SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
From Understanding the Development Landscape of the Canonical Fate-Switch Pair to Constructing a Dynamic Landscape for Two-Step Neural Differentiation

Recent progress in stem cell biology, notably cell fate conversion, calls for novel theoretical understanding for cell differentiation. The existing qualitative concept of Waddington's "epigenetic landscape" has attracted particular attention because it captures subsequent fate decision points, thus manifesting the hierarchical ("tree-like") nature of cell fate diversification. Here, we generalized a recent work and explored such a developmental landscape for a two-gene fate decision circuit by integrating the underlying probability landscapes with different parameters (corresponding to distinct developmental stages). The change of entropy production rate along the parameter changes indicates which parameter changes can represent a normal developmental process while other parameters' change can not. The transdifferentiation paths over the landscape under certain conditions reveal the possibility of a direct and reversible phenotypic conversion. As the intensity of noise increases, we found that the landscape becomes flatter and the dominant paths more straight, implying the importance of biological noise processing mechanism in development and reprogramming. We further extended the landscape of the one-step fate decision to that for two-step decisions in central nervous system (CNS) differentiation. A minimal network and dynamic model for CNS differentiation was firstly constructed where two three-gene motifs are coupled. We then implemented the SDEs (Stochastic Differentiation Equations) simulation for the validity of the network and model. By integrating the two landscapes for the two switch gene pairs, we constructed the two-step development landscape for CNS differentiation. Our work provides new insights into cellular differentiation and important clues for better reprogramming strategies.
The Predictive Power of Political Pundits: Prescient or Pitiful?

Although Australian political pundits frequently make predictions about the future, little systematic evidence exists about the accuracy of these predictions. To assess the predictive power of experts, we survey the transcripts of two well-known political programs – Insiders and Meet the Press – and record all falsifiable forecasts. Looking at the three months prior to both the 2007 and 2010 federal elections, we are struck by the paucity of falsifiable predictions, with most pundits heavily qualifying their predictions (so that they can never be said to be wrong). In 32 hours of television, we identify 20 falsifiable forecasts in our sample, of which we judge thirteen to be correct. We conclude with some suggestions for political talk shows, and for political scientists seeking to better analyse expert predictions.
Protection of industrial property rights of a machine for mass forming and production of ceramic composites.

‘Aid programme reference number: SA.42799(2015/X), intended for public aid: Article 28 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 651/2014' The object of the project is to obtain protection for the manufacture of composite mass forming machines based on ceramics and production technologies: method of production of composite based on ceramics in the USA and Japan – (2 patents) with the possibility of commercialisation process before registration by purchasing consulting services. (1 pcs. — Japan). The project will be real in the period 15.11.2018 to 30.09.2023. The scope of the project includes: 1. Obtaining a patent in the United States. 2. Advisory services for the development of economic and marketing analyses and expertise on the market in Japan. Advice will concern the preparation of a patent application, the payment of official fees for the application, the development of an invention of the device type and the analysis and expertise of the legal and tech. pre-application and all comprehensive service related to the protection of the above-mentioned intellectual property objects, from the application to obtaining a decision on protection. 3. Obtaining a patent in Japan. Obtaining the patent will take place in 1 application and will be the machine for mass forming and method of production technology: method of producing composite based on ceramics. The project will contribute to the launch of world-wide production by Medical Inventi S.A., an innovative globally innovative med. product in the form of a bone substitute biomaterial, developed by the team Prof. dr hab. Grażyna Ginalska, which is the original development in the field of modern third generation implantation preparations for biocompatible composition with bone tissue, bioactivity, effects on bone regeneration and support of bone reconstruction process, as well as surgical and elasticity. Innovative plastic mass is designed as a filler of bone defects resulting from injuries.
Sw application for smartphones enabling accurate and easy-to-use 3d body scanning for digitalized design and production process in fashion and textile industry.

Project AVATAR aims at disruptive innovation for textile and fashion industry. This industry, having the volume close to USD 1 trillion worldwide, significantly impacts the global economy and environment. As many other traditional manufacturing sectors, it has been affected by new digital technologies recently. Thanks to them, fashion producers can economise the whole chain of their activities from idea generation to marketing of the products. Computer-based virtualisation facilitates the idea generation, design and production of clothing, which in turn reduces the number of physical patterns and used sources (namely time of involved people). However, one basic element is still missing in this chain: accurate and handy body-scanning.
AVATAR project aims at development of the first 3D body scanning application for smartphones with best-in-class accuracy, which will make 360° body scan and precisely measure a person in real time. Its use will make possible for smartphone owner to create his/her own 3D avatar (digital representation of a human body) and then digitally visualize any apparel decorating it.
Fundamental challenge for fashion brands today is their lag behind consumers’ expectations. Whereas in the past, producers dictated the supply, today's markets are increasingly influenced by individualized consumer demands. AVATAR product will help designers and producers to digitalize fully their production line and thus increase revolutionary efficiency and improve offer to consumers. This will bring positive change to all segments of the textile and fashion industry, including enhancement in the e-commerce area. By contributing to more efficient use of resources it will have also positive impact on the environment protection. 
Competitive advantage of the proposed solution to other (existing or expected) mobile scanning applications will be the best-in-class accuracy combined with user friendliness. Being a SW application, scaling of the product is straightforward.
Postural networks: linking cognitive and motor control across the lifespan

Almost every movement we make requires the coordination of multiple muscles. How the central nervous system coordinates these patterns of muscle activity remains largely unknown. Here I propose muscle networks as an innovative and principled approach towards neural interactions underlying coordinated movements and posture to address this outstanding problem. Recent findings show robust patterns of neural coupling across multiple muscles. Application of network theory has brought about a paradigm change in brain research and has been crucial for understanding how neurons and neuronal structures connect and communicate. Here I will extend the approach used to study brain networks to the neuromuscular system and investigate the neural interactions within the brain and spinal cord involved in postural control using network analysis of brain and muscle activity (EEG & EMG). By relating network structure to postural kinematics obtained using 3D motion-capture technology, I will investigate the functional role of postural networks in healthy participants performing postural tasks and to map changes in postural control across the lifespan. Cognitive control and sensorimotor functions will be assessed using standardized test and correlated with network metrics to explain variability in postural control and disentangle their role in organizing of postural networks. By combining advanced computational analyses with state-of-the-art recording techniques, the project will enable reconstructing functional interactions in the distributed motor system from non-invasive recordings. Postural networks hence offer a promising new perspective on a long-standing open question in movement neuroscience. The expertise of my supervisors and the excellent facilities at Maastricht University provide an ideal environment in which to conduct this project and establish my own research group at a leading research institute in Europe.
Prenatal development in rural South Africa: Relationship between birth weight and access to fathers and grandparents

Birth weight is an indicator of prenatal development associated with health in infancy and childhood, and may be affected by the family environment experienced by the mother during pregnancy. Using data from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, we explore the importance of the mother's access to the father and grandparents of the child during pregnancy. Controlling for household socio-economic indicators and maternal characteristics, the survival and residence of the biological father with the mother are positively associated with birth weight. The type of relationship seems to matter: married women have the heaviest newborns, but co-residence with a non-marital partner is also associated with higher birth weight. Access to the maternal grandmother may also be important: women whose mothers are alive have heavier newborns, but no additional benefit is observed from residing together. Co-residence with any grandparent is not associated with birth weight after controlling for the mother's partnership.
Disaster Vulnerability and Resilience of Urban Residents: A Case of Rainstorm Disaster Risk Management in Bida, Nigeria

Rainstorm disaster is one of the challenges facing a growing number of settlements in Nigeria. Either in rural or urban centres, this environmental catastrophe, has become a recurring and increasingly formidable disaster negatively affecting socio-economic activities. The reduction of the risk and the negative effects of rainstorm disaster has long been a major concern to the residents of Bida in Niger State – central Nigeria. Using on-the-spot assessments and Descriptive Statistical Analysis (DSA), this work highlighted the effectiveness of disaster relief strategies available to victims of recurrent rainstorm events; the various structural damages occasioned by increasing vulnerability to negative effects of climate change related disasters. On-the-spot field finding shows that this disaster negatively affects all areas of human abode and livelihood in the city. Mitigation strategies mostly employed by low-income urban dwellers that constitute majority of the victims, are not only ineffective for addressing hydro-meteorological disasters, but also known to compound peculiar emergency situations occasioned by disasters. In order to effectively tackle these catastrophic events, urban and regional governments need to intervene meaningfully at all levels of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) including disaster risk prevention and management. The present practice of providing food items and household utensils as disaster relief materials to disaster stricken and traumatized urban poor can hardly prevent the reoccurrence or reduce the inevitable impacts of future disasters. Keywords: environment / low-income / rainstorm disaster / risks / urban areas
ELECTRIC COUPLING SYSTEM

The present disclosure refers to an electric coupling system (1) comprising an ECU (10) with an ECU housing (11) having at least one guide element (12, 13) and a first thermal contact surface (15), and an electric connector (18). The electric coupling system (1) further comprising a receiving unit (20) for coupling with the ECU (10), the receiving unit (20) comprising a receiving housing (21) to accommodate the ECU (10), the receiving housing (21) comprising at least one guide track (22, 23) and a heat sink (24) with a second thermal contact surface (25) for establishing planar contact with the first thermal contact surface (15), and an electric counter connector (28) for mating with the electric connector (18), wherein the guide element (12, 13) and the guide track (22, 23) are configured to be brought into sliding engagement with each other such that the ECU (10) can be inserted and slide into the receiving housing (21), wherein the guide element (12, 13) and the guide track (22, 23) are further configured such that the ECU (10) can be rotated relative to the receiving unit (20) while coupling the ECU (10) with the receiving unit (20).
Attenuation of lysyl oxidase and collagen gene expression in keratoconus patient corneal epithelium corresponds to disease severity.

Keratoconus (KC) is characterized by progressive vision loss due to corneal thinning and structural abnormalities. It is hypothesized that KC is caused by deregulated collagen levels and collagen fibril-maturating enzyme lysyl oxidase (LOX). Further, it is currently not understood whether the gene expression deregulated by the corneal epithelium influences KC pathogenesis. We studied (i) the expressions of the LOX, collagen I (COL IA1), collagen IV (COL IVA1), MMP9, and IL6 genes in KC corneal epithelia, (ii) validated their expression levels in patient tissues, and (iii) correlated expression levels with KC disease severity. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the importance of these genes in the progression of KC.We analyzed the gene expression levels of the key proteins LOX, collagens (COL IA1 and COL IVA1), MMP9, and IL6 in debrided corneal epithelia from a large cohort of KC patients (90 eyes) and compared them to control patients (52 eyes) without KC. We measured the total LOX activity in the tears of KC patients compared to controls. We also correlated the protein expression levels of LOX and collagens by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in primary tissues from KC patients (27 eyes) undergoing keratoplasty compared to healthy donor corneas (15 eyes).We observed a significant reduction in LOX transcript levels in KC corneal epithelia, and LOX activity in KC tears correlated with disease severity. Collagen transcripts were also reduced in KC while MMP9 transcript levels were upregulated and correlated with disease severity. IL6 was moderately increased in KC patients. IHC demonstrated a reduction in the protein expression levels of LOX in the epithelium and collagen IV in the basement membrane of KC patients compared to healthy donor corneas.The data demonstrates that the structural deformity of the KC cornea may be dependent on reduced expressions of collagens and LOX, as well as on MMP9 elevated by the corneal epithelium.
Sustainable regeneration of tourism, urban renewal and promotion of art in mountain areas

The cross-border area is characterized by a rich cultural heritage, which is manifested in a considerable amount of sites and works that represent a great opportunity for economic, social and tourism growth. Tangible and intangible cultural assets are a key resource, often underestimated, which can and must contribute to relaunching the area. The project S.T.RE.A.M. starts from the idea to increase the tourist potential of the cross border area, networking Italian and Austrian cultural resources. The objective is the enhancement and preservation of heritage and at the same time its
inclusion in a renewed cross-border tourist offer through a series of actions aimed at creating sustainable development models for public and private spaces through art and culture ( Urban regeneration), the relaunch of small historical centers in the cross-border area (cultural regeneration) as well as the integrated and sustainable promotion of valued cultural destinations, targeted to:tourism organizations, public administrations and the local population. The project envisages a communication strategy aimed at disseminating information and key messages proposed to promote
the sustainable development of cultural tourism in many rural and mountain centers and villages. The foreseen result is the increased participation in decision-making processes and the promotion of the less known destinations.
Fermentation processes for functional foods from rapeseed, sunflower and other eu matrices devoted to young animals.zero-miles model boosting safety and competitiveness of livestock sector

In the next future, the global population growth will increase the demand for animal derived food.
The livestock sector development is a compelling societal challenges to ensure animal welfare, consumers health and the productivity and environmental sustainability of the livestock system.
To replace imported soybean and fishmeal as protein sources in the young animal dietary, RAPSODY aims at developing innovative functional foods transforming by-products derived from European agriculture (rapeseed, sunflower and other matrices) and alternative feed source (seaweeds) through the application of bio-technology based fermentation processes aimed at: 1) increasing digestibility, 2) enhancing/balancing the amino acidic profile of the starting matrix.
Compared to Soy Protein Concentrate and fishmeal, the benefits associated with the new products are:
- Safer, cost-effective natural products for animal feeding, reducing harmful substances and synthetic additives in the final food; 
- Minimize imports, strengthening European self-sufficiency for the livestock sector
RAPSODY will also provide an innovative business model for the production and commercialization of the final functional foods according to a “zero-miles” system, by localizing small productive plants near raw materials suppliers and final users. The model will boost the competitiveness of the livestock sector: the superior quality in terms of nutritional value and final food safety, together with competitive prices with respect to SPC and fishmeal, will allow the new products to acquire the 35% of the swine market share within 5 years, generating an annual turnover of 150 million euros/y
The feasibility study will allow
- The definition of the preliminary layout for the demonstration plant
- the development of strategic partnership
- The definition of the commercial strategy and marketing plan
- to verify the economic sustainability of the envisaged business model
- to outline of the most effective IPR management
Understanding others and the self -  what does brain maturation tell us about early theory of mind development and its relation to the emergence of a self-concept in early childhood?

Human social interaction crucially depends on our ability to understand what others think or believe, an ability referred to as Theory of Mind (ToM). While decades of research assumed that this milestone is reached around the age of 4 years, recently, novel infant ToM tasks have shown that already infants younger than 2 years expect people to act according to their beliefs - even if these differ from the infant’s own beliefs. This has created one of the biggest puzzles of developmental psychology: Why do children consistently fail traditional ToM tasks until the age of 4 years, if already infants understand others' beliefs? The supervisor has recently suggested how the emergence of a self-concept (SELF) and ability to distinguish between self and other might build a link between early- and later-developing ToM abilities.

Here, we want to address these questions with cognitive neuroscience, by combining behavioral and infant functional neuroimaging (fNIRS) tasks of ToM and SELF with brain-structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This combination of methods will allow us to compare the brain regions involved in the novel infant and later-developing traditional ToM tasks, and to study their link to the brain regions involved in SELF.

I have a strong background in combining brain-structural MRI with behavioral ToM tasks in preschool-aged children. My supervisor is a world-leading expert in early ToM and developing cutting-edge neurocognitive tasks for preverbal infants. She was recently awarded an ERC grant to test her theory on the role of SELF for ToM. The current action importantly complements that project by an innovative neuroimaging approach, which uniquely becomes possible through our combined expertise. I will strongly benefit from the infrastructure and expertise in that project, and will be able to learn cutting-edge infant neurocognitive testing methods, crucial for my future career goal of becoming a leading researcher in early-childhood development.
Density-Dependent Spacing Behaviour and Activity Budget in Pregnant, Domestic Goats (Capra hircus)

Very little is known about the spacing behaviour in social groups of domestic goats (Capra hircus) in the farm environment. In this experiment, we studied interindividual distances, movement patterns and activity budgets in pregnant goats housed at three different densities. Norwegian dairy goats were kept in stable social groups of six animals throughout pregnancy at 1, 2 or 3 m2 per individual and their spacing behaviours (i.e., distance travelled, nearest and furthest neighbour distance) and activity budgets (e.g., resting, feeding, social activities) were monitored. Observations were made in the first, second and last thirds of pregnancy in the mornings, at noon and in the afternoons of each of these phases (4.5 hours per observation period). The findings show that goats held at animal densities of 2 and 3 m2 moved longer distances when they had more space per animal and kept larger nearest and furthest neighbour distances when compared to the 1 m2 per animal density. Less feeding activity was observed at the high animal density compared to the medium and low density treatments. The phase of gestation also had an impact on almost all behavioural variables. Closer to parturition, animals moved further distances and the increase in nearest and furthest neighbour distance was more pronounced at the lower animal densities. During the last period of gestation, goats spent less time feeding and more on resting, social behaviours and engaging in other various activities. Our data suggest that more space per goat is needed for goats closer to parturition than in the early gestation phase. We concluded that in goats spacing behaviour is density-dependent and changes with stages of pregnancy and activities. Finally, the lower density allowed animals to express individual preferences regarding spacing behaviour which is important in ensuring good welfare in a farming situation.