Search

Recent research in the field of education studies has raised concerns about anthropocentric discourses and methods regarding materiality. Creating new pedagogical approaches and practices to advance cultural and material understanding is the key objective for scholars and educators. This article demonstrates how the collection of self-taken digital photographs of stones activated a researcher for educational thinking process, and it does this methodologically by using situated writing and digital photographs as co-thinkers. The main task is to explore the meaning of blurred relationships of material worlds by asking especially what stones, and especially children's interest towards stones, can teach us, what they can remind us of, and how they may help us reflect on education and growth as a celebration of open approaches and critical reconsiderations in order to deflect the focus away from anthropocentric subjectivity. The aim is to produce a novel contribution and a situated writing sample of not representing world and education but encountering them anew and being part of its process, connecting things that are not typically connected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design. Retrospective analysis of a longitudinal cohort. Objective. To identify the presence of scoliosis from surface data. Summary of Background Data. Identifying AIS can be difficult. Screening is not universal for reasons including high false positive and negative rates. These difficulties can lead to some adolescents missing out on bracing. Methods. Logistic regression analysis of ISIS2 surface topography images only was performed. The x,y positions of the shoulders (Sh), axillae (Ax), waist (waist) and the x,y,z positions of the most prominent points over the posterior torso (scap) were used for the thoracic, thoracolumbar/lumbar and whole spine. The models were used to identify the presence of a 20-degree or larger scoliosis. Differences in the position of the landmarks were analyzed comparing left and right, with the suffix "Ht" representing a difference in the y coordinate, "Off" the x coordinate, and "Depth," the z coordinate. Model accuracy was assessed as both percentages and ROC curves with the coefficients as odds ratios. Results. There were 1283 images (1015 females and 268 males) all with a diagnosis of AIS. The models identified scoliosis in the thoracic spine with an 83% accuracy (AUC 0.91), thoracolumbar/ lumbar spine with 74% accuracy (AUC 0.76), and whole spine with 80% accuracy (AUC 0.88). Significant parameters were Ax-DiffHt, AxDiffOff, WaistDiffHt, ScapDiffOff, and ScapDiffHt for the thoracic curves, AxDiffHt, AxDiffOff, WaistDiffHt for the thoracolumbar/lumbar curves, and AxDiffHt, AxDiffOff, Waist-DiffHt and ScapDiffHt for the whole spine. Conclusions. The use of fixed anatomical points around the torso, analyzed using logistic regression, has a high accuracy for identifying curves in the thoracic, thoracolumbar/lumbar, and whole spines. While coming from surface topography images, the results raise the future use of digital photography as a tool for the identification of small scoliosis without using other imaging techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decades, cultural heritage collections have been digitized, for example, for the use of academic scholars. However, earlier studies have mainly focused on the use of textual materials. Thus, little is known about how digitized photographs are used and searched in digital humanities. The aim of this paper is to investigate the applied search tactics and perceived barriers when looking for historical photographs from a digital image archive for research and writing tasks. The case archive of this study contains approximately 160,000 historical wartime photographs that are openly available. The study is based on a qualitative interview and demonstration data of 15 expert users of the image collection searching photographs for research and writing tasks. Critical incident questions yielded a total of 37 detailed real-life search examples and 158 expressed barriers to searching. Results show that expert users apply and combine different tactics (keywords, filtering and browsing) for image searching, and rarely using one tactic only is enough. During searching users face various barriers, most of them focusing on keyword searching due to the shortcomings of image metadata. Barriers were mostly in the context of the collection and tools. Although scholars have benefited from the efforts put into digitizing cultural heritage collections, providing digitized content openly online is not enough if there are no sufficient means for accessing the content. Automatic annotation methods are one option for creating metadata to improve the findability of the images. However, a better understanding of human information interaction with image data is needed to better support digitalization in the humanities in this respect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The long-term glucose monitoring is essential to the risk assessment of diabetic retinopathy (DR), the aim of this study was to investigate the predictive ability of visit-to-visit fasting blood glucose (FBG) indices on the risk of DR. Methods: This was a community-based, cohort study conducted from 2013 to 2021. DR was diagnosed by digital fundus photography. The FPG indices included FBG, var. Associations of each FBG indices and DR were estimated using multinomial logistic regression models adjusting for confounders, and discrimination was determined by area under the curve (AUC). Predictive utility of different models was compared by changes in AUC, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and net reclassification index (NRI). Results: This study analyzed 5054 participants, the mean age was 46.26 ± 11.44 years, and 2620 (51.84%) were women. After adjustment for confounders, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for FBG, SD, CV, VIM, ARV, M-FBG, and cumulative FBG load were 1.62 (1.52--1.73), 2.74 (2.38--3.16), 1.78 (1.62--1.95), 1.11 (0.95--1.29), 1.72 (1.56--1.91), 2.15 (1.96--2.36), and 2.57 (2.31--2.85), respectively. The AUC of the model with separate cumulative FBG load and classical risk factors was 0.9135 (95%CI 0.8890--0.9380), and no substantive improvement in discrimination was achieved with the addition of other FBG indices once cumulative FBG load was in the model. Conclusions: Cumulative FBG load is adequate for capturing the glucose-related DR risk, and the predictive utility of cumulative FBG load is not significantly improved by adding or replacing other FBG indices in the assessment of DR risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite-based remote sensing and uncrewed aerial imagery play increasingly important roles in the mapping of wildlife populations and wildlife habitat, but the availability of imagery has been limited in remote areas. At the same time, ecotourism is a rapidly growing industry and can yield a vast catalog of photographs that could be harnessed for monitoring purposes, but the inherently ad-hoc and unstructured nature of these images make them difficult to use. To help address this, a subfield of computer vision known as phototourism has been developed to leverage a diverse collection of unstructured photographs to reconstruct a georeferenced three-dimensional scene capturing the environment at that location. Here we demonstrate the use of phototourism in an application involving Antarctic penguins, sentinel species whose dynamics are closely tracked as a measure of ecosystem functioning, and introduce a semi-automated pipeline for aligning and registering ground photographs using a digital elevation model (DEM) and satellite imagery. We employ the Segment Anything Model (SAM) for the interactive identification and segmentation of penguin colonies in these photographs. By creating a textured 3D mesh from the DEM and satellite imagery, we estimate camera poses to align ground photographs with the mesh and register the segmented penguin colony area to the mesh, achieving a detailed representation of the colony. Our approach has demonstrated promising performance, though challenges persist due to variations in image quality and the dynamic nature of natural landscapes. Nevertheless, our method offers a straightforward and effective tool for the georegistration of ad-hoc photographs in natural landscapes, with additional applications such as monitoring glacial retreat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Rosacea diagnosis and treatment in children are challenging, due to its rarity and to the lack of approved pharmacological agents for its treatment in this age group. In this case series, response to treatment with once daily applications of ivermectin (IVM) 1% cream for 12 weeks in 10 children affected by mild to severe inflammatory rosacea was evaluated clinically by Investigator Erythema Severity Assessment (IESA), Investigator Global Assessment of Severity (IGA‐S), Investigator Global Assessment score of Global Efficacy (IGA‐GE), and instrumentally by dermoscopy and Erythema‐Directed Digital Photography (EDDP). Clinical improvement was achieved at the end of treatment compared to baseline (IESA: 2.3 vs. 0.5; IGA‐S: 2.1 vs. 0.3) and confirmed by IGA‐GE (0 = 55%, 1 = 33%, 3 = 11%) and instrumental monitoring (EDDP: 2.7 vs. 0.6). Once daily IVM application may be an effective therapeutic option for children with rosacea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An easy-to-use tool to objectively measure intraoral anatomy with meaningful clinical correlations may improve care for patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), who commonly have symptomatic macroglossia. Methods: Children aged 2–17 years with BWS were enrolled between 12/2021 and 01/2024. Digital intraoral photographs with a laser ruler were taken, and morphometric measurements were made using ImageJ software. Relationships between morphometrics and outcomes including BWS clinical score, percentage mosaicism, and incidence of tongue reduction surgery were examined using t-tests and multivariate linear models. Results: Pharyngeal morphometric measurements were obtained in 49 patients with BWS. Mouth area, width, and height differed significantly across BWS molecular subtypes. Right-to-left tongue width and mouth width were larger in those with loss of methylation at imprinting control region 2 (IC2 LOM) than other BWS variants. Patients with paternal uniparental isodisomy of chromosome 11p15 (pUPD11) had narrower mouths than others. Those with tongue reduction surgery had more tongue ridging than those without surgery. There were correlations between mouth area and BWS clinical score, tongue width and BWS clinical score, and tongue length and percentage mosaicism. Conclusion: Intraoral morphometric measurements are associated with phenotypic burden in BWS. Tongue morphology varies across the BWS spectrum, with IC2 LOM having wider tongues and mouths, and pUPD11 having narrower mouths. Tongue ridging is more common in those selected for surgery. Intraoral morphometric measurements may be safely obtained at low costs across centers caring for children with BWS or others at risk of upper airway obstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional manual methods for inspecting damage on building structures, such as cracks or spalling on concrete surfaces, are laborious, costly, and error‐prone. Despite many attempts to automate this task using digital photographs, most studies primarily focus on detecting damage within images, neglecting the actual dimensions and their implications for structural integrity. To bridge this gap, we present a multifaceted approach for holistic damage analysis that not only detects damage within images but also determines its real‐world dimensions. To achieve this, we first distinguish between linear and areal damage, and apply two separate methods based on deep learning, each tailored to detect these specific types of damage within images. Additionally, we use a cost‐effective 3D‐printed laser projection device to project a grid of laser points onto the surface. This grid, with a known and fixed point‐to‐point distance, serves as a scale reference, facilitating true‐to‐scale measurements of the damage area. Furthermore, for depth estimation of areal damage, we employ models for monocular depth prediction trained in domains distinct from ours. We thoroughly evaluated our methods on realistic and challenging image datasets, which we captured ourselves in public space. The results show that our customized methods for damage detection achieved moderate results for linear damage and more promising results for areal damage. The quantification of damage area resulted in errors less than 10% across all evaluated images, which is suitable for most practical applications. However, estimating the depth of areal damage using models trained on distinct domains proved to be a challenge. Our research expands automated damage detection to include comprehensive, true‐to‐scale analysis of damage and underscores the need for continued refinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trend of population aging is accelerating globally, which is resulting in increased attention on the educational needs of older adults. Given the cognitive changes associated with aging, there is a pressing need for innovative teaching strategies that cater to their unique requirements. Although the flipped classroom model has shown positive effects on student engagement and learning outcomes across diverse educational contexts, its efficacy in the context of older adult education remains to be empirically validated. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the flipped classroom approach in digital photography courses designed for older adult students (OAS). The research involved 25 OAS at a third-age university located in western China. This study used a quasi-experimental research design. The experimental group (N = 12) received instruction using a flipped classroom approach, while the control group (N = 13) received traditional lecture-based instruction. Data were collected and analyzed to compare student engagement, in-class observations, out-of-class communications, digital photography assignments, and after-class interviews between the two study groups. The findings indicated that the level of behavioral engagement differed significantly between the experimental and control groups. The observations revealed differences in note-taking methods and out-of-class communications between the two groups. The results further suggest that the flipped classroom approach enhances the learning achievements of advanced photography skills and knowledge. The challenges faced by students in the experimental group are also discussed. The findings of this research will facilitate the application of the flipped classroom model in third-age education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In artificial-intelligence (AI) and computer-vision research, photographic images are typically referred to as natural images. This means that images used or produced in this context are conceptualized within a binary as either natural or synthetic. Recent advances in creative AI technology, particularly generative adversarial networks and diffusion models, have afforded the ability to create photographic-seeming images, that is, synthetic images that appear natural, based on learnings from vast databases of digital photographs. Contemporary discussions of these images have thus far revolved around the political and social implications of producing convincing fake photographs. However, these images are of theoretical interest for the fields of art history and visual studies for additional reasons. AI-generated photographic images resonate with many of the classic themes in photography: nature and the real, the unconscious and the uncanny, and discourses of power. This article therefore seeks to answer the question: Can photorealistic AI-generated images be defined as photographs? I argue that AI-generated photographs do indeed belong within in the wider discourse of photography, given their form and interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] With the continuous advancement of digital infrastructure construction and the flourishing development of digital cities, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetric modeling technology is rapidly emerging. However, because of the differences in the number of photos taken and the shooting angles, the model often exhibits certain phenomena, such as holes and distortions, leading to a decrease in model accuracy. Moreover, excessive image overlap can lead to redundant image information, which results in modeling algorithms being unable to accurately identify and match feature points, thereby reducing modeling accuracy and reliability and negatively affecting modeling effectiveness. In addition, the high overlap rate leads to data redundancy, increases data processing time and cost, and reduces modeling efficiency. How to improve model accuracy while balancing modeling efficiency has received widespread attention. [Methods] This study regarded the Honghui Cultural and Sports Complex Building of Fuzhou University as the experimental object and selected three flight parameters, namely image overlap ratio, margin setting, and flight speed. By recording relevant data, such as the duration of UAV field photography flight, aerial triangulation time, duration of 3D modeling, and model size, the relationship between UAV flight parameter setting, model accuracy, and modeling efficiency was investigated to determine the optimal flight parameter setting for modeling efficiency. The experiment used the method of controlling variables to reduce the impact of secondary factors. To avoid the impact of light and shadow changes on modeling, the field data collection time was scheduled from 10 AM to 3 PM on cloudy days. In terms of duration calculation, to avoid human interference, only objective automatic operation time was calculated, that is, the flight duration of the UAV (from takeoff to shooting to landing), the aerial triangulation time, and the duration of 3D modeling were calculated, and all three duration statistical data were displayed in the software. All experimental data needed to be tested twice and averaged to ensure the accuracy of the results. If there was a significant difference between the two test data, then the experiment was repeated and the most similar data were selected from the three similar groups to calculate the average value to avoid the impact of errors on the experimental data. Six sets of experiments were conducted in this research, with the first group searching for the relationship between image overlap ratio and modeling efficiency on a large scale and the second and third groups searching for the relationship between flight speed, margin setting, and modeling efficiency based on the first group. The fourth, fifth, and sixth groups optimized the image overlap ratio span considering speed and margin conditions, gradually narrowed the experimental range, and compared the data to determine the optimal modeling efficiency. [Results] Results showed that UAV has the optimal modeling efficiency when the sideward overlap rate is 53%, the heading overlap rate is 53%, the flight speed is 9.3 m\s, and the margin setting is automatic. The image overlap ratio complies with the relevant regulations in the technical specifications for oblique digital aerial photography (GB/T 39610-2020) and the specifications for inspection and acceptance of the quality of three-dimensional model data products on geographical information (CH/T 9024-2014). [Conclusions] As an important technical support for digital infrastructure construction, UAV photogrammetric modeling provides new avenues for urban planning, environmental monitoring, power inspection, disaster assessment, and other fields. The experimental results of this research achieve the expected goal, enhance the efficiency of UAV photogrammetric modeling, and improve model accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Downstream pebble variability in river systems is assessed through various methods, with recent emphasis on efficient, time-saving semi-automatic processes involving photography and digital analysis. The Inaouène valley, however, lacked a comprehensive survey of its main channel using either manual or image-based methods. This study bridges this gap by combining both approaches to analyze the downstream evolution of surface pebbles' morphometric parameters along approximately 60 km of the Inaouène's middle reach. Our research focuses on two key aspects: grain size and particle shape. Results reveal a general downstream trend of size fining, increasing circularity and decreasing elongation, primarily attributed to abrasion and travel distance. Notably, this pattern is interrupted by localized variations associated with tributary inputs and sediment recycling processes. This study significantly contributes to the understanding of fluvial sediment dynamics in the Inaouène Valley. Its findings have broad implications, supporting ecological assessment and restoration efforts, while also informing decision-making in river engineering and management. By providing a comprehensive analysis of pebble characteristics and their downstream evolution, this research establishes a foundation for future geomorphological studies and practical applications in river system management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are various techniques available for constructing a custom ocular prosthesis. The present technique report describes a digital workflow for constructing an ocular prosthesis using computed tomography integrated with digital technologies. The outer region of the healthy eyeball was segmented to produce the top surface of the prosthesis, while the contour and bottom surface were segmented from the tissue bed of the anophthalmic socket. The iris position was determined by tracing the optical nerve and confirmed by superimposing the patient's facial scan onto the soft tissue model of the computed tomography. Using these parameters, a standard tessellation language file for the ocular prosthesis was generated and 3D printed. The iris was then printed via UV technology using digital photographs of the patient's contralateral eye; characterization of the sclera and the final layer of clear acrylic resin were done conventionally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteology plays an indispensable role in understanding the normal patterns of different species, serving as the foundation for zoological understanding. Mazama nana is well-known in Brazil; however, basic morphological descriptions of the species are scarce, while Subulo gouazoubira, currently revalidated as Mazama gouazoubira, is also prevalent in Brazil and has recently been the subject of various phylogenetic studies. In this respect, in the present study, 19 cervid heads (16 Subulo gouazoubira and three Mazama nana) were osteologically prepared. Next, computed tomographies (CTs) were performed to enhance the assessment of bone accidents, as well as internal structures and foramina through three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction techniques due to the difficult visibility in intact specimens. A comparison was then made between the reconstructions, digital photographs, and CT cross-sections of the skull, which enabled the visualization of anatomical peculiarities and exclusivities, such as nasolacrimal-maxillary fenestra, paranasal sinuses, and thin bone architecture, as well as the unique shape of cranial bones, compared to other species that exhibit a unique and genuine phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The dental midline is a vital element in smile design. The maxillary and mandibular central incisors midline should ideally be positioned coinciding with each other, Incorrect placement of midlines would lead to instability in dental composition. The dental literature fails to disclose the data as to how nature positions the midline of anterior teeth. Aim: To evaluate the relation between the midlines of maxillary and mandibular dental arches in the dentate population using standardised digital photographs. Materials and Methods: This in-vitro cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Prosthodontics, Maharishi Markandeshwar College of Dental Sciences and Research, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India between June 2021 to December 2022. A total of 155 dentate subjects (102 females and 53 males) of this demographic area, all within the age group 18-45 years of age were selected for present study. Full-face standardised photographs of the subject’s frontal profile of occluding teeth in a retracted mouth were captured with a Digital Camera (Nikon D3200 DSLR). The collected samples of intraoral images were analysed in image analysing software (Digimiser version 6.0). Lines were constructed in the software to record the maxillary midline and mandibular midline to assess the coincidence or deviation between them. Direct measurements were also obtained within these constructed lines to record the distance of deviation. Direction (right/left) and distance of deviation were recorded. The collected data were subjected to appropriate statistical testing. The statistical analysis was done using the Chi-square test, t-test, etc., and performed in the statistical software International Bussiness Machine (IBM) Statisical Packages of Social Sciences (SPSS) statistics version 25 (Armonk, USA). Results: The mandibular midline did not coincide with the maxillary midline in 134 (86%) of the tested population and within both genders and showed a significant (p-value-0.00) deviation of 1.88 mm after application of the t-test. Although 78 (50%) deviations were towards the left-side and 56 (36%) toward the right-side of the maxillary midline within both genders, the results were statistically insignificant with the Chi-square test. Conclusion: Mandibular and maxillary dental midline fails to coincide in more than four-fifths of the subjects.

Long-term observation of single-cell oscillations within tissue networks is now possible by combining bioluminescence reporters with stable tissue explant culture techniques. This method is particularly effective in revealing the network dynamics in systems with slow oscillations, such as circadian clocks. However, the low intensity of luciferase-based bioluminescence requires signal amplification using specialized cameras (e.g., I-CCDs and EM-CCDs) and prolonged exposure times, increasing baseline noise and reducing temporal resolution. To address this limitation, we implemented a cost-effective optical enhancement technique called telecompression, first used in astrophotography and now commonly used in digital photography. By combining a high numerical aperture objective lens with a magnification-reducing relay lens, we significantly increased the collection efficiency of the bioluminescence signal without raising the baseline CCD noise. This method allows for shorter exposure times in time-lapse imaging, enhancing temporal resolution and enabling more precise period estimations. Our implementation demonstrates the feasibility of telecompression for enhancing bioluminescence imaging for the tissue-level network observation of circadian clocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG) grading is the gold standard and is used to interpret patch test results in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). The ICDRG readings include a combination of visual and palpation findings. Digital photography limits palpation. An alternative scoring system exists to analyse 2D images and interpret patch test readings in teledermatology (TD). Aim To compare tri-partite scoring system (TPSS) (TD) with ICDRG (face-to-face) and to assess the feasibility of TPSS by TD. Methods In this observational study, two investigators each scored the patch test readings for 78 patients at the 48th h, 96th h and on the 7th day. Results The TPSS has a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 93.34%, positive predictive value of 91.67% and negative predictive value of 100%. At a confidence interval of 95%, Cohen's kappa (0.90) indicated excellent agreement between both investigators. The concordance between both scoring systems was at 93.2% for agreement and 6.82% for disagreement. Polysensitisation (6 patients with 16 allergens) was detected equally in both methods. Limitation A single centre study. Conclusion The readings obtained by TPSS were in agreement with ICDRG. TPSS can reduce the number of patient visits by 50% and may be used during COVID-19 times and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This visual essay portrays how an artist-researcher-teacher investigates the idea of a/r/tography and constructivist teaching pedagogy while using her own artwork, Fantasy Museum, as a platform for teaching. Fantasy Museum features a series of digitally altered photographs of museum visitors viewing emptied artworks, and visitors are invited to draw their own collections inside the empty spaces, which will later be displayed together in exhibitions. An inquiry-based approach is adopted to facilitate viewers' participation. Fantasy Museum was shown in several solo and group exhibitions and classroom settings in Seoul, Korea and New York from 2014 to 2019. The project invited various participants (ages roughly between six and 40) to collaborate. This article illustrates the author's attempt to interweave her identities and practices into the project and possibly offers pedagogical implications for the readers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 19th century, a lower intertidal macrophyte, Fucus serratus (Linnaeus), from western Europe was introduced to Nova Scotia, Canada, where it successfully established, co-existing with native macrophytes Fucus vesiculosus (Linnaeus) and Ascophyllum nodosum (Linnaeus). We first examined whether a common gastropod in Nova Scotia, Littorina obtusata (Linnaeus, 1758), which grazes on the native macrophytes, has exploited the invasive and on finding this, we secondly examined whether there has been any phenotypic differentiation on the invasive. Among 98 sites surveyed around Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in May and June 1994, 11 had the invasive macrophyte, all of which showed colonization by L. obtusata including egg masses, juveniles, and adults. Among 2135 shells photographed for digital image analyses, those on the invasive differed from those on the native macrophytes with respect to (1) RGB (red/green/blue) channels, (2) HSV (hue, saturation, brightness) phenotypes, (3) protoconch pattern, and (4) adult shell size. Nitrogen and carbon stable isotope signatures on muscle tissues from a subset of L. obtusata indicate foraging fidelity on the invasive rather than temporary occupation. We suggest that these cumulative phenotypic responses to the invasive macrophyte that vary in extent and direction within and among localities reflect localized adaptation and offer a unique opportunity for quantifying early stages of phenotypic and genomic differentiation in a novel ecological niche. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This advanced paper presents a new approach to improving image steganography using the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm. Image steganography, a technique of embedding hidden information in digital photographs, should ideally achieve the dual purposes of maximum data hiding and maintenance of the integrity of the cover media so that it is least suspect. The contemporary methods of steganography are at best a compromise between these two. In this paper, we present our approach, entitled Ant Colony Optimization (ACO)-Least Significant Bit (LSB), which attempts to optimize the capacity in steganographic embedding. The approach makes use of a grayscale cover image to hide the confidential data with an additional bit pair per byte, both for integrity verification and the file checksum of the secret data. This approach encodes confidential information into four pairs of bits and embeds it within uncompressed grayscale images. The ACO algorithm uses adaptive exploration to select some pixels, maximizing the capacity of data embedding while minimizing the degradation of visual quality. Pheromone evaporation is introduced through iterations to avoid stagnation in solution refinement. The levels of pheromone are modified to reinforce successful pixel choices. Experimental results obtained through the ACO-LSB method reveal that it clearly improves image steganography capabilities by providing an increase of up to 30% in the embedding capacity compared with traditional approaches; the average Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) is 40.5 dB with a Structural Index Similarity (SSIM) of 0.98. The approach also demonstrates very high resistance to detection, cutting down the rate by 20%. Implemented in MATLAB R2023a, the model was tested against one thousand publicly available grayscale images, thus providing robust evidence of its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ex vivo tissue morphometric (TM) measurements have been proposed as a quality marker for colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery. However, their survival associations require clarification. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of capturing TM measurements based on ex vivo fresh specimen images and explore the association between these TM measurements and survival outcomes. Methods: A prospective cohort study at Concord Hospital, Sydney was conducted with Stage I to III CRC patients (2009–2019) who underwent an anterior resection (AR) or right hemicolectomy (RH). Using high-resolution digital photographs of fresh CRC specimens, ex vivo tissue morphometric (TM) measurements—resected mesentery area (TM A), distances from high vascular tie to tumour (TM B) and bowel wall (TM C), and bowel length (TM D)—were recorded using Image J. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) estimates and their associations to clinicopathological variables were investigated with Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses. Linear regression models tested association between TM measurements and lymph node (LN) yield. Results: Of the 1,425 patients who underwent CRC surgery, TM measurements were performed on 312 patients, with an average age of 69.4 years (SD 12.3), of whom 52.9% were male. The majority had an AR (57.8%). Among AR patients, a 5-year OS rate of 77.4% and a DFS rate of 70.1% were observed, with TM measurements bearing no relationship to survival outcomes. Similarly, RH patients exhibited a 5-year OS rate of 67.2% and a DFS rate of 63.1%, with TM measurements again showing no association with survival. Only TM D (P = 0.02) measurements were associated with the number of LNs examined. Conclusion: This study successfully demonstrates the feasibility of measuring TM measurements on photographs of ex vivo fresh specimens following CRC surgery. The lack of association with survival outcomes questions the utility of TM measurements as a quality metric of CRC surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to map and analyze the spatial pattern of the surface deformation associated with the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake (Mw7.5) using structure-from-motion/multi-view-stereo (SfM–MVS), an advanced photogrammetric technique. The analysis was conducted using digital aerial photographs with a ground pixel dimension of 0.2 m (captured the day after the earthquake). Horizontal locations of GCPs were determined using pre-earthquake data to remove the wide-area horizontal crustal deformation component. The elevations of the GCPs were corrected by incorporating quasi-vertical values derived from a 2.5-dimensional analysis of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) results. In the synclinorium structure area, where no active fault had previously been identified, we observed a 5 km long uplift zone (0.1 to 0.2 km in width), along with multiple scarps that reached a maximum height of 2.2 m. The area and shape of the surface deformation suggested that the induced uplift and surrounding landslides were related to fold structures and their growth. Thus, our study shows the efficacy of SfM–MVS with respect to accurately mapping earthquake-induced deformations, providing crucial data for understanding seismic activity and informing disaster-response strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As digital photography proliferates in the contemporary world, theorists and creative writers continue to debate what photographs signify and how the poetic ekphrasis of photographs should be understood. This has become a pressing issue in an age when new technologies allow the easy manipulation of digital images – which, depending on the context in which they are viewed, are increasingly being characterised as creative, imaginative, unreliable or deceptive. Yet nineteenth- and early to mid-twentieth-century theorists tended to assume that photographs had a direct, if complex, relationship to observable, external reality, something reiterated by Susan Sontag as late as 1977. This paper discusses how ekphrastic poems by Thomas Hardy and Philip Larkin enshrine assumptions about photography that are now shifting, and how contemporary ekphrastic poems about photographs increasingly challenge, sometimes subversively, photography's link to the 'real'. Such poetry continues to emphasise the way photographs connote a 'chasm' or 'thickening' of time but are more troubled than earlier authors by the idea that photographs may not represent anything clear or knowable. Eve Joseph's and Leslie Scalapino's poetry demonstrates ways in which photographs tend to juxtapose a sense of transience with a new sense of photography's sometimes obdurate problematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the current groove blasting problems of additional damage, the feasibility of double base propellant for groove blasting was explored. Based on the propellant gas release behavior, the pressure change of the double base propellant in the closed hole was calculated. Combined with high-speed photography and digital image correlation (DIC) method, two groups of experiments were carried out with propellant loading density of 0.84 and 0.96 g/cm³ to investigate the dynmic destruction process of granite slabs under the action of propellant. The results show that the granite slabs in the two groups of experiments were cracked along the groove direction at 100 μs after ignition, and the cracks penetrated through the slabs at 200 μs; the specimen with a charge density of 0.96 g/cm³ had a larger separation speed between the upper and lower slabs after fracture, and the upper and lower slabs were cracked by the friction of the blocking rubber and the inertia of the specimen, and the cracks were in the vertical direction at 2 500 μs. The grooves around the blast hole provide space for the effect of the propellant gas, and the grooves can effectively guide the direction of crack propagation, no crushing zone formed around the hole wall. The quasi-static pressure generated by the combustion of double-base propellant is the main driving force for crack initiation and propagation. The experimental results have some implications for the use of double base propellant in controlled rock blasting projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay is a culmination of a twenty-two-year-long process of gathering, digitizing, and engaging a repository of photographs in the Palestinian refugee camp of Burj al-Shamali, southeast of Tyre, Lebanon. The larger project that emerged from years of collaboration, titled "Frictional Con-versations," combines research, conversational practice, and performative interventions to expand the concept of the photographic image by dematerializing and rematerializing it in new forms. This essay reflects a -frictional conversation among the authors that took place near Burj al-Shamali in November 2023. During the conversation, the authors revisited their collaborative work and specific collections of images; they also discussed their contribution to understanding the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people, as well as their collective responsibilities to care for the digital repository. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the mite species found in stored foods in Iğdır province, the types of food they feed on, their morphological descriptions and systematic analysis, and to prepare digital photographs of the species. Materials and Methods: Samples of stored grains, legumes, dried fruits and cheese were placed in the Berlese funnel. Then, mites were sorted under a stereomicroscope. A high-resolution digital camera (Canon 6D Mark 2 DSLR) and software program (EOS Utility) attached to an upright microscope (Zeiss Axio Imager A2) at Atatürk University Biodiversity Application and Research Center were used to photograph general mite bodies with macro technique. Multiple digital photos were combined using Adobe Photoshop CS 6.0 software and saved in PSD and JPG formats. Results: Eighteen mite species belonging to 10 families and 13 genera were identified from 29 kinds of foodstuffs stored in Iğdır city center and its districts; Tuzluca, Karakoyunlu and Aralık. The detected species are: Acarus siro Linnaeus, 1758, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank, 1781), T. perniciosus Zachvatkin, 1941, Tyroborus lini Oudemans, 1924, Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank, 1781), Carpoglyphus lactis (Linnaeus, 1758), Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank, 1781), C. malaccensis Oudemans, 1903, Tydeus interruptus Thor, 1932, Acarophenax tribolii Newstead & Duvall, 1918, Pediculaster turkiensis (Ramaraju & Madanlar, 1997), Pediculaster sp., Balaustium aff. xerothermicum Gabrys, 2000, Balaustium aff. unidentatum (Tragardh, 1904), Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778), Proctolaelaps pomorum (Oudemans, 1929), Blattisocius dentriticus (Berlese, 1918) and B. mali (Oudemans, 1929). Tyrophagus putrescentiae was the most frequently detected species with a rate of 27.12%. This was followed by A. siro with a rate of 24.24% and C. lactis with a rate of 18.47%, while other species were detected at a lesser rate. Conclusion: A total of 1386 individual mites were extracted from 133 food samples. The rate of mite contamination of these foodstuffs has been determined. Morphological characters that are important for the identification and diagnosis of mites were written and digital photographs were prepared. In addition, the distribution of these species in the world, their distribution in Turkey and the diversity of foodstuffs are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Drymonia quadrangulata Clavijo & J.L.Clark, sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae, Columneinae), is described from the western Andean slopes of southern Colombia and northern Ecuador. The new species has been historically confused with D. killipii, an endemic species to Colombia, restricted to the lowlands of the Chocó biogeographic region in the departments of Cauca, Chocó, and Valle del Cauca. These two species have large foliaceous calyx lobes that cover at least half of the corolla tube, and tubular-infundibuliform corollas. The new species differs by strigose quadrangulate and sometimes winged stems, leaves reticulate abaxially with obtuse to subcordate bases, midveins green, corolla lobes white to yellow with margins incised to short laciniate, and indehiscent berry fruits. Digital photographs, detailed morphological comparisons with the similar species, and an IUCN preliminary risk extinction assessment are provided for the new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the article is to reveal the peculiarities of the development of the genre of street photography in the context of the digitalisation trend. Research methodology. The logical-analytical, subject-analytical, systemanalytical, typological and historical-cultural method, as well as the method of cultural analysis, were applied in order to comprehensively and objectively study the problems of the development of the genre of street photography. Scientific novelty. The genre of street photography is studied through the prism of the features of digital photography; the influence of surrealism, documentary cinema and humanistic tendencies of photo art on the genre of street photography is analysed; the development of the genre of street photography is traced in historical retrospect and at the present stage in the context of the digitalisation trend; little-known foreign language sources of a cultural nature were introduced into scientific circulation. Conclusions. The main characteristics of digital photography are plasticity (the ability to integrate with other media, close connections and interactions between the camera, mobile phones and social networks in the context of the photo sharing process) and the ubiquity of mobile devices (the ability to easily take a photo with a mobile camera), which the specifics of the creative thinking of a modern person and affects the transformation of the genre of street photography. The study found that the main factors influencing the development of street photography in the digital age are: the emergence of smartphones, social media and online sharing, mirrorless cameras and additional functions, artificial intelligence and computational photography. The ubiquity of digital devices and their relationship with various media significantly transforms the genre, which throughout its history has been characterised by a significant reaction to internal (documentary style, surrealism, humanism) and external interventions (for example, consumer culture, popularisation of other genres of photography, lack of control). At the current stage of the development of the genre of street photography, the main influencing factor is the ubiquity of digital photography - access to the camera and urban space create prerequisites for creativity in the genre of street photography, which gradually leads to the levelling of boundaries between professional and amateur photography. The gravitation of the genre of street photography to documentary or art is determined by the author's approach of a particular photographer, the style he follows, the specifics of the environment and technical means. Thanks to the huge amount of photo equipment, the digital age is changing street photography, creating new trends and influencing the organic development of traditional features of the genre, and its adaptive nature allows us to talk about further transformational processes, in accordance with the development of the socio-cultural space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal separation of red (R) and blue (B) (alternating R/B) photons has been reported to increase leaf area, photon capture, and yield of lettuce compared with delivering both colors together (concurrent R+B). We grew three diverse lettuce cultivars (Grand Rapids, Rex, and Red Sails) under concurrent R+B photons (9/1 ratio) and alternating R/B photons (9/1 ratio) under an equal daily light integral (DLI) of either 8.6 or 23 mol.m-2.d-1. Contrary to five previous studies, we found no increase in either leaf area or fresh mass and dry mass in any of the alternating R/B photon treatments compared with concurrent R+B photons. In fact, at a DLI at 8.6 mol.m-2.d-1, alternating R/B photons decreased the dry mass of 'Grand Rapids' and 'Rex' lettuce by 38% and 17%, respectively. Two previous studies reported that photosynthetic rates increased with alternating R/B photons; however, we found that the net assimilation rate was generally decreased by alternating R/B photons. An analysis of images obtained from automated digital photography revealed that the relative expansion rate of leaves was 61% higher during intervals of pure B rather than intervals of pure R photons at the same photosynthetic photon flux density; however, this did not result in a higher leaf area compared with concurrent R+B photons. Overall, our studies do not indicate that alternating R/B photons increase lettuce leaf area or yield compared with concurrent R+B photons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The dental midline is a vital element in smile design. The maxillary and mandibular central incisors midline should ideally be positioned coinciding with each other, Incorrect placement of midlines would lead to instability in dental composition. The dental literature fails to disclose the data as to how nature positions the midline of anterior teeth. Aim: To evaluate the relation between the midlines of maxillary and mandibular dental arches in the dentate population using standardised digital photographs. Materials and Methods: This in-vitro cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Prosthodontics, Maharishi Markandeshwar College of Dental Sciences and Research, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India between June 2021 to December 2022. A total of 155 dentate subjects (102 females and 53 males) of this demographic area, all within the age group 18-45 years of age were selected for present study. Full-face standardised photographs of the subject’s frontal profile of occluding teeth in a retracted mouth were captured with a Digital Camera (Nikon D3200 DSLR). The collected samples of intraoral images were analysed in image analysing software (Digimiser version 6.0). Lines were constructed in the software to record the maxillary midline and mandibular midline to assess the coincidence or deviation between them. Direct measurements were also obtained within these constructed lines to record the distance of deviation. Direction (right/left) and distance of deviation were recorded. The collected data were subjected to appropriate statistical testing. The statistical analysis was done using the Chi-square test, t-test, etc., and performed in the statistical software International Bussiness Machine (IBM) Statisical Packages of Social Sciences (SPSS) statistics version 25 (Armonk, USA). Results: The mandibular midline did not coincide with the maxillary midline in 134 (86%) of the tested population and within both genders and showed a significant (p-value-0.00) deviation of 1.88 mm after application of the t-test. Although 78 (50%) deviations were towards the left-side and 56 (36%) toward the right-side of the maxillary midline within both genders, the results were statistically insignificant with the Chi-square test. Conclusion: Mandibular and maxillary dental midline fails to coincide in more than four-fifths of the subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To build an image recognition network to evaluate tongue coating status. Methods: Two image recognition networks were built: one for tongue detection and another for tongue coating classification. Digital tongue photographs were used to develop both networks; images from 251 (178 women, 74.7±6.6 years) and 144 older adults (83 women, 73.8±7.3 years) who volunteered to participate were used for the tongue detection network and coating classification network, respectively. The learning objective of the tongue detection network is to extract a rectangular region that includes the tongue. You-Only-Look-Once (YOLO) v2 was used as the detection network, and transfer learning was performed using ResNet-50. The accuracy was evaluated by calculating the intersection over the union. For tongue coating classification, the rectangular area including the tongue was divided into a grid of 7x7. Five experienced panelists scored the tongue coating in each area using one of five grades, and the tongue coating index (TCI) was calculated. Transfer learning for tongue coating grades was performed using ResNet-18, and the TCI was calculated. Agreement between the panelists and network for the tongue coating grades in each area and TCI was evaluated using the kappa coefficient and intraclass correlation, respectively. Results: The tongue detection network recognized the tongue with a high intersection over union (0.885±0.081). The tongue coating classification network showed high agreement with tongue coating grades and TCI, with a kappa coef- ficient of 0.826 and an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.807, respectively. Conclusions: Image recognition enables simple and detailed assessment of tongue coating status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the remarkable career of David Foote, a photographer for the Australian Government Photographic Service (AUSPIC) at Parliament House. Topics include his transition from film to digital photography, his extensive travels accompanying Prime Ministers on official visits, and the significance of building relationships with clients within the parliamentary community.

Introduction: The use of digital dental photography (DDP), which facilitates patient communication, treatment planning, and documentation, has become essential to orthodontic treatments. On the other hand, difficulties result from procedural errors, which are frequently caused by device design, patient compliance, or practitioner technique. The purpose of this study is to compare the attitudes and preferences of orthodontists and patients about a new tongue retractor as an addition to intraoral photography techniques for mandibular occlusal photography. Materials and Methods: 48 participants, ranging in age from 18 to 40, were recruited in the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics at K. M. Shah Dental College & Hospital. The participants were subjected to digital dental photography in accordance with predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients and orthodontists filled, questionnaires and visual analogue scales to assess preferences, attitudes, and discomfort levels. Results: Patients favoured the new tongue retractor, noting less discomfort and nausea, while orthodontists praised it for its comfort, ease of usage, and decreased discomfort. Both orthodontists and patients preferred the innovative tongue retractor, according to statistical analysis, which also showed substantial variations in the amount of discomfort, time required for photography, and respiratory impairment between the two procedures. Conclusion: Incorporating the innovative tongue retractor with intraoral imaging techniques in orthodontic treatment can increase patient and orthodontist's comfort and treatment quality. In orthodontics, putting patient convenience and ease first can result in better treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the optic disc parameters in healthy Saudi children. Methods: This study recruited 85 children who were medically free, born full-term, cooperative, and aged 3-17 years. The children underwent a thorough ophthalmological examination (visual acuity, refraction post-cycloplegia, fundus photography) at the ophthalmology clinic of King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah. Fundus photographs obtained by a fundus camera were evaluated by the Retinal Size Tool program. Results: Forty-eight participants were male (56.5%). The mean birth weight was 2.97±0.8 kg and the median gestational age was 39 weeks (range, 37-40 weeks). The median areas of the neuroretinal rim, cup, and optic disc were 1.82 mm² (range, 0.84-2.83 mm²), 0.47 mm² (range, 0.18-1.25 mm²), and 2.33 mm² (range, 1.15-3.52 mm²), respectively. The older age group had smaller neuroretinal areas compared to the younger age groups. The variables demonstrated no apparent correlation to axial length, refraction, or birth parameters. The cup size increased together with the optic disc (r=0.659, p<0.001). Sex and refraction did not correlate with any of the studied factors. Conclusion: This study yielded normative data for the optic disc parameters of healthy Saudi children. The data can be used as a reference in the pediatric ophthalmology clinic to aid the identification of optic disc abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]