Exploring Profitable, Sustainable Livestock Businesses in an Increasingly Variable Climate

Livestock production systems will need to change in many regions of the world to meet the dual challenges of adaptation to a changing climate and reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The ‘Nexus project’ is exploring these options using seven case studies in eastern Australia spanning a range of production systems from semi-arid beef production in northern Australia to mixed beef and sheep production in cool temperate climates of southern Australia. Regional reference groups, made up of 4-6 local farmers and advisers, identified a series of farm systems changes that could be made to meet these challenges. Options were categorised under four themes: feedbase, animal genetics and management, management and technology, and transformational options. More options for adaptation were identified compared to options to mitigate greenhouse gas emission of sequestered carbon. Adaptation options focussed on maximising pasture production in variable climates, and having efficient and flexible animal production systems. A focus on infrastructure for water and feed storage and use was also observed. Options to reduce GHG emissions focussed on reducing feed demand and sequestering carbon in soils and trees, and limited possibilities for feed additives were noted in these pasture-based systems. Further work will explore how combinations of these options will impact production, profit and greenhouse gas emissions from these production systems in current and future climate scenarios

Characterization of Silver Nanoparticle Products Using Asymmetric Flow Field Flow Fractionation with a Multidetector Approach - a Comparison to Transmission Electron Microscopy and Batch Dynamic Light Scattering

Due to the already prevalent and increasing use of silver-nanoparticle (Ag-NP) products and the raised concerns in particular for the aquatic environment, analytical techniques for the characterization of such products are of need. However, because Ag-NP products are of different compositions and polydispersities, analysis especially of the size distribution is challenging. In this work, an asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (A4F) multidetector system (UV/vis, light scattering, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry - ICPMS), in combination with a method to distinguish and quantify the particle and dissolved Ag fractions (ICPMS after ultracentrifugation), for the characterization of Ag-NP products with different degrees of polydispersities is presented. For validation and to outline benefits and limitations, results obtained from batch dynamic light scattering (batch-DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were compared. With the developed method a comprehensive understanding in terms of dissolved Ag and Ag-NP concentration as well as an element selective, mass- and number particle size distribution (PSD) was obtained. In relation to batch-DLS, the reliability of the data was improved significantly. In comparison to TEM, faster measurement times and the ability to determine the samples directly in dispersions are clearly advantageous. The proposed setup shows potential for a rapid- and reliable characterization method of virtually any polydisperse metallic NP dispersion, many of them available on the market already

Characterization of Silver Nanoparticle Products Using Asymmetric Flow Field Flow Fractionation with a Multidetector Approach – a Comparison to Transmission Electron Microscopy and Batch Dynamic Light Scattering

Due to the already prevalent and increasing use of silver-nanoparticle (Ag-NP) products and the raised concerns in particular for the aquatic environment, analytical techniques for the characterization of such products are of need. However, because Ag-NP products are of different compositions and polydispersities, analysis especially of the size distribution is challenging. In this work, an asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (A4F) multidetector system (UV/vis, light scattering, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry - ICPMS), in combination with a method to distinguish and quantify the particle and dissolved Ag fractions (ICPMS after ultracentrifugation), for the characterization of Ag-NP products with different degrees of polydispersities is presented. For validation and to outline benefits and limitations, results obtained from batch dynamic light scattering (batch-DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were compared. With the developed method a comprehensive understanding in terms of dissolved Ag and Ag-NP concentration as well as an element selective, mass- and number particle size distribution (PSD) was obtained. In relation to batch-DLS, the reliability of the data was improved significantly. In comparison to TEM, faster measurement times and the ability to determine the samples directly in dispersions are clearly advantageous. The proposed setup shows potential for a rapid- and reliable characterization method of virtually any polydisperse metallic NP dispersion, many of them available on the market already

Efeito dose-resposta de fatores de risco para a doença isquêmica do coração Dose-response effect of risk factors to ischaemic heart disease

Resultados de diversos estudos têm apontado a relevância da hipertensão arterial, do hábito de fumar e da hipercolesterolemia como fatores de risco para a doença isquêmica do coração (DIC). Poucos autores têm investigado a existência de gradiente linear relacionando a quantidade destas exposições com os eventos coronarianos. Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de diferentes graus de exposição a estas variáveis sobre a DIC, procedendo-se ao ajustamento para possíveis variáveis de confusão, foi feito estudo planejado sob a forma de desenho tipo caso-controle, tendo a coleta de dados se estendido de março de 1993 a fevereiro de 1994. Foram estudados 833 indivíduos de ambos os sexos, na faixa etária compreendida entre 30 e 69 anos completos, sendo todos residentes no Município de São Paulo, SP (Brasil). Foram comparados 280 casos com 553 controles (285 controles de vizinhança e 268 controles hospitalares). A técnica estatística utilizada para a análise dos dados foi a regressão logística multivariada. Os resultados permitiram identificar gradiente linear para as variáveis duração da hipertensão arterial e para número de cigarros consumidos/dia. As variáveis duração do hábito de fumar e duração da hipercolesterolemia, embora tendo apresentado "odds ratios" significantes para as respectivas categorias de exposição, não apresentaram gradiente linear. Foram discutidos aspectos metodológicos que poderiam exercer influência sobre a tendência dos "odds ratios" nas categorias de exposição das variáveis duração do hábito de fumar e duração da hipercolesterolemia. Conclui-se que os efeitos dose-resposta observados para as variáveis duração da hipertensão arterial e número de cigarros consumidos/dia foram independentes da presença nos modelos de potentes fatores de risco para a doença isquêmica do coração.<br>Several authors have reported hypertension, smoking and hypercholesterolemia as independent risk factors to ischaemic heart disease (IHD). However few of them have investigated the existence of a linear gradient related to the levels of these exposures and IHD. The effect of different levels of these exposures and IHD after adjusting for known confounders of effect, is assessed. The project was designed as a case-control study and the data were collected over one year from March/93 to February/94. The sample was composed of a total of 833 individuals of both genders aged 30-69 living in the city of S. Paulo, SP (Brazil), 280 of whom were compared with 553 controls (285 neighbourhood controls and 268 hospital controls). Logistic regression was the statistical method wold for the analysis of the data. The results showed a linear gradient for known duration of hypertension and daily number of cigarettes consumed. Although the variables duration of hypercholesterolemia and duration of the habit smoking presented statistically significant odds ratio in the respective strata there was no indication of a linear gradient. Some methodological issues are presented to explain this absence of a linear gradient for known duration of hypercholesterolemia and duration of the smoking habit. It is concluded that the dose response effect detected for known duration of hypertension and daily number of cigarettes consumed were independent of the presence of major risk factors ischaemic heart disease