An open source approach for regional cortical bone mineral density analysis

Objective: Cortical porosity, particularly at the endocortical region, is recognised to play a central role in the pathogenesis of bone fragility. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to: 1) demonstrate how cortical volumetric BMD (vBMD) distribution can be analysed from (p)QCT images and 2) highlight the clinical significance of assessing regional density distribution of cortical bone. 

Methods: We used pQCT to compare mid-tibial cortical volumetric BMD distribution of 20 young (age 24(SD2) years, mass 77(11) kg, height 178(6) cm) and 25 elderly (72(4) years, 75(9) kg, 172(5) cm) men. Radial and polar cortical vBMD distributions were analysed using a custom built open source analysis tool which allowed the cortex to be divided into three concentric cortical divisions and in 36 cortical sectors originating from the centroid of the bone.

Results: Mean vBMD did not differ between the groups (1135(16) vs. 1130(28) mg/cm, P=0.696). In contrast, there was a significant age-group by radial division interaction for radial cortical vBMD (P<0.001).

Conclusions: The proposed analysis method for analysing cortical bone density distribution of pQCT images was effective for detecting regional differences in cortical density between young and elderly men, which would have been missed by just looking at mean vBMD values.

Indigenous climate change adaption in the Port Philip Bay region : a longitudinal investigation into the physical and cultural transformation of the bay from an indigenous and landscape architectural perspective

Currently there is a dearth of research into Australian Indigenous knowledge and their understanding of climate change especially in regard to how it fits into their world view. Recent discussions by the National Climate Change Adaptation Research facility (NCCARF) have highlighted this deficiency but also the need to source relevant research projects that may address this knowledge and perspective, and enable the incorporation of Traditional ecological Knowledge into the planning climate change adaptions strategies in the Port Phillip Bay region thereby increasing their engagement in this discussion. Within this context, this paper examines the use and understanding of landscape, both urban and regional, surrounding Port Phillip Bay and the risks and opportunities climate change adaptation brings to the local Indigenous communities. It synthesises focused interviews with the (Wurundjeri (Yarra Valley), Wathaurong Geelong-Bellarine Peninsular) & Boon Wurrung (Mornington Peninsula)) to elicit a contemporary and local response to issues raised by NCCARF but importantly to articulate a possible Indigenous position about the formation, change and direction that Port Phillip Bay and its environs should take from their perspectives. Research draws upon how these communities have adapted to climate change physically, mentally and spiritually over their long habitation of a shared geological asset and their perceptions of climate change in respect to forecasting and adapting to climate change for this century. The project looks to uncover a longitudinal perspective of change and adaptation focused upon Indigenous views of ‘country’ and traditional custodial obligations to ‘country’ including accumulated cultural and environmental histories.

Soil data to support broad scale land suitability assessment in the Gippsland Region

This report outlines an analysis of soil data requirements across the Gippsland region in order for local councils to carry out regional-scale land suitability analysis (LSA). As such, the primary objective of this study was to ascertain and source available relevant soil attribute data and information necessary to enable LSA.

Development amidst communal conflict: case study of a Christian FBO in a Buddhist–Muslim conflict region in Myanmar

Faith can be a powerful force for positive development and social change, but as James (2011) notes, it is a highly flammable fuel that can also easily result in negative outcomes. The pervasive influence of religion in the lives of many gives it a unique ability to shape both individual and communal identities (perceptions of self and others). While religious identities can be an extremely positive force, they can also be used as a source for exclusive and intolerant attitudes, with a potential to feed nationalisms that become motivators or justifications for conflict. This is particularly true in tense multi-religious contexts where competing ethnoreligious nationalistic identities and historical claims are forced to coexist – especially for faith-based development agencies that relate to one of those identities.This chapter explores the work of a small local Christian faith-based organisation (FBO) working in Buddhist communities in a region of significant Buddhist–Muslim tension and recent violent communal conflict, as a case study of development across complex faith boundaries. Local FBO Bethel works in partnership with the international FBO GraceWorks Myanmar (GWM). Making this case particularly interesting, Bethel has evolved out of a related religious organisation that still maintains a mandate for preaching a contextual Christian message to Buddhists, and most of the local workers are converts from Buddhism. Given the most inflammatory religious sparks for worsening conflicts are widely regarded to be discriminatory practices and proselytism – or perceptions of proselytism (e.g. Clarke and Jennings 2008; Flanigan 2010) – this case study is interesting for the way these issues are handled. This chapter includes new research examining whether and how this FBO has been able to avoid inflaming tensions and has been broadly granted a social mandate to operate in Buddhist communities, even though it constitutes a third religious actor in a context of vitriolic interreligious conflict.