Looking at the best way of having htaccess and routes, i think it is like the following path ::http://au.syd.labs.coop/publications/category/0/xoops-modules-open-source/2.html

so you have 'basename' = (.*?)/

then area: 'area' = ([a-zA-Z0-9]+)/([0-9])

i did start a module you could make so it covers in a module that people have drop down options like (.*?), or ([a-zA-Z0-9\-\+\%]+) and those other regular i did start one then had programmer electric shock injury and had to lye on the couch for month and month from RSI you will find it on the SVN!