A descriptive study of take away food outlets in Redfern and Dapto

The international literature contains numerous studies in which socioeconomic status has been found to affect dietary and health habits, and disease outcomes. An Australian survey by BIS Shrapnel (1993) found that nationwide there are 12,000 independent take away food outlets, and 2,000 take away chain food stores. However, despite being a primary source of unhealthy foods for many individuals, the literature shows a surprising lack of any study conceming intervention with respect to take away food outlets. This study was undertaken to develop a baseline level of information regarding the types of food sold, current preparation and cooking practices in take away food outlets. Information was also sought to develop an understanding of the characteristics of the customers and owners of take away food outlets, including their attitudes towards health, as well as the business itself Data was collected by face to face interviews with outlet owners or managers, using a structured questionnaire, which contained both open and closed questions. The questionnaire included sections focussing on foods sold, common food preparation methods, customers, owners, the business, and the possibility of working with health promotion units. Data collected enabled a baseline level of descriptive information to be compiled regarding take away food outlets. Results of types of food sold and preparation methods indicate that most foods available at take away food outlets are high fat foods. Although there are some healthy food options offered at take away food outlets they tend to be less frequently available. Information conceming the customers, owners, and business given a composite picture of take away food outlets important for considering any type of intervention. Details of owners or managers attitudes towards health and health promotion have indicated there is an interest in working with health promotion groups to promote healthy foods

Assessments at multiple levels of biological organization allow for an integrative determination of physiological tolerances to turbidity in an endangered fish species.

Turbidity can influence trophic levels by altering species composition and can potentially affect fish feeding strategies and predator-prey interactions. The estuarine turbidity maximum, described as an area of increased suspended particles, phytoplankton and zooplankton, generally represents a zone with higher turbidity and enhanced food sources important for successful feeding and growth in many fish species. The delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) is an endangered, pelagic fish species endemic to the San Francisco Estuary and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, USA, where it is associated with turbid waters. Turbidity is known to play an important role for the completion of the species' life cycle; however, turbidity ranges in the Delta are broad, and specific requirements for this fish species are still unknown. To evaluate turbidity requirements for early life stages, late-larval delta smelt were maintained at environmentally relevant turbidity levels ranging from 5 to 250 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) for 24 h, after which a combination of physiological endpoints (molecular biomarkers and cortisol), behavioural indices (feeding) and whole-organism measures (survival) were determined. All endpoints delivered consistent results and identified turbidities between 25 and 80 NTU as preferential. Delta smelt survival rates were highest between 12 and 80 NTU and feeding rates were highest between 25 and 80 NTU. Cortisol levels indicated minimal stress between 35 and 80 NTU and were elevated at low turbidities (5, 12 and 25 NTU). Expression of stress-related genes indicated significant responses for gst, hsp70 and glut2 in high turbidities (250 NTU), and principal component analysis on all measured genes revealed a clustering of 25, 35, 50 and 80 NTU separating the medium-turbidity treatments from low- and high-turbidity treatments. Taken together, these data demonstrate that turbidity levels that are either too low or too high affect delta smelt physiological performance, causing significant effects on overall stress, food intake and mortality. They also highlight the need for turbidity to be considered in habitat and water management decisions

A qualitative exploration of stigma experiences of second-generation British South-Asian people using an early intervention in psychosis service

Background: Psychosis is known to be associated with high levels of public and internalised stigma, especially for those newly diagnosed. There is currently little know about the stigma experiences of second-generation British South-Asian people experiencing psychosis. This study aimed to explore the stigma experiences of this population who are using Early Intervention in Psychosis services. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten British South-Asian adults who had received care from an Early Intervention in Psychosis Service in an urban and diverse area of London. Thematic Analysis was used to interpret findings. Results: Four themes and eleven sub-themes were developed from the data. The main themes were “the burden of silencing”, “unrecognised aspects of their situation by services”, “experience as the other” and “finding ways to cope”. Findings indicate that stigma manifests differently based on individual experiences, culture and multiple intersecting stigmatised characteristics such as race, religion and socio-economic status. Conclusion: Early Intervention in Psychosis Services should ensure a person’s cultural context and experiences of stigmatisation are considered in their care. Also, engagement of local South-Asian communities is needed to develop service provision which is more informed by the social and cultural needs, beliefs and experiences of this population

GNC University: A Case Study in Partnering Business and Education through Distance Learning

In 2002, General Nutrition Corporation, Inc. contacted the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Florida to collaborate in offering a series of courses in introductory nutrition for GNC employees in order to equip them with basic nutrition knowledge. The purpose of this case study was to describe the GNC University program as a model for business-education partnerships via distance education, to describe student expectations for the GNC University experience, to describe student reactions to the GNC University experience, and to describe the reaction of teaching assistants to their experience with GNC University. There were several key findings in this study. Students’ expectations are to increase in nutrition knowledge, professionally and personally, and to increase in their technological skills. There is a need, in future evaluation of this program, to measure whether students feel their expectations of increased knowledge and technological skills are being met. Additionally, focus groups with teaching assistants revealed a need for greater preparation for assisting students with technical difficulties. Overall, this program shows promise for business-education partnerships through distance education

Regionalizing Government in Maine: Opportunities for the Future

In keeping with his promise to make government work better for the people of Maine, Governor Angus King commissioned the Task Force on Regional Options for Better Government. The Governor charged the task force with recommending some alternative regional arrangements for the delivery of government services currently provided by state or local government. The task force evaluated three services in which regionalism offered some advantages: economic development; demand response transportation; and municipal management information systems

Poly[1-ethyl-3-methyl­imidazolium [tri-μ-chlorido-chromate(II)]]

The title compound, {(C6H11N2)[CrCl3]}n, was generated via mixing of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methyl­imidazolium chloride with CrCl2 in ethanol. Crystals were obtained by a diffusion method. In the crystal structure, the anion forms one-dimensional chains of chloride-bridged Jahn–Teller distorted chromium(II) centers extending along the [100] direction. The imidazolium cations are positioned between these chains

Implementation of EAPs

This Research Note describes how to effectively implement employee assistance program services in an organization

An expanded chronic care management approach to multiple chronic conditions in Hispanics using community health workers as community extenders in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas

Introduction The synergistic negative effects of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and hypertension increases all-cause mortality and the medical complexity of management, which disproportionately impact Hispanics who face barriers to healthcare access. The Salud y Vida intervention was delivered to Hispanic adults living along the Texas-Mexico Border with comorbid poorly controlled T2DM and hypertension. The Salud y Vida multicomponent intervention incorporated community health workers (CHWs) into an expanded chronic care management model to deliver home-based follow-up visits and provided community-based diabetes self-management education. Methods We conducted multivariable longitudinal analysis to examine the longitudinal intervention effect on reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure among 3806 participants enrolled between 2013 and 2019. Participants were compared according to their program participation as either higher (≥ 10 combined educational classes and CHW visits) or lower engagement (\u3c10 \u3eencounters). Data was collected between 2013 and 2020. Results Baseline mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 138 and 81 mmHg respectively. There were overall improvements in systolic (−6.49; 95% CI = [−7.13, −5.85]; p \u3c 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (−3.97; 95% CI = [−4.37, −3.56]; p \u3c 0.001). The higher engagement group had greater systolic blood pressure reduction at 3 months (adjusted mean difference = −1.8 mmHg; 95% CI = [−3.2, −0.3]; p = 0.016) and at 15 month follow-up (adjusted mean difference = −2.3 mmHg; 95% CI = [−4.2, −0.39]; p = 0.0225) compared to the lower engagement group. Conclusion This intervention, tested and delivered in a real-world setting, provides an example of how CHW integration into an expanded chronic care model can improve blood pressure outcomes for individuals with co-morbidities

An Expanded Chronic Care Management approach to Multiple Chronic Conditions in Hispanics Using Community Health Workers as Community Extenders in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas

INTRODUCTION: The synergistic negative effects of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and hypertension increases all-cause mortality and the medical complexity of management, which disproportionately impact Hispanics who face barriers to healthcare access. The Salud y Vida intervention was delivered to Hispanic adults living along the Texas-Mexico Border with comorbid poorly controlled T2DM and hypertension. The Salud y Vida multicomponent intervention incorporated community health workers (CHWs) into an expanded chronic care management model to deliver home-based follow-up visits and provided community-based diabetes self-management education. METHODS: We conducted multivariable longitudinal analysis to examine the longitudinal intervention effect on reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure among 3806 participants enrolled between 2013 and 2019. Participants were compared according to their program participation as either higher (≥ 10 combined educational classes and CHW visits) or lower engagement (\u3c10 \u3eencounters). Data was collected between 2013 and 2020. RESULTS: Baseline mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 138 and 81 mmHg respectively. There were overall improvements in systolic (-6.49; 95% CI = [-7.13, -5.85]; p \u3c 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (-3.97; 95% CI = [-4.37, -3.56]; p \u3c 0.001). The higher engagement group had greater systolic blood pressure reduction at 3 months (adjusted mean difference = -1.8 mmHg; 95% CI = [-3.2, -0.3]; p = 0.016) and at 15 month follow-up (adjusted mean difference = -2.3 mmHg; 95% CI = [-4.2, -0.39]; p = 0.0225) compared to the lower engagement group. CONCLUSION: This intervention, tested and delivered in a real-world setting, provides an example of how CHW integration into an expanded chronic care model can improve blood pressure outcomes for individuals with co-morbidities