Avian malaria is absent in juvenile colonial herons (Ardeidae) but not Culex pipiens mosquitoes in the Camargue, Southern France

Apicomplexan blood parasites Plasmodium and Haemoproteus (together termed “Avian malaria”) and Leucocytozoon are widespread, diverse vector-transmitted blood parasites of birds, and conditions associated with colonial nesting in herons (Ardeidae) and other waterbirds appear perfect for their transmission. Despite studies in other locations reporting high prevalence of parasites in juvenile herons, juvenile Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) previously tested in the Camargue, Southern France, had a total absence of malaria parasites. This study tested the hypotheses that this absence was due to insufficient sensitivity of the tests of infection; an absence of infective vectors; or testing birds too early in their lives. Blood was sampled from juveniles of four species shortly before fledging: Little Egret (n = 40), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis; n = 40), Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax, n = 40), and Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides; n = 40). Sensitive nested-Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to test for the presence of parasites in both birds and host-seeking female mosquitoes captured around the colonies. No malaria infection was found of in any of the heron species. Four different lineages of Plasmodium were detected in pooled samples of female Culex pipiens mosquitoes, including two in potentially infective mosquitoes. These results confirm that the absence of malaria parasites previously demonstrated in Little Egret is not due to methodological limitations. Although the prevalence of infection in mosquitoes was low, conditions within the colonies were suitable for transmission of Plasmodium. These colonial heron species may have evolved strategies for resisting malaria infection through physiological or behavioral mechanisms

Write, and Write Well - Speak, and Speak Well: The Gospel According to Halmos and Rota

Writing/speaking well—with real intent, focus and clarity—has always been an issue of the utmost importance to some of those working in academia generally, within which mathematicians are no exception. We give consideration to the conventional literature survey and other expository pieces as useful centres of an initial discussion, and develop the broader theme as referenced to two of our very best past communicators and popularisers of mathematics across both facets of dissemination—P.R. Halmos and G.-C. Rota, de facto grand seigneurs of the early modern day period

Rights and Responsibilities of Conscientious Objectors under the Abortion Law Reform Act 2008 (Vic)

The landmark Abortion Law Reform Act 2008 (Vic), which came into force on 23 October 2008, has decriminalised abortion in Victoria. A woman’s informed consent is now the only requirement for a termination of pregnancy up to 24 weeks gestation. After 24 weeks, two medical practitioners must determine that a termination is appropriate in all the circumstances. While this provides health practitioners who perform abortions through either medical or surgical means with the clarity and security they have long sought, health practitioners who object to abortion on grounds of conscience are now in unchartered legal territory. When requested by a patient or client to provide advice on or perform an abortion, s8 of the new Act imposes certain obligations on registered health practitioners who object to abortion on grounds of conscience. The provision has sparked considerable disquiet among Catholic health practitioners and other ‘doctors of conscience’. Critics of the clause claim that, far from protecting the right to freedom of conscience, the clause in effect violates that right. This paper analyses the relevant clause – s8 of the Abortion Law Reform Act – and tests the claim that it infringes the human rights of health practitioners who object to abortion by compelling them to act against their conscience. It argues that the obligations created do not unduly infringe on freedom of conscience because practitioners are able to take simple steps to prevent the obligations arising.This conference has been generously sponsored by the School of Social and Political Sciences and the Sydney Law School, University of Sydney, in collaboration with the School of Law, University of Western Sydne

A few thoughts on the aesthetics of mathematics in research and teaching.

Mathematical aesthetic, having a variety of forms, is commonly experienced by mathematicians as a genuine reality and is available at every level of study. This short essay in hopefully moving beyond standardised hermeneutic critique attests to its authenticity through the words of some mathematical proponents, and reminds us that it should be promoted to children and students as a phenomenon that is as accessible as it is incontestable.N/

On 'Two Cultures' and Tackling the 'Writing Versus Mathematics' Dichotomy

While for many it is a timeless norm with no hope of resolution, not everyone accepts that mathematics and writing appear to have an unbridgeable gulf between them