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Biomedical subjects

G Hardes

Publications and source records attributed to G Hardes.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Comparing the influence of site quality, stand age, fire and climate on aboveground tree production in Siberian Scots pine forests.

Temporal patterns of stem and needle production and total aboveground net primary production (ANPP) were studied at the tree and stand level along four chronosequences of Siberian Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests differing in site quality (poor lichen type or the more fertile Vaccinium type) and in frequency of surface fires (unburned, moderately burned (fire return interval of approximately 40 years), or heavily burned (fire return interval of approximately 25 years)). The maximum range of variability in aboveground production was quantified for: (1) possible long-term changes in site quality; (2) stand age; (3) non-stand-replacing, recurring surface fires; and (4) interannual climate variability. For (1) and (2), total ANPP was low in the lichen-type chronosequence, reached a maximum of 170 g C m(-2) year(-1) after 100 years and decreased to 100 g C m(-2) year(-1) in older stands. Maximum ANPP in the Vaccinium-type chronosequence was 340 g C m(-2) year(-1) and occurred earlier in the 53-year-old stand than in the other stands. Along the lichen-type chronosequences, peak ANPP was paralleled by maximum carbon allocation to stem growth. (3) In mature trees, damage by recurrent surface fires decreased stem growth by 17 +/- 19% over a 10-year period relative to pre-fire values. At longer timescales, ANPP was hardly affected by fire-related differences in mortality. (4) Needle- plus stem-NPP, reconstructed for a 3-year period, varied within a range of 15 g C m(-2) year(-1) in the lichen-type stands and 35 g C m(-2) year(-1) in the Vaccinium-type stands. For the same period, the coefficient of variance was higher for needle-NPP (20 +/- 10%) than for stem-NPP (12 +/- 7%). Needle- and stem-NPP did not covary in time. Most 30-year time series of stem-NPP at the tree level exhibited strong autocorrelation. In older trees, stem-NPP was positively correlated with growing season precipitation. Thus, the factors driving variability in ANPP ranked according to their maximum influence as: stand age (controlled by the frequency of stand-replacing fires) > site quality > growth depression because of surface fire damage approximately equal age-related reduction in ANPP > interannual variability approximately equal long-term effects of fire (stand density reduction). In lichen-type forests, we found that ANPP at the landscape level declined sharply when the interval between stand-replacing fires was less than 120 years, illustrating that fire strongly influences ANPP of boreal Scots pine forests.

Climate↗
PubMed1995

A quantitative approach to quality improvement and resource allocation.

This report illustrates ways in which routinely collected hospital morbidity data can be used to inform and improve decisions about resource allocation, priorities for services and opportunities for improvement. All hospitals, public and private, Australia-wide collect these data at enormous expense. The resources allocated to processing, analysing and utilizing the data are minimal by comparison. Used appropriately these data can provide valuable information to managers and clinicians alike.

Australia↗
PubMed1993

Understanding variation: the key to cost reduction and quality improvement.

Analyses of acute hospital services in Australia reveal geographic differences in the rates of utilization. In order to meet the important challenge of improving the quality of services it is necessary to understand the nature and causes of the variation in these utilization measures. This paper provides examples of the variation in admission rates and lengths of stay for selected procedures in Australian States and shows that the length of stay is related to the variation in admission rates. It concludes that a greater understanding of both the admission and discharge processes is necessary to improve quality and produce cost savings.

Australia↗
PubMed1985

Effects of random breath testing on hospital admissions of traffic-accident casualties in the Hunter Health Region.

During the period of six years from 1977 to 1982, the number of admissions of victims of traffic accidents to public hospitals in the Hunter Health Region of New South Wales fell from 2099 to 1734, a decline of 21%. About three-quarters of these patients were male; one-quarter were in the 15-20 year age group. Since the introduction of random breath testing (RBT) in 1982, there has been a further decline in admissions of traffic accident victims to hospitals of nearly 20%, attributable to the introduction of RBT. The initial decline of 30% appears to have stabilized at 20% after 12 months. The decline in admissions occurred in the urban hospitals (31%), and not in the rural hospitals; it was greater among male (31%) than among female (8%) accident victims. In the Hunter region, it is estimated that RBT has resulted in a saving of more than 3000 hospital bed-days in its first year.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1981

Consequences of legislative restriction on the sale of compound analgesics in Newcastle (N.S.W., Australia).

In June 1979 legislation was enacted in New South Wales to restrict the sale of compound analgesics. The consequences of this legislation were assessed by a household survey in Newcastle, New South Wales, during November 1979. This survey followed an identical survey in the same community in November 1977. After legislation, a marked decrease was found in the proportion of homes having compound analgesics. A small decrease in total analgesic usage was also observed, though this was not necessarily related to the legislative restrictions. The legislative restrictions did not result in any substantial increase in use of the doctor to obtain prescriptions for compound analgesics, or any substantial increase in reported health problems. The results suggest that legislation is an effective method of inducing rapid change in health-related behavior.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Children and smoking.

An experimental educational programme to reduce childhood cigarette smoking in the Hunter health region (NSW) is described. It is an example of the efforts currently being made to tackle childhood cigarette smoking as an increasing problem, particularly among teenage girls. The key factors influencing children to begin smoking are the role of the family, and pressures from the peer group. Preventive strategies need to be implemented in childhood before the smoking habit becomes firmly established in an individual's lifestyle.

Adolescent↗