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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882357
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
A Computational Facility for Multi-scale Modelling in Bio and Nanotechnology. Bio- and nanotechnology have the potential to transform Australian industry and research, and to bring significant benefits for consumers. The scope will include materials for energy storage, medical diagnostics and cellular imaging, bioengineering, drug and gene delivery, improved foods by molecular design, novel materials for electronics, improved techniques for particle processing, and molecular sieves for filtering ....A Computational Facility for Multi-scale Modelling in Bio and Nanotechnology. Bio- and nanotechnology have the potential to transform Australian industry and research, and to bring significant benefits for consumers. The scope will include materials for energy storage, medical diagnostics and cellular imaging, bioengineering, drug and gene delivery, improved foods by molecular design, novel materials for electronics, improved techniques for particle processing, and molecular sieves for filtering/purifying water and gases. The dedicated computing facility will enable a fast interactive cycle between simulation and experiment in these areas, accelerating the pace of research and applications.Read moreRead less
The Immunoregulatory Role of the Endogenous Cannabinoid Anandamide. Anandamides are naturally occurring fatty acids that act at the cannabinoid receptor expressed in the brain and periphery. A new proposal by our research group challenges traditional models of the disease process by suggesting that the anandamide system is an important imunoregulatory system that can be targeted by invading pathogens. We propose that disruption to the anandamide system, by bacteria or viruses acting at the rece ....The Immunoregulatory Role of the Endogenous Cannabinoid Anandamide. Anandamides are naturally occurring fatty acids that act at the cannabinoid receptor expressed in the brain and periphery. A new proposal by our research group challenges traditional models of the disease process by suggesting that the anandamide system is an important imunoregulatory system that can be targeted by invading pathogens. We propose that disruption to the anandamide system, by bacteria or viruses acting at the receptor to block immunological responses, contributes to chronic illness states. At this point we have good evidence that anandamides are immunoregulators, however, we have very little knowledge of their precise physiological role. The aim of this research is to begin to characterise the immunoregulatory role of the anandamide system. This project will provide a comprehensive understanding of this endogenous control system, the immunological properties of which have not previously been described. The outcome of this research may lead to the identification of new avenues for the development of pharmaceutical interventions that can target this system.Read moreRead less
Understanding social cancers: Intra-specific parasitism by honeybee workers. Our project will study the conditions under which normally altruistic honeybee workers parasitise other colonies. Thus we will explore a fundamental question: how is the expression of selfish behaviour normally controlled? Outcomes of this project will be important to our understanding of insect societies but will also have application for those studying the development of tumours in multicellular organisms, the develop ....Understanding social cancers: Intra-specific parasitism by honeybee workers. Our project will study the conditions under which normally altruistic honeybee workers parasitise other colonies. Thus we will explore a fundamental question: how is the expression of selfish behaviour normally controlled? Outcomes of this project will be important to our understanding of insect societies but will also have application for those studying the development of tumours in multicellular organisms, the development of metazoan bodies, and social cohesion in human and non-human societies. Our project will also help protect Australia's honey industry from the devastating social parasites that have ruined the industry in South Africa.Read moreRead less
Evolution of sound localisation in vertebrates: head size, sound frequency and neural phase-locking. Hearing is our most important sense for interpersonal communication, yet we have a fragmentary understanding of the basic mechanisms involved in normal hearing. This project addresses the question of how sound location is represented in the brain through the processing of minute time difference with which sounds reach the two ears. The outcome will ultimately enable us to infer how the human brai ....Evolution of sound localisation in vertebrates: head size, sound frequency and neural phase-locking. Hearing is our most important sense for interpersonal communication, yet we have a fragmentary understanding of the basic mechanisms involved in normal hearing. This project addresses the question of how sound location is represented in the brain through the processing of minute time difference with which sounds reach the two ears. The outcome will ultimately enable us to infer how the human brain localises sound, with practical applications for improved virtual auditory realities and hearing aids.Read moreRead less
Visual processing in a unique modular system - how can a simple cognitive architecture be used to solve complex visual tasks? The proposed interdisciplinary study of the visual system of jumping spiders will provide novel insights into how a simple cognitive architecture can be used to solve complex visual tasks. This will be the first comprehensive study of motion sensitivity in a spider. The insights obtained will be important for the development of artificial intelligence systems. We will pro ....Visual processing in a unique modular system - how can a simple cognitive architecture be used to solve complex visual tasks? The proposed interdisciplinary study of the visual system of jumping spiders will provide novel insights into how a simple cognitive architecture can be used to solve complex visual tasks. This will be the first comprehensive study of motion sensitivity in a spider. The insights obtained will be important for the development of artificial intelligence systems. We will provide a stimulating environment to train a postdoctoral fellow with state-of-art skills ranging from single-cell neurophysiology through to using 3D animation for sophisticated behavioural assays. The proposed work is a hot topic and will attract considerable attention, raise the profile of Australian science, and support postgraduate students. Read moreRead less
Northern connections-movement of birds between Australia and its near northern neighbours. This project will better enable Australia to meet its international treaty obligations on migratory birds and provide much needed data on patterns of migratory connectivity in northern Australia. These data are critical for the conservation and management of bird species that spend part of their life-cycle outside Australia. The outputs of the project will be used to assist decision makers with policy and ....Northern connections-movement of birds between Australia and its near northern neighbours. This project will better enable Australia to meet its international treaty obligations on migratory birds and provide much needed data on patterns of migratory connectivity in northern Australia. These data are critical for the conservation and management of bird species that spend part of their life-cycle outside Australia. The outputs of the project will be used to assist decision makers with policy and management decisions relevant to (1) targeted surveillance for exotic and emergent diseases of relevance to Australia and (2) the conservation and management of bird populations in Northern Australia.Read moreRead less
A molecular structure-function investigation of major membrane channels involved in olfactory transduction. Olfactory receptor neurons are extraordinarily-sensitive sensors for detecting minute concentrations of odorant molecules. This project aims to extend our previous studies of these specialised mammalian olfactory cells by using state-of-the art technologies: electrophysiology (patch-clamp) and molecular biology (site-directed-mutagenesis), to investigate how the molecular structure of the ....A molecular structure-function investigation of major membrane channels involved in olfactory transduction. Olfactory receptor neurons are extraordinarily-sensitive sensors for detecting minute concentrations of odorant molecules. This project aims to extend our previous studies of these specialised mammalian olfactory cells by using state-of-the art technologies: electrophysiology (patch-clamp) and molecular biology (site-directed-mutagenesis), to investigate how the molecular structure of their ion channels (selective protein pores) and receptors contribute to the odorant-induced generation of electrical activity, which mediates our sense of smell (olfaction). The project has specific relevance for understanding olfaction, as well as relevance for other sensory systems and other ion channels.Read moreRead less
Rheological and Electrical Properties of Biological Soft Tissues. Research on coupling rheological and electrical properties of biological soft tissues and their composites is fundamental to medical and sport sciences, as well as the optimal design and management of smart biomedical devices and bio-microtransducers. This project aims to develop an effective rheological and electrical constitutive law and finite element implementation together with supporting experiments to reveal the novel coupl ....Rheological and Electrical Properties of Biological Soft Tissues. Research on coupling rheological and electrical properties of biological soft tissues and their composites is fundamental to medical and sport sciences, as well as the optimal design and management of smart biomedical devices and bio-microtransducers. This project aims to develop an effective rheological and electrical constitutive law and finite element implementation together with supporting experiments to reveal the novel coupling behaviour of viscoelastic and electric fields of the innovative smart biological soft tissue. These results will provide a guideline for future research in tissue engineering and help Australian biomedical science and industries improve the modern biotransducers and smart biomicro-devices.Read moreRead less
Heterarchical modelling of nutritional ecology: from individuals to communities. The project will combine advances in nutritional theory, agent-based modelling and landscape ecology to produce a modelling framework with which to understand the interrelationships between the physiology and behaviour of individual organisms and the populations, communities and ecosystems in which they reside. The resulting computational model will provide a major new initiative in quantitative ecology and allow sp ....Heterarchical modelling of nutritional ecology: from individuals to communities. The project will combine advances in nutritional theory, agent-based modelling and landscape ecology to produce a modelling framework with which to understand the interrelationships between the physiology and behaviour of individual organisms and the populations, communities and ecosystems in which they reside. The resulting computational model will provide a major new initiative in quantitative ecology and allow specific practical problems to be addressed in relation to agricultural pests, invasive species, conservation biology and animal production systems.Read moreRead less