A mathematical approach using a thoracic temperature sensor for detecting human circadian rhythms

Abstract : The 24-hour biological rhythms known as circadian rhythms have been a fast-growing field of research for decades. Recently, the study of circadian rhythms has become important and promising for medical research, especially in the field of cancer treatment. This is due to the fact that perturbations in circadian rhythms have been associated with the progression of cancer and wrongly timed chemotherapy sessions. In addition, the study of the myriad circadian rhythms can be implicated in many areas of research in both biology and medicine. Analysis of circadian rhythms has relied on mathematical methods such as Fourier analysis and Cosinor analysis for the purpose of rhythm detection and parameter estimation. Yet many researchers in biology and medicine are not experts in the implementation and computerization of these mathematical approaches. In this context, this study aims at developing graphical user interface software that comprise Fourier analysis and Cosinor analysis in a clear and systematic manner that, with a click of a button, aids researchers in studying a set of rhythms including biological rhythms.