Optimised distributed stimulation of muscle. The project aims to extend to humans, a method of producing a non-fatiguing, smooth, submaximal muscle contraction. The method using multiple electrodes, stimulated at different times, with those times being adjusted for optimum smoothness at low stimulation rates. This will enable the gathering of information about the mechanics of muscle undergoing near physiological contractions, which will be of interest to researchers in Biomechanics. It will ....Optimised distributed stimulation of muscle. The project aims to extend to humans, a method of producing a non-fatiguing, smooth, submaximal muscle contraction. The method using multiple electrodes, stimulated at different times, with those times being adjusted for optimum smoothness at low stimulation rates. This will enable the gathering of information about the mechanics of muscle undergoing near physiological contractions, which will be of interest to researchers in Biomechanics. It will also be a step towards the restoration of function to spinal cord injured patients.Read moreRead less
DNA Dynamics is Shear and Extensional Flows: Simulation and Single Molecule Experiments. The proposal seeks to establish a collaboration between Monash University and Stanford University in order to combine several recent experimental and theoretical advances that have been made by the individual groups in single molecule experimental techniques, extensional rheometry, and molecular rheology, to obtain new insights into the structure and dynamics of biopolymers. The central aim is to make a sign ....DNA Dynamics is Shear and Extensional Flows: Simulation and Single Molecule Experiments. The proposal seeks to establish a collaboration between Monash University and Stanford University in order to combine several recent experimental and theoretical advances that have been made by the individual groups in single molecule experimental techniques, extensional rheometry, and molecular rheology, to obtain new insights into the structure and dynamics of biopolymers. The central aim is to make a significant contribution towards bringing state-of-the-art techniques used for the characterization of polymeric systems to bear on the nature and origin of the elastic properties of biopolymers.Read moreRead less
The flow properties of proteins and other biopolymers. The living cell is an extraordinary organization with a vast variety of biomacromolecules carrying out myriads of functions with great specificity and accuracy. The key issue in cell biology is to unravel the structures of biopolymers and the deep connection that exists between structure and function. This interdisciplinary research program combines recent advances in experimental and theoretical rheology, with advances in protein science, t ....The flow properties of proteins and other biopolymers. The living cell is an extraordinary organization with a vast variety of biomacromolecules carrying out myriads of functions with great specificity and accuracy. The key issue in cell biology is to unravel the structures of biopolymers and the deep connection that exists between structure and function. This interdisciplinary research program combines recent advances in experimental and theoretical rheology, with advances in protein science, to investigate the response of biopolymers to deformation. This approach will lead to insights into the problem of protein folding, the interaction of biopolymers with surfaces, and the physical basis for the mechanical properties of biopolymers.Read moreRead less
Numerical simulation of the fish-like swimming of linked bodies. Although Zoologists have made detailed observations of swimming fish there are still many unanswered questions about how they swim. We do not know how the fins and undulating body work together to produce the high speed of the tuna, or the fast turns of a fish escaping danger. We see dolphins swim through the sea's surface but we don't know if they do that because it is much more efficient. This project is designed to simulate arb ....Numerical simulation of the fish-like swimming of linked bodies. Although Zoologists have made detailed observations of swimming fish there are still many unanswered questions about how they swim. We do not know how the fins and undulating body work together to produce the high speed of the tuna, or the fast turns of a fish escaping danger. We see dolphins swim through the sea's surface but we don't know if they do that because it is much more efficient. This project is designed to simulate arbitrary fish motion and give answers to these and other questions concerning swimming. It may also help humans to swim more efficiently and provide simulation tools for the design of robotic undersea vehicles.Read moreRead less
Advanced fluid mechanics modelling of complex leukocyte-endothelial interactions. This project adopts an interdisciplinary approach toward understanding the mechanical interactions between blood cells and vessel walls, under different hydrodynamic conditions. Outcomes will have downstream benefits to vascular biology in relation to diagnosis of problems such as atherosclerotic plaques. These vascular problems are associated with several major health problems including coronary heart disease, h ....Advanced fluid mechanics modelling of complex leukocyte-endothelial interactions. This project adopts an interdisciplinary approach toward understanding the mechanical interactions between blood cells and vessel walls, under different hydrodynamic conditions. Outcomes will have downstream benefits to vascular biology in relation to diagnosis of problems such as atherosclerotic plaques. These vascular problems are associated with several major health problems including coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and kidney dysfunction.Read moreRead less
Rapid Development of Biocompatible Stent Grafts for Aortic Aneurysms. Weakening of the aorta may cause an aneurysm. The present technique of its treatment involves replacing the weakened portion of the aorta with a synthetic graft. Failure of this treatment often occurs due to non-compatibility of the stent graft with natural aorta. One possible reason for this is a mismatch between elastic natural aorta and the non-elastic artificial graft. The core component of our project is the selection and ....Rapid Development of Biocompatible Stent Grafts for Aortic Aneurysms. Weakening of the aorta may cause an aneurysm. The present technique of its treatment involves replacing the weakened portion of the aorta with a synthetic graft. Failure of this treatment often occurs due to non-compatibility of the stent graft with natural aorta. One possible reason for this is a mismatch between elastic natural aorta and the non-elastic artificial graft. The core component of our project is the selection and development of a suitable biomaterial and optimization of the stent design based on hemodynamics flow analysis and its fabrication with the Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) process.Read moreRead less
In Vitro Study of Hemodynamic Stresses and Endothelialization of Artificial Coronary Arteries. Restenosis (recurrence of the disease) is a major problem in the case of patients undergoing artificial artery by-pass surgery. Ideally the design for manufacturing the scaffold for cell adhesion of the artery should factor in hemodynamic forces and optimised geometry to withstand the hemodynamic stresses and other forces. This project aims to investigate the material for manufacturing the artificial a ....In Vitro Study of Hemodynamic Stresses and Endothelialization of Artificial Coronary Arteries. Restenosis (recurrence of the disease) is a major problem in the case of patients undergoing artificial artery by-pass surgery. Ideally the design for manufacturing the scaffold for cell adhesion of the artery should factor in hemodynamic forces and optimised geometry to withstand the hemodynamic stresses and other forces. This project aims to investigate the material for manufacturing the artificial artery using Fused Deposition Modeling and to develop methods for the establishment of endothelium on the artificial artery, concluding a restenosis-free solution for by-pass surgery. The knowledge gained through this work would be applicable to the design of other prosthetic devices.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0239650
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Advanced instrumentation for nano-scale imaging and analysis. It is widely accepted that the emerging fields of Nanotechnology and Nanoengineering will dominate research activity in a wide range of disciplines over the next decade. Progress in nanoscience and technology requires parallel development in nanocharacterisation and nanofabrication techniques. This proposal seeks to enhance the level of research infrastructure support for nano-scale microscopy and microanalysis at UTS and the Univer ....Advanced instrumentation for nano-scale imaging and analysis. It is widely accepted that the emerging fields of Nanotechnology and Nanoengineering will dominate research activity in a wide range of disciplines over the next decade. Progress in nanoscience and technology requires parallel development in nanocharacterisation and nanofabrication techniques. This proposal seeks to enhance the level of research infrastructure support for nano-scale microscopy and microanalysis at UTS and the University of Sydney by providing the following advanced instrumentation for nano-scale imaging, analysis and manipulation of materials:
- A Schottky field emission gun environmental scanning electron microscope
- Equipment kit for the rapid preparation of high quality transmission electron microscope specimens.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453973
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$696,093.00
Summary
Surface Spectroscopic and Microstructure Analysis. Funding is requested for an X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS) and an Image Plate Guinier Camera (IPGC), to update and expand capabilities in surface spectroscopic and microstructural analysis of a wide range of materials. The XPS unit, to be located at the University of SA, will replace two 18-year old XPS units at UniSA and Flinders University. The IPGC is a new and unique instrument which will be located at the University of Adelaide. The ....Surface Spectroscopic and Microstructure Analysis. Funding is requested for an X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS) and an Image Plate Guinier Camera (IPGC), to update and expand capabilities in surface spectroscopic and microstructural analysis of a wide range of materials. The XPS unit, to be located at the University of SA, will replace two 18-year old XPS units at UniSA and Flinders University. The IPGC is a new and unique instrument which will be located at the University of Adelaide. These items will be incorporated into the SA Regional Facility, which provides seamless access to instrumentation across nodes. Applications include materials science, geological and biological research projects.Read moreRead less
Characterization and optimisation of Myomatrix: A novel extracellular matrix hydrogel from muscle. This project would have several sources of benefit for the community. Foremost we will have produced a product that will have a strong commercial application in several fields including basic science and bioengineering. If its full potential were achieved, the development of this innovative new hydrogel would strengthen Australia's standing in the biotechnology field and also enrich specific applic ....Characterization and optimisation of Myomatrix: A novel extracellular matrix hydrogel from muscle. This project would have several sources of benefit for the community. Foremost we will have produced a product that will have a strong commercial application in several fields including basic science and bioengineering. If its full potential were achieved, the development of this innovative new hydrogel would strengthen Australia's standing in the biotechnology field and also enrich specific applications. The knowledge gained from the characterization of this product could also be of benefit to several areas including chemical engineering, tissue engineering, tissue repair, polymer chemistry and food manufacture. The expertise generated and the possibility of collaboration, both academic and with industry would also benefit the community. Read moreRead less