Search Results (108)

Early-life seizures lead to long-term behavioral deficits, stimulate cytokine release, and disrupt the intracellular PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. This study examined whether inhibiting the mTOR pathway, neuroinflammatory signaling, or both reduces behavioral comorbidities in adulthood. Female C57BL/6J mice received kainic acid on postnatal day 10 to induce status epilepticus. Three hours later, the mice were treated with saline, minocycline, rapamycin, or both. Three months later, behavioral assessments were conducted that measured activity, anxiety, social behavior, repetitive behavior, and learning. Early-life seizures resulted in social behavior deficits in the social chamber test, altered anxiety in the elevated plus maze, and an increase in repetitive behavior in the nose poke assay. Rapamycin and minocycline/rapamycin groups showed reduced distance traveled in the saline groups. We did not find any changes in cytokines IL6, IL-1β, and TNFα in the hippocampus or cortex using RT-qPCR. Through Western blotting, we found that rapamycin reduced the phosphorylated S6 levels. Minocycline decreased phosphorylated S6 in controls, but restored phosphorylated S6 levels in the seizure group. Early-life seizures had long-term impacts on behavioral comorbidities. Rapamycin and minocycline, alone or combined, did not restore the behavioral or molecular changes after early-life seizures. These findings clarify the behavioral outcomes after early-life seizures and therapeutic modulation. Full article

Public transport is vital for social and economic life, but many people with disabilities still face exclusion due to both physical and psychosocial barriers. This study examined how psychosocial barriers influence public transport travel behavior among people with mobility, vision, and hearing disabilities in the City of Tshwane, South Africa. A quantitative survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire among 214 respondents. The results showed that fear of crime, lack of personal safety, anxiety when travelling alone or to unfamiliar places, and negative treatment by drivers and co-passengers are major deterrents to public transport use. Psychosocial barriers were significantly associated with travel behavior and a strong preference for private cars as well as ride-hailing services. Group comparisons revealed that individuals with vision disabilities experience significantly higher levels of transport-related fear compared to other groups. People with mobility and vision disabilities are more affected by negative attitudes from co-passengers compared to people with hearing disabilities. Psychosocial barriers are associated with low trip frequencies for non-essential activities, indicating suppressed travel. The study concludes that achieving inclusive urban mobility requires addressing psychosocial barriers alongside physical accessibility to ensure safe, dignified, and independent travel for people with disabilities. Full article

This paper addresses the optimization of electric vehicle (EV) charging facility configuration on highways by proposing a collaborative planning method that integrates driver anxiety psychology, mixed traffic flow dynamics, and service area queuing characteristics. By abstracting the road travel and service area replenishment processes into an integrated queuing network, a system analysis framework is constructed to characterize the coupling relationship of “facility supply, traffic assignment, and state feedback.” On this basis, a bi-level optimization model is established with the objective of minimizing the generalized total social cost. The upper level makes decisions on the coordinated quantities of fixed charging piles and mobile charging vehicles, while the lower level describes the stochastic user equilibrium behavior of drivers under the influence of real-time congestion and anxiety. To tackle the high-dimensional nonlinear nature of the model, an efficient solution algorithm based on simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) is designed. A case study of the Nei-Yi Expressway demonstrates that compared with the traditional peak demand proportional allocation method, the proposed approach can better balance construction costs, operation and dispatching costs, and user travel experience under limited investment, significantly reducing waiting times and psychological anxiety costs. It provides theoretical methods and decision support for planning a resilient energy replenishment network that achieves “fixed facilities ensuring base load and mobile resources responding to peak demands.” Full article

The rapid growth of vehicle ownership has led to increasingly congested road networks, which significantly reduces the energy efficiency of electric vehicles (EVs) and intensifies user range anxiety. To address these challenges, a dynamic EV route planning process is proposed by integrating traffic flow (TF) prediction, charging service modelling, and time-varying path optimization within a unified framework. First, future TF is predicted using a data-driven forecasting module based on the iTransformer model, which captures multivariate temporal dependencies across road links and provides accurate inputs for downstream decision-making. Based on the predicted traffic states, a time-dependent queuing process is formulated to estimate charging station waiting times by modelling the dynamic interaction between vehicle arrivals and service capacity. These components are then embedded into a time-varying shortest path optimization process that explicitly considers mid-journey charging constraints, with the objective of minimizing total travel time and economic cost. The proposed framework establishes a closed-loop decision-making process that couples traffic evolution, charging service dynamics, and routing behaviour. Extensive comparative experiments against classical Time-Dependent Shortest Path (TDSP) methods under different network scales, together with a real-world case study, demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves higher computational efficiency and improved routing performance under dynamic conditions. The results indicate that the proposed process-oriented method provides an effective and practical solution for EV routing in intelligent transportation systems characterized by time-varying traffic and service processes. Full article

This study examines how travelers alleviate anxiety during trips through real-time self-disclosure on social media. Based on the Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping and Social Penetration Theory, this study explores a process model in which travel anxiety triggers self-disclosure, which subsequently strengthens perceived social connectedness and psychological comfort. Survey data from 240 Korean travelers who shared content during their trip were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), which is suitable to this research in terms of estimating complex, theory-building models with multiple latent constructs. Results show that psychological comfort predicts travel satisfaction and fully mediates the effect of social connectedness on satisfaction. By reframing social media use as a real-time coping mechanism rather than post-experience sharing, and positioning psychological comfort as a distinct low-arousal emotional mediator, this study extends tourism research on on-site digital coping and tourist experience management. Full article

Predicting energy consumption in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is a complex task due to the large number of influencing factors and their interdependencies. Nevertheless, reliable energy consumption estimation is essential to reduce range anxiety, facilitate route planning, manage charging infrastructure, and support more effective travel decisions that lower operational risks in transportation, thereby fostering wider BEV adoption. In this context, the present study examines the existing literature on methodologies for predicting BEV energy consumption through a systematic literature review (SLR) following the Denyer and Tranfield protocol and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The analysis covers modelling approaches, computational tools, model accuracy metrics, variable topology, sampling frequency and analysis period, modelling scale, and data sources. In addition, this review incorporates a structured assessment of the methodological quality of the included studies and a systematic evaluation of risk of bias, enabling a critical appraisal of the reliability and generalisability of reported findings. A comprehensive classification of modelling methodologies and variables is proposed, providing an integrative reference framework for future research. Overall, this study addresses existing research gaps, identifies current methodological limitations, and outlines directions for future work on BEV energy consumption prediction. Full article

Culinary culture shock (CCS)—the discomfort and ambivalence travelers feel when encountering unfamiliar foods—remains underexplored from a short-horizon, trip-bounded perspective. While prior work notes both attractions and impediments of food in tourism, a process-oriented account of how ordinary travelers experience and navigate CCS during brief trips is still limited. This study examines CCS in Guangzhou, China and delineates how it shapes travelers’ evaluations of place. We adopt a qualitative design, combining 30 semi-structured interviews with in situ ethnographic observations across markets, street-food settings, restaurants, and guided food tours, supplemented by document analysis (e.g., visitor materials and menus). Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identify three recurrent coping trajectories—avoidance, gradual adaptation, and immersion—that unfold nonlinearly as travelers recalibrate expectations, manage sensory dissonance, and renegotiate comfort boundaries. We integrate expectancy–disconfirmation theory (EDT) with an embodied view of tasting to develop the Palate Adaptation Spiral Model (PASM), which explains CCS as recursive cycles of appraisal, strategy enactment, and re-appraisal within the span of a trip. Social influence (peers, guides, and service staff) operates as a cross-cutting mechanism that can accelerate adaptation or entrench avoidance depending on cue valence and credibility. The study clarifies the scope of CCS as general travel encounters (not restricted to culinary-motivated tourists) and specifies contextual conditions under which negative reactions are reversible. Theoretically, we connect EDT to short-term culinary adaptation through PASM; practically, we outline design levers—pre-trip expectation management, pictorial/transparent menus, and guide-mediated tasting sequences—to reduce anxiety and support constructive exploration. Full article

Traditional approaches to welder training demand substantial investments in equipment, consumable materials, and workshop facilities, while also exposing novice learners to considerable safety risks. This study investigates the effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR)-based welding training system developed with Unity for the Meta Quest 2 platform, designed to deliver safe and immersive instruction in fundamental welding techniques. A total of twenty participants with no prior welding experience completed structured VR training sessions over two weeks. The program focused on developing competencies in welding machine operation (including start-up procedures and parameter adjustments), controlling shielding gas flow, and accurately regulating torch-to-workpiece distance, torch angle, and travel speed. Real-time feedback was integrated into the system to support accurate control and positioning of the welding torch. Quantitative assessments demonstrated significant improvements in both technical proficiency and trainee confidence and anxiety levels. Knowledge test scores increased from 45.3 to 85.1, while machine adjustment accuracy rose from 28.7 to 92.3. In parallel, participant confidence levels increased substantially, and anxiety scores decreased from 4.0–4.5 to 1.1–1.5 on standardized scales. These findings provide experimental evidence that VR-based training can enhance fundamental welding education by offering a safe, repeatable, and effective practice environment that simultaneously improves technical performance, strengthens learner confidence, and reduces training-related anxiety. Full article

Background: Spatial navigation is one’s ability to travel through their environment to reach a goal location. Self-expansion is the motivation to increase one’s self-perception through engaging in novel activities. Our objective was to examine the relations among self-expansion, age, and navigation ability and investigate how one’s internal motivation may influence navigation performance across paradigms. Methods: In total, 33 younger adults (YAs; 19F, 14M, mean age = 25.0 ± 1.6) and 74 older adults (OAs; 52F, 22M, mean age = 69.5 ± 8.0) completed the following: Self-Expansion Preference Scale (SEPS), Wayfinding Questionnaire (WQ), Virtual Supermarket Task, Virtual Morris Water Maze (vMWM), and a Floor Maze Task (FMT). Mann–Whitney U tests and Spearman ρ correlations were used to examine differences in navigation performance between YAs vs. OAs and self-expanders vs. self-conservers, and relations among the measures, respectively. Results: YAs had lower vMWM completion times compared to OAs (p < 0.001). Self-expanders had better recall of the vMWM environment compared to self-conservers (p = 0.049), independent of age. Greater self-expansion in YAs was correlated with lower spatial anxiety (ρ = −0.356, p = 0.042) and faster completion of the FMT (ρ = −0.36, p = 0.042). Discussion: Our results build on established age-related deficits in navigation abilities to identify correlations of self-expansion and better performance in various navigation tasks. Independent of age, individuals with greater inclination towards self-expansion exhibit superior navigation abilities. Future research should explore underlying mechanisms driving these associations and investigate intervention strategies aimed at improving navigation skills in aging populations through increasing self-expansion. Full article

Remote Sighted Assistance (RSA) systems provide visually impaired people (VIPs) with real-time guidance by connecting them with remote sighted agents to facilitate daily travel. However, unfamiliar environments often complicate decision-making for agents and can induce anxiety in VIPs, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the assistance provided. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a video-based map assistance method. By pre-recording pedestrian path videos and aligning them with geographic locations, the system enables route preview and enhances navigation guidance. This study introduces a factor graph optimization (FGO) algorithm that integrates Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) data for pedestrian positioning. It incorporates road-anchor constraints, a turning-point-based anchor-matching method, and a coarse-to-fine optimization strategy to improve the positioning accuracy. GNSS provides global reference positions, PDR offers precise relative motion constraints through accurate heading estimation, and anchor factors further enhance localization accuracy by leveraging known geometric features. We collected data using a smartphone equipped with a four-camera module and conducted tests in representative urban environments. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed anchor-aided FGO-GNSS/PDR algorithm achieves robust and accurate positioning, effectively supporting video-based map construction in complex urban settings. With anchor constraints, the mean horizontal positioning error was reduced by 42% to 65% and the maximum error by 38% to 76% across all datasets. In this study, the mean horizontal positioning error was 1.36 m. Full article

Background/Objectives: For runners competing abroad in sports events, the hours before a race are marked by heightened psychological tension, where even food choices can feel crucial to success. While pre-race nutrition is often addressed in terms of physiological needs, little is known about the inner psychological processes that accompany food decisions in unfamiliar cultural and environmental contexts. This study explores the inner dialogues, anxieties, and coping mechanisms of international runners facing the question of whether and what to eat before competition. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with twelve international participants (from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Ukraine) of the Poznan Half Marathon 2025. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews. Participants possessed a minimum of two years’ experience competing in international events. Results: Three thematic areas were identified: (1) anticipatory anxiety and fear of making nutritional mistakes before the race, (2) internal negotiation between prior nutritional knowledge and situational trust, and (3) ritualization and individualized norms as fundamental mechanisms of psychological regulation. These themes influenced how runners experienced pre-race nutrition, shaping their emotional states, decision-making processes, and coping strategies in the context of international competition. Conclusions: Pre-race nutrition decisions are deeply embedded in emotional and cognitive landscapes shaped by stress, cultural context, and individual history. Recognizing these inner dynamics can help coaches, sports nutritionists, and event organizers better support the psychological well-being of traveling athletes. Full article

Through three-wave longitudinal research, a survey was conducted with 3200 college students from a university in China, Hebei Province, with an interval of approximately one year between each survey. In the third wave of surveys, 1495 valid samples were obtained. The questionnaires included the Resilience Scale (RS-11), the Social Support Questionnaire (F-SozU K-14), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). There are significant differences in social support and negative emotions across gender variables. There are significant differences in resilience, social support, and negative emotions across travel frequency in the past year. There are significant differences in negative emotions across vegetarianism. Resilience and social support measured in three waves were significantly negatively correlated with negative emotions, while resilience and social support were significantly positively correlated. The results of the random intercept cross-lagged panel model analysis indicate that W1 social support can significantly negatively predict W2 negative emotions, and W2 negative emotions can significantly negatively predict W3 resilience and social support. Ineffective or insufficient social support can cause negative emotions to negatively impact the resilience process while further reducing the individual’s perception of social support. Full article

Dog parents have a strong attachment to their pets and treat them as children. Similarly to the guilt experienced by the parents of human children, dog parents feel guilty when they have to travel or work long hours and leave their dogs at home alone. This study examined the empathic tendencies among dog parents and how they are related to dog parent guilt and other mental health symptoms. A sample of 332 dog owners from the United States, stratified by age and sex, was recruited for this study. The sample comprised 168 female and 164 male participants. The Guilt About Dog Parenting Scale (GAPS-D), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and Dog Anthropomorphism Scale were administered via an online survey. Demographic variables, such as age, sex, race, education level, household income, relationship, and parental status, were also collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and linear regression. As predicted, this study found that empathic tendencies in dog parents are related to guilt, anthropomorphizing, and mental health symptoms. This is the first study to examine empathetic tendencies among dog parents in relation to dog parent guilt. Researchers, educators, social workers, mental health professionals, and veterinarians should inform and educate pet owners about dog parent guilt. This will increase the knowledge of professionals, organizations, and pet owners suffering from such guilt. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) may offer a promising approach for helping pet parents identify, normalize, and better understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to empathic and anthropomorphic tendencies. By addressing these cognitive patterns, CBT could potentially help reduce associated feelings of guilt, depression, anxiety, and stress. Full article

Artemin is a neurotrophic factor that belongs to the four-member family of Glial-derived growth factors. This study aims to investigate changes in artemin correlated with anxiety and depression-like behaviors in a neuroinflammation rodent model. In adult male Wistar rats, neuroinflammation was established through administration of 2 mg/kg LPS. Anxiety-like behaviors and locomotor activity were evaluated by the open field test. The sucrose preference test and the splash test analyzed depression-like behaviors. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and artemin levels were measured in the prefrontal cortex, striatum, and serum. In the neuroinflammation group, rearing, total distance traveled, time spent in the central region, and sucrose solution consumption decreased in the open-field test (p < 0.0001). Grooming time and frequency were shortened, and grooming latency was prolonged in the neuroinflammation group (p < 0.0001). TNF-α was significantly increased in the prefrontal cortex (p < 0.05) and striatum (p < 0.01). lL-1β did not change between groups (p > 0.05). Artemin levels decreased in the prefrontal cortex and striatum (p < 0.05). No difference was observed in serum artemin levels; however, artemin levels of brain regions were higher than those in the serum. An increase in anxiety–depression-like behaviors has accompanied decreased levels of artemin in the brain. Artemin may be a target molecule in psychiatric disorders. Further studies are needed to examine the role of artemin in neuropsychiatric disorders. Full article

Nowadays, society is becoming increasingly committed to traveling by plane for work, tourism, and leisure in general. However, either due to internal, specific factors or to external determinants, like terrorism and climate changes, a growing number of travelers have experienced the so-called fear of flying, a persistent, irrational fear of flight-related situations for which a clear, efficacious therapy does not yet exist. Based on the usual interaction with the surrounding environment, conducted by means of the five human senses, and particularly on the neurophysiological pathway followed by the chemical senses, in this study, we revise the findings in the related literature on the topic, proposing an alternative way to alleviate the anxiety related to the fear of flight. This is based on chemosensory stimulation being applied directly during a flight and is possibly concerned with the consumption of meals, an usual activity performed onboard. After an introductory section aimed at understanding the problem, we present some studies related to chemosensory perception during the flight, highlighting the specificities of the scenarios, followed by a description of findings related to the meals proposed by flight companies in this context, and finally wrapping up the possible alternative approaches that could be conducted by such providers to alleviate the fear of flying condition through chemosensory stimulation vehiculated by meals, and enhance the quality of flight experience related to food consumption onboard. Full article