Supply-side reduction policy and drug-related harm

Large-scale seizures of cocaine, heroin and amphetamine-type substances (ATS) do not result in any reduction in overdoses on these drugs or on arrests for use and possession of these drugs, according to this report. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the question of whether seizures of heroin, cocaine or amphetamine type substances (ATS) or supplier arrests for heroin, cocaine or ATS trafficking have any effect on the ED admissions related to or arrests for use and possession of these drugs. Method: Two strategies were employed to answer the question. The first involved a time series analysis of the relationship between seizures, supplier arrests, emergency department (ED) admissions and use/possession arrests. The second involved an analysis of three specific operations identified by the NSW Crime Commission as has having had the potential to have affected the market for cocaine. Results: Over the short term (i.e. up to four months), increases in the intensity of high-level drug law enforcement (as measured by seizures and supplier arrests) directed at ATS, cocaine and heroin did not appear to have any suppression effect on ED admissions relating to ATS, cocaine and heroin, or on arrests for use and/or possession of these drugs. The three major operations dealing with cocaine listed by the NSW Crime Commission as significant (Operation Balmoral Athens, Operation Tempest and Operation Collage) did exert a suppression effect on arrests for use and possession of cocaine. Conclusions: Increases in the quantities of ATS, cocaine and heroin drugs seized by law enforcement authorities are normally a signal of increased rather than reduced supply. Very large seizures, however, may temporarily suppress consumption of these drugs. Even if drug seizures and drug supplier arrests have no short term effects on ED admissions and arrests for drug use and/or possession, they may still suppress drug consumption through risk compensation

The iWildCam 2018 Challenge Dataset

Camera traps are a valuable tool for studying biodiversity, but research using this data is limited by the speed of human annotation. With the vast amounts of data now available it is imperative that we develop automatic solutions for annotating camera trap data in order to allow this research to scale. A promising approach is based on deep networks trained on human-annotated images. We provide a challenge dataset to explore whether such solutions generalize to novel locations, since systems that are trained once and may be deployed to operate automatically in new locations would be most useful.Comment: Challenge hosted at the fifth Fine-Grained Visual Categorization Workshop (FGVC5) at CVPR 201

Phase-field model for collective cell migration

We construct a phase-field model for collective cell migration based on a Ginzburg-Landau free-energy formulation. We model adhesion, surface tension, repulsion, coattraction, and polarization, enabling us to follow the cells' morphologies and the effect of their membranes fluctuations on collective motion. We were able to measure the tissue surface tension as a function of the individual cell cortical tension and adhesion and identify a density threshold for cell-sheet formation

Asylum Seekers Living in the Australian Community: A Casework and Reception Approach, Asylum Seeker Project, Hotham Mission, Melbourne

In Australia, asylum seekers either are detained in immigration detention centres or, depending upon their mode of entry into Australia and the status of their application for protection, live in the community, often in a state of abject poverty. Hotham Mission’s Asylum Seeker Project (ASP), a Melbourne-based non-governmental organization (NGO), is unique in Australia in its comprehensive work in housing and supporting asylum seekers in the community, particularly those released from detention. The work of the Asylum Seeker Project illustrates that it is possible, through the application of a comprehensive reception casework system, to adequately support asylum seekers in the community with their welfare needs and to prepare asylum seekers for all immigration outcomes. The Project thus provides a compassionate model of reception support and a viable alternative to immigration detention.En Australie, les demandeurs d’asile sont soit détenus dans des centres de détention de l’immigration, ou, dépendant leur mode d’arrivée en Australie et la situation de leur demande de protection, habitent dans la communauté – souvent dans des conditions de dénuement extrême. Le « Asylum Seeker Project » (‘Projet des demandeurs du droit d’asile’) du Hotham Mission, une organisation non gouvernementale (ONG) basée à Melbourne, est unique en son genre en Australie, du fait de ses services complets visant à loger et à soutenir les demandeurs d’asile dans la communauté, tout spécialement ceux qui sont relâchés des centres de détention. Le travail accompli par le « Asylum Seekers Project » démontre qu’il est possible – en utilisant un système complet d’accueil individualisé – d’assister de façon effective les demandeurs d’asile vivant dans la communauté avec leurs besoins sociaux et de préparer les demandeurs d’asile à faire face à toutes les éventualités possibles à leurs demandes d’immigration. Ce faisant, le Projet fournit un modèle de ce qui peut être accompli en matière de soutien à l’accueil et une alternative viable à la détention

Human-wildlife conflict, benefit sharing and the survival of lions in pastoralist community-based conservancies

No abstract available

Autistic women’s views and experiences of infant feeding: A systematic review of qualitative evidence

Low breastfeeding rates are driven by multiple bio-psycho-social factors. Experience of breastfeeding is known to differ by maternal demographic factors (age, education and ethnicity) but there is less recognition of factors such as neurodivergence. This review, prospectively registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42021271465), systematically identified qualitative research, commentaries and personal accounts related to Autistic mothers and infant feeding. Database searching identified 1225 records, with thematic synthesis undertaken on 22 (eight peer-reviewed studies and 14 grey literature) pieces. Our analysis identified that maternity and infant feeding services were built on a lack of understanding of Autistic needs, and were often inaccessible at a time when Autistic mothers already felt a loss of control and lack of social support. Specifically relating to breastfeeding, knowledge and determination were often high, and a minority of mothers reported positive breastfeeding experiences. However, sensory challenges, pain and interoceptive differences (exacerbated by a lack of support) made breastfeeding impossible for some. Infant formula was viewed as second-best to breastmilk, but a minority of mothers found the ritual of preparing bottles of formula positive. There is an urgent need for maternity and infant feeding services to accommodate the needs of Autistic mothers, including service design and staff training

Cancer and the family: assessment, communication and brief interventions—the development of an educational programme for healthcare professionals when a parent has cancer

Objective This study developed and piloted an educational intervention to support healthcare professionals (HCPs) to provide supportive care for families when a parent has cancer.Methods Programme development followed the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework, beginning with examination of theory and research, and consultation with experts. The programme content incorporated attachment theory, child development and family systems theory. It was piloted thrice with HCPs from a cancer centre. The evaluation involved a questionnaire, comprising open-ended questions, completed before and after the programme. Data from the questionnaire were analysed using framework analysis.Results 31 HCPs from varying disciplines participated. The programme was evaluated positively by participants. Before the programme, participants had significant concerns about their professional competence, which included: managing their own emotions; a perceived sensitivity around raising child and family matters with patients and a lack of specialist experience, skills and knowledge. After completing the programme, participants reported greater understanding and knowledge, increased confidence to approach patients about family matters, greater skill to initiate conversations and explore family concerns and guiding parent–child communication according to the child's level of understanding, and an increased engagement and resilience for caring for parents with cancer.Significance of the results Supporting HCPs to provide family-centred care is likely to reduce psychological difficulties in families where a parent has cancer. Further work is planned to disseminate the programme, evaluate the transfer of skills into practice, assess how HCPs manage the emotional demands of providing supportive care over time, and consider on-going professional support for HCPs.<br/