https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/45 Mon, 27 Jul 2026 13:11:48 GMT 2026-07-27T13:11:48Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148249 Title: Optical estimation of facial muscle activity for emotion detection : validation against electromyography and real-time prototype evaluation Authors: Jaworski, Przemysław; Makowski, Miłosz; Pondel, Maciej Abstract: PURPOSE: This paper proposes and validates a novel three-stage framework for non-invasive emotion detection based on the transformation of facial video recordings into biosignal-like time series analogous to surface electromyography (EMG). The study aims to investigate the extent to which optically derived facial signals can serve as reliable proxies for physiological muscle activity and support real-time emotion recognition without the need for direct sensor contact.; DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The research was conducted in three consecutive stages. In Stage 1, concurrent facial video and surface EMG recordings were collected from five participants exposed to emotionally valenced stimuli. Optical signals were extracted using the FLAME morphable face model and Facial Action Coding System (FACS)-based descriptors and compared with EMG ground-truth measurements across four facial muscle channels. Cross-modal correspondence was evaluated using Pearson correlation analysis and temporal alignment procedures. In Stage 2, the validated optical signal extraction pipeline was implemented within a remote-capable data collection application, enabling contactless acquisition and processing of facial-expression data. In Stage 3, the methodology was integrated into a portable real-time prototype system designed for automatic emotion recognition and tested on twenty participants.; FINDINGS: The results demonstrate that facial video data can be transformed into meaningful biosignal-like representations corresponding to underlying muscular activity. The strongest optical–EMG correspondence was observed for the Zygomaticus major muscle (r = 0.733 ± 0.188), while moderate correlations were obtained for the Corrugator supercilii (r = 0.282 ± 0.147) and Orbicularis oculi (r = 0.239 ± 0.216) muscles. Frontalis measurements exhibited greater variability (r = 0.239 ± 0.309). The analysis identified a systematic electromechanical delay of approximately 0.2 seconds between physiological and optically derived signals. The final prototype successfully classified ten discrete emotional categories in real time across twenty consecutive participants, confirming the feasibility of the proposed approach.; PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The proposed framework offers a scalable and non-invasive alternative to traditional physiological emotion-monitoring techniques. Potential applications include human–computer interaction, affective computing, healthcare monitoring, psychological assessment, adaptive educational systems, customer experience research and wearable or mobile technologies requiring real-time emotion recognition without physical sensors.; ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The paper introduces an innovative methodology that bridges computer vision and physiological signal analysis by converting facial video streams into EMG-like representations of muscle activity. Its originality lies in the validation of optical–EMG correspondence, the identification of temporal synchronization characteristics and the successful implementation of a portable real-time emotion recognition system. The study contributes to the development of contactless affective computing technologies and provides a foundation for future research on physiologically informed emotion detection methods. Description: During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used ChatGPT Business, a generative AI tool developed by OpenAI, solely for language editing purposes, including improvement of grammar, clarity, style, and readability of the text. The tool was not used to generate research data, conduct data analysis, create results, formulate conclusions, or make substantive scientific decisions. All AI-assisted edits were reviewed, verified, and approved by the authors. The authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and final content of the manuscript. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148249 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148247 Title: The role of smart specializations in shaping employee competencies and development practices : evidence from the Podkarpackie region Authors: Khorrami, Krystyna; Migała-Warchoł, Aldona; Warmińska, Agata Abstract: PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to examine whether the representation of smart specializations by enterprises in the Podkarpackie region differentiates the assessment of employee competencies, development practices, support mechanisms, and barriers to investing in competence development.; DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The analysis is based on survey research conducted among employers (n = 383) and focuses on selected dimensions of employee qualifications, including specialized, analytical, digital, social, organizational, green, and formal competencies, as well as the organizational context of employee development. The study also considers the nature of development activities undertaken in organizations, the availability of competence development opportunities, and organizational support for employee growth. The statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics software. Non-parametric methods were applied due to the nature of the data and the potential violation of assumptions required for parametric tests, such as normality of distribution and homogeneity of variance.; FINDINGS: The concept of smart specialization plays an increasingly important role in regional development policy, linking innovation, competitiveness, and human capital development. This study examines whether enterprises representing the smart specializations of the Podkarpackie region differ from other firms in their assessment of employee competencies, development practices, support mechanisms, and barriers to competence development. The results indicate that the relationship with regional smart specializations differentiates only selected aspects of competence assessment and development. Enterprises representing smart specializations report stronger emphasis on specialized competencies and more strategic approaches to employee development, particularly in relation to career paths, transformation processes, and the identification of development needs. At the same time, differences in digital, organizational, and most social competencies are limited, suggesting that these skills have become universal requirements across sectors. The findings imply that smart specializations influence human capital development selectively rather than comprehensively.; PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The study contributes to the discussion on the relationship between regional innovation policy and workforce development and provides implications for regional authorities, higher education institutions, and employers.; ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The literature review indicates a lack of studies combining the topics of smart specializations and competencies. The considerations presented in this paper address this gap in the literature. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148247 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148246 Title: Branding the creative city through music : stakeholder engagement on social media Authors: Cheraghi, Elham Abstract: PURPOSE: This study examines the role of social media in the strategic communication of place brands within the framework of a UNESCO City of Music. It investigates how digital platforms are utilized to promote a city’s cultural identity, communicate place-brand values, and foster stakeholder engagement through music-related content.; DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Using a digital ethnography approach, this research analyzes 868 Instagram posts published on the official Katowice Music City account. Content analysis was employed to classify posts according to thematic categories, communication strategies, and engagement indicators. Audience responses, including likes, comments, and interaction patterns, were examined to identify the types of content that generate the highest levels of stakeholder engagement and contribute most effectively to place-brand communication.; FINDINGS: The findings indicate that several social media communication strategies are particularly effective in enhancing audience engagement and increasing the visibility of place-brand messages. Content emphasizing live music events, artist participation, cultural experiences, and community involvement generated significantly higher engagement rates than posts focusing on institutional communication or the city’s UNESCO designation. The results suggest that stakeholder engagement is influenced more strongly by tangible cultural and musical experiences than by abstract place-brand attributes and official recognitions. Furthermore, interactive and visually rich content was found to strengthen emotional connections between audiences and the city brand. These findings demonstrate the importance of aligning social media communication with audience interests and experiential dimensions of place identity.; PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The study provides practical guidance for place-brand managers, cultural policymakers, and destination marketing organizations seeking to improve the effectiveness of their digital communication strategies. The results highlight the need to prioritize stakeholder-centered content, emphasize authentic cultural experiences, and leverage social media platforms as tools for co-creating place-brand value and strengthening relationships with local and international audiences. The findings may also support UNESCO Creative Cities and other culturally oriented destinations in designing more effective online engagement strategies.; ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study contributes to the growing literature on place branding, social media, and stakeholder engagement by examining the digital communication practices of a UNESCO Creative City of Music. It advances understanding of how creative cities use social media to construct and communicate place identities and demonstrates the relative effectiveness of different content strategies in generating public engagement. By integrating perspectives from place branding, cultural policy, and digital communication, the study offers a novel empirical contribution to research on creative-city branding in the social media era. Description: This study employed exclusively non-sensitive information and publicly accessible materials, formal approval from the institutional ethics committee was not required in accordance with the regulations of our university. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148246 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148245 Title: Evaluation of agreement-related e-mail classification models with unbalanced classes Authors: Hernes, Marcin; Rot, Artur; Walaszczyk, Ewa; Tyburcy, Janusz; Hańczyk, Abigail Abstract: PURPOSE: The aim of the research is to evaluate the effectiveness of classification models of agreement-related emails with imbalanced classes, which allows for a more comprehensive assessment of their performance under severely imbalanced data and a better understanding of their behaviour in practical applications.; DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The following machine learning classification methods have been used: Complement Naive Bayes, Logistic Regression, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machine.; FINDINGS: This research evaluated the effectiveness of classification models for agreementrelated emails with imbalanced classes. Random Forest and Support Vector Machine achieve high values for both Accuracy and balanced Accuracy, demonstrating their strong classification performance.; PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Random Forest and Support Vector Machine can be implemented in intelligent information systems for a mail dispatcher. Correspondence can be automatically routed to the person responsible for handling the inquiry. This speeds up the process and minimises the risk of an inquiry being overlooked or left unanswered.; ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Despite a large body of research on email classification, there is still a lack of studies focused on specific applications, such as agreement document classification. In particular, it is rare to simultaneously examine different models and compare their performance using multiple metrics within a single real-world problem. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148245 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z