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This feature is a collection of brief essays recently written by Australian, New Zealand, and American lesbians followed by commentaries from several leading educators and scholars. Their commentaries are followed with brief comments by some of these young writers.

Climate change can undermine human, national and planetary security in various ways. While scholars harve explored the human security implications of climate change and climate security discourses in Australia, systematic scientific assessments of climate change and national security are scarce. I address this knowledge gap by analysing whether climate change impacts the national security of Australia before 2050, focussing particularly on climate-related threats within Australia and on countries of high strategic importance for Australia. The results indicate that climate change will very likely undermine Australia's national security by disrupting critical infrastructure, by challenging the capacity of the defence force, by increasing the risk of domestic political instability in Australia's immediate region, by reducing the capabilities of partner countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and by interrupting important supply chains. These impacts will matter most if several large-scale disasters co-occur or if Australia becomes involved in a major international conflict. By contrast, international wars, large-scale migration, and adverse impacts on key international partners are only minor climate-related risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Single-anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) surgery is a modification of the traditional duodenal switch (DS) surgery. SADI-S is relatively a new bariatric surgical procedure and has gone by many names depending on the length of the common channel. In this study, we report our initial experience with this novel technique in the Australian population. Methods: The medical records of 91 patients who underwent laparoscopic primary SADI-S surgery by one surgeon at a single Australian center from January 2017 through May 2019 were retrospectively studied. Results: Ninety-one patients were identified for analysis. The mean age and preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 46.2 ± 9 years and 43.2 ± 5.7 kg/m2, respectively. The mean operative time and length of stay were 121.8+/- 25 minutes and 1.4 ± 0.8 days, respectively. At 12 and 24 months, the patients lost an average BMI of 15.2 ± 5.2 kg/m2 and 17.2 ± 5.9 kg/m2, respectively. The short-term and long-term complication rates were 4.3% and 0%, respectively. The mortality rate was 0%. Postoperatively, the obstructive sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease resolution rates were 94, 94, 75, 68, and 13%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between most of the preoperative and postoperative nutritional data. Conclusions: SADI-S appears to be a safe bariatric surgical procedure with favorable outcomes at 2 years in the Australian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study analysed suicide rates among first-generation immigrants in Australia from 1974 to 2006, and compared their suicide risks against the Australian-born population. It also examined the associations between the suicide rates of immigrants from 23 selected countries of birth during 2001-2006, and in their home countries. Method: Age-standardised suicide rates (15+ years) and rate ratios, with a 95 % confidence interval, during 1974-2006 were calculated for country of birth (COB) groups. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was calculated between COB-specific immigrant suicide rates during 2001-2006 in Australia and in their homelands. Results: Suicide rates showed a decreasing time-trend among all COB groups for both genders in Australia. The lowest suicide rates were found during 2004-2006, compared to other year groups. Throughout the study period, males born in Eastern, Northern and Western Europe and New Zealand had the highest suicide rates in Australia. For females, the highest rates were among those born in Western Europe and the UK (including Ireland). Male and female migrants born in North Africa and the Middle East, Southern and Central Asia and South East Asia showed the lowest suicide rates. There was a significant correlation between male immigrant suicide rates by COB and the rates of their home countries. Conclusion: The patterns of suicide rates in immigrants were influenced by the social and cultural norms of their COB. The overall decrease in suicide risk among immigrants was particularly evident in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction An increasing demand for physicians' involvement in life-ending decisions has led to extensive debate on euthanasia and right-to-die issues by social, political and medical groups. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care commissioned an evaluation of the need to educate undergraduate medical students on suicide prevention, euthanasia and life-ending issues. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted on samples of medical school coordinators, medical students and general practitioners ( GPs). Key academics in Curriculum and/or Accreditation Committees from 10 of 15 Australian Medical Schools ( AMS) participated in a survey on the possible implementation of suicide prevention, euthanasia and life-ending issues in undergraduate courses. Medical students ( n = 373) were asked to rate their attitude toward the same issues. Twenty-four GPs from six different states (rural/urban environments) were asked to rate the level of importance of a specific curriculum on suicide prevention, euthanasia and life-ending issues. Results Medical students showed high interest in learning about euthanasia and life-ending issues (76.8%), quality of life and quality of death (85.1%), and different types of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (70%). They reported that physicians should be involved in ending-life decisions (89%). Forty per cent of AMS thought education on euthanasia and life-ending issues was essential. Fifty-four per cent of GPs considered education in euthanasia and related issues a high priority. Discussion The increasing aging population and the high prevalence of chronic illness call for a growing involvement of physicians in this difficult area of medical practice. Globally, the need for undergraduate education on these matters is perceived as important and urgent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the need and feasibility of developing a national suicide prevention (SP) curriculum for undergraduate medical students. Design: Exploratory study using semi-structured phone interviews and surveys. Data was obtained from ten (out of 15) Australian Medical Schools (AMS), 373 medical students from one Queensland medical school, and 24 Australian General Practitioners, between April and June, 2006. Results: Convergent views of AMS, medical students, and GPs revealed a high need and support for SP curricula, especially on skills-based education. Students who previously received SP education rated themselves significantly higher on skills-based SP abilities than those who had not. Over one-third of GPs had not received SP training from their universities (37.5%), yet 66% had experienced a case of suicide among their patients, and a third recorded on average a case of suicide every two years. The majority of students and GPs rated themselves as least competent on skills-based SP capabilities, yet rated these capabilities very high in importance for the medical profession. Whilst 80% of AMS provides some form of SP education, the quantity and quality of this is divergent. All AMS indicated support for a more uniformed SP curriculum, identified priority SP topics and delivery mechanisms, and 80% agreed to participate in a future piloting of a SP curriculum. Conclusions: SP curriculum may positively impact on student's perceived competency. Skills-based SP curricula were highly recommended to improve 'hands-on' assessment, intervention and management capabilities. Further consultation is required with all AMS to specify structure and resource needs for a national SP curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monogeneric family Brachypsectridae is redescribed based on adults and larvae, and distribution, biology, and ideas oil the phylogenetic relationships are summarized. Presently available data from both adults and larvae support previous conclusions that the family is a basal member of the Elateroidea. The four described species of Brachypsectra LeConte are reviewed. Brachypsectra moronei Branham sp. n. is described from the Dominican amber; larvae of Brachypsectra fulva LeConte. Brachypsectra lampyroides Blair, and an unnamed species from Australia are described; and keys are given to males of all described species and to known larvae. In addition, a lectotype and paratypes are designated for the six recognized syntypes of Brachypsectra lampyroides Blair, 1930. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a survey of the use and effectiveness of 12 manufacturing practices. The survey was administered to a random, stratified sample of companies with 150 or more employees in the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and Switzerland, yielding a total sample of 898 companies. We report findings on the extent of use of the practices, when they were introduced, their predicted future use, their effectiveness, and the correlates of their use and effectiveness. The data are examined for differences by country of location and country of ownership, as well as by industrial sector. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]