PREFERENCE MAPPING OF TEXTURE OF DULCE DE LECHE

The texture of 12 commercial samples of dulce de leche was characterized by means of texture profile analysis. Two sensory manual texture attributes (hardness and ropiness) were evaluated by a panel of 11 trained assessors. A panel of 50 consumers evaluated the texture acceptability of the samples using a 9‐point structured scale. Consumers showed highly significant different degrees of liking for the texture of the evaluated samples of dulce de leche. Clusters identified with Pearson's correlation coefficient showed opposite preference patterns and provided more useful information regarding market segmentation than clusters identified with Euclidean distances. External preference mapping and partial least squares regression showed that hardness was a driver of liking for one segment of consumers, whereas for the other one it was a driver of disliking. When all the consumers were considered, external preference mapping indicated that the ideal texture of dulce de leche would be intermediate, showing the importance of identifying preference patterns and suggesting that data averaging in consumer preferences might affect information recovery, and may lead to wrong conclusions. Different preference mapping techniques were compared; it was found out that when the relationship between acceptability and texture attributes was not linear, external preference mapping showed the best results.     

COMPARISON OF PREFERENCE MAPPING TECHNIQUES FOR THE OPTIMIZATION OF STRAWBERRY YOGURT

Many product optimization methods, known in general terms as preference mapping, have been described in the literature. However, a direct comparison of some of the different approaches (e.g., internal versus external mapping) has not been undertaken. This was attempted here by formulating strawberry yogurt prototypes according to an experimental design including three factors, investigating four approaches of optimization, comparing the sensory profiles of the ideal solutions and formulating the ideal solutions for validation with consumers. Results of this study show that the optimization methods did not yield identical ideal solutions but tended to agree on the ideal level for two of the three sensory dimensions investigated. These results warrant further investigation and comparison of the preference mapping methods available today.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The research conducted in this study may be useful to consumer scientists and product developers as it provides a direct comparison of preference mapping methodology performance for the optimization of product formulations. Although the work is not intended to establish superiority of one method over another, it provides a template for others who may wish to compare these methodologies.     

MAPPING INDIVIDUAL VARIATION IN MALE MATING PREFERENCE SPACE: MULTIPLE CHOICE IN A COLOR POLYMORPHIC CICHLID FISH

Sexual selection theory largely rests on the assumption that populations contain individual variation in mating preferences and that individuals are consistent in their preferences. However, there are few empirical studies of within-population variation and even fewer have examined individual male mating preferences. Here, we studied a color polymorphic population of the Lake Victoria cichlid fish Neochromis omnicaeruleus , a species in which color morphs are associated with different sex-determining factors. Wild-caught males were tested in three-way choice trials with multiple combinations of different females belonging to the three color morphs. Compositional log-ratio techniques were applied to analyze individual male mating preferences. Large individual variation in consistency, strength, and direction of male mating preferences for female color morphs was found and hierarchical clustering of the compositional data revealed the presence of four distinct preference groups corresponding to the three color morphs in addition to a no-preference class. Consistency of individual male mating preferences was higher in males with strongest preferences. We discuss the implications of these findings for our understanding of the mechanisms underlying polymorphism in mating preferences.     

SEX CHROMOSOME LINKAGE OF MATE PREFERENCE AND COLOR SIGNAL MAINTAINS ASSORTATIVE MATING BETWEEN INTERBREEDING FINCH MORPHS

Assortative mating is a key aspect in the speciation process because it is important for both initial divergence and maintenance of distinct species. However, it remains a challenge to explain how assortative mating evolves when diverging populations are undergoing gene flow (e.g., during hybridization). Here I experimentally test how assortative mating is maintained with frequent gene flow between diverged head‐color morphs of the Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae). Contrary to the predominant view on the development of sexual preferences in birds, cross‐fostered offspring did not imprint on the phenotype of their conspecific (red or black morphs) or heterospecific (Bengalese finch) foster parents. Instead, the mating preferences of F₁ and F₂ intermorph‐hybrids are consistent with inheritance on the Z chromosomes, which are also the location for genes controlling color expression and the genes causing low fitness of intermorph‐hybrids. Genetic associations between color signal and preference loci on the sex chromosomes may prevent recombination from breaking down these associations when the morphs interbreed, helping to maintain assortative mating in the face of gene flow. Although sex linkage of reproductively isolating traits is theoretically expected to promote speciation, social and ecological constraints may enforce frequent interbreeding between the morphs, thus preventing complete reproductive isolation.     

USE OF PURCHASE PREFERENCE OPTIONS TO INCREASE NO PREFERENCE FREQUENCIES IN PLACEBO PREFERENCE TESTS

Besides responses to the different stimuli being tested in a paired preference test, responses to identical placebo stimuli can be used as a screening tool to identify biased consumers. Those consumers who give preference responses to identical stimuli can be assumed to be biased. Accordingly, only the data from unbiased consumers need to be considered for the different stimuli. The problem with this procedure is that the sample size is reduced. The goal of the present research was to see whether using options associated with purchase intent, elicited a greater number of No Preference responses to identical placebo stimuli. It was found that they did. The increase was large when the preference options implied exclusivity. In conditions where the preference strength options were not so strong, the frequency of No Preference responses dropped accordingly.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

A problem with paired preference testing is the tendency of consumers to give false preferences, which produces the seriously misleading overestimation of the proportion of consumers who have preferences for one or other of the products being assessed. The placebo condition is an important control for alleviating this problem. The statistical analysis can be improved by finding a protocol that maximizes the proportion of No Preference responses in the placebo condition. The key finding here is that using purchase intent questions rather than preference questions may possibly provide a way of achieving this aim.     

DESCRIPTION OF THE SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF SPANISH UNIFLORAL HONEYS BY FREE CHOICE PROFILING

Different Spanish unifloral honeys (eucalyptus, sunflower, rosemary, thyme, lavender, citrus, anise, quercus, and lemon blossom) and one multifloral honey were studied by Free-Choice Profiling (FCP) analysis. Generalized Procrustes Analysis (GPA) applied to the FCP data allowed discrimination between samples and provided information on the attributes responsible for the differences observed. The honeys had significantly different sensory characteristics. Textural attributes were the predominant factor in discriminating between samples, and appearance (color included) was also correlated with GPA dimensions to a lesser extent.     

紫貂冬季生境的偏好

采用无线电跟踪技术和全球定位系统对大兴安岭阿巴河流域紫貂冬季的生境选择进行了研究。结果表明,紫貂偏好成熟林地和老龄林地。（１）紫貂冬季栖息地主要的优势树种是落叶松林,对中等盖度的林地选择性强,而开阔地带和特别高盖度地区。（２）主要栖息中,下坡位,而对上坡位选择性不强。（３）对小树密度,大树密度,乔木胸径,倒木长度,倒木密度,倒木直径等有正选择性。     

EXPECTATIONS AND STABILITY OF PREFERENCE CHOICE

When identical milk samples are presented, only 30% of participants respond with a “no preference” rating. Stability of the “no preference” rating was studied under a variety of conditions, having consumer panelists rate both identical and different pairs of milk samples with varying fat content. The proportion of participants choosing the “no preference” option, when the samples in the pair were identical, was largely consistent despite manipulation of pretest conditions and changes in test questions and answer formats. However, when the milk preference test was preceded by a same/different test, and those responding “same” were assumed to have no preference, the percent of “no preference” was two to three times larger for identical test samples (60–69%). Thus by branching the question, the “false preference” choice for identical milks was lowered. Among those responding “different” to identical milks, the false‐alarm rate increased to 91%, suggesting that perception of (spurious or momentary) differences is driving at least part of the preference choice.     

稻虱缨小蜂的寄主选择性和适宜性

稻虱缨小蜂Anagrus nilaparvatae Pang &Wang对白背飞虱Sogatella furcifera(HO· rvath)卵龄无明显的寄生选择性,但在新鲜寄主中的发育历期较短,育出的蜂体较大,生殖力较高,而羽化 率和雌雄性比则不受寄主卵龄的影响。在白背飞虱和褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens (Stal)卵共存时,稻虱缨小蜂明显选择褐飞虱。稻虱缨小蜂在褐飞虱卵中的发育显著地比在白背飞虱卵中的慢;褐飞虱卵育出的 蜂的初羽化成虫怀卵量显著高于白背飞虱卯育出的,虫体大小也类似,且虫体越大,生殖力越高。从白背飞虱卵育出的蜂供给白背飞虱卵(W→W)时,产卵量低于其它育蜂寄主和供给产卵寄主组合(w→B、B→B、B→W)的,其内禀增长力rm较其余者小25%。本文还讨论了应用适宜性指数来综合衡量寄主的适宜性。