Renewable energy distribution in public spaces: Analyzing the case of Ballast Point Park in Sydney, using a triple bottom line approach

As cities are rapidly developing new interventions against climate change, embedding renewable energy in public spaces is an important strategy. However, most interventions primarily include environmental sustainability while neglecting the social and economic interrelationships of electricity production. Although there is a growing interest in sustainability within environmental design and landscape architecture, public spaces are still awaiting viable energy-conscious design and assessment interventions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate this issue in a renowned public space—Ballast Point Park in Sydney—using a triple bottom line (TBL) case study approach. The emerging factors and relationships of each component of TBL, within the context of public open space, are identified and discussed. With specific focus on renewable energy distribution in and around Ballast Point Park, the paper concludes with a general design framework, which conceptualizes an optimal distribution of onsite electricity produced from renewable sources embedded in public open spaces.

Cytokine mRNA expression and IFN-γ production of immunised nematode resistant and susceptible lambs against natural poly-generic challenge

IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ mRNA expression, and production of IFN-γ was examined in mesenteric lymph node cells (MLNC) and CD4+ enriched T cell populations of nematode resistant (R) and susceptible (S) line lambs by use of RT-PCR and ELISA. Five R and S line lambs that were immunised by repeated oxfendazole-abbreviated infections and 5 non-immunised R and S line lambs were used. All lambs grazed nematode infected pasture for 107 days. Immunisation enhanced the resistant status in both R and S lambs. MLNC obtained from slaughtered animals were stimulated with Con A or T. colubriformis specific antigen. Non-stimulated MLNC of immunised lambs expressed higher levels of IL-4 mRNA and lower levels of IL-2 mRNA than non-immunised lambs. MLNC of immunised R and S line lambs stimulated with antigen for 24 h expressed detectable amounts of IL-4 mRNA that was not seen in non-immunised controls. CD4+ T cell enriched cell populations of immunised R and S lambs and non-immunised R lambs expressed moderate to high levels of IL-4 mRNA. Con A stimulated MLNC of immunised R and S lambs expressed high levels IFN-γ mRNA and produced high amounts of IFN-γ. Lower levels were present in non-immunised controls. The results indicate that R line lambs and immunised S line lambs respond to natural nematode challenge with a predominating IL-4 cytokine response when compared to non-immunised S lambs.