Pose sentences : a new representation for understanding human actions

Ankara : The Department of Computer Engineering and the Institute of Engineering and Science of Bilkent University, 2008.Thesis (Master's) -- Bilkent University, 2008.Includes bibliographical references leaves 55-58.In this thesis we address the problem of human action recognition from video sequences. Our main contribution to the literature is the compact use of poses while representing videos and most importantly considering actions as pose-sentences and exploit string matching approaches for classification. We focus on single actions, where the actor performs one simple action through the video sequence. We represent actions as documents consisting of words, where a word refers to a pose in a frame. We think pose information is a powerful source for describing actions. In search of a robust pose descriptor, we make use of four well-known techniques to extract pose information, Histogram of Oriented Gradients, k-Adjacent Segments, Shape Context and Optical Flow Histograms. To represent actions, first we generate a codebook which will act as a dictionary for our action dataset. Action sequences are then represented using a sequence of pose-words, as posesentences. The similarity between two actions are obtained using string matching techniques. We also apply a bag-of-poses approach for comparison purposes and show the superiority of pose-sentences. We test the efficiency of our method with two widely used benchmark datasets, Weizmann and KTH. We show that pose is indeed very descriptive while representing actions, and without having to examine complex dynamic characteristics of actions, one can apply simple techniques with equally successful results.Hatun, KardelenM.S

THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE COGNITIVE AND METACOGNITIVE STRATEGIES USED BY 8TH GRADE STUDENTS TO SOLVE MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS ON “PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION”

The primary aim of this paper is to identify the cognitive and metacognitive strategies used by 8th grade students for solving multiple-choice questions on “Photosynthesis and Respiration” which is among the main subjects of Biology and to compare these strategies according to the type of the school (public school- private school), the level overall grade point averages and the status of answering questions correctly or incorrectly. The study was designed as a qualitative case study. The participants of the study included 8 eighth-grade students in total, who were studying in a private, and in a public school located in the province of Kars. The students who participated in the study were asked to answer the multiple-choice questions on “Photosynthesis and Respiration” during thinking-aloud sessions. To identify whether the strategies used by students in the problem-solving process were cognitive or metacognitive, semi-structured interviews focused on students’ purposes to use cognitive and metacognitive strategies were conducted with students directly after they solve each multiple-choice question. The data collected from the observation records of the processes of multiple-choice question solving, and semi-structured interviews were analysed. The studied data were analysed. The results of the study revealed that 8th grade students who were studying in a private school, whose overall grade point averages was at “Very Good” level, and who answered the multiple-choice questions correctly used a number of cognitive and metacognitive strategies while solving these questions. On the other hand, the students who were studying in a public school, whose overall grade point averages was at “Average” and “Poor” levels , and who answered the questions incorrectly, used a limited range of cognitive and metacognitive strategies.  Article visualizations

Cognitive and metacognitive strategies of 6th-grade students to answer multiple-choice questions on “human body systems”

In this study, cognitive and metacognitive strategies were determined which used by 6th-grade students who answered multiple-choice questions correctly on “Human Body Systems". In determining these strategies, the characteristics of multiple-choice questions (figures, graphs, explanations, etc.) were also considered. Participants of the study included three 6th-grade students, who were studying in a private school located in the province of Kars. The study was designed as a qualitative “case study”. Students whose overall grade point averages were at the “Very Good” level were selected for the study. The students who participated in the study were asked to answer four multiple-choice questions related to four learning areas (circulatory system, respiratory system, digestive system, and excretory system) of the “Human Body Systems” unit of a biology course. The students were asked to answer the multiple-choice questions during the thinking-aloud sessions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted after each question. Students' processes of answering the multiple-choice questions and semi-structured interviews were recorded in video format. The observations from the thinking-aloud sessions, the process of solving the multiple-choice questions, and the semi-structured interviews conducted with students for each question was transcribed. Computer programs for qualitative data analysis were used to analyze data. This study had determined that three students who were studying in the 6th-grade of a private school and whose overall grade averages were at the “Very Good” level, using a large number and diverse range of strategies while answering multiple-choice questions on “Human Body Systems” unit. This study had determined that, students used a diverse range of cognitive strategies such as visualizing, expressing in their own words, analyzing figures, and comparing the answer options to answer the multiple-choice questions. Additionally, metacognitive strategies including re-examining the answer, underlining or circling the clues, marking the explanations in the text of the question, and eliminating incorrect answer options were determined. It was also determined that cognitive and metacognitive strategies, which are important for students to answer multiple-choice questions correctly, vary according to the characteristics of the questions (figures, graphics, explanations, etc.)

Hubungan antara Tingkat Pengetahuan Materi Aqidah Akhlak dengan Perilaku Keagamaan Siswa Kelas V MI Fathul Ulum Gabus Grobogan Tahun Pelajaran 2011/2012

Rumusan masalah yang hendak di teliti dalam skripsi ini adalah; 1) Bagaimana tingkat pengetahuan siswa kelas V di Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Fathul Ulum Gabus Grobogan tentang materi ajar Aqidah Akhlak. 2) Bagaimana perilaku keagamaan siswa kelas V di Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Fathul Ulum Gabus Grobogan. 3) Adakah hubungan antara tingkat pengetahuan siswa tentang Aqidah Akhlak dengan perilaku keagamaan siswa kelas V Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Fathul Ulum Gabus Grobogan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui: 1) Untuk mendeskripsikan dan menganalisa tentang tingkat pengetahuan materi aqidah akhlak terhadap siswa kelas v di MI Fathul Ulum Gabus Grobogan, 2) Untuk mendeskripsikan dan menganalisa tentang bagaimana perilaku keagamaan siswa kelas v di MI Fathul Ulum Gabus Grobogan, 3) Untuk mendeskripsikan dan menganalisa tentang hubungan antara tingkat pengetahuan siswa tentang aqidah akhlak dengan perilaku keagamaan siswa kelas V di MI Fathul Ulum Gabus Grobogan. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kuantitatif. Metodeyang digunakan adalah metode korelasi dengan teknik analisis regresi sederhana. Regresi sederhana adalah suatu regresi yang mempunyai sebuah variabel bebas dan sebuah variabel terikat. Subyek penelitian sebanyak 40 responden yang terdiri dari 2 kelas. Data di kumpulkan dengan menggunakan tes untuk mengumpulkan data tentang pengetahuan materi aqidah akhlak dan angket untuk mengumpulkan data tentang perilaku keagamaan siswa. Data penelitian yang terkumpul dianalisis dengan menggunakan teknik analisis statistik parametrik. Pengujian hipotesis penelitian menggunakan analisis regresi. Pengujian hipotesis penelitian menunjukkan bahwa hasil rata-rata data tingkat pengetahuan materi aqidah akhlak diperoleh (X) (7,13). Sedangkan hasil rata-rata perilaku keagamaan siswa (Y) diperoleh (62,85). Oleh karena itu ada pengaruh positif antara tingkat pengetahuan materi aqidah akhlak dengan perilaku keagamaan siswa kelas V MI Fathul Ulum Gabus Grobogan. Hal ini ditunjukkan oleh koefisien korelasi rxy= 0,464 dibandingkan dengan nilai r tabel pada taraf signifikan 5% = 0,312 dan pada taraf 1% = 0,403. Nilai rxy lebih besar daripada nilai rtabel baik pada taraf signifikansi 5% maupun 1% dan dinyatakan signifikan Ini menunjukkan bahwa tingkat pengetahuan materi aqidah akhlak melalui fungsi taksiran Y= 2,20X + 47,33, dan ini menunjukkan bahwa semakin baik tingkat pengetahuan materi aqidah akhlak yang dimiliki siswa semakin baik pula perilaku keagamaan siswa kelas V MI Fathul Ulum Gabus Grobogan

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE COGNITIVE AND METACOGNITIVE STRATEGIES OF 6th GRADE PRIVATE AND STATE SCHOOL STUDENTS USE WHILE READING SCIENCE TEXTS

The aim of this qualitative case study was to determine the cognitive and metacognitive strategies used by the Secondary School 6th grade students while reading science texts in a Biology unit titled "Support and Motor System", and to compare these strategies in accordance with the type of their school (private or state school), their grade point averages and their perceptions concerning the difficulty level of the chapter. The number of the participant students was 6; 3 from a private school and 3 from a state school. After the students read the texts in the unit, semi structured interviews were administered in order to determine their strategy types, to compare and contrast these strategies in accordance with the type of their schools, their grade point averages and their perceptions concerning the difficulty level of the chapter. The results of the study revealed that the private school students had “High” and “Very high” grade point averages and assessed the chapter as "Easy” and “Very Easy”, used a higher number and a wider variety of cognitive and metacognitive strategies whereas the state school students had “Low” and "Very Low" grade point averages and assessed the chapter as "Difficult" and "Very Difficult"

Religiosity and Public Attitudes toward Abortion among Turkish Adults: from an Islamic Perspective

For several decades, a handful of studies have examined the relationship between religion and abortion; they particularly pay attention to public attitudes. However, fewer quantitative studies have considered Muslims' attitudes toward abortion. This study explores a new religious and traditional perspective that comes from Islam and also enhances the existing literature on the topic of religion and abortion. The significance of this study is based on the fact that Turkey, as well as its importance of geographical location and cultural heritage in today's world, is one of two Muslim-populated countries in which performing abortion is legal. In order to measure the pulse of the public about this topic, we used data from the fourth wave of the European Value Study (2008). Our purpose is to display how religious factors influence people’s attitudes toward practicing abortion in the cases, "Women who are not married" and "A couple who does not want more children." The findings indicate that people who have a high level of religiosity are more likely to disapprove of the practice of abortion. This finding also can be a considerable indicator of public attitudes regarding abortion to contribute to probable changes in the abortion policy of Turkey

Positive conflict resolution behaviors in psychological health: Northern Cyprus sample

Conflicts are an inevitable part of school life, as in all areas of life, and minimizing the negative effects of conflicts and trying to develop constructive conflict resolution skills will positively contribute to human relations and mental health. The aimed of this study was to investigate the conflict resolution behaviors of secondary school students in terms of some psycho-social variables. The sample of the study was 6th, 7th and 8th grade students attending the state secondary schools of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The study was conducted with a total of 175 students of the students. The research was a descriptive study which is prepared by using quantitative research method which examines conflict resolution behaviors of secondary school students. The sample of the study was determined by non-random sampling method. In order to collect data, Conflict Resolution Behavior Determination Scale was used. In the analysis of the data; percentages, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-tests were used. As a result of the study, there was no significant difference according to the gender and grade level of the students. A significant difference was found according to their age, parental partnership status and success levels

The Effects of Jigsaw Technique Based on Cooperative Learning on Prospective Science Teachers’ Science Process Skill

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of laboratory approach based on jigsaw method with cooperative learning and confirmatory laboratory approach on university students’ cognitive process development in Science teaching laboratory applications, and to determine the opinions of the students on applied laboratory methods. The participating student teachers were identified as the Jigsaw Group (n=25), in which the laboratory approach based on Jigsaw method is applied, and as the Control Group (n=23), in which confirmatory laboratory approach is applied. Scientific Process Skill Test and Student Opinion Scale were used as data collection instruments. As a result of statistical analysis made, it was found that the effect of laboratory approach based on Jigsaw method on the development of student teachers’ scientific process skills is higher than those of confirmatory laboratory approach. It was also revelaed that there is no statistically significant difference between the opinions of research groups on applied laboratory approaches. Keywords: Cooperative learning, Jigsaw technique, scientific process skil

Aspect-Oriented Language Mechanisms for Component Binding

Domain Specific Languages (DSLs) are programming languages customized for a problem/solution domain, which allow development of software modules in high-level specifications. Code generation is a common practice for making DSL programs executable: A DSL specification is transformed to a functionally equivalent GPL (general-purpose programing language) representation. Integrating the module generated from a DSL specification to a base system poses a challenge, especially in a case where the DSL and the base system are developed independently. In this paper we describe the problem of integrating domain-specific modules to a system non-intrusively and promote loose coupling between these to allow software evolution. We present our on-going work on aspect-oriented language mechanisms for defining object selectors and object adapters as a solution to this problem

Bio-Inspired Artificial Light-Harvesting Arrays Based on Boron(III)-Chelates

Many diverse natural systems use sunlight to drive critical chemical reactions. To harvest sufficient photon densities, natural organisms have developed highly sophisticated light absorbing antennae rather than rely on direct illumination of a single chromophore. Attempts to develop artificial analogues have resulted in the synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of elaborate molecular assemblies and here we consider the case for using boron(III) chelates as the primary light absorbers. Such entities make attractive modules for the creation of multi-component arrays with individual units sited in a logical sequence for long-range electronic energy transfer. Alternatively, certain boron(III) chelates can be synthesised in high yield by simple strategies that avoid time-consuming purification. These latter materials are appealing as components for large-scale light harvesters. The use of photonic crystals avoids the need to position individual molecules at the catalyst but presents severe design challenges. Interrupting, or redirecting, the flow of excitons within the array requires the introduction of novel switches that can be activated by selective illumination. Protecting the array against adventitious photofading is a major objective that has yet to be achieved