Is scent‐enhanced memory immune to retroactive interference?

Research shows that scent enhances memory for associated information. Current debate centers around scent’s immunity to “retroactive interference,” i.e., reduced memory for earlier‐learned information after exposure to additional, subsequently‐learned information. This paper demonstrates that scent‐enhanced memory is indeed prone to retroactive interference, but that some of the information lost is restored using a scent‐based retrieval cue. Two process explanations for interference effects are proposed, with the evidence providing more support for an inhibition rather than a response competition explanation. The results enhance our understanding of the encoding and retrieval of olfactory information from long‐term memory, and reasons why interference occurs.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141656/1/jcpy354.pd

Exploring the superadditive effects of scent and pictures on verbal recall: An extension of dual coding theory

This research extends the dual coding theory of memory retrieval (Paivio 1969, 2007) beyond its traditional focus on verbal and pictorial information to olfactory information. We manipulate the presence or absence of olfactory and pictorial stimuli at the time of encoding (study 1) or retrieval (study 2) and measure the impact on verbal recall. After a time delay, scent enhances recall of verbal information, and scent‐based retrieval cues potentiate the facilitative effect of pictures on recall. These results cannot be attributed merely to increased elaboration at the time of exposure.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141219/1/jcpy317.pd

Consumer Wellbeing in Asia: Introduction to the Special Issue

Consumer wellbeing refers to safety, fairness, satisfaction, sustainability, emotional positivity, security, freedom, and healthfulness which may be sought through consumer products and services obtained from marketplaces. Consumer wellbeing can be measured in various dimensions such as economic, financial, physical, psychological, social, and culture. This special issue focuses on consumer issues in fast changing Asia as many important consumer issues in Asia are under-studied in comparison to the literature about the West. With Asia having a large, 60% of the world population and Asian countries are highly diverse in terms of economic developments, social systems, and cultural traditions, many important issues related to consumer spending, health, and finance need be investigated and studied. Such research will enrich the global literature of consumer affairs and inform public policies to advance consumer interests

The Use of Mobile Phones Among Trishaw Operators in Myanmar

This article examines use of mobile phones by trishaw (rickshaw) operators in the newly emerging techno-landscape of Myanmar. Trishaw operators transport people and goods in a physically demanding job that often earns them as little as US$2 per day. Spanning the period before and after the widespread commercialization of mobile phones in the country, this research draws from interviews with trishaw operators in several locations. With commercialization, the price of a mobile subscription fell from over US$1,500 to US$1.50, making it affordable to groups that heretofore have not had access. We find that the trishaw sector is changing because of this. The mobile phone strengthens ties with important clients, meaning a more stable income, but also an enhanced importance/power for these customers. Operators who have not adopted mobile phones, usually because of poverty, age, or a lack of interest, will likely have fewer business opportunities

Protecting Preteens on Facebook: An Exploratory Examination of Parental Mediation Strategies for Children’s Facebook Use in Singapore

Children are particularly vulnerable to the risks of going online, yet the profile of the child Internet user is becoming younger, particularly on social media. Parental mediation describes efforts by parents to translate the complexities of the physical/social environment as well as mass media into terms that children at various levels of cognitive development can understand. This exploratory study examined parental mediation strategies as predictors of parents’ intention to control underage use of Facebook in Singapore, a country with high internet penetration but little data protection regulation. The study found that parents with mediation styles that were highest on Regulated mediation (Restrictive and Selective mediation) as well as parents whose eldest child was female showed the highest level of intentions to control underage Facebook usage. Additionally, the younger the age group of the eldest child in the family, the more likely parents were to express intentions to control Facebook usage

Understanding Collaborations in Virtual World

Virtual worlds (VW) have paved a new and important channel for workplace collaborations. However, analysts have noted that several organizations that made a strong entrance into using VW as a nouveau channel for communication and collaboration are stepping back due to limited user response. Motivated by this fact, we propose a trust-theoretic ‘virtual world collaboration model’ for collaborations in virtual worlds. The model, grounded in literature on ‘technology adoption’ and ‘trust’, theoretically examines the role of trust in motivating users for using this rich virtual communication medium for collaborations. Results establish the important roles of perceived social presence and perceived structural assurance for fostering user trust in VW. Further, results also indicate that user trust is significantly related to both extrinsic and intrinsic motivations, which in turn influence the behavioural intention to use the VW. Implications for research and practice are discussed

Toward a theoretical framework to studying climate change policies: Insights from case study of Singapore

Presented at 6th World Sustainability Forum, Cape Town, South Africa, 2017 January 27-28</p

Are Primetime Diets Congruent With Dietary Recommendations? Content Analyses of Food Advertisements in the United States, China, and Singapore

Despite public programs to promote healthy eating among populations in developed and developing countries, the increase in obesity as a result of poor dietary patterns continues to persist. As food advertising has been implicated for contributing to this global health challenge, this study aims to provide empirical evidence on food advertising in a broader global context, across economically and culturally different nations. We conducted a large scale content analysis of the types of food advertised on primetime television in the United States, China, and Singapore, which resulted in the collection of 1,008 television hours. Using the dietary blue2376s proposed by the health authorities as the applied framework, the study compared the types of food advertised against the dietary parameters. Findings showed that despite differences in economic development and cultures, food advertised on primetime television across three countries are incongruent with dietary recommendations. The study offers insights on how misaligned and out of sync food advertising and commercial interests are from government health policies. Implications of findings to encourage healthy eating among populations worldwide are discussed

Antimicrobial Resistance in the Asia Pacific region: a meeting report.

The Asia Pacific region, home to two-thirds of the world's population and ten of the least developed countries, is considered a regional hot-spot for the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Despite this, there is a dearth of high-quality regional data on the extent of AMR. Recognising the urgency to close this gap, Singapore organised a meeting to discuss the problems in the region and frame a call for action. Representatives from across the region and beyond attended the meeting on the "Antimicrobial Resistance in the Asia Pacific & its impact on Singapore" held in November 2018. This meeting report is a summary of the discussions on the challenges and progress in surveillance, drivers and levers of AMR emergence, and the promising innovations and technologies that could be used to combat the increasing threat of AMR in the region. Enhanced surveillance and research to provide improved evidence-based strategies and policies are needed. The major themes that emerged for an action plan are working towards a tailored solution for the region by harnessing the One Health approach, enhancing inter-country collaborations, and collaboratively leverage upon new emerging technologies. A regionally coordinated effort that is target-driven, sustainable and builds on a framework facilitating communication and governance will strengthen the fight against AMR in the Asia Pacific region