SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
PHAST - A Portable High-Level Modern C++ Programming Library for GPUs and Multi-Cores

A decade after the beginning of the many-core era, multi-core CPU and GPU architectures are everywhere, from mobile devices up to high-performance workstations and servers. To this day, programmers willing to harness their power need to express their code via languages and frameworks that often lack of expressivity and high-level abstractions. These solutions, despite allowing users to reach unprecedented performance, can still be a hampering factor for productivity and portability. In this paper we propose PHAST, a modern C++, STL-like, single-source programming library and approach based on multi-dimensional dynamic containers and multi-layered functors that can be targeted on NVIDIA GPUs and multi-core CPUs. Its main purpose is to let programmers write code once for different architectures at a high level of abstraction, to reach high-performance while allowing fine parameter tuning and not shielding code from low-level target-specific optimizations. To assess the value of our proposal, we consider benchmarks from different application domains, and we evaluate their PHAST implementations against CUDA, OpenCL, Kokkos, and SYCL ones from both performance and productivity points of view. We show that PHAST can significantly reduce code complexity metrics while reaching very good performance.
A new instrument for mapping the ultrafast photo-conductivity of materials for optoelectronics

The introduction of new photo-active materials with enhanced performance is enabling a fast technological development in fields such as photovoltaics, photodetection, display technology and imaging systems.  The efforts on the improvement of the synthesis and growth of these materials are in many cases not accompanied with equal efforts on the development of appropriate techniques that enable their characterization. MicroMap aims to develop a commercial instrument for the contact-free characterization of the high frequency photoconductivity of materials. The demonstrator will consist of an optically pumped near-field microscope and far-field spectrometer to map the response of photo-excited materials over areas of varying size from micrometers to several centimeters. This unique combination of length scales will enable to probe the conductivities of full devices and to determine the conductivities and carrier life times in single or few nanostructures or small areas to define the microscopic origin of the factors limiting the photoresponse. To demonstrate the feasibility of the instrument for the characterization of materials, we plan to test it on novel materials being currently investigated for optoelectronic applications. These include graphene, nanowires and perovskites. These tests will be used to elaborate technical notes that will help the commercialization of the instrument. The outcome of this project will be licensed to Protemics GmbH, which is a privately held spin-off of the research company AMO GmbH and the 
Institute of Semiconductor Electronics (RWTH Aachen University) with a background of two decades in THz technology .  The target market for the instrument is academic and industrial research organizations working on materials research. We will also carry out a detailed business analysis to identify broader possibilities, e.g., for material characterization in industrial production or for THz sensing.
Welding smoothtool

Smooth Robotics is revolutionizing the SME metalworking industry with our SmoothTool innovation. In Europe alone, SMEs working with welding robots spend more than €240M on changeovers between production series, and leave an additional €80M on the table in lost revenues every year, because their factories are not agile enough to profitably produce small series orders. The reason for this is two-fold: 1) with current welding robots on the market, changeover requires offline programming based on a CAD model and; 2) SMEs do not have the in-house skills needed for programming and changeover, so they must hire an external integrator which further adds to their production costs. Smooth Robotics is solving this problem with our SmoothTool - a patent-pending sensor that fits on any robot welding head. Using our joysticks, the operator traces the welding path with the sensor. Our software learns by demonstration and automatically programs the robot. No complicated instruction manual and no expert required. Early testing with customers shows that our SmoothTool reduces changeover time by over 80%. At Birk Stål A/S, a leader in hooks and suspensions, average changeover time is expected to be reduced from 17 to 2 hours, allowing them to accept 50+ more orders per year and boost revenues by 30%. There are 10,000 European SMEs that could boost their profits and competitiveness with the SmoothTool. Having already signed contracts and pre-orders valued at €700K, our phase 1 feasibility study will set the bases for successful company scale-up across Europe and then to N. America and Asia. We will perform a private Beta test with 5 test customers, strengthen our IP management strategy and develop a clear go-to-market business plan. Outputs from this project will enable a soft launch product validation as part of our foreseen SME phase 2 project. With a global launch planned in Q1 2021, Smooth Robotics seeks to generate €18M in revenues and grow to a team of 45 employees by 2023.
Climate change and resilience of agricultural system: an econometric and computational analysis

Objectives of the current and future European CAP are to enhance the climate change resilience of European agriculture, increase climate change adaptation and protect biodiversity. Climate change Resilience of Agriculture System (CRAS) project aims, through an econometric and computational analysis, to better understand the contribution of agrobiodiversity to the resilience of agroecosystems and to the mitigation of the impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector. Objectives of the project are:
1.	Estimating the contribution of agrobiodiversity to the economic resilience of the agricultural system applying the Ricardian approach. 
2.	Including agrobiodiversity into a CGE model to assess its role in smoothing climate change impacts on the agricultural sector, using parameters estimated in 1)
3.	To evaluate the potential for adaptation policies favouring agrobiodiversity conservation to reduce climate impacts. The modified version of GE3AR model is used to assess the macro-economic (general equilibrium) implications of agrobiodiversity as a damage smoothing opportunity.
In addition to policy advices, the project will contribute at exposing the debate on biodiversity conservation and climate change through an array of dissemination and communication efforts. During the outgoing phase, Dr. Lea Nicita will conduct the research and training at the Yale F&ES School, under the supervision of Professor Mendelsohn. Afterwards she will return to CMCC under the supervision of Professor Carlo Carraro. The project with its trainings improves her research and transferable skills, and extends her international networks through the contacts of the host and the beneficiary. By including versatile training-through-research, multiple dissemination and communication methods, public engagement and networking the project has a strong impact on the researcher’s career, on the future research collaboration as well as on the public interest.
MODULAR OPTICAL DEVICE AND OPTOELECTRONIC MODULES THEREFOR

A modular optical device having a set of optoelectronic modules that enables the device to operate, e.g., as a WDM or multichannel transceiver. In an example embodiment, the set of optoelectronic modules includes a laser module, a modulator module, and an optical-to-electrical converter module, all mounted on the same circuit board and optically and electrically connected for the intended application. Each of the optoelectronic modules comprises a respective stack of integrated circuits, at least one of which is a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). Some of the PICs may be configurable for different applications, with the configuration setup being carried out using electrical control signals and/or optical connections of the PICs. The modular structure of the device enables the manufacturer to provide customized solutions to different customers according to their respective specifications while using the same device architecture and/or to interchangeably use parts obtained from different suppliers to engineer those solutions.
Finite-Element Analysis of Highway Embankment Made from Tire-Derived Aggregate

Tire-derived aggregate (TDA) has been used in many civil engineering applications. Despite its successful use in the past, the amount of experimental research available on TDA applications is not sufficient to provide data for the evaluation of an appropriate constitutive model. The majority of TDA constitutive models have been developed from laboratory tests performed on tire chips smaller than those used in field applications. In this study, nonlinear elastic material models, with an elastic modulus that varies as a function of vertical stress, have been developed for TDA produced from passenger and light truck tire (PLTT) and off-the-road (OTR) vehicle tires. The material model for TDA is established based on previous large-scale laboratory constrained compression tests conducted on TDA up to 300 mm in size. The model is used in a finite-element (FE) analysis using geotechnical software to predict the settlement of full-scale test embankment during construction. The results indicate that the settlements obtained from the FE analysis agree with the settlements measured in the field during construction of full-scale test embankment. This paper also provides design charts to compute overbuild required on top of TDA layer(s) to compensate immediate compression under an applied load during the placement of cover on top of TDA.
PROCESS FOR PREPARING ALKOXYLATED FATTY ACID ALKYL ESTERS

The invention concerns a process for alkoxylating fatty acid alkyl esters, fatty acid esters being reacted in a manner known per se with alkylene oxides in the presence of double-layer mixed oxide catalysts and co-catalysts selected from the group comprising lithium hydroxide, alkaline earth salts and tin salts. The novel catalyst systems produce products which have a narrow homologue distribution and are additionally distinguished by a particularly low content of free alkylester and alkylmonoglycol ester.
Cross-border geopark of the Karnische Alps

The project provides for the creation of a cross-border Carnic Alps geopark, to valorise the geological heritage and elaborate strategies for sustainable development of the involved area in order to reinforce the awareness about the value of natural heritage, promote the balance between growth and protection of the environment as well as scientific culture, and enhance the touristic attractiveness of the involved regions. 


To this end, the project will entail the following actions: 

- creation of a cross-border working group; 

- scientific research regarding the whole area involved in the project; the results will be used for travelling exhibitions as well as for scientific and educational publications; 

- info-point, use of multimedia technologies; 

- creation or renewal of (cross-border) geologic itineraries; 

- creation of educational paths and of a “guide of guides” in order to provide proper training - preparation of a shared programme of educational activities and events in order to promote geological knowledge and increase visits to the geopark; 

-drafting and managing of a communication and marketing plan for the promotion of the cross-border geopark; - production of publications and videos (documentaries); 

- creation of a GIS system supporting the territorial management of the geopark; 

- study of organization models for the consolidation of the geopark.
Adaptive Control of Robot System of up to a Half Passive Joints

AbstractIn this paper, we study adaptive control of a robot system of \(2n\) joints with up to \(n\) joints being passive. By exploiting the dynamics couplings between the active joints and the passive joints, we have developed a method to use desired trajectories of active joints to indirectly “control” the motion of the passive joints. Optimal control techniques have been employed to control the active joints with smooth motion of minimized acceleration. Neural network (NN) has been used for block function approximation, in order to generate ideal desired trajectory of active joints. It has been theoretically established that under the developed adaptive controller and NN based trajectory generator, the passive joints can be effectively controlled to follow the predefined trajectory.KeywordsPassive jointOptimizationLQRModel reference control
Recent trends in biological extraction of chitin from marine shell wastes: a review

The natural biopolymer chitin and its deacetylated product chitosan are widely used in innumerable applications ranging from biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, food, agriculture and personal care products to environmental sector. The abundant and renewable marine processing wastes are commercially exploited for the extraction of chitin. However, the traditional chitin extraction processes employ harsh chemicals at elevated temperatures for a prolonged time which can harm its physico-chemical properties and are also held responsible for the deterioration of environmental health. In view of this, green extraction methods are increasingly gaining popularity due to their environmentally friendly nature. The bioextraction of chitin from crustacean shell wastes has been increasingly researched at the laboratory scale. However, the bioextraction of chitin is not currently exploited to its maximum potential on the commercial level. Bioextraction of chitin is emerging as a green, cleaner, eco-friendly and economical process. Specifically in the chitin extraction, microorganisms-mediated fermentation processes are highly desirable due to easy handling, simplicity, rapidity, controllability through optimization of process parameters, ambient temperature and negligible solvent consumption, thus reducing environmental impact and costs. Although, chitin production from crustacean shell waste through biological means is still at its early stage of development, it is undergoing rapid progress in recent years and showing a promising prospect. Driven by reduced energy, wastewater or solvent, advances in biological extraction of chitin along with valuable by-products will have high economic and environmental impact.
Religious Education, Critical Thinking, Rational Autonomy, and the Child's Right to an Open Future

This article maintains that the teaching of religion in state-funded schools in liberal democracies, especially in Western Europe, is premised on the need for the child to acquire critical, rational, and cognitive understanding of religion rather than seeking to nurture her or him in a specific faith tradition. Drawing on one hypothetical religious education classroom scenario, this article contends that the deployment of epistemic egalitarianism and epistemic neutrality in the relativistic, pluralistic, and equitable presentation of competing claims arguably facilitates critical thinking, rational autonomy, and the child's right to an open future. It, therefore, exemplifies how the teaching of religion in state-funded schools in liberal democracies could engender the actualization of the liberal aims of education articulated in educational theory and philosophy.
Space weather awareness training network

Space Weather Awareness Training Network (SWATNET) aims at breakthroughs in understanding the physical foundations of key agents of Space Weather at Earth and establishing a unique PhD training program in the field. SWATNET is composed of eight Beneficiaries and seven Partner Organizations from seven different European countries with diverse and complementary expertise. This ITN trains the next generation of heliophysicists with an exceptional combination of research and transferable skills and strong knowledge of Space Weather for benefit of the society. The overall objectives of the SWATNET programme are to: 1. Train a group of highly qualified and enthusiastic professional researchers in state-of-the-art approaches in Space Weather research that will form the next generation in academic research, space industry companies and also wider non-academic research careers. 2. Give new insight towards more harmonized doctoral training Europe wide and exchanging practices between different countries. 3. Develop and apply new methodologies that can be utilised to unveil the fundamental physical processes taking place in the solar atmosphere and contributing to Space Weather. 4. Maximize the science return of current and future research infrastructures that are led by Europe or where there are strong European involvements (e.g. Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope).
Altronix_Future

The purpose of this application is to support Altronix to increase its productive capacity, with the aim of meeting the current demand and enabling it to grow on international markets, continuing its history of growth since its genesis.
Climate resilient cities and infrastructures

With most of its population and capital goods concentrated in urban areas, cities are key to the European economy.  One of the major challenges cities face are more frequent  extreme weather events due to climate change.The current diversity of approaches and methods available for cities developing an adaptation strategy limits the comparability between cities of vulnerabilities, adaptation options, infrastructures, etc., and, as a result, the resilience capability. The lack of standardized information to prioritize and select appropriate adaptation options restricts the exchange of experiences between cities. 
The objective of RESIN is to provide standardised  methodologies for vulnerability assessments, performance evaluations of adaptation measures, and for decision support tools supporting the development of robust adaptation strategies tailored to the city. To this end, RESIN aims to create a common unifying framework that allows comparing strategies, results and identification of best practices by
• Creating an urban typology that characterises European cities based on different socio-economic and biophysical variables
• Delivering standardised methods for assessing climate change impacts, vulnerabilities, and risks; providing an inventory of adaptation measures and developing standardised  methods to assess the performance of such adaptation measures
• Collaborating closely with 4 ‘case cities’ for practical applicability and reproducibility, and with European Standardisation organisations to ensure a systematic (standardised) implementation
• Integrating findings in a coherent framework for the decision making process, with associated methods, tools and datasets

The consortium consists of 17 partners from 8 different European countries, experienced in urban resilience and climate change, and combining theory (knowledge institutes/universities) with practice (cities, consultancies, network organisation, standardisation institute).
Progress of ophthalmic electrophysiology in China in past 5 years

The main mission of visual physiology is to elucidate the neuromechanism of vision. The basic characters in visual process are the electrochemical changes of ce11 membrane and the active potential which transmits along neuraxon. This visual bioelectricity changes can be recorded by using visual stimulus,surface electrode and amplified recording apparatus. Clinical electrophysiology examination of vision has been an important clinical examination technique in ophthalmology. This technique provides a nontraumatic, objective, quantitative and location-detecting visual function examination procedure that can inspect visual path from the retina to visual cortex. Recently, visual physiology has gained noticeable development in basic research and clinical application. This article summarizes the development in this field.

Key words: 
Vision;  Visual pathways;  Electroretinography;  Review
Factors associated with free adult preventive health care utilization among physically disabled people in Taiwan: nationwide population-based study

Few previous studies have specifically addressed the health care utilization situation of the physically disabled. This study aimed to investigate the utilization of free adult preventive health care for physically disabled people and its' affecting factors.The data was obtained from three nationwide databases from 2006 to 2008. This study comprised 329,264 physically disabled people in Taiwan above the age of 40 who had eligible health checks during 2008. We employed descriptive statistics to analyze the use and rate of free preventive health care use by physically disabled adults. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors that affect physically disabled adults' use of free adult preventive health care.16.37% of the physically disabled adults used free adult preventive health care. Women (17.66%), married (17.16%), a junior high education level (17.89%), and mildly disabled adults (18.77%) had the highest use rate among various participant subgroups. The variables that significantly influenced the use of free adult preventive health care by the physically disabled included gender, age, education, marital status, urbanization of the residence areas, monthly payroll, aboriginal status, catastrophic illnesses status, relevant chronic diseases, and severity of disability.Physically disabled using preventive health care tend to be low. Governments should use the media to reinforce propagation and education of these services to specific, low-utilization groups, and encourage doctors to actively provide preventive health care to communities.
Boss ex machina: mapping and understanding the technological transformation of managerial prerogatives in workplaces driven by machines, artificial intelligence and algorithms

Machines, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms are reshaping work and power relationships in a large number of fields, with far-reaching societal and legal consequences. For instance, workers can receive instructions through a digital app, be tracked by a wristband collecting sensitive information, while employers can take screenshots on a smartphone and use metrics and customer reviews to set variable remuneration. Today, cyber-physical devices make it possible to implement new practices of organizing, executing, monitoring and evaluating employees’ performance – in each and every industry. These tools determine a “genetic mutation” of prerogatives legitimately exercised by bosses. While such technologies have the potential to create a flexible environment for workers and managers, they can also strengthen authoritative tendencies. This study will map new “boss ex machina” practices, evaluate their legal compliance, and assess the resilience of the existing normative framework at the EU level.
This work will be qualitative in nature and adopt an innovative and pragmatic approach, by reviewing concrete examples where these modern practices have been implemented. I will collect a number of cases showing how the tech industry, social partners and policy-makers are addressing this phenomenon; then, I will consider the impact of new technologies of digitized management on contractual templates, labour regulation and social institutions. Finally, I will examine if and how the legal framework can accommodate these models without stifling innovation. The resulting theory will serve as a timely regulatory fitness and performance study to evaluate policy interventions recently put forward or implemented by several governments and institutions. This project aligns with the European Commission approach to AI and robotics, and the multiple initiatives taken by EU institutions in the context of the Pillar of Social Rights aimed at building a sustainable future of work.