Fusion of Learned Multi-Modal Representations and Dense Trajectories for Emotional Analysis in Videos

When designing a video affective content analysis algorithm, one of the most important steps is the selection of discriminative features for the effective representation of video segments. The majority of existing affective content analysis methods either use low-level audio-visual features or generate handcrafted higher level representations based on these low-level features. We propose in this work to use deep learning methods, in particular convolutional neural networks (CNNs), in order to automatically learn and extract mid-level representations from raw data. To this end, we exploit the audio and visual modality of videos by employing Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) and color values in the HSV color space. We also incorporate dense trajectory based motion features in order to further enhance the performance of the analysis. By means of multi-class support vector machines (SVMs) and fusion mechanisms, music video clips are classified into one of four affective categories representing the four quadrants of the Valence-Arousal (VA) space. Results obtained on a subset of the DEAP dataset show (1) that higher level representations perform better than low-level features, and (2) that incorporating motion information leads to a notable performance gain, independently from the chosen representation

A visualization tool for violent scenes detection

We present a browser-based visualization tool that allows users to explore movies and online videos based on the violence level of these videos. The system offers visualizations of annotations and results of the MediaEval 2012 Affect Task and can interactively download and analyze content from video hosting sites like YouTube

A problem solving perspective on evaluating knowledge management technologies: Using fuzzy linear programming technique for multiattribute group decision making with fuzzy decision variables

Erensal, Yasemin Claire (Dogus Author) -- Conference full title: PICMET Conference: Technology Management for the Global Future : Istanbul, Turkey, 8 - 13 July 2006The aim of this paper is to develop a framework to aid in the evaluation and selection of KM tools and technologies. In this paper, we investigate the fuzzy linear programming technique (FLP) for multiple attribute group decision making (MAGDM) problems with preference information on alternatives. To reflect the decision maker's subjective preference information and to determine the weight vector of attributes, the linear programming technique for multidimensional analysis of preference (LINMAP) is used. The LINMAP method is based on pairwise comparisons of alternatives given by decision makers and generates the best compromise alternative as the solution that has the shortest distance to the positive ideal solution. Our aim is to develop a LINMAP in MAGDM problem, where decision makers (DM) give their preferences on alternatives in a fuzzy relation. Through the proposed methodology in this research, enterprises can reduce the mismatch between the capability and implementation of the KM technology, and greatly enhance the effectiveness of implementation of the KMS. Finally, the developed model is applied to a real case of assisting decisionmakers in a leading logistics company in Turkey to illustrate the use of the proposed method

Analytic hierarchy process approach in bank performance evaluation

Çalışmanın. amacı hizmet sistemlerinde finansal ve finansal olmayan ölçütlerin bir arada kullanıldığı çok amaçlı bir performans değerlendirme modeli kurarak, bir hizmet sistemi olan banka işletmesinin performanslarının değerlendirilmesine yönelik bir model geliştirmektir. Bu amaçla Analitik Hiyerarşi Süreci yöntemi prensiplerine göre oluşturulan ve Analitik Hiyerarşi Performans Modeli (AHPM) olarak adlandırılan ve yapısında karlılık ve risk kriterleri ile hizmet kalitesi ve müşteri memnuniyeti gibi performans kriterlerinin birlikte kullanılmasına olanak tanıyan bir model önerilmiştir. Çalışmada, banka sektöründe, sadece finansal ölçütlerle yapılan performans değerlendirme çalışmalarının, sosyal kriterler göz önüne alınmadan sadece ekonomik ölçütlerle yapılmasının yanlış ve eksik sonuçlar vereceği kanıtlanmaya çalışılmıştır.Anahtar kelimeler: Hizmet sistemleri, Banka performans değerlendirme, Analitik Hiyerarşi Performans Modeli.Over the last 45-50 years, the importance of service sector with regard to world economy has increased considerably. The primary aim of the study is to develop an enhanced performance evaluation model to assess and improve service systems? performance. The modeling method proposed in this study is based on the concepts and principles of Analytic Hierarchy Process and may be referred to as the Analytic Hierarchical Performance Model (AHPM). The main subject of the application is the performance analysis of five commercial banks operating in Turkey by the end of 2002. The criteria determining the performance of banking system have been decomposed to sub-components as financial and no financial and the criteria involving both profitability and risk management are tried to be included in the model. The main objective of this study is to establish a multi-criteria decision making model in which financial and no financial criteria in service systems are used together and to suggest a model to be used in performance evaluation of banks, which are service systems. At the end of the study, a ranking of the five banks in question has been obtained, and it has been tried to prove that performance evaluation studies carried out with only financial criteria will produce wrong and deficient results if done only with economical criteria disregarding social criteria.Keywords: Service systems, Bank performance evaluation, Analytic Hierarchical Performance Model.

Cynara scolymus L. yaprağının farklı ekstraktlarda in vitro aktioksidan aktivitelerinin ve makro ve mikro element seviyelerinin belirlenmesi

Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) belonging to the family of Astericaea, has antioxidant, hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic activities, its leaves have traditionally been used for diuretic and choleretic purposes. Therefore the main goal of this study is to determine the total phenolic content of artichoke leaf and its extracts with methanol, ethyl acetate and n- hexane, some in vitro antioxidant activities, selected macro (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P) and micro (Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Se, I) elements’ levels. Accordingly the total phenolic content values for the methanol, ethyl acetate and N-hexane extracts found 5,375 mg, 0,917 mg, 0,167 mg Gallic acid (GAE)/g respectively. Methanol extract showed highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity (87,73%), ethyl acetate extract possessed the highest Superoxide radical scavenging activity (SRSA) (49,02 %) whereas N-hexane extract contained high level metal chelating ability ( 289,32µM Fe). In terms of macro and micro elements (except I and Cr levels), the highest concentrations are recorded in its leaves, which are considered as a natural mineral source. Accordingly, it is evaluated that artichoke leaves provide a potential natural sources of K and Zn, while methanol and N-hexane extracts are good sources of P and Zn.Papatyagiller familyasına ait olan Küre enginarın (Cynara scolymus L.) antioksidan, hepatoprotektif ve hipoglisemik etkilere sahiptir, yaprakları geleneksel olarak idrar söktürücü ve koleretik amaçlarla kullanılmaktadır. Bu nedenle bu çalışmanın temel amacı enginar yaprağının ve yaprağın metanollü, etil asetatlı ve n-hekzanlı ekstraktlarının toplam fenolik içeriğini bazı in vitro antioksidan aktiviteleri, seçilmiş makro (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P) ve mikro (Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Se, I) element düzeylerini, belirlemektir. Toplam fenolik içerik değerlerine göre metanol, etil asetatlı ve n-hekzan ekstraktları sırasıyla 5,375 mg, 0,917 mg, 0,167 mg Gallik asit (GAE)/g bulunmuştur. Metanol ekstraktı en yüksek DPPH serbest radikal süpürme aktivitesi (%87,73) gösterirken, etil asetat ekstraktı en yüksek süperoksit radikal süpürme aktivitesine (%49,02) sahip iken n-hekzan ekstraktı yüksek seviye metal şelatlama kapasitesi (289,32 µM Fe) içermektedir. Makro ve mikro elementler açısından (I ve Cr seviyeleri hariç) en yüksek konsantrasyonlar doğal mineral kaynağı olarak kabul edilen yapraklarında kaydedilmiştir. Buna göre enginar yapraklarının potansiyel bir doğal K ve Zn kaynağı sağladığı, metanol ve n-hekzan ekstraktlarının ise iyi P ve Zn kaynağı olduğu değerlendirilmektedir

Pressure support ventilation with the I-gel in intensive care unit: case report

AbstractBackground and objectivesThe I-gel supraglottic airway has a non-inflatable cuff made from a gel-like thermoplastic elastomer. The use of the I-gel during anesthesia for spontaneously breathing patients or intermittent positive pressure ventilation has been reported. But there are a few published reports about the use of the I-gel with pressure-controlled ventilation.Contents and conclusionsIn this case report we described the use of the I-gel supraglottic airway along 48h in intensive care unit for the management of ventilation in a patient needed mechanic ventilation but in whom tracheal intubation could not be performed

Neurological soft signs might be endophenotype candidates for patients with deficit syndrome schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a chronic, disabling, disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population. The nature of schizophrenia is heterogeneous, and unsuccessful efforts to subtype this disorder have been made. Deficit syndrome schizophrenia (DS) is a clinical diagnosis that has not been placed in main diagnostic manuals. In this study, we aimed to investigate and compare neurological soft signs (NSS) in DS patients, non-deficit schizophrenia (NDS) patients, and healthy controls (HCs). We suggest that NSS might be an endophenotype candidate for DS patients. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with schizophrenia and 30 HCs were enrolled in accordance with our inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients were sub-typed as DS (n=24) and NDS (n=42) according to the Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome. The three groups were compared in terms of sociodemographic and clinical variables and total scores and subscores on the Physical and Neurological Examination for Soft Signs (PANESS). Following the comparison, a regression analysis was performed for predictability of total PANESS score and its subscales in the diagnosis of DS and NDS. RESULTS: The groups were similar in terms of age, sex, and smoking status. The results of our study indicated that the total PANESS score was significantly higher in the DS group compared to the NDS and HC groups, and all PANESS subscales were significantly higher in the DS group than in the HC group. The diagnosis of DS was predicted significantly by total PANESS score (P<0.001, odds ratio =9.48, 95% confidence interval: 0.00–4.56); the synergy, graphesthesia, stereognosis, motor tasks, and ability to maintain posture subscales were found to be significant predictors. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that NSS were higher in patients with DS. In addition, we suggest that our results might support the notion of DS as a different and distinct type of schizophrenia. NSS might also be a promising candidate as an endophenotype for DS. However, large sampled, multicentric studies are needed to clarify the place of NSS as an endophenotype in DS

Decreased serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in schizophrenic patients with deficit syndrome

BACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a well-established neurotrophin that plays a role in the pathophysiology of numerous psychiatric disorders. Many studies have investigated the serum BDNF levels in patients with schizophrenia. However, there are restricted data in the literature that compare the serum BDNF levels in patients with deficit and nondeficit syndromes. In this study, we aimed to compare the serum BDNF levels between schizophrenic patients with deficit or nondeficit syndrome and healthy controls. METHODS: After fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 58 patients with schizophrenia and 36 healthy controls were included in the study. The patients were grouped as deficit syndrome (N=23) and nondeficit syndrome (N=35) according to the Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome. Three groups were compared in terms of the sociodemographic and clinical variants and serum BDNF levels. RESULTS: The groups were similar in terms of age, sex, body mass index, and smoking status. The serum BDNF levels in patients with deficit syndrome were significantly lower than those in healthy controls. In contrast, the serum BDNF levels in patients with nondeficit syndrome were similar to those in healthy controls. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that decreased BDNF levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenic patients with deficit syndrome. Nonetheless, additional studies using a larger patient sample size are needed to investigate the serum BDNF levels in schizophrenic patients with deficit syndrome

Differential cross section measurements for the production of a W boson in association with jets in proton–proton collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Measurements are reported of differential cross sections for the production of a W boson, which decays into a muon and a neutrino, in association with jets, as a function of several variables, including the transverse momenta (pT) and pseudorapidities of the four leading jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta (HT), and the difference in azimuthal angle between the directions of each jet and the muon. The data sample of pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV was collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb[superscript −1]. The measured cross sections are compared to predictions from Monte Carlo generators, MadGraph + pythia and sherpa, and to next-to-leading-order calculations from BlackHat + sherpa. The differential cross sections are found to be in agreement with the predictions, apart from the pT distributions of the leading jets at high pT values, the distributions of the HT at high-HT and low jet multiplicity, and the distribution of the difference in azimuthal angle between the leading jet and the muon at low values.United States. Dept. of EnergyNational Science Foundation (U.S.)Alfred P. Sloan Foundatio