A System-Independent Derivation of Preferential Attachment from the Principle of Least Effort.

Preferential attachment (PA) is a widely observed behavior in many living systems and has been used in modeling many networks. The aim of this work is to show that the mechanism of PA is a consequence of the fundamental principle of least effort. We derive PA directly from this principle in maximizing an efficiency function.

Redback spider bites in children in South Australia: A 10-year review of antivenom effectiveness.

Objective: To describe the South Australian paediatric redback spider bite experience and to examine the hypothesis that redback antivenom (RBAV) treatment in children is clinically effective.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of all children under 18 years of age presenting to the EDs of the three major paediatric or mixed hospitals in Adelaide, South Australia, with a discharge diagnosis of redback spider envenomation between 1 January 2010 and 31 March 2020. The main outcome measures include: patient and bite demographics; presenting symptoms and signs; treatment provided; clinical effects at 2 h post RBAV administration on pain, diaphoresis, blood pressure, heart rate and systemic features; overall clinical impression of RBAV effectiveness and resolution of symptoms prior to discharge.

Physical health trajectories of young people commenced on clozapine.

Objectives: Clozapine is the most effective antipsychotic medication, but it has the highest propensity for metabolic side effects. A clozapine clinic was established within an early intervention for psychosis service to facilitate the timely commencement of clozapine and to manage the associated adverse effects. This study describes the changes in the weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and blood pressure after 6 months in young people commenced on clozapine.

A portable real-time in situ gamma-ray analysis system.

A portable CeBr based gamma-ray detection system was designed and built for rapid turnaround, high throughput, real-time, and in situ sample analysis. The new technique allows automated data transmission from the field unit to a central laboratory controller to ensure laboratory quality of the data collected by field users without gamma-ray spectroscopy expertise. The method validation data indicates that the system's data quality objectives are adequate for radiological or nuclear emergency response or targeted surveillance programs where gamma-ray analysis is needed.

Managing a nosocomial outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: an early Australian hospital experience.

Background: Carbapenems are traditionally reserved as the last line of defence for treatment of serious infections with multiresistant Gram-negative bacilli. Reports of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing organisms have been emerging globally, but rare in Australasia to date. We describe an outbreak of KPC-2 producing K.

The application of imaging technologies in the detection of trace evidence in forensic medical investigation.

In a country notorious for violent crime, it seems that South African medico-legal laboratories make minimal application of technology in the death investigation process and little attention is given to trace evidence. Non-destructive, non-invasive, portable and cost-effective tools are required. This study was conducted at the Pretoria Medico-Legal Laboratory.

Capture, transport, and husbandry of elephant sharks (Callorhinchus milii) adults, eggs, and hatchlings for research and display.

Elephant sharks (Callorhinchus milii) have the slowest evolving genome of all vertebrates and are an interesting model species for evolution research and a prized display animal. However, their deep water habitat, short breeding season, fragility, and susceptibility to stress-induced mortality have made them difficult animals to capture, keep in captivity, and obtain fertilized eggs from. Gravid females were captured by rod and reel from Western Port Bay, Australia and transferred to a 40 000 L closed aquaculture system to lay their eggs before being released.

Mapping scores from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to preference-based utility values.

Purpose: Quality of life mapping methods such as "Transfer to Utility" can be used to translate scores on disease-specific measures to utility values, when traditional utility measurement methods (e.g. standard gamble, time trade-off, preference-based multi-attribute instruments) have not been used.

The incidence, pathology of trauma and victim profiles of homicidal deaths in Pretoria, South Africa (2007-2008).

This study aimed to establish the incidence of homicide, associated pathology of trauma and victim profiles in cases admitted to or managed as homicidal deaths at the Pretoria Medico-Legal Laboratory (PMLL) over the period of 2007-2008. A total of 1088 cases were reviewed. Homicides accounted for 22.

Cost estimation for solid waste management in industrialising regions--precedents, problems and prospects.

The importance of cost planning for solid waste management (SWM) in industrialising regions (IR) is not well recognised. The approaches used to estimate costs of SWM can broadly be classified into three categories - the unit cost method, benchmarking techniques and developing cost models using sub-approaches such as cost and production function analysis. These methods have been developed into computer programmes with varying functionality and utility.

Cost function analysis for solid waste management: a developing country experience.

The need for improved cost planning methods for solid waste management (SWM) is particularly strong in emerging economies where problems are severe, expectations for improvements are high, but finances are constrained. Estimating cost functions is suggested as an improved cost planning method. The research uses 1999 data from 298 Indian municipalities, covering over 140 million people.

Evaluation of the biological efficacy of hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination in wards of an Australian hospital.

This study assessed the efficacy of a 'dry' hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination in an Australian hospital via a two-armed study. The in vivo arm examined the baseline bacterial counts in high-touch zones within wards and evaluated the efficacy of cleaning with a neutral detergent followed by either hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination, or a manual terminal clean with bleach or Det-Sol 500. The in vitro arm examined the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination on a variety of different surfaces commonly found in the wards of an Australian hospital, deliberately seeded with a known concentration of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).

Very low-dose risperidone in first-episode psychosis: a safe and effective way to initiate treatment.

Patients experiencing a first psychotic episode have high rates of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPSs) when treated with the doses of neuroleptics used in multiepisode or chronic schizophrenia. There is some evidence that lower doses may be equally, if not more, effective but less toxic in this population. Here, we report the results of a biphasic open label trial designed to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of low-dose (2-4 mg/day) risperidone treatment in a group of 96 first-episode nonaffective psychosis patients.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Clozapine and CBT for First-Episode Psychosis with Enduring Positive Symptoms: A Pilot Study.

Here we report the results of a pilot study investigating the relative and combined effects of a 12 week course of clozapine and CBT in first-episode psychosis patients with prominent ongoing positive symptoms following their initial treatment. Patients from our early psychosis service who met the inclusion criteria (n = 48) were randomized to one of four treatment groups: clozapine, clozapine plus CBT, thioridazine, or thioridazine plus CBT. The degree of psychopathology and functionality of all participants was measured at baseline then again at 6, 12 and 24 weeks, and the treatment outcomes for each group determined by statistical analysis.

A controlled trial of cognitively oriented psychotherapy for early psychosis (COPE) with four-year follow-up readmission data.

Objectives: Cognitively oriented psychotherapy for early psychosis (COPE) is aimed at facilitating the adjustment of the person, and preventing or alleviating secondary morbidity in the wake of the first psychotic episode. The present study reports on the outcomes of a controlled trial comparing two conditions: COPE versus No-COPE.

Method: Ninety-one people participated in the trial which was analysed by intention-to-treat, including 12 people who were assigned to COPE but refused to participate.

Surgical-site infection rates and risk factor analysis in coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: The Victorian Infection Control Surveillance Project (VICSP) is a multicenter collaborative surveillance project established by infection control practitioners. Five public hospitals contributed data for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Objective: To determine the aggregate and comparative interhospital surgical-site infection (SSI) rates for patients undergoing CABG surgery and the risk factors for SSI in this patient group.

Cognitively oriented psychotherapy for early psychosis (COPE): a 1-year follow-up.

Objectives: Cognitively oriented psychotherapy for early psychosis (COPE) is aimed at facilitating the adjustment of the person, and at preventing or alleviating secondary morbidity in the wake of the first psychotic episode.

Design: A total of 80 people participated in the initial trial and completed assessments on a range of outcome measures. Post-treatment assessment results from a non-randomized controlled trial of COPE have been previously reported.

Prolonged recovery in first-episode psychosis.

Background: Early identification and specialised treatment of individuals with enduring positive symptoms may assist in alleviating symptoms and has the potential to change the course of illness.

Method: Prevalence and descriptive data on enduring positive symptoms in two first-episode samples are outlined. Attempts to incorporate the focus of early intervention for persisting psychosis into routine clinical care of individuals with first-episode psychosis are described.

Cognitively-oriented psychotherapy for early psychosis (COPE). Preliminary results.

Background: The present study describes the results of the pilot testing of a therapy we have developed for people with first-episode psychosis. Cognitively-oriented psychotherapy for early psychosis (COPE) is aimed at facilitating the adjustment of the person, and at preventing or alleviating secondary morbidity in the wake of the first psychotic episode.

Method: Eighty people formed three groups: those who were offered and accepted COPE (COPE subjects); those who refused COPE (refusal subjects); and those who were offered neither COPE nor any other continuing treatment from our service (control subjects).

Laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty: a comparison between transperitoneal and extraperitoneal techniques.

Background: This study sequentially compares the results of 148 transperitoneal inguinal hernioplasties in 129 patients with 313 totally extraperitoneal hernioplasties in 254 patients.

Methods: Patients were entered into the study prospectively and reviewed postoperatively at 1 day, 1 week, 5 weeks and 1 year.

Results: There was no difference in length of hospital stay, postoperative analgesia requirements or the rate of early or late operative complications.

Fractured neck of the femur (DRG 210/211): prospective outcome study.

Background: An ageing population will increase the need for resources to treat patients with a fractured neck of femur (DRG 210/211). Provision of these resources will be helped by a better understanding of current practices.

Methods: A prospective study of outcome at discharge for 100 consecutive patients with DRG 210/211 was conducted at five Victorian metropolitan teaching hospitals to assess length of stay and the reasons for any variations.