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Arctic Sea Ice Loss in Different Regions Leads to Contrasting Northern Hemisphere Impacts

To explore the mechanisms linking Arctic sea-ice loss to changes in mid-latitude surface temperatures, we conduct idealized modeling experiments using an intermediate general circulation model and with sea-ice loss confined to the Atlantic or Pacific sectors of the Arctic (Barents-Kara or Chukchi-Bering Seas). Extending previous findings, there are opposite effects on the winter stratospheric polar vortex for both large-magnitude (late twenty-first century) and moderate-magnitude sea-ice loss. Accordingly, there are opposite tropospheric Arctic Oscillation (AO) responses for moderate-magnitude sea-ice loss. However, there are similar strength negative AO responses for large-magnitude sea-ice loss, suggesting that tropospheric mechanisms become relatively more important than stratospheric mechanisms as the sea-ice loss magnitude increases. The mid-latitude surface temperature response for each loss region and magnitude can be understood as the combination of an ‘indirect’ part induced by the large-scale circulation (AO) response, and a residual ‘direct’ part that is local to the loss region

Exposure to a maternal cafeteria diet changes open-field behaviour in the developing offspring

The early postnatal period is a sensitive period in rodents as behavioural systems are developing and maturing during this time. However, little is currently known about the behavioural effects of feeding a hyper-energetic cafeteria diet (CD) during the lactational period when offspring behaviour is tested during early adolescence. To this end, 23 days old offspring from dams (Wistar) fed on CD during lactation were tested in either the open-field or the elevated plus-maze for exploration and anxiety-related behaviour. On postnatal day 9, maternal behaviour and non-maternal behaviour of the dam was assessed. It was hypothesized that lactational CD feeding would reduce anxiety in the offspring. CD-fed dams had a higher energy intake, due to an overconsumption of sugars and fats. When offspring from these dams were exposed to the open field after weaning, their locomotor activity was increased. They entered the more aversive inner zone of the open-field after a shorter latency, made more entries into and spent more time in the inner zone. Anxiety-related behaviour was not affected upon exposure to the elevated plus maze, suggesting anxiolysis in the open-field only. Increased maternal licking/grooming behaviour could possibly contribute to the anxiolytic phenotype as observed in the offspring from the CD group. In conclusion, we demonstrate that lactational overfeeding impacts on the development of behaviour in the early adolescent rat

Franklin County, North Carolina : an action-oriented community diagnosis ; findings and next steps of action

Between October 2006 and April 2007, a team of six students from the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, conducted an Action-Oriented Community Diagnosis (AOCD) of Franklin County, North Carolina. The purpose of this AOCD was to learn about the strengths, challenges, and needs of the community, to assist the community in identifying priorities, and to bring the community together to openly discuss and work towards action steps that address the identified issues. The AOCD was conducted with the help of preceptors Cynthia Gary and Becky Leonard at the Franklin County Health Department. The AOCD process began with the team becoming acquainted with Franklin County by reviewing available data on the area, attending events, and meeting residents and employees. The team proceeded to conduct 39 interviews with community members and service providers, as well as one focus group of six youth. The team analyzed this data and created a list of the 14 issues that were most often mentioned as priorities to the people of Franklin County. Each issue was summarized in a theme statement that represented the team’s understanding of popular sentiment. With the help of a Forum Planning Committee (FPC) that consisted of nine service providers and community members, the team planned a community forum. The FPC narrowed the greater list of 14 themes to 5, based on importance and changeability. The themes selected were: Youth Recreation and Entertainment: There is a desire for additional public facilities in Franklin County to provide recreation and/or entertainment activities for youth. Economic Development: There is a need to support new and current businesses in Franklin County to enhance local economy and create new job opportunities. Physical Activity: A lack of physical activity options is contributing to increasing rates of obesity in Franklin County. Mental Health: There is an impression that the needs of people with mental health concerns are not being met, either because of a lack of services, lack of awareness of services available, or stigma attached to seeking help for mental health. Transportation: There is a need for inexpensive transportation options to increase access to services and resources for some residents of Franklin County. The community forum took place on April 24, 2007. At the forum, small group discussions led to the creation of action steps for four of the five themes (the discussion on transportation was dissolved for lack of attendees). Forum attendees then volunteered to oversee the execution of each action step, listed below. Youth Recreation and Entertainment: Talk to the board of the Boys & Girls Club about hosting fundraising events for youth participation in recreation. Talk to county political leaders about funding/tax allocation for more recreation facilities and options for youth. Talk to the Franklin County Schools superintendent about a sports uniform recycling program. Contact church leaders about scholarships for youth participation in recreation activities. Communicate with 4-H, Parks and Recreation, and The Franklin Times about the need to increase recreation facilities and activity options in Franklin County. Ask for support from these organizations in creating new options and increasing county-wide communication about recreation and entertainment options for youth. Economic Development: Establish a study committee to look at educational opportunities that match current local job opportunities. Support the application for the 21st Century grant for Franklin County Schools. Encourage continued support for economic development by increasing awareness of activities and initiatives among community members and county commissioners. Build collaboration between agencies (such as the Health Department, Planning, etc.) to work on a one-stop permitting process. Physical Activity: Talk to The Franklin Times about publishing a regular health column written by representatives of community organizations. Encourage physical activity competitions among various places of employment, community groups, schools, and other organizations in the county. Mental Health: Plan a meeting to organize the formation of a mental health advocacy group that will work to increase the number of mental health providers in Franklin County through recruitment and education. The team hopes that the engagement and motivation displayed by the people of Franklin County at the forum will result in continuing momentum to meet and build upon these action steps. In addition, the team would like to make the following recommendations as actions that may help build upon the county’s strengths while addressing some of its needs: Expand inter-agency communication. Many service providers were not aware of other programs and resources in the county. One positive step in this direction is an inter-agency lunch that takes place the last Wednesday of each month. Provide additional activity options for youth other than sports. Involve youth in the planning of facilities or programs that affect youth. Continue to support economic growth and increased job opportunities while respecting the pace and tranquility that residents appreciate. Begin to recognize and address nutrition as a contributor to obesity. Improve communication between decision-makers and the community, to better inform leaders of the county’s needs and the public of the activities and decisions made by their government. Conduct greater in-depth analysis of the needs and implications of the growing Latino population. Work towards greater service provision in Spanish. The purpose of this document is to serve as a resource to Franklin County by describing the Franklin County AOCD process, discussing the findings, and presenting the next steps of action developed by the Franklin County community.Master of Public Healt

Bearings House: Community Reintegration Project

Research poster documenting the following project: Long Creek Youth Development Center offers a variety of activities, an education, mentorship, and structure for Bearings House residents. In addition to those programs, we hoped through building a relationship with residents we could identify their occupational interests and assist in their transition to life in the community. We strived to support residents through their transition to Bearings House and give them an opportunity to further explore their interests as well as expose them to new occupations they may have not previously participated in order to help as they reintegrate into the community.https://dune.une.edu/cecespring2020/1010/thumbnail.jp

Investigating the generalisation of an atlas-based synthetic-CT algorithm to another centre and MR scanner for prostate MR-only radiotherapy

There is increasing interest in MR-only radiotherapy planning since it provides superb soft-tissue contrast without the registration uncertainties inherent in a CT–MR registration. However, MR images cannot readily provide the electron density information necessary for radiotherapy dose calculation. An algorithm which generates synthetic CTs for dose calculations from MR images of the prostate using an atlas of 3 T MR images has been previously reported by two of the authors. This paper aimed to evaluate this algorithm using MR data acquired at a different field strength and a different centre to the algorithm atlas. Twenty-one prostate patients received planning 1.5 T MR and CT scans with routine immobilisation devices on a flat-top couch set-up using external lasers. The MR receive coils were supported by a coil bridge. Synthetic CTs were generated from the planning MR images with (sCT₁v) and without (sCT) a one voxel body contour expansion included in the algorithm. This was to test whether this expansion was required for 1.5 T images. Both synthetic CTs were rigidly registered to the planning CT (pCT). A 6 MV volumetric modulated arc therapy plan was created on the pCT and recalculated on the sCT and sCT₁v. The synthetic CTs' dose distributions were compared to the dose distribution calculated on the pCT. The percentage dose difference at isocentre without the body contour expansion (sCT–pCT) was ΔDsCT = (0.9 \pm 0.8)% and with sCT₁v–pCT was ΔDsCT₁v = (-0.7 \pm 0.7)% (mean  ±  one standard deviation). The sCT₁v result was within one standard deviation of zero and agreed with the result reported previously using 3 T MR data. The sCT dose difference only agreed within two standard deviations. The mean  ±  one standard deviation gamma pass rate was ΓsCT = 96.1 \pm 2.9% for the sCT and ΓsCT₁v = 98.8 \pm 0.5% for the sCT₁v (with 2% global dose difference and 2mm distance to agreement gamma criteria). The one voxel body contour expansion improves the synthetic CT accuracy for MR images acquired at 1.5 T but requires the MR voxel size to be similar to the atlas MR voxel size. This study suggests that the atlas-based algorithm can be generalised to MR data acquired using a different field strength at a different centre