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State and local agencies involved in emergency response to natural disasters such as hurricanes have explicitly indicated they need imagery covering the disaster area within three days of the event; and more desirably within 24 hours of the event. Airborne image collections have often been used but suffer from several problems, most noticeably the collection time (days or week) required for larger areas. The use of remote sensing satellites carrying high spatial resolution sensors has often been touted as the logical response for rapidly collecting post-disaster event imagery for emergency response. Unfortunately, satellites are maintained on fixed orbits. The repeat interval for remote sensing satellites carrying high spatial resolution sensors, even with pointable sensors, is on the order of several days, depending on the latitude for the disaster event. Fortunately, more than one satellite carries high spatial resolution imagery. This combination of requirements and restrictions may result in either a relatively high (or low) likelihood of collecting imagery within the three-day window of opportunity. This research investigated the likelihood of collecting imagery over a hurricane disaster area based on the orbital cycles of three high spatial resolution imaging satellites. Using the spatial-temporal distribution of historic hurricane landfall locations as a proxy for the probability distribution of future hurricanes by latitude, the 'visibility' of each landfall location to future satellite imaging opportunities was determined. The results indicate that the likelihood of collecting imagery within one day of the event varied between 17 and 39 percent by relying on one satellite image provider. However, if either of three satellite imagery sources (i.e., Ikonos-2, Quickbird-2, and Orbview-3) could be used, then the likelihood increased to 61 percent. By relying on three satellite imagery providers there is a likelihood of between 94 and 100 percent of collecting imagery within two or three days, respectively, after the event. KEYWORDS: Satellite remote sensing, disaster response, orbit, modeling, Introduction The natural disaster paradigm is often portrayed as a cycle--from the warning stage as the event approaches, the event followed by the response stage, subsequent recovery, and then a [...]

Objectives: To assess the reliability and validity of a depression screening tool--the PHQ-9[c]Pfizer Inc. modified for use with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We also sought to determine the prevalence of depression in a sample of Indigenous people with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: The modified PHQ-9 was administered to a sample of Indigenous people with IHD by an Aboriginal Health Worker (AHW). Tool results were then compared with the results of a psychiatric diagnostic interview conducted by a medical practitioner. Thirty four IHD patients attending an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) in Darwin in 2006 and 2007 participated in the study. The modified PHQ-9's sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value were calculated for major and minor depression. Chronbach's alpha of the screening test was calculated to measure internal consistency. The prevalence of depression in the study group was also determined. Results: The prevalence of major depression in the sample was 15.4% (95% CI 7.2%-29.7%). When assessing for major depression the modified PHQ-9 was 80% sensitive (95% CI 66.4-93.6%) and 71.4% (95% CI 56.0-86.8%) specific. A 'mini' version of the modified PHQ-9 demonstrated 100% sensitivity (95% CI 100%-100%) and 12.5% specificity (95% CI 7.0%-25.7%) Chronbach's alpha was 0.8. Conclusion: The modified PHQ-9 and the mini-tool, showed promise in this setting. Further investigation with a larger number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants is warranted. Implications: This study has implications both for the Medicare funded Aboriginal Adult Health Checks and for program planning for Aboriginal IHD patients. Keywords: diagnosis, questionaire, Australian Aborigines, ischaemic heart disease doi: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2008.00247.x

We extracted RNA from the giant fiber lobe (GFL) of the squid Loligo pealei and performed PCR with degenerate primers that were based on highly conserved regions of [Na.sup.+]-coupled HC[O.sup.-.sub.3] transporters. This approach yielded a novel, 290-bp sequence related to the bicarbonate transporter superfamily. Using an L. opalescens library, we extended the initial fragment in the 3' and 5' directions by a combination of library screening and PCR and obtained the full-length clone (1,198 amino acids) by PCR from L. pealei GFL. The amino acid sequence is 46% identical to mammalian electrogenic and electroneutral NaHC[O.sup.3] cotransporters and 33% identical to the anion exchanger AE1. Northern blot analysis showed strong signals in L. pealei GFL, optic lobe, and heart and weaker signals in gill and stellate ganglion. To assess function, we injected in vitro-transcribed cRNA into Xenopus oocytes and subsequently used microelectrodes to monitor intracellular pH ([pH.sub.i]) and membrane voltage ([V.sub.m]). Superfusing these oocytes with 5% C[O.sub.2]-33 mM HC[O.sup.-.sub.3] caused a C[O.sub.2]-induced fall in [pH.sub.i], followed by a slow recovery. The absence of a rapid HC[O.sup.-.sub.3]-induced hyperpolarization indicates that the [pH.sub.i] recovery mechanism is electroneutral. Ion substitutions showed that [Na.sup.+] and [Cl.sup.-] are required on opposite sides of the membrane. Transport was blocked by 50 [micro]M4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS). The characteristics of our novel clone fit those of a [Na.sup.+]-driven Cl/HC[O.sup.3] exchanger (NDCBE). intracellular pH; microelectrodes; giant axon; 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid; bicarbonate