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Mapping the human thalamus: a historical review of thalamic atlases from histology to modern neuroanatomy
Item type: Review Article
Antonios M.; Szekely G.; Karayannis T.; et al. (2026)
This review outlines the development of thalamic atlases from early post-mortem 2D histological maps to modern 3D multimodal atlases used in neuroscience and clinical practice. Given the central role of the thalamus in sensory processing, movement, and cognition, accurate anatomical mapping has been essential for both research and neurosurgical targeting. By synthesizing historical and modern approaches, we highlight the methodological advances, such as the development of thalamus-specific MRI sequences, that have improved the precision of thalamic nuclei delineation. We focus on open-source atlases that support reproducible research and clinical applications. Future developments will likely focus on integrating multi-scale data; combining cytoarchitectonic, with quantitative MRI and computational models to improve thalamic parcellation and accurate localization in vivo.
ENACTING CITIZENSHIP AND SOLIDARITY: Urban Struggles on Migration, Housing and Care in Europe
Item type: Monograph
Schwiertz H.; della Porta D.; Jørgensen M.B.; et al. (2026)
Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. How are urban social movements engaging in local politics to tackle the multiple crises in Europe? This timely volume explores how grassroots actors across eleven European cities forge new forms of solidarity and enact citizenship at local scales. Drawing on rich ethnographic research, it examines how activists and communities challenge neoliberal isolation and marginalization through collective practices, ranging from community kitchens to tenant organizing. Bridging research on migration, housing and care, the book investigates how everyday urban struggles are reshaping political practices and reimagining democracy. It offers essential insights for scholars and practitioners of social justice, citizenship and urban politics.
A probabilistic framework for modeling chloride-induced corrosion and related load-deformation behaviour of reinforced concrete
Item type: Journal Article
Yilmaz D.; Thoma K.; Angst U. (2026)
Chloride-exposed reinforced-concrete structures often suffer localized corrosion, so corrosion initiation time and average steel loss are poor indicators of structural performance. This paper presents a spatially resolved, proof-of-concept framework that couples diffusion-based chloride ingress and initiation with a localized morphology model and maps the resulting deterioration field to structural damage descriptors for non-linear finite element analysis. Repeated coupled runs propagate spatial variability to distributions of ultimate limit state failure age, corrosion-induced deflection growth, and time-dependent performance timelines. For a cantilever slab with a localized chloride ingress zone (motivated here by a local waterproofing failure), responses are governed by the extent and severity of loss in the fixed-support zone rather than single extremes. The approach supports performance-based intervention planning while maintaining required safety levels.
Performances of Polluted Sediments Stabilized with Innovative Binders: Geo-chemo-mechanical Insights
Item type: Conference Paper
Petti R.; Plötze M.; Puzrin A.; et al. (2026)
The reuse of dredged marine sediments is increasingly promoted as a sustainable alternative to disposal; however, the presence of contamination often severely limits their direct application in engineering works. In particular, contamination by heavy metals represents a critical issue due to their persistence, toxicity and strong interaction with fine-grained soil constituents, which may significantly affect both environmental safety and mechanical behavior. Among inorganic pollutants, Lead (Pb) is one of the most problematic elements, as it poses severe environmental risks and can influence interparticle interactions, pore fluid chemistry and cementation mechanisms. In this study, fine-grained marine sediments were artificially contaminated with lead through controlled spiking procedures in order to reproduce a representative and reproducible contamination scenario. The paper investigates the performances of Pb-contaminated sediments stabilized using innovative low-cement binders, combining traditional hydraulic binders with natural and waste-derived additives. A comprehensive geo–chemo–mechanical characterisation was carried out, including microstructural, geochemical and geotechnical investigations. Selected results are presented for representative mixtures, focusing on the comparison between conventional cement-based stabilisation and alternative solutions incorporating non-calcined mussel shell powder and biochar. The results highlight the role of binder composition on microstructural evolution, Lead immobilization mechanisms and mechanical response in terms of compressibility and strength. The proposed innovative binder solutions provide chemo-mechanical performances comparable to traditional cement treatments while reducing cement content and improving environmental compatibility, supporting their potential application in sustainable sediment management strategies.
Infrastructuring Care in the City: Solidarity Practices in/through the Feminist Strike Movement in Switzerland
Item type: Book Chapter
Schilliger S. (2026)