Intelligent Model Checking. Real-world systems are typically so complex that software engineers require specialised CAD tools to debug and verify a design. Model checking is a formal method that is used extensively for this purpose, particularly for mission-critical systems. In this work, a new kind of verifying tool, based on model checking, is developed. This new model checker is intelligent because a heuristic search is integrated into the underlying formalism. It is not exhaustive, and is mo ....Intelligent Model Checking. Real-world systems are typically so complex that software engineers require specialised CAD tools to debug and verify a design. Model checking is a formal method that is used extensively for this purpose, particularly for mission-critical systems. In this work, a new kind of verifying tool, based on model checking, is developed. This new model checker is intelligent because a heuristic search is integrated into the underlying formalism. It is not exhaustive, and is more efficient than a traditional model checker during the design phase because it does only a minimum amount of work in its search for a fault.Read moreRead less
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
Simulating the evolution of the Southern Ocean and Australia's Palaeo-environment over 40 million years. Our project falls in the first national research priority: an environmentally sustainable Australia and meets two of its primary goals, understanding environmental change and the evolution of biodiversity, and responding to climate change and variability. Our models will represent a major step forward in differentiating between natural processes and anthropological input to present global cli ....Simulating the evolution of the Southern Ocean and Australia's Palaeo-environment over 40 million years. Our project falls in the first national research priority: an environmentally sustainable Australia and meets two of its primary goals, understanding environmental change and the evolution of biodiversity, and responding to climate change and variability. Our models will represent a major step forward in differentiating between natural processes and anthropological input to present global climate change and will address quantitatively how Australia changed from a continent rich in freshwater to the driest inhabited continent throughout the last 40 million years.Read moreRead less
Smart Information Use for PET-CT Quantitative Molecular Imaging. This project aims to use advanced computing algorithms to tackle
challenging problems associated with a new medical technology called
PET-CT which combines two imaging modalities in one device. While this technology is very new and has great potential in cancer and brain disorders, it also poses major challenges for information processing and transmission. We will address these challenges by developing advanced algorithms that op ....Smart Information Use for PET-CT Quantitative Molecular Imaging. This project aims to use advanced computing algorithms to tackle
challenging problems associated with a new medical technology called
PET-CT which combines two imaging modalities in one device. While this technology is very new and has great potential in cancer and brain disorders, it also poses major challenges for information processing and transmission. We will address these challenges by developing advanced algorithms that optimally extract information from PET and CT using mathematical models that correct for the various sources of inaccuracy. Our research will put Australian biomedical researchers and healthcare professionals at the forefront of advanced medical imaging technology.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
System Theoretical Aspects of Spatial Signal Processing. The aims of the project is to gain better understanding of spatial characteristics of wireless communication channels; and to apply spatial signal processing theory to design receivers for wireless systems. The expected outcomes of the projects are new system theory for spatial signal processing, a new spatial model to characterize wireless communication channels, categorize a relationship between scattering environment antenna spacing and ....System Theoretical Aspects of Spatial Signal Processing. The aims of the project is to gain better understanding of spatial characteristics of wireless communication channels; and to apply spatial signal processing theory to design receivers for wireless systems. The expected outcomes of the projects are new system theory for spatial signal processing, a new spatial model to characterize wireless communication channels, categorize a relationship between scattering environment antenna spacing and multi-element antenna system capacity, and novel use of multiple antennas to improve the performance of wireless systems. Success in this investigation could have wide applications in the development of future mobile and fixed wireless communication systems.Read moreRead less
Structure-Property Relationships of Polymers with Controlled Architecture. Mechanical properties of a polymer (e.g., how elastic it is and how it dissipates energy when compressed) govern how well it performs as an adhesive, or its behaviour when melted and shaped into a consumer item. This project aims to relate molecular architecture to mechanical properties, using new techniques which permit the creation of polymers wherein each architectural characteristic is separately controlled. This has ....Structure-Property Relationships of Polymers with Controlled Architecture. Mechanical properties of a polymer (e.g., how elastic it is and how it dissipates energy when compressed) govern how well it performs as an adhesive, or its behaviour when melted and shaped into a consumer item. This project aims to relate molecular architecture to mechanical properties, using new techniques which permit the creation of polymers wherein each architectural characteristic is separately controlled. This has the potential to develop fundamental understanding for structure-property relations for the type of branched polymers that are in common use in industry and for which adequate models do not currently exist.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
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