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Bandicoots and bilbies (Order Peramelemorphia) occupy a broad range of habitats across Australia and New Guinea, from open, arid deserts to dense forests. This once diverse group has been particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and introduced eutherian predators, and numerous species extinctions and range retractions have occurred. Understanding reasons for this loss requires greater understanding of their biology. Morphology of the pinnae and tympanic bullae varies markedly among species. As hearing is important for both predator avoidance and prey location, the variability in ear morphology could reflect specialization and adaptation to specific environments, and therefore be of conservation relevance. We measured 798 museum specimens representing 29 species of Peramelemorphia. Controlling for phylogenetic relatedness and head length, pinna surface area was weakly negatively correlated with average precipitation (rainfall being our surrogate measure of vegetation productivity/complexity), and there were no environmental correlates with effective diameter (pinna width). Controlling for phylogenetic relatedness and skull length, tympanic bulla volume was negatively correlated with precipitation. Species that inhabited drier habitats, which would be open and allow sound to carry further with less obstruction, had relatively larger pinnae and tympanic bullae. In contrast, species from higher rainfall habitats, where sounds would be attenuated and diffused by dense vegetation, had the smallest pinnae and bullae, suggesting that low-frequency hearing is not as important in these habitats. Associations with temperature did not reach statistical significance. These findings highlight linkages between hearing traits and habitat that can inform conservation and management strategies for threatened species.

Context Extreme drought can result in the widespread die-off of forests and dramatically altered ecosystem structure. Such changes are likly to influence fauna using resouces within these forests. Aims Following a record hot and dry year/summer in 2010/11, large-scale canopy collapse occurred within a Mediterranean-type mixed jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata )–marri (Corymbia calophylla ) forest in south-west Western Australia. We investigated the effects of this collapse on bird assemblages in 2016, 5years after the initial collapse. Methods We carried out bird surveys using a standardised search method for five paired drought-affected and adjacent healthy forest plots. Key results A total of 3042 records of 51 bird species were observed across all surveys. Overall, the pooled (mean±s.d.) reporting rates for drought-affected plots (13.84±0.60 individuals/survey) were significantly less than the reporting rates for healthy plots (34.44±1.03 individuals/survey) (PERMANOVA: F 1 =54.94, R 2 =0.31, P =0.001). Species diversity was also higher in healthy plots (t 26 =11.21, P t 6 =2.70, P Conclusions Drought-affected jarrah forest plots exhibited significant differences in bird assemblages compared to healthy plots. Overall, the drought-affected forest provides a less favourable habitat for birds compared to healthy forest. Implications With marked variability and extreme climate events predicted for the future, understanding the impacts of such changes will contribute to how we manage forest ecosystems.

Exploration for oil and gas resources requiring the clearing of seismic lines has been occurring in central and northern Australia for many years. For example, seismic surveys have been conducted in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia since the 1960s. Despite this being a widespread practice, the recovery of vegetation on seismic lines has not been well studied. To better understand vegetation recovery in the West Kimberley, we conducted vegetation surveys on recovering seismic lines cleared using a raised-blade technique, from ∼two months to 4.9 years post-clearing, and compared them to paired control plots. Generally, the vegetation structure and community composition on seismic lines recovered quickly, with no discernible difference between control and seismic plots that were cleared more than 6 months prior. Some individual vegetation characteristics (e.g. understorey density and overstorey cover) recovered slowly, whereas other characteristics such as the number of individual grasses, recovered quickly. Vegetation recovery was confounded by the time since fire, which accounted for differences in vegetation structure at 1–2 years and 3–4 years since clearing. The fast recovery rate observed suggests that raised-blade clearing may not present a lasting impact on Pindan vegetation in the West Kimberley.

Urbanization facilitates synanthropic species such as rodents, which benefit the diets of many predators in cities. We investigated how urbanization affects the feeding ecology of dugites Pseudonaja affinis, a common elapid snake in south-west Western Australia. We predicted that urban snakes: 1) more frequently contain prey and eat larger meals, 2) eat proportionally more non-native prey, 3) eat a lower diversity of prey species, and 4) are relatively heavier, than non-urban dugites. We analyzed the diet of 453 specimens obtained from the Western Australian Museum and opportunistic road-kill collections. Correcting for size, sex, season, and temporal biases, we tested whether location influenced diet for our 4 predictions. Body size was a strong predictor of diet (larger snakes had larger prey present, a greater number of prey items, and a greater diversity of prey). We identified potential collection biases: urban dugites were relatively smaller (snout-vent length) than non-urban specimens, and females were relatively lighter than males. Accounting for these effects, urban snakes were less likely to have prey present in their stomachs and were relatively lighter than non-urban snakes. Other urban-adapted carnivores appear to benefit from urbanization through increased food supplementation, but we found the opposite of this: urban dugites were less likely to contain a meal, and their meals were smaller, indicating they did not make greater use of synanthropic species than was evident for non-urban snakes. In contrast to other carnivores, snakes do not appear to fit a consistent directional pattern for size differences between urban and non-urban populations.

The feeding and drinking behaviours of sheep were monitored using RFID technology at a commercial pre-embarkation feedlot in Western Australia with the aim of characterizing feeding and drinking patterns of inappetent sheep that might allow them to be treated. Feeding and drinking behaviours of sheep were compared with their survival and change in body condition. Patterns of number of visits and the time spent at feed and water troughs were analyzed for a total of 8,206 sheep, representing four consignments that were monitored for a range of 6–31 d. Data for feeding and drinking behaviours were compared for the first 6 d. For animals that were alive at exit, 18.9% of sheep attended the feed trough for less than 0.25 h d−1(15 min per day) on day 1; this decreased to only 2.4% of sheep by day 6. Of the sheep monitored, 0.93% died (n= 76); Salmonellaspp. infection was the leading cause of death (n= 40; 52.6% of all deaths) across all months and was accompanied with inanition. There was marked variability in the average time spent at the feed trough for sheep that died eventually from salmonella/inanition (contributing to the lack of statistical difference in time spent at feed trough between sheep dying from different causes; P= 0.056). Over half (55%) of the animals diagnosed with salmonella/inanition spent an average of less than 0.50 h d−1(30 min per day) and 45% less than 0.25 h d−1at the feed trough. There was a negative correlation (r) in time spent at the feed trough overtime for individual sheep that died from salmonella/inanition, indicating that these individuals went off their feed. This pattern was not evident for animals that died from other causes (significant difference in rvalues between five categories of cause of death; P= 0.040). Characterization of feeding behaviour of sheep that died from salmonella/inanition therefore appears to require more than simply monitoring daily intake. There was no difference in time spent at water troughs between sheep that died or were alive at exit (average 0.30 ± 0.23 h d−1). This study reveals that the patterns of feeding and drinking behaviours during pre-embarkation feedlotting do not readily allow identification of animals that warrant singling out for veterinary care or alternative feed arrangements. This result highlights the need for experienced stockmanship in handling these animals.

‘Bait-resistance’ is defined as progressive decreases in bait efficacy in controlled pest species populations. Understanding the mechanisms by which bait-resistance can develop is important for the sustainable control of pests worldwide, for both wildlife conservation programs and agricultural production. Bait-resistance is influenced by both behavioural (innate and learned bait-avoidance behaviour) and physiological aspects of the target pest species (its natural diet, its body mass, the mode of action of the toxin, and the animal’s ability to biochemically break down the toxin). In this review, we summarise the scientific literature, discuss factors that can lead to innate and learned aversion to baits, as well as physiological tolerance. We address the question of whether bait avoidance or tolerance to 1080 could develop in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), an introduced predator of significant economic and environmental importance in Australia. Sublethal poisoning has been identified as the primary cause of both bait avoidance and increased toxin-tolerance, and so, finally, we provide examples of how management actions can minimise the risk of sublethal baits in pest species populations.

This article describes a conceptual framework for HIV behavioral surveillance in the United States. The framework includes types of behaviors to monitor, such as risk behaviors, HIV testing behaviors, adherence to HIV treatment, and care-seeking for HIV/AIDS. The framework also describes the population groups in which specific behaviors should be monitored. Because the framework is multifaceted in terms of behaviors and populations, behavioral data from multiple surveillance systems are integrated to achieve HIV behavioral surveillance program objectives. Defining surveillance activities more broadly to include behavioral surveillance in multiple populations will provide more comprehensive data for prevention planning, and lead to a more effective response to HIV/AIDS in the United States.

Objectives. The goals of this study were two-fold: (1) to describe methods for drawing a population-based sample of individuals in care for HIV infection and (2) to compare data from the sample with data from existing surveillance systems that describe care for HIV.Methods. The authors implemented a two-stage sampling method, using local HIV/AIDS surveillance data as a sampling frame of HIV care providers in three states. At selected providers, medical records of a random sample of patients were abstracted.Results. The medical records of a number of patients, ranging from 253 to 374 individuals per state, were abstracted. The demographics of sampled individuals and of individuals reported to the local HIV/AIDS surveillance program were similar; however, differences existed in the proportion of individuals receiving HIV care consistent with treatment guidelines between the sample and a contemporary facility-based supplemental surveillance project. The median design effect for outcomes collected in the sample was 1.8 (range=0.5–29.6).Conclusions. This survey method is feasible for collecting population-based data on patients in care for HIV. Sample size and some design elements should be changed in future studies to increase precision of estimates and usefulness of data for local planning and evaluation.

Macrotermes mounds are a significant feature of African woodland landscape, contributing to habitat heterogeneity. The mounds are massive, often many centuries old, and support dense vegetation and a suite of woody plant species scarce in surrounding woodland. The present study tested the hypothesis that Zimbabwean Macrotermes mounds, with their greater niche availability, were more heavily utilized by small vertebrates than the surrounding miombo woodland. We carried out a survey of amphibian, reptile and mammal species during early and late rains for 16 termite mounds and 16 adjacent woodland habitat sites, and compared numbers of individuals, species and diversity. For amphibians and reptiles, individual numbers and species did not differ significantly between habitats and their activity was more influenced by season. For mammals, however, significantly more individuals and species were captured on termite mounds, with three species captured only on mounds (most notably the musk shrew Crocidura hirta spp. complex) and all others showing marked preference for this habitat. The greater number of mammals on termite mounds contributed to total small vertebrate biomass being 800 g/ha for termite mounds compared with 380 g/ha in woodland. For mammals certainly, Macrotermes mounds provide significant food and habitat in miombo woodland.

AbstractObjective:To characterize occupationally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection detected through case surveillance efforts in the United States.Design:National surveillance systems, based on voluntary case reporting.Setting:Healthcare or laboratory (clinical or research) settings.Patients:Healthcare workers, defined as individuals employed in healthcare or laboratory settings (including students and trainees), who are infected with HIV.Methods:Review of data reported through December 2001 in the HIV/AIDS Reporting System and the National Surveillance for Occupationally Acquired HIV Infection.Results:Of 57 healthcare workers with documented occupationally acquired HIV infection, most (86%) were exposed to blood, and most (88%) had percutaneous injuries. The circumstances varied among 51 percutaneous injuries, with the largest proportion (41%) occurring after a procedure, 35% occurring during a procedure, and 20% occurring during disposal of sharp objects. Unexpected circumstances difficult to anticipate during or after procedures accounted for 20% of all injuries. Of 55 known source patients, most (69%) had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at the time of occupational exposure, but some (11%) had asymptomatic HIV infection. Eight (14%) of the healthcare workers were infected despite receiving postexposure prophylaxis (PEP).Conclusions:Prevention strategies for occupationally acquired HIV infection should continue to emphasize avoiding blood exposures. Healthcare workers should be educated about both the benefits and the limitations of PEP, which does not always prevent HIV infection following an exposure. Technologic advances (eg, safety-engineered devices) may further enhance safety in the healthcare workplace

Successful long-term clinical results with the Charnley low-friction torque arthroplasty have identified proximal femoral strain shielding as a long-term problem to be addressed. The problem has arisen because of the load transfer by a distally supported stem that is no longer subject to fracture. To overcome this problem and improve proximal load transfer to the femur, a continuous triple-tapered stem—the C stem—was designed. This article describes the first 500 primary hip arthroplasties at a mean follow-up of 3 years, 5 months (range, 1-7 years). There have been no revisions for aseptic stem loosening, and no stem is considered to be at riskfor loosening. In 20% of cases, there was subjective radiologic improvement of the bone–cement interface.

The objectives were to assess whether any deaths reported among perinatally exposed, uninfected, or indeterminate children were consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction. and to characterize perinatal exposure to antiretrovirals among children born in the last five years and reported to perinatal HIV surveillance. Population-based HIVAIDS surveillance data on perinatally exposed children born in 1993 through 1998 from 32 states with HIV reporting and from a special HIV surveillance project in Los Angeles County and in 22 hospitals in New York City were used. The classifications of exposure and deaths were consistent with the investigation of deaths across all US cohorts. Deaths were ascertained from recent matches with death registries in each state. Causes of death were ascertained from death certificates, autopsy records when available, and medical records. None of the 98 deaths (1.1) among 9067 perinatally exposed uninfected or indeterminate children born from 1993 through 1998 and reported through pediatric HIV surveillance died of conditions that were consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction. This included 679 children exposed to zidovudine (ZDV) and 3TC, 277 exposed to other antiretroviral combinations, 4512 exposed to ZDV alone, 927 with no antiretroviral exposure, and 2672 with unknown exposure-1128 of whom were born before March 1994 and were unlikely to have been exposed to ZDV. No deaths attributable to mitochondrial dysfunction were found through this evaluation of population-based HIV surveillance data. Long-term follow-up of antiretroviral-exposed children has been recommended by the Public Health Service. This evaluation highlights the contribution of population-based surveillance to the evaluation of potential toxicities associated with maternal antiretroviral use.

Abstract: The goal of this study was to examine where people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States live and the degree to which AIDS is present in rural areas. AIDS cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1996 were categorized by metropolitan statistical area (MSA) size and compared to the general population. Data were analyzed by region, race/ethnicity and risk exposure; AIDS incidence rates were compared over time by MSA size. Relative to the U.S. population, AIDS cases were disproportionately black (43 percent vs. 11 percent), male (80 percent vs. 48 percent), and from the Northeast (32 percent vs. 20 percent). In all regions, a greater proportion of AIDS cases reside in large MSAs compared with the general population. Risk exposures differ little by MSA size, except in the Northeast. The proportion of people with AIDS who reside in large MSAs exceeds the proportion of the population in those areas, especially when race/ethnicity is considered. AIDS rates have increased in non‐MSAs relative to large MSAs, yet do not indicate that the epidemic is increasing rapidly in rural areas. Fewer AIDS cases are reported from smaller communities, yet require medical and social services that may burden the rural health care system.

The advisability of early ureteral reimplantation in neonates and infants is controversial and to our knowledge long-term results are not available. We evaluated long-term voiding function after ureteral reimplantation in infancy.

The management of extravesical ureterocele is controversial. Heminephrectomy and recently recommended primary incision or puncture have high reoperation rates. We reviewed and compared the long-term results of these procedures with those of primary lower tract reconstruction for ureterocele.

We assessed the long-term functional, social and psychosexual outcome in children who underwent vaginal reconstruction.

This paper discusses how the higher education system may be used as a mechanism to instil entrepreneurial beliefs and develop entrepreneurial skills among a graduate population. In particular, it examines the objectives, content, teaching method and outcomes of an integrated entrepreneurship programme developed at the University of Limerick in Ireland. A process model of entrepreneurship education is presented. Educating for enterprise promotes an awareness of business ownership as a career option and motivates young people to look creatively at their future opportunities. Graduate expertise is also crucial to many sectors of the economy where increasingly enterprise skills and competencies can stimulate a change philosophy that will foster growth.

BACKGROUND: The geographic spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic reflects multiple subepidemics in different regions and population groups. METHODS: To describe regional trends in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States, we analyzed national surveillance data for persons with AIDS diagnosed from 1988 through 1991. RESULTS: Highest annual AIDS incidence rates were in the US territories (52.7 per 100000) and the Northeast (27.7 per 100 000). The greatest percentage increases were in the US territories (68.8%), the South (60.1%), and the Midwest (52.4%). Men who have sex with men constituted the majority of AIDS cases nationally (54.6%), as well as in the Midwest (67.8%), the South (57.4%), and the West (75.3%). Among injecting drug users, the greatest rates of increase in AIDS cases were observed among blacks in the South. Although large increases in the number of persons with HIV transmitted through heterosexual contact were reported from almost all regions, the largest increase was in the South. CONCLUSION: High rates of increase in AIDS cases from the Midwest, South, and US territories probably reflect later entry of HIV into these regions compared with the earlier HIV epidemics in large metropolitan areas of the Northeast and West. In particular, because the South has the largest population of the regions, and sexually transmitted disease surveillance data suggest that substantial populations in the South are at risk, the marked increase in AIDS incidence in this region suggests that the major impact of the epidemic may yet be seen. The continuing spread of HIV and AIDS in different communities and regions demonstrates the need to expand preventive and therapeutic services.(Arch Intern Med. 1994;154:654-659)

We have previously shown that the mature adult quokka, aged between 8 and 15 years, has a distinct cell topography in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We reported that the adult cell densities were high in central temporal retina and low in a peripheral band, adjacent to theora serrata,a region with a concentration of multinucleate cells. In the present paper, we have studied the development of these features in order to understand how they mature, as well as to gain insight into regional specializations of the RPE. Retinal area, cell density and the extent of multinucleation were analysed using whole-mounted retinae from animals aged post-natal day (P) 2 to 15. The retina continues to grow in area throughout life, however, RPE cell number does not change. The features of the mature adult RPE develop at different times over the entire lifespan of the animal. In peripheral retina, cell density decreases throughout life and the band of low cell density becomes progressively wider and more distinct with age with an increasing proportion of multinucleate cells. By contrast, RPE cell density in equatorial retina remains, throughout life, at the level observed in 1-year-old animals. A specialization of high cell density in temporal central RPE was discernible in animals older than 2 years, with the cell density of this region increasing steadily beyond this age. Central regions of other quadrants demonstrate a constant and relatively uniform density with age. The RPE in the marsupial quokka is a dynamic tissue, demonstrating topographic changes throughout life.

In this paper we describe cell topography of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) for the mature marsupial wallaby, the quokka,Setonix brachyurus. RPE topography was analysed in bleached and stained whole mounted retinae, sampling from the entire surface area. The mature adult quokka RPE has a distinct topography in terms of both cell density and the distribution of multinucleate cells. Peripheral RPE demonstrates the lowest cell density and the greatest proportion of multinucleate cells. In an annulus surrounding central retina, corresponding to equatorial retina, RPE cell density is relatively high and multinucleate cells are at the lowest frequency. Cell density is highest in central temporal retina, in the regions adjacent to some of the highest densities in the neural retina. Other regions of central retina exhibit moderate cell densities. A small proportion of central cells are multinucleate. The RPE topography may result from, or account for, regional differences in susceptibility of this tissue to environmental influences and stressors. Understanding of this topography may throw light on the marked localization of certain human retinal diseases inherent to this tissue.

To describe cases of AIDS attributed to donor insemination identified through national human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS surveillance and to compare the number identified through surveillance with our estimate of the number of women infected as a result of donor insemination before the initiation of donor screening.

To characterize women reported with AIDS and invasive cervical cancer in the first year of the expanded AIDS surveillance case definition.

To describe characteristics of persons with late (at or after death) acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) diagnosis, we analyzed national surveillance data among all persons with AIDS diagnosed through December 1991 under the pre-1993 AIDS case definition and with a known date of death. Late diagnosis was present in 15.8% of 163,202 deceased persons with AIDS and in 15.3% of deceased men with AIDS, 20.6% of women, 12.1% of whites, 20.0% of blacks, 21.1% of Hispanics, 12.3% of men who have sex with men (MSM), 21.9% of injecting drug users (IDU), and 19.6% of persons exposed to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through heterosexual contact. When age, race/ethnicity, sex, geographic region, and transmission mode were included in logistic regression analyses, among adults/adolescents, late diagnosis was more likely among persons 40 years or older than among those 13–39 years old, among blacks and Hispanics than among whites, and among EDU and persons exposed to HIV through heterosexual contact than among MSM. Although children (less than 13 years of age) were more likely to have late diagnosis than adults and adolescents, late diagnoses among children did not differ significantly by race/ethnicity, sex, geographic region, or transmission mode. Late AIDS diagnosis, especially among ethnic minorities and IDU and their sex partners, may represent delays in HIV diagnosis and care. In addition to not receiving early clinical intervention, persons who are diagnosed later in the course of HIV disease represent missed opportunities for receiving prevention efforts such as education, counseling, and substance abuse treatment. Monitoring the characteristics of persons with late AIDS diagnosis can be used to identify populations in whom HIV disease may be underrecognized or persons who do not gain access to health care services until late in HIV disease.

To characterize women reported with AIDS and invasive cervical cancer in the first year of the expanded AIDS surveillance case definition.

The isothermal piezooptic coefficient (∂n∂p)Tof 13 aromatic compounds, of seven cyclic alkanes and alkenes, and of four other compounds has been measured interferometrically at 632.8 nm by centrifugation at two temperatures, 293.15 and 298.15 K. Isothermal compressibilities κTof these liquids were also measured by the ultracentrifugal method. The isotropic part of light scattered by the liquids was calculated, as was the density coefficient of polarizability. Linear relations were observed between (∂n∂p)Tand κTwithin homologous series.

Both male and female field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) autotomize front (tympanal) limbs more slowly than hind limbs. Arguably, this pattern could reflect possible differences in the mechanism of limb autotomy. However, we demonstrate that, for females, limb autotomy is also dependent on their mating status: virgin females autotomize front legs significantly more slowly than mated females. This response suggests a central control for leg autotomy in these animals, and less readiness to autotomize a front leg, possibly because the tympanum is crucial for mate location.