Successfully acquired new ARRS research projects

Researchers from the University of Primorska have successfully won new research Public Tender projects for the financing of research projects for the year 2020 by the Public Research Agency of the Republic of Slovenia (ARRS).

Authorised heads are: Prof. Dragan Marušič, Prof. Diego De Leo, Assist. Prof. Nino Bašić, PhD, Nuša Zadravec Šedivy, PhD and Assist. Prof. Matija Vodopivec, PhD.

As the criteria for the evaluation of the projects are the scientific excellence of the researchers and the scientific, technological and innovative excellence of the project itself, the new success is a further confirmation of the quality of the work of the researchers of the University of Primorska. Other Slovenian research institutions will also participate in the research activities of the acquired projects, while the members of the University of Primorska will participate as partners in the following projects:

Autonomic edge computing for air quality monitoring (lead institution: InnoRenew CoE, head: Prof. Michaël Mrissa),
Development of antibacterial compounds targeting validated enzymes in peptidoglycan biosynthesis (lead institution: UL Faculty of Pharmacy, head: Prof. Stanislav Gobec),
Chemical Carcinogenesis: Mechanistic Insights (lead institution: UM Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, head: Assoc. Prof. Urban Bren, PhD),
Creating, maintaining, reusing: border commissions as the key for understanding contemporary borders (lead institution: Institute of Contemporary History, head: Assist. Prof. Marko Zajc, PhD)
Migration and social transformation in comparative perspective: the case of Western Slovenia after WWII (lead institution: Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, head: Prof. Aleksej Kalc)
Characterisation of karst aquifers on regional and local scales: the recharge area of the Malni water source (lead institution: Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, head: Prof. Franci Gabrovšek)
Phase transitions towards coordination in multilayer networks lead institution UM The Faculty of Natural sciences and Mathematics, head: Prof. Matjaž Perc)

We congratulate our researchers and wish them a successful job!

Title: Symmetry on graphs by means of rigid cells (basic project)
Area: Research mathematics
Leading organization: UP IAM
Head: Prof. Dragan Marušič
Partners: UL PEF, UP FAMNIT

The project provides Investigation of the structure of rigid cells in point-transit graphs, studies of the structure of automorphisms producing rigid cells (in particular the question under which conditions automorphisms of the same order belong to the same conjugated class in the group of automorphisms), the search for combined (graph-theoretical) reflections of the concept of the real (bold real) elements of the group (in particular with regard to the consistent cycles in the graphs), the element of the group being real if it belongs to the same conjugated class as its establishment, and highly realistic if it is conjugated with its establishment with regard to a certain involution. In accordance with the often expressed wish of the mathematical community to limit the use of the Classification of Final Simple Groups (CFSG) in the treatment of problems of algebraic graph theory and of permutation groups, we will try to find direct proofs for certain theorems in this area, for the confirmation of which the CFSG has so far played an essential role.

Title: Psychopathology and Suicidal Behavior of Adolescents - the Role of New Technologies in Emergencies and Assistance (basic project)
Area:Psychiatry
Leading organization: UP IAM
Head: Prof. Diego De Leo

In the proposed project we plan to conduct a broad and at the same time in-depth investigation of the relationship between the characteristics of new media (e.g. methods of use, content, etc.) and aspects of mental health and psychopathology. We will focus on young people, who represent a group susceptible to the emergence of problems in this area, and a group susceptible to the negative effects of the media and modern technologies.

Title: Mathematical and computational methods for the self-organization of polyhedra (basic project)
Area: Computer intensive methods and applications
Leading organization: UP FAMNIT
Head: Assist. Prof. Nino Bašić, PhD
Partner: Kemijski inštitut, ABELIUM d.o.o.

The main goal of the project is to further develop existing mathematical models for the self-organization of nanostructures and to create new models. To construct these models, we will extensively use banner graphs and results of topological graph theory. This will create a stronger link between topological graph theory and synthetic biology. All this will be implemented in the form of a user-friendly and well-documented library for Python or SageMath, which will allow researchers to conduct experiments "in silico". The mathematical tools and software developed in this project will have direct applications in the field of synthetic biology.

Title: Suicidal elderly people: Approaches to reduce feelings of loneliness and to strenghten mental health (Postdoc-Project)
Area: Psychology
Leading organization: UP FAMNIT
Head: Nuša Zadravec Šedivy, PhD

The project will increase the existing knowledge about suicide prevention in a vulnerable group of older people. We will gain in-depth knowledge that we will put directly into practice by implementing interventions for vulnerable groups. Suicidal behavior has many consequences for society (e.g. high costs for medical interventions, absence from work, loss of a loved one through suicide). Scientifically supported suicide prevention efforts are crucial as they can help to reduce the negative consequences of suicide for society. The results will contribute to the development of effective prevention activities that improve the quality of interventions available to the selected vulnerable group, with the long-term aim of reducing the incidence of suicidal behavior in this group.

Title: Evaluation of the indirect effects of subsidies for training and employment in Slovenia (Postdoc-project)
Area: Economy
Leading organization: UP FM
Head: Assist. Prof. Matija Vodopivec, PhD

In view of rapid technological progress, changing knowledge requirements and the increasing spread of flexible forms of employment, countries are increasingly turning to active employment policies (OAPs) to improve the functioning of the labor market. By training workers and creating incentives for employers to employ vulnerable groups, active labor market policies reduce barriers to employment and help to activate redundant workers. On the basis of the recent comprehensive evaluation of active labor market policies (Burger, Kluve, Vodopivec and Vodopivec, 2018), we conclude that the main active labor market policy measures in Slovenia have been very successful in terms of direct impact on participants, both in terms of impact on labor market outcomes and cost-effectiveness. The aim of the proposed project is to examine in detail certain externalities that may result from training and employment subsidies: their indirect effects on the employment of non-subsidized workers.