Identification of 2-phenylethanol with a rose-like odor from anal sac secretions of the small Indian mongoose (<i>Herpestes auropunctatus</i>)

<p>The small Indian mongoose (<i>Herpestes auropunctatus</i>) is an invasive species in Okinawa and Amami-Oshima, Japan. Major strategies for their eradication have been the use of baited traps, which suffer from decreasing efficiency with declining populations and the bycatch of native animals. To address these concerns, mongoose-specific lures are required. In this study, we aimed to identify species- and/or sex-specific compounds from anal sac secretions of small Indian mongooses. Volatile compounds emitted from male and female mongoose anal sac secretions were analyzed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In addition to several fatty acids, 2-phenylethanol was identified as a minor compound, which is uncommon in mammalian secretions but a dominant odorant in roses. Female samples emitted higher levels of 2-phenylethanol than male samples did. These findings indicate that 2-phenylethanol is a female-specific volatile compound of anal sac secretions in small Indian mongooses, and it may be useful as an ingredient of mongoose-specific scent lures.</p> <p>2-Phenylethanol is an indicator of female anal sac secretions in small Indian mongooses.</p

Effects of wall thickness on airway dimension measurement.

<p>Average of measured values (SD).</p><p>Measured values of Ai, WA%, and wall thickness (WT) for various wall thickness using airway phantom B (actual luminal area: 7.07 mm²) scanned by Aquilion 64 (120 mAs, 0.5-mm slice thickness, 350-mm FOV, and lung reconstruction algorithm FC56).</p

The four CT scanners used in assessments and their respective scanning data.

<p>kVp, kilovolts peak; FOV, field of view; AEC, automatic exposure control (actual range in this study: 25–30 mAs).</p

The mean values of CT density (HU) in the phantom materials mimicking lung parenchyma and the mean values of maximum CT density in the tube walls.

<p>Average of measured values (SD).</p

Schema describing the method of airway dimension measurement.

<p>A: Using sequential CT slices which included a section of the target tube, the center (solid) line of the tube was calculated by linking the center points of sections on each slice. B: Images were constructed perpendicular to the center line.</p

Effects of scanning conditions on errors of airway dimension measurement.

<p>A: Effects of field of view (FOV) and slice thickness on errors for wall area percentage (WA%) in acrylic resin tubes surrounded by acrylic foam that were scanned using Aquilion 64 (120 mAs and lung algorithm FC56). B: Effects of the reconstruction algorithm on the errors of WA% in acrylic resin tubes surrounded by acrylic foam that were scanned using Aquilion 64 (120 mAs, 0.5-mm slice thickness, 350-mm FOV). FC13: body algorithm, FC51: lung algorithm, FC56: lung algorithm (FC51) with beam-hardening correction. *: failure to measure. The error of airway dimensions was defined as follows: Error (%) = (CT measurement − actual value)/actual value×100.</p

Effects of CT scanner and FOV on errors of airway dimension measurement.

<p>Comparison of errors WA% and luminal area (Ai) in acrylic resin tubes embedded in acrylic foam among four CT scanners under varying FOV (A: 200 mm, B: 350 mm). The images were reconstructed by the lung algorithm. The definition of error is shown in the legend to <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0076381#pone-0076381-g003" target="_blank">Figure 3</a>.</p

Examples of airways measured at different generations.

<p>The representative images of right posterior basal bronchi (3^rd generation) and more distal bronchi of a healthy control on Aquilion 64 (Auto Exposure Control, 0.5-mm slice thickness, 350-mm FOV, lung reconstruction algorithm FC56). At the 6^th to 7^th generation, the thickness of the bronchus wall had equal or less than pixels size.</p

Axial slice computed tomography (CT) image of phantom A.

<p>The inner space of the cylindrical container is filled with successive layers of three materials: phenol resin, acrylic foam, and air. A total of 18 tubes (three materials×six sizes) were embedded through each layer (50 or 60 mm in length).</p