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 effect of cognitive task difficulty and articulation on postural sway

Introduction: Many studies evaluate the interaction between cognition and posture but the effect of cognitive task difficulty and articulation on postural control remains inconclusive. The purpose of the present study was to examine the interaction effect of cognitive task difficulty and articulation on postural control.Methods: Twenty healthy young volunteers (Mean age 22 ± 2.3 years) performed four random conditions while standing on a force platform. Conditions involved combinations of two level of cognitive task difficulty (easy and difficult cognitivetask) and two level of verbal response (simultaneous and final).Results: Two-way ANOVA (significant level P<0.05) results demonstrated marked increased in the standard deviation and area of 95% confidence ellipse of the center of pressure in the difficult cognitive task condition with simultaneous verbalresponse. (P<0.05). Also, in the final response condition, difficult cognitive task reduced area of 95% confidence ellipse.Conclusion: According to the results of the present research, it seems that the difficult cognitive task requires a greater part of attention capacity; subsequently,attention is withdrawn from the postural task and automatic control regulates posture more efficiently through unconscious, fast, and reflexive processes. Also, postural control is simultaneously affected by the difficulty of cognitive task and articulation.Therefore, for designing appropriate interventions, it seems necessary to pay attention to the interactive effects of the difficulty and articulation of cognitive task

A Comparative Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Laboratory Findings of COVID-19 between Intensive Care Unit and Non-Intensive Care Unit Pediatric Patients: A Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study from Iranian Network for Research in Viral

Introduction: To date, little is known about the clinical features of pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs).&nbsp;Objective: Herein, we aimed to describe the differences in demographic characteristics, laboratory findings, clinical presentations, and outcomes of Iranian pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU versus those in non-ICU settings.&nbsp;Methods: This multicenter investigation involved 15 general and pediatrics hospitals and included cases with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection based on positive real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) admitted to these centers between March and May 2020, during the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.&nbsp;Results: Overall, 166 patients were included, 61 (36.7%) of whom required ICU admission. The highest number of admitted cases to ICU were in the age group of 1–5 years old. Malignancy and heart diseases were the most frequent underlying conditions. Dyspnea was the major symptom for ICU-admitted patients. There were significant decreases in PH, HCO3 and base excess, as well as increases in creatinine, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and potassium levels between ICU-admitted and non-ICU patients. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, and acute cardiac injury were the most common features among ICU-admitted patients. The mortality rate in the ICU-admitted patients was substantially higher than non-ICU cases (45.9% vs. 1.9%, respectively; p&lt;0.001).&nbsp;Conclusions: Underlying diseases were the major risk factors for the increased ICU admissions and mortality rates in pediatric COVID-19 patients. There were few paraclinical parameters that could differentiate between pediatrics in terms of prognosis and serious outcomes of COVID-19. Healthcare providers should consider children as a high-risk group, especially those with underlying medical conditions

Frequency control scheme of an AC Islanded microgrid based on modified new self-organizing hierarchical PSO with jumping time-varying acceleration coefficients

AbstractLow energy inertia, a high penetration level of renewable energy sources, and a large ratio of power deviations in a small power transmission system have put microgrid frequency at risk of instability. Based on the close coupling between microgrid frequency and system security requirements, providing sufficient ancillary services from cost-effective and environmentally friendly resources is a major challenge in an efficient energy management system. In this article, a fuzzy approach and a new optimization technique on the PI controller are used to solve the problem of frequency stability in the AC micro-grid in the island mode by optimising the PI-fuzzy controller parameters. The suggested modified new self-organizing hierarchical PSO with jumping time-varying acceleration coefficients (MNHPSO-JTVAC) based controller’s results show that the control system has been investigated under three scenarios: load variations, RES uncertainty, white noise, and frequency correction. In terms of frequency responsiveness, the results are good when compared to traditional algorithms: The suggested design has been able to optimise the control system parameters by the proposed MNHPSO-JTVAC algorithm to solve microgrid frequency deviations caused by source uncertainty, load changes, and white noise, respectively, 0.008473, 0.01334, and 23.71, compared to classical PI control—PI, fuzzy And PI-fuzzy-GOA shows that in practical systems, this method can be considered very desirable and attractive

The prevalence of visual problems in school children, Shiraz, Iran

Background & Objective: Refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism) could lead to an impaired quality of life affect a large proportion of the population worldwide, irrespective of age, sex and ethnic group. Such refractive errors can be easily diagnosed, measured and corrected with spectacles or other refractive corrections to attain normal vision. Since there is paucity of information in school children in Iran we aimed to investigate the distribution pattern of refractive status and prevalence of refractive errors in school-age children in Shiraz Methods: A random sampling strategy in geographically defined clusters was used to identify children aged 6-15 years in Shiraz between 2008-2209. We carried out a school survey and actual eye examinations, including visual acuity measurements, stereopsis examination, anterior segment and eyeball movements, fundus examinations, and cycloplegic retinoscopy with 1 cyclopentolate. Results: Of 3065 selected individuals, 2683 were participated in the study (response rate 86.6). According to cycloplegic refraction, 4.85 (95 (Cl), 3.52 to 6.16) of the primary and middle school students were myopic and 4.64 (95 Cl, 3.52 to 6.19) were hyperopic. For high school students, these rates were 22.19 and 11.4 respectively. Myopia and hyperopia were shown to be correlated with age. Prevalence of anisometropia, amblyopia and strabismus were 2.51, 2.31(95CI 1.51-3.11) and 1.83 (95CI 1.15-2.50). Conclusion: Compared to other published reports, the rate of myopia in the school children of Shiraz seems relatively high