Systematic Preference Research Articles

Caenorhabditis elegans germ granules accumulate hundreds of low translation mRNAs with no systematic preference for germ cell fate regulators.

In animals with germ plasm, embryonic germline precursors inherit germ granules, condensates proposed to regulate mRNAs coding for germ cell fate determinants. In Caenorhabditis elegans, mRNAs are recruited to germ granules by MEG-3, a sequence non-specific RNA-binding protein that forms stabilizing interfacial clusters on germ granules. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we confirmed that 441 MEG-3-bound transcripts are distributed in a pattern consistent with enrichment in germ granules. Thirteen are related to transcripts reported in germ granules in Drosophila or Nasonia. The majority, however, are low-translation maternal transcripts required for embryogenesis that are not maintained preferentially in the nascent germline. Granule enrichment raises the concentration of certain transcripts in germ plasm but is not essential to regulate mRNA translation or stability. Our findings suggest that only a minority of germ granule-associated transcripts contribute to germ cell fate in C. elegans and that the vast majority function as non-specific scaffolds for MEG-3.

E-COMMERCE’S MARKETING STRATEGY TO INCREASE CUSTOMER PREFERENCE AND SATISFACTION

<p>In the midst of increasing e-commerce competition and the dynamics of consumer behavior, industry players need to think strategically to carry out systematic consumer preference research so as not to be left behind in business competition. This research aims to investigate the influence of service quality on brand preference and satisfaction, the influence of perceived risk on brand preference and satisfaction, the influence of perceived price on brand preference and satisfaction, and the influence of brand preference on satisfaction. There were 198 respondents in the research using purposive sampling, namely Lazada consumers who made at least one purchase. The results of this research are that service quality has a positive effect on brand preference and customer satisfaction, perceived risk has no effect on brand preference and customer satisfaction, the price has a positive effect on brand preference but has no effect on customer satisfaction, and brand preference has a positive effect on customer satisfaction. The managerial implication of this research is that e-commerce business players need to focus on service quality because it has the biggest influence on customer preferences and satisfaction.</p>

The Categorization of Continuous Attributes

ABSTRACTA continuous attribute (e.g., calorie count) can be classified into separate categories (e.g., high vs. low), and a similar attribute value can fall into different categories depending on where the category boundaries are drawn. This research explores the effect of categorization on judgments of options (e.g., products and incentive‐compatible games) with continuous attributes. I predict and find a systematic preference shift between two options that were presented with different categorization criteria: When two options involve a tradeoff between two continuous attributes, people tend to prefer the option with both attributes classified into the favorable categories given the categorization criteria. I further show that this effect is driven by larger perceived differences between attribute values across category boundaries and is moderated by people's tendency to rely on category information. Overall, this effect holds even when people are highly familiar with the attributes and feel confident to make similarity evaluations, when people are cued that the categories provide little informational value, and when people are incentivized to make deliberate decisions. The findings in this research carry both theoretical and practical implications.

Research on Tracking and Positioning Technology for Structural Components of Assembled Buildings

This article critically examines Charles Bonnet’s seminal contributions to experimental science, particularly through his influential work, ‘Research on the Use of Leaves.’ The primary objective is to delineate the functions and forms of natural experimentation as they were understood and practiced in the mid-18th century. During this period, scientists esteemed experimentation as the zenith of scientific proof, acutely cognizant of its multifaceted functional and typological aspects. Their methodology was characterized by a detailed narration of research methodologies, fostering a ‘rhetoric of transparency’ in scientific discourse. Nevertheless, the advent of new norms in scientific discourse during the 19th century, coupled with a paradigmatic philosophical shift in the 20th century, resulted in the marginalization of empirical practices of the Enlightenment era. Contemporary historians are now endeavoring to reconcile significant terminological discrepancies and to recontextualize the divergent methodologies among natural historians of that epoch. This involves a critical distinction between exploratory and demonstrative (or discriminant) forms of experimentation. Bonnet’s systematic preference for discriminant experimentation serves as a quintessential example of the logical approach in natural history. However, this perspective does not wholly represent the 18th-century ‘art of observation,’ which embraced a plethora of methodologies including taxonomy, anatomical dissection, chemical analysis, and physical measurements.

Regression Analysis of the Relationship Between ESG Performance and Firms’ Technological Innovation Capability

This article critically examines Charles Bonnet’s seminal contributions to experimental science, particularly through his influential work, ‘Research on the Use of Leaves.’ The primary objective is to delineate the functions and forms of natural experimentation as they were understood and practiced in the mid-18th century. During this period, scientists esteemed experimentation as the zenith of scientific proof, acutely cognizant of its multifaceted functional and typological aspects. Their methodology was characterized by a detailed narration of research methodologies, fostering a ‘rhetoric of transparency’ in scientific discourse. Nevertheless, the advent of new norms in scientific discourse during the 19th century, coupled with a paradigmatic philosophical shift in the 20th century, resulted in the marginalization of empirical practices of the Enlightenment era. Contemporary historians are now endeavoring to reconcile significant terminological discrepancies and to recontextualize the divergent methodologies among natural historians of that epoch. This involves a critical distinction between exploratory and demonstrative (or discriminant) forms of experimentation. Bonnet’s systematic preference for discriminant experimentation serves as a quintessential example of the logical approach in natural history. However, this perspective does not wholly represent the 18th-century ‘art of observation,’ which embraced a plethora of methodologies including taxonomy, anatomical dissection, chemical analysis, and physical measurements.

The Relationship Between a Green, Low-carbon and Recycling Economy, Economic Policy and Industrial Structure Development

This article critically examines Charles Bonnet’s seminal contributions to experimental science, particularly through his influential work, ‘Research on the Use of Leaves.’ The primary objective is to delineate the functions and forms of natural experimentation as they were understood and practiced in the mid-18th century. During this period, scientists esteemed experimentation as the zenith of scientific proof, acutely cognizant of its multifaceted functional and typological aspects. Their methodology was characterized by a detailed narration of research methodologies, fostering a ‘rhetoric of transparency’ in scientific discourse. Nevertheless, the advent of new norms in scientific discourse during the 19th century, coupled with a paradigmatic philosophical shift in the 20th century, resulted in the marginalization of empirical practices of the Enlightenment era. Contemporary historians are now endeavoring to reconcile significant terminological discrepancies and to recontextualize the divergent methodologies among natural historians of that epoch. This involves a critical distinction between exploratory and demonstrative (or discriminant) forms of experimentation. Bonnet’s systematic preference for discriminant experimentation serves as a quintessential example of the logical approach in natural history. However, this perspective does not wholly represent the 18th-century ‘art of observation,’ which embraced a plethora of methodologies including taxonomy, anatomical dissection, chemical analysis, and physical measurements.

Cyclodextrins: Establishing building blocks for AI-driven drug design by determining affinity constants in silico

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic carbohydrate polymers that hold significant promise for drug delivery and industrial applications. Their effectiveness depends on their ability to encapsulate target molecules with strong affinity and specificity, but quantifying affinities in these systems accurately is challenging for a variety of reasons. Computational methods represent an exceptional complement to in vitro assays because they can be employed for existing and hypothetical molecules, providing high resolution structures in addition to a mechanistic, dynamic, kinetic, and thermodynamic characterization. Here, we employ potential of mean force (PMF) calculations obtained from guided metadynamics simulations to characterize the 1:1 inclusion complexes between four different modified βCDs, with different type, number, and location of substitutions, and two sterol molecules (cholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol). Our methods, validated for reproducibility through four independent repeated simulations per system and different post processing techniques, offer new insights into the formation and stability of CD-sterol inclusion complexes. A systematic distinct orientation preference where the sterol tail projects from the CD's larger face and significant impacts of CD substitutions on binding are observed. Notably, sampling only the CD cavity's wide face during simulations yielded comparable binding energies to full-cavity sampling, but in less time and with reduced statistical uncertainty, suggesting a more efficient approach. Bridging computational methods with complex molecular interactions, our research enables predictive CD designs for diverse applications. Moreover, the high reproducibility, sensitivity, and cost-effectiveness of the studied methods pave the way for extensive studies of massive CD-ligand combinations, enabling AI algorithm training and automated molecular design.

Information and Communication Technology-Based Application for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Insomnia: Development and Validation Study.

This study developed an information and communication technology-based mobile application to administer cognitive behavioral therapy to community-dwelling older adults with insomnia. First, the content of the application was determined through a systematic review and preference survey. Preference data on the perception, needs, and preference for non-face-to-face service content were collected from 15 July 2021 to 31 August 2021 from 100 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older. In the design stage, the structure and function of the application were determined, and an interface was designed. The application was developed in conjunction with design experts and programmers using Android Studio software (Android 9). Usability tests were conducted during the implementation stage, followed by an evaluation stage. The evaluation revealed that the application's structure and functions should comprise sleep information, sleep-habit improvement, sleep assistance, video, real-time counseling, and exercise services. These elements were finalized after receiving the results of a preference analysis and advice from an advisory panel of experts in different fields. The developed application was rated with a score of four or higher in all areas. This study successfully developed, implemented, and evaluated a new mobile application called Smart Sleep for community-dwelling older adults with insomnia.

Willingness to pay for changes in travel time and work time: A stated choice experiment of US commuters

Studying the tradeoffs between commuting, working, and money—including the willingness to pay (WTP) for changes to travel time and work time—is of interest in both travel behavior research and transportation practice. Our study's objectives were to: (1) quantify WTP for travel time and work time changes; (2) measure preference heterogeneity in these time values; and (3) examine sensitivities to changes in income and travel cost. First, we conducted a stated choice experiment that added work time and income to traditional travel time and cost attributes, collecting data from 675 US adult commuters in late 2020. Second, we estimated pseudo panel mixed multinomial logit models with random and systematic preference heterogeneity. Average WTP was larger for travel time changes than for work time changes, although values varied across personal, household, and commute/work characteristics. Overall and on the margin, US commuters appear to dislike commuting more than they dislike working, a finding which differs from previous studies in Chile and Austria. Although future work could improve the realism of the choice experiment, our research offers a simple stated preference method to help work towards advancing an understanding of the values and tradeoffs involving both working and commuting.

O012 The Impact of Sleep Restriction on Reward learning in Healthy Adults

Abstract Sleep disruption can lead to enhanced reactivity towards pleasurable stimuli and impaired discrimination between rewarding and punishing cues. Thus, sleep may play a mechanistic role in the development and exacerbation of pathological reward-related behaviours (e.g., gambling, substance use, etc.). The study aimed to explore the impact of sleep restriction on reward processing. Involving a 7-night at-home sleep monitoring protocol, participants were randomly assigned an experimental condition: sleep restriction (5-hr time in bed/night; SR) or well-rested (9-hr/night; WR). Adherence to the prescribed sleep schedules was assessed daily. On the eighth day participants completed a battery of reward- learning tasks, 2-hrs post-habitual wake. Participants were healthy adults (n = 45, mean age = 25.4 yrs, 64% female). Total sleep time for the SR group (n = 18) was 297.4 mins, whilst the WR was 485.8 mins (n = 27). For the probabilistic reward task, response bias (RB) did not significantly differ between the SR and WR groups during the overall task (p = 0.28), or during blocks one (p = 0.26) or two (p = 0.90). However, at block three, the SR group showed higher RB as compared to the WR group (p = 0.03), indicating SR participants exhibited a systematic preference for the frequently rewarded cues, relative to the WR group. These preliminary results suggest initial reward responsiveness is not impacted by SR, but over time SR may produce heightened sensitivity to rewarding cues. This may indicate a role for sleep disruption in the maintenance of maladaptive appetitive behaviours.

Uncertainty induced and preference involved aggregation in relative basic uncertain information decision environment

Uncertainty exists in numerous evaluation and decision making problems and therefore it also provides space for the subjective preferences of decision makers to affect the aggregation and evaluation results. Recently, relative basic uncertain information is proposed to further generalize basic uncertain information, but currently there is no research on how to apply this type of uncertainty in both theory and practices. There is also a paucity of decision methodology about how to build systematic preference involved decision model considering this new type of uncertainty. The relative basic uncertain information can serve as a general frame to enable the possibility for simultaneously handling heterogeneous uncertain information including interval information, basic uncertain information, and relative basic uncertain information. Different types of bipolar subjective preferences commonly should be taken into consideration in practical decision making. With the individual heterogeneous uncertain information and the involved two types of subjective preferences, namely bipolar preferences for uncertainties and bipolar optimism-pessimism preferences, the evaluation and decision making become more complex. This work proposes a systematic intersubjective decision model which can effectively and reasonably deal with the decision scenario with such complex uncertainty, in which Yager preference induced weights allocation is applied. Some novel preference conversion and transformation functions, specified techniques, and the related decision making procedures and sub-modules are proposed and analyzed. An application is also presented to showthe practicality of the proposed decision models and related conversion and transformation functions.

Developmental Study on "Smart Silver Care": A Mobile Application to Alleviate Loneliness in Older Adults within the Community.

Loneliness poses a significant threat to the quality of life of older adults. Therefore, it is essential to implement non-face-to-face services to solve the loneliness of older adults in the community. This study used the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) model to develop mobile applications as a loneliness intervention for older adults living in the community. A mobile application was developed using the ADDIE model to alleviate loneliness in older adults living in the community. The development process included a systematic review, a face-to-face preference survey, and an experts' evaluation. From 11 to 15 June 2021, the following six databases were used to search for related articles: Ovid-Medline, Ovid-EMBASE, Cochrane Library, KISS, Korea Med, RISS. A preference analysis was conducted on 100 adults aged 65 or older living in the community from 15 July to 31 August 2021. A mobile application for community-dwelling older adults was developed. Its contents included emotional support, cognition, physical activity, health data, nutrition, and motivation. They were organized through a systematic review and preference survey in the analysis stage. They were also designed as main menus and sub-content at the design stage. They also designed the structure, functionality, and interface layout. The application was developed by integrating the designed content and determining the operating system, language, access method, privacy, and server history. Then, experts evaluated the validity of the application. The prototype mobile application incorporates emotional support, cognition, physical activity, health data, nutrition, and motivation. It is expected to help older adults achieve their goals by promoting participation. By incorporating expert validity into the content development process of early prototypes, we have improved the usability and acceptability of our products. Future pilot trials are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this mobile application among older adults.

Understanding and modeling willingness-to-pay for public policies to enhance road safety: A perspective from Pakistan

Evaluating road safety improvements becomes important because it can assist policymakers in allocating economic resources to improve safety and implementing effective policy interventions. As such, this study aims to estimate the value of road safety risk measures using a new modeling approach for willingness-to-pay (WTP). Specifically, this study integrates a machine learning technique (decision tree) with a correlated random parameters Tobit with heterogeneity-in-means model. The decision tree identifies a priori relationships for higher-order interactions, while the model captures unobserved heterogeneity and the correlation between random parameters. The proposed modeling framework examines the determinants of public WTP for improving road safety using a sample of car drivers from Peshawar, Pakistan. WTP for fatal and severe injury risk reductions is estimated and used to calculate the values of corresponding risk reductions, which can be used for monetizing the cost of road traffic crashes in the country. Modeling results reveal that most respondents are willing to contribute to road safety improvement policies. Further, the model also uncovers significant heterogeneity in WTP corresponding to the safer perception of the overall road infrastructure and perceived risk of accident involvement. Systematic preference heterogeneity is also found in the model by including higher-order interactions, providing additional insights into the complex relationship of WTP with its determinants. Further, the marginal effects of explanatory variables indicate different sensitivities toward WTP, which can help to quantify the impacts of these variables on both the probability and magnitude of WTP. Overall, the proposed modeling framework has a twofold contribution. First, the modeling framework provides valuable insights into the determinants of public WTP, mainly when the heterogeneous effects of variables are interactive. Second, its implementation and consequent findings shall help prioritize different road safety policies/projects by better understanding public sensitivity to WTP.

Made by her vs. him: Gender influences in product preferences and the role of individual action efficacy in restoring social equalities

AbstractIn response to the growing standardization and impersonalization of the market—side effects of new technology and business automation—consumers increasingly seek more personized purchase experiences, such as buying products directly from the producer. While extant literature has documented the positive effects of personizing market offerings, there is surprisingly little insight about whether knowing who made a product influences consumers' product preferences. We aim to fill this gap by focusing on the critical role of the producer's gender. In 13 studies, including field and online experiments (ntotal = 2978), we observe a general preference for products made by women over products made by men, with female consumers consistently showing a strong preference for products made by women and male consumers showing no systematic preference for either product. We find that this difference between female and male consumers' product preferences occurs because female consumers, in relation to male consumers, hold stronger action efficacy beliefs—beliefs that their individual purchase choices can contribute to restoring gender equalities in business.

An experimental perspective on embedded gapping in Persian

Abstract This paper empirically tests the embedding constraints on gapping in Persian. It has been suggested that gapping differs from other kinds of ellipsis in banning embedding. However, the first counter-examples in the literature come from Persian. Following up on previous experiments on embedded gapping in several languages, we report the results of two acceptability judgment tasks. Our results show that, while embedded gapping is overall acceptable in Persian, speakers’ acceptability judgements also vary depending on the semantic type of the embedding predicate, as well as the presence/absence of the complementizer. Data from Persian highlight that, despite the cross-linguistic variation observed with respect to the acceptability of embedded gapping, a general semantic constraint is at work across languages: non-factive verbs embed more easily than factive ones; inside factive verbs, semi-factive (cognitive) predicates embed more easily than true factive (emotive) ones. Moreover, whereas previous theoretical literature indicates no systematic preference for the absence or the presence of the complementizer in Persian, these new experimental data suggest a preference for complementizer drop. To account for the gradience observed in our experimental data, we propose an approach of gapping based on acceptability rather than grammaticality.

Individual-level exit choice behaviour under uncertain risk

Understanding human decision making during emergency evacuations is important. It is because decision making is crucial at each stage of the evacuation (e.g. route choice, exit choice, path finding, etc.). Previous studies have examined the influence of social interaction and environmental factors on exit choice. However, researches on the decision-making behaviour and risk attitude towards such selection at the individual level is still limited. To fill this knowledge gap, we designed a series of virtual evacuation scenarios to examine the exit choice behaviour and decision-making attitude in uncertainty risk scenarios in different smoke conditions. Data collection was implemented by an online stated preference survey. The results revealed a systematic and pattern preference in exit choice regardless of the decisions made by experienced evacuees. The weighted uncertainty risk for individuals was determined by considering the smoke height and smoke appearance frequency. The weighting function between the subjective and objective entities exhibited an S shape. In addition, the function was estimated using an empirical equation. A decision maker’s attitude towards uncertain risk in evacuation scenarios was observed to be a rank- and reference-dependent preference rather than being fully rational. The results of the experiments conducted in virtual environment well agreed with the cumulative prospect theory. This research demonstrates the feasibility of using virtual environment for evacuation experiment which can total avoid the risk of stampede while the individual decision-making behaviours can still be captured.

Preference Variation: Where Does Health Risk Attitude Come Into the Equation?

ObjectivesDecisions about health often involve risk, and different decision makers interpret and value risk information differently. Furthermore, an individual’s attitude toward health-specific risks can contribute to variation in health preferences and behavior. This study aimed to determine whether and how health-risk attitude and heterogeneity of health preferences are related. MethodsTo study the association between health-risk attitude and preference heterogeneity, we selected 3 discrete choice experiment case studies in the health domain that included risk attributes and accounted for preference heterogeneity. Health-risk attitude was measured using the 13-item Health-Risk Attitude Scale (HRAS-13). We analyzed 2 types of heterogeneity via panel latent class analyses, namely, how health-risk attitude relates to (1) stochastic class allocation and (2) systematic preference heterogeneity. ResultsOur study did not find evidence that health-risk attitude as measured by the HRAS-13 distinguishes people between classes. Nevertheless, we did find evidence that the HRAS-13 can distinguish people’s preferences for risk attributes within classes. This phenomenon was more pronounced in the patient samples than in the general population sample. Moreover, we found that numeracy and health literacy did distinguish people between classes. ConclusionsModeling health-risk attitude as an individual characteristic underlying preference heterogeneity has the potential to improve model fit and model interpretations. Nevertheless, the results of this study highlight the need for further research into the association between health-risk attitude and preference heterogeneity beyond class membership, a different measure of health-risk attitude, and the communication of risks.

Naive and memory T cells TCR-HLA-binding prediction.

T cells recognize antigens through the interaction of their T cell receptor (TCR) with a peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) molecule. Following thymic-positive selection, TCRs in peripheral naive T cells are expected to bind MHC alleles of the host. Peripheral clonal selection is expected to further increase the frequency of antigen-specific TCRs that bind to the host MHC alleles. To check for a systematic preference for MHC-binding T cellsin TCR repertoires, we developed Natural Language Processing-based methods to predict TCR-MHC binding independently of the peptide presented for Class I MHC alleles. We trained a classifier on published TCR-pMHC binding pairs and obtained a high area under curve (AUC) of over 0.90 on the test set. However, when applied to TCR repertoires, the accuracy of the classifier dropped. We thus developed a two-stage prediction model, based on large-scale naive and memory TCR repertoires, denoted TCR HLA-binding predictor (CLAIRE). Since each host carries multiple human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles, we first computed whether a TCR on a CD8 T cell binds an MHC from any of the host Class-I HLA alleles. We then performed an iteration, where we predict the binding with the most probable allele from the first round. We show that this classifier is more precise for memory than for naïve cells. Moreover, it can be transferred between datasets. Finally, we developed a CD4-CD8 T cell classifier to apply CLAIRE to unsorted bulk sequencing datasets and showed a high AUC of 0.96 and 0.90 on large datasets. CLAIRE is available through a GitHub at: https://github.com/louzounlab/CLAIRE, and as a server at: https://claire.math.biu.ac.il/Home.

A Systematic Literature Review of the Methodology Preference for Analyzing Eel (Anguilla spp.) Habitat

Abstract Indonesia is rich in eel (Anguilla spp.) fishery resources, however, only sparse information is available regarding these resources, particularly the habitat preferences. These preferences have been studied severally using different methods, thus, there is currently no comprehensive description of the exact study methods. This study, therefore, aims to assay the development of research on eel habitat in the tropics, especially in Indonesia, and discover the most prevalent study method used between 2001 and 2020. This was carried out using a systematic literature review, defined as the process of identifying, assessing, and interpreting all available research evidence to provide answers to specific research questions. A total of 21 studies were selected for further analysis based on the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. According to the results, current studies on eel habitat preferences focus on three topics: the ecology and behavior of eels during their lifecycle (52%), the relationship between eel morphology and habitat (19%), as well as the relationship between the time of metamorphosis and habitat (29%). Furthermore, 4 methods: Bio-morphology (29%), Otolith (57%), Ecological Studies (10%), and Gonadosomathic Index (5%), are commonly used. However, researchers suggest future research ought to be conducted more comprehensively. Therefore, more detailed ecological studies need to be carried out, together with otolith and bio-morphological studies. Keywords: Systematic Literature Review, eels, habitat, and methodology preference for eel habitat

Preferences for roundabout attributes among US bicyclists: A discrete choice experiment

As roundabouts become increasingly common, there is very limited research about bicycle safety at roundabouts and, specifically, a lack of information about preferences for roundabouts among people bicycling. To address this gap, we conducted a discrete choice experiment involving an online survey of 613 US adult bicyclists to understand stated preferences for roundabouts with different design and operational characteristics: central island size, number of circulating lanes, bicycle facility type, motor vehicle volumes, and approach speed limit. For each respondent, the experiment included six (from among 18) choices between two roundabouts with different attributes, represented using text and simulated images. We analyzed these data using panel mixed multinomial logit models with random and systematic preference heterogeneity due to respondent characteristics. Overall, US bicyclists seem to prefer roundabouts with: smaller central islands, fewer travel lanes, lower traffic volumes, lower speed limits, and separated bicycle lanes; although, shared lane bicycle markings and signs were also preferred over bicycle ramps to the sidewalk or no bicycle facilities. Additionally, there were significant variations in preferences for bicycle facilities at roundabouts. Women, infrequent cyclists, and “interested but concerned” cyclists had stronger preferences for separated bicycle lanes, but “strong and fearless” and/or “enthused and confident” cyclists had significantly weaker preferences for these more protected facilities. This research offers insights into bicycling preferences that may help to create roundabouts that are safer and more attractive for people bicycling of all ages and abilities.