A Preliminary Investigation of Interspecific Chemosensory Communication of Emotions: Can Humans (Homo sapiens) Recognise Fear- and Non-Fear Body Odour from Horses (Equus ferus caballus)

Mammalian body odour conveys cues about an individual’s emotional state that can be recognised by conspecifics. Thus far, little attention has been paid to interspecific odour communication of emotions, and no studies have examined whether humans are able to recognise animal emotions from body odour. Thus, the aim of the present study was to address this question. Body odour samples were collected from 16 two-year-old thoroughbred horses in fear and non-fear situations, respectively. The horse odour samples were then assessed by 73 human odour raters. We found that humans, as a group, were able to correctly assign whether horse odour samples were collected under a fear- or a non-fear condition, respectively. Furthermore, they perceived the body odour of horses collected under the fear condition as more intense, compared with the non-fear condition. An open question remains, which is whether humans could simply distinguish between little versus much sweat and between high intensity versus low intensity or were able to recognise horses’ fear and non-fear emotions. These results appear to fit the notion that the ability to recognise emotions in other species may present an advantage to both the sender and the receiver of emotional cues, particularly in the interaction between humans and domesticated animals. To conclude, the present results indicate that olfaction might contribute to the human recognition of horse emotions. However, these results should be addressed with caution in light of the study’s limitations and only viewed as exploratory for future studies.

Evaluating odour and urinary sex preferences in the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus)

Olfactory cues provide detailed information to mammals regarding conspecifics. Bats may identify species, colony membership, and individual’s using olfaction. Big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1976)) live in mixed-sex colonies and must differentiate between sexes to locate mates. We hypothesized that odour cues convey information about sex. In Experiment 1, adult E. fuscus were recorded exploring a Y-maze that contained general body odours sampled from male or female conspecifics. One group of subjects was habituated to the Y-maze prior to experimental trials, whereas a second group was not. Bat exploration and the proportion of time spent near each scent were used as preference indicators for the body odour of a particular sex. Experiment 2 followed similar procedures except the odour cue tested was urine from either male or female conspecifics and without Y-maze habituation. Results found no evidence that E. fuscus prefer the body odours of a given sex, but females did prefer the odour of male urine. Non-habituated animals in Experiment 1 were more likely to explore the Y-maze and approach a stimulus scent compared to habituated bats. These findings have important implications for courtship and mating behaviour in bats, as well for designing future behavioural studies.

Awareness of Pubertal Body Changes Among Primary School Children Aged 10-14 in Eastern Uganda; Challenges and Opportunities

Background Globally, programs that educate young people about pubertal body changes are vital. In some communities, teaching sexual education in schools has been the subject of debate. This is probably why access to sexual and reproductive health information and resources is still a challenge to children aged 10–14 years. Methods We conducted a qualitative study design among school children aged 10–14 years. Data were collected from 19 focus group discussions (FGDs) in 16 primary schools purposively selected from Eastern Uganda. Data were transcribed, coded and thematically analysed. Results We established that girls in rural schools were aware of their body changes than those from urban schools. Boys in urban schools were knowledgeable of pubertal body changes than those from rural schools. We further found that girls experienced pubertal-related challenges amongst themselves and boys including lack of shavers, pain while shaving, rape, bad boy-girl relationships, unwanted early pregnancies, limited funds to buy pads, menstrual pain, etc. Boys too indicated that they experienced similar challenges and these included lack of shavers, pain during and after shaving, changes in height, raping of girls, bad boy-girl relationships, peer pressure, HIV and other STIs, limited infrastructure, voice changes, bad body odour etc. Girls and boys endeavoured to overcome pubertal-related challenges by utilising advise from teachers, parents and friends. Conclusion Boys and girls who were knowledgeable about puberty body changes possessed opportunities that enable them to cope with pubertal-related challenges.

Bank vole alarm pheromone chemistry and effects in the field

Chemical communication plays an important role in mammalian life history decisions. Animals send and receive information based on body odour secretions. Odour cues provide important social information on identity, kinship, sex, group membership or genetic quality. Recent findings show, that rodents alarm their conspecifics with danger-dependent body odours after encountering a predator. In this study, we aim to identify the chemistry of alarm pheromones (AP) in the bank vole, a common boreal rodent. Furthermore, the vole foraging efficiency under perceived fear was measured in a set of field experiments in large outdoor enclosures. During the analysis of bank vole odour by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, we identified that 1-octanol, 2-octanone, and one unknown compound as the most likely candidates to function as alarm signals. These compounds were independent of the vole’s sex. In a field experiment, voles were foraging less, i.e. they were more afraid in the AP odour foraging trays during the first day, as the odour was fresh, than in the second day. This verified the short lasting effect of volatile APs. Our results clarified the chemistry of alarming body odour compounds in mammals, and enhanced our understanding of the ecological role of AP and chemical communication in mammals.

Smelling Disease and Death in the Antwerp Church of Our Lady, c. 1450-1559

Early modern societies were pervaded by smells and odours, but few traces have survived that offer a glimpse of the olfactory experience. This essay reconstructs this lost early modern ‘smellscape’, focusing on the smell of disease and death in the late medieval Antwerp Church of Our Lady (c. 1450-1559). Bustling cathedrals and parish churches could be a minefield of life-threatening odours, as there was a strong interaction between externally perceived body odour and a person’s inner sweetness. Through devotional objects and liturgical rituals, however, it was possible to protect oneself from the stench of both living and dead parishioners. Exemplary markers for the shared discourse of smell on a medical and spiritual level were aromatic prayer beads and purifying incense.

Body Odours Sampled at Different Body Sites in Infants and Mothers—A Comparison of Olfactory Perception

Body odours and their importance for human chemical communication, e.g., in the mother–child relationship, are an increasing focus of recent research. Precise examination of sampling methods considering physiology and feasibility aspects in order to obtain robust and informative odour samples is therefore necessary. Studies comparing body odour sampling at different body sites are still pending. Therefore, we sampled axilla, breast, and head odour from 28 mother–infant dyads and examined whether odour perception differs with regard to the body site. The participating mothers were asked to evaluate their own and their infant’s body odour samples, as well as odours of two unfamiliar mother–infant dyads. We tested whether maternal pleasantness and intensity evaluation, as well as recognition ability of the odours differed between the body sites. In infants, the head odour exhibited slightly lower pleasantness ratings than axilla and breast, and intensity ratings did not differ between body sites. In mothers, body site affected intensity ratings but not pleasantness ratings, as the breast odour was rated as less intense compared with head and axilla. Across all body sites, mothers rated the own and their infant’s odour as less intense when compared with unfamiliar samples. Recognition ability did not differ between body sites, and in line with previous studies, mothers were able to recognize their own and their own infant’s odour above chance. In sum, our study extends the previous methodological repertoire of body odour sampling and indicates that the axilla, breast, and head of adults as well as infants serve as informative odour sources.

Comparative study of unilateral subcutaneous internal anal sphincterotomy and 02% diltiazem local application in acute fissure in ano: a study of 40 patients over 01 year

Background: Two most demoralizing things in life are physical pain and bad body odour. A counted few body pains are as terrible, as oppressive and as tormenting, almost on daily basis as the pain of fresh acute fissure in ano. It pins your whole being, your awareness of life and focus of living on to your painful anus. Anal fissures are commonly encountered in routine colorectal practice. Fissure has traditionally been treated surgically. Developments in the pharmacological understanding of the internal anal sphincter have resulted in more conservative approaches towards treatment.Methods: 40 patients with acute fissure in ano were divided into 02% diltiazem gel and unilateral subcutaneous internal anal sphincterotomy (USIAS) groups. Patients in the two groups were followed up subsequently.Results: Anal fissures were found completely healed in 14 (70%) out of 20 patients treated with 02% diltiazem gel between 4-8 weeks. Healing was 100% with “USIAS” group. The mean healing duration of fissure was 04.45 weeks in diltiazem gel group and 03.45 weeks in “USIAS” group. 65% patients were free from pain after treatment with diltiazem gel whereas 95% patients were free from pain after treatment with “USIAS”.Conclusions: This prospective study, demonstrates that “USIAS” is superior to pharmacological treatment of anal fissure with good symptomatic relief, high rate of healing with very low rate of complication. Patients who are not willing to undergo surgery may be managed by 02% diltiazem as pharmacological line of management for fissure in ano.