Relative Preference and Productivity of Species on Summer Cattle Ranges, Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming

Broussonetia papyrifera is an exotic tree widely grown for paper production. Due to its prolific regeneration it has invaded forestcanopy gaps and degraded farmlands and has now become an invasive species in Ghana. In enhancing its value for use the plantwas evaluated as potential forage for grazing animals vis-à-vis other two existing forage plants: Ficus exasperata and Leucaenaleucocephala.The study assessed the palatability and preference of Broussonetia papyrifera using sheep and goats for the wet anddry seasons.The species were assessed in indoor pen feeding trials using eight-unit (3×3 m) pens with the cafeteria method.The amount of forage offered was 100g (fresh material) in all instances for each species and for ten minutes. Adesign basedon 3×2×2 factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used to test the differences in palatability betweenthe three forage species.Results revealed that palatability was higher (P<0.05) in Leucaena leucocephala compared with Ficusexasperata and Broussonetia papyrifera for sheep and goats across seasons. The trend shown might be the result of the effectsof familiarity with the Leucaena leucocephala since animals tend to select plants that are familiar than newly introduced andunfamiliar plants. The study also revealed high level of condensed tannin (CT) in Broussonetia papyrifera which might haveinterfered with forage intake by the animals.There were no significant differences in palatability of Broussonetia papyrifera forgoat in both dry and wet season interactions and Ficus exasperata for goat in both dry and wet season interactions (P>0.05).Thestudy concluded that Broussonetia papyrifera could be a potential feed for both sheep and goats across seasons.The researchrecommended that livestock farmers should incorporate Broussonetia papyrifera feed into their programmes for both sheep andgoats and should be introduced to animals from infancy so that it may become a familiar feed for them.

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Patent Conflicts

10.31228/osf.io/dxqcz ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Tejas N. Narechania

Keyword(s):

Regulatory Authority ◽

Direct Action ◽

Patent Policy ◽

Context Sensitive ◽

Court Of Appeals ◽

Relative Preference ◽

The Supreme Court ◽

Federal Circuit ◽

Indirect Action ◽

Striking Effect

Patent policy is typically thought to be the product of the Patent and Trademark Office, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and, in some instances, the Supreme Court. This simple topography, however, understates the extent to which outsiders can shape the patent regime. Indeed, a variety of administrative actors influence patent policy through the exercise of their regulatory authority and administrative power. This Article offers a novel description of the ways in which nonpatent agencies intervene into patent policy. In particular, it examines agency responses to conflicts between patent and other regulatory aims, uncovering a relative preference for complacency (“inaction”) and resort to outside help (“indirect action”) over regulation (“direct action”). This dynamic has the striking effect of shifting authority from nonpatent agencies to patent policymakers, thereby supplanting some regulatory designs with the patent regime’s more general incentives. This Article thus offers agencies new options for facing patent conflict, including an oft-overlooked theory of regulatory authority for patent-related regulation. Such intervention and regulation by nonpatent agencies can give rise to a more efficient and context-sensitive regime that is better aligned with other regulatory goals.

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The Effects of Numerical Divisibility on Loneliness Perceptions and Consumer Preferences

Journal of Consumer Research ◽

10.1093/jcr/ucaa026 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Dengfeng Yan ◽

Jaideep Sengupta

Keyword(s):

Numerical Cognition ◽

Consumer Preferences ◽

Product Categories ◽

Relative Preference ◽

Compensatory Consumption

Abstract This research seeks to examine, first, whether and why consumers perceive divisible versus indivisible numbers differently and, second, how such divergent perceptions influence consumer preferences for marketer-created entities associated with divisible versus indivisible numbers. Integrating insights from two different literatures—numerical cognition and loneliness—we propose and find that numbers perceived to be divisible (vs. indivisible) are viewed as having more “connections” and are therefore deemed to be less lonely. Building on these findings and the literature on compensatory consumption, we then propose and demonstrate that a temporary feeling of loneliness increases participants’ relative preference for various targets—products, attributes, and prices—associated with divisible (vs. indivisible) numbers, which are perceived to be relatively more connected and less lonely. It merits mention that our findings are triangulated across a wide variety of numbers, different product categories, and multiple operationalizations of loneliness.

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Australian and Spanish scientists are collaborating in the domestication of tedera: young Merino sheep grazing a monoculture of tedera in autumn showed preference for certain accessions but no signs of ill health

Crop and Pasture Science ◽

10.1071/cp13059 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 399 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

C. Oldham ◽

D. Real ◽

H. J. Bailey ◽

D. Thomas ◽

A. Van Burgel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Selection Index ◽

Blood Analysis ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

In Vitro Digestibility ◽

Sheep Grazing ◽

Neutral Detergent Fibre ◽

Relative Preference ◽

Condition Score ◽

Acid Detergent Fibre

We hypothesised (i) that sheep grazing a monoculture of tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C.H. Stirton var. albomarginata and var. crassiuscula) would not show signs of photosensitisation or ill health, and (ii) that when given free grazing choice they would show a repeatable preference for certain accessions of tedera related to their chemical composition. We tested this by grazing a group of young merino wethers on a monoculture containing seven accessions of tedera for 21 days. General health was assessed via daily visual checks for skin pinkness on the nose and ears, weekly measures of liveweight, condition score, and blood analysis compared with a group of control sheep fed wheaten hay ad libitum. The Chesson–Manly selection index was used to examine the relative preference of sheep for the seven accessions of tedera over the 21 days. Each accession of tedera was sampled weekly to estimate the dry matter on offer, and these samples were also analysed for crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, in vitro digestibility, water soluble carbohydrates, minerals, and concentrations of the furanocoumarins psoralen and angelicin. None of the sheep showed any signs of ill health, with all blood parameters being within the normal reference range. All sheep gained weight and body condition over the 21 days. The difference in the rate of gain in condition score in favour of the sheep grazing tedera over the 21 days (0.014 v. 0.002 unit/sheep.day) was significant (P < 0.001). Sheep showed repeated preference for accessions T31 and T43 (α >0.143). Nutritive value of all accessions of tedera was high. However, only acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre affected the relative preference of the sheep (P < 0.05) and they were only weakly correlated (r2 = 0.208 and 0.165, respectively). We conclude that there are accessions of tedera that are preferred by sheep that could be used to fill the autumn feed gap experienced in the south of Western Australia without any risk to the health of the sheep.

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Understanding preferences of German flower consumers: the desire for sustained beauty

International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management ◽

10.1108/ijrdm-10-2017-0229 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 46 (6) ◽

pp. 560-576

Author(s):

Meike Rombach ◽

Nicole Widmar ◽

Elizabeth Byrd ◽

Vera Bitsch

Keyword(s):

Latent Class Analysis ◽

Latent Class ◽

Consumer Preferences ◽

Federal State ◽

Class Analysis ◽

Cut Flower ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Content Type ◽

Relative Preference ◽

Best Worst Scaling

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide insights for flower retailers, horticultural practitioners and marketing managers into the prioritisation of cut flower attributes by German residents.Design/methodology/approachApplying a best–worst scaling approach, this analysis identified the relative ranking of importance amongst product attributes relevant to German consumers when buying fresh cut flowers. A latent class analysis determined four flower consumer segments for further study. The study builds on a sample of 978 consumers and is consistent with the most recent German census in terms of age, gender, income and federal state.FindingsThe best-worst analysis showed that intrinsic flower attributes, in particular appearance, freshness and scent were found to be more important to German consumers than the extrinsic attributes studied, namely, price, country of origin and a certification indicating fair trade. The latent class analysis determined four consumer segments that desire either budget, luxury or ethical flowers or more information about flowers. For all identified consumer segments, appearance was the attribute of greatest importance. The segments that desired luxury or ethical flowers, as well as the segment that desires more information were interested in appearance, but also had relatively large shares of preferences dedicated to flower freshness guarantees. The preference for freshness guarantees in addition to appearance may be interpreted jointly as a desire for not only beautiful and aesthetically pleasing flowers, but for sustained beauty.Originality/valueInternationally, the study fills a research gap by exploring consumer’s relative preference for cut flower attributes. In contrast to existing studies on consumer preferences for flowers in Germany, the present study builds on a sample that was targeted in terms of age, gender, net household income and federal state to the most recent German census.

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Sensory Acceptability and Proximate Composition of 3-Blend Plant-Based Dairy Alternatives

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10030482 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 482

Author(s):

Ama Frempomaa Oduro ◽

Firibu Kwesi Saalia ◽

Maame Yaakwaah Blay Adjei

Keyword(s):

Protein Content ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Proximate Analysis ◽

Acceptance Testing ◽

Plant Raw Materials ◽

Preference Mapping ◽

Relative Preference ◽

Low Protein ◽

Hedonic Scale ◽

Melon Seeds

Limitations of plant-based dairy alternatives as sustainable foods are their relatively low protein content and low sensory appeal. In this study, we used a consumer-led product development approach to improve the sensory appeal of existing prototypes of 3-blend dairy alternatives produced from melon seeds, peanuts and coconut. We used Relative Preference Mapping (RPM) and consumer acceptance testing using the 9-point hedonic scale to respectively identify innovative flavours and deduce the effect of ingredient components on consumer sensory appeal. Mixture design was used as the formulation tool to obtain optimized prototypes of the 3-blend dairy alternatives. Proximate analysis of the new prototypes, instrumental color assessment and consumer testing provided a basis to select a sustainable 3-blend dairy alternative. This prototype had a relatively high protein content (2.16%), was considered innovative by target consumers and also had a moderate liking score (6.55 ± 1.88) on the 9-point hedonic scale. Prototypes with higher protein content had low sensory appeal and were not considered innovative. Other prototypes with innovative sensory appeal had low protein content. By combining different plant raw materials and utilizing different sensory testing methods, we were able to design sustainable plant-based dairy alternatives which can be further optimized.

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The Impact of Same versus Different Price Presentation on Travel Choice and the Moderating Role of Childhood Socioeconomic Status

Journal of Travel Research ◽

10.1177/0047287520988903 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 004728752098890

Author(s):

Marilyn Giroux ◽

Drew Franklin ◽

Jungkeun Kim ◽

Jooyoung Park ◽

Kyuseop Kwak

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Life History Theory ◽

Price Dispersion ◽

Price Difference ◽

Product Evaluations ◽

Relative Preference ◽

Childhood Socioeconomic Status ◽

Travel Decisions ◽

Price Differences ◽

The Impact

When making travel decisions, consumers are frequently exposed to a multitude of options, including differing price levels for the same product or service across a range of online travel agencies. The current research investigates how the magnitude of price dispersion in online pricing can influence travelers’ product evaluations and purchase intentions. Specifically, we predict that travelers will prefer a hotel with no price dispersion to a hotel with different prices listed when the price difference is small, or narrow. However, when the price difference is more pronounced, or wide, travelers will prefer a hotel with price differences compared to a hotel with no price dispersion. Four experiments demonstrate that this effect is consistent across different contexts and categories. Additionally, based on life history theory, we argue that the relative preference for the same versus different price dispersion will be moderated by the travelers’ childhood socioeconomic status (SES).

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Genetic and environmental determinants of children's food preferences

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s000711450889246x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 99 (S1) ◽

pp. S15-S21 ◽

Cited By ~ 144

Author(s):

Jane Wardle ◽

Lucy Cooke

Keyword(s):

Family Environment ◽

Food Preferences ◽

Twin Studies ◽

Dietary Quality ◽

Relative Preference ◽

The Family ◽

Sweet Foods ◽

Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽

Taste Exposure ◽

Specific Food

Omnivores have the advantage of a variety of food options but face a challenge in identifying foods that are safe to eat. Not surprisingly, therefore, children show a relative aversion to new foods (neophobia) and a relative preference for familiar, bland, sweet foods. While this may in the past have promoted survival, in the modern food environment it could have an adverse effect on dietary quality. This review examines the evidence for genetic and environmental factors underlying individual differences in children's food preferences and neophobia. Twin studies indicate that neophobia is a strongly heritable characteristic, while specific food preferences show some genetic influence and are also influenced by the family environment. The advantage of the malleability of human food preferences is that dislike of a food can be reduced or even reversed by a combination of modelling and taste exposure. The need for effective guidance for parents who may be seeking to improve the range or nutritional value of foods accepted by their children is highlighted.

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