Dogs are utilized in forensic science for their extensive scent detection capabilities. They are often considered the “gold standard” in field detection for targets such as illicit drugs and explosives. Despite their prevalence in the field, relatively little is known about how dogs interact with and transport volatile organic compounds through their olfactory system. In this study, two groups of dogs were utilized – Sport detection dogs (n=19) that participate in the National Association of Canine Scent Work and have achieved advanced standing through training and successful search competitions and law enforcement explosive detection dogs (n=8) which were included for comparison. Both groups were presented with two target odorants having differing molecular properties, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and ammonia, two non-target odorants, 1-bromooctane and methyl benzoate, and a negative control. Canines were tested prior to experience with the target odorants, when all odorants were novel, after some brief training with the target odorants, and after longer training time with the target odorants. The non-target odorants were never used in training. Sniffing was measured using flow sensors embedded in a wall immediately in front of the odorants held in a closed cylinder. Sensor data was used to calculate sniff flow rate, frequency (sniffs per seconds) and volume. Results indicated no difference in sniffing dynamics between target odorants; however, sniffing frequency increased significantly with increased experience with the target odorants (Wilcoxon rank sum exact test, W= 148, p=6×10-5). Sniff volume and flow rate showed a positive correlation to body mass for all sport detection dogs (slope = 2.71, F(1,17)= 9.48, p= 0.007, R2= 0.32), though the R2 was low, indicating other factors at play. Law enforcement detection dogs were shown to take in significantly higher mean total sniff volumes (Wilcoxon rank sum exact test: W= 7, p=10-4) and volume flow rates (Wilcoxon rank sum exact test: W= 5, p=6×10-5) compared to the sport detection dogs, but the sniff frequency remained similar for both groups.

中文翻译：

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具有不同物理特性的气味检测测试中的狗嗅探生物力学反应


狗因其广泛的气味检测能力而被用于法医科学。它们通常被认为是对非法药物和爆炸物等目标进行现场检测的“黄金标准”。尽管它们在该领域很普遍，但人们对狗如何通过其嗅觉系统与挥发性有机化合物相互作用和运输知之甚少。在这项研究中，使用了两组狗——参加全国犬类气味工作协会并通过训练和成功的搜索比赛获得高级地位的运动探测犬 （n=19） 和执法爆炸物探测犬 （n=8），这些犬被纳入进行比较。两组均呈现两种具有不同分子性质的目标气味剂 2-乙基-1-己醇和氨，两种非目标气味剂 1-溴辛烷和苯甲酸甲酯，以及一个阴性对照。犬在使用目标气味剂之前进行测试，当所有气味剂都是新颖的时，在使用目标气味剂进行一些简短的培训后，以及在使用目标气味剂进行较长时间的训练后。非目标气味剂从未在训练中使用过。使用嵌入在封闭圆柱体中加臭剂正前方墙壁上的流量传感器测量嗅探。传感器数据用于计算吸枪流速、频率（每秒吸枪次数）和体积。结果表明，目标加臭剂之间的嗅探动力学没有差异;然而，随着使用目标气味剂的经验增加，嗅探频率显着增加 （Wilcoxon 秩和精确检验，W= 148，p=6×10-5）。嗅探量和流速显示所有运动检测犬的体重呈正相关（斜率 = 2.71，F（1,17）= 9.48，p = 0.007，R2= 0。32），尽管 R2 很低，表明有其他因素在起作用。与运动检测犬相比，执法检测犬的平均总嗅探量（Wilcoxon 秩和精确检验：W= 7，p=10-4）和体积流速（Wilcoxon 秩和精确检验：W= 5，p=6×10-5）显着更高，但两组的嗅探频率相似。