Quantitative dynamics of functional magnetic resonance imaging. By modeling and verifying the dynamics of brain activity and blood flow that underlie functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), this project will yield improved scientific outcomes and imaging sensitivity. The new data analysis techniques and technologies that result will yield potentially patentable intellectual property, and will increase the standing of Australia in this rapidly developing field, including via links being bu ....Quantitative dynamics of functional magnetic resonance imaging. By modeling and verifying the dynamics of brain activity and blood flow that underlie functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), this project will yield improved scientific outcomes and imaging sensitivity. The new data analysis techniques and technologies that result will yield potentially patentable intellectual property, and will increase the standing of Australia in this rapidly developing field, including via links being built to leading international workers. The National Research Priority Goals of Frontier Technologies, Breakthrough Science, Smart Information Use, and Promoting an Innovation Economy will thus be advanced.Read moreRead less
Structure and informatics of the genetic code. Recent advances in biotechnology have seen its emergence as a highly
quantitative, numerically-based discipline. To exploit the available
data to the full will require, alongside computing power, new
analytical techniques. This project aims to develop such techniques,
by handling the systematics of the genetic code with methods derived
from theoretical physics and chemistry. Expected outcomes include a
dynamical (quantum field theory) model ....Structure and informatics of the genetic code. Recent advances in biotechnology have seen its emergence as a highly
quantitative, numerically-based discipline. To exploit the available
data to the full will require, alongside computing power, new
analytical techniques. This project aims to develop such techniques,
by handling the systematics of the genetic code with methods derived
from theoretical physics and chemistry. Expected outcomes include a
dynamical (quantum field theory) model of phylogenetic branching,
analyses of nucleic acid structure and content (spin chain models of
RNA binding and of DNA open reading frames), and insights into the
origin of the code itself (via numerical codon similarity measures).
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Markov invariants and phylogenetic tree reconstruction. The project will assist Australia to progress as an innovator in the production phylogenetic tree reconstruction techniques.
Identifying species is a difficult task with environmental, social and economic benefits to Australia. DNA evidence and phylogenetic methods clearly achieve this task. Conservation of rare species depends upon identification and hence robust phylogenetic analysis. Phylogenetically identifying fish species has econom ....Markov invariants and phylogenetic tree reconstruction. The project will assist Australia to progress as an innovator in the production phylogenetic tree reconstruction techniques.
Identifying species is a difficult task with environmental, social and economic benefits to Australia. DNA evidence and phylogenetic methods clearly achieve this task. Conservation of rare species depends upon identification and hence robust phylogenetic analysis. Phylogenetically identifying fish species has economic importance as different fish species are all managed separately, having different catch limits, catch areas and market values. Using effective phylogenetic methods, epidemiologists can track the spread of a disease through a population. Read moreRead less
Numerical simulation of the fish-like swimming of linked bodies. Although Zoologists have made detailed observations of swimming fish there are still many unanswered questions about how they swim. We do not know how the fins and undulating body work together to produce the high speed of the tuna, or the fast turns of a fish escaping danger. We see dolphins swim through the sea's surface but we don't know if they do that because it is much more efficient. This project is designed to simulate arb ....Numerical simulation of the fish-like swimming of linked bodies. Although Zoologists have made detailed observations of swimming fish there are still many unanswered questions about how they swim. We do not know how the fins and undulating body work together to produce the high speed of the tuna, or the fast turns of a fish escaping danger. We see dolphins swim through the sea's surface but we don't know if they do that because it is much more efficient. This project is designed to simulate arbitrary fish motion and give answers to these and other questions concerning swimming. It may also help humans to swim more efficiently and provide simulation tools for the design of robotic undersea vehicles.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL140100025
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,617,462.00
Summary
The physical brain: emergent, multiscale, nonlinear, and critical dynamics. The physical brain: emergent, multiscale, nonlinear, and critical dynamics. This project aims to transform the understanding of the structure and function of the brain as a complex physical system. It aims to reveal and unify new aspects of information processing, transitions in conscious state, and nonlinear brain interactions by translating and applying concepts and methods from physics and mathematics. It will treat b ....The physical brain: emergent, multiscale, nonlinear, and critical dynamics. The physical brain: emergent, multiscale, nonlinear, and critical dynamics. This project aims to transform the understanding of the structure and function of the brain as a complex physical system. It aims to reveal and unify new aspects of information processing, transitions in conscious state, and nonlinear brain interactions by translating and applying concepts and methods from physics and mathematics. It will treat brain structure and dynamics together to address emergent phenomena like waves and patterns on multiple scales, treating waves as equal participants alongside neurons. Innovative predictions of brain phenomena will aim to be verified against data and used to understand brain networks, dynamics, and the physical phenomena underlying information processing and consciousness.Read moreRead less
Neural spike variability: unifying conflicting views of neural dynamics. The project aims to improve our understanding of neural dynamics. The brain represents and processes information by means of neural voltage spikes, which show great variability in their timing. Understanding the origin of such variable neural dynamics is a long-standing problem in neuroscience. The aim of this project is to develop a novel account of variable neural dynamics, unravelling their computational principles in th ....Neural spike variability: unifying conflicting views of neural dynamics. The project aims to improve our understanding of neural dynamics. The brain represents and processes information by means of neural voltage spikes, which show great variability in their timing. Understanding the origin of such variable neural dynamics is a long-standing problem in neuroscience. The aim of this project is to develop a novel account of variable neural dynamics, unravelling their computational principles in the brain, and unifying current leading but conflicting theories. The model developed in this project would be used to explain a range of empirical observations, and the principles unravelled would be applied to understand spike-timing based neural coding. The new knowledge gained in this project may have profound implications for designing brain-like computing devices.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear Time Series Analysis in Cardiac Physiology. We will develop innovative mathematically-based diagnostics with potentially significant savings in mortality and quality of life for affected individuals and health care costs to the community.
Cardiac diseases kill more Australians than any other disease group. According to the National Heart Foundation the prevalence to heart conditions increased by 18% over the last decade.
Medical practitioners are in need of reliable diagnostic too ....Nonlinear Time Series Analysis in Cardiac Physiology. We will develop innovative mathematically-based diagnostics with potentially significant savings in mortality and quality of life for affected individuals and health care costs to the community.
Cardiac diseases kill more Australians than any other disease group. According to the National Heart Foundation the prevalence to heart conditions increased by 18% over the last decade.
Medical practitioners are in need of reliable diagnostic tools to decide whether a person in front of them is at high risk from developing sudden cardiac death, and whether they should be fitted with an implant that could save their life.Read moreRead less
Fluid mechanics and physiology of blockages in vascular systems. Vascular disease is a major health problem both in Australia and worldwide. In particular, cardiovascular disease is a major killer of adult Australians. Engineers and mathematicians working with biologists will gain a greater understanding of vascular diseases, a major health problem, including cardiovascular disease, which is one of the biggest killers worldwide, as well as tackling renal circulation problems, which are a signifi ....Fluid mechanics and physiology of blockages in vascular systems. Vascular disease is a major health problem both in Australia and worldwide. In particular, cardiovascular disease is a major killer of adult Australians. Engineers and mathematicians working with biologists will gain a greater understanding of vascular diseases, a major health problem, including cardiovascular disease, which is one of the biggest killers worldwide, as well as tackling renal circulation problems, which are a significant problem and may contribute to hypertension. Detailed measurement and prediction will be undertaken of the mechanical loading and response of cells to their microenvironment, an important first step to controlling pathological responses which lead to a variety of autoimmune problems.Read moreRead less
New mathematics to improve understanding of anomalously diffusing reactions. Standard mathematical models for particles that diffuse and react are based on assumptions that improving technologies have revealed do not always hold. This project aims to create a mathematical framework that generalises existing approaches, taking into account observations of complicated transport behaviour at many scales, and including the impact of this anomalous transport on reactions. The development of the fram ....New mathematics to improve understanding of anomalously diffusing reactions. Standard mathematical models for particles that diffuse and react are based on assumptions that improving technologies have revealed do not always hold. This project aims to create a mathematical framework that generalises existing approaches, taking into account observations of complicated transport behaviour at many scales, and including the impact of this anomalous transport on reactions. The development of the framework will involve innovative approaches utilising mathematical techniques, including dynamical systems, fractional calculus, and stochastic processes. This project aims to deliver new mathematical models that can be adopted in applications across different discipline areas, and especially in biological systems. Read moreRead less
Alternative Splicing in the Mouse Transcriptome. Although the human genome completion is cause for excitement we do not have any firm indication of precisely how many protein-coding genes exist in a mammalian genome. We have even less indication of the extent to which these genes generate alternative gene products, through a process termed alternative splicing. The detection and sequencing of these full-length alternative gene products is the focus of this application. This application details t ....Alternative Splicing in the Mouse Transcriptome. Although the human genome completion is cause for excitement we do not have any firm indication of precisely how many protein-coding genes exist in a mammalian genome. We have even less indication of the extent to which these genes generate alternative gene products, through a process termed alternative splicing. The detection and sequencing of these full-length alternative gene products is the focus of this application. This application details the opportunity to participate in the identification of the full transcriptome of the mouse and is part of a collaborative effort with The RIKEN Genome Sciences Center in Japan.Read moreRead less