Smoking Cessation For Youth Project Booster And Cohort Tracking Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$135,550.00
Summary
Adolescence is a critical period for the establishment of adult drug use behaviours. If smoking does not commence in teenage years it is unlikely to occur. This innovative project not only continues to address tobacco control with this important age group but also builds on evidence from a randomised intervention trial involving over 4,000 Year 9 students tracked over two years. This project was called the Smoking Cessation for Youth Project (SCYP). Preliminary longitudinal analyses of the SCYP ....Adolescence is a critical period for the establishment of adult drug use behaviours. If smoking does not commence in teenage years it is unlikely to occur. This innovative project not only continues to address tobacco control with this important age group but also builds on evidence from a randomised intervention trial involving over 4,000 Year 9 students tracked over two years. This project was called the Smoking Cessation for Youth Project (SCYP). Preliminary longitudinal analyses of the SCYP data indicate that the intervention students were significantly less likely to smoke heavily (smoking five or more days per week) than the control group and that intervention students were also significantly less likely to have tried smoking than the control group. These results represent a world first in evidence that population-based smoking cessation interventions among teenagers can be successful. The proposed project will determine the extent to which these positive intervention effects are sustainable, two years post intervention, as our cohort moves into Year 12. In addition to tracking the possible decay of SCYP intervention effects, the proposed project will also measure the effects of a booster intervention delivered students when they are in Year 12 (2002). The Year 12 intervention will comprise an innovative self-help 'magazine style' booster and a supportive environmental intervention involving school nurses and local GPs. This proposal represents a cost-effective opportunity to measure the effectiveness of a Year 12 tobacco cessation booster intervention. Further data on tobacco smoking behaviour in 2002 will also enable us to determine how long the SCYP intervention appears to affect behaviour and whether 'boosters' are needed in later secondary school years to maintain the benefits.Read moreRead less
Managing knowledge in telehealth projects: creating better solutions and improving patient care. Telehealth is the use of information and communication technologies for the delivery of healthcare and medical education across a distance. This project will propose more effective ways to support telehealth initiatives by managing the knowledge and expertise that is an integral part of such projects, resulting in improved outcomes.
Group algorithms: Complexity, Theory and Practice. The symmetry of a mathematical or physical system is often best described by an abstract structure called a group, and groups are commonly represented as groups of permutations or matrices. In this project we shall design and analyse a general algorithmic framework for computing with finite groups. In the context of permutation groups and matrix groups we will produce prototype implementations. The proposed framework has the potential to revolut ....Group algorithms: Complexity, Theory and Practice. The symmetry of a mathematical or physical system is often best described by an abstract structure called a group, and groups are commonly represented as groups of permutations or matrices. In this project we shall design and analyse a general algorithmic framework for computing with finite groups. In the context of permutation groups and matrix groups we will produce prototype implementations. The proposed framework has the potential to revolutionise algorithmic group theory as it draws together theoretical and computational models of groups.Read moreRead less
Computing with large groups: probability distributions and fast randomised algorithms. Fast algorithms produced by the project will impact on the practical management of symmetry in large scale searches, which have important industrial applications. Hence the project addresses the Priority Goals Breakthrough Science and Smart Information Use. The project will enhance Australia's leading position in Computational Algebra. Implementations of our algorithms will be incorporated in the Computer Alge ....Computing with large groups: probability distributions and fast randomised algorithms. Fast algorithms produced by the project will impact on the practical management of symmetry in large scale searches, which have important industrial applications. Hence the project addresses the Priority Goals Breakthrough Science and Smart Information Use. The project will enhance Australia's leading position in Computational Algebra. Implementations of our algorithms will be incorporated in the Computer Algebra system Magma, based at the University of Sydney, distributed world-wide, and used intensively in research and teaching. The project will attract international and Australian graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and strengthen research activities in Australia by enhancing already strong international collaborations. Read moreRead less
Applications of Group Theory to Finite Geometry. Group theory and geometry have influenced one another for over a century. The most important structures in geometry are the symmetric ones and the most important groups act on geometries. Recent developments in finite geometry, although informed by symmetry, have used a minimum of group theory. The project aims to redress this, by applying results from a broad range of finite group theory to the presently hot topics in finite geometry. Our aim is ....Applications of Group Theory to Finite Geometry. Group theory and geometry have influenced one another for over a century. The most important structures in geometry are the symmetric ones and the most important groups act on geometries. Recent developments in finite geometry, although informed by symmetry, have used a minimum of group theory. The project aims to redress this, by applying results from a broad range of finite group theory to the presently hot topics in finite geometry. Our aim is to achieve a paradigm shift, by finding substantively different structures than those presently known. Should it succeed, much activity in geometry would follow, seeking geometric interpretation of these group theoretic results. Our focus is necessitated by the lack of a result characterising the underlying groups of symmetric generalised quadrangles.Read moreRead less
Permutation groups and their interplay with symmetry in finite geometry and graph theory. A strong mathematical community in Australia provides the foundations for future discoveries in technology, science and business. The use of group theory to characterise symmetric generalised quadrangles, partial quadrangles, and strongly regular graphs, and the construction of new examples of such objects, will enhance Australia's leading position in Group Theory, Algebraic Graph Theory and Finite Geometry ....Permutation groups and their interplay with symmetry in finite geometry and graph theory. A strong mathematical community in Australia provides the foundations for future discoveries in technology, science and business. The use of group theory to characterise symmetric generalised quadrangles, partial quadrangles, and strongly regular graphs, and the construction of new examples of such objects, will enhance Australia's leading position in Group Theory, Algebraic Graph Theory and Finite Geometry. This project will also strengthen the collaboration between Australian, Belgian and Italian Universities and support young researchers, developing expertise in a world-leading research group, to drive Australia's future in mathematics.Read moreRead less
Symmetrical graphs, generalized polygons and expanders. This project proposes to study a class of highly symmetrical graphs -- locally s-arc-transitive graphs. Studying the class of graphs has been one of the central topics in algebraic graph theory for over 50 years. This class of graphs has been effectively used in computer science, communication network, group theory, geometry, and other areas. This project will develop new methods to solve several fundamental problems regarding locally s-arc ....Symmetrical graphs, generalized polygons and expanders. This project proposes to study a class of highly symmetrical graphs -- locally s-arc-transitive graphs. Studying the class of graphs has been one of the central topics in algebraic graph theory for over 50 years. This class of graphs has been effectively used in computer science, communication network, group theory, geometry, and other areas. This project will develop new methods to solve several fundamental problems regarding locally s-arc-transitive graphs, and apply the outcomes to solve important problems in communication networks, graph theory, group theory, and geometry.Read moreRead less
Automated texture selection and classification methods for detection of osteoarthritis in knee radiographs. In Australia there are 1-2 million OA sufferers, a condition that costs approximately $9 billion annually. This project will address an important problem of early detection and monitoring of OA and this remains in line with the National Research Priority 2. Potential outcomes of the project will result in better diagnosis and treatment of OA, reduced discomfort to the individual and saving ....Automated texture selection and classification methods for detection of osteoarthritis in knee radiographs. In Australia there are 1-2 million OA sufferers, a condition that costs approximately $9 billion annually. This project will address an important problem of early detection and monitoring of OA and this remains in line with the National Research Priority 2. Potential outcomes of the project will result in better diagnosis and treatment of OA, reduced discomfort to the individual and saving to the national economy. This project will improve existing activity and rehabilitation programs such as exercise of lower limbs and it will help in developing diets for healthy people and OA sufferers.Read moreRead less
Symmetries of finite digraphs. Highly symmetrical graphs are well-studied and, in many respects, the theory for dealing with them is well-established. By comparison, our understanding of symmetrical digraphs is much poorer. There are some rather basic questions about these about which we know shamefully little. The aim of this project is to remedy this shortage of knowledge by extending many important results and theories about symmetrical graphs to digraphs.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100579
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,754.00
Summary
The existence and abundance of small bases of permutation groups. This project aims to study bases for permutation groups, which are the mathematical formalisation of symmetry. Bases are crucial to encoding and computing with groups in diverse areas of science. Small bases are desirable for efficiency, but can be hard to find. This project expects to combine techniques from areas of algebra and probability to determine the existence and abundance of bases. Expected outcomes of this project inclu ....The existence and abundance of small bases of permutation groups. This project aims to study bases for permutation groups, which are the mathematical formalisation of symmetry. Bases are crucial to encoding and computing with groups in diverse areas of science. Small bases are desirable for efficiency, but can be hard to find. This project expects to combine techniques from areas of algebra and probability to determine the existence and abundance of bases. Expected outcomes of this project include new methods to address enduring open problems in the study of bases, as well as novel applications of existing techniques. This should provide significant benefits, such as creating and strengthening international collaborations, and building on Australia’s reputation as a powerhouse of finite group theory.Read moreRead less