A transferência de odores entre os gatos e o meio ambiente ocorre por meio de contatos corporais, como também pela eliminação de excretas. Pelo enriquecimento ambiental é possível promover a exibição de comportamentos mais próximos dos naturais e extinguir comportamentos não desejáveis, contribuindo, assim, para a saúde física e psicológica dos animais. Este trabalho teve como objetivo promover estímulos no ambiente para que os gatos desempenhassem comportamentos característicos da espécie. Foram utilizados gatos domésticos (Felis silvestris catus L.), castrados (por volta do primeiro ano de vida) ou não, de ambos os sexos. Os animais foram mantidos todos juntos em um abrigo de gatos, cuja população era de aproximadamente 110 indivíduos, sendo 41 machos e 69 fêmeas. Cinco testes foram realizados durante dezesseis meses e foi registrado: quais os comportamentos são manifestados na área dos testes (grooming, urinar, defecar e verificações olfativas), quais indivíduos realizaram mais esses comportamentos (fêmeas, machos e machos castrados) e qual categoria animal apresentou maior número de contato. Foram utilizados o método animal focal e a amostragem do comportamento. Observou-se que existe diferença significativa nos contatos entre machos e fêmeas (Fr= 10, 362, p= 0, 006) e averiguou-se que essa diferença também ocorre quando os grupos são agregados (contatos F_M-M_M e contatos F_F-F_M). Fêmeas e machos castrados, quando comparados pelo teste Wilcoxon, apresentaram diferenças significativas no tempo dedicado ao comportamento de grooming(z= 2,95, p= 0,036). Os gatos são indivíduos bastante curiosos, o que facilita o desenvolvimento de um enriquecimento ambiental mais barato com o alcance de respostas comportamentais adequadas. / The transfer of odors between the cats and the environment occurs through physical contact, but also for disposal of excreta. For environmental enrichment can promote behaviors closer view of the natural and extinguish unwanted behaviors, thus contributing to the physical and psychological health of animals. This work aimed to promote the environment for stimuli that cats play behaviors characteristic of the species. We used domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus L.), castrated (around the first year of life) or not, of both sexes. The animals were kept together in a shelter for cats, whose population was approximately 110 individuals, 41 males and 69 females. Five tests were conducted over sixteen months and was recorded: which behaviors are manifested in the area of testing (grooming, urinate, defecate and verification olfactory), which made most people these behaviors (females, males and castrated males) and which category of animal presented more contact. We used the method of sampling and focal animal behavior. It was observed that there is significant difference in contacts between males and females (F = 10, 362, p = 0, 006) and checked that this difference also occurs when the groups are aggregated (F_M contacts and contacts F_F-M_M-F_M ). Females and castrated males, when compared by Wilcoxon test showed significant differences in time devoted to grooming behavior of (z = 2.95, p = 0.036). Cats are very curious people, which facilitates the development of an environmental enrichment cheaper with the range of appropriate behavioral responses.

Canines have been employed in matters of law enforcement because of their keen sense of smell. Presently, law enforcement officials are utilizing trained canines in routine traffic stops to assess if the vehicle contains any illicit substances. Many believe that this is an infringement on an individual’s fourth amendment rights, which has garnered the attention of both the media and the courts. Many questions have been raised with respect to canines alerting to locations where illicit substances were no longer present. Thus, the purpose of this dissertation research is to evaluate the manner in which active odorants transport and persist onto various substrates. Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) coupled to an accurate-mass time-of-flight (AccuTOF™) mass spectrometer was used to rapidly analyze the volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) from a variety of narcotic and explosive substances. The DART ion source is a soft ionization technique used in ambient conditions to sample liquids, solids or gases in real time. Thermal desorption of the VOC’s could thus be conducted in seconds. The present study found that the VOC’s from illicit substances transport from one location to another, in a short amount of time, through a process known as advection, which may contribute to canines producing unconfirmed alerts during their training and certifications. Three of the four odorants used in this study produced positive results, with the exception being 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, as it was not detected at any time when held at distances between 0.5 and 3 meters. In addition, the amount of time needed for an active odorant to contaminate an object in its immediate vicinity was explored and the results were determined to be inconclusive. Although they were observed following longer exposure times, it was still deemed to be inconclusive since it was still possible for these odorants to be present, albeit not in detectable amounts, at lower exposure times. Controlled odor mimic permeating systems (COMPS), patented technology by IFRI were tested to determine the possibility of cross-contamination between the training aids, and the results conclude that there was not any evidence of cross-contamination observed during any of the trials.

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Locating an odor source in a turbulent environment, an instinctive behavior of insects such as moths, is a nontrivial task in robotics. Robots equipped with odor sensors find it difficult to locate the odor source due to the sporadic nature of odor patches in a turbulent environment. In this thesis, we develop a swarm algorithm which acquires information from odor patches and utilizes it to locate the odor source. The algorithm utilizes an intelligent integration of the chemotaxis, anemotaxis and spiralling approaches, where the chemotactic behavior is implemented by the recently proposed Glowworm Swarm Optimization (GSO) algorithm. Agents switch between chemotactic, anemotactic, and spiralling modes in accordance with the information available from the environment for optimal performance. The proposed algorithm takes full advantage of communication and collaboration between the robots. It is shown to be robust, efficient and well suited for implementation in olfactory robots. An important feature of the algorithm is the use of maximum concentration encountered in the recent past for navigation, which is seen to improve algorithmic performance significantly. The algorithm initially assumes agents to be point masses, later this is modified for robots and includes a gyroscopic avoidance strategy. A variant of the algorithm which does not demand wind information, is shown to be capable of locating odor sources even in no wind environment. A deterministic GSO algorithm has been proposed which is shown capable of faster convergence. Another proposed variant, the push pull GSO algorithm is shown to be more efficient in the presence of obstacle avoidance. The proposed algorithm is also seen capable of locating odor source under varying wind conditions. We have also shown the simultaneous capture of multiple odor sources by the proposed algorithm. A mobile odor source is shown to be captured and tracked by the proposed approach. The proposed approaches are later tested on data obtained from a realistic dye mixing experiment. A gas source localization experiment is also carried out in the lab to demonstrate the validity of the proposed approaches under real world conditions.

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.