The use of nuclear and other radioactive material is expanding globally. An increasing number of countries are signalling their intention to employ nuclear power to meet the energy needs of rapidly growing populations, while socioeconomic development is leading to an increased application of medical and industrial radioisotopes. It is critical that rigorous nuclear security systems are established and maintained to accommodate the increased storage, movement and use of such materials. One aspect of nuclear security is nuclear forensics, which is defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as 'the scientific analysis of nuclear or other radioactive material, or of other evidence that is contaminated with radionuclides, in the context of international or national law'. In Australia, forensic examination of nuclear or other radioactive material is undertaken by ANSTO, whilst the current capability for the forensic examination of evidence contaminated with radionuclides is jointly held by ANSTO and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). This article describes some of the recent activities undertaken by ANSTO and the AFP to maintain and further develop Australia's nuclear forensic science capability and outline future plans to enhance Australia's capability to provide nuclear forensic support to nuclear security.

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy is an important component of holistic care for many women with breast cancer. Post-mastectomy radiotherapy yields a large survival advantage for well-selected patients, and is a vital component of cancer care, however, it can raise the risk of reconstruction complications. Several risk factors, such as smoking and diabetes, have been implicated in complication risk. This study sought to assess the relationship between reconstruction complication risk and mastectomy flap thickness as measured radiographically at CT simulation. Women with breast cancer who had undergone mastectomy and immediate tissue expander (TE) placement and received post mastectomy radiation therapy at a single institution were identified. Those patients with available digital CT-simulation records were included. Flap thickness was measured using both 2D and 3D methods. In a 2D method fashion, flap thickness was measured as the linear distance between the TE and the skin at the top, bottom and center of the TE. For a 3D estimation, the entire flap as defined as the tissue between TE and the skin-air interface was contoured and its volume calculated. Demographic and health variables and all reconstruction complications were recorded during stage I (after TE placement) and stage II (after permanent implant) including: flap necrosis, TE or implant migration, TE or implant rupture, infection, seroma, TE or implant removal, exposure and/or dehiscence, contracture, and capsulotomy. Flap thickness was correlated to risk of complications using Cox regression. Receiver operating characteristic curves were created to identify threshold values for flap thickness. A total of 87 patients met the inclusion criteria. A total of 132 breasts with implants were studied. The incidence of flap necrosis was 12.1% during phase I and 2.7% during phase II of reconstruction. The rates of TE removal was 9% and the rates of permanent implant removal was 7%. On UVA, lower 2D flap thickness and lower 3D flap volume were associated with significantly higher combined complications during both phases of reconstructions with hazard ratio (HR) of 0.43 (p=0.04) and HR 0.9 (p=0.03), respectively. Threshold values were identified: average flap thickness less than 8.9 mm and flap volume less than 259cc were correlated to worse outcomes HR 0.3 (p=0.04) and HR 0.35 (p=0.02). These data support the notion that lower flap thickness is associated with a higher risk of reconstruction complications. This series represents the only analysis of the relationship between radiographic mastectomy flap thickness and reconstruction risk known to the authors. These data raise the possibility that the risk of reconstruction toxicity could be estimated more accurately after CT simulation, potentially facilitating prophylactic intervention for women at high risk.

A facility to calibrate x-ray imaging optics was built at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to support high energy density (HED) and inertial confinement fusion (ICF) diagnostics such as those at the National Ignition Facility and the Sandia Z-Machine. Calibration of the spectral reflectivity and resolution of these x-ray diagnostics enable absolute determination of the x-ray flux and wavelengths generated in the HED and ICF experiments. Measurement of the optic point spread function is used to determine spatial resolution of the optic. This facility was constructed to measure (1) the x-ray reflectivity to ±5% over a spectral range from 5 to 60 keV; (2) point spread functions with a resolution of 50 μm (currently) and 13 μm (future) in the image plane; and (3) optic distance relative to the x-ray source and detector to within ±100 μm in each dimension. This article describes the capabilities of the calibration facility, concept of operations, and initial data from selected x-ray optics.

Silicon carbide (SiC) is being investigated for accident tolerant fuel cladding applications due to its high temperature strength, exceptional stability under irradiation, and reduced oxidation compared to Zircaloy under accident conditions. An engineered cladding design combining monolithic SiC and SiC–SiC composite layers could offer a tough, hermetic structure to provide improved performance and safety, with a failure rate comparable to current Zircaloy cladding. Modeling and design efforts require a thorough understanding of the properties and structure of SiC-based cladding. Furthermore, both fabrication and characterization of long, thin-walled SiC–SiC tubes to meet application requirements are challenging. In this work, mechanical and thermal properties of unirradiated, as-fabricated SiC-based cladding structures were measured, and permeability and dimensional control were assessed. In order to account for the tubular geometry of the cladding designs, development and modification of several characterization methods were required.

Silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon carbide fiber reinforced composites (SiC/SiCf) are currently being evaluated as a high temperature material for use in nuclear reactors. While methods to determine the mechanical properties of SiC/SiCf on planar test specimens are well established, mechanical testing methods for tubular SiC/SiCf are still being developed. In this study the C-ring test is evaluated for use with nuclear grade SiC/SiCf as a method of measuring hoop strength. For the samples tested in this work, hoop strengths from C-ring testing are shown to agree within 6% to those obtained using expanding plug testing and analysis shows that the expected composite behavior is observed during testing. While other techniques may give more accurate values for hoop stress, the small specimen requirements and ease of testing makes C-ring testing a valuable tool. (C) 2014 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

An increase in the rate of human infections with Salmonella enteritidis (SE) occurred between 2007 and 2010 in British Columbia (BC). During the same time period, an increase in SE from poultry-sourced isolates and increased clinical severity in poultry were also observed in BC. This article describes a multi-sectoral collaboration during a 3-year investigation, and the actions taken by public health and animal health professionals. Human cases were interviewed, clusters were investigated, and a case-control study was conducted. Environmental investigations were conducted in food service establishments (FSE). Suspect foods were tested. Laboratory data from poultry-sourced isolates were analysed. Five hundred and eighty-four human cases of SE with the same pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern were identified between May 2008 and August 2010. Seventy-three percentage of cases reported consumption of eggs. The odds of egg consumption were 2.4 times higher for cases than controls. Implicated FSE were found to use ungraded eggs, which had been distributed illegally. Investigation suggested that there were multiple suppliers of these eggs. Collaboration between public health and animal health professionals led to data sharing, improved understanding of SE, engagement with the poultry industry and public communication. Multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral and multi-pronged investigations are recommended to identify the likely source of illness in large, protracted foodborne outbreaks caused by commonly consumed foods.

Social-ecological (SE) models are becoming more widely used in health behavior research. Applying SE models to the design of interventions is challenging because models must be tailor-made for each behavior and population, other theories need to be integrated into multi-level frameworks, and empirical research to guide model development is limited. The purpose of the present paper is to describe a SE framework that guided the intervention and measurement plans for a specific study. The trial of activity for adolescent girls (TAAG) is a multi-center study of interventions to reduce the decline of physical activity in adolescent girls. The TAAG framework incorporates operant learning theory, social cognitive theory, organizational change theory and the diffusion of innovation model in a multi-level model. The explicit and practical model developed for TAAG has already benefited the study and may have elements that can generalize to other health promotion studies.

Schools have played a central role in the provision of physical activity to American children and youth for more than a century. Physical education (PE) has been an institution in American schools since the late 1800s,1 and school sports have been a growing component of the educational enterprise since the early 1900s. Traditionally, students have engaged in physical activity during recess breaks in the school day and by walking or riding bicycles to and from school. However, as we move into the 21st century, alarming health trends are emerging, suggesting that schools need to renew and expand their role in providing and promoting physical activity for our nation’s young people. Over the past 20 years, obesity rates in US children and youth have skyrocketed. Among children ages 6 to 11, 15.8% are overweight ( 95th percentile body mass index [BMI] for age) and 31.2% are overweight or at risk for overweight ( 85th percentile BMI for age).2 Among adolescents ages 12 to 19, 16.1% are overweight ( 95th percentile BMI for age) and 30.9% are overweight or at risk for overweight ( 85th percentile BMI for age).2 The rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity in American young people has occurred concurrently with other disquieting trends. Between 1991 and 2003, enrollment of high school students in daily PE classes decreased from 41.6% to 28.4%.3 Physically active transport to and from school has declined from previous generations; only one third of trips to school 1 mile and 3% of trips 2 miles are made by walking or biking.4,5 Even recess has been reduced or eliminated in some elementary schools.6,7 Over the years, many public health, medical, and educational authorities have called on schools to give greater attention to provision of physical activity to students. It has often been recommended that PE programs be expanded, and for several decades professional organizations have indicated that the provision of “quality, daily physical education” should be a standard to which schools aspire.8–11 Unfortunately, few American schools meet that standard, and little evidence indicates that progress has been made toward attaining that goal.3,12 The recent rapid increase in childhood obesity rates suggests that a reconsideration of the role of the schools in addressing this problem is necessary and appropriate. The American Heart Association recently issued a scientific statement on overweight in children and adolescents that drew attention to the severity of the problem and identified the importance of prevention and treatment.13 The Institute of Medicine recently issued a report on prevention of childhood obesity that placed major emphasis on the potential role of schools.14 Other leading organizations have recommended that schools adopt policies that require daily PE, elementary school recess, and physical activity opportunities before, during, and after school.15 Over the past decade, several organizations have recommended that children and youth participate in 60 minutes of physical activity each day.16,17

T he American Heart Association Prevention I Conference dealt exclusively with issues related to blood cholesterol level and disease.' The AHA has endorsed a number of national recommendations and guidelines in this area, including the Adult Treatment Panel Guidelines on the Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults,2 the Report of the Expert Panel on Population Strategies for Blood Cholesterol Reduction,3 the Report for the Laboratory Standardization Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program,4 the Report of the Expert Panel on Blood Cholesterol Levels in Children and Adolescents,5 and the joint American Heart Association-National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute report on cholesterol lowering in patients with established heart disease.6 A recent National Institutes of Health consensus conference focused on triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, and coronary heart disease.7 Because the research on coronary heart disease and serum lipids is so extensive, only the relation of behavioral factors to serum lipids, and vice versa, are addressed: patient and physician behaviors related to cholesterol awareness, screening, diagnosis, and followup; eating behaviors as determinants of serum lipid levels; compliance of physicians and hyperlipidemic patients with guidelines for use of lipid-lowering medications; and the possible effect of low serum lipids on behaviors such as depression and aggression.

American Indians of all ages and both sexes have a high prevalence of obesity. The health risks associated with obesity are numerous and include Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and respiratory problems. Obesity has become a major health problem in American Indians only in the past few generations and it is believed to be associated with the relative abundance of high-fat, high-calorie foods and the rapid change from active to sedentary lifestyles.The authors reviewed selected literature on prevalence of obesity in American-Indian children, and health consequences of obesity.Obesity is now one of the most serious public health problems facing American-Indian children, and it has grave implications for the immediate and long-term health of American-Indian youth. Unless this pattern is reversed, American-Indian populations will be burdened by an increased incidence of chronic diseases. Intervention studies are urgently needed in American-Indian communities to develop and test effective strategies for obesity prevention and treatment.To be effective, educational and environmental interventions must be developed with full participation of the American-Indian communities.

Background. Inadequate opportunities for physical activity at school and overall low levels of activity contribute to the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in American-Indian children.Methods. A school-based physical activity intervention was implemented which emphasized increasing the frequency and quality of physical education (PE) classes and activity breaks. Changes in physical activity were assessed using the TriTrac-R3D accelerometer in a subsample of 580 of the students (34%) randomly selected from the Pathways study cohort. Baseline measures were completed with children in second grade. Follow-up measurements were obtained in the spring of the fifth grade.Results. Intervention schools were more active (+6.3 to +27.2%) than control schools at three of the four sites, although the overall difference between intervention and control schools (similar to10%) was not significant (P > 0.05). Boys were more active than girls by 17 to 21% (P less than or equal to .01) at both baseline and follow-up.Conclusions. Despite the trend for greater physical activity at three of four study sites, and an overall difference of similar to10% between intervention and control schools, high variability in accelerometer AVM and the opportunity to measure physical activity on only I day resulted in a the failure to detect the difference as significant. (C) 2003 American Health Foundation and Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Background. Pathways was a large-scale, multisite, 3-year, study testing a school-based intervention designed to lower percent body fat in American Indian children.Methods. At the 21 intervention schools process evaluation data were collected for training of school personnel; implementation of the classroom and physical activity curricula; implementation of the project's food service guidelines in the school cafeterias; adult participation in the family events; and, students' perceived exposure to the Pathways interventions.Results. Students received about 93% of the classroom curriculum lessons. The minimum requirement of physical education being taught three times per week for at least 30 minutes duration was achieved by the fifth grade. The implementation of the food service behavioral guidelines increased from 51% in the third grade to 87% in the fifth grade. The family events had lower than anticipated adult participation. The participation rates were 45% during the third grade, and 41 and 63% during the fourth and fifth grades, respectively. There was a significant difference between intervention and control students' perceived exposure to Pathways type interventions.Conclusion. The Pathways interventions were successfully implemented with good reach, high extent, and fidelity. (C) 2003 American Health Foundation and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

School meals play an important role in safeguarding the health of children in the United States. In recent years, several studies have documented the nutrient content of school meals ( (1) Burghardt J. Gordon A. Chapman N. Gleason P. Fraker T. The School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study. Mathematica Policy Research, Inc, Princeton, NJ1993 Google Scholar , (2) Fox M.K. Crepinsek P. Connor P. Battaglia M. School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study-II. US Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Analysis, Nutrition and Evaluation, Alexandria, Va2001 Google Scholar , (3) Luepker R.V. Perry C.L. McKinlay S.M. Nader P.R. Parcel G.S. Stone E.J. Webber L.S. Elder J.P. Feldman H.A. Johnson C.C. Outcomes of a field trial to improve children's dietary patterns and physical activity. The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health. CATCH collaborative group. JAMA. 1996; 275: 768-776 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar , (4) Nicklas T.A. Stone E. Montgomery D. Snyder P. Zive M. Ebzery M.K. Evans M.A. Clesi A. Hann B. Dwyer J. Meeting the dietary goals for school meals by the year 2000 the CATCH Eat Smart school nutrition Program. J Health Educ. 1994; 25: 299-307 Google Scholar , (5) Snyder M.P. Story M. Trenkner L.L. Reducing fat and sodium in school lunch programs The LUNCHPOWER! Intervention Study. J Am Diet Assoc. 1992; 92: 1087-1091 PubMed Google Scholar ). To date, there have been no published assessments of the nutrient content of school meals in American Indian communities. Almost 500,000 American Indians live on 300 reservations and trust lands in the United States ( (6) U.S. Department of Commerce. We the...First Americans. Washington, D.C.: Economic and Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census; 1993. Google Scholar ). Half of American Indians residing on reservations live below the poverty level ( (6) U.S. Department of Commerce. We the...First Americans. Washington, D.C.: Economic and Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census; 1993. Google Scholar ). Because of the high poverty rates, school meals are particularly important, as they provide a safety net to guard against hunger and contribute to daily nutrient needs. Both hunger and obesity occur with an increased frequency among low-income populations ( (7) Dietz W.H. Does hunger cause obesity?. Pediatrics. 1995; 95: 766-767 PubMed Google Scholar , (8) Kumanyika S.K. Obesity in minority populations an epidemiological assessment. Obesity Res. 1994; 2: 166-182 Crossref PubMed Scopus (108) Google Scholar ). Obesity is a major health issue affecting American Indian populations ( (9) Story M. Evans M. Fabsitz R. Clay T. Holy Rock B. Broussard B.A. The epidemic of obesity in American Indian communities and the need for childhood obesity-prevention programs. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999; 69: 747S-754S PubMed Google Scholar , (10) Story M. Strauss K. Zephier E. Broussard B.A. Nutritional concerns in American Indian and Alaska Native Children transitions and future directions. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998; 98: 170-176 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (40) Google Scholar , (11) Welty T.K. Health implications of obesity in American Indians and Alaska Natives. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991; 53: 1616S-1620S PubMed Google Scholar ). American Indian youth have a higher prevalence of obesity than do children from the general U.S. population ( (12) Broussard B.A. Johnson A. Himes J.H. Story M. Fichtner R. Hauck F. Bachman-Carter K. Hayes J. Frohlich K. Gray N. Valway S. Gohdes D. Prevalence of obesity in American Indians and Alaska Natives. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991; 53: 1535S-1542S PubMed Google Scholar , (13) Jackson M.Y. Height, weight, and body mass index of American Indian schoolchildren, 1990–1991. J Am Diet Assoc. 1993; 93: 1136-1140 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (79) Google Scholar , (14) Zephier E. Himes J.H. Story M. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in American Indian school children and adolescents in the Aberdeen area a population study. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1999; 23: S28-S30 Crossref PubMed Scopus (62) Google Scholar ). Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease also have been increasing among American Indian populations, in part because of the rising rates of obesity ( (11) Welty T.K. Health implications of obesity in American Indians and Alaska Natives. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991; 53: 1616S-1620S PubMed Google Scholar , (15) Gohdes D. Diabetes in North American Indians and Alaska Natives. in: Diabetes in America. 2nd ed. National Institutes of Health, Washington, D.C1995 Google Scholar ). This research was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, Grants U01-HL-50869, U02-HL-50867, U01-HL-50905, U01-HL-50885, and U01-HL-50907.

OBJECTIVE:Baseline data from the Heart Attack REACT Study provided the opportunity to explore population subgroup differences in exposure to health information in an ethnically diverse sample from 5 regions across the United States.METHODS:During the 4-month baseline period of the REACT study, some 1,200 residents from the 20 study communities were surveyed using random digit dial telephone methods. Respondents were asked to recall health messages seen and/or heard recently, and the sources of these messages. Comparisons were made between sociodemographic subgroups defined by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, work status, and geographic location.RESULTS:Except for education level differences, the amount of exposure to health information did not vary significantly by sociodemographics; however, significant variation among subgroups in the types of messages cited and the sources of these messages was observed. Minority and low-income groups were found to have less exposure to chronic disease prevention information, eg, on nutrition, exercise, and heart disease. Additionally, the sources of health information most popular among sociodemographic subgroups appeared to be a determining factor in the types of messages received.CONCLUSIONS:The results of these analyses support previous findings, adding to the sparse body of information on the best channels for reaching under-served populations.

Estimates indicate that 10% to 50% of American Indian and non-Indian children in the U.S. are obese, defined as a body mass index ≥ 95 th percentile of the NHANES II reference data. Pathways is a two-phase, multi-site study to develop and test a school-based obesity prevention program in American Indian schoolchildren in grades three through five. During Phase I feasibility prior to initiation of the Pathways trial, data were collected related to physical activity patterns, and the supports of, and barriers to, physical activity. Nine schools from communities representing six different tribal groups participated in this study. Multiple measures were used for data collection including direct observation, paired child interviews, and in-depth interviews and focus groups with adults. Students completed the self-administered Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors (KAB) survey, and a Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ). Barriers to physical activity at schools included a lack of facilities, equipment, and trained staff persons for PE. Adults were not consistently active with their children, but they were highly supportive of their children's activity level. Children reported a strong enjoyment of physical activity and strong peer support to be physically active. Weather conditions, safety concerns, and homework/chores were common barriers to physical activity reported by children and adult caregivers. The information was used to design culturally and age-appropriate, practical interventions including the five physical activity programs for schoolchildren in the Pathways study.