SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
Speech prosody in interaction: the form and function of intonation in human communication

Intonation, the modulation of voice pitch, is essential for communication as it conveys information that helps listeners make inferences about the pragmatic intent of the speaker. Despite increased understanding of intonation’s importance, there is little agreement even about essential aspects of its structure and meaning. This is in large part because research has focused either on the form of intonation, often taking a reductive approach to meaning, or has concentrated on meaning but without full scrutiny of form. Crucially, most research has eschewed the study of intonational variability, seeing it as a problem, rather than a natural facet of speech production that needs to be understood and accounted for. Examining all three aspects in tandem is critical for understanding how intonation is structured and functions in communication: considering meaning in the study of intonational form (i.e. phonetics and phonology) can help delimit intonational categories and uncover the limits of within-category variability; in turn, a robust understanding of form will lead to insights into intonational pragmatics. The present proposal will take exactly this integrative approach, based on the PI’s recent research, to examine intonational phenomena attested in English and Greek that have vexed researchers for some time (uptalk, high accents, question tunes). Two varieties per language will be studied, Standard Southern British, Bristol English, Standard Athenian, and Corfiot Greek. Their systematic differences with respect to the phenomena under investigation will allow me to examine cross-linguistic differences, and dialectal variation and its role in communication. The investigation will involve phonetic and pragmatic analysis and modelling, followed by series of behavioural and neurophysiological experiments. Together, these methods will shed light onto the realization, structure and function of intonation, and lead to a robust model of intonational phonology and pragmatics.
Investigating Trade-offs between Portability, Performance and Maintainability in Exascale Systems

Due to the rapid advancements in the hardware architectures of High-Performance Computing infrastructures, new challenges have arisen in the development of scientific software applications. In particular, software that runs on Exascale machines, needs to be highly portable, highly parallelizable and at the same time maintainable, since software for HPC evolves constantly over time. By taking into account that an overall optimization of all the aforementioned qualities is not realistic, in this study, we explore the possible trade-offs, when optimizing the run-time qualities of the software (i.e., performance and portability) through state-of-practice techniques in Exascale software development, in expense of code maintainability, as expressed by technical debt. To achieve this goal, we have performed a case study, in which the effect of run-time optimizations on technical debt has been measured. The results suggest that run-time optimizations tend to reduce TD principal, whereas the effect on interest is not consistent. The results are discussed in detail in this paper from the point of view of both researchers and practitioners.
Automatic detection of bioacoustics impulses based on kurtosis under weak signal to noise ratio

Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) of marine mammal vocalizations has been efficiently used in a wide set of applications ranging from marine wildlife surveys to risk mitigation of military sonar emissions. The primary use of PAM is for detecting bioemissions, a good proportion of which are impulse sounds or clicks. A click detection algorithm based on kurtosis estimation is proposed as a general automatic click detector. The detector works under the assumption that click trains are embedded in stochastic but Gaussian noise. Under this assumption, kurtosis is used as a statistical test for detection. The algorithm explores acoustic sequences with the optimal frequency bandwidth for focusing on impulse sounds. The detector is successfully applied to field observations, and operates under weak signal to noise ratios and in presence of stochastic background noise. The algorithm adapts to varying click center frequency. Kurtosis appears as a promising approach to detect click trains, alone or in combination with other clicks detector, and to isolate individual clicks.
EFFECT OF INJECTION PRESSURE ON THE PERFORMANCE AND EMISSION CHARACTERISTICS OF SINGLE CYLINDER DIESEL ENGINE USING ESTERIFIED COTTONSEED OIL AND NEEMSEED OIL AS BIO-DIESEL

In a modern day world alternative source of energy are given importance due to gradual depletion of fossil fuels reserves vegetable oils can be used as an alternative to diesel in CI engines. The use of vegetable oils in CI engine results in low CO and HC emissions compared to conventional diesel fuel. The present study covers the various aspects of biodiesels fuel derived from cottonseed oil and neemseed oil. Cottonseed oil and neemseed oil are converted to Cottonseed oil Methyl Esters (CSOME) and Neemseed Oil Methyl Esters (NOME) by transesterification process. Experimental investigations were carried out on single cylinder diesel engine with Bio Diesel blends of Cottonseed oil Methyl Esters and Neemseed Oil Methyl Esters. Various Tests have been carried out to examine properties, combustion, performance and emission characteristics of the engine for different blends of CSOME and NOME. Base data was generated for diesel first and subsequently, it was replaced by the Bio diesel and both the results were compared and discussed
Review of Wind Energy Technology and Associated Market and Economic Conditions in Spain

The year 2015 was a year in which more than a forty percent of the electrical energy generated by Denmark were from wind energy resources (the highest amount ever registered in the world) (World Energy Council in World Energy Resources 2016. World Energy Council, London, 2017 [1]), whereas Ireland, Portugal and Spain produced approximately 20% of its electricity from wind power (IEA Wind in IEA wind TCP 2015 annual report. International Energy Agency, Paris, 2016 [2]), and 11 of the 28 Member States of the EU had a wind energy penetration rate above 10% (WindEurope in Wind in power: 2016 European statistics, WindEurope, Brussels, 2016 [3]).
Development of new chemical tools to combat als

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that occurs in families, and sporadically in individuals. It was recently discovered that the massive expansion of a GC-rich hexanucleotide in the intron of the gen C9orf72 is its most frequent genetic cause. Many efforts have been dedicated to decipher the mechanisms by which this repeat expansion contributes to the disease. Although not completely understood, the most prominent mechanism suggested is the toxicity mediated by bidirectional transcription of RNA containing expansion of the repeated motif. These transcripts form nuclear RNA foci may sequester RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) leading to a loss of function. Recent investigations have reported on RBPs that specifically interact with quadruplex structures formed by repeat-containing C9orf72 RNAs. All these evidences make C9orf72 a very promising therapeutic target for ALS.
This proposal is focused on the development of new therapeutic tools based on targeting C9orf72 repeat-containing RNA. The objective is finding chemical agents able to counteract the toxicity induced by these RNAs. I will explore antisense and siRNA oligonucleotides containing novel chemical modifications with improved properties. I will study their structure, stability and silencing potencies. Moreover, I propose to use new screening methods to find small compounds with good affinity and specificity for C9orf72 repeats. This proposal includes an in-depth study of the binding mode of the most promising ligands by high resolution NMR, and in vivo testing. For this final aim, I will address the generation of human cerebral organoids carrying C9orf72 repeat expansion and their use to test the therapeutic strategies mentioned above.
Volumetric properties of some water+monoalkanolamine systems between 303.15 and 323.15K

Abstract Density (ρ) of aqueous solutions of monomethylethanolamine (MEA), monoethylethanolamine (EEA), dimethylethanolamine (DMEA), dimethylpropan-1-olamine (DMPA-1) and dimethylpropan-2-olamine (DMPA-2) is measured at a 5 K interval between 303.15 and 323.15 K in the range of 0 ≤ x2 ≤ 1, where x2 is the mole fraction of alkanolamines. The ρ of the monoalkanolamines is assumed to be related to respective strength of association. Excess molar volumes ( V m E ) were negative for all systems in the whole range of composition and at all temperatures with minima occurring at x2 ~ 0.35 to 0.40. The depth of minima varied as, W + DMPA-2 > W + DMEA > W + DMPA-1 > W + EEA > W + MEA. Negative V m E were explained by large size difference as well as hydrophobicity effects. Thermal expansivity (α) followed as, W + DMPA-2 > W + DMEA > W + DMPA-1 > W + EEA > W + MEA, while its excess values were found to form distinct minima. The ρ vs. x2 isotherms have been correlated with polynomials, while V m E and αE were fitted to the Redlich–Kister equation. In addition to intermolecular H-bonding, interstitial accommodation, steric effects etc. ‘hydrophobicity’ of the alkanolamines is suggested to play the most vital role for the systems under investigation.
Preparation of Zirconia Promoted Sulfated Titania System with High Catalytic Activity

SO 4 2- /TiO 2 -ZrO 2 (STZ) solid superacid catalysts were prepared using the coprecipitation-impregnation method and characterized by FT-IR, XRD, NH 3 -TPD, N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, and SEM. It was observed that the sulfur content and the specific surface area of STZ changes with the ZrO 2 content, and passes through a maximum at Zr/Ti = 1/4. The results indicate that the molar ratio of Zr/Ti and nonionic surfactant, PEG, were helpful for increasing the surface areas and stabilizing the sulfate species on the surfaces of the catalysts. The catalytic activity results were supported by the hydrolysis reaction rate of 2-methyl-1,3-dioxane (2MD) that was strongly dependent on the sulfur content in the zirconia promoted sulfated titania catalyst.
Laser epilation – launching an innovative service in the beauty shop

As a result of the project, the applicant will start performing innovative services of permanent depilation with a diode laser, which will be tantamount to diversification of current activities and sales with a completely new service. The subject of the project is the implementation of product innovation in the form of an innovative service in my company. The new service will be an innovation at company level (diversification, expansion of production with new services) and at the same time an innovation on a national scale (in Poland a service known up to 2 years), while in the region on the day of application there is no entity providing similar services for permanent hair removal with a diode laser. The aim of the project is to increase the competitiveness of my company and the specific objectives leading to its achievement are: a) Enhancing the innovation of a company by implementing product innovation in the form of a completely new innovative permanent depilation service, b) increasing employment in the enterprise, c) expanding the company’s product portfolio, d) increasing the company’s revenues and the financial stability of the company. These objectives will be achieved by launching completely innovative, innovative services. The start of the provision of these services will be possible thanks to the purchase of a device with which the permanent waxing service will be carried out. All the fixed assets to be purchased are new, the project does not provide for replacement investments. The new, innovative service of the Applicant created as part of the implementation of this Project will be dedicated to the domestic and foreign markets.
Accelerating galactic archaeology

Why most of the matter in the Universe appears to be dark, and constituted of some unknown particles, is one of the most important open questions in physics today. Here we propose to investigate the relative merits of different possibilities for the nature of this dark matter, as well as alternative proposals for the nature of the gravitational interaction, by comparing their predictions to new high spatial resolution measurements of the 3D acceleration field in the Milky Way.  These measurements will be achieved primarily by finding and analysing the many stellar streams that criss-cross our Galaxy. We have already built a stream-finding prototype that we have used with the Gaia mission’s second data release (DR2) to detect 13 new beautiful phase-space streams in the Milky Way. This project aims to develop analysis techniques that will allow us to combine data from all relevant sky surveys together with future Gaia releases to identify many other Galactic star streams. It is plausible that 100 or more streams may be identified by the end of our project. The conjoint analysis of these interwoven structures will provide us with the means to derive, for the very first time, the three-dimensional acceleration field on scales of 1-100 kpc. The streams will be used to probe the granularity of the dark matter distribution, testing whether their kinematics and sub-structure are consistent with interaction with the expected sub-halos of the standard Λ Cold Dark Matter (ΛCDM) paradigm. We will also simulate star streams in several alternative scenarios, including fuzzy dark matter, dipolar dark matter, superfluid dark matter, and modified Newtonian dynamics, and quantify their relative merits to simulations in ΛCDM. Together, these studies will test theories of gravity and dark matter theories, place the best constraints on the distribution of dark matter in our Galaxy, and probe the substructure of the dark matter, thereby setting the state of the art for the next decade.
CONVEYING AND LOCK SYSTEM

A conveying and lock system (10) for introducing a bulk material with exclusion of gas and for preventing gas exchange with a low pressure difference into a reactor(14) has a screw shaft (44) on which first windings (46) and second windings (48) are formed. Between the first and second windings (46, 48), a winding-free section (50) is formed, in which the conveyed bulk material is compacted. The compaction forms a bulk material plug which is very substantially gas-free and, during the bulk material transport, a bulk material plug is constantly formed in the conveying and lock system (10) by means of the screw shaft (44) and prevents gas exchange between the product entry and the product exit in the conveying and lock system (10).
Plano de preparação das comunidades expostas a risco tecnológico

O processo rápido e às vezes desordenado de expansão urbana tem aproximado fisicamente indústrias e população aumentando a probabilidade de exposição das pessoas a grandes acidentes tecnológicos. Alguns acontecimentos testemunham como as catástrofes que ocorreram em Seveso na Itália (1976), em Bhopal na Índia (1984), Vila Socó em Cubatão (1984) e, mais recentemente, em Alemoa, Santos (2015) e Beirute no Líbano (2020). Tal contexto mostra a necessidade de procedimentos que contemplem a definição de estratégias de intervenção, de gestão da informação e de mobilização da população nessas situações. Apresentaremos a norma publicada em setembro de 2021 concebida pelaCETESB - Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo - órgão governamental paulista, destinada a orientar os empreendimentos na elaboração do “Plano de Preparação das Comunidades Expostas a Risco Tecnológico (PPC)” a fim de preparar a comunidade local para situações de acidente tecnológico grave e, em particular, treiná-la para uma resposta adequada da população, de forma rápida, calma e ordeira.
Global policy uncertainty and international asset markets

Government policies - fiscal, monetary, and regulatory - define the rules of the game for economic agents. However, uncertainty about policy changes may affect the economy adversely as it acts as an additional source of risk. In an interconnected world economy, policy uncertainty has spillover effects beyond national borders, and becomes a global source of risk. In this context, this project investigates the relationship between global policy uncertainty - the common driver of uncertainty across countries - and international financial markets. In the aftermath of the financial crisis, it is timely and relevant to deepen our understanding of these relationships. This may, in turn, inform the development of policies that minimize the adverse impacts of uncertainty, particularly in regions of high economic integration as the Euro zone.  

First, I assemble a multi-country panel dataset that combines measures of  country-level policy uncertainty with a variety of financial instruments. I construct a new measure of global policy uncertainty and document its correlation with the term structure, volatility, and other characteristics of assets. Next, I develop a multi-country general equilibrium asset-pricing model in which unobserved government actions affect productivity. As a novel feature, I introduce asymmetric information: residents of a country have superior knowledge about their government's actions compared to foreigners. Global policy uncertainty arises from fundamental risks and information heterogeneity, and it is priced in equilibrium. I use the model to measure the importance of global and country-level uncertainty as asset pricing determinants, and to quantify the impact of uncertainty-reducing strategies such as increasing government transparency. 

The project links international finance, asset pricing, and macroeconomics, and contributes to an active literature on the consequences of policy uncertainty by exploring its international dimensions.
Space ethernet physical layer transceiver

The growing complexity of space systems is creating the need for high speed networking technologies to interconnect the different elements of a spacecraft. This interest has spurred initiatives by both ESA and NASA to define the next generation networking technologies for Space. In both cases, Ethernet has been the preferred choice due to its wide adoption in terrestrial applications and because it is fully specified in standards to ensure interoperability. 

The requirements for integrated circuits that have to operate in space are very different from those that are used in terrestrial applications. In particular, the radiation is much more intense and causes several types of effects on the devices that compromise their reliability. Therefore, special “rad-hard” design and manufacturing techniques are needed for devices that will operate in space. This means that to implement Ethernet in space systems, rad-hard Ethernet components have to be designed. 

The goal of this proposal is to design and manufacture rad-hard Ethernet PHYs (Physical layer transceivers). In particular a 10/100Mbps PHY is targeted as the first short term objective. This device will enable the use of Ethernet in space systems and also provide the starting point for the long term objective of implementing a Gigabit Ethernet PHY for space. To that end, the proposal includes a feasibility study and also contributions to the 1000BASE-T-1 Ethernet standard.

To implement the Ethernet PHYs, the consortium has significant analogue (Arquimea) and digital (IHP) design capabilities. In addition, it has also experience on the upper layers of Ethernet and its use in Space systems (TTTech) and on the design and implementation of Ethernet PHYs and Ethernet standards (Universidad de Nebrija). Finally, the electronic technology and manufacturing capabilities are also covered (ATMEL) as are the space system perspective and testing (Thales Alenia Space Spain).
APS — AUTOMATIC PATTING SYSTEM

APS SRL IS AN ITALIAN COMPANY CREATED IN MARCH 2015 TO DESIGN, DEVELOP AND MARKET A NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR THE TREATMENT AND TREATMENT OF MOST SKIN BLEMISHES. APS — AUTOMATIC PATTING SYSTEM IS A DEVICE THAT, THROUGH THE
Second generation technologies in ocean energy

The interest for renewable energies has exponentially risen in the last few years. Several factors have contributed to this growth, highlighting the increase of the energy demand, the political instability of many countries that produce fossil fuels, the high fluctuation of oil prices, the countries’ energy dependence and the concern generated by the environmental impact produced by the traditional sources of energy. This fact has boosted the development of numerous renewable energies sources and has promoted the establishment of ambitious objectives by the main world organisations, such as the one set by the European Commission of covering 20% of the energy demand with renewable energies sources by 2020. By using current marine energy harnessing technology, it would be possible to provide up to 13% of the global energy, by extracting 2,200 TWh/year.

The OCEAN_2G (Validation and pre-certification of a new 2 MW tidal energy converter) innovation project aims to validate and develop and pre-certify for its later industrialization stage an innovative full-size tidal energy harnessing system solution, ready to enter into European and global markets boosting the growth performance of industrial partners of the consortium and placing itself as a worldwide referent in the manufacturing of floating tidal energy converters.

Magallanes Renovables SL has designed, built and tested the 1:10 scale model of the platform in open water conditions, and has finalised the construction of a full-scale prototype. The outcome of this Fast Track to Innovation project is to provide a 2 MW pre-marketable floating tidal energy platform technically validated at Vigo estuary (controlled environment) and in Scotland (real operation conditions) with the involvement in the consortium of the European reference centre for tidal energy, EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre) for the pre-certification of the platform.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING WORKFLOWS FOR COMMUNICATION NETWORK PROVISIONING

According to the teachings herein, provisioning operations carried out via electronic processing in a communication network (60) benefit from the use of reordered workflows (20) having task orderings that are at least partly optimized with respect to task failure probabilities and/or resource-blocking penalties. The reordered workflows (20) are obtained by optimizing predefined provisioning workflows (10). Each predefined workflow (10) comprises two or more tasks (12) ordered along one or more task execution paths (14) in a task tree (16), according to a default task ordering that reflects any required inter-task dependencies but, in general, does not reflect any optimization in terms of failure penalties, resource blocking, etc. Among the several advantages provided by the teachings herein, carrying out provisioning operations in accordance with reordered workflows (20) wastes fewer compute cycles and reduces the needless blocking of network resources in the event of provisioning task failures.