Variations in Food Acceptability with Respect to Pitch, Tempo, and Volume Levels of Background Music.

This study aimed to determine whether pitch, tempo, and volume levels of music stimuli affect sensory perception and acceptance of foods. A traditional music piece was arranged into versions at two pitches, two tempos, and two volumes. For each session, chocolate and bell peppers were presented for consumption under three sound conditions: 1) upper or 2) lower level with respect to each of the three music elements, and 3) silence.

Background music genre can modulate flavor pleasantness and overall impression of food stimuli.

This study aimed to determine whether background music genre can alter food perception and acceptance, but also to determine how the effect of background music can vary as a function of type of food (emotional versus non-emotional foods) and source of music performer (single versus multiple performers). The music piece was edited into four genres: classical, jazz, hip-hop, and rock, by either a single or multiple performers. Following consumption of emotional (milk chocolate) or non-emotional food (bell peppers) with the four musical stimuli, participants were asked to rate sensory perception and impression of food stimuli.

Hour-glass deformity of the pulmonary valve: a third type of pulmonary valve stenosis.

In the 12 years from 1975 to 1987, 55 patients had open pulmonary valve surgery for isolated congenital stenosis of the pulmonary valve. Three types of pulmonary stenosis were seen: (a) dome-shaped pulmonary stenosis (34 patients); (b) dysplastic pulmonary valves with thick cauliflower-like cusps (12 patients), and (c) hour-glass deformity of the pulmonary valve, with "bottle-shaped" sinuses (nine patients). This third type has not been described before.