Correlation analysis and modeling application from objective indicators to subjective evaluation of scented tea: A case study of rose tea.

Different scented teas provide various choices for consumers from appearance, aroma, flavor and others. Aiming to define advantages and market positions of different scented teas and promote optimization of market structure, characteristics for scented tea favored by consumers and outstanding attributes of different scented teas should be clarified. Rose tea was taken as study object. Sensory evaluation and consumer acceptance were investigated. GC-MS and HPLC fingerprints were established. Physicochemical characteristics were determined. RGB integration analysis was inventively proposed for correlation analysis. The volatile compounds with spicy, green or herbal odor as camphene, ß-phenethyl acetate, eugenol, and physicochemical parameters as antioxidant capacity, reducing sugar content, pH showed positive correlation with popular sensory properties. Six models for consumer preference by objective description were built through GA-SVR (accuracy = 1), and APP was developed. The research mode of scented tea has been successfully established to study multiple subjective characteristics with measurable objective parameters.

Acidic proteomes are linked to microbial alkaline preference in African lakes.

Microbial amino acid composition (AA) reflects adaptive strategies of cellular and molecular regulations such as a high proportion of acidic AAs, including glutamic and aspartic acids in alkaliphiles. It remains understudied how microbial AA content is linked to their pH adaptation especially in natural environments. Here we examined prokaryotic communities and their AA composition of genes with metagenomics for 39 water and sediments of East African lakes along a gradient of pH spanning from 7.2 to 10.1. We found that Shannon diversity declined with the increasing pH and that species abundance were either positively or negatively associated with pH, indicating their distinct habitat preference in lakes. Microbial communities showed higher acidic proteomes in alkaline than neutral lakes. Species acidic proteomes were also positively correlated with their pH preference, which was consistent across major bacterial lineages. These results suggest selective pressure associated with high pH likely shape microbial amino acid composition both at the species and community levels. Comparative genome analyses further revealed that alkaliphilic microbes contained more functional genes with higher acidic AAs when compared to those in neutral conditions. These traits included genes encoding diverse classes of cation transmembrane transporters, antiporters, and compatible solute transporters, which are involved in cytoplasmic pH homeostasis and osmotic stress defense under high pH conditions. Our results provide the field evidence for the strong relationship between prokaryotic AA composition and their habitat preference and highlight amino acid optimization as strategies for environmental adaptation.

The use of artificial songs to assess song recognition in imprinted female songbirds: a concept proposal.

We propose an experimental paradigm to examine acoustic features responsible for song preference and recognition in songbirds. Song preference in female songbirds is often influenced by early song experience. That is why several Estrildid species, including our subject species, the Java sparrow (Padda oryzivora), are known to show an imprinted preference for their father's songs. After confirming that Java sparrow females preferred their father's song compared to non-imprinted through song playbacks (first step), we repeated the playback tests in the same subjects using synthesized stimuli (second step). To create synthesized stimuli, we removed all the complex frequency modulations and subharmonics from song notes that we used for the first step playback tests to see the effect of spectrometric features on song recognition. The results indicated that females showed higher rate of calling towards synthesized father song stimuli, suggesting that the macroscopic patterns would play more important roles in song recognition than the microscopic acoustic features. Although we looked at spectrometric features and father-imprinted song preference in this study, similar testing can be applied in many ways to test preference for local dialects or subspecies-specific songs.

The perception of gender and the approach taken towards female physicians.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate gender perception among patients in the emergency department (ED) and to examine the effect of gender perception on patients' preference of physician's gender. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey study. The survey comprised three sections. The first section collected general information, while the second section inquired about patients' preferences for physicians' gender in the ED, in general examinations, and regarding "sensitive" medical issues. The third section of the survey, entitled the "Perception of Gender Scale," comprised a series of questions designed to assess the participants' perceptions of gender. The scale employed a Likert-type response format, with scores ranging from 25 to 125. Higher scores indicated a more egalitarian gender perception. RESULTS: The number of participants in the study was 431, with 194 males and 237 females. The median age of the participants was 38.5 years (interquartile range [IQR] 28-48). Over half of the participants had completed university education. The study population exhibited a Perception of the Gender Scale (PGS) score of 96 (IQR 78.5-109). With regard to the patient's preference for physicians' gender, in emergency settings (ES) and in general examinations (GE), over three-quarters of the participants indicated that they do not have a preference. However, for sensitive medical issues (SMI), the proportion of participants indicating no preference decreased to 45 %. Among those with the lowest quartile of PGS scores, the percentage of individuals who expressed no gender preference in ES, GE and SMI was 65 %, 60 %, 26 % and who expressed a preference for male physicians was 13 %, 19 %, 43 % respectively. In contrast, of those with the highest quartile of PGS scores, the percentages of those who had no gender preference were 86 %, 90 %, 68 %, while the percentages of those who preferred male physicians were 1.9 %, 1 %, and 4.8 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: In the context of emergency settings and general examinations, approximately three-quarters of the participants indicated no preference regarding the gender of the physician. However, in the case of sensitive medical issues, the proportion of participants with no gender preference was less than half. For patients with a gender preference for their physician, perception of gender is a significant predictor.

Solving problems with an Aha! increases risk preference.

Solving problems with insight culminates in an "Aha! moment": a feeling of confidence and pleasure. In daily life, insights are often followed by important decisions, such as deciding what to do with a new idea. Here, we investigated whether having an Aha! moment affects subsequent decision-making. Because Aha! moments tend to elicit positive affect, which is generally associated with an increased risk-taking tendency, we hypothesized that people would favor a monetary payout with more upside despite greater uncertainty after solving a problem with insight. Participants were asked to solve verbal puzzles and report whether they solved them with insight or without insight. After each puzzle, they chose between two bonuses: a fixed payout or a risk payout with 50% chance of receiving a high or a low payout. Participants were more likely to choose the risk payout after they solved with insight compared to without, suggesting a temporarily higher risk preference. The study provided preliminary evidence of a carryover effect - the impact of an Aha! moment on the subsequent risk choice - that can have implications in everyday decision-making.

Seasonal dynamics, Leishmania diversity, and nanopore-based metabarcoding of blood meal origins in Culicoides spp. in the newly emerging focus of leishmaniasis in Northern Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Clinical cases of leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Mundinia) parasites have been increasingly reported in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand. Recent evidence has shown that Leishmania (Mundinia) parasites successfully developed into infective metacyclic promastigotes in Culicoides biting midges, strongly supporting their putative role in disease transmission. However, Culicoides diversity, host preference, and Leishmania prevalence in endemic areas remain largely unknown. METHODS: We investigated the seasonal dynamics, infection prevalence, and blood meal identification of Culicoides collected from the emerging focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Lampang Province, Northern Thailand, during 2021-2023. Midge samples were molecularly screened for Leishmania using SSU rRNA-qPCR and ITS1-PCR, followed by Sanger plasmid sequencing, and parasite haplotype diversity was analyzed. Host blood meal origins were comparatively identified using host-specific Cytb-PCRs and a nanopore-based metabarcoding approach. RESULTS: A total of 501 parous and gravid females and 46 blood-engorged ones belonging to at least 17 species of five subgenera (Remmia, Trithecoides, Avaritia, Hoffmania, and Meijerehelea) and two species groups (Shortti and Calvipalpis) were collected with temporal differences in abundance. Leishmania was detected by SSU rRNA-qPCR in 31 samples of at least 11 midge species, consisting of Culicoides oxystoma, C. guttifer, C. orientalis, C. mahasarakhamense, C (Trithecoides) spp., C. innoxius, C. shortti, C. arakawae, C. sumatrae, C. actoni, and C. fulvus, with the overall infection prevalence of 5.7%. The latter six species represent the new records as putative leishmaniasis vectors in Northern Thailand. The ITS1-PCR and plasmid sequencing revealed that Leishmania martiniquensis was predominantly identified in all qPCR-positive species, whereas L. orientalis was identified only in three C. oxystoma samples. The most dominant haplotype of L. martiniquensis in Thailand was genetically intermixed with those from other geographical regions, confirming its globalization. Neutrality test statistics were also significantly negative on regional and country-wide scales, suggesting rapid population expansion or selective sweeps. Nanopore-based blood meal analysis revealed that most Culicoides species are mammalophilic, with peridomestic and wild mammals (cow, pig, deer, and goat-like species) and humans as hosts, while C. guttifer and C. mahasarakhamense fed preferentially on chickens. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed seasonal dynamics and sympatric circulation of L. martiniquensis and L. orientalis in different species of Culicoides. Evidence of human blood feeding was also demonstrated, implicating Culicoides as putative vectors of human leishmaniasis in endemic areas. Further research is therefore urgently needed to develop vector control strategies and assess the infection status of their reservoir hosts to effectively minimize disease transmission.

Patient Acceptance of Reoperation Risk for Lumbar Decompression Versus Fusion.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Lumbar decompression and lumbar fusion are effective methods of treating spinal compressive pathologies refractory to conservative management. These surgeries are typically used to treat different spinal problems, but there is a growing body of literature investigating the outcomes of either approach for patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and stenosis. Different operations are associated with different risks and different potential needs for reoperation. Patient acceptance of reoperation rates after spinal surgery is currently not well understood. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify patient tolerance for reoperation rates following lumbar decompression and lumbar fusion surgery. DESIGN: A qualitative and quantitative survey intended to capture information on patient preferences was administered. PATIENT SAMPLE: Written informed consent was obtained from patients presenting to two spinal clinics. OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were asked their threshold tolerance for reoperation rates in the context of choosing a smaller (decompression) versus larger (fusion) spinal surgery. METHODS: A survey was administered to patients at two spinal clinics-one surgical and one non-surgical. A consecutive series of new patients over multiple clinic days who agreed to participate in the study and filled out the survey are reported on here. Patients were asked to assess, contemplating a problem that could either be treated with lumbar decompression or lumbar fusion, the level at which 1) the likelihood that needing a repeat surgery within 3-5 years would change their mind about choosing the decompression operation and cause them to choose the fusion operation and then 2) the likelihood of needing a repeat surgery within 3-5 years that would be acceptable to them after the fusion operation. The distribution of patient responses was assessed with histograms and descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Ninety patients were surveyed, and of these, 73 patients (81.1%) returned fully completed questionnaires. The median reoperation acceptance rates after a decompression was <60%, while the median acceptable revision rate when contemplating the fusion surgery was 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Patient acceptance for the potential need for revision surgery is higher when considering a decompression compared to a fusion operation. Reoperation risk rates along with the magnitude of the surgical intervention are important considerations in determining patients' surgical preferences. Understanding patient preferences and risk tolerances can aid clinicians in shared decision-making, potentially improving patient satisfaction and outcomes in the several lumbar pathologies which can be ameliorated with either decompression or fusion.

The impact of different music genres on pain tolerance: emphasizing the significance of individual music genre preferences.

Music is a promising (adjunctive) treatment for both acute and chronic pain, reducing the need for pharmacological analgesics and their side effects. Yet, little is known about the effect of different types of music. Hence, we investigated the efficacy of five music genres (Urban, Electronic, Classical, Rock and Pop) on pain tolerance. In this parallel randomized experimental study, we conducted a cold pressor test in healthy volunteers (n = 548). The primary outcome was pain tolerance, measured in seconds. No objective (tolerance time) or subjective (pain intensity and unpleasantness) differences were found among the five genres. Multinomial logistic regression showed that overall genre preference positively influenced pain tolerance. In contrast, the music genres that participants thought would help for pain relief did not. Our study was the first to investigate pain tolerance at genre level and in the context of genre preference without self-selecting music. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that listening to a favored music genre has a significant positive influence on pain tolerance, irrespective of the kind of genre. Our results emphasize the importance of individual music (genre) preference when looking at the analgesic benefits of music. This should be considered when implementing music in the clinical setting.

Assessment of green development level performance in G20 countries: A dynamic evaluation framework.

To achieve sustainable development goals and foster future prosperity globally, the promotion of green development is essential. Nevertheless, persistent regional disparities in green development among the G20 nations stem from differing economic and environmental conditions in dynamic contexts. In light of these conditions, it is essential for governments to evaluate their country's current green development performance in comparison with higher-performing nations and to learn from their experiences. This study introduces a new dynamic evaluation framework that integrates the importance of evaluation indicators using the dynamic entropy weighting method, a Dynamic Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution method, and principal component analysis. This framework serves as a tool for G20 countries to assess their green development levels between 2015 and 2021. A key contribution of this study is the facilitation of the G20's ability to implement relevant reform measures and monitor green development progress in a dynamic environment. This framework can serve as a model for similar evaluations in other regions globally. The study's main findings indicate that G20 countries with high levels of green development possess strong economic foundations and prioritise the balanced development of their economies, societies, environments, and innovation.

Advancing multiple ecosystem service assessment in the tropics: Evidence from Barekese and Owabi watersheds in Ghana.

Watershed ecosystems are important for the provision of multiple ecosystem services (ES) that are critical to human welfare. Few studies particularly in the tropics assess the multiple ecosystem services, economic value, and effect of land use change on economic value. This paper provides evidence of the quantitative. economic value and effect of land use change on the economic value of watershed ESs from Barekese and Owabi in Ghana. Geospatial analysis and the stated preference method were used for the study. Primary and secondary data were collected from households, institutions, and other sources to quantify and estimate ecosystem services. The geospatial analysis showed that forest degradation and deforestation have increased over the last three decades in the watershed with settlements and cropland being the major land use changes. The two watersheds provide many ecosystem services, including provisioning services (water, fuelwood, bushmeat, fish), regulating services (carbon sequestration, water supply, water purification, soil fertility), and cultural services (ecotourism). An aggregated economic value for the ESs of GH₵ 707.701 x 106 ($144.428 x 106) was estimated for the two watersheds. For the different sites, the economic value for the Barekese and Owabi watersheds were $110.645 x 106 ($6609.06/ha/yr) and $33.783 x 106 ($5857.76/ha/yr) respectively. Our analysis showed that conversion of forest to other land uses resulted in a significant reduction in the value of ecosystem services. Conversion of the watershed to Tree Crop, Food Crop, Grassland or Settlement could reduce the economic value of ESs by 4%-80 %. The study demonstrates that ecosystem services assessment could provide important information for conservation and development policies related to watershed management in the tropics. To ensure ecosystem service supply, the risks of land use change should be considered in watershed conservation strategies including land use zoning and adaptive management systems.

Sending a Signal: Evaluating the Impact of Program and Geographic Preference Signaling on the Internal Medicine Residency Match.

Background For over a decade, the number of residency applications has surged, a trend known as "application inflation." COVID-19 further intensified this trend, leading the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to address the issue by introducing a supplemental application in the 2021-2022 cycle, allowing programs to identify applicants with a connection to their program or geographic region. For the 2022-2023 cycle, the number of program signals increased from five to seven. The impact of the supplemental application and the increase in signals on the likelihood of an applicant matching with a program has yet to be evaluated. Methods This retrospective cohort study evaluated the impact of program signaling and geographic preference on the matching likelihood in our internal medicine residency program. Data from MyERAS® and the Supplemental Application for 640 applicants who applied to our large, urban, university-based program in the Southeastern United States during the 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 application cycles were included. Using univariate and multivariate analysis, we examined the correlation between program signal, geographic preference, and final match location. Results Applicants who sent a program signal had nearly three-fold higher odds of matching with our program. Geographic preference was numerically but not statistically associated with higher odds of matching. Both signaling a preference for matching with a program in an urban environment and couples matching correlated with decreased odds of matching with our program. Geography was an important predictor of match location as residing in our AAMC geographic region, our four-state area, and our specific state had increased odds of matching with our program. Conclusions Signaling our program was associated with increased odds of matching with our program. Geographic preferences were less predictive of a match with our program; however, they did predict the likelihood of a match at a program within that region. Future studies are needed to ensure external validity.

Decreased consumption of natural rewards in rhesus monkeys with prolonged methamphetamine abstinence.

Rationale: Relapse to drug use is a major clinical challenge in the treatment of addictive disorders, including psychostimulant use and may be exacerbated by reduced sensitivity to natural, non-drug reward. Given the relatively limited set of outcomes, and short withdrawal time in rodent studies, we conducted a more detailed assessment of the response to natural rewards in methamphetamine (METH) naive versus exposed monkeys during long-term abstinence. Methods: This study introduced an improved sucrose preference test (iSPT) to assess natural reward seeking and consumption in monkeys with long-term abstinence after methamphetamine (METH) use. The test was administered to sixteen naive monkeys and five METH exposed monkeys that had been abstinent for at least 3 months. Results: METH exposed monkeys showed a lower sucrose preference score in both the iSPT (z = -2.10, p = 0.036) and the sucrose preference test (z = -2.61, p = 0.009). The sucrose preference score was significantly correlated with the latency of the establishment of stable sucrose-preference (r = -0.76, df = 46, p < 0.001) but not with the other variables. Furthermore, water-sucrose switch latency and switch times were significantly negatively correlated (r = -0.50, df = 20, p = 0.02). Conclusion: These results show reductions in natural reward consumption during long-term methamphetamine abstinence.

Assessment of household preferences for net textile type (polyester versus polyethylene) for decision-making of the National Malaria Control Programme in Burkina Faso: methods for a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: A quasi-experimental comparative trial will be designed in Burkina Faso. The study will compare the use and preferences for two groups types of insecticide-treated nets textile: polyester-based and polyethylene-based, according to their use and preferences in selected health districts. These health districts will be selected in three eco-climate zones (Sahelian, dry savannah and wet savannah) in the country. These findings will inform decisions on future net procurements for national malaria control programme in 2025. METHODS: Quantitative surveys and qualitative data collection will be carried out to gather information on the type of net textile most commonly used and preferred by the community. They will be performed between the end of the dry season and the early rainy season. The quantitative surveys involved household interviews with households and individuals' questionnaires, while the qualitative data collection involved in-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions to explore and clarify some key evaluation criteria. A total of 9450 insecticide-treated nets were surveyed for quantitative survey purposes. For the qualitative study, 48 in-depth individual interviews and 12 focus group discussions were carried out. A mixed model approach combining the results from quantitative surveys and qualitative studies will be used for decision-making on the type of insecticide-treated net preference. CONCLUSION: This methodological approach will be used by the National Malaria Control Programme to conduct this study on determinants of net use in Burkina Faso in order to provide robust evidence across diverse settings. This mixed-methods approach for data collection and analysis could be used in other countries to provide evidence that would help to increase the uptake of insecticide-treated nets, the main vector control tool in Africa.

Preference for digital media use, biobehavioral attention bias, and anxiety symptoms in adolescents.

Adolescence is a critical developmental period of biological and social change during which 1 in 3 youth experience significant anxiety symptoms. The social-emotional lives of the majority of adolescents are largely conducted via digital media use (DMU; e.g., social media, text messaging). Yet the past decade of research on DMU and anxiety has yielded mixed results (e.g., Keles et al., 2020 review), leaving the complex role that DMU might play in the emergence and maintenance of anxiety poorly understood. A key step forward is to leverage psychophysiology to identify individual differences in cognitive and emotional processes that confer vulnerability to potential negative effects of DMU. Further, given the ubiquity of DMU, a greater focus is needed on measurements that move beyond sheer frequency to capture DMU in comparison to face-to-face (FTF) social interactions. This study examined attention bias (AB), characterized by selective and exaggerated attention toward or away from threat, as a moderator of the link between DMU and anxiety in adolescents (N = 75; 42 female) aged 12-14 years (M = 13.28, SD = 0.87). AB was indexed during a dot probe task using reaction time metrics (i.e., trial-level bias) and via ERPs capturing attentional selection and discrimination (N170) and cognitive control (N2) to threat compared to neutral faces. AB moderated associations between DMU and anxiety. A greater preference to use DMU vs FTF predicted greater anxiety among those with a greater behavioral bias away from threat, blunted N170, and blunted N2 in the presence of threat. Future research should examine potential causal and bidirectional links between DMU and anxiety and explore whether preferences for technology-mediated interactions and individual differences in threat processing increase risk.

Preferences of US adolescents and parents for vaccination against invasive meningococcal disease.

BACKGROUND: Percentage uptake of some meningococcal vaccines is low in the US. Understanding what drives vaccination preferences may help to increase vaccination rates. OBJECTIVES: To determine how attributes of meningococcal vaccines and the availability of a pentavalent (MenABCWY) vaccine profile drive adolescents' and young people's (AYP's) willingness to be vaccinated and parents' and legal guardians' (PLG') willingness for their child to be vaccinated (WTV). To also explore how preferences for meningococcal vaccines vary by participant characteristics. METHODS: Vaccine preferences were elicited in a discrete choice experiment (DCE) with AYP aged 16-23 years and PLG of adolescents aged 11-17 years. Participants chose between two hypothetical vaccine profiles that differed in level of protection, dosing, and risks of mild-to-moderate and severe side effects, and a no vaccination profile. Main outcome measures were relative attribute importance (RAI) and WTV. RAI measured the maximum contribution of an attribute to vaccination choice relative to other attributes. WTV compared predicted choice probabilities for the three vaccine profiles. RESULTS: 407 AYP and 394 PLG participated (50.9% male, 78.4% White/Caucasian). Irrespective of vaccine attributes, 59.5% always opted into vaccination and 3.6% always opted out of vaccination. The most important attributes were level of protection (RAI: 33.7%) and risk of mild-to-moderate side effects (RAI: 32.3%). Dosing was more important to PLG (RAI: 5.9%) than AYP (RAI: 2.0%; p < .01). Adding a pentavalent vaccine alternative increased WTV by 3.7 percentage points (PP) for PLG, 2.4 PP for AYP, 16.4 PP for vaccine-hesitant participants, 13.4 PP for participants without health insurance, and 9.6 PP for adults. CONCLUSION: Level of protection and risk of mild-to-moderate side effects were the most important vaccine attributes. Adding a pentavalent vaccine alternative increased WTV particularly among adults, individuals who were vaccine-hesitant, and individuals without health insurance.

Evaluation of Characteristics Associated with Self-Identified Cat or Dog Preference in Pet Owners and Correlation of Preference with Pet Interactions and Care: An Exploratory Study.

Dog and cat preference has been associated with a few factors, like owner personality traits, but data regarding other aspects of preference ontogeny and the impact of preferences on pet wellbeing have yet to be examined. In this exploratory study, several of these characteristics, such as exposure to pets when young and as adults and current pet interactions and diet were analyzed from internet survey data. We found that more people identified as dog people (63.3%) versus cat people (36.7%) and preference for dogs remained consistent from childhood to adulthood compared with cats. In individuals who changed species preference, a lack of childhood exposure to cats (47.2%) was significantly associated with the group that changed preferences from dogs to cats from childhood to adulthood, compared with dog ownership as a child in the group that changed preferences from cats to dogs (24.4%). The number of cats and dogs in the home directly correlated with species preference (p < 0.001). Dwelling location was also significantly associated with species preference, with cat people being more likely to live in an urban area and dog people in a rural area (p = 0.002). More time was spent in both active and passive interactions with pets of the preferred species. Cats owned by cat people were more likely to be fed prescription diets compared with cats owned by dog people (p < 0.001). Interestingly, dog people were more likely to feed both their cats (p = 0.012) and dogs (p < 0.001) a raw diet compared with cat people. Additional research is needed to understand the development and impact of owner species preferences on pets to identify risks of suboptimal wellbeing.

Fruitful Brewing: Exploring Consumers' and Producers' Attitudes towards Beer Produced with Local Fruit and Agroindustrial By-Products.

This study explored beer consumers' and producers' perceptions of using local fruit and agroindustrial by-products in brewing. An online survey was conducted in Italy with 496 beer consumers and 54 beer producers. The survey assessed sociodemographic information, consumption behavior, and support for brewery neolocalism, along with brewers' perceptions of the sustainability of their breweries. Findings showed high consumers' involvement in sustainable eating and high support for breweries utilizing local resources and operating in a sustainable way. Breweries rated their sustainability practices as moderate, and most of them considered their efforts in using local raw materials and repurposing by-products as "excellent". Both consumers and producers considered beer made with agroindustrial by-products less tasty than those with local fruit (p < 0.05), but no significant difference in willingness to buy was observed (p > 0.05). According to cluster analysis results, the ideal consumer profile for sustainable beers was characterized by a higher proportion of females prioritizing sustainability and local sourcing over sensory quality. Therefore, using local materials or agroindustrial by-products can align brewers' practices with consumers' preferences, enhancing competitiveness and market positioning by fostering a sense of sustainability and locality.

Consumer Preference and Willingness to Pay for Rice Attributes in China: Results of a Choice Experiment.

Understanding urban consumers' preferences for rice attributes is crucial for rice breeders, producers, and retailers to meet diverse and evolving market demands. Based on the sample data of 629 rice consumers in Shanghai, China, obtained through the choice experiment (CE) approach, this study uses the mixed logit (ML) model to analyze consumers' preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for food safety labels, brands, nutritional quality, and taste quality. Furthermore, the latent class (LC) model examines the heterogeneity in consumer group preferences. The research findings highlight that consumers prioritize taste quality as the most crucial attribute, followed by nutritional quality, food safety labels, and brand attributes. The premium rates for superior taste quality, organic certification labels, and green certification labels exceeded 100%. Interestingly, while combining organic certification with well-known international or domestic brands does not uniformly boost consumer preferences, incorporating green certification alongside well-known international or domestic brands significantly elevates those preference levels. Factors such as the external environment, consumption habits, and personal characteristics significantly influence individuals' preferences for rice attributes. Based on these insights, the study puts forth policy recommendations for rice breeders, producers, and retailers.

Variations in the Sensory Attributes of Infant Formula among Batches and Their Impact on Maternal Consumer Preferences: A Study Combining Consumer Preferences, Pivot Profile, and Quantitative Descriptive Analysis.

The sensory quality of infant formula (IF) has a significant impact on the preferences and purchasing behavior of maternal consumers. Consumer-based rapid descriptive methods have become popular and are widely preferred over classical methods, but the application of Pivot Profile (PP) in IF is still little explored. In this study, both Pivot Profile (PP) and Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA) were applied to characterize the sensory profile of 12 batches of one-stage and three-stage IF with different storage periods, respectively, along with consumer preference data to determine the flavors contributing to liking. The results of PP and QDA aligned moderately well, with the most perceptible differences identified as "fishy", "milky", and "T-sweet" attributes. IFs with shorter storage times were highly associated with "milky" aromas and "T-sweet" tastes, whereas IFs with longer storage times exhibited a strong correlation with "fishy" and "oxidation" aromas. External preference analysis highlighted that the occurrence of "fishy" and "oxidation" aromas during prolonged storage periods significantly reduced the consumer preference for IFs. Conversely, the perception of "milky" and "creamy" aromas and "T-sweet" tastes may be critical positive factors influencing consumer preference. This study provided valuable insights and guidance for enhancing the sensory quality and consumer preference of IF.

Validation of Optimization Methods for Sensory Characteristics Using Rate-All-That-Apply and Intensity Scales: A Case Study of Apple Juice.

Preference mapping (PM), which integrates consumer and descriptive analysis (DA) data to identify attributes that drive consumer liking, is widely employed for product optimization. However, a limited group of trained panelists cannot fully represent the diverse consumer population or reliably predict market acceptance. Consequently, numerous studies have explored consumer-based methodologies as potential replacements for DA; however, their efficacy for product optimization remains limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the potential of optimizing products using two consumer-based profiling techniques as alternatives to DA in external preference mapping (EPM). Overall, 8 trained panelists profiled 12 sensory attributes of 7 commercial apple juices, whereas 160 consumers assessed the same attributes using a 5-point rate-all-that-apply (RATA) scale and a 10 cm intensity scale (IS). Danzart's response surface ideal modeling was employed to identify optimal products using DA, RATA, and IS through barycenter calculations, focusing on three products from the original consumer test located around the group ideal point. Overall, the ideal products of the group and their sensory characteristics were successfully identified using DA, RATA, and IS. Regarding sensory intensities, high concordance was observed between DA and RATA (Rv = 0.92) and between DA and IS (Rv = 0.91). Overall liking and preference scores for products mixed at the optimal ratio for each method showed no significant differences in preference among the ideal products identified using DA, RATA, and IS. This study suggests that both RATA and IS are viable alternatives to DA in EPM for identifying ideal sensory profiles.