SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
Epoch extraction from emotional speech using single frequency filtering approach

An approach, which exploits the nature of impulse-like excitation in the speech signal is explored.Three properties of impulse are used to extract impulse-like discontinuities, namely: (a)An impulse in the time domain results in flat spectrum in the frequency domain.(b)An impulse event in the time domain is a high energy event, i.e., the strength of the impulse is substantially larger than the strengths of the samples in the neighborhood.(c)The effect of impulse is spread at all the frequencies.We demonstrate the benefit of exploiting the impulse-like events in terms of epoch identification accuracy.The results of the proposed methods for emotional speech is comparable to the results for neutral speech, and is better than the results from many of the standard methods. Epochs are instants of significant excitation of the vocal tract system during production of voiced speech. Existing methods for epoch extraction provide good results on neutral speech. But effectiveness of these methods has not been examined carefully for analysis of emotional speech, where the emotion characteristics are embedded mainly in the source component of the signal. Performance of the state-of-art epoch extraction methods on emotional speech data may be affected due to large variations in the pitch period. An approach, which exploits the nature of impulse-like excitation in the speech signal, instead of the pitch period information, is explored in this paper. The approach uses single frequency filtering (SFF) analysis of speech signals, which provides the high temporal resolution of some features of excitation source (such as impulse-like events) and high spectral resolution for some features of spectrum (such as harmonics and resonances). The Berlin emotional speech database (EMO-DB), which contains the simultaneous electroglottograph (EGG) recordings is used as the ground truth. For comparison, several epoch extraction methods are evaluated in terms of both reliability and accuracy measures for six different emotion categories and neutral speech. The results indicate that the performance of the proposed SFF-based methods for emotional speech is comparable to the results for neutral speech, and is better than the results from many of the standard methods.
Thunderstorm electric fields probed by extensive air showers through their polarized radio emission

We observe a large fraction of circular polarization in radio emission from extensive air showers recorded during thunderstorms, much higher than in the emission from air showers measured during fair-weather circumstances. We show that the circular polarization of the air showers measured during thunderstorms can be explained by the change in the direction of the transverse current as a function of altitude induced by atmospheric electric fields. Thus by using the full set of Stokes parameters for these events, we obtain a good characterization of the electric fields in thunderclouds. We also measure a large horizontal component of the electric fields in the two events that we have analysed.
Relating Romanized Comments to News Articles by Inferring Multi-Glyphic Topical Correspondence

Commenting is a popular facility provided by news sites. Analyzing such user-generated content has recently attracted research interest. However, in multilingual societies such as India, analyzing such user-generated content is hard due to several reasons: (1) There are more than 20 official languages but linguistic resources are available mainly for Hindi. It is observed that people frequently use romanized text as it is easy and quick using an English keyboard, resulting in multi-glyphic comments, where the texts are in the same language but in different scripts. Such romanized texts are almost unexplored in machine learning so far. (2) In many cases, comments are made on a specific part of the article rather than the topic of the entire article. Off-the-shelf methods such as correspondence LDA are insufficient to model such relationships between articles and comments. In this paper, we extend the notion of correspondence to model multi-lingual, multi-script, and inter-lingual topics in a unified probabilistic model called the Multi-glyphic Correspondence Topic Model (MCTM). Using several metrics, we verify our approach and show that it improves over the state-of-the-art.
Effects of Simulated Weightlessness on Proteomic Profiles of Plasma in Rats

Objective: To investigate the effects of the simulated weightlessness on the proteomic profiles of plas ma in rats.Methods: Eighty-eight male adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 11 groups according to the durations of simulated weightlessness,suspended for 6 h,12 h,1 d,2 d,3 d,5 d,1 week,2 week,3 week,4 week and 0 h(control).Tail-suspension technique was used to simulate the weightlessness animal model.The rats were sacrificed and the venous blood samples were taken in each group at the end of the experiment.The pro teomic profiles of the blood plasma were detected by the surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry(SELDI-TOF-MS) and MB-WCX beads.All data were analyzed with the Ciphergen Pro tein Chip Software 3.2.0 and Biomarker Wizard 3.1.0.Results: Eighteen peaks of gravity-sensitive proteins were discovered,and 6 proteins with low molecular weight were up-regulated in the early phase of the simulated weight lessness,while 12 proteins with higher molecular weight showed downward trend on the contrary.Interestingly,a reversion to the standard levels was noticed in all the proteins of the rat blood plasma in the late phase(2 to 3 week after tail-suspension) of the simulated weightlessness.Conclusion: Simulated weightlessness could induce al terations of proteomic profiles of rat plasma,and detection of the gravity-sensitive proteins could provide useful messages to disclose the mechanism of weightlessness impacts on the body and may also be meaningful in the as tronaut medical surveillance.
Leading towards sustainable gender equality plans in research performing organisations

Leading TowaLeading Towards Sustainable Gender Equality Plans in research institutions –  LeTSGEPs – aims at connecting different Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) in the design and implementation of GEPs. The project seeks to design actions and implement measures that will lead to systemic institutional change and address gender bias in RPOs at a very initial stage of gender equality measures implementation. At the same time more experienced partners in GEPs implementation will be included to guide the other partners through  the various steps of the project, following the Gender Equality in Academia and Research GEAR tool developed by European Institute for Gender Equality (2016) and with the scientific support of a highly qualified Scientific Advisory Board. 
As a powerful instrument of detecting factors that make gender inequality persistent within institutions, besides the Gender Equality Plan, LeTSGEPs will foster the use of Gender Budgeting (GB), since budgets reflect real policy commitments. Gender equality plans and programs will succeed if accompanied with related specific fund allocation for the policy targets, and if the programs enacted are evaluated in terms of their gender equality impact by means of gender budgets leading to what we can define as more sustainable and powerful GEPs. A robust methodological approach, by taking stock from the implementation of Gender Budgeting in RPOs  in order to produce relevant knowledge on the application of gender budgeting in RPOs and its role in making GEPs sustainable will be produced and shared with all partners. 
For raising institutional awareness on the importance of GEPs and gender budgeting the administrative staff will be actively involved in the training to equip also them with the necessary knowledge for its application. A distinctive characteristic of LeTSGEPs is a continuous support during the implementation of GEPs and by the high motivation expressed by partners in GEPs and GB implementation.
De-Fluoridation technologies for improving quality of water and agro-animal products along the east african rift valley in the context of adaptation to climate change.

FLOWERED objective is to contribute to the development of a sustainable water management system in areas affected by fluoride (F) contamination in water, soils and food in the African Rift Valley countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania), thus to improve living standards (environmental, health and food security) of its population. FLOWERED aims to study, test and implement innovative defluoridation technologies for drinking and irrigation water that will mainly operate at small village scale and to develop an integrated, sustainable and participative water and agriculture management at a cross-boundary catchment scale. 
On the basis of the complexity of the issue of water de-fluoridation, the proposed scientific approach in FLOWERED is based on a detailed knowledge of the geological and hydrogeological setting that controls contamination of water that constitute the prerequisite for the implementation of a sustainable water management and for the proposal of sustainable and suitable strategies for water sanitation and agricultural system. Innovative agricultural practices will be assessed, aiming to mitigate the impacts of F contamination of water and soil on productivity of selected food and forage crops and dairy cattle health and production. The development of an innovative and shared Geo-data system will support the integrated, sustainable and participative management system. 
FLOWERED, focusing on innovative technologies and practices and taking into account local experiences, will implement an integrated water and agriculture management system and will enable local communities to manage water resources, starting from using efficient defluoridation techniques and applying sustainable agricultural practices. The integrated approaches improve knowledge for EU partners, local researchers, farmers and decision makers. The Project through the involvement of SMEs will strengthen the development co-innovative demonstration processes as well as new market opportunities.
InnovLab

"This project is part of the plan GRAIES LAB": InnovLab focus its attention on the cross-border system of micro and small local industries. The quality and the dynamism of this system have direct fallouts on territorial economy, on services and on living place choice. At the beginning of the project, it’s the knowledge of the fact that the main problematic is the lack of support activities towards models and process mainly innovative. InnovLab would like to develop services and strategies for innovation in order to make the system for industries more competitive and sustainable. Especially, InnovLab promotes: entrepreneurship of new generations, innovation in models of industries’ business and their digital transformation. Thorough an active implication of local actors (co-creation) and in an integrated manner with other projects, InnovLab will develop resources of the territory: youth with competences linked to innovative entrepreneurship, micro and little digital industries and which have experimented the added value of innovative process.

According to defined challenges of ALCOTRA’s program (intelligent, sustainable and inclusive growth), the strategic objective of the PITER is to make attractive the territory of rural and mountainous areas. Attractive means “endowed with an attraction power”, which “attracts toward one” and which it’s pursue in time. Three factors determine this “attraction power”: capacity to attract, which means an approach system, instruments and actions to define the area, rules and direction for the action; experimentation of services and strategies defined according to real needs of the territory; the capacity to transfer competences and passion. The principal result expected, sustainable on long term period, is the creation of Active Rural, Innovative and Solidarity Generations: make actors of the territory (actual and future) consciousness of the added value of innovation and the networking of opportunities and competencies. The PITER is focused on 5 strategic elements: governance, jobs territory, mobility and services of proximity. Direct beneficiaries of the PITER will be local administrators of the concerned sector and those who are living/working/receiving from the territory. The working method, which represents an added value and a new/original element, is based on an open co-creation approach and of CLLD ans on LivingLabs wich will be activated for each project.
Vascular Inflammation and Repair

The cellular and molecular processes that control vascular injury responses after percutaneous coronary intervention involve a complex interplay among vascular cells and progenitor cells that control arterial remodeling, neointimal proliferation, and re-endothelialization. Drug-eluting stents (DES) improve the efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention by modulating vascular inflammation and preventing neointimal proliferation and restenosis. Although positive effects of DES reduce inflammation and restenosis, negative effects delay re-endothelialization and impair endothelial function. Delayed re-endothelialization and impaired endothelial function are linked to stent thrombosis and adverse clinical outcomes after DES use. Compared with bare-metal stents, DES also differentially modulate mobilization, homing, and differentiation of vascular progenitor cells involved in re-endothelialization and neointimal proliferation. The effects of DES on vascular inflammation and repair directly impact clinical outcomes with these devices and dictate requirements for extended-duration dual antiplatelet therapy.
TITANIUM COMPOSITE ELECTRODES AND METHODS THEREFORE

The present invention provides composite electrodes that comprise a titanium metal filler and a polymeric material. Advantageously the composite electrodes of the present invention do not suffer from the problems of carbon degradation, are thermally stable, are easily shaped, which demonstrate high power densities and which are relatively inexpensive to produce.
[Association of T190C polymorphism of β3 adrenergic receptor gene with response to carvedilol in patients with chronic heart failure].

To assess the association of T190C polymorphism of β3 adrenergic receptor gene (β3-AR) with chronic heart failure (CHF), and to evaluate the effect of this polymorphism on clinical response to β-AR blockade among patients with CHF.Three hundred and thirty patients with stable CHF receiving basic therapy for heart failure were included. Before initiation and 5 months after the maximal tolerated dose of carvedilol was reached, all indices including heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, 6 min walk distance were measured and compared with the indices of those with a T190C genotype. Distribution of the T190C polymorphisms in the control group and CHF group was compared.The frequencies of T190C genotypes of the β3-AR gene have fit with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. No significant difference was found between the frequencies of T190C alleles and genotypes between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with CC-homozygotes, TT-homozygous patients showed substantially greater improvement in LVEF and BNP (all P < 0.01).No difference has been detected in the prevalence of the three genotypes between healthy and CHF subjects. The T190C variation of the β3-AR gene was not associated with increased risk for CHF. CHF patients with a T allele have greater response to carvedilol than those carrying a C allele in ethnic Han Chinese.
Improvement of the energy conversion efficiency of Chlorella pyrenoidosa biomass by a three-stage process comprising dark fermentation, photofermentation, and methanogenesis

The effects of pre-treatment methods on saccharification and hydrogen fermentation of Chlorella pyrenoidosa biomass were investigated. When raw biomass and biomass pre-treated by steam heating, by microwave heating, and by ultrasonication were used as feedstock, the hydrogen yields were only 8.8-12.7 ml/g total volatile solids (TVS) during dark fermentation. When biomass was pre-treated by steam heating with diluted acid and by microwave heating with diluted acid, the dark hydrogen yields significantly increased to 75.6 ml/g TVS and 83.3 ml/g TVS, respectively. Steam heating with diluted acid is the preferred pre-treatment method of C. pyrenoidosa biomass to improve hydrogen yield during dark fermentation and photofermentation, which is followed by methanogenesis to increase energy conversion efficiency (ECE). A total hydrogen yield of 198.3 ml/g TVS and a methane yield of 186.2 ml/g TVS corresponding to an overall ECE of 34.0% were obtained through the three-stage process (dark fermentation, photofermentation, and methanogenesis).
Impact of vegetation feedback on the temperature and its diurnal range over the Northern Hemisphere during summer in a 2 × CO2 climate

This study examines the potential impact of vegetation feedback on the changes in the diurnal temperature range (DTR) due to the doubling of atmospheric CO2 concentrations during summer over the Northern Hemisphere using a global climate model equipped with a dynamic vegetation model. Results show that CO2 doubling induces significant increases in the daily mean temperature and decreases in DTR regardless of the presence of the vegetation feedback effect. In the presence of vegetation feedback, increase in vegetation productivity related to warm and humid climate lead to (1) an increase in vegetation greenness in the mid-latitude and (2) a greening and the expansion of grasslands and boreal forests into the tundra region in the high latitudes. The greening via vegetation feedback induces contrasting effects on the temperature fields between the mid- and high-latitude regions. In the mid-latitudes, the greening further limits the increase in Tmax more than Tmin, resulting in further decreases in DTR because the greening amplifies evapotranspiration and thus cools daytime temperature. The greening in high-latitudes, however, it reinforces the warming by increasing Tmax more than Tmin to result in a further increase in DTR from the values obtained without vegetation feedback. This effect on Tmax and DTR in the high latitude is mainly attributed to the reduction in surface albedo and the subsequent increase in the absorbed insolation. Present study indicates that vegetation feedback can alter the response of the temperature field to increases in CO2 mainly by affecting the Tmax and that its effect varies with the regional climate characteristics as a function of latitudes.
INVESTMENTS FOR INNOVATION IN INTERNAL COMMUNICATION (BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS) AND EXTERNAL (TO MARKET)

THE INVESTMENT PROJECT ENVISAGES THE INTRODUCTION OF INNOVATIVE ICT-RELATED SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGIES TO INNOVATE THE FLOW OF INFORMATION OF BUSINESS PROCESSES FOCUSED ON THE COMPANY’S MAIN ACTIVITY, BE IT MANAGEMENT OR TECHNICAL-COMMERCIAL PROCESSES. WE IDENTIFY THE PROPER MANAGEMENT OF DOCUMENTS/INFORMATION/CUSTOMERS AS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY, TIMELINESS AND COST REDUCTION. THE PROJECT IS DIVIDED INTO 4 INVESTMENT PROJECTS
Soap film based artificial photosynthesis

We propose a radical breakthrough by developing economically viable solar fuel production technology, exploiting the surfactant self-assembly & proton transport properties of soap films. Producing renewable solar fuel by Artificial Photosynthesis (AP) is globally recognized as a promising solution to modern energy & environmental crisis with decisive social impacts, but there are critical roadblocks in technology development. SoFiA aims to initiate & consolidate a baseline of feasibility for soap film based AP technology and its future uses by establishing the essential proofs-of principle & foundational scientific underpinnings. We propose the concept of an economic artificial photosynthetic membrane in form of soap film with photo-catalytic functional surfaces, formed at the junction between dis-symmetric soap bubble pairs. Our technology is made scalable by the design concept of a dynamic stream of regenerative soap bubbles capable of handling large volumes of gas, continuously flowing through a light exposed conduit. SoFiA bridges three mutually exclusive disciplines of surfactant science, renewable energy and fundamental science of water at nanoscale, supported by micro-systems engineering, and by actively engaging artists who are working with large soap film installations. The high risk is countered by engaging pioneering scientists and globally leading young researchers in an interdisciplinary research plan. An External Advisory Board composed of program managers from large industry and EU policy experts will guide the research deliverable towards commercial exploitation. Our long-term vision is to decisively alter Europe’s position in the world economic map as the leading green energy producer. Developed technology will be jointly exploited by European energy and detergent industries, kick-starting new ventures & production facilities. Major environmental impact is expected as SoFiA is devoted to transform the primary greenhouse gas (CO2) into fuel.
3.28 Trompe L'Oeil Not Only in Painting: CLL Concomitant with Hairy Cell Leukemia is Not Rare

The coexistence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and hairy cell leukemia (HCL) has already been reported in the literature, but as an exceedingly rare event, because the presentation (clinical and laboratory) is generally CLL-like and HCL is discovered ‘by the way’. To prove that the concomitance between these two diseases is not as rare as previously believed, we have to think ‘semantically’: the question is not how many CLL cases are concomitant with HCL, but how many HCL cases are concomitant with CLL. CLL originates from antigen-stimulated mature B lymphocytes and is the most common type of leukemia in older adults, accounting for 25% of all leukemia cases. HCL is also a chronic lymphoproliferative disorder originating from mature B lymphocytes. HCL accounts for 2-3% of all leukemia cases. The male to female ratio is approximately 4:1. The etiology is not known. CLL and HCL have distinct clinical, morphological and immunophenotyping features. The occurrence of second neoplasm, especially non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, is well known in HCL patients. In the past 10 years we have diagnosed in our hemato-oncologic clinic 22 cases of HCL, 4 of them (18% of all cases of HCL diagnosed during this period) concomitant with CLL. We did not perform immunoglobulin gene rearrangement analysis, so we cannot know whether the origin is from different B cell clones or not; we can only affirm that the same light chain type was present on the membranes of both CLL and HCL cells. All cases of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) are systematically screened in our lab for the presence of an additional monoclonal B-cell population. Conclusion: the concept that concomitant CLL and HCL is a rare event is challenged. It is a mere ‘trompe l’oeil’, due to the rarity of HCL.