Mercatorum University

Accurate characterization of inter-vehicle spacing is fundamental for safety assessment and sustainable operation of road networks, particularly on two-lane rural roads where monitoring infrastructure is limited. Unlike temporal headways, vehicle spacing directly reflects physical vehicle interactions and roadway occupancy, making it a more appropriate variable for evaluating collision risk and operational efficiency. This study develops a probabilistic framework for modeling vehicle spacing based on the statistical isomorphism between Event Flows and Linear Fields of Random Points. Using a calibrated microscopic simulation model, spacing distributions are generated for unidirectional traffic over flow rates from 100 to 1300 veh/h. A Pearson Type III distribution is shown to consistently reproduce the observed asymmetry, kurtosis, and non-zero minimum spacing across traffic regimes. Distribution parameters are estimated via maximum likelihood and validated using a heuristic Kolmogorov–Smirnov procedure suitable for large samples. Results demonstrate systematic relationships between spacing distribution parameters and macroscopic traffic variables, enabling estimation of the probability of unsafe spacing conditions from commonly available traffic data. The proposed framework supports sustainability-oriented traffic management by providing a quantitative basis for safety evaluation and operational control without requiring extensive sensing infrastructure.

Purpose The transition towards Quality 5.0 requires a profound redefinition of the very meaning of “quality”, no longer confined to technical or functional performance, but extended to the ethical, social and environmental impact of organizations. This paper explores how purpose governance supports the development of quality management systems within a human-centred and sustainability-oriented paradigm. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a qualitative research design based on a Grounded Theory approach and comprised two steps. The first step focuses on a desk analysis of a corpus of foundational normative documents, such as PAS 808:2022 (Purpose-Driven Organizations), ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems), ISO 37000:2021 (Governance of Organizations), ISO 26000: 2010 (Guidance on Social Responsibility) and early public drafts of ISO 37011 (Purpose-Driven Governance). The second step proceeded semi-structured qualitative consultation to a final sample of 13 professionals and academics specializing in quality and purpose. Findings Five dimensions – “Quality System as Purpose Infrastructure”, “Purpose as Strategic Foundation”, “Purpose as Integrated Governance System”, “Ethical and Performance Enablement” and “Generative and Sustainable Value” – integrate purpose into the design and evolution of Quality 5.0, each activated and reinforced through purpose governance. A conceptual model is proposed to explain how purpose governance humanizes organizations within the Quality 5.0 paradigm through four interconnected cyclical phases – defining purpose, establishing purpose governance, deploying the quality system as infrastructure and sustaining generative value and innovation – linked by feedback loops that ensure continuous learning and improvement. Originality/value The study contributes to the emerging literature on purpose-driven management by integrating governance and quality into a unified conceptual model that positions corporate purpose as a key mechanism of Quality 5.0. It also provides guidance for the advancement of quality standards by encouraging the integration of explicit purpose governance requirements into future ISO updates.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common and disabling, as well as underdiagnosed, neuropsychiatric condition characterized by involuntary and unwanted obsessions and/or compulsions, often accompanied by states of severe anxiety, distress and shame, as well as other comorbid disorders. Despite the extensive literature available to date, only some of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the symptomatic manifestations of the disorder have been clarified, underlining the need for further research. The brain structures involved are hippocampus, amygdala, striatum, thalamus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex; furthermore, most studies have mainly focused on the expressive modalities and on the individual structural and functional alterations of the brain, generating sometimes conflicting data. The aim of this article is therefore to summarize and bring together the main evidence collected so far on what would appear to be the neuroanatomical correlates and mechanisms underlying the disorder and its manifestations, to provide a sufficiently clear and complete overview.

Mood and cognition are crucial determinants of risk-taking behavior, yet their interaction remains incompletely understood. This study examined how incidental affective states influence risky decision-making by combining a novel multisensory Mood Induction Procedure (MIP) with an immersive virtual reality (VR) slot machine task. Participants (N = 58) were randomly assigned to positive, negative, or neutral mood conditions before engaging in a gambling task that elicited wins, full-losses, near-misses, and tie outcomes. Behavioral outcomes (i.e., betting choices, decision time) and neurophysiological responses (RewP and P300 components) were recorded to assess feedback processing. Consistent with prior findings, participants exhibited increased risk-taking following near-misses and full losses compared to wins, and showed prolonged decision times after wins, suggesting a post-reinforcement pause. At the neural level, fronto-central RewP and central P300 patterns were observed. While ERP amplitudes were modulated by outcome valence, near-misses elicited intermediate responses between wins and full-losses. However, mood conditions did not result in statistically significant behavioral and electrophysiological changes. These findings suggest that feedback-related ERP components are more strongly driven by outcome characteristics than incidental affective states, at least under the current experimental conditions. The study highlights the value of combining VR and EEG to investigate affective decision-making with high ecological validity. The results may inform theoretical models of outcome evaluation and point to future directions involving stronger mood inductions and larger samples.

Tourism consumption has become a major economic factor for modern societies. However, the environmental impact of tourism has become a significant concern, leading to a greater focus on sustainable tourism policies. Although governments and institutions have introduced frameworks to promote ecological transition in the tourism sector, several aspects of such policies remain unclear. This study provides an innovative attempt to examine the complex relationship between tourism demand and sustainable tourism policies. To do so, we adopt a gravity modeling framework to examine the incoming international tourism flows in Italian provinces. We find a positive association between tourism demand and sustainability labels suggesting that eco-labels are appreciated by tourists and play a role in the destination choice. It highlights the need for continued research to identify sustainable tourism policies that can balance the economic benefits of tourism with environmental considerations.

The effectiveness of the PROMEHS program – designed to enhance students’ social and emotional learning (SEL) – has thus far been evaluated in preschool settings only through indirect measures. In contrast, this study assessed the effectiveness of the SEL component of the PROMEHS program by using direct measures with preschool children. Participants were 139 preschoolers (mean age in months: 4 years and 10 months; 63 girls, 48.6%) assigned to either a training group (N = 71), who engaged in PROMEHS activities, or a control group (N = 68), who continued with regular educational activities. All children were individually administered the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test at the beginning of the study. In order to evaluate the PROMEHS effectiveness, the Test of Emotion Comprehension, and two false-belief tasks were administered both before and after the intervention phase. We analyzed the data using a general linear model statistical approach. A repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance, controlling for age and gender, was run. It revealed that children in the training group improved significantly more than their peers in the control group in emotion understanding, both globally and in the subcomponents related to the external and mental levels of emotion understanding. Additionally, we observed marginally greater gains in the training group children’s theory of mind scores. We discuss the implications of these findings for implementing educational proposals that incorporate PROMEHS activities in preschool settings.