SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
Learning to learn - medial prefrontal cortex as meta-learning system in the brain

In a changing environment the ability to continually and rapidly learn new behaviors is crucial for humans and animals to survive. How the brain stores and integrates new information without forgetting (continual learning, CL) and utilizes prior knowledge to quickly adapt to new situations (fast forward generalization, FFG) remains a mystery. To shed light on this crucial question I propose a novel interdisciplinary approach that derives inspiration from a theoretical machine-learning approach for artificial neural networks (ANN) and simultaneously addresses FFG and CL. In this dual-network model, a so-called meta-network learns to identify the context for all previous tasks and modulates a second, stimulus-processing network, in a task/context specific manner to efficiently solve the task. As a result, similar task contexts elicit the selection of similar stimulus processing networks thereby enabling FFG. In the brain, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is known to receive contextual information (environment, setting), to store task information and to project to sensory areas. This makes it a promising candidate to function as a meta-network in the brain. In the proposed study, I will investigate if and how the mPFC affects sensory processing in a task-specific manner during CL and FFG, functioning as a meta-network. I will utilize cutting-edge experimental techniques including miniaturized microscopes in freely behaving mice to record neuronal populations in mPFC during FFG and CL combined with chemo- and optogenetic tools. To investigate how mPFC affects stimulus processing on the single neuron level, I will combine calcium and voltage imaging in brain slices. This interdisciplinary project will provide novel insights into the possible implementation of meta-learning in the brain to address CL and FFG. Completion of this innovative project in the multidisciplinary environment of my host lab will provide me with the ideal setting to reach scientific independence.
A sipm upgrade for vhe astronomy and beyond

Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy in the Very High Energy (VHE, E>100 GeV) regime has fast become one of the most interesting and productive sub-fields of astrophysics today. Utilizing the Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Technique (IACT) to reconstruct the energy and direction of incoming gamma-ray photons from the universe, several source-classes have been uncovered by previous and current generations of IACT telescopes (e.g. Whipple, MAGIC, HESS, VERITAS).
The next generation IACT experiment, the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will provide increased sensitivity across a wider energy range and with better angular resolution. However, research into new and improved technology for potential upgrades of the CTA system are already being considered. 
Improving the light-collection efficiency (hence reducing the energy threshold) and field-of-view of CTA cameras is high on the agenda of future upgrades. One may also consider increasing the number of telescopes if the cost of the cameras could be significantly reduced. The primary path to these goals is to replace PhotoMultipliers (PMTs) with Silicon-PMs (SiPM). These new photodetectors will also find multi-disciplinary use in e.g. in fluorescence telescopes for detection of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays and PET scanners in medical physics.
However SiPMs are not yet mature enough to replace PMTs for several reasons: sensitivity to unwanted longer wavelengths while lacking sensitivity at short wavelengths, small physical area, high cost and electronic noise. Here we propose a novel method to build relatively low-cost SiPM-based pixels utilizing wavelength-shifting material which overcome some of these drawbacks by collecting light over a larger area than standard SiPMs and improving sensitivity to shorter wavelengths while reducing background. We aim to optimize the design of such pixels, integrating them in an actual 7-pixel cluster which will be inserted into a MAGIC camera and tested during real observations.
Knowledge, Awareness and Perception about HIV/AIDS among Primary School Teachers in Bangladesh

Objective: Information is very important to have accurate understanding of people about the modes of HIV/AIDS transmission and its prevention strategies. Teachers at all levels are always expected to play a foremost role in the provision of information to promote awareness leading to behavioral change among students. Therefore, this article is aimed to evaluate the knowledge, awareness and perception about the deadly disease HIV/AIDS among primary school teachers in Bangladesh. Materials and methods: To do so, about 120 teachers from 28 primary schools, out of 68, in Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) areas were interviewed purposively for this study using a self-administered questionnaire. Results and discussion: The results showed that the teachers serving at primary schools level were not too sure of their own knowledge about the issue. They had much misperception about the knowledge of facts, modes of transmission to reduce contamination and the modes of transmission from one person to another of HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: Government should provide adequate funding to organize and sponsor teachers to attend in training workshops, seminars and conferences related to HIV/AIDS and that the pandemic should be discussed with other for the purpose of awareness. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v13i2.18297 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.13(2) 2014 p.145-149
Hydrous ferric oxide–resin nanocomposites of tunable structure for arsenite removal: Effect of the host pore structure

Hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) loaded hybrid sorbents are considered to be excellent materials for arsenic removal from water. However, role of the host pore structure in the performance of the composites is still unclear. In the current study five HFO nanocomposites of similar HFO loadings (3.9-5.3% in Fe mass) were fabricated for arsenite removal, using self-synthesized polystyrene (PS) resins of similar particle sizes but different pore structures as hosts. Structure analysis demonstrated that the particle size of HFO aggregates decreased with decreasing pore size of PS. The adsorption of arsenite onto the nanocomposites with PS of smaller average pore size achieved equilibrium faster. Analysis of kinetic data with the intraparticle diffusion model demonstrated that arsenite adsorption onto PS-HFO nanocomposites with larger HFO particles was controlled by intraparticle diffusion whereas the limitation caused by intraparticle diffusion was weakened as the particle size of HFO decreased. The adsorption capacity of the hybrid adsorbents increased with decreased pore size of PS. These results indicated that the pore structure of the support materials would play a significant role in the performance of nanoparticle-loaded porous adsorbents.
Ai that composes complex instrumental music for movies, games, advertising and other types of digital media

Artificial intelligence is already affecting our daily lives. We are slowly growing to accept AI when it makes our lives safer or easier, but when it comes to creative pursuits we usually don’t feel the same way.
Composing talent is rare, and as a result a soundtrack can take up to 6 months in composition time & up to €500,000 in costs. The scoring process for soundtracks of entertainment content is still based on century-old methods of hiring a lot of different profiles (composers, arrangers, orchestrators, musicians, studio engineers, music supervisors, publishers) to manage the creation of quality music. While soundtracks scored by professional teams usually end up being great, the process doesn’t scale to today’s increasingly high needs for music in a fast-evolving media market. 
We are building AI that has trained itself on 30,000+ of classical music pieces from world’s greatest composers. It developed an ability to compose soundtrack music that is full of emotion.
AIVA is the first virtual artist that is recognized by SACEM—the French professional association that collects & distributes royalties and protects the rights of the original music creators. AIVA is the first AI composer that got commissioned to compose a piece for the National Day celebrations in Luxembourg & an anthem dedicated to the city of Dubai that were both performed in 2017 during the celebrations.
We are transitioning AIVA from a service to an embeddable product—an automated composition tool (Music Engine) to be used in the existing video game engines to create hours of quality unique music to support the game play at a fraction of cost of human composers. We are also positioning AIVA as a support tool for composers to speed up their work.
We plan to reach €26m revenues by 2023 with 200+ FTEs employed.
Generalized Hartree-Fock theory for the dispersion relations of interacting fermionic lattice systems

We study the variational solution of generic interacting fermionic lattice systems using fermionic Gaussian states and show that the process of "gaussification", leading to a nonlinear closed equation of motion for the covariance matrix, is locally optimal in time by relating it to the time-dependent variational principle. By linearising our nonlinear equation of motion around the ground-state fixed point we describe a method to study low-lying excited states leading to a variational method to determine the dispersion relations of generic interacting fermionic lattice systems. This procedure is applied to study the attractive and repulsive Hubbard model on a two-dimensional lattice.
A novel technology to reduce industrial dust pollution and to enable most efficient energy recovery

Industrial air pollution is a major health risk, which causes 400 000 premature deaths each year in the EU. Another 6.5 million people fall sick as air pollution causes diseases such as asthma and bronchitis. 

Manufacturing industry is one of the biggest air polluters which is why the sector needs to tackle the issue by more effective and accessible industrial dust extraction solutions.

Filtra Group Oy has developed an innovative industrial dust extraction technology, Dustcomb that complies with the current air quality regulations and enables 80% cost-cutting compared to technology used at industrial plants at the moment. 

Around 200 000 industrial plants globally are affected by new emission norms and need to install advanced filtration units in the coming years. 

Dustcomb has already conducted operational tests in SSAB steel plant. The results confirmed that our innovative fluid dynamics phenomena based solution meets all required emission standards and brings significant savings for the plant. 

In addition, our solution´s excellent cost-efficiency ratio, retrofitting compatibility, wide operating temperature tolerance, low maintenance costs, and other key benefits will ensure fast market uptake globally. We have already reached preliminary agreements with potential clients in Europe and Asia via our industrial partners.

We will generate our revenue from Dustcomb sales and regular maintenance. By 2023, we plan to reach annual installation capacity of 200 Dustcomb units, which leads to approximately €100 million turnover and 300 new jobs in the value-chain. 

We have secured all necessary resources and have an experienced team to finalize our technology development and evolve to sales-oriented emission control solutions provider.

The SME phase-2 project enables us to:
1. complete our development phase, 
2. create replicable concepts for scale-up, 
3. pilot the solution in leading steelmaking plant and 
4. start our global commercialisation phase
Mr. Gates Returns

Although basic features of journalism have remained the same over recent decades, the tasks journalists perform, the skills they need and the position they have within news organizations have changed dramatically. Usually the focus in the discourse on changes in journalism is on skills, especially on multi-media and research skills. In this paper the focus is also on the professional roles of journalists, arguing that these roles have changed fundamentally. Different trends in journalism that have caused this shift are distinguished. First, journalism has become more technical, ranging from blogging and editing video to programming and Search Engine Optimisation. At the same time, many journalists are now more “harvesters”, “managers” and “curators” of information rather than producers of news. Thirdly, journalists are expected to gather information from citizens and social media, and edit and moderate user-contributions, working as “community managers”. Lastly, many journalists are no longer employed by ...
Dynamics of Na<sup>+</sup>(Benzene) + Benzene Association and Ensuing Na<sup>+</sup>(Benzene)<sub>2</sub>* Dissociation

Chemical dynamics simulations were used to study Bz + Na(+)(Bz) → Na(+)(Bz)2* association and the ensuing dissociation of the Na(+)(Bz)2* cluster (Bz = benzene). An interesting and unexpected reaction found from the simulations is direct displacement, for which the colliding Bz molecule displaces the Bz molecule attached to Na(+), forming Na(+)(Bz). The rate constant for Bz + Na(+)(Bz) association was calculated at 750 and 1000 K, and found to decrease with increase in temperature. By contrast, the direct displacement rate constant increases with temperature. The cross section and rate constant for direct displacement are approximately an order of magnitude lower than those for association. The Na(+)(Bz)2* cluster, formed by association, dissociates with a biexponential probability, with the rate constant for the short-time component approximately an order of magnitude larger than that for the longer time component. The latter rate constant agrees with that of Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) theory, consistent with rapid intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) and intrinsic RRKM dynamics for the Na(+)(Bz)2* cluster. A coupled phase space model was used to analyze the biexponential dissociation probability.
Beveridge and his pursuit of an ideal economics: why did he come to accept Keynes’s ideas?

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine two (accidental and inevitable) reasons why W.H. Beveridge, who in 1936/1937 had rejected all of the elements of Keynes’s General Theory, came to accept it enthusiastically in the 1940s. Design/methodology/approach The paper answers this question in three steps. First, it distinguishes apparently changeable factors in Beveridge’s views, from consistent ones. Second, it looks for factors of the latter type in his three goals for economics. Third, it compares his goals with those of Keynes. Findings Beveridge’s three goals overlapped with Keynes’s ideals for economics and economists, and this is not historically accidental: economics should be useful as a basis for verification by fresh observations (as an exact science); economic knowledge should be useful in business and policy-making processes (for new kinds of educated professions); and economic studies requires a wide range of related subjects (a liberal education). Research limitations/implications This paper attempts to clarify the cognitive assumptions of the two economists. This clarification can contribute to understanding the process and reasons behind Beveridge’s acceptance of Keynesian economic theory and policies on a theoretical level. Originality/value This paper examines previously ignored reasons for Beveridge’s acceptance of Keynesian economics. Moreover, it suggests certain pre-analytic assumptions concerning the co-existence of social insurance and full employment policies. This perspective will be useful for historians of economics and the welfare state.
Promoting social interaction through emotional body odours

The way chemistry influences human communication is one of the most intriguing and debated topics. More specifically, the nature of chemosignals and their sphere of influence on social interaction is a very important key to understanding human behaviour. POTION proposes a novel technological paradigm to delve deeper into understanding meaningful social interaction, combining new knowledge about the chemical composition of human social chemosignals together with a novel olfactory-based technology designed to drive social behaviour. A first challenging analysis on human chemosignals to delineate the chemical underpinnings of the emotions of happiness and fear will be carried out since they are the representative emotions that drive approach and avoidance behaviour, i.e., the fundamental building blocks of social interaction between individuals of the same species. Results of this analysis will be used to artificially synthetize the chemosignals of these two emotions, which will provide the basis of an innovative computer-controlled odour delivery system able to drive the approach-avoidance social strategy. This breakthrough device will be controlled in a closed loop by the social-emotional state of the subjects evaluated through a novel computational neural model. The POTION system will be applied and tested in both social and clinical scenarios. In the social scenarios, we venture to reveal how olfaction clues work in managing the feelings of trust, presence and inclusion, in both virtual, real, and social media contexts. In the clinical scenario, POTION will propose a new human chemosignal-based diagnosis and treatment for social anxiety, phobias and depression, which are known to all share impaired social functioning. POTION will provide further insight to the fundamental underpinnings of human behaviour with the goal to help establish healthy social relationships through trust, leading to an overall improvement in wellbeing.
Theatre’s Place in Times of Crisis: A Conversation

ATHE 2014 featured a keynote conversation between playwright, performer, and activist-artist Luis Alfaro and interlocutor Tiffany Ana Lopez, professor of theatre, film, and digital production and Tomas Rivera Endowed Chair in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at the University of California, Riverside. Professor Lopez has been following Alfaro’s work for close to thirty years. The two first met in the early 1990s, flying from Phoenix to Flagstaff for a conference where Lopez presented for the first time on Alfaro’s work. They have been in conversation ever since, as Alfaro’s career has moved from solo performing, to co-directing the Latino Theater Initiative at the Mark Taper Forum with Diane Rodriguez (where he helped commission over 150 new plays), to his current work as a community-based artist, professor at the University of Southern California, and resident playwright with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Professors Lopez and Alfaro structured the conversation to think through theatre’s place in times of crisis, with specific reference to the idea of the citizen-artist. The following are excerpts from their hour-long conversation, which was staged against a backdrop of production stills from Alfaro’s work. Alfaro commenced the conversation with his own archival intervention—a Facebook Selfie with the ATHE audience—before proceeding to address a number of topics introduced by Lopez.
Graphene curvature, flexibility and reactivity control by means of external fields: theory and computer simulations

Graphene is a unique material with high potential for applications from high-tech to bio-tech. These capabilities are directly connected to graphene flexibility and electronic properties, as well as to the possibility of controlling them by chemical functionalization. Curvature related reactivity enhancement was shown, and curvature control has found several possible applications from H-storage and energy harvesting to biomed engineering. Thus, the control of graphene curvature is of high relevance.
The aim of GRAFLEX is to investigate the process of curvature control by means of external electric- and electromagnetic fields (EMF), and the consequent curvature-dependent interaction with H, specifically focusing on the physis- to chemi-sorption reversible conversion. EMF in the range of THz will be chosen, since coherent graphene vibrations at those frequencies correspond to the traveling nano-sized ripples producing a local dynamical modulation of the curvature.
To achieve this, we propose to use a state-of-the-art density functional (DF), DF perturbation, and trajectory based time dependent DF theories in combination with ab initio investigation of the kinetics and calculation of flexoelectricity response to the strain gradient in curved graphene.
Conducting the proposed research after carrier break will help the proponent to resume research activities and to train in 1)using the most advanced theoretical methods to investigate properties in graphene/hydrogen system; 2)observe time-resolved information to exploit curvature control process. The complementarity expertise of researchers at NANO
Bárbara Lia e o esgarçamento das fronteiras na literatura / Bárbara Lia and the Fraying of Borders in Literatura

Resumo: A pesquisa lança um olhar para a obra da escritora paranaense Bárbara Lia sob o viés de algumas das teorias que refletem sobre a arte na contemporaneidade, buscando ampliar a visibilidade da escrita de autoria feminina no Paraná. Para isso, utiliza-se os conceitos “campo ampliado”, de Rosalind Krauss (2015); “arte fora de si”, de Ticio Escobar (2004); “literaturas pós-autônomas”, de Josefina Ludmer (2010); “práticas da impertinência”, de Florencia Garramuño (2014); “práticas inespecíficas”, elaborado de forma coletiva por Celia Pedrosa, Diana Klinger, Jorge Wolff e Mario Cámara (2018), entre outros conceitos que se relacionam a esses. O artigo também apresenta a autora Bárbara Lia e alguns fragmentos de seus livros, buscando articular esses elementos com os conceitos supracitados. Conclui-se que o esgarçamento na obra de Bárbara Lia se manifesta, principalmente, pela ideia de “não lugar” e por meio do diálogo que a escritora estabelece com as outras artes. Palavras-chave: Literatura contemporânea; escrita de autoria feminina; campo ampliado. Abstract: The research takes a look at the work from Paraná writer Bárbara Lia through some of the theories that reflect about art in contemporary times, seeking to increase the visibility of women authorship writing in Paraná. Therefore, it uses the concepts of “expansive field”, by Rosalind Krauss (2015); “art outside itself”, by Ticio Escobar (2004); “post-autonomous literatures”, by Josefina Ludmer (2010); “impertinence practices”, by Florencia Garramuño (2014); “unespecified practices”, collectively elaborated by Celia Pedrosa, Diana Klinger, Jorge Wolff e Mario Cámara (2018), among other concepts that relate to these ones. The paper also presents the author Bárbara Lia and some fragments of her books, seeking to articulate these elements with the aforementioned concepts. It is concluded that the fraying in Bárbara Lia’s work is manifested mainly by the idea of “non-place” and through the dialogue that the writer establishes with other arts. Keywords: Contemporary literature; women authorship writing; expansive field.
Overexpression of a lethal methylase, M.TneDI, in E. coli BL21(DE3)

A pET-based vector pDH21 expressing the methylase, M.TneDI (recognizing CGCG) from Thermotoga was constructed, and transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3). Despite E. coli BL21(DE3) being McrBC positive, 30 transformants were isolated, which were suspected to be McrBC(-) mutants. The overexpression of M.TneDI was verified by SDS-PAGE analysis. Compared to the previously constructed pJC340 vector, a pACYC184 derivative expressing M.TneDI from a tet promotor, the newly constructed pDH21 vector improved the expression of the methylase about fourfold, allowing complete protection of DNA substrates. This study not only demonstrates a practical approach to overexpressing potential lethal proteins in E. coli but also delivers a production strain of M.TneDI that may be useful in various in vitro methylation applications.