Master of Science / Statistics / Suzanne Dubnicka / Preference testing is a popular method of determining consumer preferences for a variety of products in areas such as sensory analysis, animal welfare, and pharmacology. However, many prominent models for this type of data do not allow different probabilities of preferring one product over the other for each individual consumer, called overdispersion, which intuitively exists in real-world situations. We investigate the Two-Parameter variation of the Item Response Model (IRM) in the context of replicated preference testing. Because the IRM is most commonly applied to multiple-choice testing, our primary focus is the interpretation of the model parameters with respect to preference testing and the evaluation of the model’s usefulness in this context. We fit a Bayesian version of the Two-Parameter Probit IRM (2PP) to two real-world datasets, Raisin Bran and Cola, as well as five hypothetical datasets constructed with specific parameter properties in mind. The values of the parameters are sampled via the Gibbs Sampler and examined using various plots of the posterior distributions. Next, several different models and prior distribution specifications are compared over the Raisin Bran and Cola datasets using the Deviance Information Criterion (DIC). The Two-Parameter IRM is a useful tool in the context of replicated preference testing, due to its ability to accommodate overdispersion, its intuitive interpretation, and its flexibility in terms of parameterization, link function, and prior specification. However, we find that this model brings computational difficulties in certain situations, some of which require creative solutions. Although the IRM can be interpreted for replicated preference testing scenarios, this data typically contains few replications, while the model was designed for exams with many items. We conclude that the IRM may provide little evidence for marketing decisions, and it is better-suited for exploring the nature of consumer preferences early in product development.

abstract: In this study I investigate the factors that may influence consumer preference and choice in China’s home interior decoration industry. With the fast development of information technology such as the internet in China, it becomes increasingly important to have a more precise understanding of consumer preference and choice in home interior decoration decisions so that companies in this industry can provide better services to meet customer needs. Using survey data from a sample of potential customers and a sample of existing customers of a large home interior decoration company, I find that (1) internet has become the mostly used channel by consumers to gather information about home interior decoration, (2) design style is the most influential factor in consumers’ choice of home interior decoration company, and (3) consumers are more likely to choose home interior decoration companies to provide full services when they are between 35 to 45 years old or above 55 years old, when it is the first time for them to purchase a real estate property, and when they are located in the Eastern region of China. Findings of this study can help home interior decoration companies better understand customer needs and preferences, facilitate changes in their marketing and sales strategies, and consequently strengthen their competitive advantage． / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Business Administration 2015

abstract: Social influences are important determinants of drug initiation in humans, particularly during adolescence and early adulthood. My dissertation tested three hypotheses: 1) conditioned and unconditioned nicotine and social rewards elicit unique patterns of neural signaling in the corticolimbic neurocircuitry when presented in combination versus individually; 2) play behavior is not necessary for expression of social reward; and 3) social context enhances nicotine self-administration. To test the first hypothesis, Fos protein was measured in response to social and nicotine reward stimuli given alone or in combination and in response to environmental cues associated with the rewards in a conditioned place preference (CPP) test. Social-conditioned environmental stimuli attenuated Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens core. A social partner elevated Fos expression in the caudate-putamen, medial and central amygdala, and both nucleus accumbens subregions. Nicotine decreased Fos expression in the cingulate cortex, caudate-putamen, and the nucleus accumbens core. Both stimuli combined elevated Fos expression in the basolateral amygdala and ventral tegmental area, suggesting possible overlap in processing both rewards in these regions. I tested the second hypothesis with an apparatus containing compartments separated by a wire mesh barrier that allowed limited physical contact with a rat or object. While 2 pairings with a partner rat (full physical contact) produced robust CPP, additional pairings were needed for CPP with a partner behind a barrier or physical contact with an object (i.e., tennis ball). The results demonstrate that physical contact with a partner rat is not necessary to establish social-reward CPP. I tested the third hypothesis with duplex operant conditioning chambers separated either by a solid or a wire mesh barrier to allow for social interaction during self-administration sessions. Nicotine (0.015 and 0.03 mg/kg, IV) and saline self-administration were assessed in male and female young-adult rats either in the social context or isolation. Initially, a social context facilitated nicotine intake at the low dose in male rats, but suppressed intake in later sessions more strongly in female rats, suggesting that social factors exert strong sex-dependent influences on self-administration. These novel findings highlight the importance of social influences on several nicotine-related behavioral paradigms and associated neurocircuitry. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2015

abstract: Understanding customer preference is crucial for new product planning and marketing decisions. This thesis explores how historical data can be leveraged to understand and predict customer preference. This thesis presents a decision support framework that provides a holistic view on customer preference by following a two-phase procedure. Phase-1 uses cluster analysis to create product profiles based on which customer profiles are derived. Phase-2 then delves deep into each of the customer profiles and investigates causality behind their preference using Bayesian networks. This thesis illustrates the working of the framework using the case of Intel Corporation, world’s largest semiconductor manufacturing company. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Industrial Engineering 2017

abstract: For the last 10 years, the American Southwest has been experiencing the most persistent drought conditions on record. Based on future climactic predictions, there is a dire need to reduce water usage within Phoenix. An environmentally responsible behavior such as low water use landscaping (xeriscaping), has been shown to reduce household water consumption by 40%-70%. While much is known regarding the relationship between socio-demographics and xeriscaping choices, the influence of other variables remains to be explored. Using data from the 2017 Phoenix Area Social Survey, this study investigates the influence of two additional variables - ecological worldview and place identity on xeriscaping choice. Data was analyzed using two models - Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Linear Probability Model (LPM). Ecological worldview and place identity, along with income, ethnicity, and gender, were all found to be positively related to xeriscape preference. Additionally, when compared to the LPM, the traditional OLS was found to still be the most robust and appropriate model when measuring landscape preference. Finally, results suggested that programs to foster identity with the local desert mountain parks may help to increase xeriscaping in the Valley and thus lower residential water use. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Community Resources and Development 2018

Internal auditing is the auditing performed by companies themselves. Previous research has put forth the idea that female chairmen in audit committees increase the internal auditing. In this study, we examine how levels of risk preference within internal auditing are influenced by the gender of the chairman in an audit committee. We also examine how the independence of a chairman affect internal auditing. We propose two hypothesizes, where the first one considers if the risk preference is affected by the gender of an audit committee chairman. The second hypothesis is stated to further question if the risk preference is affected by the independence of an audit committee chairman. The study is based on 697 observations retrieved from financial reports between the years of 2005-2013. Risk preference is measured as the proportion of audit fees that are under the direct control of an audit committee. Gender is measured through binary variables based on legal gender. Our moderating variable Independence is binary based on full independence. By using regression analysis, we find an association between gender and internal auditing, but we find a weak positive association between lower ratio of non-audit costs and independence. This act as an indication that an independent chairmen lead to an increased internal auditing.

Introdução: Estudos em creches e pré-escolas têm verificado um aumento na incidência de excesso de peso em pré-escolares, daí a importância do monitoramento do estado nutricional e de intervenções. Objetivos: Avaliar o grau de aceitação dos alimentos em pré-escolares de acordo com o estado nutricional, identificar o estilo de vida e a alimentação habitual. Método: Participaram 124 crianças de 4 a 6 anos das Creches e Pré-escolas COSEAS/USP. Sessenta e duas crianças com risco/excesso de peso (IMC>p85 por cento) e 62 com peso adequado para idade. Utilizou-se questionário de freqüência alimentar (QFA), questionário sobre estilo de vida e teste afetivo com escala hedônica. As crianças foram familiarizadas com o teste por uma história. Teste t-Student foi utilizado para análise do QFA, ANOVA e Tukey para aceitação dos alimentos. As associações do grau de gostar dos alimentos e o estado nutricional por regressão logística. Resultados: As atividades das crianças em casa são mais sedentárias. Os meninos do grupo de risco/excesso de peso estão menos expostos a TV do que as demais crianças. Na pré-escola as crianças brincam mais do que em casa. Não houve diferença significante no consumo habitual de calorias e macronutrientes entre os grupos. Destacaram-se 13 alimentos com maior aprovação e a batata frita foi o preferido das crianças nos dois grupos. As crianças com risco/excesso de peso gostam mais de feijão (p=0,010) e macarrão (p=0,034) que as eutróficas. Gostar de peixe e leite diminuiu a Odds para excesso de peso, sendo que o leite diminuiu mais (0,442) que o peixe (0,660). Conclusão: Os dados sugerem uma preferência das crianças por alimentos ricos em gordura e açúcar. As evidências de que consumir leite está negativamente relacionado com a massa corporal sugerem que gostar de leite possa diminuir as chances do ganho excessivo de peso quando consumido em quantidade suficiente / Introduction: Studies in daycare centers and pre-schools have verified an increase in the incidence of overweight in preschool children, for that reason the importance of the monitoring of the nutritional status and of interventions. Objectives: Evaluate the preferences and the degree of food acceptance by preschool children according to the nutritional status, identify the lifestyle and the usual eating. Methodology: One hundred twenty four children aged 4-6 from daycare centers and pre-schools of COSEAS/USP were selected. Sixty-two children with risk/overweight (BMI>p85 per cent) and 62 with adequate weight for the age. It utilized food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), questionnaire about lifestyle and affective test with hedonic scale. The children were familiarized with the test through a story. t-Student test and factorial analysis for the analysis of the results of the FFQ, ANOVA and Tukey for food acceptance analysis. The associations of the degree of liking and the nutritional status by logistic regression. Results: The activities of the children at home tend to be more sedentary. The boys from the risk/overweight group spend less time in front of TV than the others. The environment of the preschool favors more opportunities for fun and activity. There was no difference in usual consumption of calories and macronutrientes among the children. It stood out 13 foods with more approval and the fried potato was the favorite one in both groups. Children with risk/overweight like more bean (p=0,010) and macaroni (p=0,034) than the others. Like fish and milk decreased the Odds for the risk/overweight group, being that the milk decreases more (0,442) than the fish (0,660). Conclusion: The data suggest a childrens preference for high fatty and sugar foods. The evidences that consuming milk is negatively related with the corporal fat mass suggest that liking milk might decrease the chances of gaining excessive weight when consumed in sufficient quantity

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a aquisição de função simbólica de expressões emocionais por nomes de alimentos verdadeiros e fictícios em adolescentes, por meio do paradigma de equivalência de estímulos. No Estudo I foram ensinadas relações entre as faces humanas expressando alegria e neutralidade com nomes de alimentos verdadeiros pelo procedimento de matching-to-sample simultâneo, diferindo a quantidade de treino em três grupos experimentais (segundo e terceiro grupo com supertreino). Os retratos faciais (conjunto A) foram relacionados a conjuntos de estímulos abstratos (conjuntos B e C); estímulos do conjunto B foram relacionados a nomes de alimentos (D). Portanto, as relações AB, AC e BD foram treinadas. Ao final foi conduzido o teste de equivalência CD/DC. Para avaliação inicial e final dos alimentos, foi utilizado um questionário com cinqüenta nomes de alimentos anexados a uma escala de avaliação de cinco pontos composta de expressões faciais e um teste de preferência alimentar com dez alimentos selecionados do questionário. Cinqüenta e cinco participantes da quinta série do ensino fundamental de escolas públicas e particulares concluíram o Estudo I. Trinta e cinco participantes mostraram desempenhos consistentes na fase de estabelecimento de equivalência de estímulos (nove do Grupo 1, onze do Grupo 2 e quinze do Grupo 3). Entre esses participantes, o alimento treinado com a face alegre foi avaliado em ambos os instrumentos como mais agradável por sessenta e seis porcento dos participantes do primeiro grupo e quarenta e cinco porcento do terceiro grupo. No segundo grupo, quarenta e cinco porcento avaliaram mais positivamente este alimento no pós teste de preferência alimentar. Em relação à face neutra feminina, os participantes dos Grupos 2 e 3 apresentaram avaliações finais mais positivas nos instrumentos finais . Porém, em relação ao alimento equivalente à face neutra masculina, destaca-se uma redução na avaliação do pós-teste de preferência nos Grupos Experimentais 2 e 3. O Estudo II teve como objetivo verificar se a transferência de função ocorreria se fossem utilizados nomes fictícios de alimentos relacionados com expressões esquemáticas de alegria, neutralidade e tristeza pelo procedimento de matching-to-sample com atraso. Os estímulos que diferiram do Estudo I foram os dos conjuntos A e D, compostos por faces esquemáticas e nomes fictícios de alimentos (capira, fulito e piteba), respectivamente. Um questionário com uma escala de cinco pontos de expressões esquemáticas foi usada como pré e pós teste. Trinta e seis participantes concluíram o Estudo II, dos quais vinte e cinco apresentaram desempenhos consistentes no teste de equivalência. A interação entre os questionários versus alimento teve um efeito significativo (p<0,001) no grupo de participantes que atingiram o critério de equivalência. Os participantes aumentaram as avaliações finais de capira (treinado com a face alegre), mantiveram avaliações finais muito próximas às iniciais no alimento fulito (treinado com a face neutra) e, diminuíram consideravelmente o pós teste do alimento piteba (treinado com a face triste). / The aim of the present study was to verify the acquisition of symbolic properties of facial expressions of emotion for real and fictitious food names in adolescents, using a stimulus equivalence paradigm. In Experiment 1, conditional relations between facial expressions (one of happiness and two expressing emotion neutrality) and real food names were trained by simultaneous matching-to-sample procedure. Three experimental groups differed only on the amount of training (Group 2 and 3 with overtraining). Pictures of facial expressions (Set-A) were related to abstract line drawing stimulus (Set-B and Set-C); C stimuli were related to food names (D). So, the AB, AC and BD relations were trained. Finally, they received the equivalence tests CD/DC. The participants were asked to rate the foods names for pleasantness in the beginning and in the end of the experiment by a questionnaire with fifty food names. These were linked to a five point scale of facial expressions and a preference test that had ten food names selected from the questionnaire. Fifty five participants that were in the fifth grade of public and private schools concluded Experiment I. Thirty five participants demonstrated equivalence (nine in Group 1, eleven in Group 2 and 15 in Group 3). The food trained with the happy face was valued in both final instruments of evaluation of the food preference as more pleasant by sixty six percent of the Group 1 participants and forty five percent of the Group 3. In Group 2, forty five percent valued as more pleasant this food only in the final evaluation of the preference test. The food related to the feminine neutral face showed more positive evaluations in Groups 2 and 3. On the other hand, the food equivalent to the masculine neutral face had a reduction in the food preference test in Groups 2 and 3. Experiment II aimed to verify if the transfer of function would happen if fictitious names of foods related to facial expressions of happiness, neutrality and sadness were used via delayed matching-to-sample procedure. Stimuli of Set-A and Set-D were different from Experiment I and had schematic expressions and fictitious food names (capira, fulito and piteba), respectively. A five point scale questionnaire of schematic expressions was used to value the fictitious names of foods in the beginning and in the end of the experiment. Thirty six participants finished Experiment II and twenty five showed stimulus equivalence. There was a significant interaction between the final evaluations and fictitious food names (p<0,001) in the equivalence group. The participants increased the final evaluations of the food trained with the happy face (capira), maintained almost the same evaluations of the food related with the neutral face (fulito) and considerably reduced the judgments of piteba, which was trained with the sad face.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Drug addiction has exerted a considerable impact on society, resulting in one of the biggest public health problems reaching different ethnic groups and social classes worldwide. Brazil is the largest consumer of opioid analgesics in South America, presenting, from a clinical point of view, a problematic situation, because the continuous administration could lead to tolerance and dependence. In this sense, the conditioned preference place protocol (CPP) has been widely used to evaluate the addition related to drug abuse. According to the World Health Organization (2010), stress is recognized by its chronicity, being identified as the evil of the XXI century. Its effects are directly related to the quality of life of the individual, family and society. This study was performed to evaluate the influence of stress exposure in different early life periods (fetal and neonatal) on anxiety-like symptoms and emotionality, and its consequences on addiction parameters after young animals' exposure to morphine. Animals exposed to post-NS showed lesser anxiety in different behavioral paradigms as well as increased exploratory behavior, and no preference for morphine in CPP. In contrast, animals exposed to pre-NS showed increased corticosterone plasma levels together with anxiety symptoms and greater preference for morphine following three days of drug withdrawal. Our findings indicate that the prenatal period is critical for stress, whose effects may be manifest throughout life. Although data demonstrate that the post -NS can develop chronic stress or adverse experiences, we can see from our results that the post -NS can trigger neuroadaptations able to overcome emotional consequences of early life. We hypothesized that pre-NS is able to modify responses to opioids along adulthood, which may facilitate development of addiction to these drugs. / A adição apresenta um impacto considerável na sociedade, resultando em um dos maiores problemas de saúde pública, uma vez que assola diferentes etnias e classes sociais em todo o mundo. O Brasil é o maior consumidor de analgésicos opioides da América do Sul, apresentando, sob o ponto de vista clínico, uma situação problemática, pois a administração contínua pode levar a tolerância e dependência. Nesse sentido, o protocolo de preferência condicionada de lugar (do inglês conditioned place preference-CPP) tem sido amplamente utilizado para avaliar a adição relacionada à drogas de abuso. Segundo a Organização Mundial da Saúde (2010), o estresse é reconhecido por sua cronicidade, sendo identificado como o mal do século XXI. Suas repercussões estão diretamente associadas à qualidade de vida do indivíduo, da família e da sociedade. Assim, esse estudo objetivou investigar a influência de diferentes períodos de estresse (fetal e neonatal) sobre parâmetros comportamentais e de dependência à morfina em ratos jovens adultos. Animais expostos ao Post-NS mostraram menor grau de ansiedade, comportamento mais exploratório sem mostrar preferência por morfina. Em contrapartida, animais expostos ao protocolo de Pre-NS mostraram maiores níveis de corticosterona e menor ganho de peso, junto com maiores sintomas de ansiedade e preferência por morfina após três dias de abstinência. Nossos resultados indicam que o período pré-natal é mais susceptível ao estresse, cujos efeitos podem ser manifestar ao longo da vida. Embora dados demonstrem que o post-NS possa desenvolver estresse crônico ou experiências adversas, podemos verificar a partir dos nossos resultados que o post-NS pode desencadear neuroadaptações capazes de superar as consequências emocionais da vida precoce. Assim, nós hipotetizamos que o Pre-NS é capaz de modificar as respostas aos opioides ao longo da vida adulta, o que poderia facilitar o desenvolvimento de dependência a esses fármacos.

Submitted by ONIEL JEREMIAS AGUIRRE GIL null (oaguirretm@outlook.com) on 2016-11-18T19:43:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Versão_definitiva_PDF.pdf: 2376464 bytes, checksum: 98c10cbf6c2dc00d45f713eb74c82f7f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-11-24T15:13:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 gil_oj_dr_jabo.pdf: 2376464 bytes, checksum: 98c10cbf6c2dc00d45f713eb74c82f7f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-24T15:13:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 gil_oj_dr_jabo.pdf: 2376464 bytes, checksum: 98c10cbf6c2dc00d45f713eb74c82f7f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-11-04 / Outra / Microcharops anticarsiae é um eficiente parasitoide da lagarta-dasoja Anticarsia gemmatalis que, também, parasita lagartas de outras espécies como Chrysodeixis includens e Spodoptera eridania. O objetivo do trabalho foi (1) determinar o ínstar larval de A. gemmatalis preferencialmente parasitado por M. anticarsiae a partir de lagartas coletadas em campo, (2) determinar o efeito de criações sucessivas de M. anticarsiae nos parâmetros biológicos do parasitoide e (3) determinar o efeito da soja transgênica sobre a longevidade de adultos do parasitoide. Os experimentos foram conduzidos nos anos agrícolas de 2014/15 e 2015/16 na FCAV/UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil. Para a coleta das lagartas em campo, foram semeadas duas áreas de soja transgênica, uma tolerante ao herbicida glifosato e a outra resistente a insetos. Os resultados indicam que (1) M. anticarsiae preferiu parasitar lagartas de A. gemmatalis de primeiro e segundo ínstar em soja tolerante ao glifosato em campo, (2) não houve diferenças nos parâmetros biológicos de M. anticarsiae criado durante três gerações sucessivas em laboratório e (3) a longevidade total de M. anticarsiae e a longevidade de fêmeas foi mais longa em soja tolerante ao glifosato e a longevidade dos machos foi mais curta em ambas as sojas, tolerante ao glifosato e resistente a insetos. Finalmente, conclui-se que M. anticarsiae parasita lagartas de A. gemmatalis de primeiro e segundo ínstar em campo, que os parâmetros biológicos de M. anticarsiae não são afetados quando criados durante três gerações em laboratório e que a soja resistente a insetos afeta negativamente a longevidade dos machos de M. anticarsiae. / Microcharops anticarsiae is an efficient parasitoid of Anticarsiagemmatalis and also parasitizes larvae of other species such as Chrysodeixis includens and Spodoptera eridania. This work aimed to (1) determine the larval ínstar of A. gemmatalis preferentially parasitized by M. anticarsiae from larvae collected in the field, (2) determine the effect of successive laboratory rearings of M. anticarsiae in the biological parameters of the parasitoid, and (3) determine the effect of transgenic soybean in the longevity of adults of the parasitoid. the experiments were carried out in the seasons 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 in the FCAV/UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil. Two areas were sown with transgenic soybean, the first one tolerant to glyphosate and the second one resistant to insects. The results indicate that (1) M. anticarsiae preferred to parasitize A. gemmatalis larvae on the first and second larval ínstar in soybean tolerant to glyphosate in the field, (2) there were not differences in the biological parameters of M. anticarsiae reared during three successive laboratory rearings, and (3) the longevity total of M. anticarsiae and longevity of females was longer in soybean tolerant to glyphosate and the longevity of males was shorter in soybean tolerant to glyphosate and resistant to insects. Finally, we conclude that M. anticarsiae parasitize first and second ínstar larvae of A. gemmatalis in the field, the biological parameters of M. anticarsiae are not affected when reared during three generations in the laboratory, and the soybean resistant to insects affects negatively the longevity of males M. anticarsiae.