An intelligent skin‐color capture method based on fuzzy C‐means with applications

Consumer behavior is complicated. In the cosmetic market, personal intuition and fashion trends for color selection are guidelines for consumers. A systematic method for female facial skin‐color classification and an application in the makeup market are proposed in this study. In this article, face recognition with a large number of images is first discussed. Then, an innovative method to capture color at selected points is presented and complexion‐aggregated analysis is performed. This innovative method is an extension of face‐recognition theory. Images in RGB format are converted to CIELAB format during data collection and then Fuzzy C‐means theory is used to cluster and group the data. The results are classified and grouped in Lab value and RGB index. Two programs are created. The first program, “FaceRGB,” captures color automatically from images. The second program, “ColorFCM,” clusters and groups the skin‐color information. The results can be used to assist an expert system in the selection of customized colors during makeup and new‐product development.     

Buoyancy effects on the laminar boundary layer heat transfer along vertically moving cylinders

Abstract

The effects of buoyancy forces on the laminar boundary layer flow and heat transfer along vertically moving cylinders are analyzed for the cases of prescribed surface temperature and prescribed wall heat flux in power of streamwise distance. Local similarity solutions are obtained to show the effects of buoyancy parameters and the transverse curvature of the cylinder on the surface friction and heat transfer rate.     

Factors influencing the continuance intention to the usage of Web 2.0: An empirical study

New business models and applications have been continuously developed and popularized on the Internet. In recent years, a number of applications including blogs, Facebook, iGoogle, Plurk, Twitter, and YouTube known as Web 2.0 have become very popular. These aforementioned applications all have a strong social flavor. However, what social factors exert an influence onto their use is still unclear and remains as a research issue to be further investigated. This research studies four social factors and they are subjective norm, image, critical mass, and electronic word-of-mouth. A causal model of the satisfaction and continuance intention of Web 2.0 users as a function of these four social factors is proposed. Results indicate that user satisfaction with Web 2.0 applications significantly affects electronic word-of-mouth, which in turn significantly influences their continuance intention. In addition, subjective norm, image and critical mass all have a significant impact onto satisfaction, which in turn has an indirect significant influence on electronic word-of-mouth. Finally, all social factors have a significant direct impact on continuance intention. Finally, implications for service providers and researchers are discussed.     

Evaluating the criteria for human resource for science and technology (HRST) based on an integrated fuzzy AHP and fuzzy DEMATEL approach

This study intends to use a combination of fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and fuzzy Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method in human resource for science and technology (HRST). Specifically, this study first uses AHP to evaluate the weighting for each criterion and then use DEMATEL method to establish contextual relationships among those criteria. We find out Infrastructure might be more critical since it is a cause and will directly influence human resource for science and technology performance. For human resource for science and technology (HRST), improving Infrastructure might be a better choice for the long period of time. Moreover, Education, R&D Expenses and Immediate output are more important second-tier criteria than Value, Cooperation, Labor Market, Human Capital and Intermediate output. Therefore, the improvement should be started with Infrastructure, particularly on identification of the Education, R&D Expenses and Immediate output.     

Catalyst‐Free GaN Nanorods Synthesized by Selective Area Growth

GaN nanorod formation on Ga‐polar GaN by continuous mode metalorganic chemical vapor deposition selective area growth (MOCVD SAG) is achieved under a relatively Ga‐rich condition. The Ga‐rich condition, provided by applying a very low V/III ratio, alters the growth rates of various planes of the defined nanostructure by increasing relative growth rate of the semi‐polar tilted m‐plane {1–101} that usually is the slowest growing plane under continuous growth conditions. This increased growth rate relative to the non‐polar m‐plane {1–100} and even the c‐plane (0001), permits the formation of GaN nanorods with nonpolar sidewalls. In addition, a new growth mode, called the NH₃‐pulsed mode, is introduced, utilizing the advantages of both the continuous mode and the lower growth rate pulsed mode to form nanorods. Finally, nanorods grown under the different growth modes are compared and discussed.     

Post occupancy evaluation of green residential buildings,in the Greater Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

Homebuyers are now demanding green buildings over conventional buildings due to better performance, higher operating savings, and the premium satisfaction that the green buildings offer. However, whilst the supply of green buildings is increasing, the satisfaction of the occupants requires evaluation. This research investigated the satisfaction of the occupants of certified residential green buildings in the Greater Kuala Lumpur. The research was based on a cross-sectional survey questionnaire comprising 15 performance factors and 118 green building occupants. The survey forms were administered through hand delivery. The satisfaction of the occupants with respect to the ability of the buildings to accommodate the elderly and the disabled was very high. The occupants were also satisfied with the acoustics, overall lighting, layout, and overall air quality of the buildings. The factor analysis structured the performance factors into four clusters, namely, lighting, indoor environmental quality, operating cost, and spatial. The findings will be useful for the design teams because developers and city planners and the green rating certifiers and facilitators make their decisions on the prioritisation of the performance criteria of the green buildings. Whilst the data were collected in Malaysia, the information is applicable to beyond Malaysia.

     

Synthesis and structural characterization of α-MoO3 from molybdic acid wastewater

The study investigated the use of ethylene glycol to form α-MoO₃ from molybdic acid wastewater by thermal treatment at 300 °C for 1 h. The color change, pH values, and residual molybdenum concentration in the wastewater were dependent on the reaction times that were used. The results of UV–visible and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to explain the reaction process. During the treatment process, the morphologies of the constituents were observed using scanning electron microscopy. In this work, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that when the molybdenum oxide powder was treated thermally at 300 °C, the material exhibited crystallinity, and the peaks were indexed to correspond with the (002) and (200) crystallographic planes, which were identified as orthorhombic molybdenum trioxide (α-MoO₃). In addition, the FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed that α-MoO₃ powder had been synthesized.     

Barrier effect of flame retardant systems in poly(methyl methacrylate): Study of the efficiency of the surface treatment by octylsilane of silica nanoparticles in combination with phosphorous fire retardant additives

In this work, flame retardant systems comprising ammonium polyphosphate (AP423) and hydrophilic (A200) or hydrophobic (R805) nanometric silica were incorporated into PMMA. The following techniques were performed to detail the fire behaviour of the composites: mass loss cone calorimetry, pyrolysis‐combustion flow calorimetry, pyrolysis‐gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and microscopic observations. The best fire behaviour was obtained with the surface‐treated silica in the presence of AP423. The formation of a new crystalline phase from the interactions between AP423 and R805 silica and a strong barrier effect due to a layered residue were the main modes of action of this system. Moreover, we have shown that the difference between the AP423 + R805 and AP423 + A200 systems was due to poor dispersion of the silica into the PMMA matrix in the latter formulation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis for vertical velocity of seismic waves

Abstract

Presented here are the results of seismic wave velocities analyzed using the acceleration time‐histories recorded at the downhole strong motion array of the Lotung large scale seismic test site during the May 20, 1986 Hualien earthquake. The spectral ratios between the surface and downhole accelerograms were used to identify the frequencies of maximum amplification of soil layers, and an elastic 1‐D wave propagation model was proposed to estimate the wave velocities of the ground during the earthquake. The results obtained indicate that significant reduction of shear wave velocity as well as soil modulus was induced by earthquake excitation as compared to the values obtained from low strain level soil testings.