November 19: International Men's Day; World Toilet Day; Liberation Day in Mali (1968)Pel in 19601794 The United States and Great Britain signed the Jay Treaty, the basis for ten years of peaceful trade between the two nations.1824 Temenggong Abdul Rahman of Johor and Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor ceded the governance of Singapore to the British East India Company.1969 Playing for Santos against Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian footballer Pel (pictured) scored his thousandth goal.1991 Mexican singer Luis Miguel released the album Romance, which led to a revival of interest in bolero music.2002 The Greek oil tanker Prestige split in two and sank off the coast of Galicia after spilling 420 thousand barrels (17.8million US gallons) of oil, in the worst environmental disaster in Spanish and Portuguese history.Jane Freilicher (b.1924)Margaret Turner-Warwick (b.1924)James Ensor (d.1949)Erika Alexander (b.1969)More anniversaries: November 18November 19November 20ArchiveBy emailList of days of the yearAbout

Nov 20 on #CreateWithMaxon, join 3D Artist Jess Hewitt as she dives into spongy and fuzzy materials. Learn how to create procedural sponge materials in #Redshift and some fuzzy surfaces using #Cinema4Ds Hair system.In the last livestream of our series, 3D Artist Jess Hewitt is going to dive into creating some cool materials for motion graphics.

Nov 23 | Reach new heights of creativity at Motion Plus Design Paris 2024! Don't miss this opportunity to connect and explore the power of #MaxonOne. Visit Maxon at Motion Plus Design!

With innovation in its DNA, Lotus has been at the epicenter of change in the auto industry for more than seven decades. Discover how the company is still pushing the envelope today by going all in on real-time technology, from virtual production to HMI.

Endangered Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frogs Are Making a ComebackScientists are celebrating the recovery of the species in Yosemite National Park, where they were decimated by the introduction of non-native fish and the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs are rebounding from near-extinction in California. University of California Santa BarbaraAfter nearly disappearing for good, Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs are once again hopping happily around Californias alpine lakes.Scientists are celebrating the comeback of the amphibians (Rana sierrae) in Yosemite National Park. Though theyre still endangered, Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs have made a remarkably successful recovery from the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus, researchers report this month in the journal Nature Communications.The lakes are alive again, completely transformed, says study co-author Roland Knapp, a biologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, to USA Todays Elizabeth Weise. You literally can look down the shoreline and see 50 frogs on one side and 50 on the other and in the water you see 100 to 1,000 tadpoles. Its a completely different lake.Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs are small creatures measuring 1.5 to 3.75 inches long, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They live high in Californias Sierra Nevada mountain range, at elevations between 4,500 and 12,000 feet above sea level. The frogs inhabit marshes, ponds, lakes and streams, where they feast on bugs and other amphibians. They also serve as a source of food for birds, snakes, coyotes and bears. Dozens of frogs are now visible along the shores of some alpine lakes in the Eastern Sierra. Roland KnappSierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs tend to have yellowish-orange bellies and dark, splotchy backs, but their coloring can vary widelyfrom greenish-brown to gray to red. They dont have vocal sacks, so instead the frogs grind their teeth together underwater when trying to attract mates in the spring.The frogs were once abundant throughout the Sierra Nevada. But, after the arrival of European settlers in the mid-19th century during the California gold rush, their numbers began to dwindle.In addition to gold, miners also discovered more than 1,500 alpine lakes in California. The lakes were beautiful, but they were lacking in fishso the miners began stocking them. The introduction of non-native speciesincluding rainbow trout, grayling and Atlantic salmondecimated the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs.Stocking ended in the 1990s, but even without help from humans, the non-native fish continued to reproduce and thrive. Then, in the early 2000s, the few surviving frogs in the Sierra Nevada faced yet another threat: the amphibian chytrid fungus.The highly contagious fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) causes chytridiomycosis, an infectious skin disease that has caused mass die-offs and extinctions among amphibians around the world. In 2014, with their populations crashing, Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs were added to the endangered species list.But then scientists noticed something peculiar: In some places, Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog numbers were increasing. It appeared that at least some of the small creaturesparticularly those living in lakes without any non-native fishhad developed a resistance to the fungus. Scientists carefully transported frogs that appeared to be resistant to the fungus to other lakes. Roland KnappThe frogs that survive better have certain variations in their genomes, says Erica Bree Rosenblum, a biologist at the University of California, Berkeley, to ScienceNews Martin J. Kernan. Since theyre the ones surviving, theyre passing their genes down, and over time the whole population is changing toward having these more favorable genetic mutations.Researchers decided to implement an ambitious plan to save the species. Starting in 2006, they began gathering up the fungus-resistant survivors and re-introducing them to other alpine lakes without fish.Now, nearly two decades later, scientists say their plan worked. These Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog populations are now mostly self-sustaining and have a low probability of extinction over 50 years, they write in the paper. They hope the successful reintroduction of Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs might serve as a source of inspiration for scientists working to save other species battling new diseases.These frogs have somehow figured out how to exist, even thrive in the face of this pathogen, Knapp tells the San Francisco Chronicles Kurtis Alexander. When I saw these frog populations recovering on their own, that was the first time in 15 years working on this species that I felt a glimmer of hope.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Animals, California, Disease, Disease and Illnesses, Endangered Species, Frogs, Fungus, Mountains, Water, wildlife

Steadfast Stride Toward Justice by artistBasil Watson isthe first life-sized depiction of John Lewis in his home state. Equal Justice InitiativeA bronze statue of John Lewis, the celebrated civil rights leader and congressman, was unveiled last week in his home state of Alabama. Titled Steadfast Stride Toward Justice, the artwork depicts Lewis marching forward with his hands in his pockets.The sculpture is located at theEqual Justice Initiatives (EJI) Legacy Plaza in Montgomery, where statues of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. debuted earlier this year, according to AL.coms Heather Gann. Its the first life-sized sculpture of Lewis in the state.John Lewis inspired so many of us to do the justice work we do today, says Bryan Stevenson, EJIs director, in astatement. His humility, dedication and commitment to fighting for people who are excluded and disfavored is a model and legacy urgently needed today. We are thrilled to honor his life and leadership at Legacy Plaza.Born in 1940, Lewis was the son of sharecroppers living near Troy, Alabama. He developed a deep devotion to civil rights activism as a young man, participating in sit-ins, the Freedom Rides and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. In 1965, when he was 25, Lewis led hundreds of people in a march across Selmas Edmund Pettus Bridge, which would become known as Bloody Sunday. Law enforcement officers attacked the peaceful protestersincluding Lewis, who fractured his skull.The national news that night showed the horrific footage of a state trooper savagely beating him with a nightstick, recalled Smithsonian SecretaryLonnie G. Bunch IIIin astatement after Lewis death. But it also showed Mr. Lewis, head bloodied but spirit unbroken, delaying a trip to the hospital for treatment of a fractured skull so he could plead with President [Lyndon B.] Johnson to intervene in Alabama.In 1987, Lewis was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he represented Georgias Fifth District for more than three decades until his death in 2020.I just think the entire state of Alabama owes John Lewis so much, because he pulled us all out of the darkness ofJim Crow and racial segregation, Stevenson tells theAssociated Press. He created the opportunities that we get to celebrate in so many of our public spaces, from football fields to basketball places. It wouldnt have been possible without his courage.All three of the statues in the Legacy Plaza were created by Atlanta-based sculptor Basil Watson, who was present at the unveiling. Local officials and members of Lewis family also attended.Lewis nephew, Jerrick Lewis, spoke at the ceremony. According to theMontgomery Advertisers Alex Gladden, he told the crowd that while the fight for equality may be an ongoing one, I believe we would all agree we have come a mighty long way.Around the world, there are many murals and statues and other landmarks that are dedicated to my uncle, he said. But to have a statue here in Montgomery proves that if the boy from Troy can make a lasting impact on the world, so can we.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Activism, African American History, American History, American South, Civil Rights, Congress, History, Martin Luther King, Jr., Protest, Rosa Parks, Sculpture, Smithsonian Institution, Statues

2024 Architectural Visualization Salary Survey Report Explore the results of the 2024 CGarchitect Salary Survey, the definitive resource for understanding the architectural visualization industry. This video breaks down global salary trends, benefits, job satisfaction, and how factors like experience, education, and geography influence earnings. Key topics covered:Salary and benefits data across the industryExperience levels and their impact on payGlobal insights and trends shaping the archviz professionThis survey offers a unique look into the current state of architectural visualization and serves as an essential tool for professionals looking to benchmark their careers. Dont forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more insights into the archviz world! Full report available at: https://www.cgarchitect.com/features/articles/3f36949b-2024-archviz-industry-salary-survey-results Connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Discord!#ArchitecturalVisualization #ArchViz #SalarySurvey #3DRendering #CareerInsights

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Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn MoreA new tool called AnyChat is giving developers unprecedented flexibility by uniting a wide range of leading large language models (LLMs) under a single interface.Developed by Ahsen Khaliq (also known as AK), a prominent figure in the AI community and machine learning growth lead at Gradio, the platform allows users to switch seamlessly between models like ChatGPT, Googles Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, Metas LLaMA, and Grok, all without being locked into a single provider. AnyChat promises to change how developers and enterprises interact with artificial intelligence by offering a one-stop solution for accessing multiple AI systems.At its core, AnyChat is designed to make it easier for developers to experiment with and deploy different LLMs without the restrictions of traditional platforms. We wanted to build something that gave users total control over which models they can use, said Khaliq. Instead of being tied to a single provider, AnyChat gives you the freedom to integrate models from various sources, whether its a proprietary model like Googles Gemini or an open-source option from Hugging Face.Khaliqs brainchild is built on Gradio, a popular framework for creating customizable AI applications. The platform features a tab-based interface that allows users to easily switch between models, along with dropdown menus for selecting specific versions of each AI. AnyChat also supports token authentication, ensuring secure access to APIs for enterprise users. For models requiring paid API keyssuch as Geminis search capabilitiesdevelopers can input their own credentials, while others, like basic Gemini models, are available without an API key thanks to a free key provided by Khaliq.How AnyChat fills a critical gap in AI developmentThe launch of AnyChat comes at a critical time for the AI industry. As companies increasingly integrate AI into their operations, many have found themselves constrained by the limitations of individual platforms. Most developers currently have to choose between committing to a single model, such as OpenAIs GPT-4o, or spending significant time and resources integrating multiple models separately. AnyChat addresses this pain point by offering a unified interface that can handle both proprietary and open-source models, giving developers the flexibility to choose the best tool for the job at any given moment.This flexibility has already attracted interest from the developer community. In a recent update, a contributor added support for DeepSeek V2.5, a specialized model made available through the Hyperbolic API, demonstrating how easily new models can be integrated into the platform. The real power of AnyChat lies in its ability to grow, said Khaliq. The community can extend it with new models, making the potential of this platform far greater than any one model alone.What makes AnyChat useful for teams and companiesFor developers, AnyChat offers a streamlined solution to what has historically been a complicated and time-consuming process. Rather than building separate infrastructure for each model or being forced to use a single AI provider, users can deploy multiple models within the same app. This is particularly useful for enterprises that may need different models for different tasksan organization could use ChatGPT for customer support, Gemini for research and search capabilities, and Metas LLaMA for vision-based tasks, all within the same interface.The platform also supports real-time search and multimodal capabilities, making it a versatile tool for more complex use cases. For example, Perplexity models integrated into AnyChat offer real-time search functionality, a feature that many enterprises find valuable for keeping up with constantly changing information. On the other hand, models like LLaMA 3.2 provide vision support, expanding the platforms capabilities beyond text-based AI.Khaliq noted that one of the key advantages of AnyChat is its open-source support. We wanted to make sure that developers who prefer working with open-source models have the same access as those using proprietary systems, he said. AnyChat supports a broad range of models hosted on Hugging Face, a popular platform for open-source AI implementations. This gives developers more control over their deployments and allows them to avoid costly API fees associated with proprietary models.How AnyChat handles both text and image processingOne of the most exciting aspects of AnyChat is its support for multimodal AI, or models that can process both text and images. This capability is becoming increasingly crucial as companies look for AI systems that can handle more complex tasks, from analyzing images for diagnostic purposes to generating text-based insights from visual data. Models like LLaMA 3.2, which includes vision support, are key to addressing these needs, and AnyChat makes it easy to switch between text-based and multimodal models as needed.For many enterprises, this flexibility is a huge deal. Rather than investing in separate systems for text and image analysis, they can now deploy a single platform that handles both. This can lead to significant cost savings, as well as faster development times for AI-driven projects.AnyChats growing library of AI modelsAnyChats potential extends beyond its current capabilities. Khaliq believes that the platforms open architecture will encourage more developers to contribute models, making it an even more powerful tool over time. The beauty of AnyChat is that it doesnt just stop at whats available now. Its designed to grow with the community, which means the platform will always be at the cutting edge of AI development, he told VentureBeat.The community has already embraced this vision. In a discussion on Hugging Face, developers have noted how easy it is to add new models to the platform. With support for models like DeepSeek V2.5 already being integrated, AnyChat is poised to become a hub for AI experimentation and deployment.Whats next for AnyChat and AI developmentAs the AI landscape continues to evolve, tools like AnyChat will play a crucial role in shaping how developers and enterprises interact with AI technology. By offering a unified interface for multiple models and allowing for seamless integration of both proprietary and open-source systems, AnyChat is breaking down the barriers that have traditionally siloed different AI platforms.For developers, it offers the freedom to choose the best tool for the job without the hassle of managing multiple systems. For enterprises, it provides a cost-effective, scalable solution that can grow alongside their AI needs. As more models are added and the platform continues to evolve, AnyChat could very well become the go-to tool for anyone looking to leverage the full power of large language models in their applications.VB DailyStay in the know! Get the latest news in your inbox dailyBy subscribing, you agree to VentureBeat's Terms of Service.Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here.An error occured.

The Game Awards has revealed its 2024 list of nominees, with Astro Bot, Metaphor: ReFantazio and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth getting multiple nods.Read More