Surface Tension Of Upper Airway Lining Liquid: Role In Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Hyponoea Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$494,833.00
Summary
The obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) refers to a condition in which throat blockage occurs during sleep leading to breathing difficulties, including cessation of breathing for short periods of time. OSAHS affects both men and women but is amongst the commonest of chronic disorders of adult males, occurring in 5% of men over the age of 45 years. In the proposed studies we will examine the effect that the liquid layer that lines the throat, has on the ability of the airway to st ....The obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) refers to a condition in which throat blockage occurs during sleep leading to breathing difficulties, including cessation of breathing for short periods of time. OSAHS affects both men and women but is amongst the commonest of chronic disorders of adult males, occurring in 5% of men over the age of 45 years. In the proposed studies we will examine the effect that the liquid layer that lines the throat, has on the ability of the airway to stay open during sleep. In particular we will examine whether coating the throat with a substance that decreases stickiness will help to prevent the occurrence of episodes of throat blockage during sleep in persons with OSAHS. We will also explore the role of saliva production and swallowing during sleep in maintaining a low stickiness of the throat and whether this liquid lining is abnormal in OSAHS patients. These studies will establish the potential usefulness of decreasing the stickiness of the liquid lining the throat as a treatment for OSAHS.Read moreRead less
New metal-molecule binding motifs for self-assembled monolayers and nanodevices. The goal of this research is to investigate technologically interesting electronic materials using new molecular assemblies. We explore their application in some fundamental components of molecular electronic systems and anticipate that knowledge gained from our investigations will have significant impact on the field of nanotechnology, especially in the area of molecular electronics. Our basic research will contrib ....New metal-molecule binding motifs for self-assembled monolayers and nanodevices. The goal of this research is to investigate technologically interesting electronic materials using new molecular assemblies. We explore their application in some fundamental components of molecular electronic systems and anticipate that knowledge gained from our investigations will have significant impact on the field of nanotechnology, especially in the area of molecular electronics. Our basic research will contribute to Australia's reputation as a source of innovative research and ideas in an area where there is growing international momentum.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR180100030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,103,883.00
Summary
Development of electrochemically activated sorbents for PFAS defluorination. This project aims to develop a new treatment technology to completely defluorinate per- and poly-fluroalkyl substances (PFAS) and to treat significant water quantities. The majority of existing water treatment technologies are unable to remove PFAS to the desired extent, are prohibitively expensive or are only useful for a very limited lifespan. This project is expected to develop a new treatment technology with the abi ....Development of electrochemically activated sorbents for PFAS defluorination. This project aims to develop a new treatment technology to completely defluorinate per- and poly-fluroalkyl substances (PFAS) and to treat significant water quantities. The majority of existing water treatment technologies are unable to remove PFAS to the desired extent, are prohibitively expensive or are only useful for a very limited lifespan. This project is expected to develop a new treatment technology with the ability to completely defluorinate PFAS, treat significant water quantities and help address many of the pressing concerns facing water treatment operators. This technology is also scalable, and can potentially be used to treat significant quantities of contaminated water.Read moreRead less
Tracking flood waters over Australia using space gravity data. This project aims to assess the utility of near-real-time data from the currently operating space gravity satellite mission to quantify and track flood waters in Australia. Through analysis of the satellite data and fusion of observed signals with rainfall, river flows and conventional hydrological modelling, it expects to create new knowledge of soil moisture and movement of flood waters. Expected outcomes include a capability to im ....Tracking flood waters over Australia using space gravity data. This project aims to assess the utility of near-real-time data from the currently operating space gravity satellite mission to quantify and track flood waters in Australia. Through analysis of the satellite data and fusion of observed signals with rainfall, river flows and conventional hydrological modelling, it expects to create new knowledge of soil moisture and movement of flood waters. Expected outcomes include a capability to improve hydrological models by including the information of water signals obtained from the near-real-time observations. This should provide significant benefits such as more accurate land saturation maps and better predictions of runoff and flood risk.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100136
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,000.00
Summary
Mobile weather radar system for advanced environmental monitoring and modelling. High spatial and temporal resolution weather radar data on wind and precipitation will translate to significant environmental model advances. Australian researchers will undertake model validation studies on precipitation, dust storm, and flood prediction under a wider range of environmental conditions and in greater detail than currently possible.
Evolutionary origins of sexual parasitism in an Australian freshwater fish. Carp gudgeons are the most abundant, widespread and biodiverse freshwater fishes in southeastern Australia. The unacknowledged presence of many cryptic species and sexually-parasitic lineages severely taints all research on this cornerstone group. This project aims to provide unrivalled evolutionary, genomic, and taxonomic insights into this new instance of vertebrate sexual parasitism, which offers a unique mix of resea ....Evolutionary origins of sexual parasitism in an Australian freshwater fish. Carp gudgeons are the most abundant, widespread and biodiverse freshwater fishes in southeastern Australia. The unacknowledged presence of many cryptic species and sexually-parasitic lineages severely taints all research on this cornerstone group. This project aims to provide unrivalled evolutionary, genomic, and taxonomic insights into this new instance of vertebrate sexual parasitism, which offers a unique mix of research advantages not displayed by any other sexual/unisexual complex. The knowledge gained could impact many research fields, including evolutionary theory addressing the unexplainable prevalence of sex, native fish ecology, and environmental monitoring of the Murray-Darling Basin, an ecosystem of world significance.Read moreRead less
Assessing the impact of habitat restoration on the rates of recovery of four native fish species using advanced statistical models. This project will develop statistical modelling tools to assess how quickly threatened native fish populations recover following habitat restoration. The outcome of this project will aid in understanding the use of habitat restoration in managing endangered stocks of Murray Cod, Trout Cod, Silver Perch and Golden Perch in the Murray River.
Repulsive van der Waals forces and Brownian ratchet motors: manipulating thermal and quantum Fluctuations. A fundamental problem with miniaturizing machines and mechanical devices below the micron scale is the issue of friction and lubrication. One way to completely circumvent the need for lubrication is to use a little-studied phenomenon known as 'repulsive van der Waals forces', to create materials that fundamentally repel each other in certain fluid environments. This effect is very large at ....Repulsive van der Waals forces and Brownian ratchet motors: manipulating thermal and quantum Fluctuations. A fundamental problem with miniaturizing machines and mechanical devices below the micron scale is the issue of friction and lubrication. One way to completely circumvent the need for lubrication is to use a little-studied phenomenon known as 'repulsive van der Waals forces', to create materials that fundamentally repel each other in certain fluid environments. This effect is very large at the nanoscale and this proposal examines how such forces can be used to make 'lubricant free' motors and nanomachines. This will open up the possibility of building small and portable sensors, actuators, microfluidic devices and eventually active drug delivery systems for health applications.Read moreRead less
Targeted process development for drug delivery. Matrix assisted ball milling and continuous flow process intensification on rotating surfaces in the form of spinning discs and rotating tubes, and combinations of these, allow the fabrication of nanoparticles for the pharmaceutical industry, with the ability to fine tune the properties of the particles to improve their uptake profiles, while minimising side effects. The research will be conducted through the Centre for Strategic Nano-Fabrication w ....Targeted process development for drug delivery. Matrix assisted ball milling and continuous flow process intensification on rotating surfaces in the form of spinning discs and rotating tubes, and combinations of these, allow the fabrication of nanoparticles for the pharmaceutical industry, with the ability to fine tune the properties of the particles to improve their uptake profiles, while minimising side effects. The research will be conducted through the Centre for Strategic Nano-Fabrication with its science based attention to quality by design for product development at the inception of the science. This, coupled with the involvement of iCeutica which has a strong commercially focused R and D profile, provides a more innovative research culture, and excellent research training. Read moreRead less