| Brendan Harvey |
University of Auckland |
Development of Catalysts for Green Chemistry. |
The University has requested that as this research is commercially sensitive, no materials be placed in the public domain. |
$98,086.50 |
| Amy Smith |
University of Auckland |
The role of immune cells in adult neurogenesis. |
This research will contribute to our understanding of the factors involved in the complex process of creating new neurons and will add to our understanding of the factors involved in the complex process of creating new neurons and will add to our understanding of the general function of the immune system in the brain. Immunological mechanisms that influence the brain may be involved in signalling pathways and risk factors for neurological disease. |
$93,919.80 |
| Sylvia Yuan |
Massey University |
The Identity of New Zealand Missionaries in China (1890 - 1953). |
The proposed research addresses the identity of New Zealand missionaries and their converts in China during the critical years of the end of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries (the imperial, early republican, Sino-Japan war and post-liberation periods). |
$97,458.00 |
| Leon Henderson |
University of Cambridge |
Low Energy Urban Delivery Vehicles. |
The proposed research aims to minimise fuel consumption whilst maintaining manoeuvrability and resolving any safety concerns. |
$253,221.00 |
| Ross McGurk |
Duke University |
Hybrid-optimization in radiation therapy treatment planning algorithms. |
The proposed research has three goals. The first goal is to systematically determine the effectiveness (evaluated using an analysis of dose-volume histograms (DVH) and dose distributions) of introducing existing metrics, such as the gEUD, in adjunct to the conventional dose-volume based optimization. The second goal of the proposed research is to determine the robustness of each metric, or combination of metrics as part of the optimization process. The third goal of the proposed research is to incorporate the most promising metric into the treatment planning system in such a way that does not alter the clinical workflow of both radiation oncologists and dosimetrists. Ultimately, the proposed research aims to increase both the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of radiation therapy in the battle against cancer. |
$198,240.00 |
| Naomi Simmonds |
University of Waikato |
Reconfiguring Maori maternities: a mana wahine perspective on childbirth. |
The aim of this research is to examine women's embodied, spatial and spiritual experiences of childbirth within a mana wahine (Maori feminist) framework. |
$96,885.00 |
| Simon Ware |
University of Waikato |
Verifying Nonblocking in Discrete Event Systems Using Abstractions. |
This research will develop new methods to detect faults in concurrent systems. The field of nonblocking detection will be extended by improving current methods of abstracting concurrent systems using observer projection and conflict equivalence. |
$92,407.00 |
| Gregory Haslett |
Victoria University of Wellington |
Deciphering the molecular fingerprint of allergens. |
This research will provide the first detailed insight into the relationship between N-glycan structure and Th2 bias and may lead to the identification of specific Th2 targets that will aid in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma and allergy. |
$101,244.00 |
| Michael Walmsley |
University of Waikato |
Automatic creation of dynamic second language reading texts. |
This research will design learning activities that utilise the time spent reading online. One proposed activity which to our knowledge is original-is reading English web pages with selected words replaced by L2 equivalents. By reading the modified text a busy L2 learner can revise and learn new vocabulary, without altering their daily routine. A second activity is reading simplified L2 web pages whose text has been simplified by replacing difficult vocabulary, with simpler synonyms and English equivalents. |
$97,614.00 |
| Brownyn Clark |
Massey University |
Missing Pieces: Understanding the Influence of Clients' Religious and Spiritual Beliefs within the Frame of Cognitive Case Conceptualisation. |
This research will deepen therapists' understanding of spiritual and religious concerns within a New Zealand mental health setting, by providing a structured method of incorporating these issues into assessment. As a result, clinicians will more accurately be able to devise targeted and ultimately, cost-effective interventions for their clients (Kendjelic & Eells, 2007). |
$92,721.00 |
| Danny Baillie |
University of Otago |
Finite-temperature theory of cold gases in optical lattices. |
This research will improve the understanding of ultra-cold atoms in optical lattices. Our work will include important physics neglected in other treatments, such as the influence of the external harmonic potential, excited bands and temperature effects. Also, it will produce an efficient numerical implementation of our theory suitable for running on the cluster in the Otago High Performance Computing Centre. |
$99,816.00 |
| Jane Richardson |
Massey University |
Are Northland rivers in synchrony with global climate change? |
This research will use meta-data analysis of new C ages obtained from organic material incorporated within alluvium preserved in Northland catchments to produce a high-resolution record of Holocene flooding in the region. These records will be statistically analysed and correlated with rational-sacel and regional climate proxies. The results will then be used to test preliminary findings suggesting asynchronous river behaviour between New Zealand and northern hemisphere river systems. This first systematic analysis of Northland Holocene fluvial histories will also provide an informed forecast of the impacts of future predicted climate change of New Zealand rivers and catchments by assessing, for the first time, the impacts and significance of global and regional climate change on river behaviour. |
$99,101.00 |
| Samuel Sarjant |
University of Waikato |
Statistical Relational Reinforcement Learning. |
This research aims to combine the field of learning using FOL which is known as relational learning, and relational reinforcement learning, where the learning is accomplished by an agent attempting to find the path of maximal reward by itself, without human guidance into statistical relational reinforcement learning (SRRL), a reinforcement learning technique for learning probable relations between objects in an environment. As well as investigating the effectiveness of SRRL, this research will be attempting to integrate the Cycontology into the agents' mind. This ontology will be used as an extensive form of background information on a structure in which to store the information the agent learns. |
$92,947.33 |
| Chelsea Goulton |
University of Otago |
Mechanisms of pharmacological preconditioning in vitro and in vivo. |
This research is to investigate acute SD-preconditioning using both in vitro and in vivo electrophysiological techniques to identify mechanisms involved in the protective effect. |
$104,460.00 |