Human scent, or the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by an individual, has been recognized as a biometric measurement because of the distinct variations in both the presence and abundance of these VOCs between individuals. In forensic science, human scent has been used as a form of associative evidence by linking a suspect to a scene/object through the use of human scent discriminating canines. The scent most often collected and used with these specially trained canines is from the hands because a majority of the evidence collected is likely to have been handled by the suspect. However, the scents from other biological specimens, especially those that are likely to be present at scenes of violent crimes, have yet to be explored. Hair, fingernails and saliva are examples of these types of specimens. In this work, a headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) technique was used for the identification of VOCs from hand odor, hair, fingernails and saliva. Sixty individuals were sampled and the profiles of the extracted VOCs were evaluated to assess whether they could be used for distinguishing individuals. Preliminary analysis of the biological specimens collected from an individual (intra-subject) showed that, though these materials have some VOCs in common, their overall chemical profile is different for each specimen type. Pair-wise comparisons, using Spearman Rank correlations, were made between the chemical profiles obtained from each subject, per a specimen type. Greater than 98.8% of the collected samples were distinguished from the subjects for all of the specimen types, demonstrating that these specimens can be used for distinguishing individuals. Additionally, field trials were performed to determine the utility of these specimens as scent sources for human scent discriminating canines. Three trials were conducted to evaluate hair, fingernails and saliva in comparison to hand odor, which was considered the standard source of human odor. It was revealed that canines perform similarly to these alternative human scent sources as they do to hand odor implying that, though there are differences in the chemical profiles released by these specimens, they can still be used for the discrimination of individuals by trained canines.

In certain European countries and the United States of America, canines have been successfully used in human scent identification. There is however, limited scientific knowledge on the composition of human scent and the detection mechanism that produces an alert from canines. This lack of information has resulted in successful legal challenges to human scent evidence in the courts of law. The main objective of this research was to utilize science to validate the current practices of using human scent evidence in criminal cases. The goals of this study were to utilize Headspace Solid Phase Micro Extraction Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS) to determine the optimum collection and storage conditions for human scent samples, to investigate whether the amount of DNA deposited upon contact with an object affects the alerts produced by human scent identification canines, and to create a prototype pseudo human scent which could be used for training purposes. Hand odor samples which were collected on different sorbent materials and exposed to various environmental conditions showed that human scent samples should be stored without prolonged exposure to UVA/UVB light to allow minimal changes to the overall scent profile. Various methods of collecting human scent from objects were also investigated and it was determined that passive collection methods yields ten times more VOCs by mass than active collection methods. Through the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) no correlation was found between the amount of DNA that was deposited upon contact with an object and the alerts that were produced by human scent identification canines. Preliminary studies conducted to create a prototype pseudo human scent showed that it is possible to produce fractions of a human scent sample which can be presented to the canines to determine whether specific fractions or the entire sample is needed to produce alerts by the human scent identification canines.

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Dogs have been used alongside humans as detection tools for centuries. There have been a multitude of studies published that demonstrate the accuracy and utility of detection dogs, more specifically conservation scent detection dogs. With ubiquitous agricultural threats in the United States, there is a need for a tool to help decrease the threat level. Pet dogs could be the answer. There are millions of pet dogs in the United States and with the success of the dog sport nose work there is the potential to use pet dogs as detection tools. In this proof-of-concept study, six pet dogs were trained to detect the spotted lanternfly. The dogs completed a training phase and five tests. The mean sensitivity of the six dogs, for the five tests, was 79.75%. The mean PPP of the six dogs, for all five tests, was 66.79%. The results suggest that these six dogs could be beneficial detection tools for the Spotted Lanternfly. Based on the findings in this study, pet dogs could be invaluable in the field of conservation scent detection. / Master of Science / Dogs have been used alongside humans as detection tools for centuries. There have been a multitude of studies published that demonstrate the accuracy and utility of detection dogs, more specifically conservation scent detection dogs. With ubiquitous agricultural threats in the United States, there is a need for a tool to help decrease the threat level. Pet dogs could be the answer. There are millions of pet dogs in the United States and with the success of the dog sport nose work there is the potential to use pet dogs as detection tools. In this proof-of-concept study, six pet dogs were trained to detect the spotted lanternfly. The dogs completed a training phase and five tests. The mean sensitivity, or proportion of correct detections, of the six dogs, for the five tests, was 79.75%. The mean PPP, or likelihood it is that the source of odor is present when a dog offers an alert; of the six dogs, for all five tests, was 66.79%. The results suggest that these six dogs could be beneficial detection tools for the Spotted Lanternfly. Based on the findings in this study, pet dogs could be invaluable in the field of conservation scent detection.

Major research studies have provided support for information scent based usability evaluation and have increased its parent theory's (Information Foraging theory) credibility in the HCI community. These studies have, directly and indirectly, found significant correlations between good information scent and good usability. We would like to investigate its application to less-studied platforms, such as web pages on PDAs and cell phones. The theory itself is not device specific and it implicitly assumes that information scent's importance is universal. However, all studies on the practical application of Information Foraging theory have been conducted with desktop computers. We would like to examine what role information scent plays in interfaces on mobile devices that are limited in usable screen space. For this project, we performed a controlled study with 28 participants on the BBC News web site and its PDA-optimized version. Various usability and information scent related indicators were measured and compared across devices. Contrary to our expectations, we did not find any statistically significant differences between the information scent indicators of the Desktop and PDA sessions and the paths across the devices were highly correlated. / Master of Science

Human scent and human remains detection canines are used to locate living or deceased humans under many circumstances. Human scent canines locate individual humans on the basis of their unique scent profile, while human remains detection canines locate the general scent of decomposing human remains. Scent evidence is often collected by law enforcement agencies using a Scent Transfer Unit, a dynamic headspace concentration device. The goals of this research were to evaluate the STU-100 for the collection of human scent samples, and to apply this method to the collection of living and deceased human samples, and to the creation of canine training aids. The airflow rate and collection material used with the STU-100 were evaluated using a novel scent delivery method. Controlled Odor Mimic Permeation Systems were created containing representative standard compounds delivered at known rates, improving the reproducibility of optimization experiments. Flow rates and collection materials were compared. Higher air flow rates usually yielded significantly less total volatile compounds due to compound breakthrough through the collection material. Collection from polymer and cellulose-based materials demonstrated that the molecular backbone of the material is a factor in the trapping and releasing of compounds. The weave of the material also affects compound collection, as those materials with a tighter weave demonstrated enhanced collection efficiencies. Using the optimized method, volatiles were efficiently collected from living and deceased humans. Replicates of the living human samples showed good reproducibility; however, the odor profiles from individuals were not always distinguishable from one another. Analysis of the human remains samples revealed similarity in the type and ratio of compounds. Two types of prototype training aids were developed utilizing combinations of pure compounds as well as volatiles from actual human samples concentrated onto sorbents, which were subsequently used in field tests. The pseudo scent aids had moderate success in field tests, and the Odor pad aids had significant success. This research demonstrates that the STU-100 is a valuable tool for dog handlers and as a field instrument; however, modifications are warranted in order to improve its performance as a method for instrumental detection.

Human scent has been the focal point of diverse scientific interests and research initiatives for the past several years. The knowledge gained about its composition has favored the advancement of multiple disciplines, and promoted the development of a wide variety of applications. Among these applications is the use of human scent as a resource for Forensic investigations, where scent profiles are often used as evidence to associate individuals to the scene of a crime. The characteristic nature of individual human scent has enabled this type of evidence to be used as a biometric tool for the differentiation of subjects. Nevertheless, the present study discusses a new perspective towards human scent's role and application in Forensic investigations. The foundation of this new perspective consists of employing human scent’s biometric quality to classify individuals using common traits. In this research study, underarm and hand odor samples were collected from Caucasian, Hispanic and East Asian individuals, of both genders. Subjects were also organized into 3 different age groups: 18-30, 35-50 and 55+ years. Headspace Solid Phase Micro-extraction Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) was used to create individual scent profiles for the evaluation of subject classification by age, gender and race/ethnicity. Individual classification was assessed through the identification of qualitative and quantitative patterns in the volatile organic compound (VOC) constituents that characterize human scent. Principal Component and Linear Discriminant analyses of the collected scent profiles, led to the identification and validation of characteristic VOC marker combinations for age, gender and race/ethnicity. Statistical analysis facilitated group classification and differentiation on the basis of these traits. Moreover, this study also evaluated the use of solvent extraction as a complementary technique to HS-SPME for human scent analysis. Findings from this assessment revealed that the simultaneous consideration of data from both extraction techniques favors an enhancement of the classification of subjects by means of human scent. The discoveries achieved in this study represent a significant step for human scent as a forensic tool. The outcome of this research has cleared a new path for further human scent investigation, and highlighted its further relevance to forensic applications.

This study examines how scent can be used as a tool in a museum context to deepen the learning for visitors. When scent is brought into a museum context, it creates new conditions for enhancing a visitor’s experience of a museum visit. Therefore, the purpose of this essay is to highlight if scent has a potential as a tool for learning in a museum context and how our sense of smell can make us remember. Through a reading of previous research in the field and with two qualitative interviews, one with and museum curator and one with a fragrance creator, the picture of how museums have worked with scent as a multisensory tool has deepened. This study is based on three different theoretical frameworks. The first theory is based on J. Douglas Porteous’ concept of smellscapes. The second theory is based on Karin Johannisson’s concept of nostalgia. The last theory is based on Richard Stevenson’s five approaches to incorporating scent into a museum environment. The study shows that by using multisensory tools in exhibitions it may be easier for a visitor to remember an exhibition or a museum visit if another sense than vision is integrated. By analysing the qualitative interviews based on the theoretical frameworks, the study shows how scent incorporated in a museum context can deepen the learning for visitors and change the way knowledge is communicated by incorporating multiple senses, in this case focusing on smell. By using smell visitors can, through own lived experiences, remember different memories connected to it. The analysis has shown that scent has a potential to deepen the learning in a museum context.

Alstroemeria is an important cut flower and its breeding has been developed focused on aesthetic characteristics and vase life longevity, but little is known about its scent. Five different genotypes were assessed including the non scented cultivars ‘Rebecca’ and ‘Samora’ and the scented cultivars, ‘Sweet Laura’, ‘Ajax’ and the species A. caryophyllaea. The scented Alstroemerias emitted the terpenoids: isocaryophyllene and ocimene as the major floral volatile compounds. Characterization of an Alstroemeria TPS (ALSTER) was based on four ESTs previously found in A. cv ‘Rebecca’. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) was performed and the full length ORF was used for characterizations of the genomic organization and amino acid sequences (phylogenetic analysis). ALSTER genomic region contains five introns and six exons. This unique genomic organization classified ALSTER as a member of the class III with a merged 5-6 exon. The deduced amino acid sequence was classified into the subfamily TPS-b. A functional analysis showed enzymatic activity of ALSTER with geranyl diphosphate (GPP) and the monoterpene myrcene was the only product obtained. Gene expression evaluated through real time and semi q RT-PCR on eight different stages of development (SO to S7) showed high expression of ALSTER at around S2 - S4 in the scented Alstroemerias, coinciding with high scent emission perceived and also with the maturation of reproductive organs. Evaluations through surveys focused on level of liking of floral scent, were performed finding positive correlations between floral scent liking and floral appearance liking and between floral scent liking and floral scent intensity. Finally, 17 new lines of A. caryophyllaea were evaluated in terms of their morphology, phenology and productivity. Although none of them were suitable for the market because of their low productivity, short stems and small flowers, they were all scented and identified as promising starting points for breeding purposes.