Behavior In Context Research Articles

A global user profile framework for effective recommender systems

AbstractModern Recommender Systems (RSs) compete to maintain rich user profiles that can accurately reflect user behavior, interests, and service contexts. While benefiting from an online service supported by an RS, user preferences and interests may rapidly change over time. To keep up with the changes from the user perspective, an RS should maintain the making of effective personalization as supported by robust profile construction methods. Building an effective user profile database requires exhaustive data and behavior analysis over extended periods. In this paper, we delve into traditional RS architectures to identify limitations, gaps, and opportunities for improvements in existing user profile mechanisms. To that end, a Global User Profile Framework (GUPF) is proposed towards achieving increased effectiveness. Furthermore, the adoption of the developed framework is exemplified by presenting different potential scenarios. The presented work concludes with the identification of important venues and research directions that are enabled by the proposed GUPF.

Facial Expression of TIPI Personality and CHMP-Tri Psychopathy Traits in Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Honest signalling theory suggests that humans and chimpanzees can extract socially relevant information relating to personality from the faces of their conspecifics. Humans are also able to extract information from chimpanzees’ faces. Here, we examine whether personality characteristics of chimpanzees, including measures of psychopathy, can be discerned based purely on facial morphology in photographs. Twenty-one chimpanzees were given naïve and expert personality ratings on the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) and the Chimpanzee Triarchic Model of Psychopathy (CHMP-Tri) before and following behavioural observations. Characteristics relating to openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and disinhibition could be distinguished from the faces of chimpanzees. Individuals higher on disinhibition have lower scores on conscientiousness and emotional stability and higher scores on extraversion, while those higher on meanness have lower conscientiousness and agreeableness. Facial expressions are linked to personality traits present in the TIPI and CHMP-Tri models: the Relaxed Face and the Grooming Face were displayed more by chimpanzees higher on agreeableness, whereas the Compressed Lips Face was observed more in those individuals higher on boldness, and the Full Open Grin was displayed more by chimpanzees higher on extraversion but lower on emotional stability and conscientiousness. Facial expressions were also found to be associated with particular behavioural contexts, namely the Grooming Face in affiliative contexts and the Relaxed and Relaxed Open Mouth Faces in neutral contexts. Dominant chimpanzees display higher levels of boldness and more Compressed Lips Faces, Relaxed Open Mouth Faces, and Grooming Faces than subordinate individuals. These findings support and extend evidence for an honest signalling system and a personality structure shared between humans and chimpanzees. Future research could further explore how personality is conveyed through the face, perhaps through more than just singular aspects of character, and maybe reflecting what chimpanzees themselves are able to do.

The importance of context in the acoustic behaviors of marine, subtropical fish speciesa).

Despite the importance of acoustic signaling in fishes, the prevalence of the behavioral contexts associated with their active (i.e., intentional) sound production remains unclear. A systematized review was conducted to explore documented acoustic behaviors in marine, subtropical fishes and potential influences affecting their relative pervasiveness. Data were collected on 186 actively soniferous fish species studied across 194 publications, identified based on existing FishSounds and FishBase datasets. Disturbance was the most common behavioral context associated with active sound production-reported for 140 species or 75% of the species studied-and then aggression (n = 46 species, 25%) and reproduction (n = 34 species, 18%). This trend, however, somewhat differed when examined by research effort, study environment, and fish family, such as reproductive sounds being more commonly reported by studies conducted in the wild. The synthesis of fish sound production behaviors was in some ways stymied by the fact that many species' sound production did not have discernible associated behavioral contexts and that some investigations did not clearly identify the study environments in which active sound production was observed. These findings emphasize the importance of context-behavioral or otherwise-when studying acoustic behaviors in fishes.

Environmental, Social, Governance Performance and Negative Performance Feedback: Firm Moderators in a Cross-country Context

In this study, we have examined two specific research questions. First, whether firms around the world with negative performance feedback would resort to more environmental, social, governance [ESG] performance or otherwise. Second, we examine whether firms’ ESG controversies and stakeholder orientation in a cross-country context, with distinctive legal system and ethical behaviour, would motivate them to undertake more ESG performance in such negative performance feedback conditions. Our primary findings show that negative performance feedback of a firm impacts its ESG performance in a strongly negative manner. Furthermore, we prove that both high stakeholder orientation and high ESG controversies significant negatively moderate firms’ ESG inclinations. This holds true irrespective of country-specific legal system and ethical behaviour contexts.

Stock Fundamental Analysis and Investment Decision Making

This research investigates the relationship between stock fundamental analysis and investment decision-making among investors in the dynamic Indonesian stock market. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative analyses of survey data and financial indicators with qualitative insights from interviews and focus group discussions. The findings reveal a significant prevalence of fundamental analysis among investors, with 75% actively incorporating it into their strategies. Subgroup analysis indicates varying utilization rates among individual retail investors (70%), institutional investors (80%), and analysts (85%). Regression analysis establishes a statistically significant positive correlation (β = 0.25, p < 0.05) between the application of fundamental analysis and investment success, with an adjusted R-squared of 0.48. The study identifies key market factors—regulatory changes, economic indicators, and market volatility—that influence the effectiveness of fundamental analysis. The qualitative analysis underscores nuanced investor perceptions and behavioral factors, contributing depth and context to the quantitative correlations. The integrated findings offer valuable insights for investors and policymakers, suggesting implications for informed decision-making and regulatory considerations in the Indonesian stock market.

Phasic modulation of beta power at movement-related frequencies during visuomotor conflict.

Rhythmic cortical activity is thought to underlie many cognitive functions including the flexible weighting of sensory information depending on the current behavioral context. Here, we tested for potential oscillatory alignment and power modulation at behaviorally relevant frequencies in magnetoencephalography (MEG) data acquired during a virtual reality-based, rhythmic hand-target phase matching task. The task contained conditions differing in terms of visuomotor incongruence and whether or not behavior (grasping movements) had to be adapted to keep vision aligned with the target. We tested for potential oscillatory alignment with movement frequencies and cross-frequency coupling with oscillations in the alpha, beta, and gamma bands. Our results revealed local peaks at 1 Hz power, corresponding to the frequency at which hand movements alternated between open and close; thus, potentially indicating an "entrainment" of neural oscillations at key movement frequencies. We found 1 Hz power was selectively enhanced when participants needed to align incongruent vision with the target. Moreover, the phase of the "movement-entrained" 1 Hz oscillations coupled significantly with the momentary amplitude of beta band oscillations-again, this coupling was selectively enhanced when incongruent vision was task relevant. We propose that this reflected a top-down mechanism, most likely related to selective attention and rhythmic sensory sampling. Thus, phasic low-frequency (beta) power suppression likely indicated a variable (attentional) sampling of visual movement feedback; i.e., related to increased sensitivity for visually matching alternating hand movements to a phasic target at ecologically important time points, rather than continually during the grasping cycle.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our results reveal an increased spectral power at movement frequencies in a rhythmic hand-target phase matching task under visuomotor conflict; this effect was strongest when incongruent visual movement feedback was required to guide action. Moreover, the phase of these slow frequencies coupled with the momentary power beta oscillations; again, this coupling was selectively strengthened when incongruent vision was task relevant.

Rapid automated 3-D pose estimation of larval zebrafish using a physical model-trained neural network.

Quantitative ethology requires an accurate estimation of an organism's postural dynamics in three dimensions plus time. Technological progress over the last decade has made animal pose estimation in challenging scenarios possible with unprecedented detail. Here, we present (i) a fast automated method to record and track the pose of individual larval zebrafish in a 3-D environment, applicable when accurate human labeling is not possible; (ii) a rich annotated dataset of 3-D larval poses for ethologists and the general zebrafish and machine learning community; and (iii) a technique to generate realistic, annotated larval images in different behavioral contexts. Using a three-camera system calibrated with refraction correction, we record diverse larval swims under free swimming conditions and in response to acoustic and optical stimuli. We then employ a convolutional neural network to estimate 3-D larval poses from video images. The network is trained against a set of synthetic larval images rendered using a 3-D physical model of larvae. This 3-D model samples from a distribution of realistic larval poses that we estimate a priori using a template-based pose estimation of a small number of swim bouts. Our network model, trained without any human annotation, performs larval pose estimation three orders of magnitude faster and with accuracy comparable to the template-based approach, capturing detailed kinematics of 3-D larval swims. It also applies accurately to other datasets collected under different imaging conditions and containing behavioral contexts not included in our training.

Acceptance of Green Technology-Based Service: Consumers’ Risk-Taking Behavior in the Context of Indoor Smart Farm Restaurants

Smart farm technology contributes to sustainable environmental protection, and so it is important to investigate consumer behavior in this regard. Therefore, this paper constructs a theoretical model focusing on the consumers of indoor smart farm restaurants. The theoretical framework integrates the theory of planned behavior and the perceived risk theory. The constructed framework is deepened by testing the moderating role of novelty seeking in the effects of perceived risks on attitudes. The results revealed that (1) psychological and quality risks negatively affect attitude, (2) subjective norm positively affects attitude, (3) attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control positively affect behavioral intentions, and (4) the moderating impact of novelty seeking was discovered in the relationship between psychological risk and attitude. This is the first investigation of the perceived risks of indoor smart farm restaurants, and this study empirically proved the moderating role of novelty seeking in the risk-taking behavior context. This study consequently contributes to advancing state-of-the-art methods and presents practical marketing recommendations.

Exploring the Intersections of Community and Cross-Cultural Psychology: Enhancing Well-being and Understanding Diversity

This abstract delves into the dynamic interplay between community psychology and cross-cultural psychology, highlighting their roles in promoting psychological well-being, addressing social issues, and fostering a deeper understanding of cultural diversity. Community psychology focuses on the reciprocal relationship between individuals and their communities, emphasizing the importance of context in shaping human behavior and well-being. By employing an ecological perspective, community psychologists strive to empower communities, prevent social problems, and advocate for social justice. This approach recognizes the impact of various factors, including economic disparities, social support networks, and neighborhood environments, on individual psychological experiences. Cross-cultural psychology, on the other hand, investigates the intricate connections between culture and psychology. It seeks to uncover both universal and culturally specific aspects of human behavior, cognition, and emotion. By comparing psychological phenomena across cultures, cross-cultural psychologists illuminate the diverse ways in which cultural norms, values, and traditions influence individuals’ thoughts and actions. This field plays a crucial role in challenging ethnocentric biases and enriching our understanding of the human experience. The abstract highlights the convergence of these two fields, emphasizing how they mutually enrich one another. Community psychology benefits from the insights of cross-cultural psychology by recognizing the importance of cultural context in community dynamics and interventions. Cross-cultural psychology gains depth by integrating the community perspective, recognizing that culture is not solely an individual attribute, but a collective phenomenon shaped by the communities in which people reside. Through collaborative research, interventions, and advocacy efforts, these fields contribute to building more inclusive and equitable societies. By acknowledging the importance of community and cultural influences on psychological well-being, researchers and practitioners can better address societal challenges, bridge gaps in mental health care, and create interventions that are sensitive to the diverse needs of individuals from various backgrounds. In conclusion, the synergy between community psychology and cross-cultural psychology holds great potential for advancing our understanding of human behavior and well-being within the contexts of communities and cultural diversity. This abstract encourages continued exploration and integration of these fields to create meaningful impact and positive change in diverse societies around the world.

Deep Temporal Graph Infomax for Imbalanced Insider Threat Detection

ABSTRACT Insider threats pose a significant concern for critical information infrastructures. Graph neural networks are widely used for detection due to their ability to model complex relationships among network entities. However, deep learning algorithms struggle with learning from business system data as anomalies are extremely rare. To tackle this challenge, we propose deep temporal graph infomax (DTGI), a new method for detecting insider threats in real-world scenarios with highly imbalanced data. DTGI utilizes an extended continuous-time dynamic heterogeneous graph network and a behavior context constraint anomaly sample generator. This generator incorporates attack behavior context constraints to augment attack samples and enhance the performance of the supervised model. Extensive experiments conducted on the CERT dataset, consisting of over one million records, demonstrate that DTGI surpasses state-of-the-art methods in terms of detection performance.

Not Nature Exposure but Awe Promotes Cooperation in Social Dilemmas

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the experience of awe and cooperative behavior, with a particular focus on the mediating role of the small-self concept. Theoretical framework: Drawing on social-psychological and emotion theories, this study proposed an integrative model that includes two key variables: the experience of awe, elicited by various stimuli, and the small-self concept. It hypothesized that individuals who experience awe would exhibit increased cooperative behavior and that the small-self concept would mediate this relationship. Method: Across three studies, diverse methodologies and measures were employed, including Common-Pool Resource Dilemmas and Public Goods Games, to assess levels of cooperation. The Awe Scale and Perceived Self-Size Scale were also utilized to measure awe and the small-self concept, respectively. In total, 320 participants were engaged in the study, being assigned to different experimental and control conditions. Results and conclusion: The results consistently demonstrated that the experience of awe led to an increased willingness to cooperate across all studies. It was also discovered that the small-self concept played a complete mediating role in the relationship between the experience of awe and cooperative behavior, confirming the hypotheses. These findings remained robust even when different awe-inducing stimuli were employed, such as pictures of nature, images of architecture, or videos of an infant. Search implications: Our findings underscore the importance of the awe experience as a potential driver of cooperative behavior. The results contribute to a better understanding of the emotional and cognitive processes underlying cooperation, suggesting that fostering awe experiences in individuals may be a promising avenue for promoting cooperative behavior. Future research should explore the practical applications of our findings in fields such as conflict resolution, environmental conservation, and social cooperation. Originality value: This research uniquely contributes to the literature by integrating the concept of awe and small-self within the context of cooperative behavior. It adds to the existing body of knowledge by providing a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms that influence cooperative behavior. This study presents a novel approach by examining the mediating role of the small-self concept, offering new insights into how awe experiences can impact cooperation.

Preliminary Study of Social Withdrawal Behaviour in Vietnamese Adolescents

Objective: Social withdrawal behaviour is a modern psychosocial phenomenon that has been studied in many countries. However, this is a research gap in Vietnam – a developing country, with almost no research on this phenomenon. This study was conducted to explore the context of social withdrawal behaviour among Vietnamese adolescents. Method: By designing a cross-sectional study on 1071 representative participants from three regions of the country, we have discovered that 1.77% of the selected participants experience this behaviour. Result: The common social withdrawal expressions in adolescents are being alone, not participating in meetings, not requiring others to interact and not talking to others, which can be categorized into two groups: Without interaction when being in the context that is required to participate, and (2) Choose to work alone if possible. These findings broaden our understanding of the possibility of facing this phenomenon in adolescents currently. Conclusion: This preliminary study can guide future studies on social withdrawal in a developing country. Despite the acknowledged limitations, our study provided an important insight into the social withdrawal in adolescents from a developing and multicultural country, thus contributing to the existing literature. Moreover, the research and development of other theoretical frameworks on social withdrawal is an indispensable direction to strengthen and broaden our understanding of this field.

Stepped-care approach implementation for dealing with smoking-related problems using Contextual Behavior Science

Stepped-care approach implementation for dealing with smoking-related problems using Contextual Behavior Science

Real-time swarming detection in honeybees: Leveraging audio signal processing and machine learning techniques

Acoustical signals play a significant role in honey bee communication across various behavioral contexts. One notable example is queen piping, which refers to the acoustic signals emitted by young queens during the swarming process. Specifically, emerged virgin queens emit a distinct acoustic signal known as “tooting.” Tooting signals typically consist of one or two pulses lasting approximately one second, characterized by an initial rise in both amplitude and frequency. Recognizing these signals is of utmost importance for beekeepers as it enables them to identify an imminent swarm, effectively manage the swarming process, and safeguard the colony. This paper proposes a novel method for online swarming detection in honey bees, leveraging audio signal collection, acoustical signal processing, and machine learning techniques. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system in accurately detecting swarming at its early stages. Notably, the system maintains a high level of accuracy even when confronted with environmental noise and other unfamiliar audio signals that could potentially corrupt the audio signal acquired from the beehive.

Socioeconomic Factors, Movement Behavior Context, and Self-reported Physical and Mental Health in Adults Living in New York City

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of socioeconomic factors, movement behavior context, and self-reported physical and mental health in adults living in New York City. Methods: Participants were adults from the Physical Activity and Transit Survey (N = 3811; 53.2% female). The dependent variables were items asking about the number of days the participant experienced poor physical and mental health. Independent variables were socioeconomic factors and items asking about the frequency of physical activity (PA) within certain contexts and rest/sleep behaviors. Weighted multivariable negative binomial regression models examined the associations. Results: More days of bicycling transit (IRR = 0.79, p = .001) and higher levels of household income (IRR range = 0.44-0.66, p < .025) were associated with lower rates of poor physical health. More days of poor rest/sleep (IRR = 1.05, p < .001) and labor PA (IRR = 1.10, p < .001) were associated with higher rates of poor mental health, and higher household income (IRR range = 0.58-0.65, p < .01) were associated with a lower rate of poor mental health. Conclusions: The strength and direction of associations with self-reported health varied according to PA context. Poor rest/sleep and low household income were strongly associated with both poor physical and mental health.

People Wear Masks when they Ski: Comparing Congruent and Incongruent Behavioral Context Appeals

When advocating for a behavior, persuasive messaging typically focuses on the context that behavior is performed in, such as mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, situating the advocated behavior in a different context, termed an incongruent context appeal, may persuade by increasing attention, novelty, and memorability. The current study tested this supposition in a message experiment. Participants (N = 324) were randomized to view an incongruent context (e.g. skiing) or a congruent context (i.e. COVID-19) appeal advocating for mask wearing. The incongruence appeal had a direct, positive effect on mask wearing intentions and indirect, positive effects via two serial mediation pathways: time spent with the message increased attention through novelty and memorability. Findings suggest that an incongruent context appeal is an effective strategy for persuading audiences in information-saturated environments like the COVID-19 pandemic.

E-Waste Recycling Behavior in the United Arab Emirates: Investigating the Roles of Environmental Consciousness, Cost, and Infrastructure Support

This study examines whether consumers’ behavior affects e-waste recycling in the UAE. This paper provides a theoretical model of e-waste recycling behavior based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), and it goes on to analyze the impact of environmental consciousness, infrastructural support, and costs in e-waste recycling. To assess this study’s constructs, a survey instrument is created. The theoretical model is tested using data gathered from a survey of UAE residents. PLS-SEM (partial least squares structural equations modeling) is used to assess the data. The results support the use of the TPB in the e-waste recycling behavior context. Furthermore, this study shows intriguing findings regarding the effect of environmental consciousness, perceived infrastructural support, and the cost of e-waste recycling. Environmental consciousness shows a positive moderation effect on the association between e-waste recycling attitudes and intentions. This finding implies that the environmental consciousness of residents should be increased to translate e-waste recycling intentions into behavior. Environmental consciousness can be enhanced through training programs. Furthermore, special sustainability courses in higher education that focus on improving environmental awareness among students will have a lasting impact. This study supports the positive moderation effect of perceived infrastructure support on the association between recycling intentions and behavior.

Revisiting the archaeological investigations of rice domestication in China during 10,000–7,000 BP in a human behavioral context

In East Asian archaeology, initial domestication and early dispersal of rice have continuously attracted scholarly interest in the recent decade, which has generated abundant new materials and revised opinions. This paper starts with a refreshed understanding of the domestication concept that emphasizes the dominant role of human behavior in the mutualistic relationship. A thorough review of the approaches to and data on reconstructing the rice story during 10,000–7,000 BP demonstrates the causally chained changes in phenotype, genotype, and human behavior in the establishment of domestication. Future studies will benefit from the revised paradigm, which has great potential to extract archaeological information to explain multiple mechanisms in rice domestication.

Inhibitory feedback from the motor circuit gates mechanosensory processing in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Animals must integrate sensory cues with their current behavioral context to generate a suitable response. How this integration occurs is poorly understood. Previously, we developed high-throughput methods to probe neural activity in populations of Caenorhabditis elegans and discovered that the animal's mechanosensory processing is rapidly modulated by the animal's locomotion. Specifically, we found that when the worm turns it suppresses its mechanosensory-evoked reversal response. Here, we report that C. elegans use inhibitory feedback from turning-associated neurons to provide this rapid modulation of mechanosensory processing. By performing high-throughput optogenetic perturbations triggered on behavior, we show that turning-associated neurons SAA, RIV, and/or SMB suppress mechanosensory-evoked reversals during turns. We find that activation of the gentle-touch mechanosensory neurons or of any of the interneurons AIZ, RIM, AIB, and AVE during a turn is less likely to evoke a reversal than activation during forward movement. Inhibiting neurons SAA, RIV, and SMB during a turn restores the likelihood with which mechanosensory activation evokes reversals. Separately, activation of premotor interneuron AVA evokes reversals regardless of whether the animal is turning or moving forward. We therefore propose that inhibitory signals from SAA, RIV, and/or SMB gate mechanosensory signals upstream of neuron AVA. We conclude that C. elegans rely on inhibitory feedback from the motor circuit to modulate its response to sensory stimuli on fast timescales. This need for motor signals in sensory processing may explain the ubiquity in many organisms of motor-related neural activity patterns seen across the brain, including in sensory processing areas.

An Analytic Network Process to Support Financial Decision-Making in the Context of Behavioural Finance

Following the financial crisis of the last decade and the increasing complexity of financial products, the European Union has introduced investor protection tools that require professionals to carry out a client profiling process. The aim is to offer products that are in line with the characteristics of the individual. The classes of variables for comprehensive profiling are obtained by matching the elements proposed by the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and studies of classical finance. However, behavioural finance studies, which emphasise the importance of behavioural attitudes, are not clearly considered in this structured profiling. The present paper discusses the implementation of an analytic network process to support financial decision-making in a behavioural context, combining regulatory guidance and qualitative and quantitative evidence from the literature. The Kersey Temperament Model is used as the behavioural model to construct the network cluster that incorporates personality into the valuation. Uncertainty management is incorporated through recent studies in the context of intertemporal choice theory. The functionality of the network is verified through a case study, where two alternatives with different characteristics are considered to meet the same investment objective. The present approach proves how the generated structure can provide strong support for financial decision-making.