In an industry plagued by high failure rates and exorbitant amounts spent on marketing, restaurants must find ways to increase the efficiency of their advertising. Present research demonstrates linkages between human senses and emotions and affective responses to marketing stimuli (e.g. Peck and Wiggins, 2006). However, there is presently a dearth of research addressing how advertising can creatively draw upon consumers' senses to elicit the desired responses by stakeholders (e.g. increased purchase intent). In response to this apparent gap in our inquiry, the purpose of this study is to explore how verbal smell references (e.g. "You can almost smell the smoky and delicious aroma of your steak grilling to perfection" stated in the ad) and congruent cooking sounds (e.g. sizzling sounds for a steakhouse) in radio food advertisements impact consumer sensory perceptions (ability to almost taste and/or almost smell the advertised product), affective response, and purchase intentions. In addition, since current research indicates that olfactory perceptions can vary by gender (e.g. (Doty, Shaman, and Dann, 1983; Cane, 1982), this research tested for gender-based differences in these hypothesized relationships. Regarding procedures, a sequence of two pretests were used to establish the reliability and validity of the verbal smell reference used in this research. In addition to these manipulation checks on the verbal smell reference construct, the two pretests also verified that undergraduate students would have the ability to adequately relate to the experimental setting — steakhouses. Next, a 2x2x2 between-subjects experiment was conducted in which the verbal smell reference was manipulated, congruent cooking sounds were manipulated, and gender was measured. Results indicate that a verbal smell reference in a radio ad does significantly influence a potential consumer's ability to almost smell and to almost taste the advertised product. The smell reference also significantly impacts individuals' affective responses to the ad and purchase intent of the product. Interestingly, this research also found that the level of "excitement" associated with the advertised brand perfectly mediates the relationship between the verbal smell reference and affective responses. That is, the verbal smell reference leads consumers to assess the advertised brand as being exciting which, in turn, results in positive affective responses. This research did not detect any significant outcomes associated with the use of congruent cooking sounds in radio ads or any significant interactions between cooking sounds and verbal smell references with regard to the outcome variables. Further, gender was not found to significantly intervene in any of the hypothesized relationships. Nevertheless, the significant outcomes associated with the main effect of the verbal smell references on consumer sensory perceptions (ability to almost taste and/or almost smell the advertised product), affective response, and purchase intentions, along with the mediation of the excitement construct, are associated with formidable theoretical and managerial implications which are discussed in the concluding chapter of this thesis. / Master of Science

Some of life’s most important behaviors are guided by the sense of smell. Detecting and interpreting odor information influences food-seeking, predator avoidance, sociality, competition, mating rituals, and more, shaping how organisms interact with their environment. In vertebrates, odors are detected by olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) of the main olfactory epithelium (MOE). OSNs rely on olfactory receptors (ORs) to recognize odorants and trigger neural activation. The OR gene pool is typically vast, containing between 200-4000 olfactory receptor genes across mammals, yet mature OSNs stably express only one gene from one allele. Data from mice show that ORs are anatomically restricted to designated sections of the MOE, but within these zones, OR expression appears mosaic and random. Since the discovery of the OR gene pool 30 years ago, deciphering how OSNs choose which OR they are going to express remains a central question. While multiple differentiation-dependent alterations to the OSN nucleus are required for OR expression, the most notable contribution comes from the organization of OR-gene specific enhancers, called Greek Islands (GIs), around the chosen allele. GIs use the transcription factors Lhx2 and Ebf1, as well as the coactivator Ldb1, to form a nucleoprotein complex known as the Greek Island Hub (GIH) to associate with the active OR gene and support its transcription. Bulk Hi-C data show that GIs form strong, specific, and singular associations with the active OR gene, suggesting a possible role for the GIH in singular OR choice. However, single-cell Hi-C analysis shows that multiple GIHs exist in every OSN with no clear differences between them, complicating the contribution of the GIH. Furthermore, ectopic OR gene activation is sufficient to drive association of an OR locus with a GIH and bias choice, suggesting a role for OR transcription itself in supporting its own stable expression. To clarify the genomic transformations that result in the formation of multiple GIHs, I performed combined scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq in the MOE. I determined that a selective inactivation event was taking place during the INP3-to-iOSN transition, where OSNs would silence a large fraction of the GI pool. GI inactivation takes place during a phase preceding OR choice, where OR expression is polygenic but skewed towards one OR. My single-cell Hi-C analysis verifies the presence of multiple GIHs per cell, with similar GI-GI interaction properties, but I also observe that the single active GIH contains much more specific GI-OR gene interactions than those in inactive GIHs. These architectural differences are supported by Liquid Hi-C and H3K27ac HiChIP analysis where I observe that the active GIH is more highly acetylated than inactive GIHs and possesses more euchromatic physical properties. Taken together these data show that while most GIs were initially euchromatic during the polygenic phase of OR expression, once choice has taken place, GIHs possess distinct OR interaction properties, chromatin marks, and physical features that are determined by their association with the active OR gene. I believe that these data are best explained by a winner-takes-all event, where GIHs containing transcribed OR genes during the polygenic phase are in competition for choice. Once one OR begins to win, it recruits resources to maintain its expression which consequently results in the silencing of other GIHs. Ectopic induction of OR gene transcription is sufficient to bias choice and silence other ORs by impeding their specific association with a GIH. I find that this does not depend on the coding properties of OR protein, as the transcription of non-coding OR mRNAs still results in OR gene silencing. I describe this competition as a symmetry breaking process, where asymmetrical reorganization of transcriptional resources to a single GIH is mediated by non-coding properties of a single highly expressed OR mRNA, culminating in the stable expression of that allele alone for the remainder of a cell’s lifetime.

My thesis interrogates the role that the sense of smell plays in the experience of place, arguing that scent has been virtually ignored in public history contexts. The thesis will review the foundational scholarship on the history of the senses and relate the findings of interdisciplinary research that demonstrates how the senses alter one's understanding of the environment and even the formation of memories. This work is relevant to the field of public history since smell can be used to captivate the public in a memorable—and potentially more authentic—engagement with the Mesopotamian past. To address gaps in the present scholarship, I will create a blueprint for an exhibit space that will center around the olfactory experience of place. The reconstructions involved in the design will focus upon medicinal recipes used to treat a variety of ailments in northern Mesopotamia during the Neo-Assyrian period (ca. 9th to 7th centuries BCE). My historical investigations of the medical texts from Mesopotamia will focus upon the identification of ingredients, primarily botanical, with the goal being to recreate ancient remedies for the public to discover through scentscapes. The historical reconstructions will consider modern conceptualizations of socially constructed places, showing how embodied experiences can be better represented by historians and cultural heritage professionals.

No description available.

This study is focused on the impact of smell on the memory in the context of games. The aim is to understand what the effects of smell on human’s memorization and learning process are. The research topic is explored through creating a memory game designed specifically for the study: “Guess My Face”. In this game, the players have to memorize pictures of faces parts using their specific scents. The game’s goal is to manage to compose a random face provided by the game with the face parts that the players learned. However, the difficulty lies in the fact that the players do not see the face parts pictures during the game and so, have to rely on their sense of smell alone.The game intends to contribute to the research area in different ways. First, it provides a technological solution for involving the inclusion of smell in games by using smell boxes connected to the computer. Second, the playtestings of the game highlight issues that a game designer has to take account by involving smell: balancing the strengths of the scents, participants experiencing dizziness after smelling a lot of different scents, the amount of time that smells remain in the air, the fact that coffee can be used to neutralize scents. Finally, the game contributes to the exploration of the way that smell triggers memories and how it could help for enhancing learning. Through the iterations of testing, the study reveals that smell is a sense that people do not often rely on for memorizing and they prefer visual memory. Moreover, we learn that players memorize pictures more easily when scent is involved, as they use several cognitive strategies or reflexes: characterizing the scents with adjectives or identifying their origin (fruits, woods), involving emotions (disgust, strangeness), and relying on personal experience (creating a link between a scent and picture thanks to the memory of a person/object/event). This cognitive behaviour shows that smell has the potential to enhance memory by creating meaningful knowledge and making the assimilation of information easier, an arena that has been dealt with by George Miller in his ’chunking theory’ (Thompson et al., 2005).

<p>This thesis describes a new type of biosensor, which reports the presence of a target by generating a smell that can be easily detected by the human nose. This approach is radically different from, but complementary to, colorimetric based reporting and it paves the way for the development of multi-sensory biosensors that can be used in a variety of fields, such as diagnostic device, food processing and environmental monitoring</p> <p>Biosensors typically consist of two parts: a bio-recognition element and a signal transducer. The biorecognition element is the component that can specifically interact with its cognate target, while the transducer produces a signal that can be easily identified. The key element of the smell generating biosensor is the enzyme tryptophanase (TPase), which was used as the signal transducer. This enzyme uses either L-tryptophan or S-methyl-L-cysteine as substrates, to produce either indole or methyl mercaptan as final products- both molecules are easily detectable by the human nose. Proof-of-concept for this biosensor was achieved by performing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on magnetic beads with detection of IgG from rabbit serum (the target) in a sample and reporting the presence of the target through the generation of a smell (either indole or methyl mercaptan, depending on the substrate used).</p> <p>The potential use of TPase for biosensing was further expanded by creating a bienzyme system that allows specifically detecting of adenosine-5’-triphosphate (ATP) and reporting its presence by generating a smell. This bienzyme system is based on the fact that TPase activity is greatly affected by the concentration of pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)- which acts as a cofactor that modulates enzyme activity. The enzyme pyridoxal kinase PKase catalyzes the phosphorylation of pyridoxal to PLP in the presence of ATP. The more ATP presents, the more PLP is produced per unit time. If this occurs in the presence of TPase, larger concentrations of ATP in samples will result in higher amounts and faster rates of PLP formation, leading to increased activity of TPase, hence faster generation of either indole or methyl mercaptan is achieved. This bienzyme was used for the detection of DNA molecules with a specific sequence as well as for the detection of microbial cells through smell generation.</p> <p>Most widely used biosensors require immobilization of the biologically active elements on a stable surface. Paper, being a cheap and easy accessible substrate, was used for fabrication of the olfactory-based biosensor. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-vinylacetic acid) (PNIPAM-VAA) microgels with functional groups present on their surface were modified by biotinylation and loaded with streptavidin/avidin (to be prepared as a platform for further biomolecule immobilization). The microgels were then used as a supporter for the bienzyme system on filter paper to construct a paper-based smell-generating biosensor, which opens the way for the creation of printable smell-reporting printable bio-inks.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Contented Architecture : In search of delight for all senses is an attempt to discover and capture the delightful sensory experiences of the users in the architectural space. Architectural space is seen as an artistic space, that appeals to different senses. The project is a Bike Hotel in Old Town, Alexandria. The situation and orientation of the building on site, the program and the features altogether make it possible for bikers to experience the space through different senses. This assembly among other pleasant experiences offers those sensory experiences that counteract the bikers daily exhaustive activities. Their bodies and minds feel relaxed, revitalized and encouraged to achieve their next goals. / Master of Architecture

Submitted by Aelson Maciera (aelsoncm@terra.com.br) on 2017-04-17T18:58:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissMAS.pdf: 4063634 bytes, checksum: deabb30ec4d63266b4b9dc58fe79287a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-04-20T12:22:31Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissMAS.pdf: 4063634 bytes, checksum: deabb30ec4d63266b4b9dc58fe79287a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-04-20T12:22:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissMAS.pdf: 4063634 bytes, checksum: deabb30ec4d63266b4b9dc58fe79287a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-20T12:26:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissMAS.pdf: 4063634 bytes, checksum: deabb30ec4d63266b4b9dc58fe79287a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-19 / Não recebi financiamento / Adaptive systems are able to adapt themselves according to changes in its execution environment or the user's needs. Monitors are essential for the development of such systems because they are responsible for collecting and pre-processing the context data. By a search in systems found in repositories and literature, it was observed that monitors are sometimes designed and implemented in an inappropriate way, exhibiting the following characteristics: i) they are Obscure in the source code; ii) they have a unique monitoring rate and iii) they are forced to have a pre-determined execution order. These characteristics lead to difficulties in maintenance, evolution and often problems related to performance. Design decisions that lead to these difficulties can be characterized as architectural smells. The documentation of smells helps developers identifying refactoring opportunities of a system and also highlights practices that should be analyzed during the design and development of new systems. Therefore, this master thesis proses two architectural smells for adaptive systems: the Obscure Monitor and Oppressed Monitors. The first occurs when the monitors are not evident in the system and the second occurs when the monitors are subject to the same monitoring rate and have a strict execution order. In order to check the influence of the presence of theses smells five maintenance activities were applied in two versions of a system called PhoneAdapter, the original version with the presence of the smells and the refactored one in which the smells were removed. The results indicate that the maintenance and evolution of the refactored system are facilitated in most activities. / Sistemas Adaptativos são capazes de se adaptarem às mudanças de seu ambiente de execução ou das necessidades do usuário. Monitores são essenciais para o desenvolvimento desse tipo de sistema, pois, são responsáveis por coletar e preprocessar dados do contexto. Em um levantamento de sistemas realizado em repositórios e na literatura especializada, notou-se que monitores são por vezes projetados e implementados de uma forma inadequada, exibindo as seguintes características: i) ficam obscuros no código-fonte; ii) possuem uma taxa de monitoramento única e iii) são forçados a ter uma ordem de execução pré-determinada. Isso leva a dificuldades na manutenção, evolução e muitas vezes problemas relacionados a desempenho. Decisões de projetos que levam a essas dificuldades podem ser caracterizadas como smells arquiteturais. A documentação de smells auxilia desenvolvedores a identificar oportunidades de refatorações do sistema, bem como evidenciar práticas que devem ser avaliadas durante o projeto e desenvolvimento de novos sistemas. Portanto, nesta dissertação de mestrado são propostos dois smells arquiteturais: o Obscure Monitor e o Oppressed Monitors. O primeiro ocorre quando os monitores não estão evidentes no sistema e o segundo ocorre quando os monitores estão sujeitos a uma mesma taxa de monitoramento e também possuem uma ordem de execução rígida. Como avaliação preliminar foi realizado um estudo exploratório em um sistema adaptativo chamado PhoneAdapter. Para verificar a influência da presença desses smells foram realizadas cinco atividades de manutenção em duas versões desse sistema, a original com os smells e uma refatorada na qual os smells foram removidos. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a manutenção e evolução de tais sistemas são facilitadas na maioria dessas atividades.

Within the discipline of sociology human olfaction is rich with social significance yet remains a poorly charted frontier. Therefore, the following discourse is aimed toward the development of a foundation for the sociological study of olfaction. It is formed by the dual goals of unearthing the social history of olfaction and of providing a viable sociological account of the manner in which smells affect human ontology. From these goals arise the following research questions: (1) Have the meaning and social relevance of odors and the olfactory sensorium changed throughout different periods of history?; (2) How have those in the lineage of eminent sociological thinkers addressed the phenomenon of human olfaction during these periods?; and (3) What is the process by which aromatic stimuli are transformed from simple chemical compounds, drifting in the atmosphere, into sensations in a sensory field and then on to perceived objects, to subjects of judgment and interpretation, and finally to bases of knowledge which form and continually reform individuals in the world? The weaving of the sociohistorical tapestry of smell is undertaken to provide examples from thousands of years lived experiences as to the fluid and sociologically complex nature of individuals' olfactory senses. This historical information is presented in a narrative format and is synthesized from data gleaned from books, advertisements, articles in popular non-scientific magazines, as well as from the findings of studies published in medical/neurological, psychological, anthropological, and sociological scholarly journals. Regarding theoretical aim of this discourse, insights are drawn from Maurice Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological theory of human perception for the generation of a framework for the sociological study of olfaction. Merleau-Ponty's theoretical notions are modified, modernized, and refitted to more specifically fit the subject of human olfaction and to include all that has been discovered about the biological specifics of olfactory perception since the time of his writing. Taken in sum, this effort is an access point to the understanding of how olfactory sensory perceptions flow toward the ontological unfolding of individuals.

Syftet med studien var att belysa upplevelser av att leva med fekal inkontinens. Fekal inkontinens, även kallat FI, är ett symtom som uppemot 15 % av den globala befolkningen lider av. Symtomet är fysiskt men kan även ha negativ inverkan på livskvaliteten, både på ett emotionellt och ett socialt plan. Stigmatiseringen av FI gör att många individer lider i det tysta. Litteraturstudiens resultat grundar sig på elva vetenskapliga artiklar, där resultatet av studien utföll i sju kategorier: Förlust av kontroll, Social isolering, Kroppsbild och självkänsla, Längtan efter bekräftelse, Livsbegränsningar, Bristande bemötande av hälso-och sjukvården, Känslor av skam, Förnedring samt Att hemlighålla fekal inkontinens. Resultatet visade att tabun kring FI ledde till skam hos de som levde med symtomet. Vidare framkom det i studien att individer med FI vanligtvis begränsade sitt sociala liv, vilket medförde en försämrad livskvalitet och självkänsla. Den skamfulla upplevelsen av FI korrelerar med bristande kunskap om symtomet. Mer kunskap medför i regel att skamkänslorna minskar. Hälso- och sjukvården kan tillhandahålla individen information och insikt om sina symtom. För att fler individer ska få hjälp att hantera känslan av skam som symtomet kan orsaka, är det av vikt att hälso- och sjukvårdspersonal har adekvat utbildning om uppkomsten av negativa känslor. På så vis kan de bemöta och stötta individerna på en individanpassad nivå. Därav behövs vidare forskning bedrivas i ämnet. / The purpose of this study was to illustrate experiences of living with fecal incontinence. Fecal incontinence, also known as FI, is a symptom that up to 15% of the population suffers from. The symptom is physical, but can also have a negative impact on quality of life, both on an emotional and social level. The stigmatization of FI makes many individuals suffer in silence. The results from the literature study is based on eleven scientific articles, and resulted into seven categories: Loss of control, Social isolation, Body image and self-esteem, Desire for affirmation, Life limitations, Inadequate treatment of health care, Feelings of shame, humiliation and To keep fecal incontinence a secret. The results showed that the taboo surrounding FI led to feelings of shame of those who lives with the symptom. The results also showed that individuals with FI usually limited their social life, resulting in a reduced quality of life and self-esteem. The shameful experience of FI correlates with lack of knowledge about the symptom. More knowledge generally leads to reduced feelings of shame. The health care may provide the individual with information and insight about their symptoms. It is important for the health professionals to have adequate education about the appearance of negative feelings, in order to help individuals with FI managing their feelings of shame. In this way, the health professionals can treat and support individuals on an individualized level. Hence the need for further research conducted on the subject.