Eastern Australian States Research Articles

From biodiversity to bioperversity: from good science to poor environmental policy

While Australia is one of the world leaders in conservation biology, it is not in conservation policy. Proposed socalled policy “reforms” in environmental policy will undermine many of the important gains made in conservation management. Here I outline four retrogressive policy changes proposed or currently taking place in eastern Australian states. These range from branding climate research as “post-normal” science through to grazing of alpine environments to reduce “blazing” despite overwhelming evidence that it has no such effect. Conservation scientists will need to work extremely hard to communicate their science and underscore the need for scientific data to underpin truly evidencebased conservation policy and evidence-based conservation management. The consequences of failing to do so will be an ongoing decline in the quality of environmental policies and impaired environmental and conservation outcomes.

Recruitment and Results of a Pilot Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation in the General Population of Australia

The benefits of high serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] are unclear. Trials are needed to establish an appropriate evidence base. We plan to conduct a large-scale trial of vitamin D supplementation for the reduction of cancer incidence and overall mortality and report here the methods and results of a pilot trial established to inform its design. Pilot D-Health was a randomized trial carried out in a general community setting with 12 months intervention and follow-up. Participants were 60- to 84-yr-old residents of one of the four eastern Australian states who did not have any vitamin D-related disorders and who were not taking more than 400 IU supplementary vitamin D per day. A total of 644 participants were randomized, and 615 completed the study (two persons withdrew because of nonserious adverse events). The interventions were monthly doses of placebo or 30,000 or 60,000 IU vitamin D(3). The main outcomes were the recruitment rate and changes in serum 25(OH)D. Ten percent of those approached were recruited. At baseline, the mean 25(OH)D was 42 nmol/liter in all three study arms. The mean change in 25(OH)D in the placebo group was 0.12 nmol/liter, compared with changes of 22 and 36 nmol/liter in the 30,000- and 60,000-IU groups, respectively. The D-Health pilot has shown that a large trial is feasible in Australia and that a dose of 2000 IU/d will be needed to ensure that a large proportion of the population reaches the target serum 25(OH)D level.

Australian Gay Men Who Have Taken Nonoccupational Postexposure Prophylaxis for HIV Are in Need of Effective HIV Prevention Methods

Gay men who request nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) may seek preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) should this become available. We explored trends and predictors of PEP use among Australian gay men to inform future biomedical prevention programs. We used 2001-2010 data from Gay Community Periodic Surveys in 3 Eastern Australian states and assessed PEP awareness and use in the 6 months before each survey, and among HIV-uninfected men in all surveys predictors of PEP use. Analytical methods included chi-square test for trend and multivariate log-binomial estimation of associations. The awareness of PEP significantly increased from 23% in 2001 to 64% in 2010. PEP use also increased from 2.3% to 3.9%, respectively. PEP use was significantly associated with being in a regular relationship with an HIV-serodiscordant partner, higher number of sex partners, engaging in anal intercourse with casual partners, and regularly testing for HIV/sexually transmitted infections. However, fewer than 8% of men who engaged in these practices reported PEP use. Our findings highlight the profiles of current PEP users: men in HIV-serodiscordant relationships, and men having high numbers of casual partners and unprotected anal intercourse with them. These men are in need of effective HIV prevention strategies and may be receptive to preexposure prophylaxis in the future. Presently, targeted HIV education to improve risk assessment skills may prevent some seroconversions through the appropriate use of PEP.

Contemporary HIV diagnoses trends in Australia can be predicted by trends in unprotected anal intercourse among gay men

Data from HIV and behavioural surveillance among gay men in Eastern Australian states in 1994-2008 showed a close relationship between trends in reported unprotected anal intercourse with casual partners (UAIC; measured in behavioural surveys) and routinely reported HIV diagnoses. Increasing UAIC was strongly associated with increasing numbers of HIV diagnoses 2 years later (P = 0.001). This suggests an important public health role of UAIC as a predictor of changes in HIV diagnoses in Australia.

Mental health consumers' perceptions of receiving recovery‐focused services

This study examines the experiences of mental health service consumers engaged in various recovery-focused support practices as well as examining consumer valuing of these activities. A self-report questionnaire was developed drawing on key aspects of the Collaborative Recovery Model (CRM) (responsibility, collaboration, autonomy, motivation, needs, goals, homework). Ninety-two adult consumers from metropolitan, regional and rural non-government organizations and public mental health services in eastern Australian states completed the questionnaire. Consumers using services provided by CRM-trained workers identified significant changes to service delivery in relation to frequency with which they were encouraged to take responsibility for their recovery, degree to which they collaborated with staff and the extent to which they were encouraged to complete homework activities to assist them to achieve their goals, when compared with consumers using traditional services. The key aspects of the CRM were valued by consumers. No differences were found in terms of overall ratings of clinician helpfulness in assisting recovery between the two groups. Consumers are able to perceive recovery-focused service changes. Although preliminary, this is a significant step towards assessing the operationalization of recovery principles from the consumer's perspective.

Trends in HIV testing among homosexual and bisexual men in eastern Australian states

We examined whether trends in HIV testing in community-based samples of homosexual men may account for the convergence in HIV notification rates in homosexual men across the eastern states of Australia. We examined data on self-reported HIV testing from annual cross-sectional, self-completed anonymous surveys of homosexual men conducted between 1998 and 2006 in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Men were recruited at gay community venues and events. Comparisons of HIV testing between the three cities and across time were carried out. We also compared reported rates of HIV testing across states in Private Lives, the 2005 online survey of health and wellbeing among non-heterosexual people. Men recruited from clinics had a much higher prevalence of HIV testing and were excluded from further analyses. Among the 48 263 completed questionnaires obtained in non-clinic sites, there was a marked decline in the proportion of men who had never been tested for HIV in Sydney (from 8.1 to 5.1%, P trend < 0.001) and Brisbane (from 11.8 to 7.9%, P trend = 0.002) but no change in Melbourne. This proportion of men who had never been tested was lower in Sydney than in either Melbourne or Brisbane (P < 0.001). There were increases in the proportion of non-HIV-positive men who had been tested for HIV in the previous year across all three cities, although the proportion in Melbourne was lower than in the other two cities. These data suggest that changes in HIV testing rates among homosexual men are insufficient to account for the recent differences in trends in HIV notifications in eastern Australia.

Trends in HIV prevalence among homosexual and bisexual men in eastern Australian states

In Australia, HIV notification rates in homosexual men, previously much higher in New South Wales, have become similar across the eastern states. We examined whether trends in HIV prevalence in community-based samples of homosexual men were consistent with the trends in HIV notifications. We examined data on self-reported HIV status from annual cross-sectional, self-completed anonymous surveys of homosexual men conducted between 1998 and 2006 in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Men were recruited at gay community venues, clinics and large gay community events. We calculated age-specific and age-standardised HIV prevalence rates. Comparisons of HIV prevalence between the three cities and across time were carried out using age-specific rates, and using logistic regression, controlling for age. Men recruited from clinics had a much higher prevalence of HIV (P < 0.001) and were excluded from further analyses. Among the 50 239 completed questionnaires obtained at non-clinic sites, there was a marked decline in aged-standardised HIV prevalence in Sydney (from 14.2 to 8.98%, P < 0.001), a small decline in Brisbane (from 8.51 to 6.94%, P = 0.012) and no change in Melbourne (from 8.35 to 8.06%, P = 0.848). There were significant declines in men aged less than 50 years in Sydney, and in men aged less than 30 years in Brisbane. In Melbourne there was no significant trend in HIV at any age. HIV prevalence among young homosexual men has declined in Sydney, and these data suggest that HIV incidence among homosexual men is now similar in the eastern state capitals of Australia.

Data management for the electricity market

Electricity markets provide economic signals that encourage network utilization to be maximized. This environment is encouraging network owners and operators to ensure that limits are consistent with actual system conditions. The National Electricity Market Management Company Limited (NEMMCO) is a government agent placed between market participants (generators and retailers) with the roles to manage the electricity market, maintain power system security, and coordinate power system planning. Currently, the eastern Australian states of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia are involved in the market. Power system security and coordination of power system planning for electricity markets involve various power system analyses being done by NEMMCO and market participants. Efficiency of the data preparation for analysis and consistency and transparency of the data are important issues. A software system called the Operations and Planning Data Management System (OPDMS) is being developed to support planning and operations functions in the electricity market environment. One of its key features is the automated preparation of input data files for load flow and transient stability studies using the PSSE analysis package. These data files are generated from real-time power system data and, therefore, allow accurate analysis of actual system conditions. OPDMS improves NEMMCO's ability to develop limits that are consistent with actual system conditions.

The independent evolution of resistance to ciprofloxacin, rifampicin, and fusidic acid in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Australian teaching hospitals (1990-1995). Australian Group for Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR).

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is endemic in teaching hospitals in eastern Australian states, with prevalence rates averaging 25-30% of all S. aureus. Between 1990 and 1995, 1467 non-duplicate MRSA isolates from clinically infected sites were tested in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane as part of a national survey of staphylococcal susceptibility. We reviewed the differing evolution of resistance to ciprofloxacin, rifampicin, and fusidic acid. Despite similarities in community and hospital antibiotic use and MRSA prevalence rates, trends in resistance to the oral antibiotics in these cities have progressed independently of each other. In the 1995 survey in individual hospitals in Melbourne, 16-24% of strains were ciprofloxacin-resistant, compared with 80-100% in Sydney and 30-44% in Brisbane. There was great diversity of phage type patterns for ciprofloxacin-resistant strains, suggesting heterogeneous development of resistance. Rifampicin resistance was more closely associated with distinct dominant epidemic phage types, common to institutions in the same city, but without spread to the other cites. Between 1990 and 1995, these comprised 30-60% of all MRSA in Brisbane, compared with 5-10% in Melbourne and < 25% in Sydney. Fusidic acid resistance was uncommon and sporadic (< 5%), and was distributed equally between methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible strains. Resistance to the oral agents in MRSA is due to a complex mix of antibiotic selection pressures and cross-infection with local and epidemic strains in closely related institutions. Each of these mechanisms can predominate, dependent on local factors and the antibiotics used.

Occurrence of melanomas on the upper and lower limbs in eastern Australia.

In view of the changing trends in the incidence of melanoma at different body sites and in particular on the limbs, the detailed distributions of over 10,000 invasive melanomas diagnosed on the upper and lower limbs in residents of mainland eastern Australia between 1987 and 1993 were examined. Cancer notifications and histopathology reports from the cancer registries of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria were searched manually, and subsites when specified were recorded as shoulder, upper arm, forearm, elbow, wrist or hand, and thigh, leg, knee, ankle or foot. On the upper limbs relative tumour densities were highest on the shoulder, approximately equal on the upper arm and forearm and least on the hand in both men and women; on the lower limbs melanomas occurred more than twice as often on the leg than on the thigh or the foot, taking account of surface area. There was a clear inverse gradient of incidence of melanoma with latitude in the three eastern Australian states studied, but little difference between the states or between sexes in distribution of histological type: the majority specified being specified as superficial spreading melanomas. In contrast to predictions based on apparent frequency of sun exposure at subsites on the upper limbs, the relative concentration of melanomas on the shoulder suggests that wearing sleeveless garments outdoors in the sun should be avoided whenever possible. Also, the similar densities of leg and forearm melanomas seems inconsistent with the relative degree of exposure of each and further suggests that women's adoption of ankle-length skirts or trousers, in preference to knee-length skirts would be a worthwhile modern control measure.

Gum leaf skeletoniser moth, Uraba lugens,in the forests of Western Australia

Summary Uraba lugens defoliated large areas of eucalpyt forest in the south west of Western Australia in January 1983 and extensive infestations continued each year up to the 1985/86 summer when 160 000 ha were affected. In Western Australia the pupation and oviposition behaviour, the life cycle and the host preferences of this indigenous moth differ from those recorded for coastal, inland and highland forms in eastern Australian States. Oviposition occurs in parallel rows as is the case with the eastern Australian lowland form, and like the eastern highland form there is only one generation per year. The larvae have been recorded on Eucalyptus marginata (jarrah), E. calophylla (marri), E. diversicolor (karri), E. rudis (flooded gum), E. decipiens (limestone marlock) and E. wandoo (wandoo).

Correlations between Breeding Activity in the Marsupial Bandicoots and some Environmental Variables

The percentage of lactating females in wild populations of bandicoots, observed during each month of the year, has been correlated with the environmental variables of daylength, rainfall and temperature, and derivatives of these variables. Breeding activity recorded in four studies carried out in each of the eastern Australian states, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, was examined. In all four studies, the proportion of lactating females was strongly correlated with the rate of change of minimum temperature, although in some studies rainfall and daylength showed some small additional associations. An analysis of the number of births in a housed captive population in Queensland similarly showed a stronger association of numbers of births to rate of change of minimum temperature than to any other environmental variable examined.

The Intertidal Zone-Forming Species on Rocky Shores of the East Australian Coast

Australian intertidal ecology, in common with that of other continents, has been studied more intensively in the past few years than at any other period. The present contribution reviews the work done in the eastern Australian states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Particular reference will be made to the effect of oceanographical and physical factors on the distribution of belt-forming species as well as on some of the more common non-belt-forming species. I gratefully acknowledge the work, upon which I have drawn freely, of Pope (1943), Dakin, Bennett & Pope (1948), Bennett & Pope (1953), Endean, Kenny & Stephenson (1956) and Endean, Stephenson & Kenny (1956). The terminology used is that of Stephenson & Stephenson (1949) and Guiler (1953).

36—TRENDS IN QUALITY NUMBER-FINENESS-STAPLE CRIMP RELATIONSHIPS IN AUSTRALIAN WOOL

It is important to know if quality number relationships with fineness and staple crimp undergo periodic variation. Australian wools grown in 1917—8, 1942—5, 1950—1 and 1954—5 have been compared among themselves and with Duerden's (1929) South African greasy wool relationship. There is evidence that in quality number-staple crimp relationships more crimps-per-inch were required in 1917—8 in the 64s—44s range than in the more recent groups and that the possibility of intra-continental trends is indicated by the Western Australian tendency to require fewer crimps-perinch in 58s—56s, than are required in the Eastern Australian states. In quality number-mean fibre thickness relationships, assessments made on 1917—8 growths were not significantly different from the Duerden values, although slight significant differences in 64s and 60s were noticed between 1917—8 and 1942—5 growths. The Western Australian 60s—50s showed a markedly coarser trend, when compared with all other groups. Staple crimp appeared to be mo...