SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
China in the Mediterranean: attraction and rejection in the Maritime Silk Road

La Chine n’a jamais développé de stratégie officielle concernant la région méditerranéenne et Pékin, à la différence d’autres puissances, s’est tenu à distance du désordre régional. Cependant, son intérêt croissant pour l’extraction et l’exploitation des ressources naturelles de trois régions – la région MENA, l’Afrique et l’Asie centrale – situées à proximité du bassin méditerranéen pourrait l’amener dans le futur à prendre une part plus active aux efforts de stabilisation de la région. En tant que « hub naturel » interconnectant ces riches régions et reliant l’Asie à l’Atlantique, le bassin méditerranéen offre des opportunités stratégiques pour développer et renforcer l’« économie bleue » chinoise. Au cours de la dernière décennie, les Chinois ont pris de nombreuses parts dans des projets d’infrastructure et de connectivité en Méditerranée. Pour l’instant, ces investissements apparaissent fragmentés et non-coordonnés. Cependant, il ne faut pas oublier que de nombreuses stratégies d’influence reposent sur des facteurs cumulatifs et redondants. Le contrôle d’infrastructures clé en matière de transport et d’énergie pourraient offrir d’importants avantages pour la projection de forces. Il est trop tôt pour déterminer la nature des ambitions chinoises en Méditerranée, mais les Européens ne doivent pas les perdre de vue.
MONITORING OF COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK AT PACKET AND OPTICAL LAYERS

A method of monitoring a communications network by monitoring (100) packet errors in one of the paths having at least two optical sections coupled in series with a break in continuity of optical transmission monitoring between the optical sections, and monitoring (105) a transmission quality of each of these optical sections. A state is detected (1 10) in which the monitored packet errors do exceed an acceptable threshold, but at the same time the transmission quality of each of the optical sections is acceptable, and an indication is transmitted (120) of the detection. This can cause a request (130) for an alternative path for the packets, or cause adapting (135) of these optical sections to reduce bit errors. This can enable handling of potential conflict between packet and optical layers, when the packet layer sees errors but the optical layer indicates no problem.
Global financial crisis 2008 and its vulnerability in SAARC countries

The key objective of the study is to analyze the impact of global financial crisis on export in countries of SAARC region. For current empirical analysis, this study used a gravity model to investigate export of final goods from SAARC countries to high income countries during the period 2003 to 2014. The independent and dependent variables were used in the natural logarithm form of dummy variables. The geographical distance between capitals of trading partners and importer’s and exporter’s GDPs are used as standard independent variables. Consequently, this study includes their dummy variables demonstrating common official language, membership in regional trading agreements and financial crisis. Therefore, to examine the impact of last crisis, model comprises dummy variable (y2007, y2008, y2009 and y2010) representing critical years of study. Moreover, this study also used random effect approach which required that at least one assumption should be fulfilled which is zero correlation of independent variables. The current study concluded that financial markets of SAARC countries remained less vulnerable to financial crisis or bad-loan crisis because of having less exposure to subprime assets and high capital to risk assets ratio. However, trade of goods and services of the SAARC countries with the developed economy resulted in negative effects on most of the SAARC countries. Moreover, the study also revealed that financial crisis had serious repercussion for the other countries of the SAARC region due to lack of appropriate response and that a timely response by countries could save the prolonged negative influence of financial crisis.
Moments in time in immersive virtual environments

This project investigates how virtual reality (VR) can be used to live through an historical event so that participants perceive themselves to be there (Place Illusion) and take the events that are happening as real (Plausibility). To provide an application focus the research will be constructed around recreating a famous rock concert from the 1980s. The specific elements of the research involve an Agent Based Model (ABM) that populates the environment with thousands of virtual characters with their behaviour driven by the music. This ABM will run in VR embedding participants as a type of agent. Agents will have personality and emotional state that can influence one another, and the actions and state of participants will also influence the unfolding of the model. Based on the predictive coding model of brain functioning a theory of Place Illusion will be developed that results in a universal measurement. Similarly, the Plausibility Illusion will be modelled and corresponding universal measure derived. Participants in VR will be embodied, so that they will have a first person perspective life-sized virtual body that moves as they do. We will exploit the concept of body ownership and its consequences for attitudinal, behavioural, cognitive and agency changes to give people unique experiences of the virtual events, and carry out a series of experiments to assess the influence of being transported back in time in a younger body has on ageing. Our recent discovery that illusory agency can be realised through virtual embodiment will be used for research on improved motor learning. To allow people to move through the environment we will investigate paradigms for virtual walking, and in particular whether the multisensory principles involved in body ownership illusions can be used to lessen simulator sickness. The long term goal of the project is to understand how to capture treasured past moments lost in time, through their reproduction in ABM inspired virtual reality.
Multistrain probiotic and lactulose in the treatment of minimal hepatic encephalopathy.

Some evidence has shown benefits of probiotics in the management of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). We evaluated the efficacy of a multistrain probiotic compound, alone and in combination with lactulose, in the treatment of MHE.This study has two parts. First, consecutive adult patients with MHE were randomized to receive lactulose (30-60 mL/day) + probiotic (200 million colony forming units of seven bacteria species/day) (Gp-LPr) or lactulose + placebo (Gp-L). In second part, a non-randomized group of patients received probiotic alone (Gp-Pr). Medication duration was for 2 weeks and patients were followed-up for another 8 weeks. Improvement in MHE status was assessed by psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES). Development of overt encephalopathy, hospitalization, and death were considered as secondary outcomes.Sixty patients (80% male, mean age 38.4 ± 9.6 years) completed the intervention. PHES significantly improved after medication in all the three groups (Gp-LPr: -3.8 ± 3.9 to -1.6 ± 3.0; Gp-L: -4.8 ± 4.1 to -1.6 ± 2.9; and Gp-Pr: -4.9 ± 3.7 to -2.1 ± 2.5, P < 0.001). After 8 weeks follow-up, improvement was maintained in Gp-LPr and Gp-Pr, but there was deterioration in those who did not receive probiotics (Gp-L: PHES score reversed to -4.8 ± 4.2). Two patients (one each in Gp-L and Gp-Pr) experienced overt encephalopathy. One patient was hospitalized due to worsening of ascites (Gp-LPr) and one due to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (Gp-L). Side effects were mild and not significantly different among the groups.Lactulose and probiotics are effective for the treatment of MHE; however, probiotics, but not lactulose, have long-term effects. More studies are required before suggesting probiotics for the standard treatment of MHE.
Aggregation and improved governance for untapping residential energy efficiency potential in the basque country

Energy retrofitting of post-World War II private multifamily residential buildings has been identified as a great challenge across Europe. Lack of adequate investment schemes, misalignment between residents' needs and grants and loans' design, complex governance and management, and fragmented demand are hindering the great energy saving potential captured in this sector, especially in South Europe, where fragmented property structure and longer return periods in energy efficiency investments complicate reaching the necessary agreements to retrofit.
To tackle this complex challenge, AGREE aims at triggering investments in energy efficient retrofitting of private multifamily residential building estates through the development and deployment of innovative and replicable mechanisms for: 
1) Demand activation and aggregation: based on an integrated approach to retrofitting that includes energy efficiency and other drivers such as improved habitability and accessibility, and benefitting from cost-effective energy retrofitting by aggregation of demand of similar building types, built at the same time and inhabited by similar populations.
2) Specific financing solution based on demand segmentation and tailored combination of grants and loans through the activation of a specific Retrofitting Fund led by the Basque Government in concertation with the private finance community, to reach traditionally excluded populations and unlock energy retrofitting in multi-ownership buildings.
3) Improved governance, ensuring residents, finance community and other relevant stakeholders' engagement along the process, as well as multilevel coordination to ensure effective policy design and implementation.
Led by the Basque Government, the AGREE consortium and relevant stakeholders will co-design and implement an innovative and replicable Deployment Package to retrofit multifamily building estates dating from 1940-80 in 3 pilot cases in the Basque Country, mobilizing an investment of about 8.5M€
Bifocals in down: A study on the effect of bifocals in children with down syndrome

N vision is reduced in most children with Down Syndrome (DS). This is an additional barrier achieving their maximum potential in development. DS is one of the most common genetic anomalies, occurring in about 14.6 in 10000 live births in the Netherlands in 2007. In the last two decades many researches has been performed to study the differences in ocular findings between children with and without DS. Some previous smaller studies by J.M. Woodhouse et al (Cardiff UK 2001-2009) and K Nanda Kumar and S.J. Leat (Toronto Canada 2009-2010) showed that bifocal correction could be a tailor-made treatment for children with DS. Therefore we started a study in children with DS in the Netherlands. Bifocals are rarely prescribed. Usually children with DS receive single vision glasses for distance. By means of our multicentre randomized controlled trail (RCT) we aim to establish whom to prescribe bifocals and to identify possible prognostic determinants (at start, baseline measurement before therapy with bifocals) for improvement of visual acuity at near. A multicentre randomized controlled trail (RCT) in 15 participating locations in the Netherlands. In order to be able to show differences between the effect of usual care and the new intervention, the bifocals, we included 110 children, 2-18 years old, with DS and accommodation deficit, who had not worn bifocals before. Bifocals were prescribed for children (n=55) in the intervention group and single vision glasses for distance were prescribed in the control group (n=55). We study the effect of these two interventions on visual acuity at near and at distance, on accommodation and occurrence of strabismus and task readiness (monitoring executive functions). Inclusion time started June 2015 and was completed March 2016. Baseline measurements such as refractive errors, near visual acuity, distance visual acuity and accommodation deficit will be presented.
Apparatus for wet spinning and stretching artificial filamentary materials, particularly viscose rayon

<PICT:0846520/IV(a)/1> In apparatus for the production of artificial threads, particularly viscose rayon, by wetspinning of the kind in which the filaments, after leaving the coagulating bath, are continuously stretched by passing them in succession over two sets of rotating rollers, the second set having a higher peripheral speed than the first, and in which the filaments, during their passage from the first set of rollers to the second, pass through a bath of hot liquid, said bath is contained in a longitudinal horizontal closed cell having an inlet for the supply of liquid, an orifice at each end for the discharge of the liquid and the passage of the filaments and also at each end, a chamber into which the orifice at the end of the cell leads, which chamber is also provided in its opposite wall with an orifice for the passage of the filaments and, in its bottom wall, with an outlet for the discharge of the liquid which continuously flows into the chamber from the cell. In the example, a bundle of filaments of regenerated cellulose, produced by the extrusion of viscose into a conventional coagulating bath, is withdrawn from the bath by a pair of co-acting rolls whose axes are horizontal and is drawn through a longitudinal horizontal closed cell 10 having an approximately elliptical cross-section and an internal height over four times its internal width. The cell is provided with end chambers 11, 111 having nozzles 12, 121 aligned with the inlet and outlet holes 13, 131 for the filaments. A liquid such as water at 95 DEG C. is introduced into the cell through the inlet 14 and is discharged from the chambers 11, 111 through the outlets 15, 151. Gases and vapours such as carbon bisulphide escape from the cell 10 through the outlet 16 in the top of the cell which slopes upwards to this outlet to prevent the trapping of any gases in the cell while spinning is in progress. The chambers 11, 111 remain filled with bath liquid and thus prevent the building up of deposits of salts at the apertures 13, 131, damage to the filaments during their passage through the apertures thus being prevented. The bundle of filaments travels from the outlet 131 of the stretching cell to a draw roll, the axis of which is vertical.
Utilizing the sound of predators to cast out wild animals

Recently, there have been many reports of damages caused by animals such as wild pigs and wild dogs in the rural farms of Korea. Damages were extensively widespread from agricultural crop and produce to domestic animals. To efficiently cast out wild animals, the recorded sound of predators such as lions and tigers was used. The speakers were installed around the farms and broadcasted the sound of predators every 3 h. Although the damages were a little bit reduced after broadcasting, it did not complete its purpose and still some damages were reported. We analyzed the recording quality of the sound and found out some deficiencies in it, the lack of low frequency sound below 100 Hz in particular. In order to improve its sound quality, we installed the speakers inside of water pipes with 1 m in diameter. As a result, we earned 90% in the index of similarity between the original crying sound and the broadcasted crying sound of predators in its sound spectra. Since the improved sound recording was broadcasted ...
Image exploitation algorithms for reconnaissance and surveillance with UAV

UAV have a growing importance for reconnaissance and surveillance. Due to improved technical capability also small
UAVs have an endurance of about 6 hours, but less sophisticated sensors due to strong weight limitations. This puts a
high strain and workload on the small teams usually deployed with such systems. To lessen the strain for photo
interpreters and to improve the capability of such systems we have developed and integrated automatic image
exploitation algorithms. An import aspect is the detection of moving objects to give the photo interpreter (PI) hints were
such objects are. Mosaiking of imagery helps to gain better oversight over the scene. By computing stereo-mosaics from
mono-ocular video-data also 3-d-models can be derived from tactical UAV-data in a further processing step. A special
instrument of gaining oversight is to use multi-temporal and multifocal images of video-sensors with different resolution
of the platform and to fusion them into one image. This results in a good situation awareness of the scene with a light-weight
sensor-platform and a standard video link.
Project of Offshore Wind Energy: Research, Experimentation, Development

POWERED aims to define a set of strategies and shared methods for the development of the off-shore wind energy in all the Countries overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Such energetic choice could allow a rapid increase of installations, thanks to the reduction of the problems related to landscape topic that are frequently the main obstacles to the creation of wind parks in high density population territories or in areas with high historical or landscape value. Also the problems related to the transport of the wind turbines of big size should be reduced, especially in Countries like Italy in which the problem of connection between the main and the suburban roads is important, because of the small dimension of the roadway. Industrial ports that overlooking the Adriatic Sea could be assume a decisive role in the development process, becoming a marshalling but also productive areas of the technological components. The main objective of the project is drafting guide lines for the realization of off-shore wind parks in the Adriatic Sea compatible with the planning and conservation policy shared among the project partners. In parallel will be identified development Sea basins for the energetic technology above mentioned. It will allow the defining of the characteristics for a project of electric submarine connection network that will enormously facilitate the exchange of energy power between Countries. The achievement of the project’s objectives will be possible thanks to the study concerning the wind resources on the Adriatic Basin, the study will be developed through numerical process and will be validated through testing method. Such validation will be possible thanks to the installation of a network of coastal weather stations and of, at least, ones marine. Such network, at he end of the project, will be functioning and will support weather forecast services.
Promoting innovative nEtworks and cLusters for mArine renewable energy synerGies in mediterranean cOasts and iSlands

The sea represents a huge resource for renewable energy (Blue Energy, BE) such as waves, tides, and marine currents. Harnessing the economic potential of this energy in a sustainable manner has been highlighted in the Commission's Blue Growth Strategy as one of key areas, where in order to build the necessary capacity and critical mass, it is necessary to involve a wide range of stakeholders. The project aims to increase the innovation capacities and cooperation of BE actors in MED through promoting a transnational cluster, bringing them together in order to develop a shared understanding of the challenges and collectively devise workable solutions. PELAGOS will establish a Cluster in Blue Energy that will promote novel technologies and provide a mix of support activities to beneficiaries such as technology providers, enterprises, financial operators, authorities, NGOs end citizens. The project will enhance internationalization of the Cluster members through a range of activities that will jointly identify opportunities of BE in Mediterranean insular and coastal regions. This will be achieved through fine-tuning of existing know-how, development of skills, identification of common business opportunities and facilitation of growth by bridging providers and users in targeted maritime industries. The development of this emerging sector can become an important part of the blue economy, fuelling economic growth in coastal regions and create new, high-quality jobs.
ASPECTOS TARIFÁRIOS DO SERVIÇO DE ABASTECIMENTO DE ÁGUA E A PRESTAÇÃO DE SERVIÇO DE SANEAMENTO POR EMPRESAS PRIVADAS EM MINAS GERAIS

A proposta deste artigo é analisar aspectos tarifários praticados pelos diferentes prestadores no estado de Minas Gerais como forma de contribuir para uma avaliação dos impactos da Lei 14.026/2020 que atualiza o marco legal do saneamento e altera leis anteriores, como as Leis 11.445/2007 e 11.107/2005, favorecendo a expansão da participação de empresas privadas no setor do saneamento.Foram realizados levantamentos das tarifas de diversos prestadores do
Identifying spatial determinants of immune cell fate commitment

The complex architecture of the mammalian hematopoietic system has been studied for decades, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying cell fate commitment remain poorly understood. Although cytokine signals are major determinants of hematopoietic cell fate, only few niches of stem and progenitor cells have been characterized. Here, we propose to resolve the cell type composition of mouse bone marrow by integrating single-cell RNA-seq with high-resolution spatial analysis of gene expression in tissue sections, visualizing ~250 cell type specific markers by multiplexed single-molecule RNA fluorescent in situ hybridization. This approach will reveal preferential co-localization of hematopoietic cells with other bone marrow-resident cell types, and globally predict niches of hematopoietic progenitor sub-types to pinpoint microenvrionmental determinants of hematopoietic cell fate. Based on this reference we will investigate the role of the microenvironment in the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), representing one of the most frequent blood cell malignancies, commonly giving rise to leukaemia with poor prognosis. To investigate conservation of microenvironmental determinants of normal and malignant hematopoietic differentiation in human, we will apply the same strategy to healthy donors and human MDS patients and compare predicted cell types, differentiation trajectories, and niche interactions to those derived from healthy mice and murine MDS models. This approach will reveal conserved niche regulators of cell fate commitment involved in disease pathogenesis, which we will functionally analyse in murine models to identify novel therapeutic targets for prevention and treatment of MDS. Our approach represents a blueprint for investigating human malignancies of under-characterized tissues by applying cutting-edge high-resolution techniques in combination with advanced computational methods to jointly analyse the murine model and human patient microenvironment.
Multiple Frequency Channel Data Distribution

An enhanced multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) implementation having a single Receive (Rx) physical (Phy) module that is arranged to receive data via one of at least two Rx radio frequency (RF) modules, which are arranged to be in communication with a coaxial cable, and at least two transmit (Tx) Phy modules respectively arranged to be in communication with two Tx RF modules, which are also arranged to be in communication with the coaxial cable.