EmoStim: A Database of Emotional Film Clips with Discrete and Componential Assessment

Emotion elicitation using emotional film clips is one of the most common and ecologically valid methods in Affective Computing. However, selecting and validating appropriate materials that evoke a range of emotions is challenging. Here we present EmoStim: A Database of Emotional Film Clips as a film library with a rich and varied content. EmoStim is designed for researchers interested in studying emotions in relation to either discrete or componential models of emotion. To create the database, 139 film clips were selected from literature and then annotated by 638 participants through the CrowdFlower platform. We selected 99 film clips based on the distribution of subjective ratings that effectively distinguished between emotions defined by the discrete model. We show that the selected film clips reliably induce a range of specific emotions according to the discrete model. Further, we describe relationships between emotions, emotion organization in the componential space, and underlying dimensions representing emotional experience. The EmoStim database and participant annotations are freely available for research purposes. The database can be used to enrich our understanding of emotions further and serve as a guide to select or create additional materials.Comment: This work has been submitted to the IEEE for possible publication. Copyright may be transferred without notice, after which this version may no longer be accessibl

Exploring Emotions and Engagement: A Multi-componential Analysis Using Films and Virtual Reality

In the digital age, where our lives are intertwined with intelligent systems and immersive experiences, understanding how emotions are shaped and influenced is more crucial than ever. Despite the attention to discrete and dimensional models, neuroscientific evidence supports that emotions are complex and multi-faceted. While the Component Process Model (CPM) acknowledges the complexity of emotions through its five interconnected components: appraisal, motivation, physiology, expression, and feeling, it has received limited attention in Affective Computing. Despite some recent advances in full CPM research, limitations exist. The relatively narrow emphasis on full CPM has resulted in a scarcity of available datasets for in-depth exploration. Most of these datasets are film-based, with only one in Virtual Reality (VR), and all have received limited computational analysis, especially in exploratory and Machine Learning aspects. Passive film-based emotion induction has merits and limitations, as it positions participants as observers. Introducing active VR stimuli can enhance emotion elicitation due to its immersive nature, but current CPM VR analyses rely on subjective reports. VR as an empathy machine is often identified in cutting-edge emotion research; however, limited attention has been given to understanding these attributes of VR, such as engagement. This thesis aims to comprehend emotions through full CPM with computational models. It starts with analysing a film-based dataset having subjective and objective measures and presents the role of physiology in emotion discrimination. Subsequently, we underscore the significance of micro-level annotations using another film-based dataset with larger continuous subjective annotations. The thesis also introduces a data-driven approach using interactive VR games and collected multimodal measures (self-reports, physiological, facial expressions, and movements) from 39 participants. The new dataset shows the role of different components in emotion differentiation when emotions are induced actively. Furthermore, the thesis presents an innovative approach to measuring engagement in VR games. We examine the simultaneous occurrence of player motivation and physiological responses to explore potential associations with body movements. Our explorations into emotions and engagement within a multi-componential framework, utilising both films and VR games, present numerous opportunities for advancing our understanding of human behaviour and interactions to foster a more empathetic world

Climatic Zones of Sri Lanka under Changing Climate

Climate change is the major phenomenon and fundamental human development challenge ofthe 21st century. It is well known that all climatic regions in Sri Lanka have been experiencedwith severe climatic changes. As a result, entire flora and fauna including humans arevulnerable to these adverse consequences. In general, it is believed that nations wouldmitigate the climate change or adapt to the changing environments. For employment of suchmeasures, it is necessary to understand the macro-climatic region and their behavior under thechanging global climate. Based on the annual rainfall received, the country is divided mainlyinto four climatic zones: wet, intermediate, dry and arid. The climate of the country dependslargely on the monsoon wind patterns and series of temperature. Therefore, it is necessary tounderstand the climatic zones and their behavior to identify each climatic zone‟s minor andmajor climate changes. The main objective of this study was to study on macro-climatic regions of Sri Lanka underchanging climate. Therefore, the present study was carried out on macro-climatic regions ofthe island to find out the potential variation of temperature and rainfall patterns. Climatic datafor the 30 year period were collected from randomly selected metrological stations in eachclimatic zone and average temperature and rainfall data were analysed using least significantdifference (LSD) test. The results showed that average temperature of the country has increased 0.4° C from theyear 1869 to 1980. Kandy (intermediate zone) region shows the higher temperature after theyear of 1886 named as colonial era which was prevalent for deforestation and tea cultivation.A significantly increasing trend of temperature and decreasing trend of rainfall could beobserved entirely within wet zone, dry zone and intermediate zone in 20th century than 19thcentury. Findings reveal that the wet zone boundary has squeezed in and dry zone boundaryhas expanded in recent time. Such boundary movements of the zones are significantlyimportant on reclassification of the dry zone and intermediate zone. Therefore, further studieson climate regions of Sri Lanka under changing climate is needed to examine the relationshipbetween the vegetation cover distribution changes within the boundary of the climatic zones.Hence researchers could identify wet and intermediate zones as a “micro-climatic zones”while dry zone could be identified as a “macro-climatic zone” instead of traditionallygeneralised term in future. Keywords: Changing climate, Climatic zones, Macro-climatic region, Zone boundarymovement, Colonial er

Effects of Latex Type and Processed-Mica Waste Loading on the Structural and Thermo-Physical Properties of Natural Rubber Latex Foam Composites

Mica waste, a type of commercial waste produced in bulk quantities by the mica mining industry, was processed and added to Natural Rubber Latex Foams (NRLF) made of centrifuged and creamed latex. Following the Dunlop method, NRLF composites with various Processed Mica Waste (PMW) loadings (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 phr) were prepared, and the thermo-physical characteristics were compared. Thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity of NRLF against the latex type and mica loading were compared for the first time. NRLFs prepared using creamed latex exhibit 33 and 50 μm (width and height) cell diameter, 3 ibf hardness, 281 % swelling index improvements and 0.05 Wm-1K-1 thermal conductivity, and 1 ˚C glass transition temperature (Tg) reductions than centrifuged NRLF and indistinguishable electrical resistivity. With the addition of mica (0-10 Phr), both NRLF types showed a similar ascending trend in hardness (42 ibf), water absorption (16%), Tg (7 ˚C), thermal conductivity (0.54 Wm-1K-1), electrical resistivity (69 × 103ohm m) with decreasing gel time (3 min) and swelling index (550 %). The key objective of this research was to prepare PMW-filled NRLF and compare structural, electrical and thermo-physical properties, for the first time, against mica content and latex type

Identification of damages to building structures due to roots of trees

When trees are planted too close to a building, the roots of them are causing damages to that building in both direct and indirect ways. In many cases, these subterranean problems go unnoticed, until cracks appear on surfaces. The remedial works for such cases can be always difficult and expensive. This research was carried out to identify the causes and effects of not using the safe planting distances and then it is extended with a detail survey to find safe distances using 5 categories of trees, which are most common in Sri Lanka. It was noted that the direct damages to civil structures are very common here in Sri Lanka. It was observed that the damage from Bodhi tree is much greater than other trees. Therefore, its’ safe planting distance is around 11 metres. Safe planting distances for Tamarind and Royal Poinciana are in a range between 6 to 7 metres. For Jack & Mango tree, it is about 4 to 5 metres. So these safe planting distances has presented numerically in this report

Evaluation of surveillance case definition in the diagnosis of leptospirosis, using the Microscopic Agglutination Test: a validation study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Leptospirosis is endemic in both urban and rural areas of Sri Lanka and there had been many out breaks in the recent past. This study was aimed at validating the leptospirosis surveillance case definition, using the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study population consisted of patients with undiagnosed acute febrile illness who were admitted to the medical wards of the Teaching Hospital Kandy, from 1^stJuly 2007 to 31^stJuly 2008. The subjects were screened to diagnose leptospirosis according to the leptospirosis case definition. MAT was performed on blood samples taken from each patient on the 7^thday of fever. Leptospirosis case definition was evaluated in regard to sensitivity, specificity and predictive values, using a MAT titre ≥ 1:800 for confirming leptospirosis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 123 patients were initially recruited of which 73 had clinical features compatible with the surveillance case definition. Out of the 73 only 57 had a positive MAT result (true positives) leaving 16 as false positives. Out of the 50 who didn't have clinical features compatible with the case definition 45 had a negative MAT as well (true negatives), therefore 5 were false negatives. Total number of MAT positives was 62 out of 123. According to these results the test sensitivity was 91.94%, specificity 73.77%, positive predictive value and negative predictive values were 78.08% and 90% respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of the test was 82.93%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study confirms that the surveillance case definition has a very high sensitivity and negative predictive value with an average specificity in diagnosing leptospirosis, based on a MAT titre of ≥ 1: 800.</p

Predictors of the development of myocarditis or acute renal failure in patients with leptospirosis: An observational study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Leptospirosis has a varied clinical presentation with complications like myocarditis and acute renal failure. There are many predictors of severity and mortality including clinical and laboratory parameters. Early detection and treatment can reduce complications. Therefore recognizing the early predictors of the complications of leptospirosis is important in patient management. This study was aimed at determining the clinical and laboratory predictors of myocarditis or acute renal failure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a prospective descriptive study carried out in the Teaching Hospital, Kandy, from 1st July 2007 to 31st July 2008. Patients with clinical features compatible with leptospirosis case definition were confirmed using the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT). Clinical features and laboratory measures done on admission were recorded. Patients were observed for the development of acute renal failure or myocarditis. Chi-square statistics, Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney <it>U </it>test were used to compare patients with and without complications. A logistic regression model was used to select final predictor variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sixty two confirmed leptospirosis patients were included in the study. Seven patients (11.3%) developed acute renal failure and five (8.1%) developed myocarditis while three (4.8%) had both acute renal failure and myocarditis. Conjunctival suffusion - 40 (64.5%), muscle tenderness - 28 (45.1%), oliguria - 20 (32.2%), jaundice - 12 (19.3%), hepatomegaly - 10 (16.1%), arrhythmias (irregular radial pulse) - 8 (12.9%), chest pain - 6 (9.7%), bleeding - 5 (8.1%), and shortness of breath (SOB) 4 (6.4%) were the common clinical features present among the patients. Out of these, only oliguria {odds ratio (OR) = 4.14 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.003-17.261}, jaundice (OR = 5.13 and 95% CI 1.149-28.003), and arrhythmias (OR = 5.774 and 95% CI 1.001-34.692), were predictors of myocarditis or acute renal failure and none of the laboratory measures could predict the two complications.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study shows that out of clinical and laboratory variables, only oliguria, jaundice and arrhythmia are strong predictors of development of acute renal failure or myocarditis in patients with leptospirosis presented to Teaching Hospital of Kandy, Sri Lanka.</p

Introduction to bio-based materials and biotechnologies for eco-efficient construction

This chapter introduces some sustainability challenges, as well as the importance of resource efficiency and the European bioeconomy strategy. The importance of biobased materials and biotech admixtures for eco-efficient construction is summarized. The importance of changing the curriculum of civil engineering to address sustainability challenges and also enhance the collaboration between civil engineers and biotech experts is briefly discussed. Comments concerning the biobased and biotech related publication intensity of several well know civil engineering departments are also made. An outline of the book is also given