<p>Although many aspects of odor naming have received attention during the years, the participants' own cognitions (metamemory) about their naming attempts have not. (i) We showed that feeling of knowing (FOK) judgments accompanying odor naming failures are predictive of later recognition (Study I) or retrieval (Study III) of the missing name, but to a lesser degree than equivalent judgments about names of persons. “Tip of the nose” (TON) experiences do predict later odor name recall (Study I), but are otherwise poorly related to any partial activation of other information associated with the odor. (ii) We evaluated two theories proposed to explain the underlying basis of FOK judgments. Correlational analysis showed that FOK judgments about odor names are related to the perceived familiarity of the cue triggering the FOK (cue familiarity theory; Study III). FOK judgments are based on the amount of available information about the sought-for memory (accessibility theory; Study I and III). (iii) We demonstrated that the participants are overconfident in their odor naming attempts (Study I and II). This may to some degree be due to the arousing properties of the odors (Study II), suggesting that emotional variables should be taken into account when researching metamemory. (iv) Our inability to correctly name odors are typically not due to an uniquely poor association between odors and their proper names, but rather due to failures to identify the odors (Study III), that is, failures to retrieve “what it is”. It was also found that TOT experiences are unusual for odor names and more so than for person names. (v) We discuss potential differences between olfactory metamemory and metamemory for other modalities. The TON experience differs from the tip of the tongue (TOT) experience and the predictive validity is lower for metamemory judgments about odor names compared to other modalities.</p>

Although many aspects of odor naming have received attention during the years, the participants' own cognitions (metamemory) about their naming attempts have not. (i) We showed that feeling of knowing (FOK) judgments accompanying odor naming failures are predictive of later recognition (Study I) or retrieval (Study III) of the missing name, but to a lesser degree than equivalent judgments about names of persons. “Tip of the nose” (TON) experiences do predict later odor name recall (Study I), but are otherwise poorly related to any partial activation of other information associated with the odor. (ii) We evaluated two theories proposed to explain the underlying basis of FOK judgments. Correlational analysis showed that FOK judgments about odor names are related to the perceived familiarity of the cue triggering the FOK (cue familiarity theory; Study III). FOK judgments are based on the amount of available information about the sought-for memory (accessibility theory; Study I and III). (iii) We demonstrated that the participants are overconfident in their odor naming attempts (Study I and II). This may to some degree be due to the arousing properties of the odors (Study II), suggesting that emotional variables should be taken into account when researching metamemory. (iv) Our inability to correctly name odors are typically not due to an uniquely poor association between odors and their proper names, but rather due to failures to identify the odors (Study III), that is, failures to retrieve “what it is”. It was also found that TOT experiences are unusual for odor names and more so than for person names. (v) We discuss potential differences between olfactory metamemory and metamemory for other modalities. The TON experience differs from the tip of the tongue (TOT) experience and the predictive validity is lower for metamemory judgments about odor names compared to other modalities.

In Syrian hamsters, social behavior is mediated exclusively by chemosensory cues and circulating gonadal steroid hormones. Where these two signals are processed in the brain is unknown, but the posterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (pBNST) has been suggested as a candidate site. Therefore, we tested male hamsters’ preference for opposite-sex odors following excitotoxic lesions of the pBNST. Lesions of the pBNST (pBNST-X) eliminated male hamsters’ preference for opposite-sex odors. Furthermore, pBNST-X males spent significantly less time investigating female odors than clean odors and significantly less time investigating female odors than control males did. Lesions of the pBNST did not change male hamsters’ investigation of male odors. The deficits observed in pBNST-X males were not due to a failure to discriminate between odors, as pBNST-X males were able to distinguish between odors. Together, these data suggest the pBNST is critical for opposite-sex odor preference in male hamsters.

Benefícios na fermentação microbiana no cólon e as flatulências, em cães da raça Bulldog Francês, podem ser promovidos mediante mudanças nas quantidades e fontes proteicas da dieta. Este estudo avaliou os efeitos da inclusão de diferentes fontes de proteína em alimento seco para cães Bulldog Francês sobre a fermentação microbiana, a absorção de nutrientes e mudanças nas emissões dos componentes orgânicos voláteis mais prevalentes, ademais comparou os resultados com a técnica de teste sensorial. Quatro dietas de manutenção para cães adultos foram formuladas: T0, dieta com farinha de vísceras de frango; T1, dieta com glúten de trigo; T2, dieta com farinha de vísceras de frango e glúten de trigo; e T3, dieta com vísceras de frango, glúten de trigo e proteína hidrolisada. Foram utilizados oito cães da raça Bulldog Francês, com peso corporal médio de 11,3 ± 0,21 kg e 2,7 ± 0,74 anos de idade, distribuidos num delineamento em quadrado latino 4x4 e adaptados às dietas durante 20 dias. Fezes frescas foram coletadas para análise de digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes, escore, ácidos graxos voláteis, pH, aminas biogênicas, compostos orgânicos voláteis, lactato, amônia, e análise sensorial. Não houve efeitos adversos nos animais. As médias foram comparadas por meio de contrastes pelo PROC MIXED do SAS, adotando um nível de significância de 5% (P&le;0,05). Os animais que foram alimentados com as dietas T1 e T2 apresentaram maior digestibilidade da matéria seca (P&lt;0,05), matéria orgânica (P&lt;0,05), proteína bruta (P&lt;0,001) e menor produção de fezes (P&lt;0,02). Foi observada menor ingestão da fibra bruta nos animais alimentados com a dieta T0 (P&lt;0,001). As dietas T1, T2 e T3 resultaram em menor escore e pH fecal (P&lt;0,05). Ao respeito aos compostos orgânicos voláteis, foi observada diferença estatística em dois dos 68 compostos observados, as fezes dos animais alimentados com dieta T0 e T1 apresentaram maior presença dos compostos fenol (P=0,04) e indol (P=0,01), respectivamente. O tratamento T0 apresentou maior percepção de odor durante a avaliação sensorial (P=0,01). Não houve efeito das dietas nos produtos finais de fermentação. O uso complementar da proteína animal com a vegetal melhoraram a digestibilidade da proteína bruta, e em consequência, reduziram a percepção do mal odor das fezes de cães Bulldogs Francês. Mais estudos são necessários para entender a associação dos níveis de percepção de odor com as mudanças dos compostos orgânicos voláteis. / Benefits on colonic fermentation and flatulencies, in French bulldog dogs, can be promoted by changes on diet protein sources and quantities. The current study evaluated the effects of the inclusion of different protein sources to dog dry feed on microbial fermentation, nutrient absorption, and changes of the emission of most prevalent volatile organic compounds, and also compared the results with a sensorial test. Four maintenance diets for adult dogs were formulated: T0, diet with the inclusion of poultry entrails meal; T1, diet with the inclusion of wheat gluten; T2, diet with the inclusion of poultry entrails meal and wheat gluten; and T3, diet with the inclusion of poultry entrails meal, wheat gluten, and hydrolyzed protein. Eight adult French bulldog dogs, with a mean weight of 11.3 ± 0.21 kg and 2.7 ± 0.74 years old, were arranged in a 4x4 Latin square design and adapted to diets for 20 days. Therefore, fresh feces were collected for digestibility, fecal score, volatile fatty acids, fecal pH, biogenic amines, volatiles organic compounds, fecal lactate, ammonia, and sensorial test analyses. There were no adverse effects to the animals. Means were compared by contrast using PROC MIXED procedure of SAS software, choosing a significance level of 5% (P&le;0.05). Animals fed with diets T1 and T2 showed higher dry matter (P&lt;0.05), organic matter (P&lt;0.05), and crude protein digestibility (P&lt;0.001), and lower feces production (P&lt;0.02). Lower ingestion of crude fiber was observed in animals fed with diet T0 (P&lt;0.001). Diets T1, T2, and T3 showed lower pH (P&lt;0.05) and score of the feces. In regard to volatile organic compounds, 2 from 68 observed compounds showed statistical difference. Animals fed with diet T0 and diet T1 had greater presence of phenol (P=0.04) and indole (P=0.01) on feces, respectively. Diet T0 showed greater odor perception during the sensorial test (P=0.01). There were no effects of diets on fermentation final products. The reduction of protein level and the complementary use of animal and vegetal protein sources improved crude protein digestibility, and as a consequence, reduced the odor perception of the feces of French bulldog dogs. More studies are needed to understand the association between odor perception levels and changes on volatile organic compounds.

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.

La valorisation des déchets par le compostage et la méthanisation est encouragée par les politiques de l'UE. Cependant, ces technologies de recyclage des déchets sont confrontées à un défi crucial en matière de libération et de contrôle des émissions de gaz odorants. En effet, la pollution par les odeurs est la principale cause d'opposition du public au traitement des déchets, ce qui a entraîné la fermeture et des poursuites en justice pour les unités de traitement des déchets. À l'heure actuelle, les inventaires des émissions d'odeurs et de produits chimiques pour appuyer les plans de gestion des odeurs et de la pollution atmosphérique font défaut, en raison de la complexité des évaluations des odeurs, impliquant généralement des analyses sensorielles et chimiques. L'objectif de cette thèse était donc de caractériser de manière détaillée les émissions de gaz et les odeurs lors du processus de compostage. À cette fin, les émissions d’odeurs et de polluants ont tout d’abord été étudiées au cours des différentes étapes opérationnelles du processus de compostage, à savoir le stockage, la phase active, le retournement et la maturation. Les résultats ont montré que la phase active et le retournement jouent un rôle essentiel dans les générations de nuisances olfactives causées principalement par les composés soufrés volatils (CSV). Des efforts supplémentaires ont ensuite été consacrés à la caractérisation des émissions de gaz au cours de la phase active de compostage de quinze déchets solides et du digestat, permettant ainsi de corroborer l’importance des CSV sur la production d’odeurs lors du compostage et de différencier l’impact des émissions de gaz sur les odeurs en fonction des matières premières des déchets. La dernière partie de ce travail de recherche a été consacrée à la corrélation des mesures sensorielles et chimiques, par le biais de méthodes de régression simple et multiple visant à faciliter et à renforcer le contrôle des odeurs dans les unités de traitement des déchets. Notamment, un modèle des moindres carrés partiels améliore la prévision de la concentration d'odeurs grâce à la composition chimique des gaz émis. / Waste valorization through composting and methanization are actively promoted by the EU policies. However, these waste recycling technologies face a crucial challenge regarding the release and control of odorous and hazardous gas emissions. Indeed, odor pollution is the principal cause for public opposition to waste processing, leading to the closure and lawsuits for waste treatment units. Currently, there is a lack of odor and chemical emissions inventories to support odor and air pollution management plans due to the complexity of odor assessments, generally involving sensory and chemical analysis. Hence, the aim of this PhD thesis was to characterize extensively the gas emissions and odors released during the composting process. To this end, the patterns of odor and pollutant emissions were first traced throughout different operational stage of composting process, namely, storage, active phase, turning and curing. The results showed that the active phase and turning played a pivotal role in odor nuisance generations which were mainly caused by volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). Then, further efforts were focused on characterizing the gas emissions released along the composting active phase of fifteen solid wastes and digestate. The results corroborated the relevance of VSC on odors production during composting and enabled to differentiate the odor impact of gas emissions as a function of the wastes’ feedstock. The last part of this research work was devoted to correlate both, sensory and chemical measurements, through univariate and multivariate regression analysis to ease and strength odor monitoring in waste treatment units. Notably, a partial least squares model improved odor concentration prediction based on the chemical composition of emitted gases.

Assessment of odor thresholds is a widely recognized method of measuring olfactory abilities in humans. To date no attempts have been made to assess whether chemical complexity of odors used can produce more reliable results. To this end, we performed two studies of repeated measures design with 121 healthy volunteers (age 19–62 years). In Study 1, we compared thresholds obtained from tests based on one odor presented in a pen-like odor dispensing device with three odors and six odors mixtures presented in glass containers. In study 2 we compared stimuli of one and three odors, both presented in glass containers. In both studies measurements were performed twice, separated by at least three days. Results indicate that the multiple odor mixtures produced more reliable threshold scores, as compared to thresholds based on a single substance.

As atividades humanas em bacias hidrográficas introduzem nos cursos de água nutrientes que aceleram o processo natural de eutrofização, favorecendo a ocorrência de florações de algas e cianobactérias. Estas florações se caracterizam por um crescimento explosivo destes microrganismos. Entre os diversos impactos negativos trazidos pelas florações está a emissão potencial dos compostos 2-metilisoborneol (MIB) e geosmina (GEO), os quais conferem gosto e odor de mofo e terra a água. Estes compostos não são totalmente removidos pelos processos convencionais de tratamento de água – clarificação química, filtração em meio granular e desinfecção com cloro, e permanecem na água até seu consumo, ocasionando alto índice de rejeição do produto por parte da população consumidora. Desta forma, a pesquisa foi planejada para avaliar alternativas de processos de tratamento visando à remoção de compostos odoríferos na água. Além de MIB e geosmina, foram feitas investigações relativas a remoção de ferro (Fe+2), manganês (Mn+2) e enxofre (H2S), nos processos estudados. Estas formas são normalmente encontradas em ambientes redutores, como águas subterrâneas e no hipolímnio de lagos e reservatórios, podendo contribuir para a deterioração das características organolépticas da água, ocasionando gosto e odores desagradáveis na água potável. Os processos estudados na pesquisa foram aeração em cascata, dessorção gasosa e nanofiltração. Os mecanismos do primeiro e segundo processos são: a oxidação de formas reduzidas e a dessorção de compostos voláteis e gases da água para o ar. O sistema de nanofiltração remove contaminantes da água através de retenção física imposta pelo tamanho dos poros da membrana. / Human activities in watersheds introduce nutrients to water bodies, accelerating the natural process of eutrophication and favoring the occurrence of algae and cyanobacterial blooms. The blooms are characterized by explosives growths of those microorganisms. Among the several negative impacts brought by the blooms is the potential emission of the compounds 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin (GEO), which confer earthy and moldy taste and odor to drinking water. MIB and GEO are not completely removed by the conventional water treatment processes – chemical clarification, granular filtration and chorine disinfection, causing consumer’s rejection of the distributed drinking water This research was planned to evaluate the capability of alternative treatment processes to remove odorous compounds from water. Besides MIB and geosmin, the research encompassed tests with iron (Fe+²), manganese (Mn+²) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). These species are usually found in reduced environments such as lake and reservoir hypolimnion and groundwater. They can cause problems associated with color, taste and odor in drinking water. Processes studied in the research were cascade aeration, air stripping and nanofiltration. Prevailing mechanisms in the first two processes are oxidation of the reduced forms by air oxygen and stripping of volatile compounds and gases dissolved in water to air. Nanofiltration systems remove contaminants dissolved in water by physical retention imposed by the membrane pore size.

As atividades humanas em bacias hidrográficas introduzem nos cursos de água nutrientes que aceleram o processo natural de eutrofização, favorecendo a ocorrência de florações de algas e cianobactérias. Estas florações se caracterizam por um crescimento explosivo destes microrganismos. Entre os diversos impactos negativos trazidos pelas florações está a emissão potencial dos compostos 2-metilisoborneol (MIB) e geosmina (GEO), os quais conferem gosto e odor de mofo e terra a água. Estes compostos não são totalmente removidos pelos processos convencionais de tratamento de água – clarificação química, filtração em meio granular e desinfecção com cloro, e permanecem na água até seu consumo, ocasionando alto índice de rejeição do produto por parte da população consumidora. Desta forma, a pesquisa foi planejada para avaliar alternativas de processos de tratamento visando à remoção de compostos odoríferos na água. Além de MIB e geosmina, foram feitas investigações relativas a remoção de ferro (Fe+2), manganês (Mn+2) e enxofre (H2S), nos processos estudados. Estas formas são normalmente encontradas em ambientes redutores, como águas subterrâneas e no hipolímnio de lagos e reservatórios, podendo contribuir para a deterioração das características organolépticas da água, ocasionando gosto e odores desagradáveis na água potável. Os processos estudados na pesquisa foram aeração em cascata, dessorção gasosa e nanofiltração. Os mecanismos do primeiro e segundo processos são: a oxidação de formas reduzidas e a dessorção de compostos voláteis e gases da água para o ar. O sistema de nanofiltração remove contaminantes da água através de retenção física imposta pelo tamanho dos poros da membrana. / Human activities in watersheds introduce nutrients to water bodies, accelerating the natural process of eutrophication and favoring the occurrence of algae and cyanobacterial blooms. The blooms are characterized by explosives growths of those microorganisms. Among the several negative impacts brought by the blooms is the potential emission of the compounds 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin (GEO), which confer earthy and moldy taste and odor to drinking water. MIB and GEO are not completely removed by the conventional water treatment processes – chemical clarification, granular filtration and chorine disinfection, causing consumer’s rejection of the distributed drinking water This research was planned to evaluate the capability of alternative treatment processes to remove odorous compounds from water. Besides MIB and geosmin, the research encompassed tests with iron (Fe+²), manganese (Mn+²) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). These species are usually found in reduced environments such as lake and reservoir hypolimnion and groundwater. They can cause problems associated with color, taste and odor in drinking water. Processes studied in the research were cascade aeration, air stripping and nanofiltration. Prevailing mechanisms in the first two processes are oxidation of the reduced forms by air oxygen and stripping of volatile compounds and gases dissolved in water to air. Nanofiltration systems remove contaminants dissolved in water by physical retention imposed by the membrane pore size.

Methylone, Ethylone, Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), and α-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP) collectively referred to as bath salts are a new trend of illicit substances known as synthetic cathinones. Designed by chemically modifying the core structure of the compound cathinone, synthetic cathinones became prevalent within the United States around the mid-2000s. As a cheap and less controlled alternative to methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy), it has become heavily abused, prompting emergency scheduling by federal regulators. Although regulations have been placed to halt incoming traffic of these drugs, lack of ground efforts still leave a large percentage of bath salts available. This study is two-fold, as it seeks to develop an extraction method for the development of Volatile Organic Compound profiles associated with various synthetic cathinones; and also determine the odorant used for canine recognition. The initial goal of this dissertation was to develop an extraction method to characterize various cathinone derivatives. The present study concluded that by employing a Polydimethylsiloxane Divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) coated fiber along with complimentary soft ionization techniques, the volatile components and all parent drugs could be identified within sixteen synthetic cathinone cases. The second goal of the dissertation was to assess and enhance the detection capabilities of narcotic detection teams. Canine field detection is routinely used to stop the increasing distribution influx of drugs into the United States that go undetected by standard procedures currently employed. Although currently canines can detect a multitude of drugs including heroin, cocaine, MDMA, and methamphetamine; this study revealed that more than ten canine teams (throughout south Florida) were not able to detect the presence of synthetic cathinones with current training material. While concerns have grown concerning the safety and reliability of canines being trained on various illicit substances, this research aimed to develop a safe, efficient, controlled alternative to training any canine for detection in the form of a Controlled Mimic Permeation System (COMPS). Field examination concluded that 3,4-methylenedioxypriophenone was the odorant responsible for the canine recognition of the cathinone derivative odor. Therefore a mimic training aid was developed and deployed within the field to enhance the detection capabilities of various canine teams.