Technology and Australia's Future: New technologies and their role in Australia's security, cultural, democratic, social and economic systems

Chapter 1. Introducing technology -- Chapter 2. The shaping of technology -- Chapter 3. Prediction of future technologies -- Chapter 4. The impacts of technology -- Chapter 5. Meanings, attitudes and behaviour -- Chapter 6. Evaluation -- Chapter 7. Intervention -- Conclusion - adapt or wither.This report was commisioned by Australian Council of Learned Academies

The Australian National Map

Paper presented at the 27th International Cartographic Conference: Spatial data infrastructures, standards, open source and open data for geospatial (SDI-Open 2015) 20-21 August 2015, Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.http://sdistandards.icaci.org/2015/09/sdi-open-2015-proceedingsam201

Technology and Australia's future: new technologies and their role in our security, cultural, democratic, social and economic systems

Technology and Australia’s Future examines how technology has changed in the past, how it will continue to change in the future and what one can consequently say about the impacts of new technologies on Australia. The report aims to provide government and industry with guidance that will endure over the long term; it does not only look at the technologies of today or those categorised as ‘emerging’ technologies. Technology and Australia’s Future focuses on how technology changes, the nature of its impacts, how it can be predicted and the types of interventions that help deal with the complexity and uncertainty inherent in technological change. Technology is central to human existence and is of great importance to Australia both now and in the future. The history of technology and the history of human development are deeply entwined. Human beings have pursued technological opportunities in all of their activities – food production, comfort and safety, defence, transport, trade and commerce, information, media and communication, art and culture, health, sanitation, reproduction, manufacturing – everything. The study of technology development as an activity independent of the social and economic development of Homo sapiens would miss critical aspects of the evolution of technology and the impact it has on being human. Technological change is a major driver of social change and the dominant source of economic growth. It encompasses the processes of invention, innovation and diffusion of technology. While often used, linear models of technological change (e.g. basic research leads to technological development which then leads to product commercialisation and diffusion), are rarely accurate. Technologies change through a complex web of factors with many feedback and feed-forward mechanisms. Interventions intended to enhance technological innovation are likely to be of little benefit if they are based on simplistic models. Technological change is comparable to biological evolution: it is unpredictable in detail, but there are general patterns that recur including path-dependence, multiple invention, punctuated equilibria and recombination of ideas. Technological change can be facilitated by enhancing the interoperability of technologies. Old technologies continue to have a lasting influence through technological inertia and momentum. Technology changes primarily through parts-assembly whereby existing technological components are combined together in new ways

Nanoparticle accumulation and transcytosis in brain endothelial cell layers

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a selective barrier, which controls and limits access to the central nervous system (CNS). The selectivity of the BBB relies on specialized characteristics of the endothelial cells that line the microvasculature, including the expression of intercellular tight junctions, which limit paracellular permeability. Several reports suggest that nanoparticles have a unique capacity to cross the BBB. However, direct evidence of nanoparticle transcytosis is difficult to obtain, and we found that typical transport studies present several limitations when applied to nanoparticles. In order to investigate the capacity of nanoparticles to access and transport across the BBB, several different nanomaterials, including silica, titania and albumin- or transferrin-conjugated gold nanoparticles of different sizes, were exposed to a human in vitro BBB model of endothelial hCMEC/D3 cells. Extensive transmission electron microscopy imaging was applied in order to describe nanoparticle endocytosis and typical intracellular localisation, as well as to look for evidence of eventual transcytosis. Our results show that all of the nanoparticles were internalised, to different extents, by the BBB model and accumulated along the endo–lysosomal pathway. Rare events suggestive of nanoparticle transcytosis were also observed for several of the tested materials.Science Foundation IrelandINSPIRE (Integrated NanoScience Platform for Ireland)EU FP7 Small Collaborative projects NeuroNanoNanoTransKineticsDM, 9/12/201

Imaging approach to mechanistic study of nanoparticle interactions with the blood-brain barrier

Understanding nanoparticle interactions with the central nervous system, in particular the blood-brain barrier, is key to advances in therapeutics, as well as assessing the safety of nanoparticles. Challenges in achieving insights have been significant, even for relatively simple models. Here we use a combination of live cell imaging and computational analysis to directly study nanoparticle translocation across a human in vitro blood-brain barrier model. This approach allows us to identify and avoid problems in more conventional inferential in vitro measurements by identifying the catalogue of events of barrier internalization and translocation as they occur. Potentially this approach opens up the window of applicability of in vitro models, thereby enabling in depth mechanistic studies in the future. Model nanoparticles are used to illustrate the method. For those, we find that translocation, though rare, appears to take place. On the other hand, barrier uptake is efficient, and since barrier export is small, there is significant accumulation within the barrier. © 2014 American Chemical Society.European Commission - Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)Science Foundation Ireland -- replaceIrish Government’s Programme for Research in Third Level Institution

Imaging Approach to Mechanistic Study of Nanoparticle Interactions with the Blood–Brain Barrier

Understanding nanoparticle interactions with the central nervous system, in particular the blood–brain barrier, is key to advances in therapeutics, as well as assessing the safety of nanoparticles. Challenges in achieving insights have been significant, even for relatively simple models. Here we use a combination of live cell imaging and computational analysis to directly study nanoparticle translocation across a human <i>in vitro</i> blood–brain barrier model. This approach allows us to identify and avoid problems in more conventional inferential <i>in vitro</i> measurements by identifying the catalogue of events of barrier internalization and translocation as they occur. Potentially this approach opens up the window of applicability of <i>in vitro</i> models, thereby enabling in depth mechanistic studies in the future. Model nanoparticles are used to illustrate the method. For those, we find that translocation, though rare, appears to take place. On the other hand, barrier uptake is efficient, and since barrier export is small, there is significant accumulation within the barrier

Zinc-imidazolate polymers (ZIPs) as a potential carrier to brain capillary endothelial cells

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of nanospheres of a biodegradable zinc-imidazolate polymers (ZIPs) as a proof-of-concept delivery vehicle into human brain endothelial cells, the main component of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The ZIP particles can readily encapsulate functional molecules such as fluorophores and inorganic nanoparticles at the point of synthesis producing stable colloidal dispersions. Our results show that these biodegradable particles are not cytotoxic, and are able to penetrate and release cargo species to human brain capillary endothelial cells in vitro thus exhibiting significant potential as a novel platform for brain targeting treatments

Paracrine signalling of inflammatory cytokines from an in vitro blood brain barrier model upon exposure to polymeric nanoparticles

Nanoparticle properties, such as small size relative to large highly modifiable surface area, offer great promise for neuro-therapeutics and nanodiagnostics. A fundamental understanding and control of how nanoparticles interact with the blood-brain barrier (BBB) could enable major developments in nanomedical treatment of previously intractable neurological disorders, and help ensure that nanoparticles not intended to reach the brain do not cause adverse effects. Nanosafety is of utmost importance to this field. However, a distinct lack of knowledge exists regarding nanoparticle accumulation within the BBB and the biological effects this may induce on neighbouring cells of the Central Nervous System (CNS), particularly in the long-term. This study focussed on the exposure of an in vitro BBB model to model carboxylated polystyrene nanoparticles (PS COOH NPs), as these nanoparticles are well characterised for in vitro experimentation and have been reported as non-toxic in many biological settings. TEM imaging showed accumulation but not degradation of 100 nm PS COOH NPs within the lysosomes of the in vitro BBB over time. Cytokine secretion analysis from the in vitro BBB post 24 h 100 nm PS COOH NP exposure showed a low level of pro-inflammatory RANTES protein secretion compared to control. In contrast, 24 h exposure of the in vitro BBB endothelium to 100 nm PS COOH NPs in the presence of underlying astrocytes caused a significant increase in pro-survival signalling. In conclusion, the tantalising possibilities of nanomedicine must be balanced by cautious studies into the possible long-term toxicity caused by accumulation of known 'toxic' and 'non-toxic' nanoparticles, as general toxicity assays may be disguising significant signalling regulation during long-term accumulation.European Research CouncilScience Foundation IrelandUCD SEED grantProgramme for Research in Third Level Institution