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International health science students face many challenges at the beginning of their courses, including a lack of awareness of cultural differences, adjusting to academic expectations, communication difficulties, clinical placement challenges, financial pressures, maintaining cultural and religious practices, discrimination, and emotions such as loneliness and being homesick. This study aims to assist beginning international students enrolled in health sciences programs to adapt to university life and achieve academic success by expanding their coping abilities and self-management strategies. A survey approach was used to evaluate the pilot program named EMPOWERMENT. All first-year international students who participated in the EMPOWERMENT program were invited to complete a post-training questionnaire after the program. The results revealed that increased resilience and improved skills to manage stress were the most frequently reported outcomes of the program. In acquiring these important skills, the students valued the opportunity to share their experiences and learn from each other.

International students report higher sociocultural and academic stress when settling into a new university compared with their local counterparts. Three disciplines in the health professions collaborated to create a transition program addressing international student health and well-being in Australia. Commencing students and senior student mentors participated in a four-session program of activities to reflect on their current study/work practices and learn self-management strategies. They developed plans for coping with cultural, language, academic, and social barriers, and assisted in improving physical and mental health and well-being. Of the 26 participants who attended sessions, 15 participated in in-depth interviews. Facilitating adjustment, establishing relationships, gaining new skills and knowledge, and transforming beliefs and behavior were the four themes identified that captured and explicated the impact of the initiative. Although limited by the number of student participants, the program demonstrated a positive impact in creating a supportive learning environment for international students.

Objective: To explore advanced practice nurses' experiences and perceptions of running nurse-led clinics in the Australian context. Background: Advanced practice nurses consult with patients through nurse-led clinics to address ever-growing clinical demands and healthcare workforce shortages. Their experiences and perceptions of running nurse-led clinics are vital, but studies offering insights into this area are scarce. Study design and methods: This study adopted a qualitative descriptive design. Using purposive and snowball sampling methods, ten semi-structured individual virtual interviews were conducted with advanced practice nurses who run nurse-led clinics in Australia. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Reporting of this study adhered to Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. Results: Three themes were constructed: 1) the genesis of nurse-led clinics; 2) perceived positive outcomes of nurse-led clinics; and 3) contextual determinants influencing nurse-led clinics. Findings show that nurses establish, manage, and expand nurse-led clinics to fulfil health service demands and patients' care needs. Though advanced practice nurses reported positive outcomes, there were several barriers that need to be addressed at all levels. Discussion: Advanced practice nurses are required to have wide-ranging knowledge and skills across the validated domains of patient care, support of systems, education, research, and professional leadership to be able to provide evidence-based holistic care. Advanced practice nurses face obstacles in running nurse-led clinics with overwhelming workloads and insufficient support. Regular communication with healthcare organisational leadership and collaboration with other healthcare workers is crucial to gain recognition and support. Conclusion: Nurse-led clinics are a valuable service that should be promoted and recognised. It is the responsibility of healthcare organisations to review current policies and provide necessary support to advanced practice nurses to enable effective and efficient nurse-led services. It is also incumbent upon governments to support funding that enables nurse-led care models across policy, funding, and healthcare levels, spanning macro-, meso-, and micro-levels. Implications for research, policy, and practice: Advanced practice nurses as participants shared experiences in establishing, running, and expanding nurse-led clinics, that can provide a framework to other nurses wanting to start nurse-led services. Advanced practice nurses are encouraged to promote their work to gain recognition and create awareness of the role of nurses in the provision of nurse-led services. More studies are needed at the global level to understand advanced practice nurses' experiences and the challenges they encounter which will assist in developing the strategies to address these barriers. What is already known about the topic? * Nurse-led clinics were introduced to mitigate the shortage of healthcare resources, accommodate increasing clinical demands, and enhance patients' experiences. * Nurse-led clinics achieve positive outcomes, however, advanced practice nurses face barriers in running nurse-led clinics. * Studies offering insights into Australian advanced practice nurses' experiences and perceptions of running nurse-led clinics are lacking. What this paper adds? * Advanced practice nurses shared experiences in establishing, running, and expanding nurse-led services which can be adopted to guide nurses new to nurse-led services. * Advanced practice nurses strived to overcome obstacles encountered in running nurse-led clinics. They need support at all levels to implement nurseled services successfully. * As this is the first study of its kind in Australia, more research is needed to promote and improve the awareness of nurse-led clinics both in Australia and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large gender gaps in performance on questions involving projectile motion have been observed at high school and university level, even amongst high-achieving students. This gap is particularly problematic because projectile motion is typically one of the first topics formally taught in physics, and this may give girls an inappropriately negative impression of the subject and their ability to succeed in it. We present a case study describing a particularly problematic conceptual question on projectile motion, and a teaching intervention designed to address the gender gap on this question. The intervention is cheap, quick, and reduces the gender gap in facility on the particular question from around 30% to 10%, while providing excellent learning gains for both male and female students.

Summary: The MJA–Lancet Countdown on health and climate change in Australia was established in 2017 and produced its first national assessment in 2018 and annual updates in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. It examines five broad domains: health hazards, exposures and impacts; adaptation, planning and resilience for health; mitigation actions and health co‐benefits; economics and finance; and public and political engagement. In this, the sixth report of the MJA–Lancet Countdown, we track progress on an extensive suite of indicators across these five domains, accessing and presenting the latest data and further refining and developing our analyses.Our results highlight the health and economic costs of inaction on health and climate change. A series of major flood events across the four eastern states of Australia in 2022 was the main contributor to insured losses from climate‐related catastrophes of $7.168 billion — the highest amount on record. The floods also directly caused 23 deaths and resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of people.High red meat and processed meat consumption and insufficient consumption of fruit and vegetables accounted for about half of the 87 166 diet‐related deaths in Australia in 2021. Correction of this imbalance would both save lives and reduce the heavy carbon footprint associated with meat production.We find signs of progress on health and climate change. Importantly, the Australian Government released Australia's first National Health and Climate Strategy, and the Government of Western Australia is preparing a Health Sector Adaptation Plan. We also find increasing action on, and engagement with, health and climate change at a community level, with the number of electric vehicle sales almost doubling in 2022 compared with 2021, and with a 65% increase in coverage of health and climate change in the media in 2022 compared with 2021.Overall, the urgency of substantial enhancements in Australia's mitigation and adaptation responses to the enormous health and climate change challenge cannot be overstated. Australia's energy system, and its health care sector, currently emit an unreasonable and unjust proportion of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. As the Lancet Countdown enters its second and most critical phase in the leadup to 2030, the depth and breadth of our assessment of health and climate change will be augmented to increasingly examine Australia in its regional context, and to better measure and track key issues in Australia such as mental health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To quantify the full life cycle impacts of ultra-processed foods (UPF) for key environmental, economic and nutritional indicators to identify trade-offs between UPF contribution to broad-scope sustainability. Design: Using 24-h dietary recalls along with an input–output database for the Australian economy, dietary environmental and economic impacts were quantified in this national representative cross-sectional analysis. Food items were classified into non-UPF and UPF using the NOVA system, and dietary energy contribution from non-UPF and UPF fractions in diets was estimated. Thereafter, associations between nutritional, environmental and economic impacts of non-UPF and UPF fractions of diets were examined using a multi-dimensional nutritional geometry representation. Setting: National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2011–2012 of Australia. Participants: Respondents (n 5344) aged > 18 years with 1 d of 24-h dietary recall data excluding respondents with missing values and outlier data points and under reporters. Results: Australian diets rich in UPF were associated with reduced nutritional quality, high greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and increased employment and income associated with the food supply chains. The environmental and economic impacts associated with the UPF portion of diets become more distinct when the diets are standardised to average protein recommendation. Conclusion: Increased consumption of UPF has socio-economic benefits, but this comes with adverse effects on the environment and public health. Consideration of such trade-offs is important in identifying policy and other mechanisms regarding UPF for establishing healthy and sustainable food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence from Australia lends support to the "Asian high achieving syndrome" in Chinese-Australian students and "self-deprivation syndrome" in Anglo-Australian students. Applying ethnographic case studies approach for doctoral thesis the author collected data on a longitudinal basis from homes and school of these students. All of these students attended the same school located in a predominantly middle class suburb of Perth Metropolitan area in Western Australia. Chinese-Australian families had settled in Perth from Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, whereas Anglo-Australian families had been residing in Perth for three generations. Impetus to revisit these students (now young adults with their own families) 10 years later came from an urge to test the validity of the prediction the author had made in the concluding chapter of his doctoral thesis. The author had claimed that "if Anglo-Australian parents keep on dwelling in the era of 1950s and 1960s and do not change their laid-back attitude about education, their children could eventually be under-privileged in their own country". Ten years later, the author undertook a follow-up study on these young adults from six of the eight original families in order to find out their occupational destinations and future aspirations. Data for the follow-up study were collected from these young adults and their parents. These research cases were interviewed twice, each time approximately for two hours and their parents were interviewed once for two to three hours. The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of the follow-up study which reveals a remarkable relationship between the attitude towards schooling and academic performance with their subsequent occupational destination.

AIM The aim of the study was to explore undergraduate nursing and midwifery students’ perspectives of participating in a student-led collaborative online international learning (COIL) program. BACKGROUND Research on COIL programs is limited. This program, developed across three global universities, was implemented to provide an internationalization-at-home experience for students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was employed using nursing students’ reflections and interviews. RESULTS Data analysis revealed four key themes: student-led learning experiences, personal gains, influence on professional practice, and becoming a global citizen. Students’ experiences offer insights into positive aspects of the program and highlight challenges to overcome. CONCLUSION The student-led COIL experience increased nursing students’ understanding of the dynamics of culture and nursing practices across different countries. Students’ personal growth and professional gains will potentially prepare them to work in multicultural environments and develop global citizenship attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: International educational programs build cultural humility and safety skills in nursing and midwifery students; however, long-term outcomes of these programs are unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of international educational programs on nurses' and midwives' future professional practice. Method: Using grounded theory informed by Charmaz, 13 general nurses, two mental health nurses, three midwives, and four dual-qualified nurse/midwives across eight different countries were interviewed. Three categories evolved from the analysis. This article reports on the category Recognizing and adapting to cultural differences. Findings: Participants developed cultural safety and awareness from participation in programs extending into future practice. Experiencing and adapting to cultural similarities and differences, they developed culturally congruent practices many years after program completion. Discussion: International programs contributed to participants' professional practice. Positive and ongoing influences are important for employers to promote patient safety and culturally congruent quality care. Findings are also relevant for education providers to inform quality cultural learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For many years, universities have placed a strong emphasis on providing students with an internationalization experience through study-abroad programs; however, the recent pandemic led many universities to look for alternatives to continue offering students an international experience. Method: This article describes the implementation and evaluation of a collaborative online international learning (COIL) experience between nursing students in Australia and the United Kingdom. Results: Students explored community spirit in the recovery from COVID-19. Students positively rated the experience and shared insights and outcomes gained from the program. Conclusion: The COIL experience exposed nursing students from Australia and the United Kingdom to learn about public health issues and develop cultural awareness and a sense of global community. Future programs should evaluate the long-term effects on students' nursing practice and their careers. [J Nurs Educ. 2023;62(7):387–392.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm) is recognised as the leading cause of human eosinophilic meningitis, a serious condition observed when nematode larvae migrate through the CNS. Canine Neural Angiostrongyliasis (CNA) is the analogous disease in dogs. Both humans and dogs are accidental hosts, and a rapid diagnosis is warranted. A highly sensitive PCR based assay is available but often not readily accessible in many jurisdictions. An alternative DNA amplification assay that would further improve accessibility is needed. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of a newly designed LAMP assay to detect DNA of globally distributed and invasive A. cantonensis and Angiostrongylus mackerrasae, the other neurotropic Angiostrongylus species, which is native to Australia. Methodology/Principal findings: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from dogs with a presumptive diagnosis of A. cantonensis infection (2020–2022) were received for confirmatory laboratory testing and processed for DNA isolation and ultrasensitive Angiostrongylus qPCR targeting AcanR3390. A newly designed LAMP assay targeting the same gene target was directly compared to the reference ultrasensitive qPCR in a diagnostic laboratory setting to determine the presence of A. cantonensis DNA to diagnose CNA. The LAMP assay (Angie-LAMP) allowed the sensitive detection of A. cantonensis DNA from archived DNA specimens (Kappa = 0.81, 95%CI 0.69–0.92; n = 93) and rapid single-step lysis of archived CSF samples (Kappa = 0.77, 95%CI 0.59–0.94; n = 52). Only A. cantonensis DNA was detected in canine CSF samples, and co-infection with A. mackerrasae using amplicon deep sequencing (ITS-2 rDNA) was not demonstrated. Both SYD.1 and AC13 haplotypes were detected using sequencing of partial cox1. Conclusions/Significance: The Angie-LAMP assay is a useful molecular tool for detecting Angiostrongylus DNA in canine CSF and performs comparably to a laboratory Angiostrongylus qPCR. Adaptation of single-step sample lysis improved potential applicability for diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis in a clinical setting for dogs and by extension, to humans. Author summary: A potentially fatal disease, neuroangiostrongyliasis, is caused by the rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis). The parasite migrates into the spinal cord and brain of accidental hosts, such as humans and dogs, after ingestion of infective larvae, for example by eating snails in garden fruit or vegetables. Recently, an ultrasensitive molecular assay which can detect tiny fragments of the parasite's DNA was developed and has been used to establish a diagnosis. Although this assay outperforms previously developed assays, it requires clean DNA with specialised equipment in a laboratory setting. There is an urgent need for an alternative diagnostic method which is sensitive and portable, for deployment in the field and in the hospitals in remote areas or in low-income countries. The authors developed a fast and portable loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay that compares favourably to the ultra-sensitive PCR assay when tested using cerebrospinal fluid from dogs on the Australian east coast with presumptive neuroangiostrongyliasis. Considering a 'One Health' approach to diagnostics, this assay enables portable emergency diagnostics equally suitable to humans, dogs and wildlife. The newly developed assay will also enable water supplies to be screened, as well as crustaceans and molluscs used as potential food sources, for presence of the parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brucella suis is an emerging, zoonotic disease predominantly affecting dogs and humans that engage in feral pig hunting in Australia and other countries. Although B. suis infection in dogs shares some clinical similarities to the host‐adapted species (B. canis), B. suis remains an incompletely understood pathogen in dogs with limited published data on its pathogenesis and clinical features. This case series describes the presentations, diagnosis, and clinical management of B. suis infection in three dogs: (1) a bitch with dystocia, abortion and mastitis; (2) an entire male dog with septic arthritis and presumptive osteomyelitis; and (3) a castrated male dog with lymphadenitis. Unique features of these cases are reported including the first documented detection of B. suis from milk and isolation from lymph nodes of canine patients, as well as the follow‐up of pups born to a B. suis‐infected bitch. Consistent with previous reports, all three dogs showed a favourable clinical response to combination antibiotic therapy with rifampicin and doxycycline. Individually tailored drug regimens were required based on the clinical presentation and other factors, including owner expectations and compliance with therapy as well as a zoonotic risk assessment (generally considered low, except around time of whelping). The authors include their recommendations for the clinical management of dogs that are at‐risk or seropositive for B. suis with or without clinical signs or laboratory‐confirmed infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the interplay between sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) and circular economy, this research conceptualises and empirically tests an integrative framework of environmental information exchange with suppliers (ES), environmental product design (EPD) and cost performance (CP) with the contingency effect of digital orientation (DO). The associations proposed in the integrative framework provide a configuration of SSCM practices that support circular economy's restorative processes in the digital age. Design/methodology/approach: The resource orchestration theory and contingency theory are used to investigate the mediation and moderating effects, which were tested by a moderated mediation analysis of survey data of 100 firms in Australia. Findings: The results show that EPD fully mediates the relationship between ES and CP. Further, DO was found to moderate the relationship between EPD and CP, but not the relationship between ES and EPD. Practical implications: The empirical findings of this study offer an effective SSCM practice configuration for firms seeking to target advanced circular business models and economic benefits. Managers should be aware that ES may not be enough to improve CP; EPD is a required mechanism to translate the ES benefits into cost superiority. Managers should also stimulate a DO culture to develop effective EPD capabilities, which leads to improved CP and a foundation for companies seeking to target circularity. Originality/value: This study advances prior theoretical and practical knowledge. The authors propose and empirically test an integrated SSCM and circular economy model that incorporates mediation and moderation effects to clarify inconsistent findings in prior work, which provides a more holistic and practical understanding of SSCM practices in the digital context. Furthermore, the SSCM literature recommends the adoption of circular economy principles. The integrated model in this study provides a bridge between SSCM and circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a well‐known but poorly documented adverse effect of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in cats. We aimed to describe instances of NSAID‐associated AKI in cats and survey Australian veterinarians on NSAID use in acute settings. Methods: Medical records of cats that developed an AKI subsequent to the administration of meloxicam were obtained by searching the databases of seven practices in Queensland, as well as by contemporaneously contacting select veterinary colleagues of the authors in both general and specialist small animal practice. An online questionnaire was created for the survey, and the URL distributed to Australian practitioners. Results: A total of 18 cases were retrieved, all of which received injectable meloxicam. The indication(s) for its use and the dosage prescribed were within the manufacturer's recommendations for Australian veterinarians. The majority of cases (13/18 cats) received the label dose of 0.3 mg/kg subcutaneously (SC) on the day of the procedure. In 12/18 cats, the injection was given in association with general anaesthesia or sedation. Fourteen cats survived to hospital discharge. Of 187 survey respondees, 89% routinely administered NSAIDs for surgery‐related analgesia, with 98% prescribing meloxicam and 84% of these giving it SC. Ninety percent of respondees routinely administered NSAIDs for non‐surgical‐related analgesia, with 99% prescribing meloxicam and 35% of those giving it SC. Conclusions and Relevance: We strongly recommend that practitioners avoid prescribing meloxicam SC in cats. This recommendation is emphatic in situations where concurrent dehydration and/or hypotension are possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a doctoral study undertaken at Edith Cowan University the author set out to investigate the influence of home and school environments on the academic performance and educational/occupational aspirations of high school students from eight Chinese-Australian and Anglo-Australian families residing in a middle class suburb of Perth metropolitan area. These students graduated from a high school where the author conducted this research as a teacher-researcher. In this longitudinal study data were collected by employing ethnographic techniques such as participant observation, semi-formal interviewing and document analysis. The author spent 500 hours in the homes of the participating students, observed and interviewed them at school for 2 years, and collected data on their educational performance from Year 8 to Year 12. Pivotal to this research was the key question: Do Chinese-Australian and Anglo-Australian high school students perform differently? If so, how do we account for this difference? An investigation of the home experiences and attitude towards school revealed the existence of "Asian high achieving syndrome" in Chinese-Australian students and "self-deprivation syndrome" in Anglo-Australian students. Nonetheless, the unexpected finding is that excessive parental pressure takes its toll on the mental health of Chinese-Australian students and deprives them of the other opportunities that Australia offers. On the other hand, the leisure and sports oriented life style of Anglo-Australian parents leads to low educational expectations and their children fail to reach their full potentials. To substantiate this claim the experiences of students from four families are discussed. (Contains 3 tables and 3 footnotes.)

Background: Functional capacity, as measured by the 6-min walk test (6MWT), is often reduced in fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD). This study evaluated longitudinal changes and the prognostic significance of 6MWT parameters, and explored change in oxygenation status as a physiological criterion to define disease progression in patients with fibrotic ILD.Research Questions: What are the trajectories and prognostic value of 6MWT parameters in patients with fibrotic ILD?Study Design and Methods: Using prospective registries in Australia and Canada, patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and non-IPF fibrotic ILD were stratified by the presence of criteria for progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). The cumulative incidence of exertional and resting hypoxemia and changes in 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and composite indices (distance-saturation product and distance-saturation-oxygen product) were determined, with prognostic significance evaluated at the time of meeting criteria for PPF. New-onset exertional or resting hypoxemia was evaluated as another potential criterion for PPF.Results: Patients with IPF/PPF (n = 126) and non-IPF/PPF (n = 227) had a similar cumulative incidence of exertional hypoxemia and annualized decline in 6MWD and composite indices, which varied across each PPF criterion. Patients with IPF/non-PPF (n = 231) and non-IPF/non-PPF (n = 531) had a significantly lower incidence of hypoxemia than those with IPF/PPF, with an annualized increase in 6MWD and composite indices in the non-IPF/non-PPF group. Exertional or resting hypoxemia at the time of meeting criteria for PPF was independently associated with reduced transplant-free survival in IPF and non-IPF, adjusting for patient demographics and lung function. Adding new-onset exertional or resting hypoxemia as a physiological criterion reduced the median time to development of PPF from 11.2 to 6.7 months in IPF and from 11.7 to 5.6 months in non-IPF in patients who eventually met both definitions (P < .001 for both).Interpretation: Patients with IPF/PPF and non-IPF/PPF have comparable deterioration in functional capacity. Oxygenation status provides prognostic information in PPF and may assist in defining disease progression in fibrotic ILD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection outcomes are possible in cats following natural exposure, such as progressive infections (persistent viremia), regressive infections (transient or no viremia followed by proviral persistence) and abortive infections (presence of only antibodies). Laboratory-based testing is currently required for categorization of infection outcomes in cats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the field performance of a novel, rapid, combination point-of-care (PoC) test kit commercially available in Europe (v-RetroFel®Ag/Ab; 2020–2021 version) to determine different FeLV infection outcomes by concurrent detection of FeLV antigen (p27) and antibodies against FeLV transmembrane envelope protein (p15E). A secondary aim was to evaluate the performance of the same test kit (v-RetroFel®FIV) to determine positive/negative feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection status by the detection of antibodies to FIV capsid protein (p24) and transmembrane glycoprotein (gp40). Two cohorts of domestic cats were recruited and tested with v-RetroFel® using plasma or serum, including cats in Australia (n = 200) and cats in Germany (n = 170). Results from p27 antigen PoC testing, proviral DNA PCR, and neutralizing antibody testing or testing for antibodies against non-glycosylated surface unit envelope protein (p45) were used to assign cats to groups according to different FeLV infection outcomes. Testing with a laboratory-based FeLV p15E antibody ELISA was also performed for comparison. In the first cohort, v-RetroFel®Ag/Ab correctly identified 89% (109/122) FeLV-unexposed cats and 91% (21/23) progressive infections, but no regressive (0/23) or abortive (0/32) infections. In the second cohort, v-RetroFel®Ag/Ab correctly identified 94% (148/158) FeLV-unexposed cats and 100% (4/4) progressive infections, but no regressive (0/2) and only 17% (1/6) abortive infections. There was test agreement between v-RetroFel®Ab and the p15E laboratory ELISA in 58.9% of samples. As a secondary outcome of this study, the sensitivity and specificity of v-RetroFel®FIV testing in cohort 1 were 94.7% (18/19) and 98.3% (178/181), and in cohort 2, 30.0% (3/10) and 100.0% (160/160), respectively. Prior history of FIV vaccination did not produce any false-positive FIV results. In conclusion, v-RetroFel®Ag/Ab (2020–2021 version) was unable to accurately determine different FeLV infection outcomes in the field. Improvements of the test prior to application to field samples are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The literature shows that the current Australian waste management framework does not meet industry and government expectations. This study, therefore, seeks the key construction and demolition (C&D) stakeholders' insights on various issues identified. It aims to understand the main barriers to effective C&D waste management, examining the role of the federal government and exploring perceptions around waste regulations, policies and schemes. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey was conducted in 2019 to capture stakeholder perceptions. One hundred and thirty-two participants from various industries and government agencies representing Australian jurisdictions took part in the survey. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Findings: The results show that the main barriers are "overregulation, tough acceptance criteria and increased testing requirements", "lack of local market" and "culture, poor education and low acceptance". The main areas of improvement include "providing a guideline that determines the accepted level of contamination for reusing C&D waste", "preparation of guidelines on requirements of using recycled C&D materials in different industries" and "setting a target for reduction, reusing and recycling C&D waste". Research limitations/implications: Some research findings may not be generalisable beyond Australia, but there are interesting insights for an international audience. The results inform policy development within the Australian states and territories context, to support the design and implementation of a circular economy model in the construction industry. The findings are evidence for a broader discussion to solve prevailing issues in C&D waste management, notably in the context of construction materials' end of life management. Practical implications: The study highlights that policy development needs to be further expanded to include new/current waste management schemes including manufacturer's shared responsibility of waste generation, subsidies for C&D waste recycled materials and the proximity principle. Originality/value: This paper provides a clear insight into C&D waste management stakeholders' perceptions towards the current waste management system in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying direct and indirect (supply chain) impacts is necessary to understand the full scope of impacts of health systems to inform strategies for making healthcare environmentally sustainable. While many global and national supply chain assessments exist, regional assessments are lacking despite the significant support these health systems offer to regional communities. In this study, we use multi-regional input-output (MRIO) analysis to assess GHG emissions and waste embodied in the supply chains of a local health district in rural New South Wales (NSW), Australia, by integrating economic data on health expenditure and physical data on carbon emissions and waste. We find that over 76.8 % of the carbon footprint is embodied in the local health district's supply chains, while 40 % of the waste footprint is from its supply chain dependencies. The findings of this research can inform the district's sustainability strategy for reducing its carbon and waste footprint. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To eradicate most infectious diseases, mathematical modelling of contagious diseases has revealed that a combination of quarantine, vaccination, and cure is frequently required. However, eradicating the disease will remain a difficult task if they aren't provided at the appropriate time and in the right quantity. Control analysis has been shown to be an effective way for discovering the best approaches to preventing the spread of contagious diseases through the development of disease preventive interventions. The method comprises reducing the cost of infection, implementing control measures, or both. In order to gain a better understanding of COVID-19′s future dynamics, this study presents a compartmental mathematical model. The problem is modelled as a highly nonlinear coupled system of classical order ODEs, which is then generalised using the Mittag-Leffler kernel's fractal-fractional derivative. The uniqueness of the fractional model under discussion has also been demonstrated. The boundedness and non-negativity of the considered model are also established. The next generation technique is used to examine basic reproduction, and disease free and endemic equilibrium. We used reported cases from Australia in this investigation due to the high risk of infection. The reported cases are considered between 1st July 2021 and 20th August 2021. On the basis of previous data, the spread of infection is predicted for the next 600 days which is shown through different graphs. The graphical solution of the considered nonlinear model is obtained via numerical scheme by implementing the MATLAB software. Based on the fitted values of parameters, the basic reproduction number R 0 is calculated as R 0 ≈ 1.58276. Furthermore, the impact of fractional and fractal parameter on the disease spread among different classes is demonstrated. In addition, the impact of quarantine and vaccination on infected people is dramatically depicted. It's been argued that public awareness of the quarantine and effective vaccination can drastically reduce infection rates in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The MJA–Lancet Countdown on health and climate change in Australia was established in 2017 and produced its first national assessment in 2018 and annual updates in 2019, 2020 and 2021. It examines five broad domains: climate change impacts, exposures and vulnerability; adaptation, planning and resilience for health; mitigation actions and health co‐benefits; economics and finance; and public and political engagement. In this, the fifth year of the MJA–Lancet Countdown, we track progress on an extensive suite of indicators across these five domains, accessing and presenting the latest data and further refining and developing our analyses.Within just two years, Australia has experienced two unprecedented national catastrophes — the 2019–2020 summer heatwaves and bushfires and the 2021–2022 torrential rains and flooding. Such events are costing lives and displacing tens of thousands of people. Further, our analysis shows that there are clear signs that Australia's health emergency management capacity substantially decreased in 2021.We find some signs of progress with respect to health and climate change. The states continue to lead the way in health and climate change adaptation planning, with the Victorian plan being published in early 2022. At the national level, we note progress in health and climate change research funding by the National Health and Medical Research Council. We now also see an acceleration in the uptake of electric vehicles and continued uptake of and employment in renewable energy.However, we also find Australia's transition to renewables and zero carbon remains unacceptably slow, and the Australian Government's continuing failure to produce a national climate change and health adaptation plan places the health and lives of Australians at unnecessary risk today, which does not bode well for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain (BCT) is an emerging technology that promises many benefits for organizations, for instance, disintermediation, data security, data transparency, a single version of the truth, and trust among trading partners. Despite its multiple benefits, the adoption rate of BCT among organizations has not reached a significantly high level worldwide, thus requiring further research in this space. The present study addresses this issue in the Australian context. There is a knowledge gap in what specific factors, among the plethora of factors reported in the extant literature, affect the organizational adoption of BCT in Australia. To fill this gap, the study uses the qualitative interpretative research approach along with the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework as a theoretical lens. The data was mainly drawn from the literature review and semi-structured interviews of the decision-makers and senior IT people from the BCT adopter and potential adopter organizations in Australia. According to the findings, perceived information transparency, perceived risks, organization innovativeness, organization learning capability, standards uncertainty, and competition intensity influence organizational adoption of BCT in Australia. These factors are exclusively identified in this study. The study also validates the influence of perceived benefits and perceived compatibility on BCT adoption that are reported in the past studies. Practically, these findings are helpful for the Australian government and public and private organizations to develop better policies and make informed decisions for the organizational adoption of BCT. The findings would guide decision-makers to think about the adoption of BCT strategically. The study also has theoretical implications explained in the discussion section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the passage of over 30 years since its discovery, the importance of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) on the health and longevity of infected domestic cats is hotly debated amongst feline experts. Notwithstanding the absence of good quality information, Australian and New Zealand (NZ) veterinarians should aim to minimise the exposure of cats to FIV. The most reliable way to achieve this goal is to recommend that all pet cats are kept exclusively indoors, or with secure outdoor access (e.g., cat enclosures, secure gardens), with FIV testing of any in‐contact cats. All animal holding facilities should aim to individually house adult cats to limit the spread of FIV infection in groups of animals that are stressed and do not have established social hierarchies. Point‐of‐care (PoC) FIV antibody tests are available in Australia and NZ that can distinguish FIV‐infected and uninfected FIV‐vaccinated cats (Witness™ and Anigen Rapid™). Although testing of whole blood, serum or plasma remains the gold standard for FIV diagnosis, PoC testing using saliva may offer a welfare‐friendly alternative in the future. PCR testing to detect FIV infection is not recommended as a screening procedure since a negative PCR result does not rule out FIV infection and is only recommended in specific scenarios. Australia and NZ are two of three countries where a dual subtype FIV vaccine (Fel‐O‐Vax® FIV) is available and offers a further avenue for disease prevention. Since FIV vaccination only has a reported field effectiveness of 56% in Australia, and possibly lower in NZ, FIV‐vaccinated cats should undergo annual FIV testing prior to annual FIV re‐vaccination using a suitable PoC kit to check infection has not occurred in the preceding year. With FIV‐infected cats, clinicians should strive to be even more thorough than usual at detecting early signs of disease. The most effective way to enhance the quality of life and life expectancy of FIV‐infected cats is to optimise basic husbandry and to treat any concurrent conditions early in the disease course. Currently, no available drugs are registered for the treatment of FIV infection. Critically, the euthanasia of healthy FIV‐infected cats, and sick FIV‐infected cats without appropriate clinical investigations, should not occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The causative agent of Q fever, Coxiella burnetii, is endemic to Queensland and is one of the most important notifiable zoonotic diseases in Australia. The reservoir species for C. burnetii are classically ruminants, including sheep, cattle and goats. There is increasing evidence of C. burnetii exposure in dogs across eastern and central Australia. The present study aimed to determine if pig‐hunting dogs above the Tropic of Capricorn in Queensland had similar rates of C. burnetii exposure to previous serosurveys of companion dogs in rural north‐west New South Wales. A total of 104 pig‐hunting dogs had serum IgG antibody titres to phase I and phase 2 C. burnetii determined using an indirect immunofluorescence assay test. Almost one in five dogs (18.3%; 19/104; 95% confidence interval 9.6%–35.5%) were seropositive to C. burnetii, with neutered dogs more likely to test positive compared to entire dogs (P = 0.0497). Seropositivity of the sampled pig‐hunting dogs was one of the highest recorded in Australia. Thirty‐nine owners of the pig‐hunting dogs completed a survey, revealing 12.8% (5/39) had been vaccinated against Q fever and 90% (35/39) were aware that both feral pigs and dogs could potentially be sources of C. burnetii. Our findings indicate that pig hunters should be aware of the risk of exposure to Q fever during hunts and the sentinel role their dogs may play in C. burnetii exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amongst different aspects of a capital construction project, procurement is found to be the most important area and represents over 80% of the contract value. The selection of an appropriate procurement strategy is an important contributor to overall project success. Within several procurement methods, Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), a relatively new strategy to procure a construction project, is becoming more popular for infrastructure projects across Australia. However, it appears that ECI has been adopted as a preferred procurement option with little research or piloting, and decisions to select ECI for a project have been mostly judgmental, and subject to biases of the decision-makers. This paper focuses on this important issue and proposes a conceptual model for selecting ECI for a construction project. Grounded Theory research methodology is employed for this study that facilitates the generation of categories and contextualises theory. Validation of the theory was ensured by carefully practicing the theoretical coding procedures through 'open coding', 'axial coding', and 'selective coding'. The data is collected through individual interviews with experts within client organisations who held senior management level roles in their organisations and were involved in the selection process of ECI and could provide input into their experience in that area. The proposed selection model integrates the procurement selection criteria specifically related to the project characteristics, client's objectives, and internal and external project environments with alternative selection approaches and practices. This paper also discusses the notion of social, process, and output control by using ECI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Understanding the relation between sustainability and nutrients is important in devising healthy and sustainable diets. However, there are no prevailing methodologies to assess sustainability at the nutrient level. Objectives The aim was to examine and demonstrate the potential of integrating input-output analysis with nutritional geometry to link environmental, economic, and health associations of dietary scenarios in Australia with macronutrients. Methods One-day dietary recalls of 9341 adult respondents (age ≥18 y) of the latest available cross-sectional National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey–2011/12 of Australia were integrated with the input-output data obtained from the Australian Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory to calculate the environmental and economic impacts of dietary intakes in Australia. Australian adults' dietary intakes were classified into 3 dietary scenarios: "vegan," "pescatarian," and "omnivorous." Then, the relations between nutritional, economic, and environmental characteristics of the 3 dietary scenarios were demonstrated with the diets' macronutrient composition in a multidimensional nutritional geometry representation to link the sustainability indicators with macronutrients. Results Nutrient density and economic and environmental indicators increased as the percentage of energy from proteins increased and decreased as the percentage of energy from fats increased for the 3 dietary scenarios, except for the nutrient density and water use of the "vegan" dietary scenario. Energy density increased as the percentage of energy from fats increased and decreased as the percentage of energy from proteins increased for "pescatarian" and "omnivorous" dietary scenarios. In the "vegan" dietary scenario, nutrient density and water use increased as the percentage of energy from proteins increased; however, these decreased as the percentage of energy from carbohydrates increased, instead of fats. Conclusions The study presents a new approach to analyzing the relations between sustainability indicators, foods, and macronutrients and establishes that proteins, irrespective of the source of protein, are driving dietary environmental and economic impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) causes non-cyclical pelvic pain, period pain, fatigue and other painful symptoms. Current medical and surgical management strategies are often not sufficient to manage these symptoms and may lead to uptake of other therapies.Aims: To determine the prevalence of allied health (AH) and complementary therapy (CM) use, the cost burden of these therapies and explore predictive factors for using allied health or complementary medicines.Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional questionnaire using the WERF EndoCost tool was undertaken between February to April 2017. People were eligible to participate in the survey if they were aged 18-45, living in Australia and had chronic pelvic pain.Results: From 409 responses, 340/409 (83%) of respondents reported a diagnosis of endometriosis. One hundred and five (30%) women with self-reported endometriosis, and thirteen (18%) women with other forms of CPP saw at least one AH or CM practitioner in the previous two months, with physiotherapists and acupuncturists the most common. Women who accessed CM or AH services spent an average of $480.32 AUD in the previous two months. A positive correlation was found between education and number of AH or CM therapies accessed in the past two months (p < 0.001) and between income level and number of therapists (p = 0.028).Conclusions: Women with CPP commonly access AH and CM therapies, with a high out of pocket cost. The high cost and associations with income and education levels may warrant a change to policy to improve equitable access to these services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution, caused by pathogenic serovars in the genus Leptospira. Feral pigs are known carriers of Leptospira species and pig hunting using dogs is a common recreational activity in Queensland, Australia. Methodology and principal findings: This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. serovars in pig-hunting dogs above the Tropic of Capricorn in Queensland and by establishing the geographic distribution, serovars and incidence of human cases of leptospirosis in Queensland, identify potential overlap between human and canine exposure. We also explored the knowledge and risk-taking behaviours of pig-hunting dog owners towards zoonotic diseases. Ninety-eight pig-hunting dogs deemed healthy by physical examination and owned by 41 people from Queensland had serum submitted for Microscopic Agglutination Testing (MAT) to determine antibody titres against Leptospira serovars, while 40/41 dog owners completed a survey on their knowledge of diseases relating to pig hunting. Human leptospirosis cases (n = 330) notified to Queensland Health between 2015–2018 were analysed. Approximately one quarter (23/87; 26%) of unvaccinated pig-hunting dogs were seropositive to Leptospira spp. Although harder to interpret, 8/11 (73%) vaccinated dogs were seropositive to Leptospira spp. Pig hunters may be more likely to contract leptospirosis compared with the general Queensland population, based on responses from surveyed hunters. The highest concentration of human leptospirosis was in the wet tropics region of Far North Queensland. There was little overlap between the serovars dogs were exposed to and those infecting humans. The dominant serovar identified in unvaccinated dogs was Australis (13/23; 57%), with serovar Arborea (36/330; 10.9%) responsible for the highest number of human leptospirosis cases. Topaz was the second most common serovar in both humans and dogs and was previously unrecorded in Australian dogs. Most hunters surveyed used hand washing as a zoonotic disease risk reduction technique. Conclusions: Leptospirosis is an emerging disease of growing significance. The infection requires a 'one health' approach to understand its epidemiology. With shifting climatic patterns influencing human-animal-environment interactions, ongoing monitoring of diseases like leptospirosis is critical to helping prevent infection of individuals and disease outbreaks. Author summary: Leptospirosis is a disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira serovars. Leptospira can infect both humans and animals depending on the species and serovar, with disease resulting from direct or indirect exposure to infected urine. In Australia, the highest number of human cases recorded annually occur in the state of Queensland. Feral pig hunting is a popular recreational activity in this state and hunters often use dogs to 'flush out' pigs. This study investigated whether dogs used to hunt feral pigs were exposed to Leptospira serovars, the geographic distribution of human leptospirosis cases and canine exposure to Leptospira serovars in Queensland, and the knowledge of this disease amongst owners of pig-hunting dogs. We found that roughly one quarter of unvaccinated pig-hunting dogs had been exposed to Leptospira spp. The wet tropics region of Far North Queensland was found to be the location of highest risk for exposure to Leptospira for humans. There was little overlap between the serovars dogs had been exposed to and those reported to have caused disease in humans, except for the serovars Topaz, Australis, and Pomona. Finally, pig hunters were found to be at increased risk of being diagnosed with leptospirosis compared to the Queensland public and engaged in risky hunting practices such as not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Our findings reinforce the emerging significance of leptospirosis for physicians and veterinarians in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Case report: A 1‐year‐old, neutered male German Shepherd was presented with a 5‐month history of episodic lethargy, intermittent fever, weight loss and a hunched posture. The dog was diagnosed with presumptive microsporidian meningoencephalitis based on cytological findings on cerebrospinal fluid analysis and a positive PCR test. The dog initially responded favourably to a 4‐week course of trimethoprim‐sulfadiazine, pyrimethamine and fenbendazole, and remained well for 12 weeks following cessation of treatment. Disease then recurred, and despite an initial positive response to treatment, he deteriorated and was euthanased 11 weeks later, 7.5 months after definitive diagnosis and 13 months after clinical signs were first reported. Conclusion: To the authors knowledge, this is the first case of canine microsporidiosis in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quality of training is determined through programs' compliance with accreditation standards, often set for a number of years. However, perspectives on quality of training within these standards may differ from the clinicians' perspectives on quality of training. Knowledge on how standards relate to clinicians' perspectives on quality of training is currently lacking yet is expected to lead to improved accreditation design.Methods: This qualitative study design was based on a case-study research approach. We analyzed accreditation standards and conducted 29 interviews with accreditors, clinical supervisors and trainees across Australia and the Netherlands about the quality and accreditation of specialist medical training programs. The perspectives were coded and either if applicable compared to national accreditation standards of both jurisdictions, or thematized to the way stakeholders encounter accreditation standards in practice.Results: There were two evident matches and four mismatches between the perspectives of clinicians and the accreditation standards. The matches are: (1) accreditation is necessary (2) trainees are the best source for quality measures. The mismatches are: (3) fundamental training aspects that accreditation standards do not capture: the balance between training and service provision, and trainee empowerment (4) using standards lack dynamism and (5) quality improvement; driven by standards or intrinsic motivation of healthcare professionals.Conclusion: In our Australian and Dutch health education cases accreditation is an accepted phenomenon which may be improved by trainee empowerment, a dynamic updating process of standards and by flexibility in its use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To report the clinical presentation, laboratory and imaging findings, treatment and outcome of abdominal cryptococcosis in dogs and cats in Australia. Materials and Methods: Canine and feline cases from Australia were retrospectively identified (2000 to 2018) via laboratory and referral centre searches for abdominal cryptococcosis diagnosed by cytology (needle aspirates) or histopathology (biopsy or necropsy) of abdominal organs/tissues. Signalment, presenting complaints, clinical signs, laboratory findings, medical imaging, latex cryptococcal antigen agglutination test (LCAT) titres, treatment and outcome data was collected. Results: Thirty‐eight cases were included (35 dogs, three cats) in the study. Median age of presentation was 2 years for dogs and 6 years for cats. Common presenting complaints included vomiting (23/38), lethargy (19/38) and inappetence/anorexia (15/38). Abdominal ultrasound (25/38 cases) revealed mesenteric and intestinal lesions in most of the cases. On surgical exploration, seven cases had an intestinal lesion associated with an intussusception. Nineteen cases had a pre‐treatment LCAT performed, with a median initial titre of 1:2048 (range 1:2 to 65,536). Twenty‐four cases (23 dogs, one cat) received treatment, either medical, surgical or both. Median survival time for cases with combined medical and surgical treatment, surgical treatment alone or medical treatment alone was 730, 140 and 561 days, respectively. Eleven remain alive at the time of follow up. Clinical Significance: Abdominal cryptococcosis although rare should be a considered as a diagnostic possibility in an especially young dog presenting with gastro‐intestinal signs. Older dogs can also present with this condition and should not be euthanised based on imaging alone due to the likenesses with neoplasia. With appropriate treatment and monitoring many dogs may have a prolonged survival period and some may be cured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anti‐HER2 therapy‐related cardiotoxicity is well described in the context of clinical trials, particularly in the setting of early stage disease, but there is more limited data in advanced breast cancer and in the real world setting. Material and methods: A prospectively‐maintained registry database with 312 consecutive patients diagnosed with HER2 positive advanced breast cancer in Australia was analysed. Results: 287 patients (92%) received anti‐HER2 therapy, 17 (6%) experienced anti‐HER2 therapy‐related cardiotoxicity. Patients who experienced cardiotoxicity were more likely to have ≥2 risk factors for cardiotoxicity (OR 3.9 95% CI 1.4‐11.3 p = 0.01). A prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease was significantly associated with cardiotoxicity (OR 7.1 95% CI 1.3‐39.5). Cardiotoxicity resolved on imaging in 65% of patients; there was no association between severity and resolution. 11 patients (65%) received cardiologist input. Of the patients who developed cardiotoxicity, 12 patients (71%) received further anti‐HER2 therapy in the first‐ or second‐line setting without recurrent cardiotoxicity. Discussion and Conclusion: Therapy‐related cardiotoxicity is an uncommon complication of anti‐HER2 therapy in the real world setting. Cardiac toxicity resolved in the majority of affected patients, and further anti‐HER2 therapy was administered without recurrence of cardiac issues. Our data suggests anti‐HER2 therapy can be safely given in routine care, even in patients with risk factors for toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research examining the relationship at the interface of personality, values, moral foundations and its impact on employees' subjective well‐being, resilience, job performance and satisfaction is almost non‐existent. This study addresses this Special Issue's call focusing on the key antecedents and consequences of resilience on individual and/or organisational level outcomes. It does so by analysing data from two different, though comparative cross‐national studies in Australia and India. Employing a quantitative survey method, we collected data from 195 respondents in Australia and 257 respondents from India. Employing the core theory of moral foundations in association with its relationships with individual personality, values, well‐being and resilience, our findings suggest a significant relationship between personality traits and individual moral foundations, and psychological well‐being via values. The study offers distinctive contributions to the literatures on well‐being, resilience and moral foundations theory. Specifically, the personality trait of extroversion influences power and achievement or self‐enhancement values through individualised moral foundations. Second, the study found that values of benevolence and universalism, or compassionate values, form the basis for biological mechanisms of resilience through individual moral foundations of fairness/harm care. The paper concludes with implications for theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Canine heartworm disease, caused by Dirofilaria immitis, has global veterinary importance. In Australia, the prevalence of canine heartworm infection decreased markedly following the introduction of over-the-counter macrocyclic lactones. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of canine heartworm infection in at-risk populations of dogs in eastern Australia and analyse published prevalence data from Australia. Methods: In total, 566 dogs from eastern Australia were tested for the presence of D. immitis antigen. Four cohorts were studied: pig-hunting dogs from Queensland (Cohort 1, n = 104), dogs from remote New South Wales (NSW) (Cohort 2, n = 332), urban pets from rural NSW (Cohort 3, n = 45) and ex-racing Greyhounds from Sydney, NSW (Cohort 4, n = 85). Serum samples were screened for D. immitis antigen using a reference laboratory microwell-based assay (DiroChek®) or a point-of-care immunochromatography test kit (Anigen Rapid®). Risk factors associated with the odds of D. immitis antigen seropositivity were identified using binary logistic regression models. Seropositive blood samples were tested for the presence and quantity of D. immitis DNA using a species specific real-time (q)PCR assay. A metanalysis of the Australian canine heartworm literature was conducted. Results: The prevalence of dirofilariasis in pig-hunting dogs from Queensland (Cohort 1) was 12.5% (95% CI: 6.5–18.9%), with a subpopulation of dogs from Central Queensland having a prevalence of 21% (95% CI: 12.3–33.4%). Age was significantly associated with D. immitis antigen seropositivity (increased risk with increased age). The odds of being > 5 years versus ≤ 5 years was 3.7-times (95% CI: 1.1–12.5) greater in antigen positive versus antigen negative dogs. No D. immitis antigen positive dogs were detected in dogs from NSW (Cohorts 2–4). The Australian canine heartworm disease literature includes 98 peer-reviewed publications (1901–2019) with 30 studies reporting on D. immitis prevalence in dogs. Throughout the publication peak period (1980s), the primary antemortem diagnostic test was detection of microfilariae. Conclusions: Canine heartworm infection in dogs used for pig hunting is a previously unexplored topic in Australia. Pig-hunting dogs are infected with canine heartworm in Queensland, Australia, placing pet dogs and cats at increased risk of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection caused by members of the Cryptococcus gattii and C. neoformans species complexes. The C. gattii species complex has a strong environmental association with eucalypt hollows (particularly Eucalyptus camaldulensis), which may present a source of infection. It remains unclear whether a specific mycobiome is required to support its environmental survival and growth. Conventional detection of environmental Cryptococcus spp. involves culture on differential media, such as Guizotia abyssinica seed agar. Next‐generation sequencing (NGS)‐based culture‐independent identification aids in contextualising these species in the environmental mycobiome. Samples from 23 Australian tree hollows were subjected to both culture‐ and amplicon‐based metagenomic analysis to characterize the mycobiome and assess relationships between Cryptococcus spp. and other fungal taxa. The most abundant genera detected were Coniochaeta, Aspergillus, and Penicillium, all being commonly isolated from decaying wood. There was no correlation between the presence of Cryptococcus spp. in a tree hollow and the presence of any other fungal genus. Some differences in the abundance of numerous taxa were noted in a differential heat tree comparing samples with or without Cryptococcus‐NGS reads. The study expanded the known environmental niche of the C. gattii and C. neoformans species complexes in Australia with detections from a further five tree species. Discrepancies between the detection of Cryptococcus spp. using culture or NGS suggest that neither is superior per se and that, rather, these methodologies are complementary. The inherent biases of amplicon‐based metagenomics require cautious interpretation of data through consideration of its biological relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity, classified as a chronic disease by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is a worldwide public health problem. Obesity has links with numerous systemic diseases which may complicate dental management and as such, patients with obesity and concomitant medical comorbidities are commonly managed by Special Needs Dentistry specialist departments in Australia. The sparsity of available evidence on the dental status in this group is likely due to significant access issues experienced by the class 3 obese, who often weigh >140 kg and therefore are unable to be examined or treated in conventional dental chairs. "Bariatric" is a term used to refer to a specific branch of medicine dealing with causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity. It is used widely in the literature to refer to obese patients; however, dentistry for this cohort ("bariatric dentistry") is less well defined and represents less frequently used terminology. This case report is of a 58-year-old female, with class 3 obesity, who presented in May 2018 for outpatient consult to the Special Needs Unit/Medically Complex Dental Clinic at Westmead Centre for Oral Health, Sydney, Australia, with a compromised and neglected dentition and requiring full dental clearance. The case highlights many of the significant access issues and considerations for safe and effective delivery of dental management. As we move into the future, dental professionals need to become more aware of the growing challenge obesity presents and understand how medical complexities influence dental management. Facilities need to be able to meet this growing need and the specific requirements for a functional and safe bariatric dental service; dependent on both appropriate infrastructure and training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting evidence-based practice (EBP) principles in undergraduate education can facilitate nursing students’ appreciation of EBP. Using grounded theory method, this study aimed to explore processes used by nurse academics while integrating EBP concepts in undergraduate nursing curricula across Australian universities. Twenty-three nurse academics were interviewed and nine were observed during teaching of undergraduate students. In addition, 20 unit/subject guides were analyzed using grounded theory approach of data analysis. The theory “On a path to success: Endeavoring to contextualize curricula within an EBP framework” reflects academics’ endeavors toward linking EBP concepts to practice, aiming to contextualize curricula in a manner that engages students within an EBP framework. However, academics’ journeys were influenced by several contextual factors which require strategies to accomplish their endeavors. In conclusion, initiatives to minimize barriers, faculty development, and provision of resources across educational and clinical settings are fundamental to achieving undergraduate curricula underpinned by EBP concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the absence of dental related guidelines available in Australia specific to obesity and minimal awareness of the clinical implications on local dental practice, bariatric dental care can be perceived as a 'silent disability crisis'. This opinion piece and brief clinical note aims to question and raise awareness amongst dental professionals surrounding the current limited availability of bariatric dental chairs, difficulties in access, the safety of dental care delivery and ethical considerations for the dental management of people with obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine impact of undertaking an international educational program during a nurse's or midwife's pre-registration program on subsequent practice, focusing on how nurses and midwives were transformed personally through participation in such programs. Background: Participation in international educational programs has been reported to enhance nursing and midwifery students' personal and professional development, however long-term impacts remain unclear. This paper presents findings drawn from a larger grounded theory study. Study design and Methods: Charmaz's grounded theory methodology was used to elicit experiences from 13 general nurses, two mental health nurses, three midwives and four dual qualified nurse/midwives across eight different countries. Data analysis led to the creation of three categories, with this paper reporting on the category of Developing as a Person. Findings: Participation in international educational programs can be transformative for nurses and midwives with long-lasting impacts, contributing positively to their personal growth and development. Discussion: The study findings underscore significant long-term impacts of international educational programs for nurses and midwives. These outcomes highlight the importance of incorporating international experiences into healthcare education. Conclusion: By providing opportunities for healthcare professionals to engage with diverse settings and populations, organisations and educational institutions can foster the development of well-rounded and globally competent practitioners. Implications for research, policy, and practice: The study's findings hold significant implications for research, policy, and practice in healthcare education. To deepen our understandings, additional longitudinal research across diverse countries is warranted. Policymakers have an opportunity to acknowledge the positive impact of these programs on the personal growth and development of nurses and midwives, potentially leading to the integration of global competency requirements into licensure programs. In order to provide comprehensive education, educational institutions should consider the inclusion of study abroad opportunities, cultural exchanges, and global clinical placements within nursing and midwifery curricula. What is already known about the topic? • International educational programs are widely used as a way of developing nursing and midwifery students' cultural understandings. • Previous studies have reported on short-term impacts of international educational programs. What this paper adds: • Long-term impacts of participation in an international educational program on nurses and midwives are described. • Personal development and subsequent transformations occur for nurses and midwives as a result of participation in international educational programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives This paper is drawn from a grounded theory study that aimed to investigate processes undertaken by academics when integrating evidence-based practice into undergraduate curricula. This paper focuses on how nurse academics facilitated students to apply evidence-based practice in theory and practice. Background Facilitating undergraduate nursing students to develop skills within an evidence-based practice framework is vital to achieving evidence-based care. Studies on evidence-based practice conducted globally suggests that there is a need to investigate approaches used by nurse academics in facilitating students' understanding and use of evidence-based practice during their nurse education. Methods Employing constructivist grounded theory approach, 23 nurse academics across Australian universities were interviewed and nine observed during their teaching. Some study participants shared their unit guides to enrich analysis. Data analysis was performed by following Charmaz's approach of coding procedures; as a result, four categories were constructed. This paper focuses on the category conceptualised as Envisaging the use of evidence-based practice. Results Findings revealed that most academics-assisted students to use evidence in academic-related activities. Recognising the importance of evidence-based practice in practice, some also expected students to apply evidence-based practice during clinical experiences. However, the level of students' appreciation for evidence-based practice during clinical experiences was unknown to participants and was influenced by practice-related barriers. Acknowledging these challenges, academics were engaged in dialogue with students and suggested the need for academia-practice collaboration in combating the cited barriers. Conclusion Ensuring academics are supported to emphasise clinical application of evidence-based practice requires strategies at school and practice levels. Faculty development, engagement of clinical nurses with evidence-based practice, supportive culture for nurses and students to apply evidence-based practice principles, and collaboration between academia and practice will make facilitation by academics practical and meaningful for students. Relevance to clinical practice Findings from this study point to a number of initiatives for clinical leadership to provide infrastructure and support for academics, practising nurses and undergraduate students to adopt evidence-based practice in practice settings, thereby influencing practice outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the use of various construction procurement systems in the past and present, specifically within the Australian construction industry and to overview the historical development of procurement both globally and in the Australian context through the existing literature.Design/methodology/approach The paper is an in-depth literature review of various construction procurement systems used in the past and present, both in general and within the context of Australian construction industry.Findings The findings suggest that even though relationship-based procurement (RBP) systems offer significant benefits to all project participants, they are unproved by many decision makers because of lack of robust theoretical concept and inability in demonstrating value for money (VfM) for public projects, which would be one of the factors causing move away from RBP in the future.Originality/value This review is one of its kind. There is no such review done before within the context of Australian construction industry in such a detail. This review is a part of a recently completed PhD study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Investigations of antimicrobial use in companion animals are limited. With the growing recognition of the need for improved antimicrobial stewardship, there is urgent need for more detailed understanding of the patterns of antimicrobial use in this sector. Objectives: To investigate antimicrobial use for medical and surgical conditions in dogs and cats by Australian veterinarians. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed over 4 months in 2011. Respondents were asked about their choices of antimicrobials for empirical therapy of diseases in dogs and cats, duration of therapy, and selection based on culture and susceptibility testing, for common conditions framed as case scenarios: 11 medical, 2 surgical, and 8 dermatological. Results: A total of 892 of the 1,029 members of the Australian veterinary profession that completed the survey satisfied the selection criteria. Empirical antimicrobial therapy was more common for acute conditions (76%) than chronic conditions (24%). Overall, the most common antimicrobial classes were potentiated aminopenicillins (36%), fluoroquinolones (15%), first- and second-generation cephalosporins (14%), and tetracyclines (11%). Third-generation cephalosporins were more frequently used in cats (16%) compared to dogs (2%). Agreement with Australasian Infectious Disease Advisory Panel (AIDAP) guidelines (generated subsequently) was variable ranging from 0 to 69% between conditions. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Choice of antimicrobials by Australian veterinary practitioners was generally appropriate, with relatively low use of drugs of high importance, except for the empirical use of fluoroquinolones in dogs, particularly for otitis externa and 3rd-generation cephalosporins in cats. Future surveys will determine whether introduction of the 2013 AIDAP therapeutic guidelines has influenced prescribing habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seafood consumption is increasing in Australia, especially in New South Wales (NSW). Average per capita seafood consumption in NSW is higher than the national average. Seafood supply in NSW comes from domestic (wild catch and aquaculture) and overseas (seafood imports) sources. The contribution of wild catch and aquaculture in domestic seafood production (2012-2013) was 73.42% and 26.52%, respectively. Seafood-associated foodborne illness outbreaks are not common and on an average four outbreaks occur each year in NSW. Most of the outbreaks in 2015 and 2016 were related to ciguatera poisoning. The regulation of the seafood industry and the management of food safety is an example of the coordinated work of multiple government agencies and organizations in which NSW Food Authority is responsible for managing the overall risks through the Seafood Safety Scheme. Overall, seafood supply in NSW is of high quality and poses low food safety risk to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The study aimed to explore the processes undertaken by nurse academics when integrating evidence-based practice ( EBP) into their teaching and learning practices. This article focuses on pedagogical approaches employed by academics to influence evidence-based practice integration into undergraduate programs across Australian universities. Background Nursing academics are challenged to incorporate a variety of teaching and learning strategies to teach evidence-based practice and determine their effectiveness. However, literature suggests that there are limited studies available focusing on pedagogical approaches in evidence-based practice education. Design A constructivist grounded theory methodology, informed by Charmaz was used for this study. Methods Data were collected during 2014 from 23 nurse academics across Australian universities through semi-structured interviews. Additionally, nine were observed during teaching of undergraduate students. Twenty subject outlines were also analysed following Charmaz's approach of data analysis. Findings 'Influencing EBP integration' describes the pedagogical approaches employed by academics to incorporate EBP knowledge and skills into undergraduate curricula. With the use of various teaching and learning strategies, academics attempted to contextualize EBP by engaging students with activities aiming to link evidence to practice and with the EBP process. Although, some strategies appeared to be engaging, others were traditional and seemed to be disengaging for students due to the challenges experienced by participants that impeded the use of the most effective teaching methods. Conclusion Study findings offer valuable insights into the teaching practices and identify some key challenges that require the adoption of appropriate strategies to ensure future nurses are well prepared in the paradigm of evidence-based practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]