SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
Fighting the Resource Curse

The resource curse can strike countries that export high-value natural resources, such as oil, metals and gems. Resource-exporting countries are more prone to authoritarian governance, they are at higher risk of civil wars and they tend to suffer economic dysfunctions such as corruption and slower growth.1 Associations between resources and these pathologies are seen in the list of the ‘Big Five’ African oil exporters: Algeria, Angola, Libya, Nigeria and Sudan. The recent histories of mineral exporters support the correlations: for example, ‘blood diamonds’ fuelled Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war, and the continuing conflict in the metal-rich Democratic Republic of the Congo has cost hundreds of thousands of lives. The phenomenon is not solely African: Syria, Yemen and Turkmenistan, for example, are also resource-cursed. Moreover, poor governance in resource-cursed countries can engender follow-on pathologies, such as a propensity to cause environmental damage both domestically (for example, through the destruction of forests) and globally (through increased greenhouse gas emissions). Most research on the resource curse has focused on the exporting countries. Here I focus instead on major importing countries, especially those in the G8. First I survey how the resource curse endangers the core interests of importing states, and how the laws of importing states drive the resource curse. The second half of the article describes a new policy framework for importing states that will improve international trade in resources for both importing and exporting countries.
HANDLING ASSEMBLY INTENDED TO EQUIP THE CHASSIS OF A VEHICLE, FOR MOUNTING, REMOVING AND/OR DUMPING AND TRANSPORTING ANY TYPE OF CONTAINER

The invention relates to a handling assembly (1) intended to equip the chassis of a vehicle, for mounting, removing and/or dumping and transporting any type of container, said assembly comprising: a subframe formed by two longitudinal sections or side-members (2) and (3) braced by at least one end cross-member (4) and at least one intermediate cross-member (5); a three-part handling arm (6) formed by a rocker (6a) hinged to the end cross-member (4) and an intermediate part forming a beam (6b) having one end hinged to the rocker (6a) about a shaft (7) and another end provided with a stem (6c); and at least one double-acting lifting jack (8), the cylinder end of which is hinged to the intermediate cross-member (5) or to an element (9) mounted between the two cross-members (4) and (5). According to the invention, the other end of the jack (8), i.e. the rod end, is hinged to the handling arm (6) by means of a system of links (11, 12).
Effect of pregnancy in asthma on health care use and perinatal outcomes

It is generally known that pregnancy in asthmatic patients increases the risk of asthma exacerbations and poor perinatal outcomes. However, the effect of pregnancy in asthmatic patients on health care use is not known well. In addition, its effect on perinatal outcomes is still controversial because of study limitations caused by ethical issues. National Health Insurance claim data are an ideal resource for studying real-world health care use patterns of asthma.We sought to evaluate the effect of pregnancy on asthma in terms of asthma-related health care use and prescription patterns in concert with the effect of asthma exacerbations on adverse pregnancy outcomes.Among all asthmatic patients in the Korean National Health Insurance claim database from January 2009 to December 2013, pregnant women who delivered in 2011 with pre-existing asthma were enrolled. Analyses included asthma-related health care use and prescription patterns compared between pregnant asthmatic women and nonpregnant female asthmatic control subjects, as well as within the pregnant subjects from before pregnancy throughout postpartum periods. In addition, the association between asthma exacerbation during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes was assessed.A total of 3,357 pregnant asthmatic patients were compared with 50,355 nonpregnant asthmatic patients, and 10,311 pregnant patients were included to determine the effect of asthma exacerbations on adverse pregnancy outcome in the study. Pregnant asthmatic patients underwent more asthma-related hospitalizations (1.3% vs 0.8%, P = .005) but had significantly fewer outpatient visits and prescriptions for most asthma medications than nonpregnant asthmatic patients. The proportion of patients ever hospitalized gradually increased throughout pregnancy (first trimester, 0.2%; second trimester, 0.5%; and third trimester, 0.7%; P = .018). The prevalence of asthma exacerbation during pregnancy was 5.3%, and the patients who had acute exacerbation during pregnancy had significantly higher asthma-related health care use in terms of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, and emergency department and outpatient visits within 1 year before delivery than those who had not. However, asthma exacerbation during pregnancy was not significantly related to adverse perinatal outcomes, except for cesarean section (27.1% vs 18.9%, P < .001). All exacerbations were managed with systemic corticosteroids, and the patients who ever experienced acute exacerbations maintained asthma medications, including inhaled corticosteroid-based inhalers, throughout the pregnancy period.Pregnancy profoundly affects asthma-related health care use but to a different degree depending on whether the patient experienced an exacerbation. Asthma exacerbation during pregnancy is not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes while managed appropriately with systemic corticosteroids. However, further studies are needed to clarify the effect of asthma control on perinatal outcome and delivery method.
Neuroprosthesis user interface based on residual motor skills and muscle activity in persons with upper limb disabilities

In this project, I will develop a user interface that will allow persons with upper limb disabilities to control neuroprosthesis using their residual motor skills. This interface will consist of inertial sensors (IMU) and electromyography (EMG) that are capable of capturing movements and muscle contraction that even persons with high tetraplegia still can control. The interface will also be able to learn different inputs, customizing the system for each user. This requires techniques of machine learning, making it flexible and indicated for users with different upper limb disabilities, such as spinal cord injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis. The machine learning techniques will classify the user inputs into desired commands, working as an intention decoder. The interface will be used to control a hybrid upper limb neuroprosthesis based on surface functional electrical stimulation (FES) and a semi passive mechanical orthosis. The system will allow users to perform activities of daily life independently. To my knowledge, such a hybrid system with FES, and controlled by an interface based on IMUs, EMG and machine learning techniques is novel. I will be working with Christine Coste, an expert in neuroprosthesis for disabled persons, and her interdisciplinary team, which consist of engineers and health professionals with vast experience in neurorehabilitation. This fellowship will enable the transfer of knowledge between her team and me through experiments with real patients and mutual training. I can contribute to the team with my expertise in machine learning and control, whereas they have vast access to patients, medical doctors, mechanical designers, electrical stimulators and sensors. This project is going to be an important step in my career as expand my network in Europe, develop my skills as a biomedical engineer and improve my research experience towards becoming a world-leading expert in neurorehabilitation engineering.
Estructura de Fondeo y Desempeño Financiero. Estudio Empírico en Cooperativas de Ahorro y Crédito del Segmento 1 en Ecuador

La presente investigación, aplicada en las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito (COAC) del segmento 1 del Ecuador, tiene como objetivo analizar la relación entre estructura de fondeo y desempeño financiero en un período anterior al inicio de la pandemia del Covid-19. Para dicho fin se utilizó el estimador de los errores estándar corregidos para panel (PSCE). La información fue obtenida de la Superintendencia de Economía Popular y Solidaria del Ecuador (SEPS) y de los sitios web de cada COAC, generando una base de datos compuesta por tres matrices: la primera relacionada con la estructura de fondeo, la segunda con las características de la COAC y la tercera con variables macroeconómicas. Los principales resultados apuntan a un impacto positivo, pero estadísticamente no significativo, del patrimonio en la autosuficiencia financiera. Por otro lado, se evidenció que los recursos financieros del público con mayor costo influyen negativamente en el desempeño de las COAC, sugiriendo la necesidad de una estructura de fondeo menos onerosa para las cooperativas.
An exascale aware and un-crashable space-time-adaptive discontinuous spectral element solver for non-linear conservation laws

The dynamics of fluids and plasma is described by non-linear conservation laws. Transient behaviour on multiple scales involving turbulence and shocks is intrinsic to these problems. Due to their low dispersion and dissipation errors, adaptive high order numerical methods currently receive growing attention in academia and industry and form an emerging key technology. The potential benefits are massively improved computational efficiency and drastic reduction in memory consumption. Both benefits can be easily justified theoretically, in particular for a space-time adaptive high order method. However, due to high algorithmic complexity, the theoretical performance is difficult to sustain on massively parallel supercomputers. The first challenge that we will address in this project is to design novel, exascale aware, space-time adaptive algorithms and implement them in an open source solver that will scale on over 10^6 computing cores. Another indispensable property for the successful industrialisation of space-time adaptive high order methods is robustness. Robustness, i.e. an ""un-crashable"" solver, which still retains all the positive benefits of the high order scheme is the ""holy grail"" of the current research on these methods. This requires new mathematical concepts. The second challenge we will address here is to construct a provable un-crashable, space-time adaptive, high order solver without excessive artificial dissipation. Our mathematical key to achieve robustness is not intuitive at first sight: skew-symmetry. We will show that a specific skew-symmetric formulation guided by careful mathematics will allow us to design methods that are consistent with the second law of thermodynamics. This physical consistency is important as it will enable us to construct a new class of un-crashable space-time adaptive high order methods. We will demonstrate the supremacy of this efficient and robust solver in complex large scale science and engineering applications.
A STAMPABLE POLYMERIC COMPOSITE CONTAINING AN EMI/RFI SHIELDING LAYER

A stampable thermoplastic composite having at least one thermoplastic layer and at least one shielding layer. The shielding layer comprises a material having an elongation to break of at least 8 percent, and the composite having an EMI/RFI shielding effectiveness of at least 30 db.
Alpine Building

With the 2020 targets, the EU has set itself the ambitious task to make the way for a carbon-neutral future. The EU energy efficiency directives for the building sector (2002/91 / EC, 2010/31 / EU, 27/2012 / EU) were implemented in South Tyrol by the BLR NR. 362/2013 and in Austria by the "OIB Guideline 6". Both regions have adopted ambitious energy strategies (Salzburg2050, KlimaLand Strategy). Energy efficiency policies are implemented by complex and costly measures and procedures for the building envelope and by a large number of housing technology. They often fall short of the expected savings rates for energy, CO2 emissions, the ecological footprint and maintenance costs. At the same time, the increasing overall complexity of the system "building" requires detailed knowledge of specialized local SMEs in the construction industry, planners and users of the buildings. _x000D_
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The project "Alpines Bauen - Low Tech" aims to find “technology-saving” solutions through analysis, good practices and the use of local expertise that increase energy efficiency throughout the entire life cycle of the building, making it environmentally and economically viable by keeping the high standards for the performance, practicability and comfort. The acquired knowledge will be passed to construction-related local SMEs, stakeholders and the population in order to promote cost-effective, high-quality and greener building in the Alpine area.
Optimization Of The Fatigue Resistance Of Nitinol Stents Through Shot Peening

Abstract “Nitinol” (NiTi) is an intermetallic alloy of approximately equal atomic percentages of nickel and titanium that is widely used in less invasive and self-expanding implantable medical devices such as cardiovascular stents, due to its superelastic, shape memory and biocompatibility properties. Most of its applications in the medical industry involve the application of repeated stresses or strain cycles that drive the need of increasing the fatigue and fracture resistance of this alloy. The Nitinol stent supporting a biological heart valve prosthesis is considered one such example and is the critical structural component in many of the heart valve prostheses. Continuous effort is made to increase the fatigue resistance of these cardiac devices through experimenting with various manufacturing and surface treatment techniques. This study proves that the shot peening (SP) process improves the fatigue resistance of Nitinol stents and also describes the effect of different peening intensities on the treated surfaces, through the application of the Almen test.
Product configuration in construction

Construction is traditionally a trade that produces unique, one-off products designed specifically for individual projects via an engineer-to-order process. However, recently developed flexible product platforms based on the theory of mass customisation offer product flexibility with affordable costs. The degree of commonality between products can also be increased by applying the products-in-products concept. This study aims to conceptualise and test theories of mass customisation through modularisation for applications in the construction industry. Three case studies on building and infrastructure construction projects using different specification processes (modify-to-order, configure-to-order and select-variant) are presented. The results show that the products-in-products concept is useful for enabling mass customisation in construction. While select-variant specification is compatible with relatively integral designs, the architecture must have a modular structure to enable modify-to-order or configure-to-order customisation.
(7161.24052017.110000401) CANADA EXPORT PROMOTION

OUR PROJECT CALLED “CANADA EXPORT PROMOTION” HAS AS ITS OBJECTIVE THE COMMERCIAL INCLUSION IN THE CANADIAN MARKET OF OUR COMPANY SPECIALISED IN THE PRODUCTION OF MEDIUM-HIGH-END SNEAKER SHOES; DOES THE CANADIAN MARKET HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL? ABSORPTION FOR OUR COLLECTIONS, CHARACTERISED BY CONTINUOUS STYLISTIC RESEARCH AND A HIGH QUALITY STANDARD, THE RESULT OF THE INSPIRATION OF CREATIVE DIRECTIONS AND THE ORGANISATION AND CONTROL OF EVERY STAGE OF THE PRODUCTION PROCESS. THE DATA AVAILABLE ON THE CANADIAN MARKET SHOW A VERY POSITIVE TREND IN CONSUMPTION OF PRODUCTS OF THE SO-CALLED “ACCESSIBLE LUXURY”, WITH A HIGH FASHION AND IDENTITY CONTENT, AIMED AT A TARGET MAINLY OF YOUNG PEOPLE, AND TO FACE WITH POSSIBILITIES? SUCCESSFUL BRAND COMPETITION ALREADY? ESTABLISHED OR EMERGING AND ACHIEVING THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF ACQUIRING NEW CUSTOMERS IN THIS MARKET, WE HAVE DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT AN ARTICULATED COMMERCIAL PENETRATION STRATEGY
Human gut microbiota on gut-on-a-chip

Goc-MM consists of minimal functional portion of gut cultured in a microfluidic devices, gut-on-a-chip, that mimics the environment of intestine. The new gut-on-a-chip that we would produce with this project will be advanced from previous model because of the use of non-absorbed materials with a low production cost and easier to industrialize.  This study is focused on culturing and studying human gut-microbiota phyla composition from fecal samples of healthy subjects and both obesity and anorexic patients. Gut microbiota provides nutrients and energy for the host through the products of substrate fermentation in Short Chain Fatty Acids. The motivation that leads us to get involved in this project is to provide to scientific community and industries a convenient and standardized methodology of isolation and cultivation of microbiota from human fecal microbiota transplantation.  Goc-MM would supply an experimental model that provides epithelial cells and microbiota to be cultured in presence of physiologically relevant flow and peristalsis like mechanical deformations, which promotes formation of epithelial cells of small intestine. Thanks to the clinical approach of Goc-MM, we will evaluate the different characteristic in the obesity on male and female. Targeting microbiota may represent a new perspective to prevent, reverse or treat obesity, anorexia and other metabolic disorders.
<b>Gegenwartsliteratur</b> [Sammelrezension]Jeleč, Marijana (Hrsg.): Tendenzen der Gegenwartsliteratur. Berlin: Peter Lang, 2019. – ISBN 978-3-631-79662-7. 357 Seiten, € 68,70.Hille, Almut; Völkel, Oliver Niels (Hrsg.): Was zu beginnen nicht aufhört. Facetten von Gegenwartsliteratur in der internationalen Germanistik und im Fach Deutsch als Fremdsprache. München: iudicium, 2020 (LiKuM – Literatur Kultur Medien in Deutsch als Fremd- und Zweitsprache, 2). – ISBN 978-3-86205-735-1. 284 Seiten, € …

Article Gegenwartsliteratur [Sammelrezension]Jeleč, Marijana (Hrsg.): Tendenzen der Gegenwartsliteratur. Berlin: Peter Lang, 2019. – ISBN 978-3-631-79662-7. 357 Seiten, € 68,70.Hille, Almut; Völkel, Oliver Niels (Hrsg.): Was zu beginnen nicht aufhört. Facetten von Gegenwartsliteratur in der internationalen Germanistik und im Fach Deutsch als Fremdsprache. München: iudicium, 2020 (LiKuM – Literatur Kultur Medien in Deutsch als Fremd- und Zweitsprache, 2). – ISBN 978-3-86205-735-1. 284 Seiten, € 30,00 [Open Access unter www.iudicium.de].Karlsson Hammarfelt, Linda; Platen, Edgar; Platen, Petra (Hrsg.): Mauerfall und andere Grenzfälle. Zur Darstellung von Zeitgeschichte in deutschsprachiger Gegenwartsliteratur (XI). München: iudicium, 2020. – ISBN 978-3-86205-599-9. 188 Seiten, € 22,00. was published on April 1, 2022 in the journal Informationen Deutsch als Fremdsprache (volume 49, issue 2-3).
Quality measures for the care of patients with lateral epicondylalgia

Lateral epicondylalgia (LE) defines a condition of varying degrees of pain near the lateral epicondyle. Studies on the management of LE indicated unexplained variations in the use of pharmacologic, non-pharmacological and surgical treatments. The main aim of this paper was to develop and evaluate clinical quality measures (QMs) or quality indicators, which may be used to assess the quality of the processes of examination, education and treatment of patients with LE.Different QMs were developed by a multidisciplinary group of experts in Quality Management of Health Services during a period of one year. The process was based following a 3-step model: i) review and proportion of existing evidence-based recommendations; ii) review and development of quality measures; iii) pilot testing of feasibility and reliability of the indicators leading to a final consensus by the whole panel.Overall, a set of 12 potential indicators related to medical and physical therapy assessment and treatment were developed to measure the performance of LE care. Different systematic reviews and randomized control trials supported each of the indicators judged to be valid during the expert panel process. Application of the new indicator set was found to be feasible; only the measurement of two quality measures had light barriers. Reliability was mostly excellent (Kappa > 0.8).A set of good practice indicators has been built and pilot tested as feasible and reliable. The chosen 3-step standardized evidence-based process ensures maximum clarity, acceptance and sustainability of the developed indicators.
Potential oxygen limitation of distributions and responses to changing climates in ectotherms

Climate change is driving many species to migrate along the altitudinal gradient of mountainous landscapes. While the impacts of temperature shifts on range expansion are well established, the effects of altitude-related hypoxia on the ability of organisms to colonize and adapt to higher altitudes during warming have, to our knowledge, not received scientific interest. Specifically, the short, medium and long term effects of acute and chronic hypoxia on the growth, survival, reproductive biology and colonization dynamics of animals reaching higher altitude refuges remain unknown. PODARCIS will generate such knowledge, via a detailed study of physiological responses to hypoxia across an altitudinal gradient in a species that undergoes upward range expansion, the wall lizard Podarcis muralis. PODARCIS will (1) assess multivariate acclimation responses in embryos and adult lizards from low to high altitude using common garden and reciprocal transplant experiments (i.e. to assess the effectiveness for plastic responses to enable colonization and detect changes in the degree of plasticity across the altitudinal gradient) and (2) predict the dynamics of colonization by integrating data on physiological plasticity, reproductive output and dispersal. Taken together, this project will combine hard-to-obtain empirical data with theoretical modeling approaches to provide valuable insights into the ecological and evolutionary processes that determine a species' response to climate change. PODARCIS requires a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from the fields of physiology, quantitative genetics, evolutionary theory, and computer modeling. The synergistic skill sets brought to this project by the fellow and the mentor scientist will allow an important cross-continental exchange of ideas and approaches. Furthermore, this project will offer the fellow a unique opportunity to develop new talents that will significantly enhance his career trajectory as an independent researcher.
Laser gas assisted nitriding of Hastelloy G Alloy: thermal stress analysis and characterization

Hastelloy G alloy has good high temperature strength and oxidation resistance. The hardness and tribological properties of the alloy surface can be improved through the laser nitriding process under a controlled environment. Laser gas assisted surface nitriding of Hastelloy G alloy is carried out using a CO2 laser. Temperature and stress fields in the nitrided layer are modeled using the finite element model. Metallurgical and morphological changes in the nitrided region are examined using SEM, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. It is found that a uniform nitride layer is formed in the surface region of the workpiece and the depth of the nitride layer extends over 40mm below the surface. The nitride layer is free from cracks and surface abnormalities such as cavity and pores. Copyright # 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.