New Zealand regions, 1986 – 2001: Hospitalisation and some related health facts

Once age and gender composition is controlled for, regional health differentials are a function of problems of health service delivery, of socio-economic variance, and overall Māori Pakeha health differences. They indicate relative levels of exclusion and of inequality. This paper shows that these differentials follow in general the patterns seen in other papers in this series

The Impact of Medicare's Prospective Payment System on Psychiatric Patients Treated in Scatterbeds

Medicare's Prospective Payment System (PPS) for hospitals was phased-in during the 1884 Federal Fiscal Year. While many providers of psychiatric inpatient care were exempted from PPS patients treated in general hospital beds outside of psychiatric units (scatterbeds) were not. This allows for an initial assessment of the impact of PPS on psychiatric patients. We use a single equation model of hospital length of stay to estimate the impact of PPS. We allow for the possibility of both anticipating behavior and slow adjustment to the new payment scheme. The results indicate a substantial response to PPS over the first year of implementation. The estimated response includes sizable anticipatory and slow adjustment components. The findings suggest that policy discussions may be weighted too heavily in the direction of concern over hospital financial status given the ability of hospitals to change their behavior.

Entitlement to concessionary public transport and wellbeing : a qualitative study of young people and older citizens in London, UK

Public transport in all countries, rich and poor, facilitates access to some of the determinants of health including employment, and health and educational services. Some cities (largely in higher income countries) now provide incentives to use public transport. Drawing on qualitative data from two groups typically at risk of transport exclusion, this paper focuses on young (12-18 years of age) and older (60+ years of age) bus users’ accounts of bus travel and of the travel concessions they receive. Both groups perceived that their entitlement to free bus travel reflected their social worth, but that entitlement to particular spaces on the bus reflected less valued social attributes such as need or vulnerability. Their free bus journeys were related to social inclusion through enhancing a sense of belonging: to the city, and to a collective ‘public’. We focus on the ways in which entitlement to public transport can mediate the relationships between mobility and wellbeing. These findings are important because while much research has focussed on ‘active travel’ modes and health, fewer studies look at the relationship between public transport use and wider health and social benefits.Peer reviewe

The zoonotic potential of dogs in Aboriginal communities in Central Australia.

This article reviews the established zoonoses from dogs, and identifies the potential burden of speculative zoonoses of canine origin in Aboriginal communities in Central Australia. A variety of organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites including protozoa, ectoparasites and helminths (worms) have possible zoonotic capability; these organisms are discussed. Observational research was conducted in seven Aboriginal Town Camps of Alice Springs to describe the human and dog interactions and behaviours, and risk factors for transmission. Information was also gathered on the cultural significance of dogs to Aboriginal people in the community under observation. The relationship between Aboriginal people and their dogs appears to be not only one of companionship, but involves other more complex cultural factors. The contribution dogs make to infections and infestations of Aboriginal people in communities throughout Australia remains unclear. Education and dog health programs have an important role in reducing the risk of canine-related human morbidity in Aboriginal communities.Sharyn Gaskin, Richard Bentham, Nancy Cromar and Howard Fallowfiel

The X-ray Properties of Optically Selected Clusters of Galaxies

We present the results of Chandra and Suzaku X-ray observations of nine moderate-redshift (0.16 < z < 0.42) clusters discovered via the Red-sequence Cluster Survey (RCS). Surface brightness profiles are fitted to beta models, gas masses are determined, integrated spectra are extracted within R2500, and X-ray temperatures and luminosities are inferred. The Lx-Tx relationship expected from self-similar evolution is tested by comparing this sample to our previous X-ray investigation of nine high-redshift (0.6 < z < 1.0) optically selected clusters. We find that optically selected clusters are systematically less luminous than X-ray selected clusters of similar X-ray temperature at both moderate and high-z. We are unable to constrain evolution in the Lx-Tx relation with these data, but find it consistent with no evolution, within relatively large uncertainties. To investigate selection effects, we compare the X-ray properties of our sample to those of clusters in the representative X-ray selected REXCESS sample, also determined within R2500. We find that while RCS cluster X-ray properties span the entire range of those of massive clusters selected by other methods, their average X-ray properties are most similar to those of dynamically disturbed X-ray selected clusters. This similarity suggests that the true cluster distribution might contain a higher fraction of disturbed objects than are typically detected in X-ray selected surveys.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures; accepted for publication in MNRAS. Figure quality reduced to comply with arXiv file size requirement

Dysfunctional HDL and progression of atherosclerosis in HIV-1-infected and -uninfected adults

Background: HDL function rather than absolute level may be a more accurate indicator for risk of developing atherosclerosis. Dysfunctional HDL has increased redox activity and reduced antioxidant properties, but it is unknown whether abnormal HDL function is associated with progression of atherosclerosis in HIV-1-infected subjects. Findings: We retrospectively measured serum HDL function in 91 subjects from a prospective 3-year study of carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), which enrolled triads of risk factor-matched persons that were HIV-1-uninfected (n=36) or HIV-1+ with (n=29) or without (n=26) protease inhibitor (PI)-based therapy for ≥ 2 years. HDL function was assessed using a biochemical assay that measures the oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR oxidation rate, DOR), in which higher DOR readout corresponds to dysfunctional HDL phenotype. There were no significant associations between DOR and HIV-1 infection. In univariate analysis of 55 HIV-1-infected subjects, greater waist circumference and lower serum HDL were significantly associated with higher baseline levels of DOR (p=0.01). These subjects had significant increases in levels of DOR over time (3 years) that were associated with white race (p=0.03), higher nadir CD4 count (p0.1) (DOR), were significantly associated (p=0.02) with progression of CIMT. Conclusion: In a small matched cohort study of HIV-1-infected subjects who had a low cardiovascular risk profile, HDL function changed over time and was independently associated with anthropometric parameters of obesity but not with progression of CIMT

Mars Surface Tunnel Element Concept

When the first human visitors on Mars prepare to return to Earth, they will have to comply with stringent planetary protection requirements. Apollo Program experience warns that opening an EVA hatch directly to the surface will bring dust into the ascent vehicle. To prevent inadvertent return of potential Martian contaminants to Earth, careful consideration must be given to the way in which crew ingress their Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). For architectures involving more than one surface element-such as an ascent vehicle and a pressurized rover or surface habitat-a retractable tunnel that eliminates extravehicular activity (EVA) ingress is an attractive solution. Beyond addressing the immediate MAV access issue, a reusable tunnel may be useful for other surface applications, such as rover to habitat transfer, once its primary mission is complete. A National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) team is studying the optimal balance between surface tunnel functionality, mass, and stowed volume as part of the Evolvable Mars Campaign (EMC). The study team began by identifying the minimum set of functional requirements needed for the tunnel to perform its primary mission, as this would presumably be the simplest design, with the lowest mass and volume. This Minimum Functional Tunnel then becomes a baseline against which various tunnel design concepts and potential alternatives can be traded, and aids in assessing the mass penalty of increased functionality. Preliminary analysis indicates that the mass of a single-mission tunnel is about 237 kg, not including mass growth allowance

Sandwich and half-sandwich metal complexes derived from cross-conjugated 3-methylene-penta-1,4-diynes

The cross-conjugated ethynyl–vinylidene [Ph2CvC(CuCH){C(H)vCRu(PPh3)2Cp}]PF6 ([4a]PF6), and [FcC (H)vC(CuCH){C(H)vCRu(PPh3)2Cp}]PF6 ([4b]PF6), and ethynyl–alkynyl Ph2CvC(CuCH){CuCRu(PPh3)2Cp} (5a), and FcC(H)vC(CuCH){CuCRu(PPh3)2Cp} (5b) compounds (Cp = η5-cyclopentadienyl) have been prepared from reactions of the known 3-methylene-penta-1,4-diynes Ph2CvC(CuCH)2 (3a) and [FcCHvC(CuCH)2] (3b) with [RuCl(PPh3)2Cp]. The compounds derived from 3b incorporating the more electron-rich alkene proved to be unstable during work-up, and attempts to prepare bis(ruthenium) complexes from 3a and 3b or from transmetallation reactions of the bis(alkynylgold) complex FcCHvC(CuCAuPPh3)2 (7) with RuCl(PPh3)2Cp were unsuccessful. The related bis- and tris(ferrocenyl) derivatives Ph2CvC(CuCFc)2 (6a) and FcCHvC(CuCFc)2 (6b) were more readily obtained from Pd(II)/Cu(I) catalysed cross-coupling reactions of FcCuCH with the 1,1-dibromo vinyl complexes PhCvCBr2 (1a) and FcC(H)vCBr2 (1b). Cyclic voltammetry of 6a and 6b using n-Bu4N[PF6] as the supporting electrolyte shows broad, overlapping waves arising from the sequential oxidation of the ferrocenyl moieties in electronically and chemically similar environments. Electrostatic effects between the ferrocenyl moieties are enhanced in solutions of the weakly ion-pairing electrolyte n-Bu4N[B{C6H3(CF3)2-3,5}4], leading to better resolution of the individual electrochemical processes. The comparative IR spectroelectrochemical response of 6a and 6b suggest the vinyl ferrocene moiety in 6b undergoes oxidation before the ethynyl ferrocene fragments. There is no evidence of electronic coupling between the metallocene moieties and [6a]+, [6b]n+ (n = 1, 2) are best described as Class I mixed-valence compounds

An Examination of Qualitative Empirical Studies at the AHRD from 1999-2003: Method, Rationale for Method, Data Collection, Sampling Strategies, and Integrity Measures

The paper examines the nature of qualitative empirical studies published in the AHRD proceedings from 1999-2003 and discusses findings on method, rationale for method, data collection, sampling strategies, and integrity measures