Consumers’experiences and preferences for plant-based meat food:Evidence from a choice experiment in four cities of China

This paper examined consumers’experiences in and preferences for plant-based meat(PBM)food and their respective correlates,based on data from an online survey of 579 consumers in four major cities in China in early 2021.We first described consumers’experiences in consuming and purchasing PBM food and their correlates,and then analyzed consumer preferences using hypothetical choice experiment.The experiment offered consumers various options to purchase burgers made from PBM or animal-based meat(ABM),combined with different countries of origin(COO),taste labels,and prices.Our data showed that respondents hold overall positive attitudes toward PBM food;85 and 82%of respondents reported experience in eating and purchasing PBM food,respectively.More than half of them ate PBM food because they wanted to try new food(58%),or were interested in healthy food(56%).Income,religion,and dietary restrictions were significantly correlated with consumers’experiences in PBM food consumption.Results from the Random Parameter Logit Model based on the hypothetical choice experiment data showed that 79%of respondents chose PBM burgers and were willing to pay an average of 88 CNY for a PBM burger.We also found that 99.8 and 83%of respondents are willing to buy burgers made in China and those with a taste label,with a willingness to pay(WTP)of 208 and 120 CNY,respectively.The heterogeneity test revealed that females and those with at least a bachelor’s degree,higher income,religious beliefs,and dietary restrictions are more likely to buy PBM burgers than their counterparts.

A FUZZY CLOPE ALGORITHM AND ITS OPTIMAL PARAMETER CHOICE

Among the available clustering algorithms in data mining, the CLOPE algorithm attracts much more attention with its high speed and good performance. However, the proper choice of some parameters in the CLOPE algorithm directly affects the validity of the clustering results, which is still an open issue. For this purpose, this paper proposes a fuzzy CLOPE algorithm, and presents a method for the optimal parameter choice by defining a modified partition fuzzy degree as a clustering validity function. The experimental results with real data set illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed fuzzy CLOPE algorithm and optimal parameter choice method based on the modified partition fuzzy degree.

An exact algorithm for optimal redundancy in a series system with multiple component choices

In this paper, an exact algorithm was proposed for optimal redundancy in a series system with multiple component choices. A reformulation of the nonseparable reliability function was approximated by a separable integer programming problem. The resulting separable nonlinear integer programming problem is used to compute upper bounds by Lagrangian relaxation and dual search. A special partition scheme was derived to reduce the duality gap in a branch-and-bound process, thus ensure the convergence of the algorithm. Computational results show that the algorithm is efficient for solving this class of reliability optimization problems.

Motivation Factors of Consumers’ Food Choice

Consumer perception of food products is a very complex phenomenon that is influenced by a wide range of characteristics. The major motivation for food science and nutrition should be sensual features, cost/price balance, and consumer health (sufficient/balanced nutrition). However, there are important differences between theory and reality. Food choice is a complex process influenced by a number of factors related to the product, the consumer, and the consumption context. The role of the consumer in determining the market success of a product is of maximum relevance. Consumer perceptions and preferences are in motion and in change. Understanding and analyzing consumers’ motivation factors, perception and preferences are important both food industry and also governments. In this study, some of these factors were discussed and aimed to identify them with reasons.

The Optimal Choice of in Rural Highway Pavement

It indicate that block pavement has virtue of being satisfied with driving demands,longer cycle,simple technology,less cost and so on,reaching purpose to improve road grades and service quality by putting into less investment,can quickly advance the building step of rural road,at the same time relieve the financial strain.So the block pavement is a optimal pavement in rural road except for heavy trafics,special geography,for tourism and high grade highway.

Optimal Solution of Multi-Choice Mathematical Programming Problem Using a New Technique

The study deals with the multi-choice mathematical programming problem, where the right hand side of the constraints is multi-choice in nature. However, the problem of multi-choice linear programming cannot be solved directly by standard linear or nonlinear programming techniques. The aim of this paper is to transform such problems to a standard mathematical linear programming problem. For each constraint, exactly one parameter value is selected out of a multiple number of parameter values. This process of selection can be established in different ways. In this paper, we present a new simple technique enabling us to handle such problem as a mixed integer linear programming problem and consequently solve them by using standard linear programming software. Our main aim depends on inserting a specific number of binary variables and using them to construct a linear combination which gives just one parameter among the multiple choice values for each choice of the values of the binary variables. A numerical example is presented to illustrate our analysis.

Consumer Choice, Firm Performance and Channel Coordination in a Dual-Channel Distribution System

The expanding role of the Internet in consumer purchasing activities has created substantial new opportunities accessing to end-consumers. More and more manufacturers are beginning to sell products to potential consumers directly online while continuing to sell through the traditional brick-and-mortar retailers, a phenomenon leading to intense channel competition and conflicts. Using game theory, this research examines the effect of market segments, consumer choice and the acceptance of direct online channels on firm performance and the whole system’s profit. The analysis indicates that the addition of direct online channel does not necessarily harm the incumbent retailers. A win-win zone is proposed, in which both the manufacturer and the retailer benefit from the encroachment.

Internet-Based Optimization and Choice of Insert Grooves for Face-Milling

Manufacture is facing more furiously competition in the new century. It tends to be globalized. Rapid response and technology innovation have become the key factor to the success of manufacture enterprise. At present, internet-based manufacturing develops rapidly. With the development of engineering material and machining techniques, better cutting properties of metal cutting tools are required. The world is paying more attention to the study of indexable carbide inserts with three-dimensional complex grooves which can affect cutting properties directly and chip-controlling. So the variety and specification of indexable insert develop quickly and the application of insert with three-dimensional complex chip-former becomes wider and wider. Because milling is an interrupted cutting, the process of milling is complicated and the failure of the milling inserts is severe. It is important to choose suitable milling inserts groove for particular machining conditions before actual machining, it will extend tool life and raise productivity. Optimization and choice of inserts with complex groove via internet may serve for manufacture enterprises all over the world. The milling inserts with three-dimensional complex grooves are optimized and chosen via Internet in this paper. The face-milling process is studied, with the mathematics models of cutting force for different shape of cutting edges established, the cutting forces predicted and stress-fields of different insert grooves analyzed by FEM, according to the predictable results and the most suitable insert groove for particular machining conditions are optimized and chosen. The complex groove optimization and choice are based on a client/server model, with the client and server being on different machines across the internet. Communication between the client and server uses the TCP/IP. The result of optimization and choice will be sent to the users via Internet. Manufacturers all over the world can get the desired insert groove without paying for expensive experiments. Thus, the cost and lead time of products are reduced.

Research on Online Education Consumer Choice Behavior Path Based on Informatization

The application of information and communications technology(ICT)in the education industry is becoming more and more extensive,and online education realized through ICT is developing in full swing.The influence of ICT on online education consumer's choice behavior is the core issue of online education industry development research.The research on the interactive path and methods of information and online education consumer choice behavior is worth exploring and revealing.This study introduces the word-of-mouth factor as a new research variable under the framework of the Rational Choice Theory model(RCT)and the structural equation method to conduct empirical research and theoretical analysis to verify the validity of the hypothesis and model.The fifthGeneration mobile communication system(5 G)analyses the factors affecting online education consumer behavior choices based on the premise of ICT.Research on the path between ICT and choice behavior provides new ideas for online education consumer choice behavior research and ICT and content and provides a new scenario.This article is a cross-disciplinary research content in theory,and its innovation opens up a new path for the management of ICT research.The research results have innovative significance and value at both the theoretical and practical levels.

A Consumer Choice Theory Incorporating Behavioral and Spiritual Wisdom

A consumer makes choices by following a certain paradigm, a system for organizing his thinking based on norms that are determined by certain norm-setters or role models. Widespread societal ills such as depression and suicide seem to correlate with certain types of consumer behavior. However, current consumer choice theories don＇t appear to be effective in evaluating epidemiology research. This study compares existing consumer choice paradigms and introduces the linguistic paradigm as a framework for studying the organization of human thinking. The linguistic paradigm is based on the nature of human language and on spiritual wisdom. The paradigm is implemented to generate models （process templates） for the analysis of selected consumer choice issues. The potential effectiveness of these models in analyzing consumer behavior is discussed.

On the Ethical Choices of The Winter of Our Discontent in Consumer Society

The Winter of Our Discontent is Steinbeck's last published novel, which received negative and positive criticism at homeand abroad. Persistent concern for ethics and morality as one of themes displayed by Steinbeck in The Winter of Our Discontent.Living in the 1950 s of America, Ethan's family were confronting a consumer society. By using the theory of literary ethical criti-cism, tracing back to ethical environment at that time, this essay aims to analyze the ethical questions that the Ethan's family facedand their ethical choices respectively.

Optimal Consumption, Leisure and Job Choice under Inflationary Environment

The optimal job choice,consumption and portfolio decision-making of economic agents under inflationary environment for a continuous infinite time are studied.The agent’s preference is characterized by the Cobb-Douglas utility function with two variables of consumption and leisure.The economic agent invests in three kinds of assets:risk-free bonds,inflation index bonds and risky assets.The agent has two kinds of working conditions:One is the work with high income and little leisure time,and the other is the work with low income and much leisure time.Firstly,the real wealth process after inflation discount is derived by using Itôformula.Then,based on the expected utility maximization standard under any working state,martingale method is adopted to obtain the closed form solution of optimal job choice,consumption and portfolio decision-making.Finally,the effects of wealth and inflation volatility on the optimal consumption and portfolio strategies are quantitatively analyzed by numerical simulation with given parameters.

Consumer confidence and consumers’ preferences for infant formulas in China

A series of safety incidents related to domestically-produced infant formulas(DIFs) almost destroyed Chinese consumer confidence in domestic dairy products. Understanding consumer confidence and its effect on consumption behavior is important to restore consumer confidence and enhance the competitiveness of domestic dairy industry. This article first measures Chinese consumer confidence in DIFs safety using a two-dimension scale(optimism and pessimism) and then investigates its effect on consumers’ preferences for DIFs through a choice experiment. Involving 450 consumers residing in Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang, the experiment elicited information on their preferences for DIFs with six attributes(organic raw milk, farm-to-table traceability, region of origin, quality certification, animal welfare, and price). Our analysis yields four findings. First, Chinese consumers still lack confidence in DIFs safety. Second, quality certification is the most preferred product characteristic, followed by organic raw milk and farm-to-table traceability. Third, serving as a signal of high quality, price exerts a positive impact on choices of DIFs for pessimistic consumers. Finally, consumer preferences for farm-to-table traceability and region of origin are significantly influenced by consumer confidence.

Optimal allocation of watershed management cost among different water users

The issue of water scarcity highlights the importance of watershed management. A sound watershed manage- ment should make all water users share the incurred cost. This study analyzes the optimal allocation of watershed management cost among different water users. As a consumable, water should be allocated to different users the amounts in which their marginal utilities (MUs) or marginal products (MPs) of water are equal. The value of MUs or MPs equals the water price that the watershed manager charges. When water is simultaneously used as consumable and non- consumable, the watershed manager produces the quantity of water in which the sum of MUs and/or MPs for the two types of uses equals the marginal cost of water production. Each water user should share the portion of watershed management cost in the percentage that his MU or MP accounts for the sum of MUs and/or MPs. Thus, the price of consumable water does not equal the marginal cost of water production even if there is no public good.

Mate choice for major histocompatibility complex(MHC)complementarity in the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher(Ficedula zanthopygia)

Background:Genes of the major histocompatibility complex(MHC)are an important component of the vertebrate immune system and play a significant role in mate choice in animal populations.However,the MHC genetic targets of female mate choice have not been clearly identified,and whether female mate choice is based on neutral genetic characteristics remains an open question.Here,we focus on the effects of morphological traits and genetic similarity among individuals in MHC class IIB(MHC IIB)exon 2 on mating in a sexually dimorphic songbird that exhibits social monogamy with extra-pair paternity(EPP).Methods:We sequenced 64 parent-offspring triads sampled over a 3-year period using two MHC class II loci to detect disassortative mating in the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher(Ficedula zanthopygia).Results:We found that MHC similarity in social pairs was lower than that in random pairs.Extra-pair mate choice according to MHC IIB was observed,in which females’extra-pair mates had fewer MHC alleles than their within-pair mates,but there was no significant band-sharing between extra-pair sires and potential extra-pair mates.However,the interaction between the MHC diversity of females and that of the social males affected the occurrence of EPP.Conclusions:Our results support the“optimality hypothesis”of MHC-based social and extra-pair choice.Female choice probably maintains a certain level of MHC diversity in offspring in the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher.

Drivers of Fuel Choice for Cooking among Uganda’s Households

This paper examines the factors that Uganda’s households consider when making fuel choices for cooking and investigates the key drivers of fuel choice. The study adopts a quantitative cross sectional research design. The dependent variable of the empirical model is a qualitative response variable which defines three mutually exclusive and highly differentiated discrete choices for cooking fuels, namely: the traditional fuel (firewood), the transitional fuel (charcoal), and the modern (LPG & electricity). Results from the study show that the most important drivers of fuel choice for cooking in Uganda’s households are: household income, age of household head, gender of household head, marital status, education levels of household head and location of a household. Results also reveal high dependency of firewood as cooking energy source among households in Uganda.

Information searches by consumers of miniature automobiles

We studied the information search behaviors of Chinese consumers of miniature automobiles. First, we identified the main sources where consumers acquire or seek information about miniature automobiles and discussed their extent of information search. Then, based on logistic regression and optimal scaling regression of statistics, we studied the influences of characteristics of consumers of miniature automobiles on the extent of information search and on Internet usage. The results indicate that consumers often utilize four sources to obtain information about miniature automobiles. The dominant information source for consumers is their friends/family, followed by dealers, newspapers, and TV. Age, occupation, education and income significantly affect the extent of information search, but gender and city of residence do not have significant impacts. Age, city of residence, occupation, education and income produce significant influences on Internet usage. Gender has an insignificant influence on whether a consumer uses the Internet to search for information.

Quantum particle swarm optimization for micro-grid system with consideration of consumer satisfaction and benefit of generation side

Considering comprehensive benefit of micro-grid system and consumers,we establish a mathematical model with the goal of the maximum consumer satisfaction and the maximum benefit of power generation side in the view of energy management.An improved multi-objective local mutation adaptive quantum particle swarm optimization(MO-LM-AQPSO)algorithm is adopted to obtain the Pareto frontier of consumer satisfaction and the benefit of power generation side.The optimal solution of the non-dominant solution is selected with introducing the power shortage and power loss to maximize the benefit of power generation side,and its reasonableness is verified by numerical simulation.Then,translational load and time-of-use electricity price incentive mechanism are considered and reasonable peak-valley price ratio is adopted to guide users to actively participate in demand response.The simulation results show that the reasonable incentive mechanism increases the benefit of power generation side and improves the consumer satisfaction.Also the mechanism maximizes the utilization of renewable energy and effectively reduces the operation cost of the battery.

用能权交易政策对地区产业结构优化升级的影响

中共二十大报告中提及中国现有资源环境约束趋紧、环境污染等问题,而用能权交易政策是中国实现绿色、循环、低碳发展的关键举措,是推进可持续发展和生态文明建设的重大制度创新,那么在生态效益和经济效益的双重考虑下,该政策能否对产业结构产生影响效果?基于此,该研究以用能权交易试点启动为准自然实验,采用31个省份2009—2020年的面板数据,运用双重差分法探究该政策对产业结构优化升级的影响与作用机制。研究结果表明:①整体上看,用能权交易政策能够显著促进产业结构优化升级,对产业结构高级化的促进作用大于对产业结构合理化的不利影响,且在通过一系列平行趋势假设检验、安慰剂检验等稳健性检验后该结论仍成立。②进一步的机制分析表明,用能权政策促进产业结构高级化的实现路径为技术创新水平的提升和能源消费结构的升级,并且该政策通过改善部分产业部门的投入结构和产出结构来抑制对产业结构合理化的不利影响。③异质性分析表明,用能权试点对于产业结构优化升级的影响存在明显的区域异质性显著促进了中西部地区产业结构高级化和东部地区产业结构合理化。由此该研究提出相应建议:在现有用能权交易试点的基础上,深入推进用能权交易市场的建立健全,逐步完善市场的制度建设,建立健全相关法律法规和监管制度;通过增加研发经费投入等方式,切实有效激励产业行业提升技术创新水平,带动产业结构优化升级;有序扩大全国范围内政策试点地区,探索该政策与其他市场化环境规制的协同发展下产业结构优化升级的路径方法。该研究从完善用能权交易市场的角度为产业结构优化升级提供了一定的政策参考。

含P2G和复合储能的高速公路服务区综合能源系统日前优化调度

为了提高高速公路服务区综合能源系统可再生能源消纳能力、降低经济成本,本文面向高速公路服务区中电、气、冷、热等多态能源,基于能源枢纽矩阵建模方法,建立能源供给侧、能量转换侧和负荷需求侧各模块的能量转换与供需耦合特性模型;在充分消纳可再生能源的情况下,以系统运行总成本最小为目标函数,建立系统优化调度模型;针对同一负荷不同运行场景下的调度结果表明,所提模型能最大程度使用风光发电,降低系统总运行成本;供给侧引入电气耦合与负荷侧引入复合储能的调度结果表明,所提模型能达到系统运行费用最优,同时可实现系统周期内运行费用的“削峰填谷”。