The hypothermic nature of fungi.

Fungi play essential roles in global health, ecology, and economy, but their thermal biology is relatively unexplored. Mushrooms, the fruiting body of mycelium, were previously noticed to be colder than surrounding air through evaporative cooling. Here, we confirm those observations using infrared thermography and report that this hypothermic state is also observed in mold and yeast colonies. The relatively colder temperature of yeasts and molds is also mediated via evaporative cooling and associated with the accumulation of condensed water droplets on plate lids above colonies. The colonies appear coldest at their center and the surrounding agar appears warmest near the colony edges. The analysis of cultivated Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms revealed that the hypothermic feature of mushrooms can be observed throughout the whole fruiting process and at the level of mycelium. The mushroom's hymenium was coldest, and different areas of the mushroom appear to dissipate heat differently. We also constructed a mushroom-based air-cooling prototype system capable of passively reducing the temperature of a semiclosed compartment by approximately 10 °C in 25 min. These findings suggest that the fungal kingdom is characteristically cold. Since fungi make up approximately 2% of Earth's biomass, their evapotranspiration may contribute to cooler temperatures in local environments.

Thermographic assessment of mastitis progression in sahiwal cattle: Insights into the patterns in the natural course of infection.

Mastitis is a global concern in the dairy sector, demanding innovative solutions for effective management for quality lifetime milk production. In this study, infrared thermography (IRT) as a non-invasive technology was integrated into routine farm activities for continuous health monitoring of animals. For 30 days, we systematically monitored the udder health status in 40 Sahiwal cows (160 quarters), employing IRT along with the California Mastitis Test (CMT). We also assessed somatic cell count (SCC), microbial identification, and milk quality parameters of representative samples. The thermal imaging data was analyzed, considering both backward propagation from the 0th day to the -10th day and forward propagation from the 0th day to the +10th day. Our findings revealed that on the 0th day, the mean temperatures of the udder surface skin temperature (USST) and teat skin surface temperature (TSST) exhibited differences (p < 0.05) between the quarters affected by sub-clinical mastitis (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CM) in comparison to the healthy quarters, with the highest degree of difference observed. The observed temperature differences between CM and SCM quarters compared to healthy ranged from 1.8 to 3.62 °C and 0.98 to 3.23 °C for USST, and from 1.68 to 3.16 °C and 0.56 to 2.32 °C for TSST, respectively. Furthermore, our observations indicated that both udder and teat quarters responded differently to mastitis. A temperature rise of 1.37 °C in SCM quarters and 1.75 °C in CM quarters was observed between the -10th and -8th day relative to day 0, with the increase being more pronounced in the morning hours. Also, a notable temperature surge occurred during the -2nd and -1st days relative to the 0th day. The log10SCC values and milk quality parameters significantly differed (p < 0.05) between mastitis-affected and healthy samples. In addition, Staphylococcus spp. was identified as the predominant mastitis-causing pathogen in the bacteriological identification conducted in this study. Therefore, IRT efficiently assesses the initiation point of udder infection in Sahiwal cows, aiding in effective udder health management.

Preliminary study of finger temperature recovery in patients with diabetes mellitus following cold stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the difference in temperature recovery following cold stimulation between participants with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants without (control group; n = 25) and with (DM group; n = 26) DM were subjected to local cold stimulation (10º C for 90 s). The thermal images of their hands were continuously captured using a thermal camera within 7 min following cold stimulation, and the highest temperature of each fingertip was calculated. According to the temperature values at different timepoints, the temperature recovery curves were drawn, and the baseline temperature (T-base), initial temperature after cooling (T0), temperature decline amplitude (T-range), and area under the temperature recovery curve > T0 (S) were calculated. Finally, symmetry differences between the two groups were analysed. RESULTS: No statistical differences in the T-base, T0, and T-range were observed between the DM and control groups. After drawing the rewarming curve according to the temperature of the fingertips of the patients following cold stimulation, the S in the DM group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the asymmetry of the base temperature of the hand was observed in the DM group. CONCLUSIONS: Following cold stimulation, the patients with DM exhibited a different rewarming pattern than those without DM. Thus, cold stimulation tests under infrared thermography may contribute to the early screening of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in future.

Capturing temperature changes on the ocular surface along with estrus and ovulation using infrared thermography in Japanese Black cows.

Pre-ovulatory follicles are cooler than the neighboring reproductive organs in cows. Thus, measuring the temperature of reproductive organs could be a useful method for predicting estrus and ovulation in cows, and the establishment of a non-invasive technique is required. In this study, we used infrared thermography (IRT) to measure ocular surface temperature as a potential surrogate for reproductive organ temperature. Five Japanese Black cows with synchronized estrus were subjected to temperature measurements in five regions of the ocular surface, including the nasal conjunctiva, nasal limbus, center cornea, temporal limbus, and temporal conjunctiva, twice a day (0800 h and 1600 h) during the experimental period. The temperatures in the five regions significantly declined in cows from estrus to ovulation. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to use IRT to show a temperature decrease in the ocular surface along with estrus to ovulation in Japanese Black cows.

Effect of access to natural shade on scrotal thermoregulatory capacity, integrity of the testicular parenchyma and sperm morphology of Nelore (Bos indicus) and Canchim (Bos taurus x Bos indicus) bulls.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of using naturally shaded pastures on scrotal thermoregulatory capacity, testicular echotexture, and sperm morphology of Nelore (Bos indicus) and Canchim (5/8 Bos taurus x 3/8 Bos indicus) bulls in a tropical climate region. Sixty-four adult Nelore and Canchim bulls were used, equally allocated in Full Sun (FS, n = 32) or Crop-Livestock-Forestry (CLF, n = 32) pasture systems. During five consecutive climate seasons, the bulls underwent monthly breeding soundness evaluations and the biometeorological variables in the systems were continuously monitored. Microclimate was significantly different between systems. CLF system had lower BGHI than FS throughout the experimental period. No triple interaction (Season x Breed x Treatment, P > 0.05) was observed for any of the variables. Animals in CLF showed lower body temperature in Summer (FS:39.41 ± 0.05 vs. CLF:39.30 ± 0.05 °C; P = 0.005) and in Autumn (FS:39.54 ± 0.05 vs. CLF:39.35 ± 0.05 °C; P = 0.005). Access to shading did not determine differences in the evolution of scrotal biometry, temperatures, and scrotal thermal gradients (P > 0.05). Regardless of breed, animals in CLF showed greater right testicular volume (FS:247.5 ± 5.7 vs. CLF:259.0 ± 5.7 cm³; P < 0.05), more suitable parenchyma echotexture, and fewer microlithiasis spots in the Spring and Summer. Testosterone concentration was higher in FS (FS:2.6 ± 0.2 vs. CLF:2.1 ± 0.2 ng/mL; P = 0.035). Canchim bulls presented higher total sperm defects during the Autumn and Winter (P = 0.010), but the total defects levels for Canchim and Nelore bulls were in normal range for adult bulls. Thus, the natural shade in CLF system was effective in improving the microclimate of pastures and minimizing adverse environmental effects on some reproductive features of interest in beef cattle.

Estimation of Heat Production Rate using Thermal Data During Exercise in Indoor Environments: A Study of Heat Storage Rate in Male Athletes.

The increasing preference for indoor exercise spaces highlights the relationship between indoor thermal environments and physiological responses, particularly concerning thermal comfort during physical activity. Determining the metabolic heat production rate during exercise is essential for optimizing the thermal comfort, well-being, and performance of individuals engaged in physical activities. This value can be determined during the activity using several methods, including direct calorimetry measurement, indirect calorimetry that uses analysis of respiratory gases, or approximations using collected data such as speed, body mass, and heart rate. The study aimed to calculate the metabolic heat production rate by infrared thermal evaluation (ITE) based on the body's thermal balance approach and compare it with the values determined by indirect calorimetry (IC). Fourteen participants volunteered for the study, using a cycling ergometer in a controlled climatic chamber. After the familiarization sessions, maximal O2 intake levels (VO2max) were determined through maximal graded exercise tests. Subsequently, constant work rate exercise tests were performed at 60% of VO2max for 20 min. The metabolic heat production rates were calculated by IC and ITE for each athlete individually. Respiratory gases were used to determine IC, while body skin and core temperatures, along with physical environmental data, were applied to calculate ITE using the human body thermal balance approximation of ASHRAE. According to the results, heat storage rates were misleading among the body's heat transfer modes, particularly during the first 8 min of the exercise. ITE showed a moderate level of correlation with IC (r: 0.03-0.86) with a higher level of dispersion relative to the mean (CV%: 12-84%). Therefore, a new equation (ITEnew) for the heat storage rates was proposed using the experimental data from this study. The results showed that ITEnew provided more precise estimations for the entire exercise period (p > 0.05). Correlations between ITEnew and IC values were consistently strong throughout the exercise period (r: 0.62-0.85). It can be suggested that ITEnew values can predict IC during the constant work rate steady-state exercise.

Advances in far-infrared research: therapeutic mechanisms of disease and application in cancer detection.

Far infrared (FIR) irradiation is commonly used as a convenient, non-contact, non-invasive treatment for diseases such as myocardial ischemia, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. In this review, we focus on reviewing the potential therapeutic mechanisms of FIR and its cutting-edge applications in cancer detection. Firstly, we searched the relevant literature in the last decade for systematic screening and briefly summarized the biophysical properties of FIR. We then focused on the possible mechanisms of FIR in wound healing, cardiovascular diseases, and other chronic diseases. In addition, we review recent applications of FIR in cancer detection, where Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and infrared thermography provide additional diagnostic methods for the medical diagnosis of cancer. Finally, we conclude and look into the future development of FIR for disease treatment and cancer detection. As a high-frequency non-ionizing wave, FIR has the advantages of safety, convenience, and low cost. We hope that this review can provide biological information reference and relevant data support for those who are interested in FIR and related high-frequency non-ionizing waves, to promote the further application of FIR in the biomedical field.

Accuracy of infrared thermography evaluation in burn wound healing: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Accurate assessment of burn depth and burn wound healing potential is essential to determine early treatments. Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-invasive and objective tool to do this. This systematic review evaluated the accuracy of IRT to determine burn wound healing potential. METHOD: This systematic review and meta-analysis used MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro, DiTA and CENTRAL databases. IRT data were extracted from primary studies and categorised into four cells (i.e., true positives, false positives, true negatives and false negatives). Subgroup analysis was performed according to methods used to capture thermal images. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 2727 publications; however, 15 articles were selected for review and 11 for meta-analysis. In our meta-analysis, the accuracy of IRT was 84.8% (63% sensitivity and 81.9% specificity). CONCLUSION: IRT is a moderately accurate tool to identify burn depth and healing potential. Thus, IRT should be used carefully for evaluating burn wounds.

Feasibility Study on the Use of Infrared Cameras for Skin Cancer Detection under a Proposed Data Degradation Model.

Infrared thermography is considered a useful technique for diagnosing several skin pathologies but it has not been widely adopted mainly due to its high cost. Here, we investigate the feasibility of using low-cost infrared cameras with microbolometer technology for detecting skin cancer. For this purpose, we collected infrared data from volunteer subjects using a high-cost/high-quality infrared camera. We propose a degradation model to assess the use of lower-cost imagers in such a task. The degradation model was validated by mimicking video acquisition with the low-cost cameras, using data originally captured with a medium-cost camera. The outcome of the proposed model was then compared with the infrared video obtained with actual cameras, achieving an average Pearson correlation coefficient of more than 0.9271. Therefore, the model successfully transfers the behavior of cameras with poorer characteristics to videos acquired with higher-quality cameras. Using the proposed model, we simulated the acquisition of patient data with three different lower-cost cameras, namely, Xenics Gobi-640, Opgal Therm-App, and Seek Thermal CompactPRO. The degraded data were used to evaluate the performance of a skin cancer detection algorithm. The Xenics and Opgal cameras achieved accuracies of 84.33% and 84.20%, respectively, and sensitivities of 83.03% and 83.23%, respectively. These values closely matched those from the non-degraded data, indicating that employing these lower-cost cameras is appropriate for skin cancer detection. The Seek camera achieved an accuracy of 82.13% and a sensitivity of 79.77%. Based on these results, we conclude that this camera is appropriate for less critical applications.

Thermal Reading of Texts Buried in Historical Bookbindings.

In the manufacture of ancient books, it was quite common to insert written scraps belonging to earlier library material into bookbindings. For scholars like codicologists and paleographers, it is extremely important to have the possibility of reading the text lying on such scraps without dismantling the book. In this regard, in this paper, we report on the detection of these texts by means of infrared (IR) pulsed thermography (PT), which, in recent years, has been specifically proven to be an effective tool for the investigation of Cultural Heritage. In particular, we present a quantitative analysis based, for the first time, on PT images obtained from books of historical relevance preserved at the Biblioteca Angelica in Rome. The analysis has been carried out by means of a theoretical model for the PT signal, which makes use of two image parameters, namely, the distortion and the contrast, related to the IR readability of the buried texts. As shown in this paper, the good agreement between the experimental data obtained in the historical books and the theoretical analysis proved that the capability of the adopted PT method could be fruitfully applied, in real case studies, to the detection of buried texts and to the quantitative characterization of the parameters affecting their thermal readability.

Advanced Image Stitching Method for Dual-Sensor Inspection.

Efficient image stitching plays a vital role in the Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) of infrastructures. An essential challenge in the NDE of infrastructures is precisely visualizing defects within large structures. The existing literature predominantly relies on high-resolution close-distance images to detect surface or subsurface defects. While the automatic detection of all defect types represents a significant advancement, understanding the location and continuity of defects is imperative. It is worth noting that some defects may be too small to capture from a considerable distance. Consequently, multiple image sequences are captured and processed using image stitching techniques. Additionally, visible and infrared data fusion strategies prove essential for acquiring comprehensive information to detect defects across vast structures. Hence, there is a need for an effective image stitching method appropriate for infrared and visible images of structures and industrial assets, facilitating enhanced visualization and automated inspection for structural maintenance. This paper proposes an advanced image stitching method appropriate for dual-sensor inspections. The proposed image stitching technique employs self-supervised feature detection to enhance the quality and quantity of feature detection. Subsequently, a graph neural network is employed for robust feature matching. Ultimately, the proposed method results in image stitching that effectively eliminates perspective distortion in both infrared and visible images, a prerequisite for subsequent multi-modal fusion strategies. Our results substantially enhance the visualization capabilities for infrastructure inspection. Comparative analysis with popular state-of-the-art methods confirms the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Thermotolerance in Angus cattle is related to hair coat characteristics but not to coat color.

This study evaluated the impact of coat color (CC) and hair coat characteristics (HC) on productive and physiological traits related to thermotolerance in Angus heifers. The goal was to determine if HC and/or CC were reliable indicators of thermotolerance on a large scale for future breeding programs. Ninety-three 15-month-old Angus heifers (52 black, 41 red) were evaluated in three periods on a beef cattle farm in Brazil. Heifers were classified by CC and HC, and body weight, body condition score (BCS), and reproductive tract score (RTS) were compared between groups. In the summer evaluation, surface temperature (infrared thermography), internal temperature (intravaginal sensors), sweating rate, and behavior were assessed in a subset of heifers. Temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated using meteorological data. The proportion of heifers with short, fine, and smooth hair (HC1) increased (P < 0.05) over the evaluations. Heifers with thick, long, and woolly hair (HC3) had lower (P < 0.05) body weights than those with finer coats, regardless of CC. Black heifers had greater (P < 0.05) puberty rates than red heifers in the first two evaluations. At a THI of 66, black heifers with HC1 exhibited a lower (P < 0.05) internal temperature compared to black heifers with HC3. At a THI of 75, all heifers with HC1 had lower (P < 0.05) internal temperatures, regardless of CC. Red heifers and those with HC3 experienced hyperthermia for longer (P < 0.05) periods. Neither HC nor CC affected (P > 0.05) surface temperatures or sweating rates. At a THI of 72, more black heifers remained standing, suggesting behavioral adaptation. In conclusion, coat color and characteristics influence thermal stress and performance in Angus heifers, though color impact is limited. Internal temperature monitoring effectively determines thermotolerance. In tropical regions, selecting for short, fine, smooth hair may improve heat tolerance.

Effect of spinal cord injury on the skin temperature of different regions of interest during a graded exercise test in a moderate temperature environment.

The gradient between core and skin temperature is a relevant factor in heat exchange between the human body and the environment, but people with spinal cord injury (SCI), due to their autonomic dysfunction, have impaired mechanisms that condition skin temperature response. This study aimed to determine how SCI affects skin temperature response in different ROIs during a graded exercise test in a moderate temperature environment. 32 participants were included in the study [SCI (N = 16); Non-SCI (N = 16)]. A graded exercise test was conducted on an arm crank ergometer, with a staged duration of 3 min separated by 1 min of rest. Skin temperature was measured using infrared thermography at rest, after each interval and during recovery. Individuals with SCI exhibited lower skin temperature in the anterior leg during exercise than Non-SCI (p < 0.001). During recovery, SCI athletes experienced a lower skin temperature restoration in the anterior arm, posterior arm and anterior leg (p < 0.05). The anterior leg is an interesting region to measure during exercise in people with SCI for assessing the physiological effect of the injury, probably for the autonomic dysfunction in skin temperature regulation, but the effect observed during recovery in the arms suggests the presence of different mechanisms involved in skin temperature regulation.

Infrared thermometry for detecting estrus and pregnancy in Holstein cows.

Efficient reproductive management is paramount in enhancing the productivity and welfare of dairy cows. This study investigates the effects of pregnancy status, seasonal variations, and diurnal shifts on the body temperature of different body parts in dairy cows. Using a structured approach, cows were categorized based on pregnancy status (pregnant vs. control) or estrous status (estrous vs. control), season (winter, spring, summer), and time of day (morning, noon, evening). The analysis revealed that pregnancy and estrous statuses significantly affect the body temperature, with pregnant and estrous cows displaying higher temperatures (39.0 ± 0.03 and 38.0 ± 0.06 °C, respectively) than controls (37.1 ± 0.06 °C; p < 0.01). Seasonal impacts were also notable, with the highest temperatures observed in summer (38.3 ± 0.07 °C) followed by spring (38.1 ± 0.09 °C) and winter (37.7 ± 0.06 °C; p < 0.01), indicating a strong environmental influence on physiological responses. Furthermore, diurnal analysis indicated temperature fluctuations throughout the day, peaking at noon (38.1 ± 0.09 °C; p < 0.05) compared to morning and evening. High positive correlations were observed between the measured temperatures in different areas and rectal and vaginal temperatures, suggesting the skin surface is ideal for assessing thermal changes. These findings underscore the critical interplay between an animal's physiological state and external environmental factors in managing dairy cow health and reproduction. The study highlights the potential of non-invasive temperature monitoring as a tool for optimizing reproductive management and underscores the necessity of accounting for environmental and physiological variations in dairy management practices.

Thermal mapping the eye: A critical review of advances in infrared imaging for disease detection.

Infrared thermography (IRT) has become more accessible due to technological advancements, making thermal cameras more affordable. Infrared thermal cameras capture the infrared rays emitted by objects and convert it into temperature representations. IRT has emerged as a promising and non-invasive approach for examining the human eye. Ocular surface temperature assessment based on IRT is vital for the diagnosis and monitoring of various eye conditions like dry eye, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, allergic conjunctivitis, and inflammatory diseases. A collective sum of 192 articles was sourced from various databases, and through adherence to the PRISMA guidelines, 29 articles were ultimately chosen for systematic analysis. This systematic review article seeks to provide readers with a thorough understanding of IRT's applications, advantages, limitations, and recent developments in the context of eye examinations. It covers various aspects of IRT-based eye analysis, including image acquisition, processing techniques, ocular surface temperature measurement, three different approaches to identifying abnormalities, and different evaluation metrics used. Our review also delves into recent advancements, particularly the integration of machine learning and deep learning algorithms into IRT-based eye examinations. Our systematic review not only sheds light on the current state of research but also outlines promising future prospects for the integration of infrared thermography in advancing eye health diagnostics and care.

Effect of different Volumes of exercise on skin temperature responses over the following 24 hours.

Skin temperature responses have been advocated to indicate exercise-induced muscle soreness and recovery status. While the evidence is contradictory, we hypothesize that the presence of muscle damage and the time window of measurement are confounding factors in the skin temperature response. The objective was to determine whether skin temperature is influenced by different workloads and the time course of temperature measurements over the following 24 h. 24 trained male military were assigned to one of three groups: GC group (n = 8) serving as control not performing exercises, GE group (n = 8) performing a simulated military combat protocol in an exercise track with different obstacles but designed not to elicit muscle damage, and the GEMD group (n = 8) performing the simulated military combat protocol plus 5 sets of 20 drop jumps, with 10-sec between repetitions and with 2-min of rest between sets aiming to induce muscle damage. Skin temperature was measured using infrared thermography before exercise (Pre) and 4 (Post4h), 8 (Post8h) and 24h (Post24h) post-exercise. Perception of pain (DOMS) was evaluated Pre, Post24h, and Post48h, and countermovement jump height was evaluated at Pre and Post24h. DOMS did not differ between groups in the Pre and Post24h measures but GEMD presented higher DOMS than the other groups at Post48h (p < 0.001 and large effect size). Jump height did not differ for GEMD and GC, and GE presented higher jump height at Post24h than GC (p = 0.02 and large effect size). Skin temperature responses of GEMD and GG were similar in all measurement moments (p > 0.22), and GE presented higher skin temperature than the GC and the GEMD groups at Post24h (p < 0.01 and large effect sizes). In conclusion, although physical exercise elicits higher skin temperature that lasts up to 24 h following the efforts, muscle soreness depresses this response.

Evaluation of the hoof's temperature variations depending on lesion presence, measurement points and leg position.

In order to determine the possibility of using infrared thermography (IRT) in preventing lameness in dairy cows, the aim of this study was to evaluate temperature variations depending on the lesion presence, measurement points and leg position. The study used about 3 000 IRT records from 60 Holstein cows housed in a free-stall barn. Surface temperature measurements were taken at two regions of the hooves: the region of the coronary band, and the region of the skin up to 2 cm above the coronary band. A highly significant (P = 0.004; 0.006, P < 0.01) difference in temperature was observed between healthy and diseased legs at both measurement points. Additionally, a significant (P = 0.029; 0.037; 0.045; 0.012; 0.018, P < 0.05) or highly significant (P = 0.004; 0.006, P < 0.01) difference in temperature values between the front and rear legs was established for both measurement points, i.e., the coronary band and the skin. Despite confirming the potential applicability of infrared thermography in the detection of lameness, it is crucial to consider the significant influences of the environmental factors, impurities, and animal-related factors.

Testing the effectiveness of a polymeric membrane dressing in modulating the inflammation of intact, non-injured, mechanically irritated skin.

We investigated the inflammatory (IL-1 alpha) and thermal (infrared thermography) reactions of healthy sacral skin to sustained, irritating mechanical loading. We further acquired digital photographs of the irritated skin (at the visible light domain) to assess whether infrared imaging is advantageous. For clinical context, the skin status was monitored under a polymeric membrane dressing known to modulate the inflammatory skin response. The IL-1 alpha and infrared thermography measurements were consistent in representing the skin status after 40 min of continuous irritation. Infrared thermography overpowered conventional digital photography as a contactless optical method for image processing inputs, by revealing skin irritation trends that were undetectable through digital photography in the visual light, not even with the aid of advanced image processing. The polymeric membrane dressings were shown to offer prophylactic benefits over simple polyurethane foam in the aspects of inflammation reduction and microclimate management. We also concluded that infrared thermography is a feasible method for monitoring the skin health status and the risk for pressure ulcers, as it avoids the complexity of biological marker studies and empowers visual skin assessments or digital photography of skin, both of which were shown to be insufficient for detecting the inflammatory skin status.

Predictive models for heat stress assessment in Holstein dairy heifers using infrared thermography and machine learning.

Heat stress is a condition that impairs the animal's productive and reproductive performance, and can be monitored by physiological and environmental variables, including body surface temperature, through infrared thermography. The objective of this work is to develop computational models for classification of heat stress from respiratory rate variable in dairy cattle using infrared thermography. The database used for the construction of the models was obtained from 10 weaned heifers, housed in a climate chamber with temperature control, and submitted to thermal comfort and heat wave treatments. Physiological and environmental data were collected, as well as thermographic images. The machine learning modeling environment used was IBM Watson, IBM's cognitive computing services platform, which has several data processing and mining tools. Classifier models for heat stress were evaluated using the confusion matrix metrics and compared to the traditional method based on Temperature and Humidity Index. The best accuracy obtained for classification of the heat stress level was 86.8%, which is comparable to previous works. The authors conclude that it was possible to develop accurate and practical models for real-time monitoring of dairy cattle heat stress.

Relationships of infrared thermography temperature with core temperature in goat.

Rectal temperature is widely used as an indicator of animal health. However, rectal temperature is conventionally measured by an invasive method, which may reduce animal welfare. So, this study aimed to determine the relationships between the deep-body (core) temperature and body surface temperatures in goats and develop a linear regression equation to establish the core temperature based on body surface temperatures. Body surface temperatures (head, eye, muzzle, horn, back, scrotum and groin) of goats were measured by infrared thermography (IRT). Ambient temperatures were measured by digital thermometer. Core temperatures were measured by a digital vet thermometer. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between body surface temperatures, ambient temperature, and core temperature. Simple linear regression analysis was used to develop core temperature assessment equations. Correlation analysis showed that groin temperature was highly correlated with core temperature, and low correlated with ambient temperature. The body surface temperature of other region was low correlated with core temperature, and highly correlated with ambient temperature. Regression analysis showed that the determination coefficient of core temperature assessment equation based on groin temperature was the highest (P < 0.0001, R2 = 0.55), and those based on surface temperature of other regions were low (P < 0.01, R2 ≤ 0.16). We concluded that body surface temperatures obtained by IRT could be used for the assessment of goat core temperature. The core temperature assessment equations developed by the temperature of the body surface, which is less affected by ambient temperature, was found to have a higher determination coefficient than the equations developed using body surface temperature that is more affected by ambient temperature.