Application of Stereo Digital Image Correlation on Facial Expressions Sensing.

Facial expression is an important way to reflect human emotions and it represents a dynamic deformation process. Analyzing facial movements is an effective means of understanding expressions. However, there is currently a lack of methods capable of analyzing the dynamic details of full-field deformation in expressions. In this paper, in order to enable effective dynamic analysis of expressions, a classic optical measuring method called stereo digital image correlation (stereo-DIC or 3D-DIC) is employed to analyze the deformation fields of facial expressions. The forming processes of six basic facial expressions of certain experimental subjects are analyzed through the displacement and strain fields calculated by 3D-DIC. The displacement fields of each expression exhibit strong consistency with the action units (AUs) defined by the classical Facial Action Coding System (FACS). Moreover, it is shown that the gradient of the displacement, i.e., the strain fields, offers special advantages in characterizing facial expressions due to their localized nature, effectively sensing the nuanced dynamics of facial movements. By processing extensive data, this study demonstrates two featured regions in six basic expressions, one where deformation begins and the other where deformation is most severe. Based on these two regions, the temporal evolutions of the six basic expressions are discussed. The presented investigations demonstrate the superior performance of 3D-DIC in the quantitative analysis of facial expressions. The proposed analytical strategy might have potential value in objectively characterizing human expressions based on quantitative measurement.

Dynamic model for the strain-modulated spectral reflectance of the human skin in vivo.

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) offers a wealth of information regarding human skin. In this study, we established a dynamic skin spectral reflectance model (DSSR) relating the reflectance to skin surface strain, considering multi physiological and physical parameters of the skin. Experimentally, by HSI, we measured the reflectance variance of the forearm skin in vivo caused by the surface strain, and assessed these key parameters. For the human skin in vivo, within the strain range covered in this paper, stretching increases spectral reflectance, while compression decreases it. Our proposed model provides a possibility for non-contact strain measurement and health monitoring on the skin in vivo based on HSI.

Dietary protein in early pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The relationship between dietary protein intake and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains inconsistent and unclear. Here, we examined the correlation between the various sources of protein intake among Chinese pregnant women and GDM. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 1060 pregnant women at 6-13+6 weeks of gestation from Guangdong Provincial Hospital for Women and Children, South China. The participants' intake of dietary protein was assessed using a validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire during the early trimester. GDM was diagnosed via an oral glucose tolerance test performed at 24-28 gestational weeks. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between dietary protein intake during pregnancy and GDM. Furthermore, we applied restricted cubic splines to determine their linear relationship. RESULTS: About 26.3% (n = 279) of pregnant women were diagnosed with GDM. Animal protein intake was revealed to have a positive correlation with GDM risk (Q4 vs. Q1: OR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.46-5.34; P = 0.015), whereas high intake levels of dietary plant protein were linked to reduced GDM risk (Q4 vs. Q1: OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.25-0.73). In stratified analysis, the relationship between protein and GDM was stronger during early pregnancy in women with obesity. However, total protein intake did not show a significant association with GDM. CONCLUSIONS: Our study findings suggest that a plant protein-based diet was associated with reduced GDM risk, whereas the dietary intake of animal protein was positively associated with GDM risk among Chinese women during early pregnancy.

Nonlinear Modeling of Contact Stress Distribution in Thin Plate Substrates Subjected to Aspect Ratio.

The foundation substrate's basal contact stresses are typically thought to have a linear distribution, although the actual form is nonlinear. Basal contact stress in thin plates is experimentally measured using a thin film pressure distribution system. This study examines the nonlinear distribution law of basal contact stresses in thin plates with various aspect ratios under concentrated loading, and it establishes a model for the distribution of contact stresses in thin plates using an exponential function that accounts for aspect ratio coefficients. The outcomes demonstrate that the thin plate's aspect ratio significantly affects how the substrate contact stress is distributed during concentrated loading. The contact stresses in the thin plate's base exhibit significant nonlinearity when the aspect ratio of the test thin plate is greater than 6~8. The aspect ratio coefficient-added exponential function model can better optimize the strength and stiffness calculations of the base substrate and more accurately describe the actual distribution of contact stresses in the base of the thin plate compared to linear and parabolic functions. The correctness of the exponential function model is confirmed by the film pressure distribution measurement system that directly measures the contact stress at the base of the thin plate, providing a more accurate nonlinear load input for the calculation of the internal force of the base thin plate.

Development and Application of Indolines in Pharmaceuticals.

In recent years, the incidence of cancer is high around the world, and the resistance of bacteria is increasing. To cope with the potentially adverse side effects of cancer chemotherapy and surgery, researchers are turning to the construction of new drug scaffolds. The indoline structure exists in a huge number of natural products, but drugs with indoline have only been formally studied in recent years. With the deepening of research, drugs containing indoline have played important roles in more disease treatment aspects, such as anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and have been used as analgesics, to treat cardiovascular diseases and so on. The synthesis and pharmacological activity of indoline derivatives is summarized in this review in order to support the addition of the indoline component to the toolbox of medicinal chemists. This review focuses on the advantages of indoline compounds in development and synthesis of and for the use as anticancer drugs, antibacterial drugs, to treat cardiovascular diseases and as anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. Indoline structures are commonly found in natural and synthetic compounds with medicinal value and are now beginning to be exploited as the basic backbone of various drugs. As research continues, dihydroindoles and their derivatives will play a greater role in the medical field.

In vivo mechanical characterization of human facial skin combining curved surface imaging and indentation techniques.

BACKGROUND: The mechanical properties of human facial skin are of considerable importance for clinical research and cosmetic industry. As a result of their susceptibility to the individual difference and complex surroundings of human beings, the in vivo mechanical characterization by objective and quantitative devices is challenging. METHODS: In this study, an experimental setup was custom-designed for the mechanical characterization combining curved surface optical imaging and indentation techniques. By means of an independently developed transparent indenter, the contact area and topography of facial skin can be in vivo and in situ captured in real time. Especially, the perpendicularity between indenter and facial skin can be adjusted and guaranteed by imaging analyses. RESULTS: A modified formula for the contact area calculation of silica gel, one of the most common materials used to simulate human facial skin, has been proposed. The highly improved agreement with the indentation tests shows its reliability and better applicability compared to the classical Hertz theory. Furthermore, we perform the in vivo indentation tests on human facial skin to evaluate the Young's modulus, which shows a potential for better understanding of their mechanical properties. CONCLUSION: The device presented could give convincing results. The in vivo mechanical properties of human facial skin obtained by our modified formula agree well with open literature, and a better reliability than classical Hertz theory is evidenced.