Relationship of Mothers’ Food Preferences and Attitudes with Children’s Preferences

Because early childhood is the most important time for establishing eating habits, controlling the likes and dislikes of children is significant. This study investigated the relationship between mothers’ food preferences as well as their attitudes toward food and their children’s preferences. A questionnaire was answered by 244 mothers of children aged 3-5 years who attended a private kindergarten in Japan. The mothers were asked questions relating to their own current food preferences and those during their childhoods, their eating and cooking habits, and the likes and dislikes of their children. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relative importance of mothers’ preferences and habits for their children’s likes and dislikes. The children’s preferences were significantly related to their mothers’ likes and dislikes during childhood, rather than to their current preferences, and to the children’s breakfast times during holidays and the frequency with which the mothers used takeout meals. This suggests that mothers’ likes and dislikes during childhood and their food habits affect their children’s preferences. Therefore, to improve children’s food preferences, mothers may need to improve their food habits and consider their own food preferences during childhood.

A preliminary study on food consumption, preference and day-night predatory difference of Asterias amurensis on Scapharca broughtonii

In order to study the food consumption, preference and day-night predatorydifference of Asterias amurensis on Scapharca broughtonii, the experiments werecarried out at the temperatures ranging from 16 ℃ to 20 ℃, salinity of 28.2 ± 2.1,dissolved oxygen of 7.5±0.7 mg/L and pH of 8.0 ± 0.3.The results provided basic datafor promoting steady and healthy development of the multiplication and cultivation of S.broughtonii. The results of food consumption suggested that the food intake of starfishincreased with the density of S. broughtonii at all conditions. The food consumption ofstarfish in different sizes on S. broughtonii in the same size had no significant difference(p>0.05), but it was significantly different among S. broughtonii in different sizes. Thestarfish had the highest feeding rate on the smallest S. broughtonii. Our findings alsoverified the positive relation between the weight of food intake of starfish in differentsizes on the density and size of S. broughtonii. The feeding rhythm of starfish onS. broughtonii in different sizes showed a certain day-night difference, higher at nightthan in the day. The maximum food consumption occurred when the size of S.broughtonii became larger. The results showed that 30 ind/m2 was the suitable seabottom sowing density for S. broughtonii. Our data indicated that the ability to avoidpredators and rivals increased as the shell length rose. Based on prey selectivity,bivalves that have a lower commercial value may be used to clear away A. amurensis.

Food preferences by birds using bird-feeders in winter： a large-scale experiment

Background: Intentional winter bird feeding in gardens is one of the most common interactions between birds and humans. Because feeding may have both desired effects(provisioning of nutritious food for under-nourished birds) and undesired effects(favouritism of competitively superior species, transmission of disease), management of supplementary sites should be optimized from an ecological and conservation perspective. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to experimentally test winter food preferences of birds, with underlying potential influence of habitat(rural vs. urban) on realised food preferences pattern.Methods: We conducted an experimental analysis of food preferences of wintering birds by provided bird-feeders in urban and rural environments across Poland. Data were collected twice during winter 2013–2014 across Poland, in total with 80 experimental trials.Results: Sunflower seeds were the most preferred food supplement both in urban and rural habitats, significantly more exploited than any other food simultaneously available in feeders(animal fat, millet seed and dry fruits of rowanberry). However, no significant differences were recorded between urban and rural habitats in use of food.Conclusions: The degree of use of a particular type of food at bird-feeders depended on the overall use of food in a bird-feeder—consumption of each of the four types of food was significantly positively correlated with that of the others, and it was positively correlated with the number of birds observed at the feeders.

Consumer Preference and Willingness to Pay for Non-Plastic Food Containers in Honolulu, USA

Expanded polystyrene (EPS), a petroleum based plastic polystyrene, has an immense environmental impact with a degradation rate of over 500 years, and is a possible human carcinogen that may cause cancer in humans. Nonetheless, EPS is the most commonly used material to produce takeout food containers, a single use item that is quickly discarded. With growing recognition of the high environmental costs of EPS products and their pressure on landfill resources, EPS food container bans have become increasingly popular in jurisdictions across the globe. Similar legislation has been introduced in the state of Hawaii, USA. However, since EPS is currently more cost effective than its alternatives, the widespread adoption of food containers produced with biodegradable materials remains a challenge. This study employs Conjoint Choice Experiment (CCE) to determine consumer preference and willingness to pay for plant-based EPS alternative takeout food containers and their various product attributes in the urban center of Honolulu, Hawaii. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) is used to cluster respondents into four distinct classes based on their observable attributes of choice. Results show that the majority of respondents (81.0%) are in favor of a ban on EPS takeout food containers. As an alternative, the majority of respondents prefer a container constructed out of a sugarcane material (66.49%) that is microwaveable (88.94%), water resistant (100%), and locally produced (51.23%). Moreover, this study demonstrates an increase in consumer’s willingness to pay for more environmentally friendly food containers, which may allow businesses to offset the costs of substituting EPS for biodegradable materials. These findings provide valuable information for farmers, manufacturers, and natural resource managers, and can help to guide decision makers when considering socially responsible and environmentally sustainable policies.

Nutritional Status, Food Consumption at Home, and Preference-Selection in the School

To assess the relationship between food consumption at home, nutritional status, gender preference and the preference-selection of natural products (fruits and vegetables) and industrialized (candies and chips) in a situation of free access for a population of Mexican schoolchildren. 115 children participated in the test, 59 boys and 56 girls from second, fourth and sixth grade of elementary school. We have taken measures of weight, size and the 24-hour consumption record during over five days, at which time also we evaluated the preference and selection of a group of ten products (naturals and industrialized). According to the results 60% of children had normal weight, 23.47% overweight, 14.8% risk of overweight an 1.73% underweight. There were no significant differences with X2 test between nutritional status and gender. Multivariate analysis was applied between gender, consumption by food groups and nutritional status, the interaction was significant in all cases. The Pearson correlation between preference and food choice in the situation of open access is high in the school students at risk of overweight. The preferred and selected products for consumption are those with the highest content of saturated fat, sugars and salt, the less preferred and selected products were fruits and vegetables. We could conclude that the population is at risk for their low consumption of fruits and vegetables;situation that is reflection of the home consumption this document.

Temperature acclimation affects thermal preference and tolerance in three Eremias lizards(Lacertidae)

We acclimated adult males of three Eremias lizards from different latitudes to 28℃,33℃ or 38℃ to examine whether temperature acclimation affects their thermal preference and tolerance and whether thermal preference and tolerance of these lizards correspond with their latitudinal distributions.Overall,selected body temperature(Tsel)and viable temperature range(VTR)were both highest in E.brenchleyi and lowest in E.multiocellata,with E.argus in between;critical thermal minimum(CTMin)was highest in E.multiocellata and lowest in E.brenchleyi,with E.argus in between;critical thermal maximum(CTMax)was lower in E.multiocellata than in other two species.Lizards acclimated to 28℃ and 38℃ overall selected lower body temperatures than those acclimated to 33℃;lizards acclimated to high temperatures were less tolerant of low temperatures,and vice versa;lizards acclimated to 28℃ were less tolerant of high temperatures but had a wider VTR range than those acclimated to 33℃ and 38℃.Lizards of three species acclimated to the three temperatures always differed from each other in CTMin,but not in Tsel,CTMax and VTR.Our results show that:temperature acclimation plays an important role in influencing thermal preference and tolerance in the three Eremias lizards,although the degrees to which acclimation temperature affects thermal preference and tolerance differ among species;thermal preference rather than tolerance of the three Eremias lizards corresponds with their latitudinal distributions.

Comparative Study of <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>(Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Preference for Bt and Non-Bt Soybean Cultivars

Studies on the behavior of Helicoverpa armigera in relation to soybean cultivars expressing Bt proteins are fundamentally important for IPM. We determine the no-choice and feeding choice of H. armigera, the no-choice and oviposition choice in different Bt and non-Bt soybeans cultivars. In the first step it was carried out the experiment to determine the no-choice and food choice in test for 12 Bt and non-Bt soybean cultivars. Simultaneously the consumption was determined. In a second step it was evaluated the no-choice and oviposition choice in different soybean cultivars. Helicoverpa armigera caterpillars showed neither attractiveness and preference for food nor attractiveness and oviposition preference for Bt and non-Bt soybean leaves when simultaneously contrasting the tested cultivars. This study showed that Bt toxin did not influence the oviposition preference, and H. armigera adults did not differentiate Bt and non-Bt soybean cultivars for oviposition indicating no behavioral preference. Third instar caterpillars showed no discrimination between Bt and non-Bt soybean leaves. Research in this area must focus on the possibility of widespread planting of genetically modified soybeans containing the Bt protein, which is associated with selection pressure and the behavior of pest species in relation to their hosts, as well as on the adequacy of management tactics that is able to prevent the loss of technology efficiency.

Research on the Feeding Habits and Food Range of Periplaneta fuligiosa

[ Objective] This study aimed to investigate the feeding habits and food range of Periplanetafuligiosa. [ Method] Common insects, foods, daily necessities, plants and fruits were used to feed P. fuligiosa ; one food or item was put into the culture bottle each time in a small amount, to observe the feeding habits of P. fuligiosa. Foods or items uneaten after three days were excluded from its food range. Subsequently, P. fuligiosa was fed with random combinations of two or more foods according to the food range, to observe and record the feeding order. [Result] P. fuligiosa has a relatively wide food range, which dislikes dead bodies of hard-shelled insects such as Cyrtotrachelus longimanus and Popillia quadriguttata. P. fuligiosa is an omnivorous insect but tends to be carnivorous. [ Conclusion] This study provided the basis for the cultivation, prevention and control of P. fuligiosa.

Determinates That Influence Food Comsumption among Older Members of a Midwest Community

The goal of this study was to record Muncie, Indiana residents’ change in eating habits over time. Objectives: 1) Identify key determinants that influence a change in participants’ eating habits;2) Analyze the data for convergent themes among participants and draw patterns;and 3) Compare patterns found in this study population with existing literature and/or accepted theories within the field. Hypotheses on changes in food patterns included: 1) Socio-economic status in the middle-class population maintained daily food production to remain inside the home;2) Women working outside the home reduced labor hours allotted to home cooking;and 3) Social norms valued home cooking resulting in home prepared meals. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional, oral-history, interview format. The study sample consisted of 25 seniors (65y - 100y old) from a convenience sample taken from one, medium-sized, mid-western town, Muncie, Indiana. The study involved use of a semi-structured, questionnaire/interview script, (approved by Ball State University’s IRB committee). Results: Economics greatly influenced, and continues to influence, food consumption patterns for depression-era born adults. Women who grew up on home-only cooked meals, but entered the workforce adjusted traditional meals in favor of convenience. Implications: Health care providers trying to change dietary habits of older residents residing in the Midwest will need to consider foods and food preparatory methods introduced in childhood;these remained key components of the diet later in life and removing them may be met with resistance.

Avoidance of potentially harmful food cannot be socially transmitted between rats

The social transmission of food preferences （STFP） is a behavioural task of olfactory memory, in which an observer rat learns safe food odours from a demonstrator rat, and shows preference for this odour in a subsequent choice test. However, previous studies have failed to detect the transmission of information about food study, we tested how demonstrators＇ health affects the exchange of of potential danger and food aversion using STFP test. In this odour information and whether observers can learn danger information from an unhealthy demonstrator. As expected, the observer rat formed an odour preference after interacting with a demonstrator rat that had just eaten food containing a new odour, however, odour preference rather than aversion was also formed after interacting with a demonstrator rat injected with LiC1 （used to induce gastric malaise）. Furthermore, anaesthetized demonstrator rats and half-anaesthetized demonstrator rats, which showed obvious motor deficits suggesting an unhealthy state, also socially transmitted food preferences to observers. These results suggest that the social transmission of food preferences task is independent of a demonstrators＇ health, and that information about dangerous foods cannot be transmitted using this behavioural task.

Big Data Study for Gluten-Free Foods in India and USA Using Online Reviews and Social Media

Celiac disease, gluten-allergy or gluten-sensitivity is caused due to glutamine protein from the grains like wheat, rye and barley (collectively called gluten). This protein damages the small intestine and causes stomach pain, bloating, weakness etc. Celiac disease, gluten-allergy or gluten-sensitivity has never really been taken seriously in developing countries like India. However, in developed nations like UK, USA, Canada and other parts of Europe, gluten-free foods have become quite popular. With a prevalence rate of about one in 100 - 133 people worldwide, celiac disease is widespread across the globe and life-long consumption of gluten-free food is recommended treatment for this allergy. Apart from celiac-disease patients, gluten-free foods are also consumed by health conscious people for weight management and high protein diet and by the patients for diabetes, autism and food allergies. Apart from gluten-free flour, biscuits, cookies and snacks, product innovations like gluten-free beers are becoming very popular. Big data including online blogs, articles, and reviews have played a major role in increased sales of gluten-free foods. Thus, analysis of editorial and social media content becomes essential to understand the leading trends in gluten-free foods. This study provided deep insights about positive, negative and neutral sentiments related to gluten-free foods using the data from Perspectory Media Insights and Google Trends. This study also revealed that most of the consumers talked and expected product innovation in food sections like snacks, fast food (pizza, pasta and noodles) and desserts through comments on social and editorial media. Searches were divided into developed (e.g., U.S.A.) and developing nations (e.g., India) to get more details about the consumer preferences. This study would help manufacturers of gluten-free foods to develop food products according to the choices and preferences of consumers. The study is very unique in itself since it combines big data to niche food market of gluten-free foods to draw the valuable consumer preferences using online platforms.

风险偏好如何影响农户“粮改饲”参与行为?——基于信贷的中介效应和风险感知的调节效应

“粮改饲”政策是优化农业结构、助推草食畜牧业高质量发展的重要途径,也是推动农业供给侧结构性改革的着力点之一。运用实验经济学方法测度农户的风险偏好,依据农牧交错带1479个农户的微观调研数据,采用两阶段回归模型,系统剖析风险偏好对农户“粮改饲”参与行为的作用与差异化影响。研究发现:(1)风险偏好显著促进了农户的“粮改饲”参与行为,农户风险偏好程度越高,参与“粮改饲”的可能性和规模越大;(2)风险偏好通过促进农户参与信贷而影响其“粮改饲”参与行为;(3)风险偏好对农户“粮改饲”参与行为的促进作用具有明显的风险感知情境依赖特征。据此,从重视全株青贮玉米技术培训、构建全株青贮玉米种植保险体系、增加信贷支持、加强全株青贮玉米种植风险信息宣传等方面提出政策建议。

A comparison of food habits and prey preferences of Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)at the southwest Primorskii Krai in Russia and Hunchun in China

A small,isolated Amur tiger population ranges across the southwest Primorskii Krai region in Russia and Hunchun region in China.Many individuals,with“dual nationality,”cross the border frequently.Formulating effective conservation strategies requires a clear understanding of tiger food requirements in both countries.While the diets of tigers ranging in Russia is clearly understood,little is known of the tigers’feeding habits in China..We used scat analysis combined with data on the abundance of 4 prey species to examine Amur tiger diet and prey preferences in Hunchun.We examined 53 tiger scat samples from 2011 to 2016 and found that tigers preyed on 12 species(11 species in winter),4 of which were domestic animals with 33.58%biomass contribution;this was the first record of Amur tigers eating lynx in this area.Tigers showed a strong preference for wild boar(Jacobs index:+0.849),which were also the most frequently consumed prey,and a strong avoidance of roe deer(Jacobs index:–0.693).On the Russian side,domestic animals(just dog)were rarely found in tiger scat,and tigers did not show strong avoidance of roe deer,but of sika deer.We also found red deer footprints during winter surveys and that tigers ate red deer on the Chinese side,while there was no record of red deer feeding on the Russian side.Reducing or eliminating human disturbance,such as grazing,is essential to recovering tiger prey and habitat in this area and the Sino–Russian joint ungulate annual survey is indispensable for prey estimates of this small,isolated Amur tiger population.

胡小英从“胃以喜为补”调治小儿厌食症经验探微

厌食症患儿常有服药困难。胡小英教授运用“胃以喜为补”理论调治厌食症患儿,顺从小儿之“胃喜”,诱导开胃,循序渐进,使小儿纳食增加,营养得到补充,临床获得良好疗效。本文以胡教授临床经验心得为基础探讨相关思路与方法,并附验案1则,以资验证。

食品品质属性的消费偏好和支付意愿研究进展

深入探究食品品质属性及其消费偏好和支付意愿对于提高消费者购买、辅助生产者决策具有重要意义,但目前针对食品品质属性及其消费者偏好和支付意愿之间的研究尚且不足。文章从食品品质属性分类、食品消费偏好和支付意愿、选择实验法及其在食品消费偏好和支付意愿应用中的研究3个部分对相关文献进行梳理与回顾。综述结果指出,研究食品品质属性偏好具有重要现实价值。下一步可从消费者和政策层面细化不同食品品质属性,然后根据各地区的市场需求情况,深入挖掘不同消费者的偏好特征。

食物偏好机制及其对肥胖影响的研究进展

近年来全球的肥胖患病率持续攀升,对高糖和高脂食物的偏好是导致肥胖的主要原因之一。食物的偏好指个体对特定食物的喜好程度,其形成与食物在胃肠道消化后产生的饱腹感、满足感和奖赏感等生理效应密切相关。随着神经影像学、化学遗传学等技术的不断发展,食物偏好行为背后的神经、生理机制正逐步被揭示。有研究显示,食物在胃肠道内消化吸收的过程中可以释放化学信号或电信号,这些信号通过神经通路、体液通路及肠道菌群介导的肠-脑轴传递至中枢神经系统,随后通过激活或抑制孤束核神经元、多巴胺奖赏回路和下丘脑中的相关神经通路来调节摄食行为。基于此,该文对食物偏好的定义、评估方法和机制研究进行介绍,并对食物信息在肠-脑轴之间的传递途径、调节食物偏好的奖赏回路以及食物偏好行为在肥胖治疗中的应用进行综述,以期为食物偏好领域的研究及肥胖治疗提供一定的参考。

Behavioral Switch of Food Preference upon Sugar Deficiency Is Regulated by GPCRs in Drosophila

Sugar and protein are the major macronutrients＇ sources, and their balanced intake is important for animal＇s health. It has been observed that animals are able to change food preference in an imbalanced nutritional condition to selectively consume nutrients that are deficient in the body （Dethier, 1976）. Early studies in both Drosophila and mouse have demonstrated that animals exhibit food rejection to imbalanced diets lacking essential amino acids （Hao et al., 2005; Bjordal et al., 2014）. Furthermore, the food preference change upon protein depri- vation has been characterized using a two choice assay in Drosophila （Ribeiro and Dickson, 2010; Vargas et al., 2010）. Different from protein food, sugar is the main energy source, and sugar deficiency severely affects animal survival （Lee et al., 2008）. However, whether animals adopt a strategy of fast food preference switch upon sugar deprivation had not been investigated, and the neural mechanisms underlying this behavior regulation remain poorly understood.

寄主植物代谢物对沙葱萤叶甲取食的影响

【目的】揭示寄主植物代谢物对沙葱萤叶甲取食量和取食偏好的影响。【方法】选取沙葱萤叶甲寄主植物的6种代谢物(3种次级代谢物,分别为异槲皮苷、异黄酮和芦丁;3种初级代谢物,分别为D-半乳糖、β-D-葡萄糖和L-鼠李糖),以10%DMSO溶液分别配制0.01 mmol/L(低浓度)、0.10 mmol/L(中浓度)和1.00 mmol/L(高浓度)6种代谢物处理液浸泡韭菜,饲喂沙葱萤叶甲,以饲喂10%DMSO溶液浸泡的韭菜为对照组,测定沙葱萤叶甲(幼虫、成虫)对不同寄主代谢物的取食量;应用二项叶碟选择法研究沙葱萤叶甲对不同代谢物及不同浓度处理组的取食偏好。【结果】沙葱萤叶甲幼虫对高浓度异槲皮苷处理的取食量显著低于对照组(P<0.05),对中、高浓度L-鼠李糖处理的取食量显著高于对照组(P<0.05);沙葱萤叶甲成虫对低、中浓度异黄酮和低、高浓度L-鼠李糖处理的取食量显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。沙葱萤叶甲幼虫对中、高浓度异黄酮,高浓度芦丁和低浓度β-D-葡萄糖处理的取食偏好显著低于对照组(P<0.05),而对低浓度L-鼠李糖处理的取食偏好极显著高于对照组(P<0.01);沙葱萤叶甲成虫对高浓度异槲皮苷处理的取食偏好极显著高于对照组(P<0.01),而对高浓度异黄酮、芦丁和D-半乳糖处理的取食偏好显著低于对照组(P<0.01)。【结论】寄主植物代谢物对沙葱萤叶甲取食的影响与代谢物种类、含量以及沙葱萤叶甲的发育阶段有关。

福寿螺对稻田水生植物群落结构的影响

福寿螺是在我国南方地区危害水稻生产的一种外来入侵软体动物,已被世界自然保护联盟入侵生物专家组列为100种危害最为严重的外来入侵物种之一。在水域生态系统中福寿螺主要以摄食各种水生植物而生存。以水稻、大薸、水葫芦、粉绿狐尾藻、水花生和鸭舌草构成的稻田水生植物群落为对象,研究了低密度(4株/m2)、中密度(8株/m2)和高密度(12株/m2)福寿螺处理对稻田水生植物群落的影响,同时结合福寿螺的食物选择性实验分析其相关行为特性。结果表明:1)低密度、中密度和高密度福寿螺处理1周内水稻密度均急剧下降,高密度福寿螺造成水稻密度下降超过70%,2周后福寿螺危害水稻秧苗的程度减轻;2)各密度处理福寿螺均抑制了水花生和鸭舌草扩散,第8周时高密度福寿螺处理中水花生和鸭舌草的密度仅为对照的30%和25%。同时,低密度福寿螺处理中的水花生和鸭舌草的密度显著高于中密度和高密度处理。不同密度福寿螺处理对水葫芦、大薸和粉绿狐尾藻影响不明显;3)水稻的日均密度增长率为负值,低密度、中密度和高密度福寿螺处理间存在明显差异,且均显著低于对照。水花生和鸭舌草的日均密度增长率虽为正值,但显著低于对照,水葫芦、大薸和粉绿狐尾藻的日均密度增长率和对照无差异。福寿螺日均密度增长迅速,各密度处理无显著差异。福寿螺对水稻、水花生、鸭舌草的选择性显著高于水葫芦、粉绿狐尾藻和大薸;4)福寿螺引入8周后稻田水生植物群落物种多样性Simpson指数、Shannon指数和均匀度指数均显著降低。Simpson指数的大小顺序为:对照>低密度>中密度、高密度,Shannon指数和均匀度指数的大小顺序为:对照>低密度>中密度>高密度。说明福寿螺对供试水生植物有明显的选择性,其入侵会严重危害稻田水生植物群落的物种多样性。

海南大田国家级自然保护区赤麂的食性

20 0 1年 1 0月至 2 0 0 2年 9月在海南大田国家级自然保护区 ,采用直接观察法和采食痕迹估计法对赤麂的食性进行了研究。共记录了赤麂 36 4群 ,群的平均大小为 1 32只。我们对这些赤麂利用的 5 2 3个取食地的植被进行了分析 ,并利用采食痕迹估计法确定了 2 94个取食地。赤麂取食的植物达到 2 1 5种 ,隶属 5 8科。其中木本植物 1 1 4种 (占 5 3 0 2 % ) ,草本植物 95种 (占 4 4 1 9% ) ,蕨类植物 6种 (占 2 79% )。取食频率超过 0 0 1 %的植物主要集中在 2 5个科 ,共计 5 5种 ,对这些种类的取食频率达到总取食频率的 89 2 3%。不同季节中赤麂取食的植物种类没有明显差异 ,但是在食物种类的选择方面存在季节性差异。赤麂对植物部位的选择性有季节性差异。从取食部位看 ,赤麂属于以嫩枝叶为主的精食者。无论旱季还是雨季 ,赤麂主要在有刺灌丛和灌丛草地生境类型中取食。野外见到赤麂以直接饮水的方式来补充对水分的需求 。