Lightweight Modeling of User Context Combining Physical and Virtual Sensor Data

The multitude of data generated by sensors available on users' mobile devices, combined with advances in machine learning techniques, support context-aware services in recognizing the current situation of a user (i.e., physical context) and optimizing the system's personalization features. However, context-awareness performances mainly depend on the accuracy of the context inference process, which is strictly tied to the availability of large-scale and labeled datasets. In this work, we present a framework developed to collect datasets containing heterogeneous sensing data derived from personal mobile devices. The framework has been used by 3 voluntary users for two weeks, generating a dataset with more than 36K samples and 1331 features. We also propose a lightweight approach to model the user context able to efficiently perform the entire reasoning process on the user mobile device. To this aim, we used six dimensionality reduction techniques in order to optimize the context classification. Experimental results on the generated dataset show that we achieve a 10x speed up and a feature reduction of more than 90% while keeping the accuracy loss less than 3%

Crosstalk between environmental signals and 3d genome organization in the regulation of gene expression

The thesis explores the connection between environmental stimuli and gene expression regulated by the spatial changes in genome organization. In Paper I, by applying state of the art Circular Chromosome Conformation Capture assay (4C) and Chromatin in situ Proximity (ChrISP) techniques, we show that transcriptionally active circadian genes meet in space with repressed lamina-associated domains (LADs), and that these interactions are under the control of the circadian clock. External time cues thus synchronised circadian transcriptional oscillations by repositioning clock-controlled genes from the transcriptionally permissive sub-compartment of nuclear interior to the transcriptionally repressive nuclear periphery. These processes relied on the rhythmic formation of complexes between CTCF and PARP1, two master regulators of the genome, to increase the amplitude of circadian gene expression. In Paper II we took an advantage of the novel, ultrasensitive Nodewalk technique to explore the stochastic nature of MYC interactions with its flanking enhancers. By pushing the Nodewalk limits of identification of chromatin interactions in the input material corresponding to less than 8 cells, we could show that MYC is likely screening for neighbouring interaction partners rather than vice versa. Moreover, we could show that MYC does not interact with enhancers, once its transcription had been initiated. These findings suggest that enhancer hubs simultaneously interacting with MYC are likely virtual consequences of high cell population analyses and that MYC interacts with its enhancers in a mutually exclusive manner. Paper III concentrates on the role of a CTCF binding site within the oncogenic super- enhancer (OSE) in the regulation of MYC gene gating in colon cancer cells. CRISPR induced mutations in the CTCF binding site within the OSE abrogated WNT-dependent nuclear export of MYC mRNA, providing genetic evidence to the claim of the OSE- mediated gating of active MYC alleles to the nuclear pore.This manuscript documents, moreover, that the communication between OSE and MYC, as well as their repositioning to the nuclear pore, involves PARP1 to indicate a more general role for the CTCF :PARP1 complex in gene regulation. In summary, this thesis has uncovered novel principles underlying the roles of stochastic chromatin interactions and mobility within the 3D nuclear space to regulate gene expression with a focus on circadian transcriptional regulation and the recently discovered gene gating phenomenon in humans. These findings contribute to our understanding of principles in which the nuclear architecture and genome organisation synergize to induce or maintain the properties of the cell. By extrapolation, such findings might form a platform for identifying new therapeutic strategies to battle cancer, for example

On the role of general purpose technologies within the Marshall-Jacobs controversy: The case of nanotechnologies

This paper investigates the role of nanotechnologies as a general purpose technology for regional development. Due to pervasiveness, nanotechnologies may be utilized in diverse applications thereby providing the basis for both localization and urbanization externalities. We carry out patent and publication analyses for the city state of Hamburg during the period 1990-2010. We find evidence that nanotechnologies are advanced in the context of regional knowledge bases and follow up prevailing specialization patterns. As nanotechnologies develop both industry specific and city specific externalities become effective leading to specialization deepening and specialization widening which both are functions of the increasing nano-knowledge base. --general purpose technology,nanotechnology,specialization,diversification,Marshall-Jacobs controversy,patent and publication analysis

Models of Financial System Fragility

This survey analyses two types of models: 1. Models based on assumptions of monetary and financial market equilibrium disturbance, in line with mainstream thinking according to which if there is a self-regulating market the units would have rational expectations, and the crisis would be a temporary phenomenon caused by exogenous shocks. Here are the main objectives and features characteristic of three generations of models; 2. Models based on financial instability hypothesis, taking into account the dynamics of financial market, as well as the role of uncertainty, interdependency and dynamic complexity. We present here Minsky’s concept of financial instability and then analyse the content of some simplified models.instability, model generations, balance sheet, hedge units, speculative units, Ponzi units, cyclical fluctuations, complexity

Strategic policy advice: group-based processes as a tool to support policymaking

This deliverable is about the group discussions (STAVE trials) that have been carried out in the partner countries of project PACHELBEL on various substantive policy issues in the field of sustainability. It focuses on the methods that have been used to interact with lay citizens in the STAVE groups, and on the feedback that has been provided to policy makers on findings from the groups. Building upon these elaborations, conclusions will be drawn as to STAVE as a policy tool. Furthermore, this deliverable provides key features of STAVE groups on a country-by-country basis