Nocturnal

Every year on the 27th of Rajab, Muslims around the world commemorate the event called Al-Isra` and al-Mi'raj, the Prophet(SAW) 's night journey from Mecca to al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem from where he embarked on the second leg of the journey heavenwards.

There are different versions of this journey. Some say that both the events happened in a dream, while others are of the opinion that both of these took place in the waking state and the Prophet(SAW) physically went on the journey, and some say that it was merely a mystic vision shown to him.

The analysis of the author suggests that Al-Isra could have been a bodily experience. Technically, with a little lift from Jibraeel(AS) , who can travel at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second), it was possible for the Prophet(SAW) to physically travel to Jerusalem and return to Mecca in less than five minutes.

Al-Miraj, on the other hand, could not have been a bodily or mystical experience. It could not even be a dream. It fits the core elements of a superlative form of out of body experience (OBE), which is beyond imagination. The state he was in was very conducive to trigger such an OBE. While the body stayed where he was sleeping, his conscience (soul) saw things which fits the pattern of an OBE e.g. looking at what Jibraeel(AS) was doing with his body, passing through a huge space (heaven), meeting the dead (some of the Prophets), and seeing a bright light and the paradise.

AIM: To estimate the prevalence of enuresis in school-age children in Iran and determine associated factors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 7562 children, aged 5-18 years, enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Using a standard questionnaire, data on demographic characteristics, and familial and physical conditions were obtained from the parents by interview. The ICD-10 definition of enuresis was used. In the case of enuretics, a detailed history was taken, and physical and ultrasonographic examinations, urinalysis and urine culture were performed.
RESULTS: The overall prevalence of enuresis was 6.8%. A significant relationship was found between the prevalence of enuresis and age (P=0.001), educational level of parents (P=0.001), number of family members (P=0.028), positive family history of enuresis (P=0.001), parenting methods (P=0.001), and deep sleep (P=0.001). Birth weight (P=0.07), monthly income (P=0.322), employment status of parents (P=0.08), ethnic differences (P=0.09), delayed development (P=0.062), drinking (P=0.072) or urination habit before sleep (P=0.06), and stool incontinence (P=0.062) were not significantly associated with enuresis. Prevalence of urinary tract pathology was 2.9% in enuretics.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a quantitative estimate of the prevalence and main risk factors for enuresis in Iranian children.

Echolocation has evolved independently in several vertebrate groups, and hypotheses about the origin of echolocation in these groups often invoke abiotic mechanisms driving morphological evolution. In bats, for example, the ecological setting associated with the origin of echolocation has been linked to global warming during the Palaeocene–Eocene; similarly, the origin of toothed whales (odontocetes) has been broadly correlated with the establishment of the circum-Antarctic current. These scenarios, and the adaptational hypotheses for the evolution of echolocation with which they are associated, neglect a consideration of possible biotic mechanisms. Here we propose that the origin of echolocation in odontocetes was initially an adaptation for nocturnal epipelagic feeding – primarily on diel migrating cephalopods. We test this hypothesis using data on the temporal, geographical, and water column distributions of odontocetes and cephalopods, and other global events from their respective tertiary histories. From this analysis, we suggest that echolocation in early odontocetes aided nocturnal feeding on cephalopods and other prey items, and that this early system was exapted for deep diving and hunting at depths below the photic zone where abundant cephalopod resources were available 24 h a day. This scenario extends to the evolution of other cephalopod feeding (teuthophagous) marine vertebrates such as pinnipeds and Mesozoic marine reptiles.

With their highly sensitive visual systems, the arthropods have evolved a remarkable capacity to orient and navigate at night. Whereas some navigate under the open sky, and take full advantage of the celestial cues available there, others navigate in more difficult conditions, such as through the dense understory of a tropical rainforest. Four major classes of orientation are performed by arthropods at night, some of which involve true navigation (i.e. travel to a distant goal that lies beyond the range of direct sensory contact): (1) simple straight-line orientation, typically for escape purposes;

To understand the impact of nocturnal and daytime non-severe hypoglycemic events on healthcare systems, work productivity and quality of life in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes who experienced a non-severe hypoglycemic event in the 4 weeks prior to the survey were eligible to participate in a nocturnal and/or daytime hypoglycemia survey. Surveys were conducted in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Mexico and South Africa. In total, 300 respondents were included in nocturnal/daytime hypoglycemia surveys (50/participating country/survey). All respondents with type 1 diabetes and 68%/62% (nocturnal/daytime) with type 2 diabetes were on insulin treatment. After an event, 25%/30% (nocturnal/daytime) of respondents decreased their insulin dose and 39%/36% (nocturnal/daytime) contacted a healthcare professional. In the week after an event, respondents performed an average of 5.6/6.4 (nocturnal/daytime) additional blood glucose tests. Almost half of the respondents (44%) reported that the event had a high impact on the quality of their sleep. Among nocturnal survey respondents working for pay, 29% went to work late, 16% left work early and 12% reported missing one or more full work days due to the surveyed event. In addition, 50%/39% (nocturnal/daytime) indicated that the event had a high impact on their fear of future hypoglycemia. The findings suggest that nocturnal and daytime non-severe hypoglycemic events have a large financial and psychosocial impact. Diabetes management that minimizes hypoglycemia while maintaining good glycemic control may positively impact upon the psychological wellbeing of people with diabetes, as well as reducing healthcare costs and increasing work productivity.

A theory for gentle but persistent mesoscale ascent in the lower troposphere is developed in which the vertical motion arises as an inertia–gravity wave response to the sudden decrease of turbulent mixing in a horizontally heterogeneous convective boundary layer (CBL). The zone of ascent is centered on the local maximum of a laterally varying buoyancy field (warm tongue in the CBL). The shutdown also triggers a Blackadar-type inertial oscillation and associated low-level jet (LLJ). These nocturnal motions are studied analytically using the linearized two-dimensional Boussinesq equations of motion, thermal energy, and mass conservation for an inviscid stably stratified fluid, with the initial state described by a zero-order jump model of a CBL. The vertical velocity revealed by the analytical solution increases with the amplitude of the buoyancy variation, CBL depth, and wavenumber of the buoyancy variation (larger vertical velocity for smaller-scale variations). Stable stratificatio...

Daily and seasonal variations in hormone levels influence the complex interactions between behavior and physiology. Ectothermic animals possess the unique ability behaviorally to adjust body temperature (T b) to control physiological rate processes. Thus, a hormone may indirectly influence a physiological rate by directly influencing the behaviors that adjust or control that rate process. Although many hormonal influences on behavioral regulation of T b remain uninvestigated, melatonin (MEL) generally is considered a hormone that decreases mean preferred T b. Many ectotherms demonstrate the selection of lower T b 's in response to increased MEL concentrations. Here, we examined the influence of MEL on the behavioral regulation of T b in the nocturnal African house snake Lamprophis fuliginosus. A series of experiments with two injection regimes of MEL had no significant effect on the mean preferred T b of L. fuliginosus. In addition, mean preferred T b 's during the photophase did not differ significantly from those during scotophase. Our findings suggest that L. fuliginosus does not respond to elevated concentrations of either endogenous or exogenous MEL. To verify that the African house snake is nocturnal, we investigated activity patterns of L. fuliginosus throughout the photoperiod. The activity period of L. fuliginosus occurs in the scotophase of the photoperiod, a pattern consistent with that of nocturnal species. This suggests that nocturnal organisms such as L. fuliginosus may not respond to MEL in the same manner as many diurnal species. Our results support the hypothesis that some animals, particularly nocturnal species, may have developed alternative responses to increased plasma concentrations of MEL.

The functioning of the vertebrate eye depends on its absolute size, which is presumably adapted to specific needs. Eye size variation in lidless and spectacled colubrid snakes was investigated, including 839 specimens belonging to 49 genera, 66 species and subspecies. Variations of adult eye diameters (EDs) in both absolute and relative terms between species were correlated with parameters reflecting behavioral ecology. In absolute terms, eye of arboreal species was larger than in terrestrial and semiaquatic species. For diurnal species, EDs of terrestrial species do not differ from semiaquatic species; for nocturnal species the ED of terrestrial species is larger than fossorial species but not different from semiaquatic species. In relative terms, ED did not differ significantly by habitat for diurnal species. Although the ED of terrestrial species is larger than fossorial species there were no differences for nocturnal species between semiaquatic and fossorial snakes. In contrast to other vertebrates studied to date, colubrid EDs in absolute and relative terms are larger in diurnal than in nocturnal species. These observations suggest that among colubrid snakes, eye size variation reflects adaptation to specific habitats, foraging strategies and daily activities, independently of phylogeny.

The scale and patterns of movement and habitat use are primary considerations in the conservation and management of threatened species. Movement, activity and habitat use of the threatened twospined blackfish Gadopsis bispinosus were assessed in a small upland reservoir in south-eastern Australia using manual and remote radio-telemetry. Movements and activity of two-spined blackfish (n = 19) were studied over a 28-day period and exhibited proportionately large directional crepuscular movement and activity with heightened activity continuing throughout the night (although movement was subdued). Two daily movement strategies were observed: movements from diurnal home-shelter habitats (predominantly rock) to macrophytes at night (14 individuals), and occupation of macrophytes during the entire diel period and restricted movement (five individuals). Daily movement strategies were fixed (not plastic) among all individuals, with one exception, for the duration of the study period. Rock, fallen timber and macrophytes were the most commonly used daytime shelter habitat (in order of preference). Although some information exists on movements and habitat use of this species and the congeneric river blackfish G. Marmoratus in lotic environments, we present the first study of movements and habitat use for either species in lentic environments. Given the occupation of lentic environments by this threatened species, the data presented in this study provide insight into the habitat requirements for this species, and offer opportunities for habitat enhancement in existing reservoirs within the species' geographic range.

Echolocation has evolved independently in several vertebrate groups, and hypotheses about the origin of echolocation in these groups often invoke abiotic mechanisms driving morphological evolution. In bats, for example, the ecological setting associated with the origin of echolocation has been linked to global warming during the Palaeocene–Eocene; similarly, the origin of toothed whales (odontocetes) has been broadly correlated with the establishment of the circum-Antarctic current. These scenarios, and the adaptational hypotheses for the evolution of echolocation with which they are associated, neglect a consideration of possible biotic mechanisms. Here we propose that the origin of echolocation in odontocetes was initially an adaptation for nocturnal epipelagic feeding – primarily on diel migrating cephalopods. We test this hypothesis using data on the temporal, geographical, and water column distributions of odontocetes and cephalopods, and other global events from their respective tertiary histories. From this analysis, we suggest that echolocation in early odontocetes aided nocturnal feeding on cephalopods and other prey items, and that this early system was exapted for deep diving and hunting at depths below the photic zone where abundant cephalopod resources were available 24 h a day. This scenario extends to the evolution of other cephalopod feeding (teuthophagous) marine vertebrates such as pinnipeds and Mesozoic marine reptiles.

It has been fashionable to consider the physiology and behavior of birds more advanced than those of reptiles but less well developed than the mammalian norm. Birds, however, are more recent than mammals and of an independent lineage. The last common ancestor to birds and mammals died some 250 million years ago, when even the reptiles  were recent, so that they are each more closely related to the reptiles than to each other. Even though birds and mammals share similar types of sleep, these probably arose independently and have evolved and survived inde­pendently for tens of millions of years and were acquired most recently by birds. In this chapter, we specifically examine avian sleep and consider which sleep characteristics encourage birds to invest a  third of their lives in such apparently unresponsive, unre­warding, physiologically distinct states.

Interspecific differences in the responses to increasing ambient temperature (up to 40°C) were studied in three species of PtyoductyZus that differ in their distribution in Israel, in their daily activity pattern and in their preferred body temperatures: the northern, diurnal P. &se&, the southern, nocturnal P. hasselquistii and the diurno-nocturnal P. guttatus. The diurnal P. puiseuxi

Funding information Chester Zoo; Universities Federation for Animal Welfare Many animals exhibit circadian variation in behavior; thus, studying nocturnal behavior is important to fully understand species activity patterns. The nocturnal behavior of Asian elephants, and specifically calves, has received little previous study. We carried out observational study of the nocturnal behavior of orphaned Asian elephant calves at three age groups: "infant" (0-24 months), "young juvenile" (25-36 months) and "old juveniles" (over 36 months). Project aims were to build a nocturnal activity budget, to investigate key age differences, and whether calves exhibited synchronous behavior patterns. We carried out focal animal sampling and instantaneous group scan sampling on 34 calves for 18 nights using an infra-red camera. Focal results indicated that calves spent the highest percentage of scans in lying rest (46.2%) and feeding (28.4%). There was no significant difference between lying rest in the three age groups. Calves spent the majority of time within 5 m of their nearest neighbor, with infants remaining in closest proximity to conspecifics compared to older calves. Synchronous behavior could not be proved statistically but two distinct lying rest periods between 2300 and 0100, and 0330 and 0530, were noted. We found that calves spent more time in lying rest than previously observed in adult elephants. Activity patterns observed suggest that the orphaned group behavior is similar to that reported in the wild and captive zoological collections, and appears to be in concordance with "natural" behavior patterns, a defining feature of animal welfare. This research provides valuable data as a preliminary study.

Introduction: We investigate how characteristics of sleep-wake dynamics in humans are modified by narcolepsy, a clinical condition that is supposed to destabilize sleep-wake regulation. Subjects with and without cataplexy are considered separately. Differences in sleep scoring habits as a possible confounder have been examined. Aims and Methods: Four groups of subjects are considered: narcolepsy patients from China with (n = 88) and without (n = 15) cataplexy, healthy controls from China (n = 110) and from Europe (n = 187, 2 nights each). After sleep-stage scoring and calculation of sleep characteristic parameters, the distributions of wake-episode durations and sleep-episode durations are determined for each group and fitted by power laws (exponent α) and by exponentials (decay time τ). Results: We find that wake duration distributions are consistent with power laws for healthy subjects (China: α = 0.88, Europe: α = 1.02). Wake durations in all groups of narcolepsy patients, however, follow the exponential law (τ = 6.2-8.1 min). All sleep duration distributions are best fitted by exponentials on long time scales (τ = 34-82 min). Conclusions: We conclude that narcolepsy mainly alters the control of wake-episode durations but not sleep-episode durations, irrespective of cataplexy. Observed distributions of shortest wake and sleep durations suggest that differences in scoring habits regarding the scoring of short-term sleep stages may notably influence the fitting parameters but do not affect the main conclusion.

Africa's large predator guild competes for a limited food resource base. To minimize the degree of competition, we hypothesized that the two largest members of this guild and its fiercest competitors, the lion and the spotted hyaena, would partition their activity patterns to avoid interacting. We used 96-h continuous follows of focal animal(s) to determine when the six radio-collared lions and eight radio-collared spotted hyaenas, reintroduced into Addo Elephant National Park in 2003/2004, were active using a binomial measure of activity which was defined as movements >100 m during each hourly period. Contrary to our predictions, lions and hyaenas did not partition their activity times, probably because of their current low population densities. Both species exhibited a crepuscular activity pattern although hyaenas were far less active during daylight. A sub-adult lioness minimized competitive interactions by becoming diurnal. This is likely to be a common strategy for lions that have been expelled from their natal pride to become nomadic, as it allows them to minimize kleptoparasitic and agonistic interactions from competitively dominant conspecifics and competitors. The increase in testosterone that occurs in males upon reaching sexual maturity, darkens their pelage and causes them to be more directly impacted by the heat, and thereby affords females an opportunity to escape from males during hot temperatures. Similarly, the longer pelage of young hyaenas restricts their activity to the cooler night-time.

Este artigo se dedica ao estudo da iluminação urbana por meio do entendimento da experiência noturna que se desdobra no espaço público e à construção metodológica de análise desta experiência. Parte-se do entendimento que no contexto atual a iluminação urbana tem sido questionada por questões mais sustentáveis e pela aproximação às dimensões mais sensíveis da noite, assim, entende-se como necessário a busca por novas ferramentas de análise que possam abranger as particularidades do que é vivenciado à noite. Como metodologia, organizou-se este artigo em duas partes, a primeira destinada ao entendimento de conceitos relacionados à experiência que se desdobra no espaço público e suas especificidades noturnas. A segunda se refere à construção metodológica baseada na observação empírica da experiência. Esta parte se desdobra em dois aspectos, de um lado tem-se a descrição da luz e suas reverberações no ambiente construído; por outro lado, tem-se a observação dos gestos e das práticas dos sujeitos. Desta forma, como objetivo, pretende-se abranger a pluralidade da dimensão noturna da cidade, buscando novos métodos que permitam uma leitura espacial da experiência noturna, assim como, desvios de concepções já formatadas em relação às luzes e à escuridão que a compõem.

Snakes exhibit a complex repertoire of defensive responses, shifting from one tactic to another depending upon conditions at the time of encounter with a potential predator. Standardized laboratory trials, controlling factors such as time of day, temperature, and type of encounter, can be used to test predictions about the form of this context dependency. We studied two sympatric species of elapid snakes from southeastern Australia. Although similar in body sizes, habitat use, and nocturnality, small-eyed snakes (Cryptophis nigrescens) are wide foragers (and hence, encounter predators under cool conditions at night in relatively open areas), whereas broad-headed snakes (Hoplocephalus bungaroides) lie in ambush for long periods within sun-warmed rocky retreat sites (and hence, encounter predators mostly when the snake is warm, and within its retreat). Based on those differences, we predicted that small-eyed snakes would be thermal generalists; that is, temperature would exert relatively little effect on the snakes' locomotor abilities, alertness, and preparedness to flee from threat. Broad-headed snakes would be likely to utilize tactics other than fleeing, and to increase response intensity substantially at higher temperatures. Both species were predicted to exhibit more intense responses at night, and when warm. Data from our laboratory trials supported these predictions: (1) antipredator behaviors of small-eyed snakes were less sensitive to thermal variation than were those of broad-headed snakes, (2) both species relied primarily on fleeing, but broadheaded snakes were more likely to adopt retaliatory behavior than were small-eyed snakes, and (3) both species responded more intensely at night and when warm. These results are consistent with the broader theory that snakes flexibly adjust their antipredator tactics to local conditions.

Background: Long-term home mechanical ventilation (HMV) is usually initiated in hospital. Admission to hospital has resource implications and may not be reimbursable in some healthcare systems. Methods: Twenty-eight stable neuromuscular and chest wall disease patients with nocturnal hypoventilation (transcutaneous carbon dioxide (TcCO 2 >6.5 kPa), were randomised to start HMV either as an outpatient (n Z 14, age range 12e62 years) or inpatient (n Z 14, age range 14e73 years). We compared effects of HMV on nocturnal and diurnal arterial blood gas tensions, ventilator compliance, healthcare professional (HCP) contact time, and time in hospital. Results: Improvements in nocturnal arterial oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ) and daytime PaO 2 were equivalent in both groups. Peak nocturnal TcCO 2, improved in both groups; % time TcCO 2 >6.5 kPa fell in the inpatient group and daytime PaCO 2 decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the outpatient group. The mean (SD) inpatient stay was 3.8 (1.0) days, and the outpatient attendance sessions 1.2 (0.4). HCP contact time including telephone calls was: inpatient 177 (99) min; outpatient 188 (60) min (p Z not significant); 2 month ventilator compliance was: inpatient 4.32 (7); outpatient 3.92 (8) (p Z not significant) hours per night. Conclusion: Outpatient initiation of HMV is feasible with equivalent outcome in the outpatient and the inpatient groups. ª a v a i l a b l e a t w w w . s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / r m e d Respiratory Medicine (2008) 102, 1528e1535

The rapid expansion of urban environments invariably presents a novel series of pressures on wildlife due to changes in external environmental factors. In reptiles, any such changes in temperature are critical since thermoregulation is the key driver in the function of many physiological processes. How reptiles adapt to such changes may vary from those species that are impacted negatively to others that have the behavioural flexibility to exploit new conditions. In this paper we describe retreat site selection, movements and aspects of the thermal ecology of the African lizard Agama agama in urban environments of West Africa. In early evening lizards began movement from late-afternoon core activity areas and ascended the walls of houses for overnight retreats. A high proportion retreated to locations in groups under or on top of warm electrical panels. The thermal potential these panels offered was the attainment of body temperatures equal to or higher than the minimum preferred body temperature (PBT ≈ 36 • C in A. agama) and hence increased physiological performance. The lizards that took advantage of the heat sources travelled further each day to and from diurnal activity areas than individuals that spent the night high on walls but not next to heat panels. There were both potential costs (enhanced predation pressures) and benefits (impacts on thermal ecology, retreat site selection) of this behaviour for lizards living in urban environments.

Mammals use variations in the length of day to anticipate environmental changes and time their reproduction. Light pollution, which affects day length perception, could lead to changes in biological functions. To explore the effects of light pollution on seasonal reproduction, we conducted an experimental study on a strict long-day breeder, the nocturnal gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus). Twelve females were randomly exposed to either a moonlight treatment or a light pollution treatment for 5 weeks during the transition from a short-to long-day photoperiod. Daily rhythms of locomotor activity and core temperature were recorded, and the occurrence of estrus and urinary 17-β-estradiol concentrations were monitored. In females exposed to light pollution, the first seasonal estrus occurred while they were still in a short-day photoperiod, 2 weeks earlier than in females exposed to moonlight. Moreover, the daily rhythms profiles of females exposed to light pollution showed significant changes that mimicked long-day acclimatization. This study demonstrates that light pollution can affect daily rhythms and the timing of seasonal estrus in a primate and suggests that functional changes in the circadian system may underlie the adverse effects of light pollution that are observed in wildlife.

Birds that forage nocturnally should select daytime roosts that minimize predation risk to themselves, maximize their ability to warn mates or young about predators, and reduce their exposure to inclement weather. The objective of this study was to identify landscape features used by burrowing owls Athene cunicularia hypugaea during the day and to determine if traffic disturbance altered patterns of daytime space use. We tracked 17 adult male owls for 0.6 to 2.8 d each with GPS dataloggers and used resource utilization and resource selection functions to examine the response of each owl to nest burrows, perches, and roads. Selection for roads decreased as average vehicle speed increased. Roads with vehicle speeds > 80 km h −1 were avoided. Owls may avoid roads with high traffic speeds because auditory disturbance from passing vehicles interferes with their ability to communicate the presence of predators to their mates and young. Owls also spent more time near fences and posts, likely because these elevated perches are good vantage points for predator detection. Perches near burrowing owl nests should be maintained, and speed limits on roads near burrowing owl nests should be set to < 80 km h −1 to help ensure owls are able to effectively detect and react to predators.

I n animal communities, many species are active during different times of day. These temporal niches are largely shaped by the environment and resources on which the species is dependent (Kronfeld-Schor and Dayan 1999; Levy et al. 2012). Environmental factors like temperature, light-dark cycles, precipitation, anthropogenic activities, and interspecific interactions like predation and competition (Ikeda et al. 2016) may induce facultative or opportunistic variation in temporal activity patterns of animals. In snakes, shifts between diel temporal niches have been documented in many species (e.g., Krysko 2002; Abom et al. 2012; DeGregorio et al. 2014; Ghosh et al. 2020). In India, shifts in activity have been observed in Indian Ratsnakes (Ptyas mucosa) and Buff-striped Keelbacks (Amphiesma stolatum) (Dutta et al. 2017; Ghosh et al. 2020). Herein we report six observations in 2009 and 2010, during which seven snakes, generally considered to be diurnally active (Gharat et al. 2021

The suprachiasmatic nucleus is the site of the primary circadian pacemaker in mammals. The lower sub paraventricular zone that is dorsal to and receives input from the suprachiasmatic nucleus may also play a role in the regulation of circadian rhythms. Calbindin has been described in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of some mammals, and may be important in the control of endogenous rhythms. In the first study we characterized calbindin-expressing cells in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and lower subparaventricular zone of nocturnal and diurnal rodents. Specifically, Rattus norvegicus was compared to Arvicanthis niloticus, a primarily diurnal species within which some individuals exhibit nocturnal patterns of wheel running. Calbindin-immunoreactive cells were present in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of Arvicanthis and were most concentrated within its central region but were relatively sparse in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of Rattus. Calbindin-expressing cells were present in the lower sub-paraventricular zone of both species. In the second study we evaluated Fos expression within calbindin-immunoreactive cells in nocturnal Rattus and in Arvicanthis that were either diurnal or nocturnal with respect to wheel-running. All animals were kept on a 12:12 light/dark cycle and perfused at either 4 h after lights-on or 4 h after lights-off. In the suprachiasmatic nucleus in both species, Fos expression was elevated during the day relative to the night but less than 1% of calbindin cells contained Fos in Arvicanthis, compared with 13-17% in Rattus. In the lower sub-paraventricular zone of both species, 9-14% of calbindin cells expressed Fos, and this proportion did not change as a function of time. Among Arvicanthis, the number of calbindin expressing neurons in the lower sub-paraventricular zone was influenced by an interaction between the wheel running patterns (nocturnal vs diurnal) and time of day. Thus, the number of calbindin-positive cells within the suprachiasmatic nucleus differed in Arvicanthis and Rattus, whereas the number of calbindin-positive cells within the lower sub-paraventricular zone differed in nocturnal and diurnal Arvicanthis. Our examination of R. norvegicus and A. niloticus suggests potentially important relationships between calbindin-containing neurons and whether animals are nocturnal or diurnal. Specifically, rats had more Fos expression in calbindin containing cells in the suprachiasmatic nucleus than Arvicanthis. In contrast, Arvicanthis exhibiting diurnal and nocturnal patterns of wheel-running differed in the number of calbindin-containing cells in the lower sub-paraventricular zone, dorsal to the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Background. Longer dialysis sessions may improve outcome in haemodialysis (HD) patients. We compared the clinical and laboratory outcomes of 8-and 4-h thriceweekly HD. Methods. Two-hundred and forty-seven HD patients who agreed to participate in a thrice-weekly 8-h in-centre nocturnal HD (NHD) treatment and 247 age-, sex-, diabetes status-and HD duration-matched control cases to 4-h conventional HD (CHD) were enrolled in this prospective controlled study. Echocardiography and psychometric measurements were performed at baseline and at the 12th month. The primary outcome was 1-year overall mortality. Results. Overall mortality rates were 1.77 (NHD) and 6.23 (CHD) per 100 patient-years (P = 0.01) during a mean 11.3 ± 4.7 months of follow-up. NHD treatment was associated with a 72% risk reduction for overall mortality compared to the CHD treatment (hazard ratio = 0.28, 95% confidence interval 0.09-0.85, P = 0.02). Hospitalization rate was lower in the NHD arm. Post-HD body weight and serum albumin levels increased in the NHD group. Use of antihypertensive medications and erythropoietin declined in the NHD group. In the NHD group, left atrium and left ventricular end-diastolic diameters decreased and left ventricular mass index regressed. Both use of phosphate binders and serum phosphate level decreased in the NHD group. Cognitive functions improved in the NHD group, and quality of life scores deteriorated in the CHD group. Conclusions. Eight-hour thrice-weekly in-centre NHD provides morbidity and possibly mortality benefits compared to conventional 4-h HD.

Hypnic headache is a rare form of primary headache with attacks occurring exclusively with sleep. As it is typical of the elderly, a wide range of alternative diagnosis must be considered. We present a case report of a 54-year-old woman with unsuspected secondary hypnic headache that was relieved by anti-hypertensive therapy. We reviewed the literature to evaluate the usual diagnostic workup performed in hypnic headache patients. We suggest that 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring may be included in the evaluation of nocturnal headache complaints especially in the elderly, in whom essential hypertension is a very frequent comorbidity.

Neurons in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the principal pacemaker of the circadian system, receive direct retinal input. Some SCN neurons respond to retinal illumination or optic nerve stimulation with changes in firing rates. In nocturnal rodents, retinal illumination increases firing rates of a large majority and decreases firing rates of a minority of responsive neurons. In two species of diurnal rodent, these proportions are altered or even reversed. Since retinal input to the SCN has been reported to involve release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, the mechanism mediating suppressions is unknown. We studied responses of neurons in SCN slices from diurnal degus and nocturnal rats to optic nerve stimulation. To test whether suppressions are mediated indirectly by release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA from SCN neurons that are first activated by glutamate release, we attempted to block suppressions by adding to the bath either APV, an antagonist for excitatory glutamate receptors, or bicuculline, a GABA receptor antagonist. If glutamate A is the only neurotransmitter released by optic nerves in the SCN, APV should prevent both activations and suppressions in response to optic nerve stimulation. We found that APV had little effect on suppressions although it effectively blocked activations. Bicuculline blocked most suppressions. These findings are inconsistent with a model in which the retina provides only excitatory glutamate input to the SCN via NMDA receptors. Since some retinal fibers in adult mammals contain GABA, it is possible that the retinal innervation of the SCN includes both glutamate-and GABA-containing axons. 

East L ansing, Mich. , USA neuropeptide Y (NPY), respectively. All were present in the SCN of both species and no differences between them were seen. On the basis of neuronal phenotype, the SCN was organized into three basic regions that contained VIP-immunoreactive (-ir), CalB-ir and VP-ir cells, in the ventral, middle and dorsal SCN, respectively. In the rostral SCN, GRP-ir cells were in both the VIP and the CalB cell regions, and in the caudal area they were distributed across a portion of each of the other three regions. Fibers containing NPY-ir and serotonin (5-HT)-ir were most concentrated in the areas containing VIP-ir and CalB-ir cells, respectively. The details of the spatial relationships among the labeled cells and fibers seen here are discussed in relation to different approaches investigators have taken to characterize the SCN more generally.

Dialysis is an expensive therapy, particularly considering its recurrent, protracted nature while patient numbers are also increasing. To afford dialysis for those in need, smarter, more efficient use of limited funds is mandatory. Newer techniques and improved equipment now permit safe, highly effective haemodialysis (HD) at home, alone and while asleep. Indeed, the increase in treatment hours and frequency achieved through nocturnal HD both increase HD efficiency and reduce cardiovascular stress when comparing nocturnal HD (6 nights/week for 8 h/treatment) to conventional daytime HD (4 h/treatment, three times/week). This study compares the expenditure of two distinct HD programmes in the same renal service during the Australian financial year 2003/2004. A conventional satellite HD unit (SHDU) and a nocturnal home HD programme (NHHD 6 ) are compared, with both programmes 'notionalised' to 30 patients. The state-derived funding models under which these programmes operate are explained. All wage costs, recurrent expenditure, fixed costs and the estimated costs of building and infrastructure are included. The total NHHD 6 programme expenditure was $A33 392/patient per year ($103.82/treatment) and was $3892/patient per year less (a 10.75% saving) when compared with the SHDU expenditure of $36 284/patient per year ($232.58/treatment). This represented an annual $116 750 programme saving for a 30 patient cohort. Potential additional NHHD 6 savings in erythropoietin, hospitalization and social security dependence were also identified. Home-based therapies are clinically sound, effective and fiscally prudent and efficient. Funding models should reward home-based HD. Health services should encourage home training and support systems, sustaining patients at home wherever possible.

This study examined the effects of endurance exercise on nocturnal autonomic modulation. Nocturnal R-R intervals were collected after a rest day, after a moderate endurance exercise and after a marathon run in ten healthy, physically active men. Heart rate variability (HRV) was analyzed as a continuous four-hour period starting 30 min after going to bed for sleep. In relation to average nocturnal heart rate after rest day, increases to 109+/-6% and 130+/-11% of baseline were found after moderate endurance exercise and marathon, respectively. Standard deviation of R-R intervals decreased to 90+/-9% and 64+/-10%, root-mean-square of differences between adjacent R-R intervals to 87+/-10% and 55+/-16%, and high frequency power to 77+/-19% and 34+/-19% of baseline after moderate endurance exercise and marathon, respectively. Also nocturnal low frequency power decreased to 56+/-26% of baseline after the marathon. Changes in nocturnal heart rate and HRV suggest prolonged dose-response effe...

Studies in a Rural General Practice: Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders (SRBD) and altered circadian blood pressure profile are related to increased cardiovascular risk. We investigated the prevalence and coincidence of both diseases in male patients from a general practice in a small community of 2500 people. Out of 409 selected patients (using a questionnaire regarding symptoms and findings of SRBD), 185 were monitored in an outpatient setting with an apnoea-screening system Mesam IV. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (Spacelabs 90207). Holter-ECG and actigraphy were also measured. Sixty patients had a Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) &gt; 10. An indication for further sleep studies was seen in 40 patients; 36.5% of daytime hypertensives were &quot;Non-Dipper&quot;, and 47.6% of normotensives were also &quot;Non-Dipper&quot;. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is an important symptom of SRBD, and in this investigation we noticed a large number of patients without this symptom...

We isolated 24 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers from the tawny frogmouth, a nocturnal bird endemic to Australia, which has successfully adapted to urban environments. Initially, 454 shotgun sequencing was used to identify 733 loci with primers designed. Of these, we trialled 30 in the target species of which all amplified a product of expected size. Subsequently, all 30 of these loci were screened for variation in 25 individuals, from a single population in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Twenty-eight loci were polymorphic with observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.03 to 0.96 (mean 0.58) and the number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 18 (average of 6.5); we confirmed that 24 loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg expectations. The 24 loci identified here will be sufficient to unequivocally identify individuals and will be useful in understanding the reproductive ecology, population genetics and the gene flow amongst localities in urban environments where this bird thrives.

Juvenile and adult reef fishes often undergo migration, ontogenic habitat shifts, and nocturnal foraging movements. The orientation cues used for these behaviours are largely unknown. In this study, the use of sound as an orientation cue guiding the nocturnal movements of adult and juvenile reef fishes at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef was examined. The first experiment compared the movements

The implementation of energy- efficient artificial lighting has been accom- panied by a compelling narrative of savings in economic terms. However, this obscures significant costs to the environment, humans and non-humans. It has also led to higher levels of brightness at night. Integral to this process is the loss of nocturnal atmospheres and ambiances as access to darkness becomes further limited. We need new ways to address this ongoing extinction of experience of the nocturnal commons. Design can provide a valuable role in its ability to explore alter- natives, to speculate on new sensitizations that enable nocturnal urban ambiances to be reimagined. This paper proposes an emerging field of &#39;Dark Design&#39; as advocacy for change of existing beliefs concerning artificial lighting and darkness.

To determine whether sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with cardiac arrhythmia in a clinic-based population with multiple cardiovascular comorbidities and severe SDB. This was a cross-sectional analysis of 697 veterans who underwent polysomnography for suspected SDB. SDB was categorized according to the apnea hypopnea index (AHI): none (AHI&lt;5), mild (5≥AHI&lt;15), and moderate-severe (AHI≥15). Nocturnal cardiac arrhythmias consisted of: (1) complex ventricular ectopy, (CVE: non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, bigeminy, trigeminy, or quadrigeminy), (2) combined supraventricular tachycardia, (CST: atrial fibrillation or supraventricular tachycardia), (3) intraventricular conduction delay (ICD), (4) tachyarrhythmias (ventricular and supraventricular), and (5) any cardiac arrhythmia. Unadjusted, adjusted logistic regression, and Cochran-Armitage testing examined the association between SDB and cardiac arrhythmias. Linear regression models explored the association betw...

Human and non-human behaviours are regulated by cycles of light and dark, while many such behaviours can be detected through sound. This article asks how we might use recordings of light and sound to make the nocturnal urban environment meaningfully legible as a more-than-human biome. It reports on several prototypal methods that bring together art/design practices and fieldwork techniques. The aim of this ongoing work is to raise awareness of the night as an ecology, communicate the multiple temporalities characteristic of a healthy biome and provide tools that can inform responsible urban design interventions that improve the quality of the night from a more-than-human perspective.