http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/services/Feed ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:7804 The collection contains a series of recorded meteorological observations taken daily between 1877-1922 by pastoralist, astronomer and meteorologist Algernon Henry Belfield at Eversleigh Station in the New England region, 20 kilometres north west of Armidale. The collection comprises 42 Meteorological Observation Books, available as 28 PDF files containing scans of front cover, back cover and each page for each Meteorological Observation Book. The combined size of all data files is 477MB. The original Meteorological Observation Books for years 1879, 1880 and 1881 are missing and therefore are not digitally available. Daily observations/readings include: attached thermometer, barometer, dry bulb, wet bulb, maximum temperature (Fahrenheit), minimum temperature (Fahrenheit), rain (measure), direction of wind, wind force 0-12, cloud coverage 0-10, visual daily weather observations including fine and clear, cloudy, fog, thunder, showery, dull, cloudless, squally. Monthly tallies were recorded including: total days of rain, total days of lightning, mean diurnal range, greatest diurnal range, greatest range, mean temperature, mean maximum, mean minimum, mean dry, mean wet, mean cloud, mean humidity, inches of rain, inches of rain (since beginning of the year), winds. The original Meteorological Observing Books were deposited in the University of New England Heritage Centre by Mr Richard E.H. Belfield, Algernon Belfield's grandson. The collection was digitised for Cultural Collections, University of Newcastle by William Oates, University Archivist at the University of New England Heritage Centre. 2012-05-04T03:48:37.323Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:8539 The Hunter Community Study (HCS) is a longitudinal cohort study of men and women aged 55-85 years of age who reside in Newcastle, New South Wales on the east coast of Australia. The study is conducted as a collaboration between the University of Newcastle and the Hunter New England Area Health Service.The first phase of this study sampled 3253 people representing a response rate of 44.5%. A follow up survey of the entire cohort is currently being completed (Jan-June 2011). Description of the data Blood collection samples The blood samples include plasma, serum, whole blood, and DNA that have been stored at -80 degrees Celsius, as well as whole cells cryopreserved in DMSO in liquid nitrogen (-196C) for future use. All the blood samples are stored in 1-ml aliquots to minimize freeze-thaw cycles, which may adversely impact on analyte integrity. One of the more unique samples is whole blood that has been cryopreserved with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) in liquid nitrogen to obtain whole lymphocytes for future cell immortalization (through Epstein-Barr virus transformation) and cytogenetic studies. These samples also allow for assaying biomarkers of genetic damage, in which toxins have affected DNA integrity. These include single- or double-stranded DNA breaks detected using the COMET assay, micronuclei, sister chromatid exchanges and cytogenetic abnormalities, all of which require whole viable cells, not just isolated DNA. Electronic data All files are in SAS format and the total file size is ~250MB. Participants have given consent for linkage to area health databases (for hospitalisations), death registry, and Medicare records. Measures within this study include: demographics (age, education, housing, income, government benefits), morbidity (self-reported diseases) and health professional utilization, use of complementary and alternative medicines and medication, nutrition (use of a Food Frequency Questionnaire), quality of life (using Short Form 36 [SF-36] and Australian Quality of Life - Mark 2 [AQoL II]), physical activity (using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly [PASE]), mental health (using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K 10], Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CES-D] and Memory Assessment Clinic-Q [MAC-Q]), daytime sleepiness (using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale), social support (using the Duke Social Support Index [DSSI]), occupational exposures to more than 40 different classes of toxins (using the Finnish Job Exposure Matrix [FINJEM]), lifetime tobacco use, lifetime alcohol consumption, oral health questionnaire, hearing assistance (using Glasgow Hearing Aid Questionnaire) and spirituality measures (including religion and attendance at places of worship). Clinical data collection measures include respiratory function (Spirometry [Spida 5 Software]), cardiovascular function (heart rate, blood pressure - using BP Tru Blood Pressure Machine-100), cognition (Audio Recorded Cognitive Screening (ARCS), Neuropsychological battery Mini Mental State Examination [MMSE]), sensory measures (visual acuity, hearing [pure tone audiometry], smell [Sniffin Sticks], vibration sensation [biothesiometry]), obesity (Body Mass Index [BMI], Waist-to-hip-ratio [WHR]), functional performance (functional reach test, Timed Up and Go, grip strength), physical activity (self-reported and individual pedometry results), bone density (ultrasound ankle bone Densitometry), vaccination history and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) use. Physical data collection measures via routine haematological and biochemical tests include full blood count, fibrinogen, lipids, triglycerides, liver function test, proteins, electrolytes, urea, urate, creatinine. fasting total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose. 2012-05-04T03:28:56.392Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:8553 The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health - widely known as Women's Health Australia - is a longitudinal population-based survey, which examines the health of over 40,000 Australian women over a 20 year period. It was first funded in 1995. The project was designed to explore factors that influence health among women who are broadly representative of the entire Australian population. The study goes beyond a narrow perspective that equates women's health with reproductive and sexual health, and takes a comprehensive view of all aspects of health throughout women's lifespan. The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health is managed by staff and investigators at the Priority Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, the University of Newcastle, and staff and investigators at the University of Queensland. Steering Committee 2011 Prof Annette Dobson (Study Director) Affiliation: School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Queensland Prof Julie Byles (Study Co-Director) Affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Gender, Health & Ageing, The University of Newcastle Prof Wendy Brown Affiliation: School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland Prof Christina Lee Affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Queensland Dr Deborah Loxton (Deputy Director UON) Affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, The University of Newcastle A/Prof Jayne Lucke Affiliation: School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Queensland Prof Gita Mishra Affiliation: School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences A/Prof Nancy Pachana Affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Queensland A/Prof David Sibbritt Affiliation: School of Medical Practice and Population Health, The University of Newcastle Dr Leigh Tooth (Project Co-Ordinator) Affiliation: School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Queensland 2012-05-04T03:25:29.151Z ]]>