A smartphone application for personalized facial aesthetic monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Methods available at home for capturing facial images to track changes in skin quality and evaluate skincare treatments are limited. In this study, we developed a smartphone camera application (app) for personalized facial aesthetic monitoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A face alignment indicators (FAIN) system utilizing facial landmark detection, an artificial intelligence technique, to estimate key facial parts, was implemented into the app to maintain a consistent facial appearance during image capture. The FAIN system is composed of a fixed target indicator and an alignment indicator that dynamically changes its shape according to the user's face position, size, and orientation. Users align their faces to match the alignment indicator with the fixed target indicator, and the image is automatically captured when alignment is achieved. RESULTS: We investigated the app's effectiveness in ensuring a consistent facial appearance by analyzing both geometric and colorimetric data. Geometric information from captured faces and colorimetric data from stickers applied to the faces were utilized. The coefficients of variation (CVs) for the L*, a*, and b* values of the stickers were higher compared to those measured by a colorimeter, with CVs of 14.9 times, 8.14 times, and 4.41 times for L*, a*, and b*, respectively. To assess the feasibility of the app for facial aesthetic monitoring, we tracked changes in pseudo-skin color on the cheek of a participant using skin-colored stickers. As a result, we observed the smallest color difference ∆Eab of 1.901, which can be considered as the experimentally validated detection limit using images acquired by the app. CONCLUSION: While the current monitoring method is a relative quantification approach, it contributes to evidence-based evaluations of skincare treatments.

Facial length and angle feature recognition for digital libraries.

With the continuous progress of technology, facial recognition technology is widely used in various scenarios as a mature biometric technology. However, the accuracy of facial feature recognition has become a major challenge. This study proposes a face length feature and angle feature recognition method for digital libraries, targeting the recognition of different facial features. Firstly, an in-depth study is conducted on the architecture of facial action networks based on attention mechanisms to provide more accurate and comprehensive facial features. Secondly, a network architecture based on length and angle features of facial expressions, the expression recognition network is explored to improve the recognition rate of different expressions. Finally, an end-to-end network framework based on attention mechanism for facial feature points is constructed to improve the accuracy and stability of facial feature recognition network. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, experiments were conducted using the facial expression dataset FER-2013. The experimental results showed that the average recognition rate for the seven common expressions was 97.28% to 99.97%. The highest recognition rate for happiness and surprise was 99.97%, while the relatively low recognition rate for anger, fear, and neutrality was 97.18%. The data has verified that the research method can effectively recognize and distinguish different facial expressions, with high accuracy and robustness. The recognition method based on attention mechanism for facial feature points has effectively optimized the recognition process of facial length and angle features, significantly improving the stability of facial expression recognition, especially in complex environments, providing reliable technical support for digital libraries and other fields. This study aims to promote the development of facial recognition technology in digital libraries, improve the service quality and user experience of digital libraries.

Comparative analysis of the influence of the shapes and dimensions of dental arches on the morphotopogeometric characteristics of the facial area.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: The aim of the article is a comparative analysis of the main aspects of existing medical and diagnostic measures in patients with abnormal types of occlusal relationships and methods of mathematical and graphic reproduction of the shape of the dental arches, taking into account the individual characteristics of the maxillofacial area. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The search for relevant publications related to the objective topic was carried out through scientific databases: Scopus, PubMed, BVS and Scielo. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The analysis of regression models of the reproduction of individual characteristics of the dental arch of the jaws will avoid errors that occur when comparing the actual sizes with their statistical norm, which will allow to correctly determine the proportionality and ratio of dif f erent departments of the dental and jaw system, the necessary amount of orthodontic measures in the treatment of anomalies of the dental arches.

When Trustworthiness Meets Face: Facial Design for Social Robots.

As a technical application in artificial intelligence, a social robot is one of the branches of robotic studies that emphasizes socially communicating and interacting with human beings. Although both robot and behavior research have realized the significance of social robot design for its market success and related emotional benefit to users, the specific design of the eye and mouth shape of a social robot in eliciting trustworthiness has received only limited attention. In order to address this research gap, our study conducted a 2 (eye shape) × 3 (mouth shape) full factorial between-subject experiment. A total of 211 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to the six scenarios in the study. After exposure to the stimuli, perceived trustworthiness and robot attitude were measured accordingly. The results showed that round eyes (vs. narrow eyes) and an upturned-shape mouth or neutral mouth (vs. downturned-shape mouth) for social robots could significantly improve people's trustworthiness and attitude towards social robots. The effect of eye and mouth shape on robot attitude are all mediated by the perceived trustworthiness. Trustworthy human facial features could be applied to the robot's face, eliciting a similar trustworthiness perception and attitude. In addition to empirical contributions to HRI, this finding could shed light on the design practice for a trustworthy-looking social robot.

Evaluation of the facial profile of skeletal Class III patients undergoing camouflage orthodontic treatment: a retrospective study.

Objective: To identify objective metrics for evaluating the esthetics of facial profiles in skeletal Class III patients undergoing camouflage orthodontic treatment. Methods: Eighty Asian-Chinese patients classified as skeletal Class III were included. Thirty cephalometric measurements of pre- and posttreatment cephalograms were analyzed. Ten orthodontists assigned visual analog scale (VAS) scores to the pre- and posttreatment profiles based on standardized lateral photographs. Correlations between subjective VAS scores and objective measurements were assessed using Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Lower incisor (L1) protrusion, nasolabial angle, lower lip-E line distance, SNB angle, and L1 to AP plane were significantly correlated with VAS scores of pretreatment profiles of skeletal Class III patients. Factors such as retraction of the lower incisor, increased interincisal angle and overjet, reduction of lower lip-E line distance, as well as augmentation of the Z angle and nasolabial angle were significantly correlated with the changes in VAS scores post-camouflage orthodontic treatment. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that pretreatment nasolabial angle, changes in the lower lip-E line distance, and pretreatment Pog-NB distance were the key factors influencing the posttreatment facial profile esthetics of skeletal Class III patients with camouflage orthodontic treatment. Conclusion: Several cephalometric measurements correlate with subjective facial esthetic evaluations of skeletal Class III patients. Changes in lower lip prominence, the pretreatment nasolabial angle, and Pog-NB distance are the main factors related to facial esthetics in skeletal Class III patients after camouflage orthodontic treatment.

Head poses and grimaces: Challenges for automated face identification algorithms?

In today's biometric and commercial settings, state-of-the-art image processing relies solely on artificial intelligence and machine learning which provides a high level of accuracy. However, these principles are deeply rooted in abstract, complex "black-box systems". When applied to forensic image identification, concerns about transparency and accountability emerge. This study explores the impact of two challenging factors in automated facial identification: facial expressions and head poses. The sample comprised 3D faces with nine prototype expressions, collected from 41 participants (13 males, 28 females) of European descent aged 19.96 to 50.89 years. Pre-processing involved converting 3D models to 2D color images (256 × 256 px). Probes included a set of 9 images per individual with head poses varying by 5° in both left-to-right (yaw) and up-and-down (pitch) directions for neutral expressions. A second set of 3,610 images per individual covered viewpoints in 5° increments from -45° to 45° for head movements and different facial expressions, forming the targets. Pair-wise comparisons using ArcFace, a state-of-the-art face identification algorithm yielded 54,615,690 dissimilarity scores. Results indicate that minor head deviations in probes have minimal impact. However, the performance diminished as targets deviated from the frontal position. Right-to-left movements were less influential than up and down, with downward pitch showing less impact than upward movements. The lowest accuracy was for upward pitch at 45°. Dissimilarity scores were consistently higher for males than for females across all studied factors. The performance particularly diverged in upward movements, starting at 15°. Among tested facial expressions, happiness and contempt performed best, while disgust exhibited the lowest AUC values.

Can names shape facial appearance?

Our given name is a social tag associated with us early in life. This study investigates the possibility of a self-fulfilling prophecy effect wherein individuals' facial appearance develops over time to resemble the social stereotypes associated with given names. Leveraging the face-name matching effect, which demonstrates an ability to match adults' names to their faces, we hypothesized that individuals would resemble their social stereotype (name) in adulthood but not in childhood. To test this hypothesis, children and adults were asked to match faces and names of children and adults. Results revealed that both adults and children correctly matched adult faces to their corresponding names, significantly above the chance level. However, when it came to children's faces and names, participants were unable to make accurate associations. Complementing our lab studies, we employed a machine-learning framework to process facial image data and found that facial representations of adults with the same name were more similar to each other than to those of adults with different names. This pattern of similarity was absent among the facial representations of children, thereby strengthening the case for the self-fulfilling prophecy hypothesis. Furthermore, the face-name matching effect was evident for adults but not for children's faces that were artificially aged to resemble adults, supporting the conjectured role of social development in this effect. Together, these findings suggest that even our facial appearance can be influenced by a social factor such as our name, confirming the potent impact of social expectations.

Characterising applied forces during positive pressure ventilation: a randomised cross-over simulation study.

OBJECTIVE: To characterise applied force on the face and head during simulated mask ventilation with varying mask, device and expertise level. DESIGN: Randomised cross-over simulation study. SETTING: A quiet, empty room in the children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Neonatal healthcare providers, categorised as novices and experts in positive pressure ventilation (PPV). INTERVENTIONS: PPV for 2 min each in a 2×2 within-subjects design with two masks (round and anatomic) and two ventilation devices (T-piece and self-inflating bag (SIB)). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Applied force (Newton (N)) measured under the head and at four locations on the manikin's face (nasal bridge, mentum, left and right zygomatic arches) and symmetry of force applied around the mask rim. RESULTS: For the 51 participants, force applied to the head was greater with the SIB than the T-piece (mean (SD): 16.03 (6.96) N vs 14.31 (5.16) N) and greater with the anatomic mask than the round mask (mean (SD): 16.07 (6.80) N vs 14.26 (5.35) N). Underhead force decreased over the duration of PPV for all conditions. Force measured on the face was greatest at the left zygomatic arch (median (IQR): 0.97 (0.70-1.43) N) and least at the mentum (median (IQR): 0.44 (0.28-0.61) N). Overall, experts applied more equal force around the mask rim compared with novices (median (IQR): 0.46 (0.26-0.79) N vs 0.65 (0.24-1.18) N, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: We characterised an initial dataset of applied forces on the face and head during simulated PPV and described differences in force when considering mask type, device type and expertise.

Developing an eyeball positioning method in the eye orbit for craniofacial identification in Korean population.

We analysed the skulls and faces of Korean subjects using anthropometric methods to understand the anatomical characteristics of the eyeball and eye orbit region of Korean population and to determine the correlations between the hard and soft tissues around the eyeball and eye orbit region. In total, 82 sections in the region were measured to determine the correlations; among them, 34 showed significant differences by sex, and 6 showed significant differences by age. As the distance from the centre of the eye lens to the eye orbit is calculated as a ratio, we determined that the centre of the eye lens is located relatively on the lateral and superior position in each eye orbit in front view. Fourteen sections that could be used for craniofacial reconstruction/approximation in men and women were selected. Regression equations were derived according to the correlation of each section, and their reliabilities were verified by out of sample validation tests. Therefore, our results increase the accuracy of eyeball position determination, which would be useful for more efficient craniofacial reconstruction/approximation of the Korean population and should improve the efficiency of facial recognition.

Non-invasive detection of mental fatigue in construction equipment operators through geometric measurements of facial features.

INTRODUCTION: Prolonged operation of construction equipment could lead to mental fatigue, which can increase the chances of human error-related accidents as well as operators' ill-health. The objective detection of operators' mental fatigue is crucial for reducing accident risk and ensuring operator health. Electroencephalography, photoplethysmography, electrodermal activity, and eye-tracking technology have been used to mitigate this issue. These technologies are invasive and wearable sensors that can cause irritation and discomfort. Geometric measurements of facial features can serve as a noninvasive alternative approach. Its application in detecting mental fatigue of construction equipment operators has not been reported in the literature. Although the application of facial features has been widespread in other domains, such as drivers and other occupation scenarios, their ecological validity for construction excavator operators remains a knowledge gap. METHOD: This study proposed employing geometric measurements of facial features to detect mental fatigue in construction equipment operators' facial features. In this study, seventeen operators performed excavation operations. Mental fatigue was labeled subjectively and objectively using NASA-TLX scores and EDA values. Based on geometric measurements, facial features (eyebrow, mouth outer, mouth corners, head motion, eye area, and face area) were extracted. RESULTS: The results showed that there was significant difference in the measured metrics for high fatigue compared to low fatigue. Specifically, the most noteworthy variation was for the eye and face area metrics, with mean differences of 45.88% and 26.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that geometrical measurements of facial features are a useful, noninvasive approach for detecting the mental fatigue of construction equipment operators.

3D evaluation model of facial aesthetics based on multi-input 3D convolution neural networks for orthognathic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative evaluation of facial aesthetics is an important but also time-consuming procedure in orthognathic surgery, while existing 2D beauty-scoring models are mainly used for entertainment with less clinical impact. METHODS: A deep-learning-based 3D evaluation model DeepBeauty3D was designed and trained using 133 patients' CT images. The customised image preprocessing module extracted the skeleton, soft tissue, and personal physical information from raw DICOM data, and the predicting network module employed 3-input-2-output convolution neural networks (CNN) to receive the aforementioned data and output aesthetic scores automatically. RESULTS: Experiment results showed that this model predicted the skeleton and soft tissue score with 0.231 ± 0.218 (4.62%) and 0.100 ± 0.344 (2.00%) accuracy in 11.203 ± 2.824 s from raw CT images. CONCLUSION: This study provided an end-to-end solution using real clinical data based on 3D CNN to quantitatively evaluate facial aesthetics by considering three anatomical factors simultaneously, showing promising potential in reducing workload and bridging the surgeon-patient aesthetics perspective gap.

Evaluation of the soft tissue facial profile in different skeletal malocclusions in relation to age.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the thickness of the soft tissue facial profile (STFP) in relation to the skeletal malocclusion, age and gender. METHODS: All patients, aged 7-35 years, who were seeking orthodontic treatment at the Department of Orthodontics, Medical University of Warsaw between 2019 and 22 were included in the study. All patients had lateral head radiographs taken before the treatment. The cephalometric analysis was performed including the STFP analysis. The patients were allocated to one of six groups based on age and skeletal relations (ANB angle). The minimum number of patients in each group was 60 with equal gender distribution. The STFP analysis included ten linear measurements. RESULTS: A total of 300 patients were included in the study and allocated to five groups. Group 6 (growing patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion) was not included in the study as it failed to achieve the assumed group size. There were significant differences in the thickness of the STFP in relation to the skeletal malocclusions. Adults with skeletal Class III malocclusion had significantly thicker subnasal soft tissues compared to patients with skeletal Class I and Class II malocclusions. The thickness of the lower lip in patients with Class II skeletal malocclusion was significantly bigger compared to the other groups. Children and adolescents with Class II malocclusions had thicker lower lip in comparison to the group with Class I malocclusion. The majority of the STFP measurements were significantly smaller in children and adolescents compared to adults. The thickness of the STFP in males was significantly bigger in all age groups compared to females. CONCLUSIONS: The thickness of facial soft tissues depends on the patient's age and gender. The degree of compensation of the skeletal malocclusion in the STFP may be a decisive factor during orthodontic treatment planning regarding a surgical approach or a camouflage treatment of skeletal defects.

Male Rejuvenation: Injectables.

The use of injectables can effectively treat the areas of greatest facial esthetic concern in males. Due to significant differences in the facial anatomy of men compared to women, treatment strategy, dosage, and technique differs. This article will review the pharmacology, preparation, pertinent anatomy, technique, risks, and adverse events associated with injectable agents emphasizing unique differences in male anatomy and esthetics.

Facial soft-tissue shape changes after fixed edgewise treatment with premolar extraction in individual artificial-intelligence-classified facial profile patterns.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the patterns of pretreatment facial soft tissue shape in orthodontic cases with premolar extraction using artificial intelligence (AI) and to investigate the corresponding changes. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-two patients who underwent orthodontic treatment with premolar extraction were enrolled. Lateral cephalograms were obtained before and after the treatment. For each record, the outlines of the nose-lip-chin profile and corresponding 21 cephalometric variables were extracted. The AI method classified pretreatment records into three subject groups based on the feature variables extracted from the outline. Dentoskeletal and soft tissue facial form changes observed after treatment were compared statistically (P < 0.05) between the groups using ANOVA. Multivariate regression models were used for each group. RESULTS: Group 1 (n = 59) was characterized by Class II high-angle retrognathic mandible with an incompetent lip, group 2 (n = 55) by Class I malocclusion with retruded and thin lips, and group 3 (n = 38) by Class I malocclusion with an everted superior lip before treatment. The ratios of anteroposterior soft tissue to hard tissue movements in Group 1 were 56% (r = 0.64) and 83% (r = 0.75) for the superior and inferior lips, respectively, whereas those in Group 2 were 49% (r = 0.78) and 91% (r = 0.80), and 40% (r = 0.54) and 79% (r = 0.70), respectively, in Group 3. CONCLUSIONS: The modes of facial form changes differed depending on the pre-treatment profile patterns classified by the AI. This indicates that the determination of the pre-treatment profile pattern can help in the selection of soft tissue to hard tissue movement ratios, which helps estimate the post-treatment facial profile with a moderate to high correlation.

Facial morphological analysis for the development of a representative atlas of the brazilian population.

The objective of this study was to propose categories of morphological classification for the face and its anatomical structures, as well as to propose illustrations to support the development of an atlas that facilitates facial morphological analysis of adult Brazilians. It was a descriptive study based on the analysis of the frequency and distribution of 13 photoanthropometric facial ratios (RFAs) obtained from a representative sample of the Brazilian population. RFAs related to facial height and width, eye width, intercanthal distance, nose length and width, philtrum ridge height and width, mouth thickness and width, upper and lower lip thickness, and chin height were analyzed. The study included a sample of 5.000 individuals aged between 18 and 22 years, evenly distributed between genders. Data normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, considering them as parametric when p > 0.05. For the RFAs that showed normal distribution, mean ± 1.5 standard deviations (SD) were used to categorize facial measurements as regular, below average, or above average. Non-parametric RFAs were analyzed based on the median and 10th and 90th percentiles of the data. Based on the established average iris diameter, which is considered the most stable facial measurement, the values of the described RFAs were converted to a numerical scale in centimeters, allowing for the illustration of female and male faces. In this way, it was possible to categorize the facial anatomical structures and, consequently, visualize the facial morphological pattern of the adult Brazilian population.

Images of Modern Beauties in the Japanese Colonial Era of Korea (1910-1945).

This study aimed to analyze images of the modern beauty of Korea during the Japanese colonial era. Searches were conducted on Google ( www.google.com ) and Naver ( www.naver.com ) for archives of newspapers and magazines that contained images of beauty. Beauty of the face and neck (the early 1920s): an article (1922) detailed the contemporary beauty standards. It specifies the desired characteristics of the eyes, nose, and mouth and dictates that "the cheeks ought to be plump enough to obscure the cheekbones" and "the neck and shoulders should also be full, concealing the collarbones." Images of beauty showing balance and proportion (the late 1920s): in 1928, a magazine article introduced the concept of "the world's beauty from a scientific perspective," which represented Western esthetics as reflected in the "Canon" of body proportions and Vitruvian Man. From the face to the body (from the late 1920s to 1930s): in 1927, a daily newspaper established the standard for global beauty. During this period, there was an increased emphasis on maintaining the body, rather than just the face, as a crucial aspect of beauty. From the mid-1930s, the concept of a "streamlined" female body shape gained popularity. Male gaze, which fragmented and objectified women's bodies, had been visualized and mass-produced. It is essential to understand how preferences have evolved and to possess skilled hands capable of improving the face and body. To properly sculpt the face and body, keen eyes and adept hands are needed.

Artificial intelligence in maxillofacial and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide a current review of artificial intelligence and its subtypes in maxillofacial and facial plastic surgery including a discussion of implications and ethical concerns. RECENT FINDINGS: Artificial intelligence has gained popularity in recent years due to technological advancements. The current literature has begun to explore the use of artificial intelligence in various medical fields, but there is limited contribution to maxillofacial and facial plastic surgery due to the wide variance in anatomical facial features as well as subjective influences. In this review article, we found artificial intelligence's roles, so far, are to automatically update patient records, produce 3D models for preoperative planning, perform cephalometric analyses, and provide diagnostic evaluation of oropharyngeal malignancies. SUMMARY: Artificial intelligence has solidified a role in maxillofacial and facial plastic surgery within the past few years. As high-quality databases expand with more patients, the role for artificial intelligence to assist in more complicated and unique cases becomes apparent. Despite its potential, ethical questions have been raised that should be noted as artificial intelligence continues to thrive. These questions include concerns such as compromise of the physician-patient relationship and healthcare justice.

Lorenz's classic 'baby schema': a useful biological concept?

Konrad Lorenz introduced the concept of a 'baby schema', suggesting that infants have specific physical features, such as a relatively large head, large eyes and protruding cheeks, which function as an innate releaser to promote caretaking motivation from perceivers. Over the years, a large body of research has been conducted on the baby schema. However, there are two critical problems underpinning the current literature. First, the term 'baby schema' lacks consistency among researchers. Some researchers use the term baby schema to refer to infant stimuli (often faces) in comparison with adults (categorical usage), while others use the term to refer to the extent that features contribute to cuteness perception (spectrum usage). Second, cross-species continuity of the 'baby schema' has been assumed despite few empirical demonstrations. The evolutionary and comparative relevance of the concept is, therefore, debatable, and we cannot exclude the possibility that extreme sensitivity to the baby schema is a uniquely human trait. This article critically reviews the state of the existing literature and evaluates the significance of the baby schema from an evolutionary perspective.