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.     

Quartz resonator assembling with TSV interposer using polymer sealing or metal bonding

This paper presents one wafer level packaging approach of quartz resonator based on through-silicon via (TSV) interposer with metal or polymer bonding sealing of frequency components. The proposed silicon-based package of quartz resonator adopts several three-dimensional (3D) core technologies, such as Cu TSVs, sealing bonding, and wafer thinning. It is different from conventional quartz resonator using ceramic-based package. With evaluation of mechanical structure design and package performances, this quartz resonator with advanced silicon-based package shows great manufacturability and excellent performance to replace traditional metal lid with ceramic-based interposer fabrication approach.     

Modified toughness used to evaluate the effect of polymer modified asphalt on SMA

Abstract

Toughness, as defined in ASTM D5801, is the work used to stretch a specimen until fracture, and is used to evaluate the ability of polymer modified asphalt (PMA) to resist deformation. Fracture elongations in PMA are usually longer than 10 cm. However, it is almost impossible for asphalt concrete, with or without PMA, to endure such large deformation before fracture. It is presumed that an effective elongation exists for more effective determination of toughness. Principle component analysis (PCA) and single regression analysis were used in this study to evaluate the correlation between physical tests of PMA, including toughness and performance tests of Stonic Mastic Asphalt (SMA). Meanwhile, performance tests, including resilient modulus tests, creep tests and indirect tensile tests, were conducted on SMA samples. According to the results form Principle Components Analysis (PCA), it was observed that only a common factor affects the performance tests. Regression analyses were used to find common factors from physical tests of PMA. Correlation coefficients between toughness and performance tests were found to be better than other physical tests. When toughness was calculated with effective elongation (6.5 cm), R ² was 0.90. In our opinion, the desirable PMA should provide SMA enough work to resist the deformation while the deformation is still small. This result was also confirmed by observation of SEM and Rheological analysis. Modified toughness (calculated with effective elongation) considered as the common factor, is a simple method to evaluate the microstructure of PMA. Overall, modified toughness seems promising for use in evaluation of the effect of PMA on SMA.     

Shaking table test and verification of development of an accumulated semi-active hydraulic damper as an active interaction control device

Semi-active control is based on the use of the emerging concept of active control and passive control. The developed accumulator semi-active hydraulic damper (ASHD) is converted to interaction element (IE) of active interaction control (AIC). Systemic equations of motion, control law and control rulers of this proposed new AIC are studied in this research. A full-scale multiple degrees of freedom shaking table is tested to verify the energy dissipation of this proposed AIC, including test building without control, with passive control added involving various stiffness ratios and also with synchronic control added involving various stiffness ratios. Shock absorption of displacement can be up to 74–81% of that of the test structure with stiffness ratio = 2.3387 and 1.790 at 1st and 2nd floor under control of synchronous switch of this proposed AIC, respectively. No matter what the test structure added with various stiffeners at 1st and 2nd floor under synchronous control, test results of shock absorption ratio of acceleration show good seismic proof capability. In addition, base shear control effects of this proposed AIC method are higher than those of the test structure with various stiffeners added under passive control. These results show that AIC with stiffeners for structural control provides the characteristics of a stabilized structure under excitation of near-fault earthquake with velocity impulse action.     

Transcriptomic Analysis Suggests Auxin Regulation in Dorsal-Ventral Petal Asymmetry of Wild Progenitor Sinningia speciosa

The establishment of dorsal–ventral (DV) petal asymmetry is accompanied by differential growth of DV petal size, shape, and color differences, which enhance ornamental values. Genes involved in flower symmetry in Sinningia speciosa have been identified as CYCLOIDEA (SsCYC), but which gene regulatory network (GRN) is associated with SsCYC to establish DV petal asymmetry is still unknown. To uncover the GRN of DV petal asymmetry, we identified 630 DV differentially expressed genes (DV-DEGs) from the RNA-Seq of dorsal and ventral petals in the wild progenitor, S. speciosa ‘ES’. Validated by qRT-PCR, genes in the auxin signaling transduction pathway, SsCYC, and a major regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis were upregulated in dorsal petals. These genes correlated with a higher endogenous auxin level in dorsal petals, with longer tube length growth through cell expansion and a purple dorsal color. Over-expression of SsCYC in Nicotiana reduced petal size by regulating cell growth, suggesting that SsCYC also controls cell expansion. This suggests that auxin and SsCYC both regulate DV petal asymmetry. Transiently over-expressed SsCYC, however, could not activate most major auxin signaling genes, suggesting that SsCYC may not trigger auxin regulation. Whether auxin can activate SsCYC or whether they act independently to regulate DV petal asymmetry remains to be explored in the future.     

Betel Nut Arecoline Induces Different Phases of Growth Arrest between Normal and Cancerous Prostate Cells through the Reactive Oxygen Species Pathway

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a reproductive system cancer in elderly men. We investigated the effects of betel nut arecoline on the growth of normal and cancerous prostate cells. Normal RWPE-1 prostate epithelial cells, androgen-independent PC-3 PCa cells, and androgen-dependent LNCaP PCa cells were used. Arecoline inhibited their growth in dose- and time-dependent manners. Arecoline caused RWPE-1 and PC-3 cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and LNCaP cell arrest in the G0/G1 phase. In RWPE-1 cells, arecoline increased the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-1, p21, and cyclins B1 and D3, decreased the expression of CDK2, and had no effects on CDK4 and cyclin D1 expression. In PC-3 cells, arecoline decreased CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, p21, p27, and cyclin D1 and D3 protein expression and increased cyclin B1 protein expression. In LNCaP cells, arecoline decreased CDK2, CDK4, and cyclin D1 expression; increased p21, p27, and cyclin D3 expression; had no effects on CDK1 and cyclin B1 expression. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine blocked the arecoline-induced increase in reactive oxygen species production, decreased cell viability, altered the cell cycle, and changed the cell cycle regulatory protein levels. Thus, arecoline oxidant exerts differential effects on the cell cycle through modulations of regulatory proteins.