Changes In Preferences Research Articles

Теоретический аспект бренд-маркетинга в условиях цифровой экономики

The article analyzes the terms "brand" and "brand marketing" etymology theoretical concepts, and formulates the author's vision of these definitions. It is determined that the modality of a brand can be changeable and depend on various factors: the competitive environment, marketing strategies and socio-economic conditions, including changes in consumer preferences. A system of factors and their characteristics that form the brand modality is proposed, which features help the brand achieve successful positioning in the market and create long-term relationships with consumers. Digital technologies have a significant impact on brand marketing, providing companies with new opportunities to interact with consumers and manage their brand. The paper highlights the goals of brand marketing in the digital economy, which contribute to increasing brand awareness, attracting and retaining customers, increasing sales, strengthening market positions, and improving customer interaction. A communication scheme of brand marketing performance indicators in the digital economy has been developed.

Negative images, regardless of task relevance, distract younger more than older adults.

Older adults, compared to younger adults, tend to prioritize positive information more and negative information less. We recently observed this "positivity effect" pattern in an emotion-induced blindness task, which measures attention allocated to task-irrelevant emotional stimuli in the way participants are distracted by them. Older adults were less distracted by negative images compared to younger adults. This could represent an age-related priority shift away from negative emotions. However, it could also be that older adults simply do not see negative images presented at a fast rate. A similar possibility is that older adults to fail to engage with negative stimuli because of their complex nature, rather than due to age-related changes in emotional preference per se. In the present study, we tested this possibility by manipulating the required degree of engagement with emotional distractors. Participants completed a modified emotion-induced blindness task, with emotional distractors that were either task irrelevant (younger: n = 48; older: n = 46) or task relevant (younger: n = 48; older: n = 45). The task relevance of distractors did not affect performance. Even though older adults could quickly perceive the negative images, they were less distracted by them compared to younger adults. Current theories of the positivity effect fail to fully account for these positivity effect patterns in attention, especially those that propose mechanisms requiring a substantial time to enact. The current results may require rethinking previous accounts of the positivity effect and highlight the benefits of probing the positivity effect in early cognitive processing stages. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

COVID-19 and economic preferences: Evidence from a panel of cab drivers

This paper studies the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on risk and time preferences. Using a longitudinal dataset from a survey of cab drivers in Lima (Peru), we document a significant increase in risk tolerance and patience. The changes are heterogeneous and monotonic by age: older cohorts become more risk-taking while younger ones become more patient. Our findings suggest that the pandemic could have affected individuals’ behavior and socioeconomic outcomes via another channel, namely, changes in economic preferences.

Preferences for urban greenspace functions during public health pandemics. Empirical evidence from Malawi

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Corona virus disease on the perceived values of urban green landscapes in a developing country setting. To achieve this objective, the author investigated changes in the preferences for urban green space services among city residents who use nature areas for recreation. Design/methodology/approach This study applied the best–worst scaling technique to elicit changes in the preferences for ecosystem services from urban recreational sites in Malawi. The study also used a fractional logit model to examine factors that motivate visitors’ willingness to donate/contribute to improve the quality of nature’s recreational services. Findings This study finds that the COVID-19 pandemic changed visitors’ perceptions of urban woodlands, but leisure/recreation remained the most important service with or without the Corona virus outbreak. However, the perceived value of air pollution control and cultural/religious functions gained more prominence (+3%), whereas biodiversity conservation became less prominent (−2%) during the pandemic period. The mean willingness to pay (WTP) was estimated to be US$28.73, and WTP is positively influenced by education, income status and the user’s satisfaction with the recreation site. Originality/value The study substantiated the impact of Corona virus disease on the perceived values of urban green landscapes, using Malawi as a case study. This was demonstrated through the changes in preferences for urban green space services among city residents who use nature areas for recreation.

1635-P: Survodutide Weight Loss Is Associated with Changes in Food Preference and Improvement of Dyslipidemia in the Free Choice Diet–Induced Obese Hamster Model

1635-P: Survodutide Weight Loss Is Associated with Changes in Food Preference and Improvement of Dyslipidemia in the Free Choice Diet–Induced Obese Hamster Model

Peripheral positions encode transport specificity in the small multidrug resistance exporters

In secondary active transporters, a relatively limited set of protein folds have evolved diverse solute transport functions. Because of the conformational changes inherent to transport, altering substrate specificity typically involves remodeling the entire structural landscape, limiting our understanding of how novel substrate specificities evolve. In the current work, we examine a structurally minimalist family of model transport proteins, the small multidrug resistance (SMR) transporters, to understand the molecular basis for the emergence of a novel substrate specificity. We engineer a selective SMR protein to promiscuously export quaternary ammonium antiseptics, similar to the activity of a clade of multidrug exporters in this family. Using combinatorial mutagenesis and deep sequencing, we identify the necessary and sufficient molecular determinants of this engineered activity. Using X-ray crystallography, solid-supported membrane electrophysiology, binding assays, and a proteoliposome-based quaternary ammonium antiseptic transport assay that we developed, we dissect the mechanistic contributions of these residues to substrate polyspecificity. We find that substrate preference changes not through modification of the residues that directly interact with the substrate but through mutations peripheral to the binding pocket. Our work provides molecular insight into substrate promiscuity among the SMRs and can be applied to understand multidrug export and the evolution of novel transport functions more generally.

Web Application “Taxi Service Search System” as Processes Digitalisation Element оn the Taxi Market

Information technology and its use have become an important factor in the development of various sectors of the economy, science, education, and transport. The taxi market is one of the industries that has experienced a significant impact of digitalisation. The introduction of digital (information) technologies, the emergence of web applications for ordering transport, changes in consumer preferences, and increased competition have led to significant changes in this sector. The purpose of the article is to analyse and study the problems of developing software for a relevant web application (as an element of digitalisation of processes in the taxi market) and its use to optimise the business processes of a taxi service and increase the level of satisfaction (comfort) of customers who make an online taxi order and receive the corresponding transport service. The research methods of the study are the main methodological approaches and technological tools for developing web applications. These methods include, in particular: systemic and comparative analyses to identify the features of creating scalable and high-performance web applications; the method of expert assessments, which involves analysing literature and information resources, conducting interviews and surveys of experts, as well as the processes of developing and testing scalable and high-performance web applications. The novelty of the study is the analysis of modern technologies for developing platforms for supporting business processes in the taxi market, the results of which can be used to develop an in-house software product for supporting taxi services, which can become a full-fledged assistant to the user in obtaining the appropriate transport service for passenger or freight transportation. The conclusion of the study is to determine the impact of digitalisation on the taxi market. The paper analyses the state of the taxi market in Ukraine, reviews the main modes of operation of taxi services, and highlights the main transformations that the taxi market has undergone as a result of digitalisation and the use of relevant information technologies. The paper identifies the main success factors and problems of the taxi market in the context of digitalisation and proposes solutions to increase the competitiveness of taxi services, including, in particular: improving existing or developing new digital platforms for the provision of services by taxi services; adapting existing web services to changes in consumer preferences; adapting business processes of taxi services to changes in consumer preferences. The author’s web application “Taxi Service Search System” is described as an element of digitalisation of the taxi market. Further ways to improve the web application “Taxi Service Search System” are identified.

Implementing active surveillance for low-risk thyroid carcinoma into clinical practice: collaborative recommendations for Latin America.

The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing globally, but mortality rates have remained steady. Many patients with thyroid cancer have low-risk, nonmetastatic intrathyroidal tumors smaller than 2 cm. Active surveillance has shown benefits in these patients, but the adoption of this approach remains below standard in Latin America. The purpose of this article is to identify ways to improve the incorporation of active surveillance into clinical practice for patients with low-risk thyroid carcinoma in Latin America, taking into consideration cultural and geographic factors. Current recommendations include three steps involving patient participation. The first step, which consists of the initial clinical examination, has eight factors requiring special attention. Anxiety must be managed while considering individual, disease-related, cognitive, and environmental aspects. Terms like "overdiagnosis", "incidentaloma," and "overtreatment" must be explained to the patient. Implementing precise terminology contributes to adequate disease perception, substantially reducing stress and anxiety. Clarifying the nonprogressive nature of thyroid cancer helps dispel myths surrounding the disease. The second step includes advice about procedures and guidelines for patients who choose active surveillance. Flexible monitoring techniques should be implemented, with regular check-ins scheduled based on patient needs. Reasons for adjusting treatment must be clearly communicated to the patient, and changes in preference regarding active surveillance should be considered in advance. The third step includes assistance during follow-up. Patients must be educated about ultrasound results and receive surgical indications from specialized physicians. The effectiveness of active surveillance can be reinforced by explaining to the patients the dynamics of changes in nodule size using clear and concise visual aids.

Analysis of hippocampal synaptic function in a rodent model of early life stress.

Early life stress (ELS) is an important risk factor in the aetiology of depression. Developmental glucocorticoid exposure impacts multiple brain regions with the hippocampus being particularly vulnerable. Hippocampal mediated behaviours are dependent upon the ability of neurones to undergo long-term potentiation (LTP), an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) mediated process. In this study we investigated the effect of ELS upon hippocampal NMDAR function. Hooded Long-Evans rat pups (n=82) were either undisturbed or maternally separated for 180 minutes per day (MS180) between post-natal day (PND) 1 and PND14. Model validation consisted of sucrose preference (n=18) and novelty supressed feeding (NSFT, n=34) tests alongside assessment of corticosterone (CORT) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) cFos reactivity to stress and hippocampal neurogenesis (all n=18). AMPA/NMDA ratios (n=19), miniEPSC currents (n=19) and LTP (n=15) were assessed in whole-cell patch clamp experiments in CA1 pyramidal neurones. MS180 animals showed increased feeding latency in the NSFT alongside increased overall CORT in the restraint stress experiment and increased PVN cFos expression in males but no changes in neurogenesis or sucrose preference. MS180 was associated with a lower AMPA/NMDA ratio with no change in miniEPSC amplitude or area. There was no difference in short- or long-term potentiation between MS180 and control animals nor were there any changes during the induction protocol. The MS180 model showed a behavioural phenotype consistent with previous work. MS180 animals showed increased NMDAR function with preliminary evidence suggesting that this was not concurrent with an increase in LTP.

Modeling Dynamic Consumer Preferences in Product Attributes for Social Media-Based Product Improvement Planning

Consumer preferences for products change over time. The changes in consumer preferences are not just related to the level of importance of the attribute but also dynamics in the attribute itself. Previous studies generally employed the pre-determine attribute to measure the level of importance of the attribute. However, the pre-defined attributes approach has a problem in that new consumer attributes are not captured, resulting in misleading product development. Therefore, this study proposes a method to identify dynamic attributes and the level of importance of the attribute for product development without pre-determined attributes and unsupervised. A case study on the airline industry demonstrates the proposed method. Attribute changes are assessed using latent Dirichlet allocation to identify topics related to product attributes and sentiment analysis to evaluate satisfaction levels. Furthermore, the association rule approach is used to label unsupervised product topics. A total of 222,959 tweets related to the airline industry from 2015 to 2018 were collected and analyzed to demonstrate changes in consumer preferences over time. The results indicate that the proposed method effectively explores the dynamic of product attributes and critical attributes and provides valuable strategies for developing product or service improvement. The proposed method has also been validated and is in line with the successful innovation strategies of an Indonesian airline.

Tracking the information-seeking patterns and preferences of US-based medical oncologists (MOs): A 2-year longitudinal assessment.

e21012 Background: The rapid pace of scientific advancement demands that community-based MOs continually access new information and effectively apply it in their clinical practices to improve long-term patient outcomes. A variety of dissemination vehicles are currently available to facilitate the transfer of knowledge, including continuing medical education (CME) activities. Despite the significant resources allocated for the development of these modalities, little definitive data is available documenting MOs’ preference for, utilization of and perspectives on the benefits and limitations of CME. This longitudinal assessment sought to establish a baseline understanding of MOs’ patterns of engagement with CME activities following the upheaval caused by COVID, and gauge if and/or how this has shifted as the pandemic has subsided further. Methods: In April 2022 a 56-question online survey was distributed to 4,623 US-based MOs from a proprietary database. A small honorarium was offered for participation. Responses were collected from 83 MOs. A 2-year follow up assessment is planned for April 2024 to track changes in preferences and participation. Results: 83% of MOs “agree” or “strongly agree” that the pace of oncology advancements is quicker now than it was in the past yet only 25% spend more time accessing CME. On average, MOs dedicate 6 hours a week to seeking oncology-related information, in which utilization of CME activities is included. MOs believe CME activities are useful for helping to stay up to date with advances in oncology (3.5 on a 1-5 scale) and 55% believe the application of new and emerging therapies within oncology would be slower if CME was no longer available. MOs are most interested in CME activities featuring practically oriented topics including recently presented clinical trial findings , molecular testing and analysis and treatment sequencing . Notably, the highest-ranking MO consideration for participation in a CME program was the topic, followed by faculty and then the length of the activity. In terms of length, MOs preferred 30-to-60-minute programs rather than shorter (15 minutes or less). All surveyed MOs utilize some form of CME with preferences varying for different virtual, live in-person and enduring formats. Despite its wide-scale proliferation, only 34% of MOs use social media for professional purposes including accessing oncology education. Conclusions: MOs value CME activities and utilize both in-person and virtual programs on a regular basis. As concerns over COVID have diminished, it is predicted that established interest in asynchronous forms of education will wane with an increased shift toward in-person meetings. The results of this longitudinal study are critical to ensure that oncology CME resources are designed to effectively convey needed information and in turn positively affect patient care.

Unravelling the metabolic rewiring in the context of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: Fuel preference changes from fatty acids to glucose oxidation

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent whose clinical use is hindered by the onset of cardiotoxic effects, resulting in reduced ejection fraction within the first year from treatment initiation. Recently it has been demonstrated that DOX accumulates within mitochondria, leading to disruption of metabolic processes and energetic imbalance. We previously described that phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ) contributes to DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, causing autophagy inhibition and accumulation of damaged mitochondria. Here we intend to describe the maladaptive metabolic rewiring occurring in DOX-treated hearts and the contribution of PI3Kγ signalling to this process. Metabolomic analysis of DOX-treated WT hearts revealed an accumulation of TCA cycle metabolites due to a cycle slowdown, with reduced levels of pyruvate, unchanged abundance of lactate and increased Acetyl-CoA production. Moreover, the activity of glycolytic enzymes was upregulated, and fatty acid oxidation downregulated, after DOX, indicative of increased glucose oxidation. In agreement, oxygen consumption was increased in after pyruvate supplementation, with the formation of cytotoxic ROS rather than energy production. These metabolic changes were fully prevented in KD hearts. Interestingly, they failed to increase glucose oxidation in response to DOX even with autophagy inhibition, indicating that PI3Kγ likely controls the fuel preference after DOX through an autophagy-independent mechanism. In vitro experiments showed that inhibition of PI3Kγ inhibits pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), the key enzyme of Randle cycle regulating the switch from fatty acids to glucose usage, while decreasing DOX-induced mobilization of GLUT-4-carrying vesicles to the plasma membrane and limiting the ensuing glucose uptake. These results demonstrate that PI3Kγ promotes a maladaptive metabolic rewiring in DOX-treated hearts, through a two-pronged mechanism controlling PDH activation and GLUT-4-mediated glucose uptake.

Relative alignment between gas structures and magnetic field in Orion A at different scales using different molecular gas tracers

Context. Magnetic fields can play a crucial role in high-mass star formation. Nonetheless, the significance of magnetic fields at various scales and their relationship with gas structures have been largely overlooked. Aims. Our goal is to examine the relationship between the magnetic field and molecular gas structures within the Orion A giant molecular cloud at different scales and density regimes. Methods. We assessed the gas intensity structures and column densities in Orion A using 12CO, 13CO, and C18O from Nobeyama observations. By comparing Nobeyama observations with Planck polarization observations on large scales (~0.6 pc) and JCMT polarization observations on small scales (~0.04 pc), we investigate how the role of magnetic fields changes with scale and density. Results. We find a similar trend from parallel to perpendicular alignment with increasing column density in Orion A at both large and small spatial scales. In addition, when changing from low-density to high-density tracers, the relative orientation preference changes from random to perpendicular. The self-similar results at different scales indicate that magnetic fields are dynamically important in both cloud formation and filament formation. However, magnetic field properties at small scales are relative complicated, and the interplay between magnetic field and star-forming activity needs to be discussed case by case.

Relationship between dietary knowledge, food preference, and long-short term health status among Chinese adults.

In recent years, with the improvement of people's living standards and changes in dietary patterns, dietary knowledge and food preference have been playing an increasingly crucial role in health. The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between dietary knowledge, food preference, and long-short term health status among Chinese adults aged 18-70. This study employed cross-sectional data from the 2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey obtained from 4822 adults. We utilized self-assessed health status as an indicator of long-term health status and utilized sickness in the last four weeks as a measure of short-term health status. Taking advantage of ordered probit regression, long-term health status was regressed on all predictors, while the binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing short-term health status. The propensity score matching is employed to account for potential selection bias in analysis, thereby increasing the robustness and credibility of results. The analysis revealed that dietary knowledge and food preference can improve an individual's long-term health status significantly. However, there is no evidence to show that short-term health status is affected by food preference. Furthermore, dietary knowledge is negatively associated with short-term health status. These findings highlight the importance of dietary education and healthy eating habits in improving the long-term health status of Chinese adults. The study suggests implications for public health strategies aimed at enhancing the health and well-being of Chinese adults.

Neural activity and connectivity are related to food preference changes induced by food go/no-go training

Simply withholding a response while viewing an appetizing food, over the course of many presentations (i.e., during food go/no-go training) can modify individuals' food preferences—which could, in turn, promote healthier eating behaviors. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this food go/no-go training-induced change in food preferences are still relatively unclear. We addressed this issue in the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. To this end, we administered a novel passive viewing task before and after food go/no-go training to 91 participants in the scanner. Participants’ food preferences were measured with a binary food choice task. At the behavioral level, we found the expected training effect on food preferences: Participants preferred go over no-go foods following training. At the neural level, we found that changes in food preferences were associated with training-related go vs. no-go differences in activity and functional connectivity, such as less activity in the anterior cingulate cortex and superior frontal gyrus but greater functional connectivity between the superior frontal gyrus and middle occipital gyrus. Critically, Dynamic causal modeling showed that this preference change effect was largely driven by top-down influence from the superior frontal gyrus to the middle occipital gyrus. Together, these findings suggest a neural mechanism of the food go/no-go training effect—namely, that the food-viewing-related interplay between prefrontal regions and visual regions might be related to the food preference change following food go/no-go training.

Specificity of the process of planning business structures in the field of hospitality in war conditions

Introduction. In modern conditions, planning the activities of business structures in the field of hospitality acquires special importance, as it ensures the efficiency of their functioning, adaptation to market conditions and satisfaction of customer needs. The planning process in this industry is distinguished by specific elements, such as taking into account seasonality, changes in consumer preferences, high standards of service and personnel management. In war conditions in Ukraine, this topic becomes even more relevant, because business structures and the planning of their stages must be ready for rapid changes and ensure continuity of activity in difficult circumstances. The purpose of the paper is to determine the most optimal stages of planning the activity of business structures in the field of hospitality in war conditions. Results. Taking into account internal, external and technological factors, in the conditions of war, the most optimal stages of planning the activity of business structures in the field of hospitality include: analysis of the current situation to assess risks and threats, strategic planning taking into account the flexibility and adaptability of the business model, resource assessment and budgeting with priority on critical areas, personnel management to ensure safety and support of employees, adaptation of logistics chains for uninterrupted supply, transparent communication and marketing to maintain connection with customers, regular monitoring and evaluation of results to adjust strategy, and recovery and development planning for rapid post-conflict recovery. Conclusion. Specificity of the process of planning business structures in the field of hospitality in war conditions require a comprehensive approach that includes an assessment of internal, external and technological capabilities, covering a wide range of factors that affect the company's ability to successfully plan and implement its stages. Specificity of planning of the business structures` activities in the field of hospitality in war conditions include six key stages that should be implemented. Each of these stages is critical to ensuring business resilience and adaptability. Under martial law, special attention is paid to security, flexibility of strategies and effective management of resources. Thanks to a comprehensive and dynamic approach to planning, business structures can successfully adapt to rapidly changing conditions and ensure the continuity of their activities while maintaining competitiveness in the market.

A Study on Human Resource Management and It’s Challenges in India

Every business or profession is faced by unique and newer challenges. The nature, scope and magnitude of these challenges keep changing because of the increasing competition between firms, increased customer expectations and drastic change in customer preferences. Human resources of an organisation consist of all people who perform its activities (Bernardin, 2010). Subsequently, human resource management as part of an organisation must be prepared to deal with upcoming challenges and changing dynamic environment. This means understanding the effects of globalisation, work force diversity, changing skill requirements, Recruitment of new staffs, productivity, health and safety ,the contingent workforce, employee involvement and also technology changes (Decenzo & Robbins, 2007). Nowadays business society is going through a dynamic change due to multiple factors, which affect the industry. The most important of these factors are shift from manufacturing to services, globalization in every industry, changes in technology, automation and artificial intelligence and the worldwide dissemination of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT).How these Issues and challenges affect the organisational behaviour and Human Resource Management is the topic of this paper. An organisation can succeed if it has a sustainable competitive advantage (is better than competitors at something, and can hold that advantage over a sustained period of time). Thus, we can conclude that organisations need the kind of resources that will give them such an advantage. Human Resource responsibilities have become broader and more strategic over time in response to a number of trends. Changes are occurring today that are requiring HR managers to play an increasing central role in managing companies. These changes or trends include globalisation, changes in the nature of work, and technology. Globalisation is increasingly evident in the world .More globalisation means more competition, and more competition means more pressure to lower costs, make employees more productive, and do things better and less expensively. Human Resources play a key role in helping companies meet the challenges of global competition and strategic objectives to lower costs, improve productivity and increase organisational effectiveness (Desseler, Al Riss, 2012). A company’s policy and the HR policies and practices have to go in sync and the management shall be bold enough to bring about an organisational change. Here is when the issues are challenges reform and Human Resource Management finds its existence. In today’s business world, employees are ready to do their best and they also expect the best in return, in terms of rewards, incentives, communication, better healthcare facilities, a stress free work environment, and so A business organisation has to estimate its future manpower needs and adjust its manpower planning and development programmes.

Children’s sex composition and transition to higher-order birth among Turkish migrants in Europe and their non-migrant counterparts in Turkey: does having a son matter?

ABSTRACT A growing literature examines parental sex preferences for their children among migrant communities in Western countries and investigates whether migrants’ preferences align with those of the native population. Changes in preference may indicate cultural and structural assimilation into the destination country. We adopted a dissimilation from origins conceptual perspective and compared migrants’ behavior to that of their non-migrant peers in the origin country. We used the unique 2000 Families dataset, which includes multi-generational data on both early labor migrants to Europe and non-migrants from the same regions of origin in Turkey. The study provides the first examination of parental sex preferences for their children and fertility among Turkish migrants and their descendants in Europe and their non-migrant counterparts in Turkey. The findings show ongoing son preference among first-generation migrants and their children, thus supporting the theory of cultural persistence.

Quantifying Patient Risk Threshold in Managing Pancreatic Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms.

We aimed to better understand patients' treatment preferences and quantify the level of cancer risk at which treatment preferences change (risk threshold) to inform better counseling of patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). The complexity of IPMN management provides an opportunity to align treatment with individual preference. We surveyed a sample of healthy volunteers simulating a common scenario: undergoing an imaging study that incidentally identifies an IPMN. In the scenario, the estimated risk of cancer in the IPMN was 5%. Patients were asked their treatment preference (surgery or surveillance), to quantify the level of cancer risk in the IPMN at which their treatment preference would change (i.e. risk threshold), and their level of cancer anxiety as measured on a 5-point Likert scale. We examined associations between participant characteristics, treatment preferences, and risk threshold using multivariable linear regression. The median risk threshold among the 520 participants was 25% (IQR 2.3-50%). The risk threshold had a bimodal distribution: 40% of participants had a risk threshold between 0-10% and 47% had a risk threshold above 30%. When informed that the risk of cancer was 5%, 62% of participants (n=323) preferred surveillance, and the remaining 38% (n=197) preferred surgery. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants who expressed "worry" or "extreme worry" about the malignancy risk of IPMN had significantly lower risk thresholds than participants who were "not at all worried" (Coefficient -12, 95%CI -21 to -2, P=0.015 and Coefficient -18, 95%CI -29 to -8, P<0.001, respectively). Participants varied in treatment preference and risk threshold of incidentally identified IPMNs. Given the uncertainty in estimating the true malignant potential of IPMNs, a better understanding of a patient's risk threshold, as influenced by patient concern about malignancy, will help inform the shared decision-making process.

Changes in Preferences and Attitudes Towards University Selection in the Post-Covid Era

General societal developments show that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about lasting changes in attitudes towards education and lifestyle, among others. The presented study aims to verify, using a quantitative questionnaire survey method on a sample of 500 respondents each, whether there have been changes in the preferences of potential students at a selected university in the Czech Republic between pre-Covid (2017) and post-Covid (2022) years. Current studies show that the post-COVID decision-making process is, among other things, generally more affected by the relationships with family and friends. Also, the paper's goal is to verify whether this fact also applies to the area of preferences of university applicants and whether it is differentiated by gender. Based on the statistical testing and interpretation of the data, recommendations will be formulated for the marketing management of universities concerning how to adapt to changes in the preferences of applicants and how to effectively adjust the communication mix and message to the given target group, thereby increasing its interest in studying at the university. The proposed measures will thus contribute to increasing the competitiveness of universities, as they identify opportunities to target potential students more effectively.