Nature Of Interactions Research Articles

Optimizing group work strategies in virtual dissection.

Due to its haptic and interactive nature, virtual anatomy provides an opportunity for small-group learning, enabling students to develop their group work skills before they graduate. However, there is currently little practical guidance supported by pedagogic principles detailing how to incorporate it into curricula. Anatomy educators at the University of Plymouth conducted action research aiming to capture students' overall perceptions of the virtual anatomy platform Anatomage. Questioning the benefits and challenges students face while interacting with Anatomage prompted the creation of evidence-based interventions to be later evaluated. Although a plethora of themes were identified, this report specifically examines those relating to group work. Thematic analysis of initial focus group data found group size and group dynamics impacted students' experience with the platform. Following the implementation of interventions to resolve these issues, a questionnaire and second series of focus groups were conducted to determine whether they were successful. Additional subthemes found from these data included facilitation, social pressure, peer learning and working with friends. This study contributed to the improvement of small group learning and integration of virtual anatomy into curricula based on student and staff feedback. As such, these data support the development of effective group working skills which are fundamental for healthcare professionals and widely recognized by regulators such as the General Medical Council and Health and Care Professions Council. In this report, the authors provide practical advice informed by pedagogy and principles from management and psychology to provide a multidisciplinary perspective.

From the vineyard soil to the grape berry surface: Unravelling the dynamics of the microbial terroir

While unique bacterial and fungal communities are identified in various vineyard habitats, including soils, roots, and trunks, the impact of soil microbiota on the structure of communities colonizing the fruit surface remains puzzling. Our focus encompasses three aspects: the influence of soil microbiota on the surface microbiota of berries, the patterns of co-occurrence across different biological kingdoms, and a comparative analysis of the soil microbiota’s impact on both endophytic and epiphytic fungi that colonize grape berries. The Aureobasidium and Alternaria genera dominated mature berries but were noticeably absent or in low abundance in soil, while Basidiomycota featured prominently in both vineyard soils and on grape berries. Comparisons between soil and grape berry microbiota challenged the notion of a direct connection, revealing low overlap. Co-occurrence analysis unveiled habitat-specific networks, emphasizing alternative sources for berry colonization. This echoes earlier reports of limited correlation in microbial communities between soil and grape berries. In this study, we broaden our inquiry by incorporating data from a published study. This enables us to conduct a comparative analysis of the soil fungal metagenome, focusing on the endophytic and epiphytic microbiota associated with grape berries. Regional comparisons demonstrated differences in community diversity and dissimilarity in microbial profiles, emphasize the influence of local conditions, suggesting that the microbial composition of vineyards is shaped by region-specific factors. These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of soil and grape microbiota interactions, offering crucial insights for advancing our comprehension of vineyard ecosystems and informing agricultural and viticultural practices.

Unlocking the secrets of daily app switching: a comprehensive guide to mastering both intra-app and inter-app search strategies

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to provide insights into the daily search strategies of users, which can inform the enhancement of search experiences across multiple applications. By understanding how users navigate and interact with different apps during their search processes, the study seeks to contribute to the design of more intuitive and user-friendly app systems.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a mixed-methods approach to analyze users' daily search strategies in a natural cross-app interactive environment. Data collection was conducted using the Critical Incident Technique and the Micro-Moment Time Line, involving 204 participants to capture their real-time search experiences. Open coding techniques were utilized to categorize sequential search tactics, while the PrefixSpan algorithm was applied to identify patterns in frequently applied search strategies.FindingsThe study findings unveil a comprehensive framework that includes a variety of intra-app search tactics and inter-app switching tactics. Five predominant search strategies were identified: Iterative querying, Selective results adoption, Share-related, Recommended browsing, and Organizational results strategies. These strategies reflect the nuanced ways in which users engage with apps to fulfill their information needs.Originality/valueThis research represents a pioneering effort in systematically identifying and categorizing daily search strategies within a natural cross-app interaction context. It offers original contributions to the field by combining intra-app and inter-app tactics, providing a holistic view of user behavior. The implications of these findings are significant for app developers and designers, as they can leverage this knowledge to improve app functionality and user manuals, ultimately enhancing the overall search experience for users.

Disruption of pollination by herbivores is rescued by nectar yeasts

Abstract Attracting pollinators to achieve successful reproduction is a key challenge for wild plants that may be disturbed by complex multispecies interactions in nature. Pairwise plant–pollinator interactions have traditionally been studied for decades, while ignoring other ecological players may obscure a comprehensive understanding on how plants recruit partners or combat enemies in the pollination process. Hence, integrated studies considering the inherent complexity of ecological interactions are needed, which may open up new perspectives for deciphering intricate systems and predicting ecological consequences. We examined the presence of nectar yeasts using a combination of high‐throughput sequencing, cultivation and microscopy and quantified floral herbivory by evaluating the incidence of flowers with visible holes in 13 natural populations of Iris bulleyana in the Hengduan Mountains of southwest China during 2017–2022. We combined yeast inoculation and herbivore manipulation treatments to illustrate the isolated and combined impacts of two contrasting nectarivorous organisms, the ascomycetous yeast Metschnikowia reukaufii and adult sawflies, on pollinator visitation and plant reproductive success in two populations. In the lab, we first employed gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to profile the volatile metabolites of yeast‐inoculated nectar relative to control, followed by a behavioural bioassay to test the preference of honeybees for these microbial volatiles. Yeasts commonly inhabited floral nectar and insect herbivores frequently bit holes in the perianth tube to consume nectar and nectaries. Nectar yeasts indirectly facilitated plant reproduction through increased pollinator visits, probably because of microbial metabolism as honeybees preferred nectar volatiles produced by yeasts in behavioural bioassays. Insect herbivores increased total floral visits but reduced legitimate visits by inducing legitimate‐to‐robbing behavioural changes of honeybees, thus leading to lower seed production. The detrimental effect of herbivory was mitigated by the presence of yeasts, which diminished the relative proportion of robbing visits and thereby ‘rescued’ flowers from reproductive failure. Synthesis: Overall, we found contrasting effects of non‐pollinator species, including both micro‐ and macro‐organisms, on plant–pollinator interactions in a biodiversity hotspot, where pollination deficit may be a ubiquitous phenomenon. Our findings suggest that both microbial and herbivory effects are likely to be important in explaining the exact causes of pollen limitation in species‐rich areas, highlighting the biological context dependence of species interactions in natural ecosystems.

Managerial style as an indicator of the nature of interaction between regional authorities and the population

The article presents an analysis of respondents' perception of the regional management style as a factor characterizing the managerial communication system. Based on the secondary conceptualization of empirical data (6021 field documents) obtained in 2019-2020 in 12 regions of the Russian Federation during a self-filling questionnaire based on a quota sample calculated for each region according to Rosstat, the author conducted a study of the relationship between respondents' characteristics of the regional management style with agreement with it, concern about the shortcomings of the regional management system and assessments the work of the vertical of power from the federal to the local levels. The author identified a number of patterns, based on which it was concluded that groups of respondents who define the regional management style differently agree with it to varying degrees, demonstrate concern about the shortcomings of the characterized management system in different ways and evaluate the final result of the activities of the power and management vertical. Respondents who define the management style as authoritarian and clan-based tend to be more concerned about the shortcomings of the management system for the most part than respondents who characterize the management style as democratic, collegial, liberal or vague. Respondents who define the management style as authoritarian tend to evaluate the final result of the work of authorities at all levels lower than respondents who believe that the management style is democratic, collegial or uncertain.

Jouyban–Acree model assessment for physico-chemical properties of N,N-Dimethylbenzylamine with isomeric chlorobenzene systems

ABSTRACT Densities (ρ), speeds of sound (u), and viscosities (η) of binary mixtures of N,N-dimethyl benzyl amine (DMBA) with 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB), 1,3-dichlorobenzene (1,3-DCB), and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB) were measured at temperatures ranging from 303.15 K to 313.15 K for selected compositions. Excess molar volume (V E ), excess isentropic compressibility (κ s E ), viscosity deviation (Δη), and excess Gibbs free energy for activation of viscous flow (ΔG *E ) were subsequently determined from the experimental data. The obtained results were analysed to elucidate the nature of intermolecular interactions, specifically focusing on attractive forces, steric hindrance or hetero-association within the mixtures. The Prigogine–Flory–Patterson (PFP) theory was employed to identify the dominant type of molecular interaction. The Jouyban–Acree model was applied to calculate densities, speeds of sound, and viscosities. The accuracy of the model was evaluated using mean relative deviations (MRDs) and individual relative deviations (IRDs) between the calculated and experimental values.

Bridging the gap between high-speed rail transport studies and cluster economics through social knowledge exchange: future research potential

ABSTRACT Within the high-speed rail debate (HSR) there has been lacking in-depth theoretical and evidential research on the role HSR has on tacit knowledge flows between industrial clusters or regions of economic productivity. The research that has begun to emerge has focused on knowledge indicators such as patents for social/tacit knowledge exchange, which this paper raises concerns over. This review aims to discover new links for HSR with cluster economics through social knowledge theory and aims to create a conceptual framework that will provide a new perspective for future research in the HSR debate concerning social knowledge exchange. Potential implications are presented for future transport policy decision-making, based on the relationship HSR may have with inter-regional tacit knowledge flows and accessibility benefits in regional balancing. Future research considerations are pointed out that argue to measure the flow of knowledge from HSR, research needs to go in-depth to the social aspect of interactions and relationship buildings, as quantitative data will struggle to capture tacit knowledge flow itself, due to the tacit nature of such information. The presented framework highlights the tacit nature of interactions facilitated by HSR connectivity.

Empowering Learners to Improve English Language Performance through Group Discussion Strategy in Selected Secondary Schools in Rwanda

This study investigates the impact of the group discussion strategy on English language performance among secondary school students in Rwanda. Recognizing the critical role of English proficiency in academic achievement and future career opportunities, the research addresses the persistent challenges faced by students in mastering the language through traditional teaching methods. The study adopts a descriptive research design using a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data to assess the effectiveness of group discussions in enhancing students' comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills. This study was guided by Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory. Data were collected through filled questionnaires from students, teachers’ and administrative staff. Results indicate that the group discussion strategy significantly improves students' English language performance by fostering interactive and collaborative learning environments. Students showed increased engagement, motivation, and confidence in using English. The findings suggest that incorporating group discussions into the curriculum can effectively empower learners and enhance English language education in Rwandan secondary schools. The study established that group discussions significantly contribute to improving various language skills among students. The interactive nature of these discussions fosters engagement and participation, leading to heightened confidence and motivation among students. The study recommends integrating structured group discussions into Rwanda's English curriculum, supported by teacher training. It emphasizes creating supportive environments, leveraging technology, promoting peer support, and implementing continuous assessment and feedback. These measures aim to improve English proficiency, enhancing students' academic success and future prospects in a globalized world.

Theoretical investigations on the nature of interactions in ions (Li+, Na+, Be2+, Mg2+)-water clusters in the gas phase

The nature of interaction that is present in ion-water ( M ( H 2 O ) n ) ( M = L i + , N a + , B e 2 + , M g 2 + ) (n = 1–10) clusters are highlighted in the present work. We have used theories of atoms in molecules, symmetry-adapted perturbation, and infrared spectroscopy in the gas phase. The inner structure where the M is surrounded by four H 2 O molecules represent the first shell, followed by the second shell, which is the most stable cluster when n ≥ 4 , for M ( H 2 O ) n ( M = L i + , N a + , B e 2 + ) clusters, and n ≥ 6 for M ( H 2 O ) n ( M = M g 2 + ) cluster. The successive binding energies of M ( H 2 O ) n clusters leads to the conclusion that the affinity for water molecules follows the trend: B e 2 + > M g 2 + > L i + > N a + . The SAPT study demonstrates that the total interaction energy of B e 2 + − water clusters are higher than the other clusters because of high attractive induction and electrostatic energy. The IR spectrum results conclude that in the presence of cations in ( H 2 O ) n clusters blue shifts occur for the hydrogen-bonded O − H stretching mode, and a red shift occurs for the free O − H stretching mode. This investigation contributes significantly to the scientific understanding of these clusters’ bonding interactions, total interaction energy, and successive interaction energy.

Exploring the nonlinear optical characteristics of supersalt-decorated graphyne via DFT analysis: unveiling quantum insights into light-matter interaction

In this comprehensive study, we explore into the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of graphyne (GRY) and its compounds decorated with a super salt (OLi3BeF3), namely GRY@SS1, and GRY@SS2) using the rB3LYP/6−31G(d,p) DFT method. Our findings reveal a substantial enhancement in the electron transfer properties of decorated compounds compared to the pristine GRY surface. This enhancement is evidence by the reduction in the bandgap energies (Eg) from 3.52 eV to 1.68 eV and remarkable boost in maximum absorption ( λmax) from 372.66 to 807.73 nm. Noteably, GRY@SS2 exhibits a significant increase in linear polarizability ( α0 ) (538.18 au), first hyperpolarizability ( β0 ) (3872.76 au), and second hyperpolarizability ( γ0 ) (1.00 × 106) due to reduced excitations energies compared to the GRY ( α0 = 448.61, β0 = 0.14 and γ0 = 5.97 × 105 au). NBO charges show that electrons are transferring from the dopant (supersalt) to the GRY sheet. Furthermore, Non-covalent interactions (NCl), iso-surface, infrared (IR), 1H NMR, and 13C NMR studies have been conducted to provide insights into the nature of interactions, vibrational frequencies, and structural-functional aspects of GRY and GRY@SS1, and GRY@SS2. According to TD-DFT calculations, all compounds demonstrate superior vertical ionization potential, UV–vis absorbance, HOMO–LUMO characteristics, as well as interaction energies. Our results underscore the potential of these compounds as valuable NLO materials, particularly highlighting the promising prospects of GRY@SS2.

Rethinking materials simulations: Blending direct numerical simulations with neural operators

Materials simulations based on direct numerical solvers are accurate but computationally expensive for predicting materials evolution across length- and time-scales, due to the complexity of the underlying evolution equations, the nature of multiscale spatiotemporal interactions, and the need to reach long-time integration. We develop a method that blends direct numerical solvers with neural operators to accelerate such simulations. This methodology is based on the integration of a community numerical solver with a U-Net neural operator, enhanced by a temporal-conditioning mechanism to enable accurate extrapolation and efficient time-to-solution predictions of the dynamics. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this hybrid framework on simulations of microstructure evolution via the phase-field method. Such simulations exhibit high spatial gradients and the co-evolution of different material phases with simultaneous slow and fast materials dynamics. We establish accurate extrapolation of the coupled solver with large speed-up compared to DNS depending on the hybrid strategy utilized. This methodology is generalizable to a broad range of materials simulations, from solid mechanics to fluid dynamics, geophysics, climate, and more.

Healthcare experiences of pregnant and postnatal women and healthcare professionals when facing child protection in the perinatal period: A systematic review and Critical Interpretative Synthesis.

The perinatal period is known as time of transition and anticipation. For women with social risk factors, child protection services may become involved during the perinatal period and this might complicate their interactions with healthcare providers. To systematically review and synthesise the existing qualitative evidence of healthcare experiences of women and healthcare professionals during the perinatal period while facing child protection involvement. A systematic search of databases (Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO, CINAHL, ASSIA, MIDIRS, Social Policy and Practice and Global Health) was carried out in January 2023, and updated in February 2024. Quality of studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. A Critical Interpretative Synthesis was used alongside the PRISMA reporting guideline. A total of 41 studies were included in this qualitative evidence synthesis. We identified three types of healthcare interactions: Relational care, Surveillance and Avoidance. Healthcare interactions can fluctuate between these types, and elements of different types can coexist simultaneously, indicating the complexity and reciprocal nature of healthcare interactions during the perinatal period when child protection processes are at play. Our findings provide a novel interpretation of the reciprocal interactions in healthcare encounters when child protection agencies are involved. Trust and transparency are key to facilitate relational care. Secure and appropriate information-sharing between agencies and professionals is required to strengthen healthcare systems. Healthcare professionals should have access to relevant training and supervision in order to confidently yet sensitively safeguard women and babies, while upholding principles of trauma-informed care. In addition, systemic racism in child protection processes exacerbate healthcare inequalities and has to be urgently addressed. Providing a clear framework of mutual expectations between families and healthcare professionals can increase engagement, trust and accountability and advance equity.

Advancements and Challenges in Hand Gesture Recognition: A Comprehensive Review

Hand gesture recognition is a quickly developing field with many uses in human-computer interaction, sign language recognition, virtual reality, gaming, and robotics. This paper reviews different ways to model hands, such as vision-based, sensor-based, and data glove-based techniques. It emphasizes the importance of accurate hand modeling and feature extraction for capturing and analyzing gestures. Key features like motion, depth, color, shape, and pixel values and their relevance in gesture recognition are discussed. Challenges faced in hand gesture recognition include lighting variations, complex backgrounds, noise, and real-time performance. Machine learning algorithms are used to classify and recognize gestures based on extracted features. The paper emphasizes the need for further research and advancements to improve hand gesture recognition systems' robustness, accuracy, and usability. This review offers valuable insights into the current state of hand gesture recognition, its applications, and its potential to revolutionize human-computer interaction and enable natural and intuitive interactions between humans and machines. In simpler terms, hand gesture recognition is a way for computers to understand what people are saying with their hands. It has many potential applications, such as allowing people to control computers without touching them or helping people with disabilities communicate. The paper reviews different ways to develop hand gesture recognition systems and discusses the challenges and opportunities in this area.

Kurdish women’s interactions in European urban public space and the extent of their social integration

ABSTRACT 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.

How Can We Study Change Processes in Psychotherapy While Addressing Its Interactive Nature

Does the empathy or personality of psychotherapists influence the way they do therapy? Is the therapeutic relationship the key to success? Questions such as these are commonly shared in Change Process Research (CPR) and outcome studies. However, these statements, posed in descriptive cross-sectional terms, often imply the use of strategies grounded in causal-linear explanatory models. The present study offers an alternative tool to measure elements of psychotherapy in dynamic, interactive, and interdependent terms. With nine observational categories defined under analytical-behavioral lens, the Acoveo System is an instrument designed to detect the potential functions of verbal exchanges that take place in the psychotherapeutic context from any theoretical orientation. A guide to its application is provided, and its usefulness is elaborated on two of the pivotal common factors in change process research: empathy and therapeutic alliance.

Selective decision making and collective behavior of fish by the motion of visual attention

Abstract Collective motion provides a spectacular example of self-organization in Nature. Visual information plays a crucial role among various types of information in determining interactions. Recently, experiments have revealed that organisms such as fish and insects selectively utilize a portion, rather than the entirety, of visual information. Here, focusing on fish, we propose an agent-based model where the direction of attention is guided by visual stimuli received from the images of nearby fish. Our model reproduces a branching phenomenon where a fish selectively follows a specific individual as the distance between two or three nearby fish increases. Furthermore, our model replicates various patterns of collective motion in a group of agents, such as vortex, polarized school, swarm, and turning. We also discuss the topological nature of the visual interaction, as well as the positional distribution of nearby fish and the map of pairwise and three-body interactions induced by them. Through a comprehensive comparison with existing experimental results, we clarify the roles of visual interactions and issues to be resolved by other forms of interactions.

How is feedback perceived by brazilian students and faculty from a nursing school?

AimThis study aims to explore the perceptions of feedback among undergraduate students and faculty members at a Brazilian private nursing school. BackgroundFeedback plays a crucial role in the socioemotional development of learners, with its interpretation varying across different sociocultural contexts. Student evaluations frequently express dissatisfaction regarding both the quality and quantity of feedback received. Conversely, delivering feedback poses a challenge for faculty, requiring the establishment of an empathetic connection that fosters trust and credibility. Brazil, being a developing country characterized by social disparities and economic challenges, presents a unique backdrop for examining feedback dynamics. DesignQualitative research, employing Inductive Content Analysis, was usedized to understand feedback perceptions in Brazilian nursing education. Symbolic interactionism was adopted as methodological framework and guided data interpretation. MethodsWe carried out five virtual focus groups composed of a group of teachers (n=5) and four of students (n=34). Semi-structured interviews guided data collection. The recorded sessions were subsequently analyzed to identify key themes and codes. Symbolic interactionism was employed as a framework to derive meaning from qualitative data. ResultsContent analysis generated two categories that reveal the perception of teachers and students in the feedback process. The first, called “Feedback in Education: Sociocultural Influences for Students and Teachers”, expresses the beliefs and interpretations of students and teachers within the shared feedback environment. The second called “Challenging resonance, transformative construction: Navigating the dualities of feedback for teachers and students”, which elucidated how relational dynamics shape behaviors and attitudes, promoting the development of social skills and learning. Faculty's previous feedback experiences significantly influence their self-perception and behavior with students. As a result of the resonance of these past interactions, we recognize that the teaching self also plays a crucial role in the quality and perception of feedback. Furthermore, students construct social reality with similar beliefs and values, they believe in the learning potential generated by feedback. Our findings also corroborate that perceptions of feedback are deeply influenced by the sociocultural context and the narratives corroborate previous findings indicating that, in Brazil, honest feedback can be implicitly perceived as criticism rather than an opportunity for growth. ConclusionsFaculty members often draw on their past experiences when providing feedback, highlighting the adaptive nature of feedback interactions. Additionally, the feedback process is consistently influenced by the commitment to maintaining positive relationships with students. Students recognize the constructive dimension of feedback as a valuable tool for learning and personal growth.

Role of TGF-β1/SMADs signalling pathway in resveratrol-induced reduction of extracellular matrix deposition by dexamethasone-treated human trabecular meshwork cells.

Deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the trabecular meshwork (TM) increases aqueous humour outflow resistance leading to elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) in primary open-angle glaucoma, which remains the only modifiable risk factor. Resveratrol has been shown to counteract the steroid-induced increase in IOP and increase the TM expression of ECM proteolytic enzymes; however, its effects on the deposition of ECM components by TM and its associated pathways, such as TGF-β-SMAD signalling remain uncertain. This study, therefore, explored the effects of trans-resveratrol on the expression of ECM components, SMAD signalling molecules, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and tissue plasminogen activator in dexamethasone-treated human TM cells (HTMCs). We also studied the nature of molecular interaction of trans -resveratrol with SMAD4 domains using ensemble docking. Treatment of HTMCs with 12.5 µM trans-resveratrol downregulated the dexamethasone-induced increase in collagen, fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin at gene and protein levels through downregulation of TGF-β1, SMAD4, and upregulation of SMAD7. Downregulation of TGF-β1 signalling by trans-resveratrol could be attributed to its effect on the transcriptional activity due to high affinity for the MH2 domain of SMAD4. These effects may contribute to resveratrol's IOP-lowering properties by reducing ECM deposition and enhancing aqueous humour outflow in the TM.

Statistical mechanics of plasticity: Elucidating anomalous size-effects and emergent fractional nonlocal continuum behavior

Extensive experiments over the decades unequivocally point to a pronounced scale-dependency of plastic deformation in metals. This observation is fairly general, and broadly speaking, strengthening against deformation is observed with the decrease in the size of a relevant geometrical feature of the material, e.g., the thickness of a thin film. The classical theory of plasticity is size-independent, and this has spurred extensive research into an appropriate continuum theory to elucidate the observed side effects. This pursuit has led to the emergence of strain gradient plasticity, along with its numerous variants, as the paradigm of choice. Recognizing the constrained shear of a thin metallic film as the model problem to understand the observed size-effect, all conventional (and reasonable candidate) theories of strain gradient plasticity predict a scaling of yield strength that inversely varies with the film thickness ∼h−1. Experimental findings indicate a considerably diminished scaling, the magnitude of which can exhibit significant variation based on processing conditions or even the mode of deformation. As an example, the scaling exponent as low as −0.2 has been observed for as-deposited copper thin films. Two perspectives have been posited to explain this perplexing anomaly. Kuroda and Needleman (2019) argue that the conventional boundary conditions used in strain gradient plasticity theory are not meaningful for the canonical constrained thin film problem and propose a physically motivated alternative. Dahlberg and Ortiz (2019) contend that the intrinsic differential calculus structure of all strain gradient plasticity theories will invariably lead to the incorrect (or rather inadequate) explanation of the size-scaling. They propose a fractional strain gradient plasticity framework where the derivative fractional order is a material property that correlates with the scaling exponent. In this work, we present an alternative approach that complements the existing explanations. We create a statistical mechanics model for interacting microscopic units that deform and yield with the rules of classical plasticity, and plastic yielding is treated as a phase transition. We coarse-grain the model to precisely elucidate the microscopic interactions that can lead to the emergent size-effects observed experimentally. Specifically, we find that depending on the nature of the long-range microscopic interactions, the emergent coarse-grained theory can be of fractional differential type or alternatively a form of integral nonlocal model. Our theory, therefore, provides a partial (and microscopic) justification for the fractional derivative model and makes clear the precise microscopic interactions that must be operative for a continuum plasticity theory to be a valid phenomenological descriptor for capturing the correct scale dependency.

A model of marmoset monkey vocal turn-taking.

Vocal turn-taking has been described in a diversity of species. Yet, a model that is able to capture the various processes underlying this social behaviour across species has not been developed. To this end, here we recorded a large and diverse dataset of marmoset monkey vocal behaviour in social contexts comprising one, two and three callers and developed a model to determine the keystone factors that affect the dynamics of these natural communicative interactions. Notably, marmoset turn-taking did not abide by coupled-oscillator dynamics, but rather call timing was overwhelmingly stochastic in these exchanges. Our features-based model revealed four key factors that encapsulate the majority of patterns evident in the behaviour, ranging from internal processes, such as particular states of the individual driving increased calling, to social context-driven suppression of calling. These findings indicate that marmoset vocal turn-taking is affected by a broader suite of mechanisms than previously considered and that our model provides a predictive framework with which to further explicate this natural behaviour at both the behavioural and neurobiological levels, and for direct comparisons with the analogous behaviour in other species.