SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
Novel Thermal Insulation in Future Building and District Heating Applications - Hygrothermal Measurements and Analysis

The interest for reducing the energy consumption in society has increased during the last decades due to an increased environmental awareness. One way to decrease the energy losses in the building sector is to improve the thermal insulation of building envelopes and installations and thereby decrease the heat losses. 
This thesis analyzes two types of novel insulation with low thermal conductivity; aerogel blankets and vacuum insulation panels. The thesis aims to investigate the possible benefits from using these novel insulations, but also to evaluate new considerations related to the high insulation performance. The insulations have been tested in two applications: 
1.	A wooden stud wall with aerogel blankets as insulation
2.	Hybrid insulated district heating pipes where aerogel blankets or vacuum insulation panels have been wrapped around the carrier pipe and polyurethane have been used to fill the rest of the casing pipe.
Thermal properties and moisture properties have been measured in laboratory by guarded heat flow meter, guarded hot pipe, transient plane source and wet cup method. District heating pipes with vacuum insulation panels have also been measured in field. The measured properties have been used in numerical simulations to evaluate the heat losses and the risk of moisture related damages for both applications.
The studies show promising results for aerogel blanket insulated walls where the wall thickness was reduced by 40 percent compared to a conventional Swedish wall. However, the effect on the moisture conditions from the thermal bridges through the studs has to be considered in order to avoid damages. For district heating pipes, the vacuum insulation panels showed the most promising results with a decrease in the heat losses by 15 to 25 percent depending on the dimensions of the pipe and the thickness of the vacuum insulation panels. In hybrid insulation double pipes with vacuum insulation, the position of the thermal bridges at the edges of the panel has a large impact on the total heat losses. 
The thesis also examines some challenges when measuring the properties of the novel insulation. The thermal conductivity of aerogel blankets improves with an increased compression of the samples. The properties of the curved vacuum insulation panels used in the district heating pipes are difficult to measure since there is an impact from the thermal bridges along the edges, which might be influenced by surrounding materials.
Measuring Perceived Benefits and Costs of New Technology Adoption in the Chinese Textile and Apparel Industry

The textile and apparel industry have been fundamentally changed due to technology development. However, developing countries, such as China, are falling behind for adopting new technologies. The literature suggests firm managers’ perceived benefits and costs of new technology are key variables for their motivation to adopt new technology. However, no reliable and valid scales existed to measure these constructs within the developing country context—specifically in China. Thus, the study aimed to develop scales for measuring Chinese textile and apparel firm managers’ perceived benefits and costs of new technology adoption, using the psychometric method of item response theory. After item generation, item bank development, and psychometric evaluation tested by 599 Chinese textile and apparel firm managers, the two scales were created. These scales provide an opportunity to measure Chinese textile and apparel firm managers’ perceived benefits and costs of new technology adoption, offering tools for additional technology adoption motivation research.
Development of a synbiotic product to modulate the parkinson’s disease associated microbiome

SyMPaBiome aims to develop a synbiotic, a mixture of live biotherapeutic bacteria and a prebiotic, to modulate the Parkinson’s disease (PD) microbiome, with the threefold aim to decrease (1) the intestinal (neuro-)inflammation and (2) gut permeability associated with PD, as well as to (3) decrease the production of a recently discovered archaeal metabolite linked to PD development and progression. This synbiotic regimen will be the first mechanism-based synbiotic formulation,  underpinned by functional read-outs from a unique gut-on-a-chip host-microbe interface model. 
PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, and remains incurable. Gastrointestinal symptoms precede the characteristic motor symptoms by years to decades and there is evidence supporting initiation of the disease by enteric inflammation and changes in microbial community composition and function. Enteric inflammation in PD is exacerbated by an increased gut permeability and mucus-foraging bacteria are more abundant in the PD microbiome, while fibre-degrading bacteria are decreased. This offers the opportunity to develop prophylactic or disease-modulating products to address these changes in at-risk individuals or PD patients. Recently, the archaeal metabolite 2-hydroxypyridone (2-HP), a co-factor of the hydrogenase in hydrogenotrophic methanogenic archaea, has been implicated in idiopathic PD aetiology. Here, a preventive or disease modulating strategy is proposed to induce a shift in the microbiome and metabolome of at-risk individuals or PD patients and decrease 2-HP production and its cytotoxic effects on the enteric nervous system. In view of this, we aim to develop a synbiotic product that can restore the metabolic profile and microbial community in PD patients and has a protective effect on the intestinal mucus and epithelium. The outcomes of this project will be a synbiotic formulation, ready for in vivo testing, and a toolbox for mechanism-based development of synbiotic products.
Capacitance resistance modeling for primary recovery, waterflood and water-CO₂ flood

Reservoir characterization is very important in reservoir management to plan, monitor, predict and optimize oil production. Reservoir simulation is well-accepted in reservoir management but it requires many inputs, needs months to set up and complete a set of simulation runs, and contains large uncertainty in physical and geological properties. Therefore, simpler methods that provide quick results to complement or substitute reservoir simulation are important in decision making. Capacitance resistance model (CRM) is one of the methods. 
CRM is an input-output model derived from a continuity equation to quantify producer-injector connection strength during waterflood using solely production data. This work improves the CRM application method for waterflood and develops CRM theories and application methods for other recovery periods such as primary recovery and water-CO2 flood. 
A West Texas field test was carried out to validate CRM for a waterflood. The CRM fit was evaluated and used to optimize the oil production by changing injection rates. Through this first field experiment, a CRM application procedure was developed. With the CRM optimized injection schedule, the field gained 5372 bbls of additional oil production increase after one year. This research also quantitatively validates the CRM gain and time constant using synthetic fields and compares them to parameters of the streamline model, a complex model with similar purposes to the CRM. The CRM provides similar results as the streamline model with fewer inputs.
The CRM was extended to primary recovery and water-CO2 flood. A new CRM equation – the integrated CRM (ICRM) - for primary recovery was developed and validated on many synthetic fields and an Oman field. The model can estimate dynamic pore volume, productivity index and average reservoir pressure that compare closely to simulated values and field knowledge. Additionally, the ability of CRM to quantify injector-producer connection strength and predict fluid production was examined on a synthetic water-CO2 flood field. A new oil production model to be used with CRM application in water-CO2 flood was developed and validated on synthetic data. The model predicts oil production from injection rate and relative permeability. 
CRM has successfully optimized waterflood on a West Texas field by reallocating the water from ineffective to effective injectors. New interpretations of the CRM parameters enable quantitative validation and integration of the CRM results with other methods. In primary recovery, the ICRM can estimate reservoir properties without requiring well testing which can cause loss of production. The CRM and the new oil production model can quickly characterize water-CO2 flood for short term production monitoring.
Anomalous Hall Coulomb drag of massive Dirac fermions

Dirac fermions are actively investigated, and the discovery of the quantized anomalous Hall effect of massive Dirac fermions has spurred the promise of low-energy electronics. Some materials hosting Dirac fermions are natural platforms for interlayer coherence effects such as Coulomb drag and exciton condensation. Here we determine the role played by the anomalous Hall effect in Coulomb drag in massive Dirac fermion systems. We focus on topological insulator films with out-of plane magnetizations in both the active and passive layers. The transverse response of the active layer is dominated by a topological term arising from the Berry curvature. We show that the topological mechanism does not contribute to Coulomb drag, yet the longitudinal drag force in the passive layer gives rise to a transverse drag current. This anomalous Hall drag current is independent of the active-layer magnetization, a fact that can be verified experimentally. It depends non-monotonically on the passive-layer magnetization, exhibiting a peak that becomes more pronounced at low densities. These findings should stimulate new experiments and quantitative studies of anomalous Hall drag.
Designing a Price Index for the Spanish Commercial Real Estate Market (Elaboración De Un Índice De Precios Para El Mercado Inmobiliario Comercial De España)

Spanish Abstract: En este documento se propone un índice de precios para el mercado inmobiliario comercial de España y para los principales segmentos que lo componen. En la actualidad no existen índices de precios oficiales para estos activos, y la disponibilidad de estadísticas no oficiales es escasa y tiene una cobertura limitada. Por lo tanto, el índice estimado viene a cubrir esta laguna estadística y permite realizar un mejor seguimiento de la evolución de este mercado. El índice de precios se apoya en la metodología de cálculo de los índices de precios para el mercado de la vivienda del Instituto Nacional de Estadística, si bien tiene en cuenta algunos elementos específicos del sector inmobiliario comercial. Se han considerado, además, diferentes índices alternativos, aunque el indicador propuesto es el que presenta un mejor balance entre varias propiedades estadísticas analizadas en este trabajo.English Abstract: This paper proposes a price index for the Spanish commercial real estate (CRE) market and its main segments. No official price indices currently exist for these assets and non-official statistics are thin on the ground and offer limited coverage. The estimated index fills this statistical gap, providing for enhanced monitoring of CRE market developments. The price indicator draws on the methodology used to calculate the Spanish National Statistics Institute’s housing market price indices, but factoring in certain elements specific to the CRE sector. Various alternative indices are also considered, although the indicator proposed is that which strikes the best balance between the different statistical properties analysed here.
Shape selection in chiral ribbons: from seed pods to supramolecular assemblies

We provide a geometric-mechanical model for calculating equilibrium configurations of chemical systems that self-assemble into chiral ribbon structures. The model is based on incompatible elasticity and uses dimensionless parameters to determine the equilibrium configurations. As such, it provides universal curves for the shape and energy of self-assembled ribbons. We provide quantitative predictions for the twisted-to-helical transition, which was observed experimentally in many systems, and demonstrate it with synthetic ribbons made of responsive gels. In addition, we predict the bi-stability of wide ribbons and also show how geometrical frustration can cause arrest of ribbon widening. Finally, we show that the model's predictions provide explanations for experimental observations in different chemical systems.
CCAlps. Creative companies in Alpine Space

Creativity is a modern lever to sustainable growth, considered a fundamental asset to enable a behavioural change. To promote a competitive growth in the Alpine area it is important to bet on creative industries, because of their capability to trigger transformation in a territory. The main objective of CCAlps is therefore to create a real and virtual network of hubs in the Alps, that puts creativity and innovation at the center and that is able to focus on specific issues and opportunities for local and transnational development. The project will connect and create collaboration between CCIs (cultural and creative industries), carriers of ideas, producers, policy makers and universities, for promoting and  realising innovative pilot projects (Creative Camp) and new policies for their growth. CCAlps aims to push policy makers in thinking out specific regulations that can support CCIs in the Alpine Space. A policy recommendations dossier will define the guidelines to finance services and the start-up phase of new CCIs
Design strategy for low e windows with effective insulation

Optimal window glass assemblies have been developed for three use cases, when the average outside temperature is greater or less than the target indoor temperature. These assemblies have 2× better insulation than a standard double glazed window. They were developed by identifying insulation strategies for each of the 4 energy bands that transfer heat through windows. The insulation strategies were identified through analytical models for each energy band. The strategies were then applied to glasses in the DOE International Glass Data Base and evaluated using the industry standard modelling programs. These evaluations provided a systematic method to developed optimal glass assemblies.
The effect of simvastatin on the regeneration of surgical cavities in the femurs of rabbits

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of a local application of simvastatin gel in repairing bone defects in the femurs of rabbits. METHODS: Two standard surgical cavities were created in the femoral epiphysis of 18 rabbits. In the simvastatin group (SG), the cavities were filled with a collagen sponge soaked in 0.5 ml of a simvastatin (1 mg) gel, and the cavities were covered with a biological membrane. The bone cavities in the second group (control group) were filled with a blood clot and covered with a biological membrane. On the 7th, 21st and 42nd days, six animals in each group were euthanized, and the femurs were subject to histological evaluation (vascularity, fibrosis, reactive bone formation, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts) and immunohistochemical (anti-VEGF and anti-osteocalcin) analysis. The results were analyzed using a Wilcoxon test (p<0.05). RESULTS: There were significant differences between the two groups: the SG had greater scores in comparison with the CG in terms of the degree of vascularity on the 7th and the 21st days, fibrosis on the 21st day, bone formation reaction on the 21st and the 42nd days and the number of osteoblasts and osteoclasts on the 42nd day. The immunohistochemical expression was also greater for osteocalcin and VEGF on the 7th, 21st and 42nd days. CONCLUSION: Surgical defects created in rabbit femurs were treated locally with simvastatin gel to stimulate bone repair, which promoted an ameliorative effect in the morphological and immunohistochemical markers of bone regeneration.
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL MOFIFIED POLYESTER FIBERS

Disclosed is a polyethylene glycol modified copolyester fiber that has exceptional moisture management characteristics and that can be formed into exceptionally comfortable fabrics. The copolyester fiber includes polyetylene terephthalate in an amount sufficient for the copolyester fiber to possess dimensional stability properties substantially similar to those of conventional, unmodified polyethylene terephthalate fibers, polyethylene glycol in an amount sufficient for the copolyester fiber to possess wicking properties that are superior to those of conventional, unmodified polyethylene terephthalate fibers, and chain branching agent in an amount less than about 0.0014 mole-equivalent branches per mole of standardized polymer.
Injectable liposomal formulations of opiorphin as a new therapeutic strategy in pain management

Background: Conventional and PEGylated liposomes were developed, aimed at improving the pain-killing effect of opiorphin. Methods: The antinociceptive action of the formulations was investigated on rats (tail-flick test), and compared with that of opiorphin and morphine aqueous solutions (all at 5 mg/kg). Results: Opiorphin loading in conventional liposomes enabled a 28% AUC increase with respect to free peptide. PEGylated liposomes provided AUC values 80, 60 and 40% higher than free peptide, morphine and opiorphin-loaded conventional liposomes, respectively. Moreover, opiorphin entrapment in PEGylated liposomes increased analgesic effect duration by more than 50%. These results were attributed to the greater effectiveness of PEGylated liposomes in protecting the drug and prolonging its circulation time. Conclusion: Opiorphin-loaded PEGylated-liposomes can represent a valid alternative to morphine in pain management.
Rotifers highlight the evolution of asexuals: the mechanisms of genome evolution in the absence of meiosis

Why sexual reproduction is overwhelmingly predominant among the metazoans remains unclear. Ancient asexual taxa are interesting model systems to gain general insights into the adaptive values of sex. The most notorious and the highest taxonomic rank within the metazoans to reproduce asexually is the bdelloid rotifers. While studies suggest that most asexuals arose recently, the published genome of the bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga provided the first positive evidence for the long-term ameiotic evolution of this group, confirming its ancient asexuality. How bdelloid rotifers have been able to persist despite the expected negative consequences of asexuality is the focus of this ERC proposal. I will study the mechanisms that prevent genome deterioration and promote diversification in the absence of meiotic recombination. I will include sexual rotifer sister clades in the comparison and study all components of the bdelloid lifestyle that may foster their evolution. One of the key components could be their desiccation resistance and the associated DNA double-strand breaks that appear upon prolonged desiccation. To this end, I plan to (i) sequence genomes of sexual rotifers and distinct bdelloid species that diverged a long time ago, including lineages that never experience desiccation; (ii) apply contact genomics, cellular and molecular assays, as well as targeted mutagenesis to uncover their DNA repair mechanisms; (iii) use whole-genome and RAD sequencing to perform a population genomic study of genetic exchanges among bdelloids; and (iv) investigate the function of the meiosis-specific Spo11 gene in bdelloids through targeted mutagenesis and complementation experiments. Using a computational simulation I will generate theoretical predictions on the impact of the mechanisms promoting genome evolution in asexuals. This proposal should revolutionize the field of asexual evolution and provide a new biological model system to study fundamental processes such as DNA repair.
Process for the catalytic purification of gas engine exhaust gases

A process for the catalytic cleansing of exhaust gases from gas engines, which are run using combustion gases, which contain catalyst poisons, comprises passing the exhaust gases over an exhaust gas cleansing catalyst. The catalyst poisons are removed from the combustion gas before it enters the engine, using an adsorber.
Nanoscale biomeasurements of nerve cells and vesicles: molecular substructure and the nature of exocytosis

I propose to develop and apply state of the art analytical methods to investigate cell membrane and vesicle substructure to elucidate the chemistry of the closing regulatory phase of individual exocytosis events. The general goal of this proposal is to develop a new brand of analytical nanoelectrochemistry (nanogap and nanopore electrochemical cytometry), combined with chemical nanoscopy imaging methods with STED and nanoscale mass spectrometry imaging.  I propose to apply this to the questions of the nature of exocytosis and the chemistry that initiates the process of a short-term memory. We have recently discovered that most neurotransmitter release is partial via an open and closed vesicle release process and this allows new mechanisms of plasticity and synaptic strength to be hypothesized. I propose to (i) test if partial release is ubiquitous phenomenon, (ii) develop new nanoscale analytical methods to measure exocytotic release from pancreatic beta cells and a neuron in Drosophila, and to elucidate the substructure of nanometer vesicles, (iii) use these analytical methods in model cells and neurons to test the hypothesis that lipid membrane changes are involved in the initiation of the chemical events leading to short-term memory, and (iv) test the effects of drugs and zinc on plasticity of vesicles and exocytosis. This work combines new method development with a revolutionary application of chemical analysis to test the hypothesis that lipids play a previously unanticipated role in synaptic plasticity and the chemical structures involved in the initiation of short-term memory. As long-term impact, this will provide sensitive analytical tools to understand how changes in these chemical species might be affected in relation to diseases involving short-term memory loss.
Topological edge states and electronic structures of a 2D topological insulator: Single-bilayer Bi (111)

Providing the strong spin-orbital interaction, Bismuth is the key element in the family of three-dimensional topological insulators. At the same time, Bismuth itself also has very unusual behavior, existing from the thinnest unit to bulk crystals. Ultrathin Bi (111) bilayers have been theoretically proposed as a two-dimensional topological insulator. The related experimental realization achieved only recently, by growing Bi (111) ultrathin bilayers on topological insulator Bi2Te3 or Bi2Se3 substrates. In this review, we started from the growth mode of Bi (111) bilayers and reviewed our recent progress in the studies of the electronic structures and the one-dimensional topological edge states using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS), angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), and first principles calculations.