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Real-time mobile enabled scheme for virtual spectacle frame selection
No full textSelection of physical appearance related personal item in online shopping is extremely difficult. This research presents a mobile enabled scheme that provides an advanced online shopping experience of spectacle frames selection. The application is developed to automatically detect the face shape of the user from an image, give suggestions of frames based on the shape, and provide a virtual try-on for the user. Active Shape Model has been used to identify the facial landmark points. Mathematical equations have been designed to analyze and map the landmark points to a face shape. Expert knowledge has been used to recommend frames for each face shape. Haar feature based face and eye detector provided by OpenCV has been used to detect the face and identify the position of eyes for virtual try-on. So far this is the best mobile enabled application for real-time frame selection
Cortex fraxini (Qingpi) protects rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced apoptosis
No full textParkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder having close relationship with oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Cortex Fraxini (QP) is a kind of traditional Chinese medicinal herb with antioxidant properties. It may be a potential candidate for preventing the development of chronic neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the key objective of the current study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of QP water extract on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced apoptosis in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. It was found that QP water extract possesses strong antioxidant property with SC50 = 0.15 mg/mL. Total phenolic content of QP water extract was found to be 200.78 ± 2.65 mg GAE/g. QP water extract’s free radical scavenging capacity was demonstrated by reversing the increased level of intracellular ROS induced by 6-OHDA, using 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. Moreover, QP water extract (0.5 mg/mL) could remarkably increase the viability of PC12 cells treated with 6-OHDA. The protective effect of QP water extract was found to be via inhibiting MEK/ERK pathway and reversing PI3-K/Akt/GSK3β pathway. The current results suggest that QP might be a potential candidate for preventing the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as PD
Strongly phosphorescent neutral rhenium(I) isocyanoborato complexes: synthesis, characterization, and photophysical, electrochemical, and computational studies
No full textA new series of neutral isocyanoborato rhenium(I) diimine complexes [Re(CO)(N^N)(CNBR)], where N^N=bpy, 4,4′‐Mebpy, phen, 4,7‐Mephen, 2,9‐Mephen, 3,4,7,8‐Mephen ; R=CF, CH, Cl, 4‐ClCH, 3,5‐(CF)CH, with various isocyanoborate and diimine ligands of diverse electronic and steric nature have been synthesized and characterized. The X‐ray crystal structures of six complexes have also been determined. These complexes displayed intense bluish green to yellow phosphorescence at room temperature in dichloromethane solution. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of these complexes had been investigated. To elucidate the electronic structures and transitions of these complexes, DFT and TD‐DFT calculations have been performed, which revealed that the lowest‐energy electronic transition associated with these complexes originates from a mixture of MLCT [dπ(Re)→π*(N^N)] and LLCT [π(CNBR)→π*(N^N)] transitions. diimine complexes have been synthesized and characterized. These highly phosphorescent species have quantum yields of up to 0.67 and emission colors that are readily tunable from bluish green to yellow (=481–554 nm). Photophysical, electrochemical, and computational studies have been carried out to provide insights into the design of neutral phosphorescent materials from these complexes
Synthesis, design and photophysical study of neutral osmium(II) complexes with anionic isocyanoborate ligands
No full textSeed rain and seedling survival are major factors limiting vegetation regeneration on rehabilitated quarries
No full textTo evaluate factors limiting vegetation regeneration, studies of seed rain, seedling emergence, and survival were carried out on different phases of three different-aged quarries in Hong Kong. Seed-rain results showed that 1,741 seeds from 35 woody species were collected from 160 traps in a 1-year period. Older sites had higher seed number and species than younger sites. In terms of number, 68 % of seeds were dispersed by birds, whereas 30 and 2 % were dispersed by wind and civets, respectively. In situ seedling emergence experiment showed that most of the 12 woody species had higher emergence under field conditions, which implied that seedling emergence was not a limitation of vegetation regeneration. Most emergent seedlings finally died, which had significant correlations with the adverse microhabitat conditions. It was concluded that although seed rain contained some native woody species, it may still be insufficient in order to accelerate natural vegetation regeneration at the later successional stages on our local quarries. Management strategies should take into account the possibility of enhancing seed dispersal and improving microhabitat conditions. Using native species with fleshy fruits to attract birds by enrichment planting is strongly recommended, and postplanting care is essential to quality development of the rehabilitated ecosystem
Effects of a dance-based program on sense of stability in elderly: a pilot study
No full textThe aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a six-week dance-based program in a group of apparently healthy older adults. The pre- and post-test measurements of functional and psychological effects included balance, muscle strength, agility, hand eye-coordination, flexibility and fear of falling
