Baseline water quality of the Gold Coast Broadwater, southern Moreton Bay (Australia).

This study establishes baseline water quality characteristics for the Gold Coast Broadwater, southern Moreton Bay (Australia) utilising routinely monitored parameters between 2016 and 2021, across 18 sites. Combined site mean concentrations of NO-N, NH-N and total nitrogen were 11.4 ± 33.

The quality of intensive care unit nurse handover related to end of life: a descriptive comparative international study.

Background: Quality ICU end-of-life-care has been found to be related to good communication. Handover is one form of communication that can be problematic due to lost or omitted information. A first step in improving care is to measure and describe it.

Introduction and feasibility assessment of laundry use of recycled water in dual reticulation systems in Australia.

Laundry is a potential new end use of recycled water in dual reticulation systems. Generally, the community is willing to accept this new end use if it can meet the concerns on health issues, durability of washing machine, cloth quality and aesthetic appearance. This study addresses all these major concerns thereby assisting in the introduction and promotion of this new end use in the existing and proposed dual reticulation systems.

The emetophobia questionnaire (EmetQ-13): psychometric validation of a measure of specific phobia of vomiting (emetophobia).

This study reports on the development and psychometric evaluation of a self-report assessment of the severity of symptoms of emetophobia. Using a sample of 95 individuals with emetophobia, and a matched sample of 90 control participants, a 13-items inventory was developed that showed a clear three-factor structure. The EmetQ-13 had good internal consistency (α=.

Butyrylated starch increases colonic butyrate concentration but has limited effects on immunity in healthy physically active individuals.

Background: Butyrate delivery to the large bowel may positively modulate commensal microbiota and enhance immunity.

Objective: To determine the effects of increasing large bowel butyrate concentration through ingestion of butyrylated high amylose maize starch (HAMSB) on faecal biochemistry and microbiota, and markers of immunity in healthy active individuals.

Design: Male and female volunteers were assigned randomly to consume either two doses of 20 g HAMSB (n = 23; age 37.

Exploring the validity of HPQ-based presenteeism measures to estimate productivity losses in the health and education sectors.

Background: Illness-related presenteeism (suboptimal work performance) may be a significant factor in worker productivity. Until now, there has been no generally accepted best method of measuring presenteeism across different industries and occupations. This study sought to validate the Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ)-based measure of presenteeism across occupations and industries and assess the most appropriate method for data analysis.

Gatekeepers to home and community care services: the link between client characteristics and source of referral.

Objectives: To identify characteristics associated with the likelihood of a client receiving a referral to the Home and Community Care (HACC) program from various sources.

Methods: Data were collected from 73809 home care clients during 2007-08. Binary logistic and multinomial logistic regression were used to investigate the likelihood of a client being referred by health workers v.

Use of flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus) in coastal biomonitor studies: review and recommendations for future studies.

There has been a widespread world-wide use of flathead mullet, Mugilcephalus, in fish biomonitor studies within the coastal zone. This review summarises this research field, focusing on heavy metals, and considers the implications of the accumulated data. Differences in sampling methodology, tissues analysed and units of reported data provide challenges in assessing and benchmarking these biomonitor studies.

Contaminants in water, sediment and fish biomonitor species from natural and artificial estuarine habitats along the urbanized Gold Coast, Queensland.

Metal and pesticide contaminants were measured in water, sediment and fish species in various Gold Coast waterways, Queensland. With the exception of Cu, metal concentrations in water, measured using the diffuse gradients in a thin film (DGT) technique, complied with relevant Australian guidelines. Cu concentrations in these waterways have been related to recreational vessel activities previously.

Essential role of EGFR in cardioprotection and signaling responses to A1 adenosine receptors and ischemic preconditioning.

Transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may contribute to specific protective responses (e.g. mediated by δ-opioid, bradykinin, or muscarinic receptors).

Analysis of the MTHFR C677T variant with migraine phenotypes.

Background: The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene variant C677T has been implicated as a genetic risk factor in migraine susceptibility, particularly in Migraine with Aura. Migraine, with and without aura (MA and MO) have many diagnostic characteristics in common. It is postulated that migraine symptomatic characteristics might themselves be influenced by MTHFR.

A sensitive, rapid ferricyanide-mediated toxicity bioassay developed using Escherichia coli.

A need for rapid toxicity techniques has seen recent research into developing new microbiological assays and characterising their toxicity responses using a range of substances. A microbiological bioassay that determines changes in ferricyanide-mediated respiration for toxicity measurement (FM-TOX) shows particular promise. The development and optimisation of an improved FM-TOX method, incorporating novel features, is described using Escherichia coli as the biocatalyst.

Work-induced changes in feelings of mastery.

Past theory and research indicate that conditions of work can have lasting effects on job incumbents. R. A.

Evaluating use of ferricyanide-mediated respiration bioassays to quantify stimulatory and inhibitory effects on Escherichia coli populations.

A number of recent studies have utilised ferricyanide as a respiratory mediator for microbial-based assays for determining water quality parameters such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and toxicity. The majority of assays published to date obtain a result by determining the difference in ferrocyanide accumulation between a test sample and one or more control samples. However, a validation of the relationship between ferrocyanide accumulation and standard measures of cell density or viability has not yet been performed.

Predicting social support for grieving persons: a theory of planned behavior perspective.

Research has consistently reported that social support from family, friends, and colleagues is an important factor in the bereaved person's ability to cope after the loss of a loved one. This study used a Theory of Planned Behavior framework to identify those factors that predict a person's intention to interact with, and support, a grieving person. Questionnaire data from 160 university students showed that together behavioral, normative, and control beliefs and past behavior significantly predicted intention after controlling for gender and past experience.

Persuasion and types of enticements offered by pharmaceutical companies to Gold Coast general practitioners in an attempt to encourage a health website recommendation.

This study was undertaken to determine if pharmaceutical companies persuade and offer enticements to Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia) general practitioners (GPs), in an attempt to encourage them to recommend health websites to the health consumer. A survey instrument consisting of seven single response questions was mailed to 250 (61%) out of 410 GPs. Questions were designed to measure the percentages (%) and proportions associated with levels of persuasion and types of enticements pharmaceutical companies are offering GPs, in an attempt to encourage them to recommend health websites to the health consumer.

Decline in recycled water quality during short-term storage in open ponds.

Changes were assessed in urban wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent quality during short-term storage in open surface ponds. Water quality was monitored over five years at the inlets and outlets of open storage ponds located at three biological nutrient removal plants. Pond influent temperature, rainfall and sewage inflow were not found to be major factors.

Embedding evidence-based practice in a nursing curriculum: a benchmarking project.

The development of a new nursing curriculum in one Australian university provided the opportunity for academic staff to consider the best ways to integrate the requirements of evidence-based practice (EBP) into nursing education and culminated in the development and conduct of a specific benchmarking project. Data collection for the project included the use of university documents, observations and informal discussions with staff. An analysis of this information resulted in the emergence of five categories that were grouped into two major categories, namely infrastructure and processes.

Trace metal speciation measurements in waters by the liquid binding phase DGT device.

The speciation measurements of trace metals by the diffusive gradients in thin-films technique (DGT) using a poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) aqueous solution as a binding phase and a cellulose dialysis membrane (CDM) as a diffusive layer, CDM-PSS DGT, were investigated and showed good agreement with computer modelling calculations. The diffusion coefficients of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) complexes with Cd(2+) and Cu(2+) were measured and compared with those of the inorganic metal ions. CDM-PSS DGT device was tested for speciation measurement in sample solutions containing EDTA, tannic acid (TA), glucose (GL), dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBS) and humic acid (HA) as complexing ligands forming organic complexes with varying stability constants.

Storage of samples at high temperatures reduces the amount of amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis DNA detectable by PCR assay.

Chytridiomycosis, caused by the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is an emerging infectious disease responsible for amphibian declines on several continents. In laboratory conditions, optimal temperatures for Bd growth and survivorship are between 17 and 25 degrees C. We investigated the effect of different storage temperatures, both in field and laboratory conditions, on detection of Bd from swabs stored for 7 d.

Physio-chemical reactions in recycle aggregate concrete.

Concrete waste constitutes the major proportion of construction waste at about 50% of the total waste generated. An effective way to reduce concrete waste is to reuse it as recycled aggregate (RA) for the production of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). This paper studies the physio-chemical reactions of cement paste around aggregate for normal aggregate concrete (NAC) and RAC mixed with normal mixing approach (NMA) and two-stage mixing approach (TSMA) by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Age-related differences in postural reaction time and coordination during voluntary sway movements.

The elderly are known to exhibit declines in postural control during standing and walking, however little is known about how the elderly react under time-critical and challenging postural situations. The purpose of this study was to examine age-related differences in reaction time (RT) and the pattern of temporal coordination between center of pressure (COP), trunk and head motion during voluntary postural sway movements. Healthy young (n=10; mean=24 years; SD=5 years) and elderly men (n=8; mean=75 years; SD=2 years) stood on a force plate with tri-axial accelerometers attached to the head and lower trunk.

Cu and Zn concentration gradients created by dilution of pH neutral metal-spiked marine sediment: a comparison of sediment geochemistry with direct methods of metal addition.

The geochemistry of artificially metal contaminated sediments prepared using three methods of metal-spiking was compared in this study. Marine sediments with a gradient of Cu and Zn concentrations were prepared by direct-spiking without and with pH-adjustment to pH 7, and also by serial dilution of direct-spiked sediment (4000 microg g(-1), pH 7 adjusted) with uncontaminated sediment. Porewater concentrations of Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn in direct-spiked sediments without pH adjustment were orders of magnitude higher than the equivalent sediments adjusted to pH 7 or those prepared by the serial dilution method.

Cytogenetics of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer.

Cytogenetic analysis of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers has revealed recurrent aberrations, the frequency of which is reflective of malignant potential. Highly aberrant karyotypes are seen in melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, solar keratosis and Merkel cell carcinoma with more stable karyotypes seen in basal cell carcinoma, keratoacanthoma, Bowen's disease, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and cutaneous lymphomas. Some aberrations were common amongst a number of skin cancer types including rearrangements and numerical abnormalities of chromosome 1, -3p, +3q, partial or entire trisomy 6, trisomy 7, +8q, -9p, +9q, partial or entire loss of chromosome 10, -17p, +17q and partial or entire gain of chromosome 20.

Empathy-related responses to moving film stimuli depicting human and non-human animal targets in negative circumstances.

Research supports an "ingroup empathy hypothesis" of higher empathy-related psychophysiological responses towards individuals of the same ethnicity. However, little research has investigated empathy-related responses to non-human targets graded for phylogenetic relatedness. Participants (N=73) were presented with film stimuli depicting humans, primates, quadruped mammals and birds in victimized circumstances.