Blood Odor Research Articles

Exploring barriers to menstrual education between maternal figures and young girls: A pilot study in South Africa

AbstractThe study sought to explore barriers to menstrual education between maternal figures and young girls. Menstruation is a key part of the reproductive process and affects young adolescent girls. Menstrual blood is perceived as contaminating and impure, leading to the socialization of women and girls undergoing menstruation to feel soiled and impure. Menstruation is enveloped in feelings of disgust and shame, and societal expectations, dictating that women should conceal the appearance and odor of menstrual blood. Prevailing cultural narratives depict menstruation as a “hygienic crisis” necessitating management and concealment. In sub‐Saharan Africa, menstruation is afflicted with shame and stigma, with cultural and religious practices that support its concealment and secrecy. This is explained in the pollution theory which sees menstruation as dirt. This study used qualitative research to get the lived experiences of 10 maternal figures and 10 young adolescent girls through semi‐structured interviews. Maternal figures are the mothers/guardians of adolescent girls. The data was coded using similarities/differences in three themes (knowledge about menstruation, source of information, and quality of information shared). In the first theme, due to the concealment and treatment of menstruation with secrecy, knowledge about menstruation is not often provided. In the second theme, due to norms of concealment, maternal figures do shy away from being sources of information. In the last theme, stigma and shame limit the quality of information shared, leaving misinformation and further perpetuation of menstrual taboos. The study concluded that shame and stigma limit menstrual education and awareness. The information deficit has long‐lasting effects on young girls, creating a complex relationship that adversely affects their ability to embrace their womanhood and further pass on knowledge to future generations of adolescent girls.

Steady electrocorticogram characteristics predict specific stress-induced behavioral phenotypes.

Depending on the individual, exposure to an intense stressor may, or may not, lead to a stress-induced pathology. Predicting the physiopathological evolution in an individual is therefore an important challenge, at least for prevention. In this context, we developed an ethological model of simulated predator exposure in rats: we call this the multisensorial stress model (MSS). We hypothesized that: (i) MSS exposure can induce stress-induced phenotypes, and (ii) an electrocorticogram (ECoG) recorded before stress exposure can predict phenotypes observed after stress. Forty-five Sprague Dawley rats were equipped with ECoG telemetry and divided into two groups. The Stress group (n = 23) was exposed to an MSS that combined synthetic fox feces odor deposited on filter paper, synthetic blood odor, and 22 kHz rodent distress calls; the Sham group (n = 22) was not exposed to any sensorial stimulus. Fifteen days after initial exposure, the two groups were re-exposed to a context that included a filter paper soaked with water as a traumatic object (TO) reminder. During this re-exposure, freezing behavior and avoidance of the filter paper were measured. Three behaviors were observed in the Stress group: 39% developed a fear memory phenotype (freezing, avoidance, and hyperreactivity); 26% developed avoidance and anhedonia; and 35% made a full recovery. We also identified pre-stress ECoG biomarkers that accurately predicted cluster membership. Decreased chronic 24 h frontal Low θ relative power was associated with resilience; increased frontal Low θ relative power was associated with fear memory; and decreased parietal β2 frequency was associated with the avoidant-anhedonic phenotype. These predictive biomarkers open the way to preventive medicine for stress-induced diseases.

Hierarchical Elemental Odor Coding for Fine Discrimination Between Enantiomer Odors or Cancer-Characteristic Odors.

Odors trigger various emotional responses such as fear of predator odors, aversion to disease or cancer odors, attraction to male/female odors, and appetitive behavior to delicious food odors. Odor information processing for fine odor discrimination, however, has remained difficult to address. The olfaction and color vision share common features that G protein-coupled receptors are the remote sensors. As different orange colors can be discriminated by distinct intensity ratios of elemental colors, such as yellow and red, odors are likely perceived as multiple elemental odors hierarchically that the intensities of elemental odors are in order of dominance. For example, in a mixture of rose and fox-unique predator odors, robust rose odor alleviates the fear of mice to predator odors. Moreover, although occult blood odor is stronger than bladder cancer-characteristic odor in urine samples, sniffer mice can discriminate bladder cancer odor in occult blood-positive urine samples. In forced-choice odor discrimination tasks for pairs of enantiomers or pairs of body odors vs. cancer-induced body odor disorders, sniffer mice discriminated against learned olfactory cues in a wide range of concentrations, where correct choice rates decreased in the Fechner's law, as perceptual ambiguity increased. In this mini-review, we summarize the current knowledge of how the olfactory system encodes and hierarchically decodes multiple elemental odors to control odor-driven behaviors.

Attractant or Repellent? Behavioral Responses to Mammalian Blood Odor and to a Blood Odor Component in a Mesopredator, the Meerkat (Suricata suricatta).

It is well-established that the odor of mammalian blood is attractive to top predators such as tigers and wolves and aversive to prey species such as mice and rats. Recent studies have shown that the mammalian blood odor component trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal (TED) elicits corresponding behavioral responses in these two groups of mammals. Here we assess whether a mesopredator, that is, a small-bodied carnivorous mammal that is both predator and prey, is attracted to or repelled by the odor of mammalian blood and TED. To this end, we assessed the behavior of a group of 15 captive meerkats (Suricata suricatta) when presented with wooden logs that were impregnated either with horse blood or with TED, and compared it to their behavior toward a fruity odor (iso-pentyl acetate) and a near-odorless solvent (diethyl phthalate). We found that the meerkats displayed significantly more interactions with the odorized wooden logs such as sniffing and pawing when these were impregnated with the two prey-associated odors compared to the two non-prey-associated odors. Most importantly, no significant difference was found in the number of interactions with the wooden logs impregnated with horse blood and TED, respectively. These results demonstrate that meerkats, despite being small-bodied mesopredators, are clearly attracted to the odor of mammalian blood. Further, the results suggest that a single blood odor component can be as efficient as the odor of real blood in eliciting behavioral responses in this herpestid mammal, similar to previous findings in feline and canine top predators.

Behavioral responses of CD-1 mice to conspecific and heterospecific blood odors and to a blood odor component

The odor of blood may have both aversive and attractive properties for mammals, depending on the species of the odor donor and the species perceiving the odor. To better understand the informational content of blood odor for a prey species we assessed behavioral responses of male CD-1 mice (n=60) to the odor of blood of same-sex and opposite-sex conspecifics, of a natural predator of mice (cat), and of a herbivore (horse) and an omnivore (human) non-predator of mice. Further, we assessed their behavior towards the mammalian blood odor component trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal which recent studies have shown to be as attractive to mammalian predators as the odor of real blood. A two-compartment test arena was used to record approach/avoidance behavior when the animals were presented with an odor in one compartment and a blank control in the other compartment. We found that both conspecific and heterospecific blood odors elicited significant avoidance behavior in the mice whereas a control odor (n-pentyl acetate) did not. The blood odor component trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal was also significantly avoided and thus appears to play an important role in the perception of mammalian blood odor in this prey species. These results support the notion that mammalian blood odor contains an olfactory warning signal which elicits an adaptive behavioral avoidance response in a prey species, the mouse. Our finding that the mice avoided the mammalian blood odor component trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal to the same degree as the odor of real blood suggests that this volatile compound might be (part of) this warning signal.

A mammalian blood odor component serves as an approach-avoidance cue across phylum border - from flies to humans

Chemosignals are used by predators to localize prey and by prey to avoid predators. These cues vary between species, but the odor of blood seems to be an exception and suggests the presence of an evolutionarily conserved chemosensory cue within the blood odor mixture. A blood odor component, E2D, has been shown to trigger approach responses identical to those triggered by the full blood odor in mammalian carnivores and as such, is a key candidate as a food/alarm cue in blood. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we demonstrate that E2D holds the dual function of affecting both approach and avoidance behavior in a predator-prey predicted manner. E2D evokes approach responses in two taxonomically distant blood-seeking predators, Stable fly and Wolf, while evoking avoidance responses in the prey species Mouse. We extend this by demonstrating that this chemical cue is preserved in humans as well; E2D induces postural avoidance, increases physiological arousal, and enhances visual perception of affective stimuli. This is the first demonstration of a single chemical cue with the dual function of guiding both approach and avoidance in a predator-prey predicted manner across taxonomically distant species, as well as the first known chemosignal that affects both human and non-human animals alike.

Olfactory Sensitivity for the Mammalian Blood Odor Component Trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal in CD-1 Mice

Using a conditioning paradigm and an automated olfactometer, we investigated the olfactory sensitivity of CD-1 mice for the mammalian blood odor component trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal. We found that two of the animals significantly discriminated concentrations down to 3.0 ppt (parts per trillion) from the solvent, and three animals even successfully detected dilutions as low as 0.3 ppt. Intraspecific comparisons between the olfactory detection thresholds obtained here with those obtained in earlier studies with other odorants show that mice are extraordinarily sensitive to this blood odor component. Interspecific comparisons of olfactory detection thresholds show that human subjects are even more sensitive to trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal than the mice tested here. Both intra- and inter-specific comparisons suggest that neither neuroanatomical properties such as the size of the olfactory epithelium, the total number of olfactory receptor neurons, or the size of olfactory brain structures, nor genetic properties such as the number of functional olfactory receptor genes or the proportion of functional relative to the total number of olfactory receptor genes allow us to reliably predict a species' olfactory sensitivity. In contrast, the results support the notion that the behavioral relevance of an odorant rather than neuroanatomical or genetic properties may determine a species' olfactory sensitivity.

Behavioral responses to mammalian blood odor and a blood odor component in four species of large carnivores.

Only little is known about whether single volatile compounds are as efficient in eliciting behavioral responses in animals as the whole complex mixture of a behaviorally relevant odor. Recent studies analysing the composition of volatiles in mammalian blood, an important prey-associated odor stimulus for predators, found the odorant trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal to evoke a typical “metallic, blood-like” odor quality in humans. We therefore assessed the behavior of captive Asian wild dogs (Cuon alpinus), African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), South American bush dogs (Speothos venaticus), and Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) when presented with wooden logs that were impregnated either with mammalian blood or with the blood odor component trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal, and compared it to their behavior towards a fruity odor (iso-pentyl acetate) and a near-odorless solvent (diethyl phthalate) as control. We found that all four species displayed significantly more interactions with the odorized wooden logs such as sniffing, licking, biting, pawing, and toying, when they were impregnated with the two prey-associated odors compared to the two non-prey-associated odors. Most importantly, no significant differences were found in the number of interactions with the wooden logs impregnated with mammalian blood and the blood odor component in any of the four species. Only one of the four species, the South American bush dogs, displayed a significant decrease in the number of interactions with the odorized logs across the five sessions performed per odor stimulus. Taken together, the results demonstrate that a single blood odor component can be as efficient in eliciting behavioral responses in large carnivores as the odor of real blood, suggesting that trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal may be perceived by predators as a “character impact compound” of mammalian blood odor. Further, the results suggest that odorized wooden logs are a suitable manner of environmental enrichment for captive carnivores.

Treatment with aquatic plants by a Bagdi tribal healer of Rajbari District, Bangladesh.

Context:Tribal healers mainly use land plants in their medicinal formulations; use of aquatic plants has been scarcely reported.Aims:The aim of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey working with a Bagdi tribal healer of Rajbari District, Bangladesh.Settings and Design:The survey was carried out working with a Bagdi healer, who lived alone in the wetlands of Rajbari District and used primarily aquatic plants for treatment.Materials and Methods:Interview of the healer was carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method.Results:The Bagdi healer was observed to use seven different aquatic plant species coming from five plant families for treatment of ailments such as hemorrhoids, tonsillitis, heart disorders, burning sensations and pain in hands or legs, blurred vision, debility, sexual weakness in males, chronic dysentery, infertility in women, constipation, chronic leucorrhea, blackness and foul odor of menstrual blood, hair loss, graying of hair and to keep the head cool. One plant was used to treat what the healer mentioned as “evil eye”, this refers to their belief in black-magic.Conclusions:This is the first reported instance of a Bagdi healer who primarily uses aquatic plants for treatment. Ethnomedicinal uses of a number of the plants used by the Bagdi healer have been reported for other places in India and Pakistan. Taken together, the various uses of the different plant species opens up scientific possibilities of new drug discoveries from the plants.

基于逐步判别分析的血液气味识别

基于逐步判别分析的血液气味识别

基于逐步判别分析的血液气味识别<br>Recognization of Blood Odor Based on Stepwise Discrimination Analysis

本文以血液气味色谱为基础，利用逐步判别分析法建立了血液气味识别模型，并对血液气味识别模型的建立进行了详细描述。以Matlab为计算工具，编写了血液气味识别模型的代码。以人体血液与犬、鸡的血液为例，讨论了血液气味识别模型的使用方法。血液气味识别模型能够正确区分人体血液与动物血液。A model for recognization of blood odor based on stepwise discrimination analysis was established and the features come from the chromatographs of blood samples. The model was described in detail and its code was compiled by means of Matlab. The human blood and animal blood samples were used to train and test the model, which detailed the usage of the model. The results demonstrated that samples from different species could be distinguished.

FACTORS MODIFYING THE RISK OF ACUTE AND CONDITIONED NAUSEA AND VOMITING IN OVARIAN-CANCER PATIENTS

We prospectively studied, how certain patient characteristics modify the risk of chemotherapy induced and conditioned nausea and vomiting. Young age and previous history of nausea and vomiting were factors associated with both chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting as well as conditioned nausea. Conditioned nausea was significantly associated with having received two-day compared to one-day mode of chemotherapy, previous distress during blood samples and odor memory. Tentative associations were also found between a history of flushing and chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting as well as between autonomic perception, odor associations and conditioned nausea. The investigated variables explained a larger part of the variance in conditioned compared acute nausea and vomiting.

Behavioral consequences in animal tests of anxiety and exploration of exposure to cat odor

Rats exposed to a cloth impregnated with cat odor showed a decreased number of contacts with the cloth and time in contact with it and increased time sheltering from it. Exposure to the odor of rat blood produced similar, though less marked, changes and also increased the number of occasions the rat sought shelter. Exposure to the odor of disinfectant changed only the time in contact with the cloth. Exposure to cat odor also resulted in anxiogenic responses in the social interaction and elevated plus-maze tests that could be detected up to 1 h, but not 24 h, after odor exposure. Decreased exploration in the holeboard could also be detected up to 1 h, but not 24 h, after exposure to cat odor. The time in contact with the cloth, the incidence of, and time spent sheltering did not decrease over five successive exposures to the odor of a cat. The number of contacts with the control odor cloth increased over successive exposures, but contacts with the cat odor cloth did not change over successive exposures. The decreased exploration in the holeboard, as a result of prior exposure to cat odor, showed rapid habituation, as did the anxiogenic response detected in the social interaction test, whereas that detected in the plus-maze persisted for up to five odor exposures.

Response of Deer to Human Blood Odor

American AnthropologistVolume 83, Issue 3 p. 630-634 Free Access Response of Deer to Human Blood Odor M. CHRISTOPHER NUNLEY, M. CHRISTOPHER NUNLEY Southern Methodist UniversitySearch for more papers by this author M. CHRISTOPHER NUNLEY, M. CHRISTOPHER NUNLEY Southern Methodist UniversitySearch for more papers by this author First published: September 1981 https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.1981.83.3.02a00170Citations: 11AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL REFERENCES CITED Adovasio, J. M., et al 1978 Meadowcroft Rockshelter, 1977: An Overview. American Antiquity 43: 632– 651. Chaplin, Raymond E. 1977 Deer. Poole, Dorset, Great Britain: Blanford Press. Delaney, Janice, Mary Jane Lupton, and Emily Toth 1976 The Curse: The Cultural History of Menstruation. New York: E. P. Dutton. Dobkin, de Rios, Marlene 1976 Female Odors and the Origin of the Sexual Division of Labor in Homo sapiens. Human Ecology 4(3): 261– 262. Driver, Harold E. 1969 Indians of North America. 2nd ed. revised. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Ford, Clellan S., and Frank A. Beach 1951 Patterns of Sexual Behavior. New York: Harper. Frazer, J. G. 1951 The Golden Bough. New York: Macmillan. Griffin, P. Bion 1978 Agta Negrito Women Hunter-Gatherers. Paper presented at the 77th Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association: Los Angeles. Hays, H. R. 1964 The Dangerous Sex. New York: Putnam. March, Kathryn S. 1980 Deer, Bears, and Blood: A Note on Nonhuman Response to Menstrual Odor. American Anthropologist 82: 125– 126. Rue, Leonard Lee, III 1962 The World of The White-tailed Deer. Philadelphia: Lippincott. Walter P. Taylor, ed. 1956 The Deer of North America. Harris-burg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Co., and the Wildlife Management Institute, Washington, D.C. Citing Literature Volume83, Issue3September 1981Pages 630-634 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Biological studies on Laelaps myonyssognathus G. & N. (Acarina: Laelapidae).

Laelaps Myonyssognathus Grochovskaya & Nguyen, 1961, was studied in the laboratory at 80% and 90% RH and 30°C (±2°). The life history stages and their approximate duration follow: egg, 1–1.5 days; larva, 9–21 hr; protonymph, 2–9 days; deutonymph, 2–14 days; adult male and adult female, maximum of 75 days. The female usually gives birth to active larvae; however, eggs are occasionally laid. The female readily mates, but may also produce progeny parthenogenetically. The offspring of virgin females were all males. Molting and mating behavior are discussed briefly. The most progeny produced by a single female was 12. An increase from 80% to 90% rh significantly lowered the larval mortality rate. The larva is the active stage most susceptible to desiccation. The larva does not feed before molting. All other active stages readily feed on blood, but apparently cannot penetrate the unbroken skin of their host. Cannibalism of larvae by their mothers was observed rarely. L. myonyssognathus responds positively to human breath and artificially generated CO2, but not to human breath which has had the CO2 removed. The odor of blood also elicits a positive response. The biology of L. myonyssognathus is compared with that of related laelapines, and the significance of behavioral patterns is discussed.