scholarly journals Estimation of Olfactory Sensitivity Using a Bayesian Adaptive Method

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Höchenberger ◽  
Kathrin Ohla
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Adaptive Algorithm ◽  
Adaptive Method ◽  
Olfactory Sensitivity ◽  
Established Method ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
Reliable Assessment ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Olfactory Stimuli

The ability to smell is crucial for most species as it enables the detection of environmental threats like smoke, fosters social interactions, and contributes to the sensory evaluation of food and eating behavior. The high prevalence of smell disturbances throughout the life span calls for a continuous effort to improve tools for quick and reliable assessment of olfactory function. Odor-dispensing pens, called Sniffin’ Sticks, are an established method to deliver olfactory stimuli during diagnostic evaluation. We tested the suitability of a Bayesian adaptive algorithm (QUEST) to estimate olfactory sensitivity using Sniffin’ Sticks by comparing QUEST sensitivity thresholds with those obtained using a procedure based on an established standard staircase protocol. Thresholds were measured twice with both procedures in two sessions (Test and Retest). Overall, both procedures exhibited considerable overlap, with QUEST displaying slightly higher test-retest correlations, less variability between measurements, and reduced testing duration. Notably, participants were more frequently presented with the highest concentration during QUEST, which may foster adaptation and habituation effects. We conclude that further research is required to better understand and optimize the procedure for assessment of olfactory performance.

scholarly journals Estimation of Olfactory Sensitivity Using a Bayesian Adaptive Method

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Höchenberger ◽  
Kathrin Ohla
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Adaptive Algorithm ◽  
Adaptive Method ◽  
Testing Time ◽  
Threshold Estimate ◽  
Standard Protocol ◽  
Olfactory Sensitivity ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
Reliable Assessment ◽  
High Prevalence

The ability to smell is crucial for most species as it enables the detection of environmental threats like smoke, it fosters social interactions, and it contributes to the sensory evaluation of food and eating behavior. The high prevalence for smell disturbances throughout the life span call for a continuous effort to improve tools for the quick and reliable assessment of the ability to smell. Odor-dispensing pens, called Sniffin' Sticks, are an established tool to test olfactory function. We tested the suitability of a Bayesian adaptive algorithm (QUEST) to estimate olfactory sensitivity using Sniffin' Sticks by comparing its results with those obtained via the established standard protocol, which relies on a staircase procedure. Thresholds were measured according to both procedures in two sessions (Test and Retest). The staircase successfully yielded threshold estimates in more cases than QUEST. Yet, Test-Retest correlations showed stronger reliability for QUEST (ρ = 0.70) than for staircase thresholds (ρ = 0.50). A strong correlation (ρ = 0.80) between the results of both procedures indicated good validity of QUEST. We conclude that the QUEST procedure may offer quicker convergence and reduced testing time in some cases, but fail to yield a threshold estimate in others.

scholarly journals Cultural Influences on the Regulation of Energy Intake and Obesity: A Qualitative Study Comparing Food Customs and Attitudes to Eating in Adults from France and the United States

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Maria Carlota Dao ◽  
Sophie Thiron ◽  
Ellen Messer ◽  
Camille Sergeant ◽  
Anne Sévigné ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Weight Management ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
The United States ◽  
Food Culture ◽  
External Pressures ◽  
The U.S

(1) Background: The influence of food culture on eating behavior and obesity risk is poorly understood. (2) Methods: In this qualitative study, 25 adults in France with or without overweight/obesity participated in semi-structured interviews (n = 10) or focus groups (n = 15) to examine attitudes to food consumption and external pressures that influence eating behavior and weight management. Results were compared to an equivalent study conducted in the United States, thereby contrasting two countries with markedly different rates of obesity. Emerging key themes in the French data were identified through coding using a reflexive approach. (3) Results: The main themes identified were: (1) influence of commensality, social interactions, and pleasure from eating on eating behavior, (2) having a balanced and holistic approach to nutrition, (3) the role of environmental concerns in food consumption, (4) relationship with “natural” products (idealized) and food processing (demonized), (5) perceptions of weight status and management. Stress and difficulties in hunger cue discernment were viewed as important obstacles to weight management in both countries. External pressures were described as a major factor that explicitly influences food consumption in the U.S., while there was an implicit influence of external pressures through eating-related social interactions in France. In France, products considered “natural” where idealized and juxtaposed against processed and “industrial” products, whereas this was not a salient aspect in the U.S. (4) Conclusions: This first comparative qualitative study assessing aspects of food culture and eating behaviors across countries identifies both common and divergent attitudes to food and eating behavior. Further studies are needed to inform the development of effective behavioral interventions to address obesity in different populations.

scholarly journals Eating behavior of schizophrenic patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carolina AGUIAR-BLOEMER ◽  
Rosina Gabriela AGLIUSSI ◽  
Thiago Maehara Pereira PINHO ◽  
Erikson Felipe FURTADO ◽  
Rosa Wanda DIEZ-GARCIA
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Practices ◽  
Work Routines ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Dietary Records ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the eating behavior, food practices, nutritional and metabolic profiles of patients with schizophrenia undergoing treatment. Methods Cross-sectional exploratory descriptive qualitative study used a semi-structured questionnaire on the eating behavior, food practices, and perception of changes after the initiation of drug therapy and a quantitative method using anthropometric and body composition measurements, metabolic parameters, and 5-day dietary records to analyze nutrient ingestion of patients with schizophrenia in an outpatient clinic at a tertiary hospital (n=33). The qualitative data were analyzed and coded by three researchers and quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive exploratory statistics. Results The results of this study showed that schizophrenic patients presented high prevalence of excess weight (71.0%), metabolic syndrome (42.0%), dyslipidemia (62.0%), changes in appetite (76.0%), and increase in energy intake (74.2%), associated with important irregularities in eating behavior and food practices (such as irregularity of meals, emotional intake, high carbohydrate and fat intake, and low energy expenditure) and lifestyle (changes in social and work routines). Conclusion This eating profile may interact synergistically with psychotropic drugs to contribute to weight gain and metabolic changes in schizophrenia. Nutrition education may prevent and monitor the risk of metabolic and nutrition problems, irrespective of the medications used.

scholarly journals Team Resilience in Complex and Turbulent Environments: The Effect of Size and Density of Social Interactions

Complexity ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Giannoccaro ◽  
Giovanni F. Massari ◽  
Giuseppe Carbone
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Team Size ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
Turbulent Environments ◽  
Team Resilience ◽  
Team Decision ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Relationship

How are teams able to cope with environmental threats? Why are some teams better than others in facing this challenge? This paper addresses these questions by investigating two drivers of team resilience: the team size and the density of social interactions among team members. We adopt a complex system approach and employ a model of team decision-making where collective dynamics of team members are governed by a continuous-time Markov process. The model simulates team performance in complex and turbulent environments. It is used to measure the resilient ability of team to quickly adapt to disturbance and secure a new more desirable condition. Scenarios characterized by increasing levels of complexity and turbulence are simulated, and the resilience performance is calculated and compared. Results show that the team size negatively affects the team resilience, whilst the density of social interactions plays a positive influence, especially at a high level of complexity. We also find that both the magnitude and the frequency of disturbance moderate the relationship between team size/density and the team resilience.

Investigation on an Adaptive Method for Tonal Vibration Suppression

2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiling Xie ◽  
Mingke Ren ◽  
Zhiyi Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Convergence Rate ◽  
Dynamic Model ◽  
Adaptive Algorithm ◽  
Vibration Suppression ◽  
Mechanical Vibration ◽  
Adaptive Controller ◽  
Adaptive Method ◽  
In Series ◽  
Multiple Frequencies ◽  
And Performance

Abstract An adaptive method for suppressing mechanical vibration of multiple frequencies is investigated. The adaptive controller is reinforced with saturation alleviator to improve the convergence rate and performance of the adaptive algorithm. Tracking filters are used to extract harmonics of fluctuating frequencies and the anti-saturation unit works in series with the tracking filters to give constrained harmonic output. As a result, the controller is insensitive to abnormally large input that would otherwise induce saturation in actuators. A dynamic model is built for vibration suppression simulation and the numerical results indicate that the adaptive algorithm is effective in cases of multiple fluctuating frequencies and output saturation. Experiments were also conducted to test the performance of the adaptive method. Excitation with oscillating frequencies was applied, and the results have demonstrated that the harmonics can be suppressed effectively with the adaptive method.

High prevalence of disordered eating behavior in Danish children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1043-1049
Author(s):  
Franciska Nilsson ◽  
Jens Otto Broby Madsen ◽  
Andreas Kryger Jensen ◽  
Birthe Susanne Olsen ◽  
Jesper Johannesen
Keyword(s):  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Disordered Eating ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Disordered Eating Behavior

scholarly journals Simultaneous analysis of urinary total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol, N′-nitrosonornicotine, and cotinine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass-spectrometry

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sampada S. Nikam ◽  
Murari Gurjar ◽  
Hitesh Singhavi ◽  
Anand Patil ◽  
Arjun Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Simultaneous Analysis ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Established Method ◽  
Biomarkers Of Exposure ◽  
Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽  
Treatment Research ◽  
Tobacco Constituents ◽  
Research And Education

AbstractBiomarkers of exposure to harmful tobacco constituents are key tools for identifying individuals at risk and developing interventions and tobacco control measures. However, tobacco biomarker studies are scarce in many parts of the world with high prevalence of tobacco use. Our goal was to establish a robust method for simultaneous analysis of urinary total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), and cotinine at the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) in Mumbai, India. These biomarkers are validated measures of exposure to the carcinogenic tobacco nitrosamines 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and NNN and the addictive alkaloid nicotine, respectively. The established method is characterized by excellent accuracy, linearity, and precision, and was successfully applied to the analysis of 15 smokeless tobacco (SLT) users and 15 non-users of tobacco recruited in Mumbai. This is the first report of establishment of such procedure in a laboratory in India, which offers the first in-country capacity for research on tobacco carcinogenesis in Indian SLT users.

scholarly journals Early warning signals regarding environmental suitability in the Drosophila antenna

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haoyang Rong ◽  
Prithwiraj Das ◽  
Adalee Lube ◽  
David Yang ◽  
Debajit Saha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Combination ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Olfactory Receptor ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Olfactory Receptor Neuron ◽  
Protective Mechanism ◽  
List Type ◽  
Neural Excitability ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
Olfactory Stimuli

HighlightsA novel geotaxis assay showed high intensity odorant exposures are harmful to fliesRepulsion at high odor intensities can be a protective mechanismOlfactory receptor neuron (ORN) excitability abruptly changes with odor intensityA linear combination of ORN activities can robustly predict intensity-dependent behavioral repulsionSummaryThe olfactory system is uniquely positioned to warn an organism of environmental threats. Whether and how it encodes such information is not understood. Here, we examined this issue in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We found that intensity-dependent repulsion to chemicals safeguarded flies from harmful, high-intensity vapor exposures. To understand how sensory input changed as the odor valence switched from innocuous to threatening, we recorded from olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) in the fly antenna. Primarily, we observed two response non-linearities: recruitment of non-active ORNs at higher intensities, and abrupt transitions in neural excitability from regular spiking to high-firing oscillatory regime. Although non-linearities observed in any single ORN was not a good indicator, a simple linear combination of firing events from multiple neurons provided robust recognition of threating/repulsive olfactory stimuli. In sum, our results reveal how information necessary to avoid environmental threats may also be encoded in the insect antenna.

scholarly journals Psychological Distress Among People Losing Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Collie ◽  
Luke Sheehan ◽  
Caryn van Vreden ◽  
Genevieve Grant ◽  
Peter Whiteford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Job Loss ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Work Loss ◽  
Occupational Characteristics ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractIntroductionThis study estimated the extent of psychological distress among people losing work during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Australia, and examined associations between distress, nature of work loss and degree of social interaction.MethodsData were from a baseline online survey of an inception cohort recruited in the weeks following the introduction of physical distancing and movement restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Australia. These restrictions resulted in widespread unemployment and working hour reduction. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler-6 scale. Data on nature of work loss, social interactions, demographic, job and occupational characteristics were also collected. Regression modelling was conducted to determine the relationship between work loss, social interactions and psychological distress, accounting for confounders.ResultsAmong the 551 study participants 31% reported severe psychological distress, 35% in those with job loss and 28% in those still employed but working less. Those who had significantly greater odds of high psychological distress were younger, female, had lost their job and had lower social interactions. The relationship between job loss and distress became non-significant when financial stress, and occupation were included in the regression model, but the protective effect of higher social interactions remained significant.DiscussionThere was a high prevalence of psychological distress in people losing work during the coronavirus pandemic. Age, gender, job loss and social interactions were strongly associated with distress. Interventions that promote social interaction may help to reduce distress during among people losing work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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