Medically-attended respiratory illnesses amongst pregnant women in Brisbane, Australia

There are limited community-based data on the burden of influenza and influenza-like illnesses during pregnancy to inform disease surveillance and control. We aimed to determine the incidence of medically-attended respiratory illnesses (MARI) in pregnant women and the proportion of women who are tested for respiratory pathogens at these visits. We conducted a nested retrospective cohort study of a non-random sample of women aged ≥18 years who had a live birth in maternity units in Brisbane, Queensland, from March 2012 to October 2014. The primary outcomes were self-reported doctor visits for MARI and laboratory investigations for respiratory pathogens. Descriptive analyses were performed. Among 1202 participants, 222 (18.5%, 95%CI 16.3%-20.7%) self-reported MARI during their pregnancy. Of those with an MARI, 20.3% (45/222) self-reported a laboratory test was performed. We were able to confirm with health service providers that 46.7% (21/45) of tests were undertaken, responses from providers were not received for the remainder. Whilst one in five women in this population reported a MARI in pregnancy, only 3.7% (45/1202) reported a clinical specimen had been arranged at the consultation and the ability to validate that self-report was problematic. As the focus on maternal immunisation increases, ascertainment of the aetiological agent causing MARI in this population will be required and efficient and reliable methods for obtaining those data at the community level need to be established.

Using harvest statistics to monitor temporal variation in kangaroo density and harvest rate

Management of the commercial harvest of kangaroos relies on quotas set annually as a proportion of regular estimates of population size. Surveys to generate these estimates are expensive and, in the larger states, logistically difficult; a cheaper alternative is desirable. Rainfall is a disappointingly poor predictor of kangaroo rate of increase in many areas, but harvest statistics (sex ratio, carcass weight, skin size and animals shot per unit time) potentially offer cost-effective indirect monitoring of population abundance (and therefore trend) and status (i.e. under-or overharvest). Furthermore, because harvest data are collected continuously and throughout the harvested areas, they offer the promise of more intensive and more representative coverage of harvest areas than aerial surveys do. To be useful, harvest statistics would need to have a close and known relationship with either population size or harvest rate. We assessed this using longterm (11-22 years) data for three kangaroo species (Macropus rufus, M. giganteus and M. fuliginosus) and common wallaroos (M. robustus) across South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. Regional variation in kangaroo body size, population composition, shooter efficiency and selectivity required separate analyses in different regions. Two approaches were taken. First, monthly harvest statistics were modelled as a function of a number of explanatory variables, including kangaroo density, harvest rate and rainfall. Second, density and harvest rate were modelled as a function of harvest statistics. Both approaches incorporated a correlated error structure. Many but not all regions had relationships with sufficient precision to be useful for indirect monitoring. However, there was no single relationship that could be applied across an entire state or across species. Combined with rainfall-driven population models and applied at a regional level, these relationships could be used to reduce the frequency of aerial surveys without compromising decisions about harvest management.

Reassessing spatial and temporal dynamics of kangaroo populations

Long-running datasets from aerial surveys of kangaroos (Macropus giganteus, Macropus [uliginosus, Macropus robustus and Macropus rufus) across Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia have been analysed, seeking better predictors of rates of increase which would allow aerial surveys to be undertaken less frequently than annually. Early models of changes in kangaroo numbers in response to rainfall had shown great promise, but much variability. We used normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) instead, reasoning that changes in pasture condition would provide a better predictor than rainfall. However, except at a fine scale, NDVI proved no better; although two linked periods of rainfall proved useful predictors of rates of increase, this was only in some areas for some species. The good correlations reported in earlier studies were a consequence of data dominated by large droughtinduced adult mortality, whereas over a longer time frame and where changes between years are less dramatic, juvenile survival has the strongest influence on dynamics. Further, harvesting, density dependence and competition with domestic stock are additional and important influences and it is now clear that kangaroo movement has a greater influence on population dynamics than had been assumed. Accordingly, previous conclusions about kangaroo populations as simple systems driven by rainfall need to be reassessed. Examination of this large dataset has permitted descriptions of shifts in distribution of three species across eastern Australia, changes in dispersion in response to rainfall, and an evaluation of using harvest statistics as an index of density and harvest rate. These results have been combined into a risk assessment and decision theory framework to identify optimal monitoring strategies.

Shedding Light on the Microbial Community of the Macropod Foregut Using 454-Amplicon Pyrosequencing

Twenty macropods from five locations in Queensland, Australia, grazing on a variety of native pastures were surveyed and the bacterial community of the foregut was examined using 454-amplicon pyrosequencing. Specifically, the V3/V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was examined. A total of 5040 OTUs were identified in the data set (post filtering). Thirty-two OTUs were identified as 'shared' OTUS (i.e. present in all samples) belonging to either Firmicutes or Bacteroidetes (Clostridiales/Bacteroidales). These phyla predominated the general microbial community in all macropods. Genera represented within the shared OTUs included: unclassified Ruminococcaceae, unclassified Lachnospiraceae, unclassified Clostridiales, Peptococcus sp. Coprococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Blautia sp., Ruminoccocus sp., Eubacterium sp., Dorea sp., Oscillospira sp. and Butyrivibrio sp. The composition of the bacterial community of the foregut samples of each the host species (Macropus rufus, Macropus giganteus and Macropus robustus) was significantly different allowing differentiation between the host species based on alpha and beta diversity measures. Specifically, eleven dominant OTUs that separated the three host species were identified and classified as: unclassified Ruminococcaceae, unclassified Bacteroidales, Prevotella spp. and a Syntrophococcus sucromutans. Putative reductive acetogens and fibrolytic bacteria were also identified in samples. Future work will investigate the presence and role of fibrolytics and acetogens in these ecosystems. Ideally, the isolation and characterization of these organisms will be used for enhanced feed efficiency in cattle, methane mitigation and potentially for other industries such as the biofuel industry.

Panama Canal Twenty-fifth anniversary 1914 - Aug. 15 -1939

Leonard Carpenter Panama Canal Collection. Photographs: Views of Panama and the Canal. [Box 1] from the Special Collections & Area Studies Department, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida. Booklet dedication: Published under the direction of a committee appointed by Brigadier General Clarence S. Ridley, Governor of The Panama Canal, to arrange suitable ceremonies, as authorized in Public Resolution No.5, 76th Congress, approved March 28, 1939, to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal to commerce. Prepared by Rufus Hardy, Executive Department, The Panama Canal. (120 page document)

Canal diggers in Panama, 1904 to 1928

Leonard Carpenter Panama Canal Collection. Publication: The Canal Diggers in Panama 1904 to 1928 [Box 1] from the Special Collections & Area Studies Department, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida. (10 page document)

Life history aspects of 19 rockfish species (Scorpaenidae: Sebastes) from the Southern California Bight

The authors investigated various life history aspects of 19 rockfish species (Sebastes chlorostictus, S. constellatus, S. dalli, S. elongatus, S. ensifer, S. entomelas, S. flavidus, S. goodei, S. hopkinsi, S. levis, S. melanostomus, S. miniatus, S. ovalis, S. paucispinis, S. rosaceus, S. rosenblatti, S. rufus, s. saxicola, S. semicinctus) from the southern California Bight. These aspects included depth distribution, age-length relationships (of 7 species), length-weight relationships, size at first maturity, spawning season, and fecundity. Growth rates of female S. elongatus, S. hopkinsi, S. ova/is, S. saxicola, and S. semicinctus were higher than male conspecifics. Multiple spawning per season was found in 12 species. Generally, most species spawned between late winter and early summer, though there was some spawning within the genus throughout the year. Spawning season duration ranged from 2 (S. flavidus) to 10 months (S. paucispinis). Spawning seasons tended to start earlier in the year and be of longer duration in the southern California Bight, compared to published data on central California conspecifics. Males matured at a smaller length in 7 of the 17 species studied. Maximum fecundities ranged from 18,000 (S. dalll) to about 2,680,000 (S. levis). (PDF file contains 44 pages.)

Assembleia de aves consumidoras de frutos de sub-bosque em diferentes altitudes em uma área de Mata Atlântica no estado do Rio de Janeiro

Neste estudo, investigamos a distribuição altitudinal da composição, riqueza, abundância das espécies de aves consumidoras de frutos em cinco altitudes e avaliamosa influência da estrutura da vegetação nas diversidades de aves. O estudo foi realizado na Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (REGUA) contígua ao Parque Estadual dos Três Picos (PEPT), no município de Cachoeiras de Macacu, RJ. Coletamos os dados das aves em 24 excursões a campo, incluindo seis bimensais (jul./2010 a maio/2011) e 18 mensais (jul./2011 a dez./2012). Para amostragem das aves, utilizamos o método de captura-marcação-recaptura com redes de neblina, expostas durante sete h/dia em cinco altitudesao longo de uma variação altitudinal de 1000 m. O esforço amostral foi de 8400 h-rede. Para amostragem da estrutura da vegetação, sorteamos três parcelas de 100 m2 adjacentes às linhas das redes em cada altitude, nas quais foram analisadas as densidades de diferentes hábitos de vida. Das árvores, arvoretas e arbustos coletamos as medidas de altura total e diâmetro da altura (no caso dos arbustos, o diâmetro foi coletado a 50 cm do solo). Capturamos 448 indivíduos correspondentes a 35 espécies de aves, distribuídas em 16 famílias. Destas, 26% são endêmicas de Mata Atlântica, incluindo quatro espécies categorizadas com algum grau de vulnerabilidade. Dezesseis espécies foram classificadas como frugívoras enquanto 19 como insetívoras-frugívoras. Leptopogon amaurocephalus, Mionectes rufiventris, Lanio melanops, Chiroxiphia caudata foram capturadas nas cinco altitudes, sendo as últimas duas espécies as mais abundantes. Registramos maior riqueza e abundância de aves nas altitudes de 370 e 770 m. A composição de aves diferiu entre as altitudes, sendo 170 e 1000 m as mais dissimilares. As espécies de aves insetívoras-frugívoras predominaram nos sub-bosques das cinco altitudes. Registramos deslocamento altitudinal de cinco espécies de aves, sendo o maior deslocamento realizado por um indivíduo de Attilarufus, capturado a 770 m e, recapturado a 370 m. Encontramos maior densidade de plantas no sub-bosque nas altitudes 170, 370 e 1000 m. Bambus foram registrados apenas a 1000 m, enquanto que as ervas foram limitadas às altitudes de 170 e 370 m. A estrutura da vegetação apresentou baixa similaridade entre as altitudes, principalmente devido a diferentes densidades das formas de vida e altura das plantas. Três altitudes, 170, 370 e 1000 m, apresentaram alta densidade de indivíduos no sub-bosque, sendo que esta última evidenciou uma estrutura da vegetação relativamente mais simples devido ao alto número de árvores de baixa altura, ao maior número de arvoretas e à presença de bambus. A diversidade de aves foi sensível à estrutura da vegetação, em especial à altura das árvores que apresentou um decréscimo da altura com o aumento da altitude. Esta relação entre a diversidade de aves e a estruturada da vegetação destaca a importância da preservação da estrutura da vegetação para a manutenção da diversidade de aves consumidoras de frutos da REGUA e do PETP

含联萘基团旋光性聚合物的设计、合成与手性光学性质

随着材料科学的飞速发展，人们对具有不同结构和性能的聚合物材料提出了更高、更广泛的要求，合成出具有新型结构的聚合物，并研究其独特的性质和功能已成为当今高分子领域研究的主要方向。旋光性聚合物具有独特的不对称结构，在自然界的生物体中，旋光性大分子特有的不对称结构在维持生命过程、新陈代谢、物种繁衍、进化等方面都起着决定性的作用，在人工合成聚合物领域，旋光性聚合物也已经在手性识别和对映体拆分方面取得了广泛应用，并在手性催化剂、液晶、光开关、非线性光学和生物医药等领域表现出了潜在的应用前景。在本论文中，我们以具有强轴手性结构的2,2'-取代1,1'-联萘为手性源，设计并合成得到了多个系列的旋光性和非旋光性聚合物，取得了一些有意义的结果。1．含联萘基团旋光性聚酰亚胺的合成与性质从1,1'-联-2-萘酚出发合成了新型旋光性和非旋光性二酐单体，即2,2'-(3,3',-(3,3', 4,4'-四酸二酐)二苯甲酰氧基-1,1'-联萘((±)-，(R)-和(S)-BNDEDA)，并通过BNDEDA和2,2'-(3,3', 4,4'-四酸二酐)二苯甲酰胺基-1,1'-联萘((±)-和(S)-BNDADA)同各种二胺的缩合聚合，制备得到了一系列旋光性和非旋光性聚酯酰亚胺PEIs和聚酰胺酰亚胺PAIs。(1) 所得芳香聚酰亚胺都具有良好的溶解性，较高的玻璃化转变温度和热分解温度：(2) PAIs和PEIs同它们相应的模型化合物在DMF溶液中具有基本相同的紫外可见吸收光谱，这说明聚合物沿分子主链方向的共轭长度局限在重复单元的结构之内，因此PAIs和PEIs溶液涂敷所得薄膜均表现出良好的透光性；(3) PAIs和PEIs都是非晶聚合物，但是它们在2θ为～12°处出现的衍射峰又说明在聚合物体系中存在着一定的长程有序结构，PEIs的有序性要高于PAIs的有序性，偶数亚甲基长脂肪链的引入没有造成PEI有序性的明显提高，而奇数亚甲基长脂肪链的引入则使得PEI在2θ为12°处的衍射峰更为明显；(4) 由于无法紧密排列，高分子链间的相互作用力不强，因此旋光性和非旋光性聚合物在热性能、溶解性和结晶性等方面均没有表现出明显差异；(5) 旋光性芳香PAls和PEIs都具有比它们相应模型化合物高的特性旋光值，CD谱图和构象分析结果表明，由于1,1'-联萘基团的轴手性和分子主链的刚性，旋光性芳香PAIs和PEIs的高分子链都具有高级手性构象结构；(6) 由于1,1'-联萘基团的二面角随着温度的升高而发生变化，因此聚合物的手性光学性质对温度表现出了明显的依赖关系。(7) 旋光性PAIs在DMF溶液中和在固体状态下都具有很好的旋光热稳定性，旋光性PEIs在固体状态下于玻璃化转变温度加热48 h也没有出现旋光能力的降低；(8) 光学双折射测试结果表明，溶液涂敷所得非旋光性聚合物薄膜的负性双折射要强于相应旋光性聚合物薄膜的负性双折射。2．新型联萘二酐和二胺单体的合成与聚合从1,1'-联-2-萘酚出发对1,1'-联萘基团的不同取得位置进行官能化，合成得到了九种14个新型联萘化合物，并成功地将改进的Curtius和Gabriel反应应用到联萘类二胺单体的合成中。利用所合成的新型二酐单体和二胺单体分别同各种二胺和二酐的缩合聚合，制备得到了一系列具有新型结构的非旋光性芳香聚酰亚胺，聚合物表现出良好的溶解性，较高的玻璃化转变温度和热分解温度。X-射线衍射谱图说明高分子链从1,1'-联萘基团6,6'-位连接所得聚酰亚胺具有较好的结构有序性。3．主链螺旋聚甲基丙烯酸联萘酚单甲醚酯的合成与表征从2-甲氧基-2'-羟基-1,1'-联萘出发，合成得到了新型旋光性和非旋光性甲基丙烯酸酯聚合单体，并在AIBN的自由基引发作用下聚合得到了具有主链螺旋结构的新型旋光性聚合物。(1) 手性光学性质的研究结果表明，旋光性聚甲基丙烯酸酯具有主链单手螺旋结构；(2) 聚合过程中不存在对映体选择性或对映有择性的聚合方式：(3) 聚合物核磁氢谱的研究结果表明，在旋光性聚合物体系中，位于侧链的联萘基团可能取两种构象结构，即动力学稳定和热力学稳定的构象。随着旋光性聚合物单手主链螺旋结构的形成，使甲氧基处于较高屏蔽状态下的联萘反式构象成为动力学稳定构象；(4) 变温核磁氢谱的研究表明，温度升高将造成动力学稳定的联萘反式构象结构在聚合物中的比例减少，并伴随着聚合物特性旋光值的降低，同时热力学稳定的联萘顺式构象结构在聚合物中的比例在增加；(5) 手性光学性质和核磁氢谱的研究结果表明，旋光性聚合物的主链手性构象（与侧链上联萘基团的构象相对应）对分子量的高低具有依赖关系；(6) 聚合单体同具有不同对映体过量的旋光性聚合物具有基本相同的紫外吸收光谱，说明旋光性聚合物中联萘基团构象结构的变化并未造成共轭程度的较大变化。而无论旋光性或是非旋光性聚合物所表现出来的荧光性则说明在聚合物体系中可能存在着联萘侧基的相互作用，形成了π电子跃迁。4．含联萘基团旋光性聚酯和聚酰胺的合成与性质通过(±)-和(S)-2,2'-二甲氧基-1,1-联萘-6,6'-二酰氯（(±)-和（S)-DMBNDC）分别同1,1'-联-2-萘酚进行的界面缩聚，以及分别同各种芳香二胺在DMAc中的溶液缩聚合成得到了一系列旋光性和非旋光性聚酯和聚酰胺。(1) 聚合过程中不存在对映有择或对映体选择性的聚合方式；(2) GPC、~1H NMR谱图以及激光质谱的研究结果表明，DMBNDC同1,1'-联-2-萘酚的缩合产物可能主要以环状低聚物的形式存在；(3) 根据DMBNDC同1,1'-联-2-萘酚缩合所得产物的特性旋光值可以推断在聚合物体系中DMBNDC和1,1'-联-2-萘酚的手性结构具有良好的加和性：(4) (±)-和(S)-DMBNDC同各种芳香二胺聚合所得非旋光性和旋光性聚酰胺都表现出良好的溶解性，较高的玻璃化转变温度以及热稳定性。旋光性聚酰胺具有比相应非旋光性聚酰胺高的玻璃化转变温度；(5) 广角X-射线衍射谱图上的弥散峰表明所得聚酰胺具有非晶结构，但是随着二胺单元结构刚性的增强，聚合物在～13°处出现了新的衍射峰，说明聚合物结构的有序性得到了增强：(6) 旋光性聚酰胺都具有比模型化合物(S)-7高的特性旋光值，而且不同二胺单元结构造成了聚合物特性旋光值的较大变化，构象分析结果表明在旋光性聚酰胺的分子主链上存在着高级手性构象。

Whereabouts

Francis, Matthew, Whereabouts (London: Rufus Books, 2005) RAE2008

Memorial volume of the first fifty years of the American board of commissioners for foreign missions.

http://www.archive.org/details/memorialvolumeof00andeuoft

Morphometrics and testicle size of rain forest lemur species from southeastern Madagascar

Six species of prosimians inhabiting the montane rain forest of the Ranomafana National Park located in southeastern Madagascar were captured, weighed, and measured during the months of May or June of 1987, 1988, and 1989. There were no significant differences in body weights and measurements between male and femaleEulemur rubriventer (red-bellied lemur) orEulemur fulvus rufus (red-fronted lemur). Adult femalePropithecus diadema edwardsi (Milne Edward's sifaka) were heavier than males but the difference was not significant. A fewAvahi laniger laniger (woolly lemur),Hapalemur aureus (golden bamboo lemur) andH. g. griseus (gentle bamboo lemur) also were captured and measured. Body weights of the same individual adultP. d. edwardsi changed over the three years, suggesting variation in food availability. Although there was no difference in body weight among adult males of two groups ofP. d. edwardsi, one male in each group had a testicular volume four times larger than that of other males, even though these measurements were taken five months after the breeding season. These data suggest that only one adult male mates in each group. Testicular size of the polygynousE. f. rufus males was significantly larger than that of the monogamousE. rubriventer. © 1992 Academic Press Limited.

Las familias "Baeomycetaceae" e I"Icmadophilaceae" en la Península Ibérica

Se aportan datos morfológicos, químicos y de distribución de seis especies de las familias Baeomycetaceae (Baeomyces) e Icmadophilaceae (Dibaeis, Icmadophila, Thamnolia) presentes en la Península Ibérica. Se publican numerosas nuevas citas de Baeomyces rufus y de Dibaeis baeomyces, que constituyen las especies más frecuentes y abundantes en la península.

Alegoría: su pertinencia en la predicación y uso en "La novena maravilla"

En este artículo se focaliza el recurso de la alegoría como método exegético en la composición de los sermones panegíricos de Juan Espinosa Medrano (Perú, siglo XVII). Se traza el recorrido de la alegoría (y las humanidades en general) en relación –siempre tensa– con el cristianismo a lo largo de su historia; y se llega a la Contrarreforma y el uso exacerbado del método en la predicación barroca; particularmente en la oratoria sagrada de Espinosa Medrano, quien abarca elementos diversos y extraídos de distintas fuentes (filosofía natural, mitología clásica, tradición emblemática, relatos bíblicos), a los que hace funcionar como signos de otra verdad mayor, la sagrada. Si bien las preceptivas sagradas impulsaban una predicación más llana y simple, la profusión de alegorías mitológicas, que el autor resemantiza según su interés de guiar la interpretación, pueden explicarse por varias circunstancias, motivos de estudio en este trabajo.

Étude des impacts écologiques du dynamisme spatio-temporel des habitats naturels sur la faune menacée du Complexe Zones Humides Mahavavy-Kinkony, Madagascar.

This study of the Mahavavy-Kinkony Wetland Complex (MKWC) assesses the impacts of habitat change on the resident globally threatened fauna. Located in Boeny Region, northwest Madagascar, the Complex encompasses a range of habitats including freshwater lakes, rivers, marshes, mangrove forests, and deciduous forest. Spatial modelling and analysis tools were used to (i) identify the important habitats for selected, threatened fauna, (ii) assess their change from 1950 to 2005, (iii) detect the causes of change, (iv) simulate changes to 2050 and (v) evaluate the impacts of change. The approach for prioritising potential habitats for threatened species used ecological science techniques assisted by the decision support software Marxan. Nineteen species were analysed: nine birds, three primates, three fish, three bats and one reptile. Based on knowledge of local land use, supervised classification of Landsat images from 2005 was used to classify the land use of the Complex. Simulations of land use change to 2050 were carried out based on the Land Change Modeler module in Idrisi Andes with the neural network algorithm. Changes in land use at site level have occurred over time but they are not significant. However, reductions in the extent of reed marshes at Lake Kinkony and forests at Tsiombikibo and Marofandroboka directly threaten the species that depend on these habitats. Long term change monitoring is recommended for the Mahavavy Delta, in order to evaluate the predictions through time. The future change of Andohaomby forest is of great concern and conservation actions are recommended as a high priority. Abnormal physicochemical properties were detected in lake Kinkony due to erosion of the four watersheds to the south, therefore an anti-erosion management plan is required for these watersheds. Among the species of global conservation concern, Sakalava rail (Amaurornis olivieri), Crowned sifaka (Propithecus coronatus) and dambabe (Paretroplus dambabe) are estimated the most affected, but at the site level Decken’s sifaka (Propithecus deckeni), kotsovato (Paretroplus kieneri) and Madagascan big-headed turtle (Erymnochelys madagascariensis) are also threatened. Local enforcement of national legislation on hunting means that MKWC is among the sites where the flying fox (Pteropus rufus) and Madagascan rousette (Rousettus madagascariensis) are well protected. Ecological restoration, ecological research and actions to reduce anthropogenic pressures are recommended.