Hot-headed peckers: thermographic changes during aggression among juvenile pheasants ( Phasianus colchicus )

In group-living vertebrates, dominance status often covaries with physiological measurements (e.g. glucocorticoid levels), but it is unclear how dominance is linked to dynamic changes in physiological state over a shorter, behavioural timescale. In this observational study, we recorded spontaneous aggression among captive juvenile pheasants ( Phasianus colchicus ) alongside infrared thermographic measurements of their external temperature, a non-invasive technique previously used to examine stress responses in non-social contexts, where peripheral blood is redirected towards the body core. We found low but highly significant repeatability in maximum head temperature, suggesting individually consistent thermal profiles, and some indication of lower head temperatures in more active behavioural states (e.g. walking compared to resting). These individual differences were partly associated with sex, females being cooler on average than males, but unrelated to body size. During pairwise aggressive encounters, we observed a non-monotonic temperature change, with head temperature dropping rapidly immediately prior to an attack and increasing rapidly afterwards, before returning to baseline levels. This nonlinear pattern was similar for birds in aggressor and recipient roles, but aggressors were slightly hotter on average. Our findings show that aggressive interactions induce rapid temperature changes in dominants and subordinates alike, and highlight infrared thermography as a promising tool for investigating the physiological basis of pecking orders in galliforms. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies’.

Development and Application of a Thermal Comfort Model in Buildings

Buildings are one of the systems that more energy consumed in the European Union. The study of the thermal envelope is interesting in order to reduce the energy losses. For that, a mathematical model able to predict the system response to external temperature variations is developed. With the mathematical model, different thermal envelope elements of a building based on the lag and the cushioning of the resultant wave can be characterized. In addition, it is important to analyse where the insulation is placed, because when the insulation is outside and the thermal mass is inside, the system produces a response with smooth temperature variations than when the insulation is inside. Therefore, placing the outside insulation generates more steady indoor temperatures, increasing the thermal comfort inside the building. To complete the mathematical model that allows predicting the temperature inside a building taking into account the solar inputs and the thermal inertia of the building. This study will help to establish the optimum design parameters in order to build sustainable and comfortable buildings. Furthermore, it will take one step forward in the construction of nearly Zero-Energy Buildings.

Amplification and Attenuation of Acoustic Phonons in Graphenelike Silicene

Because of unique physical properties, graphene, a 2D honeycomb arrangement of carbon atoms, has attracted tremendous attention. Silicene, the graphene equivalent for silicon, could follow this trend, opening new perspectives for applications, especially due to its compatibility with Si-based electronics. Silicene has been theoretically predicted as a buckled honeycomb arrangement of Si atoms and having an electronic dispersion resembling that of relativistic Dirac fermions. We calculate theoretically in this article, the amplification and attenuation of acoustic phonons due to an external temperature gradient in Silicene at temperature ࢀ= 77K in the hypersound regime. The dependence of normalized amplification or attenuation on the frequency wasnumerically evaluated. It is observed from our calculations that when the temperature gradient is zero, absorption of acoustic phonons occurs and when temperature gradient is greater than zero, absorption switches to amplification of acoustic phonons. Keywords: Silicene, Amplification, Attenuation, Acoustic phonons, Temperature gradient.

Internal Abiotic Components That Influence the Development of Biocorrosion on ETICS Plasters

Basic factors affecting the appearance of algae discoloration on the surface of the system are recognized effects of the external environment (external temperature and humidity, short- and long-term radiation, precipitation, wind and air pollution). Internal factors are often neglected by international technical documents on the evaluation of the effectiveness of resistance to biocorrosion of the External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS). Based on literature data and in situ research, the basic internal factors responsible for the occurrence or intensification of the biocorrosion process were systematized. Internal factors were divided into two groups: (1) plaster properties and (2) solutions for material layouts and building details. The results of research on these factors indicate that they directly or indirectly influence the humidity condition of plaster and biocorrosion development is a consequence of this state. The opposite issue, the influence of biocorrosion on plaster properties, is analyzed only in patrial way.

The nonstationary thermoelectric elasticity problem for a long piezoceramic cylinder

А new closed-loop solution for the coupled nonstationary problem of thermoelectric elasticity is designed for a long piezoceramic radially polarized cylinder. The case of the nonstationary load acting on its inner cylindrical surface is considered as a function of temperature change at a given law of the convection heat exchange on the outer face wall (boundary conditions of heat conductivity of the 1st and 3rd types). Electrodynamic cylinder surfaces are connected to a measuring device with a high input resistance (electric idling). We investigate the problem where the rate of the temperature load changes does not affect the inertial characteristics of the elastic system. It makes it possible to expand the initial linear computational relations with the equilibrium, electrostatics and heat conductivity equations with respect to the radial component of the displacement vector, electric potential as well as the function of temperature field changes. Hyperbolic LS-theory of the thermal conductivity is used in the computations. The problem is solved with a generalized method of biorthogonal finite integral transformation based on a multicomponent ratio of eigen functions of two homogeneous boundary value problems. The structural algorithm of this approach allows identifying a conjugated operator, without which it is impossible to solve non-self-conjugated linear problems in mathematical physics. The resulted computational relations make it possible to determine the stress-strain state, temperature and electric fields induced in the piezoceramic element under an arbitrary external temperature effect. By connecting the electroelastic system to the measuring tool, we can find voltage. Firstly, the analysis of the numerical results allows identifying the rate of the temperature load changes, at which it is necessary to use the hyperbolic theory of thermal conductivity. Secondly, it allows determining the physical characteristics of the piezoceramic material for the case when the rate of changing the body volume leads to a redistribution of the temperature field. The developed computational algorithm can be used to design non-resonant piezoelectric temperature sensors.

Experimental Investigation on Thermal Comfort of COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Sampling Staff in Hot and Humid Environment: A Pilot Study of University Students

The current situation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention and control coupled with the need to work in high-temperature harsh environments makes it necessary to ensure the health and efficiency of medical staff. An experimental outdoor work tent was set up and university students were used to study the thermal comfort of personnel wearing protective clothing in hot and humid environments. The experiment was carried out simultaneously through subjective and objective field tests and physiological tests of personnel. The wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index was investigated to divide the outdoor thermal environment into four working conditions: 21–23 °C, 23–25 °C, 25–27 °C and 27–29 °C. Under the different thermal environment intensities, the variations of physiological parameters of test personnel were monitored. The results showed that when WBGT was increased to 27–29 °C, 100% of the participants expected the external temperature to become cooler and the humidity to decrease after one hour. When the temperature was close to 30 °C and the relative humidity was close to 60%, it was necessary to take cooling measures to reduce the thermal stress of the participants. Moreover, relationships between subjective feelings and physiological parameters of the nucleic acid sampling personnel were obtained. Results also found that the forehead, chest and back were the highest skin temperature parts, so it is most effective to give priority to improving the thermal comfort of these three locations. As an early attempt to conduct the real outdoor experimental study on the thermal comfort of COVID-19 nucleic acid sampling staff, this study provided a theoretical basis for follow-up research to develop cooling strategies for protective clothing in hot and humid outdoor environments.

A Temperature Control Method for Microaccelerometer Chips Based on Genetic Algorithm and Fuzzy PID Control

External temperature changes can detrimentally affect the properties of a microaccelerometer, especially for high-precision accelerometers. Temperature control is the fundamental method to reduce the thermal effect on microaccelerometer chips, although high-performance control has remained elusive using the conventional proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control method. This paper proposes a modified approach based on a genetic algorithm and fuzzy PID, which yields a profound improvement compared with the typical PID method. A sandwiched microaccelerometer chip with a measurement resistor and a heating resistor on the substrate serves as the hardware object, and the transfer function is identified by a self-built measurement system. The initial parameters of the modified PID are obtained through the genetic algorithm, whereas a fuzzy strategy is implemented to enable real-time adjustment. According to the simulation results, the proposed temperature control method has the advantages of a fast response, short settling time, small overshoot, small steady-state error, and strong robustness. It outperforms the normal PID method and previously reported counterparts. This design method as well as the approach can be of practical use and applied to chip-level package structures.

In Situ-Forming Cellulose/Albumin-Based Injectable Hydrogels for Localized Antitumor Therapy

Injectable hydrogels, which are formed in situ by changing the external stimuli, have the unique characteristics of easy handling and minimal invasiveness, thus providing the advantage of bypass surgical operation and improving patient compliance. Using external temperature stimuli to realize the sol-to-gel transition when preparing injectable hydrogel is essential since the temperature is stable in vivo and controllable during ex vivo, although the hydrogels obtained possibly have low mechanical strength and stability. In this work, we designed an in situ fast-forming injectable cellulose/albumin-based hydrogel (HPC-g-AA/BSA hydrogels) that responded to body temperature and which was a well-stabilized hydrogen-bonding network, effectively solving the problem of poor mechanical properties. The application of localized delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs of HPC-g-AA/BSA hydrogels was evaluated. In vitro and in vivo results show that HPC-g-AA/BSA hydrogels exhibited higher antitumor efficacy of reducing tumor size and seem ideal for localized antitumor therapy.

Determination of the Temperature Graph of Heat Supply With Minimal Heat Losses

Heat losses by pipelines of heat supply systems are calculated for the average temperature of the heat carrier per year or for the heating period for the conditions of a qualitative method of regulating the heat load. The presence of cuts of the temperature graph, the use of other methods of central regulation, are not reflected in the regulatory documents and require special research, which determines the relevance of the work. Heat losses through thermal insulation structures of pipelines have been determined for various graphs of central regulation. Heat losses were determined for each external temperature, taking into account its duration. It is shown that the average linear annual heat losses for most of the graphs correspond to a lower external temperature than the average external temperature for the heating period. Therefore, the calculation must be performed for a higher temperature of the heat carrier than is accepted according to regulatory documents.