Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as a rapid means for assessing the source of coprolites.

Wanyue Zhao, Helen L Whelton, John C Blong, Lisa-Marie Shillito, Dennis L Jenkins, Ian D Bull

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in iScience, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

1citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

First record of well-preserved canid coprolites from Eurasia: New insights into the unique ecological niche of Yuanmou Basin.Heliyon · 2024
Article

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Wanyue ZhaoOrganic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.

Helen L WheltonOrganic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.

John C BlongDepartment of Anthropology, Washington State University, College Hall, Pullman, WA 99164-4910, USA.

Lisa-Marie ShillitoSchool of History, Classics and Archaeology, Armstrong Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.

Dennis L JenkinsMuseum of Natural and Cultural History, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.

Ian D BullOrganic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The odor of rehydrated coprolites can be used as an informal means of fecal identification. To date, the analysis of volatiles emitted by coprolites from different sources has not been attempted, and the possibility of utilizing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as fecal biomarkers unexplored. VOCs released by coprolites from the Paisley Caves, were analyzed using solid-phase microextraction (SPME), to assess the variance of results from different coprolites (carnivores, herbivores, or humans). Coprolites from carnivores can be clearly distinguished from those produced by herbivores and humans; these latter two are separated to a lesser degree. Eight discriminatory compounds differentiated between the coprolite sources, and their identities were verified using reference standards. Coprolites and their associated sediments could not be differentiated between using this method, suggesting leaching of VOCs into the burial matrix. This work provides an alternative, more rapid way to assess coprolite origin.

Indexed as

ArcheologyBiological sciencesPaleobiology

Identifiers

PMID37255664

DOI10.1016/j.isci.2023.106806

PMCPMC10225897

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.