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Timing is an important interactional resource for coordinating mobile and digital interactions, and for signalling interest and involvement in an exchange. This article breaks new ground in exploring conversational rhythm as a 'disconnective' resource through which people suspend, or withdraw from, interactions as a way of asserting agency and autonomy. Focusing on mobile-messaging apps such as WhatsApp, it develops an innovative 'day-in-the-life' methodological approach for exploring how individuals manage multiple online and offline encounters through combining interviews, time-use diaries and messaging data. Interactional analysis of selected extracts involving British women in their 40s and 50s points to an emerging interactive practice of 'suspended alignment' which enables connection-building through alignment while simultaneously keeping interlocutors at a desired distance. Suspended alignment is an increasingly accepted pragmatic norm through which adults maintain key relationships while managing the multiple demands on their time. • Day-in-the-life approach enables insights into how people manage parallel online/offline encounters. • Desire to connect through mobile messaging while maintaining autonomy prompts practice of suspended alignment. • Suspended alignment involves harnessing conversational rhythm to suspend mobile conversations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep and feeding patterns lack strong daily rhythms during early life. As diurnal animals mature, feeding is consolidated to the day and sleep to the night. In Drosophila, circadian sleep patterns are initiated with formation of a circuit connecting the central clock to arousal output neurons; emergence of circadian sleep also enables long-term memory (LTM). However, the cues that trigger the development of this clock-arousal circuit are unknown. Here, we identify a role for nutritional status in driving sleep-wake rhythm development in Drosophila larvae. We find that in the 2nd instar larval period (L2), sleep and feeding are spread across the day; these behaviors become organized into daily patterns by the 3rd instar larval stage (L3). Forcing mature (L3) animals to adopt immature (L2) feeding strategies disrupts sleep-wake rhythms and the ability to exhibit LTM. In addition, the development of the clock (DN1a)-arousal (Dh44) circuit itself is influenced by the larval nutritional environment. Finally, we demonstrate that larval arousal Dh44 neurons act through glucose metabolic genes to drive onset of daily sleep-wake rhythms. Together, our data suggest that changes to energetic demands in developing organisms trigger the formation of sleep-circadian circuits and behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most organisms possess three biological oscillators, circadian clock, cell cycle, and redox rhythm, which are autonomous but interact each other. However, whether their interactions and autonomy are beneficial for organisms remains unclear. Here, we modeled a coupled oscillator system where each oscillator affected the phase of the other oscillators. We found that multiple types of coupling prevent a high H2O2 level in cells at M phase. Consequently, we hypothesized a high H2O2 sensitivity at the M phase and found that moderate coupling reduced cell damage due to oxidative stress by generating appropriate phase relationships between three rhythms, whereas strong coupling resulted in an elevated cell damage by increasing the average H2O2 level and disrupted the cell cycle. Furthermore, the multicellularity model revealed that phase variations among cells confer flexibility in synchronization with environments at the expense of adaptability to the optimal environment. Thus, both autonomy and synchrony among the oscillators are important for coordinating their phase relationships to minimize oxidative stress, and couplings balance them depending on environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian rhythms are a ubiquitous feature throughout the organism. Accumulating evidence suggests that the dysfunction of circadian rhythms due to genetic mutations or environmental factors contributes to the genesis and progress of multiple diseases. The physiological homeostasis of the ocular surface, like any other tissue or organ, is also orchestrated by circadian rhythms. In this review, we summarize the molecular clocks and the expression of clock-controlled genes in the mammalian ocular surface. Based on the circadian expression of these genes, we conclude the diurnal oscillations of cellular biological activities in the mammalian ocular surface. Moreover, we evaluate the factors entraining circadian oscillators in the ocular surface. Finally, we further discuss the latest development of the close correlation between circadian rhythms and ocular health. Briefly, this review aimed to synthesize the previous studies to aid in understanding the importance of circadian rhythms in the ocular surface and the possible opportunities for circadian rhythm-based interventional strategies to restore the homeostasis of the ocular surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in text-to-speech (TTS) models have aimed to streamline the two-stage process into a single-stage training approach. However, many single-stage models still lag behind in audio quality, particularly when handling Kurdish text and speech. There is a critical need to enhance text-to-speech conversion for the Kurdish language, particularly for the Sorani dialect, which has been relatively neglected and is underrepresented in recent text-to-speech advancements. This study introduces an end-to-end TTS model for efficiently generating high-quality Kurdish audio. The proposed method leverages a variational autoencoder (VAE) that is pre-trained for audio waveform reconstruction and is augmented by adversarial training. This involves aligning the prior distribution established by the pre-trained encoder with the posterior distribution of the text encoder within latent variables. Additionally, a stochastic duration predictor is incorporated to imbue synthesized Kurdish speech with diverse rhythms. By aligning latent distributions and integrating the stochastic duration predictor, the proposed method facilitates the real-time generation of natural Kurdish speech audio, offering flexibility in pitches and rhythms. Empirical evaluation via the mean opinion score (MOS) on a custom dataset confirms the superior performance of our approach (MOS of 3.94) compared with that of a one-stage system and other two-staged systems as assessed through a subjective human evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undertaking certain activities at the time of day that maximises fitness is assumed to explain the evolution of circadian clocks. Organisms often use daily environmental cues such as light and food availability to set the timing of their clocks. These cues may be the environmental rhythms that ultimately determine fitness, act as proxies for the timing of less tractable ultimate drivers, or are used simply to maintain internal synchrony. While many pathogens/parasites undertake rhythmic activities, both the proximate and ultimate drivers of their rhythms are poorly understood. Explaining the roles of rhythms in infections offers avenues for novel interventions to interfere with parasite fitness and reduce the severity and spread of disease. Here, we perturb several rhythms in the hosts of malaria parasites to investigate why parasites align their rhythmic replication to the host's feeding‐fasting rhythm. We manipulated host rhythms governed by light, food or both, and assessed the fitness implications for parasites, and the consequences for hosts, to test which host rhythms represent ultimate drivers of the parasite's rhythm. We found that alignment with the host's light‐driven rhythms did not affect parasite fitness metrics. In contrast, aligning with the timing of feeding‐fasting rhythms may be beneficial for the parasite, but only when the host possess a functional canonical circadian clock. Because parasites in clock‐disrupted hosts align with the host's feeding‐fasting rhythms and yet derive no apparent benefit, our results suggest cue(s) from host food act as a proxy rather than being a key selective driver of the parasite's rhythm. Alternatively, parasite rhythmicity may only be beneficial because it promotes synchrony between parasite cells and/or allows parasites to align to the biting rhythms of vectors. Our results also suggest that interventions can disrupt parasite rhythms by targeting the proxies or the selective factors driving them without impacting host health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For chorusing males, optimally timing their calls relative to nearby rivals' calls and fluctuations in background chorus noise is crucial for reproductive success. A caller's acoustic environment will vary by chorus density and the properties of his chorus-mates' calls and will fluctuate unpredictably due to chorusing dynamics emerging among his chorus-mates. Thus, callers must continuously monitor moment-to-moment fluctuations in the acoustic scene they perceive at the chorus for advantageous times to call. In live experimental choruses, we investigated the factors influencing túngara frog call-timing responses to chorus-mates' calls on an interaction-by-interaction basis, revealing that intrinsic and extrinsic factors influenced call-timing decisions. Callers were more likely to overlap calls from smaller chorus-mates and chorus-mates at intermediate distances, as well as calls containing lower frequencies and exhibiting lower final amplitude minima. Consequently, variation among males in call properties led to variation in levels of call-interference received when calling in the same social environment. Additionally, callers were more likely to overlap chorus-mates' calls after experiencing extended periods of inhibition and were less likely to overlap synchronized chorus-mates' calls relative to single calls. In chorusing species, female choice is influenced by inter-caller dynamics, selecting for male call-timing strategies which, in turn, constitute the selective environment further refining these same strategies. Thus, understanding the specific factors driving call-timing decisions is essential for understanding how sexual selection operates in chorusing taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants, like many other living organisms, have an internal timekeeper, the circadian clock, which allows them to anticipate photoperiod rhythms and environmental stimuli to optimally adjust plant growth, development, and fitness. These fine-tuned processes depend on the interaction between environmental signals and the internal interactive metabolic network regulated by the circadian clock. Although primary metabolites have received significant attention, the impact of the circadian clock on secondary metabolites remains less explored. Transcriptome analyses revealed that many genes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis exhibit diurnal expression patterns, potentially enhancing stress tolerance. Understanding the interaction mechanisms between the circadian clock and secondary metabolites, including plant defense mechanisms against stress, may facilitate the development of stress-resilient crops and enhance targeted management practices that integrate circadian agricultural strategies, particularly in the face of climate change. In this review, we will delve into the molecular mechanisms underlying circadian rhythms of phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and N-containing compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a common valvular heart disease worldwide, and current guidelines for TR treatment are relatively conservative, as well as with detrimental outcomes. Restoration of sinus rhythm was reported to improve the TR severity in those TR patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, relevant research was limited. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of restoration of sinus rhythm in TR patients with AF. Methods: In this study, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for study enrollment until July 2023. This study was designed under the guidance of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. These studies containing the patient's baseline characteristics, surgical procedure, and at least one of the clinical outcomes were included. The primary endpoint was TR grade during follow-up after restoration of sinus rhythm. Results: Out of 1074 records, 6 were enrolled. Restoration of sinus rhythm is associated with a reduction of TR severity (TR grade, odds ratio 0.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01 to 1.28, P = 0.08, I2 = 83%; TR area, mean difference (MD) -2.19 cm2, 95% CI: -4.17 to -0.21 cm2, P = 0.03, I2 = 96%). Additionally, remolding of right heart with a significant reduction of tricuspid valve annulus diameter (MD -0.36 cm, 95%CI: -0.47 to -0.26 cm, P < 0.00001, I2 = 29%) and right atrium volume index (MD -11.10 mL/m2, 95%CI: -16.81 to -5.39 mL/m2, P = 0.0001, I2 = 79%) was observed during follow-up. Conclusions: In conclusion, rhythm-control therapy could reduce TR severity in AF patients with TR and is associated with right heart remodeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhibitory neurons embedded within mammalian neural circuits shape breathing, walking, and other rhythmic motor behaviors. At the core of the neural circuit controlling breathing is the preBötzinger Complex (preBötC), where GABAergic (GAD1/2+) and glycinergic (GlyT2+) neurons are functionally and anatomically intercalated among glutamatergic Dbx1-derived (Dbx1+) neurons that generate rhythmic inspiratory drive. The roles of these preBötC inhibitory neurons in breathing remain unclear. We first characterized the spatial distribution of molecularly defined preBötC inhibitory subpopulations in male and female neonatal double reporter mice expressing either tdTomato or EGFP in GlyT2+, GAD1+, or GAD2+ neurons. We found that the majority of preBötC inhibitory neurons expressed both GlyT2 and GAD2 while a much smaller subpopulation also expressed GAD1. To determine the functional role of these subpopulations, we used holographic photostimulation, a patterned illumination technique, in rhythmically active medullary slices from neonatal Dbx1tdTomato;GlyT2EGFP and Dbx1tdTomato;GAD1EGFP double reporter mice of either sex. Stimulation of 4 or 8 preBötC GlyT2+ neurons during endogenous rhythm prolonged the interburst interval in a phase-dependent manner and increased the latency to burst initiation when bursts were evoked by stimulation of Dbx1+ neurons. In contrast, stimulation of 4 or 8 preBötC GAD1+ neurons did not affect interburst interval or latency to burst initiation. Instead, photoactivation of GAD1+ neurons during the inspiratory burst prolonged endogenous and evoked burst duration and decreased evoked burst amplitude. We conclude that GlyT2+/GAD2+ neurons modulate breathing rhythm by delaying burst initiation while a smaller GAD1+ subpopulation shapes inspiratory patterning by altering burst duration and amplitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for common characteristics between the musical abilities of humans and other animal species is still taking its first steps. One of the most promising aspects from a comparative point of view is the analysis of rhythmic components, which are crucial features of human communicative performance but also well-identifiable patterns in the vocal displays of other species. Therefore, the study of rhythm is becoming essential to understand the mechanisms of singing behavior and the evolution of human communication. Recent findings provided evidence that particular rhythmic structures occur in human music and some singing animal species, such as birds and rock hyraxes, but only 2 species of nonhuman primates have been investigated so far (Indri indri and Hylobates lar). Therefore, our study aims to consistently broaden the list of species studied regarding the presence of rhythmic categories. We investigated the temporal organization in the singing of 3 species of crested gibbons (Nomascus gabriellae, Nomascus leucogenys , and Nomascus siki) and found that the most prominent rhythmic category was isochrony. Moreover, we found slight variation in songs' tempo among species, with N. gabriellae and N. siki singing with a temporal pattern involving a gradually increasing tempo (a musical accelerando), and N. leucogenys with a more regular pattern. Here, we show how the prominence of a peak at the isochrony establishes itself as a shared characteristic in the small apes considered so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The effectiveness of a rhythm control strategy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF < 50%) in real-world practice remains uncertain. Our objective was to evaluate the real-world outcomes of a rhythm control strategy in patients with AF and reduced LVEF, focusing on changes in LV systolic function and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. Methods: The study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 80 patients with concurrent AF and reduced LVEF who underwent rhythm control therapy between March 2015 and December 2021. Results: The patients had an average age of 63.6 years and an initial LVEF of 34.3%. Sinus rhythm was restored using anti-arrhythmic drugs (38, 47.5%) or electrical cardioversion (42, 52.5%). Over a follow-up period of 53.0 months, AF recurred in 65% of patients, with 57.7% undergoing catheter ablation. Significant improvements were noted in LVEF (from 34.3% to 55.1%, p < 0.001) and BNP levels (from 752 pg/mL to 72 pg/mL, p < 0.001) at the last follow-up. Nearly all patients (97.5%) continued with the rhythm control strategy during the follow-up period. Conclusions: In real-world settings, a rhythm control strategy proves to be feasible and effective for improving LVEF and reducing BNP levels in AF patients with reduced LVEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Dār is a space that offers various courses and programmes that teach the Quran, the Hadith and the different branches of Islamic knowledge that derive from, and are in conversation with, both. The question this article intends to explore is: what is the Dār? It does so by looking at the temporal and geographic context the Dār exists in, and how it is situated historically, as well as its everyday rhythms. The vignettes presented throughout the article provide insight into the ways in which a space of knowledge can exist, teasing the bounds of structure, order and rigidity, allowing us to explore potential imaginaries to the ways we have experienced, and the ways we imagine, Islamic spaces of knowledge to be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), one of the composers who reflected and created the spirit of the 'Romantic Period,' characterized by increased diversity in style, form, and expression, and the expansion of piano literature, crafted the musical texture in his pieces with a highly personal style, incorporating his unique harmony, flexible formal design, original use of expressive tools, and a free performance technique that didn't adhere to rigid patterns in rhythm and tempo. Chopin's distinctive style is particularly visible in the forms he chose for piano music. The flexible forms of his time allowed the composer to create a characteristic style by freely utilizing musical materials. Especially, forms like nocturnes, fantaisies-impromptus, and waltzes, which leave an impression of improvisation, small-scale, and rule-free structures, provided a clear space for the composer's expressive tools. Indeed, it is possible to identify Chopin's musical language, especially through his small-scale pieces. The purpose of this research is to analyze the melody construction, harmony, and rhythms of Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), focusing on selected pieces to provide an interpretation of his musical language based on similarities found in these pieces. Samples from Chopin's literature, including Op. 27 No. 1, Op. 9 No. 2 and No. 20 Nocturnes, Op. 64 No. 2 Waltz, and Op. 66 Fantaisie-Impromptu, were taken for the study. The research employed a case study design within qualitative research methods, and the obtained data was described descriptively. In conclusion, it was found that Chopin's harmony encompasses a wide range from simple chord progressions to complex chords. He created simple yet bel canto melodies inspired by the 'Italian Opera' embellishments and used rhythms that prioritize the clarity of melody rather than a polyrhythmic approach. This study is believed to contribute to listening and playing practices due to its exploration of the musical materials in the Turkish literature related to Chopin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the early intersections between melody, rhythm and harmony, up to the recent emergence of new musical styles. Psychological studies of rhythm have shown that it has played an important role in social and relational experience. At the same time, it creates a sense of bonding between people and can alter the moods of several people at once and lead them in a unified direction. Melody, rhythm and tempo tell the listener that they are in a safe and good place, expressing a psychological need for a sense of security, providing a sense of life's pulse, similarly to the heartbeat. Unfortunately, modern human life lacks the life-like rhythm that God provided for us in creation. Ritual is our identity, our memory, a continuation of the old, an exit from the individual sphere and an entry into a communal one, into a new role, suggesting a transition, accompanied by sounds, rhythm, song, music and dance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iso‐ or diachronous character of a geologic unit is scale‐dependent, especially for time‐specific facies. The Usseln Limestone is a Late Devonian time‐specific facies from Germany, occurring immediately below the Lower Kellwasser black shale. Here, we investigate whether cm‐scale rhythmical bands within the Usseln Limestone are correlatable across its depositional basin. Its facies were studied at three locations ca. 50 km apart, representing different depositional settings. Its cm‐scale alternations in lithological facies and elemental content (μXRF) form an excellent target for correlations on millennial timescales. Correlation attempts failed to converge to a solution at the cm‐scale of individual rhythmites. Dynamic Time Warping, however, provided convincing correlations at the dm‐scale, supporting its use as a high‐resolution correlation tool. The Usseln Limestone base may be diachronous, but the top is likely isochronous. This finding is in agreement with sudden basin‐wide black shale deposition at the onset of the Kellwasser Crisis. Plain Language Summary: A time‐specific facies is a rock unit that can be recognized in different places and always represents the same specific moment in Earth history. Here, we study the Usseln Limestone from the Rhenish Massif in Germany. This time‐specific facies is intruiging, as it is characterized by internal cm‐ and dm‐scale rhythmites. We sampled the Usseln Limestone at three different locations and assessed how consistently individual rhythmites occur across the basin, with approximately 50 km between sites. To do this, we first obtained mm‐resolution geochemical elemental data from all samples. Subsequently, the mathemathical method "Dynamic Time Warping" was applied to attempt correlation. At the cm‐level, our correlation attempt failed. Depositional differences between the three sites were too substantial for precise correlations at the scale of individual rhythmites. However, we successfully made stratigraphic correlations at the decimeter‐scale of the rhythmite bundles. These correlations suggest that while the base of the Usseln Limestone might have formed at different times in different places, the top of this time‐specific facies likely is synchronous throughout the basin. This is important, because the top of the Usseln Limestone aligns with the sudden appearance of a widespread black shale layer, marking the start of a major biotic crisis in Earth history. Key Points: This case study illustrates how the isochronony of a time‐specific facies breaks down at smaller thickness scalesDynamic Time Warping applied to an ensemble of proxies is demonstrated to be a useful high‐resolution correlation toolThe inferred isochronous top of the Usseln Limestone is in line with a rapid onset of Lower Kellwasser black shale deposition [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musical compositions are distinguished by their unique rhythmic patterns, determined by subtle differences in how regular beats are subdivided. Precise perception of these subdivisions is essential for discerning nuances in rhythmic patterns. While musical rhythm typically comprises sound elements with a variety of timbres or spectral cues, the impact of such spectral variations on the perception of rhythmic patterns remains unclear. Here, we show that consistency in spectral cues affects perceptual accuracy in discriminating subdivided rhythmic patterns. We conducted online experiments using rhythmic sound sequences consisting of band-passed noise bursts to measure discrimination accuracy. Participants were asked to discriminate between a swing-like rhythm sequence, characterized by a 2:1 interval ratio, and its more or less exaggerated version. This task was also performed under two additional rhythm conditions: inversed-swing rhythm (1:2 ratio) and regular subdivision (1:1 ratio). The center frequency of the band noises was either held constant or alternated between two values. Our results revealed a significant decrease in discrimination accuracy when the center frequency was alternated, irrespective of the rhythm ratio condition. This suggests that rhythm perception is shaped by temporal structure and affected by spectral properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual variations in animal's physiological functions are an essential strategy to deal with seasonal challenges which also vary according to the time of year. Information regarding annual adaptations in the immune-competence to cope with seasonal stressors in reptiles is scarce. The present research plan was designed to analyze the presence of circannual immune rhythms in defense responses of the leucocytes in an ophidian, Natrix piscator. Peripheral blood leucocytes were obtained, counted, and superoxide anion production, neutrophil phagocytosis, and nitrite release were tested to assess the innate immune functions. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were separated by centrifugation (utilizing density gradient) and the cell proliferation was measured. The Cosinor rhythmometry disclosed the presence of significant annual rhythms in the number of leucocytes, superoxide anion production, nitric oxide production, and proliferation of stimulated lymphocytes. The authors found that respiratory burst activity and proliferative responses of lymphocytes were crucial immune responses that showed the annual rhythm. It was summarized that the immune function of the N. piscator is a labile attribute that makes the animal competent to cope with the seasonal stressor by adjustment in the potency of response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of immersive media, particularly Virtual Reality (VR), on empathic responses, in comparison to traditional television (TV), using electroencephalography (EEG). We employed mu rhythm suppression as a measurable neural marker to gauge empathic engagement, as its increase generally signifies heightened empathic responses. Our findings exhibit a greater mu rhythm suppression in VR conditions compared to TV conditions, suggesting a potential enhancement in empathic responses with VR. Furthermore, our results revealed that the strength of empathic responses was not confined to specific actions depicted in the video clips, underscoring the possibility of broader implications. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on the effects of different media environments on empathic engagement, particularly emphasizing the unique role of immersive technologies such as VR. It invites further investigation into how such technologies can shape and potentially enhance the empathic experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses the relationship between stress, dysregulation of rhythms, and bipolar disorder. It highlights the importance of understanding how circadian rhythms regulate biology and how disruptions in these rhythms can lead to ineffective responses to environmental cues. The document also explores the concept of the "bipolar spectrum," which includes a range of conditions from sub-clinical symptoms to severe bipolar disorders. It suggests that changes in light patterns and social rhythms may contribute to the increase in bipolar disorders in modern society. The document concludes by emphasizing the need for further research in this field. [Extracted from the article]

The circadian clock enables anticipation of the day/night cycle in animals ranging from cnidarians to mammals. Circadian rhythms are generated through a transcription-translation feedback loop (TTFL or pacemaker) with CLOCK as a conserved positive factor in animals. However, CLOCK's functional evolutionary origin and mechanism of action in basal animals are unknown. In the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis, pacemaker gene transcript levels, including NvClk (the Clock ortholog), appear arrhythmic under constant darkness, questioning the role of NvCLK. Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9, we generated a NvClk allele mutant (NvClkΔ), revealing circadian behavior loss under constant dark (DD) or light (LL), while maintaining a 24 hr rhythm under light-dark condition (LD). Transcriptomics analysis revealed distinct rhythmic genes in wild-type (WT) polypsunder LD compared to DD conditions. In LD, NvClkΔ/Δ polyps exhibited comparable numbers of rhythmic genes, but were reduced in DD. Furthermore, under LD, the NvClkΔ/Δ polyps showed alterations in temporal pacemaker gene expression, impacting their potential interactions. Additionally, differential expression of non-rhythmic genes associated with cell division and neuronal differentiation was observed. These findings revealed that a light-responsive pathway can partially compensate for circadian clock disruption, and that the Clock gene has evolved in cnidarians to synchronize rhythmic physiology and behavior with the diel rhythm of the earth's biosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchronization is widespread in animals, and studies have often emphasized how this seemingly complex phenomenon can emerge from very simple rules. However, the amount of flexibility and control that animals might have over synchronization properties, such as the strength of coupling, remains underexplored. Here, we studied how pairs of marmoset monkeys coordinated vigilance while feeding. By modeling them as coupled oscillators, we noted that (1) individual marmosets do not show perfect periodicity in vigilance behaviors, (2) nevertheless, marmoset pairs started to take turns being vigilant over time, a case of anti-phase synchrony, (3) marmosets could couple flexibly; the coupling strength varied with every new joint feeding bout, and (4) marmosets could control the coupling strength; dyads showed increased coupling if they began in a more desynchronized state. Such flexibility and control over synchronization require more than simple interaction rules. Minimally, animals must estimate the current degree of asynchrony and adjust their behavior accordingly. Moreover, the fact that each marmoset is inherently non-periodic adds to the cognitive demand. Overall, our study provides a mathematical framework to investigate the cognitive demands involved in coordinating behaviors in animals, regardless of whether individual behaviors are rhythmic or not. Author summary: Research suggests that synchronized animal behaviors often emerge from simple interaction rules. Mathematical models have been instrumental in revealing these underlying rules. Here, we employed mathematical modeling to study how marmoset monkeys coordinate vigilance and feeding behaviors in a situation where doing both actions simultaneously is not possible. We found that pairs of marmosets progress to a state where they show opposite behaviors, i.e., when one individual is feeding, the other is vigilant, and vice-versa. In order to achieve such coordinated state, the individuals must influence each other's behaviors, i.e., couple. We found that marmosets can couple flexibly and that they couple more strongly if they are initially out-of-sync with their partner. Such ability to detect the current state of synchrony and adapt behavior accordingly is cognitively demanding. Our research thus demostrates that animals with more complex cognitive abilities can do much more than following simple interaction rules to synchronize with other individuals. Overall, our research (1) establishes marmosets as a strong candidate species for studying the cognitive aspects of social timing, (2) provides a novel mathematical framework that is tailored for studying synchronization in biological systems, and (3) underlines the implications of synchrony for marmosets and other animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most malaria (Plasmodium spp.) parasite species undergo asexual replication synchronously within the red blood cells of their vertebrate host. Rhythmicity in this intraerythrocytic developmental cycle (IDC) enables parasites to maximise exploitation of the host and align transmission activities with the time of day that mosquito vectors blood feed. The IDC is also responsible for the major pathologies associated with malaria, and plasticity in the parasite's rhythm can confer tolerance to antimalarial drugs. Both the severity of infection (virulence) and synchrony of the IDC vary across species and between genotypes of Plasmodium; however, this variation is poorly understood. The theory predicts that virulence and IDC synchrony are negatively correlated, and we tested this hypothesis using two closely related genotypes of the rodent malaria model Plasmodium chabaudi that differ markedly in virulence. We also test the predictions that, in response to perturbations to the timing (phase) of the IDC schedule relative to the phase of host rhythms (misalignment), the virulent parasite genotype recovers the correct phase relationship faster, incurs less fitness losses and so hosts benefit less from misalignment when infected with a virulent genotype. Our predictions are partially supported by results suggesting that the virulent parasite genotype is less synchronous in some circumstances and recovers faster from misalignment. While hosts were less anaemic when infected by misaligned parasites, the extent of this benefit did not depend on parasite virulence. Overall, our results suggest that interventions to perturb the alignment between the IDC schedule, and host rhythms and increase synchrony between parasites within each IDC, could alleviate disease symptoms. However, virulent parasites, which are better at withstanding conventional antimalarial treatment, would also be intrinsically better able to tolerate such interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review was aimed at collecting the knowledge on the pathophysiological and clinical aspects of endocrine rhythms and their implications in clinical practice, derived from the published literature and from some personal experiences on this topic. We chose to review, according to the PRISMA guidelines, the results of original and observational studies, reviews, meta-analyses and case reports published up to March 2024. Thus, after summarizing the general aspects of biological rhythms, we will describe the characteristics of several endocrine rhythms and the consequences of their disruption, paying particular attention to the implications in clinical practice. Rhythmic endocrine secretions, like other physiological rhythms, are genetically determined and regulated by a central hypothalamic CLOCK located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which links the timing of the rhythms to independent clocks, in a hierarchical organization for the regulation of physiology and behavior. However, some environmental factors, such as daily cycles of light/darkness, sleep/wake, and timing of food intake, may influence the rhythm characteristics. Endocrine rhythms are involved in important physiological processes and their disruption may cause several disorders and also cancer. Thus, it is very important to prevent disruptions of endocrine rhythms and to restore a previously altered rhythm by an early corrective chronotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many self-motivated and goal-directed behaviours display highly flexible, approximately 4 hour ultradian (shorter than a day) oscillations. Despite lacking direct correspondence to physical cycles in the environment, these ultradian rhythms may be involved in optimizing functional interactions with the environment and reflect intrinsic neural dynamics. Current evidence supports a role of mesostriatal dopamine (DA) in the expression and propagation of ultradian rhythmicity, however, the biochemical processes underpinning these oscillations remain to be identified. Here, we use a mathematical model to investigate D2 autoreceptor-dependent DA self-regulation as the source of ultradian behavioural rhythms. DA concentration at the midbrain-striatal synapses is governed through a dual-negative feedback-loop structure, which naturally gives rise to rhythmicity. This model shows the propensity of striatal DA to produce an ultradian oscillation characterized by a flexible period that is highly sensitive to parameter variations. Circadian (approximately 24 hour) regulation consolidates the ultradian oscillations and alters their response to the phase-dependent, rapid-resetting effect of a transient excitatory stimulus. Within a circadian framework, the ultradian rhythm orchestrates behavioural activity and enhances responsiveness to an external stimulus. This suggests a role for the circadian-ultradian timekeeping hierarchy in governing organized behaviour and shaping daily experience through coordinating the motivation to engage in recurring, albeit not highly predictable events, such as social interactions. Author summary: Biological rhythms allow animals to carry out behaviours at a suitable time, but ultradian rhythms with a period shorter than a day do not match the period of any cycles in the physical environment. They remain mysterious in both their biochemical mechanisms and their functional significance. Previous studies have demonstrated a link between striatal dopamine (DA) and ultradian behavioural rhythms. Based on mechano-biological findings of DA regulatory processes, we proposed a model where DA self-feedback through D2 autoreceptors generates ultradian oscillations. Using simulations, we were able to reproduce ultradian DA rhythms that resemble behavioural rhythms. We further explored how these rhythms respond to circadian regulation and external stimuli, the two major signals of behavioural relevance. The results show that the presence of ultradian rhythms within a functional circadian system offers organized daily behaviours, with increased flexibility and heightened responsiveness to significantly arousing experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether pulse-wave analysis (PWA) performed by trained evaluators facilitates detection of nonsinus rhythm. ANIMALS Same-day, high-definition oscillometry pulse-wave data and ECG results of 155 animals (144 dogs and 11 cats) were analyzed. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 18 participants from various backgrounds, all of whom received PWA training. The ability to distinguish between sinus and nonsinus rhythms was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The pulse-wave datasets were divided into 5 ECG categories. Agreement between ECG diagnoses and PWA-based arrhythmia detection was evaluated using Cohen κ values, and the correlation between the academic year of veterinary students and their κ values was assessed. RESULTS All cardiology researchers demonstrated satisfactory accuracy in distinguishing pathological rhythms using PWA (area under the curve, 0.704 to 0.761), with the highest accuracy in detecting atrial fibrillation (area under the curve, 0.811 to 0.845). Fair agreement with ECG categorization was achieved by all 3 cardiology researchers, 2 of 5 general practitioners, and 3 of 10 veterinary undergraduates. The veterinary undergraduates’ years of study were correlated with their diagnostic performance (Spearman ρ = 0.658; P = .019). CLINICAL RELEVANCE PWA during routine noninvasive blood pressure measurement showed significant potential for the detection of pathological arrhythmias, notably atrial fibrillation. This approach yielded improved effectiveness when it was used by veterinarians with cardiology experience. Thus, introducing hands-on training courses, particularly those focused on cardiology and interactive workshops, may enable frontline veterinarians to promptly identify arrhythmias using PWA, facilitating timely ECG examinations or referrals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An elderly gentleman presenting late with inferior wall myocardial infarction and complete heart block underwent revascularization of an occluded proximal right coronary artery more than 4 days after the onset of symptoms and recovered sinus rhythm within 48 h of the procedure. There are no clear guidelines for time to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in late‐presenting myocardial infarction with complete atrioventricular blocks (CAVB), and studies looking at outcomes of primary PCI in this situation appear to be scarce. The case presented here is a good example of the relevance of late PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most colony-breeding species, biparental care during both egg incubation and chick-rearing is inevitable for successful reproduction, requiring parents to coordinate their nest attendance and foraging time. The extent to which the rhythm of nest attendance is adjusted to temporal and spatial variation in food availability is poorly understood. Here, we investigate whether the rhythm of nest attendance interacts with the spatial and temporal availability of foraging habitats in Eurasian spoonbills Platalea leucorodia breeding on Schiermonnikoog, a Dutch Wadden Sea barrier island. Spoonbills are tactile foragers that forage during both day and night in habitats of varying salinity. GPS-tracking combined with acceleration-based behavioral classification of 9 female and 13 male adult spoonbills between 2013 and 2019 revealed that, despite nearby foraging opportunities following a tidal rhythm, nest attendance followed a sex-specific diel rhythm. During incubation and chick-rearing, females attended the nest at night and foraged during the day, while males showed the reverse rhythm. Females made more and shorter foraging trips to, almost exclusively, nearby marine habitats, whereas the larger males often made long trips to forage in more distant freshwater habitats. Before and after breeding, females as well as males foraged primarily at night, suggesting that this is the preferred period of foraging for both sexes. Nevertheless, foraging habitat use remained sex-specific, being most likely explained by size-dependent foraging techniques. To conclude, the sex-specific rhythm of nest attendance is not shaped by the spatial and temporal availability of foraging habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locomotion allows us to move and interact with our surroundings. Spinal networks that control locomotion produce rhythm and left–right and flexor–extensor coordination. Several glutamatergic populations, Shox2 non-V2a, Hb9-derived interneurons, and, recently, spinocerebellar neurons have been proposed to be involved in the mouse rhythm generating networks. These cells make up only a smaller fraction of the excitatory cells in the ventral spinal cord. Here, we set out to identify additional populations of excitatory spinal neurons that may be involved in rhythm generation or other functions in the locomotor network. We use RNA sequencing from glutamatergic, non-glutamatergic, and Shox2 cells in the neonatal mice from both sexes followed by differential gene expression analyses. These analyses identified transcription factors that are highly expressed by glutamatergic spinal neurons and differentially expressed between Shox2 neurons and glutamatergic neurons. From this latter category, we identified the Lhx9-derived neurons as having a restricted spinal expression pattern with no Shox2 neuron overlap. They are purely glutamatergic and ipsilaterally projecting. Ablation of the glutamatergic transmission or acute inactivation of the neuronal activity of Lhx9- derived neurons leads to a decrease in the frequency of locomotor-like activity without change in coordination pattern. Optogenetic activation of Lhx9-derived neurons promotes locomotor-like activity and modulates the frequency of the locomotor activity. Calcium activities of Lhx9-derived neurons show strong left–right out-of-phase rhythmicity during locomotor-like activity. Our study identifies a distinct population of spinal excitatory neurons that regulates the frequency of locomotor output with a suggested role in rhythm-generation in the mouse alongside other spinal populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study aimed to develop a deep learning-based edge AI model deployed on electrocardiograph (ECG) devices for the real-time detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) risk during sinus rhythm (SR) using standard 10 s, 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs). Methods: A novel approach was used to convert standard 12-lead ECGs into binary images for model input, and a lightweight convolutional neural network (CNN)-based model was trained using data collected by the Japan Agency for Medical and Research Development (AMED) between 2019 and 2022. Patients over 40 years old with digital, SR ECGs were retrospectively enrolled and divided into AF and non-AF groups. The data labeling was supervised by cardiologists. The dataset was randomly allocated into training, validation, and internal testing datasets. External testing was conducted on data collected from other hospitals. Results: The best-trained model achieved an AUC of 0.82 and 0.80, sensitivity of 79.5% and 72.3%, specificity of 77.8% and 77.7%, precision of 78.2% and 76.4%, and overall accuracy of 78.6% and 75.0% in the internal and external testing datasets, respectively. The deployed model and app package utilized 2.5 MB and 40 MB of the available ROM and RAM capacity on the edge ECG device, correspondingly. The processing time for AF risk detection was approximately 2 s. Conclusions: The model maintains comparable performance and improves its suitability for deployment on resource-constrained ECG devices, thereby expanding its potential impact to a wide range of healthcare settings. Its successful deployment enables real-time AF risk detection during SR, allowing for timely intervention to prevent AF-related serious consequences like stroke and premature death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluctuations in brain activity alter how we perceive our body and generate movements but have not been investigated in functional whole-body behaviors. During reactive balance, we recently showed that evoked brain activity is associated with the balance ability in young individuals. Furthermore, in PD, impaired whole-body motion perception in reactive balance is associated with impaired balance. Here, we investigated the brain activity during the whole-body motion perception in reactive balance in young adults (9 female, 10 male). We hypothesized that both ongoing and evoked cortical activity influences the efficiency of information processing for successful perception and movement during whole-body behaviors. We characterized two cortical signals using electroencephalography localized to the SMA: (1) the "N1," a perturbation-evoked potential that decreases in amplitude with expectancy and is larger in individuals with lower balance function, and (2) preperturbation ß power, a transient rhythm that favors maintenance of the current sensorimotor state and is inversely associated with tactile perception. In a two-alternative forced choice task, participants judged whether pairs of backward support surface perturbations during standing were in the "same" or "different" direction. As expected, lower whole-body perception was associated with lower balance ability. Within a perturbation pair, N1 attenuation was larger on correctly perceived trials and associated with better balance, but not perception. In contrast, preperturbation ß power was higher on incorrectly perceived trials and associated with poorer perception, but not balance. Together, ongoing and evoked cortical activity have unique roles in information processing that give rise to distinct associations with perceptual and balance ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen an increase in the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disorders in children, which are not always diagnosed in time. In order to verify the nature of arrhythmias in pediatrics as well as in therapy, an accessible and informative method of daily Holter ECG monitoring (DHECGM) is widely used. Aim of the study was to assess the practical value of DHECGM in the algorithm for diagnosing heart rhythm and conduction disorders in pediatric patients. Materials and methods: Analysis of DHECGM was performed in 48 children who were hospitalized in the pediatric department of the Specialized Pediatric Care Center (SPCC) of the Poltava Regional Clinical Hospital (PRCH) in 2022-2023. Research results. Sinus tachyarrhythmia or bradyarrhythmia, wandering atrial pacemaker was detected in half of the patients studied. Supraventricular and/or ventricular extrasystoles were detected in 87.5 % of children. Bi-, tri- and quadrigeminy were observed in 14 (27.1 %) of the patients. First or second degree sinoatrial block was observed in 25 % of patients. Atrioventricular block of 1st or 2nd degree (Mobitz type) with Wenkenbach-Samoilov periods was observed in 8 patients (16.6 %). Combined rhythm and conduction disturbances were observed in 82.3 % of the children studied. The article is illustrated by clinical cases of cardiac rhythm and conduction disorders in children of different ages. Conclusions: DHECGM has broad capabilities for diagnosing cardiac rhythm and conduction abnormalities, allowing early detection of arrhythmias in pediatric patients and providing personalized recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The disruption of social rhythms was found to be associated with depressive disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic; lower rates of these disorders were surprisingly found in old adults. The present study aims to verify the stability of social rhythms during lockdown in a sample of elderly people. Methods: Controlled cohort study (secondary analyses) of a previous randomized-controlled trial with the first evaluation in April 2019 (T0) and then 48 weeks later (T1) during the lockdown. The regulation of social and behavioral rhythms was measured through the Brief Social Rhythms Scale (BSRS); the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9) was adopted to detect relevant depressive symptoms. Results: 93 elderlies (73.36 ± 4.97 years old, 50.5% females) were evaluated at T0 and T1. Neither the total score of BSRS nor any of the 10 items showed a statistically significant difference comparing the two survey periods. The frequency of relevant depressive symptoms was 5.3% at T0 and 6.4% at T1 (OR = 0.8, CI95% 0.2–24). Conclusions: Among elderlies who did not show an increased risk of depression during the lockdown, social and behavioral rhythms remained exceptionally stable during the same period. Considering previous evidence about rhythms dysregulation preceding depression, their stability may be considered a factor of resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older adults who have undergone surgery for oral tumors are at increased risk of impaired masticatory rhythm. This study investigated the correlations between masticatory rhythm, objective masticatory performance, and subjective masticatory performance as well as factors related to masticatory rhythm. Methods: The participants were 44 adults (24 men, 20 women; age range 42~90 years old) who had undergone maxillectomy, mandibulectomy, or glossectomy and were rehabilitated with a maxillofacial prosthesis. The number of functional contact teeth pairs was confirmed by intraoral examination. Chewing rate, cycle duration, coefficient of variation (CV) for cycle duration (reflecting the stability of masticatory rhythm), and mixing ability were measured simultaneously using a mastication movement rhythm tracking device during gum chewing. Maximum occlusal force was measured using the dental prescale system. Patients' perception of chewing ability was rated using a questionnaire. Results: The Spearman's rank correlation test revealed that mixing ability, patient-rated masticatory scores, cycle duration, CV for cycle duration, and maximum occlusal force showed significant correlations with chewing rate. Multiple linear regression analysis identified mixing ability and the CV for cycle duration as significant predictors of masticatory rhythm. Conclusions: Factors associated with a faster chewing rate were higher mixing ability and masticatory scores, greater maximum occlusal force, shorter cycle duration, and smaller CV for cycle duration. Stable masticatory rhythm and mixing ability are significant predictors of chewing rate. Poor masticatory performance and unstable masticatory rhythm can result in slower chewing and thus a higher risk of inadequate dietary intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to eliminate the current deficiency in the use of music in the field of special education, to increase musical activities in special education, and to present an accreditation model proposal to increase the skills of institutions, educators, and students. The research was designed with a grounded theory study pattern, one of the qualitative research methods. Data for the research were collected examining the necessary documents, and through semi-structured interviews with experts in both the field of special education and music. As a result of the interviews, it was concluded that music was used as both a goal and a tool in the education of individuals receiving special education and that different skills were developed through rhythm, melody, and lyrics. It has been revealed that individuals' body coordination skills are improved through the rhythm in music, self-care skills are improved through melodies and lyrics, and behavioral disorders are corrected through rhythm, melodies, and lyrics. All these results led to the emergence of an accreditation model proposal to develop and rehabilitate individuals receiving special education through music. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature of semantic representation has long been a key question in linguistic research. The Embodied Cognition theory challenges the traditional view of language representation, stating that semantic information stems from the sensory-motor cortex, which is activated automatically during semantic processing. However, most of the evidence comes from monolingual studies; it remains unclear whether second-language (L2) comprehension involves different semantic representations or mirrors the pattern seen in first-language (L1) processing. Therefore, the present study investigated the role of the sensory-motor system in language processing via making Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings during the processing of L1 and L2 action verbs. The results showed that L1 (Chinese) action verbs generated higher mu-event-related desynchronization (ERD) than L1 abstract verbs in the early processing stage (250 ms after verb presentation), and the same phenomenon was also observed for L2 (English). The results also indicated that language modulated the processing of action verbs, with L1 action verbs eliciting stronger ERD than L2 action verbs. These results demonstrate that the sensory-motor cortex plays a crucial role in comprehending both L1 and L2 action verbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to the research of the isomorphic multidimensional cyclic structure and multidimensional phase structure of the cyclic random process (CRP) and to its formation method, which enables a rigorous formalization of intuitive ideas concerning cyclic stochastic motion. The fundamental properties of the cyclic random process and analytical dependencies between the multidimensional cyclic structure, multidimensional phase structure and rhythm structure of the CRP have been established. This work shows that the CRP is able to take into account the cyclicity of multidimensional distribution functions of cyclic signals as well as the variability in the rhythm of the investigated signals. A subclass of the CRP is the periodic random process, which allows for the use of classical processing methods of cyclic signals with a regular rhythm. Based on a series of experiments, significant advantages of the CRP as a mathematical model of electrocardiographic signals (ECG) compared to the periodic random process are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although visual input arrives continuously, sensory information is segmented into (quasi-)discrete events. Here, we investigated the neural correlates of spatiotemporal binding in humans with magnetoencephalography using two tasks where separate flashes were presented on each trial but were perceived, in a bistable way, as either a single or two separate events. The first task (two-flash fusion) involved judging one versus two flashes, whereas the second task (apparent motion: AM) involved judging coherent motion versus two stationary flashes. Results indicate two different functional networks underlying two unique aspects of temporal binding. In two-flash fusion trials, involving an integration window of ∼50 msec, evoked responses differed as a function of perceptual interpretation by ∼25 msec after stimuli offset. Multivariate decoding of subjective perception based on prestimulus oscillatory phase was significant for alpha-band activity in the right medial temporal (V5/MT) area, with the strength of prestimulus connectivity between early visual areas and V5/MT being predictive of performance. In contrast, the longer integration window (∼130 msec) for AM showed evoked field differences only ∼250 msec after stimuli offset. Phase decoding of the perceptual outcome in AM trials was significant for theta-band activity in the right intraparietal sulcus. Prestimulus theta-band connectivity between V5/MT and intraparietal sulcus best predicted AM perceptual outcome. For both tasks, phase effects found could not be accounted by concomitant variations in power. These results show a strong relationship between specific spatiotemporal binding windows and specific oscillations, linked to the information flow between different areas of the where and when visual pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to identify serum exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with the transition from atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm (SR) and investigate their potential as biomarkers for the early recurrence of AF within three months post-treatment. We collected blood samples from eight AF patients at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan both immediately before and within 14 days following rhythm control treatment. Exosomes were isolated from these samples, and small RNA sequencing was performed. Using DESeq2 analysis, we identified nine miRNAs (16-2-3p, 22-3p, 23a-3p, 23b-3p, 125a-5p, 328-3p, 423-5p, 504-5p, and 582-3p) associated with restoration to SR. Further analysis using the DIABLO model revealed a correlation between the decreased expression of miR-125a-5p and miR-328-3p and the early recurrence of AF. Furthermore, early recurrence is associated with a longer duration of AF, presumably indicating a more extensive state of underlying cardiac remodeling. In addition, the reads were mapped to mRNA sequences, leading to the identification of 14 mRNAs (AC005041.1, ARHGEF12, AMT, ANO8, BCL11A, DIO3OS, EIF4ENIF1, G2E3-AS1, HERC3, LARS, NT5E, PITX1, SLC16A12, and ZBTB21) associated with restoration to SR. Monitoring these serum exosomal miRNA and mRNA expression patterns may be beneficial for optimizing treatment outcomes in AF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between the initial cardiac rhythm and short-term survival in patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) has not been extensively studied despite the fact that it is thought to be a prognostic factor in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This study aimed to look at the relationship between initial shockable rhythm and survival to hospital discharge in individuals with IHCA. 1516 adults with IHCA who received chest compressions lasting at least two minutes at the National Taiwan University Hospital between 2006 and 2014 made up the study population. Propensity scores were estimated using a fitted multivariate logistic regression model. Various statistical methodologies were employed to investigate the association between shockable rhythm and the probability of survival to discharge in patients experiencing IHCA, including multivariate adjustment, propensity score adjustment, propensity score matching, and logistic regression based on propensity score weighting. In the original cohort, the multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 2.312 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.515–3.531, P < 0.001). In additional propensity score adjustment, the OR between shockable rhythm and the probability of survival to hospital discharge in IHCA patients was 2.282 (95% CI: 1.486, 3.504, P < 0.001). The multivariate-adjusted logistic regression model analysis revealed that patients with shockable rhythm had a 1.761-fold higher likelihood of surviving to hospital release in the propensity score-matched cohort (OR = 2.761, 95% CI: 1.084–7.028, P = 0.033). The multivariate-adjusted OR of the inverse probability for the treatment-weighted cohort was 1.901 (95% CI: 1.507–2.397, P < 0.001), and the standardized mortality ratio-weighted cohort was 2.692 (95% CI: 1.511–4.795, P < 0.001). In patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest, Initial cardiac rhythm is an independent predictor of survival to hospital discharge. Depending on various statistical methods, patients with IHCA who have a shockable rhythm have a one to two fold higher probability of survival to discharge than those who have a non-shockable rhythm. This provides a reference for optimizing resuscitation decisions for IHCA patients and facilitating clinical communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an arrhythmia characterized by disorganized atrial activity with an associated unevenly irregular ventricular response on an electrocardiogram. It is the most common sustained arrhythmia, with a lifetime risk of 25% in patients older than 40 years old. The incidence of AF increases with age and is associated with an increased risk for heart failure, stroke, adverse cardiac events, and dementia. The 2 main aims of AF treatment include anticoagulation for thromboembolism prophylaxis as well as rate vs rhythm control. The focus of this article will be on the treatment strategies in managing AF. Rate control refers to the use of atrioventricular nodal blocking medications, including beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, to maintain a goal heart rate. Rhythm control, on the other hand, refers to a treatment strategy focused on the use of antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD), cardioversion, and ablation to restore and to maintain a patient in sinus rhythm. Currently, the ideal treatment strategy remains greatly debated. Thus, we hope to compare the risks and benefits of rate to rhythm control to highlight how patients with AF are managed here at Kaiser Permanente Northern California. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The child-like question of why birds sing in the morning is difficult to answer, especially in polar regions. There, in summer animals live without the time constraints of daylight, and little is known about the rhythmicity of their routines. Moreover, in situ monitoring of animal behavior in remote areas is challenging and rare. Here, we use audio data from Greenland to show that a colony of a key Arctic-breeding seabird, the little auk (Alle alle), erupts with acoustic excitement at night in August, under the midnight sun. We demonstrate that the acoustic activity cycle is consistent with previous direct observations of the feeding and attendance patterns of the little auk. We interpret this pattern as reflecting their foraging activities, but further investigation on fledging and predators is needed. The study demonstrates that acoustic monitoring is a promising alternative to otherwise demanding manual observations of bird colonies in remote Arctic areas. Microphone data from Greenland suggest that a colony of a key Arctic-breeding seabird, the little auk, bursts with acoustic excitement at night, under the midnight sun. The study highlights that acoustics is a promising monitoring tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal behavior emerges from integration of many processes with different spatial and temporal scales. Dynamical behavioral patterns, including daily and ultradian rhythms and the dynamical microstructure of behavior (i.e., autocorrelations properties), can be differentially affected by external cues. Identifying these patterns is important for understanding how organisms adapt to their environment, yet unbiased methods to quantify dynamical changes over multiple temporal scales are lacking. Herein, we combine a wavelet approach with Detrended Fluctuation Analysis to identify behavioral patterns and evaluate changes over 42-days in mice subjected to different dietary restriction paradigms. We show that feeding restriction alters dynamical patterns: not only are daily rhythms modulated but also the presence, phase and/or strength of ~12h-rhythms, as well as the nature of autocorrelation properties of feed-intake and wheel running behaviors. These results highlight the underlying complexity of behavioral architecture and offer insights into the multi-scale impact of feeding habits on physiology. Wavelet analysis of mice wheel running and feeding time series unveils the impact of food restriction on dynamical patterns beyond circadian rhythms, highlighting the complex nature of mouse behavior across a spectrum of temporal scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The probability of spontaneous conversion (SCV) to sinus rhythm (SR) in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with hemodynamically stable, symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) is not well known. Objective: To develop and validate a score to determine the probability of SCV to SR in patients presenting to the ED with hemodynamically stable, symptomatic AF. Methods: This retrospective, observational study enrolled consecutive patients admitted with AF to the ED. Variables associated to SCV during a 6 h "wait-and-see" approach were used to develop and validate a score to determine the probability of SCV to SR in AF patients. The study was divided in two phases: (1) score development and (2) validation of the predictive score. Results: Out of 748 eligible patients, 446 patients were included in the derivation cohort, whereas 302 patients were included in the validation cohort. In the derivation cohort, based on multivariable logistic analysis, a probability score weight was developed including: previous SCV (3 points), AF-related symptom duration < 24 h (5 points), age ≥ 65 years (3 points) and female sex (2 points). The score allowed us to divide patients in three groups based on the probability of SCV to SR during the 6 h observation period. The probability prediction model showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.707 and 0.701 in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Conclusions: The proposed score allowed us to predict SCV probability with good accuracy and may help physicians in tailoring AF management in an effective and timely manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 50% of patients undergoing cardioversion present with a recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) within 3–6 months of cardioversion despite ongoing antiarrhythmic treatment (AAD). Inflammation has been involved in the pathogenesis of both metabolic syndrome (MS) and atrial fibrillation. Evidence has indicated that inflammatory changes is essential for recurrence of AF. Therefore, identifying patients at high risk of AF recurrence remains challenging. We tested the hypothesis: increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are associated with a greater risk of AF recurrence after pharmacologic cardioversion (PCV) We conducted a multicenter observational cross-sectional study. 215 consecutive adult participants (≥18 and <65years of age) were recruited with MS and symptomatic AF (paroxysmal and persistent). They were admitted at six general cardiology Health Care Clinics, underwent PCV, and during a one calendar year follow-up period, were stratified into two groups according to CRP levels (105 participants (50 females and 55 males) with level of CRP ≥3mg/L and 110 (58 females and 52 males) with level of CRP <3mg/L). Recurrence of AF during follow-up period was defined as the study end-point. After the follow-up of one year, only (31.8%) of patients with MS and CRP levels above the cut-off of 3 mg/L remain in sinus rhythm, compared to (64. 7%) of patients with MS and CRP levels below the cut-off of 3 mg/L (p=0. 002). CRP, an easily determined marker in everyday clinical practice, may provide significant prognostic information regarding sinus rhythm maintenance and could be useful for predicting the recurrence of AF after successful pharmacologic cardioversion in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 1920s, declamadora Berta Singerman was frequently criticized by the Argentine avant-garde because her popular performances never included their poems. Dismissed as an embodiment of cursilería ever since, she was in fact a key component of international poetry circuits who developed relationships with Alfonsina Storni, Federico García Lorca, and Gabriela Mistral, among others. In correspondence with Alejo Carpentier, the Cuban writer counseled her on capturing the dynamics of declamation onscreen, suggesting that she could emphasize the rhythms of her performances through close-ups on her moving hands accompanying the poem--a technique Singerman employed in a 1942 film. No stranger to working across media, Carpentier recognized rhythm as the crucial connection between declamation's two types of corpus: the collection of poems and the body. In conversation with Carpentier's observations, this piece focuses on how rhythm shaped production and reception alike as Singerman attracted large crowds across the Americas. It argues that Singerman, who would call herself the "libertadora de poesía," accented rhythm in her performances so that audiences could make sense of the recited poems--and this process involved not only allowing those poems to be heard and felt but also creating a space for them to perform ideological work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface electrocardiogram is the gold standard tool for the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias in horses. However, an electrocardiographic exam needs an electrocardiographic machine, cables and electrodes. Therefore, this diagnostic tool is not always available or practical in the field. Some handheld electrocardiographic devices that can transmit digitalised data have been reported in human and veterinary medicine in the last few years. The Ekuore ECG device, a novel smartphone tool, has recently shown an excellent agreement with standard base-apex electrocardiography in healthy horses. It obtained a standard electrocardiogram using traditional base-apex configuration when compared to previous smartphone devices. The aim of this case series is to report our clinical experience with the Ekuore device for heart rhythm analysis in horses referred for a cardiovascular examination. A total of 70 horses were evaluated for heart rhythm analysis using the Ekuore device. The single-lead bipolar Ekuore device allowed the diagnoses of physiological and pathological cardiac arrhythmias in all horses. One horse with atrial fibrillation was monitored by the referring veterinarian with the same device at home. In conclusion, we provide a first report on the use of the Ekuore device in clinical practice to evaluate heart rhythm in horses. The new smartphone electrocardiographic device can be more easily available in the field and might help clinicians to evaluate cardiac arrhythmias in horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase an accuracy of the sleep stage estimation without connecting any devices/electrodes to the body, this paper proposes the updating method for its estimation according to an ultradian rhythm as one of the biological rhythms of humans. In the proposed method, the prediction probability of the sleep stage is updated by the Widrow–Hoff learning rule which is generally employed in the update of reinforcement learning. Through the human subject experiment which acquired the biological vibration data from the mattress sensor during sleep, the following implications have been revealed: (1) the accuracy and the quadratic weighted kappa (QWK) of the sleep stage estimation updated by the proposed method are higher than those of random forest (RF) as the conventional method; (2) the multiple update of the probability of the sleep stage according to the ultradian rhythm is significantly important to improve its accuracy and QWK; and (3) compared with RF which over-estimated the NR2 stage while less-estimated the NR1 and NR3 stages, the proposed method contributes to correctly estimating the NR1–3 stages thank to the follow of the ultradian rhythm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In animals, the rhythmical properties of calls are known to be shaped by physical constraints and the necessity of conveying information. As a consequence, investigating rhythmical properties in relation to different environmental conditions can help to shed light on the relationship between environment and species behavior from an evolutionary perspective. Sciaena umbra (fam. Sciaenidae) male fish emit reproductive calls characterized by a simple isochronous, i.e., metronome-like rhythm (the so-called R-pattern). Here, S. umbra R-pattern rhythm properties were assessed and compared between four different sites located along the Mediterranean basin (Mallorca, Venice, Trieste, Crete); furthermore, for one location, two datasets collected 10 years apart were available. Recording sites differed in habitat types, vessel density and acoustic richness; despite this, S. umbra R-calls were isochronous across all locations. A degree of variability was found only when considering the beat frequency, which was temporally stable, but spatially variable, with the beat frequency being faster in one of the sites (Venice). Statistically, the beat frequency was found to be dependent on the season (i.e. month of recording) and potentially influenced by the presence of soniferous competitors and human-generated underwater noise. Overall, the general consistency in the measured rhythmical properties (isochrony and beat frequency) suggests their nature as a fitness-related trait in the context of the S. umbra reproductive behavior and calls for further evaluation as a communicative cue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to test the association of rest-activity rhythm (intradaily variability and interdaily stability) with all-cause mortality in an older adult cohort in Brazil. It also assesses whether the amount of time spent at each intensity level (i.e., physical activity and nocturnal sleep) interferes with this association. Methods: This cohort study started in 2014 with older adults (≥60 years). We investigated deaths from all causes that occurred until April 2017. Rest-activity rhythm variables were obtained using accelerometry at baseline. Intradaily variability indicates higher rhythm fragmentation, while interdaily stability indicates higher rhythm stability. Cox proportional-hazard models were used to test the associations controlling for confounders. Results: Among the 1451 older adults interviewed in 2014, 965 presented valid accelerometry data. During the follow-up period, 80 individuals died. After adjusting the analysis for sociodemographic, smoking, morbidity score, and number of medicines, an increase of one standard deviation in interdaily stability decreased 26% the risk of death. The adjustment for total sleep time and inactivity did not change this association. On the other hand, the association was no longer significant after adjusting for overall physical activity and moderate to vigorous physical activity. Conclusion: Rest-activity rhythm pattern was not associated with mortality when physical activity was considered, possibly because this pattern could be driven by regular exercise. Promoting physical activity remains a relevant strategy to improve population health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]