The starting point for this project is the recent finding that women who experience miscarriages or terminations of pregnancy before theuir first birth have an increased risk of having a preterm (premature) infant. These findings have prompted a re-evaluation of the relationship between the number of pregnancies a women has had and the likely outcome in later pregnancies. It will take into account the stage at which prior pregnancies ended, what the outcomes of the pregnancies were (birth, healt ....The starting point for this project is the recent finding that women who experience miscarriages or terminations of pregnancy before theuir first birth have an increased risk of having a preterm (premature) infant. These findings have prompted a re-evaluation of the relationship between the number of pregnancies a women has had and the likely outcome in later pregnancies. It will take into account the stage at which prior pregnancies ended, what the outcomes of the pregnancies were (birth, health baby, death, baby with a birth defect, termination, miscarriage etc), as well as factors such as maternal age, in relation to the risks in subsequent pregnancies. The expected outcomes and significance of the study are: * new evidence about factors causing adverse outcomes of pregnancy; * better information on the risk of recuurence of common birth defects; * more precise information on risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes for users and planners of maternity services.Read moreRead less
Validating And Optimising The Analysis Of Magnetic Resonance Physiology Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$91,725.00
Summary
Combined electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to detect the anatomical areas in the brain that show electrical activity. Several centres worldwide use this technique to localise the seizure focus in patients with epilepsy. However, there is a lack of validation of the currently applied techniques. Current analysis methods have been developed and validated for other fMRI paradigms, such as motor tasks. It is not known whether the same principles ar ....Combined electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to detect the anatomical areas in the brain that show electrical activity. Several centres worldwide use this technique to localise the seizure focus in patients with epilepsy. However, there is a lack of validation of the currently applied techniques. Current analysis methods have been developed and validated for other fMRI paradigms, such as motor tasks. It is not known whether the same principles are applicable and optimal for fMRI-EEG data. The proposed project aims at validating and optimising the analysis strategies for fMRI-EEG data.Read moreRead less
Pathways To Avoidable And Unexplained Deaths In The Early Lifecourse
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,108,086.00
Summary
There continues to be unacceptable numbers of avoidable deaths in early life in Australia, particularity among disadvantaged groups. This project will use novel, large-scale population data to identify and quantify the impact of risks to early life mortality and preventable pathways. This new knowledge will inform new strategies to prevent stillbirth and child deaths for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other populations.
Cryptographic Protocols: Proofs and Designs. Cryptographic protocols are the foundation for protection of the critical electronic communications infrastructure on which much of commerce and industry rely. They will increasingly be required in emerging technologies such as ad-hoc wireless networks and sensor networks. This project will provide the ability to design new and efficient protocols with a mathematical guarantee of security. The resulting practical protocols will benefit all users of el ....Cryptographic Protocols: Proofs and Designs. Cryptographic protocols are the foundation for protection of the critical electronic communications infrastructure on which much of commerce and industry rely. They will increasingly be required in emerging technologies such as ad-hoc wireless networks and sensor networks. This project will provide the ability to design new and efficient protocols with a mathematical guarantee of security. The resulting practical protocols will benefit all users of electronic communications who require security for their information. This includes the financial industries, government, commerce and domestic users.Read moreRead less
Cryptographic Protocols from Pairings: Proofs and Designs. Modern society has become critically dependent on information and communications infrastructures. At the same time, the development of e-commerce is being slowed by lack of confidence in its security. By providing increased assurance and enhanced cryptographic security protocols this research will improve the dependability of the nation's information and communications infrastructure, as well as encourage the growth of e-commerce. Throu ....Cryptographic Protocols from Pairings: Proofs and Designs. Modern society has become critically dependent on information and communications infrastructures. At the same time, the development of e-commerce is being slowed by lack of confidence in its security. By providing increased assurance and enhanced cryptographic security protocols this research will improve the dependability of the nation's information and communications infrastructure, as well as encourage the growth of e-commerce. Through the expertise and experience gained with this project, Australia's excellence in information security research will be reinforced. The training of PhD and Honours students will provide a much needed source of highly trained information security professionals.Read moreRead less
Potential For Creatine Or Melatonin As Dietary Supplements In Pregnancy To Prevent Perinatal Brain Damage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$483,217.00
Summary
Brain damage in the newborn - particularly in prematurely born infants - remains a significant health problem. At present there are very few treatments that can be used to minimize damage when it becomes apparent in the newborn, and none that can be used PROSPECTIVELYduring pregnancy to protect the developing brain from damage. The most likely cause of damage to the fetal brain during pregnancy or at birth is global ASPHYXIA, either by itself or in association with other problems of pregnancy su ....Brain damage in the newborn - particularly in prematurely born infants - remains a significant health problem. At present there are very few treatments that can be used to minimize damage when it becomes apparent in the newborn, and none that can be used PROSPECTIVELYduring pregnancy to protect the developing brain from damage. The most likely cause of damage to the fetal brain during pregnancy or at birth is global ASPHYXIA, either by itself or in association with other problems of pregnancy such as infection, preterm birth, or fetal growth retardation. In this project we propose that providing extra amounts of the dietary constituent creatine, or of the hormone melatonin, to the pregnant animal in late gestation, will provide NEUROPROTECTION to the developing brain in the face of an asphyxial challenge that otherwise causes damage. We will use pregnant sheep to investigate the effects of asphyxia in utero on the fetal brain using techniques that allow us to monitor metabolic changes within the brain in real time. In addition, we will use the pregnant Spiny Mouse to investigate the effects of birth asphyxia on the postnatal brain structure and behavioral development. We will study groups of animals fed a normal diet, and compare then to animals that receive additional amounts of creatine or melatonin. We expect to determine if either of these treatments have the potential to protect the developing brain from asphyxial damage, and to recommend if similar treatments could be used in pregnant women where the obstetrician suspects the baby's brain is at risk of damage.Read moreRead less
Algebraic Methods in Design and Analysis of Stream Ciphers. The project investigates the problem of communication security in the mobile environment where both confidentiality and authenticity are of prime concern. Stream ciphers are a very natural choice in mobile environment as they provide an efficient cryptographic protection using a limited computing resources. We model stream cipher as a system of multivariate equations. In this approach, security of stream ciphers can be measured as the c ....Algebraic Methods in Design and Analysis of Stream Ciphers. The project investigates the problem of communication security in the mobile environment where both confidentiality and authenticity are of prime concern. Stream ciphers are a very natural choice in mobile environment as they provide an efficient cryptographic protection using a limited computing resources. We model stream cipher as a system of multivariate equations. In this approach, security of stream ciphers can be measured as the complexity of an algorithm that solves the appropriate system of equations. This project leads to new techniques for the design and analysis of stream ciphers.Read moreRead less
Algebraic Models of Stream Ciphers. The project investigates communication security in the mobile environment where both confidentiality and authenticity are of a prime concern. Stream ciphers are a natural choice in mobile environments as they provide an efficient cryptographic protection using a limited computing resources. We treat stream ciphers as algebraic objects whose properties fully determine their cryptographic strength. We first analyse existing stream ciphers showing their algebraic ....Algebraic Models of Stream Ciphers. The project investigates communication security in the mobile environment where both confidentiality and authenticity are of a prime concern. Stream ciphers are a natural choice in mobile environments as they provide an efficient cryptographic protection using a limited computing resources. We treat stream ciphers as algebraic objects whose properties fully determine their cryptographic strength. We first analyse existing stream ciphers showing their algebraic properties and later we derive a design methodology for provably secure stream ciphers. The project leads to new secure and efficient designs for stream ciphers that are the preferred cryptographic tools used in Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Algebraic Analysis of Cryptosystems. This project studies an (new) algebraic approach to cryptanalysis of modern block ciphers. The approach works for all cryptosystems that use either small S-boxes, or their algebraic structure can be described by a system of overdefined quadratic equations. The cryptosystems that are potentially breakable using this approach are Rijndael and Serpent - the two top finalists of the Advanced Encryption Standard contest. The project also explores how this approach ....Algebraic Analysis of Cryptosystems. This project studies an (new) algebraic approach to cryptanalysis of modern block ciphers. The approach works for all cryptosystems that use either small S-boxes, or their algebraic structure can be described by a system of overdefined quadratic equations. The cryptosystems that are potentially breakable using this approach are Rijndael and Serpent - the two top finalists of the Advanced Encryption Standard contest. The project also explores how this approach can be applied to design new and more powerful factoring algorithms. The project has an explosive potential to redefine the theory and practice of modern cryptography.Read moreRead less
Antiplatelets For Prevention Of Pre-eclampsia: An Individual Patient Data Review
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$274,000.00
Summary
High blood pressure is a common complication of pregnancy affecting ~20,000 Australian women each year. Although most women and their babies do well, pre-eclampsia, defined as high blood pressure together with protein in the urine is a more serious problem. Severe pre-eclampsia is associated with 10-15% of maternal deaths. Fetal and newborn baby deaths are also increased. Mother and baby morbidity is high principally due to the associated complications in pregnancy, increased obstetric intervent ....High blood pressure is a common complication of pregnancy affecting ~20,000 Australian women each year. Although most women and their babies do well, pre-eclampsia, defined as high blood pressure together with protein in the urine is a more serious problem. Severe pre-eclampsia is associated with 10-15% of maternal deaths. Fetal and newborn baby deaths are also increased. Mother and baby morbidity is high principally due to the associated complications in pregnancy, increased obstetric interventions, fetal growth restriction and preterm birth. As yet we have no safe and effective way of preventing this life threatening condition. Aggregation of platelets (involved in blood clotting) is known to be part of the disease and could lead to the disturbances in the circulation of the mother and the placenta. Antiplatelet agents, low dose aspirin in particular, might prevent or delay the development of pre-eclampsia. Some trials and a Cochrane systematic review of all trials (involving over 30,000 women) suggest that pre-eclampsia, preterm birth and perinatal death could be reduced. However, it is still not clear which women will benefit, when in pregnancy the treatment should start and what dose of aspirin is both effective and safe. This proposed individual patient data review in which data on all women who have been entered in trials is gathered from the original investigators, including missing information on potential harms. This proposal represents a good investment of resources to obtain the information needed by women and health professional to make decisions about the use of aspirin. International investigators from all the primary trials have already formed a collaboration to oversee the project: the Perinatal Antiplatelet Review of International Studies (PARIS) Collaboration Furthermore, working through an international collaboration will ensure the highest quality in data availability, as well endorsement and implementation of the results in practice.Read moreRead less