Mode Variational LSTM Robust to Unseen Modes of Variation: Application to Facial Expression Recognition

Spatio-temporal feature encoding is essential for encoding the dynamics in video sequences. Recurrent neural networks, particularly long short-term memory (LSTM) units, have been popular as an efficient tool for encoding spatio-temporal features in sequences. In this work, we investigate the effect of mode variations on the encoded spatio-temporal features using LSTMs. We show that the LSTM retains information related to the mode variation in the sequence, which is irrelevant to the task at hand (e.g. classification facial expressions). Actually, the LSTM forget mechanism is not robust enough to mode variations and preserves information that could negatively affect the encoded spatio-temporal features. We propose the mode variational LSTM to encode spatio-temporal features robust to unseen modes of variation. The mode variational LSTM modifies the original LSTM structure by adding an additional cell state that focuses on encoding the mode variation in the input sequence. To efficiently regulate what features should be stored in the additional cell state, additional gating functionality is also introduced. The effectiveness of the proposed mode variational LSTM is verified using the facial expression recognition task. Comparative experiments on publicly available datasets verified that the proposed mode variational LSTM outperforms existing methods. Moreover, a new dynamic facial expression dataset with different modes of variation, including various modes like pose and illumination variations, was collected to comprehensively evaluate the proposed mode variational LSTM. Experimental results verified that the proposed mode variational LSTM encodes spatio-temporal features robust to unseen modes of variation.Comment: Accepted in AAAI-1

French multinationals and human resource management in Jordan

This study set out to contribute to the literature on international human resource management (IHRM) strategies of multinational corporations (MNCs) and the factors that influence them. In doing so it sought to address a number of weaknesses in the existing literature, notably a marked lack of research into the strategies adopted by MNCs in developing economies, particularly when they become involved under the auspices of privatisation programmes. More specifically, the study sought to investigate the human resource management (HRM) reforms introduced by three French MNCs in privatised Jordanian companies and the factors that influenced them. The research utilised a longitudinal multiple-case design to achieve the study's aim and objectives, and was conducted in three phases over three years. More specifically, the study was based upon a sample of three case studies of privatised Jordanian companies that had recently come under the control of French MNCs operating in different sectors. Primary data was gathered through 67 in-depth semi-structured interviews with company directors, senior line and finance managers, and HR staff, including senior personnel based at headquarters in France. In addition, 14 interviews were conducted with government officials in Jordan and a range of supplementary documentary evidence was examined. In general, the findings from the case study companies revealed that in each of the Jordanian subsidiaries a wide range of changes had been made to the previously existing HRM policies. These encompassed the making of reforms in each of the specific areas of HR activity investigated: the people management responsibilities of line managers; staffing, recruitment and selection; training and development; performance appraisal; rewards; and communication and consultation. Taken together, the case studies highlighted similarities in terms of the objectives and broad thrust of the structural, policy and cultural reforms that were introduced. However, they also showed the companies to differ in terms of the way in which the reforms were centrally authored, the extent to which they were implemented in a participative way, the types of control mechanisms that were used to support the reform process, and the pace with which the reforms were introduced. The above similarities and differences appeared to nave been influenced by a number of interrelated factors. Most important was the beliefs that senior management held of what constituted 'good and appropriate' human resource practice. Others related to the characteristics of the industries in which the MNCs operated and the implications these had for company business strategies and structures; the parent company's country of origin and experience in managing international operations; the strategic role of the subsidiaries and their mode of establishment; and a number of host country effects. Overall, it is argued, that the study's findings contribute to existing knowledge in a number of ways. First, the findings lend some further support to the validity of Perlmutter's typology of the IHRM strategies that are adopted by MNCs, while also raising doubts about its future usefulness. They also add weight to the view that a process of convergence is occurring in respect of the HRM policies utilised by MNCs, and that this convergence is centred around an Anglo-Saxon conceptualisation of HRM best practice. At the same time, they also lend weight to the argument that this process of Anglo-Saxonisation is occurring in the context of national specific frameworks. As a result, the study suggests that there remains some country of origin influence over the way MNCs mange their human resources. More generally, the study's findings tend to suggest, contrary to some arguments in the literature, that MNCs do not apply different IHRM strategies and practices to their subsidiaries in developing economies. They also suggest that more attention needs to be paid to the way in which government policies and wider political pressures, surrounding the privatisation programmes of such countries act to influence the way in which MNCs approach the process of reform in subsidiaries acquired as a result of privatisation. More generally, the study's findings tend to suggest, contrary to some arguments in the literature, that MNCs do not apply different IHRM strategies and practices to their subsidiaries in developing economies. They also suggest that more attention needs to be paid to the way in which government policies and wider political pressures, surrounding the privatisation programmes of such countries act to influence the way in which MNCs approach the process of reform in subsidiaries acquired as a result of privatisation. More generally, the study's findings tend to suggest, contrary to some arguments in the literature, that MNCs do not apply different IHRM strategies and practices to their subsidiaries in developing economies. They also suggest that more attention needs to be paid to the way in which government policies and wider political pressures, surrounding the privatisation programmes of such countries act to influence the way in which MNCs approach the process of reform in subsidiaries acquired as a result of privatisation. More generally, the study's findings tend to suggest, contrary to some arguments in the literature, that MNCs do not apply different IHRM strategies and practices to their subsidiaries in developing economies. They also suggest that more attention needs to be paid to the way in which government policies and wider political pressures, surrounding the privatisation programmes of such countries act to influence the way in which MNCs approach the process of reform in subsidiaries acquired as a result of privatisation

Emulsion polymerisation in a continuous flow stirred reactor

An investigation of the emulsion polymerisation of styrene in an isothermal continuous flow stirred reactor has been carried out. The important phenomena of sustainable oscillations and large conversion overshoot after start-up have been studied. Experimental studies have shown that conversion, number of polymer particles, molecular weights, and all other related properties often oscillate widely with time, and a steady state was not always achieved. The effect of start-up procedures in continuous emulsion polymerisation reactors have not previously beer. investigated in detail. Different start-up procedures were studied to determine their effect on the behaviour of the reactor. The effects of the initial concentration of soap and initiator, and the initial reaction temperatures have been studied experimentally in relation to the mean residence time of the reactor. Changes in start-up procedures were found to have a significant effect not only on the transients before a steady state, but also on the ultimate state achieved. Evidence was obtained supporting the theory that monomer droplets can be a locus of initiation and propagation in emulsion polymerisation of styrene in a CFSR at high level of conversion. Two possible mechanisms have been proposed to explain the phenomena of the high levels of conversion in the CFSR. Special reactor design was used to minimize aeration and to allow the variation of the average residence time without varying the pump settings

ENGINEERING ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES TO BE USED AS NANOFERTILIZERS

Zinc deficient soils, or soils with low Zn bioavailability, are widespread, which exacerbates Zn deficiency in human as crops grown on these soils have low Zn content. Often crop yields are also compromised. Fertilizers based on soluble Zn salts often have limited efficacy in such soils. In this research, we evaluate the performance of polymer coated and bare ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) in an attempt to overcome limitations of soluble Zn salts in alkaline soils. We first synthesized 20-30 nm bare ZnO NPs with different surface chemistries to impart colloidal stability to the particles. Bare ZnO were treated in phosphate solution under certain conditions leading to the formation of a core made of ZnO NPs that is covered by a shell of amorphous Zn3(PO4)2 (core-shell NPs). This confers a negative charge to the particles over a wide pH range. The addition of nonionic (neutral dextran) and polyelectrolyte (negatively charged dextran sulfate (DEX(SO4)) during the synthesis resulted in the formation of DEX and DEX(SO4) ZnO NPs. Dextran has a minimal effect on the surface charge of ZnO but dextran sulfate confers a net negative charge. Bare and core-shell ZnO NPs were both electrostatically stabilized whereas DEX and DEX(SO4) ZnO NPs were sterically and electrosterically stabilized, respectively. We investigated the effect of treating seeds with ZnO NPs on the growth and accumulation of Zn in wheat (Triticum aestivum) seedlings in comparison to ZnSO4. All ZnO NPs stimulated seedling growth. Seedlings accumulated higher Zn concentrations when treated with ZnO NPs than with ZnSO4. Zinc sulfate was toxic even at the lower exposure concentrations, which was demonstrated by significantly lower germination success and seedling growth. In the second experiment, we investigated the effect of pH on the attachment and dissolution of ZnO NPs in soil, as compared to ZnSO4. Soil pH was adjusted to 6 and 8, then the soil was spiked with 100 mg Zn/kg soil in the form of ZnSO4, bare, DEX, DEX(SO4), and core-shell ZnO NPs. The results showed that DEX and core-shell ZnO NPs had significantly higher total Zn in soil solution compared to ZnSO4 at pH 8, with little dissolution. Dissolved Zn was similar among treatments except ZnSO4 at pH 6, indicating little dissolution of the ZnO NPs at either pH value. We also found that the engineered coatings dictate the behavior of the particles in simple aqueous systems, but their properties are altered in natural soil solutions because of the dominant effect of natural organic matter (NOM) on their surface chemistry. Based on the outcomes of the previous two experiments, we selected DEX and bare ZnO NPs to test the efficacy of ZnO NPs in delivering Zn to the grain of wheat under greenhouse conditions. We performed two independent studies where seeds were either treated with the NPs or grown in a soil spiked with Zn at pH 6 and 8 and spiked with Zn treatments (nano and ionic). We found that treating seeds with bare ZnO NPs significantly enhanced grain Zn concentrations as compared to the control, DEX-ZnO NPs, and ZnSO4. There were no differences in grain Zn concentration of plants treated with ionic or nano Zn treatments regardless of the soil pH. This work has elucidated important principles which will help carry forward efforts at developing effective ZnO NP-based fertilizers. It also suggests that treatment of seeds with ZnO NPs is more effective than amending soil or treating seeds with ZnSO4

Teachers’ Intention to Use Digital Resources in Classroom Teaching: The Role of Teacher Competence, Peer Influence, and Perceived Image

Objectives: Rapid advancements in information processing and technology are causing transformations in education at an unprecedented pace. The use of digital resources is becoming essential for educators to ensure the effectiveness of their teaching. There is thus a need to transform ways and means of educating teachers to meet the new challenges. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that determine teacher intention to use digital resources in classroom teaching. Method: The study adopted a single cross-sectional design, in which questionnaires with pre-established scales were completed by 276 university teachers from three major public universities in the Kashmir region of India. The collected data were subjected to descriptive, correlation, and regression analysis. Results: Findings suggest that intention to use digital resources in the classroom is significantly influenced by teachers’ perceptions of their own competence, perceived usefulness and ease of use of technology and digital resources, and peer influence. Among these factors, perceived competence exerts the strongest influence. Results indicate that perceived social image has no significant impact on intention to use digital resources. Conclusions: The study supports the view that teacher competence and peer influence are two key determining factors for the use of digital resources. Additionally, it demonstrates that digital resources must be perceived to offer potential benefits and ease of use in order to gain widespread acceptance among teachers. Implications: This research advances the understanding of digital resource adoption in classroom teaching, particularly in developing countries like India. The findings provide critical direction to policymakers and digital resource developers to enhance use of digital resources in classroom teaching by prioritizing the development of useful and user-friendly resources. Moreover, universities should organize training programs to enhance teachers’ proficiency in utilizing digital resources for effective teaching