Description:
This article reports on a pilot vocational study programme for provision of antenatal services in the general practice environment. The concurrent evaluation study assessed practice nurses' experiences of undertaking the pilot programme, the level and applicability of the content, and the mode of delivery. General practitioners' understanding of the role of the nurse in providing antenatal services, and the actual and potential impact of this new role on models of service delivery and care were also investigated. Women receiving care from practice nurses within this new model of service delivery and care were also of interest in this study. Findings showed that the current role of the general practice nurse in caring for pregnant women is restricted to assisting the general practitioner to complete their assessment of clients. Organizing clinical placement with a midwife was a major barrier to completing the pilot programme.
Description:
This paper presents an automatic building detection technique using LIDAR data and multispectral imagery. Two masks are obtained from the LIDAR data: a ‘primary building mask’ and a ‘secondary building mask’. The primary building mask indicates the void areas where the laser does not reach below a certain height threshold. The secondary building mask indicates the filled areas, from where the laser reflects, above the same threshold. Line segments are extracted from around the void areas in the primary building mask. Line segments around trees are removed using the normalized difference vegetation index derived from the orthorectified multispectral images. The initial building positions are obtained based on the remaining line segments. The complete buildings are detected from their initial positions using the two masks and multispectral images in the YIQ colour system. It is experimentally shown that the proposed technique can successfully detect urban residential buildings, when assessed in terms of 15 indices including completeness, correctness and quality.
Description:
In this paper we focus on the production of a local Catholic primary school Annual Concert by Grade 3-4 students, which took as its theme, Wauthaurong Heritage in the Region. The school approached the local University's School of Education to suggest one of its Bachelor of Education students who might be willing to work with the school on this production. With this initiative, we were presented with the basis for a community-based project which would incorporate the local Aboriginal Collective, a private Catholic primary school, and a School of Education within the University of the city in the form of the annual school concert. Combining the knowledge, expertise and experience from each of these organisations to deal with a variety of issues involved in education and community perceptions, the project was set to explore the ways in which these were to be dealt with.
Description:
Existing Bezier curve-based shape description techniques primarily focus upon determining a set of pertinent control points (CP) to represent a particular shape contour. While many different approaches have been proposed, none adequately consider domain-specific information about the shape contour like its gradualness and sharpness, in the CP generation process which can potentially result in large distortions in the object's shape representation. This study introduces a novel Bezier curve-based generic shape encoder (BCGSE) that partitions an object contour into contiguous segments based upon its cornerity, before generating the CP for each segment using relevant shape curvature information. In addition, although CP encoding has generally been ignored, BCGSE embeds an efficient vertex-based encoding strategy exploiting the latent equidistance between consecutive CP. A non-linear optimisation technique is also presented to enable the encoder is automatically adapt to bit-rate constraints. The performance of the BCGSE framework has been rigorously tested on a variety of diverse arbitrary shapes from both a distortion and requisite bit-rate perspective, with qualitative and quantitative results corroborating its superiority over existing shape descriptors.
Description:
Studies of the biogeography of Cladocera in New Zealand lakes are rare and only a few species of littoral chydorid Cladocera have been documented. Consequently, a number of issues relating to their taxonomy and systematics have yet to be resolved. The majority of chydorid Cladocera in the northern hemisphere have been given new names after a detailed investigation of their morphology and genetic variability. However, knowledge of their inter-hemispheric distribution is poor. It is likely that many species of chydorid Cladocera in the southern hemisphere, including in the New Zealand lakes, will show significant genetic variability from their northern hemisphere counterparts, although this has not yet been investigated. Here we review the taxonomy and biogeography of the New Zealand chydorid Cladocera. This is important when we consider the limited knowledge of New Zealand cladocerans and the consequent difficulties encountered by freshwater ecologists and paleolimnologists when using them to identify rapid environmental changes in the southern hemisphere.
Description:
The biological toxicity of lanthanides on marine monocellular algae was investigated. The specific objective of this research was to establish the relationship between the abundance in the seawater of lanthanides and their biological toxicities on marine monocellular algae. The results showed that all single lanthanides had similar toxic effects on Skeletonema costatum. High concentrations of lanthanides (29.04 ± 0.61
Description:
This paper presents a canonical dual approach for solving general non- linear algebraic systems. By using least square method, the nonlinear system of m -quadratic equations in n -dimensional space is first formulated as a nonconvex opti- mization problem. We then proved that, by the canonical duality theory developed by the second author, this nonconvex problem is equivalent to a concave maximization problem in R, which can be solved easily by well-developed convex optimization techniques. Both existence and uniqueness of global optimal solutions are discussed, and several illustrative examples are presented.
Description:
The rates of carbon bio-sequestration within silica phytoliths of the leaf litter of 10 economically important bamboo species indicates that (a) there is considerable variation in the content of carbon occluded within the phytoliths (PhytOC) of the leaves between different bamboo species, (b) this variation does not appear to be directly related to the quantity of silica in the plant but rather the efficiency of carbon encapsulation by the silica. The PhytOC content of the species under the experimental conditions ranged from 1.6% to 4% of the leaf silica weight. The potential phytolith carbon bio-sequestration rates in the leaf-litter component for the bamboos ranged up to 0.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO
Description:
Objective The purpose of the paper is to introduce illicit drug use as a societal problem and describes the response of the Australian Government. Specifically the paper examines the use of illicit drugs by pregnant women and the role of midwives in supporting these women throughout pregnancy and birth. Setting Maternity services, specifically antenatal care clinics. Conclusion In Australia the rate of pregnant women who use illicit drugs is escalating. These pregnancies are high obstetric risk with potential for harm to both the mother and the baby. Pregnancy however is seen as 'window of opportunity'; a time to provide education, choices and support. The literature describes that for health professionals working with pregnant women who are illicit drug users is challenging and for some health professionals their interaction can be negative. Australia advocates harm minimisation and encourages harm reduction strategies. Midwives are in a position to implement these strategies within the maternity setting. Further research is recommended as well as professional development programs for midwives to upgrade knowledge and cultivate engagement skills to enable appropriate and positive interaction with pregnant women who use illicit drugs.
Description:
Given the escalating drought conditions in Australia, synthetic surfaces have recently been explored as a viable surface option for community-level Australian football–cricket ovals. The vast majority of Australian football ovals are transformed into cricket pitches during the football off-season and hence the characteristics of both sports had to be duly considered in the development of standards that could be tested in a laboratory setting, for a synthetic turf surface. This paper describes the data collection and test methods undertaken in the development of the standards for synthetic surface use in Australian football and cricket. The paper also discusses the issues and challenges encountered during the development of standards for multi-sport synthetic surfaces to ensure player safety while maintaining the performance characteristics of both sports. Surface property and ball interaction tests were undertaken on natural playing surfaces, both in situ and in the laboratory to determine the properties of the current playing surface for each sport. This paper highlights the importance of careful consideration of the characteristics of both games and the use of equipment from both sports in the testing methods. The standards described in this paper have now been accepted by the Australian Football League and Cricket Australia and the product approval process and use of synthetic surfaces for Australian football and cricket is imminent.
Description:
Given the escalating drought conditions in Australia, synthetic surfaces have recently been explored as a viable surface option for community-level Australian football–cricket ovals. The vast majority of Australian football ovals are transformed into cricket pitches during the football off-season and hence the characteristics of both sports had to be duly considered in the development of standards that could be tested in a laboratory setting, for a synthetic turf surface. This paper describes the data collection and test methods undertaken in the development of the standards for synthetic surface use in Australian football and cricket. The paper also discusses the issues and challenges encountered during the development of standards for multi-sport synthetic surfaces to ensure player safety while maintaining the performance characteristics of both sports. Surface property and ball interaction tests were undertaken on natural playing surfaces, both in situ and in the laboratory to determine the properties of the current playing surface for each sport. This paper highlights the importance of careful consideration of the characteristics of both games and the use of equipment from both sports in the testing methods. The standards described in this paper have now been accepted by the Australian Football League and Cricket Australia and the product approval process and use of synthetic surfaces for Australian football and cricket is imminent.
Description:
Wastewater from a dairy processor is being reused and recycled both within the plant and for irrigation. Flash pyrolysis GC–MS was used to examine nitrogen and phenol containing compounds (M.W. = 35 to 450 g/mol) in the particulate fraction of the milk condensate, combined clean wastewater and aerobic bioreactor effluent. For comparison, the particulates were also prepared for standard GC–MS analyses using conventional solvent extraction methods. Compounds detected by pyrolysis GC–MS were found mostly in the bioreactor with the amino acid arginine (220 mg/kg) and the amino acid derivative 1-methyl-5-oxo-L-proline methyl ester (130 mg/kg) found at the highest concentrations. In comparison, sterols detected in the effluent were found at higher concentrations when using solvent extraction indicating some degradation with pyrolysis GC–MS. However, with few exceptions, particulates were generally found not to act as passive collectors capable of concentrating less water soluble chemicals.
Description:
The physical roughness of a surface changes when freshwater biofilms colonize and grow on it and this has significant implications for surfaces enclosing water conveying systems such as pipelines and canals. Plates with surfaces initially artificially roughened with varying grit size were deployed in an open channel system and biofilms were allowed to grow on the exposed surface. The plates were retrieved at intervals in time and their surfaces mapped using close range photogrammetry. For a fine grit surface (0.5-4 mm particles), diatom-dominated biofilms initially grew between the roughness elements; they subsequently developed as a mat to create a physically smoother outer surface than the underlying rough surface. For a coarse grit surface (2-4 mm), biofilms colonized faster; in one instance, larger clumps of biofilm were observed as transverse ripples across the plate.
Description:
This paper presents the findings of two surveys conducted on behalf of BREAZE, a Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions community group in the Ballarat region. The research presented in this study was designed to identify the group's effectiveness in supporting its members to achieve zero emissions. Another objective of the research was to identify the knowledge and information needs of the broader Ballarat community in relation to climate change and sustainable behaviours. Survey findings indicate that both BREAZE and wider Ballarat community members are looking for means to reduce their barriers to adoption of pro-environmental choices. Key results also indicate that the Ballarat community has some desire and intention to change their behaviour. There was considerable interest and demand for high quality, clear, in-depth information and working examples on which individuals can base their choices and purchase decisions. The paper concludes with a discussion on future actions to engage the wider community towards more sustainable behaviour.
Description:
Development of theoretical and methodological frameworks in data analysis is fundamental for modeling complex tobacco control systems. Following this idea, a new optimization based approach was introduced in the paper through two distinct methods: the modified linear least square fit and a heuristic algorithm for feature slection based on optimization-based methods have the potential to detect nonlinearity, and therefore to be more effective analysis tools of complex data set. In this study we evaluate the modified global k-means clustering algorithm by applying it to a massive set of real-time tobacco control survey data. Cluster analysis identified fixed and stable clusters in the studied data. These clusters correspond to groups of smokers with similar behaviour and the identification of these clusters may allow us to give recommendations on modification of existing tobacco control systems and on the design of future data acquistion surveys.
Description:
Objective For effective sports injury prevention, information is needed about the implementation context for interventions. This study describes coaches' feedback on the implementation of an evidence-informed injury prevention programme in community junior netball using coaches' perceptions and the RE–AIM framework. Methods A lower-limb injury prevention programme (Down to Earth; D2E), for teaching safe-landing techniques, was delivered to 31 coaches from 31 junior community netball teams in a 1-h workshop. Coaches then delivered a 6-week programme at team training sessions starting in the week before the competition season commenced. 65% of coaches completed a feedback survey 17 weeks after they had delivered the programme. Results Most (88%) coaches believed that D2E improved their players' ability to perform correct landing techniques in games and that players had retained these improvements over the season. The majority (83%) indicated that an improvement in player athletic attributes was the greatest advantage of D2E, followed by a reduction in injury risk. Identified barriers to implementing D2E were running out of time and very young players finding the drills too difficult. Coaches reported that they needed more ideas for training drills that could be incorporated into their programmes and believed that their own coaching training did not adequately prepare them to implement an injury prevention programme. Conclusions Although coaches believed that D2E was effective in developing correct landing techniques, some modifications are needed to make it more suitable for younger players and coach education by accreditation courses could be improved to support the implementation of injury prevention programmes.
Description:
Objective For effective sports injury prevention, information is needed about the implementation context for interventions. This study describes coaches' feedback on the implementation of an evidence-informed injury prevention programme in community junior netball using coaches' perceptions and the RE–AIM framework. Methods A lower-limb injury prevention programme (Down to Earth; D2E), for teaching safe-landing techniques, was delivered to 31 coaches from 31 junior community netball teams in a 1-h workshop. Coaches then delivered a 6-week programme at team training sessions starting in the week before the competition season commenced. 65% of coaches completed a feedback survey 17 weeks after they had delivered the programme. Results Most (88%) coaches believed that D2E improved their players' ability to perform correct landing techniques in games and that players had retained these improvements over the season. The majority (83%) indicated that an improvement in player athletic attributes was the greatest advantage of D2E, followed by a reduction in injury risk. Identified barriers to implementing D2E were running out of time and very young players finding the drills too difficult. Coaches reported that they needed more ideas for training drills that could be incorporated into their programmes and believed that their own coaching training did not adequately prepare them to implement an injury prevention programme. Conclusions Although coaches believed that D2E was effective in developing correct landing techniques, some modifications are needed to make it more suitable for younger players and coach education by accreditation courses could be improved to support the implementation of injury prevention programmes.