Suchergebnisse

Exposure to Coxiella burnetii is a risk in the Hunter New England (HNE) region of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, based on yearly reported cases of Q fever. We assessed seroprevalence of phase II antibodies to C. burnetii by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA; screening at 1/50 dilution) of residents of 24 local government areas (LGA) of the HNE region of NSW. A total of 2,438 randomly selected sera sent to the Hunter Area Pathology Service for routine diagnostic purposes (not Q fever testing) during the period of 2006–2009 were tested. The overall seroprevalence in sample group was 7%. The proportion of males (59%) was higher than females (41%). In age distribution, the largest proportion (37%) of seropositives was in the > 60 years age group. Lower prevalence was observed in 0–9 years (1%) and 10–19 years (5%) age groups. The seroprevalence in different LGAs varied between 0.5% and 22%. It was highest in Guyra (22%), Gunnedah (21%), Tenterfield (18%), and Narrabri (16%), with Newcastle (0.5%), Port Stephens (2%), Lake Macquarie (3%), and Singleton (3%) being the lowest. In most of the LGAs, seroprevalence was between 6% and 12%. This report indicates a considerable exposure to C. burnetii of residents in rural areas of the HNE region and is consistent with the high notification rate for Q fever in this part of Australia.

Foreword / Alec Tzannes -- Introduction -- How to use this book -- Key -- The public project / Philip Thalis -- Forming Sydney / Peter John Cantrill -- Selected projects / Peter John Cantrill & Philip Thalis: A -- Millers Point & Sydney Cove; B -- Wynyard & Bridge Street; C -- The Domain & Botanic Gardens; D -- Sydney Square & Hyde Park; E -- Haymarket & Railway Square -- Comparative sections -- Comparative elevations -- Public projects and government patronage / Peter Mould -- Civic spaces and the city architect / Lisa Murray -- The squaring of Circular Quay / Lawrence Nield -- Sydney: nature, place and landscape / Craig Burton -- The Botanic Garden and Domain / Ian Innes -- The territorial floor: the role of architectural drawing / Stephen Collier -- Afterword / Clover Moore -- Timeline -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Image credits -- Selected biographies: the shapers of Sydney -- Open competitions in Sydney: a provisional survey -- Author biographies -- Acknowledgements -- Index.

In recent years the regulation of political finance in Australia has moved from systems of laissez‐faire to systems of enhanced regulation, which aim to curb the scale and influence of donations. This article examines political finance regulation in New South Wales — the jurisdiction that has seen the most significant transformation of its regulatory setup — to assess whether and how the new regulations have affected donations to political parties in the state. We find, based on analysis of the pattern of donations before and after the reforms, that the regulations have made the financing system fairer and thus improved the quality of democracy in the state.

© The Author(s) 2016. Australia regularly experiences disasters triggered by natural hazards and New South Wales (NSW) the most populous State is no exception. To date, no publically available spatial and temporal analyses of disaster declarations triggered by hazards (specifically, bushfires, floods and storms) in NSW have been undertaken and no studies have explored the relationship between disaster occurrence and socio-economic disadvantage. We source, collate and analyse data about bushfire, flood and storm disaster declarations between 2004 and 2014. Floods resulted in the most frequent type of disaster declaration. The greatest number of disaster declarations occurred in 2012-2013. Whilst no significant Spearman's correlation exists between bushfire, flood and storm disaster declarations and the strength of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phase, we observe that bushfire disaster declarations were much more common during El Niño, and flood disaster declarations were five times more common during La Niña phases. We identify a spatial cluster or 'hot spot' of disaster declarations in the northeast of the State that is also spatially coincident with 43% of the most socio-economically disadvantaged Local Government Areas in NSW. The results have implications for disaster risk management in the State.

Tree species preferences of a koala population inhabiting a small area of
forest and woodland in the Campbelltown area, south-west of Sydney, were
investigated over a two-year period. In total, 2499 trees from 45 independent
field sites were assessed, with tree species preferences determined on the
basis of a comparative analysis of proportional data relating to the
presence/absence of koala faecal pellets. The results established that
grey gum (Eucalyptus punctata) and blue-leaved
stringybark (E. agglomerata) were most preferred by
koalas in the study area, but only when growing on shale-based substrates. The
preferential utilisation of E. punctata and
E. agglomerata on substrates derived from shales,
compared with that recorded for the same species on sandstones, suggests that
their use by koalas was influenced by differences in nutrient status between
substrates. Regression analyses further identified a trend for use of at least
one of the preferred species (E. punctata) to be more
commonly associated with larger trees. Results are discussed in terms of their
relevance to issues of resource availability and the need to reconsider, by
way of a hierarchical approach, the use of food trees by koalas generally. The
presence of E. punctata and
E. agglomerata and their occurrence in conjunction with
shale-based substrates are considered to be important limiting factors
affecting the present-day distribution and abundance of koalas in the
Campbelltown area.

Australia regularly experiences disasters triggered by natural hazards and New South Wales (NSW) the most populous State is no exception. To date, no publically available spatial and temporal analyses of disaster declarations triggered by hazards (specifically, bushfires, floods and storms) in NSW have been undertaken and no studies have explored the relationship between disaster occurrence and socio-economic disadvantage. We source, collate and analyse data about bushfire, flood and storm disaster declarations between 2004 and 2014. Floods resulted in the most frequent type of disaster declaration. The greatest number of disaster declarations occurred in 2012–2013. Whilst no significant Spearman's correlation exists between bushfire, flood and storm disaster declarations and the strength of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phase, we observe that bushfire disaster declarations were much more common during El Niño, and flood disaster declarations were five times more common during La Niña phases. We identify a spatial cluster or 'hot spot' of disaster declarations in the northeast of the State that is also spatially coincident with 43% of the most socio-economically disadvantaged Local Government Areas in NSW. The results have implications for disaster risk management in the State.

Australia regularly experiences disasters triggered by natural hazards and New South Wales (NSW) the most populous State is no exception. To date, no publically available spatial and temporal analyses of disaster declarations triggered by hazards (specifically, bushfires, floods and storms) in NSW have been undertaken and no studies have explored the relationship between disaster occurrence and socio-economic disadvantage. We source, collate and analyse data about bushfire, flood and storm disaster declarations between 2004 and 2014. Floods resulted in the most frequent type of disaster declaration. The greatest number of disaster declarations occurred in 2012-2013. Whilst no significant Spearman's correlation exists between bushfire, flood and storm disaster declarations and the strength of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phase, we observe that bushfire disaster declarations were much more common during El Niño, and flood disaster declarations were five times more common during La Niña phases. We identify a spatial cluster or 'hot spot' of disaster declarations in the northeast of the State that is also spatially coincident with 43% of the most socio-economically disadvantaged Local Government Areas in NSW. The results have implications for disaster risk management in the State. © The Author(s) 2016. ; Dominey-Howes is supported by ARC grant number DP130100877 Perkins is supported by ARC research grant number DE140100952.

This is a quick reference of SCSPA telephone numbers as well as a directory of port services including government information and services and business, marine and freight services.

[proclamation by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of New South Wales and its Dependencies that £8,000 reward will be paid for the apprehension of Edward Kelly, David Kelly, Stephen Hart and Joseph Byrnes]

This is a quick reference of SCSPA telephone numbers as well as a directory of port services including government information and services and business, marine and freight services.