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A-to-I RNA editing is a cellular mechanism that generates transcriptomic and proteomic diversity, which is essential for neuronal and immune functions. It involves the conversion of specific adenosines in RNA molecules to inosines, which are recognized as guanosines by cellular machinery. Despite the vast number of editing sites observed across the animal kingdom, pinpointing critical sites and understanding their in vivo functions remains challenging. Here, we study the function of an evolutionary conserved editing site in Drosophila, located in glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCla). Our findings reveal that flies lacking editing at this site exhibit reduced olfactory responses to odors and impaired pheromone-dependent social interactions. Moreover, we demonstrate that editing of this site is crucial for the proper processing of olfactory information in projection neurons. Our results highlight the value of using evolutionary conservation as a criterion for identifying editing events with potential functional significance and paves the way for elucidating the intricate link between RNA modification, neuronal physiology, and behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gifted students may be at risk of school disengagement due to lacking intellectual challenges. Four talent centers were established to offer makerspace enrichment programs, because makerspace activities promote engagement and science, mathematics, and technology learning. In the current study, we investigated gifted students’ experiences with makerspace enrichment programs in Norway in terms of social aspects, learning aspects and teacher support aspects. We conducted semistructured interviews with 15 participants (15–16 years) from four different talent centers across the country. Findings suggested that the informants had an overall positive experience of participation and that most were more engaged at talent centers than at their home schools. In addition, the makerspace approaches seemed to suit gifted learners’ need for more complex subject content and facilitate interaction with peers and teachers with similar content knowledge/interest. We concluded that makerspace activities at talent centers constitute an important supplement to ordinary school for gifted students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of social interactions lies at the core of several disciplines such as psychiatry, psychology and ethology, just to name a few. In this context, understanding the temporal patterns underlying interactive behaviors is of crucial importance. Here, we employed T-pattern detection and analysis to study social interactions in ten pairs of Wistar rats tested in an Open-Field environment. We found four different categories of interactive behaviors. One of them was of particular interest to us because it consisted of behavioral events that, taken individually, should not underlie an interaction of any kind; however, they were included in T-patterns, which is suggestive of a dyadic temporal coordination in the behavioral expression of two individuals. Within this category, we described for the first time a new subcategory of apparent interaction patterns characterized by events that one of the two rats repeats only if previously produced by the partner (i.e., behavioral mirroring). These findings are discussed in functional terms for rodents and in light of our current understanding of social interactions in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in high-throughput measurement technologies have enabled the analysis of molecular perturbations associated with disease phenotypes at the multi-omic level. Such perturbations can range in scale from fluctuations of individual molecules to entire biological pathways. Data-driven clustering algorithms have long been used to group interactions into interpretable functional modules; however, these modules are typically constrained to a fixed size or statistical cutoff. Furthermore, modules are often analyzed independently of their broader biological context. Consequently, such clustering approaches limit the ability to explore functional module associations with disease phenotypes across multiple scales. Here, we introduce AutoFocus, a data-driven method that hierarchically organizes biomolecules and tests for phenotype enrichment at every level within the hierarchy. As a result, the method allows disease-associated modules to emerge at any scale. We evaluated this approach using two datasets: First, we explored associations of biomolecules from the multi-omic QMDiab dataset (n = 388) with the well-characterized type 2 diabetes phenotype. Secondly, we utilized the ROS/MAP Alzheimer's disease dataset (n = 500), consisting of high-throughput measurements of brain tissue to explore modules associated with multiple Alzheimer's Disease-related phenotypes. Our method identifies modules that are multi-omic, span multiple pathways, and vary in size. We provide an interactive tool to explore this hierarchy at different levels and probe enriched modules, empowering users to examine the full hierarchy, delve into biomolecular drivers of disease phenotype within a module, and incorporate functional annotations. AutoFocus is an interactive tool to explore hierarchical frameworks of multi-omics disease associations to probe modules and test for phenotype enrichment at every level within the hierarchy and incorporates functional annotations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique characteristics of Indian trans-identity are shaped by cultural intricacies, setting it apart from its Western counterparts. Despite facing marginalisation in mainstream Indian society, the intricacies of their constructed trans-culture further complicate their experiences. According to the interactionist perspective of gender identity within sociological theory, an individual's interactions with peers, family, and society influence the development of their gender identity. Examining this concept within the diverse Indian context reveals the significant nuances of Indian trans-identity. Two Bengali-Indian films, Kaushik Ganguly's Nagarkirtan (2019) and Rituparno Ghosh's Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish (2012), depict the intense and challenging journeys of individuals embracing their trans identities. This research aims to analyse the films from an interactionist perspective, exploring how the Indian cultural discourses portrayed in the films influence the formation of trans identities. The findings suggest that the development of trans identity involves complex processes influenced by social interactions, where conflicts between one's generalised self and instinctual self arise due to sexual digression. Additionally, this study indicates that the sexual scripting of trans individuals is influenced by various factors, including class, culture, financial status, and social position, making it challenging to conform to the binary gender script of a normalised society. This qualitative research utilises the Interactionist theory of gender identity to analyse the two Bengali-Indian films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMethodResultsConclusions\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION(1) To understand the impact of adult cochlear implantation on the partner relationship, as perceived by adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients and their intimate partners. (2) To generate a conceptual framework for guiding future research and clinical adult cochlear implantation interventions.Concept mapping, a participatory, mixed-method approach, was used for data collection, analysis and interpretation. Participants attended sessions to generate, sort and rate statements describing the changes in their relationship due to cochlear implantation. Participants included 15 CI recipients (mean age: 51.6 years; SD: 8.2) and 12 partners (mean age: 50.9 years; SD: 8.2).Five concepts emerged from the data, describing changes in the partner relationship following cochlear implantation: (1) Social Interactions, (2) Partner Involvement, (3) Communication, (4) Emotional Adjustment, and (5) Relationship Intimacy. The concept Relationship Intimacy was rated the highest in positivity and importance. Findings also underscored improved social interactions, communication dynamics, and emotional adjustment.The Relationship Intimacy cluster emerged as pivotal, highlighting its essential role in improving post-implantation relationships. CI recipients experienced enhanced autonomy, while partners’ roles evolved regarding assistance and support. The diverse effects of implantation on partner relationships highlight the importance of adopting a patient- and family-centered approach to audiological intervention.These insights on partner relationships and cochlear implantation can inform tailored pre- and ongoing post-operative counselling to support cochlear implant recipients and their partners in navigating relationship changes, emotional adjustments, and addressing communication challenges.Cochlear implantation reduces partner burden, emphasising the need for hearing healthcare professionals to facilitate partner engagement in rehabilitation approaches.Relationship intimacy, deemed the foremost positive outcome, underscores the importance of incorporating these aspects into pre- and post-operative counselling.These insights on partner relationships and cochlear implantation can inform tailored pre- and ongoing post-operative counselling to support cochlear implant recipients and their partners in navigating relationship changes, emotional adjustments, and addressing communication challenges.Cochlear implantation reduces partner burden, emphasising the need for hearing healthcare professionals to facilitate partner engagement in rehabilitation approaches.Relationship intimacy, deemed the foremost positive outcome, underscores the importance of incorporating these aspects into pre- and post-operative counselling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of internally displaced people are living in their own countries in a temporary status called ‘protracted displacement’, a term not without its debates. We use a social network analysis database to assess how social interactions and demographic characteristics, including the relative location of resettlement, may contribute to IDP integration during the first 2 years of displacement. Our analysis of information from 57 internally displaced individuals in the aftermath of the 2008 Russo‐Georgian War, finds that networks of persistence, rather than survival or integration, characterize patterns of protracted displacement within 2 years of displacement. This suggests a need for rethinking the mainstream definitions to ensure vital resources are provided to displaced populations to promote timely integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legal rules are based on an imagined regulatory scene that contains presumptions about the reality a regulation addresses. Regarding automated decision-making (ADM), these include a belief in the ‘good human decision’ that is mirrored in the cautious approach in the GDPR. Yet the ‘good human decision’ defies psychological insight into human weaknesses in decision-making. Instead, it reflects a general unease about algorithmic decisions. Against this background I explore how algorithms become part of human relationships and whether the use of decision systems causes a conflict with human needs, values and the prevailing socio-legal framework. Inspired by the concept of Human-Centered AI, I then discuss how the law may address the apprehension towards decision systems. I outline a human-focused approach to regulating ADM that focuses on improving the practice of decision-making. The interaction between humans and machines is an essential part of the regulation. It must address socio-legal changes caused by decision systems both to integrate them into the existing value system and adapt the latter to changes brought forth by ADM. A human-focused approach thus connects the benefits of technology with human needs and societal values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the interaction between social capital, education, and subjective well-being in Ecuador, highlighting its impact on economic development. The study aims to understand the situation of social capital and subjective well-being and how the identified factors explain the impact on subjective well-being in the Ecuadorian population, using a descriptive and analytical approach with information from the World Value Survey database of waves 6 and 7. The main results show a significant relationship between social capital and subjective well-being, with positive influences such as justice and union membership, and negative effects of public administration and media. In conclusion, the importance of strengthening social capital and improving public services and communication to promote the well-being of the Ecuadorian population is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tone of voice has been characterized as a cue to sarcasm. However, researchers have found conflicting evidence regarding the acoustic properties of the sarcastic tone of voice and what social factors may affect their prevalence. The current project was designed to assess whether there is a sarcastic tone of voice employed in naturalistic conversation and if it varies as a function of shared common ground. Participants were recorded in a conversational setting while engaged in tasks designed to elicit sarcasm. Results showed that spontaneous sarcastic statements had more varied pitch, lower mean amplitude, and less varied amplitude, and were spoken more slowly than literal statements that were matched by syllables and stress. In addition, friends marked their sarcasm to a greater degree compared to strangers with regard to mean F0, mean amplitude, and amplitude variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

Background: Individuals with schizophrenia often exhibit social interaction deficits, which can affect their ability to engage effectively with others. Emotional processes, such as emotional contagion (the transfer of emotion between individuals) and emotional mimicry (the imitation of emotional expressions), are crucial for enhancing the quality of social interactions. Methods: We conducted a PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycInfo database search. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were established based on the definitions of emotional contagion and emotional mimicry, rather than relying on specific terminology from various research fields. Forty-two studies were included in the review, including six emotional mimicry studies and thirty-six emotional contagion studies. Results: The current findings suggest decreased or inappropriate emotional mimicry in individuals with schizophrenia. Relating to emotional contagion, the results showed altered brain and psychophysiological activity in individuals with schizophrenia, whereas the self-reported measures indicated no difference between the groups. The relationships between emotional contagion, emotional mimicry, and psychotic symptom severity showed variability across the studies, whereas no associations between antipsychotic dosage and either emotional mimicry or emotional contagion were found. Discussion: This review highlights the need to further evaluate and train emotional contagion and emotional mimicry in individuals with schizophrenia because these processess influence social interaction quality. Clinical implications and guidelines for future studies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opinion leadership is an influential concept in communication research. Although opinion leadership is established through the transmission, classification, and interpretation of mass media content in everyday communication, studies that focus on opinion leaders' social interactions are rare. This study uses observation and survey data from 681 real groups consisting of 1,899 individuals to investigate two main questions: First, how often do opinion leaders refer to the mass media in face-to-face interactions? Second, what specific functions do their media references fulfill for them and their conversational partners? Our study carves out how salient media content is in opinion leaders' speech contributions, how opinion leaders evaluate the media information brought in, how they enforce the content if opposing opinions prevail in the group, and what functions their media references fulfill in the communication process. Our results show that opinion leaders refer much more frequently to mass media content than others and are more likely to contribute their own, mostly positive evaluations of media content. Consistent with the original concept of opinion leadership we find that opinion leaders' media references are not limited to relaying and enforcing political viewpoints, as many later studies suggest. Instead, they often serve entertainment and affective functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The intricate interplay of behavioral paths within animal groups, governed by dominance hierarchies, poses a challenge in identifying the pivotal node within the complex causal network of exploratory behaviors leading to aggression formation. Here, based on the strong curiosity of pigs and their competitive biological characteristics among conspecifics, two consecutive experiments were designed, aimed at investigating the behavioral transition paths and pivotal nodes governing aggression between two unfamiliar individuals upon initial encounter under controlled conditions. In Experiment 1, pigs that were mixed together showed short behavioral paths, primarily involving direct aggression, with a sequence of looking followed by attacking. In contrast, Experiment 2 involved adding new pigs to resident groups, leading to a more detailed sequence of behaviors. Resident pigs first engaged in a series of behaviors—looking, sniffing, touching—before transitioning to aggression. The study identified eight types of behavioral transition paths ranging from short, direct interactions to longer, more exploratory sequences. In both experiments, aggression was a common outcome, but Experiment 1 mainly showed brief exploratory pathways ending in aggression, while Experiment 2 revealed a variety of longer exploratory pathways involving multiple behaviors before aggression. This research highlights the complex nature of interactions between unfamiliar pigs and how their behaviors evolve during encounters. This study leverages the inherent curiosity of pigs and their competitive nature among conspecifics to explore behavioral transition paths and critical nodes that govern aggression during initial encounters between unfamiliar individuals. Two consecutive experiments were designed to investigate these dynamics under controlled conditions. In Experiment 1, unfamiliar pigs engaged in one-on-one fights with quick retreats, displaying a simple behavioral sequence of looking followed by attacking. In Experiment 2, the addition of new pigs to resident groups resulted in a more complex and structured behavioral sequence. Resident pigs exhibited a 'four-step' exploratory behavior pattern: looking, sniffing, touching, and attacking. Further analysis revealed distinct exploratory pathways. In Experiment 1, only short behavioral paths were observed, while Experiment 2 revealed both long and short paths. Specifically, Experiment 2 uncovered seven types of behavioral transition paths, four of which were long and three short, highlighting different combinations of the basic behaviors. The transition paths involving aggression were more varied in Experiment 2 compared to Experiment 1. Overall, the 15 most frequent and obvious behavioral transition paths were identified across both experiments. Eight types of paths were categorized based on the transitions between the basic behaviors. These findings enhance our understanding of the behavioral dynamics in unfamiliar pig encounters, emphasizing the complexity of social interactions and the conditions under which aggression occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates has become commonplace for archaeologists grappling with regional chronologies. Here we present Bayesian analysis for radiocarbon dates from Moche cultural contexts from the north coast of Peru with the aim to understand the duration of the phenomenon and to compile all known dates in a single location for future analysis and use. The analysis demonstrates that the long-standing Moche ceramic sequence does not provide a perfect proxy for tracking the timing of all social interactions. However, our results show general agreement with traditional relative Moche chronologies. Finally, our study shows that Moche was a shorter cultural phenomenon than has been previously argued, with the current data indicating that it began between the late 4th and early 6th centuries CE and lasted until the 9th century CE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies how a continuum of individuals interacting in a binary public goods game can secure cooperation through transmitting and enforcing norms. The evolutionary model consists of three distinct dimensions: behavior, norms, and approval preferences. In line with the indirect approach proposed by Güth and Yaari (1992) , behavior results from utility maximization, while norms and approval preferences evolve over time. The underlying evolutionary processes differ concerning speed and nature. Whereas norms evolve at the cultural level through peer interactions and socialization, approval preferences are (at least partly) biologically inherited and transmitted from parents to their offspring. We find that if cultural and biological reproductive fitnesses are derived from material and social factors, then an interplay of social disapproval mechanisms gives rise to stable equilibria in which positive cooperation levels persist. Moreover, we find stable equilibria characterized by heterogeneous behavior and moral attitudes across individuals. • We propose an evolutionary model with multiple dynamic dimensions. • We endogenize the formation of behavior, norms, and preferences. • Social disapproval enables stable equilibria of norm-driven cooperation. • Different dynamic dimensions introduce ambiguous effects of disapproval mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous schools halted face-to-face teaching and instead resorted to online classes. The impact of online learning on students' academic worries, social relationships, and psychological well-being has received growing attention. Based on a sample of 1095 students aged 14–16 in 12 secondary schools in Hong Kong, structural equation modeling was used to investigate the association between online learning problems, academic worries and performance, social interaction, and psychosocial well-being during the pandemic. The path relationships among variables were compared by gender groups and socio-economic status (SES). Online learning problems were found to be negatively associated with psychosocial well-being through academic worries and social interaction as mediators. The effect of mediation among female students was larger than that of males, whereas the impact of academic worries on both psychosocial well-being and social interaction was stronger and significant only in the low SES group. As the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the learning and well-being of students, attention should be given to gender and SES difference among students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both participation and argumentation (OECD, 2022) are important keywords in educational contexts. While participation is seen as a crucial prerequisite for education and collaborative learning in general, argumentation as a discursive practice serves to convey and negotiate—also school-specific—knowledge. This paper explores repetition in argumentative events as a technique of establishing—or even hindering—participation in terms of alignment and affiliation. It can serve as a strategy for participation by signalling responsiveness and thematic coherence—and thus inclusion. At the same time, however, studies show that repetition can also signal contradiction and rejection—and thus exclusion. So far, we know little about how exactly these functional differences are produced—especially in younger children. Therefore, the paper explores how children use repetition as a resource for negotiating participation in argumentative events. Using authentic data in the form of observations and transcriptions of audio and video recordings from child-child-interactions of 15 Hebrew- and 31 German-speaking children aged 3–6 years, we identify oral argumentative events and investigate different forms of repetitions and their respective relevance for enabling participation. Our results show that, on the one hand, minimal and partial repetitions are used by the children in an inclusive way, creating closeness between the participants. On the other hand, children use complete repetitions more as an excluding technique, displaying misalignment and disaffiliation, in order to challenge and mock each other. The findings suggest that this line of research has significant potential to provide new insights into the formation of social relationships between peers, into the prevention or establishment of participation, which itself is a prerequisite for joint learning, as well as insights into the acquisition of argumentative competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a study bearing implications for ethical learning in schoolchildren during social interaction. The study was conducted as part of a project aimed at promoting ethical learning of socially-oriented values within the context of dialogic education. 172 fourth graders from 7 classes participated in an 8-session series designed to foster empathy, inclusion, and tolerance. Two of these sessions (3 and 8) were pre-selected for analysis. We investigated (1) whether students' discussion of ethical issues and the ethical aspects of their actual in-class interaction with each other can be reliably measured, and (2) what relation holds between students' ethical thinking during classroom discussions and the ethical aspects of their behavior. We thus developed an analytical framework comprising two tools for appraising ethical thinking and behavior in in-class interaction: dialogue on ethics (DoE) and ethics of dialogue (EoD). This framework was applied to the dialogues taken from the two sessions. The DoE and EoD tools proved reliable, as inter-rater agreement was substantial. Moreover, the relation between children's DoE and their EoD was positive where the topic posed for discussion presented a dilemma and students' interaction proceeded under moderate teacher guidance. In contrast, it was negative when the discussion was conceptual, and the teacher was dominant. We conclude that (1) DoE/EoD is a suitable framework for studying children's ethical learning and development in social interaction, and (2) ethical learning, in its epistemological and behavioral dimensions, can be boosted or inhibited in a context of dialogic education, depending on design principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Taking part' in conversations requires different activities from the interactants depending on the kind of conversation. This article investigates co-constructions in oral peer group discussions of elementary school children from grades 2 to 6 (7–12 years old). Although dissent is the starting point of argumentations, negotiating processes in oral argumentations are often co-constructed by two or more speakers on different levels, including consensual contexts. Co-constructions presuppose that the second speakers recognize structures and expectations based on the turn of the first speaker and that they are able to complete or expand these structures. Therefore, co-constructions can be understood as an indicator for oral skills and as a key site of 'taking part' in small group discussions. The article will discuss two different kinds of co-constructions (morpho-syntactical and argumentative-structural) based on 60 transcripts from a bigger corpus of 180 peer discussions. The analysis will show that these co-constructions can be understood as synchronizations of thinking and acting and to what extent they are an indicator of oral skills and play an important role in cooperative learning settings. The results are relevant in school contexts when it comes to assess oral argumentation of students. For teachers, they are helpful to elicit requirements for children's argumentation skills and to design tasks conducive to learn to argue and develop assessment tools accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classroom intervention focusing on peer interaction persuades children to develop positive behaviour. Peer interaction plays a significant role in managing problem behaviour among adolescent children. It facilitates identifying weaknesses in children's justification for their problem behaviour. Thus, the study aimed to propose a classroom intervention based on meta-cognitive strategies to subdue problem behaviours among secondary school children. The activities were prepared to inoculate the three components of metacognitive skills—awareness, control and regulation. The study conducted on 36 secondary school children shows a positive change in the behaviour among students who have done the intervention. A quasi-experimental design is used for the study. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses of the data were done. A repeated measures ANOVA (RMA) indicated a significant effect on the outcome, p <.05. Post-intervention interview results showed students' interest in regulating their problem behaviours. The implication is that the proposed learner-centred class intervention can be part of the secondary school curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses show that: (a) majority members are particularly prejudiced toward the most culturally distant out-groups (i.e. Poles and Iraqis), (b) unpleasant contact experiences enhance the capacity of ethnic characteristics to generate prejudice toward Poles and Iraqis (rather than toward Norwegians), and (c) pleasant contact experiences weaken the capacity of ethnic characteristics to generate prejudice toward Poles and Iraqis. Analyses were performed on a tailor-made experimental survey manipulating ethnic characteristics, fielded in Denmark in 2021 (N = 1,882). Findings suggest that social identity theory must incorporate insights into how social interaction affects the interethnic differences–prejudice relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two seminal notions of Harold Garfinkel have endured despite some uncertainty and indeterminacy that accompany them: "autochthonous" and "tendentious". These terms, which respect the dynamic and evolving nature of social interaction, describe how local parties discover, come upon, or develop coherent accounts that can assist them to lay hold of a local orderliness that is governing some mundane interaction. This paper illuminates these two notions, first theoretically and then empirically. Drawing upon the reflections of Garfinkel, Sacks, Schegloff, Mead, Husserl, Schutz, Gurwitsch, and others, the radical consequences of these two notions are elucidated and then applied to two perspicuous conversations where it is possible to witness autochthony and tendentiousness in action. This provides a clearer understanding of the importance that these features of social interaction can play in our everyday lives. The two illustrations reveal occasions where a local orderliness appears on its own, autochthonously, without requiring a heavy dose of deliberate conceptual control by parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptation of communities to environmental fluctuations can emerge from different facets of biodiversity, which may impact ecosystem functioning differently. Previous work in the field of biodiversity–ecosystem functioning (BEF) examined how ecosystem functions can be influenced by two sources of adaptive potential: sorting – i.e. changes in community composition due to fitness differences – can occur when multiple species or groups are present (richness), and trait adaptability – i.e. trait adjustments within species or functional groups – can emerge from genetic or phenotypic diversity. However, their effect is typically studied separately, and often in the context of only one trophic level. Therefore, we used a trait‐based, multispecies predator–prey model to investigate how sorting and trait adaptability, at one or two trophic levels, separately or jointly shape ecosystem functions and properties, such as total biomass, production, biomass‐weighted mean trait, relative top–down control and synchrony. We found that the adaptive potential emerging from any facet of diversity induced changes in trophic interactions, in turn affecting biomass distributions within and across trophic levels, dynamical behaviour, and synchrony of biomass dynamics within a trophic level. Particularly, sorting and trait adaptability could contribute to a similar degree and at a similar time to temporal changes in ecosystem functions, but their respective contribution depended on the speed of trait adaptation, the trait range between similar functional groups and trophic interactions. We thus suggest to consider multiple facets of diversity and their corresponding sources of adaptive potential to deepen our mechanistic understanding of BEF relationships, especially in the context of rapid biodiversity change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant–plant interactions regulate plant community structure and function. Shifts in these interactions due to global climate change, mediated through disproportional increases of certain species or functional groups, may strongly affect plant community properties. Still, we lack knowledge of community‐level effects of climate‐driven changes in biotic interactions. We examined plant community interactions by experimentally removing a dominant functional group, graminoids, in semi‐natural grasslands in Southern Norway. To test whether the effect of graminoid removal varied with climate, the experiment was replicated across broad‐scale temperature and precipitation gradients. To quantify community‐level interactions across sites, we tested for changes in the remaining vascular community (i.e. forbs) cover, richness, evenness, and functional traits reflecting leaf‐economic investment and plant size over five years. The effect of graminoid removal on forb community structure and functioning varied over time, and along the climate gradients. Forb cover increased in response to graminoid removal, especially at warmer sites. Species richness increased following removal irrespective of climate, whilst evenness increased under warmer and wetter conditions irrespective of removal. No climate or removal effect was found for species turnover. Functional trait responses varied along the precipitation gradient – compared to controls, forb mean SLA decreased in drier conditions after graminoid removal. Leaf thickness increased under cooler and drier conditions irrespective of removal. These community structure alterations demonstrate stronger competitive interactions between forbs and graminoids under warmer conditions, whilst functional trait responses indicate a facilitative effect of graminoids under drier conditions. This indicates that both competition and facilitation regulate plant communities, suggesting complexity when scaling from populations to communities. Finally, both temperature and precipitation determine the direction and intensity of biotic interactions, with ecosystem‐wide implications for forb persistence and ecosystem functioning under future climates. Further work is needed to generalise the role of changing interactions in mediating community responses to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Instant messaging (IM) platforms are believed to foster intimate and controlled conversations within small groups and hence provide safe social settings for political conversations, and yet we know little about how political talk emerges from the everyday social interactions in these environments. To fill the gap, this study examines how sociability within small, private WhatsApp groups shapes the extent and forms of political talk among young adults. Relying on in-depth interviews conducted in the Netherlands, we find that young people perceive politics as personal, offensive, divisive, and depressing, hence unsafe for WhatsApp groups where they find comfort in communicating care and phatic exchanges. Nonetheless, rules, relationship qualities, and strategies enacted in these groups allow some political talk to become temporarily possible. However, they perceive that what makes political talk safer also makes it unproductive. Our findings thus contribute to a finer-grained understanding of political talk in the closed digital spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digitization of social interactions and daily activities means that multiple aspects of our daily lives are documented and stored, and social interactions leave digital traces. The accumulated data do not evaporate upon death, and questions about posthumous privacy and impression management arise. Drawing on eight focus groups comprised of Israeli Internet users from various backgrounds, the article points to the perceived interrelation between posthumous impression management and respect toward the dead and identifies a pervasive normative stance that advocates for the continuation of privacy management from life to after death. We call it the continuity principle. The living users position their personal data across two axes of public–private and in life–after death and manage access to their data accordingly. The findings suggest that given a digital footprint and possibilities to access digital remains, the separation between life and death erodes. However, users opine that in-life norms should linger and survive death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The manner in which educators use commands, a form of language that serves to guide and regulate behaviour, constitutes an essential component of children's learning experiences in relation to language and social interactions. This study investigated nine Chinese and nine Japanese educators' use of commanding language in educator-child free play interactions. Totally, 4296 clauses generated by the educators were analysed, drawn on systemic functional linguistic theory that classifies command based on its semantic feature. The results show that Chinese educators generally uttered more commanding language than Japanese educators. The proportion of direct & non-suggestive commands (revealing speakers' authority) dominated in both cohorts, yet Chinese educators rated significantly higher than Japanese educators. The proportion of indirect and suggestive commands (carrying negotiation tones) in Japanese educators' language was significantly higher than Chinese educators. The effect of child age on the educators' commanding language was identified. Compared to the Chinese educators, Japanese educators uttered much less commands when interacting with children under four years, however, the gap was narrowed when communicating with children above four years. The findings illustrate how the educators create culturally-different language experiences for children in daily interactions, which has implications for worldwide preschool education in multicultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Economics and biology have long been overlapping and mutually enriching fields. We contribute to this cross-fertilization by spelling out the implications for economic theory of some recent insights from evolutionary neurobiology. We note that dynamic homeostasis, a core feature of life processes, has shaped social interactions at varied stages of evolution – from the patterns of competition and cooperation among early life forms to the complex process of human cultures. The resulting homeostatic perspective is not compatible with several leading economic theories but does provide a biological footing for promising concepts such as ecological rationality, heuristics, heterogeneity of economic agents, and complex, self-organizing dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upvotes serve important purposes in online social annotation environments. However, limited studies have explored the influential factors affecting peer upvoting in online collaborative learning. In this study, we analysed the factors influencing students' upvotes received from their peers as 91 participants utilized Perusall, an online social annotation system, for collaborative reading. The participants were asked to collaboratively annotate 29 reading materials in a semester. We collected student reading behaviours and analysed their annotations with a text‐mining tool of Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC). Moreover, conditional inference tree was used to determine the relative importance of explanatory factors to the upvotes students received. The results showed that the high‐upvote group made significantly more annotations, posted more responses to others' annotations and displayed fewer negative emotions in annotations than those who did not receive upvotes. The two groups of students had no significant differences in the upvotes given to others, as well as cognitive activities and positive emotions involved in annotations. Moreover, the number of annotations was the determining factor in predicting the upvotes that one could receive in social annotation activities. This study has significant practical implications regarding providing interventions in social annotation‐based collaborative reading.Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topicSocial annotations enhance students' reading experience, facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration, promote high‐quality learning interactions and ultimately lead to improved performance.In social annotation environments, receiving upvotes from peers is not only a type of feedback but also a form of motivation, social interaction and social validation.No study has explored the influential factors in peer upvoting within social annotation‐based learning.What this paper addsThis study was the first to examine social annotations through the lens of the community of inquiry framework.We investigated the relationships between students' cognitive and social presence in their annotations and the upvotes they received in an online social annotation environment.Our study revealed the strategies for obtaining upvotes from peers in social annotation‐based learning environments.Implications for practice and/or policyThe high‐upvote group made significantly more annotations, posted more responses to others' annotations and displayed fewer negative emotions in annotations compared to the low‐upvote group.The two groups of students did not show significant differences in the upvotes they gave to others or in the cognitive activities and positive emotions involved in annotations.The number of annotations was the primary factor predicting the number of upvotes received in the collaborative reading.This study could inform the design of future online social annotation systems to better support collaborative learning and peer interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine whether the responsiveness of young children to simple sounds was associated with entertainment screen time (EST), opportunities for social interaction, and social and communication skills. Design: Parents completed a questionnaire covering, for years one and two, the number of times the child met with other children; the number of words the child spoke; and the daily amount of EST. Social, attention and communication skills were assessed. Study sample: Participants were 118 children, aged 15 to 46 months. They were initially assessed behaviourally using simple sounds. Children who responded to such sounds were denoted the Responsive group. Children who did not were assessed using familiar songs and denoted the Unresponsive group. Results: The two groups did not differ significantly in mean age or the number of opportunities to meet other children. The Unresponsive group had significantly fewer words than the Responsive group at 12 and 24 months and had significantly higher EST than the Responsive group for years 1 and 2. The Unresponsive group showed lower social, attention and communication skills than the Responsive group. Conclusions: High EST was associated with poorer auditory and social skills. Hence, it may be wise to limit the EST of young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to evaluate the internal consistency of Stanford Social Dimensions Scale (SSDS) translated to Serbian and to test it against the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The sample consisted of 200 patients (32% ASD) of the Institute of Mental Health in Belgrade, Serbia (68 females, 132 males, Mage=9.61, SDage=4.06). Internal consistency coefficients were within good/acceptable range for Social Motivation, Affiliation, Recognition and Unusual Approach subscales and below acceptable for Expressive Social Communication subscale. The non-autistic group scored higher on all subscales compared to the ASD group. All SSDS subscales positively correlated with SDQ Prosocial Behaviors scale. The SSDS is a valuable instrument for accessing sociobehavioral phenotype in both individuals on the autism spectrum and non-autistic individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dyadic interviews were conducted with 32 youth ages 13–21 and their self‐identified key adult supports to illuminate how adult supports help protect youth in communities impacted by high levels of violence. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Youth described choosing social interactions carefully, avoiding high‐violence areas, and keeping busy with activities. Many youths discussed the necessity of minimizing contact with peers to avoid violence, resulting in isolation from friends and increased engagement with family at home. Adult supports reflected upon an intergenerational transfer of violence avoidance, safety planning, and coping strategies through sharing their own lived experiences. Dyads highlighted the need for intergenerational programming to address social isolation and build supportive social networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores self-deprecation within the context of Korean reality TV shows, examining its multifaceted functions, recipient responses, and interactional consequences. Through analysis of excerpts from two Korean TV shows, Infinite Challenge and I Am Solo , various uses of self-deprecation emerge: as a defense mechanism, self-blame tactic, means of reprimand, and even as an accusatory tool. The findings illustrate the complexity of acts with self-deprecation , diverging from previous studies where self-deprecation is the main action for all participants. Participants may overtly acknowledge self-deprecating actions, yet these actions can also be layered with other interactional goals such as defense, reprimand, or accusation. Consequently, misinterpretations of self-deprecation can lead to tension or unintended outcomes. This study underscores the contextual and contingent nature of self-deprecation, emphasizing its role as a dynamic "communication practice" (Speer, 2019) in human interaction. By delving into the intricate interplay between self-deprecation and other interactional goals, this research contributes to a nuanced understanding of this phenomenon in social contexts. • Explores self-deprecation within the context of Korean reality TV shows. • Analyzes how self-deprecation is layered with other interactional businesses. • Illustrates how other interactional exigencies suspend the relevance of self-deprecation. • Highlights how acts with self-deprecation are vulnerable to misalignment. • Contributes to a sequentially sensitive approach to self-deprecation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coordination between participants is a necessary foundation for successful human interaction. This is especially true in group musical performances, where action must often be temporally coordinated between the members of an ensemble for their performance to be effective. Networked mediation can disrupt this coordination process by introducing a delay between when a musical sound is produced and when it is received. This can result in significant deteriorations in synchrony and stability between performers. Here we show that five duos of professional jazz musicians adopt diverse strategies when confronted by the difficulties of coordinating performances over a network—difficulties that are not exclusive to networked performance but are also present in other situations (such as when coordinating performances over large physical spaces). What appear to be two alternatives involve: 1) one musician being led by the other, tracking the timings of the leader's performance; or 2) both musicians accommodating to each other, mutually adapting their timing. During networked performance, these two strategies favor different sides of the trade-off between, respectively, tempo synchrony and stability; in the absence of delay, both achieve similar outcomes. Our research highlights how remoteness presents new complexities and challenges to successful interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a childhood-onset complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by problems with communication and social interaction and restricted, repetitive, stereotyped behavior. The prevalence of ASD is one in 36 children. The genetic architecture of ASD is complex in spite of its high heritability. To identify the potential candidate genes of ASD, we carried out a comprehensive genetic study of monozygotic (MZ) twins concordant or discordant for ASD. Five MZ twins and their parents were recruited for the study. Four of the twins were concordant, whereas one was discordant for ASD. Whole exome sequencing was conducted for the twins and their parents. The exome DNA was enriched using Twist Human Customized Core Exome Kit, and paired-end sequencing was performed on HiSeq system. We identified several rare and pathogenic variants (homozygous recessive, compound heterozygous, de novo) in ASD-affected individuals. We report novel variants in individuals diagnosed with ASD. Several of these genes are involved in brain-related functions and not previously reported in ASD. Intriguingly, some of the variants were observed in the genes involved in sensory perception (auditory [ MYO15A , PLEC , CDH23 , UBR3 , GPSM2 ], olfactory [ OR9K2 ], gustatory [ TAS2R31 ], and visual [ CDH23 , UBR3 ]). This is the first comprehensive genetic study of MZ twins in an Indian population. Further validation is required to determine whether these variants are associated with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate how bots influence human-to-human interaction in online communities. In doing so, we distinguish between reflexive and supervisory bots delegated by community participants and moderators, respectively. We hypothesize that reflexive bot activity will reduce direct reciprocity and increase generalized reciprocity and that supervisory bot activity will reduce preferential attachment among human participants. Through an analysis of almost 70 million posts on the discussion communities on Reddit, a popular platform for online discussions, we found support for the hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this pre-registered (NCT05051462), randomized controlled trial was to investigate the efficacy and safety of a pandemic-adjusted version of family/systemic constellation therapy in the general population. Altogether, 80 individuals were randomized (85% retained; 67.6% women, M age = 41.9 ± 9.2 years) and followed up 1- and 6 months after participation in the single-day intervention. Numerous indicators of psychopathology and addiction as well as wellbeing were assessed. Members of the intervention group improved significantly in terms of the a priori primary outcome (overall psychopathology: d 1-month = 0.41, p 1-month = 0.003; d 6-month = 0.31, p 6-month = 0.028) as well as numerous secondary outcomes (obsession-compulsion, interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, and paranoid ideation). However, the magnitude of improvements was small and mostly disappeared by 6-months. Further, no significant treatment benefit emerged considering time x group interactions regarding any of the outcomes (although statistical power was low). Due to the significant, pandemic-related deviations from the protocol of the intervention, these results may not be generalizable to systemic constellation interventions in general; instead – considering the previous, more favorable data regarding efficacy/effectiveness and tolerability – they rather call attention to the importance of process-related factors regarding this intervention specifically as well as the potential disadvantages of pandemic-related treatment modifications of in-person (non-virtual) group interventions in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Experiential learning environments are beneficial for the development of generic learning outcomes, such as critical thinking, communication, and self-regulation. However, research about the variation in experiential learning activities and their benefits is scattered across several bodies of discipline-specific literature. Purpose: The aim is to map the design elements of experiential learning environments across domains and to uncover their relation with generic learning outcomes. Methodology/Approach: Using a scoping review study, 22 studies were subjected to qualitative analysis. Findings/Conclusions: The design elements were related to authenticity, structure, and agency, and learning outcomes in the cognitive, affective, metacognitive, and socio-communicative domain. Confidence and communication skills were the most often included learning outcomes, followed by teamwork and problem-solving. The design elements that were most prominently present across learning outcomes were related to individual agency within group work during the activity and authenticity represented in interactions with peers. Further, we identified seven patterns about how design elements relate to generic learning outcomes. Implications: Addressing the design of experiential learning environments on a more fine-grained level is needed to increase insights of which generic learning outcomes are being fostered, and to enhance comparability of research findings within and between types of experiential learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural ecosystem services (CES), which includes many components regarding humans, and is defined as benefits and services that ecosystems provide to humanity. Tourism experiences provide a unique opportunity for people and tourism interactions influence human well-being. This study evaluates CES studies made for Anatolia between 2017–2022. This review study sought answers to four questions: (i) What is the number and content of CES studies? (ii) What are the methodological studies, on which occupational disciplines they focus? (iii) Are the CES studies for the Anatolia sufficient for tourism management? (iv) What are the gaps, benefits and deficiencies in CES and in Anatolia tourism? The results are expected to shed light on future studies regarding the CES and tourism for Anatolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests that loneliness causes people to feel more depressed. It is unknown, however, why this association occurs and whether momentary versus chronic experiences of loneliness are implicated. Theoretical accounts suggest that momentary feelings of loneliness produce two competing motivations: social reaffiliation and social withdrawal. Social affiliation is protective against depression; social withdrawal, in contrast, is a risk factor. Thus, engaging in frequent and high-quality interactions following experiences of loneliness may protect against subsequent depression. We tested this hypothesis using a random-interval experience sampling design (5x/day/day, 14 days; Nobs = 6568) with a racially/ethnically diverse sample of adults with elevated depression symptoms (N = 102). Momentary loneliness was associated with depressed mood at the same time point and ∼2.5h and ∼5h later. Frequency and quality of social interaction did not moderate these associations. Findings suggest that momentary feelings of loneliness may be an important target for clinical intervention. • Evidence suggests that loneliness is causally associated with depression. • It is unclear whether momentary vs. chronic feelings of loneliness cause depression. • Features of social interactions (e.g., quantity) may buffer against subsequent depression. • Results showed that loneliness was associated with depression at the same time point and ∼2.5 and ∼5 hours later. • Neither social interaction quantity, satisfaction, self- and other-disclosure, nor responsiveness moderated this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small group interactions and interactions with near‐peer instructors such as learning assistants serve as fertile opportunities for student learning in undergraduate active learning classrooms. To understand what students take away from these interactions, we need to understand how and what they learn during the moment of their interaction. This study builds on practical epistemology analysis to develop a framework to study this in‐the‐moment learning during interactions by operationalizing it through the lens of discourse change and continuity toward three ends. Using video recordings of students and learning assistants interacting in a variety of contexts including remote, in‐person, and hybrid classrooms in introductory chemistry and physics at two universities, we developed an analytical framework that can characterize learning in the moment of interaction, is sensitive to different kinds of learning, and can be used to compare interactions. The framework and its theoretical underpinnings are described in detail. In‐depth examples demonstrate how the framework can be applied to classroom data to identify and differentiate different ways in which in‐the‐moment learning occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neurophysiological studies recognized that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with altered patterns of over- and under-connectivity. However, little is known about network organization in children with ASD in the early phases of development and its correlation with the severity of core autistic features. Methods: The present study aimed at investigating the association between brain connectivity derived from MEG signals and severity of ASD traits measured with different diagnostic clinical scales, in a sample of 16 children with ASD aged 2 to 6 years. Results: A significant correlation emerged between connectivity strength in cortical brain areas implicated in several resting state networks (Default mode, Central executive, Salience, Visual and Sensorimotor) and the severity of communication anomalies, social interaction problems, social affect problems, and repetitive behaviors. Seed analysis revealed that this pattern of correlation was mainly caused by global rather than local effects. Conclusions: The present evidence suggests that altered connectivity strength in several resting state networks is related to clinical features and may contribute to neurofunctional correlates of ASD. Future studies implementing the same method on a wider and stratified sample may further support functional connectivity as a possible biomarker of the condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiddler crabs have been used as model organisms in many laboratory and field studies. In their natural environment, social interaction with other fiddler crabs (conspecific or heterospecific) is recurrent, but manipulative studies involving these crabs as models are often performed with isolated individuals. The isolation of an animal can interfere in the behaviors recorded as response variables. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether the presence of other individuals affects the performance of behaviors of fiddler crabs Leptuca uruguayensis. We tested two hypotheses in the field: (1) the visual stimulus of the crab assemblage affects the activity of male fiddler crabs; and (2) the presence of other conspecific affects the activity of male fiddler crabs depending on the sexes of the individuals present. We found the activities of L. uruguayensis males mediated by social interactions does not depend exclusively on visual stimuli. Physical interaction with other conspecifics of both sexes enables the perception of stimuli which can influence the waving behavior of L. uruguayensis males. We suggest that behavioral studies with this model should consider the presence of other individuals. Understanding the behavioral complexity of a model organism contributes to more robust experiments with greater control of interfering variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxicity in online social interactions is a growing and significant concern. The current focus has been on the broader effects of toxicity, such as polarization, misinformation, and moral outrage. However, to advance our understanding of online toxicity, we also need to consider the role of the online and disembodied nature of interactions in giving rise to such toxicity. The Disembodiment, Anonymity, and lack of Disinhibition (DAD) framework conceptualizes three core roots of impaired social interactions and how they persist in a vicious cycle. An improved understanding of how impaired interactions unfold in the online world can help design interventions that focus on skills and technology for better communication. Online communication is central to modern social life, yet it is often linked to toxic manifestations and reduced well-being. How and why online communication enables these toxic social effects remains unanswered. In this opinion, we propose three roots of online toxicity: disembodiment, limited accountability, and disinhibition. We suggest that virtual disembodiment results in a chain of psychological states primed for deleterious social interaction. Drawing from differences between face-to-face and online interactions, the framework highlights and addresses the fundamental problems that result in impaired communication between individuals and explicates its effects on social toxicity online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Introduction: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterised by limited remission rates and emotional dimensions are often neglected. Cognitive remediation and emotional skills training (CREST) protocol aims to address cognitive and emotional factors. This study evaluates the feasibility and effectiveness of a modified rolling‐group CREST protocol in an inpatient setting. Methods: Quasi‐experimental design evaluated CREST protocol in a rehabilitation programme. A total of 116 females diagnosed with AN were included, of whom 63 were included in the CREST protocol and 53 in the standard rehabilitation treatment. Various standardized measures were employed to assess psychopathology. Data collection occurred longitudinally, before and after CREST implementation. Results: No significant differences emerged between groups regarding changes in specific eating psychopathology. CREST group exhibited significant improvements in emotion regulation (p = 0.002) and social skills (p = 0.014), besides a reduction in alexithymia (p < 0.001) and cognitive rigidity (p = 0.013). Empathic features remained stable. Participants reported positive perceptions of the CREST intervention. Discussion: The study highlights the potential benefits of integrating emotional training within multidisciplinary intensive treatment for AN. Results emphasise the importance of treatment protocol with more affective and hot‐cognition‐related interventions, beyond weight‐related psychopathology. Implementing a rolling‐group CREST protocol in an inpatient setting showed promise in enhancing the emotional abilities of AN patients. Highlights: The Cognitive remediation and emotional skills training (CREST) group exhibited exceptional adherence, with no dropouts observed, indicating strong engagement and acceptability of the programme among participants.Participants in the CREST group experienced significant reductions in Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) scores, suggesting enhanced emotional regulation skills compared to the treatment as usual ,TAU group.The CREST intervention led to a notable decrease in alexithymia scores, indicating improved emotional awareness and expression among participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]