Accurate Location Service for 3G Cellular Networks. The project aims to improve the accuracy of automatic location identification of GPS enabled handsets in third-generation cellular networks via a modified Differential GPS method. The proposed sub-metre location ability will be a value-added service of the network providers and will appeal to a wide sector of users. The challenge is to develop a cost effective solution by utilising existing network infrastructure. We propose to use the GPS timi ....Accurate Location Service for 3G Cellular Networks. The project aims to improve the accuracy of automatic location identification of GPS enabled handsets in third-generation cellular networks via a modified Differential GPS method. The proposed sub-metre location ability will be a value-added service of the network providers and will appeal to a wide sector of users. The challenge is to develop a cost effective solution by utilising existing network infrastructure. We propose to use the GPS timing units in 3G networks for deriving local GPS position corrections; and to transfer these corrections to the users via the 3G data bursts of the beacons or other user data broadcasts.Read moreRead less
Improving the efficiency of bovine oocyte maturation in vitro. For the dairy and beef industries, the hundreds of eggs (oocytes) in a high value cow's ovary that fail to produce a pregnancy are a wasted genetic resource. A key technology to unlocking this resource is in vitro maturation of oocytes, but the process is inefficient. One possible cause is that the current approaches to maturing oocytes in vitro do not adequately mimic the natural process in vivo. We will design new systems to matu ....Improving the efficiency of bovine oocyte maturation in vitro. For the dairy and beef industries, the hundreds of eggs (oocytes) in a high value cow's ovary that fail to produce a pregnancy are a wasted genetic resource. A key technology to unlocking this resource is in vitro maturation of oocytes, but the process is inefficient. One possible cause is that the current approaches to maturing oocytes in vitro do not adequately mimic the natural process in vivo. We will design new systems to mature cow oocytes in vitro by altering the chemical composition of maturation medium, thus improving the efficiency of laboratory embryo production and related technologies.Read moreRead less
Chemical inhibition: a new approach to investigate the role of a key protease, CtHtrA, from Chlamydia trachomatis. Infertility in women frequently results from infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. This project will develop an inhibitor compound against a important protein from this bacteria. This will establish a new scientific approach to study Chlamydia trachomatis. This project will also contribute to the development of new treatments for infertility.
Effectiveness of social skills training for children with autism. Our industry partner, Aspect Australia, is one of the world's largest providers of educational and other services for people with autism. The demonstration of effectiveness of the program in Aspect classes will likely lead to widespread use and benefit of the program in the education sector nationally and internationally. This in turn would lead to potential lessening of disability in children with autism with improvements in thei ....Effectiveness of social skills training for children with autism. Our industry partner, Aspect Australia, is one of the world's largest providers of educational and other services for people with autism. The demonstration of effectiveness of the program in Aspect classes will likely lead to widespread use and benefit of the program in the education sector nationally and internationally. This in turn would lead to potential lessening of disability in children with autism with improvements in their mental health and significant cost savings to the community.Read moreRead less
Optimising dissolved air flotation (DAF) for algae removal by bubble modification in drinking water and advanced wastewater systems. Algal blooms in potable water reservoirs and advanced wastewater treatment lagoons can impact the performance and economic viability of water treatment processes resulting in taste and odour episodes and the risk of algal toxins as well as causing further limitation to already stressed water resources in Australia. This project aims to develop an adaptation of the ....Optimising dissolved air flotation (DAF) for algae removal by bubble modification in drinking water and advanced wastewater systems. Algal blooms in potable water reservoirs and advanced wastewater treatment lagoons can impact the performance and economic viability of water treatment processes resulting in taste and odour episodes and the risk of algal toxins as well as causing further limitation to already stressed water resources in Australia. This project aims to develop an adaptation of the dissolved air flotation process that is already used for algae treatment that will provide a more robust, economic and sustainable barrier to algal cells in accordance with the Australian Drinking and Recycled Water Guidelines.Read moreRead less
Development of smart material for the adsorption of oil spills on roads. The cost of road fuel spills in both Australia and worldwide is enormous. The research objective is to develop an admixture suitable for the absorption/adsorption of fuel and oil from road spills. The material will be designed to be contained within a fabric. The innovation is the application of the admixture in the form of a carpet, which is designed as easily used, non-toxic, recyclable and environmentally friendly. T ....Development of smart material for the adsorption of oil spills on roads. The cost of road fuel spills in both Australia and worldwide is enormous. The research objective is to develop an admixture suitable for the absorption/adsorption of fuel and oil from road spills. The material will be designed to be contained within a fabric. The innovation is the application of the admixture in the form of a carpet, which is designed as easily used, non-toxic, recyclable and environmentally friendly. The application is rapid. The successful development of the material has enormous economic benefits to Australia, providing a new industry with many employees. This new industry has the potential to bring great wealth to Australia.Read moreRead less
Enhancing Biological Denitrification by Addition of External Carbon Sources: What, Where and When. External carbon addition for enhancing nitrogen removal is being increasingly used by wastewater treatment industry both in Australia and worldwide. This technology adds considerably to the operating cost, to which the non-optimal use of carbon sources has contributed significantly. To ensure long-term optimal denitrification performance with minimal use of external carbon, we will perform the firs ....Enhancing Biological Denitrification by Addition of External Carbon Sources: What, Where and When. External carbon addition for enhancing nitrogen removal is being increasingly used by wastewater treatment industry both in Australia and worldwide. This technology adds considerably to the operating cost, to which the non-optimal use of carbon sources has contributed significantly. To ensure long-term optimal denitrification performance with minimal use of external carbon, we will perform the first comprehensive study of the impact of external carbon addition on the denitrifying community and denitrification performance and, on this basis, answer the questions of what carbon sources should be used, where and when/how they should be added under various process design and operational conditions.Read moreRead less
Predicting Perfect Partners: climate resilient seed production technology . This project aims to increase productivity and profitability of the Australian sorghum industry in the face of risks imposed by an increasingly variable climate. This project expects to generate new knowledge of processes limiting hybrid seed production and translate this world-class research into tools and services that can be used by seed companies to improve its efficiency and reliability. The intended outcome will in ....Predicting Perfect Partners: climate resilient seed production technology . This project aims to increase productivity and profitability of the Australian sorghum industry in the face of risks imposed by an increasingly variable climate. This project expects to generate new knowledge of processes limiting hybrid seed production and translate this world-class research into tools and services that can be used by seed companies to improve its efficiency and reliability. The intended outcome will increase the security and sustainability of farming by minimising the risk of climate-induced seed shortages, maintaining Australia’s leadership in agricultural technology development. The expected benefits support profitable and productive businesses, providing Australian agriculture with a competitive, sustainable edge.Read moreRead less
Prediction of fruit quality by non-invasive assessment, with special reference to avocado. The project aims to develop non-invasive rapid assessment techniques of avocado quality (dry matter percentage, oil content, susceptibility to rots) suitable for application in at-line, in-line and in-field settings using NIR spectroscopic methods. The development and introduction of these non-invasive technologies into the avocado industry will allow rapid low-cost testing to support existing quality con ....Prediction of fruit quality by non-invasive assessment, with special reference to avocado. The project aims to develop non-invasive rapid assessment techniques of avocado quality (dry matter percentage, oil content, susceptibility to rots) suitable for application in at-line, in-line and in-field settings using NIR spectroscopic methods. The development and introduction of these non-invasive technologies into the avocado industry will allow rapid low-cost testing to support existing quality control procedures. The technology has the potential to enhance the competitive advantage of Australian producers/processors by guaranteeing high quality and optimising shelf-life. The ability to deliver a differentiated product will maximise sales in existing markets and facilitate the targeting of new domestic and overseas markets.Read moreRead less
Development of solvent extraction systems for improved sugar quality and yield. The recent collapse in the international sugar price and increased competition amongst producers have highlighted the vulnerability of Australian sugar mills and the regional communities reliant on sugar cane growing to variation in the price of this commodity. Hence, the development of new, more efficient means to produce raw sugar of high quality is of paramount importance to maintain Australia as a low cost produ ....Development of solvent extraction systems for improved sugar quality and yield. The recent collapse in the international sugar price and increased competition amongst producers have highlighted the vulnerability of Australian sugar mills and the regional communities reliant on sugar cane growing to variation in the price of this commodity. Hence, the development of new, more efficient means to produce raw sugar of high quality is of paramount importance to maintain Australia as a low cost producer. This project aims to investigate the use of unique solvent extraction methods to remove deleterious impurities from the raw cane juice in sugar mills with the consequent improvement in both sugar yield and quality.Read moreRead less