Child feeding practices in families of working and nonworking mothers of Indonesian middle class urban families: what are the problems?

This study aims to explore the feeding practices in families of working and nonworking mothers with children (aged 12-36 months) of different nutritional status and types of domestic caregiver in Indonesian urban middle class families. It was designed as a qualitative multiple case study. Mothers and caregivers from 26 families were interviewed in depth, and caregivers were categorized as family and domestic-paid caregivers.

Altered colonic mucosal availability of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in ulcerative colitis and the relationship to disease activity.

Background And Aims: The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) arachidonic acid (AA, n-6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, n-3) are precursors of eicosanoids and other lipid mediators which have critical roles in inflammation. The mediators formed from the different PUFA have different potencies. We hypothesised that metabolic changes associated with colonic mucosal inflammation would modify the bioavailability of the eicosanoid precursors AA and EPA.

Fighting obesity with a sugar-based library: discovery of novel MCH-1R antagonists by a new computational-VAST approach for exploration of GPCR binding sites.

Obesity is an increasingly common disease. While antagonism of the melanin-concentrating hormone-1 receptor (MCH-1R) has been widely reported as a promising therapeutic avenue for obesity treatment, no MCH-1R antagonists have reached the market. Discovery and optimization of new chemical matter targeting MCH-1R is hindered by reduced HTS success rates and a lack of structural information about the MCH-1R binding site.

Recent Advances in Creep Modelling of the Nickel Base Superalloy, Alloy 720Li.

Recent work in the creep field has indicated that the traditional methodologies involving power law equations are not sufficient to describe wide ranging creep behaviour. More recent approaches such as the Wilshire equations however, have shown promise in a wide range of materials, particularly in extrapolation of short term results to long term predictions. In the aerospace industry however, long term creep behaviour is not critical and more focus is required on the prediction of times to specific creep strains.

The economic impact of pig-associated parasitic zoonosis in Northern Lao PDR.

The parasitic zoonoses human cysticercosis (Taenia solium), taeniasis (other Taenia species) and trichinellosis (Trichinella species) are endemic in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). This study was designed to quantify the economic burden pig-associated zoonotic disease pose in Lao PDR. In particular, the analysis included estimation of the losses in the pork industry as well as losses due to human illness and lost productivity.

Micron-size metal-binding hydrogel particles improve germination and radicle elongation of Australian metallophyte grasses in mine waste rock and tailings.

Metal contamination of landscapes as a result of mining and other industrial activities is a pervasive problem worldwide. Metal contaminated soils often lack effective vegetation cover and are prone to contaminant leaching and dispersion through erosion, leading to contamination of the environment. Metal-binding hydrogel particle amendments could ameliorate mine wastes prior to planting and enhance seedling emergence.

Metal-binding hydrogel particles alleviate soil toxicity and facilitate healthy plant establishment of the native metallophyte grass Astrebla lappacea in mine waste rock and tailings.

Soil contaminants are potentially a major threat to human and ecosystem health and sustainable production of food and energy where mineral processing wastes are discharged into the environment. In extreme conditions, metal concentrations in wastes often exceed even the metal tolerance thresholds of metallophytes (metal-tolerant plants) and sites remain barren with high risks of contaminant leaching and dispersion into the environment via erosion. A novel soil amendment based on micron-size thiol functional cross-linked acrylamide polymer hydrogel particles (X3) binds toxic soluble metals irreversibly and significantly reduces their concentrations in the soil solution to below the phytotoxicity thresholds.

Understanding the role of technology in health information systems.

Innovations in, and the use of emerging information and communications technology (ICT) has rapidly increased in all development contexts, including healthcare. It is believed that the use of appropriate technologies can increase the quality and reach of both information and communication. However, decisions on what ICT to adopt have often been made without evidence of their effectiveness; or information on implications; or extensive knowledge on how to maximise benefits from their use.

Building health systems capacity: an introductory training course on health information systems.

The inadequate capacity of health information systems (HIS) in developing countries of Asia and the Pacific has been an ongoing issue. Training of data producers and data users in generating, analysing and using data has been identified as a key option in strengthening HIS in the region and consequently building health system capacity. Accordingly, the HIS Knowledge Hub at the School of Population Health, the University of Queensland, has developed HIS curriculum, piloted and evaluated the course.

Issues and challenges for health information systems in the Pacific.

The aim of this paper is to summarise common issues and challenges for health information systems (HIS) in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) as identified by Pacific participants at two meetings held by the HIS Knowledge Hub in 2009 and provide suggestions for future action. The global agenda and drivers of HIS were discussed at both meetings to provide a clearer understanding of how Pacific Island countries are positioned within the larger international agenda. The two meetings provided the opportunity for participants to highlight suggestions for future action.

Safety and immunogenicity of an FP9-vectored candidate tuberculosis vaccine (FP85A), alone and with candidate vaccine MVA85A in BCG-vaccinated healthy adults: a phase I clinical trial.

The safety and immunogenicity of a new candidate tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, FP85A was evaluated alone and in heterologous prime-boost regimes with another candidate TB vaccine, MVA85A. This was an open label, non-controlled, non-randomized Phase I clinical trial. Healthy previously BCG-vaccinated adult subjects were enrolled sequentially into three groups and vaccinated with FP85A alone, or both FP85A and MVA85A, with a four week interval between vaccinations.

Malaria elimination gaining ground in the Asia Pacific.

Countries in the Asia Pacific region are making substantial progress toward eliminating malaria, but their success stories are rarely heard by a global audience. "Malaria 2012: Saving Lives in the Asia-Pacific," a conference hosted by the Australian Government in Sydney, Australia from October 31 to November 2, 2012, will provide a unique opportunity to showcase the region's work in driving down malaria transmission. One of the features of Malaria 2012 will be the Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network (APMEN), which has focused on harnessing the collective experiences of 13 countries through regional political and technical collaboration since its inception in 2009.

Preparing routine health information systems for immediate health responses to disasters.

During disaster times, we need specific information to rapidly plan a disaster response, especially in sudden-onset disasters. Due to the inadequate capacity of Routine Health Information Systems (RHIS), many developing countries face a lack of quality pre-disaster health-related data and efficient post-disaster data processes in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Considering the significance of local capacity during the early stages of disaster response, RHIS at local, provincial/state and national levels need to be strengthened so that they provide relief personnel up-to-date information to plan, organize and monitor immediate relief activities.

Training techniques to enhance the care and welfare of nonhuman primates.

Nonhuman primates are excellent subjects for the enhancement of care and welfare through training. The application of positive reinforcement techniques to specific aspects of the management of captive nonhuman primates spans a wide range of species, social contexts, and housing situations (eg, laboratories, zoos, and sanctuaries). There is an increased interest from regulatory and accrediting agencies to insure improved conditions for captive nonhuman primates, apparent by the various standard guidelines, accreditation standards, and protocols available for the 3 primary types of nonhuman primate holding facilities.

Cytokine mucosal expression in ulcerative colitis, the relationship between cytokine release and disease activity.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease with conflicting evidence from studies on the roles of TNFα, IL-8, TGFβ and other cytokines and characterised by neutrophil infiltration and tissue destruction.

Aim: To compare cytokine profiles of inflamed and non-inflamed mucosa in patients with distal UC, and matched controls.

Methods: Patients were prospectively recruited, mucosal biopsies at flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) were taken from UC patients within macroscopically inflamed and non-inflamed proximal mucosa, and from age-sex matched controls undergoing FS.

Liver transplantation for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: the new epidemic.

Objective: To analyze incidence, outcomes, and utilization of health care resources in liver transplantation (LT) for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Summary Of Background Data: With the epidemic of obesity and metabolic syndrome in nearly 33% of the US population, NASH is projected to become the leading indication for LT in the next several years. Data on predictors of outcome and utilization of health care resources after LT in NASH is limited.

Optimising dissolved air flotation/filtration treatment of algae-laden lagoon effluent using surface charge: a Bolivar treatment plant case study.

Dissolved air flotation (DAF) incorporating filtration (DAFF) is used at the Bolivar wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to polish lagoon effluent for reuse. Elevated algal populations are frequently experienced and can lead to increased coagulant requirements and process control issues. Streaming current detectors (SCDs) and a charge demand analyser (CDA) were used to monitor the full-scale plant.

An unusual presentation of pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cardiovascular emergency, by which occlusion of a part of the pulmonary arterial bed may lead to acute life threatening but potentially reversible right ventricular failure. Early diagnosis is fundamental to implement immediate effective treatment to reduce mortality. However, the diagnosis can be easily missed due to non-specific clinical presentation.

Rural health workers and their work environment: the role of inter-personal factors on job satisfaction of nurses in rural Papua New Guinea.

Background: Job satisfaction is an important focal attitude towards work. Understanding factors that relate to job satisfaction allows interventions to be developed to enhance work performance. Most research on job satisfaction among nurses has been conducted in acute care settings in industrialized countries.

Listening to the rural health workers in Papua New Guinea - the social factors that influence their motivation to work.

Despite rural health services being situated and integrated within communities in which people work and live, the complex interaction of the social environment on health worker motivation and performance in Low Middle Income Countries has been neglected in research. In this article we investigate how social factors impact on health worker motivation and performance in rural health services in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with 33 health workers from three provinces (Central, Madang, and Milne Bay) in PNG between August and November 2009.

Metallation state of human manganese superoxide dismutase expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Human manganese superoxide dismutase (Sod2p) has been expressed in yeast and the protein purified from isolated yeast mitochondria, yielding both the metallated protein and the less stable apoprotein in a single chromatographic step. At 30 °C growth temperature, more than half of the purified enzyme is apoprotein that can be fully activated following reconstitution, while the remainder contains a mixture of manganese and iron. In contrast, only fully metallated enzyme was isolated from a similarly constructed yeast strain expressing the homologous yeast manganese superoxide dismutase.

Synthesis of functional core, star polymers via RAFT polymerization for drug delivery applications.

Poly(oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate was polymerized via reversible addition fragmentation transfer polymerization (RAFT), and then chain extended in the presence of both a cross-linker and vinyl benzaldehyde (VBA), yielding monodisperse star polymers. The presence of aldehyde groups in the core was exploited to attach doxorubicin. The drug loading was controlled by the amount of VBA incorporated (until 28 wt% in drug).

Operational research to inform a sub-national surveillance intervention for malaria elimination in Solomon Islands.

Background: Successful reduction of malaria transmission to very low levels has made Isabel Province, Solomon Islands, a target for early elimination by 2014. High malaria transmission in neighbouring provinces and the potential for local asymptomatic infections to cause malaria resurgence highlights the need for sub-national tailoring of surveillance interventions. This study contributes to a situational analysis of malaria in Isabel Province to inform an appropriate surveillance intervention.