Thermal contrast enhancement predicts paradoxical heat sensation.

Paradoxical Heat Sensation (PHS) is the remarkable feeling of warmth or heat pain while the skin is cooling. Despite its initial documentation over 100 years ago, a unified explanation for this perplexing experience remains elusive. Here we apply contrast enhancement principles, known for their instrumental role in understanding visual illusions, to the domain of thermosensation. Contrast enhancement describes the amplification of two contrasting visual features, such as the enhanced perception of an edge between a light and dark bar. In thermosensation, this encompasses an enhancement of the difference between sequential warming and cooling of the skin, and is defined as the normalised difference between successive temporal warm and cold temperatures. Remarkably, thermal contrast predicts the occurrence of PHS. Our findings reveal compelling evidence supporting the role of thermal contrast in the generation of PHS, shedding light on its underlying mechanism and offering a framework for broader encoding principles in thermosensation and pain.

Disentangling the spinal mechanisms of illusory heat and burning sensations in the thermal grill illusion.

ABSTRACT: The thermal grill illusion (TGI), a phenomenon in which the juxtaposition of innocuous warm and cold temperatures on the skin elicits a burning sensation, offers a unique perspective to how pain occurs in response to harmless stimuli. We investigated the role of the spinal cord in the generation of the TGI across 2 experiments (total n = 80). We applied heat and cold stimuli to dermatomes, areas of skin innervated by a single spinal nerve, that mapped onto adjacent or nonadjacent spinal segments. Enhanced warm and burning ratings during the TGI were observed when cold and warm stimuli were confined within the same dermatome. Furthermore, we found the spatial organisation of warm and cold stimuli within and across dermatomes affected TGI perception. Perceived warmth and burning intensity increased when the cold stimulus projected to the segment more caudal to the warm stimulus, whereas perceived cold during the TGI decreased compared with the opposite spatial arrangement. This suggests that the perception of TGI is enhanced when cold afferents are projected to spinal segments positioned caudally in relation to those receiving warm afferents. Our results indicate distinct interaction of sensory pathways based on the segmental arrangement of afferent fibres and are consistent with current interpretations of the spread and integration of thermosensory information along the spinal cord.

Analysis of eligibility criteria in Alzheimer's and related dementias clinical trials.

Overly restrictive clinical trial eligibility criteria can reduce generalizability, slow enrollment, and disproportionately exclude historically underrepresented populations. The eligibility criteria for 196 Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) trials funded by the National Institute on Aging were analyzed to identify common criteria and their potential to disproportionately exclude participants by race/ethnicity. The trials were categorized by type (48 Phase I/II pharmacological, 7 Phase III/IV pharmacological, 128 non-pharmacological, 7 diagnostic, and 6 neuropsychiatric) and target population (51 AD/ADRD, 58 Mild Cognitive Impairment, 25 at-risk, and 62 cognitively normal). Eligibility criteria were coded into the following categories: Medical, Neurologic, Psychiatric, and Procedural. A literature search was conducted to describe the prevalence of disparities for eligibility criteria for African Americans/Black (AA/B), Hispanic/Latino (H/L), American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NH/PI) populations. The trials had a median of 15 criteria. The most frequent criterion were age cutoffs (87% of trials), specified neurologic (65%), and psychiatric disorders (61%). Underrepresented groups could be disproportionately excluded by 16 eligibility categories; 42% of trials specified English-speakers only in their criteria. Most trials (82%) contain poorly operationalized criteria (i.e., criteria not well defined that can have multiple interpretations/means of implementation) and criteria that may reduce racial/ethnic enrollment diversity.

Beyond bias: A registered examination of the validity of using line bisection to measure non-lateralised attention.

Line bisection is a task widely used to assess lateral asymmetries of attention, in which participants are asked to mark the midpoint of a horizontal line. The directional bisection error (DBE) from the objective midpoint of the line is the traditional measure of performance. However, an alternative method of studying the bisection behaviour, the endpoint weightings method, has been proposed. This method produces two measures of performance: endpoint weightings bias (EWB) and endpoint weightings sum (EWS). While EWB measures attentional asymmetry, it has been suggested that EWS quantifies the total (non-lateralised) attention allocated to the task. If EWS provides a valid index of non-lateralised attention, then changes in tonic and phasic arousal should systematically affect EWS. In this article, we formally tested this prediction, using time on task to manipulate tonic arousal and unpredictable auditory tones, presented simultaneously with line stimuli, to manipulate phasic arousal. Our registered analyses revealed that neither of our manipulations for tonic or phasic arousal significantly influenced EWS. Therefore, the null hypotheses cannot be rejected. An exploratory analysis of all trials and conditions revealed a significant reduction in EWS with time spent on task. However, the lack of any significant effect of the alerting tone on EWS suggests that EWS may not be a valid measure of generalised attention to the task.

How prepared are newly qualified allied health professionals for practice in the UK? A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: It is important that allied health professionals (AHPs) are prepared for clinical practice from the very start of their working lives to provide quality care for patients, for their personal well-being and for retention of the workforce. The aim of this study was to understand how well newly qualified AHPs were prepared for practice in the UK. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC and BEI were searched from 2012 to 2024. Grey literature searching and citation chasing were also conducted. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We included primary studies reporting the preparedness for practice of UK graduates across 15 professions; all study types; participants included graduates who were up to 2 years postgraduation, their supervisors, trainers, practice educators and employers; and all outcome measures. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: A standardised data extraction form was used. Studies were quality assessed using the Quality Appraisal for Diverse Studies tool. 10% of articles were independently double-screened, extracted and quality assessed; 90% was completed by one researcher. RESULTS: 14 reports were included (9 qualitative, 3 mixed-method and 2 quantitative). Six papers focused on radiographers, three on a mixture of professions, two on paramedics, and one each on physiotherapists, clinical psychologists and orthotists. An important finding of the review is the paucity and low-medium quality of research on the topic. The narrative synthesis tentatively suggests that graduates are adequately prepared for practice with different professions having different strengths and weaknesses. Common areas of underpreparedness across the professions were responsibility and decision-making, leadership and research. Graduates were generally well prepared in terms of their knowledge base. CONCLUSION: High-quality in-depth research is urgently needed across AHPs to elucidate the specific roles, their nuances and the areas of underpreparedness. Further work is also needed to understand the transition into early clinical practice, ongoing learning opportunities through work, and the supervision and support structures in place. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022382065.

Prevalence of Perinatal Anxiety and Related Disorders in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Anxiety disorders are associated with poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. Women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are thought to be disproportionally burdened by these disorders, yet their prevalence is unclear. Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of 6 anxiety and related disorders among perinatal women in LMICs. Data Sources: Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception until September 7, 2023. Study Selection: Studies conducted in World Bank-defined LMICs and reporting prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, or adjustment disorder during the perinatal period (conception to 12 months post partum) using a validated method were included. Data Extraction and Synthesis: This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guideline. Study eligibility, extracted data, and risk of bias of included studies were assessed by 2 independent reviewers. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled point prevalence. Subgroup analyses were performed by specific anxiety disorder. Main Outcomes and Measures: Main outcomes were prevalence estimates of each anxiety disorder, measured as percentage point estimates and corresponding 95% CIs. Results: At total of 10 617 studies were identified, 203 of which met the inclusion criteria and reported the outcomes of 212 318 women from 33 LMICs. Generalized anxiety disorder was the most reported (184 studies [90.6%]) and most prevalent disorder at 22.2% (95% CI, 19.4%-25.0%; n = 173 553). Posttraumatic stress disorder was the second most prevalent (8.3%; 95% CI, 5.0%-12.2%; 33 studies; n = 22 452). Adjustment disorder was least prevalent (2.9%; 95% CI, 0.0%-14.1%; 2 studies; n = 475). The prevalence of generalized anxiety varied by country income status, with the highest prevalence among lower-middle-income countries (27.6%; 95% CI, 21.6%-33.9%; 59 studies; n = 25 109), followed by low-income (24.0%; 95% CI, 15.3%-33.8%; 11 studies; n = 4961) and upper-middle-income (19.1%; 95% CI, 16.0%-22.4%; 110 studies; n = 138 496) countries. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that 1 in 5 women living in LMICs experience anxiety disorders during pregnancy and post partum. Targeted action is needed to reduce this high burden.

Antimicrobial Fe2O3-CuO-P2O5 glasses.

Glasses with high antimicrobial efficacy were developed in the Fe2O3-CuO-P2O5 ternary system to mitigate fomite-mediated transmission of infectious diseases in high-risk settings such as hospitals, daycares, and nursing homes. Binary CuO-P2O5 glasses were not durable enough for use as high touch point articles, so Fe2O3 was added to the compositions to increase the chemical durability. The amount of Cu leachate decreased by at least 3 orders of magnitude when Fe2O3 was increased from 0 to 13.1 mol%. At the highest Fe2O3 contents and corresponding highest durability, the glass was no longer able to pass a test of antimicrobial efficacy with < 3 log kill compared to > 5 log kill for all other compositions. Ab-initio molecular dynamics simulations showed increasing bridging oxygen species at the expense of non-bridging oxygen species with the increase in Fe2O3 content, showing that the glasses exhibited increased chemical durability because they were more interconnected and structurally bound. Experimental results with glasses at fixed CuO and decreasing Fe2O3 confirmed that Fe2O3 content (not CuO) controlled the Cu release rate and, thus, the antimicrobial efficacy of the glasses. The significance of the oxidation state of the leached Cu was overwhelmed by the importance of the amount of Cu leachate.

No short-term treatment effect of prism adaptation for spatial neglect: An inclusive meta-analysis.

Despite 25 years of research on the topic, there is still no consensus on whether prism adaptation is an effective therapy for visuospatial neglect. We have addressed this question through a meta-analysis of the most well-controlled studies on the topic. Our main meta-analytic model included studies with a placebo/sham/treatment-as-usual control group from which data from right hemisphere stroke patients and left-sided neglect could be aggregated. The short-term treatment effects on the two commonly used standard tests for neglect, the conventional Behavioural Inattention Test (BIT-C) and cancellation test scores were combined into one random effect model justified by the fact that 89% of the BIT-C score is determined by cancellation tasks. With this approach, we were able to obtain a larger and more homogeneous dataset than previous meta-analyses: sixteen studies including 430 patients. No evidence for beneficial effects of prism adaptation was found. The secondary meta-analysis including data from the Catherine Bergego Scale, a functional measure of activities of daily living, also found no evidence for the therapeutic effects of prism adaptation, although half as many studies were available for this analysis. The results were consistent after the removal of influential outliers, after studies with high risk-of-bias were excluded, and when an alternative measure of effect size was considered. These results do not support the routine use of prism adaptation as a therapy for spatial neglect.

Comparison of Maternal Labor-Related Complications and Neonatal Outcomes Following Elective Induction of Labor at 39 Weeks of Gestation vs Expectant Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Elective induction of labor at 39 weeks of gestation is common. Thus, there is a need to assess maternal labor-related complications and neonatal outcomes associated with elective induction of labor. Objective: To examine maternal labor-related complications and neonatal outcomes following elective induction of labor at 39 weeks compared with expectant management. Data Sources: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Cochrane Central Library, World Health Organization, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases and registries to search for articles published between database inception and December 8, 2022. Study Selection: This systematic review and meta-analysis included randomized clinical trials, cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies reporting perinatal outcomes following induction of labor at 39 weeks vs expectant management. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility, extracted data, and assessed studies for bias. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated using a random-effects model. This study is reported per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses 2020 guideline, and the protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO. Main Outcomes and Measures: Maternal outcomes of interest included emergency cesarean section, perineal injury, postpartum hemorrhage, and operative vaginal birth. Neonatal outcomes of interest included admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, low 5-minute Apgar score (<7) after birth, macrosomia, and shoulder dystocia. Results: Of the 5827 records identified in the search, 14 studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. These studies reported outcomes for 1 625 899 women birthing a singleton pregnancy. Induction of labor at 39 weeks of gestation was associated with a 37% reduced likelihood of third- or fourth-degree perineal injury (OR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.49-0.81]), in addition to reductions in operative vaginal birth (OR, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.79-0.97]), macrosomia (OR, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.48-0.91]), and low 5-minute Apgar score (OR, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.40-0.96]). Results were similar when confined to multiparous women only, with the addition of a substantial reduction in the likelihood of emergency cesarean section (OR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.38-0.98]) and no difference in operative vaginal birth (OR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.84-1.21]). However, among nulliparous women only, induction of labor was associated with an increased likelihood of shoulder dystocia (OR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.02-1.46]) compared with expectant management. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, induction of labor at 39 weeks was associated with improved maternal labor-related and neonatal outcomes. However, among nulliparous women, induction of labor was associated with shoulder dystocia. These results suggest that elective induction of labor at 39 weeks may be safe and beneficial for some women; however, potential risks should be discussed with nulliparous women.

Prevalence of Perinatal Depression in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Women who experience depression during or within a year of pregnancy are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Although those living in low- and middle-income countries are thought to be at increased risk of perinatal depression, the true prevalence remains unclear. Objective: To determine the prevalence of depression among individuals living in low- and middle-income countries during pregnancy and up 1 year post partum. Data Sources: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched from database inception until April 15, 2021. Study Selection: Studies were included that reported the prevalence of depression using a validated method during pregnancy or up to 12 months post partum in countries defined by the World Bank as low, lower-middle, and upper-middle income. Data Extraction and Synthesis: This study followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline. Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility, extracted data, and assessed studies for bias. Prevalence estimates were calculated using a random-effects meta-analysis model. Subgroup analyses were performed among women who were considered at increased risk of developing perinatal depression. Main Outcomes and Measures: Point prevalence of perinatal depression was the main outcome measured as percentage point estimates with corresponding 95% CIs. Results: The search identified 8106 studies, of which data were extracted from 589 eligible studies reporting outcomes of 616 708 women from 51 countries. The pooled prevalence of perinatal depression across all studies was 24.7% (95% CI, 23.7%-25.6%). The prevalence of perinatal depression varied slightly by country income status. The highest prevalence was found in lower-middle-income countries, with a pooled prevalence of 25.5% (95% CI, 23.8%-27.1%; 197 studies from 23 countries including 212 103 individuals). In upper-middle-income countries, the pooled prevalence was 24.7% (95% CI, 23.6%-25.9%; 344 studies from 21 countries including 364 103 individuals) and in low-income countries, the pooled prevalence was 20.7% (95% CI, 18.4%-23.0%; 50 studies from 7 countries including 40 502 individuals). The East Asia and the Pacific region had the lowest prevalence of perinatal depression at 21.4% (95% CI, 19.8%-23.1%) and was significantly increased in the Middle East and North Africa at 31.5% (95% CI, 26.9%-36.2%; between-group comparison: P < .001). In subgroup analyses, the highest prevalence of perinatal depression was found among women who experienced intimate partner violence, at 38.9% (95% CI, 34.1%-43.6%). revalence of depression was also high among women with HIV (35.1% [95% CI, 29.6%-40.6%]) and those who had experienced a natural disaster (34.8% [95% CI, 29.4%-40.2%]). Conclusions and Relevance: This meta-analysis found that depression was common in low- and middle-income countries, affecting 1 in 4 perinatal women. Accurate estimates of the prevalence of perinatal depression in low- and middle-income countries are essential in informing policy, allocating scarce resources, and directing further research to improve outcomes for women, infants, and families.

Healthcare professionals' perspectives on dietary advice provided to people with an ileostomy.

BACKGROUND: Diet is a common concern among people with an ileostomy as it can be associated with serious and burdensome complications, for example, dehydration and obstruction, and dietary advice is often unsatisfactory. In this study, we explored healthcare professionals' (HCPs) perspectives on dietary advice for ileostomy management. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with HCPs, from multiple professions, who provide dietary advice to patients with an ileostomy. A framework approach to thematic analysis was used to understand and compare HCPs' experiences, beliefs and attitudes that influence how dietary advice is provided and the effectiveness of dietary management. RESULTS: Findings from interviews with 21 HCPs, across 3 hospitals, related to 7 key themes: tailoring of dietary advice to the patient, patient autonomy and communication, HCP knowledge and understanding, patient pathway, mixed messages, access to formal and social support and patient understanding and relationship with dietary advice. Profession was a strong determinator of what and how dietary advice is provided; however, closer team working increased consistency in dietary advice. Lack of scientific research and consensus contributes to mixed messages and reduced confidence in dietary advice for people with an ileostomy. Due to individual differences between patients, experiential learning with diet is key to self-management and is encouraged in a controlled way by HCPs; however, a lack of 'one-size-fits-all' guidance can be difficult for some. CONCLUSION: The study findings should inform HCPs caring for patients with an ileostomy, and researchers designing and evaluating interventions, to improve how patients receive dietary advice for ileostomy management.

Diet After Ileostomy Study: an observational study describing dietary intake and stoma-related symptoms in people with an ileostomy.

BACKGROUND: People with ileostomy are frequently advised to avoid specific foods and food groups, making it plausible that they are at risk of a range of nutrition-related adverse health consequences. Despite this there has been no recent study in the United Kingdom describing dietary intake, symptoms and food avoidance in people with ileostomy or post-reversal. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at different time points in people with ileostomy and reversal. Participants were recruited at 6-10 weeks post-formation (n = 17) and ≥12 months with established ileostomy (n = 16) and with reversal (n = 20). In all participants, ileostomy/bowel-related symptoms in the previous week were assessed using a study-specific questionnaire. Dietary intake was assessed using three online diet recalls or 3-day dietary records. Food avoidance and reasons for food avoidance were assessed. Data were summarised using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Participants reported a few ileostomy/bowel-related symptoms in the previous week. However, over 85% of participants reported avoiding foods, particularly fruits and vegetables. At 6-10 weeks the most common reason was being advised to do so (71%), although 53% avoided foods due to gas. At ≥12 months the most common reasons were foods visible in the bag (60%) or advised to do so (60%). Reported intakes of most nutrients were comparable to population medians, apart from lower fibre in people with ileostomy. Intakes of free sugars and saturated fats were above recommended levels in all groups, due to high consumption of cakes and biscuits and sugar-sweetened drinks. CONCLUSION: After the initial healing period, foods should not be automatically excluded unless found to be problematic after reintroduction. There may be a need for healthy eating advice for people with established ileostomies and post-reversal, targeting discretionary high-fat, high-sugar foods.

A registered re-examination of the effects of leftward prism adaptation on landmark judgements in healthy people.

It has long been known that active adaptation to a shift of the visual field, caused by laterally-displacing prisms, induces short-term sensorimotor aftereffects. More recent evidence suggests that prism adaptation may also stimulate higher-level changes in spatial cognition, which can modify the spatial biases of healthy people. The first reported, and most replicated, higher-level aftereffect is a rightward shift in the point of subjective equality (PSE) for a perceptual bisection task (the landmark task), following adaptation to leftward prisms. A recent meta-analysis suggests that this visuospatial aftereffect should be robustly induced by an extended period of adaptation to strong leftward prisms (15°, ∼26.8 prism dioptres). However, we have been unable to replicate this effect, suggesting that the effect size estimated from prior literature might be over-optimistic. This Registered Report compared visuospatial aftereffects on the landmark task for a 15° leftward prism adaptation group (n = 102) against a sham-adaptation control group (n = 102). The effect size for the comparison was Cohen's d = .27, 95% CI [-.01, .55], which did not pass the criterion set for significance. A Bayesian analysis indicated that the data were more than 4.1 times as likely under the null than under an informed experimental hypothesis. Exploratory analyses showed no evidence for a rightward shift of landmark judgements in the prism group considered alone, and no relationship between sensorimotor and visuospatial aftereffects. We further found no support for previous suggestions that visuospatial aftereffects are modulated by a person's baseline bias (leftward or rightward) for the landmark task. Null findings are also presented for a preliminary group of 62 participants adapted to 15° leftward prisms, and an additional group of 29 participants adapted to 10° leftward prisms. We do not rule out the possibility that leftward prisms might induce higher-level visuospatial aftereffects in healthy people, but we should be more sceptical about this claim.

Adjusting growth standards for fetal sex improves correlation of small babies with stillbirth and adverse perinatal outcomes: A state-wide population study.

OBJECTIVES: Sex impacts birthweight, with male babies heavier on average. Birthweight charts are thus sex specific, but ultrasound fetal weights are often reported by sex neutral standards. We aimed to identify what proportion of infants would be re-classified as SGA if sex-specific charts were used, and if this had a measurable impact on perinatal outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study including all infants born in Victoria, Australia, from 2005-2015 (529,261 cases). We applied GROW centiles, either adjusted or not adjusted for fetal sex. We compared overall SGA populations, and the populations of males considered small by sex-specific charts only (SGAsex-only), and females considered small by sex-neutral charts only (SGAunadjust-only). RESULTS: Of those <10th centile by sex-neutral charts, 39.6% were male and 60.5% female, but using sex-specific charts, 50.3% were male and 49.7% female. 19.2% of SGA females were reclassified as average for gestational age (AGA) using sex-specific charts. These female newborns were not at increased risk of stillbirth, combined perinatal mortality, NICU admissions, low Apgars or emergency CS compared with an AGA infant, but were at greater risk of being iatrogenically delivered on suspicion of growth restriction. 25.0% male infants were reclassified as SGA by sex-specific charts. These male newborns, compared to the AGAall infant, were at greater risk of stillbirth (RR 1.94, 95%CI 1.30-2.90), combined perinatal mortality (RR 1.80, 95%CI 1.26-2.57), NICU admissions (RR 1.38, 95%CI 1.12-1.71), Apgars <7 at 5 minutes (RR 1.40, 95%CI 1.25-1.56) and emergency CS (RR 1.12, 95%CI 1.06-1.18). CONCLUSIONS: Use of growth centiles not adjusted for fetal sex disproportionately classifies female infants as SGA, increasing their risk of unnecessary intervention, and fails to identify a cohort of male infants at increased risk of adverse outcomes, including stillbirth. Sex-specific charts may help inform decisions and improve outcomes.

Proprioceptive contribution to oculomotor control in humans.

Stretch receptors in the extraocular muscles (EOMs) inform the central nervous system about the rotation of one's own eyes in the orbits. Whereas fine control of the skeletal muscles hinges critically on proprioceptive feedback, the role of proprioception in oculomotor control remains unclear. Human behavioural studies provide evidence for EOM proprioception in oculomotor control, however, behavioural and electrophysiological studies in the macaque do not. Unlike macaques, humans possess numerous muscle spindles in their EOMs. To find out whether the human oculomotor nuclei respond to proprioceptive feedback we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). With their eyes closed, participants placed their right index finger on the eyelid at the outer corner of the right eye. When prompted by a sound, they pushed the eyeball gently and briefly towards the nose. Control conditions separated out motor and tactile task components. The stretch of the right lateral rectus muscle was associated with activation of the left oculomotor nucleus and subthreshold activation of the left abducens nucleus. Because these nuclei control the horizontal movements of the left eye, we hypothesized that proprioceptive stimulation of the right EOM triggered left eye movement. To test this, we followed up with an eye-tracking experiment in complete darkness using the same behavioural task as in the fMRI study. The left eye moved actively in the direction of the passive displacement of the right eye, albeit with a smaller amplitude. Eye tracking corroborated neuroimaging findings to suggest a proprioceptive contribution to ocular alignment.

On line bisection: Validity and reliability of online measures of pseudoneglect.

This study assessed pseudoneglect using line bisection and perceptual landmark tasks in two matched online sessions. Line bisection bias was characterized by the traditional measure of Directional Bisection Error (DBE), and by Endpoint Weightings Bias (EWB), derived from an "endpoint weightings" analysis, made possible by the independent manipulation of left and right endpoints. EWB is proposed to index the relative attentional allocation to the two ends of the line. The expected leftward bias (pseudoneglect) was found, with larger effect sizes for EWB (d = -0.34 in both sessions) than for DBE (-0.22 in Session 1 and -0.14 in Session 2). Although EWB was slightly less reliable than DBE, it was more sensitive to pseudoneglect, and the endpoint weightings method has further advantages, including the option of an additional measure of non-lateralized attention. A substantial proportion of participants had difficulty following the instructions for the landmark task, which highlights the need for clear instructions and performance checks for this task. This study shows that line bisection can be used to measure pseudoneglect online, and provides grounds to suggest that the task should routinely include the independent manipulation of left and right endpoints, so that an endpoint weightings analysis can be performed.

Black Women's Lived Experiences of Abortion.

In this study, we aim to understand abortion in the context of structural racism and reproductive injustice. We designed this study using Reproductive Justice and Public Health Critical Race Praxis frameworks. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with self-identified Black women over the age of 18 who have had an abortion. The primary identified theme is that "choice" around abortion is a privilege that is not always available to Black women. Participants discussed domains of experience around abortion. The domains were (1) community experience and intergenerational wisdom, (2) personal experience and beliefs, (3) the process of accessing abortion, and (4) reflecting on abortion experience and recovery. Understanding the ways in which reproductive injustices and structural racism constrict choices is critical to providing abortion care. Abortion care should seek to honor the experiences of Black women, trust in the expertise that Black women have in our own bodies, and work to provide Reproductive-Justice-informed care.

Peripheral reaching in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.

Recent evidence has implicated areas within the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) as among the first to show pathophysiological changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Focal brain damage to the PPC can cause optic ataxia, a specific deficit in reaching to peripheral targets. The present study describes a novel investigation of peripheral reaching ability in AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), to assess whether this deficit is common among these patient groups. Individuals with a diagnosis of mild-to-moderate AD, or MCI, and healthy older adult controls were required to reach to targets presented in central vision or in peripheral vision using two reaching tasks; one in the lateral plane and another presented in radial depth. Pre-registered case-control comparisons identified 1/10 MCI and 3/17 AD patients with significant peripheral reaching deficits at the individual level, but group-level comparisons did not find significantly higher peripheral reaching error in either AD or MCI by comparison to controls. Exploratory analyses showed significantly increased reach duration in both AD and MCI groups relative to controls, accounted for by an extended Deceleration Time of the reach movement. These findings suggest that peripheral reaching deficits like those observed in optic ataxia are not a common feature of AD. However, we show that cognitive decline is associated with a generalised slowing of movement which may indicate a visuomotor deficit in reach planning or online guidance.