SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
The European Union and the Democratization Process of the Western Balkans

This paper considers democratization process in the Western Balkans and the influence of the European Union on this process. After the fall of communism European Union has been deeply involved in the transformation of the post-communist societies in the Eastern Europe. The lack of democratic tradition, complexity of democratic process, weak institutions and weak civil society have been among the main obstacles for quick transition. Yet many authors have argued that the EU membership has been one of the most important foreign policy goals of the post-socialist governments and a foreign policy tool of European Union. The EU has been using a leverage of prospect of EU membership and EU conditionality for implementing certain policies, hence trying to encourage the democratization process. This paper compares a democratization process in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) with one in the Western Balkans, and looks at EU conditionality and its impact on the democratization process of the Western Balkan states. We argue that the prospect of EU membership has influenced democratization in the Western Balkans to some extent, but the implementation of reforms has been superficial in some policy areas due to ostensible compliance with EU rules of the political elites.
Brown men, Black women, White anxiety

Les mariages mixtes entre migrants indiens et femmes autochtones en Afrique orientale britannique n’ont jamais fait l’objet d’une étude historique. À partir d’archives coloniales et de sources indiennes, cet article explore ce sujet peu étudié et met en évidence la disparité existante entre les préoccupations raciales de l’administration coloniale et l’expérience vécue des premiers pionniers indiens (d’anciens « engagés », des marchands et des fonctionnaires). Aux yeux des administrateurs coloniaux, soucieux de réguler la migration indienne au sein de l’Empire, les enfants nés de ces mariages mixtes remettaient en question la classification raciale sur laquelle les politiques coloniales et le contrôle des terres étaient fondés, tout en étant la preuve de l’installation permanente des Indiens dans la région. Par contraste, l’analyse d’histoires de familles indo-kenyanes suggère que des facteurs culturels tels que l’appartenance religieuse jouaient un rôle plus important que l’identité raciale dans l’acceptation de ces unions. Il apparaît aussi que les familles mixtes pouvaient, dans certains cas, mettre à mal les catégories raciales établies et contourner les mesures ségrégationnistes à leur avantage.
VISTORIA - PAYSAGES HISTORIQUES DE L'EUROPE

Throughout history, human activity has shaped our urban, suburban and rural landscapes. Whether landscapes are natural or inhabited, are the sites of historic, artistic or even literary events or just of everyday activities, they deserve to be spared from the erosion inflicted by the imprints – some deep and indelible – that are gradually covering our territories. Whether through extensive monocultivation or excessive coastal development subjected to seasonal occupation by mass tourism, it is clear that the main agent for the destruction of landscapes is often an economic activity. The interdisciplinary partnership set up within the VISTORIA project aims to propose both a policy for awareness and protection and an economic strategy that considers landscape as the cultural aspect of sustainable land use. Overall objective / Objectif général To build a permanent partnership to deal with landscape problems; to set up a theoretical procedure for evaluating landscapes based on their history; to establish a plan for tourism based on sustainable land development; to establish a communication strategy to disseminate the notions of respect and fragility in line with the principles advocated by the European Landscape Convention (ELC). Expected results / Résultats attendus Promotion of local channels for economic use (tourism) of landscapes, based on respect for the principles advocated by the ELC; fairer distribution of tourism flows. Economic use of landscape should entail adoption of initiatives for protection by all those benefiting from the landscape. In this way measures to maintain the historical and natural environment – often unpopular because they are costly – will be seen as investments.
Łódź für die Wirtschaft – Internationalisierung der Aktivitäten der Unternehmen von der Woiwodschaft Łódź durch Teilnahme an der Weltausstellung EXPO 2020 in Dubai

Das Projekt betrifft Aktivitäten im Bereich der Internationalisierung und wirtschaftlichen Förderung strategischer Wirtschaftssektoren der Woiwodschaft Łódź in den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten durch die Teilnahme an der Weltausstellung EXPO 2020 in Dubai, um das umfassende Handelsangebot von Lodz zu fördern und den internationalen wirtschaftlichen Rang der Region zu erhöhen. Die Hauptziele des Projekts sind: Internationalisierung von Unternehmen aus den Schlüsselindustrien von Lodz, Förderung der Region als Geschäftspartner, Aufbau eines Netzwerks der internationalen wirtschaftlichen Zusammenarbeit, Erhöhung des Außenhandelsniveaus sowie Steigerung des wirtschaftlichen Profils der Region. Das Projekt umfasst Werbemaßnahmen, die sich positiv auf die Erreichung der Projektziele auswirken und unter Verwendung verschiedener Marketing-Kommunikationsinstrumente durchgeführt werden. Das Projekt passt in die strategischen Richtungen der Aktivitäten der Regionalentwicklungsstrategie 2020, der Investitionspolitik der Region und der regionalen intelligenten Spezialisierungen der Woiwodschaft Lodz. Durch die Gewinnung von Partnern und Investoren aus den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten und die Erhöhung der Anzahl ausländischer Investitionen und den Abschluss von Handelsverträgen wird das Projekt direkte Auswirkungen auf die strategischen Wirtschaftsbereiche von Lodz haben. Zielgruppen des Projekts sind Unternehmer aus der Region Lodz. Der Umfang des Projekts umfasst: 1. Eine Werbekampagne für Unternehmer in der Woiwodschaft Lodzkie. 2. Teilnahme an der Dubai Expo. 3. Durchführung von Werbemaßnahmen zur Präsentation der Woiwodschaft Łódź auf der Expo Dubai 2020.
Formative Assessment. From pandemic practices to sustainable perspective through active learning approaches

The contribution examines the assessment aspects and the approaches of formative assessment in an active teaching perspective in support of the learning outcomes in the context of the Pandemic school. For this purpose, we will discuss the data from a survey conducted in 2020 by the Indire Observatory which involved over 3,700 Italian teachers of all school levels. Statistical findings show that forced distance teaching has highlighted school limit and potential. Emerges a need for active teaching and the support of formative evaluation in order to develop metacognition and critical thinking in learning processes.&#x0D; &#x0D; La valutazione formativa. Dalle pratiche in pandemia verso approcci sostenibili di didattica laboratoriale.&#x0D; Il contributo approfondisce gli aspetti valutativi e gli approcci della valutazione formativa in una prospettiva di didattica attiva a sostegno dei risultati degli apprendimenti nel contesto della scuola della Pandemia. In proposito, si discutono i dati di un’indagine condotta nel 2020 dall’Osservatorio di Indire che ha coinvolto oltre 3.700 docenti italiani di tutti gli ordini di scuola. Dai riscontri statistici si rileva come la didattica forzatamente a distanza abbia messo in luce limite e potenzialità della scuola forzatamente a distanza. Emergono la necessità di una didattica attiva e del sostegno di una valutazione formativa per lo sviluppo della metacognizione e del senso critico nei processi di apprendimento.
New concept of affordable wind energy generators without blades

We have developed a resource-efficient and affordable bladeless Vortex wind generator. VORTEX Bladeless´ innovative wind turbine represent a true breakthrough in the wind energy market. The Vortex wind generator device represents a new paradigm of harnessing wind, with a new disruptive concept of a wind power generator without blades. VORTEX is able to capture the wind kinetic energy by 'vortex shedding', transforming it into electricity. The technology seeks to improve issues such as maintenance, amortization, noise, environmental impact, logistics and visual aspect, performing a secure, clean and efficient energy product, that is half cheaper than current small wind turbines (SWT).
VORTEX make renewable energies, (replacement of PV, wind energy, combination of both) more financially accessible for our end-users: ESCOS, installation companies, businesses, home-owners, vessels, isolated housed, telecom station, etc. Clients will benefit from this new technology, especially in areas where solar energy does not perform well. Vortex has yielded excellent results and lots of industry and commercial interest.
We have a 6-meter Vortex Bladeless wind turbine pilot in Spain, which generates up to 40% of energy solely from wind. The technology has been tested for scalability.. Our goal for Phase 2 is to scale-up and test a 2,75–meter version of the Vortex Wind Generator (providing 100W  for future commercialization and massive market uptake. We want to achieve the goals of becoming the designer, manufacturer and seller of the first-ever bladeless wind generator for the Small Wind Market (SWM).
Combing our patented and market-backed technology with improved properties, we want to reinvigorate the SWM - addressing EU 2020 energy targets - with our Vortex Bladeless wind generators, positioning us as leader of the sector. Our end-users will also see their pay-back returned within 5 years, thanks to its market-changing commercialization price
New method to reduce NO&lt;SUB&gt;x&lt;/SUB&gt; emissions of diesel engines: electronically controlled steam injection system

In this study, the electronically controlled water steam injection (ESI) system was introduced as a new method to reduce NOx emissions. In this system, the energy required for obtaining steam was supplied from exhaust gases. Throttling by injector, pressured and heated water, which is in the form of saturated liquid, becomes superheated steam; thus, the corrosion problem caused by condensation is prevented. It was determined in full load condition engine tests that NOx emissions reduce up to 33%, power and moment increase up to 3% and specific fuel consumption decrease up to 5%. When a steam injection system was tried in engine running with 20% biodiesel, it was determined that all the emission parameters, also including NOx, reduced. As a result, the ESI system is considered to be an important method that can be adapted easily in cruise ships, ferries sailing in continental waters and merchant ships in order to reduce NOx emissions.
Relations between coping skills and situational efficacy in young female volleyball players.

A sample of 180 junior female Croatian volleyball players and younger took part in the measurement of their psychological skills, performed by applying the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28). Regarding team ranking in the competition and player quality within the team, all the participants were divided into 5 groups of different situational efficacy. In order to determine the differences in the level of psychological coping skills between the groups of players, a one-way ANOVA and discriminant analysis were performed. It was determined that the most successful players had the strongest selfconfidence and motivation, and that they were additionally characterized by the ability of good performance under pressure. The least successful players were characterized by constant worry about performing poorly or making mistakes, and concern with what other people would think about them if they do happen to make a mistake.
Urbanisation-driven land degradation and socioeconomic challenges in peri-urban areas: Insights from Southern Europe

Climate change and landscape transformation have led to rapid expansion of peri-urban areas globally, representing new 'laboratories' for the study of human-nature relationships aiming at land degradation management. This paper contributes to the debate on human-driven land degradation processes by highlighting how natural and socioeconomic forces trigger soil depletion and environmental degradation in peri-urban areas. The aim was to classify and synthesise the interactions of urbanisation-driven factors with direct or indirect, on-site or off-site, and short-term or century-scale impacts on land degradation, focussing on Southern Europe as a paradigmatic case to address this issue. Assuming complex and multifaceted interactions among influencing factors, a relevant contribution to land degradation was shown to derive from socioeconomic drivers, the most important of which were population growth and urban sprawl. Viewing peri-urban areas as socio-environmental systems adapting to intense socioeconomic transformations, these factors were identified as forming complex environmental 'syndromes' driven by urbanisation. Based on this classification, we suggested three key measures to support future land management in Southern European peri-urban areas.
Cigarette Smoking and Nephrolitiasis in Adult Individuals

Background: Nephrolithiasis is a widespread multifactorial disorder. Constitutional, environmental and genetic factors play a role in stone formation. Although important advances have been made in understanding the pathophysiology of stone formation, none of the many theories have given a satisfactory explanation of this process. Objectives: The objective of study was to evaluate the probable relationship between cigarette smoking and nephrolitiasis in adult men. Patients and Methods: A total of 102 cases diagnosed with nepholithiasis and 121 age-matched healthy controls were recruited from June 2010 to September 2011. Smoking status and resultant data was obtained from both groups. Results: Twenty seven (26.5%) of the patients with stones and eighteen (14.9%) of the control group were current cigarette smokers. Our findings showed that smoking significantly increases the risk of nepholithiasis (OR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.06-4.01, P = 0.034). There was no significant difference in the number of cigarettes smoked (P = 0.830) and years of smoking (P = 0.536) between subjects with and without stones (P = 0.536). Conclusions: This study suggests that cigarette smoking might be an independent risk factor for the development of nephrolithiasis.
PLANT GROWTH REGULATOR COMPOUNDS

The present invention relates to novel strigolactam derivatives, to processes for preparing these derivatives including intermediate compounds, to plant growth regulator or seed germination promoting compositions comprising these derivatives and to methods of using these derivatives in controlling the growth of plants and/or promoting the germination of seeds.
METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SURFACE CONTACT AREA OF A PAPER OR BOARD SUBSTRATE

The application relates to a method for controlling contact area of a paper or board substrate (13) by depositing a trace amount of particles (11) on the surface of said substrate, and to a paper or board substrate treated in this way. The use of electrostatic deposition of coating materials, e.g. calcium stearate, alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) gives improved control on contact and surface characteristics. The particles are deposited in an amount ranging form 10-5-100 g/m2.
Synthesis, characterization, and antioxidant activity of a new Gd(III) complex

A new gadolinium(III) complex of 5-aminoorotic acid (HAOA) was synthesized by reaction of the respective inorganic salt in molar ratio of 1:3 to ligand. The structure of the complex was determined by elemental analysis, FT-IR, and FT-Raman spectroscopies. Significant differences in the IR and Raman spectra of the complex were observed as compared to the spectra of the free ligand. Detailed vibrational analysis of HAOA and Gd(III)-AOA systems revealed that the binding mode in the complex was bidentate through the carboxylic oxygens. The newly synthesized gadolinium(III) complex of 5-aminoorotic acid (GdAOA) showed antioxidant properties. The antioxidant activity of both HAOA and GdAOA was related with their electron donor properties.
indagine comparativa su alcuni aspetti iconografici del ms. Yates Thompson 36

Il manoscritto Yates Thompson 36 della British Library è un codice che per la straordinaria ricchezza dell’apparato illustrativo, realizzato da Giovanni di Paolo e da un’ignota mano senese, ha a lungo richiamato l’acceso interesse della critica, che ne ha approfonditamente indagato le miniature sia dal punto di vista stilistico sia iconografico. Quest’articolo mira ad aumentare e affinare l’attuale conoscenza del ms. Yates Thompson 36, e dell’illustrazione dantesca in generale, attraverso un’analisi iconografica di alcuni personaggi infernali condotta in un’ottica comparativa, che tiene conto delle principali scelte figurative degli altri manoscritti miniati del poema.
SUstaiNable WATER supply networks in Mediterranean touristic areas

SunWater project aims to improve the efficiency and the sustainability of Water Distribution Networks in urban touristic areas as a strategic asset to sustainable growth in the Programme area. The valorization of the natural resources includes activities related to protection from pollution in the water supply chain. In order to do that the partners are targeting and enhancing the assessment of current leakages and water quality, using innovative strategies and tools.

Lead Beneficiary of the project is the Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Igoumenitsa. The other beneficiaries are the Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Zakynthos, the Polytechnic University of Bari-Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture and Acquedotto Pugliese S.p.A. Two Associated Partners complete this important partnership: the Hellenic Association of Municipal Enterprises for Water Supply and Sewerage and the institution of Utilitalia.
Attitudes to the challenges of life among different occupation groups

To determine the attitudes of some occupation groups towards challenges. Materials and methods: In the present study, data were collected by administering the Fatih-Bursa Scale of Attitude to Challenges (F.B.-SATC) to various occupation groups. The participants were divided into 6 occupation groups: healthcare workers, educators, technical staff (engineers, architects, etc.), self-employed people, security staff (police offices, military staff), and housewives. Data were assessed with a F.B.-SATC scoring system measuring attitudes towards challenges. The scale has 5 factors: Thoughts about Challenges (TAC), Outlook on Life (OL), Problem Solving (PS), Targets and Ideals (AI), and Social State (SS) factors. The tool included 26 questions and is answered by a 5 point Likert-type rating scale. Results: Four hundred and fifty-three individuals (205 male and 248 female) participated in the study. Average factor scores of housewives were lower than the scores of the other groups. High scores were shared by healthcare workers and security staff. In dual comparisons, healthcare workers had the highest score in TAC scores and they were significantly higher than educators and housewives (P = 0.027, P < 0.001, respectively). Their OL scores were significantly higher than educators (P = 0.011), security staff (P = 0.003), technical staff (P = 0.003), and housewives (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The effect of the type of occupation on individuals’ attitudes towards challenges varies. Precautions should be taken for some occupation groups; guidance should be provided and social studies should be performed.
Integrated microfluidic platform for proteomic and genetic exosome detection

In order to adapt treatment to the multicity of cancer types, cancer patient management has been revolutionized in the past decades by personalized medicine. As part of this strategy, liquid biopsy has emerged as a non-invasive approach for personalized diagnostics and treatment. So far, this approach has focused on circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA. However, extracellular vesicles termed exosomes, which are implicated in cellular communication and molecule transfer, have risen as promising biomarkers for earlier and more accurate detection.   The IMPED project aims at developing a next-generation technology able to extract and analyse single exosomes or sub-groups of exosomes on both the proteomic and genomic level. This platform will offer beyond state-of-the-art information on the involvement of exosomes in cancer development. It has the potential to increase the precision of liquid biopsy analysis and provide clinically relevant insight for personalized cancer management.    Toward this goal, the IMPED project will gather three technologies allowing low-cost extraction and analysis of exosomes from human plasma:  (1) Continuous label-free extraction of exosomes from complex matrices (plasma) using thermophoresis  (2) Proteomic profiling of single exosomes immobilized on a nanoarray with possibility of release  (3) Droplet-based reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of exosomes for RNA content analysis    To our knowledge, this would be the first technology to couple intra- and extra-vesicle detection on a single/subpopulation exosome level within a single platform. The IMPED project is interdisciplinary, connecting physics, microfluidics and bioassay development for biomedical applications.
enhanced sustainable mobility with marketing techniques

“e-smartec” project is designed to strengthen the urban dimension of regional and local mobility policymaking, contributing to the implementation of the EU Transport White Paper, Urban Agenda and EU 2020 with a view to transit to a low carbon economy. Many European urban areas face a series of environmental challenges linked to mobility – congestion linked to air pollution. Based on the experience, sustainable urban mobility planning cannot be achieved without the commitment of key stakeholders and travellers and given this need, e-smartec proposes accompanying each step of mobility planning with the deployment of targeted marketing techniques for linking bottom-up and top-down decision making. Users’ engagement in mobility planning is often a big challenge for authorities since it requires deep knowledge of marketing and sociological aspects – overcoming this threat (of developing plans that are not acceptable by the public, thus ineffective) is the central axis of the experience exchange among authorities and experts in e-smartec project. e-smartec aims in developing action plans to start and implement effective (acceptable from both stakeholders and travellers/citizens-tourists) mobility interventions. This is the basis for a competitive, resource efficient and low carbon oriented European transport system. The 9 e-smartec partners, from 7 EU countries representing the 6 e-smartec test-bed areas, join their forces in an ultimate goal to provide tailored guidelines on citizens’ and stakeholders engagement marketing techniques; innovative for decision-making traditional procedures although widely and effectively used in the business sector - Crowdsourcing, social media, personalized communication for awareness raising&behavior influence, “Word of Mouth communication”, “Wheel of Persuasion”&“Sustainable Market Segmentation”. Among project’s tangible outcomes are handbooks on engagement supplementing the different steps of plans and strategies development.