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Issue Addressed: While the links between sun exposure and skin cancer are well known, the benefits of sun exposure, particularly as a source of vitamin D, are less well known. This paper reports on a deliberative study exploring public perspectives about sun exposure harms and benefits. Methods: Two citizens' juries were conducted in Brisbane and Adelaide to consider questions about sun exposure, vitamin D and health promotion. Members of the general population (jurors) listened to evidence from expert witnesses about the harms and benefits of sun exposure. Most witness sessions extended for 60 min, with 6 sessions over 2 days. At each citizens' jury, jurors were asked to listen to expert testimony, consider the evidence and make policy recommendations. The planning and design of the citizens' juries were informed by well‐established citizens' jury methods. Results: Jurors proposed that Australia needs improved public information about the harms and benefits of sun exposure. They argued for information that supports personal decision‐making that accounts for differences in skin tone and geographical region. Jurors agreed that Australia needs an updated sun safety campaign that reflects new research and addresses diversity. A one‐size‐fits‐all approach to sun protection may no longer be appropriate. Conclusions: While a new campaign should address both harms and benefits, jurors felt the need for skin cancer prevention outweighs the desirability of generating vitamin D through sun exposure. More nuanced public health messages are needed, which balance the need for skin protection and vitamin D, and acknowledge the diversity of Australia's population. So What?: Previous research studies are typically siloed into the separate areas of vitamin D or skin cancer research. This study incorporated both topics and pooled the views of participants in two citizens' juries who agreed on the need for improved information about the harms and benefits of sun exposure to reflect a modern Australian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparative analysis of catchment management dams in Cork, Ireland and Brisbane, Australia to demonstrate how interactions between municipal government and expert advisors for public infrastructure administration can constrain community climate adaptation. The analysis highlights how neoliberal economic rationalism can appropriate public value choice under the guise of technocratic expertise. Experts are often considered responsible agents for the effective administration of public infrastructure, even when ostensibly technical decisions concerning infrastructure management seem to demand normative, political input. Technocratic administration arising from economic rationalist priorities can thereby exacerbate the hazards presented by climate variability and advancing climate change. Climate risk managers in both cases over‐relied on operating protocols and the expertise of engineers to administer public infrastructure in pursuit of economic priorities. When operating protocols proved insufficient in the face of climate extremes, however, blame was assigned to experts despite their making all available attempts to avert disaster. Through analysis of these cases, the paper discusses the need for normative transparency in expert‐led public administration and better integration of multi‐level governance for climate resilience when pursuing economic rationalist imperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The penetration of photovoltaic systems (PVs) to existing power grids is increasing as they are considered attractive options for electricity generation in distribution networks. This paper focuses on estimating the total power generated by a group of neighbouring PVs, spread over a distribution network using a single pyranometer for measuring the solar irradiance. A new empirical-based model that employs the Gene Expression Programming (GEP) technique is proposed to correlate the distribution of the PVs and the irradiance measured by the pyranometer and estimate the total power generated by the PVs. The geographic variability reduction index has been considered in developing the proposed model that also employs a Wavelet Transform technique to enhance its accuracy. The effective performance of the proposed model is validated using real data collected by the Solar Project at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Results reveal that the proposed technique yields more accurate results when compared with other existing approaches in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an interesting discussion and analysis of Pasifika (specifically Tongan and Samoan) migrants in Brisbane, and the diverse adaptive cultural practices they use to promote a sense of wellbeing and cultural continuity in diaspora contexts. Pacific Island migrant perspectives of wellbeing and worldviews are linked to their spatial behaviour and material cultural adaptations within places like Brisbane. The characteristics of the Brisbane urban landscape create the material cultural adaptations that have been observed in diaspora contexts, including places of dwelling, community and church gatherings. They are commonly displayed during family or community events, in both private and public spaces. In order to understand the significance of material cultural adaptations we must also consider the underpinnings of the materials and templates used within context. Preliminary qualitative findings have been drawn from a wider‐scale research project that has explored Pasifika migrants (of Samoan and Tongan descent) perceptions and experiences of wellbeing during 2015‒2018. This inquiry has rendered significant evidence of cultural values and identity elements originating from Samoa and Tonga and retained by generations of Brisbane‐based Pacific Islanders, through adapted material culture and shared spatial behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The papers in this special section of AJPA are the product of a symposium held in Brisbane in February 2003, which was jointly sponsored by the School of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Queensland and the Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet. Three papers were delivered. David Adams, from the Victorian Public Service, delivered a paper entitled ‘Usable knowledge and public policy’. Wayne Parsons, from the University of London, gave a paper ‘Not just steering but weaving: Relevant knowledge and the craft of building policy capacity’. Randal Stewart, a policy consultant based in Sydney, gave a paper entitled ‘Public sector reform knowledge production’. The purposes of this paper are to highlight salient points from the papers and to assess briefly the institutional and governance implications of taking at last some steps beyond the currently prevailing rationalist approaches to policy and governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural reform through forced mergers has been a dominant feature of Australian local government for decades. Advocates of compulsory consolidation contend that larger municipalities perform better across a wide range of attributes, including financial sustainability. Although empirical scholars of local government have invested considerable effort into investigating these claims, no one has yet examined the performance of Brisbane City Council against other local authorities, despite the fact that it is by far the largest council in Australia. This paper seeks to remedy this neglect by comparing Brisbane with Sydney City Council, an average of six southeast Queensland councils and an average of 10 metropolitan New South Wales councils against four measures of financial performance over the period 2008-2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Foetal MRI scans can induce feelings of fear, concern and anxiety in pregnant patients. The aim of this research was to determine if providing patients with an information leaflet reduced maternal anxiety regarding foetal MRI. Methods: A prospective, three‐arm comparative pilot study was performed in the MRI department of a quaternary public hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Three groups of 30 participants (total 90 participants) received differing levels of information about foetal MRI: Group A – no foetal‐MRI specific information (current practice at the site); Group B – a basic information leaflet; Group C – a comprehensive information leaflet. All participants completed a survey that explored their pre‐scan anxiety immediately after their MRI scan. Results: Over 50% of participants in each group felt anxious before the MRI. Participants expressed anxiety towards the general process of the MRI, the outcome or results of the scan, and the safety of the modality. The basic and comprehensive leaflets were both efficacious in reducing anxiety for the majority of participants. Conclusions: Whilst not all patients express anxiety regarding MRI scans, emotional distress surrounding the entire process is prevalent. Providing patients with comprehensive information about what the MRI scan entails (including the scan environment and duration, positioning, breath‐holding requirements, and foetal safety) reduces anxiety for most patients. These findings can be used to determine ways in which reduction of anxiety improves the patient experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fellows of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and members of the Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine are invited to forward to the journal, details of their publications which have appeared in journals other than Emergency Medicine during the period September–October 2003. Commentary on these papers will appear in the April 2004 issue of the journal. Copies of the papers are to be forwarded by mail or fax to journal headquarters (17 Grattan Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia; fax: +61 3 9663 8013) by 15 November 2003. The next call will be for papers published in the period November–December 2003. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue Addressed: Gender and sexually diverse young people (GSDYP) are an important target group for HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and there is an immediate need to explore ways to make testing interventions accessible and appropriate for this group.Methods: We used a modified World Café workshop with 14 GSDYP in Brisbane Australia, to inform the development of a pilot community-based testing intervention.Results: The workshop identified the key features of an ideal service, which would include multiple, accessible sites that offer holistic, affordable services and confidential care by respectful and knowledgeable providers. The service would allow young people to engage in decision-making processes, have a culturally inclusive, comfortable and friendly atmosphere, and provide free sexual and reproductive health technologies.Conclusion: When designing HIV/STI testing interventions for key groups, health promotion practitioners need to be cognisant of localised and nuanced expectations and ensure that services are tailored to the needs and experiences of the local population. SO WHAT?: This study provides insights into the needs and expectations of HIV/STI testing interventions for GSDYP in Australia, a key at-risk group whose perspectives are not adequately voiced in sexual health research and intervention design.Summary: This study explores facilitators and current barriers to HIV/STI testing with a group of gender and sexually diverse young people in Brisbane, Australia. Outcomes provide insights into the needs and expectations of HIV/STI testing services for this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial shape of a precipitation event has an important role in determining the catchment's hydrological response to a storm. To be able to generate stochastic design storms with a realistic spatial structure, the anisotropy of the storm has to be quantified. In this paper, a method is proposed to estimate the anisotropy of precipitation fields, using the concept of linear Generalized Scale Invariance (GSI). The proposed method is based on identifying the values of GSI parameters that best describe isolines of constant power on the two-dimensional power spectrum of the fields. The method is evaluated using two sets of simulated fields with known anisotropy and a measured precipitation event with an unknown anisotropy from Brisbane, Australia. It is capable of accurately estimating the anisotropy parameters of simulated nonzero fields, whereas introducing the rain-no rain intermittency alters the power spectra of the fields and slightly reduces the accuracy of the parameter estimates. The parameters estimated for the measured event correspond well with the visual observations on the spatial structure of the fields. The method requires minimum amount of decision making and user interaction, making it suitable for analyzing anisotropy of storm events consisting of long time series of fields with a changing spatial structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large scale urban model (LSUM) has been developed for the Brisbane-south East Queensland (SEQ) region to simulate potential future patterns of population and dwelling construction and the location of economic activity and jobs in industry sectors at a spatially disaggregated level of scale up to the year 2026. This paper provides a brief overview of the development of the LSUM for the SEQ region and illustrates how model outputs may be simulate likely spatial patterns under a number of different planning and development scenarios. The paper also demonstrated how model outcomes may be used to evaluate the implications of different planning scenarios and shows how model outputs may be used to inform planning for the provision of urban services. Resumen. Se ha desarrollado un modelo urbano a gran escala ( LSMU, siglas en inglés) para la región de Brisbane- Queensland Suroriental ( SEQ) para simular, a un nivel de escala desagregado espacialmente y hasta el año 2026, los patrones futuros y potenciales de población y construcción de viviendas y la localización de la actividad económica y el empleo en los sectores industriales. Este artículo aporta un breve perspectiva general del desarrollo del LSMU para la región SEQ e ilustra hasta que punto los outputs del modelo pueden simular patrones espaciales probables bajo una serie de escenarios de planificación y desarrollo diferentes. El artículo demuestra también la manera de utilizar los resultados del modelo para evaluar las implicaciones de diferentes escenarios de planificación y muestra como pueden utilizarse los outputs del modelo para asesorar la planificación de la cobertura de servicios urbanos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1960s and 70s were testing times for Australian pharmacy schools and were characterised by poor resources and infrastructure, and political and academic intransigence, which varied in intensity across the country. The South Australian and Victorian stories were the most complicated, followed by Tasmania and Western Australia. In New South Wales, the pharmacy school was in the university while in Queensland, the upgrading and transfer of the course from a technical college to the University of Queensland was at the university's behest. This paper chronicles the events leading up to the granting of pharmacy degrees in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we explored the hassles and uplifts (i.e. negative and positive emotional events) experienced by registered nurses, nursing assistants and personal carers working with people with cognitive impairment in community and residential healthcare settings in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The primary aim of the research was to explore what aspects of caring for cognitively impaired clients hassles nurses, what helps to relieve these hassles, what aspects of this work nurses find rewarding and what detracts from those rewards, as well as the intensity with which each of these aspects were felt. A questionnaire developed to explore hassles and uplifts at work was administered and 57 responses obtained. Results indicated that caring for the cognitively impaired client provides many uplifts for nurses and few hassles. However, the hassles that occurred were of high importance. This paper will be of interest to managers, nurses and carers in settings where there are people with cognitive impairment as well as scholars, who may find that assessing emotional hassles and uplifts provides additional insights into other areas of nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last four decades, development in the environmental color design field challenged the prevailing designer's attitude towards selecting architectural and urban color palettes. Examining praxiological issues in environmental color design is necessary to reveal influential conditions that can facilitate or obstruct a shift in the design paradigm. This research article presents a qualitative study of environmental color design praxis (ECDP) in urban contexts. The study sought to understand how designers constructed their perspectives on contemporary ECDP, how these perspectives influenced their design approaches and the conditions under which designers can change their attitude and practices in environmental color design. The conceptual model of ECDP emerged from the grounded theory analysis of the interviews with Brisbane designers and the interpretation of relevant texts written by prominent designers and scholars. This article describes the core components of the ECDP model and provides interpretations of how educational, pragmatic and socio‐psychological factors influence dynamic changes in ECDP. The underlying research concludes that a holistic understanding of ECDP can inform the advanced and socially responsive environmental color design paradigm; the ECDP model provides a frame of reference for developing color design praxis theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the consequences of the recent military coup in Myanmar for the Rohingya crisis. Data from seven semi‐structured interviews were collected from academic and Rohingya leaders in the Australian cities of Sydney and Brisbane. The findings suggest that the regime change that has taken place will not resolve the Rohingya crisis unless the Myanmar government moves away from its current anti‐Rohingya, religious nationalism policy agenda. A military coup on 1 February 2021 overthrew the relatively new democratic government in Myanmar. The anti‐military movement now faces the military's brutal force for restoring democracy in the country. The elected parliament members established an interim National Unity Government (NUG) to lead anti‐military protests. Regarding the military junta and NUG's strategy concerning the Rohingya crisis, both aim to get international support for their endeavours. The Rohingya became a sacrificial lamb for both of these competitors. The Rohingya now face a dilemma in making the decision to support one or the other political parties, as the leaders of both parties were involved actively in instigating the Rohingya genocide in 2017. The situation for the Rohingya becomes complicated as they now find themselves caught between the 'devil and the deep sea'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian housing markets experienced widespread and, in some cases, extraordinary growth in prices between 2020 and 2023. Using recently developed methodology that accounts for fundamental economic drivers, we assess the existence and degree of speculative behaviour, as well as the timing of exuberance and downturns in these markets. Our findings indicate that speculative behaviour was indeed present in six of the eight capital cities at some time over the period studied. The sequence of events in this nation‐wide housing bubble began in the Brisbane market and concluded in Melbourne, Canberra, and Hobart following the interest rate rise implemented by the Reserve Bank of Australia in May 2022. As of March 2023, the housing markets in Sydney, Canberra and Hobart had broadly regained stability, while Melbourne's return to its normal state is more gradual. In addition, over‐corrections against fundamentals are evident in the housing markets of Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin and Perth. For regular updates on the housing markets, readers may visit the authors' website at https://www.housing-fever.com. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OAA0304 Hypoxic adaptation uncovers a glycolytic dependence of HIV-1 latency reversal Y.I. Kayode SP 1 sp , D.C. Clemmer SP 1 sp , A.A. Owolabi SP 1 sp , L.M. Clark SP 1 sp , H.E. Taylor SP 1 sp SP 1 sp SUNY Upstate Medical University, Microbiology and Immunology, Syracuse, United States B Background b : The main barrier to HIV-1 curative strategies is the persistence of latently infected CD4 T cells in lymphoid tissue compartments which readily fuel viral rebound following antiretroviral therapy (ART) interruption in people living with HIV (PLWH). Mamba SP 1 sp , V. Williams SP 1 sp , A. Mafukidze SP 1 sp , P. Bongomin SP 1 sp , P. Dlamini SP 1 sp , G. Mchunu SP 1 sp , S. Mhlanga SP 1 sp , H. Byarugaba SP 1 sp , J. Opoku SP 2 sp , S. Kibwana SP 3 sp , S. Ojoo SP 2 sp , D. Bazira SP 2 sp , S. Haumba SP 1 sp SP 1 sp Center for Global Health Practice and Impact, Georgetown University, Mbabane, Eswatini, SP 2 sp Center for Global Health Practice and Impact, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC, United States, SP 3 sp Center for Global Health Practice and Impact, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, United States B Background b : Pill count is widely used as an adherence measure among clients taking antiretroviral therapy (ART). OAA0102 Resident microbiota enhance HIV acquisition, replication and pathogenesis in vivo A. Wahl SP 1 sp , W. Yao SP 1 sp , B. Liao SP 1 sp , M. Chateau SP 1 sp , C. Richardson SP 1 sp , L. Ling SP 1 sp , J. Tucker SP 1 sp , I. McGowan SP 2 sp , R.B. Sartor SP 1 sp , J.V. Garcia SP 1 sp SP 1 sp University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States, SP 2 sp University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, United States B Background b : Resident microbiota maintain intestinal homeostasis by regulating digestion, metabolism, immune development and providing protection from infection. [Extracted from the article]

This paper examines structural conditions which generated resistance to Brisbane, Queensland's system of expressways and freeways and, in particular, distinguishes between elements restraining protest after plans were introduced in 1966-67 and the circumstances producing the strident action of the 1973-74 period when extensive parts of the system were postponed. These strikingly different responses will be seen to result from changes within Australian capitalism and its pattern of urban and regional development, where a political watershed, dating around 1970, divided the last decade of the post-war boom as a period of surprisingly little urban and social struggle, and the early 1970s, when accumulating economic and urban contradictions resulted in significant contestation within both Australia and its cities. Introduced by a joint Brisbane city council and Queensland government initiative and based on designs by an American firm of engineers, Brisbane's expressways and freeways form the core of a massive reorganization of the city's, and surrounding region's, transportation system.

This paper presents a 2 ½-year intervention case study of an attempt to establish an alternative work setting for the unemployed in Brisbane (Australia). There were four distinct phases of the intervention's life cycle. The phases are described, and an analysis of the structural features of the organization is presented. Goal conflicts are noted as a limiting feature of alternative work settings. Effective leadership with a group that is, in design, transient is also noted as a structural problem with the intervention. Positive features of the intervention seem to outweigh the negative, and the approach is recommended for use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a Bayesian model which produces probabilistic reconstructions of hydroclimatic variability in Queensland Australia. The model provides a standardized approach to hydroclimate reconstruction using multiple palaeoclimate proxy records derived from natural archives such as speleothems, ice cores and tree rings. The method combines time‐series modeling with inverse prediction to quantify the relationships between a given hydroclimate index and relevant proxies over an instrumental period and subsequently reconstruct the hydroclimate back through time. We present case studies for Brisbane and Fitzroy catchments focusing on two hydroclimate indices, the Rainfall Index (RFI) and the Standardized Precipitation‐Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). The probabilistic nature of the reconstructions allows us to estimate the probability that a hydroclimate index in any reconstruction year was lower (higher) than the minimum (maximum) value observed over the instrumental period. In Brisbane, the RFI is unlikely (probabilities < 5%) to have exhibited extremes beyond the minimum/maximum values observed between 1889 and 2019. However, in Fitzroy there are several years during the reconstruction period where the RFI is likely (>50% probability) to have exhibited behavior beyond the minimum/maximum of what has been observed, during the instrumental period. For SPEI, the probability of observing such extremes prior to the beginning of the instrumental period in 1889 doesn't exceed 30% in any reconstruction year in Brisbane, but exceeds 50% in multiple years in Fitzroy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: From diagnosis and beyond, a paediatric brain tumour and its treatment impact the child and their family in a myriad of ways. While it is considered best practice to offer ongoing psychosocial support for all family members, there is little scholarly investigation of both families' experiences and the practical implications of offering such care. We aimed to explore families' experiences of paediatric brain tumour and their associated psychosocial health service needs. Methods: Families receiving care at the Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, for a child (0–18 years) who had been diagnosed with a brain tumour between 2019 and 2022 were invited to be interviewed about their experiences. Using qualitative description, we analysed these interviews to identify families' unmet psychosocial health service needs and their suggestions for improvement. Results: Twenty‐three clinically and socially diverse families were represented. While parents/carers expressed gratitude for the care their child had received, most also described unmet needs for the broader family. We identified three primary needs to be addressed: (1) parents want accessible psychological/emotional support for themselves; (2) parents/carers want additional guidance to navigate the hospital setting to reduce uncertainty and loss of control; and (3) parents want support to minimise treatment‐associated trauma for their child. Conclusions: Our findings evidence the need for improved family‐centred psychosocial care within paediatric brain tumour care in Queensland, Australia. We propose a counselling and care coordination intervention to support parents/carers to care for themselves, their child, and their family through an extremely challenging experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In environmental monitoring, the ability to obtain high‐quality data across space and time is often limited by the cost of purchasing, deploying and maintaining a large collection of equipment, and the employment of personnel to perform these tasks. An ideal design for a monitoring campaign would be dense enough in time to capture short‐range variation at each site, long enough in time to examine trends at each site and across all sites, and dense enough in space to allow modelling of the relationship between the means at each of the sites. This paper outlines a methodology for semiparametric spatiotemporal modelling of data that is dense in time but sparse in space, obtained from a split panel design, the most feasible approach to covering space and time with limited equipment. The data are hourly averaged particle number concentration (PNC) and were collected as part of the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health's Ultrafine Particles from Traffic Emissions and Children's Health (UPTECH) project. The panel design comprises two weeks of continuous measurements taken at each of a number of government primary schools in the Brisbane Metropolitan Area, with each school visited sequentially. The school data are augmented by data from long‐term monitoring stations at three locations in Brisbane, Australia. The temporal part of the model explains daily and weekly cycles in PNC at the schools. The temporal variation is modelled hierarchically with a penalised random walk term common to all sites and a similar term accounting for the remaining temporal trend at each site. The modelling of temporal trends requires an acknowledgement that the observations are correlated rather than independent. At each school and long‐term monitoring site, peaks in PNC can be attributed to the morning and afternoon rush hour traffic and new particle formation events. The spatial component of the model describes the school‐to‐school variation in mean PNC at each school and within each school ground. The spatial term in the model is derived from a stochastic partial differential equation and approximates a Gaussian process with a Gaussian Markov Random field. Fitting the model helps describe spatial and temporal variability at a subset of the UPTECH schools and the long‐term monitoring sites, which can be used to estimate the exposure of school children to ultrafine particles. Parameter estimates and their uncertainty are computed in a computationally efficient approximate Bayesian inference environment, R‐INLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about head and neck oncology discussed at the 9th annual scientific meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Head and Neck Society in Brisbane, Queensland in July 2007 is presented. The meeting was attended by multidisciplinary organization for surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and nursing, and allied health professionals. Papers from all the specialties and from nursing and allied health personnel were presented during the meeting.

Focuses on Beyond Cynicism: The Attributes of Policy Success, a conference held in Brisbane, Queensland on February 3 and 4, 2000. Theme that emerged from the convention for public administration; Discourse on the concept of social exclusion and social inclusion; Keynote speech from Glyn Davis, director general of the Office of the Premier and Cabinet; List of other lecturers.

Homelessness is a significant social issue that continues to confront Australian society, despite burgeoning public and policy responses to the issue. Existing scholarship demonstrates the important role the media can play in shaping such responses by framing homelessness – and the people who experience it – in particular ways. However, to date there has been limited focus on how the media represents social responses to homelessness, or how such representations might influence public perceptions of the appropriateness of current responses. Drawing on analysis of four years of media articles (2016–2019), this article examines how the print media frames responses to homelessness in Brisbane, Australia. Our findings demonstrate that the media largely frames current responses as fulfilling and enjoyable for volunteers, and as desperately needed by people who experience homelessness. In representing the issue in this way, the media highlights the unequal power dynamics between those experiencing homelessness and those responding to homelessness. Rather than challenging this problematic power hierarchy, however, the media reifies it through its celebration of temporary and inadequate homelessness responses. We argue that such framing has the potential to promote public and policy support for responses that do little to address the underlying causes of the issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As fragmented landscapes become increasingly common around the world, managing the spatial arrangement of landscape elements (i.e., landscape configuration) may help to promote the conservation of biodiversity. However, the relative effects of landscape configuration on different dimensions of biodiversity across species assemblages are largely unknown. Thus, a key challenge consists in understanding when it is necessary to focus on landscape configuration, in addition to landscape composition, to achieve multifunctional landscapes. We tested the effects of landscape composition (the percentage of tree cover and built infrastructure) and landscape configuration (degree of fragmentation) on landscape‐level species richness and different metrics of functional diversity of urban birds. We collected data on different bird guilds (nectarivores/frugivores, insectivores) from Brisbane, Australia. Using structural equation models, we found that landscape structure (landscape composition and configuration) affected functional diversity via two main pathways: (1) through effects of landscape composition, mediated by landscape configuration (indirect effects), and (2) through direct ("independent") effects of landscape composition and configuration, filtering species with extreme trait values. Our results show that landscape‐level species richness declined with the extent of built infrastructure, but patterns of trait diversity did not necessarily correlate with this variable. Landscape configuration had a stronger mediating effect on some metrics of the functional diversity of insectivores than on the functional diversity of frugivores/nectarivores. In addition, fragmentation increased the effects of built infrastructure for some traits (body size and dispersal capacity), but not for others (habitat plasticity and foraging behavior). These results suggest that differential approaches to managing landscape structure are needed depending on whether the focus is on protecting functional diversity or species richness and what the target guild is. Managing landscape fragmentation in areas with high levels of built infrastructure is important if the objective is to protect insectivore species with uncommon traits, even if it is not possible to preserve high levels of species richness. However, if the target is to enhance both functional diversity and species richness of multiple guilds, the focus should be on improving composition through the reduction of negative effects of built infrastructure, rather than promoting specific landscape configurations in growing cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Groove pancreatitis (GP) is an underrecognised subtype of chronic pancreatitis, focally affecting the area between the duodenum and pancreatic head. It most commonly affects males between 40 and 50 years of age with a history of alcohol misuse. Patients most commonly complain of abdominal pain and vomiting. Due to its focal nature, it is a potentially surgically treatable form of chronic pancreatitis. We report results of patients surgically treated for groove pancreatitis followed by a literature review of patient outcomes post resection. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with histopathologically confirmed GP post‐surgical resection at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and Greenslopes Private Hospital in Brisbane, Australia was conducted between 2013 and 2020. Diagnosis was confirmed histologically when Brunner gland hyperplasia and chronic inflammation/fibrosis were found within the pancreaticoduodenal interface. Preoperative and postoperative symptoms were analysed along with complications. Additionally, a systematic review on outcomes of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for GP was performed from three databases. Results: Eight patients underwent surgery for GP. Elimination of preoperative symptoms was achieved in five of the eight patients. Major complications included one take back to theatre for pancreatic leak. Our literature review found complete resolution of pain and vomiting in 80% of GP patients after PD. Conclusion: Optimal management of GP begins with early recognition. Symptoms from GP are likely to respond well to surgical intervention. We advocate for aggressive surgical resection in a patient with a high index of suspicion for GP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article shows that although Pacific arts began to be largely recognised in Australia in the 1990s, Pacific artists based in Australia remained mostly invisible in the contemporary art scene until the mid‐2000s. I aim to demonstrate how Pacific artists and curators—who in some cases collaborated with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and curators—have made visible myriad Pacific identities and social trajectories in Australian cities. Exhibitions reveal and highlight multiple experiences of Pacific people residing in Australia, for whom Pacific cultures are partly mediated by the experiences of their relatives, popularised by museum collections and coloured by the gaze of non‐Pacific people. This article is built around two cultural events that have not previously received scholarly attention, a group show curated in Sydney by Māori artist and cultural worker Keren Ruki and a triennial in Brisbane imagined and organised by Bundjalung Yugambeh (Aboriginal Australian) artist and curator Jenny Fraser. It addresses how narratives in the 2000s were often connected to objectives of empowerment and the necessity to build a future for Pacific peoples in Australian society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuaries make an important contribution to the global greenhouse gas budget. Yet modeling predictions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions from estuaries remain highly uncertain due to both simplified assumptions about the underpinning hydrologic and biologic processes and inadequate data availability to uniquely define parameters related to CO2 and CH4 processes. This study presents a modeling framework to quantify the sensitivity and uncertainty of predicted CO2 and CH4 concentrations and emissions, which is demonstrated through application to a subtropical urban estuary (Brisbane River, Australia). A 3D hydrodynamic‐biogeochemical model was constructed, and calibrated using the model‐independent Parameter ESTimation software (PEST) with field data sets that captured strong gradients of CO2 and CH4 concentrations and emissions along the estuary. The approach refined uncertainty in the estimation of whole‐estuary annual emissions, and enabled us to assess the sensitivity and uncertainty of CO2 and CH4 dynamics. Estuarine CO2 concentrations were most sensitive to uncertainty in riverine inputs, whereas estuarine CH4 concentrations were most sensitive to sediment production and pelagic oxidation. Over the modeled year, variance in the daily fluctuations in carbon emissions from this case‐study spanned the full range of emission rates reported for estuaries around the world, highlighting that spatially or temporally limited sampling regimes could significantly bias estuarine greenhouse gas emission estimates. The combination of targeted field campaigns with the modeling approach presented in this study can help to improve carbon budgeting in estuaries, reduce uncertainty in emission estimates, and support management strategies to reduce or offset estuary greenhouse gas emissions. Plain Language Summary: Global estuaries are a major source of CO2 emission and play a disproportionate role in global carbon cycling relative to their area. Estuaries are also a source of CH4 that has approximately 34 times the global‐warming potential of CO2 over a 100‐year time period. However, large uncertainties remain in estimating the CO2 and CH4 emissions from estuaries due to limited observations to cover their large spatiotemporal variations, and lack of knowledge of their dynamics in response to the external inputs and internal biogeochemical reactions. In this study, we developed a modeling framework to address the sensitivity and uncertainty of CO2 and CH4 dynamics in the Brisbane River Estuary to both the riverine and wastewater inputs and biogeochemical reaction parameters. We showed that CO2 concentrations were most sensitive to catchment inputs and CH4 concentrations were most sensitive to the rate of sediment production and oxidation in the water. The estimated annual‐total CO2 equivalent emission from Brisbane River Estuary in 2016 was 3,514 ± 445 tonnes. The combination of targeted field campaigns with the modeling approach can help to improve carbon budgeting in estuaries, reduce uncertainty in emission estimates, and support management strategies to reduce or offset estuary greenhouse gas emissions. Key Points: Estuarine CO2 is most sensitive to external riverine CO2 inputsEstuarine CH4 is most sensitive to sediment production and oxidation in the waterThe modeling approach constrained the uncertainty in the estimation of CO2 and CH4 outgassing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anastomotic leak (AL) is the anathema of colorectal surgery, with well‐documented adverse impacts on patient morbidity and mortality. The long‐term consequences of AL on bowel function and quality of life (QoL) is less well‐defined after minimally invasive surgery. By omitting a temporary diverting ileostomy (TDI), it is postulated that the minimally invasive approach will lead to early diagnosis and expedient management of AL. Methods: This retrospective and cross‐sectional study included patients who underwent minimally invasive restorative rectal surgery with a low pelvic colorectal anastomosis and without a TDI at two tertiary hospitals in Brisbane, Australia between 2004 and 2018. Surgical management of AL is described and long‐term functional outcomes were evaluated through validated questionnaires. Results: Two hundred and twenty‐four patients met inclusion criteria. AL was associated with lesion proximity to the anal verge (P = 0.011), total mesorectal excision (TME) (P <0.001) and advanced malignant disease (P = 0.019). Twenty‐four patients experienced an AL (11%) diagnosed at a median of 5.5 days post‐operative. Survey responders (n = 99, 62%) included 10 (10%) AL and 89 (90%) non‐AL patients, with a median follow‐up of 4 and 6.4 years. SF‐36 and FISI scores were comparable between groups, however AL patients had worse LARS scores (P = 0.028). Patients undergoing TME, irrespective of AL, had poorer low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) (P <0.001) and FISI scores (P = 0.001). Conclusion: AL in patients undergoing minimally invasive low pelvic colorectal anastomosis without a TDI does not impact long term QoL. The occurrence of LARS is dependent on the extent of resection, rather than the occurrence of AL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decadal experiments' output of the coupled model inter‐comparison project phase‐5 (CMIP5) contains significant model drift. For practical use of CMIP5 decadal climate variables, it is necessary to correct this model drift. In previous studies, drift correction of CMIP5 decadal data of temperature and temperature‐based climate indices have been investigated, but there is no study that investigated the drift correction of decadal precipitation at a catchment scale. This study investigates the practical use of CMIP5 decadal precipitation data on seasonal scale using different drift correction alternatives for Brisbane catchment in Australia. For this, decadal monthly precipitation data from eight GCMs (EC‐EARTH, MRI‐CGCM3, MPI‐ESM‐LR, MPI‐ESM‐MR, MIROC4h, MIROC5 and CanCM4) were cut for the Australian region. By using the bi‐linear interpolation, the GCM data were re‐gridded to 0.05° × 0.05° spatial resolution matching with the observed gridded precipitation data collected from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Both model and observed data were subset for the Brisbane catchment and aggregated into seasonal means for Australian seasons. Four drift correction alternatives including one new modified method were employed for the selected GCM models and the models were categorized based on their performances using different skill scores. The results revealed that the performance of drift correction alternatives vary among different models and initialization years. Although some drift correction methods showed better performances than others for a given model but it is still difficult to suggest the most suitable method for seasonal precipitation. Drift correction approaches for other time scales such as monthly precipitation, and their application for individual ensemble members may be investigated further to better understand the implications of alternative drift corrections for decadal forecasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A recent survey found that Rapid Access Palliative Radiation Therapy (RAPRT) clinics have not been widely embraced in Australia and New Zealand for many reasons. The purpose of this narrative is to describe the transition of a Brisbane, Queensland, RAPRT clinic to an Advanced Practice Radiation Therapist (APRT) model to further improve access and delivery of palliative radiation therapy at that centre. Methods: The weekly RAPRT clinic commenced in 2005, run by one Radiation Oncologist (RO). The role of the attending senior Radiation Therapist (RT) was mainly to facilitate rapid passage of patients from clinic to treatment. However, because individual ROs preferred to retain care of their own patients, capture of the relevant population was limited. It was therefore decided in 2012 to gradually transition to a model where the RT would work with all ROs and manage all palliative patients from referral to follow‐up, under RO supervision. Results: The steps to this palliative APRT pathway involved formulation of the role description, mentoring/training of the RT, overseas site visits, further post‐graduate education, funding of the position, staff feedback surveys, evaluation studies and endorsement by professional bodies, leading to formal credentialing in 2017. Importantly, the APRT undertakes all steps in the pathway including field or volume delineation (with approval and sign‐off by the responsible RO). The role has come to be highly valued by all disciplines. Conclusion: The successful establishment of a palliative APRT role in one Australian centre serves as a template for others wishing to create a similar position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: High rates of tobacco smoking among people who are homeless or living in temporary accommodation exacerbate poor health outcomes and financial disadvantage. There is limited research on this population's perceptions of smoking cessation benefits or support strategies. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional survey of 68 male smokers living in a temporary accommodation hostel in Brisbane, Australia. The survey measured smoking and quit attempt history, perceptions of cessation aids and benefits of cessation, and awareness of the Intensive Quit Support program—a free Queensland government‐funded program comprising 12 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy supplemented with weekly calls from Quitline. Results: Participants (56% aged ≤40 years) spent a high proportion of their income on smoking (median $80/week). Although the most commonly reported perceived benefit of smoking cessation was improved health, more participants were interested in a campaign promoting the financial savings of quitting rather than the health benefits. Twice as many participants reported the high cost of smoking‐provoked thoughts of quitting than graphic health warning labels on cigarette packs (70.6% vs. 30.9%). Participants reported a high level of interest in e‐cigarettes as a cessation aid. There was a low level of awareness but moderate level of interest in the Intensive Quit Support program. Discussion and Conclusions: Smoking cessation campaigns promoting the financial savings of cessation may be more salient than health‐focused campaigns among relatively young men who smoke and experience homelessness. There is a clear need for innovative, targeted strategies promoting smoking cessation among this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Literature on dermatology outpatient demographic and clinical data is limited, and the few studies on this topic are mainly conducted overseas, with medical systems and case mix different to Australia. This study presents demographic data relating to dermatology public outpatient referrals to a tertiary hospital in Brisbane, Australia, and determines what additional structured data should be collected to formulate and evaluate initiatives to address service issues such as referral quality, triage process and wait times. Methods: A four‐year retrospective audit was undertaken, summarising all referrals (n = 7140) and clinical dermatology encounters (n = 53 844) between January 2016 and December 2019 at Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH), the largest hospital in Metro South Health (MSH), serving a population of one million. PAH has one of the two largest public dermatology clinics in Queensland and is the only dermatology service within MSH. Results: Patient demographic data, wait time by triage category, referral rates over time and encounter durations were collected. Structured diagnostic data (e.g. ICD‐10 coding) of the provisional diagnosis, comorbidities, medications and the final diagnosis are not collected in a structured format and would be a valuable addition. Conclusions: The clinical burden of public dermatology is increasing. Both collection and analysis of structured data pertaining to the referrals and encounters are important to help formulate, implement and evaluate initiatives that aim to improve health service provision in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on Q fever, which was first recognised as a clinical entity in an outbreak of respiratory illness in abattoir workers in Brisbane, Queensland, caused by Coxiella burnetii, providing information on its clinical presentation, control and biological and pathogenesis of C. burnetii. He discusses the paper by Schimmer and colleagues on the disease in dairy sheep and supports the notion that the pattern of higher seroprevalence in dairy animals extends to sheep.

Introduction: Night‐time entertainment precincts (NEP) are the site of a disproportionate amount of alcohol‐related violence, injuries and anti‐social behaviour. To combat this the Queensland government introduced patron bans in October 2014, giving police the power to exclude individuals from NEPs and preventing patrons from remaining in or entering the designated area or from designated premises for the ban duration. Mandatory identification scanners within licensed venues were also introduced, which are used to enforce patron bans. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of police‐issued 10‐day patron bans for preventing alcohol‐related violence or anti‐social behaviour occurring within NEPs during high‐alcohol hours. Methods: Queensland's largest NEPs; Brisbane central business district, Fortitude Valley and Surfers Paradise central business district; were examined. Time‐series autoregressive integrated moving average analyses were used to estimate the influence of 10‐day patron bans on police‐recorded serious assaults, common assaults and good order offences. Analyses controlled for the introduction of relevant policy and identification scanners. Results: The number of police‐issued patron bans did not significantly predict changes in serious assault, common assault or good order offence trends the weekend following the ban (within the 10‐day period). Discussion and Conclusions: The current study was unable to find evidence indicating that 10‐day patron bans reduced alcohol‐related harms experienced in Queensland's largest NEPs in the short term. Further research needs to be conducted examining other types of patron bans, particularly longer bans issued in other jurisdictions or by licensees, and whether bans change individual's behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims: In an attempt to reduce alcohol‐related harm in night‐time entertainment precincts, the Queensland state government (Australia) introduced the Tackling Alcohol‐Fuelled Violence strategy in July 2016, including restrictions on late‐night service of alcohol and—later—compulsory ID scanners at venues. In this article, we examined the impact of these changes on emergency department (ED) presentations and hospital admissions for alcohol‐related harm. Design and Methods: We used data on ED presentations (July 2009–June 2019) and hospital admissions (July 2009–December 2018). Interrupted time series models using seasonal auto‐regressive integrated moving average methods were developed to test the impact of the policy change on presentations for alcohol intoxication, any injury or maxillofacial fractures, and admissions for rates of assault‐related injuries or maxillofacial fractures. Analyses were conducted using state‐wide Queensland data with a sub‐analysis focussing on major Brisbane hospitals. Results: The introduction of 3 am last drinks and mandatory ID scanners had no significant impact on most outcome measures, either across the state or within Brisbane. State‐wide, there was a significant decline in ED injury presentations following the introduction of mandatory ID scanners. Discussion and Conclusions: The introduction of the Tackling Alcohol‐Fuelled Violence strategy in Queensland Safe Night Precincts was potentially associated with a small reduction in injury presentations to EDs. The lack of other impacts may relate to the relative lack of specificity in health system data, which challenges in the implementation of the Tackling Alcohol‐Fuelled Violence policies or other local factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about several papers discussed during the 1998 Family Therapy Conference in Brisbane, Queensland are presented. The conference tackled the issue about some factors of family therapy in New South Wales. The event also featured several key speakers, including Andrew Samuels and Bebe Speed.

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has impacted educational systems worldwide during 2020, including primary and secondary schooling. To enable students of a local secondary school in Brisbane, Queensland, to continue with their practical agricultural science learning and facilitate online learning, a "Grass Gazers" citizen science scoping project was designed and rapidly implemented as a collaboration between the school and a multidisciplinary university research group focused on pollen allergy. Here, we reflect on the process of developing and implementing this project from the perspective of the school and the university. A learning package including modules on pollen identification, tracking grass species, measuring field greenness, using a citizen science data entry platform, forensic palynology, as well as video guides, risk assessment and feedback forms were generated. Junior agriculture science students participated in the learning via online lessons and independent data collection in their own local neighborhood and/or school grounds situated within urban environments. The university research group and school coordinator, operating in their own distributed work environments, had to develop, source, adopt, and/or adapt material rapidly to meet the unique requirements of the project. The experience allowed two‐way knowledge exchange between the secondary and tertiary education sectors. Participating students were introduced to real‐world research and were able to engage in outdoor learning during a time when online, indoor, desk‐based learning dominated their studies. The unique context of restrictions imposed by the social isolation policies, as well as government Public Health and Department of Education directives, allowed the team to respond by adapting teaching and research activity to develop and trial learning modules and citizen science tools. The project provided a focus to motivate and connect teachers, academic staff, and school students during a difficult circumstance. Extension of this citizen project for the purposes of research and secondary school learning has the potential to offer ongoing benefits for grassland ecology data acquisition and student exposure to real‐world science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study changes in the spatial distribution and segregation of socio‐economic groups in Australia using a new data set with harmonised census data for 1991 and 2011. We find a general increase in residential segregation by education and occupation groups across the major capital cities in Australia. Importantly, these trends cannot be explained in general by changes in the demographic structure of groups and areas but rather by the rise in the over and underrepresentation of groups across areas. In particular, our analysis reveals clear diverging trends in the spatial configuration of high and low socio‐economic groups as measured by their occupation and education. Whereas high‐skilled groups became more concentrated in the inner parts of cities, the low‐educated and those working in low‐status occupations became increasingly overrepresented in outer areas. This pattern is observed in all five major capital cities, but it is especially marked in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is mounting concern that people living more urbanised, modern lifestyles have fewer and lower quality interactions with nature, and therefore have limited access to the associated health and well‐being benefits. Yet, variation in the different types of nature interactions and the factors that influence these interactions across populations are poorly understood.We compared four types of nature interactions by administering surveys across two cities that differ markedly in urbanisation pattern and population density—Singapore and Brisbane—: (a) indirect (viewing nature through a window at work or at home); (b) incidental (spending time in nature as part of work); (c) intentional interactions in gardens; and (d) intentional interactions in public urban greenspace.Our results show that Singapore respondents spent about half as much time (25.8 hr/week) interacting with nature as Brisbane respondents (52.3 hr/week), and indirect interactions were the most prevalent across both cities.Nature orientation, age, income and gender significantly predicted the duration of nature interactions in both cities, while self‐reported health, education and ethnicity additionally predicted the duration of nature interactions only for Brisbane. Also, the relationship(s) between each factor and duration could differ in direction and effect size between the types of nature interactions.As such, we conclude that there is much local variation in the dynamics of interactions between people and nature, and that focused studies are needed to develop effective interventions addressing declines in nature interactions in different locations. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequately designed culverts can be physical barriers to fish passage if they increase the velocity of water flow in the environment, alter natural turbulence patterns or fail to provide adequate water depth. They may also act as behavioural barriers to fish passage if they affect the willingness of fish species to enter or pass through the structure due to altered ambient light conditions. To understand how reduced light intensity might affect fish behaviour in culverts, the authors performed a behavioural choice experiment quantifying the amount of time individual fish spent in dark and illuminated areas of a controlled experimental channel. They found that behavioural responses were largely reflective of the species' diel activity patterns; the diurnal species Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum and Retropinna semoni preferred illuminated regions, whereas the nocturnal/crepuscular Macquaria novemaculeata preferred the darkened region of the channel. Bidyanus bidyanus were strongly rheotactic, and their behaviour was influenced more by water flow direction than ambient light level. The authors then determined that a threshold light intensity of only c. 100–200 lx (cf. midday sunlight c. 100,000 lx) was required to overcome the behavioural barrier in c. 70% of the diurnally active C. stercusmuscarum and R. semoni tested. When these values were placed into an environmental context, 15 road‐crossing (3.4–7.0 m long) box (c. 1 m × 1 m, height × width) and pipe (c. 1 m diameter) culverts sampled in Brisbane, Australia, recorded light intensities in the centre of the structure that were below the threshold for C. stercusmuscarum and R. semoni movement and could potentially be a barrier to their passage through the structure. Attention is required to better understand the impacts of low light intensity in culverts on fish passage and to prioritize restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study sought to describe the burden of acute diarrhoeal illness (ADI) in an Australian subtropical urban setting following rotavirus vaccine introduction and to investigate the associations between child/family characteristics and ADI. Methods: Parents of 154 children from the Observational Research in Childhood Infectious Diseases birth cohort provided daily symptom and health‐care data until the age of 2 years. Results: The incidence rate of ADI was 1.07 per child‐year (95% confidence interval: 0.94–1.21). The median length of episode duration was 3 days (25th–75th percentiles: 1–6). The incidence rate was significantly higher in the first month of life and between 6 and 17 months of age compared with 18–23 months, also for children with siblings and in formal childcare. Overall, 49% of ADI episodes led to health‐care visits. Conclusions: Despite a successful rotavirus vaccine programme, ADI still results in a substantial disease burden affecting young Australian children and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Despite paediatric bronchiectasis being recognized increasingly worldwide, prior reports of hospitalization costs for bronchiectasis in children are lacking. This study aimed to (i) identify health service costs of hospitalizations and (ii) factors associated with these costs in children admitted to an Australian paediatric hospital following an acute exacerbation of their bronchiectasis. Methods: Demographic and hospital resource use data were prospectively recorded for 100 hospitalizations in 80 children aged <18 years admitted consecutively to the QCH, Brisbane, Australia. Costs (2016 AUD) were obtained from the hospital's Finance Department. Linear regressions, with bootstrap resampling to quantify uncertainty, were used to estimate factors affecting cost of hospitalization. Results: The 100 hospitalizations (48 males) had a median (IQR) age of 6.04 (4.04–9.85) years. Their mean (SD) LOS was 12.30 (4.60) days. The mean (SD) direct health service cost was AUD 30 182 (13 998) per hospitalization. The greatest contributor to costs was health professional wages, accounting for 70% of the cost per episode. LOS, younger age at admission and number of bronchiectatic lobes affected were associated with higher costs, whilst HITH service was associated with lower cost. The cost to families on average was AUD 2669.50 (SD: 991.50) per hospitalization when accounting for lost wages and opportunity cost. Conclusion: The per episode healthcare cost burden of hospitalizations for paediatric bronchiectasis exacerbations is substantial. Interventions that prevent hospitalized exacerbations and reduce severity of childhood bronchiectasis with even moderate effectiveness are likely to result in substantial hospital costs savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the 44th Australian Conference of Economists (ACE) to be held by the Economics Society of Australia at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Gardens Point Campus in Brisbane, Queensland from July 7-10, 2015.

Features the National Conference of the Institute of Public Administration of Australia in Brisbane, Queensland. Attendees of the conference; Highlights of the conference; Discussion of honesty and integrity in politics and administration.

Aim: This study aimed to measure sound exposure during neonatal retrieval, determine whether this varied with mode of transport, and compare noise exposure to recommended levels in neonatal intensive care units. We also aimed to assess the acceptability of using a smartphone application to measure sound.Setting: Neonatal retrieval service in Brisbane, Australia.Methods: The Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite application was installed on a Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone and calibrated for sound measurement. Data were collected during outbound, non-patient legs of 45 retrievals - 25 road, 11 fixed wing aircraft and 9 rotary aircraft journeys. Data were saved to cloud storage, then analysed using PostgreSQL database.Results: The median sound level was 83 dB (interquartile range 66-91; range 27-≥97 dB). Continuous equivalent sound (Leq ) was 90 dB across all journeys. Rotary transport was loudest (Leq 94 dB). Fixed wing (Leq 89 dB) and road (Leq 87 dB) journeys also resulted in significant sound exposure. Sound exceeded recommended levels (45 dB) for 99% of all journey time, regardless of the mode of transport.Conclusions: Neonates encounter harmful sound levels during retrieval - louder than recommended levels for 99% of all retrieval time. Sounds levels were highest in rotary aircraft transport compared to fixed wing or road transport. It is feasible to use a calibrated smartphone application instead of a sound metre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to quantify and statistically model the age‐related decline in the fibrous connective tissue interface of the anterior fontanelle in modern Australian infants, using three‐dimensional, semi‐automated computed‐assisted design protocols. Non‐linear regression with variance models, using power functions, combined with quantile regression of the 5th and 95th population percentiles, were utilised to assess absolute anterior fontanelle surface area (AFSA) as a function of age, using multi‐slice cranial computed tomography scans obtained from 256 infants aged < 30 months (males: n = 126, females: n = 109) from Brisbane children's hospitals. Normalised AFSA (NFSA), standardised for variation in cephalic size, followed a progressive decline from birth, the greatest velocity change occurring between the 3–6 and 6–9 month cohorts. Growth of the neurocranium is the most significant within the first 8 months postpartum, with a mean increase of 19.03 mm in maximum cranial length and 10.04 mm in breadth. Directionality of fontanelle closure, quantified using spline curves refutes fundamental assumptions that the anterior fontanelle is consistent with a quadrilateral, and contiguous sutures exhibit constant velocity of closure. The present study provides normative values for fontanelle size and diameters as well as new predictive non‐linear models for age substantiation, screening of developmental abnormalities and indicators of suspected child maltreatment in modern infants aged birth to 30 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a complex change process for the paediatric cardiac service in Queensland that involved transitioning the service out of an essentially adult hospital into one of two children's hospitals in Brisbane. This initial step was complex as the governance was changed from Queensland Health to Mater Health, an independent faith-based organisation who became the new employer. Six years later, the service was again transitioned; this time to the newly constructed Queensland Children's Hospital, with a Hospital and Health Services Board as the employer under the aegis of Queensland Health. This was a complex journey. As with all change processes there was resistance to change on the part of some individuals. Five years on from the second major change, the service is settled, has an excellent workplace culture, has excellent clinical outcomes and has become research intensive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to describe perioperative, oncological and learning curve outcomes for robotic‐assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) across the first 100 cases performed by an Australian high‐volume, fellowship‐trained robotic surgeon. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on a consecutive group of 100 patients who underwent RARC between 2010 and 2016 in Brisbane, Australia. Perioperative, oncological and survival data were collected. Demographic, survival and learning curve analyses were performed in MedCalc. Results: A total of 100 patients underwent RARC over the study period. Median operative time was 389 min, with a reduction in median times from 420 to 330 min when comparing the first 50 versus the second 50 patients (P < 0.001). Median estimated blood loss was 500 mL, while urinary diversion was performed extracorporeally in 20 patients, intracorporeally in 69 patients and using a hybrid technique in 11 patients. Median length of hospital stay was 11 days. Post‐operative complications occurred in 56% of patients (Clavien–Dindo classification I–II 32%, III–V 24%). Positive operative margins were 2% and median lymph node yield was 21 nodes. Overall recurrence‐free survival was 50.3 months. Conclusion: Initial short‐term experience with RARC shows favourable outcomes with regard to operative, perioperative and pathological indicators compared to open radical cystectomy and other RARC series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]