Selection of roost sites by the lesser long-eared bat (Nyctophilus geoffroyi) and Gould`s wattled bat (Chalinolobus gouldii) in south-eastern Australia

Physical characteristics of roost sites used by the lesser long-eared bat Nyctophilus geoffroyi and Gould's wattled bat Chalinolobus gouldii were investigated in a farmland–remnant vegetation mosaic and adjacent forested floodplain in south-eastern Australia. A total of 45 individuals of N. geoffroyi and 27 C. gouldii were fitted with radio-transmitters, resulting in the location of 139 and 89 roosts, respectively. Male N. geoffroyi roosted in trees, fallen and decayed timber and artificial structures. These roosts were low to the ground, mainly under bark and in cracks in timber. Roosts of female N. geoffroyi were located higher above ground, and all within trees. Maternity roosts were predominantly located in large dead trees, approximately twice the diameter of roost trees used by females outside the breeding season. No maternity roosts were found under bark, despite half the roosts used by non-breeding females being located in these situations. Both sexes roosted primarily in dead timber and used cavities where the narrowest dimension of the entrance was 2.5 cm. Most roosts of C. gouldii were in dead spouts on large, live river red gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees. Intraspecific differences in roost characteristics were less pronounced for this species. Despite access to the same roosting opportunities, there were marked differences in roost selection between N. geoffroyi and C. gouldii. Both species favoured large diameter trees, but differed significantly for all other measured variables: type of roost structure, condition of roost tree (live or dead), height of roost tree, height of roost, and entrance dimensions. Although these species are among the most widespread bats in Australia and are often considered to be habitat 'generalists', both displayed a high level of discrimination in the roosts used. Clearly, roosting requirements are a complex and important issue in the conservation of even the most common species of bats.

Kinetic analysis of the interaction of the copper chaperone Atox1 with the metal binding sites of the Menkes protein

Excess copper is effluxed from mammalian cells by the Menkes or Wilson P-type ATPases (MNK and WND, respectively). MNK and WND have six metal binding sites (MBSs) containing a CXXC motif within their N-terminal cytoplasmic region. Evidence suggests that copper is delivered to the ATPases by Atox1, one of three cytoplasmic copper chaperones. Attempts to monitor a direct Atox1-MNK interaction and to determine kinetic parameters have not been successful. Here we investigated interactions of Atox1 with wild-type and mutated pairs of the MBSs of MNK using two different methods: yeast two-hybrid analysis and real-time surface plasmon resonance (SPR). A copper-dependent interaction of Atox1 with the MBSs of MNK was observed by both approaches. Cys to Ser mutations of conserved CXXC motifs affected the binding of Atox1 underlining the essentiality of Cys residues for the copper-induced interaction. Although the yeast two-hybrid assay failed to show an interaction of Atox1 with MBS5/6, SPR analysis clearly demonstrated a copper-dependent binding with all six MBSs highlighting the power and sensitivity of SPR as compared with other, more indirect methods like the yeast two-hybrid system. Binding constants for copper-dependent chaperone-MBS interactions were determined to be 10–5-10–6 M for all the MBSs representing relatively low affinity binding events. The interaction of Atox1 with pairs of the MBSs was non-cooperative. Therefore, a functional difference of the MBSs in the MNK N terminus cannot be attributed to cooperativity effects or varying affinities of the copper chaperone Atox1 with the MBSs.

Pharmacological management of challenging behavior of individuals with intellectual disability

In many Westernized countries, including Australia, concerns about the use of psychotropic drugs to manage the challenging behavior of individuals with intellectual disability have resulted in the development of legislative and procedural controls. Although these constraints may limit indiscriminate use, employing medication remains a common practice. This study examined information about 873 individuals (566 males, 307 females) who were the subjects of reports to the Intellectual Disability Review Panel in March 2000 concerning the use of chemical restraint. A high proportion of people with intellectual disability were reported to have received drugs for purposes of behavioral restraint. The range of drugs was extensive, although those from the antipsychotic class were the most frequently reported. Many individuals concurrently received more than one type of drug or more than one drug from the same drug class. More males than females and more older than younger individuals were administered medication. A relationship between gender and age was apparent, with younger males but older females dominating. The use of drugs to mange the behavior of people with intellectual disability may at times be warranted. However, it is important that the extent and type of drug use, as well as the characteristics of those who are medicated, be subject to ongoing scrutiny.

Are the earliest field monuments of the pacific landscape serial sites?

Explanations of the origin and genesis of Pacific field monuments commonly assume they reflect local social change in islands or island groups which were increasingly isolated following colonization. A recent review of early West Polynesian archaeology suggests that the penecontemporaneous appearance of various kinds of field monuments from eastern Melanesia to Polynesia may be better explained as evidence of interaction and the movement of people and/or ideas, possibly associated with the colonization of East Polynesia.

The relationship between residence and the pharmacological management of challenging behavior in individuals with intellectual disability

Many individuals with intellectual disability are administered psychotropic drugs to manage their challenging behavior. The increased relocation of individuals from institutions into community-based accommodation during the past decade provides an opportunity to examine the relationship between setting and drug administration. This study provides acomparison of drug use according to the type of residential facility of 873 individuals reported to have been administered drugs for behavioral restraint in March 2000, with 762 individuals reported in March 1993. In 2000, individuals in institutions were reported toreceive a moderately greater number of drugs concurrently than those in the community. However, there were no differences in the proportion of individuals prescribed drugs relative to the total population living in the respective settings. This is in contrast to the findings from 1993, where drug use was greater in individuals who were living in institutions. It was also more common for individuals who continued to be medicated across time to have previously lived in an institution. Although relocation into the community may be associated with improved living conditions, it is important to recognize that this change in living conditions is not necessarily associated with less use of drugs to manage behavior.

Development of high quality university web sites: benefits to users and the learning organisation

In recent years, the online delivery of educational material has received much attention by researchers. University web sites are being used to supplement the delivery of knowledge in traditional bricks and mortar environments or as stand-alone external courses. The function of a university web site also has broader applications that can provide strategic benefits to the organisation as a whole. An Internet presence based on a high quality, easy to use web site can provide universities with a credible, professional image. This is particularly important as students and other users of university web sites expect the same high level of quality in these sites as they do from the sites of commercial organisations. This paper explores the various roles that a web site can provide to benefit higher education organisations and their customers. In addition, the paper outlines the results of a study of university web site users that identifies specific web site design features that are considered essential for a high quality university site that will meet the needs of students and other stakeholders in a university environment. By adopting these design principles, universities will be able to improve the quality of their web sites and ultimately, increase user satisfaction. Moreover, an understanding of the various roles that a web site can perform will allow universities to fully utilise the benefits of developing and maintaining an online presence while retaining their traditional role as knowledge managers.

Calcium- and vitamin D3 - fortified milk reduces bone loss at clinically relevant skeletal sites on llder men: a 2-year randomised controlled trial

In this 2-year randomized controlled study of 167 men >50 years of age, supplementation with calcium-vitamin D3-fortified milk providing an additional 1000 mg of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D3 per day was effective for suppressing PTH and stopping or slowing bone loss at several clinically important skeletal sites at risk for fracture.

Introduction: Low dietary calcium and inadequate vitamin D stores have long been implicated in age-related bone loss and osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of calcium and vitamin D3 fortified milk on BMD in community living men >50 years of age.

Materials and Methods: This was a 2-year randomized controlled study in which 167 men (mean age ± SD, 61.9 ± 7.7 years) were assigned to receive either 400 ml/day of reduced fat (1%) ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk containing 1000 mg of calcium plus 800 IU of vitamin D3 or to a control group receiving no additional milk. Primary endpoints were changes in BMD, serum 25(OH)D, and PTH.

Results: One hundred forty-nine men completed the study. Baseline characteristics between the groups were not different; mean dietary calcium and serum 25(OH)D levels were 941 ± 387 mg/day and 77 ± 23 nM, respectively. After 2 years, the mean percent change in BMD was 0.9-1.6% less in the milk supplementation compared with control group at the femoral neck, total hip, and ultradistal radius (range, p < 0.08 to p < 0.001 after adjusting for covariates). There was a greater increase in lumbar spine BMD in the milk supplementation group after 12 and 18 months (0.8-1.0%, p ≤ 0.05), but the between-group difference was not significant after 2 years (0.7%; 95% CI, −0.3, 1.7). Serum 25(OH)D increased and PTH decreased in the milk supplementation relative to control group after the first year (31% and −18%, respectively; both p < 0.001), and these differences remained after 2 years. Body weight remained unchanged in both groups at the completion of the study.

Conclusions: Supplementing the diet of men >50 years of age with reduced-fat calcium- and vitamin D3-enriched milk may represent a simple, nutritionally sound and cost-effective strategy to reduce age-related bone loss at several skeletal sites at risk for fracture in the elderly.

The case for selective ICT outsourcing : it`s easier for "green field" sites

This paper examines published research on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Outsourcing and uses this as a framework through which to examine the delivery of ICT services at the South West Alliance of Rural Hospitals, an environment not without challenges. Right from the beginning the CIO appointed to the Alliance decided to address these challenges by implementing a high speed telecommunications network to reduce the costs of data, voice and video communications within the Alliance. The emergence of the truly virtual health care network in Victoria’s South West supported by external service providers but managed by a small yet powerful central ICT team holds a number of useful lessons for the delivery of services in start up cooperative organizations, particularly regional, rural and remote (R3) organizations.

Orientation and impact of nonprofit museum web sites

Museums face increasing pressure to attract wider audiences. This requires an understanding of visitor expectations and motivations for visiting the ‘real’ museum. Websites can act as an attracting mechanism for ‘real’ museum visits. However, for the most part, museums have concentrated their efforts on attracting visitors to promotional efforts and collecting statistical data on the demographic profiles of visitors. Museum websites as a means of attracting audiences have been ignored in the research literature. This paper researches the role of museum websites in developing audiences with special attention to the attracting power of the websites for visitors. Content analysis of 40 Australian museum websites was conducted using a structured tool, WebNPattract, designed and tested specifically for the purpose. Content analysis results can be used for the purpose of strategic positioning of the museum and cultural tourism. The paper outlines five aspects of museums—museum offer; corporate governance; finding the museum; characteristics; and governance communication—and two approaches to museum websites: the ‘aesthetic’ and the ‘services’ perspectives. Marketing implications can be deduced from website orientation.

Responding to terrorism through networks at sites of critical infrastructure : a case study of Australian airport security networks

The importance of effective multilateral security networks is widely recognised in Australia and internationally as being essential to facilitate the large-scale sharing of information required to respond to the threat of terrorism. Australian national security agencies are currently constructing networks in order to bring the diverse national and international security agencies together to achieve this. This paper examines this process of security network formation in the area of critical infrastructure protection, with particular emphasis on airport security. We address the key issues and factors shaping network formation and the dynamics involved in network practice. These include the need for the networks to extend membership beyond the strictly defined elements of national security; the integration of public and private ‘nodes’ in counter-terrorism ‘networks’; and the broader ‘responsibilisation’ of the private sector and the challenges with ‘enabling’ them in counter-terrorism networks. We argue that the need to integrate public and private agencies in counter-terrorism networks is necessary but faces considerable organisational, cultural, and legal barriers.