Signature odors

Schaal, B. and Marlier. L. (1998) Maternal and paternal perception of individual odor signatures in human amniotic fluid - potential role in early bonding Biol. Neonate 74, 266-273. 

M. Williams, J.M. Johnston, P. Waggoner, J. Jackson, M. Jones, T. Boussom and S.F. HaUoweU, Determination of the canine detection odor signature for NG smokeless powder , Proceedings of the Second Explosives Detection Technology Symposium and Aviation Security Technology Conference, Atlantic City, N.J. Federal Aviation Administration, 1997. 

L. P. Waggoner. Canine Olfactory Sensitivity and Detection Odor Signatures for Mines/UXO, Testing Support for Tuft s Medical School E-Nose, and Fate Effects Team Participation , Final Report for MDA972-97-1-0026, Defense Advance Research Projects Agency, 2002. 

Surface Source or Hidden Source Sometimes source munitions are hidden, either intentionally or unintentionally, with neither soil nor water above them. In this case, we may expect that chemical signatures will be found in the vapor state. It is possible that sampling of surfaces could lead to detection, but normally a search will be in air. Many animals routinely face this same task. Whether looking for a meal or a mate, a common approach is to follow an odor plume to its source. 

Johnston, J. M., M. Williams, L. P. Waggoner, C. C. Edge, R. E. Dugan, and S. F. Hallowell. Canine detection odor signatures for mine-related explosives. Proc. SPIE, Detection and Remediation Technologies for Mines and Minelike Targets III 3392(1), 490-501 (1998). 

Several authors have investigated the role of juvenile hormone (JH) in hydrocarbon signatures. Sledge et al. (2004) performed one such study based on measuring the size of the corpora allata as an indicator of JH levels. Since caste determination depends strictly on the colony social structure, it can be assumed that topical JH application mimics natural caste development and thus modifies the cuticular caste-specific odor. Based on this assumption,... 

The wide variability of VOC signatures for smokeless powders and the variability in the smokeless powders used in the training of the canines tested may preclude the identification of odorants for low explosives with the most common VOC present, diphenylamine, not identified as an odorant for the detector dogs we have tested as discussed later. However, given the high occurrence of diphenylamine in smokeless powders, it may prove prudent to include a controlled source of diphenylamine during odor training, as it has the potential to be an explosive odorant. 

The first step is similar to the classical sensing method the value of a physical quantity in the sensing medium is measured, for example the output voltage of a chemical sensor. Then the microscopic spontaneous fluctuations of these measurements are strongly amplified (typically 1-100 million times) and the statistical properties of these fluctuations are analyzed. These fluctuations are due to the dynamically changing molecular-level interactions between the odor molecules and the sensing media, thus they contain the chemical signature of the odor. The results are compared with a statistical pattern database to identify the odor. 

Signature Mixtures Variable Individual, family, colony odors Learning required... 

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