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The convergence of cultural and aesthetic elements in timber structures from China's Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) and traditional Japanese architecture provides a rich tapestry of architectural evolution and cross-cultural exchanges. Addressing the challenge of distinguishing and understanding the intricate styles of these structures is significant for both historical comprehension and preservation efforts. This research introduces an innovative approach by integrating the Multi-Head Attention (MHA) mechanism into the YOLOv8 model, enhancing the detection of architectural features with improved precision and recall. Our novel YOLOv8-MHA model not only demonstrates a notable improvement in recognizing intricate architectural details but also significantly advances the state of the art in object detection within complex settings. Quantitative results underscore the model's effectiveness, achieving a precision of 95.6%, a recall of 85.6%, and a mean Average Precision (mAP@50) of 94% across various Intersection over Union (IoU) thresholds. These metrics highlight the model's superior capability to accurately identify and classify architectural elements, especially within environments rich with nuanced details, utilizing the enhanced YOLOv8-MHA algorithm. The application of our model extends beyond mere architectural analysis; it offers new insights into the intricate interplay of cultural identity and adaptability inherent in East Asian architectural heritage. The study establishes a solid foundation for the meticulous classification and analysis of architectural styles in timber structures within an expansive cultural and historical context, thereby enriching our understanding and preservation of these traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Astrophysics 2020 Decadal Report recommended a line of Probe missions with far-infrared imaging or spectroscopy capabilities. The achievable sensitivity of these FIR missions will be enabled by cooled telescopes and advanced cryogenic detector technologies, potentially resulting in up to three orders of magnitude improvement in sensitivity and mapping speeds up to more than a million times of those achieved so far with past missions. We have obtained NASA funding to build and demonstrate transition edge sensor (TES)-based kilopixel arrays with the properties that match the requirements for cryogenic far-infrared space missions: The arrays are very closely tileable in one direction and with a moderate gap in the other direction. This array architecture can meet the sampling and pixel number requirement of a few 104 pixels. Many details of the architecture have already been demonstrated individually, and the detector board will be optimized for the use of the latest cryogenic NIST 2D time-domain SQUID readout multiplexers with a high-density fanout scheme. Additionally, we will use flex lines that are very similar to those developed at Princeton University for the ACT project. This method allows virtually unlimited tileability of the detector arrays and thus a compact detector/readout design for future FIR instrumentation requiring large pixel counts. We already have a pixel design which, if implemented with TES operating at less than 100 mK, will meet the continuum sensitivity requirements for background-limited cryogenic space missions of NEP < 10–18 W/√Hz). Furthermore, our array design will be compatible with lower noise TES designs for spectroscopy that we are currently demonstrating in our laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to establish a unified typology for the culturally significant kulla stone houses built in the cross-border region of Kosovo, Albania, and Montenegro during the 18th and 19th centuries. Despite some attempts at typological categorisation on the national level, a joint typology for this region currently needs to be improved. Based on existing literature and field research, the paper identifies the specificities of different geographical locations while validating the core attributes common to all typological variations. The findings suggest that the joint typological classification of kulla in the Balkans should primarily be based on architectural elements and, to some extent, setting, building materials and techniques, while functional composition is consistent across all types. The paper argues that defining a common typology for the Albanian kulla stone houses in the Balkans is crucial for evaluating, preserving, and developing kulla as serial properties and for their future regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a book review of a volume edited by Roberta Barsanti and Monica Taddei, which contains lectures by leading scholars on Leonardo da Vinci. The lectures were delivered in Vinci, the artist's birthplace, in 2019 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his death. The essays in the book cover various aspects of Leonardo's art, thought, and science, including his connection to Vinci and its vicinity, his influence on Lombard sculpture, his relationship with King Francis I of France, and his technological expertise in weaponry. The book provides a rich panoramic view of current themes in the interpretation of Leonardo's work. [Extracted from the article]