This paper details our protocol for a population-based study in collaboration with local Aboriginal community organizations. The study will provide the first available prevalence rates for dementia and cognitive impairment in a representative sample of urban Aboriginal people, across city and rural communities, where the majority of Aboriginal Australians live. It will also contribute to improved assessment of dementia and cognitive impairment and to the understanding of social determinants of successful aging, of international significance.

Aims and objectives To elucidate the experiences of people living with diabetes, residing in an urban diabetogenic area. Background Community‐level social and environmental factors have a role to play in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Socio‐economic deprivation; high obesity rates; high access to fast foods; and multiculturalism contribute to higher rates of diabetes in some geographical areas. However, there is a lack of research examining people's experiences of living with diabetes in diabetogenic areas. The word diabetogenic implies that the phenomenon of interest contributes to the development of diabetes. Design Qualitative, geographical case study approach. Methods A convenience sample of 17 people living with diabetes in a diabetogenic, low‐socio‐economic urban area participated in face‐to‐face, semi‐structured interviews. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. This paper adheres to the COREQ guidelines. Findings Four main themes were identified: 1. Diabetes fatalism: Inevitability and inertia; 2. Living with Inequity: Literacy and intersectionality; 3. Impersonal services: Intimidating and overwhelming; and, 4. Education in the community: Access and anecdotes. Conclusions This study has highlighted the need to develop local solutions for local problems. In this geographical area, solutions need to address generally lower health literacy, how the community would prefer to receive diabetes education and the issue of diabetes fatalism. Relevance to clinical practice Findings from this study have highlighted a need to re‐examine how diabetes education is delivered in communities that are already experiencing multiple disadvantages. There are research and practice connotations for how fatalism is positioned for people at high risk of developing diabetes.

Context Helicopter darting (chemical immobilisation) is a very useful technique for large wild herbivores, such as feral horses (Equus caballus). There is currently no reliable framework to report on the animal welfare impacts of helicopter darting methods. Aim The aim of this study was to develop an animal welfare assessment framework for helicopter darting methods, using quantifiable parameters, and to test it with a case study using a newly developed feral horse capture technique. Methods Quantifiable animal welfare parameters were recorded for 11 feral horses captured using a traditional helicopter darting method in north-western Australia in October 2014. Welfare parameters chosen focused on quantifying the duration of procedures and the frequency of adverse events. They included chase time (CT; min) before darting, induction time (IT; min) between darting and recumbency, recumbency time (RT; min), total time (TT; CT+IT+RT; min), repeat-darting rate (animals requiring >1 dart; %), target zone accuracy rate (darts striking the intended anatomical area; %) and mortality rate (at time of capture and 14 days post-capture; %). Results Median CT was 2 min, median IT was 19 min, median RT was 16 min and median TT was 38 min. Repeat-darting rate was 45%, target zone accuracy rate was 53% and mortality rates (time of capture and 14 days post-capture) were zero. Conclusions Animal welfare parameters can be quantified for helicopter darting through estimation of the duration of procedures and the frequency of adverse events. Use of this framework will allow the identification of parameters requiring refinement for newly developed helicopter darting techniques. Implications Animal welfare parameters are particularly important for helicopter-based darting methods. Pilot studies, using quantified parameters, should be performed for newly developed capture techniques before they are approved for large-scale programs.

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The grassland biome of the southern Drakensberg region of South Africa is characterized by a relatively rich floral biodiversity, including a high level of endemics.  Land use in the area was traditionally dominated by livestock ranching based mainly on indigenous grassland that conserved biodiversity to some degree.  Currently however, market demands and risk factors are shifting land use in the area to a matrix of beef, cropping, dairy and particularly, towards plantation forestry.  A spreadsheet model was constructed to understand how expected land use conversion will likely influence the biodiversity, and consequently, the total economic value (TEV) of the area.  Six scenarios of increasing dairy and forestry intensification were modelled that incorporated biophysical and legal constraints to development.  Results indicate that enhanced development is likely to have significant negative biodiversity impacts including the reduction of the alpha diversity of the indigenous plants in the region, a diminished local invertebrate diversity, an increase in invasions, and could also jeopardize the long term survival of the rare Wattled Crane and Oribi.  Furthermore, while the direct use value derived from agriculture and forestry increases with increasing development, its negative influence on the indirect value of water runoff, by far the greatest value of the area, is sufficient to potentially offset the benefits.  Other major direct-use, indirect-use, option and existence values are also considered.