The technology challenge in the transatlantic relationship

Technological innovation has become a critical element of international cooperation and geopolitical rivalry. This has impacted key areas of the transatlantic partnership, presenting both opportunities and challenges for EU–US relations, either rejuvenating a relationship mired in rifts or deepening those rifts. Instead of examining how these structural cracks have emerged and are growing, this article zooms in on the challenge to transatlantic relations posed by technological innovation, both as a driver of cooperation and a cause for further rivalry. In doing so, the article explores three interrelated elements: the transatlantic technology gap and the EU’s quest for technological sovereignty, approaches to technological innovation and the role of emerging and disruptive technologies, and the values-based governance of digital and technology issues. As fast-paced technological transformation continues to disrupt societies and economies on both sides of the Atlantic, technology should be at the heart of a revived phase in EU–US cooperation and trust.

Estado Inconstitucional y pandemias

La pandemia del coronavirus acapara toda la atención. Para los pueblos del mundo, se trata de una amenaza superlativa; para muchos Estados, en cambio, es la cortina de humo bajo la cual ocultan su rostro. En ella ven la oportunidad para cambiar de personaje y de máscara. El poder mediático convierte al COVID-19 en el gran villano, y a algunos gobernantes, en héroes. Sin embargo, el COVID no es más que la punta del iceberg de un sistemático entramado de praxis discriminatorias y grietas estructurales: el Estado inconstitucional, que desde vieja data ha gestado una oleada de pandemias sociales. Colombia es un ejemplo paradigmático al respecto. Para ilustrar esta tesis, se analiza el fenómeno de impunidad ante delitos sexuales. Unconstitutional State and Pandemics Abstract: The coronavirus pandemic gets all the attention. For people of the world, it is a superlative threat; instead, for many States, it is the smokescreen under which they hide their faces. On it, they see the opportunity to change their character and mask. The media’s power makes COVID-19 the great villain, and some rulers into heroes. However, the COVID is only the tip of the iceberg of a systematic network of discriminatory practices and structural cracks: the unconstitutional State, which from long ago has created a wave of social pandemics. Colombia is a paradigmatic example in this regard. To illustrate this thesis, the phenomenon of impunity for sexual crimes is analyzed. Keywords: Unconstitutional State, social pandemics, impunity.

UAV-Driven Structural Crack Detection and Location Determination Using Convolutional Neural Networks

Structural cracks are a vital feature in evaluating the health of aging structures. Inspectors regularly monitor structures’ health using visual information because early detection of cracks on highly trafficked structures is critical for maintaining the public’s safety. In this work, a framework for detecting cracks along with their locations is proposed. Image data provided by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is stitched using image processing techniques to overcome limitations in the resolution of cameras. This stitched image is analyzed to identify cracks using a deep learning model that makes judgements regarding the presence of cracks in the image. Moreover, cracks’ locations are determined using data from UAV sensors. To validate the system, cracks forming on an actual building are captured by a UAV, and these images are analyzed to detect and locate cracks. The proposed framework is proven as an effective way to detect cracks and to represent the cracks’ locations.

Structural Crack Detection and Recognition Based on Deep Learning

The detection and recognition of surface cracks are of great significance for structural safety. This paper is based on a deep-learning methodology to detect and recognize structural cracks. First, a training dataset of the model is built. Then, three neural networks, AlexNet, VGGNet13, and ResNet18, are employed to recognize and classify crack images. The tests indicate that the ResNet18 model generates the most satisfactory results. It is also found that the trained YOLOv3 model detects the crack area with satisfactory accuracy. This study also confirms that the proposed deep learning as a novel technology has the potential to be an efficient and robust tool for crack detection and recognition to replace traditional methods.

Structural Crack Detection Using DPP-BOTDA and Crack-Induced Features of the Brillouin Gain Spectrum

Structural damage generally initiates in the form of structural cracks. Thus, developing efficient crack detection techniques is of great importance for the structural health monitoring. In this paper, a new crack identification method is proposed, which is based on the differential pulse-width pair Brillouin optical time domain analysis (DPP-BOTDA) technology and the irregular features of Brillouin gain spectrum (BGS) in the fiber due to structural cracks. The proposed method provides a new way to detect and quantify structural cracks without knowing the strain in the structure. First, the working mechanism of DPP-BOTDA is introduced to illustrate the reason that the DPP-BOTDA, compared to traditional BOTDA technique, can significantly improve the spatial resolution of distributed strain sensing, which is critical for structural crack detection. Then, the BGSs in the fiber with the presence of structural cracks, measured by the DPP-BOTDA, are numerically simulated, from which the crack-induced irregular features of the BGS are summarized. Based these irregular features, new structural crack detection and quantification methods are proposed, which are found to be independent of structural stain. Finally, an experiment is conducted on a simple supported reinforced concrete (RC) beam. The results demonstrate that by using the BGS measured by the DPP-BOTDA, the proposed structural crack identification method successfully detects the occurrence of structural cracks and relatively accurately predicts the crack widths.

“WOMEN’ WRITING” AS AN AREA OF DISCOURSIVE, GENRE AND NARRATIVE CONFLICTS (A CASE STUDY OF GERMAN-LANGUAGE FEMALE PROSE OF THE LATE XIX – EARLY XX CENTURY)

The paper focuses on the phenomenon of “women’s writing”, a discussion about which began in the 1970s. Based on Elaine Showalter’s concept of “doubled-voiced discourse” as well as on Franco Moretti’s theory of literary forms development from the center to the periphery, which generates unstable compromises in the structure, its “cracks” and gaps, the article offers an interpretation of “women’s writing” as an area of increased conflict. The case study of three literary works of the late XIX – early XX century written in German language – Elsa Asenijeff’ essay “Women’s Riot and the Third Sex” (1898), Lou Andreas-Salomé’s novella “Fenitchka” (1898) and Minna Wettstein-Adelt’s novel “Are These Women? A Novel about the Third Sex” (1901) – demonstrates conflicts of discourses, genres and narrative strategies unfolding in these texts. The paper suggests the idea that such structural “cracks” and contradictions mark the departure from the boundaries and limits of contemporary patriarchal discourses and the dominant literary system.

Analysis of Cracks in an Underground Garage and Research on the Load Test of reinforced pavement

Cracks often appear in the process of construction and use of concrete structures. It is normal for concrete to have cracks, but the size and quantity of cracks exceed certain limits. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the structural cracks. According to different cracks, corresponding treatment methods are given. Experiments can be done if conditions permit to verify the safety of the structure after reinforcement. The paper detected and analyzed the cracks appearing on the structure components by using an example of an underground garage project. And It was proposed about corresponding reinforcement treatment scheme. This project provides reference for similar projects or scientific research, and it provides a good research direction.