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This paper examines the Australian Defence Strategic Review (DSR) released in April 2023, focusing on the broader geopolitical trends in the Indo-Pacific Region and how it supports the United States' strategy vis-a-vis China. Australian defence strategy has historically been on the premise that Australia's security is best ensured by the presence of a reliable, established, and powerful ally, which involved sending our defence forces for overseas wars and conflicts (forward defence); and the traditional defence approach to defend the nation's borders and their approaches (Defence of Australia). The author opines that the DSR addresses both concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Hitler Youth Quex: A Guide for the English-Speaking Reader" is a book by William Gillespie that explores the infamous propaganda film made during the early years of the Nazi regime. The book provides new insights into the film and its historical context, drawing from the author's extensive collection of German film materials. While the book primarily focuses on the German perspective, it offers valuable primary sources and encourages critical examination of the topic. It is recommended for scholars and students studying film history, propaganda, or German Third Reich cinema. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction Roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco is a popular choice in Australia, with some people who smoke finding these products more attractive than factory-made cigarettes (FMC). Differences in visual and tactile properties and in the feel and taste of the smoke may contribute to this attractiveness. These differences may be driven by variation in tobacco constituents and wrapping paper permeability. However, to date, there has been no comparison of RYO and FMC products on the Australian market. Aims and Methods Chemical constituents, pH, flavorants, and paper permeability were compared in unburned RYO tobacco and tobacco from FMC. RYO and FMC products from matched brands were compared, as were products from the most popular FMC and RYO brands on the Australian market in 2018. Results RYO tobacco had higher moisture and humectant content (glycerol and propylene glycol) than FMC tobacco. RYO tobacco also had higher amounts of total and reducing sugars and lower nicotine when comparing the most popular brands. RYO papers were less permeable than FMC papers. Both RYO and FMC tobacco contained many chemicals identified as flavorants, including fourteen with known potential health risks. For most measured constituents and flavorants, RYO tobaccos had more in common with other RYO than FMC, with the commonalities remaining even when matched brands were compared. Conclusions Higher levels of moisture, humectants, and sugars in Australian RYO tobacco compared to FMC may be increasing attractiveness of RYO by reducing the harsh taste of the smoke and increasing the moist feel of the tobacco. Implications While price is the main factor driving the use of RYO tobacco, some people who smoke find these products more attractive. This study has shown that Australian RYO tobacco contains higher amounts of glycerol, propylene glycol, and sugars than FMC. These chemicals may be improving the taste of the tobacco, as well as creating a moist feel that is falsely perceived as indicating that the tobacco is "fresh" and "less chemically." Ironically, it may be that higher amounts of some added chemicals in RYO contribute to false perceptions of a more natural and less harmful product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Water retention curves (WRCs) of municipal solid wastes (MSWs) • Hysteresis of WRCs of MSWs with decomposition. • Effects of decomposition and paper content on the WRCs. • Unsaturated hydraulic and gas conductivity of MSWs. This paper investigates the drying and wetting water retention curves (WRCs) of municipal solid wastes (MSWs) with different paper contents, dry unit weights and degrees of biodegradation (DOBs). Fresh synthetic samples were prepared based on the field composition of the MSWs at Mugga Lane Landfill, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Australia. The degraded samples were prepared in simulators with MSWs of different initial dry unit weights and decomposition periods with leachate recirculation. The water retention curves (WRCs) of the MSWs were determined using pressure plate tests, in both drying and wetting phases. The outflow from MSWs was analysed using Gardner's method to obtain the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. The results indicate that the WRCs of the MSWs are greatly affected by the DOB, paper content and dry unit weight. When DOB < 30 %, as DOB increases, the air-entry pressure of MSWs with paper increases, and the residual moisture content decreases regardless of paper content. With DOB > 30 %, the air entry pressure and residual water content depend on the balance between organic matter and highly decomposed organic constituents. The paper content affects the WRCs of MSWs due to its water retention capacity and change in the particle size distribution with decomposition. The increase in the dry unit weight of MSWs significantly increases the air entry pressure and residual moisture content, similar to the borehole samples with combined effects of biodegradation and increase in stress level from literature. Hysteresis effects have been observed during the drying and wetting of MSWs. The hysteresis of WRCs increases with the paper content and DOB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panic buying of toilet rolls in Australia began in early March 2020. This was related to the realisation that the novel coronavirus was spreading across the country. To the general population the impact of the virus was unknown. Gradually the federal government started closing the country's borders. The panic buying of toilet rolls was not unique to Australia. It happened across all societies that used toilet paper rather than water to clean after defecation and urination. However, research suggests that the panic buying was most extreme in Australia. This article argues that the panic buying was closely linked to everyday notions of Western civilisation. Pedestal toilets and toilet paper are key aspects of civilisation and the fear of the loss of toilet paper is connected to anxiety about social breakdown, the loss of civilisation. This is the fear manifested in the perceived threat posed by the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To analyze Australia's high-cited papers (HCPs) receiving ≥100 citations in pharmacology during 2002–2021 and examine the research characteristics, study performance of the top 30 leading participating organizations and authors, and identification of top 30 journals publishing in this area and sub-fields of their research. Materials and Methods: Australia's HCPs on pharmacology research from the top 30 most productive organizations were identified and extracted from the Scopus database from 2002 to 2021 on 21 September 2022 using a search strategy. Select bibliometric measures were utilized to evaluate the publication productivity of important players in this area. The network analysis was performed to evaluate the collaborative interactions amongst the countries, organizations, authors, and keywords. Results: Of the 19,418 Australia's publications (articles) in pharmacology from the top 30 most productive organizations during 2002–2022, only 685 (3.53%) were HCPs, which together received 1,14,623 citations, averaging 164.4 citations per paper (CPP) and the citations ranged from 100 to 1,230. Two papers had more than 1,000 citations and 16 papers had 500 citations. Of the 685 HCPs, 40.58% (278) and 11.39% (78) received external funding support and were international collaboratives. The most productive organizations were Monash University (n = 155), the University of Queensland (n = 111) and the University of Melbourne (n = 97). The most impactful organizations in terms of CPP and relative citation index (RCI) were James Cook University (203.22 and 1.21), Australian National University (196.67 and 1.18) and Queensland University of Technology (193.45 and 1.16). The most productive authors were J. Li (n = 24), C. J. H. Porter (n = 24) and R. L. Nation (n = 23) (Monash University, Melbourne); and the most impactful authors in terms of CPP were A. Christopoulos (Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Melbourne) (288.21), C.W. Pouton (Monash University, Melbourne) (241.50), and D.L. Peterson (University of Queensland, Brisbane) (225.58). The most productive journals were Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (n = 59), Environmental Pollution (n = 43) and Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (n = 42). The most impactful journals in terms of CPP were Nature Reviews Drug Discovery (371.8), Antiviral Research (286.86) and European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (253.0). The most important keywords with their frequency of appearances were Animal Experiments (108), Metabolism (76), Drug Effects (67), Animal Models (65), Protein Expression (64), Anti-Bacterial Agents (62), Drug Delivery Systems (54), Drug Formulation (44), Signal Transduction (42), and so on. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to increase national funding and expand international collaboration in priority areas, which will help to increase and diversify research output and improve research impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to provide discourse regarding awareness of institutional racism, from a non-Indigenous, Australian nursing student's perspective. The discussion has a focus on the presence of institutional racism in the Australian healthcare system, its impact on the health of First Nation Peoples and a commitment to ensuring culturally safe practice. It will be argued that institutional racism is pervasive in healthcare as a consequence of three factors: exclusion of First Nations Peoples from governance roles, inherent racism impacting on socio-cultural treatment bias, and institutional racism influencing key relationships in healthcare delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Life So Full of Promise: Further Biographies of Australia's Lost Generation" by Ross McMullin is a sequel to his acclaimed book "Farewell Dear People." The book focuses on the lives of three young Australians who were part of the 'lost generation' of World War I. Captain Brian Pockley, Norman Callaway, and Murdoch Mackay are profiled in the book, highlighting their pre-war potential, their war experiences, and the impact of their deaths on their families and communities. McMullin's writing is sympathetic and well-researched, providing insight into the emotional connections between the soldiers and their loved ones. The book raises questions about the worth of the war and the loss of talented young men. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: The aims of the study were: (1) to clarify the definitions of "migrant" used in occupational health research; (2) to summarize migrant workers' industry sectors, occupations and employment conditions; (3) to identify the occupational health and safety services available to migrant workers; (4) to summarize work-related health problems found among migrant workers; (5) to identify the methodological challenges to research into occupational health of migrant workers; and (6) to recommend improvements in migrant occupational health research. Methods: This position paper was prepared by researchers from several European countries and Australia, working within the EU COST Action OMEGA-NET. The paper drew on two recent systematic reviews on the occupational health of international migrant workers and other literature, and also identified uncertainties and gaps in the research literature. Migrants may, for example, be temporary or permanent, moving for specific jobs migrants or other reasons. Their ethnicity and language capabilities will affect their work opportunities. Results: The occupational health literature seldom adequately identifies the heterogeneity or characteristics of the migrant group being studied. Migrants tend to work in more physically and mentally demanding environments with higher exposures than native workers. Migrants tend to have an increased risk of physical and mental ill health, but less access to health care services. This has been demonstrated recently by high rates of COVID-19 and less access to health care. There have been a number of cross-sectional studies of migrant health but few long-term cohort studies were identified. Other study designs, such as registry-based studies, surveys and qualitative studies may complement cross-sectional studies. Mixed-methodology studies would be valuable in research on migrants' occupational health. Language and lack of trust are barriers to migrant research participation. Conclusion: Targeted research, especially longitudinal, identifying how these economically important but often-vulnerable workers can be best assisted is needed. Researchers should identify the characteristics of the migrant workers that they are studying including visa/migration circumstances (temporary, permanent, undocumented), racial and ethnic characteristics, existing skills and language abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special Feature that lists the names of people involved in the review of technical papers for the IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications and Industry Applications Magazine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The book "Histories of Fascism and Anti-Fascism in Australia" edited by Evan Smith, Jayne Persian, and Vashti Jane Fox sheds light on the often overlooked topic of Australian right-wing radicalism. The book explores the historical context and various individuals, groups, and movements within the radical right in Australia. It also examines the relationship between the political mainstream and the radical right, as well as the opposition faced by anti-fascists. While the book has some imbalances and omissions, it offers important observations that can contribute to future research and debate on the subject. The book also addresses the tension between scholarship and activism, and the question of whether the Australian radical right is endogenous or influenced by international factors. Overall, the book provides valuable insights and should be read to stimulate further discussion and research. [Extracted from the article]

"A History of Crime in Australia: Australian Underworlds" by Nancy Cushing is an introductory text for students of crime history and criminology. The book explores the impact of English law on transported convicts and First Nations peoples in Australia, and how their own systems of law were disregarded by colonists. It is organized into twelve chapters, each focusing on a specific aspect of crime history in Australia. The book includes essays by historians in each chapter, providing examples of scholarly writing. While the book primarily focuses on the legal history of New South Wales and Victoria, it offers thought-provoking case studies and is accessible to both students and general readers interested in crime history. [Extracted from the article]

The nineteenth century witnessed the creation of a 'paper Panopticon' designed to capture information about offenders in England, especially those who were transported to Australia. This article considers the effectiveness of this new record-keeping system and asks whether convicts had some agency within it. These questions are explored through a macroscopic analysis of the recording of convict ages in nineteenth-century England and Australia, made possible by the Digital Panopticon project. By using the methodological opportunities opened up by digital technologies, we can test the accuracy of historical records in new ways, and in the process develop a better understanding of the encounter between state authority and convict agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the personal and professional experiences of the five arts leaders who co-wrote the foundation document for Australia's first national curriculum in the Arts. Their personal and professional backgrounds, which were explored during in depth interviews, drove the complex collaborative process that informed the first iteration of the Australian Curriculum: The Arts. Though each couched their responses in the context of their background and arts discipline, they shared an awareness of the important role of the Arts in providing the analytical tools for children and young people to identify and subsequently challenge social injustice. The findings, which are presented as a group narrative using a Narrative Inquiry approach, reveal how the five arts leaders' individual lived experience, disciplinary experience and expertise, and commitment to collaborative leadership informed their approach. It was one driven by their shared belief that all Australian students, regardless of their background, are entitled to a quality arts education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this position paper on ventilatory support at home for children is to provide expert consensus from Australia and New Zealand on optimal care for children requiring ventilatory support at home, both non-invasive and invasive. It was compiled by members of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) and the Australasian Sleep Association (ASA). This document provides recommendations to support the development of improved services for Australian and New Zealand children who require long-term ventilatory support. Issues relevant to providers of equipment and areas of research need are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Trip to the Dominions: The Scientific Event That Changed Australia: Edited by Lynette Russell. In July 1914 a large delegation from the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BAAS) disembarked at Fremantle to attend a BAAS annual congress in Australia, the remotest of imperial outposts. Boucher is interested in settlers' reactions to frontier violence in the mid-nineteenth century and offers some thoughtful reflections about the interface between amateur anthropology and settler colonialism. [Extracted from the article]

By examining seemingly contradictory reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic and relating these to the basic income debate in Australia, this article explores the potential that the socio-economic crisis provoked by COVID-19 presen ts for a transformation of welfare systems. Drawing on ethnographic observation, the article describes the emergence of grassroots forms of solidarity in response to the pandemic. Within the context of the increasing hardship experienced by Australians, ongoing failures of existing welfare systems, and inadequate government responses to COVID-19, the groundswell of solidarity may coalesce with increasing support for a basic income, creating a conjunctural movement that propels radical social transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Cruel Care: A History of Children at Our Borders" by Jordana Silverstein is a powerful examination of Australia's immigration policies and their impact on children. The book challenges the prevailing reasoning behind mandatory detention for asylum-seekers and argues that the system is rooted in colonial control. Silverstein analyzes the emotional rhetoric surrounding children and how it has been used to justify harsh policies. The book also explores issues such as the best interests of the child, manufactured crises for political gain, and the unique Australian program of indefinite offshore detention. Silverstein's work is well-researched and thought-provoking, offering valuable insights for readers with diverse perspectives. [Extracted from the article]

"Asbestos in Australia: From Boom to Dust" is a comprehensive and highly readable edited volume that explores the intersection of environment, industry, and public health in Australian life. The book synthesizes diverse literatures on asbestos in Australia, providing an overview of its business, economic, and social history from its rise as a "miracle mineral" in the late nineteenth century to its decline in the face of mounting medical evidence and public outcry. The collection includes historical, legal, and medical perspectives, as well as oral histories from communities affected by asbestos mining. It serves as a valuable reference work and highlights the ongoing challenges posed by industrial pollutants in Australia. [Extracted from the article]

Perinatal depression can have enduring adverse effects on women and their children and families, incurring substantial ongoing economic and personal costs. A significant proportion of the cost of perinatal depression relates to adverse impacts on the child, most likely mediated through impairment to the mother‐infant relationship. In recognition of this problem, Australia has invested in routine perinatal depression screening. Our previous research produced convergent findings suggesting that expected benefits for children have not yet been realised through perinatal depression screening. We question the potential of including a measure of personality in current perinatal depression screening for identifying maternal mental health problems and suboptimal mother‐infant relationships. This paper reviews our previous research findings within the broader context of perinatal depression screening. We propose a position, that perinatal depression screening in Australia should be redesigned to more precisely detect vulnerable mother‐infant relationships, parenting, maternal mental health, and infant psychosocial and psychological development. Practice change to appropriately target antenatal interventions may more efficiently improve both maternal and child outcomes, thereby contributing to greater efficiency and cost savings for the health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare contributes to environmental harm. Trainee-led Research and Audit in Anaesthesia for Sustainable Healthcare (TRA2SH) is an Australasian network focused on sustainable anaesthesia practice. TRA2SH hypothesised that trainee-led audits alongside education presented on a scheduled national day, called Operation Clean Up, can improve engagement with sustainability initiatives. This paper aims to describe the first two years of Operation Clean Up in terms of goals, achievements and data collected so far. Environmental themes for Operation Clean Up were chosen based on available evidence (life cycle analyses and observational studies). The first Operation Clean Up (OCU 2020) focused on reducing the unnecessary use of single-use disposable absorbent pads (known as 'blueys' in Australia, 'greenies' in New Zealand). OCU 2021 included: refuse desflurane, reduce bluey use, reuse drug trays, and recycle paper and cardboard. TRA2SH provided an information pack to trainees who presented educational material to their department and fed back procurement figures to quantify each item. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse de-identified pooled data submitted to a centralised database. Eight departments submitted data for OCU 2020 and six provided follow-up data. Bluey use was reduced from a median of 37 to 34 blueys per ten surgical encounters. Fifteen departments submitted pre-campaign data for OCU 2021 with follow-up data to be collected during OCU 2022. Baseline data showed a median bluey use of 31 per ten surgical encounters. Volatile-related emissions were calculated; desflurane's proportion was 70% of these emissions yet was 11% of volatile procurement. Two participating departments removed desflurane from their formulary following OCU 2021. Operation Clean Up is a practical model for implementing sustainability initiatives using trainees as eco-leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the health beliefs of clinical and academic nurses from Japan, Australia and China regarding wearing paper masks to protect themselves and others, and to identify differences in participants' health beliefs regarding masks. Background: The correct use of face masks and consensus among health professionals across the globe is essential for containing pandemics, and nurses need to act according to policy to protect themselves, educate the public and preserve resources for frontline health workers. Paper masks are worn by health professionals and the general public to avoid the transmission of respiratory infections, such as COVID‐19, but there appear to be differences in health beliefs of nurses within and between countries regarding these. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study used content analysis with a framework approach. Findings: There were major differences in nurse participants' beliefs between and within countries, including how nurses use paper masks and their understanding of their efficacy. In addition, there were cultural differences in the way that nurses use masks in their daily lives and nursing practice contexts. Conclusion: Nurses from different working environments, countries and areas of practice hold a variety of health beliefs about mask wearing at the personal and professional level. Implications for nursing policy and health policy: The COVID‐19 pandemic has sparked much discussion about the critical importance of masks for the safety of health professionals, and there has been considerable discussion and disagreement about health policies regarding mask use by the general public. Improper use of masks may have a role in creating mask shortages or transmitting infections. An evidence‐based global policy on mask use for respiratory illnesses for health professionals, including nurses, and the general public needs to be adopted and supported by a wide‐reaching education campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes how Senator Molan sees Australia's future unfolding over the next century, including likely opportunities and challenges ahead. While Australia is now the world's 14th most economically powerful nation, it has only been able to focus on its economic development because, heretofore, it has not had to provide for its own defence. With United States' power diminishing and China's power increasing, Australia's historic grand strategy is becoming unsustainable both militarily and economically. To craft a way forward for the next century, Australia needs develop a national security strategy and should do so urgently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The book "Women and Whitlam: Revisiting the Revolution" edited by Michelle Arrow is a collection of essays that explores the agenda for women during the Whitlam government in Australia. The book is divided into five sections, each focusing on different aspects such as political influence, the law, health and social policy, media, arts, and education, and the legacies of the era. The essays provide historical knowledge, personal stories, and inspiration for readers. The collection aims to shape the future by examining the past and highlighting what was achieved and what still needs to be done for women's equality and justice. The book also emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives and voices, including Indigenous contributors, in the fight for lasting and meaningful change. [Extracted from the article]

The three challenges with the greatest bearing on Australia's security and prosperity each came to a head in 2020, viz. climate change; a novel coronavirus pandemic; and China. The world has become poorer, more dangerous and more disorderly. As we emerge from this crisis year, Australia's ability to project itself globally will start with its strength and vitality at home. Its favourable geography gives it the potential to become a leader in renewables. Given our geopolitical challenges, this is a strategic imperative. Yet, for now, the gap between reality and expectations has never been greater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spirometry has been established as an essential test for diagnosing and monitoring respiratory disease, particularly asthma and COPD, as well as in occupational health surveillance. In Australia and New Zealand, there is currently no pathway for spirometry operators in community‐based healthcare settings to demonstrate spirometry competence. The Australia and New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science (ANZSRS) has identified a need for developing a pathway for operators working in community‐based practices in Australia and New Zealand to demonstrate spirometry competence and certification. Spirometry certification provides evidence to patients, clients, employers and organizations that an individual has participated in an assessment process that qualifies them to perform spirometry to current international spirometry standards set out by the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS). This document describes a competence assessment pathway that incorporates a portfolio and practical assessment. The completion of this pathway and the award of certification confer an individual is competent to perform spirometry for 3 years, after which re‐certification is required. The adoption of this competency assessment and certification process by specialist organizations, and the commitment of operators performing spirometry to undergo this process, will enhance spirometry quality and practice in community‐based healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an executive summary of the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) 2020 guideline for pre‐existing diabetes and pregnancy. The summary focuses on the main clinical practice points for the management of women with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes in relation to pregnancy, including preconception, antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum care. The full guideline is available at https://doi.org/10.1111/ajo.13265. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus argenteus and Staphylococcus schweitzeri, previously known as divergent Staphylococcus aureus clonal lineages, have been recently established as novel, difficult-to-delimit, coagulase-positive species within the S. aureus complex. Methicillin-resistant strains of S. argenteus are known from Australia and the UK. Knowledge of their epidemiology, medical significance and transmission risk is limited and partly contradictory, hampering definitive recommendations. There is mounting evidence that the pathogenicity of S. argenteus is similar to that of 'classical' S. aureus , while as yet no S. schweitzeri infections have been reported. To provide decision support on whether and how to distinguish and report both species. PubMed, searched for S. argenteus and S. schweitzeri. This position paper reviews the main characteristics of both species and draws conclusions for microbiological diagnostics and surveillance as well as infection prevention and control measures. We propose not distinguishing within the S. aureus complex for routine reporting purposes until there is evidence that pathogenicity or clinical outcome differ markedly between the different species. Primarily for research purposes, suitably equipped laboratories are encouraged to differentiate between S. argenteus and S. schweitzeri. Caution is urged if these novel species are explicitly reported. In such cases, a specific comment should be added (i.e. 'member of the S.aureus complex') to prevent confusion with less- or non-pathogenic staphylococci. Prioritizing aspects of patient safety, methicillin-resistant isolates should be handled as recommended for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In these cases, the clinician responsible should be directly contacted and informed by the diagnosing microbiological laboratory, as they would be for MRSA. Research is warranted to clarify the epidemiology, clinical impact and implications for infection control of such isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work‐related asthma (WRA) is one of the most common occupational respiratory conditions, and includes asthma specifically caused by occupational exposures (OA) and asthma that is worsened by conditions at work (WEA). WRA should be considered in all adults with asthma, but especially those with new‐onset or difficult to control asthma. Improvement in asthma symptoms when away from work is suggestive of WRA. Clinical history alone is insufficient to diagnose WRA; therefore, objective investigations are required to confirm the presence of asthma and the association of asthma with work activities. Management of WRA requires pharmacotherapy similar to that of non‐WRA, however, also needs to take into account control of the causative workplace exposure. Ongoing exposure will likely lead to decline in lung function and worsening asthma control. WRA is a preventable condition but this does rely on increased awareness of WRA and thorough identification and control of all potential occupational respiratory hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a brief summary of the Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ) evidence‐based guideline for the management of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). The full guideline and executive summary including auditable outcomes are freely available on the SOMANZ website [https://www.somanz.org/guidelines.asp]. The guideline includes a proposed SOMANZ definition of NVP and HG and evidence‐based practical advice regarding the investigation and management of NVP, HG and associated conditions including thyroid dysfunction. A practical algorithm for assessment and management as well as an individual patient management plan and self‐assessment tools are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on 2023 ANZCA Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) was held on 5–9 May 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Objectives: This paper critiques the haematological monitoring guidelines for clozapine. It describes the history of clozapine, as well as the pathophysiology and epidemiology of clozapine-induced neutropenia (CIN) and agranulocytosis (CIA). The paper appraises the extant literature on mandatory clozapine haematological monitoring. Conclusion: Contemporary Australian protocols for clozapine haematological monitoring are not consistent with the current evidence base. CIN and CIA are rare occurrences, and the associated risk of death is low. Potential modifications to existing guidelines include changing neutrophil thresholds for patients with benign ethnic neutropenia and reducing the frequency or removing haematological monitoring after two years of clozapine treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global pandemic, however, estimating its burden is a complex process. As a result, many countries rely on global estimates to infer burden within their own setting. With a growing number of recent publications quantifying AMR burden in Australia, and an expansion of surveillance programs, enumerating AMR mortality for Australia is feasible. We aimed to leverage existing published data to assess methodological factors contributing to the considerable variation in AMR-related mortality and provide two reliable estimates of AMR mortality in Australia. This is a necessary step towards generating meaningful measures of AMR burden in Australia. What is known about the topic? Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global health threat, but estimating the burden of disease is complicated by data challenges. What does this paper add? This paper highlights progress in estimating the number of people dying from antimicrobial resistance in Australia and highlights the importance of rigorous antimicrobial resistance mortality estimates in Australia to assess burden of disease. What are the implications for practitioners? Practitioners should use only rigorous estimates of burden of disease to inform actions on reducing the threat of antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To scope how the Australian Bureau of Statistics Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) has been applied to measure socio-economic status (SES) in peer-reviewed cardiovascular disease (CVD) research. Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute's scoping review methodology was used. Results: The search retrieved 2788 unique citations, and 49 studies were included. Studies were heterogeneous in their approach to analysis using SEIFA. Not all studies provided information as to what version was used and how SEIFA was applied in analysis. Spatial unit of analysis varied between studies, with participant postcode most frequently applied. Study quality varied. Conclusions: The use of SEIFA in Australian CVD peer-reviewed research is widespread, with variations in the application of SEIFA to measure SES as an exposure. There is a need to improve the reporting of how SEIFA is applied in the methods sections of research papers for greater transparency and to ensure accurate interpretation of CVD research. What is known about the topic? A socio-economic status (SES) gradient is well established for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Research has generally applied two approaches to classifying SES: at an individual level using income, education or occupation data, and at an area level using a range of existing socio-economic information, including the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA). What does this paper add? This review examined how SEIFA has been applied to measure SES in Australian peer-reviewed CVD research and to identify any variations in research practice. What are the implications for practitioners? It is recommended that researchers provide a clear explanation in the methods section of research papers as to which SEIFA version and index was applied, how it was applied, at what spatial unit, and whether the spatial unit was an ABS or non-ABS unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral language is the primary means through which a child controls, describes, organises, and evaluates their life experiences and their ability to use oral language which effectively impacts their future literacy development. Currently, the world is awash with dynamic change and constant disruption. These include natural disasters such as the ongoing Australian floods and bush fires, droughts, the global COVID-19 pandemic, the pervasive use of digital technologies, continuing global unrest, and impacts on economic and social adversity. Many of these disruptions are having a negative impact on the development of children's oral language and ongoing communication capacities. This is interesting given the prioritisation in many western nations, including Australia, of learning to read and write over learning to talk and communicate. This paper serves as an example of what makes good classroom literacy research. It outlines the elements of robust research including a research proposal structure. In this instance, our research investigates educator perceptions of children's developing oral language and communication skills and practices in birth to 8-year-old education contexts within the current backdrop of extreme disruption. The paper includes a literature review, our proposed research methodology which includes interviews from participants in birth to 8-year-old education settings, in both national and global contexts sourced via snowball sampling. The data analysis uses Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of the contextualised interview responses from educators within a socio-cultural global malaise of disruption and power. We outline future plans and funding sources, including publications and potential school resources in the spirit of collegial cooperation to support excellence in literacy classroom research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although visual arts pedagogies are considered central within early childhood education programs, teacher self-efficacy has a direct impact on the quality and delivery of visual arts curricula. Until recently, the visual arts self-efficacy, pedagogical knowledge, and practice of in-service early childhood teachers have remained largely unexplored. The authors of this paper present a qualitative, iterative re-analysis of their three PhD studies which broadly focussed on early childhood visual arts praxis and specifically examined the visual arts beliefs and pedagogy of early childhood teachers in Australia and New Zealand. A thematic analysis of the intersecting self-efficacy findings raised in the three studies identifies the powerful influence of self-efficacy on teaching practice in the visual arts domain and offers new understandings about visual arts self-efficacy amongst early childhood teachers. The combined findings reveal several factors that restrain or enhance teachers' visual arts self-efficacy across time, including the impact of childhood experiences, pre-service training and epistemological beliefs. The paper also identifies several enabling conditions that appear to support teachers to develop and maintain positive visual arts self-efficacy beliefs, including practical engagement with materials, sustained professional learning, relational trust and intentional leadership. These enabling conditions offer practical strategies and research recommendations in service of positive visual arts self-efficacy to enhance quality visual arts teaching in early childhood contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the psychological wellbeing of people with cancer is a key component of assessment and intervention in quality cancer care. However, the unique experiences of rural cancer populations are less often explored than those from urban centres. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of Australian studies that compared the psychological wellbeing experiences of people with cancer from rural and urban locations. Five databases were searched, and 19 studies, involving 16,947 participants, assessing and comparing the psychological wellbeing of rural and urban populations with cancer were included. The analysis indicated that Australian rural cancer populations have greater odds of worse psychological wellbeing than those from urban areas (OR = 1.54, 95% CI [1.01, 2.35], p = 0.044). This disparity remains when cancer types are analysed separately, with a slightly smaller odds ratio for rural people with breast cancer (OR = 1.29, 95%CI [1.01, 1.64], p = 0.046) and a slightly larger odds ratio when cancers excluding breast cancer were reviewed (OR = 1.78, 95% CI [1.59, 2.01], p = <.001). Significant heterogeneity was found. Despite increasing emphasis in Australia on psychological wellbeing throughout the cancer journey, there remain significant disparities whereby rural people experience greater impacts upon their psychological wellbeing. The wellbeing of Australian rural populations with cancer remains an area in which clinical and political focus is imperative. Whilst screening is a necessary first step, additional clinical implications for improving rural access to appropriately skilled health professionals who provide oncology-specific assessment and intervention are suggested. What is already known: Cancer is a major public health issue, and its psychosocial impacts are substantial, not just on patients but on their families and the broader community. The prevalence of clinically significant psychological distress is higher amongst people with cancer than the general population. However, identification, treatment, and provision of psychological support is inconsistent across services and geographical areas, and notably lacking in rural areas. Disparities in screening, assessment and intervention for psychological wellbeing in people with cancer remain, despite the fact that systematic application of screening, appropriate referral, and intervention can improve quality of life and reduce healthcare costs associated with inpatient and outpatient cancer care. What this paper adds: This article extends outcomes from previous systematic reviews and analyses from Australia and internationally with the addition of meta-analytic methods. It was specifically designed to solely focus on Australian cancer populations. The results suggest that Australian rural populations with cancer may have anywhere from 30% to 70% greater odds of experiencing poorer psychological wellbeing than those from urban areas. This paper highlights ongoing disparities in rural psycho-oncology that may be impacting wellbeing outcomes from rural people in Australia, and urges psychologists, other health professionals, and policy-makers to proactively address these inequities with improved screening, assessment and intervention for their rural populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chief Executive Officer's (CEO) are integral leaders of health care organisation. Over the last two decades in United States (US) hospitals, it has been noted that CEO turnover rates are increasing, and it was reported that the CEO turnover rates have augmented from 14% in 2008 to 18% in 2017 in the private sector. In Australia, it was discovered that during two years, 41 executives had 18 distinct positions. It has been highlighted that the increasing CEO turnover is a major issue for Australian and international health care organisations. Some of the negative consequences of CEO turnover include organisational instability, high financial costs, loss of human capital and adverse effects on staff morale and patient care. Objective: Our scoping review aimed to map and summarise the evidence associated with CEO turnovers in both health and non-health setting, and answer the following questions: 1. What are the reasons for CEO departure?, 2. What are the strategies to minimise CEO turnover? Results: A protocol explaining the objectives, inclusion criteria and methods for this scoping review were specified in advance and published. This scoping review included 17 studies (13 health and 4 non-health setting) published over a 31-year period that investigated and described the increasing CEO turnover rates. All 17 studies identified causes of CEO turnover along with certain studies identifying facilitators of CEO retention. We classified CEO's departure reasons into three major themes: organizational, performance, and personal. Organisational factors include CEO departures due to issues within the organisation, performance factors include issues with CEO's work and personal factors captures personal reasons for CEO's leaving their job. Conclusion: CEOs are under immense pressure to deliver good results and drive growth while satisfying the interests of internal and external stakeholders. There are various reasons for CEO's departure however the most common factor identified is organisational. Contribution of paper statement: What is already known Causes and consequences of CEO turnover in both health and non-health settings. What this paper adds Three main factors associated with CEO turnover such as organisational, performance and personal factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of theological beliefs and practices in the analysis of domestic violence is needed, hence this paper explores how Christian theological framings shape men’s perpetration of domestic violence. Through engagement with the Lutheran Church of Australia, interviews and a survey with Pastors found that gender was dominant in the themes and provided a framework for how Pastors understood domestic violence and how they articulated their explanations for why they perceived a denial of domestic violence in their religious contexts. The interviews in this study brought out the capacity of gendered theological discourse and the truth valency of scripture to both inform domestic violence and potentially be part of the solution, while at the same time the narratives express the inherent tensions and the resistance to change in the religious culture. The paper argues for the coming together of sociological, feminist, theological and spiritual understandings of gender identity to shape responses to domestic violence in Christian contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective marginal tax rates are of interest to policymakers due to the concern that high rates lead to disincentives to work, particularly for secondary earners in couple families and single parents who pay personal income tax and lose government welfare payments as their private income increases. Hypothetical models of the tax and welfare system demonstrate the possibility of high effective marginal tax rates particularly for secondary earners in lower income families where personal income tax intersects with the loss of means‐tested welfare payment. This paper estimates effective marginal tax rates across the whole working‐age population, rather than for hypothetical families, using a microsimulation model based on a nationally representative sample of Australians. These distributional estimates suggest that high and very high effective marginal tax rates are relatively rare and that most persons of a working‐age face rates that are relatively modest. The paper extends previous work on distributional effective marginal tax rates to include the impact of formal childcare and the higher education loan program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusions Consumer and community involvement PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY Consumer contribution to occupational therapy student learning is mandated for Australian educational programs. However, there is limited research about how consumers contribute to student learning during practice placements. A scoping review was completed to explore the concepts of existing feedback systems for consumers to authentically contribute to student learning during practice placements.Five databases were searched for all articles up to and including July 2023. All publications were included if they described and investigated authentic contribution to student learning during a practice placement experience. Data from the results and discussion sections of the papers were transformed into qualitative data and thematically analysed to develop a conceptual understanding of consumer feedback systems.Forty‐six papers met the eligibility criteria. Most articles originated from Medicine (30%) and Nursing (45%) education. Feedback systems were primarily designed to critique student communication and professional behaviours using a variety of standardised and non‐standardised methods. Five interconnected themes were created that addressed the concepts of consumer feedback systems. The themes were (1) creating value specific for each stakeholder is essential, (2) preparation is required and nuanced; (3) consumers do engage and provide critical feedback when the system is supportive of all stakeholders; (4) gathering approaches need to be responsive to the diversity of practice and learning; (5) processing feedback with a trusted mentor is critical for learning.Consumers, academics, practice educators, and students recognised that consumers have an important role in contributing to student learning during practice placements. Future consumer feedback systems need to be co‐produced to create an optimal mode for consumers to authentically contribute to student learning constructively and safely.A consumer consultant was a member of the advisory panel for the larger research project that this review is part of and provided advice to the research team at all stages of the project.In Australia, occupational therapy training programs require input from consumers to help students learn. However, there is not much research on how consumers help occupational therapy students during their practical training. We did a review to see how existing feedback systems let consumers genuinely help students during their training. We searched five databases for research up to July 2023. We included research that talked about how consumers help all health students learn during practical training. We found 46 articles, mostly from Medicine and Nursing education. We analysed them to understand how consumer feedback systems work and found five main themes: (1) making sure everyone involved gets value out of it, (2) being prepared is important, (3) consumers give useful feedback when the system supports everyone involved, (4) different approaches are needed because practices and learning vary, and (5) discussing feedback with other people helps students learn. Current feedback systems mostly focused on how students communicate and behave professionally. Consumers, educators, and students all agree that consumers play a vital role in helping students learn during practical training. In the future, we need to work together to make feedback systems that let consumers help students in the best way possible, making sure it is constructive and safe for everyone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an exploratory study of the personal and systematic influences over the curriculum decision-making process of teachers of students with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties in Australia. The way in which these influences impact teacher perceptions of the mandated curriculum and its day-to-day operationalization are discussed. The paper draws from both a national survey (n = 46) and in-depth case studies (n = 5) of teachers who work in government-funded specialist educational settings. Findings show that teachers have prominent levels of emotionality, a drive for creativity and dedication to inclusive practice, but ultimately work within a context perceived through conflict and dilemma. Previous related decision-making models are used to compare results, with some distinct differences emerging. Findings indicate that rather than enabling inclusion, standardized curriculums create an environment of professional (self)exclusion and reduce access to professional support. Increases in responsibility burden and negative emotional effects are explored. Although teachers view access to standardized curriculum programs as vital to educational inclusion and the enhancement of their professional expertise, the utilization of the current offering in Australia is makeshift at best and fraught with internal conflict. The implications of these findings are discussed, and future recommendations for research are prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problems of high stochasticity and volatility of power loads as well as the difficulty of accurate load forecasting, this paper proposes a power load forecasting method based on CEEMDAN (Completely Integrated Empirical Modal Decomposition) and TCN-LSTM (Temporal Convolutional Networks and Long-Short-Term Memory Networks). The method combines the decomposition of raw load data by CEEMDAN and the spatio-temporal modeling capability of TCN-LSTM model, aiming to improve the accuracy and stability of forecasting. First, the raw load data are decomposed into multiple linearly stable subsequences by CEEMDAN, and then the sample entropy is introduced to reorganize each subsequence. Then the reorganized sequences are used as inputs to the TCN-LSTM model to extract sequence features and perform training and prediction. The modeling prediction is carried out by selecting the electricity compliance data of New South Wales, Australia, and compared with the traditional prediction methods. The experimental results show that the algorithm proposed in this paper has higher accuracy and better prediction effect on load forecasting, which can provide a partial reference for electricity load forecasting methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper undertakes a select survey of international literature to identify the points of convergence that support common understanding – and debate – amongst youth workers, researchers and policy makers in regards to definitional commonalities in professional youth work. We find that non-formal education, framed by human rights, appears to offer definitional common ground for youth work practice globally. Drawing on the Australian context to ground the discussion, the paper considers how revision of key definitional documents to reflect the pedagogic basis of youth work could inform the tertiary level training and preparation of youth work students and the state-based codes of ethics that inform and regulate professional youth work practice. This is important for professional youth work in Australia as the only nationally agreed statement on youth work currently lacks a pedagogical definition. While precisely categorizing the practices and programs used by youth workers remains a challenge, there is much common ground found amongst the non-formal and informal education conceptualisations of youth work internationally. While there are differences in the way professional youth work is delivered across countries and jurisdictions, there appears to be an agreed underpinning pedagogical framework, often referred to as social pedagogy, which is commonly applied, and informs the practices and programs delivered to the diverse and complex young people who benefit from them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the number of livestock increased in the years following English colonisation of Australia in 1788, the need for nutritious fodder, including lucerne (Medicago sativa), grew. One of the first diseases found on lucerne was a leaf spot which was collected in 1879 by George Bancroft, a physician and naturalist, in a suburb of Brisbane. The Queensland Government Botanist Frederick Manson Bailey sent a specimen to the prominent English mycologists Miles Joseph Berkeley and Christopher Edmund Broome who in 1883 formally described and named the fungus Sphaerella destructiva. That fungus is now known as Pseudopeziza medicaginis , the causal agent of common leaf spot of lucerne. It was one of over 300 fungi that were included in a 1880 paper co-written by the Reverend Julian Tenison-Woods and Frederick Bailey. At that time almost all of these fungi which had been collected in Australia were identified by overseas mycologists, particularly Berkeley and Broome. It can be argued that their 1880 paper was the first significant one published in Australia which focussed on fungi. Just a decade or so later Australian scientists, in particular Daniel McAlpine, were describing new fungal taxa on their own. Among the fungi recorded in a paper published in the 1880 Proceedings of the Linnaean Society of New South Wales was Sphaerella destructiva , now Pseudopeziza medicaginis , the cause of common leaf spot of lucerne. The paper, co-authored by the naturalist Reverend Julian Tenison-Woods and the Queensland Government Botanist Frederick Manson Bailey was the first known comprehensive list of Australian fungi published by Australian residents. It is a milestone in the evolution of mycology and plant pathology studies in Australia. Photograph by H. H. Baily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Competent clinical reasoning forms the foundation for effective and efficient clinical swallowing examination (CSE) and consequent dysphagia management decisions. While the nature of initial CSEs has been evaluated, it remains unclear how new information gathered by speech–language therapists (SLTs) throughout a patient's acute‐care journey is integrated into their initial clinical reasoning and management processes and used to review and revise initial management recommendations. Aims: To understand how SLTs' clinical reasoning and decision‐making regarding dysphagia assessment and management evolve as patients transition through acute hospital care from referral to discharge. Methods & Procedures: A longitudinal, qualitative approach was employed to gather information from two SLTs who managed six patients at a metropolitan acute‐care hospital. A retrospective 'think‐aloud' protocol was utilized to prompt SLTs regarding their clinical reasoning and decision‐making processes during initial and subsequent CSEs and patient interactions. Three types of concept maps were created based on these interviews: a descriptive concept map, a reasoning map and a hypothesis map. All concept maps were evaluated regarding their overall structure, facts gathered, types of reasoning engaged in (inductive versus deductive), types of hypotheses generated, and the diagnosis and management recommendations made following initial CSE and during subsequent dysphagia management. Outcomes & Results: Initial CSEs involved a rich process of fact‐gathering, that was predominantly led by inductive reasoning (hypothesis generation) and some application of deductive reasoning (hypothesis testing), with the primary aims of determining the presence of dysphagia and identifying the safest diet and fluid recommendations. During follow‐up assessments, SLTs engaged in increasingly more deductive testing of initial hypotheses, including fact‐gathering aimed at determining the tolerance of current diet and fluid recommendations or the suitability for diet and/or fluid upgrade and less inductive reasoning. Consistent with this aim, SLTs' hypotheses were focused primarily on airway protection and medical status during the follow‐up phase. Overall, both initial and follow‐up swallowing assessments were targeted primarily at identifying suitable management recommendations, and less so on identifying and formulating diagnoses. None of the patients presented with adverse respiratory and/or swallowing outcomes during admission and following discharge from speech pathology. Conclusions & Implications: Swallowing assessment and management across the acute‐care journey was observed as a high‐quality, patient‐centred process characterized by iterative cycles of inductive and deductive reasoning. This approach appears to maximize efficiency without compromising the quality of care. The outcomes of this research encourage further investigation and translation to tertiary and post‐professional education contexts as a clear understanding of the processes involved in reaching diagnoses and management recommendations can inform career‐long refinement of clinical skills. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: SLTs' clinical reasoning processes during initial CSE employ iterative cycles of inductive and deductive reasoning, reflecting a patient‐centred assessment process. To date it is unknown how SLTs engage in clinical reasoning during follow‐up assessments of swallowing function, how they assess the appropriateness of initial management recommendations and how this relates to patient outcomes. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge: Our longitudinal evaluation of clinical reasoning and decision‐making patterns related to swallowing management in acute care demonstrated that SLTs tailored their processes to each patient's presentation. There was an emphasis on monitoring the suitability of the initial management recommendations and the potential for upgrade of diet or compensatory swallowing strategies. The iterative cycles of inductive and deductive reasoning reflect efficient decision‐making processes that maintain high‐quality clinical care within the acute environment. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Employing efficient and high‐quality clinical reasoning is a hallmark of good dysphagia practice in maximizing positive patient outcomes. Developing approaches to understanding and making explicit clinical reasoning processes of experienced clinicians may assist SLTs of all developmental stages to provide high standards of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue presents a collection of recent papers drawing on qualitative research in and about schooling in Australia and the ways in which gender-related issues in the broadest sense continue to shape people's educational experiences. These papers from the present are positioned in relation to the long histories of policy and research attention to gender equity in Australian education. We set the context for work in the present by scanning the past, noting the ambitions, the gaps and the failures of earlier policies, and drawing attention to the quality and volume of research that has previously been undertaken in this area. We explore the current policy vacuum regarding gender to consider some of the pressures and complexities that have led to the erasure or avoidance of gender-related issues. Each of the papers that form this special issue demonstrate—despite different methods, theoretical frameworks, settings and participant cohorts—how stereotypes and limitations circulate in everyday life in schools and beyond them, and how these impact on people. They each explore from a different starting point how gender injustices are perpetuated and produced, in often subtle and nuanced ways that require concerted effort to unpack. They simultaneously offer insights into the critical and creative ways that young people and those around them are reconfiguring gender and seeking more hopeful and more equitable educational experiences and outcomes. Collectively, the papers that form this special issue advocate for policies and practices that embrace the complexities of young people's lives and are oriented towards inclusive and equitable educational environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]