Scenographies of the Inner World

SCENOGRAPHIES OF THE INNER WORLD is a reflection on my progress as an artist through this focused time of my doctoral studies, documenting how art and research have become intricately woven. Through drawing, sculpture, installation and moving image, my practice has evolved responding to personal experience, memory and myth, and the evocative language of philosophy and psychoanalysis. I have investigated a transitional space, mediated between internal and external perception - a hinterland between the mind and body where the unconscious leaves a trace. This residue of lived experience haunts the present and troubles the senses and through research in psychoanalytical theory, I have sought to deepen my understanding of these psychic processes. I describe how ideas are generated from collecting discarded objects, and materials whose meanings are then transformed, elaborated or obscured by the creative process and mode of presentation. The object in psychoanalysis has revealed a matrix of inter-relationships between ourselves and others. The object’s presence in the work of contemporary artists has enriched and challenged my ideas. While thinking and making can inspire, performative embodiment has connected me deeply to my past. In researching my family history and the legacies of displacement and exile, my work has explored ideas of ‘haunting’, revealing loss, trauma and abjection: evocations transmitted across generations. These themes, each evolving out from the other, evoke a journey from the surface to the depths, from thoughts to feelings. Concepts of psychic fragmentation and splitting have been a starting point to express the pathology of trauma. Often, hybrid bodies are vibrantly present, while also evoking that which dwells beyond the body. Testing the unsettling tipping points of absurdity and abjection I have trusted a process of free association and serendipity to discover the unexpected and the uncannily familiar

Barbiturate-related hospitalisations, drug treatment episodes, and deaths in Australia, 2000‒2018

Objectives: To determine the characteristics and population rates of barbiturate-related hospitalisations, treatment episodes, and deaths in Australia, 2000–2018. Design, setting: Analysis of national data on barbiturate-related hospitalisations (National Hospital Morbidity Database, 1999‒2000 to 2017‒18), drug treatment episodes (Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set, 2002–03 to 2017–18), and deaths (National Coronial Information System, 2000–01 to 2016–17). Main outcome measures: Population rates directly age-standardised to the 2001 Australian standard population; average annual percentage change (AAPC) in rates estimated by Joinpoint regression. Results: We identified 1250 barbiturate-related hospitalisations (791 cases of deliberate self-harm [63%]), 993 drug treatment episodes (195 cases with barbiturates as the principal drug of concern [20%]), and 511 deaths during the respective analysis periods. The barbiturate-related hospitalisation rate declined from 0.56 in 1999‒2000 to 0.14 per 100 000 population in 2017‒18 (AAPC, ‒6.0%; 95% CI, ‒7.2% to ‒4.8%); the declines in hospitalisations related to accidental poisoning (AAPC, ‒5.8%; 95% CI, ‒9.1% to ‒2.4%) and intentional self-harm (AAPC, ‒5.6%; 95% CI, ‒6.9% to ‒4.2%) were each statistically significant. Despite a drop from 0.67 in 2002‒03 to 0.23 per 100 000 in 2003–04, the drug treatment episode rate did not decline significantly (AAPC, ‒6.7%; 95% CI, ‒16% to +4.0%). The population rate of barbiturate-related deaths increased from 0.07 in 2000–01 to 0.19 per 100 000 population in 2016–17 (AAPC, +9.3%; 95% CI, +6.2–12%); the rate of intentional self-harm deaths increased (AAPC, +11%; 95% CI, +7.4–15%), but not that of accidental deaths (AAPC, ‒0.3%; 95% CI, ‒4.1% to +3.8%). Conclusions: While prescribing and community use of barbiturates has declined, the population rate of intentional self-harm using barbiturates has increased. The major harm associated with these drugs is now suicide

Laser Ablation System for Solid Sample Analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry

A laser ablation sample introduction system, based on a Nd : YAG laser with an X-Y-Zdirectional sampling head, has been designed and constructed for use with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. A study has been made of a number of parameters which affect the performance of the system to establish the optimum operating conditions. South African Reference Material (SARM) rock samples have been analysed using the system, and the results obtained have been compared with the certificate values. The importance of using closely matrix-matched samples and standards is demonstrated. Precision studies on SARM 5 (pyroxenite) show that both intra- and inter-sample precisions are typically 10% (relative standard deviation )

Characteristics and circumstances of death related to gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB)

Introduction: Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has gained substantial popularity as an illicit recreational drug. The current study aimed to: (1) determine the characteristics and circumstances of death of all recorded cases of GHB-related death in Australia, 2001–2019; (2) determine the toxicology of cases; and (3) determine major organ pathology. Methods: Retrospective study of all Australian cases in which GHB was a mechanism contributory to death retrieved from the National Coronial Information System (n = 74). Information was collected on cause of death, demographics, circumstances of death, toxicology and major organ pathology. Results: The mean age was 31.5 years and 70.3% were male. The predominant circumstance of death was accidental drug toxicity (79.7%), including five cases attributed to a combination of toxicity and natural disease. Other deaths were due to trauma (12.2%) and suicide (8.2%). The fatal incident overwhelmingly occurred in a home environment (82.4%). In all cases, GHB was consumed orally. The median GHB blood concentration was 210 mg/L (range 13–1350 mg/L), and was significantly higher in toxicity cases than others (258 vs. 98 mg/L, p <.01). Other substances were present in 92.2%, most commonly psychostimulants (64.1%), hypnosedatives (28.2%) and alcohol (20.3%). Resuscitation was attempted in 20.3% of cases. Acute pneumonia (36.7%) and aspiration of vomitus (30.6%) were common. Conclusions: The typical case was a young male, who swallowed GHB and used it with other substances, most commonly at home. While acute drug toxicity was the most common cause of death, there was a substantial minority due to trauma or suicide

Characteristics and circumstances of death related to the self-administration of ketamine

Background and aims: Ketamine is used for anaesthesia, sedation and the treatment of mood disorders, but is also widely used for non-medical purposes. This study aimed to: (1) determine the characteristics and circumstances of all recorded cases of self-administered ketamine-related death in Australia, 2000–19 and (2) determine the toxicology and major organ pathology of cases. Design: Retrospective study of all Australian cases in which self-administered ketamine was a mechanism contributory to death, retrieved from the National Coronial Information System. Setting: Australia-wide. Cases: Sixty-eight cases, with a mean age of 35.2 years (standard deviation = 11.5, range = 16–63), 76.5% male. Measurements: Information was collected on cause of death, demographics, circumstances of death, toxicology and major organ pathology. Findings: Death was attributed to toxicity in 82.3% of cases (accidental, 58.8%; deliberate, 23.5%), suicide by violent means (8.8%) and traumatic accident (8.8%). In six cases the decedent had been prescribed ketamine. In 32.4% the final route of ketamine administration was by injection. The fatal incident predominantly occurred in a private environment (72.1%). Ketamine was present in the blood of 90.1% and other biomarkers in the remainder. The median blood ketamine concentration was 0.2 mg/l (0.02–6.9 mg/l). Other drugs were detected in 95.5% of cases: opioids (59.1%), hypnosedatives (57.6%), psychostimulants (50.0%), alcohol (27.3%), Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (18.2%), antidepressants (28.8%) and antipsychotics (9.1%). Pulmonary oedema was present in 82.2% of cases that underwent autopsy and pneumonia in 26.7%. Conclusions: The typical case of self-administered ketamine-related death in Australia, 2000–19, was a male in his mid-30s who had used multiple drugs, with the fatal incident most commonly occurring in a private setting. Death due to accidental drug toxicity was the most common manner of death, but suicide was highly prevalent