New Theory and Algorithms for Nonsmooth Optimisation with Application to Integer Programming. Mathematical optimisation plays a key role in a wide variety of applications in business, industry, engineering and science. For example, airlines cannot fly and radiation treatment for cancer cannot be delivered without solving (a series of) optimisation problems. Some classes of optimisation problem are very well solved, with clear mathematical foundations, efficient algorithms, and reliable software ....New Theory and Algorithms for Nonsmooth Optimisation with Application to Integer Programming. Mathematical optimisation plays a key role in a wide variety of applications in business, industry, engineering and science. For example, airlines cannot fly and radiation treatment for cancer cannot be delivered without solving (a series of) optimisation problems. Some classes of optimisation problem are very well solved, with clear mathematical foundations, efficient algorithms, and reliable software implementations. Both nonsmooth and integer optimisation problems have a good mathematical basis, but there are "gaps"; existing methods cannot always solve real industrial problems. This project will deliver better methods, built on better theory, and so will yield better solutions for important applications.Read moreRead less
A New Target For Allergic Inflammation: The Sphingolipid Pathway
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$588,617.00
Summary
Collectively, allergic diseases contribute immensely to the burden of health care in Australia. Notably, allergic reactions are symptomatic responses to a normally innocuous environmental antigen. Allergic diseases include asthma, hay fever, food allergy, anaphylaxis, insect sting and drug allergy. This project aims to understand the underlying mechanisms associated with allergic reactions such that it may aid in the identification of novel targets for the development of new treatments.
Response of Proteins to External Non-Ionising Radiation: an Experimental and Computer Modelling Investigation. The expanding use of digital technologies such as mobile phones has led to major health concerns about the effects of non-ionising pulsed radiation exposure which has been shown to produce instantaneous temperature rises undetectable by normal thermometry. The health implications of exposure are not understandable without establishing molecular mechanisms by which pulsed microwaves can ....Response of Proteins to External Non-Ionising Radiation: an Experimental and Computer Modelling Investigation. The expanding use of digital technologies such as mobile phones has led to major health concerns about the effects of non-ionising pulsed radiation exposure which has been shown to produce instantaneous temperature rises undetectable by normal thermometry. The health implications of exposure are not understandable without establishing molecular mechanisms by which pulsed microwaves can cause biological effects. We aim to establish methods for studying the molecular mechanisms of protein structural and energetic changes occurring due to non-ionising radiation. The results will help our industry partner to design specific drugs as well as formulate a scientifically based standard for microwave utilisation.Read moreRead less
Role Of Zinc In The Respiratory Epithelium And Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$224,250.00
Summary
This project will use a panel of Zinquin-derived Zn fluorophores developed in our laboratory, as well as probes for the mammalian family of vesicular ZnT transporters, to carry out a study of the normal physiology of Zn in the respiratory system and potential abnormalities of this in patients with chronic inflammatory respiratory disease (asthma, COPD, chronic smoking). Chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract affect a significant proportion of the Australian community. For example ....This project will use a panel of Zinquin-derived Zn fluorophores developed in our laboratory, as well as probes for the mammalian family of vesicular ZnT transporters, to carry out a study of the normal physiology of Zn in the respiratory system and potential abnormalities of this in patients with chronic inflammatory respiratory disease (asthma, COPD, chronic smoking). Chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract affect a significant proportion of the Australian community. For example, asthma affects 12% of adults and amongst these, 15% waken weekly or more often with their asthma while 6% are hospitalized annually. There is a need to understand the basic mechanisms underlying these diseases so that new strategies can be developed to modify bronchocondtriction and inflammation. The project will provide new knowledge concerning the physiology of Zn in the respiratory epithelium and interactions between Zn deficiency and oxidants on injury in the respiratory tract. The usefulness of easily accessible nasal epithelial cells as a measure of Zn and Zn transporter levels deeper in the respiratory tract will be assessed. The project encompasses a number of fields and utilizes in vitro cellular and animal models, as well as tissues from human subjects.Read moreRead less
Improving train flows with connected driver advice systems. The project aims to develop new train control theory to determine the efficient movement of multiple trains, and to demonstrate a practical system for coordinating trains, on busy intercity rail corridors. Railways around the world are now deploying driver advice systems developed by the research team and the partner organisation, TTG Transportation Technology. The project is designed to enable these systems to coordinate the movements ....Improving train flows with connected driver advice systems. The project aims to develop new train control theory to determine the efficient movement of multiple trains, and to demonstrate a practical system for coordinating trains, on busy intercity rail corridors. Railways around the world are now deploying driver advice systems developed by the research team and the partner organisation, TTG Transportation Technology. The project is designed to enable these systems to coordinate the movements of many trains on a congested rail network to improve timekeeping, smooth the flow of traffic, increase capacity and reduce energy use.Read moreRead less
Optimal Transforms of Random Vectors. This proposal focusses on development of optimal transforms to describe and model nonlinear phenomena when only statistical information is known. An optimal transform is a mathematical procedure that enables us to process information in a way that is most suited to the task in hand. These transforms have been successfully used in approximation, information theory, communications, control theory and signal and image processing. Applications include modelli ....Optimal Transforms of Random Vectors. This proposal focusses on development of optimal transforms to describe and model nonlinear phenomena when only statistical information is known. An optimal transform is a mathematical procedure that enables us to process information in a way that is most suited to the task in hand. These transforms have been successfully used in approximation, information theory, communications, control theory and signal and image processing. Applications include modelling of physical, chemical and biological systems, filtering and compression of signals and data classification and clustering. We propose two new hybrid models for realistic transforms in a general structural framework.
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Synthetic and theoretical studies of metal complexes containing carbon-rich ligands. Previous studies in my group, in conjunction with synthetic and theoretical chemistry groups at the Université de Rennes 1, France, have delineated the properties of a series of complexes containing carbon chains linking two metal centres. Having achieved a partial understanding of the features which result in good electronic communication between the metal centres via the carbon chain, the present proposal see ....Synthetic and theoretical studies of metal complexes containing carbon-rich ligands. Previous studies in my group, in conjunction with synthetic and theoretical chemistry groups at the Université de Rennes 1, France, have delineated the properties of a series of complexes containing carbon chains linking two metal centres. Having achieved a partial understanding of the features which result in good electronic communication between the metal centres via the carbon chain, the present proposal seeks to extend this collaboration to further studies which will generate related compounds in which actual eletron exchange can occur, i.e. leading to oxidation/reduction, by using compounds in which two or more different metal centres are present. This may lead to development of nano devices, e.g. molecular-scale switches. If one of the centres is activated by light, a photo-active sensor may result.Read moreRead less
Perturbation and approximation methods for linear operators with applications to train control, water resource management and evolution of physical systems. Linear equations are used to solve practical problems. In realistic problems the equations and their solutions depend on parameters obtained by measurement of physical quantities and on data derived from observations and experiments. Changes to the values of the key parameters will lead to changes in the solutions. This project will devel ....Perturbation and approximation methods for linear operators with applications to train control, water resource management and evolution of physical systems. Linear equations are used to solve practical problems. In realistic problems the equations and their solutions depend on parameters obtained by measurement of physical quantities and on data derived from observations and experiments. Changes to the values of the key parameters will lead to changes in the solutions. This project will develop methods to better understand the relationships between the key parameters and the solutions and will apply the new insights to practical problems such as the minimization of fuel consumption in trains, optimal resource management in water supply systems and the evolution of physical systems.Read moreRead less
A comparative study of generalised solution concepts for elliptic partial differential equations using nonsmooth analysis techniques. The solution of ellpitic partial differential equations is central to science and engineering. There are a number of solution concepts, such as those of weak solutions and viscosity solutions, but the relations between these are incompletely understood. We shall investigate this major question using recent advances in optimisation theory and nonsmooth analysis. ....A comparative study of generalised solution concepts for elliptic partial differential equations using nonsmooth analysis techniques. The solution of ellpitic partial differential equations is central to science and engineering. There are a number of solution concepts, such as those of weak solutions and viscosity solutions, but the relations between these are incompletely understood. We shall investigate this major question using recent advances in optimisation theory and nonsmooth analysis. Our approach is to use various approximations and their associated second-order subdifferentials, each of which implies a generalised solution concept and associated abstract convexity. Particular attention, including computational details, will be given to equations which have very different solutions of one type from those of another.Read moreRead less