Dr. Jakub Lemiesz and Dr. Zbigniew Gołębiewski from our Faculty received grants as part of the next edition of the Miniatura competition held by the National Science Center. They are in a group of ten scientists from WUST who received the Miniatura funding for their research.  

The Miniatura competition supports scientific activities leading to the preparation of basic assumptions for research projects that will be submitted in NSC competitions or other national and international competitions. For their projects, winners receive from 5,000 to 50,000 PLN, which can be spent on preliminary and pilot research, queries, research internships and research and consultation trips.

In the last edition of this year's program, the funding was provided to 238 researchers from all over the country, including nine people from Wrocław University of Science and Technology. An additional grant was awarded, after a positive re-examination of the application, to Dr. Izabela Garaszczuk from the Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology.

Dr. Jakub Lemiesz (Faculty of Information and Communication Technology)
Dr. Jakub Lemiesz from the Department of Fundamentals of Computer Science was awarded PLN 32,500 for the implementation of the project "Homomorphic data sketches taking into account order."

His project concerns solutions that improve the processing of large data streams in real time. “I plan to further develop existing algorithms for generating data sketches, i.e. structures that effectively aggregate information contained in data streams,” explains Dr. Jakub Lemiesz.

Data sketches use a small amount of memory while allowing a relatively comprehensive offline analysis of the streams. “In particular, I plan to extend the existing solutions, such as FastExpSketch, so that the generated sketches contain information about the relationships between elements of the stream, e.g. the order of elements or neighbourhood in the graph,” adds the researcher.

He will implement his project in cooperation with eXascale Infolab at the University of Freiburg.

Dr. Zbigniew Gołębiewski (Faculty of Information and Communication Technology)
Dr. Zbigniew Gołębiewski from the Department of Fundamentals of Algorithmics received a grant of nearly PLN 23,000 to conduct theoretical research on the size of a set of graphs with a limited twin-width parameter.

“It is known that complex problems can be effectively solved in the case of such graphs, but their better understanding will influence further progress in the structural theory of graphs – explains Dr. Gołębiewski.

He will conduct his research in cooperation with one of the leading experts in the field of analytical combinatorics, Prof. Bernhard Gittenberger from the Technical University of Vienna.    

Dr. Izabela Garaszczuk (Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology)

A researcher from the Vision Optics Team received over PLN 39,000 for her project related to the dry eye syndrome. The dry eye syndrome is a multifactorial ocular surface disease caused by the disruption of tear film homeostasis, which has a significant impact not only on the quality of life but also on the global economy. It is estimated that more than half of ophthalmological patients have symptoms of DES. “Unfortunately, the multifactorial nature of the disease makes the diagnostic process complicated and requires many, often expensive and time-consuming tests,” explains Dr. Izabela Garaszczuk. “That is why many specialists rely on diagnostic solutions that have been used for decades even though they have been proven to have low repeatability and diagnostic effectiveness at an early stage of disease development. This, in turn, entails insufficient preventive measures and delayed diagnoses.

The 2nd Dry Eye Workshop report summarizing a decade of research on DES emphasizes the need for simple, clinically available, objective methods of tear film assessment in the diagnosis of DES.

“So far in my research, I have focused on this need, proposing new methods for assessing the tear film. I demonstrated that the tear clearance rate (TCR), traditionally measured with a fluorophotometer, can also be qualitatively and quantitatively assessed using more available devices that ensure high measurement resolution and objectivity of the measurement.”

The methods proposed by Dr. Garaszczuk still require simplification and automation to be included in the diagnostic protocol, which is the primary goal of her pilot activity under the received grant.

“I will develop an objective protocol for measuring the tear exchange parameter using a commonly used ophthalmological device, such as a biomicroscope with a slit lamp,” adds the researcher.

Dr. Aleksandra Marcinów (Faculty of Architecture)

Dr. Aleksandra Marcinów from the Department of the History of Architecture, Art and Technology received a grant of almost PLN 50,000 for the research project named "Compositional analysis of the facades of historical old town houses on the example of selected cities – development of a knowledge base for the use of machine learning algorithms in research on historic architecture."

The research involves the analysis of compositional and stylistic solutions in old town houses from the 19th and early 20th centuries in Wrocław, Szczecin and Berlin. “I plan to obtain photographs of the buildings, and then I will mark them,” explains Dr. Aleksandra Marcinów.

In the future, the facade database is intended to enable the use of artificial intelligence algorithms for automatic segmentation of facade elements and style recognition. “It will also constitute a basis for further development, and it will have a potential for being expanded with further records from different cities: Vienna, Prague or Budapest,” adds the researcher.

The project will be available to students from the Faculty of Architecture and their task will be to mark façade elements, which will be the basis for their automatic segmentation.

Dr. Patrycja Łydżba (Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology)

Dr. Patrycja Łydżba from the Institute of Theoretical Physics received a grant of almost PLN 49,000 as part of the project "Integrals of motion in systems with fragmentation in Hilbert space” for a research trip to the Jožef Stefan Institute (Ljubljana, Slovenia).

The laureate specializes in closed quantum systems (isolated from the environment) and analyses their reactions to disturbances. Recently, she has focused on systems with fragmentation in Hilbert space, which realize fracton excitations (with limited mobility) and do not return to thermodynamic equilibrium after disturbance.

“The reason for this last property is not fully known,” says Dr. Patrycja Łydżba. “Therefore, the aim of my research trip will be to start cooperation with Prof. Peter Prelovšek and to get acquainted with the technique of numerical revelation of motion integrals.

Integrals of motion are quantities that do not change during time evolution. The existence of their additional behaviour principles would explain why systems with fragmentation in Hilbert space do not thermalize,” adds Dr. Łydżba.

Dr. Dawid Skrzypczak (Faculty of Chemistry)

Dr. Dawid Skrzypczak from the Department of Advanced Material Technologies received funding in the amount of PLN 48,679 for the implementation of preliminary research as part of the project "Feasibility analysis of environmentally safe organic-mineral fertilizers based on sewage sludge using thermal conversion and alkaline hydrolysis."

“Sewage sludge contains many valuable nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which can be used to improve plant yields,” says the researcher. “The currently used material processing methods entail huge nitrogen losses, while direct application of waste to agricultural fields may lead to the accumulation of toxic elements and the spread of pathogens.”

The innovative approach described in the project of Dr. Dawid Skrzypczak includes a method for combining components produced in the thermal conversion process, leading to the production of biochars, and alkaline hydrolysis, enabling the conversion of proteins contained in sewage sludge into short peptides and free amino acids.

“An important part of my research will be to determine the optimal parameters for the production of semi-finished products and research on plants, which will allow me to explore the possibility of designing a complete plant growth stimulator which has a positive effect on soil,” explains Dr. Dawid Skrzypczak. “The search for alternative sources of nutrients is an extremely important element of sustainable development in the agrochemical sector.”

Dr. Grzegorz Izydorczyk (Faculty of Chemistry)

The aim of the project "Using the phenomenon of positive allelopathy in the search for biologically active compounds for the production of biofungicides and biobactericides dedicated to organic crops", for which Dr. Grzegorz Izydorczyk from the Department of Advanced Material Technologies received PLN 44,000 is to investigate the possibility of using positive allelopathy in the search for biologically active compounds to obtain new plant protection products.
Positive allelopathy is a special form of symbiosis between two plant species, using biochemical interactions that bring mutual benefit.

“This benefit results from the fact that symbiotic species produce and secrete bioactive substances into the environment. These substances have a positive effect on the growth and yield of plants, as well as increase resistance to fungal and bacterial diseases and pests,” explains Dr. Grzegorz Izydorczyk. “Alleopatins differ in terms of their chemical structure and are representatives of different groups of chemical compounds.

The positive effect of these substances results from the activation of metabolic pathways leading to the synthesis of reserve compounds and phytohormones, vitamins and enzymes that increase plant resistance to biotic stress. Substances that are secreted by one plant species (donor) and directly affect the other species (acceptor) and act as a biopesticide with fungicidal or bactericidal activity are a particular case,” explains Dr. Izydorczyk.

The researcher will use the funding to conduct screening research based on positive allelopathy to search for natural bioactive compounds for the production of biopesticides for organic agriculture.

Dr Michał Balcerek (Faculty of Mathematics)

Dr. Michał Balcerek from the Faculty of Mathematics received PLN 44,000 for the project "Analysis of double stochastic processes with long memory."

As part of the grant, he will go to Colorado State University in Fort Collins (Colorado, USA), where he will perform research as part of a two-month research internship at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department under the supervision of Prof. Diego Krapf – a world-famous expert in the field of statistical physics and stochastic processes.

“During my stay in the USA, I will analyse random processes with time-changing properties, study their ergodic properties and statistics and estimators related to the proposed models,” says Dr. Michał Balcerek. “Variability of processes over time is a natural situation which happens when we deal with the dynamics of biomolecules on cell membranes or the cytoskeleton.

During the trip, Dr. Michał Balcerek will also examine the impact of measurement noise on the quality of fit of the proposed mathematical models and will also apply the obtained results to the analysis of data from the SPT (single particle tracking) experiments conducted by Prof. D. Krapf. 

Dr. Andrzej Nowok (Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology)

As part of a grant of over PLN 25,000 the scientist from the Department of Experimental Physics will implement the project "Photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) – the key to understanding the dynamic, mosaic architecture of self-organizing liquids and the phenomenology of glass transition."

The gradual cooling of a liquid slows down the movement of its molecules to such an extent that it begins to behave like a solid. Although this phenomenon is the principle behind the glass transition and has been used in the production of glasses for hundreds of years, it still remains one of the unsolved mysteries of physics.

“Moreover, latest research shows that each liquid in a state of overcooling is heterogeneous,” explains Dr. Andrzej Nowok. “Its architecture rather resembles a dynamic, fluid mosaic in which various processes take place, ranging from association, through diffusion, relaxation, to conformational changes and librations.

As part of his project, Dr. Andrzej Nowok intends to gain insight into each of these processes separately, using a unique combination of broadband dielectric spectroscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy techniques.

“I will work on a model showing how even the smallest movement triggers an avalanche of various physical changes and processes,” explains the researcher. “The problem is therefore of fundamental importance for understanding the physics of supercooled liquids and the phenomenology of glass transition.

Dr inż. Natalia Fidorów-Kaprawy (Faculty of Environmental Engineering)

Dr. Natalia Fidorów-Kaprawy from the Department of Air Conditioning, Heating, Gas and Air Protection was awarded over 18,000 PLN for a project titled "Modeling of heat storage facilities cooperating with renewable energy sources using TRNSYS software."

She will implement it as part of a research internship at the Institute of Environmental Engineering and Building Installations at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy at Poznań University of Technology, under the supervision of Prof. Janusz Wojtkowiak and in cooperation with Dr. Karol Bandurski.

“My goal will be to universalize the results of experimental research by developing a model of a building installation and by simulating its operation,” says Dr. Natalia Fidorów-Kaprawy.

The TRNSYS software, which is used to simulate the operation of building installations, will serve to develop a model of a hybrid installation system based on a brine-water heat pump with vertical wells and the option of regenerating the lower source with solar collectors and a passive cooling installation (without using a compressor in the heat pump).

“After verifying the correctness of the model with the use of the measurement data, simulations of the system's operation will follow in defined conditions of both the external and built environment,” explains the researcher.

The modelling of this type of installations is necessary to predict their operation and impact on the natural environment, bothj at present and in the future, e.g. in the view of the expected climate changes.

It was this year's last edition of the Miniatura 7 competition.

In the first edition in May, grants were awarded to 49 researchers, including four from Wrocław University of Science and Technology. A month later, the results of the second edition were announced, in which 69 researchers were awarded, and three of them were from our University. In the July edition, the National Science Centre awarded over PLN two million in funding to 55 laureates, including one from Wrocław University of Science and Technology. In August, grants were awarded to 71 people, four of whom work at our University, and in September the funding went to two WUST scientists.