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Tropical diseases: Translating discoveries into better health (Old ID 24683)
Our overall working hypotheses are: 1. The rational design of tropical disease vaccines and other therapeutics requires improved understanding of immunology, host-parasite interactions and application of innovative bioengineering. 2.Improved interventions will be required to eliminate tropical infectious diseases. Our Specific Aims are: 1. Discover pathogenic and immune mechanisms, protective antigens, biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the control of tropical infectious diseases. 2. Develop new vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. 3. Optimise human pathogen challenge models to study host-pathogen interactions and test new vaccines and therapeutics. 4. Develop and test new clinical and public health interventions in disease-endemic settings.
Discovering the Faecal Microbiome Associated with Pre-Term Birth (Old ID 25095)
Development of the pre-term gut microbiome is important for immediate and longer term health outcomes. Much of what is known about the infant and neonatal microbiome has been derived from healthy full term infants. Collecting and understanding the microbiome of the TTH NICU cohort would provide a unique insight into the microbial development and in pre-term babies admitted to the NICU. This information will provide further evidence for interventions currently undertaken in the NICU such as administration of probiotics to infants <32 weeks. This project supports evidence-based multidisciplinary research in a novel way to assess the neonatal microbiome development.
Architecture of the hanging wall shear zone and faults affecting the ore zone at Dugald River Mine (Old ID 26246)
This is a PhD project to develop a better understanding of the larger scale geometry of the shear zone and fault system that occur within the immediate hanging wall of the zinc-sulphide ore body in Dugald River Mine, near Cloncurry, NW Queensland. We aim to understand how shear controls the distribution of the ore zone both from a genetic and mechanical (displacement and remobilization) perspective, to optimize ore recovery in a predictive manner.
Rhetoric to Reality: how the governance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers impacts chronic disease prevention and care in Northern Australia (Old ID 26266)
This project will explore the governance arrangements that shape the work practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers (A&TSIHW) in two government services in far North Queensland and the Northern Territory respectively. As the first systematic work relating to A&TSIHW governance the project aims to characterize both the formal and informal rules and norms that influence A&TSIHW roles, and develop new insights into the influence of different geographic, social and administrative structures on A&TSIHW performance. The outcomes are expected to support efforts to strengthen Indigenous health workforce planning across Northern Australia.
Vibration analysis of mining industry conveyor belt systems: validation of method and pathways to improvement (Old ID 26579)
Equipment failures in the mining industry can cause serious safety hazards and substantial financial losses. An automated, cost-effective monitoring system that could be retrofitted to existing equipment would provide advance warning to operators and reduce the likelihood of unscheduled outages. This project will test and validate a vibration-based monitoring system for conveyor belts and associated equipment. It will also identify improved methods to analyse the vibration data to increase the sensitivity and/or accuracy of the alerts that are generated.
Implementing artificial intelligence for the quantitative assessment of abalone in production systems (Old ID 26800)
This project will aim to develop, train, validate and implement an artificial intelligence model to identify and count abalone and measure quantitative abalone traits in production systems from an image. Currently, stock assessment is conducted manually, with large costs associated for the farms. This solution would reduce the cost of stock assessments and would greatly improve data quantity and quality using a “hands-off” approach. The model would also provide an advanced platform for further R & D improvements above and beyond basic assessments (e.g. growth monitoring in feeding trials).
Centre of Research Excellence Prevention of Chronic Conditions in Rural and Remote High Risk Populations (Old ID 20516)
The research team will undertake collaborative research in rural and remote communities of SA and QLD which will contribute directly to the prevention of chronic disease at various stages along the care continuum. They will investigate community and health service based strategies such as obesity prevention, nutrition improvement to prevent the onset of chronic diseases such as diabetes, renal and cardio vascular disease in health adults and children. The collaboration brings together researchers and institutions around three research streams: 1. Nutrition and Physical Activity in chronic disease prevention: let by Professor Kerin O'Dea; 2. Mental Health and Substance Misuse in chronic disease prevention: Led by A/Professor Alan Clough; 3. Clinical Systems improvement in Primary Care: led by Professor Robyn McDermott.
Shaping the 21st century student experience at regional universities (Old ID 22065)
This project seeks to understand the 21st century experiences of the diverse undergraduate student populations of regional universities to identify how equitable outcomes for these students can be achieved. New information and key practices will be discovered and a rich suite of resources will be made available to the sector for immediate takeup and use. As a result, regional universities will be able to strengthen their contributions to their regions and the nation by ensuring more students have a successful university experience.
Mix Designs for Paste Aggregate Fills (Old ID 22395)
JCU is requested to prepare the paste aggregate fill (PAF) samples, mixed with tailings in three different proportions. The samples are approximately 200mm diameter and 400mm in length, and the PAF should exclude fractions larger than 20mm and those less than 1.18mm. In all three mixes, UCS tests will be carried out after 7, 14, 28, 56 and 100 days and strength and Young's modulus will be determined. In addition, the grain size distribution, specific gravity, bulk density, and moisture content will be determined. In addition, it is also required to carry out slump tests on the different mixes using the standard slump cone.
Low does of oral corticosteroids in the treatment of painful acute otitis externa (swimmer's ear) - A randomized controlled triple blind trial (Old ID 22836)
Otitis Externa is a frequent problem in the tropics. Pain and swelling often makes topical treatment difficult. A few practitioners use oral corticosteroids as an adjuvant therapy despite lack of evidence. This study aims to evaluate the effect of oral corticosteroids on painful otitis externa.