Use of heart rate kinetics during the rest-exercise transition for tracking changes in exercise performance in athletes. The project aims to develop an objective method for assessing fatigue and recovery in athletes during changes in training load. It is intended that this will inform training adjustments to optimise performance and reduce the risk of overtraining and injury. The method assesses the maximal rate of heart rate increase at the start of light exercise (rHRI), and has been shown in ....Use of heart rate kinetics during the rest-exercise transition for tracking changes in exercise performance in athletes. The project aims to develop an objective method for assessing fatigue and recovery in athletes during changes in training load. It is intended that this will inform training adjustments to optimise performance and reduce the risk of overtraining and injury. The method assesses the maximal rate of heart rate increase at the start of light exercise (rHRI), and has been shown in the project team’s early studies to track reductions in exercise performance when an athlete is fatigued from increased training. The project aims to now refine rHRI so it can also track improvements in exercise performance as athletes recover, and to evaluate rHRI in multiple sports and genders. A field test will be developed and mechanisms that allow it to track changes in exercise performance will be investigated.Read moreRead less
An investigation into performance characteristics of elite male and female soccer players in training and competition environments. The aim of the project is to identify critical determinants of soccer performance that will improve preparation of Australian teams for international competition. Three studies are proposed. Study One will utilize a decade of physical performance and anthropometric data on male and female soccer players at the Australian Institute of Sport to identify physical perfo ....An investigation into performance characteristics of elite male and female soccer players in training and competition environments. The aim of the project is to identify critical determinants of soccer performance that will improve preparation of Australian teams for international competition. Three studies are proposed. Study One will utilize a decade of physical performance and anthropometric data on male and female soccer players at the Australian Institute of Sport to identify physical performance standards characteristic of elite players. Study Two will comprise match analyses to delineate crucial physical, technical and tactical aspects of individual and team performance. Study three will identify characteristics specific to elite goalkeepers that may be used for monitoring responses to training and competition.Read moreRead less
Social Impact and Connection Outcomes Associated with Community Sport. Outcomes of social connection from community sport are widely touted and supported to exist. However, we know little about how social infrastructure actually delivers these benefits. It is difficult to understand and develop practices that organisations can use to maximise the outcomes of sport participation. This research aims to investigate how social infrastructure delivers social connection outcomes associated with commun ....Social Impact and Connection Outcomes Associated with Community Sport. Outcomes of social connection from community sport are widely touted and supported to exist. However, we know little about how social infrastructure actually delivers these benefits. It is difficult to understand and develop practices that organisations can use to maximise the outcomes of sport participation. This research aims to investigate how social infrastructure delivers social connection outcomes associated with community sport. Expected outcomes include novel practice based tools and guidance for community groups to enhance social connection outcomes and new understanding about the role of social infrastructure in enhancing community connection. Improved social connection is expected to improve resilience and community wellbeing.
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Effectiveness of Intervention Strategies to Promote Physical Activity Among Insufficiently Active Adults. This project will determine the cost-effectiveness of 2 types of physical activity (PA) interventions based around the workplace. 480 participants will be randomly assigned to PA intervention groups or controls. Interventions are either a (1) self-regulated, pedometer-based program or a (2) semi-structured, 40-day initiation to more moderately-vigorous PA. Both are designed to increase self- ....Effectiveness of Intervention Strategies to Promote Physical Activity Among Insufficiently Active Adults. This project will determine the cost-effectiveness of 2 types of physical activity (PA) interventions based around the workplace. 480 participants will be randomly assigned to PA intervention groups or controls. Interventions are either a (1) self-regulated, pedometer-based program or a (2) semi-structured, 40-day initiation to more moderately-vigorous PA. Both are designed to increase self-efficacy and impact on positive PA behaviours. Long-term, behavioural change and job-related outcomes will be evaluated by following participants for 12 months after the interventions.Read moreRead less
STABILISATION OF TITANIA PIGMENTS FOR IMPROVED WATER-BASED PAINT APPLICATIONS. This project aims to improve the stability and optical properties of titania pigments in water-based paints. Tailored dispersing agents will be used to stabilise pigments in paints in both the wet and dry state. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing agents interaction with the titania pigment surface and the subsequent stability of the pigment in dry paint films will allow advances in water-based paint stability. T ....STABILISATION OF TITANIA PIGMENTS FOR IMPROVED WATER-BASED PAINT APPLICATIONS. This project aims to improve the stability and optical properties of titania pigments in water-based paints. Tailored dispersing agents will be used to stabilise pigments in paints in both the wet and dry state. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing agents interaction with the titania pigment surface and the subsequent stability of the pigment in dry paint films will allow advances in water-based paint stability. This understanding facilitates continued movement away from solvent-based paints required by environmental and health legislation. The potential growth in market share for the Australian pigment industry is in excess of $50M pa.Read moreRead less
Stabilisation of Titania Pigment Slurries During Processing. This project aims to improve the stabilisation properties of titania pigment slurries during production. Current polyphosphate dispersants used by Tiwest are unstable under processing conditions. Tailored, robust dispersing reagents will therefore be investigated in order to provide improved stabilisation of pigments during processing. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing reagents interaction with the titania pigment surface and th ....Stabilisation of Titania Pigment Slurries During Processing. This project aims to improve the stabilisation properties of titania pigment slurries during production. Current polyphosphate dispersants used by Tiwest are unstable under processing conditions. Tailored, robust dispersing reagents will therefore be investigated in order to provide improved stabilisation of pigments during processing. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing reagents interaction with the titania pigment surface and the subsequent stability of the pigment will allow advances in processing and consequently improved final products. The potential growth in market share, by improved product performance, is in excess of $50M pa.Read moreRead less
Realisation of an ultra-stable local oscillator using an ultra-low vibration pulse-tube cryocooler. This project will complete the development of a new type of ultra-low-noise ultra-stable microwave oscillator cooled with an ultra-low vibration cryostat and cryocooler. The resulting oscillator will have wide application, but especially to atomic fountain clocks and to very high frequency Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) radio astronomy.
Building Australia's next-generation ocean-sea ice model. Ocean and sea ice models are used for predicting future ocean and climate states, and for climate process research. This project aims to bring the next generation of ocean-sea ice models to Australia and configure the models for our local priorities. The ultimate goal is to create a new coupled ocean-sea ice model for Australia that includes surface waves and biogeochemistry. The model will be optimised and evaluated on Australian facilit ....Building Australia's next-generation ocean-sea ice model. Ocean and sea ice models are used for predicting future ocean and climate states, and for climate process research. This project aims to bring the next generation of ocean-sea ice models to Australia and configure the models for our local priorities. The ultimate goal is to create a new coupled ocean-sea ice model for Australia that includes surface waves and biogeochemistry. The model will be optimised and evaluated on Australian facilities, and released for community use. These developments underpin future ocean state forecasts, sea ice forecasts, wave forecasts, decadal climate prediction and climate process studies. The project will benefit search and rescue, Defence and shipping operations, and will enhance future climate projections.Read moreRead less
Polymers at Mineral Interfaces. Polymers are used widely in the mineral processing industry to alter mineral surfaces, often selectively. In spite of this, there remains a gap in our understanding of how polymers interact with mineral surfaces and how their surface structure affects the mineral surface properties. The aim of this project is to fill this gap by performing fundamental research on adsorbed polymer structure and properties, coupled with applied research on real mineral ores from a ....Polymers at Mineral Interfaces. Polymers are used widely in the mineral processing industry to alter mineral surfaces, often selectively. In spite of this, there remains a gap in our understanding of how polymers interact with mineral surfaces and how their surface structure affects the mineral surface properties. The aim of this project is to fill this gap by performing fundamental research on adsorbed polymer structure and properties, coupled with applied research on real mineral ores from a number of mineral companies. The combination of fundamental and applied research makes this project unique in the study of polymers at mineral interfaces, and will enable us to solve real processing problems through a rational choice of polymers for a given application.Read moreRead less
Development of an active noise control system for sleeper seats on large commercial aircraft. Possible avenues will be investigated to actively reduce aircraft cabin noise experienced by passengers in sleeper seats, using localised active noise control (ANC). Previous work has focused on headsets and upright seat headrests which represent a different problem to the partially enclosed sleeper seats considered here. Efficiency and robustness problems that affect existing ANC systems will be addres ....Development of an active noise control system for sleeper seats on large commercial aircraft. Possible avenues will be investigated to actively reduce aircraft cabin noise experienced by passengers in sleeper seats, using localised active noise control (ANC). Previous work has focused on headsets and upright seat headrests which represent a different problem to the partially enclosed sleeper seats considered here. Efficiency and robustness problems that affect existing ANC systems will be addressed. A prototype system will be produced for a business class sleeper seat in a wide body aircraft. A second outcome is the establishment of a robust integrated system design procedure that can be used to quickly develop ANC systems for future designs.Read moreRead less