Keeping our mob healthy in and out of prison

The prison health system presents an opportunity to improve Aboriginal prisoners’ health and wellbeing, diagnose and treat health and mental health problems, and mitigate the effects of harmful behaviours. Executive summary The prison health system presents an opportunity to improve Aboriginal prisoners’ health and wellbeing, diagnose and treat health and mental health problems, and mitigate the effects of harmful behaviours. Improving prison health systems for Aboriginal people can also reduce high rates of postrelease hospitalisation and mortality experienced by Aboriginal prisoners and improve quality of life. Aboriginal prisoners experience higher rates of health and mental health problems than non-Aboriginal prisoners. The impact on prison health care is foreshadowed by consistent increases in the number of Aboriginal people imprisoned in Victoria each year. One in 33 Aboriginal males is imprisoned in Victoria at any one time, and the rate of overrepresentation is increasing for both Aboriginal men and women. More than 50% of Aboriginal people released from Victorian prisons return within two years, which places increasing importance on continuity of care. With large numbers of Aboriginal people moving in and out of the prison system, a strong relationship should exist between prison health services and prisoners’ community health and mental health provider. The 28 Aboriginal Community Controlled health Organisations (ACCHOs) and their auspiced organisations across Victoria are located within 55km of all Victorian prisons. ACCHOs are a critical extension of prison health care given Aboriginal prisoners access ACCHOs more frequently than mainstream services in the community. ACCHOs’ comprehensive support and engagement of Aboriginal people plays a big part in improving quality of life and improving poor health and mental health outcomes by providing a holistic, healing health service. The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), with support from the Victorian Government Department of Justice, explored ways to improve continuity of care for Aboriginal people in Victorian prisons and identify ways to improve relationships and partnerships between ACCHOs and prison health services. ACCHOs, prison health services, and Koori support staff members from the Department of Justice were interviewed and their responses analysed for common themes. We found no relationship or partnership between ACCHOs and prison health services interviewed despite policy references requiring it within the Justice Health Policy and Quality Framework (attached to the prison health services contracts). Responses also indicated that prison health service systems were not meeting cultural safety policy standards. ACCHOs identified several areas in need of improvement to assist Aboriginal prisoner health including prisoner release planning and the transfer of health information. Given the low level of contact between ACCHOs and prison health services there were few working examples that could be shared. A list of recommendations based on interview responses, a literature review and exploration of non-Victorian models is presented as a first step in improving health and mental health outcomes for Aboriginal prisoners

ABA triblock copolymers: from controlled synthesis to controlled function

The ABA amphiphilic block copolymers, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-hlock-methylphenylsilane-block-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA-PMPS-PHEMA) and poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-block-methylphenylsilane-block-oligo(ethylene glycol). methyl ether methacrylate] (POEGMA-PMPS-POEGMA) were successfully synthesised via atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP). Macroinitiators suitable for the ATRP of oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate were synthesised from the condensation reaction of alpha,omega-dihalopolymethylphenylsilane and 2'-hydroxyethyl 2-bromo-2-methylpropanoate. The copolymers were characterised using H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR spectroscopy and molecular weight characteristics were determined using size exclusion chromatography and H-1 NMR. The aggregation behaviour of some of the copolymers in water was studied using transmission and scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. These revealed the prevalent aggregate species to be micelles. Larger aggregates of 300-1000 nm diameter were also observed. The UV induced degradation of the aggregates was studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The thermal behaviour of selected copolymers was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and microphase separation of the two components was demonstrated

Controlled diffusion processes

This article gives an overview of the developments in controlled diffusion processes, emphasizing key results regarding existence of optimal controls and their characterization via dynamic programming for a variety of cost criteria and structural assumptions. Stochastic maximum principle and control under partial observations (equivalently, control of nonlinear filters) are also discussed. Several other related topics are briefly sketched.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/154957805100000131 in the Probability Surveys (http://www.i-journals.org/ps/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Controlled spontaneous emission

The problem of spontaneous emission is studied by a direct computer simulation of the dynamics of a combined system: atom + radiation field. The parameters of the discrete finite model, including up to 20k field oscillators, have been optimized by a comparison with the exact solution for the case when the oscillators have equidistant frequencies and equal coupling constants. Simulation of the effect of multi-pulse sequence of phase kicks and emission by a pair of atoms shows that both the frequency and the linewidth of the emitted spectrum could be controlled.Comment: 25 pages including 11 figure

Embedded Controlled Languages

Inspired by embedded programming languages, an embedded CNL (controlled natural language) is a proper fragment of an entire natural language (its host language), but it has a parser that recognizes the entire host language. This makes it possible to process out-of-CNL input and give useful feedback to users, instead of just reporting syntax errors. This extended abstract explains the main concepts of embedded CNL implementation in GF (Grammatical Framework), with examples from machine translation and some other ongoing work.Comment: 7 pages, extended abstract, preprint for CNL 2014 in Galwa

Eye-controlled ''teletypewriter''

Oculometer provides dynamic measurement of subject's look direction, and its outputs can be used to generate visual display of his look pattern and/or to cause equipment operation associated with his lookpoint at given times. Measured eye-direction information could be used as control input at man/machine interface

Minicomputer-controlled frequency generator

Extremely-accurate and low-phase-noise frequency generator varies oscillator frequency as predetermined function of time. System could be used: (a) to automatically vary transmission frequencies in accordance with seasonal and diurnal changes in ionospheric conditions, (b) as automatic tuner for heterodyne receivers, or (c) as control element for phase-locked telemetry receivers