Organisation, expression and diversity of the sub-telomeric regions of the ancient eukaryote, Giardia duodenalis. We propose to extend our findings on the extreme plasticity of the structure and organisation of the sub-telomeric region of the complete genome of Giardia by more extensive chromosome walking, and comparison of different isolates. These regions are subject to gene conversion, transcriptional silencing, gene mobility, recombination, variable surface protein expression, subtelomeric i ....Organisation, expression and diversity of the sub-telomeric regions of the ancient eukaryote, Giardia duodenalis. We propose to extend our findings on the extreme plasticity of the structure and organisation of the sub-telomeric region of the complete genome of Giardia by more extensive chromosome walking, and comparison of different isolates. These regions are subject to gene conversion, transcriptional silencing, gene mobility, recombination, variable surface protein expression, subtelomeric instability and the insertion of transposable elements, a dynamic balance between structural conservation and rapid evolution. This is a rare opportunity to understand the forces at work in moulding eukaryotic sub-telomeric sequences because Giardia is not constrained by sexual homogenisation and the dynamic variability is retained.Read moreRead less
Seeing without eyes: the evolution of non-visual photoreceptors in vertebrates. Australia's underwater biodiversity is second to none with endemic species representing the earliest stages in vertebrate evolution, many of them relying heavily on vision for survival. Tracing the evolution of light detection and image formation will provide crucial information about the lifestyles of our vertebrate ancestors, the environmental selection pressures driving speciation and colour communication. Charact ....Seeing without eyes: the evolution of non-visual photoreceptors in vertebrates. Australia's underwater biodiversity is second to none with endemic species representing the earliest stages in vertebrate evolution, many of them relying heavily on vision for survival. Tracing the evolution of light detection and image formation will provide crucial information about the lifestyles of our vertebrate ancestors, the environmental selection pressures driving speciation and colour communication. Characterisation of optimal light environments and extra-ocular light detection will also help protect and manage endemic species in wild and captive environments. Read moreRead less
A Formal Approach to Resource Allocation in Service Oriented Marketplaces. There was a strong opinion at the 2004 World Economic Forum that interorganisational computing was a major factor in productivity improvements underpinning continuing economic growth in the developed world, and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. The results of the proposed research are directed to advanced systems of this type, and will add momentum to Australia's Information Technology research community. ....A Formal Approach to Resource Allocation in Service Oriented Marketplaces. There was a strong opinion at the 2004 World Economic Forum that interorganisational computing was a major factor in productivity improvements underpinning continuing economic growth in the developed world, and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. The results of the proposed research are directed to advanced systems of this type, and will add momentum to Australia's Information Technology research community. Increased international recognition will positively impact on future interactions with the service composition research groups in Europe and the USA.Read moreRead less
Kingdom switching microbial pathogens: the bioinformatics of mutation in the genomes of viruses and bacteria affecting crops, livestock and people. Some organisms that cause infectious diseases have moved between plants and vertebrates, either recently or repeatedly over evolutionary time. Switching between plants and vertebrates strongly influences the way these microbes mutate and evolve. We will search the genomic sequence databases for information about how the choice of host influences muta ....Kingdom switching microbial pathogens: the bioinformatics of mutation in the genomes of viruses and bacteria affecting crops, livestock and people. Some organisms that cause infectious diseases have moved between plants and vertebrates, either recently or repeatedly over evolutionary time. Switching between plants and vertebrates strongly influences the way these microbes mutate and evolve. We will search the genomic sequence databases for information about how the choice of host influences mutations in viral and bacterial genomes and model the evolutionary processes involved. This project will advance our understanding of the fine structure of microbial genomes and the importance of selection pressures on genes. It will lead to better disease management strategies for humans, and for domestic crops and livestock.Read moreRead less
Better Planning for and Managing Asymmetric Threats to Australia's Security: Applying the Field Anomaly Relaxation (FAR) Systems Thinking Approach. Despite an enviable national security condition, Australia is at risk in an information-abundant world that increasingly spawns asymmetric threats such as information terrorism. What is needed are enhanced strategic and operational structures to improve the nation's security and ensure sound futures planning. This research focuses on applying the Fie ....Better Planning for and Managing Asymmetric Threats to Australia's Security: Applying the Field Anomaly Relaxation (FAR) Systems Thinking Approach. Despite an enviable national security condition, Australia is at risk in an information-abundant world that increasingly spawns asymmetric threats such as information terrorism. What is needed are enhanced strategic and operational structures to improve the nation's security and ensure sound futures planning. This research focuses on applying the Field Anomaly Relaxation (FAR) systems thinking approach to asymmetric information warfare threats to Australia. This is a new approach previously developed by ECU researchers investigating risk and innovation in the armed forces. It will now be extended to improve professional practice and the knowledge and skill base of Australia's information defence practitioners.Read moreRead less
Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI0989056
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
Adoption and Effective Use of Information Communication Technologies in Indigenous Communities in Australia. This project on Indigenous use of the internet aims to identify the reasons why Indigenous Australians are 69% less likely to access the Internet than their non-Indigenous counterparts as demonstrated in the last census. This research will assist in innovative policy development including the creation of a culturally-sensitive model to assist Indigenous communities to raise their use of c ....Adoption and Effective Use of Information Communication Technologies in Indigenous Communities in Australia. This project on Indigenous use of the internet aims to identify the reasons why Indigenous Australians are 69% less likely to access the Internet than their non-Indigenous counterparts as demonstrated in the last census. This research will assist in innovative policy development including the creation of a culturally-sensitive model to assist Indigenous communities to raise their use of computers and the internet. Ultimately the aim of the research is to provide mechanisms to engage Indigenous people with current technology to advance health, education and housing outcomes in their communities. Read moreRead less
Intelligent Biomedical System Modelling and Multi-modality Image Analysis to Maximize Diagnostic Information from Medical Imaging. Medical imaging is an essential part of our Australian modern health care system and plays an important role in the diagnosis, treatment planning and decision making and assessment of treatment of patients. This project aims to maximize the benefit of federal government healthcare investment through intelligent biomedical system modelling in conjunction with multi-mo ....Intelligent Biomedical System Modelling and Multi-modality Image Analysis to Maximize Diagnostic Information from Medical Imaging. Medical imaging is an essential part of our Australian modern health care system and plays an important role in the diagnosis, treatment planning and decision making and assessment of treatment of patients. This project aims to maximize the benefit of federal government healthcare investment through intelligent biomedical system modelling in conjunction with multi-modality image analysis to extract crucial additional information for accurate diagnosis and improved treatment, which will not only lead to a major scientific advancement, but also deliver significant social benefits.Read moreRead less
Designing an Intelligent Process Operation Management System. The complexity and sophistication of current generation of industrial processes, and the growing need for autonomous agents that control physical systems, motivate the need for the development of an intelligent process operation management system. In this project, the innovative integration of theories from different scientific fields (computer systems, process engineering, systems and control engineering) provides an excellent platfo ....Designing an Intelligent Process Operation Management System. The complexity and sophistication of current generation of industrial processes, and the growing need for autonomous agents that control physical systems, motivate the need for the development of an intelligent process operation management system. In this project, the innovative integration of theories from different scientific fields (computer systems, process engineering, systems and control engineering) provides an excellent platform for development of a smart data management tool, to oversee the major operational tasks within the plant and help the operators and engineers to make more informed decisions. Direct application of the techniques developed in this study to a pilot case study, could be used as a benchmark to show the potential benefits that can be gained through smart information use and data management.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237427
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$269,000.00
Summary
Equipment for Fluorescence-Based Cellular Analysis. The requested equipment is needed by a large grouping of highly productive researchers to carry out work across a very broad range of fields that is otherwise difficult or impossible to perform. The new equipment will facilitate obtaining many exciting and important outcomes, including identification of: (i) mechanisms controlling cell death, (ii) natural biological products that may have commercial applications (eg anti-fouling agents), (iii) ....Equipment for Fluorescence-Based Cellular Analysis. The requested equipment is needed by a large grouping of highly productive researchers to carry out work across a very broad range of fields that is otherwise difficult or impossible to perform. The new equipment will facilitate obtaining many exciting and important outcomes, including identification of: (i) mechanisms controlling cell death, (ii) natural biological products that may have commercial applications (eg anti-fouling agents), (iii) "probiotic" bacteria and vaccines that may be used to protect animals from disease, and (iv) mechanisms by which changes in human lens proteins contribute to the development of cataract.Read moreRead less
Uncertain Information Processing for Situation Awareness and Dynamic Decision-Making in Emergency Management. The Australian national counter-terrorism committee indicates that Australia should have a strong intelligence-led prevention and preparedness to support Australia on risk management, emergency services and maintaining capabilities to manage various types of terrorist attacks. The proposed situation awareness support technique can be used to develop situation analysis software systems or ....Uncertain Information Processing for Situation Awareness and Dynamic Decision-Making in Emergency Management. The Australian national counter-terrorism committee indicates that Australia should have a strong intelligence-led prevention and preparedness to support Australia on risk management, emergency services and maintaining capabilities to manage various types of terrorist attacks. The proposed situation awareness support technique can be used to develop situation analysis software systems or directly support Australia government agencies and industries to correctly assess a situation, increase awareness for crisis problems, and therefore improve emergency management and decision-making effectiveness, in particular, for avoiding disaster problems in the first place and preparing plans for those that undoubtedly will occur. Read moreRead less