Preferred Product Research Articles

Understanding how they really feel: Lesson learned from four approaches to soliciting user preferences for new contraceptive products in development.

An expanded range of contraceptive methods could reduce unintended pregnancies. User preferences research is important for successful development of products people want to use. This paper describes four approaches to preferences research soliciting user input in different ways: 1) perspectives on contraceptive method characteristics, 2) reactions to products in development, 3) trade-offs between contraceptive method characteristics, and 4) "blue-sky" ideas on novel contraceptive technologies. We conducted two mixed-method studies: one implemented in Burkina Faso and Uganda combining three of these approaches, and the other implemented in India and Nigeria using two approaches. We share observations on the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and draw on our experience to highlight lessons learned for future user preferences studies. Each approach contributes to product development in different ways, and the usefulness of each methodology depends on the product development stage and corresponding informational needs. Recommendations for future research include combining different methods, angles, and perspectives; using sequential designs whenever possible; tailoring product descriptions to user understanding for optimal feedback; and acknowledging the value and limitations of both quantitative results for modeling demand and idiosyncratic ideas to inspire development of new products.

Slow food and the slow food movement: a case study of consumer activism in Turkiye

PurposeThe slow food movement has become increasingly widespread globally in recent years. This paper focuses on explaining how Turkish cuisine, which has a deep-rooted history, meshes with the slow food movement and how this movement affects consumer behavior.Design/methodology/approachBased on expert opinion analysis with academics knowledgeable about the food industry and gastronomy, this paper explores how the slow food movement in Turkiye is evolving and how consumers perceive it. Content analysis was applied to the data obtained from the personal interviews.FindingsThe authors find that the slow food movement creates a strong brand image for businesses that rely on emphasizing the responsibility to the ecological system while appealing to the five senses of consumers. It already shows great potential even in emerging markets where typical household discretionary income is modest.Practical implicationsBased on key theories regarding all sales activism cases, the authors have offered insights into the dynamics, motivations and techniques of the case. Ensuring the preservation of the slow food movement, framing and creating associations need to be examined.Originality/valueSlow food is a movement that emerged against the standard, fast, tasty, but unhealthy products of the fast-food industry. It entails product variety, local flavors and preference for the single-flavor focus embedded in the fast-food movement. The movement started with considerations of gastronomy and later was institutionalized as a social movement phenomenon. Later, it expanded its base to activism, targeting various social issues.

Complex dynamics of dual oligopoly demand uncertainty under carbon emission trading mechanism

The international community's growing focus on energy conservation and emission reduction has led businesses to prioritize low-carbon operations and the marketing of environmentally friendly products during their production processes. On the one hand, with the reform of carbon emissions trading, carbon emission trading has become a potential profit point for enterprises. On the contrary, the consumer market is influenced by the uncertain external environment. And consumers' environmental awareness increases the uncertainty of product demand. Therefore, the intricate dynamics of dual oligopoly demand uncertainty within the framework of a carbon emission trading mechanism are explored in this scholarly analysis. The best market Porter's generic strategies, including emission reduction investment and product pricing how can carbon quotas, uncertainty in market demand, and consumer environmental preferences improve expected profits? The results show that technology emission reduction costs, carbon emission trading prices and consumer preferences for low-carbon products. It is an important factor that affects the competitive strategy of the two enterprises. The different values of the above factors will change the relative intensity of emission reduction investment and the relative profitability of the two. Complete company statement in a balanced state. This article also investigates the complexity of adjusting the dynamic evolution path of competitive strategies between two organizations. Feedback controllers can effectively suppress unstable equilibrium states and provide effective references for their stable operation.

Electrospun nanofiber drug delivery systems and recent applications: An overview

Fiber technology plays a significant role in advancing drug research. While developing drug delivery systems, nanofiber technology has gained importance due to its high surface area to volume ratio and porosity. The most preferred nanofiber production method is the electrospinning method. This review focuses on electrospun nanofiber drug delivery systems, including analysis of critical process parameters affecting electrospinning and nanofiber properties. Moreover, the design strategies for nanofiber drug delivery systems are explored, including equipment preferences and design types. Given to these design strategies, it is possible to design either nanofiber mat or nanofiber itself. It has been shown that a tailor-made drug delivery system can be prepared using axial-based nozzles and other equipment options. In addition, the prominent features and usage areas of frequently used polymers are mentioned. General characterization studies of post-production nanofibers are discussed. Examples of areas of use for pharmaceutical purposes are presented. Finally, drug release kinetics were evaluated on electrospun nanofiber drug delivery systems. As a result of exhaustive evaluations, various effective applications in the literature have been shown to achieve remarkable results such as drug release manipulation, drug targeting, self-assembling formulation strategies. Therefore, it is clear that in the field of electrospun nanofiber technology, it is possible to modify all the process options and develop a unique drug delivery product, thanks to a comprehensive evaluation of the critical quality parameters of the drug product.

Consumer acceptance and quality of game meat “droëwors” sausages with different levels of added fat

Droëwors (dried sausage) is a unique dried meat product from South Africa, which is not smoked, fermented, nor is nitrite used in its production. The objective of the study was to compare the quality parameters and consumer acceptance of common eland meat droëwors with different quantities of added beef fat. Three treatments containing either 10, 15, or 20% (by weight) added beef fat were compared regarding chemical composition, fatty acid profiles, and sensory properties. Increasing the amount of fat in the dried product resulted in a significant decrease in the protein and ash percentages. The sausages with 10% added fat had the most favourable fatty acid profile in terms of nutritional value. Several differences were found in the sensory profiles of the products evaluated by the trained sensory panel; in particular, the evaluation scores for texture improved with increasing fat content. No differences were found between the products by the untrained consumer panel for appearance and taste. When the dataset was analysed according to gender, it was found that women evaluated the 10% fat samples more favourably. This is in line with their stated preference for low-fat meat products. For these reasons, the production of sausages with the lowest fat content can be recommended as they best meet consumer expectations.

Sustaining beyond the production of cocoa for beans: The preference and impact of products from the cocoa husk

The cocoa pod husk, a waste in most cocoa farms, has recently received alternative uses in various industries. To cocoa farmers, potash and black soap are their main products from the husk. This alternative use presents an excellent opportunity for improving the livelihoods of cocoa farmers. Nevertheless, there is sparse evidence of farmers' willingness to produce black soap and its potential implication on their welfare. We employed a multistage sampling approach to close this gap to draw data from 150 cocoa farmers from Ahafo Ano North District, Ghana. We analysed the data with binary probit, ordered probit and Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment. We found that marital status, membership of FBO, knowledge of black soap production, and credit access influence farmers' willingness to produce (WTP) black soap. Again, gender, marital status, age, farm income, farming experience and knowledge of black soap have a significant but heterogeneous effect on the tipping point that stimulates farmers' willingness to accept (WTA) black soap production. The impact assessment revealed that black soap production has substantial welfare gains. Thus, it increases farmer's per capita expenditure. Therefore, stakeholders like the Cocoa Research Institute, Ghana COCOBOD and cocoa-licensed buying companies should invest in procuring portable ashing kilns at subsidised prices and train farmers on packaging and labelling to expedite, revitalise and modernise black soap production. Notwithstanding, future research could look at the profitability analysis of black soap production.

FISH PRODUCTION AND MARKETING IN INDIA

Fish production and marketing in India is vital sector that plays a significant role in the countrys economy and food security. With a vast coastline and numerous inland water bodies, India has immense potential for fish production. the sector provides employment opportunities to millions of people, particularly in coastal and rural areas. However, the sector is undergoing a transformation, with increased adoption of modern technologies and practices to improve productivity and quality. The government has also launched various schemes and initiatives to support the sector. The marketing of fish in India is primarily conducted through traditional fish market, retail shops, and online platforms. With the growth of the e-commerce industry in India, many fish producer and retailers have started using digital platforms to reach a wider audience. However, there is still a need for further investments in technology, infrastructure, and research to enhance the sectors efficiency and profitability. Effective marketing strategies that consider the diverse consumer preference and demand for fish products across different regions in India can also contribute to the sectors growth and development KEY WORDS: Aquaculture, fish farming, fish markets, fish conservation and sustainability

An analysis of packaging as a promotional tool for enhancing consumer preference for Coca-Cola products in Enugu metropolis, Nigeria

The growth of competition has made it necessary for packaging to extend its traditional functions of containing and protecting to drawing attention to a particular brand, breaking through distinctive shape and design, variant sizes and labelling, thereby highlighting brand features and benefits. Hence, the main aim of this study was to analyze packaging as a promotional tool for enhancing consumer preference for Coca-Cola products. However, the specific objectives were to: examine the extent to which distinctive shape and design enhance consumer preference for Coca-Cola products; examine the extent to which variant sizes enhance consumer preference for Coca-Cola products; and examine the extent to which labelling enhances consumer preference for Coca-Cola products. Three null hypotheses were formulated in line with the research objectives. The study was conducted in Enugu metropolis. The study population was unknown, and which sample size of 384 was determined using Yamane formula for an infinite population. The instrument used for data collection was primarily a questionnaire. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used to aid the data analysis descriptively using frequency and percentage tables and mean scores while logistic regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. The findings show that packaging- distinctive shape, variant sizes and labelling- significantly enhances consumer preference for Coca-Cola products. The study recommended that firms should enhance packaging to enhance consumer preference for their products.

Modern aspects of the livestock industry development, considering the analysis of consumer preferences for meat and meat products

In the modern conditions of the development of economic relations, consumer behavior in relation to the choice, purchase and consumption of food has been significantly transformed. This state of affairs encourages market participants to seriously change their approaches to working with consumers, the basis of which should be a multifactorial study of consumer preferences. At the moment, this transformation is of particular interest in the main markets, which include the meat and meat products market. This article attempts to study the transformation of consumer preferences for meat and meat products in modern conditions. Special attention is focused on such a parameter as the product quality. In the course of the study, a model was proposed for evaluating the decision-making process on the purchase of meat and meat products by the consumer, considering the essential factors of choice, the results of the marketing research were presented, the main conclusions regarding the transformation of consumer preferences were formulated, the importance of such criteria as product safety, animal husbandry, environmental impact was assessed. On the part of consumer organizations, the interrelation of such criteria forming the quality of the product as freshness, compliance with microbiological indicators, compliance with temperature control, which are currently a priority when choosing a supplier, is evaluated. The main conclusions are presented, which allow to consider the main promising areas of development of organizations engaged in meat production. The practical significance of the research lies in the possibility for organizations operating in this market to create successful marketing strategies and will significantly make the manufactured products of the quality necessary for the consumer.

The Impact of E-Commerce on Consumer Behaviour: A Comparative Analysis of Traditional and Online Shopping Patterns

This study investigates the influence of e-commerce on consumer behavior by conducting a comparative analysis of traditional and online shopping patterns. With the rapid growth of online retail platforms, understanding how consumers' shopping behaviors differ between traditional brick-and-mortar stores and online platforms is crucial for businesses and policymakers alike. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys, interviews, and data analysis, this research examines various aspects of consumer behavior, such as purchase decision-making processes, product preferences, and satisfaction levels, across different shopping environments.

The effect of iconic packaging cues to pharmaceuticals on product preferences: The mediating roles of perceived effectiveness and aversive emotions

The effect of iconic packaging cues to pharmaceuticals on product preferences: The mediating roles of perceived effectiveness and aversive emotions

Computational screening of defective BC3-supported single-atom catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction.

The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR) driven by renewable electricity offers a green and sustainable technology for synthesizing chemicals and managing global carbon balance. However, developing electrocatalysts with high activity and selectivity for producing C1 products (CO, HCOOH, CH3OH, and CH4) remains a daunting task. In this study, we conducted comprehensive first-principles calculations to investigate the eCO2RR mechanism using B-defective BC3-supported transition metal single-atom catalysts (TM@BC3 SACs). Initially, we evaluated the thermodynamic and electrochemical stability of the designed 26 TM@BC3 SACs by calculating the binding energy and dissolution potential of the anchored TM atoms. Subsequently, the selectivity of the eCO2RR and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on stable SACs was determined by comparing the free energy change (ΔG) for the first protonation of CO2 with the ΔG of *H formation. The stability and selectivity screening processes enabled us to narrow down the pool of SACs to the 14 promising ones. Finally, volcano plots for the eCO2RR towards different C1 products were established by using the adsorption energy descriptors of key intermediates, and three SACs were predicted to exhibit high activity and selectivity. The limiting potentials (UL) for HCOOH production on Pd@BC3 and Ag@BC3 are -0.11 V and -0.14 V. CH4 is a preferred product on Re@BC3 with UL of -0.22 V. Elaborate electronic structure calculations elucidate that the activity and selectivity originate from the sufficient activation of the C-O bond and the strong orbital hybridization between crucial intermediates and metal atoms. The proposed catalyst screening criteria, constructed volcano plots and predicted SACs may provide a theoretical foundation for the development of computationally guided catalyst designs for electrochemical CO2 conversion to C1 products.

Enhancing CO2 electroreduction performance through transition metal atom doping and strain engineering in γ-GeSe: a first-principles study.

The development of electrocatalysts that exhibit stability, high activity, and selectivity for CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR) remains a significant challenge. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) hold promise in addressing this challenge due to their high atomic utilization efficiency. In this study, we explore the potential of monolayer γ-GeSe doped with transition metals, referred to as TM@γ-GeSe, for facilitating electrocatalytic CO2RR. Among the 26 TM@γ-GeSe SACs systematically designed, we have identified four stable transition metal catalysts (TM = Rh, Pd, Pt, and Au). Mechanistic investigations into the CO2RR pathways reveal exceptional electrocatalytic activity for Rh@γ-GeSe and Pd@γ-GeSe, with limiting potentials of -0.26 and -0.35 V, respectively. Particularly, Pd@γ-GeSe exhibits outstanding product selectivity toward formic acid. The introduction of strain engineering induces modifications in the catalytic activity and selectivity of Rh@γ-GeSe. Notably, a 1% tensile strain promotes formic acid as the preferred product, thereby improving the specific product selectivity of Rh@γ-GeSe. Conversely, compressive strain reduces CO2RR activity while enhancing the hydrogen evolution reaction, leading to a decrease in CO2RR selectivity. Furthermore, we use the work function as a descriptor to elucidate the underlying mechanism of strain tunability. We hope that our theoretical study will offer valuable insights for the design of catalysts based on γ-GeSe for electrocatalytic CO2RR.

Patient Acceptability and Preferences for Solid Oral Dosage Form Drug Product Attributes: A Scoping Review.

There is no consistent framework for patient-centric drug product design, despite the common understanding that drug product acceptability and preferences influence adherence and, therefore, drug product effectiveness. The aim of this review was to assess current understanding of patient acceptability and preferences for solid oral dosage form (SODF) drug product attributes, and the potential impact of these attributes on patient behaviors and outcomes. A scoping review was conducted. Embase, Ovid MEDLINE®, and PubMed® were searched for full-text articles published between January 2013 and May 2023. Following screening and assessment against predefined inclusion criteria, data were analyzed thematically. Nineteen studies were included. Four overarching domains of drug product attributes were identified and summarized in a framework: appearance, swallowability, palatability, and handling. Each domain was informed by specific drug product attributes: texture, form, size, shape, color, marking, taste, mouthfeel, and smell. The most frequently studied domains were swallowability and appearance, while the most studied attributes were size, shape, and texture. Smell, marking, and mouthfeel were the least studied attributes. Texture intersected all domains, while form, shape, and size intersected appearance, swallowability, and handling. Swallowability and size appeared to be the key domain and attribute, respectively, to consider when designing drug products. Few studies explored the impact of drug product attributes on behaviors and outcomes. While existing studies of drug product attributes have focused on appearance and swallowability, this review highlighted the importance of two less well-understood domains-palatability and handling-in understanding patients' acceptability and preferences for SODF drug products. The framework provides a tool to facilitate patient-centric design of drug products, organizing and categorizing physical drug product attributes into four overarching domains (appearance, swallowability, palatability, and handling), encouraging researchers to comprehensively assess the impact of drug product attributes on patient acceptability, preferences, and outcomes.

A Demand Forecasting Model Leveraging Machine Learning to Decode Customer Preferences for New Fashion Products

A Demand Forecasting Model Leveraging Machine Learning to Decode Customer Preferences for New Fashion Products

The role of social media influencers in shaping consumer preferences for skincare products

The role of social media influencers in shaping consumer preferences for skincare products

Advancements in sustainable food packaging: from eco-friendly materials to innovative technologies

The demand for sustainable food packaging solutions has escalated in response to growing environmental concerns and consumer preferences for eco-friendly products.

The Evolution of the Romanian Organic Agriculture in a Global Context

Organic agriculture is widely considered an agricultural method that aims to produce food products by turning to natural processes and substances, limiting, in the same time, the impact on the environment. In the last period, there has been an evident growing trend in consumers’ preference for organic food products, that determines the agricultural producers and systems to adapt to this demand, by turning to organic agricultural practices. In this context, the aim of this work is to analyse the evolution of the Romanian organic agriculture over a period of 12 years, between 2010-2021, especially regarding the organic cultivated area and crop’s structure, having also in view the global context of the agricultural organic sector. The analysis highlighted an important development of the organic area during this timeframe, based, mainly, on permanent grassland, cereals, industrial crops and “other crops”, at the end of the interval Romania being among the countries with the highest contribution to the increase of the European organic land area.

Consumer preferences for eco-friendly products

Consumer preferences for eco-friendly products

Consumer Behaviour and Sustainable Product Choices: Insights from Visual Trends

This research explores consumer behaviour towards sustainable product choices, emphasizing the influence of visual trends. Utilizing a comprehensive survey, we examined aspects such as environmental impact awareness during purchases, recycling practices, and reactions to eco-labelling. The data, visualized through Python, revealed a preference for sustainable products among environmentally aware consumers. However, a paradox emerges with the persistent preference for non-reusable plastics, despite awareness of their environmental impact. These findings underscore the complexity of consumer behaviour and highlight the necessity for education and practical measures to foster truly sustainable choices. This study contributes novel insights into the dynamics of consumer decision-making in the context of environmental sustainability.