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We consider the question of when an unorientable surface without boundary can be tiled by an (l, m, n) triangle. We desire that the automorphism group of the surface preserving the tiling be “substantial”. We use the well known theory of quasiplatonic surfaces and symmetries of Riemann surfaces to propose a classification algorithm, entirely by finite group calculations. A comprehensive analysis of symmetries of quasiplatonic surfaces in low genus, by hand and by computer, is carried out, yielding triangulations of unoriented surfaces as a byproduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial traps and lures have recently become available for monitoring male and female Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Australia, with possible applications in monitoring and mass trapping. This study investigated the attractiveness of commercially available male [Capilure® (CPL), Trimedlure (TML) cone, plugs, and wafers] and female-targeted synthetic lures (three-component BioLure®, BioLure® Unipak, Ceratitis® Unipak, TMA Plus® Unipak and Biotrap® gel), and five female-targeted traps [Maxi® trap, Sorygar Tephri-trap, Probodelt® cone trap, and BioTrap Globe® traps (two versions)]. Results showed that TML and CPL lures were equivalent up to 8 weeks, but TML-baited traps captured 1.2-4.6 times more male medflies than CPL-baited traps with lures aged 9-16 weeks. For female-targeted trapping, all tested lures were female selective. Ceratitis® Unipak was equivalent to three-component (3-C) BioLure®, whilst BioLure® Unipak captured 1.1-1.5 times more medflies than 3-C BioLure®. The least efficient lures were TMA Plus® Unipak and Biotrap Fruit Fly Attractant Gel. Tephri-traps were the least efficient trap, with Maxi traps catching 1.9-6.7 times more medflies than the Tephri-trap. The appropriate selection of lures and traps for applications in monitoring and mass trapping are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In the UK, the closure of 'long-stay' hospitals was accompanied by the development of community teams (CTs) to support people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) to live in community settings. The self-reported experiences of staff working in such teams have been neglected. Methods Focusing on a single county-wide service, comprising five multi-disciplinary and inter-agency CTs, we measured perceptions among the health care and care management Team members of (1) their personal well-being; (2) the functioning of their team; and (3) the organisation's commitment to quality, and culture. Results Almost three-quarters of the questionnaires were returned (73/101; 72%). The scores of health care practitioners and care managers were very similar: (1) the MBI scores of more than half the respondents were 'of concern'; (2) similarly, almost four in ten respondents' scores on the Vision scale of the TCI were 'of concern'; (3) the perceived commitment to quality (QIIS-II Part 2) was uncertain; and (4) the organisational culture (QIIS-II, Part 1) was viewed as primarily hierarchical. Discussion The perceived absence of a vision for the service, combined with a dominant culture viewed by its members as strongly focussed on bureaucracy and process, potentially compromises the ability of these CTs to respond proactively to the needs of people with IDs. Given the changes in legislation, policy and practice that have taken place since CTs were established, it would be timely to revisit their role and purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper is the first of two papers whose combined goal is to explore the dessins d'enfant and symmetries of quasi-platonic actions of PSL2(q). A quasi-platonic action of a group G on a closed Riemann S surface is a conformal action for which S/G is a sphere and S → S/G is branched over {0, 1, ∞}. The unit interval in S/G may be lifted to a dessin d'enfant D, an embedded bipartite graph in S. The dessin forms the edges and vertices of a tiling on Sψ by dihedrally symmetric polygons, generalizing the idea of a platonic solid. Each automorphism ψ in the absolute Galois group determines a transform S by transforming the coefficients of the defining equations of S. The transform defines a possibly new quasi-platonic action and a transformed dessin Dψ. Here, in this paper, we describe the quasi-platonic actions of PSL2(q) and the action of the absolute Galois group on PSL2(q) actions. The second paper discusses the quasi-platonic actions constructed from symmetries (reflections) and the resulting triangular tiling that refines the dessin d'enfant. In particular, the number of ovals and the separation properties of the mirrors of a symmetry are determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cortisol is a marker of physiological arousal, exhibiting a characteristic pattern of diurnal activity. The daily cortisol profile has been examined extensively and is atypical in a number of clinical disorders. However, there are very few studies focussing on the cortisol profile in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). This paper reports a preliminary investigation into the nature of the cortisol profile in adults with mild or moderate ID and provides reflections on the challenges of psychophysiological research in this population. Methods On two consecutive days, 39 adults with mild or moderate ID each donated saliva samples for cortisol analysis, at multiple times between waking and evening. A comparison between these data and the published literature permitted a descriptive assessment of the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and diurnal profile. A variety of psychometric measures and an assessment of behavioural history were also collected in order to describe aspects of the participants' emotional and behavioural states. Results Individuals with ID exhibit a diurnal cortisol secretion profile, qualitatively similar to that of the typical, healthy, adult population. However, the findings also suggested a blunted CAR, warranting further investigation. There was also some evidence that cortisol secretion was affected by anxiety and a recent history of aggression. Conclusion While further work is required to characterise the CAR fully, there was no indication that the diurnal cortisol profile among people with ID differs from that of the typical population. This study also demonstrates that, although challenging, it is feasible, and acceptable to participants, to collect repeated physiological measures from men and women with mild and moderate ID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the topology and geometry of the moduli space of immersions of ellipses into a translation surface. The frontier of this space is naturally stratified by the number of 'cone points' that an ellipse meets. The stratum consisting of ellipses that meet three cone points is naturally a two dimensional (non-manifold) polygonal cell complex. We show that the topology of this cell-complex together with the eccentricity and direction of each of its vertices determines the translation surface up to homothety. As a corollary we characterize the Veech group of the translation surface in terms of automorphisms of this polygonal cell complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With 2 figures and 5 tables Net type net blotch (NTNB) is an important barley disease in Australia and elsewhere, with significant yield reduction. This trait is important in selection along with other traits of quality and agronomic value. Two-hundred doubled-haploid lines were generated through anther culture from a cross between ‘Pompadour’ and ‘Stirling’. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified against five isolates of Pyrenophora teres f. teres, which represent virulences across Australia. QTL were mapped on chromosomes 3H and 6H using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The resistance locus on 6H was detected with all isolates while the 3H locus was detected with two isolates. The 6H QTL from ‘Pompadour’ contributed resistance to isolates 97NB1, 95NB100 and NB81, whereas 6H QTL from ‘Stirling’ contributed resistance to isolates NB50 and NB52B. The 3H QTL from ‘Pompadour’ contributed resistance to NB50 and NB52B. Significant epistatic interactions were detected between QTL on 3H and 6H. These resistance QTL are a useful resource and identifying closely linked SSR markers with allelic combinations will facilitate in marker-assisted selection to develop NTNB resistant breeding lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New pesticides are required to maintain effective resistance management strategies for control of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). We tested the efficacy of acetamiprid, and thiamethoxam, two neonicotinoids that represent a newer class of insecticides for the control of thrips. We also tested chiorfenapyr, a pyrrol compound, and a lower than registered rate of the biopesticide spinosad. Laboratory bioassays were used to predict the relative efficacy of insecticides against F. occidentalis and to forecast likely field rates. Two doses within the calculated LC99,99 range were used to predict field rates and trial rates of 0.5 g and 1.0 active ingredient (Al) / liter acetamiprid, 0.025 and 0.05 g (Al) / liter chlorfenapyr, 0.3 and 0.6 g (AT) / liter thiamethoxam, and 0.01 g (Al) /liter spinosad were tested in the greenhouse against pepper, lettuce, and tomato. With the exception of acetamiprid, field trial doses predicted from laboratory bioassay translated to effective field efficacy. All products controlled F. occidentalis at the rates trialed and so have potential to augment current chemical controls. Increasing mortality correlated with increasing acetamiprid concentration in a greenhouse lettuce trial, suggesting that the higher trial rate (1.0 g [AI]/liter) may be required in some lettuce crops. The lower than registered (0.01 g [AI]/liter) rate of spinosad also significantly reduced F. occidentalis numbers and is a viable control option that may be useful in specific integrated pest management programs. The implications of introducing neonicotinoids into existing insecticide resistance management strategies for F. occidentalis are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diminished lung function appears to be a risk factor for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection/bronchiolitis in term born infants.Aims: To determine if diminished lung function prior to neonatal unit discharge was associated with subsequent symptomatic RSV lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and respiratory morbidity in prematurely born infants.Methods: Of 39 infants in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (median gestational age 28 weeks, range 23-31), 20 had bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Lung function (compliance and resistance of the respiratory system (Crs and Rrs) and functional residual capacity (FRC)) was measured on the neonatal unit at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). Following neonatal unit discharge, nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained on every occasion, at home or in hospital, an infant had an LRTI. RSV was identified by immunofluorescence and/or culture.Results: The 15 infants who suffered a symptomatic RSV LRTI had a higher mean Rrs and suffered more wheeze at follow up than the rest of the cohort. Regression analysis showed that a high Rrs was significantly associated with a symptomatic RSV LRTI; significant factors for cough were a high Rrs and a symptomatic RSV LRTI, and for wheeze were a high Rrs.Conclusion: Prematurely born infants, who had a symptomatic RSV LRTI and/or respiratory morbidity at follow up, had worse lung function prior to neonatal unit discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diminished lung function appears to be a risk factor for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection/bronchiolitis in term born infants. Aims: To determine if diminished lung function prior to neonatal unit discharge was associated with subsequent symptomatic RSV lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and respiratory morbidity in prematurely born infants. Methods: Of 39 infants in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (median gestotional age 28 weeks, range 23-31), 20 had bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Lung function (compliance and resistance of the respiratory system (Crs and Rrs) and functional residual capacity (FRC)) was measured on the neonatal unit at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA}. Following neonatal unit discharge, nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained on every occasion, at home or in hospital, an infant had an LRTI. RSV was identified by immunofluorescence and/or culture. Results: The 15 infants who suffered a symptomatic RSV LRTI had a higher mean Rrs and suffered more wheeze at follow up than the rest of the cohort. Regression analysis showed that a high Rrs was significantly associated with a symptomatic RSV LRTI; significant factors for cough were a high Rrs and a symptomatic RSV LRTI, and for wheeze were a high Rrs. Conclusion: Prematurely born infants, who had a symptomatic RSV LRTI and/or respiratory morbidity at follow up, had worse lung function prior to neonatal unit discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A study was undertaken to determine the impact of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, both in hospital and the community, on healthcare utilisation and respiratory morbidity in prematurely born infants and to identify risk factors for symptomatic RSV infection. Methods: A hospital and community follow up study was undertaken of 126 infants born before 32 weeks of gestational age. Healthcare utilisation (hospital admissions and general practitioner attendances) in the first year, respiratory morbidity at follow up (wheeze and cough documented by parent completed diary cards), and RSV positive lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) were documented. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained for immunofluorescence and culture for RSV whenever the infants had an LRII, either in the community or in hospital. Results: Forty two infants had an RSV positive LRTI (RSV group), 50 had an RSV negative IRTI (RSY negative LRTI group), and 32 infants had no LRTI (no LRTI group). Compared with the RSV negative LRTI and the no LRTI groups, the RSV group required more admissions (p=0.392, p<0.001) and days in hospital (p = 0.049, p = 0.006) and had more cough (p = 0.05, p = 0.038) and wheeze (p = 0.003, p = 0.003) at follow up. Significant risk factors for symptomatic RSV LRTI were number of siblings (p=0.035) and maternal smoking in pregnancy (p=0.005), for cough were number of siblings (p=0.002) and RSV LRTI (p=0.02), and for wheeze was RSV LRTI (p=0.019). Conclusion: RSV infection, even if hospital admission is not required, is associated with increased subsequent respiratory morbidity in prematurely born infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Term newborns can compensate fully for an imposed dead space (tube breathing) by increasing their minute ventilation. Objective: To lest the hypothesis that infants of smoking mothers would have an impaired response to tube breathing. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Perinatal service. Patients: Fourteen infants of smoking and 24 infants of non-smoking mothers (median postnatal age 37 (11-85) hours and 26 (10-120) hours respectively) were studied. Interventions: Breath by breath minute volume was measured at baseline and when a dead space of 4.4 ml/kg was incorporated into the breathing circuit. Main outcome measures: The maximum minute ventilation during tube breathing was determined and the time constant of the response calculated. Results: The time constant of the infants of smoking mothers was longer than that of the infants of non- smoking mothers (median (range) 37.3 (22.2-70.2) v 26.2 (13.8-51.0) seconds, p = 0.016). Regression analysis showed that maternal smoking status was related to the time constant independently of birth weight, gestational or postnatal age, or sex (p = 0.018). Conclusions: Intrauterine exposure to smoking is associated with a dampened response to lube breathing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the findings of a study on the views and experiences of women with learning disabilities regarding the cervical smear test. The experience and opinions of the carers were also taken into account. The study was carried out between 1997 and 1999 in Cambridgeshire. The factors that influenced whether women with a learning disability had a smear test included: sexual activity; number of sexual partners; pregnancy; and a past history of smoking. Women with a learning disability who had a cervical smear test most often experienced pain and difficulty with the procedure. Factors that enable women with a learning disability to undergo a cervical smear test, according to their experiences, will be discussed in this paper. These include: the importance of prolonged preparation; issues surrounding communication; the giving of information; and support from the carers. The implications of these findings for collaborative working between learning disability nurses and primary healthcare professionals in clinical practice are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offers a look at the construction of a kaleidoscopic tiling polygons in the hyperbolic plane. Explanations on angle pencils; Basic reference for hyperbolic geometry; Procedures on the construction of triangular and quadrilateral tiling.

Let F: ℂ n + 1→ℂ be a polynomial. The problem of determining the homology groups H (F (c)), c ∈ℂ, in terms of the critical points of F is considered. In the 'best case' it is shown, for a certain generic class of polynomials (tame polynomials), that for all c∈ℂ, F (c) has the homotopy type of a bouquet of μ-μ n-spheres. Here μ is the sum of all the Milnor numbers of F at critical points of F and μ is the corresponding sum for critical points lying on F (c). A 'second best' case is also discussed and the homology groups H (F (c)) are calculated for generic c∈ℂ. This case gives an example in which the critical points 'at infinity' of F must be considered in order to determine the homology groups H (F (c)). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents summaries of thesis and research papers on ecology, zoology and related topics. Discussion on Australian forest management; Information on insect species in the biocontrol of lantana.

A response by S. Broughton, A. Roberts, and G. Fox to a letter to the editor about their article "Prospective Study of Healthcare Utilisation and Respiratory Morbidity Due to RSV Infection in Prematurely Born Infants" in the June 2006 issue is presented.

A response by S. Broughton, A. Roberts, and G. Fox to a letter to the editor about their article "Prospective Study of Healthcare Utilisation and Respiratory Morbidity Due to RSV Infection in Prematurely Born Infants," in the June 2006 issue is presented.