A general practitioner STD training programme: meeting education and service provision needs

This paper discusses the development, implementation and evaluation of a training programme in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) for general practitioners (GPs) belonging to the Divisions of General Practice in the Sydney metropolitan area. The aims of the project were to involve GPs in the management of STDs, sexual health issues and the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and to ensure a consistent and high quality of care in the management of STDs and HIV. The strategy used was a two-stage programme consisting of a series of 3 educational modules (total 15 h) and an intensive clinical training programme for selected GPs for 12 times 4 h clinical sessions. Needs assessment of the participating GPs was conducted to ensure that the content of the theory modules was appropriate. Evaluation of the modules was conducted to examine both perceived quality of the actual presentations and changes in knowledge or skills as a result of participation in the project.     

Transient diffusion through multilaminate slabs separating finite and semiinfinite baths

Equations describing transient diffusion through multilaminate slabs with constant diffusion and partition coefficients for each lamina separating well-stirred finite and semiinfinite baths are presented. Application is illustrated using a representative slab with three laminae.     

Temporal and spatial variabilities of atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine (OC) pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Canadian Arctic: results from a decade of monitoring

The Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) baseline monitoring project was established in 1992 to monitor for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Arctic air. Under this project, weekly samples of air were collected at four Canadian and two Russian arctic sites, namely Alert, Nunavut; Tagish, Yukon; Little Fox Lake, Yukon; Kinngait, Nunavut; Dunai Island, Russia and Amderma, Russia. Selected POPs, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine (OC) pesticides, were analyzed in both the gas and particulate phases. This paper summarizes results obtained from this project in the past 5 years. Temporal trends were developed for atmospheric PCBs and OCs observed at Alert using a digital filtration (DF) technique. It was found that trends developed with 5 years of data (1993-1997) did not differ significantly from those determined with 7 years of data (1993-1999). This implies that with the DF technique, long-term trends can still be developed with less than 10 years of data. An acceleration in decline of OC and PCB air concentrations was noted in 1999 for some compounds, although the reason is unknown. Monitoring efforts must continue to assess the effect of this decline on the long-term trends of POPs in the Canadian Arctic. Occasional high trans-/cis-chlordane ratios and heptachlor air concentrations measured at Alert between 1995 and 1997 suggests sporadic fresh usage of chlordane-based pesticides. However, significant decreasing trends of chlordanes along with their chemical signatures has provided evidence that emission of old soil residues is replacing new usage as an important source to the atmosphere. Measurements of OC air concentrations conducted at Kinngait in 1994-1995 and 2000-2001 indicated faster OC removal at this location than at Alert. This may be attributed to the proximity of Kinngait to temperate regions where both biotic and abiotic degradation rates are faster. The PAH concentrations observed at Alert mimic those at mid-latitudes and are consistent with long-range transport to the Arctic, particularly for the lighter PAHs. A decline in particulate PAH was observed, similar to atmospheric sulphate aerosol and can be attributed to the collapse of industrial activity in the former Soviet Union between 1991 and 1995. Spatial comparisons of OC seasonality at Alert, Tagish, Dunai and Kinngait show elevated air concentrations of some compounds in spring. However, elevated spring concentrations were observed for different compounds at different sites. Potential causes are discussed. Further investigation in the atmospheric flow pattern in spring which is responsible for the transport of POPs into the Arctic is required. OC and PCB air concentrations at Alert were found to be influenced by two climate variation patterns, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Pacific North American (PNA) pattern. Planetary atmospheric patterns must be taken into account in the global prediction and modelling of POPs in the future.     

Reductive dissolution of ferric iron minerals: A new approach for bio-processing nickel laterites

Nickel laterites represent the major ore reserves of this base metal present in the lithosphere. However, processing these ores by conventional technologies involves considerable energy or reagent expenditure and consequently is less cost-effective than extracting nickel from sulfide ores. Biological options, using metal-complexing organic acids and mineral acids generated by fungi and bacteria, have been investigated but generally found to be ineffective in terms of extraction dynamics or yields. We have examined the possibility of using bacteria that can bring about the reductive dissolution of ferric iron minerals and thereby facilitate the extraction of nickel from a lateritic ore at relatively low (<30-45 °C) temperatures.Four species of iron-reducing acidophilic bacteria were screened for their abilities to solubilise nickel from a limonitic laterite ore in which the major iron mineral present was goethite. One of these (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans) was selected for further study only the basis of it being able to use a cost-effective energy source (elemental sulfur) to mediate the dissolution of goethite at mildly acidic conditions (pH < 2). Cultures were set up in 2 L bioreactors, maintained at pH 1.8 (±0.1) and 30 °C, and initially aerated (to promote growth of the bacteria on sulfur) and then switched to anaerobic conditions when nickel laterite ore (crushed to <6 mm, with a nickel grade of 0.5%) was added. Over 70% of the nickel present in the ore was solubilised within 14 days, and solubilised metals remained in solution due to the low pH of the leachate. In contrast, only 10% of the nickel was solubilised (by non-reductive acid dissolution) when the cultures were continuously aerated. The results suggest that biological processing of limonitic nickel laterites is technically feasible and, more generically, that reductive dissolution can be used to bioprocess ferric oxide mineral ores.     

Sorption kinetics for asymmetric binary and ternary laminate slabs in finite and semi-infinite well-stirred baths

Equations describing the sorption kinetics of asymmertric membranes composed of AB and ABC laminate slabs in finite and in semi-infinite well-stirred baths are presented, and some properties of these systems are discussed.     

Nucleoside‐Based Self‐Assembling Drugs for Localized Drug Delivery

We have synthesized a range of gelators based on the nucleoside analogues gemcitabine and lamivudine, characterizing representative gels from the series using rheology and transmission electron microscopy. Growth inhibition studies of gemcitabine derivatives confirmed the feasibility of these compounds as novel treatments, indicating the potential of nucleoside‐based gelators for localized drug delivery.     

Synthesis and characterization of some polyurethane ionomers

Polyurethane ionomers based on either poly(propylene glycol), PPG, or poly(ethylene glycol), PEO, and di- (4-isocyanatophenyl) methane, MDI, butane-1,4-diol and cis-2-butene-1,4-diol have been synthesized and characterized. Attempts to convert the unsaturated polyurethanes directly to ionomers by reaction with N-chlorosulphonyl isocyanate, CSI, followed by hydrolysis, failed due to the more favoured reaction of CSI with the labile hydrogen on the urethane linkage. Therefore, the cis-2-butene-1,4-diol was first converted to the dibenzoate which was then treated with CSI to form the β-lactam derivatives. Subsequent hydrolysis of these derivatives with tetra-n-butyl ammonium hydroxide solution produced ionic derivatives whilst at the same time regenerating the terminal -OH groups. These ionic diol intermediates were then used for synthesizing the polyurethane ionomers.     

Biomass assessment and small scale biomass fired electricity generation in the Green Triangle, Australia

Coal fired electricity is a major factor in Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emissions. The country has adopted a mandatory renewable energy target (MRET) to ensure that 20% of electricity comes from renewable sources by 2020. In order to support the MRET, a market scheme of tradable Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) has been implemented since 2001. Generators using biomass from eligible sources are able to contribute to GHG emission reduction through the substitution of coal for electricity production and are eligible to create and trade RECs. This paper quantifies the potential biomass resources available for energy generation from forestry and agriculture in the Green Triangle, one of the most promising Australian Regions for biomass production. We analyse the cost of electricity generation using direct firing of biomass, and estimate the required REC prices to make it competitive with coal fired electricity generation. Major findings suggest that more than 2.6 million tonnes of biomass are produced every year within 200 km of the regional hub of Mount Gambier and biomass fired electricity is viable using feedstock with a plant gate cost of 46 Australian Dollars (AUD) per tonne under the current REC price of 34 AUD per MWh. These findings are then discussed in the context of regional energy security and existing targets and incentives for renewable energies.     

Wsh—a new command interpreter for unix

WSH is a window managing command language interpreter (shell) for the UNIX operating system. This interface increases a user's power to communicate with UNIX by providing a process management environment based on an integrated virtual terminal-shell design. Unlike conventional shells, WSH affords its user the ability to monitor and communicate with multiple processes within a single display context. Windows represent virtual terminals in the WSH design, and as such are device-independent abstractions of real terminals. Since the design of the virtual terminal environment is based on UNIX's TERMCAP terminal database facility, WSH is portable across all versions of UNM supporting this feature. WSH requires neither alteration of existing UNIX facilities nor special display devices. The current implementation runs on a Digital VAX 11/780 under Berkeley UNIX 4.1 environment.