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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]

Abstract: We determine all finite maximal elementary abelian group actions on compact oriented surfaces of genus which are unique up to topological equivalence. For certain special classes of such actions, we determine group extensions which also define unique actions. In addition, we explore in detail one of the families of such surfaces considered as compact Riemann surfaces and tackle the classical problem of constructing defining equations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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: 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]

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.

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]