Preference Behavior Research Articles

An opposition-based differential evolution clustering algorithm for emotional preference and migratory behavior optimization

Clustering has grown to be a research focus in recent years owing to the challenges of labeling massive collected data. Recent advances such as the emotional preference and migratory behavior clustering model jointly utilized the biogeography-based idea and inertia theorem for handling data clustering tasks. However, as with most clustering methods, the initialization for the solution is often purely random. Moreover, the search results vulnerably converge to local optima due to favorable exploration but short exploitation, which requires an additional process to balance them effectively. Inspired by the differential evolution (DE) strategy and the opposition-based learning (OBL) method, the paper proposed a novelty opposition-based differential evolution clustering algorithm for emotional preference and migratory behavior optimization named OBDE-EPMC. Specifically, we first utilize the OBL method to initialize the population to obtain a closer initial individual to the optimal solution. Thereafter, to ensure population diversity during the optimization, we applied the differential evolution (DE) strategy to expand the scope of the solution and the opposition-based learning method to generate an opposite one. Lastly, the historical solution scheme is added to retain the excellent solution within the population. In addition, the theoretical analysis and convergence property proof of OBDE-EPMC are presented. Numerous experiments were performed to compare the proposed OBDE-EPMC with the other seven clustering algorithms on a host of standard datasets. And several standards demonstrate the rationality and effectiveness of our proposed OBDE-EPMC algorithm.

Androgen receptors immunoreactivity in the rat brain of males with same-sex preference

Androgen receptors (AR) are crucial in the control of male sexual behavior and sex preference. AR are particularly concentrated in areas related with the neuroendocrine control of sex preference including the medial amygdala (MeA), the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH), the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), the medial preoptic area (MPOA), the nucleus accumbens (Acb), the suprachiasmatic (SCh) and supraoptic (SO) nuclei, but also seem to be important for the control of reproductive processes in the hippocampus (CA1-CA4 and dentate gyrus, DG). In the present study we analyzed the density of AR in these brain areas of adult male rats with sexual preference (established in a three-compartment box). Same-sex preference was produced in male rats by the prenatal administration of the aromatase inhibitor, letrozole (0.56 μg/kg/ml s.c. G10-22) that usually produces 1–2 animals per litter with same sex preference, while the others retain a female sex preference. We also included a group of proestrus females that had a clear preference for a sexually active male. AR were analyzed by immunocytochemistry using PG21 as primary antibody. We also measured total plasma testosterone concentrations by radioimmunoassay. In males with same sex preference there was a specific AR overexpression in CA3 and CA4 that suggests a feminized pattern because females in proestrus trend to show a higher density of AR in these hippocampal areas. Sex differences in AR density were found in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACg) and frontoparietal cortex (FrPa). Serum levels of testosterone did not differ between groups. Data are discussed based on the role of AR in the hippocampus.

Pricing Policies of Green Dual-Channel Supply Chain with Fairness Concerns and Altruistic Preferences Based on Consumers' Environmental Awareness and Channel Preference.

Taking into consideration fairness concerns and altruistic preferences of manufacturers, this paper aims to propose a green dual-channel supply chain that incorporates consumers’ environmental awareness (CEA) and channel preference. The purpose of this work is to explore and further compare the optimal outcomes in a green dual-channel supply chain in three scenarios, which are the fairness-neutrality scenario (Model N), the manufacturer is concerned with fairness scenario (Model F), and the manufacturer has altruistic preference (Model A), respectively. The game-theoretical models with different fairness preferences, comparative, and numerical analyses are used to put forward the impacts of consumers’ channel preference and CEA on pricing, profits, and utilities, and to identify the differences in decisional outcomes between the three models. The results indicate that CEA always contributes to developing the green market while adversely affecting common products. Moreover, consumers’ channel preferences might enable the manufacturer and retailer to enhance profitability under certain conditions. The findings also reveal that manufacturer’s fairness concerns can possibly increase the demand for green products but impair the overall performance of the supply chain in general. Moreover, while the manufacturer’s altruistic preference benefits the retailer’s profits, it has a detrimental effect on the performance of the green supply chain. The practical implications of this research come to promote green consumption and increasing consumer awareness of environmental protection are effective ways to develop a green supply chain. It is also important to note that in order to maintain the durability and stability of the sup-ply chain, the manufacturer must maintain a moderate level of fairness preference behaviors so that downstream retailers will remain enthusiastic about establishing long-term relationships.

High-protein nutrition during pregnancy increases neuroinflammation and homocysteine levels and impairs behavior in male adolescent rats offspring

AimsThroughout gestation, proteins in the diet are a source of essential amino acids that are crucial for proper healthy fetal growth and development. The present study was proposed to investigate the effect of high-protein diet consumption throughout pregnancy on redox homeostasis, neuroinflammatory status and amino acid levels, including homocysteine, in the male adolescent rats offspring's cerebral cortex. We also performed a battery of behavioral tests to evaluate maternal care, olfactory preference, exploratory capacity, habituation, memory, anxiety- and depression-like behavior motor activity in the offspring. Main methodsAfter pregnancy confirmation, the pregnant rats were randomly divided into two groups, according to the diet: group 1, (control) standard diet containing 20 % protein, and group 2, the high-protein diet containing 50 % protein. Throughout the gestational period, the pregnant rats received experimental diets. Key findingsResults showed an increase in homocysteine levels and neuroinflammatory mediators in the offspring's cerebral cortex from pregnant rats supplemented with a high-protein diet throughout pregnancy. Besides decreasing histidine levels in offspring's serum. The results also revealed an impairment in memory and motricity and an increase in anxiety-like behavior in the offspring supplemented with a high-protein diet throughout pregnancy. Our findings showed a significant effect of high-protein diet consumption throughout pregnancy on offspring's neurobiochemistry, which can negatively impact behavioral performance. SignificanceOur results reinforce the importance of consuming a balanced diet during the gestational period, especially macronutrients such as proteins since the fetus is sensitive to the mother's diet during pregnancy which may impact the development of the offspring.

Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Tend to Select Low-Carbohydrate, Low-Calorie Food Menus at Home on Diet Application.

(1) Background: From the perspective of patient-centered care, it is important for medical professionals involved in diabetes care to know the role of choice behavior when individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus select their meals at home. In Japan, online meal management applications are widely used to help individuals to prepare healthy, colorful, and tasty meals. (2) Objective: To assess menu selection from an online diet management application in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus over a period of 24 months. (3) Method: The saved data of the selected food menus on the online diet management application were analyzed. We identified specific nutritional groups of the food menus, called nutritional clusters, by clustering the multidimensional data of the nutrients after de-dimensioning them. Then, we analyzed the constitutional nutrients of each nutritional cluster with the highest and lowest frequencies of selection by the users of the application. (4) Results: In all, 9674 food menus made by 3164 people were included in the analysis, and 12 nutritional clusters were identified. Low-carbohydrate and low-calorie food clusters showed the highest selection frequency. The average caloric value of 149.7 kcal and average carbohydrate ratio of 47% in the cluster with the highest selection frequency were significantly lower than the average caloric value of 435.2 kcal and carbohydrate ratio of 63% in the cluster with the lowest selection frequency (p < 0.001, respectively). (5) Conclusion: Individuals with type 2 diabetes in this population preferred to select lower-carbohydrate and lower-calorie food menus at home using online diet management applications. To improve sustained self-management and quality of life, medical professionals may consider incorporating preferred dietary behaviors into medical management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The masculinization steroid milieu caused by fluorene-9-bisphenol disrupts sex-typical courtship behavior in female zebrafish (Danio rerio)

In vertebrates, the behavior of congenital sex differences between males and females is highly dependent on steroid signals and hormonal milieu. The presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment generally plays a similar role to sex hormones, so its interference with aquatic organism population stability can not be ignored and is worth studying. Fluorene-9-bisphenol (BHPF) has been clarified as an endocrine disruptor on organisms by several studies but its mechanism in perturbation of courtship behavior of female zebrafish is not clear. Here, we proposed an automated multi-zebrafish tracking method quantifying the courtship process and reported that zebrafish females exposed to BHPF, are not receptive to males but rather court females, and lose normal ovarian function with an altered sex steroid milieu. Our results showed that BHPF damaged 17β-estradiol synthesis by down-regulation of sox3 and cyp19a1a, linking apoptosis with ovary development and female fecundity. The down-regulated expression of estrogen signaling through an estrogen receptor, esr2b, caused the induction of masculinization of female courtship behavior and sexual preference in zebrafish females after BHPF treatment. This process might be mediated by inhibiting the transcription of a neuropeptide B (npb) in the brain. Our study reveals that the estrogen signaling pathway may play an important role in classical courtship behavior and sexual preference of zebrafish. This study provided evidence that anti-estrogenic chemical exposure caused adverse effects on the regulation of the brain-gonad-estrogen axis of aquatic organisms, which should be of concern and highlighted the importance of controlling environmental contamination.

A dopamine-gated learning circuit underpins reproductive state-dependent odor preference in Drosophila females.

Motherhood induces a drastic, sometimes long-lasting, change in internal state and behavior in many female animals. How a change in reproductive state or the discrete event of mating modulates specific female behaviors is still incompletely understood. Using calcium imaging of the whole brain of Drosophila females, we find that mating does not induce a global change in brain activity. Instead, mating modulates the pheromone response of dopaminergic neurons innervating the fly's learning and memory center, the mushroom body (MB). Using the mating-induced increased attraction to the odor of important nutrients, polyamines, we show that disruption of the female fly's ability to smell, for instance the pheromone cVA, during mating leads to a reduction in polyamine preference for days later indicating that the odor environment at mating lastingly influences female perception and choice behavior. Moreover, dopaminergic neurons including innervation of the β'1 compartment are sufficient to induce the lasting behavioral increase in polyamine preference. We further show that MB output neurons (MBON) of the β'1 compartment are activated by pheromone odor and their activity during mating bidirectionally modulates preference behavior in mated and virgin females. Their activity is not required, however, for the expression of polyamine attraction. Instead, inhibition of another type of MBON innervating the β'2 compartment enables expression of high odor attraction. In addition, the response of a lateral horn (LH) neuron, AD1b2, which output is required for the expression of polyamine attraction, shows a modulated polyamine response after mating. Taken together, our data in the fly suggests that mating-related sensory experience regulates female odor perception and expression of choice behavior through a dopamine-gated learning circuit.

A miniaturized electrothermal array for rapid analysis of temperature preference behaviors in ecology and ecotoxicology

Due to technical limitations, there have been minimal studies performed on thermal preferences and thermotactic behaviors of aquatic ectotherm species commonly used in ecotoxicity testing. In this work, we demonstrate an innovative, purpose-built and miniaturized electrothermal array for rapid thermal preference behavioral tests. We applied the novel platform to define thermal preferences in multiple invertebrate and vertebrate species. Specifically, Dugesia notogaea (freshwater planarians), Chironomus tepperi (nonbiting midge larvae), Ostracoda (seed shrimp), Artemia franciscana (brine shrimp), Daphnia carinata (water flea), Austrochiltonia subtenuis (freshwater amphipod), Physa acuta (freshwater snail), Potamopyrgus antipodarum (New Zealand mud snail) and larval stage of Danio rerio (zebrafish) were tested. The Australian freshwater water fleas, amphipods, snail Physa acuta as well as zebrafish exhibited the most consistent preference to cool zones and clear avoidance of zones >27 °C out of nine species tested. Our results indicate the larval stage of zebrafish as the most responsive species highly suitable for prospective development of multidimensional behavioral test batteries. We also showcase preliminary data that environmentally relevant concentrations of pharmaceutical pollutants such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen (9800 ng/L) and insecticide imidacloprid (4600 ng/L) but not anti-depressant venlafaxine (2200 ng/L) and (iv) anticonvulsant medications gabapentin (400 ng/L) can perturb thermal preference behavior of larval zebrafish. Collectively our results demonstrate the utility of simple and inexpensive thermoelectric technology in rapid exploration of thermal preference in diverse species of aquatic animals. We postulate that more broadly such technologies can also have added value in ecotoxicity testing of emerging contaminants.

Movement preferences of the wrist and forearm during activities of daily living

BackgroundDuring activities of daily living, the main degrees of freedom of the forearm and wrist—forearm pronation-supination (PS), wrist flexion-extension (FE), and wrist radial-ulnar deviation (RUD)—combine seamlessly to allow the hand to engage with and manipulate objects in our environment. Yet the combined behavior of these three degrees of freedom is relatively unknown. PurposeTo provide a characterization of natural forearm and wrist kinematics (joint configuration, movement direction, and speed) during activities of daily living. Study designThis is a descriptive cross-sectional study. MethodsTen healthy subjects performed 24 activities of daily living chosen to represent a wide variety of activities, while we measured their PS, FE, and RUD angles using electromagnetic motion capture. The orientation of the forearm and wrist was represented in the three-dimensional “configuration space” spanned by PS, FE, and RUD. From the time course of forearm and wrist orientation in configuration space, we extracted three-dimensional distributions of joint configuration, movement direction, and speed. ResultsMost joint configurations were focused in a relatively small area: subjects spent roughly 50% of the time in the central 20% of their functional range of motion. Some movement directions were significantly more common than others (p < 0.001); in particular, the direction of the dart-thrower's motion (DTM) was about three times more common than motion perpendicular to it. Most movements were slow: the likelihood of moving at increasing speeds dropped off exponentially. Interestingly, the most common high-speed motion combined the DTM with a twist from pronation to supination. As this motion allows one to pick up an object in front of one's body and bring it to the head, it is essential for self-care. Thus, although many activities of daily living follow the DTM without significant forearm rotation, the greatest importance of the DTM may lie in its combination with forearm rotation. ConclusionsDespite the wide variety of activities, we found evidence of preferred movement behavior, and this behavior showed significant coupling between the wrist and forearm.

Ventrolateral Periaqueductal Gray Astrocytes Regulate Nociceptive Sensation and Emotional Motivation in Diabetic Neuropathic Pain.

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is a diabetes complication experienced by many patients. Ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) neurons are essential mediators of the descending pain modulation system, yet the role of vlPAG astrocytes in DNP remains unclear. The present study applied a multidimensional approach to elucidate the role of these astrocytes in DNP. We verified the activation of astrocytes in different regions of the PAG in male DNP-model rats. We found that only astrocytes in the vlPAG exhibited increased growth. Furthermore, we described differences in vlPAG astrocyte activity at different time points during DNP progression. After the 14th day of modeling, vlPAG astrocytes exhibited obvious activation and morphologic changes. Furthermore, activation of Gq-designer receptors exclusively activated by a designer drug (Gq-DREADDs) in vlPAG astrocytes in naive male rats induced neuropathic pain-like symptoms and pain-related aversion, whereas activation of Gi-DREADDs in vlPAG astrocytes in male DNP-model rats alleviated sensations of pain and promoted pain-related preference behavior. Thus, bidirectional manipulation of vlPAG astrocytes revealed their potential to regulate pain. Surprisingly, activation of Gi-DREADDs in vlPAG astrocytes also mitigated anxiety-like behavior induced by DNP. Thus, our results provide direct support for the hypothesis that vlPAG astrocytes regulate diabetes-associated neuropathic pain and concomitant anxiety-like behavior.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Many studies examined the association between the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) and neuropathic pain. However, few studies have focused on the role of vlPAG astrocytes in diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) and DNP-related emotional changes. This work confirmed the role of vlPAG astrocytes in DNP by applying a more direct and robust approach. We used chemogenetics to bidirectionally manipulate the activity of vlPAG astrocytes and revealed that vlPAG astrocytes regulate DNP and pain-related behavior. In addition, we discovered that activation of Gi-designer receptors exclusively activated by a designer drug in vlPAG astrocytes alleviated anxiety-like behavior induced by DNP. Together, these findings provide new insights into DNP and concomitant anxiety-like behavior and supply new therapeutic targets for treating DNP.

An age-related decline in the cholinergic synaptic response may cause the firing pattern in the jaw-closing motor neurons, which resembles the aversive taste response in the feeding behavior of old Aplysia kurodai.

Anorexia due to aging is recognized as a syndrome of animal feeding behavior. Age-related functional disorders of the brain often cause behavioral changes. We used Aplysia kurodai to study this neural mechanism, following our previous study on food preference behaviors. The age of each wild animal was defined by a previously described method, and a significant age-related decline in food intake was observed. In this study, we explored the effects of aging on a specific inhibitory synaptic response in jaw-closing (JC) motor neurons produced by cholinergic multiaction (MA) neurons, the size of which determines the delay between MA and JC firings and this delay is reduced during aversive taste responses; in our analyses, we found a significant age-related decline in the synaptic response. Thereafter, we further explored whether such functional decline affects the JC firing pattern during the normal feeding response. During the feeding-like rhythmic responses induced by electrical nerve stimulation, the firing of the JC motor neurons advanced toward that of the MA burst, which typically happens during aversive taste responses. These results suggest that the age-related decline in the cholinergic synaptic response may partly cause the JC firing patterns that resemble the aversive taste response in old animals.

The Intersection of Persuasive System Design and Personalization in Mobile Health: Statistical Evaluation.

BackgroundPersuasive technology is an umbrella term that encompasses software (eg, mobile apps) or hardware (eg, smartwatches) designed to influence users to perform preferable behavior once or on a long-term basis. Considering the ubiquitous nature of mobile devices across all socioeconomic groups, user behavior modification thrives under the personalized care that persuasive technology can offer. However, there is no guidance for developing personalized persuasive technologies based on the psychological characteristics of users.ObjectiveThis study examined the role that psychological characteristics play in interpreted mobile health (mHealth) screen perceived persuasiveness. In addition, this study aims to explore how users’ psychological characteristics drive the perceived persuasiveness of digital health technologies in an effort to assist developers and researchers of digital health technologies by creating more engaging solutions.MethodsAn experiment was designed to evaluate how psychological characteristics (self-efficacy, health consciousness, health motivation, and the Big Five personality traits) affect the perceived persuasiveness of digital health technologies, using the persuasive system design framework. Participants (n=262) were recruited by Qualtrics International, Inc, using the web-based survey system of the XM Research Service. This experiment involved a survey-based design with a series of 25 mHealth app screens that featured the use of persuasive principles, with a focus on physical activity. Exploratory factor analysis and linear regression were used to evaluate the multifaceted needs of digital health users based on their psychological characteristics.ResultsThe results imply that an individual user’s psychological characteristics (self-efficacy, health consciousness, health motivation, and extraversion) affect interpreted mHealth screen perceived persuasiveness, and combinations of persuasive principles and psychological characteristics lead to greater perceived persuasiveness. The F test (ie, ANOVA) for model 1 was significant (F9,6540=191.806; P<.001), with an adjusted R2 of 0.208, indicating that the demographic variables explained 20.8% of the variance in perceived persuasiveness. Gender was a significant predictor, with women having higher perceived persuasiveness (P=.008) relative to men. Age was a significant predictor of perceived persuasiveness with individuals aged 40 to 59 years (P<.001) and ≥60 years (P<.001). Model 2 was significant (F13,6536=341.035; P<.001), with an adjusted R2 of 0.403, indicating that the demographic variables self-efficacy, health consciousness, health motivation, and extraversion together explained 40.3% of the variance in perceived persuasiveness.ConclusionsThis study evaluates the role that psychological characteristics play in interpreted mHealth screen perceived persuasiveness. Findings indicate that self-efficacy, health consciousness, health motivation, extraversion, gender, age, and education significantly influence the perceived persuasiveness of digital health technologies. Moreover, this study showed that varying combinations of psychological characteristics and demographic variables affected the perceived persuasiveness of the primary persuasive technology category.

Analisis Faktor Preferensi Milenial Bekerja Terhadap Pemilihan Hotel

Analysis Of Working Millenial Behavioral Factors on Hotel Choosing Preferences. Some millennials need a comfortable resting place for business trips. The purpose of this study is to analyze what factors influence millennial behavior towards their preferences for choosing hotels during business trips. This study uses a quantitative method with an EFA (Exploratory Factor Analysis) approach with secondary data and primary data stages referring to millennial preference behavior in choosing hotel recommendations. The results of the analysis of millennial behavior factors on preferences for choosing hotels when traveling on business, can show the recommendation of the millennial generation's choice of hotels for business travel needs which refers to millennial behavior towards preferences.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords : Working Millennials, Preferences, Hotel, Exploratory Factor Analysis

A matter of time: A systematic scoping review on a potential role of the circadian system in binge eating behavior.

BackgroundEmerging research suggests that food intake timing, eating behavior and food preference are associated with aspects of the circadian system function but the role that the circadian system may play in binge eating (BE) behavior in humans remains unclear.ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the evidence for circadian system involvement in BE behavior.MethodsSystematic searches of PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus were performed for reports published from inception until May 2020 (PROSPERO Registration CRD42020186325). Searches were conducted by combining Medical Subject Headings related to the circadian system, BE behavior, and/or interventions. Observational and interventional studies in humans with BE behavior published in peer-review journals in the English language were included. Studies were assessed using quality and risk of bias tools (AXIS, ROB 2.0, or ROBINS).ResultsThe search produced 660 articles, 51 of which were included in this review. Of these articles, 46 were observational studies and 5 were interventional trials. Evidence from these studies suggests that individuals with BE behavior tend to have more food intake, more binge cravings, and more BE episodes later in the day. Hormonal and day/night locomotor activity rhythm disturbances may be associated with BE behavior. Furthermore, late diurnal preference (“eveningness”) was associated with BE behavior and chronobiological interventions that shift the circadian clock earlier (e.g., morning bright light therapy) were found to possibly decrease BE behavior. Substantive clinical overlap exists between BE and night eating behavior. However, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding their potential relationship with the circadian system. Limitations include the lack of studies that use best-established techniques to assess the chronobiology of BE behavior, heterogeneity of participants, diagnostic criteria, and study design, which preclude a meta-analytic approach.ConclusionCurrent evidence, although limited, suggests that the circadian system may play a role in the etiology of BE behavior. Further mechanistic studies are needed to fully characterize a potential role of the circadian system in BE behavior. A chronobiological approach to studying BE behavior may lead to identification of its neurobiological components and development of novel therapeutic interventions.Systematic review registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020186325], identifier [CRD42020186325].

A model for colour preference behaviour of spring migrant aphids.

Aphids are economically and ecologically important herbivorous insects. A critical step in their life cycle is the visually guided host finding behaviour. To elucidate the role of colour in host finding of aphid spring migrants we conducted large colour trap experiments in the field and analysed aphid catch data, using trap spectral reflectance data as input. Based on known and putative photoreceptor sensitivities we developed and optimized a simple empirical colour choice model for spring migrants of different aphid species which confirmed and explained the yellow preference of these insects. In a further step, we applied multivariate statistical methods to behavioural and reflectance data, but without data on photoreceptor sensitivities, to find the wavelengths of greatest importance for the aphids' behavioural responses. This analysis confirmed the position of the green photoreceptor peak previously obtained independently with electrophysiological methods. In a final step, we applied the colour preference model to a dataset of leaf spectra. This showed that aphid visual preference would be dependent on the plants’ nutritional status, with lower nitrogen input being associated with stronger preference, despite known benefits of high nitrogen levels for aphid reproduction and fitness. Ecological and evolutionary implications of these results are discussed.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding colour vision: molecular, physiological, neuronal and behavioural studies in arthropods’.

Early-Stage High-Concentration Thiacloprid Exposure Induced Persistent Behavioral Alterations in Zebrafish.

As a major neonicotinoid insecticide, thiacloprid (THCP) is frequently detected in aquatic environments worldwide due to its heavy use, posing potential threats to aquatic organisms. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were exposed to THCP (1, 10, 100, 1000 and 10,000 μg/L) for 5 days and then recovered in THCP-free water for 20 days to investigate the effects of early-stage THCP exposure on the development, antioxidant defense, and neurotransmitter systems of zebrafish, and explore their recovery mechanism. The results show that THCP exposure induced developmental toxicity and oxidative stress in zebrafish. The hypoactivity, behavioral alterations (decreased avoidance and edge preference behaviors) and neurotoxicity were found throughout the exposure-recovery experiments. THCP exposure altered the expression of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)- and serotonin (5-HT)-related genes accompanied by the decrease in GABA and 5-HT contents. However, after recovery, GABA content returned to the control level, but 5-HT did not, indicating that only the serotonergic system was persistently disrupted. Overall, our results suggest that the disruption of the serotonergic system and oxidative stress may aggravate neurotoxicity and that the former was the main reason for the depressive-like behavior. This study could help to unravel the mechanisms of the behavioral alterations induced by early-stage THCP exposure in zebrafish.

The Effects of Service Marketing Mix Factors (7P) on Experience Satisfaction and Consumer Preference Behavior in Beauty Service

4P mix(Product, Place, Promotion, Price) was mainly used as a marketing mix strategy for manufactured goods. However, in the service industry, in addition to this 4P mix, the need to add 3P mix (Physical Evicence, People, Process) has emerged due to its characteristics. These service marketing 7P mixes are applied and implemented in various ways to the beauty industry. This study was attempted based on these service marketing 7P mix elements. In other words, the purpose of this study is to verify which of the 7P mixes elements of service marketing for beauty industry affects the customer's preference behavior and experience satisfaction. Data collection for this study was conducted through a survey of people who have used beauty salon. Structural equation analysis was conducted using the statistical program AMOS &amp; SPSS with the collected data. As a result of the test of this study hypothesis, it was found that ‘People’ factor had the highest positive effect on customers' preference behavior and experience satisfaction. In future studies, more extended research that can be variables that can effect on customer's preference behavior and experience satisfaction needs to be attempted.

A novel cholinergic projection from the lateral parabrachial nucleus and its role in methamphetamine-primed conditioned place preference.

Drug relapse is a big clinical challenge in the treatment of addiction, but its neural circuit mechanism is far from being fully understood. Here, we identified a novel cholinergic pathway from choline acetyltransferase-positive neurons in the external lateral parabrachial nucleus (eLPBChAT) to the GABAergic neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeAGABA) and explored its role in methamphetamine priming-induced reinstatement of conditioned place preference. The anatomical structure and functional innervation of the eLPBChAT–CeAGABA pathway were investigated by various methods such as fluorescent micro-optical sectioning tomography, virus-based neural tracing, fibre photometry, patch-clamp and designer receptor exclusively activated by a designer drug. The role of the eLPBChAT–CeAGABA pathway in methamphetamine relapse was assessed using methamphetamine priming-induced reinstatement of conditioned place preference behaviours in male mice. We found that the eLPBChAT neurons mainly projected to the central nucleus of the amygdala. A chemogenetic activation of the eLPBChAT neurons in vitro or in vivo triggered the excitabilities of the CeAGABA neurons, which is at least in part mediated via the cholinergic receptor system. Most importantly, the chemogenetic activation of either the eLPBChAT neurons or the eLPBChAT neurons that project onto the central nucleus of the amygdala decreased the methamphetamine priming-induced reinstatement of conditioned place preference in mice. Our findings revealed a previously undiscovered cholinergic pathway of the eLPBChAT–CeAGABA and showed that the activation of this pathway decreased the methamphetamine priming-induced reinstatement of conditioned place preference.

Hydrogen adsorption with micro-structure deformation in nanoporous carbon under ultra-high pressure

Hydrogen adsorption with micro-structure deformation under ultra-high pressure in nanoporous carbon (NPC) has been studied. This study proposed a new ultra-high pressurization (UHP) method. It produces a gas atmosphere of over 100 MPa utilizing the cold isostatic pressing (CIP) device. NPC materials were pressurized under a hydrogen atmosphere at 100–400 MPa. NPC fabricated from rice husk via KOH activation possesses a high surface area achieving 3500 cm2/g and a micropore volume of over 2.0 cm3/g. The maximum hydrogen uptake reached 3.2 wt% (77 K, 0.1 MPa). Then, NPC materials were treated with 100–400 MPa pressurization in the hydrogen atmosphere. NPC showed a preferred deformation behavior of 1.1–1.2 nm after pressurization, which is the optimum size for hydrogen adsorption. Additionally, the maximum micropore volume increased to 2.51 cm3/g. However, the hydrogen uptake shows a slight decrease to 3.0 wt%. The isosteric heat of adsorption maintained at 8.0–10.3 kJ/mol.

New distribution record of Gazalina chrysolopha Kollar, 1844 (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) in the Trans-Himalayan region of western Nepal

Gazalina chrysolopha Kollar, 1844 is a white moth with several black line patterns. It belongs to family Notodontidae. The major habitat consists of oak and alder forests in the Himalaya. The moth is associated with the cause of corneal melting eye disease. The finding of a moth in a trans-Himalayan region set forth the change of current distribution range, host, and habitat preference behaviors.