Latest news with #MurdochUniversity
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Green360 metakaolin suits high-strength, low-carbon concrete
In a significant step for the company, laboratory test work has confirmed Green360 Technology's new high-reactivity metakaolin is well suited to producing low-carbon cement and high-performance structural concrete. The company produced metakaolin samples from its kaolin resources and deposits that exceed the quality benchmarks of other metakaolin products currently available in Australia. Metakaolin is a sought-after component of low-carbon cements. The anhydrous aluminosilicate is produced via the thermal decomposition of kaolin, a naturally occurring clay containing kaolinite and traces of quartz and other minerals. The kaolin is baked in a kiln at high temperatures for about 90 minutes. This causes a chemical change, transforming the material into metakaolin, which can react with water and calcium hydroxide to form cement. By successfully producing the reactive metakaolin, Green360 has completed the first leg of the new product's development pathway. The company ran lab tests on its new product in partnership with Murdoch University in Perth, using infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The analysis confirmed the complete mineral transformation of kaolin into an amorphous compound suitable for use in high-performance concrete. Amorphous minerals lack an organised, repeating internal crystalline structure, potentially making them stronger than their crystalline counterparts. This enhanced strength particularly applies to finely ground metakaolin products used with coarse cement components, such as sand and gravel. Murdoch's testwork has shown that Green360's metakaolin has a very high amorphous content, greater than 88 per cent and a correspondingly very low residual crystalline content, placing the company's product among the highest quality available. The company says other Australian metakaolin products typically range from 55 per cent to 75 per cent amorphous content, depending on their source material, quality and processing conditions. In general, the addition of metakaolin contributes to a denser microstructure in concrete, which increases the durability and longevity of structures in which it is used. This attribute makes the material suitable to partially replace traditional ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and for use in premium structural concretes for specific high-strength applications. Importantly, metakaolin production emits far less carbon dioxide than OPC manufacturing. Also, in a beneficial double whammy, metakaolin replaces some of the OPC that would otherwise be used in concrete, eliminating some of its vast carbon dioxide emissions. Other additives such as fly-ash and furnace slag are often added to cements, but they are typically coarser and have varying consistencies, strengths and reactivities. Green360 is progressing to the next development stage of its new high-quality metakaolin, kicking off real-world commercial-scale concrete trials with its joint-venture partner PERMAcast. The company is designing its metakaolin/cement formulations in cooperation with both Murdoch University and PERMAcast to meet Australian standards. The company has already begun its trial batches using the new formulations, which will be subject to key short and long-term performance tests, including workability, ease of finishing, slump retention, temperature sensitivity and setting times. The test regimen will also examine the new cement/concrete compatibility with other additives such as plasticisers, to ensure it will perform to real-world precast standards. Green360 will also run parallel test comparisons with other typical standard industry concrete formulations, including OPC with slag and fly-ash cement fillers. These trials are a key step in validating the performance of the company's metakaolin-based low-carbon cement formulations in commercial concrete products. Green360 is making significant strides towards the development and commercialisation of high-quality, low-cost, low-carbon cement formulations, which will address growing pressure for the cement and concrete industry to cut its high carbon footprint. With its breakthrough high-quality metakaolin, the company looks like it is well on the way to playing its part in the green initiative.
West Australian
15-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Murdoch University finds cattle brushes are a simple and cost-effective way of reducing anxiety in feedlots
Feedlot cattle with access to grooming brushes are happier, less stressed, and more playful, according to a study that gives farmers an easy way to boost animal welfare. A study conducted at Lake Preston, in WA's Peel region, by Murdoch University's Centre for Animal Production and Health found that grooming brushes were a simple and cost-effective way of reducing anxiety in feedlot cattle. More than 170 feedlot cattle were penned for 100 days for the study, which proved farmers could improve their livestock's wellbeing with minimal effort — satisfying societal concerns and increasing meat quality. Cattle in the pen containing the upright cattle-grooming brush were more content and sociable by the end of the study, while cattle without were scored as more anxious over an 100-day period. The research team found the frequency and duration of brush-use did not decrease over the study period, suggesting the cattle valued the form of enrichment for providing long-term mental and physical stimulation. The cattle also engaged in play behaviour more frequently, which Ms Collins said was an important sign of positive wellbeing in the social species. 'Despite the need for confinement for maximising growth, it is important to provide opportunities for cattle to groom themselves and each other to maintain overall wellbeing,' she said. 'Less stressed cattle will likely ensure safer interactions between producers and their animals, and also better-quality meat. 'Providing environmental enrichment helps promote natural behaviour which supports long-term productivity and farm sustainability, while mitigating societal concerns for cattle farmed in feedlots.' Ms Collins said using a cattle brush was an example of how producers can put into practice an Australian Beef Sustainability Framework goal without a lot of expense or labour. The study was conducted in 2021, and published in scientific journal, Frontiers in Animal Science, in December, 2024. Part two of the study — which looked at brush use over a 300-day period — is currently under analysis.
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Business Standard
29-04-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
New study finds repeated Covid-19 vaccines are safe for your metabolism
"Booster Covid-19 shot? Is that really okay for my body?" If that thought has crossed your mind, you are not alone. Many of us have quietly wondered what these repeated vaccines did inside us. And now, a new study might just put our minds at ease. Researchers from Murdoch University in Australia conducted a 16-month-long study tracking how repeated Covid-19 vaccinations like the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines affect the body — not just in terms of immune response, but also deeper changes in inflammation and metabolism. The study, titled Longitudinal study on immunologic, lipoproteomic, and inflammatory responses indicates the safety of sequential Covid-19 vaccination, was recently published in the J ournal of Molecular Medicine. Their conclusion? No lasting side effects on the body's internal systems. The researchers measured antibodies and checked over 130 health markers, including immune proteins (cytokines), cholesterol patterns, and small molecules in the blood. These tell us a lot about how the body is functioning behind the scenes. They followed 33 healthy adults who received two to four doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca vaccine. Blood samples were taken before and after each shot, and then followed up for over a year. 'The results showed no meaningful impact on key health indicators, including inflammatory markers, cardiovascular risk factors, and molecules involved in energy metabolism. Our findings provide insights into the safety of repeated Covid-19 vaccinations,' the study found. Covid vaccine side effects show no link to long-term metabolic harm While most participants reported mild side effects like a sore arm or feeling tired for a day or two, the researchers found no long-term changes in their metabolism. Even short-term fluctuations, like a temporary rise in a chemical called glutamic acid, returned to normal quickly. Dr Subhashree Samantaray, Associate Consultant – Infectious Diseases at Manipal Hospitals, Bhubaneswar, clarifies, "The slight increase in glutamic acid after the third vaccine dose is not of medical concern. The study also tracked the glutamine to glutamate ratio — a more valid marker of metabolic stress — and found it holding steady. This balance indicates that the metabolic system kept everything well-regulated. These changes are routine and do not signal any long-term risks or dysfunction." Interestingly, over 95 per cent of the samples from vaccinated people resembled those of completely healthy, uninfected individuals. Only a small fraction (5 per cent) resembled profiles seen in people with mild Covid-19 — mostly due to actual virus exposure, not the vaccine. How repeated Covid vaccinations affect immune response and inflammation A spike in a protein called IP10, which plays a role in immune responses, was seen briefly after the third shot. But this, too, was well within normal limits and quickly subsided. Dr Samantaray explains why this isn't a concern, "A temporary elevation in cytokines such as IP10 is exactly what the body should be doing to fend off a first-encountered infection. It's a controlled, transient immune response that returned to baseline in a few days — well within the healthy range. There was no indication of prolonged inflammation or immune abnormalities." Why long-term Covid vaccine safety studies still matter Since the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, over 775 million cases and 7 million deaths have been recorded worldwide. While most patients have recovered, many face lasting effects. Since December 2020, over 13.6 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered. Vaccination has sharply reduced hospitalisations, deaths, and long Covid risk — though rare severe side effects such as inflammation of the brain and spinal cord (encephalomyelitis), and inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), have emerged. The withdrawal of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from the market highlights the need for continued research into the immunological, inflammatory, and metabolic effects of Covid-19 vaccines, both in the short and long term. 'Our findings show that repeated vaccination supports strong immunity without burdening the body's metabolic or inflammatory systems,' said the authors of the study.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Scientists unlock genetic key to higher peanut yield
A team of 19 researchers from Australia and China have unlocked the genetic key to developing higher-yielding varieties of peanut or groundnut, a major food and oilseed crop in India. Their pan-genome analysis, revealing the structural variation associated with seed size and weight traits in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), was published in the latest edition of Nature Genetics, a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The researchers from Western Australia's Murdoch University, Henan Agricultural University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences assembled a pan-genome of peanut expected to serve as a fundamental resource for the genetic enhancement of legume crops. A pan-genome represents the entire range of genes within a population or species, encompassing both unique and shared genetic material. The study marks three Chinese lead authors – Kunkun Zhao, Hongzhang Xue, and Guowei Li – as equal contributors. Among its other authors are Annapurna Chitikineni and Rajeev K. Varshney from Murdoch University. The researchers studied the genome-wide diversity of 269 peanut accessions, including 61 wild species, landraces and improved species. They found significant genomic variations and highlighted two of the most critical traits that affect peanut yield: seed size and weight. Accession refers to a distinct sample or group of plant material, typically representing a single species or cultivar, collected from a specific location at a particular time. A landrace is a local cultivar improved by traditional agricultural methods. Tracing the evolution of domesticated peanut varieties from their wild relatives, the researchers discovered that the gene likely responsible for regulating cell division and yield size was absent in all the wild species analysed. Gene deletion The researchers also found that deleting a gene that negatively regulates the seed size makes the seeds bigger. 'Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and evolutionary factors that influence peanut pod size and weight used to be limited. This study offers the most comprehensive genomic variation resource of the globally important peanut and will be an invaluable tool for crop breeding efforts,' Prof. Varshney said. The lack of clarity about genomic rearrangements like structural variations underlying seed size and weight – critical traits for domestication and breeding – led to the study. The researchers presented a comprehensive pan-genome analysis, utilising eight high-quality genomes (two diploid wild, two tetraploid wild, and four tetraploid cultivated peanuts) and resequencing data of 269 accessions with diverse seed sizes. 'We identified 1,335 domestication-related [structural variations] and 190 structural variations associated with seed size or weight. Our study revealed that structural variations could influence gene expression, functional dynamics, and uneven domestication between two sub-genomes, ultimately affecting seed size and weight,' the study said. The most notable part of the study was the deletion of the AhARF2-2 gene, which results in the loss of two other genes, reducing the inhibitory effect on a third and promoting seed expansion. Beyond peanuts The researchers said structural variations, along with single-nucleotide polymorphism and epigenetic differences, are emerging as important variation features contributing to the genetic and phenotypic diversity observed in and between species. 'Understanding the impact of structural variations on plant phenotypic variation is crucial for breeders aiming to develop superior cultivars,' they said. The comprehensive peanut pan-genomes they developed resulted in an extensive resource of genomic variations that contribute to key agronomic traits in peanuts. The study said these 'will facilitate advancements in crop science and peanut breeding, thereby potentially improving global food security'. 'What makes this research especially exciting is that it offers new information that can be applied to numerous crops of economic importance, such as cotton and rapeseed,' Peter Davies, the Director of Murdoch University's Food Futures Institute, said.
Hans India
28-04-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Covid-19 vaccines have no lasting impact on metabolic health: Study
Covid-19 vaccines do not cause significant metabolic changes, easing concerns about potential long-term side effects, according to a study on Monday. The research led by researchers from Murdoch University in Australia followed 33 participants over 480 days, tracking 167 metabolic markers across 28 time points, Xinhua news agency reported. The results showed no meaningful impact on key health indicators, including inflammatory markers, cardiovascular risk factors, and molecules involved in energy metabolism. "This real-world study shows that Covid-19 vaccines are safe and don't cause significant metabolic changes," said lead author Ruey Leng Loo, Associate Professor at the varsity. "Our findings help counter misinformation and support confidence in vaccination," Loo said. Published in the Journal of Molecular Medicine, the research compared vaccinated participants with a control group who had never contracted Covid, as well as individuals who had experienced mild infections. The metabolic profiles of vaccinated individuals closely matched those of the control group, further indicating that vaccines do not trigger major biological shifts, the study said. Metabolic markers, including 34 cytokines, 112 lipoproteins, and 21 low-molecular-weight metabolites, remained largely stable post-vaccination. While a slight, temporary increase in the inflammation-related marker Chemokine IP10 was observed after the third dose, levels remained within the normal range and returned to baseline before subsequent vaccinations, Loo said. In contrast, even mild Covid infections were found to cause more pronounced metabolic disruptions than vaccination, she said. The expert noted that multiple doses do not produce the same biological disturbances seen after infection. 'While mild SARS-CoV-2 infections can cause more pronounced metabolic changes, the temporary fluctuations we observed after each vaccination were minor in comparison,' Loo said. 'These findings offer further reassurance to those hesitant about vaccination, demonstrating that multiple doses do not cause the same biological responses as the Covid-19 infections. Although the results are promising, the team stressed the need for further research with larger and more diverse groups.
