Search Results (225)

To date, more than 170 chemical modifications have been identified in RNA. m⁶A (N⁶-methyladenine) RNA methylation is the most abundant form of mRNA modification in eukaryotes, playing an important role in RNA post-transcriptional processes. To investigate the function of m⁶A methylation modification in the development and lactation of dairy goat mammary glands, mammary gland tissue samples were collected in the early (20 days postpartum), peak (90 days postpartum), and late period (210 days postpartum) of three dairy goats. MeRIP-seq and RNA-seq were used to explore m⁶A methylation modification events. We identified 1638 differential peaks in the MeRIP-seq data across 1539 differentially methylated genes, which were enriched in ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, MAPK, and other pathways related to mammary gland development and lactation. A conjoint analysis revealed that 179 common differential expressed genes were obtained, of which 150 were negatively regulated by their m⁶A modifications, while 5 common differentially expressed genes—PPARG, HSPA2, CDK5, ACTB and NOTCH3, were screened out in the two groups. In conclusion, m⁶A modification involves the pathways related to mammary gland development and lactation by modifying gene expression. This studyprovides new insights into m⁶A epigenetic regulation, mammary epithelial gene networks, and actionable molecular targets for high-value dairy product production and the breeding of new varieties. Full article

Background: While sleep duration’s association with stroke is established, the combined influence of sleep onset time and duration on stroke subtypes remains inadequately explored. Since circadian biology links sleep onset timing to vascular risk via mechanisms operating independently of sleep duration, we quantified their joint contributions to the risk of stroke. Methods: In this population-based cross-sectional study, from 31 December 2021 to 31 March 2022, we recruited 8168 ischemic stroke cases, 3172 intracerebral hemorrhage cases, and 13,458 control participants across 152 survey centers in 28 counties in Hunan Province, China. Standardized computer-assisted interviews collected sleep parameters. Conjoint analysis identified protective sleep profiles. Results: Short sleep duration (<6 h) was consistently associated with elevated ischemic risk across all sleep onset times (p < 0.05 in all cases, i.e., sleep before 10 p.m. [odds ratio (95%CI): 1.886(1.606, 2.214)], 10–11 p.m. [1.740(1.336, 2.265)], 11 p.m.–12 a.m. [2.335(1.190, 4.581)], and after 12 a.m. [2.834(1.193, 6.728)]). A sleep duration of 6–8 h with a sleep onset time between 10 p.m. and 12 a.m. was associated with the lowest ischemic risk (p < 0.001 in all cases). Conversely, prolonged sleep (>8 h) with an early sleep onset time (<10 p.m.) increased ischemic risk (OR 1.194, 95% CI 1.090–1.308, p < 0.001), whereas a late sleep onset time (11 p.m.–12 a.m.) in long sleepers was protective (OR 0.580, 95% CI 0.352–0.956, p < 0.001). Similar trends were observed for ICH, though the effect sizes were attenuated. Conclusion: Sleep duration and onset time interact to influence stroke risk. Optimal cerebrovascular protection requires ≥6 h of sleep, ideally initiated between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. These findings highlight sleep optimization as a potential modifiable target for high-risk populations. Full article

Conventional immediate and high-temperature immediate acid treatment are crucial techniques for breaking the diapause state of silkworm eggs, but their molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study prepared diapause eggs (CK), conventional immediate acid-treated eggs (46 °C, 5 min, and CG), and high-temperature immediate acid-treated eggs (47.5 °C, 7 min, and GW) and analyzed the transcriptome and metabolome to screen for key expressed genes and key metabolites. Transcriptome results showed that 688, 823, and 222 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from CK vs. CG, CK vs. GW, and CG vs. GW, respectively, and 12 DEGs significantly upregulated in all three comparisons (CK vs. CG, CK vs. GW, and CG vs. GW), including glycine-N-methyltransferase, choline dehydrogenase, Hsp68, and Hsp70. The LC-MS analysis results showed that 854, 711, and 506 differential metabolites (DMs) were obtained from CK vs. CG, CK vs. GW, and CG vs. GW, respectively. A total of seven DMs upregulated in all three comparisons and with |log₂Fold Change| ≥ 0.5 in CG vs. GW, including tyrosine-isoleucine-histidine, phenylalanyl-tyrosine, tyrosine-phenylalanine-glutamate-lysine, and histidylleucine, as well as 12 downregulated DMs, were identified. Additionally, it was found that γ-linolenic acid and triglycerides were upregulated in CG vs. GW. The conjoint analysis results revealed that four small peptides, including tyrosine-isoleucine-histidine, phenylalanyl-tyrosine, tyrosine-phenylalanine-glutamate-lysine, and histidylleucine, exhibited a highly significant positive correlation with Hsp70 family genes such as Hsp68 and Hsp70. This suggests that these small peptides, along with γ-linolenic acid and triglycerides, may play a crucial role in the resistance of silkworm eggs to high-temperature stress and the associated oxidative stress. Full article

Indoor radon constitutes a public health issue in various regions across the United States as the second leading cause of lung cancer following tobacco smoke. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises radon mitigation interventions for residential buildings with indoor radon concentrations exceeding the threshold level of 4 pCi/L. Despite considerable research assessing the technical effectiveness of radon mitigation systems, there remains a gap in understanding their broader influence on occupant behavior and preferences in residential design. This study aims to investigate the impact of residing in radon-mitigated homes within the Commonwealth of Kentucky—an area known for elevated radon concentrations—on occupants’ preferences regarding healthy home design attributes. The objectives of this research are twofold: firstly to determine if living in radon-mitigated homes enhances occupant awareness and consequently influences their preferences toward health-related home attributes and secondly to quantitatively evaluate and compare the relative significance homeowners assign to health-related attributes such as indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and water quality relative to conventional attributes including home size, architectural style, and neighborhood quality. The overarching purpose is to explore the potential role radon mitigation initiatives may play in motivating occupants towards healthier home construction and renovation practices. Using choice-based conjoint (CBC) analysis, this paper compares preferences reported by homeowners from radon-mitigated homes against those from non-mitigated homes. While the findings suggest a relationship between radon mitigation and increased preference for indoor air quality, the cross-sectional design limits causal interpretation, and the possibility of reverse causation—where health-conscious individuals are more likely to seek mitigation—must be considered. The results provide novel insights into how radon mitigation efforts might effectively influence occupant priorities towards integrating healthier design elements in residential environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Ancient grains are increasingly recognized for their nutritional value, environmental sustainability, and connection to traditional agriculture. This study examines Italian consumers’ awareness, purchasing habits, and willingness to pay (WTP) for ancient grain pasta, focusing on the influence of product origin, price, and flour type on preferences. Methods: An online survey was conducted with 3020 Italian household grocery shoppers. Descriptive statistics assessed awareness and purchasing behavior, while conjoint analysis (CA) evaluated the relative importance of key product attributes (origin, price, and flour type) in pasta choices. The sample was segmented based on consumer knowledge of ancient grains. Results: A significant portion of respondents reported familiarity with ancient grains, perceiving them as “less refined” and “more digestible”; pasta emerged as the most purchased product. CA results indicated product origin as the most influential factor, followed by price, with flour type having comparatively lower influence. Notably, consumers more familiar with ancient grains showed a slight preference for ancient flour types and were less sensitive to price. Conclusions: While origin and price are primary drivers for pasta choices, knowledgeable consumers show greater valuation for flour type and accept higher prices. These findings provide strategic insights for stakeholders seeking to promote traditional, sustainable agri-food products through targeted marketing and transparent value communication. Full article

This study evaluates the perceived value of the “100% Autochthonous Breed” label in beef purchasing decisions, comparing its influence with two well-established official certifications: organic and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). A face-to-face survey was conducted with 900 consumers across Spain, using a choice-based conjoint experiment and hierarchical cluster analysis. The results indicate that although price is the primary determinant at the aggregate level, segmentation revealed distinct consumer profiles for whom the “100% Autochthonous Breed” label generated higher utility than other attributes. Specifically, four clusters were identified: Group I (18.6%) preferred the organic label; Group II (46.6%) prioritized low price; Group III (22.9%) valued the combination of PGI and the autochthonous breed label; and Group IV (11.9%) showed a preference for high-priced products featuring the “100% Autochthonous Breed” label. The findings highlight the strategic potential of this certification as a differentiation tool for sustainable, extensive, and territorially embedded livestock systems. Full article

In this paper, we propose the use of virtual labs (VLs) as a solution to bridge the gap between theory and practice in physics education. Through an experiment conducted in two towns in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), we demonstrate that our proposed lab (BRVL) is more effective than global alternatives in correcting misconceptions and ensuring compliance with the current curriculum in the DRC. We combine Conjoint Analysis (from SPSS) to weigh selected criteria—curriculum compliance, knowledge construction, misconception correction, and usability—alongside eight MCDA methods: AHP, CAHP, TOPSIS, ELECTRE I, ELECTRE II, ELECTRE TRI, PROMETHEE I, and PROMETHEE II. Our findings show that, among six VLs, BRVL consistently outperforms global alternatives like Algodoo and Physion in terms of pedagogical alignment, curriculum compliance, and correction of misconceptions for Congolese schools. Methodologically, the respondents are consistent and in agreement, despite individual differences. The sensitivity analysis of the ELECTRE and PROMETHEE methods has shown that changes in parameter values do not alter the conclusion that BRVL is the best among the compared VLs. Full article

The optimization of land development requires a deep understanding of end-user expectations to ensure that new residential environments are both market-responsive and socially sustainable. This paper presents a novel prioritization-based technique for identifying and ranking property features according to buyer preferences. Using the MoSCoW method in combination with conjoint analysis, the study evaluates the relative importance of various housing attributes, such as layout, number of rooms, access to transportation, and availability of parking or green areas. The results provide structured insights into demand-side priorities and offer actionable guidelines for developers, urban planners, and decision-makers engaged in land use planning. By linking individual housing preferences with broader planning strategies, the proposed framework contributes to the creation of better-aligned, user-centric urban developments. The approach is tested on a local property market, and its potential applications in strategic zoning, infrastructure placement, and residential density modeling are discussed. Full article

Saccharides critically influence tobacco quality. To elucidate the effects of postharvest shading (PS) pre-curing on saccharide metabolic flux, a targeted glycomics analysis was conducted. Compared to light exposure (CK), PS delayed chlorophyll degradation during pre-curing but accelerated yellowing, ultimately resulting in similar pigment levels. Additionally, PS inhibited photosynthesis, leading to reduced starch content and increased soluble sugar content before curing. Furthermore, PS altered the starch-to-sugar conversion, ultimately resulting in significantly higher soluble sugar content and lower starch content. Targeted glycomics analysis identified 21 saccharides, with glucose, D-fructose, and sucrose being dominant. Notably, PS ultimately increased glucose, D-fructose, and sucrose levels by 74.09%, 66.49%, and 17.36%, respectively. Pairwise comparisons revealed 6, 12, 5, 13, 10, and 11 differentially expressed metabolites before curing and at 38, 40, 42, 54, and 68 °C during curing, respectively, between PS and CK. Conjoint analysis identified methylgalactoside and three oligosaccharides (sucrose, raffinose, and maltose) as the central metabolites of saccharide metabolism during curing. D-mannose, D-sorbitol, and D-glucuronic acid were identified as biomarkers for assessing storage-induced metabolic perturbations using random forest algorithms. Collectively, these findings suggest that PS might enhance tobacco quality via carbohydrate metabolism modulation, providing a scientific basis for pre-curing protocol optimization and industrial application. Full article

The process of evaluation and selection of drugs in Spain is currently changing, with hospital pharmacists (HPs) having a growing relevance. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to assess HPs’ preferences for different hypothetical intravitreal treatments for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ocular adverse events (AE), annual drug cost, available presentation, and mechanisms of action (MoA) were the selected attributes. A conjoint analysis was used. Ninety-one HPs completed the study. The mean (SD) age was 39.2 (10.2) years, 60.4% were female, and the mean (SD) time of experience as HP was 12.6 (8.3) years. For nAMD treatments, BCVA (38.6%) and ocular AE (27.3%) were the most important attributes, while annual drug cost (16.3%), available presentation (11.1%), and MoA (6.7%) were not as important. For DME drugs, BCVA (44.6%) and ocular AE (25.5%) were the most significant factors; annual drug cost (17.9%), the drug’s available presentation (7.3%), and MoA (4.8%) were not considered to be as crucial. Preferences were comparable independent of HP experience. Effectiveness and safety were the most important attributes when choosing a drug. Comprehending the significant characteristics for HPs could potentially improve their collaborative function within multidisciplinary teams involved in intravitreal treatments. Full article

The present study investigates consumer preferences for eco-friendly practices implemented by outdoor sport brands, identifying which practices are perceived as most significant among the overall consumer group and within consumer segments differentiated by ecological consciousness. This study targeted consumers who had purchased outdoor sport brand products within the past one to two years. The results indicated that overall consumers regarded ‘Materials usage’, particularly ‘100% organic materials’, as the most critical eco-friendly attribute. The second most significant attribute identified was the ‘Type of campaign’, specifically ‘Consumer behavioral engagement campaigns’. ‘Carbon footprint reduction’, notably ‘Reducing 50% by 2030’, ranked third, while ‘Implementation of donations’ was considered the least important. Segment-specific analysis revealed that high-ecological-conscious consumers prioritized carbon footprint reduction more than other groups. Furthermore, the optimal combination of eco-friendly practices identified for overall and low-ecological-consciousness consumers consisted of using 100% organic materials, implementing consumer behavioral engagement campaigns, reducing carbon footprint by 50%, and actively participating in environmental conservation donations. Highly ecological-conscious consumers preferred a slightly adjusted combination, emphasizing 100% organic materials, followed by reducing carbon footprint by 50%, implementing consumer behavioral engagement campaigns, and actively participating in environmental conservation donations. These findings suggest that outdoor sport brands can strengthen their competitive advantage and sustainability by aligning eco-friendly practices with consumer preferences segmented by ecological consciousness. Full article

The study aims to identify key attributes driving yacht tourism and analyze their relative importance using conjoint analysis. This method quantifies attribute importance and utility values to evaluate their impact on consumer choices and optimize market segmentation strategies through attribute combination simulations. The research was conducted with a sample of 484 yacht tourists at yacht marinas, focusing on four key attributes: program, safety, service, and accessibility. The analysis revealed that yacht sailing programs were considered the most important attribute overall. However, preferences varied significantly depending on prior experience. Experienced yacht tourists ranked the attributes in the following order of importance: program, safety, service, and accessibility. In contrast, inexperienced tourists prioritized safety above all, followed by program, service, and accessibility. The study identified that all tourist groups preferred the same optimal combination: “a yacht sailing experience program that provides safety education and equipment, operates a tourism information platform, and is accessible within one hour by public transportation from the city center”. Although this optimal combination was consistent across groups, the utility values differed, with experienced yacht tourists exhibiting the highest values, followed by inexperienced tourists and overall tourists. The findings highlight the importance of prioritizing both sailing programs and safety measures in yacht tourism development, while also considering tourists’ experience levels. These insights provide practical implications for the development of targeted promotion strategies. Full article

Future mobility concepts, such as Shared Autonomous Mobility-on-Demand (SAMOD) services, have the potential to contribute to sustainability goals and enhance connectivity between rural areas and urban public transport networks. The SAMOD concept relies on virtual stops, accessible via a smartphone application, where passengers are individually picked up. This study analyzed the importance of six key attributes of a SAMOD journey: travel time, price, available information, distance to the stop, navigation to the virtual stop, and identification of the virtual stop. Using a choice-based conjoint analysis (N = 461), participants were repeatedly presented with two SAMOD journey options, each varying in attributes, and were asked to indicate their preference. The findings reveal that all six attributes significantly influenced travel decisions. Subgroup analyses further indicated that the importance of these attributes varied by gender, age, travel context, and frequency of public transport use. Notably, SAMOD-specific attributes, such as navigation to and identification of the virtual stop, were rated as nearly as critical as traditional factors like travel time and cost. Based on these findings, actionable recommendations for transport planners and policymakers are proposed to facilitate the successful implementation of SAMOD services. Full article

Insects have been proposed as a sustainable protein alternative to conventional meat sources. However, consumer acceptance of edible insects is still low in the Western Hemisphere. This study examined how product characteristics and consumer beliefs influence the liking and willingness to try cricket-based food products. An online survey was conducted in the province of Alberta, Canada. Alberta is a major site for beef production and plays a vital role in Canada’s agricultural and economic landscape. Participants (n = 548) were asked to indicate their overall liking (OL) and willingness to try (WTT) a cricket-based snack in a conjoint analysis experiment. A 2 × 2 × 5 design was used for the product characteristics (type of product, presence of an image of the product, and product benefit claims). Each participant was assigned five product profiles using a balanced incomplete block design. The type of product (cricket chips and whole roasted crickets) was the most important attribute for participants. Product benefit claims did not effectively increase the OL or WTT of the cricket-based snacks. Higher scores on the Entomophagy Attitude Scale and previous experiences consuming insect-based food products positively influenced WTT and OL. The findings of this study underscore the significance of the type of product and personal attitudes towards entomophagy in shaping consumer preferences for sustainable protein sources and offer valuable insights for the development and marketing of insect-based food products in a Western market where meat products are accessible and affordable for many. Full article

The cosmetics industry requires a long-term, sustainable vision to reduce its impact on the environment. Within this process, packaging is of critical relevance, as it impacts the ecological footprint of products and determines consumers’ perception of the product as sustainable and green while shaping their willingness to purchase the product. This article implements a mixed-methods design to combine theoretical insights with the opinions of experts and the perceptions of consumers. It elicits which packaging elements are the most important in determining consumers’ willingness to pay for green cosmetics and which are the most important regarding their perception of the product being sustainable and green. The results of the conjoint analysis-based study conducted in Germany indicate the predominance of the used materials for packaging over other characteristics (glass +EUR 1, bio-based materials +EUR 0.92, recycled plastic +EUR 0.75 vs. wood as base category). Labels (Veganblume +EUR 0.68, Cruelty-Free +EUR 0.11) and the availability of refill options (+EUR 0.61) score in second place, while coloring (black −EUR 0.2, green −EUR 0.11, brown −EUR 0.13 vs. white as the base category) and QR codes (+EUR 0.13) score last regarding participants’ willingness to purchase the product. The results also reveal a distinct difference between the order of attributes driving the willingness to pay and those driving the perception of the sustainability of a product. Regarding sustainability perception, the relevance of labels and color increases distinctly, while package material remains the dominant attribute. Full article