The Intensity of Perceived Emotions in 3D Virtual Humans

Synthetically generated 3D humans often fail to express a full range of emotions or present different levels of the same type of emotion. Transcending the facial expression, what should a happy synthetically generated human look like? What about a slightly happy or ecstatically happy? This paper reports a study aimed at identifying the appropriate bodily expressions for various emotions in 3D human-like figures at varying emotional strength. Thirty-six volunteers were asked to discriminate and categorize thirty cards with static poses of 3D human-like characters into the Ekman’s six basic categories of emotions. This is to judge the compatibility of each posture in relation to each category and to rate their level of emotion within the group

Perception of Emotions from Static Postures

Human synthetic characters in any computer simulated environment need to be capable of behaving the appropriate way of expressing emotion like normal human do. If the characters fail to express the suitable emotional expression, they will likely to break the users mood and belief. These imply that the key problem in designing synthetic characters is to make them believable in their overall behavior. Therefore the study was directed to construct human synthetic characters that can improve humans respond as well as identify intensity rating of emotions. Ekmans six emotional expressions [1], which are happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear and disgust were used because these basic emotions are clear, widely accepted and sufficient. An experiment was conducted to measure believable emotional expression from static images. Sets of virtual human static images of posed expressions of emotions were shown to the subjects. A total of 36 thirty-six volunteers (18 men and 18 women) took part in the experiment. The mean age was 29 years old. The subjects were asked to recognize the expressions by grouping them into six basic emotions and provide the level of emotion for each posture to study the intensity-rating tasks

Building Energy Efficiency of the Chancellor Complex of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

The purpose of this study is to investigate and determine the building energy index (BEI) of the Chancellor Hall in Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) and the performance of the envelope to prevent heat gain into the building. This was done by doing an on-site assessment to acquire an actual performance data. The findings from the research were compared to the optimal values set by the Malaysian Ministry of Energy, Water and Communication (MEWC). It was found that the BEI meets the requirement set by the MEWC but the performance of the envelope in preventing heat gain into the building does not meet the requirement. Several ways to improve the building efficiency of the Chancellor Hall are proposed in this research

Functional characterization of flower morphogenesis and senescence related genes using virus induced gene silencing technique in petunia hybrida

In floricultural crops, flower morphology, such as large petals and double flower formation, and flower longevity are important factors that influence their quality. Petunia has been proved to be an excellent model plant for the study of flower development and senescence. However, even in petunia, there are a lot of genes whose function in flower development and senescence have not yet been characterized. Recently, techniques using virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) have been developed as efficient reverse genetics tools to test gene function. In this study, VIGS system that visualizes silencing induced-flower was established in petunia. Using this system, functional characterization of petunia candidate genes involved in flower morphogenesis and senescence was conducted. In parallel, identification and expression analysis of flower development related-genes that had not yet been identified in petunia was performed. Disadvantage of VIGS is that silencing is induced in a chimeric manner and it is sometimes difficult to identify flowers on which silencing is induced. To overcome the disadvantage of VIGS, system that use silencing of the chalcone synthase (CHS) gene, one of genes regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis, as a reporter to visualize silencing induced-flower was established. Tandem pTRV2 constructs containing a Ph-CHS fragment and target gene fragment(s) are prepared and agrobacterium cultures possessing these constructs are infiltrated onto petunia leaves of 2 to 3 weeks old seedlings. Five different petunia cultivars with blue or purple flowers, 'Cutie Blue', 'Fantasy Blue', 'Picobella Blue', 'Mambo Blue' and 'Mambo Purple' were infected with the construct and differences in silencing patterns. was observed among cultivars. In 'Cutie Blue' and 'Fantasy Blue' complete white flowers were observed as a results of silencing of Ph-CHS; however, no white color was noted in flowers or tissues in 'Picobella Blue', 'Mambo Blue' and 'Mambo Purple'. This indicated that effectiveness of this VIGS system differs dependent on flower genetic background. It is also revealed to be dependent on environmental factors such as temperature to get complete silencing phenotypes. Second, using the VIGS system, redundant function of two C-class MADS-box genes, pMADS3 and FBP6 genes on flower morphogenesis was revealed. In flowers induced by either pMADS3-VIGS or FBP6-VIGS, only small changes in commercial appearance were recognized regardless of cultivar, whereas in those induced by pMADS3/FBP6-VIGS, complete conversion of stamens into petaloid tissues and marked enlargement of upper limb- like tissues were observed, resulting in a decorative appearance in all the four cultivars. Moreover, cultivar-dependent conversion of carpels into new flowers was noted in pMADS3/FBP6-VIGS flowers. Of the four cultivars, only 'Mambo Purple' exhibited the development of new flowers instead of carpels and the emergence of ectopic new flowers from the axil of petaloid organs, which created an ornamental appearance with a high commercial value. Further, investigation of large and small petaloid stamens induced by pMADS3/FBP6-VIGS and pMADS3 -VIGS, respectively, revealed only small differences in cell size compared to the large difference in total surface area indicating that the sie of petaloid stamens in C-class genes suppressed flower was determined at early stage of flower development and the suppressed C-class gene function at the late stage of flower development has little influence on the final size of petaloid tissue. Third, function of genes encoding ethylene signal components, Ethylene Insensitive 2 (EIN2) and EIN3 like (EIL), on flower senescence was characterized. A cDNA encoding EIN2 (Ph-EIN2) and five cDNAs encoding EILs (Ph-EILJ to 5) were cloned from petunia petals and VIGS of these genes together with Ph-CHS were conducted. VIGS of all Ph-EILs were attempted at once by using a conserved region of the Ph-EILs. The flower longevity of VIGS-induced flowers was compared to those of non-VIGS flowers under the condition with or without pollination. The results showed prolonged longevity of VIGS-induced flowers indicating the involvement of Ph-EIN2 and Ph-EILs on petal senescence. When flowers were treated with propylene, an ethylene analogue, marked delay in petal senescence was observed in Ph-EIN2-VIGS flowers in comparison to non-VIGS flower. Thus, it has been clarified that Ph-EIN2 is functioning as ethylene signaling factor and involved in the petal senescence. Fourth, petunia orthologues of pollen formation-related genes Tapetum Determinant 1 (Ph-TPDJ) and Excess Male Sporocytes] (Ph-EMS]) were identified and their expression patterns during flower bud development were determined. Quantitative real time analysis of Ph-TPD] in stamen of flower buds at four different developing stages (5 mm to 15 mm in length buds) showed that Ph-TPDJ expression can be detected only in the youngest stage. Expression of Ph-EMS 1 was detected in stamen at all stages with highest expression at the youngest stage. Analysis in various tissues of the buds (sepal, petal, stamen and style) at youngest stage showed that Ph-TPDJ and Ph-EMS] are expressed not only in stamen but also in developing pistils and petals. In sepal, expression of Ph-TPD] was not detected, whereas expression of Ph-EMS] was detected at lower level than in the other tissues. These results suggest that Ph-TPDJ and Ph-EMS] cloned in this study interact with each other to regulate early steps of pollen development. It is also indicated that they are involved in development of style. The findings obtained in this study would be valuable for breeding new cultivars and developing technology to improve quality of petunia and other floricultural crops

Effect of Ultrasound and Particle Size on Solubility of Crystal

Solubility of crystal plays an important role in both biological and chemical field. For this project, we will focus on two factors that affects the solubility of crystal which is effect of ultrasound and effect of particle size. In this research project, the solute, benzoic acid (AR Grade) which also categorised as sparingly soluble acid that is not easy to dissolve in water. It is a colourless crystalline solid and a simple aromatic carboxylic acid. Salts of benzoic acid are used as food preservatives and benzoic acid also is an important ancestor for the industrial synthesis of many other organic substances. This acid shows low aqueous solubility and dissolution rate and this has become the main concern in the industry that require dissolution of this chemical. In this project, the solvent that will be used to dissolve the benzoic acid is the distilled water. The experiment was conducted by applying the ultrasound during the dissolution of benzoic acid in distilled water in a different range of time and according to different particle size groups. Result shows the relation between different particle size groups and different range of time during sonication on the solubility of the crystal. The purpose of conducting this research project is because of the lack of literature data on solubility of benzoic acid which is also the acid that is categorised as sparingly soluble acid. The experimental outcome shows the crystal with smaller particle size have higher solubility compared to crystal with larger particle size and the solution with longer time of sonication also have higher solubility compared to solution that being sonication with a shorter time

Sensitive determination of Tartrazine (E 102) based on Chitosan/Nanoparticles/MWCNTs Modified Gold Electrode in food and beverage products

Food dyes can be categorized into natural and synthetic color. Tartrazine (E 102) which belong to the family of azo dyes and commonly used in food industry. Tartrazine imparts positive and negative benefits as well, by giving attractive physical appearance and consumer acceptance for over centuries. However, excessively intake of food Tartrazine can cause toxicity and pathogenicity to human. Due to arising of the health issues to mankind, researchers gave attentions for determination of Tartrazine by using analytical and advance methods. Currently, there are several analytical methods available, however, these methods are required skilled persons, time consuming and high cost. Herein, an electrochemical sensor was developed based on the combination of nanomaterials (chitosan, calcium nanoparticles and multiwall carbon nanotubes) for detection of Tartrazine. Electrochemical behavior of the modified gold electrode in the presence of Tartrazine was studied by using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Under optimal conditions, the DPV was detected with different concentrations of Tartrazine in the range of 0.1 to 10 ppm, with low detection limit (3.3s/s)