Effect of gender, experience, and value on color perception.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Precise shade matching can be one of the most difficult tasks for the dentist and some variables may influence the process of shade comparison. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: This study tested the differences in shade perception between genders, the influence of the observer's clinical experience, and the value of ceramics in correct shade selection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 45 women and 54 men compared 16 pairs of ceramic disks according to shades. The χ(2) and Fisher exact tests were used to analyze the results, adopting 5% as the level of statistical significance. An analysis of risk was also performed to evaluate the variables. RESULTS: The results indicated that there were statistical differences among gender, clinical experience, and shades in discriminating ceramics. CONCLUSIONS: Men and observers with more clinical experience were more successful in discriminating shades, although darker shades were selected more correctly than the lighter ones.

Evaluation of diagnostic tests' sensitivity, specificity and predictive values in bovine carcasses showing brucellosis suggestive lesions, condemned by Brazilian Federal Meat Inspection Service in the Amazon Region of Brazil.

Cervical bursitis is a suggestive lesion of bovine brucellosis. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of two brucellosis serological tests, Rose Bengal (RB) and serum agglutination test with 2-mercaptoethanol (SAT/2-ME), and of isolation and identification (bacteriology) were evaluated through Bayesian latent class analysis (BLCA). A total of 165 paired serum and cervical bursitis samples detected at inspection by Brazilian federal meat inspection services were analyzed. The best model fit to the data occurred when accounting for the conditional dependence between serological tests. According to this model, RB and SAT/2-ME had almost the same sensitivity, 0.960 [0.903 - 0.992] and 0.963 [0.906 - 0.994] with 95 % Credible Interval (95 %CrI), respectively. Specificities were 0.9068 [0.562 - 0.997] and 0.875 [0.546 - 0.990] for RB and SAT/2-ME, respectively, also with 95 %CrI. Bacteriology had lower sensitivity than serological tests, 0.594 (95 %CrI: [0.525 - 0.794]) and the highest specificity of all evaluated tests, 0.992 (95 %CrI: [0.961-1.00]). Prevalence of infected animals was 0.829 (95 %CrI: [0.700-0.900]). BLCA showed that both RB and SAT/2-ME fitted to the purpose of initial screening the brucellosis suspect in carcasses with cervical bursitis in a reliable way. The results of RB or SAT/2-ME can guide the sanitary actions for brucellosis control and help the implementation of a risk-based surveillance system in the meat production chain. This strategy is especially true in remote areas with large beef cattle herds, raised extensively, where in vivo tests are rarely performed due to logistic and management constraints, as in the Northern region of Brazil.

Características visuais da embalagem de café no processo de decisão de compra pelo consumidor / Visual characteristics of coffee package on consumer's purchase decision process

Conduziu-se este trabalho, com o objetivo de investigar, usando grupos de foco, atitudes, opiniões, conceitos e pensamentos de consumidores sobre embalagens de café torrado e moído que refletem na sua decisão de compra. Três sessões de grupo de foco de 90 minutos foram realizadas (duas em Viçosa/MG e uma em Londrina/PR), num total de 24 participantes. Foram apresentadas cinco embalagens de café (sendo quatro orgânicas, em razão da maior preocupação em obter dados sobre café orgânico) para estimular a conversação, sendo seguido um roteiro de perguntas. Os dados obtidos foram estudados, considerando palavras utilizadas pelos consumidores, sem análise estatística, em razão da característica qualitativa de grupos de foco. Foi observado que os principais fatores considerados no processo de decisão de compra são: preço, cor da embalagem e marca. Muitos participantes mostraram-se fiéis a marcas e outros admitiram pagar mais por um produto orgânico, dependendo do preço do mesmo. Foi sugerido que na embalagem de café orgânico deveria ser salientada a definição do produto para aqueles que não conhecem tal técnica de produção.

Focused group technique was used in this work with the aim of investigating consumers' attitudes, opinions, concepts and thoughts related to coffee package, which may affect their purchase decision. Three focus group sessions of ninety minutes were carried out (two sessions in Viçosa/MG and one session in Londrina/PR), totaling 24 participants. Five coffee packages were presented (four being organic coffee packages due to the necessity of obtaining more information about organic coffee). In order to stimulate discussion all consumers (participants?) were asked to fill in a questionnaire after each session. The obtained data were studied taking into account statements made by consumers without performing any data statistical analysis due to the focused group's qualitative nature. The main observed factors presented on coffee package during the purchase process were price, package color and brand. Many consumers were loyal to brand and others admitted to pay more for an organic product, depending on its price. It is suggested that on the organic coffee package labeling should be emphasized the product identification for those who don't know anything about organic production technique.