Motor Functioning In Autism And Asperger's Disorder: Furthering Current Neurobehavioural And Clinical Definitions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,932.00
Summary
While it is well known that autism and Asperger's disorder are associated with social, communicative, and behavioural symptoms, it is less well known that affected individuals also have considerable movement and coordination difficulties. For example, these children often have problems with hand writing, walking, hopping, skipping, catching, and running. These skills are very important for success at school; for example, if children are unable to participate in school sports they often feel isol ....While it is well known that autism and Asperger's disorder are associated with social, communicative, and behavioural symptoms, it is less well known that affected individuals also have considerable movement and coordination difficulties. For example, these children often have problems with hand writing, walking, hopping, skipping, catching, and running. These skills are very important for success at school; for example, if children are unable to participate in school sports they often feel isolated and rejected from the peer group. Also, hand writing problems have a significant impact on children's academic performance. Our previous research has suggested that there may be particular patterns of motor problems that characterise individuals with autism and Asperger's disorder. Our proposed research aims to use the kinds of 3D motion analysis technology used in the movie industry to capture exactly how people affected by these conditions move and respond to the environment. This study will enable us to highlight particular parts of the brain-motor circuitry that are affected by these disorders and will also enable us to more clearly distinguish how autism is different from Asperger's disorder. Ultimately, it is hoped that our motor investigations will lead to improved assessment and interventions for these disorders.Read moreRead less
Condition And Its Assessment In The Southern Rock Lobster. Field Application Of The Techniques For Condition Assessment Developed In The Laboratory
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$249,591.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Obtain an understanding of variations in growth and recruitment through the establishment of the potential of selected indices to characterise temporal and spatial changes in condition of lobsters within the fishery.
Pilot Study Of Larval Recruitment And Genetic Variation Of Southern Rock Lobster Populations
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$56,600.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Compare effectiveness of existing Jasus spp puerulus collectors & determine the most suitable. 2. Estimate spatial variability & timing of puerulus settlement; can puerulus be obtained in sufficient quantities? 3. Develop mt DNA analysis techniques to identify p. Genetic variability information.
3D Printed Food for People with Swallowing Disability. This project aims to identify ways that 3D food printing (additive manufacturing using real food in a device like a ink-jet printer) could be used to improve the visual appeal of puree meals for people with swallowing difficulty, who make up ~8% of the world's population. This study will be the first to include people with swallowing disability (e.g., related to cerebral palsy, stroke, older age) and their supporters in examining the views a ....3D Printed Food for People with Swallowing Disability. This project aims to identify ways that 3D food printing (additive manufacturing using real food in a device like a ink-jet printer) could be used to improve the visual appeal of puree meals for people with swallowing difficulty, who make up ~8% of the world's population. This study will be the first to include people with swallowing disability (e.g., related to cerebral palsy, stroke, older age) and their supporters in examining the views and experiences of stakeholders on the impact of 3D food printing on quality of life, enjoyment, participation, and safety. Outcomes include new knowledge on factors affecting the implementation of 3D food printing in disability and aged care services, to inform policy, practice, and future research.Read moreRead less
Assessing performance: designing a better performance management framework for disability employment services. The Australian Government is committed to providing the "best possible" service to assist people with disability find employment in the open labour market. This project will develop a performance management framework for disability employment services which includes indicators of service quality as well as employment outcomes.
Tactical Research Fund: Evaluating Source-sink Relationships Of The Western Rock Lobster Fishery Using Oceanographic Modelling
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$75,000.00
Summary
The puerulus settlement in 2007/08 was the second lowest in 40 years and follows several years of below-average settlements. Previous studies have shown that environment factors such as the Leeuwin Current and storms affect the abundance and spatial distribution of puerulus settlement. However it is important to identify if there are some changes to these environmental factors contributing to the low recruitment. Initial monitoring indicates very low 2008/09 settlement despite the Leeuwin Curr ....The puerulus settlement in 2007/08 was the second lowest in 40 years and follows several years of below-average settlements. Previous studies have shown that environment factors such as the Leeuwin Current and storms affect the abundance and spatial distribution of puerulus settlement. However it is important to identify if there are some changes to these environmental factors contributing to the low recruitment. Initial monitoring indicates very low 2008/09 settlement despite the Leeuwin Current being above average this year. This event is unexpected based on previous settlements during years of strong Leeuwin Current and has serious implications for the management of the fishery. The breeding stock overall is believed to be within historic ranges and so is not expected to have contributed to the recent decline in settlement. However it is possible that the breeding stock in certain parts of the fishery may be more critical than others and this could have changed over the years due to climate change effects. Advances in quality of satellite data in the 1990s measuring sea surface topography (altimeter satellites) have enabled significant improvements in our understanding of the environmental factors, with the assistance of oceanographic modelling. Previous oceanographic models were focussed on the open ocean circulation off the continental shelf. Recent advances enable the development of high-resolution models at 10 km spatial scale which resolve the dominant processes on the shelf. Understanding the causes of recruitment variability and their long-term trends has important implications in the stock assessment and management of the fishery. The management response would be significantly different if the cause of the series of low recruitment was due to egg production or environmental factors. An adjustment to the sustainable harvest rate may be required if there are long-term environmental trends that affect the average recruitment of the western rock lobster. Objectives: 1. To determine the relative contribution of larval production from different areas to the abundance and spatial distribution of puerulus settlement over 15 years using a larval advection model Read moreRead less
Deafblind communication: Building professional competencies . This project aims to improve the quality of interpreting/support services provided to deafblind Australians by analysing the communication strategies used by deafblind sign language users. Many deafblind people use a modified form of Auslan (Australian Sign Language) to communicate, yet little is known about how interpreters or support workers should adapt their signing when working with deafblind clients to ensure effective communica ....Deafblind communication: Building professional competencies . This project aims to improve the quality of interpreting/support services provided to deafblind Australians by analysing the communication strategies used by deafblind sign language users. Many deafblind people use a modified form of Auslan (Australian Sign Language) to communicate, yet little is known about how interpreters or support workers should adapt their signing when working with deafblind clients to ensure effective communication. This project would develop evidence-based training and resources for these professionals. This should provide significant benefits such as improved communication between deafblind clients and professionals, and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of support service provision for deafblind people.Read moreRead less
Factors Affecting Recruitment Into Commercial Stocks Of The Saucer Scallop, Amusium Balloti
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Study the biology of larval & post-larval stages of the saucer scallop. 2. Describe factors influencing the distribution & aggregation of scallop spat fall, and the growth rate and natural mortality of juvenile scallops
Seafood CRC: Towards All Female Penaeus Monodon Populations Using Androgenic Gland Manipulations
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$30,033.00
Summary
The Australian prawn farmers are under intense competition from cheaper imported prawns. Most of the imported prawns are in the small size segment. Female prawns grow larger then males, therefore the creation of all-female prawn populations will provide a much needed competitive advantage and enable a more profitable farming of P. monodon in Australia. Objectives: 1. Optimise procedure for neo-male creation using androgenic gland implantations and MT treatments. 2. Cross ne ....The Australian prawn farmers are under intense competition from cheaper imported prawns. Most of the imported prawns are in the small size segment. Female prawns grow larger then males, therefore the creation of all-female prawn populations will provide a much needed competitive advantage and enable a more profitable farming of P. monodon in Australia. Objectives: 1. Optimise procedure for neo-male creation using androgenic gland implantations and MT treatments. 2. Cross neomales with females to establish viability and fertility of WW prawns 3. Grow WW P. monodon females on farm and research provider facilities to reach sexual maturity. 4. To cross WW P. monodon females with wild males (both on farm and at the research provider facility) and obtain viable all female offspring. 5. To assess the reproductive performance of WW females compared to normal WZ females 6. Assess production performance of all-female offspring compared with mixed population (on farm). Read moreRead less