Search Results (693)

The article provides a comprehensive review of empirical studies on consumer attitudes, motivations, and behaviors in the functional food market. The main objective of this study is to identify groups of determinants and to update and systematize current knowledge on the influence of various factors on consumer purchasing decisions in this market. Based on an analysis of international research published between 2004 and 2025, four key groups of determinants were identified: (1) health- and trust-related factors, (2) cognitive and psychological factors, (3) perceptual and product-related factors, and (4) socio-demographic and segmentation factors. The analysis confirms that purchasing decisions in this product category are complex and multidimensional. They result from the interaction between rational factors (health-related and cognitive) and emotional-symbolic factors (psychological and sensory). The strongest predictors of functional food acceptance include perceived health benefits, trust in producers and information sources, sensory attractiveness, and product naturalness. Socio-demographic characteristics, such as age, education level, and income, further differentiate purchasing intentions and behaviors. Overall, the findings highlight the need for further comparative and cross-cultural research, as cultural and economic conditions may significantly shape consumer decisions across markets. The results obtained have both theoretical and practical implications. They contribute to a better understanding of consumer decision-making processes and emphasize the importance of promoting health awareness. Full article

Acquiring decorative patterns from glossy ceramic surfaces is challenging because specular reflections often obscure fine details and reduce the reliability of subsequent digital analysis. Although existing highlight-removal methods, including data-driven and single-image enhancement approaches, have improved restoration quality in generic scenes, they are not fully suited to glossy ceramic documentation because they often rely on scene priors, large paired datasets, or post hoc enhancement alone while paying limited attention to acquisition-side optimization for reflective cultural objects. This article presents a portable multimodal imaging system and a processing framework for ceramic pattern acquisition, highlight suppression, and acquisition optimization. Multimodal images captured under different illumination and polarization configurations are first geometrically registered, after which specular regions are localized by jointly exploiting polarization and intensity cues, followed by highlight suppression and perceptual appearance restoration to improve pattern visibility while preserving visual authenticity. Experimental results indicates that warm illumination with 0° polarization is more suitable for warm-toned ceramics or ceramics with large-area patterns, whereas uniform illumination with 45° polarization is more suitable for cool-toned ceramics and ceramics with sparse patterns; additionally, cool illumination with 90° polarization yields the highest average score across the dataset, indicating stronger robustness across diverse samples. The proposed system is portable, supports wireless image transmission, and integrates adjustable illumination with a servo-driven polarizer, thereby providing a practical solution for high-quality digital documentation of glossy ceramic patterns. Full article

Research on cross-language adult speech perception shows that non-native speech sounds are interpreted through the listener’s L1 phonological system. According to the Perceptual Assimilation Model (PAM) and its extension, PAM-L2, discriminability of non-native/L2 speech contrasts is determined by how two phones are assimilated to L1 phonological categories. Specifically, discriminability varies depending on perceived overlap with L1 phonological categories. This study assessed the PAM/PAM-L2 account of the assimilation–discrimination relationship in discrimination of non-native/L2 stop–fricative contrasts, focusing on how discrimination varies with assimilation overlap. Chinese listeners completed assimilation and AXB discrimination tasks with six English (/p-f/, /b-v/, /t-θ/, /t-s/, /d-ð/, /d-z/) and two Persian (/k-x/, /g-ɣ/) stop–fricative contrasts. The contrasts were assimilated as four Uncategorized–Categorized (UC) contrasts, one with no overlap and three with partial overlap, and four Two-Category (TC) contrasts. The discrimination results showed that TC and non-overlapping UC contrasts were more accurately discriminated than partially overlapping UC contrasts, consistent with PAM/PAM-L2. Further analysis revealed that overlap scores were strongly negatively correlated with discrimination accuracy at the group level, and this correlation was also significant for most contrasts at the individual level. These findings suggest that exploring assimilation overlap may help clarify the assimilation–discrimination relationship in non-native/L2 stop–fricative contrast discrimination. Full article

Background: As Taiwan transitions into a super-aging society, the government has launched “Long-term Care (LTC) 3.0,” a policy initiative that marks a strategic shift from service expansion to integrated quality verification, digital oversight, and social resilience. This transition demands a robust quality verification mechanism. Ensuring perceptual consistency between service providers and external evaluators is critical for systemic fairness and sustainable service quality. Objective: This study utilized a two-dimensional gap analysis to examine the discrepancy in service quality benchmarks between home-based LTC center managers and assessment committee members, identifying critical divergence zones for institutional improvement. Methods: A cross-sectional evaluative study was conducted, involving center managers (evaluatees, n = 50) and external experts (evaluators, n = 28). The data were collected via a structured instrument covering 20 consensus benchmarks. Results: Significant perceptual gaps were identified across all dimensions (p < 0.001), with “Professional Care Quality” exhibiting the largest effect size (Cohen’s d > 1.5). Benchmarks with low external scores but high internal ratings were categorized into the “Overestimation (Management Blind Spot)” quadrant, signaling a systemic overestimation bias in administrative and clinical risk management. Conclusions: This study provides empirical evidence for the refinement of LTC 3.0 assessment systems. The results offer a strategic roadmap for policymakers to enhance organizational resilience by transitioning from subjective self-perception to objective, data-driven quality management through the two-dimensional gap model. Full article

Jamu is a traditional Indonesian herbal beverage widely consumed for its perceived health benefits; however, its broader acceptance is often constrained by intense sensory characteristics. This study investigated the sensory characteristics and consumer acceptance of five commonly consumed jamu beverages (wedang jahe, beras kencur, kunyit asam, temulawak, and pahitan) using an integrated sensory and consumer research approach. Commercial powdered jamu products were evaluated by 120 consumers familiar with jamu. Significant differences in consumer acceptance were observed among formulations (p < 0.05), with beras kencur and wedang jahe showing the highest liking, kunyit asam moderate acceptance, and temulawak and pahitan the lowest. Sensory characterization revealed a clear perceptual continuum across jamu beverages, ranging from sweet, refreshing, and spicy profiles to strongly bitter, herbal, and medicinal characteristics. Analysis of sensory intensity perception indicated that excessive bitterness and herbal intensity, as well as insufficient sweetness, were the primary contributors to reduced consumer liking. Furthermore, consumer responses to jamu were heterogeneous, with distinct acceptance patterns observed across different consumer groups. By linking sensory perception with consumer preference, this study provides scientifically grounded insights to support the development, reformulation, and targeted positioning of jamu beverages as modern functional drinks while preserving their traditional identity. Full article

Emergency Alert and Warning Systems (EAWSs) are essential components of sustainable disaster risk reduction, providing communities with timely information to prepare for and respond to impending hazards. In the Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural hazards occur frequently. However, national statistics from 2018 indicated that only 40% of Filipinos considered themselves well prepared for disasters, while 31% reported being slightly prepared or not prepared at all. This study investigates the perceived effectiveness of EAWSs in enhancing disaster awareness and preparedness among Filipino residents. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the research develops an integrated framework to examine behavioral, technical, and perceptual factors influencing preparedness intentions. Data were collected from 200 respondents through a structured survey. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to identify significant linear relationships among the constructs, while an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis was subsequently applied to capture nonlinear patterns and rank the relative importance of key predictors. Unlike previous studies that rely solely on SEM or descriptive approaches, the combined SEM–ANN framework enables a more comprehensive understanding of both causal relationships and complex behavioral dynamics influencing disaster preparedness. The findings reveal that behavioral intention, system reliability, message clarity, and trust in EAWS substantially affect individuals’ preparedness behavior and risk mitigation actions. These results underscore the importance of strengthening EAWS design and communication strategies to support long-term disaster resilience. The study provides practical insights for national agencies, local governments, and policymakers on refining emergency communication systems and developing sustainable, evidence-based disaster preparedness initiatives. Full article

In this study, a generalized and advanced form of the near soft set theory (NST) framework is proposed for information aggregation (IA) processes. The primary motivation of the study is to address the lack of similarity-based uncertainty modeling in the literature by integrating the parametric structure of soft sets with the similarity-oriented structure of nearness approximation spaces. Within this framework, the AND-product and OR-product operations are introduced as the main methodological tools, and their algebraic structures are analyzed in detail. It is mathematically demonstrated that these operations satisfy fundamental properties such as idempotency, absorption, distributivity, and De Morgan identities. The principal original contribution of the study is the development of a novel Uni–Int-based decision-making mechanism that enables the systematic distinction between strong and acceptable alternatives. In addition, the boundary frequency indicator ($b_r$), which quantitatively evaluates the reliability of objects under perceptual uncertainty and is introduced for the first time in the literature, is proposed. The applicability of the proposed model is demonstrated through a real-estate selection problem, and a sensitivity analysis is conducted to reveal the determining effect of the nearness parameter r on decision granularity. The obtained findings indicate that the proposed NST framework provides a more flexible, more discriminative, and structurally robust decision-support model than classical approaches, particularly for similarity-based IA problems. Full article

Background: Physical activity requiring self-control may yield greater post-activity cognitive improvements. Implementing such tasks within The Daily Mile could enhance cognition further while adding variety to the initiative. This study examined whether the inclusion of self-control tasks within The Daily Mile influences subsequent cognition and enjoyment. Methods: Participants, numbering 99 (10.2 ± 1.1 y), completed three trials (Daily Mile Normal, Daily Mile Self-Control, and resting), using a within-subject, order-balanced, crossover design. The Daily Mile Self-Control involved students completing tasks requiring self-control for 30 s every 2 min within The Daily Mile. Cognitive tests (Stroop test, Sternberg Paradigm, Visual Search test) were administered prior to, immediately following and 45 min following The Daily Mile and resting trials. During the trials, distance covered (m), average heart rate (beats·min⁻¹) and physical activity enjoyment (PACES) were measured. Focus groups explored factors affecting enjoyment during The Daily Mile trials. The effects of physical activity vs. rest on cognitive function were examined first, followed by the effect of adding self-control tasks to The Daily Mile. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the Daily Mile trials on distance covered or physical activity enjoyment. However, average heart rate was significantly higher in The Daily Mile Self-Control compared to The Daily Mile Normal. Compared to rest, The Daily Mile had a positive effect on inhibitory control. Working-memory accuracy maintained following activity, but perceptual accuracy was briefly impaired. Following the addition of self-control tasks, working memory response times improved. However, accuracy on inhibitory control and perception declined immediately after activity, compared to The Daily Mile Normal. Thematic analysis indicated varied perceptions among participants, with some valuing the simplicity and control of The Daily Mile Normal, and others favoring The Daily Mile Self-Control due to the variety and cognitive challenge. Conclusions: Incorporating self-control tasks into The Daily Mile produced mixed cognitive and qualitative responses, compared to The Daily Mile Normal. This suggests that tailoring physical activity to individual preferences may optimize engagement and cognitive outcomes. Full article

Traditional architectural decorative patterns are increasingly reused in contemporary design, yet the link between object selection and design generation often remains experience-driven: public perceptual differences are rarely formalized, and evaluation outcomes seldom constrain generative decisions. This study proposes a perceptual demand-driven layered filtering and design response model (PD–LFDR) that treats traditional architectural decorative patterns as comparable and traceable design resources. Perceptual inputs from multiple stakeholders are converged via Kansei-based semantic aggregation into four core dimensions—symbolism, heritage authenticity, recognition and regionality—and are organized as a perceptual evaluation matrix. Grey relational analysis (GRA) is then applied using an expected perceptual level as the reference sequence to identify representative pattern samples suitable for design intervention. An empirical study on decorative patterns from Shaanxi vernacular dwellings demonstrates a closed-loop workflow: (i) first-round GRA filters representative theme samples, (ii) a second-round GRA selects operable minimal gene units, and, under a unified parametric rule set and a traceable two-layer parameter basis (parameter domain definition and parameter selection), (iii) multiple alternatives are generated and re-evaluated through a third-round GRA to support scheme selection. Robustness checks indicate stable rankings under moderate parameter and weight variation, improving interpretability, reproducibility, and decision efficiency for the computational translation of regional cultural visual resources. Full article

Winter tourism is increasingly influenced by changing socio-demographic dynamics, climate change, and evolving leisure preferences. While prior research has examined winter tourist motivations, sustainability strategies and climate change adoption, less attention has been paid to differences between urban and rural residents in their attitudes toward domestic winter leisure tourism. This study addresses this gap by exploring variations in participation patterns, service evaluations, and overall tourism experiences among urban and rural Bulgarian residents. Drawing on a quantitative survey of urban and rural residents (n = 1003), the research systematizes the general characteristics of domestic winter leisure tourism practices and evaluates key tourism service dimensions, including accessibility, accommodation, pricing, infrastructure, and environmental quality. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses were applied to identify statistically significant differences between groups. The findings reveal distinct behavioural and perceptual patterns: urban residents demonstrate higher participation frequency and place greater emphasis on service quality and diversified amenities, whereas rural residents show stronger sensitivity to pricing and accessibility factors. Differences are also observed in the overall evaluation of the tourism experience, reflecting structural and socio-economic disparities. The study contributes to winter tourism literature by integrating spatial residence into the analysis of domestic tourism demand and experience assessment. The results provide practical implications for destination managers and policymakers seeking to design differentiated marketing strategies and improve service provision in line with the needs of diverse domestic segments. Full article

Conversational agents increasingly incorporate socio-emotional cues to support more natural and socially engaging digital interactions. Prior research has shown that anthropomorphism and artificial empathy influence user evaluations; however, these dimensions are typically examined as static design features and often in isolation, leaving limited evidence on how users perceive socio-emotional behavior that adapts dynamically during real-time interaction. This study investigates the perception-based evaluation of adaptive socio-emotional behavior in conversational agents using a controlled Wizard-of-Oz design. In total, 72 participants (N = 72) interacted with a simulated agent across four digital communication channels under conditions of high versus low anthropomorphism and artificial empathy, enabling systematic variation in socio-emotional expression while preserving participants’ perception of autonomous system operation. User evaluations were assessed using established perceptual constructs, including trust, perceived reliability, satisfaction, service quality, perceived empathy, and anthropomorphism. The findings demonstrate that conversational agents exhibiting dynamically adaptive anthropomorphic and empathic behavior elicit consistently more positive user evaluations across all measured constructs compared to non-adaptive interaction. Validation analysis using the Godspeed scale confirmed clear differentiation between experimental conditions, highlighting the role of interaction-contingent adaptation relative to static socio-emotional cues in perceived human likeness and positive user responses. These results indicate that user perception can function as a human-centered evaluation layer for assessing adaptive conversational systems, enabling systematic measurement of socio-emotional performance under controlled conditions. More broadly, this study supports the design of adaptive AI systems that leverage real-time socio-emotional feedback to enhance trust, perceived service quality, and behavioral acceptance in digital service environments within a controlled Wizard-of-Oz evaluation context. Full article

Background: Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic vestibular disorder that has been receiving more research attention lately. Nonetheless, there is a lack of systematic bibliometric overviews tracing the conceptual evolution, knowledge structure, and emerging research frontiers within this field. The utilization of bibliometric and visualization analyses can enhance the understanding of trends and central themes in PPPD research, offering valuable insights for future studies. Methods: Data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, yielding a final dataset of 370 bibliographic records (“DATA”). We employed CiteSpace, HistCite, the Alluvial Generator, and R software to conduct multi-dimensional statistical and visualization analyses on publication trends, collaborative networks (countries/institutions/authors), disciplinary distribution, citation bursts, and the evolution of keyword clusters. Results: Starting from 2005, there has been a notable increase in publication volume, reaching its peak in 2024. The United States and Germany are at the forefront of national collaboration, with the University of Munich and the Mayo Clinic being key research institutions. The research focus has transitioned from a primary emphasis on Psychiatry to a broader scope encompassing Neurosciences, Otorhinolaryngology, and General Medicine. Keyword analysis reveals a shift towards standardized terminology, transitioning from “phobic postural vertigo” to “diagnostic criteria” and “consensus documents”. Current research trends are centered around comorbidity mechanisms like “vestibular migraine”, therapeutic approaches such as “vestibular rehabilitation”, and quality of life assessments using the “dizziness handicap inventory”. The 2017 consensus document by the Bárány Society is highlighted as a pivotal publication with significant citation impact. Conclusions: The intellectual structure of the field, as revealed by this bibliometric analysis, has transitioned from a phenomenological description to a conceptual unification. The bibliometric analysis indicates that the field is currently in a conceptually stabilized stage characterized by a research focus on refining diagnostic precision and comorbidity exploration, while scholarly attention remains biologically exploratory regarding objective biomarkers and pathophysiological mechanisms. Full article

In contemporary museum design, architects increasingly treat spatial experience as a medium of visitor engagement, yet movement is often reduced to a problem of routing and orientation rather than recognised as engagement in its own right. This study shows how Steven Holl’s parallax operates as a motivational mechanism at the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. Parallax, a phenomenological and ecological construct, is examined through oblique thresholds, overlapping perspectives, and layered illumination. Integrating phenomenology, ecological psychology, and spatial configuration analysis, this study links embodied perception to measurable spatial properties. Spatial relations were quantified using space syntax—axial line analysis, justified graphs, and isovist analysis—alongside luminance and visual saliency mapping of Kiasma’s second and third floors. The results reveal a dominant ring structure in which visibility tightens at thresholds and views shift continuously along the route. Pronounced brightness gradients accompany these transitions and intensify perceived change along the sequence. These coupled spatial and luminous strategies may encourage exploratory navigation, positioning wayfinding as integral to the museum experience. This study argues that parallax links spatial configuration to embodied engagement, emerging as a perceptual effect produced through the interaction of spatial layout, luminous modulation, and bodily movement rather than functioning as a fixed design principle. Full article

This study investigated seasonal and sex-based differences in psychological responses and area-of-interest (AOI)-based visual attention, as well as the associations between these variables, using images of the same forest-healing landscape captured in summer and autumn. A total of 40 adults (20 males and 20 females) participated in an eye-tracking experiment combined with psychological assessments, including the Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS-11) and semantic differential (SD) evaluations. Mixed-design ANOVA results indicated that perceived restorativeness remained stable across seasons, whereas emotional evaluations were significantly higher in autumn than in summer. Significant interaction effects between season and sex were observed in selected gaze metrics within the sky AOI, while the forest AOI showed a consistent main effect of sex across seasons. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed a strong positive association between autumn PRS and SD scores, suggesting that aesthetic appreciation contributes to restorative perception. In addition, a significant negative correlation between forest and pond AOIs in autumn indicated a seasonal redistribution of visual attention. These findings highlight the importance of component-level landscape analysis and demonstrate that seasonal variation and user characteristics jointly influence perceptual and attentional responses in forest-healing environments. The results provide empirical implications for evidence-based forest landscape design and seasonal management strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Due to their positions, professional baseball catchers are at elevated risk of concussion, which can impair visual processing. There is a need for sensitive sensorimotor monitoring tools to track concussion-related neurophysiological changes more accurately. We investigated whether oculometrics can address this need. Methods: Four Major League Baseball catchers completed an oculometric assessment shortly after suffering a concussion (Time 1) and again after completing vision rehabilitation (Time 2). The assessment produces 10 z-scored measures, including a summary score. Results: Players’ Time 1 summary score tended to be typical of a normal healthy adult (Mean = 0.07 z-scored units). On average, players improved by 1.3 z-score units from their Time 1 summary score (SD = 1.07). Exploratory analyses revealed that sensorimotor recovery was driven by smooth pursuit latency, proportion of tracking comprising smooth pursuit, and the amplitude of catch-up saccades. Conclusions: Our analysis was based on a very small sample of concussion cases, each of which was unique. Despite this limitation, our data show how oculometrics can measure improvements in visual processing following a concussion among baseball players with exceptional perceptual-motor skills. Our data highlight the risk that brain injuries in high-performing individuals go undetected due to standard-of-care tools normed to behavior from healthy control populations; for these athletes, “normal” scores cannot be interpreted as neurologically “healthy”. Full article