A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON LAND USE POLICY ALTERNATIVES AND CONSEQUENCES AT THE RURAL-URBAN FRINGE

Land Economics/Use,

Microstructural changes in the reward system are associated with post-stroke depression

Background: Studies of lesion location have been unsuccessful in identifying mappings between single brain regions and post-stroke depression (PSD). Based on studies implicating the reward system in major depressive disorder without stroke, we investigated structural correlates within this system and their associations with PSD. Methods: The study enrolled 16 healthy controls, 12 stroke patients with PSD and 34 stroke patients free of PSD. Participants underwent 3T structural and diffusion MRI. Graph theoretical measures were used to examine global topology and whole-brain connectome analyses were employed to assess differences in the interregional connectivity matrix between groups. Structural correlates specific to the reward system were examined from grey matter volumes and by reconstructing its main white matter pathways, namely the medial forebrain bundle and cingulum connections, using deterministic tractography. Fractional anisotropy (FA) was derived as a measure of microstructural organization, and extracellular free-water (FW) as a possible proxy of neuroinflammation. Results: Subnetworks of decreased FA-weighted and increased FW-weighted connectivity were observed in patients with PSD relative to healthy controls. These networks subsumed the majority of regions constituting the reward system. Within the reward system, FA and FW of major connection pathways and grey matter volume were collectively predictive of PSD, explaining 37.8% of the variance in depression severity. Conclusions: PSD is associated with grey matter volume loss, reduced FA and increased extracellular FW in the reward system, similar to features observed in major depression without stroke. Structural characterization of the reward system is a promising biomarker of vulnerability to depression after stroke

Town of Dixmont Maine Ordinances

Ordinances Cover: Building; Dog; Floodplain Management; Marijuana; Mobile Home Park; Nudity; Outdoor Festival; Road Posting; Shoreland Zoning; Site Plan; Subdivision; Wind Energ

Town of Eddington Maine Ordinances

Ordinances cover: 911 Addressing; Cable TV; Cemetery; Dog; Fire Department; Floodplain; Holding Tank; Road Culvert; Shoreland Zoning; Subdivision; Wind Energy; Winter Parking; Wireless Telecommunications; Yard Sale; Zonin

Is development aid to strengthen health systems during protracted conflict a useful investment? The case of South Sudan, 2011-2015.

Introduction: Is achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 (building peaceful societies) a precondition for achieving SDG 3 (health and well-being in all societies, including conflict-affected countries)? Do health system investments in conflict-affected countries waste resources or benefit the public's health? To answer these questions, we examine the maternal, newborn, child and reproductive health (MNCRH) service provision during protracted conflicts and economic shocks in the Republic of South Sudan between 2011 (at independence) and 2015. Methods: We conducted two national cross-sectional probability surveys in 10 states (2011) and nine states (2015). Trained state-level health workers collected data from households randomly selected using probability proportional to size sampling of villages in each county. County data were weighted by their population sizes to measure state and national MNCRH services coverage. A two-sample, two-sided Z-test of proportions tested for changes in national health service coverage between 2011 (n=11 800) and 2015 (n=10 792). Results: Twenty-two of 27 national indicator estimates (81.5%) of MNCRH service coverage improved significantly. Examples: malaria prophylaxis in pregnancy increased by 8.6% (p<0.001) to 33.1% (397/1199 mothers, 95% CI ±2.9%), institutional deliveries by 10.5% (p<0.001) to 20% (230/1199 mothers, ±2.6%) and measles vaccination coverage in children aged 12-23 months by 11.2% (p<0.001) to 49.7% (529/1064 children, ±2.3%). The largest increase (17.7%, p<0.001) occurred for mothers treating diarrhoea in children aged 0-59 months with oral rehydration salts to 51.4% (635/1235 children, ±2.9%). Antenatal and postnatal care, and contraceptive prevalence did not change significantly. Child vitamin A supplementation decreased. Despite significant increases, coverage remained low (median of all indicators = 31.3%, SD = 19.7). Coverage varied considerably by state (mean SD for all indicators and states=11.1%). Conclusion: Health system strengthening is not a uniform process and not necessarily deterred by conflict. Despite the conflict, health system investments were not wasted; health service coverage increased

Exploring Patterns of Dynamic Size Changes of Lesions after Hepatic Microwave Ablation in an In Vivo Porcine Model

Microwave ablation (MWA) is a type of minimally invasive cancer therapy that uses heat to induce necrosis in solid tumours. Inter- and post-ablational size changes can influence the accuracy of control imaging, posing a risk of incomplete ablation. The present study aims to explore post-ablation 3D size dynamics in vivo using computed tomography (CT). Ten MWA datasets obtained in nine healthy pigs were used. Lesions were subdivided along the z-axis with an additional planar subdivision into eight subsections. The volume of the subsections was analysed over different time points, subsequently colour-coded and three-dimensionally visualized. A locally weighted polynomial regression model (LOESS) was applied to describe overall size changes, and Student's t-tests were used to assess statistical significance of size changes. The 3D analysis showed heterogeneous volume changes with multiple small changes at the lesion margins over all time points. The changes were pronounced at the upper and lower lesion edges and characterized by initially eccentric, opposite swelling, followed by shrinkage. In the middle parts of the lesion, we observed less dimensional variations over the different time points. LOESS revealed a hyperbolic pattern for the volumetric changes with an initially significant volume increase of 11.6% (111.6% of the original volume) over the first 32 minutes, followed by a continuous decrease to 96% of the original volume (p < 0.05)

Integrated Solutions Development Capital Solutions Interim Report Volume I: Report

This report analyzes the water quality, flood, erosion, and integrated scores of multiple Austin watersheds, including Waller Creek.Waller Creek Working Grou