An Economic Evaluation of Conservation Farming Practices for the Central West of NSW

Economic benefits that arise from conservation farming practices need to be assessed over several years to account for improvements in soil structure and nutrient levels. A gross margin model was used to assess benefits over the eight-year period 1999-2006 for 12 regions in the central west of NSW. The annual benefits from improved soil structure ranged from $2.46 to$12.82 per hectare (ha). A reduction in tractor power produced annual savings in the range of $0.60 to$4.05 per ha. The cost of soil compaction by livestock grazing on crop areas ranged from $3.41 to$14.90 per ha. The break-even time to pay back costs for the conversion of machinery for no-till seeding was two to three seasons.No-till, conservation, farming, tillage, cropping systems, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management,

Grower representation and its impact on the governance structure of the Australian Grains Industry

The Australian wheat industry has changed considerably in structure and governance during the past 15 years. The most important changes have been the deregulation of the domestic market and privitisation of the former Australian Wheat Board into AWB Limited. Through these changes growers have become shareholders in the various companies. Governance of the monopolistic relationship between AWB Limited and AWB International by the Federal Minister of Agriculture and the Grains Council of Australia through the Wheat Export Authority has proved ineffective. Hence a national organisation that represents shareholders is recommended to increase grower governance of the supply chain and marketing of wheat.grain, marketing, infrastructure, competition, governance, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, Marketing,

Identification of substitute muscle groups for retail beef demand and supply equations

In modelling retail meat demand and supply equations it is difficult to identify close substitutes or competing products. However, close substitutes can be identified through a comparison of meat attributes, especially cooking method and sensory attributes. The Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading system can be used to identify primals (whole muscles) with similar attributes. The MSA system is based on carcase attributes, cooking methods and sensory properties and it allocates 3, 4 or 5 stars to beef primals. Prices for different star grades are affected by the quantity of meat allocated into each grade and this is determined by cooking method, which is dependent upon season. Estimating demand and supply by MSA grades and cooking methods requires fewer variables and therefore reduces multicollinearity and increases model efficiency.MSA, beef cuts, sensory attributes and cooking methods.,

A hedonic model of lamb carcass attributes

Lamb carcass value is widely reported to be a function of lean meat yield, which is the relationship between muscle, fat and bone. Five retailers and five wholesalers assessed 47 lamb carcasses from diverse genotypes and scored seven attributes. A hedonic model reveals that conformation attributes were more highly valued (16 c/kg) relative to yield characteristics (4 c/kg). Meat colour and fat distribution were significant for retailers, but less important for wholesalers. Genotype was not a strong indicator of conformation. Eye muscle area and depth were correlated with Fat C; however, these were not significant. These results indicate that carcass conformation, meat colour and fat distribution should be incorporated into carcass grading models.Hedonic, lamb, conformation and meat value, attributes, Livestock Production/Industries,

An Approach To Determining The Market For Academic Positions: Application To The Discipline Of Agricultural Economics

This paper presents relevant issues in choice of an academic career in the chosen discipline of each student.  The analytical model, applied to agricultural economics, is a supply/demand construct

Succession and stability in two rocky intertidal communities on the central Oregon coast

The stability of a limpet-dominated community was assessed in a experiment in which an consumer was temporarily removed. Compared to unmanipulated plots, the limpet-exclusion plots developed greater algal abundance and altered species composition of both algae and barnacles. The community was not perturbed beyond its capacity to recover, since the community structure of the limpet-removal plots converged on the structure of the unmanipulated plots after limpet reintroduction. Different components of the community recovered at different rates, depending on whether a species had a size-related escape from limpets. The length of the limpet-removal period did not affect community recovery. The mechanisms of succession were investigated in a community dominated by the barnacle Balanus glandula and the alga Pelvetiopsis limitata. Competition for space with Balanus excluded the barnacle, Chthamalus dalli, as succession proceeded. Chthamalus did not affect Balanus. Algal colonization was strongly facilitated by Balanus, but not Chthamalus. Algal recruitment to epoxy-filled barnacle tests indicated that facilitation resulted from barnacle tests altering the substrate, not from the activities of the living animal. Manipulations of barnacle and herbivore abundances demonstrated that facilitation was an mediated by limpets. Consumers decreased the rate of succession, supporting a model of how consumers affect the rate of succession as a function of both the model of succession and the successional status of the species consumed. Both gap size and position within a gap influenced algal cover, limpet density and species composition, but not total barnacle cover or the density and species composition of algal recruits. The results supported the prediction that the effects on succession of increasing gap size are similar to the effects of moving towards the center of a gap

Nasal Birth Trauma: A Review of Appropriate Treatment

The aetiology of nasal deformity has frequently included birth trauma. There is no consensus in the literature as to whether nasal surgery, in the form of closed reduction, is indicated in neonates. The majority of studies in the literature that advocate intervention have inadequate followup periods and there is a paucity of evidence for the adverse effects of conservative management. This case highlights the therapeutic dilemma posed by such nasal injuries in the neonate and, to the best of the authors' knowledge, at the time of writing, represents the earliest reported case in the literature of nasal deformity in the neonate. The term nasal deformity is used to denote deformity of the nasal pyramid, soft tissue, and septum. Three main aspects of neonatal nasal deformity are addressed including, firstly, if nasal deformity at birth needs to be addressed, secondly, if left unaltered, what the long-term effects are and, finally, if intervention alters the normal course of midfacial development

A Study of the Diet and Lifestyle of Irish School-Aged Children

Motivation/Aim of Study With rates of childhood obesity increasing worldwide, a study into whether Irish schoolchildren adhere to healthy practices for diet and lifestyle was conducted. Methods An extensive literature review was conducted and medical professionals were consulted regarding recommended guidelines for healthy living. Based on the recommended guidelines, a questionnaire was developed which included seven closed questions (four questions relating to diet, two relating to lifestyle and one relating to how these children rate their health). This was circulated to three randomly selected schools in Ireland (one each in Armagh, Dublin and Limerick). 227 children (aged 7-12) were included in the study. Statistical analysis was carried out on the returned surveys (n=227) and the results were compared to those reported in The Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children 2006 study. Results In the study’s target population, it was found that the average child is not achieving the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of fruit and vegetable or dairy consumption and is exceeding the RDA for confectionary foods consumption. While the average boy achieved the RDA for exercise, the average girl did not. Conclusion Among the 227 school children surveyed, the majority did not adhere to a healthy diet and lifestyle. The results supported the findings of The Irish Health Behaviour in Schoolaged Children 2006 study. To avoid future health problems the diet and lifestyle of our nation’s children must be improved

Impacts of the Tropical Pacific/Indian Oceans on the Seasonal Cycle of the West African Monsoon

The current consensus is that drought has developed in the Sahel during the second half of the twentieth century as a result of remote effects of oceanic anomalies amplified by local land–atmosphere interactions. This paper focuses on the impacts of oceanic anomalies upon West African climate and specifically aims to identify those from SST anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Oceans during spring and summer seasons, when they were significant. Idealized sensitivity experiments are performed with four atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). The prescribed SST patterns used in the AGCMs are based on the leading mode of covariability between SST anomalies over the Pacific/Indian Oceans and summer rainfall over West Africa. The results show that such oceanic anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Ocean lead to a northward shift of an anomalous dry belt from the Gulf of Guinea to the Sahel as the season advances. In the Sahel, the magnitude of rainfall anomalies is comparable to that obtained by other authors using SST anomalies confined to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean. The mechanism connecting the Pacific/Indian SST anomalies with West African rainfall has a strong seasonal cycle. In spring (May and June), anomalous subsidence develops over both the Maritime Continent and the equatorial Atlantic in response to the enhanced equatorial heating. Precipitation increases over continental West Africa in association with stronger zonal convergence of moisture. In addition, precipitation decreases over the Gulf of Guinea. During the monsoon peak (July and August), the SST anomalies move westward over the equatorial Pacific and the two regions where subsidence occurred earlier in the seasons merge over West Africa. The monsoon weakens and rainfall decreases over the Sahel, especially in August.Peer reviewe

Severe early onset preeclampsia: short and long term clinical, psychosocial and biochemical aspects

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder commonly defined as de novo hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks gestational age. It occurs in approximately 3-5% of pregnancies and it is still a major cause of both foetal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide1. As extensive research has not yet elucidated the aetiology of preeclampsia, there are no rational preventive or therapeutic interventions available. The only rational treatment is delivery, which benefits the mother but is not in the interest of the foetus, if remote from term. Early onset preeclampsia (<32 weeks’ gestational age) occurs in less than 1% of pregnancies. It is, however often associated with maternal morbidity as the risk of progression to severe maternal disease is inversely related with gestational age at onset2. Resulting prematurity is therefore the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in patients with severe preeclampsia3. Although the discussion is ongoing, perinatal survival is suggested to be increased in patients with preterm preeclampsia by expectant, non-interventional management. This temporising treatment option to lengthen pregnancy includes the use of antihypertensive medication to control hypertension, magnesium sulphate to prevent eclampsia and corticosteroids to enhance foetal lung maturity4. With optimal maternal haemodynamic status and reassuring foetal condition this results on average in an extension of 2 weeks. Prolongation of these pregnancies is a great challenge for clinicians to balance between potential maternal risks on one the eve hand and possible foetal benefits on the other. Clinical controversies regarding prolongation of preterm preeclamptic pregnancies still exist – also taking into account that preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the Netherlands5 - a debate which is even more pronounced in very preterm pregnancies with questionable foetal viability6-9. Do maternal risks of prolongation of these very early pregnancies outweigh the chances of neonatal survival? Counselling of women with very early onset preeclampsia not only comprises of knowledge of the outcome of those particular pregnancies, but also knowledge of outcomes of future pregnancies of these women is of major clinical importance. This thesis opens with a review of the literature on identifiable risk factors of preeclampsia