ORCID Profile
0000-0002-6344-6822
Current Organisations
University of Saskatchewan
,
University of Melbourne
,
The University of Sydney The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-2020
DOI: 10.1111/ACER.14452
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 22-03-2022
DOI: 10.3390/GERIATRICS7020035
Abstract: Australian National standards recommend routine screening for all adults over 65 years by health organisations that provide care for patients with cognitive impairment. Despite this, screening rates are low and, when implemented, screening is often not done well. This qualitative pilot study investigates barriers and facilitators to cognitive screening for older people in rural and regional Victoria, Australia. Focus groups and interviews were undertaken with staff across two health services. Data were analysed via thematic analysis and contextualized within the i-PARIHS framework. Key facilitators of screening included legislation, staff buy-in, clinical experience, appropriate training, and interorganisational relationships. Collaborative implementation processes, time, and workloads were considerations in a recently accredited tertiary care setting. Lack of specialist services, familiarity with patients, and infrastructural issues may be barriers exacerbated in rural settings. In lieu of rural specialist services, interorganisational relationships should be leveraged to facilitate referring ‘outwards’ rather than ‘upwards’.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2018
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-06-2022
DOI: 10.1111/DAR.13344
Abstract: Substance use disorders are highly prevalent among forensic patients. They are associated with many challenges for patients with these problems, including their ability to rehabilitate and successfully move through secure forensic mental health services, as well as increasing risk for reci ism. Traditionally, forensic services have been more adept at focusing on and treating the primary mental health diagnosis alone and have been less likely to prioritise this co‐occurring patient need. Opportunities exist to foster effective treatment strategies for substance use disorders, and past research has produced positive outcomes among forensic patients in studies in both Australia and the UK to navigate a new course for patients with these problems. By providing empirically validated, co‐produced and culturally competent treatment responses, forensic patients living with substance use disorders will have the opportunity to significantly improve their wellbeing and progress through the system. They will also be more prepared and equipped to face challenges upon discharge into the community, including increased availability of alcohol and other drugs, social stigma and barriers to employment. Moreover, by prioritising effective substance use treatment programs during inpatient rehabilitation, services can reduce the levels of post‐discharge reci ism.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2019
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1071/WF18070
Abstract: Fires burning under marginal fire-weather conditions tend to be patchy in terms of their spatial coverage. This patchiness is partially driven by variability in the ignitability of the fuel bed. An understanding of fuel-bed ignitability through space and time would help fire managers to more effectively carry out prescribed burns to achieve desired levels of burn coverage in Eucalyptus forests. We sought to identify the key fuel-bed attributes influencing ignitability under marginal weather conditions. We recorded ignition successes and failures at 45 points within 5 operational prescribed burns and used the data to build logistic regression models to predict the probability of ignition as a function of fuel-bed attributes. Models were ranked using an information theoretic approach. The four highest ranked models explained 48–54% of the variance in ignitability. Surface fine-fuel moisture content (FFMC) and overall fuel hazard (i.e. fuel arrangement) were the strongest predictors of ignitability, occurring in all four highest ranking models. Both surface FFMC and overall fuel hazard were negatively related to ignition likelihood, contradicting a commonly assumed positive relationship between fuel hazard and flammability. Our field method to measure ignition success could be applied across more prescribed burns to develop operationally useful models of ignitability.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-12-2021
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 29-10-2022
DOI: 10.1177/08862605211044103
Abstract: Young adulthood is an important developmental period for investigating the nature of violent behavior. This study examines the unique contribution of alcohol use to violence perpetration among young adults in the Australian community, after accounting for the influence of sociodemographic, early life, trait, and well-being influences. Cross-sectional, self-report data was collected from 507 young adults aged 18-20 years in the Australian general community via an online survey. Sequential logistic regressions examined the relative and independent contribution of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), impulsivity, psychological distress, and hazardous alcohol use to past-year violent behavior. Results show one in eight young adults aged 18-20 (13%) reported at least one act of violent behavior in the past year, primarily assault perpetrated against another person. Sequential logistic regression identified that after controlling for other risk factors, the number of ACEs reported and hazardous alcohol use were independently and positively associated with increased odds of reporting violent behavior in young adulthood. These findings demonstrate that ACEs and hazardous alcohol use are important, independent correlates of violent behavior in young adults. While preventing early adversity is key for reducing violence in the community, this evidence suggests that it is also important to target proximal causes such as hazardous alcohol use. Increasing early and widespread access to evidence-based, trauma-informed violence-prevention programs targeting risk factors across multiple settings is critical for reducing harm and supporting young people into healthy adulthood.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 06-04-2018
DOI: 10.3390/F9040189
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 12-04-2019
DOI: 10.2196/12370
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2022
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2020
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 20-11-2017
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explore how different trajectories of emotional symptoms relate to alcohol use in adolescence. In all, 431 participants (majority female), aged approximately 13 years at baseline were followed over three years and reported on their emotional symptoms and alcohol use. Latent class growth analyses explored different trajectories of emotional symptoms and regression models were run to relate these trajectories to alcohol use (full standard drink, and binge drinking) at 36-month follow-up (age 16 years). While the majority of adolescents were best characterised by low-stable emotional symptoms, those with high-stable symptoms were more likely to be have consumed a full standard drink of alcohol and binge drunk when aged 16 years. Findings highlight the importance of prevention and early intervention, particularly targeting adolescents with elevated stable emotional symptoms who were more likely to be using alcohol at 16 years of age. The present study is one of the first longitudinal investigations into the use of alcohol by community adolescents with different emotional symptom trajectories.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 10-10-2018
Abstract: he transition to adulthood is a unique developmental period characterized by numerous personal and social role changes and increased opportunities for alcohol consumption. Using alcohol to cope with anxiety symptoms is commonly reported, and young people with anxiety are at a greater risk of hazardous alcohol use and progression to alcohol use disorder. Anxiety and alcohol use tend to fuel each other in an exacerbating feed-forward cycle, leading to difficult-to-treat chronic problems. The peak in onset of anxiety and alcohol disorders suggests this developmental window represents a promising opportunity for early intervention before these problems become entrenched. his study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Inroads program, a therapist-supported, internet-delivered early intervention for young adults that targets alcohol use, anxiety symptoms, and the interconnections between these problems. randomized controlled trial will be conducted nationally among young Australians (aged 17-24 years) who experience anxiety symptoms and drink alcohol at hazardous or harmful levels. Participants will be in idually randomized on a 1:1 basis to receive the Inroads intervention or assessment plus alcohol guidelines. Participants randomized to the Inroads intervention will receive access to 5 Web-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) modules and weekly therapist support via email and/or phone. The primary outcome assessment will be 8 weeks post baseline, with follow-up assessment 6 months post baseline to determine the sustainability of the intervention effects. Primary outcomes will be the total number of standard drinks consumed in the past month (assessed by the Timeline Follow-Back procedure), severity of alcohol-related harms (assessed by the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire), and anxiety symptoms across multiple disorders (assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7). Secondary outcomes will include alcohol outcome expectancies functional impairment and quality of life and symptoms of social anxiety, anxious arousal, and depression. Results will be analyzed by intention-to-treat using multilevel mixed effects analysis for repeated measures. he study is funded from 2017 to 2020 by Australian Rotary Health. Recruitment is expected to be complete by late-2018, with the 6-month follow-ups to be completed by mid-2019. Results are expected to be published in 2020. he study will be the first to evaluate the benefits of a youth-focused early intervention that simultaneously targets anxiety and hazardous alcohol use. By explicitly addressing the interconnections between anxiety and alcohol use and enhancing CBT coping skills, the Inroads program has the potential to interrupt the trajectory toward co-occurring anxiety and alcohol use disorders. The Web-based format of the program combined with minimal therapist support means that if effective, the program could be widely disseminated to reach young people who are not currently able or willing to access face-to-face treatment. ustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12617001609347 www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=372748& isReview=true (Archived by WebCite at 7Au19jmf) ERR1-10.2196/12370
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1071/WF19199
Abstract: Fire management agencies use fire behaviour simulation tools to predict the potential spread of a fire in both risk planning and operationally during wildfires. These models are generally based on underlying empirical or quasi-empirical relations and rarely are uncertainties considered. Little attention has been given to the quality of the input data used during operational fire predictions. We examined the extent to which error in weather forecasts can affect fire simulation results. The study was conducted using data representing the State of Victoria in south-eastern Australia, including grassland and forest conditions. Two fire simulator software packages were used to compare fire growth under observed and forecast weather. We found that error in the weather forecast data significantly altered the predicted size and location of fires. Large errors in wind speed and temperature resulted in an overprediction of fire size, whereas large errors in wind direction resulted in an increased spatial error in the fire’s location. As the fire weather intensified, fire predictions using forecast weather under predicted fire size, potentially resulting in greater risks to the community. These results highlight the importance of on-ground intelligence during wildfires and the use of ensembles to improve operational fire predictions.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-06-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHIABU.2021.105459
Abstract: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been associated with a greater risk of later criminal offending. However, existing research in this area has been primarily conducted in Western developed countries and cross-cultural studies are rare. This study examined the relationship between ACEs and criminal behaviors in young adults living in 10 countries located across five continents, after accounting for sex, age, and cross-national differences. In total, 3797 young adults aged between 18 and 20 years (M = 18.97 DP = 0.81) were assessed locally in community settings within the 10 countries. The ACE Questionnaire was used to assess maltreatment and household dysfunction during childhood and a subset of questions derived from the Deviant Behavior Variety Scale (DBVS) was used to determine past-year criminal variety pertaining to 10 acts considered crime across participating countries. Physical and sexual abuse, physical neglect, and household substance abuse were related to criminal variety, globally, and independently across sexes and countries ranked differently in the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). In addition, three out of five experiences of household dysfunction were related to criminal variety, but subsequent analyses indicate that some forms of household dysfunction only hold statistical significance among males or females, or in countries ranking lower in the HDI. This research strengthens the finding that there are cross-cultural mechanisms perpetuating the cycle of violence. It also indicates that forms of household dysfunction have an impact on criminal behavior that is shaped by gender and the country's levels of social well-being.
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Date: 07-2016
DOI: 10.1002/2016WR018998
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-09-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-06-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2014
Publisher: Guilford Publications
Date: 06-2021
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2019
DOI: 10.1111/ECOG.04714
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 19-05-2022
DOI: 10.2196/33023
Abstract: Informal carers play a significant role in supporting people living with dementia however, carers in rural areas are often isolated, with limited access to support services. Although dementia-friendly communities provide valued support for carers, access to them is limited as they are few and geographically dispersed. This study’s aim was to increase support and services for rural informal carers of people living with dementia by using information and communication technologies accessed through an integrated website and mobile app—the Verily Connect app. The objective of this protocol is to detail the research design used in a complex study that was situated in a challenging real-world setting integrating web-based and on-ground technology and communication. Therefore, it is anticipated that this protocol will strengthen the research of others exploring similar complex concepts. A stepped-wedge, open-cohort cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted to implement Verily Connect across 12 rural Australian communities. The Verily Connect intervention delivered web-based, curated information about dementia, a localized directory of dementia services and support, group and in idual chat forums, and peer support through videoconference. During the implementation phase of 32 weeks, Verily Connect was progressively implemented in four 8-weekly waves of 3 communities per wave. Usual care, used as a comparator, was available to carers throughout the study period. Participants and researchers were unblinded to the intervention. There were 3 cohorts of participants: carers, volunteers, and staff participants were recruited from their communities. The primary outcome measure was perceived carer social support measured using the Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey. Volunteers and staff provided feedback on their participation in Verily Connect as qualitative data. Qualitative data were collected from all cohorts of participants through interviews and focus groups. Process evaluation data were collected through interviews and memos written by research staff. Data on the costs of implementing Verily Connect were collected by the research team members and evaluated by a health economist. Between August 2018 and September 2019, a total of 113 participants were recruited. There were 37 (32.7%) carers, 39 (34.5%) volunteers, and 37 (32.7%) health service staff. The study was complex because of the involvement of multiple and varied communities of carers, volunteers, health service staff, and research team members originating from 5 universities. Web-based technologies were used as intervention strategies to support carers and facilitate the process of undertaking the study. The Verily Connect trial enabled the testing and further development of a web-based approach to increasing support for carers of people living with dementia across a erse rural landscape in Australia. This protocol provides an ex le of how to conduct a pragmatic evaluation of a complex and co-designed intervention involving multiple stakeholders. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618001213235 rjvrasf RR1-10.2196/33023
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 25-10-2023
DOI: 10.2196/46008
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 25-08-2023
DOI: 10.3390/GERIATRICS8050085
Abstract: Caring for people living with dementia often leads to social isolation and decreased support for caregivers. This study investigated the effect of a Virtual Dementia-Friendly Rural Communities (Verily Connect) model on social support and demand for caregivers of people living with dementia. The co-designed intervention entailed an integrated website and mobile application, peer-support videoconference, and technology learning hubs. This mixed-methods, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted with 113 participants from 12 rural communities in Australia. Caregiver data were collected using MOS-SSS and ZBI between 2018 and 2020. The relationship between post-intervention social support with age, years of caring, years since diagnosis, and duration of intervention were explored through correlation analysis and thin plate regression. Google Analytics were analysed for levels of engagement, and cost analysis was performed for implementation. Results showed that caregivers’ perception of social support (MOS-SSS) increased over 32 weeks (p = 0.003) and there was a marginal trend of less care demand (ZBI) among caregivers. Better social support was observed with increasing caregiver age until 55 years. Younger caregivers (aged years) experienced the greatest post-intervention improvement. The greatest engagement occurred early in the trial, declining sharply thereafter. The Verily Connect model improved caregivers’ social support and appeared to ease caregiver demand.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 25-01-2023
Abstract: nterpretation Bias Modification (IBM) and Approach Bias Modification (ApBM) cognitive re-training interventions can be efficacious adjunctive treatments for improving social anxiety or alcohol use problems. However, previous trials have not examined the combination of these interventions among a young, comorbid s le. his study describes the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a web-based IBM+ApBM program for young adults with social anxiety and hazardous alcohol use (‘Re-Train Your Brain’), when delivered in conjunction with treatment as usual (TAU). he study involved a 3-arm randomized controlled pilot trial in which treatment-seeking young adults (18-30 years) with co-occurring social anxiety and hazardous alcohol use were in idually randomized to receive: (i) the ‘integrated’ Re-Train Your Brain program, where each session included both IBM and ApBM (50:50 ratio), plus TAU n=35) (ii) the ‘alternating’ Re-Train Your Brain program, where each session focused on IBM or ApBM in an alternating pattern, plus TAU (n=32) or (iii) TAU only (n=33). Primary outcomes included feasibility (consent, follow-up rates, withdrawals, treatment adherence, adverse events) and acceptability (system usability, client satisfaction, training format preference). Secondary efficacy outcomes included changes in cognitive biases (interpretation, alcohol approach, and comorbid social anxiety and alcohol interpretation biases), social anxiety symptoms, and alcohol use (e.g., average drinks per day, hazardous drinking, severity of alcohol dependence, alcohol craving). Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention (6-weeks post-baseline), and 12-weeks post-baseline. Descriptive statistics and linear and logistic regressions were conducted for primary outcomes, while intention-to-treat multi-level mixed effects analysis for repeated measures were performed for secondary outcomes, and reported with their corresponding effect sizes. oth Re-Train Your Brain program formats were feasible and acceptable to young adults. When coupled with TAU, both integrated and alternating programs resulted in greater self-reported improvements than TAU only on anxiety interpretation biases (at 6-week follow-up d=0.80 and d=0.89) and comorbid interpretation biases (at 12-week follow-up d=1.53 and d=1.67). Additionally, the alternating group reported large improvements over control on generalised social anxiety symptoms (at 12-week follow-up d=0.83) and alcohol cravings (at 6-week follow-up d=0.81). There were null effects on all other variables, and no differences between the two intervention groups on efficacy outcomes. hould these findings be replicated in a larger randomized controlled trial, Re-Train Your Brain has the potential to be a scalable, low cost, and non-labour-intensive adjunct intervention for targeting interpretation and comorbidity biases, as well as generalised anxiety and alcohol-related outcomes in the real world. he study was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR ACTRN12620001273976) and the protocol was published in JMIR: Research Protocols [Prior et al., 2021. JMIR Research Protocols, 10(7):e28667. doi: 10.2196/28667]. R2-10.2196/28667
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2017
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 07-07-2021
DOI: 10.2196/28667
Abstract: Alcohol use and anxiety disorders commonly co-occur, resulting in a more severe clinical presentation and poorer response to treatment. Research has shown that approach bias modification (ApBM) and interpretation bias modification (IBM) cognitive retraining interventions can be efficacious adjunctive treatments that improve outcomes for alcohol use and social anxiety, respectively. However, the acceptability, feasibility, and clinical utility of combining ApBM and IBM programs to optimize treatments among comorbid s les are unknown. It is also unclear whether integrating ApBM and IBM within each training session or alternating them between each session is more acceptable and efficacious. This paper describes the protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial investigating the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the Re-train Your Brain intervention—an adjunct web-based ApBM+IBM program—among a clinical s le of emerging adults with hazardous alcohol use and social anxiety. The study involves a three-arm randomized controlled pilot trial in which treatment-seeking emerging adults (18-30 years) with co-occurring hazardous alcohol use and social anxiety will be in idually randomized to receive the Re-train Your Brain integrated program, delivered with 10 biweekly sessions focusing on both social anxiety and alcohol each week, plus treatment as usual (TAU ie, the model of care provided in accordance with standard practice at their service n=30) the Re-train Your Brain alternating program, delivered with 10 biweekly sessions focusing on social anxiety one week and alcohol the next week, plus TAU (n=30) or TAU only (n=30). Primary outcomes include feasibility (uptake, follow-up rates, treatment adherence, attrition, and adverse events) and acceptability (system usability, client satisfaction, user experience, and training format preference). Secondary efficacy outcomes include changes in alcohol approach and interpretation biases, social anxiety, and alcohol use (eg, drinks per day, binge drinking, drinking motives, severity of dependence, and cravings). The primary end point will be posttreatment (6 weeks postbaseline), with a secondary end point at 3 months postbaseline. Descriptive statistics will be conducted for primary outcomes, whereas intention-to-treat, multilevel mixed effects analysis for repeated measures will be performed for secondary outcomes. This study is funded from 2019 to 2023 by Australian Rotary Health. Recruitment is expected to be completed by mid-2022 to late 2022, with follow-ups completed by early 2023. This study will be the first to evaluate whether an ApBM+IBM program is acceptable to treatment-seeking, emerging adults and whether it can be feasibly delivered via the web, in settings where it will ultimately be used (eg, at home). The findings will broaden our understanding of the types of programs that emerging adults will engage with and whether the program may be an efficacious treatment option for this comorbidity. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12620001273976 www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=364131 PRR1-10.2196/28667
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2022
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 13-07-2023
DOI: 10.2196/48875
Abstract: Anxiety and alcohol use commonly co-occur. Previous research has demonstrated the bidirectional and mutually reinforcing nature of this relationship, with an increasing body of research investigating the mediating and moderating mechanisms driving this association. Within the existing mediation and moderation research, however, there have been contrasting findings and, at times, null results among some population groups. This protocol outlines a systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to synthesize and clarify mediators and moderators in the anxiety-alcohol and alcohol-anxiety relationships. Systematic searches will be conducted in the electronic databases Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify studies that investigated mediators and moderators of the relationship between anxiety and alcohol use, including clinical and subclinical levels. Studies that look at the relationship between anxiety and alcohol use outcomes, as well as alcohol use and anxiety outcomes, will be included in order to capture an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms driving the association in either direction. No limits will be placed on study year or study language. Included study designs will be observational studies, including cohort, cross-sectional, and longitudinal studies, and secondary analyses of randomized controlled trials reporting quantitative results. Selected studies will also have their reference lists hand-searched for other relevant papers. Study quality will be assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklists for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies and Cohort Studies. Mediators and moderators will be narratively synthesized in line with the biopsychosocial framework, where results will be grouped into biological, psychological, and social or environmental factors. If the data are sufficiently homogeneous, a meta-analysis will be conducted with mediation and moderation analyses synthesized separately. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) framework will also be used to assess the strength of cumulative evidence. Electronic database searches were conducted in September 2022. After duplicates were removed, a total of 7330 titles and abstracts were screened. Full-text reviewing is currently under way, with the results expected to be available by the end of 2023. Given the significant in idual and societal impacts of co-occurring anxiety and alcohol use, this review will help clarify mechanisms linking these two concerns. Identified mechanisms, where possible, can then be targeted in prevention, early intervention, and treatment approaches to improve the outcomes for in iduals experiencing co-occurring anxiety and alcohol use. PROSPERO CRD42023358402 m2e3enp DERR1-10.2196/48875
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1071/BT19112
Abstract: When flammable plant species become dominant they can influence the flammability of the entire vegetation community. Therefore, it is important to understand the environmental factors affecting the abundance of such species. These factors can include disturbances such as fire, which can promote the dominance of flammable grasses causing a positive feedback of flammability (grass–fire cycle). We examined the potential factors influencing the abundance of a flammable grass found in the understoreys of forests in south-east Australia, the forest wiregrass (Tetrarrhena juncea R.Br.). When wiregrass is abundant, its structural characteristics can increase the risk of wildfire ignition and causes fire to burn more intensely. We measured the cover of wiregrass in 126 sites in mountain ash forests in Victoria, Australia. Generalised additive models were developed to predict cover using climatic and site factors. The best models were selected using an information theoretic approach. The statistically significant factors associated with wiregrass cover were annual precipitation, canopy cover, disturbance type, net solar radiation, precipitation seasonality and time since disturbance. Canopy cover and net solar radiation were the top contributors in explaining wiregrass cover variability. Wiregrass cover was predicted to be high in recently disturbed areas where canopy cover was sparse, light levels high and precipitation low. Our findings suggest that in areas with wiregrass, disturbances such as fire that reduce canopy cover can promote wiregrass dominance, which may, in turn, increase forest flammability.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-07-2016
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 20-05-2019
DOI: 10.3390/F10050436
Abstract: High frequency wildfires can shift the structure and composition of obligate seeder forests and initiate replacement with alternative vegetation states. In some forests, the alternative stable state is drier and more easily burned by subsequent fires, driving a positive feedback that promotes further wildfire and perpetuates alternative stable states. Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans (F.Muell.)) forests are highly valued for their bio ersity, water, timber and carbon. Fires are a natural part of the lifecycle of these forests, but too frequent fires can eliminate Mountain Ash and trigger a transition to lower stature, non-eucalypt forests which are dominated by understorey species. This study sought to better understand the fuel moisture dynamics of alternative stable states resulting from high frequency wildfires. A vegetation mosaic in the Central Highlands, Victoria created a unique opportunity to measure fuel moisture in adjacent forest stands that differed in overstorey species composition and time since fire. Specifically, we measured fuel moisture and microclimate at two eucalypt sites (9 and 79 years old) and three non-eucalypt sites (two 9 year old and one 79 year old). Fuel availability, defined here as the number of days surface fuels were below 16% and dry enough to ignite and sustain fire, was calculated to estimate flammability. Fuel availability differed between sites, particularly as a function of time since fire, with recently burnt sites available to burn more often (4–17 versus 0–3 days). There were differences in fuel availability between non-eucalypt sites of the same age, suggesting that high frequency fire does not always lead to the same vegetation condition or outcome for fuel availability. This indicates there is potential for both positive and negative flammability feedbacks following state transition depending on the composition of the non-eucalypt state. This is the first study to provide empirical insight into the fuel moisture dynamics of alternative stable states in Mountain Ash forests.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 18-08-2021
Abstract: nformal carers play a significant role in supporting people living with dementia however, carers in rural areas are often isolated, with limited access to support services. Although dementia-friendly communities provide valued support for carers, access to them is limited as they are few and geographically dispersed. his study’s aim was to increase support and services for rural informal carers of people living with dementia by using information and communication technologies accessed through an integrated website and mobile app—the Verily Connect app. The objective of this protocol is to detail the research design used in a complex study that was situated in a challenging real-world setting integrating web-based and on-ground technology and communication. Therefore, it is anticipated that this protocol will strengthen the research of others exploring similar complex concepts. stepped-wedge, open-cohort cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted to implement Verily Connect across 12 rural Australian communities. The Verily Connect intervention delivered web-based, curated information about dementia, a localized directory of dementia services and support, group and in idual chat forums, and peer support through videoconference. During the implementation phase of 32 weeks, Verily Connect was progressively implemented in four 8-weekly waves of 3 communities per wave. Usual care, used as a comparator, was available to carers throughout the study period. Participants and researchers were unblinded to the intervention. There were 3 cohorts of participants: carers, volunteers, and staff participants were recruited from their communities. The primary outcome measure was perceived carer social support measured using the Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey. Volunteers and staff provided feedback on their participation in Verily Connect as qualitative data. Qualitative data were collected from all cohorts of participants through interviews and focus groups. Process evaluation data were collected through interviews and memos written by research staff. Data on the costs of implementing Verily Connect were collected by the research team members and evaluated by a health economist. etween August 2018 and September 2019, a total of 113 participants were recruited. There were 37 (32.7%) carers, 39 (34.5%) volunteers, and 37 (32.7%) health service staff. The study was complex because of the involvement of multiple and varied communities of carers, volunteers, health service staff, and research team members originating from 5 universities. Web-based technologies were used as intervention strategies to support carers and facilitate the process of undertaking the study. he Verily Connect trial enabled the testing and further development of a web-based approach to increasing support for carers of people living with dementia across a erse rural landscape in Australia. This protocol provides an ex le of how to conduct a pragmatic evaluation of a complex and co-designed intervention involving multiple stakeholders. ustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618001213235 rjvrasf R1-10.2196/33023
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 10-05-2023
Abstract: nxiety and alcohol use commonly co-occur. Previous research has demonstrated the bidirectional and mutually reinforcing nature of this relationship, with an increasing body of research investigating the mediating and moderating mechanisms driving this association. Within the existing mediation and moderation research, however, there have been contrasting findings and, at times, null results among some population groups. his protocol outlines a systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to synthesize and clarify mediators and moderators in the anxiety-alcohol and alcohol-anxiety relationships. ystematic searches will be conducted in the electronic databases Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify studies that investigated mediators and moderators of the relationship between anxiety and alcohol use, including clinical and subclinical levels. Studies that look at the relationship between anxiety and alcohol use outcomes, as well as alcohol use and anxiety outcomes, will be included in order to capture an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms driving the association in either direction. No limits will be placed on study year or study language. Included study designs will be observational studies, including cohort, cross-sectional, and longitudinal studies, and secondary analyses of randomized controlled trials reporting quantitative results. Selected studies will also have their reference lists hand-searched for other relevant papers. Study quality will be assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklists for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies and Cohort Studies. Mediators and moderators will be narratively synthesized in line with the biopsychosocial framework, where results will be grouped into biological, psychological, and social or environmental factors. If the data are sufficiently homogeneous, a meta-analysis will be conducted with mediation and moderation analyses synthesized separately. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) framework will also be used to assess the strength of cumulative evidence. lectronic database searches were conducted in September 2022. After duplicates were removed, a total of 7330 titles and abstracts were screened. Full-text reviewing is currently under way, with the results expected to be available by the end of 2023. iven the significant in idual and societal impacts of co-occurring anxiety and alcohol use, this review will help clarify mechanisms linking these two concerns. Identified mechanisms, where possible, can then be targeted in prevention, early intervention, and treatment approaches to improve the outcomes for in iduals experiencing co-occurring anxiety and alcohol use. ROSPERO CRD42023358402 m2e3enp ERR1-10.2196/48875
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 20-06-2021
DOI: 10.3390/F12060812
Abstract: Shrub encroachment of grassland and woodland ecosystems can alter wildfire behaviour and threaten ecological values. Australian fire managers are using mechanical mastication to reduce the fire risk in encroached ecosystems but are yet to evaluate its effectiveness or ecological impact. We asked: (1) How does fuel load and structure change following mastication? (2) Is mastication likely to affect wildfire rates of spread and flame heights? and (3) What is the impact of mastication on flora species richness and ersity? At thirteen paired sites (masticated versus control n = 26), located in Victoria, Australia, we measured fuel properties (structure, load and hazard) and floristic ersity (richness and Shannon’s H) in 400 mP2 plots. To quantify the effects of mastication, data were analysed using parametric and non-parametric paired s le techniques. Masticated sites were grouped into two categories, 0–2 and 3–4 years post treatment. Fire behaviour was predicted using the Dry Eucalypt Forest Fire Model. Mastication with follow-up herbicide reduced the density of taller shrubs, greater than 50 cm in height, for at least 4 years. The most recently masticated sites (0–2 years) had an almost 3-fold increase in dead fine fuel loads and an 11-fold increase in dead coarse fuel loads on the forest floor compared with the controls. Higher dead coarse fuel loads were still evident after 3–4 years. Changes to fuel properties produced a reduction in predicted flame heights from 22 m to 5–6 m under severe fire weather conditions, but no change in the predicted fire rate of spread. Reductions in flame height would be beneficial for wildfire suppression and could reduce the damage to property from wildfires. Mastication did not have a meaningful effect on native species ersity, but promoted the abundance of some exotic species.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2016
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 10-03-2021
Abstract: lcohol use and anxiety disorders commonly co-occur, resulting in a more severe clinical presentation and poorer response to single-disorder treatments. Research has shown that Approach Bias Modification (ApBM) and Interpretation Bias Modification (IBM) cognitive re-training interventions can be efficacious adjunctive treatments that improve outcomes for alcohol use and social anxiety symptoms, respectively. However, the acceptability, feasibility and clinical utility of combining ApBM and IBM programs to optimise standard treatments among comorbid s les is unknown. It is also unclear as to whether integrating ApBM and IBM within each training session, or alternating them between each session, is more acceptable and efficacious. his paper describes the study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial investigating the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the ‘Re-Train Your Brain’ intervention – an adjunct web-based ApBM+IBM program – among a clinical s le of emerging adults with hazardous alcohol use and social anxiety. he study involves a 3-arm randomized controlled pilot trial in which treatment-seeking emerging adults (18-30 years) with co-occurring hazardous alcohol use and social anxiety disorder symptoms will be in idually randomized to receive: (1) the Re-Train Your Brain ‘integrated’ program, delivered with 10 bi-weekly sessions focusing on both social anxiety and alcohol each week (50:50 ratio), plus treatment as usual (TAU i.e., the model of care provided in accordance with standard practice at their service n=30) (2) the Re-Train Your Brain ‘alternating’ program, delivered with 10 bi-weekly sessions focusing on social anxiety one week and alcohol the next week in an alternating pattern, plus TAU (n=30) or (3) TAU only (n=30). Primary outcomes include feasibility (uptake, follow-up rates, treatment adherence, attrition, adverse events) and acceptability (system usability, client satisfaction, user experience, training format preference). Secondary efficacy outcomes include changes in alcohol approach and interpretation biases, social anxiety symptoms, and alcohol use (e.g., average drinks per day, binge-drinking, alcohol use motives, severity of alcohol dependence, alcohol craving). The primary endpoint will be post-treatment (6 weeks post-baseline), with a secondary endpoint at 3 months post-baseline. Descriptive statistics will be conducted for primary outcomes, while intention-to-treat multi-level mixed effects analysis for repeated measures will be performed for secondary outcomes. he study is funded from 2019―2023 by Australian Rotary Health. Recruitment is expected to be complete by mid―late 2022, with follow-ups completed by early 2023. he study will be the first to evaluate whether an ApBM+IBM program is acceptable to treatment-seeking emerging adults and whether it is feasible to deliver it online, in settings where it will ultimately be used (e.g., at home). The findings will broaden our understanding of the types of programs that emerging adults will engage with, and whether there is preliminary evidence of it being an efficacious treatment option for this comorbidity. ustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12620001273976
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1071/WF19061
Abstract: Field measurements of surface dead fine fuel moisture content (FFMC) are integral to wildfire management, but conventional measurement techniques are limited. Automated fuel sticks offer a potential solution, providing a standardised, continuous and real-time measure of fuel moisture. As such, they are used as an analogue for surface dead fine fuel but their performance in this context has not been widely evaluated. We assessed the ability of automated fuel sticks to predict surface dead FFMC across a range of forest types. We combined concurrent moisture measurements of the fuel stick and surface dead fine fuel from 27 sites (570 s les), representing nine broad forest fuel categories. We found a moderate linear relationship between surface dead FFMC and fuel stick moisture for all data combined (R2=0.54), with fuel stick moisture averaging 3-fold lower than surface dead FFMC. Relationships were typically stronger for in idual forest fuel categories (median R2=0.70 range=0.55–0.87), suggesting the sticks require fuel-specific calibration for use as an analogue of surface dead fine fuel. Future research could identify fuel properties that will enable more generalised calibration functions.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2021
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 03-06-2022
DOI: 10.3390/FIRE5030076
Abstract: Mechanical mastication is a fuel management strategy that modifies vegetation structure to reduce the impact of wildfire. Although past research has quantified immediate changes to fuel post-mastication, few studies consider longer-term fuel trajectories and climatic drivers of this change. Our study sought to quantify changes to fuel loads and structure over time following mastication and as a function of landscape aridity. Measurements were made at 63 sites in Victoria, Australia. All sites had been masticated within the previous 9 years to remove over-abundant shrubs and small trees. We used generalised additive models to explore trends over time and along an aridity gradient. Surface fuel loads were highest immediately post-mastication and in the most arid sites. The surface fine fuel load declined over time, whereas the surface coarse fuel load remained high these trends occurred irrespective of landscape aridity. Standing fuel (understorey and midstorey vegetation) regenerated consistently, but shrub cover was still substantially low at 9 years post-mastication. Fire managers need to consider the trade-off between a persistently higher surface coarse fuel load and reduced shrub cover to evaluate the efficacy of mastication for fuel management. Coarse fuel may increase soil heating and smoke emissions, but less shrub cover will likely moderate fire behaviour.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-07-2020
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 29-07-2023
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 26-08-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2021
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1039/C7NR05174C
Abstract: Using ultrafast degenerate pump-probe spectroscopy, we have investigated the ultrafast exciton dynamics of monolayer MoSe
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 29-07-2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-2018
DOI: 10.1002/ECS2.2211
Abstract: There are multiple pathways for vegetation to change following disturbances. Understanding those post‐disturbance pathways is critical for managing wildfire risk since vegetation is fuel in a wildfire context. Across forest systems, there is considerable debate about disturbance‐related changes to fuels and flammability. This study investigated post‐disturbance fuel trajectories following three disturbance types—high severity wildfire, low severity wildfire, and clear‐fell logging. Fuels were measured in a chrono‐sequence of 141 sites in Mountain Ash ( Eucalyptus regnans )‐dominated wet sclerophyll forest in southeastern Australia, a particularly contentious forest system. Wildfires are an important part of the lifecycle of these forests, but too frequent fire can threaten post‐fire regeneration. Large wildfires (in 2009, 1983 and 1939) and ongoing public and scientific debate over clear‐fell logging highlight the need to better understand post‐disturbance trajectories for fuel and flammability in wet sclerophyll forests. We used empirical data to test 10, sometimes contradictory, hypotheses from the scientific literature regarding post‐disturbance pathways for fuel following wildfire and logging. Only five hypotheses were supported with surface fine fuels, fuel hazard, species composition, and vertical structure driving overall differences in post‐disturbance fuel trajectories. The implications for flammability remain uncertain because the independent and interactive effects of many fuel components on overall flammability remain unquantified. Importantly, we found there were always high quantities of fuel, irrespective of disturbance history, which demonstrates that fire occurrence is not fuel‐limited in wet sclerophyll forests. Under conditions of abundant fuel, fuel moisture could become critical to fire occurrence. Therefore, forest management should prioritize efforts to quantify not only the importance of in idual fuel components to flammability but also fuel moisture dynamics in wet sclerophyll forests. As the climate (and fuels) becomes drier under climate change, it will be a major challenge to manage fire regimes in these highly valued forests.
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1071/WF16146
Abstract: Messmate stringybark is common in forests across south-eastern Australia. The bark of these trees is persistent and produces firebrands that contribute to house loss and the difficulty of fire suppression during wildfires. The trees typically survive fire with the amount of bark depleted. We compared two common methods to assess messmate bark fuels: (1) field-based hazard assessment, and (2) desk-based assessment using mapped time since fire. Our measurements included space-for-time field surveys and laboratory flammability tests. Although several physical properties of bark could be approximated from both assessment methods, some bark properties important to flammability were not captured. Ignitability was found to be dependent on the amount of char on bark fragments and could be predicted by the site assessment methods, whereas sustainability was dependent on bark fragment dimensions and could not be predicted by current methods. Bark fragment properties were found to be partially a function of tree size. Overall, these findings indicate that current bark assessment methods do not capture all the key bark properties that contribute to messmate bark’s flammability. Further research is warranted to improve bark assessment methods so they better reflect bark’s contribution to fire behaviour.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 10-01-2023
DOI: 10.3390/FIRE6010024
Abstract: Understanding the conditions when litter beds will ignite from firebrands is critical for predicting spot fire occurrence. Such research is either field- or laboratory-based, with limited analysis to compare the approaches. We examined the ability of a laboratory method to represent field-scale ignitability. The laboratory method involved collecting litter-bed s les concurrently with the field experiments and then reconstructing and burning the litter-bed s les in the laboratory. We measured the number of successful and sustained ignitions in the laboratory (n = 5) and field (n = 30 attempts). The laboratory and field results were more similar for successful (bias = 0.05) than sustained ignitions (bias = 0.08). Wind, fuel structure (in the field) and near-surface fuel moisture influenced the differences between the methods. Our study highlights the value in conducting simultaneous laboratory and field experiments to understand the scalability of laboratory studies. For our ignitability method, our results suggest that small-scale laboratory experiments could be an effective substitute for field experiments in forests where litter beds are the dominant fuel layer and where the cover of the near-surface fuel is low.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-06-2016
DOI: 10.1111/DAR.12419
Abstract: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are common and frequently co-occur with mood and anxiety disorders. This paper provides a detailed analysis of patterns, prevalence and correlates of mood and anxiety disorders among those with a (i) pure SUD (ii) SUD plus a mood or anxiety disorder (SUDs + 1) and (iii) SUD plus a mood and anxiety disorder (SUDs + 2). Data came from the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing a nationally representative household survey of 8841 Australians aged 16-85 years. The 12-month prevalence of SUDs was 5.1%. Of those with a 12-month SUD, 65% met the criteria for pure SUDs, 19% for SUDs + 1 and 16% for SUDs + 2. Major depression was the most common mood disorder in both comorbid groups. One-third of SUDs + 1 experienced social phobia, while over half of SUDs + 2 experienced generalised anxiety disorder. Compared with pure SUDs, SUDs + 1 experienced two times more and SUDs + 2 experienced over four times more days out of role in the preceding 30 days. Both comorbid groups were more likely to experience severe levels of impairment. SUDs + 2 were over 18 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts in the same year. SUDs + 1 were over three times and SUDs + 2 were over 10 times more likely to have had one or more consultations with a health professional in the previous year. These findings highlight the complexities inherent with responding to and treating multiple comorbidities among substance users and emphasise the need for coordinated, cohesive responses from drug and alcohol treatment services.[Prior K, Mills K, Ross J, Teesson M. Substance use disorders comorbid with mood and anxiety disorders in the Australian general population. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017 :317-324].
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 10-07-2022
DOI: 10.1177/00048674211025691
Abstract: Childhood neglect is a risk factor for subsequent mental health problems. However, research on the unique contribution of emotional and physical subtypes of neglect is lacking. Importantly, if emotional and physical neglect have different impacts on mental health, they must be examined separately to understand how to prevent and treat their effects. This study aimed to examine associations of emotional and physical neglect with depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol and drug use in 18- to 20-year-olds. Participants ( N = 569, mean age = 18.9, 70% female) responded in an online survey to questions on childhood emotional and physical neglect, childhood abuse, symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, and alcohol and drug use and problems. Procedures were approved by the University of Sydney Human Ethics Committee. Hierarchical linear regressions were performed, controlling for socio-demographic characteristics and other adverse childhood experiences. Combined neglect was associated with depression ( B = 2.895, p 0.001), anxiety ( B = 1.572, p = 0.003) and stress ( B = 1.781, p = 0.001). However, a second model entering emotional and physical neglect as separate exposures revealed emotional neglect was driving this association with depression ( B = 2.884, p 0.001), anxiety ( B = 1.627, p = 0.001) and stress ( B = 1.776, p = 0.001), and that physical neglect was not associated with any outcome. Neither emotional nor physical neglect were associated with alcohol or drug use. Emotional neglect is a risk factor for mental health problems in early adulthood. Research that combines emotional and physical neglect into a single exposure may be obscuring relationships with mental health. Mental health prevention and treatment must screen for, and address, emotional neglect.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-04-2020
DOI: 10.1111/DAR.13070
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 14-03-2023
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Being a mother of a young child may be protective against problematic drinking behaviours for some, but not all, women. This paper sought to identify the sociodemographic, mental health, and drinking motive-related correlates of problematic drinking among postpartum mothers. METHODS: Australian mothers with a child under 12-months of age (n=319) were recruited via social media to complete a cross-sectional online survey. Two logistic regressions were run to examine unique factors associated with heavy episodic drinking (one or more days with ≥5 standard drinks) and hazardous alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test score ≥8) among postpartum mothers, including sociodemographic variables (i.e., age, education, employment, income, relationship status, family size, months postpartum, breastfeeding status, and perceived social support), anxiety and depression severity, and drinking motives.RESULTS: One in 10 (11.6%) mothers reported heavy episodic drinking in the past months and 1 in 12 (8.5%) were drinking at hazardous or greater levels. Older age and more severe postpartum anxiety were associated with higher likelihood of hazardous drinking (OR=1.37, OR=1.09, respectively), while breastfeeding was associated with lower odds of heavy episodic drinking (OR=0.29). Greater perceived social support was associated with lower odds of both heavy episodic (OR=0.56) and hazardous drinking (OR=0.39), while higher coping-with-anxiety and social drinking motives were associated with greater odds of both of these problematic drinking behaviours (ORs ranged from 3.51 to 10.40). Conformity drinking motives were negatively associated with heavy episodic drinking (OR=0.24). CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of screening for alcohol problems by health professionals during the transition to motherhood, to identify mothers who may need additional support and preventative care.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 21-12-2022
Abstract: hile it is well known that adolescents frequently turn to their friends for support around mental health and substance use problems, there are currently no evidence-based digital programs to support them to do this. o evaluate the efficacy of the Mind your Mate program, a digital peer support program, in improving mental health symptoms, reducing the uptake of substance use, and increasing help-seeking. The Mind your Mate program consists of an online 40-minute classroom lesson and a companion smartphone mobile application (app). The active control group received school-based health education as usual. cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted with 12 secondary schools and 166 students (mean age=15.3 years, SD=0.41, 46% female, 80% born in Australia). Participants completed self-reported questionnaires assessing symptoms of mental health (depression, anxiety, and psychological distress), substance use (alcohol and other drug use) and help-seeking measures at baseline, 6- and 12-month follow-up. tudents who received the Mind your Mate program had greater reductions in depressive symptoms over a 12-month period, compared to controls (b=-1.86, 95% CI=-3.73 – 0.02, d=-0.31). Anxiety symptoms decreased among students in the intervention group however, these reductions did not meet statistical significance thresholds. No differences were observed in relation to psychological distress or help-seeking. mall to moderate reductions in depression symptoms were observed among students allocated to receive the Mind your Mate intervention. While the current results are encouraging there is a need to continue to refine, develop and evaluate innovative applied approaches to the prevention of mental disorders in real-world settings. he study was approved by the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee, Australia (project number: 2020/054), and prospectively registered on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (#ACTRN12620000753954). Access to schools was granted by the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Education and Communities State Education Research Applications Process (2020130). R2-10.2196/26796
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 27-09-2023
DOI: 10.2196/45216
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 19-05-2021
DOI: 10.1071/WF20157
Abstract: Mechanical mastication is growing in popularity as a wildfire mitigation technique. Yet few studies quantify its effects on fire behaviour. Such information is needed by fire managers to evaluate its efficacy. Our aim was to develop an understanding of how mastication alters flaming and smouldering durations and the longevity of any effects. Flaming and smouldering duration are important determinants of soil heating and smoke emissions. We used a paired s ling design, collecting litter bed (hereafter surface fuel) s les from 15 sites with masticated and untreated vegetation in shrub-encroached Eucalyptus woodlands. We measured a range of fuel bed properties and then burnt the s les in the laboratory. Average smouldering durations increased 88% from 25 to 47 min in untreated v. masticated fuel flaming durations increased 100% from 6 to 12 min. These changes were attributable to higher fine and coarse fuel loads in the masticated fuel bed. However, fine and coarse fuel load declined significantly over 4 years, meaning the effects of mastication on combustion duration are likely to be short-lived. Despite being a laboratory study, the results assist with evaluating mastication as a fuel treatment by demonstrating the potential magnitude of changes to flaming and smouldering duration.
Location: No location found
Location: Australia
Location: Australia
No related grants have been discovered for Debra Morgan.