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Abstract: The large daisy tribe Gnaphalieae occurs in extra-tropical habitats worldwide, but is most diverse in southern Africa and in Australia. We explore the age and evolutionary history of the tribe by means of a phylogenetic hypothesis based on Bayesian analysis of plastid and nuclear DNA sequences, maximum likelihood reconstruction of ancestral areas, and relaxed Bayesian dating. Early diversification occurred in southern Africa in the Eocene–Oligocene, resulting in a grade of mostly Cape-centred lineages which subsequently began speciating in the Miocene, consistent with diversification times for many Cape groups. Gnaphalieae from other geographic regions are embedded within a southern African paraphylum, indicating multiple dispersals out of southern Africa since the Oligocene to Miocene which established the tribe in the rest of the world. Colonisation of Australia via direct long-distance trans-oceanic dispersal in the Miocene resulted in the radiation which produced the Australasian gnaphalioid flora. The similarly diverse regional gnaphalioid floras of Australasia and southern Africa thus exhibit very different temporal species accumulation histories. An examination of the timing and direction of trans-Indian Ocean dispersal events in other angiosperms suggests a role for the West Wind Drift in long-distance dispersal eastwards from southern Africa. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Population projections rely on one-sex renewal models. Consequently, changing the projection of male mortality does not affect the projection of birth, contradicting commonsense. A two-sex renewal model is presented in this paper to provide a better description of reproduction and more reasonable population projections. This model is nonlinear and includes the one-sex renewal models as special cases. In this model, age-specific birth rates are defined for two sexes jointly; total fertility, net reproduction rate, and intrinsic growth rate are also derived for two sexes jointly; and age-specific populations approach or converge to stable status. Applying the two-sex renewal model to Australia, it indicates that one-sex models underestimated the intrinsic growth rate by 14 percent. Compared to the results of one-sex models, the two-sex model would provide higher growth rate for low-fertility countries, and lower growth rate for high-fertility countries. In other words, the one-sex models are commonly biased. If the two-sex model is applied to all the countries, it would project smaller populations for the world in the future. • A two-sex renewal model is presented to provide population projections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic (MP) can significantly affect soil behaviour and the ecosystem. This paper presents an experimental study to investigate the effects of MP contamination and leachate exposure on the desiccation cracks, hydraulic conductivity, and water retention properties of the natural black clay. The leachate was from a landfill in Australia. The black clay was incorporated with up to 2.0% MPs by weight (w/w) with diverse dimensions and mixed with water/leachate. The measured properties include saturated hydraulic conductivity (k sat), soil-water characteristic curves, moisture evaporation rates, and crack intensity factors. The results suggest that the inclusion of MPs significantly increases k sat , and this increase is more obvious for soils with larger dimensions and contents of MPs, e.g., k sat of the black clay with 2.0% of 500 μm MP increases significantly by 206% (p < 0.05). The black clay exposed to leachate exhibits a slight increase in k sat due to the low viscosity of leachate. The existence of MPs decreases the residual moisture contents and air-entry pressures, and so does the water retention capacity (v/v %) of the black clay. The exposure to leachate increases the air-entry pressures by 6.0%–15.8% of the clay. The evaporation rates increase with the dimensions and concentrations of MPs. The highest evaporation rate (0.96 g/h) can be observed in samples exposed to 2.0% 500 μm MP with water addition. For all samples, the crack intensity factors increase when MP content is between 0.2% and 1.0% and decreases slightly after that. After being exposed to leachate, the evaporation rates and crack intensity factors of the black clay are decreased by 2.4%–12.6% and 3.6%–13.7%, respectively. • Contamination of MPs increases the saturated hydraulic conductivity of clays. • Mature leachate does not significantly affect permeability or flow channel of clays. • MPs affect residual moisture contents and air-entry pressure of clays. • Existence of MPs affects the evaporation rate and desiccation crack of clays. • Leachate affects air-entry pressure, evaporation rate, and crack intensity of clays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent paper suggested all women with endometrial cancer should take statins but it is unclear whether there is sufficient evidence to justify this recommendation. We identified all women diagnosed with uterine cancer in Australia between July 2003 and December 2013 (2012 in New South Wales) through the Australian Cancer Database (N = 16,501) and linked these to the national prescription database and National Death Index to identify statin use and survival outcomes to December 2015. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations between statin use and survival. Among the 15,703 women with endometrial cancer, pre-diagnosis statin use was not associated with survival. Endometrial cancer-specific mortality was lower among women who used statins after diagnosis (time-varying models: HR = 0.92; 95%CI 0.82–1.03) but the association was only seen among women with type 1 cancers (0.87; 0.76–1.00), for hydrophilic statins (0.84; 0.68–1.03) and for new use of statins after diagnosis (0.75; 0.59–0.95). There was a weak dose-response with increasing number of statin prescriptions. Sensitivity analyses using inverse probability of treatment weights were similar. Women with endometrial cancer who take statins after diagnosis may have better survival than those who do not use statins. However, it is impossible to completely rule out bias, particularly reverse causation where disease status may affect statin use. We believe it is too early to recommend all women with endometrial cancer take statins, but there is sufficient evidence to justify a randomized trial. • This national data-linkage study confirms a potential survival benefit for use of statins by women with endometrial cancer. • However, it is impossible to eliminate all bias, particularly reverse causation where disease status may affect statin use. • It is too early to recommend all women with endometrial cancer take statins, but a randomized trial is justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continued population growth, and climate change are placing stress on many of the world's water sources and this often manifests in environmental damage to rivers and wetlands. Most of the published literature around allocating more water to the environment considers trade-offs with agriculture. In contrast this study focusses on scenarios for different potable water supplies in cities and thus adds a novel perspective on the value of riverine restoration. This study sheds light on urban households' willingness to pay for more water to be allocated to the environment where it directly competes with their own water demands. The study uses two stated preference techniques (choice modelling and best-worst scaling) to establish the value of environmental water and the motivations for households paying for an increase in environmental water reserves. The study is set in Australia's fastest growing city, Melbourne, although the approach and method have implications for other developed-world settings. The paper also offers practical advice on the management of water allocated for different uses. Overall, the results indicate a positive and significant willingness to pay by households for additional water entitlements. Importantly, this provides a benchmark for contemplating the costs and benefits of activating alternative water supplies, such as desalination, to free up rainwater for environmental purposes. • Urban residents are willing to make non-trivial payments for water for the environment. • Few respondents object to the reassignment of water to environmental uses. • The value residents place on additional water for urban waterways is identified. • Improvements in water quality and preserving platypus is important to residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 24 million hectares of the world's coastal floodplains are underlain by acid sulfate soils (ASS). Drainage of these sediments has led to widespread environmental degradation, raising serious health concerns. To date, onsite rehabilitation has been complicated by differing stakeholder priorities, with resources often allocated to sites with more vocal proponents rather than those exposed to more significant environmental impacts. To address this issue, this paper introduces the Coastal Floodplain Prioritisation (CFP) Method ; a novel, data driven and spatially explicit multi-criteria assessment that ranks floodplain catchment areas according to their risk of transferring acidic drainage waters to an estuary. Results can be used to prioritise where remediation actions are likely to have the greatest benefit. The method was applied across six different estuaries in south-east Australia, with major field campaigns undertaken at each site. Within each estuary, the largest acid fluxes and impacts are identified with relevant mitigation measures provided. On a catchment scale, the results reflect the broader hydrogeomorphic characteristics of each estuary, including the historic acid formation conditions and recent anthropogenic drainage activities. Low-lying backswamps were identified as the highest risk zones within each estuary. These areas are also the most vulnerable to sea level rise. Reinstatement of tidal inundation to these backswamps effectively remediates acid sulfate soil discharges and provides a nature-based solution for adaptation to sea level rise with a range of co-benefits to encourage further investment. [Display omitted] • A novel method to objectively rank estuarine catchments by acid sulfate soil risk. • Mechanisms that generate, mobilise and transfer acid drainage waters are quantified. • High risk areas present distinct hydrogeomorphic characteristics. • Critical risk factors help identify preferred remediation strategies. • Tidal restoration has co-benefits for ecosystem resilience and climate adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The livestock industry accounts for a considerable proportion of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, and in response, the Australian red meat industry has committed to an aspirational target of net-zero emissions by 2030. Increasing soil carbon storage in grazing lands has been identified as one method to help achieve this, while also potentially improving production and provision of other ecosystem services. This review examined the effects of grazing management on soil carbon and factors that drive soil carbon sequestration in Australia. A systematic literature search and meta-analysis was used to compare effects of stocking intensity (stocking rate or utilisation) and stocking method (i.e, continuous, rotational or seasonal grazing systems) on soil organic carbon, pasture herbage mass, plant growth and ground cover. Impacts on below ground biomass, soil nitrogen and soil structure are also discussed. Overall, no significant impact of stocking intensity or method on soil carbon sequestration in Australia was found, although lower stocking intensity and incorporating periods of rest into grazing systems (rotational grazing) had positive effects on herbage mass and ground cover compared with higher stocking intensity or continuous grazing. Minimal impact of grazing management on pasture growth rate and below-ground biomass has been reported in Australia. However, these factors improved with grazing intensity or rotational grazing in some circumstances. While there is a lack of evidence in Australia that grazing management directly increases soil carbon, this meta-analysis indicated that grazing management practices have potential to benefit the drivers of soil carbon sequestration by increasing above and below-ground plant production, maintaining a higher residual biomass, and promoting productive perennial pasture species. Specific recommendations for future research and management are provided in the paper. • Overall, no significant impact of grazing management on soil carbon in Australia. • Grazing intensity and method affects SOC drivers, including biomass and ground cover. • Limited research on impact of grazing on above and below ground plant growth in Australia. • Management to promote plant growth, perennials & legumes, cover and soil health can increase SOC. • Further research on grazing management for SOC sequestration in Australia is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water fluoridation is considered a safe and effective public health strategy to improve oral health. This review aimed to systematically summarize the available evidence of water fluoridation in Australia, focusing on the history, health impacts, cost effectiveness, challenges, and limitations. A systematic search was conducted on the Ovid Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest Central, Cinahl, and Informit databases to identify literature on water fluoridation in Australia. A grey literature search and backward snowballing were used to capture additional literature. Primary studies, reviews, letters, and opinion papers were included in the quantitative analysis and summarized based on the year of publication and geographical location. The data were extracted from primary studies and summarized under three subheadings: history, community health impacts and the limitations and challenges. Water fluoridation in Australia was first implemented in 1953 in Tasmania. Most states and territories in Australia embraced water fluoridation by 1977 and currently, 89% of the Australian population has access to fluoridated drinking water. Studies report that water fluoridation has reduced dental caries by 26–44% in children, teenagers, and adults, benefiting everyone regardless of age, income, or access to dental care. It has been recognized as a cost-effective intervention to prevent dental caries, especially in rural and low-income areas. Water fluoridation as a public health measure has faced challenges, including political and public opposition, implementation and maintenance costs, access and equity, communication and education, and ethical concerns. Variations in research activities on water fluoridation across Australian states and territories over the last seven decades can be due to several factors, including the time of implementation, funding, and support. Ongoing monitoring and research to review and update optimal fluoride levels in drinking water in Australia is warranted to ensure sustainable benefits on oral health while preventing any adverse impacts. [Display omitted] • Approximately 90% of Australians can access fluoridated drinking water. • Water fluoridation has reduced the prevalence of dental caries by 26%–44% in Australia. • There is still some opposition to fluoridation due to health and ethical concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aboriginal people have lived in Australia, continuously, for tens of thousands of years. Over that time, they developed complex knowledge systems that were committed to memory and passed to successive generations through oral tradition. The length of time oral traditions can be passed down while maintaining vitality is a topic of ongoing debate in the social sciences. In recent years, scientists have weighed into the debate by studying traditions that describe natural events, such as volcanic eruptions and meteorite impacts, which can be dated using scientific techniques. Here, we bring together a trans-disciplinary team of scholars to apply this approach to Tasmanian Aboriginal (palawa) oral traditions that were recorded in the early nineteenth century. These traditions describe the flooding of the Bassian Land Bridge connecting Tasmania to mainland Australia and the presence of a culturally significant "Great South Star", identified as Canopus (α Carinae). Utilising bathymetric and topographic data of the land and sea floor in the Bass Strait, we estimate the Bassian Land Bridge was finally submerged approximately 12,000 years ago. We then calculate the declination of the star Canopus over the last precessional cycle (26,000 years) to show that it was at a far southerly declination (δ < −75°) between 16,300 and 11,800 years ago, reaching its minimum declination approximately 14,000 years ago. These lines of evidence provide a terminus ante quem of the Tasmanian traditions to the end of the Late Pleistocene. This paper supports arguments that the longevity of orality can exceed ten millennia, providing critical information essential to the further development of theoretical frameworks regarding the archaeology of orality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The molecular phylogeny of the cave crickets belonging to the Rhaphidophoridae was reconstructed. • The monophyly of each assayed subfamily were supported. • Rhaphidophoridae originated in the Cretaceous period during the Mesozoic era. • The ancestral area was located both in the northern and southern hemisphere. • Fragmentation of Gondwana and Laurasia played a role in the diversification process. We investigated the molecular phylogenetic divergence and historical biogeography of cave crickets belonging to the family Rhaphidophoridae (Orthoptera, Ensifera). We used taxa representative of most of the regions embraced by the family, considering samples of Macropathinae from Gondwana land (i.e., Tasmania, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and South America); Aemodogryllinae and Rhaphidophorinae from Southern-eastern Asia (i.e., India, Bhutan, China, Philippines and the Sulawesi islands); Dolichopodainae and Troglophilinae from the Mediterranean region and Ceuthophilinae from North America. Based on previous papers, we carried out an analysis of both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences considering the ribosomal RNA units 12S, 16S, 18S, and 28S. To reconstruct phylogeny, we use cladistics, Maximum Likelihood (ML), and Bayesian analyses. All phylogenetic analyses showed the same highly supported topology generally congruent with the classical systematic arrangement at the level of each sub-family but strongly disagree with previous affinity hypotheses between sub-families based on morphological characters. Our results reveal a close affinity between Asiatic and Gondwanian taxa from one hand and between North American and Mediterranean ones from the other hand. Dating estimates indicated that Rhaphidophoridae originated in the Cretaceous period during the Mesozoic era with the ancestral area located both in the northern and southern hemisphere. A possible biogeographic scenario, reconstructed using S-DEC with RASP software, suggested that the current distribution of Rhaphidophoridae might be explained by a combination of both dispersal and vicariance events occurred especially in the ancestral populations. The radiation of Rhaphidophoridae started within the Pangaea, where the ancestor of Rhaphidophoridae occurred throughout an ancestral area including Australia, North America, and the Mediterranean region. The opening of the Atlantic Ocean promoted the divergence of North American and Mediterranean lineages while the differentiation of the southern lineages, spread from Australia, appears to be related to the fragmentation of Gondwana land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is essential for most soil functions. Changes in land use from natural land to cropland disrupt long-established SOC balances and reduce SOC levels. The intensive use of chemical fertilisers in modern agriculture accelerates the rate of SOC depletion. Domestic organic residues (DOR) are a valuable source of SOC replenishment with high carbon content. However, there is still a lack of knowledge and data regarding whether and to what extent DOR can contribute to replenishing SOC. This paper aims to unpack the potential of DOR as a SOC source. Total SOC demand and annual SOC loss are defined and calculated. The carbon flow within different DOR management systems is investigated in three countries (China, Australia, and The Netherlands). The results show that the total SOC demand is too large to be fulfilled by DOR in a short time. However, DOR still has a high potential as a source of SOC as it can mitigate the annual SOC loss by up to 100%. Achieving this 100% mitigation requires a shift to more circular management of DOR, in particular, more composting, and direct land application instead of landfilling and incineration (Australia and China), or a higher rate of source separation of DOR (The Netherlands). These findings form the basis for future research on DOR recycling as a SOC source. [Display omitted] • Carbon in domestic organic residues is not enough to replenish carbon in soils. • More than half of domestic organic residues are not recycled to soils. • In China and Australia, landfill is the main cause of carbon loss in the system. • In the Netherlands, incineration causes the major carbon losses. • Transition to composting of organic residues could mitigate soil carbon loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persons with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) appear to be heavily affected by cigarette smoking. In order to address the consequences of smoking in this population, an understanding of the current state of knowledge is needed. Epidemiologic research provides the opportunity to obtain detailed information on smoking behaviors in large community samples. The aim of this paper was to synthesize the epidemiologic evidence on smoking among persons with AUDs/SUDs and suggest directions for future research. Literature searches of Medline and PubMed were used to identify articles and additional articles were elicited from publication reference lists. To be included in the review, papers had to be published in English, analyze epidemiologic data, and examine an aspect of smoking behavior in persons with AUDs/SUDs. Twenty-nine studies met inclusion criteria and were included in the review. In summary, epidemiologic evidence to date suggests greater lifetime and current smoking, nicotine dependence, and non-cigarette tobacco use; lower quitting; and differences in quit attempts and withdrawal symptoms for persons with AUDs/SUDs compared to other people. Most studies examined nationally representative data and were conducted on persons in the United States and Australia. Few publications examined outcomes by demographics (e.g., gender, age) but these studies suggested that specific patterns differ by demographic subgroups. More research is needed on persons with AUDs/SUDs in order to develop the most effective public health and clinical interventions to reduce smoking behaviors, improve cessation outcomes, and reduce the harmful consequences of smoking for those with AUDs/SUDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Although the molecular structure of β-keratins from the Archosaurs (birds, crocodiles), testudines (turtles) and squamates (lizards and snakes) has been studied for more than 50 years and the key parameters established by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and sequence analysis, the research has lacked data on the Rhynchocephalia, the last branch of the lepidosaurs in the phylogenetic map. • This paper represents the culmination of the very considerable efforts that have been made over many years by a diverse group from New Zealand, Australia, Italy and the UK to collect and analyse the beta-keratin sequence data from tuatara, the sole representative of the Rhynchocephalia. • Also described is the X-ray diffraction pattern from tuatara claw and this is compared with those from other β-keratins. • In so doing this research advances the β-keratin story structure-wise for the sauropsids in general (birds and reptiles). • Now, at last, we have a totally consistent structural model across all members of the sauropsids. The birds and reptiles, collectively known as the sauropsids, can be subdivided phylogenetically into the archosaurs (birds, crocodiles), the testudines (turtles), the squamates (lizards, snakes) and the rhynchocephalia (tuatara). The structural framework of the epidermal appendages from the sauropsids, which include feathers, claws and scales, has previously been characterised by electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses, as well as by studies of the amino acid sequences of the constituent β-keratin proteins (also referred to as the corneous β-proteins). An important omission in this work, however, was the lack of sequence and structural data relating to the epidermal appendages of the rhynchocephalia (tuatara), one of the two branches of the lepidosaurs. Considerable effort has gone into sequencing the tuatara genome and while this is not yet complete, there are now sufficient sequence data for conclusions to be drawn on the similarity of the β-keratins from the tuatara to those of other members of the sauropsids. These results, together with a comparison of the X-ray diffraction pattern of tuatara claw with those from seagull feather and goanna claw, confirm that there is a common structural plan in the β-keratins of all of the sauropsids, and not just those that comprise the archosaurs (birds and crocodiles), the testudines (turtles) and the squamates (lizards and snakes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultraviolet radiation index (UVI) was adopted internationally to raise awareness about and encourage the public to protect their skin from skin cancer. The current paper is a systematic review of over 20 years of research investigating awareness, comprehension, use, and impact of the UVI. Thirty-one studies were included from the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere. Awareness of the UVI varies by country, with samples from some countries demonstrating high awareness. However, comprehension and use of the UVI to inform sun safety behaviors are typically much lower. In fact, greater UVI awareness has sometimes been associated with riskier UV-related behaviors such as intentional tanning. Fewer studies have evaluated interventions, and their results have been mixed. In summary, more research is needed to determine how to help the public understand and use the UVI for effective skin protection. This review offers suggestions for future use of and research with the UVI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Seed applied microbes assessed for Rhizoctonia root rot control in field. • An alternate row microplot system developed for initial field assessment. • Effective strains then tested in 20 m split-plots for disease control and yield. • Paenibacillus S4 and Streptomyces F5 were equal or better than chemical controls. • Best performing strain reduced root disease 30% and increased yield up to 4.2%. Abstract Rhizoctonia root rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG8 is a major disease in dryland cereal crops. Previous research identified a suite of microbes using in planta bioassay screening that are effective as seed-coated inoculants for control of Rhizoctonia root rot on wheat. This paper assessed 23 strains in fields in Australia with a history of naturally occurring R. solani AG8. Due to the patchy nature of Rhizoctonia root rot in the field, a 2-phase split-plot field trial system was used to allow comparison for disease control efficacy in the same disease space. Seed applied strains were first assessed for their ability to reduce Rhizoctonia using 'microplots' which compare adjacent treated and untreated one metre rows. Up to 10% increases in plant growth and a 32% reduction in root disease was measured at eight weeks after sowing. Selected strains were then assessed in 20 m six row (3 + 3) split plots for their effects on early season wheat growth and root damage and for grain yield. A Paenibacillus and a Streptomyces strain were identified which were able to reduce root damage by 20% and 32% and increase grain yield by 4.2% and 2.8%, respectively, compared to untreated controls. The current best registered chemical control for Rhizoctonia root rot reduced root disease by 35% and increased yield by 3.0% in the same trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Accurate estimation of particulate emissions is fundamental to assessing the air quality risks posed by existing and proposed open cut black coal mines. The currently available emission estimation techniques are based on a limited range of empirical studies, and the need for additional research and development of activity and region specific particulate emission estimation methods has been recognised. This paper presents the results of empirical testing of particulate emission rates for open area surfaces in open cut black coal mines in three Australian regions. The emission rates are provided for specific wind speeds, thus allowing adjustment of emission rates for prevailing meteorology in these regions. The influence of surface watering as a control technique is also considered. Particulate emission rates are presented for a range of coal mining sources, and for specific wind speeds. Comparison of the emission rates with the existing published research confirms the emission rates are consistent with current approaches. This research significantly expands our current understanding by presenting emission rates for a range of open area sources, for specific wind speeds and surface watering controls. This more detailed emission estimation dataset provides for adjustments to default particulate emission rates to allow site specific data to be integrated into emissions estimation. This will result in more accurate emissions estimates for existing and future projects and reduce the potential for significant over- or under-estimation of particulate emissions from surface sources in open cut coal mines. Graphical abstract Image Highlights • Particulate emission rates from open cut coal mines were experimentally challenged. • Results enable regional adjustments of emission rates for prevailing meteorology. • The influence of surface watering as emission control technique was also considered. • More accurate emission estimates for existing and future projects will be possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Homeownership, as a way to build up housing wealth, is believed to play an increasingly important role in terms of providing welfare to citizens. However, homeownership does not always act as a nest-egg; it can be a source of financial anxiety as well. In this paper we investigate how homeownership and housing wealth impact on the relationship between divorce and subjective wellbeing (life satisfaction, happiness, financial satisfaction). Using longitudinal data for Australia we find that homeowners are more negatively affected with respect to wellbeing by divorce than tenants, amongst others because the owned house becomes a financial burden. We further find that gender moderates the impact of homeownership and tenure change upon divorce on wellbeing. When women move from an owned to a rented house, divorce has a smaller negative effect on happiness and financial satisfaction than when women stay in the owned house. For men, staying in the owned house or moving within the owner-occupied sector increases happiness, but moving to the rental sector from the owned house increases financial satisfaction. Furthermore, for men, housing wealth mitigates financial stress when remaining in an owner-occupied house after divorce. We conclude that the potential role of homeownership as a welfare resource – in this case for subjective well-being – seems rather limited to those who already possess other resources (e.g. financial security) and therefore cannot be expected to substitute more traditional forms of welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The refuse from specific activities can be identified in mixed, unstratified assemblages. • Behavioral activities can be sequenced in cumulative palimpsests of sub-surface artefacts. • Palimpsest assemblages can contribute to the construction of high-resolution behavioral sequences. Abstract This paper presents a streamlined method for sequencing individual stone working events in cumulative palimpsests of sub-surface artefacts. The method presented demonstrates that the unit of analysis in un-stratified assemblages can be shifted from the assemblage or depth-divided unit to the event-refuse from specific knapping or discard activities. Crucially, this allows cumulative palimpsest assemblages to contribute to the construction of high-resolution behavioral sequences, a domain currently dominated by stratified sites. The method will be presented through the study of five Holocene hunter-gatherer assemblages excavated from open-air sand-sheet sites at Weereewaa (Lake George), in south-eastern Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although planning and policy instruments are important for climate change adaptation, the implementation of these measures is critical for success. This paper studies different climate change adaptation strategies by analysing the measures adopted by stakeholders in charge of government policy development and implementation to minimise the impacts of climate change in the northern tropical region of Queensland, Australia. Local government organisations are responsible for taking a leading role in climate change adaptation. State and commonwealth government agencies are primarily responsible for developing climate transition policies and guidelines, as well as providing limited financial aid to help support the local government. Interviews were conducted with local government practitioners identified from different local government authorities in the study region. Although all the government bodies made some progress in developing better climate change adaptation policies, the interview participants identified that a lot more needs to be done, especially in implementation, including devising and the application of relevant action plans, economic assessments, stakeholder participations and engagement. From a local government practitioners' viewpoint, both the water sector and local economy will face the highest immediate impacts if climate change adaptation actions are not adequately implemented at local government level in the study region. There are currently no notable legal bindings to address climate change risks in the region. In addition, financial liability assessments due to climate risks and cost-share mechanisms among different levels of stakeholders and government authorities to face and prepare for climate change impacts hardly exist. Although the interview respondents recognise their high importance. As there are uncertainties in the achievements of climate change adaptation plans, from a local government practitioners' standpoint, the local authorities should take appropriate actions to integrate adaptation and mitigation works to face and prepare for climate risks rather than focusing only on adaptation. The respondents informed that some work has been done to identify flood prone areas and a few policy documents exist that accommodate sea level rise in planning practice, but these are done in fragments with no holistic implementation, monitoring or evaluation plans put in place. • Climate change adaptation actions are urgently needed. • The priorities and perceptions of government professionals are key to success. • Stakeholders needs to be engaged to formulate adaptation strategies. • Holistic implementation, monitoring or evaluation plans are important for success. • Climate change adaptation and mitigation measures are suggested to be integrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is a scarce resource in arid regions, and hence water harvesting is critically important in these regions for which many different means are adopted including groundwater and rainwater harvesting. This paper examines the feasibility of rainwater harvesting from roof catchments in arid regions of Australia. For this, ten representative locations in the arid regions of Australia are selected. Also, ten different sizes of rainwater tanks ranging from 5 kL to 50 kL and three different combinations of water uses are considered. A model is developed to simulate the performance of a rainwater harvesting (RWH) system. It is found that the reliability of a RWH system is highly dependent on mean annual rainfall at the location of interest. It is found that a 20 kL tank can provide a reliability of 61%–97% for toilet and laundry use depending on the location within the Australian arid regions. At the current water price, RWH system is not financially viable in the Australian arid regions. The methodology adopted in this paper can be adapted to other similar arid regions of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to map the data currently available on the subject of eating practices and food environments in small (i.e. one- and two-person) households. Specifically, the enquiry is focused on commensality; the act of eating together. Research dates from the late 1980s, however, there are few recent publications on this subject. Searching Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest and Google Scholar, 2949 papers were found, but only 457 discussed any element of the research questions. These were further distilled to a count of 117, by abstract reading to 53 at which point, quality, location and study focus eliminated a further 34 articles leaving 19 articles. After full reading, it was clear that only seven of these focused on the research question in detail and these are marked as four-star articles by bold text. The 19 articles are analysed for quality and their aspects of relevance to the central research question is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spiders of the infraorder Mygalomorphae are fast becoming model organisms for the study of biogeography and speciation. However, these spiders can be difficult to study in the absence of fundamental life history information. In particular, their cryptic nature hinders comprehensive sampling, and linking males with conspecific females can be challenging. Recently discovered differences in burrow entrance architecture and male morphology indicated that these challenges may have impeded our understanding of the trapdoor spider genus Euoplos in Australia’s eastern mesic zone. We investigated the evolutionary significance of these discoveries using a multi-locus phylogenetic approach. Our results revealed the existence of a second, previously undocumented, lineage of Euoplos in the eastern mesic zone. This new lineage occurs in sympatry with a lineage previously known from the region, and the two are consistently divergent in their burrow entrance architecture and male morphology, revealing the suitability of these characters for use in phylogenetic studies. Divergent burrow entrance architecture and observed differences in microhabitat preferences are suggested to facilitate sympatry and syntopy between the lineages. Finally, by investigating male morphology and plotting it onto the phylogeny, we revealed that the majority of Euoplos species remain undescribed, and that males of an unnamed species from the newly discovered lineage had historically been linked, erroneously, to a described species from the opposite lineage. This paper clarifies the evolutionary relationships underlying life history diversity in the Euoplos of eastern Australia, and provides a foundation for urgently needed taxonomic revision of this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nature-based approach to climate resilience aims to challenge and re-frame conventional environmental management methods by refocusing solutions from technological strategies to socio-ecological principles such as human well-being and community-based governance models, thereby improving and legitimizing the delivery of ecosystem services (ES). There are, however, many challenges to applying a socio-ecological agenda to urban climate resilience and thereby re-framing ES delivery as community and people focused, a knowledge gap extensively outlined in the environmental governance literature. In this paper, we aim to contribute to this re-assesment of urban environmental governance by examining the City of Melbourne's approach to urban re-naturing governance from a place-based perspective. Here we focus on the city's internationally-acclaimed urban forest strategy (UFS), investigating how and to which extent the governance arrangements embedded within the UFS draw strength from diverse perspectives and allow for institutional arrangements that support “situated” reflexive decision making and co-creation. We find that Melbourne's UFS governance process fosters green placemaking by re-focusing climate adaptation solutions from technological strategies to situated socio-ecological principles such as human well-being and community-based decision making. In this sense, this case provides valuable insight for the broader UGI governance field regarding the opportunities and challenges associated with a socio-cultural approach to urban re-naturing and ES delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, children are not eating according to the Australian Dietary Guidelines despite the incorporation of numerous public health initiatives in the school setting. Literature regarding children's views about what influences their food choice is limited. Incorporating children in the creation of strategies to build healthy public policy aligns with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Ottawa Charter framework. In this qualitative study we used participatory action research to determine why children make the food choices they do. Five action cycles were used to collect data from school children and the school canteen. Two of the action cycles, which are the focus of this paper, used Discovery Days (where children worked in groups to design a canteen menu) to collect data from 100 students on each day across grades two to six. Each group recorded and presented the reasons they made the food choices for the menu. Each day was captured by video and audio recordings were transcribed then analysed using a Conventional Content Analysis to identify themes and then theoretical concepts. Emerging theoretical concepts describing children's decision-making criteria included pleasure, texture, social acceptability, versatility and eating context. Our study found children are reliable informants about factors that influence their food choice. Using theoretical concepts as reported by children could be the foundation required to build more effective programs to facilitate healthy decision-making, supportive environments and health policy in the school setting to create healthy food that is desirable to children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vast body of research has characterised urban Indigeneity as a novel phenomenon. In response, this paper historicises the presence of Indigenous people in settler-colonial cities. I argue that although Indigenous people have always been a part of the urban landscape, their presence has remained largely unheeded due to their positioning as transients. Insufficient critical engagement with Indigenous urban histories has obfuscated a shift in their status from transients to residents in cities. As transients, Indigenous groups were denied access to decision making and their presence was confined and conditional. Positioned as residents, Indigenous peoples now constitute subaltern counterpublics who partake in political processes. Adopting a comparative approach, I use archival and ethnographic material to explore narratives of policy makers, bureaucrats and urban planners in two settler-colonial cities: Karmiel in Israel/Palestine and Townsville in northern Queensland, Australia. In each location I examine the top-down (settler) positioning of Indigenous people within the city space and the contemporary manifestations of Indigenous political mobilisation. Findings show that while settler-colonial urbanism was initially predicated upon the exclusion of Indigenous people, it necessitated their provisional and restrictive inclusion. This structure inadvertently led to the emergence of Indigenous counterpublics in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people living in residential out-of-home care (henceforth OoHC) are at increased risk of becoming overweight or obese. Currently, recognition of the everyday mechanisms that might be contributing to excess weight for children and young people in this setting is limited. The aim of this study was to better understand the barriers and complexities involved in the provision of a 'healthy' food environment in residential OoHC. Heightening awareness of these factors and how they might compromise a young person's physical health, will inform the development, refinement and evaluation of more sensitive and tailored weight-related interventions for this population. The paper presents a nuanced picture of the complexity of everyday food routines in residential care, and illustrates the ways in which food is 'done' in care; how food can be both symbolic of care but also used to exercise control; the way in which food can be used to create a 'family-like' environment; and the impact of traumatic experiences in childhood on subsequent behaviours and overall functioning in relation to food. It is argued that a health agenda designed for a mainstream population ignores the very complex relationship that children in residential OoHC may have with food. It is recommended that future intervention approaches account for personal food biographies, trauma and children's social backgrounds and how these are implicated in everyday practices and interactions around food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Australia contains some of the world''s richest and apparently longest traditions of rock pictographs. Dating this art, however, has been problematic, with few ‘direct’ and reliable dates of Pleistocene or early Holocene age having been obtained from visible, representational imagery. This paper critically reviews the evidence for the antiquity of pigment rock art in Australia by examining the various dating techniques employed. The accurate and reliable dating of rock art worldwide is crucial to understanding the evolution of modern human symbolism and whether cognitive modernism came about after, rather than with, the first signs of full biological modernism; understanding the pitfalls and devising proper methods are crucial prerequisites. Towards these ends, this paper reviews the results and techniques that have been employed to date the apparently earliest known pictographs in Australia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper examines the on-shelf circulation of the eastern Australian continental shelf for a region off southeast Queensland. We identify a characteristic seasonally reoccurring wind-driven cyclonic flow. It influences the cross-shelf exchange with the East Australian Current (EAC), which is the western boundary current of the South Pacific Ocean. We refer to this cyclonic circulation as the Fraser Gyre. It is located south of Fraser Island between about 25 °S and 27 °S. The region is adjacent to the intensification zone of the EAC where the current accelerates and establishes a swift, albeit seasonally variable southward boundary flow. Through the analysis of several data sets including remotely sensed sea surface temperature and sea surface height anomaly, satellite tracked surface drifters, ocean and atmospheric reanalysis data as well as geostrophic currents from altimetry, we find that the on-shelf Fraser Gyre develops during the southern hemisphere autumn and winter months. The gyre is associated with a longshore near-coast northward flow. Maximum northward on-shelf depth averaged velocities are estimated with about 0.15–0.26 ms -1 . The flow turns eastward just to the south of Fraser Island and joins the persistent southward EAC flow along the shelf break. The annual mean net cross-shelf outward and inward flow associated with the gyre is about −1.17 ± 0.23 Sv in the north and 0.23 ± 0.13 Sv (1 Sv = 10 6 m 3 s −1 ) in the south. Mean seasonal water renewal time scales of the continental shelf are longest during austral winter with an average of about 3.3 days due to the Fraser Gyre retaining water over the shelf, however, monthly estimates range from 2 to 8 days with the longer timescale during the austral autumn and winter. The southerly wind during austral autumn and winter is identified as controlling the on shelf circulation and is the principal driver of the seasonally appearing Fraser Gyre. The conceptual model of the Fraser Gyre is consistent with general physical principals of the coastal shelf circulation. A southerly wind is associated with surface layer flow toward the coast, a near coast positive SSHa with a current in the direction of the wind, down-welling and export of shelf water. The Fraser Gyre influenced cross-shelf exchanges are possibly facilitating the offshore transport of fish larvae, sediments, nutrients, river discharges, and other properties across the shelf break and into the southward flowing EAC during the austral autumn and winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper has considered risk management, financial evaluation and funding in seven Australian wastewater and stormwater reuse projects. From the investigated case studies it can be seen that responsible parties have generally been well equipped to identify potential risks. In relation to financial evaluation methods some serious discrepancies, such as time periods for analysis, and how stormwater benefits are valued, have been identified. Most of the projects have required external, often National Government, funding to proceed. As National funding is likely to become less common in the future, future reuse projects may need to be funded internally by the water industry. In order to enable this the authors propose that the industry requires (1) a standard project evaluation process, and (2) an infrastructure funders' forum (or committee) with representation from both utilities and regulators, in order to compare and prioritise future reuse projects against each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pleistocene continent of Sahul was first settled by people who arrived by watercraft from Island South East Asia about 50,000 years ago. Some of the oldest archaeological sites in Sahul are located in the southern Kimberley, in northwest Australia. This area lies within the southern zone of influence of the tropical monsoon and thus has always been highly sensitive to changes in monsoon dynamics over time. How these climatic changes have affected the colonisation and occupation of Australia is an important research theme in Australian archaeology. This paper illustrates the contribution and challenges of micromorphology in deciphering palaeoenvironmental and anthropogenic markers in a still largely unexplored Australian context. Micromorphological analysis of two archaeological sequences in the Napier Range (Carpenters Gap 1 and 3) provides a complementary and comprehensive reconstruction of the human-climate history in this area spanning nearly 50,000 years of Australian human presence. The results demonstrate an opportunistic use of sites by people through time, surprisingly independent of local climatic variation, suggesting highly flexible subsistence strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research has identified both the contribution that people make to nature and the contribution that nature makes to people (by enhancing wellbeing) – with clear conceptual models to describe the interactions. Prior research has also made a clear case for incorporating insights from multiple perspectives and knowledge systems when seeking to better understand this interactive system. What is lacking, is guidance on how to operationalise some of these ideas to provide bespoke advice to environmental managers. Arguably, we have an adequate, albeit imperfect, understanding of how to operationalise (measure, value and/or otherwise account for) some parts of the conceptual model. There is, for example, abundant literature that describes different ways of valuing Ecosystem services, and a growing body of literature that describes and quantifies the ecological benefits of various stewardship activities, which will subsequently also generate an indirect benefit to people (since improved ecological conditions will improve Ecosystem services). In comparison, we know relatively little about the way in which stewardship activities directly benefit people – and it is on this gap that our paper focuses. We partially fill that knowledge gap by first reaching out to and learning from some of Australia's First Nations People. Key learnings underscore the inter-connectedness of the system, and the need for resource managers to not only monitor the extent and condition of natural system but also the extent and condition of an inextricably connected human system, in addition to the human-nature interactions. We clearly identify ways in which those insights can be used to improve and extend accounting frameworks, such as SEEA Ecosystem Accounts developed by the United Nations that are often used by natural resource managers. In so doing, we generate new insights about Indigenous stewardship (Caring for Country) and methods of accounting for and monitoring stewardship activities. As such, our work provides a practical illustration of one way to populate conceptual models with 'real world' data that also incorporates different world views, to support decision makers for improved social and environmental outcomes. • Linear models of nature-human system omit the benefits from people via stewardship. • Piecemeal stewardship activities generate only piecemeal benefits. • Stewardship done the 'right way' benefits the environment AND the people involved. • Stewardship the 'right way' by the right people maximises human wellbeing. • Accounting systems could be enhanced to better show benefits of Caring for Country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia is one of the top ten consumers of electrical and electronic (EE) products in the world; yet legislation for the management of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) is in its infancy and has received minimal review. This paper sets to assess the effectiveness of Australian legislation, policies and associated instruments, with a focus on the sub-national level of implementation. A mixed methodology was adopted to this end, including: literature review, case study, semi-structured interviews and a comparative analysis of WEEE management practices in Australia versus Japan and Switzerland; the latter to identify causative factors of international leading practice that could advance current policy in Australia. The findings indicate that Australia’s management of WEEE is not effective. The rate and types of WEEE generated in Australia far exceed the measures prescribed in legislation to address or even curb the problem. The five key issues were identified around stakeholder roles and responsibilities; scope of WEEE categories legislated for recovery and recycling; public engagement and accessibility to services; recycling and material recovery targets; and the auditing and compliance of material flows within the system. Our findings suggest that Australia has the capacity to address the five key priority areas within the current legal framework and achieve effective WEEE management in line with leading practice examples from Japan and Switzerland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human migration is a major process that shaped the origin and dissemination of HIV. Within HIV-1, subtype B (HIV-1B) is the most disseminated variant and it is assumed to be the causative agent in approximately 11% of all cases of HIV worldwide. Phylogenetic studies have revealed that HIV-1B emerged in Kinshasa (Africa) and was introduced into the Caribbean region via Haiti in or around 1966 by human migration. After localized dispersion, the virus was brought to the United States of America via homosexual/bisexual contact around 1969. Inside USA, the incidence of HIV-1B infection increased exponentially and it became established in the population, affecting not only homosexual individuals but also heterosexual individuals and injecting drug users. Soon after, the virus was disseminated and became established in other regions, including Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Australia. Recent studies suggest that, in addition to this pandemic clade, several lineages have emerged from Haiti and reached other Caribbean and Latin American countries via short-distance dissemination. Different subtype B genetic variants have also been detected in these epidemics. Four genetic variants have been described to date: subtype B’, which mainly circulates in Thailand and other Asian countries; a specific variant mainly found in Trinidad and Tobago; the GPGS variant, which is primarily detected in Korea; and the GWGR variant, which is mainly detected in Brazil. This paper reviews the evolution of HIV-1B and its impact on the human population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer trust in food system actors is foundational for ensuring consumer confidence in food safety. As food labelling is a direct communication between consumers and food system actors, it may influence consumer perceptions of actor trustworthiness. This study explores the judgements formed about the trustworthiness of the food system and its actors through labelling, and the expectations these judgements are based on. In-depth, semi-structured interviews with 24 Australian consumers were conducted. Theoretical sampling focussed on shopping location, dietary requirements, rurality, gender, age and educational background. The methodological approach used (adaptive theory) enabled emerging data to be examined through the lens of a set of guiding theoretical concepts, and theory reconsidered in light of emerging data. Food labelling acted as a surrogate for personal interaction with industry and government for participants. Judgements about the trustworthiness of these actors and the broader food system were formed through interaction with food labelling and were based on expectations of both competence and goodwill. Interaction with labelling primarily reduced trust in actors within the food system, undermining trust in the system as a whole. Labelling has a role as an access point to the food system. Access points are points of vulnerability for systems, where trust can be developed, reinforced or broken down. For the participants in this study, in general labelling demonstrates food system actors lack goodwill and violate their fiduciary responsibility. This paper provides crucial insights for industry and policy actors to use this access point to build, rather than undermine, trust in food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Marra Australian Aboriginal philosophies guide archaeological research. • Stone artefacts are embedded within Marra relational philosophies and politics. • Stone 'raw materials' are potent ancestral substances. • Access to powerful Marra ancestral quarries changed through time. • Lithic analyses of Marra stone artefacts reveal changing social worlds. In archaeology, investigations into the social and cultural contexts of stone artefacts have largely focused on their typological styles, manufacturing technologies, functions, geographic distributions and the significance of the quarries they come from. Yet what is oftentimes overlooked is the deeper contemporary understandings by Indigenous groups of the stone artefacts recovered from excavations. In this paper, we analyse an assemblage of 9,642 excavated stone artefacts from the rockshelter site of Walanjiwurru 1 in Marra Country in northern Australia, in light of the cosmological significance of regional stone sources to local Aboriginal groups. Each recovered stone artefact, and the quarries of their raw materials, is laden with meanings that help reveal how Marra Aboriginal people socially and cosmologically engaged with their landscape. By combining archaeological and Marra cultural perspectives, we argue that subtle variations in the range of stones and their relational characteristics signal changing political engagements with ancestral places over the past 2300 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the needs and expectations of communities towards their urban environments often vary, landscape management strategies can often be prone to fail in the absence of social considerations. It is therefore incumbent on policy-makers to investigate and attempt to reconcile diverse community perceptions toward the natural and built environment for more equitable governance. This is of particular interest when planning and managing nature-based solutions (NBS) for river protection. We considered this challenge in understanding human values, perceptions and behaviour in a multilayered ecosystem that includes waterways, NBS, green open spaces, and a built environment. This paper analyses perceptions and behaviour around a public urban park next to the Georges River in Sydney Australia, utilizing a proxy-based approach and a mixed-method comprising community surveys and behavioural mapping. The results showed that while users perceive the significance of the urban river environment differently, naturalistic (ecological), humanistic (recreational) and utilitarian (well-being) values are dominant. Urban river catchments are highly valued for recreational purposes, with a strong perception of potential flooding hazards. Through exploring the literature, we recognized that the dominancy of leisure-related values around urban river catchments can be generalized to similar cases worldwide. While NBS, as an urban stormwater management solution, address some user values (e.g., naturalistic) around urban river catchments, they may lack further delivery of humanistic and utilitarian values due to the poor integration with recreational and cultural spaces. It was also the case around the Georges River, where low prominence of cultural features was observed. We concluded that NBS development around Georges River and other urban river catchments should incorporate socio-cultural considerations and community values, in particular the ones related to leisure. The gaps between users' beliefs and behaviour do not greatly challenge governance, provided that the decision-makers utilise these gaps for optimising management actions. • We used mixed-method approach to show community values in urban environment. • Behavioural mapping was a complementary process in value perception analysis. • Study highlighted the importance of ecological, recreational and utilitarian values. • Existing NBS addresses naturalistic values, but lacks cultural, recreational values. • Management actions need to consider socio-cultural values and landscape integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a six-step process to build the leadership capacity of environmental champions. This process was developed during research involving champions in Australian water agencies. The process, like leadership, is sensitive to context. It includes gathering local information on the factors that assist particular types of champion to exert influence, and using this information to build customized capacity building tools, such as leadership development programs. The paper explains each step in the process and provides illustrative examples from research on water agency champions. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed, including the hypothesis that the process should be transferable to other work environments under certain circumstances. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In rural regions, land use changes (LUC) are often the result of the decision-making of individual farmers. To influence this decision-making, compulsory and voluntary mechanisms are implemented. However, farmers’ decision-making is a heterogeneous process that depends on their ability and willingness to take certain decisions. Discrepancies between farmers’ ability and willingness and the design of voluntary mechanisms occur frequently. This makes it necessary to understand how farmers’ participation in these mechanisms can affect LUC. The aim of this paper was to demonstrate an agent-based approach to analyse and explore how voluntary mechanisms can influence LUC processes in rural regions. This approach was applied to a rural region in Australia, where clearing of native vegetation has occurred for agricultural development. Historical land cover data and semi-structured interviews were used to parameterise an agent-based model. Factors that influence farmers’ ability and willingness to participate in these mechanisms were identified. Three scenarios were simulated with the model to explore how the implementation of different voluntary mechanisms can affect the landscape structure of the region. This paper identifies how the diversity of farmers’ decision-making can influence the landscape structure in the region. The advantages and limitations of an agent-based approach in relation to LUC research and policy are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper reviews recent research into the ecological impacts of recreation and tourism on coastal marine fauna in Australia. Despite the high and growing importance of water-based recreation to the Australian economy, and the known fragility of many Australian ecosystems, there has been relatively limited research into the effects of marine tourism and recreation, infrastructure and activities, on aquatic resources. In this paper we have reviewed the ecological impacts on fauna that are caused by outdoor recreation (including tourism) in Australian coastal marine ecosystems. We predict that the single most potentially severe impact of recreation may be the introduction and/or dispersal of non-indigenous species of marine organisms by recreational vessels. Such introductions, together with other impacts due to human activities have the potential to increasingly degrade recreation destinations. In response, governments have introduced a wide range of legislative tools (e.g., impact assessment, protected area reservation) to manage the recreational industry. It would appear, however, that these instruments are not always appropriately applied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper describes a decision support model for allocating financial resources amongst multiple user groups in environmental management problems. The model is based on the multiple criteria analysis (MCA) method of compromise programming. It was used to inform the allocation of Natural Heritage Trust funds across 14 regions in Queensland, Australia. The model targets funding to those regions with greater natural resource management needs. Need is determined by 19 weighted criteria relating to natural resource assets and threats. The model was accepted by the Australian Government, Queensland Government and regional groups as an appropriate means for allocating program funds; first in 2005 and then again, with improvements, in 2007. This paper shows that an MCA model can improve the transparency, auditability and acceptance of allocation decisions which would otherwise be heavily politicised. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The conservation of biodiversity is an important issue world wide and in Australia the maintenance of native biodiversity on farms makes an important contribution to overall conservation objectives. This paper seeks to explain Australian farmers'' rationale for maintaining biodiversity on their farms for personal as opposed to business reasons by developing a decision-systems theory from in-depth interviews. This difference has implications for policy development. The decision-systems theory is divided into two main sections. The first section contains five parts. (1) A hierarchy of motivation stories, (2) the concept of suitability and availability of opportunities, (3) a hierarchy of three decision-systems, (4) the concept of personal career paths, (5) the concept of Lenses. The second section contains one part, a policy classification system called ‘boxes of influence’ that suggests how policy developers can use the information in the first section to develop new biodiversity conservation policy. The paper suggests that decision-systems theory could be used to shed new light on current trends in agriculture and become an important investigative tool for policy development concerning the conservation of biodiversity on farms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bauxite mining operations are increasingly sited on Indigenous-owned land, particularly in tropical areas, including northern Australia. The environmental impacts of bauxite mining are significant. Native vegetation, including commercially valuable forests, is cleared and typically windrowed and burnt. For many Indigenous Australians, mining of their land creates much concern about biocultural, community health and livelihood impacts from the loss of access to traditional lands and resources, and the ability to 'care for country'. Improved pre-mining utilisation of forest resources and effective mine rehabilitation can mitigate some of these impacts and it is important to Indigenous communities that they are engaged in these processes. But Indigenous peoples' expectations are rarely considered or adequately addressed in site clearing activities or mine completion criteria, and there is limited guidance on how their expected outcomes can be monitored and evaluated for mine closure and relinquishment. This paper reports on a case-study of the Western Cape York Peninsula bauxite mining region in northern Australia. The paper reviews mine rehabilitation in the case-study region, including related Indigenous forest livelihoods initiatives, presents local Indigenous peoples' expectations for pre- and post-mining forest and landscape management as an integrated mining-community forestry 'vision', and discusses implications for mine completion criteria, mine closure and relinquishment. The findings highlight the need for Indigenous peoples' full and transparent free, prior and informed consent participation in all aspects of mine closure planning, and for further research to trial the development and assessment of mine completion criteria linked to local biocultural landscape restoration and Indigenous livelihoods. The findings can inform mining policymakers, regulators and industry professionals on the design, implementation and monitoring of mine completion criteria and associated pre- and post-mining management that will improve environmental outcomes and socio-cultural benefits for Indigenous communities impacted by mining. • Bauxite mining impacts Indigenous Traditional Owners (TOs). • TOs expect improved pre- and post-mining forest and landscape management. • Mine rehabilitation via Indigenous community forestry can support TO livelihoods. • Mine completion criteria must consider biocultural landscape restoration. • How to evaluate successful biocultural landscape restoration and livelihood outcomes? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically examines various methods for estimating productivity incorporating environmental effects for the Australian agricultural sector. The agricultural sector has been selected because of its strategic position in the economy of Australia. The findings of this study indicate that the application of environmentally adjusted productivity methods is a credible approach to measure productivity, in the context of sustainable development. Although the empirical findings of this research are case study specific, the results provide evidence supporting the adoption of these techniques to other sectors of the economy when measuring productivity and needing to be cognisant of sustainable development. The findings suggest that adjusting for the environmental impacts of soil erosion can result in higher or lower agricultural productivity depending on the assumptions we make regarding damage costs of erosion. It is argued in this paper that, for soil erosion in Australia, assumptions yielding higher productivity (i.e., upwardly adjusted) are justified. Finally, the findings of this study and the use of the methods presented point to important gaps in data availability. This gap needs to be addressed by policy makers if sustainable development objectives are to be credibly assessed using these techniques. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper provides a framework for the assessment of the natural sensitivity of coastal lagoons to anthropogenic and other external inputs. The assessment framework is based on analysis and consideration of morphometric characteristics, and is demonstrated in this paper using eight example intermittently open coastal lagoons from New South Wales, Australia. The framework presented extends to a rudimentary classification of the eight example coastal lagoons, relative to the other 70 or so intermittently open coastal lagoons in NSW, which can be used to provide an indication of the relative importance of these lagoons with respect to future management, such as remediation or conservation. Morphometry describes the physical geographic characteristics of waterways such as coastal lagoons. Morphometric parameters are relatively easy to determine, as they essentially describe the physical and topographic features of waterways. Morphometry therefore provides a simple means to define the natural sensitivity, or vulnerability, of individual systems to external loads and other artificial (primarily anthropogenic) modifications. Morphometric parameters, such as waterway area, waterway volume, waterway shape and the proportion of time that the entrance is either open or closed to the ocean, have been used to define three separate factors that each measures one aspect of the natural sensitivity, or vulnerability, of a coastal lagoon to external loads and other inputs. The first factor (called the Evacuation Factor) is a measure of how efficiently a coastal lagoon can remove pollutants and other inputs through tidal flushing (i.e. the tidal flushing efficiency). The second factor (called the Dilution Factor) is a measure of the relative difference between the input loads from the catchment and the resident volume of the coastal lagoon. The third factor (called the Assimilation Factor) is a measure of the water level variability in a coastal lagoon, which can subsequently influence the extent and diversity of biological processes and their capacity to assimilate or accommodate external inputs. The morphometric-based assessment and classification framework presented in this paper could be applied to any country that contains a series of similar coastal lagoons that have intermittent connections to the ocean and which requires a relative assessment for prioritisation of future management and planning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The clearance of indigenous riparian vegetation and removal of large woody debris (LWD) from streams combined with the planting of exotic plant species has resulted in widespread detrimental impacts on the fluvial geomorphology and aquatic ecology of Australian rivers. Vegetation exerts a significant influence on fluvial geomorphology by affecting resistance to flow, bank strength, sediment storage, bed stability and stream morphology and is important for aquatic ecosystem function. As the values of indigenous riparian vegetation are becoming better recognised by Australian river managers, large amounts of money and resources are being invested in the planting of indigenous riparian vegetation as part of river rehabilitation programs. This paper summarises the results of an investigation into the survival, growth and regeneration rates of a series of trial native riparian vegetation plantings on in-channel benches in the Hunter Valley of southeastern Australia. The trials were poorly designed for statistical analysis and the paper highlights a number of shortcomings in the methods used. As a result, a new approach to riparian vegetation rehabilitation is outlined that promotes the use of scientific principles and understanding. Appropriate species should be selected using a combination of remnant vegetation surveys, historical records, palynology and field trials. A number of important factors should be considered in the rehabilitation of riparian vegetation to achieve worthwhile results. These include flood disturbance, vegetation zonation, vegetation succession, substrate composition, corridor planting width, planting techniques, native plant regeneration, LWD recruitment and adaptive ecosystem management. This approach, if adopted, revised and improved by river managers, should result in greater success than has been achieved by previous riparian vegetation rehabilitation efforts in Australia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

People with dementia are at high risk of malnutrition as a result of progressive symptoms that affect eating. Maximising opportunities to enhance nutrition and strategies to encourage eating are a crucial part of providing care. Caregiver knowledge and a person-centred approach to eating is essential to reduce symptom burden and maintain quality of life. There is currently limited research investigating first person perceptions of eating with dementia, particularly beyond small sample sizes. Therefore, this paper aims to explore community perceptions of how best to encourage eating for people with dementia using findings from an online course. Within the Understanding Dementia Massive Open Online Course, responses to the following statement were collected: 'If I had dementia, the things that might help me to eat include…'. A total of 3,651 participant responses were collected from the 2018 and 2019 course enrolments and analysed using structural topic modelling and secondary thematic analysis. The majority of participants were female, tertiary educated Australians over 50 years old. A third were paid caregivers. Thirteen topics were isolated from topic modelling that can be reduced into six broad categories: food type personalisation, meal choice, meal presentation, eating environment, eating assistance and end of life nutrition. Participant responses demonstrated diverse awareness of important aspects to encourage eating in dementia. Findings support the need for improved uptake of nutritional strategies in practice and education on eating with dementia to support caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The first detailed recording of a large rock art site from Australia's Kimberley region. • Harris Matrices following digital enhancement of a Kimberley rockshelter wall. • The incidence of superimpositions as re-engagements with rock art through time. • Targetted battering of rock art following the Gwion period. • Regional ethnographic evidence for the likely reasons why the rock art was battered. Patterns of superposition in rock art are often used to systematically construct style sequences. However, once on the rock, images can affect subsequent engagements with the art, the rock surface, the site, and its surrounding landscape, and this recursiveness can be studied through the superimpositions (significantly overlaid markings) on a rock face. This is an opportunity for archaeologists to investigate the culture of engagement not just at the moment of the art's initial creation, but subsequently also. In this paper we show how a long sequence of art styles that together span c. 17,000 years or more was not haphazardly arranged at the key site of Pundawar Manbur, in the Kimberley region of northwest Australia, but rather was constituted of many meaningful overlaps whose particularities reveal much about the culture of art and site engagement over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melioidosis is endemic in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. The causative agent of melioidosis is a Gram-negative bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei. Its invasion can be fatal if melioidosis is not treated promptly. It is intrinsically resistant to a variety of antibiotics. In this paper, we present a comprehensive overview of the current trends on melioidosis cases, treatments, B. pseudomallei virulence factors, and molecular techniques to detect the bacterium from different samples. The clinical and microbial diagnosis methods of identification and detection of B. pseudomallei are commonly used for the rapid diagnosis and typing of strains, such as polymerase chain reaction or multi-locus sequence typing. The genotyping strategies and techniques have been constantly evolving to identify genomic loci linked to or associated with this human disease. More research strategies for detecting and controlling melioidosis should be encouraged and conducted to understand the current situation. In conclusion, we review existing diagnostic methodologies for melioidosis detection and provide insights on prospective diagnostic methods for the bacterium. • Burkholderia pseudomallei infection, melioidosis is fatal without prompt treatment. • B. pseudomallei can be isolated from both clinical and environmental sources. • Rapid diagnosis and detection of B. pseudomallei are challenging in rural areas. • Molecular identification of B. pseudomallei is more specific than clinical methods. • Virulence factors study is significant in vaccine development to treat melioidosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem based management requires the integration of various types of assessment indicators. Understanding stakeholders' information preferences is important, in selecting those indicators that best support management and policy. Both the preferences of decision-makers and the general public may matter, in democratic participatory management institutions. This paper presents a multi-criteria analysis aimed at quantifying the relative importance to these groups of economic, ecological and socio-economic indicators usually considered when managing ecosystem services in a coastal development context. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is applied within two nationwide surveys in Australia, and preferences of both the general public and decision-makers for these indicators are elicited and compared. Results show that, on average across both groups, the priority in assessing a generic coastal development project is for the ecological assessment of its impacts on marine biodiversity. Ecological assessment indicators are globally preferred to both economic and socio-economic indicators regardless of the nature of the impacts studied. These results are observed for a significantly larger proportion of decision-maker than general public respondents, questioning the extent to which the general public's preferences are well reflected in decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food is increasingly a packaged commodity, both in the community and in institutionalised settings such as hospitals, where many older people are malnourished. Previous research with patients aged over 65 years in NSW public hospitals identified difficulties opening milk, water, juices, cereal and tetra packs. The aim of this paper was to assess the ability of well older people living in the community to open food and beverage items routinely used in NSW hospitals in order to gain further insights into the older person/pack interaction and the role of hand and finger strength in pack opening. A sample of 40 older people in good health aged over 65 years from 3 community settings participated in the study. The attempts at pack opening were observed, the time taken to open the pack was measured and the correlation between grip and pinch strengths with opening times was determined. Tetra packs, water bottles, cereal, fruit cups, desserts, biscuits and cheese portions appeared to be the most difficult food products to open. Ten percent of the sample could not open the water bottles and 39% could not open cheese portions. The results were consistent with the previous research involving hospitalised older adults, adding emphasis to the conclusion that food and beverage packaging can be a potential barrier to adequate nutrition when particular types of packaged products are used in hospitals or the community. The ageing population is rapidly becoming a larger and more important group to consider in the provision of goods and services. Designers, manufacturers and providers of food and beverage products need to consider the needs and abilities of these older consumers to ensure good 'openability' and promote adequate nutritional intakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]