This paper explores the concept of intergenerational exchange as a vehicle for community building in Australia. Drawing on document analysis, focus groups, and in-depth study of four intergenerational programs, the research examines the benefits and constraints of intergenerational exchange and the relationship between intergenerational programs and their potential to foster resilience, enhance social connection, and build individual and community capacity. Findings reveal that in intended and unanticipated ways, young and older Australians benefit from intergenerational exchange. The multidimensional nature of intergenerational exchange promotes broad social networks and a means for developing substantive relationships between the young and other community members.We acknowledge and thank the participants and coordinators of the programs examined as case studies for their enthusiasm for the research and their willingness to share their experiences with us.

This study is an investigation into personal development and drama education where the constructs of self-concept, self-discrepancy and role-taking ability were considered in the light of an in-school role play-based drama program. The 123 subjects from 5 different classes drawn from provincial city and rural village schools with a mean age of 11.5 years were the participants in this investigation. The subjects were pre-tested using the Chandler Story Task on role-taking ability; the Self-Discrepancy Questionnaire for self-discrepancy; the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (Revised) for vocabulary, and the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scales for self-concept. The subjects were then tested following the completion of a 10-week drama program. Results indicated a significant growth in role-taking ability, vocabulary and an improvement in self-concept. Further analysis revealed significant correlations between self-discrepancy, self-concept and vocabulary. Role-taking did not appear to be correlated with self-concept, self-discrepancy and vocabulary. Attention is drawn to the rural-provincial city differences with an "enriched" environment being suggested as an important determinant. The study supports the use of drama in schools as a means of personal and social development.

ObjectiveIn recent years the health–arts nexus has received increasing attention; however, the relationship is not well understood and the extent of possible positive, negative and unintended outcomes is unknown. Guided by the biopsychosocial model of health and theories of social epidemiology, the aim of this study was to develop a framework pertaining to the relationship between arts engagement and population health that included outcomes, confounders and effect modifiers. A health–arts framework is of value to researchers seeking to build the evidence base; health professionals interested in understanding the health–arts relationship, especially those who use social prescribing for health promotion or to complement treatments; in teaching medical, nursing and health-science students about arts outcomes, as well as artists and health professionals in the development of policy and programmes.DesignA qualitative study was conducted. Semistructured interviews were analysed thematically.SettingWestern Australia.Participants33 Western Australian adults (18+ years). Participants were randomly selected from a pool of general population nominees who engaged in the arts for enjoyment, entertainment or as a hobby (response rate=100%).ResultsA thematic analysis was conducted using QSR-NVivo10. The resulting framework contained seven outcome themes and 63 subthemes. Three themes specifically related to health, that is, mental, social and physical health, while economic, knowledge, art and identity outcomes were classified as health determinants. Within each theme, positive, negative and unintended outcomes (subthemes) were identified and categorised as relating to the individual and/or to the community. A list of confounding and/or effect modifying factors, related to both the arts and health, was identified.ConclusionsGiven the increasing pressure on health resources, the arts have the potential to assist in the promotion of health and healing. This framework expands on current knowledge, further defines the health–arts relationship and is a step towards the conceptualisation of a causal health–arts model.

Autonomous water sampling technologies may help to overcome the human resource challenges of monitoring biological threats to rivers over long time periods and across large geographic areas. the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research institute has pioneered a robotic environmental Sample processor (eSp) that overcomes some of the constraints associated with traditional sampling since it can automate water sample filtration and preservation of the captured material. The ESP was originally developed for marine environment applications. Here we evaluated whether the eSp can provide reliable, timely information on environmental (e)DNA detections of human and fish pathogens and introduced fishes at U.S. Geological Survey streamgage sites in freshwater rivers. We compared eDNA collected via ESP at high frequency (e.g., every 3 h) with manual eDNA collections collected at lower frequency (e.g., weekly). We found that water samples filtered and preserved by ESPs successfully detected the DNA of human pathogens, fish pathogens and introduced fishes. Both ESP and manually collected samples provided similar information about target DnA presence. We suggest that the greatest current benefit of the ESP is the cost savings of high frequency, bio-surveillance at remote or hard to access sites. the full potential of robotic technologies like the eSp will be realized when they can more easily execute in situ analyses of water samples and rapidly transmit results to decision-makers. Invasive species have serious negative effects on regional and national economies 1,2. Thus, early detection is a central pillar of most monitoring programs because the earlier an invader is detected, the more likely control efforts will be effective in limiting invader spread and the resulting economic and environmental damages 3. Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling has recently emerged as a sensitive, early detection tool because it can detect as little as a single cell from an invasive species by identifying the cellular or extracellular DNA that organisms release into the environment 4. Despite the ubiquity of eDNA in the aquatic environment, eDNA of targeted taxa is not always well mixed, so high detection probabilities often require intense sampling 5,6. Therefore, reliable detection requires trained individuals to manually collect water samples over long time periods or across large geographic areas 7. Autonomous, robotic water sampling technologies present an opportunity to overcome the temporal and human resource demands associated with eDNA sampling. Autonomous robots placed within the environment can conduct high frequency sampling, regardless of location, weather or the availability of human resources. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has pioneered a robotic instrument called the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) that overcomes the constraints of regular travel and work schedules, safety concerns with high water flows, and adverse weather. The ESP is a robotic device that can be programmed to automate water sample filtration an...

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