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The load-carrying assessment of existing and aging bridges has been a critical challenge in Australia and elsewhere. The reversed capacity of these bridges is under investigation because of increasing traffic loads, deterioration of materials, and accumulated damage during operations. In this study, a hybrid finite-element (FE) model updating approach is developed to identify the current condition of a nearly 50-year-old highway bridge. The reserved capacity of the bridge subjected to the current traffic loadings in design specifications is evaluated. An initial FE model of the bridge is built based on the design documents. Strain data obtained from static load testing of the bridge and modal information identified from the measured acceleration responses of the bridge under operational traffic are simultaneously used to update the material properties and dynamic characteristics of the bridge model. The updated model can simultaneously match the recorded static response and identified modal information of the bridge, which can reflect the present operational condition of the bridge better than the original model constructed by design drawings. Based on the updated bridge model, the load rating factor (RF) is calculated to evaluate the performance of the bridge under the present design traffic loading specified in Australian bridge design standards. The calculated results indicate that the reserved capacity of the bridge for traffic and dead load effects can satisfy the requirements of the current bridge design specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pentatomoidea (stink bugs and their relatives) is the third largest superfamily in Heteroptera, or the true bugs. The phylogenetic relationships among the families within Pentatomoidea remain controversial. The family Lestoniidae is morphologically highly specialized, currently including only two species endemic to Australia. Previous researchers have suggested a close relationship of Lestoniidae to either Plataspidae or Acanthosomatidae, based on morphological characters. In this study, phylogenetic tree reconstruction revealed that Lestoniidae and Acanthosomatidae form a monophyletic clade. In addition, in comparisons of the secondary structures of 18S and 28S rRNAs representing 15 families of Pentatomoidea, four length-variable regions in 18S and 28S rRNAs that can serve as autapomorphies for the clade Lestoniidae + Acanthosomatidae were recognized. Among them, E in 18S rRNA and D3-1 and D5-1 in 28S rRNA are unique in length in Lestoniidae and Acanthosomatidae. Based on the new molecular evidence and morphological evidence published by previous authors, Lestoniidae is suggested to be a highly specialized group derived from a common ancestor with Acanthosomatidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the cultural brokering or mediating role of tour guides and the contribution of interpretation to that role. Using Chinese inbound tourism to Australia as a context, the paper draws on two separate mixed-methods studies to explore the views of tourism industry representatives, tour guides and visitors with respect to cultural mediation. In addition to defining and outlining the dimensions of cultural mediation, respondents elaborated on what these dimensions entail and how the cultural mediation performed by guides contributes to the visitor experience. The findings suggest that, to be a cultural mediator, a tour guide needs to perform a number of roles relating to three broad dimensions: the mediation of access, understanding, and encounters. The first and third, brokering physical access and facilitating opportunities for encounters and/or social interaction with locals, were both reported by visitor as important contributors to memorable experiences. However, it was the mediation of understanding, i.e., the guide's brokering of a cognitive/affective dimension to the experience, that visitors most frequently cited as contributing to experiences which were memorable. Finally, when asked to evaluate their tour guides' performance as cultural mediators, visitors reported that many guides fell short of adequately mediating their understanding of the host culture, which appears to be due to both the guides' lack of sufficient depth of knowledge about Australia and a lack of interpretation skills. The paper presents some of the implications of these findings for tour guiding and, in particular, for the more effective and widespread use of interpretation as a tool for mediating cultural understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The study examined trends in the burden of adolescent depression across countries in the Western Pacific Region from 1990 to 2019, utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease study. • The overall prevalence, incidence rates, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with adolescent depression decreased during the 30-year period. • The trends varied among countries and inequality in the depression burden between high-income and low-income countries in the region widened over the study period. • The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions that promote positive youth development to address the concerning increase in adolescent depression. Depression is a highly prevalent and disabling mental health condition among adolescents. The epidemiology of depression in adolescents has been changing over time, reflecting changes in risk factors as well as disease concepts and diagnosis. However, few studies have characterized the longitudinal epidemiology of depression in adolescents. Understanding trends of disease burden provides key insights to improve resource allocation and design targeted interventions for this vulnerable population. The Western Pacific Region (WPR) is home to over 1.3 billion people with tremendous diversity in culture and socioeconomic development. The epidemiology of adolescent depression in WPR remains largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to estimate trends of disease burden attributable to depressive disorders among adolescents aged 10–24 years in WPR countries between 1990 and 2019, and to investigate period and cohort effects using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study database. The study utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019, concentrating on adolescents aged 10 to 24 years with depression. We conducted an in-depth analysis of depression, including its age-standardized prevalence, incidence, and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), across diverse demographics such as regions, ages, genders, and socio-demographic indexes, spanning from 1990 to 2019. The analysis found decreasing trends in the prevalence, incidence, and DALYs of adolescent depression in the WPR between 1990–2019, although some countries like Australia and Malaysia showed increases. Specifically, the prevalence of adolescent depression in the region decreased from 9,347,861.6 cases in 1990 to 5,551,341.1 cases in 2019. The incidence rate declined from 2,508.6 per 100,000 adolescents in 1990 to 1,947.9 per 100,000 in 2019. DALYs decreased from 371.9 per 100,000 in 1990 to ASR 299.7 per 100,000 in 2019. This study found an overall decreasing trend in adolescent depression burden in the Western Pacific Region between 1990 and 2019, with heterogeneity across countries. For 30 years, the 20–24 age group accounted for the majority of depression among adolescents Widening inequality in depression burden requires policy attention. Further analysis of risk factors contributing to epidemiological trends is warranted to inform prevention strategies targeting adolescent mental health in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]