3D based head movement tracking for incorporation in facial expression system

Head movement tracking is a necessary system in our attempt to establish the positioning of the head in an instance of the time. In computer graphics, head positioning sequence must be done in a proper manner so that the rendering will appear realistic. The head role becomes more important when a facial expression is being depicted. As a true facial expression must be accompanied with some motion of the head, rendering the facial expression without any proper description regarding head movement will make the head less realistic. This paper proposed a dual-pivot 3D-based head movement tracking system (DPHT) that enables modeler to capture the movement of the head. By having two pivots in the system, the movement of the neck can be modeled together with the yaw, roll and pitch of the head. This movement of the neck is an integral part of the facial expression depiction as can be attested by someone who 'pulls' his neck in manifestation of disgust. The results in this paper show that having a dual-pivot tracking system, head positioning can be better established hence producing more realistic head movement model

Dual-pivot pose determination of human head based on head movement

The pose determination is very important especially for system such as face tracking, face recognition, face analysis and even face modeling system. Pose determination is a pre-requisite step for establishing face orientation of which will be used in determining the shape and structure of the face. Existing rotation-based pose determination that describes head movement using a single pivot point cannot describe rotation that involves changes in pivot point. In addressing the issue, this paper suggests a pose determination technique via usage of two pivot points. The paper will propose a definition for dual-pivot pose determination, suggest approaches to calculate head movement along these pivots, show a brief application for the dual-pivot and give comment on advantages and disadvantages of dual- pivot points

Establishing the straightness of a line for radial distortion correction through conic fitting

Establishing straight lines in plumb-line based radial distortion correction is very important as the straight-line will determine the success of distortion correction operation. Various researches have been made to describe the line using linear fitting or polynomial fitting assuming that these fittings will augur well for distortion correction operation. However linear or polynomial fitting may not work in certain situation such as in vertical line. This research proposes a conic fitting method for establishing a straight-line. Fitting to a conic is more robust in a sense it can accommodate lines of different orientation

Boron attenuates malathion-induced oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase inhibition in rats

PubMed ID: 25342379Organophosphorus compounds cause oxidative stress and lead to alterations in antioxidant status in organisms. In this study, the effects of subchronic exposure to malathion and the protective effects of boron (B) were evaluated in 48 Wistar rats, which were divided equally into six groups. For 28 d, the control group received a normal diet and tap water, the corn oil group received a normal diet and 0.5 mL of corn oil by gastric gavage and the malathion group received a normal diet and malathion (100 mg/kg/d) by gastric gavage. During the same period, each of the three other groups received a different dosage of B (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg/d, respectively) and malathion (100 mg/kg/d) by gastric gavage. Malathion administration during the period increased malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and 8-hydroxy-2?-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, as well as markers of liver function, yet decreased acetylcholinesterase, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in blood, liver, kidney and brain tissues. Administration of B in a dose-dependent manner also reversed malathion-induced oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidant enzyme activity. Moreover, B exhibited protective action against malathion-induced histopathological changes in liver, kidney and brain tissues. These results demonstrate that, if used in a dose-dependent manner, B decreases malathion-induced oxidative stress, enhances the antioxidant defense mechanism and regenerates tissues in rats. © 2014 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.2012/MF003The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest associated with this work. This study was supported by a grant from the Usak University Scientific Research Council, Usak, Turkey (Project no.: 2012/MF003)

Oleuropein alleviates malathion-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in rats

The effects of acute exposure to 250 mg/kg malathion and the protective effects of 20 mg/kg oleuropein, both administered intraperitoneally, were evaluated in Wistar male rats. Malathion administration increased malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, 8-hydroxy-2?-deoxyguanosine, total oxidant status, and DNA damage, yet decreased total antioxidant activity, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in blood, liver, and kidney. Administration of oleuropein reversed malathion-induced oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and antioxidant enzyme activity. © 2015 Taylor & Francis

The antioxidant effect of boron on oxidative stress and DNA damage in diabetic rats

The aim of the study was the evaluation of the potentially antioxidant effect of boron against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. Animals were allocated into 5 groups of 6 rats each. The control group was fed standard rat feed and received no added treatment. In the diabetic group, STZ was injected intraperitoneally at a single dose of 50 mg/kg. Boron was given to animals in the other groups at dosages of 5, 10, and 20 mgB/kg for 28 days. STZ induced a significant increase of 8-hydroxy-2?-deoxyguanosine as an oxidative stress marker, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index, and DNA damage, whereas it decreased total antioxidant capacity. Also, M30 as an apoptotic marker in a serum was increased by STZ treatment. In addition, pancreatic ?-cells were examined by immunohistochemical methods, and the degeneration of islet cells was observed in STZ-induced diabetic rats. In contrast, boron in a dose-dependent manner decreased amelioration of oxidant status, DNA, and tissue damage in diabetic rats. In conclusion, boron treatment shows an antioxidant effect in diabetes by decreasing oxidative stress and preserving pancreatic ?-cells' integrity

The effects of amlodipine and platelet rich plasma on bone healing in rats

Yusuf Atalay,1 Mehmet Fatih Bozkurt,2 Yucel Gonul,3 Omer Cakmak,4 Kamil Serkan Agacayak,5 Ibrahim Köse,6 Omer Hazman,7 Hikmet Keles,2 Ozan Turamanlar,3 Mehmet Eroglu8 1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey; 2Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey; 3Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey; 4Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey; 5Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey; 6Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Adiyaman University, Adiyaman, Turkey; 7Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey; 8Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of calcium channel blocker (CCB) amlodipine (AML), platelet rich plasma (PRP), and a mixture of both materials on bone healing.Materials and methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: group A, tibia defect model with no treatment; group B, tibia defect model treated with AML, 0.04 mg daily by oral gavage; group C, tibia defect model treated with local PRP; group D, tibia defect model treated with local PRP and AML, 0.04 mg daily by oral gavage.Results: At day 21, bone healing was significantly better in groups C and D compared to group A (P<0.05), but comparisons showed no statistically significant difference in group B (P>0.05). At day 30, groups B and C showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) compared to group A, but bone healing in group D was significantly better than in group A (P<0.05). Statistically, AML did not affect alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity at 21 and 30 days (P>0.05), but PRP and AML + PRP increased ALP activity statistically (P<0.05).Conclusion: It can be concluded that AML had neither a positive nor a negative effect on bone healing, but when used in combination with PRP, it may be beneficial.Keywords: amlodipine, calcium channel blockers, platelet-rich plasma, bone mineral metabolism, hypertensio