Flinders University

About: Flinders University is a education organization based out in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 12033 authors who have published 32831 publications receiving 973172 citations. The organization is also known as: Flinders University of South Australia.

Lethality of suicide methods

Abstract: Objectives: To (a) quantify the lethality of suicide methods used in Australia in the period 1 July 1993 to 30 June 2003, (b) examine method-specific case fatality by age and sex, and (c) identify changes in case fatality during the study period. Methods: Two sources of data on episodes of self-harm in Australia were used, mortality and hospital separation data. Double counting of cases recorded in both sources was controlled by omitting fatal hospital cases from estimates of episodes of self-harm. Results: Overall case fatality was 12%. For each suicide method, case fatality was higher in males and older age groups. Firearms were the most lethal suicide means (90%) followed by hanging (83%). Rates of suicide involving firearms declined over time, and those involving hanging rose. Case fatality for firearm cases changed little over time, but declined for self-harm by hanging/ suffocation, poisoning, sharp objects, and crashing a motor vehicle. Conclusions: This study (Australia) and two others (USA) show differences in method-specific lethality by gender and age. This study adds the finding of changes in lethality over time. Understanding of suicidality in populations, on which prevention efforts depend, requires explanation of these findings.

Electrophysiology of guinea-pig myenteric neurons correlated with immunoreactivity for calcium binding proteins.

Abstract: Experiments were undertaken to define the electrophysiological characteristics and shapes of neurons in the myenteric plexus of the guinea-pig ileum that are immunoreactive for calcium binding proteins. Recordings were made from the neurons with intracellular microelectrodes containing a mixture of the fluorescent dye Lucifer yellow and KCl solution. The neurons studied were filled with Lucifer yellow so that they could be re-identified after processing the tissue to reveal immunoreactivity for either the calcium binding protein (CaBP), spot 35 protein, or vitamin D-dependent CaBP. Neurons were characterized as being AH-neurons, in which each action potential is followed by a prolonged after-hyperpolarization (> 4 s), or S-neurons, in which the prolonged after-hyperpolarizations were not observed and focal stimulation of internodal strands evoked fast excitatory synaptic potentials. S-neurons were never immunoreactive for the CaBPs (108 cells), but most AH-neurons (62 of 74) were immunoreactive. Immunoreactive and non-immunoreactive AH-neurons were indistinguishable on the basis of their electrophysiological properties or their shapes (all the AH-neurons were Dogiel type II in shape, i.e. smooth soma and many long processes). The S-neurons had a variety of shapes, but none could be classified as Dogiel type II. It is concluded that most AH-neurons are immunoreactive for calcium binding proteins, and that these proteins are restricted to AH-neurons.

Explanations of poverty in Australian and American samples: The person, society, or fate?

Abstract: A sample of Australian respondents from metropolitan Adelaide rated the degree of importance of 11 reasons for poverty previously used with adult Americans by Feagin (1972). Results indicated that the Australians were less likely to blame poverty on the poor themselves than the Americans. In both Australian and American samples reasons attributing poverty to personal responsibility were judged more important by older age groups and by Protestants compared with Catholics. Responses were also related to differences in sex, occupational status, educational attainment, and income. Factor analysis yielded three factors indicating that the 11 explanations of poverty could be clasified as reasons concerned with socio-economic influences, with personal responsibility, and with personal misfortune. Results were discussed in terms of the psychology of causal attribution and their implications for social change were noted.