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Given the pressing talent shortage and the need for well-educated recruits in business-to-business (B2B) sales, understanding how to increase university graduates' low interest in this profession is vital to sales departments' competitiveness. To tackle this issue, we adopt a mixed-method approach to investigate the reasons for and measures against graduates' low interest in B2B sales. First, we develop a comprehensive, theory-based framework to understand the root causes of graduates' low interest in B2B sales (Study 1). This framework uncovers specific beliefs discouraging graduates from pursuing B2B sales, including negative perceptions of job characteristics, the profession's prevailing stigma, and negative career success expectations. Second, comparing graduates' and B2B salespeople's assessments of B2B sales job characteristics (Study 2), we reveal that graduates hold lay beliefs about B2B sales lacking intrinsic and social job characteristics. As a basis for a solution, we identify the types and combinations of sales exposure required to dispel lay beliefs and create a favorable but realistic picture of B2B sales. Third, combining text analysis of B2B sales labor market communication and conjoint analysis of graduate application drivers (Studies 3a and 3b), we develop guidelines to better align communication and job structures with graduates' needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Illicit substance sales facilitated by social media platforms are a growing public health issue given recent increases in overdose deaths, including an alarming rise in cases of fentanyl poisoning. However, little is known about how online users evaluate what features of social media posts convey safety, which can influence their intent to source illicit substances. Objectives: This study adapts conjoint analysis which assessed how attributes of social media posts (i.e., features) influence safety evaluations of mock posts selling illicit substances. 440 participants were recruited online for self-reporting use or purchase of controlled substances or prescription medicines recreationally. The following attributes were tested: drug packaging, drug offerings, profile photo of seller, payment info provided, and use of emojis. Results: Packaging was ranked the most important attribute (Average Importance =43.68, Offering=14.94, Profile=13.86, Payment=14.11, Emoji=13.41), with posts that displayed drugs in pill bottles assessed as the most safe. Attribute levels for advertising multiple drugs, having a blank profile photo, including payment information, and including emojis also ranked higher in perceived safety. Rankings were consistent across tested demographic factors (i.e., gender, age, and income). Survey results show that online pharmacies were most likely to be perceived as safe for purchasing drugs and medications. Additionally, those who were younger in age, had higher income, and identified as female were more likely to purchase from a greater number of platforms. Conclusions: These findings can assist in developing more precise content moderation for platforms seeking to address this ongoing threat to public safety.

Accelerating antiglobalization challenges previously undisputed assumptions about the importance of a product's globalness/localness in purchase decisions. Putting these assumptions to test, this article conceptualizes globalness/localness as a distinct product attribute and decomposes its utility into weight and preference components. Subsequently, it offers an equity-theory-based prediction of the attribute's declining relevance/trivialization and quantifies its trade-offs with other attributes by calculating global/local price premiums. Conjoint experiments in two countries (Austria and India) reveal that (1) emerging- (developed-) market consumers exhibit relative preference for global (local) products, (2) emerging-market consumers perceive higher preference inequity between global and local products than developed-market consumers, and (3) the corresponding inequity triggers consumers' cognitive inequity regulation (manifested through attribute trivialization in developed markets) and behavioral inequity regulation (manifested through asymmetrical willingness to pay for global/local products across developed/emerging markets). In addition, attribute trivialization and price premium tolerance are moderated by consumers' spatial identities and price segment. The findings contribute to the theoretical debate on the relevance of product globalness/localness in deglobalizing times and inform competitive strategies; segmentation, targeting, and positioning; and international pricing decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hyperlipidemia is a condition characterized by abnormal levels of lipids and lipoproteins in the plasma, posing significant health risks. Ferulic acid (FA) is an organic acid with therapeutic properties for diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Methods: To explore biomarkers for FA treatment of hyperlipidemia and elucidate the mechanisms of lipid-lowering-related changes in metabolic pathways by metabolomics and network pharmacology. Initially, a hyperlipidemic mouse model induced by triton WR-1339 was established to evaluate the therapeutic effects of FA. Subsequently, serum metabolomics was utilized to identify differential metabolites, and metabolic pathway analysis was performed using MetaboAnalyst 6.0. Thirdly, network pharmacology was employed to identify potential targets of FA for hyperlipidemia. Finally, the compound-target-metabolite (C-T-M) network obtained core targets and validated them with molecular docking. Results: Biochemical analysis and histological examination showed that FA had lipid-lowering effects on hyperlipidemic mice. It identified 31 potential biomarkers for FA against hyperlipidemia by metabolomics involving lipid and amino acid metabolism. Lipid and atherosclerosis signaling pathways were identified as the key signaling pathways of FA against hyperlipidemia by KEGG analysis. Conjoint analysis showed that FA against hyperlipidemia was associated with 18 core targets and six biomarkers. Molecular docking results showed that FA has a high binding affinity to these core targets. Discussion: Through the synergy of network pharmacology and metabolomics, this study provides insights into how FA regulates endogenous metabolites, underscoring its promise as a treatment for hyperlipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The war in Ukraine has manifested the critical importance of the American alliance network and the swift and effective deployment of necessary military assets. But do citizens of the U.S. allies support the deployment of such advanced, thus controversial, military assets in their countries? To examine this question, we administered two conjoint experiments in Japan, a critical U.S. ally in Asia. The results show the Japanese citizens' strong Not-In-My-Backyard (NIMBY) sentiment: They value the U.S.-Japan alliance per se but do not want those advanced arms (specifically, Osprey and F-35 fighter jets) to be deployed in their vicinity, particularly when the U.S. military operates them. Our study contributes to the literature on alliance politics and civil-military relations by emphasizing the importance of paying close attention to local public opposition as a potential source of instability in global military alliances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In his theory about the role of nonprofit enterprise, Henry Hansmann suggested that nonprofit status provides important information to consumers in low-information environments. In this article, we assess whether consumers use nonprofit status to form purchasing preferences as Hansmann predicted. Using choice-based conjoint analysis, we find that under different types of low-information circumstances, study participants prefer goods and services provided by nonprofits to those offered by businesses. In the absence of additional information (such as customer ratings and third-party certifications), nonprofit status serves as an important value signal to consumers. In the presence of additional information, nonprofit status is still relevant in some cases, although it becomes less so. The findings suggest that additional forms of information do not necessarily displace the value to consumers of information about organization type. We reflect on these findings in light of Hansmann's thesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pangolins, the only mammals covered in scales, play a crucial role in forest ecosystems as they specialize in myrmecophagy. Unfortunately, all eight pangolin species are critically endangered and susceptible to various pathogenic microorganisms, causing mass mortality, especially in captive Manis pentadactyla. However, information regarding the function of the immune system is lacking, which limits the development of effective rescue methods and subsequently hinders population rejuvenation. This study aimed to investigate the differences in the immunity of Manis javanica and Manis pentadactyla through proteomics and microbiotas conjoint analysis. Our findings revealed that Manis pentadactyla owned more pathogenic bacteria and neutralized through a powerful transferrin system. Manis javanica possessed stronger anti-inflammatory ability, which might be due to the structural deficiency of C5a. This study elucidates the distinct immune factors and microbiomes in Manis javanica compared to Manis pentadactyla, offering a foundational understanding for future immunotherapy research. All eight pangolin species, especially captive Manis pentadactyla, are critically endangered and susceptible to various pathogenic microorganisms, causing mass mortality. They are involved in the complement system, iron transport system, and inflammatory factors. M. pentadactyla exhibited a higher abundance of opportunistic pathogens, Moraxella, which potentially evaded complement-mediated immune response by reducing C5 levels and counteracting detrimental effects through transferrin neutralization. In addition, we found that the major structure of C5a, an important inflammatory factor, was lacking in M. javanica. In brief, this study revealed the differences in immune factors and microbiome between M. javanica and M. pentadactyla, thus providing a theoretical basis for subsequent immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractSince the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, the number of services providing generative AI has been steadily increasing. As different services enter the market, the generative AI interfaces users experience become more diverse. However, none of the services has yet established itself as the dominant tool, and which interface component affects user preferences the most has yet to be identified. This study investigates user preferences based on the interface of generative AI services currently on the market. We investigated users’ preferred interface components by setting the output data type, generative style, output variation, reference style, and generation history provided by the current generative AI service as properties. We collected data from 500 users through a survey and conducted conjoint analysis. Users preferred the provision of 10 generation histories the most, and the second most preferred the provision of reference style in footnote format. In addition, it was found that there was no preference for the creative generative style, which can be interpreted as users being aware of the problem of hallucination in generative AI. The results of this study will help future generative AI services design interfaces that consider user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is correlated with metabolic deterioration in patients experiencing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women diagnosed with PCOS exhibit a heightened prevalence of OSAHS. This meta-analysis aims to assess the morbidity of OSAHS in women affected by PCOS and to examine the differences in metabolismrelated indicators between OSAHS-positive and OSAHS-negative in women with PCOS. Methods: A comprehensive literature analysis of OSAHS morbidity in women with PCOS was conducted, utilizing databases such as CNKI, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Wanfang. A comparison was carried out between patients with OSAHS-positive and those with OSAHS-negative in terms of their clinical characteristics and metabolic differences. The search language included English and Chinese. The acquired data were analyzed by employing RevMan 5.2 and Stata 11.0. Continuous variables with the same units were combined and analyzed through weighted mean differences (WMDs) as effect sizes, while continuous variables with different units were combined and analyzed through standardized mean differences (SMDs) as effect sizes. A conjoint analysis was performed on the basis of I² value, using either a fixed effect model (I² = 50%) or a random effect model (I² > 50%). Results: A total of 21 articles met the inclusion criteria for this study. The findings indicated that 20.8% of women with PCOS were found to have comorbid OSAHS. The subjects were categorized into various subgroups for meta-analysis on the basis of race, age, disease severity, body mass index (BMI), and diagnostic criteria of PCOS. The results revealed high morbidity of OSAHS in all subgroups. In addition, most metabolic indicators and parameters of metabolic syndrome were notably worse in women suffering from both PCOS and OSAHS in comparison to their counterparts solely diagnosed with PCOS. Conclusion: The current literature indicates higher morbidity of OSAHS among women with PCOS, linking OSAHS with worse metabolic status and obesity in this population. Consequently, clinicians are advised to prioritize the detection and management of OSAHS in women with PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholarly investigations have greatly advanced our understanding of gender stereotypes as they pertain to leadership roles. However, an examination of citizens' evaluations of the personal and political characteristics of ministers using an experimental design is still lacking. In this article, we aim to determine whether individuals exhibit discrimination against women occupying the position of finance minister (FM), which presents an opportunity to assess the impact of stereotypes within one of the most 'masculine' cabinet portfolios. We implement a conjoint analysis in Spain to isolate the influence of appointees' attributes on their selection. The results suggest that women are preferred for this post. In contrast to established knowledge derived from legislative studies, being single benefits female ministers more than it does their male counterparts in obtaining the position of FM, as agentic attributes can hold more value in these positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on restaurant consumer behavior remains largely unexplored. The current paper examined how adherence to COVID-19 restrictions impacts willingness-to-pay by restaurant consumers. We examined the results of a survey of 634 participants with choice-based conjoint analysis. The results found that employees in masks, customers in masks, and seating capacity significantly impacted willingness-to-pay by restaurant consumers. Employees in masks had the largest increase on WTP while employees not wearing masks had the largest decrease on WTP. Additionally, consumers dining behavior and changes based on COVID-19 restrictions were the most accurate predictors of their post-vaccine dining behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cookly is a bread manufacturer that uses cassava as the main ingredient to produce gluten-free products. Cookly requires innovative development of derived products that cater to consumer needs. Purpose: This study aims to identify consumer characteristics, analyze consumer preferences, and formulate an innovation plan for Cookly gluten-free derived bread products. Design/methodology/approach: The sample for this study consisted of 100 participants selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data analysis utilized descriptive analysis and conjoint analysis. Findings/Result: The study found that Cookly consumers were evenly distributed in terms of gender, aged between 18-25, mostly unmarried, residing in Bogor, with a high school education, and working as students or employees, with a monthly expenditure ranging from IDR500,000-IDR3,000,000. Conclusion: The most preferred attribute combination by respondents was a dominant savory taste with relatively low sugar content, a soft texture, bread with color, packaged in environmentally friendly boxes, and priced between IDR10,000- IDR25,000 Originality/value (State of the art): Cookly developed a convenient gluten-free bread product, the Gluten-Free Toasted Cassava Bread, with savory flavors offered as signature menu items and a "make your own" option. Additionally, Cookly switched from plastic packaging to eco-friendly packaging and improved production efficiency through the use of new tools and adjustments to raw material restocking schedules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-based alternatives have a lower environmental impact than animal-derived proteins, but many consumers hesitate to try them. An alternative strategy is partially substituting animal proteins with plant proteins, creating hybrid products with improved characteristics. This study investigates consumer perception of hybrid yogurt using choice-based conjoint analysis (CBC) with five attributes: protein source, protein content, flavor, price, and claims. Results showed protein source was the most significant factor (27.5%), followed by protein content (22.4%), flavor (20.3%), price (16.5%), and claims (13.3%). Dairy and hybrid yogurts had positive utility scores, while plant-based yogurt had a negative score, indicating a preference for dairy and hybrid options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legislators face a challenge when implementing long‐termist policies that prioritise sustainability and the well‐being of future generations: citizens prefer policies that pay off sooner rather than later. In this research note, I assess the hypothesis that the lifespan structures this temporal discounting effect. Do people show a particular preference for policies that pay off within, rather than beyond, their own lifetime? In a pre‐registered conjoint analysis with age‐group blocking (N = 2405), I find little evidence in support of this explanation. Although they significantly prefer nearer‐term policy benefits, citizens show no sign of especially preferring policies whose benefits will materialise within their own lifetimes. This pattern holds across a range of personal, political and philosophical differences. The temporal discounting effect is also substantially smaller than other policy features, such as how large the payoff of that policy is expected to be. Additionally, people are clearly willing in principle to trade off the timing of benefits for the scale of benefits, preferring larger later payoffs to sooner smaller ones. Across and beyond the lifespan, the sooner a policy pays off, the better. But, whenever they materialise, the bigger the societal benefits of that policy, the better. These findings strongly suggest that temporal policy discounting is not driven by selfish concerns, while also reinforcing that any such effect does not overwhelm citizens’ evaluations of policy proposals in principle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massage industry has been in the market for more than thousands of years. Consumers purchase massage services to treat illnesses, alleviate pain, or improve well-being. Despite the popularity of this industry and the benefits it entails, consumers' preferences vary and massage parlors' stakeholders have inconsistent market segmentation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate consumer preferences toward massage services offered by massage parlors in Indonesia through conjoint analysis. Conjoint analysis' orthogonal design concentrated on stimuli preferences and it was further supported by generating 1.000 consistency and reliability based on Kendall Tau's holdout. A total of 212 respondents answered the online questionnaire voluntarily. The results showed that the Google rating was the most important attribute (68.5%), followed by the gender of the massage therapist (12.4%), the type of massage (9.6%), the type of room (4.5%), the duration (3.6%) and the price (1.4%). Moreover, this research assessed 27 stimuli and found that the best combination was employing female massage therapists, IDR 100k-150k price every session, 90 minutes massage duration, couple room with two beds, acupuncture and cupping massage type, and massage parlors with greater than 4.6 Google review rating. This present research was one of the first studies that explored unique and holistic massage services through conjoint analysis. Unlike the previous studies that only focused on one massage service attribute or did not provide specific levels for evaluated attributes, the conjoint's orthogonal design delivered a new perception of prioritizing both consumers and the business side as some would only focus on one or the other. Also, the findings could be useful for massage parlors' stakeholders in developing marketing strategies, enhancing operational strategies, and promoting customer satisfaction. Marketing tactics such as promotional discounts would inspire customers to provide an optimistic Google review. Business owners were encouraged to focus on giving the best experience starting with a well-trained massage therapist, clean and hygienic rooms, and quality materials. These theoretical and practical implications aid in building the massage parlor's credibility that could be perceived positively by consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMethodsResultsConclusionsSpecific genetic factors might serve as markers for risk stratification of AMD progression, but their association with key features of AMD has not been fully elucidated. Thus, we investigated the association between overall and pathway-specific genetic risk scores (GRS) and lead loci (ARMS2, CFH) with AMD stages and features of high-risk nonlate AMD, including reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) and large drusen area (LDA).We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Rhineland Study, a population-based study in Bonn, Germany. We included 4016 individuals aged 50 years and older of European descent. GRS and pathway-specific subscores were constructed based on a large genome-wide association study of AMD. Subscores were generated based on gene-pathways associations (complement, extracellular matrix remodeling (ECM) and lipid metabolism). Associations were assessed using logistic and multinomial regression.The mean age of participants was 63.36 years and 1813 (45.1%) were men. The GRS was positive in 48.1% of individuals and increased, but did not fully overlap, across AMD stages. Pathway-specific subscores increased across AMD stages except for the ECM subscore, which only showed a trend for increasing in late AMD. Increasing overall GRS was associated with RPD and LDA (OR [95%CI] for RPD: 1.70 [1.33–2.15], for LDA: 1.64 [1.29–2.07]) among individuals with AMD. Similarly, higher complement and ECM subscores was associated with RPD, while for LDA, only an association with complement subscore was observed.In a population-based setting, we confirmed higher genetic risk to be associated with more severe AMD and identified associations with high-risk features of intermediate AMD. Conjoint analyses suggested that high-risk features and late AMD might be differentially associated with genetic architecture in AMD, such as ECM remodeling. Incorporation of genetic information such as GRSs might improve AMD risk prediction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore consumer acceptance of food products that make use of ingredients from underutilized marine species. As these species are not commonly used as ingredients in food products, a goal of this study was to explore how relevant personality factors influenced the acceptance of such products. This would be achieved by (a) identification of consumer segments based on the personality factors-domain specific innovativeness, food technology neophobia, health involvement, and disgust, (b) description of the main characteristics of these consumer segments, and (c) comparing how these consumer segments responded to information about the potential products, origin species, ingredients, and benefits associated with these ingredients. The method used in this study was a consumer survey (n = 490) that led to a consumer segmentation, followed by a conjoint experiment. The results show that ingredient source was the most important attribute. Yet, as many of the ingredient sources were novel, both for the carrier product and the consumer, the important part was not exposing consumers to the species that functioned as the ingredient source. The younger female consumers of the Safe Player group were most focused on the ingredient source, whereas the older male segment, called Open Minded, found the carrier product more important. The final segment, the Innovator, found all of the attributes of almost equal importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: India has the highest number of estimated deaths from cervical cancer globally, with most cases attributed to Human papillomavirus (HPV). The World Health Organization recommends primary HPV vaccination for girls ages 9–14, with catch-up vaccination for young women ≥ 15 if feasible. India authorized a new, inexpensive HPV vaccine in 2022; given anticipated vaccine expansion, we conducted a mixed-methods study exploring acceptability of HPV catch-up vaccination for young emerging adult women in rural Mysore, India. Methods: Between September 2022-April 2023, participants were recruited with assistance from community health workers. In the qualitative phase, gender-stratified, audio-recorded focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in Kannada with emerging adults ages 18–26. FGDs were transcribed, translated, and analyzed using rapid approach to identify key HPV vaccination attributes. In the quantitative phase, a conjoint analysis was conducted to assess the impact of seven vaccination attributes on likelihood to vaccinate (LTV). Women ages 18–26 ranked LTV in eight hypothetical vaccination scenarios, and the relative impact of each attribute on LTV was calculated. All participants received education about cervical cancer, HPV, and HPV vaccination. Results: Fifty-two young adults (female = 31, male = 21) participated in seven FGDs, and 101 women participated in the conjoint analysis. Average age of the 153 participants was 22.5 years, 66.7% had married, and all had completed high school. Only 17.9% had heard of cervical cancer, and 2.7% knew of the HPV vaccine. FGDs identified seven HPV vaccination attributes: cost, vaccination location, family support, peer influence, dose number, side effects, and risk of acquiring HPV. In the conjoint analysis, all attributes except dose number significantly impacted LTV. Family support (impact score = 19.37, p < 0.0001) and peer influence (impact score = 18.01, p < 0.0001) had the greatest influence, followed by cost (impact score = 16.64, p < 0.0001) and HPV risk (impact score = 12.31, p < 0.0001). Vaccination location (government centers preferred) and side effects were also significant. Conclusion: Participants had poor knowledge of cervical cancer and HPV. Social attributes (family support, peer influence) had greatest impacts on LTV, and future studies should explore family-based interventions and peer education. Providing free vaccines at government centers through India's national immunization program would maximize catch-up HPV vaccination for rural young women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wittgenstein's conception of the general form of a truth function given in thesis 6 can be presented as a sort of a trade-off: the author of the Tractatus is unable to reconcile the simplicity of his original idea of a series of forms with the simplicity of his generalisation of Sheffer's stroke; therefore, he is forced to sacrifice one of them. As we argue in this paper, the choice he makes – to weaken the logical constraints put on the concept of a series of forms, thus effectively metaphorising that concept for the sake of upholding the N-operation's role of generating the series – is unfortunate. An actual expansion of a series of truth functions as defined in 6 would require either making decisions at each step (Anscombe) or outwardly rejecting the concept of a series (Sundholm). However, neither is faithful to Wittgenstein's own fundamental intuitions regarding the nature of logic. For this reason, a different trade-off that prioritises upholding the basic features of a series of forms over the simplicity of the operation that generates that series seems to be much more reasonable. We offer such a trade-off by developing the schema already present in the Tractatus (5.101). The key element of our alternative solution is the construction of an operation that can perform the task of producing all consecutive truth functions of a given collection of atomic propositions as an invariant difference between any base and its successor throughout the series. We define it as a composition of three functions (in an algebraic sense): the first turns a symbol of a given truth function into a binary number, the second increments that number, the third turns the result back into a symbol of another truth function. We also show how the operation can be defined by means of a different notation without invoking binary arithmetic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Individuals integrated into a new social group may suffer from group aggression, which is common in animals but remains unresolved. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the establishment time and structural composition of different herds on the intensity of aggression toward unfamiliar pigs. Six pig herds were established, with a pig integrated into each herd at intervals of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 days after their establishment. A parabolic model based on the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm and conjoint analysis identified factors influencing the intensity of aggression toward unfamiliar pigs. Our results indicate that aggression intensity towards unfamiliar pigs in the herd was not significantly influenced by herd size but was significantly affected by the number of pens used to form the herds. Furthermore, we found a significant and positive correlation between herd establishment time and aggression intensity, which was consistently observed across different pig herds. The impact of the number of pens on aggression intensity showed a significant correlation with the interaction effect of the number of pens and establishment time. These findings underscore the complexity of interactions between herd establishment time and structural composition in influencing aggression intensity towards unfamiliar pigs. Aggression in farm animals affects welfare. Although one-on-one aggression was studied, group-on-individual aggression remains unresolved. This study aimed to examine how herd establishment times and structures influence aggression intensity (AI) of herds towards unfamiliar pigs. Six groups of pigs were established, with a new pig added every three days. AI was measured by skin lesion severity on the new pigs. A parabolic model based on the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm and conjoint analysis identified factors influencing AI. Results show AI was not significantly affected by herd size but was significantly influenced by the number of pens (p < 0.01). AI showed a significant association with elevated time (T) since the establishment of the herd in six pig herds (Kendall's tau-τ = 0.976, p < 0.001). The effect of T on the AI became stronger as T increased, which was consistently validated in six pig herds. Furthermore, the interaction effect indicates a significant difference in AI between herds formed with two pens and those with more than two pens when T ≤ 12 (p < 0.05). However, as T increased beyond 12, the number of pens used to form the herd did not significantly affect AI. These findings highlight the complex interactions between herd establishment time and structural composition in shaping aggression intensity towards unfamiliar pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) transcription factor family plays critical roles in plant growth, development, and stress adaptation, but the biological functions in response to various stress of the WOX gene family have not been extensively researched in grapevine (Vitis vinifera). In this study, 12 grapevine WOXs were identified from the grapevine genome. Quantitative PCR and microarray expression profiling found that the expression of WOXs had an obvious tissue-specific pattern. Conjoint analysis between various tissues and treated materials indicated VvWUS1 expression is associated with expression of genes from grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus; and VvWOX3 with grapevine fanleaf virus. The gene expression patterns of the WOXs in grape were different under salt stress, with VvWOX8/9 , VvWUS1 , and VvWOX3 responding more strongly to salt stress than control by 18.20-, 9.50-, and 9.19-fold. This study further improves understanding of the evolution and function of the WOX gene family, and offers a theoretical framework and reference for breeding grapevine to better tolerate adversity and permit cultivation of seedlings free of viruses. WOX is a family of genes that help regulate how plants develop and also respond to stress. In this study, 12 WOX genes were identified in grapes and analysed by bioinformatic methods. Coanalysis of different expression patterns in grapes showed that two of these genes respond to specific viruses and effectively block virus replication and infestation. Another gene was the most sensitive to salt stress. This study provides preliminary evidence that these three genes are key to resistance to salt and to viruses in grape, providing vital candidate genes for grapevine breeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anticipated pleasure of participating in physical activity (PA) is one factor that may increase the likelihood of engagement and may be particularly important for long-term engagement. However, the impact of PA characteristics (e.g., intensity, location) on anticipated pleasure of PA remain unclear. This study used a conjoint analytic approach to evaluate the impact of activity intensity, physical context, and social context on the anticipated pleasure of engaging in PA across involvement segments. In conjoint analysis, participants provide overall ratings of hypothetical options (called profiles) described using levels of the selected study factors. Eight-hundred seventy-one participants (mean 48.3, SD 16.5 years, 66.9% female) evaluated 18 PA profiles that varied based on activity intensity, physical context, and social context. Three PA involvement segments were identified (low, moderate, high). Physical context was most impactful for highly and moderately involved participants; activity intensity had the highest impact for the least involved. Light intensity, outdoor PA performed alone or with family/friends was anticipated to be most pleasant for most participants. Vigorous intensity PA, PA performed at a fitness facility, and PA performed as part of a group elicited anticipated displeasure for those with low involvement. Physical context was most important for most people. Activity intensity was most impactful for frequent targets of PA intervention. PA promotion efforts should focus on light intensity activity, performed outdoors either alone or with family or friends to maximise anticipated pleasure for those least active. Conjoint analysis and audience segmentation show promise for future pleasure-related PA research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background India has the highest number of estimated deaths from cervical cancer globally, with most cases attributed to Human papillomavirus (HPV). The World Health Organization recommends primary HPV vaccination for girls ages 9–14, with catch-up vaccination for young women ≥ 15 if feasible. India authorized a new, inexpensive HPV vaccine in 2022; given anticipated vaccine expansion, we conducted a mixed-methods study exploring acceptability of HPV catch-up vaccination for young emerging adult women in rural Mysore, India. Methods Between September 2022-April 2023, participants were recruited with assistance from community health workers. In the qualitative phase, gender-stratified, audio-recorded focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in Kannada with emerging adults ages 18–26. FGDs were transcribed, translated, and analyzed using rapid approach to identify key HPV vaccination attributes. In the quantitative phase, a conjoint analysis was conducted to assess the impact of seven vaccination attributes on likelihood to vaccinate (LTV). Women ages 18–26 ranked LTV in eight hypothetical vaccination scenarios, and the relative impact of each attribute on LTV was calculated. All participants received education about cervical cancer, HPV, and HPV vaccination. Results Fifty-two young adults (female = 31, male = 21) participated in seven FGDs, and 101 women participated in the conjoint analysis. Average age of the 153 participants was 22.5 years, 66.7% had married, and all had completed high school. Only 17.9% had heard of cervical cancer, and 2.7% knew of the HPV vaccine. FGDs identified seven HPV vaccination attributes: cost, vaccination location, family support, peer influence, dose number, side effects, and risk of acquiring HPV. In the conjoint analysis, all attributes except dose number significantly impacted LTV. Family support (impact score = 19.37, p

OBJECTIVE: Patients with advanced laryngeal cancer are typically presented with divergent treatment options, namely chemoradiation versus total laryngectomy. This study aims to understand general perspectives of the factors involved in this decision-making process. METHODS: Surveys were constructed using specialized conjoint analysis software. Seven attributes integral to the decision-making process for advanced laryngeal cancer treatment were included. RESULTS: Three hundred one healthy adult volunteers completed the decision-making program. The relative impact of each treatment attribute on decision making across all participants was scored with an average importance score (standard deviation) as follows: Lifespan 22.2% (±8.5), Voicing 21.4% (±5.9), Swallowing 19.1% (±7.3), Cancer Cure 14.9% (±6.2), Mode of Breathing 11.0% (±3.7), Self-Image 6.7% (±2.9), and Treatment Type 4.8% (±3.0). CONCLUSIONS: General public opinion ranked lifespan, voicing, and swallowing aspects as similarly important, and all were ranked more important than probability of cure. These data demonstrate a variety of priorities among participants and the need for tailored discussions when determining treatment choice for advanced laryngeal cancer. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4.

Qingran Sun, Yi Wang, Pei Wang, Yuankai Huang, Xiaoyu Xi National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Drug Regulatory Innovation and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xiaoyu Xi, Email xixy@cpu.edu.cnPurpose: This study aimed to survey and analyze the preferences for pharmacist-managed clinic among urban residents in China.Materials and Methods: A discrete choice experiment was conducted in Nanjing, China. A D-efficient fractional factorial design was used to generate the questionnaire. Three models were used to investigate each patient’s strength of preference and preference heterogeneity. The relative importance for each treatment attribute was also determined.Results: 156 usable questionnaires (of 228 questionnaires sent out) were received. Respondents preferred pharmacist-managed clinics with the following characteristics: good pharmacists’ knowledge and clinical medication practice competency, lower consultation fees, a dedicated consultation room, physician-pharmacist joint clinic, with pharmacists’ knowledge competency receiving the highest priority. Latent class analysis revealed three classes (Experiential Type, Content Type and Economic Type) were identified based on respondents’ preferences for pharmacist-managed clinics.Conclusion: The respondents were willing to choose a PMC relative to the current situation. When deciding on a pharmacist-managed clinic, residents are driven by pharmacists’ competency, consultation fee, availability of consultation rooms and collaborative care or independent pharmacist service. Differences in patients’ preferences identified in the study provide information on pharmacist-managed clinics that meet residents’ expectations.Keywords: conjoint analysis, discrete choice experiment, pharmacist-managed clinic, preference study, patients

This study aims to provide valuable insights into consumer preferences for delivery services in online shopping in Chile. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the evolution of delivery and logistics services, leading to increased competition among online stores. Chile, with its highly digitally enabled population and a competitive landscape of online retailers, serves as an ideal reference case for Latin America. By analyzing key delivery attributes such as delivery time, order arrival time range, compensation policies for delivery delays, and delivery prices, we offer valuable insights into consumer behavior. These insights will, in turn, inform the formulation of effective strategies within the online shopping industry. We examine the following aspects: (a) The willingness of consumers to pay for the service attributes; (b) The relative importance assigned to these attributes by consumers; and (c) The relationship between consumer preferences and socioeconomic characteristics. Using Multinomial Logit Models and a database from a Discrete Choice Experiment, we have discovered that the most significant attributes of delivery service are the time until product arrival and the existence of compensation in case of delivery delays. Additionally, we found that consumers are willing to pay more for the same delivery service if the product is large, as large products generally have higher prices. Furthermore, we observed that delivery time preferences vary by gender and for small products, and price sensitivity varies according to educational level, household size, and socioeconomic status. To the best of our knowledge, no previous research of this kind has been conducted for Chile.

Abstract Background Global warming and the increasing risk of natural disasters force us all to act. As the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions has been proven effective but insufficient on its own, Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies emerged to fill the gap. Using CCU technologies, CO2 is captured and further processed into valuable products instead of being emitted into the atmosphere. Method This study investigates the prevailing public perception of such CCU-based products by the example of clothing and cosmetics. We applied the method of conjoint measurement to experimentally examine context-related factors (= attributes) in different usage settings and explored the consumers’ decision profiles for or against the usage of CCU-based products (cosmetics and clothing). Conjoint measurements were realized as an online experiment, addressing acceptance patterns and preferences in four European countries (Germany, Norway, Spain, and Poland). In addition, we assessed general attitudes and affective assessments of the CCU products. A total of N = 828 participants took part in the study, and the international subsamples were comparable. Results Results revealed that health compatibility is the main adoption-driving factor in the decisions for or against the use of the products. Still, attributes like the environmental impact, product quality, and information flow play an important role as well, even though to a lesser extent. Participants from different countries significantly differ in their cognitive and affective evaluations of acceptance-related attributes. Conclusions The outcome provides insights into differences in Pan-European comparison and helps to understand the public motives and country-specific terms of use for CCU-based products, effectively establishing recommendations for policy and governance.

Understanding the motivation behind consumers' packaging choices is crucial to providing insights for achieving environmental sustainability outcomes. Here, we examined the influence of product attributes (packaging type, packaging claim, product claim, and price) and consumers factors (e.g., diet type, demographic information) driving orange juice selection. Participants residing in the USA (n = 847) responded to an online survey including: (1) a check-all-that-apply (CATA) to valued beverage characteristics question; (2) a choice-based conjoint task with packaging type, packaging claim, product claim, and price as the attributes; (3) a question tasking respondents to rank packaging material from their perception of the least to most sustainable; and (4) demographic questions. The conjoint analysis revealed that price was the most important attribute, particularly the lowest price. This study revealed that the most ideal orange juice option was packaged in glass, labelled as 100% recyclable, locally produced, and priced at $1.10 per 12 fl. oz. Not only was glass the most preferred packaging type, but it was also incorrectly perceived as the most sustainable. The intention to purchase sustainable packaging was the most important predictor of attribute relative importance (RI) and packaging utilities, followed by effectiveness perception, which only predicted the RI of price. Thus, for consumers to make more sustainable choices, education initiatives need to direct consumers to more sustainable, yet affordable, choices, while considering that purchase intention and effectiveness perception are key attitudinal drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychological interventions are a promising area for fatigue management in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, most interventions trialled to date have been pilots with limited direct input from patients about the type of intervention they want. Thus, this study aimed to explore patient preferences for a psychological IBD fatigue intervention. Methods: An international online cross-sectional survey was conducted with adults with self-reported IBD. A conjoint analysis was employed to elicit, through a series of forced-choice scenarios, patient preferences for a fatigue intervention. For this study, the attributes manipulated across these forced-choice scenarios were type of intervention, modality of delivery, and duration of intervention. Results: Overall, 834 people with IBD were included in analysis. Respondents ranked the type of psychological intervention as most important for overall preference (with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) preferred over the other approaches), followed by modality of delivery, but placed very little importance on how long the intervention runs for. Patients with IBD appear to most strongly preference a short online CBT intervention for managing their IBD-related fatigue. Conclusion: This study helps provide therapists and program developers clear direction on patient preferences when it comes to developing new psychological programs that address fatigue in IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive trade-off among reliability, maintainability, availability and life cycle cost should be solved in the overall design of warship equipment. Maintainability analysis and comprehensive trade-off of naval ships equipment based on the PROMETHEE method are proposed. In the method, the evaluation model of alternatives set is formed through the analysis of maintainability-related factors, the determination of target attribute and related attribute weight of alternatives, the selection of attribute priority function and threshold. And carry out calculation and analysis, form the ranking of alternatives. Combined with the calculation and analysis of specific examples, the evaluation results of six groups of alternatives are obtained, and the optimal scheme is determined. The research provides an effective theoretical basis for maintainability analysis and comprehensive trade-off of system overall design. It guides the implementation and decision of the project. It's suitable for the comprehensive trade-off problem of multi-objective relationships to find the optimal solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A risk-stratified breast screening program could offer low-risk women less screening than is currently offered by the National Health Service. The acceptability of this approach may be enhanced if it corresponds to UK women's screening preferences and values. Objectives: To elicit and quantify preferences for low-risk screening options. Methods: Women aged 40 to 70 y with no history of breast cancer took part in an online discrete choice experiment. We generated 32 hypothetical low-risk screening programs defined by 5 attributes (start age, end age, screening interval, risk of dying from breast cancer, and risk of overdiagnosis), the levels of which were systematically varied between the programs. Respondents were presented with 8 choice sets and asked to choose between 2 screening alternatives or no screening. Preference data were analyzed using conditional logit regression models. The relative importance of attributes and the mean predicted probability of choosing each program were estimated. Results: Participants (N = 502) preferred all screening programs over no screening. An older starting age of screening, younger end age of screening, longer intervals between screening, and increased risk of dying had a negative impact on support for screening programs (P < 0.01). Although the risk of overdiagnosis was of low relative importance, a decreased risk of this harm had a small positive impact on screening choices. The mean predicted probabilities that risk-adapted screening programs would be supported relative to current guidelines were low (range, 0.18 to 0.52). Conclusions: A deintensified screening pathway for women at low risk of breast cancer, especially one that recommends a later screening start age, would run counter to women's breast screening preferences. Further research is needed to enhance the acceptability of offering less screening to those at low risk of breast cancer. Highlights: Risk-based breast screening may involve the deintensification of screening for women at low risk of breast cancer. Low-risk screening pathways run counter to women's screening preferences and values. Longer screening intervals may be preferable to a later start age. Work is needed to enhance the acceptability of a low-risk screening pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco-labels promote environmentally conscious behavior through logos and accompanying information. However, research on the optimal combinations of this information is limited. This study examines the impact of the Japanese Eco Mark logo and recycled plastic input information on consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for mugs and pens. The survey results show that both elements positively influence WTP, though logos have a greater impact than recycled plastic information. The analysis of personal attributes revealed that females have a higher WTP than males, with no significant differences across age groups. Consistent with behavioral theories, WTP for mugs increased with environmental awareness towards the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), while trends for pens were less distinct. This indicates that the effectiveness of eco-labels and recycling information varies by product, highlighting the need for further research to explore these differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime collisions pose significant risks, prompting the need for robust risk assessment models to enhance safety measures. This study endeavors to develop a comprehensive ship collision risk model reflecting the intricate marine traffic environment in South Korea. Through a survey of experienced maritime personnel and a random forest model analysis, an evaluation model integrating internal and external factors was devised. Internal factors were determined through conjoint analysis, emphasizing encounter relationships, separation distance, and vessel speed. External risk factors were established using a random forest model based on historical collision data. The model's efficacy was then applied to and validated in the vicinity of Busan Port, a region with complex marine traffic. The resulting risk map highlighted high‐risk areas, offering valuable insights for risk management and policy formulation. This model provides a foundational framework for maritime safety policy decisions, representing a significant contribution to collision risk assessment methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People often draw inferences about others' underlying characteristics from single and static samples of their appearance, such as facial features, or attractiveness. Evidence also suggests that these judgments occur spontaneously and rapidly. Are humans also able to detect political preferences based on appearance? This article examines to what extent observable lifestyle characteristics influence people's judgments about one's political affiliation and, more importantly, to what degree these judgments are accurate. A conjoint analysis allows for the identification of the specific lifestyle cues that people use to infer one's political affiliation. These results are contrasted with a large and unique dataset (n = 64,745), enabling the assessment of how accurate these cues are. Results suggest that certain lifestyle characteristics, such as type of car or leisure activities, are clearly associated with different political parties, at least in people's minds. Results also suggest that, despite the potential detrimental effects of appearance-based judgments, people are generally pretty good at guessing others' political preferences. This study contributes to a growing body of research on the relationship between lifestyle and political preferences. More generally, it sheds light on the diagnostic value of appearances in everyday social judgments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea is a typical beverage that has been consumed worldwide. A large number of brands of this beverage are available in the market. This study looked into the consumer preference for the attributes of selected, packed tea products available in the market. The study focused on attributes such as brand, price, strength and tea package. Conjoint analysis with an orthogonal design assessed consumer preference for different tea brands. The results showed that packaging was the attribute most preferred by the consumers (importance score of 36.083), followed by the brand of the Tea (31.084) and the strength of the Tea (21.518). The least preferred attribute was the price of the branded Tea. Further, the findings also revealed optimum attribute combination among the existing tea products in the market. The results of this study will be helpful to tea growers and will significantly advance research on beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to provide valuable insights into consumer preferences for delivery services in online shopping in Chile. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the evolution of delivery and logistics services, leading to increased competition among online stores. Chile, with its highly digitally enabled population and a competitive landscape of online retailers, serves as an ideal reference case for Latin America. By analyzing key delivery attributes such as delivery time, order arrival time range, compensation policies for delivery delays, and delivery prices, we offer valuable insights into consumer behavior. These insights will, in turn, inform the formulation of effective strategies within the online shopping industry. We examine the following aspects: (a) The willingness of consumers to pay for the service attributes; (b) The relative importance assigned to these attributes by consumers; and (c) The relationship between consumer preferences and socioeconomic characteristics. Using Multinomial Logit Models and a database from a Discrete Choice Experiment, we have discovered that the most significant attributes of delivery service are the time until product arrival and the existence of compensation in case of delivery delays. Additionally, we found that consumers are willing to pay more for the same delivery service if the product is large, as large products generally have higher prices. Furthermore, we observed that delivery time preferences vary by gender and for small products, and price sensitivity varies according to educational level, household size, and socioeconomic status. To the best of our knowledge, no previous research of this kind has been conducted for Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers are showing a growing interest in organic products. This study investigates how visual packaging design elements influence the consumers' purchase intention toward organic food products compared to organic non-food products. We apply a questionnaire and ask respondents to rate the different packaging designs for organic dry pasta and soap bars. We use the orthogonal design method to obtain representative stimulus designs and conduct a conjoint analysis to determine the utilities of each design and assess the relative importance of color, material, and tagline typeface. Our results reveal that for the organic food and non-food products, packaging color is the most decisive factor, followed by material and typeface, independently to the participants' demographic characteristics. The combination of visual elements with the highest utility score includes plastic for the packaging material, the color cream, and the typewritten typeface for the organic claim for both organic pasta and organic soap. This study also integrates a benefit-based segmentation approach with conjoint analysis. Our study contributes to understanding consumers' preferences with valuable insights for the organic industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers often measure consumers' responsiveness to a certain attribute (e.g., how much consumers value sustainability in products or low prices). Traditionally, this has been done by using multi-item self-report scales. We propose the use of a rating-based conjoint design analyzed with structural equation modeling as an alternative. To illustrate the approach, we apply it to the measurement of eco-utility. In doing so, we evaluate three likely advantages of the conjoint-based approach relative to traditional self-reports: (a) reduced bias due to Acquiescence Response Style, (b) reduced bias due to socially desirable responding, and (c) enhanced ability to control for the effects of product attributes that may be confounded with the focal attribute (e.g., price may be confounded with sustainability). Our results provide preliminary support for each of the proposed advantages. We conclude with implications for measurement and discuss how the current approach offers new ideas on how to measure latent variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How local economies can successfully develop remains an important issue for any developing country. One mechanism for promotion of economic development is government-driven policy. The problem is that it is not clear whether public-led economic promotion attracts consumers and which promotion factors are relatively significant for boosting particular goods. This paper examines attributes of green tea products likely influencing consumer preferences, focusing on the Thai Nguyen area in Vietnam as an example. In this area, the "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) project has been implemented by the local government. This study employs randomized conjoint analysis based on data collected from 450 randomly selected consumers in several local supermarkets. Interestingly, the results show that online style sales have a negative preference for the purchase of green tea products, while transparency, such as the traceability of the product and product information, and reliability, such as certification, enhance the purchase of these products by consumers. However, this finding is not necessarily robust because our results indicate that approximately 90% of consumers tend to choose the default pair, which means that they do not actively prefer the product, possibly implying that this kind of public-led promotion is not yet broadly familiar to all people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How does the public judge counterterrorism policy? Using conjoint analysis, I study the effects of terrorism and counterterrorism engagement on public opinion in a democracy, where public opinion is expected to have a greater influence on policy outcomes in the future. While conjoint analysis is being employed more frequently in terrorism studies, this is the first use of a survey to study the features of counterterrorism policy, as well. I assess public opinion towards the appropriateness of counterterrorism policy in the United States in the aftermath of a hypothetical attack. Findings suggest that democratic publics prefer more restrained counterterrorism measures, including measures having a less direct impact on the general public (i.e. monitoring exercises) and demonstrating the government's commitment to democratic principles and institutions. However, these preferences can be reshaped by the features of an attack, including attack lethality and religious motivations. The findings from this study introduce another dimension to the conversation on provocation and have implications for successful counterterrorism policy in democracies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copywriting online course has become a famous online training over the past years and the reliance on online courses increased even during the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years, online courses have become a popular training platform, especially for copywriting courses. The demand for online courses increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the need to optimize the learning experience of an online course's target audience. This study aimed to determine the combination of online course attributes most preferred by Filipino copywriters such as course style, payment method, course delivery, module duration, and course type. 292 Filipino copywriters from a leading Philippine-based copywriting group voluntarily participated in this study and answered an online questionnaire quantitative survey which was distributed using the purposive sampling method. Conjoint Analysis with an orthogonal design revealed that copywriters consider the course style attribute as the most important (46.007%), followed by payment method (18.236%), and course delivery (15.435%). Module duration (10.489%) and while the course type (9.833%) were was the least considered attribute of an online course. The result shows that Filipino copywriters prefer an intermediate-level video course on a Facebook group that lasts 1 to 3 hours per module and is paid per course for a total utility score of 0.281, while the least preferred combination was a beginner-level audiobook course that lasts less than 30 minutes per module, delivered via email, and paid per module, for a total utility score of -0.281. This study is the first study that analyzed the copywriters' preference for online copywriting course attributes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of this study are beneficial to online course creators who are targeting copywriters. Finally, the result of this study can be expanded further to other online courses worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe global population is experiencing a significant rise in cases of depressive disorders, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, having limited resources and fear of social stigma have discouraged individuals from seeking professional psychological counseling or visiting hospitals. In response to this issue, psychiatrists have attempted the use of chatbots as a therapeutic aid. Therefore, in this study, users’ choice data about the mental healthcare AI chatbot are collected through conjoint analysis, and the collected data is analyzed using the mixed logit method to derive users’ preferences for the mental healthcare AI chatbot. Findings highlight a consistent preference among users for certain factors in both psychological counseling chatbots and traditional psychological counseling. At first, the findings indicate that users place the highest priority on pricing and the ability to connect with a professional counselor. Furthermore, users prefer chatbots that have a more human-like appearance and characteristics. By incorporating these preferences, chatbot developers can create a more user-centric mental healthcare AI chatbot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-based meat has been the primary strategy to reducing meat consumption. While this category has demonstrated success, with the market value estimated to reach USD 20 billion by 2023, the subsequent reduction in meat consumption has not been proportionate. An alternative approach is hybrid products, which are thought to produce products that more closely resemble meat products. However, whether consumers will be willing to purchase hybrid products remains uncertain. Therefore, the present study uses a conjoint analysis approach to assess the product features driving the selection of a hybrid hotdog. This approach uncovers factors driving consumers' purchase intentions for hybrid meat products when offered as a choice against 100% plant-based and 100% beef products. In an online survey, participants (n = 454; 45.6% female) were asked to select the product they would be most willing to purchase, varying in four characteristics: protein source, price, fat content, and price. Following this task, participants answered questions related to meat attachment, food neophobia, health, ecological, social, and moral motives regarding food consumption. The results revealed that protein source was the most important factor driving product selection, followed by price, fat, and packaging claims (35%, 24%, 21%, and 20% relative importance, respectively). In this study, hybrid hotdogs were the least preferred to beef and plant-based (−16, −2.5, and 18 part-worth utility, respectively). These product-specific attributes (protein, fat, and price) had distinct relationships with the choices of hybrid, plant-based, and hybrid hotdogs, with these factors together explaining slightly more variability in the selection of hybrid (9%) compared to plant-based (7%) and beef hotdogs (4%). For hybrid hotdogs, protein had the greatest influence (B = −1.2) followed by fat (B = −0.8) and price (B = −0.5). Interestingly, person-related parameters (health, meat attachment, ethics, and food neophobia) had no relationship with the selection of hybrid hotdogs, contrary to plant-based (7%) and beef hotdogs (5%). This influence of the different parameters on the selection of hybrid meat is thought to be due to the lack of consumer knowledge and familiarity with hybrid products. The current understanding of plant-based products may not correspond to hybrid products. Engaging with consumers during the development of these products is critical to ensure consumer acceptance and thus support the transition to a more sustainable diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Valsa canker, caused by Cytospora mali, is a destructive disease in apple production. However, the mechanism by which apple defend against C. mali infection remains unclear. Methods: In this study, the integrative transcriptional and metabolic analysis were used to investigate the responses of the 'Jin Hong' apple branches to the invasion of C. mali. Results and Discussion: Results showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the pathways of carbon metabolism, photosynthesisantenna proteins, and biosynthesis of amino acids pathways. Additionally, the differentially accumulated metabolites were significantly enriched in aminoacyltRNA biosynthesis, fructose and mannose metabolism, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism pathways. Conjoint analysis revealed that C. mali infection significantly altered 5 metabolic pathways, 8 highly relevant metabolites and 15 genes of apples. Among which the transcription factors WRKY and basic domain leucine zipper transcription family were induced, the α-linolenic acid and betaine were significantly accumulated in C. mali infected apple stems. This work presents an overview of the changes in gene expression and metabolic profiles in apple under the inoculation of C. mali, which may help to further screen out the mechanism of plant-pathogen interaction at the molecular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]