Can ambient odors influence the recognition of emotional words? A behavioral and event-related potentials study

Odor context can affect the recognition of facial expressions. However, there is no evidence to date that odor can regulate the processing of emotional words conveyed by visual words. An emotional word recognition task was combined with event-related potential technology. Briefly, 49 adults were randomly divided into three odor contexts (pleasant odor, unpleasant odor, and no odor) to judge the valence of emotional words (positive, negative, and neutral). Both behavioral and Electroencephalography (EEG) data were collected. Both the pleasant odor and unpleasant odor contexts shortened the response time of the subjects to emotional words. In addition, negative words induced greater amplitudes of early posterior negativity (EPN) and late positive potential (LPP) than the positive and neutral words. However, the neutral words induced a larger N400 amplitude than the positive and negative words. More importantly, the processing of emotional words was found to be modulated by external odor contexts. For example, during the earlier (P2) processing stages, pleasant and unpleasant odor contexts induced greater P2 amplitudes than the no odor context. In the unpleasant odor context, negative words with the same odor valence induced greater P2 amplitudes than the positive words. During the later (N400) stages, various regions of the brain regions exhibited different results. For example, in the left and right frontal areas of the brain, exposure to positive words in a pleasant odor context resulted in a smaller N400 amplitude than exposure to neutral words in the same context. Meanwhile, in the left and right central regions, emotional words with the same valence as pleasant or unpleasant odor contexts elicited the minimum N400 amplitude. Individuals are very sensitive to emotional information. With deeper processing, different cognitive processes are reflected and they can be modulated by external odors. In the early and late stages of word processing, both pleasant and unpleasant odor contexts exhibited an undifferentiated dominance effect and could specifically modulate affectively congruent words.

Effect of Active Packaging Material Fortified with Clove Essential Oil on Fungal Growth and Post-Harvest Quality Changes in Table Grape during Cold Storage

Fungal growth in table grapes (Vitis vinifera cv. beauty seedless) is triggered by Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp., and Rhizopus stolonifera during post-harvest storage. Due to the safety aspects, this research aimed to develop antifungal packaging embedded with essential oils (EOs) to alleviate the fungal decay of table grapes (TG). The various levels of EOs (0.5–5%, v/v) from clove, cinnamon, thyme, peppermint, lemon, bergamot, ginger, spearmint, and lemongrass were tested against Aspergillus sp. The results attained in radial growth, disk diffusion method, minimal inhibitory concentration, and minimal fungicidal concentration revealed that 1% clove essential oil (CEO) showed higher efficacy against Aspergillus sp. compared to the untreated control and other treatments. CEO at the 1% level exhibited a pleasant odor intensity in TG than the other EOs. The active polyvinyl alcohol (7% PVA) film with 1% CEO resulted in lower weight loss, disease severity, and TG berry drop than the control and other treated samples. Additionally, the acceptance score in the TG sample wrapped with a PVA film containing 1% CEO was augmented. Therefore, the PVA film with 1% CEO retarded the fungal growth and prolonged the shelf life of TG during storage of 21 days at 13 °C and 75% relative humidity (RH).

Reactive Oxygen Spices Scavenging Behavior of Selenium Upon Vinyl Chloride Interaction With Hemoglobin

BackgroundVinyl chloride (VC) a colorless gas with a pleasant odor that is capable of entering the body through oral or inhalation routes. Extensive studies on this compound indicated that it is a carcinogen, and Vinyl chloride exposure can result in a specific type of cancer in VC workers. Whereas hemoglobin plays a vital role in oxygen transfer throughout the body, the effect of VC on human hemoglobin has not been studied in a molecular aspect. Furthermore, selenium as an antioxidant is a vital factor for the health of humans and animals. Therefore, the effect of the antioxidant capability of selenium on the interaction between vinyl chloride and hemoglobin was studied.MethodsThe effect of the antioxidant capability of selenium on the interaction between VC and hemoglobin was investigated by different spectroscopy methods such as UV-visible, Fourier-transform infrared, chemiluminescence, and fluorescence spectroscopies and molecular dockingResultsThe results indicated the destruction of hemoglobin structure in the presence of different concentrations of vinyl chloride, but in the presence of selenium, the damaging effect of VC on hemoglobin structure was decreased, relying on its antioxidant capability results.ConclusionsAccording to our findings, vinyl chloride destroyed hemoglobin structure utilizing ROS production, and the presence of selenium as an antioxidant inhibits the destroying effect of vinyl chloride on hemoglobin

Objective Assessment of Hyposmia in Alzheimer's Disease From Image and Behavior by Combining Pleasant Odor With Unpleasant Odor

Background: Olfactory functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of responses to a pleasant odor (PO) (lavender) can objectively evaluate olfactory dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The brain responses to a PO and unpleasant odor (UPO) were shown to differ in normal young people. Whether AD patients with olfactory dysfunction have the same brain response is not yet known.Objective: Our aim was to explore whether olfactory fMRI with both a PO and UPO can provide more information regarding olfactory impairment in AD than a PO alone.Methods: Twenty-five normal controls (NC), 26 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 22 AD patients underwent olfactory fMRI with lavender and pyridine odorants at three concentrations (0.10, 0.33, and 1.00%) with a 3.0-T MRI scanner.Results: There were no differences in the number of activated voxels in the primary olfactory cortex (POC) between PO and UPO conditions in the NC, MCI, and AD groups (SPM, paired t-test, uncorrected p < 0.001, extent threshold = 70). In the right inferior frontal gyrus, orbital part (F3O), the number of activated voxels was greater with the UPO than with the PO in the NC group (SPM, paired t-test, uncorrected p < 0.001, extent threshold = 70), but there were no differences in the MCI and AD groups. Regardless of PO or UPO conditions, there were significant differences in the number of activated voxels in the POC among the NC, MCI, and AD groups. With increasing odor concentration, the number of activated voxels in the POC decreased in the NC group but increased in the AD group. When 0.10% UPO was presented, the NC group (21/25) showed a lower breathing amplitude and shorter inhalation time, whereas the AD patients (0/22) did not show such changes in breathing.Conclusions: After PO and UPO inhalation, brain activation and respiratory behavior in AD patients were significantly different than in NC patients. Therefore, olfactory fMRI using both PO and UPO stimulation, compared with PO stimulation only, can provide more objective information regarding hyposmia associated with AD based on imaging and behavior.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SEVOFLURANE AND PROPOFOL FOR EASE OF I-GEL INSERTION IN ADULT PATIENTS UNDERGOING GENERALANESTHESIA FOR SHORT PROCEDURES.

Background: I-gel is a second generation supraglottic airway device designed to provide and maintain a seal around the laryngeal inlet for spontaneous ventilation and allow controlled ventilation at modest levels of positive pressure thereby endotracheal intubation can be avoided. Propofol has been the drug of choice due to its better safety prole, relaxation and suppression of airway reexes among intravenous induction agents. Sevourane with its pleasant odor, non-irritating to the airways and due to its bronchodilator property are best among the volatile agents. We aim to compare induction characteristics and ease of I gel insertion with sevourane and intravenous propofol. Methods:The study was conducted in 60 eligible adult patients undergoing general anesthesia for short surgical procedures in Pushpagiri Medical College and Research Centre.Group Preceived Propofol and Group S received Sevourane 8%. Consecutive subjects who satisfy inclusion criteria were randomly assigned into one of the two groups of 30 until sample sizes were achieved. I gel insertion attempted after adequate jaw relaxation. Ease of I-gel insertion assessed by a three-point scoring system. Data was analysed by SPSS software .The independent variables assessed in this study includes the drugs given and the comparison was done using unpaired t test. Results: Sevourane group took more time for induction than Propofol group .It was found that insertion time for sevourane was higher than the propofol group. The ease of I Gel insertion based on three point scale showed that in Sevourane group overall insertion conditions was excellent in 36.7% ;satisfactory in 63.3% as compared to group Propofol group which was 83.3%; 16.7% respectively. The results were statistically signicant (p<0.01). Conclusion:It can be concluded that sevourane can be considered as a safer alternative to propofol for I Gel insertion

Use of Essential Oils and Volatile Compounds as Biological Control Agents

Plants containing essential oils have been used for centuries as spices, remedies or for their pleasant odor [...]

Salivary Proteome Changes in Response to Acute Psychological Stress Due to an Oral Exam Simulation in University Students: Effect of an Olfactory Stimulus

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a crucial role both in acute and chronic psychological stress eliciting changes in many local and systemic physiological and biochemical processes. Salivary secretion is also regulated by ANS. In this study, we explored salivary proteome changes produced in thirty-eight University students by a test stress, which simulated an oral exam. Students underwent a relaxation phase followed by the stress test during which an electrocardiogram was recorded. To evaluate the effect of an olfactory stimulus, half of the students were exposed to a pleasant odor diffused in the room throughout the whole session. Saliva samples were collected after the relaxation phase (T0) and the stress test (T1). State anxiety was also evaluated at T0 and T1. Salivary proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis, and patterns at different times were compared. Spots differentially expressed were trypsin digested and identified by mass spectrometry. Western blot analysis was used to validate proteomic results. Anxiety scores and heart rate changes indicated that the fake exam induced anxiety. Significant changes of α-amylase, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR), and immunoglobulin α chain (IGHA) secretion were observed after the stress test was performed in the two conditions. Moreover, the presence of pleasant odor reduced the acute social stress affecting salivary proteome changes. Therefore, saliva proteomic analysis was a useful approach to evaluate the rapid responses associated to an acute stress test also highlighting known biomarkers.

Ambrafuran (AmbroxTM) Synthesis from Natural Plant Product Precursors

Ambergris, an excretion product of sperm whales, has been a valued agent in the formulation of perfumes. The composition of ambergris consists of two major components: 40–46% cholestanol type steroids and approximately 25–45% of a triterpenoid known as ambrein. Ambergris undergoes oxidative decomposition in the environment to result in odorous compounds, such as ambraoxide, methylambraoxide, and ambracetal. Its oxidized form, ambrafuran (IUPAC name: 3a,6,6,9a-tetramethyl-2,4,5,5a,7,8,9,9b-octahydro-1H-benzo[e][1]benzofuran), is a terpene furan with a pleasant odor and unique olfactive and fixative properties. The current state of the fragrance industry uses ambrafuran materials entirely from synthetic or semisynthetic sources. However, natural compounds with the potential to be converted to ambergris-like odorants have been extracted from several different types of plants. Here we review plant terpenoids suitable as starting materials for the semisyntheses of ambrafuran or intermediates, such as ambradiol, that can be used in biocatalytic transformations to yield ambrafuran.

Chemical Constituents and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Incense Smoke from Agarwood Determined by GC-MS

Agarwood is generally used to make incense sticks in China and Southeast Asia. It emits smoke with a pleasant odor when burned. There are few reports on the chemical components of smoke generated by burning or heating agarwood. The agarwoods were produced by the whole-tree agarwood-inducing technique (AWIT), agarwood induced by axe wounds (AAW), burning-chisel-drilling agarwood (BCDA), wood of Aquilaria sinensis trees (AS), respectively. Herein, we used GC-MS to analyze the chemical constituents of incense smoke generated from AWIT, AAW, BCDA, AS, and the extracts of sticks from agarwood produced by the whole-tree agarwood-inducing technique (EAWIT), and 484 compounds were identified. A total of 61 chemical constituents were shared among AWIT, AAW, and BCDA. The experimental data showed that aromatic compounds were the main chemical constituents in agarwood smoke and that some chromone derivatives could be cracked into low-molecular-weight aromatic compounds (LACs) at high temperature. Furthermore, agarwood incense smoke showed anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced TNF-α and IL-1α release in RAW264.7 cells.

Ants' Notion of Zero through the Perception of the Absence of an Odor

Workers of the ant Myrmica sabuleti can acquire the notion of &lsquo;nothing&rsquo;, i.e. a basic concept of zero, through olfactory conditioning, the best when the odor is unpleasant (onion odor) and when the response to the absence of the odor is rewarded. With a pleasant odor (lavender, rosemary or vanilla odor), the ants learn best when the response to the odor is rewarded. To our knowledge this is the first time that olfactory operant conditioning is obtained in animals by rewarding their response to &lsquo;nothing&rsquo;. The present work also points out: - the impact of the kind and quality of the cue to be learned on the animals&rsquo; learning score, - the improvement of a given learning over successive similar learning experiments, - the obtaining of a better learning when the reward is associated with the animals&rsquo; preference.