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Introduction. Manual therapists commonly use assessments of intervertebral motion to determine the need for spinal manipulation, but the reliability of these procedures demonstrates conflicting results. The objectives of this study were to investigate the interrater reliability of thoracic spine motion palpation for perceived joint restriction and pain. Methods. Twenty-five participants between the ages of 18 and 70, with or without mid-back pain, were enrolled. Two raters motion palpated marked T5-T12 levels using two methods (standardised and pragmatic) and noted any restricted or painful segments. We calculated agreement between two raters by generating raw agreement percentages and Kappa coefficients with 95% confidence intervals. Results. There was poor to low level of agreement between the raters for both joint stiffness and pain localization using both pragmatic and standardized approaches. The results did not improve significantly when we conducted a post hoc analysis where three spinal levels were collapsed as one and right and left sides were also combined. Conclusions. The results for interrater reliability were poor for motion restriction and pain. These findings may have unfavourable implications for all manual therapists who use motion palpation to select patients appropriate for spinal manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To identify Indigenous people's views about gaps and practical solutions for the delivery of healthcare services in the Pilbara. Methods. A structured guide was used to interview three Indigenous language groups from the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The responses were analysed with the use of content analysis. In the first stage, codes were developed by assigning names to small sections of the interview transcripts. Next, the most salient incisive codes were identified and developed into themes that captured the most important issues. Results. Many respondents said that there were insufficient health professionals near country, which was compounded by a lack of adequate transport to reach healthcare services. Moreover, respondents commonly indicated that they would be unable to secure adequate accommodation for themselves and any carer when needing to leave country to undergo medical care. The importance of secondary healthcare interventions was highlighted, particularly health promotion initiatives that improved diet and exercise levels and reduced substance abuse. Assuming responsibility for one's own health was seen as integral to improving the overall health of communities. The respondents saw role models as the most important influence in leading people to take responsibility for improving their own health. Conclusion. This study provides Indigenous perspectives about gaps and solutions in healthcare service delivery in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Although initiatives have commenced to address the shortfall in health professionals and inadequate transport to healthcare, there are still gaps in service provision. Mobile health services were strongly supported as an integral measure to address these gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To explore health professionals' views about Australian Indigenous people's health and the delivery of healthcare to them in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Methods An open-ended questionnaire was used to gather information from health professionals located across diverse regions in the Pilbara. The responses were analysed with the use of thematic analysis. In the first stage, codes were developed by assigning names to small sections of the interview transcripts. Next, the most salient incisive codes were identified and developed into themes that captured the most important issues. Findings Twenty-eight health professionals indicated that the most important health issues were chronic diseases, substance abuse and ear disease. These health issues were often attributed to a cycle of poor health perpetuated throughout generations. Educational initiatives were thought to be integral to intervening in this cycle. Of particular importance in improving the effectiveness of educational initiatives was facilitating the participation of Australian Indigenous peoples to determine the content of such initiatives. The other main issues the health professionals identified were lifting the standard of Australian Indigenous housing and implementing strategies to improve the continuity of healthcare. Conclusion Educational initiatives need to be prioritised to improve the health of Australian Indigenous people in the Pilbara and the initiatives should be delivered with the involvement of the local community in order to increase the likelihood of sustained behavioural change. Innovative solutions are required to improve the continuity of healthcare in the Pilbara, including increased use of mobile services. What is known about this topic? About two out of every three Indigenous adults in the Pilbara experience a chronic health condition. Moreover, compared with non-Indigenous peoples in the region, Indigenous peoples experience a significantly higher mortality rate for numerous chronic health conditions. Although some information is available about the provision of health services for Indigenous people in the Pilbara, little is known about its adequacy or how it could be most effectively delivered. What does this paper add? This study details health professionals' views about the types of health conditions that need to be prioritised in addressing the health needs of Indigenous people in the Pilbara. It also details health professionals' perceptions of gaps in health service delivery for Indigenous people in the Pilbara and examines how these services could be most effectively delivered. What are the implications for practitioners? Educational initiatives need to be prioritised to improve the health of Australian Indigenous people in the Pilbara and the initiatives should be delivered with the involvement of the local community in order to increase the likelihood of sustained behavioural change. Innovative solutions are required to improve the continuity of healthcare in the Pilbara, including increased use of mobile services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The distinction between Ru in solid solution and Ru-bearing inclusions is essential for the predictive modeling of platinum-group element (PGE) geochemistry in applications such as the lithogeochemical exploration for magmatic sulfide deposits in komatiites. This study investigates the role of chromite in the fractionation of Ru in ultramafic melts by analyzing chromite grains from sulfide-undersaturated komatiites and a komatiitic basalt from the Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia. In situ analysis using laser ablation ICP-MS yields uniform Ru concentrations in chromites both within-grain and on a sample scale, with concentrations between 220 and 540ppb. All other platinum-group elements are below the detection limit of the laser ablation ICP-MS analysis. Carius tube digestion isotope dilution ICP-MS analysis of chromite concentrates confirms the accuracy of the in-situ method. Time resolved laser ablation ICP-MS analyses have identified the presence of sub-micron Ir-bearing inclusions in some chromite grains from the komatiitic basalt. However, Ru-bearing inclusions have not been recognized in the analyzed chromites and this combined with the in situ data suggests that Ru exists in solid solution in the crystal lattice of chromite. These results show that chromite can control the fractionation and concentration of Ru in ultramafic systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An unusual occurrence of sulfur-poor platinum group element (PGE) mineralization has been discovered at Mount Clifford in the Agnew-Wiluna belt, Western Australia, within the lower part of a 1,000-m-thick komatiitic dunite body. The host body consists primarily of strongly serpentinized olivine adcumulates with accessory chromite. High-precision whole-rock ICP-MS data show that the PGE mineralization extends over tens of meters, whereas the lateral extent is unknown. Palladium and Pt abundances are closely associated with base metal sulfides but show offset distribution patterns with maximum concentrations associated with the relatively sulfide poor base of a disseminated sulfide-bearing layer. Whole-rock concentrations range up to 4,100 ppb Pd and 920 ppb Pt. Iridium, Rh, and Ru follow the trends in Pd and Pt but are strongly depleted (Ir -0.4 ppb, Ru -0.5 ppb, Rh ~0.1 ppb). Platinmn group minerals (PGM) were located in essentially sulfide free serpentine 2 m below the peak in sulfide abundance and can be categorized into three groups: Pd antimonides, Pt-dominated PGM, and Pt-bearing Ni antimonides. The PGE mineralization zone is underlain by an interval of strong Ni depletion within olivine mesocumulates that is characterized by an unusual negative correlation between Ni and the Mg number of the rock. This relationship is interpreted to be the result of an equilibration of olivine of variable forsterite content with a relatively large mass of lnagmatic sulfide. However, there is no direct evidence of this sulfide mass anywhere in the entire Mount Clifford dunite body. The Ni depletion is accompanied by strong depletion in IPGE (Ir, Ru, and Rh). The association of the PGE zone with a reversal in the Mg/Fe ratio of the host cumulates and a distinctive offset relationship of multiple Pt, Pd, and Cu-S peaks is suggestive of a primary magmatic origin. However, this is inconsistent with current models for offset-reef PGE concentrations which involve the onset of sulfide liquid saturation from a previously sulfur undersaturated, PGE-undepleted magma. The association of enriched Pt and Pd with highly depleted Ni and IPGE in immediately underlying cumulates conflicts with this model. We suggest a combination of processes: early sulfide segregation at low R values producing Ni and IPGE depleted olivine, partial redissolution and removal of most of this sulfide component during a major replenishment event, and subsequent overprint by a migrating Pt-Pd-Cu-rich fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]