First Round Of Testing Research Articles

Effects of radiant asymmetry on the thermal comfort conditions: Experiments in a test room

Occupants' well-being in buildings is related to the thermal comfort conditions in indoor spaces. Radiant asymmetry is a parameter of localised discomfort and its evaluation is rather challenging. It should be considered when dealing with radiant systems since they could produce unacceptable asymmetric temperature fields. In this paper, the issue of radiant asymmetry in winter is experimentally investigated in a test room equipped with radiant panels. A first round of testing is carried out to study the limits in terms of supply water temperature of the heated surface in relation to the discomfort curves proposed in the current standards. Configurations with a heated wall or ceiling and the contemporary presence of one or more heat-dissipating surfaces are considered. Twelve scenarios representing real building situations are analysed, each involving three consecutive heating phases with increasing supply temperatures of 30, 35 and 40 °C. The most critical configuration is imposed in a second testing round with 8 participants checking the actual subjects' perceptions through questionnaires, with conditions of global thermal neutrality (PMV = 0). The scenario with a heated ceiling and heat-dissipating floor is the most adverse, generating a vertical asymmetry exceeding the standard limit of 4 °C when the supply temperature is above 35 °C. The survey campaign shows that uncomfortable cold sensations are prevalent with lower radiant asymmetry levels, whereas the highest ceiling temperature improves comfort perception. The results suggest that participants could not feel the asymmetry increment and analysis of radiant asymmetry discomfort should also consider surface temperatures along with plane radiant temperature difference.

APPLICATION MULTIPLEX PCR FOR EARLY DETECTION ESCHERICHIA COLI CONTAMINATION IN SOME DRINKING WATER RESOURCES IN ABEPURA, PAPUA INDONESIA

Abstract Microbial detection takes a long time to produce positive results, so a quicker detection method was chosen. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (m-PCR) identified bacterial strains in less than 24 hours, detects E.coli specifically, and is faster than traditional methods. The goal of this study was to use m-PCR to detect early pathogenic E.coli bacteria in several drinking water sources in the Abepura district of Papua Indonesia as a parameter of pollution and water quality. The Chelex100 and microwave combination method was used to extract DNA. The first round of testing was done at four different concentrations: 0.125, 0.250, 0.375, and 0.500 M. The purity of the extracted DNA was good, ranging from 1.80 to 1.94. The optimum primer concentration for multiplexing applications is 0.25 uM for lt primer; 0.125 uM for stx2 and eae primer, with an annealing temperature of 55oC. m-PCR has been shown to quickly detect pathogenic E. coli in water samples. In the PCR process, E.coli DNA template was obtained with high purity (1.80-1.94) and concentration (576.9-4301.6 ng/uL) . Each multiplex set included three primer pairs for the target gene lt-eae-stx2 on ETEC-EPEC and EHEC respectively. The m-PCR process showed excellent results, and this findings can be considered as a reference for water analysis in several drinking sources in Papua Province.

Influence of Temperature in the Thermo-Chemical Decomposition of Below-Stoichiometric RDF Char—A Macro TGA Study

Due to the energy crisis that some countries are facing nowadays, the gasification process appears to be a good alternative to produce some energy from solid materials. Increasingly, gasification involves using wastes as a solid fuel, making the process green and reusing some materials that otherwise could end up in a landfill. However, the process of finding the best gasification parameters of a sample can be very expensive and time-consuming. In this sense, a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) char produced from an original RDF under 30 min at 400 °C was tested on a small-scale reactor using macro thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), as presented in this paper. The goal was to study and evaluate the devolatilization and residual carbon rate of the sample under several conditions and, at the same time, quantify and analyze the released gas. In the first round of tests, 5, 10, and 20 g of samples were tested at 750 °C with an excess of air coefficient (λ) = 0 and 0.2. It was possible to conclude that the lower the mass, the higher the devolatilization rate. The λ only had an influence on the devolatilization rate with a 20 g sample. Regarding the gas, CO, CO2, and H2 had no variation in the sample mass in contrast to CH4, which increased with the increase in the sample mass. The second round of tests was performed with samples of 10 g of mass at temperatures of 700, 800, and 900 °C and λ values of 0.15, 0.2, and 0.25. The tests indicated that the temperature influenced the devolatilization rate but not the residual carbon combustion rate. Regarding the gas composition, CH4, CO2, and CO followed the same trend, decreasing the concentration with the increase in temperature; in contrast, H2 increased in concentration with an increase in temperature. The heating value of the gas followed the same behavior as CH4.

Influencing factors to the capillary water uptake of (un)cracked cementitious materials

Capillary water absorption tests are widely used in uncracked cementitious materials to assess the quality and durability. Due to the easy execution of the test, it is also frequently used to assess the self-healing efficiency of self-healing concrete and mortar. It is established that the presence of a crack significantly increases the water uptake by a specimen. However, it is not known how the crack width, healing agents and mix composition influence the capillary water absorption. In this research, for cylindrical mortar specimens with four different crack widths, both a capillary water absorption test and water permeability were test were executed in order to investigate the relation between these two test methods. After the first round of testing, cracked specimens were healed manually with polyurethane and methyl methacrylate and the capillary absorption test was performed again to investigate the sensitivity of the test method to different degrees of crack healing. Furthermore, prismatic specimens were cast to investigate the influence of crack creation and geometry. It was found that the crack width does not have an influence on the capillary absorption rate. However, the crack width has a significant influence on the water flow through the crack. As expected, manual healing with polyurethane is better in comparison to the sealing of the crack mouth with methyl methacrylate.

Internet-Delivered Self-help for Adults With ADHD (MyADHD): Usability Study.

Although effective pharmacological treatment exists, many adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) prefer a nonpharmacological option for managing their symptoms. Internet-delivered self-help interventions have the potential to address this unmet supportive care need reported by adults with ADHD, at relatively low costs. However, if the intervention does not offer optimal functions, content, and layout, it could decrease adherence and engagement and potentially compromise the effectiveness of such interventions. Thus, there is a need for examining the usability and factors that enhance and impair the usability of internet-delivered self-help interventions. This study evaluates the usability of an internet-delivered self-help intervention for adults with ADHD (MyADHD). The main goals were to (1) collect qualitative and quantitative data on usability and (2) identify usability problems. Individual think-aloud interviews and staged usability testing (N=5) were conducted to evaluate the usability of the MyADHD intervention in terms of function, content, and design. MyADHD end users provided iterative feedback to maximize engagement and usability. They performed tasks involved in operating the intervention and provided "think-aloud" commentary and postsession usability ratings. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed. Participants were satisfied with the overall usability of the program. The average perceived usability score out of 100 was 70 for the first round of testing and improved to 77.5 after applying modifications, with a mean score of 75.5 (SD 5.9) for all rounds of usability testing. The analysis of the interviews revealed 3 central themes: functionality, content, and layout. Optimizing the usability of internet-delivered self-guided interventions is a critical step in the design and development process. The usability testing in this study provided valuable information from users' perspectives on the content and platform of the intervention. Analysis revealed the need for intervention enhancement with regard to design, functionality, and content from the perspective of potential end users. Overall, participants saw value in the MyADHD intervention and were confident that they could use it for the self-management of symptoms and expressed the desire to use the entire intervention when it becomes available. Through this development process, we produced an intervention that is likely to be used successfully and is ready for deployment in a randomized controlled trial. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04511169; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04511169.

The Usability of a Smartphone-Based Fall Risk Assessment App for Adult Wheelchair Users: Observational Study

BackgroundIndividuals who use wheelchairs and scooters rarely undergo fall risk screening. Mobile health technology is a possible avenue to provide fall risk assessment. The promise of this approach is dependent upon its usability.ObjectiveWe aimed to determine the usability of a fall risk mobile health app and identify key technology development insights for aging adults who use wheeled devices.MethodsTwo rounds (with 5 participants in each round) of usability testing utilizing an iterative design-evaluation process were performed. Participants completed use of the custom-designed fall risk app, Steady-Wheels. To quantify fall risk, the app led participants through 12 demographic questions and 3 progressively more challenging seated balance tasks. Once completed, participants shared insights on the app’s usability through semistructured interviews and completion of the Systematic Usability Scale. Testing sessions were recorded and transcribed. Codes were identified within the transcriptions to create themes. Average Systematic Usability Scale scores were calculated for each round.ResultsThe first round of testing yielded 2 main themes: ease of use and flexibility of design. Systematic Usability Scale scores ranged from 72.5 to 97.5 with a mean score of 84.5 (SD 11.4). After modifications were made, the second round of testing yielded 2 new themes: app layout and clarity of instruction. Systematic Usability Scale scores improved in the second iteration and ranged from 87.5 to 97.5 with a mean score of 91.9 (SD 4.3).ConclusionsThe mobile health app, Steady-Wheels, has excellent usability and the potential to provide adult wheeled device users with an easy-to-use, remote fall risk assessment tool. Characteristics that promoted usability were guided navigation, large text and radio buttons, clear and brief instructions accompanied by representative illustrations, and simple error recovery. Intuitive fall risk reporting was achieved through the presentation of a single number located on a color-coordinated continuum that delineated low, medium, and high risk.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Water Management and Legionella Prevention

<h3>Background</h3> Legionella and other waterborne pathogens are of great concern for healthcare systems. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memorandum requiring a reduction of Legionella and other opportunistic waterborne pathogens in healthcare facility water systems. A Water Management Team (WMT) was implemented in 2019 in a newly constructed 55-bed acute care facility due to lack of a formal program and to proactively prevent infection in the patient population. <h3>Methods</h3> An acute care facility collaborated with a third-party vendor to initiate a water management program (WMP). Key stakeholders collaborated and performed verification and validation strategies including environmental water sampling, water flushing, and active surveillance in high-risk areas. The first round of testing showed viable Legionella growth in multiple samples. The site implemented several actions to eliminate the viable Legionella without success. It was found that the Ultra-Violet light system that was installed on cold water prior to supplying the hot water loop was dropping chlorine levels from the city very low. A chlorine injection system was installed, and regularly scheduled water sampling was completed. The WMT collaborated to bring concerns and issues to key areas and departments as well as executive leadership to facilitate discussion and decision-making regarding the safety and operation of all potable water systems. <h3>Results</h3> Following the last intervention, the environmental water sampling showed no growth for viable Legionella. There were no reported hospital-acquired Legionella cases reported during this time frame. <h3>Conclusions</h3> A multidisciplinary WMP reduced the site's risk for healthcare associated Legionella as evidenced by results of water surveillance and supported by infection control surveillance. A WMP is a fundamental component to meet CMS mandates and address Legionella prevention.

Radical rubrics: implementing the critical and creative thinking general capability through an ecological approach

This article details how and why we have developed a flexible and responsive process-based rubric exemplar for teaching, learning, and assessing critical and creative thinking. We hope to contribute to global discussions of and efforts toward instrumentalising the challenge of assessing, but not standardising, creativity in compulsory education. Here, we respond to the key ideas of the four interrelated elements in the critical and creative thinking general capability in the Australian Curriculum learning continuum: inquiring; generating ideas, possibilities, actions; reflecting on thinking processes; and analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures. The rubrics, radical because they privilege process over outcome, have been designed to be used alongside the current NAPLAN tests in Years 5, 7 and 9 to build an Australian-based national creativity measure. We do so to argue the need for local and global measures of creativity in education as the first round of testing and results of the PISA Assessment of Creative Thinking approach and to contribute to the recognition of creative thinking (and doing) as a core twenty-first century literacy alongside literacy and numeracy.

Identification-detection group testing protocols for COVID-19 at high prevalence

Group testing allows saving chemical reagents, analysis time, and costs, by testing pools of samples instead of individual samples. We introduce a class of group testing protocols with small dilution, suited to operate even at high prevalence (5–10%), and maximizing the fraction of samples classified positive/negative within the first round of tests. Precisely, if the tested group has exactly one positive sample then the protocols identify it without further individual tests. The protocols also detect the presence of two or more positives in the group, in which case a second round could be applied to identify the positive individuals. With a prevalence of 5% and maximum dilution 6, with 100 tests we classify 242 individuals, 92% of them in one round and 8% requiring a second individual test. In comparison, the Dorfman’s scheme can test 229 individuals with 100 tests, with a second round for 18.5% of the individuals.

Planning, design and logistics of a decision analysis study: The FBI/Ames study involving forensic firearms examiners

This paper describes design and logistical aspects of a decision analysis study to assess the performance of qualified firearms examiners working in accredited laboratories in the United States in terms of accuracy (error rate), repeatability, and reproducibility of decisions involving comparisons of fired bullets and cartridge cases. The purpose of the study was to validate current practice of the forensic discipline of firearms/toolmarks (F/T) examination. It elicited error rate data by counting the number of false positive and false negative conclusions. Preceded by the experimental design, decisions, and logistics described herein, testing was ultimately administered 173 qualified, practicing F/T examiners in public and private crime laboratories. The first round of testing evaluated accuracy, while two subsequent rounds evaluated repeatability and reproducibility of examiner conclusions. This project expands on previous studies by involving many F/T examiners in challenging comparisons and by executing the study in the recommended double-blind format.

Overview and Insight from the China Research Report on the Global Youth Survey of Social and Emotional Skills by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

Social and emotional skills are important for students in 21st century study, life, and future work. In 2018, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) officially launched the first round of social and emotional skills tests for 10-year-old and 15-year-old students worldwide. After 3 years of research, the first round of global data collection ended and at the end of 2019 the OECD published the Social and Emotional Ability Assessment International Report. As one of the participating cities, Suzhou, China, successfully completed the first round of testing and released a series of reports. This article summarizes the research work of the OECD and China on social and emotional capabilities of students and discusses a few insights from the data.

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Infants Younger Than 90 Days Old Following Enterovirus and Parechovirus Infections of the Central Nervous System.

Enteroviruses (EVs) and human parechoviruses (HPeVs) are a major cause of central nervous system (CNS) infection in young infants. They have been implicated in neurodevelopmental delay, however limited data are available. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical outcome of young infants and to assess and compare the medium-term neurodevelopment following CNS infections caused by EV and HPeV. A multicentre observational ambispective study was conducted between May 2013 and March 2018. Children under 3 months of age with EV or HPeV CNS infection excluding encephalitis were included. Infants were contacted 1 year after the acute infection and their neurological development was evaluated using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 (ASQ-3). If any area assessed was abnormal during the first round of tests, a second round was completed 6 to 12 months later. Forty-eight young infants with EV and HPeV CNS infection were identified: 33 (68.8%) were positive for EV and 15 (31.3%) for HPeV. At first assessment 14 out of 29 EV (48.3%) and 3 out of 15 HPeV (20%) positive cases presented some developmental concern in the ASQ-3 test. EV-positive infants showed mild and moderate alteration in all domains analyzed and HPeV-positive infants showed mild alterations only in gross and fine motor domains. Significant alterations in communication were observed in EV-positive but not in HPeV-positive infants (31 vs. 0%, p = 0.016). At second assessment 4 out of 13 EV-positive patients (30.8%) showed mild to moderate concerns in communication and gross motor function domains and 3 out of 13 (23.1%) showed significant concern in fine motor function. Although CNS infections without associated encephalitis are generally assumed to be benign our study shows that at a median age of 18 months almost half of the EV-infected infants (48.3%) and 20% of HPeV-positive infants presented some developmental concern in the ASQ-3 test. We recommend monitor the neurological development of infants during the first years of life after HPeV CNS infection and especially after EV CNS infection, even in mild cases, for an early intervention and stimulation of psychomotor development if necessary.

The impact of repeated mass antigen testing for COVID-19 on the prevalence of the disease

In the absence of effective vaccination, mass testing and quarantining of positive cases and their contacts could help to mitigate pandemics and allow economies to stay open. We investigate the effects of repeated mass testing on the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, using data from the first ever nationwide rapid antigen testing implemented in Slovakia in autumn 2020. After the first round of testing, only districts above an ex ante unknown threshold of test positivity were re-tested. Comparing districts above and below the threshold, we provide evidence that repeated mass antigen testing can temporarily reduce the number of new infections. Our results suggest that mass testing coupled with the quarantining of positive cases and their contacts could be an effective tool in mitigating pandemics. For lasting effects, re-testing at regular intervals would likely be necessary.

Observational study of visual testing efficacy in detecting cannabis usage

Drug recognition and examination programs are widely used to detect drug impairment in motor vehicle operators. Visual tests are a key assessment in the detection of cannabis-related impairment. Participants were recruited via social media from the medical cannabis community in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Twenty-two participants completed the full observational trial design. The majority (n = 13 or 59.1%) were male, with a mean age of 36 years (SD = 9.4; range: 24–59). Participants underwent the following protocol: 1) First round of testing (vital signs, bio sample collection, visual tests, subjective data, neurocognitive testing) (Baseline phase); 2) Consumption of cannabis via inhalation; 3) Second round of testing 30 minutes following consumption (THC phase); 4) Additional rounds of testing at 90, 150, and 210 minutes following consumption (Recovery phase). Visual assessment data and vital signs did not follow typical patterns associated with acute cannabis intoxication. With blood THC levels more than double the Canadian legal limit (5 ng/mL), visual testing results were not diagnostic for cannabis impairment, as participants maintained normal pupil sizes and normal ocular convergence patterns. Visual testing is a key component in standardized examinations used for detecting cannabis-related impairment in Canadian drivers; however, our data indicate that visual testing may not be an effective diagnostic tool for the specific population of medical cannabis users.

Naming of Stimuli in Equivalence Class Formation in Children

In the present study, two typically developing 4-year-old children, Pete and Joe, were trained six conditional discriminations and tested for the formation of three 3-member equivalence classes. Pete and Joe did not establish the AC relation within 600 trials and were given two conditions of preliminary training, including naming of stimuli with two different stimulus sets. Pete started with preliminary training with common naming of stimuli, followed by conditional-discrimination training and testing for emergent relations, and continued with preliminary training on individual naming of stimuli, followed by the same training and testing as described previously. Joe experienced the same conditions but in reversed order. Pete responded in accordance with equivalence in the second round in the condition with common naming. In the first round of testing in the condition with individual naming, he responded in accordance with equivalence. In the condition with individual naming, Joe did not respond in accordance with stimulus equivalence but established all of the directly trained relations during training. In the condition with common naming, he responded in accordance with equivalence in the first round of testing. The results from the experiment support earlier findings that both common and individual naming could facilitate the emergence of equivalence classes.

Glyphosate in Portuguese Adults – A Pilot Study

BackgroundGlyphosate is a broad-spectrum biocide and the active ingredient in the most widely used herbicides worldwide. Since 2015, when the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified it as a Class 2A carcinogen, global interest in this chemical spiked particularly as regards exposure of the general population. ObjectiveAn exploratory glyphosate exposure assessment was conducted among Portuguese adults. MethodsSelf-selected participants provided first morning urine which was tested for glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) at two distinct periods of time, by two different laboratories using gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography linked to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), respectively. ResultsIn the first round of testing 28% and 50% presented detectable levels of glyphosate and AMPA respectively, with median values of 0.25 and 0.16 μg/L. Systematically available internal dose values were 8.20E-06 mg/Kg (glyphosate) and 5.04-05 mg/Kg (AMPA). In the second round 73% and 97% presented detectable levels of glyphosate and AMPA respectively with median values of 0.13 and 0.10 μg/L. Systematically available internal dose values were 4.00E-06 mg/Kg (glyphosate) and 3.00E-06 mg/Kg (AMPA). ConclusionsGlyphosate exposure was detected among Portuguese adults, with percentages of glyphosate and AMPA contaminated urine in both rounds of testing and above values from previous studies in other European countries. Systematically available internal doses values were below EFSA’s risk assessment values (ADI or AOEL), and as such, the concentration values measured in this study are not per se a human health problem. Even though there were study limitations, it is the first assessment in Portugal and contributes to the overall knowledge map of glyphosate exposure in Europe.

Validation of the antimicrobial activity of Nymphaea odorata extract.

We previously screened a library of nearly 4000 extracts of plants, marine life, and fungi from the National Center for Natural Product Research to identify compounds that exhibited antimicrobial activity. From this screen, Nymphaea odorata (Fragrant Water Lily) extract significantly inhibited the growth of Burkholderia cepacia (an opportunistic pathogen frequently associated with drug resistance). The objective of this project is to validate the antimicrobial activity exhibited N. odorata, extract and to isolate and identify the compound(s) responsible for this activity. For this project we conducted ethanol extractions on three different parts of the plant: the rhizome, roots, and stems. These antimicrobial properties of these extracts will be determined using two different drug resistant bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Here, we will utilize both disk diffusion and time-to-kill assays to determine the presence of antimicrobial compounds. The results from the first round of tests showed that the extracts were not inhibiting the growth of these bacteria, so the extract concentration was increased for subsequent investigations. Moreover, the gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus was also tested for susceptibility.

Are kea prosocial?

AbstractProsocial behaviour is widespread in humans, but evidence for its occurrence in other species is mixed. We presented a parrot species, the kea (Nestor notabilis) with a series of experiments to test whether they exhibit prosocial tendencies. Across the first round of testing, in our first condition, two of the four kea acted prosocially, as they preferred to choose a prosocial token which rewarded both themselves and a partner, rather than a token that rewarded only themselves. Three of the four kea then showed a preference for the prosocial token in a second condition where they alternated taking turns with a partner. However, no kea showed a decrease in the third yoked control condition in which the experimenter replicated the token choice made by the partner in the previous alternating trials. This yoked condition was used to dissociate truly reciprocal behaviour, whereby the actor made choices based on their partner's choices, from a response to the amount of rewards conferred to the partner. Finally, three of the four kea continued to choose the prosocial token in the fourth asocial control condition where no partner was present. However, in round two of testing, one kea changed its token choices to a similar pattern to that expected if kea are prosocial, in that it preferred the prosocial token in the initial condition, showed a trend for the prosocial token when turns were alternated, but chose at chance in the yoked and asocial conditions. This study therefore found no evidence of spontaneous reciprocity in kea but further testing is required before we can conclude that kea are not capable of prosocial behaviour at all.

Evidence of an emerging female preference for an artificial male trait and the potential for spread via mate choice copying in Poecilia latipinna

AbstractThe initial purpose of the project described herein was to assess the preference of female Poecilia latipinna for an artificial novel male trait—an orange‐colored distal fringe added to the caudal fin of an otherwise wild‐type conspecific. Analysis of the preliminary data revealed consistent individual differences in the strength of female preference for either orange‐tailed or wild‐type males. This finding inspired the study's second aim—to evaluate whether the preference for orange‐tailed males observed among a subset of females could spread via mate choice copying to others in the population that initially preferred wild‐type males. Two experiments and a control were conducted wherein females were simultaneously presented with an orange‐tailed and a wild‐type dummy male using a standard dichotomous choice design. In the first experiment, female preference was assessed on two separate occasions in order to characterize the variability and consistency in preference for orange‐tailed versus wild‐type males. The second experiment addressed mate choice copying: Female preference was again assessed on two separate occasions, but involved pairing a model female with the non‐preferred male for a period of time between preference tests. A third set of control tests were conducted using the same protocol as the copying experiment except that subject females were unable to see the model paired with the non‐preferred male. Results showed that, although females collectively preferred neither the orange‐tailed nor the wild‐type dummy male in the first round of preference tests, the majority showed relatively strong individual preferences. The subset of females that preferred the orange‐tailed over the wild‐type male in the first round of testing all maintained their preferences in the second round whether or not they had observed a model in association with the non‐preferred wild‐type male between tests. However, females that preferred the wild type over the orange male in the first round of testing copied the model's choice of the non‐preferred orange‐tailed male in their second round of preference testing. These results highlight the importance of recognizing the likelihood that only a subset of females will express a preference as it first emerges within a population. In such instances, the preference may not be detected at the population level—a point frequently overlooked in studies of mate choice. Additionally, these data highlight the importance of assessing the preferences of individual females and their capacity to drive evolutionary change within populations. Lastly, this study offers evidence of a possible mechanism by which a novel male trait might spread via mate choice copying by exploiting an emerging sensory bias within a subset of females in the population.

Visual Degree of Doneness Impacts Beef Palatability for Consumers with Different Degree of Doneness Preferences

The objective of this study was to determine the impact on beef palatability perceptions when consumers with varying degree of doneness (DOD) preferences are served steaks cooked to multiple DOD. Paired Low Choice strip loin steaks were randomly assigned to a DOD of either rare (60°C), medium-rare (63°C), medium (71°C), medium-well (74°C), or well-done (77°C). Consumer panelists were prescreened for DOD preference (rare, medium, or well-done) prior to sensory panels and were assigned to panels based on their DOD preference. In the first round of testing, consumers were served 1 sample from each of the 5 DOD under low-intensity red incandescent light to mask any DOD differences among samples. In round 2 of testing, consumers were fed the paired samples cooked to the same DOD under white incandescent lights. There were no (P &gt; 0.05) consumer DOD preference × steak DOD interactions or consumer DOD preference effects for tenderness, juiciness, and flavor ratings when steaks were evaluated under both lighting types. Within the white-lighting testing, there was a consumer DOD preference × steak DOD interaction (P &lt; 0.05) for overall acceptability. Consumers who preferred steaks cooked to well-done reported no differences (P &gt; 0.05) in overall palatability among DOD under white-lighting, whereas consumers who preferred steaks cooked to rare and medium rated steaks lower (P &lt; 0.05) for overall palatability as DOD increased. Regardless of DOD preference, consumer sensory ratings decreased (P &lt; 0.05) when steaks were cooked above the consumer’s preferred DOD; whereas sensory ratings improved (P &lt; 0.05) when steaks were served below the consumers’ preferences. These results indicate that overcooking steaks has the greatest negative impact on beef palatability perception and thus, foodservice should err on the side of undercooking steaks to preserve, and potentially improve, eating satisfaction.