Online consumer testing beyond central location tests: A case study for brewed coffee.

Due to the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, conducting sensory evaluations requiring direct interactions became challenging. In response, researchers have been motivated to devise non-face-to-face testing methods as alternatives. This study aimed to compare two non-face-to-face home-use tests (HUT) with the traditional face-to-face central location test (CLT). Both HUTs involved online recruitment and sample delivery to participants' homes. One HUT provided a written protocol with no direct interaction (contactless HUT; C-HUT), whereas the other included an online meeting with a researcher for live guidance (online HUT; O-HUT). Four coffee samples were evaluated on the basis of liking and sensory and emotional attributes. The comparison between CLT and O-HUT showed RV coefficients of 0.92, 0.93, and 0.98 (P < 0.05) for liking and sensory and emotional attributes, respectively. In addition, based on the RV coefficient, the CLT results showed a significantly greater similarity to those of O-HUT compared to those of C-HUT. The O-HUT also outperformed the C-HUT in its ability to significantly discriminate between samples. Hence, real-time interactions between researchers and participants, as facilitated by O-HUT, may be more suitable in certain scenarios compared to C-HUT, which relies solely on a written protocol. Overall, these findings suggest that C-HUT and O-HUT are suitable methods for collecting sensory data and overcoming geographic and face-to-face contact limitations, providing greater flexibility, and reducing the time and cost associated with traditional sensory evaluations.

Effects of Simulated Airplane Cabin Noise on In-Flight Meal Perception in the Brain Using Electroencephalography.

Auditory distractions can impair the sensory evaluation of food; however, the specific impact of airplane cabin noise on the sensory perception of in-flight meals remains poorly studied. Here, we investigated the effects of airplane cabin noise on the visual processing of in-flight meal stimuli using electroencephalography (EEG) in twenty healthy male subjects. Resting-state EEG and event-related potential (ERP) responses to in-flight meal images were acquired during quiet and simulated cabin noise conditions. Participants reported mild discomfort and some loss of appetite when exposed to airplane cabin noise. The analysis of resting-state EEG showed an increase in the absolute power of theta and beta frequency bands in the left superior parietal and left frontal/right central regions under simulated cabin noise conditions, compared to quiet conditions. The ERP results showed that the amplitude of responses evoked by visual meal images in the superior parietal area was reduced in the noise condition compared to the quiet condition. Our findings suggest that airplane cabin noise disrupts the visual perception and attentional processing of in-flight food stimuli. These neural changes imply an impact on integrating sensory information, resulting in altered sensory evaluations of food during in-flight dining experiences.

Inhibition of miR-25 ameliorates cardiac and skeletal muscle dysfunction in aged mdx/utrn haploinsufficient (+/-) mice.

Dystrophic cardiomyopathy is a significant feature of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Increased cardiomyocyte cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) and interstitial fibrosis are major pathophysiological hallmarks that ultimately result in cardiac dysfunction. MicroRNA-25 (miR-25) has been identified as a suppressor of both sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog-7 (Smad7) proteins. In this study, we created a gene transfer using an miR-25 tough decoy (TuD) RNA inhibitor delivered via recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) to evaluate the effect of miR-25 inhibition on cardiac and skeletal muscle function in aged dystrophin/utrophin haploinsufficient mice mdx/utrn (+/-), a validated transgenic murine model of DMD. We found that the intravenous delivery of AAV9 miR-25 TuD resulted in strong and stable inhibition of cardiac miR-25 levels, together with the restoration of SERCA2a and Smad7 expression. This was associated with the amelioration of cardiomyocyte interstitial fibrosis as well as recovered cardiac function. Furthermore, the direct quadricep intramuscular injection of AAV9 miR-25 TuD significantly restored skeletal muscle Smad7 expression, reduced tissue fibrosis, and enhanced skeletal muscle performance in mdx/utrn (+/-) mice. These results imply that miR-25 TuD gene transfer may be a novel therapeutic approach to restore cardiomyocyte Ca2+ homeostasis and abrogate tissue fibrosis in DMD.

Inhibition of miR-25 Ameliorates Cardiac Dysfunction and Fibrosis by Restoring Krüppel-like Factor 4 Expression.

Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive response to various pathological insults, including hypertension. However, sustained hypertrophy can cause impaired calcium regulation, cardiac dysfunction, and remodeling, accompanied by cardiac fibrosis. Our previous study identified miR-25 as a regulator of SERCA2a, and found that the inhibition of miR-25 improved cardiac function and reduced fibrosis by restoring SERCA2a expression in a murine heart failure model. However, the precise mechanism underlying the reduction in fibrosis following miR-25 inhibition remains unclear. Therefore, we postulate that miR-25 may have additional targets that contribute to regulating cardiac fibrosis. Using in silico analysis, Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) was identified as an additional target of miR-25. Further experiments confirmed that KLF4 was directly targeted by miR-25 and that its expression was reduced by long-term treatment with Angiotensin II, a major hypertrophic inducer. Subsequently, treatment with an miR-25 inhibitor alleviated the cardiac dysfunction, fibrosis, and inflammation induced by Angiotensin II (Ang II). These findings indicate that inhibiting miR-25 not only enhances calcium cycling and cardiac function via SERCA2a restoration but also reduces fibrosis by restoring KLF4 expression. Therefore, targeting miR-25 may be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating hypertensive heart diseases.

The role of food stereotype in hedonic judgment of a delicacy food: A case study of Korean consumers' liking for sliced raw fish (sashimi).

For a delicacy food that it is not routinely consumed, the criteria by which consumers determine whether they like it may not be clear. For such foods, it is highly likely that external cues, such as information, play an important role in sensory perception and hedonic judgment. However, such information may have different effects depending on the consumers' preconceived stereotype. Sashimi is thin slices of fresh raw fish, considered a delicacy food in many countries. This study was conducted to investigate whether information about the size of a fish affected expectations and acceptance of sashimi and whether the effect of such information differed depending on the type of stereotype about the relationship between fish size and the sensory quality of sashimi. Sashimi was prepared from large- (2.5 kg; LS) and small-sized (1.5 kg; SS) olive flounders. The overall sensory difference between LS and SS was determined using a triangle test (n = 58) and liking of the sashimi samples was rated by 48 consumers in blind and informed settings. There was no significant difference in sensory characteristics between LS and SS. Different types of stereotypes were associated with different interpretations of the same extrinsic cues, and affected expectations and acceptance. The stereotype that sashimi from large fish tastes better than that from small fish induced higher expected liking and actual liking for LS than for SS. This suggests that hedonic judgment of sashimi, a delicacy food, is influenced more strongly by external cues and stereotype than by intrinsic sensory traits.

Effect of chargrilled flavoring on the sensory perception and consumer acceptability of bulgogi (Korean barbecued beef).

As the home-meal replacement food industry grows, there is an increasing need for smoky flavorings that can satisfy the diverse tastes of consumers. In particular, the industry requires chargrilled flavorings that complement Korean foods. In this study, chargrilled flavoring was applied to bulgogi (Korean barbecued beef) and its effects on consumer liking, sensory perception, familiarity, and flavor congruency with the bulgogi were investigated. Eight formulations (one control and seven flavorings) were tested by 78 Korean subjects. A rate-all-that-apply test was conducted to profile the sensory attributes of the food from the consumers' perspectives. The samples with weaker woody and smoky flavors were preferred; the samples with strong woody and smoky flavors were perceived as being artificial and Western-styled, as well as less familiar and incongruent with bulgogi. This study shows that flavorings that are congruent with a food system can improve consumer liking and the perception of familiarity.

The Effect of Plating, Ingredients, and Cooking Processes on the Acceptance and Authenticity of Ethnic Rice Dishes.

Familiarity and ethnic authenticity have a significant influence on the liking of ethnic food. Thus, it is crucial to identify the degree to which a dish can be modified in order to increase hedonic responses and familiarity without the loss of ethnic authenticity. This study determined the degree to which perceptions of the Korean rice dish, bibimbap, would vary upon modification of its ingredients, cooking process, or plating using the Southeast Asian market as a model system. The dish was prepared in Korean style or as Nasi Goreng, the Southeast Asian style. Eight formulations (2 ingredients × 2 cooking methods × 2 plating styles) were tested by panels, including 77 Southeast Asians and 72 Koreans. Hedonic responses, familiarity, ethnic authenticity, and purchase intent were evaluated using a nested analysis of variance. Ingredients and cooking methods had a significant influence on liking and perceived ethnic authenticity. In addition, plating had a substantial effect on the perception of ethnic authenticity and expected liking. Overall, the rate of positive responses increased when region-specific cooking processes and plating were matched. Taken together, our results suggest that modification of familiar dishes needs to be carefully considered as it can have complex effects on liking and perceived ethnic authenticity.

A hierarchical carbon nanotube-loaded glass-filter composite paper interlayer with outstanding electrolyte uptake properties for high-performance lithium-sulphur batteries.

A hierarchical CNT-loaded GF composite paper interlayer was fabricated by a sonication method. In this study, the GF paper offers outstanding electrolyte uptake, which is essential for preserving dissolved polysulphides, and the CNT networks provide a fast electron pathway for insulating the active materials. The GF/CNT interlayer-loaded Li-S cell exhibited a high capacity and long-term cycling performance.