Proposing a hybrid approach for emotion classification using audio and video data

Emotion recognition has been a research topic in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) during recent years. Computers have become an inseparable part of human life. Users need human-like interaction to better communicate with computers. Many researchers have become interested in emotion recognition and classification using different sources. A hybrid approach of audio and text has been recently introduced. All such approaches have been done to raise the accuracy and appropriateness of emotion classification. In this study, a hybrid approach of audio and video has been applied for emotion recognition. The innovation of this approach is selecting the characteristics of audio and video and their features as a unique specification for classification. In this research, the SVM method has been used for classifying the data in the SAVEE database. The experimental results show the maximum classification accuracy for audio data is 91.63% while by applying the hybrid approach the accuracy achieved is 99.26%

The upper normal limit of serum alanine aminotransferase in Golestan Province, Northeast Iran

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the upper normal limit of serum alanine aminotransferase level in a population-based study in Golestan Province, northeast Iran. Methods: From the randomly invited individuals (2,292), 698 out of the 916 males and 1,351 out of the 1,376 females participated in the study (participation rate: 76.2 and 98.1, respectively). One hundred and twenty-one participants were excluded due to positive hepatitis B surface antigen or hepatitis C virus antibody and/or drinking more than 20 grams of alcohol per day. A total of 1,928 participants (1300 females) were included. The upper normal limit of serum alanine aminotransferase level was defined as the 95th percentile. Results: The upper normal limit of serum alanine aminotransferase level in normal weight and nondiabetics was significantly lower than the total study group (36 versus 45 U/L). Serum alanine aminotransferase level was independently associated with male gender, body mass index, and diabetes mellitus (OR=2.05; 95Cl: 1.44 - 2.94, OR=2.76; 95Cl: 1.84 - 4.13, and OR=2.96; 95Cl: 1.56-5.61, respectively). Conclusion: Considering the lower calculated upper normal limit in normal weight nondiabetic participants in this study, we recommend setting new upper normal limit for serum alanine aminotransferase level, It seems reasonable to set upper normal limit for serum alanine aminotransferase level in males and females separately

Modernization of primary school teachers’ training: from knowledge to competence approach

The article discusses the problem of training primary school teachers regarding reforming primary education in Ukraine on the basis of competency-based approach. The principles of organisation of education process consist in forming interdisciplinary (multicultural) knowledge and skills as well as the ability to function effectively in the conditions of global changes. T he major issues of primary education to be taken into account in teacher preparation are: teaching children to use the acquired knowledge in life and correspondence of education content and methods to students’ age peculiarities. The competences to be formed in children fall into two categories: key competences (communicative, math, technology, information, interpersonal, intercultural, social, etc.) which provide the ability to use the obtained knowledge in problem-solving; subject competences being reflected in education curricula. The article presents the basic principles of developing motivation and self-motivation which are the basis of competence approach: subject competences (what we teach) should be formed on the basis of key competences (why we teach). The ideas of educational freedom and responsibility of teachers are discussed in the article

Islamic Bank Efficiency and Productivity in Malaysia

The present empirical study investigates the efficiency of full-fledged Islamic banks and Islamic window operations of domestic and foreign banks in Malaysia. This study measures the technical, Allocative, pure technical, scale and cost efficiency of these banks using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique for the period 1997-2008. During this period, Islamic banking system in Malaysia has two phases of development. This is a pioneer study that analyzes the polices of central bank of Malaysia in both phases and compares the efficiency of Islamic banking industry in these phases. In general, the results show that on average, the efficiency of the Islamic banking industry increases in these phases which corresponds positively to their deposits, asset and financing growth. This could suggest that the entrance of the second full fledge Islamic bank in the second phase and the entrance of foreign full fledge banks in the third phase had given a positive impact on the efficiency of Islamic banking industry as a whole. The findings also indicate that the full fledge Islamic banks are more efficient than Islamic windows. In the comparison of efficiency levels with respect to ownership, the foreign bank is found to be more efficient than domestic banks in full fledge banking system, however in Islamic windows, the domestic banks are found to be more efficient than foreign banks. This study also investigates the productivity of full-fledged Islamic banks and Islamic window operations of domestic and foreign banks in Malaysia. It measures the efficiency change, technological change and total factor productivity of these banks using the Malmquist Index for the period 1997-2008. This is a pioneer study that has analyzes polices of central bank of Malaysia in both phases and has compared the productivity of Islamic banking industry in these phases. In general, the results show that on average, the productivity of the Islamic banking industry has increased in these phases which correspond positively to their deposits, assets and financing growth. This could suggest that the entrance of the second full fledge Islamic bank in second phase and the entrance of foreign full fledge banks in third phase made a positive impact on the productivity of Islamic banking industry as a whole. The findings also indicate that the mean TFP for full fledge Islamic banks is larger than the same figure for Islamic windows. The comparison of productivity levels with respect to ownership, in both systems (full fledge and Islamic windows) shows that the mean TFP for domestic banks is greater than the figure for foreign banks. The sources of productivity growth in the Islamic banking industry as a whole show a gradual improvement in efficiency change. However, the increase in efficiency progress in the Islamic banking industry was marginally offset by the declined in technological change, which led to lower productivity growth. The study about measurement of efficiency that describes and analyzes the determining factors of efficiency is useful. The recognition and utilization of the key factors which have significant influence on the efficiency of the firm are important. So, in this study a range of bank specific factors and regularity factors which may influence Islamic bank efficiency is considered. This study used three different methods to determine the impact of these factors on Islamic banks’ efficiency, namely, OLS, Tobit and Bootstrap methods. However, there is not any difference in the results derived from these three methods. The findings suggest that, bank size; capital adequacy and loan activity are positively related to the efficiency of Islamic banks. The findings also confirm that the proxy of Credit risk as measured by the ratio of loan loss provision to total loan has negative effects on the Islamic banking efficiency

The upper normal limit of serum alanine aminotransferase in Golestan Province, Northeast Iran

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the upper normal limit of serum alanine aminotransferase level in a population-based study in Golestan Province, northeast Iran. Methods: From the randomly invited individuals (2,292), 698 out of the 916 males and 1,351 out of the 1,376 females participated in the study (participation rate: 76.2 and 98.1, respectively). One hundred and twenty-one participants were excluded due to positive hepatitis B surface antigen or hepatitis C virus antibody and/or drinking more than 20 grams of alcohol per day. A total of 1,928 participants (1300 females) were included. The upper normal limit of serum alanine aminotransferase level was defined as the 95th percentile. Results: The upper normal limit of serum alanine aminotransferase level in normal weight and nondiabetics was significantly lower than the total study group (36 versus 45 U/L). Serum alanine aminotransferase level was independently associated with male gender, body mass index, and diabetes mellitus (OR=2.05; 95Cl: 1.44 - 2.94, OR=2.76; 95Cl: 1.84 - 4.13, and OR=2.96; 95Cl: 1.56-5.61, respectively). Conclusion: Considering the lower calculated upper normal limit in normal weight nondiabetic participants in this study, we recommend setting new upper normal limit for serum alanine aminotransferase level, It seems reasonable to set upper normal limit for serum alanine aminotransferase level in males and females separately

The effect of selected Pilates exercises on some respiratory parameters of obese sedentary women

Background: Obesity has adverse effects on respiratory mechanisms and is considered as a risk factor for respiratory problems. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the selected Pilates exercise program on some respiratory parameters of obese sedentary women. Materials and Methods: In this randomized experimental study with pre- and post-test design, 24 inactive obese women (with the mean age 38.4±8.61 years and BMI 35.6±2.95 kg/m2) were randomly divided into two groups of exercise (n=15) and control (n=9). The experimental group participated in a Pilates training program) 8 weeks, 3 times per week), while the control group did not participate in any training program. Some respiratory parameters were measured before and after the training program by a spirometer. Results: The results showed that Pilates training increased vital capacity (IVC) by 10, inspiratory reserve volume (IRV) by 19, expiratory reserve volume (ERV) by 51 , tidal volume (VT) by 29, peak expiratory flow (PEF) by 88, peak inspiratory flow (PIF) by 28, maximum expiratory flow 25 (MEF25) by 55, maximum expiratory flow 50 (MEF50) by 63, maximum expiratory flow 75 (MEF75) by 89, maximum expiratory flow 75-85 (MEF75-85) by 93 , which this increase was not significant in the IRV and VT indexes. Conclusion: It seems that Pilates exercises can increase the performance of the respiratory muscles in obese sedentary women and improve lung function by increasing some respiratory parameters