Biomechanics of transduction by mechanosensory cilia for prey detection in aquatic organisms.

Surface-feeding aquatic animals navigate towards the source of water disturbances and must differentiate prey from other environmental stimuli. Medicinal leeches locate prey, in part, using a distribution of mechanosensory hairs along their body that deflect under fluid flow. Leech's behavioral responses to surface wave temporal frequency are well documented. However, a surface wave's temporal frequency depends on many underlying environmental and fluid properties that vary substantially in natural habitats (e.g., water depth, temperature). The impact of these variables on neural response and behavior is unknown. Here, we developed a physics-based leech mechanosensor model to examine the impact of environmental and fluid properties on neural response. Our model used the physical properties of a leech cilium and was verified against existing behavioral and electrophysiological data. The model's peak response occurred with waves where the effects of gravity and surface tension were nearly equal (i.e., the phase velocity minimum). This suggests that preferred stimuli are related to the interaction between fundamental properties of the surrounding medium and the mechanical properties of the sensor. This interaction likely tunes the sensor to detect the nondispersive components of the signal, filtering out irrelevant ambient stimuli, and may be a general property of cilia across the animal kingdom.

Navigation by magnetic signatures in a realistic model of Earth's magnetic field.

Certain animal species use the Earth's magnetic field (i.e. magnetoreception) alongside their other sensory modalities to navigate long distances that include continents and oceans. It is hypothesized that several animals use geomagnetic parameters, such as field intensity and inclination, to recognize specific locations or regions, potentially enabling migration without a pre-surveyed map. However, it is unknown how animals use geomagnetic information to generate guidance commands, or where in the world this type of strategy would maximize an animal's fitness. While animal experiments have been invaluable in advancing this area, the phenomenon is difficult to studyin vivoorin situ, especially on the global scale where the spatial layout of the geomagnetic field is not constant. Alongside empirical animal experiments, mathematical modeling and simulation are complementary tools that can be used to investigate animal navigation on a global scale, providing insights that can be informative across a number of species. In this study, we present a model in which a simulated animal (i.e. agent) navigates via an algorithm which determines travel heading based on local and goal magnetic signatures (here, combinations of geomagnetic intensity and inclination) in a realistic model of Earth's magnetic field. By varying parameters of the navigation algorithm, different regions of the world can be made more or less reliable to navigate. We present a mathematical analysis of the system. Our results show that certain regions can be navigated effectively using this strategy when these parameters are properly tuned, while other regions may require more complex navigational strategies. In a real animal, parameters such as these could be tuned by evolution for successful navigation in the animal's natural range. These results could also help with developing engineered navigation systems that are less reliant on satellite-based methods.

Persistent MRI Findings Unique to Blast and Repetitive Mild TBI: Analysis of the CENC/LIMBIC Cohort Injury Characteristics.

INTRODUCTION: MRI represents one of the clinical tools at the forefront of research efforts aimed at identifying diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Both volumetric and diffusion MRI findings in mild TBI (mTBI) are mixed, making the findings difficult to interpret. As such, additional research is needed to continue to elucidate the relationship between the clinical features of mTBI and quantitative MRI measurements. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Volumetric and diffusion imaging data in a sample of 976 veterans and service members from the Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium and now the Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain Injury Consortium observational study of the late effects of mTBI in combat with and without a history of mTBI were examined. A series of regression models with link functions appropriate for the model outcome were used to evaluate the relationships among imaging measures and clinical features of mTBI. Each model included acquisition site, participant sex, and age as covariates. Separate regression models were fit for each region of interest where said region was a predictor. RESULTS: After controlling for multiple comparisons, no significant main effect was noted for comparisons between veterans and service members with and without a history of mTBI. However, blast-related mTBI were associated with volumetric reductions of several subregions of the corpus callosum compared to non-blast-related mTBI. Several volumetric (i.e., hippocampal subfields, etc.) and diffusion (i.e., corona radiata, superior longitudinal fasciculus, etc.) MRI findings were noted to be associated with an increased number of repetitive mTBIs versus. CONCLUSIONS: In deployment-related mTBI, significant findings in this cohort were only observed when considering mTBI sub-groups (blast mechanism and total number/dose). Simply comparing healthy controls and those with a positive mTBI history is likely an oversimplification that may lead to non-significant findings, even in consortium analyses.

Microstructural Organization of Distributed White Matter Associated With Fine Motor Control in US Service Members With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is the most common form of brain injury. While most individuals recover from mTBI, roughly 20% experience persistent symptoms, potentially including reduced fine motor control. We investigate relationships between regional white matter organization and subcortical volumes associated with performance on the Grooved Pegboard (GPB) test in a large cohort of military Service Members and Veterans (SM&Vs) with and without a history of mTBI(s). Participants were enrolled in the Long-term Impact of Military-relevant Brain Injury Consortium-Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium. SM&Vs with a history of mTBI(s) (n = 847) and without mTBI (n = 190) underwent magnetic resonance imaging and the GPB test. We first examined between-group differences in GPB completion time. We then investigated associations between GPB performance and regional structural imaging measures (tractwise diffusivity, subcortical volumes, and cortical thickness) in SM&Vs with a history of mTBI(s). Lastly, we explored whether mTBI history moderated associations between imaging measures and GPB performance. SM&Vs with mTBI(s) performed worse than those without mTBI(s) on the non-dominant hand GPB test at a trend level (p < 0.1). Higher fractional anisotropy (FA) of tracts including the posterior corona radiata, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and uncinate fasciculus were associated with better GPB performance in the dominant hand in SM&Vs with mTBI(s). These findings support that the organization of several white matter bundles are associated with fine motor performance in SM&Vs. We did not observe that mTBI history moderated associations between regional FA and GPB test completion time, suggesting that chronic mTBI may not significantly influence fine motor control.

Subcortical functional connectivity and its association with walking performance following deployment related mild TBI.

Introduction: The relation between traumatic brain injury (TBI), its acute and chronic symptoms, and the potential for remote neurodegenerative disease is a priority for military research. Structural and functional connectivity (FC) of the basal ganglia, involved in motor tasks such as walking, are altered in some samples of Service Members and Veterans with TBI, but any behavioral implications are unclear and could further depend on the context in which the TBI occurred. Methods: In this study, FC from caudate and pallidum seeds was measured in Service Members and Veterans with a history of mild TBI that occurred during combat deployment, Service Members and Veterans whose mild TBI occurred outside of deployment, and Service Members and Veterans who had no lifetime history of TBI. Results: FC patterns differed for the two contextual types of mild TBI. Service Members and Veterans with deployment-related mild TBI demonstrated increased FC between the right caudate and lateral occipital regions relative to both the non-deployment mild TBI and TBI-negative groups. When evaluating the association between FC from the caudate and gait, the non-deployment mild TBI group showed a significant positive relationship between walking time and FC with the frontal pole, implicated in navigational planning, whereas the deployment-related mild TBI group trended towards a greater negative association between walking time and FC within the occipital lobes, associated with visuo-spatial processing during navigation. Discussion: These findings have implications for elucidating subtle motor disruption in Service Members and Veterans with deployment-related mild TBI. Possible implications for future walking performance are discussed.

Functional decomposition of metabolism allows a system-level quantification of fluxes and protein allocation towards specific metabolic functions.

Quantifying the contribution of individual molecular components to complex cellular processes is a grand challenge in systems biology. Here we establish a general theoretical framework (Functional Decomposition of Metabolism, FDM) to quantify the contribution of every metabolic reaction to metabolic functions, e.g. the synthesis of biomass building blocks. FDM allowed for a detailed quantification of the energy and biosynthesis budget for growing Escherichia coli cells. Surprisingly, the ATP generated during the biosynthesis of building blocks from glucose almost balances the demand from protein synthesis, the largest energy expenditure known for growing cells. This leaves the bulk of the energy generated by fermentation and respiration unaccounted for, thus challenging the common notion that energy is a key growth-limiting resource. Moreover, FDM together with proteomics enables the quantification of enzymes contributing towards each metabolic function, allowing for a first-principle formulation of a coarse-grained model of global protein allocation based on the structure of the metabolic network.

Sampling and recovery of infectious SARS-CoV-2 from high-touch surfaces by sponge stick and macrofoam swab.

Effective sampling for severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a common approach for monitoring disinfection efficacy and effective environmental surveillance. This study evaluated sampling efficiency and limits of detection (LODs) of macrofoam swab and sponge stick sampling methods for recovering infectious SARS-CoV-2 and viral RNA (vRNA) from surfaces. Macrofoam swab and sponge stick methods were evaluated for collection of SARS-CoV-2 suspended in a soil load from 6-in2 coupons composed of four materials: stainless steel (SS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, bus seat fabric, and Formica. Recovery of infectious SARS-CoV-2 was more efficient than vRNA recovery on all materials except Formica (macrofoam swab sampling) and ABS (sponge stick sampling). Macrofoam swab sampling recovered significantly more vRNA from Formica than ABS and SS, and sponge stick sampling recovered significantly more vRNA from ABS than Formica and SS, suggesting that material and sampling method choice can affect surveillance results. Time since initial contamination significantly affected infectious virus recovery from all materials, with vRNA recovery showing limited to no difference, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 vRNA can remain detectable after viral infectivity has dissipated. This study showed that a complex relationship exists between sampling method, material, time from contamination to sampling, and recovery of SARS-CoV-2. In conclusion, data show that careful consideration be used when selecting surface types for sampling and interpreting SARS-CoV-2 vRNA recovery with respect to presence of infectious virus.

Stress-induced metabolic exchanges between complementary bacterial types underly a dynamic mechanism of inter-species stress resistance.

Metabolic cross-feeding plays vital roles in promoting ecological diversity. While some microbes depend on exchanges of essential nutrients for growth, the forces driving the extensive cross-feeding needed to support the coexistence of free-living microbes are poorly understood. Here we characterize bacterial physiology under self-acidification and establish that extensive excretion of key metabolites following growth arrest provides a collaborative, inter-species mechanism of stress resistance. This collaboration occurs not only between species isolated from the same community, but also between unrelated species with complementary (glycolytic vs. gluconeogenic) modes of metabolism. Cultures of such communities progress through distinct phases of growth-dilution cycles, comprising of exponential growth, acidification-triggered growth arrest, collaborative deacidification, and growth recovery, with each phase involving different combinations of physiological states of individual species. Our findings challenge the steady-state view of ecosystems commonly portrayed in ecological models, offering an alternative dynamical view based on growth advantages of complementary species in different phases.

Copper-Catalyzed Racemization-Recycle of a Quaternary Center and Optimization Using a Combined Kinetics-DoE/MLR Modeling Approach.

The copper-catalyzed racemization of a complex, quaternary center of a key intermediate on route to lanabecestat has been identified. Optimization and mechanistic understanding were achieved through the use of an efficient, combined kinetic-multiple linear regression approach to experimental design and modeling. The use of a definitive screening design with mechanistically relevant factors and a mixture of fitted kinetic descriptors and empirical measurements facilitated the generation of a model that accurately predicted complex reaction time course behavior. The synergistic model was used to minimize the formation of dimer byproducts, determine optimal conditions for batch operation, and highlight superheated conditions that could be accessed in flow, leading to a further increase in yield which was predicted by the original model.

Vehicle access and falling transit ridership: evidence from Southern California.

We examine pre-COVID declines in transit ridership, using Southern California as a case study. We first illustrate Southern California's unique position in the transit landscape: it is a large transit market that demographically resembles a small one. We then draw on administrative data, travel diaries, rider surveys, accessibility indices, and Census microdata for Southern California, and demonstrate a strong association between rising private vehicle access, particularly among the populations most likely to ride transit, and falling transit use. Because we cannot control quantitatively for the endogeneity between vehicle acquisition and transit use, our results are not causal. Nevertheless, the results strongly suggest that increasing private vehicle access helped depress transit ridership. Given Southern California's similarity to most US transit markets, we conclude that vehicle access may have played a role in transit losses across the US since 2000.

Processes of Multiprofessional Child Protection Decision Making in Hospital Settings: Systematic Narrative Review.

The aim of this systematic narrative literature review is to explore empirical evidence as to how a multiprofessional approach to child protection decision making is implemented in hospitals settings. Child protection cases where there is a suspicious serious injury suspected sexual abuse or serious neglect are often investigated in hospital, involving a number of relevant professions. Five electronic bibliographic databases were used for the search. To be included in the review studies had to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, report on empirical research, be available full text in English, and have used an identifiable research design. The search was restricted to 10 years, from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019, and retrieved 6,934 studies. The review includes 26 studies undertaken in 10 countries. In all the hospital-based settings studied, child protection decision-making tasks were assigned to a designated multiprofessional team. However, there was remarkable diversity in models of team structure, regulation of workflow, structured procedures, and standardized tools through which practice was carried out. Research focused on evaluating the teams' effectiveness in fulfilling their duties which were, first and foremost, the identification of possible child maltreatment. The analysis identifies various systemic approaches and quality improvement methods to promote effective team-based decision-making processes in hospitals. The interactional aspect of collaborative team-based practice was generally missing from the published research. This article discusses next steps for the development of practice, policy, and research to enhance useful multiprofessional child protection team working in hospitals.

Three's a crowd? Examining evolving public transit crowding standards amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically affected public transit systems around the globe. Because transit systems typically move many people closely together on buses and trains, public health guidance demanded that riders should keep a distance of about two meters to others changed the definition of "crowding" on transit in 2020. Accordingly, this research examines how U.S. public transit agencies responded to public health guidance that directly conflicted with their business model. To do this, we examined published crowding standards before the COVID-19 pandemic for a representative sample of 200 transit systems, including whether they started or changed their published standards during the pandemic, as well as the reasons whether agencies publicize such standards at all. We present both descriptive statistics and regression model results to shed light on the factors associated with agency crowding standards. We find that 56% of the agencies surveyed published crowding standards before the pandemic, while only 46% published COVID-19-specific crowding standards. Regression analyses suggest that larger agencies were more likely to publish crowding standards before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, likely because they are more apt to experience crowding. Pandemic-specific crowding standards, by contrast, were associated with a more complex set of factors. We conclude that the relative lack of pandemic standards reflects the uncertainty and fluidity of the public health crisis, inconsistent and at times conflicting with the guidance from public health officials, and, in the U.S., a lack national or transit industry consensus on appropriate crowding standards during the first year of the pandemic.

Pandemic transit: examining transit use changes and equity implications in Boston, Houston, and Los Angeles.

While the COVID-19 pandemic upended many aspects of life as we knew it, its effects on U.S. public transit were especially dramatic. Many former transit commuters began to work from home or switched to traveling via private vehicles. But for those who continued to work outside the home and could not drive-who were more likely low-income and Black or Hispanic-transit remained an important means of mobility. However, most transit agencies reduced service during the first year of the pandemic, reflecting reduced ridership demand, increasing costs, and uncertain budgets. To analyze the effects of the pandemic on transit systems and their users, we examine bus ridership changes by neighborhood in Boston, Houston, and Los Angeles from 2019 to 2020. Combining aggregated stop-level boarding data, passenger surveys, and census data, we identify associations between shifting travel patterns and neighborhoods. We find that early in the pandemic, neighborhoods with more poor and non-white households lost proportionally fewer riders; however, this gap between high- and low-ridership-loss neighborhoods shrank as the pandemic wore on. We also model ridership change controlling for multiple factors. Ridership in Houston and LA generally outperformed Boston, with built environment and demographic factors accounting for some of the observed differences. Neighborhoods with high shares of Hispanic and African American residents retained more riders in the pandemic, while those with higher levels of auto access and with more workers able to work from home lost more riders, all else equal. We conclude that transit's social service role elevated during the pandemic, and that serving travelers in disadvantaged neighborhoods will likely remain paramount emerging from it. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11116-022-10345-1.

A sensitive and specific genetically-encoded potassium ion biosensor for in vivo applications across the tree of life.

Potassium ion (K+) plays a critical role as an essential electrolyte in all biological systems. Genetically-encoded fluorescent K+ biosensors are promising tools to further improve our understanding of K+-dependent processes under normal and pathological conditions. Here, we report the crystal structure of a previously reported genetically-encoded fluorescent K+ biosensor, GINKO1, in the K+-bound state. Using structure-guided optimization and directed evolution, we have engineered an improved K+ biosensor, designated GINKO2, with higher sensitivity and specificity. We have demonstrated the utility of GINKO2 for in vivo detection and imaging of K+ dynamics in multiple model organisms, including bacteria, plants, and mice.

A serotonergic biobehavioral signature differentiates cocaine use disorder participants administered mirtazapine.

Cocaine use disorder (CUD) patients display heterogenous symptoms and unforeseeable responses to available treatment approaches, highlighting the need to identify objective, accessible biobehavioral signatures to predict clinical trial success in this population. In the present experiments, we employed a task-based behavioral and pharmacogenetic-fMRI approach to address this gap. Craving, an intense desire to take cocaine, can be evoked by exposure to cocaine-associated stimuli which can trigger relapse during attempted recovery. Attentional bias towards cocaine-associated words is linked to enhanced effective connectivity (EC) from the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) to hippocampus in CUD participants, an observation which was replicated in a new cohort of participants in the present studies. Serotonin regulates attentional bias to cocaine and the serotonergic antagonist mirtazapine decreased activated EC associated with attentional bias, with greater effectiveness in those CUD participants carrying the wild-type 5-HT2CR gene relative to a 5-HT2CR single nucleotide polymorphism (rs6318). These data suggest that the wild-type 5-HT2CR is necessary for the efficacy of mirtazapine to decrease activated EC in CUD participants and that mirtazapine may serve as an abstinence enhancer to mitigate brain substrates of craving in response to cocaine-associated stimuli in participants with this pharmacogenetic descriptor. These results are distinctive in outlining a richer "fingerprint" of the complex neurocircuitry, behavior and pharmacogenetics profile of CUD participants which may provide insight into success of future medications development projects.

'Getting involved in research': a co-created, co-delivered and co-analysed course for those with lived experience of health and social care services.

BACKGROUND: 'Getting Involved in Research' was co-created and delivered by a multi-organisational group to provide an accessible introduction to research for those with lived experience of health and social care services. METHOD: The evaluation of participants' perceptions adopted an exploratory mixed method research design and aimed to gather data to provide an in-depth understanding of the participants' experience of 'Getting Involved in Research' through the co-researchers' analysis of qualitative data using Participatory Theme Elicitation (PTE). PTE was used with the qualitative data to promote co-analysis by the course development group; analyses from an independent academic was also used to further validate the method of PTE. RESULTS: Thirty-five participants in total participated in 'Getting Involved in Research'. Age ranges varied from 19 to 73 years old. Participants were predominately female (n = 24), five males participated (n = 5) and there was one participant who identified as non-binary (n = 1). Six core themes were identified using the PTE approach: (1) A Meaningful Participatory Approach (2) Increasing the Confidence of Participants (3) Interactive Online Format (4) An Ambient Learning Environment (5) A Desire for Future Courses (6) A Balance of Course Content and Discussion. Participants in 'Getting Involved in Research' reported that the content of the training was applicable, relevant, fostered awareness of research methods and anticipated that it would support their involvement in research. CONCLUSION: 'Getting Involved in Research' has contributed innovatively to the evidence base for how to engage with and motivate those who have experience of health and social care to become actively involved in research. This study demonstrates that 'Getting Involved in Research' may be helpful to train those with lived experience and their care partners however, further research following up on the application of the course learning would be required to ascertain effectiveness. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: Future research should explore methods to apply research skills in practice to further develop participants' confidence in using the skills gained through 'Getting Involved in Research'.

The aim of this study was to gather information to help us understand the experience of participants' undertaking a research course called 'Getting Involved in Research'. A group of individuals including those with lived experience of health and social care services, academics, community and voluntary sector workers and a representative from the Department of Health in Northern Ireland worked together to develop a course to encourage and support people to engage with research. The 'Getting Involved in Research', course was designed to provide an understandable introduction to research for those people with lived experience of health and social care. We did this because research in health and social care sector should involve the patients and public who it is intended to help. The evaluation of the course had two distinct phases; we asked course participants to complete a survey before and after the course (pre- and post-course survey) and also asked them to complete a journal reflecting on their experiences after each lecture. This paper gives an overview of the profile of course participants and their responses to the survey questions. The survey answers were analysed using an approach to analysing information which encourages involvement from people with a range of experience of research methods, (known as Participatory Theme Elicitation). Thirty-five participants in total participated in 'Getting Involved in Research'. Age ranges varied from 19 to 73 years old. Participants were predominately female (n = 24), five males participated (n = 5) and there was one participant who identified as non-binary (n = 1). Participants in 'Getting Involved in Research' reported that the content of the course was relevant, encouraged awareness of research methods and encourage their future involvement in research.

Advanced brain age in deployment-related traumatic brain injury: A LIMBIC-CENC neuroimaging study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is associated with advanced or accelerated brain aging among the United States (US) military Service Members and Veterans. METHODS: Eight hundred and twenty-two participants (mean age = 40.4 years, 714 male/108 female) underwent MRI sessions at eight sites across the US. Two hundred and one participants completed a follow-up scan between five months and four years later. Predicted brain ages were calculated using T1-weighted MRIs and then compared with chronological ages to generate an Age Deviation Score for cross-sectional analyses and an Interval Deviation Score for longitudinal analyses. Participants also completed a neuropsychological battery, including measures of both cognitive functioning and psychological health. RESULT: In cross-sectional analyses, males with a history of deployment-related mTBI showed advanced brain age compared to those without (t(884) = 2.1, p = .038), while this association was not significant in females. In follow-up analyses of the male participants, severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression symptoms, and alcohol misuse were also associated with advanced brain age. CONCLUSION: History of deployment-related mTBI, severity of PTSD and depression symptoms, and alcohol misuse are associated with advanced brain aging in male US military Service Members and Veterans.

Residual antimicrobial coating efficacy against SARS-CoV-2.

AIMS: This study evaluated the residual efficacy of commercially available antimicrobial coatings or films against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on non-porous surfaces. METHODS AND RESULTS: Products were applied to stainless steel or ABS plastic coupons and dried overnight. Coupons were inoculated with SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of 5% soil load. Recovered infectious SARS-CoV-2 was quantified by TCID50 assay. Tested product efficacies ranged from <1.0 to >3.0 log10 reduction at a 2-h contact time. The log10 reduction in recovered infectious SARS-CoV-2 ranged from 0.44 to 3 log10 reduction on stainless steel and 0.25 to >1.67 log10 on ABS plastic. The most effective products tested contained varying concentrations (0.5%-1.3%) of the same active ingredient: 3-(trihydroxysilyl) propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride. Products formulated with other quaternary ammonium compounds were less effective against SARS-CoV-2 in this test. CONCLUSIONS: The residual antimicrobial products tested showed varied effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 as a function of product tested. Several products were identified as efficacious against SARS-CoV-2 on both stainless steel and ABS plastic surfaces under the conditions evaluated. Differences in observed efficacy may be due to variation in active ingredient formulation; efficacy is, therefore, difficult to predict based upon listed active ingredient and its concentration. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT: This study highlights the formulation-specific efficacy of several products against SARS-CoV-2 and may inform future development of residual antiviral products for use on non-porous surfaces. The identification of antimicrobial coatings or films showing promise to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 suggests that these products may be worth future testing and consideration.

Sensation to navigation: a computational neuroscience approach to magnetic field navigation.

Diverse taxa use Earth's magnetic field (i.e., magnetoreception) as a guide during long-distance navigation. However, despite decades of research, specific sensory mechanisms of magnetoreception remain unconfirmed. Necessarily, this has led to theoretical and computational work developing hypotheses of how animals may navigate using magnetoreception. One hypothesized strategy relies on an animal using combinations of magnetic intensity and inclination as a kind of signature to identify a specific region or location. Using these signatures, animals could use a waypoint-based navigation strategy. We show that this navigation strategy is biologically plausible using a close approximation of neural processing to successfully guide an agent in a simulated magnetic field. Moreover, we accomplish this strategy using a processing approach previously utilized for mechanoreception, suggesting processing of Earth's magnetic field may share features with the processing of other, more well-understood sensory systems. Taken together, our results suggest that both for the engineering of novel navigation systems and the study of animal magnetoreception, we should take lessons from other sensory systems.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) functionality: patient and family information for advanced decision-making.

As the number of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) implanted continues to rise, there is a growing challenge to ensure patients and family members are adequately equipped for involvement in future end-of-life decisions concerning their device. OBJECTIVE: To explore patients', family members' and professionals' attitudes and understanding towards discussing ICD deactivation. METHODS: Case study approach using qualitative interviews and framework analysis. A total of 29 qualitative interviews were undertaken, involving patients with a device, family members and healthcare professionals. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis. Data were triangulated with information obtained from the patients' medical records (n=10). RESULTS: Three main themes: (1) Professionals were reluctant to engage in conversations concerning deactivation, particularly prior to implantation, believing this was in the patient's best interest. (2) Patients and family members had limited understanding of the implanted device and its functions. It was frequently perceived as 'life-saving' with any negativity of the shock experience seen as acceptable. (3) All patients wanted the opportunity to discuss deactivation when death was imminent, but were indecisive whether family members should be involved. Similarly, some patients felt the decision to deactivate rested solely with the medical profession while others felt it should be a joint decision between patient, family and clinical team. CONCLUSIONS: Patients and family members require improved communication and information concerning their future treatment plan and functionality of an ICD. A proactive approach to discuss deactivation would enable shared clinical decision-making in the advanced stages of illness.