ORCID Profile
0000-0002-0987-2759
Current Organisations
Orygen
,
Monash University
,
University of Melbourne
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Publisher: SAE International
Date: 09-07-2018
DOI: 10.4271/2018-28-0007
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 08-07-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.07.07.21260129
Abstract: Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) are often used in economic evaluations, yet utility weights for deriving them are rarely directly measured in mental health services. We aimed to identify the best mapping models and predictors for adolescent Assessment of Quality of Life - Six Dimensions (AQOL-6D) utility and assess the ability of mapping models to predict longitudinal change. We recruited 1107 young people attending Australian primary mental health services, collecting data at two time points, three months apart. Five linear and three generalised linear models were explored to identify the best mapping model. Ten-fold cross-validation using R 2 , root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) were used to compare models and assess predictive ability of six candidate measures of psychological distress, depression and anxiety. Linear / generalised linear mixed effect models were used to construct longitudinal predictive models for AQoL-6D change. A depression measure (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) was the strongest independent predictor of health utility. Linear regression models with complementary log-log transformation of utility score were the best performing models. Between-person associations were slightly larger than within-person associations for most of the predictors. Adolescent AQoL-6D utility can be derived from a range of psychological distress, depression and anxiety measures. Mapping models estimated from cross-sectional data can approximate longitudinal change but may slightly bias health utility predictions. Replication code, detailed results and guidance on how to apply the models produced by this study are available in the online repository: 0.7910/DVN/DKDIB0 .
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-06-2021
DOI: 10.1111/RESP.14102
Abstract: In 2014, a 6‐week‐long fire at the Hazelwood coal mine exposed residents in the adjacent town of Morwell to high concentrations of fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ). The long‐term health consequences are being evaluated as part of the Hazelwood Health Study. Approximately 3.5–4 years after the mine fire, adults from Morwell ( n = 346) and the comparison town Sale ( n = 173) participated in the longitudinal Respiratory Stream of the Study. In idual PM 2.5 exposure was retrospectively modelled. Lung mechanics were assessed using the forced oscillation technique (FOT), utilizing pressure waves to measure respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs). Multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate associations between PM 2.5 and transformed Rrs at 5 Hz, area under the reactance curve (AX5) and Xrs at 5 Hz controlling for key confounders. There were clear dose–response relationships between increasing mine fire PM 2.5 and worsening lung mechanics, including a reduction in post‐bronchodilator (BD) Xrs5 and an increase in AX5. A 10 μg/m 3 increase in mine fire‐related PM 2.5 was associated with a 0.015 (95% CI: 0.004, 0.027) reduction in exponential (Xrs5) post‐BD, which was comparable to 4.7 years of ageing. Similarly, the effect of exposure was associated with a 0.072 (0.005, 0.138) increase in natural log (lnAX5) post‐BD, equivalent to 3.9 years of ageing. This is the first study using FOT in adults evaluating long‐term respiratory outcomes after medium‐term ambient PM 2.5 exposure to coal mine fire smoke. These results should inform public health policies and planning for future events.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 03-2017
Abstract: The global temperature trends provided by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology are artificially exaggerated due to subjective and unidirectional adjustments of recorded values. The present paper aims to promote the use of the raw stations’ data corrected only for urban heat island formation. The longer temperature records of Australia exhibit significant oscillations with a strong quasi-60 years’ signature of downward phases 1880 to 1910, 1940 to 1970 and 2000 to present, and upwards phases 1910 to 1940 and 1970 to 2000. A longer oscillation with downward phase until 1910 and an upwards phase afterwards is also detected. The warming since 1910 occurred at a nearly constant rate. Over the full length of the long Australian records since the end of the 1800s, there is no sign of warming or increased occurrence of extreme events. The monthly highest and mean maximum temperatures do not exhibit any positive trend. The differences between monthly highest and lowest, or monthly mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures, are all reducing because of urban heat island formation.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 2016
Abstract: The major cause of the Hawaiian Islands coastal erosion is shown to be not global warming, but the sinking of the volcanic islands. The geologic “circle-of-life” beyond the Hawaiian hot spot is the true explanation of the beach erosion. The sea levels are slow rising and not accelerating worldwide as well as in the United States. In the specific of the Hawaii Islands, they have been decelerating over the last 3 decades because of the phasing of the multi-decadal oscillations for this area of the Pacific. There is therefore no evidence coastal erosion will double in the Hawaii by 2050 because of global warming.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 2016
Abstract: The manuscript shows how the few, scattered, latest measurements of ocean pH lacking a proper spatial and time coverage do not permit a meaningful computation of global trends, as the ocean pH is strongly variable in latitude, longitude and depth and very likely is subject to the multi-decadal oscillations that have been identified in the atmospheric and ocean systems. The proposed mathematical model is based on the assumption that the monthly averaged ocean pH may be described by the superposition of a linear trend and inter-annual, decadal and multi-decadal oscillations, with linear and sinusoidal regression coefficients requiring data that are presently unavailable.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2017
Abstract: The bacterial species and specific spoilage organisms associated with the Southern Australian King George Whiting (KGW) and Tasmanian Atlantic Salmon (TAS), and the efficacy of a HOCl-containing water-based sanitization product (Electro-Chemically Activated Solution, by ECAS4) in extending the shelf life of KGW and TAS fillets were evaluated. Fillets were washed with an ECAS4 solution containing either 45 ppm or 150 ppm of free chlorine and bacterial species enumerated on selective and non-selective media, followed by identification of pure isolates by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. The dominant spoilage microbiota in KGW and TAS fillets stored at 4 ± 1 °C were Pseudomonas spp. and Shewanella spp. At either concentration, ECAS4 significantly reduced total bacterial load and specific spoilage organisms on KGW and TAS fillets (approx. 1-2 log colony-forming units) during storage and significantly extended the shelf life of the fillets by 2 and 4 days, respectively. The significant increase in shelf life and quality of fillets was corroborated by raw and cooked sensory evaluation. ECAS4 sanitization could have a significant impact on the overall food industry, translating into health and economic benefits through reduction of food spoilage bacteria and potentially, foodborne pathogens without many of the disadvantages of currently approved biocides.
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 18-09-2016
DOI: 10.4271/2016-01-1947
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 08-10-2022
Abstract: Australia’s Fifth National Mental Health Plan required governments to report, not only on the progress of changes to mental health service delivery, but to also plan for services that should be provided. Future population demand for treatment and care is challenging to predict and one solution involves modelling the uncertain demands on the system. Modelling can help decision-makers understand likely future changes in mental health service demand and more intelligently choose appropriate responses. It can also support greater scrutiny, accountability and transparency of these processes. Australia has an emerging national capacity for systems modelling in mental health which can enhance the next phase of mental health reform. This paper introduces concepts useful for understanding mental health modelling and identifies where modelling approaches can support health service planners to make evidence-informed decisions regarding planning and investment for the Australian population.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 23-07-2019
DOI: 10.1101/19002808
Abstract: In 2014, local wildfires ignited a fire in the Morwell open cut coal mine, in south-eastern Australia, which burned for six weeks. Limited research was available regarding the respiratory health effects of coal mine fire-related PM 2.5 smoke exposure. This study examined associations between self-reported respiratory outcomes in adults and mine fire-related PM 2.5 smoke exposure. Eligible participants were adult residents of Morwell, identified using the Victorian electoral roll. Self-reported data were collected as part of the Hazelwood Health Study Adult Survey. Mine fire-related PM 2.5 concentrations were retrospectively modelled by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Oceans & Atmosphere Flagship. Personalised mean 24-h and peak 12-h mine fire-related PM 2.5 exposures were estimated for each participant. Data were analysed by multivariate logistic regression. There was some evidence of a dose-response relationship between respiratory outcomes and mine fire PM 2.5 concentrations. Chronic cough was associated with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 1.13 (95% Confidence Interval 1.03 to 1.23 p-value 0.007) per 10 μg/m 3 increment in mean PM 2.5 and 1.07 (1.02 to 1.12 0.004) per 100 μg/m 3 increment in peak PM 2.5 . Current wheeze was associated with peak PM 2.5 , OR=1.06 (1.02 to 1.11 0.004) and chronic phlegm with mean PM 2.5 OR=1.10 (1.00 to 1.20 0.052). Males, participants 18-64 years and those residing in homes constructed from non-brick/concrete materials or homes with tin/metal roofs had higher estimated ORs. These findings contribute to the formation of public health policy responses in the event of future major pollution episodes. Was there an association between mine fire-related PM 2.5 smoke exposure and self-reported respiratory health outcomes for adult residents of Morwell, approximately 2.5 years after the mine fire? There was some evidence of a dose-response relationship between respiratory outcomes and mine fire-related PM 2.5 concentrations. There is limited research regarding the health effects of coal mine fire-related PM 2.5 smoke exposure and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine self-reported respiratory symptoms associated with smoke exposure from a coal mine fire.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 06-12-2021
DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYAB249
Abstract: Little is known about the long-term health impacts of exposures to landscape fire smoke. We aimed to evaluate the association between exposure to coal mine fire-related particulate matter 2.5 μm or less in diameter (PM2.5) and hospitalisation in the 5 years following the 6-week Hazelwood coal mine fire in Australia in 2014. We surveyed 2725 residents (mean age: 58.3 years 54.3% female) from an exposed and a comparison town. In idual PM2.5 exposures during the event were estimated using modelled PM2.5 concentrations related to the coal mine fire and self-reported location data. The in idual exposure and survey data were linked with hospitalisation records between January 2009 and February 2019. Recurrent event survival analysis was used to evaluate relationships between PM2.5 exposure and hospitalisation following mine fire, adjusting for important covariates. Each 10-µg/m3 increase in mine fire-related PM2.5 was associated with a 9% increased hazard [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.09 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.17] of respiratory hospitalisation over the next 5 years, with stronger associations observed for females (HR = 1.16 95% CI: 1.06, 1.27) than males (HR = 0.99 95% CI: 0.89, 1.11). In particular, increased hazards were observed for hospitalisations for asthma (HR = 1.43 95% CI: 1.19, 1.73) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR = 1.14 95% CI: 1.02, 1.28). No such association was found for hospitalisations for cardiovascular diseases, mental illness, injuries, type 2 diabetes, renal diseases or neoplasms. A 6-week exposure to coal mine fire-related PM2.5 was associated with increased hazard of respiratory hospitalisations over the following 5 years, particularly for females.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2017
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-12-2022
DOI: 10.1111/RESP.14181
Abstract: See related Letter
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 2015
Abstract: The recent paper by Bellfiore, Ghezzo, Tagliapietra and Umgiesser [1] gives us the opportunity to discuss the relative sea level rise in Venice (Venezia). They accept that the Venetian sea level rise will be part of a global rise caused by ocean thermal expansion and melting of icecaps caused in turn by global warming induced by anthropogenic carbon dioxide production. In reality the sea levels have been only oscillating during the last few decades. Theworldwide average sea level rise is free of any acceleration. This is also true for theVenice and Trieste tide gauges. The sea level records of Venice and Trieste are very different, and it is impossible for two places so close together to have such differences from a common rise in sea level. Venice is sinking relative to Trieste.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-11-2019
Abstract: In 2014, wildfires ignited a fire in the Morwell open cut coal mine, Australia, which burned for six weeks. This study examined associations between self-reported respiratory outcomes in adults and mine fire-related PM2.5 smoke exposure. Self-reported data were collected as part of the Hazelwood Health Study Adult Survey. Eligible participants were adult residents of Morwell. Mine fire-related PM2.5 concentrations were provided by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Oceans & Atmosphere Flagship. Personalised mean 24-h and peak 12-h mine fire-related PM2.5 exposures were estimated for each participant. Data were analysed by multivariate logistic regression. There was some evidence of an association between respiratory outcomes and mine fire PM2.5 exposure. Chronic cough was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.13 (95% confidence interval 1.03 to 1.23) per 10 μg/m3 increment in mean PM2.5 and 1.07 (1.02 to 1.12) per 100 μg/m3 increment in peak PM2.5. Current wheeze was associated with peak PM2.5, OR = 1.06 (1.02 to 1.11) and chronic phlegm with mean PM2.5 OR = 1.10 (1.00 to 1.20). Coal mine PM2.5 smoke exposure was associated with increased odds of experiencing cough, phlegm and wheeze. Males, participants 18–64 years, and those residing in homes constructed from non-brick/concrete materials or homes with tin/metal roofs had higher estimated ORs. These findings contribute to the formation of public health policy responses.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 2015
Abstract: This recent paper by Marotzke and Forster [1] has received media attention because it claims to have shown that the recent pause in surface temperature rise was the result of natural variability, and that climate models are not systematically overestimating the global warming. Nicholas Lewis [2] has already commented about the serious statistical errors in the paper that make the conclusion unsustainable.We note here that their supporting evidence is actually alteration of pre-selected data to sustain the global warming narrative. The “observed trends” of Marotzke and Forster are not based on the truly measured temperatures in every world gridded cell of the land and sea since the 1860s, but only on a reconstruction based on selected, scattered data that are continuously recalculated to resemble the climate model outputs.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 2016
Abstract: Contrary to what is claimed by reconstructions of the Global Mean Sea Level (GMSL) indicating accelerating sea level rates of rise over the twentieth-century, the actual measurements at the tide gauges show the sea levels have not risen nor accelerated that much. The most recent estimation by Hay et al [
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 06-06-2023
DOI: 10.1093/NTR/NTAC039
Abstract: In Australian youth primary mental health settings it is unclear as to the rates and correlates of tobacco use at service entry. We aimed to delineate the prevalence and correlates of recent tobacco use (eg, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, etc) in the past 3 months in young people at their first presentation to primary mental health services as a function of age. Cross-sectional self-report measures were collected using a tablet device from young people presenting to one of five Australian primary mental health (headspace) services. Logistic regression assessed correlates of past 3-month tobacco use in adolescents (12–17 years) and young adults (18–25 years). Regular (at least monthly) tobacco use in the past 3 months was found in 23.4% (n = 247, N = 1055) of the s le. Increasing age (odds ratio [OR] =1.47 per year 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15 to 1.89), male sex (OR = 1.98 95% CI: 1.02 to 3.83), being in a relationship (OR = 1.96 95% CI: 1.01 to 3.82), and poorer functioning (OR = 0.95 per unit Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale increase 95% CI: 0.91 to 0.99) predicted regular tobacco use in adolescents, but not in young adults. Living in a regional location (OR = 2.10 95% CI: 1.40 to 3.13) and not studying (OR = 0.47 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.73) predicted tobacco use in young adults. Having a diagnosed mental illness other than depression and/or anxiety predicted tobacco use in both groups (adolescents OR = 2.49 95% CI: 1.26 to 4.94 young adults OR = 1.80 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.89). Nearly a quarter of young people with mental illness are using tobacco, supporting the need for early intervention approaches. Adapting treatment targets by age could improve the impact of interventions in adolescents versus young adults. Poor functioning and lack of engagement in education were associated with tobacco use in both age groups, respectively however, more research is needed to determine the direction of these relationships. Young people with mental illness have a high prevalence of recent tobacco use and this is evident when they first present to youth primary mental health services. Youth-oriented mental health settings may provide a unique window for tobacco use prevention and early intervention to reduce smoking in people with mental illness, a priority population. Age-specific targeted approaches might be needed in adolescents and young adults.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 14-10-2015
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-12-2015
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-04-2022
DOI: 10.1111/CAMH.12473
Abstract: Subjective cognitive symptoms are common in young people receiving mental health treatment and are associated with poorer outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Neuropsychological Symptoms Self‐Report (NSSR), an eight‐item measure recently developed to provide a snapshot of young people’s perceived change in cognitive functioning in relation to mental health treatment. The s le included 633 youth aged 12–25 years ( M age = 18.2, 66.5% female, 88.6% Australian‐born) who had sought mental health treatment in primary headspace services. At three‐month follow‐up, participants completed the NSSR and self‐report measures of depression and anxiety. Excellent internal consistency was found: Cronbach’s alpha = 0.93. The NSSR had negative correlations with self‐reported anxiety ( r = −.33, p .001) and depression ( r = −.48, p .001) symptoms, suggesting a link with affective symptoms, but still independence of constructs. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a single‐factor model. Item response theory (IRT) analysis suggested good model fit (homogeneity, data integrity, scalability, local independence and monotonicity) for all items. There was some evidence of measurement noninvariance (for item thresholds) by sex and age, but not diagnosis. IRT models also supported briefer six‐ and three‐item versions of the NSSR. In busy clinical practice, clinicians need a rapid and reliable method for determining whether cognitive symptoms are of concern and in need of further assessment and treatment. Study findings support the NSSR as a brief, psychometrically sound measure for assessing subjective cognitive functioning in adolescents and young adults receiving mental health treatment.
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 15-09-2015
DOI: 10.4271/2015-01-2466
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 11-12-2018
DOI: 10.20944/PREPRINTS201712.0054.V1
Abstract: This work presents the computation of reliable warming trends for central Australia around Alice Springs within a circle of radius 1,000 km. Between 1880 and 2011, the average warming for the centre of Australia is +0.166 & ordm C/century, slightly smaller than the warming of Alice Springs, that is +0.176 & ordm C/century. Over a shorter time between 1910 and 2011, the centre of Australia is warming +0.794 & ordm C/century, slightly more than the warming of Alice Springs, that is +0.719 & ordm C/century.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 11-04-2020
DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.06.20055228
Abstract: The exact transmission route of many respiratory infectious diseases remains a subject for debate to date. The relative contribution ratio of each transmission route is largely undetermined, which is affected by environmental conditions, human behavior, the host and the microorganism. In this study, a detailed mathematical model is developed to investigate the relative contributions of different transmission routes to a multi-route transmitted respiratory infection. It is illustrated that all transmission routes can dominate the total transmission risk under different scenarios. Influential parameters considered include dose-response rate of different routes, droplet governing size that determines virus content in droplets, exposure distance, and virus dose transported to the hand of infector. Our multi-route transmission model provides a comprehensive but straightforward method to evaluate the transmission efficiency of different transmission routes of respiratory diseases and provides a basis for predicting the impact of in idual level intervention methods such as increasing close-contact distance and wearing protective masks. (Word count: 153) A multi-route transmission model is developed by considering evaporation and motion of respiratory droplets with the respiratory jet and consequent exposure of the susceptible. We have illustrated that each transmission route may dominate during the influenza transmission, and the influential factors are revealed. The short-range airborne route and infection caused by direct inhalation of medium droplets are highlighted.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-2018
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 17-11-2022
DOI: 10.1101/2022.11.16.22282100
Abstract: Ecological studies indicate ambient particulate matter ≤2.5mm (PM 2.5 ) air pollution is associated with poorer COVID-19 outcomes. However, these studies cannot account for in idual heterogeneity and often have imprecise estimates of PM 2.5 exposure. We review evidence from studies using in idual-level data to determine whether PM 2.5 increases risk of COVID-19 infection, severe disease, and death. Systematic review of case-control and cohort studies, searching Medline, Embase, and WHO COVID-19 up to 30 June 2022. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results were pooled with a random effects meta-analysis, with Egger’s regression, funnel plots, and leave-one-out and trim-and-fill analyses to adjust for publication bias. N =18 studies met inclusion criteria. A 10μg/m3 increase in PM 2.5 exposure was associated with 66% (95% CI: 1.31-2.11) greater odds of COVID-19 infection (N=7) and 127% (95% CI: 1.41-3.66) increase in severe illness (hospitalisation or worse) (N=6). Pooled mortality results (N=5) were positive but non-significant (OR 1.40 0.94 to 2.10). Most studies were rated “good” quality (14/18 studies), though there were numerous methodological issues few used in idual-level data to adjust for confounders like socioeconomic status (4/18 studies), instead using area-based indicators (12/18 studies) or not adjusting for it (3/18 studies). Most severity (9/10 studies) and mortality studies (5/6 studies) were based on people already diagnosed COVID-19, potentially introducing collider bias. There is strong evidence that ambient PM 2.5 increases the risk of COVID-19 infection, and weaker evidence of increases in severe disease and mortality. This review was completed as a Scholarly Intensive Placement project by NS, which received no funding. The authors declare no competing interests. This study was registered on PROSPERO on 8 July 2022 (CRD42022345129): www.crd.york.ac.uk rospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022345129
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-05-2018
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-03-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-06-2021
DOI: 10.1007/S00127-021-02123-8
Abstract: headspace centres provide enhanced primary mental healthcare for young people. A priority is to provide services for all young people irrespective of a range of social disadvantages or social exclusion. The aims of this study were to: (i) delineate extent of social inclusion across domains of housing, studying/employment, functioning, alcohol, and other drug use and (ii) map profiles of young people deemed vulnerable to experiencing additional barriers to accessing services based on their social inclusion domains (e.g., those living in unstable housing, not in employment/education, and/or experiencing intersecting or multiple forms of disadvantage or difficulties), including detailing their clinical characteristics. Young people were recruited from five headspace centres. Data relevant to social inclusion were examined. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine overlap between vulnerable groups, functional, social, clinical, and behavioural factors. 1107 young people participated, aged 12-25 years (M = 18.1 years, SD = 3.3), most living in stable housing (96.5%) and engaged in studying/employment (84.8%). Specific vulnerabilities were evident in young people with NEET status (15.2%) in unstable accommodation (3.5%) of culturally erse backgrounds (CALD) (12.2%) living in regional areas (36.1%) and identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, and asexual plus (LGBTIQA+ 28.2%). Higher levels of distress, substance use, functional impairment, and lower social support were reported by those who were NEET and/or in unstable housing. LGBTIQA+ status was associated with high distress, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Most participants reported good social support, stable housing, and engagement in work or education. Those deemed vulnerable were likely to experience social exclusion across multiple domains and reported more mental health problems. The co-occurrence of mental ill-health and social exclusion highlights the importance of integrated mental healthcare.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-2022
DOI: 10.2147/VHRM.S339439
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 03-04-2023
Abstract: Background: Climate change is escalating and will disproportionately affect young people. Understanding the impact of climate concerns on young people’s mental wellbeing is crucial for identifying effective measures and building resilience. Methods: Climate concerns, psychological distress, and future outlook were measured in the 2022 Mission Australia Youth Survey, Australia’s largest annual population-wide survey of young people aged 15 to 19 (N = 18,800). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to map factors associated with climate concerns and assess whether climate concerns are associated with psychological distress and future outlook. Findings: One in four young people reported feeling very or extremely concerned about climate change. Climate concerns were higher among in iduals identifying as female or gender erse, or self-reported a mental health condition. After controlling for confounding factors, we found those who were very or extremely concerned about climate change to be more likely to have high psychological distress than those not at all concerned (Relative risk ratio (RRR) = 1·80 95% CI: 1·60 – 2·01), and more likely to have a negative future outlook (RRR = 1·50 95% CI: 1·33 – 1·68). These associations were stronger among participants who reported to be gender erse, Indigenous or from outer-regional/remote areas. Interpretation: The link between climate concerns, psychological distress, and future outlook among young people is likely bidirectional and may have long-term impacts on wellbeing. Immediate attention from research and policy sectors to support climate change education, communication strategies and targeted interventions is urgently required.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2019
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 10-07-2017
DOI: 10.4271/2017-28-1933
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 17-08-2022
Abstract: In 2014, the coalmine adjacent to the Hazelwood power station in the Latrobe Valley, Australia caught fire and distributed a large volume of toxic smoke into the surrounding community over 45 days. This study investigated risk and protective factors associated with four trajectories of posttraumatic distress (resilience in-recovery delayed-onset chronic) in the affected community. A s le comprising 709 adults participated in two survey rounds, conducted in 2016-2017 and 2019-2020. Participants’ exposure to mine fire-related particulate matter (PM2.5) during the event, sociodemographic circumstances, physical and mental health histories, prior trauma, and exposure to recent stressful events were assessed. Mine fire-related posttraumatic distress was measured using the Impact of Events Scale – Revised and trajectories determined by categorising scores at each survey according to a threshold prescribed for identifying symptoms warranting clinical concern. Responses were analysed with univariate and multivariate multinomial regressions. Socioeconomic advantage and social support were associated with the resilient trajectory, which was the most common posttraumatic distress trajectory among participants. Prior trauma and recent stressful life-events, physical and mental health diagnoses, and loneliness were associated with chronic and delayed-onset trajectories. PM2.5 exposure during the mine fire was not a strong determinant of posttraumatic distress trajectory. Socioeconomic status, social connection, health and life experiences are among the most important factors shaping posttraumatic distress trajectories. These findings contribute to better understanding longer-term psychological resilience and vulnerability following disasters and can inform mental health initiatives within at-risk communities.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 04-2015
DOI: 10.1260/0958-305X.26.3.457
Abstract: The Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) satellite provides the first measured CO 2 flux data that can be used to determine if a region is sequestering or emitting CO 2 . Results differ considerably from the popular accepted view. In the specific case of Australia, the observational data show this country is a top sequestering and not a top emitting country.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 05-02-2019
Abstract: Thanks to the adoption of high pressure, direct injection and jet ignition, plus electrically assisted turbo-compounding, the fuel conversion efficiency of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) F1 engines has been spectacularly improved up to values above 46% peak power, and 50% peak efficiency, by running lean of stoichiometry stratified in a high boost, high compression ratio environment. Opposite, Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Moto-GP engines are still naturally aspirated, port injected, spark ignited, working with homogeneous mixtures. This old fashioned but highly optimized design is responsible for relatively low fuel conversion efficiencies, and yet delivers an outstanding specific power density of 200 kW/liter. The potential to improve the fuel conversion efficiency of Moto-GP engines through the adoption of direct injection and jet ignition, prevented by the current rules, is herein discussed based on simulations. As two-stroke engines may benefit from direct injection and jet ignition more than four-stroke engines, the opportunity of a return of two-stroke engines is also argued, similarly based on simulations. About the same power, but at a better fuel efficiency, of today’s 1000 cm3 four stroke engines, may be obtained with lean stratified direct injection jet ignition engines, four-stroke of 1450 cm3, or two-stroke of 1050 cm3. About the same power and fuel efficiency may also be delivered with stoichiometric engines direct injection jet ignition two-stroke of 750 cm3.
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 09-07-2018
DOI: 10.4271/2018-28-0036
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-12-2022
DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2020.1847931
Abstract: In 2014, a fire at an open cut coal mine in South-eastern Australia burned for about 6 weeks. Residents of the adjacent town were exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter (PM A cross-sectional analysis was undertaken in a group of exposed participants with asthma from Morwell ( There was no evidence that exposed participants had more severe asthma symptoms, worse lung function, or more eosinophilic airway inflammation than unexposed participants. However, there was some evidence that Morwell participants had more uncontrolled than well-controlled asthma, compared to the participants from Sale (adjusted relative risk ratio 2.71 95% CI: 1.02, 7.21, Three and a half years after exposure, coal mine fire smoke did not appear to be associated with more severe asthma symptoms or worse lung function but might be associated with poorer asthma control.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 03-2015
Abstract: The paper revisits the Isle of the Dead benchmark and the Sydney, Fort Denison tide gauge to confirm that long term, high quality tide gauges are acceleration free, consistently to the analysis of key sites suggesting the sea levels are not sharply raising following the carbon dioxide emissions. The paper also discusses the flaws of the IPCC AR5 Chapter13 Sea levels. The time history of the relative rate of rise computed by linear fitting of the data locally collected by tide gauges is the best parameter to assess the effect of global warming providing length and quality requirements are satisfied. There is no reason to search for less reliable alternative methods because the climate models predicted different trends. The Global Positioning System (GPS) inferred vertical tide gauge velocity suffers of significant inaccuracies. Larger inaccuracies are provided by the satellite altimetry Global Mean Sea Level (GMSL) that is a computation and not a measurement.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-10-2017
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 15-03-2016
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 03-2021
DOI: 10.1136/BMJSEM-2020-000984
Abstract: To examine gender differences in the reporting of, and contributors to, mental health symptoms. This was a cross-sectional observational study of adult athletes within a national elite sporting system (n=523 women=292 %), who completed a battery of assessments including measures of mental health and adverse life events. Group differences across a range of scores were examined, followed by gender-stratified bootstrapped linear regression and meta-regression on measures where gender differences were observed. Women athletes reported higher rates of mental health symptoms, and lower rates of mental well-being, although there were no differences in general psychological distress or life satisfaction. Women reported experiencing several adverse life events at higher rates than men particularly interpersonal conflict, financial hardship and discrimination. Low self-esteem was consistently associated with poorer mental health outcomes for all athletes. While a range of factors were associated with poor mental health in men or women athletes, meta-regression suggested that experiencing financial difficulty and social media abuse were more uniquely associated with mental health symptoms in men. Gender differences in mental health in elite athletes are apparent. Approaches to increasing well-being are required in elite sport.
Publisher: Sciencedomain International
Date: 10-01-2015
Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
Date: 05-08-2020
DOI: 10.1192/BJO.2020.68
Abstract: Subjective cognitive difficulties are common in mental illness and have a negative impact on role functioning. Little is understood about subjective cognition and the longitudinal relationship with depression and anxiety symptoms in young people. To examine the relationship between changes in levels of depression and anxiety and changes in subjective cognitive functioning over 3 months in help-seeking youth. This was a cohort study of 656 youth aged 12–25 years attending Australian headspace primary mental health services. Subjective changes in cognitive functioning (rated as better, same, worse) reported after 3 months of treatment was assessed using the Neuropsychological Symptom Self-Report. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of baseline levels of and changes in depression (nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire PHQ9) and anxiety symptoms (seven-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale GAD7) on changes in subjective cognitive function at follow-up while controlling for covariates. With a one-point reduction in PHQ9 at follow-up, there was an estimated 11–18% increase in ratings of better subjective cognitive functioning at follow-up, relative to stable cognitive functioning. A one-point increase in PHQ9 from baseline to follow-up was associated with 7–14% increase in ratings of worse subjective cognitive functioning over 3 months, relative to stable cognitive functioning. A similar attenuated pattern of findings was observed for the GAD7. A clear association exists between subjective cognitive functioning outcomes and changes in self-reported severity of affective symptoms in young people over the first 3 months of treatment. Understanding the timing and mechanisms of these associations is needed to tailor treatment.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-02-2019
DOI: 10.1038/S41545-019-0033-2
Abstract: In the original version of this Review Article the affiliation and address for Lorenzo Rosa were incorrectly given as “University of Parma, Department of Information Engineering, Parma 43121, Italy”.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2015
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 2021
DOI: 10.1177/11786302211059722
Abstract: No studies have investigated the cancer outcomes from high level medium duration coal mine fire fine particulate matter ⩽2.5 µm in diameter (PM 2.5 ) exposure. We included 2208 Morwell residents (exposed) and 646 Sale residents (unexposed) who participated in the Hazelwood Health Study Adult Survey. Competing risk regression models were used to evaluate relationships between coal mine fire exposure and cancer incidence, adjusting for known confounders. There were 137 cancers in the exposed and 27 in the unexposed over 14 849 person-years of follow-up. A higher risk of cancer incidence was observed for Morwell participants (HR = 1.67 [95% CI 1.05-2.67]), but no evidence to suggest associations between PM 2.5 exposure and incidence of all cancers (HR = 1.02 [95% CI 0.91-1.13]), or site-specific cancers. There is no strong evidence that exposure to high concentrations of mine fire-related PM 2.5 over a prolonged period could explain the higher risk in exposed population in this study.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 10-05-2019
DOI: 10.1101/631317
Abstract: In 2014, a fire at the Hazelwood open cut coal mine (Victoria, Australia) burned for about 6 weeks. Residents of the adjacent town of Morwell were exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) during this period. Three and a half years after the event, this study aimed to investigate the long-term impact of short-term exposure to coal mine fire smoke on asthma. A cross-sectional analysis was undertaken on a group of exposed participants with asthma from Morwell (n=165) and a group of unexposed participants with asthma from the control town of Sale (n=64). Town exposure status was determined by modelled PM 2.5 data for the mine fire period. Respiratory symptoms were assessed with a validated respiratory health questionnaire and symptom severity score. Asthma control was assessed with an asthma control questionnaire. Lung function testing included spirometry, bronchodilator response, and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide. There was no evidence that exposed Morwell participants had more severe asthma symptoms, worse lung function, or more eosinophilic airway inflammation compared to unexposed Sale participants. However there was some evidence that Morwell participants had more uncontrolled than well-controlled asthma, compared to the participants from Sale (adjusted relative risk ratio 2.71 95%CI: 1.02, 7.21, p=0.046). Three and a half years after exposure, coal mine fire smoke does not appear to be associated with more severe asthma symptoms or worse lung function, but may be associated with poorer asthma control. In people with asthma, short-term coal mine fire smoke exposure does not appear to have long-term impact on severity of asthma symptoms, lung function or eosinophilic airway inflammation, but may affect asthma control.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 20-10-2020
DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.14.20213009
Abstract: In 2014, a six-week long fire at the Hazelwood open cut coal mine exposed residents in the adjacent town of Morwell to high concentrations of fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter .5μm (PM 2.5 ). The long-term health consequences are being evaluated as part of the Hazelwood Health Study (HHS). Approximately 3.5 to 4 years after the mine fire, adults from Morwell (n=346) and the comparison town Sale (n=173) participated in the longitudinal Respiratory Stream of the HHS. In idual fire-related PM 2.5 exposure was retrospectively modelled. Lung mechanics were assessed using the forced oscillation technique (FOT), which utilises pressure waves to measure respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs). Multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate associations between PM 2.5 and transformed Rrs5, area under the reactance curve (AX5) and Xrs5 controlling for key confounding factors. There were clear dose-response relationships between increasing mine fire PM 2.5 and worsening lung mechanics, including a reduction in post-bronchodilator Xrs5 and an increase in AX5. A 10 μg/m 3 increase in mine fire related PM 2.5 was associated with a 0.015 (95%CI: 0.004, 0.027) reduction in exponential(Xrs5) post bronchodilator, which was comparable to 4.7 years of aging. Similarly, the effect of exposure was associated with a 0.072 (0.005, 0.138) increase in natural log(AX5) post-bronchodilator, equivalent to 3.9 years of aging. This is the first study using FOT in adults evaluating long term respiratory outcomes after a medium-term ambient PM 2.5 exposure to coal mine fire smoke. These results should inform public health policies and planning for future events.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2021
Publisher: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Date: 18-03-2015
DOI: 10.1115/85-GT-21
Abstract: The prediction of losses in transonic flow in turbines is an important step in the design of turbine stages, but at the same time requirements of simplicity and speed are needed to allow the work of designers. The paper presents a procedure developed to match this goal. It uses classical codes, experimental correlations and simple geometrical models of the shock system. The result of a time marching method with standard mesh is used to run an Integral Boundary layer calculation in which shock wave interaction effects have been included. The shock system is made up of this information plus empirical correlation and a suitable procedure. A mixing calculation is then performed to get the downstream total pressure. The method has been tested with various kinds of turbine blades of which losses and data for calculations have been published. The results are quite good and the procedure appears simple and fast.
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 09-07-2018
DOI: 10.4271/2018-28-0036
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-07-2021
DOI: 10.1111/RESP.14113
Abstract: E‐cigarette use has become increasingly prevalent, but there is some evidence demonstrating potential harms with frequent use. We aimed to identify the profiles of e‐cigarette users from a regional community in Australia and investigate the associations of e‐cigarettes with respiratory symptoms and lung function. A total of 519 participants completed a cross‐sectional study. Exposure to e‐cigarettes was collected via a validated questionnaire. Respiratory symptoms were evaluated via a self‐reported questionnaire and lung function measured with spirometry and forced oscillation technique (FOT). Linear and logistic regression models were fitted to investigate the associations between e‐cigarettes and outcomes, while controlling for confounders such as tobacco smoking. Of the 519 participants, 46 (9%) reported e‐cigarette use. Users tended to be younger (mean ± SD 45.2 ± 14.5 vs. 55.3 ± 16.0 years in non‐users), concurrently using tobacco products (63% vs. 12% in non‐users), have a mental health diagnosis (67% vs. 37% in non‐users) and have self‐reported asthma (63% vs. 42% in non‐users). After controlling for known confounders, chest tightness (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.2–4.9, p = 0.02) was associated with e‐cigarette use. Spirometry was not different after adjustment for confounding. However, FOT showed more negative reactance and a greater area under the reactance curve in e‐cigarette users than non‐users. E‐cigarette use was associated with increased asthma symptoms and abnormal lung mechanics in our s le, supporting a potential health risk posed by these products. Vulnerable populations such as young adults and those with mental health conditions have higher usage, while there is high concurrent tobacco smoking.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 11-01-2023
DOI: 10.1177/00048674221144262
Abstract: Depression and suicidal ideation are closely intertwined. Yet, among young people with depression, the specific factors that contribute to changes in suicidal ideation over time are uncertain. Factors other than depressive symptom severity, such as comorbid psychopathology and personality traits, might be important contributors. Our aim was to identify contributors to fluctuations in suicidal ideation severity over a 12-week period in young people with major depressive disorder receiving cognitive behavioural therapy. Data were drawn from two 12-week randomised, placebo-controlled treatment trials. Participants ( N = 283) were 15–25 years old, with moderate to severe major depressive disorder. The primary outcome measure was the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire, administered at baseline and weeks 4, 8 and 12. A series of linear mixed models was conducted to examine the relationship between Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire score and demographic characteristics, comorbid psychopathology, personality traits and alcohol use. Depression and anxiety symptom severity, and trait anxiety, independently predicted higher suicidal ideation, after adjusting for the effects of time, demographics, affective instability, non-suicidal self-injury and alcohol use. Both state and trait anxiety are important longitudinal correlates of suicidal ideation in depressed young people receiving cognitive behavioural therapy, independent of depression severity. Reducing acute psychological distress, through reducing depression and anxiety symptom severity, is important, but interventions aimed at treating trait anxiety could also potentially be an effective intervention approach for suicidal ideation in young people with depression.
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 09-07-2018
DOI: 10.4271/2018-28-0037
Publisher: American Thoracic Society
Date: 02-2022
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 23-03-2020
DOI: 10.3390/NU12030860
Abstract: This study examined the relationship between diet quality scores and cardiometabolic risk factors in regionally-dwelling older Australian adults with increased cardiovascular risk. This study was a cross-sectional analysis of demographic, anthropometric, and cardiometabolic risk factor data from 458 participants of the Cardiovascular Stream of the Hazelwood Health Study. Participants completed a 120 item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression adjusting for age, sex, smoking, physical activity, education, diabetes, and body mass index was used to examine the relationship between diet and cardiometabolic risk factors. Mean (SD) age of participants was 71 (8) years, and 55% were male. More than half of men and women did not meet recommended intakes of fibre, while 60% of men and 42% of women exceeded recommended dietary sodium intakes. Higher diet quality in terms of intake of vegetables, grains, and non-processed meat, as well as intake of non-fried fish, was associated with more favourable cardiometabolic risk profiles, while sugar-sweetened soft drink intake was strongly associated with adverse cardiometabolic risk factor levels. In older, regionally-dwelling adults, dietary public health strategies that address whole grain products, vegetable and fish consumption, and sugar-sweetened soft-drink intake may be of benefit in reducing cardiometabolic risk.
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 08-2018
DOI: 10.4271/PT-185
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2021
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 25-09-2023
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 15-04-2023
DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.12.23288500
Abstract: In early 2014, the Hazelwood coalmine fire covered the regional Australian town of Morwell in smoke and ash for 45 days. One of the fire’s by-products, PM 2.5 , has been linked higher rates of COVID-19 infection to increased expression of the ACE2 receptor, which the COVID-19 virus uses to infect cells throughout the body. However, it is unclear whether the effect persists for years after exposure. In this study, we surveyed a cohort established prior to the pandemic to determine whether PM 2.5 from the coalmine fire increased long-term vulnerability to COVID-19 infection and severe disease. In late 2022, 612 members of the Hazelwood Health Study’s adult cohort, established in 2016/17, participated in a follow-up survey including standardised items to capture COVID-19 infections, hospitalisations, and vaccinations. Associations were evaluated in crude and adjusted logistic regression models, applying statistical weighting for survey response and multiple imputation to account for missing data, with sensitivity analyses to test the robustness of results. A total of 271 (44%) participants self-reported or met symptom criteria for at least one COVID-19 infection. All models found a positive association, with odds of infection increasing by between 4-21% for every standard deviation (12.3µg/m 3 ) increase in mine fire-related PM 2.5 exposure. However, this was not statistically significant in any model. There were insufficient hospitalisations to examine severity ( n =7 1%). The findings were inconclusive in ruling out an effect of PM 2.5 exposure from coalmine fire on long-term vulnerability to COVID-19 infection. Given the positive association that was robust to modelling variations as well as evidence for a causal mechanism, it would be prudent to treat PM 2.5 from fire events as a risk factor for long-term COVID-19 vulnerability until more evidence accumulates.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-04-2023
DOI: 10.1186/S12890-023-02414-7
Abstract: Studies linking early life exposure to air pollution and subsequent impaired lung health have focused on chronic, low-level exposures in urban settings. We aimed to determine whether in utero exposure to an acute, high-intensity air pollution episode impaired lung function 7-years later. We conducted a prospective cohort study of children who lived in the vicinity of a coalmine fire. Respiratory function was measured using the forced oscillation technique (FOT). Z-scores for resistance at 5 Hz (R 5 ), reactance at 5 Hz (X 5 ) and area under the reactance curve (AX) were calculated. Two sets of analyses were conducted to address two separate questions: (1) whether mine fire exposure (a binary indicator conceived after the mine fire vs in utero exposed) was associated with the respiratory Z-scores (2) whether there was any dose–response relationship between fire-related PM 2.5 exposure and respiratory outcomes among those exposed. Acceptable lung function measurements were obtained from 79 children 25 unexposed and 54 exposed in utero. Median (interquartile range) for daily average and peak PM 2.5 for the exposed children were 4.2 (2.6 – 14.2) and 88 (52—225) µg/m 3 respectively. There were no detectable differences in Z-scores between unexposed and exposed children. There were no associations between respiratory Z-scores and in utero exposure to PM 2.5 (daily average or peak). There was no detectable effect of in utero exposure to PM 2.5 from a local coalmine fire on post-natal lung function 7-years later. However, statistical power was limited.
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 09-2013
DOI: 10.5694/MJA13.10149
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-01-2015
DOI: 10.1111/ADD.12796
Abstract: Problem gamblers are not a homogeneous group and recent data suggest that subtyping can improve treatment outcomes. This study administered three readiness rulers and aimed to identify subtypes of gamblers accessing a national web-based counselling service based on these rulers. Participants were 1204 gamblers (99.4% problem gamblers) who accessed a single session of web-based counselling in Australia. Measures included three readiness rulers (importance, readiness and confidence to resist an urge to gamble), demographics and the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Gamblers reported high importance of change [mean = 9.2, standard deviation (SD) = 1.51] and readiness to change (mean = 8.86, SD = 1.84), but lower confidence to resist an urge to gamble (mean = 3.93, SD = 2.44) compared with importance and readiness. The statistical fit indices of a latent class analysis identified a four-class model. Subtype 1 was characterized by a very high readiness to change and very low confidence to resist an urge to gamble (n = 662, 55.0%) and subtype 2 reported high readiness and low confidence (n = 358, 29.7%). Subtype 3 reported moderate ratings on all three rulers (n = 139, 11.6%) and subtype 4 reported high importance of change but low readiness and confidence (n = 45, 3.7%). A multinomial logistic regression indicated that subtypes differed by gender (P < 0.001), age (P = 0.01), gambling activity (P < 0.05), preferred mode of gambling (P < 0.001) and PGSI score (P < 0.001). Problem gamblers in Australia who seek web-based counselling comprise four distinct subgroups based on self-reported levels of readiness to change, confidence to resist the urge to gamble and importance of change.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-09-2021
DOI: 10.1002/SMI.3097
Abstract: We investigated the association between respiratory symptoms and psychological distress in the context of a prolonged smoke event, and evaluated whether smoke exposure, or pre‐existing respiratory and mental health conditions, influenced the association. Three thousand ninety‐six residents of a rural town heavily exposed to smoke from the 6‐week Hazelwood coal mine fire, and 960 residents of a nearby unexposed town, completed Kessler's psychological distress questionnaire (K10) and a modified European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Logistic regression models evaluated associations between distress and respiratory symptoms, with interactions fitted to evaluate effect modification. Smoke exposed participants reported higher levels of distress than those unexposed, and participants reporting respiratory symptoms recorded higher levels of distress than participants without respiratory symptoms, irrespective of exposure. 5‐unit increments in K10 scores were associated with 21%–48% increases in the odds of reporting respiratory symptoms. There were significant interactions with pre‐existing asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and mental health conditions, but not with smoke exposure. Although participants with pre‐existing conditions were more likely to report respiratory symptoms, increasing distress was most strongly associated with respiratory symptoms among those without pre‐existing conditions. Communities exposed to landscape fire smoke could benefit from interventions to reduce both psychological and respiratory distress.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-08-2023
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-023-16501-1
Abstract: Wildfires cause significant physical and mental ill-health. How physical and mental symptoms interact following wildfire smoke exposure is unclear, particularly in the context of repeated exposures. In this cross-sectional study we investigated how posttraumatic stress and general psychological distress associated with somatic symptoms in a community exposed to multiple smoke events. A random weighted s le of 709 adults exposed to smoke during the 2014 Hazelwood coal mine fire in south-eastern Australia completed a survey in 2020. The survey coincided with the Black Summer wildfires that caused a similar period of smoke haze in the region. Participants self-reported somatic symptoms (PHQ-15) and mine fire-related posttraumatic stress (IES-R) experienced over the previous week, general psychological distress (K10) experienced over the previous four weeks, lifetime health diagnoses and demographic information. Associations between posttraumatic stress, general psychological distress, and each PHQ-15 somatic symptom were analysed using ordinal logistic regression models. Overall, 36.2% of participants reported moderate- or high-level somatic symptomology. The most frequent somatic symptoms were fatigue, limb pain, trouble sleeping, back pain, headaches, and shortness of breath. After controlling for confounding factors, general psychological distress and posttraumatic stress were independently associated with all somatic symptoms (except menstrual problems in females for posttraumatic stress). Results highlight the high prevalence of somatic symptoms and their association with general psychological distress and posttraumatic stress within a community in the midst of a second large-scale smoke event. It is essential that healthcare providers and public health authorities consider the interconnections of these conditions when supporting communities affected by climate-related disasters.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVRES.2015.02.007
Abstract: The study documents the levels and profiles of selected contaminants [polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs)] in blubber biopsy s les collected from humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Antarctic Peninsula waters. In addition, we investigated year-to-year and sex-related differences in the bioaccumulation patterns. Except for hexachlorobenzene (HCB), whose concentrations were in the same range as those found in whales from the Northern Hemisphere, levels of all other compounds were lower in Southern Hemisphere whales compared to literature data on animals from the Arctic and subarctic region. The mean contribution to the sum of all anthropogenic organohalogen compounds (ΣOHC) decreased in the following order ΣPCBs (44%)>HCB (31%)>ΣDDXs (13%)>ΣCHLs (4.6%)>ΣHCHs (4.4%)>ΣPBDEs (0.9%). The predominant compounds within each chemical class were: PCBs 153, 149, 101 and 138 p,p'-DDE γ-HCH trans-nonachlor PBDEs 99 and 47. The most dominant MeO-PBDE congener was 6-MeO-BDE 47. As s les were collected during three consecutive summer seasons, year-to-year trends could be assessed indicating a significant decrease from 2000 to 2003 for ΣCHL levels. Higher ΣPBDE concentrations and higher values of the ΣPBDE / ΣMeO-PBDE ratio, as well as higher ratios between the two MeO-BDEs (2'-MeO-BDE 68/6-MeO-BDE 47) were found in females compared to males. Higher ΣMeO-PBDE concentrations and higher values of the ratios between the lower chlorinated and the higher chlorinated PCBs were found in males than in females. In addition, five out of six significant differences found through discriminant function analysis were gender-related. The literature reports both feeding in mid- to low-latitudes and sex-related differences in migration patterns for humpback whales from the Southern Hemisphere, indicating that the hypothesis of dietary differences between males and females cannot be excluded. Nevertheless, additional studies are required for further investigation of this hypothesis.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 07-05-2015
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-09-2023
DOI: 10.1111/RESP.14591
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2016
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 17-11-2021
Abstract: Background: Cognitive impairment is a well-documented predictor of transition to a full-threshold psychotic disorder amongst in iduals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis. However, less is known about whether change in cognitive functioning differs between those who do and do not transition to a psychotic disorder. Studies to date have not examined trajectories in intelligence constructs (e.g., acquired knowledge and fluid intelligence), which have demonstrated marked impairments in in iduals with schizophrenia. This study aimed to examine intelligence trajectories using longitudinal data from three time-points, spanning an average of eight years.Methods: Participants (N=139) at UHR for psychosis completed the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) at each follow-up. Linear mixed-effects models mapped changes in WASI Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) and T-scores on Vocabulary, Similarities, Block Design, and Matrix Reasoning subtests.Results: The s le showed stable and improving trajectories for FSIQ and all subtests. There were no significant differences in trajectories between those who did and did not transition to psychosis and between in iduals with good and poor functional outcomes. However, although not significant, the trajectories of the acquired knowledge subtests erged between transitioned and non-transitioned in iduals (β=−0.12, 95% CI [−0.29, 0.05] for Vocabulary and β=−0.14, 95% CI [−0.33, 0.05] for Similarities). Conclusions: There was no evidence for long-term deterioration in intelligence trajectories in this UHR s le. As the small s le of in iduals who transitioned may have limited our ability to detect subtle differences, future studies with larger s le sizes are needed to explore potential differences in intelligence trajectories between UHR transition groups.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2018
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-05-2020
DOI: 10.1111/AJR.12634
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-05-2018
DOI: 10.1038/S41545-018-0004-Z
Abstract: We discuss here next-generation membranes based on graphene for water desalination, based on the results of molecular simulations, application of nanofabrication technologies, and experiments. The potential of graphene to serve as a key material for advanced membranes comes from two major possible advantages of this atomically thin two-dimensional material: permeability and selectivity. Graphene-based membranes are also hypothetically attractive based on concentration polarization and fouling, and graphene’s chemical and physical stability. Further research is needed to fully achieve these theoretical benefits, however. In addition, improvement in the design and manufacturing processes, so to produce performance and cost-effective graphene-based desalination devices, is still an open question. Finally, membranes are only one part of desalination systems, and current processes are not optimized to take full advantage of the higher selectivity and permeability of graphene. New desalination processes are, therefore, needed to unlock the full benefits of graphene.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-2015
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 28-01-2018
Abstract: The paper examines design and operating data of current concentrated solar power (CSP) solar tower (ST) plants. The study includes CSP with or without boost by combustion of natural gas (NG), and with or without thermal energy storage (TES). Latest, actual specific costs per installed capacity are high, 6,085 $/kW for Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS) with no TES, and 9,227 $/kW for Crescent Dunes with TES. Actual production of electricity is low and less than the expected. Actual capacity factors are 22% for ISEGS, despite combustion of a significant amount of NG exceeding the planned values, and 13% for Crescent Dunes. The design values were 33% and 52%. The study then reviews the proposed technology updates to improve ratio of solar field power to electric power, capacity factor, matching of production and demand, plant’s cost, reliability and life span of plant’s components. Key areas of progress are found in materials and manufacturing processes, design of solar field and receiver, receiver and power block fluids, power cycle parameters, optimal management of daily and seasonal operation of the plant, new TES concepts, integration of solar plant with thermal desalination or combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) installations and specialization of project.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 02-09-2022
DOI: 10.3389/FPSYG.2022.939087
Abstract: To apply a socioecological approach to identify risk and protective factors across levels of the “sports-ecosystem,” which are associated with mental health outcomes among athletes in para-sports and non-para sports. A further aim is to determine whether para athletes have unique risks and protective factor profiles compared to non-para athletes. A cross-sectional, anonymous online-survey was provided to all categorized (e.g., highest level) athletes aged 16 years and older, registered with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Mental health outcomes included mental health symptoms (GHQ-28), general psychological distress (K-10), risky alcohol consumption (AUDIT-C) and eating disorder risk (BEDA-Q). Risk and protective factors across multiple levels of the socioecological model, including in idual, microsystem, exosystem and macrosystem level factors were assessed via self-report. A total of 427 elite athletes (71 para and 356 non-para athletes) participated in the study. No significant differences in the rates of mental health problems were observed between para and non-para athletes. Both differences and similarities in risk and protective factor profiles were found across the multiple levels of the sports-ecosystem. Weak evidence was also found to support the hypothesis that certain risk factors, including experiencing two or more adverse life events in the past year, sports related concussion, high self-stigma, inadequate social support and low psychological safety conferred a greater risk for poorer mental health outcomes for para athletes in particular. Risk factors occurring across various levels of the sports ecosystem, including in idual, interpersonal and organizational level risk factors were found to be associated with a range of poorer mental health outcomes. The association between mental ill-health and certain risk factors, particularly those at the in idual and microsystem level, appear to be greater for para athletes. These findings have important implications for policy and mental health service provision in elite sports settings, highlighting the need for more nuanced approaches to subpopulations, and the delivery of mental health interventions across all levels of the sports ecosystem.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 30-11-2021
DOI: 10.1177/00048674211061285
Abstract: Services for in iduals with a first episode of psychosis or at ultra-high risk of psychosis have become a treatment model of choice in mental health care. The longitudinal changes in clinical and functional outcomes as a result of real-world treatment remain under-reported. We analysed data from first episode of psychosis and ultra-high risk services delivered across Australian primary youth mental health care services known as headspace between 19 June 2017 and 30 September 2019. Outcome measures were completed and entered into a minimum dataset every 90 days a participant was receiving treatment and included psychiatric symptomatology (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and psychological distress, K10) and psychosocial functioning (Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale and My Life Tracker). Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate changes in outcome over time. Outcome data from a total of 1252 young people were evaluated (643 first episode of psychosis, 609 ultra-high risk). Of those who entered ultra-high risk services, 11.8% transitioned to first episode of psychosis services. Overall, substantial improvement in clinical (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, K10) and functional (Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale, My Life Tracker) outcomes were seen across groups and outcomes. Ultra-high risk patients showed a greater reduction in distress symptoms, while first episode of psychosis patients experienced a greater reduction in positive psychosis symptoms. Although clinical outcomes showed a plateau effect after approximately 3 months of care, improvement in functional outcomes (Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale, My Life Tracker) continued later in treatment. These findings support the use of real-time, real-world and low-cost administrative data to rigorously evaluate symptomatic and functional outcomes in early psychosis treatment settings. Findings that functional outcomes improve past the remittance of clinical outcomes also support the functional recovery focus of early psychosis services and remaining high levels of distress suggest the need for ultra-high risk services to extend beyond 6 months of care.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-03-2023
DOI: 10.1111/EIP.13301
Abstract: The sexual health of adults with schizophrenia is poorer than the general population however, less is known about young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis (FEP). The aim of this study was to explore the high‐risk sexual behaviours and sexual well‐being indicators of a cohort of young people with FEP. Data collected from young people (15‐24 years) with FEP attending the EPPIC service in Melbourne and participating in a physical health intervention were analysed. Baseline trial data collected on sexual health and high‐risk behaviours, psychiatric symptomology, functioning, and substance use are presented by gender. Associations between symptomology and functioning with sexual behaviour are explored. A total of 69 young people were included in this study mean age was 19.6 years (SD±2.8), 53.6% were male, 59.6% identified as heterosexual, and 21.7% were currently in a relationship. Within the cohort, 78.3% had ever been sexually active. Of these, 44.2% consistently used a condom at last sex act and 35.7% used barrier contraception consistently, 22.5% had previously been pregnant, and 18.6% had tested positive for an STI. Finally, young people were more likely to have been sexually active if they were currently using substances. These findings suggest that high rates of high‐risk sexual behaviour remain an issue for young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. Promoting sexual well‐being and communication skills between sexual partners should be targeted to ensure that high‐risk sexual health outcomes are mitigated as early as possible.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 2016
Abstract: The tide gauges measure the local oscillations of the sea level vs. the tide gauge instrument. The tide gauge instrument is generally subjected to the general subsidence or uplift of the nearby inland, plus some additional subsidence for land compaction and other localised phenomena. The paper proposes a non-linear model of the relative sea level oscillations including a long term trend for the absolute sea level rise, another term for the subsidence of the instrument, and finally a sinusoidal approximation for the cyclic oscillations of periodicities up to decades. This non-linear model is applied to the tide gauges of China. The paper shows that the limited information available for China does not permit to infer any proper trend for the relative rates of rise, as the tide gauge records are all short or incomplete and the vertical movement of the tide gauge instruments is unassessed. The only tide gauge record of sufficient length that may be assembled for China is obtained by combining the North Point and Quarry Bay tide gauges in Hong Kong (NPQB). This NQPB composite tide gauge record is shown to have similarities with the tide gauge records of Sydney, equally in the West pacific, and San Diego, in the east Pacific, oscillating about the longer term trend mostly determined by the local subsidence. As it is very well known that China generally suffers of land subsidence, and the tide gauge installations may suffer of additional subsidence vs. the inland, it may be concluded from the analysis of the other worldwide tide gauges that the sea levels of China are very likely rising about the same amount of the subsidence of the tide gauges, with the sea level acceleration component still negligible.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 2016
Abstract: The sea levels of Kiribati have been stable over the last few decades, as elsewhere in the world. The Australian government funded Pacific Sea Level Monitoring (PSLM) project has adjusted sea level records to produce an unrealistic rising trend. Some information has been hidden or neglected, especially from sources of different management. The measured monthly average mean sea levels suffer from subsidence or manipulation resulting in a tilting from the about 0 (zero) mm/year of nearby tide gauges to 4 (four) mm/year over the same short time window. Real environmental problems are driven by the increasing local population leading to troubles including scarcity of water, localized sinking and localised erosion.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2015
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 04-04-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.03.28.21254516
Abstract: Climate disasters such as wildfires, floods and droughts can introduce significant interruptions and trauma to impacted communities. Children and young people can be disproportionately affected with additional educational disruptions. However, evaluating the impact of disasters is challenging due to difficulties in establishing studies and recruitment post-disasters. With the increasing threat of climate change, we aimed to (1) establish a new analytical framework to evaluate the impact of climate disasters on academic achievement and (2) evaluate the impact of the 2014 Hazelwood mine fire (a six-week fire event in Australia). Bayesian hierarchical meta-regression was developed to evaluate the impact of the mine fire using only aggregated school-level data from the standardised National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) test. NAPLAN results and school characteristics (2008-2018) from 69 primary/secondary schools with different levels of mine fire-related smoke exposure were used to estimate the impact of the event. Using an interrupted time series design, the model estimated immediate effects and post-interruption trend differences with full Bayesian statistical inference. Major academic interruptions across NAPLAN domains were evident in high exposure schools in the year post-mine fire (greatest interruption in Writing: 11.09 [95%CI: 3.16-18.93], lowest interruption in Reading: 8.34 [95%CI: 1.07-15.51]). The interruption was comparable to a four to five-month delay in educational attainment and had not fully recovered after several years. Considerable academic delays were found as a result of a mine fire, highlighting the need to provide educational and community-based supports in response to future events. Importantly, this work provides a statistical method using readily available aggregated data to assess the educational impacts in response to other climate disasters.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2018
DOI: 10.1111/DAR.12850
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2021
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2021.131351
Abstract: In 2014, the Morwell brown coal mine, located in the Latrobe Valley of South eastern Australia, caught fire covering nearby areas in plumes of smoke over a 6-week period. To investigate the association between exposure to mine fire related air pollution and the risk of mortality. Time series models were used to evaluate the risk of mortality during the first 30 days of the mine fire, when the smoke was most intense, and in the following six months. Associations were also investigated between mine fire related PM During the 30-day mine fire period, there was an increased risk of death from injury in the most exposed town of Morwell, however no increased risk was observed for all-cause, cardiovascular or respiratory mortality. In the broader Latrobe Valley, males and residents aged 80 and above were at greatest risk of death from injury during the mine fire. In Morwell, during the six months after the mine fire there was an increased risk of all-cause mortality and death from Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD). Males and residents aged 80 and above in the broader Latrobe Valley, were at increased risk of death from IHD six months after the fire. Coal mine fire exposure was associated with an increase in injury deaths during the mine fire and cardiovascular deaths in the six months after the fire. These findings assist in identifying at risk groups, and improving targeted health advice for future air pollution exposures in the community.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-11-2017
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 27-09-2015
DOI: 10.4271/2015-01-2659
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-06-2016
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 28-06-2022
Abstract: Bushfires cause significant physical and mental ill-health. How physical and mental symptoms following bushfire interact is largely unknown, particularly in the context of repeated exposures.Objective and Design: Understand how posttraumatic stress and general psychological distress were associated with somatic symptoms in a community exposed to multiple smoke events using a longitudinal research design. Setting and Participants: A random weighted s le of 709 adults exposed to smoke during the 2014 Hazelwood coal mine in south-eastern Australia completed a survey in 2020. The survey coincided with the Black Summer bushfires that caused a similar period of smoke haze in the region.Measures: Participants self-reported somatic symptoms (PHQ-15), mine fire-related posttraumatic stress (IES-R), general psychological distress (K10), health diagnoses and demographic information. Associations between posttraumatic stress, general psychological distress, and each PHQ-15 somatic symptom were analysed using ordinal logistic regression models.Results: Overall, 36.2% of participants reported moderate- or high-level somatic symptomology. The most frequent somatic symptoms were fatigue, limb pain, trouble sleeping, back pain, headaches, and shortness of breath. After controlling for confounding factors, general psychological distress and posttraumatic stress were independently associated with all somatic symptoms (except menstrual problems in females for posttraumatic stress). Conclusion: Results highlight the high prevalence of somatic symptoms and their association with general psychological distress and posttraumatic stress within a community in the midst of a second large-scale smoke event. It is essential that healthcare providers and public health authorities consider the interconnections of these conditions when supporting communities affected by climate-related disasters.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2019
Publisher: Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan
Date: 09-2019
Abstract: The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) describes the northward flow of warm, salty water in the upper layers, and the southward flow of colder water in the deep Atlantic layers. AMOC strength estimates at 41 ° N latitude based on satellite sea surface height (SSH), and ARGO ocean temperature, salinity and velocity, and finally the difference in between the absolute mean sea levels (MSL) of the tide gauges of The Battery, New York, 40.7°N latitude, and Brest, 48.3 ° N latitude. Results suggest that the AMOC has been minimally reducing but with a positive acceleration since 2002, has been marginally increasing but with a negative acceleration since 1993, and has not been reducing but only oscillating with clear periodicities up 18 years, 27 years and about 60 years since 1856.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-03-2023
DOI: 10.1038/S41398-023-02396-4
Abstract: Staging models with transdiagnostic validity across mood, psychotic, and anxiety disorders could advance early intervention efforts as well as our understanding of the common underpinnings of such psychopathology. However, there are few well-supported operationalisations for such transdiagnostic models, particularly in community-based s les. We aimed to explore the inter-relationships among mood, psychotic, and anxiety symptom stages, and their common risk factors to develop data-informed transdiagnostic stages. We included participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a prospective ongoing birth cohort study. We developed operational thresholds for stages of depressive, hypomanic, anxiety, and psychotic symptoms based on the existing literature, refined further by expert consensus. We selected 1b level as the primary stage or outcome of interest. This represents moderate symptoms that are likely to be associated with the onset of the need for clinical mental health care. We used questionnaire and clinic data completed by young people ages 18 and 21 years. We used descriptive methods and network analyses to examine the overlap among Stage 1b psychopathology. We then examined the patterns of relationships between several risk factors and 1b stages using logistic regressions. Among 3269 young people with data available to determine all symptom stages, 64.3% were female and 96% Caucasian. Descriptive and network analyses indicated that 1b level depressive, anxiety, and psychotic symptom stages were inter-related while hypomania was not. Similarly, anxiety, depressive, and psychotic 1b stages were associated with the female sex, more emotional and behavioral difficulties in early adolescence, and life events in late adolescence. Hypomania was not related to any of these risk factors. Given their inter-relationships and similar risk factors, anxiety, psychotic and depressive, symptoms could be combined to form a transdiagnostic stage in this cohort. Such empirical transdiagnostic stages could help with prognostication and indicated prevention in youth mental health.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-06-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVPOL.2018.12.085
Abstract: Limited research has examined the impacts of coal mine fire smoke on human health. The aim of this study was to assess the association between prolonged smoke PM
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 12-06-2023
DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.08.23291105
Abstract: The Hazelwood Health Study was set up to study long term health effects of a mine fire that blanketed residents of the Latrobe Valley with smoke for 45 days in 2014. The Respiratory Stream specifically assessed the impact of fine particulate matter .5μm diameter (PM 2.5 ) exposure from mine fire smoke on lung health. The multiple breath nitrogen washout (MBW) test assesses ventilation heterogeneity, which may detect early airways dysfunction not identified using standard tests such as spirometry. This analysis assessed the association of PM 2.5 exposure with measures of ventilation heterogeneity. Exposed (Morwell) and unexposed (Sale) participants were recruited 3.5-4 years after the fire from those who had participated in an Adult Survey. MBW was performed to measure lung clearance index (LCI), functional residual capacity (FRC), acinar (Sacin) and conductive (Scond) ventilation heterogeneity. PM 2.5 exposure was estimated with emission and chemical transport models. Multivariate linear regression models were fitted controlling for confounders. We recruited 519 participants. MBW tests were conducted on 504 participants with 479 acceptable test results (40% male 313 exposed, 166 unexposed). Exposure to mine fire-related PM 2.5 was associated with increasing Scond (β=2.15/kL, 95%CI: 0.67-3.63, p=0.006), which was comparable to the estimated effect on Scond of 7.9 years of aging. No other MBW outcomes were significant. Increasing exposure to PM 2.5 was associated with increased ventilation heterogeneity in the conductive region of the lungs 4 years after the event.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 29-09-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.09.27.21264151
Abstract: Human-induced climate change represents a serious threat to human health, including mental health, due to both the traumatising effects of extreme climate events and the psychological effect of worry about climate change. The present scoping review aims to systematically search and synthesise original research related to mental health and climate related concerns, negative emotions and mental ill-health in young people. Findings will help to understand the current landscape, gaps in the literature, and to provide recommendations for future youth mental health research and practice. A systematic search and narrative synthesis of the literature published prior to October 2020 examining negative emotions associated with climate change in young people was undertaken. Studies were included if they examined mental ill-health (e.g. symptoms of depression or anxiety) or negative emotions (e.g. distress, worry, concern) associated with the threat of climate change. Of the 3329 peer-reviewed articles screened, 12 met the inclusion criteria. Together, included studies show that young people are worried about climate change. Studies also explored the coping strategies young people use to manage their distress caused by climate change. The limited literature in this area indicates a key gap in youth mental health research. Available evidence suggests that young people are concerned about climate change, which may increase risk of mental ill-health. Thus, clinicians should assess for and address climate anxiety in young people. Mental health leaders are urged to advocate for urgent climate action to mitigate the effects of climate anxiety in young people. this project was not funded.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2023
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 02-2023
DOI: 10.1037/TRA0001179
Abstract: This study explored how exposure to a mine fire and smoke event influenced students' academic outcomes. The academic results for 303 students (aged 7.8-16.2 years) were accessed and students completed the Children's Revised Impact of Events Scale to measure their level of distress resulting from the mine fire. The longitudinal analysis found that secondary students, who attended schools in the town most exposed to particulate matter from the mine fire, experienced an 18.5-month delay in academic progress (95% CI [13.6, 23.5]) after the mine fire, relative to the wider area. No evidence was found in academic delays related to exposure to the mine fire among primary school students. There was also no evidence of additional delays in academic progress for students with higher levels of event-related distress. Schools should monitor and provide academic support to students to protect them against academic decline after a disaster. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-03-2023
DOI: 10.1007/S00127-023-02444-W
Abstract: Use of alcohol and other substances is a multifaceted issue impacting young people across multiple life domains. This paper aims to elucidate patterns of substance use and associated demographic and clinical factors among young people seeking treatment for their mental health. Young people (12–25 years old) were recruited from five youth-specific primary mental health (“ headspace ”) services in Australia. Self-reported substance use and harms in the past 3 months were measured using WHO-ASSIST. Network analyses were conducted to evaluate interrelationships between use and harms associated with different substances. Subgroups were then identified based on whether participants reported using high centrality substances, and associated demographic and clinical factors were assessed with multinomial logistic regression. 1107 youth participated. 70% reported use of at least one substance in the past 3 months, with around 30% of those reporting related health, social, legal or financial problems. Network analysis highlighted substantial interconnections between use and harm indicators for all substances, with hetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and cannabis being high central substances. Higher levels of substance use and harms were reported in subgroups with ATS or cannabis use and different risk factors were associated with these subgroups. Findings highlight the importance of screening for substance use in youth primary mental healthcare settings, offering a key opportunity for early intervention. Clinicians should be aware of the inner connections of use and harms of different drugs and the role of cannabis and hetamine use as a marker for more substance use profiles.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2020
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 09-01-2019
DOI: 10.4271/2019-26-0045
Abstract: class="section abstract" class="htmlview paragraph" Direct injection and jet ignition is becoming popular in electrically assisted, turbocharged, F1 engines because of the pressure to reduce fuel consumption. Operation from homogeneous stoichiometric up to lean of stoichiometry stratified about λ = 1.5, occurs with fast combustion of reduced cyclic variability thanks to the enhanced ignition by multiple jets of hot, partially reacting products travelling through the combustion chamber. The fuel consumption has thus been drastically reduced in an engine that is, however, still mostly throttle controlled. The aim of the present paper is to show the advantages of direct injection and jet ignition based on model simulations of the operation of a high-performance throttle-controlled engine featuring rotary valves. / /
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2016
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 06-2009
Abstract: Following the recent severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemics and worldwide concern about the next pandemic, whether influenza or multiple drug resistant tuberculosis, has underlined the importance of effective interventions into airborne disease transmission in indoor environments in a community. The engineering control measures available include ventilation dilution, use of high-efficiency particulate air filters in a room or in the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, and use of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation devices in ceiling area of a room or in the HVAC system. These methods are known to be effective in controlling or delaying airborne disease transmission in a single enclosure in both healthcare facilities and the community. However, there have been no studies of their relative effectiveness at the community level. This paper presents mathematical modeling of some engineering control strategies with a focus on ventilation and corresponding analysis of their relative effectiveness compared with other public health interventions in disease control in indoor environments at the community level. The results should help us to determine the most effective intervention strategies. We conclude that the engineering intervention methods such as building ventilation can be as effective as public health interventions and the ventilation rates specified in the existing standards such as ASHRAE 62 may be too low for the purpose of preventing or controlling airborne infectious diseases in indoor environments.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 2022
DOI: 10.1017/S2045796021000755
Abstract: A disproportionate number of people with mental ill-health experience social exclusion. Appropriate measurement tools are required to progress opportunities to improve social inclusion. We have developed a novel measure, the Filia Social Inclusion Measure (F-SIM). Here we aimed to present a more concise, easy-to-use form, while retaining its measurement integrity by (i) refining the F-SIM using traditional and contemporary item-reduction techniques and (ii) testing the psychometric properties of the reduced measure. Five hundred and six participants completed the F-SIM, younger and older groups of people with serious mental illness (including psychosis, mood, anxiety disorders) and same-aged community counterparts. The F-SIM was completed at baseline and 2-week follow-up, alongside other measures (including social inclusion, loneliness). The F-SIM was refined using multidimensional scaling network analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory. The psychometric evaluation included assessment of dimensionality, internal consistency, test–retest reliability, discriminant ability and construct validity. The F-SIM was reduced from 135-items to 16 with 4-items in each domain of housing and neighbourhood, finances, employment and education and social participation and relationships. Psychometric properties were sound, including strong internal consistency within domains (all α 0.85) and excellent overall ( α = 0.92). Test–retest reliability was also high ( γ = 0.90). Differences between groups were observed clinical subgroups consistently reported lower levels of social inclusion compared to community counterparts. The F-SIM16 is a sound, reliable, brief self-report measure of social inclusion suitable for use in clinical and research settings. It has the potential to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and aid in fostering targeted and personalised needs-based care.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 2022
DOI: 10.1017/S2045796022000427
Abstract: The utility of quality of life (QoL) as an outcome measure in youth-specific primary mental health care settings has yet to be determined. We aimed to determine: (i) whether heterogeneity on in idual items of a QoL measure could be used to identify distinct groups of help-seeking young people and (ii) the validity of these groups based on having clinically meaningful differences in demographic and clinical characteristics. Young people, at their first presentation to one of five primary mental health services, completed a range of questionnaires, including the Assessment of Quality of Life–6 dimensions adolescent version (AQoL-6D). Latent class analysis (LCA) and multivariate multinomial logistic regression were used to define classes based on AQoL-6D and determine demographic and clinical characteristics associated with class membership. 1107 young people (12–25 years) participated. Four groups were identified: (i) no-to-mild impairment in QoL (ii) moderate impairment across dimensions but especially mental health and coping (iii) moderate impairment across dimensions but especially on the pain dimension and (iv) poor QoL across all dimensions along with a greater likelihood of complex and severe clinical presentations. Differences between groups were observed with respect to demographic and clinical features. Adding multi-attribute utility instruments such as the AQoL-6D to routine data collection in mental health services might generate insights into the care needs of young people beyond reducing psychological distress and promoting symptom recovery. In young people with impairments across all QoL dimensions, the need for a holistic and personalised approach to treatment and recovery is heightened.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-2017
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 10-03-2015
DOI: 10.4271/2015-01-0006
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 09-09-2016
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 15-09-2015
DOI: 10.4271/2015-01-2424
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 09-07-2018
DOI: 10.4271/2018-28-0037
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-01-2021
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 14-05-2023
DOI: 10.1177/00048674231172113
Abstract: Australia’s Fifth National Mental Health Plan required governments to report, not only on the progress of changes to mental health service delivery, but to also plan for services that should be provided. Future population demand for treatment and care is challenging to predict and one solution involves modelling the uncertain demands on the system. Modelling can help decision-makers understand likely future changes in mental health service demand and more intelligently choose appropriate responses. It can also support greater scrutiny, accountability and transparency of these processes. Australia has an emerging national capacity for systems modelling in mental health which can enhance the next phase of mental health reform. This paper introduces concepts useful for understanding mental health modelling and identifies where modelling approaches can support health service planners to make evidence-informed decisions regarding planning and investment for the Australian population.
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 10-03-2015
DOI: 10.4271/2015-01-0009
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 14-01-2015
DOI: 10.4271/2015-26-0176
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2023
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 10-03-2015
DOI: 10.4271/2015-01-0007
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 26-04-2016
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-01-2023
DOI: 10.1111/EIP.13374
Abstract: Climate change represents a serious threat to human health, including mental health, due to both the traumatizing effects of extreme climate events and the psychological effect of worry about climate change. Objectives: This scoping review aims to search the literature for original research investigating mental health and climate‐related negative emotions in young people. Findings will help to understand the current landscape, gaps in the literature, and provide recommendations for future youth mental health research and practice. A scoping review of the literature examining negative emotions associated with climate change in young people was undertaken. Studies published prior to March 2022 were included if they examined mental ill‐health (e.g., symptoms of depression or anxiety) or negative emotions (e.g., distress, worry, concern) associated with the threat of climate change. Of 3939 articles screened, 26 met the inclusion criteria. Together, studies show that young people are worried about climate change. Negative emotions about climate change were correlated with symptoms of mental ill‐health. Studies also explored coping strategies young people use to manage their distress caused by climate change. The limited literature in this area indicates a key gap in youth mental health research. While available evidence suggests that young people are concerned about climate change, more research is needed on the relationship between climate‐related negative emotions and mental ill‐health. Clinicians should assess for and address climate‐related negative emotions in young people. Mental health leaders are urged to advocate for actions to mitigate the mental health impact of climate change.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2017
Publisher: Scientific Research Publishing, Inc.
Date: 2018
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-02-2023
DOI: 10.1007/S00127-023-02436-W
Abstract: Substance use remains a barrier to recovery for young people accessing early intervention services for psychosis. While correlates of use have been explored in populations experiencing a first episode of psychosis (FEP), s le sizes have been small and less research assesses cohorts at ultrahigh risk of psychosis (UHR). This study uses data from a naturalistic cohort including UHR and FEP participants ( N = 1252) to elucidate clinical correlates of use in the past 3 months of any illicit substance, hetamine-type stimulants (ATS), cannabis, and tobacco. Moreover, network analysis based on use of these substances and additionally alcohol, cocaine, hallucinogens, sedatives, inhalants, and opioids was completed. Young people with FEP used substances at significantly higher rates than those at UHR. High concurrence of use was seen between substances. In the FEP group, participants who had used any illicit substance, ATS, and/or tobacco had increased positive symptoms and decreased negative symptoms. Young people with FEP who used cannabis had increased positive symptoms. In the UHR group, participants who had used any illicit substance, ATS, and/or cannabis in the past 3 months showed decreased negative symptoms compared to those who had not. A distinct clinical picture of more florid positive symptoms and alleviated negative symptoms seen in those who use substances in the FEP group appears muted in the UHR cohort. Treating young people at UHR in early intervention services represents the earliest opportunity to address substance use early to improve outcomes.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-01-2015
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 08-02-2021
Abstract: Little research has examined the effects of high concentration, medium-duration smoke exposure on cardiovascular health. We investigated whether six weeks of exposure to smoke from the 2014 Hazelwood coal mine fire in Victoria (Australia), was associated with long-term clinical or subclinical cardiovascular disease approximately four years later, in adult residents of the towns of Morwell (exposed, n = 336) and Sale (unexposed, n = 162). The primary outcome was serum high sensitivity (hs) C-reactive protein (CRP). Blood pressure, electrocardiogram, flow mediated dilatation and serum levels of hs-troponin, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide and lipids were secondary outcomes. There was no significant difference in weighted median hsCRP levels between exposed and unexposed participants (1.9 mg/L vs. 1.6 mg/L, p = 0.273). Other outcomes were comparable between the groups. hsCRP was associated in a predictable manner with current smoking, obesity and use of lipid-lowering therapy. Four years after a 6-week coal mine fire, this study found no association between smoke exposure and markers of clinical or subclinical cardiovascular disease in exposed adults.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 26-03-2018
Abstract: The infra-sound spectra recorded inside homes located even several kilometres far from wind turbine installations is characterized by large pressure fluctuation in the low frequency range. There is a significant body of literature suggesting inaudible sounds at low frequency are sensed by humans and affect the wellbeing through different mechanisms. These mechanisms include litude modulation of heard sounds, stimulating subconscious pathways, causing endolymphatic hydrops, and possibly potentiating noise-induced hearing loss. We suggest the study of infra-sound active cancellation and mitigation to address the low frequency noise issues. Loudspeakers generate pressure wave components of same litude and frequency but opposite phase of the recorded infra sound. They also produce pressure wave components within the audible range reducing the perception of the infra-sound to minimize the sensing of the residual infra sound.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 20-12-2017
Abstract: We consider a turbocharged gasoline direct injection (DI) engine featuring a motor-generator-unit (MGU-H) fitted on the turbocharger shaft. The MGU-H receives or delivers energy to the same energy storage (ES) of the hybrid power unit that comprises a motor-generator unit on the driveline (MGU-K) in addition to the internal combustion engine (ICE). The energy supply from the ES is mostly needed during sharp accelerations to avoid turbo-lag, and to boost torque at low speeds. At low speeds, it also improves the ratio of engine crankshaft power to fuel flow power, as well as the ratio of engine crankshaft plus turbocharger shaft power to fuel flow power. The energy supply to the ES is possible at high speeds and loads, where otherwise the turbine could have been waste gated, and during decelerations. This improves the ratio of engine crankshaft plus turbocharger shaft power to fuel flow power.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 13-05-2022
Abstract: There are concerns that the field of sport and exercise psychology is limited by insufficient consideration for the demographic, socioeconomic and cultural identities and experiences of participants. Focusing on gender specifically, recent evidence suggests that studies in sports science and medicine disproportionately feature more men and boys as participants. However, to date no study has empirically quantified the level of gender in the field of sport and exercise psychology. This study therefore explored gender balance among sport and exercise psychology s les published across five leading journals in the field, with articles taken from three separate years (2010, 2015, 2020). Across the 627 studies, data were collected from 258,160 participants. Of these, 138,133 were men/boys (54%), 119,398 were women/girls (46%), and 629 were non-binary or not reported (0.2% 432 not reported, 197 identified as non-binary or another gender). We demonstrated that studies which focused on sport – rather than exercise – psychology, significantly underrepresented women/girls. Specifically, the OR for sport as compared to exercise, was 4.94 (95% CI = 3.19 - 7.64, p & .001), suggesting a markedly increased likelihood of male participation. Nearly one in five studies in sport psychology included exclusively male participants, compared to just 7% with females. Studies conducted in Europe, as well as those exploring interventions and experimental research, were also associated with an over-representation of male participants. Important questions are raised as to the conduct of representative research in the field of applied sport psychology, with recommendations provided.
Publisher: Sciencedomain International
Date: 10-01-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2022
Publisher: SPIE
Date: 22-12-2015
DOI: 10.1117/12.2202475
Publisher: American Psychiatric Association Publishing
Date: 06-2023
Abstract: The authors aimed to evaluate changes in use of government-subsidized primary mental health services, through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), by young people during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and whether changes were associated with age, sex, socioeconomic status, and residence in particular geographical areas. Interrupted time-series analyses were conducted by using quarterly mental health MBS service data (all young people ages 12-25 years, 2015-2020) for in idual Statistical Area Level 3 areas across Australia. The data captured >22.4 million service records. Meta-analysis and meta-regression models estimated the pandemic interruption effect at the national level and delineated factors influencing these estimates. Compared with expected prepandemic trends, a 6.2% (95% CI=5.3%-7.2%) increase was noted for all young people in use of MBS mental health services in 2020. Substantial differences were found between age and sex subgroups, with a higher increase among females and young people ages 18-25. A decreasing trend was observed for males ages 18-25 (3.5% reduction, 95% CI=2.5%-4.5%). The interruption effect was strongly associated with socioeconomic status. Service uptake increased in areas of high socioeconomic status, with smaller or limited uptake in areas of low socioeconomic status. During 2020, young people's use of primary mental health services increased overall. However, increases were inequitably distributed and relatively low, compared with increases in population-level mental health burden. Policy makers should address barriers to primary care access for young people, particularly for young males and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-12-2015
DOI: 10.1111/ADD.13213
Abstract: Alcohol consumption is an avoidable risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Studies have examined relative risks and outcomes of alcohol-related harms in Australia at discrete times, limiting the ability to examine changes across time. This paper examined alcohol consumption and its contribution to deaths, illness and injury at two time-points, 2001 and 2010. Alcohol consumption was modelled based on the 2001 and 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, upshifted to reflect alcohol sales data. All data reported are from Australian sources. Based on relative risk estimates obtained from meta-analysis, alcohol-attributable fractions were estimated for 42 disease and injury categories in 2001 and 2010 separately for conditions that were not 100% alcohol-attributable. Deaths and hospital separations attributable to alcohol were calculated in 2001 and 2010. There was a relatively stable per capita consumption of alcohol across time, with males reporting higher levels of consumption compared with females. While there were increases in the number of abstainers from alcohol across time, the proportion of heavy alcohol consumers also increased. This corresponded with an observed increase in alcohol-attributable burden. For ex le, alcohol-attributable deaths increased from 4957 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2867-8770] to 5610 (95% CI = 3398-9408) during the study period. The findings demonstrate that there has been an increase in alcohol-attributable harms between 2001 and 2010 in Australia without a corresponding increase in per capita consumption.
Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
Date: 09-2020
DOI: 10.1192/BJO.2020.101
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 08-2015
DOI: 10.1260/1708-5284.12.3.261
Abstract: The paper proposes a study of a GT2 racing car with a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) tool. Results of STAR-CCM+ simulations of the flow around the car in a wind tunnel with movable ground and wheels are presented for different air speeds to assess the different contributions of pressure and shear to lift and drag over the speed range. The rear wing contributes more than 85% of the lift force and 7-8% of the drag force for this particular class of racing cars. When reference is made to the low speed drag and lift coefficients, increasing the speed from 25 to 100 m/s produces an increase of CD of more than 3% and a reduction of CL of more than 2%. The resultsuggests modifying the constant CD and CL values used in lap time simulation toolsintroducing the tabulated values to interpolate vs. the speed of the car.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.DRUGALCDEP.2015.08.021
Abstract: The current burden of cannabis-related presentations to emergency health services is largely unknown. This paper presents data collected over a 13-year period in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia as part of the Ambo Project, a unique surveillance system that analyses and codes paramedic records for drug-related trends and harms. Cannabis-related ambulance attendances involving 15-59 year olds in metropolitan Melbourne were analysed retrospectively from 2000 to 2013 (n=10,531). Trends and attendance characteristics were compared among cannabis only (CO)-, cannabis and alcohol (CA)- and cannabis with polydrug use (CP)-related attendances. Changes in alcohol and drug involvements in cannabis-related attendances were explored. Rates of cannabis-related ambulance attendances increased significantly over the study period. Increasing rate of attendances per 100,000 population per year changed from 0.6 (2000-2010) to 5.5 (2010-2013). This sharp change was driven by CO- and CP-related attendances (rate of CA-related attendance increased steadily). The highest increasing rate (15.6) was for CO-related attendances among 15-29 years old males (2010-2013). Crystal meth hetamine became the most common illicit co-intoxicant amongst cannabis presentations in 2013. Relative to the total drug-related burden on ambulance services, cannabis-related presentations appear to be a small but significant and increasing problem. Significant changes in trends across other drug involvement and demographic subgroups suggest a possible shift in the cannabis using population and/or a change in using behaviours. Public health strategies should raise awareness of the increased risk posed by cannabis polydrug use and high attendance subpopulations should be determined.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2023
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 20-10-2020
DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.14.20213033
Abstract: In 2014 the Hazelwood open cut coal mine burned for six weeks, exposing nearby residents to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ). The long-term health consequences are being evaluated as part of the Hazelwood Health Study (HHS). These analyses explore the association between PM 2.5 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A s le of 346 exposed, and 173 unexposed, adults participated in the longitudinal Respiratory Stream of the HHS. Participants underwent spirometry and gas transfer measurements and answered validated respiratory questionnaires 3.5-4 years after the fire. In idual level mine fire-related PM 2.5 exposure was modelled. Multivariate linear regression and logistic models were fitted to analyse associations between mean and peak PM 2.5 exposure and clinical outcomes, stratified by smoking status. A 10 μg/m 3 increase in mean PM 2.5 exposure was associated with a 69% (95%CI: 11% to 158%) increase in odds of spirometry consistent with COPD amongst non-smokers and increased odds of chest tightness (odds ratio OR 1.30, 95%CI 1.03 to 1.64) and chronic cough (OR 1.24, 95%CI 1.02 to 1.51) in the previous 12 months in all participants. For current smokers, increments in mean PM 2.5 exposure were associated with higher odds of chronic cough in the preceding 12 months (OR 2.13, 95%CI 1.24 to 3.65). Almost four years after a six-week period of coal fire PM 2.5 exposure, we identified a dose-response association between exposure and COPD in non-smokers. With climate change a likely contributor to increased risk of landscape fires, the findings will inform policy decisions during future sustained smoke events. Are there long-term impacts of a six-week mine fire event generating PM 2.5 on COPD and related respiratory symptoms in adults? Almost 4 years after the mine fire, each 10 µg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 exposure was associated with a 69% increase in odds of spirometry consistent with COPD amongst non-smokers, and a 30% increase in odds of chest tightness and 24% increase in odds of chronic cough amongst all participants. Amongst smokers, each 10 µg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 was associated with a 113% increase in odds of chronic cough. With the recent megafires in Australia and the United States exposing communities to smoke for weeks to months, evidence of the long-term health impacts of similar duration PM 2.5 generating pollution events are needed to inform the public health response.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 09-09-2021
Abstract: Due to climate change, catastrophic events such as landscape fires are increasing in frequency and severity. However, relatively little is known about the longer-term mental health outcomes of such events. Follow-up was conducted of 709 adults exposed to smoke from the 2014 Hazelwood mine fire in Morwell, Victoria, Australia. Participants completed two surveys evaluating posttraumatic distress, measured using the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R), three and six years after the mine fire. Mixed-effects regression models were used to evaluate longitudinal changes in distress. IES-R total scores increased on average by 2.6 points (95%CI: 1.2 to 3.9 points) between the two survey rounds, with increases across all three posttraumatic distress symptom clusters, particularly intrusive symptoms. This increase in distress was evident across all levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure to the mine fire smoke. Age was an effect modifier between mine fire PM2.5 exposure and posttraumatic distress, with younger adults impacted more by exposure to the mine fire. Greater exposure to PM2.5 from the mine fire was still associated with increased psychological distress some six years later, with the overall level of distress increasing between the two survey rounds. The follow-up survey coincided with the Black Summer bushfire season in south-eastern Australia and exposure to this new smoke event may have triggered distress sensitivities stemming from exposure to the earlier mine fire. Public health responses to disaster events should take into consideration prior exposures and vulnerable groups, particularly younger adults.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 07-08-2019
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 25-08-2023
DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.23.23294510
Abstract: Extreme but discrete fine particle .5µm (PM 2.5 ) exposure is associated with higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms. It is unknown whether these effects abate, persist, or worsen over time, nor whether COVID-19 exacerbates PM 2.5 effects. We analysed longitudinal survey data from a cohort residing near a 2014 coalmine fire in regional Australia. A 2016/2017 survey included n =4,056 participants, of whom n =612 were followed-up in 2022. Items include questions about 7 respiratory symptoms, history of COVID-19, and time-location diaries that were combined with geospatial models of fire-related PM 2.5 . Associations were examined using logistic and mixed-effects logistic regressions. PM 2.5 exposure predicted higher prevalence of chronic cough and current wheeze 2-3 years post-fire. At the 2022 follow-up, PM 2.5 exposure was associated with worsening prevalence of chronic cough and possibly current wheeze. While were no detectable interaction effects between PM 2.5 and COVID-19, participants with a history of COVID-19 exhibited more significant associations between PM 2.5 exposure and respiratory symptoms. Short-term but extreme PM 2.5 may increase the long-term prevalence of chronic cough, while COVID-19 may exacerbate the effect on other respiratory symptoms.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2018
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 14-10-2021
Abstract: Climate change and an increase in the number of major fire events occurring around the world have drawn attention to the importance of understanding the association between air pollution events and mental health. In 2014, the Morwell open-cut brown coal mine adjacent to the Hazelwood power station in the Latrobe Valley region of Victoria, Australia, caught fire as a result of nearby wildfires, and exposed the local community to a prolonged period of deteriorated air quality. The aim of this study was to examine how exposure to coal mine fire-related fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during the event affected the utilisation of local health services for mental health conditions (ambulance attendances emergency department (ED) presentations hospital admissions). A time-series analysis indicated that mine fire-related PM2.5 exposure was associated with short-term increases in ambulance attendances and ED presentations but not hospital admissions. To allow for delays between exposure and changes in service utilisation, different lag periods were assessed. The most prominent effects were observed over a 5-day lag period where, for each 10µg/m3 increase in daily mean mine fire-related PM2.5, the risk of an ambulance attendance for anxiety increased by 34% (95%CI: 8% to 67%) and the risk of an ED presentation for depression increased by 36% (95%CI: 3% to 79%). Accordingly, ambulance and hospital services should expect to encounter an increase in the number of people seeking assistance for mental health conditions during extreme air pollution events and mechanisms need to be in place to ensure that surges in demand for mental health care during these circumstances can be accommodated.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2021
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 2015
Abstract: CO2 emission and fuel consumption of passenger cars is now assessed by using a simplistic procedure measuring the emission during a test performed without any control of the fuel properties and computing the fuel consumption through an unsophisticated formula. As pump gasoline and diesel fuels are refinery products mixture of many different hydrocarbons, and in case of gasoline may also contain a significant amount of oxygenates, the fuel properties, including the density, carbon and energy content may strongly vary from one pump fuel to the other. Being the specific test fuels carefully selected by the car manufacturers and everything but randomly chosen pump fuels, the claimed CO2 emission and fuel economy figures may differ largely from the certification values. I show from the analysis of the 2014 UK government data for 2358 diesel and 2103 petrol vehicles how same volumes of only theoretically same pump fuels used during the certification test by the cars manufacturers unfortunately do not produce the same carbon dioxide emission, and very likely do not have the same energy content. The CO2 emission per liter of diesel fuel is shown to oscillate froma maximum of 3049 g to a minimum of 2125 g, with an average of 2625 g, froma +16.13% to a -19.06% of the average. TheCO2 emission per liter of petrol fuel is shown to oscillate even more from a maximum of 3735 g to a minimum of 1767 g with an average of 2327 g, from a +60.48% to a -24.05% of the average. The proposed solution is to center the assessment on the energy demand by measuring with accuracy the mass of fuel consumed and the fuel properties of the test fuel starting from the lower heating. The corrected fuel consumption and the corrected carbon dioxide emission to mention from the test are then computed by using pure hydrocarbon reference fuels for diesel and petrol having a given lower heating value and a given hydrocarbon composition. Alternatively, exactly the same test fuel should be used by all the manufacturers.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-11-2022
DOI: 10.1007/S11136-022-03277-X
Abstract: First-episode psychosis (FEP) is characterised by wide heterogeneity in terms of symptom presentation and illness course. However, the heterogeneity of quality of life (QoL) in FEP is not well understood. We investigated whether subgroups can be identified using participants' responses on four QoL domains (physical health, psychological, social relationships, and environmental) 18-months into the recovery phase of FEP. We then examined the discriminant validity of these subgroups with respect to clinical, cognitive, and functioning features of FEP. Demographic and clinical characteristics, QoL, cognition, and functioning were assessed in 100 people with FEP at the 18-month follow-up of a randomised controlled trial of In idual Placement Support, which aims to facilitate vocational recovery. QoL was measured using the World Health Organisation’s QoL-BRIEF. A two-stage clustering approach using Ward’s method and Squared Euclidean Distance with a k-means confirmation was conducted. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to establish external validity. Three QoL subgroups emerged: a ‘good’ subgroup with relatively high QoL across all domains (31%), an ‘intermediate’ subgroup with relatively low psychological QoL (48%) and a ‘poor’ subgroup with markedly low social relationship QoL (21%). Negative symptoms, depressive symptoms, social/occupational functioning, and social inclusion at follow-up predicted subgroup membership. Sensitivity analysis found similar results. Although some in iduals with FEP have QoL comparable to in iduals without mental ill health, QoL can remain concerningly low despite treatment efforts. Future research on interventions that target factors associated with poor QoL, such as low social inclusion, is required to counteract prolonged poor QoL in FEP.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2016.06.179
Abstract: Emerging diseases may spread rapidly through dense and large urban contact networks. We constructed a simple but novel dual-contact network model to account for both airborne contact and close contact of in iduals in the densely populated city of Hong Kong. The model was then integrated with an existing epidemiological susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) model, and we used a revised Wells-Riley model to estimate infection risks by the airborne route and an exponential dose-response model for risks by the contact and droplet routes. A potential outbreak of partially airborne influenza was examined, assuming different proportions of transmission through the airborne route. Our results show that building ventilation can have significant effects in airborne transmission-dominated conditions. Moreover, even when the airborne route only contributes 20% to the total infection risk, increasing the ventilation rate has a strong influence on transmission dynamics, and it also can achieve control effects similar to those of wearing masks for patients, isolation and vaccination.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 03-2023
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0281655
Abstract: Environmental disasters such as wildfires, floods and droughts can introduce significant interruptions and trauma to impacted communities. Children and young people can be disproportionately affected with additional educational disruptions. However, evaluating the impact of disasters is challenging due to difficulties in establishing studies and recruitment post-disasters. We aimed to (1) develop a Bayesian model using aggregated school-level data to evaluate the impact of environmental disasters on academic achievement and (2) evaluate the impact of the 2014 Hazelwood mine fire (a six-week fire event in Australia). Bayesian hierarchical meta-regression was developed to evaluate the impact of the mine fire using easily accessible aggregated school-level data from the standardised National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) test. NAPLAN results and school characteristics (2008–2018) from 69 primary/secondary schools with different levels of mine fire-related smoke exposure were used to estimate the impact of the event. Using an interrupted time series design, the model estimated immediate effects and post-interruption trend differences with full Bayesian statistical inference. Major academic interruptions across NAPLAN domains were evident in high exposure schools in the year post-mine fire (greatest interruption in Writing: 11.09 [95%CI: 3.16–18.93], lowest interruption in Reading: 8.34 [95%CI: 1.07–15.51]). The interruption was comparable to a four to a five-month delay in educational attainment and had not fully recovered after several years. Considerable academic delays were found as a result of a mine fire, highlighting the need to provide educational and community-based supports in response to future events. Importantly, this work provides a statistical method using readily available aggregated data to assess the educational impacts in response to other environmental disasters.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-05-2011
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.IJHEH.2022.113946
Abstract: Due to climate change, catastrophic events such as landscape fires are increasing in frequency and severity. However, relatively little is known about the longer-term mental health outcomes of such events. Follow-up was conducted of 709 adults exposed to smoke from the 2014 Hazelwood mine fire in Morwell, Victoria, Australia. Participants completed two surveys evaluating posttraumatic distress, measured using the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R), three and six years after the mine fire. Mixed-effects regression models were used to evaluate longitudinal changes in distress. IES-R total scores increased on average by 2.6 points (95%CI: 1.2 to 3.9 points) between the two survey rounds, with increases across all three posttraumatic distress symptom clusters, particularly intrusive symptoms. This increase in distress was evident across all levels of fine particulate matter (PM
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-12-2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-01-2019
DOI: 10.1038/S41545-018-0024-8
Abstract: With an ever-increasing human population, access to clean water for human use is a growing concern across the world. Seawater desalination to produce usable water is essential to meet future clean water demand. Desalination processes, such as reverse osmosis and multi-stage flash have been implemented worldwide. Reverse osmosis is the most effective technology, which uses a semipermeable membrane to produce clean water under an applied pressure. However, membrane biofouling is the main issue faced by such plants, which requires continuous cleaning or regular replacement of the membranes. Chlorination is the most commonly used disinfection process to pretreat the water to reduce biofouling. Although chlorination is widely used, it has several disadvantages, such as formation of disinfection by-products and being ineffective against some types of microbes. This review aims to discuss the adverse effect of chlorination on reverse osmosis membranes and to identify other possible alternatives of chlorination to reduce biofouling of the membranes. Reverse osmosis membrane degradation and mitigation of chlorines effects, along with newly emerging disinfection technologies, are discussed, providing insight to both academic institutions and industries for the design of improved reverse osmosis systems.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 25-09-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2021.132339
Abstract: Little is known about the long-term health effects of coalmine fire smoke exposure. The 2014 Hazelwood coalmine fire event in southeast Australia released smoke into surrounding areas for 6 weeks. We aimed to investigate whether in idual-level exposure to coalmine fire-related PM A total of 2223 residents from the most exposed town of Morwell were assessed for ambulance attendances after the Hazelwood event from April 1, 2014 to December 31, 2017. PM For each 10 μg/m These results demonstrate that exposure to coalmine fire smoke during the Hazelwood event was associated with a long-term health risk post the fire event, specifically for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. These findings are important for effective implementation of health care services following future extended coalmine fire PM
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2023
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 18-08-2023
Abstract: Aims: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant rise in mental ill-health has been observed globally in young people, particularly among those in their final years of secondary school. Students’ negative experiences coincide with a critical transitional period which can disrupt milestones in social and educational development. This study aimed to use innovative population-level data to map the impact of the pandemic on students entering higher education. Methods: Pre-pandemic (2019/2020) and pandemic (2020/2021) tertiary education application data were obtained from the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre. Prevalence of applications for special consideration related to mental ill-health were compared between cohorts across various geographical areas and applicant demographic subgroups. Relative risk regression models were used to understand the role of different risk factors. Results: The rate of mental health-related special consideration applications increased by 38% among all applications (pre-pandemic: 7.8%, n=56916 pandemic: 10.8%, n=58260). The highest increases were observed among students in areas with both extended and close-quarter lockdown experiences, and areas impacted by 2019/2020 black summer bushfires. The increases were higher among year 12 students and students with other special consideration needs (e.g., physical condition, learning disability). Slightly higher increases were observed in areas with higher socioeconomic status, which may potentially be related to inequality in mental health service access. Conclusion: As the consequences of mental health difficulties and academic disruption in youth can be long-lasting, it is critical to establish a mental health support framework both in and outside of higher education to facilitate young people’s recovery from the pandemic.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 23-10-2017
DOI: 10.1038/MICRONANO.2017.61
Abstract: This paper reviews some of the major recent advances in single-crystal diamond nanofabrication and its impact in nano- and micro-mechanical, nanophotonics and optomechanical components. These constituents of integrated devices incorporating specific dopants in the material provide the capacity to enhance the sensitivity in detecting mass and forces as well as magnetic field down to quantum mechanical limits and will lead pioneering innovations in ultrasensitive sensing and precision measurements in the realm of the medical sciences, quantum sciences and related technologies.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-2023
DOI: 10.1002/JTS.22923
Abstract: The 2014 Hazelwood coal mine fire in the Latrobe Valley, Australia, distributed toxic smoke into surrounding communities over 45 days. This study investigated risk and protective factors associated with four trajectories of posttraumatic distress (resilient, recovery, delayed‐onset, chronic) among exposed adults. Participants ( N = 709) completed surveys in 2016–2017 and 2019–2020 assessing mine fire–related particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) exposure sociodemographic, physical, and mental health variables and exposure to other traumatic and recent stressful events. Mine fire–related posttraumatic distress was measured using the IES‐R trajectories were determined according to established clinical significance thresholds. Relative risk ratios ( RRR s) were generated from multivariate multinomial regressions. The resilient trajectory was most common (77.0%). The chronic trajectory (8.5%) was associated with loneliness, RRR = 2.59, 95% CI [1.30, 5.16], and physical health diagnoses, RRR = 2.31, 95% CI [1.32, 4.02]. The delayed‐onset trajectory (9.1%) was associated with multiple recent stressful events, RRR = 2.51, 95% CI [1.37, 4.59] mental health diagnoses, RRR = 2.30, 95% CI [1.25, 4.24] loneliness, RRR = 2.05, 95% CI [1.09, 3.88] and male gender, RRR = 2.01, 95% CI [1.18, 3.44]. Socioeconomic advantage protected against chronic, RRR = 0.68, 95% CI [0.53, 0.86], and delayed‐onset trajectory membership, RRR = 0.68, 95% CI [0.50, 0.94] social support protected against chronic trajectory membership, RRR = 0.67, 95% CI [0.49, 0.92]. PM 2.5 exposure did not determine trajectory. These findings enhance understanding of longer‐term posttraumatic responses to large‐scale smoke events and can inform mental health initiatives within at‐risk communities.
Publisher: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Date: 10-06-2015
DOI: 10.1115/96-GT-178
Abstract: The paper presents a computer code for steady and unsteady, three-dimensional, compressible, turbulent, viscous flow simulations. The mathematical model is based on the Favre-averaged Navier-Stokes conservation equations, closed by a statistical model of turbulence. Turbulence effects are represented by using a low Reynolds number K-ω model. The numerical model makes use of a finite difference approximation in generalized coordinates for space discretization. The solution of time-dependent, three-dimensional, non-homogeneous, partial differential equations is obtained by solving, in a prescribed, symmetric pattern, three time-dependent, one-dimensional, homogeneous partial differential equations, representing convection and diffusion along each generalized coordinate direction, and one ordinary differential equation, representing generation and destruction. An explicit, multi-step, dissipative, Runge-Kutta scheme is finally adopted for time discretization. The code is applied to simulate the flow through a linear cascade of turbine rotor blades, where detailed experimental data are available. Blade aerodynamic and heat transfer are computed, at variable Reynolds and Mach numbers and turbulence levels, and compared with experimental data. While the aerodynamic prediction is relatively unaffected by the properties of both mathematical and numerical models, the heat transfer prediction proves to be extremely sensitive to models details. Low Reynolds number K-ω turbulence models theoretically reproduce laminar, turbulent and transitional boundary layers. However, their practical use in a Navier-Stokes code does not allow to entirely capture the effects of turbulence intensity and Mach and Reynolds numbers on blade heat transfer.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 10-09-2014
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 20-07-2022
Abstract: Clustering models or cluster analyses have been widely used to explore in idual heterogeneity in mental health research and psychology. Despite advances in new algorithms and increasing popularity, there is little guidance on model choice, analytical framework and reporting requirements. In this paper, we aimed to address this gap by first providing an introduction to the philosophy, design, advantages/disadvantages and implementation of major algorithms that are particularly relevant in mental health research with ex les in the R software language. Extensions of basic models, such as kernel methods, deep learning, semi-supervised clustering, and clustering ensembles are subsequently introduced. How to choose algorithms to address common issues as well as methods for pre-clustering data processing, clustering evaluation and validation are then discussed. Importantly, we also provide general guidance on clustering workflow and reporting requirements. A rapid review of publications (December 2020-December 2021) focusing on the top six psychology and psychiatry journals publishing most of the clustering papers is also presented. The review highlights a few issues, including a lack of ersity in the algorithm of choice, robust internal and external validation processes (e.g., via res ling), and available data and analysis code to improve reproducibility. This comprehensive paper offers researchers (in both mental health and other broader health application areas) advanced tools and guidelines to use these methods efficiently, robustly and transparently.
No related grants have been discovered for Caroline X. GAO.