Skin Surface Temperature Research Articles

A Preliminary Study of the Influence of High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on Skin Surface Temperature and Longissimus Dorsi Muscle Tone Changes in Thoroughbred Racehorses with Back Pain

The reason for undertaking this study was to investigate soft tissue response to high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) by measuring changes in skin surface temperature and longissimus dorsi muscle tone in the thoracolumbar back area in Thoroughbreds with back pain and diagnosed with and without Kissing Spines Syndrome (KSS). Thoroughbreds aged 3-4 years with clinically presented back pain underwent a radiological examination (to assess a lack or presence of KSS) and longissimus dorsi muscle palpation (to assess muscle tone and pain degree). The subjects were divided into two groups, those with KSS (n = 10) and those without KSS (n = 10). A single HILT treatment on the longissimus dorsi muscle, on the left side, was performed. Thermographic examination and palpation were repeated before and after HILT to assess changes in skin surface temperature and muscle pain response. In both groups, HILT caused a significant increase in skin surface temperature of 2.5 °C on average and a palpation score reduction of 1.5 degrees on average (p = 0.005 for both measurements), without differences in any outcome measures between the groups. Furthermore, the correlation between changes in the average skin surface temperature and the average palpation scores in horses with and without KSS were negative (rho = 0.071 and r = -0.180, respectively; p > 0.05). The results of the present study are encouraging, but further studies with larger samples, a longer follow-up period and comparisons with placebo control groups are needed to draw a more valid conclusion.

Heat transfer and skin friction: Beyond the Reynolds analogy

This paper describes a variational method to determine a high-resolution skin friction field from a measured surface temperature field based on the exact relation between skin friction, surface temperature and heat flux in viscous flows. The focus is the application of this method to complex three-dimensional flows to explore the intrinsic relationship between skin friction and heat transfer beyond the Reynolds analogy. Further, the underlying condition for establishing the Reynolds analogy is examined in this general theoretical framework. Essentially, this method is considered as a global variational form of the Reynolds analogy. To demonstrate the application of this method, the skin friction fields are extracted from temperature sensitive paint measurements in normally and obliquely impinging jets, revealing complex flow structures in the impingement region where the Reynolds analogy does not hold.

Enhanced bone healing using local cryostimulation: In vivo rat study

A short-term intense cooling through the skin causes a response of the body. Potentially, it can be used to enhance bone healing. The aim of this study is to evaluate an effectiveness of a bone defect cryostimulation in the Wistar rat model in vivo. Through holes with a diameter of 2.15 mm were formed in the cortical layer of the diaphysis of the hind paws of rats. Further animals were subjected to cryotherapy 1 and 2 times a week (up to 6 weeks). The local average skin surface temperature dropped from 28 to 14 °C. The decrease in temperature in a control point inside the biological tissue was 5.3 °C. Micro CT and histological analyses showed that cryostimulation twice a week is efficient treatment. In this case, there was an acceleration of maturation of the newly formed bone tissue replacing the defect region. In the control, the newly formed immature bone with a large number of osteocytes and vessels was detected. In the experiment, the newly formed bone had a more mature structure with signs of a compact bone (formation of Haversian canals, reduction in the number of osteocytes, appearance of gluing lines). Morphometric analysis has showed a 2-fold decrease of the relative vessels area near the defect region and an increase of 30% in the content of mast cells in the entire bone marrow and especially near the site of osteogenesis. Generally, the complete filling of the critical size defect and almost complete mineralization have been observed. This information is expected to be useful for understanding the effect-exposure correlation of the cryotherapy and in the design of the cryotherapy protocols.

AUTOMATED DETECTION OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN ABDOMINOPELVIC REGION USING THERMAL IMAGING BASED ON DEEP LEARNING TECHNIQUES

Childhood obesity is a preventable disorder which can reduce the risk of the comorbidities linked with an adult obesity. In order to improve the lifestyle of the obese children, early and accurate detection is required by using some non-invasive technique. Thermal imaging helps in evaluation of childhood obesity without injecting any form of harmful radiation in human body. The goal of this proposed research is to evaluate the body surface temperature in abdominopelvic and cervical regions and to evaluate which region is best for predicting childhood obesity using thermal imaging. Next, to customize the ResNet-18 and VGG-19 architecture using transfer learning approach and to obtain the best modified classifier and to study the classification accuracy between normal and obese children. The two-study region which was selected for this study was abdominopelvic and cervical region where the mean skin surface temperature was recorded. From the two selected body regions, abdominopelvic region has depicted highest temperature difference of 10.98% between normal and obese subjects. The proposed modified ResNet-18 model produced an overall accuracy of 94.2% than the modified VGG-19 model (86.5%) for the classification of obese and normal children. Thus, this study can be considered as a non-invasive and cost-effective way for pre-screening the obesity condition in children.

Contrasting effects of lake breeze and urbanization on heat stress in Chicago metropolitan area

This study used the latest Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model coupled with multilayer urban canopy models to investigate contrasting effects from urbanization and lake breeze on summer heat stress over the Chicago metropolitan area (CMA). Comparisons between the model and in situ observations show that this coupled modeling system better captures urban locations' diurnal pattern of surface air temperature, skin temperature and relative humidity, with root mean square error reduced from 1.58 to 1.80 °C to 1.14–1.31 °C, 3.11–3.55 °C to 1.81–2.21 °C, and 10.73–11.35% to 7.84–8.60%, respectively, compared to WRF without coupling the urban canopy models. Two sensitivity experiments were conducted to isolate the influence of lake breeze and urbanization: one replaced the urban land use with cropland over the CMA, and the other filled all of Lake Michigan with cropland. Three different heat stress indices were computed to assess the uncertainties of heat stress response to changes in air temperature, relative humidity, and wind conditions. Results show that, when the lake has the largest cooling effect on air temperature, it also increases the relative humidity the most, and vice versa for urban warming and drying effects. Urbanization intensifies heat stress at night, and extends the heat caution period by up to 4 h over inland urban grids; the lake breeze relieves heat stress during afternoon (when the heat stress is the worst), and shortens the heat caution period by 1–3 h over inland urban grids and 3–4 h over coastal urban grids. The intensification of heat stress over the CMA due to urbanization is more than four times greater than the reduction from the lake breeze in the late afternoon and evening.

Diagnosis of lameness via data mining algorithm by using thermal camera and image processing method in Brown Swiss cows.

Lameness is one of the culling factors such as mastitis, low milk yield, and infertility that cause economic losses in herd management as they threaten animal health and welfare. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early detection of lameness in Brown Swiss cattle by using a data mining algorithm by both integrating lameness scores and some image parameters such as Lab (CIE L*, a*, b*), HSB (hue, saturation, brightness), RGB (red, green, blue) by processing thermal images with ImageJ program. In the study, the variables obtained as a result of processing the skin surface temperatures and thermal images taken at the fetlock joint of 33 Brown Swiss cattle were used as independent variables. Also, healthy cows (lameness scores 1 and 2) and unhealthy cows (lameness scores 3, 4, and 5) used in the diagnosis of lameness were used as a binary response variable. Classification and regression tree (CART) was used as a data mining algorithm in the diagnosis of lameness. As a result, the CART algorithm correctly classified 12 of the 13 heads unhealthy cows according to locomotion scores. According to locomotion scores by using CART analysis in this study, independent variables that are used to classify healthy and unhealthy (lame) animals were determined as maximum temperature (Tmax), green (mean), L (max), and age (P<0.05). The cut-off values of these independent variables were predicted as 32.40, 149.14, 97.11, and 5.50 for Tmax, green (mean), L (max), and age, respectively. Also, the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the CART algorithm for locomotion scoring were found as 92.31%, 95%, and 93.7% respectively. The area under ROC curve (AUC) was found to be significant in the diagnosis of lameness (P<0.01). Results showed that the use of CART classification algorithm together with thermal camera and image processing methods is a usefull tool in the detection of lameness in the herds. It is recommended that more comprehensive studies by increasing the number of animals in the future would be more beneficial.

Acute Effects of Varied Back Squat Activation Protocols on Muscle-Tendon Stiffness and Jumping Performance.

Krzysztofik, M, Wilk, M, Pisz, A, Kolinger, D, Tsoukos, A, Zając, A, Stastny, P, and Bogdanis, GC. Acute effects of varied back squat activation protocols on muscle-tendon stiffness and jumping performance. J Strength Cond Res 37(7): 1419-1427, 2023-Intensity, movement velocity, and volume are the principal factors to successfully use postactivation performance enhancement. Therefore, 15 resistance-trained volleyball players completed 3 different back squat configurations as a conditioning activity (CA) in randomized order: (a) 3 sets of 3 repetitions at 85% 1RM (HL); (b) a single set of back squats at 60% 1RM until 10% mean velocity loss (VB); (c) and 2 sets of back squats at 60% 1RM until 10% mean velocity loss (2VB) on subsequent countermovement jump performance, Achilles tendon, and vastus lateralis stiffness with concomitant front thigh skin surface temperature assessment. The measurements were performed 5 minutes before the CA and at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 minutes. The jump height was significantly increased in the second minute and at peak, post-CA compared with baseline for all conditions ( p = 0.049; ES = 0.23 and p < 0.001; ES = 0.37). Skin surface temperature was significantly increased for all post-CA time points compared with baseline in the 2VB condition ( p from <0.001-0.023; ES = 0.39-1.04) and in the fourth minute and at peak post-CA in HL condition ( p = 0.023; ES = 0.69 and p = 0.04; ES = 0.46), whereas for the VB condition, a significant decrease in peak post-CA was found ( p = 0.004; ES = -0.54). Achilles tendon stiffness was significantly decreased for second, fourth, eighth, 10th, and peak post-CA in comparison to baseline for all conditions ( p from p = 0.004-0.038; ES = -0.47 to -0.69). Vastus lateralis stiffness was significantly decreased for peak post-CA compared with baseline for all conditions ( p = 0.017; ES = -0.42). We recommend using a single set of barbell squats with a 10% velocity loss as a mechanism of fatigue control to acutely improve jump height performance and avoid unnecessary increases in training volume.

Identifying the Optimal Arm Priming Exercise Intensity to Improve Maximal Leg Sprint Cycling Performance.

Priming exercises improve subsequent motor performance; however, their effectiveness may depend on the workload and involved body areas. The present study aimed to estimate the effects of leg and arm priming exercises performed at different intensities on maximal sprint cycling performance. Fourteen competitive male speed-skaters visited a lab eight times, where they underwent a body composition measurement, two V̇O2max measurements (leg and arm ergometers), and five sprint cycling sessions after different priming exercise conditions. The five priming exercise conditions included 10-minute rest (Control); 10-minute arm ergometer exercise at 20% V̇O2max (Arm 20%); 10-minute arm ergometer exercise at 70% V̇O2max (Arm 70%); 1-min maximal arm ergometer exercise at 140% V̇O2max (Arm 140%); and 10-min leg ergometer exercise at 70% V̇O2max (Leg 70%). Power outputs of 60-s maximal sprint cycling, blood lactate concentration, heart rate, muscle and skin surface temperature, and rating of perceived exertion were compared between the priming conditions at different measurement points. Our results showed that the Leg 70% was the optimal priming exercise among our experimental conditions. Priming exercise with the Arm 70% also tended to improve subsequent motor performance, while Arm 20% and Arm 140% did not. Mild elevation in blood lactate concentration by arm priming exercise may improve the performance of high-intensity exercise.

Use of Solar Panels for Shade for Holstein Heifers.

Animal Agrivoltaics combines electric energy generation, animal thermal comfort, and sustainable production at the same time. This model of production can foster the sustainable intensification of dairy production in tropical areas where solar irradiance is high and nearly constant throughout the year. In this study, we propose Animal Agrivoltaics as an alternative practice to reduce the heat load and eCH4 emissions from dairy heifers in tropical areas. To attest this hypothesis, (1) the meteorological data and the behavioral and physiological responses of the animals were integrated in order to determine the benefits provided by the shade from the solar panels on the thermoregulation of the dairy heifers, and (2) measurements of the enteric methane emissions were taken to determine the potential of the solar panels to offset the GHG. Seven crossbred Holstein heifers (7/8, Holstein × Gyr) with a mean body weight of 242 kg (SD = 53.5) were evaluated in a paddock shaded with ten modules of solar panels. Miniature temperature loggers were used to record the body surface, skin and vaginal temperatures of the heifers every five minutes. The respiratory rate and the shade-use behavior were also monitored by two observers. These measurements were taken from 08:00 to 17:00 h for 18 consecutive days. After completing the field study, the heifers underwent for assessments of the daily oscillations of eCH4 emission using a flow-through respirometry system. The use of shade by the heifers was progressively increased (p < 0.01) with an increasing level of solar irradiance. Lying and ruminating were more likely (p < 0.01) to occur when the heifers were in the shade, especially when the solar irradiance exceeded 500 W m-2. Between 10:00 and 14:00 h, the heifers benefited from the shade produced by the solar panels, with a reduction of 40% in the radiant heat load. With an increasing intensity of solar irradiance, body surface temperature, skin temperature and respiratory rate of the heifers in the shade were lower (p < 0.01) compared to when they were exposed to the sun. The heifers had a daily methane emission total of 63.5 g per animal-1 or 1.7 kg of CO2-eq. Based on this emission rate and the amount of CO2-eq that was not emitted to the atmosphere due to the electricity generated by solar panels, 4.1 m2 of panels per animal (nominal power = 335 W) would be expected to obtain a net-zero eCH4 emission. Over a period of one year (from September 2018 to August 2019), a set of ten photovoltaic panels used in the study produced 4869.4 kWh of electricity, thereby saving US $970.00 or US $48.00 per m2 of solar panel. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that use of Animal Agrivoltaics, in addition to producing electricity, has significant potential benefit in providing better thermal comfort to cattle, as well as offsetting the enteric methane emissions released into the environment. In addition, the system would provide extra income to farmers, as well as a potential source of energy micro-generation.

Effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on Skin Surface Temperature and Vein Diameter in Healthy Racehorses with Clipped and Non-Clipped Coat.

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the effects of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on skin surface temperature and vein diameter in the carpal joint region in racehorses with clipped and non-clipped treatment areas. The study included 20 Thoroughbreds split into two equal groups: clipped coat and non-clipped coat. Horses underwent thermographic examination to detect changes in skin surface temperature at the medial surface of the carpal joint, followed by ultrasonographic examination to assess changes in the diameter of the medial palmar vein before and after HILT. The increase in skin surface temperature after HILT was significantly lower in the group with clipped coat than in the non-clipped group. The group with clipped coat showed a greater increase in vessel diameter. There was a significantly weak negative correlation between the changes in average skin surface temperature and vein diameter in both groups. In conclusion, an efficient photothermal effect can be achieved in skin with a non-clipped coat and clipping the treatment area increases photobiostimulation of the tissue, while reducing the photothermal effect. Further research is needed to specify the parameters for the treatment of skin with clipped and non-clipped coat in order to perform effective laser therapy.

Thermal imaging and physiological responses of crossbred goats under different housing system during hot humid season

In order to observe the effect of hot humid (July-August) season on physiological responses and skin surface temperature, eighteen adult female crossbred goats were selected divided equally into three groups i.e. Group I (control), Group II(modified shed) and Group III (open environment) based on their body weight. These animals were fed as per the standard feeding schedule followed at NDRI, Karnal. The average respiration rate of group I, II and III was 76.11±1.03, 67.22±0.06 and 70.49±0.61per minute respectively during morning hours. The RR increased significantly during afternoon over morning values in all the groups due to increase of THI. The rectal temperature of goats during morning hours was 38.73±0.02, 38.57±0.03 and38.68±0.03°C in group I, II and III respectively and no significant change in RT was observed during the afternoon. The overall lowest and highest skin temperature were recorded at the lower part of legs and ears respectively in group I and II, whereas ingroup III the highest skin temperatures was found to be at dorsal and lowest at ventral region of the body. The information generated may serve as normal reference values for crossbred goats under different housing conditions and may be useful for predicting the animal welfare and prognosis of diseases.

Development of cryotherapy device using refrigerant compressor for decreased skin temperature

Cryotherapy is a commonly used technique in sports medicine and physical therapy for the treatment of acute injuries and pain management. The application of cold temperatures leads to a decrease in skin surface temperature, which can have several physiological effects on the body. This can help to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain in the affected area. Cryotherapy can be administered using various modalities, but controlled continuous cold devices are widely used in cryotherapy treatment due to their accurate temperature control, especially when treating large joints. These devices work by pumping cold water alternately into a cooling pad that is wrapped around a patient's limbs. The aim of this study is to develop a cryotherapy device that regulates low skin temperature for effective physical therapy treatment. This will be achieved by utilizing a refrigerant compressor in combination with a remote source of chilled water that is circulated through a cooling pad placed on the treatment site. The results show that this device can control temperature from 20oC to 5oC with a fluctuation of ± 0.4oC at the cooling pad. A test study on 32 volunteers showed that the skin temperature in the knee area can drop to 15.1oC±1.7oC (95% CI, 18.6-11.1oC) after 30 minutes of applying a cooling pad at 10oC. The experimental cryotherapy results on the skin surface are consistent with the simulation test results, indicating that this device can be developed into a medical device that provides precise and continuous temperature control, thereby ensuring ease of use and maximum therapeutic benefit in the field of physical therapy.

Assessment of udder skin surface temperature changes in relation to mastitis in crossbred dairy cows in different farms in Kerala

The aim of the present study was to assess the infrared thermographic profile in relation to mastitis in lactating dairy cows. In this study, 20 lactating crossbred dairy cows each were monitored for a period of 21 days in four dairy farms. The udder skin surface temperature (USST) was recorded using infrared thermography (IRT) during the study period at diurnal time intervals. Milk samples were collected at the time of afternoon milking from each quarter and tested for California Mastitis Test (CMT). It was observed that higher USST was noticed in udders with clinical mastitis followed by non-mastitis and subclinical mastitis, and the skin surface temperature of non-mastitis and clinical mastitis udders were significantly higher than subclinical mastitis affected udders. The results of this study indicate the limitations in the use of IRT of udders for early detection of mastitis across all regions.

Numerical Thermal Comfort Analysis Using Combined Computer-Simulated Person with Clothing and Multi-Node Thermoregulation Model

To analyse the interaction between the indoor environment and the human body, various computer-simulated persons (CSP) which can treat specific characteristics of the human body have been suggested as a “digital twin” for experimental thermal manikin. However, previous studies simplified or ignored the reproduction of the clothing function. In this study, a digital twin based on ANDI thermal manikin integrated with a multi-node thermoregulation model was developed in a naked and clothed state. In addition, to validate the prediction accuracy of numerical thermoregulatory analysis coupled with CSPCFD simulation, the analysis results were compared with the experimental results using thermal manikin. The computational model was generated based on 3D scan data of ANDI manikin and clothe. Moreover, the user subroutine program for coupled simulation of CSP and Fiala thermoregulation model was developed and applied into CSP to estimate the heat generation by metabolism, heat transfer between layers and parts, and skin surface temperature. CFD analysis was performed using CSP under identical environmental condition with the experiment, by setting CFD boundary conditions based on the data measured in the experiment. Through a series of numerical analyses, we confirmed that the analysis result of CSP corresponds well with experimental results using thermal manikin.

THE EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF UDDER DISEASES BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION DEVICE IN MILKING HERD

Currently known dairy herd physiological parameters’ measuring methods and devices of milking process control have limitations at producing and excessive time and money have been required. In addition, in order to milking machine’s further technology improving, it is necessary various forms of mastitis’ early detection new methods to create. One of such methods of the cattle mammary gland studying is thermal imaging. This is a harmless and noninvasive research method, which allows to be used repeatedly, processes in dynamics to observe, and also for early detection of pathological processes at cows mammary gland’s inflammation to be used. In combination with the other research methods, thermal imaging provides objective data on the surveyed area, facilitates condition at animals’ inspection, and also allows monitoring processes to restorative. In the course of experimental studies at thermal imaging diagnostics, the examined dairy herd diagnosis’s error was due to mastitis catarrhal form presence’s determination. The animal skin surface temperature radiation coefficient change in depending on the temperature’s ambient is established. The previously established temperature intervals at mastitis determining form were adjusted. A database has been developed to find the mockup installation’s optimal parameters, such as the distance to the object, installation’s height and thermal imaging module angle.

The Effects of Wetted Ice on Dynamic Stability over a Rewarming Period

BACKGROUND During half time or breaks in play cryotherapy is often applied for analgesia for minor musculoskeletal sport injury, however the effect of cryotherapy on dynamic stability is debated. A risk factor for further lower limb injury may be heightened due to a reduction in dynamic postural stability. &#x0D; OBJECTIVES The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of wetted-ice applied for 20-minutes at the ankle on dynamic stability using the star excursion balance test, immediately-post exposure and over a rewarming period of 30-minutes. &#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-two healthy male athletes that regular took part in land-based sport were assessed on reach directions of Anterior (Ant), Posteromedial (PM), and Posterolateral (PL) using the modified star excursion balance test (mSEBT) on the non-dominant limb. Thermal imaging quantified skin surface temperature (Tsk) over lateral and medial regions. Participants were tested pre-intervention, exposed to 15-minutes wetted-ice cryotherapy application, immediately-post and up to 30-minutes post intervention at 10-minute intervals.&#x0D; RESULTS Significant decreases in Tsk over the medial and lateral regions of the ankle (p &lt; 0.05) not returning to pre-cooling temperatures at 30-minutes post. Significant decrease in reach -distance scores (ANT, PL and PM) pre-immediately post and at 10, 20 and 30-minutes post cryotherapy exposure. &#x0D; CONCLUSION Following wetted ice application to the non-dominant ankle, dynamic postural stability was adversely affected for up to 30-minutes post exposure demonstrated through a decrease in reach scores for ANT, PL and PM directions. Functional performance which requires stabilising mechanisms may be negatively affected and contribute to a heightened risk of injury or further injury in consideration of the findings.

High Latitude Sea Surface Skin Temperatures Derived From Saildrone Infrared Measurements

From May 15 to October 11, 2019, six Saildrone uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) were deployed for 150-day cruises collecting a suite of atmospheric and oceanographic measurements from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, transiting the Bering Strait into the Chukchi Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Two Saildrones funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), SD-1036 and SD-1037, were equipped with infrared (IR) radiation pyrometers in a “unicorn” structure on the deck for the determination of the ocean sea surface skin temperature (SST <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{\mathrm {skin}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> ). We present an algorithm to derive SSTskin from the downward- and upward-looking radiometers and estimate the main contributions to the inaccuracy of SSTskin. After stringent quality control of data and eliminating measurements influenced by sea ice and precipitation, and restricting the acceptable tilt angles of the USV based on radiative transfer simulations, SSTskin can be derived to an accuracy of approximately 0.12 K. The error budget of the derived SSTskin is developed, and the largest component comes from the instrumental uncertainties, assuming that the viewing geometry is adequately determined. Thus, Saildrones equipped with these sensors could provide sufficiently accurate SSTskin retrievals for studying the physics of the thermal skin effect, in conjunction with accurate subsurface thermometer measurements, and for validating satellite-derived SSTskin fields at high latitudes.

Integrated multimodal microfluidic E-skin powered by synergistic tandem nanogenerators for sweat-based health monitoring and skin-temperature analysis

This work combines microfluidics with hydrovoltaic and moisture electricity generation, colorimetric assay and thermistors to develop a sweat electronic skin for real-time sweat monitoring, sweat-composition analysis and skin-surface temperature measurement.

Heat ameliorative effects of rumen protected niacin supplementation in lactating Surti buffaloes

Niacin may cause evaporative thermolysis through cutaneous hyperemia, vasodilation, increased sweating rate and decreased skin temperature. It is antilipolytic and can improve metabolic responses. Heat stress ameliorative effects of rumen protected niacin (RPN) supplementation in lactating Surti buffaloes during summer has been investigated in present study. Fourteen lactating Surti buffaloes were divided into two groups (Control-T1, N=7; RPN-T2, N=7). T2 (RPN) group was supplemented with RPN 6 g/ animal/ day in two divided dose for 4 weeks. Meteorological, physiological, sweating rate and skin temperature parameters, milk yield and composition were recorded at weekly intervals. Hematological and biochemical analytes were analyzed at week 1 and 4. RPN supplementation decreased physiological parameters RT, RR and TT; increased (P≤0.05) sweating rate and decreased (P≤0.05) skin surface temperature; increased (P≤0.05) TEC, Hb, HCT, LYM and decreased (P≤0.05) GRAN in hematological profile; increased (P≤0.05) glucose and decreased (P≤0.05) cholesterol, triglyceride, NEFA and BHB among biochemical metabolites and increased (P≤0.05) GSH and SOD and decreased (P≤0.05) LPO in oxidative stress profile. RPN supplementation increased milk yield and milk fat. It was concluded that supplementation of rumen protected niacin in lactating Surti buffaloes increases sweating rate, reduces oxidative stress and increases milk fat and milk production.

Digital infrared thermal imaging of body and hoof skin surface temperature profile in Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis): A preliminary report

The aim of the present study was to generate thermographic profile of foot region viz. body temperature (BTºC), coronary band temperature (CBTºC), hoof skin surface temperature (HSSTºC) and mean temperature difference (ΔTºC) in Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and its relation with ambient temperature. A total of 60 hooves of lactating Murrah buffaloes (n = 15) maintained in a farm, were monitored once a day continuously for 15 days before evening milking using forward-looking infrared (FLIR) i5 camera. Total of 1125 thermograms were analyzed using FLIR Quick Report 1.2 image analysis software. The mean ± SD (°C) of BT, CBT, HSST and ΔT of all animals throughout the experimental period were 37.39±0.05, 34.93±0.13, 34.16±0.13 and 0.76±0.26 respectively. The CBT was around 0.5 to 1°C higher than HSST. Statistical analysis revealed that ambient temperature is highly and positively correlated with CBT (ºC) (r = 0.95) and HSST (ºC) (r = 0.99), indicating greater influence of ambient temperature on surface temperature of foot region. Therefore, CBT (ºC) and HSST (ºC) have a tendency to follow variations in ambient temperature (R2 = 0.91 and 0.98 respectively). However, significant difference was observed between BT vs. CBT, BT vs. HSST and CBT vs. HSST (ºC). The mean ± SD (°C) of ΔT of all animals, throughout the observation period was 0.96±0.41. A significant difference was observed in ΔT between animals (P&lt;0.001). However, significant difference was not observed in ΔT between days and among four hooves within animal. It is concluded that, to the best of our knowledge this is the first report on baseline thermographic information on BT, CBT, HSST and ΔT differentials for buffalo and its clinical significance in monitoring hoof health and management.