Today's children are a multi-billion dollar consumer market that not only has the power to spend their own money but directly influences the spending for household consumer purchases. They present an extremely healthy and potentially long term wealthy consumer market for marketers to target and reap the benefits from their loyalty. However, the area of young children's consumer behaviour is significantly under researched. Very little is known about how young children develop preferences, make brand choices, and develop equity towards a brand. This study investigates the brand knowledge elements associated with brand preference and brand equity for young children. An experimental procedure was employed utilising personal interviews and collecting data from five Australian Day Care facilities and four Australian Community Pre-school Centres. The respondents were three and four year old children, who performed a game involving questions about fast food brands. The hypotheses explored various aspects of brand knowledge (e.g., brand awareness) and, their influence on the child's initial preference between fast food choices (brand preference), and their loyalty when tempted by a toy and their second choice (brand equity). The study's analysis was divided into two parts. The first part determined whether there were any significant differences evident between three and four year old children in relation to the effect of brand awareness, affect toward, and brand image in brand preference and brand equity using chi-square analyses. The second part of the analysis employed binary logistic regression analyses to determine which elements of brand knowledge influenced a child's brand preference and brand equity regarding fast foods. 2 The study found there were no major differences between a three year old and a four year old in relation to the influences of brand awareness, affect toward, and brand image in brand preference or brand equity. The binary logistic regression analysis found that brand images provided the greatest effect in explaining and predicting brand preference and provided a contributing influence in brand equity. Brand awareness was found to provide the second greatest effect on brand preference and the greatest effect on brand equity, and affect towards the brand or main menu item provided the least amount of effect in explaining and predicting brand preference and brand equity for 3 and 4 year old children. The research also comments on the use of a toy as a marketing tool to lure children to a brand and provides suggestions for future research. Marketing, managerial and public policy implications are also provided.

Inbreeding can have profound negative effects on individuals by reducing fertility and viability. In populations, inbreeding depression can reduce growth rates and increases extinction risk. The aims of this thesis are to investigate inbreeding depression in male guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and to study the evolution of mechanisms for inbreeding avoidance in females, using guppies from a feral population in Queensland, Australia. Male guppies are highly polymorphic in their sexual ornamentation, indeed they show one of the most extreme polymorphisms observed in nature. Female guppies exhibit complex mate choice based on preferences for ornamentation, as well as social context. I aim is to examine how these factors of inbreeding avoidance alter sexual selection. In male guppies I found strong inbreeding depression in male sperm numbers, which is amplified under semi-natural compared to laboratory conditions (Chapter 2). Moreover, inbreeding depression results in low fertility under sperm competition: an experiment using artificial insemination techniques reveals that highly inbred males are heavily disadvantaged in gaining paternity (Chapter 3). On population level, inbreeding depression is manifest in reduced growth rates, predominantly in the early stages of inbreeding (Chapter 4). Population growth at inbreeding coefficients f=0.375-0.59 did not seem to lead to inbreeding depression, whereas lower levels of inbreeding reduced population growth. Although the growth rates in inbred populations appear normal, severe inbreeding depression is uncovered after outbred immigrants are added. Specifically, male immigrants are most efficient in short-term genetic rescue, probably due to insemination of large numbers of females whereas females are limited in the number of eggs they can produce (Chapter 4). Male ornamental traits show significant inbreeding depression in semi-natural conditions only (Chapters 2 & 3). Inbreeding avoidance mechanisms seem to have evolved in females: they prefer courtship displays of non-inbred males (Chapter 2), unfamiliar males (Chapter 5) and males with rare patterns (Chapter 6). This preference might increase the mating success of immigrants, and may have evolved to facilitate the avoidance of inbreeding. Together with context-independent preferences for ornament combinations (Chapter 6), it also offers an explanation for the maintenance of polymorphism in this species.

Inbreeding can have profound negative effects on individuals by reducing fertility and viability. In populations, inbreeding depression can reduce growth rates and increases extinction risk. The aims of this thesis are to investigate inbreeding depression in male guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and to study the evolution of mechanisms for inbreeding avoidance in females, using guppies from a feral population in Queensland, Australia. Male guppies are highly polymorphic in their sexual ornamentation, indeed they show one of the most extreme polymorphisms observed in nature. Female guppies exhibit complex mate choice based on preferences for ornamentation, as well as social context. I aim is to examine how these factors of inbreeding avoidance alter sexual selection. In male guppies I found strong inbreeding depression in male sperm numbers, which is amplified under semi-natural compared to laboratory conditions (Chapter 2). Moreover, inbreeding depression results in low fertility under sperm competition: an experiment using artificial insemination techniques reveals that highly inbred males are heavily disadvantaged in gaining paternity (Chapter 3). On population level, inbreeding depression is manifest in reduced growth rates, predominantly in the early stages of inbreeding (Chapter 4). Population growth at inbreeding coefficients f=0.375-0.59 did not seem to lead to inbreeding depression, whereas lower levels of inbreeding reduced population growth. Although the growth rates in inbred populations appear normal, severe inbreeding depression is uncovered after outbred immigrants are added. Specifically, male immigrants are most efficient in short-term genetic rescue, probably due to insemination of large numbers of females whereas females are limited in the number of eggs they can produce (Chapter 4). Male ornamental traits show significant inbreeding depression in semi-natural conditions only (Chapters 2 & 3). Inbreeding avoidance mechanisms seem to have evolved in females: they prefer courtship displays of non-inbred males (Chapter 2), unfamiliar males (Chapter 5) and males with rare patterns (Chapter 6). This preference might increase the mating success of immigrants, and may have evolved to facilitate the avoidance of inbreeding. Together with context-independent preferences for ornament combinations (Chapter 6), it also offers an explanation for the maintenance of polymorphism in this species.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:32:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4909.pdf: 1046515 bytes, checksum: ace6b1d8402f547fa086d3b55feda1ca (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-08 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) are insects considered as pests in many crops. Acyrthosiphon pisum, Aphis craccivora and Therioaphis trifolii f. maculata, occur often in alfalfa crops (Medicago sativa) in Brazil, causing direct and indirect damage to the plants. In this study designed to determine the seasonal fluctuation of aphids and their predators in alfalfa crop and its relationships with climatic variables by canonical correspondence analysis; to verify if there is in laboratory selectivity predators feeding, Cycloneda sanguinea, Harmonia axyrids and Hippodamia convergens for aphid A. pisum, A. craccivora and T. trifolli f. maculata to establish their predators in field culture, as well as to compare the various predators, as their efficiency in preying upon aphids using the serological technique. This technique is based on reactions such as antigen / antibody where the antibodies are obtained for the pest of interest and how antigens are used on many pest consumers. The gathering of aphids and their predators were conducted from August 2011 to July 2012 in experimental fields of alfalfa Crioula located at the Embrapa Unit, São Carlos SP. Acyrthosiphon pisum was the predominant aphid in the culture during the study period. Considering all the species, the highest population peak was observed in March/2012 and the lower in January/2012. According to canonical correspondence analysis, none of the environmental variables influenced significantly the seasonal fluctuation of aphids. Regarding the predators, 2.161 specimens were collected including insects and spiders. Among the insects the following families: Coccinellidae, Carabidae, Nabidae, Syrphidae, Dolichopodidae, Geocoridae, Reduviidae, Pentatomidae, Chrysopidae and Dermaptera. Among the spiders, Salticidae, Thomisidae; Lycosidae; Ctenidae; Nephilidae; Araneidae; xi Sparassidae; Theridiidae; Pholcidae; Trocantheriidae; Lymphidae and Sicariidae ocurred. The coccinellids were the most abundant insects and Harmonia axyridis was the most abundant species. It was also observed that the population of aphids and coccinellids follow the typical pattern of predator-prey relationship. The presence of natural enemies and the management of cutting the alfalfa influenced the dynamics of aphid populations. According to the results of the serological tests of all predators tested, 508 reacted with any of the antisera, resulting in 23,5% of positive results. Heterologous positive reactions were recorded with predators stored in a freezer at -2 °C for over a year showing that freezing does not affect the results of serological reactions. Syrphid and chrysopids were the predators with the highest percentage of positive serological reactions. The food preference tests in the laboratory showed that the coccinellids C. sanguinea, H. axyridis and H. convergens have a preference for A. craccivora when one compare to other species of aphids offered / Os afídeos (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) são insetos considerados praga em várias culturas. Acyrthosiphon pisum, Aphis craccivora e Therioaphis trifolii f. maculata, ocorrem frequentemente em cultura de alfafa (Medicago sativa) no Brasil, causando danos diretos e indiretos ás plantas. No presente trabalho buscou-se determinar a flutuação sazonal dos afídeos e seus predadores em cultura de alfafa e suas relações com as variáveis climáticas, mediante análise de correspondência canônica; verificar em laboratório se há seletividade alimentar dos predadores, Cycloneda sanguínea, Harmonia axyrids e Hippodamia convergens pelos afídeos A. pisum, A. craccivora e T. trifolli f. maculata e determinar em campo seus predadores na cultura, bem como comparar os diversos predadores, quanto a sua eficiência em predar os afídeos utilizando-se a técnica serológica. Esta técnica é baseada em reações do tipo antígeno/anticorpo onde os anticorpos são obtidos para a praga que se quer investigar e como antígenos são utilizados os vários consumidores da praga. As coletas de afídeos e seus predadores foram realizadas de agosto de 2011 a julho de 2012, em campos experimentais de alfafa do cultivar Crioula situados na Unidade da Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste, São Carlos SP. Acyrthosiphon pisum foi o afídeo predominante na cultura no período avaliado. Considerando-se o conjunto das espécies o maior pico populacional foi observado em março de 2012 e o menor em janeiro de 2012. De acordo com a análise de correspondência canônica, nenhuma das variáveis ambientais influenciou significativamente a flutuação sazonal de afídeos. Em relação aos predadores, foram coletados 2.161 exemplares entre insetos e aranhas. Dentre os insetos ocorreram representantes das seguintes famílias: Coccinellidae, Carabidae, Nabidae, Syrphidae, Dolichopodidae, Geocoridae, Reduviidae, Pentatomidae, Chrysopidae e Dermaptera. ix Dentre as aranhas, Salticidae, Thomisidae; Lycosidae; Ctenidae; Nephilidae; Araneidae; Sparassidae; Theridiidae; Pholcidae; Trocantheriidae; Lynphidae e Sicariidae. Os coccinelídeos foram os insetos mais abundantes e Harmonia axyridis a espécie mais coletada. Observou-se também que a população de coccinelídeos e a de afídeos seguem o padrão típico da relação predador-presa. A presença de inimigos naturais e o manejo dos cortes da alfafa influenciaram a dinâmica populacional dos afídeos. De acordo com os resultados dos testes serológicos, do total de predadores testados, 508 reagiram com algum dos antissoros resultando em 23,5% de resultados positivos. Reações heterólogas positivas foram registradas com predadores armazenados em freezer a -2°C por mais de um ano evidenciando que o congelamento não interferiu nos resultados das reações serológicas. Os sirfídeos e crisopídeos foram os predadores para os quais se obteve a maior porcentagem de reações serológicas positivas. Os testes de preferência alimentar em laboratório apontaram que os coccinelídeos C. sanguínea, H. axyridis e H. convergens tem preferência por A. craccivora em relação às outras espécies de afídeos oferecidas.

Au cours des dernières quarante années un grand nombre d'études ont analysé les comportements de possession et utilisation des véhicules. Cependant, la plupart de ces études traitent le problème d'un point de vue statique, en omettant les dynamiques qui vraisemblablement guident ces décisions. Le caractère durable des véhicules suggère l'importance de ne pas ignorer l'aspect dynamique des problèmes d'achat, possession et utilisation automobile. Ce travail utilise une approche désagrégée structurelle, basée sur des choix. Le document est composé de trois parties. La première propose une description du problème, par l'analyse de la littérature existante. La seconde présente les opérations préliminaires effectuées sur la base "Parc Auto" pour pouvoir l'utiliser comme panel de véhicules. La dernière partie a pour objectif d'introduire les quatre applications réalisées au cours de ma thèse de doctorat. Une première application propose une approche hédoniste des prix des véhicules. Le deuxième chapitre de cette dernière partie estime un modèle de Rust pour des ménages mono-équipés (c'est à dire une seule voiture à disposition par année) les décisions concernant leur voiture. Un modèle dynamique discret\continu des choix de la durée de possession et d'utilisation des véhicules pour des agents tant myopes que prévoyants. Le dernier chapitre présente un programme dynamique tourné vers le futur pour le problème de la planification des achats. Dans les trois applications, un facteur d'actualisation est utilisé pour tester différents hypothèses de comportement dynamique. Mes résultats indiquent que la préférence temporelle d'un ménage est un élément crucial dans étude de ces décisions. / During the last fort Y years, a large number of studies have analyzed the behaviors related to car holding and use. However, the majority of these studies consider the subject from a static point of view, ignoring the household dynamics and the driver's needs, which are very likely to drive such decisions. The durable character of a vehicle suggests however that such a dynamic cannot be ignored in the study of the vehicle purchase, holding and use decisions. This work employs a disaggregated, structural approach based on real choice to address these dynamics. The document is composed of three parts. In the first part a description of the problem is provided through an analysis of the available literature. The second part includes the description of the operations which are performed on "Parc Auto". This database needs in fact some preliminary treatment if one wants to use it as a vehicle's Panel. In the last part the four applications considered are presented. A first application proposes a hedonic approach to the vehicles' prices. The second chapter of this last part estimates the Rust model for mono-equipped (Le. only one car owned each year) households' decisions concerning their car. A dynamic discrete\continuous choice model of car holding duration and use for both myopic and forward-Iooking agents follow. ln the last chapter a dynamic forward-Iooking program for the purchase planning problem is presented. ln the three dynamic applications, a discount factor tests different effects of dynamic behavior. My findings indicate that a household's time preference is a crucial element in studying these decisions.

L’élément L1 (Long Interspersed Nuclear Element 1 ou L1) est le seul rétrotransposon autonome et actif connu dans notre génome, représentant 17% de celui-ci. Capable de se répliquer grâce à un intermédiaire à ARN et un mécanisme de transcription inverse initiée au site d’intégration, il encode deux protéines ORF1p et ORF2p, qui s’associent à l’ARN L1 pour former une particule ribonucléoprotéique (RNP). L’élément L1 rétrotranspose préférentiellement en cis : un L1 défectif est complémenté en trans par un élément fonctionnel de façon inefficace. Ce travail s'intéresse à deux étapes clefs du cycle réplicatif du L1 : l'assemblage de la RNP L1 en cis ou en trans afin d’explorer le mécanisme de la cis-préférence et la spécificité de l’initiation de la reverse transcription initiée. Nous avons d’abord comparé deux méthodes d’analyse de l’activité RT. Puis, nous avons montré l’importance de la complémentarité entre queue poly(A) de l’ARN L1 et site d’intégration durant l’initiation de la RT, ainsi que l’impact de mésappariements terminaux éventuels. Enfin, nous avons étudié les bases biochimiques de la cis-préférence, à travers la coexpression et la purification de deux éléments distincts étiquetés, ce qui nous a permis de suivre l'assemblage et l'activité de leurs RNPs respectives. Nos données suggèrent que ORF1p et ORF2p peuvent lier en trans l’ARN L1 de façon efficace et que la cis-préférence pourrait nécessiter des quantités limitantes de L1. / The Long Interspersed Nuclear Element 1 (LINE-1 ou L1) is the only known active and autonomous retrotransposon in the human genome and constitutes around 17% of our genomic DNA. The L1 element is able to replicate through an RNA intermediate by a mechanism called target-primed reverse transcription and encodes two proteins ORF1p and ORF2p, which associate with the L1 RNA to form a ribonucleoprotein particle (RNP). L1 preferentially retrotranspose in cis: a defective L1 can only be rescued in trans at low levels by a replication-competent copy. During this work, we focused on two essential steps of the L1 replication cycle: the assembly of the L1 RNP in cis or in trans to explore the mechanism of the cis-preference and the specificity of L1 reverse transcription priming. First, we compared two different methods to detect L1 RT activity. Then, we showed the importance of base-pairing between the poly(A) tail of the L1 RNA and the integration site to prime reverse transcription and the impact of potential mismatches. Finally, we investigated the biochemical basis of the cis-preference through the coexpression and purification of two different tagged L1 elements, which allowed us to follow the assembly and activity of their RNP. Our data suggest that binding of ORF1p and ORF2p in trans is efficient and that the cis-preference might requires limiting L1 levels.

Resumo: Os intensos ataques de cigarrinha-das-raízes, Mahanarva fimbriolata, ocorridos em cana-de-açúcar, tem causado perdas econômicas expressivas. Devido a novas práticas culturais utilizadas no setor, ou seja, colheita de cana crua, aumentou significativamente a ocorrência e os danos provocados por esta praga na cultura. O trabalho foi conduzido em casa-de-vegetação e no Laboratório do Centro APTA - Cana-de-Açúcar do Instituto Agronômico, Ribeirão Preto-SP e teve por objetivos estudar a densidade adequada de adultos com o propósito de obter uma infestação suficiente para discriminação de variedades de cana- de-açúcar e a idade mais adequada da planta visando à realização de ensaios de resistência à cigarrinha-das-raízes; discriminar as variedades de cana-de-açúcar de importância econômica quanto à resistência de plantas a insetos de acordo com a excreção, atratividade, a não- preferência com e sem chance de escolha, a antibiose da cigarrinha-das-raízes e assim fornecer uma ferramenta a mais no manejo e controle dessa praga. Pela análise dos resultados conclui-se que M. fimbriolata prefere ovipositar em plantas com 25 e 35 dias de idade e, nas densidades de 2 a 5 casais por planta, depositaram número suficiente de ovos para diferenciar variedades de cana-de-açúcar após 48 horas da infestação. Na variedade SP80-1842, M. fimbriolata produziu uma maior quantidade de excreção em relação à variedade SP83-5073. As variedades RB83-5486, RB72-454 e SP80-1842 foram mais atrativas à cigarrinha-das- raízes que IACSP87-3396 e SP83-5073. Quanto à preferência para oviposição, SP83-5073, em teste com e sem chance de escolha, apresentou menor oviposição por M. fimbriolata. Ao analisar todos os parâmetros biológicos, constatou-se que a variedade SP80-1842 apresenta suscetibilidade a M. fimbriolata. As variedades SP83-5073 e IAC87-3396 determinaram... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The sugarcane spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata has inflicted intense attacks on sugarcane, resulting in expressive economic losses. Due to the new cultural practice of green harvest (mechanical), occurrence and damage by the spittlebug have increased significantly. This research was conducted in a greenhouse and at the laboratory of the "Centro APTA- Cana-de-Açúcar" in Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The objectives were to study the adequate adult density to conduct experiments to ascertain which were the best age and varieties of sugarcane to be utilized in tests of resistence to the spittlebug; to discriminate economically important sugarcane varieties when checked for resistance to the spittlebug in trials of excretion, attraction, non-preference (choice and no-choice) and antibiosis. Results showed that the spittlebug preferred to oviposit in 25-35 days old plants, and at the density between 2-5 couples/plant it laid sufficient eggs to differentiate sugarcane varieties after 48 h of infestation. The spittlebug excreted more when fed on variety SP80-1842, when compared to variety SP83-5073. The varieties RB83-5486, RB72-454 and SP80-1842 were more attractive to the spittlebug than varieties IACSP87-3396 and SP83-5073. In trials with choice and no-choice, the spittlebug laid less eggs on variety SP83-5073. After analyzing all biological parameters, concluded that variety SP80-1842 showed susceptibility to the spittlebug. When fed on the varieties SP83-5073 and IAC87-3396 the spittlebug displayed the highest duration of incubation period, nymphal period and mortality, while the oviposition period and longevity of males and females shortened and fecundity dropped; antibiosis was the primary cause of resistance. / Orientador: Geraldo Papa / Coorientador: Leila Luci Dinardo-Miranda / Banca: Carlos Alberto Hector Flechtmann / Banca: Sérgio Luís de Carvalho / Banca: Adalton Raga / Banca: Mário Eidi Sato / Doutor

Le processus de sélection intersexuelle peut impliquer plusieurs mécanismes différents dans le choix du partenaire. Chez la pyrale Achroia grisella, les femelles choisissent les mâles en se basant sur des caractères de leur chant d'avertissement ultrasonique, et de précédentes études ont montré que ce choix peut procurer, à une femelle discriminante, certains bénéfices génétiques indirects. Dans cette thèse, j'ai continué à explorer le mécanisme de bénéfices indirects chez cette espèce en 1) déterminant avec plus de précision un paramètre acoustique, l‟amplitude du chant, qui influence le choix des femelles et en 2) examinant la covariance génétique entre les traits du chant mâle et ceux de la préférence femelle. J'ai constaté qu'en plus de préférer des chants mâles émis avec une plus grande amplitude et une plus grande puissance acoustique, les femelles font également une discrimination en faveur des chants comprenant des forts « pics d'amplitude ». Cependant, mes analyses génétiques moléculaires de la relation entre les traits du signal mâle et ceux de la préférence femelle, n'ont révélé aucune covariance significative, comme prédit par la théorie de la sélection sexuelle. Ces derniers résultats fournissent un aperçu important concernant l‟existence d‟un tempo réduit de la sélection sexuelle, dans les populations naturelles. / The process of inter-sexual selection may involve several different mechanisms of mate choice. In the pyralid moth Achroia grisella, females choose males based on characters of their ultrasonic advertisement song, and previous work has indicated that such choice may afford a discriminating female certain indirect genetic benefits. In this thesis I continued to probe the indirect benefits mechanism in this species by 1) determining with more precision one acoustic character, song amplitude, that influences female choice and by 2) examining the genetic covariance between the male song trait and the female preference trait. I found that in addition to preferring male songs delivered at greater amplitude and with greater acoustic power, females also discriminate in favor of songs including higher 'amplitude peaks'. However, my molecular genetic analyses of the relationships between the male signal and female preference traits did not reveal any significant covariance, as predicted by sexual selection theory. These latter findings provide important insight on the reduced tempo of sexual selection that may exist in natural populations.

This diploma thesis is focused on the evaluation of processed sliced products (cheese and analogues). For this purpose, was carried out sensory analysis of these products, a serial test and a questionnaire. Evaluation carried out a total of 65 assessors - 23 men and 42 women. The analysis of ranking showed that in the group of assessors was best evaluated processed wafer product (analogue) (average rank of 2,6) and processed sliced cheese (average rank of 2,7). For sensory analysis was found a significant role of fat on the dry basis of the product and the presence of added substances (extract from peppers, Emmental) on the perception of assessors. The survey was focused on the preference of the attractiveness of packaging of selected processed cheese slices and sliced processed products, furthermore focused on understanding the concept of the analogue product. Assessors have demonstrated their knowledge of the concept of analogue product only in 14% of cases.

The main subject of my thesis is to investigate the importance of music as a leisure time activity among the high school students in South Bohemia. In the theoretical part my primary attention has been paid on music functions, the influence of music on the body and psyche, history of musical styles, music division and music subcultures. Subsequently I defined the term "adolescent" and clarified evolution specifics of this period in terms of physical and psychological changes. Then I described the concept of leisure time and characterized function, history and attitude of young people to leisure time activities. Based on the results of former researches I described the relationship of teen agers with music, role that music plays in the lives of adolescents and what are general attitudes of today's young people towards music. In the practical part I analyzed the results of my questionnaire survey, when I contacted high school students in South Bohemia and examined their relationship with music, listening frequency, musical tastes, periodicity of listening, etc.