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Segmentation of Panoramic Dental Radiograph Using AI: AU-Net Based Approach
Dental radiographs, particularly panoramic X-rays, are critical for diagnosing and planning treatments for various dental conditions. Traditional manual analysis of these images is labor-intensive and prone to errors. Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially deep learning techniques, has transformed image segmentation tasks. This research investigates the application and comparative performance of four advanced AI-driven deep learning
models—U-Net, TransUNet, V-Net, and UNet++—for segmenting dental structures in panoramic X-rays.
What Attracts Domestic and International Travelers to Visit Museums in Phuket
This project is to understand the factors in attracting local and international tourists to visit Phuket museums
A sequential study of the microbiome profile in barramundi fry (Lates calcarifer) in different salinities
This project investigates whether the gut microbiome of juvenile barramundi is influenced by varying salinities. It assess gut mucosal morphology and also looks for the presence of Vibrio spp. toxin genes.
A study of the microbiome profile in barramundi fry (Lates calcarifer) fed diets with a different pH
Varying dietary pH is known to affect gut microflora in animal industries. This project looks at any potential changes to gut microbiome in juvenile barramundi fed diets with different pH.
Is groundwater discharge an overlooked source of methane in restored coastal wetlands?
Coastal wetlands including saltmarsh and mangroves (known as blue carbon ecosystems) can accumulate carbon and act as a natural sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). They, therefore, have the potential to mitigate climate change. However, the CO2 captured by wetlands may be counteracted by emissions of methane (CH4) from the wetland, which is a stronger greenhouse gas (GHG).
The Australian Government has recently created a blue carbon accounting system that encourages low-lying land to be converted to blue carbon ecosystems by removing tidal floodgates. However, effective restoration for carbon storage requires a better quantitative understanding of the fate of carbon following restoration. For example, it is currently unknown how much CH4 export will occur and whether the GHG impact of this flux is larger (or smaller) than the benefit of the overall carbon sequestration following wetland restoration.
Dissolved gasses including CH4 are often orders of magnitude higher in groundwaters than surface waters, suggesting groundwater seepage may be a significant, but unaccounted source of CH4 export from coastal wetlands. Determining how groundwater influences the carbon budget in coastal wetlands is complicated and costly if conventional methods of hydrogeological investigation (installation of observation bores) are used. In this study, we propose to use a novel and efficient method to estimate the contribution of groundwater to CH4 emissions from restored coastal wetlands based on natural geochemical tracers. This project expects to generate new knowledge about the fate of carbon post-wetland restoration. By knowing the dominant sources and sinks of greenhouse gases, the role that restored wetlands play in mitigating climate change will be better understood. This will provide insights into how restoration can be designed to maximize carbon storage. Hence,
the results from this work will be critical and timely in developing adequate strategies to manage coastal wetlands to minimize carbon losses.
Cassowary Coast Green Nourishment (Seagrass) Program (Stage 1 – Feasibility)
Working with Cassowary Coast Regional Council to study the feasibility of restoring coastal seagrass meadows to promote Green Beach Nourishment and coastal protection
Mental Health Collaborative Evaluation Project
Western Queensland PHN is one of 31 PHNs established to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of primary care services for patients, particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes. The mental health collaborative is part of the wider Australian Primary Care Collaborative (APCC) program which is a key part of the Australian General Practice quality improvement landscape. The mental health collaborative aims to encourage practices to engage in a continuous quality improvement (CQI) approach to improve mental health care provided and health outcomes. The program provides support to general practices and other primary health care services to deliver rapid, measurable, systematic and sustainable improvements in the care they provide to patients. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine the association of implementation of the mental health collaborative with changes in client outcomes (particularly overall wellbeing and functioning) over a 12 month period.
Identification of good practices in engaging communities in research for implementation and in social innovation in health in low- and middle-income countries
This project will undertake a systematic review to identify lessons learned around processes to engage communities in health services research in low and middle countries in South East Asia and the Pacific. It will focus on both the types of engagement (participants, stakeholders, partners, initiators and leaders) and the results update processes and outcomes. It will adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analysis (PRISMA) checklist and access published, systematic reviews and grey literature.
Building capacity of GMY rangers to participate in the management of their Sea Country – 2.0
This collaborative project between GMY (Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers) and JCU’s TropWATER team is a continuation and expansion of our GBRF Healing Country project and Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger GBR Program project. This project will continue to fill critical knowledge gaps by collecting baseline information or update old information for seagrass habitat, the current health and condition of coral habitats and dugong and turtle movement in GMY Sea Country. GMY rangers will work with JCU TropWATER scientists to up-skill in key areas: seagrass, dugong and coral reef surveys and monitoring methods; drones, mapping and GIS survey methods; habitat mapping; and data management.
JCU TropWATER staff; Skye McKenna, Dr Katie Chartrand & Dr Chris Cleguer will provide the science (i.e., science around mapping benthic habitats, designing monitoring programs & aerial drone-based research & monitoring), technical (i.e., using spatial databases, data management systems, drone training), logistical (i.e., vessel and underwater camera equipment), reporting and training (i.e., species identification) support required to deliver the project.
Assessing seagrass distribution as habitat for dugong, turtle and fish on Mandubarra Sea Country
The project will survey seagrass around the South Barnard Islands to complete habitat mapping within the coastal waters of Mandubarra's TUMRA. It will also look at the use of these seagrass meadows by the large herbivores, green turtles and dugong, that graze on them, using high intensity aerial surveys over key foraging grounds in the area. The project will also use Stereo Remote Underwater Video (RUVS) and Baited Underwater Videos (BRUVS) to identify, count and measure fish assemblages in seagrass and reef at Kurrimine Beach-King Reef and the Barnard Island to identify important nursery and adult fish habitats.