Effects Of Testosterone And Oestrogen On Body Composition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$348,768.00
Summary
Masculinising and feminising hormones such as testosterone and oestrogen respectively are important hormones controlling the amount of muscle, fat and bone in the body. By studying people with conditions such as prostate cancer where these hormone levels are disrupted, we aim to understand how testosterone and oestrogen affects various body systems, which may lead to new treatments for important public health problems of frailty, obesity and heart disease, and osteoporosis.
Does Early Overnutrition Differentially Alter Hypothalamic Neuropeptides That Regulate Food Intake In The Rat
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$346,250.00
Summary
In Australia the incidence of obesity, in particular childhood obesity, is increasing dramatically, and the possible long term consequences of this are of great concern. The brain regulates appetite through a number of chemical transmitters such as neuropeptide Y (NPY) which is present in the brains of mammals and causes increased food intake. The effects of overeating from a young age on these brain transmitters has been largely ignored although this may impact on subsequent eating behaviour. I ....In Australia the incidence of obesity, in particular childhood obesity, is increasing dramatically, and the possible long term consequences of this are of great concern. The brain regulates appetite through a number of chemical transmitters such as neuropeptide Y (NPY) which is present in the brains of mammals and causes increased food intake. The effects of overeating from a young age on these brain transmitters has been largely ignored although this may impact on subsequent eating behaviour. In addition to NPY we will study other transmitters in the brain that have profound effects on appetite, some increasing, and others decreasing, food intake. These may form useful therapeutic targets for new drugs for obesity. Key targets we will study include melanocortins, glucagon-like peptide 1, urocortin, melanin concentrating hormone, agouti related peptide, and NPY. We will determine whether overnutrition from birth to weaning leads to changes in these appetite regulating neurotransmitters in the brain, and monitor the hormonal signals that impact on their activity. We will also determine whether early overnutrition exacerbates the subsequent responses to a high fat diet by comparison with rats made obese as adults. We will measure brain concentrations of the neurotransmitters, the amount released from the brain, and determine whether the feeding responses to injections of these agents is altered in obese animals. We have evidence that these transmitters interact in a co-ordinated fashion to affect feeding; this project will examine whether these interactions are maintained in the various types of obesity. Rats are commonly used for this type of study as the processes regulating feeding are very similar to those in humans and these agents cause similar effects in rats and humans. It is hoped that this information will provide new insight into the way brain adapts to overnutrition, and provide potential treatments for obesity and other feeding disorders.Read moreRead less
Assimilation of trace atmospheric constituents for climate (ATACC): Linking chemical weather and climate. Changes in atmospheric ozone and carbon dioxide affect many aspects of surface climate from changes in ultraviolet radiation (ozone) to long-term changes in temperature (carbon dioxide). Better mapping of these gases will help us understand, predict and manage these changes. For ozone, it will clarify the link between ozone and surface weather. For carbon dioxide, improved knowledge of the ....Assimilation of trace atmospheric constituents for climate (ATACC): Linking chemical weather and climate. Changes in atmospheric ozone and carbon dioxide affect many aspects of surface climate from changes in ultraviolet radiation (ozone) to long-term changes in temperature (carbon dioxide). Better mapping of these gases will help us understand, predict and manage these changes. For ozone, it will clarify the link between ozone and surface weather. For carbon dioxide, improved knowledge of the impact of tropical deforestation, land clearing and changes in the southern ocean on atmospheric CO2 will support sustainable development in Australia and our region. The project hence addresses the priority goal 'Responding to climate change and variability` under the National Research Priority 'An Environmentally Sustainable Australia`.
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Non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions in afforested ecosystems in southeastern Australia - fluxes, processes and regional budget. There are no data available about the extent of emissions of the non-CO2 greenhouse gases nitrous oxide and methane from soils of forest ecosystems in Australia and the current methodolgy to quantify these emissions contains high uncertainties. Using the latest technology available we propose to i) measure emission rates of afforested ecosystems for non-CO2 greenhouse gase ....Non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions in afforested ecosystems in southeastern Australia - fluxes, processes and regional budget. There are no data available about the extent of emissions of the non-CO2 greenhouse gases nitrous oxide and methane from soils of forest ecosystems in Australia and the current methodolgy to quantify these emissions contains high uncertainties. Using the latest technology available we propose to i) measure emission rates of afforested ecosystems for non-CO2 greenhouse gases in relation to previous land-use in southeastern Australia, ii) identify the processes controlling the emissions, iii) use the obtained data to calibrate a biogeochemical model, and iv) use the model to estimate regional inventories for non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions in southeastern Australia.Read moreRead less
Precise Atmospheric Density Correction Model Using Space Tracking Data for Accurate Debris Surveillance and Collision Warning. Our project will build new atmospheric density correction models (ADCMs) for accurate prediction of debris object and satellite orbits. This research will have tremendous impacts on realizing unaided debris laser ranging. An order of magnitude accuracy improvement to the ADCMs will lead to a significant breakthrough in space object tracking. The benefits of this research ....Precise Atmospheric Density Correction Model Using Space Tracking Data for Accurate Debris Surveillance and Collision Warning. Our project will build new atmospheric density correction models (ADCMs) for accurate prediction of debris object and satellite orbits. This research will have tremendous impacts on realizing unaided debris laser ranging. An order of magnitude accuracy improvement to the ADCMs will lead to a significant breakthrough in space object tracking. The benefits of this research are: it will put Australia in a leading position in the world on ADCM study; to maintain Australia's leading role in space surveillance and greatly enhanced operational capability & efficiency of Australian space tracking systems; and to contribute significantly to the space environment info management, e.g. accurate collision warning and space junk tracking.Read moreRead less
A low-cost water vapour profiler for the lower troposphere. Water vapour plays an important role in weather forecasting, as well as being the most important greenhouse gas. Its distribution is not known in sufficient detail for many aspects of predicting weather and climate change. With the Bureau of Meteorology we will develop a low-cost laser ranging system to measure the profile of water vapour in the lower atmosphere. A low-cost instrument can be placed at a sufficient number of locations ....A low-cost water vapour profiler for the lower troposphere. Water vapour plays an important role in weather forecasting, as well as being the most important greenhouse gas. Its distribution is not known in sufficient detail for many aspects of predicting weather and climate change. With the Bureau of Meteorology we will develop a low-cost laser ranging system to measure the profile of water vapour in the lower atmosphere. A low-cost instrument can be placed at a sufficient number of locations to significantly enhance weather forecasting and climate modelling. The instrument will be useful for detecting fog formation, measuring cloudbase heights and can be adapted for pollution detection and measurement.Read moreRead less
Integrative assessment of disturbance and land-use change on total greenhouse gas balance and nutrient cycling in savanna ecosystems. Climate change and variability is expected to have an impact on the NT environment and economy. This project will enable NT specific calibrations of climate variability-land use models, such as the National Carbon Accounting System. The NT Government will have access to a high quality database and calibrated models relating to greenhouse gas emissions as a functio ....Integrative assessment of disturbance and land-use change on total greenhouse gas balance and nutrient cycling in savanna ecosystems. Climate change and variability is expected to have an impact on the NT environment and economy. This project will enable NT specific calibrations of climate variability-land use models, such as the National Carbon Accounting System. The NT Government will have access to a high quality database and calibrated models relating to greenhouse gas emissions as a function of land use change. The project will improve estimates and management of GHG and provide a basis for the NT to potentially exploit future carbon-trading initiatives or GHG abatement schemes as fundamental data describing emissions as a function of land use will be available. This is of national significance given the size of the savanna biome in Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668470
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
High resolution Fourier transform infrared spectrometer for atmospheric remote sensing and laboratory spectroscopy. Climate change is a major global concern, with the potential for major consequences in Australia. This proposal contributes directly to climate change research relevant to Australia through direct measurements of the atmosphere relevant to the understanding of phenomena such as increasing greenhouse gas concentrations and stratospheric ozone depletion. Australia's geographical posi ....High resolution Fourier transform infrared spectrometer for atmospheric remote sensing and laboratory spectroscopy. Climate change is a major global concern, with the potential for major consequences in Australia. This proposal contributes directly to climate change research relevant to Australia through direct measurements of the atmosphere relevant to the understanding of phenomena such as increasing greenhouse gas concentrations and stratospheric ozone depletion. Australia's geographical position in the less populated southern hemisphere, and its advanced scientific infrastructure, mean that it has an especially important and valuable role to play in global atmospheric research. The proposed research participates in several international research programmes.Read moreRead less
Vibrational Spectroscopy and Imaging from Interstellar Dust to Life. The outcome of this project will result in a more thorough understanding of the role of water in the atmosphere and in the Greenhouse effect, and will provide information leading to more accurate modelling of Global warming. The results will also lead to new insights into interstellar chemistry, the chemistry of cometary dust and the origins of life.
QUANTIFICATION OF INTERACTIONS DURING THE DISPERSION OF CORONA IONS AND AIRBORNE PARTICLES NEAR POWER LINES. Currently there is no method for quantification of concentration and dispersion of charged aerosols near high voltage power lines (HVPLs). However, hypothesis have been presented, but not yet proven scientifically, that residents of houses close to combustion sources such as highways or industrial plants and HVPLs may be subjected to health risk due to inhalation of charged aerosols. The ....QUANTIFICATION OF INTERACTIONS DURING THE DISPERSION OF CORONA IONS AND AIRBORNE PARTICLES NEAR POWER LINES. Currently there is no method for quantification of concentration and dispersion of charged aerosols near high voltage power lines (HVPLs). However, hypothesis have been presented, but not yet proven scientifically, that residents of houses close to combustion sources such as highways or industrial plants and HVPLs may be subjected to health risk due to inhalation of charged aerosols. The outcome of this project will be a model for quantitative assessment of the processes occurring during the transport and dispersion of corona ions and combustion aerosol, which will be a tool for predictive risk assessment and informed management of public resources in relation to power line design and maintenance.Read moreRead less