Search

This paper extends Steven Threadgold’s theorisation of the ‘figures’ of youth. Threadgold highlights that predominant representations cast young people as the focus of moral panic, revolution, consumption, ‘cool’, the future, nostalgia, cognitive risk and social risk. We extend these figurational categories to also include a conceptualisation of the young person as spatially figured. The consideration of spatiality as a key identifier of young people and characteristic of young peoples’ experiences identifies the importance of the spatial terrain in framing young peoples’ positionality. Drawing on data collected with a group of young people resident in a regional town in Southern Queensland, we consider the interplay of distance, access and sociality as markers of a spatial figuration of the young person. The imbrication of geography and spatiality with identity asserted implications for how these young people engaged as members of their community, and further, how they were received and encountered by others. We contend that close attention should be given to the interconnected effects of geography and spatiality on identity, particularly in terms of how the geo-spatial figuration of young people influences their engagement in wider community and social networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Objective Design Participants Main Outcome Measures Results Conclusions The Australian alcohol and other drug (AOD) regional, rural and remote (RRR) workforce experiences chronic workforce retention challenges. However, little is known about the characteristics of RRR AOD workers nationally, or factors associated with retention.To examine the personal and professional characteristics of RRR AOD workers and identify factors that predict intent to remain in the workforce.Secondary analysis of Australian National AOD Workforce Survey data, a cross‐sectional online survey of AOD workers (N = 1506).AOD workers employed in RRR Australia (N = 447).Demographic and professional characteristics; intent to remain in current job for the next year.The majority of RRR AOD workers were female (72%) and worked full time (65%) in the NGO sector (58%). Most (56%) intended to stay in their job. There were not only high rates of poor job engagement (33%) and high burnout (42%) but also high job satisfaction (80%). Significant predictors (p < 0.05) of retention intention were job satisfaction, low burnout, employment security and respect in the workplace.Workforce initiatives and benefits tailored to the current composition of the RRR AOD workforce are needed. Retention of workers may be facilitated by increasing job satisfaction, security and respect, and decreasing burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aim Methods Results Conclusion The optimal care pathway (OCP) for people with breast cancer provides a framework for investigation and management of patients with breast cancer, with delays previously identified regionally.With emphasis on the neoadjuvant pathway, the primary aim of this study was to assess the practicality of implementing the breast cancer OCP timeframes regionally in comparison to nationally referenced standards.A retrospective institutional audit was performed for patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer. The time from referral to specialist review, completion of investigations, discussion at multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, initiation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and surgery were calculated and compared to OCP.Fifty‐three patients were included, with 19 patients living rurally (36%). Twenty‐four patients (45%) were seen by a specialist surgeon within 2 weeks of referral. Following surgical review, 44 patients (83%) completed investigations within 2 weeks, and 43 patient cases (81%) were discussed at MDT meetings within 2 weeks. Forty‐eight patients (91%) were commenced on neoadjuvant treatment within 4 weeks of decision to treat, and 43 patients (81%) underwent surgery within 6 weeks of neoadjuvant treatment completion. Delays from initial referral to NACT were more frequent in rural patients compared to urban (79% vs 94%, P < 0.05).Adherence to OCP timeframes for patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy in a regional centre was feasible and strategies are needed to bridge gaps identified for rural patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the outcome of a study to investigate the regional public transport spend in each state of Australia. The objective is to derive a reliable figure for comparison and the core metric used is spend per capita. The study assessed publicly available data on public transport spend, followed by a series of consultations with key staff from state bus associations and governments. The analysis was conducted separately for metropolitan (metro) and regional areas and then the regional data were further examined. While the Northern Territory (NT), Tasmania (TAS) and regional South Australia (SA) completely rely on bus services, Victoria (VIC) stands out as the state with the highest public transport spend per head in regional areas with robust train and bus networks which deliver the highest patronage. Western Australia (WA) is the state with the highest bus transport spend per head ensuring relatively high patronage despite the low population density. The study identifies low public transport patronage in regional areas as being influenced by low spending per capita and poor connectivity. It recommends prioritizing improvements in connectivity, multi-modal networks, and opening school buses to the general public. Additionally, funding strategies should focus more on patronage trends linked to spend rather than overemphasizing population density. Further, the study reveals that publicly available data seldom clearly segregates public transport spending in terms of regional and metro expenditure, which would lead to inefficiencies when assessing spatial equity in public transport provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the incidence and presenting features of type 1 diabetes mellitus and diabetic ketoacidosis in a paediatric population serviced by a regional health service in Queensland, Australia. Methods: All patients less than 16 years old diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus between 01 January 2015 and 31 December 2021 were included in this retrospective, observational study. The electronic medical records of each patient were reviewed to collect data on demographics, presentation and ongoing diabetes care. Results: Sixty‐four paediatric patients were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus during the study period, giving an incidence of 25 cases per 100 000 person years. Half the patients presented with diabetic ketoacidosis, with 14 (22% of the total cohort) presenting in severe diabetic ketoacidosis. There was no significant increase in the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus or proportion of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis across the years of the study. Patients that had a delayed diagnosis had an increased likelihood of presenting with severe diabetic ketoacidosis. Conclusion: Incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in the paediatric population in this regional centre in Queensland, Australia, is similar to national data. High proportions of patients presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis and severe diabetic ketoacidosis were identified in the study population, with delayed diagnosis, a risk factor for severe diabetic ketoacidosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anaesthesiologie & Intensivmedizin is the property of DGAI e.V. - Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Anasthesiologie und Intensivmedizin e.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Finding the balance of good postoperative analgesia while facilitiating mobility is important for a safe and satisfactory patient experience during Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to compare the efficacy of intrathecal morphine, adductor canal block, and their combination in optimizing pain management and postoperative recovery in TKA patients. This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data evaluated postoperative pain scores, time to mobilisation, and length of hospital stay. Methods: 1006 consecutive patients undergoing elective TKA across two large tertiary centres were included over six years. They were divided into one of four groups according to the type of analgesia received: Group N patients received no neuraxial morphine or regional block. Group B patients received adductor canal block (ACB) only. Group M patients received intrathecal morphine (ITM) but no regional block. Group BM patients received both ACB and ITM. Results: Patients who received an ACB had faster postoperative mobilization compared to those without (p < 0.001). Patients in Group BM had the lowest pain scores at rest (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) 2.9) and with movement (VAS 5.3), while Group B patients experienced the highest pain scores at rest (VAS 3.7) and on movement (VAS 6.5) (p = 0.005). Patients who received ITM had the lowest opioid requirements (p < 0.001). There was no significant differences between groups in requirement for rescue pain management strategies (p = 0.06). Conclusions: The combination of ITM and ACB in patients undergoing TKA provides improved postoperative analgesia with lower postoperative opioid requirement and earlier mobilization compared with ACB or ITM alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusions To determine the regional and ethnic differences in ocular axial elongation and refractive error progression in myopic and non‐myopic children.A retrospective analysis of 15 longitudinal clinical and population‐based studies was conducted in the UK, Sweden, Australia (classified as European), China, and Vietnam (classified as East Asian) between 2005 and 2021. A total of 14,593 data points from 6208 participants aged 6–16 years with spherical equivalent from +6 to −6 D were analysed. Progression was annualised from longitudinal axial length and cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE) refraction. Generalised estimating equation models including main effects and interactions were used for model building. Age and region‐specific estimates for myopes and non‐myopes and confidence intervals are reported.Factors affecting axial elongation and SE progression in children included being myopic, followed by age, region/ethnicity and sex. The magnitude of regional/ethnic differences was dependent on myopia and age. Axial elongation and SE progression were lower in European compared with East Asian children, but differences were reduced with increasing age and differences in axial elongation were larger in myopes than non‐myopes. Age‐specific regional/ethnic differences indicated that axial elongation for a 6‐year‐old East Asian myopic child was greater than a European child by 0.15 mm/year (0.58 vs. 0.43 mm/year) and by 0.09 mm/year (0.35 vs. 0.26 mm/year) for a 10‐year‐old myope. SE progression was lower in a 6‐year‐old European myope by 0.48 D/year and at 10 years of age by 0.34 D/year compared with an East Asian myope.There are regional/ethnic differences in age‐specific refractive and axial growth patterns in both myopic and non‐myopic eyes, with more marked differences in younger East Asian children who demonstrated a higher axial growth and greater negative SE shift than their non‐Asian peers. Regional/ethnic differences in progression reflect environmental and ethnic variations. Age and region/ethnicity‐specific estimates could contribute as a reference for future comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It is estimated that 8% of hospitalised patients require treatment from Interventional Radiology (IR). However, little is known about the potential impact of IR on regional and remote Australians, including Indigenous patients. This study aimed to assess treatments performed by IRs on regional/remote patients to predict future IR workforce and governance needs. Methods: Single‐centre cross‐sectional study at a tertiary Victorian hospital. Patients were identified when they had an advanced IR treatment between 1 January 2022 and 2024. Basic procedures such as biopsy and drain insertion were not included. The primary outcome was the type and volume of IR treatments performed on patients who were transferred from a regional or remote home location for treatment. Results: Of 3485 advanced IR interventions, 908 procedures (26.0%) from patients who lived in a regional or remote location were included with 36.5% female, of mean age 55.6 years (SD 17.9). 1.4% identified as Indigenous which is similar to the Indigenous population incidence in Victoria of 1.0%. Of this group, 350 (38.5%) were either a day procedure, overnight elective admission, or simple inpatient procedure which could have been performed in a regional centre, which included 1.1% Indigenous patients. Conclusion: There is an unmet need for IR services in regional and remote Australia, with many patients being transferred to our metropolitan centre for treatment that could be performed in regional IR hubs. This data will be important to drive government and hospital planning including capital infrastructure, workforce modelling and future recognition of IR as a new specialty in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries around the world have leveraged the potential of partnerships to counter collective challenges and foster development. ECOWAS has looked to partnerships to tackle shared challenges to infrastructural development in its member countries. This study sought to understand 'how partnerships could foster sustainable development in ECOWAS member nations.' Using a qualitative method, both primary and secondary data were sourced to mainstream the ECOWAS multilateral Public–Private Partnership (PPP) strategy to foster sustainable development in implementing its 2045 Infrastructure Master Plan. This study finds that such development plans that were hitherto a challenge to implement by ECOWAS member states have received a boost through the World Bank Public Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF). This partnership provided effective diagnostics to improve efficiency, build capacity, identify PPP possibilities, and revamp policy and legal frameworks for PPPs, resulting in better access to more financing, proper implementation, monitoring, and sustainability of infrastructural projects. The ECOWAS PPP framework has been able to allow its member states to leverage the advantages that the private sector has to foster sustainable development. This has poised ECOWAS to be on track to implementing its infrastructure master plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer treatment that is commonly used is surgical resection. Anesthesia is necessary for surgery to take place, but the anesthetic methods used can have an impact on the cancer's ability to spread and return following the procedure. The present study was conducted to assess role of Anesthesia with multiple comorbidities in oncology patients. Materials & Methods: The study was carried out on 56 patients who underwent any type of cancer resection surgery of both genders. Parameters such as type of cancer, recurrence etc. was recorded. Results: Out of 56 patients, males were 36 and females were 20. Type of cancer was bladder cancer in 3, breast cancer in 14, colorectal cancer in 6, esophageal cancer in 3, gastric cancer in 1, hepatocellular carcinoma in 5, ovarian cancer in 3, and prostate cancer in 21 patients. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Type of anesthesia used was epidural anesthesia in 10, general anesthesia in 5, both EA+GA in 34 and spinal anesthesia in 7 patients. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Local recurrence was seen in 2, cancer recurrence in 3 and distant recurrence in 2 cases. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: RA, used alone or adjunctively with GA, is associated with a lower risk of cancer recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer screening programs in Australia have been developed to detect early precancerous changes in women with a cervix aged between 25 and 74. Yet, many barriers remain to the uptake of cervical screening. Barriers include a lack of culturally appropriate service provision, physical access, poor health literacy, emotional difficulties, socio-economic disadvantage and not having access to a female service provider. In remote and very remote areas of Australia, additional barriers experienced by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples include a distrust of healthcare providers and a lack of services, resulting in a much higher rate of diagnosis and death from cervical cancer. General practice nurses (GPNs) are well placed to conduct cervical screening tests (CSTs) after they have undertaken additional education and practical training. GPNs' increase in scope of practice is beneficial to general practice as it helps to remove some barriers to cervical screening. In addition, GPNs conducting CSTs reduce GP workload and burnout and increase teamwork. GPNs working in metropolitan clinics have greater access to training facilities, whereas those working in rural and remote clinics are required to travel potentially long distances to complete practical assessments. This highlights the need for training to be made available in rural and remote areas. The aim of this forum paper is therefore to generate further discussion on the need for training programs to be made available in rural and remote areas to aid the upskilling of GPNs. Low cervical cancer screening rates in regional, rural and remote areas result in a higher rate of cancer diagnosis and death. General practice nurses when upskilled are able to address barriers to cervical screening, especially in regional and rural areas. Localised training courses may assist general practice nurses to be upskilled in their region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying the source, propagation path, and site characteristics accurately is pivotal for evaluating regional earthquake hazards. The nonparametric generalized inversion technique of strong-motion records offers an effective approach for analyzing these three fundamental elements. However, this technique might overlook the spatial variation of regional attenuation and the inherent uncertainty of reference stations. To enhance the understanding of strong ground motion characteristics in the Sichuan area, this study employs an improved nonparametric inversion scheme to analyze 3338 sets of strong-motion data from 397 earthquakes (MS 3-6.5) that occurred in the Sichuan region between 2007 and 2020. In terms of regional source characteristics, the setting of low-frequency cutoffs in strong-motion records may lead to the overestimation of corner frequency and stress drop for earthquakes with higher magnitudes. Conversely, for events with moment magnitudes less than 5, the regional stress drop levels tend to stabilize as the magnitude increases. Furthermore, stress drop is independent of depth and fault type. Regarding path attenuation, considering the influence of Moho reflection, the geometric attenuation is limited to R-1 within a hypocentral distance of 75 km. The nonparametric results from 75 to 300 km show that as the hypocentral distance increases, the geometric attenuation in this region first decreases and then stabilizes. Furthermore, the mean level of the inelastic attenuation factor QS is 199.5f0.98. Pertaining to site effects, we observe that at the edge of the Sichuan basin, the amplification of sites in the long-period part is clearly characterized and tends to stabilize with increasing frequency. In addition, the site amplification factor of 33 logarithmically spaced frequency points between 0.5 and 20 Hz has a linear relationship with the soil layer parameter VS30 or VS20. The correlation coefficients of both show moderate correlation, among which is VS30 slightly better than VS20. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Vitiligo is described with a prevalence of 0.5%−1%. Recent studies suggest an increasing prevalence, but there is a scarcity of studies that have systematically evaluated the global incidence and prevalence. We examined the incidence and the global, regional, and country‐specific prevalence of vitiligo in the general population (PROSPERO: CRD42021261643). We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Each study was categorised in subgroups. The overall analysis comprised all studies, except for studies only examining children and adolescents. Pooled proportions were calculated with the DerSimonian‐Laird method for random‐effects models with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Of the 7,838 identified studies, 171 were eligible for analysis (participants n = 572,334,973). The overall incidence was 1.59 per 10,000 person‐years (95% CI: 0.70−2.83). The overall prevalence was 0.40% (95% CI: 0.37−0.44); no difference was observed between females (0.50%, 95% CI: 0.36−0.66) and males (0.49%, 95% CI: 0.35−0.65). West Asia showed the highest prevalence (0.77%, 95% CI: 0.44−1.10) and East Asia the lowest (0.12%, 95% CI: 0.10−0.14). The highest country‐specific prevalence was reported in Jordan (1.34%, 95% CI: 0.12−3.87) and the lowest in Sweden (0.19%, 95% CI: 0.08−0.34). Children and adolescents showed a lower prevalence (0.27%, 95% CI: 0.24−0.31) compared to adults (0.70%, 95% CI: 0.59−0.81). Questionnaire‐based studies showed a higher prevalence (0.73%, 95% CI: 0.52−0.98) compared to examination‐based studies (0.59%, 95% CI: 0.46−0.73) and register‐based studies (0.13%, 95% CI: 0.10−0.17). The prevalence in examination‐based studies increased from 0.40% (95% CI: 0.17−0.73) between 1943 and 1979 to 0.89% (95% CI: 0.68−1.13) between 2020 and 2023. Questionnaire‐based studies also showed an increasing prevalence, while in register‐based studies, the prevalence was continuously low. This study shows the global impact of vitiligo and how subgroup analyses influence the prevalence. The overall prevalence of vitiligo is lower than previously assumed; females and males are equally affected, and vitiligo is more common in adults.

The 29th Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) meeting reconfirmed the forum’s vital role in regional space initiatives that can further help global coordination in space activities. This report presents such perspective from an intra-region participant’s point of view. It highlights key discussions from the 2023 plenary session, emphasizing the Space Policy and Law Working Group’s contributions. The importance of the APRSAF’s National Space Legislation Initiative (NSLI) in harmonizing space laws and the involvement of young scholars in policy shaping are underscored. The report obeserves the opportunities and challenges in regional space cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

In the aftermath of World War II, Western nations witnessed unprecedented growth in university enrollments, particularly in business schools, driven by the expansion of the publicly funded higher education system. This growth has prompted higher education providers to re-evaluate the critical role of student satisfaction in shaping learning, engagement, and overall institutional success. While the impact of student satisfaction on engagement and academic outcomes is well documented, its influence on broader university enrollments remains underexplored. Using longitudinal data from the Australian Government-funded Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) surveys and universities’ annual reports (2012-2017), we find that universities with higher student satisfaction show significantly higher enrollment rates. Moreover, the positive impact of student satisfaction on enrollment is more pronounced in metropolitan universities. Beyond contributing to social justice theory, this study provides actionable insights for government and higher education management to improve equitable access to higher education and reduce social disparities through strategically allocating resources, capabilities, and support services.

Abstract Background Finding the balance of good postoperative analgesia while facilitiating mobility is important for a safe and satisfactory patient experience during Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to compare the efficacy of intrathecal morphine, adductor canal block, and their combination in optimizing pain management and postoperative recovery in TKA patients. This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data evaluated postoperative pain scores, time to mobilisation, and length of hospital stay. Methods 1006 consecutive patients undergoing elective TKA across two large tertiary centres were included over six years. They were divided into one of four groups according to the type of analgesia received: Group N patients received no neuraxial morphine or regional block. Group B patients received adductor canal block (ACB) only. Group M patients received intrathecal morphine (ITM) but no regional block. Group BM patients received both ACB and ITM. Results Patients who received an ACB had faster postoperative mobilization compared to those without (p

Abstract Background Cancer is becoming a major health problem in Uganda. Cancer control requires accurate estimates of the cancer burden for planning and monitoring of the cancer control strategies. However, cancer estimates and trends for Uganda are mainly based on one population-based cancer registry (PBCR), located in Kampala, the capital city, due to a lack of PBCRs in other regions. This study aimed at estimating cancer incidence among the geographical regions and providing national estimates of cancer incidence in Uganda. Methods A retrospective study, using a catchment population approach, was conducted from June 2019 to February 2020. The study registered all newly diagnosed cancer cases, in the period of 2013 to 2017, among three geographical regions: Central, Western and Eastern regions. Utilizing regions as strata, stratified random sampling was used to select the study populations. Cases were coded according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-0-03). Data was analysed using CanReg5 and Microsoft Excel. Results 11598 cases (5157 males and 6441 females) were recorded. The overall national age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) were 82.9 and 87.4 per 100,000 people in males and females respectively. The regional ASIRs were: 125.4 per 100,000 in males and 134.6 per 100,000 in females in central region; 58.2 per 100,000 in males and 56.5 per 100,000 in females in Western region; and 46.5 per 100,000 in males and 53.7 per 100,000 in females in Eastern region. Overall, the most common cancers in males over the study period were cancers of the prostate, oesophagus, Kaposi’s sarcoma, stomach and liver. In females, the most frequent cancers were: cervix, breast, oesophagus, Kaposi’s sarcoma and stomach. Conclusion The overall cancer incidence rates from this study are different from the documented national estimates for Uganda. This emphasises the need to enhance the current methodologies for describing the country’s cancer burden. Studies like this one are critical in enhancing the cancer surveillance system by estimating regional and national cancer incidence and allowing for the planning and monitoring of evidence-based cancer control strategies at all levels.