Correlation of udder thermogram and somatic cell counts as a tool for detection of subclinical mastitis in buffaloes.

This study aimed to monitor the mammary health of 37 multiparous Murrah buffaloes through infrared thermography (IRT). Based on the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and milk somatic cell counts (SCC), buffaloes were grouped into healthy (H, n = 16), subclinical mastitis (SCM, n = 10), and clinical mastitis (CM, n = 11). Buffaloes were milked twice daily in the morning (5:00-6:00 AM) and evening (5:00-6:00 PM). Rectal temperature and respiratory rates were recorded, CMT was performed and thermal images of the mammary gland of all the buffaloes were taken before and after each milking. Milk samples were analysed after each milking for SCC, fat, Solids-Not-Fat (SNF), density, protein, lactose, salts, conductivity, and pH immediately in the laboratory from fresh milk samples. The surface temperature of the periocular region of both the eyes, muzzle, flank, and vagina were also taken. Thermal images were used to assess the surface temperature of the udder (USST), teat apex (TAT), teat barrel (TB1T), teat base (TB2T), and teat skin surface (TSST). Eye and USST showed significantly higher temperatures (p < 0.05), whereas skin surface temperatures (SST) of different body parts were non-significant in both SCM and CM animals than buffaloes in the H group. Milk SCC showed a positive correlation with conductivity (r > 0.7), salts, and pH (r < 0.6) and a negative correlation with fat, SNF, density, protein, and lactose. TAT, TB1T, TB2T, TSST, and USST were positively correlated with milk SCC. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis of H and SCM groups showed that USST before milking had optimum sensitivity (Se = 0.80) and specificity (Sp = 0.906) among the various skin temperatures recorded. Thermal images captured during the morning showed higher sensitivity compared to images taken in the evening. Results indicate IRT can be used to monitor the mammary health of buffaloes but using IRT in conjunction with milk SCC can help in the accurate prediction of SCM in dairy buffaloes.

Effects of pre-exercise glycerol supplementation on dehydration, metabolic, kinematic, and thermographic variables in international race walkers.

BACKGROUND: Due to the increase in global temperature, it is necessary to investigate solutions so that athletes competing in hot conditions can perform in optimal conditions avoiding loss of performance and health problems. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of pre-exercise glycerol supplementation during a rectangular test at ambient temperature mid (28.2ºC) on dehydration variables in international race walkers. METHODS: Eight international male race walkers (age: 28.0 years (4.4); weight: 65.6 kg (6.6); height: 180.0 cm (5.0); fat mass: 6.72% (0.66); muscle mass: 33.3 kg (3.3); VO2MAX: 66.5 ml · kg-1·min-1 (1.9)) completed this randomized crossover design clinical trial. Subjects underwent two interventions: they consumed placebo (n = 8) and glycerol (n = 8) acutely, before a rectangular test where dehydration, RPE, metabolic, kinematic, and thermographic variables were analyzed before, during and after the test. RESULTS: After the intervention, significant differences were found between groups in body mass in favor of the placebo (Placebo: -2.23 kg vs Glycerol: -2.48 kg; p = 0.033). For other variables, no significant differences were found. CONCLUSION: Therefore, pre-exercise glycerol supplementation was not able to improve any dehydration, metabolic, kinematic, or thermographic variables during a rectangular test at temperature mid in international race walkers. Possibly, a higher environmental temperature could have generated a higher metabolic and thermoregulatory stress, generating differences between groups like other previous scientific evidence.

Change in Skin Surface Temperature at the Posterior Neck When Using Acupuncture at Houxi Acupoint in Healthy Volunteers.

Introduction The use of acupuncture has been suggested for the treatment of neck pain. Recently, a large body of evidence demonstrated that acupuncture has an effect on microcirculation in pain regions, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the skin surface thermographic changes in the posterior neck associated with manual acupuncture at the Houxi (SI-3) acupoint. Methods Sixty healthy volunteers of both genders, aged 18 to 30 years, were randomly determined into two groups: left acupuncture (Group A) and right acupuncture (Group B). Each group underwent two sessions with a seven-day interval. The first session involved acupuncture at the control Yuji (LU-10) acupoint, while the second session featured acupuncture at the SI-3 acupoint. Skin temperature at the posterior neck was measured by using an infrared thermal camera (FLIR C5™, FLIR® Systems, Inc., Wilsonville, OR, USA) at five time points with 5-minute intervals. Results There were statistically significant increases in posterior neck skin surface temperature (p < 0.05) during acupuncture at both the left and right SI-3 acupoints, but no significant change was observed during acupuncture at the left and right LU-10 acupoints. Furthermore, acupuncture at the SI-3 acupoint on either hand increased posterior neck skin surface temperature without a statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). Conclusion We observed that applying acupuncture at the SI-3 acupoint increased the skin surface temperature of the posterior neck area. Furthermore, the SI-3 acupoint exhibits a uniform impact on the posterior neck area's skin surface temperature, regardless of the side chosen for acupuncture.

Early changes in skin surface temperature predict body temperature increases in patients with fever: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between body temperature and skin surface temperature in intensive care unit patients and to identify specific indicators of skin surface temperature for early fever detection. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY/DESIGN: This pilot study was a prospective, observational investigation conducted at National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Tainan, Taiwan. A total of 54 patients admitted to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital between April and August 2020 were included. Patients utilized the wearable device HEARThremoTM to continuously monitor skin surface temperature and heart rate. Analysis of Variance was applied to identify the association of skin surface temperature with different body temperature groups. The comparison between skin surface temperature and fever over eight time intervals was studied using a generalized estimating equation. RESULTS: In 34 patients (63 %) with a fever (≥38 °C), skin surface temperature increased (P < 0.001) when body temperature increased. The maximum skin surface temperature was significantly associated with fever 180-210 min before the fever events occurred (OR: 2.22, 95 % CI: 1.30-3.80). The mean skin surface temperature was associated with fever 120-150 min before the fever events (OR: 8.70, 95 % CI: 2.08-36.36). CONCLUSIONS: Skin surface temperature can be an important early predictive sign before the onset of fever. Continuous temperature monitoring can detect fever early and initiate treatment in advance. This study serves as a preliminary exploration in this area, laying the groundwork for future comprehensive research. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Continuous monitoring of skin surface temperature empowers nurses to swiftly detect fever, transcending conventional methods. This proactive approach allows for the early identification of physiological abnormalities, facilitating the prompt initiation of further physical assessments and relevant examinations for early treatment commencement.

The Effect of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (rESWT) on the Skin Surface Temperature of the Longissimus Dorsi Muscle in Clinically Healthy Racing Thoroughbreds: A Preliminary Study.

Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) is increasingly being used to treat musculoskeletal injuries in horses. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of rESWT on the skin surface temperature of the longissimus dorsi muscle in clinically healthy racing horses. A total of 24 thoroughbreds were divided into a study group (n = 12) and an rESWT-sham group (n = 12). The study group underwent rESWT, whereas the rESWT-sham group had rESWT without probe activation in the treated area. Both groups underwent thermographic examination before and just after rESWT to determine and compare skin surface temperatures. Palpation examination was performed after the first and second thermography examination to assess longissimus dorsi muscle tone. Additionally, thermographic examination was repeated 10 min after the rESWT. In both groups, there was an increase in skin surface temperature just after rESWT, and a decrease 10 min after it to below the initial value. In the study group, the skin surface temperature just after rESWT was higher than in the rESWT-sham group. Additionally, in the study group the average muscle tone before rESWT was significantly higher than just after the procedure, whereas in the rESWT-sham group the average change in muscle tone was not significant. The results proved that rESWT increases skin surface temperature of the longissimus dorsi muscle in clinically healthy horses. Further research is necessary in order to configure shockwave treatment with appropriate parameters for effective and safe therapy.

Acute effects of combined isometric and plyometric conditioning activities on sports performance and tendon stiffness in female volleyball players.

This study aimed to compare the effects of bilateral and unilateral conditioning activities (CA; combined isometric and plyometric) on countermovement jump performance, modified t-agility test, Achilles tendon stiffness and skin surface temperature. Thirteen female semi-professional volleyball players performed two CAs in random order: 1) bilateral isometric half back squats followed by bilateral drop jumps (BI-CA); and 2) unilateral isometric half back squats followed by unilateral drop jumps (UNI-CA). To assess the effects of CAs, countermovement jump, modified t-agility test, Achilles tendon stiffness and skin surface temperature measurements were performed 5 min before and 6 min after the CA. Both CAs significantly increased thigh skin surface temperature from pre- to post-CA (BI-CA, p < 0.001; effect size [ES] = 1.41 and UNI-CA, p = 0.001; ES = 1.39) but none of them influenced modified t-agility test time (interaction: p = 0.338, main effect of time: p = 0.121 and condition: p = 0.819). The countermovement jump height and modified reactive strength index significantly increased from pre-to post-CA during the BI-CA condition (p = 0.003, ES = 0.45, and p = 0.008, ES = 0.48) but not for UNI-CA (p = 0.061, ES = 0.18 and p = 0.065, ES = 0.26). No significant impact has been found for countermovement depth (interaction: p = 0.054, main effect of time: 0.097, and condition: p = 0.41) as well as for contraction time (interaction: p = 0.536, main effect of time: p = 0.224, and condition: p = 0.807). Moreover, stronger and weaker limb CMJ relative peak force significantly decreased from pre-to post-CA (p = 0.014, ES = -0.31, and p = 0.027, ES = -0.26; respectively) during UNI-CA condition but not for BI-CA (p = 0.096, ES = 0.23, and p = 1.41, ES = 0.18). The stronger and weaker limb Achilles tendon stiffness significantly increased from pre-to post-CA during the UNI-CA condition (p = 0.013, ES = 0.60 and p < 0.001, ES = 0.79; respectively) but not for BI-CA (p = 0.66; ES = 0.15 and p = 0.265; ES = 0.42). Furthermore, the post-CA stronger limb Achilles tendon stiffness during the UNI-CA was significantly higher than that noted during the BI-CA (p = 0.006, ES = 0.7). The present study showed that combined isometric and plyometric bilateral CA effectively improved the countermovement jump but did not enhance the t-agility test performance. These findings indicate that exercise combinations could effectively produce a post-activation performance enhancement effect but should replicate the following explosive task as much as possible.

Effect of Cooling Blanket on the Heat Stress of Horses in Hot and Humid Environments.

Heat stress is serious problem for livestock. While riding horses and racehorses spend the majority of their days in stalls, there are few reports on effective methods for reducing stall heat stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an ice horse blanket in hot and humid environments. Twenty healthy horses were measured first without the blanket (C) and then measured with the blanket (IB), or vice versa, in a cross-over trial. The blanket was designed to keep cooling the front back, the rear back, and the loin. Skin surface temperature, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and plasma cortisol level in both C and IB were measured at 10:00, 12:30, and 15:00. The skin surface temperature of the front back was decreased with cooling time in IB, whereas it was not changed in C. Similarly, heart rate, respiratory rate, and plasma cortisol level also decreased only in IB. The blanket used in the present study had the advantage of allowing for gentle cooling of the horse's body without the use of water or fans. Applying this methodology should enable effective reduction of heat stress not only in horses but also in other mammals kept in barns.

Temporal Skin Temperature as an Indicator of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Assessed with Selected Methods.

The aim of this study was to determine whether there are associations between cardiovascular fitness (and aerobic capacity) and changes in temporal skin temperature during and after a single bout of high-intensity exercise. Twenty-three men with varying levels of physical activity (VO2max: 59.03 ± 11.19 (mL/kg/min), body mass 71.5 ± 10.4 (kg), body height 179 ± 8 (cm)) participated in the study. Each subject performed an incremental test and, after a 48-h interval, a 110%Pmax power test combined with an analysis of the thermal parameters, heart rate recovery and heart rate variability. Thermal radiation density from the body surface (temple) was measured using a Sonel KT384 thermal imaging camera immediately after warm-up (Tb), immediately after exercise (Te) and 120 sec after the end of exercise (Tr). The differences between measurements were then calculated. The correlation analysis between the thermal and cardiovascular function parameters during the recovery period showed strong positive associations between the Tr-Te difference and measures of cardiovascular fitness (50 < r < 69, p < 0.05). For example, the correlation coefficient between Tr-Te and VO2max reached 0.55 and between Tr-Te and Pmax reached 0.68. The results obtained indicate that the measurement of temporal temperature during and after an intense 3-min bout of exercise can be used to assess aerobic physical capacity and cardiovascular fitness.

Is Continuous Monitoring of Skin Surface Temperature a Reliable Proxy to Assess the Thermoregulatory Response in Endurance Horses During Field Exercise?

Hyperthermia is a performance and welfare issue for exercising horses. The thermoregulatory stressors associated with exercise have typically been estimated by responses in the laboratory. However, monitoring surface skin temperature (T sk ) coincident with core temperature (T c ) has not previously been investigated in horses exercising in the field. We investigated the suitability of monitoring surface T sk as a metric of the thermoregulatory response, and simultaneously investigated its relationship with T c using gastrointestinal (GI) temperature. We evaluated T sk in 13 endurance horses competing during four endurance rides over 40 km (n = 1) or a total of 80 km (n = 12) distance. Following each 40-km loop, the horses were rested for 60 min. T sk and T c were continuously recorded every 15 s by an infrared thermistor sensor located in a modified belt and by telemetric GI pill, respectively, and expressed as mean ± SD. The net area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to estimate the thermoregulatory response to the thermal load of T sk over time (°C × minutes) using the trapezoidal method. The relationship between T sk and T c was assessed using scatterplots, paired t-test or generalized linear model ANOVA (delta T sk ) (n = 8). Ambient temperature ranged from 6.7°C to 18.4°C. No relationship was found between T sk and T c profiles during exercise and recovery periods, and no significant difference between delta T sk results was detected when comparing exercise and rest. However, time to maximum T sk (67 min) was significantly reduced compared to T c (139 min) (p = 0.0004) with a significantly lesser maximum T sk (30.3°C) than T c (39°C) (p = 0.0002) during exercise. Net AUC T sk was 1,164 ± 1,448 and -305 ± 388°C × minutes during periods of exercise and recovery, respectively. We conclude that T sk monitoring does not provide a reliable proxy for the thermoregulatory response and horse welfare, most probably because many factors can modulate T sk without directly affecting T c . Those factors, such as weather conditions, applicable to all field studies can influence the results of T sk in endurance horses. The study also reveals important inter-individual differences in T sk and T c time profiles, emphasizing the importance of an individualized model of temperature monitoring.

Corrigendum: Gravity-Induced Lower-Leg Swelling Can Be Ameliorated by Ingestion of α-Glucosyl Hesperidin Beverage.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.670640.].

Gravity-Induced Lower-Leg Swelling Can Be Ameliorated by Ingestion of α-Glucosyl Hesperidin Beverage.

The most likely cause of lower-leg swelling is prolonged sitting, which sometimes induces deep vein thrombosis, also known as, economy class syndrome. We aimed to clarify the influence of intake of 4 G -α-glucopyranosyl hesperidin (G-Hsp) beverage on the lower-leg swelling caused by 6 h of sitting in six healthy women. All subjects ingested 100 mL of G-Hsp or Placebo beverages with 100 mL of mineral water after 10 min of rest in a chair. Subsequently, subjects were requested to sit in the chair in a relaxed position for 6 h with two breaks to walk for urination. Calf water content measured by impedance plethysmography, calf circumference, and calf skin temperature by infrared thermography were measured, along with assessment of calf swelling sensation on a visual analog scale. Increase in ankle % circumference was significantly less after the G-Hsp ingestion (101.8 ± 1.5%) than after placebo (103.3 ± 0.8%; P = 0.004). A significant difference was found between percent circumference after the G-Hsp and the placebo, that is, the calf swelling after the placebo was significantly larger (P = 0.043). A gradual increase in skin temperature at the lower limb was observed after G-Hsp ingestion, while there was no change after placebo. Gravity-induced calf and ankle swelling resulted by prolonged sitting can be ameliorated by oral ingestion of hesperidin-derived G-Hsp through production of nitric oxide. It might be helpful in preventing economy-class syndrome caused by enforced sitting for a long duration.

Comparison of the Effect of High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on Skin Surface Temperature and Vein Diameter in Pigmented and Non-Pigmented Skin in Healthy Racehorses.

The aim of the study was to assess differences in the influence of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on the skin surface temperature and vein diameter of the lateral fetlock joint region in a group of racehorses with pigmented and non-pigmented skin in the treatment area. Twenty Thoroughbreds were divided into two equal groups: pigmented and non-pigmented skin groups. Each horse received the same HILT treatment. Just before and immediately after HILT, thermographic examination was performed to measure the skin surface temperature and ultrasonographic examination assessed the lateral digital palmar vein diameter. After HILT, the pigmented skin surface temperature increased, while the non-pigmented skin surface temperature decreased, and the difference between both groups was significant (p < 0.001). The vein diameter increased after HILT in horses with pigmented and non-pigmented skin, but the difference between both groups was not significant (p = 0.14). In conclusion, melanin content in the epidermis plays an important role in light energy absorption and photothermal effects. The vein diameter changes after HILT application indicated that the increase in vessel diameter may partly depend on photothermal mechanisms occurring in irradiated tissue. Further research is necessary to describe the physiological and clinical effects of HILT performed on pigmented and non-pigmented skin.

A computer aided diagnostic method for the evaluation of type II diabetes mellitus in facial thermograms.

Almost 50% of individuals around the globe are unaware of diabetes and its complications. So, an early screening of diabetes is very important at this current situation. To overcome the difficulties such as pain and discomfort to the subjects obtained from the biochemical diagnostic procedures; an infrared thermography is the diagnostic technique which measures the skin surface temperature noninvasively. Thus, the aim of our proposed study was to evaluate the type II diabetes in facial thermograms and to develop a computer aided diagnosis (CAD) system to classify the normal and diabetes. The facial thermograms (n = 160) including male (n = 79) and female (n = 81) were captured using FLIR A 305sc infrared thermal camera. The Haralick textural features were extracted from the facial thermograms based on gray level co-occurrence matrix algorithm. The TROI, TMAX, and TTOT are the statistical temperature parameters exhibited a significant negative correlation with HbA1c (r = - 0.421, - 0.411, - 0.242, p < 0.01 (TROI); r = - 0.259, p < 0.01(TMAX) and - 0.173, p < 0.05 (TTOT)). An optimal regression equation has been constructed by using the significant facial variables and standard HbA1c values. The model has achieved sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rate as 91.42%, 88.57%, and 90% respectively. The anthropometrical variables, extracted textural features and temperature parameters were fed into the classifiers and their performances were compared. The Support Vector Machine outperformed the Linear Discriminant Analysis (84.37%) and k-Nearest Neighbor (81.25%) classifiers with the maximum accuracy rate of 89.37%. The developed CAD system has achieved 89.37% of accuracy rate for the classification of diabetes. Thus, the facial thermography could be used as the basic non-invasive prognostic tool for the evaluation of type II diabetes mellitus.

Quantitative assessment of radiodermatitis through a non-invasive objective procedure in patients with breast cancer.

Assessment of skin condition is necessary for providing advice regarding skin self-care to patients with breast cancer who have undergone radiation therapy. Acute and chronic phases of radiodermatitis were analyzed in patients using objective assessment tools in the present study. A total of 18 women who received radiation therapy for breast cancer were enrolled in the present study and their skin surface temperature (SST), hydration level of the skin surface (HL), melanin intensity (MI) and erythema intensity (EI) were measured prior to radiation therapy and six months thereafter. Furthermore, skin condition was assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). EI and MI levels at the irradiated site peaked upon the completion of radiation therapy and declined to baseline at 6 months. In contrast, SST levels were elevated at the irradiated site during radiation therapy (P<0.05) and plateaued after its completion. The same parameters in non-irradiated control sites remained unchanged during the study period. HL reached the minimum in irradiated and non-irradiated sites upon completion of radiation therapy. Although HL returned to baseline in the non-irradiated site 6 months after radiation therapy, it remained low in the irradiated site. No relationship between the CTCAE and EI level was observed. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that objective assessment tools, including SST and EI levels, were useful for assessing skin condition during radiodermatitis. The combination of the CTCAE and objective assessment tools will enable a more accurate assessment of radiodermatitis.

Influence of polyester spacer fabric, cotton, chloroprene rubber, and silicone on microclimatic and morphologic physiologic skin parameters in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Skin diseases can develop upon disadvantageous microclimate in relation to skin contact with textiles of supporting devices. Increased temperature, moisture, mechanical fracture, pressure, and inflammatory processes often occur mutually and enhance each other in their adverse effects. Therefore, the early prevention of skin irritations by improvement of microclimatic properties of skin in contact with supporting devices is important. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the microclimate under occlusion with polyester, cotton, chloroprene rubber, and silicone textiles, used for supporting devices, was analyzed by determining several characteristic physiologic skin parameters in vivo, including temperature, moisture, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This is achieved by comparing a miniaturized in vivo detection device with several established optical and sensory methods in vivo. RESULTS: A highly significant TEWL decrease was found after polyester, chloroprene rubber, and silicone application. The application of all materials showed highly significant decrease in skin surface temperature, with chloroprene rubber showing the lowest. Similarly, all materials showed highly significant increase in relative moisture, where the highest increase was found for chloroprene rubber and silicone and the lowest increase for cotton. The cutaneous carotenoid concentration of chloroprene rubber, silicone, and polyester decreased. A manipulation of the surface structure of the stratum corneum was recognized for all materials except for cotton by laser scanning microscopy. CONCLUSION: The skin parameters temperature, relative moisture, antioxidant status, and TEWL can effectively characterize the microclimatic environment during occlusion with medical supporting materials. These parameters could potentially be used to develop standardized testing procedures for material evaluation.

Pilot study on benefits of applying a hot towel for 10 s to the skin of elderly nursing home residents during bed baths: Towards safe and comfortable bed baths.

This study examined the effects of applying a hot towel to the skin of elderly people for 10 s (AHT10s) during a bed bath. We hypothesized from our previous studies that AHT10s would increase the stratum corneum water content and improve the skin barrier function of the elderly and invited residents (n = 21) of long-term care facilities to participate in this crossover study. Each participant received a bed bath with AHT10s and also a bed bath without hot towel application. The stratum corneum water content and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured during bed bathing sessions and the experience was subjectively evaluated by participants. The TEWL increased significantly when bed bath did not involve AHT10s, but there was no such significant increase when AHT10s was performed. AHT10s also raised the skin surface temperature and provided warmth and comfort to all participants. These results suggest that, in the target population, AHT10s will lead to TEWL advantages and provide warmth and comfort.

Skin sensitivity and intolerance in Shanghai: cumulative influence of different meteorological parameters.

BACKGROUND: Although Sensitive skin (SS) conditions are reported to be affected by climate changes, the correlations with meteorological parameters remain mostly unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of facial skin conditions in different seasons in Shanghai, including the speed and severity of the influences imposed by different meteorological parameters. METHODS: Totally eighty-one healthy female volunteers completed the study in both spring (May) and summer (August). Evaluations of facial skin conditions included stimulating sensory test, clinical grading and biophysical measurements. Correlations between the meteorological parameters and ΔTEWL as well as clinical parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between two seasons in lactic acid sting test. The stimulation sensations felt by Vitamin B3 (VB3) containing cream was significantly higher in May than that in August. In accordance, baseline visual scores for erythema and scaliness in May were also significantly higher than those scores in August. The baseline transepidermal water loss (TEWL) value was significantly higher in May than that in August. Positive correlations were detected between ΔTEWL and atmospheric pressure on the test day, adjust 3-day and 7-day mean of daily solar radiation respectively. There were negative correlations between ΔTEWL and temperature outside on the test day, adjust 3-day mean as well as adjust 7-day mean of relative humidity. CONCLUSIONS: Facial skin conditions in summer are better than that in spring in Shanghai. The influences from atmospheric pressure and temperature are relatively quick in speed, while the influences from relative humidity and solar radiation are slow but cumulative.

Effects of skin surface temperature on photoplethysmograph.

Photoplethysmograph (PPG) has been widely used to investigate various cardiovascular conditions. Previous studies demonstrated effects of temperature of the measurement environment; however, an integrated evaluation has not been established in environments with gradual air temperature variation. The purpose of this study is to investigate variations and relationships of blood pressure (BP), PPG and cardiovascular parameters such as heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO) and total peripheral resistance (TPR), by changing skin surface temperature (SST). Local mild cooling and heating was conducted on 16 healthy subjects. The results showed that local SST changes affected Finometer blood pressures (Finger BP), PPG components and TPR, but not the oscillometric blood pressure (Central BP), HR, SV and CO, and indicated that temperature must be maintained and monitored to reliably evaluate cardiovascular conditions in temperature-varying environments.

Establishing Bedding Requirements during Transport and Monitoring Skin Temperature during Cold and Mild Seasons after Transport for Finishing Pigs.

The broad aim of this study was to determine whether bedding level in the transport trailer influenced pig performance and welfare. Specifically, the objective was to define the bedding requirements of pigs during transportation in commercial settings during cold and mild weather. Animals (n = 112,078 pigs on 572 trailers) used were raised in commercial finishing sites and transported in trailers to commercial processing plants. Dead on arrival (DOA), non-ambulatory (NA), and total dead and down (D&D) data were collected and skin surface temperatures of the pigs were measured by infrared thermography. Data were collected during winter (Experiment 1) and fall/spring (Experiment 2). Total D&D percent showed no interaction between bedding level and outside air temperature in any experiments. Average skin surface temperature during unloading increased with outside air temperature linearly in both experiments (P < 0.01). In conclusion, over-use of bedding may be economically inefficient. Pig skin surface temperature could be a useful measure of pig welfare during or after transport.