Objective: To compare the cost of a basket of staple foods, together with the availability and quality of fresh fruit and vegetables, by supermarket store type in high and low socioeconomic suburbs of Sydney.Methods: A food basket survey was undertaken in 100 supermarkets in the 20 highest and 20 lowest socioeconomic suburbs of Sydney. We assessed the cost of 46 foods, the range of 30 fresh fruit and vegetables and the quality of ten fresh fruit and vegetables. Two major supermarket retailers, a discount supermarket chain and independent grocery stores were surveyed. Results:The food basket was significantly cheaper in low compared to high socioeconomic suburbs ($177 vs $189, p<0.01). Discount supermarkets were at least 30% cheaper than other supermarket stores. There were fewer varieties and poorer quality fruit and vegetables in stores in low socioeconomic suburbs. Conclusions:Food basket prices and the availability and quality of fruit and vegetables varied significantly by store type and socioeconomic status of suburb. Implications for public health:A nationwide food and nutrition surveillance system is required to inform public health policy and practice initiatives. In addition to the food retail environment, these initiatives must address the underlying contributors to inequity and food insecurity for disadvantaged groups.

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Every silicon thin-film solar cell concept is dependent on an excellent optical confinement. As well as texturisation and an anti-reflection coating on the front side, the rear-side needs a reflector for the wavelength region exceeding 600 nm to enhance the long-wavelength response of the solar cell. In our Recrystallised Wafer Equivalent (RexWE) [1] the rear-side of the silicon layer is not accessible during the solar cell process. Therefore, several important features have to be implemented via an intermediate layer: it needs to act as a diffusion barrier of sufficiently high electrical conductivity, an excellent optical reflector, and ideally also as a passivation layer for interface defects. We try to satisfy these requirements with a specially designed reflector. It consists of SiC and SiO2 layers with alternating refractive indices and varying characteristics that can be realised by changing the stoichiometry and layer network. These layer-stacks were implemented into RexWE solar cells by a process sequence including thermal annealing, Si seeding layer deposition, recrystallisation and epitaxial Si growth. To surmount the lack of electrical conductivity of the SiO2 layers we drilled holes through the stacks using a laser. We call this process laser-fired rear access (LFA). The best solar cell incorporating the SiC/SiO2 reflector shows a Jsc of 26.3 mA/cm2 (with front side plasma texture) which constitutes an enhancement of 4 mA/cm2 compared with a single SiC layer. The cell efficiency was thereby increased from 8.8% to 11.1%

This paper presents a research methodology that takes an in-depth and qualitative approach to explore the role that the built environment plays in supporting health and well-being as part of everyday living. The focus is on how the built environment facilitates physical activity, social interaction, and access to fresh and nutritious foods – all important in reducing risk factors for chronic illness. The paper provides a detailed description of the research methodology currently being used in an Australian study of four diverse residential sites. The methods emphasise collecting in-depth and qualitative data. Initially, this was by way of a detailed instrument devised for the project – the healthy neighbourhood audit – which subsequently informed question schedules for interviews and focus groups. The paper concludes by illustrating how data collected using the audit enhances an in-depth understanding of the ways in which the built environment can support healthy activities in everyday life.

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