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Democratic Resilience: Moving from Theoretical Frameworks to a Practical Measurement Agenda
No full textGlobal indices and media narratives indicate a decline in democratic institutions, values, and practices. Simultaneously, democratic innovators are experimenting with new ways to strengthen democracy at local and national levels. These both suggest democracies are not static; they evolve as society, technology and the environment change. This paper examines democracy as a resilient system, emphasizing the role of applied analysis in shaping effective policy and programs, particularly in Australia. Grounded in adaptive processes, democratic resilience is the capacity of a democracy to identify problems, and collectively respond to changing conditions, balancing institutional stability with transformative. It outlines the ambition of a national network of scholars, civil society leaders, and policymakers to equip democratic innovators with practical insights and foresight underpinning new ideas. These insights are essential for strengthening both public institutions, public narratives and community programs. We review current literature on resilient democracies and highlight a critical gap: current measurement efforts focus heavily on composite indices—especially trust—while neglecting dynamic flows and causal drivers. They focus on the descriptive features and identify weaknesses, they do not focus on the diagnostics or evidence to what strengths democracies. This is reflected in the lack of cross-sector networked, living evidence systems to track what works and why across the intersecting dynamics of democratic practices. To address this, we propose a practical agenda centred on three core strengthening flows of democratic resilience: trusted institutions, credible information, and social inclusion.The paper reviews six key data sources and several analytic methods for continuously monitoring democratic institutions, diagnosing causal drivers, and building an adaptive evidence system to inform innovation and reform. By integrating resilience frameworks and policy analysis, we demonstrate how real-time monitoring and analysis can enable innovation, experimentation and cross-sector ingenuity. This article presents a practical research agenda connecting a national network of scholars and civil society leaders. We suggest this agenda be problem-driven, facilitated by participatory approaches to asking and prioritising the questions that matter most. We propose a connected approach to collectively posing key questions that matter most, expanding data sources, and fostering applied ideation between communities, civil society, government, and academia— ensuring democracy remains resilient in an evolving global and national context.<br/
Inundation of different river bank heights influences organic matter concentrations and zooplankton abundance
Get PDFRegulation and water extraction change flow regimes in lowland rivers, affecting ecosystem functions and wetting patterns of riverbanks. River connectivity to lateral environments is crucial for organic matter cycling and the life cycles of diapausing microinvertebrates. While extreme hydraulic periods (floods and cease-flow) are well-studied, the impact of small to medium flows on riverine carbon flux is less understood. We conducted a mesocosm study to examine litter, nutrient, and zooplankton contributions from different bank heights in the Mehi River, Australia. Sediment from three bank heights (lower, lower + middle, and lower + middle + upper) was added to 1000 L mesocosms. Upper bank heights had more organic matter, leaf litter, and live plant coverage. Sediment from upper and middle banks increased organic carbon and phosphorus concentrations. Zooplankton abundance was higher in treatments with upper bank sediment compared to lower bank sediment. Zooplankton communities varied, with rotifer taxa including Keratella valga and Filinia passa in upper bank treatments. We estimated zooplankton biomass contributions under current regulated hydrology and compared them to a predevelopment scenario without water extraction. Regulation has reduced zooplankton input from banks by about 8.8%. Inundating higher banks increases carbon and microinvertebrate availability for food webs compared to only inundating lower sections. These findings inform effective flow management strategies and highlight how targeted environmental water use can enhance lowland river ecosystem productivity.</p
Inhibition of interferon signaling improves rabbit calicivirus replication in biliary organoid cultures
Get PDFThe Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) was discovered 40 years ago. This highly pathogenic virus threatens the integrity of ecosystems in the European rabbit’s native range, while in Australia, it is used as a biocontrol tool to manage overabundant populations of feral European rabbits. Little is known about the life cycle of this virus due to the absence of a reliable cell culture system. In 2023, we developed a rabbit liver-derived organoid cell culture system that supports RHDV replication but is unable to sustain serial passaging in culture. Here, we report that the interferon signaling pathway inhibitor Ruxolitinib increases virus replication in organoid-derived monolayer cells and, for the first time, enables the serial passaging of RHDV in cell culture. Four consecutive passages were achieved with viral titers reaching the concentration of the initial virus stock as measured by real-time quantitative PCR. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that more cells are infected in the presence of Ruxolitinib. Furthermore, we noted that cells grew faster and formed healthier monolayers in the presence of the interferon inhibitor. To determine the cellular composition of the monolayers, we used single-cell RNA sequencing, revealing that our organoids consist largely of RHDV-permissive cholangiocytes.</p
Prepare engage process action (PEPA):a co-designed approach to integrating consumer feedback during placements
Get PDFAuthentically partnering with consumers as co-educators in health students’ education during placements is nuanced, given the diversity of consumers, practice contexts and students. Co-design of educational interventions to address these complexities is required. This research outlines the development of a consumer feedback system created by a co-design team. A co-design team, including a consumer, student, educator, and academic, used design thinking methods to define the problem and created guiding principles to consider when developing a consumer feedback system for placements. The principles were then applied to a local occupational therapy education programme to develop a consumer feedback system specific to their programme. The design team created eight guiding principles for health educators to consider when developing a consumer feedback system for use during placements. Application of these principles is presented using the PEPA System–Prepare, Engage, Process and Action. To our knowledge, this is the first co-designed consumer feedback system that was developed by all collaborators involved in student learning during placements. The PEPA System aims to enhance authentic consumer contribution to learning during placements while addressing the complexity and diversity of all collaborators involved in learning. Further research is required to evaluate the feedback system.</p
The self and the other in democracy:Exploring the opposite of identity through the politics of becoming
Get PDFDemocratic politics requires the democratic subject’s identifiability to enable accountability. This requirement, stabilizing identities’ classificatory categories of race, sexuality, class and gender, entails essentialist tendencies and invites stereotyping. This essay conjures an imaginary of a democratic politics beyond recognition, a democracy powered by the actions of perceptible yet unidentifiable subjects. This form of democratic engagement allows the subject to show up *any way*, a concept signifying the agency but also the confusion of unrecognizability. In doing so, the essay expands the politics of becoming from democratizing the construction of the self to cultivating democratic relations with the other. It makes the case for (1) unrecognizing, (2) sustaining and (3) co-constructing the other in order to (4) generate ‘other spaces’ or democratic heterotopias
The Digital Economy is the ‘New Normal’
No full textThis editorial introduces a new issue of the Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, exploring the growth of the digital economy post-COVID-19. The pandemic accelerated online interactions, revealing a lag in social norms despite decades-old technologies. Developed nations integrate AI into shopping, while developing countries advance rapidly, yet design principles remain rooted in tradition. The contributions in this issue underscore the human element in technology adoption and the Journal’s role in bridging telecommunications’ legacy with today’s digital challenges, enriching understanding of the evolving digital economy.</p
A scoping review of program evaluations in non-profit alcohol and other drugs service settings:Considerations for service and research partnerships
Get PDFIntroduction: The non-profit sector contributes significantly to preventing and reducing harm from alcohol and other drugs (AOD). However, it can experience challenges when demonstrating impact via feasible and rigorous evaluation. Methods: We conducted a scoping review to identify characteristics of, and barriers/enablers to, evaluations completed in non-profit AOD services, and to ascertain the degree of collaboration between researchers and service providers during three evaluation phases (preparatory, conduct; and dissemination and implementation). We searched EMBASE and Medline from inception to February 2023 for evaluations completed in small to medium non-profit AOD services. Screening and extraction were completed by three reviewers independently, and 80 % were checked by an additional reviewer. Results: Ultimately, 56 records were included in this study. Included evaluations were largely initiated by researchers, with limited input from service providers in setting the agenda for the evaluations (preparatory phase) or translating findings into practice (dissemination and implementation phase). Where collaborations between researchers and service providers were in place, they generated funding and strong engagement with participants, leading to better recruitment, more complete data collection, and enhanced evaluation outcomes. Conclusion: The review raises important implications for researchers and service providers to prioritise meaningful collaboration and innovation to inform appropriate selection of evaluation topics and designs. Specifically, such evaluations should generate knowledge which can be translated into practice, demonstrating the impact of services and programs and an evidence base built in the non-profit sector.</p
Diversity, distribution, and population structure of Escherichia coli in the lower gastrointestinal tract of humans
No full textSeveral studies report the diversity, and population structure of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the human gut, but most used faecal specimens as the source of E. coli for analysis. In the present study, we collected mucosal biopsies from three different locations: the terminal ileum, transverse colon, and rectum from 46 individuals. To identify unique strains, we fingerprinted about 3300 isolates of E. coli via the multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) technique. An example of each strain per individual then underwent PCR for phylogrouping, and specific phylogrouped strains were further screened to determine whether they belonged to one of four common human-associated sequence types (ST69, ST73, ST95, and ST131), and to identify B2-subtypes. We detected on average 2.5 unique strains per individual. The frequency of unique strain(s) appeared in individuals as follows: 35% (16/46) had only one strain, 22% (10/46) had two strains, 24% (11/46) had three strains and 4% (2/46), 9% (4/46) and 7% (3/46) had 4, 5 and 6 strains, respectively. Strain richness did not depend on gender, age, or disease status. The most abundant phylogroup in all gut locations was B2 followed by A, B1, and D. Strain richness overall and across gut locations was decreased if an individual’s dominant strain belonged to phylogroup B2. ST95, ST131, and ST73 constituted more than half of the total B2 strains. Analysis of B2 sub-types revealed that sub-types IX (STc95) and I (STc131) were more common than other sub-types. The phylogroup and ST of strains at different gut locations did not vary significantly. However, there were multiple examples of individuals who carried strains detected only in one gut location. The present study suggests that particular phylogroups and STs are likely to dominate in different locations in the lower gut of humans.</p
“We Deserve the Respect. Without Us, There Would Be No Games”:Examining the Experiences of Australian Rules Football Umpires
No full textThis article focuses on the responses of 356 Australian Rules football umpires to an online survey conducted from August 2021 to October 2022 regarding their experiences of umpiring. The findings highlighted that 49% experienced verbal abuse at least every couple of games, and 21% had experienced some form of physical abuse while umpiring. With 35% of the sample having less than five years’ experience as an umpire, the results illustrate the need for an environment where umpires are given greater levels of on-field respect, but if this is breached, they should feel supported through the process of reporting abusive incidents and attending any subsequent tribunals. In doing so, the evidence points to a greater chance of their services being retained for the medium- and long-term benefit of the sport. While the sport has highlighted improved recruitment since COVID-19, the retention of umpires should be a priority in all communities and regions across the country.</p
The impact of COVID-19 on the trajectory of Australian tertiary students' mental health, 2017-2023
No full textAIMS: It is purported that tertiary students are at greater risk for poor mental health outcomes in comparison with their non-tertiary peers and those not in education, although the evidence for this is mixed. This paper examines the mental health differences between tertiary and non-tertiary students, and those not enrolled in study, and then examines the changes in mental health in the years prior to, during and post the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS: Participants were from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, a longitudinal household panel survey. For this study, N = 21,385 participants provided at least one observation on the relevant education and mental health measures between 2017 and 2023. Mental Health was operationalised with the four mental health subscales from the Short Form-36 and included the MHI-5, a measure of psychological distress, Vitality, Social Functioning, and Role Emotion subscales.RESULTS: Over the study period, there were no differences in levels of Vitality or Social Functioning between education status. Those enrolled in undergraduate programs reported lower MHI-5 (b = -1.17 (SE = 0.38); P = .011) and Role Emotional (b = -2.49 (SE = 0.79); P = .010) scores, but these differences were substantively smaller than the differences reported between age, employment and sex. There were substantive changes in all mental health outcomes with the onset of COVID, particularly for Role Emotion. Two-way interactions between education and time were reported for the MHI, Vitality and Social Functioning subscales with those enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate reporting slightly larger declines.CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with the magnitude of differences between sex, employment and age groups, there was only weak evidence for differences between education levels. There was weak evidence for changes in mental health between education levels over the study period. Stabilisation in more recent years suggest some adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic.</p