Low Preference Research Articles

The fault-tolerant and error-correction mechanism and capital allocation efficiency of state-owned Enterprises in China

This study investigates the effect of a fault-tolerant and error-correction mechanism (FTECM) on state-owned enterprises' (SOEs') capital-allocation efficiency (CAE). We conduct difference-in-differences estimations and find that the implementation of this policy significantly improves SOEs' CAE, which remains robust to a series of tests. A mechanism analysis shows that the FTECM can increase executives' willingness to take risks and improve internal governance. A heterogeneity analysis shows that our results are more pronounced in SOEs whose executives have lower risk preferences, weaker internal governance, and less external supervision. We also find that the FTECM improves SOEs' performance. Overall, this study enriches the research on the driving factors in SOEs' CAE and provides a micro-level evaluation of the economic consequences of the FTECM.

A model for the reproduction of amylopectin cluster by coordinated actions of starch branching enzyme isoforms.

Amylopectin is a highly branched glucan which accounts for approximately 65-85% of starch in most plant tissues. It is crucially important to understand the biosynthetic process of this glucan in regulating the structure and functional properties of starch granules. Currently, the most accepted ideas of structural feature and biosynthesis of amylopectin are that amylopectin is composed of a branched element called "cluster" and that the essential process of amylopectin biosynthesis is to reproduce a new cluster from the existing cluster. The present paper proposes a model explaining the whole process of amylopectin biosynthesis as to how the new cluster is reproduced by concerted actions of multiple isoforms of starch biosynthetic enzymes, particularly by combinations of distinct roles of starch branching enzyme (BE) isoforms. This model proposes for the first time the molecular mechanism as to how the formation of a new cluster is initiated, and the reason why BEI can play a major role in this step. This is because BEI has a rather broad chain-length preference compared to BEIIb, because a low preference of BEI for the substrate chain-length is advantageous for branching a couple of elongated chains that are not synchronously formed and thus these chains having varied lengths could be safely attacked by this isoform. On the contrary, it is unlikely that BEIIb is involved in this reaction because it can react to only short chains having degree of polymerization of 12-14. BEIIa is possibly able to complement the role of BEI to some extent, because BEIIa can attack basically short chains but its chain-length preference is lower compared with BEIIb. The model implies that the first branches mainly formed by BEI to construct the amorphous lamellae whereas the second branches predominantly formed by BEIIb are located mainly in the crystalline lamellae. This paper provides new insights into the roles of BEI, BEIIb, and BEIIa in amylopectin biosynthesis in cereal endosperm.

Exploring the relationship between investors' financial literacy and advisor use with securities‐based loans

AbstractPast literature has explored the characteristics of individuals who use high‐interest and tax‐inefficient consumer debt products, such as carrying a monthly credit card balance and engaging with alternative financial services. That literature revealed that users of these debt products tended to be financially constrained households faced with an immediate liquidity need, and that they had lower levels of financial literacy. Much less is known, however, about the role financial literacy may play when a more advantageous solution may be available but not used—an example of which is securities‐based loans, which offer lower rates and potential tax preferences. Therefore, this study used the 2018 National Financial Capability Study to examine why investors use traditional debt products when they could likely have qualified for a securities‐based loan. Using bounded rationality as a theoretical framework, this research advances the literature in consumer debt and borrowing decisions. The results found that objective knowledge, as opposed to self‐assessed ability or confidence, explained the use of optimal debt products. Additionally, advisor engagement was positively associated with securities‐based loan use.

Heterogeneous responses to school track choice: Evidence from the repeal of binding track recommendations

This paper studies how introducing free school track choice in Germany’s between-school tracking system through a repeal of binding track recommendations affects track decisions by socio-economic status (SES). While highest track enrollment increases for previously ineligible high-SES students relative to comparable low-SES students, the SES gap does not increase. This is because previously eligible low-SES student become more likely to enroll in the highest track. A key mechanism for this response appears to be lower preferences for the intermediate track due to concerns about the inflow of mostly low-achieving and low-SES students from the lowest track after the repeal.

The Variation Between Subjective and Objective Class Positions in South Africa. The Distance Between Perception and Reality

ABSTRACT: The study is an exploratory attempt to assess the relationship between individuals' objective class position and subjective social positions in the South African hierarchy. While objective class dynamics have received much attention in South Africa, less is known about the subjective social position individuals place themselves. The study aims to make use of the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) dataset and assess the relationship between objective and subjective class positions in South Africa. The results show considerable variation between objective and subjective class positions, with a strong middling tendency among all objective class groups in South Africa. The study also shows that this middling tendency has increased in the last decade in South Africa, predominantly due to individuals overestimating their social positions. With a large share of South Africans living close or below the poverty line, there is a clear biasedness of South Africans placing themselves in the middle of society, deviating from their lower objective position. The study further measures the variation between objective and subjective social positions to create a novel class scheme of inflated, deflated, and concordant class perceptions. These biased perceptions are then compared to socio-economic characteristics, showing that gender, race, and education are closely related to bias perceptions in South Africa. Furthermore, the increasing nature of high inequality and social unrest events in South Africa prompts the study also to assess the different social and political attitudes by varying objective and subjective class schemes. The results show that among the subjective class identification, individuals in higher perceived class positions tend to be less angered towards inequality, have lower redistribution preferences, and perceive a weaker conflict between the rich and the poor. These results confirm the impact perceived social positions and biased perceptions could have on social and political attitudes in South Africa. Attitudes that have been considered relevant in voting behavior and social policy formulation models. The results of the paper provides some vital information for policy makers on the dynamics behind subjective class and bias perceptions in South Africa.

Activation of trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) transiently reduces alcohol drinking in socially housed mice.

Alcohol dependence is characterized by the abnormal release of dopamine in the brain reward-related areas. Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor that negatively regulates dopamine neurotransmission and thus is a promising target in the treatment of drug addiction. However, the role of TAAR1 in the regulation of alcohol abuse remains understudied. Here, we assessed the effect of TAAR1 activation on alcohol drinking behaviours of C57Bl/6J female mice housed in IntelliCages. The animals were administered with either vehicle or TAAR1 full selective agonist, RO5256390, and tested for alcohol consumption, alcohol preference and motivation for alcohol seeking. We found that mice with the highest preference for alcohol (high drinkers) in the RO5256390 group consumed less alcohol and had lower alcohol preference in comparison with high drinkers in the vehicle group, during 20 h of free alcohol access (FAA). We also found decreased alcohol consumption and alcohol preference comparing all animals in the RO5256390 to all animals in the vehicle group, during 20 h of FAA performed after the abstinence. These effects of RO5256390 lasted for the first 24 h after administration that roughly corresponded to the compound level in the brain, measured by mass spectrometry. Finally, we found that administration of RO5256390 may attenuate motivation for alcohol seeking. Taken together, our findings reveal that activation of TAAR1 may transiently reduce alcohol drinking; thus, TAAR1 is a promising target for the treatment of alcohol abuse and relapse.

Pairing physical and sensory properties of dysphagia thickeners to understand disliking

Patients with dysphagia who adhere to drinking thickened water is still a challenge, as patients dislike it and it does not quench their thirst. The objective of this study was to relate the physical properties of six commercial thickeners based on gums, modified starch, or mixtures of modified starch and gums, to sensory characteristics and the liking and refreshing sensation. Therefore, viscosity, friction, adhesiveness, and firmness were obtained for all thickeners with and without artificial saliva. Sensory attributes for the six thickeners were obtained using the Flash Profile method; furthermore, acceptance and refreshing sensation were also studied. The results showed that high viscous thickeners without particle presence were preferred. These thickeners were gum-based and starch-dispersed, which were described as providing a viscous and smooth texture and being tasteless. Starch-based thickeners with starch granules with integrity had lower preference than gum-based or starch-dispersed thickeners, and were described as having a sandy and fluid texture, with an intense starch taste and aftertaste. Among the preferred thickeners (gum-based thickeners and starch-dispersed thickeners), a lower friction coefficient was related to a higher refreshing sensation, probably caused by a short oral residence.

Pivot© and check‐all‐that‐apply techniques for the analysis of honey adulteration: impact on consumer liking, emotions and memories

SummaryThe study aimed to combine Pivot© Profile and Check‐all‐that‐apply (CATA) sensory techniques to determine the sensory attributes of adulterated honey and the impact of honey adulteration on consumer liking, emotions, and memories. Consumers (130) performed the Pivot technique to generate the sensory vocabulary. The CATA technique was then used to filter the relevant attributes from samples. This process allowed to reduce the preliminary list from Pivot© Profile (50 attributes) to 12 relevant attributes. Consumers determined liking, emotions and memories on each sample. Regarding preference, the pivot samples and honey with 20% and 40% adulteration were located in the 40% and 80% preference regions in the PREFMAP. The adulterated honey with 60% and 80% had the lowest preference, causing their total rejection. This may be associated with emotions (Aggressive, Disgusted and Bored) and negative memories (Pain, Interpersonal conflict, and Poverty). The combined use of Pivot© and CATA sensory techniques allows for the identification of sensory attributes associated with adulteration. An increase in honey adulteration was associated with negative emotions and memories evoked in consumers that may lead to the rejection of honey.

Volatile organic compounds mediated non-preference for oviposition and feeding of hairy caterpillar, Spilosoma obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in jute

Aim: To identify the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wild and cultivated jute species imparting varying degree of non-preference for oviposition and feeding to jute hairy caterpillar, S. obliqua Walker. Methodology: Different host species of S. obliqua viz., Corchorus olitorius, C. aestuans, C. pseudo-olitorius, C. fascicularis, C. tridens and C. trilocularis were used to find out the feeding and oviposition preference of S. obliqua. Headspace volatiles were collected from different genotypes of jute and the chemical analysis was done with Gas chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The chemical compounds of VOCs responsible for causing non-preference mechanism of host plant selection to S. obliqua. The chemical complexity and chemistry of volatiles from cultivated and wild jute species indicated significant variation. The VOCs identified in C. aestuans was comparatively more than cultivated species and were different from other cultivated and wild species of jute. Very low preference index for larval feeding and oviposition preference of S. obliqua was due to the possible deterrent effect of volatile organic compounds. Interpretation: The GC-MS analysis of VOCs from C. aestuans (WCIN-179) indicated strong repellent action on S. obliqua that makes it resistant due to non-preference mechanism resulting in less preference for egg laying and feeding. The uniqueness and novelty of C. aestuans confirmed on the basis of very unique VOCs profile which makes it resistant against S. obliqua through multiple mechanisms, i.e., antibiosis and non-preference recording least suitable for egg laying, biology and growth of insects. Key words: GC-MS, Hairy caterpillar, Jute, Oviposition, Volatile Organic Compounds

Digital courts and corporate investment in sustainability: Evidence from China

The construction of digital courts is a crucial measure to improve the judicial environment through the deep integration of judicial reform and digital technology. This study examines the impact of the judicial environment on corporate investment in sustainable development programs by exploiting a quasi-natural experiment in China that mandates certain provinces to promote the application of mobile mini courts. Our results show that shocked companies tend to devote more resources to supporting sustainable development. The result is robust to a battery of sensitivity tests. Further analysis suggests that judicial environment enhancement promotes corporate investment in sustainability through increasing firms' litigation risk, improving the protection of property rights, and reducing economic policy uncertainty. Moreover, the heterogeneity results indicate that the positive impact of the judicial environment on corporate investment in sustainability is more pronounced in firms with lower quality of judicial services, a larger size, lower risk preferences, or more significant analysts' forecast errors. In additional tests, we find that the facilitating effect of digital courts is more significant in provinces with less developed economies or higher internet penetration rates. We also find that constructing digital courts can also increase companies' disclosure of information about sustainable projects. Overall, our empirical results contribute to a deeper understanding of the influence of the judicial environment on corporate practices and mainly initiate a thought-provoking insight into how to encourage corporate sustainable behavior.

Participation patterns in elementary school-aged children with autism spectrum disorders and their typically developing peers

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the differences in participation patterns between children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and children with typical development (TD) in Jordan.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a cross-sectional comparative design and convenient and snowball sampling. The sample consisted of 60 children (30 ASD and 30 TD), mean age (nine years), who completed the Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment and the Preferences for Activities of Children (CAPE/PAC) via interview. Analyses consisted of descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U tests.FindingsChildren with ASD had significantly lower participation Diversity (U = 24.00, p < 0.000) and Intensity (U = 110.00, p < 0.000) than children with TD. In addition, children with ASD had significantly lower participation preference in Physical (U = 145.50, p < 0.000), Self-Improvement (U = 163.50, p < 0.000), Skill-Based (U = 281.00, p = 0.01), Social activities (U = 307.50, p = 0.03) and total PAC scale score (U = 246.50, p = 0.003). However, children with ASD had significantly higher Enjoyment (U = 274, p < 0.000) than children with TD.Originality/valueChildren with ASD have restricted participation patterns due to certain ASD features like extreme sensory processing patterns. However, limited research compared participation patterns between school-aged children with ASD and children with TD. This study concluded that participation patterns in children with ASD are different from children with TD.

Luciole, a new font for people with low vision

Low vision affects the ability to read and can be a major barrier to educational success and insertion into the workplace. We designed a new font (Luciole) to improve the readability and comfort for people with low vision. In this study, we analyze the effect of the font type on readability. Luciole was compared to five other fonts (Arial, OpenDyslexic, Verdana, Eido and Frutiger) in 145 French readers (73 with low vision, and 72 normal sighted), aged 6 to 35 years old and divided into four reading expertise groups. Participants completed two tasks, first reading texts on paper and then reading false-words on screen using eye tracking. About half of the participants with low vision had a subjective preference for Luciole when reading on paper and on the screen; lower preference is noted for participants with normal vision. Other readability criteria show a slight advantage of the Luciole font over some fonts (e.g., Eido and OpenDyslexic) in both groups. The results obtained when taking into consideration the level of reading expertise confirm this trend.

Behavioral and neural network characterizations of the reinforcement of voluntary physical activity in heterogenous mice

Maintaining healthy and consistent levels of physical activity (PA) is a cost-effective means of reducing the onset of &gt;40-chronic diseases; however, these benefits go largely unrealized by the ~97% of adult Americans who fail to meet activity guidelines. Our prior work suggests that acute activity engages aversion-related brain regions, which may act as a barrier to PA adherence. Chronic PA is reinforcing and creates neural remodeling a across a network of brain regions belonging to the mesocorticolimbic system - comprising of stress and aversion-related brain regions [such as the basolateral amygdala (BLA)] and important reinforcement brain regions [i.e., the ventral tegmental area (VTA)]. A primary focus of this study is to determine how neural inputs to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) -the central point of convergence for this system– are engaged during acute and chronic PA. Objectives: Here we tested whether sex differences in the reinforcing value of wheel-running exist in a genetically diverse population of mice, the Heterogeneous Stock/Northport (HS/Npt). Moreover, we sought to identify the neural circuits engaged during acute and chronic voluntary wheel-running in these mice. Hypothesis: Given established findings that female rodents run more than males, we hypothesized that female HS/Npt mice would find wheel-running less aversive than males. We further hypothesized that 1-week of voluntary wheel-running would increase cFos expression (compared to mice with 1-week of wheel-lock) in brain regions associated with stress and aversion, whereas 4-weeks of wheel-running would increase neural engagement in brain regions associated with reinforcement, including the NAc, insular cortex, VTA and the medial preoptic area (a sexually dimorphic brain region critical for the estrogenic control of wheel-running in female rodents). Methods: As a proxy for their hedonic state, mice were provided a two-bottle choice saccharin preference test following acute or chronic PA. To better define the mesocorticolimbic system, we used an established retrograde tracer (rAAV-retro) to label the neural inputs to the NAc, which helped to identify important brain region involvement at two distinct stages of PA reinforcement. Results: There were no differences in running distance between female and male mice at 1- or 4-weeks and no differences in saccharin preference at 1-week. In contrast, male HS/Npt showed lower saccharin preference compared to females at 4-weeks of voluntary wheel running, suggesting a potential sex difference in the reinforcement value of chronic PA. Whole brain cFOS imaging is currently underway. Conclusions: It appears that chronic voluntary activity may confer lower hedonic states in male mice. Moreover, an improved understanding of how neural circuits across the mesocorticolimbic system are engaged during crtical stages of PA (in males and females) may prove important for determining neural and behavioral barriers to exercise adherence in humans. American College of Sports Medicine This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Induction of resistance, enzyme activity, and phytochemicals in canola plants treated with abscisic acid elevated based on nutrient availability: a case study on Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

The cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is one of the important pests of cruciferous plants throughout the world including Iran. In the present study, we grew cultivated canola plants under different fertilizers or distilled water and sprayed them with 100 µM abscisic acid (ABA) or a control solution (NaOH dissolved in water) to study (i) the antibiosis parameters of B. brassicae on these plants; (ii) the antixenosis of B. brassicae adults on these plants; (iii) the plant's peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity; and (iv) the plant's total phenolic and glucosinolate content. The results of antibiosis experiments showed that ABA and fertilizers have a profound and negative effect on the performance of B. brassicae. In the antixenosis experiment, control plants attracted a significantly higher number of adult females in comparison to treated plants. Also, B. brassicae had lower performance and preference when they were reared on the ABA-treated fertilized plants with higher levels of phenolic and glucosinolate content. These results prompted us to hypothesize that fertilizers enable canola plants to trigger a higher level of secondary metabolites. Our findings reveal that the type and level of nutrient availability may have different impacts on how the plant regulates its defense mechanisms.

MasitinibL shows promise as a drug-like analog of masitinib that elicits comparable SARS-Cov-2 3CLpro inhibition with low kinase preference

SARS-CoV-2 infection has led to several million deaths worldwide and ravaged the economies of many countries. Hence, developing therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 remains a core priority in the fight against COVID-19. Most of the drugs that have received emergency use authorization for treating SARS-CoV-2 infection exhibit a number of limitations, including side effects and questionable efficacy. This challenge is further compounded by reinfection after vaccination and the high likelihood of mutations, as well as the emergence of viral escape mutants that render SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein-targeting vaccines ineffective. Employing de novo drug synthesis or repurposing to discover broad-spectrum antivirals that target highly conserved pathways within the viral machinery is a focus of current research. In a recent drug repurposing study, masitinib, a clinically safe drug against the human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43), was identified as an antiviral agent with effective inhibitory activity against the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. Masitinib is currently under clinical trial in combination with isoquercetin in hospitalized patients (NCT04622865). Nevertheless, masitinib has kinase-related side effects; hence, the development of masitinib analogs with lower anti–tyrosine kinase activity becomes necessary. In this study, in an attempt to address this limitation, we executed a comprehensive virtual workflow in silico to discover drug-like compounds matching selected pharmacophore features in the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro-bound state of masitinib. We identified a novel lead compound, “masitinibL”, a drug-like analog of masitinib that demonstrated strong inhibitory properties against the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. In addition, masitinibL further displayed low selectivity for tyrosine kinases, which strongly suggests that masitinibL is a highly promising therapeutic that is preferable to masitinib.

The non-unitary nature of information preference

Factors affecting information-seeking behaviour can be task-endogenous (e.g., probability of winning a gamble), or task-exogenous (e.g., personality trait measures). Various task-endogenous factors affecting non-instrumental information-seeking behaviour have been identified, but it is unclear how task-exogenous factors affect such behaviour, and if they interact with task-endogenous factors. In an online information seeking experiment (N = 279), we focus on the role that outcome probability, as a task-endogenous factor, has on information preferences. We find reliable preference for advance information on highly probable gains and low preference for highly probable losses. Comparisons with individual trait measures of information preference (e.g., intolerance of uncertainty scale, obsessive-compulsive inventory, information preferences scale) reveal minimal association between these task-exogenous factors with choice task performance. We also find minimal interaction between outcome probability and individual trait measures. Despite the choice task and trait measures purportedly tapping the same (or similar) construct, the absence of clear relationships ultimately suggests a multi-dimensional nature of information preference.

The role of mental health in online gambling decisions: A discrete choice experiment

People with mental health problems are more likely to experience problems due to gambling, an intersection of two sources of social disadvantage. However, the mechanisms by which this occurs remain unclear. Analysing if choices while gambling differ for people with mental health problems, and whether these differences involve characteristics linked with gambling harms, can improve this understanding. Evidence on this is limited because most studies rely on survey questions or aggregate data which are either self-reported, unlikely to allow for identification of separate features of gambling options, or do not observe the full set of options people are choosing between. Discrete Choice Experiments can circumvent these issues by observing the gambling environment and individual's gambling choices.This study uses a Discrete Choice Experiment to analyse people's choices while gambling, and if these differ for people with mental health problems. Participants were offered a series of 6 choice sets representing online gambling on horse racing; each presented two hypothetical horse races, both with eight horses, differing in the information they provided. Participants chose which race (if any) and horse they would bet on. The choices were modelled using mixed logit models.People with mental health problems had (i) a lower preference for betting on races with information about horses’ recent form and (ii) preferred betting on horses with higher odds. (i) Could indicate that they put less thought into their bet, a sign of gambling as an escape. (ii) Could indicate that they are more risk seeking. These are two gambling characteristics linked with problems due to gambling and are plausible mechanisms by which people with mental health problems may be more likely to develop problems due to gambling.

Students’ Preferences on the Lecturers’ Written Corrective Feedback (WCF) on Their Writing Tasks: A Study at the English Language Education Study Program (ELESP), Faculty of Education, Universitas Jambi

&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;This study analyzes students’ preferences on the lecturer’s written corrective feedback (WCF) on their writing tasks. It looks at how the students want WCF to be written, delivered, and focused on to fulfill the students’ expectations. It also analyzes the students’ preferences on the use of English or Bahasa Indonesia in the WCF to accommodate their learning needs and styles. Through an internet survey delivered to 100 students’ emails, using 5 levels of Likert scales on preferences range, the results show that the students’ preferences varied in terms of types, focuses, and ways the WCF are provided and delivered. It is an evident that many students want the lecturers to provide the correct forms of the errors, to mark and to underline the errors with corrections, and to provide explanations for every single error in their writing tasks. A significant number of the students have a low preference for the use of indirect feedback through cues and prompts. Another interesting result is the fact that many students prefer WCF to be written in Bahasa Indonesia rather than in English. It is recommended that the lecturers flexibly provide WCF according to students’ preferences and expectations to increase their writing skills.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;

Characterization of a sample of Chilean university students in terms of the bitter‐tasting phenotype and genotype and their preferences for basic flavours and associated foods

AbstractThe majority of people have a bitter taster phenotype, they perceive substances such as phenylthiocarbamide (PTC). This could be associated with a lower preference for bitter foods. The ability to detect bitter taste is due to TAS2R28 receptor. The aim of this study was to determine the preferences for basic flavours, taste combinations and bitter taste‐related foods in a sample of Chilean university students and to relate it to their PTC taster phenotype and genotype. A 5‐point Likert‐type online survey on taste and food preferences was applied to 149 Chilean university students (19.2 years; 69.8% women; 29.5% men and 0.7% prefer‐not‐to‐say). It classified students as strong taster (ST), intermediate taster (IT) or non‐taster (NT) through a PTC taste test. To assess the relationship between phenotype or genotype and students' preferences, we analysed frequency tables using Fisher's exact test. To genotype determination, it extracted DNA from buccal mucosal cells of 25 students (18.9 years; 72% female and 28% male). A fragment of TAS2R38 gene amplified (PCR) and digested (HaeIII). Our results show that 85.9% of students had a PTC taster phenotype (37.6% ST, 48.3% IT vs. 14.1% NT). Sweet taste was the most preferred, while bitter taste was the least. There was no association between taste and food preferences with student's phenotype or genotype. ST students presented homozygous taster genotype (55.6%); IT students, heterozygous taster genotype (75%); and NT students, homozygous non‐taster genotype (50%). Both the PTC taster phenotype and genotype associated are not related to a lower preference for bitter taste and foods studied. Our results will allow us to generate promotion and education strategies for healthy eating, through the inclusion of bitter foods.

Mismatches in thermal performance between ectothermic predators and prey alter interaction strength and top-down control

Climate change can alter predator-prey interactions when predators and prey have different thermal preferences as temperature change can exacerbate thermal mismatches (also called thermal asymmetry) with population-level consequences. We tested this using micro-arthropod predators (Stratiolaelaps scimitus) and prey (Folsomia candida) that differ in their temperature optima to examine predator-prey interactions across two temperature ranges, a cool (12 and 20°C) and warm (20 and 26°C) range. We predict that the lower thermal preference and optimum in F. candida will alter top-down control (i.e., interaction strength) by predators with interaction strength being strongest at intermediate temperatures, coinciding with F. candida thermal optimum. Predators and prey were placed in mesocosms, whereafter we measured population (predator and prey abundance), trait-based (average predator and prey body mass, and prey body length distribution), and predator-prey indices (predator-prey mass ratio (PPMR), Dynamic Index, and Log Response Ratio) to determine how temperature affected their interactions. Prey populations were the highest at intermediate temperatures (average temperature exposure: 16-23°C) but declined at warmer temperatures (average temperature exposure: 24.5-26°C). Predators consistently lowered prey abundances and average prey mass increased when predators were added. Top-down control was the greatest at intermediate temperatures (indicated by Log Response Ratio) when temperatures were near or below the thermal optimum for both species. Temperature-related prey declines negated top-down control under the warmest conditions suggesting that mismatches in thermal performance between predators and their prey will alter the strength and dominance of top-down or bottom-up forces of predator-prey interactions in a warmer world.