Viewpoint : social and economic dimensions of involving savanna communities in carbon management systems

In this paper we discuss the social, economic and institutional aspects of the development of carbon management systems within Australia's tropical savannas. Land-use values in savanna landscapes are changing as a result of changing economic markets, greater recognition of native title, and growing social demands and expectations for tourism, recreation and conservation. In addition, there is increasing interest in developing markets and policy arrangements for greenhouse gas abatement, carbon sequestration and carbon trade in savannas. We argue that for carbon management to lead to national greenhouse outcomes, attention must be paid to social, economic and institutional issues in environmental planning and policy arrangements. From an economic perspective, the financial impact of carbon management on savanna enterprises will depend on appropriate and available policy mechanisms, unit price for carbon, landscape condition, existing management strategies and abatement measurements used. Local social and cultural features of communities and regions may enhance or constrain the implementation of carbon abatement strategies, depending on how they are perceived. In terms of institutional arrangements, policies and plans must support and enable carbon management. We identify three areas that require priority investigation and adjustment: regional planning arrangements, property rights, and rules for accounting at enterprise and regional scales. We conclude that the best potential for managing for carbon will be achieved while managing for range of other natural resource management outcomes, especially where managing for carbon delivers collateral benefits to enterprises.

Navigating the future of roads – considering potential impacts of environmental and social trends on road infrastructure

Providing mobility corridors for communities, enabling freight networks to transport goods and services, and a pathway for emergency services and disaster relief operations, roads are a vital component of our societal system. In the coming decades, a number of modern issues will face road agencies as a result of climate change, resource scarcity and energy related challenges that will have implications for society. To date, these issues have been discussed on a case by case basis, leading to a fragmented approach by state and federal agencies in considering the future of roads – with potentially significant cost and risk implications. Within this context, this paper summarises part of a research project undertaken within the ‘Greening the Built Environment’ program of the Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre (SBEnrc, Australia), which identified key factors or ‘trends’ affecting the future of roads and key strategies to ensure that road agencies can continue to deliver road infrastructure that meets societal needs in an environmentally appropriate manner. The research was conducted over two years, including a review of academic and state agency literature, four stakeholder workshops in Western Australia and Queensland, and industry consultation. The project was supported financially and through peer review and contribution, by Main Roads Western Australia, QLD Department of Transport and Main Roads, Parsons Brinckerhoff, John Holland Group, and the Australian Green Infrastructure Council (AGIC). The project highlighted several potential trends that are expected to affect road agencies in the future, including predicted resource and materials shortages, increases in energy and natural resources prices, increased costs related to greenhouse gas emissions, changing use and expectations of roads, and changes in the frequency and intensity of weather events. Exploring the implications of these potential futures, the study then developed a number of strategies in order to prepare transport agencies for the associated risks that such trends may present. An unintended outcome of the project was the development of a process for enquiring into future scenarios, which will be explored further in Stage 2 of the project (2013-2014). The study concluded that regardless of the type and scale of response by the agency, strategies must be holistic in approach, and remain dynamic and flexible.

‘Doing’ social justice in early childhood : the potential of leadership

Early childhood education has long been connected with objectives related to social justice. Australian Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) has its roots in philanthropic and educational reform movements prevalent at the turn of the 20th century. More recently, with the introduction of the National Early Childhood Reform Agenda, early childhood education has once more been linked to the achievement of aims associated with redressing inequality and disadvantage. According to Jean-Marie, Normore and Brooks (2009), educational leaders have a moral and social obligation to foster equitable practices through advocating for traditionally marginalised and poorly served students while creating a new social order “...that subverts the long standing system that has privileged certain students while oppressing or neglecting others” (p.4). Drawing on extant literature, including data from two previously reported Australian studies in which leadership emerged as having a transformational impact on service delivery, this paper examines the potential of early childhood leadership to generate ‘socially just’ educational communities. With reference to critical theory, we argue that critically informed, intentional and strategic organisational leadership can play a pivotal role in creating changed circumstances and opportunities for children and families. Such leadership includes positional and distributed elements, articulation of values and beliefs, and collective action that is mindful and informed.

The identification and rapid extraction of hydrocarbons from Nicotiana glauca : A potential advanced renewable biofuel source

Declining fossil fuels reserves, a need for increased energy security and concerns over carbon emissions from fossil fuel use are the global drivers for alternative, renewable, biosources of fuels and chemicals. In the present study the identification of long chain (C29–C33) saturated hydrocarbons from Nicotiana glauca leaves is reported. The occurrence of these hydrocarbons was detected by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and identification confirmed by comparison of physico-chemical properties displayed by the authentic standards available. A simple, robust procedure was developed to enable the generation of an extract containing a high percentage of hydrocarbons (6.3% by weight of dried leaf material) higher than previous reports in other higher plant species consequently, it is concluded that N. glauca could be a crop of greater importance than previously recognised for biofuel production. The plant can be grown on marginal lands, negating the need to compete with food crops or farmland, and the hydrocarbon extract can be produced in a non-invasive manner, leaving remaining biomass intact for bioethanol production and the generation of valuable co-products.

Conversion of neutral C2COC2 to C4CO. potential interstellar molecules

Both [C4CO]−· and [C2COC2]−· are formed in the ion source of a VG ZAB 2HF mass spectrometer by the respective processes HO− + Me3Si–CC–CC–CO–CMe3 → [C4CO]−· + Me3SiOH + Me3C·, and Me3Si–CC–CO–CC–SiMe3 + SF6 + e → [C2COC2]−· + 2Me3SiF + SF4. The second synthetic pathway involves a double desilylation reaction similar to that first reported by Squires. The two radical anion isomers produce different and characteristic charge reversal spectra upon collisional activation. In contrast, following collision induced charge stripping, both radical anions produce neutral C4CO as evidenced by the identical neutralisation reionisation (−NR+) spectra. The exclusive rearrangement of C213COC2 to C413CO indicates that 12C–O bond formation is not involved in the reaction. Ab initio calculations (at the RCCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-31G∗ level of theory) have been used to investigate the reaction coordinates on the potential surfaces for both singlet and triplet rearrangements of neutral C2COC2. Singlet C2COC2 is less stable than singlet C4CO by 78.8 kcal mol−1 and requires only 8.5 kcal mol−1 of additional energy to effect conversion to C4CO by a rearrangement sequence involving three C–C ring opening/cyclisation steps.

Trade, travel and disease : the role of law in pandemic preparedness

In 2009 the world experienced an influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 virus. While the pandemic was milder then expected, it nonetheless provided the world with an opportunity to do real-time testing of pandemic preparedness. This paper examines the threats to human health posed by infectious diseases and the challenges for the global community in development of effective surveillance systems for emerging infectious diseases. In 2005 a new revised version of the International Health Regulations (IHR) was adopted. The requirements of the IHR (2005) are outlined and considered in light of the constraints facing resource-poor countries. Finally, the paper addresses the role of domestic law-making in supporting public health preparedness and articulates a number of ethical principles that should be considered when developing new public health laws.

Total energy shaping of a class of underactuated Port-Hamiltonian Systems using a new set of closed-loop potential shape variables

This paper proposes a method for designing set-point regulation controllers for a class of underactuated mechanical systems in Port-Hamiltonian System (PHS) form. A new set of potential shape variables in closed loop is proposed, which can replace the set of open loop shape variables-the configuration variables that appear in the kinetic energy. With this choice, the closed-loop potential energy contains free functions of the new variables. By expressing the regulation objective in terms of these new potential shape variables, the desired equilibrium can be assigned and there is freedom to reshape the potential energy to achieve performance whilst maintaining the PHS form in closed loop. This complements contemporary results in the literature, which preserve the open-loop shape variables. As a case study, we consider a robotic manipulator mounted on a flexible base and compensate for the motion of the base while positioning the end effector with respect to the ground reference. We compare the proposed control strategy with special cases that correspond to other energy shaping strategies previously proposed in the literature.

Elemental composition and potential toxicity of airborne particles at some urban schools

Although both the size and chemical composition of ambient particles are important parameters in determining their toxicities, their relative contributions are unclear (Heal et al., 2012). Children are particularly at risk to the detrimental health effects that have been linked to long term exposure to airborne particles (See e.g. Ruckerl et al., 2011). However, there is currently limited understanding of the health effects in children due to long term exposure to airborne particles. Schools are locations within an urban environment where children experience significant exposure to vehicle emissions, and to date there is limited information assessing children’s exposure at school. This study is a part of a large project aimed at gaining a holistic picture of the exposure of children to traffic related pollutants. In the current paper, results from the investigation of the elemental composition of airborne particle at urban schools are presented.

ACE research vignette 032: Potentially valuable or acquired resources?

This series of research vignettes is aimed at sharing current and interesting research findings from our team of international Entrepreneurship researchers. In this vignette, Dr Martin Bliemel and his research team consider a trade-off entrepreneurs face when managing their network: should they form stronger relationships to acquire key resources, or should they reach out to more potential partners to access new resources?

Formation of two isomeric C3HO radicals from charged precursors in the gas phase. Potential interstellar molecules

Theoretical calculations of the C3HO potential surface at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDu/B3LYP/6-31G* level indicate that the three radicals HCCCO, CCCHO, and (cyclo-C3H)=O are stable, with HCCCO being the most stable of the three. A fourth isomer, CCHCO, is unstable with respect to cyclization to (cyclo-C3H)=O. Two isomers have been prepared by neutralization of charged precursors, formed as follows: (i) HCCCO, by HC drop C-C(O)-O+(H)(Me) --> HC3O+ + MeOH, and (ii) C2CHO, by (a) Me3SiC drop C-CHO + HO- --> C- drop C-CHO + Me3SiOH and (b) C- drop C-CH(OH)-C drop CH --> C- drop C-CHO + C2H2. A comparison of the CR and -NR+ spectra of -C2CHO indicate that C2CHO is (partially) rearranging to an isomer that shows significant formation of CO.(+) in the -NR+ spectrum of the anion. Ab initio calculations indicate that HCCCO is the product of the isomerism and that a proportion of these isomerized neutrals dissociate to CO and C2H. The neutral HCCCO may be formed by (i) synchronous rearrangement of C2CHO and/or (ii) stepwise rearrangement of C2CHO through (cyclo-C3H)=O. The second of these processes should have the higher rate, as it has the lower barrier in the rate-determining step and the higher Arrhenius pre-exponential A factor.

Cumulenic and heterocumulenic anions : potential interstellar species?

A recent theoretical investigation by Terzieva & Herbst of linear carbon chains, C-n where n greater than or equal to 6, in the interstellar medium has shown that these species can undergo efficient radiative association to form the corresponding anions. An experimental study by Barckholtz, Snow & Bierbaum of these anions has demonstrated that they do not react efficiently with molecular hydrogen, leading to the possibility of detectable abundances of cumulene-type anions in dense interstellar and circumstellar environments. Here we present a series of electronic structure calculations which examine possible anionic candidates for detection in these media, namely the anion analogues of the previously identified interstellar cumulenes CnH and Cn-1CH2 and heterocumulenes CnO (where n = 2-10). The extraordinary electron affinities calculated for these molecules suggest that efficient radiative electron attachment could occur, and the large dipole moments of these simple (generally) linear molecules point to the possibility of detection by radio astronomy.

Hormone resistance, invasiveness, and metastatic potential in breast cancer

Critical phenotypic changes that occur during the progression of breast cancer include the loss of hormone-dependence, acquired resistance to systemic therapies, and increased metastatic potential. We have isolated a series of MCF-7 human breast cancer variants which exhibit hormone-independent growth, antiestrogen resistance, and increased metastatic potential. Analysis of the phenotypes of these variants strongly suggests that changes in the expression of specific genes may be critical to the generation of phenotypic diversity in the process of malignant progression in breast cancer. Epigenetic changes may contribute significantly to the generation of these phenotypic changes observed during breast cancer progression. Many of the characteristics of the progressed phenotypes appear to have arisen in response to appropriate selective pressures (growth in ovariectomized nude mice; growth in the presence of antiestrogens). These observations are consistent with the concept of clonal selection and expansion in the process of malignant progression.

Analysis of ship roll gyrostabiliser control

The use of dedicated spinning wheels that generate gyroscopic forces for reducing the roll motion of ships was considered and tested over 100 years ago. These devices, known as gyrostabilisers, presented a remarkable performance, but they fell into disuse due to their relatively large size and, primarily, due to the inability of the control systems to maintain performance over an extended envelope of sea states and sailing conditions (speed and heading relative to the waves). To date, advances in materials, mechanical design, electrical drives, and computer control systems have resulted in a revitalized interest in gyro-stabilisers for ships. This paper revisits the modelling of the coupled vessel-gyrostabiliser and delves into the associated gyrostabiliser control design problem. It also describes design trade-offs and potential performance limitations. A simulation study based on a navy patrol vessel is presented.

MT1-MMP correlates with MMP-2 activation potential seen after epithelial to mesenchymal transition in human breast carcinoma cells

We have previously reported that human breast carcinoma (HBC) cell lines expressing the mesenchymal intermediate filament protein vimentin (VIM+) are highly invasive in vitro, and highly metastatic in nude mice when compared to their VIM- counterparts. Since only VIM+ cell lines can be induced to activate matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) upon stimulation with Concanavalin A (Con A), we have examined here membrane type 1 MMP (MT1-MMP), a cell surface activator of MMP-2. Northern analysis reveals baseline expression of MT1-MMP in five of the six VIM+ cell lines studied (MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-435, BT-549, Hs578T, MCF-7(ADR)), each of which showed variable activation of exogenous MMP-2 after treatment with Con A. In contrast, the four VIM-, poorly invasive HBC cell lines studied (MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MB 468, ZR-75-1) lacked baseline MT1-MMP mRNA expression, and showed no induction of either MT1-MMP expression or MMP-2-activation with Con A. Such differential MT1-MMP expression was confirmed in vivo using in situ hybridization analysis of nude mouse tumor xenografts of representative cell lines. Western analysis of the MDA-MB-231 cells revealed baseline membrane expression of a 60 kDa species, which was strongly induced by Con A treatment along with a weaker band co-migrating with that from MT1-MMP-transfected COS-1 cells (63 kDa), presumably representing latent MT1-MMP. MT1-MMP immunofluorescence strongly decorated Con A-stimulated MDA-MB-231 cells in a manner consistent with membranous staining, but did not decorate the unstimulated MDA-MB-231 cells or MCF-7 cells under either condition. Collectively, the results suggest the constitutive production of active MT1-MMP which is unavailable for either MMP-2 activation or immuno-decoration until Con A treatment. Since VIM expression arises by virtue of the so-called epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in invasive embryonic epithelia, we propose that this represents a major metastasis mechanism in breast carcinomas. MT1-MMP on the surface of such 'fibroblastoid' carcinoma cells may mediate a paracrine loop for the utilization of stromally produced MMP-2, and contribute to the poorer survival associated with VIM+ breast carcinomas.

Formation of neutral molecules of potential stellar interest by neutralisation of negative ions in a mass spectrometer - The application of experiment and molecular modelling in concert

This paper is a modified version of a lecture which describes the synthesis, structure and reactivity of some neutral molecules of stellar significance. The neutrals are formed in the collision cell of a mass spectrometer following vertical Franck-Condon one electron oxidation of anions of known bond connectivity. Neutrals are characterised by conversion to positive ions and by extensive theoretical studies at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. Four systems are considered in detail, viz (i) the formation of linear C-4 and its conversion to the rhombus C-4, (ii) linear C-5 and the atom scrambling of this system when energised, (iii) the stable cumulene oxide CCCCCO, and (iv) the elusive species O2C-CO. This paper is not intended to be a review of interstellar chemistry: examples are selected from our own work in this area. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.