SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
Brain cell type-specific interactions and schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a heritable but genetically complex disease. Pathological and epidemiological data fit a model of SCZ as a network disease with perturbations during brain development leading to early-adulthood onset clinical symptomatology. Our present understanding is based on single markers or arrays of gene expression from tissue samples containing multiple cell types. As a consequence, pathological changes in the function of inhibitory or excitatory neurons, microglia, or oligodendrocytes have variously been proposed to be the cause of symptoms. In light of recent data I hypothesize that it is unlikely that the various cellular SCZ-pathologies all arise independently from genetic alterations in multiple cell types. Recent findings from my lab show that in the cortex the expression of risk genes for SCZ are enriched in excitatory neurons, and that this set of risk-genes is largely non-overlapping with those expressed in other cell types. I propose that pathological genetic changes in excitatory cells ultimately initiates pathological changes in other cell types contributing  to the multiple cellular pathologies observed in SCZ. We will:
1. Identify cell type-specific gene regulatory networks involved in SCZ (SCZ-GRNs) in prefrontal cortical excitatory cells by analysis of four distinct SCZ mouse models.
2. Confirm putative SCZ-GRNs in patient material using in situ transcriptomics on postmortem brains and connect to clinical features via collaboration with genomic studies in Sweden and Denmark.
3. Functionally investigate the effects of perturbing excitatory cell SCZ-GRNs on other cell types.
Single-cell RNA-seq, providing insights into the molecular properties of individual cells, and modern molecular tools for perturbing transcription in a cell type-specific way opens up for new knowledge of mechanisms underlying SCZ pathology. My work will identify causal relationships that can be exploited for the development of strategies for personalized treatment.
Klinischer Einsatz der funktionellen MRT bei chronischer Epilepsie

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is frequently used in the presurgical diagnostic procedure of epilepsy patients, in particular for lateralization of speech and memory and for localization of the primary motor cortex to delineate the epileptogenic lesion from eloquent brain areas. fMRI is one of the non-invasive procedures in the presurgical diagnostic process, together with medical history, seizure semiology, neurological examination, interictal and ictal EEG, structural MRI, video EEG monitoring and neuropsychology. This diagnostic sequence leads either to the decision for or against elective epilepsy surgery or to the decision to proceed with invasive diagnostic techniques (Wada test, intra-operative or extra-operative cortical stimulation). It is difficult to evaluate the contribution of the fMRI test in isolation to the validity of the entire diagnostic sequence. Complications such as memory loss and aphasia in temporal lobe resections or paresis after frontal lobe resections are rare and rarely of disastrous extent. This further complicates the evaluation of the clinical relevance of fMRI as a predictive tool. In this article studies which investigated the concordance between fMRI and other diagnostic gold standards will be presented as well as the association between presurgical fMRI and postsurgical morbidity.
Role of pulmonary bio-markers in systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A one year follow up study

Background & Aim: Elevated circulating levels of inflammatory biomarkers have been found to play an important role in Patients of COPD. We measured TNF alpha, IL6, and CRP levels in COPD patients and assessed their relationship with smoking status, inflammation and disease. Methods: we assessed three blood biomarkers in 202 COPD patients, 50 current smokers with normal lung function and 30 non smokers. Subjects were evaluated with medical history, Spirometry, 6-minute walk test, BODE index. Biomarkers repeatability was assessed using baseline and 1- year follow up samples. Results: Serum TNF Alpha Level was higher in COPD patients than smokers controls and Non smokers controls at the base line and at 1 year interval (p value- 0.001]. CRP and IL6 were also significantly higher in COPD patients compared to smoker and non smoker controls. TNF Alpha showed moderate repeatability and was found to be least variable bio-marker over 1- year period with a high degree of statistical significance and multiple regression analysis for CRP, IL-6 confirmed only their association with disease and not smoking status. Conclusions: Smoking is associated with higher levels of TNF- alpha mediated systemic inflammation with or without COPD.
AUXILIARY HYDRAULIC FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A SMALL LOADER

A vehicle (10) having an auxiliary power system (138) for supplying power to an implement (246) is disclosed. The power system (138) includes a power enablement device (220) having an enablement component (224) that allows or prevents supplying power to the implement, and an auxiliary actuator (146) operably coupled to the power enablement device (220). The auxiliary actuator (146) can be manipulated between a first, de-actuated position and a second, actuated position. An operator actuable continuous actuation device (150) is moveable between engaged and disengaged positions, providing an actuation signal indicative of its position. A continuous enablement actuator (260) is capable of engaging the enablement component (224) when the enablement component (224) is in the actuated position to discourage the enablement component (224) from moving to the de-actuated position. The continuous enablement actuator engages the enablement component (224) when the actuation signal indicates one of the engaged and disengaged positions and is disengaged from the enablement component (224) when the actuation signal indicates the other position.
The role vision plays in shaping the representation of numbers.

In the literature on numerical cognition, vision was for a long time assumed to play an important role in the development of number representations. In line with this idea, I recently demonstrated that congenitally blind (CB) present a qualitatively different representation of numbers by comparison to their sighted peers. In this project, I propose to further explore with fMRI techniques whether the CB qualitative different numerical representation is supported by specific cerebral reorganisation of the brain. I also propose to examine whether the qualitative different numerical representations of CB could delay the acquisition of numerical concepts in childhood. I finally propose to explore the extent to which this knowledge of the blind’s numerical representation could be extended to the elaboration of a multisensory mathematics teaching program. I advocate the idea that this research program is crucial because poor mathematical competencies are common among adults and result in employment and day-to-day activities difficulties. Further research into multisensory access to numerical information could therefore lead to education benefits in teaching mathematics to young children but could also promote interventions that target specific mathematical deficits. I am uniquely suited for working on this project due to a number of parallels between the skills the proposed project requires, and the skills I possess. This includes: 1) my successful collaborations with Dr Collignon in the past; 2) good inter-personal skills; 3) my strong background in the research topic; 4) working with a variety of participant populations, and combining different methodologies. If funded, the present project will allow me to continue to explore a large overarching question by applying my pre-existing knowledge to a broader range of experimental techniques and topics - a vital skill to become an independent researcher in Europe.
Dynamic analysis of auger driller during luffing motion by bond graph

To investigate the inherent complex dynamic characteristics of luffing mechanism of auger driller, the rigid body motion of structures and the dynamic behavior of the drive system should be studied in an integrated model. The working principle and structural characteristics of the luffing mechanism is firstly analyzed, then the bond graph model of revolute joint, cylinder and boom are proposed based multi-body theory, and the bond graph model of hydraulic system is also constructed. Through the analysis of the dynamic characteristics and interaction rules of each sub model, the transmission path of power flow is described. Coupling the boom structure and hydraulic actuator, the complete bond graph model of luffing mechafnism have been developed in a unified way. The total governing equations of the system have been derived from the model. Numerical results of chamber pressure of luffing cylinder implies to the good accuracy of the bond graph study, while comparing with experimental results. Meanwhile, the effects of the installation position parameters of the joints on system response have been studied through simulation, which provides a theoretical basis for improving the dynamic performance of the luffing mechanism.
Evolution of fungal mating-type chromosomes

Sex chromosomes often show extensive areas of suppressed recombination and cytological differentiation, a well-documented phenomenon in animals and plants. Lack of recombination is expected to limit the efficacy of natural selection, leading to degeneration in gene content. Similarly, fungal mating-type chromosomes, which are responsible for controlling compatibility during mating, can display patterns of suppressed recombination encompassing up to 90% of the chromosome length. The mechanisms responsible for lack of recombination and consequent degeneration remain unclear.
Here, I propose to use comparative genomics to investigate the patterns and underlying mechanisms involved in recombination suppression and genomic degeneration in Microbotryum, a model fungal system with a range of dimorphic mating-type chromosomes. I will complement the currently available high-quality genome assemblies for twenty species in the genus with three outgroups, which will allow to polarize all genomic data. I will then use the genomic dataset to: 1) test hypotheses on the origin of recombination suppression in fungal mating-type chromosomes; 2) study the evolution of non-recombining regions in fungal mating-type chromosomes, e.g., their size and age, and the existence of evolutionary strata; and 3) study the patterns and mechanisms of genomic degeneration in non-recombining regions, namely non-synonymous substitution accumulation, transposable elements, disrupted genes, and non-optimal codon usage.
Results will not only shed light on the origins and consequences of suppressed recombination and genome degradation in fungal mating-type chromosomes, but will also yield unprecedented insights into the dynamics of sexual reproduction in eukaryotes and contribute for a unified view of the evolution of dimorphic chromosomes.
Sustainable techno-economic solutions for the agricultural value chain

Continuing population and consumption growth are driving global food demand, with agricultural activity increasing to keep pace. Europe has a major agricultural waste problem, generating some 700 million tonnes of waste annually. There is an urgent need and huge opportunity to address the efficient use of agricultural wastes, co-products and by-products (AWCB) towards delivering sustainable value chains in the farming and processing sectors. As such, AgroCycle will convert low value agricultural waste into highly valuable products, achieving a 10% increase in waste recycling and valorisation by 2020. This will be achieved by developing a detailed and holistic understanding of the waste streams and piloting a key number of waste utilisation/valorisation pathways. It will bring technologies and systems from ~TRL4 to ~TRL7 within the 3 years of the project. A post-project commercialisation plan will bring commercially promising technologies/systems to TRL8 and TRL9, ensuring AgroCycle will have an enduring impact by achieving sustainable use of AWCB both inside and outside the agricultural sector, leading to the realisation of a Circular Economy. 

AgroCycle addresses wastes from several agricultural sectors: wine, olive oil, horticulture, fruit, grassland, swine, dairy and poultry. The AgroCycle consortium is a large (25) multi-national group (including China) comprising the necessary and relevant multi-actors (i.e. researchers; companies in the technical, manufacturing, advisory, retail sectors (Large and SMEs); lead users; end users; and trade/producer associations) for achieving the project’s ambitions goals. Farming’s unique regional (rural) location means that AgroCycle will help reduce the EU’s Innovation Divide and address the Regional Smart Specialisation Strategies for each partner country: impact will be Regional with National and International dimensions. The presence of three partners from China ensures international synergies and a global impact.
places of uRban mEMOry for Tourism dEvelopment

REMOTE - places of uRban mEMOry for Tourism dEvelopment is a project that wants to pay the attention on the unused assets and dissonant heritage present in the program area for the implementation of new network between stakeholders and innovative strategies for tourism development. In the cities of the program area there are numerous examples of historical, cultural or environmental sites that today are unused or not enhanced. Moreover, the dissonant heritage represents the set of places with a negative historical value but which are still part of the cities. They are places with a high historical value that need to be re-thought and enhanced in a cultural way. REMOTE wants to analyse the opportunity to export some best practises of site management in the low-Adriatic area, with a focus on one specific place in Albania: the Forced Labor Camp in Tepelene. The common challenge of the partners is to study and understand from both sides (Italia – Albania) which could be a recognizable and shareable method and approach to re-think the nature of the places/assets from different points of view: vision of community and place, alternative models of regeneration, production, distribution, exchange, consumption, use of financial resources. The expected result will be to create a network that could redefine the idea of the urban memory thanks to a direct connection with the lives of citizens. The project will develop through specific actions: a seminar with experts of different area made in Tepelene to focus the attention on this site, and a B2B meeting at Cantieri Teatrali Koreja in Lecce, in which will be presented some territorial experiments of participated local development (community-led local development). These two actions aim to pursue clearly cross border approach because there will be a continuous exchange of information and a strong will to be connected.
Experimental and numerical insight into scale effects in granular slides in the mountainous environment

As a result of climate change, growing population and development, mountainous regions are facing increasing frequency of landslides resulting in destructive impacts on infrastructure, human and natural resources. Thus, reliable methods for predicting landslides and their runout distances are required. Landslides are often modelled as granular slides. Currently, the runout distance of such granular slides cannot be reliably predicted from laboratory-based studies due to so-called scale effects (i.e. differences in slide characteristics when the size/scale is reduced in the laboratory compared to the event in nature). This results in a dangerous underprediction of the runout distance or requires expensive large-scale or numerical investigations. A talented female researcher is addressing this challenge in this ENSURE project in collaboration with an internationally recognised pioneer researcher in this research topic. The primary goal of ENSURE is to provide a full physical understanding and quantification of scale effects in granular slides through economically efficient laboratory experiments and numerical simulations. A secondary goal is to develop a reliable upscaling method accounting for scale effects in granular slides that links laboratory-scale properties with field-scale events to ensure the predictive capability of laboratory experiments. ENSURE is an integrated implementation platform of an “innovation-justification-application from lab-to-field” approach to elucidate the critical phenomenon of granular slides by fully understanding the physical reasons for scale effects for the first time, which is essential for landslide hazard assessment. Further, the researcher will undergo a training-through-research program, a special career development agenda is designed to achieve core scientific skills and advancements, complementary skills as well as transferable skills. The outcome will ultimately contribute to the future mountainous urbanisation planning.
Cyber physical system based proactive collaborative maintenance

The overall concept of MANTIS is to provide a proactive maintenance service platform architecture based on Cyber Physical Systems that allows to estimate future performance, to predict and prevent imminent failures and to schedule proactive maintenance. Maintenance is no longer a necessary evil that costs what it costs, but an important function that creates additional value in the business process as well as new business models with a stronger service orientation. Physical systems (e.g. industrial machines, vehicles, renewable energy assets) and the environment they operate in, are monitored continuously by a broad and diverse range of intelligent sensors, resulting in massive amounts of data that characterise the usage history, operational condition, location, movement and other physical properties of those systems. These systems form part of a larger network of heterogeneous and collaborative systems (e.g. vehicle fleets or photovoltaic and windmill parks) connected via robust communication mechanisms able to operate in challenging environments. MANTIS consists of distributed processing chains that efficiently transform raw data into knowledge while minimising the need for bandwidth. Sophisticated distributed sensing and decision making functions are performed at different levels in a collaborative way, ranging from local nodes to locally optimise performance, bandwidth and maintenance; to cloud-based platforms that integrate information from diverse systems and execute distributed processing and analytics algorithms for global decision making. The research addressed in MANTIS will contribute to companies' assets availability, competitiveness, growth and sustainability. Use cases will be the testing ground for the innovative functionalities of the proactive maintenance service platform architecture and for its future exploitation in the industrial world. Results of MANTIS can be utilised directly in several industry areas and different fields of maintenanance.
Photosynthesis and photoprotection regulation in marine cyanobacteria and its potential applications

Carotenoids evolved in cyanobacteria as components of membranes providing a structural role and likely influencing permeability to oxygen. Then they became complexed with proteins that enabled a great diversification in their functions to include both 1O2 quenching and light harvesting in photoprotection. Photo-cy-apps is an ambitious project with the purpose of gaining a comprehensive understanding of the role of OCP and the new HCPs and CTDHs on photoprotection in marine cyanobacteria, with their potential application. The ecological importance of these microorganisms reinforces the relevance of this project, since the putative protecting role of OCP in a major subset of marine picocyanobacteria could be a key factor for their abundance, particularly in regions close to the surface of the ocean, subjected to high irradiances. This project brings two research laboratories together with different and complementary expertise, the Kerfeld lab at the Plant Research Laboratory (PRL) at Michigan State University (MSU and LBNL) in the USA with the expertise in bioinformatics, biophysics and structural biology, and the Garcia-Fernandez lab at the University of Cordoba (UCO) in Spain with the expertise in physiological studies in marine cyanobacteria, to determine the role of these car-binding proteins in marine photoprotection and provide the foundation for the Fellow for her independent career after this interdisciplinary training-through research.
Civil Integrated Management for Highway Infrastructure: Case Studies and Lessons Learned

The use of information modeling and digital data for highway projects has seen a considerable surge over the past decade. These tools have enhanced the predictability and performance of several tasks in the project delivery process. This study explores the implementation of civil integrated management (CIM) practices in four case studies and documents the lessons learned to enhance CIM inclusion in project delivery processes. CIM encompasses the system of interdependent technologies and practices that facilitate collection, management, and utilization of digital information for project delivery and asset management processes. CIM is an emerging practice, and studies concerning integration of CIM technologies with project life cycle are limited. Through case studies of four highway projects, this study emphasizes the standards and processes that played a vital role in utilizing CIM technologies for contract documentation, design coordination, construction automation, and project management. The two small-scale projects investigated as part of this study demonstrate that pilot initiatives could be successfully carried out to harvest best practices in overcoming contract and legal challenges while embracing new technologies in agencies’ workflow. The two large-scale projects indicate that with the owner’s participation and expertise, the role of CIM technologies can be further enhanced toward performing project management functions. The lessons learned from the case studies are organized to provide a synthesis of process and organizational considerations that would enhance the agencywide adoption of CIM technologies.