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Australian Capital Territory (australian + capital_territory)
Selected AbstractsA study of coarse woody debris volumes in two box-gum grassy woodland reserves in the Australian Capital TerritoryECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION, Issue 3 2007Adrian D. Manning First page of article [source] Assessment of vegetation condition of grassy ecosystems in the Australian Capital TerritoryECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION, Issue 2006Sarah Sharp No abstract is available for this article. [source] Epidemiology of primary systemic vasculitis in the Australian Capital Territory and south-eastern New South WalesINTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 11 2008A. S. Ormerod Abstract Background:, The aim of the study was to determine the epidemiology of primary systemic vasculitis in the Australian Capital Territory and the surrounding rural region between 1995 and 2005. Methods:, Cases were ascertained by a medical record search according to international consensus classification criteria. For antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitides, ascertainment was corroborated by a search of all positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody serology during the study period. Denominators were obtained from region-specific census data collected during the study period. Prevalence, incidence and patient characteristics for primary systemic vasculitides were determined for two 5-year periods, 1995,1999 and 2000,2004. Results:, We identified 41 cases of primary systemic vasculitides (Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), Churg,Strauss syndrome or polyarteritis nodosa) between 1995 and 1999 and 67 between 2000 and 2004, giving prevalences of 95/million (95% confidence interval (CI) 76.9,116.1) and 148/million (95%CI 125.1,173.9), respectively. Annual incidence was similar in both periods (approximately 17/year per million adult population). Disease-specific incidences (per million per year) for each of the two periods were 8.8 and 8.4 for WG, 2.3 and 5.0 for MPA, 2.3 and 2.2 for Churg,Strauss syndrome and 2.3 and 1.1 for polyarteritis nodosa. The rural incidence of MPA was 13.9 (95%CI 7.7,23.5) compared with 1.6 (95%CI 0.2,7.2) in the city and there was a trend towards a higher incidence of WG in rural than urban areas. Conclusion:, The overall incidence of primary systemic vasculitides is similar to that reported from other developed countries. WG is more common in south-eastern Australia than in southern Europe, whereas MPA is less common. There was a trend towards higher incidence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitides in rural than urban areas. [source] Reporting a research project on the potential of aged care nurse practitioners in the Australian Capital TerritoryJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 2 2009Paul Arbon Aim., This paper reports a project investigating the potential role of the nurse practitioner in aged care across residential, community and acute care venues in the Australian Capital Territory. Background., Australia, like many other countries, faces unprecedented challenges in the provision of health care. Escalating health care costs, an ageing population, increasing prevalence of comorbidities and chronic illnesses, inefficient health care delivery, changing models of health care and shifting professional role boundaries are factors that have contributed to the development of advanced practice roles for nursing. Design., This was a mixed methods study using multiple data sources. Methods., Student aged care nurse practitioners were examined across the continuum of care in the acute, community and residential aged care settings. The potential role of the nurse practitioner in these areas was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively to identify a model of care to enhance the delivery of efficient and effective health care. Results., The project findings have demonstrated that there is potential for significant improvement in client outcomes arising from a transboundary aged care nurse practitioner model. The improved outcomes are associated with a decrease in acute hospital admissions for residential care clients, timely intervention for a range of common conditions and strengthened multidisciplinary approaches to care provision for older people. Conclusions., Overall the project findings strongly support the potential of a transboundary aged care nurse practitioner role. This role would focus on skilled assessment, timely assessment and intervention, brokering around access to care and clinical leadership and education for nurses. Relevance to clinical practice., This paper offers further evidence of support for the role of nurse practitioners in complementing existing health services and improving delivery of care. [source] Substantial genetic substructuring in southeastern and alpine Australia revealed by molecular phylogeography of the Egernia whitii (Lacertilia: Scincidae) species groupMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2005DAVID G. CHAPPLE Abstract Palaeoclimatic events and biogeographical processes since the mid-Tertiary are believed to have strongly influenced the evolution and distribution of the terrestrial vertebrate fauna of southeastern Australia. We examined the phylogeography of the temperate-adapted members of the Egernia whitii species group, a group of skinks that comprise both widespread low- to mid-elevation (E. whitii) and montane-restricted species (Egernia guthega, Egernia montana), in order to obtain important insights into the influence of past biogeographical processes on the herpetofauna of southeastern Australia. Sequence data were obtained from all six temperate-adapted species within the E. whitii species group, and specifically from across the distributional ranges of E. whitii, E. guthega and E. montana. We targeted a fragment of the ND4 mitochondrial gene (696 bp) and analysed the data using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. Our data reveal a deep phylogeographical break in the east Gippsland region of Victoria between ,northern' (Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory) and ,southern' (Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia) populations of E. whitii. This divergence appears to have occurred during the late Miocene,Pliocene, with the Gippsland basin possibly forming a geographical barrier to dispersal. Substantial structuring within both the ,northern' and the ,southern' clades is consistent with the effects of Plio,Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles. Pleistocene glacial cycles also appear to have shaped the phylogeographical patterns observed in the alpine species, E. guthega and E. montana. We used our results to examine the biogeographical process that led to the origin and subsequent diversification of the lowland and alpine herpetofauna of southeastern Australia. [source] Parliamentary Bills of Rights: An Alternative Model?THE MODERN LAW REVIEW, Issue 1 2006Janet L. Hiebert This paper examines the emergence of a new model for protecting rights (referred to as the ,parliamentary rights' model) in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the Australian Capital Territory. This parliamentary model is distinguished from the more traditional, judicial-centric, approach to rights protection in at least two ways. The first is that this parliamentary rights model incorporates the notion of legitimate political dissent from judicial interpretations of rights. The second way it challenges the court-centred model is by incorporating the systematic evaluation of proposed legislation from a rights perspective. Both of these features allow for the possibility of a broader range of perspectives on the appropriate interpretation of rights or the resolution of disagreements involving claims of rights than those arising from more judicial-centric bills of rights. The paper assesses whether this alternative approach to rights protection satisfies those sceptics who doubt the virtue or prudence of conceiving of political disputes as legal rights claims for which the judiciary has the dominant role in their interpretation and resolution. [source] Risk of venous thromboembolism in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide for early breast cancerASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Julia HOY Abstract Aim: Previous studies have shown that adjuvant chemotherapy in early breast cancer (EBC) may increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Clinical experience suggests the combination of 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) may be associated with a higher frequency of VTE than other regimens. This study aims to investigate the use of adjuvant FEC compared with other adjuvant regimens in the development of VTE in patients with EBC. Methods: A retrospective audit was conducted examining all eligible patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy for EBC in the Australian Capital Territory from 1 January 2005 to 30 June 2007. Data were collected from patients' notes, including risk factors for VTE, tumor pathology, chemotherapy details and incidence of VTE. Comparisons using ,2 tests and independent samples t -tests were made between patients who received FEC and those who received another regimen. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate prognostic factors for the development of VTE. Results: A total of 325 patients were included in the study, of whom 176 received FEC and 149 received other adjuvant chemotherapy regimens. The incidence of VTE in patients who received FEC was 47/176 (27%), which was significantly higher than for patients who received other regimens (7/149, 5%, P < 0.001). FEC was the only significant prognostic factor for the development of VTE (OR 7.9, 95% CI 3.3,19.2, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The use of adjuvant FEC chemotherapy is associated with an increased incidence of VTE in patients with EBC compared with other commonly used chemotherapy regimens. [source] Systematic multidisciplinary approach to reporting perinatal mortality: Lessons from a five-year regional reviewAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Alison L. KENT Background:, Because of differences in reporting criteria throughout the world, comparing perinatal mortality rates and identifying areas of concern can be complicated and imprecise. Aims:, To detail the systematic approach to reporting perinatal deaths and to identify any significant differences in outcomes in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Methods:, Review of perinatal deaths from 2001 to 2005 in the ACT using the Australian and New Zealand Antecedent Classification of Perinatal Mortality (ANZACPM) and the Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Death Classification (ANZNDC) systems. Results:, ACT residents' perinatal mortality rate was 10.6 per 1000 total births, fetal death rate 7.5 per 1000 total births and neonatal death rate 3.2 per 1000 live births. The three leading antecedent causes of perinatal death were congenital anomalies, spontaneous preterm birth and unexplained antepartum death. The three leading causes of neonatal death were extreme prematurity, cardiorespiratory disorders and congenital anomalies. Multiple births attributed to 20% (65 of 321) of perinatal deaths. Perinatal autopsy was performed in 50% of cases, but in only 64% of unexplained antepartum deaths. Conclusions:, Causes of perinatal death for the ACT and surrounding New South Wales region are similar to other states using this classification system. The following are considered important lessons to promote accurate perinatal mortality reporting: (i) a universal reporting system for Australia utilising a multidisciplinary team; (ii) a high perinatal autopsy rate, especially in the critical area of antepartum death with no identifiable cause; and (iii) standardised definitions for avoidability. Attention to these areas may prompt further research and changes in practice to further reduce perinatal mortality. [source] An evaluation of public health interventions during a pertussis outbreak in the ACT, 2003AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 6 2005Rona Hiam Objective: To assess whether issuing information alerts increased the proportion of pertussis cases notified within the 21-day infectious period during a pertussis outbreak in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in 2003. Method: The study included all persons resident in the ACT for whom a notification of pertussis was received with onset of disease between 1 March and 31 December 2003. Cases notified within 21 days of onset were called ,early notifications'. The effectiveness of information alerts was assessed by comparing the proportion of early notifications before and after each alert and over the course of the outbreak. Main outcome measure: The proportion of early notifications. Resulte: The proportion of early notifications ranged from 1/36 (2.7%) prior to the first intervention to 29/52 (55.7%) after the final intervention (p<0.001). Conclusions: This study supports the hypothesis that information alerts by ACT Health increase the proportion of cases notified within the infectious period of 21 days. Implications for public health practice: Early diagnosis of pertussis cases (within the infectious period) has the potential to limit transmission and protect susceptible infants. [source] Hospital system costs of artificial infant feeding: estimates for the Australian Capital TerritoryAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 6 2002Julie P. Smith Objective: To estimate the attributable ACT hospital system costs of treating selected infant and childhood illnesses having known associations with early weaning from human milk. Method: We identified relative risks of infant and childhood morbidity associated with exposure to artificial feeding in the early months of life vs breastfeeding from cohort studies cited by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1997 as establishing the protective effect of breastfeeding. Data for ACT breastfeeding prevalence is assessed from a 1997 prospective population-based cohort study of 1,295 women. ACT Hospital Morbidity Data and DRG treatment costs were used to estimate the attributable fraction of costs of hospitalisation for gastrointestinal illness, respiratory illness and otitis media, eczema, and necrotising enterocolitis. Results: Although initiation rates were high (92%), less than one in 10 ACT infants are exclusively breastfed for the recommended six months, mainly due to supplementation or weaning on to formula within the first three months and the early introduction of solids by breastfeeding mothers. This study suggests the attributable hospitalisation costs of early weaning in the ACT are about $1 -2 million a year for the five illnesses. Conclusions and implications: Early weaning from breast milk is associated with significant hospital costs for treatment of gastrointestinal illness, respiratory illness and otitis media, eczema, and necrotising enterocolitis These costs are minimum estimates of the cost of early weaning as they exclude numerous other chronic or common illnesses and out-of-hospital health care costs. Higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding would reduce these costs. Interventions to protect and support breastfeeding are likely to be cost-effective for the public health system. [source] Occurrence of Macrosiphum hellebori Theobald & Walton (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in AustraliaAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Isabel Valenzuela Abstract The European aphid species, Macrosiphum hellebori, the hellebore aphid, is recorded from Australia, having been found in Melbourne, Victoria and in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, colonising ornamental hellebores, Helleborus species (Ranunculaceae). Insect associates of M. hellebori are recorded, including the hymenopterous primary parasite Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) (Braconidae: Aphidiinae). Keys are provided for the identification of the three species of Macrosiphum Passerini known from Australia. [source] Selection and sharing of sheltered nest sites by ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in grasslands of the Australian Capital TerritoryAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Wayne A Robinson Abstract, In this study, it was investigated whether ants nesting under artificial rocks in a mesic south-eastern Australian grassland showed preference for nest sites with different temperature regimes. The study also allowed evaluation of competition between species for nest sites and observations of seasonality in brood and alate production in the nests of four common ant groups. On every sampling occasion more than 90% of nests were either Iridomyrmex spp., Rhytidoponera ,metallica', Paratrechina sp. or Pheidole spp. Soil underneath thinner artificial rocks had higher average temperatures and warmed up earlier in the day and Iridomyrmex spp. and R. ,metallica' showed preference for establishing nests under these. While all ant nests had summer peaks in brood production, Iridomyrmex spp. and R. ,metallica' had brood observed throughout the year. Winged reproductives were commonly encountered in Iridomyrmex spp., R. ,metallica' and Paratrechina sp. nests, but only occasionally Pheidole spp. nests. Alates were present in the nests from February but released by all taxa after spring rains and were scarcely recorded in November, December and January when brood production was observed in most nests. Nest sites that offer protection from predators are an obvious advantage, but improved reproductive success can be gained in cool regions such as the mesic grasslands of the Australian Capital Territory by choosing nest sites with an optimal thermal regime. [source] The behaviour of scribbly gum moth larvae Ogmograptis sp.AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Bucculatricidae) in the Australian Capital Territory Abstract, Scribbles, the damage caused by mining larvae of the moth Ogmograptis sp. (Bucculatricidae), are a common sight on the trunks of many Eucalyptus species in eastern Australia. They provide a record of larval behaviour that can be easily measured when the trees shed outer bark layers. Measurements were made of scribbles on three species of eucalypt (Eucalyptus racemosa ssp. rossii, E. pauciflora and E. delegatensis) in the Australian Capital Territory. Scribble density varied between tree species and study sites but was consistently higher on the southern and eastern aspects of tree trunks. Some characteristics of mining behaviour, such as initial mining direction, were found to be random, but others including mine length and number of direction changes follow distinct patterns but differ between eucalypt species. It is likely that there is more than one species of Ogmograptis Meyrick as currently described (O. scribula Meyrick, from E. pauciflora) and each eucalypt species may be host to a different species of Ogmograptis. [source] Differences in egg parasitism of Chrysophtharta agricola (Chapuis) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) by Enoggera nassaui Girault (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) in relation to host and parasitoid originAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Helen F Nahrung Abstract The first instances of egg parasitism of Chrysophtharta agricola, a pest of eucalypt plantations, are recorded. Enoggera nassaui was found parasitising C. agricola egg batches in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), New South Wales and Victoria: this is the first record of this parasitoid species from Victoria. One instance of Neopolycystus sp. parasitising C. agricola eggs in Victoria was also recorded. Parasitism of egg batches by E. nassaui ranged from 0 to 55% between five geographical populations collected in mainland Australia (n = 45), and from 0 to 2% between two populations collected in Tasmania (n = 300). For mainland sites at which parasitism was recorded, parasitism rates within sites differed significantly from either population in Tasmania. Reciprocal exposure experiments using one Tasmanian (Florentine Valley) and one parasitised mainland (Picadilly Circus, ACT) population were conducted in the laboratory to examine whether these different parasitism rates were attributable to egg or parasitoid origin. Parasitoids from the ACT parasitised C. agricola eggs of both origins more successfully than parasitoids from Tasmania, with up to 65% wasp emergence compared with 33% from Tasmania. Parasitoid origin significantly affected the number of wasps that emerged from exposed batches, but not the total loss from parasitism. [source] Prevalence of serum antibodies to canine adenovirus and canine herpesvirus in the European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in AustraliaAUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2005AJ ROBINSON Objectives: To determine the seroprevalence and aspects of the epidemiology of canine adenovirus (CAdV) and canine herpesvirus (CaHV-1) in European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Australia. Design: Serum samples were collected opportunistically from foxes in 1991,1994 in Western Australia (WA) and South Australia (SA) and in 1980,1984 and 1990,1994 in New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The sera were examined for antibody to CAdV and CaHV-1 using ELISAs. Seroprevalence in the different regions was determined for both viruses and the CAdV data were analysed for interactions between decade of collection, age, season, region and gender using logistic regression. Results: The overall prevalence of antibody to CAdV was 23.2% (308/1326) but was significantly higher in sera collected in the eastern states of Australia (47%: 233/498) than in WA (9%: 75/828). Overall, in NSW and the ACT, there was a significantly lower prevalence in juveniles than in adults and the prevalence in juveniles in the 1990s was significantly lower than in the 1980s. The prevalence was also significantly lower in the autumn than in the winter for juveniles but the reverse held for adults. The NSW and ACT data were subdivided into eastern (including the ACT) and western regions. This revealed a significantly higher prevalence in the winter than in the autumn for the west and the reverse in the east. In WA, the northern rangeland regions of WA had lower prevalence (1.9%) than the southern agriculture regions (10.7%). Seasonally, there was a peak prevalence in the spring dropping through the summer and autumn and rising again in the winter. This seasonal pattern was also found in the combined data for all sites in the 1990s. There was no gender difference in prevalence of CAdV either overall or in different regions. The overall prevalence of antibody to CaHV-1 was 2.2% (28/1300). The small number of positives allowed only limited statistical analysis that did not reveal any differences in decade of collection, age, season or region. Conclusions: CAdV infection is common in the Australian fox population whereas CaHV-1 infection is rare. For CAdV, the age and seasonal patterns of seroprevalence were generally consistent with the recruitment of young susceptible foxes into the population in the spring and the accumulation of infections with age. The differences in regional prevalences correlated with fox density. The low prevalence of antibody to CaHV-1 suggests that CaHV-1 may be a more suitable vector than CAdV for bait delivery of immunocontraceptive antigens to foxes in Australia. [source] Prevalence and Persistence of Health Problems After Childbirth: Associations with Parity and Method of BirthBIRTH, Issue 2 2002Jane F. Thompson MSc ABSTRACT: Background: Awareness about the extent of maternal physical and emotional health problems after childbirth is increasing, but few longitudinal studies examining their duration have been published. The aim of this study was to describe changes in the prevalence of maternal health problems in the 6 months after birth and their association with parity and method of birth. Methods: A population-based, cohort study was conducted in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Australia. The study population, comprising women who gave birth to a live baby from March to October 1997, completed 4 questionnaires on the fourth postpartum day, and at 8, 16, and 24 weeks postpartum. Outcome measures were self-reported health problems during each of the three 8-week postpartum periods up to 24 weeks. Results: A total of 1295 women participated, and 1193 (92%) completed the study. Health problems showing resolution between 8 and 24 weeks postpartum were exhaustion/extreme tiredness (60,49%), backache (53,45%), bowel problems (37,17%), lack of sleep/baby crying (30,15%), hemorrhoids (30,13%), perineal pain (22,4%), excessive/prolonged bleeding (20,2%), urinary incontinence (19,11%), mastitis (15,3%), and other urinary problems (5,3%). No significant changes occurred in the prevalence of frequent headaches or migraines, sexual problems, or depression over the 6 months. Adjusting for method of birth, primiparas were more likely than multiparas to report perineal pain and sexual problems. Compared with unassisted vaginal births, women who had cesarean sections reported more exhaustion, lack of sleep, and bowel problems; reported less perineal pain and urinary incontinence in the first 8 weeks; and were more likely to be readmitted to hospital within 8 weeks of the birth. Women with forceps or vacuum extraction reported more perineal pain and sexual problems than those with unassisted vaginal births after adjusting for parity, perineal trauma, and length of labor. Conclusions: Health problems commonly occurred after childbirth with some resolution over the 6 months postpartum. Some important differences in prevalence of health problems were evident when parity and method of birth were considered. (BIRTH 29:2 June 2002) [source] The mobility of optometrists practising in Australia in 2005: Do optometry graduates move to states without schools of optometry?CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPTOMETRY, Issue 1 2008Patricia M Kiely BScOptom PhD Background:, Three schools of optometry in the eastern states of Australia provide optometrists for the entire country. Concerns have been expressed about attracting optometrists to practise in the other states. This paper analyses the source of optometric qualification of optometrists practising in each state, to assess the proportion who have chosen to practise in a state different from that in which they qualified and to determine whether there are gender differences in preparedness to move to a different state. Method:, Data on year and school of qualification, primary professional activity and current state or territory of practice were extracted from the Optometrists Association Australia database to determine a profile of place of qualification of optometrists in each state or territory of Australia in 2005. Results:, More than 77 per cent of practising optometrists from Australian schools practised in the state where they graduated. The majority of optometrists for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), South Australia (SA) and Western Australia (WA) were New South Wales graduates; the majority of Tasmanian optometrists were Victorian graduates. Optometrists from overseas accounted for 17.3, 24.6 and 19.9 per cent of optometrists in practice in SA, Tasmania and WA, respectively, but less than 7.5 per cent elsewhere. The highest number of optometrists who had qualified outside Australia practised in NSW. Female graduates from 2000 and later were more likely to move interstate than their male counterparts. Discussion:, Approximately 14 per cent of practising optometry graduates practised in states without schools, where 21 per cent of the population resided. This indicates some degree of mobility but the market needs to work further to match supply of optometric services to demand at state level. Further analysis is necessary to determine patterns of graduate movement in the years following graduation, to determine whether movement to different states is short- or long-term. [source] | |||||||||||||