			Home About us Contact

Population Centres (population + centre)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	77%

Selected Abstracts

Safe restraint of the child passenger

JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 12 2006
Leanne Cameron
Aim: The aim of this study was to understand the need for, and use of, booster seats in the 4,12 years age group and to identify risk factors for booster seat-non-use. Method: A cross-sectional sample of 1101 children aged 4,12 years travelling in 663 privately owned vehicles was taken from the Auckland region. Auckland is New Zealand's largest population centre, with a population of over 1.5 million. Information was gathered using a short questionnaire followed by direct inspection to identify those children using booster seats. The SafetyBeltSafe USA ,5-step rule' was used to look at those children not using a booster seat to determine whether one was still required. Results: While booster seat use has improved significantly in younger children since a similar study in 1992, only 40% of sampled children requiring a booster seat were using one. Booster seat use by children requiring them declined sharply as age increased. While 93% of 5- to 8-year-olds required a booster, only 30% were using one. The requirement for booster seats fell dramatically to 34% of 9- to 12-year-olds, but only 3% were using one. Conclusion: The high rate of need for booster seats and the lack of use of booster seats in children aged 5,8 years is a strong argument for legislation and education programmes targeting this age group. While the proportion of 9- to 12-year-olds needing a booster drops sharply, there would likely be benefits from educating parents on the ,5-step rule' or similar method to help identify the 30% of these older children that would continue to benefit from a booster seat. Rear seating should be promoted alongside booster seat use in the age group 4,12 years. [source]

Results from the 4th National Clients of Treatment Service Agencies census: changes in clients' substance use and other characteristics

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2002
Fiona Shand
Objective: The 2001 Clients of Treatment Service Agencies (COTSA) census, the fourth since 1990, was conducted to enable a comparison of the drug and alcohol-related problems being treated over an 11-year period. Method The 24-hour census was conducted on Wednesday 2 May 2001 in all Australian States and Territories. All agencies providing treatment for drug and alcohol problems in Australia were asked to provide demographic, treatment and substance use information about all clients treated on census day. The data were analysed with frequencies and basic descriptive statistics. Results: Of the agencies surveyed, 90.3% responded. The census suggests that, among the treatment population, the mean age of substance users has decreased and the proportion of clients who are women has increased. Treatment for opiate, cannabis and amphetamine problems increased; treatment for alcohol problems decreased. Substance use patterns differed according to sex, age, size of the population centre, and Indigenous status. Conclusions and implications: Changes among the treatment population reflect changes in demographics and substance use among the broader drug-using community, with the exception of the presentation of alcohol problems for treatment. The reasons for the apparent decline in treatment for alcohol problems are not clear, although a number of factors, such as changes in treatment strategies and facilities and relative increases in other substance use problems, are considered. Any decrease in treatment for a significant health problem such as alcohol use disorder will have considerable public health implications. [source]

Evaluation of a mobile screening service for abdominal aortic aneurysm in Broken Hill, a remote regional centre in far western NSW

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2010
Margaret S. Lesjak
Abstract Objectives:,To evaluate the feasibility of a mobile screening service model for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in a remote population centre in Australia. Design:,Screening test evaluation. Setting:,A remote regional centre (population: 20 000) in far western NSW. Participants:,Men aged 65,74 years, identified from the Australian Electoral roll. Interventions:,A mobile screening service using directed ultrasonography, a basic health check and post-screening consultation. Main outcome measures:,Attendance at the screening program, occurrence of AAA in the target population and effectiveness of screening processes. Results:,A total of 516 men without a previous diagnosis of AAA were screened, an estimated response rate of 60%. Of these, 463 (89.7%) had a normal aortic diameter, 28 (5.4%) ectatic and 25 (4.9%) a small, moderate or significant aneurysm. Two men with AAA were recommended for surgery. Feedback from participants indicated that the use of a personalised letter of invitation helped with recruitment, that the screening process was acceptable and the service valued. Conclusions:,It is feasible to organise and operate a mobile AAA screening service from moderate sized rural and remote population centres. This model could be scaled up to provide national coverage for rural and remote residents. [source]

Verfüllung des Rodewischhafens in Hamburg , Zur Technik der Flächenaufhöhung auf Weichschichten

BAUTECHNIK, Issue 12 2005
Reiner Knies Dipl.-Ing.
Der wachsende Flächenbedarf der Wirtschaft im Hamburger Hafen einerseits und die Flächenknappheit im Ballungsraum andererseits zwingen zu einem äußerst sorgsamen Umgang mit der Ressource Fläche. Eine Optimierung bereits in Nutzung befindlicher Flächen im Hamburger Hafen mit dem Ziel, den veränderten Ansprüchen gerecht zu werden, kann auch die Auffüllung ehemaliger, teilweise mit Schlick aufgefüllter, Hafenbecken erfordern. Die Überbauung stellt aufgrund der sehr geringen Tragfähigkeit des Schlicks hohe Anforderungen an die Entwurfsbearbeitung und die Bauausführung. In diesem Beitrag werden das Tragwerkskonzept unter Verwendung besonderer Geokunststoffe sowie die dafür erforderlichen Baugrunduntersuchungen und Bemessungen vorgestellt. Die ingenieurtechnische Entwurfsbearbeitung mündete in Empfehlungen zur Anwendung der Beobachtungsmethode während der Bauausführung. Die Ergebnisse der durchgeführten Verformungsbeobachtungen werden abschließend erläutert. Backfilling of the Rodewischhafen in Hamburg , to the technology of land reclaiming on soft layers. Concerning the increasing need of store and transportation areas of the economy in Hamburg on the one hand and the surface scarceness in the population centre on the other hand force to extremely careful handling with the surface resources. An optimization of already in use present surfaces in Hamburg port with the goal of becoming changed requirements fairly more and more land reclamation activities are necessary on former harbor basins, which had been partly filled up with dredged mud. The coverage of these basins makes high requirements to the geotechnical design and the execution of construction due to the very low bearing capacity of the mud. In this contribution the load bearing concept is presented by using special geosynthetic reinforcement products as well as the necessary ground investigations and construction designs. The engineering design lead into recommendations regarding the application of the observation method during the execution of construction. Finally the results of the deformation observations are described. [source]

The biogeography of seaweeds in Southeast Alaska

JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2009
Sandra C. Lindstrom
Abstract Aim, This article reviews the history of seaweed collections in Southeast Alaska from the early Russian explorers to contemporary efforts. It summarizes other studies of Southeast Alaskan seaweeds from a biogeographical perspective, and compares the known seaweed flora near three population centres (Ketchikan, Sitka and Juneau) with those of other regions within Alaska, and with nearby regions. Location, For this article, Southeast Alaska includes all inside and outside waters of the Alexander Archipelago from Dixon Entrance (54°40, N, 133°00, W) to Icy Point (58°23,10, N, 137°04,20, W). Methods, The literature on seaweeds occurring in Southeast Alaska is reviewed from a biogeographical perspective, and herbarium records for Southeast Alaska from the Alaska Seaweed Database project are used to provide an overview of the biogeography of the area. Records for the population centres of Ketchikan, Sitka and Juneau are compared with records from other areas within Alaska and with nearby regions to determine floristic similarities. Results, Southeast Alaska has the most diverse seaweed flora of any region of Alaska. A list of species known to occur in Southeast Alaska is appended (in Supplementary Material) and includes their reported occurrences in three population centres (Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka). Recognition of at least three distinct biogeographical areas associated with these three centres is supported by a comparison of their floras with those of other regions in the North Pacific. A close relationship of some species with conspecifics in the north-west Atlantic is also noted. In contrast, ecological, physiological and genetic differentiation of Southeast Alaskan seaweeds from conspecifics in Washington State or even from different areas of Southeast Alaska are documented. A ShoreZone coastal habitat system, which is being implemented to inventory and map the entire shoreline of Southeast Alaska, is defining new biogeographical units called ,bioareas' on the basis of the distribution of canopy kelps and lower intertidal algal assemblages. Main conclusions, Southeast Alaska has the most diverse seaweed flora of any region of Alaska. This is a reflection of its extensive coastline, with varied past and present environmental conditions. Different parts of Southeast Alaska show similarities to different areas outside Southeast Alaska. Despite this, much remains to be learned about the biogeography of seaweeds in Southeast Alaska, and many questions remain to be answered. [source]

Surgical workforce in New Zealand: characteristics, activities and limitations

ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 4 2009
Antony Raymont
Planning the future surgical workforce is a vitally important activity in which the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is actively engaged. This paper reports on a survey, undertaken in late 2005, of all vocationally registered New Zealand surgeons. It describes their age and gender distribution, their workload, the distribution of their work hours and limitations on their activities. It is hoped that this will contribute to planning of surgical services for the future. Of surgeons surveyed, 452 (73%) responded. Their mean age was 51 years and 7% were female. Recruitment has been stable at approximately 20 per year since 1990. New Zealand surgeons worked, on average, 48 h per week and could accommodate additional work. Seventy-seven per cent of surgeons took after-hours calls and reported a 55% chance of returning to the hospital each week (30% in the main population centres and 70% in other districts). Overall, surgeons spent 50% of their clinical time in private practice. Most surgeons experienced significant resource constraints in providing surgical care. The current workload of surgeons in New Zealand is acceptable but after-hours duties, especially in secondary hospitals, may be unattractive. Surgical services are currently limited by institutional resources. If there is a substantial increase in the need for surgery in the future, surgical recruitment, which has been stable, should be increased. [source]

Evaluation of a mobile screening service for abdominal aortic aneurysm in Broken Hill, a remote regional centre in far western NSW

Serological survey for Ehrlichia canis in urban dogs from the major population centres of northern Australia

AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 8 2001
RJ MASON
Objective To detect evidence of Ehrlichia canis infection of dogs from the major population centres of northern Australia, if present. Design Serological investigation for E canis. Procedure The sera of 316 domestic dogs, collected from the northern Australian population centres of Townsville, Cairns, Darwin, Kununurra and Broome from May 1997 to August 1999, were investigated for evidence of infection with E canis. Samples were tested for antibodies to E canis using an indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. The buffy coats from blood of dogs whose serum reacted in the IFA test were subsequently tested with a nested PCR to detect E canis DNA. When available, blood from these dogs was injected into suckling mice, which were then examined for clinical disease and tested for the presence of E canis antibodies. Results Of the 316 samples tested seven reacted in the IFA test for E canis. None of the dogs from which these samples were obtained exhibited clinical signs of acute or chronic ehrlichiosis. The six positive samples available for testing were negative when tested with the nested PCR. Suckling mice inoculated with blood from three of the dogs whose serum was positive by IFA test showed no signs of clinical disease nor did their give positive reactions in the IFA test. Conclusions No evidence of E canis infection was confirmed in any of the dogs examined. Northern Australia would appear to remain free of this obligate parasite. [source]