2,109 research outputs found

    Consumer Visual Preference and Value for Beef Steaks Differing in Marbling Level and Color

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    To determine visual preference and value for fresh beef steaks differing in marbling level and color, consumers in Chicago and San Francisco (n = 124 per city) evaluated two pairs of steaks in a retail case. Steaks differing in marbling level (Modest/ Moderate vs. Slight) and color (bright, cherry-red vs. dark red) were purchased at retail stores in each city. Consumers selected their preferred steak in each pair, described their selection criteria, and provided the price they were willing to pay for each of the four steaks. There was a difference in visual preference in each city, with most consumers preferring (P \u3c 0.01) low (Slight) over high (Moderate/Modest) marbling; however, more (P \u3c 0.01) consumers in Chicago (86.7%) preferred low marbling than in San Francisco (67.0%). Selection criteria were categorized into five groups: marbling, fat, color, appearance, and palatability. Marbling was mentioned by 65.4% of consumers who preferred high marbling, whereas 64.9% of consumers who preferred low marbling mentioned fat as a selection criterion. Bright, cherry-red color was preferred by a higher (P \u3c 0.01) percentage of consumers in both Chicago and San Francisco (67.6 and 76.5%, respectively). Color was mentioned both by consumers who preferred bright, cherry-red color (64.8%) and those who preferred dark red color (63.9%). All preference groups were willing to pay more for their preferred steak (P \u3c 0.01), but consumers who preferred low marbling were willing to pay more (P \u3c 0.01) for their preferred steak than consumers who preferred high marbling. Consumers who preferred bright, cherry-red color were willing to pay more (P \u3c 0.01) for their preferred steak than consumers who preferred dark red color. Consumers who preferred low marbling seemed to desire lean products, and consumers who preferred high marbling seemed to desire products with high eating quality. In this study, consumers were willing to pay more to purchase their preferred product; however, most consumers preferred low marbling and bright, cherry-red color

    Consumer Sensory Acceptance and Value of Wet-Aged and Dry-Aged Beef Steaks

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    To determine sensory preference and value of fresh beef steak differing in aging technique, strip steaks were evaluated by consumers in Denver (n = 132 consumers) and Chicago (n = 141 consumers). Wet-aged Choice strip loins were matched with dry-aged Choice strip loins, whereas wet-aged Prime strip loins were matched with dry-aged Prime strip loins. Dry-aged strip loins were commercially aged in air in a controlled environment for 30 d and vacuum-aged for 7 d during shipping and storage. Wet-aged strip loins were vacuum-packaged and aged for 37 d in a 1°C cooler. Pairs of strip loins were matched to similar Warner- Bratzler shear force values and marbling scores. Twelve sensory evaluation panels (of 12 scheduled panelists each) were conducted over a 3-d period in each city. Individual samples from a pair of steaks were evaluated by the panelists for sensory traits. Bids were placed on the samples after sensory traits were obtained utilizing a variation of the Vickery auction with silent, sealed bids. No significant differences for sensory traits of flavor, juiciness, tenderness, or overall acceptability were detected between wet-aged Choice samples and dry-aged Choice samples. Although wet-aged Choice samples were numerically superior for all sensory traits, consumers placed similar bid values (P = 0.12) on wet- and dry-aged Choice samples (3.82per0.45kgand3.82 per 0.45 kg and 3.57 per 0.45 kg, respectively). Wet-aged Prime samples were rated more desirable (P \u3c 0.001) for flavor, tenderness, and overall acceptability than dry-aged Prime samples. Wet-aged Prime samples were valued at 4.02per0.45kg,whereasdryagedPrimesamplesbrought4.02 per 0.45 kg, whereas dry-aged Prime samples brought 3.58 per 0.45 kg (P = 0.008). Consumers (29.3%) who preferred the dry-aged Choice samples over the wet-aged Choice samples were willing to pay 1.99/0.45kgmore(P3˘c0.001)fordryagedsamples.TheconsumerswhopreferredthewetagedChoiceoverthedryagedChoicesamples(39.21.99/0.45 kg more (P \u3c 0.001) for dry-aged samples. The consumers who preferred the wet-aged Choice over the dry-aged Choice samples (39.2%) were willing to pay 1.77/0.45 kg more (P \u3c 0.0001). Consumers who preferred wet-aged Prime over dry-aged Prime samples (45.8%) paid 1.92/0.45kgmore(P3˘c0.0001).ConsumerswhopreferreddryagedPrimesamples(27.51.92/0.45 kg more (P \u3c 0.0001). Consumers who preferred dry-aged Prime samples (27.5%) were willing to pay 1.92/0.45 kg more than for the wet-aged Prime samples. Although more consumers preferred wet-aged samples, markets do exist for dry-aged beef, and consumers are willing to pay a premium for this product

    Voltage analysis after multi-electrode ablation with duty-cycled bipolar and unipolar radiofrequency energy: a case report

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    Pulmonary vein ablation with a single-tip catheter remains long and complex. We describe a typical case of a novel efficient technique with a decapolar ring catheter utilizing alternating unipolar/bipolar radiofrequency energy. Voltage analysis and electrical mapping demonstrate the potential for antrum ablation and pulmonary vein isolation

    HAT-P-49b: A 1.7 M_J Planet Transiting a Bright 1.5 M_S F-Star

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    We report the discovery of the transiting extrasolar planet HAT-P-49b. The planet transits the bright (V = 10.3) slightly evolved F-star HD 340099 with a mass of 1.54M_S and a radius of 1.83 R_S. HAT-P-49b is orbiting one of the 25 brightest stars to host a transiting planet which makes this a favorable candidate for detailed follow-up. This system is an especially strong target for Rossiter- McLaughlin follow-up due to the fast rotation of the host star, 16 km/s. The planetary companion has a period of 2.6915 d, mass of 1.73 M_J and radius of 1.41 R_J. The planetary characteristics are consistent with that of a classical hot Jupiter but we note that this is the fourth most massive star to host a transiting planet with both M_p and R_p well determined.Comment: Accepted to the Astronomical Journa

    HAT-P-56b: An inflated massive Hot Jupiter transiting a bright F star followed up with K2 Campaign 0 observations

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    We report the discovery of HAT-P-56b by the HATNet survey, an inflated hot Jupiter transiting a bright F type star in Field 0 of NASA's K2 mission. We combine ground-based discovery and follow-up light curves with high precision photometry from K2, as well as ground-based radial velocities from TRES on the FLWO 1.5m telescope to determine the physical properties of this system. HAT-P-56b has a mass of 2.18MJ2.18 M_J, radius of 1.47RJ1.47 R_J, and transits its host star on a near-grazing orbit with a period of 2.7908 d. The radius of HAT-P-56b is among the largest known for a planet with Mp>2MJM_p > 2 M_J. The host star has a V-band magnitude of 10.9, mass of 1.30 MM_\odot, and radius of 1.43 RR_\odot. The periodogram of the K2 light curve suggests the star is a γ\gamma Dor variable. HAT-P-56b is an example of a ground-based discovery of a transiting planet, where space-based observations greatly improve the confidence in the confirmation of its planetary nature, and also improve the accuracy of the planetary parameters.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures, accepted by A

    Spectroscopic Discovery of the Supernova 2003dh Associated with GRB 030329

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    We present early observations of the afterglow of the Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) 030329 and the spectroscopic discovery of its associated supernova SN 2003dh. We obtained spectra of the afterglow of GRB 030329 each night from March 30.12 (0.6 days after the burst) to April 8.13 (UT) (9.6 days after the burst). The spectra cover a wavelength range of 350 nm to 850 nm. The early spectra consist of a power-law continuum (F_nu ~ nu^{-0.9}) with narrow emission lines originating from HII regions in the host galaxy, indicating a low redshift of z=0.1687. However, our spectra taken after 2003 Apr. 5 show broad peaks in flux characteristic of a supernova. Correcting for the afterglow emission, we find the spectrum of the supernova is remarkably similar to the type Ic `hypernova' SN 1998bw. While the presence of supernovae have been inferred from the light curves and colors of GRB afterglows in the past, this is the first direct, spectroscopic confirmation that a subset of classical gamma-ray bursts originate from supernovae.Comment: published by ApJ Letters; additional material avilable at http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/cfa/oir/Research/GRB

    Two 'b's in the Beehive: The Discovery of the First Hot Jupiters in an Open Cluster

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    We present the discovery of two giant planets orbiting stars in Praesepe (also known as the Beehive Cluster). These are the first known hot Jupiters in an open cluster and the only planets known to orbit Sun-like, main-sequence stars in a cluster. The planets are detected from Doppler shifted radial velocities; line bisector spans and activity indices show no correlation with orbital phase, confirming the variations are caused by planetary companions. Pr0201b orbits a V=10.52 late F dwarf with a period of 4.4264 +/- 0.0070 days and has a minimum mass of 0.540 +/- 0.039 Mjup, and Pr0211b orbits a V=12.06 late G dwarf with a period of 2.1451 +/- 0.0012 days and has a minimum mass of 1.844 +/- 0.064 Mjup. The detection of 2 planets among 53 single members surveyed establishes a lower limit on the hot Jupiter frequency of 3.8 (+5.0)(-2.4) % in this metal-rich open cluster. Given the precisely known age of the cluster, this discovery also demonstrates that, in at least 2 cases, giant planet migration occurred within 600 Myr after formation. As we endeavor to learn more about the frequency and formation history of planets, environments with well-determined properties -- such as open clusters like Praesepe -- may provide essential clues to this end.Comment: 5 pages, 3 tables, 2 figures. Published in ApJ Letter
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