Dastgàh recognition in Iranian music: different features and optimized parameters

In this paper we report on the results of utilizing computational analysis to determine the dastgàh, the mode of music in the Iranian classical art music, using spectrogram and chroma features. We contrast the effectiveness of classifying music using the Manhattan distance and Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM). For our database of Iranian instrumental music played on a santur, using spectrogram and chroma features , we achieved accuracy rates of 90.11% and 80.2% when using Manhattan distance respectively. When using GMM with chroma, the accuracy rate was 89.0%. The effects of altering key parameters were also investigated, varying the amount of the training data and silence, as well as high frequency suppression on the results. The results from this phase of experimentation indicated that a 24 equal temperament was the best tone resolution. While experiments focused on dastgàh, with only minor adjustments the described techniques are applicable to traditional Persian, Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic and Greek music, and therefore suitable to use as a basis for a musicological tool that provides a broader form of cross-cultural audio search

Automatic recognition of Persian musical modes in audio musical signals

This research proposes new approaches for computational identification of Persian musical modes. This involves constructing a database of audio musical files and developing computer algorithms to perform a musical analysis of the samples. Essential features, the spectral average, chroma, and pitch histograms, and the use of symbolic data, are discussed and compared. A tonic detection algorithm is developed to align the feature vectors and to make the mode recognition methods independent of changes in tonality. Subsequently, a geometric distance measure, such as the Manhattan distance, which is preferred, and cross correlation, or a machine learning method (the Gaussian Mixture Models), is used to gauge similarity between a signal and a set of templates that are constructed in the training phase, in which data-driven patterns are made for each dastgàh (Persian mode). The effects of the following parameters are considered and assessed: the amount of training data; the parts of the frequency range to be used for training; down sampling; tone resolution (12-TET, 24-TET, 48-TET and 53-TET); the effect of using overlapping or nonoverlapping frames; and silence and high-energy suppression in pre-processing. The santur (hammered string instrument), which is extensively used in the musical database samples, is described and its physical properties are characterised; the pitch and harmonic deviations characteristic of it are measured; and the inharmonicity factor of the instrument is calculated for the first time. The results are applicable to Persian music and to other closely related musical traditions of the Mediterranean and the Near East. This approach enables content-based analyses of, and content-based searches of, musical archives. Potential applications of this research include: music information retrieval, audio snippet (thumbnailing), music archiving and access to archival content, audio compression and coding, associating of images with audio content, music transcription, music synthesis, music editors, music instruction, automatic music accompaniment, and setting new standards and symbols for musical notation

Thanks to the referendum, the tyranny of the majority has prevailed

Many people living in the UK, and some Britons outside it, had no vote in the referendum. Scotland and Northern Ireland chose to Remain but will be forced to leave. Arash Heydarian Pashakhanlou argues the UK has succumbed to the tyranny of the majority thanks to the decision to put EU membership to a referendum

The Flying Ace as a Hero: An Analysis of the Representations of Douglas Bader and Erich Hartmann

This study develops a four-factor framework (4F model) based on fear, suffering, values, and characteristics for analyzing depictions of physical-risk martial heroism. Specifically, this framework is applied to assess representations of two World War II flying aces, the Royal Air Force pilot Douglas Bader and his German contemporary from the Luftwaffe, Erich Hartmann. On investigation, it is revealed that Bader and Hartmann are either described as fearless or capable of continuing their heroic journey despite their fears. Moreover, the literature contends that both these pilots experienced immense suffering but eventually overcame them. Regarding values, Bader is portrayed as a conservative patriot, whereas Hartmann is said to be a romantic and chivalrous hero. In terms of their characteristics, the depictions of Bader highlight both his positive and negative traits, whereas the darker sides of the hero are virtually absent in the rosy representations of Hartmann

Extraer estándares y criterios de hoteles hospitalarios con un enfoque de diseño hospitalario especializado

Background and Aim: Hospital design is based on the theoretical foundations of architecture and careful planning based on activities, equipment, standards and specific relationships between spaces. Applying the right standards and relationships between functions has a direct impact on the proper context of treatment. According to what has been said, the purpose of this study is to extract the standards and criteria of the hospital hotel with a specialized hospital design approach. Materials and Methods: The present study is a quantitative-qualitative method and based on this, first the qualitative evaluation of hospital environments in Kermanshah and then in the next stage, the obtained and presented standards have been proved. In order to evaluate the quality and evaluate the compatibility of the use of the standard environment, a semi-structured individual interview with hospital design specialists and researchers in this field and qualitative analysis of texts were used. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed by coding method and in the next step, using the confirmatory factor analysis and laser software, the presented indicators were proved. Results and Results: In establishing hoteling standards in a specialized hospital, in addition to designing the initial physical spaces appropriate to the type of disease, three main questions were: Reasons for using the hospital hotel standard, the fit of the standards with the patient's needs and what these standards are. From the present study, we can point to the required standards in the field of hospital hotels with the approach of a specialized hospital with four basic indicators such as building and equipment, welfare services, human factors and functional factors. These are among the basic and emphasized standards that have been neglected.Background and Aim: Hospital design is based on the theoretical foundations of architecture and careful planning based on activities, equipment, standards and specific relationships between spaces. Applying the right standards and relationships between functions has a direct impact on the proper context of treatment. According to what has been said, the purpose of this study is to extract the standards and criteria of the hospital hotel with a specialized hospital design approach. Materials and Methods: The present study is a quantitative-qualitative method and based on this, first the qualitative evaluation of hospital environments in Kermanshah and then in the next stage, the obtained and presented standards have been proved. In order to evaluate the quality and evaluate the compatibility of the use of the standard environment, a semi-structured individual interview with hospital design specialists and researchers in this field and qualitative analysis of texts were used. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed by coding method and in the next step, using the confirmatory factor analysis and laser software, the presented indicators were proved. Results and Results: In establishing hoteling standards in a specialized hospital, in addition to designing the initial physical spaces appropriate to the type of disease, three main questions were: Reasons for using the hospital hotel standard, the fit of the standards with the patient's needs and what these standards are. From the present study, we can point to the required standards in the field of hospital hotels with the approach of a specialized hospital with four basic indicators such as building and equipment, welfare services, human factors and functional factors. These are among the basic and emphasized standards that have been neglected

Effect of Contact Lenses on Contrast Sensitivity under Various Lighting Conditions

Purpose: To assess contrast sensitivity in clear and colored soft contact lenses under different lighting conditions. Methods: This study was performed on 34 medical students. Visual acuity was measured using a tumbling E chart at a distance of 6 m, and contrast sensitivity was determined by Pelli Robson chart at a distance of 1 m. These tests were repeated in mesopic (3 lux) and glare (2000 lux) conditions. Then, a clear contact lens was applied to one eye and a colored contact lens was applied to the other. After 2 hr, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were measured for each individual. The results were compared with and without contact lenses under normal, mesopic, and glare conditions. Results: The mean refractive error was 0.44 ± 0.20 diopters. Repeated measures ANOVA showed a decline in contrast sensitivity with colored and clear contact lenses as compared to no-lens condition (P < 0.001). Additionally, lighting conditions had a significant impact on contrast sensitivity (P < 0.001); contrast sensitivity was lower in mesopic and glare conditions than under normal lighting condition. Conclusion: In addition to the drop in contrast sensitivity under unusual lighting conditions (e.g., glare and mesopic), wearing soft contact lenses can further reduce contrast sensitivity in different lighting conditions. Therefore, people who wear contact lenses should be aware of this reduction in visual performance in conditions like driving at night or in the fog

The link between ESG and financial performance of the Nordic banks : AnEmpirical Analysis of the Relationship Between ESG Scores and Financial Performance of the Banks in the Nordic Region

This study examines the relationship between financial performance (FP) and ESG performance of banks in the Nordic region. ESG-FP link is examined using fixed effect and 2SLS regressions on two samples of data obtained from Thomson Reuters' database which spans the years 2011 to 2021. In order to measure financial performance, we employ four different dependent variables of Tobin's Q, ROA, ROE, and SR. We discover a certain number of significant positive links between S Score, E Score, G Score, and ESG combined Score with the four financial performance indicators. Furthermore, by carrying out 2SLS regression and removing endogeneity problems, we conclude causal relationships between ESG Score and FP. Hence, not only our results highlight that ESG Score and its pillars in most cases are positively associated with ROA, ROE, SR, and TQ but also FP can be counted as a positive and significant predictor of ESG.nhhma

Relationship between Changes in Serum Sodium Level and Seizures Occurrence in Children with Hypernatremic Dehydration

How to Cite This Article: Heydarian F, Rezaeian A. Relationship between Changes in Serum Sodium Level and Seizures Occurrence in Children with Hypernatremic Dehydration. Iran J Child Neurol. 2013 Autumn;7(4): 35- 40. ObjectiveTo assess any relationship between serum sodium changes and seizure occurrence in children aged 2 months to 5 years with hypernatremic dehydration. Materials & MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed on 63 patients aged 2 months to 5 years from 20 March 2006 to 15 March 2012 at Ghaem Hospital and Dr. Sheikh Hospital in Mashhad, Iran. Patients were divided into 2 groups: case group with hypernatremic dehydration and seizure occurrence, and control group with hypernatremic dehydration and no seizures. ResultsThe mean age of patients was 10.38 (2-48) months. Thirteen patients had seizures, 11 out of them, before admission and 2 during hospital staying. Serum sodium level at admission in those 2 patients with seizure occurrence after hospitalization was 169 (158-180) mmol/L, and in 50 patients without seizure was 162.8 (148-207) mmol/l. Also, the rate of decrease of serum sodium levels in these 2 cases within the first 12 hours after admission was 1.12, and in those without seizure was 0.54 (mmol/L/hour), and it was 0.47 and 0.53 (mmol/l/hour) after 24 hours of admission, respectively. Severe dehydration was seen in 38.5% of cases and 14% of controls. ConclusionThere was not any relationship between changes in serum sodium level and seizure occurrence in children with hypernatremic dehydration. ReferencesOkumura A, Ishiguro Y, Sofue A, Suzuki Y, Maruyama K, Kubota T, et al. Treatment and outcome in patients with febrile convulsion associated with epileptiform discharges on electroencephalography. Brain Dev 2004;26(4):241-4.Heydarian F, Vatankhah H. The role of anemia n first simple febrile seizure in children aged 6 months to 5 years old. Neurosciences (Riyadh) 2012;17(3):226-9.Heydrian F, Ashrafzadeh F, Ghasemian A. Serum zinc level in patients with simle febrile seizure. Iran J Child Neurol 2010;4(2):41-4.Dad MI, Ismael GA, Al-Oufi AA, Al-Mohammadi AH. Clinical pattern of seizures in hospitalized children. Neurosciences (Riyadh) 2003;8(2):107-9.Heydarian F, Ashrafzadeh F, Kam S. Simple febrile seizure: The role of serum sodium levels in prediction of seizure occurrence during the first 24 hours, Iran J Child Neurol 2009;3;31-4.Robertson G, Carrihill M, Hatherill M, Waggir Z,Reynolds L, Argent A. Relationship between fluid management, changes in serum sodium and outcome in hypernatremia associated with gastroenteritis, J Paediatr Child Health 2007;43(4):291-6.De Petris L, Luchetti A, Emma F. Cell volume regulationand transport mechanisms across the brain blood barrier: Implications for the management of hypernatremic states. Eur J pediatr 2000;160(2):71-7.Ross O. The management of extreme hypernatremia secondary to salt poisoning in an infant. Pediatr Anesth 2000;10:110-5.Hatherill M. Rubbing salt in the wound. Arch Dis Child 2004;89(5):414-8.Moritz ML, Ayus JC. Prevention of hospital acquired hyponatremia: A case for using isotonic saline. Pediatrics 2003;111(2):227-30.Taylor D, Durward A. Pouring salt on troubled waters. Arch Dis Child 2004;89(5):411-4.Fang C, Mao J, Dai Y, Xia Y, Fu H, Chen Y, et al. Fluid management of hypernatremic dehydration to prevent cerebral edema: A retrospective case control study of 97 children in China. J Paediatr Child Health 2010;46(6):301-3.El-Bayoumi MA, Abdelkader AM, El-Assmy MMA, Alwakeel AA, El-Tahan HM. Normal saline is a safe initial rehydration fluid in children with diarrhea-related hypernatremia. Eur J Pediatr 2012;171(2):383-8.Arampatzis S, Frauchiger B, FiedlerGM, Leichtle AB, Buhl D, Schwarz C, et al. Characteristics, Symptoms, and Outcome of severe Dysnatremias Present on Hospital Admission. Am J Med 2012;125(11):1125.e1-1125.e7.Chisti MJ, Pietroni MA, Smith JH, Bardhan PK, Salam MA, Predictors of death in under-five children with diarrhea admitted to a critical care ward in an urban hospital in Bangladesh. Am J Med 2012;125(11):1125. e1-1125.e7.Moritz ML, Ayus JC Preventing neurological complications from dysnatremias in children. Pediatr Nephrol 2005;20(12):1687-700.