The Role Of Afferent Input In The Development Of Focal Task Specific Dystonia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$213,000.00
Summary
The term dystonia is used to describe a condition that is characterised by abnormal muscle activation patterns. This leads to impaired control of voluntary movements. Depending upon which part of the body is affected, dystonia may be classified as generalised (affecting two or more body segments), hemi (involving one side), segmental (involving adjacent body parts or a segment), or focal (affecting one part of the body). Many of the focal dystonias are also task specific and the aim of this prop ....The term dystonia is used to describe a condition that is characterised by abnormal muscle activation patterns. This leads to impaired control of voluntary movements. Depending upon which part of the body is affected, dystonia may be classified as generalised (affecting two or more body segments), hemi (involving one side), segmental (involving adjacent body parts or a segment), or focal (affecting one part of the body). Many of the focal dystonias are also task specific and the aim of this proposal is to investigate these task-specific focal dystonias. Task-specific focal dystonia is common in the community and causes considerable suffering and loss of productivity. For example, writer's cramp (a common form of task specific focal dystonia) is probably the commonest cause of writing difficulty in patients in whom this is the sole complaint. No treatment regimen has been shown to be effective in alleviating it's often debilitating symptoms. The aim of these studies is to further define the pathophysiological changes seen in task-specific dystonia and investigate the mechanisms responsible for their generation. Using the techniques of transcranial magnetic stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation we will investigate the organisation of the motor cortex in this condition and examine the influence of afferent input on intrinsic cortical circuitry. We hypothesise that the motor regions of the brain are more sensitive to the particular repeated patterns of sensory information reaching the brain during repetitive movement and this results in abnormal alterations in organisation that may be responsible for the symptoms of dystonia. Additionally, we predict that it may be possible to reverse these organisational changes by applying novel patterns of nerve stimulationRead moreRead less
Investigation Of Significance To The Australian Fishing Industry Of (a) Fisheries Data Availability (b) Fuel
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Investigate & report on accessibility & usage of data avail to fisheries authorities; & on availability, cost, distribution, storage & usage patterns of fuel & 2. the possible impact on shipbuilding, catching, processing & marketing sectors
SESSF Industry Development Subprogram: Alternative Fuels For Fishing Vessels
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$137,291.91
Summary
With most of Australia's fish stocks at fully fished or overfished status, there is reduced opportunity for increasing economic returns from larger catches or unexploited resources. As a result, the fishing industry is looking for opportunities to increase its profit margins by reducing the cost of fishing. Generally, fuel is the one single highest operating cost to fishing vessels, accounting for up to 50% of the operating costs of a fishing vessel in Australia.
The Australian (and Ne ....With most of Australia's fish stocks at fully fished or overfished status, there is reduced opportunity for increasing economic returns from larger catches or unexploited resources. As a result, the fishing industry is looking for opportunities to increase its profit margins by reducing the cost of fishing. Generally, fuel is the one single highest operating cost to fishing vessels, accounting for up to 50% of the operating costs of a fishing vessel in Australia.
The Australian (and New Zealand) Fishing Industry requires assistance in becoming a more efficient user of energy. Some forms of fishing, such as trawling, expend more fuel per kg of fish landed compared to passive methods such as longlining and trap fishing. In all cases however, rising fuel prices impinge on the profitability of the operations, and ultimately put their viability in jeopardy; this has reach a critical situation for many operators in Australia.
The R&D plans and strategies of all advisory bodies to the FRDC contain high priority goals to achieve FRDC’s Industry Development goal (planned outcome):, The commercial sector of the Australian fishing industry is profitable, internationally competitive and socially resilient. This investigation into alternative fuels for the fishing industry, some of which also achieve lower greenhouse gas emissions, has the intention of improving the economic viability of fishing enterprises and shifting the industry towards a more secure position with respect to future fuel needs.
Objectives: 1. Demonstrate the feasibility of Marine Gas Oil (or other lower cost distillates) in fishing vessel engines, as a cheaper form of petroleum based diesel fuel. 2. Investigate the technical feasibility of fishoil as a biofuel source related directly to the activities of the industry. 3. Evaluate LPG as a relatively user friendly option with established supply chain, and detail the required technology in the context of fishing vessels. 4. Evaluate natural gas (LNG, CNG) as a prospect for significant fuel cost savings, and detail the required technology in the context of fishing vessels. Read moreRead less
Ninety-day Sea Trial Using CNG (compressed Natural Gas) As The Major Fuel Component For The Marine Diesel Engine
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Extend data from previous trials; confirm fuel efficiencies & substitution rates in previous tests can be improved. 2. Develop & test automatic electronic gas governor & dual fuel control mechanisms. 3. Demonstrate feasibility & savings to the industry
Seafood CRC: Spatial Management Of Southern Rock Lobster Fisheries To Improve Yield, Value And Sustainability
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,264,950.38
Summary
Quota management of rock lobster fisheries in southern States combined with higher prices for shallow-water lobsters has driven effort inshore. This is because fishers now manage their business to optimise the value of each kg, not maximise catch. Deeper water lobsters are often uneconomical to fish under current management as beach price can be as little as $4/kg above lease price (as lease price responds to beach price of shallow water product). This has produced an unusual situation in fi ....Quota management of rock lobster fisheries in southern States combined with higher prices for shallow-water lobsters has driven effort inshore. This is because fishers now manage their business to optimise the value of each kg, not maximise catch. Deeper water lobsters are often uneconomical to fish under current management as beach price can be as little as $4/kg above lease price (as lease price responds to beach price of shallow water product). This has produced an unusual situation in fisheries management where fishers are shifting effort away from high catch rate areas and into more depleted areas. There is now a management need for improved ability to follow trends in stocks at different depths and to evaluate novel harvest strategies suited to these spatial issues.
Adjusting harvest strategies to take account of spatial patterns in the biology of lobsters and patterns in the fleet has the potential to substantially increase yield, value and sustainability of the fishery. For example, preliminary modelling of the Tasmanian fishery has shown that regional size limits could double egg production in northern regions where levels are currently of concern, while simultaneously increasing yield by around 25%. Shifting effort into deeper water by means such as specific deep-water quota would be expected to increase yield given that these stocks are currently under-exploited. Translocating lobsters from slow to high growth areas leads to increased productivity and also higher beach price per lobster due to improved colour. Bio-economic modelling has indicated that gains in nett economic yield could be more than doubled in many cases through translocation (FRDC 2005/217). These opportunities also exist to varying degrees in SA and Victoria. Objectives: 0. To conduct field experiments and sampling to provide additional data required for alternative harvest strategy evaluation (fisher catch sampling, translocation release survival, release movement, translocation growth transition, effects of translocation on maturity and egg production parameters, density dependent growth). 1. To develop functional management and monitoring recommendations to apply outcomes. 2. To evaluate alternative spatial management options (deep-water quota, translocation, size limits) by economic analysis. 3. To conduct field experiments on translocation to provide additional data required for economic evaluation (change in colour, tail width, condition, and ability to survive transport). 4. To determine the extent of ecological community change in deep water reef habitats in response to increased harvest rates of lobsters. 5. To evaluate alternative spatial management options (deep-water quota, translocation, size limits) in respect to yield and egg production (biological projection). 6. To enable assessment reporting of trends in biomass and egg production by depth (model fitting). Read moreRead less