bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magnetization relaxation and structure of CoFeGe alloys
Authors: Lee H. , Wang Y.-H. A. , Mewes C. K. A. , Butler W. H. , Mewes T. , Maat S. , York B. , Carey M. J. , Childress J. R.
Published: August 2009

The magnetic relaxation of 10 and 50 nm thin films of (CoFe)100−xGex (0 at. %≤x≤35 at. %) alloys was investigated by broadband ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) experiments. 10 nm thin films exhibit a significant two magnon contribution to the FMR linewidth. The 50 nm films exhibit very low damping constants of α≈0.0025 and relaxation rates as low as 33 MHz in the composition range of 20 at. %≤x≤30 at. % Ge after annealing. Structural characterization revealed B2 order for these compositions. First principles calculations confirm a pseudogap in the minority channel for B2 ordered (CoFe)75Ge25 which may cause the low damping parameters and high ΔRA in CoFeGe based current perpendicular to the plane giant magnetoresistance spin valves.
Global particle-in-cell simulations of fast-particle effects on shear Alfvén waves
Authors: Mishchenko Alexey , Könies Axel , Hatzky Roman
Published: August 2009

This paper reports self-consistent global linear gyrokinetic particle-in-cell simulations of shear Alfvén waves destabilized by fast particles in tokamak geometry. Resonant excitation of toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes by fast particles and their transition to energetic particle modes (when the fast-particle drive is large enough) has been observed in the simulations.
Optically excited near-surface phonons of TiO2 (110) observed by fourth-order coherent Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Nomoto Tomonori , Sasahara Akira , Onishi Hiroshi
Published: August 2009

We observed the fourth-order and third-order optical responses in the time domain on a TiO2 (110) surface covered with trimethyl acetates. Coherent vibrations assignable to near-surface phonon modes were present at 179, 191, 359, 440, 507, 609, and 823 cm−1 in the fourth-order responses. The amplitude and phase of each mode were determined with different azimuths and polarizations of pump and probe light pulses. Vibrational assignments and possible mechanisms to excite the vibrations were discussed.
Space charge effects on the electroluminescence efficiency and stability of organic light-emitting devices with mixed emitting layers
Authors: Luo Yichun , Aziz Hany
Published: August 2009

In organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs), the decay rate of triplet state population in the electron/hole recombination zone is found to be highly sensitive to space charge densities, providing an avenue for inferring variations in their formation. In OLEDs containing mixtures of N,N′-Bis(naphthalen-1-yl)-N′-bis(phenyl)benzidine (NPB) and tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (AlQ3) in the emitting layer, optimizing the NPB/AlQ3 is found to reduce hole space charges, and leads to an increase in electroluminescence stability. Conversely, electroluminescence efficiency is found to be only weakly dependent on the mixture composition, suggesting that hole space charges are not effective quenchers of AlQ3 singlet excitons in mixed emitting layer OLEDs.
Quantum effects in the Brownian motion of a particle in a double well potential in the overdamped limit
Authors: Coffey William T. , Kalmykov Yuri P. , Titov Serguey V. , Cleary Liam
Published: August 2009

Quantum effects in the noninertial Brownian motion of a particle in a double well potential are treated via a semiclassical Smoluchowski equation for the time evolution of the reduced Wigner distribution function in configuration space allowing one to evaluate the position correlation function, its characteristic relaxation times, and dynamic susceptibility using matrix continued fractions and finite integral representations in the manner of the classical Smoluchowski equation treatment. Reliable approximate analytic solutions based on the exponential separation of the time scales of the fast intrawell and slow overbarrier relaxation processes are given. Moreover, the effective and the longest relaxation times of the position correlation function yield accurate predictions of both the low and high frequency relaxation behavior. The low frequency part of the dynamic susceptibility associated with the Kramers escape rate behaves as a single Lorentzian with characteristic frequency given by the quantum-mechanical reaction rate solution of the Kramers problem. As a particular example, quantum effects in the stochastic resonance are estimated.
Pull-in/out analysis of nano/microelectromechanical switches with defective oxide layers
Authors: Xu Yang , Aluru N. R.
Published: August 2009

We investigate the effect of surface and interior defects such as vacancies and broken bonds on the performance of nano/microelectromechanical (N/MEMS) switches. By combining multiscale electrostatic analysis with mechanical analysis, we compute the capacitance-voltage and pull-in/out voltages of N/MEMS switches in the presence of defects in the dielectric oxide layer. Our results indicate that both surface and interior defects can change the pull-in/out voltages leading to significant voltage offsets. These voltage offsets can lead to an eventual failure of the N/MEMS switch.
Enhancing plasticity of Zr46.75Ti8.25Cu7.5Ni10Be27.5 bulk metallic glass by precompression
Authors: Zhang J. L. , Yu H. B. , Lu J. X. , Bai H. Y. , Shek C. H.
Published: August 2009

Precompression treatments on Zr46.75Ti8.25Cu7.5Ni10Be27.5 bulk metallic glass rods with tapered ends induced controllable stress distributions and resulted in residual stress accompanied with a few tiny shear bands after unloading. The built-in stress state increased macroscopic plasticity dramatically and produced predictable distributions of shear bands in the cylindrical samples cut from the taper-ended samples. The macroscopic plasticity was interpreted in terms of the competition among different types of shear bands.
System investigation of a rolled-up metamaterial optical hyperlens structure
Authors: Smith E. J. , Liu Z. , Mei Y. F. , Schmidt O. G.
Published: August 2009

An investigation of the material makeup and surrounding medium of an optical rolled-up hyperlens is presented. A working spectral range of the hyperlens for different material combinations is studied along with an examination of hyperlens immersion, which suppresses the diffraction of waves exiting the lens due to impedance matching, leading to a higher intensity output. This hyperlens immersion technique can be implemented into cell culture and molecular analysis.
Effects of particle dipole interaction on the ac magnetically induced heating characteristics of ferrite nanoparticles for hyperthermia
Authors: Jeun Minhong , Bae Seongtae , Tomitaka Asahi , Takemura Yasushi , Park Ki Ho , Paek Sun Ha , Chung Kyung-Won
Published: August 2009

Magnetic particle dipole interaction was revealed as a crucial physical parameter to be considered in optimizing the ac magnetically induced heating characteristics of magnetic nanoparticles. The ac heating temperature of soft MFe2O4 (M=Mg,Ni) nanoparticles was remarkably increased from 17.6 to 94.7 °C (MgFe2O4) and from 13.1 to 103.1 °C (NiFe2O4) by increasing the particle dipole interaction energy at fixed ac magnetic field of 140 Oe and frequency of 110 kHz. The increase in “magnetic hysteresis loss” that resulted from the particle dipole interaction was the main physical reason for the significant improvement of ac heating characteristics.
High-harmonic gyrotron with sectioned cavity
Authors: Savilov A. V.
Published: August 2009

High-harmonic large-orbit gyrotrons require long-length operating cavities because of both a weak electron-wave coupling and relativeily low electron currents. Since diffraction Q-factors of such cavities are very high, a great share of radiated rf power is spent to Ohmic losses. In this letter, a sectioned klystronlike cavity is proposed as a way to combine a long electron-wave interaction region with a relatively low diffraction Q-factor. In addition, the use of such a cavity makes a relatively broadband frequency tuning possible.
Trimming of aqueous chemically grown ZnO nanorods into ZnO nanotubes and their comparative optical properties
Authors: Israr M. Q. , Sadaf J. R. , Yang L. L. , Nur O. , Willander M. , Palisaitis J. , Persson P. O. Å.
Published: August 2009

Highly oriented ZnO nanotubes were fabricated on a silicon substrate by aqueous chemical growth at low temperature (<100 °C) by trimming of ZnO nanorods. The yield of nanotubes in the sample was 100%. Photoluminescence spectroscopy of the nanotubes reveals an enhanced and broadened ultraviolet (UV) emission peak, compared with the initial nanorods. This effect is attributed to whispering gallery mode resonance. In addition, a redshift of the UV emission peak is also observed. Enhancement in the deep defect band emission in the nanotubes compared to nanorods was also manifested as a result of the increased surface area.
A self-consistent renormalized jellium approach for calculating structural and thermodynamic properties of charge stabilized colloidal suspensions
Authors: Colla Thiago E. , Levin Yan , Trizac Emmanuel
Published: August 2009

An approach is proposed which allows to self-consistently calculate the structural and the thermodynamic properties of highly charged aqueous colloidal suspensions. The method is based on the renormalized jellium model with the background charge distribution related to the colloid-colloid correlation function. The theory is used to calculate the correlation functions and the effective colloidal charges for suspensions containing additional monovalent electrolyte. The predictions of the theory are in excellent agreement with Monte Carlo simulations.
Planar metallic nanoscale slit lenses for angle compensation
Authors: Verslegers Lieven , Catrysse Peter B. , Yu Zongfu , Fan Shanhui
Published: August 2009

We demonstrate numerically, using a modified total-field/scattered-field formalism, that metallic lenses, based on arrays of nanoscale slits with varying widths in a planar metallic film, can be used to focus light and compensate for various angles of incidence. These structures could be used as integrated microlenses to improve the efficiency of pixels in solid-state image sensors. Our design guidelines simultaneously accomplish a prism and focusing action. Our results also indicate the importance of the aperture effect for such far-field focusing devices.
A ring artifact suppression algorithm based on a priori information
Authors: Titarenko Sofya , Titarenko Valeriy , Kyrieleis Albrecht , Withers Philip J.
Published: August 2009

In this letter, ring artifacts in two-dimensional (2D) tomographic slices are considered. For a parallel beam geometry we propose an interactive algorithm, which removes the artifacts while preserving fine image details. The algorithm comprises two stages and is based on a priori information about the true attenuation coefficient in some areas of a 2D slice. Even in the absence of any a priori information the initial stage of the algorithm can already provide good ring artifact suppression.
Precursive stage of nanocrystallization in niobium oxide-containing glass
Authors: Takahashi Yoshihiro , Masai Hirokazu , Osada Minoru , Fujiwara Takumi
Published: August 2009

In situ observation of inelastic light scattering in Raman and Boson regions was performed in a niobiogermanate glass with a high nucleation ability during heating in order to examine its nanocrystallization dynamics. The relation of structural heterogeneity to the precursive stage of crystallization is also discussed. It is suggested that evolution of nuclei occurs in a nanometric niobate-rich region due to density fluctuation in the supercooled liquid phase prior to nanocrystallization.
Effect of hydrostatic pressure in degenerate Ge1−xMnxTe
Authors: Lim S. T. , Bi J. F. , Teo K. L. , P Feng Y. , Liew T. , Chong T. C.
Published: August 2009

We utilize the effect of hydrostatic pressure to investigate the magnetotransport properties of degenerate p-Ge1−xMnxTe (x=0.10) ferromagnetic semiconductor. The Curie temperature was found to increase with pressure as 0.27 K/kbar, which can be understood on the basis of the Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) interaction mechanism. For sufficiently high carrier concentration of po∼1021 cm−3, both the light holes from the L valence band and the heavy holes from the Σ valence band contribute to the RKKY interaction. Additionally, a negative magnetoresistance is observed at low temperature and is found to decrease with pressure.
Comparative study of electron stimulated positive-ion desorption from LiCl and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis[trifluoromethylsulfonyl]imide
Authors: Souda Ryutaro
Published: August 2009

The mechanism of electron stimulated desorption (ESD) from LiCl has been investigated in comparison with that from a room-temperature ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis[trifluoromethylsulfonyl]imide, [emim][Tf2N]. The bonding natures of these materials are discussed based on the matrix effect in positive-ion yields. The [emim]+ and fragment ions are emitted from the [emim][Tf2N] molecule unless it is in direct contact with a metal surface, suggesting that the ions are emitted provided that the electronic excitation can be localized in each molecule. In contrast, the electronic excitation tends to be delocalized over the LiCl film, as evidenced by a monotonic increase of a Li+ yield in the multilayer regime. The Li+ ion is created via gas-phase ionization of desorbed neutrals or emitted directly from the surface, in which self-trapped excitons or hot carriers created in the bulk play a role. The Li+ and Li+(LiCl) ions are emitted efficiently from LiCl nanoclusters formed on a rare-gas solid film via Coulombic fission. The delocalized nature of hot holes is also manifested by steep decay of the ion yields with increasing LiCl coverage. The structural transformation of [emim][Tf2N] during the phase transition is also revealed based on ESD positive-ion yields as a function of temperature.
Adsorption and reaction of NO on the clean and nitrogen modified Rh(111) surfaces
Authors: Beniya Atsushi , Koitaya Takanori , Kondoh Hiroshi , Mukai Kozo , Yoshimoto Shinya , Yoshinobu Jun
Published: August 2009

The adsorption states and thermal reactions of NO on the clean and nitrogen modified Rh(111) surfaces were investigated between 20 and 150K using infrared reflection adsorption spectroscopy (IRAS) and temperature programmed desorption. On the clean surface, singleton species at atop and hollow sites were observed at 1816 and 1479cm−1, respectively. Using time-resolved IRAS, the activation energy and pre-exponential factor of the site change from atop to hollow sites on Rh(111) were estimated to be 117meV and 1.7×1010s−1, respectively. On the saturated monolayer, physisorbed NO dimers were formed. In the second layer, they were adsorbed with the NN bond nearly parallel to the surface. In the multilayer formed at 20K, the NO dimers were randomly oriented. On the nitrogen modified Rh(111) surface, a new adsorption state of chemisorbed monomer was observed as well as atop and hollow species. Physisorbed NO dimers were a precursor to N2O formation on the nitrogen modified Rh(111) surface. In the N2O formation reaction, three kinds of N2O species were identified. The first species desorbed from the surface immediately after the formation reaction, which is a reaction-limited process. The second species was physisorbed on the surface and desorbed at 86K, which is a desorption-limited process. The third species was chemisorbed on the surface and decomposed above 100K.
Grain boundary complexions: The interplay of premelting, prewetting, and multilayer adsorption
Authors: Luo Jian
Published: August 2009

A thermodynamic model for coupled adsorption and disordering transitions at grain boundaries is developed by combining diffuse-interface and lattice-gas models and incorporating colloidal type interfacial forces. This model produces a systematical spectrum of interfacial phenomena for grain boundaries, including first-order and continuous coupled prewetting and premelting transitions, critical points, multilayer adsorption, layering and roughening, and complete wetting and drying, and it produces a series of grain boundary “phases” (complexions) with character similar to those observed by [Dillon et al., Acta Mater. 55, 6208 (2007)]. The presence of dispersion and electrostatic forces in ceramic materials can appreciably change grain boundary transitions.
Flexoelectric studies on mixtures of compounds made of rodlike and bent-core molecules
Authors: Kundu Brindaban , Roy Arun , Pratibha R. , Madhusudana N. V.
Published: August 2009

We report measurements of the temperature variations of the flexoelastic ratio (e1−e3)/K of octadecyl cyanobiphenyl and a mixture of this compound with another one with bent-core (BC) molecules, using hybrid aligned nematic cells. Addition of 5 mol % of the BC compound doubles the flexoelastic ratio, implying that the BC compound has ∼20 times larger value compared to that of the compound with calamitic molecules. Mixtures with >11 mol % of the BC compound exhibit only a homeotropic alignment. We develop a simple model to account for this result which arises because of a large positive self-energy due to flexoelectric polarization.
Capillarity-driven deformation of ordered nanoporous silica
Authors: Prass Johannes , Müter Dirk , Fratzl Peter , Paris Oskar
Published: August 2009

Ordered nanoporous silica is seen to contract reversibly during the condensation and evaporation of fluids in the pores, forming a capillarity-driven actuation system. In situ x-ray diffraction is used to measure the strain of the ordered pore lattice in dependence on the relative vapor pressure of different fluids. Elastic moduli extracted from these strain isotherms are independent of the fluid used, and do therefore constitute real nanomechanical properties of the solid porous framework. The relationship between this pore-load modulus and the Young’s modulus of the silica walls is analyzed with simple analytical considerations and with finite element calculations.
Consultation, Rapport, and Collaboration: Essential Preliminary Stages in Research with Urban Aboriginal Groups
Authors: Dunne Emer
Published: August 2009

Conducting quality research with any group involves rigorous attention to ethical guidelines. This area becomes more complicated when undertaking research in Indigenous Australian communities, given Australia's colonial history and power relations. The preliminary stages are important elements of the research process. Researchers need to engage in extensive community consultation, negotiation and collaboration to produce research beneficial to the Aboriginal community. Essential components of these areas are issues surrounding the development of rapport, informed consent, and ownership of data. This paper explores these areas drawing on the experience of a postgraduate research student to illustrate their importance. A research project focusing on mental health issues amongst Aboriginal people resident in Adelaide provides the framework for discussion of the issues.
Pregnancy: Does it Change Exercise Participation?
Authors: Goodwin Ann , Astbury Jill , McMeeken Joan
Published: August 2009

The aim of the study was to determine whether the changes in body shape during pregnancy provided motivation for continued exercise participation. A longitudinal study was conducted with sixty five nulliparous women (mean age 30.3 years) who were interviewed twice during their pregnancies. The women were administered a semistructured interview, the Body Cathexis Scale and an exercise history questionnaire at approximately 17 weeks and 30 weeks. Interviews were recorded on a response sheet and audiotaped. Themes explored included motivation for exercise, advice from health practitioners, attitude to weight gain, mood change, and body image. At the initial interview women stated their intention either to continue or resume exercise in the second trimester of pregnancy. After the second interview the women were allocated to the 'exercise', 'middle' or 'nonexercise' groups based on their level of exercise participation. The study found that 40% of the women changed their level of exercise during pregnancy. The reasons women chose to exercise were in response to the promoted benefits of exercise. To maintain muscle tone for postnatal shape ranked third as a motive for women anticipating body size and shape changes. Women need encouragement and social support to maintain their commitment to exercise during pregnancy whether they choose groups or an 'exercise buddy'.
Controlling Infant Formula Promotion in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Barriers to Policy Implementation in the Health Sector
Authors: Thanh Son Nguyen , Barraclough Simon , Morrow Martha , Quang Trung Duong
Published: August 2009

Despite the irrefutable evidence of the dangers of bottle feeding and international recommendations for exclusive breastfeeding of young infants, breast milk substitutes are widely used and continue to be promoted. National and international codes to restrict marketing activities of formula companies have had little effect in many countries. Breastfeeding is nearly universally practised in Vietnam, but rarely in accordance with current guidelines for optimal infant outcomes, and infant formula is easily available, especially in large cities, where socio-economic changes linked to transition to a market economy are most visible. Although Vietnam has enacted its own legally binding code, poorly paid health staff remain potential targets for companies wishing to increase sales through inducements. This paper reports findings from a study investigating adherence to the Vietnamese Code and attitudes of a range of health staff to its objectives and provisions in a sample of health facilities. An audit and semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from 22 health facilities in Ho Chi Minh City. Results suggest gifts and inducements are commonplace, awareness of the content of the Code is low, and there is considerable resistance to its provisions, based on financial considerations as well as ambivalence about the merits of breastfeeding. Further investigation to determine prevalence of violations, stricter enforcement of the existing Code, and in-service breastfeeding education are recommended to strengthen breastfeeding promotion in Vietnam.
Comorbidity and Coinfection among People Living with HIV/AIDS:The Experiences of an Australian Sample
Authors: de Visser Richard , Ezzy Douglas , Bartos Michael
Published: August 2009

Previous research on comorbidity among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) has focused on the consequences for disease progression. The research reported here examines the broader public health implications of comorbidity. A sample of 925 Australian PLWHA completed a self-administered questionnaire. Comorbid conditions were reported by 28% of respondents. The most common conditions included hepatitis C, psychological/psychiatric conditions, cardiovascular disease, and lung conditions. In addition, 27% of those tested for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) were coinfected with HCV. Comorbid PLWHA reported poorer health and were more likely to experience side-effects from antiretroviral medication. Comorbid PLWHA were also more likely to be unemployed, to live in poverty, to experience financial difficulty, and to rely on HIV/AIDS service organisations for a range of services. This study highlights the added pressures placed on individuals and HIV/AIDS service organisations by comorbidity and coinfection among PLWHA. The present study is relevant not only to the experiences of PLWHA - it may be an example of the difficulties confronted by people living with multiple major health conditions.
Chronic Care in Adulthood and Old Age: Physical and Psychosocial Management in General Practice Encounters
Authors: Martin Carmel , Nisa Meherun , Attewell Robyn
Published: August 2009

Managing chronic physical disease straddles two paradigms of care - the biomedical and the psychosocial. To respond to the challenges of the ageing population with increasing chronic disease, general practitioners need to understand the impact of their collective processes of care. The research objective is to compare general practitioner consultations identified by a diagnosis of chronic physical condition with those with a psychological diagnosis and both chronic physical and psychological diagnoses. The method used is a retrospective analysis of a national sample of general practitioners (GPs) who documented their consultations. In consultations where chronic physical conditions were managed, general practitioners documented few psychosocial or physical support interventions including referrals. These consultations were with an older age group, who had multiple diagnoses with high levels of continuity. This pattern persisted whether or not psychological conditions were also managed in the same encounter. In consultations where psychological diagnoses, without a chronic physical diagnosis, were managed, GPs documented high levels of psychosocial support interventions. General practitioners are less likely to document psychological and physical support care in chronic physical disease consultations than all other types of consultation. This analysis has limitations due to incomplete data and cross-sectional design, however, the study raises questions about the comprehensiveness of care in the past and provides a baseline against which to measure the impact of current reforms for complex chronic conditions.
Infrastructure and Organisational Development: A Regional Approach to Health Promotion
Authors: Bensberg Monica
Published: August 2009

This paper describes existing health promotion systems in Victoria and explains how infrastructure can be strengthened to influence the delivery of local health promotion action. The Victorian State Government has invested in regional support to facilitate the development and coordination of health promotion at a local level. To achieve this the Regional Infrastructure for Improving Health Promotion (RIIHP) model was developed, providing a framework for strategic action. The model draws upon organisational change theory and capacity building methods to highlight the necessary infrastructure for sustainable health promotion efforts. Forty five local health promotion practitioners, managers, academics, and Department program advisers were interviewed and asked what they thought supported or influenced health promotion. The responses from interviews were combined to develop the RIIHP model. The RIIHP model provides a framework for planning infrastructure improvements. This model is relevant to agencies, regions and state departments who want to succeed in establishing coordinated and effective health promotion systems.
New Curriculum, Primary Health Care and Nursing Practice
Authors: Mann Susan , Byrnes Tess , Saint Kate
Published: August 2009

The Community Enrichment Programme (CEP) was a four-year program of study, which has incorporated Primary Health Care (PHC) and Community Health Nursing practice in the curriculum of a select cohort of undergraduate nursing students at Flinders University. At the end of the students' second undergraduate year this qualitative study showed that PHC principles had permeated the students' thinking. One of the aims of the project was to determine whether enough evidence could be generated to implement ongoing curriculum change. Preliminary evaluation of the views of students, community health nurses, nurse academics and agency and hospital staff has supported this aim. The inclusion of PHC theory and demonstrated practice has not only enhanced the students' knowledge and understanding of the complexities of Community Health Nursing practice but has positively influenced the students' overall perceptions about all nursing practice and its relationships with PHC principles, regardless of the setting. Academics in the School of Nursing are actively engaged in discussion and implementation of the outcomes to date.
Community Health Within the Context of Health Reform
Authors: M. Brown Rhonda
Published: August 2009

Recent health reforms in Victoria based on a market model characterised by competition and market control of health services, have radically changed the funding and management of community health organisations and the way health services are provided. Community health has sustained ongoing funding cuts, restructures, amalgamations, and corporatisation over the past decade. Within the context of reform community health has been forced to become competitive through improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of services. At the same time organisations must collaborate to ensure a co-ordinated approach to health care and continue to provide services which are responsive to community needs. With diminishing government funding community health organisations must seek alternative funding sources through the tendering process. A 1998 study of one of the largest metropolitan community health organisations in Victoria gives some insights into the impact of these reforms. The findings of this study show that health reforms based on market principles are not compatible with the delivery of health care, and in particular with primary health care, the underlying philosophy of community health. Organisations are becoming more bureaucratic and hierarchical with decision making being driven by management rather than by consultation with community and staff. Resources are being diverted from health promotion and community development activities to direct services, that are individual and problem focused rather than community and prevention focused.
I Hung Five Posters This Week, is That My Health Promotion Done?' Developing a Framework for Health Promotion Outputs
Authors: Tunny Noeleen
Published: August 2009

In health promotion, there is a pressing need for a reporting system, based on measures of output and worker productivity, to assist organisations funding health promotion and enable the management of health promotion activity to proceed on rational lines. Evidence exists to suggest some growth in government support for health promotion at both Commonwealth and state levels. Victoria, for example, has allocated funds to establish Regional Health Promotion Manager positions. Health promotion is explicitly mentioned in documents, such as the Primary Health Program Guidelines-1999/2000 (Co-ordinated Care Branch, 1999), with the expectation that 20% of community health resources are allocated to promoting better health. Currently, there are no standard criteria that can be used to guide, count or assess health promotion activities. This has implications for workers whose productivity can be questioned and for managers who lack guidance in staff deployment. For corporate management, an inability to measure health promotion is an accountability issue. Development of practical tools for determining whether funds allocated to health promotion are achieving health outcomes is a high priority. The purpose of this paper is to explore one aspect of concern in health promotion infrastructure: the absence of adequate output measures for health promotion and its impact on the implementation of health promotion at the local level. A review of the literature is used to generate the basis of a framework for measurement of health promotion outputs in relation to workers' activity levels.
Healthy Primary School Canteens
Authors: Puts Kerrie , Mattrow Jan
Published: August 2009

Initiated by Berwickwide Community Health Service (BCHS), the Healthy Canteens Project commenced in June 1997. Initiatives were completed in December 1999. BCHS focused on primary school canteens as potential leading advocates for healthy eating within the primary school setting and the broader school community. The Health Promoting Schools concept (National Health and Medical Research Council, 1996) was a main guiding framework in this project with particular attention in the areas of 'Organisation Ethos and Environment' and 'Partnerships'. Schools were encouraged to examine and develop a healthy canteen environment and to network with other health/welfare agencies and schools. Although not addressed in detail due to limited resources, the importance of the third area of focus in the Health Promoting Schools concept, 'Curriculum', was emphasised where possible throughout the project. The project targeted key people with an interest and a role in the school canteen, to ensure greater involvement and more likelihood of positive outcomes. A 'healthy canteen' was defined as one that was safe, clean, profitable and providing a range of high nutritional value foods. Strategies were directed at enabling schools to work towards meeting this definition. Approaches used in the project included community consultation and participation, structural change, a review of settings, health education, intersectoral collaboration, skill development, policy development and striving for sustainability. The project highlighted the importance of community participation during the planning, implementation and evaluation stages of a project. It also showed that the formation of partnerships between organisations and across sectors greatly increases an initiative's chances of reaching its target group and achieving positive outcomes.
An Evaluation of a Shared Care Diabetes Project
Authors: Swerissen Hal , Stanton John , Marshall Sandra , Peterson Chris , Tilgner Linda
Published: August 2009

Shared care projects involve cooperation between general practitioners, specialist health professionals, and education and support services, to ensure clients receive optimal assessment, treatment and support. The Melbourne Division of General Practitioners Diabetes Service provided shared care to improve the care of patients with diabetes mellitus and reduce the incidence of complications. An evaluation of the Service was conducted using a database of 847 client records maintained by the Service and a survey of 35 GPs and 134 clients. Analysis of the client database indicated a positive trend for improved physical outcomes of clients attending the Service. Survey findings showed GPs and clients attributed improved patient attitude and knowledge of diabetes to the Service. Although GPs and clients were satisfied with the Service, GPs with more positive attitudes were more likely to be interested in placements and case discussions with other health professionals, and more often attributed an improved GP/patient relationship to the Service. The study highlights the need for integrated diabetes care to include partnerships between Divisions of General Practice, community health services, specialists and hospital service providers. It also shows the need to integrate referral and reporting systems, database management, GP services, diabetes education and allied health with hospital based services.
Attitudes Towards Mental Illness and Knowledge of Mental Health Services Among the Australian and Chinese Community
Authors: Fan Cynthia , Karnilowicz Wally
Published: August 2009

The study aimed to examine the attitudes toward mental illness and knowledge of mental health services among Anglo-Australian and Chinese-Australian adults. Participants included 105 Anglo-Australians and 129 Chinese-Australians. Participants were requested to complete a questionnaire on attitudes toward mental illness and knowledge of mental health service available in the community. The results indicated that there was a significant ethnic difference in attitudes towards mental illness. Chinese-Australians endorsed authoritarian, restrictive attitudes towards people with mental illness and interpersonal etiology more than Anglo-Australians. There was also a significant difference in attitudes towards mental illness due to the amount of contact with people with mental illness. The more contact the participants had with people with mental illness, the less they endorsed authoritarian, and restrictive attitudes toward people with mental illness. Though there was a non-significant difference in knowledge of mental health services due to ethnic origin or amount of contact with people with mental illness, there were ethnic differences in the type of mental health services preferred. Among Chinese-Australians, age was positively related to knowledge of services for acute and chronic cases of mental illness. Implications for community mental health education programs are discussed.
The Development of Indigenous Substance Misuse Services in Australia: Beliefs, Conflicts and Change
Authors: Alati Rosa , Peterson Chris , Liamputtong Rice Pranee
Published: August 2009

The aim of this paper is to overview earlier and recent issues in the field of Indigenous substance misuse intervention from its beginning to more recent developments. The overview will specifically analyse developments, advancements and change in the area of tertiary intervention or 'rehabilitation' as it is commonly referred to by Indigenous people. First, the paper will focus on Indigenous historical and theoretical constructs that have impacted on the development of Indigenous notions of 'rehabilitation' or intervention. Indigenous interpretations of the disease model of alcoholism, particularly the Alcoholics Anonymous philosophy, is analysed as well as the socio-cultural beliefs associated with those models. Second, conflicts with the mainstream management of substance misuse intervention are overviewed. Third, the paper highlights the complexity of more recent evolution of the services and discusses possible options for change. Attention is also devoted to Indigenous alternative interpretations of intervention and their relevance to the area of secondary intervention. Recent developments in the area of primary health care and their potential towards further improvement is also considered as well as obstacles to those changes.
Redeveloping Primary Health and Community Support Services in Victoria
Authors: McCann Warren
Published: August 2009

Why Primary Care Reforms?: It gives me very great pleasure to have been asked to speak at this major international Conference about redeveloping primary health and community support services in Victoria. While opening the Conference, the Victorian Minister for Health, the Honourable John Thwaites, launched the Primary Care Partnership Strategy which is one of the most ambitious and far reaching primary health and community support reform agendas in Australia.
Health Care Services and Homeless People: The Missing Link
Authors: White S. E.
Published: August 2009

The paper describes an effective and innovative model of referral and service provision, which has been developed collaboratively between the Royal District Nursing Service Homeless Persons' Program and four inner urban public hospitals. The aim of the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Homeless Persons Program (HPP) is twofold: to provide high quality, holistic health care to homeless people and to improve their access to the mainstream public health system. Our fundamental belief is that health is both a personal resource and a human right. The experience of homelessness impacts directly on physical, emotional and social wellbeing, resulting in a perpetual cycle of ill health and transience. Traditionally, homeless people have met with significant difficulties when accessing mainstream health systems. In 1991, the RDNS Homeless Persons' Program began to develop formal policies and protocols with a public hospital emergency department, in relation to the care and discharge planning of homeless people. This collaborative model of referral and continuity has since been refined and replicated in three other inner urban public hospitals. It now forms the basis of an effective, integrated network that acts to improve not only the quality of care offered by the hospitals, but more importantly, the quality of life experienced by the homeless people involved.
Closing the Communication Gap Between Hospitals and Primary Health Care Providers
Authors: Seldon H. L. , z J. Siemienowic , n M. Hawso , e P. Steel , m M. Ibrahi
Published: August 2009

Most of the technological attention in health care communications has been given to hospital systems. We perceive a gap in communications between different layers of the health care hierarchy, which often means that relevant information does not accompany patients as they move into or out of hospitals. In this paper we first review some systems, such as HealthLink in New Zealand and Health.On.Net in South Australia, which have been or are being established to rectify this situation. We review systems being developed and installed in our own regions. Planning has involved local hospitals, general practitioners, government, and allied health professionals. Funding has been a major problem, partly due to a lack of defined responsibility for this area. On the technical side, we have opted for the World Wide Web (WWW) communications protocols as the most general and widely accepted; also, the standards for text-based messages (HL7) and for images (DICOM 3.0) are lagging the WWW in capabilities. The communications medium must include normal telephone lines (PSTN or POTS), as these are the connections which most private healthcare providers have. Various forms of security, encryption and access control have been employed. Possibly least important nowadays is the selection of a 'hardware or operating platform'.
Health and Academia: In Partnership for Interdisciplinary Training
Authors: Walker Judi , Owen Carole
Published: August 2009

This paper focuses on a partnership agreement between the Clarence Community Health Centre in the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services and the Faculty of Health Science (Nursing, Medicine and Pharmacy) at the University of Tasmania. The aim of the partnership is to develop opportunities for collaboration between the health disciplines and to apply them to the clinical environment, with emphasis on health assessment and care coordination. Clarence is one of two Community Health Centres in Tasmania that provide salaried GP services. Clarence also provides nursing (both Centre-based and in the community), child health, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, speech therapy, social work, and will soon incorporate dental health and mental health services. Trainee health workers are part of this multidisciplinary team. Students spend time with each of the service areas as a part of a structured program in their course, regardless of their area of training. Rural outreach is an important part of the work and training program at Clarence and the Centre is a hub site for Telehealth services. Telehealth enables GPs at Clarence to provide additional support to rural sites. Students (undergraduate and postgraduate) learn about the role of information technology in linking primary health care services through active experience in interdisciplinary teams.
Tassie's Tele-rrific Telehealth Network: Linking Primary Health Care Services for Better Rural Health Outcomes
Authors: Walker Judi , Hill Ros , Green Lorraine
Published: August 2009

The Telehealth Tasmania Network is a statewide network covering a range of primary care services including Wound Management, Diabetes Education and Support, Specialist Clinics, Mental Health, Palliative Care, and health professional support and education. The Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services instigated the Telehealth Network in conjunction with the Commonwealth Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. The Network is built on a community development and primary care model. It is unique in that consultation with service providers and clients has determined the sites and services. Integration with other agencies is a key feature, with shared infrastructure ensuring viability and sustainability. Evaluation is an integral part of the design, development and implementation of the Network. It is a forward-looking process to guide program and policy development. Although the take-up rate has been relatively slow and uneven, the evaluation findings demonstrate how Information Technology and Advanced Telecommunications are being used effectively to link primary care services with each other and with acute care and institutional services. Key external factors for success and failure have been identified, showing that what works well in one place may well fail in another.
Palliative Care in Rural Australia: Involving the Community in Multidisciplinary Coordinated Care
Authors: Moorhouse Christopher , George Maria , Smith Beth
Published: August 2009

This paper describes the process and outcomes of a project aimed at promoting community based multidisciplinary coordinated palliative care services in rural Australia. In preliminary health service needs assessment in rural Tasmania, key health workers appealed for additional information, support and education in palliative care. They expressed a preference for this education to be delivered locally to strengthen existing knowledge in communities and to take into account contextual factors. The project aimed to enhance skills available in rural communities by involving key stakeholders including formal and informal carers, volunteers, clergy, pharmacists, community nurses and general practitioners. The project objective was to strengthen existing expertise and commitment in rural communities, enabling service providers to respond to community needs in a sustainable way. This was achieved by facilitating options for sustainable linkages and ongoing support and through outreach programs from urban Palliative Care Units. An important element in this was the Tasmanian Telehealth network, which harnesses videoconferencing, digital diagnostic equipment and image transmission technologies to offer access to healthcare services to Tasmania's rural and isolated communities. The process centred on workshops facilitated by a multidisciplinary team, which provided information about the core components of palliative care. The paper reports on the responses of health professionals and community participants to the workshops.
Merging Traditional Aboriginal and Western Health Practices in a Canadian Urban Aboriginal Community
Authors: Hardy Sheila , Apaquash Lois , Butcher Marilyn
Published: August 2009

The health of Aboriginal peoples in Canada has been compared to that of people in third world countries. Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre, an Aboriginal-based primary health centre, was recently established to address the unique needs of the Aboriginal population in one area of an urban community in Canada. The purpose of this paper is to describe the Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre in terms of the history of its development within the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy and its current programs, with particular emphasis placed on how traditional Aboriginal healing and health practices are being utilised within a multi-disciplinary team approach.