The application of quantum electrodynamics to intermolecular interactions

Molecular quantum electrodynamics describes the interaction of molecules with radiation. This theory in its multipolar form is applied to intermolecular interactions; coupling proceeds through the radiation field and is mediated by an exchange of photons. The basic theory is outlined in Chapter 1 and the conventional transformation from the minimal-coupling to the multipolar Hamiltonian is generalized to include non-neutral systems and translational motion. The equivalence of the multipolar and minimal-coupling forms is demonstrated by comparison of results obtained for two-photon absorption and scattering by chiral molecules. Chapter 4 examines the dispersion interaction between neutral molecules; all interactions occur via the field and are fully retarded. The standard result in terms of electric-dipole polarizabilities is supplemented by those obtained through interaction of higher-order molecular multipole moments with the field; electric-quadrupole and magnetic-dipole interactions are included. The results are valid at all separations large enough to neglect electron exchange and apply to molecules with specific orientations. Rotationally-averaged expressions are presented also, as are results obtained in the near- and far-zones. Where appropriate results have been expressed in terms of pure electric and mixed electric-magnetic polarizability tensors. The Hamiltonian developed in Chapter 2 is applied in Chapter 5 to the calculation of the dispersion interaction between a molecule and an ion at rest; supplementing the energy shifts calculated in Chapter 4 are non-retarded terms arising from charge-multipole - 6 interactions. All terms up to a cut-off point of an R-6 dependence on separation are taken into account and the minimal-coupling treatment of this interaction is contrasted. In the final chapter the theory is modified in order to determine the interaction of a free electron with a neutral molecule. A new transformation to the minimal-coupling Lagrangian is used where only the molecular terms are transformed; the dynamics of the free electron are described within the minimal-coupling formalism while the multipolar nature of the molecular interactions is preserved

If the land is healthy… it makes the people healthy

This PhD explores the connection Aboriginal Victorian people have to their traditional lands (known as Country) and its relationship with health. Findings identify the deep connection Aboriginal Victorian people have to their Country and the need for public health clinicians to engage with diverse Indigenous practices and knowledge when applicable

Applying the Mandala of Health in the Anthropocene

Issue addressed: The Anthropocene is a new era in which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment. The negative impact humans have on the earth\u27s systems pose significant threats to human health. Health promotion is a discipline well placed to respond to planetary health challenges of the Anthropocene. The overarching aim of this paper is to describe the elements of 21st century socio‐ecological health and apply them in a revised socio‐ecological framework for health promotion.Methods: A qualitative description study design was employed to explore the significance of ecological and cultural determinants of health and review models in contemporary health promotion to inform the development of a revised Mandala of Health. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit ten experts from across Australia including academics and practitioners working at the nexus of health promotion, environmental management and sustainability. Data were analysed thematically, using deductive and inductive methods.Results: A revised Mandala of Health could address existing gaps in health promotion theory and practice. Ecological and cultural determinants of health were considered essential components of health promotion that is often lacking in socio‐ecological frameworks. Indigenous Knowledge Systems were considered immensely important when addressing ecological and cultural determinants of health.Conclusions: A revised Mandala of Health could encourage development of contemporary health models, assisting health promotion to evolve with the health and environmental issues of the Anthropocene. This study highlights the need for more theoretical development and empirical research regarding ecological and cultural determinants of health in a health promotion context.So what?: In the context of the Anthropocene, this study highlights the potential gaps in health promotion theory and practice in terms of the natural environment and health and emphasises the need of a paradigm shift to embed ecological and cultural determinants with other determinants of health

Using a qualitative approach to research to build trust between a non-Aboriginal researcher and Aboriginal participants (Australia)

This article focuses on the qualitative methodologies employed in a research project developed in collaboration with Aboriginal advisors and gaining an in-depth understanding of Aboriginal Victorian peoples\u27 connection to their ancestral lands. It outlines why qualitative methodologies were used and highlights the ethical dimensions of working with Aboriginal Victorian communities. A research partnership was developed between Aboriginal Victorian communities and the non-Aboriginal researcher and this process was emphasised because in the past Australian Indigenous people have been grossly exploited in health research. The methods of semi-structured interviews and focus groups were used to gain a better understanding of this topic. The novel point of this article is that it provides an honest reflection of the benefits and limitations of this qualitative research process from the perspectives of a non-Aboriginal researcher and an Aboriginal participant, when emphasis is placed on a collaborative approach. The paper outlines what a successful qualitative research project looks like in Victorian Aboriginal communities. This can be used as a blueprint not only for working with Victorian Aboriginal communities, who have been marginalised within Australian society, but may also be relevant to other culturally diverse communities throughout the world

Cultivating health and wellbeing : members\u27 perceptions of the health benefits of a Port Melbourne community garden

This paper reports on a research project undertaken with members of a community garden in Port Melbourne, Australia, to investigate the ways in which such a facility contributes to the enhancement of health, wellbeing and contact with nature for urban dwellers. Ten members from an urban community garden were interviewed using qualitative semi-structured questions exploring perceptions of health and wellbeing benefits associated with membership. The garden was felt by members to be a sanctuary where people could come together and escape daily pressures, a source of advice and social support, and a place which gave them a sense of worth and involvement. Members also identified spiritual, fitness and nutritional benefits arising from participation in the community garden. It is evident even from this small qualitative study that community gardening offers many health and wellbeing benefits to members. This study provides a basis for the benefits of community gardens in Australia to be taken into account by policy-makers and practitioners to enhance urban community health and wellbeing. <br /

Defining the African Writer’s Duties—Efo Kodjo Mawugbe’s Grave Yard People

Over the years, the duty of the African writer has clearly been a cause of many debates. Whereas one school of thought believes that the writer has whatever duty he or she creates or chooses, another school of thought believes that even the tag, ‘African writer,’ should not even be used as a form of identification in any platform. However, this paper does not seek to debunk or argue out any of these reasons. It rather highlights how the works of writers map out certain duties that they as writers perform consciously or unconsciously within their creative works. In order to achieve this, Efo Kodjo Mawugbe’s play, Grave Yard People, is used as the main reference point to identify and discuss the roles of the African writer as a historian, grass-root activist and entertainer. In order to prove that this assertion is not only identifiable with Mawugbe’s work, other writers within and outside Africa whose works showcase these varied duties are also discussed. In the conclusion of this paper, it is proven that the duties of African writers are not static but metamorphose with trends and developments of emerging societies. The words—African writers and storytellers are used interchangeably to refer to African writers. Keywords: African writers, Storytellers, Duty of African writers, Grass-root activist, Historian, Entertainer DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-10-04 Publication date:May 31st 202

Cranberry and Grape Seed Extracts Inhibit the Proliferative Phenotype of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Proanthocyanidins, compounds highly concentrated in dietary fruits, such as cranberries and grapes, demonstrate significant cancer prevention potential against many types of cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate cranberry and grape seed extracts to quantitate and compare their anti-proliferative effects on the most common type of oral cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma. Using two well-characterized oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, CAL27 and SCC25, assays were performed to evaluate the effects of cranberry and grape seed extract on phenotypic behaviors of these oral cancers. The proliferation of both oral cancer cell lines was significantly inhibited by the administration of cranberry and grape seed extracts, in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, key regulators of apoptosis, caspase-2 and caspase-8, were concomitantly up-regulated by these treatments. However, cranberry and grape seed extracts elicited differential effects on cell adhesion, cell morphology, and cell cycle regulatory pathways. This study represents one of the first comparative investigations of cranberry and grape seed extracts and their anti-proliferative effects on oral cancers. Previous findings using purified proanthocyanidin from grape seed extract demonstrated more prominent growth inhibition, as well as apoptosis-inducing, properties on CAL27 cells. These observations provide evidence that cranberry and grape seed extracts not only inhibit oral cancer proliferation but also that the mechanism of this inhibition may function by triggering key apoptotic regulators in these cell lines. This information will be of benefit to researchers interested in elucidating which dietary components are central to mechanisms involved in the mediation of oral carcinogenesis and progression

Buruli Ulcer in Ghana: Results of a National Case Search

A national search for cases of Buruli ulcer in Ghana identified 5,619 patients, with 6,332 clinical lesions at various stages. The overall crude national prevalence rate of active lesions was 20.7 per 100,000, but the rate was 150.8 per 100,000 in the most disease-endemic district. The case search demonstrated widespread disease and gross underreporting compared with the routine reporting system. The epidemiologic information gathered will contribute to the design of control programs for Buruli ulcer

A systematic review protocol to identify the key benefits and associated program characteristics of community gardening for vulnerable populations

Gardening has long been a popular pastime. There is a growing evidence base for the health and well-being benefits of gardening. Community gardening brings a social aspect to gardening, thereby increasing the potential benefits to include addressing social inclusion and poor community health through sharing of values, support of others, and building networks. This systematic review protocol aims to determine the characteristics of community gardening that could lead to beneficial outcomes such as connection with the community and development of new skills. Thirteen academic databases will be searched for studies looking at the benefits of community gardening, with a focus on vulnerable populations. Data will be extracted from all studies meeting the inclusion criteria and summarized to provide an overview of the current literature. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive investigation into community gardening, its benefits, and how they are achieved for the target population. By gathering and synthesizing this information, the review should allow policy makers and practitioners to work more effectively to address health and social inequities, by highlighting areas of need and enabling optimization of future interventions

Identifying key benefits and characteristics of community gardening for vulnerable populations : a systematic review

Vulnerable communities (including people from refugee, Indigenous, culturally and linguistically diverse, and low socioeconomic backgrounds) represent the most at-risk populations facing inequities and negative health, economic, and social outcomes. Te recent COVID-19 pandemic both highlighted and fuelled these disparities. Community gardening has emerged as a communitybased solution to address these inequities, yet the research literature has largely considered outcomes for the general population rather than those with the most need. Tis paper represents the frst systematic review to summarise the evidence on the broad impact of community gardening on outcomes for vulnerable populations. A systematic search of 13 databases (PubMed, Medline, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, Education Source, Education Resources Information Center, Psychology and Behavioral Science Collection, SocINDEX, and Allied Health and Complementary Medicine Database) for English language articles from 1985 to 2022 was conducted. Tere were 33 studies identifed where females were substantially overrepresented in the studies compared to males, and the main criteria for vulnerability included low socioeconomic-status and culturally diverse populations. Findings revealed that community gardening provides a wide range of benefts for vulnerable populations, with social connection, health, education, and nutrition being the more commonly cited. A relative emphasis on benefts of social connections, education, and nutrition is apparent for vulnerable populations in comparison to reviews considering the general population. Te quality of studies was evaluated as moderate with little information provided about program characteristics. Tese shortcomings reduce the understanding of what characteristics are most likely to result in improvements and limit the capacity of practitioners to translate research into policy and practice for vulnerable communities