4) written communication logs were perceived as helpful in theory but too burdensome in practice. Findings from analyses of the communication logs included that most fellows' writing was brief and without substantial reflection. Many scholars have argued that communication theory can impact practice, but few have recognized the potential of theory and methods, such as MGT and CQA, as educational tools. Our findings demonstrate that MGT is a feasible and useful theoretical framework for improving communication skills among advanced trainees, and CQA fosters meaningful self-reflection about practice. Communication logs were not feasible or useful training tools in this context, but CQA workshops helped fulfill the goals of narrative reflection. Next steps are to implement this curriculum in more programs and measure changes in behavior acquisition and clinical care.

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, Food Acquisition Behavior, and Food Insecurity Before and After the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout.

To assess changes in food acquisition behavior, food insecurity, and dietary behavior and identify factors associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption during the transitional period (before and after the initial vaccine rollout for all adults) of the COVID-19 pandemic. Successive independent samples design. Online surveys were conducted from October 2020 to February 2021 (time 1, before the vaccine rollout) and from October 2021 to December 2021 (time 2, after the vaccine rollout). Descriptive analysis examined changes in food sources, food security, and daily FV consumption in cup equivalents (CEs) from time 1 to time 2. A multivariable logistic regression analysis examined factors associated with FV consumption. The Capital Region of New York State. 1553 adults 18years of age and older. Meeting the 2020-2025 MyPlate daily FV consumption recommendations. There were statistically significant (P <.05) increases in the use of supermarkets, eat-in restaurants, farmers' markets, and convenience stores from time 1 to time 2. Food insecurity (40.1% vs 39.4%) and FV consumption (2.6 CE vs 2.4 CE) slightly declined but not significantly. Home food procurement such as gardening and foraging (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.08-2.37) and shopping at food co-op/health food stores (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.07-2.49) were significantly associated with the FV outcome, and these relationships were not modified by food security status. The present study highlights the importance of food sources in understanding adult dietary behavior during the transitional period of the pandemic. Continuing efforts to monitor access to food sources, food insecurity, and dietary behavior are warranted as various COVID-related emergency food assistance measures have expired.

Mothers’ experiences of toilet training children with intellectual disabilities: a qualitative study

This exploratory and qualitative study aimed to investigate the experiences of parents of children with intellectual disabilities during toilet training. Between 8 December 2023 and 1 February 2024, 20 mothers were interviewed face-to-face in special education and rehabilitation centres in Zonguldak, Türkiye. The interviews were thematically analysed, revealing four main themes: (1) Techniques used in toilet training, (2) Problems in toilet training, (3) Negative mood symptoms, and (4) Requirements. Mothers faced many problems in toilet training of their children with intellectual disabilities. They realised that they had to be patient and consistent in this process. They were trying different methods to teach this habit to children. However, the mothers also had the feeling inadequacy. They thought their children could acquire toilet habits more quickly when they were patient, knew how to teach correctly and effectively, and were supported. Indeed, with support applications made or to be made to families, it can be ensured that children can overcome the toilet training process more comfortably and with behaviour acquisition.

Too Good to be Nice: The interplay between the Cause marketing and information acquisition.

Cause marketing (CM) has become an important tool for firms to fulfill their social responsibility strategies. However, in reality, although some consumers have responded positively to the firm's CM strategies, others have doubts due to their lack of trust in the effectiveness of the firm or business. Therefore, in this paper, we consider a case that the supplier is a dual-purpose corporation that engage in a CM campaign and the consumer social preference is uncertainty and is unknown initially but can be resolved by the retailer's acquisition behaviour. By examining the two information acquisition strategies: committed acquisition and contingent acquisition. We find that, under either strategy, the retailer would like to acquire information only when the cost of information acquisition is small. Moreover, compared to contingent acquisition, the retailer is more willing to prefer committed acquisition. Additionally, we show that the supplier always prefers the committed acquisition strategy. However, the retailer's preference toward these two information acquisition strategies is related to the acquire cost. Specifically, when acquisition cost is small or large, the retailer is indifferent between these two strategies, when acquisition cost is in an intermediate range, the retailer will shift her strategy from the contingent strategy to the committed strategy. We also use numerical studies to illustrate main results. These findings provide theoretical support and management insights for managers to integrate CM into business transactions.

The Impact of Corporate Managers' Overconfidence on Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions: A Case Study of Gree's Acquisition of Zhuhai Yinlong

There is an important research topic in behavioral finance: overconfidence. This paper studies the relationship between overconfidence and Merger and Acquisition decision-making from the perspective of managers' irrationality. This paper adopts the case study method, selects Dong Mingzhu of Gree Electric Appliances, an enterprise manager with a distinctive personality, and takes Gree's merger and acquisition of Zhuhai Yinlong as an example to explore and analyze how overconfidence affects the enterprise's merger and acquisition behavior and to further explore the reasons behind its merger and acquisition results. From the perspective of overestimating the value of M&amp;A targets and adopting aggressive debt financing strategies, this paper analyzes how overconfident managers make irrational decisions in the M&amp;A process. Finally, through the phenomenon that the actual situation of Zhuhai Yinlong did not reach Dong's valuation and the unfair financing scheme in the acquisition plan, it is concluded that the overconfident managers overestimated the value of the M&amp;A target.

Second-hand should come first. Sustainable home consumption beyond the market

Studies on sustainable consumption have predominantly focused on first-hand consumers, whereas research on second-hand consumers has been centered on the act of purchase. This has involved investigations into specific venues such as second-hand markets and thrift shops or the motivations, barriers, and meanings behind such acquisition behaviors. This article strives to enhance the understanding of second-hand consumption within the framework of sustainable development in peripheral countries and in contexts with a limited access to new products. Through interviews conducted in different households across the Metropolitan Region of Chile, we delved into the diverse channels through which used items are exchanged –including waste picking, inheritance, and sharing–. The findings underscore the pivotal role these objects play in numerous households and highlight how certain spatial and social factors –such as urban density, social networks, land use, family structure, and emotional attachment to belongings– are crucial in promoting the sustainable exchange of second-hand goods outside of the market economy.

The Effects of Trust, Distrust, and Motivation on Information Behaviors: The Cases of GM Food and Food Additives in China

Food-related issues have recently become one of the most salient and controversial issues and have received increasing media and scholarly attention. This study examines the distinct effects of trust and distrust on the public’s information behaviors, specifically in the context of two food-related issues including GM food and food additives. This study employs a cross-sectional survey with 1,089 Chinese citizens. This study demonstrates that trust and motivation positively predicted information transmission behaviors (i.e., information sharing and forwarding) and information acquisition behaviors (i.e., information attending and seeking). Distrust, on the other hand, predicted only information transmission behaviors. Motivation’s effects on information acquisition behaviors were moderated by trust. This study contributes to the field of health information by expanding STOPS’ applicability to food-related risk contexts, conducting research with culturally distinct populations different from those featured in prior research, and distinguishing the roles of trust and distrust in influencing information behaviors.

RESEARCH ON USERS' SUSTAINABLE USE BEHAVIOR IN ONLINE HEALTH COMMUNITY UNDER THE VISION OF SERVICE QUALITY PERCEPTION

This study is based on the theory of social cognition and expectation confirmation theory, on the basis of current online health community research, using a field survey, model and empirical analysis, theory, and system analysis, from the perspective of service quality perception, to explorethe continuous use of users in the online health community. Put forward research hypotheses between variables from the categories of service quality perception, community identity, and continuous use behavior, and construct a model framework between related variables. Through the network questionnaire and other forms of research, to verify the basis of the hypothesis and theoretical model, Through empirical research, it is concluded that service quality perception has a significant influence on users' continuous use behavior; service quality perception significantly affects users' community identity; community identification positively affects users' health knowledge acquisition behavior and health knowledge contribution behavior; community identity mediates the influence of service quality perception and continuous use of users; and the perception of service quality and continuous use influence of users is not valid. In the end of the paper, based on the verification results of the hypothesis, this paper explores the continuous participation promotion strategies of online health community users from the practice level, as well as future research suggestions, to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for the healthy development of the online health community.

Hierarchical Reward Model of Deep Reinforcement Learning for Enhancing Cooperative Behavior in Automated Driving

In recent years, studies on practical application of automated driving have been conducted extensively. Most of the research assumes the existing road infrastructure and aims to replace human driving. There have also been studies that use reinforcement learning to optimize car control from a zero-based perspective in an environment without lanes, one of the existing types of road. In those studies, search and behavior acquisition using reinforcement learning has resulted in efficient driving control in an unknown environment. However, the throughput has not been high, while the crash rate has. To address this issue, this study proposes a hierarchical reward model that uses both individual and common rewards for reinforcement learning in order to achieve efficient driving control in a road, we assume environments of one-way, lane-less, automobile-only. Automated driving control is trained using a hierarchical reward model and evaluated through physical simulations. The results show that a reduction in crash rate and an improvement in throughput is attained by increasing the number of behaviors in which faster cars actively overtake slower ones.

The Role of Nicotine Metabolic Rate on Nicotine Dependence and Rewarding: Nicotine Metabolism in Chinese Male Smokers and Male Mice.

The exact relationship between nicotine metabolism and dependence is not fully understood but is known to be influenced at a molecular level by genetic factors. A sample comprising 274 Chinese adult male smokers was categorized into groups based on their metabolic rates, namely fast, intermediate, and slow metabolizers. We then measured their smoking topography, evaluated their nicotine dependence, and assessed the rewarding effects. Based on these findings, we proposed the hypothesis that the rate of nicotine metabolism could influence the level of dopamine release which in turn had repercussions on the pleasurable and rewarding effects. To test this hypothesis, male mice were selected with different nicotine metabolic rates that closely resembled in the smoker group. We evaluated their nicotine dependence and rewarding effects through conditioned place preference and withdrawal symptom tests, supplemented with dopamine release measurements. In both animal and human, the slow metabolism group (SMG) required less nicotine to maintain a comparable level of dependence than the fast metabolism group (FMG). The SMG could achieve similar rewarding effects to FMG despite consuming less nicotine. Comparable dopamine levels released were therefore critical in setting the nicotine acquisition behavior in this animal model and also for the smokers tested. Our findings suggested that even within the same ethnicity of established smokers (Chinese Han), differences in nicotine metabolism were an important parameter to modulate the degree of nicotine dependence.

A Study of Factors Influencing Elderly People Information-acquisition Behaviors

The research object for this study was the population aged 60 and above. The theoretical model was developed using the Theory of Health Action Process Approach, Theory of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, the Bystrom &amp; Jarvelin Model, and Theory of Use and Satisfaction. The study found that information acquisition intentions are strongly influenced by social identity, knowledge acquisition and self-realization, and self-efficacy; information access intentions have a considerable favorable impact on both information acquisition behaviors and action plans. Action plans has a mediating effect between information acquisition intentions and information acquisition behaviors.

Repertoire of food acquisition behaviors in Western Palearctic shorebirds (Aves, Charadriiformes)

Shorebirds are iconic examples of food resource partitioning through use of contrasted morphological structures to acquire food. Differences in beak lengths and shapes allow species catching their food at various sediment depths. Contrasted leg lengths allow species foraging at distinct water depths. Despite these morphological differences, shorebirds use a small number of stereotyped behaviors for food acquisition. We classify these behaviors by analyzing video sequences of ca. two dozen species of Western Palearctic shorebirds, during migration or wintering. We suggest disassembling food acquisition in three successive stages: foraging, feeding, and swallowing. The foraging stage regroups the locomotion behaviors associated to food detection, and the behaviors used during food capture. The feeding stage encompasses the handling behaviors used to kill or stun the prey and to extract its edible parts, and the behaviors used to transport the prey from the distal part of the beak to the bird’s pharynx. In the swallowing stage, the edible parts of the prey enter the pharynx. We show that three of these behaviors (locomotion, capture and transport) are made up of stereotypical, mutually exclusive components, and can be considered as performances. Each of our study species use one or maximum two components of these three performances. Overall, our study provides insights on interspecific variation in shorebird food acquisition behaviors that we put in a phylogenetic perspective. We confirm the long-standing hypothesis that pecking is the plesiomorphic behavior of food capture, and we show that those locomotion and transport behaviors associated with pecking differ from those associated with derived capture behaviors, leading to a syndrome of food acquisition behaviors in shorebirds.