Effects of Test Location and Sample Number on the Liking Ratings of Almond Beverage and Vegan Ramen Products.

The present study investigated the effects of the evaluation environment and sample number on liking ratings within the same testing session. It comprised two experiments that determined consumer taste ratings of the following food products: (1) almond beverage and (2) vegan ramen, as rated by 322 and 287 Korean consumers, respectively. Consumers tasted each food product under either laboratory or home-used test conditions. Additionally, three levels of sample numbers were established for evaluation (almond beverage test: 1, 2, and 4; vegan ramen test: 1, 3, and 5) in each test condition. A target sample was selected for each of the two food products to directly ascertain the effects of the evaluation environment and sample number on the liking ratings. The results revealed that during the same evaluation session, the sample number affected the liking ratings of the target sample more than the testing location. Moreover, the sample number effect was product item dependent, that is, no significant change was noted in the liking ratings of the target almond beverage sample according to sample number, whereas significant differences were observed in the liking ratings of the target vegan ramen sample. Furthermore, the sample number effect was more prominent under laboratory test conditions than under home-used test conditions probably due to the serving order effect driven by hedonic contrast, carry over effect, and sensory specific satiety. The findings demonstrate that home-used tests should be recommended over laboratory tests when measuring the liking of a small number of multiple sample food items with high flavor complexity.

Segmental Height Decrease Adversely Affects Foraminal Height and Cervical Lordosis, But Not Clinical Outcome After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Using Allografts.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to elucidate the clinical significance of postoperative segmental height decrease (SHD) in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using allografts. METHODS: We reviewed 88 patients who underwent ACDF using allografts as interbody spacers. Cervical lordosis, segmental lordosis, segmental height, foraminal height, fusion, allograft fracture, and resorption were assessed. Significant SHD was defined as that ≥2 mm. Neck pain visual analog scale (VAS) score, arm pain VAS score, and Neck Disability Index (NDI) score were also recorded. Significant segmental height decreased (SH-D) segments were compared with segmental height maintained (SH-M) segments. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (36.4%) and 34 segments (23.1%) demonstrated significant SHD. SH-D segments demonstrated significantly lower segmental lordosis (3.7 ± 4.1 vs. 0.9 ± 4.8°; P < 0.01), foraminal height (9.6 ± 1.1 vs. 8.7 ± 0.9 mm; P < 0.01), and fusion rate (88 [77.9%] vs. 20 [58.9%]; P = 0.04) than SH-M segments at the final follow-up, respectively. Furthermore, global lordosis was significantly lower in the SH-D group (18.3 ± 8.5 vs. 13.9 ± 8.9°, respectively; P = 0.02). However, neck and arm pain VAS scores and NDI score did not demonstrate a significant difference between patients with and without significant SHD. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that higher allograft height (P = 0.03), greater allograft anteroposterior length (P = 0.04), and allograft resorption or fracture (P < 0.01) were associated with increased risk of significant SHD. Logistic regression analysis also demonstrated that allograft resorption or fracture (P < 0.01) was associated with risk of nonunion. CONCLUSIONS: Significant SHD was associated with decreased segmental lordosis, global cervical lordosis, and foraminal height. However, significant SHD did not result in worsening of clinical symptoms. Larger allograft size was associated with risk of significant SHD. This study demonstrates provisional results that suggest allograft resorption or fracture may be a factor that adversely affects fusion or SHD.

Determination of organic milk authenticity using carbon and nitrogen natural isotopes.

Natural stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen ((12)C, (13)C, (14)N, (15)N) have abundances unique to each living creature. Therefore, measurement of the stable isotope ratio of carbon and nitrogen (δ(13)C=(13)C/(12)C, δ(15)N=(15)N/(14)N) in milk provides a reliable method to determine organic milk (OM) authenticity. In the present study, the mean δ(13)C value of OM was higher than that of conventional milk (CM), whereas the mean δ(15)N value of OM was lower than that of CM; nonetheless both δ(13)C and δ(15)N values were statistically different for the OM and CM (P<0.05). Furthermore, the values of δ(13)C and δ(15)N were found to differ statistically with the collection date and the milk brand (P<0.05). The combination of δ(13)C and δ(15)N values was more effective than either value alone in distinguishing between OM and CM. The results of the present study, which is based on preliminary data from a limited sample size and sampling period, could be highly valuable and helpful for consumers, the food industry, and/or government regulatory agencies as it can prevent fraudulent labelling of organic food. Further studies include additional analyses of other milk brands and analyses over longer time periods in order to accurately determine OM authenticity using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen.