Modelling of Bypass Pneumatic Conveying Systems. Many of the physical items we use in our daily lives have at some point required transport and handling as powdered or granular materials during the manufacturing process. Be it food (sugar, flour), chemicals (soap powders, detergents) or power generation (coal and ash); each of these industries uses the flexibility of pipelines as a transport mechanism. However, not all materials will convey reliably in conventional pipelines. This project will ....Modelling of Bypass Pneumatic Conveying Systems. Many of the physical items we use in our daily lives have at some point required transport and handling as powdered or granular materials during the manufacturing process. Be it food (sugar, flour), chemicals (soap powders, detergents) or power generation (coal and ash); each of these industries uses the flexibility of pipelines as a transport mechanism. However, not all materials will convey reliably in conventional pipelines. This project will provide the fundamental understanding of how bypass systems can overcome this problem by conditioning the material along the pipeline length. The results will lead to better pipeline design outcomes that will ultimately expand the use of the cost effective process of pneumatic pipeline conveying. Read moreRead less
Efficient Strategies for Coordinating Autonomous Vehicles for Maximising Australia's Waterfront Productivity. This project will lift the productivity of container terminals by enabling the effective deployment of autonomous vehicles in large numbers. The project outcomes of practically deployable and scalable algorithms, realised as live software, will significantly enhance Patrick Stevedores Holdings' world leading technology and the potential of such automation systems to revolutionise materia ....Efficient Strategies for Coordinating Autonomous Vehicles for Maximising Australia's Waterfront Productivity. This project will lift the productivity of container terminals by enabling the effective deployment of autonomous vehicles in large numbers. The project outcomes of practically deployable and scalable algorithms, realised as live software, will significantly enhance Patrick Stevedores Holdings' world leading technology and the potential of such automation systems to revolutionise material handling around the globe. Beyond the benefits of technology commercialisation, the project will also benefit Australia economically through extending its leading role in developing autonomous systems for material handling, enhancing the frontier technologies for building Australian industries, and alleviating looming capacity constraints.Read moreRead less
Identifying And Exploiting Novel Pharmacological Targets For Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Breast cancers are made up of different types of cancer cells, and not all cells contribute equally. A subset of cancer cells may be uniquely capable of driving tumor growth, rebuilding fatal tumors after therapy and establishing new tumors at distant sites. Identifying and exploiting the pathways that regulate the activity and survival of these cells will lead to better modes of treatment, and move towards a relapse-free future for breast cancer patients.
The Social Impact of the Transformation of Asia-Pacific Ports. The Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region of maritime trade. Globalisation has resulted in changed management and ownership structures for ports with implications for labour relations, dockland redevelopment and relations with their social and economic hinterlands. These changes have social and environmental consequences, that are especially stark in the developing countries in the Asia-Pacific. While environmental issues have b ....The Social Impact of the Transformation of Asia-Pacific Ports. The Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region of maritime trade. Globalisation has resulted in changed management and ownership structures for ports with implications for labour relations, dockland redevelopment and relations with their social and economic hinterlands. These changes have social and environmental consequences, that are especially stark in the developing countries in the Asia-Pacific. While environmental issues have been thoroughly expolored, social transformations and impacts are poorly understood. We a suitable conceptual framework and methodology to anticipate, manage and assess the implication of change. This project seeks to conceptualise, compare and measure the social impact of changes to Asia-Pacific ports.Read moreRead less
GABA(B) Receptor Modulation Of Gastrointestinal Function In Health And Disease By Alpha-Conotoxins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$689,050.00
Summary
Chronic visceral pain is a common and debilitating condition arising from numerous diseases that affect our internal organs. There is a desperate need for more information about the mechanisms responsible for signalling chronic visceral pain to provide therapies and potentially find a cure for it. Our research focuses on ?-conotoxins (small peptides from marine cone snail venom) as novel potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic visceral pain.
EPITHELIAL ION TRANSPORT DEFECTS IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND TREATMENT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,440.00
Summary
The thin layer of fluid covering the surface of the air passages acts to protect the airway surface from drying. This fluid also allows the hair-like projections, or cilia, on the top of the airway cells to beat more effectively. The volume and composition of this fluid is determined by the movement of salt and water across the mucous membranes of the air passages. The importance of this fluid is shown by the problems that occur in Cystic Fibrosis (CF), the most common lethal inherited disease a ....The thin layer of fluid covering the surface of the air passages acts to protect the airway surface from drying. This fluid also allows the hair-like projections, or cilia, on the top of the airway cells to beat more effectively. The volume and composition of this fluid is determined by the movement of salt and water across the mucous membranes of the air passages. The importance of this fluid is shown by the problems that occur in Cystic Fibrosis (CF), the most common lethal inherited disease affecting Australians. In CF, altered salt transport causes drying of the airway surface which impairs the working of the cilia. This leads to retention of mucous in the airway with repeated bacterial infections damaging the lungs. Simple tests have been designed to directly measure the movement of salt across the surface of the nasal passage using a fine soft rubber tube. Movement of mucous in the nose is measured using other simple techniques that are currently used diagnostically. Together, these tests in the nose provide vital information about how the surface of normal human airway moves salt, water and mucous. Any differences found in CF patients will then give us a good idea of the problems found in the CF lung. We will study the interactions between calcium, sodium and chloride in the fluid lining the airways, measuring changes in salt and mucous movement. A range of testing procedures will be used in human volunteers, anaesthetised mice and isolated tissues from sheep. We have already demonstrated important links between the fluid lining the airways and salt movement, and we expect that this may lead to the development of new treatments for Cystic Fibrosis. This therapy will focus on treating the lung problems of CF patients, the major cause of disability. We anticipate that this preventative therapy may offer real benefits in the fight to cure CF.Read moreRead less