Original Photographs Research Articles

Subulicystidium perlongisporum (Trechisporales), the first record in Ukraine

In this article we report the first record of Subulicystidium perlongisporum, a noteworthy corticioid fungus, which has never been previously recorded in Ukraine. A detailed morphological description of the examined specimen, along with the original photos, ecological specifics and global distribution details of the species are provided. The criteria for delimitation of long-spored species of Subulicystidium are discussed.

Beyond Cerdá: Public housing in the Barcelona periphery

Mass migration into the city of Barcelona in the 1950s created an estimated deficit of 100,000 dwellings by the close of the decade, and by the early 1960s an estimated 100,000 people were living in shanty towns in and around the city. In an effort to address this crisis, central State and local housing authorities constructed a series of housing estates in the urban periphery, beyond the central ensanche (expansion), the centrepiece of Ildefonso Cerdá’s 1860 master plan for the city. Using secondary sources, original photographs taken at the end of the Franco era, and more recent Google Earth images, this article discusses the role of the main housing authorities at the time, and examines the planning process that allowed the construction of these housing estates and their subsequent demolition or remodelling in the post-Franco era. The article finds that the public authorities allowed planning regulations to be contravened, or used loopholes and special measures within the planning laws, to construct housing units of minimal dimensions and generally poor quality in areas often zoned for other uses. More recently, “special plans” have been used effectively to improve or replace the majority of these estates. The article concludes that political will was the dominant factor in determining housing construction in the Franco era with the planning process being largely an irrelevance, and that residents’ associations have led the struggle for improvements in these estates in the post-Franco era, with the revised planning laws providing an effective framework for change.

Fritillaria shahuensis (Liliaceae), a new species from western Iran

A new species, Fritillaria shahuensis, from western Iran is described. It is similar in general facies to F. atrolineata and F. chlorantha in the F. caucasica-group but differs mainly in colour and size of lowest leaves and shape and colour of perigone segments. Fritillaria shahuensis is also similar in general facies to F. assyriaca and F. kordestanica but differs mainly by colour of perigone segments. Detailed taxonomic descriptions, diagnostic characters, original photographs, geographical distributions, habitat, phenology and ecology, etymology and conservation status of the new and related species are presented.

Scene construction processes in the anterior hippocampus during temporal episodic memory retrieval.

Although the hippocampus has been implicated in both the temporal organization of memories and association of scene elements, some theoretical accountsposit that the role of the hippocampus in episodic memory is largely atemporal. In this study, we set out to explore this discrepancy by identifying hippocampal activity patterns related to scene construction while participants performed a temporal order memory task. Participants in the fMRI scanner were shown a sequence of photographs, each consisting of a central object and a contextual background scene. On each retrieval trial, participants were shown a pair of the original photographs (FULL), objects from the scenes without the background (OBJ), or background contexts without the main foreground object (BACK). In the temporal order judgment (TOJ) task, participants judged the temporal order of the pair of scenes; in the Viewing trials, two identical scenes were shown without any task. First, we found that the anterior hippocampus-particularly the CA1 and subiculum-showed similar patterns of activation between the BACK and OBJ conditions, suggesting that scene construction occurred spontaneously during both TOJ and Viewing. Furthermore, neural markers of scene construction in the anterior hippocampus did not apply to incorrect trials, showing that successful temporal memory retrieval was functionally linked to scene construction. In the cortex, time-processing areas, such as the supplementary motor area and the precuneus, and scene-processing areas, such as the parahippocampal cortex, were activated and functionally connected with the hippocampus. Together, these results support the view that the hippocampus is concurrently involved in scene construction and temporal organization of memory and propose a model of hippocampal episodic memory that takes both processes into account.

Phenotypic characteristics of black apricot Prunus × dasycarpa cultivar ‘Shlor-Tsiran’ in Armenia

ABSTRACT ‘Shlor-Tsiran’ (literally called ‘Plum-Apricot’) is an old black apricot cultivar, which is traditionally cultivated in Armenia. Taxonomically, it belongs to Prunus × dasycarpa Ehrh., which is a spontaneous hybrid of apricot and cherry plum (P. armeniaca L. × P. cerasifera Ehrh.). Currently, ‘Shlor-Tsiran’ is considered to be very rare in Armenia and it occurs as single trees in old home orchards of the Ararat Valley. It is characterised by high frost and disease resistance, late flowering and fruiting compared with other cultivated apricots, and is of interest for the development of apricot cultivars displaying delayed fruit ripening and enhanced frost resistance. This study aims to phenotype the cv. ‘Shlor-Tsiran’ taking into consideration 67 quantitative and qualitative characteristics of vegetative and generative organs, growth and development. Morphological description of the cv. ‘Shlor-Tsiran’, comparing with its parent species, P. armeniaca and P. cerasifera, was performed. Data on fertility and viability of pollen grains, biochemical and nutritional properties of fruits and tree productivity are provided. The data obtained should contribute to a wider use and conservation of the black apricot cv. ‘Shlor-Tsiran’ gene pool, which can be used for breeding purposes as well. The article is illustrated with tables and original photographs.

Que du Love

This commentary presents six pieces from the Que du Love (Only Love) exhibition, which was led by photographer Amelia Segrera and Chalet Kent staff, multimedia director Marilia Beltrame, interviewer and writer Fabiana Diaz, and curator Karl-André St-Victor. The five original photographs featured here were taken on 35 mm film by Segrera, and each features a young person accompanied by their words about love, which are excerpts taken from their interviews. We also include three poems, in French, from student Rania Guerasse, exploring some of the visceral and spiritual intensities of love and heartbreak.

Appearance-Preserved Portrait-to-Anime Translation via Proxy-Guided Domain Adaptation.

Converting a human portrait to anime style is a desirable but challenging problem. Existing methods fail to resolve this problem due to the large inherent gap between two domains that cannot be overcome by a simple direct mapping. For this reason, these methods struggle to preserve the appearance features in the original photo. In this article, we discover an intermediate domain, the coser portrait (portraits of humans costuming as anime characters), that helps bridge this gap. It alleviates the learning ambiguity and loosens the mapping difficulty in a progressive manner. Specifically, we start from learning the mapping between coser and anime portraits, and present a proxy-guided domain adaptation learning scheme with three progressive adaptation stages to shift the initial model to the human portrait domain. In this way, our model can generate visually pleasant anime portraits with well-preserved appearances given the human portrait. Our model adopts a disentangled design by breaking down the translation problem into two specific subtasks of face deformation and portrait stylization. This further elevates the generation quality. Extensive experimental results show that our model can achieve visually compelling translation with better appearance preservation and perform favorably against the existing methods both qualitatively and quantitatively. Our code and datasets are available at https://github.com/NeverGiveU/PDA-Translation.

Installation of portals in the sections of the column demolition during the re-equipment of Tagmet JSC workshops

Introduction. The article presents the materials on the activities, carried out in the pipe rolling shops of the Tagmet JSC during the modernization period, starting from 2007. The Research Institute of Building Constructions named after V.A. Koucherenko, conducted prolonged surveys of plant workshop structures in order to issue conclusions on their industrial safety and recommendations for the repair and strengthening of damaged elements in building structures for their further safe operation, including workshops, where the technological process has been changed due to the installation of new equipment.Aim. To demonstrate one of the ways to reconstruct industrial buildings using the example of workshops, located in the territory of the Tagmet JSC, based on a survey of combined structures, calculations and analyzes of their bearing capacity margins.Materials. The article provides the drawings of original metal structures and photographs of steel structures, already built to reinforce them and change the existing parameters of the building frame to suitable ones for new operating conditions.Results. Recommendations for structural strengthening, applicable for similar activities, are given. Due to the scientific and technical support for the design and construction of three modernized Tagmet workshops, the plant continuously increased its productivity in subsequent years.Conclusions. No defects and damage, which exceed the values, established by the current regulatory documents, and affect the operational suitability of buildings, were revealed during the inspection and operational safety examination of Tagmet plant structures. The results of the calculations, performed to the portal structures at the column demolition sections of the plant workshop building frames, proved the assurance of their strength and stability. The design solutions were successfully implemented during the reconstruction of workshops at the Tagmet JSC.

Muscari zagricum (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), a unique new species from Iran

A new species, Muscari zagricum Eker, Alipour & Majidi (Asparagaceae) from Iran, is described and illustrated. It has no closely related species, and is partly similar to M. pseudopallens and M. pallens, but differs from them mainly in morphological characters such as outer tunic color, raceme shape and density, pedicels no extending when in fruit, shape of fertile flowers with shouldered and grooved, color when dry, color of lobes, strongly compressed capsule valves, as well as flowering time and habitat characteristics. In this study, a comprehensive description, diagnostic characters, original photographs, geographical distribution, conservation assessment, and taxonomic comments on the new species are presented.

Lightweight Image Encryption Based on A Hybrid Approach

A secure image could be achieved by encryption, a technique for securing images over different media transmission lines with privacy and keeping them safe for the receiver. This paper proposes an image encryption approach to achieve excellent security by combining a lightweight encryption algorithm with the chaotic Peter De Jong map. The Lilliput algorithm, lightweight encryption, uses the Peter De-Jones map to produce keys. The suggested approach achieved a suitable level of complexity that matched the historical demands for transmission images. Two methods were used to conduct the tests on a standard image collection: an encrypted image and a generated key. Standard metrics find the similarity between the input and output images to achieve an accurate proposal performance. The encrypted image's entropy was assessed and discovered that it matched the original image values exactly. The results were satisfactory regarding obtaining a precise correlation rate between the original and encrypted photos. The decryption and reconstruction of the image were completed quickly and steadily, with a high success rate and excellent outcomes. The proposed approach was evaluated on a dataset of well-known test photos with unique features, including varying degrees of lightness and shade to create the perfect test.

Domain Adaptation and Semantic Drawing Driven Sketch-to-Photo Retrieval using Collaborative Generative Representation Learning

Abstract: Sketch-based face recognition is an interesting task in vision and multimedia research yet it is quite challenging due to the great difference between face photos and sketches. In this paper we propose a novel approach for photo-sketch generation aiming to automatically transform face photos into detail-preserving personal sketches. Unlike the traditional models synthesizing sketches based on a dictionary of exemplars we develop a fully convolutional network to learn the end-to-end photosketch mapping. Our approach takes whole face photos as inputs and directly generates the corresponding sketch images with efficient inference and learning in which the architecture is stacked by only convolutional kernels of very small sizes. The exemplar-based method is most frequently used in face sketch synthesis because of its efficiency in representing the nonlinear mapping between face photos and sketches. However, the sketches synthesized by existing exemplar-based methods suffer from block artifacts and blur effects. In addition, most exemplar-based methods ignore the training sketches in the weight representation process. To improve synthesis performance, a novel joint training model is proposed in this paper, taking sketches into consideration. First, we construct the joint training photo and sketch by concatenating the original photo and its sketch with a high-pass filtered image of their corresponding sketch. Then, an offline random sampling strategy is adopted for each test photo patch to select the joint training photo and sketch patches in the neighboring region. Finally, a novel locality constraint is designed to calculate the reconstruction weight, allowing the synthesized sketches to have more detailed information

Petrorhagia dubia subsp. mustafanus (Caryophyllaceae), a new subspecies from Turkey

Petrorhagia dubia subsp. mustafanus (Caryophyllaceae) is described as a new subspecies from Dede mountain in Soma (Manisa), west Anatolia, Turkey. Diagnosis, description, preferential habitat, distribution, conservation status, and original photographs are given, as well as a comparison with the similar P. dubia subsp. dubia is discussed.

Rediscover of the Iranian endemic alpine Arenaria bulica after 139 years and note of the related species (Caryophyllaceae)

The Zagros Mountain range is one of the biodiversity centers with the highest percent of endemic species in Iran. There are several peaks with more than 4000 m high in Zagros hosting many rare alpine species. Arenaria is one of the morphological complicated genera with a large number of species and endemism in SW-Asia with an high species concentration in Turkey and Iran. By recollecting the rare and endemic species of Arenaria bulica from locus classicus after 139 years and examining the herbarium specimens, it was found that the two species, A. minutissima and A. semiromica can be considered as its synonyms. A detailed description, original photos, habitat, distribution map, phytogeography, conservation status, seed micromorphology and growth form have been provided and discussed.

Deep Neural Networks for Multimedia Forensics: Detection of Deepfake Content

Deep Neural Networks for Multimedia Forensics: Detection of Deepfake Content

Taxonomic resurrection of Saxifraga lancangensis (Saxifragaceae)

BackgroundAccurate species delimitation is fundamental for testing evolutionary theory and provides essential implications for conservation management. The arctic-alpine genus Saxifraga L. (Saxifragaceae) is taxonomically complex and many species have not been critically assessed. The taxonomic and phylogenetic status of Saxifraga lancangensis Y.Y.Qian, considered as a synonym of Saxifraga mengtzeana Engl. & Irmsch. in previous studies, is re-evaluated in light of new evidence presented here.ResultsEvidence from morphological comparison and sequencing of plastid genome indicate that S. lancangensis belongs to Saxifraga sect. Irregulares Haw., and is closely related to Saxifraga geifolia Balf.f., and S. mengtzeana. However, S. lancangensis can be diagnosed by its petals with red and clawless base, leaf blade orbicular and leaf margin shallowly dentate.ConclusionsThe morphological and molecular evidence support the resurrection of S. lancangensis as a distinct species. An updated morphological description based on protologue and fresh material, diagnostic characters, and original photographs of the resurrected species are presented.

The art world is not perfect. On "Man is Not Perfect", 1976 by Miklós Erdély

Miklós Erdély (1928-1986), an exceptional artist in the international and Hungarian scene, created the work that serves as the basis of this analysis in 1976. Man is Not Perfect – the title refers to Karl Jaspers – consists of four panels. In its current state, the work bears little resemblance to what spectators saw in 1976 in the event Exposition - photo/art, for which the work was made. The changes in the visibility, what we can see in the reproductions from different periods, were “pre-programmed”, if we may say so, into the materiality of the work by the author, as Erdély was always especially conscious of the use of materials. Does this transformation in time change the meaning of the artwork, and if so, why and how? The relations between the diverse elements or “medium” of the montage, like original photographs, reproductions, blueprints, citations, ready-made parts, photograms and phantom images, may explain the “story” in a pictorial way.

Syllidae (Annelida) from the Alborán Sea (Western Mediterranean), with the description of a new species of Paraehlersia San Martín, 2003

A list of 35 species of Syllidae (Annelida) is reported from sublittoral bottoms (from 42 to 169 m) in the Alborán Sea (Western Mediterranean), together with the description of a new species (Paraehelersia pamelae n. sp.), including original drawings and SEM photos. The new species is characterized by its small size, compound chaetae of posterior segments with short, bidentate falcigers, with both teeth similar, the proximal tooth only slightly longer than the distal one, long spiniger-like chaetae all along body, and dorsal simple chaetae distally bifid. Finally, we compare this new species with all previously known species of Paraehlersia and provide a dichotomous key.

Predictive Identification of Malignant Melanoma from Fractional Differentiation-based Image Enhancement

Recent advancements in computer vision and artificial intelligence allow for the automatic detection of some abnormalities in medical photographs. One of these is a skin lesion, and prompt and accurate detection of these conditions substantially aids in treatment. When image processing is combined with the fundamental edge detection technique, there has been potential demonstrated in the automatic identification and delineation of boundaries inside skin lesions. In this work, we investigate how to improve edge-detection in photos using fractional differentiation. We present a fractional differential filter based method for edge detection in images of skin lesions. The original photos are then improved with the help of the derived images. During acquisition, acquired images are classified using deep learning models. In the experiments, a well-researched dataset of HAM10000 is employed. The outcomes demonstrate how well these filters work to cut through noise and pick up minute edge characteristics that can provide useful information while performing recognition tasks.

The first insights into the diversity of algae in the oligotrophic sphagnum bog Chorne Bagno (Zacharovany krai National Nature Park, Transcarpathian Region, Ukraine)

The paper presents the results of the first algofloristic study of one of the deepest oligotrophic upland sphagnum bogs in Ukraine: Chorne Bagno, located within the territory of the Zacharovany Krai National Nature Park. In 2019, the Chorne Bagno hydrological landmark of national significance was included in the list of internationally important wetlands (Ramsar Convention). In the winter periphyton, 72 species (75 intraspecific taxa, ist) of algae were recorded: 64 species of the Bacillariophyta division, belonging to 28 genera, 16 families, 10 orders, and 3 classes, as well as 9 species (11 ist) of the Charophyta division, belonging to 3 genera, 1 family, 1 order, and 1 class. Three species were identified as new to the territory of Ukraine: Luticola charlatii (M.Peragallo) Metzeltin et Lang.-Bert., L. muticopsis (Van Heurck) Mann in Round, Crawford et Mann, and Neidium septentrionale Cleve-Euler. Also noted were findings of rare diatom species for the flora of Ukraine, including Eunotia cristagalli Cleve, Luticola acidoclinata Lang.-Bert. in Lang.-Bert. et Metzeltin, Hantzschia abundans Lange-Bertalot, Nedium longipens, Nitzchia perminuta (Grunow) M.Peragallo, Pinnularia episcopalis Cleve, and Psamothidium helveticum (Hustedt) Bukhtiyarova et Round. The publication is illustrated with original photographs.

Style transfer for converting images into Chinese landscape painting based on CycleGAN

Chinese landscape painting is a prevalent and unique mode of artistic expression within traditional Chinese art. It boasts intricate techniques and demands a relatively high level of artistic skill. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence have ushered in the era of image style transfer techniques, making it feasible to convert landscape photographs into stunning Chinese landscape paintings. In this study, the author has developed an image translation model that enables mutual transformation between images of landscapes and Chinese landscape paintings. This technology significantly reduces the difficulty of creating Chinese landscape paintings, allowing more ordinary people in China to experience and appreciate the joy brought by traditional Chinese art. Experimental results indicate that the style transfer model based on CycleGAN has achieved significant success in this scenario. The generated artworks successfully integrate the style of Chinese landscape painting into the original images without altering the original composition and details. As a result, the original photos gain a certain level of artistic value. Additionally, this study innovatively explores the goal of reverse restoration of Chinese landscape paintings into images, highlighting both the similarities and differences with the current research, thus laying the foundation for future studies.