SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
Complaint liquid metal electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuators

This work presents a liquid-phase metal electrode to be used with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) for a dielectric
elastomer actuator (DEA). DEAs are favorable for soft-matter applications where high efficiency and response times are
desirable. A consistent challenge faced during the fabrication of these devices is the selection and deposition of electrode
material. While numerous designs have been demonstrated with a variety of conductive elastomers and greases, these
materials have significant and often intrinsic shortcomings, e.g. low conductivity, hysteresis, incapability of large
deformations, and complex fabrication requirements. The liquid metal alloy eutectic Gallium-Indium (EGaIn) is a
promising alternative to existing compliant electrodes, having both high conductivity and complete soft-matter
functionality. The liquid electrode shares almost the same electrical conductivity as conventional metal wiring and
provides no mechanical resistance to bending or stretching of the DEA. This research establishes a straightforward and
effective method for quickly depositing EGaIn electrodes, which can be adapted for batch fabrication, and demonstrates
the successful actuation of sample curved cantilever elastomer actuators using these electrodes. As with the vast majority
of electrostatically actuated elastomer devices, the voltage requirements for these curved DEAs are still quite significant,
though modifications to the fabrication process show some improved electrical properties. The ease and speed with
which this method can be implemented suggests that the development of a more electronically efficient device is realistic
and worthwhile.
Assessment of Mitochondrial Damage in Retinal Cells and Tissues Using Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction for Mitochondrial DNA Damage and Extracellular Flux Assay for Mitochondrial Respiration Activity

Mitochondrial dysfunction and genomic instability are associated with a number of retinal pathologies including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction within cells include elevation of the rate of ROS production due to damage of electron transport chain proteins, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage, and loss of metabolic capacity. Here we introduce the quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay (QPCR) and extracellular flux assay (XF) as powerful techniques to study mitochondrial behavior. The QPCR technique is a gene-specific assay developed to analyze the DNA damage repair response in mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. QPCR has proved particularly valuable for the measurement of oxidative-induced mtDNA damage and kinetics of mtDNA repair. To assess the functional consequence of mitochondrial oxidative damage, real-time changes in cellular bioenergetics of cell monolayers can be measured with a Seahorse Biosciences XF24 analyzer. The advantages and limitations of these procedures will be discussed and detailed methodologies provided with particular emphasis on retinal oxidative stress.
The role of intracellular pathways in the proliferation of human K562 cells mediated by muscarinic receptors

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) are members of the superfamily of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Muscarinic receptors are relatively abundant in the central nervous system and in the peripheral parasympathetic nervous system. Several studies have suggested that muscarinic receptors also mediate some cellular events in hematopoietic cells. K562 erythroleukemia cells contain muscarinic receptors M2, M3 and M4, and activation of muscarinic receptors changes cell proliferation. We examined the effects of several compounds on cell proliferation in K562 erythroleukemia cells. These included a muscarinic receptor agonist carbachol (CCh), a protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine; the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122, the MEK 1-2 inhibitor UO126, the PI3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin, the Ca(2+) chelators BAPTA/AM and 2-aminoethoxy-diphenylborate (2APB). In addition, we also investigated muscarinic receptor mediated protein kinase C (PKC) expression in K562 cells. CCh caused a decrease in DNA synthesis in K562 cells supplemented with 1% fetal bovine serum after starvation. Pre-treatment of K562 cells with U73122 and BAPTA/AM antagonized the inhibitory effect of CCh, suggesting that phospholipase C and intracellular calcium are involved in CCh-mediated inhibition of proliferation in K562 cells. Our data also suggest that the regulatory roles of protein kinase C and the MAPK/ERK pathways in K562 cell proliferation are independent of cholinergic activation.
EFFECTS OF TAX INCENTIVES ON PERFORMANCE OF LISTED FIRMS IN KENYA

Stock market performance at the Nairobi securities exchange has not improved despite tax incentives. It is not clear whether tax incentives are a gift or a motivator; sometimes stock market performance increases when tax incentives decrease and sometimes even decrease when more tax incentives are given. The study aims to determine the relationship between tax incentives and stock market performance. This study adopted a descriptive research design with a study population of 61 listed firms in NSE. A sample of 150 respondents was picked through stratified random sampling technique from 30 firms listed at NSE. The study used both primary and secondary data sources in gathering data for analysis. Data collection involved self-administration of questionnaires. The study used the Cronbach (Alpha – α) model to test the reliability of the data. Data was analyzed by use of Stata (version 13). Correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, skewness and kurtosis tests were all conducted on the data collected. T-Test and ANOVA tests were computed to test hypothesis that tax incentives have little impact on NSE investments, performance and results to revenue losses by the government. The findings from this study reveal that tax incentives have an insignificant effect on NSE performance. It was therefore recommended inter alia that the governments should put in place predictable, clear tax laws and transparent tax administration that would provide conducive and favorable market opportunities to the investors rather than granting investment incentives. A study on the effects of tax incentives on performance of stock markets using time series models such the autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH) models, with its extension to generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) respectively which accommodate the dynamics of conditional heteroscedasticity should be conducted to determine if the results will be identical.
Next generation earth modelling systems

NextGEMS will develop and apply a new generation of global coupled Storm-Resolving Earth System Models (SR-ESMs) to the study of anthropogenic climate change. SR-ESMs are distinguished by their fine, 3 km, grid in the atmosphere and ocean.  This allows a more physical representation of atmospheric and oceanic circulation systems, including their coupling to Earth-system processes such as the carbon, nutrients, water and atmospheric particulate (aerosol) cycles.  NextGEMS will develop two prototypes SR-ESMs into production systems and produce multi-decadal (30 y) projections of future climate change. Improved resolution is expected to reduce biases and enhance the realism of these simulations.  Ensembles of simulations will address scientific puzzles such as the impact of convective organization on climate sensitivity, the magnitude of aerosol forcing, and the changes in extremes associated with tropical air-sea interaction (including the African Monsoon and Atlantic Hurricanes) and land-surface interaction in the mid-latitudes (dry-spells and links between hydrology and carbon). By developing models that are structurally different than existing ones, NextGEMS will reshape perceptions of uncertainty and provide a basis for reassessing the risk global warming poses for society and ecology.  By focusing on just two models, NextGEMS builds a European community of scientists and users around a technologically more ambitious modelling enterprise.  This concentration is needed if Europe is to maintain its position at the forefront of Earth-system modelling. By representing the scales of motion and driving forces of high impact weather globally, NextGEMS links more directly to applications, thereby shortening the value chain. Knowledge coproduction projects focusing on how circulation influences both solar energy production and marine nutrients will demonstrate how applications and downstream users can thus be directly integrated into the model development enterprise.
Small scale thermal solar district units for Mediterranean communities

The project in brief _x000D_
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In the Mediterranean area, a large share of energy is consumed by households and in buildings. In addition to the dependence on fossil fuel, oil and natural gas, the primary energy demand is growing at a regular pace. Increasing the share of solar energy sources in the overall energy mix is a crucial goal for the Mediterranean area, as the exploitation of a sustainable renewable energy source would contribute to climate change mitigation - an issue of concern for the region due to its impact on desertification, floods, coastal vulnerability - and to energy security. Although impressive improvements have been made in the recent years concerning the integration of solar energy systems into conventional heating technology and despite the availability of mature technologies, solar thermal energy is still used in a rather small percentage of buildings and generally, only for domestic hot water in private houses. _x000D_
To improve this situation, STS-Med will contribute to the diffusion and development of Concentrated Solar (CS) small scale integrated systems, a high energy efficiency technology with a potential for replication across the Mediterranean area. _x000D_
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Specific objectives _x000D_
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• To create a flexible toolbox of Concentrated Solar (CS) applications by demonstrating their effectiveness in public buildings and premises _x000D_
• To deploy technologies from research and development results through case studies analysis, impact assessment and creation of demonstration units _x000D_
• To create new opportunities for the commercial and industrial sectors notably by improving technical skills of professionals involved and enabling SMEs to set up a full supply chain in the solar energy sector.
Data science and ai assisted holistic software to digitally design optimised high quality and safe food products with minor environmental impact

New food product development is still an inefficient, time-intensive and manual process based on an iterative laboratory approach. In the food design process, a multitude of parameter, e.g. consumer’s wishes, food safety, health requirements and environmental related needs, must be considered. It takes up to 24 months and 150 tests to create a new food product.
We will overcome this challenge with a disruptive digital food design solution based on data science and AI. The OptiSignFood software will provide a holistic and integrated approach to predict and optimise food’s quality, appearance and safety based on reliable scientific data. OptiSignFood will be the first solution on the market able taking in consideration all aspects of food design. The AI based approach allows 85% more accurate predictions than competitors simple calculations. It saves manufacturers 90% of time in the food product design and helps achieving Green Deal and UN sustainable development goals by creating more sustainable and healthy food products selecting ingredients with same nutritional properties, but lower environmental impact, saving up to 98% CO2eq. We target 9.6% of serviceable available F&B companies and 9.4 M€ gross profit in 2027.
The translational consortium combines nutrition, food technology and environmental expertise from the research and industry to foster the transfer of the innovative solution from the lab into a product that meets the customer needs:
Mia & Ben (Berlin & London), a science led food manufacturing company, laid the foundation for OptiSignFood and develops the AI prediction models.
Agroscope (Zürich) is one of the leading institutions for sustainability in the food chain and focuses on the concept to connect environmental and nutrition/health impacts.
Metacognis (London) is specialised on life science and AI data mining.
Pascal Processing (Helmond, NL) is a contract manufacturer and will contribute real data to the project and become the first industry user.
Spatial and seasonal variation of major ions in Himalayan snow and ice: A source consideration

Abstract The spatial and temporal variation of major ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, NH 4 + , SO 4 2 - , NO 3 - and Cl−) in Himalayan snow and ice is investigated by using two snow pits from the East Rongbuk glacier (28°01′N, 86°58′E, 6500 m a.s.l.), one snow pit from the Nangpai Gosum glacier (28°03′N, 86°39′E, 5700 m a.s.l.), one snow pit from the Gyabrag glacier (28°11′N, 86°38′E, 6303 m a.s.l.), and three ice cores from the Sentik (35°59′N, 75°58′E, 4908 m a.s.l.), Dasuopu (28°33′N, 85°44′E, 7000 m a.s.l.), and East Rongbuk (27°59′N, 86°55′E, 6450 m a.s.l.) glaciers, respectively. In general, the major ions show a significant seasonal variation, with high concentrations during the non-monsoon (pre-monsoon and post-monsoon) season and relatively low concentrations during the monsoon season. Monsoon precipitation with high local/regional dust loading related to summer circulation is possibly responsible for the high concentrations occurring sporadically during the monsoon season. The crest of the Himalayas is an effective barrier to the spatial distribution of Na+, Cl− and NH 4 + concentrations, but not to the major ions associated with dust influx (e.g. Ca2+ and Mg2+). Atmospheric backward trajectories from the HYSPLIT_4 model used in identifying chemical species sourcing suggest that the major ions in the Himalayan snow and ice come mainly from the Thar Desert located in the North India, as well as West Asia, or even the distant Sahara Desert in the North Africa during the winter and spring seasons. This is different from the conventionally assumed arid and semi-arid regions of the central Asia. Factors, such as different vapor sources due to atmospheric circulation patterns and geographical features (e.g. altitude, topography), may contribute to the differences in major ionic concentrations between the western and eastern Himalayas.
Hooked on the Internet: the prevalence, risk, theory and presenting problem of Internet addiction

As the Internet becomes increasingly ubiquitous and mobile, Internet addiction appears as a potential mental health problem in adolescents and students. From the reported negative consequences, it appears Internet addiction can have a variety of detrimental outcomes for young people that may require professional intervention. The unique contribution to knowledge of this research is (i) the assessment of the interplay between certain personality traits and the usage of specific Internet applications in contributing to an elevated risk of Internet addiction in two independent samples of 3,105 adolescents in the Netherlands and 2,257 university students in the UK, (ii) the development and testing of the concise Internet addiction components model using the quantitative data obtained, and (iii) the phenomenological exploration of the presenting problem of Internet addiction from the perspective of 20 psychotherapists from Europe, the USA, and Canada. A mixed methods approach was used in the form of psychometric measurement and qualitative interviews. Data were analysed using logistic regression, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modelling, and interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Hotspots in Trauma Memories and Their Relationship to Successful Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy: A Pilot Study

Imaginal exposure is an essential element of trauma-focused psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Exposure should in particular focus on the "hotspots," the parts of trauma memories that cause high levels of emotional distress which are often reexperienced. Our aim was to investigate whether differences in the focus on hotspots differentiate between successful and unsuccessful trauma-focused psychotherapies. As part of a randomized trial, 45 PTSD patients completed brief eclectic psychotherapy for PTSD. We retrospectively assessed audio recordings of therapy sessions of 20 patients. Frequency of hotspots and the associated emotions, cognitions, and characteristics were compared for the most successful (n = 10) versus the least successful (n = 10) treatments. The mean number of unique hotspots per patient was 3.20, and this number did not differ between successful and unsuccessful treatments. In successful treatments, however, hotspots were more frequently addressed (r = .48), and they were accompanied by more characteristics of hotspots (r = .39), such as an audible change in affect, indicating medium- to large-sized effects. Repeatedly focusing on hotspots and looking for associated characteristics of hotspots may help clinicians to enhance the efficacy of imaginal exposure for patients who would otherwise show insufficient response to treatment.
Model-based Analysis and Optimisation of a Continuous Corynebacterium glutamicum Bioprocess Utilizing Lignocellulosic Waste

Abstract Lignocellulosic waste streams are an important sustainable alternative to conventional carbon sources for industrial biotechnology. However, lacking quantitative knowledge on cultivation behavior hampers process design and optimization. Using an unstructured kinetic model describing the growth of wild-type Corynebacterium glutamicum on a lignocellulosic waste stream from pulping industry, we designed a continuous fermentation process with an optimized space time yield for biomass of 0.86 g L-1 h-1 and a residual concentration of metabolizable sugars in the effluent of less than 2 %. The model considers the growth on multiple interacting sugars and potentially inhibitory effects of lignocellulosic waste. After parametrization on historical data, the model was used to determine optimal setpoints of dilution rate and feed medium concentration. Sensitivity analysis of the model provided additional information on the importance of certain parameters during different process conditions and detected bottlenecks of strain physiology limiting the process design space. This model-based approach delivers valuable insights for process and strain engineering already at an early stage of bioprocess development.
Cooperative acceptor ligands for catalysis with earth-abundant metals

Homogeneous catalysis is of prime importance for the selective synthesis of high added value chemicals. Many of the currently available catalysts rely on noble metals (Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, Pd, Pt), which suffer from a high toxicity and environmental impact in addition to their high cost, calling for the development of new systems based on first-row transition metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu). The historical paradigm for catalyst design, i.e. one or more donor ligands giving electron density to stabilize a metal center and tune its reactivity, is currently being challenged by the development of acceptor ligands that mostly withdraw electron density from the metal center upon binding. In the last decade, such ligands – mostly based on  boron and heavier main-group elements – have evolved from a structural curiosity to a powerful tool in designing new reactive units for homogeneous catalysis. 
I will develop a novel class of ligands that use C=E (E=O, S, NR) multiple bonds anchored in close proximity to the metal by phosphine tethers. The electrophilic C=E multiple bond is designed to act as an acceptor moiety that adapts its binding mode to the electronic structure of reactive intermediates with the unique additional possibility of involving the lone pairs on heteroelement E in cooperative reactivity. Building on preliminary results showing that a C=O bond can function as a hemilabile ligand in a catalytic cycle, I will undertake a systematic, experimental and theoretical investigation of the structure and reactivity of M–C–E three membered rings formed by side-on coordination of C=E bonds to a first-row metal. Their ability to facilitate multi-electron transformations (oxidative addition, atom/group transfer reactions) will be investigated. In particular, hemilability of the C=E bond is expected to facilitate challenging C–C bond forming reactions mediated by Fe and Ni. This approach will demonstrate a new conceptual tool for the design of efficient base-metal catalysts.
Method for attaching a flexible connector

A flexible electrical connector is attached to a movable contact finger and a stationary termianl by placing the components in a work chamber and positioning a first end of the flexible connector against an attachment surface of the contact finger, preferably in a perpendicular orientation. After evacuating the work chamber, the output of an electron gun is directed toward a joint formed between the flexible connector and the contact finger. The electron beam forms a weld zone which fuses the the flexible connector with the contact finger without degrading the flexibility of the connector or the mechanical strength of the contact finger. A second end of the flexible connector is positioned against an attachment surface of the stationary terminal, such as in a parallel orientation, and attached in a similar manner.
Regenerative medicine for cost- and time-efficient pet treatment

There are a number of different veterinary diseases for which current medicine (surgical techniques and drugs) offer absolutely no solution like osteoarthritis and neurological, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Today, the treatment of these disorders could get benefit from the administration of stem cells. At Vetherapy we provide stem cell therapies and regenerative products for veterinary application, in an easy, ready-to-use, and affordable manner. We have used our knowledge and experience to develop a whole set of products that use stem cells and stem cell’s derivatives to a variety of scenarios, from injury to degenerative disorders. The secret of our success is based on an innovative technology that allowed us to overcome one of the major difficulties of the application of stem cells: cell viability. Our technology extends cell viability up to 48h (vs. 4-6h of current methods) and enables the delivery of a ready-to-use high quality product, anywhere within this time frame.
Following very promising pre-clinical results where we tested the safety and efficacy of our product, we now plan to commercialize our inventions PET-STEM and WOUND FIX® by optimizing their design and carrying out a large veterinary clinical trial.
The proposed work in Phase 1 of the SME instrument fits into our overall plan to reach the market by contributing the financial resources needed to plan a fast sound wider deployment of PET-STEM and WOUND FIX® and their market uptake.
Administrative divisions of Romania in 1938

The dataset depicts the administrative boundaries of Romania (the counties/Ro. judeţe and the districts/Ro. plăși) in 1938. Main sources: 1. Enciclopedia României, vol. II (Bucharest, 1938); 2. Wilfried Krallert, Volkstumskarte von Rumänien: auf Grund der Ergebnisse der amtlichen rumänischen Zählung über die Volkszugehörigkeit von 1930 (Wien, 1940).