Does oolong tea (Camellia sinensis) made from a combination of leaf and stem smell more aromatic than leaf-only tea? Contribution of the stem to oolong tea aroma.

PubMed

Zeng, Lanting; Zhou, Ying; Fu, Xiumin; Mei, Xin; Cheng, Sihua; Gui, Jiadong; Dong, Fang; Tang, Jinchi; Ma, Shengzhou; Yang, Ziyin

2017-12-15

The raw materials used to make oolong tea (Camellia sinensis) are a combination of leaf and stem. Oolong tea made from leaf and stem is thought to have a more aromatic smell than leaf-only tea. However, there is no available evidence to support the viewpoint. In this study, sensory evaluation and detailed characterization of emitted and internal volatiles (not readily emitted, but stored in samples) of dry oolong teas and infusions indicated that the presence of stem did not significantly improve the total aroma characteristics. During the enzyme-active processes, volatile monoterpenes and theanine were accumulated more abundantly in stem than in leaf, while jasmine lactone, indole, and trans-nerolidol were lower in stem than in leaf. Tissue-specific aroma-related gene expression and availability of precursors of aroma compounds resulted in different aroma distributions in leaf and stem. This study presents the first determination of the contribution of stem to oolong tea aroma. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cyrano "Nose" The Smell of Success

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

Cyrano Sciences, Inc. has commercialized a simple, accurate, non- invasive tool that enables "machines to smell". The Cyranose 320 is used for quality control purposes in the food and chemical industries. Using a sensor array and onboard pattern recognition algorithms, the lightweight, portable device works by exposing an array of polymer composite sensors to the chemical components in a vapor. When the sensors come in contact with the vapor, the polymer expands like a sponge, changing the resistance of the composites. The change in resistance is measured, and from that measurement, the presence of a pre-trained substance is determined with a quick and accurate diagnosis. This real-time, portable device enables food companies to spot test raw materials for batch-to-batch consistency, spoilage, or contamination. The Cyranose 320 is also used by chemical and petrochemical companies for quick assessment of the chemical status associated with various industrial processes. Profiling a chemical environment in a hazardous materials situation allows emergency crews to accurately select fire retardants, containment strategies, and protective gear. Future applications for the Cyranose 320 are fast growing and other uses of this technology are on the horizon.

Raw fish consumption in liver fluke endemic areas in rural southern Laos.

PubMed

Xayaseng, Vilavanh; Phongluxa, Khampheng; van Eeuwijk, Peter; Akkhavong, Kongsap; Odermatt, Peter

2013-08-01

Consumption of raw or insufficiently cooked fish is a major public health concern in Southeast Asia, and in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), in particular. We aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices of villagers in liver fluke endemic areas related to raw fish preparation, consumption and its health consequences. In February 2010, eight focus group discussions (FGDs, 35 men and 37 women total) and direct observations were conducted in four randomly selected villages in Saravane District, Saravane Province (Lao PDR). FGDs distilled the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices of adult community members on raw fish preparation, consumption and its consequences for health. Conversations were transcribed from notes and tape-recorders. MaxQDA software was used for content analysis. Knowledge regarding the health effects of raw fish consumption was heterogeneous. Some participants did not associate liver fluke infection with any ill health, while others linked it to digestive problems. Participants also associated vegetables and tree leave consumption with liver fluke infection. The majority of FGD participants considered fish flesh that had been prepared with weaver ant extract to be safe for consumption. Visual appearance, taste, smell and personal preference were given as reasons for consuming raw fish dishes. Moreover, participants considered it a traditional way of food preparation, practiced for generations in Laos. Ten different fish dishes that use raw or fermented fish were identified. All FGD participants reported consuming dishes with raw fish. This study reveals a low degree of knowledge among local people on the health risks related to frequent consumption of raw or insufficiently cooked fish. Fish dishes were considered to be 'well-prepared' (that is, 'cooked') even though the fish had not been heated. In future, successful health education campaigns will have to address the specific knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices of the concerned population. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

SENSORY REACTIONS OF NASAL PUNGENCY AND ODOR TO VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS: THE ALKYLBENZENES

EPA Science Inventory

Research assessed the independent contribution of the trigeminal and olfactory nerves to the detection of airborne chemicals by measuring nasal detection thresholds in subjects clinically diagnosed as lacking a functional sense of smell (anosmics) and in matched normal controls (...

[Sense of smell, physiological ageing and neurodegenerative diseases: II. Ageing and neurodegenerative diseases].

PubMed

Fusari, A; Molina, J A

The sense of smell, which was once studied because of its biological and evolutionary significance, is today one of the centres of interest in research on normal and pathological ageing. The latest scientific developments point to an inversely proportional relationship between age and olfactory sensitivity. In certain neurodegenerative diseases this sensory decline is one of the first symptoms of the disorder and is correlated with the progression of the disease. In this work we are going to review the scientific knowledge on loss of sense of smell in ageing and in neurodegenerative diseases, with special attention given to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. A survey of studies that have examined the olfactory deficits in ageing and in some neurodegenerative diseases offers conclusive results about the presence of these impairments in the early stages of these disorders and even among healthy elderly persons. Although a number of causes contribute to these sensory losses in physiological ageing, a common neurological foundation has been proposed for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Nevertheless, despite certain initial similarities, the olfactory deficits shown in these disorders seem to be qualitatively different.

Relationship Between Psychophysiological Responses to Aversive Odors and Nutritional Status During Normal Aging.

PubMed

Joussain, Pauline; Ferdenzi, Camille; Djordjevic, Jelena; Bensafi, Moustafa

2017-07-01

Psychophysiological responses to disgusting and pleasant smells are one of the most important aspects of olfaction. These emotional signals can constitute an alert against toxic substances, and they may play a major role in food selection and nutritional intake. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis by examining whether individual physiological responses to odors could predict the subject's nutritional status. Because aging is associated with changes in emotional response to smells, we also examined how aging affects the relationship between olfaction and nutrition. Twenty young and 20 old participants perceived a series of odorants while their psychophysiological responses were simultaneously measured, and completed the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire. Regression between individual correlation coefficients (r-values between odor perceptual ratings and physiological parameters) and individual MNA scores revealed that appropriateness of the physiological responses to aversive odors predicted nutritional status (R2 = 0.22, P < 0.007): participants with higher electromyogram corrugator activity in response to aversive smells had better nutritional status. Furthermore, this relationship was significant in old (R2 = 0.45, P < 0.005) but not young participants (R2 = 0.04, P > 0.44). Taken together, preserved functioning of somatic markers in response to odors during normal aging is associated with better nutritional status, and may facilitate healthier food selection. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Detecting Staphylococcus aureus in milk from dairy cows using sniffer dogs.

PubMed

Fischer-Tenhagen, C; Theby, V; Krömker, V; Heuwieser, W

2018-05-01

Fast and accurate identification of disease-causing pathogens is essential for specific antimicrobial therapy in human and veterinary medicine. In these experiments, dogs were trained to identify Staphylococcus aureus and differentiate it from other common mastitis-causing pathogens by smell. Headspaces from agar plates, inoculated raw milk samples, or field samples collected from cows with Staphylococcus aureus and other mastitis-causing pathogens were used for training and testing. The ability to learn the specific odor of Staphylococcus aureus in milk depended on the concentration of the pathogens in the training samples. Sensitivity and specificity for identifying Staphylococcus aureus were 91.3 and 97.9%, respectively, for pathogens grown on agar plates; 83.8 and 98.0% for pathogens inoculated in raw milk; and 59.0 and 93.2% for milk samples from mastitic cows. The results of these experiments underline the potential of odor detection as a diagnostic tool for pathogen diagnosis. Copyright © 2018 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Testing aggressive behaviour in a feeding context: Importance of ethologically relevant stimuli.

PubMed

González, Daniel; Szenczi, Péter; Bánszegi, Oxána; Hudson, Robyn

2018-05-01

The choice of stimuli used in tests of animal behaviour can have a critical effect on the outcome. Here we report two experiments showing how different foods influenced aggressive behaviour in competition tests at weaning among littermates of the domestic cat. Whereas in Experiment 1 canned food elicited almost no overt competition, a piece of raw beef rib elicited clearly aggressive behaviour among littermates. In Experiment 2 the food stimuli were chosen to differ from raw beef rib in various combinations of taste/smell, texture and monopolizability. Kittens showed different levels of aggression in response to the five stimuli tested, which suggests that the strong effect of beef rib in eliciting aggressive behaviour was due to a complex combination of features. We suggest that using stimuli approximating the evolved, functional significance to the species concerned is more likely to result in robust, biologically relevant behaviours than more artificial stimuli. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Survey of physicochemical characteristics and microbial contamination in selected food locally vended in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania.

PubMed

Nonga, Hezron Emmanuel; Ngowi, Helena Aminiel; Mdegela, Robinson Hammerthon; Mutakyawa, Eliud; Nyahinga, Gabriel Busungu; William, Robert; Mwadini, Mtumwa Mohd

2015-11-26

Raw milk, raw fruit juice and raw fish are enriched with essential nutrients for human diet but are prone to microbial contamination along the value chain. This cross sectional study was conducted to assess physicochemical characteristics and microbial quality of raw milk, fruit juice and fish from food vendors in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania. The physicochemical assessment of food samples was done by smell, colour, presence of debris, turbidity, consistence, pH and clot on alcohol test. Hygiene of food containers, personnel and the vending environment was also assessed. Qualitative and quantitative microbial assessment of food was done using standard laboratory protocols as described by Tanzania Bureau of Standards and International Systems of Standards. Raw milk sold in Morogoro was of poor quality since was adulterated with water, contained sediments and clotted on alcohol test. Up to 63 % of the milk samples were contaminated with Escherichia coli and 60 % had higher total viable count (TVC) than the recommended values. Raw fruit juice was stored in dirty containers and sold under unhygienic environment. Seventy-three percent of juice samples had TVC beyond the recommendations while E. coli contamination rate was 63.3 %. The raw fish samples had started spoiling as depicted through sensory evaluation. E. coli contamination rate was 55 % and that of Campylobacter jejuni was 0.5 %. The mean TVC of raw fish was 8.1 (Log cfu/g) and 96.2 % of the fish samples had TVC beyond the recommended limits of 5.0 Log cfu/g. The physicochemical characteristics of food vended in Morogoro Municipality were of poor quality. The food had high bacterial contaminations. This situation poses health risks to the public and losses to food vendors due to spoilage. Stakeholders in food value chain should be educated on safe production and good hygienic practices. Routine quality and safety assessment of locally vended food, inspection of selling premises and regular health check-up of the personnel involved in food vending industry should be instituted.

PERCEPTION OF ODOR AND NASAL PUNGENCY FROM HOMOLOGOUS SERIES OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

EPA Science Inventory

The paper discusses results of tests of nasal detection thresholds for airborne chemicals in a group of anosmics (i.e., subjects lacking a functional sense of smell) and in a group of age-, gender-, and smoking-status-matched normosmics (i.e., subjects with normal olfaction). Ano...

A National Test of Taste and Smell

MedlinePlus

... Javascript on. Feature: Taste, Smell, Hearing, Language, Voice, Balance At Last: A National Test of Taste and ... smell. Read More "Taste, Smell, Hearing, Language, Voice, Balance" Articles At Last: A National Test of Taste ...

Osmophobia and olfactory functions in patients with migraine.

PubMed

Kayabaşoglu, Gürkan; Altundag, Aytug; Kotan, Dilcan; Dizdar, Denizhan; Kaymaz, Recep

2017-02-01

Olfactory dysfunction and migraine has been associated for a long time. In this study, we planned to compare olfactory functions in patients with migraine and osmophobia with patients having migraine but no osmophobia, in addition with a normal control group using "Sniffin' Sticks" test. The main distinction of this study is that all qualitative and quantitative properties of olfactory functions; threshold, discrimination and identification, are evaluated separately and jointly. Thirty healthy person aged between 16 and 56 (18 women, 12 men) and 60 migraine patients aged between 15 and 54 (39 women, 21 man) were included in the study. All patients have been inquired about osmophobia and have been assessed with Hedonic tone assessment. Osmophobia has been tested for perfume, cigarette smoke, leather, stale food, soy sauce, fish, spices and coffee smells. Olfactory functions has been assessed with "Sniffin' Sticks" smell test. Thresholds, discrimination and identification have been determined for each patient. In migraine patients with osmophobia, threshold was 7.75 ± 2.3, in migraine patients without osmophobia threshold was 8.25 ± 1.5 and threshold was 10.75 ± 1.3 for the control group. Discrimination score was 6 ± 1.2 in migraine patients with osmophobia, 9 ± 0.8 in patients without osmophobia and was 12 ± 1.4 in the control group. In migraine patient with or without osmophobia Threshold/Discrimination/Identification (TDI) scores were lower than the control group. The most important parameter in our study is that discrimination scores were especially lower in patients with osmophobia. We believe that this decrease in discrimination in migraine patients with osmophobia; who claim that they smell everything and they are sensitive to all smells, is significant. Further studies about smell discrimination will help better understand some conditions; especially anosmia and hyposmia after upper respiratory tract infections and parosmia.

The intentionality of smell

PubMed Central

Lycan, William G.

2014-01-01

If any sense modality represents, vision does, but argument is needed to show that smell does. This paper rebuts two reasons for doubting that smell represents, and offers several arguments that it does. The paper then considers several recent proposals as to exactly what a smell represents, and defends a version of the author's original proposal—that a smell represents a miasma in the air—against its competitors. PMID:24904458

Sensation of smell and taste during intravenous injection of iodinated contrast media in CT examinations.

PubMed

Yamaguchi, Naoto; Fukushima, Yasuhiro; Yamaguchi, Aiko; Nagasawa, Naoki; Taketomi-Takahashi, Ayako; Suto, Takayuki; Tsushima, Yoshito

2017-01-01

To assess the incidence and types of sensation of smell and taste during i.v. injection of five kinds of contrast media (CM) in CT examinations. 735 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT) between 14 March 2016 and 5 April 2016 were enrolled. Medical staff asked patients whether they felt heat sensation and sensation of smell and taste during i.v. injection of CM (one of the following: iopromide, iomeprol, iopamidol, iohexol and ioversol) after their CE-CT. If the patients stated having felt the sensation of smell or taste, they were also asked what kind of smell or taste they sensed. Next, 30 ml of each CM was poured into high-purity pet cups for radiological technologists to smell directly. Radiological technologists were asked whether or not each CM had any smell. The sensations of smell and taste incidence for iopromide were 24.3% and 18.9%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those for other CM (p < 0.05). The highest incidence of the sensation of smell was medicine-ish, and the most frequently noted taste was bitterness. All radiological technologists could directly smell only iopromide, which has an ether group on a side chain and fewer hydroxyl groups. Iopromide showed a higher incidence of sensation of smell and taste than other CM. Advances in knowledge: This was the first investigation of sensation of smell and taste during i.v. injection of CM, and a specific CM showed a higher incidence, which is suspected to be due to its chemical structure.

Sensation of smell and taste during intravenous injection of iodinated contrast media in CT examinations

PubMed Central

Yamaguchi, Naoto; Yamaguchi, Aiko; Nagasawa, Naoki; Taketomi-Takahashi, Ayako; Suto, Takayuki; Tsushima, Yoshito

2017-01-01

Objective: To assess the incidence and types of sensation of smell and taste during i.v. injection of five kinds of contrast media (CM) in CT examinations. Methods: 735 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT) between 14 March 2016 and 5 April 2016 were enrolled. Medical staff asked patients whether they felt heat sensation and sensation of smell and taste during i.v. injection of CM (one of the following: iopromide, iomeprol, iopamidol, iohexol and ioversol) after their CE-CT. If the patients stated having felt the sensation of smell or taste, they were also asked what kind of smell or taste they sensed. Next, 30 ml of each CM was poured into high-purity pet cups for radiological technologists to smell directly. Radiological technologists were asked whether or not each CM had any smell. Results: The sensations of smell and taste incidence for iopromide were 24.3% and 18.9%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those for other CM (p < 0.05). The highest incidence of the sensation of smell was medicine-ish, and the most frequently noted taste was bitterness. All radiological technologists could directly smell only iopromide, which has an ether group on a side chain and fewer hydroxyl groups. Conclusion: Iopromide showed a higher incidence of sensation of smell and taste than other CM. Advances in knowledge: This was the first investigation of sensation of smell and taste during i.v. injection of CM, and a specific CM showed a higher incidence, which is suspected to be due to its chemical structure. PMID:27805431

Not All Flavor Expertise Is Equal: The Language of Wine and Coffee Experts.

PubMed

Croijmans, Ilja; Majid, Asifa

2016-01-01

People in Western cultures are poor at naming smells and flavors. However, for wine and coffee experts, describing smells and flavors is part of their daily routine. So are experts better than lay people at conveying smells and flavors in language? If smells and flavors are more easily linguistically expressed by experts, or more "codable", then experts should be better than novices at describing smells and flavors. If experts are indeed better, we can also ask how general this advantage is: do experts show higher codability only for smells and flavors they are expert in (i.e., wine experts for wine and coffee experts for coffee) or is their linguistic dexterity more general? To address these questions, wine experts, coffee experts, and novices were asked to describe the smell and flavor of wines, coffees, everyday odors, and basic tastes. The resulting descriptions were compared on a number of measures. We found expertise endows a modest advantage in smell and flavor naming. Wine experts showed more consistency in how they described wine smells and flavors than coffee experts, and novices; but coffee experts were not more consistent for coffee descriptions. Neither expert group was any more accurate at identifying everyday smells or tastes. Interestingly, both wine and coffee experts tended to use more source-based terms (e.g., vanilla) in descriptions of their own area of expertise whereas novices tended to use more evaluative terms (e.g., nice). However, the overall linguistic strategies for both groups were en par. To conclude, experts only have a limited, domain-specific advantage when communicating about smells and flavors. The ability to communicate about smells and flavors is a matter not only of perceptual training, but specific linguistic training too.

Not All Flavor Expertise Is Equal: The Language of Wine and Coffee Experts

PubMed Central

Majid, Asifa

2016-01-01

People in Western cultures are poor at naming smells and flavors. However, for wine and coffee experts, describing smells and flavors is part of their daily routine. So are experts better than lay people at conveying smells and flavors in language? If smells and flavors are more easily linguistically expressed by experts, or more “codable”, then experts should be better than novices at describing smells and flavors. If experts are indeed better, we can also ask how general this advantage is: do experts show higher codability only for smells and flavors they are expert in (i.e., wine experts for wine and coffee experts for coffee) or is their linguistic dexterity more general? To address these questions, wine experts, coffee experts, and novices were asked to describe the smell and flavor of wines, coffees, everyday odors, and basic tastes. The resulting descriptions were compared on a number of measures. We found expertise endows a modest advantage in smell and flavor naming. Wine experts showed more consistency in how they described wine smells and flavors than coffee experts, and novices; but coffee experts were not more consistent for coffee descriptions. Neither expert group was any more accurate at identifying everyday smells or tastes. Interestingly, both wine and coffee experts tended to use more source-based terms (e.g., vanilla) in descriptions of their own area of expertise whereas novices tended to use more evaluative terms (e.g., nice). However, the overall linguistic strategies for both groups were en par. To conclude, experts only have a limited, domain-specific advantage when communicating about smells and flavors. The ability to communicate about smells and flavors is a matter not only of perceptual training, but specific linguistic training too. PMID:27322035

Gamma Knife radiosurgery of olfactory groove meningiomas provides a method to preserve subjective olfactory function.

PubMed

Gande, Abhiram; Kano, Hideyuki; Bowden, Gregory; Mousavi, Seyed H; Niranjan, Ajay; Flickinger, John C; Lunsford, L Dade

2014-02-01

Anosmia is a common outcome after resection of olfactory groove meningioma(s) (OGM) and for some patients represents a significant disability. To evaluate long term tumor control rates and preservation of subjective olfaction after Gamma Knife (GK) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) of OGM. We performed a retrospective chart review and telephone assessments of 41 patients who underwent GK SRS between 1987 and 2008. Clinical outcomes were stratified by full, partial or no subjective olfaction, whereas tumor control was assessed by changes in volume greater or lesser than 25%. The median clinical and imaging follow-up were 76 and 65 months, respectively. Prior to SRS, 19 (46%) patients had surgical resections and two (5%) had received fractionated radiation therapy. Twenty four patients (59%) reported a normal sense of smell, 12 (29%) reported a reduced sense of smell and five (12%) had complete anosmia. The median tumor volume was 8.5 cm(3) (range 0.6-56.1), the mean radiation dose at the tumor margin was 13 Gy (range 10-20) and the median estimated dose to the olfactory nerve was 5.1 Gy (range 1.1-18.1). At follow-up, 27 patients (66%) reported intact olfaction (three (7%) described return to a normal sense of smell), nine (22%) described partial anosmia, and five (12%) had complete anosmia. No patient reported deterioration in olfaction after SRS. Thirteen patients (32%) showed significant tumor regression, 26 (63%) had no further growth and two (5%) had progressed. The progression free tumor control rates were 97% at 1 year and 95% at 2, 10 and 20 years. Symptomatic adverse radiation effects occurred in three (7%) patients. Stereotactic radiosurgery provided both long term tumor control and preservation of olfaction.

Persistent anosmia and olfactory bulb atrophy after mulga (Pseudechis australis) snakebite.

PubMed

Sethi, Moksh; Cook, Mark; Winkel, Kenneth D

2016-07-01

Loss of sense of smell is an intriguing yet under-recognised complication of snakebite. We report olfactory function testing and neuroimaging of the olfactory bulbs in a 30-year-old man with anosmia persisting for more than 1year after mulga (Pseudechis australis) snakebite. This problem was first noted by the patient 1week after being definitely bitten in Queensland, Australia. He had then presented to a regional hospital where his envenomation was considered mild enough to not warrant antivenom administration. A week later the patient noted a reduction of sense of smell, which progressed to complete inability to smell over the ensuing weeks. On clinical review the patient's neurologic and rhinologic examination did not reveal any structural cause for anosmia. Formal olfactory testing was performed using ''sniffin' sticks" and the patient scored 17 on this test, indicating severe hyposmia (functional anosmia <16.5, normal score >30.3 for men aged 16-35years). MRI of the brain showed no abnormalities. The olfactory bulb volumes were then measured on a volumetric T2-weighted MRI that demonstrated significantly reduced volume of both bulbs, with the right 34.86mm(3) and left 36.25mm(3) (normal volume ⩾58mm(3), 10th centile). The current patient represents a rare instance of a definite, untreated, elapid (mulga snake) envenomation with an intriguing disjunction between the mildness of the systemic features and the severity of the olfactory lesion. It is also unclear if early antivenom use attenuates this condition, and due to the delayed manifestation of the symptoms, awareness of this phenomenon may be lacking amongst physicians. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biomechanical measurements of stopping and stripping torques during screw insertion in five types of human and artificial humeri.

PubMed

Aziz, Mina Sr; Tsuji, Matthew Rs; Nicayenzi, Bruce; Crookshank, Meghan C; Bougherara, Habiba; Schemitsch, Emil H; Zdero, Radovan

2014-05-01

During orthopedic surgery, screws are inserted by "subjective feel" in humeri for fracture fixation, that is, stopping torque, while trying to prevent accidental over-tightening that causes screw-bone interface failure, that is, stripping torque. However, no studies exist on stopping torque, stripping torque, or stopping/stripping torque ratio in human or artificial humeri. This study evaluated five types of humeri, namely, human fresh-frozen (n = 19), human embalmed (n = 18), human dried (n = 15), artificial "normal" (n = 13), and artificial "osteoporotic" (n = 13). An orthopedic surgeon used a torque screwdriver to insert 3.5-mm-diameter cortical screws into humeral shafts and 6.5-mm-diameter cancellous screws into humeral heads by "subjective feel" to obtain stopping and stripping torques. The five outcome measures were raw and normalized stopping torque, raw and normalized stripping torque, and stopping/stripping torque ratio. Normalization was done as raw torque/screw-bone interface area. For "gold standard" fresh-frozen humeri, cortical screw tests yielded averages of 1312 N mm (raw stopping torque), 30.4 N/mm (normalized stopping torque), 1721 N mm (raw stripping torque), 39.0 N/mm (normalized stripping torque), and 82% (stopping/stripping torque ratio). Similarly, fresh-frozen humeri gave cancellous screw average results of 307 N mm (raw stopping torque), 0.9 N/mm (normalized stopping torque), 392 N mm (raw stripping torque), 1.2 N/mm (normalized stripping torque), and 79% (stopping/stripping torque ratio). Of the five cortical screw parameters for fresh-frozen humeri versus other groups, statistical equivalence (p ≥ 0.05) occurred in four cases (embalmed), three cases (dried), four cases (artificial "normal"), and four cases (artificial "osteoporotic"). Of the five cancellous screw parameters for fresh-frozen humeri versus other groups, statistical equivalence (p ≥ 0.05) occurred in five cases (embalmed), one case (dried), one case (artificial "normal"), and zero cases (artificial "osteoporotic"). Stopping/stripping torque ratios were relatively constant for all groups at 77%-88% (cortical screws) and 79%-92% (cancellous screws). © IMechE 2014.

Effect that Smell Presentation Has on an Individual in Regards to Eye Catching and Memory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomono, Akira; Kanda, Koyori; Otake, Syunya

If a person's eyes are greater attracted to the target objects by matching the smell to an important scene of a movie or commercial image, the value of the image contents will rise. In this paper, we attempt to describe the image system that can also present smells, and the reason behind the improvement, from gaze point analysis, of the presence of smell when it is matched to the image. The relationship between the eye catching property and the position of the sight object was examined using the image with the scene where someone eats three kinds of fruits. These objects were gazed at for a long time once releasing their smells. When the smell was not released, the gaze moved actively to try and receive a lot of information from the entire screen. On the other hand, when the smell was inserted, the subject was interested in the object and there was a tendency for their gaze to stay within the narrow area surrounding the image. Moreover, we investigated the effect on the memory by putting the smell on the flowers in the virtual flower shop using immersive virtual reality system (HoloStageTM). It was memorized more easily compared with a scentless case. It seems that the viewer obtains the information actively by reacting to its smell.

Smell Disorders

MedlinePlus

... the smell. There are more smells in the environment than there are receptors, and any given molecule ... sensory nerve cells. Understand the effects of the environment (such as gasoline fumes, chemicals, and extremes of ...

Smell differential reactivity, but not taste differential reactivity, is related to food neophobia in toddlers.

PubMed

Monnery-Patris, Sandrine; Wagner, Sandra; Rigal, Natalie; Schwartz, Camille; Chabanet, Claire; Issanchou, Sylvie; Nicklaus, Sophie

2015-12-01

Previous research has identified relationships between chemosensory reactivity and food neophobia in children. However, most studies have investigated this relationship using declarative data and without separately analysing smell and taste reactivity. Our first objective was to assess the relationships between smell and taste differential reactivity in toddlers (i.e. reactivity towards several stimuli), using experimental behavioural measurements. The second objective was to determine the relationships between smell (or taste) differential reactivity and food neophobia in toddlers, with the hypothesis that the more responsive a toddler was across food odours or tastes, the more neophobic s/he would be. An additional objective was to determine whether the potential relationships between smell (or taste) differential reactivity and food neophobia differ according to gender. One hundred and twenty-three toddlers aged from 20 to 22 months from the Opaline birth cohort (Observatory of Food Preferences in Infants and Children) were involved. A questionnaire was used to assess child's food neophobia. Toddlers' differential reactivity for smell (and for taste) was defined as the variability of behavioural responses over 8 odorants, and over the five basic tastes. Smell and taste differential reactivities were not correlated. Food neophobia scores were modestly but significantly positively correlated with smell differential reactivity but not with taste differential reactivity. When gender was considered, smell reactivity and neophobia were correlated only among boys. This indicates the need to study smell and taste reactivity separately to determine their associations with eating behaviours. This suggests that the rejection of novel foods in neophobic boys could be partly due to food odour. This finding is new and clearly requires further investigation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Combined non-adaptive light and smell stimuli lowered blood pressure, reduced heart rate and reduced negative affect.

PubMed

Dong, Shan; Jacob, Tim J C

2016-03-15

Bright light therapy has been shown to have a positive impact on seasonal affective disorder (SAD), depression and anxiety. Smell has also has been shown to have effects on mood, stress, anxiety and depression. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the combination of light and smell in a non-adaptive cycle. Human subjects were given smell (lemon, lavender or peppermint) and light stimuli in a triangular wave (60scycle) for 15min. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored before and after each session for 5 consecutive days and a Profile of Mood States (POMS) test was administered before and after the sensory stimulation on days 1, 3 and 5. The light-smell stimulus lowered blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic, and reduced heart rate for all odours compared to control. Of the two sensory stimuli, the odour stimulus contributed most to this effect. The different aromas in the light-smell combinations could be distinguished by their different effects on the mood factors with lemon inducing the greatest mood changes in Dejection-Depression, Anger-Hostility, Tension-Anxiety. In conclusion, combined light and smell stimulation was effective in lowering blood pressure, reducing heart rate and improving mood. The combination was more effective than either smell or light stimuli alone, suggesting that a light-smell combination would be a more robust and efficacious alternative treatment for depression, anxiety and stress. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Why Do Feet Stink?

MedlinePlus

... organic acids — they also produce stuff called volatile sulfur compounds. Sulfur compounds usually are powerful and awful smelling. If ... smelled a rotten egg, you know what volatile sulfur compounds smell like. What Can You Do? There’s ...

Comparison of subjective olfaction ratings in patients with and without olfactory disorders.

PubMed

Haxel, B R; Bertz-Duffy, S; Fruth, K; Letzel, S; Mann, W J; Muttray, A

2012-07-01

Olfactory dysfunction is common. The reliability of self-assessment tools for smell testing is still controversial. This study aimed to provide new data about the accuracy of olfactory self-assessment compared with a standardised smell test. Prospective, controlled, cohort study of patients with olfactory disorders and healthy controls. Ninety-six patients with a smell deficit and 71 controls were asked to rate their sense of smell on a visual analogue scale. Their olfactory abilities were also evaluated with the Sniffin' Sticks tests. The whole cohort showed a significant correlation between visual analogue scale smell scores and Sniffin' Sticks total scores. This correlation was also significant in the patient group, but not in the control group. These results were independent of olfactory deficit aetiology and subject age. Self-assessment of olfaction is only a reliable indicator in smell-impaired patients, not in healthy controls. For an accurate assessment of olfaction, reliable, standardised tests are needed.

Taste and Smell Disorders

MedlinePlus

... give us great pleasure. Taste helps us enjoy food and beverages. Smell lets us enjoy the scents and fragrances like roses or coffee. Taste and smell also protect us, letting us know when food has gone bad or when there is a ...

Alcohol Brine Freezing of Japanese Horse Mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) for Raw Consumption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maeda, Toshimichi; Yuki, Atsuhiko; Sakurai, Hiroshi; Watanabe, Koichiro; Itoh, Nobuo; Inui, Etsuro; Seike, Kazunori; Mizukami, Yoichi; Fukuda, Yutaka; Harada, Kazuki

In order to test the possible application of alcohol brine freezing to Japanese horse mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) for raw consumption, the quality and taste of fish frozen by direct immersion in 60% ethanol brine at -20, -25 and -30°C was compared with those by air freezing and fresh fish without freezing. Cracks were not found during the freezing. Smell of ethanol did not remain. K value, an indicator of freshness, of fish frozen in alcohol brine was less than 8.3%, which was at the same level as those by air freezing and fresh fish. Oxidation of lipid was at the same level as air freezing does, and lower than that of fresh fish. The pH of fish frozen in alcohol brine at -25 and -30°C was 6.5 and 6.6, respectively, which were higher than that by air freezing and that of fresh fish. Fish frozen in alcohol brine was better than that by air and at the same level as fresh fish in total evaluation of sensory tests. These results show that the alcohol brine freezing is superior to air freezing, and fish frozen in alcohol brine can be a material for raw consumption. The methods of thawing in tap water, cold water, refrigerator, and at room temperature were compared. Thawing in tap water is considered to be convenient due to the short thaw time and the quality of thawed fish that was best among the methods.

The importance of smell in patients with bronchiectasis.

PubMed

Guilemany, José Maria; Mariño-Sánchez, Franklin Santiago; Angrill, Joaquim; Alobid, Isam; Centellas, Silvia; Pujols, Laura; Berenguer, Joan; Bernal-Sprekelsen, Manuel; Picado, César; Mullol, Joaquim

2011-01-01

The aim of the study was to evaluate the sense of smell in patients with bronchiectasis. Prospective controlled study was performed on 91 patients with bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis patients were sub-classified depending on: the presence of chronic rhinosinusitis, with or without nasal polyps, and the bronchiectasis ethiology. Olfactory function was evaluated by means of the Barcelona Smell Test (BAST-24) olfactometry for detection, identification, and forced choice for the first and fifth cranial nerve dependent odours in comparison to a group of 120 healthy volunteers. Most patients with bronchiectasis (80.2%) satisfied EP(3)OS criteria of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and 26.4% presented nasal polyps (NP). Smell detection, identification, and forced choice tests were significantly (p < 0.001) worse in bronchiectasis patients than healthy controls for both the 1st and 5th CN. Among subgroups, patients with CRS presented a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in smell detection compared to both healthy controls and patients without CRS. Patients with both CRS and NP presented a significant (p < 0.01) reduction in both smell detection and forced choice compared to patients with CRS and without NP. Patients with bronchiectasis and primary humoral immunodeficiency had a poorer smell detection (p < 0.001) and forced choice (p < 0.001) compared with post-infective and idiopathic bronchiectasis patients. Patients with bronchiectasis have a moderate loss of smell with a higher impairment in patients with CRS, being maximal in patients with NP. Patients with immunodeficiency bronchiectasis showed high prevalence of CRS, and therefore marked impairment on the sense of smell. The mechanism could be explained through a mixed ethiology (obstruction/inflammation). Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Smell and taste thresholds in older people].

PubMed

Thumfart, W; Plattig, K H; Schlicht, N

1980-01-01

The smell and taste ability of 105 persons at an age of 65 to 93 years was examined by adequate qualitative and semiquantitative chemical and electrogustometric methods. The basic levels of seniors were found above the levels of younger people. For the sense of smelling a significant connection of age and smell sensitivity could be measured. There was no difference between men and women using chemical test methods. With electrogustometry, however, women had a better taste sensitivity than men. At the age of 65 the taste levels are at a fix point. No higher levels could be realized in older persons. A significant reduction of smell ability was recognized in persons with reduction of cerebral blood flow and in smokers. The taste ability was disturbed in cases of diabetes, in persons using dental prostheses and selectively for "salty" in cases of hypertonia and "bitter" in smokers. Loss of taste was recognized in two women who used NaF-drugs, but also some other drugs were able to induce smell and taste alteration.

Men without a sense of smell exhibit a strongly reduced number of sexual relationships, women exhibit reduced partnership security - a reanalysis of previously published data.

PubMed

Croy, Ilona; Bojanowski, Viola; Hummel, Thomas

2013-02-01

Olfactory function influences social behavior. For instance, olfaction seems to play a key role in mate choice and helps detecting emotions in other people. In a previous study, we showed that people who were born without a sense of smell exhibit enhanced social insecurity. Based on the comments to this article we decided to have a closer look to whether the absence of the sense of smell affects men and women differently. Under this focus questionnaire data of 32 patients, diagnosed with isolated congenital anosmia (10 men, 22 women) and 36 age-matched healthy controls (15 men, 21 women) was reanalyzed. In result, men and women without a sense of smell reported enhanced social insecurity, but with different consequences: Men who were born without a sense of smell exhibit a strongly reduced number of sexual relationships and women are affected such that they feel less secure about their partner. This emphasizes the importance of the sense of smell for intimate relationships. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Sense of smell].

PubMed

Gudziol, H

1995-02-01

About two million Americans suffer from anosmia. Most result from nasal obstruction, head injuries, and viral infections. Brain disorders like epileptic seizures, tumours, and dementia can distort can distort the sense of smell. Anosmia adversely affects patient well-being. Patients cannot detect spoiled food, gas leakage, or dangerous smoke. They are unable to distinguish flavour and smell the springtime or the ocean. Many products as soaps, cat litter, toilet paper, etc. are perfumed because consumers will more readily buy a product that smells nice than one that has no smell at all. Historically, the importance of odors was very different. The ancient Romans loved exotic aromas during their banquets and orgies. In the Middle Ages the church did not like fragrances. The French revolution of 1789 brought a revolution of deodorization to Europe. Today, fragrance companies' increasing sales are an indication of the power of odor.

A longitudinal study of altered taste and smell perception and change in blood pressure.

PubMed

Liu, Y-H; Huang, Z; Vaidya, A; Li, J; Curhan, G C; Wu, S; Gao, X

2018-05-29

Previous studies suggest that olfactory receptors, which mediate smell chemosensation, are located in the kidney and involved in blood pressure regulation. Mammalian epithelial sodium channels located in taste receptor cells are also found to participate in blood pressure regulation. However, there is currently no human study that has examined the association between taste and smell function and blood pressure. We thus conducted a longitudinal study to examine whether participants with altered taste and smell perception had larger increases in blood pressure compared with those without altered perception in a community-based cohort. The study included 5190 Chinese adults (4058 men and 1132 women) who were normotensive at baseline. Taste and smell perception were assessed via questionnaire in 2012 (baseline). Blood pressure was measured in 2012 and 2014 to determine relative change in blood pressure. Mean differences of 2-year blood pressure change and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) across four categories of taste and smell perception were calculated after adjusting for known risk factors for hypertension. After adjusting for potential confounders, individuals with altered taste and smell perception had larger increases in systolic blood pressure (adjusted mean difference = 5.1 mmHg, 95% CI: 0.1-10.0, p-value: 0.04) and mean arterial pressure (adjusted mean difference = 3.8 mmHg, 95% CI: 0.4-7.1, p-value: 0.03) after two years of follow-up compared with those having neither altered taste nor altered smell perception. No significant association was observed in individuals with altered taste or smell perception only. Our results suggest an association between chemosensory function and blood pressure. Copyright © 2018 The Italian Society of Diabetology, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Implicit attitudes toward smoking: how the smell of cigarettes influences responses of college-age smokers and nonsmokers.

PubMed

Glock, Sabine; Kovacs, Carrie; Unz, Dagmar

2014-05-01

The habit of smoking may have automatic behavioral components guided by implicit attitudes. Smokers' attitudes toward smoking should thus be less negative than nonsmokers', so that a salient smoking cue (smell) is able to activate positive aspects of these attitudes. An affective priming task was used to explore this hypothesis. Unexpectedly, smokers and nonsmokers showed equally negative implicit attitudes, irrespective of smell. Smokers exposed to the cigarette smell did, however, display generally slower responses than nonsmokers, suggesting attentional bias. This could have implications for smoking policies in contexts where attentional factors affect performance.

Sensorial evolution of cassava flour (Manihot esculenta crantz) added to protein concentrate cassava leaves

PubMed Central

Lima, Elaine C S; Feijo, Márcia B S; Freitas, Maria C J; dos Santos, Edna R; Sabaa-Srur, Armando U O; Moura, Luciana S M

2013-01-01

Cassava is regarded as the nutritional base of populations in developing countries, and flour, product made of cassava, is the most consumed in the world. The cassava leaves are very rich in vegetable proteins, but a big amount is lost in processing the crop. The objective of this study was to do a sensory evaluation of cassava flour to which a protein concentrate obtained from cassava leaves (CPML) was added. The CPML was obtained from cassava leaves by isoelectric precipitation and added to cassava paste for preparation of flour in three parts 2.5, 5, and 10%. The acceptance test was done by 93 consumers of flour, using hedonic scale of 7 points to evaluate characteristics like color, scent, flavor, bitterness, texture, and overall score. By the method of quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA), eight trained tasters evaluated the following characteristics: whitish color, greenish color, cassava flavor, bitter flavor, characteristic flavor, lumpiness, raw texture, leaf scent, and cassava scent. The acceptability test indicated that flour cassava with 2.5 was preferred. Whitish color, greenish color, cassava flavor, bitter flavor, salty flavor, characteristic flavor, lumpiness texture, raw texture, and the smell of the leaves and cassava flour were the main descriptors defined for flour cassava with CPML has better characteristics. PMID:24804041

Esterification Reaction Utilizing Sense of Smell and Eyesight for Conversion and Catalyst Recovery Monitoring

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Janssens, Nikki; Wee, Lik H.; Martens, Johan A.

2014-01-01

The esterification reaction of salicylic acid with ethanol is performed in presence of dissolved 12-tungstophosphoric Brønsted-Lowry acid catalyst, a Keggin-type polyoxometalate (POM). The monitoring of the reaction with smell and the recovery of the catalyst with sight is presented. Formation of the sweet-scented ester is apparent from the smell.…

[Is olfactory function impaired in moderate height?].

PubMed

Kühn, M; Welsch, H; Zahnert, T; Hummel, Thomas

2009-09-01

The human sense of smell seems to be influenced by the surrounding barometric pressure. These factors appear to be especially important during flights, for example, in order to recognize the smell of fire etc. Thus, questions are whether pilots or passengers exhibit an impaired smell sensitivity when tested at moderate heights, or, whether changes in humidity would affect the sense of smell. Using climate chambers, odor discrimination and butanol odor thresholds were tested in 77 healthy normosmic volunteers (5 female, 72 male; aged 25+/-8 years from 18 up to 53 years) under hypobaric (2 700+/-20 m, 20 degrees C+/-1 K, rh=50+/-5%) and hyperbaric, (10+/-0.5 m (2 bar)) and different humidity conditions (30 vs. 80%, 20 degrees C+/-1 K, normobaric). During all conditions cognitive performance was tested. Among other effects, olfactory sensitivity was impaired at threshold, but not suprathreshold level, in a hypobaric compared to a hyperbaric milieu, and thresholds were lower in humid, compared to relatively dry conditions. In conclusion, environmental conditions modulate the sense of smell, and may, consecutively, influence results from olfactory tests. During flight hypobaric conditions, mild hypoxia and dry air may cause impaired sensitivity of smell. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart * New York.

The optimal evaluation and management of patients with a gradual onset of olfactory loss.

PubMed

Enriquez, Karla; Lehrer, Eduardo; Mullol, Joaquim

2014-02-01

The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the causes of olfactory dysfunction, their evaluation and management, with a main focus on the gradual/progressive loss of smell. As the sense of smell gives us essential information about our environment, its loss can cause nutritional and social problems while threatening an individual's safety. Recent surveys have shown quite a substantial prevalence of hyposmia (one out of four people) and anosmia (one out of 200 people) in a variety of populations. Nasal inflammatory diseases such as allergic rhinitis and predominantly chronic rhinosinusitis account for the major and common causes of gradual/progressive loss of smell. However, they are also among the most successfully treated forms of olfactory dysfunction. The management of gradual/progressive smell deficit must always address its etiological causes. In most cases, a detailed medical history and nasal examination, smell testing, and imaging will help to establish an appropriate diagnosis. In addition to anti-inflammatory therapy, mainly nasal and systemic corticosteroids, recent investigations on smell training suggest that the controlled exposure to selected odors may increase olfactory performance. See the Video Supplementary Digital Content 1 (http://links.lww.com/COOH/A8).

[Children with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: clinical data analysis and mutations analysis of KAL1 and FGFR1 gene].

PubMed

Qin, Miao; Gong, Chunxiu; Qi, Zhan; Wu, Di; Liu, Min; Gu, Yi; Cao, Bingyan; Li, Wenjing; Liang, Xuejun

2014-12-01

To summarize the clinical features of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) diagnosed during childhood, and detect mutations in KAL1 and FGFR1, acting as key clues for diagnoses. We collected and analyzed clinical data of 21 cases (including demographic data, chief complaint, history of present illness, family history, physical examination, laboratory tests and imaging studies, etc.) diagnosed with IHH from December 2008 to February 2013. Polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing was applied to detect mutations on KAL1 and FGFR1. Fifty healthy unrelated individuals were choosen as controls. Of 21 patients with IHH, 19 were males and 2 females, they visited us initially from 8-17 years old, with an average of (13.58 ± 2.38) years old. Sixteen cases were KS patients (76%). One boy reported abnormal sense of smelling but having olfactory perfect picture on MRI; 2/19 male cases had no puberty when they were over 13-14 years old without abnormal external genitalia. 8/19 cases only had small penis, 8/19 had both of cryptorchidism and small penis, and the Case 2 also had hypospadias. One boy had cryptorchidism combined with a normal penis. Only 2 girls diagnosed as IHH who visited us because of no puberty signs when they were 13 and 16 years old, respectively. Other clinical manifestations included: one with gynecomastia, 2 had mental retardation, and one was deaf; one with high palatal arch; one with mirror-movement and one with left renal agenesis but normal renal function respectively. Laboratory tests showed that the basic testosterone (T) is low and with inappropriately low or normal gonadotropin hormones. The results of cases of standard human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test of 7 cases out of 19 male children's were normal (testosterone>1 100 ng/L), and another nine cases continued to complete the extended HCG test, and the testosterone levels of two of them (cases 6, 8) were still lower than 1 000 ng/L. Family history: the parents in 9/21 family had delayed puberty, involving only one parent in 6 families, involving both in 2 families and the other one was an uncle having micropenis with a child. Among these 21 cases, only one boy's father had hyposmia and his first emission age was 14-15 years. Eleven patients accompanied abnormal sense of smelling and the olfactory organ abnormalities on MRI, 4 had olfactory organ abnormalities on MRI while they had good smelling function self-reportedly. We got 15 samples (12 KS and 3 nIHH cases) to screen the mutation of KAL1 (14 exons) and FGFR1 (18 exons). A splicing mutation c.1062+1G>A in KAL1 is identified in case 17 with IHH. One novel heterozygous FGFR1 mutation, a single base deletion mutation on the exon 1 c.27delC is identified in case 14. This mutation causes the premature termination codons. This pilot research showed that IHH/KS diagnosis in children depends on clinical manifestation rather than gene analysis. Small penis or cryptorchidism, smelling abnormality and positive familial history may contribute to the KS/HH diagnosis. MRI of olfactory bulb acts as important proof for diagnosis of KS. Mutations in KAL1 and FGFR1 gene are not main causes of Kallmann syndrome.

Prevalence and etiology of false normal aEEG recordings in neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) is a useful tool to determine the severity of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Our aim was to assess the prevalence and study the origin of false normal aEEG recordings based on 85 aEEG recordings registered before six hours of age. Methods Raw EEG recordings were reevaluated retrospectively with Fourier analysis to identify and describe the frequency patterns of the raw EEG signal, in cases with inconsistent aEEG recordings and clinical symptoms. Power spectral density curves, power (P) and median frequency (MF) were determined using the raw EEG. In 7 patients non-depolarizing muscle relaxant (NDMR) exposure was found. The EEG sections were analyzed and compared before and after NDMR administration. Results The reevaluation found that the aEEG was truly normal in 4 neonates. In 3 neonates, high voltage electrocardiographic (ECG) artifacts were found with flat trace on raw EEG. High frequency component (HFC) was found as a cause of normal appearing aEEG in 10 neonates. HFC disappeared while P and MF decreased significantly upon NDMR administration in each observed case. Conclusion Occurrence of false normal aEEG background pattern is relatively high in neonates with HIE and hypothermia. High frequency EEG artifacts suggestive of shivering were found to be the most common cause of false normal aEEG in hypothermic neonates while high voltage ECG artifacts are less common. PMID:24268061

Tobacco Influence on Taste and Smell: Systematic Review of the Literature

PubMed Central

Da Ré, Allessandra Fraga; Gurgel, Léia Gonçalves; Buffon, Gabriela; Moura, Weluma Evelyn Rodrigues; Marques Vidor, Deisi Cristina Gollo; Maahs, Márcia Angelica Peter

2018-01-01

Introduction  In Brazil, estimates show that 14.7% of the adult population smokes, and changes in smell and taste arising from tobacco consumption are largely present in this population, which is an aggravating factor to these dysfunctions. Objectives  The objective of this study is to systematically review the findings in the literature about the influence of smoking on smell and taste. Data Synthesis  Our research covered articles published from January 1980 to August 2014 in the following databases: MEDLINE (accessed through PubMed), LILACS, Cochrane Library, and SciELO. We conducted separate lines of research: one concerning smell and the other, taste. We analyzed all the articles that presented randomized controlled studies involving the relation between smoking and smell and taste. Articles that presented unclear methodologies and those whose main results did not target the smell or taste of the subjects were excluded. Titles and abstracts of the articles identified by the research strategy were evaluated by researchers. We included four studies, two of which were exclusively about smell: the first noted the relation between the perception of puff strength and nicotine content; the second did not find any differences in the thresholds and discriminative capacity between smokers and nonsmokers. One article considered only taste and supports the relation between smoking and flavor, another considered both sensory modalities and observes positive results toward the relation immediately after smoking cessation. Conclusion  Three of the four studies presented positive results for the researched variables. PMID:29371903

Erythrocyte membrane antigen frequencies in patients with Type II congenital smell loss.

PubMed

Stateman, William A; Henkin, Robert I; Knöppel, Alexandra B; Flegel, Willy A

2015-01-01

The objective of this study was to determine whether there are genetic factors associated with Type II congenital smell loss. The expression frequencies of 16 erythrocyte antigens among patients with Type II congenital smell loss were determined and compared to those of a large control group. Blood samples were obtained from 99 patients with Type II congenital smell loss. Presence of the erythrocyte surface antigens A, B, M, N, S, s, Fy(a), Fy(b), D, C, c, E, e, K, Jk(a), and Jk(b) was analyzed by blood group serology. Comparisons of expression frequencies of these antigens were made between the patients and a large control group. Patients tested for the Duffy b antigen (Fy(b) haplotype) exhibited a statistically significant 11% decrease in expression frequency compared to the controls. There were no significant differences between patients and controls in the expression frequencies for all other erythrocyte antigens (A, B, M, N, S, s, Fy(a), D, C, c, E, e, K, Jk(a), or Jk(b)). These findings describe the presence of a previously unrevealed genetic tendency among patients with Type II congenital smell loss related to erythrocyte surface antigen expression. The deviation in expression rate of Duffy b suggests a target gene and chromosome region in which future research into this form of congenital smell loss may reveal a more specific genetic basis for Type II congenital smell loss. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Scratch and sniff. The dynamic duo.

PubMed

Stitt, W Z; Goldsmith, A

1995-09-01

Are odors diagnostic? In this age of polymerase chain reactions, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical staining, is there any room left for the nose in diagnosing disease? Long ago, and perhaps far away, smell was crucial to describing an illness. Infectious diseases were known by their characteristics odors--scrofula as smelling like stale beer; typhoid, like freshly baked brown bread; rubella, like plucked feathers; and diphtheria, as "sweetish." Anosmics might be banned from medical school. Perhaps we have left the descriptions behind along with these illnesses we rarely encounter today. After all, how many young physicians, residents, or medical students have ever seen a case of diphtheria or even rubella, and how many fewer have ever plucked a chicken? We have learned that pellagra (that "must appear" diagnosis in our differential by rote, but not by example, for photosensitive dermatoses) should smell like sour bread and that the exotic favus should smell "mousy" (Table 1). What does Candida smell like--a "heavy sweetness"? Darier's disease in poor control--"organic"? Pseudomonal infections--"foul and biting"? And are not our patients with noninfected eczematous dermatitis distinct for lacking any peculiar odor, do they not actually smell "dry"? We cannot blame the abandonment of our olfactory skills on the younger generation, for how many of us could describe those odors we smell every day? Would we be able to detect a subtle change in the odor of our patient with psoriasis, a change perhaps signifying superinfection?

Potential of nitrogen gas (n2) flushing to extend the shelf life of cold stored pasteurised milk.

PubMed

Munsch-Alatossava, Patricia; Ghafar, Abdul; Alatossava, Tapani

2013-03-11

For different reasons, the amount of food loss for developing and developed countries is approximately equivalent. Altogether, these losses represent approximately 1/3 of the global food production. Significant amounts of pasteurised milk are lost due to bad smell and unpleasant taste. Currently, even under the best cold chain conditions, psychrotolerant spore-forming bacteria, some of which also harbour virulent factors, limit the shelf life of pasteurised milk. N2 gas-based flushing has recently been of interest for improving the quality of raw milk. Here, we evaluated the possibility of addressing bacterial growth in pasteurised milk during cold storage at 6 °C and 8 °C. Clearly, the treatments hindered bacterial growth, in a laboratory setting, when N2-treated milk were compared to the corresponding controls, which suggests that N2-flushing treatment constitutes a promising option to extend the shelf life of pasteurised milk.

Potential of Nitrogen Gas (N2) Flushing to Extend the Shelf Life of Cold Stored Pasteurised Milk

PubMed Central

Munsch-Alatossava, Patricia; Ghafar, Abdul; Alatossava, Tapani

2013-01-01

For different reasons, the amount of food loss for developing and developed countries is approximately equivalent. Altogether, these losses represent approximately 1/3 of the global food production. Significant amounts of pasteurised milk are lost due to bad smell and unpleasant taste. Currently, even under the best cold chain conditions, psychrotolerant spore-forming bacteria, some of which also harbour virulent factors, limit the shelf life of pasteurised milk. N2 gas-based flushing has recently been of interest for improving the quality of raw milk. Here, we evaluated the possibility of addressing bacterial growth in pasteurised milk during cold storage at 6 °C and 8 °C. Clearly, the treatments hindered bacterial growth, in a laboratory setting, when N2-treated milk were compared to the corresponding controls, which suggests that N2-flushing treatment constitutes a promising option to extend the shelf life of pasteurised milk. PMID:23478439

Compensatory responses of goat mothers to their impaired young.

PubMed

Klopfer, P; Klopfer, M

1977-05-01

The behaviour of a mother goat towards her young normally compensates for differences between them in their vigour at birth. Weakening the first-born with drugs still does not prevent its getting equal access to the udder, though weakening the second-born may render it so much less vigorous that maternal compensation does fail. When the mother is unable to distinguish her kids by sight or smell, she is unable to modulate her responses to the kids and then the more vigorous kid always establishes priority of access to the bladder. We conjecture that this is what normally occurs under harsh environmental conditions where the mother's milk supply is occasionally inadequate for two kids.

Perceptual Issues of Augmented and Virtual Environments

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-07-01

distinct preference for one eye over the other. This is typically, quickly, and easily found through sighting tests (Peli, 1990). This eye dominance...been researched extensively and for different purposes. The entertainment industry has also experimented with synthetic smell production, in the...form of accompanying smells to enhance the experience of films (Lefcowitz, 2001, Somerson, 2001). In the Aroma Rama and the Smell -o-vision systems

An increase in visceral fat is associated with a decrease in the taste and olfactory capacity

PubMed Central

Fernandez-Garcia, Jose Carlos; Alcaide, Juan; Santiago-Fernandez, Concepcion; Roca-Rodriguez, MM.; Aguera, Zaida; Baños, Rosa; Botella, Cristina; de la Torre, Rafael; Fernandez-Real, Jose M.; Fruhbeck, Gema; Gomez-Ambrosi, Javier; Jimenez-Murcia, Susana; Menchon, Jose M.; Casanueva, Felipe F.; Fernandez-Aranda, Fernando; Tinahones, Francisco J.; Garrido-Sanchez, Lourdes

2017-01-01

Introduction Sensory factors may play an important role in the determination of appetite and food choices. Also, some adipokines may alter or predict the perception and pleasantness of specific odors. We aimed to analyze differences in smell–taste capacity between females with different weights and relate them with fat and fat-free mass, visceral fat, and several adipokines. Materials and methods 179 females with different weights (from low weight to morbid obesity) were studied. We analyzed the relation between fat, fat-free mass, visceral fat (indirectly estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis with visceral fat rating (VFR)), leptin, adiponectin and visfatin. The smell and taste assessments were performed through the "Sniffin’ Sticks" and "Taste Strips" respectively. Results We found a lower score in the measurement of smell (TDI-score (Threshold, Discrimination and Identification)) in obese subjects. All the olfactory functions measured, such as threshold, discrimination, identification and the TDI-score, correlated negatively with age, body mass index (BMI), leptin, fat mass, fat-free mass and VFR. In a multiple linear regression model, VFR mainly predicted the TDI-score. With regard to the taste function measurements, the normal weight subjects showed a higher score of taste functions. However a tendency to decrease was observed in the groups with greater or lesser BMI. In a multiple linear regression model VFR and age mainly predicted the total taste scores. Discussion We show for the first time that a reverse relationship exists between visceral fat and sensory signals, such as smell and taste, across a population with different body weight conditions. PMID:28158237

Assessment of raw milk quality and stakeholders' awareness on milk-borne health risks in Arusha City and Meru District, Tanzania.

PubMed

Ngasala, J Uma Bukuku; Nonga, Hezron Emmanuel; Mtambo, Mkumbukwa Madundo Angelo

2015-06-01

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the quality of raw milk and stakeholders' awareness on milk-borne health risks and factors for poor milk hygiene in Arusha City and Meru District, Tanzania between October and December 2012. A total of 105 smallholder dairy farmers, milk vendors and milk retailers were interviewed, and milk samples were collected for physical, microbial and antibiotic residue analysis using standard procedures. Questionnaire results indicated high level of awareness (94 %) that drinking raw milk can predispose consumers to milk-borne diseases; nevertheless, 65 % of respondents consumed raw milk. Physicochemical analyses showed some of the milk had sediments (20 %), bad smell (21 %) and had clotted on alcohol test (27 %). About 36 % of milk samples had pH below 6.6, and 25 % had specific gravity below 1.028 g/ml. The mean total viable count (TVC) of milk from vendors is significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that from retailers and smallholder dairy farmers. Generally, 65 % of milk samples assessed had a higher TVC than the level recommended (2.0 × 10(5) cfu/ml) by the East African Community (EAC) standards. Up to 91 % of the milk samples had bacterial growth that included Eschericia coli (66 %), Staphylococcus aureus (33 %), Corynebacterium (11 %) and Pseudomonas (10 %). All smallholder dairy farmers were aware of drug residues, but majority (57 %) were unaware of human health effects caused by veterinary drug residues in milk. Up to 97 % of respondents reported to comply with drug withdrawal periods. This possibly led to all milk samples analysed to be negative from detectable levels of antibiotic residues. It is concluded that the level of awareness on milk quality is high, although practices associated with milking and post-harvest handling predispose milk to bacterial contamination which is a public health risk to milk consumers.

Effects of Retronasal Smelling, Variety and Choice on Appetite and Satiety

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hunter, Jean; Halpern, Bruce; Binsted, K.; Caldwell, Bryan

2014-01-01

Four principal areas were investigated. Nasal Patency: Measure nasal tissue swelling and airflow in BR and compare this to PreBR baseline and PostBR recovery; Ask subjects to self-assess nasal congestion at each test to compare with Astronaut self-assessment. Odorant Identification: Measure subject's ability to recognize odorants obtained from food samples taken from FARU (Flight Analog Research Unit) menu and compare this with recognition of food odors not available on FARU; Compare subject assessed ratings of odorant intensity and food liking with nasal airflow measurements to determine effect of fluid shift on smell ability. Meal Acceptability: Determine the onset and progression of reported 'menu fatigue' during BR; Determine whether decreased nasal airflow or smell ability are factors in 'menu fatigue'. Daily Mood and Health: Record mood changes during study and compare with meal acceptability and smell ability. A change in smell ability is measured by tracking subject perception of 35 odorants from admission to the FARU through to dismissal.

Correlation Of An E-Nose System For Odor Assessment Of Shoe/Sock Systems With A Human Sensory Panel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Horras, Stephan; Reimann, Peter; Schuetze, Andreas

Evaluation of strength and quality of smell is today still primarily done with human sensory panels. For a range of applications, technical systems for an objective smell assessment would provide a great benefit in R and D and also day-to-day application. The project presented here specifically addresses the problem of assessing the strength and unpleasantness of smell caused by sweat in shoes and socks by an E-nose system. The ultimate goal is to provide a tool for developing improved shoe/sock systems with optimized materials.The main approach to achieve this goal is to find a correlation between the assessment of amore » human sensory panel and the complex sensor response patterns of an E-Nose system to appraise the smell of sweat in shoes and socks. Therefore a range of test persons wear shoes and socks under defined ambient conditions in a controlled test environment as well as during everyday use. Afterwards the smell of the shoes and socks is both measured with the E-Nose system and assessed by a human sensory panel. We report here the results of the first larger test series and the identified correlation between the E-Nose system and the human assessment of the smell of sweat.« less

Smell and Taste Dysfunction Is Associated with Higher Serum Total Cholesterol Concentrations in Chinese Adults.

PubMed

Huang, Zhe; Huang, Shue; Cong, Hongliang; Li, Zheng; Li, Junjuan; Keller, Kathleen L; Shearer, Gregory C; Kris-Etherton, Penny M; Wu, Shouling; Gao, Xiang

2017-08-01

Background: Several lipid-related hormones and peptides, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 and leptin, are involved in the regulation of taste and smell function. However, to our knowledge, it remains unknown whether these chemosensory functions are associated with lipid profiles. Objective: We examined the cross-sectional association between taste and smell dysfunction and blood cholesterol concentrations. Methods: With the use of a questionnaire, we assessed chronic smell and taste dysfunction in 12,627 Chinese participants (10,418 men and 2209 women; mean age: 54.4 y) who did not take hypolipidemic agents. Participants were categorized into 3 groups based on the number of smell and taste dysfunctions, ranging from 0 (best) to 2 (worst). A general linear model was used to test differences in serum concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (TGs) across groups with different smell and taste status after adjusting for age, sex, education, occupation, smoking, drinking, obesity, and history of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and head injury. Results: The prevalence of smell and taste dysfunction was 2.4% and 1.2%, respectively. Worse smell and taste dysfunction was associated with higher total cholesterol concentrations ( P -trend = 0.005). No significant differences were observed in LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and TG concentrations across groups with different numbers of chemosensory dysfunctions ( P -trend > 0.1 for all). The associations between chemosensory dysfunction and total cholesterol concentrations were more pronounced in participants aged ≤60 y and in those who were nonsmokers relative to their counterparts ( P -interaction < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: In this large cross-sectional study, chemosensory dysfunction was associated with higher serum total cholesterol concentrations among Chinese adults. Prospective studies are needed to investigate the temporal relation between these chemosensory dysfunctions and hypercholesterolemia. © 2017 American Society for Nutrition.

Findings and Recommendations From the Joint NIST—AGA Workshop on Odor Masking

PubMed Central

Rawson, Nancy; Quraishi, Ali; Bruno, Thomas J.

2011-01-01

Since the days of the alchemist, the observation that some substances have a smell while other substances do not has been a source of fascination. The sense of smell, or olfaction, is our least understood sense, however it is important for many human functions, including digestion, food selection and hazard avoidance. The detailed explanation of why individual chemicals (called odorants) might have a particular smell is still elusive. The situation with mixtures of odorants is even more complex and interesting. A number of distinct odorant mixture phenomena have been documented. Odorant suppression (sometimes called masking), conjugation (as described first by Zwaadermaker) and cross-adaptation are among a collection of such phenomena. They are related to the differential effects that one odorant species will have when mixed with another. Masking is a term that describes situations in which one odorant can overpower the sensation of another. There may be profound technological implications in a number of industrial sectors, most prominently in the fuel gas sector. Here, masking is suspected when the odorant that is added to natural gas can be detected by analytical instrumentation, but cannot be properly detected by an observer with a normal sense of smell. Note that this phenomenon is distinct from odor fade, which more properly describes a decrease in the concentration of an odorant rather than a decrease, disappearance or qualitative change in the perception of the odor in the absence of a change in absolute concentration. Anecdotal descriptions of masking events in the natural gas industry have persisted for over a decade, with the frequency of such events on the rise. Pursuant to the philosophy that the technological problem cannot be addressed until the basic science is understood, NIST, in collaboration with the American Gas Association (AGA), sponsored a workshop that brought together olfactory scientists and natural gas operations personnel in an effort to achieve a common understanding and identify critical research questions. This document is a summary of that workshop, and most importantly, a compendium of the findings and recommendations that resulted from the meeting. PMID:26989604

Findings and Recommendations From the Joint NIST-AGA Workshop on Odor Masking.

PubMed

Rawson, Nancy; Quraishi, Ali; Bruno, Thomas J

2011-01-01

Since the days of the alchemist, the observation that some substances have a smell while other substances do not has been a source of fascination. The sense of smell, or olfaction, is our least understood sense, however it is important for many human functions, including digestion, food selection and hazard avoidance. The detailed explanation of why individual chemicals (called odorants) might have a particular smell is still elusive. The situation with mixtures of odorants is even more complex and interesting. A number of distinct odorant mixture phenomena have been documented. Odorant suppression (sometimes called masking), conjugation (as described first by Zwaadermaker) and cross-adaptation are among a collection of such phenomena. They are related to the differential effects that one odorant species will have when mixed with another. Masking is a term that describes situations in which one odorant can overpower the sensation of another. There may be profound technological implications in a number of industrial sectors, most prominently in the fuel gas sector. Here, masking is suspected when the odorant that is added to natural gas can be detected by analytical instrumentation, but cannot be properly detected by an observer with a normal sense of smell. Note that this phenomenon is distinct from odor fade, which more properly describes a decrease in the concentration of an odorant rather than a decrease, disappearance or qualitative change in the perception of the odor in the absence of a change in absolute concentration. Anecdotal descriptions of masking events in the natural gas industry have persisted for over a decade, with the frequency of such events on the rise. Pursuant to the philosophy that the technological problem cannot be addressed until the basic science is understood, NIST, in collaboration with the American Gas Association (AGA), sponsored a workshop that brought together olfactory scientists and natural gas operations personnel in an effort to achieve a common understanding and identify critical research questions. This document is a summary of that workshop, and most importantly, a compendium of the findings and recommendations that resulted from the meeting.

Bioelectronic nose and its application to smell visualization.

PubMed

Ko, Hwi Jin; Park, Tai Hyun

2016-01-01

There have been many trials to visualize smell using various techniques in order to objectively express the smell because information obtained from the sense of smell in human is very subjective. So far, well-trained experts such as a perfumer, complex and large-scale equipment such as GC-MS, and an electronic nose have played major roles in objectively detecting and recognizing odors. Recently, an optoelectronic nose was developed to achieve this purpose, but some limitations regarding the sensitivity and the number of smells that can be visualized still persist. Since the elucidation of the olfactory mechanism, numerous researches have been accomplished for the development of a sensing device by mimicking human olfactory system. Engineered olfactory cells were constructed to mimic the human olfactory system, and the use of engineered olfactory cells for smell visualization has been attempted with the use of various methods such as calcium imaging, CRE reporter assay, BRET, and membrane potential assay; however, it is not easy to consistently control the condition of cells and it is impossible to detect low odorant concentration. Recently, the bioelectronic nose was developed, and much improved along with the improvement of nano-biotechnology. The bioelectronic nose consists of the following two parts: primary transducer and secondary transducer. Biological materials as a primary transducer improved the selectivity of the sensor, and nanomaterials as a secondary transducer increased the sensitivity. Especially, the bioelectronic noses using various nanomaterials combined with human olfactory receptors or nanovesicles derived from engineered olfactory cells have a potential which can detect almost all of the smells recognized by human because an engineered olfactory cell might be able to express any human olfactory receptor as well as can mimic human olfactory system. Therefore, bioelectronic nose will be a potent tool for smell visualization, but only if two technologies are completed. First, a multi-channel array-sensing system has to be applied for the integration of all of the olfactory receptors into a single chip for mimicking the performance of human nose. Second, the processing technique of the multi-channel system signals should be simultaneously established with the conversion of the signals to visual images. With the use of this latest sensing technology, the realization of a proper smell-visualization technology is expected in the near future.

Changes in taste and smell function, dietary intake, food preference, and body composition in testicular cancer patients treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

PubMed

IJpma, Irene; Renken, Remco J; Gietema, Jourik A; Slart, Riemer H J A; Mensink, Manon G J; Lefrandt, Joop D; Ter Horst, Gert J; Reyners, Anna K L

2017-12-01

Taste and smell changes due to chemotherapy may contribute to the high prevalence of overweight in testicular cancer patients (TCPs). This study investigates the taste and smell function, dietary intake, food preference, and body composition in TCPs before, during, and up to 1 year after cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Twenty-one consecutive TCPs participated. At baseline TCPs were compared to healthy controls (N = 48). Taste strips and 'Sniffin' Sticks' were used to determine psychophysical taste and smell function. Subjective taste, smell, appetite, and hunger were assessed using a questionnaire. Dietary intake was analyzed using a food frequency questionnaire. Food preference was assessed using food pictures varying in taste (sweet/savoury) and fat or protein content. A Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan was performed to measure whole body composition. Compared to controls, TCPs had a lower smell threshold (P = 0.045) and lower preference for high fat sweet foods at baseline (P = 0.024). Over time, intra-individual psychophysical taste and smell function was highly variable. The salty taste threshold increased at completion of chemotherapy compared to baseline (P = 0.006). A transient decrease of subjective taste, appetite, and hunger feelings was observed per chemotherapy cycle. The percentage of fat mass increased during chemotherapy compared to baseline, while the lean mass and bone density decreased (P < 0.05). Coping strategies regarding subjective taste impairment should especially be provided during the first week of each chemotherapy cycle. Since the body composition of TCPs already had changed at completion of chemotherapy, intervention strategies to limit the impact of cardiovascular risk factors should probably start during treatment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

Appetite suppression through smelling of dark chocolate correlates with changes in ghrelin in young women.

PubMed

Massolt, Elske T; van Haard, Paul M; Rehfeld, Jens F; Posthuma, Eduardus F; van der Veer, Eveline; Schweitzer, Dave H

2010-04-09

Cephalic effects on appetite are mediated by vagal tone and altered gastrointestinal hormones. The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between appetite and levels of gastrointestinal hormones after smelling chocolate and after melt-and-swallow 30 g chocolate (1.059 oz, 85% cocoa, 12.5 g of sugar per 100g product). Twelve female residents (BMI between 18 and 25 kg/m(2)) all participated in two 60-minute study sessions. In the first session, all 12 women ate chocolate; for the second session, they were randomized either to smell chocolate (n=6) or to serve as a control (no eating or smelling; n=6). At the start of the sessions, levels of insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and cholecystokinin (CCK), but not glucose, correlated with appetite scored on a visual analogue scale (VAS). In contrast, ghrelin levels correlated inversely with scored appetite. Chocolate eating and smelling both induced a similar appetite suppression with a disappearance of correlations between VAS scores and insulin, GLP-1 and CCK levels. However, while the correlation between VAS score and ghrelin disappeared completely after chocolate eating, it reversed after chocolate smelling, that is, olfactory stimulation with dark chocolate (85%) resulted in a satiation response that correlated inversely with ghrelin levels. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Shape of the human nasal cavity promotes retronasal smell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trastour, Sophie; Melchionna, Simone; Mishra, Shruti; Zwicker, David; Lieberman, Daniel E.; Kaxiras, Efthimios; Brenner, Michael P.

2015-11-01

Humans are exceptionally good at perceiving the flavor of food. Flavor includes sensory input from taste receptors but is dominated by olfactory (smell) receptors. To smell food while eating, odors must be transported to the nasal cavity during exhalation. Olfactory performance of this retronasal route depends, among other factors, on the position of the olfactory receptors and the shape of the nasal cavity. One biological hypothesis is that the derived configuration of the human nasal cavity has resulted in a greater capacity for retronasal smell, hence enhanced flavor perception. We here study the air flow and resulting odor deposition as a function of the nasal geometry and the parameters of exhalation. We perform computational fluid dynamics simulations in realistic geometries obtained from CT scans of humans. Using the resulting flow fields, we then study the deposition of tracer particles in the nasal cavity. Additionally, we derive scaling laws for the odor deposition rate as a function of flow parameters and geometry using boundary layer theory. These results allow us to assess which changes in the evolution of the human nose led to significant improvements of retronasal smell.

JPRS Report, China: Show Your Tongue Coating or Nothingness

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-11-24

thought of the woman. The house was so permeated with the smell of cow dung cakes and smoke that one could hardly breathe. I glanced around it... smells on her rather pleasant. Once I unfastened the strap on her leather jacket, but she did not push me away, and we held each other. She was the...agate necklace, with padouk beads as spacers and a large turquoise as pendant. The turquoise was smooth and shiny and gave out a milky smell much

Sensory-specific appetite is affected by actively smelled food odors and remains stable over time in normal-weight women.

PubMed

Ramaekers, Mariëlle G; Boesveldt, Sanne; Gort, Gerrit; Lakemond, Catriona M M; van Boekel, Martinus A J S; Luning, Pieternel A

2014-08-01

Understanding overconsumption starts with knowledge of how separate factors influence our eating behavior. Food cues such as food odors are known for their effect on general appetite and sensory-specific appetite (SSA). Active sniffing rather than passive exposure may induce satiation over time. The objective of this study was to investigate how actively sniffing banana odors affects general appetite, SSA, and subsequent food intake. In a crossover study, 61 women actively smelled cups containing natural banana, artificial banana odor, or water (no odor) for 10 min. Treatment order was randomly assigned as much as possible. General appetite and SSA were monitored by using 100-mm visual analog scales during the 10 min of active sniffing, followed by ad libitum intake of banana milkshake. Results showed that SSA was consistently high (+12 mm) during actively sniffing natural or artificial banana odors, with no decrease in SSA over time. Sniffing both banana odors increased the appetite for banana (+11 mm) and other sweet products (+4 mm), whereas the appetite for savory products decreased by 7 mm (all P < 0.01) compared with no odor. Actively sniffing banana odor did not significantly influence food intake (P = 0.68) or general appetite scores (P = 0.06). In conclusion, SSA scores during active sniffing were identical to the SSA found in a similar study that used passive smelling, suggesting that SSA is independent of the manner of sniffing and exposure time. Moreover, sweet/savory categorization may suggest that food odors communicate information about the nutrient composition of their associated foods. These data clearly show the appetizing effects of food odors. © 2014 American Society for Nutrition.

Smelling is Telling: Human Olfactory Cues Influence Social Judgments in Semi-Realistic Interactions.

PubMed

Gaby, Jessica M; Zayas, Vivian

2017-06-01

How does a person's smell affect others' impressions of them? Most body odor research asks perceivers to make social judgments based on armpit sweat without perfume or deodorant, presented on t-shirts. Yet, in real life, perceivers encounter fragranced body odor, on whole bodies. Our "raters" wore blindfolds and earplugs and repeatedly smelled same-sex "donors" in live interactions. In one condition, donors wore their normal deodorant and perfume ("diplomatic" odor) while in the other condition, donors were asked to avoid all outside fragrance influences ("natural" odor). We assessed the reliability of social judgments based on such live interactions, and the relationships between live judgments and traditional t-shirt based judgments, and between natural- and diplomatic odor-based judgments. Raters' repeated live social judgments (e.g., friendliness, likeability) were highly consistent for both diplomatic and natural odor, and converged with judgments based on t-shirts. However, social judgments based on natural odor did not consistently predict social judgments based on diplomatic odor, suggesting that natural and diplomatic body odor may convey different types of social information. Our results provide evidence that individuals can perceive reliable, meaningful social olfactory signals from whole bodies, at social distances, regardless of the presence or absence of perfume. Importantly, however, the social value of these signals is modified by the addition of exogenous fragrances. Further, our focus on judgments in same-sex dyads suggests that these olfactory cues hold social value in non-mating contexts. We suggest that future research employ more ecologically relevant methods. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

7 CFR 58.133 - Methods for quality and wholesomeness determination.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... and Grading Service 1 Quality Specifications for Raw Milk § 58.133 Methods for quality and wholesomeness determination. (a) Appearance and odor. The appearance of acceptable raw milk shall be normal and...

7 CFR 58.133 - Methods for quality and wholesomeness determination.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... and Grading Service 1 Quality Specifications for Raw Milk § 58.133 Methods for quality and wholesomeness determination. (a) Appearance and odor. The appearance of acceptable raw milk shall be normal and...

Smell - impaired

MedlinePlus

... Temporary loss of the sense of smell is common with colds and nasal allergies , such as hay fever ( allergic ... physical exam and ask questions about your medical history and current symptoms. Questions may include: When did ...

Complications of Sinusitis

MedlinePlus

... infection. Nasal corticosteroid sprays may help control underlying chronic inflammation but will not treat the immediate infection. Decreased ... With opening of the sinuses, smell may improve. Chronic inflammation of the olfactory nerve (the nerve of smell) ...

Molecular architecture of smell and taste in Drosophila.

PubMed

Vosshall, Leslie B; Stocker, Reinhard F

2007-01-01

The chemical senses-smell and taste-allow animals to evaluate and distinguish valuable food resources from dangerous substances in the environment. The central mechanisms by which the brain recognizes and discriminates attractive and repulsive odorants and tastants, and makes behavioral decisions accordingly, are not well understood in any organism. Recent molecular and neuroanatomical advances in Drosophila have produced a nearly complete picture of the peripheral neuroanatomy and function of smell and taste in this insect. Neurophysiological experiments have begun to provide insight into the mechanisms by which these animals process chemosensory cues. Given the considerable anatomical and functional homology in smell and taste pathways in all higher animals, experimental approaches in Drosophila will likely provide broad insights into the problem of sensory coding. Here we provide a critical review of the recent literature in this field and comment on likely future directions.

Anti-P ribosomal antibodies induce defect in smell capability in a model of CNS -SLE (depression).

PubMed

Katzav, Aviva; Ben-Ziv, Tal; Chapman, Joab; Blank, Miri; Reichlin, Morris; Shoenfeld, Yehuda

2008-12-01

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease associated with more than 100 different autoantibodies, some of which may be associated with specific neuropsychiatric (NPSLE) manifestations. Injection of anti-P ribosomal antibodies (anti-P) directly to the brain ventricles of mice induces depression manifested by increased immobility time in the forced swim test (FST). Mice were injected intracerebroventricularily (ICV) with affinity-purified human anti-P antibodies or normal commercial IgG as control. Mice were examined for depression by the forced swimming test (FST) and for olfactory function by the smell threshold test. Treatments included the antidepressant drug fluoxetine or aroma therapy by exposure to lemon or cinnamon odor. Mice injected with anti-P developed depression-like behavior, which improved significantly upon treatment with fluoxetine. Depressed mice had a significant deficit in olfactory function which was not reversed by fluoxetine. Exposure of anti-P-injected mice to lemon odor was associated with some improvement of the immobility time, a measure of depression. ICV injection of anti-P induces both depression-like behavior and impaired olfactory function in mice. Fluoxetine and possibly lemon odor exposure improve depressive behavior in these mice.

[Food value of the spiruline algae to man].

PubMed

Sautier, C; Tremolieres, J

1975-01-01

The acceptability of various culinary products based on the algae spirulina was tested by questionaire: formulas rich in proteins, soups, omelets, desserts. Spirulina are little appreciated in France due to offensive color, smell and taste. Tomato and chocolate are the most acceptable flavors. Lyophilisation is preferable to atomisation, and discoloration using alcohol is preferable to the acetone method. The hydrolysate obtained, having neither the smell nor the taste of algae, is excellent. Nitrogen, sodium and potassium balances were recorded in 5 undernourished subjects fed via a gastric tube. The spirulina provided respectively 15 p. 100 (1 subject), 30 p. 100 (2 subjects), and 50 p. 100 (2 subjects) of the protein ration. There were no intestinal problems. The spirulina did not modify the investigated balances. However, faecal nitrogen increased to 2.08 g (compared to control period values, 1.33 g and 1.51 g). The various coefficients: digestibility, nitrogen retention and protein utilization did not vary. In man as in animals, nitrogen retention is satisfactory, but digestibility is diminished. Uric acid did not vary in the urine, but serum values increased slightly. Ingestion of spirulina in small doses even over a long period should be tolerable in the normal subject.

[How we smell and what it means to us: basic principles of the sense of smell].

PubMed

Manzini, I; Frasnelli, J; Croy, I

2014-12-01

The origins of the sense of smell lie in the perception of environmental molecules and go back to unicellular organisms such as bacteria. Odors transmit a multitude of information about the chemical composition of our environment. The sense of smell helps people and animals with orientation in space, warns of potential threats, influences the choice of sexual partners, regulates food intake and influences feelings and social behavior in general. The perception of odors begins in sensory neurons residing in the olfactory epithelium that express G protein-coupled receptors, the so-called olfactory receptors. The binding of odor molecules to olfactory receptors initiates a signal transduction cascade that converts olfactory stimuli into electrical signals. These signals are then transmitted to the olfactory bulb, the first relay center in the olfactory pathway, via the axons of the sensory neurons. The olfactory information is processed in the bulb and then transferred to higher olfactory centers via axons of mitral cells, the bulbar projection neurons. This review describes the mechanisms involved in peripheral detection of odorants, outlines the further processing of olfactory information in higher olfactory centers and finally gives an overview of the overall significance of the ability to smell.

Consequences of olfactory loss and adopted coping strategies.

PubMed

Blomqvist, Ebba Hedén; Brämerson, Annika; Stjärne, Pär; Nordin, Steven

2004-12-01

The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of loss of smell as regards the quality of life and the coping strategies used. Seventy-two patients with anosmia (46%) or hyposmia (54%) filled in the validated Multi-Clinic Smell and Taste Questionnaire, the validated General Well-being Schedule (GWBS), and answered other questions shown to be of good validity. Several kinds of negative effects, risks associated with the loss, interference with daily routines and deteriorations in well-being were common. Physical health, financial security, profession, partnership, friendship, emotional stability and leisure were also deemed to be negatively affected and GWBS scores show compromised psychological well-being. The importance of olfaction seemed to be more noticeable after the loss of smell, and several kinds of problem- and emotion-focused coping strategies were adopted by these patients. We found that the loss of smell had substantial adverse effects on the quality of life and that high priority should be given to its diagnosis and treatment and to further research in this field. Furthermore, a combination of problem- and emotion-focused coping strategies may be suggested to patients who have recently lost the sense of smell.

Medical Mystery: Losing the sense of smell

MedlinePlus

... They have also discovered how the odor receptors communicate with the brain to alert us to the presence of odors. NIDCD is supporting research aimed at better understanding how the senses of smell and taste ...

Disorders of Smell and Taste

MedlinePlus

... the spray followed by loss of smell. The specific brand of Zicam nasal spray has since been removed ... 02/17/2015 ©American Rhinologic Society Terms of Use | Site Map © 2011 American Rhinologic Society All Rights Reserved

Better Smelling Through Genetics: Mammalian Odor Perception

PubMed Central

Keller, Andreas; Vosshall, Leslie B.

2008-01-01

SUMMARY The increasing availability of genomic and genetic tools to study olfaction—the sense of smell—has brought important new insights into how this chemosensory modality functions in different species. Newly sequenced mammalian genomes—from platypus to dog—have made it possible to infer how smell has evolved to suit the needs of a given species and how variation within a species may affect individual olfactory perception. This review will focus on recent advances in the genetics and genomics of mammalian smell, with a primary focus on rodents and humans. PMID:18938244

Chemosensory interaction: acquired olfactory impairment is associated with decreased taste function.

PubMed

Landis, Basile N; Scheibe, Mandy; Weber, Cornelia; Berger, Robert; Brämerson, Annika; Bende, Mats; Nordin, Steven; Hummel, Thomas

2010-08-01

Olfaction, taste and trigeminal function are three distinct modalities. However, in daily life they are often activated concomitantly. In health and disease, it has been shown that in two of these senses, the trigeminal and olfactory senses, modification of one sense leads to changes in the other sense and vice versa. The objective of the study was to investigate whether and (if so) how, the third modality, taste, is influenced by olfactory impairment. We tested 210 subjects with normal (n = 107) or impaired (n = 103) olfactory function for their taste identification capacities. Validated tests were used for olfactory and gustatory testing (Sniffin' Sticks, Taste Strips). In an additional experiment, healthy volunteers underwent reversible olfactory cleft obstruction to investigate short-time changes of gustatory function after olfactory alteration. Mean gustatory identification (taste strip score) for the subjects with impaired olfaction was 19.4 +/- 0.6 points and 22.9 +/- 0.5 points for those with normal olfactory function (t = 4.6, p < 0.001). The frequencies of both, smell and taste impairments interacted significantly (Chi(2), F = 16.4, p < 0.001), and olfactory and gustatory function correlated (r (210) = 0.30, p < 0.001). Neither age nor olfactory impairment cause effects interfered with this olfactory-gustatory interaction. In contrast, after short-lasting induced olfactory decrease, gustatory function remained unchanged. The present study suggests that longstanding impaired olfactory function is associated with decreased gustatory function. These findings seem to extend previously described mutual chemosensory interactions also to smell and taste. It further raises the question whether chemical senses in general decrease mutually after acquired damage.

100 Day Kit for Newly Diagnosed Families of School Age Children

MedlinePlus

... sense of smell may be highly sensitive. The fish at the meat counter isn’t quite fresh, ... action or condition, internal (e.g., heart rate, temperature) or external (e.g., sights, sounds, tastes, smells, ...

Smelling and Tasting Underwater.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atema, Jelle

1980-01-01

Discusses differences between smell and taste, comparing these senses in organisms in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Describes the chemical environment underwater and in air, differences in chemoreceptors to receive stimuli, and the organs, brain, and behavior involved in chemoreception. (CS)

Controversy over Hygrophorus cossus settled using ITS sequence data from 200 year-old type material.

PubMed

Larsson, Ellen; Jacobsson, Stig

2004-07-01

Sowerby described Agaricus cossus in 1799. The fungus possessed a smell, resembling that of a wounded larva of Cossus cossus (Lepidoptera). The species belongs in Hygrophorus, and since more than one white Hygrophorus species has this distinctive smell the epithet cossus has been variously interpreted. The complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the original type collection made in 1794, preserved in the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew herbarium, was successfully sequenced. Comparison with the ITS sequences from four other white aromatic-acidulous smelling Hygrophorus species, including the type specimen of H. quercetorum, showed that H. cossus is a species associated with Quercus and an older name for H. quercetorum. The differences in basidiome colouration developing with age and host-tree association appear to be the most useful characters to discriminate between the four species with a Cossus cossus smell. A table of morphological and ecological characters is provided.

Changes in smell acuity induced by radiation exposure of the olfactory mucosa

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ophir, D.; Guterman, A.; Gross-Isseroff, R.

1988-08-01

The effects of ionizing radiation on smell acuity were assessed in 12 patients in whom the olfactory mucosa was exposed to radiation in the course of treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma or pituitary adenoma. Olfactory detection thresholds for two odorants (amyl acetate and eugenol) were determined before the start of radiation therapy, within a week of termination of therapy, and 1, 3, and 6 months later. The results show clearly that smell acuity is profoundly affected by therapeutic irradiation. Thresholds had increased in all 12 patients by the end of treatment and were still high one month later. Varying degrees ofmore » recovery were noted in most patients three to six months after cessation of treatment. The fate of the sense of smell deserves more attention when considering the disability caused by irradiation to certain head and neck tumors.« less

Using open source accelerometer analysis to assess physical activity and sedentary behaviour in overweight and obese adults.

PubMed

Innerd, Paul; Harrison, Rory; Coulson, Morc

2018-04-23

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour are difficult to assess in overweight and obese adults. However, the use of open-source, raw accelerometer data analysis could overcome this. This study compared raw accelerometer and questionnaire-assessed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), walking and sedentary behaviour in normal, overweight and obese adults, and determined the effect of using different methods to categorise overweight and obesity, namely body mass index (BMI), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). One hundred twenty adults, aged 24-60 years, wore a raw, tri-axial accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+), for 3 days and completed a physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ-S). We used open-source accelerometer analyses to estimate MVPA, walking and sedentary behaviour from a single raw accelerometer signal. Accelerometer and questionnaire-assessed measures were compared in normal, overweight and obese adults categorised using BMI, BIA and WHR. Relationships between accelerometer and questionnaire-assessed MVPA (Rs = 0.30 to 0.48) and walking (Rs = 0.43 to 0.58) were stronger in normal and overweight groups whilst sedentary behaviour were modest (Rs = 0.22 to 0.38) in normal, overweight and obese groups. The use of WHR resulted in stronger agreement between the questionnaire and accelerometer than BMI and BIA. Finally, accelerometer data showed stronger associations with BMI, BIA and WHR (Rs = 0.40 to 0.77) than questionnaire data (Rs = 0.24 to 0.37). Open-source, raw accelerometer data analysis can be used to estimate MVPA, walking and sedentary behaviour from a single acceleration signal in normal, overweight and obese adults. Our data supports the use of WHR to categorise overweight and obese adults. This evidence helps researchers obtain more accurate measures of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in overweight and obese populations.

Spinal cord normalization in multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Oh, Jiwon; Seigo, Michaela; Saidha, Shiv; Sotirchos, Elias; Zackowski, Kathy; Chen, Min; Prince, Jerry; Diener-West, Marie; Calabresi, Peter A; Reich, Daniel S

2014-01-01

Spinal cord (SC) pathology is common in multiple sclerosis (MS), and measures of SC-atrophy are increasingly utilized. Normalization reduces biological variation of structural measurements unrelated to disease, but optimal parameters for SC volume (SCV)-normalization remain unclear. Using a variety of normalization factors and clinical measures, we assessed the effect of SCV normalization on detecting group differences and clarifying clinical-radiological correlations in MS. 3T cervical SC-MRI was performed in 133 MS cases and 11 healthy controls (HC). Clinical assessment included expanded disability status scale (EDSS), MS functional composite (MSFC), quantitative hip-flexion strength ("strength"), and vibration sensation threshold ("vibration"). SCV between C3 and C4 was measured and normalized individually by subject height, SC-length, and intracranial volume (ICV). There were group differences in raw-SCV and after normalization by height and length (MS vs. HC; progressive vs. relapsing MS-subtypes, P < .05). There were correlations between clinical measures and raw-SCV (EDSS:r = -.20; MSFC:r = .16; strength:r = .35; vibration:r = -.19). Correlations consistently strengthened with normalization by length (EDSS:r = -.43; MSFC:r = .33; strength:r = .38; vibration:r = -.40), and height (EDSS:r = -.26; MSFC:r = .28; strength:r = .22; vibration:r = -.29), but diminished with normalization by ICV (EDSS:r = -.23; MSFC:r = -.10; strength:r = .23; vibration:r = -.35). In relapsing MS, normalization by length allowed statistical detection of correlations that were not apparent with raw-SCV. SCV-normalization by length improves the ability to detect group differences, strengthens clinical-radiological correlations, and is particularly relevant in settings of subtle disease-related SC-atrophy in MS. SCV-normalization by length may enhance the clinical utility of measures of SC-atrophy. Copyright © 2014 by the American Society of Neuroimaging.

Assessment of a novel multi-array normalization method based on spike-in control probes suitable for microRNA datasets with global decreases in expression.

PubMed

Sewer, Alain; Gubian, Sylvain; Kogel, Ulrike; Veljkovic, Emilija; Han, Wanjiang; Hengstermann, Arnd; Peitsch, Manuel C; Hoeng, Julia

2014-05-17

High-quality expression data are required to investigate the biological effects of microRNAs (miRNAs). The goal of this study was, first, to assess the quality of miRNA expression data based on microarray technologies and, second, to consolidate it by applying a novel normalization method. Indeed, because of significant differences in platform designs, miRNA raw data cannot be normalized blindly with standard methods developed for gene expression. This fundamental observation motivated the development of a novel multi-array normalization method based on controllable assumptions, which uses the spike-in control probes to adjust the measured intensities across arrays. Raw expression data were obtained with the Exiqon dual-channel miRCURY LNA™ platform in the "common reference design" and processed as "pseudo-single-channel". They were used to apply several quality metrics based on the coefficient of variation and to test the novel spike-in controls based normalization method. Most of the considerations presented here could be applied to raw data obtained with other platforms. To assess the normalization method, it was compared with 13 other available approaches from both data quality and biological outcome perspectives. The results showed that the novel multi-array normalization method reduced the data variability in the most consistent way. Further, the reliability of the obtained differential expression values was confirmed based on a quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction experiment performed for a subset of miRNAs. The results reported here support the applicability of the novel normalization method, in particular to datasets that display global decreases in miRNA expression similarly to the cigarette smoke-exposed mouse lung dataset considered in this study. Quality metrics to assess between-array variability were used to confirm that the novel spike-in controls based normalization method provided high-quality miRNA expression data suitable for reliable downstream analysis. The multi-array miRNA raw data normalization method was implemented in an R software package called ExiMiR and deposited in the Bioconductor repository.

Assessment of a novel multi-array normalization method based on spike-in control probes suitable for microRNA datasets with global decreases in expression

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background High-quality expression data are required to investigate the biological effects of microRNAs (miRNAs). The goal of this study was, first, to assess the quality of miRNA expression data based on microarray technologies and, second, to consolidate it by applying a novel normalization method. Indeed, because of significant differences in platform designs, miRNA raw data cannot be normalized blindly with standard methods developed for gene expression. This fundamental observation motivated the development of a novel multi-array normalization method based on controllable assumptions, which uses the spike-in control probes to adjust the measured intensities across arrays. Results Raw expression data were obtained with the Exiqon dual-channel miRCURY LNA™ platform in the “common reference design” and processed as “pseudo-single-channel”. They were used to apply several quality metrics based on the coefficient of variation and to test the novel spike-in controls based normalization method. Most of the considerations presented here could be applied to raw data obtained with other platforms. To assess the normalization method, it was compared with 13 other available approaches from both data quality and biological outcome perspectives. The results showed that the novel multi-array normalization method reduced the data variability in the most consistent way. Further, the reliability of the obtained differential expression values was confirmed based on a quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction experiment performed for a subset of miRNAs. The results reported here support the applicability of the novel normalization method, in particular to datasets that display global decreases in miRNA expression similarly to the cigarette smoke-exposed mouse lung dataset considered in this study. Conclusions Quality metrics to assess between-array variability were used to confirm that the novel spike-in controls based normalization method provided high-quality miRNA expression data suitable for reliable downstream analysis. The multi-array miRNA raw data normalization method was implemented in an R software package called ExiMiR and deposited in the Bioconductor repository. PMID:24886675

[The sense of smell in daily life].

PubMed

Steinbach, S; Hundt, W; Zahnert, T

2008-09-01

An intact olfactory system affects all areas of life including the creation of new life, partner selection, daily hygiene, food intake, and the perception of danger from gas and smoke. The olfactory system is most effective from adolescence to middle age. With advancing age the regeneration of olfactory receptor cells decreases, often resulting in an increasing loss of smell. Functional anosmia affects 5% of the general population and 10% of those over 65. Therefore, olfactory dysfunctions are not uncommon. The following provides an overview of the physiology of smell, olfactory testing, special olfactory dysfunctions as well as treatment and general recommendations.

Anosmia predicts hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in CHARGE syndrome.

PubMed

Bergman, Jorieke E H; Bocca, Gianni; Hoefsloot, Lies H; Meiners, Linda C; van Ravenswaaij-Arts, Conny M A

2011-03-01

To test the hypothesis that a smell test could predict the occurrence of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) in patients with CHARGE syndrome, which is a variable combination of ocular coloboma, heart defects, choanal atresia, retardation of growth/development, genital hypoplasia, and ear anomalies or hearing loss caused by mutations in the CHD7 (chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7) gene. We performed endocrine studies and smell testing (University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test) in 35 adolescent patients with molecularly confirmed CHARGE syndrome. Complete data on smell and puberty were available for 15 patients; 11 patients had both anosmia and HH, whereas 4 patients had normosmia/hyposmia and spontaneous puberty. In addition, 7 boys were highly suspected of having HH (they were too young for definite HH diagnosis, but all had cryptorchidism, micropenis, or both) and had anosmia. The type of CHD7 mutation could not predict HH because a father and daughter with the same CHD7 mutation were discordant for HH and anosmia. Anosmia and HH were highly correlated in our cohort, and therefore smell testing seems to be an attractive method for predicting the occurrence of HH in patients with CHARGE syndrome. The use of this test could prevent delay of hormonal pubertal induction, resulting in an age-appropriate puberty. Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

[Clinical assessment of olfactory performance - why patient interviews are not enough : A report on lessons learned in planning studies with anosmic patients].

PubMed

Schöpf, V; Kollndorfer, K

2015-07-01

Olfactory dysfunction and loss of smell are mostly associated with an immense decrease in the quality of life. The aim of the presented study was to report on particularities in the acquisition of patients with olfactory dysfunction. During July 2011 and May 2014 we were contacted by 300 potential patients with self-reported loss of smell, 95 (54 female, 41 male, mean age 53) of which were invited for clinical testing after phone interviews. Clinical smell testing revealed 46 patients with anosmia, 38 with hyposmia, and 11 with normosmia. Self-assessment of olfactory function only correlated with clinical scores if patients had nearly no olfactory function left. The ability of self-assessment of olfactory function was independent of age or sex. Further, most patients were not able to report on the reason for or the duration of their olfactory dysfunction. Our report shows that patients with olfactory dysfunction are hardly ever ably to assess their grade of performance reduction. Awareness among patients with a reduced sense of smell is of great general importance, since it can be an indicator of neurodegenerative diseases. This should especially be noted for patients older than 50 who are not able to indicate a reason for their loss of smell.

Risk Factors for Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia and Mortality: The Sydney Memory and Ageing Study.

PubMed

Lipnicki, Darren M; Crawford, John; Kochan, Nicole A; Trollor, Julian N; Draper, Brian; Reppermund, Simone; Maston, Kate; Mather, Karen A; Brodaty, Henry; Sachdev, Perminder S

2017-05-01

The nature and commonality of late-life risk factors for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia, and mortality remain unclear. Our aim was to investigate potential risk factors, simultaneously in a single cohort including many individuals initially with normal cognition and followed for 6 years. We classified 873 community-dwelling individuals (70-90 years old and without dementia at baseline) from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study as cognitively normal (CN), having MCI or dementia, or deceased 6 years after baseline. Associations with baseline demographic, lifestyle, health, and medical factors were investigated, including apolipoprotein (APOE) genotype, MCI at baseline, and reversion from MCI to CN within 2 years of baseline. Eighty-three (9.5%) participants developed dementia and 114 (13%) died within 6 years; nearly 33% had MCI at baseline, of whom 28% reverted to CN within 2 years. A core set of baseline factors was associated with MCI and dementia at 6 years, including older age (per year: odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals = 1.08, 1.01-1.14 for MCI; 1.19, 1.09-1.31 for dementia), MCI at baseline (5.75, 3.49-9.49; 8.23, 3.93-17.22), poorer smelling ability (per extra test point: 0.89, 0.79-1.02; 0.80, 0.68-0.94), slower walking speed (per second: 1.12, 1.00-1.25; 1.21, 1.05-1.39), and being an APOE ε4 carrier (1.84, 1.07-3.14; 3.63, 1.68-7.82). All except APOE genotype were also associated with mortality (age: 1.11, 1.03-1.20; MCI: 3.87, 1.97-7.59; smelling ability: 0.83, 0.70-0.97; walking speed: 1.18, 1.03-1.34). Compared with stable CN participants, individuals reverting from MCI to CN after 2 years were at greater risk of future MCI (3.06, 1.63-5.72). Those who reverted exhibited some different associations between baseline risk factors and 6-year outcomes than individuals with stable MCI. A core group of late-life risk factors indicative of physical and mental frailty are associated with each of dementia, MCI, and mortality after 6 years. Tests for slower walking speed and poorer smelling ability may help screen for cognitive decline. Individuals with normal cognition are at greater risk of future cognitive impairment if they have a history of MCI. Copyright © 2016 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Indoor mildew odour in old housing was associated with adult allergic symptoms, asthma, chronic bronchitis, vision, sleep and self-rated health: USA NHANES, 2005-2006.

PubMed

Shiue, Ivy

2015-09-01

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis has shown the effect of indoor mildew odour on allergic rhinitis risk, but its relation to other common chronic health outcomes in adults has not been investigated. Therefore, it was aimed to examine the relationship of indoor mildew odour and common health outcomes in adults in a national and population-based setting. Data was retrieved from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2005-2006, including the available information on demographics, housing characteristics, self-reported health conditions and urinary concentrations of environmental chemicals. T test, chi-squared test and survey-weighted logistic regression modelling were performed. Of all American adults (n = 4979), 744 (15.1%) reported indoor mildew odour or musty smell in their households. People who reported indoor mildew odour or musty smell also reported poorer self-rated health, sleep complaints, chronic bronchitis, asthma attack, itchy rash, sneezing and poor vision. In addition, people who reported indoor mildew odour or musty smell also tended to reside in older housing that were built 20 years earlier. However, there were no significant statistical associations found between indoor mildew odour or musty smell and urinary concentrations of environmental chemicals, which was also found to be associated with old housing. People who lived in older housing with indoor mildew odour or musty smell tended to have chronic health problems. To protect occupants in old housing from chronic illnesses associated with indoor mildew odour, elimination of the odour sources should be explored in future research and therefore public health and housing programs. Graphical abstract Pathway from old housing to musty smell, environmental chemicals and then health outcomes.

Normality of raw data in general linear models: The most widespread myth in statistics

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kery, Marc; Hatfield, Jeff S.

2003-01-01

In years of statistical consulting for ecologists and wildlife biologists, by far the most common misconception we have come across has been the one about normality in general linear models. These comprise a very large part of the statistical models used in ecology and include t tests, simple and multiple linear regression, polynomial regression, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA). There is a widely held belief that the normality assumption pertains to the raw data rather than to the model residuals. We suspect that this error may also occur in countless published studies, whenever the normality assumption is tested prior to analysis. This may lead to the use of nonparametric alternatives (if there are any), when parametric tests would indeed be appropriate, or to use of transformations of raw data, which may introduce hidden assumptions such as multiplicative effects on the natural scale in the case of log-transformed data. Our aim here is to dispel this myth. We very briefly describe relevant theory for two cases of general linear models to show that the residuals need to be normally distributed if tests requiring normality are to be used, such as t and F tests. We then give two examples demonstrating that the distribution of the response variable may be nonnormal, and yet the residuals are well behaved. We do not go into the issue of how to test normality; instead we display the distributions of response variables and residuals graphically.

The impact of obesity on specific airway resistance and conductance among schoolchildren.

PubMed

Parraguez Arévalo, Andrea; Rojas Navarro, Francisco; Ruz Céspedes, Macarena; Medina González, Paul; Escobar Cabello, Máximo; Muñoz Cofré, Rodrigo

2018-04-01

Child and adolescent obesity is an epidemiological problem in developing countries. Its prevalence among preschoolers and schoolchildren is over 30%. It has been associated with a wide range of health complications, including rapid loss of lung function leading to changes in physiology and ventilatory mechanics. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between obesity and the increase in specific airway resistance (sRaw) in a sample of obese children and adolescents from the district of Talca. In a sample of 36 subjects with an average age of 9.38 ± 1.99 years, divided into 2 groups (normal weight and obese), the tricipital, subscapular, and abdominal skinfolds and lung volumes were measured. For the statistical analysis, data normality was determined and then the Student's t test or the Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson's or Spearman's correlations were used, as applicable. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. When comparing normal weight and obese subjects, a significant increase in sRaw and a significant reduction in specific airway conductance (sGaw) were observed in obese subjects. In addition, an adequate and significant correlation was observed between sRaw and fat percentage. Obese subjects showed an increased sRaw and a reduced sGaw. Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría.

Learning about the Functions of the Olfactory System from People without a Sense of Smell

PubMed Central

Croy, Ilona; Negoias, Simona; Novakova, Lenka; Landis, Basile N.; Hummel, Thomas

2012-01-01

The olfactory system provides numerous functions to humans, influencing ingestive behavior, awareness of environmental hazards and social communication. Approximately ⅕ of the general population exhibit an impaired sense of smell. However, in contrast to the many affected, only few patients complain of their impairment. So how important is it for humans to have an intact sense of smell? Or is it even dispensable, at least in the Western world? To investigate this, we compared 32 patients, who were born without a sense of smell (isolated congenital anosmia - ICA) with 36 age-matched controls. A broad questionnaire was used, containing domains relevant to olfaction in daily life, along with a questionnaire about social relationships and the BDI-questionnaire. ICA-patients differed only slightly from controls in functions of daily life related to olfaction. These differences included enhanced social insecurity, increased risk for depressive symptoms and increased risk for household accidents. In these domains the sense of olfaction seems to play a key role. PMID:22457756

ARMA-Based SEM When the Number of Time Points T Exceeds the Number of Cases N: Raw Data Maximum Likelihood.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamaker, Ellen L.; Dolan, Conor V.; Molenaar, Peter C. M.

2003-01-01

Demonstrated, through simulation, that stationary autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models may be fitted readily when T>N, using normal theory raw maximum likelihood structural equation modeling. Also provides some illustrations based on real data. (SLD)

Olfaction in Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery.

PubMed

Thompson, Christopher F; Kern, Robert C; Conley, David B

2015-10-01

Olfactory dysfunction is a common complaint for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, because smell loss decreases a patient's quality of life. Smell loss is caused by obstruction from polyps, nasal discharge, and mucosal edema, as well as inflammatory changes within the olfactory epithelium. Addressing olfaction before endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery is important in order to set postoperative expectations, because an improvement in smell is difficult to predict. Several commercially available olfactory testing measures are available and can easily be administered in clinic. During surgery, careful dissection within the olfactory cleft is recommended in order to optimize postoperative olfactory function. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Odour identification test and its relation to cardiac 123I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine in patients with drug induced parkinsonism

PubMed Central

Lee, Phil Hyu; Yeo, Seung Hyeon; Yong, Seok Woo; Kim, Yun Joong

2007-01-01

We investigated olfactory function and its relation to cardiac 123I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) uptake in 15 patients with drug induced parkinsonism (DIP). The mean Cross Cultural Smell Identification (CCSI) score was significantly greater in patients with DIP than in those with Parkinson's disease (PD: 6.9 (1.6) vs 4.4 (2.2); p<0.001); however, the mean CCSI score in patients with DIP was not significantly different from controls. One patient with DIP, whose CCSI score was significantly reduced, also exhibited decreased cardiac MIBG uptake. DIP patients with CCSI scores within the normal range had normal cardiac MIBG uptake. Our study suggests that an olfactory function test may be a useful tool for detecting DIP unrelated to PD and for identifying patients with DIP who have subclinical PD. PMID:17557797

Taste and smell function in testicular cancer survivors treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy in relation to dietary intake, food preference, and body composition.

PubMed

IJpma, Irene; Renken, Remco J; Gietema, Jourik A; Slart, Riemer H J A; Mensink, Manon G J; Lefrandt, Joop D; Ter Horst, Gert J; Reyners, Anna K L

2016-10-01

Chemotherapy can affect taste and smell function. This may contribute to the high prevalence of overweight and metabolic syndrome in testicular cancer survivors (TCS). Aims of the study were to evaluate taste and smell function and possible consequences for dietary intake, food preference, and body composition in TCS treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Fifty TCS, 1-7 years post-chemotherapy, and 50 age-matched healthy men participated. Taste and smell function were measured using taste strips and 'Sniffin' Sticks', respectively. Dietary intake was investigated using a food frequency questionnaire. Food preference was assessed using food pictures varying in taste (sweet/savoury) and fat or protein content. Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry was performed to measure body composition. Presence of metabolic syndrome and hypogonadism were assessed. TCS had a lower total taste function, a higher bitter taste threshold, higher Body Mass Index (BMI), and more (abdominal) fat than controls (p < 0.05). No differences in smell function and dietary intake were found. Testosterone level was an important determinant of body composition in TCS (p = 0.016). Although taste function was impaired in TCS, this was not related to a different dietary intake compared to controls. Lower testosterone levels were associated with a higher BMI, fat mass, and abdominal fat distribution in TCS. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Virtual vision system with actual flavor by olfactory display

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakamoto, Kunio; Kanazawa, Fumihiro

2010-11-01

The authors have researched multimedia system and support system for nursing studies on and practices of reminiscence therapy and life review therapy. The concept of the life review is presented by Butler in 1963. The process of thinking back on one's life and communicating about one's life to another person is called life review. There is a famous episode concerning the memory. It is called as Proustian effects. This effect is mentioned on the Proust's novel as an episode that a story teller reminds his old memory when he dipped a madeleine in tea. So many scientists research why smells trigger the memory. The authors pay attention to the relation between smells and memory although the reason is not evident yet. Then we have tried to add an olfactory display to the multimedia system so that the smells become a trigger of reminding buried memories. An olfactory display is a device that delivers smells to the nose. It provides us with special effects, for example to emit smell as if you were there or to give a trigger for reminding us of memories. The authors have developed a tabletop display system connected with the olfactory display. For delivering a flavor to user's nose, the system needs to recognition and measure positions of user's face and nose. In this paper, the authors describe an olfactory display which enables to detect the nose position for an effective delivery.

75 FR 67985 - Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-04

... spectrum data, recalibrates and scales the normalized MRS spectrum data, and then renormalizes the scaled MRS spectrum data. The resulting preprocessed MRS data is used to assist in identifying abnormalities in tissues shown in MRS scans. Raw MRS spectrum data and scaling the raw MRS spectrum data is...

Enhanced Chemosensory Detection of Negative Emotions in Congenital Blindness

PubMed Central

Iversen, Katrine D.; Ptito, Maurice; Møller, Per; Kupers, Ron

2015-01-01

It is generally acknowledged that congenitally blind individuals develop superior sensory abilities in order to compensate for their lack of vision. Substantial research has been done on somatosensory and auditory sensory information processing of the blind. However, relatively little information is available about compensatory plasticity in the olfactory domain. Although previous studies indicate that blind individuals have superior olfactory abilities, no studies so far have investigated their sense of smell in relation to social and affective communication. The current study compares congenitally blind and normal sighted individuals in their ability to discriminate and identify emotions from body odours. A group of 14 congenitally blind and 14 age- and sex-matched sighted control subjects participated in the study. We compared participants' abilities to detect and identify by smelling sweat from donors who had been watching excerpts from emotional movies showing amusement, fear, disgust, or sexual arousal. Our results show that congenitally blind subjects outperformed sighted controls in identifying fear from male donors. In addition, there was a strong tendency that blind individuals were also better in detecting disgust. Our findings reveal that congenitally blind individuals are better at identifying ecologically important emotions and provide new insights into the mechanisms of social and affective communication in blindness. PMID:25878902

Effects of Technology on Experienced Job Characteristics and Job Satisfaction.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-07-01

Ability to discriminate between odors (sense of smell) 23. Ability to discriminate between salty , sour, sweet (sense of taste ) 24. Ability to remember...Ability to estimate speed Ability to estimate quality Sense of touch Sense of smell Sense of taste Cognitive .833 Ability to remember names Ability to

Chemistry for Kids: Pop-and-Sniff Experimentation. A High-Sensory-Impact Teaching Device.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schultz, Emeric

1987-01-01

Describes the use of bubble-type plastic packing material to make "pop-and-sniff" materials that contain common smells from chemicals such as amyl acetate (banana smell). Discusses how these materials can be used by elementary school teachers to enhance thinking skills. (TW)

RAWS II: A MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS PROGRAM,

DTIC Science & Technology

This memorandum gives instructions for the use and operation of a revised version of RAWS, a multiple regression analysis program. The program...of preprocessed data, the directed retention of variable, listing of the matrix of the normal equations and its inverse, and the bypassing of the regression analysis to provide the input variable statistics only. (Author)

[Hygiene and body odors across time].

PubMed

Daich, D C

1998-06-01

Since Ancient Times, the Middle Ages and Modern times, there have been references to hygiene and body smells as well. According to each time there is a change in hygienic criteria and methods to avoid or diminish these annoying smells. Several beliefs and also science give their explanation to the different evolutionary stages of this process.

Sumik Naivich? (What Can You Smell?).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pope, Mary L.; And Others

This elementary language text is designed for children in bilingual Inupiat-English programs in the Alaskan villages of Ambler, Kobuk, Kiana, Noorvik, and Shungnak. It contains a story about two sisters who enjoy identifying smells such as flowers, smoke, coffee, meat, fur, cake, gasoline, and spring. Each page of text is illustrated with a…

An Esterification Kinetics Experiment that Relies on the Sense of Smell

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bromfield-Lee, Deborah C.; Oliver-Hoyo, Maria T.

2009-01-01

This experiment involves an esterification synthesis to study reaction kinetics where students explore these topics utilizing the sense of smell rather than the traditional approach of using spectroscopic methods. Students study the effects of various factors including the concentration of the carboxylic acid and the amounts of the catalyst or…

A Qualitative Organic Analysis that Exploits the Senses of Smell, Touch, and Sound

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bromfield-Lee, Deborah C.; Oliver-Hoyo, Maria T.

2007-01-01

This laboratory experiment utilizes the characteristic aromas of some functional groups to exploit the sense of smell as a discriminating tool in an organic qualitative analysis scheme. Students differentiate a variety of compounds by their aromas and based on their olfactory classification identify an unknown functional group. Students then…

Olfactory dysfunction and its measurement in the clinic and workplace.

PubMed

Doty, Richard L

2006-04-01

To provide an overview of practical means for quantitatively assessing the sense of smell in both the clinic and workplace. To address basic measurement issues, including those of test sensitivity, specificity, and reliability. To describe and discuss factors that influence olfactory function, including airborne toxins commonly found in industrial settings. Selective review and discussion. A number of well-validated practical threshold and suprathreshold tests are available for assessing smell function. The reliability, sensitivity, and specificity of such techniques vary, being influenced by such factors as test length and type. Numerous subject factors, including age, sex, health, medications, and exposure to environmental toxins, particularly heavy metals, influence the ability to smell. Modern advances in technology, in conjunction with better occupational medicine practices, now make it possible to reliably monitor and limit occupational exposures to hazardous chemicals and their potential adverse influences on the sense of smell. Quantitative olfactory testing is critical to establish the presence or absence of such adverse influences, as well as to (a) detect malingering, (b) establish disability compensation, and (c) monitor function over time.

Liposomal treatment of xerostomia, odor, and taste abnormalities in patients with head and neck cancer.

PubMed

Heiser, Clemens; Hofauer, Benedikt; Scherer, Elias; Schukraft, Johannes; Knopf, Andreas

2016-04-01

Smell and taste disorders, sicca symptoms, can be detected in patients with head and neck cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of local liposomal application in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancers. Ninety-eight patients with head and neck cancer were included in this study. The groups were defined as: group 1 = only surgery; group 2 = surgery + adjuvant radiochemotherapy; and group 3 = primarily radiochemotherapy. All patients had finished cancer treatment and received liposomal sprays for the nose and mouth for 2 months (LipoNasal, LipoSaliva; Optima Pharmaceutical GmbH, Germany) and suffered from taste and smell disorders. We performed tests with "Sniffin' Sticks," "Taste Strips," and a xerostomia questionnaire before and after treatment. After application of liposomes, patients demonstrated a statistically significant increase in smell and taste, and reduced xerostomia. Our results demonstrate that using nonpharmaceutical liposomal sprays improve smell, taste, and symptoms of xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1232-E1237, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Olfaction disorders: retrospective study.

PubMed

Gregorio, Luciano Lobato; Caparroz, Fábio; Nunes, Leonardo Mendes Acatauassú; Neves, Luciano Rodrigues; Macoto, Eduardo Kosugi

2014-01-01

The smell, subjective phenomenon of great importance, is poorly understood and studied in humans. Physicians with more knowledge about smell disorders tend to consider the phenomenon important and to better manage the diagnosis and its treatment. First to describe a sample of patients presenting with main complaint of disturbances of smell. And second, to show our experience on management and treatment of this disease. Retrospective cross-sectional cohort study. Sample description and assessment of treatment response in patients with main complaint of hyposmia or anosmia from January 2005 to October 2011. From 38 patients presented with main complaint of an olfactory disorder, 68.4% of the patients were presented with hyposmia and 31,5% with anosmia, with a mean duration of 30.8 months. The main etiologic diagnoses were idiopathic (31.5%), rhinitis (28.9%) and CRS with polyps (10.5%). Responses to treatment with topical steroids and alpha-lipoic acid were variable, as well as in the literature. Greater importance should be given to disorders of smell in practice of otolaryngologists, since its large differential diagnosis and the fact that could increase morbidity to patients, impacting on their quality of life.

Olfactory-corporeal reflex: description of a new reflex and its role in the erectile process.

PubMed

Shafik, A

1997-01-01

The dog approaches the bitch and smells the vulva. The relationship which seems to exist between a special smell in the bitch and sexual arousal in the male dog was investigated. 12 male dogs and 25 bitches were studied. The bitches were divided into five equal groups, each representing 1 of the 5 phases of the estrous cycle. A vaginal swab that soaked in the bitches' vaginal secretions was divided into two pieces: one was sent for estradiol and progesterone determination, and the other was smelt by the male dog. The responses of the intracorporeal pressure (IP) and the electromyographic activity of the bulbo- and ischiocavernosus (BC, IC) muscles of the male dog to the smelling of bitch's vaginal odor were assessed. The pressure response was also determined 10 min and 1 h after either the nasal mucosa or the corporeal tissue was anesthetized. Elevated IP was recorded in 12 of 12, 10 of 12 and 8 of 12 dogs smelling vaginal swabs of bitches in metestrus (p < 0.001), estrus (p < 0.001), and diestrus (p < 0.01), respectively. No pressure response occurred when the vaginal swab was smelt while the nasal mucosa or the corporeal tissue was anesthetized. The BC and IC muscles exhibited no response to smelling of the vaginal swab of bitches in any phase of the estrous cycle. The results were reproducible. The study showed that the IP increased with smelling of vaginal secretions containing high progesterone levels, whereas estradiol-17 beta did not effect IP elevations. The higher the progesterone level, the greater the IP. The increased IP is not due to BC and IC muscle contraction. It is postulated that a reflex relationship exists between IP elevation and olfactory stimulation. This reflex response was reproducible and was not evoked when the two arms of the reflex were anesthetized. We call this reflex 'olfactory-corporeal reflex'. This reflex seems to prime the male dog for sexual intercourse.

Lancefield grouping and smell of caramel for presumptive identification and assessment of pathogenicity in the Streptococcus milleri group.

PubMed Central

Brogan, O; Malone, J; Fox, C; Whyte, A S

1997-01-01

AIM: To evaluate Lancefield grouping and caramel smell for presumptive identification of the Streptococcus milleri group, and to find whether Lancefield group, species, or protein profile correlated with virulence or infection site. METHODS: Prospective studies were made of 100 consecutive streptococcal isolates in blood cultures or pus from 100 patients in whom the severity of infection was categorised as serious, moderate, or not significant. The usefulness of Lancefield group and the caramel smell for presumptive identification was examined, and the relation of the S milleri species, Lancefield group, and SDS-PAGE protein analysis to severity of infection and infection site was investigated. Lower respiratory tract and genital tract specimens, strict anaerobes, group D streptococci, and strains identified as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, or Streptococcus agalactiae were excluded. RESULTS: Most streptococci occurring in pure or significant growth density were S milleri group (87/100; 87%, 95% confidence interval 0.81-0.93). Of these, 89.7% (78/87; 0.84-0.96) were associated with infection. Lancefield group F antigen predominated (41/87; 47.1%, 0.38-0.56). Lancefield group F alone or accompanied by the caramel smell had a specificity of 100%, but a sensitivity of only 47.3% for group F alone, and 19.5% for group F accompanied by the caramel smell. There was no significant association between species, Lancefield group, and severity of infection, site of infection, or pathogenicity. SDS-PAGE analysis failed to discriminate between strains. CONCLUSIONS: Neither species nor Lancefield antigen was related to the site of infection. The presence of Lancefield group F antigen alone or accompanied by a caramel smell was a useful indicator for the S milleri group when present, but was too insensitive to use as a screening test. Most streptococci occurring in pure culture or in significant growth density were of clinical importance. Such organisms should be identified to species level to detect the S milleri group. PMID:9215152

[Effect of qinghuobaiduyin on the expression of high mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 in macrophage].

PubMed

Li, Ping; Xu, Dan; Luo, Chengqun

2010-07-01

To observe the expression of high mobility group box chromosomal protein 1(HMGB1) in RAW264.7 macrophages after interfering with burning serum and qinghuobaidu-yin (QHBDY), and to find out the endogenous protection mechanism of QHBDY resisting inflammation reaction. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of HMGB1 in RAW264.7 macrophages after interfering RAW264.7 macrophages with normal SD rat serum, burning SD rat serum, and QHBDY feeding SD rat serum. Small quantity of HMGB1 mRNA was expressed in RAW264.7. The expression of HMGB1 mRNA fluctuated around the standard level after interfering with normal serum of SD rats. The expression of HMGB1 mRNA rose at 3 h, and then decreased to the standard level; at 18 h, it rose rapidly; at 36 h, it reached the peak; and at 48 h, it remained at the high level after interfering with burning serum. The expression of HMGB1 mRNA increased at 3 h, and then decreased to the standard level. At 24 h, it started to rise after interfering with herb serum, and was lower than that of; the burning serum group (P<0.05). Burning serum can increase the expression of HMGB1 mRNA in RAW264.7. QHBDY can decrease the high expression of HMGB1 mRNA in RAW264.7 caused by burning serum.

Early detection of probable idiopathic Parkinson's disease: I. development of a diagnostic test battery.

PubMed

Montgomery, Erwin B; Koller, William C; LaMantia, Theodora J K; Newman, Mary C; Swanson-Hyland, Elizabeth; Kaszniak, Alfred W; Lyons, Kelly

2000-05-01

We developed a test battery as an inexpensive and objective aid for the early diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD) and its differential diagnoses. The test battery incorporates tests of motor function, olfaction, and mood. In the motor task, a wrist flexion-and-extension task to different targets, movement velocities were recorded. Olfaction was tested with the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test. Mood was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory. An initial regression model was developed from the results of 19 normal control subjects and 18 patients with early, mild, probable iPD. Prospective application to an independent validation set of 122 normal control subjects and 103 patients resulted in an 88% specificity rate and 69% sensitivity rate, with an area under the Receiver Operator Characteristic curve of 0.87. Copyright © 2000 Movement Disorder Society.

Anosmia and hypogeusia in Churg-Strauss syndrome.

PubMed

Tallab, Hussam F; Doty, Richard L

2014-05-13

Churg-Strauss syndrome is a rare disorder that is often misdiagnosed. In this report we describe a 57-year-old man with Churg-Strauss syndrome who presented with symptoms of lessened smell and taste function that occurred approximately 3 months before the onset of his neurological symptoms. Psychophysical testing using a battery of well-validated smell and taste tests revealed that the patient had total anosmia and marked hypogeusia. While one anecdotal report exists in the Spanish literature that alludes to the presence of anosmia in a single case of this syndrome, no further confirmation of such dysfunction has appeared in the literature. These findings support the concept that smell and taste loss may be an early sign of this disorder. 2014 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Anosmia and hypogeusia in Churg-Strauss syndrome

PubMed Central

Tallab, Hussam F; Doty, Richard L

2014-01-01

Churg-Strauss syndrome is a rare disorder that is often misdiagnosed. In this report we describe a 57-year-old man with Churg-Strauss syndrome who presented with symptoms of lessened smell and taste function that occurred approximately 3 months before the onset of his neurological symptoms. Psychophysical testing using a battery of well-validated smell and taste tests revealed that the patient had total anosmia and marked hypogeusia. While one anecdotal report exists in the Spanish literature that alludes to the presence of anosmia in a single case of this syndrome, no further confirmation of such dysfunction has appeared in the literature. These findings support the concept that smell and taste loss may be an early sign of this disorder. PMID:24825557

Patient adjustment to reduced olfactory function.

PubMed

Croy, Ilona; Landis, Basile N; Meusel, Thomas; Seo, Han-Seok; Krone, Franziska; Hummel, Thomas

2011-04-01

To compare the importance of olfaction in daily life between patients with olfactory disorders and healthy normosmic individuals. Quasiexperimental. A total of 470 individuals (235 anosmic or hyposmic patients and 235 normosmic control individuals). The Individual Importance of Olfaction Questionnaire (IO) and olfactory testing using the "Sniffin' Sticks" test kit. The IO scores were lower in people with smell disorders compared with normosmic subjects (P < .001) and lower in patients with anosmia compared with hyposmic patients (P < .001). These scores suggest adjustment processes in the daily use of the sense of smell by patients. Patients attach less importance to their current sense of smell in daily life than do normosmic individuals. This adjustment might be an example of regaining psychological health despite acquired and long-lasting impairments.

Hygienic aspects of livestock manure management and biogas systems operated by small-scale pig farmers in Vietnam.

PubMed

Huong, Luu Quynh; Madsen, Henry; Anh, Le Xuan; Ngoc, Pham Thi; Dalsgaard, Anders

2014-02-01

Biogas digesters are widely promoted and increasingly used to treat and generate gas from pig slurry worldwide. The objective of this study was to describe manure management practices with focus on biogas digestion among small scale pig farmers in Hue (50 farmers) and Hanoi (96 farmers) and to assess fecal contamination levels in biogas effluent. Results showed that 84% of the farmers in Hanoi and 42% in Hue used both pig slurry and human excreta for biogas production. Biogas digestion only reduced E. coli concentrations by 1 to 2 log units to 3.70 ± 0.84 Escherichia coli (log10) cfu/ml on average in effluent as compared with raw slurry. Biogas effluent was commonly used to fertilize vegetables or discharged directly into the garden or aquatic recipients. Reduced problems with bad smells and flies were reported as main reasons for establishing a biogas digester. Further studies are needed to assess human and animal health hazards associated with the discharge and use of biogas effluent from small-scale biogas systems. © 2013.

[Mustard gas bombs found astray in the Faxaflói bay. Mustard gas: usage and poisonings].

PubMed

Kristinsson, Jakop; Jóhannesson, Thorkell

2009-05-01

The finding in 1972 of two World War II mustard gas artillery shells in crushed shell sediment dredged in the Faxaflói Bay and transported as raw material for cement production at Akranes (Western Iceland) is reported. One of the shells was wedged in a stone crusher in the raw material processing line and was ruptured. As a result dark fluid with a garlic like smell seeped out from the metal canister. The attending employees believed the metal object to be inert and tried to cut it out with a blow torch. This resulted in the explosion of the shell charge and in the exposure of four employees to mustard gas. All suffered burns on their hands and two of them in the eyes also. The second shell was detonated in the open at a distance from the factory. Emphasis is given to the fact that instant, or at least as soon as possible, cleansing and washing is the most efficient measure to be taken against the debilitating effects of mustard gas. It is also pointed out that the active principle in mustard gas (dichlorodiethyl sulphide) can easily be synthesized and none of the precursor substances are subjected to any restrictions of use. The authors conclude that mustard gas bombs may still be found in the arsenals of some military powers in spite of an international convention that prohibits the production, stockpiling and the use of chemical weapons. Terrorist groups have also seemingly tried to aquire mustard gas bombs and other chemical weapons. Therefore cases of mustard gas poisoning might still occur.

Multidimensional Evaluation of Endogenous and Health Factors Affecting Food Preferences, Taste and Smell Perception.

PubMed

Guido, D; Perna, S; Carrai, M; Barale, R; Grassi, M; Rondanelli, M

2016-01-01

This study, by taking a holistic approach, investigates the relationships between taste, smell sensitivity and food preference with prognostic (endogenous and health) factors including age, gender, genetic taste markers, body mass, cigarette smoking, and number of drugs used. Cross sectional study. Northern Italy. 203 healthy subjects (160 women/43 men; mean age: 58.2±19.8 years) were examined. Individual taste sensitivity was determined by saccharose, sodium chloride, acetic acid and caffeine solutions and by 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) responsiveness test. Olfactory sensitivity has been assessed by «Sniffin' Sticks». Four tag Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in regions of interest were genotyped. Factor analysis and multivariate regression were performed for scaling food preferences and screening prognostic factors, respectively. Increasing age is associated with decreased responsiveness to NaCl (P=0.001), sweet solutions (P=0.044), and smell perception (P<0.001). Concerning the food preferences, elderly like the "vegetables" and "fruits" but dislike "spicy" more than younger. Regarding number of drugs taken, there is a significant negative effect on smell perception (P<0.001). In addition, drugs reduce both the "vegetables foods" score (P=0.002) and the "milk-product foods" score (P=0.027). With respect to Body Mass Index (BMI), only a significant effect was shown, on sweet perception (P=0.006). Variation in taste receptor genes can give rise to differential perception of sweet, acid and bitter tastes. No effect of gender and smoking was observed. Our study suggested that age, genetic markers, BMI and drugs use are the factors which affect taste and smell perception and food preferences.

Study of Odours and taste for Space Food

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katayama, Naomi; Space Agriculture Task Force; Nakata, Seiichi; Teranishi, Masaaki; Sone, Michihiko; Nakashima, Tsutomu; Hamajima, Nobuyuki; Ito, Yoshihiro

2012-07-01

The sense of taste and smell come under some kind of influences in the space environment. In the space, the astronaut was changed their food habits from light taste and smell food to like strong taste and smells food. When an astronaut live in the space comes to have weak bone like osteoporosis. It may become the physiologic condition like the old man on the earth. Therefore this study performed fact-finding of the smell and the taste in the old man on the earth as test bed of astronaut in space. Based on this finding, it was intended to predict the taste and the olfactory change of the astronaut in the space. The study included 179 males and 251 females aged 30-90 years in Yakumo Town, Hokkaido, Japan. Odours were tested using a ``standard odours by odour stick identification''method of organoleptic testing. Taste were tested using a ``standard taste by taste disc identification'' method of chemical testing. Correct answers for identification odours consisted of average 6.0±3.0 in male subjects and average 6.9±2.8 in female subjects. Correct answers for identification of sweet taste consisted of 81% males and 87% females, salty taste consisted of 86% males and 91%, sour taste consisted of 75% males and 78% females, bitter taste consisted of 76% males and 88% females. It became clear that overall approximately 20% were in some kind of abnormality in sense of smell and taste. I want to perform the investigation that continued more in future.

Finding aroma clues in the human breath to diagnose diseases

Treesearch

A. Dan Wilson

2016-01-01

History of human odor analysis in disease diagnosis The use of the sense of smell as an indicator of human disease probably originated with Hippocrates (circa 400 BC). Early medical practitioners recognized that the presence of human diseases changed the odors released from the body and breath. Physicians once relied heavily on their sense of smell to provide useful...

The Differential Role of Smell and Taste For Eating Behavior.

PubMed

Boesveldt, Sanne; de Graaf, Kees

2017-01-01

Food choice and food intake are guided by both sensory and metabolic processes. The senses of taste and smell play a key role in the sensory effects on choice and intake. This article provides a comprehensive overview of, and will argue for, the differential role of smell and taste for eating behavior by focusing on appetite, choice, intake, and satiation. The sense of smell mainly plays a priming role in eating behavior. It has been demonstrated that (orthonasal) odor exposure induces appetite specifically for the cued food. However, the influence of odors on food choice and intake is less clear, and may also depend on awareness or intensity of the odors, or personality traits of the participants. Taste on the other hand, has a clear role as a (macro)nutrient sensing system, during consumption. Together with texture, taste is responsible for eating rate, and thus in determining the oral exposure duration of food in the mouth, thereby contributing to satiation. Results from these experimental studies should be taken to real-life situations, to assess longer-term effects on energy intake. With this knowledge, it will be possible to steer people's eating behavior, as well as food product development, toward a less obesogenic society.

Olfaction deterioration in cognitive disorders in the elderly.

PubMed

Ottaviano, Giancarlo; Frasson, Giuliana; Nardello, Ennio; Martini, Alessandro

2016-02-01

Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases are widespread neurodegenerative pathologies. Parkinson's disease affects about 1 % of the population over the age of 65 years, while Alzheimer is considered the most common cause of dementia, with an annual incidence of 1 % in persons aged 65 years. It has been demonstrated that both these neurodegenerative diseases are associated with smell dysfunction. The aim of the present review is to describe briefly modern olfactory evaluation tools as well as the importance of olfactory sensitivity screening in the elderly, especially where cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases, are suspected. A brief literature review focusing on the basic principle of smell tests is illustrated together with their application in elderly patients affected by cognitive disorders, in particular Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are both neurodegenerative disorders typically found in the elderly. As both diseases are characterized by the early presence of dysosmia, simple validated smell tests could very well help clinicians in the early diagnosis of these neuropathological conditions. Elderly patients complaining of smell loss and found to be dysosmic, by means of validated olfactory tests, should be neurologically evaluated as early as possible to detect slight motor abnormalities in an at-risk population.

Qualitative and quantitative changes in phospholipids and proteins investigated by spectroscopic techniques in olfactory bulbectomy animal depression model.

PubMed

Depciuch, J; Parlinska-Wojtan, M

2018-01-30

Depression becomes nowadays a high mortality civilization disease with one of the potential causes being impaired smell. In this study Raman, Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-vis) spectroscopies were used to determine the changes in the quantity and structure of phospholipids and proteins in the blood serum of bulbectomized rats (OB_NaCl), which is a common animal depression model. The efficiency of amitriptyline (AMI) treatment was also evaluated. The obtained results show a significant decrease in the phospholipid and protein fractions (as well as changes in their secondary structures) in blood serum of bulbectomized rats. AMI treatment in bulbectomized rats increased protein level and did not affect the level of phospholipids. Structural information from phospholipids and proteins was obtained from UV-vis spectroscopy combined with the second derivative of the FTIR spectra. Indeed, the structure of proteins in blood serum of bulbectomized rats was normalized after amitriptyline therapy, while the damaged structure of phospholipids remained unaffected. These findings strongly suggest that impaired smell could be one of the causes of depression and may induce permanent (irreversible) damages into the phospholipid structure identified as shortened carbon chains. This study shows a possible new application of spectroscopic techniques in the diagnosis and therapy monitoring of depression. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Anosmia: Differential diagnosis, evaluation, and management.

PubMed

Scangas, George A; Bleier, Benjamin S

2017-01-01

The ability to scrutinize our surroundings remains heavily dependent on the sense of smell. From the ability to detect dangerous situations such as fires to the recollection of a fond memory triggered by an odor, the advantages of an intact olfactory system cannot be overstated. Outcomes studies have highlighted the profound negative impact of anosmia and parosmia on the overall quality of life. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates that ∼1.4% of the United States population experiences chronic olfactory dysfunction and smell loss. Efforts have focused on improving both the diagnosis of olfactory dysfunction through olfactory testing and improved reporting of treatment outcomes of olfactory training. The purpose of this article was to review the differential diagnosis, workup, and current treatment strategies of anosmia and smell disorders.

Stable olfactory sensory neuron in vivo physiology during normal aging.

PubMed

Kass, Marley D; Czarnecki, Lindsey A; McGann, John P

2018-05-08

Normal aging is associated with a number of smell impairments that are paralleled by age-dependent changes in the peripheral olfactory system, including decreases in olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) and in the regenerative capacity of the epithelium. Thus, an age-dependent degradation of sensory input to the brain is one proposed mechanism for the loss of olfactory function in older populations. Here, we tested this hypothesis by performing in vivo optical neurophysiology in 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month-old mice. We visualized odor-evoked neurotransmitter release from populations of OSNs into olfactory bulb glomeruli, and found that these sensory inputs are actually quite stable during normal aging. Specifically, the magnitude and number of odor-evoked glomerular responses were comparable across all ages, and there was no effect of age on the sensitivity of OSN responses to odors or on the neural discriminability of different sensory maps. These results suggest that the brain's olfactory bulbs do not receive deteriorated input during aging and that local bulbar circuitry might adapt to maintain stable nerve input. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Initiative-Oriented Training.

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-06-05

Conditions, and Standards Prior to STXs 70 13. Knowledge of the Enemy Situation Prior to STXs 71 14. Frequency of MILES Free - Play Exercises 72...in addition to realistic sights, sounds, and smells. With regards to force-on-force, or free - play MILES exercises, uncertainty and initiative can...sounds, and (to some degree) smells of the battlefield; use MILES force-on-force, free - play exercises to incorporate cognitive mental Stressors and

The convection stack - a device for ridding pit toilets of bad odor

Treesearch

J. Alan Wagar

1962-01-01

One of the common problems on outdoor recreation areas is that pit toilets smell bad. Flush plumbing is one answer to the problem. But pit toilets are needed in many places where modern sewage systems are economically or physically impractical. To reduce the smell of the pit toilet, one simple, safe, and inexpensive device that can be used is the convection stack....

Differential Transcriptional Response in Macrophages Infected with Cell Wall Deficient versus Normal Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

PubMed Central

Fu, Yu-Rong; Gao, Kun-Shan; Ji, Rui; Yi, Zheng-Jun

2015-01-01

Host-pathogen interactions determine the outcome following infection by mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Under adverse circumstances, normal Mtb can form cell-wall deficient (CWD) variants within macrophages, which have been considered an adaptive strategy for facilitating bacterial survival inside macrophages. However, the molecular mechanism by which infection of macrophages with different phenotypic Mtb elicits distinct responses of macrophages is not fully understood. To explore the molecular events triggered upon Mtb infection of macrophages, differential transcriptional responses of RAW264.7 cells infected with two forms of Mtb, CWD-Mtb and normal Mtb, were studied by microarray analysis. Some of the differentially regulated genes were confirmed by RT-qPCR in both RAW264.7 cells and primary macrophages. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway was used to analyze functions of differentially expressed genes. Distinct gene expression patterns were observed between CWD-Mtb and normal Mtb group. Mapt was up-regulated, while NOS2 and IL-11 were down-regulated in CWD-Mtb infected RAW264.7 cells and primary macrophages compared with normal Mtb infected ones. Many deregulated genes were found to be related to macrophages activation, immune response, phagosome maturation, autophagy and lipid metabolism. KEGG analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in MAPK signaling pathway, nitrogen metabolism, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and focal adhesion. Taken together, the present study showed that differential macrophage responses were induced by intracellular CWD-Mtb an normal Mtb infection, which suggested that interactions between macrophages and different phenotypic Mtb are very complex. The results provide evidence for further understanding of pathogenesis of CWD-Mtb and may help in improving strategies to eliminate intracellular CWD-Mtb. PMID:25552926

The effect of cigarillo packaging elements on young adult perceptions of product flavor, taste, smell, and appeal.

PubMed

Meernik, Clare; Ranney, Leah M; Lazard, Allison J; Kim, KyungSu; Queen, Tara L; Avishai, Aya; Boynton, Marcella H; Sheeran, Paschal J; Goldstein, Adam O

2018-01-01

Product packaging has long been used by the tobacco industry to target consumers and manipulate product perceptions. This study examines the extent to which cigarillo packaging influences perceptions of product flavor, taste, smell, and appeal. A web-based experiment was conducted among young adults. Participants viewed three randomly selected cigarillo packs, varying on pack flavor descriptor, color, type, branding, and warning-totaling 180 pack images. Mixed-effects models were used to estimate the effect of pack elements on product perceptions. A total of 2,664 current, ever, and never little cigar and cigarillo users participated. Cigarillo packs with a flavor descriptor were perceived as having a more favorable taste (β = 0.21, p < .001) and smell (β = 0.14, p < .001) compared to packs with no flavor descriptor. Compared to packs with no color, pink and purple packs were more likely to be perceived as containing a flavor (β = 0.11, p < .001), and were rated more favorably on taste (β = 0.17, p < .001), smell (β = 0.15, p < .001), and appeal (β = 0.16, p < .001). While warnings on packs decreased favorable perceptions of product taste (pictorial: β = -0.07, p = .03) and smell (text-only: β = -0.08, p = .01; pictorial: β = -0.09, p = .007), warnings did not moderate the effects of flavor descriptor or color. To our knowledge, this study provides the first quantitative evidence that cigarillo packaging alters consumers' cognitive responses, and warnings on packs do not suffice to overcome the effects of product packaging. The findings support efforts at federal, state, and local levels to prohibit flavor descriptors and their associated product flavoring in non-cigarette products such as cigarillos, along with new data that supports restrictions on flavor cues and colors.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Self-Reported Olfactory Function in a Home-Based Study of Independent-Living, Healthy Older Women

PubMed Central

Rawal, Shristi; Hoffman, Howard J.; Chapo, Audrey K.

2015-01-01

Introduction The 2011–14 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey chemosensory protocol asks adults to self-rate their orthonasal (via nostrils) and retronasal (via mouth) smell abilities for subsequent odor identification testing. From data collected with a similar protocol, we aimed to identify a self-reported olfactory index that showed the best sensitivity (correctly identifying dysfunction) and specificity (correctly indentifying normosmia) with measured olfaction. Methods In home-based testing, 121 independent-living older women (age 73±7 years) reported their olfactory function by interviewer-administered survey. Olfactory function was measured orthonasally via composite (odor threshold, identification task) or identification task alone. Results Only 16 % of women self-rated “below average” smell function. More women perceived loss of smell (38 %) or flavor (30 %) with aging. The rate of measured dysfunction was 30 % by composite (threshold and identification) and 21.5 % by identification task, the latter misclassifying some mild dysfunction as normosmia. An index of self-rated smell function and perceived loss yielded the most favorable sensitivity (65 %) and specificity (77 %) to measured function. Self-rated olfaction showed better agreement with severe measured dysfunction; mild dysfunction was less noticed. Conclusions Self-reported indices that query about current and perceived changes in smell and flavor with aging showed better sensitivity estimates than those previously reported. Specificity was somewhat lower—some older adults may correctly perceive loss unidentified in a single assessment, or have a retronasal impairment that was undetected by an orthonasal measure. Implications Our findings should inform self-rated measures that screen for severe olfactory dysfunction in clinical/community settings where testing is not routine. PMID:25866597

A prospective study of postoperative symptoms in sinonasal quality-of-life following endoscopic skull-base surgery: dissociations based on specific symptoms.

PubMed

Bedrosian, Jeffrey C; McCoul, Edward D; Raithatha, Roheen; Akselrod, Olga A; Anand, Vijay K; Schwartz, Theodore H

2013-08-01

Endoscopic skull-base surgery (ESBS) is a minimal access approach to cranial base pathology; however, it significantly disrupts the intranasal mucosa and intranasal structures, the long-term effects of which are still being studied. We prospectively assessed postoperative changes in sinonasal QOL symptoms following ESBS. Eighty-five patients were prospectively assessed with the Anterior Skull Base Questionnaire (ASBQ), a validated QOL instrument, preoperatively and up to 1 year postoperatively at each subsequent office visit. A subset of these data was analyzed to assess the effect of endoscopic pituitary surgery on postoperative taste, smell, appetite, nasal secretions, and vision. ESBS patients were divided into 2 cohorts: those undergoing pituitary adenoma surgery and those undergoing ESBS for all other pathologies. Preoperative smell (3.11 vs 3.76, p = 0.03) and taste (3.04 vs 3.69, p = 0.03) were significantly lower in the nonpituitary group. Within the pituitary group both taste (3.69 vs 2.95, p = 0.03) and smell (3.76 vs 2.61, p ≤ 0.001) were significantly decreased by 6 weeks postoperatively. However, by 12 months both taste and smell scores returned to baseline. Vision scores improved by 3 weeks postoperatively with durable results at 1 year (2.80 vs 3.33, p = 0.04 vs 3.59, p = 0.03, respectively). Within the nonpituitary group, smell was decreased at 3 weeks, but was not significantly changed at any other time points. Our study indicates a dissociation between the nasal and visual QOL after ESBS. While nasal QOL transiently decreases, visual QOL progressively improves. These data should not be lumped together for the purposes of statistical analysis. © 2013 ARS-AAOA, LLC.

Smell Detection Agent Based Optimization Algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vinod Chandra, S. S.

2016-09-01

In this paper, a novel nature-inspired optimization algorithm has been employed and the trained behaviour of dogs in detecting smell trails is adapted into computational agents for problem solving. The algorithm involves creation of a surface with smell trails and subsequent iteration of the agents in resolving a path. This algorithm can be applied in different computational constraints that incorporate path-based problems. Implementation of the algorithm can be treated as a shortest path problem for a variety of datasets. The simulated agents have been used to evolve the shortest path between two nodes in a graph. This algorithm is useful to solve NP-hard problems that are related to path discovery. This algorithm is also useful to solve many practical optimization problems. The extensive derivation of the algorithm can be enabled to solve shortest path problems.

Early distinction system of mine fire in underground by using a neural-network system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ohga, Kotaro; Higuchi, Kiyoshi

1996-12-31

In our laboratory, a new detection system using smell detectors was developed to detect the spontaneous combustion of coal and the combustion of other materials used underground. The results of experiments clearly the combustion of materials can be detected earlier by this detection system than by conventional detectors for gas and smoke, and there were significant differences between output data from each smell detector for coal, rubber, oil and wood. In order to discern the source of combustion gases, we have been developing a distinction system using a neural-network system. It has shown successful results in laboratory tests. This papermore » describes our detection system using smell detectors and our distinction system which uses a neural-network system, and presents results of experiments using both systems.« less

Early detection of mine fire in underground by using smell detectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ohga, Kotaro; Higuchi, Kiyoshi

1995-12-31

In our laboratory, a new detection system using smell detectors was developed to detect the spontaneous combustion of coal and the combustion of other materials used underground. Laboratory experiments were carried out on several kinds of coals, including South African coals, and machine oil, wood and rubber used in belt conveyers. The following results were obtained: (1) Spontaneous combustion of coal can be detected earlier by smell detectors than by conventional CO detection methods. (2) There were no differences in the results using different kinds of coal. (3) Combustion d other materials can also be detected earlier by this systemmore » than by conventional detectors for gas and smoke. (4) Use of this detection system enables one to discern the source of the combustion gases, whether it be coal, wood, oil or rubber.« less

Age and Pubertal Status-Related Changes in Reports of Perception of Personal Odors.

PubMed

Martinec Nováková, Lenka; Plotěná, Dagmar; Havlíček, Jan

2017-01-01

As previously suggested, preferences for kin body odor might undergo an adaptive change over the course of puberty in order to avoid potential inbreeding, resulting in aversion to body odor of the opposite-gender kin as individuals mature sexually. However, studies based on mutual body odor aversion are rather inconclusive. We therefore investigated whether children's reports of individuals smelling good or bad differed as a function of age and pubertal status. We asked 219 children (94 male) aged 10 to 15 years to assess their pubertal development using a standardized measure and to name individuals they thought smelled good or bad. Results of the present study show that the older the girls were, the more likely they were to name males than females among nice-smelling people. Further, in both girls and boys alike, children with higher puberty scores were more likely to name children than adults. Neither in girls nor in boys did we observe any concurrent effect of age or pubertal status on children's reports of persons thought to smell bad. Irrespective of whether these changes are driven by age itself or age-related phenomena, these results suggest a shift toward a more general positive attitude to peers rather than active kin avoidance.

Identification of novel aroma-active thiols in pan-roasted white sesame seeds.

PubMed

Tamura, Hitoshi; Fujita, Akira; Steinhaus, Martin; Takahisa, Eisuke; Watanabe, Hiroyuki; Schieberle, Peter

2010-06-23

Screening for aroma-active compounds in an aroma distillate obtained from freshly pan-roasted sesame seeds by aroma extract dilution analysis revealed 32 odorants in the FD factor range of 2-2048, 29 of which could be identified. The highest FD factors were found for the coffee-like smelling 2-furfurylthiol, the caramel-like smelling 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone, the coffee-like smelling 2-thenylthiol (thiophen-2-yl-methylthiol), and the clove-like smelling 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol. In addition, 9 odor-active thiols with sulfurous, meaty, and/or catty, black-currant-like odors were identified for the first time in roasted sesame seeds. Among them, 2-methyl-1-propene-1-thiol, (Z)-3-methyl-1-butene-1-thiol, (E)-3-methyl-1-butene-1-thiol, (Z)-2-methyl-1-butene-1-thiol, (E)-2-methyl-1-butene-1-thiol, and 4-mercapto-3-hexanone were previously unknown as food constituents. Their structures were confirmed by comparing their mass spectra and retention indices as well as their sensory properties with those of synthesized reference compounds. The relatively unstable 1-alkene-1-thiols represent a new class of food odorants and are suggested as the key contributors to the characteristic, but quickly vanishing, aroma of freshly ground roasted sesame seeds.

Olfactory Reference Syndrome with Suicidal Attempt Treated with Pimozide and Fluvoxamine

PubMed Central

Virk, Inderpreet; Cherukupally, Karthik; Germain, Wil; Fouron, Patricia; Olupona, Tolu; Jolayemi, Ayodeji

2018-01-01

The core symptomatology of the Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS) is characterized by a preoccupation with the belief that one emits an offensive odor, albeit not perceived by others. The present case is that of a 75-year-old African American woman, with an unclear past psychiatric history, who was brought into our Emergency Room after a suicide attempt. The patient reported a three-year history of a “rotten” smell from her vagina. She adamantly believes that she smells despite being told otherwise by people. The patient reported a trial of several feminine products to get rid of this smell and multiple visits to specialists but her symptoms persisted. Her symptoms involved a significant depressed mood and deterioration in her social functioning, interpersonal relationships, and self-care. She was constantly in the shower and had stopped leaving her apartment due to worries that people might smell her vagina. The culmination of her distress was the suicidal attempt, for which she was brought to the hospital. She was admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit and started on Pimozide and Fluvoxamine. The patient made remarkable progress within a few days on admission and in the course of her hospitalization. Follow-up in our outpatient clinic shows that the patient remains completely asymptomatic with significant progress in her social functioning.

Smell of danger: an analysis of LP-gas odorization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cain, W.S.; Turk, A.

1985-03-01

LP-gas derives warning properties from the odorants ethyl mercaptan or thiophane. Laboratory tests have implied that the average person has the ability to smell the odors before leaking LP-gas reaches one-fifth its lower limit of flammability. Generally, however, laboratory tests ignore or discard persons with a poor sense of smell, especially the elderly and persons with certain types of hyposmia. Some persons who apparently can smell the warning agents when directed may otherwise fail to notice or identify them. Elderly men seem particularly vulnerable to instances of incidental anosmia and olfactory agnosia. Psychophysical testing of the warning agents has beenmore » rather unsophisticated. There exists neither a standard protocol for testing nor adequate specification of the perceptual properties that might make one warning agent better than another. Without such developments, improvement in warning agents will fail to occur. Possible improvements include increases in concentration, the use of blends to insure more uniform delivery of agent and, to decrease the perceptual vulnerability of relatively insensitive people, use of agents with favorable psychophysical (stimulus-response) functions and use of agents with favorable adaptation characteristics. Even without a change in existing products, it seems advisable to learn more about the vulnerability of LP-gas users and to employ educational means to reduce risks.« less

Odors identification differences in deficit and nondeficit schizophrenia.

PubMed

Pełka-Wysiecka, Justyna; Wroński, Michał; Bieńkowski, Przemysław; Murawiec, Sławomir; Samochowiec, Agnieszka; Samochowiec, Jerzy

2016-04-01

There is evidence that deficit schizophrenia (DS) is associated with neuroanatomical changes in structures including those involved in olfaction. Olfactory dysfunction, which includes impaired odor identification, is found in patients with schizophrenia and their family members. 82 patients with DS and 72 patients with NDS (nondeficit schizophrenia), somatically healthy and without acute psychotic symptoms undertook a smell identification test using the 16-item Sniffin' Sticks ID test. Demographic and psychometric data were collected. No differences in the course of the illness, perinatal history and demographic data were found between the DS and NDS groups. No differences in the number of correctly identified odor samples were found. Some differences in the qualitative identification of samples between DS and NDS were found in the groups of female (fewer correct identifications of cinnamon and pineapple smells in DS) and male patients (fewer correct identifications of the smell of rose and more correct identifications of the smell of orange than in NDS). No overall differences between DS and NDS regarding odors identification have been found. The results seem to indicate some specific deficits in the identification of markers of rose, pineapple, orange and cinnamon. Copyright © 2015 Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.

Selecting between-sample RNA-Seq normalization methods from the perspective of their assumptions.

PubMed

Evans, Ciaran; Hardin, Johanna; Stoebel, Daniel M

2017-02-27

RNA-Seq is a widely used method for studying the behavior of genes under different biological conditions. An essential step in an RNA-Seq study is normalization, in which raw data are adjusted to account for factors that prevent direct comparison of expression measures. Errors in normalization can have a significant impact on downstream analysis, such as inflated false positives in differential expression analysis. An underemphasized feature of normalization is the assumptions on which the methods rely and how the validity of these assumptions can have a substantial impact on the performance of the methods. In this article, we explain how assumptions provide the link between raw RNA-Seq read counts and meaningful measures of gene expression. We examine normalization methods from the perspective of their assumptions, as an understanding of methodological assumptions is necessary for choosing methods appropriate for the data at hand. Furthermore, we discuss why normalization methods perform poorly when their assumptions are violated and how this causes problems in subsequent analysis. To analyze a biological experiment, researchers must select a normalization method with assumptions that are met and that produces a meaningful measure of expression for the given experiment. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

On the Communicative Function of Body Odors.

PubMed

de Groot, Jasper H B; Semin, Gün R; Smeets, Monique A M

2017-03-01

Humans use multiple senses to navigate the social world, and the sense of smell is arguably the most underestimated one. An intriguing aspect of the sense of smell is its social communicative function. Research has shown that human odors convey information about a range of states (e.g., emotions, sickness) and traits (e.g., individuality, gender). Yet, what underlies the communicability of these states and traits via smell? We fill this explanatory gap with a framework that highlights the dynamic and flexible aspects of human olfactory communication. In particular, we explain how chemical profiles, associative learning (i.e., the systematic co-occurrence of chemical profiles with state- or trait-related information), and top-down contextual influences could interact to shape human odor perception. Our model not only helps to integrate past research on human olfactory communication but it also opens new avenues for future research on this fascinating, yet to date poorly understood, field.

Reduced Suprathreshold Odor Identification in Patients with Pseudotumor Cerebri: A Non-Randomized Prospective Study.

PubMed

Dotan, Gad; Cohen, Eyal; Klein, Ainat; Kesler, Anat

2018-01-01

Recent evidence suggests that olfaction is impaired in patients with pseudotumor cerebri (PTC). To measure suprathreshold olfactory function by using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), assessing its usefulness for routine clinical use. Forty PTC patients underwent USPIT olfactory testing. Twenty-nine out of 40 (73%) PTC patients (36 women, 4 men; mean age 34 years) had reduced suprathreshold smell sensation according to UPSIT scores: 19 (47%) had mild microsmia, 9 (23%) had moderate microsmia, and one (3%) was classified as having severe microsmia. The mean UPSIT score of all patients was 32.4 (95% confidence interval 31.4-33.4). Multivariate regression analysis found that UPSIT scores were not related to disease activity, disease duration, initial intracranial pressure (ICP), or visual function. Many PTC patients have reduced suprathreshold olfactory dysfunction that can be discovered by UPSIT, a rapidly administered smell test, which is suitable for clinical office use.

Subliminal smells can guide social preferences.

PubMed

Li, Wen; Moallem, Isabel; Paller, Ken A; Gottfried, Jay A

2007-12-01

It is widely accepted that unconscious processes can modulate judgments and behavior, but do such influences affect one's daily interactions with other people? Given that olfactory information has relatively direct access to cortical and subcortical emotional circuits, we tested whether the affective content of subliminal odors alters social preferences. Participants rated the likeability of neutral faces after smelling pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant odors delivered below detection thresholds. Odor affect significantly shifted likeability ratings only for those participants lacking conscious awareness of the smells, as verified by chance-level trial-by-trial performance on an odor-detection task. Across participants, the magnitude of this priming effect decreased as sensitivity for odor detection increased. In contrast, heart rate responses tracked odor valence independently of odor awareness. These results indicate that social preferences are subject to influences from odors that escape awareness, whereas the availability of conscious odor information may disrupt such effects.

Smell identification of spices using nanomechanical membrane-type surface stress sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Imamura, Gaku; Shiba, Kota; Yoshikawa, Genki

2016-11-01

Artificial olfaction, that is, a chemical sensor system that identifies samples by smell, has not been fully achieved because of the complex perceptional mechanism of olfaction. To realize an artificial olfactory system, not only an array of chemical sensors but also a valid feature extraction method is required. In this study, we achieved the identification of spices by smell using nanomechanical membrane-type surface stress sensors (MSS). Features were extracted from the sensing signals obtained from four MSS coated with different types of polymers, focusing on the chemical interactions between polymers and odor molecules. The principal component analysis (PCA) of the dataset consisting of the extracted parameters demonstrated the separation of each spice on the scatter plot. We discuss the strategy for improving odor identification based on the relationship between the results of PCA and the chemical species in the odors.

Smelling directions: Olfaction modulates ambiguous visual motion perception

PubMed Central

Kuang, Shenbing; Zhang, Tao

2014-01-01

Senses of smells are often accompanied by simultaneous visual sensations. Previous studies have documented enhanced olfactory performance with concurrent presence of congruent color- or shape- related visual cues, and facilitated visual object perception when congruent smells are simultaneously present. These visual object-olfaction interactions suggest the existences of couplings between the olfactory pathway and the visual ventral processing stream. However, it is not known if olfaction can modulate visual motion perception, a function that is related to the visual dorsal stream. We tested this possibility by examining the influence of olfactory cues on the perceptions of ambiguous visual motion signals. We showed that, after introducing an association between motion directions and olfactory cues, olfaction could indeed bias ambiguous visual motion perceptions. Our result that olfaction modulates visual motion processing adds to the current knowledge of cross-modal interactions and implies a possible functional linkage between the olfactory system and the visual dorsal pathway. PMID:25052162

Anosmia and hyposmia.

PubMed

Gaines, Alan D

2010-01-01

There has been some renewed interest in recent years in disorders of olfaction. Decreased sense of smell can lead to significant impairment of quality of life, including taste disturbance and loss of pleasure from eating with resulting changes in weight and difficulty in avoiding health risks such as spoiled food or leaking natural gas. Recent epidemiological reports have shown that despite fairly low self-reported prevalence of these disorders in large population studies, when validated smell identification or threshold tests are used, they reveal quite a high prevalence of hyposmia and anosmia in certain groups, especially the elderly. Several different pathophysiologic processes, such as head trauma, aging, autoimmunity, and toxic exposures, can contribute to smell impairment, with distinct implications concerning prognosis and possible treatment. As allergists, we are most likely to see this symptom in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, and this now appears to be due more to the mucosal inflammation than to physical airway obstruction.

Olfactory function in painters exposed to organic solvents.

PubMed

Sandmark, B; Broms, I; Löfgren, L; Ohlson, C G

1989-02-01

The olfactory receptor cells are in direct contact with the exterior environment, and some chemical agents can impair olfactory function. The olfactory function of 54 painters exposed to organic solvents was compared with that of 42 unexposed referents. A new clinical test validated for the sense of smell was used, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test. Age, smoking habits, exposure to organic solvents, and medical disorders of importance for the sense of smell were recorded. The painters had a somewhat lower test score than the referents. However, the influence of the exposure variable was not statistically significant in a multiple regression analysis including age and smoking habits. The exposure to organic solvents was low, and therefore an effect of high exposure on olfactory function cannot be ruled out. Since some of the painters had earlier been highly exposed, the effects of high exposure are likely to be reversible.

Individual significance of olfaction: development of a questionnaire.

PubMed

Croy, Ilona; Buschhüter, Dorothee; Seo, Han-Seok; Negoias, Simona; Hummel, Thomas

2010-01-01

Clinical experience shows that the individual significance of olfactory function varies between subjects. In order to estimate these individual differences we developed a questionnaire to study the subjective importance of the sense of smell. Questions were arranged within three subscales: association with olfactory sensations, application of the sense of smell, and the readiness to draw consequences from the olfactory perception. The questionnaire was shown to be time efficient, suitable for normosmic subjects and patients with hyposmia or anosmia. It exhibited a good internal reliability (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.77). First results in 123 subjects indicate that the subjective importance of the sense of smell stays at the same level throughout life-span despite of a decreased olfactory sensitivity. Furthermore, women reported a higher importance of olfaction. It is hoped that this questionnaire will contribute to clarify, for example, cross-cultural differences in the perception of odours.

Instrumental texture characteristics of broiler pectoralis major with the wooden breast condition.

PubMed

Chatterjee, D; Zhuang, H; Bowker, B C; Rincon, A M; Sanchez-Brambila, G

2016-10-01

The objective was to characterize texture properties of raw and cooked broiler fillets (Pectoralis major) with the wooden breast condition (WBC) using the instrumental texture techniques of Meullenet-Owens Razor Shear (MORS) and Texture Profile Analysis (TPA). Deboned (3 h postmortem) broiler fillets were collected from a commercial plant and categorized as normal, moderate, or severe WBC based on the incidence and severity of diffuse hardened areas throughout fillets and the degree of palpable hardness. The fillets were then either stored at 4°C overnight or in a -20°C freezer. The MORS and TPA of the raw samples were determined at 24 h postmortem for fresh samples and after thawing overnight for frozen samples. The same measurements were also taken after the samples were cooked to 78°C. Regardless of freshness (fresh vs. frozen-thawed), cooking (raw vs. cooked), and degree of WBC, both MORS force and energy of the WBC samples were higher than that of the normal samples (P < 0.05). For TPA adhesiveness and resilience, there were no differences between normal and WBC samples (P > 0.05). However, average TPA hardness and chewiness measurements of the fillets with WBC were higher than the normal fillets (P < 0.05). Regardless of texture measurement, there were no interactions between freshness and the wooden condition or no differences between moderate and severe WBC fillets (P > 0.05). These results demonstrate that there are significant differences in instrumental texture properties between normal fillets and those exhibiting the WBC. The WBC fillets required more force to cut through, harder, and chewier than normal breast muscles. These results suggest that cooked WBC meat would likely be tougher than cooked normal meat. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Poultry Science Association 2016. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.

Predictors of Olfactory Dysfunction in Rhinosinusitis Using the Brief Smell Identification Test

PubMed Central

Alt, Jeremiah A.; Mace, Jess C.; Buniel, Maria C. F.; Soler, Zachary M.; Smith, Timothy L.

2014-01-01

Objective Associations between olfactory function to quality-of-life (QOL) and disease severity in patients with rhinosinusitis is poorly understood. We sought to evaluate and compare olfactory function between subgroups of patients with rhinosinusitis using the Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT). Study Design Cross-sectional evaluation of a multi-center cohort. Methods Patients with recurrent acute sinusitis (RARS) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with and without nasal polyposis were prospectively enrolled from three academic tertiary care sites. Each subject completed the BSIT, in addition to measures of disease-specific QOL. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and clinical measures of disease severity were compared between patients with normal (BSIT; ≥9) and abnormal (BSIT; <9) olfaction scores. Regression modeling was used to identify potential risk factors associated with olfactory impairment. Results Patients with rhinosinusitis (n=445) were found to suffer olfactory dysfunction as measured by the BSIT (28.3%). Subgroups of rhinosinusitis differed in the degree of olfactory dysfunction reported. Worse disease severity, measured by computed tomography and nasal endoscopy, correlated to worse olfaction. Olfactory scores did not consistently correlate with Rhinosinusitis Disability Index or Sinonasal Outcome Test scores. Regression models demonstrated nasal polyposis was the strongest predictor of olfactory dysfunction. Recalcitrant disease and aspirin intolerance were strongly predictive of worse olfactory function. Conclusion Olfactory dysfunction is a complex, multi-factorial process found to be differentially expressed within subgroups of rhinosinusitis. Olfaction was associated with disease severity as measured by imaging and endoscopy, with only weak associations to disease-specific QOL measures. PMID:24402746

[Age-related changes of sensory system].

PubMed

Iwamoto, Toshihiko; Hanyu, Haruo; Umahara, Takahiko

2013-10-01

Pathological processes usually superimpose on physiological aging even in the sensory system including visual, hearing, olfactory, taste and somatosensory functions. Representative changes of age-related changes are presbyopia, cataracts, and presbyacusis. Reduced sense of smell is seen in normal aging, but the prominent reduction detected by the odor stick identification test is noticed especially in early stage of Alzheimer or Parkinson disease. Reduced sense of taste is well-known especially in salty sense, while the changes of sweet, bitter, and sour tastes are different among individuals. Finally, deep sensation of vibration and proprioception is decreased with age as well as superficial sensation (touch, temperature, pain). As a result, impaired sensory system could induce deterioration of the activities of daily living and quality of life in the elderly.

Predicting Odor Pleasantness from Odorant Structure: Pleasantness as a Reflection of the Physical World

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-11-01

34 ( Engen , 1982). We next reduced the dimensionality of physico- chemical properties, and identified a primary axis of physico- chemical space. This axis...words, there is no scientist or perfumer who can predict the smell of a novel molecule by its physico- chemical structure, or the physico- chemical ...structure of a novel smell. Understanding this link between physico- chemical structure and percept has been elusive because the percept is in large

Targeting Estrogen Receptor-Beta in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-01

polyacrylamide gels. Proteins were transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane for 1.5 hr at 0.35 A. Membranes were blocked with 5% nonfat milk and...PerkinElmer, Waltham, MA). Total protein was measured using the Bradford Method (Bio-Rad), and raw luciferase data were normalized to total protein ...are expressed as fold induction of raw luciferase units per mg protein over the DMSO control ± SD. Experiments were repeated at least twice. *p

Chemistry, microscopy and smell: bloodstains and nineteenth-century legal medicine.

PubMed

Bertomeu-Sánchez, José Ramón

2015-01-01

This paper analyses the development of three methods for detecting bloodstains during the first half of the nineteenth-century in France. After dealing with the main problems in detecting bloodstains, the paper describes the chemical tests introduced in the mid-1820s. Then the first uses of the microscope in the detection of bloodstains around 1827 are discussed. The most controversial method is then examined, the smell test introduced by Jean-Pierre Barruel in 1829, and the debates which took place in French academies and learned societies during ensuing years are surveyed. Moving to the courtrooms a review is conducted of how the different methods were employed in criminal trials. By reviewing these cases, the main arguments against Barruel's test during the 1830s are explored as well as the changes making possible the return of the microscope to legal medicine around 1840. By reconstructing the history of these three methods, the paper reveals how the senses of smell and vision (colours and microscopic images) were employed in order to produce convincing evidence in both academies and courts. The paper questions two linear master narratives that are organized in terms of progress and decline: the development of forensic science as a result of continued technological progress; and the supposed decline of smell in the history of the senses, particularly in the realm of chemistry and medicine.

Effects of appropriate and inappropriate odors on product evaluations.

PubMed

Schifferstein, Hendrik N J; Miciiaut, Anne M K

2002-12-01

In accounting for an odorant's effect on the evaluation of a product, both the odor's intrinsic pleasantness and its appropriateness for that particular product are relevant. When comparing the effects of pleasant smells, consumers are likely to prefer products with appropriate smells to those with an inappropriate smell. We investigated the effect of adding congruent and incongruent odorants on product evaluations for each of three product categories: food (tea, instant whip, cake mix), personal care (shampoo, deodorant, lip balm), and household products (cream cleaner, air freshener, furniture wax). In a between-subjects design, 96 respondents judged scented and unscented products presented in commercial packages of major national brands. The respondents assessed the overall evaluation, 14 to 19 beliefs about the product, buying intention, and the frequency of use for each product. Respondents were instructed to evaluate each product as they would in a store. Although congruency ratings between odor and product show that the manipulation of congruency was successful, no main effect was found for the congruency on overall evaluations of the products. To account for this unexpected finding, we speculate that congruency between odor and product may be more important during product consumption or product use than during its selection. In addition, the odor's effects may have been attenuated in our experiment because we asked our respondents to rate each product on the attribute 'has a nice smell'.

Multiple chemical sensitivity caused by exposure to ignition coal fumes: a case report

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Although multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a well-known disorder caused by environmental exposures, MCS caused by occupational exposure has been reported in Korea. Therefore, we report a MCS case caused by environmental exposure to ignition coal after a differential diagnosis to exclude other diseases. Case report Since 2011, a 55-year-old woman had experienced edema, myalgia, and other symptoms when she smelled ignition coal near her workplace. She had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome(FMS) and was treated, with no improvement of symptoms. Since then, she showed the same symptoms after exposure to city gas, the smell of burning, and exhaust gas. To avoid triggering substances, she moved to a new house and used an air purifier. She quit her job in November 2012. After visiting our hospital, she underwent a differential diagnosis for FMS, chronic fatigue syndrome, and somatization disorder. She was diagnosed with MCS by the Korean version of the Quick Environment Exposure Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI). She was educated about the disease and to avoid triggering substances. She received ongoing treatment for her symptoms. Conclusion This case showed that symptoms began after smelling ignition coal. After that, her triggers was increased such as the smell of city gas, burning, and exhaust gas. This case is the first reported in Korea of MCS due to environmental exposure after ruling out other diseases. PMID:24472417

Changes in Men's Salivary Testosterone and Cortisol Levels, and in Sexual Desire after Smelling Female Axillary and Vulvar Scents.

PubMed

Cerda-Molina, Ana Lilia; Hernández-López, Leonor; de la O, Claudio E; Chavira-Ramírez, Roberto; Mondragón-Ceballos, Ricardo

2013-01-01

Several studies have shown that a woman's vaginal or axillary odors convey information on her attractivity. Yet, whether such scents induce psychoneuroendocrinological changes in perceivers is still controversial. We studied if smelling axillary and vulvar odors collected in the periovulatory and late luteal phases of young women modify salivary testosterone and cortisol levels, as well as sexual desire in men. Forty-five women and 115 men, all of them college students and unacquainted with each other, participated in the study. Female odors were collected on pads affixed to the axilla and on panty protectors both worn the entire night before experiments. Men provided five saliva samples, a basal one before the smelling procedure, and four more 15, 30, 60, and 75 min after exposure to odors. Immediately after smelling the odor source, men answered a questionnaire rating hedonic qualities of scents, and after providing the last saliva sample they answered questionnaire on sexual desire. We found that periovulatory axillary and vulvar odors increased testosterone and cortisol levels, with vulvar scents producing a more prolonged effect. Luteal axilla odors decreased testosterone and cortisol levels, while luteal vulva odors increased cortisol. Periovulatory axilla and vulva scents accounted for a general increase of interest in sex. These odors were also rated as more pleasant and familiar, while luteal vulvar odors were perceived as intense and unpleasant.

Changes in Men’s Salivary Testosterone and Cortisol Levels, and in Sexual Desire after Smelling Female Axillary and Vulvar Scents

PubMed Central

Cerda-Molina, Ana Lilia; Hernández-López, Leonor; de la O, Claudio E.; Chavira-Ramírez, Roberto; Mondragón-Ceballos, Ricardo

2013-01-01

Several studies have shown that a woman’s vaginal or axillary odors convey information on her attractivity. Yet, whether such scents induce psychoneuroendocrinological changes in perceivers is still controversial. We studied if smelling axillary and vulvar odors collected in the periovulatory and late luteal phases of young women modify salivary testosterone and cortisol levels, as well as sexual desire in men. Forty-five women and 115 men, all of them college students and unacquainted with each other, participated in the study. Female odors were collected on pads affixed to the axilla and on panty protectors both worn the entire night before experiments. Men provided five saliva samples, a basal one before the smelling procedure, and four more 15, 30, 60, and 75 min after exposure to odors. Immediately after smelling the odor source, men answered a questionnaire rating hedonic qualities of scents, and after providing the last saliva sample they answered questionnaire on sexual desire. We found that periovulatory axillary and vulvar odors increased testosterone and cortisol levels, with vulvar scents producing a more prolonged effect. Luteal axilla odors decreased testosterone and cortisol levels, while luteal vulva odors increased cortisol. Periovulatory axilla and vulva scents accounted for a general increase of interest in sex. These odors were also rated as more pleasant and familiar, while luteal vulvar odors were perceived as intense and unpleasant. PMID:24194730

The Impact of Sex Differences on Odor Identification and Facial Affect Recognition in Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders.

PubMed

Mossaheb, Nilufar; Kaufmann, Rainer M; Schlögelhofer, Monika; Aninilkumparambil, Thushara; Himmelbauer, Claudia; Gold, Anna; Zehetmayer, Sonja; Hoffmann, Holger; Traue, Harald C; Aschauer, Harald

2018-01-01

Social interactive functions such as facial emotion recognition and smell identification have been shown to differ between women and men. However, little is known about how these differences are mirrored in patients with schizophrenia and how these abilities interact with each other and with other clinical variables in patients vs. healthy controls. Standardized instruments were used to assess facial emotion recognition [Facially Expressed Emotion Labelling (FEEL)] and smell identification [University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT)] in 51 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 79 healthy controls; furthermore, working memory functions and clinical variables were assessed. In both the univariate and the multivariate results, illness showed a significant influence on UPSIT and FEEL. The inclusion of age and working memory in the MANOVA resulted in a differential effect with sex and working memory as remaining significant factors. Duration of illness was correlated with both emotion recognition and smell identification in men only, whereas immediate general psychopathology and negative symptoms were associated with emotion recognition only in women. Being affected by schizophrenia spectrum disorder impacts one's ability to correctly recognize facial affects and identify odors. Converging evidence suggests a link between the investigated basic and social cognitive abilities in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders with a strong contribution of working memory and differential effects of modulators in women vs. men.

Confidence Intervals for True Scores Using the Skew-Normal Distribution

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garcia-Perez, Miguel A.

2010-01-01

A recent comparative analysis of alternative interval estimation approaches and procedures has shown that confidence intervals (CIs) for true raw scores determined with the Score method--which uses the normal approximation to the binomial distribution--have actual coverage probabilities that are closest to their nominal level. It has also recently…

7 CFR 301.50-10 - Treatments and management method.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... be treated with methyl bromide at normal atmospheric pressure with 48 g/m3 (3 lb/1000 ft3) for 16... garlands. Cut pine Christmas trees and raw pine materials for pine wreaths and garlands may be treated with methyl bromide at normal atmospheric pressure as follows: Temperature Dosage: pounds per 1000 feet 3...

Changes in Mood States Are Induced by Smelling Familiar and Exotic Fragrances

PubMed Central

Sarid, Orly; Zaccai, Michele

2016-01-01

Familiar fragrances usually induce positive mood states and elicit favorable evaluation. Relaxation is also widely thought to improve mood state. Yet experimental evidence on the effect of two different stimuli, fragrance smelling and breathing relaxation, on mood state, and fragrance evaluation is lacking. This study aimed to test (1) the effect of two familiar fragrances, lavender and myrtle, and two exotic fragrances, bergamot and ravensara, on perceived mood states before and after relaxation, (2) the effect of relaxation on perceived mood states for each fragrance, and (3) the effect of relaxation on fragrance evaluation as defined by adjectives. We hypothesized that mood states and assessment of the fragrances would differently be affected both in familiar vs. non-familiar fragrances and also before and after relaxation. Participants (n = 127) completed questionnaires on their mood states at baseline (T0). They were then presented with each of the four fragrances separately and asked to report on mood state and to assess the fragrances with adjectives before (T1) and after (T2) breathing relaxation. Analyses of the T0–T1 delta values of mood states by ANOVA repeated measures and post hoc comparisons showed that mood states were affected by fragrance smelling with no clear differences observed between familiar and exotic fragrances. The same analyses of T1–T2 values showed no differences in mood state after breathing relaxation and fragrance smelling. Fragrance assessment by adjectives indicated a non-conclusive trend for familiar and exotic fragrances. In sum, mood states induced by the fragrance smelling stimulus (T0–T1) were not changed by the addition of the second stimulus of relaxation (T1–T2), indicating that the former stimulus was stronger than the latter. On the other hand, the cognitive component represented by adjective-based assessment of fragrances was slightly modified by the relaxation stimulus. PMID:27877148

The effect of cigarillo packaging elements on young adult perceptions of product flavor, taste, smell, and appeal

PubMed Central

Ranney, Leah M.; Lazard, Allison J.; Kim, KyungSu; Queen, Tara L.; Avishai, Aya; Boynton, Marcella H.; Sheeran, Paschal J.; Goldstein, Adam O.

2018-01-01

Introduction Product packaging has long been used by the tobacco industry to target consumers and manipulate product perceptions. This study examines the extent to which cigarillo packaging influences perceptions of product flavor, taste, smell, and appeal. Methods A web-based experiment was conducted among young adults. Participants viewed three randomly selected cigarillo packs, varying on pack flavor descriptor, color, type, branding, and warning—totaling 180 pack images. Mixed-effects models were used to estimate the effect of pack elements on product perceptions. Results A total of 2,664 current, ever, and never little cigar and cigarillo users participated. Cigarillo packs with a flavor descriptor were perceived as having a more favorable taste (β = 0.21, p < .001) and smell (β = 0.14, p < .001) compared to packs with no flavor descriptor. Compared to packs with no color, pink and purple packs were more likely to be perceived as containing a flavor (β = 0.11, p < .001), and were rated more favorably on taste (β = 0.17, p < .001), smell (β = 0.15, p < .001), and appeal (β = 0.16, p < .001). While warnings on packs decreased favorable perceptions of product taste (pictorial: β = -0.07, p = .03) and smell (text-only: β = -0.08, p = .01; pictorial: β = -0.09, p = .007), warnings did not moderate the effects of flavor descriptor or color. Conclusions To our knowledge, this study provides the first quantitative evidence that cigarillo packaging alters consumers’ cognitive responses, and warnings on packs do not suffice to overcome the effects of product packaging. The findings support efforts at federal, state, and local levels to prohibit flavor descriptors and their associated product flavoring in non-cigarette products such as cigarillos, along with new data that supports restrictions on flavor cues and colors. PMID:29672604

Relationship between Sensory Perception and Frailty in a Community-Dwelling Elderly Population.

PubMed

Somekawa, S; Mine, T; Ono, K; Hayashi, N; Obuchi, S; Yoshida, H; Kawai, H; Fujiwara, Y; Hirano, H; Kojima, M; Ihara, K; Kim, H

2017-01-01

Aging anorexia, defined as loss of appetite and/or reduced food intake, has been postulated as a risk factor for frailty. Impairments of taste and smell perception in elderly people can lead to reduced enjoyment of food and contribute to the anorexia of aging. To evaluate the relationship between frailty and taste and smell perception in elderly people living in urban areas. Data from the baseline evaluation of 768 residents aged ≥ 65 years who enrolled in a comprehensive geriatric health examination survey was analyzed. Fourteen out of 29-items of Appetite, Hunger, Sensory Perception questionnaire (AHSP), frailty, age, sex, BMI, chronic conditions and IADL were evaluated. AHSP was analyzed as the total score of 8 taste items (T) and 6 smell items (S). Frailty was diagnosed using a modified Fried's frailty criteria. The area under the receiver operator curves for detection of frailty demonstrated that T (0.715) had moderate accuracy, but S (0.657) had low accuracy. The cutoffs, sensitivity, specificity and Youden Index (YI) values for each perception were T: Cutoff 26.5 (YI: 0.350, sensitivity: 0.639, specificity: 0.711) and S: Cutoff 18.5 (YI: 0.246, sensitivity: 0.690, specificity: 0.556). Results from multiple logistic regression models, after adjusting for age, sex, IADL and chronic conditions showed that participants under the T cutoff were associated with exhaustion and those below the S cutoff were associated with slow walking speed. The adjusted logistic models for age, sex, IADL and chronic conditions showed significant association between T and frailty (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.29-6.12), but not between S and frailty (OR 1.73, 95% CI 0.83-3.63). Taste and smell perception, particularly taste perception, were associated with a greater risk of frailty in community-dwelling elderly people. These results suggest that lower taste and smell perception may be an indicator of frailty in old age.

[Protein metabolism in vegans].

PubMed

Okuda, T; Miyoshi-Nishimura, H; Makita, T; Sugawa-Katayama, Y; Hazama, T; Simizu, T; Yamaguchi, Y

1994-11-01

To elucidate the mechanisms of adaptation to a low-energy and low-protein vegan diet, we carried out dietary surveys and nitrogen balance studies five times during one year on two women and a man who ate raw brown rice, raw green vegetables, three kinds of raw roots, fruit and salt daily. Individual subjects modified this vegan diet slightly. The mean daily energy intake of the subjects was 18, 14, and 32 kcal/kg, of body weight. The loss of body weight was about 10% of the initial level. The daily nitrogen balance was -32, -33, and -11 mg N/kg of body weight. In spite of the negative nitrogen balance, the results of routine clinical tests, initially normal, did not change with the vegan diet. Ten months after the start of the vegan diet, the subjects were given 15N urea orally. The incorporation of 15N into serum proteins suggested that these subjects could utilize urea nitrogen for body protein synthesis. The level of 15N in serum proteins was close to the level in other normal adult men on a low-protein diet with adequate energy for 2 weeks.

Chiral recognition of sandalwood odorants.

PubMed

Bajgrowicz, J A; Frater, G

2000-01-01

Looking for more efficient sandalwood oil smelling compounds, new campholenic aldehyde derivatives with rigidifying cyclopropane rings were prepared. For some of them, having the lowest odor threshold ever measured for this type of odorants and a very appreciated scent, close to that of the scarce natural sandalwood oils, pure stereoisomers were obtained and their olfactory properties were evaluated. Thus acquired structure-odor relationship data, together with consolidated and completed previous knowledge on structurally different sandalwood-smelling compounds, allowed to propose new models of the sandalwood olfactophore.

Experiencing the Sights, Smells, Sounds, and Climate of Southern Italy in VR.

PubMed

Manghisi, Vito M; Fiorentino, Michele; Gattullo, Michele; Boccaccio, Antonio; Bevilacqua, Vitoantonio; Cascella, Giuseppe L; Dassisti, Michele; Uva, Antonio E

2017-01-01

This article explores what it takes to make interactive computer graphics and VR attractive as a promotional vehicle, from the points of view of tourism agencies and the tourists themselves. The authors exploited current VR and human-machine interface (HMI) technologies to develop an interactive, innovative, and attractive user experience called the Multisensory Apulia Touristic Experience (MATE). The MATE system implements a natural gesture-based interface and multisensory stimuli, including visuals, audio, smells, and climate effects.

Language and Community in Orwell’s Anglo-India and in 1984.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-05-01

which party women do not wear, the same scent the disgusts Winston when he smells it during intercourse with a proletarian whore (1984 56). But on Julia...cover. Give the name(s) of the author(s) in conventional order (for example, John R. Doe or, if author prefers , 1. Robert Doe). In addition, list the...classes smelled (The Road to Wigan Pier 128). Although he is the first to condemn his belief as simply a class prejudice taught him in his youth, the

Design of optimised backstepping controller for the synchronisation of chaotic Colpitts oscillator using shark smell algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fouladi, Ehsan; Mojallali, Hamed

2018-01-01

In this paper, an adaptive backstepping controller has been tuned to synchronise two chaotic Colpitts oscillators in a master-slave configuration. The parameters of the controller are determined using shark smell optimisation (SSO) algorithm. Numerical results are presented and compared with those of particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm. Simulation results show better performance in terms of accuracy and convergence for the proposed optimised method compared to PSO optimised controller or any non-optimised backstepping controller.

[Dogs as a diagnostic tool--utopian dream or unexploited possibility?].

PubMed

Klockars, Tuomas

2016-01-01

The dog's sense of smell has been estimated to be as much as 100 000 times more sensitive than that of man. While the dog's sense of smell is utilized by various authorities, medical exploitation of dogs is scarce. A disorder causes in the body metabolic changes, which could possibly be detected by using trained dogs. Promising studies have been published in recent years about the use of diagnostic dogs in identifying cancers or antibiotic-associated diarrhea, for example.

Practical approach to the loss of smell

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gordon, C.B.

1982-09-01

Loss of the sense of smell can be easily confirmed in any physician's office by having the patient try to identify various odors. The etiology of anosmia can be extremely varied, including nasopharyngeal disorders such as rhinitis and tumors; neurologic conditions such as head trauma, neoplasms, vascular lesions and infections of the central nervous system; viral infections; familial and congenital disorders; drugs; industrial exposure; endocrine diseases, and several other disorders. The prognosis of anosmia is guarded, and its treatment depends on the etiology.

An accurate registration technique for distorted images

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delapena, Michele; Shaw, Richard A.; Linde, Peter; Dravins, Dainis

1990-01-01

Accurate registration of International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) images is crucial because the variability of the geometrical distortions that are introduced by the SEC-Vidicon cameras ensures that raw science images are never perfectly aligned with the Intensity Transfer Functions (ITFs) (i.e., graded floodlamp exposures that are used to linearize and normalize the camera response). A technique for precisely registering IUE images which uses a cross correlation of the fixed pattern that exists in all raw IUE images is described.

Length of time domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) spend smelling urine of gonadectomised and intact conspecifics.

PubMed

Riach, Anna C; Asquith, Rachel; Fallon, Melissa L D

2017-09-01

Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) use urine to communicate among themselves, however, it is unknown whether the gonadectomy (neutering or spaying) of a dog affects this communication in anyway. Urine samples from 10 intact and 10 gonadectomised, unfamiliar dogs were presented to 12 tester dogs to sniff under controlled conditions in a pilot study. The amount of time the tester dogs spent sniffing each sample was recorded. Overall, tester dogs were recorded smelling the urine of gonadectomised individuals for a longer time. In addition to the type of urine sample, the result is likely to have been influenced by the sex and status (gonadectomised or intact) of the tester dogs. The observed increase in the length of time spent sniffing urine from gonadectomised individuals could be explained by the tester dogs experiencing more difficulty in gaining information from the urine or facing more confusion while analysing the urine compared to the intact urine they have evolved to smell. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Odors are expressible in language, as long as you speak the right language.

PubMed

Majid, Asifa; Burenhult, Niclas

2014-02-01

From Plato to Pinker there has been the common belief that the experience of a smell is impossible to put into words. Decades of studies have confirmed this observation. But the studies to date have focused on participants from urbanized Western societies. Cross-cultural research suggests that there may be other cultures where odors play a larger role. The Jahai of the Malay Peninsula are one such group. We tested whether Jahai speakers could name smells as easily as colors in comparison to a matched English group. Using a free naming task we show on three different measures that Jahai speakers find it as easy to name odors as colors, whereas English speakers struggle with odor naming. Our findings show that the long-held assumption that people are bad at naming smells is not universally true. Odors are expressible in language, as long as you speak the right language. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Swiss identity smells like chocolate: Social identity shapes olfactory judgments

PubMed Central

Coppin, Géraldine; Pool, Eva; Delplanque, Sylvain; Oud, Bastiaan; Margot, Christian; Sander, David; Van Bavel, Jay J.

2016-01-01

There is extensive evidence that social identities can shape people’s attitudes and behavior, but what about sensory judgments? We examined the possibility that social identity concerns may also shape the judgment of non-social properties—namely, olfactory judgment. In two experiments, we presented Swiss and non-Swiss participants with the odor of chocolate, for which Switzerland is world-famous, and a control odor (popcorn). Swiss participants primed with Swiss identity reported the odor of chocolate (but not popcorn) as more intense than non-Swiss participants (Experiments 1 and 2) and than Swiss participants primed with individual identity or not primed (Experiment 2). The self-reported intensity of chocolate smell tended to increase as identity accessibility increased—but only among Swiss participants (Experiment 1). These results suggest that identity priming can counter-act classic sensory habituation effects, allowing identity-relevant smells to maintain their intensity after repeated presentations. This suggests that social identity dynamically influences sensory judgment. We discuss the potential implications for models of social identity and chemosensory perception. PMID:27725715

Inhibition of oxidative stress in cholinergic projection neurons fully rescues aging-associated olfactory circuit degeneration in Drosophila

PubMed Central

Loschek, Laura F; La Fortezza, Marco; Friedrich, Anja B; Blais, Catherine-Marie; Üçpunar, Habibe K; Yépez, Vicente A; Lehmann, Martin; Gompel, Nicolas; Gagneur, Julien; Sigrist, Stephan J

2018-01-01

Loss of the sense of smell is among the first signs of natural aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Cellular and molecular mechanisms promoting this smell loss are not understood. Here, we show that Drosophila melanogaster also loses olfaction before vision with age. Within the olfactory circuit, cholinergic projection neurons show a reduced odor response accompanied by a defect in axonal integrity and reduction in synaptic marker proteins. Using behavioral functional screening, we pinpoint that expression of the mitochondrial reactive oxygen scavenger SOD2 in cholinergic projection neurons is necessary and sufficient to prevent smell degeneration in aging flies. Together, our data suggest that oxidative stress induced axonal degeneration in a single class of neurons drives the functional decline of an entire neural network and the behavior it controls. Given the important role of the cholinergic system in neurodegeneration, the fly olfactory system could be a useful model for the identification of drug targets. PMID:29345616

Making scents of transition: smellscapes and the everyday in "old" and "new" urban Poland.

PubMed

Śliwa, Martyna; Riach, Kathleen

2012-01-01

In this article, the growing body of literature on transition within central and eastern Europe is developed by exploring how discussing the senses may illuminate the experience of change to post-socialism for urban dwellers. After situating the study within the rich ethnographic heritage on urban transition, the key tenets of ‘geographies of smell’ are outlined as a means of inquiry which emphasises the lived, sensually embodied experience of transition. The empirical study is focused upon the interrogation of the meanings created by, and attached to, olfactory experience in contemporary Poland, discussing three motifs that highlight the symbolic and transformative role of smell in relation to transition. In understanding smell as playing an active role in the creation of meaning, not only are current debates surrounding geographies of smell extended, but it is argued that addressing the relatively neglected sensual dimension of the social provides an avenue into more nuanced dimensions of urban transition.

[Olfactory sensory perception].

PubMed

Fuentes, Aler; Fresno, María Javiera; Santander, Hugo; Valenzuela, Saúl; Gutiérrez, Mario Felipe; Miralles, Rodolfo

2011-03-01

The five senses have had a fundamental importance for survival and socialization of human beings. From an evolutionary point of view the sense of smell is the oldest. This sense has a strong representation within the genome, allowing the existence of many types of receptors that allow us to capture multiple volatile odor producing molecules, sending electrical signals to higher centers to report the outside world. Several cortical areas are activated in the brain, which are interconnected to form an extensive and complex neural network, linking for example, areas involved with memory and emotions, thus giving this sense of perceptual richness. While the concept of flavor is largely related to the sense of taste, smell provides the necessary integration with the rest of the senses and higher functions. Fully understanding the sense of smell is relevant to health professionals. Knowing the characteristics of the receptors, the transduction processes and convergence of information in the higher centers involved, we can properly detect olfactory disorders in our patients.

Swiss identity smells like chocolate: Social identity shapes olfactory judgments.

PubMed

Coppin, Géraldine; Pool, Eva; Delplanque, Sylvain; Oud, Bastiaan; Margot, Christian; Sander, David; Van Bavel, Jay J

2016-10-11

There is extensive evidence that social identities can shape people's attitudes and behavior, but what about sensory judgments? We examined the possibility that social identity concerns may also shape the judgment of non-social properties-namely, olfactory judgment. In two experiments, we presented Swiss and non-Swiss participants with the odor of chocolate, for which Switzerland is world-famous, and a control odor (popcorn). Swiss participants primed with Swiss identity reported the odor of chocolate (but not popcorn) as more intense than non-Swiss participants (Experiments 1 and 2) and than Swiss participants primed with individual identity or not primed (Experiment 2). The self-reported intensity of chocolate smell tended to increase as identity accessibility increased-but only among Swiss participants (Experiment 1). These results suggest that identity priming can counter-act classic sensory habituation effects, allowing identity-relevant smells to maintain their intensity after repeated presentations. This suggests that social identity dynamically influences sensory judgment. We discuss the potential implications for models of social identity and chemosensory perception.

Characterization of odorants in inflatable aquatic toys and swimming learning devices-which substances are causative for the characteristic odor and potentially harmful?

PubMed

Wiedmer, Christoph; Velasco-Schön, Cristina; Buettner, Andrea

2017-06-01

Based on the observation of intense and offensive smells in the product group of aquatic toys, four representative products were exemplarily chosen and sensorially characterized by an expert panel. Panellists reported mostly almond- and rubber-like notes for three of the four samples, whereas the smell of the fourth sample was dominated by organic solvent-associated notes such as "nail polish-like." To elucidate the molecular reasons of these smells, we isolated the volatile fraction of the product by solvent extraction and high vacuum distillation, and identified the main odorants by aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA), followed by one- and two-dimensional gas chromatography, with parallel mass spectrometric and olfactometric detection. Additionally, the materials of the samples were identified by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy (ATR-spectroscopy), and Beilstein halogen test. Between 32 and 46 odors could be detected in each sample by means of AEDA, whereby five to 13 of these compounds were detectable with by far the highest dilution factors, and were found to primarily correlate with the smells of the respective products. Focussing the subsequent identification on these causative substances led to the successful identification of the majority of these odorants. Among them were several mono- or di-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and their epoxidized derivatives, which are typical odorous artefacts from fatty acid oxidation, but also odor-active organic solvents such as cyclohexanone, isophorone, and phenol.

The outcome of septorhinoplasty surgery on olfactory function.

PubMed

Randhawa, P S; Watson, N; Lechner, M; Ritchie, L; Choudhury, N; Andrews, P J

2016-02-01

To assess olfactory outcomes in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty surgery in our unit. Prospective cohort study. The Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, London. Forty-three patients undergoing functional septorhinoplasty (Males = 26; mean age = 34.1 ± 12.2) were recruited into the study. The primary outcome of olfactory function was assessed using 'Sniffin sticks'. Our secondary outcomes were assessment of patient quality of life using the disease specific Sino-nasal Outcome Test-23 questionnaire (SNOT-23) and a visual analogue scale for sense of smell. These measures were repeated at 12 weeks post operatively. There was a significant change in the Sniffin' sticks score post-operatively (8.3 versus 9.6; P < 0.001). The SNOT-23 score also showed a significant improvement post-operatively (53.5 versus 40.4; P < 0.001). A significant improvement was not found in the smell/taste question (question 21) of the SNOT-23 questionnaire as well as the visual analogue scale for sense of smell. A difference in olfactory outcome was not found between open versus closed approaches, primary versus revision surgery and traumatic versus non traumatic cases. The results show a measured significant improvement in olfaction following functional Septorhinoplasty but not a subjective improvement in the patients perception of their sense of smell and hence not a clinically significant difference. The reasons for the measured improvement are not clear and are likely to be multifactorial. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Gross Olfaction Before and After Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass.

PubMed

Zerrweck, Carlos; Gallardo, Vannia Castañeda; Calleja, Carmen; Sepúlveda, Elisa; Guilber, Lizbeth

2017-11-01

Obesity leads to olfaction alterations, and this can further impact food choices, appetite, and nutritional status. Bariatric procedures induce weight loss and change in taste and smell perception, but more information is needed, especially using objective olfaction tests. A prospective study was conducted during 6 months, with candidates to laparoscopic gastric bypass at a single institution. A preoperative nasofibroscopy and gross smell identification test (The Pocket Smell Test ®) were performed in those meeting the inclusion criteria. After 6 months, a new test was performed, and the primary objective was to determine if there was an improvement in the olfaction score. Weight loss and comorbidities improvement were also analyzed. From the 30 patients with morbid obesity enrolled, 21 met the inclusion criteria and ENT evaluation. At baseline, 42.8% of patients scored 3 points, 53.3% scored 2 points, and 4.7% scored 1 point. After 6 months, there was a -81.1% of change. Seventeen patients scored 3 points (p = 0.002 vs initial) and two scored 2 points (p = 0.006 vs initial). There were no patients with less than 2 points. Weight and comorbidities had a significant improvement as well. Laparoscopic gastric bypass improves the olfaction scores of the Pocket Smell Test in morbidly obese patients 6 months after their procedure. More complex tests can be used in candidates to bariatric surgery if low scores are detected initially. Other causes of olfaction dysfunctions should be determined if there is no improvement after weight loss.

Transmission of olfactory information for tele-medicine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keller, P.E.; Kouzes, R.T.; Kangas, L.J.

1995-01-01

While the inclusion of visual, aural, and tactile senses into virtual reality systems is widespread, the sense of smell has been largely ignored. We have developed a chemical vapor sensing system for the automated identification of chemical vapors (smells). Our prototype chemical vapor sensing system is composed of an array of tin-oxide vapor sensors coupled to an artificial neural net-work. The artificial neural network is used in the recognition of different smells and is constructed as a standard multilayer feed-forward network trained with the backpropagation algorithm. When a chemical sensor array is combined with an automated pattern identifier, it ismore » often referred to as an electronic or artificial nose. Applications of electronic noses include monitoring food and beverage odors, automated flavor control, analyzing fuel mixtures, and quantifying individual components in gas mixtures. Our prototype electronic nose has been used to identify odors from common household chemicals. An electronic nose will potentially be a key component in an olfactory input to a telepresent virtual reality system. The identified odor would be electronically transmitted from the electronic nose at one site to an odor generation system at another site. This combination would function as a mechanism for transmitting olfactory information for telepresence. This would have direct applicability in the area of telemedicine since the sense of smell is an important sense to the physician and surgeon. In this paper, our chemical sensing system (electronic nose) is presented along with a proposed method for regenerating the transmitted olfactory information.« less

Effect of Septorhinoplasty on Olfactory Function: Assessment Using the Brief Smell Identification Test.

PubMed

Dengiz, Ramazan; Haytoğlu, Süheyl; Görgülü, Orhan; Doğru, Mehmet; Arıkan, Osman Kürşat

2015-03-01

Septorhinoplasty (SRP), one of the most commonly performed rhinologic surgery procedures, can affect olfactory function; however, the findings of studies investigating smell following SRP are controversial. We used a culturally adapted modified Brief Smell Identification Test (B-SIT) to investigate the long- and short-term effects of SRP on olfactory function. We enrolled 59 patients admitted to the Ear-Nose-Throat Clinic, who were complaining of external nasal deformity and nasal obstruction. Functional SRP was performed on all cases. The B-SIT was administered prior to surgery and at 4 and 12 weeks post-surgery. The smell identification score (SIS) reflected the number of correct answers. In addition, we investigated the effects of gender and smoking on olfactory function and whether the SRP procedure changed these associations. The mean preoperative, 4-week, and 12-week postoperative SISs were 10.15±1.30, 10.21±1.52, and 10.92±0.95, respectively. The difference between the preoperative and 4-week postoperative SISs was not statistically significant; however, the 12-week postoperative score was significantly different from the preoperative and 4-week postoperative scores. Furthermore, the repeated measures analysis according to gender and smoking habit revealed a significant difference between the 4-and 12-week postoperative SISs. One patient developed postoperative anosmia; however, the patient recovered in the 12-week postoperative period. SRP surgery is a safe procedure in terms of olfactory function. In addition, olfactory function may increase following surgery as a result of improved nasal airflow.

Appearance is a function of the face.

PubMed

Borah, Gregory L; Rankin, Marlene K

2010-03-01

Increasingly, third-party insurers deny coverage to patients with posttraumatic and congenital facial deformities because these are not seen as "functional." Recent facial transplants have demonstrated that severely deformed patients are willing to undergo potentially life-threatening surgery in search of a normal physiognomy. Scant quantitative research exists that objectively documents appearance as a primary "function" of the face. This study was designed to establish a population-based definition of the functions of the human face, rank importance of the face among various anatomical areas, and determine the risk value the average person places on a normal appearance. Voluntary adult subjects (n = 210) in three states aged 18 to 75 years were recruited using a quota sampling technique. Subjects completed study questionnaires of demography and bias using the Gamble Chance of Death Questionnaire and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The face ranked as the most important anatomical area for functional reconstruction. Appearance was the fifth most important function of the face, after breathing, sight, speech, and eating. Normal facial appearance was rated as very important for one to be a functioning member of American society (p = 0.01) by 49 percent. One in seven subjects (13 percent) would accept a 30 to 45 percent risk of death to obtain a "normal" face. Normal appearance is a primary function of the face, based on a large, culturally diverse population sample across the lifespan. Normal appearance ranks above smell and expression as a function. Restoration of facial appearance is ranked the most important anatomical area for repair. Normal facial appearance is very important for one to be a functional member of American society.

A study to examine the relationship between metritis severity and depletion of oxytetracycline in plasma and milk after intrauterine infusion.

PubMed

Gorden, P J; Ydstie, J A; Kleinhenz, M D; Wulf, L W; Gehring, R; Lee, C J; Wang, C; Coetzee, J F

2016-10-01

Metritis is a frequent problem in postpartum dairy cows. Intrauterine therapy with the antimicrobial oxytetracycline (OTC) is often used, although this therapy has not been shown to be superior to systemic therapy. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the plasma and milk concentrations of OTC following intrauterine infusion in postpartum dairy cows with varying degrees of metritis severity; (2) determine the depletion time of OTC in an attempt to provide veterinarians withdrawal guidelines, should they use this therapy; and (3) correlate metritis severity scores with OTC concentrations in plasma and milk. Our hypothesis was that cows with more severe metritis would have higher OTC concentrations in milk following intrauterine therapy. Thirty-two cows were selected to participate in the study after farm personnel had determined that they had metritis based on evaluation of vaginal discharge between 4 and 14 DIM, in accordance with the farm's treatment protocols. Metritis scores (1-4) were assigned based on a published scheme: 1 represented yellow-to-orange thick discharge or translucent mucus with no fetid smell; 2 represented blood-tinged vaginal mucus, slightly watery, with little or no fetid smell; 3 represented red to red/brown watery discharge with moderate fetid smell; and 4 represented red to red/brown watery discharge containing pieces of placenta and an intense fetid smell. Trial cows received a single treatment of 4g of OTC (approximately 6.7mg/kg) via intrauterine infusion. Blood samples were collected over 96h, and milk samples were collected before intrauterine therapy and 3 times a day for 4 d following infusion. Following treatment, OTC rapidly diffused to plasma and subsequently to milk. Maximum OTC concentrations in plasma and milk occurred within the first 24h following intrauterine infusion, and 25 of the 32 cows had detectable OTC concentrations in milk at 4 d after intrauterine infusion. Cows with clinical metritis (metritis severity scores of 3 or 4) at the initiation of treatment were significantly and positively correlated with higher milk OTC concentrations at the second [time (T)9 h; r=0.43], fourth (T25 h; r=0.42), and fifth milking following treatment (T33 h; r=0.38) compared with cows with normal vaginal discharge. We also observed a positive correlation between initial metritis score and milk maximum concentration (r=0.36) and milk area under the concentration curve (r=0.36). Given that intrauterine administration of OTC is an extra-label therapy, dairy producers should consult with their veterinarian to ensure that milk is being tested at or below the established tolerance for OTC. This will ensure that violative drug residues do not enter the human food supply. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Toxin-Induced Autoimmune Hepatitis Caused by Raw Cashew Nuts.

PubMed

Crismale, James F; Stueck, Ashley; Bansal, Meena

2016-08-01

A 64-year-old man with no past medical history presented with abnormally elevated liver enzymes 1 year after developing a diffuse rash thought to be related to eating large quantities of raw cashew nuts. Liver biopsy was performed, which revealed features concerning for drug- or toxin-induced autoimmune hepatitis. The patient began treatment with azathioprine and prednisone, and liver enzymes normalized. We describe a unique case of a toxin-induced autoimmune hepatitis precipitated not by a drug or dietary supplement but by a food product.

Evaluation of two raw diets vs a commercial cooked diet on feline growth.

PubMed

Hamper, Beth A; Bartges, Joseph W; Kirk, Claudia A

2017-04-01

Objectives The objective of this study was to determine if two raw feline diets were nutritionally adequate for kittens. Methods Twenty-four 9-week-old kittens underwent an Association of American Feed Control Officials' (AAFCO) 10 week growth feeding trial with two raw diet groups and one cooked diet group (eight kittens in each). Morphometric measurements (weight, height and length), complete blood counts, serum chemistry, whole blood taurine and fecal cultures were evaluated. Results Overall, the growth parameters were similar for all diet groups, indicating the two raw diets used in this study supported feline growth, within the limitations of an AAFCO growth feeding trial. Kittens fed the raw diets had lower albumin ( P = 0.010) and higher globulin ( P = 0.04) levels than the kittens fed the cooked diet. These lower albumin levels were not clinically significant, as all groups were still within normal age reference intervals. A red cell microcytosis ( P = 0.001) was noted in the combination raw diet group. Increases in fecal Clostridium perfringens were noted in all groups, along with positive fecal Salmonella serovar Heidelberg and Clostridium difficile toxin in the combination raw diet group. Conclusions and relevance The majority of the parameters for feline growth were similar among all groups, indicating the two raw diets studied passed an AAFCO growth trial. In theory, it is possible to pass an AAFCO growth trial but still have nutrient deficiencies in the long term due to liver and fat storage depots. Some of the raw feeders had elevated globulin and microcytosis, likely associated with known enteropathogenic exposure. Disease risks to both pets and owners are obvious. Additional research in this area is needed to investigate the impact of raw diets on the health of domestic cats.

Fish odor syndrome.

PubMed

Rehman, H U

1999-08-01

Fish odour syndrome (trimethylaminuria) is a metabolic syndrome caused by abnormal excretion of trimethylamine in the breath, urine, sweat, saliva and vaginal secretions. Trimethylamine is derived from the intestinal bacterial degradation of foods rich in choline and carnitine and is normally oxidised by the liver to odorless trimethylamine N-oxide which is then excreted in the urine. Impaired oxidation of trimethylamine is thought to be the cause of the fish odour syndrome and is responsible for the smell of rotting fish. Certain foods rich in choline exacerbate the condition and the patients have a variety of psychological problems. Recognition of the condition is important as dietary adjustments reduce the excretion of trimethylamine and may reduce the odour. Occasionally, a short course of metronidazole, neomycin and lactulose may suppress production of trimethylamine by reducing the activity of gut microflora.

Different cerebral connectivity of obese and lean children studied with fMRI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anaya Moreno, Maryan A.; Hernández López, Javier M.; Hidalgo Tobón, Silvia; Dies Suarez, Pilar; Barragán Pérez, Eduardo; De Celis Alonso, Benito

2014-11-01

In this work we studied the different fMRI brain activations and connections between normal weighted (NW) and obese (OB) infants for different types of food odours. A total of 30 right handed volunteers (infants 8.4±2 years) of both sexes were studied. Infants were divided in two group, one with BMI between 19 and 24 kg/m2 and the other with BMI over 30 kg/m2. The first part of this project consisted of a study in which fMRI BOLD activations to pleasant, neutral and healthy food was performed on both groups. Cerebellum regions were found to be more active in the NW group over the OB when presented with odour cues. OB volunteers in contrast showed larger activations in cingulate cortex structures than their NW counterparts when presented with food odours. The second part of this study performed connectivity studies (ROI to ROI) comparing both groups for each smell. The NW group presented for the onion smell a strong reward anticipation connection between the gustatory cortex and the cingulate cortex which the OB group did not have. In contrast the OB group presented strong orbitofrontal connections (decision making) with gustatory and somatosensory cortex when stimulated with the chocolate odour which the NW did not present. We can conclude that clear differences in fMRI BOLD activation as well as connectivity between the OB and NW groups were found. This points at a very different processing mechanisms of odour cues in infants. To our knowledge this study has never been performed before on infants.

How China Wins: A Case Study of the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-12

better to smell the dung of the French than to eat Chinese dung all one’s life. ―Ho Chi Minh, Quoted in Jean Sainteny, Ho Chi Minh and His Vietnam...Minh, resentful of China’s betrayal at the victor’s table said, “Far better to smell the dung of the French than to eat Chinese dung all one’s life... dinner that included an informal meeting with former President Richard Nixon, followed by a night of entertainment at the Kennedy Center. The next

Tomato Expression Database (TED): a suite of data presentation and analysis tools

PubMed Central

Fei, Zhangjun; Tang, Xuemei; Alba, Rob; Giovannoni, James

2006-01-01

The Tomato Expression Database (TED) includes three integrated components. The Tomato Microarray Data Warehouse serves as a central repository for raw gene expression data derived from the public tomato cDNA microarray. In addition to expression data, TED stores experimental design and array information in compliance with the MIAME guidelines and provides web interfaces for researchers to retrieve data for their own analysis and use. The Tomato Microarray Expression Database contains normalized and processed microarray data for ten time points with nine pair-wise comparisons during fruit development and ripening in a normal tomato variety and nearly isogenic single gene mutants impacting fruit development and ripening. Finally, the Tomato Digital Expression Database contains raw and normalized digital expression (EST abundance) data derived from analysis of the complete public tomato EST collection containing >150 000 ESTs derived from 27 different non-normalized EST libraries. This last component also includes tools for the comparison of tomato and Arabidopsis digital expression data. A set of query interfaces and analysis, and visualization tools have been developed and incorporated into TED, which aid users in identifying and deciphering biologically important information from our datasets. TED can be accessed at . PMID:16381976

Tomato Expression Database (TED): a suite of data presentation and analysis tools.

PubMed

Fei, Zhangjun; Tang, Xuemei; Alba, Rob; Giovannoni, James

2006-01-01

The Tomato Expression Database (TED) includes three integrated components. The Tomato Microarray Data Warehouse serves as a central repository for raw gene expression data derived from the public tomato cDNA microarray. In addition to expression data, TED stores experimental design and array information in compliance with the MIAME guidelines and provides web interfaces for researchers to retrieve data for their own analysis and use. The Tomato Microarray Expression Database contains normalized and processed microarray data for ten time points with nine pair-wise comparisons during fruit development and ripening in a normal tomato variety and nearly isogenic single gene mutants impacting fruit development and ripening. Finally, the Tomato Digital Expression Database contains raw and normalized digital expression (EST abundance) data derived from analysis of the complete public tomato EST collection containing >150,000 ESTs derived from 27 different non-normalized EST libraries. This last component also includes tools for the comparison of tomato and Arabidopsis digital expression data. A set of query interfaces and analysis, and visualization tools have been developed and incorporated into TED, which aid users in identifying and deciphering biologically important information from our datasets. TED can be accessed at http://ted.bti.cornell.edu.

Tips for Living with Scleroderma

MedlinePlus

... raw foods – about 50% of your diet – especially dark, leafy greens to provide chlorophyll and other nutrients. ... normal levels to dangerously high levels in a matter of days. If it continues without treatment, the ...

Anorexia of aging and its role for frailty.

PubMed

Sanford, Angela M

2017-01-01

The purpose of this review is to examine the concept of anorexia of aging, including its complex pathophysiology and the multifaceted interventions required to prevent adverse health consequences from this geriatric syndrome. Anorexia of aging is extremely common, occurring in up to 30% of elderly individuals; however, this diagnosis is frequently missed or erroneously attributed to a normal part of the aging process. With aging, impairments in smell and taste can limit the desire to eat. Alterations in stress hormones and inflammatory mediators can lead to excess catabolism, cachexia, and reduced appetite. In addition, mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, are powerful inhibitors of appetite. Anorexia of aging, with its negative consequences on weight and muscle mass, is a risk factor for the development of frailty and is important to screen for, as early intervention is key to reversing this debilitating condition. Anorexia of aging is a complex geriatric syndrome and a direct risk factor for frailty and thus should not be accepted as normal consequence of aging. Early diagnosis and formulating a plan for targeted interventions is critical to prevent disability and preserve function in elderly patients.

Odor-color associations differ with verbal descriptors for odors: A comparison of three linguistically diverse groups.

PubMed

de Valk, Josje M; Wnuk, Ewelina; Huisman, John L A; Majid, Asifa

2017-08-01

People appear to have systematic associations between odors and colors. Previous research has emphasized the perceptual nature of these associations, but little attention has been paid to what role language might play. It is possible odor-color associations arise through a process of labeling; that is, participants select a descriptor for an odor and then choose a color accordingly (e.g., banana odor → "banana" label → yellow). If correct, this would predict odor-color associations would differ as odor descriptions differ. We compared speakers of Dutch (who overwhelmingly describe odors by referring to the source; e.g., smells like banana) with speakers of Maniq and Thai (who also describe odors with dedicated, abstract smell vocabulary; e.g., musty), and tested whether the type of descriptor mattered for odor-color associations. Participants were asked to select a color that they associated with an odor on two separate occasions (to test for consistency), and finally to label the odors. We found the hunter-gatherer Maniq showed few, if any, consistent or accurate odor-color associations. More importantly, we found the types of descriptors used to name the smells were related to the odor-color associations. When people used abstract smell terms to describe odors, they were less likely to choose a color match, but when they described an odor with a source-based term, their color choices more accurately reflected the odor source, particularly when the odor source was named correctly (e.g., banana odor → yellow). This suggests language is an important factor in odor-color cross-modal associations.

Outcomes in endoscopic sinus surgery: olfaction, nose scale and quality of life in a prospective cohort study.

PubMed

Andrews, P J; Poirrier, A-L; Lund, V J; Choi, D

2016-12-01

To determine the efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) on olfactory function in chronic rhinosinusitis patients with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and to compare the nasal obstruction and symptom evaluation (NOSE) scale before and after surgery. A prospective cohort study SETTING: Royal National Throat and Nose and Ear Hospital, London UK. One hundred and thirteen patients with CRS; 60 CRSwNP and 53 CRSsNP. Olfaction was measured using both the University of Pennsylvania Smell Investigation Test (UPSIT) and the 'sense of smell' visual analogue scale (VAS). The NOSE scale, the sinonasal outcome test (SNOT 22) and the Lund-Kennedy (LK) surgeon reported scores were also measured pre- and postoperatively at 6 months. The UPSIT psychophysical measurement significantly improved following ESS in the CRSwNP subgroup as did the patients perceived VAS sense of smell. However, in the CRSsNP subgroup, the improved VAS and UPSIT measurements were not significant. The NOSE, SNOT 22 and LK scores all improved significantly. The olfactory improvement as measured by the UPSIT correlated to the SNOT-22, but a correlation between the NOSE score and UPSIT was not found. Endoscopic sinus surgery significantly improved the patient's perceived and measured sense of smell in the CRSwNP subgroup which is the most surgically responsive CRS subgroup. Additionally, improved olfaction in the CRSwNP subgroup is most likely to improve the patient's quality of life. Endoscopic sinus surgery significantly improved the NOSE scale in both CRS subgroups at 6 months following surgery. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Clinical evaluation of liquid placebos for an herbal supplement, STW5, in healthy volunteers.

PubMed

Yoon, Saunjoo L; Grundmann, Oliver; Keane, Devan; Urbano, Theodore; Moshiree, Baharak

2012-10-01

Although clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of liquid herbal medicinal products, design of feasible placebos that mimic the appearance, taste, and smell of such products is particularly challenging. The design and feasibility of a liquid placebo for STW5, an herbal medicinal product used for various gastrointestinal problems, was explored in this study. Four sample products-STW5, a fresh and aged version of a placebo made from a seasoning mix (Maggi™), and a placebo with aged artificial flavor and food coloring-were compared in two organoleptic (sensory), single-blind trials with a total of 60 (N=60) healthy volunteers (n(1)=30, n(2)=30). The appearance, smell, and taste of each solution were evaluated using a Likert scale questionnaire. The liquid placebos evaluated were similar in regard to appearance, smell, and taste. However, participants indicated that for a clinical trial with STW5, the aged Maggi™ placebo would be more viable compared to the fresh Maggi placebo or the aged artificial food coloring placebo with licorice flavor. Participants also noted that the mint flavor and smell of STW5 was distinctly different from the placebo solutions. The trials were conducted in healthy volunteers, not in actual patients. The aged Maggi™ liquid mix may be more favorable as a placebo than the artificially created one. However, further adjustment will need to be made to the Maggi™ placebo to simulate the complex aromatic composition of STW5 for clinical studies in the future. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fluctuating olfactory sensitivity and distorted odor perception in allergic rhinitis.

PubMed

Apter, A J; Gent, J F; Frank, M E

1999-09-01

To characterize the relationship between allergic rhinitis, the severity and duration of nasal disease, olfactory function, and self-reported olfactory symptoms, including fluctuations or distortions in odor perception. Assessment of olfactory function and symptoms of 90 patients with allergic rhinitis. A clinic of a university teaching hospital and research facility. Sixty patients who presented to the Taste and Smell Clinic who had positive allergy test results and 30 patients who presented to the Allergy-Immunology Clinic. The Taste and Smell Clinic patients were grouped by nasal-sinus disease status (30 without chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyps, 14 with chronic rhinosinusitis but without polyps, and 16 with nasal polyps). Subjective olfactory symptom questionnaire and objective olfactory function tests. The Allergy-Immunology Clinic patients were diagnosed as being normosmic and the Taste and Smell Clinic patients as being hyposmic or anosmic with olfactory loss that increased significantly with nasal-sinus disease severity. Comparisons with normative data confirm that olfactory scores observed in all groups were significantly lower than expected because of the aging process alone. The self-reported duration of olfactory loss increased significantly with nasal-sinus disease severity. The Taste and Smell Clinic patients without chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyps reported the greatest incidence of olfactory distortions and olfactory loss associated with upper respiratory tract infections. There appears to be a continuum of duration and severity of olfactory loss in allergic rhinitis that parallels increasing severity of nasal-sinus disease. As a result of the increased frequency of respiratory infection associated with allergic rhinitis, these patients are at risk for damage to the olfactory epithelium.

The Prevalence of Olfactory Dysfunction in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

PubMed Central

Kohli, Preeti; Naik, Akash N.; Harruff, E. Emily; Nguyen, Shaun A.; Schlosser, Rodney J.; Soler, Zachary M.

2016-01-01

Objective Many studies have reported that olfactory dysfunction frequently occurs in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) populations; however, the prevalence and degree of olfactory loss has not been systematically studied. The aims of this study are to use combined data to report the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction and to calculate weighted averages of olfactory test scores in CRS patients. Data Sources A search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus, following the methods of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Review Methods Studies reporting the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction using objective measures or olfactory test scores using validated scales were included. Results A total of 47 articles were included in systematic review and 35 in the pooled data analysis. The prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis was found to be 30.0% using the Brief Smell Identification Test, 67.0% using the 40-item Smell Identification Test, and 78.2% using the total Sniffin’ Sticks score. Weighted averages ± standard deviation of olfactory test scores were 25.96±7.11 using the 40-item Smell Identification Test, 8.60±2.81 using the Brief Smell Identification Test, 21.96±8.88 using total Sniffin’ sticks score, 5.65±1.51 using Sniffin’ Sticks threshold, 9.21±4.63 using Sniffin’ Sticks discrimination, 9.47±3.92 using Sniffin’ Sticks Identification, and 8.90±5.14 using the questionnaire for olfactory disorders-negative statements. Conclusion In chronic rhinosinusitis populations, a significant percentage of patients experience olfactory dysfunction and mean olfactory scores are within the dysosmic range. PMID:27873345

Enhancing quality practice for prevention and diagnosis of urinary tract infection during inpatient spinal cord rehabilitation.

PubMed

Alavinia, Seyed Mohammad; Omidvar, Maryam; Farahani, Farnoosh; Bayley, Mark; Zee, Joana; Craven, Beverley Catharine

2017-11-01

To reduce the incidence of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in subacute SCI individuals admitted for tertiary inpatient rehabilitation. A quality improvement team was assembled to improve UTI prevention/diagnosis. To plan data collection, UTI-related factors were mapped in an Ishikawa (fishbone) driver diagram. Data including patient demographics, presence and frequency of signs and/or symptoms of UTI and antibiotic initiation from August to December 2015 were recorded. Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive and Negative Predictive Values (PPV, NPV), and Likelihood Ratios (LR) were calculated for each sign and symptom. Tertiary SCI Rehabilitation Results: Among 55 inpatients with subacute SCI who had signs/symptoms prompting urine culture and sensitivity (C&S), 32 (58.18%) were diagnosed with a UTI. The most frequent symptoms were foul smelling urine (41%), change in urine color (31%), and incontinence (25%), and the most common sign was fever (34%). Most UTIs (81%) occurred among individuals using Clean Intermittent Catheterization (CIC), with 46% of catheterizations performed by nurses. Foul smelling urine had the highest sensitivity (0.50, 95% CI: 0.31-0.69), and new incontinence had the highest specificity (0.88, 95% CI: 0.69-0.97) for UTI diagnosis. The highest PPV belonged to the cloudy urine (0.71, 95% CI: 0.42-0.92). The combination of cloudy and foul smelling urine increased the PPV to 78% (95% CI: (0.40-0.97). The concurrent presence of cloudy and foul smelling urine is predicted of UTI diagnosis inpatients tertiary setting. SCI inpatients are susceptible to UTI when learning CIC technique from nurses.

Odor from a chemical perspective

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wray, T.K.

1995-06-01

Early odor-detection measurements categorized chemicals according to odor quality. Recent methods focus on the odor threshold, or the quantitative amount of a chemical in air that can be detected by the human sense of smell. Researchers characterize and quantify odor using an array of sensory and analytical procedures. Humans possess one of the dullest mammalian senses of smell; however, they can recognize about 10,000 distinct odors at concentrations ranging from less than 1 part per billion to several hundred thousand parts per million. Each time humans inhale, they chemically analyze microscopic pieces of the environment that make physical contact withmore » the nerves in their noses. Individual molecules travel up the nose to a sheet of moist, mucus-bathed tissue that consists of about 5 million smell-sensing, olfactory neurons. After dissolving in the mucus, odor molecules ``float`` into appropriately shaped receptor pockets. A series of cellular reactions then transmit impulses to the limbic system, hippocampus and, finally, the neocortex. Odor detection is an important defense mechanism. The author presents the odor thresholds for selected organic compounds, and other hazardous chemicals.« less

[Isolated congenital anosmia--clinical and daily life aspects of a life without a sense of smell].

PubMed

Bojanowski, V; Hummel, T; Croy, I

2013-01-01

Isolated congenital anosmia is a disorder (ICA) characterized by not or only rudimentary developed central olfactory structures. This results in the lack of the sense of smell since birth. Although this phenomenon is known among clinicians almost no knowledge exists on how those people cope with the disorder. 43 people with ICA were asked with a standardised questionnaire about when they fi rst noticed their disorder, how they experience the lack of smelling ability and about different aspects of daily life. ICA is detected by the patients self or by their parents at the age of 10 in average. However about 13 years pass, until the right diagnosis is confirmed. In contrast to people with acquired olfactory loos ICA patients have developed strategies to adapt to the deficit in daily life. Nevertheless they report increased social insecurity and more hazardous events. The results can be of advantage for clinicians and patients to get a better understanding of the disorder. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Led by the nose: Olfaction in primate feeding ecology

PubMed Central

Nevo, Omer; Heymann, Eckhard W

2015-01-01

Olfaction, the sense of smell, was a latecomer to the systematic investigation of primate sensory ecology after long years in which it was considered to be of minor importance.1 This view shifted with the growing understanding of its role in social behavior2 and the accumulation of physiological studies demonstrating that the olfactory abilities of some primates are on a par with those of olfactory-dependent mammals such as dogs and rodents.3,4 Recent years have seen a proliferation of physiological, behavioral, anatomical, and genetic investigations of primate olfaction. These investigations have begun to shed light on the importance of olfaction in the process of food acquisition. However, integration of these works has been limited. It is therefore still difficult to pinpoint large-scale evolutionary scenarios, namely the functions that the sense of smell fulfills in primates’ feeding ecology and the ecological niches that favor heavier reliance on olfaction. Here, we review available behavioral and physiological studies of primates in the field or captivity and try to elucidate how and when the sense of smell can help them acquire food. PMID:26267435

Effects of bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) and tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) juice on Listeria monocytogenes Scott A and Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028 and the sensory properties of raw shrimps.

PubMed

Norhana, M N Wan; Azman, Mohd Nor A; Poole, Susan E; Deeth, Hilton C; Dykes, Gary A

2009-11-30

The potential of using juice of bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) and tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) to reduce Listeria monocytogenes Scott A and Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028 populations on raw shrimps after washing and during storage (4 degrees C) was investigated. The uninoculated raw shrimps and those inoculated with approximately 9 log cfu/ml of L. monocytogenes Scott A and S. Typhimurium ATCC 14028 were washed (dipped or rubbed) in distilled water (SDW) (control), bilimbi or tamarind juice at 1:4 (w/v) concentrations for 10 and 5 min. Naturally occurring aerobic bacteria (APC), L. monocytogenes Scott A and S. Typhimurium ATCC 14028 counts, pH values and sensory analysis of washed shrimps were determined immediately after washing (day 0), and on days 3 and 7 of storage. Compared to SDW, bilimbi and tamarind juice significantly (p<0.05) reduced APC (0.40-0.70 log cfu/g), L. monocytogenes Scott A (0.84-1.58 log cfu/g) and S. Typhimurium ATCC 14028 (1.03-2.00 log cfu/g) populations immediately after washing (0 day). There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in bacterial reduction between the dipping (0.40-0.41 log for APC; 0.84 for L. monocytogenes Scott A and 1.03-1.09 log for S. Typhimurium ATCC 14028) and rubbing (0.68-0.70 log for APC; 1.34-1.58 for L. monocytogenes Scott A and 1.67-2.00 log for S. Typhimurium ATCC 14028) methods. Regardless of washing treatments or methods, populations of S. Typhimurium ATCC 14028 decreased slightly (5.10-6.29 log cfu/g on day 7 of storage) while populations of L. monocytogenes Scott A (8.74-9.20 log cfu/g) and APC (8.68-8.92 log cfu/g) increased significantly during refrigerated storage. The pH of experimental shrimps were significantly (p<0.05) decreased by 0.15-0.22 pH units after washing with bilimbi and tamarind juice. The control, bilimbi or tamarind-washed shrimps did not differ in sensory panellist acceptability (p>0.05) throughout the storage except for odour (p<0.05) attributes at 0 day when acidic or lemony smell was noticed in bilimbi- and tamarind-washed shrimps and not in control shrimps.

A novel raw starch digesting alpha-amylase from a newly isolated Bacillus sp. YX-1: purification and characterization.

PubMed

Liu, Xu Dong; Xu, Yan

2008-07-01

This study reports the purification and characterization of a novel raw starch digesting alpha-amylase from a newly isolated Bacillus sp. YX-1. Maximum alpha-amylase activity (53 U mL(-1)) was obtained at 45 degrees C after 44 h of incubation. The enzyme was purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography, and showed a molecular weight of 56 kDa by SDS-PAGE. This enzyme exhibited maximum activity at pH 5.0, performed stability over a broad range of pH 4.5-11.0, and was optimally active at 40-50 degrees C. The enzyme preparation had a strong digesting ability towards various raw starches and efficiently hydrolyzed raw corn starch at a concentration of 20% and pH 5.0, which were normally used in the starch industries, in a period of 12h. By analyzing its partial amino acid sequences, the enzyme was proposed to be a novel alpha-amylase.

Resolving the smell of wood - identification of odour-active compounds in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.).

PubMed

Schreiner, Linda; Bauer, Patrick; Buettner, Andrea

2018-05-29

Being one of the most common trees in forests, Pinus sylvestris L. is a frequently used raw material for wood products. Its specific odour is, however, mostly unresolved to date. Accordingly, we investigated Scots pine wood samples grown in Germany for their main odorant composition. We employed dedicated odorant analysis techniques such as gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) and aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) and successfully detected 44 odour-active compounds; of these, 39 substances were successfully identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactometry (GC-MS/O) and two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactometry (2D-GC-MS/O). Among the main odorants found were (E,E)-nona-2,4-dienal, vanillin, phenylacetic acid, 3-phenylpropanoic acid, δ-octalactone and α-pinene, all of them having been detected with high flavour dilution factors during GC-O analyses. The majority of the identified odorants were fatty acid degradation products, plus some terpenoic substances and odorous substances resulting from the degradation of lignin. Although some of the detected substances have previously been reported as constituents of wood, 11 substances are reported here for the first time as odour-active compounds in wood, amongst them heptanoic acid, γ-octalactone, δ-nonalactone and (E,Z,Z)-trideca-2,4,7-trienal.

Diversity and Significance of Mold Species in Norwegian Drinking Water▿

PubMed Central

Hageskal, Gunhild; Knutsen, Ann Kristin; Gaustad, Peter; de Hoog, G. Sybren; Skaar, Ida

2006-01-01

In order to determine the occurrence, distribution, and significance of mold species in groundwater- and surface water-derived drinking water in Norway, molds isolated from 273 water samples were identified. Samples of raw water, treated water, and water from private homes and hospital installations were analyzed by incubation of 100-ml membrane-filtered samples on dichloran-18% glycerol agar. The total count (number of CFU per 100 ml) of fungal species and the species diversity within each sample were determined. The identification of mold species was based on morphological and molecular methods. In total, 94 mold species belonging to 30 genera were identified. The mycobiota was dominated by species of Penicillium, Trichoderma, and Aspergillus, with some of them occurring throughout the drinking water system. Several of the same species as isolated from water may have the potential to cause allergic reactions or disease in humans. Other species are common contaminants of food and beverages, and some may cause unwanted changes in the taste or smell of water. The present results indicate that the mycobiota of water should be considered when the microbiological safety and quality of drinking water are assessed. In fact, molds in drinking water should possibly be included in the Norwegian water supply and drinking water regulations. PMID:17028226

RECOVERY OF URANIUM VALUES FROM URANIUM BEARING RAW MATERIALS

DOEpatents

Michal, E.J.; Porter, R.R.

1959-06-16

Uranium leaching from ground uranium-bearing raw materials using MnO/sub 2/ in H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ is described. The MnO/sub 2/ oxidizes U to the leachable hexavalent state. The MnO/sub 2/ does not replace Fe normally added, because the Fe complexes P and catalyzes the MnO/sub 2/ reaction. Three examples of continuous processes are given, but batch operation is also possible. The use of MnO/sub 2/ makes possible recovery of very low U values. (T.R.H.)

[A Successful Treatment of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer with Using Mohs' Paste and Chemotherapy - A Case Report].

PubMed

Tsubota, Yu; Yamamoto, Daigo; Ishizuka, Mariko; Yoshikawa, Katsuhiro; Sueoka, Noriko; Kon, Masanori

2018-04-01

Foul smell and large amounts ofexudate, bleeding are the most common and serious symptoms with locally advanced breast cancer(LABC). Mohs' paste is made ofa mixture ofzinc chloride and used for treatment ofmalignant skin tumors. Recently some reports show that Mohs' paste is useful for treatment of malignant tumor including unresectable breast cancer and skin metastasis ofcancer. Mohs' paste is useful for reducing symptoms such as foul smell and exudate, Bleeding. We report a successful case of treatment for LABC with using Mohs' paste and chemotherapy and surgery.

Effect of environmental pollutants on taste and smell

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schiffman, S.S.; Nagle, H.T.

1992-06-01

Various man-made and naturally occurring chemicals and substances can modify the chemosensory systems of animals and man. This article provides an overview of research studies that investigate the impact of pollution on taste and smell perception. Acute and chronic alterations in taste and olfaction are discussed for solvents, herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, disinfectants, germicides, soil fumigants, dyes, pharmaceuticals, textile wastes, smog, tobacco smoke, perfumes, flavors, plastics, synthetic rubber, and other industrial substances. The mechanisms by which pollutants may cause physiologic and biologic changes are highlighted. Natural detoxification systems are discussed, as well as treatments for chemosensory deficits.89 references.

Circularly-symmetric complex normal ratio distribution for scalar transmissibility functions. Part I: Fundamentals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Wang-Ji; Ren, Wei-Xin

2016-12-01

Recent advances in signal processing and structural dynamics have spurred the adoption of transmissibility functions in academia and industry alike. Due to the inherent randomness of measurement and variability of environmental conditions, uncertainty impacts its applications. This study is focused on statistical inference for raw scalar transmissibility functions modeled as complex ratio random variables. The goal is achieved through companion papers. This paper (Part I) is dedicated to dealing with a formal mathematical proof. New theorems on multivariate circularly-symmetric complex normal ratio distribution are proved on the basis of principle of probabilistic transformation of continuous random vectors. The closed-form distributional formulas for multivariate ratios of correlated circularly-symmetric complex normal random variables are analytically derived. Afterwards, several properties are deduced as corollaries and lemmas to the new theorems. Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) is utilized to verify the accuracy of some representative cases. This work lays the mathematical groundwork to find probabilistic models for raw scalar transmissibility functions, which are to be expounded in detail in Part II of this study.

Scater: pre-processing, quality control, normalization and visualization of single-cell RNA-seq data in R.

PubMed

McCarthy, Davis J; Campbell, Kieran R; Lun, Aaron T L; Wills, Quin F

2017-04-15

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is increasingly used to study gene expression at the level of individual cells. However, preparing raw sequence data for further analysis is not a straightforward process. Biases, artifacts and other sources of unwanted variation are present in the data, requiring substantial time and effort to be spent on pre-processing, quality control (QC) and normalization. We have developed the R/Bioconductor package scater to facilitate rigorous pre-processing, quality control, normalization and visualization of scRNA-seq data. The package provides a convenient, flexible workflow to process raw sequencing reads into a high-quality expression dataset ready for downstream analysis. scater provides a rich suite of plotting tools for single-cell data and a flexible data structure that is compatible with existing tools and can be used as infrastructure for future software development. The open-source code, along with installation instructions, vignettes and case studies, is available through Bioconductor at http://bioconductor.org/packages/scater . davis@ebi.ac.uk. Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Vagina in an Adolescent Girl.

PubMed

Narayanan, Geetha; Rajan, Varun; Soman, Lali V

2017-12-01

Gynecologic neoplasms are rare in children and represent only less than 5% of all childhood tumors. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the female genital tract of children accounts for only 3.5% of the cases. A 16-year-old adolescent presented with a proliferating growth and foul smelling discharge from her vagina, which, on biopsy was diagnosed as RMS. She received chemotherapy and radiation to the primary site. She is alive in remission at 8 years, and with normal menstrual function. RMS of the vagina is a rare, but highly curable tumor in adolescent girls. Any abnormal vaginal bleeding in girls should be promptly investigated using pelvic examination and appropriate imaging. An organ-preserving approach should be considered in these patients. Copyright © 2017 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Implications of white striping and wooden breast abnormalities on quality traits of raw and marinated chicken meat.

PubMed

Mudalal, S; Lorenzi, M; Soglia, F; Cavani, C; Petracci, M

2015-04-01

One of the consequences of intense genetic selection for growth of poultry is the recent appearance of abnormalities in chicken breast muscles, such as white striping (characterised by superficial white striations) and wooden breast (characterised by pale and bulged areas with substantial hardness). The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality traits of chicken fillets affected by white striping and wooden breast abnormalities. In two replications, 192 fillets were divided into the following four classes: normal (n=48; absence of any visual defects), white striping (n=48, presence of white striations), wooden breast (n=48; diffusely presence of hardened areas) and white striping/wooden breast (n=48; fillets affected by both abnormalities). Morphology, raw meat texture and technological properties were assessed in both unprocessed (pH, colour, drip loss, cooking loss and cooked meat shear force) and marinated meat (marinade uptake, purge loss, cooking loss and cooked meat shear force). Fillets affected by white striping, wooden breast or both abnormalities exhibited higher breast weights compared with normal fillets (305.5, 298.7, 318.3 and 244.7 g, respectively; P<0.001). Wooden breast, either alone or in combination with white striping, was associated with a significant (P<0.001) increase of fillet thickness in the caudal area and raw meat hardness compared with both normal and the white striping abnormality, for which there was no difference. Overall, the occurrence of the individual and combined white striping and wooden breast abnormalities resulted in substantial reduction in the quality of breast meat, although these abnormalities are associated with distinct characteristics. Wooden breast fillets showed lower marinade uptake and higher cooking losses than white-striped fillets for both unprocessed and marinated meats. On the other hand, white-striped fillets showed a moderate decline in marinade and cooking yield. Fillets affected by both abnormalities had the highest (P<0.001) ultimate pH values. In contrast, the effects on colour of raw and cooked meat, drip loss, purge loss and cooked meat shear force were negligible or relatively low and of little practical importance. Thus, the presence of white striping and wooden breast abnormalities impair not only breast meat appearance but also the quality of both raw and marinated meats mainly by reducing water holding/binding abilities.

Adjustment of ionized calcium concentration for serum pH is not a valid marker of calcium homeostasis: implications for identifying individuals at risk of calcium metabolic disorders.

PubMed

Lam, Virginie; Dhaliwal, Satvinder S; Mamo, John C

2013-05-01

Ionized calcium (iCa) is the biologically active form of this micronutrient. Serum determination of iCa is measured via ion-electrode potentiometry (IEP) and reporting iCa relative to pH 7.4 is normally utilized to avoid the potential confounding effects of ex vivo changes to serum pH. Adjustment of iCa for pH has not been adequately justified. In this study, utilizing carefully standardized protocols for blood collection, the preparation of serum and controlling time of collection-to-analysis, we determined serum iCa and pH utilizing an IEP-analyser hosted at an accredited diagnostic laboratory. Regression analysis of unadjusted-iCa (iCa(raw)) concentration versus pH was described by linear regression and accounted for 37% of serum iCa(raw) variability. iCa(raw) was then expressed at pH 7.4 by either adjusting iCa(raw) based on the linear regression equation describing the association of iCa with serum pH (iCa(regr)) or using IEP coded published normative equations (iCa(pub)). iCa(regr) was comparable to iCa(raw), indicating that blood collection and processing methodologies were sound. However, iCa(pub) yielded values that were significantly lower than iCa(raw). iCa(pub) did not identify 15% subjects who had greater than desirable serum concentration of iCa based on iCa(raw). Sixty percent of subjects with low levels of iCa(raw) were also not detected by iCa(pub). Determination of the kappa value measure of agreement for iCa(raw) versus iCa(pub) showed relatively poor concordance (κ = 0.42). With simple protocols that avoid sampling artefacts, expressing iCa(raw) is likely to be a more valid and physiologically relevant marker of calcium homeostasis than is iCa(pub).

The prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis.

PubMed

Kohli, Preeti; Naik, Akash N; Harruff, E Emily; Nguyen, Shaun A; Schlosser, Rodney J; Soler, Zachary M

2017-02-01

Many studies have reported that olfactory dysfunction frequently occurs in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) populations; however, the prevalence and degree of olfactory loss has not been systematically studied. The aims of this study were to use combined data to report the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction and to calculate weighted averages of olfactory test scores in CRS patients. A search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus, following the methods of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Studies reporting the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction using objective measures or olfactory test scores using validated scales were included. A total of 47 articles were included in a systematic review and 35 in the pooled data analysis. The prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis was found to be 30.0% using the Brief Smell Identification Test, 67.0% using the 40-item Smell Identification Test, and 78.2% using the total Sniffin' Sticks score. Weighted averages ± standard deviation of olfactory test scores were 25.96 ± 7.11 using the 40-item Smell Identification Test, 8.60 ± 2.81 using the Brief Smell Identification Test, 21.96 ± 8.88 using total Sniffin' Sticks score, 5.65 ± 1.51 using Sniffin' Sticks-Threshold, 9.21 ± 4.63 using Sniffin' Sticks-Discrimination, 9.47 ± 3.92 using Sniffin' Sticks-Identification, and 8.90 ± 5.14 using the Questionnaire for Olfactory Disorders-Negative Statements. In CRS populations, a significant percentage of patients experience olfactory dysfunction, and mean olfactory scores are within the dysosmic range. Laryngoscope, 2016 127:309-320, 2017. © 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Smell in cystic fibrosis.

PubMed

Lindig, J; Steger, C; Beiersdorf, N; Michl, R; Beck, J F; Hummel, T; Mainz, J G

2013-03-01

In cystic fibrosis (CF), the most frequent life threatening inherited disease in Caucasians, sinonasal mucosa is regularly affected by defective mucociliary clearance. This facilitates pathogen colonization into CF airways and causes frequent symptoms of rhinosinusitis, including an impaired sense of smell. Despite probable effects on nutrition and overall health, CF-rhinosinusitis is little understood: CF-associated smelling deficiencies reported in literature vary between 12 and 71 %. The aim of this study was to assess olfactory and gustatory function in relation to sinonasal symptoms and sinonasal colonization, and lung function and nutrition. Thirty-five CF patients of different ages were compared to 35 age-matched healthy controls. Olfactory function was assessed by 'Sniffin'Sticks', gustatory qualities by "Taste-strips", and symptoms by sino-nasal outcome test 20 (SNOT-20). Normosmia was found in 62.8 % of healthy controls but only in 28.6 % of CF patients. In contrast the majority of CF patients exhibited a smell loss; almost 62.9 % of them were hyposmic, and 8.6 % functionally anosmic. Importantly, reduced olfactory function only affected odor thresholds, which were significantly increased in CF, not odor identification. This suggests that the olfactory dysfunction in CF results from the olfactory periphery due to either problems in conduction and/or a functional lesion due to the inflammatory process. SNOT-20 scores increased continuously from normosmic to hyposmic and anosmic CF patients (means 7.2/11.1/28.3 points). Neither sinonasal pathogen colonization, gender, pulmonary function, nor allergy or sinonasal surgery appeared to have significant effects on olfactory function and taste. Olfactory disorders are considerably more frequent in CF patients than in age-matched healthy controls. Assessing these parameters within CF-routine care should be considered because of their importance to nutrition and, thus, overall therapy outcome.

Physico-chemical and microbiological properties of raw fermented sausages are not influenced by color differences of turkey breast meat.

PubMed

Popp, J; Krischek, C; Janisch, S; Wicke, M; Klein, G

2013-05-01

It has been suggested that the color of turkey breast meat influences both physico-chemical and microbiological properties of raw fermented sausages. In this study, raw fermented sausages were produced with turkey breast meat in 3 different colors (pale, normal, or dark), which were obtained from 2 fast-growing-genetic-line toms at 2 slaughterhouses. Prior to the sausage production, the breast muscles were sorted into color groups according to the lightness values determined at 24 h postmortem. This meat was subsequently processed to raw fermented sausages using 1.5 or 2.5% curing salt (CS). The pale meat had higher lightness, electrical conductivity, and drip loss, whereas the dark meat showed a darker color only. The physico-chemical (pH, water activity), visual (lightness, redness), and microbial (total plate count) properties of the sausages were not influenced by the color of the turkey breast meat. The sausage made with 2.5% CS had lower aw and higher ash and hardness values than the sausages produced with 1.5% CS. In conclusion, processing of differently colored turkey meat to raw fermented sausages does not influence the quality characteristics of the products. Based on these findings, there is no reason for the sausage producer to separate turkey breast muscles by color before producing raw fermented sausages.

On the problems of translation in the investigation of the Lake Nyos disaster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freeth, S. J.

1993-01-01

Problems of translation, where one word in a local African language may be used to cover two (or more) concepts for which separate words would be used in a European language, have created serious difficulties for the scientists who have been investigating the 1986 Lake Nyos gas disaster. The most obvious example, and the one which caused the greatest confusion amongst the investigators (and a long running dispute in the scientific literature), being the use in the languages of the people who lived near Lake Nyos of a single word to cover both smell and taste. Thus, reports that the gas cloud had a 'bad smell'.could have been translated with equal accuracy as reports that the gas cloud had a 'bad taste'. Had this been appreciated during the initial investigation many of the subsequent disputes over the origin of the gas and the mechanism by which it was released might have been avoided. A second example, and one which well illustrates the extraordinary differences between linguistic groups and the potential for confusion which is inherent in such differences, can be found in the lack of separate words for the primary colours in some African languages. This is further complicated by the use, in the Pidgin English of western Cameroon of the word 'red' to refer to all the primary colours! Thus, when the surface water of Lake Nyos turned a yellow-brown after the disaster the people who lived in the area would have said that it had turned 'red' and when the lake water cleared and returned to its normal bright blue the people would still have said that it was 'red'.

A “Misfit” Theory of Spontaneous Conscious Odor Perception (MITSCOP): reflections on the role and function of odor memory in everyday life

PubMed Central

Köster, Egon P.; Møller, Per; Mojet, Jozina

2014-01-01

Our senses have developed as an answer to the world we live in (Gibson, 1966) and so have the forms of memory that accompany them. All senses serve different purposes and do so in different ways. In vision, where orientation and object recognition are important, memory is strongly linked to identification. In olfaction, the guardian of vital functions such as breathing and food ingestion, perhaps the most important (and least noticed and researched) role of odor memory is to help us not to notice the well-known odors or flavors in our everyday surroundings, but to react immediately to the unexpected ones. At the same time it provides us with a feeling of safety when our expectancies are met. All this happens without any smelling intention or conscious knowledge of our expectations. Identification by odor naming is not involved in this and people are notoriously bad at it. Odors are usually best identified via the episodic memory of the situation in which they once occurred. Spontaneous conscious odor perception normally only occurs in situations where attention is demanded, either because the inhaled air or the food smell is particularly good or particularly bad and people search for its source or because people want to actively enjoy the healthiness and pleasantness of their surroundings or food. Odor memory is concerned with novelty detection rather than with recollection of odors. In this paper, these points are illustrated with experimental results and their consequences for doing ecologically valid odor memory research are drawn. Furthermore, suggestions for ecologically valid research on everyday odor memory and some illustrative examples are given. PMID:24575059

Raw sewage as breeding site to Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Diptera, culicidae).

PubMed

Chitolina, R F; Anjos, F A; Lima, T S; Castro, E A; Costa-Ribeiro, M C V

2016-12-01

The selection of oviposition sites by females of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti is a key factor for the larval survival and egg dispersion and has a direct influence in vector control programs. In this study, we evaluated the aspects of reproductive physiology of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes tested in the presence of raw sewage. Ae. aegypti females were used in oviposition bioassays according to two methodologies: (i) choice assay, in which three oviposition substrates were offered in the same cage: treatment (raw sewage), positive control (distilled water) and negative control (1% sodium hypochlorite) and; (ii) no choice assay, in which only one substrate was available. The physicochemical and microbiological analysis of the raw sewage used in this study indicated virtually no levels of chlorine, low levels of dissolved oxygen and high levels of nitrogenous compounds as well as the presence of Escherichia coli and total fecal coliforms. After 72h of oviposition, the eggs were counted and there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in the oviposition rate between raw sewage and positive control in both methodologies. In addition, females were dissected to evaluate egg-retention and also there were no appreciable differences in egg retention even when raw sewage was the only substrate offered. The data also showed that egg hatching and larvae development occurred normally in the raw sewage. Therefore, the present study suggests that Ae. aegypti can adapt to new sites and lay eggs in polluted water, such as the raw sewage. These findings are of particular importance for the control and surveillance programs against Ae. aegypti in countries where the conditions of poor infrastructure and lack of basic sanitation are still an issue. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Latent information in fluency lists predicts functional decline in persons at risk for Alzheimer disease.

PubMed

Clark, D G; Kapur, P; Geldmacher, D S; Brockington, J C; Harrell, L; DeRamus, T P; Blanton, P D; Lokken, K; Nicholas, A P; Marson, D C

2014-06-01

We constructed random forest classifiers employing either the traditional method of scoring semantic fluency word lists or new methods. These classifiers were then compared in terms of their ability to diagnose Alzheimer disease (AD) or to prognosticate among individuals along the continuum from cognitively normal (CN) through mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to AD. Semantic fluency lists from 44 cognitively normal elderly individuals, 80 MCI patients, and 41 AD patients were transcribed into electronic text files and scored by four methods: traditional raw scores, clustering and switching scores, "generalized" versions of clustering and switching, and a method based on independent components analysis (ICA). Random forest classifiers based on raw scores were compared to "augmented" classifiers that incorporated newer scoring methods. Outcome variables included AD diagnosis at baseline, MCI conversion, increase in Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SOB) score, or decrease in Financial Capacity Instrument (FCI) score. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for each classifier and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. We compared AUC between raw and augmented classifiers using Delong's test and assessed validity and reliability of the augmented classifier. Augmented classifiers outperformed classifiers based on raw scores for the outcome measures AD diagnosis (AUC .97 vs. .95), MCI conversion (AUC .91 vs. .77), CDR-SOB increase (AUC .90 vs. .79), and FCI decrease (AUC .89 vs. .72). Measures of validity and stability over time support the use of the method. Latent information in semantic fluency word lists is useful for predicting cognitive and functional decline among elderly individuals at increased risk for developing AD. Modern machine learning methods may incorporate latent information to enhance the diagnostic value of semantic fluency raw scores. These methods could yield information valuable for patient care and clinical trial design with a relatively small investment of time and money. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Rapidly fluctuating anosmia: A clinical sign for unilateral smell impairment.

PubMed

Negoias, Simona; Friedrich, Hergen; Caversaccio, Marco D; Landis, Basile N

2016-02-01

Reports about fluctuating olfactory deficits are rare, as are reports of unilateral olfactory loss. We present a case of unilateral anosmia with contralateral normosmia, presenting as rapidly fluctuating anosmia. The olfactory fluctuation occurred in sync with the average nasal cycle duration. Examination after nasal decongestion, formal smell testing, and imaging revealed unilateral, left-sided anosmia of sinonasal cause, with right-sided normosmia. We hypothesize that the nasal cycle induced transient anosmia when blocking the normosmic side. Fluctuating olfactory deficits might hide a unilateral olfactory loss and require additional unilateral testing and thorough workup. © 2015 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Genetics of Taste and Smell: Poisons and Pleasures

PubMed Central

Reed, Danielle Renee; Knaapila, Antti

2012-01-01

Eating is dangerous. While food contains nutrients and calories that animals need to produce heat and energy, it may also contain harmful parasites, bacteria, or chemicals. To guide food selection, the senses of taste and smell have evolved to alert us to the bitter taste of poisons and the sour taste and off-putting smell of spoiled foods. These sensory systems help people and animals to eat defensively, and they provide the brake that helps them avoid ingesting foods that are harmful. But choices about which foods to eat are motivated by more than avoiding the bad; they are also motivated by seeking the good, such as fat and sugar. However, just as not everyone is equally capable of sensing toxins in food, not everyone is equally enthusiastic about consuming high-fat, high-sugar foods. Genetic studies in humans and experimental animals strongly suggest that the liking of sugar and fat is influenced by genotype; likewise, the abilities to detect bitterness and the malodors of rotting food are highly variable among individuals. Understanding the exact genes and genetic differences that affect food intake may provide important clues in obesity treatment by allowing caregivers to tailor dietary recommendations to the chemosensory landscape of each person. PMID:21036327

Why do women stop smoking during pregnancy? Cigarettes taste and smell bad.

PubMed

Pletsch, Pamela K; Kratz, Anna Thornton

2004-08-01

There are high rates of cigarette smoking resumption among women who have quit smoking while pregnant, and the reasons for this are poorly understood. Our purpose in this study was to obtain an in-depth description of the context surrounding smoking behaviors during pregnancy and the first 3 months after women give birth in order to gain insight into the reasons women resume smoking. We used a longitudinal qualitative descriptive approach with in-depth interviews conducted early in pregnancy, at 36 weeks of pregnancy, and 3 months postpartum. Our purposive sample consisted of 15 pregnant women who had stopped smoking without assistance by their first prenatal visit. All women smoked mentholated cigarettes prior to pregnancy and 40% were primiparas. A thematic content analysis of 43 interviews revealed that the majority of women experienced an aversion to the taste or smell of tobacco smoke while pregnant and attributed these sensation changes to being pregnant. The taste and smell of tobacco smoke returned to prepregnancy states postpartum, and by 3 months postpartum 73% of the women had resumed smoking. This physiologic change can be conceptualized as a pregnancy-specific motivation for smoking cessation that can inform our efforts toward relapse prevention.

[Significance of working environment improvement based on determination of source of harmful substance--example of an endoscope syringe room using glutaraldehyde].

PubMed

Tashiro, Hiraku; Oda, Susumu; Mori, Koji

2004-03-01

Because a worker complained of irritated eyes and throat due to glutaraldehyde (GA) in an endoscope syringe room, the automated endoscope washers and GA liquid stored in reserve were isolated in a separate room. A ventilation system was installed in this room, and the packing of the automated endoscope washers was changed. However, since the obnoxious smell of GA still remained in the endoscope syringe room, we had to determine the source of the smell. A plastic bucket with a cap was found to be filled with GA for disinfection of the endoscope apparatus. GA had evaporated when dispersed around the bucket, resulting in the obnoxious smell. The plastic bucket was replaced with a different type of container. Moreover, GA from the separate room did not affect the concentration of GA in the working area because the separate room for the automated endoscope washers had twice the ventilation volume proposed by the guidelines of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates of the USA and the Healthcare Engineering Association of Japan. Consequently, we reconfirmed the significance of working environment improvement after clarifying the source of the harmful substance.

Reef scent: How brooded coral larvae from a tough coral smell their way to a new home

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spies, N.; Richmond, R. H.; Seneca, F.; Murphy, J.; Martinez, J.; Lyman, A.

2016-02-01

Coral reefs are highly diverse marine ecosystems of ecological, economic, and cultural value. With the expected negative effects on reefs from global climate change including rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification, the identification of resilient coral species has become increasingly important. Leptastrea purpurea is an encrusting coral that is found throughout the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea. While most corals are broadcast spawners, releasing sperm and eggs to be fertilized in the water column, some corals brood embryos within their tissues after internal fertilization. L. purpurea appears to release planula larvae on a continuous basis from the parent colony as observed during two years of monitoring. The planula larvae show remarkable resilience under a wide range of stressful conditions including temperature, sediment, and chemical stressors, as well as the ability to successfully settle and metamorphose after 180 days in controlled laboratory conditions. Various smells were tested to identify a settlement cue for L. purpurea larvae, and our results suggest that the smell associated with other coral colonies induce larval settlement and metamorphosis. Knowledge of the settlement cues and reproductive biology of this coral is important to our understanding of coral resilience in the face of anthropogenic perturbation.

A case of successful treatment with donepezil of olfactory hallucination in parkinson disease.

PubMed

Osada, Osamu; Iwasaki, Akira

2017-01-31

We report a 74-year-old female patient with Parkinson disease (PD). Around 2010, she developed depression and bradykinesia and was diagnosed as PD. In July 2014, she came to our hospital, of which she lived in the neighborhood. In the last part of December 2014, she felt uneasy about her fecal smell and saw a psychiatrist in the first part of January 2015. Quetiapine (25 mg/day) was added. In the last part of January, she complained of fecal smell everywhere and could not take a meal. No-one else could detect the smell. A diagnosis of olfactory hallucination was made. The next day after increasing to 75mg/day, however, she was admitted to our hospital because of refusing to take medicine. After introducing donepezil, olfactory hallucination subsided and her appetite was improved. Brain MRI showed atrophy of the bilateral temporal lobes and N-isopropyl-p-(iodine-123)-iodoamphetamine single photon emission computed tomography ( 123 I-IMP-SPECT) revealed hypoperfusion in the bilateral mesial temporal lobes. We suppose that cholinergic denervation in the mesial temporal lobes is an important determinant of her olfactory hallucination.

Led by the nose: Olfaction in primate feeding ecology.

PubMed

Nevo, Omer; Heymann, Eckhard W

2015-01-01

Olfaction, the sense of smell, was a latecomer to the systematic investigation of primate sensory ecology after long years in which it was considered to be of minor importance. This view shifted with the growing understanding of its role in social behavior and the accumulation of physiological studies demonstrating that the olfactory abilities of some primates are on a par with those of olfactory-dependent mammals such as dogs and rodents. Recent years have seen a proliferation of physiological, behavioral, anatomical, and genetic investigations of primate olfaction. These investigations have begun to shed light on the importance of olfaction in the process of food acquisition. However, integration of these works has been limited. It is therefore still difficult to pinpoint large-scale evolutionary scenarios, namely the functions that the sense of smell fulfills in primates' feeding ecology and the ecological niches that favor heavier reliance on olfaction. Here, we review available behavioral and physiological studies of primates in the field or captivity and try to elucidate how and when the sense of smell can help them acquire food. © 2015 The Authors Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Reported appetite, taste and smell changes following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy: Effect of gender, type 2 diabetes and relationship to post-operative weight loss.

PubMed

Makaronidis, Janine M; Neilson, Sabrina; Cheung, Wui-Hang; Tymoszuk, Urszula; Pucci, Andrea; Finer, Nicholas; Doyle, Jacqueline; Hashemi, Majid; Elkalaawy, Mohamed; Adamo, Marco; Jenkinson, Andrew; Batterham, Rachel L

2016-12-01

Reduced energy intake drives weight loss following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) procedures. Post-operative changes in subjective appetite, taste, and smell and food preferences are reported and suggested to contribute to reduced energy intake. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of these changes following RYGB and SG and to evaluate their relationship with weight loss. 98 patients post-RYGB and 155 post-SG from a single bariatric centre were recruited to a cross-sectional study. Participants completed a questionnaire, previously utilised in post-operative bariatric patients, to assess the prevalence of post-operative food aversions and subjective changes in appetite, taste and smell. Anthropometric data were collected and percentage weight loss (%WL) was calculated. The relationship between food aversions, changes in appetite, taste and smell and %WL was assessed. The influence of time post-surgery, gender and type 2 diabetes (T2D) were evaluated. Following RYGB and SG the majority of patients reported food aversions (RYGB = 62%, SG = 59%), appetite changes (RYGB = 91%, SG = 91%) and taste changes (RYGB = 64%, SG = 59%). Smell changes were more common post-RYGB than post-SG (RYGB = 41%, SG = 28%, p = 0.039). No temporal effect was observed post-RYGB. In contrast, the prevalence of appetite changes decreased significantly with time following SG. Post-operative appetite changes associated with and predicted higher %WL post-SG but not post-RYGB. Taste changes associated with and predicted higher %WL following RYGB but not post-SG. There was no gender effect post-RYGB. Post-SG taste changes were less common in males (female = 65%, males = 40%, p = 0.008). T2D status in females did not influence post-operative subjective changes. However, in males with T2D, taste changes were less common post-SG than post-RYGB together with lower %WL (RYGB = 27.5 ± 2.7, SG = 14.6 ± 2.1, p = 0.003). Further research is warranted to define the biology underlying these differences and to individualise treatments. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Variables associated with olfactory disorders in adults: A U.S. population-based analysis.

PubMed

Noel, Julia; Habib, Al-Rahim R; Thamboo, Andrew; Patel, Zara M

2017-03-01

Olfactory dysfunction is known to have significant social, psychological, and safety implications. Despite increasingly recognized prevalence, potential risk factors for olfactory loss have been arbitrarily documented and knowledge is limited in scale. The aim of this study is to identify potential demographic and exposure variables correlating with olfactory dysfunction. Cross-sectional analysis of the 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 editions of the National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey was performed. The utilized survey reports from a nationally representative sample of about 5000 persons each year located in counties across the United States. There is an interview and physical examination component which includes demographic, socioeconomic, dietary, and health-related questions as well as medical, dental, physiologic measurements, and laboratory tests. 3594 adult respondents from 2011 to 2012 and 3708 respondents from 2013 to 2014 were identified from the above population-based database. The frequency of self-reported disorders as well as performance on odor identification testing was determined in relation to demographic factors, occupational or environmental exposures, and urinary levels of environmental and industrial compounds. In both subjective and objective analysis, smell disorders were significantly more common with increasing age. While the non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic Asian populations were less likely to report subjective olfactory loss, they, along with Hispanics, performed more poorly on odor identification than Caucasians. Those with limited education had a decreased prevalence of hyposmia. Women outperformed men on smell testing. Those reporting exposure to vapors were more likely to experience olfactory dysfunction, and urinary levels of manganese, 2-Thioxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-Aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid were lower among respondents with subjective smell disturbance. In odor detection, elevated serum levels of lead and urinary levels of 2,4 dichlorophenol were associated with anosmia and hyposmia, respectively. This study provides current, population-based data identifying demographic and exposure elements related to smell disturbances in U.S. adults. Age, race, gender, education, exposure to vapors, urinary levels of manganese, 2-Thioxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, 2-Aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid, 2,4 dichlorophenol, and serum lead levels were all implicated in smell disturbance. Care should be taken in interpretation due to lack of consistency between subjective and objective measures of olfaction as well as limitations related to population-based data. Prospective trials are indicated to further elucidate these relationships.

Characterization and Quantitation of Triterpenoid Saponins in Raw and Sprouted Chenopodium berlandieri spp. (Huauzontle) Grains Subjected to Germination with or without Selenium Stress Conditions.

PubMed

Lazo-Vélez, Marco A; Guajardo-Flores, Daniel; Mata-Ramírez, Daniel; Gutiérrez-Uribe, Janet A; Serna-Saldivar, Sergio O

2016-01-01

Pseudocereal Chenopodium berlandieri spp. (huauzontle) was evaluated to determine saponin composition. Saponins were evaluated in raw and germinated grains subjected to chemical stress induced by sodium selenite. Analysis by liquid chromatography coupled with ELSD detector revealed the presence of 12 saponins, identified according to compounds previously assayed in Chenopodium quinoa. Saponins found at the highest concentrations in raw grains were derived from oleanolic and phytolaccagenic acids. Total saponin concentration significantly decreased in germinated compared to raw grains due to the significant loss of 90.1% and 95.7% of the phytolaccagenic acid without and with chemical selenium stress, respectively. The most abundant saponin in germinated sprouts decreased during normal germination. Interestingly, the concentration of this particular saponin significantly increased during the Se-induced stress germination. Chemical stress with selenium salts proved to change the saponin composition in geminated Chenopodium berlandieri spp. grains, therefore affecting their potential use as ingredient in the food industry. © 2015 Institute of Food Technologists®

Chronic liver disease and consumption of raw oysters: a potentially lethal combination--a review of Vibrio vulnificus septicemia.

PubMed

Haq, Samir M; Dayal, Hari H

2005-05-01

Vibrio vulnificus septicemia is the most common cause of fatality related to seafood consumption in the United States. It occurs predominantly in patients with chronic liver disease following consumption of raw oysters. V. vulnificus is a highly virulent human pathogen, normally found in warm estuarine and marine environment. It lodges in filter feeders like oysters. The onset of this illness is abrupt, rapidly progressing to septic shock with a high mortality. Clinicians managing patients with chronic liver disease need to educate their patients of the risk associated with the consumption of raw seafood, especially oysters. A high index of suspicion is necessary for appropriate treatments, as doxycycline, the antibiotic of choice, is not usually a part of the empiric therapy for septicemia. The high mortality associated with this septicemia demands aggressive preventive measures: susceptible individuals must be forewarned by signs displayed in restaurants; physicians must educate patients with chronic liver disease about the risk of raw oyster consumption; and harvesting methods which reduce contamination by V. vulnificus must be utilized.

The properties of weft knitted fabric medical and preventive treatment action using eco-raw materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halavska, L.; Batrak, O.

2016-07-01

A new trend in the world is the clothing production using the new types of ecological raw materials application - milk, pineapple, coconut, hemp, banana, eucalyptus, clams, corn, bamboo, soya, nettle yarn. This makes it possible to create textile materials of new generation with unique antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Such materials have a positive preventive and sometimes therapeutic effect on people, and their health. Eco-raw materials clothing is able to protect the human body from the environment harmful effects: cold, heat, rain, dust, opportunely remove from underclothing layer the steam and gases, sweat; maintain in underclothing layer the necessary microclimate for normal organism functioning. Study of knitwear consumer properties, produced with eco-materials, is an urgent task of the world vector, directed on ecological environmental protection. This paper presents the research results of hygroscopicity and capillarity weft knitted fabrics, what knitted from different types of eco-raw materials: bamboo yarn, yarn containing soybean and nettle yarn. Character of influence of the liquid raising level changes depending on the experiment time and the knitting structure is revealed.

Automated fall detection on privacy-enhanced video.

PubMed

Edgcomb, Alex; Vahid, Frank

2012-01-01

A privacy-enhanced video obscures the appearance of a person in the video. We consider four privacy enhancements: blurring of the person, silhouetting of the person, covering the person with a graphical box, and covering the person with a graphical oval. We demonstrate that an automated video-based fall detection algorithm can be as accurate on privacy-enhanced video as on raw video. The algorithm operated on video from a stationary in-home camera, using a foreground-background segmentation algorithm to extract a minimum bounding rectangle (MBR) around the motion in the video, and using time series shapelet analysis on the height and width of the rectangle to detect falls. We report accuracy applying fall detection on 23 scenarios depicted as raw video and privacy-enhanced videos involving a sole actor portraying normal activities and various falls. We found that fall detection on privacy-enhanced video, except for the common approach of blurring of the person, was competitive with raw video, and in particular that the graphical oval privacy enhancement yielded the same accuracy as raw video, namely 0.91 sensitivity and 0.92 specificity.

Topical microbicide use by adolescent girls: concerns about timing, efficacy, and safety.

PubMed

Short, Mary B; Mills, Lisa; Majkowski, Jasmine M; Stanberry, Lawrence R; Rosenthal, Susan L

2003-11-01

Adolescent girls could benefit from topical microbicide use if the product is acceptable to them. The goal was to evaluate girls', mothers', experienced healthcare providers', and medical students' views on timing of use, efficacy, and safety of topical microbicide use by adolescents. Focus groups were conducted with girls, mothers, healthcare providers, and medical students. All groups were videotaped, transcribed, and coded for relevant themes. A delay between insertion and coitus presented a problem, and pre- and postcoital use had advantages depending on the group. Efficacy was evaluated by timing of use, smell, ability to feel the product, and confidence that it would spread sufficiently. There were concerns about physical side effects and the impact on normal vaginal flora. This study demonstrated the importance of understanding the unique needs and perspectives of adolescent girls and the adults who have an influence on their use.

Haze in beverages.

PubMed

Siebert, Karl J

2009-01-01

Beverages such as beer, wine, clear fruit juices, teas, and formulated products with similar ingredients are generally expected by consumers to be clear (free of turbidity) and to remain so during the normal shelf life of the product. Hazy products are often regarded as defective and perhaps even potentially harmful. Since consumers are usually more certain of what they perceive visually than of what they taste or smell, the development of haze in a clear product can reduce the likelihood of repeat purchasing of a product and can have serious economic consequences to a producer. Hazes are caused by suspended insoluble particles of colloidal or larger size that can be perceived visually or by instruments. Hazes in clear beverages can arise from a number of causes, but are most often due to protein-polyphenol interaction. The nature of protein-polyphenol interaction and its effect on haze particles, analysis of haze constituents, and stabilization of beverages against haze formation are reviewed.

Mature Teratoma in a Supernumerary Ovary in a Child: Report of the First Case.

PubMed

Gupta, Ruchika; Verma, Sarika; Bansal, Kalpana; Jain, Vishesh; Sengar, Mamta; Mohta, Anup

2016-02-01

Supernumerary ovary (ie, ovarian ectopia having no anatomic connection with the normally placed ovaries) is a rare gynecologic condition. To the best of our knowledge, only 1 pediatric case of supernumerary ovary has been reported to date in the English literature. A 4-year-old girl was assessed for foul-smelling vestibular discharge and was found to have a fistulous tract with opening near the vaginal orifice. Fistuloscopy revealed hair in the lumen of the tract. Computed tomography scan showed a retroperitoneal mass in continuation of the tract. Excision of the mass revealed a mature teratoma in a retroperitoneal supernumerary ovary. Supernumerary ovary, a gynecologic rarity, is even more uncommon in children. Hence, a thorough clinical-radiological-pathological correlation is mandatory to diagnose extragonadal ovarian tumors arising in supernumerary ovaries. Copyright © 2016 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type R deficient mice exhibit increased exploration in a new environment and impaired novel object recognition memory.

PubMed

Erkens, Mirthe; Bakker, Brenda; van Duijn, Lucette M; Hendriks, Wiljan J A J; Van der Zee, Catharina E E M

2014-05-15

Mouse gene Ptprr encodes multiple protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type R (PTPRR) isoforms that negatively regulate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. In the mouse brain, PTPRR proteins are expressed in cerebellum, olfactory bulb, hippocampus, amygdala and perirhinal cortex but their precise role in these regions remains to be determined. Here, we evaluated phenotypic consequences of loss of PTPRR activity and found that basal smell was normal for Ptprr(-/-) mice. Also, spatial learning and fear-associated contextual learning were unaffected. PTPRR deficiency, however, resulted in impaired novel object recognition and a striking increase in exploratory activity in a new environment. The data corroborate the importance of proper control of MAPK signaling in cerebral functions and put forward PTPRR as a novel target to modulate synaptic processes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hematopoietic studies in vitamin A deficiency.

PubMed

Hodges, R E; Sauberlich, H E; Canham, J E; Wallace, D L; Rucker, R B; Mejia, L A; Mohanram, M

1978-05-01

Recent studies of experimental vitamin A deficiency in man led the authors to conclude that anemia may result from lack of vitamin A. A review of numerous nutrition surveys in underdeveloped countries enhanced the suspicion that deficiency of vitamin A does contribute to the prevalence of anemia. Preliminary studies of vitamin A-deficient rats confirmed previous observations that anemia may result from lack of this vitamin. The livers of these animals had very low concentrations of vitamin A but normal or increased concentrations of iron. The finding of anemia is in contrast with other reports that vitamin A deficiency may cause elevated values for hemoglobin and hematocrit. The authors suggest that loss of taste and smell as a result of deficiency may account for refusal of experimental animals to eat and drink enough to prevent inanitation and dehydration. The resulting hemoconcentration may mask the true hematological picture, which is one of anemia.

Mid-latency auditory evoked potential response revealed as an evidence of neural plasticity in blinnd individuals.

PubMed

Muthusamy, Anbarasi; Gajendran, Rajkumar; Rao B, Vishwanatha

2014-01-01

There is a general impression that visually blind individuals show an exceptionally better perception of other sensory modalities such as hearing, touch and smell sensations. In this study, we intended to compare the mid-latency auditory evoked potential response (MLAEP) or Middle latency Response (MLR) to get an idea of the activity pattern of auditory thalamus and cortex between 30 visually handicapped subjects and 30 normal sighted subjects. The results showed a decrease in many of the MLR wave latencies, but highly significant for the wave Pa (P value <0.002). This fact can be reflected as an evidence of existence of cross-modal neuroplasticity. We also inferred that there are significant gender differences with latencies shorter in males than females (P value <0.02) in the blind subjects group which could be attributed to their rehabilitation training.

[Microecological investigation of vaginal microflora in women with varying degree gynecologic symptoms in clinics].

PubMed

Xiao, Bing-bing; Liu, Zhao-hui; Liao, Qin-ping

2009-01-01

To investigate the microecological status of vaginal microflora in the women with different vaginal symptoms. From March 2006 to October 2007, 6982 cases with varying degree vaginal symptoms including pruritus, increaseed leucorrhea, the leucorrhea having unusual smell, in the gynecology outpatient department were studied. The vagina secretions were examined in terms of the pH value, the hydrogen peroxide test, and Gram dyeing inspection of vaginal bacteria and microecology appraisal for colony's density, the multiplicity, the superiority fungus, and the inflammatory response. Among 6982 patients, normal vaginal microecology was identified in 750 (10.74%, 750/6982); abnormal microecology was found in 6232 (89.26%, 6232/6982); bacterial vaginosis (BV) was detected in 729 (10.44%, 729/6982); vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) was in 1527 (21.87%, 1527/6982). Ninety five patients (1.36%, 95/6982) were with both BV and VVC. Abnormal bacteria colonies were found in 1229 (17.60%, 1229/6982), and others were found in 2652 (37.98%, 2652/6982). The vaginal microecology in the women with different vaginal symptoms can be either normal or abnormal. Microecology clinical evaluation system can assess the vaginal microecosystem.

Smell and Taste

MedlinePlus

... Programs Professional Development Home AcademyU Home Study Course Maintenance of Certification Conferences & Events Practice Management Home Resources Quality Clinical Data Registry Research Reimbursement ...

Weight Change Is a Characteristic Non-Motor Symptom in Drug-Naïve Parkinson's Disease Patients with Non-Tremor Dominant Subtype: A Nation-Wide Observational Study.

PubMed

Mun, Jun Kyu; Youn, Jinyoung; Cho, Jin Whan; Oh, Eung-Seok; Kim, Ji Sun; Park, Suyeon; Jang, Wooyoung; Park, Jin Se; Koh, Seong-Beom; Lee, Jae Hyeok; Park, Hee Kyung; Kim, Han-Joon; Jeon, Beom S; Shin, Hae-Won; Choi, Sun-Ah; Kim, Sang Jin; Choi, Seong-Min; Park, Ji-Yun; Kim, Ji Young; Chung, Sun Ju; Lee, Chong Sik; Ahn, Tae-Beom; Kim, Won Chan; Kim, Hyun Sook; Cheon, Sang Myung; Kim, Jae Woo; Kim, Hee-Tae; Lee, Jee-Young; Kim, Ji Sun; Kim, Eun-Joo; Kim, Jong-Min; Lee, Kwang Soo; Kim, Joong-Seok; Kim, Min-Jeong; Baik, Jong Sam; Park, Ki-Jong; Kim, Hee Jin; Park, Mee Young; Kang, Ji Hoon; Song, Sook Kun; Kim, Yong Duk; Yun, Ji Young; Lee, Ho-Won; Song, In-Uk; Sohn, Young H; Lee, Phil Hyu; Park, Jeong-Ho; Oh, Hyung Geun; Park, Kun Woo; Kwon, Do-Young

2016-01-01

Despite the clinical impact of non-motor symptoms (NMS) in Parkinson's disease (PD), the characteristic NMS in relation to the motor subtypes of PD is not well elucidated. In this study, we enrolled drug-naïve PD patients and compared NMS between PD subtypes. We enrolled 136 drug-naïve, early PD patients and 50 normal controls. All the enrolled PD patients were divided into tremor dominant (TD) and non-tremor dominant (NTD) subtypes. The Non-Motor Symptom Scale and scales for each NMS were completed. We compared NMS and the relationship of NMS with quality of life between normal controls and PD patients, and between the PD subtypes. Comparing with normal controls, PD patients complained of more NMS, especially mood/cognitive symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, unexplained pain, weight change, and change in taste or smell. Between the PD subtypes, the NTD subtype showed higher total NMS scale score and sub-score about weight change. Weight change was the characteristic NMS related to NTD subtype even after controlled other variables with logistic regression analysis. Even from the early stage, PD patients suffer from various NMS regardless of dopaminergic medication. Among the various NMS, weight change is the characteristic NMS associated with NTD subtype in PD patients.

Menstrual cycle variation in women's preferences for the scent of symmetrical men.

PubMed Central

Gangestad, S W; Thornhill, R

1998-01-01

Evidence suggests that female sexual preferences change across the menstrual cycle. Women's extra-pair copulations tend to occur in their most fertile period, whereas their intra-pair copulations tend to be more evenly spread out across the cycle. This pattern is consistent with women preferentially seeking men who evidence phenotypic markers of genetic benefits just before and during ovulation. This study examined whether women's olfactory preferences for men's scent would tend to favour the scent of more symmetrical men, most notably during the women's fertile period. College women sniffed and rated the attractiveness of the scent of 41 T-shirts worn over a period of two nights by different men. Results indicated that normally cycling (non-pill using) women near the peak fertility of their cycle tended to prefer the scent of shirts worn by symmetrical men. Normally ovulating women at low fertility within their cycle, and women using a contraceptive pill, showed no significant preference for either symmetrical or asymmetrical men's scent. A separate analysis revealed that, within the set of normally cycling women, individual women's preference for symmetry correlated with their probability of conception, given the actuarial value associated with the day of the cycle they reported at the time they smelled the shirts. Potential sexual selection processes and proximate mechanisms accounting for these findings are discussed. PMID:9633114

Inventing a new diagnostic test for vaginal infection.

PubMed Central

O'Dowd, T. C.; Bourne, N.

1994-01-01

Bacterial vaginosis, which is underdiagnosed in clinical practice, has a characteristic fishy smell because of production of diamines. This smell is the basis of a visual rapid diagnostic test that is technically simple to perform. The test has been patented in Europe and America, and a licence agreement has been negotiated. This paper describes the process from idea to invention to patenting and licensing. The combined costs of research and patenting were met by a multinational company in return for rights to exploit the patent invention. The process has taken nine years and has needed clinical, scientific, legal, and commercial input to get the test to the marketplace. Images p41-a PMID:8044068

Internet chameleons: an experimental study on imitating smoking peers through digital interaction.

PubMed

Harakeh, Zeena; Vollebergh, Wilma A M

2012-03-01

Existing experimental studies indicate that young adults are more likely to smoke in the company of real-life smoking peers. However, it is still unclear whether imitation can explain these findings or whether alternatively the mere smell and not the smoking behavior may have been the trigger to smoke. One way to study this issue is by analyzing the exposure to real-life smoking peers without the possibility of smelling the smoker's cigarette, for example, during digital interaction on the Internet. Although many youngsters meet and interact with each other online, research on exposure to smoking peers through the Internet has not yet been investigated. This experiment was conducted among 36 daily smoking young people aged 16-24 years. Smoking behavior was observed during a 30-min joint music assignment. During this assignment, the confederate and participant sat in 2 separate rooms and interacted with each other online and via webcam. The findings show that young adults interacting with heavy-smoking peers on the Internet and via webcam smoked significantly more cigarettes than those who interacted with nonsmoking peers. Young adult smokers strongly imitate smoking in interaction with peers in online communication via webcam, without smelling the smoker's cigarette. Antismoking policies and smoking cessation programs should focus on (raising awareness of) avoiding smoking peers, even during digital interaction.

An Efficient Extraction Method for Fragrant Volatiles from Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait.

PubMed

Ye, Qiuping; Jin, Xinyi; Zhu, Xinliang; Lin, Tongxiang; Hao, Zhilong; Yang, Qian

2015-01-01

The sweet smell of aroma of Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait. is releasing while the flowers are blooming. Although components of volatile oil have been extensively studied, there are problematic issues, such as low efficiency of yield, flavour distortion. Here, the subcritical fluid extraction (SFE) was performed to extract fragrant volatiles from activated carbon that had absorbed the aroma of jasmine flowers. This novel method could effectively obtain main aromatic compounds with quality significantly better than solvent extraction (SE). Based on the analysis data with response surface methodology (RSM), we optimized the extraction conditions which consisted of a temperature of 44°C, a solvent-to-material ratio of 3.5:1, and an extraction time of 53 min. Under these conditions, the extraction yield was 4.91%. Furthermore, the key jasmine essence oil components, benzyl acetate and linalool, increase 7 fold and 2 fold respectively which lead to strong typical smell of the jasmine oil. The new method can reduce spicy components which lead to the essential oils smelling sweeter. Thus, the quality of the jasmine essence oil was dramatically improved and yields based on the key component increased dramatically. Our results provide a new effective technique for extracting fragrant volatiles from jasmine flowers.

The Evaluation of Olfactory Function in Patients With Schizophrenia.

PubMed

Robabeh, Soleimani; Mohammad, Jalali Mir; Reza, Ahmadi; Mahan, Badri

2015-04-23

The aim of this study was to compare olfactory threshold, smell identification, intensity and pleasantness ratings between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls, and (2) to evaluate correlations between ratings of olfactory probes and illness characteristics. Thirty one patients with schizophrenia and 31 control subjects were assessed with the olfactory n-butanol threshold test, the Iran smell identification test (Ir-SIT), and the suprathreshold amyl acetate odor intensity and odor pleasantness rating test. All olfactory tasks were performed unirhinally. Patients with schizophrenia showed disrupted olfaction in all four measures. Longer duration of schizophrenia was associated with a larger impairment of olfactory threshold or microsmic range on the Ir-SIT (P=0.04, P=0.05, respectively). In patients with schizophrenia, female subjects' ratings of pleasantness followed the same trend as control subjects, whereas male patients' ratings showed an opposite trend. Patients exhibiting high positive score on the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) performed better on the olfactory threshold test (r=0.37, P=0.04). The higher odor pleasantness ratings of patients were associated with presence of positive symptoms. The results suggest that both male and female patients with schizophrenia had difficulties on the olfactory threshold and smell identification tests, but appraisal of odor pleasantness was more disrupted in male patients.

Milling overrides cultivar, leavening agent and baking mode on chemical and rheological traits and sensory perception of durum wheat breads.

PubMed

Ficco, Donatella Bianca Maria; Saia, Sergio; Beleggia, Romina; Fragasso, Mariagiovanna; Giovanniello, Valentina; De Vita, Pasquale

2017-10-19

Smell and aroma are important determinants of consumer acceptance, so gaining deeper insight into bread smell and aroma perception is a research goal. Sixteen combinations of four variables were investigated, to evaluate the contributions of bread chemical and rheological properties and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) towards sensory acceptability of breads: genotypes (landrace vs. modern); types of flour (wholemeal vs. semolina); leavening agents (brewing yeast vs. sourdough starter); and baking modes (gas-fired vs. wood-fired). Milling had the greatest impact over the other treatments for the rheological and chemical properties, including for VOCs, with great impact on the sensory traits of the flours and breads. The processing phases had great impact on smell and aroma, as defined through formation of alcohols, aldehydes, terpenes, and other compounds (e.g., ethylbenzene, 2-pentylfuran, methoxyphenyl oxime). Leavening agent had great impact on sensory perception, although breads from the sourdough starter were perceived as with lower taste and colour than the brewing yeast. Baking mode had no relevant role on sensory perception. These data strongly undermine the belief of a 'better product' that is frequently attributed to old genotypes versus modern cultivars, and indicate that the milling and the bread-making processes determine the quality of the end product.

Peripheral adaptive filtering in human olfaction? Three studies on prevalence and effects of olfactory training in specific anosmia in more than 1600 participants.

PubMed

Croy, Ilona; Olgun, Selda; Mueller, Laura; Schmidt, Anna; Muench, Marcus; Hummel, Cornelia; Gisselmann, Guenter; Hatt, Hanns; Hummel, Thomas

2015-12-01

Selective processing of environmental stimuli improves processing capacity and allows adaptive modulation of behavior. The thalamus provides an effective filter of central sensory information processing. As olfactory projections, however, largely bypass the thalamus, other filter mechanisms must consequently have evolved for the sense of smell. We investigated whether specific anosmia - the inability to perceive a specific odor whereas detection of other substances is unaffected - represents an effective peripheral filter of olfactory information processing. In contrast to previous studies, we showed in a sample of 1600 normosmic subjects, that specific anosmia is by no means a rare phenomenon. Instead, while the affected odor is highly individual, the general probability of occurrence of specific anosmia is close to 1. In addition, 25 subjects performed daily olfactory training sessions with enhanced exposure to their particular "missing" smells for the duration of three months. This resulted in a significant improvement of sensitivity towards the respective specific odors. We propose specific anosmia to occur as a rule, rather than an exception, in the sense of smell. The lack of perception of certain odors may constitute a flexible peripheral filter mechanism, which can be altered by exposure. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Genetics of taste and smell: poisons and pleasures.

PubMed

Reed, Danielle Renee; Knaapila, Antti

2010-01-01

Eating is dangerous. While food contains nutrients and calories that animals need to produce heat and energy, it may also contain harmful parasites, bacteria, or chemicals. To guide food selection, the senses of taste and smell have evolved to alert us to the bitter taste of poisons and the sour taste and off-putting smell of spoiled foods. These sensory systems help people and animals to eat defensively, and they provide the brake that helps them avoid ingesting foods that are harmful. But choices about which foods to eat are motivated by more than avoiding the bad; they are also motivated by seeking the good, such as fat and sugar. However, just as not everyone is equally capable of sensing toxins in food, not everyone is equally enthusiastic about consuming high-fat, high-sugar foods. Genetic studies in humans and experimental animals strongly suggest that the liking of sugar and fat is influenced by genotype; likewise, the abilities to detect bitterness and the malodors of rotting food are highly variable among individuals. Understanding the exact genes and genetic differences that affect food intake may provide important clues in obesity treatment by allowing caregivers to tailor dietary recommendations to the chemosensory landscape of each person. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ventral frontal satiation-mediated responses to food aromas in obese and normal-weight women123

PubMed Central

Eiler, William JA; Dzemidzic, Mario; Case, K Rose; Armstrong, Cheryl LH; Mattes, Richard D; Cyders, Melissa A; Considine, Robert V; Kareken, David A

2014-01-01

Background: Sensory properties of foods promote and guide consumption in hunger states, whereas satiation should dampen the sensory activation of ingestive behaviors. Such activation may be disordered in obese individuals. Objective: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we studied regional brain responses to food odor stimulation in the sated state in obese and normal-weight individuals targeting ventral frontal regions known to be involved in coding for stimulus reward value. Design: Forty-eight women (25 normal weight; 23 obese) participated in a 2-day (fed compared with fasting) fMRI study while smelling odors of 2 foods and an inedible, nonfood object. Analyses were conducted to permit an examination of both general and sensory-specific satiation (satiation effects specific to a given food). Results: Normal-weight subjects showed significant blood oxygen level–dependent responses in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) to food aromas compared with responses induced by the odor of an inedible object. Normal-weight subjects also showed general (but not sensory-specific) satiation effects in both the vmPFC and orbitofrontal cortex. Obese subjects showed no differential response to the aromas of food and the inedible object when fasting. Within- and between-group differences in satiation were driven largely by changes in the response to the odor of the inedible stimulus. Responses to food aromas in the obese correlated with trait negative urgency, the tendency toward negative affect-provoked impulsivity. Conclusions: Ventral frontal signaling of reward value may be disordered in obesity, with negative urgency heightening responses to food aromas. The observed nature of responses to food and nonfood stimuli suggests that future research should independently quantify each to fully understand brain reward signaling in obesity. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02041039. PMID:24695888

Ventral frontal satiation-mediated responses to food aromas in obese and normal-weight women.

PubMed

Eiler, William J A; Dzemidzic, Mario; Case, K Rose; Armstrong, Cheryl L H; Mattes, Richard D; Cyders, Melissa A; Considine, Robert V; Kareken, David A

2014-06-01

Sensory properties of foods promote and guide consumption in hunger states, whereas satiation should dampen the sensory activation of ingestive behaviors. Such activation may be disordered in obese individuals. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we studied regional brain responses to food odor stimulation in the sated state in obese and normal-weight individuals targeting ventral frontal regions known to be involved in coding for stimulus reward value. Forty-eight women (25 normal weight; 23 obese) participated in a 2-day (fed compared with fasting) fMRI study while smelling odors of 2 foods and an inedible, nonfood object. Analyses were conducted to permit an examination of both general and sensory-specific satiation (satiation effects specific to a given food). Normal-weight subjects showed significant blood oxygen level-dependent responses in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) to food aromas compared with responses induced by the odor of an inedible object. Normal-weight subjects also showed general (but not sensory-specific) satiation effects in both the vmPFC and orbitofrontal cortex. Obese subjects showed no differential response to the aromas of food and the inedible object when fasting. Within- and between-group differences in satiation were driven largely by changes in the response to the odor of the inedible stimulus. Responses to food aromas in the obese correlated with trait negative urgency, the tendency toward negative affect-provoked impulsivity. Ventral frontal signaling of reward value may be disordered in obesity, with negative urgency heightening responses to food aromas. The observed nature of responses to food and nonfood stimuli suggests that future research should independently quantify each to fully understand brain reward signaling in obesity. © 2014 American Society for Nutrition.

Smell and Taste

MedlinePlus

... Humanitarian Efforts International Outreach Advocacy Board of Governors Industry Programs Professional Development Home AcademyU Home Study Course Maintenance of Certification Conferences & Events Practice Management Home Resources ...

Rodents and humans are able to detect the odour of L-Lactate.

PubMed

Mosienko, Valentina; Chang, Andy J; Alenina, Natalia; Teschemacher, Anja G; Kasparov, Sergey

2017-01-01

L-Lactate (LL) is an essential cellular metabolite which can be used to generate energy. In addition, accumulating evidence suggests that LL is used for inter-cellular signalling. Some LL-sensitive receptors have been identified but we recently proposed that there may be yet another unknown G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) sensitive to LL in the brain. Olfactory receptors (ORs) represent the largest family of GPCRs and some of them are expressed outside the olfactory system, including brain, making them interesting candidates for non-olfactory LL signalling. One of the "ectopically" expressed ORs, Olfr78 in mice (Olr59 in rats and OR51E2 in humans), reportedly can be activated by LL. This implies that both rodents and humans should be able to detect the LL odour. Surprisingly, this has never been demonstrated. Here we show that mice can detect the odour of LL in odour detection and habituation-dishabituation tasks, and discriminate it from peppermint and vanilla odours. Behaviour of the Olfr78 null mice and wildtype mice in odour detection task was not different, indicating that rodents are equipped with more than one LL-sensitive OR. Rats were also able to use the smell of LL as a cue in an odour-reward associative learning task. When presented to humans, more than 90% of participants detected a smell of LL in solution. Interestingly, LL was perceived differently than acetate or propionate-LL was preferentially reported as a pleasant sweet scent while acetate and propionate were perceived as repulsive sour/acid smells. Subjective perception of LL smell was different in men and women. Taken together, our data demonstrate that both rodents and humans are able to detect the odour of LL. Moreover, in mice, LL perception is not purely mediated by Olfr78. Discovery of further LL-sensitive OR might shed the light on their contribution to LL signalling in the body.

Subjective and objective taste and smell changes in cancer.

PubMed

Spotten, L E; Corish, C A; Lorton, C M; Ui Dhuibhir, P M; O'Donoghue, N C; O'Connor, B; Walsh, T D

2017-05-01

Malnutrition is highly prevalent in cancer patients and an important predictor of morbidity, mortality, treatment response, and toxicity. Taste and smell changes (TSCs) are common and may contribute to malnutrition. Research has previously focused on patients receiving chemotherapy (CT) or head and neck radiotherapy (RT). However, TSCs may occur pre-treatment, with other treatment modalities, and in cancer survivors. This review evaluates objective and subjective assessment of taste and smell, discusses the prevalence of TSCs in cancer, and reviews the clinical sequelae of TSCs in cancer patients. To critically evaluate objective and subjective assessment of TSCs, and the prevalence and clinical sequelae of TSCs in cancer. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL and Embase for English-language articles published January 2009-June 2016. Search terms included combinations of the following: chemosensory, taste, smell, cancer, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, survivors. Reference lists of articles retrieved were also reviewed. Variation in objective and subjective assessment methodologies has resulted in difficulties interpreting the literature. TSC prevalence varies depending on stage of disease and treatment regimens, from 16% to 70% and 50% to 70% during CT and RT, respectively. TSCs in patients who are treatment-naïve, receiving hormone or immunotherapy treatment, post-treatment and cancer survivors have not been adequately studied. TSCs are associated with impaired nutritional status. The relationship between cancer-associated symptoms and nutritional status is not clearly defined. There is no gold standard assessment tool for TSCs. Heterogeneity in study methods hinders conclusive identification of the most appropriate way to measure TSCs. Subjective measures may reflect the patient experience and more reliably predict changes in dietary behaviour. Evaluation of TSCs should form part of all nutritional assessments in cancer patients. The true prevalence and severity of TSCs at all stages of cancer could then be established. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Elderly peoples' meals. A comparative study between elderly living in a nursing home and frail, self-managing elderly.

PubMed

Engelheart, S; Lammes, E; Akner, G

2006-01-01

Sweden is one of few countries that have specific recommendations regarding mealtime habits. The importance of mealtime habits for health outcome is inadequately studied in elderly subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of the daily meals/energy intake; the number of eating episodes per day and subjectively estimated meal-dependent variables (appetite, motivation to eat, sense of taste and sense of smell) and compare the results of elderly living in a nursing home with frail, self-managing elderly living at home. Explorative study. All analyses of energy intake were based on food records; weighed in the nursing home and estimated in the frail, self-managing elderly. Participants or contact persons estimated the subjective variables using a 10-point VAS scale. On average there were 4-5 daily eating episodes in both groups. The eating episodes were much more widespread over the day in the self-managing elderly, and their length of fasting at night was significantly shorter. The subjects estimated appetite and sense of smell was reduced in about 30-40% in both groups. Sense of taste was reduced in 40 % of the males and 10-20 % of the females. Energy intake was similar in both groups, 25 kcal/kg body weight/day, with more than a threefold variation among individual subjects. Energy intake/kg body weight correlated with a shorter length of fasting at night in the nursing home residents, however, did not correlate with ADL, number of eating episodes per day, appetite, motivation to eat, or senses of taste or smell. The self-managing elderly had more widespread eating episodes than the elderly in the nursing home, indicating that self-managing elderly exhibit larger variations in food intake preferences, however, without affecting mean energy intake. The lack of correlation between energy intake and estimated appetite, taste and smell is in line with previous findings in elderly.

Recurrence Quantifcation Analysis of Sentence-Level Speech Kinematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackson, Eric S.; Tiede, Mark; Riley, Michael A.; Whalen, D. H.

2016-01-01

Purpose: Current approaches to assessing sentence-level speech variability rely on measures that quantify variability across utterances and use normalization procedures that alter raw trajectory data. The current work tests the feasibility of a less restrictive nonlinear approach--recurrence quantification analysis (RQA)--via a procedural example…

ESTIMATING PATHOGEN EXPOSURES - THE CRITICAL CHALLENGE FOR QMRA TO SUPPORT REGULATION AND MANAGEMENT OF WATERS

EPA Science Inventory

Pathogen and indicator concentrations normally vary by several orders of magnitude in raw waters, and to an even greater extent during hazardous event periods. This variation in concentration typically dominate the estimate of infection generated in a quantitative microbial risk ...

Multiple imputation in the presence of non-normal data.

PubMed

Lee, Katherine J; Carlin, John B

2017-02-20

Multiple imputation (MI) is becoming increasingly popular for handling missing data. Standard approaches for MI assume normality for continuous variables (conditionally on the other variables in the imputation model). However, it is unclear how to impute non-normally distributed continuous variables. Using simulation and a case study, we compared various transformations applied prior to imputation, including a novel non-parametric transformation, to imputation on the raw scale and using predictive mean matching (PMM) when imputing non-normal data. We generated data from a range of non-normal distributions, and set 50% to missing completely at random or missing at random. We then imputed missing values on the raw scale, following a zero-skewness log, Box-Cox or non-parametric transformation and using PMM with both type 1 and 2 matching. We compared inferences regarding the marginal mean of the incomplete variable and the association with a fully observed outcome. We also compared results from these approaches in the analysis of depression and anxiety symptoms in parents of very preterm compared with term-born infants. The results provide novel empirical evidence that the decision regarding how to impute a non-normal variable should be based on the nature of the relationship between the variables of interest. If the relationship is linear in the untransformed scale, transformation can introduce bias irrespective of the transformation used. However, if the relationship is non-linear, it may be important to transform the variable to accurately capture this relationship. A useful alternative is to impute the variable using PMM with type 1 matching. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Smelling time: a neural basis for olfactory scene analysis

PubMed Central

Ache, Barry W.; Hein, Andrew M.; Bobkov, Yuriy V.; Principe, Jose C.

2016-01-01

Behavioral evidence from phylogenetically diverse animals and humans suggests that olfaction could be much more involved in interpreting space and time than heretofore imagined by extracting temporal information inherent in the olfactory signal. If this is the case, the olfactory system must have neural mechanisms capable of encoding time at intervals relevant to the turbulent odor world in which many animals live. We review evidence that animals can use populations of rhythmically active or ‘bursting’ olfactory receptor neurons (bORNs) to extract and encode temporal information inherent in natural olfactory signals. We postulate that bORNs represent an unsuspected neural mechanism through which time can be accurately measured, and that ‘smelling time’ completes the requirements for true olfactory scene analysis. PMID:27594700

Poor Human Olfaction is a Nineteenth Century Myth

PubMed Central

McGann, John P.

2017-01-01

It is commonly believed that humans have a poor sense of smell compared to other mammalian species. However, this idea derives not from empirical studies of human olfaction but from a famous nineteenth century anatomist’s hypothesis that the evolution of human free will required a reduction in the proportional size of the brain’s olfactory bulb. The human olfactory bulb is actually quite large in absolute terms and contains a similar number of neurons to other mammals. Moreover, humans have excellent olfactory abilities. We can detect and discriminate an extraordinary range of odors, we are more sensitive than rodents and dogs for some odors, we are capable of tracking odor trails, and our behavioral and affective states are influenced by our sense of smell. PMID:28495701

Kansei Biosensor and IT Society

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toko, Kiyoshi

A taste sensor with global selectivity is composed of several kinds of lipid/polymer membranes for transforming information of taste substances into electric signal. The sensor output shows different patterns for chemical substances which have different taste qualities such as saltiness and sourness. Taste interactions such as suppression effect, which occurs between bitterness and sweetness, can be detected and quantified using the taste sensor. The taste and also smell of foodstuffs such as beer, coffee, mineral water, soup and milk can be discussed quantitatively. The taste sensor provides the objective scale for the human sensory expression. Multi-modal communication becomes possible using a taste/smell recognition microchip, which produces virtual taste. We are now standing at the beginning of a new age of communication using digitized taste.

Editorial: The Advent of a Molecular Genetics of General Intelligence.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weiss, Volkmar

1995-01-01

Raw IQ scores do not demonstrate the bell curve created by normalized scores, even the bell-shaped distribution does not require large numbers of underlying genes. Family data support a major gene locus of IQ. The correlation between glutathione peroxidase and IQ should be investigated through molecular genetics. (SLD)

40 CFR 266.112 - Regulation of residues.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...; (3) Cement kilns. Cement kilns must process at least 50% by weight normal cement-production raw... complies with alternative levels defined as the land disposal restriction limits specified in § 268.43 of this chapter for F039 nonwastewaters. In complying with those alternative levels, if an owner or...

40 CFR 266.112 - Regulation of residues.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...; (3) Cement kilns. Cement kilns must process at least 50% by weight normal cement-production raw... complies with alternative levels defined as the land disposal restriction limits specified in § 268.43 of this chapter for F039 nonwastewaters. In complying with those alternative levels, if an owner or...

ELIMINATION OF WATER POLLUTION BY RECYCLING CEMENT PLANT KILN DUST

EPA Science Inventory

Excessive amounts of alkalies can have deleterious effects upon the process of cement manufacture and the product. Normally much of the alkali present in cement raw materials is volatilized in the cement kiln and condenses on the particles of kiln dust which are carried out of th...

Grade Equivalents: We Report Them, You Should Too.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ligon, Glynn; Battaile, Richard

In certain situations, grade equivalent scores are the most appropriate statistic available for reporting achievement test data. It is noted that testing practitioners have found that raw scores, normal curve equivalents, stanines, and standard scores are very useful. However, it is best to convert to either grade equivalents or percentiles before…

Detection of rheumatoid arthritis by evaluation of normalized variances of fluorescence time correlation functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dziekan, Thomas; Weissbach, Carmen; Voigt, Jan; Ebert, Bernd; MacDonald, Rainer; Bahner, Malte L.; Mahler, Marianne; Schirner, Michael; Berliner, Michael; Berliner, Birgitt; Osel, Jens; Osel, Ilka

2011-07-01

Fluorescence imaging using the dye indocyanine green as a contrast agent was investigated in a prospective clinical study for the detection of rheumatoid arthritis. Normalized variances of correlated time series of fluorescence intensities describing the bolus kinetics of the contrast agent in certain regions of interest were analyzed to differentiate healthy from inflamed finger joints. These values are determined using a robust, parameter-free algorithm. We found that the normalized variance of correlation functions improves the differentiation between healthy joints of volunteers and joints with rheumatoid arthritis of patients by about 10% compared to, e.g., ratios of areas under the curves of raw data.

Bad Breath

MedlinePlus

... cabbage. And of course smoking causes its own bad smell. Some diseases and medicines can cause a specific breath odor. Having good dental habits, like brushing and flossing regularly, help fight bad ...

Trichomoniasis

MedlinePlus

... discomfort with urination, or a change in their vaginal discharge (i.e., thin discharge or increased volume) with an unusual smell (i.e., fishy odor) that can be clear, white, yellowish, or greenish. ...

Food Safety Impacts from Post-Harvest Processing Procedures of Molluscan Shellfish.

PubMed

Baker, George L

2016-04-18

Post-harvest Processing (PHP) methods are viable food processing methods employed to reduce human pathogens in molluscan shellfish that would normally be consumed raw, such as raw oysters on the half-shell. Efficacy of human pathogen reduction associated with PHP varies with respect to time, temperature, salinity, pressure, and process exposure. Regulatory requirements and PHP molluscan shellfish quality implications are major considerations for PHP usage. Food safety impacts associated with PHP of molluscan shellfish vary in their efficacy and may have synergistic outcomes when combined. Further research for many PHP methods are necessary and emerging PHP methods that result in minimal quality loss and effective human pathogen reduction should be explored.

Fecal shedding of Salmonella in exotic felids.

PubMed

Clyde, V L; Ramsay, E C; Bemis, D A

1997-06-01

Two collections of exotic felids were screened for the presence of Salmonella by selective fecal culture utilizing selenite broth and Hektoen enteric agar. In > 90% of the samples, Salmonella was isolated from a single culture. A commercial horsemeat-based diet was fed in both collections, and one collection also was fed raw chicken. Salmonella was cultured from the raw chicken and the horsemeat diet for both collections. Multiple Salmonella serotypes were identified, with S. typhimurium and S. typhimurium (copenhagen) isolated most frequently. Approximately half of the Salmonella isolates demonstrated multiple antibiotic resistance. The ability to harbor Salmonella as normal nonpathogenic bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract may be a physiological adaptation to carnivory. The high rate of fecal shedding of Salmonella in healthy individuals clouds the interpretation of a positive fecal culture in an ill felid, or one with diarrhea. All zoo employees having contact with cat feces or raw diets have a high rate of occupational exposure to Salmonella and should exercise appropriate hygienic precautions.

Analysis of Different Hyperspectral Variables for Diagnosing Leaf Nitrogen Accumulation in Wheat.

PubMed

Tan, Changwei; Du, Ying; Zhou, Jian; Wang, Dunliang; Luo, Ming; Zhang, Yongjian; Guo, Wenshan

2018-01-01

Hyperspectral remote sensing is a rapid non-destructive method for diagnosing nitrogen status in wheat crops. In this study, a quantitative correlation was associated with following parameters: leaf nitrogen accumulation (LNA), raw hyperspectral reflectance, first-order differential hyperspectra, and hyperspectral characteristics of wheat. In this study, integrated linear regression of LNA was obtained with raw hyperspectral reflectance (measurement wavelength = 790.4 nm). Furthermore, an exponential regression of LNA was obtained with first-order differential hyperspectra (measurement wavelength = 831.7 nm). Coefficients ( R 2 ) were 0.813 and 0.847; root mean squared errors (RMSE) were 2.02 g·m -2 and 1.72 g·m -2 ; and relative errors (RE) were 25.97% and 20.85%, respectively. Both the techniques were considered as optimal in the diagnoses of wheat LNA. Nevertheless, the better one was the new normalized variable (SD r - SD b )/(SD r + SD b ) , which was based on vegetation indices of R 2 = 0.935, RMSE = 0.98, and RE = 11.25%. In addition, (SD r - SD b )/(SD r + SD b ) was reliable in the application of a different cultivar or even wheat grown elsewhere. This indicated a superior fit and better performance for (SD r - SD b )/(SD r + SD b ) . For diagnosing LNA in wheat, the newly normalized variable (SD r - SD b )/(SD r + SD b ) was more effective than the previously reported data of raw hyperspectral reflectance, first-order differential hyperspectra, and red-edge parameters.

Comprehensive combinatory standard correction: a calibration method for handling instrumental drifts of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry systems.

PubMed

Deport, Coralie; Ratel, Jérémy; Berdagué, Jean-Louis; Engel, Erwan

2006-05-26

The current work describes a new method, the comprehensive combinatory standard correction (CCSC), for the correction of instrumental signal drifts in GC-MS systems. The method consists in analyzing together with the products of interest a mixture of n selected internal standards, and in normalizing the peak area of each analyte by the sum of standard areas and then, select among the summation operator sigma(p = 1)(n)C(n)p possible sums, the sum that enables the best product discrimination. The CCSC method was compared with classical techniques of data pre-processing like internal normalization (IN) or single standard correction (SSC) on their ability to correct raw data from the main drifts occurring in a dynamic headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system. Three edible oils with closely similar compositions in volatile compounds were analysed using a device which performance was modulated by using new or used dynamic headspace traps and GC-columns, and by modifying the tuning of the mass spectrometer. According to one-way ANOVA, the CCSC method increased the number of analytes discriminating the products (31 after CCSC versus 25 with raw data or after IN and 26 after SSC). Moreover, CCSC enabled a satisfactory discrimination of the products irrespective of the drifts. In a factorial discriminant analysis, 100% of the samples (n = 121) were well-classified after CCSC versus 45% for raw data, 90 and 93%, respectively after IN and SSC.

Chemosignals of stress influence social judgments.

PubMed

Dalton, Pamela; Mauté, Christopher; Jaén, Cristina; Wilson, Tamika

2013-01-01

Human body odors have important communicative functions regarding genetic identity, immune fitness and general health, but an expanding body of research suggests they can also communicate information about an individual's emotional state. In the current study, we tested whether axillary odors obtained from women experiencing psychosocial stress could negatively influence personality judgments of warmth and competence made about other women depicted in video scenarios. 44 female donors provided three types of sweat samples: untreated exercise sweat, untreated stress sweat and treated stress sweat. After a 'washout' period, a commercial unscented anti-perspirant product was applied to the left axilla only to evaluate whether 'blocking' the stress signal would improve the social evaluations. A separate group of male and female evaluators (n = 120) rated the women in the videos while smelling one of the three types of sweat samples. Women in the video scenes were rated as being more stressed by both men and women when smelling the untreated vs. treated stress sweat. For men only, the women in the videos were rated as less confident, trustworthy and competent when smelling both the untreated stress and exercise sweat in contrast to the treated stress sweat. Women's social judgments were unaffected by sniffing the pads. The results have implications for influencing multiple types of professional and personal social interactions and impression management and extend our understanding of the social communicative function of body odors.

Air Quality and Respiratory Health among Adolescents from the United Arab Emirates

PubMed Central

Dghaim, Rania

2015-01-01

Purpose. To examine the role of air quality in relation to chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, wheeze, and dry cough among adolescents from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods. A survey was administered on 6,363 adolescents from 9 UAE regions. Data consists of demographic, socioeconomic, residential, and behavioural variables, such as location of residence, residing near industry/gas stations/dumpsites/construction sites, residing near overhead power line/plants, exposure to tobacco, residential exposure, ethnicity, concern over air pollution, smoking, and purposely smelling gasoline fumes/glue/correctors/car exhaust/burning black ants. Logistic regression modeling was used to determine significant predictors of respiratory health. Results. Asthma prevalence was 12.3%, followed by chronic bronchitis (1.8%) and emphysema (0.5%). Overall 12.2% reported wheeze and 34.8% reported a dry nocturnal cough in the past year. Multivariate analyses suggest that sex is a significant predictor of asthma and dry cough. Exposure to tobacco and arts/crafts/ceramics/stain is significant predictor of respiratory health. Tobacco smoking and purposely smelling gasoline fumes/glue/correctors/car exhaust/burning black ants are significant predictors of wheeze and dry cough. Conclusions. This study suggests that exposure to air quality and behavioral factors such as smoking and purposely smelling gasoline fumes, glue, correctors, car exhaust, or burning black ants are significant predictors of respiratory health among UAE adolescents. PMID:26074980

Normative Performance on the Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT) in a Multi-Ethnic Bilingual Cohort: A Project FRONTIER Study

PubMed Central

Menon, Chloe; Westervelt, Holly James; Jahn, Danielle R.; Dressel, Jeffrey A.; O’Bryant, Sid E.

2013-01-01

The Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT) is a commonly used measure of olfactory functioning in elderly populations. Few studies have provided normative data for this measure, and minimal data are available regarding the impact of sociodemographic factors on test scores. This study presents normative data for the BSIT in a sample of English- and Spanish-speaking Hispanic and non-Hispanic Whites. A Rasch analysis was also conducted to identify the items that best discriminated between varying levels of olfactory functioning, as measured by the BSIT. The total sample included 302 older adults seen as part of an ongoing study of rural cognitive aging, Project FRONTIER. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that BSIT scores require adjustment by age and gender, but years of education, ethnicity, and language did not significantly influence BSIT performance. Four items best discriminated between varying levels of smell identification, accounting for 59.44% of total information provided by the measure. However, items did not represent a continuum of difficulty on the BSIT. The results of this study indicate that the BSIT appears to be well-suited for assessing odor identification deficits in older adults of diverse backgrounds, but that fine-tuning of this instrument may be recommended in light of its items’ difficulty and discrimination parameters. Clinical and empirical implications are discussed. PMID:23634698

Olfactory Hallucinations without Clinical Motor Activity: A Comparison of Unirhinal with Birhinal Phantosmia

PubMed Central

Henkin, Robert I.; Potolicchio, Samuel J.; Levy, Lucien M.

2013-01-01

Olfactory hallucinations without subsequent myoclonic activity have not been well characterized or understood. Herein we describe, in a retrospective study, two major forms of olfactory hallucinations labeled phantosmias: one, unirhinal, the other, birhinal. To describe these disorders we performed several procedures to elucidate similarities and differences between these processes. From 1272, patients evaluated for taste and smell dysfunction at The Taste and Smell Clinic, Washington, DC with clinical history, neurological and otolaryngological examinations, evaluations of taste and smell function, EEG and neuroradiological studies 40 exhibited cyclic unirhinal phantosmia (CUP) usually without hyposmia whereas 88 exhibited non-cyclic birhinal phantosmia with associated symptomology (BPAS) with hyposmia. Patients with CUP developed phantosmia spontaneously or after laughing, coughing or shouting initially with spontaneous inhibition and subsequently with Valsalva maneuvers, sleep or nasal water inhalation; they had frequent EEG changes usually ipsilateral sharp waves. Patients with BPAS developed phantosmia secondary to several clinical events usually after hyposmia onset with few EEG changes; their phantosmia could not be initiated or inhibited by any physiological maneuver. CUP is uncommonly encountered and represents a newly defined clinical syndrome. BPAS is commonly encountered, has been observed previously but has not been clearly defined. Mechanisms responsible for phantosmia in each group were related to decreased gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity in specific brain regions. Treatment which activated brain GABA inhibited phantosmia in both groups. PMID:24961619

Quantitative instruments used to assess children's sense of smell: a review article.

PubMed

Moura, Raissa Gomes Fonseca; Cunha, Daniele Andrade; Gomes, Ana Carolina de Lima Gusmão; Silva, Hilton Justino da

2014-01-01

To systematically gather from the literature available the quantitative instruments used to assess the sense of smell in studies carried out with children. The present study included a survey in the Pubmed and Bireme platforms and in the databases of MedLine, Lilacs, regional SciELO and Web of Science, followed by selection and critical analysis of the articles found and chosen. We selected original articles related to the topic in question, conducted only with children in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. We excluded studies addressing other phases of human development, exclusively or concurrently with the pediatric population; studies on animals; literature review articles; dissertations; book chapters; case study articles; and editorials. A book report protocol was created for this study, including the following information: author, department, year, location, population/sample, age, purpose of the study, methods, and main results. We found 8,451 articles by typing keywords and identifiers. Out of this total, 5,928 were excluded by the title, 2,366 by the abstract, and 123 after we read the full text. Thus, 34 articles were selected, of which 28 were repeated in the databases, totalizing 6 articles analyzed in this review. We observed a lack of standardization of the quantitative instruments used to assess children's sense of smell, with great variability in the methodology of the tests, which reduces the effectiveness and reliability of the results.

ChR2 transgenic animals in peripheral sensory system: Sensing light as various sensations.

PubMed

Ji, Zhi-Gang; Wang, Hongxia

2016-04-01

Since the introduction of Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) to neuroscience, optogenetics technology was developed, making it possible to activate specific neurons or circuits with spatial and temporal precision. Various ChR2 transgenic animal models have been generated and are playing important roles in revealing the mechanisms of neural activities, mapping neural circuits, controlling the behaviors of animals as well as exploring new strategy for treating the neurological diseases in both central and peripheral nervous system. An animal including humans senses environments through Aristotle's five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch). Usually, each sense is associated with a kind of sensory organ (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin). Is it possible that one could hear light, smell light, taste light and touch light? When ChR2 is targeted to different peripheral sensory neurons by viral vectors or generating ChR2 transgenic animals, the animals can sense the light as various sensations such as hearing, touch, pain, smell and taste. In this review, we focus on ChR2 transgenic animals in the peripheral nervous system. Firstly the working principle of ChR2 as an optogenetic actuator is simply described. Then the current transgenic animal lines where ChR2 was expressed in peripheral sensory neurons are presented and the findings obtained by these animal models are reviewed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sensory Dysfunction

MedlinePlus

... article was contributed by: familydoctor.org editorial staff Categories: Men, Seniors, WomenTags: ageusia, anosmia, chemosensory disorders, decreased appetite, dysgeusia, flavor, olfactory dysfunction, overseasoning food, senses, sensory dysfunction, sensory impairment, smell, taste September ...

Orbital Decompression

MedlinePlus

... A Complications of Sinusitis Epistaxis (Nosebleeds) Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever) Headaches and Sinus Disease Disorders of Smell & ... DCR) Disclosure Statement Printer Friendly Orbital Decompression John Lee, MD INTRODUCTION Orbital decompression is a surgical procedure ...

Your Nose

MedlinePlus

... the space behind your nose) is the olfactory epithelium (say: ol-FAK-tuh-ree eh-puh-THEE- ... that has to do with smelling. The olfactory epithelium contains special receptors that are sensitive to odor ...

[Tobacco and health in the view of univerity students].

PubMed

Silva, Antonia Oliveira; Sousa, Cristina Maria Miranda de; Gaspar, Maria Filomena Mendes; Paredes, Maria Adelaide Silva; Tura, Luiz Fernando Rangel; Jesuíno, Jorge Correia

2008-01-01

Smoking is a serious public health problem. This study aims at understanding how social representation about smoke/tobacco and health are shared by young university students through the impact of figures contained in cigarettes package in heath. This exploratory study was carried with 63 nursing students in Lisboa, Portugal. Data were collected by the technique of free association of words that were submitted to the software Tri-Deux Mots. Students associate "tobacco" like pleasure but also as cancer, disrespect, bad smell, something mean; the health, happiness, joy and self and sickness. Health is represented by hospital but also as something good positive and energetic. "Tobacco/smoking" for the subjects concerned disease as the cancer in addition to causing bad smell and be unpleasant configuring itself as a bad and associated with father.

Plasticity in Insect Olfaction: To Smell or Not to Smell?

PubMed

Gadenne, Christophe; Barrozo, Romina B; Anton, Sylvia

2016-01-01

In insects, olfaction plays a crucial role in many behavioral contexts, such as locating food, sexual partners, and oviposition sites. To successfully perform such behaviors, insects must respond to chemical stimuli at the right moment. Insects modulate their olfactory system according to their physiological state upon interaction with their environment. Here, we review the plasticity of behavioral responses to different odor types according to age, feeding state, circadian rhythm, and mating status. We also summarize what is known about the underlying neural and endocrinological mechanisms, from peripheral detection to central nervous integration, and cover neuromodulation from the molecular to the behavioral level. We describe forms of olfactory plasticity that have contributed to the evolutionary success of insects and have provided them with remarkable tools to adapt to their ever-changing environment.

Prevalence of olfactory and other developmental anomalies in patients with central hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

PubMed

Della Valle, Elisa; Vezzani, Silvia; Rochira, Vincenzo; Granata, Antonio Raffaele Michele; Madeo, Bruno; Genovese, Elisabetta; Pignatti, Elisa; Marino, Marco; Carani, Cesare; Simoni, Manuela

2013-01-01

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is a heterogeneous disease caused by mutations in several genes. Based on the presence of hyposmia/anosmia it is distinguished into Kallmann syndrome (KS) and isolated HH. The prevalence of other developmental anomalies is not well established. We studied 36 patients with HH (31 males, 5 females, mean age 41.5), 9 with familial and 27 with sporadic HH (33 congenital, 3 adult-onset), by physical examination, smell test (BSIT Sensonics), audiometry, renal ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging of the olfactory structures. Based on the smell test, patients were classified as normosmic (n = 21, 58.3%) and hypo/anosmic (n = 15, 41.6%). Hypoplasia/agenesis of olfactory bulbs was found in 40% of patients (10/25; 75% hypo/anosmic, 7.6% normosmic, p < 0.01, Fisher's test). Remarkably, olfactory structures were normal in two anosmic patients, while one normosmic patient presented a unilateral hypoplastic bulb. Fourteen of 33 patients (42.4%) presented neurosensorial hearing loss of various degrees (28.5% hypo/anosmic, 52.6% normosmic, p = NS). Renal ultrasound revealed 27.7% of cases with renal anomalies (26.6% hypo/anosmic, 28.5% normosmic, p = NS). At least one midline defect was found in 50% of the patients (53.3% hypo/anosmic, 47.6% normosmic, p = NS), including abnormal palate, dental anomalies, pectus excavatum, bimanual synkinesis, iris coloboma, and absent nasal cartilage. Anamnestically 4/31 patients reported cryptorchidism (25% hypo/anosmic, 5.2% normosmic, p = NS). Hypo/anosmia is significantly related to anatomical anomalies of the olfactory bulbs/tracts but the prevalence of other developmental anomalies, especially midline defects and neurosensorial hearing loss, is high both in HH and KS and independent of the presence of anosmia/hyposmia. From the clinical standpoint KS and normosmic HH should be considered as the same complex, developmental disease.

Airborne aldehydes in cabin-air of commercial aircraft: Measurement by HPLC with UV absorbance detection of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones.

PubMed

Rosenberger, Wolfgang; Beckmann, Bibiana; Wrbitzky, Renate

2016-04-15

This paper presents the strategy and results of in-flight measurements of airborne aldehydes during normal operation and reported "smell events" on commercial aircraft. The aldehyde-measurement is a part of a large-scale study on cabin-air quality. The aims of this study were to describe cabin-air quality in general and to detect chemical abnormalities during the so-called "smell-events". Adsorption and derivatization of airborne aldehydes on 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine coated silica gel (DNPH-cartridge) was applied using tailor-made sampling kits. Samples were collected with battery supplied personal air sampling pumps during different flight phases. Furthermore, the influence of ozone was investigated by simultaneous sampling with and without ozone absorption unit (ozone converter) assembled to the DNPH-cartridges and found to be negligible. The method was validated for 14 aldehydes and found to be precise (RSD, 5.5-10.6%) and accurate (recovery, 98-103 %), with LOD levels being 0.3-0.6 μg/m(3). According to occupational exposure limits (OEL) or indoor air guidelines no unusual or noticeable aldehyde pollution was observed. In total, 353 aldehyde samples were taken from two types of aircraft. Formaldehyde (overall average 5.7 μg/m(3), overall median 4.9 μg/m(3), range 0.4-44 μg/m(3)), acetaldehyde (overall average 6.5 μg/m(3), overall median 4.6, range 0.3-90 μg/m(3)) and mostly very low concentrations of other aldehydes were measured on 108 flights. Simultaneous adsorption and derivatization of airborne aldehydes on DNPH-cartridges to the Schiff bases and their HPLC analysis with UV absorbance detection is a useful method to measure aldehydes in cabin-air of commercial aircraft. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Smoothed Residual Plots for Generalized Linear Models. Technical Report #450.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brant, Rollin

Methods for examining the viability of assumptions underlying generalized linear models are considered. By appealing to the likelihood, a natural generalization of the raw residual plot for normal theory models is derived and is applied to investigating potential misspecification of the linear predictor. A smooth version of the plot is also…

Evaluation of the repeatability of a crude adult indirect Ostertagia ostertagi ELISA and methods of expressing test results.

PubMed

Sanchez, J; Dohoo, I R; Markham, F; Leslie, K; Conboy, G

2002-10-16

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies against Ostertagia ostertagi using a crude adult worm antigen was evaluated using serum and milk samples from adult cows, as well as from bulk tank milk. Within and between plate repeatabilities were determined. In addition, the effects of factors such as antigen batch, freezing, preserving of the samples and somatic cell counts (SCCs) of the samples were evaluated. Raw optical densities (ODs) and normalized values were compared using the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), the coefficient of variation (CV), Bland-Altman plots (BA). Based on raw OD values, there was a high repeatability within a plate (CCC approximately 0.96 and CV<10%). Repeatability between plates was evaluated following normalization of OD values by four methods. Computing normalized values as (OD-Nt)/(Pst-Nt), gave the most repeatable results, with the CCC being approximately 0.95 and the CV approximately 11%. When the OD values were higher than 1.2 and 0.3 for the positive and the negative controls, respectively, none of the normalization methods evaluated provided highly repeatable results and it was necessary to repeat the test. Two batches of the crude antigen preparation were evaluated for repeatability, and no difference was found (CCC=0.96). The use of preservative (bronopol) did not affect test results, nor did freezing the samples for up to 8 months. A significant positive relationship between ELISA OD for milk samples and SCC score was found. Therefore, the use of composite milk samples, which have less variable SCC than samples taken from each quarter, would be more suitable when the udder health status is unknown. The analytical methods used to evaluate repeatability provided a practical way to select among normalization procedures.

Watch out for reporter gene assays with Renilla luciferase and paclitaxel.

PubMed

Theile, Dirk; Spalwisz, Adriana; Weiss, Johanna

2013-06-15

Luminescence-based reporter gene assays are widely used in biochemistry. Signals from reporter genes (e.g., firefly luminescence) are usually normalized to signals from constantly luminescing luciferases such as Renilla luciferase. This normalization step can be performed by modern luminometry devices automatically providing final results. Here we demonstrate paclitaxel to strikingly enhance Renilla luminescence, thereby potentially flawing results from reporter gene assays. In consequence, these data advocate for careful examination of raw data and militate against automatic data processing. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Enhanced Red Emission and Improved Thermal Stability of CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ Phosphors by Using Nano-EuB6 as Raw Material

PubMed Central

Liu, Wen-Quan; Wu, Dan; Chang, Hugejile; Duan, Ru-Xia; Wu, Wen-Jie; Amu, Guleng; Bao, Fu-Quan; Tegus, Ojiyed

2018-01-01

Synthesizing phosphors with high performance is still a necessary work for phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes (W-LEDs). In this paper, three series of CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ (denoted as CASN:Eu2+) phosphors using Eu2O3, EuN and EuB6 as raw materials respectively are fabricated by under the alloy precursor normal pressure nitridation synthesis condition. We demonstrate that CASN:Eu2+ using nano-EuB6 as raw material shows higher emission intensity than others, which is ascribed to the increment of Eu2+ ionic content entering into the crystal lattice. An improved thermal stability can also be obtained by using nano-EuB6 due to the structurally stable status, which is assigned to the partial substitution of Eu–O (Eu–N) bonds by more covalent Eu–B ones that leads to a higher structural rigidity. In addition, the W-LEDs lamp was fabricated to explore its possible application in W-LEDs based on blue LEDs. Our results indicate that using EuB6 as raw materials can provide an effective way of enhancing the red emission and improving the thermal stability of the CASN:Eu2+ red phosphor. PMID:29370148

Smell and Taste Disorders

MedlinePlus

... Information Drug Information, Search Drug Names, Generic and Brand Natural Products, Search Drug Interactions Pill Identifier Commonly ... Information Drug Information, Search Drug Names, Generic and Brand Natural Products, Search Drug Interactions Pill Identifier News & ...

Living with Hearing Loss

MedlinePlus

... version of this page please turn Javascript on. Nora Woodruff and her family, including dad Bob, have ... hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. Nora Woodruff, daughter of ABC newsman Bob Woodruff and ...

Clostridial constipation's broad pathology.

PubMed

Johnson, S

2001-04-01

Clostridia are normally found in the healthy colon, where their numbers are kept in check by other bacteria. However, when they establish themselves in the ileum they become formidable foes. They produce medium-length fatty acids that increase water absorption, causing hypertension and drying up the feces, causing constipation.Furthermore, they can deconjugate bile (impaired fat absorption), metabolyze tryptophan (the most scarce of the essential amino acids), digest fiber (so that the more fiber the patient takes, the more the constipation is exacerbated), digest lecithin, produce carcinogenic metabolites and copious amounts of extremely foul smelling gas, etc. They can also prevent vitamin B12 absorption in the ileum, causing anemia. The synthetic sugar lactulose, which can only be digested by lactobacilli, can help displace the clostridia and resolve the constipation by causing the lactobacilli to produce short fatty acids that have the opposite effect to that of the medium fatty acids produced by clostridia and their accomplices: they cause water retention in the intestines. Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

Foreign Body in Vagina: An Uncommon Cause of Vaginitis in Children

PubMed Central

Chinawa, JM; Obu, HA; Uwaezuoke, SN

2013-01-01

Vaginal discharge in children may result from a variety of causes. A long-standing intra-vaginal foreign body can pose both diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in children. Treatment failure may occur because of alteration of the normal vaginal flora. A 6-year-old girl, who lived with her parents, presented with a foul-smelling, blood-stained vaginal discharge as well as dysuria for 2 years. There was no history of sexual abuse. Initial evaluation that excluded gynecologic examination revealed lower abdominal tenderness. Vaginal swab and urine cultures yielded Staphylococcus aureus sensitive to ceftriaxone only. She was commenced on this antibiotic for 2 weeks, but the discharge persisted, necessitating referral to the gynecologist. Examination under anesthesia by the gynecologist revealed shreds of toilet tissue paper extracted from the vagina and slight excoriations on the wall of the vagina. Vaginal foreign body can present with diverse symptoms. It should be considered in any young female patient presenting with recurrent or persistent vaginal discharge. PMID:23634340

Transvaginal postpartum manual removal of a prolapsed submucous leiomyoma, initially diagnosed hybrid predominantly intramural.

PubMed

Elgonaid, Wael; Belkhir, Reem; Boama, Vincent

2017-08-11

We present a rare case of a large infarcted submucous fibroid removed manually after a normal vaginal delivery. This patient was known to have a large postero-fundal hybrid predominantly intramural uterine fibroid, measuring 11 x 10 cm in diameter and diagnosed 2 years prior to last conception. Thirty-five days postpartum, she presented with severe lower abdominal pain and foul smell per vaginum. Abdominal examination revealed a very tender bulky uterus at 24 weeks size, and vaginal examination revealed a big fleshy smelly mass with friable surface just bulging from a dilated cervix. Examination under anaesthesia revealed a very foul smelly large pedunculated submucous fibroid that was felt through a dilated cervix. It was deliverable vaginally, so the submucous leiomyoma was removed manually, a procedure similar to manual removal of placenta. Histopathology examination confirmed an infarcted massive fibroid. © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Association Between Olfactory Dysfunction and Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer Disease Dementia.

PubMed

Roberts, Rosebud O; Christianson, Teresa J H; Kremers, Walter K; Mielke, Michelle M; Machulda, Mary M; Vassilaki, Maria; Alhurani, Rabe E; Geda, Yonas E; Knopman, David S; Petersen, Ronald C

2016-01-01

To increase the opportunity to delay or prevent mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer disease (AD) dementia, markers of early detection are essential. Olfactory impairment may be an important clinical marker and predictor of these conditions and may help identify persons at increased risk. To examine associations of impaired olfaction with incident MCI subtypes and progression from MCI subtypes to AD dementia. Participants enrolled in the population-based, prospective Mayo Clinic Study of Aging between 2004 and 2010 were clinically evaluated at baseline and every 15 months through 2014. Participants (N = 1630) were classified as having normal cognition, MCI (amnestic MCI [aMCI] and nonamnestic MCI [naMCI]), and dementia. We administered the Brief Smell Identification Test (B-SIT) to assess olfactory function. Mild cognitive impairment, AD dementia, and longitudinal change in cognitive performance measures. Of the 1630 participants who were cognitively normal at the time of the smell test, 33 died before follow-up and 167 were lost to follow-up. Among the 1430 cognitively normal participants included, the mean (SD) age was 79.5 (5.3) years, 49.4% were men, the mean duration of education was 14.3 years, and 25.4% were APOE ε4 carriers. Over a mean 3.5 years of follow-up, there were 250 incident cases of MCI among 1430 cognitively normal participants. We observed an association between decreasing olfactory identification, as measured by a decrease in the number of correct responses in B-SIT score, and an increased risk of aMCI. Compared with the upper B-SIT quartile (quartile [Q] 4, best scores), hazard ratios (HRs) (95% CI) were 1.12 (0.65-1.92) for Q3 (P = .68); 1.95 (1.25-3.03) for Q2 (P = .003); and 2.18 (1.36-3.51) for Q1 (P = .001) (worst scores; P for trend <.001) after adjustment for sex and education, with age as the time scale. There was no association with naMCI. There were 64 incident dementia cases among 221 prevalent MCI cases. The B-SIT score also predicted progression from aMCI to AD dementia, with a significant dose-response with worsening B-SIT quartiles. Compared with Q4, HR (95% CI) estimates were 3.02 (1.06-8.57) for Q3 (P = .04); 3.63 (1.19-11.10) for Q2 (P = .02); and 5.20 (1.90-14.20) for Q1 (P = .001). After adjusting for key predictors of MCI risk, B-SIT (as a continuous measure) remained a significant predictor of MCI (HR, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.04-1.16]; P < .001) and improved the model concordance. Olfactory impairment is associated with incident aMCI and progression from aMCI to AD dementia. These findings are consistent with previous studies that have reported associations of olfactory impairment with cognitive impairment in late life and suggest that olfactory tests have potential utility for screening for MCI and MCI that is likely to progress.

Population level evidence for seasonality of the human microbiome.

PubMed

Korownyk, Christina; Liu, Fangwei; Garrison, Scott

2018-04-01

The objective of this study is to determine whether human body odors undergo seasonal modulation. We utilized google trends search volume from the United States of America from January 1, 2010 to June 24, 2017 for a number of predetermined body odors. Regression modeling of time series data was completed. Our primary outcome was to determine the proportion of the variability in Internet searches for each unpleasant odor (about the mean) that is explained by a seasonal model. We determined that the seasonal (sinusoidal) model provided a significantly better fit than the null model (best straight line fit) for all searches relating to human body odors (P <.0001 for each). This effect was easily visible to the naked eye in the raw time series data. Seasonality explained 88% of the variability in search volume for flatulence (i.e. R2 = 0.88), 65% of the variability in search volume for axillary odor, 60% of the variability in search volume for foot odor, and 58% of the variability in search volume for bad breath. Flatulence and bad breath tended to peak in January, foot odor in February, and Axillary odor in July. We conclude that searching by the general public for information on unpleasant body odors undergoes substantial seasonal variation, with the timing of peaks and troughs varying with the body part involved. The symptom burden of such smells may have a similar seasonal variation, as might the composition of the commensal bacterial microflora that play a role in creating them.

Advances in ingredient and processing systems for meat and meat products.

PubMed

Weiss, Jochen; Gibis, Monika; Schuh, Valerie; Salminen, Hanna

2010-09-01

Changes in consumer demand of meat products as well as increased global competition are causing an unprecedented spur in processing and ingredient system developments within the meat manufacturing sector. Consumers demand healthier meat products that are low in salt, fat, cholesterol, nitrites and calories in general and contain in addition health-promoting bioactive components such as for example carotenoids, unsaturated fatty acids, sterols, and fibers. On the other hand, consumers expect these novel meat products with altered formulations to taste, look and smell the same way as their traditionally formulated and processed counterparts. At the same time, competition is forcing the meat processing industry to use the increasingly expensive raw material "meat" more efficiently and produce products at lower costs. With these changes in mind, this article presents a review of novel ingredient systems and processing approaches that are emerging to create high quality, affordable meat products not only in batch mode but also in large-scale continuous processes. Fat replacers, fat profile modification and cholesterol reduction techniques, new texture modifiers and alternative antioxidant and antimicrobial systems are being discussed. Modern processing equipment to establish continuously operating product manufacturing lines and that allow new meat product structures to be created and novel ingredients to be effectively utilized including vacuum fillers, grinders and fine dispersers, and slicers is reviewed in the context of structure creation in meat products. Finally, trends in future developments of ingredient and processing systems for meat products are highlighted.

Effects on symptoms and lung function in humans experimentally exposed to diesel exhaust.

PubMed

Rudell, B; Ledin, M C; Hammarström, U; Stjernberg, N; Lundbäck, B; Sandström, T

1996-10-01

Diesel exhaust is a common air pollutant made up of several gases, hydrocarbons, and particles. An experimental study was carried out which was designed to evaluate if a particle trap on the tail pipe of an idling diesel engine would reduce effects on symptoms and lung function caused by the diesel exhaust, compared with exposure to unfiltered exhaust. Twelve healthy non-smoking volunteers (aged 20-37) were investigated in an exposure chamber for one hour during light work on a bicycle ergometer at 75 W. Each subject underwent three separate double blind exposures in a randomised sequence: to air and to diesel exhaust with the particle trap at the tail pipe and to unfiltered diesel exhaust. Symptoms were recorded according to the Borg scale before, every 10 minutes during, and 30 minutes after the exposure. Lung function was measured with a computerised whole body plethysmograph. The ceramic wall flow particle trap reduced the number of particles by 46%, whereas other compounds were relatively constant. It was shown that the most prominent symptoms during exposure to diesel exhaust were irritation of the eyes and nose and an unpleasant smell increasing during exposure. Both airway resistance (R(aw)) and specific airway resistance (SR(aw)) increased significantly during the exposures to diesel exhaust. Despite the 46% reduction in particle numbers by the trap effects on symptoms and lung function were not significantly attenuated. Exposure to diesel exhaust caused symptoms and bronchoconstriction which were not significantly reduced by a particle trap.

Infection with Echinostoma sp. in a group of travellers to Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania, in January 2017.

PubMed

Chunge, Ruth N; Chunge, Charles N

2017-09-01

A small group of travellers became infected with Echinostoma sp. after ingesting raw fish which they caught in Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania, in January 2017. The infection was diagnosed by finding the characteristic eggs in stool samples collected over a 2-week period following their return to Kenya. Echinostoma is a genus of parasitic flukes normally known to infect humans in southeast Asia and the Far East. This appears to be the first report of echinostomiasis in East Africa which can be attributed clearly to ingestion of locally caught raw fish. © International Society of Travel Medicine, 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

The Sweet Smell of Success.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huddleston, Elizabeth

2001-01-01

Examines how careful attention to the design and maintenance of locker rooms can not only contain odors, but greatly enhance a facility's image. Locker systems, flooring options, ventilation, and cleaning regimens are addressed. (GR)

Methyl salicylate overdose

MedlinePlus

Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen) is a chemical that smells like wintergreen. It is used in many over- ... muscle ache creams. It is related to aspirin. Methyl salicylate overdose occurs when someone swallows a dangerous amount ...

Smartphone App for Voice Disorders

MedlinePlus

... on. Feature: Taste, Smell, Hearing, Language, Voice, Balance Smartphone App for Voice Disorders Past Issues / Fall 2013 ... developed a mobile monitoring device that relies on smartphone technology to gather a week's worth of talking, ...

Non-Drug Pain Relief: Imagery

MedlinePlus

... the pain as a thunderstorm with lightning and thunder that rains on your body. Imagine how the ... rain and thunderclouds away. Instead of rain and thunder, you have sunshine and warmth. The air smells ...

Evaluation of induced color changes in chicken breast meat during simulation of pink color defect.

PubMed

Holownia, K; Chinnan, M S; Reynolds, A E; Koehler, P E

2003-06-01

The objective of the study was to establish a pink threshold and simulate the pink defect in cooked chicken breast meat with treatment combinations that would induce significant changes in the color of raw and cooked meat. The subjective pink threshold used in judging pink discoloration was established at a* = 3.8. Samples of three color groups (normal, lighter than normal, and darker than normal) of boneless, skinless chicken breast muscles were selected based on instrumental color values. The in situ changes were induced using sodium chloride, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium erythorbate, and sodium nitrite at two levels: present and not present. Fillets in all treatments were subjected to individual injections, followed by tumbling, cooking, and chilling. Samples were analyzed for color [lightness (L*), red/green axis (a*), yellow/blue axis (b*)] and reflectance spectra. Simulation of the pink defect was achieved in eight of the 16 treatment combinations when sodium nitrite was present and in an additional two treatment combinations when it was absent. Pinking in cooked samples was affected (P < 0.05) by L* of raw meat color. Results confirmed that it was possible to simulate the undesired pinking in cooked chicken white meat when in situ conditions were induced by sodium chloride, sodium tripolyphosphate, and sodium nitrite. The continuation of the simulation study can aid in developing alternative processing methods to eliminate potential pink defects.

The National Football League (NFL) combine: does normalized data better predict performance in the NFL draft?

PubMed

Robbins, Daniel W

2010-11-01

The objective of this study was to investigate the predictive ability of National Football League (NFL) combine physical test data to predict draft order over the years 2005-2009. The NFL combine provides a setting in which NFL personnel can evaluate top draft prospects. The predictive ability of combine data in its raw form and when normalized in both a ratio and allometric manner was examined for 17 positions. Data from 8 combine physical performance tests were correlated with draft order to determine the direction and strength of relationship between the various combine measures and draft order. Players invited to the combine and subsequently drafted in the same year (n = 1,155) were included in the study. The primary finding was that performance in the combine physical test battery, whether normalized or not, has little association with draft success. In terms of predicting draft order from outcomes of the 8 tests making up the combine battery, normalized data provided no advantage over raw data. Of the 8 performance measures investigated, straight sprint time and jumping ability seem to hold the most weight with NFL personnel responsible for draft decisions. The NFL should consider revising the combine test battery to reflect the physical characteristics it deems important. It may be that NFL teams are more interested in attributes other than the purely physical traits reflected in the combine test battery. Players with aspirations of entering the NFL may be well advised to develop mental and technical skills in addition to developing the physical characteristics necessary to optimize performance.

Normal Theory Two-Stage ML Estimator When Data Are Missing at the Item Level

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Savalei, Victoria; Rhemtulla, Mijke

2017-01-01

In many modeling contexts, the variables in the model are linear composites of the raw items measured for each participant; for instance, regression and path analysis models rely on scale scores, and structural equation models often use parcels as indicators of latent constructs. Currently, no analytic estimation method exists to appropriately…

Naphthalene poisoning

MedlinePlus

Naphthalene is a white solid substance with a strong smell. Poisoning from naphthalene destroys or changes red blood cells so they cannot carry oxygen. This can cause organ damage. This article is for information only. DO NOT use it ...

24 CFR 3282.410 - Contents of notice.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... home is repaired. (d) An evaluation of the risk to manufactured home occupants' safety and the... that warning would be, and any signs which the owner might see, hear, smell, or feel which might...

SEX DIFFERENCES AND REPRODUCTIVE HORMONE INFLUENCES ON HUMAN ODOR PERCEPTION

PubMed Central

Doty, Richard L.; Cameron, E. Leslie

2009-01-01

The question of whether men and women differ in their ability to smell has been the topic of scientific investigation for over a hundred years. Although conflicting findings abound, most studies suggest that, for at least some odorants, women outperform men on tests of odor detection, identification, discrimination, and memory. Most functional imaging and electrophysiological studies similarly imply that, when sex differences are present, they favor women. In this review we examine what is known about sex-related alterations in human smell function, including influences of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, gonadectomy, and hormone replacement therapy on a range of olfactory measures. We conclude that the relationship between reproductive hormones and human olfactory function is complex and that simple associations between circulating levels of gonadal hormones and measures of olfactory function are rarely present. PMID:19272398

Isolated and syndromic forms of congenital anosmia.

PubMed

Karstensen, H G; Tommerup, N

2012-03-01

Loss of smell (anosmia) is common in the general population and the frequency increases with age. A much smaller group have no memory of ever being able to smell and are classified as having isolated congenital anosmia (ICA). Families are rare, and tend to present in a dominant inheritance pattern. Despite a strong degree of heritability, no human disease-causing mutations have been identified. Anosmia is part of the clinical spectrum in various diseases, as seen in Kallmann syndrome, various ciliopathies and congenital insensitivity to pain. This review will focus on ICA through already published families and cases as well as syndromes where anosmia is part of the clinical disease spectrum. Furthermore, olfactory signal transduction pathway genes and animal models may shed light on potential candidate genes and pathways involved in ICA. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Human pheromones and sexual attraction.

PubMed

Grammer, Karl; Fink, Bernhard; Neave, Nick

2005-02-01

Olfactory communication is very common amongst animals, and since the discovery of an accessory olfactory system in humans, possible human olfactory communication has gained considerable scientific interest. The importance of the human sense of smell has by far been underestimated in the past. Humans and other primates have been regarded as primarily 'optical animals' with highly developed powers of vision but a relatively undeveloped sense of smell. In recent years this assumption has undergone major revision. Several studies indicate that humans indeed seem to use olfactory communication and are even able to produce and perceive certain pheromones; recent studies have found that pheromones may play an important role in the behavioural and reproduction biology of humans. In this article we review the present evidence of the effect of human pheromones and discuss the role of olfactory cues in human sexual behaviour.

Color of scents: chromatic stimuli modulate odor responses in the human brain.

PubMed

Osterbauer, Robert A; Matthews, Paul M; Jenkinson, Mark; Beckmann, Christian F; Hansen, Peter C; Calvert, Gemma A

2005-06-01

Color has a profound effect on the perception of odors. For example, strawberry-flavored drinks smell more pleasant when colored red than green and descriptions of the "nose" of a wine are dramatically influenced by its color. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we demonstrate a neurophysiological correlate of these cross-modal visual influences on olfactory perception. Subjects were scanned while exposed either to odors or colors in isolation or to color-odor combinations that were rated on the basis of how well they were perceived to match. Activity in caudal regions of the orbitofrontal cortex and in the insular cortex increased progressively with the perceived congruency of the odor-color pairs. These findings demonstrate the neuronal correlates of olfactory response modulation by color cues in brain areas previously identified as encoding the hedonic value of smells.

The relationship between smell identification and neuropsychological domains: Results from a sample of community-dwelling adults suspected of dementia.

PubMed

Goette, William F; Werry, Amy E; Schmitt, Andrew L

2018-08-01

This study aimed to test the theoretical relationships between smell identification and cognitive tasks based on existing neuroimaging and anatomical findings. Utilizing data collected from a memory assessment clinic, theory-derived mediation and moderation models were tested. The sample used in this study consisted of 103 (39 male, 64 female) individuals referred for memory assessments. The sample's mean education was 12.4 years (SD = 3.2), and the mean age of the sample was 77.2 years (SD = 6.3). The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) was a significant, partial mediator of the relationship between the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Immediate and Delayed Memory indexes. Olfactory identification did not mediate list learning and retrieval; however, olfactory identification was a significant partial mediator of the relationship between story encoding and later memory retrieval of the story. Olfactory identification also fully mediated the relationship between a visuospatial construction task and its reconstruction from memory after a short delay. The relationship between processing speed and the olfactory identification was significantly mediated by semantic memory. Finally, the UPSIT moderated the relationship between a measure of premorbid ability, the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading, and current global cognitive functioning. Our results support theoretical relationships between olfaction and neuropsychological domains. Additionally, our results suggest that the UPSIT may serve as a proxy for cerebral integrity and is likely related to the duration of neurodegeneration.

Evidence for increased olfactory receptor gene repertoire size in two nocturnal bird species with well-developed olfactory ability

PubMed Central

Steiger, Silke S; Fidler, Andrew E; Kempenaers, Bart

2009-01-01

Background In vertebrates, the molecular basis of the sense of smell is encoded by members of a large gene family, namely olfactory receptor (OR) genes. Both the total number of OR genes and the proportion of intact OR genes in a genome may indicate the importance of the sense of smell for an animal. There is behavioral, physiological, and anatomical evidence that some bird species, in particular nocturnal birds, have a well developed sense of smell. Therefore, we hypothesized that nocturnal birds with good olfactory abilities have evolved (i) more OR genes and (ii) more intact OR genes than closely related and presumably less 'olfaction-dependent' day-active avian taxa. Results We used both non-radioactive Southern hybridization and PCR with degenerate primers to investigate whether two nocturnal bird species that are known to rely on olfactory cues, the brown kiwi (Apteryx australis) and the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), have evolved a larger OR gene repertoire than their day-active, closest living relatives (for kiwi the emu Dromaius novaehollandiae, rhea Rhea americana, and ostrich Struthio camelus and for kakapo the kaka Nestor meridionalis and kea Nestor notabilis). We show that the nocturnal birds did not have a significantly higher proportion of intact OR genes. However, the estimated total number of OR genes was larger in the two nocturnal birds than in their relatives. Conclusion Our results suggest that ecological niche adaptations such as daily activity patterns may have shaped avian OR gene repertoires. PMID:19467156

Immunostimulatory effects and characterization of a glycoprotein fraction from rice bran.

PubMed

Park, Ho-Young; Yu, A-Reum; Choi, In-Wook; Hong, Hee-Do; Lee, Kwang-Won; Choi, Hee-Don

2013-10-01

Many natural resources obtained from plants have been studied for their utility as host defense potentiators. In the present study, we investigated whether a glycoprotein fraction from rice (Oryza sativa) bran (GFRB) could modulate immune responses such as the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. GFRB, which contained 65.7% of protein and 7.7% of total sugar, was prepared by treating an aqueous extract of rice bran with 80% (NH4)2SO4 and the extraction yield was 4.9%. GFRB consisted of 5 bands with varying molecular weights by SDS-PAGE and remarkably improved production of NO in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells, up to approximately 10-fold compared to the normal control at 100μg/mL concentration. In RAW 264.7 cells treated with 50μg/mL GFRB, released levels of various cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 were 2824.4±90.7, 224.5±4.0, 524.3±4.8, and 143.0±9.5pg/mL, respectively, which were higher than the levels in normal controls. Moreover, GFRB exhibited no cytotoxicity. According to the results of region-selective enzyme hydrolysis, the immune responses against GFRB were elicited by the glycans in the GFRB. These results show the potential of GFRB as a functional therapeutic agent with demonstrable immunostimulatory activity. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Association of expiratory airway dysfunction with marked obesity in healthy adult dogs.

PubMed

Bach, Jonathan F; Rozanski, Elizabeth A; Bedenice, Daniela; Chan, Daniel L; Freeman, Lisa M; Lofgren, Jennifer L S; Oura, Trisha J; Hoffman, Andrew M

2007-06-01

To evaluate the effects of obesity on pulmonary function in healthy adult dogs. 36 Retrievers without cardiopulmonary disease. Dogs were assigned to 1 of 3 groups on the basis of body condition score (1 through 9): nonobese (score, 4.5 to 5.5), moderately obese (score, 6.0 to 6.5), and markedly obese (score, 7.0 to 9.0). Pulmonary function tests performed in conscious dogs included spirometry and measurement of inspiratory and expiratory airway resistance (R(aw)) and specific R(aw) (sR(aw)) during normal breathing and during hyperpnea via head-out whole-body plethysmography. Functional residual capacity (FRC; measured by use of helium dilution), diffusion capacity of lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO), and arterial blood gas variables (PaO(2), PaCO(2), and alveolar-arterial gradient) were assessed. During normal breathing, body condition score did not influence airway function, DLCO, or arterial blood gas variables. During hyperpnea, expiratory sR(aw) was significantly greater in markedly obese dogs than nonobese dogs and R(aw) was significantly greater in markedly obese dogs, compared with nonobese and moderately obese dogs. Although not significantly different, markedly obese dogs had a somewhat lower FRC, compared with other dogs. In dogs, obesity appeared to cause airflow limitation during the expiratory phase of breathing, but this was only evident during hyperpnea. This suggests that flow limitation is dynamic and likely occurs in the distal (rather than proximal) portions of the airways. Further studies are warranted to localize the flow-limited segment and understand whether obesity is linked to exercise intolerance via airway dysfunction in dogs.

Evaluation of the antioxidant effect of ganghwayakssuk (Artemisia princeps Pamp.) extract alone and in combination with ascorbic acid in raw chicken patties.

PubMed

Hwang, K E; Kim, H W; Choi, Y S; Lee, S Y; Yeo, E J; Ham, Y K; Choi, S M; Lee, M A; Kim, C J

2013-12-01

We investigated the inhibition of lipid oxidation of raw chicken patties by the antioxidants ascorbic acid (Aa), ganghwayakssuk extracts (GE), and their combination (Aa + GE). All antioxidant combinations were effective at delaying lipid oxidation compared with the control or Aa. A combination of Aa + GE (0.05% Aa + 0.2% GE) was the most effective for delaying lipid oxidation (TBA reactive substances, conjugated dienes, and peroxide formation). The color values of all samples were significantly affected by adding GE. Additionally, the redness, color difference, and hue values of all treatments, except for Aa, were lower than those of the control as the amount of GE increased. The total viable bacterial counts of samples with GE 0.2 and Aa + GE 0.2 were significantly affected during storage (P < 0.05). The results suggest that adding an antioxidant combination reduced the oxidative stress and microbial growth of raw chicken patties stored for 12 d under normal refrigeration temperature, which may extend the shelf life of chicken patties.

Can I Use Paint and Household Chemicals While Pregnant?

MedlinePlus

... especially in high doses. However, although chemicals like ammonia and chlorine might make you nauseated because of ... smell, they're not toxic. Do not mix ammonia and chlorine products since the fumes can be ...

Urban cool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ennos, Roland

2010-08-01

The picture-perfect summer for many involves dipping toes into the water's edge on a sandy beach, strolling through a park licking an ice cream or cracking open a bottle of cold beer as gorgeous smells waft from a barbecue nearby.

Let's Play: Learning Games for Infants and Toddlers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Phyllis Jack

2000-01-01

Recommends play activities in which children look, listen, taste, smell, and touch. Includes appropriate ages for activities and gives directions for several games, including peek and seek, water play, bean bags, and hot potato. (DLH)

Autism Center First to Study Minimally Verbal Children

MedlinePlus

... on. Feature: Taste, Smell, Hearing, Language, Voice, Balance Autism Center First to Study Minimally Verbal Children Past ... research exploring the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a complex developmental disorder that ...

Diarrheal Diseases - Acute and Chronic

MedlinePlus

... Topic / Diarrheal Diseases – Acute and Chronic Diarrheal Diseases – Acute and Chronic Basics Resources Overview Acute diarrhea is ... bulky, greasy or very bad smelling stools. Causes – Acute Diarrhea Most cases of acute, watery diarrhea are ...

Senses and Your 4- to 7-Month-Old

MedlinePlus

... the supermarket, or an outing to the local zoo all provide wonderful opportunities for your baby to ... toward smells they favor and turn away from bad odors. Though sweetness is preferred, taste preferences will ...

What's Sweat?

MedlinePlus

... Safe Videos for Educators Search English Español What's Sweat? KidsHealth / For Kids / What's Sweat? Print en español ¿ ... dehydrated (say: dee-HI-drayt-ed). Why Does Sweat Smell? Sweat isn't just wet — it can ...

Predictors of cognitive impairment in an early stage Parkinson's disease cohort.

PubMed

Hu, Michele T M; Szewczyk-Królikowski, Konrad; Tomlinson, Paul; Nithi, Kannan; Rolinski, Michal; Murray, Clara; Talbot, Kevin; Ebmeier, Klaus P; Mackay, Clare E; Ben-Shlomo, Yoav

2014-03-01

The impact of Parkinson's disease (PD) dementia is substantial and has major functional and socioeconomic consequences. Early prediction of future cognitive impairment would help target future interventions. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and fluency tests were administered to 486 patients with PD within 3.5 years of diagnosis, and the results were compared with those from 141 controls correcting for age, sex, and educational years. Eighteen-month longitudinal assessments were performed in 155 patients with PD. The proportion of patients classified with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia varied considerably, depending on the MoCA and MMSE thresholds used. With the MoCA total score at screening threshold, 47.7%, 40.5%, and 11.7% of patients with PD were classified with normal cognition, MCI, and dementia, respectively; by comparison, 78.7% and 21.3% of controls had normal cognition and MCI, respectively. Cognitive impairment was predicted by lower education, increased age, male sex, and quantitative motor and non-motor (smell, depression, and anxiety) measures. Longitudinal data from 155 patients with PD over 18 months showed significant reductions in MoCA scores, but not in MMSE scores, with 21.3% of patients moving from normal cognition to MCI and 4.5% moving from MCI to dementia, although 13.5% moved from MCI to normal; however, none of the patients with dementia changed their classification. The MoCA may be more sensitive than the MMSE in detecting early baseline and longitudinal cognitive impairment in PD, because it identified 25.8% of those who experienced significant cognitive decline over 18 months. Cognitive decline was associated with worse motor and non-motor features, suggesting that this reflects a faster progressive phenotype. © 2014 The Authors. International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

miRNA Temporal Analyzer (mirnaTA): a bioinformatics tool for identifying differentially expressed microRNAs in temporal studies using normal quantile transformation.

PubMed

Cer, Regina Z; Herrera-Galeano, J Enrique; Anderson, Joseph J; Bishop-Lilly, Kimberly A; Mokashi, Vishwesh P

2014-01-01

Understanding the biological roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) is a an active area of research that has produced a surge of publications in PubMed, particularly in cancer research. Along with this increasing interest, many open-source bioinformatics tools to identify existing and/or discover novel miRNAs in next-generation sequencing (NGS) reads become available. While miRNA identification and discovery tools are significantly improved, the development of miRNA differential expression analysis tools, especially in temporal studies, remains substantially challenging. Further, the installation of currently available software is non-trivial and steps of testing with example datasets, trying with one's own dataset, and interpreting the results require notable expertise and time. Subsequently, there is a strong need for a tool that allows scientists to normalize raw data, perform statistical analyses, and provide intuitive results without having to invest significant efforts. We have developed miRNA Temporal Analyzer (mirnaTA), a bioinformatics package to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in temporal studies. mirnaTA is written in Perl and R (Version 2.13.0 or later) and can be run across multiple platforms, such as Linux, Mac and Windows. In the current version, mirnaTA requires users to provide a simple, tab-delimited, matrix file containing miRNA name and count data from a minimum of two to a maximum of 20 time points and three replicates. To recalibrate data and remove technical variability, raw data is normalized using Normal Quantile Transformation (NQT), and linear regression model is used to locate any miRNAs which are differentially expressed in a linear pattern. Subsequently, remaining miRNAs which do not fit a linear model are further analyzed in two different non-linear methods 1) cumulative distribution function (CDF) or 2) analysis of variances (ANOVA). After both linear and non-linear analyses are completed, statistically significant miRNAs (P < 0.05) are plotted as heat maps using hierarchical cluster analysis and Euclidean distance matrix computation methods. mirnaTA is an open-source, bioinformatics tool to aid scientists in identifying differentially expressed miRNAs which could be further mined for biological significance. It is expected to provide researchers with a means of interpreting raw data to statistical summaries in a fast and intuitive manner.

Robustness of raw quantum tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asorey, M.; Facchi, P.; Florio, G.; Man'ko, V. I.; Marmo, G.; Pascazio, S.; Sudarshan, E. C. G.

2011-01-01

We scrutinize the effects of non-ideal data acquisition on the tomograms of quantum states. The presence of a weight function, schematizing the effects of a finite window or equivalently noise, only affects the state reconstruction procedure by a normalization constant. The results are extended to a discrete mesh and show that quantum tomography is robust under incomplete and approximate knowledge of tomograms.

AVE/VAS 4: 25-mb sounding data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sienkiewicz, M. E.

1983-01-01

The rawinsonde sounding program is described and tabulated data at 25 mb intervals for the 24 stations and 14 special stations participating in the experiment is presented. Sounding were taken at 3 hr intervals. An additional sounding was taken at the normal synoptic observation time. Some soundings were computed from raw ordinate data, while others were interpolated from significant level data.

Cross-Linked Amylose Bio-Plastic: A Transgenic-Based Compostable Plastic Alternative

PubMed Central

Sagnelli, Domenico; Kemmer, Gerdi Christine; Holse, Mette; Hebelstrup, Kim H.; Bao, Jinsong; Stelte, Wolfgang; Bjerre, Anne-Belinda; Blennow, Andreas

2017-01-01

Bio-plastics and bio-materials are composed of natural or biomass derived polymers, offering solutions to solve immediate environmental issues. Polysaccharide-based bio-plastics represent important alternatives to conventional plastic because of their intrinsic biodegradable nature. Amylose-only (AO), an engineered barley starch with 99% amylose, was tested to produce cross-linked all-natural bioplastic using normal barley starch as a control. Glycerol was used as plasticizer and citrate cross-linking was used to improve the mechanical properties of cross-linked AO starch extrudates. Extrusion converted the control starch from A-type to Vh- and B-type crystals, showing a complete melting of the starch crystals in the raw starch granules. The cross-linked AO and control starch specimens displayed an additional wide-angle diffraction reflection. Phospholipids complexed with Vh-type single helices constituted an integrated part of the AO starch specimens. Gas permeability tests of selected starch-based prototypes demonstrated properties comparable to that of commercial Mater-Bi© plastic. The cross-linked AO prototypes had composting characteristics not different from the control, indicating that the modified starch behaves the same as normal starch. The data shows the feasibility of producing all-natural bioplastic using designer starch as raw material. PMID:28973963

Cross-Linked Amylose Bio-Plastic: A Transgenic-Based Compostable Plastic Alternative.

PubMed

Sagnelli, Domenico; Hooshmand, Kourosh; Kemmer, Gerdi Christine; Kirkensgaard, Jacob J K; Mortensen, Kell; Giosafatto, Concetta Valeria L; Holse, Mette; Hebelstrup, Kim H; Bao, Jinsong; Stelte, Wolfgang; Bjerre, Anne-Belinda; Blennow, Andreas

2017-09-30

Bio-plastics and bio-materials are composed of natural or biomass derived polymers, offering solutions to solve immediate environmental issues. Polysaccharide-based bio-plastics represent important alternatives to conventional plastic because of their intrinsic biodegradable nature. Amylose-only (AO), an engineered barley starch with 99% amylose, was tested to produce cross-linked all-natural bioplastic using normal barley starch as a control. Glycerol was used as plasticizer and citrate cross-linking was used to improve the mechanical properties of cross-linked AO starch extrudates. Extrusion converted the control starch from A-type to Vh- and B-type crystals, showing a complete melting of the starch crystals in the raw starch granules. The cross-linked AO and control starch specimens displayed an additional wide-angle diffraction reflection. Phospholipids complexed with Vh-type single helices constituted an integrated part of the AO starch specimens. Gas permeability tests of selected starch-based prototypes demonstrated properties comparable to that of commercial Mater-Bi © plastic. The cross-linked AO prototypes had composting characteristics not different from the control, indicating that the modified starch behaves the same as normal starch. The data shows the feasibility of producing all-natural bioplastic using designer starch as raw material.

What Your Nose Knows: Sense of Smell and Your Health

MedlinePlus

... being, and everyday safety. Whether coffee brewing, pine trees in a forest, or smoke from a fire, ... to use essential oils from flowers, herbs, or trees to improve physical and emotional well-being. To ...

Recovery After Stroke: Bladder and Bowel Function

MedlinePlus

... of urine back to the kidneys) or a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI needs immediate treatment, so see your doctor as soon as you notice symptoms. UTI symptoms include:  Urine with a bad smell, cloudiness, ...

Practice It: Mindful Eating Exercise

Cancer.gov

We often think most of taste when we think about food. But using all five senses to explore how food looks, feels, sounds, smells and tastes can help you to find more to enjoy about the foods you’re eating!

Aging Parents: 7 Warning Signs of Health Problems

MedlinePlus

... or smell as good as it used to. Social issues. Your parents might have difficulty shopping or have ... 27, 2017. Tomioka K, et al. Association between social participation and ... 2018. Dec. 13, 2017 Original article: http://www. ...

Symptoms of Celiac Disease

MedlinePlus

... cholangitis etc.) • Weight loss • Pale, foul-smelling stool • Iron-deficiency anemia that does not respond to iron therapy • ... common sign of celiac disease in adults is iron deficiency anemia that does not respond to iron therapy. ...

The Sense of Smell Impacts Metabolic Health and Obesity.

PubMed

Riera, Celine E; Tsaousidou, Eva; Halloran, Jonathan; Follett, Patricia; Hahn, Oliver; Pereira, Mafalda M A; Ruud, Linda Engström; Alber, Jens; Tharp, Kevin; Anderson, Courtney M; Brönneke, Hella; Hampel, Brigitte; Filho, Carlos Daniel de Magalhaes; Stahl, Andreas; Brüning, Jens C; Dillin, Andrew

2017-07-05

Olfactory inputs help coordinate food appreciation and selection, but their role in systemic physiology and energy balance is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that mice upon conditional ablation of mature olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) are resistant to diet-induced obesity accompanied by increased thermogenesis in brown and inguinal fat depots. Acute loss of smell perception after obesity onset not only abrogated further weight gain but also improved fat mass and insulin resistance. Reduced olfactory input stimulates sympathetic nerve activity, resulting in activation of β-adrenergic receptors on white and brown adipocytes to promote lipolysis. Conversely, conditional ablation of the IGF1 receptor in OSNs enhances olfactory performance in mice and leads to increased adiposity and insulin resistance. These findings unravel a new bidirectional function for the olfactory system in controlling energy homeostasis in response to sensory and hormonal signals. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Humidity compensation of bad-smell sensing system using a detector tube and a built-in camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirano, Hiroyuki; Nakamoto, Takamichi

2011-09-01

We developed a low-cost sensing system robust against humidity change for detecting and estimating concentration of bad smell, such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. In the previous study, we developed automated measurement system for a gas detector tube using a built-in camera instead of the conventional manual inspection of the gas detector tube. Concentration detectable by the developed system ranges from a few tens of ppb to a few tens of ppm. However, we previously found that the estimated concentration depends not only on actual concentration, but on humidity. Here, we established the method to correct the influence of humidity by creating regression function with its inputs of discoloration rate and humidity. We studied 2 methods (Backpropagation, Radial basis function network) to get regression function and evaluated them. Consequently, the system successfully estimated the concentration on a practical level even when humidity changes.

Functional neuronal processing of body odors differs from that of similar common odors.

PubMed

Lundström, Johan N; Boyle, Julie A; Zatorre, Robert J; Jones-Gotman, Marilyn

2008-06-01

Visual and auditory stimuli of high social and ecological importance are processed in the brain by specialized neuronal networks. To date, this has not been demonstrated for olfactory stimuli. By means of positron emission tomography, we sought to elucidate the neuronal substrates behind body odor perception to answer the question of whether the central processing of body odors differs from perceptually similar nonbody odors. Body odors were processed by a network that was distinctly separate from common odors, indicating a separation in the processing of odors based on their source. Smelling a friend's body odor activated regions previously seen for familiar stimuli, whereas smelling a stranger activated amygdala and insular regions akin to what has previously been demonstrated for fearful stimuli. The results provide evidence that social olfactory stimuli of high ecological relevance are processed by specialized neuronal networks similar to what has previously been demonstrated for auditory and visual stimuli.

Altered responses to social chemosignals in autism spectrum disorder.

PubMed

Endevelt-Shapira, Yaara; Perl, Ofer; Ravia, Aharon; Amir, Daniel; Eisen, Ami; Bezalel, Vered; Rozenkrantz, Liron; Mishor, Eva; Pinchover, Liron; Soroka, Timna; Honigstein, Danielle; Sobel, Noam

2018-01-01

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social communication, often attributed to misreading of emotional cues. Why individuals with ASD misread emotions remains unclear. Given that terrestrial mammals rely on their sense of smell to read conspecific emotions, we hypothesized that misreading of emotional cues in ASD partially reflects altered social chemosignaling. We found no difference between typically developed (TD) and cognitively able adults with ASD at explicit detection and perception of social chemosignals. Nevertheless, TD and ASD participants dissociated in their responses to subliminal presentation of these same compounds: the undetected 'smell of fear' (skydiver sweat) increased physiological arousal and reduced explicit and implicit measures of trust in TD but acted opposite in ASD participants. Moreover, two different undetected synthetic putative social chemosignals increased or decreased arousal in TD but acted opposite in ASD participants. These results implicate social chemosignaling as a sensory substrate of social impairment in ASD.

Effects of coating chitosan inhibition to quality of fish fillet Oreochromis niloticus at room temperature storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saputra, Eka; Tjahjaningsih, Wahju; Patmawati

2017-02-01

Fresh fish shelf life can be extended by adding antibacterial compounds such as synthetic chemicals or natural materials. One of the natural ingredients that are safe to use to prolong the freshness of the fish is chitosan. Chitosan is able to provide quality deterioration inhibitory effect of fillet of tilapia. The rate of decline in the value of organoleptic fillet of tilapia treated chitosan solution is slower when compared to no treatment tilapia fillet chitosan solution. In the organoleptic test until the 18 hours of storage, 2% chitosan solution capable of maintaining the highest organoleptic value for the parameter sightings meat, texture, and smell fillet. The use of 2% chitosan solution provided the best results based on the parameters of the appearance of meat, the texture, the smell, the pH value and the value of TVB fillet.

Effects of Activation Energy to Transient Response of Semiconductor Gas Sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujimoto, Akira; Ohtani, Tatsuki

The smell classifiable gas sensor will be desired for many applications such as gas detection alarms, process controls for food production and so on. We have tried to realize the sensor using transient responses of semiconductor gas sensor consisting of tin dioxide and pointed out that the sensor gave us different transient responses for kinds of gas. Results of model calculation showed the activation energy of chemical reaction on the sensor surface strongly depended on the transient response. We tried to estimate the activation energies by molecular orbital calculation with SnO2 Cluster. The results show that there is a liner relationship between the gradient of the transient responses and activation energies for carboxylic and alcoholic gases. Transient response will be predicted from activation energy in the same kind of gas and the smell discrimination by single semiconductor gas sensor will be realized by this relationship.

Core disgust is attenuated by ingroup relations.

PubMed

Reicher, Stephen D; Templeton, Anne; Neville, Fergus; Ferrari, Lucienne; Drury, John

2016-03-08

We present the first experimental evidence to our knowledge that ingroup relations attenuate core disgust and that this helps explain the ability of groups to coact. In study 1, 45 student participants smelled a sweaty t-shirt bearing the logo of another university, with either their student identity (ingroup condition), their specific university identity (outgroup condition), or their personal identity (interpersonal condition) made salient. Self-reported disgust was lower in the ingroup condition than in the other conditions, and disgust mediated the relationship between condition and willingness to interact with target. In study 2, 90 student participants smelled a sweaty target t-shirt bearing either the logo of their own university, another university, or no logo, with either their student identity or their specific university identity made salient. Walking time to wash hands and pumps of soap indicated that disgust was lower where the relationship between participant and target was ingroup rather than outgroup or ambivalent (no logo).

Abnormal Olfaction in Parkinson's Disease Is Related to Faster Disease Progression.

PubMed

Cavaco, Sara; Gonçalves, Alexandra; Mendes, Alexandre; Vila-Chã, Nuno; Moreira, Inês; Fernandes, Joana; Damásio, Joana; Teixeira-Pinto, Armando; Bastos Lima, António

2015-01-01

A possible association between olfactory dysfunction and Parkinson's disease (PD) severity has been a topic of contention for the past 40 years. Conflicting reports may be partially explained by procedural differences in olfactory assessment and motor symptom evaluation. One hundred and sixty-six nondemented PD patients performed the Brief-Smell Identification Test and test scores below the estimated 20th percentile as a function of sex, age, and education (i.e., 80% specificity) were considered demographically abnormal. Patients underwent motor examination after 12 h without antiparkinsonian medication. Eighty-two percent of PD patients had abnormal olfaction. Abnormal performance on the Brief-Smell Identification Test was associated with higher disease severity (i.e., Hoehn and Yahr, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-III, Freezing of Gait questionnaire, and levodopa equivalent dose), even when disease duration was taken into account. Abnormal olfaction in PD is associated with increased severity and faster disease progression.

Exposure to female fertility pheromones influences men's drinking.

PubMed

Tan, Robin; Goldman, Mark S

2015-06-01

Research has shown that humans consciously use alcohol to encourage sexual activity. In the current study, we investigated whether decision making about alcohol use and sex can be cued outside of awareness by recently revealed sexual signaling mechanisms. Specifically, we examined if males exposed without their knowledge to pheromones emitted by fertile females would increase their alcohol consumption, presumably via neurobehavioral information pathways that link alcohol to sex and mating. We found that men who smelled a T-shirt worn by a fertile female drank significantly more (nonalcoholic) beer, and exhibited significantly greater approach behavior toward female cues, than those who smelled a T-shirt worn by a nonfertile female. These findings reveal previously unknown influences on human alcohol consumption, augment the research base for pheromone cuing of sexual behavior in humans, and raise the possibility that other, as yet unknown, pathways of behavioral influence may be operating hidden from view. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Exposure to Female Fertility Pheromones Influences Men’s Drinking

PubMed Central

Tan, Robin; Goldman, Mark S.

2015-01-01

Research shows that humans consciously use alcohol to encourage sexual activity. The current study investigated whether decision-making about alcohol use and sex can be cued outside of awareness by recently revealed sexual signaling mechanisms. Specifically, we examined if males exposed without their knowledge to pheromones emitted by fertile females would increase their alcohol consumption, presumably via neurobehavioral information pathways that link alcohol to sex and mating. We found that men who smelled a T-shirt worn by a fertile female drank significantly more (non-alcoholic) beer, and exhibited significantly greater approach behavior toward female cues, than those who smelled a T-shirt worn by a non-fertile female. These findings reveal previously unknown influences on human alcohol consumption, augment the research base for pheromone cuing of sexual behavior in humans, and raise the possibility that other, as yet unknown, pathways of behavioral influence may be operating hidden from view. PMID:26053321

An electronic nose for quantitative determination of gas concentrations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jasinski, Grzegorz; Kalinowski, Paweł; Woźniak, Łukasz

2016-11-01

The practical application of human nose for fragrance recognition is severely limited by the fact that our sense of smell is subjective and gets tired easily. Consequently, there is considerable need for an instrument that can be a substitution of the human sense of smell. Electronic nose devices from the mid 1980s are used in growing number of applications. They comprise an array of several electrochemical gas sensors with partial specificity and a pattern recognition algorithms. Most of such systems, however, is only used for qualitative measurements. In this article usage of such system in quantitative determination of gas concentration is demonstrated. Electronic nose consist of a sensor array with eight commercially available Taguchi type gas sensor. Performance of three different pattern recognition algorithms is compared, namely artificial neural network, partial least squares regression and support vector machine regression. The electronic nose is used for ammonia and nitrogen dioxide concentration determination.

Core disgust is attenuated by ingroup relations

PubMed Central

Reicher, Stephen D.; Templeton, Anne; Neville, Fergus; Ferrari, Lucienne

2016-01-01

We present the first experimental evidence to our knowledge that ingroup relations attenuate core disgust and that this helps explain the ability of groups to coact. In study 1, 45 student participants smelled a sweaty t-shirt bearing the logo of another university, with either their student identity (ingroup condition), their specific university identity (outgroup condition), or their personal identity (interpersonal condition) made salient. Self-reported disgust was lower in the ingroup condition than in the other conditions, and disgust mediated the relationship between condition and willingness to interact with target. In study 2, 90 student participants smelled a sweaty target t-shirt bearing either the logo of their own university, another university, or no logo, with either their student identity or their specific university identity made salient. Walking time to wash hands and pumps of soap indicated that disgust was lower where the relationship between participant and target was ingroup rather than outgroup or ambivalent (no logo). PMID:26903640

Development of self-image and its components during a one-year follow-up in non-referred adolescents with excess and normal weight.

PubMed

Mäkinen, Mauno; Marttunen, Mauri; Komulainen, Erkki; Terevnikov, Viacheslav; Puukko-Viertomies, Leena-Riitta; Aalberg, Veikko; Lindberg, Nina

2015-01-01

The proportion of overweight and obese youths is high. The present study aimed to investigate the development of self-image and its components during a one-year follow-up among non-referred adolescents with excess and normal weight. Furthermore, we separately analyzed the data for girls and boys. Altogether 86 8(th) grades (41 girls and 45 boys) with a relative weight of 26% or more above the median and 91 controls (43 girls and 48 boys) with normal weight participated the follow-up. The Offer Self-Image Questionnaire, Revised (OSIQ-R) was used to assess self-image at baseline and on follow-up. In the OSIQ-R, a low total raw score implies positive adjustment, while a high raw score implies poor adjustment and a negative self-image. The study design was doubly correlated (pairs and time), and a linear mixed model was used in the statistical analysis. In OSIQ-R total scores, a comparative improvement was observed in girls with normal weight. Among these girls, significant change scores compared to zero were seen in impulse control, social functioning, vocational attitudes, self-confidence, self-reliance, body image, sexuality, and ethical values. In girls with excess weight, none of the change scores compared to zero were statistically significant. When the girls with normal and excess weight were compared, the difference in change scores was largest in sexuality and vocational attitudes. Change scores compared to zero were significant in sexuality and idealism for boys with excess weight, and in impulse control, mental health, self-reliance, and sexuality for normal weight boys. When the boys with excess and normal weight were compared, no statistically significant differences emerged in change scores. In mid-adolescent girls, the influence of overweight and obesity on the development of self-image is substantial. Weight management programs directed at overweight adolescent girls should include psychological interventions aiming to diminish self-image distress, especially that associated with feelings, attitudes, and behavior towards the opposite sex, as well as future career plans.

A comparative study of functional properties of normal and wooden breast broiler chicken meat with NaCl addition.

PubMed

Xing, Tong; Zhao, Xue; Han, Minyi; Cai, Linlin; Deng, Shaolin; Zhou, Guanghong; Xu, Xinglian

2017-09-01

The selection of broilers for augmented growth rate and breast has brought about wooden-breast (WB) muscle abnormalities, which caused substantial economic losses. The objective of this study was to compare water holding capacity, water mobility and distribution, salt-soluble protein (SSP) content, and protein profiles of normal and WB chicken meat with different additions of NaCl. Thirty WB and 30 normal chicken breasts were selected from a deboning line of a major Chinese processing plant at 2 to 3 h post mortem. Two different meat batters were formulated to 150 mg/g meat protein and different NaCl contents (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%). Results indicated that as NaCl contents increased, the cooking loss of meat batters decreased (P < 0.05). Increasing the NaCl content to 3% or more increased the solubility of myofibrillar protein and the extraction of SSPs, which resulted in the improving of cooking yield. Over a range of salt concentrations, normal and WB meat showed different protein profiles, with myosin heavy chain exhibiting a higher intensity at ≥3% salt level. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR)revealed an increased T22 and higher P22 in raw WB meat compared to normal meat (P < 0.05). Regarding the meat batters, WB meat batters had reduced T21 and lower immobilized water proportions at low NaCl contents (<2%). After heating, T2 shifted towards higher relaxation times with increasing NaCl contents in meat gels. Meat gels prepared from WB had a lower proportion of water within the myofibrillar protein matrix and a greater proportion of exuded bulk water at NaCl contents <3% (P < 0.05), while at higher NaCl contents the difference was eliminated, thus improving water retention capacity. In conclusion, for raw meat, meat batters and gels, water distribution and mobility of WB exhibited significant differences compared to normal meat. The addition of NaCl affected water mobility and distributions in meat batters, with a level of 3% NaCl eliminating the differences between processed normal and WB meat products. © 2017 Poultry Science Association Inc.

Antimicrobial liquid formulations: a blind taste comparison of three brands of penicillin VK and three brands of amoxicillin.

PubMed

Chan, D S; Demers, D M; Bass, J W

1996-02-01

To rate the perception of taste, texture, smell and aftertaste of various brands of penicillin VK and amoxicillin. Oral, liquid formulations of three brands of penicillin VK (PenVee K, V-Cillin-K, VeeTids) and three brands of amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, Wymox) were evaluated for smell, texture, taste, and aftertaste by 30 volunteers in a blind study. Each category was scored on a scale of 1 to 5. The order in which the drugs were sampled was randomized for the first three groups of five participants. The order then was reversed for the remaining three groups of participants. A 537-bed US Army teaching hospital. Participants included 30 healthy adult volunteers from the Departments of Pediatrics, Nursing, and Pharmacy. Drugs received cumulative scores in each category, as well as an overall total score ranking. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA for repeated measures with a post hoc Duncan's multiple range test to determine significant differences between individual means. Overall, Trimox and Amoxil scored significantly higher than the remaining drugs. Although V-Cillin-K scored highest in the smell category, its score was significantly below those of Trimox and Amoxil in the texture, taste, aftertaste, and overall categories. Overall, the three penicillin VK solutions scored lower than the three amoxicillin suspensions, with PenVee K ranking the lowest. Among the penicillin VK solutions, V-Cillin-K scored significantly higher overall than the other two penicillin VK solutions. Overall, all three amoxicillin oral, liquid suspensions that were studied scored significantly better than the three penicillin VK solutions.

The perception of odor objects in everyday life: a review on the processing of odor mixtures

PubMed Central

Thomas-Danguin, Thierry; Sinding, Charlotte; Romagny, Sébastien; El Mountassir, Fouzia; Atanasova, Boriana; Le Berre, Elodie; Le Bon, Anne-Marie; Coureaud, Gérard

2014-01-01

Smelling monomolecular odors hardly ever occurs in everyday life, and the daily functioning of the sense of smell relies primarily on the processing of complex mixtures of volatiles that are present in the environment (e.g., emanating from food or conspecifics). Such processing allows for the instantaneous recognition and categorization of smells and also for the discrimination of odors among others to extract relevant information and to adapt efficiently in different contexts. The neurophysiological mechanisms underpinning this highly efficient analysis of complex mixtures of odorants is beginning to be unraveled and support the idea that olfaction, as vision and audition, relies on odor-objects encoding. This configural processing of odor mixtures, which is empirically subject to important applications in our societies (e.g., the art of perfumers, flavorists, and wine makers), has been scientifically studied only during the last decades. This processing depends on many individual factors, among which are the developmental stage, lifestyle, physiological and mood state, and cognitive skills; this processing also presents striking similarities between species. The present review gathers the recent findings, as observed in animals, healthy subjects, and/or individuals with affective disorders, supporting the perception of complex odor stimuli as odor objects. It also discusses peripheral to central processing, and cognitive and behavioral significance. Finally, this review highlights that the study of odor mixtures is an original window allowing for the investigation of daily olfaction and emphasizes the need for knowledge about the underlying biological processes, which appear to be crucial for our representation and adaptation to the chemical environment. PMID:24917831

The effect of endoscopic olfactory cleft polyp removal on olfaction.

PubMed

Kuperan, Arjuna B; Lieberman, Seth M; Jourdy, Deya N; Al-Bar, Mohammad H; Goldstein, Bradley J; Casiano, Roy R

2015-01-01

The presence of olfactory cleft polyps in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis is well documented, but the effect of endoscopic olfactory cleft polyp surgery on olfaction, versus observation, has not been well studied. This analysis assessed if microdebridement of olfactory cleft polyps yields significant objective smell improvements in those with anosmia or hyposmia. A randomized prospective single-blinded study was performed on patients undergoing bilateral endoscopic sinus surgery with profound bilateral nasal polyposis, excluding those younger than 18 years or without olfactory polyps. A preoperative University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), visual analog scale (VAS), and sinonasal outcomes 20 score (SNOT-20), and a follow-up at 6 months was performed. Two cohorts were created, including one with cleft polyp removal (group A) and one with cleft polyps left in place (group B). There were 10 patients in group A and 7 in group B. By using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, the two groups were individually analyzed for changes in the preoperative UPSIT, VAS, and SNOT-20 versus the 6-month test results. In group A, the improvement in the UPSIT, VAS, and SNOT-20 were statistically significant at p < 0.05. For group B only the improvement in the VAS was statistically significant, at p < 0.05. There was a statistically significant difference in clinical smell improvement between group A and B at 6 months (p = 0.00512). Evidence exists that olfactory cleft polyp surgery improves olfactory function outcomes. Long-term data beyond 6 months is needed to further validate these early promising outcomes.

Recognition of Daily Activity in Living Space based on Indoor Ambient Atmosphere and Acquiring Localized Information for Improvement of Recognition Accuracy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirasawa, Kazuki; Sawada, Shinya; Saitoh, Atsushi

The system watching over elder's life is very important in a super-aged society Japan. In this paper, we describe a method to recognize resident's daily activities by means of using the information of indoor ambient atmosphere changes. The measuring targets of environmental changes are of gas and smell, temperature, humidity, and brightness. Those changes have much relation with resident's daily activities. The measurement system with 7 sensors (4 gas sensors, a thermistor, humidity sensor, and CdS light sensor) was developed for getting indoor ambient atmosphere changes. Some measurements were done in a one-room type residential space. 21 dimensional activity vectors were composed for each daily activity from acquired data. Those vectors were classified into 9 categories that were main activities by using Self-Organizing Map (SOM) method. From the result, it was found that the recognition of main daily activities based on information on indoor ambient atmosphere changes is possible. Moreover, we also describe the method for getting information of local gas and smell environmental changes. Gas and smell environmental changes are related with daily activities, especially very important action, eating and drinking. And, local information enables the relation of the place and the activity. For such a purpose, a gas sensing module with the operation function that synchronizes with human detection signal was developed and evaluated. From the result, the sensor module had the ability to acquire and to emphasize local gas environment changes caused by the person's activity.

[Evaluating function and disorders of smell].

PubMed

Herberhold, C

1975-01-01

Firstly the review deals with the olfactometry after discussing the olfactory and trigeminal sensitivity of the sense of smell. The term olfactometry will be newly fixed concerning the present problems of odor analysis. Under clinical aspects the methods of subjective olfactometry are discussed and valued. Olfactory tests basing on registering several psychosomatic reflexes (e.g. cardial and/or respiratory frequencies) cannot be described as "objective". Rather methods are objective which record poststimulatory electrophysiological events at different steps of olfactory pathways. The electric response olfactometry representing a cortical evoked so-called twin-potential containing equivalents for trigeminal and olfactory sense activity starts to demonstrate its efficiency. At least a complete test of olfactory function today includes the rhinomanometry for recording ability in nasal odor transport capacity. In the second part are discussed the olfactory disorders with clinical importance. Air borne disorders are confronted with sensorineural, which again are divided in prebulbar, bulbar, and postbulbar ones so far as possible. Respiratory smell disorders depend on nasal ventilation and occur in nasal deformations, in abnormalities of respiratory pathways, in cases of foreign bodies, mucosal inflammations, tumors, intoxications and allergy. Sensorineural olfactory disorders can be attached to age, to malformations or idiopathic defects, inflammations of the olfactory-neural apparatus, head injuries, brain tumors, metabolic or endocrinological diseases. Furthermore often they are accompanied with neurological and psychiatric diseases or professional and chemical intoxications and/or iatrogenic influences. The poor therapeutical possibilities are demonstrated as far as possible. Finally the experting problems in olfactory disorders are delineated, at which the evidence of objective olfactometry can be distincted.

Imaging of odor perception delineates functional disintegration of the limbic circuits in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

PubMed

Ciumas, Carolina; Lindström, Per; Aoun, Bernard; Savic, Ivanka

2008-01-15

Metabolic and neuro-receptor abnormalities within the extrafocal limbic circuits are established in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). However, very little is known about how these circuits process external stimuli. We tested whether odor activation can help delineate limbic functional disintegration in MTLE, and measured cerebral blood flow with PET during birhinal smelling of familiar and unfamiliar odors, using smelling of odorless air as the baseline condition. Patients with MTLE (13 left-sided, 10 right-sided) and 21 controls were investigated. In addition to odor activation, the analysis included functional connectivity, using right and left piriform cortex as seed regions. Healthy controls activated the amygdala, piriform, anterior insular, and cingulate cortices on both sides. Smelling of familiar odors engaged, in addition, the right parahippocampus, and the left Brodmann Area (BA) 44, 45, 47. Patients failed to activate the amygdala, piriform and the anterior insular cortex in the epileptogenic hemisphere. Furthermore, those with left MTLE did not activate the left BA 44, 45 and 47 with familiar odors, which they perceived as less familiar than controls. Congruent with the activation data each seed region was in patients functionally disconnected with the contralateral amygdala+piriform+insular cortex. The functional disintegration in patients exceeded the reduced activation, and included the contralateral temporal neocortex, and in subjects with right MTLE also the right orbitofrontal cortex. Imaging of odor perception may be used to delineate functional disintegration of the limbic networks in MTLE. It shows an altered response in several regions, which may underlie some interictal behavioral problems associated with this condition.

Cadaver embalming fluid for surgical training courses: modified Larssen solution.

PubMed

Bilge, Okan; Celik, Servet

2017-11-01

10% Formalin (F10)-fixed cadavers have disadvantages such as disturbing smell, mucosal irritation, discoloration and rigidity. We aimed to determine a suitable, simple and cost-effective embalming method that preserves color, texture, pliability and flexibility of the tissues for a long time without a disturbing smell and mucosal irritation. The embalmed cadavers were expected to be durable against environmental effects, utilizable for multiple and repetitive surgical trainings and instrumentations. Eight male (six intact, two autopsied bodies) and four female (three intact and one imported trunk) human cadavers were preserved with modified Larssen solution (MLS). Preserved bodies were kept in the deep freezers at -18/-20 °C. Bodies were allowed to thaw at room temperature 3 days prior to use. They were used in postgraduate hands-on courses for several medical disciplines. Each course lasted at least 1 day and during this period the bodies were stayed at room temperature. Assessments of 30 trainers and 252 trainees were collected during the courses. Additionally, the organoleptic characteristics of the fresh frozen (FF), preserved with MLS and F10-fixed cadavers were compared. The colors of muscles, fasciae, fatty tissue, nerves and vessels were evaluated and life-like tissues of MLS cadavers were impressive. There were no obvious or disturbing smell and sign of putrefaction of the MLS cadavers. MLS is a sustainable and relatively affordable soft cadaver embalming method. Its application is same as in other conventional methods and does not need new equipment. This article indicates the success of the MLS method in human cadavers.

Simultaneous calibration of ensemble river flow predictions over an entire range of lead times

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hemri, S.; Fundel, F.; Zappa, M.

2013-10-01

Probabilistic estimates of future water levels and river discharge are usually simulated with hydrologic models using ensemble weather forecasts as main inputs. As hydrologic models are imperfect and the meteorological ensembles tend to be biased and underdispersed, the ensemble forecasts for river runoff typically are biased and underdispersed, too. Thus, in order to achieve both reliable and sharp predictions statistical postprocessing is required. In this work Bayesian model averaging (BMA) is applied to statistically postprocess ensemble runoff raw forecasts for a catchment in Switzerland, at lead times ranging from 1 to 240 h. The raw forecasts have been obtained using deterministic and ensemble forcing meteorological models with different forecast lead time ranges. First, BMA is applied based on mixtures of univariate normal distributions, subject to the assumption of independence between distinct lead times. Then, the independence assumption is relaxed in order to estimate multivariate runoff forecasts over the entire range of lead times simultaneously, based on a BMA version that uses multivariate normal distributions. Since river runoff is a highly skewed variable, Box-Cox transformations are applied in order to achieve approximate normality. Both univariate and multivariate BMA approaches are able to generate well calibrated probabilistic forecasts that are considerably sharper than climatological forecasts. Additionally, multivariate BMA provides a promising approach for incorporating temporal dependencies into the postprocessed forecasts. Its major advantage against univariate BMA is an increase in reliability when the forecast system is changing due to model availability.

A Lidar Point Cloud Based Procedure for Vertical Canopy Structure Analysis And 3D Single Tree Modelling in Forest

PubMed Central

Wang, Yunsheng; Weinacker, Holger; Koch, Barbara

2008-01-01

A procedure for both vertical canopy structure analysis and 3D single tree modelling based on Lidar point cloud is presented in this paper. The whole area of research is segmented into small study cells by a raster net. For each cell, a normalized point cloud whose point heights represent the absolute heights of the ground objects is generated from the original Lidar raw point cloud. The main tree canopy layers and the height ranges of the layers are detected according to a statistical analysis of the height distribution probability of the normalized raw points. For the 3D modelling of individual trees, individual trees are detected and delineated not only from the top canopy layer but also from the sub canopy layer. The normalized points are resampled into a local voxel space. A series of horizontal 2D projection images at the different height levels are then generated respect to the voxel space. Tree crown regions are detected from the projection images. Individual trees are then extracted by means of a pre-order forest traversal process through all the tree crown regions at the different height levels. Finally, 3D tree crown models of the extracted individual trees are reconstructed. With further analyses on the 3D models of individual tree crowns, important parameters such as crown height range, crown volume and crown contours at the different height levels can be derived. PMID:27879916

Raw data normalization for a multi source inverse geometry CT system

PubMed Central

Baek, Jongduk; De Man, Bruno; Harrison, Daniel; Pelc, Norbert J.

2015-01-01

A multi-source inverse-geometry CT (MS-IGCT) system consists of a small 2D detector array and multiple x-ray sources. During data acquisition, each source is activated sequentially, and may have random source intensity fluctuations relative to their respective nominal intensity. While a conventional 3rd generation CT system uses a reference channel to monitor the source intensity fluctuation, the MS-IGCT system source illuminates a small portion of the entire field-of-view (FOV). Therefore, it is difficult for all sources to illuminate the reference channel and the projection data computed by standard normalization using flat field data of each source contains error and can cause significant artifacts. In this work, we present a raw data normalization algorithm to reduce the image artifacts caused by source intensity fluctuation. The proposed method was tested using computer simulations with a uniform water phantom and a Shepp-Logan phantom, and experimental data of an ice-filled PMMA phantom and a rabbit. The effect on image resolution and robustness of the noise were tested using MTF and standard deviation of the reconstructed noise image. With the intensity fluctuation and no correction, reconstructed images from simulation and experimental data show high frequency artifacts and ring artifacts which are removed effectively using the proposed method. It is also observed that the proposed method does not degrade the image resolution and is very robust to the presence of noise. PMID:25837090

Radon

MedlinePlus

You can't see radon. And you can't smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home. Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer ...

Hormonal control of feed intake in swine

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Voluntary feed intake is controlled by a plethora of factors including, but not limited to, day length, social interactions, environmental conditions, oronasal sensory cues (i.e., taste, smell, texture), gastrointestinal fill, health status, metabolic status, dietary composition, drug interactions, ...

Chlamydia Infections

MedlinePlus

... include Abnormal vaginal discharge, which may have a strong smell A burning sensation when urinating Pain during intercourse If the infection spreads, you might get lower abdominal pain, pain during sex, nausea, or fever. Symptoms in men include Discharge from your penis A burning sensation ...

Performance of non-neurological older adults on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and the Stroop Color-Word Test: normal variability or cognitive impairment?

PubMed

Gunner, Jessica H; Miele, Andrea S; Lynch, Julie K; McCaffrey, Robert J

2012-06-01

There is currently no standard criterion for determining abnormal test scores in neuropsychology; thus, a number of different criteria are commonly used. We investigated base rates of abnormal scores in healthy older adults using raw and T-scores from indices of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Stroop Color-Word Test. Abnormal scores were examined cumulatively at seven cutoffs including >1.0, >1.5, >2.0, >2.5, and >3.0 standard deviations (SD) from the mean as well as those below the 10th and 5th percentiles. In addition, the number of abnormal scores at each of the seven cutoffs was also examined. Results showed when considering raw scores, ∼15% of individuals obtained scores>1.0 SD from the mean, around 10% were less than the 10th percentile, and 5% fell >1.5 SD or <5th percentile from the mean. Using T-scores, approximately 15%-20% and 5%-10% of scores were >1.0 and >1.5 SD from the mean, respectively. Roughly 15% and 5% fell at the <10th and <5th percentiles, respectively. Both raw and T-scores>2.0 SD from the mean were infrequent. Although the presence of a single abnormal score at 1.0 and 1.5 SD from the mean or at the 10th and 5th percentiles was not unusual, the presence of ≥2 abnormal scores using any criteria was uncommon. Consideration of base rate data regarding the percentage of healthy individuals scoring in the abnormal range should help avoid classifying normal variability as neuropsychological impairment.

Reward deficits in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia include insensitivity to negative stimuli.

PubMed

Perry, David C; Datta, Samir; Sturm, Virginia E; Wood, Kristie A; Zakrzewski, Jessica; Seeley, William W; Miller, Bruce L; Kramer, Joel H; Rosen, Howard J

2017-12-01

During reward processing individuals weigh positive and negative features of a stimulus to determine whether they will pursue or avoid it. Though patients with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia display changes in their pursuit of rewards, such as food, alcohol, money, and sex, the basis for these shifts is not clearly established. In particular, it is unknown whether patients' behaviour results from excessive focus on rewards, insensitivity to punishment, or to dysfunction in a particular stage of reward processing, such as anticipation, consumption, or action selection. Our goal was to determine the nature of the reward deficit in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia and its underlying anatomy. We devised a series of tasks involving pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral olfactory stimuli, designed to separate distinct phases of reward processing. In a group of 25 patients with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia and 21 control subjects, diagnosis by valence interactions revealed that patients with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia rated unpleasant odours as less aversive than did controls and displayed lower skin conductance responses when anticipating an upcoming aversive odour. Subjective pleasantness ratings and skin conductance responses did not differ between behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia and controls for pleasant or neutral smells. In a task designed to measure the effort subjects would expend to smell or avoid smelling a stimulus, patients with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia were less motivated, and therefore less successful than control subjects, at avoiding what they preferred not to smell, but had equivalent success at obtaining stimuli they found rewarding. Voxel-based morphometry of patients with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia revealed that the inability to subjectively differentiate the valence of pleasant and unpleasant odours correlated with atrophy in right ventral mid-insula and right amygdala. High pleasantness ratings of unpleasant stimuli correlated with left dorsal anterior insula and frontal pole atrophy. These findings indicate that insensitivity to negative information may be a key component of the reward-seeking behaviours in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, and may relate to degeneration of structures that are involved in representing the emotional salience of sensory information. © The Author (2017). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Case report of 5 siblings: malnutrition? Rickets? DiGeorge syndrome? Developmental delay?

PubMed

Cundiff, David K; Harris, William

2006-01-16

Parents of six children are facing a trial on charges of aggravated manslaughter in the care a 5 1/2 month old infant who died suddenly and neglect of their four older children for causing them to be malnourished by feeding them all an exclusively raw foods vegan diet. Both parents declined plea bargains and plan to defend themselves in court. The fifth child born to a married couple was breast-fed until 2 1/2 months. Subsequently, the parents fed the baby an exclusively raw foods diet prepared in a blender at home. The four older children, ages 18 months-6 1/2 years also ate an exclusively raw foods vegan diet. None of the four older children had significant previous injuries or serious illnesses. At autopsy, the infant weighed 3180 mg (6.99 pounds) and appeared emaciated. The thymus gland was absent and parathyroid glands were not located. The lungs were "congested." DiGeorge anomaly cannot be ruled out from these findings. Although, the coroner ruled that "malnutrition" was the sole cause of death, malnutrition, according to the World Health Organization definition, cannot be diagnosed in this infant. Compared with standard growth charts, the older children fell 2.1-4.1 standard deviations below the mean for North American children in height and weight. Labs were normal except for a low cholesterol level in all and a low prealbumin in one of three children tested. Therefore, malnutrition cannot be diagnosed in these children. The pediatrician diagnosed rickets in the four-year-old. However, chest x-rays were normal in all and long bone x-rays showed minimal changes in one child--no sign of rickets. The clinical diagnosis of rickets was not confirmed by the Center for Disease Control's criteria. A psychologist diagnosed the 18-month-old as developmentally delayed to the level of a 15-month-old, but this diagnosis is questionable. The raw foods vegan diet and possibly inherited small stature from the father's side account for their relatively low heights and weights. Catch-up growth will probably occur on the standard American diet but would have also been expected if they had remained on a vegan diet.

Intravenous colforsin daropate, a water-soluble forskolin derivative, prevents thiamylal-fentanyl-induced bronchoconstriction in humans.

PubMed

Wajima, Zen'ichiro; Yoshikawa, Tatsusuke; Ogura, Akira; Imanaga, Kazuyuki; Shiga, Toshiya; Inoue, Tetsuo; Ogawa, Ryo

2002-04-01

Forskolin, a direct activator of adenylate cyclase, can relax airway smooth muscle, similar to other agents that increase intracellular cyclic adenine monophosphate. However, the potential usefulness of forskolin in treating bronchospasm is limited by its poor water solubility. Colforsin daropate is a novel and potent water-soluble forskolin derivative. No clinical data have been published on the bronchorelaxant effects of this drug. The aim of this study was to investigate whether intravenous colforsin daropate prevents thiamylal-fentanyl-induced bronchoconstriction. Double-blind, prospective, placebo-controlled randomized study. University teaching hospital. Thirty-six patients were allocated randomly to two groups: the control group (n = 18) and colforsin daropate group (n = 18). Intravenous administration of colforsin daropate or placebo (normal saline). Anesthesia was induced with thiamylal 5 mg/kg and vecuronium 0.3 mg/kg. A 15 mg x kg(-1) x hr(-1) continuous infusion of thiamylal followed anesthetic induction. Controlled ventilation was maintained, delivering 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen. Twenty minutes after the induction of anesthesia, the control group patients started to receive 7.5 mL/hr continuous infusion of normal saline, and the colforsin daropate group patients started to receive 0.75 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) (7.5 mL/hr) continuous infusion of colforsin daropate for 60 min. After that, both groups received fentanyl 5 microg/kg. Systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, heart rate, mean airway resistance (Rawm), expiratory airway resistance (Rawe), and dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn) were measured at the baseline, just before the administration of fentanyl (T30), at three consecutive 6-min intervals after fentanyl injection (T36, T42, and T48) and 30 min after fentanyl injection (T60). At baseline, both groups had comparable Rawm, Rawe, and Cdyn values. In the control group, Rawm increased significantly at T36-60 compared with the baseline, Rawe increased significantly at T36-48 compared with the baseline, and Cdyn decreased significantly at T36-60 compared with the baseline. In the colforsin daropate group, there were no changes in Rawm, Rawe or Cdyn at T36-60. These observations suggest that intravenous colforsin daropate has a bronchodilator effect in humans.

Effect of prophylactic bronchodilator treatment with intravenous colforsin daropate, a water-soluble forskolin derivative, on airway resistance after tracheal intubation.

PubMed

Wajima, Zen'ichiro; Shiga, Toshiya; Yoshikawa, Tatsusuke; Ogura, Akira; Imanaga, Kazuyuki; Inoue, Tetsuo; Ogawa, Ryo

2003-07-01

After induction of anesthesia, lung resistance increases. The authors hypothesized that prophylactic bronchodilator treatment with intravenous colforsin daropate, a water-soluble forskolin derivative, before tracheal intubation would result in decreased lung resistance and increased lung compliance after tracheal intubation when compared with placebo medication. Forty-six adult patients were randomized to placebo or colforsin daropate treatment. Patients in the control group received normal saline; patients in the colforsin group received 0.75 microg. kg-1 x min-1 colforsin daropate intravenously until the study ended. Thirty minutes after the study began, the authors administered 5 mg/kg thiamylal and 5 microg/kg fentanyl for induction of general anesthesia and 0.3 mg/kg vecuronium for muscle relaxation. A 15-mg. kg-1. h-1 continuous infusion of thiamylal followed anesthetic induction. Four, 8, 12, and 16 min after tracheal intubation, mean airway resistance (R(awm)), expiratory airway resistance (R(awe)), and dynamic lung compliance (C(dyn)) were measured. Patients in the colforsin group had significantly lower R(awm) and R(awe) and higher C(dyn) after intubation than those in the control group. Differences in R(awm), R(awe), and C(dyn) between the two groups persisted through the final measurement at 16 min. At 4 min after intubation, smokers had a higher R(awm) and a lower C(dyn) than nonsmokers in the control group. After treatment by intravenous colforsin daropate, R(awm), R(awe), and C(dyn) values were similar for smokers and nonsmokers after tracheal intubation. Prophylactic treatment with colforsin daropate produced lower R(awm) and R(awe) and higher C(dyn) after tracheal intubation when compared with placebo medication. Pretreatment before intubation may be beneficial and advantageous for middle-aged smokers.

Wireless "Jump" Starts for Partly Disabled Equipment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Castle, K. D.

1986-01-01

Equipment activated when normal remote starting does not work Beam from nearby station first carries raw energy and then subsystemactivating signals to equipment crippled by discharged storage batteries. Operators start up equipment without approaching it under hazardous conditions. Potential terrestrial applications for scheme include starting of robots on such remotely-controlled hazardous tasks as handling of explosives or retrieval or deposition of objects in hostile environments.

Nudging Students into Writing Creatively (Teaching Ideas).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perreault, George; And Others

1996-01-01

Describes ideas for writing prompts and assignments proposed by three different teachers: (1) writing poems inspired by smells of herbs and spices; (2) writing about past perceptions and feelings after looking at a photograph; and (3) writing a "self-portrait." (TB)

HISTORY OF BIOMONITORING IN THE UNITED STATES - EXTENDED ABSTRACT

EPA Science Inventory

Biomonitoring of ecological systems has a long history dating back several centuries when high levels of industrial and urban pollution caused discolored rivers, noxious smells, fish kills, and other obvious indicators of ecosystem dysfunction. As a result, significant environmen...

Ideas from Everywhere.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Douglas D.

1980-01-01

Indicates that at least 50 percent carbon monoxide is produced during the dehydration of sugar by sulfuric acid to a hot, black, expanded solid. Consequently, students should not be allowed to smell this product. Also lists six other findings related to this reaction. (Author/JN)

Imagination: Beginnings Workshop.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haugen, Kirsten; Elkind, David; Lutton, Alison; Krissansen, Dianne

2002-01-01

Contains the following articles to help teachers support children's imagination: (1) "Time, Trust, and Tools: Opening Doors to Imagination for All Children" (Kirsten Haugen); (2) "The Connection between Play and Character" (David Elkind); (3) "Magnets Can Dance and Vanilla Smells Warm" (Alison Lutton); and (4)…

Content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of pumpkin puree enriched with japanese quince, cornelian cherry, strawberry and apples.

PubMed

Nawirska-Olszańska, Agnieszka; Biesiada, Anita; Sokół-Łętowska, Anna; Kucharska, Alicja Z

2011-01-01

When evaluated in terms of taste, smell or active ingredients, pumpkin in itself is not very attractive as a raw material. Hence, it is recommended to blend pumpkin with other fruits, which are aromatic, have a defined taste, and contain a large quantity of active ingredients and organic acids to improve its palatibility. The pumpkin chosen for the experiments was of the variety Karowita, of species Cucurbita maxima. Ten different of compositions were prepared for the purpose of the study: 10, 20 and 30% (w/w) of Japanese quince and cornelian cherry each, or 20 and 30% (w/w) of strawberry and apple each. The puree was then analysed for dry matter, extract, viscosity, colour, vitamin C, total polyphenols, carotenoids and DPPH. The highest content of vitamin C, which was in direct proportion to the quantity of the supplement added (17.88 to 23.43 mg·100 g(-1)), was detected in the quince-enriched puree. The lowest vitamin C content was determined in apple-enriched samples (1.36 to 1.6 mg·100 g(-1)). A similar pattern was observed with total polyphenols: the highest values were measured in quince-enriched puree, and the lowest in the puree supplemented with apple. Taking into account antioxidant properties of the samples, quince-enriched pumpkin puree was found to be the most attractive, and apple-enriched pumpkin puree the least attractive one. The results suggest a wide range of application for pumpkin puree enriched with various additives.

Effects on symptoms and lung function in humans experimentally exposed to diesel exhaust.

PubMed Central

Rudell, B; Ledin, M C; Hammarström, U; Stjernberg, N; Lundbäck, B; Sandström, T

1996-01-01

OBJECTIVES: Diesel exhaust is a common air pollutant made up of several gases, hydrocarbons, and particles. An experimental study was carried out which was designed to evaluate if a particle trap on the tail pipe of an idling diesel engine would reduce effects on symptoms and lung function caused by the diesel exhaust, compared with exposure to unfiltered exhaust. METHODS: Twelve healthy non-smoking volunteers (aged 20-37) were investigated in an exposure chamber for one hour during light work on a bicycle ergometer at 75 W. Each subject underwent three separate double blind exposures in a randomised sequence: to air and to diesel exhaust with the particle trap at the tail pipe and to unfiltered diesel exhaust. Symptoms were recorded according to the Borg scale before, every 10 minutes during, and 30 minutes after the exposure. Lung function was measured with a computerised whole body plethysmograph. RESULTS: The ceramic wall flow particle trap reduced the number of particles by 46%, whereas other compounds were relatively constant. It was shown that the most prominent symptoms during exposure to diesel exhaust were irritation of the eyes and nose and an unpleasant smell increasing during exposure. Both airway resistance (R(aw)) and specific airway resistance (SR(aw)) increased significantly during the exposures to diesel exhaust. Despite the 46% reduction in particle numbers by the trap effects on symptoms and lung function were not significantly attenuated. CONCLUSION: Exposure to diesel exhaust caused symptoms and bronchoconstriction which were not significantly reduced by a particle trap. PMID:8943829

Ultrapure glass optical waveguide development in microgravity by the sol-gel process

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1982-01-01

Containerless melting of glasses in space for the preparation of ultrapure homogeneous glass for optical waveguides is discussed. The homogenization of the glass using conventional raw materials is normally achieved on Earth either by the gravity induced convection currents or by the mechanical stirring of the melt. Because of the absence of gravity induced convection currents, the homogenization of glass using convectional raw materials is difficult in the space environment. Multicomponent, homogeneous, noncrystalline oxide gels can be prepared by the sol-gel process and these gels are promising starting materials for melting glasses in the space environment. The sol-gel process is based on the polymerization reaction of alkoxysilane with other metal alkoxy compounds or suitable metal salts. Many of the alkoxysilanes or other metal alkoxides are liquids and thus can be purified by distillation.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Salama, A.; Mikhail, M.

Comprehensive software packages have been developed at the Western Research Centre as tools to help coal preparation engineers analyze, evaluate, and control coal cleaning processes. The COal Preparation Software package (COPS) performs three functions: (1) data handling and manipulation, (2) data analysis, including the generation of washability data, performance evaluation and prediction, density and size modeling, evaluation of density and size partition characteristics and attrition curves, and (3) generation of graphics output. The Separation ChARacteristics Estimation software packages (SCARE) are developed to balance raw density or size separation data. The cases of density and size separation data are considered. Themore » generated balanced data can take the balanced or normalized forms. The scaled form is desirable for direct determination of the partition functions (curves). The raw and generated separation data are displayed in tabular and/or graphical forms. The computer softwares described in this paper are valuable tools for coal preparation plant engineers and operators for evaluating process performance, adjusting plant parameters, and balancing raw density or size separation data. These packages have been applied very successfully in many projects carried out by WRC for the Canadian coal preparation industry. The software packages are designed to run on a personal computer (PC).« less

The effect of high pressure and residual oxygen on the color stability of minced cured restructured ham at different levels of drying, pH, and NaCl.

PubMed

Bak, Kathrine Holmgaard; Lindahl, Gunilla; Karlsson, Anders H; Lloret, Elsa; Gou, Pere; Arnau, Jacint; Orlien, Vibeke

2013-10-01

Color stability of minced cured restructured ham was studied by considering the effects of high pressure (HP) (600 MPa, 13°C, 5 min), raw meat pH24 (low, normal, high), salt content (15, 30 g/kg), drying (20%, 50% weight loss), and residual oxygen level (0.02%-0.30%). Raw hams were selected by pH24 in Semimembranosus, mixed with additives, frozen, sliced, and dried by the Quick-Dry-Slice® (QDS) process followed by HP treatment or not (control). Packaging and storage simulated industrial packaging: modified atmosphere containing 80% N2, 20% CO2, and residual O2 in one of three intervals: <0.1%, 0.1%-0.2%, or 0.2%-0.3%, and retail storage conditions: chill storage, 12 h light, 12 h darkness. HP improved the stability of the redness of 20% QDS hams, while the stabilizing effect on 50% QDS hams was smaller, concluding that water has the dominating role. Raw meat pH24, salt content, and residual oxygen level had varying effects on the stability of the red color. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

EPHRIN-A5 REGULATES INTER-MALE AGGRESSION IN MICE

PubMed Central

Sheleg, Michal; Yochum, Carrie L.; Richardson, Jason R.; Wagner, George C.; Zhou, Renping

2015-01-01

The Eph family of receptor tyrosine kinases play key roles in both the patterning of the developing nervous system and neural plasticity in the mature brain. To determine functions of ephrin-A5, a GPI-linked ligand to the Eph receptors, in animal behavior regulations, we examined effects of its inactivation on male mouse aggression. When tested in the resident-intruder paradigm for offensive aggression, ephrin-A5-mutant animals (ephrin-A5−/−) exhibited severe reduction in conspecific aggression compared to wild-type controls. On the contrary, defensive aggression in the form of target biting was higher in ephrin-A5−/− mice, indicating that the mutant mice are capable of attacking behavior. In addition, given the critical role of olfaction in aggressive behavior, we examined the ability of the ephrin-A5−/− mice to smell and found no differences between the mutant and control animals. Testosterone levels in the mutant mice were also found to be within the normal range. Taken together, our data reveal a new role of ephrin-A5 in the regulation of aggressive behavior in mice. PMID:25746458

Trimethylamine and trimethylamine oxide levels in normal women and women with bacterial vaginosis reflect a local metabolism in vaginal secretion as compared to urine.

PubMed

Wolrath, H; Ståhlbom, B; Hallén, A; Forsum, U

2005-01-01

The smell of rotten fish is one of the characteristics of bacterial vaginosis (BV), and is due to trimethylamine (TMA). Trimethylamine can be found in human urine, although most of it occurs as the nonvolatile oxide (TMAO) form. The fraction TMA/TMAO can be expected to be the same in different body fluids if no local production of TMA occurs. In women with BV, TMAO in the vaginal fluid is expected to be chemically reduced by the local bacterial flora to the much more odorous TMA. We have therefore studied the local vaginal production of TMA in vaginal secretion compared to the general TMA-TMAO metabolism that was measured in urine using gas chromatography. Both vaginal fluid and random urine samples were collected from women, with and without BV, attending a Swedish clinic for sexually transmitted diseases, and these samples were analyzed for TMA and TMAO. The results show that a local production of TMA occurs in the vagina that is not part of the general metabolism of TMA-TMAO.

Kallman syndrome versus idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism at MR imaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vogl, T.J.; Stemmler, J.; Bergman, C.

To identify morphologic differences between Kallman syndrome (KS) and idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) and establish a role for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in these disorders. Twenty-eight patients were compared with 10 eugonal male volunteers. Eighteen patients had KS (hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with anosmia) and 10 had IHH. All participants underwent hormone analysis, a sniff-bottle smell test, and gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging. Changes in the hypothalamic-hypophyseal region and the rhinencephalon were evaluated. MR imaging revealed intracranial morphologic changes in all patients on plain T1-weighted sections. Seventeen patients with KS demonstrated aplasia of an olfactory bulb; one olfactory sulcus was absent in six, rudimentarymore » in four, and normal in eight. Olfactory bulbs were present in all 10 IHH patients and three showed one slightly hypoplastic bulb. Ten patients with KS and three with IHH showed an enlarged paranasal sinus system. Further MR findings were similar. MR imaging demonstrates abnormalities of the rhinencephalon present in KS patients and occasionally absent in IHH patients. 18 refs., 10 figs., 1 tab.« less

History of Ozone Research: From Schonbein to the Present

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stolarski, Richard S.

1999-01-01

In 1840, C.F. Schonbein recognized that the smell generated in several different electrical and chemical processes was a single substance. He named this substance "ozein" from the Greek for "to smell". This substance we know today as ozone. Several periods can be distinguished in the continued development of our understanding of ozone. Throughout the late 19th century, the identity and properties of ozone were established and described. Ozone was recognized to be a constituent of normal air and tests were established to measure its concentration. Its disinfectant properties were recognized. New methods were developed for making ozone in the laboratory. In 1879, ultraviolet spectroscopic techniques were applied to the measurement of the solar spectrum and it was discovered by Comu that the spectrum was cut off at about 300 nm wavelength. Hartley suggested, based on laboratory measurements, that this cutoff was due to ozone in the atmosphere which he correctly asserted was somewhere in the upper atmosphere. This began the period of development of the amount and distribution of ozone throughout the atmosphere. In 1930, Chapman put forward the first theory of the formation and destruction of ozone. By the mid-1960s it was becoming obvious that the description of the chemical loss term was inadequate. By the early 1970s the chemical destruction of ozone by the oxides of hydrogen, nitrogen, chlorine, and bromine was recognized as an essential element in the chemical balance determining the ozone concentration. Today, ozone is a broad research project which crosses the boundaries of traditional disciplines. Stratospheric ozone loss due to chlorofluorocarbons is a newsworthy item. The Antarctic ozone hole opens up every spring. The provisions of the Montreal Protocol were agreed upon by countries around the world and promise to reduce the future levels of ozone-destroying chlorine in the stratosphere. Ozone concentrations in polluted cities are a subject of local and national regulations to limit its potential for causing health problems and corrosive effects on materials. A lot is known about ozone but many new questions are still being developed.

Assessment of Olfactory Function in MAPT-Associated Neurodegenerative Disease Reveals Odor-Identification Irreproducibility as a Non-Disease-Specific, General Characteristic of Olfactory Dysfunction.

PubMed

Markopoulou, Katerina; Chase, Bruce A; Robowski, Piotr; Strongosky, Audrey; Narożańska, Ewa; Sitek, Emilia J; Berdynski, Mariusz; Barcikowska, Maria; Baker, Matt C; Rademakers, Rosa; Sławek, Jarosław; Klein, Christine; Hückelheim, Katja; Kasten, Meike; Wszolek, Zbigniew K

2016-01-01

Olfactory dysfunction is associated with normal aging, multiple neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Lewy body disease and Alzheimer's disease, and other diseases such as diabetes, sleep apnea and the autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis. The wide spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders associated with olfactory dysfunction suggests different, potentially overlapping, underlying pathophysiologies. Studying olfactory dysfunction in presymptomatic carriers of mutations known to cause familial parkinsonism provides unique opportunities to understand the role of genetic factors, delineate the salient characteristics of the onset of olfactory dysfunction, and understand when it starts relative to motor and cognitive symptoms. We evaluated olfactory dysfunction in 28 carriers of two MAPT mutations (p.N279K, p.P301L), which cause frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism, using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test. Olfactory dysfunction in carriers does not appear to be allele specific, but is strongly age-dependent and precedes symptomatic onset. Severe olfactory dysfunction, however, is not a fully penetrant trait at the time of symptom onset. Principal component analysis revealed that olfactory dysfunction is not odor-class specific, even though individual odor responses cluster kindred members according to genetic and disease status. Strikingly, carriers with incipient olfactory dysfunction show poor inter-test consistency among the sets of odors identified incorrectly in successive replicate tests, even before severe olfactory dysfunction appears. Furthermore, when 78 individuals without neurodegenerative disease and 14 individuals with sporadic Parkinson's disease were evaluated twice at a one-year interval using the Brief Smell Identification Test, the majority also showed inconsistency in the sets of odors they identified incorrectly, independent of age and cognitive status. While these findings may reflect the limitations of these tests used and the sample sizes, olfactory dysfunction appears to be associated with the inability to identify odors reliably and consistently, not with the loss of an ability to identify specific odors. Irreproducibility in odor identification appears to be a non-disease-specific, general feature of olfactory dysfunction that is accelerated or accentuated in neurodegenerative disease. It may reflect a fundamental organizational principle of the olfactory system, which is more "error-prone" than other sensory systems.

Nutritional Applications of the Chemical Senses.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Naim, Michael; Kare, Morley R.

1984-01-01

Discusses the relationship of taste and smell to ingestion, digestion, and metabolism. Indicates that the response of these physiological systems can be chemical specific and that chemical senses may play different roles in regulating diet during nutrient deficiency and during nutrient surplus situations. (JN)

NIDCD: Celebrating 25 Years of Research Helping People with Communication Disorders | NIH MedlinePlus the Magazine

MedlinePlus

... Language, Voice, Balance NIDCD: Celebrating 25 Years of Research Helping People with Communication Disorders Past Issues / Fall ... and established the core mission areas of the research we support on hearing, balance, taste, smell, and ...

Children with Chronic Kidney Disease: Tips for Parents

MedlinePlus

... or blankets, preferred time and method of taking medicines. Help your child take control of the illness Try to maintain ... with a teaspoon (associated with food) or a medicine cup. The benefit to your child is in not having to smell the medicine ...

Science Unlimited: Grades K-6 Competency Matrix.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pennsylvania State Dept. of Education, Harrisburg. Div. of Arts and Sciences.

This competency matrix matches the primary and intermediate Science Unlimited lessons with the established competencies which appear in the Science Unlimited competency continuum. Primary lessons deal with: investigating dripping faucets; classification/sorting; smell; eyes; color; air; weather; observation and description; mystery boxes; change;…

Visual Aids Reviews.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

School Science Review, 1983

1983-01-01

Provided are reviews of science films, slides, audio cassettes, and wall charts. Each review includes title, source, country of origin, description of subject matter presented, appraisal, and target audience. Among the topics considered are smell/taste, grasshopper behavior, photography, bat behavior/flight, pond life, exploring planets, locusts,…

Sensory analysis of characterising flavours: evaluating tobacco product odours using an expert panel.

PubMed

Krüsemann, Erna J Z; Lasschuijt, Marlou P; de Graaf, C; de Wijk, René A; Punter, Pieter H; van Tiel, Loes; Cremers, Johannes W J M; van de Nobelen, Suzanne; Boesveldt, Sanne; Talhout, Reinskje

2018-05-23

Tobacco flavours are an important regulatory concept in several jurisdictions, for example in the USA, Canada and Europe. The European Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU prohibits cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco having a characterising flavour. This directive defines characterising flavour as 'a clearly noticeable smell or taste other than one of tobacco […]'. To distinguish between products with and without a characterising flavour, we trained an expert panel to identify characterising flavours by smelling. An expert panel (n=18) evaluated the smell of 20 tobacco products using self-defined odour attributes, following Quantitative Descriptive Analysis. The panel was trained during 14 attribute training, consensus training and performance monitoring sessions. Products were assessed during six test sessions. Principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering (four and six clusters) and Hotelling's T-tests (95% and 99% CIs) were used to determine differences and similarities between tobacco products based on odour attributes. The final attribute list contained 13 odour descriptors. Panel performance was sufficient after 14 training sessions. Products marketed as unflavoured that formed a cluster were considered reference products. A four-cluster method distinguished cherry-flavoured, vanilla-flavoured and menthol-flavoured products from reference products. Six clusters subdivided reference products into tobacco leaves, roll-your-own and commercial products. An expert panel was successfully trained to assess characterising odours in cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco. This method could be applied to other product types such as e-cigarettes. Regulatory decisions on the choice of reference products and significance level are needed which directly influences the products being assessed as having a characterising odour. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Pesticide-initiated idiopathic environmental intolerance in South Korean farmers.

PubMed

Lee, Hae-Sung; Hong, So-Yong; Hong, Zoong-Rock; Gil, Hyo-Ook; Yang, Jong-Oh; Lee, Eun-Young; Han, Mi-Jung; Jang, Nam-Woon; Hong, Sae-Yong

2007-05-01

This study was designed to study patients with intolerance to pesticide smells. Ten subjects chosen were complaining of vague symptoms such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, myalgia, flu-like symptoms, etc., whenever exposed to the pesticide smells even at low intensity. To determine whether the etiology of this kind of pesticide hypersensitivity was of organic or psychiatric nature, all the subjects underwent tests as follows: complete blood cell count, urinalysis, and blood chemistry as routine tests; esophogastroduodenoscopy and abdomen ultrasonography for the gastrointestinal symptoms; chest x-ray, pulmonary function tests, and electrocardiography for the respiratory and/or cardiac symptoms; nerve conduction velocity and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for peripheral and central nerve system symptoms; and K-WAIS, Rey-Kim memory test, Rorschach, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) for psychoanalysis. Of the 10 cases in which the chief complaint was headache, symptoms of two cases were caused by maxillary sinusitis. Another two showed typical multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) or idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI). Six out of the 10 cases, whose symptoms closely resembled the others, did not conclusively meet the criteria of classic MCS or IEI. The subjects of this case shared vague fears, both fear of pesticides and hypochondriasis. Some subjects faced financial insecurity and social uncertainty; others felt uneasy about the future of their farming life. Thus, to help verify the causes of MCS or IEI, which is strongly suggestive of pesticide smells, diagnosis needs a dual approach: on the anima and soma. Psychoanalysis can delve into the mental status of the patients to see whether the patients are aware of their symptoms. Clinical tests can see through the physical structure and functions of the organs on which patients' complaints are centered.

Assessing implicit odor localization in humans using a cross-modal spatial cueing paradigm.

PubMed

Moessnang, Carolin; Finkelmeyer, Andreas; Vossen, Alexandra; Schneider, Frank; Habel, Ute

2011-01-01

Navigation based on chemosensory information is one of the most important skills in the animal kingdom. Studies on odor localization suggest that humans have lost this ability. However, the experimental approaches used so far were limited to explicit judgements, which might ignore a residual ability for directional smelling on an implicit level without conscious appraisal. A novel cueing paradigm was developed in order to determine whether an implicit ability for directional smelling exists. Participants performed a visual two-alternative forced choice task in which the target was preceded either by a side-congruent or a side-incongruent olfactory spatial cue. An explicit odor localization task was implemented in a second experiment. No effect of cue congruency on mean reaction times could be found. However, a time by condition interaction emerged, with significantly slower responses to congruently compared to incongruently cued targets at the beginning of the experiment. This cueing effect gradually disappeared throughout the course of the experiment. In addition, participants performed at chance level in the explicit odor localization task, thus confirming the results of previous research. The implicit cueing task suggests the existence of spatial information processing in the olfactory system. Response slowing after a side-congruent olfactory cue is interpreted as a cross-modal attentional interference effect. In addition, habituation might have led to a gradual disappearance of the cueing effect. It is concluded that under immobile conditions with passive monorhinal stimulation, humans are unable to explicitly determine the location of a pure odorant. Implicitly, however, odor localization seems to exert an influence on human behaviour. To our knowledge, these data are the first to show implicit effects of odor localization on overt human behaviour and thus support the hypothesis of residual directional smelling in humans. © 2011 Moessnang et al.

Investigation of change in cardinal symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis after surgical or ongoing medical management.

PubMed

DeConde, Adam S; Mace, Jess C; Alt, Jeremiah A; Soler, Zachary M; Orlandi, Richard R; Smith, Timothy L

2015-01-01

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has been defined as inflammation of the paranasal sinuses lasting at least 12 weeks with corresponding 2 or more "cardinal symptoms" that include: (1) nasal obstruction; (2) thick nasal discharge; (3) facial pain/pressure; and (4) reduction or loss of sense of smell. Although prior studies have investigated symptoms of CRS after sinus surgery, none have compared the outcomes of these specific symptoms to ongoing medical therapy. Patients with CRS were prospectively enrolled into a multi-institutional, comparative effectiveness, cohort study. Subjects elected either continued medical management or endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Baseline characteristics and objective clinical findings were collected. Cardinal symptoms of CRS were operationalized by 4 questions on the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Symptom improvement was evaluated in subjects with at least 6-month follow-up. A total of 342 subjects were enrolled, with 69 (20.2%) electing continued medical management, whereas 273 (79.8%) elected ESS. Subjects electing surgical therapy were more likely to have a higher baseline aggregate SNOT-22 score (44.3 (18.9) vs 53.6 (18.8); p < 0.001). All subjects improved across all cardinal symptoms; however, subjects undergoing ESS were significantly more likely (p ≤ 0.013) to experience improvement in thick nasal discharge (odds ratio [OR] = 4.36), facial pain/pressure (OR = 3.56), and blockage/congestion of nose (OR = 2.76). Subjects with nasal polyposis were significantly more likely to report complete resolution of smell/taste following ESS compare to medical management (23.8% vs 4.0%; p = 0.026). Across a large population, surgical management is more effective at resolving the cardinal symptoms of CRS than ongoing medical management with the exception of sense of smell/taste. © 2014 ARS-AAOA, LLC.

Clinical benefits of aspirin desensitization in patients with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug exacerbated respiratory disease are not related to urinary eicosanoid release and are accompanied with decreased urine creatinine.

PubMed

Makowska, Joanna S; Olszewska-Ziąber, Agnieszka; Bieńkiewicz, Barbara; Lewandowska-Polak, Anna; Kurowski, Marcin; Woźniakowski, Bartłomiej; Rotkiewicz, Arkadiusz; Kowalski, Marek L

2016-05-01

Treatment with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) after desensitization may be a therapeutic option in patients with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD). The mechanisms that lead to improvement in rhinosinusitis and asthma symptoms remain unknown. To attribute the documented clinical effects of ASA treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis and/or asthma to the release of eicosanoid metabolites in urine. Fourteen patients with NERD were successfully desensitized, and, eventually, eight patients were treated with 650 mg of ASA daily for 3 months. In addition to clinical assessments, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and smell test were performed before and after treatment with ASA. Venous blood and urine were collected before desensitization and after 1 and 3 months of treatment. The levels of urinary leukotrienes (LT) (cysteinyl LT and LTE4) and tetranor PGDM (metabolite of prostaglandin D2) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Treatment with ASA after desensitization alleviated symptoms of rhinosinusitis, improved nasal patency (mean, 50% decrease in peak nasal inspiratory flow) and sense of smell (fourfold increase in smell test score) in as early as 4 weeks. Clinical improvements were not accompanied by any change in sinonasal mucosa thickness as assessed with nuclear magnetic resonance. Urinary cysteinyl LTs, LTE4, and prostaglandin D2 metabolite remained relatively stable during ASA treatment and did not correlate with clinical improvements. Desensitization was associated with a progressive decrease of urinary creatinine. Clinical improvement in rhinosinusitis and/or asthma after ASA desensitization was not related to concentrations of urinary eicosanoid metabolites. A decrease of urinary creatinine requires further study to determine the renal safety of long-term treatment with ASA after desensitization.

How much does nasal cavity morphology matter? Patterns and rates of olfactory airflow in phyllostomid bats

PubMed Central

Eiting, Thomas P.; Perot, J. Blair; Dumont, Elizabeth R.

2015-01-01

The morphology of the nasal cavity in mammals with a good sense of smell includes features that are thought to improve olfactory airflow, such as a dorsal conduit that delivers odours quickly to the olfactory mucosa, an enlarged olfactory recess at the back of the airway, and a clear separation of the olfactory and respiratory regions of the nose. The link between these features and having a good sense of smell has been established by functional examinations of a handful of distantly related mammalian species. In this paper, we provide the first detailed examination of olfactory airflow in a group of closely related species that nevertheless vary in their sense of smell. We study six species of phyllostomid bats that have different airway morphologies and foraging ecologies, which have been linked to differences in olfactory ability or reliance. We hypothesize that differences in morphology correlate with differences in the patterns and rates of airflow, which in turn are consistent with dietary differences. To compare species, we make qualitative and quantitative comparisons of the patterns and rates of airflow through the olfactory region during both inhalation and exhalation across the six species. Contrary to our expectations, we find no clear differences among species in either the patterns of airflow through the airway or in rates of flow through the olfactory region. By and large, olfactory airflow seems to be conserved across species, suggesting that morphological differences appear to be driven by other mechanical demands on the snout, such as breathing and feeding. Olfactory ability may depend on other aspects of the system, such as the neurobiological processing of odours that work within the existing morphology imposed by other functional demands on the nasal cavity. PMID:25520358

A controlled trial of aromatherapy for agitation in nursing home patients with dementia.

PubMed

Snow, Lynn A; Hovanec, Linda; Brandt, Jason

2004-06-01

Two controlled trials of aromatherapy to decrease agitation in persons with dementia have recently produced promising results. However, both studies combined the use of essential oils with massage. Thus, it is unclear if the effect of the aromatherapy intervention was the result of smelling or the cutaneous absorption of the oils. The purpose of this study was to determine whether smelling lavender oil decreases the frequency of agitated behaviors in patients with dementia. The study design was within-subjects ABCBA (A = lavender oil, B = thyme oil, C = unscented grapeseed oil): 4 weeks of baseline measurement, 2 weeks for each of the five treatment conditions (10-week total intervention time), and 2 weeks of postintervention measurement. Oil was placed every 3 hours on an absorbent fabric sachet pinned near the collarbone of each participant's shirt. A long-term care facility specifically for persons with dementia. Seven agitated nursing home residents with advanced dementia. Agitation was assessed every 2 days using a modified Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory. Olfactory functioning was assessed with structured olfactory identification and discrimination tasks, and with qualitative behavioral observation during those tasks. Split-middle analyses conducted separately for each patient revealed no treatment effects specific to lavender, no treatment effects nonspecific to pleasant smelling substances, and no treatment effects dependent on order of treatment administration. There were no differences between participants with more and less intact olfactory abilities. There is significant evidence in the neurologic and neuropsychologic literature that persons with dementia have impaired olfactory abilities. Concordant with this literature, this study found no support for the use of a purely olfactory form of aromatherapy to decrease agitation in severely demented patients. Cutaneous application of the essential oil may be necessary to achieve the effects reported in previous controlled studies. Copyright Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

The role of metals in mammalian olfaction of low molecular weight organosulfur compounds

PubMed Central

Block, Eric; Batista, Victor S.; Matsunami, Hiroaki; Zhuang, Hanyi; Ahmed, Lucky

2017-01-01

While suggestions concerning the possible role of metals in olfaction and taste date back 50 years, only recently has it been possible to confirm these proposals with experiments involving individual olfactory receptors (ORs). A detailed discussion of recent experimental results demonstrating the key role of metals in enhancing the response of human and other vertebrate ORs to specific odorants is presented against the backdrop of our knowledge of how the sense of smell functions both at the molecular and whole animal levels. This review emphasizes the role of metals in the detection of low molecular weight thiols, sulfides, and other organosulfur compounds, including those found in strong-smelling animal excretions and plant volatiles, and those used in gas odorization. Alternative theories of olfaction are described, with evidence favoring the modified “shape” theory. The use of quantum mechanical/molecular modeling (QM/MM), site-directed mutagenesis and saturation-transfer-difference (STD) NMR is discussed, providing support for biological studies of mouse and human receptors, MOR244-3 and OR OR2T11, respectively. Copper is bound at the active site of MOR244-3 by cysteine and histidine, while cysteine, histidine and methionine are involved with OR2T11. The binding pockets of these two receptors are found in different locations in the three-dimensional seven transmembrane models. Another recently deorphaned human olfactory receptor, OR2M3, highly selective for a thiol from onions, and a broadly-tuned thiol receptor, OR1A1, are also discussed. Other topics covered include the effects of nanoparticles and heavy metal toxicants on vertebrate and fish ORs, intranasal zinc products and the loss of smell (anosmia). PMID:28471462

Exploring structural relationships between blood alcohol concentration and signs and clinical assessment of intoxication in alcohol-involved injury cases.

PubMed

Bond, Jason; Witbrodt, Jane; Ye, Yu; Cherpitel, Cheryl J; Room, Robin; Monteiro, Maristela G

2014-01-01

Although the relationship between the Y90 (blood alcohol concentration, BAC) and Y91 (clinician intoxication assessment) ICD-10 codes has received attention recently, the role of 10 signs of intoxication in the Y91-Y90 relationship has not been studied yet. This work examines these signs in the estimation of alcohol intoxication levels of patients in medical settings. Collected and analyzed were data on 1997 injured emergency room patients from 17 countries worldwide reporting drinking prior to injury or presenting with a non-zero BAC from 17 countries worldwide. A model is estimated describing how the 10 signs inform the Y91, Y90 prediction with the goal of the use of observations on patients in place of a biological measure. Signs were consistent with a single underlying construct that strongly predicted Y91. Smell of alcohol on breath predicted Y91 above its contribution through the construct and was stronger for those with tolerance to alcohol than for those without. Controlling for Y91, no sign further contributed to prediction of Y90 indicating that Y91 incorporated all intoxication sign information in predicting Y90. Variance explained was high for Y91 (R(2) = 0.84) and intoxication signs (above 0.72 for all but smell on the breath, 0.57) and lower for Y90 (0.38). Intoxication assessments are well predicted by overall intoxication severity, which itself is well represented by intoxication signs along with differential emphasis on smell of alcohol on breath, especially for those with alcohol tolerance. However, BAC levels remain largely unexplained by intoxication signs with a clinician's assessment serving as the primary predictive measure. © The Author 2014. Medical Council on Alcohol and Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

Exploring Structural Relationships Between Blood Alcohol Concentration and Signs and Clinical Assessment of Intoxication in Alcohol-Involved Injury Cases

PubMed Central

Bond, Jason; Witbrodt, Jane; Ye, Yu; Cherpitel, Cheryl J.; Room, Robin; Monteiro, Maristela G.

2014-01-01

Aims: Although the relationship between the Y90 (blood alcohol concentration, BAC) and Y91 (clinician intoxication assessment) ICD-10 codes has received attention recently, the role of 10 signs of intoxication in the Y91–Y90 relationship has not been studied yet. This work examines these signs in the estimation of alcohol intoxication levels of patients in medical settings. Methods: Collected and analyzed were data on 1997 injured emergency room patients from 17 countries worldwide reporting drinking prior to injury or presenting with a non-zero BAC from 17 countries worldwide. A model is estimated describing how the 10 signs inform the Y91, Y90 prediction with the goal of the use of observations on patients in place of a biological measure. Results: Signs were consistent with a single underlying construct that strongly predicted Y91. Smell of alcohol on breath predicted Y91 above its contribution through the construct and was stronger for those with tolerance to alcohol than for those without. Controlling for Y91, no sign further contributed to prediction of Y90 indicating that Y91 incorporated all intoxication sign information in predicting Y90. Variance explained was high for Y91 (R2 = 0.84) and intoxication signs (above 0.72 for all but smell on the breath, 0.57) and lower for Y90 (0.38). Conclusion: Intoxication assessments are well predicted by overall intoxication severity, which itself is well represented by intoxication signs along with differential emphasis on smell of alcohol on breath, especially for those with alcohol tolerance. However, BAC levels remain largely unexplained by intoxication signs with a clinician's assessment serving as the primary predictive measure. PMID:24705784

Associations between factors related to atopic disease and glaucoma in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

PubMed

Tseng, Victoria L; Lee, Janet; Yu, Fei; Sirsy, Omar; Coleman, Anne L

2018-05-01

Previous studies have suggested associations between glaucoma and serum sensitization to specific allergens. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between inciting factors for atopic disease, atopic diseases and symptoms, and glaucoma in the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study population included adult participants of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006. Inciting factors for atopic disease included pet ownership, mildew/musty smell in home, cockroaches in home, use of water treatment devices, and crowded living conditions. Atopic diseases and symptoms included hay fever, eczema, any allergy, sneezing problems, and sinus infections. The outcome was glaucoma defined by the Rotterdam criteria. Covariates included age, gender, ethnicity, and allergy-related medication use. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between each exposure and glaucoma prevalence, controlling for all covariates. Statistical analyses were weighted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey multistage sampling design. The weighted study population included 83,205,587 subjects, of whom 2,657,336 (3.2%) had glaucoma. After adjusting for covariates, factors associated with increased glaucoma included cat ownership (odds ratio =1.99, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-3.87) and mildew/musty smell in home (odds ratio = 1.95, 95% confidence interval = 0.99-3.84; borderline significance), while history of eczema was associated with decreased glaucoma (odds ratio = 0.27, 95% confidence interval = 0.02-0.99). In National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, self-reported cat ownership is associated with increased glaucoma prevalence, while a mildew/musty smell in home may have a borderline association with increased glaucoma prevalence. These findings are possibly related to laboratory associations identified in the same population and further studies are needed to identify potential mechanisms to explain these associations.

Study of smell and reproductive organs in a mouse model for CHARGE syndrome

PubMed Central

Bergman, Jorieke EH; Bosman, Erika A; van Ravenswaaij-Arts, Conny MA; Steel, Karen P

2010-01-01

CHARGE syndrome is a multiple congenital anomaly syndrome characterised by Coloboma, Heart defects, Atresia of choanae, Retardation of growth and/or development, Genital hypoplasia, and Ear anomalies often associated with deafness. It is caused by heterozygous mutations in the CHD7 gene and shows a highly variable phenotype. Anosmia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism occur in the majority of the CHARGE patients, but the underlying pathogenesis is unknown. Therefore, we studied the ability to smell and aspects of the reproductive system (reproductive performance, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons and anatomy of testes and uteri) in a mouse model for CHARGE syndrome, the whirligig mouse (Chd7Whi/+). We showed that Chromodomain Helicase DNA-binding protein 7 (Chd7) is expressed in brain areas involved in olfaction and reproduction during embryonic development. We observed poorer performance in the smell test in adult Chd7Whi/+ mice, secondary either to olfactory dysfunction or to balance disturbances. Olfactory bulb and reproductive organ abnormalities were observed in a proportion of Chd7Whi/+ mice. Hypothalamic GnRH neurons were slightly reduced in Chd7Whi/+ females and reproductive performance was slightly less in Chd7Whi/+ mice. This study shows that the penetrance of anosmia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is lower in Chd7Whi/+ mice than in CHARGE patients. Interestingly, many phenotypic features of the Chd7 mutation showed incomplete penetrance in our model mice, despite the use of inbred, genetically identical mice. This supports the theory that the extreme variability of the CHARGE phenotype in both humans and mice might be attributed to variations in the fetal microenvironment or to purely stochastic events. PMID:19809474

The Effects of a Normal Rate versus a Slow Intervalled Rate of Oral Nutrient Intake and Intravenous Low Rate Macronutrient Application on Psychophysical Function - Two Pilot Studies.

PubMed

Denzer-Lippmann, Melanie Y; Bachlechner, Stephan; Wielopolski, Jan; Fischer, Marie; Buettner, Andrea; Doerfler, Arndt; Schöfl, Christof; Münch, Gerald; Kornhuber, Johannes; Thürauf, Norbert

2017-01-01

Stomach distension and energy per time are factors influencing satiety. Moreover, different rates of nutrient intake induce different stomach distension. The goal of our studies was to elucidate the influence of different oral rates of nutrient intake (normal rate versus slow intervalled rate; study I) and intravenous low rate macronutrient application (protein, carbohydrate, fat) or placebo (study II) on psychophysical function. The pilot studies investigated the effects of 1) study I: a mixed nutrient solution (1/3 protein, 1/3 fat, 1/3 carbohydrates) 2) study II: intravenous macronutrient infusions (protein, carbohydrate, fat) or placebo on psychophysical function (mood, hunger, food craving, alertness, smell intensity ratings and hedonic ratings) in human subjects. In study I 10 male subjects (age range: 21-30 years) completed the study protocol participating in both test conditions and in study II 20 male subjects (age range: 19-41 years) completed the study protocol participating in all test conditions. Additionally, metabolic function was analyzed and cognitive and olfactory tests were conducted twice starting 100 min before the beginning of the intervention and 240 min after. Psychophysical (mood, hunger, fat-, protein-, carbohydrate-, sweets- and vegetable-craving), alertness and metabolic function tests were performed seven times on each examination day. Greater effects on hunger and food cravings were observed for normal rate of intake compared to slow intervalled rate of intake and intravenous low rate macronutrient application. Our findings potentially confirm that volume of the food ingested and a higher rate of energy per time contribute to satiety during normal rate of food intake, while slow intervalled rate of food intake and intravenous low rate macronutrient application showed no effects on satiation. Our results motivate the view that a certain amount of volume of the food ingested and a certain energy per time ratio are necessary to reduce hunger and food craving.

Olfaction and color vision identify impending neurodegeneration in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.

PubMed

Postuma, Ronald B; Gagnon, Jean-François; Vendette, Mélanie; Desjardins, Catherine; Montplaisir, Jacques Y

2011-05-01

For development of neuroprotective therapy, neurodegenerative disease must be identified as early as possible. However, current means of identifying "preclinical" neurodegeneration are limited. Patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) are at >50% risk of synuclein-mediated neurodegenerative disease--this provides a unique opportunity to directly observe preclinical synucleinopathy and to test potential markers of preclinical disease. Patients with RBD without neurodegenerative disease were enrolled in a prospective cohort starting in 2004. Olfaction and color vision were tested at baseline, then annually for 5 years. Test results were compared between patients who developed neurodegenerative disease and those who remained disease-free. Out of 64 patients, 62 (97%) participated in annual follow-up. During follow-up, 21 developed disease, and 41 remained disease-free. Out of 21, 16 developed a combination of parkinsonism and dementia, 4 developed isolated parkinsonism (all with tremor), and 1 developed isolated dementia. Compared to those remaining disease-free, patients destined to develop disease had worse baseline olfaction (University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test [UPSIT] = 58.3 ± 27.0% age/sex-adjusted normal vs 80.2 ± 26.3%; p = 0.003) and color vision (Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue color test [FM-100] errors 153.0 ± 82.2% normal vs 120.2 ± 26.5%; p = 0.022). Kaplan-Meier 5-year-disease-free survival in those with normal olfaction was 86.0%, vs 35.4% with impaired olfaction (p = 0.029). Disease-free survival with normal color vision was 70.3%, vs 26.0% with impaired vision (p = 0.009). Both olfaction and color vision were reduced as much as 5 years before disease diagnosis, with only slight decline in preclinical stages. Olfaction and color vision identify early-stage synuclein-mediated neurodegenerative diseases. In most cases, abnormalities are measurable at least 5 years before disease onset, and progress slowly in the preclinical stages. Copyright © 2011 American Neurological Association.

Memories.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brand, Judith, Ed.

1998-01-01

This theme issue of the journal "Exploring" covers the topic of "memories" and describes an exhibition at San Francisco's Exploratorium that ran from May 22, 1998 through January 1999 and that contained over 40 hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, artworks, images, sounds, smells, and tastes that demonstrated and depicted the biological,…

The Synthesis of Methyl Salicylate: Amine Diazotization.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zanger, Murray; McKee, James R.

1988-01-01

Notes that this experiment takes safety and noncarcinogenic reactants into account. Demonstrates the use of diazonium salts for the replacement of an aromatic amine group by a phenolic hydroxyl. Involves two pleasant-smelling organic compounds, methyl anthranilate (grape) and methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen). (MVL)

Human-Automation Collaboration: Support for Lunar and Planetary Exploration

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-02-01

example, providing thermal regulation, but they limit mobility and senses, e.g., sound, vision, smell and touch. In addition, there is a limited supply...planning capabilities for the MER. Scientists and engineers have access to imagery that includes panoramas , camera views, and hyperspectral

Communication: Concepts and Processes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeVito, Joseph A.

A mixture of theoretical and practical essays points up the purposes of, barriers to, and means of facilitating communication. Four models of how people communicate are presented. A series of essays describing communication messages and channels include considerations of "gobbledygook," nonverbal communication by touch, smell, or body movement,…

Multisensory Strategies for Science Vocabulary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Husty, Sandra; Jackson, Julie

2008-01-01

Seeing, touching, smelling, hearing, and learning! The authors observed that their English Language Learner (ELL) students achieved a deeper understanding of the properties of matter, as well as enhanced vocabulary development, when they were guided through inquiry-based, multisensory explorations that repeatedly exposed them to words and…

Art Experiences for Young Children with Severe Visual Imapairments: Report from the Field.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swenson, Anna M.

1987-01-01

Ten guidelines are offered for providing art experiences for blind young children include adding sound, smell, or taste whenever possible. Suggested activities include making styrofoam-toothpick sculptures, box sculptures, tape and feather collages, torn paper collages, and fingerpaintings. (DB)

Classification of epileptic seizures using wavelet packet log energy and norm entropies with recurrent Elman neural network classifier.

PubMed

Raghu, S; Sriraam, N; Kumar, G Pradeep

2017-02-01

Electroencephalogram shortly termed as EEG is considered as the fundamental segment for the assessment of the neural activities in the brain. In cognitive neuroscience domain, EEG-based assessment method is found to be superior due to its non-invasive ability to detect deep brain structure while exhibiting superior spatial resolutions. Especially for studying the neurodynamic behavior of epileptic seizures, EEG recordings reflect the neuronal activity of the brain and thus provide required clinical diagnostic information for the neurologist. This specific proposed study makes use of wavelet packet based log and norm entropies with a recurrent Elman neural network (REN) for the automated detection of epileptic seizures. Three conditions, normal, pre-ictal and epileptic EEG recordings were considered for the proposed study. An adaptive Weiner filter was initially applied to remove the power line noise of 50 Hz from raw EEG recordings. Raw EEGs were segmented into 1 s patterns to ensure stationarity of the signal. Then wavelet packet using Haar wavelet with a five level decomposition was introduced and two entropies, log and norm were estimated and were applied to REN classifier to perform binary classification. The non-linear Wilcoxon statistical test was applied to observe the variation in the features under these conditions. The effect of log energy entropy (without wavelets) was also studied. It was found from the simulation results that the wavelet packet log entropy with REN classifier yielded a classification accuracy of 99.70 % for normal-pre-ictal, 99.70 % for normal-epileptic and 99.85 % for pre-ictal-epileptic.

Chocolate smells pink and stripy: Exploring olfactory-visual synesthesia

PubMed Central

Russell, Alex; Stevenson, Richard J.; Rich, Anina N.

2015-01-01

Odors are often difficult to identify, and can be perceived either via the nose or mouth (“flavor”; not usually perceived as a “smell”). These features provide a unique opportunity to contrast conceptual and perceptual accounts of synesthesia. We presented six olfactory-visual synesthetes with a range of odorants. They tried to identify each smell, evaluate its attributes and illustrate their elicited visual experience. Judges rated the similarity of each synesthetes’ illustrations over time (test-retest reliability). Synesthetic images were most similar from the same odor named consistently, but even inconsistently named same odors generated more similar images than different odors. This was driven by hedonic similarity. Odors presented as flavors only resulted in similar images when consistently named. Thus, the primary factor in generating a reliable synesthetic image is the name, with some influence of odor hedonics. Hedonics are a basic form of semantic knowledge, making this consistent with a conceptual basis for synaesthetic links. PMID:25895152

The perception of self in birds.

PubMed

Derégnaucourt, Sébastien; Bovet, Dalila

2016-10-01

The perception of self is an important topic in several disciplines such as ethology, behavioral ecology, psychology, developmental and cognitive neuroscience. Self-perception is investigated by experimentally exposing different species of animals to self-stimuli such as their own image, smell or vocalizations. Here we review more than one hundred studies using these methods in birds, a taxonomic group that exhibits a rich diversity regarding ecology and behavior. Exposure to self-image is the main method for studying self-recognition, while exposing birds to their own smell is generally used for the investigation of homing or odor-based kin discrimination. Self-produced vocalizations - especially in oscine songbirds - are used as stimuli for understanding the mechanisms of vocal coding/decoding both at the neural and at the behavioral levels. With this review, we highlight the necessity to study the perception of self in animals cross-modally and to consider the role of experience and development, aspects that can be easily monitored in captive populations of birds. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated Text Analysis Based on Skip-Gram Model for Food Evaluation in Predicting Consumer Acceptance

PubMed Central

Kim, Augustine Yongwhi; Choi, Hoduk

2018-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate food taste, smell, and characteristics from consumers' online reviews. Several studies in food sensory evaluation have been presented for consumer acceptance. However, these studies need taste descriptive word lexicon, and they are not suitable for analyzing large number of evaluators to predict consumer acceptance. In this paper, an automated text analysis method for food evaluation is presented to analyze and compare recently introduced two jjampong ramen types (mixed seafood noodles). To avoid building a sensory word lexicon, consumers' reviews are collected from SNS. Then, by training word embedding model with acquired reviews, words in the large amount of review text are converted into vectors. Based on these words represented as vectors, inference is performed to evaluate taste and smell of two jjampong ramen types. Finally, the reliability and merits of the proposed food evaluation method are confirmed by a comparison with the results from an actual consumer preference taste evaluation. PMID:29606960

Automated Text Analysis Based on Skip-Gram Model for Food Evaluation in Predicting Consumer Acceptance.

PubMed

Kim, Augustine Yongwhi; Ha, Jin Gwan; Choi, Hoduk; Moon, Hyeonjoon

2018-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate food taste, smell, and characteristics from consumers' online reviews. Several studies in food sensory evaluation have been presented for consumer acceptance. However, these studies need taste descriptive word lexicon, and they are not suitable for analyzing large number of evaluators to predict consumer acceptance. In this paper, an automated text analysis method for food evaluation is presented to analyze and compare recently introduced two jjampong ramen types (mixed seafood noodles). To avoid building a sensory word lexicon, consumers' reviews are collected from SNS. Then, by training word embedding model with acquired reviews, words in the large amount of review text are converted into vectors. Based on these words represented as vectors, inference is performed to evaluate taste and smell of two jjampong ramen types. Finally, the reliability and merits of the proposed food evaluation method are confirmed by a comparison with the results from an actual consumer preference taste evaluation.

[Assessment of land use environmental impacts in urban built-up area: a case study in main built-up area of Nanchang City].

PubMed

Chen, Wen-Bo; Liu, Shi-Yu; Yu, Dun; Zou, Qiu-Ming

2009-07-01

Based on the relevant studies of land use environmental impacts and the characteristics of urban land use, a conceptual model on the assessment of land use environmental impacts in urban built-up area was established. This model grouped the land use environmental impacts in built-up area into four basic processes, i. e., detailization, abstractization, matching, and evaluation. A case study was conducted in the main built-up area of Nanchang City, with noise, smell, dust, and hazard as the impact factors. In the test area, noise had a widespread impact, its impacting area accounting for 59% of the total, smell and dust impacts centralized in the east and south parts, while hazard impact was centralized in the southeast part, an industrial area. This assessment model of four basic processes was practical, and could provide basis for the decision-making of urban land use management and planning.

A state-of-the-art review of the management and treatment of taste and smell alterations in adult oncology patients.

PubMed

Thorne, Trina; Olson, Karin; Wismer, Wendy

2015-09-01

The purpose of this review was to examine studies of interventions for the prevention and management of taste and smell alterations (TSA) experienced by adult oncology patients. Articles published between 1993 and 2013 were identified by searching CINAHL, MEDLINE and Food Science & Technology Abstracts (FSTA) and were included if they were in English and focused on adult oncology patients. Only interventions within the scope of nursing practice were reviewed. Twelve articles were identified for inclusion. Four research groups examined zinc supplementation, with two claiming that zinc supplementation was an effective intervention and two claiming it had no effect on TSA. The remaining research groups examined eight other interventions, with varying results. Marinol, megestrol acetate and Synsepalum dulcificum interventions appear promising. Based on this review, there does not yet appear to be an effective approach for preventing or managing TSA in adult oncology patients. Although some interventions show promise, further research is necessary to determine their efficacy.

Rehabilitation of the olfactory sense after laryngectomy: long-term use of the larynx bypass.

PubMed

Göktas, Onder; Fleiner, Franca; Paschen, Christian; Lammert, Ingeborg; Schrom, Thomas

2008-09-01

Patients who undergo laryngectomy typically lose their sense of smell. One device that has been used to rehabilitate olfactory function in these patients is the larynx bypass. We conducted a long-term study of the larynx bypass in 16 laryngectomized patients. After undergoing objective and subjective baseline evaluations, patients were asked to use the device at home for at least 30 minutes each day for 3 months. They were also asked to record in a diary subjective ratings of their sense of smell and the practicability of using the device every day. At study's end, patients experienced a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.001) in olfactory function on objective measurement (Sniffin' Sticks testing). Subjective improvement was seen after 1 week (p < 0.001) and maintained throughout the study. Practicability scores improved statistically (p = 0.003), but the device remained difficult to use. The long-term use of the larynx bypass has not been studied previously, and we hope that our findings will serve as a basis for further investigation.

Neural relativity principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koulakov, Alexei

Olfaction is the final frontier of our senses - the one that is still almost completely mysterious to us. Despite extensive genetic and perceptual data, and a strong push to solve the neural coding problem, fundamental questions about the sense of smell remain unresolved. Unlike vision and hearing, where relatively straightforward relationships between stimulus features and neural responses have been foundational to our understanding sensory processing, it has been difficult to quantify the properties of odorant molecules that lead to olfactory percepts. In a sense, we do not have olfactory analogs of ``red'', ``green'' and ``blue''. The seminal work of Linda Buck and Richard Axel identified a diverse family of about 1000 receptor molecules that serve as odorant sensors in the nose. However, the properties of smells that these receptors detect remain a mystery. I will review our current understanding of the molecular properties important to the olfactory system. I will also describe a theory that explains how odorant identity can be preserved despite substantial changes in the odorant concentration.

Structure of the principal olfactory tract.

PubMed

Gil-Carcedo, L M; Vallejo, L A; Gil-Carcedo, E

2000-01-01

Although the purpose and importance of the sense of smell in human beings has not been totally clarified, it is one of the principal information channels in macrosmatic animals. It was the first long-distance information system to have appeared in phylogenetic evolution. The objective of this article is to deepen the knowledge of the pathways that join the olfactory epithelium with the cortical olfaction areas, to better understand olfactory dysfunction in human beings. Differential staining and marking techniques were applied to histologic sections obtained from 155 animals of different species, to study the different connections existing among olfactory tract components. Our study of the connections between the olfactory mucosa and the principal olfactory bulb deserves special mention. The distribution of second neuron connections of the olfactory tract with the central nervous system is quite complex and diffuse. This indicates an interrelation between the sense of smell and a multitude of functions. These connections seem to be of different quantitative importance according to species, but qualitatively they exist in both human beings and other macrosmatic animals.

New spatial upscaling methods for multi-point measurements: From normal to p-normal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Feng; Li, Xin

2017-12-01

Careful attention must be given to determining whether the geophysical variables of interest are normally distributed, since the assumption of a normal distribution may not accurately reflect the probability distribution of some variables. As a generalization of the normal distribution, the p-normal distribution and its corresponding maximum likelihood estimation (the least power estimation, LPE) were introduced in upscaling methods for multi-point measurements. Six methods, including three normal-based methods, i.e., arithmetic average, least square estimation, block kriging, and three p-normal-based methods, i.e., LPE, geostatistics LPE and inverse distance weighted LPE are compared in two types of experiments: a synthetic experiment to evaluate the performance of the upscaling methods in terms of accuracy, stability and robustness, and a real-world experiment to produce real-world upscaling estimates using soil moisture data obtained from multi-scale observations. The results show that the p-normal-based methods produced lower mean absolute errors and outperformed the other techniques due to their universality and robustness. We conclude that introducing appropriate statistical parameters into an upscaling strategy can substantially improve the estimation, especially if the raw measurements are disorganized; however, further investigation is required to determine which parameter is the most effective among variance, spatial correlation information and parameter p.

Inversion of the uterus following abortion.

PubMed

Gupta, A S; Datta, N; Ghosh, D

1982-10-16

A case of inversion of the uterus following abortion is reported. The 35-year old patient, admitted October 10, 1978 to the Medical College and Hospitals in Calcutta, India was referred by a private practitioner with a history of amenorrhea for 16 weeks, bleeding for 3 days, expulsion of the fetus 3 days earlier, and something coming down per vaginum for 2 days. The patient was para 4+0 (all full term normal deliveries) and home delivery for the last child 1 1/2 years earlier. She had a history of regular menstrual periods. Her general condition was poor. The examination revealed a gangrenous mass coming out of the vulva with a very offensive smell. There was a raw surface on which placenta like tissue was attached. No active bleeding was seen. Fundus and cervix of the uterus could not be felt. On rectal examination the uterus could not be felt, a cup-like depression was felt at the site of the uterus. The provision diagnosis was inversion of uterus following abortion. Treatment was started with sedatives and antibiotics, and arrangements were made for a blood transfusion. The vaginal mass was covered with glycerine and acriflavine gauze, and a hysterectomy was decided upon after improvement of her general condition and control of the infection. On October 14th, the patient was placed in knee chest position and posterior vaginal wall was retracted with Sims' speculum when the inverted lump was spontaneously reduced within the vagina. The inverted uterus was felt in the region of the vaginal vault. Glycerine acriflavine pack was given which was taken out and repack was given daily until the operation. The hysterectomy was performed on October 23rd. The abdomen was opened up by a transverse incision and the pelvis was explored. In the region of the uterus a cup-shaped depression was noted. Tubes and ovaries of both sides were seen hanging laterally from the cupped area. The left tube was found congested and thickened. Reduction of uterus was done by making a vertical incision over the posterior rim of cervix and with pressure from below by a sponge holding forceps by an assistant. The uterus was found to be just bulky. A total hysterectomy was performed. The postoperative period was uneventful. The histopathological report showed chorionic villi with degeneration and necrosis. In the case reported, etiology of inversion of the uterus following an abortion may be because of a lack of muscle tone along with traction of placental tissue by a traditional midwife.

[Lung dysfunction in patients with severe chronic obstructive bronchitis].

PubMed

Nefedov, V B; Popova, L A; Shergina, E A

2005-01-01

VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/VC%, PEF, MEF25, MEF50, MEF75, TCL, TGV, RV, Raw, Rin, Rex, DLCO-SS, PaO2, and PaCO2 were determined in 36 patients with severe chronic obstructive lung disease (FEV1 < 50% of the normal value). All the patients were found to have impaired bronchial patency and changes in lung volumes and capacities; 83.3% of the patients had pulmonary gas exchange dysfunction. Impaired bronchial patency mainly appeared as decreased FEV1, FEV1/VC%, PEF, MEF25, MEF50, MEF75, Raw, Rin, Rex; altered lung volumes and capacities manifested by increased RV, TGV, and TLC, and by decreased VC and FVC; pulmonary gas exchange dysfunction showed up as lowered PaO2 and DLCO-SS, as decreased or increased PaCO2. The observed bronchial patency disorders varied from significant to severe; functional changes in lung volumes and capacities were mild to severe.

Normalization of a chromosomal contact map.

PubMed

Cournac, Axel; Marie-Nelly, Hervé; Marbouty, Martial; Koszul, Romain; Mozziconacci, Julien

2012-08-30

Chromatin organization has been increasingly studied in relation with its important influence on DNA-related metabolic processes such as replication or regulation of gene expression. Since its original design ten years ago, capture of chromosome conformation (3C) has become an essential tool to investigate the overall conformation of chromosomes. It relies on the capture of long-range trans and cis interactions of chromosomal segments whose relative proportions in the final bank reflect their frequencies of interactions, hence their spatial proximity in a population of cells. The recent coupling of 3C with deep sequencing approaches now allows the generation of high resolution genome-wide chromosomal contact maps. Different protocols have been used to generate such maps in various organisms. This includes mammals, drosophila and yeast. The massive amount of raw data generated by the genomic 3C has to be carefully processed to alleviate the various biases and byproducts generated by the experiments. Our study aims at proposing a simple normalization procedure to minimize the influence of these unwanted but inevitable events on the final results. Careful analysis of the raw data generated previously for budding yeast S. cerevisiae led to the identification of three main biases affecting the final datasets, including a previously unknown bias resulting from the circularization of DNA molecules. We then developed a simple normalization procedure to process the data and allow the generation of a normalized, highly contrasted, chromosomal contact map for S. cerevisiae. The same method was then extended to the first human genome contact map. Using the normalized data, we revisited the preferential interactions originally described between subsets of discrete chromosomal features. Notably, the detection of preferential interactions between tRNA in yeast and CTCF, PolII binding sites in human can vary with the normalization procedure used. We quantitatively reanalyzed the genomic 3C data obtained for S. cerevisiae, identified some of the biases inherent to the technique and proposed a simple normalization procedure to analyse them. Such an approach can be easily generalized for genomic 3C experiments in other organisms. More experiments and analysis will be necessary to reach optimal resolution and accuracies of the maps generated through these approaches. Working with cell population presenting highest levels of homogeneity will prove useful in this regards.

Gravity separation of fat, somatic cells, and bacteria in raw and pasteurized milks.

PubMed

Caplan, Z; Melilli, C; Barbano, D M

2013-04-01

The objective of experiment 1 was to determine if the extent of gravity separation of milk fat, bacteria, and somatic cells is influenced by the time and temperature of gravity separation or the level of contaminating bacteria present in the raw milk. The objective of experiment 2 was to determine if different temperatures of milk heat treatment affected the gravity separation of milk fat, bacteria, and somatic cells. In raw milk, fat, bacteria, and somatic cells rose to the top of columns during gravity separation. About 50 to 80% of the fat and bacteria were present in the top 8% of the milk after gravity separation of raw milk. Gravity separation for 7h at 12°C or for 22h at 4°C produced equivalent separation of fat, bacteria, and somatic cells. The completeness of gravity separation of fat was influenced by the level of bacteria in the milk before separation. Milk with a high bacterial count had less (about 50 to 55%) gravity separation of fat than milk with low bacteria count (about 80%) in 22h at 4°C. Gravity separation caused fat, bacteria, and somatic cells to rise to the top of columns for raw whole milk and high temperature, short-time pasteurized (72.6°C, 25s) whole milk. Pasteurization at ≥76.9°C for 25s prevented all 3 components from rising, possibly due to denaturation of native bovine immunoglobulins that normally associate with fat, bacteria, and somatic cells during gravity separation. Gravity separation can be used to produce reduced-fat milk with decreased bacterial and somatic cell counts, and may be a critical factor in the history of safe and unique traditional Italian hard cheeses produced from gravity-separated raw milk. A better understanding of the mechanism of this natural process could lead to the development of new nonthermal thermal technology (that does not involve heating the milk to high temperatures) to remove bacteria and spores from milk or other liquids. Copyright © 2013 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Perioperative Ruminal pH Changes in Domestic Sheep (Ovis aries) Housed in a Biomedical Research Setting

PubMed Central

Jasmin, Bambi H; Boston, Ray C; Modesto, Rolf B; Schaer, Thomas P

2011-01-01

Little information is available on normal ruminal pH values for domestic sheep (Ovis aries) housed in a research setting and fed a complete pelleted ration. Sheep maintained on pelleted diets undergoing surgical procedures often present with postoperative anorexia and rumen atony. To determine the relationship between diet and postoperative rumen acidosis and associated atony, we studied dietary effects on ruminal pH in an ovine surgical model. Sheep undergoing orthopedic surgical procedures were randomized into 2 diet groups. Group 1 (n = 6) was fed complete pelleted diet during the pre- and postoperative period, and group 2 (n = 6) was fed timothy grass hay exclusively throughout the study. Measures included ruminal pH, ruminal motility, and rate of feed refusal, which was monitored throughout the pre- and postoperative periods. The 2 groups did not differ significantly before surgery, and the ruminal parameters remained largely within normal limits. However, a downward trend in the strength and frequency of rumen contractions was observed in pellet-fed sheep. After surgery, the pellet-fed group showed clinical signs consistent with ruminal acidosis, supported by decreased ruminal motility, anorexia, putrid-smelling ruminal material, and death of ruminal protozoa. Intervention by transfaunation in clinically affected sheep resulted in resolution of signs. Our findings suggest that sheep fed grass hay appear to have a more stable ruminal pH, are less likely to experience anorexia and rumen atony, and thereby exhibit fewer postoperative gastrointestinal complications than do sheep on a pellet diet. PMID:21333159

Perioperative ruminal pH changes in domestic sheep (Ovis aries) housed in a biomedical research setting.

PubMed

Jasmin, Bambi H; Boston, Ray C; Modesto, Rolf B; Schaer, Thomas P

2011-01-01

Little information is available on normal ruminal pH values for domestic sheep (Ovis aries) housed in a research setting and fed a complete pelleted ration. Sheep maintained on pelleted diets undergoing surgical procedures often present with postoperative anorexia and rumen atony. To determine the relationship between diet and postoperative rumen acidosis and associated atony, we studied dietary effects on ruminal pH in an ovine surgical model. Sheep undergoing orthopedic surgical procedures were randomized into 2 diet groups. Group 1 (n = 6) was fed complete pelleted diet during the pre- and postoperative period, and group 2 (n = 6) was fed timothy grass hay exclusively throughout the study. Measures included ruminal pH, ruminal motility, and rate of feed refusal, which was monitored throughout the pre- and postoperative periods. The 2 groups did not differ significantly before surgery, and the ruminal parameters remained largely within normal limits. However, a downward trend in the strength and frequency of rumen contractions was observed in pellet-fed sheep. After surgery, the pellet-fed group showed clinical signs consistent with ruminal acidosis, supported by decreased ruminal motility, anorexia, putrid-smelling ruminal material, and death of ruminal protozoa. Intervention by transfaunation in clinically affected sheep resulted in resolution of signs. Our findings suggest that sheep fed grass hay appear to have a more stable ruminal pH, are less likely to experience anorexia and rumen atony, and thereby exhibit fewer postoperative gastrointestinal complications than do sheep on a pellet diet.

Imprinting: When Early Life Memories Make Food Smell Bad.

PubMed

Rayes, Diego; Alkema, Mark J

2016-05-09

A recent study has found that pathogen exposure early in the life of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans leads to a long-lasting aversion that requires distinct sets of neurons for the formation and retrieval of the imprinted memory. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Psychological Readiness and Motor Skills Needed for Toilet Training

MedlinePlus

... as dirty or messy will only make your child feel bad), but you can certainly say positive things about how good it feels and smells to be clean and dry. Your goal is to strengthen your child’s awareness of the feeling of needing to go ...

Smells Like Teen Shampoo

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allan, Adrian

2017-01-01

Reform of the Scottish science curriculum for Higher Chemistry gave students the opportunity to experiment with essential oils and fragrances. With the support of a Royal Society Partnership Grant, the students learnt how to isolate and identify compounds in essential oils using microscale steam distillation and thin-layer chromatography. The…

Science in a Box. Body Works II: Test Your Taste.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Learning, 1991

1991-01-01

Presents classroom learning activities to help elementary teachers and students learn about and experiment with the sense of taste. One involves tasting an apple while smelling an onion; another involves locating areas of the tongue that respond to salt, sweet, bitter, and sour. (SM)

The Five Senses of Christmas Chemistry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackson, Derek A.; Dicks, Andrew P.

2012-01-01

This article describes the organic chemistry of five compounds that are directly associated with the Christmas season. These substances and related materials are presented within the framework of the five senses: silver fulminate (sound), alpha-pinene (sight), sodium acetate (touch), tryptophan (taste), and gingerol (smell). Connections with the…

Is There Any Effect on Smell and Taste Functions with Levothyroxine Treatment in Subclinical Hypothyroidism?

PubMed

Baskoy, Kamil; Ay, Seyid Ahmet; Altundag, Aytug; Kurt, Onuralp; Salihoglu, Murat; Deniz, Ferhat; Tekeli, Hakan; Yonem, Arif; Hummel, Thomas

2016-01-01

Subclinical hypothyroidism has been accused for coronary heart disease, lipid metabolism disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders, infertility or pregnancy related problems with various strength of evidence. Currently there is insufficient knowledge about olfaction and taste functions in subclinical hypothyroidism. Aim of the present study is to investigate the degree of smell and taste dysfunction in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. 28 subclinical hypothyroid patients, and 31 controls enrolled in the prospective study in Istanbul, Turkey. Subclinical hypothyroid patients were treated with L-thyroxine for 3 months. Psychophysiological olfactory testing was performed using odor dispensers similar to felt-tip pens ("Sniffin' Sticks", Burghart, Wedel, Germany). Taste function tests were made using "Taste Strips" (Burghart, Wedel, Germany) which are basically tastant adsorbed filter paper strip. Patients scored lower on psychophysical olfactory tests than controls (odor thresholds:8.1±1.0 vs 8.9±1.1, p = 0.007; odor discrimination:12.4±1.3 vs 13.1±0.9, p = 0.016; odor identification:13.1±0.9 vs 14.0±1.1, p = 0.001; TDI score: 33.8±2.4 vs 36.9±2.1, p = 0.001). In contrast, results from psychophysical gustatory tests showed only a decreased score for "bitter" in patients, but not for other tastes (5.9±1.8 vs 6.6±1.0, p = 0.045). Three month after onset of treatment olfactory test scores already indicated improvement (odor thresholds:8.1±1.0 vs 8.6±0.6, p<0.001; odor discrimination:12.4±1.31 vs 12.9±0.8, p = 0.011; odor identification:13.1±0.9 vs 13.9±0.8, p<0.001; TDI scores:33.8±2.4 vs 35.5±1.7, p<0.001) respectively. Taste functions did not differ between groups for sweet, salty and, sour tastes but bitter taste was improved after 3 months of thyroxin substitution (patients:5.9±1.8 vs 6.6±1.2, p = 0.045). Correlation of changes in smell and taste, with thyroid function test were also evaluated. TSH, fT4 were found have no correlation with smell and taste changes with treatment. However bitter taste found positively correlated with T3 with treatment(r: 0.445, p: 0.018). Subclinical hypothyroid patients exhibited a significantly decreased olfactory sensitivity; in addition, bitter taste was significantly affected. Most importantly, these deficits can be remedied on average within 3 months with adequate treatment.

Selective cognitive and psychiatric manifestations in Wolfram Syndrome.

PubMed

Bischoff, Allison N; Reiersen, Angela M; Buttlaire, Anna; Al-Lozi, Amal; Doty, Tasha; Marshall, Bess A; Hershey, Tamara

2015-05-30

Wolfram Syndrome (WFS) is known to involve diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, optic nerve atrophy, vision loss, hearing impairment, motor abnormalities, and neurodegeneration, but has been less clearly linked to cognitive, sleep, and psychiatric abnormalities. We sought to determine whether these abnormalities are present in children, adolescents, and young adults with WFS compared to age- and gender-matched individuals with and without type 1 diabetes using standardized measures. Individuals with genetically-confirmed WFS (n = 19, ages 7-27) were compared to age- and gender- equivalent groups of individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1DM; n = 25), and non-diabetic healthy controls (HC: n = 25). Cognitive performance across multiple domains (verbal intelligence, spatial reasoning, memory, attention, smell identification) was assessed using standardized tests. Standardized self- and parent-report questionnaires on psychiatric symptoms and sleep disturbances were acquired from all groups and an unstructured psychiatric interview was performed within only the WFS group. The three groups were similar demographically (age, gender, ethnicity, parental IQ). WFS and T1DM had similar duration of diabetes but T1DM had higher HbA1C levels than WFS and as expected both groups had higher levels than HC. The WFS group was impaired on smell identification and reported sleep quality, but was not impaired in any other cognitive or self-reported psychiatric domain. In fact, the WFS group performed better than the other two groups on selected memory and attention tasks. However, based upon a clinical evaluation of only WFS patients, we found that psychiatric and behavioral problems were present and consisted primarily of anxiety and hypersomnolence. This study found that cognitive performance and psychological health were relatively preserved WFS patients, while smell and sleep abnormalities manifested in many of the WFS patients. These findings contradict past case and retrospective reports indicating significant cognitive and psychiatric impairment in WFS. While many of these patients were diagnosed with anxiety and hypersomnolence, self-reported measures of psychiatric symptoms indicated that the symptoms were not of grave concern to the patients. It may be that cognitive and psychiatric issues become more prominent later in life and/or in later stages of the disease, but this requires standardized assessment and larger samples to determine. In the relatively early stages of WFS, smell and sleep-related symptoms may be useful biomarkers of disease and should be monitored longitudinally to determine if they are good markers of progression as well. Current Clinicaltrials.gov Trial NCT02455414 .

Breadboard stellar tracker system test report, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1981-01-01

Complete data from a test program designed to evaluate the performance of a star tracker, a breadboard tracker system, is presented in tabular form. All data presented was normalized to the pixel dimension of 20 micrometers. Data from determination of maximum spatial noise as it applies to the coarse and fine acquisition modes is presented. Pointing accuracy test data, raw pixel data for the track cycle, and data from equipment related tests is also presented.

Targeting Histone Abnormality in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-01

Davidson NE. The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress. A Report of the Surgeon General. US Department of Health and Human Service...LSD1 proteins in human primary breast tumor specimens. By using in vitro and in vivo models, we identified that sulforaphane (SFN), a natural bioactive...characterized genes in the human genome. Raw intensity data were normalized by the Robust Multi-array Average (RMA). Student’s t- tests were

Descriptive Statistics for Modern Test Score Distributions: Skewness, Kurtosis, Discreteness, and Ceiling Effects.

PubMed

Ho, Andrew D; Yu, Carol C

2015-06-01

Many statistical analyses benefit from the assumption that unconditional or conditional distributions are continuous and normal. More than 50 years ago in this journal, Lord and Cook chronicled departures from normality in educational tests, and Micerri similarly showed that the normality assumption is met rarely in educational and psychological practice. In this article, the authors extend these previous analyses to state-level educational test score distributions that are an increasingly common target of high-stakes analysis and interpretation. Among 504 scale-score and raw-score distributions from state testing programs from recent years, nonnormal distributions are common and are often associated with particular state programs. The authors explain how scaling procedures from item response theory lead to nonnormal distributions as well as unusual patterns of discreteness. The authors recommend that distributional descriptive statistics be calculated routinely to inform model selection for large-scale test score data, and they illustrate consequences of nonnormality using sensitivity studies that compare baseline results to those from normalized score scales.

chipPCR: an R package to pre-process raw data of amplification curves.

PubMed

Rödiger, Stefan; Burdukiewicz, Michał; Schierack, Peter

2015-09-01

Both the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and quantitative isothermal amplification (qIA) are standard methods for nucleic acid quantification. Numerous real-time read-out technologies have been developed. Despite the continuous interest in amplification-based techniques, there are only few tools for pre-processing of amplification data. However, a transparent tool for precise control of raw data is indispensable in several scenarios, for example, during the development of new instruments. chipPCR is an R: package for the pre-processing and quality analysis of raw data of amplification curves. The package takes advantage of R: 's S4 object model and offers an extensible environment. chipPCR contains tools for raw data exploration: normalization, baselining, imputation of missing values, a powerful wrapper for amplification curve smoothing and a function to detect the start and end of an amplification curve. The capabilities of the software are enhanced by the implementation of algorithms unavailable in R: , such as a 5-point stencil for derivative interpolation. Simulation tools, statistical tests, plots for data quality management, amplification efficiency/quantification cycle calculation, and datasets from qPCR and qIA experiments are part of the package. Core functionalities are integrated in GUIs (web-based and standalone shiny applications), thus streamlining analysis and report generation. http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/chipPCR. Source code: https://github.com/michbur/chipPCR. stefan.roediger@b-tu.de Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Case report of 5 siblings: malnutrition? Rickets? DiGeorge syndrome? Developmental delay?

PubMed Central

Cundiff, David K; Harris, William

2006-01-01

Background Parents of six children are facing a trial on charges of aggravated manslaughter in the care a 5 1/2 month old infant who died suddenly and neglect of their four older children for causing them to be malnourished by feeding them all an exclusively raw foods vegan diet. Both parents declined plea bargains and plan to defend themselves in court. Case presentation The fifth child born to a married couple was breast-fed until 2 1/2 months. Subsequently, the parents fed the baby an exclusively raw foods diet prepared in a blender at home. The four older children, ages 18 months – 6 1/2 years also ate an exclusively raw foods vegan diet. None of the four older children had significant previous injuries or serious illnesses. At autopsy, the infant weighed 3180 mg (6.99 pounds) and appeared emaciated. The thymus gland was absent and parathyroid glands were not located. The lungs were "congested." DiGeorge anomaly cannot be ruled out from these findings. Although, the coroner ruled that "malnutrition" was the sole cause of death, malnutrition, according to the World Health Organization definition, cannot be diagnosed in this infant. Compared with standard growth charts, the older children fell 2.1–4.1 standard deviations below the mean for North American children in height and weight. Labs were normal except for a low cholesterol level in all and a low prealbumin in one of three children tested. Therefore, malnutrition cannot be diagnosed in these children. The pediatrician diagnosed rickets in the four-year-old. However, chest x-rays were normal in all and long bone x-rays showed minimal changes in one child – no sign of rickets. The clinical diagnosis of rickets was not confirmed by the Center for Disease Control's criteria. A psychologist diagnosed the 18-month-old as developmentally delayed to the level of a 15-month-old, but this diagnosis is questionable. Conclusion The raw foods vegan diet and possibly inherited small stature from the father's side account for their relatively low heights and weights. Catch-up growth will probably occur on the standard American diet but would have also been expected if they had remained on a vegan diet. PMID:16412249

Sunship Earth: An Acclimatization Program for Outdoor Learning.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Matre, Steve

This book describes a 5-day program of imaginative activities designed to help elementary school children learn how their world functions through seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, and hearing. The book is designed to help children understand energy flow, the cycles of basic materials, the diversity of life, natural communities, change,…

Have You Smelled the Elephant's Foot?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beaudoin, Bonnie

2014-01-01

A museum belonging to a school district demonstrates how teachers integrate museum resources into classroom curricula. A former teacher reflects on her experience with the Karshner Memorial Museum in the Puyallup School District (WA), and explains how the museum's exhibitions and artifacts are curriculum resources, specifically tied to grade level…

Bridenstine Sworn in as NASA Administrator on This Week @NASA – April 27, 2018

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-04-27

Vice President Pence swears in our new NASA Administrator, a Hubble anniversary flythrough of a nebula, and the smell in the clouds of one of our outermost planets – a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!

Bridenstine Sworn in as NASA Administrator on This Week @NASA – April 27, 2018

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-04-30

Vice President Pence swears in our new NASA Administrator, a Hubble anniversary flythrough of a nebula, and the smell in the clouds of one of our outermost planets – a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!

The Haptic Paradigm in Education: Challenges and Case Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamza-Lup, Felix G.; Stanescu, Ioana A.

2010-01-01

The process of learning involves interaction with the learning environment through our five senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste). Until recently, distance education focused only on the first two of those senses, sight and sound. Internet-based learning environments are predominantly visual with auditory components. With the advent of…

Locker Room Maintenance Made Easy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Theel, James

1998-01-01

Provides examples on ways to make locker room maintenance easier and their use more student-friendly. Improvements include use of indoor-outdoor carpeting with numerous floor drains to cut mildew buildup, adequate ventilation to reduce musty smells, better hot water management, ceramic tiles to reduce water-damage repair and painting needs, and…

Science Shorts: Observation versus Inference

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leager, Craig R.

2008-01-01

When you observe something, how do you know for sure what you are seeing, feeling, smelling, or hearing? Asking students to think critically about their encounters with the natural world will help to strengthen their understanding and application of the science-process skills of observation and inference. In the following lesson, students make…

An Elegant Mind: Learning and Memory in "Caenorhabditis elegans"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ardiel, Evan L.; Rankin, Catharine H.

2010-01-01

This article reviews the literature on learning and memory in the soil-dwelling nematode "Caenorhabditis elegans." Paradigms include nonassociative learning, associative learning, and imprinting, as worms have been shown to habituate to mechanical and chemical stimuli, as well as learn the smells, tastes, temperatures, and oxygen levels that…

An attract-and-kill strategy for Asian citrus psyllid

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) transmit the pathogen responsible for citrus greening disease. Psyllids use color, smell, taste and vibrational cues to identify their host plants and conspecifics. The main goal of this project is to develop an attract-and-kill device strategy that will exploit the psyll...

Mercury Quick Facts: Health Effects of Mercury Exposure

MedlinePlus

... up in tiny cracks and spaces in your house. • • Mercury can vaporize (evaporate) into the air in your house. The vapor cannot be seen or smelled. • • Mercury ... up in tiny cracks and spaces in your house. • • Can vaporize (evaporate) into the air in your ...

Smells Like Teen Spirit: Evaluating a Midwestern Teen Court

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Norris, Michael; Twill, Sarah; Kim, Chigon

2011-01-01

Teen courts have grown rapidly in the United States despite little evidence of their effectiveness. A survival analysis of 635 teen court and 186 regular diversion participants showed no significant differences in recidivism, although program completers were half as likely to reoffend as noncompleters. Older offenders survived significantly better…

Examination of Human Chemosensory Function

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smutzer, Gregory; Sayed, Samir; Sayed, Nabil

2006-01-01

An increased understanding of olfaction and gustation has underlined the critical importance of these two chemical senses in determining how humans respond to their environment. In this article, recent advances in chemosensory research are summarized. The use of a smell identification test, an odor discrimination test, and a test for anosmia to a…

The Smell of Sweat and Rum: Teacher Authority in "Capoeira" Classes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Delamont, Sara

2006-01-01

The Brazilian martial art, "capoeira", is popular in many countries outside Brazil, including the UK. "Capoeira" is generally taught by Brazilians whose livelihood depends on recruiting and retaining enough paying customers to keep their classes economically viable and socially pleasurable for the students. The teachers also…

Step by Step

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walker, John

2007-01-01

There is a right way to clean a restroom. If a worker does two things wrong, repeated in 20 restrooms a day, it is fairly certain that restroom users will complain. However, what people see or smell is not the most important issue. The overriding guideline should be to clean for health first, appearance second. Minimizing…

To Market, To Market...

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Neill, Arthur

2014-01-01

The author states that in earlier pieces (O'Neill, 2002, 2010, 2012), he chewed on and tried to digest newspaper advertisements made by universities. Byproducts did not come out smelling like roses: universities are scarcely able to present themselves without boasting, crass displays of salesmanship, and brazen invocations of virtue. This article…

Ho-Nee-Um Trail.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Irwin, Harriet; And Others

Appreciation and concern for the preservation of our natural resources by all citizens is the primary concern of this teacher's guide for use in the elementary grades. It employes the use of a filmstrip in conjunction with a local nature trail, to guide students in developing awareness - by looking closely, listening, touching, and smelling. Major…

High temperature- and high pressure-processed garlic improves lipid profiles in rats fed high cholesterol diets.

PubMed

Sohn, Chan Wok; Kim, Hyunae; You, Bo Ram; Kim, Min Jee; Kim, Hyo Jin; Lee, Ji Yeon; Sok, Dai-Eun; Kim, Jin Hee; Lee, Kun Jong; Kim, Mee Ree

2012-05-01

Garlic protects against degenerative diseases such as hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. However, raw garlic has a strong pungency, which is unpleasant. In this study, we examined the effect of high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic on plasma lipid profiles in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a normal control diet, a high cholesterol (0.5% cholesterol) diet (HCD) only, or a high cholesterol diet supplemented with 0.5% high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic (HCP) or raw garlic (HCR) for 10 weeks. The body weights of the rats fed the garlic-supplemented diets decreased, mostly because of reduced fat pad weights. Plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) in the HCP and HCR groups decreased significantly compared with those in the HCD group. Additionally, fecal TC and TG increased significantly in the HCP and HCR groups. It is notable that no significant differences in plasma or fecal lipid profiles were observed between the HCP and HCR groups. High temperature/high pressure-processed garlic contained a higher amount of S-allyl cysteine than raw garlic (P<.05). The results suggest that high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic may be useful as a functional food to improve lipid profiles.

High Temperature- and High Pressure-Processed Garlic Improves Lipid Profiles in Rats Fed High Cholesterol Diets

PubMed Central

Sohn, Chan Wok; Kim, Hyunae; You, Bo Ram; Kim, Min Jee; Kim, Hyo Jin; Lee, Ji Yeon; Sok, Dai-Eun; Kim, Jin Hee; Lee, Kun Jong

2012-01-01

Abstract Garlic protects against degenerative diseases such as hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. However, raw garlic has a strong pungency, which is unpleasant. In this study, we examined the effect of high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic on plasma lipid profiles in rats. Sprague–Dawley rats were fed a normal control diet, a high cholesterol (0.5% cholesterol) diet (HCD) only, or a high cholesterol diet supplemented with 0.5% high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic (HCP) or raw garlic (HCR) for 10 weeks. The body weights of the rats fed the garlic-supplemented diets decreased, mostly because of reduced fat pad weights. Plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) in the HCP and HCR groups decreased significantly compared with those in the HCD group. Additionally, fecal TC and TG increased significantly in the HCP and HCR groups. It is notable that no significant differences in plasma or fecal lipid profiles were observed between the HCP and HCR groups. High temperature/high pressure-processed garlic contained a higher amount of S-allyl cysteine than raw garlic (P<.05). The results suggest that high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic may be useful as a functional food to improve lipid profiles. PMID:22404600

Village energy survey reveals missing rural raw coal in northern China: Significance in science and policy.

PubMed

Zhi, Guorui; Zhang, Yayun; Sun, Jianzhong; Cheng, Miaomiao; Dang, Hongyan; Liu, Shijie; Yang, Junchao; Zhang, Yuzhe; Xue, Zhigang; Li, Shuyuan; Meng, Fan

2017-04-01

Burning coal for winter heating has been considered a major contributor to northern China's winter haze, with the district heating boilers holding the balance. However a decade of intensive efforts on district heating boilers brought few improvements to northern China's winter air quality, arousing a speculation that the household heating stoves mainly in rural area rather than the district heating boilers mainly in urban area dominate coal emissions in winter. This implies an extreme underestimation of rural household coal consumption by the China Energy Statistical Yearbooks (CESYs), although direct evidence supporting this speculation is lacking. A village energy survey campaign was launched to gather the firsthand information on household coal consumption in the rural areas of two cities, Baoding (in Hebei province) and Beijing (the capital of China). The survey data show that the rural raw coal consumption in Baoding (5.04 × 10 3  kt) was approximately 6.5 times the value listed in the official CESY 2013 and exceeded the rural total of whole Hebei Province (4668 kt), revealing a huge amount of raw coal missing from the current statistical system. More importantly, rural emissions of particulate matter (PM) and SO 2 from raw coal, which had never been included in widely distributing environmental statistical reports, were found higher than those from industrial and urban household sectors in the two cities in 2013, which highlights the importance of rural coal burning in creating northern China's heavy haze and helps to explain why a number of modeling predictions on ambient pollutant concentrations based on normal emission inventories were more bias-prone in winter season than in other seasons. We therefore recommend placing greater emphasis on the "missing" rural raw coal to help China in its long-term ambition to achieve clean air in the context of rapid economic development. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Real-Time Classification of Patients with Balance Disorders vs. Normal Subjects Using a Low-Cost Small Wireless Wearable Gait Sensor.

PubMed

Nukala, Bhargava Teja; Nakano, Taro; Rodriguez, Amanda; Tsay, Jerry; Lopez, Jerry; Nguyen, Tam Q; Zupancic, Steven; Lie, Donald Y C

2016-11-29

Gait analysis using wearable wireless sensors can be an economical, convenient and effective way to provide diagnostic and clinical information for various health-related issues. In this work, our custom designed low-cost wireless gait analysis sensor that contains a basic inertial measurement unit (IMU) was used to collect the gait data for four patients diagnosed with balance disorders and additionally three normal subjects, each performing the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) tests while wearing the custom wireless gait analysis sensor (WGAS). The small WGAS includes a tri-axial accelerometer integrated circuit (IC), two gyroscopes ICs and a Texas Instruments (TI) MSP430 microcontroller and is worn by each subject at the T4 position during the DGI tests. The raw gait data are wirelessly transmitted from the WGAS to a near-by PC for real-time gait data collection and analysis. In order to perform successful classification of patients vs. normal subjects, we used several different classification algorithms, such as the back propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN), support vector machine (SVM), k -nearest neighbors (KNN) and binary decision trees (BDT), based on features extracted from the raw gait data of the gyroscopes and accelerometers. When the range was used as the input feature, the overall classification accuracy obtained is 100% with BP-ANN, 98% with SVM, 96% with KNN and 94% using BDT. Similar high classification accuracy results were also achieved when the standard deviation or other values were used as input features to these classifiers. These results show that gait data collected from our very low-cost wearable wireless gait sensor can effectively differentiate patients with balance disorders from normal subjects in real time using various classifiers, the success of which may eventually lead to accurate and objective diagnosis of abnormal human gaits and their underlying etiologies in the future, as more patient data are being collected.

Quantitative evaluation of pregnant women delivery status' records in Akure, Nigeria.

PubMed

Adejumo, Adebowale O; Suleiman, Esivue A; Okagbue, Hilary I; Oguntunde, Pelumi E; Odetunmibi, Oluwole A

2018-02-01

In this data article, monthly records (datasets) of total delivery, normal delivery, delivery through Caesarean section and number of still births from pregnant women in Akure, the capital city of Ondo state Nigeria, for a period of ten years, between January 2007 and December 2016 were considered. Correlational and time series analyses were conducted on the monthly records of total delivery, normal delivery (delivery through woman virginal), delivery through Caesarean section, and number of still births, in order to observe the patterns each of these indicators follows and to recommend appropriate model for forecasting their future values. The data were obtained in raw form from State Specialist Hospital (SSH), Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria. A clear description and variation in each of these indicators (total delivery, normal delivery, caesarean section, and still births) were considered separately using descriptive statistics and box plots. Different models were also proposed for each of these indicators using time series models.

Testing New Drugs for Treatment of Melanoma Patients Applying Connectivity Map Database Analysis with Melanoma Gene Signatures

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-10-01

use of R packages implemented in Bioconductor. Each dataset was normalized from raw data using the Frozen RMA (fRMA) algorithm . We applied the same...because development of the specific algorithms and fine tuning of the analytic strategy to accomplish this task was not immediately straightforward. We...express firefly luciferase using a retrovirus that encodes a fusion of luciferase and neomycin phosphotransferase (LucNeo), will be implanted and followed

Effects of ionizing radiation in ginkgo and guarana [rapid communication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rabelo Soriani, Renata; Cristina Satomi, Lucilia; Pinto, Terezinha de Jesus A.

2005-07-01

Raw plant materials normally carry high bioburden due to their origin, offering potential hazards to consumers. The use of decontamination processes is therefore an important step towards the consumer safety and therapeutical efficiency. Several authors have reported the treatment of medicinal herbs with ionizing radiation. This work evaluated the effects of different radiation doses on the microbial burden and chemical constituents of ginkgo ( Ginkgo biloba L.) and guaraná ( Paullinia cupana H.B.K.).

Opacity annotation of diffuse lung diseases using deep convolutional neural network with multi-channel information

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mabu, Shingo; Kido, Shoji; Hashimoto, Noriaki; Hirano, Yasushi; Kuremoto, Takashi

2018-02-01

This research proposes a multi-channel deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) for computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) that classifies normal and abnormal opacities of diffuse lung diseases in Computed Tomography (CT) images. Because CT images are gray scale, DCNN usually uses one channel for inputting image data. On the other hand, this research uses multi-channel DCNN where each channel corresponds to the original raw image or the images transformed by some preprocessing techniques. In fact, the information obtained only from raw images is limited and some conventional research suggested that preprocessing of images contributes to improving the classification accuracy. Thus, the combination of the original and preprocessed images is expected to show higher accuracy. The proposed method realizes region of interest (ROI)-based opacity annotation. We used lung CT images taken in Yamaguchi University Hospital, Japan, and they are divided into 32 × 32 ROI images. The ROIs contain six kinds of opacities: consolidation, ground-glass opacity (GGO), emphysema, honeycombing, nodular, and normal. The aim of the proposed method is to classify each ROI into one of the six opacities (classes). The DCNN structure is based on VGG network that secured the first and second places in ImageNet ILSVRC-2014. From the experimental results, the classification accuracy of the proposed method was better than the conventional method with single channel, and there was a significant difference between them.

Association-rule-based tuberculosis disease diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asha, T.; Natarajan, S.; Murthy, K. N. B.

2010-02-01

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It usually spreads through the air and attacks low immune bodies such as patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This work focuses on finding close association rules, a promising technique in Data Mining, within TB data. The proposed method first normalizes of raw data from medical records which includes categorical, nominal and continuous attributes and then determines Association Rules from the normalized data with different support and confidence. Association rules are applied on a real data set containing medical records of patients with TB obtained from a state hospital. The rules determined describes close association between one symptom to another; as an example, likelihood that an occurrence of sputum is closely associated with blood cough and HIV.

Inhibition of fungal colonization on the rhizoplane of the CS2 - producing plant, Mimosa pudica L.

Treesearch

Z. Feng; P.G. Hartel; R.W. Roncadori; Shi-Jean S. Sung

1998-01-01

Carbon disulfide (CS2) is a colorless, volatile, foul-smelling, fungicidal liquid that is produced by some plants. The authors determined the ability of a model CS2-producing plant, Mimosa pudica, to affect the rhizoplane colonization of six species of soil fungi. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum...

Understanding Radiation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Department of Energy, Washington, DC. Nuclear Energy Office.

Radiation is a natural energy force that has been a part of the environment since the Earth was formed. It takes various forms, none of which can be smelled, tasted, seen, heard, or felt. Nevertheless, scientists know what it is, where it comes from, how to measure and detect it, and how it affects people. Cosmic radiation from outer space and…

38 CFR 4.124a - Schedule of ratings-neurological conditions and convulsive disorders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... smell and taste; seizures; gait, coordination, and balance problems; speech and other communication... highest level of impairment, labeled “total.” However, not every facet has every level of severity. The... overall percentage evaluation based on the level of the highest facet as follows: 0 = 0 percent; 1 = 10...

38 CFR 4.124a - Schedule of ratings-neurological conditions and convulsive disorders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... smell and taste; seizures; gait, coordination, and balance problems; speech and other communication... highest level of impairment, labeled “total.” However, not every facet has every level of severity. The... overall percentage evaluation based on the level of the highest facet as follows: 0 = 0 percent; 1 = 10...

38 CFR 4.124a - Schedule of ratings-neurological conditions and convulsive disorders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... smell and taste; seizures; gait, coordination, and balance problems; speech and other communication... highest level of impairment, labeled “total.” However, not every facet has every level of severity. The... overall percentage evaluation based on the level of the highest facet as follows: 0 = 0 percent; 1 = 10...

Understanding the impact of molds on indoor air quality and possible links to health effects Indoor Molds - More than Just a Musty Smell

EPA Science Inventory

Molds are multi-celled, colony forming, eukaryotic microorganisms lacking chlorophyll belonging to the Kingdom Fungi. Furthermore, molds are ubiquitous in both indoor and outdoor environments. There are more than 200 different types of fungi to which people are routinely exposed ...

Cervical Cancer as a silent killer: A rare case report with review of literature.

PubMed

Pandey, Deeksha; Shetty, Jyothi; Sambhaji, Charudatt; Saxena, P U; Mishra, Dilip; Chawla, Arun

2015-01-01

Advanced-stage cervical cancer almost always presents either with abnormal vaginal bleeding or with foul-smelling vaginal discharge. We present here a rare case, where a postmenopausal lady presented almost silently with stage IVA cervical cancer. Fortunately, timely referral, correct diagnosis, and multispecialty team work could save her life.

Using Essential Oils to Teach Advanced-Level Organic Chemistry Separation Techniques and Spectroscopy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bott, Tina M.; Wan, Hayley

2013-01-01

Students sometimes have difficulty grasping the importance of when and how basic distillation techniques, column chromatography, TLC, and basic spectroscopy (IR and NMR) can be used to identify unknown compounds within a mixture. This two-part experiment uses mixtures of pleasant-smelling, readily available terpenoid compounds as unknowns to…

A Kentucky Journey. Teacher's Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort.

The Kentucky History Center (Frankfort), a 20,000-square-foot museum facility, is a walk through time, complete with the sights, sounds, and smells of the past. The museum's eight chronological areas feature artifacts, images, and life-size environments that evoke places in time. A ready-made reference area in the center of the exhibit provides a…

Sharpening the Digital Nose: Evaluating eStorybooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roslund, Samantha

2012-01-01

School librarians are experts at so many things: navigating the seas of digital information to find an elusive article, creating interactive forums in which kids learn to collaborate and create, and, of course, critically selecting materials. Some have been reading and reviewing books for so long they can smell a stinker from a mile away or…

The Middle Years, Development and Adjustment; A Study-Discussion Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kleinsasser, L.D., Comp.; Harris, Dale B., Comp.

Based largely on research in adult development and aging, these readings and discussion questions pertain to such aspects of development and adjustment in middle life as the following: individual differences in aging; biological changes through the adult years; changes in the physical senses (vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch, and pain)…

Engage, Investigate, and Report: Enhancing the Curriculum with Scientific Inquiry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blake, Sally

2009-01-01

Young children are called natural scientists for good reason. Even infants investigate their surroundings, using their senses to look, touch, smell, hear, and taste. As children discover objects and situations that are puzzling or intriguing--things that provoke their curiosity--they begin looking for ways to find answers, all in an effort to…

BodyHeat Encounter: Performing Technology in Pedagogical Spaces of Surveillance/Intimacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fels, Lynn; Ricketts, Kathryn

2015-01-01

What occurs when videographer and performer encounter each other through the lens of a camera? This collaborative performative inquiry focuses on embodiment and emergent narrative as realized through an encounter between technology and the visceral body--a relational body that smells, touches, sees, hears and feels the emergent world through…

The Olfactory Factor in Nonverbal Communication.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riley, Jobie E.

This paper on the subject of smell in communication provides a brief survey of the subject, pulling together a wide variety of disparate ideas across many disciplines. The paper is comprised of a general introductory section and separate sections on the olfactory nonverbal communication of animals and human beings. The uses to which animals put…

Winter Chickadees

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sarvis, Gisele Winton

2010-01-01

Hiking between the farmer's field and the deciduous forest at Scanlon Creek Nature Centre near Bradford, Ontario, a grade 3 class and the author were studying different types of soils. As soil explorers they were hiking to different locations to see, touch and smell clay, silt and humus soils. The author always likes to bring a sense of discovery…