Hundreds of millions of people across the world now experience music via ‘streaming services’, which offer on-demand access, by means of internet or mobile telephony, to vast catalogues of music, either ‘free’ (advertising-supported) or via subscription. A controversial but poorly-understood new system of music production, distribution and consumption has developed around such services, yet there has been no sustained, integrated analysis of this system, the considerable international variations within it, nor its effects on musical culture. MUSICSTREAM provides such analysis, focusing on the UK and China, but also bringing together research from across the world via symposia and collaborative publication. The project therefore offers an ambitious empirical and theoretical analysis that will also contribute to understanding how culture, political economy and technology interact in the digital era. Undertaking such a project requires an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates analysis of the changing media industries, including new conditions for music creators, and changes in the way people ‘use’ music. The PI is especially suited for such a synthesis, having made significant contributions across all these areas. The aim of MUSICSTREAM is to understand how the role of music in the lives of producers and audiences – a subject the PI has researched extensively - is being reconfigured by developments over which these groups have little or no control. The University of Leeds is an ideal place in which to undertake such research, because it has strong specialisms in music, media and culture, and has a research infrastructure that strongly supports such interdisciplinary enquiry. The very nature of music as a cultural practice is changing across the world, and this project examines why and how this is happening, and the implications for the role of music in people’s lives.

Atmospheric measurements of isoprene and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) are limited in much of the world. This stems from having few instruments which are robust, can be run autonomously in real-world conditions, and are reasonably low cost. One such instrument is the iDirac, developed with NERC funding, which was designed to meet these criteria and to measure isoprene. In this project, we will establish an international network of research scientists who are committed to expanding the available longer-term observations of isoprene and monoterpenes in undersampled regions and to developing innovative lower-cost alternatives, flux and atmospheric reactivity measurements. Such developments would greatly enhance our understanding of the fluxes of biogenic species and of the oxidative removal of these and many other trace species from the atmosphere. The partners are Alex Guenther (UC Irvine, USA), Yuan Bin (Jinan University, PRC), and Kerneels Jaars (SAEON, RSA) who contribute a unique set of expertise and facilities. The group will work together on three main topics: (i) improving the instrument design for better performance and ease of construction and deployment; (ii) piloting new uses (extending the range of species measured, deploying in new, under-sampled locations, and integrating it into new systems novel applications); (iii) identifying new opportunities for development and deployment. This will be achieved through a mix of on-line collaboration, exchange of expertise and personnel, and use of measurement facilities. The ultimate objective is to kickstart an international group working collegiately on iDirac-related developments, loosely analogous to the grass-roots, collegiate approach used for the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN).

Chronic wound-related infections impose severe problems for health care systems worldwide [1, 2]. Conventional antimicrobial therapies are becoming ineffective owing to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) resulting from prolonged and repeated antimicrobial treatments [1]. This concerning scenario urgently calls for alternative targeted therapies capable of accelerating wound healing along with antimicrobial effects with improved efficacy and safety [1]. Plant-derived antimicrobial agents constitute an emerging solution for AMR due to their promising multi-target effects. The introduction of food ingredients and their by-products in topical formulations is highly sought-after for the actual consumer which seeks natural and sustainable ingredients [3, 4]. A protease found in in pineapple ( Ananas comosus ), evidences anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, constituting a promising wound healing agent [3, 4]. However, given the protease’s susceptibility to enzymatic degradation in the wound niche, its encapsulation into a delivery system is crucial to succeed in wound tissue repair [3, 4]. Systemically administered antimicrobial agents have been broadly used in chronic wounds to improve symptom management and minimize further deterioration and infections [1]. However, systemic off-target distribution of free antimicrobial agents is related to poor wound niche targeting, marked side effects, impaired ability to penetrate into wound biofilms, and AMR [1]. In order to surpass these shortcomings, non-invasive local treatments are receiving high attention in wound care management [1, 2]. Novel technological strategies have been used toward an efficient topical administration of antimicrobial agents for cutaneous wound healing, facilitating the administration, enhancing their topical bioavailability, and minimizing systemic toxicity and possible drug interactions [5]. Nanotechnology prominently features as a top-contributing approach to topically deliver new solutions for wound healing and skin regeneration purposes [1]. Nanoformulations boost the efficacy of conventional treatments, which usually, apart from AMR, involve expensive and long-lasting treatments, particularly regarding chronic wounds [1]. Nanoformulations protect, retain and modify antimicrobial agents’ release patterns, accounting for remarkable performances of effective concentrations maintenance, reduction of administration frequency, and, ultimately, for sought-after costs reduction and improvement therapeutic efficacy and compliance [5]. Halloysite clay nanotubes (HNTs), a highly available biomaterial in nature, have been recently brought into the spotlight as promising nanosystems due to their large surface area, high colloidal stability, and biocompatibility properties [5-7]. HNTs have a tubular structure that enhances skin penetration when compared to spherical nanoparticles [8]. Thus, ready-to-use HNTs are proposed as a strategy to load the protease [13], avoiding all steps of nanostructures’ preparation. protease-loaded HNTs (HNTs-protease) will be further wrapped with a hybrid cell membrane (HCM) composed of two distinct macrophage cell membranes, obtained by the pretreatment of macrophages with two distinct wound infection-causing bacteria [9, 10]. This underexplored dual biomimetic approach will camouflage HNTs-protease to ultra-prolong residence time, improve biocompatibility, maximize homotypic targeting of bacteria, and enhance wound biofilm penetration [11]. Additional functionalization of HCM with targeting ligands is expected to promote even higher antibacterial effects, due to their ability to target and disrupt bacterial biofilms [12]. Lastly, to facilitate the topical administration, HNTs-based nanosuspensions will be incorporated into a natural polymer-based hydrogel, which, besides its eco-friendly, biodegradable, and biocompatible properties, presents additional would healing properties [2, 14, 15]. This research project aims to explore the original idea of developing an innovative and potential natural product-based nanotechnological and next-generation topical approach for ultra-targeted wound healing. It purposes developing a pioneer biomimetic and multifunctional hybrid biomaterials system (HBS)-based semi-solid formulation to topically prevent and treat synergistically cutaneous infections caused by pathogenic microbes, including multidrug-resistant strains. Our interdisciplinary and well-established network will ensure wide coverage of HNTs loading and surface functionalization, hydrogel formulation and characterization, and in vitro assays in wound healing documented expertise, being qualified to concretize the proposed aims. We expect the first time use of the biomimetic HBS-based semi-solid formulation will open a new avenue on wound treatment, towards the reduction of skin chronic wounds-related mortality, presenting a solution against the rapidly evolving AMR health issue. As infeções associadas a feridas crónicas causam sofrimento aos doentes e impõem problemas graves aos sistemas de cuidados de saúde em todo o mundo [1, 2]. As terapias antimicrobianas convencionais têm vindo a tornar-se ineficazes devido à emergência da resistência antimicrobiana (RAM), resultante de tratamentos antimicrobianos prolongados e repetidos [1]. Este cenário exige urgentemente terapias alternativas capazes de acelerar a cicatrização de feridas, bem como produzir efeitos antimicrobianos com maior eficácia e segurança [1]. Os agentes antimicrobianos com origem em plantas constituem uma solução emergente para a RAM, devido a uma potencial ação sinergística em múltiplos alvos. A introdução de ingredientes provenientes dos alimentos, e os seus subprodutos, em formulações tópicas é muito solicitada pelo consumidor atual, que procura ingredientes naturais e sustentáveis [3, 4]. Uma protease presente nos tecidos do ananás ( Ananas comosus ), apresenta propriedades anti-inflamatórias, antioxidantes, antibacterianas e antifúngicas, constituindo um promissor agente cicatrizante de feridas [5, 6]. No entanto, dada a suscetibilidade da protease à degradação enzimática na ferida, a sua libertação sustentada torna-se crucial para o sucesso na reparação do tecido danificado [3, 4]. Os agentes antimicrobianos administrados sistemicamente têm sido amplamente utilizados em feridas crónicas para melhorar a gestão dos sintomas e minimizar futuras deteriorações e infeções [1]. Contudo, a distribuição sistémica “off-target” de agentes antimicrobianos está altamente relacionada com uma acumulação insuficiente na ferida, efeitos secundários, capacidade reduzida de penetração no biofilme e o aparecimento de RAM [1]. De modo a superar estas limitações, os tratamentos locais não invasivos estão a receber maior destaque no tratamento de feridas [1, 2]. Novas estratégias tecnológicas têm sido utilizadas para uma administração tópica eficiente de agentes antimicrobianos, facilitando a administração, aumentando a sua biodisponibilidade tópica, minimizando efeitos adversos e possíveis interações medicamentosas [5]. A nanotecnologia apresenta-se como uma abordagem promissora no desenvolvimento de novas soluções para o tratamento de feridas e regeneração cutânea [1]. As nanoformulações aumentam a eficácia dos tratamentos convencionais que normalmente, para além de RAM, envolvem tratamentos dispendiosos e morosos, sobretudo no tratamento de feridas crónicas [1]. Estes sistemas de transporte inovadores permitem a proteção, retenção e modificação do padrão de libertação de agentes antimicrobianos, viabilizando a manutenção de concentrações terapêuticas, a redução da frequência de administração e a consequente redução de custos e aumento da eficácia e adesão à terapêutica [5]. Os nanotubos de argila haloisite (HNTs) são um biomaterial abundantemente disponível na natureza, que surgiram como promissores nanotransportadores devido à sua grande área de superfície, estabilidade coloidal, e características de biocompatibilidade [5-7]. Os HNTs apresentam uma estrutura tubular que aumenta a penetração na pele quando comparados com as nanopartículas esféricas [8]. Assim, propomos a incorporação da protease em formulações à base de HNTs [9, 10]. Os HNTs carregados com a protease serão revestidos por uma membrana celular híbrida (MCH) composta por membranas de macrófago pré-tratado com dois tipos de bactérias frequentemente relacionados com o surgimento de infeções em feridas [9, 10]. Esta abordagem biomimética inovadora permitirá camuflar HNTs carregados com a protease, prolongando o tempo de residência, melhorando a biocompatibilidade e aumentando a vetorização para as bactérias e a penetração no biofilme [11]. Espera-se que a funcionalização adicional da MCH com agentes capazes de vetorizar e perturbar os biofilmes bacterianos promova efeitos antibacterianos ainda mais elevados [11]. Para facilitar a administração tópica, as nano-suspensões de HNTs serão incorporadas num hidrogel à base de um polímero natural que, além de sustentável, biodegradável e biocompatível, também é cicatrizante [12]. Este projeto permitirá explorar uma abordagem inovadora para o tratamento de feridas, particularmente uma formulação semi-sólida tópica baseada em sistemas híbridos de biomateriais (HBS) para prevenir e tratar de sinergicamente infeções cutâneas. A nossa equipa interdisciplinar é altamente qualificada nas áreas relevantes do conhecimento para concretizar os objetivos do projeto, assegurando a execução de todas as tarefas propostas. É expectável que o projeto assegure uma nova estratégia para o tratamento de feridas, sendo a primeira formulação semi-sólida baseada na utilização de um HBS biomiméticos, para contrariar a rápida e crescente RAM, e reduzir o impacto causado pelas feridas crónicas na Saúde.

The main objective of this project is to improve the employability of students and graduates in the digital market, by identifying future needs of digital sector, and future e-skill shortages, and by offering innovative trainings (online courses and work-based learning) in order to improve future digital skills. The project will introduce a Lebanese framework for work-based learning, for a collaborative Virtual learning environment (VLE), and will produce a better information system on the Labor market.Firstly, the project will produce macroeconomic forecasting for the digital sector, showing the trends of the future digital skills. Secondly, the project will address the future e-skills shortages by introducing two innovative methods: Online training via a collaborative VLE, and a collaborative network for work-based learning. Thus, to achieve its main goal, this project will implement three major innovations:- WP 2: A macroeconomic forecasting service that predict future trends in the digital market. This will provide students and graduates with key information to make informed decisions about their careers, and will help HEI improving their supply of skills and their curricula.- WP 3-4: A digital and collaborative VLE that enables the production and sharing of digital educational content (with a digital environment specialized in filming, recording, editing and digitizing online content). The virtual collaborative platform will contribute to an effective transition towards graduates jobs. - WP5: A Lebanese framework for work-based education. The major tool here is to build a network of existing structures within universities, and centers implemented through previous European projects (Career centers, orientation services, university-firms offices, observatories, Innovation centers, etc.), including a wide range of firms and socioeconomic partners. These networking activities are also a major output of the project creating synergies and multiplication effects

E-TALEB is a structural project aiming at developing Lebanese Professional Standards in Teaching and Learning and cooperating for innovation and exchange of good practices and experiences relevant to similar frameworks established in Europe.The main objective of this project is to support the initial and continuing professional development of staff engaged in teaching and foster dynamic approaches to teaching and learning through creativity, innovation and continuous development in diverse academic disciplines and/or professional settings. The project will support in creating a community of researchers in different disciplines who share inter and intra university practices in teaching and learning.E-TALEB will acknowledge the variety and quality of teaching, learning and assessment practices that support and underpin student learning including instructional technology. It will also demonstrate to students and other stakeholders the professionalism that staff and institutions bring to teaching and their support for student learning. As a result, the project will have high national impact, providing at once many outcomes: - Establishing Professional Standards Framework in Teaching & Learning LBPSF;- Offering Post-Graduate Certificate Programme in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education for Faculty members;- Collaborating interuniversity activities centered on training and educational programs; - Creating Centers for Teaching Excellence inside each of the participating universities supporting faculty and students in their teaching and learning activities;- Supporting the universities in their accreditation programs by having a formal process for teaching and learning;- Developing human capital and talented experts in teaching and learning in the participating countries;- Sustaining the competitiveness of the Higher Education field in Lebanon, the Middle East and participating EU countries;- Publishing the Lebanese Journals on Teaching and Learning.