Modelling the emergence of synchrony from decentralized rhythmic interactions in animal communication

To communicate, an animal's strategic timing of rhythmic signals is crucial. Evolutionary, game-theoretical, and dynamical systems models can shed light on the interaction between individuals and the associated costs and benefits of signalling at a specific time. Mathematical models that study rhythmic interactions from a strategic or evolutionary perspective are rare in animal communication research. But new inspiration may come from a recent game theory model of how group synchrony emerges from local interactions of oscillatory neurons. In the study, the authors analyse when the benefit of joint synchronization outweighs the cost of individual neurons sending electrical signals to each other. They postulate there is a benefit for pairs of neurons to fire together and a cost for a neuron to communicate. The resulting model delivers a variant of a classical dynamical system, the Kuramoto model. Here, we present an accessible overview of the Kuramoto model and evolutionary game theory, and of the 'oscillatory neurons' model. We interpret the model's results and discuss the advantages and limitations of using this particular model in the context of animal rhythmic communication. Finally, we sketch potential future directions and discuss the need to further combine evolutionary dynamics, game theory and rhythmic processes in animal communication studies

Environmental control on the end of the Dolomia Principale/Hauptdolomit depositional system in the central Alps: Coupling sea-level and climate changes

The Norian in the Western Tethys is characterised by the deposition of early-dolomitised inner platform facies (Dolomia Principale/Hauptdolomit, DP/HD), bordered on the landward side by terrigenous coastal deposits (Keuper) and on the seaward side by calcareous backreef and reefal facies (Dachstein Limestone) passing basinward to open-sea sediments (Hallstatt facies). The inner carbonate platform is locally (Lombardy Basin, Carnic Alps, Central Austroalpine) dissected by normal faults leading to the development of intraplatform troughs. Close to the Norian-Rhaetian boundary, sedimentation records an abrupt environmental change both on platform top and basins all over the Western Tethys (e.g. Western Carpathians, Transdanubian Range, Alps, Central Apennine). The top of the Dolomia Principale locally emerged, reflecting a major eustatic sea-level fall. Emersion is recorded in favourable settings by the development of polycyclic paleosols up to 30 m thick. In the Norian intraplatform basins, the succession is capped by 4 to 8 m of thin-bedded, fine-grained limestones yielding abundant remnants of fishes and terrestrial reptiles. Fossil concentration as well as sedimentological features is indicative of reduced sedimentation rates due to decreased carbonate production, induced by the emersion of the platform top. The sea-level fall was followed by deposition of mixed fine-grained siliciclastic-carbonate successions (e.g. Riva di Solto Shale, Kossen beds, "Rhaetavicula contorta beds", Fatra Formation). Stratigraphic evidence indicates a dry climate in the Western Tethys during the Norian, as indicated by the presence of evaporites (Burano, Apennine) and arid to semi-arid coastal to playa settings (Upper Keuper, Germany). In contrast, the basal layers of the basinal shales show evidence of wet climate. The end of the Norian depositional system records two different phenomena: (1) an important sea-level fall was responsible for the emersion of the platform top and deposition of a condensed horizon in the basins: and (2) transition from dry to humid climate. The observed evolution is explained with a global cooling which caused the rapid sea-level fall responsible for the abrupt end of the DP/HD depositional system and the shift of the boundary between arid and temperate climate belts, which modified the distribution and amount of rainfall, triggering the deposition of shales along the Western Tethys margin

PyGellermann: a Python tool to generate pseudorandom series for human and non-human animal behavioural experiments

Objective Researchers in animal cognition, psychophysics, and experimental psychology need to randomise the presentation order of trials in experimental sessions. In many paradigms, for each trial, one of two responses can be correct, and the trials need to be ordered such that the participant's responses are a fair assessment of their performance. Specifically, in some cases, especially for low numbers of trials, randomised trial orders need to be excluded if they contain simple patterns which a participant could accidentally match and so succeed at the task without learning.Results We present and distribute a simple Python software package and tool to produce pseudorandom sequences following the Gellermann series. This series has been proposed to pre-empt simple heuristics and avoid inflated performance rates via false positive responses. Our tool allows users to choose the sequence length and outputs a.csv file with newly and randomly generated sequences. This allows behavioural researchers to produce, in a few seconds, a pseudorandom sequence for their specific experiment. PyGellermann is available at https://github.com/YannickJad oul/PyGellermann

Large-scale progradation, demise and rebirth of a high-relief carbonate platform (Triassic, Lombardy Southern Alps, Italy)

The Upper Anisian to Early Carnian succession of the Middle Val Brembana-Pegherolo Massif (Central Southern Alps of Italy) records a complete depositional cycle from platform inception to growth, demise and rebirth. The depositional architecture of this system reflects different evolutionary stages: an inception stage which postdates a previous drowning of an Anisian carbonate platform with progradation of the carbonate platform from the nucleation areas, an aggradational stage with increasing water depth in the basins, a progradational stage where steep slopes composed of margin-derived breccias develop and a final crisis corresponding to the subaerial exposure of the platform top, followed by the deposition of shales in the basin before the rebirth of a different type of carbonate factory. The record of this evolution reflects the effects of the change in accommodation space (interplay of subsidence and eustacy), which controls the type and storage sites of the sediments produced by the carbonate factory. The effects of the changes in accommodation space are recorded in the shallow water platform as well as in the intraplatform basins, where the sediments, delivered at different rates from the platform top are stored. As a consequence, the aggradational stage corresponds to reduced sedimentation in the basins (i.e. sediments are stored on the platform top) whereas during progradation resedimented limestones are more common in the basin. Subaerial exposure rapidly halted the carbonate production on the platform top, while a major input of shales (probably reflecting a climate change and/or lowering of the base level) is recorded in the basin, where shales onlap the slope of the previous carbonate system. The rebirth of the carbonate factory after subaerial exposure of the platform top is characterized by a different composition of the carbonate factory, probably reflecting changes of the environmental conditions. The step-by-step recording of the evolution of the carbonate system represents a unique opportunity to record a seismic-scale complete evolutionary cycle of a carbonate system in its different sub-environments, from the platform top to the basin

Vocal plasticity in harbour seal pups

Vocal plasticity can occur in response to environmental and biological factors, including conspecifics' vocalizations and noise. Pinnipeds are one of the few mammalian groups capable of vocal learning, and are therefore relevant to understanding the evolution of vocal plasticity in humans and other animals. Here, we investigate the vocal plasticity of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina), a species with vocal learning abilities observed in adulthood but not puppyhood. To evaluate early mammalian vocal development, we tested 1–3 weeks-old seal pups. We tailored noise playbacks to this species and age to induce seal pups to shift their fundamental frequency (f0), rather than adapt call amplitude or temporal characteristics. We exposed individual pups to low- and high-intensity bandpass-filtered noise, which spanned—and masked—their typical range of f0; simultaneously, we recorded pups' spontaneous calls. Unlike most mammals, pups modified their vocalizations by lowering their f0 in response to increased noise. This modulation was precise and adapted to the particular experimental manipulation of the noise condition. In addition, higher levels of noise induced less dispersion around the mean f0, suggesting that pups may have actively focused their phonatory efforts to target lower frequencies. Noise did not seem to affect call amplitude. However, one seal showed two characteristics of the Lombard effect known for human speech in noise: significant increase in call amplitude and flattening of spectral tilt. Our relatively low noise levels may have favoured f0 modulation while inhibiting amplitude adjustments. This lowering of f0 is unusual, as most animals commonly display no such f0 shift. Our data represent a relatively rare case in mammalian neonates, and have implications for the evolution of vocal plasticity and vocal learning across species, including humans

The influence of petrography, mineralogy and chemistry on burnability and reactivity of quicklime produced in Twin Shaft Regenerative (TSR) kilns from Neoarchean limestone (Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa)

This study evaluates the influence of chemical, mineralogical and petrographic features of the Neoarchean limestone from the Ouplaas Mine (Griqualand West, South Africa) on its burnability and quicklime reactivity, considering the main use as raw material for high-grade lime production in twin shaft regenerative (TSR) kilns. This limestone consists of laminated clotted peloidal micrite and fenestrate microbial boundstone with herringbone calcite and organic carbon (kerogen) within stylolites. Diagenetic modifications include hypidiotopic dolomite, micrite to microsparite recrystallization, stylolites, poikilotopic calcite, chert and saddle dolomite replacements. Burning and technical tests widely attest that the Neoarchean limestone is sensitive to high temperature, showing an unusual and drastically pronounced sintering or overburning tendency. The slaking reactivity, according to EN 459-2 is high for lime burnt at 1050 A degrees C, but rapidly decreases for lime burnt at 1150 A degrees C. The predominant micritic microbial textures, coupled with the organic carbon, are key-factors influencing the low burnability and the high sintering tendency. The presence of burial cementation, especially poikilotopic calcite, seems to promote higher burnability, either in terms of starting calcination temperature, or in terms of higher carbonate dissociation rate. In fact, the highest calcination velocity determined by thermal analysis is consistent with the highest slaking reactivity of the lower stratum of the quarry, enriched in poikilotopic calcite. Secondly, locally concentered dolomitic marly limestones, and sporadic back shales negatively affects the quicklime reactivity, as well. This study confirms that a multidisciplinary analytical approach is essential for selecting the best raw mix for achieving the highest lime reactivity in TSR kilns

I sistemi carbonatici giurassici della Sardegna orientale (Golfo di Orosei) ed eventi deposizionali nel sistema carbonatico giurassico-cretacico della Nurra (Sardegna nord-occidentale)

This field trip gives a panoramic of the facies association and sedimentological-stratigraphic evolution of Jurassic-Cretaceous depositional systems of eastern (Golfo di Orosei) and western (Nurra) Sardinia. Carbonate deposition in western Sardinia occurred in an epeiric sea during Jurassic and Cretaceous whereas carbonates of the eastern Sardinia figure out a complex depositional settings with intraplatformal basins facing the Alpine Tethys from a basal transgression in the Bajocian to Berriasian. The presence of partly coeval succession allows a comparison between these two depositional systems and highlights relation with global and regional events. The Jurassic-Cretaceous carbonate succession of Sardinia shows similarities with coeval succession of the Provencal-Pyrenean domain (Nurra), nevertheless differences, both in terms of facies characters and distribution and range of stratigraphic gaps, occur between the successions of eastern Sardinia. These differences can be ascribed to different paleogeographic and depositional settings

Managing the symptom burden associated with maintenance dialysis: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference

Individuals with kidney failure undergoing maintenance dialysis frequently report a high symptom burden that can interfere with functioning and diminish life satisfaction. Until recently, the focus of nephrology care for dialysis patients has been related primarily to numerical targets for laboratory measures, and outcomes such as cardiovascular disease and mortality. Routine symptom assessment is not universal or standardized in dialysis care. Even when symptoms are identified, treatment options are limited and are initiated infrequently, in part because of a paucity of evidence in the dialysis population and the complexities of medication interactions in kidney failure. In May of 2022, Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) held a Controversies Conference-Symptom-Based Complications in Dialysis-to identify the optimal means for diagnosing and managing symptom-based complications in patients undergoing maintenance dialysis. Participants included patients, physicians, behavioral therapists, nurses, pharmacists, and clinical researchers. They outlined foundational principles and consensus points related to identifying and addressing symptoms experienced by patients undergoing dialysis and described gaps in the knowledge base and priorities for research. Healthcare delivery and education systems have a responsibility to provide individualized symptom assessment and management. Nephrology teams should take the lead in symptom management, although this does not necessarily mean taking ownership of all aspects of care. Even when options for clinical response are limited, clinicians should focus on acknowledging, prioritizing, and managing symptoms that are most important to individual patients. A recognized factor in the initiation and implementation of improvements in symptom assessment and management is that they will be based on locally existing needs and resources

Patient and Caregiver Priorities for Outcomes in CKD: A Multinational Nominal Group Technique Study

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at an increased risk for premature death, cardiovascular disease, and burdensome symptoms that impair quality of life. We aimed to identify patient and caregiver priorities for outcomes in CKD. STUDY DESIGN: Focus groups with nominal group technique. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients with CKD (all stages) and caregivers in the United States, Australia, and United Kingdom. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Participants identified, ranked, and discussed outcomes that were important during the stages of CKD before kidney replacement therapy. For each outcome, we calculated a mean importance score (scale, 0-1). Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: 67 (54 patients, 13 caregivers) participated in 10 groups and identified 36 outcomes. The 5 top-ranked outcomes for patients were kidney function (importance score, 0.42), end-stage kidney disease (0.29), fatigue (0.26), mortality (0.25), and life participation (0.20); and for caregivers, the top 5 outcomes were life participation (importance score, 0.38), kidney function (0.37), mortality (0.23), fatigue (0.21), and anxiety (0.20). Blood pressure, cognition, and depression were consistently ranked in the top 10 outcomes across role (patient/caregiver), country, and treatment stage. Five themes were identified: re-evaluating and reframing life, intensified kidney consciousness, battling unrelenting and debilitating burdens, dreading upheaval and constraints, and taboo and unspoken concerns. LIMITATIONS: Only English-speaking participants were included. CONCLUSIONS: Patients and caregivers gave highest priority to kidney function, mortality, fatigue, life participation, anxiety, and depression. Consistent reporting of these outcomes in research may inform shared decision making based on patient and caregiver priorities in CKD