Pose-Invariant Facial Expression Recognition Using Variable-Intensity Templates

In this paper, we propose a method for pose-invariant facial expression recognition from monocular video sequences. The advantage of our method is that, unlike existing methods, our method uses a simple model, called the variable-intensity template, for describing different facial expressions. This makes it possible to prepare a model for each person with very little time and effort. Variable-intensity templates describe how the intensities of multiple points, defined in the vicinity of facial parts, vary with different facial expressions. By using this model in the framework of a particle filter, our method is capable of estimating facial poses and expressions simultaneously. Experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our method. A recognition rate of over 90% is achieved for all facial orientations, horizontal, vertical, and in-plane, in the range of ±40 degrees, ±20 degrees, and ±40 degrees from the frontal view, respectively. Electronic Supplementary Material  The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Determination of Neomycin in Aquatic Products Using an Immunoaffinity Column Coupled to High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Neomycin is widely used in veterinary medicine, while the confirmatory analysis of neomycin residues in aquatic samples has not been well identified. Here, in this study, an immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC) for determination of neomycin residues in aquatic sample was developed and optimized. The average maximum reserved content of neomycin (MRC) was calculated as 1611 ng, and by the simple regeneration with phosphate buffer saline, the recovery value maintained above 75 % even at the 32nd reusage (at the loading amount of 1200 ng). With the combination of IAC and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a new strategy for the analysis of neomycin was proposed and validated with different aquatic products. With the spiking concentration from 400 to 1200 ng/Kg, the recovery value was observed in the range of 75.58–117.80 %, and the CV was lower than 11 %. All these results suggested that the IAC-HPLC is a new and promising technique for the routine monitoring of neomycin residue in aquatic products.     

Differences between the isostructural IRMOF-1 and MOCP-L porous adsorbents

Several discrepancies have emerged about the preparation methods of MOF-5 material, one of the adsorbents more studied for hydrogen storage, because different synthesis procedures give rise to apparently isostructural materials but actually having very different textural properties and also showing different hydrogen adsorption capacities. In this work, MOF-5 material has been successfully synthesized according to the two most extended methods, and the respective resulting materials, IRMOF-1 and MOCP-L, have been widely characterized. Powder X-ray diffraction confirmed that MOF-5 is the main crystallized phase obtained in both cases, and that the MOCP-L product contains some ZnO impurities, mainly in the form of segregated crystals that appear preferentially outside the micropores. The presence of ZnO in the MOCP-L material has been also confirmed by other characterization techniques. On the other hand, interpenetrated networks in the MOCP-L material are not significant, appearing in any case at a similar extent than in IRMOF-1; consequently it cannot be considered for explaining the differences observed in the adsorption capacity of both materials. These differences cannot be completely explained simply by the segregated ZnO impurities, so the presence of some ZnO nanocrystals partially blocking the micropores of MOCP-L must be admitted.     

Silver(I) Polymer of Tripodal Amine: Synthesis,Structure and Photoluminescence

Starting from tripodal ligand tris-(methyl-imidazole) amine (1) the colourless complex tris-(methyl-imidazole)aminesilver(I)perchlorate (2) has been synthesized, characterized by IR, UV/Vis and ¹HNMR spectroscopic studies and finally solid state structure has been established by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. A single crystal X-ray structure determination revealed the formation of coordination polymer. The crystal structure possesses weak d¹⁰–d¹⁰ ‘argentophilic’ interactions with Ag–Ag separation (3.348 Å). The weak luminance at 375 nm may be this Ag–Ag weak interaction. The molecule possesses weak H-bonding with C2 and C4H of imidazole with oxygen of ClO₄.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>trans</Emphasis>-Fatty Acid Isomers in Adipose Tissue Have Divergent Associations with Adiposity in Humans

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between adipose tissue trans-fatty acid isomers and adiposity. This cross-sectional study included 1,785 subjects from Costa Rica. Fatty acid concentrations (as a percentage of the total fatty acids) in subcutaneous adipose tissue were assessed by gas–liquid chromatography. Dietary intakes were assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate linear regression models were used to relate adipose tissue trans-fatty acid content to BMI, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness while adjusting for age, sex, and area of residence. To account for variations in lifestyle, we adjusted for smoking, physical activity, income, self-reported history of diabetes and hypertension, and for adipose tissue alpha-linolenic acid and energy intake in a third model. After adjustments, positive associations were found between 18:2t-fatty acids (primarily from partially hydrogenated oils) and BMI, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness (P for each association <0.01). Rumenic acid was positively associated with skinfold thickness (P < 0.0001), but not with BMI or waist circumference (P > 0.05). Inverse associations were found between 16:1n-7t-fatty acids and skinfold thickness and between 18:1t-fatty acids and BMI and waist circumference (P < 0.0001). This study suggests that individual trans-fatty acid isomers may have divergent effects on adiposity. 18:2t-fatty acids show consistent positive associations with measures of adiposity. These isomer-specific associations are an interesting new finding. Other prospective and intervention studies are necessary to examine these relationships further.     

Optimization of inverted bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells

We have successively fabricated inverted bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells employing ZnO and MoO₃ as electron and hole selective layers, respectively. The device structure is ITO/ZnO/P3HT: PCBM/MoO₃/Al. Differently from conventional polymer solar cells, ITO and Al work as electron and hole collecting electrodes in this inverted structure, respectively. We have found the optimal thickness of ZnO and MoO₃ to be 100 nm and 5 nm, respectively. The highest PCE was obtained to be 3.32% under AM 1.5 illumination at 1,000W/m², which is the highest PCE of inverted solar cells reported previously in the literature.     

The optimal composition of the filter-media for coping with daily flow-rate fluctuation

The fluctuation of inlet flow in a water treatment plant can change the filtration rate abruptly and ultimately reduce the filtration performance by leaking the detained particles in filter media. The surface wave, occurring in the intake well by the fluctuation of inlet flow, reaches the filtration process in a very short time (about 10 minutes), which makes it impossible to control the filtration rate stably. In this study the authors evaluated the effect of daily flow-rate fluctuation on the performance of sand filtration process, and the dual media composition was proposed to improve the filtration performance. Comparative column tests were carried out for the various dual media, such as sand and anthracite compositions. From the results of column tests, dual media with the composition of sand 45 cm and anthracite 30 cm is more effective than the single media with sand in filtration process. In addition, irrespective of dual media composition, the managing ability to cope with that fluctuation tends to be weak at the end of allowable filtration duration time.     

Effect of synthesis condition and annealing on the sensitivity and stability of gas sensors made of Zn-doped <Emphasis Type=Italic>γ</Emphasis>-Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> particles

Gas sensors made of flame-synthesized Zn-doped γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were found to have high sensitivity and high aging resistance. Zinc-doped γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles and microparticles were synthesized by flame spray pyrolysis (FSP). Gas sensors were fabricated with as-synthesized particles, and with particles that had been annealed. The sensors’ response to acetone vapor and H₂ was measured as fabricated, and measured again after the sensors were aged for three days. The sensors made from as-synthesized particles showed a gas sensing sensitivity 20 times higher than the literature value. However, sensors made of microparticles lost their sensing ability after three days of aging; sensors made of nanoparticles retained their gas sensing capability after aging. Sensors made of annealed particles did not have significant gas sensing capabilities. Analysis using the William and Hall method showed that the microstrains decreased significantly in both H₂/O₂ and H₂/Air flame synthesized particles after annealing. The results showed that sensors made of flame-synthesized particles have much higher sensitivity than sensors made of particles previously reported. Especially, sensors made of flame-synthesized nanoparticles are resistant towards aging. This aging resistance may be attributed to the particles’ ability to retain their microstrains.