Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Pubertal Stage, Body Mass Index, And Cardiometabolic Risk In Children And Adolescents In Bogota, Colombia: The Cross-Sectional Fuprecol Study, Robinson Ramírez-Velez, Antonio García-Hermoso, Cesar A. Agostinis-Sobrinho, Jorge Mota, Rute Santos, Jorge Enrique Correa-Bautista, Carlos Andres Pena-Guzman, María Andrea Domínguez-Sanchez, Jacqueline Schmidt-Riovalle, Emilio Gonzalez-Jimenez

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study explored the association between pubertal stage and anthropometric and cardiometabolic risk factors in youth. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2877 Colombian children and adolescents (9¿17.9 years of age). Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. A biochemical study was performed to determine the cardiometabolic risk index (CMRI). Blood pressure was evaluated and pubertal stage was assessed with the Tanner criteria. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. The most significant variable (p < 0.05) in the prognosis of cardiometabolic risk was found to be the BMI in both boys and girls. In the case of girls, the pubertal stage was also a CMRI predictive factor. In conclusion, BMI was an important indicator of cardiovascular risk in both sexes. Pubertal stage was associated with cardiovascular risk only in the girls.

Factors Governing Mass Transfer During Membrane Electrodialysis Regeneration Of Licl Solution For Liquid Desiccant Dehumidification Systems, Ali Hussein Al-Jubainawi, Zhenjun Ma, Yi Guo, Long D. Nghiem, Paul Cooper, Weihua Li

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

This study investigates the mass transfer mechanisms and the performance of membrane electrodialysis (ED) for regenerating lithium chloride (LiCl) solution commonly used in liquid desiccant dehumidification systems. Experiments were conducted using an ED experimental system while numerical simulation was performed using COMSOL Multiphysics. The results showed that the water flux transfer due to osmosis and electro-osmosis during ED regeneration of LiCl liquid desiccant was significant and could not be ignored. The water flux due to osmosis and electro-osmosis is directly associated with the osmotic gradient and the applied current between the cathode and anode, respectively. The average flux of water …

A Contribution To Understanding The Impact Of Variations In Body Mass On Fractionating The Metabolic Burden Of Military Load Carriage, Heather Bowes, Catriona A. Burdon, Nigel A.S. Taylor

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Purpose: The oxygen cost associated with load carriage is dependent upon both its mass and its placement about the body. For occupations in which load carriage is routinely performed, and involves identical loads for all individuals, the relative metabolic cost varies inversely with body mass. However, whilst we understand the average impact of varying load placement, our appreciation of its impact on a morphologically diverse, contemporary workforce is very limited. Methods:The relationship between load placement and body mass was evaluated in 65 men (23.0 y [SD 3.0]; 80.5 kg [SD 1.7]: range 56.0-109.8 kg), matched for height-adjusted adiposity (59.3 mm …

Personality And Body-Mass-Index In School-Age Children: An Exploration Of Mediating And Moderating Variables, Mark S. Allen, Stewart A. Vella

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study explored longitudinal associations between personality and body-mass-index (BMI) in school-age children, including the potential mediating role of screen time and physical activity, and the potential moderating roles of child demographics and neighbourhood socioeconomic position. Participants were the parents (and teachers) of 3857 ten-year-old children, who completed questionnaires at baseline with a two-year follow-up. After controlling for child demographics (e.g., sex, pubertal status), we found that personality was unimportant for concurrent BMI, but was important for subsequent BMI and change in BMI over two years. Low levels of introversion and persistence at baseline, and decreases in persistence over time, …

Determination Of Stress State In Rock Mass Using Strain Gauge Probes Ccbo, Petr Waclawik, Stas Lubomir, Jan Nemcik, Petr Konicek, Tomas Kalab

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

The strain gauge probes of different construction are typically used for determination of stress state rock mass. The modified overcoring method known as the Compact Conical ended Borehole Overcoring method (CCBO) for stress state determination in rock mass was designed in Institute of Geonics of the CAS (IGN) in cooperation with Kumamoto University in Japan. The implemented adjustment of the overcoring method consists mainly in omitting the overcoring phase (stress relief phase). The probe is glued directly to the conically shaped end of a borehole. The data logger located within the conical probe enables continual strain monitoring directly in the …

The Evolution In The Stellar Mass Of Brightest Cluster Galaxies Over The Past 10 Billion Years, Sabine Bellstedt, Christopher E. Lidman, Adam Muzzin, Marijn Franx, Susanna Guatelli, Allison R. Hill, Henk Hoekstra, Noah Kurinsky, Ivo Labbe, Danilo Marchesini, Z. Cemile Marsan, Mitra Safavi-Naeini, Cristobal Sifon, Mauro Stefanon, Jesse Van De Sande, Pieter Van Dokkum, Catherine Weigel

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Using a sample of 98 galaxy clusters recently imaged in the near-infrared with the European Southern Observatory (ESO) New Technology Telescope, WIYN telescope and William Her- schel Telescope, supplemented with 33 clusters from the ESO archive, we measure how the stellar mass of the most massive galaxies in the universe, namely brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs), increases with time. Most of the BCGs in this new sample lie in the redshift range 0.2

Getting Bigger, Quicker? Gendered Socioeconomic Trajectories In Body Mass Index Across The Adult Lifecourse: A Longitudinal Study Of 21,403 Australians, Xiaoqi Feng, Andrew Wilson

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Do socioeconomic inequities in body mass index (BMI) widen across the adult lifecourse? BMI data for 29,104 male and 32,454 female person-years aged 15 years and older (21,403 persons in total) were extracted from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia between 2006 and 2012. Multilevel linear regression was used to examine age and gender specific trajectories in BMI by quintiles of neighborhood socioeconomic circumstance. Models were adjusted for probable sources of confounding, including couple status, number of children resident, if somebody in the household had been pregnant in the last 12 months, the highest level of education achieved, …

Organic Geochemistry Of Non-Marine Permian-Triassic Mass Extinction (Ptme) Sections In The Sydney Basin, Australia, Simon George, Megan L. Williams, Justine Wheeler, Shirin Baydjanova, Nathan Camilleri, Benjamin Hanssen, Regina Maher, Uvana Meek, Adrian Nelson, Caiden O'Connor, William Porter, Brian G. Jones

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Most organic geochemical studies of the Permian-Triassic mass extinction (PTME) have utilised marine sections, and the boundary is readily identified by a negative carbon isotope excursion. It is now well understood from various locations around the world that the marine ecosystem collapse is accompanied by biomarker evidence for photic zone euxinia, including isorenieratane, crocetane and 2,3,6-aryl isoprenoids (e.g. Grice et al., 2005). Far fewer studies have been carried out on non-marine PTME sections, and in particular no biomarker studies have been carried out on Australian sections, despite there being extensive Permian and Triassic sequences in eastern Australia, notably in the …

Novel Experimental Setup For Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Ion Detection In Collisions Of Anionic Species With Neutral Gas-Phase Molecular Targets, J C. Oller, L Ellis-Gibbings, F Ferreira Da Silva, Paulo Limao-Vieira, Gustavo Garcia

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

We report a novel experimental setup for studying collision induced products resulting from the interaction of anionic beams with a neutral gas-phase molecular target. The precursor projectile was admitted into vacuum through a commercial pulsed valve, with the anionic beam produced in a hollow cathode discharge-induced plasma, and guided to the interaction region by a set of deflecting plates where it was made to interact with the target beam. Depending on the collision energy regime, negative and positive species can be formed in the collision region and ions were time-of-flight (TOF) mass-analysed. Here, we present data on O-2 precursor projectile, …

Lean Body Mass Associated With Upper Body Strength In Healthy Older Adults While Higher Body Fat Limits Lower Extremity Performance And Endurance, Karen E. Charlton, Marijka Batterham, Kelly Langford, Jenna Lateo, Erin Brock, Karen L. Walton, Philippa M. Lyons-Wall, Katie Eisenhauer, Nick Green, Cameron Mclean

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Impaired strength adversely influences an older person's ability to perform activities of daily living. A cross-sectional study of 117 independently living men and women (age = 73.4 9.4 year; body mass index (BMI) = 27.6 4.8 kg/m2) aimed to assess the association between body composition and: (1) upper body strength (handgrip strength, HGS); (2) lower extremity performance (timed up and go (TUG) and sit to stand test (STS)); and (3) endurance (6-minute walk (SMWT). Body composition (% fat; lean body mass (LBM)) was assessed using bioelectrical impedance. Habitual physical activity was measured using the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire …

Infrared Imaging As A Non-Invasive Tool For Documenting Maggot Mass Temperatures, Aidan P. Johnson, James F. Wallman

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Forensic entomology relies on the ability to predict the temperatures to which maggots have been exposed, due to the resultant impact on their growth rate. Mercury thermometers and electrical temperature sensors have traditionally been used to record temperatures of maggot masses, cadavers and the surrounding soil and air. However, these techniques are limited to one measurement at a time and thus may not accurately describe the complexities of the thermal environment of the cadaver. Infrared imaging has gained increasing popularity because of its resolution, affordability and portability. Using decomposing pig carcasses, the current study showed that surface temperature measurements recorded …

Ambient Ionisation Mass Spectrometry For The Characterisation Of Polymers And Polymer Additives: A Review, Martin R. L Paine, Philip J. Barker, Stephen J. Blanksby

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The purpose of this review is to showcase the present capabilities of ambient sampling and ionisation technologies for the analysis of polymers and polymer additives by mass spectrometry (MS) while simultaneously highlighting their advantages and limitations in a critical fashion. To qualify as an ambient ionisation technique, the method must be able to probe the surface of solid or liquid samples while operating in an open environment, allowing a variety of sample sizes, shapes, and substrate materials to be analysed. The main sections of this review will be guided by the underlying principle governing the desorption/extraction step of the analysis; …

Desorption Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry Of Stabilised Polyesters Reveals Activation Of Hindered Amine Light Stabilisers, Martin R.L Paine, Ganna Gryn'ova, Michelle L. Coote, Philip J. Barker, Stephen J. Blanksby

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The use of hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) to retard thermo- and photo-degradation of polymers has become increasingly common. Proposed mechanisms of polymer stabilisation involve significant changes to the HALS chemical structure; however, reports of the characterisation of these modified chemical species are limited. To better understand the fate of HALS and determine their in situ modifications, desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) was employed to characterise ten commercially available HALS present in polyester-based coil coatings. TINUVIN® 770, 292, 144, 123, 152, and NOR371; HOSTAVIN® 3052, 3055, 3050, and 3058 were separately formulated with a pigmented, thermosetting polyester resin, cured …

Body Mass Index And Socio-Economic Circumstances In China: People And Places Matter, Xiaoqi Feng, Yong Jiang, Thomas Astell-Burt, Maigeng Zhou, Limin Wang, Linhong Wang, Andrew Page, Wenhua Zhao

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at the Society for Social Medicine 58th Annual Scientific Meeting, 10-12 September 2014, Oxford, United Kingdom

Uv Photodissociation Action Spectroscopy Of Haloanilinium Ions In A Linear Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer, Christopher S. Hansen, Benjamin B. Kirk, Stephen J. Blanksby, Richard A. J O'Hair, Adam J. Trevitt

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

UV-vis photodissociation action spectroscopy is becoming increasingly prevalent because of advances in, and commercial availability of, ion trapping technologies and tunable laser sources. This study outlines in detail an instrumental arrangement, combining a commercial ion-trap mass spectrometer and tunable nanosecond pulsed laser source, for performing fully automated photodissociation action spectroscopy on gas-phase ions. The components of the instrumentation are outlined, including the optical and electronic interfacing, in addition to the control software for automating the experiment and performing online analysis of the spectra. To demonstrate the utility of this ensemble, the photodissociation action spectra of 4-chloroanilinium, 4-bromoanilinium, and 4-iodoanilinium cations …

Associations Between Body Mass Index And Musculoskeletal Pain And Related Symptoms In Different Body Regions Among Workers, Isabel Moreira-Silva, Rute Santos, Sandra Abreu, Jorge Mota

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Obesity rates are high among employed adults and have shown a consistent increase over the past few decades. Musculoskeletal disorders related to work are a major cause of disability in working individuals. The objective of this study was to verify the associations between weight status and musculoskeletal pain and related symptoms in different body regions among workers. The sample comprised 203 factory workers. Anthropometric measures were assessed with standardized protocols and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Participants were classified as nonoverweight (BMI ≤ 24.9 kg/m²) or overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²). Musculoskeletal pain and related …

Surface Analysis Of Lipids By Mass Spectrometry: More Than Just Imaging, Shane R. Ellis, Simon H. Brown, Marc In Het Panhuis, Stephen J. Blanksby, Todd W. Mitchell

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Mass spectrometry is now an indispensable tool for lipid analysis and is arguably the driving force in the renaissance of lipid research. In its various forms, mass spectrometry is uniquely capable of resolving the extensive compositional and structural diversity of lipids in biological systems. Furthermore, it provides the ability to accurately quantify molecular-level changes in lipid populations associated with changes in metabolism and environment; bringing lipid science to the "omics" age. The recent explosion of mass spectrometry-based surface analysis techniques is fuelling further expansion of the lipidomics field. This is evidenced by the numerous papers published on the subject of …

Product Branching Fractions Of The Ch + Propene Reaction From Synchrotron Photoionization Mass Spectrometry, Adam J. Trevitt, Matthew B. Prendergast, Fabien Goulay, John D. Savee, David L. Osborn, Craig A. Taatjes, Stephen R. Leone

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The CH(X2Π) + propene reaction is studied in the gas phase at 298 K and 4 Torr (533.3 Pa) using VUV synchrotron photoionization mass spectrometry. The dominant product channel is the formation of C4H6 (m/z 54) + H. By fitting experimental photoionization spectra to measured spectra of known C4H6 isomers, the following relative branching fractions are obtained: 1,3-butadiene (0.63 ± 0.13), 1,2-butadiene (0.25 ± 0.05), and 1-butyne (0.12 ± 0.03) with no detectable contribution from 2-butyne. The CD + propene reaction is also studied and two product channels are observed that correspond to C4H6 (m/z 54) + D and C4H5D …

Rapid Differentiation Of Isomeric Lipids By Photodissociation Mass Spectrometry Of Fatty Acid Derivatives, Huong T. Pham, Adam J. Trevitt, Todd W. Mitchell, Stephen J. Blanksby

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

RATIONALE Both traditional electron ionization and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry have demonstrated limitations in the unambiguous identification of fatty acids. In the former case, high electron energies lead to extensive dissociation of the radical cations from which little specific structural information can be obtained. In the latter, conventional collision-induced dissociation (CID) of even-electron ions provides little intra-chain fragmentation and thus few structural diagnostics. New approaches that harness the desirable features of both methods, namely radical-driven dissociation with discrete energy deposition, are thus required.

METHODS Herein we describe the derivatization of a structurally diverse suite of fatty acids as 4-iodobenzyl …

The Longitudinal Relationship Between Sleep Duration And Body Mass Index In Children: A Growth Mixture Modeling Approach, Christopher A. Magee, Peter Caputi, Donald C. Iverson

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

OBJECTIVE: A growing number of studies indicate that shorter sleep durations could contribute to obesity in children. The objective of this article was to further examine the longitudinal relationship between sleep duration and body mass index (BMI) in children by using a growth mixture modeling approach. METHOD: This article used prospective data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Participants included 1079 children aged 4 to 5 years (2004) followed up until age 10 to 11 years (2010). Growth mixture modeling was performed to examine the longitudinal association between sleep duration and body mass index within distinct body mass index …

Identification Of Distinct Body Mass Index Trajectories In Australian Children, C A. Magee, P Caputi, Donald C. Iverson

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background A limited number of studies have demonstrated that there may be distinct developmental trajectories of obesity during childhood. Objective To identify distinct trajectories of body mass index (BMI) in a large sample of Australian children. Methods Participants included 4601 children aged 45 years at baseline, who were followed up at ages 67 years, 89 years and 1011 years. Height and weight were measured at each of these time points, and used to calculate BMI. Growth Mixture Modelling was used to identify the presence of distinct BMI trajectories. Results Four distinct trajectories were identified (i) High Risk Overweight; (ii) Early …

Greenland Ice Sheet Mass Balance Reconstruction. Part I: Net Snow Accumulation (1600-2009), Jason E. Box, Noel Cressie, David H. Bromwich, Ji-Hoon Jung, Michiel Van Den Broeke, J H. Van Angelen, Richard R. Forster, Clement Miege, Ellen Mosley-Thompson, Bo Vinther, Joseph R. Mcconnell

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Ice core data are combined with RACMO2 regional climate model (RCM) output (1958-2010) to develop a reconstruction of the Greenland ice sheet net snow accumulation rate (Ât(G)) spanning years 1600-2009. Regression parameters from RCM output regressed on 86 ice cores are used with available cores in a given year resulting in the reconstructed values. Each core site’s residual variance is used to inversely weight the cores’ respective contributions. The interannual amplitude of the reconstructed accumulation rate is damped by the regressions and is thus calibrated to match that of the RCM data. Uncertainty and significance of changes is measured using …

A Personalized Hybrid Recommendation System Oriented To E-Commerce Mass Data In The Cloud, Fang Dong, Junzhou Luo, Xia Zhu, Yuxiang Wang, Jun Shen

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Personalized recommendation technology in Ecommerce is widespread to solve the problem of product information overload. However, with the further growth of the number of E-commerce users and products, the original recommendation algorithms and systems will face several new challenges: (1) to model user’s interests more accurately; (2) to provide more diverse recommendation modes; and (3) to support large-scale expansion. To address these challenges, from the actual demands of E-commerce applications (as Made-in-China website), a personalized hybrid recommendation system, which can support massive data set, is designed and implemented in this paper by using Cloud technology. Hereinto, the recommendation algorithms are …

Determining The Geometry Of Mass-Flow Bins - Some Important Considerations, Peter Arnold

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

It has taken some time to obtain general acceptance but in recent times, at least in Australia, competent designers of mass-flow bins use techniques based on the traditional concepts of Jenike to determine the appropriate geometry for mass-flow hoppers to handle bulk solids reliably. While the traditional Jenike design concepts may appear straightforward experience dictates that some important considerations need to be exercised during the design process, especially when handling the more difficult bulk solids, to ensure that the final bin construction performs to expectations. Some of the important considerations that this paper will highlight include: • Appropriate bulk solids …

Automated Surface Sampling Of Lipids From Worn Contact Lenses Coupled With Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Simon H. Brown, Liam H. Huxtable, Mark D. P Willcox, Stephen J. Blanksby, Todd W. Mitchell

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The deposition of biological material (biofouling) onto polymeric contact lenses is thought to be a major contributor to lens discomfort and hence discontinuation of wear. We describe a method to characterize lipid deposits directly from worn contact lenses utilizing liquid extraction surface analysis coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LESA-MS/MS). This technique effected facile and reproducible extraction of lipids from the contact lens surfaces and identified lipid molecular species representing all major classes present in human tear film. Our data show that LESA-MS/MS is a rapid and comprehensive technique for the characterization of lipid-related biofouling on polymer surfaces.

Direct Detection Of Additives And Degradation Products From Polymers By Liquid Extraction Surface Analysis Employing Chip-Based Nanospray Mass Spectrometry, Martin Paine, Phillip Barker, Shane A. Maclaughlin, Todd W. Mitchell, Stephen J. Blanksby

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Rationale: Polymer-based surface coatings in outdoor applications experience accelerated degradation due to exposure to solar radiation, oxygen and atmospheric pollutants. These deleterious agents cause undesirable changes to the polymers aesthetic and mechanical properties reducing its lifetime. The use of antioxidants such as hindered amine light stabilisers (HALS) retard these degradative processes, however, mechanisms for HALS action and polymer degradation are poorly understood. Methods: Detection of the hindered amine light stabiliser (HALS) TINUVIN®123 (bis (1-octyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate) and the polymer degradation products directly from a polyester-based coil coating was achieved by liquid extraction surface analysis (LESA) coupled to a triple quadrupole QTRAP® …

Paint Spray Mass Spectrometry For The Detection Of Additives From Polymers On Conducting Surfaces, Martin R.L Paine, Philip J. Barker, Stephen J. Blanksby

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Paint Spray is developed as a direct sampling ionisation method for mass spectrometric analysis of additives in polymer-based surface coatings. The technique simply involves applying an external high voltage (5 kV) to the wetted sample placed in front of the mass spectrometer inlet and represents a much simpler ionisation technique compared to those currently available. The capabilities of Paint Spray are demonstrated herein with the detection of four commercially available hindered amine light stabilisers; TINUVIN® 770, TINUVIN® 292, TINUVIN® 123 and TINUVIN® 152 directly from thermoset polyester-based coil coatings. Paint Spray requires no sample preparation or pre-treatment and combined with …

Increased Intake Of Dietary Polyunsaturated Fat Does Not Promote Whole Body Or Preferential Abdominal Fat Mass Loss In Overweight Adults, Sze-Yen Tan, Marijka Batterham, Linda Tapsell

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: There is evidence that increasing the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in a diet can enhance the rate of fat oxidation acutely. Higher PUFA in a diet has also been associated with greater abdominal fat loss in longer term studies. This study aimed to investigate if higher PUFA intake would result in greater fat mass loss over a 12-week period, mainly from the abdominal region.

Methods: Data at the 12-week time point from two weight loss studies, both comparing high PUFA versus low PUFA diets was, accessed for 141 overweight subjects from the same area. Specifically, data on …

Nanoesi Mass Spectrometry Of Rubisco And Rubisco Activase Structures And Their Interactions With Nucleotides And Sugar Phosphates, Michelle Blayney, Spencer M. Whitney, Jennifer L. Beck

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is the protein that is responsible for the fixation of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis. Inhibitory sugar phosphate molecules, which can include its substrate ribulose-1,5- bisphosphate (RuBP), can bind to Rubisco catalytic sites and inhibit catalysis. These are removed by interaction with Rubisco activase (RA) via an ATP hydrolytic reaction. Here we show the first nanoESI mass spectra of the hexadecameric Rubisco and of RA from a higher plant (tobacco). The spectra of recombinant, purified RA revealed polydispersity in its oligomeric forms (up to hexamer) and that ADP was bound. ADP was removed by dialysis against a …

Legacies And Prevention Of Genocide And Mass Atrocities In The Asia-Pacific: A Workshop Report, Deborah Mayersen, Julia Mangelsdorf, Aishath Latheef

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

The twentieth century has been labelled the ‘century of genocide’. According to some estimates, more than 250 million civilians were victims of genocide and mass atrocities during this period. The Asia-Pacific region has not been immune. Genocide and mass atrocities have occurred in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1971, Indonesia (1965-66), Cambodia (1975-79) and East Timor (1975-1999). At the opening of the twenty-first century, efforts to halt this massive loss of innocent life culminated in the emergence and acceptance of the ‘responsibility to protect’ principle in international discourse. More effort than ever before is being channelled towards preventing mass atrocities.