Coffee Drinking and Emotions: Are There Key Sensory Drivers for Emotions?

In the past couple of decades the coffee market has exploded, and to remain competitive, it is important to identify the key drivers for consumer acceptance of coffee. This study expanded on the previous emotion study on a population of coffee drinkers in Manhattan, Kansas, USA and focused on identifying the sensory drivers of emotional responses elicited during the coffee drinking experience (CDE). A trained coffee panel performed a descriptive analysis of six coffee samples and identified the key sensory attributes that discriminated each coffee. Utilizing Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR), the descriptive data were then mapped with the emotion data to identify sensory drivers for eliciting the emotional responses. The sensory characteristics of dark roast coffee (roast–aroma and flavor, burnt–aroma and flavor, bitter, and body) might elicit positive-high energy feelings for this population of coffee users. Tobacco (flavor) and cocoa (aroma) may also be responsible for positive emotions (content, good, and pleasant). Citrus and acidity seemed to be negative sensory drivers as they induced the feeling of off-balance. Sensory descriptive data could be useful to describe emotion profiles elicited by coffee drinking, which could help the coffee industry create coffee products for different segments of coffee drinkers.

Download Full-text

Different or similar? Acceptability of aseptic-packaged cooked rice among consumers, researchers and experts

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-09-2014-0330 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 117 (5) ◽

pp. 1564-1580

Author(s):

Han Sub Kwak ◽

Misook Kim ◽

Yoonhwa Jeong

Keyword(s):

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Strong Relationship ◽

Partial Least Square ◽

Least Square ◽

Partial Least Square Regression ◽

Product Development Process ◽

Rice Cake ◽

Content Type ◽

Cooked Rice ◽

First Time

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare the acceptance ratings and drivers of liking and disliking attributes of aseptic-packaged cooked rice by consumers, researchers and experts. Design/methodology/approach – Descriptive analysis (DA) was conducted using trained panelists. Acceptability was measured by consumers, researchers and experts. The results of DA and acceptability were analyzed using partial least square regression. Findings – There was no strong relationship among the three groups in their rating patterns for the samples (r=−0.342-0.445). The liking factors for each group were as follows: consumers (rice cake flavor and moisture), researchers (wet wood flavor and whiteness) and experts (wet wood flavor and size of rice). The disliking factors for each group were as follows: consumers (wet wood flavor and brown particle), researchers (moisture) and experts (old rice aroma). The consumers, researchers and experts seemed to have different acceptances and key descriptive attributes for aseptic-packaged cooked rice. Research limitations/implications – The consensus by researchers during the product development process required caution with regard to the fact that the evaluation by the researchers could be different from what consumers or experts prefer. Practical implications – Setting-up in-house panelists group would be minimized the discrepancy between consumers and researches. Originality/value – This study contributes to understanding of the acceptability by food researchers and comparing to consumers and experts for the first time in sensory field.

Download Full-text

Sensory Drivers of Consumer Acceptance, Purchase Intent and Emotions toward Brewed Black Coffee

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods11020180 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 180

Author(s):

Ammaraporn Pinsuwan ◽

Suntaree Suwonsichon ◽

Penkwan Chompreeda ◽

Witoon Prinyawiwatkul

Keyword(s):

Positive Emotions ◽

Bitter Taste ◽

Partial Least Square ◽

Least Square ◽

Consumer Acceptance ◽

Sensory Characteristics ◽

Partial Least Square Regression ◽

Sensory Profile ◽

Purchase Intent ◽

Wide Range

The link between coffee aroma/flavor and elicited emotions remains underexplored. This research identified key sensory characteristics of brewed black coffee that affected acceptance, purchase intent and emotions for Thai consumers. Eight Arabica coffee samples were evaluated by eight trained descriptive panelists for intensities of 26 sensory attributes and by 100 brewed black coffee users for acceptance, purchase intent and emotions. Results showed that the samples exhibited a wide range of sensory characteristics, and large differences were mainly described by the attributes coffee identity (coffee ID), roasted, bitter taste, balance/blended and fullness. Differences also existed among the samples for overall liking, purchase intent and most emotion terms. Partial least square regression analysis revealed that liking, purchase intent and positive emotions, such as active, alert, awake, energetic, enthusiastic, feel good, happy, jump start, impressed, pleased, refreshed and vigorous were driven by coffee ID, roasted, ashy, pipe tobacco, bitter taste, rubber, overall sweet, balanced/blended, fullness and longevity. Contrarily, sour aromatic, sour taste, fruity, woody, musty/earthy, musty/dusty and molasses decreased liking, purchase intent and positive emotions, and stimulated negative emotions, such as disappointed, grouchy and unfulfilled. This information could be useful for creating or modifying the sensory profile of brewed black coffee to increase consumer acceptance.

Download Full-text

Monitoring the Foliar Nutrients Status of Mango Using Spectroscopy-Based Spectral Indices and PLSR-Combined Machine Learning Models

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13040641 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 641

Author(s):

Gopal Ramdas Mahajan ◽

Bappa Das ◽

Dayesh Murgaokar ◽

Ittai Herrmann ◽

Katja Berger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Remote Sensing ◽

Partial Least Square ◽

Least Square ◽

Partial Least Square Regression ◽

Support Vector ◽

Spectral Indices ◽

Learning Models ◽

Leaf Nutrients ◽

Machine Learning Models

Conventional methods of plant nutrient estimation for nutrient management need a huge number of leaf or tissue samples and extensive chemical analysis, which is time-consuming and expensive. Remote sensing is a viable tool to estimate the plant’s nutritional status to determine the appropriate amounts of fertilizer inputs. The aim of the study was to use remote sensing to characterize the foliar nutrient status of mango through the development of spectral indices, multivariate analysis, chemometrics, and machine learning modeling of the spectral data. A spectral database within the 350–1050 nm wavelength range of the leaf samples and leaf nutrients were analyzed for the development of spectral indices and multivariate model development. The normalized difference and ratio spectral indices and multivariate models–partial least square regression (PLSR), principal component regression, and support vector regression (SVR) were ineffective in predicting any of the leaf nutrients. An approach of using PLSR-combined machine learning models was found to be the best to predict most of the nutrients. Based on the independent validation performance and summed ranks, the best performing models were cubist (R2 ≥ 0.91, the ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) ≥ 3.3, and the ratio of performance to interquartile distance (RPIQ) ≥ 3.71) for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc, SVR (R2 ≥ 0.88, RPD ≥ 2.73, RPIQ ≥ 3.31) for calcium, iron, copper, boron, and elastic net (R2 ≥ 0.95, RPD ≥ 4.47, RPIQ ≥ 6.11) for magnesium and sulfur. The results of the study revealed the potential of using hyperspectral remote sensing data for non-destructive estimation of mango leaf macro- and micro-nutrients. The developed approach is suggested to be employed within operational retrieval workflows for precision management of mango orchard nutrients.

Download Full-text

Blood Glucose Level Regression for Smartphone PPG Signals Using Machine Learning

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11020618 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 618

Author(s):

Tanvir Tazul Islam ◽

Md Sajid Ahmed ◽

Md Hassanuzzaman ◽

Syed Athar Bin Amir ◽

Tanzilur Rahman

Keyword(s):

Blood Glucose ◽

Blood Glucose Level ◽

Glucose Level ◽

Quantitative Estimation ◽

Partial Least Square ◽

Least Square ◽

Partial Least Square Regression ◽

Support Vector ◽

Frequency Noise ◽

Optical Noise

Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects millions of people worldwide and requires regular monitoring of a patient’s blood glucose level. Currently, blood glucose is monitored by a minimally invasive process where a small droplet of blood is extracted and passed to a glucometer—however, this process is uncomfortable for the patient. In this paper, a smartphone video-based noninvasive technique is proposed for the quantitative estimation of glucose levels in the blood. The videos are collected steadily from the tip of the subject’s finger using smartphone cameras and subsequently converted into a Photoplethysmography (PPG) signal. A Gaussian filter is applied on top of the Asymmetric Least Square (ALS) method to remove high-frequency noise, optical noise, and motion interference from the raw PPG signal. These preprocessed signals are then used for extracting signal features such as systolic and diastolic peaks, the time differences between consecutive peaks (DelT), first derivative, and second derivative peaks. Finally, the features are fed into Principal Component Regression (PCR), Partial Least Square Regression (PLS), Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Random Forest Regression (RFR) models for the prediction of glucose level. Out of the four statistical learning techniques used, the PLS model, when applied to an unbiased dataset, has the lowest standard error of prediction (SEP) at 17.02 mg/dL.

Download Full-text

A Novel Validated Injectable Colistimethate Sodium Analysis Combining Advanced Chemometrics and Design of Experiments

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26061546 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 1546

Author(s):

Ioanna Dagla ◽

Anthony Tsarbopoulos ◽

Evagelos Gikas

Keyword(s):

Design Of Experiments ◽

High Performance ◽

Similarity Index ◽

Principal Component ◽

Partial Least Square ◽

Least Square ◽

Partial Least Square Regression ◽

Distance Measures ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Colistimethate Sodium

Colistimethate sodium (CMS) is widely administrated for the treatment of life-threatening infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Until now, the quality control of CMS formulations has been based on microbiological assays. Herein, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to ultraviolet detector methodology was developed for the quantitation of CMS in injectable formulations. The design of experiments was performed for the optimization of the chromatographic parameters. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a Waters Acquity BEH C8 column employing gradient elution with a mobile phase consisting of (A) 0.001 M aq. ammonium formate and (B) methanol/acetonitrile 79/21 (v/v). CMS compounds were detected at 214 nm. In all, 23 univariate linear-regression models were constructed to measure CMS compounds separately, and one partial least-square regression (PLSr) model constructed to assess the total CMS amount in formulations. The method was validated over the range 100–220 μg mL−1. The developed methodology was employed to analyze several batches of CMS injectable formulations that were also compared against a reference batch employing a Principal Component Analysis, similarity and distance measures, heatmaps and the structural similarity index. The methodology was based on freely available software in order to be readily available for the pharmaceutical industry.

Download Full-text

Histamine Control in Raw and Processed Tuna: A Rapid Tool Based on NIR Spectroscopy

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10040885 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 885

Author(s):

Sergio Ghidini ◽

Luca Maria Chiesa ◽

Sara Panseri ◽

Maria Olga Varrà ◽

Adriana Ianieri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Root Mean Square ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Nir Spectroscopy ◽

Partial Least Square ◽

Least Square ◽

Partial Least Square Regression ◽

Coefficient Of Determination ◽

Mean Square ◽

Tuna Fish ◽

Mean Square Errors

The present study was designed to investigate whether near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy with minimal sample processing could be a suitable technique to rapidly measure histamine levels in raw and processed tuna fish. Calibration models based on orthogonal partial least square regression (OPLSR) were built to predict histamine in the range 10–1000 mg kg−1 using the 1000–2500 nm NIR spectra of artificially-contaminated fish. The two models were then validated using a new set of naturally contaminated samples in which histamine content was determined by conventional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. As for calibration results, coefficient of determination (r2) > 0.98, root mean square of estimation (RMSEE) ≤ 5 mg kg−1 and root mean square of cross-validation (RMSECV) ≤ 6 mg kg−1 were achieved. Both models were optimal also in the validation stage, showing r2 values > 0.97, root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) ≤ 10 mg kg−1 and relative range error (RER) ≥ 25, with better results showed by the model for processed fish. The promising results achieved suggest NIR spectroscopy as an implemental analytical solution in fish industries and markets to effectively determine histamine amounts.

Download Full-text

The inflammatory profile of cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, and saliva from patients with severe neuropathic pain and healthy controls-a pilot study

BMC Neuroscience ◽

10.1186/s12868-021-00608-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mika Jönsson ◽

Björn Gerdle ◽

Bijar Ghafouri ◽

Emmanuel Bäckryd

Keyword(s):

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

Neuropathic Pain ◽

Pain Intensity ◽

Principal Component ◽

Partial Least Square ◽

Least Square ◽

Partial Least Square Regression ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Inflammatory Profile

Abstract Background Neuropathic pain (NeuP) is a complex, debilitating condition of the somatosensory system, where dysregulation between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines are believed to play a pivotal role. As of date, there is no ubiquitously accepted diagnostic test for NeuP and current therapeutic interventions are lacking in efficacy. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of three biofluids - saliva, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), to discriminate an inflammatory profile at a central, systemic, and peripheral level in NeuP patients compared to healthy controls. Methods The concentrations of 71 cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in saliva, plasma, and CSF samples from 13 patients with peripheral NeuP and 13 healthy controls were analyzed using a multiplex-immunoassay based on an electrochemiluminescent detection method. The NeuP patients were recruited from a clinical trial of intrathecal bolus injection of ziconotide (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01373983). Multivariate data analysis (principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least square regression) was used to identify proteins significant for group discrimination and protein correlation to pain intensity. Proteins with variable influence of projection (VIP) value higher than 1 (combined with the jack-knifed confidence intervals in the coefficients plot not including zero) were considered significant. Results We found 17 cytokines/chemokines that were significantly up- or down-regulated in NeuP patients compared to healthy controls. Of these 17 proteins, 8 were from saliva, 7 from plasma, and 2 from CSF samples. The correlation analysis showed that the most important proteins that correlated to pain intensity were found in plasma (VIP > 1). Conclusions Investigation of the inflammatory profile of NeuP showed that most of the significant proteins for group separation were found in the less invasive biofluids of saliva and plasma. Within the NeuP patient group it was also seen that proteins in plasma had the highest correlation to pain intensity. These preliminary results indicate a potential for further biomarker research in the more easily accessible biofluids of saliva and plasma for chronic peripheral neuropathic pain where a combination of YKL-40 and MIP-1α in saliva might be of special interest for future studies that also include other non-neuropathic pain states.

Download Full-text

Suggestions on the Contribution of Methyl Eugenol and Eugenol to Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) Essential Oil Preservative Activity through Radical Scavenging

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26082342 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (8) ◽

pp. 2342

Author(s):

Nikolaos Nenadis ◽

Maria Papapostolou ◽

Maria Z. Tsimidou

Keyword(s):

Essential Oil ◽

Radical Scavenging Activity ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Methyl Eugenol ◽

Partial Least Square ◽

Least Square ◽

Partial Least Square Regression ◽

Positive Contribution ◽

Scavenging Activity

The present study examined the radical scavenging potential of the two benzene derivatives found in the bay laurel essential oil (EO), namely methyl eugenol (MEug) and eugenol (Eug), theoretically and experimentally to make suggestions on their contribution to the EO preservative activity through such a mechanism. Calculation of appropriate molecular indices widely used to characterize chain-breaking antioxidants was carried out in the gas and liquid phases (n-hexane, n-octanol, methanol, water). Experimental evidence was based on the DPPH• scavenging assay applied to pure compounds and a set of bay laurel EOs chemically characterized with GC-MS/FID. Theoretical calculations suggested that the preservative properties of both compounds could be exerted through a radical scavenging mechanism via hydrogen atom donation. Eug was predicted to be of superior efficiency in line with experimental findings. Pearson correlation and partial least square regression analyses of the EO antioxidant activity values vs. % composition of individual volatiles indicated the positive contribution of both compounds to the radical scavenging activity of bay laurel EOs. Eug, despite its low content in bay laurel EOs, was found to influence the most the radical scavenging activity of the latter.

Download Full-text