Social Interaction Research Articles

Autism spectrum disorder identification with multi-site functional magnetic resonance imaging

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by enduring difficulties in social interaction and communication. People analyzed with ASD may display repetitive behaviors and limited interests. Autism is classified as a spectrum disorder, implying that the symptom intensity might range from mild to severe depending on the individual. To detect ASD in this paper an attribute feature graph approach is designed by using the stastical dependencies features that necessarily accomplish the diagnosis of ASD. In the first phase the features extracted are designed based on the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, in the next-step the attribute feature graph layer learns the features of the node information of various nodes by ASD classification. Further, in the third step, it is employed to independently extract distinguishing features from the functional connectivity matrices of the brain that are derived from fMRI. The custom convolutional neural network (CNN) used in this study is trained on a comprehensive dataset comprising individuals diagnosed with ASD and typically developing individuals. In the fourth stage, a prototype learning is developed to augment the classification performance of the custom-CNN. The experimental analysis further carried out states that the proposed model works efficiently in comparison with the existing system.

First impressions from faces in dynamic approach-avoidance contexts.

Theoretical understanding of first impressions from faces has been closely associated with the proposal that rapid approach-avoidance decisions are needed during social interactions. Nevertheless, experimental work has rarely examined first impressions of people who are actually moving-instead extrapolating from photographic images. In six experiments, we describe the relationship between social attributions (dominance and trustworthiness) and the motion and apparent intent of a perceived person. We first show strong correspondence between judgments of photos and avatars of the same people (Experiment 1). Avatars were rated as more dominant and trustworthy when walking toward the viewer than when stationary (Experiment 2). Furthermore, avatars approaching the viewer were rated as more dominant than those avoiding (walking past) the viewer, or remaining stationary (Experiment 3). Trustworthiness was increased by movement, but not affected by approaching/avoiding paths. Surprisingly, dominance ratings increased both when avatars were approaching and being approached (Experiments 4-6), independently of agency. However, diverging movement (moving backward) reduced dominance ratings-again independently of agency (Experiment 6). These results demonstrate the close link between dominance judgments and approach and show the updatable nature of first impressions-their formation depended on the immediate dynamic context in a more subtle manner than previously suggested. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The relationship between leisure activities and mental health disorders among higher education students in Malaysia

This study investigates the association between leisure activities (recreation, sports, social contact, artistic, cultural, religious, and rest) and mental health disorders among Malaysian university students. There were 332 respondents enrolled in the public and private universities, polytechnics and other higher academic institutions in Malaysia were surveyed using a quantitative questionnaire. The study performed multiple regression and correlation analyses on the data using the statistical package for social science (SPSS). The findings indicated that six out of seven categories of leisure activities were significantly linked to mental health issues. The six types of leisure time activities were recreation, sports, social interaction, cultural, religious, and rest. Cultural activities have the highest impact on mental health, with the highest beta value. The universities and polytechnics should consider launching several types of leisure activities and tailor specific activities that may reduce mental health issues.

Social anxiety disorder: prevalence and dominant factor among adolescents in urban and rural school

In the age range of 16-18 years, commonly known as adolescence, individuals undergo a period of self-discovery in their socio-emotional development. Failures during this process can lead to individuals experiencing anxiety in social interactions, which can have a negative impact on their mental health. The Indonesia National Adolescent Mental Health Survey (I-NAMHS), findings also indicate that the most prevalent mental disorder among adolescents is anxiety disorder (a combination of social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder), is equivalent to 15.5 million. The widespread use of the internet and social media, on one hand, has led to a high dependency on smartphones among teenagers, causing them to spend more time interacting in the virtual world. Over an extended period, this condition can lead to social anxiety due to the fear of failure and lack of success. The objective of this research is to explore whether there is a difference in social anxiety among teenagers living in rural or urban areas, related to factors such as the duration of smartphone usage, school activities, and so on. The results of this research are crucial for providing feedback to high schools, especially for early detection of potential anxiety symptoms from the beginning, in order to prevent and provide appropriate treatment for social anxiety, thus not affecting students' academic achievements. It is recommended that schools conduct early detection measures.

Reciprocal crosslink among MeCP2/BDNF /CREB signaling pinpointed in autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder, or individual disability (ID), is a condition characterized by complications in social interaction, restricted repetitive behavior, and difficulties in social communication. Neuquinon (NQ) possess a powerful therapeutic potential in various neurodegenerative disease. Nevertheless, contributing to NQ's low water solubility and bioavailability, its medicinal use has been constrained. Liposomes were supposed to be prospective drug-delivering agents for NQ, crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and reaching the target organs. The current investigation aims to track the signaling pathways that govern NQ and liposomal neuquinon (LNQ) action in autistic models generated by ethyl formic acid. The neurotransmitters gamma amino-butyric acid (GABA), acetylcholine (ACh), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in addition to, the gene expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) and the DNA damage COMET analysis at different time intervals of the study, were assessed. EFA in a dose of 500mg/kg BW was used to induce autism in rats, and then NQ and LNQ were administered in 10mg/kg and 2mg/kg BW, respectively. The results revealed that NQ and LNQ significantly down-regulated BDNF, GABA, and AChE; on the other hand, they up-regulated MeCP2, CREB gene expressions, and ACh action. NQ and LNQ displayed improvement in DNA damage in almost all brain regions after EFA alterations; even better results were noticed post-LNQ therapy. Therefore, it may be concluded that neuquinon and liposomal-loaded neuquinon have a therapeutic index versus EFA-induced autism in a rat model.

Roles of the Default Mode Network in Different Aspects of Self-representation When Remembering Social Autobiographical Memories.

Autobiographical memory (AM) is episodic memory for personally experienced events, in which self-representation is more important than that in laboratory-based memory. Theoretically, self-representation in a social context is categorized as the interpersonal self (IS) referred to in a social interaction with a person or the social-valued self (SS) based on the reputation of the self in the surrounding society. Although functional neuroimaging studies have demonstrated the involvement of the default mode network (DMN) in self-representation, little is known about how the DMN subsystems contribute differentially to IS-related and SS-related AMs. To elucidate this issue, we used fMRI to scan healthy young adults during the recollection of AMs. We performed multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) and assessed functional connectivity in the DMN subsystems: the midline core, medial temporal lobe (MTL), and dorsomedial pFC (dmPFC) subsystems. The study yielded two main sets of findings. First, MVPA revealed that all DMN subsystems showed significant classification accuracy between IS-related and nonsocial-self-related AMs, and IS-related functional connectivity of the midline core regions with the retrosplenial cortex of the MTL subsystem and the dmPFC of the dmPFC subsystem was significant. Second, MVPA significantly distinguished between SS-related and nonsocial-self-related AMs in the midline core and dmPFC subsystems but not in the MTL subsystem, and SS-related functional connectivity with the midline core regions was significant in the temporal pole and TPJ of the dmPFC subsystem. Thus, dissociable neural mechanisms in the DMN could contribute to different aspects of self-representation in social AMs.

Post Covid-19 pandemic analysis offline classes versus online classes: Conflicts in early childhood education in Indonesia during the Covid-19 pandemic

Early childhood education in Indonesia is an area that parents are beginning to show interest in for preparing their children to progress to the next stage of education. The learning process involves selfdevelopment, cognitive training, emotional training, psychomotor training, and social interaction training, fostering independence in children during their playtime. Early childhood education differs from other levels as it emphasizes play while still incorporating learning. However, the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2019 has significantly impacted early childhood education, leading to the implementation of online classes. This change has affected not only students, who are in an age group susceptible to the disease, but also young children who may struggle to grasp the meaning of the Covid19 virus, unlike adults. Research objectives: a. To analyze early childhood responses to online learning. b. To investigate the impact of online teaching and learning activities on early childhood education in Indonesia. Utilizing qualitative research methods, this study is described through descriptive analysis based on a literature review and an examination of social phenomena. Children experience psychological shock when transitioning to home-based learning, missing the presence of teachers and friends, resulting in boredom and a lack of motivation to complete assignments. This psychological impact extends to parents, particularly mothers, who now have the responsibility of teaching their children at home, a role previously handled by teachers at school. Online classes are considered the optimal solution to curb the spread of Covid-19 in early childhood environments. The conflict between online and offline classes in the realm of early childhood education forms the basis of this research article.

Yemen's humanitarian collaboration during conflict: UN and local NGOs in focus

This paper presents an exploratory study investigating the complex relationship between the United Nations (UN) system and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Yemen's humanitarian food assistance provision. Employing qualitative research methods, including document analysis and stakeholder interviews, we aim to understand key factors influencing collaboration and identify challenges hindering effective cooperation. Our findings emphasize the need for the UN to diversify its approaches to social interaction in food aid programs, prioritizing initiatives that resonate with local communities. Furthermore, active efforts to engage and satisfy local NGOs are essential for improving program effectiveness and achieving shared objectives. This study sheds light on critical areas for intervention, emphasizing the importance of fostering meaningful partnerships to address humanitarian challenges in Yemen.

Fake Profile Detection in Instagram

Abstract: In today's society, online communities have become an integral part of daily life, with individuals actively engaging in social media interactions regardless of their location or schedule. However, the prevalence of pseudo personas has contributed to sophisticated persistent attacks and other malicious activities, raising concerns about the privacy of personal data among online community members. This research seeks to identify and address the pressing issue of fraudulent identity projection on social media platforms, particularly focusing on Instagram. By employing automated techniques such as predictive modeling and image identification combined with text analysis, the study aims to enhance the detection of fake profiles. The research utilizes the chi-square method for feature selection and applies learner-centered algorithms like Random Forest (RF) and logistic regression for categorization. The evaluation of outcomes will be based on metrics including relevance, specificity, recall, f1- value efficiency, and accuracy. The exponential growth and influence of social media globally have underscored the urgency of mitigating the proliferation of fraudulent identities, which pose challenges ranging from propaganda to racial profiling. The findings of this research are expected to contribute to the development of effective strategies for identifying and addressing fake profiles, thus safeguarding the integrity and security of online communities

Organizational Culture Resilience and Subjective Happiness among Insurance Employees

Abstract: The Study of organizational culture looks at how people or groups interacts inside a company and how it affects how well the company performs in relation to its goals. It includes how different elements affect how an organization behaves, emphasizing the dynamics that shape the environment and how well it works to accomplish objectives. The ability to adjust to difficult situations in life by exhibiting mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility is referred to as Resilience. It includes the capacity to adapt to demands from both the inside and the outside, which eventually enables one to successfully navigate trying circumstances and produce favorable results. Subjective happiness is the termed used to describe joy and fulfilment in life that is derived from self-report surveys and is impacted by both external and internal elements, including social interactions and the surrounding society and personality qualities. Businesses that offer financial safeguards against risk through a range of products such as property, casualty, health, and life insurance, are included in the Insurance industry. These organizations evaluate risks, gather premiums, and disburse claims in the case of insured occurrences. They are vital in preventing monetary losses for people, corporations, and other organizations. Understanding these factors informs how important insurance sector plays an role in the organizational world. The present study aims to determine the relationship of organizational culture on Resilience and Subjective Happiness of it employees. Sample of 164 employees who are working in the insurance sector was taken from Hyderabad, Kolkata and Bangalore. Organizational Culture Scale by Ghost and Srivastava, Brief Resilience Scale by Smith, B. W., Dalen, J., Wiggins, K., Tooley, E., Christopher, P., & Bernard, J, Subjective Happiness Scale by Lyubomirsky, S., & Lepper, H. S were used. The data were analysed using different statistical tools such Descriptive Statistics and Spearman Correlation. Findings revealed no significant relationship between organizational culture and Resilience, Organizational culture and Subjective happiness.

Biological Control of Aphid by using Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata)

Development and reproductive potential of the Coccinella septempunctata L. CSL was conducted under normal conditions to determine its fecundity and longevity on natural diet. Tests were made on normal temperature rearing materials and all development stages were carefully recorded. Diet quality is related to egg production, so CSL fertility is affected by diet type. CSL consumed highly significant (Rhopalosiphum maidis) approximately 28 aphids per day as compared to other treatments. The insect has the largest Oviposition, feeding on the 1st and 2nd instar of Macrosiphum rosae. Biological control (BC) of seven-spotted ladybirds emphasizes evaluating specific livestock for maximum efficiency, understanding agriculture in a new environment, and evaluating social interactions.

Parent-child sensorimotor coordination in toddlers with and without hearing loss.

Infants experience the world through their actions with objects and their interactions with other people, especially their parents. Prior research has shown that school-age children with hearing loss experience poorer quality interactions with typically hearing parents, yet little is known about parent-child interactions between toddlers with hearing loss and their parents early in life. In the current study, we used mobile eye-tracking to investigate parent-child interactions in toddlers with and without hearing loss (mean ages: 19.42 months, SD = 3.41 months). Parents and toddlers engaged in a goal-directed, interactive task that involved inserting coins into a slot and required joint coordination between the parent and the child. Overall, findings revealed that deaf toddlers demonstrate typical action skills in line with their hearing peers and engage in similar interactions with their parents during social interactions. Findings also revealed that deaf toddlers explored objects more and showed more temporal stability in their motor movements (i.e. less variation in their timing across trials) than hearing peers, suggesting further adaptability of the deaf group to their atypical sensory environment rather than poorer coordination. In contrast to previous research, findings suggest an intact ability of deaf toddlers to coordinate their actions with their parents and highlight the adaptability within dyads who have atypical sensory experiences.

Improvement in clinical outcomes following arthroscopic all-inside medial lateral ligament reconstruction for rotational ankle instability.

Rotational ankle instability can be diagnosed in up to 18% of cases of chronic lateral ankle instability. It is characterised by an abnormal increase of talar rotation within the tibiofibular mortise, due to an injury in the most anterior component of the deltoid ligament secondary to a chronic deficiency of the lateral collateral ligament. The aim of this prospective observational study was to investigate the clinical outcomes following arthroscopic all-inside medial and lateral ligament reconstruction for rotational ankle instability. A prospective observational study of consecutive patients undergoing arthroscopic all-inside medial and lateral ligament reconstruction for rotational ankle instability with minimum 6-month follow-up. The primary outcome was a validated patient-reported outcome measure (PROM), the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included the EQ-5D, European Foot and Ankle Society score and complications. Between 2020 and 2023, 12 patients underwent primary arthroscopic all-inside medial and lateral ligament reconstruction for rotational ankle instability with pre- and post-operative PROMs available for all 12 patients. The mean ± standard deviation age was 33.9 ± 7.2 years and the mean follow-up was 1.9 ± 1.2 (range: 0.5-3.8, interquartile range: 0.9-3.0) years. There was a significant improvement in all Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire domain scores (p < 0.05): Index 53.1 ± 19.1 to 26.4 ± 27.6, Pain 46.7 ± 20.3 to 26.2 ± 26.8, Walking/Standing 58.7 ± 26.0 to 27.0 ± 30.0 and Social Interaction 51.2 ± 19.5 to 25.6 ± 30.1. There were improvements in EQ-5D-5L Index, VAS and VAS Pain; however, these were not statistically significant. There was one complication-a superficial peroneal nerve injury which resolved with a corticosteroid injection. The arthroscopic all-inside medial and lateral ligament reconstruction technique is a reliable and safe method for treating rotational ankle instability, demonstrating significant improvement in PROMs at a mean 1.9-year follow-up. Level IV.

Chore or choice? Women and ethnic food entrepreneurship in the city

PurposeThis article explores in a qualitative manner the motivations of women entrepreneurs who start and run ethnic food businesses in London.Design/methodology/approachOur approach is qualitative and deploys phenomenographical analysis of interview narratives around categories of motivation.FindingsWe find that women ethnic food entrepreneurs are driven by a combination of desire for self-actualisation, identity-maintenance and community considerations. We demonstrate that women ethnic food entrepreneurs often go against the logic of the market, and they do so not because they lack other options, but for reasons that have to do with their (self-)identification as women and professionals, their prerogatives as mothers and daughters, their ethnic heritage, their emplacement in urban and global communities and their need to contribute. Our findings enrich understanding of female-led ethnic food entrepreneurship not as a demanding, overall unproductive undertaking for women with no other options, but as a realm of inspiration, community engagement and female-led innovation.Originality/valueOur main contributions are the qualitative interrogation of perceptions and experiences of identity and difference in urban entrepreneurship from the point of view of our interviewees; providing concrete empirical evidence for it through our sample and proposing an approach to thinking women-led ethnic food entrepreneurship as a vehicle for translating urban superdiversity into social interactions across barriers of difference. We speak to the field of women entrepreneurship studies but specifically to the understudied realm of women-led food entrepreneurship, and to the cross-disciplinary field of (im)migrant entrepreneurship.

Disentangling composite influences of social connectivity and system interactivity on continuance intention in mobile short video applications: The pivotal moderation of user-perceived benefits

The expeditious proliferation of wireless network technology has caused the widespread integration of mobile short video apps into our daily routines, offering unprecedented opportunities for information dissemination and interactive communication. Despite extensive researches on the interactivity of mobile short video app, there has been a limited focus on understanding the underlying factors that contribute to users' perceived benefits and continuance intention. Leveraging insights from preceding studies, this study develops a conceptual research model that investigates how two distinct facets of interactivity, namely social interactivity and system interactivity, influence users' perceived benefits from mobile short video apps, ultimately impacting their intention to continue using them. This analysis rigorously scrutinizes data garnered from 808 users of mobile short video applications, employing structural equation modeling to validate the proposed hypotheses. The findings conclusively reveal that interactivity significantly affects users’ perceived benefits from mobile short video apps. Moreover, the study elucidates that perceived benefits from these apps are the significant predictors of continuance intention. Furthermore, interactivity could indirectly influence continuance intention via the mediation of perceived benefits. These findings possess the potential not only to augment our comprehension of perceived benefits and continuance intention from the interactivity perspective but also to furnish valuable insights for scholars in the field. The research sheds light on effective methodologies to encourage the adoption of mobile short video applications and to boost user engagement in a society oversaturated with mobile technology.

Hidden social complexity behind vocal and acoustic communication in non-avian reptiles.

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

Erratum: Role of environmental enrichment on social interaction, anxiety, locomotion, and memory in Wistar rats under chronic methylphenidate intake

Erratum: Role of environmental enrichment on social interaction, anxiety, locomotion, and memory in Wistar rats under chronic methylphenidate intake

Exploring the role of vocalizations in regulating group dynamics.

Because of the diverging needs of individuals, group life can lead to disputes and competition, but it also has many advantages, such as reduced predation risk, information sharing and increased hunting success. Social animals have to maintain group cohesion and need to synchronize activities, such as foraging, resting, social interactions and movements, in order to thrive in groups. Acoustic signals are highly relevant for social dynamics, some because they are long-ranging and others because they are short-ranging, which may serve important within-group functions. However, although there has been an increase in studies concentrating on acoustic communication within groups in the past decade, many aspects of how vocalizations relate to group dynamics are still poorly understood. The aim of this review is to present an overview of our current knowledge on the role of vocalizations in regulating social group dynamics, identify knowledge gaps and recommend potential future research directions. We review the role that vocalizations play in (i) collective movement, (ii) separation risk and cohesion maintenance, (iii) fission-fusion dynamics, and (iv) social networks. We recommend that future studies aim to increase the diversity of studied species and strengthen the integration of state-of-the-art tools to study social dynamics and acoustic signals. This article is part of the theme issue 'The power of sound: unravelling how acoustic communication shapes group dynamics'.

The ecology of zebra finch song and its implications for vocal communication in multi-level societies.

Acoustic signalling is crucial in affecting movements and in social interactions. In species with dynamic social structures, such as multi-level societies, acoustic signals can provide a key mechanism allowing individuals to identify and find or avoid each other and to exchange information. Yet, if the spacing between individuals regularly exceeds the maximum signalling range, the relation between movements and signals becomes more complex. As the best-studied songbird in captivity, the zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis) is a species with individually distinct songs that are audible over just a few metres and a widely ranging dynamic multi-level social organization in the wild, raising questions on the actual role of its song in social cohesion and coordination. Here, we provide an overview of birdsong in social organizations (networks) and use the ecology of the zebra finch and male song to discuss how singing can facilitate social cohesion and coordination in species where the signal range is very short. We raise the question of the extent to which zebra finches are a representative species to understand the function of song in communication, and we broaden current views on the function of birdsong and its individual signature. This article is part of the theme issue 'The power of sound: unravelling how acoustic communication shapes group dynamics'.

Machine Learning Approach to Predict Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder is one of a group of neuro developmental disorders. ASD's are communication , social interactions, range of play and interests, processing and integrating sensory information. In our research we have used the algorithms like Random forest, SVC, ANN, Logistic regression and the Extra trees to predict that which person has the ASD.