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
Impact Of Extreme Prematurity Or Extreme Low Birthweight On Young Adult Health And Well-Being: The Victorian Infant Collaborative Study (VICS) 1991-92 Longitudinal Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$725,496.00
Summary
Significant advances in medical care have increased survival of the tiniest and most premature babies. Those who have benefited from modern medicine are now in their mid-20s. We know they have more problems in childhood and adolescence compared with those born full term. However, we know little about their health problems in adulthood. This study will inform us of adult health problems in this vulnerable group and provide vital information about the best care for this increasing group of adults.
The Impact of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems on Australian Organizations. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation is one of the most pervasive sources of technological change in contemporary Australian enterprises. ERP systems are computer-based technologies that are designed to increase efficiency and achieve major cost savings across the entire organization. Their implementation has significant implications for the structure, nature and management of organizations. This project ....The Impact of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems on Australian Organizations. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation is one of the most pervasive sources of technological change in contemporary Australian enterprises. ERP systems are computer-based technologies that are designed to increase efficiency and achieve major cost savings across the entire organization. Their implementation has significant implications for the structure, nature and management of organizations. This project's innovative application of an organizational change model to eight detailed case studies across a range of organizational types will generate important new insights into the effects of ERP implementations at Australian organizations and help explain why some implementations are more successful than others.Read moreRead less
Managing age in organisational context: a comparative study of the meaning of age among managers. Australians are currently being encouraged to work longer to maximise their contribution to the economy but they often report there are organisational barriers to doing so. This study offers a new approach to understanding age focusing on managers and offers a framework of effective strategies for employers in managing age.
Risk and Change In Institutional Fields: The Case Of Industrial Chemicals. This project aims to explore how to manage risk through sustainable organisational strategies and institutional transformations. Chemical risks arise as by-products of economic and technological progress and can cause untold harm to human health and the environment. Using a discursive approach to compare how organisations in Australia and Canada manage chemical risks, this project aims to show how organisations can act as ....Risk and Change In Institutional Fields: The Case Of Industrial Chemicals. This project aims to explore how to manage risk through sustainable organisational strategies and institutional transformations. Chemical risks arise as by-products of economic and technological progress and can cause untold harm to human health and the environment. Using a discursive approach to compare how organisations in Australia and Canada manage chemical risks, this project aims to show how organisations can act as institutional entrepreneurs and introduce sustainable field-level solutions to risk, instead of relying on government regulation to deal with dangerous chemicals. The intended outcomes include the development of a model that identifies the challenges associated with three different risk scenarios – managing established risks, managing emerging risks and eliminating risks – as well as identifying and evaluating strategies to address these challenges.Read moreRead less
Organisational Behaviour in the Victoria Police Force. One of the major challenges facing managers in the Victoria Police is to create working environments that provide employees with the best possible chance of achieving organisational objectives. Subsequently, the aim of this project is to investigate a comprehensive model of organisational behaviour that employs the psychological contract approach and an augmented job strain model to predict employee attitudes and behaviour over time. The com ....Organisational Behaviour in the Victoria Police Force. One of the major challenges facing managers in the Victoria Police is to create working environments that provide employees with the best possible chance of achieving organisational objectives. Subsequently, the aim of this project is to investigate a comprehensive model of organisational behaviour that employs the psychological contract approach and an augmented job strain model to predict employee attitudes and behaviour over time. The combined project model goes beyond the typical studies in this field by incorporating cutting-edge issues such as organisational citizenship behaviours. The Victoria Police is highly committed to this project and believes that the successful execution of this project will contribute to its strategic goals.Read moreRead less
Innovation in Australian mid-market firms: The critical role of leader cognition. The innovation literature has focused on innovation in large corporations and small entrepreneurial firms, ignoring medium-sized firms. With a rare opportunity to work with a partner organisation on a range of mid-market firms, the project aims to focus on the unique theoretical aspects of innovation in medium-sized firms. The project’s investigation addresses critical gaps in the innovation strategy literature and ....Innovation in Australian mid-market firms: The critical role of leader cognition. The innovation literature has focused on innovation in large corporations and small entrepreneurial firms, ignoring medium-sized firms. With a rare opportunity to work with a partner organisation on a range of mid-market firms, the project aims to focus on the unique theoretical aspects of innovation in medium-sized firms. The project’s investigation addresses critical gaps in the innovation strategy literature and contributes to a nascent literature on the microfoundations of organisational outcomes. Specifically, the project focuses on how leader cognitions drive the intensity and type of innovation and influence the performance consequences of innovation. The project also aims to provide practical prescriptions to medium-sized firms in Australia.Read moreRead less
Technological innovation and change in supply chain integration. In examining emerging technology that can transform the performance of Australian industry we address the following priority goals: better understanding the processes that will advance knowledge and facilitate the development of technological innovations; the potential application of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies across an entire supply chain; and the improved management of information in the storage, distribut ....Technological innovation and change in supply chain integration. In examining emerging technology that can transform the performance of Australian industry we address the following priority goals: better understanding the processes that will advance knowledge and facilitate the development of technological innovations; the potential application of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies across an entire supply chain; and the improved management of information in the storage, distribution, and delivery of products (smart information use). Improvement in the operational efficiency and performance of the supply chain will increase national wealth while minimising environmental impacts on the environment, for example, through the better utilisation of heavy freight carriers.Read moreRead less
Visualising Value in Australian Organisations: Case Studies in Extended Performance Management, Measurement and Reporting. This research positions and develops Australia at the forefront of the knowledge economy. Participating organisations will realise insights into their invisible resources and improve their understanding of the performance, utilisation and productivity of their intangible resources. Corporate social responsibility and social and environmental management are recognized as cruc ....Visualising Value in Australian Organisations: Case Studies in Extended Performance Management, Measurement and Reporting. This research positions and develops Australia at the forefront of the knowledge economy. Participating organisations will realise insights into their invisible resources and improve their understanding of the performance, utilisation and productivity of their intangible resources. Corporate social responsibility and social and environmental management are recognized as crucial to the contemporary organisation and this research provides a means of managing, measuring and reporting these perspectives, enhancing Australia's reputation and long-term economic sustainability. Read moreRead less
Flexible Forms of Organising, Management Control Systems and Performance in Organisations Fighting Serious and Organised Crime. The criminal networks behind serious and organised crime are becoming more fluid and flexible. In response, law enforcement organisations are creating flexible structural arrangements and experimenting with management control systems to balance the need for both flexibility and control. This research will identify combinations of structure and management controls most s ....Flexible Forms of Organising, Management Control Systems and Performance in Organisations Fighting Serious and Organised Crime. The criminal networks behind serious and organised crime are becoming more fluid and flexible. In response, law enforcement organisations are creating flexible structural arrangements and experimenting with management control systems to balance the need for both flexibility and control. This research will identify combinations of structure and management controls most suited to this task. Subsequent benefits will flow to the community/nation through more effective and efficient policing of serious and organised crime. More broadly, organisations in fast changing business environments will benefit by understanding how to design and manage their structure and management control systems to enhance performance.Read moreRead less