Participatory Surveillance and Mathematical Models in Epidemiologic Research: Successes and Challenges

Theoretical epidemiology aims to understand the dynamics of diseases in populations and communities. Biological and behavioral processes are abstracted into mathematical formulations which aim to reproduce epidemiological observations. In this thesis a new system for the self-reporting of syndromic data — Influenzanet — is introduced and assessed. The system is currently being extended to address greater challenges of monitoring the health and well-being of tropical communities.(...)

Sustaining dietary changes for preventing obesity and diabetes: lessons learned from the successes of other epidemic control programs

A degree of success has been achieved in controlling several epidemics of infectious and non-infectious causes of death in countries, such as, Australia and New Zealand. Using the epidemiological triad (host, vector, environment) as a model, the key components of the control of these epidemics have been identified and compared to the current status of interventions to prevent obesity and its main disease consequence, type 2 diabetes. Reductions in mortality from tobacco, cardiovascular diseases, road crashes, cervical cancer and sudden infant death syndrome have been achieved by addressing all corners of the triad. Similarly, prevention programs have minimized the mortality from HIV AIDS and melanoma mortality rates are no longer rising. The main lessons learned from these prevention programs that could be applied to the obesity/diabetes epidemic are: taking a more comprehensive approach by increasing the environmental (mainly policy-based) initiatives; increasing the 'dose' of interventions through greater investment in programs; exploring opportunities to further influence the energy density of manufactured foods (one of the main vectors for increased energy intake); developing and communicating specific, action messages; and developing a stronger advocacy voice so that there is greater professional, public and political support for action. Successes in the other epidemics have been achieved in the face of substantial barriers within individuals, society, the private sector and government. The barriers for preventing obesity/diabetes are no less formidable, but the strategies for surmounting them have been well tested in other epidemics.

Australian subject gateways, the successes and the challenges

The paper provides an overview of subject gateway development in Australia and takes a closer look at three subject gateways coordinated by the University of Queensland: AustLit: Australian Literature Gateway; AVEL Sustainability Knowledge Network, an engineering and sustainable development gateway; and WebLaw, a gateway for legal professionals. The challenges facing subject gateways are examined, including interoperability, coordination and most significantly, sustainability. The paper concludes with the overarching questions being considered by gateway coordinators such as the place of subject gateways and their future given trends in the evolution of the web.

Changes, challenges, and successes facing secondary pre-service teacher education in Australia

In December 2008, the Australian Government was presented with a report from a Review of Australian HigherEducation known as the ‘Bradley Review’. The report clearly articulates many challenges that lie ahead; it questions thestructure, organisation and financial position of Australia to effectively compete in the global economy. This paperprovides a succinct discussion of some of the challenges and dilemmas encountered at a metropolitan Australianuniversity in Melbourne within the Faculty of Arts and Education in the School of Education. The courses will bereaccredited in 2016 and has to comply with the new Australian Qualification Framework (AQF), the AustralianTeaching Standards Framework (AITSL) and the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). By employing narrative inquiry,reflective practice and document analysis as methodology, I discuss the Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)/Bachelor ofArts course (degree), the largest secondary pre-service teacher education course at a university in Melbourne presentingsome strategies and inviting international dialogue in relation to some of the challenges faced regarding increasednumbers of students and lower entrance scores. Limitations of the current course are acknowledged and generalizationscannot be made to other education courses at universities across Australia. However, some new initiatives in the facultyare offered.

The dual divergence: growth successes and collapses in the developing world since 1980

Includes bibliography

Trade policy reform and poverty: successes and failures in Central America

Includes bibliography

Land acquisition, investment, and development in the Lao coffee sector: Successes and failures

Despite the increasing acknowledgment of scholars and practitioners that many large-scale agricultural land acquisitions in developing countries fail or never materialize, empirical evidence about how and why they fail to date is still scarce. Too often, land deals are portrayed as straightforward investments and their success is taken for granted. Looking at the coffee sector in Laos, the authors of this article explore dimensions of the land grab debate that have not yet been sufficiently examined. Coffee concessionaires in southern Laos often fail to use all of the land granted them and fail to produce high yields on the land they do use. Thus, the authors challenge the often-assumed superiority and effectiveness of large-scale versus small-scale production, specifically the argument that they modernize agricultural production and optimize land use. They argue that examining failed investments is as important as studying successful ones for understanding the implications of the land grabbing phenomenon for social, economic, and environmental outcomes. Knowledge about the scale of “failed land deals” provides important motivation for national governments to close the gap between intentions and actual outcomes. This article engages with the current debate on quality of investment and challenges the approach of employing land concessions as a vehicle for economic development in the Lao coffee sector and in other sectors and countries.

Changing Tides and Changing Focus: Mapping the Challenges and Successes of One State's Implementation Of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997

In 1997, the Adoption and Safe Families Act shifted from the preservation of families to an emphasis on safety, permanency, and well-being through expediting the termination of parental rights, establishing exceptions to the reasonable efforts clause of preserving the family, and fiscal incentives for finalizing adoptions. The current project assessed the role of a full service array in achieving the outcomes set forth in ASF A. Concept mapping was utilized to elicit information from participants (both urban and rural) regarding the identified research question. Participants recognized family preservation versus safety, community connections, mandates versus reality, and worker recruitment and retention as critical components for meeting ASFA goals. Perceived importance and level of success in implementing these services was also highlighted. Recommendations supported through the data are also provided.

Successes and failures of digital libraries /

"Papers presented at the 35th annual Clinic on Library Applications of Data Processing, March 22-24, 1998."

In support of children [microform] : many successes but much to be done : hearing before the Select Committee on Hunger, House of Representatives, One Hundredth Congress, second session, hearing held in Washington, DC, March 23, 1988.

"Serial no. 100-23."

Building bridges to independence : employment successes, problems, & needs of black Americans with disabilities : proceedings of the national conference /

Shipping list no.: 88-618-P.