New high resolution radiation dose mapping of special type polymer-gel dosimeters using mini-MRI scanner of high (4.7 Tesla) magnetic field. Gel dosimeters main advantage is dose determination in 3-dimensions. Their main limitation is low spatial-resolution. We propose fabrication of special-type gels and for the first time use the 4.7 Tesla mini-scanner for dose mapping. Increased magnetic field combined with a small aperture for field dissipation will greatly improve spatial resolution down t ....New high resolution radiation dose mapping of special type polymer-gel dosimeters using mini-MRI scanner of high (4.7 Tesla) magnetic field. Gel dosimeters main advantage is dose determination in 3-dimensions. Their main limitation is low spatial-resolution. We propose fabrication of special-type gels and for the first time use the 4.7 Tesla mini-scanner for dose mapping. Increased magnetic field combined with a small aperture for field dissipation will greatly improve spatial resolution down to micrometers (micro-dosimetry). This new technique will render gel-dosimeters suitable for applications in radiotherapy, industrial and all other radiation fields. Moreover, we will employ new parameter for dose mapping, which is expected to be more sensitive to radiation than the currently used relaxation timesRead moreRead less
Vibration Isolation Technology and Instrumentaion for Geophysical Surveys. Many geophysical exploration instruments are limited in sensitivity by vibration induced noise. New techniques of vibration isolation have been shown to eliminate vibration induced noise in a vibrating wire magnetic gradiometer. This project will create fully integrated sensor ?isolation packages for airborne and underwater applications, both for gradiometers and for ground penetrating radars. The project will signific ....Vibration Isolation Technology and Instrumentaion for Geophysical Surveys. Many geophysical exploration instruments are limited in sensitivity by vibration induced noise. New techniques of vibration isolation have been shown to eliminate vibration induced noise in a vibrating wire magnetic gradiometer. This project will create fully integrated sensor ?isolation packages for airborne and underwater applications, both for gradiometers and for ground penetrating radars. The project will significantly benefit the mineral exploration industry as well as underwater detection of cables and ship wrecks.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775613
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$467,000.00
Summary
Automated Patch Clamp System. Ion channels are membrane proteins that underlie cell function and are therefore important drug targets. The patch clamp technique is the most powerful tool available to study the function of single ion channels. The recent automation of this technology represents a quantum leap in our ability to perform high throughput screening of novel natural and synthetic compounds as drug leads. This will lead to an urgently needed increase in capacity, increasing the volume o ....Automated Patch Clamp System. Ion channels are membrane proteins that underlie cell function and are therefore important drug targets. The patch clamp technique is the most powerful tool available to study the function of single ion channels. The recent automation of this technology represents a quantum leap in our ability to perform high throughput screening of novel natural and synthetic compounds as drug leads. This will lead to an urgently needed increase in capacity, increasing the volume of research and its outcomes, which will benefit the Australian pharmaceutical industry and biosciences research community.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775660
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
A National Biomedical Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Molecular Imaging Centre. Multifrequency continuous wave and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular imaging instrumentation will provide forefront technologies in identifying, characterising, quantifying, visualising and manipulating fundamental chemical and biologically relevant processes involving free radicals, metalloproteins and metal ions. This technology is crucial in validating these functional processes ....A National Biomedical Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Molecular Imaging Centre. Multifrequency continuous wave and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular imaging instrumentation will provide forefront technologies in identifying, characterising, quantifying, visualising and manipulating fundamental chemical and biologically relevant processes involving free radicals, metalloproteins and metal ions. This technology is crucial in validating these functional processes at the cellular and tissue level and for providing invaluable and unique biomedical information under physiological conditions. This synergistic and highly integrative approach will make available new techniques for identifying major disease mechanisms such as cardiovascular disease with a potential to improve and maintain health. Read moreRead less
Probing the function of protein molecular motors on nano-fabricated structures. The function of protein linear molecular motors, which are natural dynamic bio-nano-devices with a ubiquitous importance in multicellular organisms, will be 'probed' with purposefully designed nano-structures fabricated via photo- or Scanning Probe Microscopy Lithography, that is, flat polymeric surfaces with combinatorial combinations of physico-chemistries; and micro/nano-channels and nano-wells with critical dimen ....Probing the function of protein molecular motors on nano-fabricated structures. The function of protein linear molecular motors, which are natural dynamic bio-nano-devices with a ubiquitous importance in multicellular organisms, will be 'probed' with purposefully designed nano-structures fabricated via photo- or Scanning Probe Microscopy Lithography, that is, flat polymeric surfaces with combinatorial combinations of physico-chemistries; and micro/nano-channels and nano-wells with critical dimensions similar to the scale of the probed biomolecules. The project turns 'up-side down' the challenge of invasive nano-probing of biomolecules using it in an engineered manner. The fundamental understanding of linear molecular motors will impact on biomedical science and on the assessment of hybrid natural-artificial dynamic nano-devices.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
High-Resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) Platform for Characterisation at the Nanometre-Level. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) is designed to provide fundamental insights into physical and biological systems though characterisation and analysis of structures on nanometre length scales. This versatile instrument will support a wide range of research projects covering all four national research priorities. These range from the characterisation of ....High-Resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) Platform for Characterisation at the Nanometre-Level. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) is designed to provide fundamental insights into physical and biological systems though characterisation and analysis of structures on nanometre length scales. This versatile instrument will support a wide range of research projects covering all four national research priorities. These range from the characterisation of light alloys to boost and intensify Australia's aluminium, magnesium and titanium alloy industries, to tissue engineering for the repair of human elastic tissues in skin, artery, bladder and lung, to the study of microtubules in plant cells for genetic manipulation of plants to withstand environmental stresses such as drought or salinity.Read moreRead less
Advanced Electromagnetic Sensors and Magnetic Gradiometers for Natural Resources Exploration and Future Space Missions. Australia will benefit from the long-standing world-class mining exploration industry. The new magnetic gradiometer system would greatly enhance their arsenal of geophysical exploration tools, especially for the detection of both magnetically and/or conductive minerals like nickel sulphide. Due to the inherent skin depth issues of conductive cover, a unique condition in Austral ....Advanced Electromagnetic Sensors and Magnetic Gradiometers for Natural Resources Exploration and Future Space Missions. Australia will benefit from the long-standing world-class mining exploration industry. The new magnetic gradiometer system would greatly enhance their arsenal of geophysical exploration tools, especially for the detection of both magnetically and/or conductive minerals like nickel sulphide. Due to the inherent skin depth issues of conductive cover, a unique condition in Australia, a low frequency electromagnetic survey system is one of the best methods to penetrate the cover and investigate deeper geological structures. The low frequency isolation system developed in this project will improve the survey instrument performance down to 4Hz, providing capability to explore resources about 50-100% deeper than existing instrumentation allows.Read moreRead less
Measuring the linewidth enhancement factor and optical feedback level factor of semiconductor lasers based on optical feedback self-mixing interferometry. This project aims to develop a high performance solution for the challenging problem of measuring the linewidth enhancement factor (LEF) of semiconductor lasers (SLs) and the optical feedback level factor, C, for the optical feedback self-mixing (OFSM) systems. Specific outcomes of the research include (1) a new model for an optical feedback ....Measuring the linewidth enhancement factor and optical feedback level factor of semiconductor lasers based on optical feedback self-mixing interferometry. This project aims to develop a high performance solution for the challenging problem of measuring the linewidth enhancement factor (LEF) of semiconductor lasers (SLs) and the optical feedback level factor, C, for the optical feedback self-mixing (OFSM) systems. Specific outcomes of the research include (1) a new model for an optical feedback self-mixing effect, (2) a new approach for measuring LEF and C based on the proposed model, (3) signal processing algorithms for improving the performance of the proposed approach, and (4) an OFSM system prototype based on the new model and algorithms.Read moreRead less
Astrophotonics: exploiting a new technological frontier to probe back to the Dark Ages. Photonics, a key research strength in Australia, emerged from the telecommunications industry. But this exciting field has now begun to foster new scientific disciplines. One of the most recent is astrophotonics, a field at the interface of photonics and another Australian research strength, astronomy. Astrophotonics will deliver cutting-edge technologies to ensure Australia's astronomical lead in the next de ....Astrophotonics: exploiting a new technological frontier to probe back to the Dark Ages. Photonics, a key research strength in Australia, emerged from the telecommunications industry. But this exciting field has now begun to foster new scientific disciplines. One of the most recent is astrophotonics, a field at the interface of photonics and another Australian research strength, astronomy. Astrophotonics will deliver cutting-edge technologies to ensure Australia's astronomical lead in the next decade. These new facilities will serve as a vital stepping stone to the Giant Magellan Telescope, a $500M project promising enormous economic, engineering and scientific opportunities for Australia. Astrophotonics will also lead to innovative technology transfer to fields such as medical science, optical computing and sensor technology.Read moreRead less