Search

Although there has been great interest in the evolutionary approach to cooperative breeding species, few studies actually directly compare fathers and mothers on their motivation to parent offspring. We tested the responsiveness of common marmoset mothers and fathers to vocal and olfactory cues from their own and other infants using a two-chamber test apparatus designed to evaluate responses in the absence of competition from other caregivers within the family. We tested parentally experienced mothers and fathers living with young infants and former parents with no current offspring to address the following questions: (1) do mothers and fathers respond equally to sensory cues of infants; (2) do parents discriminate cues of their own offspring when the infants are highly dependent and when the infants are more independent; and (3) are parents responsive to both auditory and olfactory cues? Mothers and fathers reacted similarly in all tests. Parents responded equally to isolation calls from their own and unfamiliar dependent infants and there was minimal response to olfactory cues. Responses to infant vocal cues were significantly stronger when infants were dependent upon direct parental care. There was no difference in response between parents whose infants were no longer dependent and former parents with no current offspring. The results show that both parents are highly responsive to infant vocal cues when their own infants are dependent on parental care, supporting an effect of hormonal priming. However, parents only showed behavioural discrimination between vocalizations from their own and unfamiliar infants when their infants were mostly independent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to discriminate between group-mates and non-group-mates likely underpins the occurrence of affiliative and aggressive behaviour towards 'in-group' and 'out-group' individuals. Here we present two experiments aimed at testing the ability of rats (Rattus norvegicus) to discriminate between cage-mate (CM: animals residing in the subject's home cage) and non-cage-mate (NCM) conspecifics. In experiment 1, rats were trained to discriminate between different exemplars of CM and NCM using a lever pressing task employing symmetrical reinforcement. Subjects did not reach performance criterion, but they did show some evidence of discrimination between the two types of stimuli. In experiment 2, we employed a digging task to determine if rats can discriminate between odour cues from CM and NCM presented simultaneously on two sand-filled bowls. Subjects reached performance criterion on the first pair of odours, and on three more different pairs of CM and NCM odours. The results of a reversal task, using a fifth pair of odours, indicate that the rats were using a common factor to discriminate between social cues from CM and NCM conspecifics, rather than learning each pair independently. Possible candidates include a group-specific odour cue, or the development of a CM/NCM category concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samuel Hahnemann described incidences where the homeopathic response was disrupted by noxious smells in the environment. An earlier paper proposed that homeopathic medicines may be sensed by vomeronasal cells (VNCs) i.e. microvillus or brush cells in the vomeronasal organ (VNO), the taste buds and associated with the trigeminal nerve and nervus terminalis. This paper proposes an extension to the theory and suggests that a subset of solitary chemosensory cells (SCCs) in the diffuse chemosensory system (DCS) that is morphologically similar to VNCs might also be receptive to homeopathic medicines. The types of odours that may interfere with this process are described. Two clinical cases of disruption of the homeopathic response are given as examples, showing that successful re-establishment of remedy action can be produced by timely repetition of the medicine. The ramifications on clinical homeopathic practice are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents a fluctuating plume model, which incorporates the PRIME algorithm in order to include the effect of plume elevation and downwash due to buoyancy and the presence of obstacles. The Gaussian fluctuating plume model has the ability to predict both mean concentrations and concentration fluctuations. Therefore, it is useful for modelling dispersion in cases where concentration fluctuations are important for environmental impact assessment, such as for odorous compounds. The model is validated using two different experimental datasets, one involving dispersion around a complex building in a wind tunnel and the other involving dispersion around an isolated cube in the field. The results suggest that the model in general predicts adequately mean concentrations and concentration fluctuation statistics, such as concentration peaks and intermittency, downwind of the near-wake. However, mainly due to the formulation of the PRIME algorithm, it underestimates concentrations in the near-wake recirculation region of the obstacle and although it can adequately predict the maximum intermittency value, it does not predict accurately its location. In general, the model appears to over-predict dispersion if compared to the wind tunnel data. This can be partly attributed to the larger scales of turbulence not reproduced in the wind tunnel as also suggested from the comparison of the model results with field data. Finally, due to the assumptions incorporated in PRIME, the model cannot capture the effect of the complex shape of a building on near-field dispersion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The management of odorous emissions from sewer networks has become an important issue for sewer system operators resulting in the need to better understand the composition of reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs). Gaseous RSCs including hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methanethiol (MeSH), dimethyl sulfide (DMS), carbon disulfide (CS2), dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) were measured in the atmosphere of selected sewer networks in two major Australian cities (Sydney and Melbourne) during 2011-2012. The RSC concentrations in the sewer air were detected in a highly variable range. H2S and MeSH were found at the highest concentrations, followed by DMS (39.2- 94.0 μg/m3), CS2 (18.3-19.6 μg/m3), DMDS (7.8-49.6 μg/m3) and DMTS (10.4-35.3 μg/m3). Temporal trends in the occurrence of targeted RSCs were observed and the highest sulfur concentration occurred either in summer or spring, which are typically regarded as the warmer seasons. Statistical significant difference in the magnitude of targeted RSCs was found between samples collected in Sydney and Melbourne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rapeseed meal (RSM) and wheat dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) are byproducts which may be incorporated into pig diets. However, in comparison with wheat and soyabean meal, higher non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) content in RSM and DDGS may impose dietary limitations. Two 2×2 factorial experiments were conducted to investigate the interaction between xylanase (0 vs. 200mg/kg) and protease (0 vs. 200mg/kg) enzyme supplementation on (1) growth performance and carcass characteristics, and (2) apparent ileal (AID) and total tract nutrient digestibility (ATTD), manure gaseous emissions in grower–finisher pigs. In experiment 1, to assess growth performance, 128 pigs (body weight (BW), 34.2±2.1kg; n =32) were allocated to one of four treatments based on a basal diet containing DDGS (300g/kg) and RSM (210g/kg): (1) basal diet; (2) basal diet plus 200mg/kg protease enzyme; (3) basal diet plus 200mg/kg xylanase enzyme; (4) basal diet plus 200mg/kg protease and 200mg/kg xylanase enzymes. In experiment 1, pigs offered diets supplemented with protease had a lower ADG (P<0.001) during the combined grower and finisher period (d 0-slaughter) compared with pigs offered diets without protease. There was an interaction between growing phase, protease and xylanase supplementation on ADFI (P<0.01) and BW (P<0.01). During the finishing phase (d 28-slaughter), pigs offered diets containing both xylanase and protease had a reduced ADFI and a reduced BW compared with pigs offered the protease or xylanase only diets. However, this interaction was not evident during the growing period (d 0–28). In experiment 2, 24 entire male pigs (BW 78±2.3kg; n =6), were housed in metabolism crates and offered identical diets to those in experiment 1. There was an interaction between xylanase and protease (P<0.05) on the AID of GE. Diets containing protease only had increased AID of GE compared with basal fed pigs; however the AID of GE decreased when protease was combined with xylanase. Diets containing xylanase reduced manure odour emissions compared with diets without xylanase (598 vs. 1306OuE/m3; P<0.05). In conclusion, protease increased the AID of GE and xylanase reduced manure odour emissions, however neither enzymes improved growth performance of grower finisher pigs offered diets based on RSM and DDGS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study was conducted to classify and evaluate the impact of solid waste generated in the beaches of Riohacha. The beaches sampled covered the length from Valle de los Cangrejos beach to Marbella’s Neigborhood beach. Samples were taken in five places, were marked transcets perpendicular to the coastline; then on these places there were selected parallel quadrants for solid waste collection. In addition, a survey was also applied to users and sellers of the beaches to determine the perception of odours and quantify its burden on tourism. The data about solid waste was analyzed using Kruskal-wallis test in SPSS 12.0 software. The level of significance used was 97.5% and the impact was estimated using Leopold method (1971). The inventory of the solid waste showed that most of the materials were organic matter, plastics, glass and miscellaneous. However, organic solid waste had higher percentages than the other materials. Incidentally, most of the material collected in each sampling station was found on the Active Zone (AZ) and the Passive Zone (PZ); areas where there are the highest concentrations of beach users. The odours with higher incidence came from garbage, urine and faeces, both from human and animals. The quantity and type of waste were found to be conditioned by the characteristics of the area as well as the economical activities of people around. There were not found significant differences in the amount of solid waste collected during the first and second sampling. The study showed that most of the material collected came from the waste disposal by residents and visitors, fishing and stool.

Although we are not aware of many spontaneous sensual experiences, we learn about the surrounding world through our senses. One of the objects of sensual experience is smell. It influences our decisions, shapes social interactions and is also a carrier of social meanings. Unfortunately, long-term conviction about the domination of sight over smell led to a belief in the pictorial character of our contemporary culture. Moreover, constant fluctuations between the promotion and ignoring of olfactory data have played a role in the neglect of the importance of smell in social studies. In this article I show how important the sense of smell has been through many centuries of science, and point out that the alleged linguistic and methodological difficulties of this topic, as well as the subjective interpretation of smell, should not be an obstacle in the development of research on smell in social studies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Rats and mice are the most widely used species for modelling psychiatric disease. Assessment of these rodent models typically involves the analysis of aberrant behaviour with behavioural interactions often being manipulated to generate the model. Rodents rely heavily on their excellent sense of smell and almost all their social interactions have a strong olfactory component. Therefore, experimental paradigms that exploit these olfactory-mediated behaviours are among the most robust available and are highly prevalent in psychiatric disease research. These include tests of aggression and maternal instinct, foraging, olfactory memory and habituation and the establishment of social hierarchies. An appreciation of the way that rodents regulate these behaviours in an ethological context can assist experimenters to generate better data from their models and to avoid common pitfalls. We describe some of the more commonly used behavioural paradigms from a rodent olfactory perspective and discuss their application in existing models of psychiatric disease. We introduce the four olfactory subsystems that integrate to mediate the behavioural responses and the types of sensory cue that promote them and discuss their control and practical implementation to improve experimental outcomes. In addition, because smell is critical for normal behaviour in rodents and yet olfactory dysfunction is often associated with neuropsychiatric disease, we introduce some tests for olfactory function that can be applied to rodent models of psychiatric disorders as part of behavioural analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In early 2012, Australian politician Teresa Gambaro claimed that temporary migrants on 457 work visas needed to be taught Australian values including hygiene practices to overcome issues of body odour in public spaces. Gambaro's comments highlight the corporeal and embodied practices and issues in migration and migration debates in terms of the conditionality of multicultural tolerance. They point to the fact that expanding the conditions by which nonwhite temporary migrant others are to be tolerated is, in the longer-term ineffective in combating racist stereotyping-the task at hand is to develop ethical means by which the other, regardless of temporary migration status or differential and diverse body odours, is welcomed unconditionally. This paper examines the Gambaro case by opening questions about migrants on temporary worker visas, cultural difference and the performativity of bodies in terms of perceptions of hygiene (how the body emits differently and how this works in terms of claims of tolerance). It examines how Gambaro's comments fit within a history of concern over the odours of migrant food and bodies, how stereotyping temporary migrants operates to attribute abject otherness to migrant bodies, and how the this produces unethical shaming of temporary migrants. The paper ends by discussing some of the ways in which ethics of cohabitation can be deployed in a context of welcoming diverse bodies that do things (and smell) in diverse ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European corn borer (ECB) neonate larvae are capable of orienting towards maize odours and of avoiding spinach odours. We previously reported that maize odours' attraction was dependent on the stimulus regime. This led us to propose that maize odours could have a repellent or attractive effect depending on their concentration. In this work, we tested this hypothesis by evaluating attraction or avoidance of neonate ECB larvae to four concentrations of each of six single green leaf volatiles (GLVs); these are commonly found in maize and other plants. We found a dose-dependent effect for all of these GLVs with the exception of 1-hexyl acetate, which did not elicit any orientation behaviour over the range of concentrations tested. These five GLVs were repellent at high concentrations, while two of them were attractive at a lower concentration. These observations indicate for the first time that plant odours induce different behaviours in ECB neonate larvae depending not only on their chemical identity but also their concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As odour nuisance can affect the quality of life, the population is more and more demanding and in many cities sewers are a critical source of odours. Both factors can lead to increasing numbers of complaints due to the odour nuisance perceived by the residents, affecting also the public image of the sewer management companies. Odours associated with sewer networks are very heterogeneous, in as much as the different 'types of odours' encountered are sewer site specific. The state of the art indicates that there are three parameters that play an important role with the nuisance generated by an odour: hedonic odour tone, odour concentration and odour intensity. This paper presents the results of the study on odour nuisance carried out in different points of the sewer network, with the aim to assess the nuisance generated and identify which points of the sewer should be targeted to implement corrective actions. Considering the different parameters assessed, pumping stations have been identified as critical points of odour nuisance in the sewers, being recommended to implement an odour treatment system in order to guarantee the odour comfort of residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews all the published evidence on the theory that the act of selecting a piece of food or drink structurally coordinates quantitative information across several sensory modalities. The existing data show that the momentary disposition to consume the item is strengthened or weakened by learnt configurations of stimuli perceived through both exteroceptive and interoceptive senses. The observed configural structure of performance shows that the multimodal stimuli are interacting perceptually, rather than merely combining quantities of information from the senses into the observed response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odourous emissions from sewer networks and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can significantly impact a local population. Sampling techniques such as wind tunnels and flux hood chambers are traditionally used to collect area source samples for subsequent quantification of odour emission rates using dilution olfactometry, however these methods are unsuitable for assessing liquid samples from point sources due to the large liquid volumes required. To overcome this limitation, a gas phase sample preparation method was developed for assessing the total Odour Emission Ability (OEA) from a liquid sample. The method was validated using two volatile organic sulphur compounds (VOSCs), dimethyl-trisulphide (DMTS) and bismethylthiomethane (BMTM) that are frequently detected from sewers and WWTPs and are relatively stable compared with common VOSCs like mercaptan or methyl mercaptan. The recovery rates of DMTS and BMTM were quantified by injecting a known volume of a standard liquid sample into Tedlar bags using a static injection and a dynamic injection methodology. It was confirmed that both dynamic and static injection methods at ambient condition achieved high recovery rates with no need to consider increasing evaporation by elevating the temperature. This method can also be used to assess odour removal effectiveness of liquids by comparing the OEA before and after the treatment tests. Two application examples were presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid process combining adsorption and ozonation was examined as an alternative treatment for odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) was chosen to study the influence of operating parameters. Two synthetic aluminosilicates (faujasite-Y and ZSM-5) were tested for adsorption and reactivity with ozone. The adsorption equilibrium measurement on both adsorbents showed that adsorption performance depends on temperature but is not sensitive to relative humidity, due to the hydrophobic properties of the materials. Adsorbed VOCs were oxidized at low temperature when ozonated flow was sent to the reactor. Regeneration of the fixed bed was achieved at the same time, releasing mainly CO2 and H2O. Intermediates of oxidation, such as 2,3-butanedione and acetic acid, were identified, leading to incomplete mineralization. The influence of concentration and humidity are discussed. Four successive cycles were tested: after the first adsorption/ozonation cycle, the adsorption efficiency was not affected during subsequent cycles. These results show that the same sample of adsorbent can be used in the treatment process for a long time. Ozonation regeneration is a promising process for VOC removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel horizontal flow biofilm reactor (HFBR) has been adapted and tested for its efficiency in treating hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and methane (CH4) gas. Six pilot-scale HFBR reactors were commissioned, three each treating CH4 and H2S respectively. The reactors were operated at 10 °C, often typical of ambient temperatures in Ireland, and were simultaneously dosed with an air mixture containing the gas in question and with synthetic wastewater (SWW). Three reactors (HFBR 1, 2 and 3), treating an air mixture containing CH4, were operated over three phases (Phases 1-3) lasting 180 days in total. During each phase the air mixture flow rate (AFR) and the plastic media top plan surface area (TPSA) loading rate to HFBR 1, 2 and 3 were 1.2 m³/m³/h and 0.6 m³/m² TPSA/h respectively. In Phase 1 the reactors were operated in triplicate and were loaded with 8.6 g CH4/m³ reactor/h (4.3 g CH4/m² TPSA/h) and a synthetic wastewater (SWW) similar to domestic sewage at 10 °C. During Phase 2 (reactors also operated in triplicate) the effect of temperature on the reactor performance was examined. During Phase 3 the reactors were operated independently in order to examine the effects of omitting organic carbon and adding additional nitrogen in the formof nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), rather than ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N). During Phase 3, CH4 removal efficiencies (RE) of up to 92.8% were achieved at an empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 50 min, equating to a maximum removal of 8.0 g CH4/m³ reactor/h. Three additional reactors (HFBR 4, 5 and 6) were used to treat an air mixture containing H2S and were loaded at an AFR of 15 m³/m³ reactor/h (7.5 m³/m² TPSA/h) with an average H2S loading rate of 3.34 g H2S/m³ reactor/h (1.67 g H2S/m² TPSA/h). After 50 days of operation, the RE reached 100% for all three reactors at an EBRT of 4 min. In each reactor, profile samples of biofilm, air and liquid were taken periodically from various regions of the HFBR. These allowed detailed description of removal processes and optimisation of the reactors by detailing changes in air, liquid and biofilm composition as air moved through the reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of UV and VIS irradiation and specific nitrogen modification on a 5%Cu/5%TiO/SiO catalyst in the course of oxidation of ammonia was investigated. It was demonstrated that both UV and VIS irradiation increased the conversion of the reactant in the reaction studied. Due to a good distribution of titanium dioxide and copper on the surface of the support, higher ammonia conversion was achieved. Physico-chemical characterisation of the catalysts studied using methods such as BET, SEM-EDS, TPD (NH), and TPD (CO) was carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odour emissions from aluminium processing can cause an impact on local communities surrounding such facilities. Of particular concern is fugitive odours emitted from the handling and use of refinery condensate streams, particularly the digestion condensate. This study evaluated the application of using catalytic ozonation to treat alumina refinery condensate in order to remove the potential emission of odourous compounds from the industrial wastewater. The technical challenges in treating the alumina refinery condensate are the high pH and temperatures of the wastewater effluent (over 80°C and pH above 10) due the industrial process. The odour removal efficiencies for different catalysts (FeCl3, MnO, and MnSO4) under experimental conditions in terms of controlled pH, temperature and ozone dosage were determined before and after ozone treatment using dynamic olfactometry. The result demonstrated that the addition of both FeCl3 and MnO catalysts improved odour removal efficiencies during the ozonation of alumina condensates at similar pH and temperature conditions. FeCl3 and MnO had similar enhancement for odour removal, however MnO was determined to be more appropriate than MnSO4 for odour removal due to the colouration of the treated condensate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odourous emissions from sewer networks can significantly impact a local population causing odour annoyance. A survey of nine Australian wastewater utilities that serve over 8.4 million people and operate over 59,000 km of sewer networks was undertaken to summarise the current monitoring practices in Australia with the view to assist the water industry to further improve their practices in operating and monitoring sewer odour abatement systems. Results indicated that most odour abatement systems were monitored through complaints from the surrounding community, H2S is the dominant online and offline monitoring parameter and that a variety of different H2S instruments are used across the industry but the reported use is dominated by two manufacturers. The monitoring data were primarily used for decision making and diagnosis, and there was limited use of non-H2S odourant analysis. The water industry had several significant limitations in terms of its inability to provide gas flow data, process monitoring and complaint data as well as being able to link process monitoring data with maintenance information for instrumentation. The improved collection and management of this data would yield benefits to the water industry in terms of odour abatement design, performance and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses M. Kassovitz's La Haine and C. Giannaris' Hostage. It starts from the tendency to naturalize the meanings that are attributed to bodily odours and fluids, and then it investigates some of the consequences of their rhetoric handlings. Doing so, it points out the insufficiency of disregarding bodily fluids or odours when one attempts to put abject to rest. Second, it discusses the possibility of using a bodily fluid such as tears, in order to create an inclusive space where borderlines and seclusions would fade away; it shows, nevertheless, that the ground of non-abjection in which this attempt was rooted proved to be rather fragile. Third, it examines the building up of a voluntaristic attitude vis-à-vis bodily fluids, namely saliva and blood, and it explores the ways in which this collides with their pre-ascribed meanings. Fourth, it records cases in which excrements such as faeces and urine could eventually be tolerated and, in a way, un-abjectified; however, it shows how a simple evocation is enough to retransform them into dilutive factors prohibiting the creation of a common space, as well as into a channel through which oneself can be addressed by the other and turned into an outcast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hop is perennial dioecious plant classified in the family Cannabinaceae. Because of the bitterness, hop aroma and antimicrobic effect influencing its time stability it is important for brewing industry. Components of hop essential oil tend to provide fruity, floral, citrus, herbal and spicy/woody odours. In our work the quantity and composition of a particular essential oil fractions as a function of distillation time were determined. Selected samples in the research were those of Slovenian hop variety Bobek, harvest 2011. Based on the compostition and aroma of whole oils and its fractions, variety Bobek was estimated as high quality. For the essential oil of Bobek we found out that it has a pleasant sweet, herbal odour. Most pleasant smell of fractions was at 60 minutes of distillation - it was fresh, herbal and sweet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smell can be understood as a cultural phenomenon, historically signified, enforcing social structures or transgressing them, creating social bonds - empowering or disempowering people. The perception of smell consists not only of the sensation of the odours themselves, but of the experiences and emotions associated with them. Odours, unlike colours, for instance, cannot be named, only described; in the realm of olfaction, we must make do with descriptions, analogies and recollections. It is an elusive phenomenon. From natural environments to urban spaces, the large variety of odours can stimulate our olfactory senses and evoke experiences, in which pleasant and unpleasant, and even non-smelling scents, can be combined as parameters of spatial limits and social bounds. Thus, smell can be used to structure and classify different aspects of the world, from time and space to gender and selfhood. The aim of this text is to comprehend some chemical and cultural aspects of smells and odours, and their potential to elaborate social connections and configure spatial orientations. Based on some examples from the Bororo of Brazil and the aboriginal inhabitants of the Andaman Islands, odours are understood as cultural classification systems and means of ordering the world. At the end, some artists - such as Usman Haque, Rion Willard and Jenny Marketou - will be presented since their art works proposals of mapping and describing physical spaces through smells and odours can be apprehended as a medium to create evocative experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proustian memories, or memories spontaneously evoked by taste and odours, have been argued to be uniquely linked to our remote past. This view suggests an asymmetry between odour-cued memories and odour-cued representations of future events regarding their temporal distance to the present. We investigated the temporal distribution and other phenomenological qualities of autobiographical memories and future events employing a 2 (temporal direction: past vs future)×3 (cue type: verbal, visual, and odour) mixed design. We found that while odour-evoked memories were predominantly from the first decade of life, the future condition showed a marked preponderance of odour-cued events in the upcoming year. Odour-evoked memories were also less specific than the verbal and visual conditions. The odour condition was responsible for interactions concerning coherency of the events and the events’ significance to the life story. The results support the view that odours possess a unique ability to evoke remote autobiographical memories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Odours (OU E ) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) emission during biological process used to treat MSW were studied under standardized conditions in order to detect potential risk for workers and population. Results obtained indicated that odours and VOCs emitted depend on the biological stability of waste measured by the dynamic respiration index (DRI) and a very good correlation were found between these parameters (OU E vs. DRI, r =0.96, p <0.001, n =6; VOC vs. DRI, r =0.97, p <0.001, n =6). GC–MS study of the VOCs indicated the presence of a group of molecules that were degraded during the process. On the other hand, a second group of molecules, i.e. aromatic and halogenated compounds, and furan persisted in the waste sample, although molecule concentrations were always lower than Threshold Limit Value–Time Weighted Average (TLV–TWA). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Adsorbents from pyrolysed sewage–sludge were prepared following two different methodologies, namely acid washing and activation with alkaline hydroxides. Air streams loaded with low concentrations (<100ppm, v/v) of three VOCs linked to odour episodes in wastewater treatment facilities (toluene, methyl ethyl ketone and limonene) were used in dynamic adsorption/desorption experiments. Adsorption capacities as high as 350, 220 and 640mg of toluene, methyl ethyl ketone and limonene were obtained, respectively, per g of alkaline activated sludges. The efficiency and rate of adsorption are also favoured in the case of the mesoporous sludge-based adsorbents. The VOC adsorption process is not fully reversible under the experimental conditions used. Both adsorption capacities and the amount of desorbed VOC per g of adsorbent were plotted vs. different textural parameters of the solids. Trends obtained depend on the particular set of adsorbents (sludge-based materials/activated carbons) and the VOC size and polarity. The performance of the sludge-based adsorbents is even better if retention capacities up to VOC odour thresholds are calculated. At this odour level, materials obtained by acid washing of the pyrolysed sludges compares well with commercial activated carbons in terms of retention capacities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Odours of different sources can indicate to hermit crabs the availability of empty shells, crucial resources for the life cycle of almost all of them. Here, we compared Clibanarius erythropus and Pagurus bernhardus for the intensity of investigative behaviour exhibited towards an empty, well-fitting shell in the presence of (1) plain seawater as control and seawater conditioned by (2) dead and live snails, (3) dead and live conspecifics, (4) live predators, and (5) food. During 10 min of observation, we recorded latency (the time until the first contact with the shell), and the number and duration of shell investigation bouts. The two species behaved similarly when exposed to the odours of food, live snails, and predators, while a more intense shell investigation was induced by dead snail odour in C. erythropus and by dead or live conspecific odour in P. bernhardus. Further studies should investigate the influence of phylogeny and ecology on this interspecific difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the concept of sweat and perspiration as disgusting, as separate from the socially valued concepts of sports, exercise, and physical activity which produce them. Topics include ambivalence to sweat, social reactions to sweat stains, and the removal of sweat by wiping it with a tissue.

Control of odours should be considered to be a fundamental issue in order to site, design and manage sanitary land-fills. With regard to construction and demolition (C&D) debris, landfilling was the mainly adopted solution in many European Countries; in particular, gypsum drywalls can produce high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in landfill gas ranging from 7 ppm to 100 ppm. In some cases also dangerous concentrations until to 12,000 ppm were detected. In this paper H2S removal efficiency in a lab-scale vertical packed scrubber was investigated. Hydrogen sulphide abatement was evaluated for inlet H2S concentrations of 1000-100-10 ppm, adjusting scrubbing liquid pH in the range 9-12.5 by means of caustic soda (NaOH 2N solution). Moreover, best operating conditions for the system were defined as well as H2S abatement along the tower and liquid recirculation effectiveness in case of inlet H2S concentration of 10 ppm (typical odour concentration). Results showed that pH of 11.5 in scrubbing liquid could be considered the best value for removal of different inlet H2S concentrations, also taking into account parasitical consumption of NaOH due to CO2 absorption. Moreover, in case of continuous working of the system at H2S concentration of 10 ppm, strong removal efficiency was already obtained with a packed bed height of about 70 cm. Significant performances were ensured after 1h of constant activity, consuming about 3 ml of soda per cubic meter of polluted air. Subsequently liquid blowdown was necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the present study is to investigate the correlation between microbial activity, i.e., biological stability measured by aerobic (OD20 test) and anaerobic tests (ABP test), and odour emissions of organic fraction of municipal solid waste during anaerobic digestion in a full-scale treatment plant considering the three stages of the process (input, digested and post-digested waste). The results obtained indicated that the stabilization of the treated material reduces the odour impact measured by the olfactometric approach. Successive application of gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and electronic nose (EN) allowed the characterization of the different groups of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) responsible of odour impacts determining, also, their concentration. Principal component and partial least squares analyses applied to the EN and GC–MS data sets gave good regression for the OD20 vs the EN and OD20 vs the GC–MS data. Therefore, OD20 reduction could be used as an odour depletion indicator. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Microbiota on the human skin plays a major role in body odour production. The human microbial and chemical signature displays a qualitative and quantitative correlation. Genes may influence the chemical signature by shaping the composition of the microbiota. Recent studies on human skin microbiota, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, found a high inter- and intrapersonal variation in bacterial species on the human skin, which is relatively stable over time. Human body odours mediate the attraction of mosquitoes to their blood hosts. Odours produced by skin microbiota are attractive to mosquitoes as shown by in vitro studies, and variation in bacterial species on the human skin may explain the variation in mosquito attraction between humans. Detailed knowledge of the ecology and genetics of human skin microbiota is needed in order to unravel the evolutionary mechanisms that underlie the interactions between mosquitoes and their hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Odorous emissions from sewers and wastewater treatment plants are a complex mixture of volatile chemicals that can cause annoyance to local populations, resulting in complaints to wastewater operators. Due to the variability in hedonic tone and chemical character of odorous emissions, no analytical technique can be applied universally for the assessment of odour abatement performance. Recent developments in analytical methodologies, specifically gas chromatography, odour assessment approaches (odour wheels, the odour profile method and dynamic olfactometry), and more recently combined gas chromatography-sensory analysis, have contributed to improvements in our ability to assesses odorous emissions in terms of odorant concentration and composition. This review collates existing knowledge with the aim of providing new insight into the effectiveness of sensorial and characterisation approaches to improve our understanding of the fate of odorous emissions during odour abatement. While research in non-specific sensor array (e-nose) technology has resulted in progress in the field of continuous odour monitoring, more successful long term case-studies are still needed to overcome the early overoptimistic performance expectations. Knowledge gaps still remain with regards to the decomposition of thermally unstable volatile compounds (especially sulfur compounds), the inability to predict synergistic, antagonistic, or additive interactions among odorants in combined chemical/sensorial analysis techniques, and the long term stability of chemical sensors due to sensor drift, aging, temperature/relative humidity effects, and temporal variations. Future odour abatement monitoring will require the identification of key odorants to facilitate improved process selection, design and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tammar wallaby females (Macropus eugenii) are seasonally breeding marsupials with a post-partum oestrus after a highly synchronised birth period when testosterone concentrations rise in males. Chemical communication appears to be important for mating, as males show checking behaviour, sniffing the urogenital opening (UGO) and the pouch of females. This study investigates whether the presence of pregnant and oestrous females directly influences testosterone in males and if oestrous odours or secretion from the pouch or UGO are attractive. Concentrations of plasma testosterone were measured in males housed with pregnant and oestrous females during two consecutive cycles in the breeding season, and an artificially induced cycle in the non-breeding season. Males were also tested for their interest in swabs taken from the urogenital opening (UGO) or pouch of oestrous females. Testosterone increased sharply in males in the presence of pregnant and oestrous females during all cycles in both seasons, but there was no change when males were exposed to non-cycling females in lactational or seasonal diapause. Males had no preference for either oestrous or non-oestrous samples taken from the pouch or from the UGO from oestrous females. This study confirms that the increase in plasma testosterone in tammar males can be induced through the presence of pregnant and oestrous females, regardless of season and that the increase began when the females were in late-pregnancy. This confirms that the male''s reproductive state is dependent on a signal from females and is not blocked through seasonal effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, self-groom before, during and after copulation, which may convey olfactory information to nearby conspecifics. Since males who self-groom at high rates were found to be attractive to females, it is possible that the copulating male may attempt to increase his attractiveness over that of other males who are present or nearby. In that the presence of other males affects sperm investment and can be used by males as an indicator of sperm competition, we tested the hypothesis that the presence of scent marks of other males near a sexually receptive female affects the self-grooming behaviour of males that encounter them. We did so by pairing a male and a female vole in the presence of the odours of one male conspecific, five male conspecifics, or no male conspecifics. The amount of time male voles self-groomed was not affected by the risk or intensity of sperm competition. We also tested the hypothesis that self-grooming behaviour of males differed depending on whether it was performed before, during, or after copulation. Male voles differed in the amount of time and the location on their body that they self-groomed before, during, and after copulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bibliography on research work related to 'electronic nose' (artificial olfactory system, or smell sensor) and its applications in medicine, aerospace, chemical industry, food process industry, environment monitoring, and robotics, covering the period 1970-2006, is compiled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gaseous dimethyl sulphide (DMS) was eliminated in a biotrickling filter with Thiobacillus thioparus grown in polyurethane foam cubes as carrier material. The temperature, pH and empty bed residence time of the gas were maintained at 30 °C, 7.0 and 40 s, respectively. In the first 45 days, DMS loads of around 2.0 gDMS m-3 h-1 were fed to the BTF to adapt T. thioparus to DMS consumption, attaining close to 100% removal efficiency (RE) on day 46, and the maximum elimination capacity (EC) was 4.0 gDMS m-3 h-1 with a RE of 77%. The overall performance was enhanced by adding a nitrogen-enriched (9×) medium but was negatively affected by high superficial liquid velocity (8.18 m h-1) and high pH (>7.5). Sulphate concentrations (up to 10 g L-1) showed no effect. The system supported shock loads up to 58 gDMS m-3 h-1 with increased elimination. With nitrogen-enriched medium and a pH of 7.0 it was possible to increase the EC of DMS up to a maximum of around 23 gDMS m-3 h-1 with 65% RE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this investigation was to determine odorous compounds in the air over the landfill sites in France and Poland. Air samples were collected by passive and dynamic methods of preconcentration analytes and analysed by GC-MS and GC-FID. The coupling μTD-μGC-MS was also used for on-site analysis of odorous compounds. The achieved results indicated that the concentrations of odorants in the air varied and strongly depended on the sampling site. The highest concentrations were observed at the points situated near biogas wells and above the fresh waste layer. The concentrations were influenced by landfill activities such as failures of the landfill gas collection system, heavy truck traffic, machinery operations and compacting fresh waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The source of blood of most haematophagous insects plays at the same time the double role of host and potential predator. Feeding behaviour should be triggered only when necessary and should be completed as quickly as possible. From an epidemiological point of view, this modulation has an impact on the feeding frequency of disease vectors and, as a consequence, on the transmission of parasites. At present, not many data are available on the influence of the physiological state on the motivation to feed, and mostly limited to a few mosquito species. We analyzed the host-seeking behaviour of Rhodnius prolixus as a function of the time elapsed since the ecdysis, by testing the response of larvae to a blood source, and long- (CO2) and short-range (heat) orientation cues associated to their vertebrate hosts. Our experiments demonstrated that during the first days following the ecdysis insects do not respond to any stimuli. The ability to follow chemical and physical cues increases either gradually (heat) or step-wise (CO2) with post-ecdysis time. A few insects started to feed on day 2, but only at day 7 following the ecdysis 50% of them took a blood meal, to reach the highest motivation to feed on day 10. The reasons for the “maturation period” in feeding behaviour of R. prolixus are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Within consumer research, it is acknowledged that influential and perhaps unconscious associations to products exist, which require indirect as well as direct methods of investigation. We examine the potential usefulness of one such indirect method, an application of the stimulus equivalence matching-to-sample paradigm [Sidman, M. (1971). Reading and auditory–visual equivalences. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 14, 5–13]. Two experiments are reported (n =15, n =20). Both used three, 3-membered stimulus sets: A (food and non-food odours); B (nonsense syllables); and C (pictures), two of which were either ‘compatible’ or ‘incompatible’ with the corresponding items in the A set. Each participant took part in both ‘compatible’ and ‘incompatible’ conditions. First, (A→B), participants were trained to choose one of the three nonsense syllables when presented with one of the odours. Second, (B→C), those who had learned the first task (n =10, n =14) were trained to choose one of the three pictures when presented with one of the nonsense syllables, and finally, in a test phase (C→A), to choose one of the three odours when presented with one of the pictures. In both experiments, B→C trials to criterion and response times were significantly greater in the ‘incompatible’ condition, and the error structure differed between conditions. In other phases, no consistent inter-condition differences were found. We discuss the use of this paradigm in consumer research on odours and tastes as a very indirect way of measuring pre-existing associations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Odours containing some hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds could be efficiently removed by the degradation of bacteria and fungi in an integrated bioreactor. Microorganisms from the integrated bioreactor were observed and identified. The amount, species and distribution characteristics of the microorganisms depended on the properties of the compounds being treated, the concentration and the microenvironment in the integrated bioreactor. Microscopic investigation of microorganism distribution of the packing material showed that much more biomass accumulated on the surface, in which fungi were dominant, compared with only a few bacteria inside the packing material. Symbiotic bacteria could grow on the fungi mycelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial hopcalite calcined at different temperatures and hopcalite modified with noble metals (Pt, Pd, and Au) were studied in oxidation of thiophene. Surface and bulk properties of catalysts were studied using temperature-programmed reduction (TPRH2), X-ray diffraction method (XRD) and thermal analysis (TG-DTA-MS). It was shown that calcined samples displayed higher activity in comparison with commercial untreated hopcalite; however, a lower temperature of calcination was favourable. High temperature of thermal treatment induced an increase in the crystallinity and a decrease in the surface area of the samples, and, as a consequence, the loss of catalysts activity. Moreover, marked improvement in the catalytic performance of platinum and palladium modified catalysts in relation to base hopcalite was observed. The obtained results indicate that the higher activity of samples containing Pt and Pd was accompanied by better reducibility of the catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage treatment works are one of the major sources that cause atmospheric odour pollution. The increase in the number of complaints about odour nuisance is due to the increase in environmental concerns. Unfortunately, the legislation on odour nuisance from sewage treatment works is very limited. In order to determine suitable thresholds on which to base legal standards, reliable and efficient odour measurement methods need to be defined. A chemical sensor array was developed for the purpose of measuring wastewater odour. This paper describes the development of the chemical sensor system which is specifically tuned to odours of wastewater origin and which can give an electronic measure of the wastewater odours. Odour emissions from a wastewater treatment facility were detected by using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor array. The array consists of nine sensor elements, which were coated with different materials. In this paper, the usage of these novel instruments in the water industry was shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In laboratory studies, hamsters (Mesocricetus spp.) show intense male–male aggression, thus making them an excellent model system for studies of the functional and mechanistic bases of aggression. In a field study of golden hamsters, M. auratus, in the wild, however, the few documented male–male interactions were not highly aggressive. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that familiarity modulates aggression in hamsters. Previous investigations of the effects of familiarity on aggression have mostly involved familiarization of unfamiliar individuals through agonistic interactions. Here we allowed male Turkish hamsters, M. brandti, to become familiar with each other by housing them together but separated by a wire-mesh partition (thus ‘nonagonistic’ familiarity). We found that although nonagonistic familiarity did not decrease investigation of the familiar male, it did decrease the occurrence of fights, the number of fights and the percentage of time fighting; it also increased the latency to fight. These results are consistent with the ‘dear enemy’ hypothesis, which proposes that males are less aggressive towards familiar neighbours than they are towards unfamiliar conspecifics because previous interactions provide enough information about the other individual to render severe aggression unnecessary. Most importantly, our results suggest that information gained about other individuals through nonagonistic interactions decreases the frequency and intensity of fights with those individuals. We conclude that results from laboratory studies on aggression that do not consider the kind of social interactions that individuals have in nature should be interpreted with caution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Research and development work to optimize the BIOSOR™-Manure, a biofiltration process for pig manure treatment, have been realized on the site of a piggery (Île d''Orléans, Québec, Canada) using a 400 m3 biofiltration system. Despite strong variations in BOD5 (10,000–20,000 mg/L), in SS (10,000–20,000 mg/L), in TKN (2000–3800 mg/L) and in Ptot (500–900 mg/L), the BIOSORÔ system was able to maintain an overall pollutant removal performance averaging > 95% for the BOD5, > 97% for the SS, > 84% for the TKN and > 87% for the Ptot. By reducing the raw manure''s organic load by more than 95%, the process eliminates over 80% the odour intensity coming from the production installations, the storage, the transportation and the spreading of the manure. The results obtained show that the BIOSOR™-Manure process is an efficient, simple and performing technology bringing a global solution to pig manure problems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]