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Sex determination of fruit fly pupa using Near Infrared Spectroscopy. (Old ID 26970)
Implementation of an effective sterile insect program for fruit fly species Bactrocera tryoni requires that only sterile male insects be released. Therefore at some stage of the fly production process the females need to be removed. Hand sexing is very labour intensive and current automated systems based on colour and size are not effective in differentiating between male and female pupae for B. tryoni. Hence, a non-destructive, rapid method of sex separation is required that does not impact on the viability of the pupae and which can be incorporated into a mass rearing system. Preliminary research has demonstrated that Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) has great potential as an objective non-invasive method to sex B. tryoni pupae. The aim of this project is to develop and semi-automate a non-invasive rapid assessment technique to rapidly and consistently sort male and female B. tryoni pupae based on NIRS technology.
Reducing herbicide usage in the Burdekin and Proserpine reef catchment areas with precise robotic weed control in sugarcane (Old ID 26973)
The main objective of this project is to develop and build the world’s first robotic platform for selective weed control in sugarcane. Specifically, we aim to retrofit two 12-metre sugarcane booms for farmers in the Burdekin and Proserpine GBR catchment areas with state-of-the-art deep learning detection and spraying technology. The fundamental aim of this project is to significantly minimise the herbicide usage by selective spot spraying. We have set a target to reduce the knockdown herbicide usage on the chosen farms by 80% compared to the traditional blanket spraying that is performed during various stages of the crop cycle.
INDIGENOUS SCHOOL STEM PROJECT (Old ID 27068)
This project has been financially supported by the ARC-COE, Centre for Australian Biodiversity and heritage (CABAH), to measure the impact of a collaborative project between CABAH, IERC/JCU and Tagai State College to improve the educational performance of Indigenous students in the STEM curriculum areas from the early prep years through to Year 12.
Mecaflavo - Understanding the Anti-inflammatory Structure-Activity Relationships of Flavonoid Analogues [Compréhension des relations structures-activités dans les MECanismes Anti-inflammatoires d’analogues de FLAVOnoïdes] – MECAFLAVO (Old ID 27204)
Flavonoids are a class of natural compounds with various phenolic structures that are widely distributed in plants, including fruits and vegetables, tea or wine. The project MECAFLAVO will synthesize and evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of pinocembrin and pinobanksin analogues in order to understand their mechanism of action, metabolism and therapeutic safety. Through derivatization it further aims to improve the therapeutic profile and applications of these semi-synthetic compounds.
Ecology and bioacoustics of the Asian black-spined toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) (Old ID 27275)
A process has been designed by JCU, DAF and IPB University, based on Muller and Schwarzkopf, to determine and optimise ABST responses to lure calls and toad traps. Here we will extend that process to record, analyse and test ABST calls from outside of the local range of toads from Bogor Indonesia.
Development of a T cell malaria vaccine (Old ID 28983)
This application seeks to enhance the preclinical package to translate novel Plasmodium falciparum T cell reactive antigens discovered from rational genome-based screening towards clinical testing, to deliver a multi-antigen T-cell based vaccine for malaria ready for clinical trials.
Assessing the footprint, fingerprint, and vectoring potential towards Cu mineralization of trace elements in chalcopyrite and co-existing pyrite, and albite. (Old ID 30025)
This project aims to assess the footprint, fingerprint, and vectoring potential towards Cu mineralization by using trace element analyses of chalcopyrite, pyrite, and albite from Cu deposits in Mt Isa region. As part of this project co-existing chalcopyrite, pyrite and albite will be analysed from a suite of well characterised samples comprising a variety of mineral deposits from Mt Isa region. The role of host rock and deformation on mineral trace element geochemistry will be investigated in order to assess their influence on the vectoring potential.
Mt Leyshon REMP (Old ID 22096)
Development, implementation and reporting of the first stage of a receiving environment monitoring program (REMP) for the closed Mt Leyshon Mine, Charters Towers, Queensland.
Working with traditional owners and local citizens to better manage GBR estuarine wetlands (Old ID 22542)
Traditional Owner rangers and local citizens of the Port Curtis Coral Coast (PCCC) TUMRA will be engaged in developing a Mangrove Management Plan (MMP) that provides a strategic basis for estuarine repair activity and maximises water quality outcomes in the southern GBR. Development of this MMP will build capacity within the Gidarjil Development Corporation (GCD) and local community to undertake scientifically-rigorous, ecological monitoring and assessment. These management and rehabilitation strategies will protect sea country resources through partnerships between community, scientists and NRM agencies. The MMP will enable rangers and citizen scientists to conduct scientifically valid surveys of estuarine monitoring, management and rehabilitation within the PCCC TUMRA area.
What can locally managed marine areas do for you? (Old ID 27303)
Locally-managed marine areas (LMMA) regulate when, how, and by whom harvesting of resources occurs and are the dominant local marine resource management approach in the Pacific. Recently, a new wave of lessons have emerged on the efficacy of LMMAs that has yet to be interpreted and critiqued amongst resource managers, NGOs, and government actors. This project will involve hosting two workshops and co-developing communication products (infographic, pamphlet, and short video) in various Pacific languages on the current state of knowledge on LMMAs as a fisheries management tools. This work will provide an up to date synthesis of the contexts under which they can be successful, the trade-offs that may result when managing for multiple objectives, and the realistic impacts that can be expected from their use.