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A loop heat pipe (LHP) is an efficient method of conserving energy in data center cooling applications. In scenarios where the installation is constrained by height or distance limitations, pump driving is needed. This paper examines the performance changes induced by a gas pump both experimentally and theoretically. An adjustable, oil-free linear compressor is utilized as a gas pump. The evaporator is a finned-tube heat exchanger and the condenser is a water-cooled plate heat exchanger. When the filling ratio of the working fluid is insufficient, employing a gas pump can enhance the heat transfer performance. However, when the filling ratio of the working fluid is sufficient, while the gas pump can increase the flowrate of the working fluid, the heat transfer rate (HTR) does not change significantly. In fact, it may reduce the energy efficiency ratio of the heat pipe. Infrared thermography has proven to be an efficient tool for estimating the area ratio of different zones within the evaporator, which is crucial for the output regulation of the compressor. The area ratio of the two-phase zone is nearly linear to the HTR. Through the establishment of a physical model of a gas-pump-driven loop heat pipe (GPLHP), the impacts of the LHP size and gas pump operation on the heat transfer performance are analyzed. It is found that the gas pump can extend the application range of the LHP, although it has a minimal impact on the maximum HTR. How to select a gas pump for an LHP is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a hydrometallurgical process for the recycling of diamond core drilling crowns by means of aqua regia leaching and subsequent alkali leaching was investigated. This investigation continues a previous study in which nitric acid was used for the acid leaching phase. In the current study, higher tungsten recovery was achieved, reaching 98.2%, which is an improvement of about 1.5%. Another advancement of this study was the high Co recovery (97.21%) and the high purity of the tungsten trioxide obtained, comparable to the previously proposed technological process. Furthermore, a novel laboratory method for testing recycled diamond drilling crowns based on infrared thermography was introduced. Although this innovative approach is not the most accurate, it is fast and cost-effective and provides valuable results before the actual field test is conducted as a final evaluation. In addition, the infrared thermography method offers the advantage of non-destructive testing, ensuring that the diamond drilling crowns can be assessed without compromising their structural integrity. Other instrumental methods used to characterize the products and intermediates were X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS). The analytical method for the concentrations in all working solutions was ICP-AES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Condition assessment of concrete bridge decks is critical for ensuring structural integrity and public safety, particularly as infrastructure ages. Traditionally, such assessments are made using destructive techniques, such as coring through concrete to collect samples for analysis. However, these invasive methods create weak points within the structure and risk damaging essential components, such as cutting through rebars. This paper explores the use of three non-destructive testing (NDT) methods—electrical resistivity (ER), impact echo (IE), and infrared thermography (IRT)—to evaluate the structural health of concrete bridge decks and overlays. These techniques are tested individually and in combination through a mock-up experiment to detect defects such as delamination and corrosion. The findings demonstrate that while each NDT method has specific strengths—surface ER with a 46.67% detection rate, IE with 40%, and IRT with 53.33%—the combined detection rate increased to 60%. This combined approach provides a more comprehensive assessment and is expected to help establish better maintenance strategies for aging infrastructure. The study highlights the importance of optimizing NDT methods for real-world applications, addressing current limitations such as environmental sensitivity and scanning speed, to improve the early detection and prevention of structural failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the thermal impact of a one-drill protocol for osteotomy preparation in dental implant surgery. Our findings demonstrate a significant reduction in heat generation compared to traditional sequential drilling, suggesting potential benefits for implant osseointegration and patient comfort. Specifically, the one-drill protocol was associated with lower peak temperatures and a reduced duration of elevated temperatures. These findings suggest that the one-drill protocol may contribute to improved implant stability and reduce the risk of thermal-induced bone damage. While further research is needed to confirm these findings in clinical settings, the results of this study provide promising evidence for the potential advantages of the one-drill protocol in dental implant surgery. Additionally, the one-drill protocol may offer simplified surgical workflows and reduced instrument management, potentially leading to improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness in dental implant procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cattle are increasingly exposed to high temperatures with accelerating climate change, presenting the risks of heat stress, poor welfare, and even death. In Australia, the sudden onset of extreme conditions means that deaths are not uncommon. Understanding the impact of high environmental temperatures on cattle behaviour and physiology is critical. We aimed to investigate changes in infrared eye temperature and their association with behavioural responses, such as changes in body postures, alterations in feeding behaviour, and body self-care. Twenty-four Angus steers were individually housed to assess heat load responses when they were fed either a standard finisher diet based on cereal grains or an alternative diet with 8% of the grains replaced by an isoenergetic amount of lucerne hay. No differences were observed between different dietary cohorts. The infrared eye temperature (IRT-Eye), of the steers exposed to high environmental temperatures was increased, and this had a strong association with behaviour and physiology. Cattle with increased IRT-Eye temperature showed stress-related behavioural responses, including a downward-facing head, ears directed backwards, and other indicators of heat stress such as increased panting, standing, and increased rumen temperature. The strong association of IRT-Eye with behaviour and physiology suggests that it can be used to detect heat stress in cattle. Cattle in regions with high ambient temperatures are at risk of heat stress. Early detection is important to allow action to be taken to minimise the risks to cattle exposed to thermal stress. This study aimed to investigate the impact of heat stress on IRT-Eye temperature and its association with the behavioural and physiological responses of heat-stressed Angus steers (n = 24) on finisher and or substituted diets. Overall, 2 cohorts of 12 Angus steers were individually housed in a climate-controlled facility to examine responses to heat stress when fed on a standard finisher diet, based on a high percentage of cereal grains, and on a substituted diet in which 8% of the grains were replaced by an isoenergetic amount of lucerne hay. Exposing feedlot cattle to hot environmental conditions increased IRT-Eye temperature, which had a strong association with behaviour and physiology. There was no evidence of differences between the different dietary cohorts. The cattle with increased IRT-Eye temperature showed stress-related responses, including a downward-facing head, ears directed backwards, and other indicators of heat stress such as increased panting, standing, and increased rumen temperature. The strong association of IRT-Eye temperature with stress-related behaviours, as well as with rumen temperature and panting behaviour, highlights the potential for IRT-Eye to be utilised as a non-invasive tool to assess cattle responses in hot conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Infrared thermography is a rapid, contactless technology that can provide real-time temperature measurements, with various applications in livestock science within the framework of precision livestock farming. The aim of the current review paper is to present the updated state of knowledge regarding the detection of mastitis in dairy ruminants using infrared thermography. Therefore, it summarizes the technological advancements, the diagnostic capacity, and the operational and analytical challenges of the method when applied under real-world conditions as a diagnostic tool for mastitis, while factors associated with the performance of the method are critically described and discussed to justify recognized strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of the method. Among the health issues of major concern in dairy ruminants, mastitis stands out as being associated with considerable losses in productivity and compromised animal health and welfare. Currently, the available methods for the early detection of mastitis are either inaccurate, requiring further validation, or expensive and labor intensive. Moreover, most of them cannot be applied at the point of care. Infrared thermography (IRT) is a rapid, non-invasive technology that can be used in situ to measure udder temperature and identify variations and inconsistencies thereof, serving as a benchmarking tool for the assessment of udders' physiological and/or health status. Despite the numerous applications in livestock farming, IRT is still underexploited due to the lack of standardized operation procedures and significant gaps regarding the optimum settings of the thermal cameras, which are currently exploited on a case-specific basis. Therefore, the objective of this review paper was twofold: first, to provide the state of knowledge on the applications of IRT for the assessment of udder health status in dairy ruminants, and second, to summarize and discuss the major strengths and weaknesses of IRT application at the point of care, as well as future challenges and opportunities of its extensive adoption for the diagnosis of udder health status and control of mastitis at the animal and herd levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep quality (SQ) is a crucial aspect of overall health. Poor sleep quality may cause cognitive impairment, mood disturbances, and an increased risk of chronic diseases. Therefore, assessing sleep quality helps identify individuals at risk and develop effective interventions. SQ has been demonstrated to affect heart rate variability (HRV) and skin temperature even during wakefulness. In this perspective, using wearables and contactless technologies to continuously monitor HR and skin temperature is highly suited for assessing objective SQ. However, studies modeling the relationship linking HRV and skin temperature metrics evaluated during wakefulness to predict SQ are lacking. This study aims to develop machine learning models based on HRV and skin temperature that estimate SQ as assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). HRV was measured with a wearable sensor, and facial skin temperature was measured by infrared thermal imaging. Classification models based on unimodal and multimodal HRV and skin temperature were developed. A Support Vector Machine applied to multimodal HRV and skin temperature delivered the best classification accuracy, 83.4%. This study can pave the way for the employment of wearable and contactless technologies to monitor SQ for ergonomic applications. The proposed method significantly advances the field by achieving a higher classification accuracy than existing state-of-the-art methods. Our multimodal approach leverages the synergistic effects of HRV and skin temperature metrics, thus providing a more comprehensive assessment of SQ. Quantitative performance indicators, such as the 83.4% classification accuracy, underscore the robustness and potential of our method in accurately predicting sleep quality using non-intrusive measurements taken during wakefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress stands out as one of the main elements linked to concerns related to animal thermal comfort. This research aims to develop a sequential methodology for the extraction of automatic characteristics from thermal images and the classification of heat stress in pigs by means of machine learning. Infrared images were obtained from 18 pigs housed in air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned pens. The image analysis consisted of its pre-processing, followed by color segmentation to isolate the region of interest and later the extraction of the animal's surface temperatures, from a developed algorithm and later the recognition of the comfort pattern through machine learning. The results indicated that the automated color segmentation method was able to identify the region of interest with an average accuracy of 88% and the temperature extraction differed from the Therma Cam program by 0.82 °C. Using a Vector Support Machine (SVM), the research achieved an accuracy rate of 80% in the automatic classification of pigs in comfort and thermal discomfort, with an accuracy of 91%, indicating that the proposal has the potential to monitor and evaluate the thermal comfort of pigs effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequential drilling is a common practice in dental implant surgery aimed at minimizing thermal damage to bone. This study evaluates the thermal effects of sequential drilling and assesses modifications to drilling protocols to manage heat generation. We utilized a custom drill press and artificial bone models to test five drill bits under various protocols, including sequential drilling with different loads, spindle speeds, and peck drilling. Infrared thermography recorded temperature changes during the drilling process, with temperatures monitored at various depths around the osteotomy. The results reveal sequential drilling does not eliminate the thermal damage zone it creates (well over 70 °C). It creates harmful heat to surrounding bone that can spread up to 10 mm from the osteotomy. The first drill used in sequential drilling produces the highest temperatures (over 100 °C), and subsequent drill bits cannot remove the thermal trauma incurred; rather, they add to it. Modifying drill bit design and employing proper drilling techniques, such as reducing drilling RPM and load, can reduce thermal trauma by reducing friction. Inadequate management of heat can lead to prolonged recovery, increased patient discomfort, and potential long-term complications such as impaired bone-to-implant integration and chronic conditions like peri-implantitis. Ensuring healthy bone conditions is critical for successful implant outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Varroa destructor is a significant global honey bee parasite and the primary threat to bee health. Due to its latent lifestyle, detecting the mite in a brood requires invasive techniques. Enhancing detection methods is critical for advanced research on mite population dynamics, spread, selection efforts, and control methodologies. In this study, we employed infrared thermal imaging, a less-explored technique in apicultural studies, to detect parasitism in Apis mellifera broods. Our findings indicate that handheld infrared thermal cameras can generate adequately detailed heat maps of the hive. These maps distinctly separate cells containing honey, pollen, and brood, with stable, reproducible temperature measurements observable in late autumn. Notably, mite parasitism induces a sustained temperature increase in developing honey bee pupae, consistently detected regardless of mite numbers in the cell. This study reveals an advanced thermoregulatory behavior in the honey bee colony, manifesting as a social fever phenomenon. Further research is necessary to explore the health benefits of this behavior for bees and the negative effects on the mite. Our method, combined with the development of AI-based image evaluation software, could provide beekeepers and researchers with a valuable tool for Varroa research and bee biological studies. The Varroa destructor is the most significant bee parasite and the greatest threat to bee health all around the world. Due to its hidden lifestyle, detection within the brood cell is only possible through invasive techniques. Enhancing detection methods is essential for advancing research on population dynamics, spread, selection efforts, and control methodologies against the mite. In our study, we employed infrared imaging to measure the thermal differences in parasite and intact Apis mellifera worker broods. Experiments were conducted over two years at the MATE Kaposvár Campus in Hungary involving five beehives in 2022 and five beehives in 2023. A FLIR E5-XT WIFI handheld infrared camera was used to create a heat map of capped brood frames. Our results indicate that the resolution of these cameras is sufficient to provide detailed IR images of a bee colony, making them suitable to detect temperature differences in intact and Varroa parasitized capped brood cells. Mite parasitism causes a time-dependent and sustained temperature increase in developing bee pupae, observable regardless of mite number. Our work demonstrates two different heating patterns: hotspot heating and heating cells that are responsible for the elevated temperature of the Varroa-infested cells as a social fever response by the worker bees. Based on our results, future research combined with AI-based image evaluation software could offer beekeepers and researchers practical and valuable tools for high-throughput, non-invasive Varroa detection in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effects of the mixing water loss capacity of hydrated lime mortars with different dosages were analysed—type O (mix 1:2:9), type N (mix 1:1:6), and type M (mix 1:0.5:4.5), with additions of submerged arc welding (SAW) slag. Infrared thermography tests and optical and scanning electronic microscopy analyses of the mortars were also carried out. The experimental results showed that the mortar samples with additions of SAW slag type M, using low-cost materials, proved to be in economic and technical terms (adhesion strength) the best solution, even more so if a spatter dash layer is used, a fact that increases the adhesion strength even more. Also, the infrared thermographic results revealed that the ability of the mortar paste to yield water to the ceramic substrate in the interface regions is a relevant factor in the adhesion of these coatings. Finally, the analyses by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy revealed that the ability to release water to the substrate is related to the hydration of the mortar and its anchoring capacity. Furthermore, the analyses carried out demonstrated that the adhesion of the mortars is influenced and increased with the application of a layer of splashes, as the pores of the substrate become more refined and better filled with the applied mortar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induction heating is a clear, cheap, and highly effective technology used for many industrial and commercial applications. Generally, a time-varying magnetic field produces the required heat in the workpiece with a specially designed coil. The efficiency of the heating process depends highly on the coil design and the geometrical arrangement. A detailed and accurate finite element analysis of the induction heating process usually needs to resolve a coupled thermoelastic–magnetic problem, whose parameters values depend on the solution of another field. The paper deals with a shrink-fitting process design problem: a gear should be assembled with an axe. The interesting part of this case study is given the prescribed low limits for critical stress, the temperature of the gear material, and the heat-treated wearing surfaces. A coupled finite-element-based model and a genetic algorithm-based parameter determination methodology were presented. A thermal imaging-based measurement validated the presented numerical model and parameter determination task. The results show that the proposed methodology can be used to calibrate and validate the numerical model and optimize an induction heating process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study represents a significant advancement in structural health monitoring by integrating infrared thermography (IRT) with cutting-edge deep learning techniques, specifically through the use of the Mask R-CNN neural network. This approach targets the precise detection and segmentation of hidden defects within the interfacial layers of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP)-reinforced concrete structures. Employing a dual RGB and thermal camera setup, we captured and meticulously aligned image data, which were then annotated for semantic segmentation to train the deep learning model. The fusion of the RGB and thermal imaging significantly enhanced the model's capabilities, achieving an average accuracy of 96.28% across a 5-fold cross-validation. The model demonstrated robust performance, consistently identifying true negatives with an average specificity of 96.78% and maintaining high precision at 96.42% in accurately delineating damaged areas. It also showed a high recall rate of 96.91%, effectively recognizing almost all actual cases of damage, which is crucial for the maintenance of structural integrity. The balanced precision and recall culminated in an average F1-score of 96.78%, highlighting the model's effectiveness in comprehensive damage assessment. Overall, this synergistic approach of combining IRT and deep learning provides a powerful tool for the automated inspection and preservation of critical infrastructure components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure the prevention of thermal trauma and tissue necrosis during bone drilling in surgical procedures, it is crucial to maintain temperatures below the time- and temperature-dependent threshold of 50 °C for 30 s. However, the absence of a current standard for assessing temperatures attained during bone drilling poses a challenge when comparing findings across different studies. This article aims to address this issue by introducing a standardized testing method for acquiring thermal data during experimental bone drilling. The method requires the use of three controlled variables: infrared thermography, standard bone blocks, and a regulated drilling procedure involving a drill press with irrigation that simulates a surgeon. By utilizing this setup, we can obtain temperature data that can be effectively applied in the evaluation of other variables, such as surgical techniques or drill bit design, and translate the data into bone damage/clinical outcomes. Two surgical drill bits (2.0 mm-diameter twist drill bit and 3.3 mm-diameter multi-step drill bit) are compared using this experimental protocol. The results show the 2.0 mm bit reached significantly higher temperatures compared to the 3.3 mm bit when preparing an osteotomy (p < 0.05). The 2.0 mm drill bit reached temperatures over 100 °C while the 3.3 mm drill bit did not exceed 50 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal disbudding and dehorning are very common techniques employed for the removal of horn buds in dairy calves. Infrared thermography was used to determine the local temperature before the thermal disbudding procedure, five seconds into the procedure, and two hours after the procedure was finished. Background: Some studies have used thermography to evaluate the local temperature after applying a hot-iron device to produce a permanently visible mark on calves. Our objective was to evaluate the local temperature and the thermal pattern following hot-iron disbudding and to certify that the local temperature reaches the value at which tissues undergo necrosis. Methods: Calves (n = 36) were subjected to thermography scanning of the horn bud area before the thermal disbudding procedure, five seconds into the procedure, and two hours after the procedure was finished. Results: Differences in local temperature before and after hot-iron disbudding were observed. The mean and the maximum temperature of the horn bud area increased in value after the disbudding procedure, leading to changes in the overall thermal pattern. Conclusions: Thermography of the horn bud area before and after thermal disbudding allows for the identification of changes in local temperature and thermal pattern. The local temperature obtained after the hot-iron disbudding procedure exceeds the temperature required for tissue necrosis. Thermographic evaluations help us to effectively discriminate between superficial burns and deep burns such as those induced by hot-iron disbudding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "bare runway" principle aims to ensure passenger and employee safety by making runways more usable during winter conditions, allowing for easier removal of contaminants like snow and ice. Maintaining runway operations in winter is essential, but it involves considerable cost and environmental impacts. Greater knowledge about the de-icing and anti-icing performance of runway de-icing products (RDPs) optimizes operations. The ice melting test, as per the AS6170 standard, gauges the rate at which an RDP dissolves an ice mass to determine RDP effectiveness. Here, we introduce a novel integrated methodology for assessing RDP-related ice melting. We combine laboratory-based procedures with infrared thermography and Raman spectroscopy to monitor the condition of RDPs placed on ice. The plateau of maximum efficiency, marked by the most significant Raman peak intensity, corresponds to the peak minimum temperature, indicating optimal RDP performance. Beyond this point, RDP efficacy declines, and the system temperature, including melted contaminants and RDP, approaches ambient temperature. Effective RDP performance persists when the ambient temperature exceeds the mixture's freezing point; otherwise, a freezing risk remains. The initial phases of RDP–ice contact involve exothermic reactions that generate brine, followed by heat exchange with surrounding ice to encourage melting. The final phase is complete ice melt, leaving only brine with reduced heat exchange on the surface. By quantifying these thermal and chemical changes, we gain a deeper understanding of RDP-related ice melting, and a more robust assessment can be provided to airports using RDPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prolonged sitting is a potential risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders in office workers. This study aims to evaluate the effect of active breaks on reducing muscle overload in subjects who sit for long periods using infrared thermography (IRT). Methods: A sample of 57 office workers participated in this study and were divided into two groups: active breaks (ABs) and no active breaks (NABs). The NAB group sat continuously for 90 min without standing up, while the AB group performed stretching and mobility exercises every 30 min. IRT measurements were taken every 30 min before the active breaks. Results: The results highlight that the skin temperature of the back increased significantly in both groups after 30 min of sitting; however, in the subsequent measurements, the AB group showed a decrease in temperature, while the NAB group maintained a high temperature. Exercise and time point of measurement all reported p-values < 0.001; there were no statistically significant differences between the Δt0-1 of the NAB and AB groups, while the Δt1-2 and Δt1-3 of the NAB and AB groups showed statistically significant differences for all back regions. Conclusions: The clinical relevance of this study confirms the negative effects of prolonged sitting on the health of the back, demonstrating that active breaks can reduce back strain, emphasizing the need for workplace interventions. In addition, IRT represents a non-invasive method to assess back muscle overload and monitor the effectiveness of interventions in all categories of workers who maintain a prolonged sitting position. The main limitation of this study is the absence of a questionnaire for the assessment of back pain, which does not allow a direct correlation between temperature changes and back pain outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Infrared thermography (IRT) is a fast and non-invasive physiological diagnostic method that allows highly accurate monitoring of body surface temperature. Detected temperatures are variable and change according to blood flow regulation at the skin surface. Many physical therapies, including the pulsed electromagnetic field system BEMER (Physical Vascular Therapy), are used to optimise the performance and welfare of horses. The purpose of the present research was to investigate the impact of BEMER on body surface temperature using IRT in the distal parts of equine forelimbs. In addition, an ultrasonographic examination was performed to assess changes in the lateral palmar digital vein and artery diameters. Sixteen horses were divided into two equal groups: the active BEMER group (n = 8), which had BEMER boots applied to the distal parts of the forelimbs, and the sham group (n = 8), which had BEMER boots applied but without activation of the device. Body surface temperature and blood vessel diameter were measured before (BT) and just after (JAT) BEMER therapy. A third body surface temperature assessment was repeated 15 min after therapy (15AT). No significant temperature differences in body surface temperature were found in the study group at any timepoints after BEMER therapy for most of the measured areas. However, there was a significant increase in artery and vein diameter JAT indicated by ultrasonography examination. IRT did not identify changes in skin surface temperature after BEMER therapy at the distal parts of the forelimbs. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of BEMER (Physical Vascular Therapy) on body surface temperature using infrared thermography (IRT) in the distal parts of the forelimbs in Thoroughbreds. The study tested the hypothesis that BEMER therapy leads to an increase in body surface temperature and blood vessel diameter in the distal parts of the forelimbs. The study involved 16 horses, split into 2 groups: active BEMER (n = 8) and sham (n = 8). The active BEMER group had BEMER boots applied to the distal parts of the forelimbs, whereas the sham group had BEMER boots applied without activation of the device. Both groups underwent IRT examination to detect changes in body surface temperature, followed by ultrasonographic examination to assess changes in vein and artery diameter before (BT) and just after (JAT) therapy. The IRT examination was repeated 15 min after BEMER therapy (15AT). There were no significant body surface temperature differences between BT and JAT in any regions of interest (ROIs) in either group. In the active BEMER group, the ROIs did not change significantly at 15AT, compared to the temperatures measured at BT (except for the hooves). At 15AT the temperature of all the ROIs (except the fetlock bone) dropped significantly in the sham group. In the ultrasonographic examination, there was a significant increase in vein and artery diameter in the study group JAT, whereas the sham group had a significant increase only in artery diameter JAT. These results suggest an effect of BEMER on stimulating blood circulation in the distal parts of the forelimbs in clinically healthy horses. IRT did not identify changes in skin surface temperature after BEMER therapy at the distal parts of the forelimbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The following review is based on the use of infrared thermography as a method to assess stress-related autonomic activity and its association with cardiovascular and heart rate variability in domestic animals. Stress-induced hyperthermia is one of the main physiological responses of animals to a stressor. The increase in body temperature activates compensatory peripheral mechanisms to increase heat dissipation and prevent further temperature increases. Changes in skin blood flow cause alterations in cutaneous temperature, alterations that can be assessed through infrared thermography and that will be discussed in the present review. Most of the responses present in animals when exposed to stressors are mediated by the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system, known as the one responsible for the "fight or flight" reaction, triggers cardiovascular changes such as tachycardia or vasomotor alterations to restore homeostasis. Increase in body temperature in stressed animals also activates peripheral compensatory mechanisms such as cutaneous vasodilation to increase heat exchange. Since changes in skin blood flow influence the amount of heat dissipation, infrared thermography is suggested as a tool that can detect said changes. The present review aims to analyze the application of infrared thermography as a method to assess stress-related autonomic activity, and their association with the cardiovascular and heart rate variability in domestic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a continuous effort devoted by the scientific community, a large-scale employment of Pulsating Heat Pipes for thermal management applications is still nowadays undermined by the low reliability of such heat transfer systems. The main reason underlying this critical issue is linked to the strongly chaotic thermofluidic behavior of these devices, which prevents a robust prediction of their working behavior for different geometries and operating conditions, consequently hampering proper industrial design. The present work proposes to thoroughly compare data referring to previous infrared investigations on different Pulsating Heat Pipe layouts, which have focused on the estimation of heat fluxes locally exchanged at the wall–fluid interfaces. The aim is to understand the beneficial contribution of local heat transfer quantities in the prediction of the complex physics underlying such heat transfer systems. The results have highlighted that, regardless of the considered geometry and working conditions, wall-to-fluid heat fluxes are able to provide useful quantities to be employed, to some extent, to generalize Pulsating Heat Pipe operation and to improve their existing numerical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: the precision agriculture field optimizes resource use, enhancing performance. However, this leads to exposure to ergonomic risks for operators, in particular, tractor drivers, potentially causing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study investigates how the display position in a semi-automatic tractor system influences operator comfort and muscle activation during harrowing operations. Methods: the assessment of muscular strain involved the use of surface electromyographic devices, while posture was evaluated throughout the analysis of the distribution of pressure exerted by the operator's body on the seat, which was observed using two barometric pads, each positioned on the backrest and base of the seat. Finally, infrared thermography (IRT), a non-invasive tool to assess muscle activation, was used to measure the surface temperature of the driver's back. The results showed a significantly greater muscular activation display for the position of display in semi-automatic driving at 50° and 80°. Conclusions: this study showed how the position of the display on the vehicle negatively influences posture, exposing workers to the risk of developing fatigue and, therefore, discomfort, with the potential onset of MSDs. The combined use of sEMG and IRT allowed for a non-invasive, cheap, and repeatable mechanical and functionality analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is an experimental evaluation of a specific heat capacity as a function of plastic strain for thermo-mechanically rolled pipe material, with application of an infrared thermographic camera. The tensile load tests of samples prepared of L485ME (X70M) steel grade were performed with the use of a strength machine. Based on other known material thermophysical properties, the determination of heat source parameters was conducted with the use of an infrared thermography and with an optimization task solution. A linear regression equation describing the specific heat capacity as a function of plastic percentage elongation for L485ME steel grade was determined. The experimental results of the present study showed a linear increase in the specific heat capacity in the range of the analyzed tensile deformation up to 16%. The presented methodology is suitable for assessment of the material specific heat capacity as a function of strain up to the occurrence of the sample narrowing in a direction perpendicular to the tensile force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-resolution infrared (IR) camera was used for temperature measurements in a pharmaceutical formulation (mannitol/sucrose solution, 4:1%, m/m) during a freeze-drying process. The temperature was measured simultaneously at the surface as well as vertically (e.g., in-depth) along the side of custom-made cuvettes equipped with a germanium (Ge) window. Direct imaging during 45 h from −40 °C to 40 °C took place every 60 s on the surface and on the side with 0.28 × 0.28 mm per IR-pixel providing 2700 thermograms. The spatial resolution per cuvette was approximately 4225 pixels for the surface view (without a probe) and 6825 IR-pixels for the side view. Temperature effects and gradients due to the presence of a Pt100 and a LyoRx-probe in the pharmaceutical formulation were clearly visible and were quantified during the freezing step as well as the primary and secondary drying stages. The temperature was about 3.5 K higher during primary drying as compared to the temperature measured in the same material in adjacent cuvettes without probes. During secondary drying, evaporative cooling of upper layers was clearly visible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition characteristics of a modified RAE5243 airfoil were investigated using a wind tunnel test and numerical simulations. Transition detection is of great significance for the assessment of drag reduction. In wind tunnel tests, transition location can be detected by infrared thermography. However, in subsonic and transonic wind tunnel tests, the temperature difference between the laminar flow region and turbulent flow region is small. Moreover, the test models are usually made of metals, which make the transition location hard to identify. Combined with infrared thermography, a carbon nanotube heating coating powered by electricity was used to detect the transition location of a modified RAE5243 airfoil wing. The effects of heating power, angle of attack (AOA), and Mach number were studied. The results show that heating power has no impact on transition location. As the AOA increases, the transition location moves forward. With an increase in Mach number, the transition location moves forward first and then backward, and it reaches its most forward point at Ma = 0.75. The results of our numerical simulations indicate that, at Ma ≥ 0.75, a shock wave appears on the wing, and the transition is closely related to the shock wave rather than the adverse pressure gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Better understanding of local thermal characteristics of domestic convectors could play a crucial role in reducing energy consumption for space heating and decarbonizing the economy. The current study evaluates the impact of varying water inlet temperature and flowrate on the local surface temperature of domestic convectors through extensive empirical investigations. Experiments are performed using a custom-made test-rig featuring a 400 mm × 600 mm Type 11 convector within a large and well-ventilated environment, minimizing the thermal influence of the surrounding space on the thermal behavior of the convector. Infrared thermography (IR) is used to acquire local surface temperature data for further analysis. Based on the results obtained, it has been observed that the inlet water temperature has a negligible effect on thermal characteristics of the convector while increasing the flowrate substantially decreases the time required for the convector to reach maximum surface temperature. Based on the numerical data, an analytical model for average surface temperature has been developed using multiple variable regression analysis, demonstrating a prediction accuracy of >90% compared with the experimental data. A detailed understanding of the heating behavior exhibited by domestic convectors has led to a better understanding of the local thermal characteristics, while the prediction model can be used to develop machine learning algorithms to install better flow control techniques for efficient space heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This review aims to analyze the application of IRT in the evaluation of gait, the recognition of lameness, the evaluation of the effectiveness of the therapy, and the superficial thermal response in veterinary medicine during the rehabilitation of patients. Due to the ability of infrared thermography to detect changes in the local temperature of several body regions, this tool might help identify and monitor the progress of musculoskeletal injuries in veterinary patients. Infrared Thermography (IRT) has become an assistance tool in medicine and is used to noninvasively evaluate heat elimination during and after inflammatory processes or during the recovery period. However, its application in veterinary patients undergoing physiotherapy is a field that requires deep research. This review aims to analyze the application of IRT in the monitoring of animal physiotherapy, using the thermal changes that are present in patients undergoing gait or lameness issues (e.g., inflammation, pain, increased local temperature) as a neurobiological basis. Rehabilitation techniques such as acupuncture, physical therapies, thermotherapy, photo-biomodulation, and electrostimulation have been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect that decreases the amount of local heat production, which is heat that can be recorded with IRT. Therefore, IRT could be used as a complementary tool to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy, and it is suggested that further studies evaluate the accuracy, sensibility, and sensitivity of IRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital restoration of historical manuscripts centers on deciphering hidden writings, made imperceptible to the naked eye due to factors such as erasure, fading, carbonization, and aging effects. Recent advancements in modern technologies have significantly improved our ability to unveil and interpret such written cultural heritage that, for centuries, had remained inaccessible to contemporary understanding. This paper aims to present a critical overview of state-of-the-art technologies, engaging in discussions about perspectives and limitations, and anticipating future applications. Serving as a practical guide, this work seeks to assist in the selection of techniques for digitally restoring ancient writings. Additionally, potential and challenges associated with integrating these techniques with advanced machine-learning approaches are also outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The present review aims to analyze the scientific evidence of the hypothalamic control of hypothermia and the central and peripheral changes that are triggered in domestic animals. After the perception of a core temperature decreases, several mechanisms aiming to prevent heat loss or produce heat are initiated. However, the type of mechanism and degree of activation depend on the species. Therefore, understanding the hypothalamic control of hypothermia could help us to understand the implications of the compensatory mechanisms in domestic animals. When an organism detects decreases in their core body temperature, the hypothalamus, the main thermoregulatory center, triggers compensatory responses. These responses include vasomotor changes to prevent heat loss and physiological mechanisms (e.g., shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis) for heat production. Both types of changes require the participation of peripheral thermoreceptors, afferent signaling to the spinal cord and hypothalamus, and efferent pathways to motor and/or sympathetic neurons. The present review aims to analyze the scientific evidence of the hypothalamic control of hypothermia and the central and peripheral changes that are triggered in domestic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted to analyze the effectiveness of the crop stress index (CWSI) obtained by infrared thermal imaging to indicate crop water status, and to determine the appropriate CWSI threshold range for wheat at different growth stages. The results showed that the sensitivity of plant physiological parameters to soil water was different at different growth stages. The sensitivity of stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate (Tr) to soil water was higher than that of leaf relative water content (LRWC) and photosynthetic rate (Pn). The characteristics of plant physiology and biomass (yield) at each growth stage showed that the plant production would not suffer from drought stress as long as the soil water content (SWC) was maintained above 57.0% of the field water capacity (FWC) during the jointing stage, 63.0% of the FWC during the flowering stage and 60.0% of the FWC during the filling stage. Correlation analysis showed that the correlation of CWSI with Gs, Tr and Pn was lower than that with LRWC and SWC at the jointing stage. CWSI was extremely significantly negatively correlated with SWC and LRWC (p < 0.01), but significantly negatively correlated with Gs, Tr and Pn (p < 0.05). At the flowering stage, CWSI was extremely significantly negatively correlated with all physiological and soil parameters (p < 0.01). The regression analysis showed that the CWSI of winter wheat was correlated with biomass (grain yield) in a curvilinear relationship at each growth stage. When the CWSI increased to a certain extent, the biomass and yield showed a decreasing trend with the increase in CWSI. Comprehensive analysis of all indexes showed that CWSI can be used as a decision-making index to guide the water-saving irrigation of winter wheat, as long as the CWSI threshold of plants was maintained at 0.26–0.38 during the jointing stage, 0.27–0.32 during the flowering stage and 0.30–0.36 during the filling stage, which could not only avoid the adverse effects of water stress on crop production, but also achieve the purpose of water saving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of autoimmune origin that affects the skin and mucous membranes. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of infrared thermography (IRT) as a diagnostic tool in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP), as well as disturbances in taste perception, in cases with and without tongue involvement. A case-control study was carried out in a sample of 87 patients divided into three groups: healthy individuals (controls; n = 43), OLP patients without involvement of the tongue (n = 24), and OLP patients with involvement of the tongue (n = 20). The patient symptoms and the clinical characteristics of the lesions were assessed. Four thermal images of the tongue were obtained using IRT: dorsum, right and left lateral surface, and tip of the tongue. General taste perception capacity and subjective sweet, acid, salty, and bitter sensation were evaluated in all three groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the IRT values among the three groups (p ≥ 0.05). In the OLP patients with involvement of the tongue, significantly higher values were observed in the mixed forms of the disease (p = 0.032). The OLP patients with and without involvement of the tongue showed no significant alterations in taste sensation (p = 0.69). IRT may serve as a complementary tool for assessing the activity of OLP with involvement of the tongue. However, more research is needed in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Rectal thermometry is still standard practice in the measurement of body temperature in livestock because of its low cost. However, there are situations where this method is contraindicated or impractical, and a less invasive method is required. Non-contact devices have been used in livestock production; however, there are few studies about the variation and correlations in body temperature between rectal temperature and non-contact devices. The present work aims to compare rectal temperature with two types of non-contact devices (non-contact infrared thermometers and thermal imaging/infrared thermography) for the assessment of body temperature in healthy sheep. Except for the temperature taken by non-contact infrared thermometers at the muzzle, the correlation between rectal temperature vs. non-contact infrared thermometers or thermal imaging/infrared thermography showed a low significance or was difficult to use for practical flock management purposes. In addition, the variability between devices was high, which implies that measurements should be interpreted with caution in warm climates and open pens, such as most sheep farms in the Spanish Mediterranean area. Non-contact devices have been used in the measurement of body temperature in livestock production as a tool for testing disease in different species. However, there are few studies about the variation and correlations in body temperature between rectal temperature (RT) and non-contact devices such as non-contact infrared thermometers (NCIT) and thermal imaging/infrared thermography (IRT). The objective of this work was to evaluate the accuracy of non-contact devices to measure the body temperature in sheep, considering six body regions and the possibility of implementing these systems in herd management. The experiment was carried out at the experimental farm of the Catholic University of Valencia, located in the municipality of Massanassa in July of 2021, with 72 dry manchega ewes, and we compared the rectal temperature with two types of non-contact infrared devices for the assessment of body temperature in healthy sheep. Except for the temperature taken by NCIT at the muzzle, the correlation between RT vs. NCIT or IRT showed a low significance or was difficult to use for practical flock management purposes. In addition, the variability between devices was high, which implies that measurements should be interpreted with caution in warm climates and open pens, such as most sheep farms in the Spanish Mediterranean area. The use of infrared cameras devices to assess body temperature may have a promising future, but in order to be widely applied as a routine management method on farms, the system needs to become cheaper, simpler in terms of measurements and quicker in terms of analyzing results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: We explored the application of infrared thermography (IRT) as a non-invasive method to measure the eye's lacrimal caruncle temperature in sheep, specifically focusing on its potential to detect negative emotions such as fear. Fourteen ewes, divided into two study groups according to the exposed emotional (positive n = 7 and negative n = 7), were subjected to classical conditioning associating a neutral auditory stimulus with either a positive event (food reward) or a negative event (opening an umbrella). Then, lacrimal caruncle temperatures using IRT, behavioral observation of ear postures, and saliva samples were collected to assess cortisol levels at rest and after treatment. The results reveal a significant increase in lacrimal caruncle temperature post-treatment only in the negative group (p = 0.017), indicating a potential association between IRT-measured eye temperature and negative emotional states in sheep. Additionally, behavioral observations align with the learned association between the neutral stimulus and events of different emotional valence. As for cortisol, despite not being significant, its levels increased for both groups post-treatment. The study concludes that IRT proves valuable in non-invasively evaluating the physiological impact of positive and negative events on sheep. Infrared thermography (IRT) has been recently applied to measure lacrimal caruncle temperature non-invasively since this region is related to the sympathetic response, and it seems a promising technique that is able to infer negative emotions in sheep (e.g., fear). However, the scientific literature so far is limited in understanding whether a caruncle's temperature changes also in response to positive emotional states in sheep. Through classical conditioning, we aimed to assess how a positive or a negative event affects the physiological (lacrimal caruncle temperature measured with IRT and cortisol levels) and behavioral responses of sheep (ear position). Fourteen ewes from the same flock were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: positive (n = 7) and negative (n = 7). Each group was then trained through classical conditioning to associate a neutral auditory (ring bell) stimulus to an oncoming event: for the positive group, the presence of a food reward (maize grains), while for the negative one, the opening of an umbrella. After three weeks of training, before (at rest) and after (post-treatment), lacrimal caruncle temperature was non-invasively measured via IRT, and saliva samples were gently collected to measure cortisol levels. During treatment, sheep behavior was videorecorded and then analyzed using a focal animal sampling technique. At rest, the eye's lacrimal caruncle temperature was similar in both groups, while post-treatment, a significant increase was shown only in the negative group (t-test; p = 0.017). In the anticipation phase, sheep in the positive group kept their ears forward longer compared to those in the negative one (Mann–Whitney; p < 0.014), 8.3 ± 2.1 s and 5.2 ± 4.2 s, respectively. The behavioral response observed reflects a learnt association between a neutral stimulus and events with different emotional valence. Cortisol concentration slightly increased in both groups post-treatment. Our results confirm that IRT is a non-invasive technique that can be useful when applied to assess how positive and negative events may affect the physiological response in sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Incorporating lunging into a horse's daily routine proves valuable for enhancing fitness and physical condition. During lunging, horses may either work with a freely moving head (FMH) or with lunging aids (LAs) designed to assist horses in developing a particular skill or exercise. Evaluating the effectiveness of lunging poses a significant challenge for horse owners, riders, trainers, and veterinarians. This study employs non-contact technologies such as geometric morphometrics and infrared thermography to assess lunging efficiency concerning different head and neck positions. The research aims to determine if changes in a horse's posture correspond to increased metabolic activity, indicated by body surface temperature. Thirteen horses included in the study were lunged using various aids, including chambon (CH), rubber band (RB), triangle side reins (TRs), and without aids (FMH). Images were taken both in visible light and in infrared. Lunging with FMH resulted in a lifted head and lowered back, TRs and RB caused the opposite, while CH induced no posture changes. Horses that lunged with FMH exhibited lower temperatures over a larger area. In contrast, CH led to moderate temperatures over a smaller region. RB resulted in moderate to high temperatures over a broader surface, while TRs led to higher temperatures over a smaller area. The methods proposed in this study offer a means to evaluate the efficiency of lunging in horses. Incorporating lunging into a horse's daily routine aims to enhance fitness, physical condition, and specific skills or exercises when using lunging aids (LAs). To assess the effectiveness of lunging, non-contact technologies like geometric morphometrics and infrared thermography can be employed. This study seeks to evaluate lunging efficiency based on the horse's posture and surface temperature when lunging with different head and neck positions. The study aims to determine if changes in a horse's posture correspond to increased metabolic activity, as indicated by body surface temperature. Thirteen horses included in the study were lunged with chambon (CH), rubber band (RB), and triangle side reins (TRs) as well as with a freely moving head (FMH). Images were taken in visible light and infrared. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to analyze horse posture changes and a Pixel-Counting Protocol (PCP) was used to quantify surface temperature patterns. The horses' posture exhibited contrasting changes, reflected by a changing centroid shape (p < 0.0001) but not size (p > 0.05) when lunged with RB and TRs, but not CH. Different (p < 0.0001) surface temperature patterns were observed during lunging. FMH lunging resulted in lower temperatures over a larger surface, CH induced moderate temperatures on a smaller area, RB caused moderate to high temperatures across a broader surface, and TRs led to higher temperatures over a smaller region. The studied lunging cases returned different (p < 0.0001) surface temperature patterns. Lunging with FMH returned lower temperatures over a larger surface, CH moderate temperatures on a smaller area, RB moderate to high temperatures across a broader surface, and TRs higher temperatures over a smaller region. The proposed methods can be applied to evaluate the efficiency of lunging in horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: This study shows the potential of infrared thermography to contribute to the diagnosis of conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Dupuytren's contracture, Osteoarthritis, and Rhizarthrosis. Despite known limitations, including the cross-sectional design and exclusion criteria, the findings suggest that infrared thermography holds promise as a non-invasive and valuable tool for clinical diagnostics, providing insights into temperature variations associated with different hand pathologies. Healthcare professionals can leverage these data to assess the severity of inflammation and understanding the impact of hand neuropathies and orthopaedic disorders. Hand neuropathies and musculoskeletal disorders represent significant health concerns, often requiring accurate and non-invasive diagnostic methods. Current diagnostic approaches may have limitations in terms of accuracy and patient comfort. This study addresses the need for an improved complementary diagnostic tool for these conditions by investigating the potential of infrared thermography for identifying thermal patterns associated with these pathologies. Thermal images were acquired from both control participants with healthy hands and patients with hand neuropathies and/or musculoskeletal disorders. The mean temperatures of various regions of interest (ROIs) were analysed, and statistical tests were conducted to determine if there were significant temperature differences between the control and injury groups. The analysis consistently revealed higher mean temperatures in the injury group across multiple ROIs on both the dorsal and palmar aspects of the hand. Levene's test confirmed the equality of variances between the groups, supporting the validity of the statistical comparisons. The observed thermal differences between the control and injury groups underscore the potential of IR thermography for enhancing diagnostic precision of hand pathologies. Its integration into clinical practice could lead to early detection, personalised treatment, and improved patient care in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental and linear stability theory (LST) investigation of boundary layer transition on a flat plate was conducted with a flow of Mach number 5. The temperature distributions and second-mode disturbances on the flat plate surface at different unit Reynolds number (Reunit) values were captured by infrared thermography and PCB technology, respectively, which revealed the transition location of the flat-plate boundary layer. The PCB sensors successfully captured the second-mode disturbances within the boundary layer initially at a frequency of about 100 kHz, with a gradually expanding frequency range as the distance travelled downstream increased. The evolution characteristics of the second-mode instabilities were also investigated by LST and obtained for the second mode, ranging from 100 to 250 kHz. The amplitude amplification factor (N-factor) of the second-mode instabilities was calculated by the eN method. The N-factor of the transition location in the wind tunnel experiment predicted by LST is about 0.98 and 1.25 for Reunit = 6.38 × 106 and 8.20 × 106, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the innovative use of digital image processing (DIP) techniques, also named PhotoMonitoring, for analysing the triggering conditions of shallow landslides. The approach, based on the combination of optical and infrared thermographic imaging (IRT), was applied to a laboratory-scale slope, reproduced in a flume test apparatus. Three experiments were conducted to replicate rainfall-induced shallow landslides, applying change detection and digital image correlation analysis to both optical and thermal images. The method combines IRT's ability to measure ground surface temperature changes with DIP's capacity to track movement and displacement. Results showed the high reliability of the displacement time-series obtained through IRT-DIP with respect to the reference optical-DIP. The IRT-DIP technique also detects anomaly signals two minutes before landslide occurrence that can be regarded as a possible failure precursor. This study testifies to the potential of image analysis as a remote sensing technique, demonstrating the ability of DIP to capture the dynamics of shallow landslides, as well as the advantages of optical–IRT combinations to follow slope deformation processes during night-time. This approach, if properly adapted to real-scale scenarios, may contribute to a better understanding of landslide behaviour, improve landslide monitoring strategies, and promote more effective early warning systems (EWS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: As concerns over animal welfare grow, individuals working in animal husbandry need easier ways to assess the psychological wellbeing of livestock. Recent research in lateralisation and stress has helped scientists find links between stress and the sides of the body animals use to inspect new objects and people or engage in new experiences. Research has shown that the left side of the brain processes familiar conditions, while the right side of the brain is more often used for new situations. These sides of the brain correspond to behaviours expressed with the opposite side of the body. Animals often use a specific eye or leg when initiating behavioural responses or interactions which can be assumed to link to the opposite side of the brain. This article summarised the existing literature for lateralisation in common livestock species in addition to advocating for increased use of thermography when assessing welfare in livestock. Lateralised behavioural responses to environmental stressors have become more frequently used as indicators of social welfare in animals. These lateralised behavioural responses are under the control of asymmetrical brain functions as part of the primary functions of most vertebrates and assist in primary social and survival functions. Lateralised behavioural responses originating from the left hemisphere are responsible for processing familiar conditions, while the right hemisphere is responsible for responding to novel stimuli in the environment. The forced lateralisation and side preference tests have been used to determine the visual lateralised behavioural responses in livestock to environmental stressors. Limb preference during movement has also been used to determine motor lateralisation. Although behavioural investigations in livestock have recorded lateralised behavioural responses to environmental stressors, there are still limitations in the implication of lateralisation to other conditions, such as restraint and invasive procedures. Thus, it is important to have a non-invasive measure for these lateralised behavioural responses. Recently, lateralised behavioural responses have been correlated with the use of infrared temperature of external body surfaces, such as the eyes and coronary bands of limbs. This review summarised the different forms of the lateralised behavioural responses in livestock, especially cattle and horses, to environmental stressors, and the association between these responses and the relevant external body surfaces' infrared temperature, with the purpose of improving the use of non-invasive measures in assessing welfare conditions in animals. The combination of the lateralised behavioural responses and infrared temperature of external body surfaces to environmental stressors could improve the assessment strategies of welfare conditions and the related additional husbandry interventions that could be applied to improve the welfare of farm animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Putting small particles in levitation and in transient thermal imbalance in a gas has several advantages. This avoids chemical and thermal pollution through contact with a solid wall. The large exchange surface between the particle and the surrounding gas and the small volume can be considered as microfluidic situations with acceleration of surface transfers, rapidly isothermal particles, low-cost thermal cycling, rapidly isothermal situations and extreme temperature conditions facilitated. Several results related to thermal characterization in the case of fluidic and acoustic methods of levitation are presented. It consists of recording and comparing the transient temperature response by using an infrared thermography device to a step convective or radiative heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sonic-IR, which detects defects based on the temperature rise due to frictional heating at the defect faces under ultrasonic excitation, has an advantage in the detection of closed defects. However, in the conventional sonic-IR method, an acoustic energy is directly input from an ultrasonic transducer to the test object via an ultrasonic horn, which may give some scratches and deformation to the test object. To avoid such a problem, we have developed a new sonic-IR method using an ultrasonic wave input via water, and the practicability of the proposed method for the detection of fatigue crack has been experimentally demonstrated. This study presents the results of an investigation of the effect of immersion conditions on heat generation at defects in the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thermal diffusivity measurement approach is proposed in which the sample is thermally excited by a periodic train of pulsed, spatially random laser light. The temperature field on the surface is observed by IR camera and the diffusion is recorded by a sequence of IR images. The analysis of the diffusion in time and space is followed by suitable models. Fitting of the spatiotemporal evolution of the surface temperature allows to determine the thermal diffusivity of clay brick with an accuracy of 5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest improvements in infrared detectors enable the use of infrared thermography in many applications for outdoor temperature measurements through a low cost and easy to maintain solution. However, converting the radiative fluxes received by the infrared camera to the object of interests' apparent surface temperature is a challenging task. It requires us to consider the global radiative heat balance at the sensor level. Such a correction implies taking into account the background contributions (sky, sun, other elements on the scene), the involved transmissions (camera optics, atmosphere, participating media of the scene), etc. As a consequence, supplementary data are needed to achieve quantitative outdoor thermal monitoring. In this study, we propose a comparison of gathering those data from different observation scales: a local weather station, existing sensor networks such as Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR) and open source online satellite data from the European Copernicus program. Finally, the feasibility, advantages and limitations of the proposed methods are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is a charcoal-like material obtained by burning organic wastes, coming from agricultural and forestry, in a controlled pyrolysis process. In this application, it is deposited on an aluminum foil of thickness 100 μm, which is used as a part of an heat exchanger. The thickness of the deposition of biochar on the aluminum foil ranges from 75 to 250 μm. The result coating is rough and, therefore, it is supposed to improve the heat exchange with the ambient environment, depending on the granulometry of the deposit. One key feature of the deposit is its thermal conductivity. In this work, it is determined by means of IR thermography used as a detector in a Laser Flash configuration. This allows us to evaluate the out-of-plane thermal diffusivity. Such measurements are complemented by density obtained by hydrostatic balance and specific heat by a differential scanning calorimeter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the impact of subaerial biofilms (SABs) on geomaterial weathering is crucial for the sustainable conservation of cultural heritage belements. As SABs can either exacerbate or mitigate sudden thermal or hygroscopic stress, it is essential to identify their protective or deteriorative role on a case-by-case basis. This study aims to validate the utility of infrared thermography in examining the impact of biofilms on stone and exploring the water-related behaviors of porous materials colonized by SABs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many common thermographic cameras have quite good sensitivity (0.05 °C or better) but limited accuracy, often about ±2 °C. This is not sufficient for quantitative measurements such as human body temperature diagnostics, where an accuracy of 0.3 °C is assumed. A thermographic device with a built-in active reference element for enhanced precision measurement was developed for these purposes. It was adapted for human body temperature diagnostics using face temperature measurements. It is based on a micro-bolometers detector and the reference element is heated to a temperature of 37 °C, which is mostly assumed as decisive for an increased temperature indication. As the reference element is embedded into the device housing, the use of the device can be very flexible. The performed human temperature measurement experiments showed that the accuracy of the introduced device is comparable with the thermographic measurements obtained using an external black body, which is often used for these applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outbreak of infectious diseases has highlighted the importance of the early detection and prevention of high temperatures or fevers, which are some of the main symptoms of many diseases. Thermal cameras have become a promising tool for the detection of fever due to their non-invasive, non-contact and rapidly inspecting nature. By using person identification to analyze temperature data from the corner of the eye (inner canthus), the temperature of individuals can be tracked over time. This could provide information not only about their current temperature but also about long-term temperature anomalies, and therefore can urge people to visit a doctor. This paper is intended as an initial study for the long-term temperature measurement of individuals. The preliminary results show the feasibility of such approach. In the future, a similar procedure is to be used for the detection and recognition of individual diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steel structures are usually coated with anticorrosion coatings. Authors have developed a detection method of coating deterioration by infrared measurement. The mid-wavelength infrared camera captures both the reflection from the coating surface and the emission due to temperature rise of the coating. It is possible that the two components cancel each other out. We proposed a multi-wavelength lock-in infrared data processing that performs lock-in processing using time-series data of only the infrared reflection and emission components at different sensitivity wavelengths as reference signals. This method can separately detect the infrared reflection and emission components and quantitatively evaluate the coating thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]