Circahoralian Rhythms of Body Temperature in Mammals and Birds with Different Metabolism Levels.

The time course of intraperitoneal body temperature has been analyzed in two species of mammals (laboratory C57Bl/6 mice and white-breasted hedgehogs (Erinaceus roumanicus) and in two species of passerine birds (common greenfinch Chloris chloris and Japanese quail Coturnix japonica) with different body weights. Similar sets of basic harmonics appearing synchronously in different individuals have been found in the body temperature spectra of the species studied. The level of basal metabolism in those animal species considerably vary; therefore, the period of fluctuations of body temperature in the range of 10-120 min is not determined by the internal characteristics of the body and, presumably, reflects the influence of an external biotropic environmental factor.

Body Temperature Dynamics in Small Mammals and Birds in 10-120-min Period Range.

The dynamics of intraperitoneal body temperature was analyzed in males of C57BL/6 mice and common greenfinches (Chloris chloris). Despite the membership in different classes, these mammals demonstrated the identical set of harmonics in body temperature spectra. The study revealed synchronicity of body temperature oscillations in distantly isolated animals. The data suggest that body temperature oscillations in 10-120-min (circahoralian) period range reflect the effect of an external environmental biotropic factor on temperature control in small mammals and birds.

Fluctuations in measured radioactive decay rates inside a modified Faraday cage: Correlations with space weather.

For several years, reports have been published about fluctuations in measured radioactive decay time-series and in some instances linked to astrophysical as well as classical environmental influences. Anomalous behaviors of radioactive decay measurement and measurement of capacitance inside and outside a modified Faraday cage were documented by our group in previous work. In the present report, we present an in-depth analysis of our measurement with regard to possible correlations with space weather, i.e. the geomagnetic activity (GMA) and cosmic-ray activity (CRA). Our analysis revealed that the decay and capacitance time-series are statistically significantly correlated with GMA and CRA when specific conditions are met. The conditions are explained in detail and an outlook is given on how to further investigate this important finding. Our discovery is relevant for all researchers investigating radioactive decay measurements since they point out that the space weather condition during the measurement is relevant for partially explaining the observed variability.

Infradian and Ultradian Rhythms of Body Temperature Resumption during Hibernation.

The rhythms of short-term arousal episodes, associated with normalization of low body temperature, were studied in hibernating Erinaceus roumanicus. The episodes of body temperature recovery during hibernation were 1.7 times more incident during the acrophase of 4.058-day rhythm of glucocorticoid hormones, detected previously, than during the batiphase of this rhythm. Ultradian rhythm of arousal episodes conformed to a 4-h biorhythm: the maximum number of body temperature resumption episodes was recorded at 00.00-01.00, 04.00-05.00, 08.00-09.00, 12.00-13.00, 16.00-17.00, and 20.00-21.00. These data indicated that in mammals the mechanisms of infradian and ultradian rhythm maintenance were stable and did not depend on body temperature or were determined by external factors with periods of 4.058 days and 4 h.

[Local fractal analysis of noise-like time series by all permutations method for 1-115 min periods].

Results of local fractal analysis of 329-per-day time series of 239Pu alpha-decay rate fluctuations by means of all permutations method (APM) are presented. The APM-analysis reveals in the time series some steady frequency set. The coincidence of the frequency set with the Earth natural oscillations was demonstrated. A short review of works by different authors who analyzed the time series of fluctuations in processes of different nature is given. We have shown that the periods observed in those works correspond to the periods revealed in our study. It points to a common mechanism of the phenomenon observed.