Spatial prioritisation of revegetation sites for dryland salinity management: an analytical framework using GIS

[Abstract]: To address the lack of analytical and modelling techniques in prioritising revegetation sites for dryland salinity management, a case study of the Hodgson Creek catchment in Queensland, Australia, was conducted. An analytical framework was developed, incorporating the use of spatial datasets (Landsat 7 image, DEM, soil map, and salinity map) which were processed using image processing techniques and a geographic information system (GIS). Revegetation sites were mapped and their priority determined based on recharge area, land use/cover and sub-catchment salinity. The analytical framework presented here enhances the systematic use of land information, widens the scope for scenario testing, and improves the testing of alternative revegetation options. The spatial patterns of revegetation sites could provide an additional set of information relevant in the design of revegetation strategies

Diaries For Intensive Care Unit Survivors (discuss): Perspectives Of Patients And Family Members Regarding Psychological Support

Rationale Diaries summarising care in the intensive care unit (ICU) have been incorporated into routine practice in some countries, although diary format, content, timing and method of delivery vary. The evidence and underpinning theory to support diary use is limited and uptake by patients and family members is infrequent raising questions of acceptance and generalisability. The purpose of this study was to elicit preferences of ICU survivors and their family members regarding diaries and other psychological support mechanisms, specifically if they wish to receive a diary or alternative psychological support material, what content they would like and preferred process and timing for receiving this information. Methods Patients in a general ICU for ≥3 days and their family members were invited to participate in this prospective exploratory study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted 3-5 months after ICU discharge via phone or in person. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was conducted, with codes developed inductively using an iterative process and agreement on themes negotiated by team members. Results Forty-one survivors of critical illness and 26 family members consented to participation. Patients were usually male (63%), aged 50±18 years and stayed in ICU for median 8.5 (IQR 5.3-12.6) days. Patients and family members raised similar themes, although with a diverse range of opinion related to each aspect of ICU diary use. Considerations included: 1) memory and recall with some respondents wanting to know detail while others were either not curious or had no desire to be reminded of their ICU stay; 2) level of detail ranging from a comprehensive summary of clinical activities to a predominantly personal record of the experience; 3) the desire to develop shared memory of ICU and for the patient to understand what the family had been through; 4) timing of provision of diary from soon after the patient woke to months later; 5) concerns regarding the workload of staff to contribute to the diary; 6) potential to exacerbate or alternatively relieve stress; 7) uncertainty in regard to writing in diary as the patient may not survive; 8) ownership of the diary resting with the patient. Conclusions Common themes have been expressed by participants, although views regarding these themes were extremely diverse. Development of future interventions to aid psychological recovery must take into account these variable views to minimise the potential for causing distress to some survivors of critical illness and/or their family members whilst helping others

Maternal Depression, Paternal Psychopathology, and Adolescent Diagnostic Outcomes

The authors examined the relationship between maternal depression, paternal psychopathology, and adolescent diagnostic outcomes in a community sample of 522 Australian families. They also examined whether chronic family stress, father's expressed emotion, and parents' marital satisfaction mediated the relationship between parental psychopathology and adolescent outcomes. Mother's education, child's gender, and family income were covaried in all analyses. Results revealed that maternal depression and paternal depression had an additive effect on youth externalizing disorders. In addition, maternal depression interacted with both paternal depression and paternal substance abuse in predicting youth depression but not youth nondepressive disorders. Chronic family stress and father's expressed emotion appeared to mediate the relationship between parental psychopathology and youth depression

A longitudinal examination of the relationship between trauma-related cognitive factors and internalising and externalising psychopathology in physically injured children

Cognitive models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) highlight maladaptive posttrauma appraisals, trauma memory qualities, and coping strategies, such as rumination or thought suppression, as key processes that maintain PTSD symptoms. Anxiety, depression and externalising symptoms can also present in children in the aftermath of trauma, yet there has been little empirical investigation of the potential relevance of posttrauma cognitive processes for such difficulties. Here, we examined whether: a) acute maladaptive cognitive processes (specifically, maladaptive appraisals, memory qualities, and cognitive coping) were associated with symptoms of PTSD, internalising, and externalising at 1-month posttrauma (T1); and b) changes in these cognitive processes predicted symptom change at a follow-up assessment 6 months later (T2). We recruited 132 6–13 year old children and their parents from emergency departments following the child’s experience of an acute trauma. Children self-reported on their maladaptive appraisals, trauma-memory and cognitive coping strategies, along with symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression. Parents also rated children’s internalising and externalising symptoms. We found each cognitive process to be robustly associated with PTSD and non-PTSD internalising symptoms at T1, and change in each predicted change in symptoms to T2. Maladaptive appraisals and cognitive coping were unique predictors of children’s posttrauma internalising. Effects were partially retained even controlling for co-occurring PTSD symptoms. There was less evidence that trauma-specific cognitive processes were associated with externalising symptoms. Findings suggest aspects of cognitive models of PTSD are applicable to broader posttrauma psychopathology, and have implications for how we understand and target children’s posttrauma psychological adjustment

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

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Characterising land ownership patterns in a salt-affected catchment: key implications for revegetation

Land ownership is an important factor in the implementation of revegetation programmes to manage dryland salinity. Because revegetation tasks involve costs that are usually supported (partially or fully) by the land owners, it is necessary to characterise the land ownership patterns of the targeted area to aid revegetation planning and impact analysis. To gain insights to the land ownership characteristics of an area earmarked for revegetation of salt-affected areas, and to develop appropriate analytical techniques, a case study of the Spring Creek sub-catchment (10,522 ha) in Queensland, Australia, was conducted. Using a geographic information systems (GIS) based approach, thematic maps of revegetation priority areas, salinity areas, land parcel, and land ownership data were processed and analysed using raster overlay operation, attribute query, and descriptive statistics. Results show that 83% of the area needing revegetation is owned by only 28 of the total 110 owners in the catchment. There are 11 salt-affected owners of the 301 hectare area affected by salinity. However, those with salinity problems on their property own only 14% of the total revegetation area. This could pose some serious problems in convincing land owners to revegetate on their properties to combat salinity problems occurring on land owned by others. The methodology presented in this paper provides a structured and systematic approach to characterising land ownership and its possible implications for revegetation planning. It could generate information indicating the number of land owners (along with the proportion of land areas involved) that will most likely participate, or otherwise, in revegetation efforts

Australia remembers as veterans forget: the care of veterans with dementia

Comparisons between veterans and non-veterans in a sample of 243 older Australians with dementia show that veterans are more likely to be older men being cared for at home by older frail spouses, or are single older women who are those most likely to be institutionalised. Care needs for veterans are shifting from meeting medical needs of a male population to providing support to older female carers and older frail women with no partner

Methodological Issues in the Effects of Attrition: Simple Solutions for Social Scientists

Participant attrition from longitudinal research studies is a concern for social scientists because loss of certain subgroups of participants may result in subsequent data collection phases becoming increasingly biased. This article examines whether attrition has been given due consideration in selected reports of longitudinal research undertaken by social scientists. Results of a review of the literature found that less than one-quarter of the studies described how data were examined for patterns of attrition. On the other hand, those articles that described the treatment of attrition used solutions that were varied and often simple and effective. Recommendations for statistical and nonstatistical ways of dealing with sample attrition used by social scientists are provided