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Australia is one of the most urbanised countries, and its states and territories are facing significant environmental threats. This paper argues that urban planning authorities in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) repeatedly abandon their carefully crafted urban policies that could have improved environmental sustainability. This qualitative research analyses two cases, nearly two decades apart, to support its argument. In 2021, the NSW planning department developed significant reforms to planning laws, namely the Design and Place State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP). This set of proposed rules would have made planning, placemaking, and communities more liveable and sustainable. In April 2022, the proposed policy was suddenly and unexpectedly scrapped. The recent abandonment of a well-thought-out planning policy proposal in NSW is not unprecedented. It is a case of history repeating itself. In 2003, the PlanFirst sustainability-related planning reforms that had been developed over several years were abandoned similarly. This paper uses the path dependency theory to explore the repetition and discarding of sustainability-related planning reforms. This paper shows how politics and policy making in NSW have neglected significant policies designed to improve environmental sustainability and liveability following property developer lobbyists' influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A leaf spot disease was observed on red veined sorrel (Rumex sanguineus) growing in a commercial greenhouse in northern NSW, Australia, in July 2021. Cercospora rumicis was found in association with the leaf spot and was identified morphologically and by sequencing two gene regions, histone-3 (HIS) and calmodulin (CAL). Koch's postulates were fulfilled through pathogenicity tests, including the inoculation of potted plants and a detached leaf assay. This is the first report of Cercospora rumicis in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fair and equal pay are basic principles determining appropriate remuneration. Yet expectations that locally elected representatives are motivated by community service justify token compensation. This article presents data from a survey of councillors in New South Wales about the adequacy of current remuneration against the expectations and time commitment of the role. It finds: the majority of councillors feel under-compensated for the time they devote to the role; some councillors had unmanageable workloads during the COVID-19 pandemic, and; variations in pay scales across local government areas only partially correspond with differences in volume and complexity of work. Most critically, low pay directly impacts the quality of representation by curtailing the hours councillors can commit to council work. The article argues that 'recognition' needs to be a core principle in determining councillor pay. Current levels both under-recognise what local elected representatives do, and the importance of local government for democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NSW Health is implementing genomics as a mainstream component of clinical care. The strategic, holistic approach is considering infrastructure, data governance and management, workforce, education, service planning and delivery. This work is generating insights about how to realise the promise of genomics in healthcare, highlighting the need for strong foundations, real-world application, accessibility and a focus on people using genomic information in clinical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic and family violence (DFV) increased in complexity during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating further opportunities to help women escape DFV. Governments responded by injecting ad-hoc funding into temporary housing options and homelessness services. This paper provides an integrated discussion between the COVID-driven responses (policy analysis) and the experiences of DFV service providers in NSW, Australia (empirical data), which showed that existing policies are often limited in scope and out of touch with the DFV survivors' long-term housing and support needs. A more holistic approach with DFV targeted housing responses and policies is needed to more effectively help women leaving DFV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ATLAS New Small Wheel (NSW) Muon spectrometer upgrade, completed in 2022, was the largest Phase I detector upgrade among LHC experiments. The NSW enhances triggering in the endcap region (1. 3 < | η | < 2. 4) by confirming muons from the Interaction Point (IP) and rejecting fake contributions. It also improves muon tracking with 2.5 million high-resolution channels across 16 layers. The NSW Trigger, based on small-strip Thin Gap Chambers (sTGC) and Micromegas (MM) technologies, provides Level-1 triggers at every Bunch Crossing (BC) with a fixed low latency (44 BC). Integrated into ATLAS in 2023, the NSW Trigger significantly reduces fake rates and overall readout deadtime. The custom electronics of the NSW Trigger system efficiently collect, process, and trigger on IP muons, focusing on the fully operational sTGC pad-only path based on the Pad Trigger (PT) and Trigger Processor (TP) FPGA based boards. Performance studies using 13. 6 TeV pp collisions are presented, demonstrating NSW's readiness for the High Luminocity LHC (HL-LHC) era and outlining Phase II upgrade perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2021 local government elections in New South Wales (NSW), Australia delivered a record 39.5% female representation, up from 31.2% in the previous election. The increased number of women elected to councils can be read as evidence of the success of a diversity strategy centred on encouraging and equipping women, and other under-represented groups, to stand for election. However, without detracting from the value of these initiatives, their capacity to achieve a councillor body reflective of the general population is limited. People of non-European ancestry, particularly women of 'colour' remain grossly underrepresented, while the gains in women's representation will fail to reach gender parity unless the practices that sustain male overrepresentation, particularly by Anglo and other 'white' European men, are challenged. This article draws upon qualitative interviews with councillors to offer fresh readings of conventional explanations for a lack of diversity in Australian local government, while also underscoring the importance of addressing issues that are currently neglected in 'technical' approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are major disparities in oral health between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The New South Wales (NSW) Aboriginal Oral Health Plan 2014–2020 was developed to improve the oral health of Aboriginal people. This scoping review describes programs that have been undertaken to implement the NSW Aboriginal Oral Health Plan 2014–2020. The methodology by Arksey and O'Malley was used to guide this review. Academic and grey literature were searched using a structured Medline, Lowitja and advanced Google searches. Articles were included if they aligned with the strategic directions of the Plan. Key information, including the aims of the study, methodology and results were recorded in a template on Microsoft Excel software. A total of 31 articles were included in this review. This included 25 articles from the academic literature and six initiatives from the grey literature. Included articles were categorised according to the six strategic directions in the NSW Aboriginal Oral Health Plan. Four studies were related to the first strategic direction, six related to strategic direction two, four related to strategic direction three, six initiatives related to strategic direction four, five related to strategic direction five, and eight related to strategic direction six. While there has been significant progress in achieving the strategic directions of the NSW Aboriginal Oral Health Plan, there is scope for continued collaboration between oral health service providers, universities and Aboriginal communities to improve oral health outcomes for Aboriginal people in NSW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of ecological modernization (EM) (to delink industry growth from environmental damage) to minimize construction waste has not been explored within construction industry in general, and the New South Wales (NSW) construction industry in particular. This study seeks to identify the drivers of applying EM to construction waste minimisation (CWM) in the industry. Also, to determine the CWM measures that are critical for each of the drivers. A survey was adopted in this study to target stakeholders engaged in the delivery of construction projects in NSW from design to completion. The survey was selected to reach a large number of respondents within a manageable period. A pilot study was conducted to ensure the reliability of the research design before a full-scale data collection was launched. The data from 240 valid responses was analysed using factor analysis, relative importance index and descriptive statistics. The results revealed five important drivers for EM's application to CWM. These are agents of change, government policies, supply chain dynamics, skill building and technological innovations. The CWM measure that are critical for each of these drivers were also identified. The study provides insights into the application of EM to address the construction industry problem of waste generation as by-product of its growth. It also shows the ability to protect the environment while enabling continuous economic growth. Furthermore, it demonstrates the applicability of EM to minimize the construction waste of NSW construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their vector capacity, ticks are ectoparasites of medical and veterinary significance. Modern sequencing tools have facilitated tick-associated microbiota studies, but these have largely focused on bacterial pathogens and symbionts. By combining 16S rRNA gene sequencing with total RNA-sequencing methods, we aimed to determine the complete microbiome and virome of questing, female Ixodes holocyclus recovered from coastal, north-eastern New South Wales (NSW), Australia. We present, for the first time, a robust and unbiased method for the identification of novel microbes in ticks that enabled us to identify bacteria, viruses, fungi and eukaryotic pathogens. The dominant bacterial endosymbionts were Candidatus Midichloria sp. Ixholo1 and Candidatus Midichloria sp. Ixholo2. Candidatus Neoehrlichia australis and Candidatus Neoehrlichia arcana were also recovered, confirming that these bacteria encompass I. holocyclus ' core microbiota. In addition, seven virus species were detected—four previously identified in I. holocyclus and three novel species. Notably, one of the four previously identified virus species has pathogenic potential based on its phylogenetic relationship to other tick-associated pathogens. No known pathogenic eukaryotes or fungi were identified. This study has revealed the microbiome and virome of female I. holocyclus from the environment in north-eastern NSW. We propose that future tick microbiome and virome studies utilize equivalent methods to provide an improved representation of the microbial diversity in ticks globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Predictive modelling using pre-epidemic data have long been used to guide public health responses to communicable disease outbreaks and other health disruptions. In this study, cancer registry and related health data available 2-3 months from diagnosis were used to predict changes in cancer detection that otherwise would not have been identified until full registry processing was completed about 18-24 months later. A key question was whether these earlier data could be used to predict cancer incidence ahead of full processing by the cancer registry as a guide to more timely health responses. The setting was the Australian State of New South Wales, covering 31 % of the Australian population. The study year was 2020, the year of emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: Cancer detection in 2020 was modelled using data available 2-3 months after diagnosis. This was compared with data from full registry processing available from 2022. Data from pre-pandemic 2018 were used for exploratory model building. Models were tested using pre-pandemic 2019 data. Candidate predictor variables included pathology, surgery and radiation therapy reports, numbers of breast screens, colonoscopies, PSA tests, and melanoma excisions recorded by the universal Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS). Data were analysed for all cancers collectively and 5 leading types., Results: Compared with full registry processing, modelled data for 2020 had a >95 % accuracy overall, indicating key points of inflexion of cancer detection over the COVID-disrupted 2020 period. These findings highlight the potential of predictive modelling of cancer-related data soon after diagnosis to reveal changes in cancer detection during epidemics and other health disruptions., Conclusions: Data available 2-3 months from diagnosis in the pandemic year indicated changes in cancer detection that were ultimately confirmed by fully-processed cancer registry data about 24 months later. This indicates the potential utility of using these early data in an early-warning system., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest No conflicts of interest have been declared., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

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Creep crack growth is known to be the dominant failure mechanism in high-temperature components. Particularly in welded structures operating at elevated temperatures, cracks are often found to initiate and propagate in the vicinity of the weld region which can eventually penetrate into the base material after a long period of operation. In this study, creep crack growth tests have been performed on specimens extracted from an ex-service 316 H welded component to examine the crack initiation and growth behaviour in near-weld regions. The results show that the cracking behaviour of the base metal in near-weld specimens is similar to the as-received 316 H data set, suggesting that the material inhomogeneity would not influence the crack propagation behaviour in service-exposed components. Moreover, the test results show that the crack initiation and growth behaviour of the HAZ specimens can be estimated in much shorter time scales by performing tests on pre-compressed material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cangai copper mine was one of the most successful mining operations in NSW during the early 1900s. Following discovery in 1901 and initial mining by syndicates, the mine was operated by the Grafton Copper Mining Company Ltd from 1905 until 1917 and produced approximately 5,000 t of copper, as well as significant gold and silver, from an estimated 76,940 tonnes of mined ore. Earlier gold mining in the Cangai area paved the way for discovery and development of the Cangai copper deposit. Key shareholders and promoters in the copper mining had gained experience in this previous phase of mining, resulting in similar approaches to financing, management and technical aspects. The Cangai deposit possessed significant natural advantages, which combined with good management, allowed for low-cost mining of high-grade ore. This meant that the mine essentially paid for its own development without the need for significant external capital. The Grafton Copper Mining Company was able to pay healthy dividends and through its activities and expenditure make a significant contribution to the development of the local region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the Australian National Emergency Access Target (NEAT) policy introduced in 2012 on ED performance. Methods: A longitudinal cohort study of NEAT implementation using linked data, for 12 EDs across New South Wales (NSW), Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Queensland (QLD) between 2008 and 2013. Segmented regression in a multi‐level model was used to analyse ED performance over time before and after NEAT introduction. The main outcomes measures were ED length of stay ≤4 h, access block, number of ED presentations, short‐stay admission (≤24 h), >24 h admissions, unplanned ED re‐attendances within 7 days and 'left at own risk' (including 'did not wait for assessment'). Results: Two years after NEAT introduction, ED length of stay ≤4 h increased in NSW and QLD (odds ratio [OR] = 2.48 and 3.24; P < 0.001) and access block decreased (OR = 0.41 and 0.22; P < 0.001), but not in ACT (OR = 1.28; P > 0.05). ED presentations increased over time before and after NEAT introduction with a significant increase above the projected trend in NSW after NEAT (mean ratio = 1.07). Short‐stay admissions increased in QLD (OR = 2.60), ACT (OR = 1.68) and NSW (OR = 1.35). Unplanned ED re‐attendances did not change significantly. Those who left at their own risk decreased significantly in NSW and QLD (OR = 0.38 and 0.67). Conclusion: ED presentations continued to increase over time in all jurisdictions. NSW and QLD, but not ACT, showed significant improvements in time‐based measures. Significant increases in short‐stay admissions suggest a strategic change in ED process associated with NEAT implementation. Rates of unplanned ED re‐attendances and those leaving at their own risk showed no evidence for adverse effects from NEAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue Addressed: The dietary intakes of Australian children are not optimal, with few meeting recommended vegetable and fruit intake targets. Nutrition education in childhood is important for developing healthy eating patterns, with schools an ideal setting for a wide reach. The aims of this study were to examine nutrition education within the NSW primary school syllabus, explore how much time teachers spend teaching nutrition, what is taught, what materials are used, and to identify attitudes towards nutrition education.Method: An online survey consisting of 29 closed questions (with options for comments) was specifically developed for the purpose of this study. Teachers currently teaching at a NSW primary school were eligible to participate.Results: A total of 33 NSW primary school teachers completed the survey. Results indicate that limited time is spent on teaching nutrition with some important nutrition education components currently missed, resources perceived to be inadequate and lack of time reported as the largest barrier to teaching nutrition.Conclusion: In order to improve the quality of nutrition education in NSW primary schools, several important topics need to be integrated into the curriculum, and time constraints of teachers should be taken into account. SO WHAT?: Findings from the current survey will inform the development of future nutrition education programs and resources with the aim of integrating nutrition education within the primary school curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) is practiced by various professions and agencies in many jurisdictions. The role police play in CPTED has received limited scrutiny from academics within Australia (and other countries). This article makes an important contribution to addressing this gap in the literature through providing New South Wales Police Force Crime Prevention Officers (CPOs) perspectives on their role in reviewing council development applications from a CPTED perspective. Findings show police-council relations vary considerably. Some police-council areas have clear policies in place to enable police to contribute to reviewing crime risks of development applications, whilst others do not. Many police feel their engagement in the planning and development process is often tokenistic, receiving limited feedback from councils about their recommendations. For these police, they see little ongoing relevance of reviewing development applications. If police are to remain involved, there is a need to develop clearer parameters of how police will contribute and what they can realistically be expected to contribute to this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power and domination have a considerable presence everywhere in society. Power-dynamic forces play a significant role in institutional practices, agenda-setting, decision-making and ensuring particular groups' interests. Power is also substantially evident in urban planning. Power in urban planning is exerted by various actors. Power is an opportunity for affluent residents to confront planning practices. This research explores powerful actors in urban planning through an empirical study of urban planning in the state of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. This empirical study analyses contemporary political, statutory and socio-economic influential powers in NSW's urban planning by applying Foucault's power theory. It contributes to knowledge and practice in urban studies by unveiling how political, institutional and socio-economic power influences urban planning in NSW. This research illustrates that state urban planning machinery has ultimate authoritative power in urban planning and advances the interests and aspirations of the socio-economic and political power elites. • Power generates strength as well as dominance in the city and community. • Analysing urban planning through the lens of power is crucial. • Political and statutory powers are noticeable in NSW, Australia's urban planning. • Political elites also benefit their socio-economic and organisational elites. • Improved governance and strong-participatory planning require counteracting powers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the design, characterization, and production of a signal packet router for the upgrade of the ATLAS forward muon detector. The router serves as a packet switch in one of the primary trigger paths. It handles up to 12 serial inputs at 4.8 Gbps/input from on-detector electronics and outputs four 4.8 Gbps to the trigger processing circuits. In the 12-to-4 packet switching process, the input streams are decoded and synchronized to a common clock domain for data packets forwarding and NULL packets suppression. Challenges in the design include operations of multi-giga hertz serial links with low and constant latency (<100 ns) for packet routing, as well as mitigation of radiation-induced effects in the harsh radiation environment over 10 years of detector operation. The Router design has been fully characterized and demonstrated to meet all specifications. In total 256 Routers were installed in the detector. Its design concept can be used in other similar applications, particularly in a radiation environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how Harry Messel, Harold Wyndham, L.C. Robson and Robert Menzies were instrumental in bringing about substantial change in science curriculum and infrastructure reform in NSW schools. Design/methodology/approach – The paper relies on substantial archival research including materials never before examined or used by historians of education history. The paper is divided into sections, the first uses teacher surveys and identifies problems with science teaching in 1958, a key year in education history and each section after that looks at the contribution of Wyndham, Messel, Robson and Menzies in driving a new direction for science education. Findings – The research found that Wyndham, Messel, Robson and Menzies each contributed a new dimension to the reform of science education in Australia. Their individual contributions were substantial, inter-related and interlocking but quite different. The paper argues that it is not adequate to look at science education reform purely as a means to introduce State Aid, rather science education reform was advocated as a means to ensure students had a scientific literacy going forward into a technologically driven future. Research limitations/implications – The research strikes a path through a vast primary source record to outline how individuals and science teachers more generally believed in science education reform as a mechanism to ensure students were better placed to enter a post-Sputnik world. As a result, known arguments around State Aid are only part of the story and not the main focus of the research. The aim is to supplement that knowledge by looking more at a broader picture for science reform for its own sake. Originality/value – This paper takes an original approach to the history of curriculum change by providing a broader context for the State Aid debate, that is, by focussing on individual contributions to science education reform for its own sake and because science education was deemed necessary for student literacy in the future. At the same time it uses archival material never before accessed or used to tease out this history. The teachers’ surveys provide a unique insight into conditions for science teachers in the late 1950s. This material has not been accessed before and it provides a context upon which to superimpose the impact of the contributions of Wyndham, Messel, Robson and Menzies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to explore the interaction between a liminal rural Australian city (Lithgow) and the development of higher education options across the city's history. The paper proposes a nuanced interaction between national, social, religious, political, regional and local forces to explain why an industrial city such as Lithgow, with obvious educational strengths, would be overlooked while others (such as Wollongong and Bathurst) were not. Design/methodology/approach -- The paper takes the form of a longitudinal study of educational institutions, placed in their historical contexts, in order to demonstrate the fluctuation of educational vision with the rise and fall of socio-economic contributors to the town's fortunes. Findings -- The paper finds that the city's formation and dependence on war-related industries created boom-bust cycles which negatively impacted on its entrepreneurial, managerial and working class elites, and so on its ability to bring cultural and political influence to bear in the formation of local higher education options, across a period in which higher education becomes an increasingly federal responsibility. Practical implications -- The paper suggests policy ramifications for the support of higher education options in the city. Social implications -- The paper supports the interpretation that it is not merely that education itself promotes social mobility, but that what type of education is important, along with an eye to how education contributes to the overall well-being and cross-class profile of the city of Lithgow. Originality/value -- This paper fills a gap in historical knowledge about Lithgow's educational institutions, the study of which heretofore has tended to be located with either labor historical or heritage approaches. This paper takes a socio-cultural and longitudinal/holistic approach which brings together a variety of approaches previously not treated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of the endemic parasitoids of whiteflies in the greenhouse cropping regions of western Sydney was conducted from 13 October 2005 to 15 March 2007. The fourth-instar nymphs of both Bemisia tabaci (Aleyrodidae), including silverleaf whitefly ( Bemisia tabaci biotype B), and greenhouse whitefly ( Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Aleyrodidae) were collected from weeds surrounding greenhouses. These nymphs were incubated until the emergence of either a whitefly or parasitoid and the parasitoids were then identified. Eight species of parasitoids from two genera were detected in this survey ( Encarsia accenta, E. formosa, E. mineoi, E. pergandiella, Eretmocerus queenslandensis, Eret. warrae, Eret. mundus and Eret. hayati). Five of these species were known parasitoids of silverleaf whitefly; one is a known parasitoid of greenhouse whitefly with two species known to parasitise both hosts. The presence of Eret. hayati is of particular interest because it has never been deliberately released into the surveyed region. Of these parasitoids, Eret. mundus and Eret. hayati are probably the most suitable candidates for biological control of whitefly associated with greenhouse crops in western Sydney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the demographic and clinical variables of the conditionally released forensic patient population in New South Wales. Method: Data were gathered from 74 conditionally released forensic patients. Results: Of this population, 37% had committed homicides and 50% had committed serious violent offences (attempted murder, grievous bodily harm or robbery). Approximately two-thirds had their first admission to a psychiatric hospital before the age of 30. The majority (83%) of patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia and 55% had a history of substance use disorders; 24% were deemed to have been intoxicated at the time of the offence. Conclusions: Conditionally released forensic patients in NSW show similar characteristics to those in other jurisdictions. Areas identified for further evaulation are comorbid substance use and rehabilitation, longer term outcomes and the under representation of indigenous persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male-to-male sex is the predominant route of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission in Australia and since the early 1980s blood services in Australia have deferred donors for this practice for at least 5 years. This retrospective analysis assesses the impact on HIV prevalence of implementing an abridged 12-month deferral for male-to-male sex. The prevalence of HIV among blood donors for 5-year periods before (Period 1) and after (Period 2) implementing the revised 12-month deferral was compared. Using deidentified data from postdonation interviews with HIV-positive donors the proportion disclosing male-to-male sex as a risk factor was compared for the two periods. Twenty-four HIV-positive donations were identified among 4,025,571 donations in Period 1 compared with 24 among 4,964,628 donations in Period 2 (p = 0.468). The proportion of HIV-positive donors with male-to-male sex as a risk factor in Period 1 was 2 in 15 (13.3%), which was not significantly different from the proportion in Period 2, 5 in 16 (31.25%; p = 0.22). All five men who have sex with men risk HIV infections during Period 2 were from donors whose risk was within the 12-month criterion for acceptability, who would have been deferred had they provided a complete history. We found no evidence that the implementation of the 12-month deferral for male-to-male sex resulted in an increased recipient risk for HIV in Australia. The risk of noncompliance to the revised deferral rather than its duration appears to be the most important modifier of overall risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erratic rainfall and rapidly changing world markets have led to volatile stock prices and variable returns to beef producers in recent years. Many producers have subsequently reviewed their choice of enterprise or management system and so an examination of long-term markets is useful when contemplating or advising on possible changes. A comparison of selected beef enterprise gross margins from 1999-2010 indicates that producers supplying markets with tighter supply specifications were generally rewarded with higher returns. For example, EU producers are obliged to maintain rigorous records, subjected to audits, and need improved pastures in order to produce heavy, finished, young cattle. Accordingly, returns in that enterprise have often been among the highest. Conversely, returns from weaner production were, on average, the lowest of those presented. There are no specifications for weaners; they can be produced from all classes of land and many producers revert to this production system during droughts or to realise quick returns. Note that rising input costs and variable market premiums have recently impacted most enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Replacing natural habitats with artificial structures such as pier-pilings, jetties, and seawalls has important consequences to abundances of biota. It is, however, not often known whether these are direct (the novel habitat alters abundances of some species) or indirect (the novel habitat directly alters some aspect of the behavior or ecology of some species, which, in turn, alter abundances of other species). Marine animals in some modified habitats in Sydney Harbour provide experimental opportunities to test hypotheses to distinguish between direct and indirect processes. Covers of bryozoans and hydroids were greater on kelp growing on pilings than on kelp growing on natural reefs. The epifauna may be affected directly by the pilings or indirectly, i.e., the structure affects characteristics of the kelp which, in turn, influence covers of epifauna. Thus, differences in covers of epifauna on kelp can be due to: (I) factors associated with the primary habitats (pilings vs. reefs), (2) differences between characteristics of the kelp found in each habitat, or (3) an interaction between these factors (habitat and/or type of kelp). Kelp were experimentally transplanted between pilings and reefs, demonstrating that properties of the habitat directly affected covers of epifauna, which were not influenced by the type of kelp that grows on pilings or rocky reefs. Manipulative experiments to unconfound multiple components of habitats influencing disturbances to biota are needed to understand human impacts on natural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steadily increasing luminosity of the LHC requires an upgrade with high-rate and high-resolution detector technology for the inner end cap of the ATLAS muon spectrometer: the New Small Wheels (NSW). In order to achieve the goal of precision tracking at a hit rate of about 15 kHz/cm 2 at the inner radius of the NSW, large area Micromegas quadruplets with 100 µm spatial resolution per plane have been produced. IRFU, from the CEA research center of Saclay, is responsible for the production and validation of LM1 Micromegas modules. The construction, production, qualification and validation of the largest Micromegas detectors ever built are reported here. Performance results under cosmic muon characterization will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The magnitude of maternal mortality is underestimated as deaths occurring beyond the traditional 42-day time period after the pregnancy ending (‘late death’) have not been reported routinely in Australia. Aims: The aims of this study were to undertake a data linkage study to improve the ascertainment of maternal deaths and to determine the number of deaths occurring 43–365 days after the pregnancy ended (‘late maternal death’). Methods: Data from the New South Wales Midwives Data Collection were linked with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Death Index. Australian identified pregnancy-related deaths were then coded as direct, indirect and incidental to the pregnancy. Results: During the period 1994–2001, 173 maternal deaths were identified. Of these, 97 were classified as occurring up to 42 days of the pregnancy ending, 15 (15.5%) of which were previously unknown to the maternal mortality committee. In addition, 76 deaths were classified as occurring between 43 and 365 days after the pregnancy ended. The majority (70 of 76) of these late deaths were only identified through the linkage study. Most (73 of 76) of these deaths were classified as indirect maternal deaths with the most common causes of deaths suicide ( n= 23), cardiac disorders ( n= 16) or accident/violence ( n= 16). Conclusions: The ascertainment of maternal and late maternal mortality was enhanced through data linkage of birth and mortality data. Data linkage is a viable method for monitoring late maternal deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary A palynological investigation was conducted on sediments from three small floodplain swamps on upper Wollombi Brook in the Hunter Valley NSW in order to reconstruct pre-European riparian vegetation composition and community structure. Pre-European riparian plant communities on upper Wollombi Brook were characterized by wet sclerophyll forest associations with rainforest elements (most likely close to the channel). Major changes in both the nature and extent of riparian vegetation have been associated with European settlement. The pre-European pollen spectra assists the identification of a suite of native taxa potentially suitable for use in riparian revegetation operations, particularly in highly cleared streambank sites where protection of water quality and aquatic habitat is an important goal but where insufficient local remnants are available to indicate pre-existing plant species. The research emphasizes the use of palaeoenvironmental evidence as a tool for contemporary environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flood events can transport large nitrogen loads to the ocean in short periods with the potential to produce significant nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions along an estuarine gradient. Here, we evaluate temporal and spatial N 2 O air-water fluxes from both seasonal, and flood-event timescales in an urban subtropical estuary surrounded by mangroves (Coffs Creek, Australia). Overall, the estuary was a minor atmospheric source of N 2 O with emissions of 3.9 ± 1.2 μmol m−2 d−1. However, the mangrove-dominated lower estuary was a sink of N 2 O in the dry months (−5.4 ± 2.2 μmol m−2 d−1), then a source in the wet months (11.7 ± 1.6 μmol m−2 d−1) and also during an eight-day flood event (66.9 ± 9.8 μmol m−2 d−1). The flood event drove changes in estuary N 2 O dynamics, creating a 'hot moment' with the highest N 2 O emissions following the transport of nitrate + nitrite (NO X) from the modified catchment. The hot moment coincided with a 13-fold increase in mean daily N 2 O emissions and increased annual net emissions estimates to the atmosphere by 41%. In the mangrove-dominated creek sections, N 2 O was consumed in the dry conditions (cold spots). Seasonal variation was prominent in the attenuation and consumption of N 2 O in the mangrove dominated sections of the creek, while flood events potentially reduce natural creek NO X attenuation capacity and elevate N 2 O emissions. Without observation s in both seasonal and episodic rainfall timeframes, estuarine N 2 O studies in subtropical regions may underestimate N 2 O emissions and budgets. [Display omitted] • Monthly observations reveal that the estuary was a minor atmospheric source of N 2 O. • Mangrove-dominated areas are an N 2 O sink in dry months and a source in wet months. • An episodic flooding event drove high N 2 O emissions in the lower estuary. • The flood created a hot N 2 O moment, 13-fold higher than annual mean N 2 O emissions. • Considering a flood event, net annual N 2 O emissions estimates increased by ∼41%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of December 2019, an outbreak of COVID-19 occurred in Wuhan city, China. Modelling plays a crucial role in developing a strategy to prevent a disease outbreak from spreading around the globe. Models have contributed to the perspicacity of epidemiological variations between and within nations and the planning of desired control strategies. In this paper, a literature review was conducted to summarise knowledge about COVID-19 disease modelling in three countries-China, the UK and Australia-to develop a robust research framework for the regional areas that are urban and rural health districts of New South Wales, Australia. In different aspects of modelling, summarising disease and intervention strategies can help policymakers control the outbreak of COVID-19 and may motivate modelling disease-related research at a finer level of regional geospatial scales in the future.

A survey was conducted to establish the current utilisation of stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) services in NSW. The objective of the survey was to generate baseline data to inform requirements for a networked approach to the implementation of new radiation therapy techniques and technologies. All radiation therapy services in NSW were contacted by email with a request to complete a SABR service survey. Questions were designed to identify equipment used, treatment techniques in place, clinical sites treated with a SABR technique and plans to expand the current services offered. Each professional group was asked to identify areas of service delivery they would most like to improve. Sixteen responses were received representing 24 of 27 (89%) of NSW radiation therapy centres. The results indicate that most centres now treat with SABR, however the number of centres and the treatment sites are still increasing. VMAT treatments and 3D imaging are now commonplace. Liver was the most commonly reported treatment site where confidence in service delivery needed improvement. Data from the survey will be useful in formulating future collaborative and educational activities aimed at improving safety and efficacy in SABR service delivery to all patients in NSW and potentially the rest of the country.

Objective: Low rates of driver licensing have been linked to increased risk of transport-related injury, and reduced access to health services, employment and educational opportunities in the Aboriginal population. This paper reports on how barriers to obtaining a driver licence are being addressed in four Aboriginal communities in New South Wales and South Australia., Methods: Qualitative data were collected over a four-month period in 2013. Interviews with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal stakeholders (n=31) and 11 focus groups with Aboriginal participants (n=46) were analysed thematically using a framework approach., Results: Factors facilitating licensing included: family support, professional lessons, alternative testing and programs that assist with literacy, fines management, financial assistance and access to a supervising driver. Stakeholders recommended raising awareness of existing services and funding community-based service provision to promote access to licensing., Discussion: Facilitating licence participation requires systemic change and long-term investment to ensure interagency collaboration, service use and sustainability of relevant programs, including job search agencies. Implications for public health: The disadvantage faced by Aboriginal people in driver licensing is a fundamental barrier to participation and a social determinant of health. Understanding the factors that promote licensing is crucial to improving access for under-serviced populations; recommendations provide pragmatic solutions to address licensing disadvantage., (© 2017 The Authors.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to design and evaluate a brief scale to assess adolescents' motivation to limit their screen-time using a self-determination theory (SDT) framework., Methods: The development and evaluation of the Motivation to Limit Screen-time Questionnaire (MLSQ) involved three phases. In Phase 1, experts in SDT were asked to review the content validity of the MLSQ items. In Phase 2, adolescent boys (N=342, mean age=12.7 ±.5 years) completed the MLSQ and the factorial validity of the model was explored. In Phase 3, adolescent boys (N=48, mean age=14.3 ± 1.3 years) completed the MLSQ on two occasions separated by 1-week. Phases 2 and 3 were conducted in New South Wales, Australia in 2012., Results: Twenty four SDT experts reviewed the original scale items. Validity coefficients associated with six of the original eight items exceeded the threshold value (V>.68, p<.01). In Phase 2, the revised three-factor (9-items) model provided a good fit to the data (SRMR=.07, CFI=.96). The intraclass correlation (ICC) values were .67 for amotivation and .70 and .82 for controlled and autonomous motivation, respectively., Conclusion: This study has provided preliminary evidence for the validity and reliability of the MLSQ in adolescent boys., (© 2013.)

Objective: To identify the maternal and infant risk factors associated with hospital admission in the first year and estimate the associated costs of infant hospitalization., Study Design: Data from the Perinatal Data Collection for 599753 liveborn infants born in New South Wales, Australia, 2001-2007 were linked to hospital admission data. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between maternal and infant characteristics and admission to hospital once, and more than once in the first year; and average costs for total hospital admissions were calculated., Results: Almost 15% of infants were admitted to hospital once and 4.6% had multiple admissions. Gestational age <37 weeks was most strongly associated with admission to hospital once, and severe neonatal morbidity was most strongly associated with multiple admissions (aOR 2.60; 95% CI 2.47-2.75). Infants born <39 weeks gestational age, to adolescent mothers, mothers who smoke, are not married, or had a planned delivery also have an increased risk of multiple admissions. Infants with severe neonatal morbidity contributed 27% of total infant hospital costs. With each increasing week of gestational age the mean annual cost decreased on average 10% and 27% for infants with and without neonatal morbidity respectively., Conclusions: Infants born with severe neonatal morbidity have increased hospitalizations in the first year; however, the majority of burden on health system is by infants without severe neonatal morbidity. Hospitalizations, and associated costs, increased with decreasing gestational age, even for infants born at 37-38 weeks. Targeted public health strategies may reduce the burden of infant hospitalizations., (Copyright © 2013 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)