Impacts of sensory multimodality congruence and familiarity with short use on cosmetic product evaluation.

Cross-modal association between sensory modalities is a natural phenomenon in the perception of our environment. For cosmetic evaluation, touch and smell are the two major sensory modalities involved in the whole product perception. In this study, we investigate whether a specific cosmetic texture is preferentially associated with a specific fragrance: congruence between texture and fragrance. In addition, we investigate whether 1-week use of a fragrance-texture congruent or non-congruent product can influence user's whole product appreciation and well-being. We have conducted a four-test experiment with 29 participants; first in the laboratory to evaluate: six fragrances and four textures individually with free description (test 1); the same stimuli with a description with cross-modal descriptors (test 2); 10 fragrance-texture combined products (test 3); and secondly at home, two fragrance-texture combined products: one congruent and one non-congruent (test 4). Results showed that: (1) For a given texture type, specific olfactory notes are necessary to lead to a congruent cross-modal pairing product. (2) Sensory modal congruent products produce the highest hedonic response. (3) Real-life use or familiarisation with a product can influence not only the degree of cross-modal congruence but also overall cosmetic product appreciation.

L'association intermodale entre les modalités sensorielles est un phénomène naturel dans la perception de notre environnement. Pour l'évaluation cosmétique, le toucher et l'odorat sont les deux modalités sensorielles principales impliquées dans la perception globale du produit. Dans cette étude, nous examinons si une texture cosmétique spécifique est préférentiellement associée à un parfum spécifique : la correspondance entre la texture et le parfum. En outre, nous évaluons si l'utilisation pendant une semaine d'un produit dont le parfum et la texture sont en harmonie ou non peut influencer l'appréciation par l'utilisateur du produit dans son ensemble et le bien-être de l'utilisateur. Nous avons réalisé une expérience en 4 tests avec 29 participants, d'abord en laboratoire afin d'évaluer 6 parfums et 4 textures individuellement avec une description libre (test 1) ; les mêmes stimuli avec une description avec des mots intermodaux (test 2) ; 10 produits combinés parfum-texture (test 3) ; et, ensuite, à domicile, 2 produits combinés parfum-texture dont le parfum et la texture sont en harmonie ou non (test 4). Les résultats ont montré que : 1) Pour un type de texture donné, des notes olfactives spécifiques sont nécessaires pour aboutir à un produit d'appariement intermodal en harmonie. 2) Les produits sensoriels modaux en harmonie produisent la réponse hédonique la plus élevée. 3) L'utilisation réelle ou la familiarisation avec un produit peut influencer non seulement le degré de correspondance intermodale, mais également l'appréciation globale du produit cosmétique.

Bacteremia due to imipenem-resistant Roseomonas mucosa in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Roseomonas are described as opportunistic pathogens rarely involved in human infections. Their identification requires molecular methods and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern varies according to the species. We report the first case of bacteremia due to Roseomonas mucosa in a child with leukemia and reviewed pediatric cases of Roseomonas infection, for which undoubted strain identification was available. Favorable outcome was observed despite resistance to numerous ß-lactams that may account for delayed effective treatment, suggesting the low virulence of Roseomonas in children. Here, the strain also displayed unusual resistance to imipenem, highlighting the possible acquisition of additional resistance by this pathogen.

From environment to man: genome evolution and adaptation of human opportunistic bacterial pathogens.

Environment is recognized as a huge reservoir for bacterial species and a source of human pathogens. Some environmental bacteria have an extraordinary range of activities that include promotion of plant growth or disease, breakdown of pollutants, production of original biomolecules, but also multidrug resistance and human pathogenicity. The versatility of bacterial life-style involves adaptation to various niches. Adaptation to both open environment and human specific niches is a major challenge that involves intermediate organisms allowing pre-adaptation to humans. The aim of this review is to analyze genomic features of environmental bacteria in order to explain their adaptation to human beings. The genera Pseudomonas, Aeromonas and Ochrobactrum provide valuable examples of opportunistic behavior associated to particular genomic structure and evolution. Particularly, we performed original genomic comparisons among aeromonads and between the strictly intracellular pathogens Brucella spp. and the mild opportunistic pathogens Ochrobactrum spp. We conclude that the adaptation to human could coincide with a speciation in action revealed by modifications in both genomic and population structures. This adaptation-driven speciation could be a major mechanism for the emergence of true pathogens besides the acquisition of specialized virulence factors.