scholarly journals The Sequential Behavior Pattern Analysis of Broiler Chickens Exposed to Heat Stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-457
Author(s):  
Tatiane Branco ◽  
Daniella Jorge de Moura ◽  
Irenilza de Alencar Nääs ◽  
Nilsa Duarte da Silva Lima ◽  
Daniela Regina Klein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Pattern Mining ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Behavior Pattern ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sequential Pattern ◽  
Eating Pattern ◽  
Lying Down

Broiler productivity is dependent on a range of variables; among them, the rearing environment is a significant factor for proper well-being and productivity. Behavior indicates the bird’s initial response to an adverse environment and is capable of providing an indicator of well-being in real-time. The present study aims to identify and characterize the sequential pattern of broilers’ behavior when exposed to thermoneutral conditions (TNZ) and thermal stress (HS) by constant heat. The research was carried out in a climatic chamber with 18 broilers under thermoneutral conditions and heat stress for three consecutive days (at three different ages). The behavior database was first analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Tukey test by age, and Boxplot graphs, and then the sequence of the behaviors was evaluated using the generalized sequential pattern (GSP) algorithm. We were able to predict behavioral patterns at the different temperatures assessed from the behavioral sequences. Birds in HS were prostrate, identified by the shorter behavioral sequence, such as the {Lying down, Eating} pattern, unlike TNZ ({Lying down, Walking, Drinking, Walking, Lying down}), which indicates a tendency to increase behaviors (feeding and locomotor activities) that guarantee the better welfare of the birds. The sequence of behaviors ‘Lying down’ followed by ‘Lying laterally’ occurred only in HS, which represents a stressful thermal environment for the bird. Using the pattern mining sequences approach, we were able to identify temporal relationships between thermal stress and broiler behavior, confirming the need for further studies on the use of temporal behavior sequences in environmental controllers.

scholarly journals Applying sequential pattern mining to investigate cerebrovascular health outpatients’ re-visit patterns

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Ou-Yang ◽  
Chandrawati Putri Wulandari ◽  
Rizka Aisha Rahmi Hariadi ◽  
Han-Cheng Wang ◽  
Chiehfeng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Pattern Mining ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Behavior Pattern ◽  
Sequential Pattern Mining ◽  
Sequential Pattern ◽  
Behavior Patterns ◽  
Association Mining ◽  
Health Examination ◽  
Medical Treatments ◽  
Degree Of Association

Background and Objective Increases in outpatients seeking medical check-ups are expanding the number of health examination data records, which can be utilized for medical strategic planning and other purposes. However, because hospital visits by outpatients seeking medical check-ups are unpredictable, those patients often cannot receive optimal service due to limited facilities of hospitals. To resolve this problem, this study attempted to predict re-visit patterns of outpatients. Method Two-phase sequential pattern mining (SPM) and an association mining method were chosen to predict patient returns using sequential data. The data were grouped according to the outpatients’ personal information and evaluated by a discriminant analysis to check the significance of the grouping. Furthermore, SPM was employed to generate frequency patterns from each group and extract a general association pattern of return. Results Results of sequence patterns and association mining in this study provided valuable insights in terms of outpatients’ re-visit behaviors for regular medical check-ups. Cosine and Jaccard are two symmetric measures which were used in this study to indicate the degree of association between two variables. For instance, Jaccard values of variable abnormal blood pressure associated with an abnormal body-mass index (BMI) and/or abnormal blood sugar were respectively 47.5% and 100%, for the two-visit and three-visit behavior patterns. These results indicated that the corresponding pair of variables was more reliable when covering the three-visit behavior pattern than the two-visit behavior. Thus, appropriate preventive measures or suggestions for other medical treatments can be prepared for outpatients that have this pattern on their third visit. The higher degree of association implies that the corresponding behavior pattern might influence outpatients’ intentions to regularly seek medical check-ups concerning the risk of stroke. Furthermore, a radiology diagnosis (i.e., magnetic resonance imaging or neck vascular ultrasound) plays an important role in the association with a re-visit behavior pattern with respective 50% and 70% Cosine and Jaccard values in general behavior {f11}∧{f01}. These findings can serve as valuable information to increase the quality of medical services and marketing, by suggesting appropriate treatment for the subsequent visit after learning the behavior patterns. Conclusions The proposed method can provide valuable information related to outpatients’ re-visit behavior patterns based on hidden knowledge generated from sequential patterns and association mining results. For marketing purposes, medical practitioners can take behavior patterns studied in this paper into account to raise patients’ awareness of several possible medical conditions that might arise on subsequent visits and encourage them to take preventive measures or suggest other medical treatments.

scholarly journals Thermal Environment of Urban Schoolyards: Current and Future Design with Respect to Children’s Thermal Comfort

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1144
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Antoniadis ◽  
Nikolaos Katsoulas ◽  
Dimitris Κ. Papanastasiou
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
High Surface ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Human Thermal Comfort

Urban outdoor thermal conditions, and its impacts on the health and well-being for the city inhabitants have reached increased attention among biometeorological studies during the last two decades. Children are considered more sensitive and vulnerable to hot ambient conditions compared to adults, and are affected strongly by their thermal environment. One of the urban outdoor environments that children spend almost one third of their school time is the schoolyard. The aims of the present manuscript were to review studies conducted worldwide, in order to present the biophysical characteristics of the typical design of the urban schoolyard. This was done to assess, in terms of bioclimatology, the interactions between the thermal environment and the children’s body, to discuss the adverse effects of thermal environment on children, especially the case of heat stress, and to propose measures that could be applied to improve the thermal environment of schoolyards, focusing on vegetation. Human thermal comfort monitoring tools are mainly developed for adults, thus, further research is needed to adapt them to children. The schemes that are usually followed to design urban schoolyards create conditions that favour the exposure of children to excessive heat, inducing high health risks to them. The literature survey showed that typical urban schoolyard design (i.e., dense surface materials, absence of trees) triggered high surface temperatures (that may exceed 58 °C) and increased absorption of radiative heat load (that may exceed 64 °C in terms of Mean Radiant Temperature) during a clear day with intense solar radiation. Furthermore, vegetation cover has a positive impact on schoolyard’s microclimate, by improving thermal comfort and reducing heat stress perception of children. Design options for urban schoolyards and strategies that can mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress are proposed with focus on vegetation cover that affect positively their thermal environment and improve their aesthetic and functionality.

scholarly journals Heat-induced maternal effects shapes avian eggshell traits and embryo response to high temperatures

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Hoffman ◽  
Leslie Dees ◽  
Haruka Wada
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Genetic Adaptation ◽  
Pore Density ◽  
Transgenerational Plasticity ◽  
The Face ◽  
Incubation Temperatures ◽  
Rapid Environmental Change

Abstract Populations without a sufficient rate of genetic adaptation may risk extinction in the face of rapid environmental change, however, phenotypic plasticity can facilitate their persistence. For example, mothers can prepare offspring for the thermal environment young will experience through transgenerational plasticity. In oviparous species, whether mothers can prepare offspring to cope with thermal stress experienced as embryos is largely unknown. We demonstrate that when zebra finch mothers are exposed to a heat stress, their offspring show altered heart rates as embryos in response to high incubation temperatures, as well as an increase in eggshell pore density that was positively correlated with survival. These results are the first to show that temperature induced transgenerational plasticity may promote embryonic survival in an oviparous species.

scholarly journals Thermal Stress Indices in Young Nellore Bulls Raised in Tropical Environments

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andressa Alves Storti ◽  
Maria Regina Bueno De Mattos Nascimento ◽  
Carina Ubirajara De Faria ◽  
Natascha Almeida Marques da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Thermal Gradient ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Stress Indices ◽  
Physiological Limits ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Humidity Index ◽  
The Ideal

Background: Thermal stress indices are important in predicting and choosing means for mitigating heat stress and defining critical environmental conditions for animal welfare and performance. The aim of this study was to determine the association between 16 thermal stress indices and thermophysiological variables in young Nellore bulls raised in a tropical pasture to determine the most effective parameter of heat stress to assist in the management of the thermal environment and animal welfare.Materials, Methods & Results: Seventy-eight young Nellore bulls (Bos taurus indicus), with a mean age of 10.5 months and mean body weight of 242.09 ± 32.17 kg at first collection, and 17.92 months and body weight 335.80 ± 39.02 kg at last collection, were used. During the experimental period, rectal temperature (RT) and surface temperature at the forehead, scapula, and groin, from which the average surface temperature (AST) was calculated, were measured. The difference between the AST and air temperature (i.e., AST – AT) and between the RT and AST (i.e., RT – AST) defined the thermal gradient. For the evaluation of thermal environment, the dry bulb, wet bulb, and globe temperatures, and wind speed were measured. Relative humidity, mean radiant temperature, solar radiation, temperature humidity index (THI), black global temperature humidity index (BGHI), equivalent temperature index (ETI), environmental stress index (ESI), respiratory rate predictor (PRR), heat load index (HLI), comprehensive climate index (CCI), and index of thermal stress for cows (ITSC) were calculated. The average and maximum air temperatures were above thermal comfort levels, while the average relative humidity was within the ideal limit for cattle. The average globe temperature was higher than the air temperature. Solar radiation presented very high values and wind speeds were very low. RT indicated normothermia in the cattle, and AST and thermal gradient (i.e., AST – AT) indicated thermal comfort. The 16 thermal stress indices demonstrated a significant positive and moderate correlation with AST, but were not significantly correlated with RT.Discussion: The average (28.14°C) and maximum (31.90°C) air temperatures indicated discomfort, since the ideal temperature for cattle is ≤ 27°C. The high thermal load of this region can contribute to poor animal welfare, thus requiring the provision of natural or artificial shade for pasture farming. The cattle in this study were in thermal equilibrium given that they maintained RT within the normal range, and the maximum limit was higher. If RT is maintained within physiological limits, the mechanisms of thermoregulation are able to eliminate excess heat (i.e., thermolysis is equivalent to thermogenesis). The AST was 5.4°C below the RT. It is important to note that deep body temperature (i.e., RT) is more stable than the surface body temperature, which is influenced by ambient temperature. Considering that there was no correlation between thermal stress indices and RT, and that the cattle were able to maintain RT within physiological limits, the Nellore bulls in this study were adapted to the environment. The thermal stress indices evaluated in this study adequately reflected heat stress in young Nellore bulls raised in pastures in a tropical environment. Surface temperature was the physiological parameter that responded most significantly to environmental conditions.

scholarly journals Embryonic Thermal Manipulation Affects the Antioxidant Response to Post-Hatch Thermal Exposure in Broiler Chickens

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled M. M. Saleh ◽  
Amneh H. Tarkhan ◽  
Mohammad Borhan Al-Zghoul
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Cold Stress ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Splenic Tissue ◽  
Nadph Oxidase 4 ◽  
Stressed Group ◽  
Oxidative Function ◽  
Thermal Manipulation

Thermal stress is a major source of oxidative damage in the broiler chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) due to the latter’s impaired metabolic function. While heat stress has been extensively studied in broilers, the effects of cold stress on broiler physiologic and oxidative function are still relatively unknown. The present study aimed to understand how thermal manipulation (TM) might affect a broiler’s oxidative response to post-hatch thermal stress in terms of the mRNA expression of the catalase, NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) genes. During embryonic days 10 to 18, TM was carried out by raising the temperature to 39 °C at 65% relative humidity for 18 h/day. To induce heat stress, room temperature was raised from 21 to 35 °C during post-hatch days (PD) 28 to 35, while cold stress was induced during PD 32 to 37 by lowering the room temperature from 21 to 16 °C. At the end of the thermal stress periods, a number of chickens were euthanized to extract hepatic and splenic tissue from the heat-stressed group and cardiac, hepatic, muscular, and splenic tissue from the cold-stressed group. Catalase, NOX4, and SOD2 expression in the heart, liver, and spleen were decreased in TM chickens compared to controls after both cold and heat stress. In contrast, the expression levels of these genes in the breast muscles of the TM group were increased or not affected. Moreover, TM chicks possessed an increased body weight (BW) and decreased cloacal temperature (TC) compared to controls on PD 37. In addition, TM led to increased BW and lower TC after both cold and heat stress. Conclusively, our findings suggest that TM has a significant effect on the oxidative function of thermally stressed broilers.

scholarly journals Review: Impacts of shade on cattle well-being in the beef supply chain

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily N Edwards-Callaway ◽  
M Caitlin Cramer ◽  
Caitlin N Cadaret ◽  
Elizabeth J Bigler ◽  
Terry E Engle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Stress Susceptibility ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Shade is a mechanism to reduce heat load providing cattle with an environment supportive of their welfare needs. Although heat stress has been extensively reviewed, researched, and addressed in dairy production systems, it has not been investigated in the same manner in the beef cattle supply chain. Like all animals, beef cattle are susceptible to heat stress if they are unable to dissipate heat during times of elevated ambient temperatures. There are many factors that impact heat stress susceptibility in beef cattle throughout the different supply chain sectors, many of which relate to the production system, i.e. availability of shade, microclimate of environment, and nutrition management. The results from studies evaluating the effects of shade on production and welfare are difficult to compare due to variation in structural design, construction materials used, height, shape, and area of shade provided. Additionally, depending on operation location, shade may or may not be beneficial during all times of the year, which can influence the decision to make shade a permanent part of management systems. Shade has been shown to lessen the physiologic response of cattle to heat stress. Shaded cattle exhibit lower respiration rates, body temperatures, and panting scores compared to un-shaded cattle in weather that increases the risk of heat stress. Results from studies investigating the provision of shade indicate that cattle seek shade in hot weather. The impact of shade on behavioral patterns is inconsistent in the current body of research, some studies indicating shade provision impacts behavior and other studies reporting no difference between shaded and un-shaded groups. Analysis of performance and carcass characteristics across feedlot studies demonstrated that shaded cattle had increased ADG, improved feed efficiency, HCW, and dressing percentage when compared to cattle without shade. Despite the documented benefits of shade, current industry statistics, although severely limited in scope, indicate low shade implementation rates in feedlots and data in other supply chain sectors do not exist. Industry guidelines and third party on-farm certification programs articulate the critical need for protection from extreme weather but are not consistent in providing specific recommendations and requirements. Future efforts should include: updated economic analyses of cost versus benefit of shade implementation, exploration of producer perspectives and needs relative to shade, consideration of shade impacts in the cow-calf and slaughter plant segments of the supply chain, and integration of indicators of affective (mental) state and preference in research studies to enhance the holistic assessment of cattle welfare.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Three Formulations of Essential Oils in Broiler Chickens under Cyclic Heat Stress

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1084
Author(s):  
Jared Ruff ◽  
Guillermo Tellez ◽  
Aaron J. Forga ◽  
Roberto Señas-Cuesta ◽  
Christine N. Vuong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Essential Oils ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Bone Mineralization ◽  
Body Core Temperature ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Group 4 ◽  
Body Core ◽  
Cyclic Heat ◽  
Group 2

The objective of the present research was to assess the dietary supplementation of three formulations of essential oils (EO) in chickens under heat stress (HS). Day-of-hatch Cobb 500 chicks (n = 500) were randomly distributed into four groups: 1. HS control + control diets; 2. HS + control diets supplemented with 37 ppm EO of Lippia origanoides (LO); 3. HS + control diets supplemented with 45 ppm LO + 45 ppm EO of Rosmarinus officinalis (RO) + 300 ppm red beetroot; 4. HS + 45 ppm LO + 45 ppm RO + 300 ppm natural betaine. Chickens that received the EO showed significant (p < 0.05) improvement on BW, BWG, FI, and FCR compared to control HS chickens. Average body core temperature in group 3 and group 4 was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced compared with the HS control group and group 2. Experimental groups showed a significant reduction in FITC-d at 42 days, a significant increase in SOD at both days but a significant reduction of IFN-γ and IgA compared with HS control (p < 0.05). Bone mineralization was significantly improved by EO treatments (p < 0.05). Together these data suggest that supplemental dietary EO may reduce the harmful effects of HS.

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