Inverse and related problems in statistics. Modern statistical inverse problems arise in fields from astronomy and biology to engineering and finance. Sometimes the problems involve the analysis of small samples of very high dimensional data, and are central to information aquisition in areas such as genomics and signal analysis. All these topics are of significant national importance, and their solution will bring national and community benefits. In addition, the program to which the proposa ....Inverse and related problems in statistics. Modern statistical inverse problems arise in fields from astronomy and biology to engineering and finance. Sometimes the problems involve the analysis of small samples of very high dimensional data, and are central to information aquisition in areas such as genomics and signal analysis. All these topics are of significant national importance, and their solution will bring national and community benefits. In addition, the program to which the proposal will lead will be used extensively for research training. In Australia, where the demand for research-trained statisticians greatly exceeds supply, this contribution to the nation and the community will be particularly important. Read moreRead less
New and computationally feasible methods of constructing efficient and exact confidence limits from count data. Biological and health science data is commonly in the form of counts. The statistical analysis of such data should be (a) efficient i.e. it should not, in effect, throw away valuable data, (b) exact i.e. it should have precisely known statistical properties and (c) computationally feasible. Kabaila and Lloyd (1997-2001) have proposed and analysed a radically new method of confidence li ....New and computationally feasible methods of constructing efficient and exact confidence limits from count data. Biological and health science data is commonly in the form of counts. The statistical analysis of such data should be (a) efficient i.e. it should not, in effect, throw away valuable data, (b) exact i.e. it should have precisely known statistical properties and (c) computationally feasible. Kabaila and Lloyd (1997-2001) have proposed and analysed a radically new method of confidence limit construction which, for the first time, possesses all of these requirements. The purpose of the project is to establish further theoretical support for the new method, to develop efficient computational algorithms and to write easy-to-use computer programs for its practical use.Read moreRead less
Theory and application of computer-intensive, nonparametric statistical methods. The availability of increasingly powerful computing equipment continues to have a dramatic impact on statistical methods and thinking. These developments, combined with new technologies for generating data, are driving substantial changes in statistics, ranging from the types of problems being solved to the sorts of methods used to solve them. Both the problems and their solutions are of substantial national and c ....Theory and application of computer-intensive, nonparametric statistical methods. The availability of increasingly powerful computing equipment continues to have a dramatic impact on statistical methods and thinking. These developments, combined with new technologies for generating data, are driving substantial changes in statistics, ranging from the types of problems being solved to the sorts of methods used to solve them. Both the problems and their solutions are of substantial national and community benefit. They will be the subject of high-level research supported by this proposal. Read moreRead less
Nonparametric Statistical Methods -- New Directions, Theory and Applications. The research program will take Australia to the forefront of contemporary work in nonparametric statistics, and assist greatly in the training of a new generation of Australian statistical scientists. It will contribute significantly to restoring the health of this strategically important field, in Australian universities and in the nation more generally. The projects outlined in the proposal address problems arising ....Nonparametric Statistical Methods -- New Directions, Theory and Applications. The research program will take Australia to the forefront of contemporary work in nonparametric statistics, and assist greatly in the training of a new generation of Australian statistical scientists. It will contribute significantly to restoring the health of this strategically important field, in Australian universities and in the nation more generally. The projects outlined in the proposal address problems arising in astronomy, economics, engineering, defence, health and image analysis, but the potential areas of impact are broader even than this. This diversity illustrates the extraordinary potential, and strategic significance, of statistics to Australia. Read moreRead less
Computational Nanofluidics. This project will generate an increased level of skill and expertise in Australia in the emerging science of nanotechnology. To realise the promise of nanotechnology, a means of controlled propulsion on the nano scale is vital. A deeper understanding of nanofluidics that allows greater predictive capacities can greatly aid this realisation. It is highly likely that computational nanofluidics will play as important a role in nanotechnology based industries as computat ....Computational Nanofluidics. This project will generate an increased level of skill and expertise in Australia in the emerging science of nanotechnology. To realise the promise of nanotechnology, a means of controlled propulsion on the nano scale is vital. A deeper understanding of nanofluidics that allows greater predictive capacities can greatly aid this realisation. It is highly likely that computational nanofluidics will play as important a role in nanotechnology based industries as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) currently plays in today's manufacturing, automotive and aerospace industries. The skills and knowledge gained from this project will enhance our international competitiveness in this area. Read moreRead less
Accurate quantum modeling of the van der Waals interaction and its application to molecular physisorption onto surfaces. Developing zero emission clean fuel technology for transportation and developing sensitive diagnostic markers for medical diagnosis will clearly benefit Australia. In both cases large technological challenges need to be overcome. This investigation will provide theoretical insight and understanding into the molecular processes which underpin these highly desirable technologies ....Accurate quantum modeling of the van der Waals interaction and its application to molecular physisorption onto surfaces. Developing zero emission clean fuel technology for transportation and developing sensitive diagnostic markers for medical diagnosis will clearly benefit Australia. In both cases large technological challenges need to be overcome. This investigation will provide theoretical insight and understanding into the molecular processes which underpin these highly desirable technologies and aid scientists and engineers in their development. A further, more general, outcome will be an accurate and predictive methodology for investigating nanotechnology problems in any material where molecular physisorption is an important process.Read moreRead less
Fundamental Theoretical Study of Hydrogen Interactions with Novel Nanostructures. While governments around the world are planning to implement a hydrogen-based energy economy in the next several decades, the delivery of practical hydrogen energy technology has proven elusive to date, with major developments required in the production, storage and transport of hydrogen. This research will undertake to provide one key step in the development of safe and efficient hydrogen storage, namely a fundam ....Fundamental Theoretical Study of Hydrogen Interactions with Novel Nanostructures. While governments around the world are planning to implement a hydrogen-based energy economy in the next several decades, the delivery of practical hydrogen energy technology has proven elusive to date, with major developments required in the production, storage and transport of hydrogen. This research will undertake to provide one key step in the development of safe and efficient hydrogen storage, namely a fundamental study delivering basic knowledge of hydrogen interactions with nano-structured materials constructed from inexpensive light metals such as Aluminium.Read moreRead less
Neutron Scattering in Biology. Australia's Replacement Research Reactor will be a world-class neutron source, and represents the country's largest single investment in scientific research infrastructure. It is now essential to stimulate its production of high-quality research in materials science, chemistry and biology. The applicant is a recognised world leader in the field of neutron scattering research, particularly in biology. His presence in the Bragg Institute, which manages the neutron ....Neutron Scattering in Biology. Australia's Replacement Research Reactor will be a world-class neutron source, and represents the country's largest single investment in scientific research infrastructure. It is now essential to stimulate its production of high-quality research in materials science, chemistry and biology. The applicant is a recognised world leader in the field of neutron scattering research, particularly in biology. His presence in the Bragg Institute, which manages the neutron scattering instruments on the reactor, will provide direction and impetus for the science that will be initiated there, advancing applications in materials science, medicine and biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Understanding and controlling the processes underlying self assembly of nanostructures on surfaces. Efficient clean fuel technology, new classes of nano- and bio-materials, bio specific drug delivery systems, efficient environmental remediation technologies, advanced catalytic applications, namely every area of technology would benefit from the ability to control self-assembly of matter at the atomic level during fabrication of nanodevices. This proposal seeks to understand the processes driving ....Understanding and controlling the processes underlying self assembly of nanostructures on surfaces. Efficient clean fuel technology, new classes of nano- and bio-materials, bio specific drug delivery systems, efficient environmental remediation technologies, advanced catalytic applications, namely every area of technology would benefit from the ability to control self-assembly of matter at the atomic level during fabrication of nanodevices. This proposal seeks to understand the processes driving self-assembly of nanomaterials and how to control these processes.Read moreRead less
Learning to predict polymorphism through simulation of nucleation and nanoparticle evolution. Many substances are capable of exhibiting a myriad of different structures despite having the same composition. This behaviour can have a significant impact on the production of new pharmaceuticals, since the sudden appearance of a new form can lead to instant withdrawal of the drug. By understanding how different forms grow, rather than focusing on just the stability of the product, this research will ....Learning to predict polymorphism through simulation of nucleation and nanoparticle evolution. Many substances are capable of exhibiting a myriad of different structures despite having the same composition. This behaviour can have a significant impact on the production of new pharmaceuticals, since the sudden appearance of a new form can lead to instant withdrawal of the drug. By understanding how different forms grow, rather than focusing on just the stability of the product, this research will lead to more reliable prediction of how pharmaceutical molecules might assemble. The same technology will potentially have impacts in many areas of nanoscience through improvements in efficiency, including the production of minerals, desalination and undersea gas recovery.Read moreRead less