Bio-inspired speech analysis: Specialised information processing of vocalisations in the auditory brainstem. This project has the potential to benefit bionic ear and hearing aid users through the development of signal processing methods that mimic the amazing abilities of the brain. Speech perception performance by bionic ear users has reached a plateau and these new strategies could produce the breakthrough needed to provide the next increase in performance. The benefit for greater improved hea ....Bio-inspired speech analysis: Specialised information processing of vocalisations in the auditory brainstem. This project has the potential to benefit bionic ear and hearing aid users through the development of signal processing methods that mimic the amazing abilities of the brain. Speech perception performance by bionic ear users has reached a plateau and these new strategies could produce the breakthrough needed to provide the next increase in performance. The benefit for greater improved hearing has enormous benefit and potential for improving the quality of life of the hearing impaired, especially those with severe and profound hearing loss. In addition, the algorithms may provide more robust automatic speech recognition, making this technology more useful in everyday situations; the markets that this would open up are enormous.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear Dynamics of Pulse Coupled Oscillators. A mathematical model of the heart pacemaker system will be created, based on simple interacting units. These units have been shown to be good models of physiological information e.g. the discrimination of different influences on heart rate. We will firstly look at the interaction of the units in simple combinations and then tune the model to mimic the behaviour of the cardiac pacemaker.
Potential benefits may arise from elucidating the mechanis ....Nonlinear Dynamics of Pulse Coupled Oscillators. A mathematical model of the heart pacemaker system will be created, based on simple interacting units. These units have been shown to be good models of physiological information e.g. the discrimination of different influences on heart rate. We will firstly look at the interaction of the units in simple combinations and then tune the model to mimic the behaviour of the cardiac pacemaker.
Potential benefits may arise from elucidating the mechanisms underlying arrhythmias which contribute to ?sudden cardiac death? in young men, and suggesting strategies for artificial pacemakers to effectively arrest abnormal rhythms before they convert to potentially fatal fibrillation.Read moreRead less
Computational Modeling of RNA Control Networks. One of the most exciting new ideas for understanding the regulation of gene expression involves the contribution of intronic and other non-protein coding RNAs to regulatory networks within cells. This novel role for intronic RNA is currently making headlines within the molecular biology community but has not yet been modelled computationally. The network of genetic regulatory interactions forms a complex system which is amenable to computational ....Computational Modeling of RNA Control Networks. One of the most exciting new ideas for understanding the regulation of gene expression involves the contribution of intronic and other non-protein coding RNAs to regulatory networks within cells. This novel role for intronic RNA is currently making headlines within the molecular biology community but has not yet been modelled computationally. The network of genetic regulatory interactions forms a complex system which is amenable to computational analysis. This project aims to extend current models to incorporate intronic RNA feedback control, complementing parallel studies in vivo, and computationally testing ideas essential to the theoretical understanding of the basis of life.Read moreRead less
Bayesian inference for complex regression models using mixtures. The project will use mixtures to flexibly model complex regression functions and will develop Bayesian methods for carrying out statistical inference on these models. The models will deal with both Gaussian and non-Gaussian data. Multiple explanatory variables are dealt with by mixing simple additives to produce flexible high dimensional function estimates. Variable selection and model averaging will be used to identify important v ....Bayesian inference for complex regression models using mixtures. The project will use mixtures to flexibly model complex regression functions and will develop Bayesian methods for carrying out statistical inference on these models. The models will deal with both Gaussian and non-Gaussian data. Multiple explanatory variables are dealt with by mixing simple additives to produce flexible high dimensional function estimates. Variable selection and model averaging will be used to identify important variables and thus make the estimation more efficient. The methods will be extended to multivariate responses where account will taken be taken of the structure of the dependence between responses.Read moreRead less
Non-invasive assessment of hip fracture risk in elderly people. No falls, no fractures - this will be the main benefit of the proposed research. The most significant outcome will be new computational tools to improve current understanding of the biomechanics of falls and bone fragility in elderly people, which, in turn, will help to reduce healthcare costs associated with the treatment and management of hip fractures. Realistic models and computer simulations of human movement can play a pivota ....Non-invasive assessment of hip fracture risk in elderly people. No falls, no fractures - this will be the main benefit of the proposed research. The most significant outcome will be new computational tools to improve current understanding of the biomechanics of falls and bone fragility in elderly people, which, in turn, will help to reduce healthcare costs associated with the treatment and management of hip fractures. Realistic models and computer simulations of human movement can play a pivotal role in three of Australia's largest industries: healthcare, through the diagnosis and treatment of movement disorders; sports, through the development of personalized training programs for elite athletes; and entertainment, through the development of video/digital games and animated films.Read moreRead less
High-Fidelity Modelling for Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive Needle Insertion. This project will develop robotic-assisted needle insertion and greatly improve minimally invasive surgery. It will also enhance the establishment of intellectual property for Australian medicine and produce important benefits to the healthcare sector. The proposed symbiotic integration of the systems will advance modelling technologies, and further create new capabilities for a wide range of science and engineerin ....High-Fidelity Modelling for Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive Needle Insertion. This project will develop robotic-assisted needle insertion and greatly improve minimally invasive surgery. It will also enhance the establishment of intellectual property for Australian medicine and produce important benefits to the healthcare sector. The proposed symbiotic integration of the systems will advance modelling technologies, and further create new capabilities for a wide range of science and engineering applications. The established methodologies and systems will also provide great potential benefits in many other areas, including microbiology, life sciences and bio/nano-technology. The project's outcomes will further consolidate Australia's position in innovative technologies and international research and development.Read moreRead less
Investigating a classroom simulation designed to support pre-service teacher decision making in planning and implementing literacy teaching. This project investigates teacher mentor and preservice teacher participation in an online simulation of the teaching of literacy in junior primary classrooms. It will investigate how simulation can support preservice teachers to make complex sequences of decisions about the use of language and learning resources, teaching strategies and behaviour managemen ....Investigating a classroom simulation designed to support pre-service teacher decision making in planning and implementing literacy teaching. This project investigates teacher mentor and preservice teacher participation in an online simulation of the teaching of literacy in junior primary classrooms. It will investigate how simulation can support preservice teachers to make complex sequences of decisions about the use of language and learning resources, teaching strategies and behaviour management strategies for a class of virtual students. The simulation will employ embedded cognitive tools to support teacher decision making. Once effective simulation learning of teacher performance is achieved, it will investigate the transfer of these skill to the real classrooms.Read moreRead less
Developing a Hemodynamic Model for Improving Clinical Treatment of Vascular Diseases. Stroke caused by vascular diseases is the second greatest single killer, which is taking away thousands of lives and costing billions every year in Australia. Improving the existing clinical treatments of these diseases is thus of utmost urgency. This project is targeted to developing a reliable Hemodynamic model through comprehensive experimental validation approach. It will not only foster a more in-depth res ....Developing a Hemodynamic Model for Improving Clinical Treatment of Vascular Diseases. Stroke caused by vascular diseases is the second greatest single killer, which is taking away thousands of lives and costing billions every year in Australia. Improving the existing clinical treatments of these diseases is thus of utmost urgency. This project is targeted to developing a reliable Hemodynamic model through comprehensive experimental validation approach. It will not only foster a more in-depth research of vascular diseases but also provide a virtual forecasting tool for physicians or surgeons to develop guidance on diagnosis and therapeutic planning of clinical treatment, which brings great socio-economic benefit to the health of the Australian community.Read moreRead less
Gain modulation and stability in biological neural systems. This project is relevant to the National Research Priority area of Frontier Technologies and addresses fundamental cross-disciplinary issues of control and information processing in large, distributed neural systems that are at the cutting edge of intelligent processing systems. Applications are in rapidly growing fields of robotics, machine learning, adaptive control and intelligent systems, all with applications in diverse areas of ec ....Gain modulation and stability in biological neural systems. This project is relevant to the National Research Priority area of Frontier Technologies and addresses fundamental cross-disciplinary issues of control and information processing in large, distributed neural systems that are at the cutting edge of intelligent processing systems. Applications are in rapidly growing fields of robotics, machine learning, adaptive control and intelligent systems, all with applications in diverse areas of economic importance. Applications to cochlear implant speech processing will provide benefit for the hearing impaired. The project will provide students with training at an international level within Australia, thus helping ensure Australia maintains and extends its science and technology base into the futureRead moreRead less
Pattern Discovery of Discriminating Behaviour Associated with Hidden Communities. A sound understanding of discriminating behaviour in hidden communities, e.g. market manipulation, is essential for effective intervention and prevention. This project will deliver novel and workable algorithms and tools for modelling and pattern discovery of such behaviour. This will safeguard Australia by tackling crucial business and social issues like abnormal trading, online crime and terrorism, thereby enhanc ....Pattern Discovery of Discriminating Behaviour Associated with Hidden Communities. A sound understanding of discriminating behaviour in hidden communities, e.g. market manipulation, is essential for effective intervention and prevention. This project will deliver novel and workable algorithms and tools for modelling and pattern discovery of such behaviour. This will safeguard Australia by tackling crucial business and social issues like abnormal trading, online crime and terrorism, thereby enhancing public confidence, compliance and security in both the economy and society, by preventing and reducing economic and social impact. It will create skills and outcomes to further Australia's leadership in managing emerging data mining challenges and applications, and will deepen collaboration with eminent researchers worldwide.Read moreRead less