Information Quality in Auctions of Multiple Objects. This project aims at using both theory and laboratory experiments to analyse the formation of prices and the buyers' behaviour at auctions of multiple objects. The study focusses on the comparison of simultaneous auction procedures (in which the objects are sold at once) to sequential auction procedures (in which the objects are sold one after the other) and attention is drawn on the effects of the quality of the buyers' information about the ....Information Quality in Auctions of Multiple Objects. This project aims at using both theory and laboratory experiments to analyse the formation of prices and the buyers' behaviour at auctions of multiple objects. The study focusses on the comparison of simultaneous auction procedures (in which the objects are sold at once) to sequential auction procedures (in which the objects are sold one after the other) and attention is drawn on the effects of the quality of the buyers' information about the assets to be sold on their bidding behaviour and on the seller's revenues. The conduct of laboratory experiments will provide a useful assessment of the theoretical predictions and valuable insights into the effects of buyers' information quality on their bidding behaviour at such markets.Read moreRead less
Molecular mechanisms of catalysis and the basis of substrate specificity in polysaccharide hydrolases. Reaction intermediates along hydrolytic pathways and molecular determinants of substrate specificity of barley B-glucan exo- and endohydrolases will be defined using crystallographic and kinetic analyses. These enzymes are of central importance in cell wall metabolism during development of higher plants, and in plant-pathogen interactions. Realization of the project objectives will not only pro ....Molecular mechanisms of catalysis and the basis of substrate specificity in polysaccharide hydrolases. Reaction intermediates along hydrolytic pathways and molecular determinants of substrate specificity of barley B-glucan exo- and endohydrolases will be defined using crystallographic and kinetic analyses. These enzymes are of central importance in cell wall metabolism during development of higher plants, and in plant-pathogen interactions. Realization of the project objectives will not only provide fundamental information on catalytic mechanisms, but will also provide opportunities to manipulate enzyme specificity. Further, site-directed mutagenesis of the enzymes will be used to generate glycosynthases, which will be evaluated for their ability to synthesise novel oligosaccharide and polysaccharide products, some of which might show immunomodulating activity.Read moreRead less
Impacts of changing water ownership and reforms on Australian water markets. Water markets play a critical role in helping Australia’s food bowl survive periods of severe drought. This project aims to evaluate how the Murray-Darling Basin water markets performed, in terms of the impact of water ownership, and investigate how water reforms have affected rural communities over the past two decades. Expected outcomes include a clearer understanding on how different water ownership structures impact ....Impacts of changing water ownership and reforms on Australian water markets. Water markets play a critical role in helping Australia’s food bowl survive periods of severe drought. This project aims to evaluate how the Murray-Darling Basin water markets performed, in terms of the impact of water ownership, and investigate how water reforms have affected rural communities over the past two decades. Expected outcomes include a clearer understanding on how different water ownership structures impact price and price volatility of water, market power, economic welfare of water traders, and what social and economic impacts water reforms in the past decades have in the Basin. The findings will provide critical evidence for evaluating future water reforms, building resilient rural communities and safeguarding food security.Read moreRead less
Redesigning Landcare policy to better coordinate across landholders. This project aims to study how landscape-sensitive economic incentives and social norms can be leveraged to enhance the short- and long-term effectiveness of conservation programs. It will yield new knowledge for innovative designs in conservation contracting that is urgently needed to address worsening environmental threats in Australia and worldwide. In collaboration with Nobel laureate Vernon Smith’s team, new methods and pr ....Redesigning Landcare policy to better coordinate across landholders. This project aims to study how landscape-sensitive economic incentives and social norms can be leveraged to enhance the short- and long-term effectiveness of conservation programs. It will yield new knowledge for innovative designs in conservation contracting that is urgently needed to address worsening environmental threats in Australia and worldwide. In collaboration with Nobel laureate Vernon Smith’s team, new methods and protocols will improve our ability to generate better data and better understand how social and incentive mechanisms can constructively interact to facilitate collaborative environmental action. Results will help make the achievement of environmental targets and the use of public funds more cost-effective. Read moreRead less
Switching Dynamics Approach for Distributed Global Optimisation . This project aims to create a breakthrough switching dynamics approach and new technology to speed up finding optimal solutions. It will develop a distributed switching dynamics based optimisation scheme for global optimisation problems in industrial big-data environments where timely decision making is required. It will result in a practical technology for industry optimisation problems such as economic energy dispatch in smart g ....Switching Dynamics Approach for Distributed Global Optimisation . This project aims to create a breakthrough switching dynamics approach and new technology to speed up finding optimal solutions. It will develop a distributed switching dynamics based optimisation scheme for global optimisation problems in industrial big-data environments where timely decision making is required. It will result in a practical technology for industry optimisation problems such as economic energy dispatch in smart grids and optimal charging and discharging tasks in a large network of electric vehicles, helping Australian power industry improve efficiency and security, as well as training the next generation scientists and engineers for Australia in this emerging field.Read moreRead less
Interactions between cells and extracellular matrix in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of the ovarian follicular stratified epithelium. The lining of many mammalian organs and cavities contain cells that can transform into different cells to bring about organ development or repair but if it goes horribly wrong the cells become metastatic cancers. This project examines the key features of this process especially the roles of matrix that develops around the cells in this process.
Male to female sperm signalling – a new role for sperm in reproduction? Male seminal fluid is commonly thought simply to provide sperm for conception. This project aims to investigate a lesser known action of sperm: modifying the female immune response to increase the chances of reproductive success. The project aims to define the molecular pathway through which sperm interact with female cells, particularly how B-defensins on sperm bind to Toll-like receptors to stimulate female immune toleranc ....Male to female sperm signalling – a new role for sperm in reproduction? Male seminal fluid is commonly thought simply to provide sperm for conception. This project aims to investigate a lesser known action of sperm: modifying the female immune response to increase the chances of reproductive success. The project aims to define the molecular pathway through which sperm interact with female cells, particularly how B-defensins on sperm bind to Toll-like receptors to stimulate female immune tolerance. The project plans to use embryo transfer and genetic mouse models to determine the physiological benefit of sperm signalling. Evidence that seminal fluid signalling operates in mammals to ensure optimal female reproductive investment would advance knowledge of the male contribution to the reproductive process.Read moreRead less
Hydrogen carbon waste into concrete: AI assisted nanoscience approach. The carbon waste from hydrogen production will be converted into carbon nanosheets on abundant construction materials for the creation of stronger and more durable concrete. Cutting-edge nanoscience-based experiments, as well as sophisticated modelling techniques including machine learning and finite element modelling, will be employed. The findings will drive advances in clean hydrogen production, carbon waste utilisation, c ....Hydrogen carbon waste into concrete: AI assisted nanoscience approach. The carbon waste from hydrogen production will be converted into carbon nanosheets on abundant construction materials for the creation of stronger and more durable concrete. Cutting-edge nanoscience-based experiments, as well as sophisticated modelling techniques including machine learning and finite element modelling, will be employed. The findings will drive advances in clean hydrogen production, carbon waste utilisation, cement hydration, nanotechnology and concrete technology for the next generation of an upskilled workforce and the promotion of a circular economy. This project will be carried out in collaboration with Australian and international renowned experts in computational modelling, nanomaterials and concrete materials.Read moreRead less
Novel cell wall genes ripe for the picking. This project aims to investigate the role of recently discovered plant cellulose synthase-like CslM genes and to define the polysaccharide product associated with them. Successful identification of the polysaccharide is highly likely to increase our fundamental understanding of how cell walls are made, how cells stick together or fall apart as well as facilitating the training of the next generation of cell wall biologists in challenging molecular and ....Novel cell wall genes ripe for the picking. This project aims to investigate the role of recently discovered plant cellulose synthase-like CslM genes and to define the polysaccharide product associated with them. Successful identification of the polysaccharide is highly likely to increase our fundamental understanding of how cell walls are made, how cells stick together or fall apart as well as facilitating the training of the next generation of cell wall biologists in challenging molecular and biochemical techniques. This new knowledge could increase our understanding of fruit ripening, and how it might be manipulated. This could have significant downstream commercial benefits if applied to breeding programs of economically important fruit such as grapes, tomatoes and strawberries.Read moreRead less
Combating fungal biofilm growth on surfaces. This project aims to establish a scientific basis for the design and development of thin coatings, for use on biomedical devices, that can resist the attachment of fungal cells and the ensuing formation of infectious fungal biofilms on their surfaces. Advancing mechanistic understanding of how physico-chemical properties of materials surfaces influence fungal attachment will enable rational development and optimisation of coating chemistries and struc ....Combating fungal biofilm growth on surfaces. This project aims to establish a scientific basis for the design and development of thin coatings, for use on biomedical devices, that can resist the attachment of fungal cells and the ensuing formation of infectious fungal biofilms on their surfaces. Advancing mechanistic understanding of how physico-chemical properties of materials surfaces influence fungal attachment will enable rational development and optimisation of coating chemistries and structures. Tethered antifungal compounds will be added to polymer surfaces by controlled polymerisation methods to provide active deterrence; factors such as conformational flexibility will be studied to optimise coatings, which may will prevent life-threatening infections and reduce healthcare costs.Read moreRead less