Body Surface Temperature Research Articles

Rectal temperature and body surface temperature rhythm in Red Sokoto goats infected with <i>Trypanosoma evansi</i> during the rainy season

There are limited studies on circadian rhythmicity in farm animals affected by protozoan diseases. The rectal temperature (RT) and body surface temperature (BST) rhythmic patterns in experimental Trypanosoma evansi-infected Red Sokoto goats (T. evansiinfected RSG) July – September were evaluated. Five goats were assigned to each experimental group, with group I as the negative control (CRSG), while animals in group II were individually infected with about 2.0x106 /2ml T. evansi-inoculum. Temperature reaction patterns were monitored by digital clinical and infrared thermometry. The RT and BST of goats, the ambient temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH) inside the pen were measured at 06:00, 12:00 and 18:00 hours (GMT+1) three times a week for 12 weeks. The AT had maximum, minimum and mean values of 27.0°C, 24.2°C and 25.6±0.26°C, respectively, while RH had maximum, minimum and mean values of 94.5%, 53.6% and 80.5±11.5%, respectively. Results obtained, via the application of a single Cosinor procedure showed that the RT and BST exhibited daily rhythmicity in both groups with the pattern distorted in T. evansi-infected RSG which showed an ascent from the 5th to the 10th week. The rhythmic characteristic of RT of the T. evansi-infected RSG showed that the mesor and amplitude were higher (p˂0.05) than those recorded for CRSG. Both groups showed no difference (p˃0.05) in acrophase. The eye region in both groups showed the highest BST, while the coronary band had the lowest. The result, for the first time, reported rhythmicity of RT and BST in T. evansi- infected goats under tropical conditions. The results obtained from our study may be useful for the early screening, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of protozoan diseases.

Ultrastretchable, Self-Adhesive and conductive MXene nanocomposite hydrogel for body-surface temperature distinguishing and electrophysiological signal monitoring

Epidermal sensors capable of monitoring various physical signals are vital in wearable healthcare applications. MXene-based conductive hydrogels have become promising candidates as skin-attachable sensors for these purposes. However, due to the easy oxidation and weak combination of MXene nanosheets with network matrix, it remains challenging to construct a mechanically tough, highly conductive and skin-conformal hydrogel for reliable signal recording (especially weak electrophysiological signals). Herein, a new conductive MXene-based hydrogel is fabricated through introducing silk fibroin (SF)-modified MXene (MXene-SF) into polyacrylamide (PAM) network. It is demonstrated that the encapsulation of SF on MXene surfaces greatly improves its stability, and meanwhile induces the formation of multiple noncovalent interactions between MXene-SF and PAM chains. The resulting hydrogel exhibits high stretchability (1560 %), remarkable toughness (165 kJ/m3), high conductivity (0.25 S/m) and self-adhesion. This hydrogel is high-sensitive in a large strain range for detecting various human motions. Especially, the high conformal adhesion and low interface impedance make the hydrogel bioelectrodes precisely monitor weak electrophysiological signals (e.g. electromyogram and electrooculogram), successfully achieving sign language translation and eye tracking. Additionally, the hydrogel has great thermosensitive capacities for body temperature monitoring. This study provides a general strategy for designing MXene-based hydrogels with tailored functionalities as flexible electronics.

Influence of Heat Stress on Body Surface Temperature and Blood Metabolic, Endocrine, and Inflammatory Parameters and Their Correlation in Cows.

This study aimed to determine whether heat stress affected the values and correlations of metabolic, endocrinological, and inflammatory parameters as well as the rectal and body surface temperature of cows in the early and middle stages of lactation. This experiment was conducted in May (thermoneutral period), June (mild heat stress), and July (moderate to severe heat stress). In each period we included 15 cows in early lactation and 15 in mid-lactation. The increase in rectal and body surface temperatures (°C) in moderate to severe heat stress compared to the thermoneutral period in different regions was significant (p < 0.01) and the results are presented as mean and [95%CI]: rectal + 0.9 [0.81-1.02], eye + 6 [5.74-6.25], ear + 13 [11.9-14.0], nose + 3.5 [3.22-3.71], forehead + 6.6 [6.43-6.75], whole head + 7.5 [7.36-7.68], abdomen + 8.5 [8.25-8.77], udder + 7.5 [7.38-7.65], front limb + 6 [5.89-6.12], hind limb + 3.6 [3.46-3.72], and whole body + 9 [8.80-9.21]. During heat stress (in both mild and moderate to severe stress compared to a thermoneutral period), an increase in the values of extracellular heat shock protein 70 (eHsp70), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), cortisol (CORT), insulin (INS), revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (RQUICKI), urea, creatinine, total bilirubin, aspartate transpaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatin kinase (CK) occurred, as well as a decrease in the values of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose (GLU), β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB), calcium, phosphorus, total protein (TPROT), albumin (ALB), triglycerides (TGCs), and cholesterol (CHOL). In cows in early lactation compared to cows in mid-lactation, there was a significantly larger increase (p < 0.01) in the values of eHsp70, TNFα, GLU, RQUICKI, and GGT, while the INS increase was smaller during the three experimental periods. The decrease in the values of Ca, CHOL, and TGC was more pronounced in cows in early lactation compared to cows in mid-lactation during the three experimental periods. Rectal temperature was related to eHsp70 (r = 0.38, p < 0.001) and TNFα (r = 0.36, p < 0.01) and showed non-significant poor correlations with other blood parameters. Blood parameters correlate with body surface temperature, with the following most common results: eHsp70 and TNFα showed a moderately to strongly significant positive correlation (r = 0.79-0.96, p < 0.001); CORT, INS, and Creat showed fairly to moderately significant positive correlations; T3, T4, NEFA and GLU showed fairly to moderately significant negative correlations (r = 0.3-0.79; p < 0.01); RQUICKI, urea, AST, and GGT showed fairly and significantly positive correlations; and TGC, CHOL, TPROT, and ALB showed fairly and significantly negative correlations (r = 0.3-0.59; p < 0.01). Measuring the surface temperature of the whole body or head can be a useful tool in evaluating the metabolic response of cows because it has demonstrated an association with inflammation (TNFα, eHsp70), endocrine response (CORT, T3, T4), the increased use of glucose and decreased use of lipids for energy purposes (INS, NEFA, GLU, and RQUICKI), and protein catabolism (ALB, TPROT, urea, Creat), which underlies thermolysis and thermogenesis in cows under heat stress. In future research, it is necessary to examine the causality between body surface area and metabolic parameters.

Sprayable hydroxypropyl chitin/collagen extract of Ampelopsis brevipedunculata hydrogel accelerates wound healing.

Keeping a wound moist can allow effective and rapid healing, and it can control the formation of scabs, thereby allowing cell proliferation and epithelial formation. When regularly changing a dressing, thermosensitive hydrogel as a moist dressing does not cause a secondary wound from adhesion. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a new sprayable thermosensitive hydrogel on wound healing. The hydrophobic N-acetyl group of chitin was removed by microwave reaction with lye until the degree of acetylation was 60%, followed by reaction with propylene oxide to obtain hydroxypropyl chitin (HPCH) with a degree of substitution of 40%. After mixing HPCH with fish scale collagen (FSC), a thermosensitive hydrogel with a gel temperature of 26.5°C was obtained. Ampelopsis brevipedunculata extracts (ABE), which have been found to accelerate wound repair and improve healing, were added. HPCH/FSC is not toxic to the mouse L929 cell line and forms a hydrogel at body surface temperature. It can be easily sprayed on a wound. The HPCH/FSC has a three-dimensional network porous structure with a swelling ratio of 10.95:1 and a water vapour transmission rate of 2386.03±228.87g/m2/day; it can facilitate the penetration of water and air, and promote absorption of wound exudate. Wound repair was performed on five Sprague-Dawley rats. Each rat had three wounds, which were treated with medical gauze, HPCH/FSC and HPCH/FSC/ABE, respectively. The wounds in the HPCH/FSC/ABE group recovered the fastest in vivo, the mature wound site was smoother, the re-epithelialisation was even and thicker, and the angiogenesis developed rapidly to the mature stage. In this study, HPCH/FSC/ABE thermosensitive hydrogel was shown to effectively accelerate wound healing and was convenient for practical application.

Thermal Comfort Model Established by Using Machine Learning Strategies Based on Physiological Parameters in Hot and Cold Environments

The air-conditioning systems have become an indispensable part of our daily life for keeping the quality of life. However, to improve the thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption is crucial to use the air conditioners effectively with rapid development of artificial intelligence technology. This study explored the correlation between the response of human physiological parameters and thermal sensation voting (TSV) to evaluate the comfort level among various cold and hot stimulations. The variations of the three physiological parameters, which were body surface temperature, skin blood flow (SBF), and sweat area on the skin surface, and TSV values were all positively correlated with the stimulation amount under the stimulation of cold wind, hot wind, and heat radiation, but the relationship was not completely linear. Among the three physiological parameters, the forehead skin temperature has the closest relationship with TSV, followed by the SBF and sweat. Among three stimulations, the cold wind stimulation causes the closest relationship between TSV and forehead temperature, followed by the radiation and hot wind stimulations. Through three different machine learning models, namely, random forest (RF) model, support vector machine (SVM) model, and neural network (NN) model, the stimulation of cold wind, hot wind, and heat radiation was applied to investigate the variation of the three physiological parameters as the input of the models. Moreover, the models were evaluated and verified by TSV. The results revealed that among the three different machine learning methods, RF had the best accuracy. The established thermal comfort models can predict the real-time user’s thermal comfort feeling, so that air-conditioning equipment’s performance can be optimized to create a healthy and energy-saving comfortable environment.

The effects of low ambient temperature on steroidogenesis and mitochondrial functions in the testes of wild ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus)

Seasonal reproduction is a widely used breeding strategy in wildlife, especially vertebrates inhabiting temperate regions. Generally, ambient temperature is considered a significant factor influencing the reproductive status of animals. In the present study, wild ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus), typical seasonal breeders, were used as an animal model to investigate the mechanism behind the impact of low ambient temperature on testicular function. To simulate the winter environment of wild ground squirrels, we lowered the temperature gradient in the rearing environment to 4 °C. At sampling, the body surface temperature of the squirrels reared under normal ambient temperature (22 °C, NAT group) and the low ambient temperature (4 °C, LAT group) were 31.5 °C and 22.8 °C, respectively. Subsequently, we conducted immunohistochemical assays, qPCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to examine the variations in testicular functions, as well as the dynamics and functions of mitochondria, in the squirrels of NAT and LAT groups. As a result, the levels of positive immunostaining for PCNA, P21, and P27 were significantly lower in the testes of LAT group, while the levels of immunostaining for Cleaved Caspase-3 and TUNEL were significantly higher. In addition, the low-temperature treatment reduced the expression level of steroidogenesis-related genes, including LHR, FSHR, GATA-4, P450scc, and P450arom, and decreased the testosterone concentration. Moreover, markers of mitochondrial fission and fusion, DRP1 and MFN2, respectively, were increased in the testes of LAT group. Additionally, the mRNA level of SOD1 was notably higher in the testes of LAT group. In conclusion, the low ambient temperature inhibited spermatogenesis, steroidogenesis, as well as mitochondrial dynamics and functions in the testes of wild ground squirrels.

Research on the Heating Effect of a Convection Radiator Based on a Human Thermophysiological Model

Forced convection is the most effective way to improve the thermal efficiency of a radiator under low-temperature conditions. This technical method differs significantly from the heating effects of general radiation and natural convection. Few studies have applied the objective evaluation method based on quantitative calculation to evaluate the effectiveness of indoor heating or optimize the technical parameters (air flow rate, air supply method, etc.) of heating systems. This article couples human metabolic factors with heating environmental factors and uses a 57-node human thermal physiological model to evaluate the effectiveness of forced convection radiator heating from the perspective of the local thermal comfort of the human body and demonstrates the feasibility of this scheme by comparing it with floor radiation heating. The research shows that the air supply speed of a radiator affects human thermal comfort. Continuing to increase the wind speed, at a speed of 3 m/s, the surface temperature of the human body reaches a high value and will then decrease, leading to a decrease in thermal comfort. Research on indoor air distribution shows that the use of bottom-side air supply provides better thermal comfort compared to top air supply. The local skin temperature distribution of the human body indicates that when the indoor average temperature is higher than 20 °C, the overall thermal comfort of convective radiator heating and floor radiant heating is comparable. The article provides a way of objectively calculating and directly quantifying the effect of heating equipment on human thermal physiological parameters.

Study on Thermodynamic Properties of Spiral Tube-Encapsulated Phase-Change Material Energy Pile

Based on the research status of phase-change material (PCM) energy piles, this paper proposes a new type of PCM energy pile-spiral tube-encapsulated PCM energy pile. In order to study the related properties of the energy pile, this study designed and processed the relevant test equipment and built an indoor scale model experimental system. The thermodynamic performance of the spiral tube-encapsulated phase-change energy pile under summer conditions was studied by the test system. Through the indoor scale model test, it is found that compared with the traditional energy pile, the spiral tube-encapsulated PCM energy pile improves the heat exchange capacity of the unit pile body in the early and middle stages of operation, and reduces the surface temperature of the pile body and the heating rate of the surface temperature of the pile body. The upward displacement of the energy pile top is reduced. The heat exchange capacity of the unit pile depth is increased by 6.52 W/m, the maximum pile surface temperature difference is 0.62 °C, and the maximum pile top displacement difference is 0.005 mm. In addition, the total heat transfer of the spiral tube-encapsulated PCM energy pile during the whole operation period is 3.38% higher than that of the traditional energy pile. However, during the whole operation period, the surface stress value of the spiral tube encapsulated PCM energy pile is higher than that of the traditional energy pile. The maximum difference between the two is 9.84 kPa and the maximum difference is 10.8%. The difference between the two is finally stabilized at 1.4 kPa with an increase in time, and the final difference is only 8.8%.

Research Note: Welfare and stress responses of broiler chickens raised in conventional and animal welfare-certified broiler farms

The present study was conducted to assess the animal welfare status of broiler chickens raised in conventional and welfare-certified farms. One conventional farm (30,000 birds/house, 1,488 m2/house, 2 houses) and one animal welfare-certified farm (32,000 birds/house, 1,920 m2/house, 2 houses) were selected to measure productivity, stress responses, and animal welfare indicators in 3 broiler flocks (2 farms/season, n = 6 flocks/farm type) during summer, autumn, and spring. Upon farm visits, body weight, uniformity, and animal welfare indicators (i.e., fecal and feather corticosterone, footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather dirtiness, and gait score) were measured at 26 d posthatch. Also, moisture, nitrogen, and pH of litter, light intensity, ammonia concentration, and body surface temperature of head, chest, and legs were measured. There was no difference in body weight and uniformity between farm types. Fecal corticosterone concentrations were higher (P = 0.021) in welfare-certified vs. conventional farm, but no significant difference was found in feather corticosterone. Welfare-certified vs. conventional farm had lower percentages of hock burn (P = 0.018), feather dirtiness scores (P = 0.009), and gait score (P = 0.040), and there was no difference in footpad dermatitis. Nitrogen content in litter samples tended to be higher in conventional vs. welfare-certified farms (P = 0.094), and there was no difference in moisture and pH between farm types. Ammonia concentration within the broiler houses was not different between 2 farms. However, animal welfare farm was found to be brighter than conventional farm (P < 0.001). The body surface temperature of head, chest, and legs was not different between farm types. In conclusion, the welfare-certified farm had higher welfare measures, including lower hock burn, feather dirtiness, and gait score, confirming an overall improvement in welfare indicators. However, the observation on the elevated feather corticosterone noted in welfare vs. conventionally raised chickens warrants further studies.

Impact of Heat Stress on Lactating Egyptian Buffaloes (Bubalis bubalis): Physiological, Hormonal and Oxidative Responses

Heat stress typically causes substantial financial losses because it lowers animal performance, morbidity, and mortality. It is essential to comprehend the physiological reactions and biochemical alterations through different body homeostasis during various environmental seasons to prevent harmful impacts of heat stress. Objective of this experiment was to evaluate the different seasonal dynamics of the Egyptian buffaloes' oxidative, hormonal, metabolic and physiological responses to the country's summer season climate. Throughout the year, the physiological reactions of twenty lactating water buffaloes were measured. These responses included rectal temperature (RT), respiration rate (RR) and body surface temperature (BST), in addition to serum hormonal, oxidative/antioxidant, and metabolic indices. Significant increases in RR and BST were detected in summer season in relation to winter season when the temperature-humidity index (THI) was higher (&gt;80). The heat stress during the summer season was associated with lower serum antioxidant enzyme levels and higher oxidative stress. Serum cortisol and hepato-renal functional bio-indicators were also significantly elevated in the summer and autumn. In comparison to former seasons, the levels of growth hormone (GH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) were also much reduced in the autumn and summer. THI was found to have a negative relation with physiological and antioxidant indices, but a positive relation with serum cortisol and malondialdahyde (MDA) levels. According to our findings, lactating Egyptian buffaloes have considerable heat stress during the summer season, which necessitates greater managerial measures to prevent animal welfare concerns and economic losses.

PRESERVATION AND THERMOREGULATION PECULIARITIES OF LAMBS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF BIRTH AND BODY WEIGHT

The research was carried out on 1421 lambs of different genders and types of birth (singles, twins and triplets) of the Kharkiv intrabreed type of the Precos breed, as well as the aboriginal Sokolska breed (19 heads). It had lasted for two adjacent years, while ewes were lambing in January-February at the experimental farm of the institute “Hontarivka” in the Kharkiv oblast, the following parameters were measured: the body weight of the lambs (BW), their type of birth (TB) and the character of the hair cover (HC), the age on the mortality date (MA), rectal body temperature (RT), body surface temperature in the chest area (ST), temperature (T) and air humidity (H) and other indicators of the microclimate in the premises. Research has established that the year of birth is an influential factor in relation to (BW) and homogeneity of lambs. The average (BW) of all newborn lambs differed by 6.2% in the compared years for a statistically highly probable difference. There were more than 12% of differences in this trait among single lambs. The indicators of the phenotypic variation of this trait in the herd also differed significantly by year. In general, the level (MA) of lambs in the period from birth to weaning was 6.2-7.9%, and the lambs that died had lower body weight than the average of the sample for the years of evaluation, from 7.7% to 14.2% (р&lt;0.001 in both cases). Although most lambs (from 20 to 38%) died in the first three days after birth, research has not established the probable repeatability of the structure (MA) of lambs in adjacent years, r±mrs=+0.714±0.350 (p&gt;0.5). It is more natural that the total number of lambs that died falls on the first 30 days of their life – 39% (2020) and 57.5% (2021). Studies of changes (ST) during the first hour of life of lambs revealed features related to the type of their birth. Twins and triplets had a relatively greater decrease (ST), namely 3.9 0C (14.2%, p&lt;0.01) in twins and 3.7 0C (13.1%, p&lt;0.001) in triplets, while in singles it was only 1.1 0C (4.1%). The change in body temperature during the first hour of life has a correlation of +0.445 with (BW) of lambs. At the age of 20-25 days, lambs of the Precos breed with a typical merino type of wool cover prevailed in (BW) from 4.3% to 13.7% with an improbable difference and in (ST) 11.6% and 16.7% (p&lt;0.001 in ram lambs and (p&lt;0.01 in ewe lambs) over the peers, who had a wool cover of the “doghair” type. The obtained results of this work are important for the further selection of sheep regarding the increase of body weight at the birth of lambs and the homogeneity of the wool cover.

Fluxo de calor sensível e latente de codornas japonesas mantidas em diferentes ambientes térmicos

ABSTRACT This study aimed to estimate the heat flux through sensitive mechanisms and respiratory evaporation of Japanese quails kept in thermoneutral and warm environments, using simple environmental and physiological measures. 192 nine-week-old quails were used, distributed in a completely randomized design at two temperatures (T1 = 24°C and T2 = 32°C), with 12 replicates of eight birds each, with an experimental period of 63 days, divided into three 21-day periods. Physiological measurements of respiratory rate (RR), cloacal temperature (TC), and body surface temperature (TS) were measured twice a week. The behavior of the energy balance in the climatic chambers was obtained using the total thermal energy exchanges per unit surface area of the birds, derived from the sum of sensible (radiation and convection) and latent heat exchanges. Respiratory rate (P&lt;.0001), surface temperature (P&lt;.0001), and cloacal temperature (P=0.0047) were higher in the 32°C environment. The expired air temperature (P&lt;.0001) and heat loss by respiratory evaporation (P&lt;.0001) showed higher values when the quails were in an environment of 32°C, while the heat losses by convection (P&lt;.0001) and radiation (P&lt;.0001) were higher in a thermal comfort environment. In Japanese quails kept in a controlled environment, sensible heat dissipation by convection is the main way to eliminate excess thermal energy, when the air temperature is up to 32ºC.

Implications of heat exchange for a free-living endangered marsupial determined by non-invasive thermal imaging.

We used thermal imagining and heat balance modelling to examine the thermal ecology of wild mammals, using the diurnal marsupial numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) as a model. Body surface temperature was measured using infra-red thermography at environmental wet and dry bulb temperatures of 11.7-29°C and 16.4-49.3°C, respectively; surface temperature varied for different body parts and with environmental temperature. Radiative and convective heat exchange varied markedly with environmental conditions and for various body surfaces reflecting their shapes, surface areas and projected areas. Both the anterior and posterior dorsolateral body areas functioned as thermal windows. Numbats in the shade had lower rates of solar radiative heat gain but non-solar avenues for radiative heat gain were substantial. Radiative gain was higher for black and lower for white stripes, but overall, the stripes had no thermal role. Total heat gain was generally positive (<4 to >20W) and often greatly exceeded metabolic heat production (3-6W). Our heat balance model indicates that high environmental heat loads limit foraging in open areas to as little as 10min and that climate change may extend periods of inactivity, with implications for future conservation and management. We conclude that non-invasive thermal imaging is informative for modelling heat balance of free-living mammals.

Effects of grain-based pecking blocks on productivity and welfare indicators in commercial broiler chickens.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of grain-based pecking blocks on productivity and welfare status at two commercial broiler welfare-certified farms. Production and welfare indicators were assessed at two farms (designated Farm A and B). Both farms had two windowless houses with forced tunnel-type ventilation and housed broilers at stocking densities of approximately 16.7 birds/m2 (Farm A) and 16.8 birds/m2 (Farm B). Each house was divided into two or three equal sections and was provided with or without pecking blocks. Grain-based pecking blocks, measuring 25 × 25 × 25 cm, were given to broilers in both farms at 1 block per 1,000 birds. Various parameters including productivity (body weight and flock uniformity), corticosterone levels (in fecal droppings and feathers), footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather dirtiness, gait score, litter quality, body surface temperature, and volatile fatty acids in fecal samples were assessed at 26 days of age, whereas litter quality was analyzed at 13 and 26 days of age. There were no significant effects of providing pecking blocks on productivity (body weight and uniformity), fecal and feather corticosterone, welfare indicators (i.e., footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather cleanliness, and gait score), and litter quality (i.e., moisture, nitrogen, and pH). No differences in body surface temperature between the control and enrichment treatments were noted in Farm B, but body surface temperatures of the head (p = 0.029) and legs (p = 0.011) in the enrichment vs. control group were elevated in Farm A. Butyrate concentration in the enrichment vs control group was higher in Farm B (p = 0.023), but this effect was not detected in Farm A. It is concluded that grain-based pecking blocks did not affect performance and welfare indicators. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the potential impact of grain-based pecking blocks on gut health indicators.

Effects of Climatic Conditions and Supplementation with Palm Cake on the Thermoregulation of Crossbred Buffaloes Raised in a Rotational Grazing System and with Natural Shade in Humid Tropical Regions.

In ruminants, diet composition has a positive correlation with heat production, which can influence thermoregulation, energy expenditure and, consequently, animal performance. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of climatic conditions and supplementation based on palm kernel cake, on the thermoregulation of crossbred buffaloes in the eastern Amazon. The research was carried out at Embrapa Amazônia Oriental (01°26' S and 48°24' W), Belém, Pará, and lasted 12 months (representing the entire year). Twenty-four buffaloes, females, with initial age and an average weight of 54 ± 7 months and 503.1 ± 23 kg, respectively, non-pregnant, non-lactating and clinically healthy were used, divided into four treatments based on the supplementation content of the palm cake (%DM) in relation to their body weight (%): 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 1.0. The animals were kept in paddocks with Brachiaria brizantha (cv. Marandu), in a rotating system, with water to drink and mineral salt ad libitum. Equipment was installed to record environmental data (temperature and relative humidity, dew point temperature, wet bulb and black globe) and physiological data: rectal temperature (RT); respiratory rate (RR); and body surface temperature (BST), recorded twice a day, always in the morning (6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.) and afternoon (12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.) shifts, and were used to calculate the Globe Temperature and Humidity Index (GTHI). Supplementation did not influence the physiological variables of thermoregulation (p > 0.05). However, there were differences in the GTHI between the shifts, with higher means in the afternoon shift, especially in the less rainy period of the year, where the GTHI reached 92.06 ± 2.74 (p < 0.05). In all periods of the year, the mean values of RT, RR and BST were higher in the afternoon shift (p > 0.05). The respiratory rate (RR) is associated with the annual seasonality of the thermal waters, with higher averages in the afternoons of the rainy season. The positive correlation for rectal temperature, respiratory rate and body surface temperature indicated that buffaloes respond to thermal elevations in the atmosphere (afternoon period) and, consequently, reflect on the GTHI. Supplementation does not influence thermoregulation; the changes observed occurred in response to the region's thermal and rainfall conditions (mainly in the afternoon shift), with higher GTHI values.

The Postural and Body Surface Temperature Response of Leisure Horses to Lunging with Selected Lunging Aids.

Incorporating lunging into a horse's daily routine aims to enhance fitness, physical condition, and specific skills or exercises when using lunging aids (LAs). To assess the effectiveness of lunging, non-contact technologies like geometric morphometrics and infrared thermography can be employed. This study seeks to evaluate lunging efficiency based on the horse's posture and surface temperature when lunging with different head and neck positions. The study aims to determine if changes in a horse's posture correspond to increased metabolic activity, as indicated by body surface temperature. Thirteen horses included in the study were lunged with chambon (CH), rubber band (RB), and triangle side reins (TRs) as well as with a freely moving head (FMH). Images were taken in visible light and infrared. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to analyze horse posture changes and a Pixel-Counting Protocol (PCP) was used to quantify surface temperature patterns. The horses' posture exhibited contrasting changes, reflected by a changing centroid shape (p < 0.0001) but not size (p > 0.05) when lunged with RB and TRs, but not CH. Different (p < 0.0001) surface temperature patterns were observed during lunging. FMH lunging resulted in lower temperatures over a larger surface, CH induced moderate temperatures on a smaller area, RB caused moderate to high temperatures across a broader surface, and TRs led to higher temperatures over a smaller region. The studied lunging cases returned different (p < 0.0001) surface temperature patterns. Lunging with FMH returned lower temperatures over a larger surface, CH moderate temperatures on a smaller area, RB moderate to high temperatures across a broader surface, and TRs higher temperatures over a smaller region. The proposed methods can be applied to evaluate the efficiency of lunging in horses.

Analisis Efek Rumah Kaca serta Teknologi Penanggulangan Efek Rumah Kaca yang Terbarukan

Global warming is an increase in global temperature at the Earth's surface (within several thousand kilometers) compared to the normal/average value recorded over a standard period (World Meteorological Organization/WMO measurements: at least 30 years). Global warming is one of the impacts caused by the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is a condition where the surface temperature of a celestial body, such as a planet or star, increases rapidly. This increase in temperature is caused by changes in the composition and conditions of the atmosphere around the object. The greenhouse effect can be caused by human activities and can occur naturally due to natural events such as forest burning due to a prolonged dry season. Basically, the greenhouse effect is very difficult to overcome, but we can reduce the greenhouse effect by using environmentally friendly energy such as renewable energy. With the rapid development of technology in this modern era, there are many renewable technologies that can be developed and utilized. This analysis aims to determine the process, causes and consequences of the greenhouse effect as well as the development and use of renewable energy technology to overcome the greenhouse effect.

AN EFFICIENT FEATURE ANALYSIS METHOD OF BIOLOGICAL DATA FOR IMPROVING CATTLE CONCEPTION RATE

In this paper, we show an efficient feature analysis method of body surface temperature (ST) data so as to develop accurate prediction systems for artificial insemination (AI) timing of cattle. In the proposed analysis method, by using the fundamental waveform synthesis method based on the Fourier transform, approximate waveforms for the target waveform were derived. Additionally, reconstructed waveforms which does not correspond to both high frequency noise and circadian rhythm were generated. The two reconstructed waveforms derived from the approximate waveforms were used to predict the optimal AI timing and to discriminate the normal phase, respectively.

Are there differences in the adaptive profile of hair sheep and their crosses with wool breeds?

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the physiological performance of different genetic groups of sheep, by physiological variables and serum hormone levels, in a hot weather environment. Thirty sheep from five genetic groups were used: Santa Inês (SI), ½ Dorper + ½ Santa Inês (DO), ½ Ilê de France + ½ Santa Inês (IF), ½ Suffolk + ½ Santa Inês (SK), and ½ Texel + ½ Santa Inês (TX). The readings and records of physiological parameters (respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), auricular cavity temperature (ACT), and surface temperature (ST)) were carried out at 7:00 am, 1:00pm, and 7:00pm, in 12 non-consecutive days. The collections of blood samples for hormone analysis (triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and cortisol (CORT)) is in four consecutive days. The environmental conditions of the experimental period caused a thermal discomfort in the sheep, but not a state of thermal stress. The thermolysis mechanisms, sensitive (ST and ACT) and latent (RR) processes, were enough to maintain their homeostasis (RT). The results showed that crossbred breeds presented a higher metabolism and were more efficient at dissipating heat through thermolysis than the SI breed. The crossbred breeds were efficient at dissipating heat through the elevation of body surface temperature and respiratory rate, mainly SK and TX, i.e., crossbred breeds, despite the wool cover, used thermoregulatory mechanisms that promoted lower variation of RT. The analysis of variance showed significant effects (P < 0.05) to the time factor in the responses of T4 and T3, and to the breed factor in the responses of CORT, T4, and T3. We did not observe interaction between the factors to any of the hormonal variables. Therefore, we can state that the effect of time was independent of breed and vice versa. Thyroid hormones presented lower blood concentration in the mornings (4.03 ± 0.82, T4; 65.08 ± 10.6, T3), increasing their concentration in the afternoon (4.60 ± 1.03, T4; 70.16 ± 14.17, T3). The thyroid hormones presented a normal circadian rhythm, with the exception of SK. Air temperature (AT) showed greater correlation with physiological variables than enthalpy (H) did, in the experimental conditions. However, H showed correlation with T4 and T3. The adaptive profile of the genetic groups under study are different, but the IF genetic group showed better performance under environmental conditions.

A pilot study of skin stretching and blood circulation effects of dermal suctioning in dogs

Dermal suctioning has been reported to yield effects similar to those of cupping therapy in humans and horses, including pain reduction, increased blood circulation, improved flexibility, and healing. However, there is a dearth of reported outcomes concerning cupping or dermal suctioning in dogs. In this study, we examined the physiological effects of dermal suctioning in dogs. Employing the Medicell MINI pro8 device, dermal suctioning was applied to the dorsal surfaces of eight healthy beagle dogs for 20 min. Metrics such as body surface temperature, rectal temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and skin pinch test results were gauged. Seven healthy beagle dogs were used as controls, and the same measurements were performed without dermal suctioning. The results showed a significant increase in the body surface temperature and skin pinch test results after dermal suctioning. We believe that the elimination of torsion in the blood vessels and nerves in the shallow fascia positively affected the thermoregulatory mechanism, resulting in an increase in body surface temperature, and also improving skin flexibility. Thus, dermal suctioning promotes subcutaneous blood circulation and improves skin flexibility in dogs. Further research is needed to identify the mechanisms underlying the effects of dermal suctioning and evaluate the stress in dogs caused by the implementation of the process.