SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
Nanoparticle-Based therapeutic applications and detection of carbon monoxide releasing molecules

Carbon monoxide (CO) has gathered increasing attention because of its role as a gasotransmitter with therapeutic and cell-protective effects. It is also recognised as a cell-signalling molecule where recent developments in the area of CO-releasing molecules (CORMs) and materials for controlled CO application have shown their importance with respect to delivery of such agents to their respective targets. However, despite their promise, their remains two major bottlenecks that may prevent these compounds from reaching the clinic. Firstly, the precise spatial-temporal CO release of CORMs is not target-specific. The CO molecule is highly diffusive and binds to haemoproteins, which are ubiquitous. Secondly, CORMs are made of metal carbonyl complexes and as organometallic compounds, there is the potential of heavy metal toxicity. Moreover, since CORMs are water-soluble they are distributed throughout the body, which can lead to further increased toxicities against healthy tissues. Our project aims to alleviate some of the problems of CORMs by a) developing a method to monitor CO release by MRI and optical imaging; b) reformulate CORMs by encapsulating inside nanomaterials (specifically the FDA approved PLGA as a nanocarrier) and c) provide targeting of the CORMs to their site of delivery by conjugating peptide targeting moieties to the surface of the PLGA nanoparticle. Through the completion of these activities, I;;, supported by its twinning partners, is in the best position to achieve an improved capability to compete for internationally competitive research funding and to access business stakeholders. By claiming its position in research and innovation networks IMM will effectively contribute to research excellence and value creation in health at European level.
Anthelmintic screening of Sub-Saharan African plants used in traditional medicine

This study screened for anthelmintic activity of plant species traditionally used in the treatment of intestinal parasites and their symptoms in Sub-Saharan Africa in an effort to confirm their local use and aid in the search for new compounds since resistance is a growing concern.Aqueous and organic extracts of 33 plant parts from 17 plant species traditionally used in the treatment of intestinal infections in Sub-Saharan Africa were evaluated for their anthelmintic activity. This activity was assessed using a standard motility assay against a levamisole resistant strain of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.Anthelmintic activity was confirmed in 12 plant species. Of these, eight showed strong evidence of activity (p<0.0001), one exhibited moderate evidence of activity (p<0.001), three demonstrated weak evidence of activity (p<0.05), and five plants showed no evidence of activity. The eight species with the strongest evidence of activity were Acacia polyacantha, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Bridelia micrantha, Cassia sieberiana, Combretum nigricans, Grewia bicolor, Strychnos spinosa and Ziziphus mucronata. In only two cases, Anogeissus leiocarpus and Cassia sieberiana, anthelmintic activity has been previously confirmed. The activity demonstrated against the levamisole resistant strain of Caenorhabditis elegans and the presence of molecules in these plants known or suspected of having a broad spectrum of activity provide support for further study of these plants and their compounds as possible treatments for parasitic worm infections.
Relationship between environmental factor and maximum daily stem shrinkage in apple tree in arid region of northwest China

After measuring maximum daily stem shrinkage (MDS) of irrigated apple tree using dendrometer during the year 2007–2010 in arid region of northwest China, we analyzed the respective relationships between MDS and single plant physiological index and environmental factors to investigate whether MDS can indicate the water status of apple tree and to establish empirical multiple regression equation among MDS and environmental factors. Results show that MDS increased at the beginning and then decreased gradually during whole growing stage. The close relationships between MDS and stem water potential, predawn water potential, stomatal conductance were found, showing that MDS can indicate the water status of mature apple tree. The relationships between MDS and single meteorological variable were significant at the other growth stages except at the bud development and flowering stage, because the canopy structure was not developed, and the order of determination coefficient (r2) over the whole growing stage was maximum vapour pressure deficit > maximum air temperature > net radiation. There were also significant correlations between MDS and soil volumetric water content and reference crop evapotranspiration over the whole growing stage. However, the determination coefficient among MDS and meteorological variables and soil volumetric water content at 0–120 cm depth was higher than those between MDS and single variable. Thus the multiple regression equation among MDS and meteorological variables and soil volumetric water content at 0–120 cm depth can be used to estimate MDS under fully irrigated apple orchard.
Noč ima svojo moč (the night has its might), european researchers' night (night)

Noč ima svojo moč [The Night has it might] (NOCMOC) [NIGHTMIGHT] project combines a strong awareness campaign embedding a major media campaign and a citizen science project with activities spread all over Slovenia. 

The core objectives of the NOCMOC project is to raise awareness about the research and its benefits, overcome stereotypes, stimulate curiosity all over Slovenia and excite youngsters to take up the research careers.

The awareness campaign will comprise national TV broadcasts, radio broadcasts, press presence and a social media campaign, reaching 100.000 people. The innovative awareness campaign will be based on the Citizen Science Project – Chestnut tracking. We expect, over 1.000 groups, families and individuals will participate in the Citizen Science Project and experience the research methodology-hands on, and above all contribute to the basic research methodology of the real research project.

The NIGHT activities will take place in 25 cities across Slovenia and will bring together over 30 research-related institutions to raise awareness about research and innovation, its social and economic benefits as well as its variety of careers. Over 30.000 visitors from different target groups will take part in the NIGHT activities spread all over Slovenia. Activities will combine science festivals on the main square of four cities,  science shows, simulations, research days in primary and secondary schools, lectures and workshops in public spaces such as libraries, retirement homes and museums, science espressos, EU corners, open doors at the research institutions, science centre and cultural institutions and many more - altogether over 200 individual activities in 24 hours from day  until night.
<p class="HeadingRunIn"><strong>Preface and Constitution of the Asian Society of Ichthyologists</strong></p>

The U.S. National Science Foundation-funded (DEB 1022720) ‘All Cypriniformes Species Inventory’ was initiated in 2010 and will be completed in 2015.  It has accelerated the rate of discovery and description of cypriniform fishes, expanded our knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships of cypriniforms, increased the capacity for systematic research in other countries through student training and establishing long-term collaborations, including conferences in Thailand in 2012, Brunei in 2013, Burundi in 2013, and Malaysia in 2014, led to the formation of the Asian Society of Ichthyologists, and made available large numbers of specimens and tissues of freshwater fishes, including many species never before collected, in permanent collections in foreign and U.S. institutions.
Improve the diagnosis of atrial hypertrophy with the local discriminative support vector machine

Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) approaches succeed in detecting a number of diseases, however, they are not good at addressing atrial hypertrophy disease due to the lack of training data. Support Vector Machine (SVM) is very popular in few CAD solutions to atrial hypertrophy. Yet the performance of SVM is moderate in atrial hypertrophy detection compared to its success in other classification problems. In this paper we propose a novel CAD algorithm, Local Discriminative SVM (LDSVM), to overcome the above-mentioned difficulty. LDSVM consists of a global SVM that is trained on the training data, and a local kNN that is trained based on the information of SVM and query. When a query arrives, SVM gives the initial decision. If the initial decision is less confident, local kNN begins to modify the initial decision. LDSVM improves the accuracy of SVM through some contributions: the risk tube, the discriminant information derived from SVM hyperplane, the new metric and the self-tuning size of neighborhood. Empirical evidence on real medical datasets show high performance of LDSVM over the peers in addressing atrial hypertrophy problems.
The potential economic impact of climate change on equitable water access in small towns: a South African case study

This case study demonstrates that the consequence of climate change impacts on water resources is indeed an economic issue when it comes to meeting projected water demand and ensuring access to basic water supplies. In order to meet the same water demand under climate change conditions as compared with normal climate conditions the investment cost quadruples over the 30 year period. This in turn results in an increase in the average annual unit selling price of the water increasing by 25%. A fundamental shift in development policy is therefore required if equitable access to affordable water is to be achieved.
Aligning ontologies with subsumption and equivalence relations in Linked Data

With the profusion of RDF resources and Linked Data, ontology alignment has gained significance in providing highly comprehensive knowledge embedded in disparate sources. Ontology alignment, however, in Linking Open Data (LOD) has traditionally focused more on the instance-level rather than the schema-level. Linked Data supports schema-level alignment, provided that instance-level alignment is already established. Linked Data is a hotbed for instance-based schema alignment, which is considered a better solution for aligning classes with ambiguous or obscure names. This study proposes an instance-based schema alignment algorithm, IUT, which builds a unified taxonomy to discover subsumption and equivalence relations between two classes. A scaling algorithm is also developed that reduces pair-wise similarity computations during the taxonomy construction. The IUT is tested with DBpedia and YAGO2, and compared with two state-of-the-art schema alignment algorithms in light of four alignment tasks with different combinations of the two data sets. The experiment results show that the IUT outperforms the two algorithms in efficiency and effectiveness, and demonstrate the IUT can provide an instance-based schema alignment solution with scalability and high performance, for ontologies containing a large number of instances in LOD.
Cross-border Business Network for the joint development of niche tourism products

This project’s main challenge is promoting cooperation between cross-border tourism operators. The aim is for them to develop and popularise sustainable cross-border niche tourism products connected to blue and green growth. The general objective of this project is to reinforce tourism attraction in the cross-border area and the competitiveness of its small and medium enterprises. This by developing innovative, sustainable and quality cross-border products, jointly promoting and popularising them inside and outside the EU and creating local networks of operators for said products (the pedal-assisted bicycle touring PEDELEC product will be developed during the 24 months of this project). Increased arrivals are expected from sustainable tourism (especially sport-related) together with a more extended tourist season. FR-ONT-IT will create a shared web portal to supply the partners' network with content. It will design and implement joined services across borders, including customer support numbers, bookings, vouchers, agreements (e.g. with maritime transport operators) and IT systems. It will also establish and promote local unified service levels. Moreover, it will develop the PEDELEC product in the 5 local areas identified. It will provide 210 pedal-assisted bicycles and create local operator networks, including hotels and other accommodations, restaurants, medical/physiotherapy centres, bike assistance centres and other facilities. It will also organise luggage transport services. The budget reflects each partner's expertise and the activities they will have to carry out in the field.
An experimental and bioinformatic toolbox for functional epigenomics and its application to epigenetically making and breaking a cancer cell

Epigenetic alterations can be detected in all cancers and in essentially every patient. Despite their prevalence, the concrete functional roles of these alterations are not well understood, for two reasons: First, cancer samples tend to carry many correlated epigenetic alterations, making it difficult to statistically distinguish relevant driver events from those that co-occur for other reasons. Second, we lack tools for targeted epigenome editing that could be used to validate biological function in perturbation and rescue experiments.

The proposed project strives to overcome these limitations through experimental and bioinformatic methods development, with the ambition of making and breaking cancer cells in vitro by introducing defined sets of epigenetic alterations. We will focus on leukemia as our “model cancer” (given its low mutation rate, frequent defects in epigenetic regulators, and availability of excellent functional assays), but the concepts and methods are general. In Aim 1, we will generate epigenome profiles for a human knockout cell collection comprising 100 epigenetic regulators and use the data to functionally annotate thousands of epigenetic alterations observed in large cancer datasets. In Aim 2, we will develop an experimental toolbox for epigenome programming using epigenetic drugs, CRISPR-assisted recruitment of epigenetic modifiers for locus-specific editing, and cell-derived guide RNA libraries for epigenome copying. Finally, in Aim 3 we will explore epigenome programming (methods from Aim 2) of candidate driver events (predictions from Aim 1) with the ultimate goal of converting cancer cells into non-cancer cells and vice versa. 

In summary, this project will establish a broadly applicable methodology and toolbox for dissecting the functional roles of epigenetic alterations in cancer. Moreover, successful creation of a cancer that is driven purely by epigenetic alterations could challenge our understanding of cancer as a genetic disease.
Application of crop genetics to improve calcium content in millets and other crops for promoting health benefits in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

With osteoporosis becoming an increasing threat to human health, this project is directed towards finding an inexpensive solution to this problem using crop genetics. Biofortification of human diet with food that are naturally rich in Calcium (Ca) is proposed. Among all cultivated cereals, finger millet (Eleusine coracana), an annual small millet of Africa and Asia, has been found to have the highest concentration of Ca (350mg/100g) in its grains. This proposal aims to investigate the genetic variations of Ca accumulation in finger millet germplasm using chemical phenotyping and genomics, and to use this knowledge in further improving the concentration of this micronutrient in finger millet and other staple crops. Specific objectives of the study are: (1) to explore the extent of genetic diversity for Ca content present in world collection of finger millet germplasms; (2) to identify genomic regions associated with Ca accumulation in finger millet grains using next generation sequencing, chemical phenotyping and GWAS analysis; (3) to identify and validate candidate genes underlying genomic regions found to be associated with Ca accumulation in finger millet; and (4) use comparative genomics to identify similar genes and processes in staple cereals like wheat, rice, barley or oats grown in Europe. The project will identify genes involved in Ca accumulation in crops and the prospects of their breeding into new varieties through plant breeding. Such crop varieties will benefit the smallholder farmers who will grow them (by adding value to their food products) and also provide valuable, superior raw material to industries for developing functional food rich in Calcium. Availabilities of such food and food products will increase Ca consumption and reduce the health and economic impacts of osteoporosis.
Sunflower Diseases Remain Rare in California Seed Production Fields Compared to North Dakota

The majority of United States sunflower production is in seven Midwestern states, but hybrid planting seed is almost exclusively produced in California. Due to the lack of summer rains and furrow irrigation, California-produced seed is relatively disease free and thus it regularly meets phytosanitary restrictions imposed by many countries. For the 15-year period from 1997 to 2011, 7231 seed fields in northern California were inspected and samples processed at the state diagnostic laboratory (California Department of Food and Agriculture). Rust (Puccinia helianthi) was the most prevalent quarantine disease, found in 4.3% of fields. Stalk rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) and downy mildew (Plasmopara halstedii) were the only other quarantine pathogens observed, found in 2.6% and 0.5% of the 7231 fields, respectively. Many sunflower pathogens have never been recorded in California, including Phoma macdonaldii, Phomopsis helianthi, or any virus. North Dakota, the state with the highest US sunflower production, had quarantine pathogens in 88% of 1263 fields surveyed from 1995 to 2011. Phoma macdonaldii, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Puccinia helianthi, Phomopsis helianthi, Plasmopara halstedii, and Verticillium dahliae were recorded in 62, 54, 37, 33, 14, and 12%, respectively, of North Dakota fields. Accepted for publication 5 November 2012. Published 14 December 2012.
Self-consistent electro-thermal simulations of AlGaN/GaN diodes by means of Monte Carlo method

In this contribution we present the results from the simulation of an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure diode by means of a Monte Carlo tool where thermal effects have been included. Two techniques are investigated: (i) a thermal resistance method (TRM), and (ii) an advanced electro-thermal model (ETM) including the solution of the steady-state heat diffusion equation. Initially, a systematic study at constant temperature is performed in order to calibrate the electronic model. Once this task is performed, the electro-thermal methods are coupled with the Monte Carlo electronic simulations. For the TRM, several values of thermal resistances are employed, and for the ETM method, the dependence on the thermal-conductivity, thickness and die length is analyzed. It is found that the TRM with well-calibrated values of thermal resistances provides a similar behavior to ETM simulations under the hypothesis of constant thermal conductivity. Our results are validated with experimental measurements finding the best agreement when the ETM is used with a temperature-dependent thermal conductivity.
Hot springs to foster health and mutual knowledge

The project focuses on tourism promotion in the cross-border area by defining tourist packages that are suitable to the elderly people (and other age groups). In order to diversify the contents of tourist packages, there are two main offers: spas and cultural tourism. In this sense the project aims at developing and promoting tourism that is centred on health, socialising, recreational activities and culture. The actions envisaged include the publication of bilingual information and promotional material, the presentation - at targeted meetings - of spas present in the cross-border area, the organisation of trips to familiarize with the area, the promotion of wellness and recreational trips in the various spas, and all the related activities. A website will also be set up to present tourist products and packages for the elderly, to foster socialising and familiarity across the two neighbouring cultures. The project also aims at disseminating medical and health prevention, so as to improve the quality of life of the elderly, while contributing to the growth of the local economy.
Sensorless motor driver with BEMF mask extender

A motor control circuit wherein Bemf zero crossings are sensed to provide phasing information. To avoid incorrect timing (due to detection of zero crossings which may be caused by switching noise when the power transistors switch to commutate other phases), the Bemf detection is masked. Advantageously, the Bemf detection is masked not only for the normal masking period (including an additional percentage beyond the minimum period), but is also for an additional period, if the Bemf output is not of the expected polarity.
Clinical application analysis of ultrasonic root canals irrigation in preparing molar’s curved root canals

Objective:To observe the effectiveness of preparing molar’s curved root canals using ultrasound.Methods:369 teeth with chronic pulpitis or periapical periodontitis were prepared by stainless steel K-file with the techniques of step-back technique and randomly divided into two groups.Group A: stainless-steel K file hand instrument plus ultrasonic irrigation;group B:stainless-steel K-file hand instrument plus syringe irrigation.To prepare root canal by the stainless steel K file and step-back technique.To observe the postoperative reactions on 7d return visit in the two groups.Results:The occurrence rate of postoperative reaction was 8.06% in group A and 25.14% in the group B,with significant difference between the two groups (P0.01).Conclusion:The ultrasonic irrigation after root canal preparation is more efficient in reducing postoperative reaction,which is easy to operate and beneficial to be spread in clinic.