Phase Contrast X-ray Imaging of the Lung. Lung diseases are a major cause of death in adults, children and newborn infants. Currently, the diagnosis of lung disease is based on clinical symptoms, which usually do not manifest until the disease is well advanced. This project will develop a novel X-ray imaging technique, known as phase contrast imaging, to study the lung, and to potentially detect changes in lung tissue before symptoms arise. This may lead to improved strategies for managing newbo ....Phase Contrast X-ray Imaging of the Lung. Lung diseases are a major cause of death in adults, children and newborn infants. Currently, the diagnosis of lung disease is based on clinical symptoms, which usually do not manifest until the disease is well advanced. This project will develop a novel X-ray imaging technique, known as phase contrast imaging, to study the lung, and to potentially detect changes in lung tissue before symptoms arise. This may lead to improved strategies for managing newborn infants, as well as improving the management of lung diseases in adults.Read moreRead less
Towards early detection of upper airway obstruction in children: investigation of autonomic control. This project focuses on the investigation of new indicators for early detection of upper airway obstruction (UAO)-which is a common sleep disorder in children. Failure to treat UAO can result in serious adverse outcomes including failure to thrive, neurocognitive deficits, developmental delay, behavioural disorders and cardiovascular disease. Thus, early treatment of UAO will significantly improv ....Towards early detection of upper airway obstruction in children: investigation of autonomic control. This project focuses on the investigation of new indicators for early detection of upper airway obstruction (UAO)-which is a common sleep disorder in children. Failure to treat UAO can result in serious adverse outcomes including failure to thrive, neurocognitive deficits, developmental delay, behavioural disorders and cardiovascular disease. Thus, early treatment of UAO will significantly improve quality of life for the child. Direct benefits to community health via reduced costs for medical treatment will also be a key outcome. The establishment of new diagnostic indicators will form the basis of new tools for identifying child sleep disorders and contribute to advancing Australia's international leading position in health technology. Read moreRead less
The HPA-axis as a marker for disruptive behaviour disorder subtypes in toddlers. Emerging neurobiological models of antisocial behaviour emphasise the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the onset of disruptive behaviour disorders (DBDs). Given the broad consensus that antisocial trajectories originate in the toddler years, this project will use cortisol measures of HPA-axis activity to identify the mechanisms through which developmental factors interact with parenting and ....The HPA-axis as a marker for disruptive behaviour disorder subtypes in toddlers. Emerging neurobiological models of antisocial behaviour emphasise the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the onset of disruptive behaviour disorders (DBDs). Given the broad consensus that antisocial trajectories originate in the toddler years, this project will use cortisol measures of HPA-axis activity to identify the mechanisms through which developmental factors interact with parenting and family environment to shape persistent DBDs; this will be achieved by following toddlers with severe DBDs across a controlled trial of a parenting intervention.Read moreRead less
Detection and Quantification of General Fetal Movements from Accelerometer Measurements using Nonstationary Signal Processing Techniques. There are approximately 1,750 fetal deaths per year in Australian with about one-third occurring late in gestation and without an apparent cause. The development of an automated system capable of long-term monitoring of fetal health will result in accurate diagnoses and prediction of future outcome. This will, in turn, allow early intervention by the clinicia ....Detection and Quantification of General Fetal Movements from Accelerometer Measurements using Nonstationary Signal Processing Techniques. There are approximately 1,750 fetal deaths per year in Australian with about one-third occurring late in gestation and without an apparent cause. The development of an automated system capable of long-term monitoring of fetal health will result in accurate diagnoses and prediction of future outcome. This will, in turn, allow early intervention by the clinician to reduce fetal deaths and enhance the chances of good outcomes with resultant savings in social and financial costs to the community. The development of such equipment would spawn future research into intervention treatments and contribute to Australia's position as a world leader in computerised health monitoring systems.Read moreRead less
Multi-Channel Time-Frequency Analysis for EEG Neonatal Seizure Characterization. This project researches new signal processing methodologies for a multi-channel characterization of seizures for use in diagnosing newborn brain dysfunctions. The outcomes will result in important immediate clinical benefits for sick newborn babies and will fundamentally facilitate research progress in the development of neuroprotectants and anticonvulsants. The success of this project will contribute in minimizing ....Multi-Channel Time-Frequency Analysis for EEG Neonatal Seizure Characterization. This project researches new signal processing methodologies for a multi-channel characterization of seizures for use in diagnosing newborn brain dysfunctions. The outcomes will result in important immediate clinical benefits for sick newborn babies and will fundamentally facilitate research progress in the development of neuroprotectants and anticonvulsants. The success of this project will contribute in minimizing the social financial costs by diagnosing brain disorders in the initial stage of life and preventing further damage. This has the potential to result in a standard diagnostic equipment in neonatal intensive care units and medical research centres.Read moreRead less
Design of Neonatal Seizure Diagnosis Methods Using Time-Frequency Signal Processing Techniques. Seizures occur in approximately 0.5% of all newborns. They are often the only indicator of an early dysfunction in central nervous system (CNS). Their occurrence raises concerns about the underlying cause, its effect on the brain, and the appropriate treatment. Newborn seizures are mostly sub-clinical and only detected through the Electroencephalogram. For an efficient diagnosis, seizure classificatio ....Design of Neonatal Seizure Diagnosis Methods Using Time-Frequency Signal Processing Techniques. Seizures occur in approximately 0.5% of all newborns. They are often the only indicator of an early dysfunction in central nervous system (CNS). Their occurrence raises concerns about the underlying cause, its effect on the brain, and the appropriate treatment. Newborn seizures are mostly sub-clinical and only detected through the Electroencephalogram. For an efficient diagnosis, seizure classification systems were proposed based on visual observations. This project proposes developing a novel approach to automate the classification process using time-frequency (TF) signal processing techniques based on the multi-channel characteristics of the seizure; namely: A) TF signature B) origin, and C) propagation behaviour.Read moreRead less
X-ray Micro-tomography Validation of HRCT-Based Airway Measurements. This project brings together a newly emergent modality of microscopy in the form of 3D X-ray micro-tomography (XRMT) along with leading-edge image analysis to develop breakthrough science in respiratory research aimed at improving the reliability of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The project will develop novel 3D lung image segmentation protocols, a stereotactic registration program allowing 3D matching of XRCT and ....X-ray Micro-tomography Validation of HRCT-Based Airway Measurements. This project brings together a newly emergent modality of microscopy in the form of 3D X-ray micro-tomography (XRMT) along with leading-edge image analysis to develop breakthrough science in respiratory research aimed at improving the reliability of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The project will develop novel 3D lung image segmentation protocols, a stereotactic registration program allowing 3D matching of XRCT and HRCT data sets, and a validation protocol for quantitative HRCT analysis of airway disease. These outcomes will allow wider application of HRCT to non-invasively follow the dynamics of pulmonary function.Read moreRead less
Modelling and Measurement of Flow-Structure Dynamics in the Human Upper Airway. Sleep disruption due to the common and disabling conditions of snoring and obstruction of the human upper airway can result in chronic fatigue, lost work and accidents caused by daytime drowsiness. To date the behaviour of the upper airway has not been adequately studied in terms able to reveal the mechanical causes of these conditions. This deficiency is addressed through the development and use of simulation tools ....Modelling and Measurement of Flow-Structure Dynamics in the Human Upper Airway. Sleep disruption due to the common and disabling conditions of snoring and obstruction of the human upper airway can result in chronic fatigue, lost work and accidents caused by daytime drowsiness. To date the behaviour of the upper airway has not been adequately studied in terms able to reveal the mechanical causes of these conditions. This deficiency is addressed through the development and use of simulation tools and measurement techniques that will elucidate the flow-structure dynamics leading to new diagnostic and improved treatment methods. Simulating the effect of treatment on any individual will permit it to be chosen to maximise its efficacy for a problem that costs the nation an estimated $2 Billion per year in lost productivity.Read moreRead less
Determination of lung morphology from X-ray phase contrast radiographs. Current methods of imaging the lung rely heavily on low contrast images obtained with chest radiography or computed tomography. This research will develop new X-ray phase contrast imaging techniques capable of providing a tenfold contrast increase over conventional chest radiography at a fraction of the X-ray dose of computed tomography. Methods of extracting quantitative information on lung morphology and pathology from pha ....Determination of lung morphology from X-ray phase contrast radiographs. Current methods of imaging the lung rely heavily on low contrast images obtained with chest radiography or computed tomography. This research will develop new X-ray phase contrast imaging techniques capable of providing a tenfold contrast increase over conventional chest radiography at a fraction of the X-ray dose of computed tomography. Methods of extracting quantitative information on lung morphology and pathology from phase contrast chest radiographs will be developed during this research. Eventual outcomes are likely to lead to improved methods of detecting lung disease and injury for both biomedical and clinical studies.Read moreRead less