Search

Kerans, A.J., and Cartwright, N., 2016. Testing versions of the Bruun rule for low energy macro-tidal tropical beaches against a theoretical late Holocene sea-level high-stand and beach ridge evidence of late Holocene beach faces. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 740-744. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Significant evidence of late Holocene beach faces is presented in beach ridges along the North Queensland coast between Mackay and the Daintree region. The ages of these ridges has in some cases been dated giving confidence that the rearmost ridges are the result of a combination of cyclone activity and a late Holocene sea level high-stand. The height of this high-stand is the subject of debate, however the level may be confidently predicted through careful and extensive measurement of relict oyster beds in the region. Using pre-existing beach ridge research together with existing and new measurements of oyster beds on Magnetic Island, North Queensland a value for the late Holocene sea level high-stand is proposed which can be compared to the position of the coast on certain beaches during this period. These measurements are a good basis to test the applicability of the Bruun rules and some proposed modifications for the low energy beach systems of tropical North Queensland. This paper firstly examined the late Holocene sea level evidence stored in relict oyster beds and from that proposes a sea level to be used in the analysis. This sea level is then used to test the Bruun rule and variants and examine the differences between dated Holocene beach faces and the recession predicted by these models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Indigenous women in remote North Queensland have a high prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and associated health conditions such as sexual transmitted infections (STI). The association of severe pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) with these factors has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to associate the factors with severe PID, as indicated by hospitalization in a high risk population in North Queensland Indigenous communities. Methods: A cross-sectional association of 1445 Indigenous women using linked hospital separation and survey data during 1998-2005. Results: The mean age of participating women was 37.4 years, 60% were of Aboriginal and 40% were Torres Strait Island (TSI) people. More than half of them (52.5%) were smokers, 9.3% had chlamydia and 2.6% had gonorrhoea with the overall prevalence of STI among those less than 25 years of age being 23.9%. Among the 47 participants diagnosed with PID in the study period, 42.5% were under 25 years and 95.7% (45 cases) were under 55 years (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-4.1 among women younger than 25 compared to those 25 years and over). PID was strongly associated with smoking (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.4-9.2) independent of age, ethnicity, STI and folate status. Low red cell folate increased PID hospitalization by 4 times (95% CI 1.5-13.2 of lowest quartile compared to the highest quartile) regardless of age. Having a STI significantly increased the likelihood of severe PID by 2.2 times (95% CI: 1.03-4.5) in Indigenous women younger than 45 years, independent of smoking and folate level. The risk of PID hospitalization was higher for gonorrheal infections (OR 3.2, 955 CI 1.1-9.6) compared to chlamydial infections (OR 1.5 95% CI 0.7-3.5). Conclusions: Young Indigenous women in North Queensland communities are at very high risk for STI and PID. Smoking, low folate, and STI are clustered, and are associated with PID hospitalizations. Much of this can be prevented with improved nutrition and access to preventive services, especially tobacco control, regular STI screening and treatment, as well as more investment in sexual health education and awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]