Closing in on 2024, the MPC Paris and Lige teams reflect on an incredible year of storytelling. Across 38 projects that include feature films, series, and shorts, their teams showcased passion and expertise, crafting visuals that amaze, move, and inspire.This greeting card happens to be a warm remembrance of their work-this an energy, creativity, and workmanship that characterizes whatever they do. This every frame and visual effect has been created this year by them is a commemoration of imagination and innovation. MPCThe post Greeting Card 24 MPC Paris & Lige appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Soft lighting, rounded forms and neutral colours create a welcoming atmosphere inside this sex shop in Kyiv by Ukrainian designers Sofiia Hupalovska and Nataliya Stukonog, with playful details including a phallic pouf.Hupalovska and Stukonog, who worked together at architecture and interiors studio Balbek Bureau before Hupalovska set up her own firm in 2021, wanted to create an inclusive and attractive interior that stands apart from the gaudy style of most adult stores.Sofiia Hupalovska and Nataliya Stukonog have completed a sex shop in Kyiv"The concept behind Inside was to create a sex shop experience that defies the typical, cliche aesthetics associated with such spaces," Hupalovska explained."Instead of the usual neon lights and stereotypical symbols like strawberries, Inside was designed to offer a subtle, sophisticated environment."Metallic finishes were used for the wall panelling and accentsTo achieve this objective, the designers used a muted palette comprising shades of cream and grey that allow the products to stand out.Metallic finishes help to brighten the space by reflecting light while contributing to the modern aesthetic. These surfaces, mainly used for wall panelling and accents, also contrast with softer details such as curtains and upholstered furniture.A curved sofa in the reception area is characterised by its depiction of a female bodyThe shop is set in a basement without any natural light, so the designers decided to incorporate a backlit ceiling panel that provides a soft, even glow similar to daylight.Visitors are welcomed by a reception desk, positioned in front of a metallic backdrop to create a bright and inviting space with a semi-private feel.The integrated shelves have curved edges that echo the contours of the buildingIn the reception area, a curvaceous sofa is decorated with the stylised outline of a female body. Here, customers can relax while browsing products or awaiting assistance.The main retail space provides a simple and neutral setting for presenting products on built-in shelves. A central counter with rounded edges provides a surface for staff to assist customers with product enquiries.Read: Natural materials create "a sense of refuge" in Kyiv boutique Friends of Fashion"The soft edges of the counter reduce visual harshness, promoting a feeling of approachability," said Hupalovska."Its central location might encourage a flow of movement around the space, guiding visitors naturally toward various sections and product displays."A soft-edged counter provides a space for product demonstrationsThe shelves were designed to combat another issue arising from the store's basement setting. The existing walls lacked straight surfaces, making it complicated to install standalone shelving units, so built-in storage provided a practical and more streamlined solution.The integrated shelves contribute to the clean-lined look of the interior, with curved edges on the upper niches mirroring the contours used throughout the space.The shop's furniture and fixtures were mostly custom-made by Ukrainian contractors, with many pieces designed using rounded, organic shapes. Examples include a playful pouf in the fitting room that resembles a penis.A penis-shaped pouffe is among the custom-made furnishingsThe fitting room also features curtains that can be drawn for privacy and a curving light wall that provides uniform lighting for customers trying on items.A sink in the main display area was designed as a monolithic element with a concrete finish that complements the shop's raw, industrial theme, alongside the exposed pipes and ducting.Overall, the shop's interior seeks to balance functionality and a minimalist aesthetic with softer touches to contribute to a discreet and enjoyable shopping experience.The concrete sink complements the store's industrial theme"The space strikes a balance between sophistication and playfulness, achieved through carefully selected materials, colours and shapes that feel luxurious yet accessible," Hupalovska said.During her time at Kyiv-based Balbek Bureau, Hupalovska worked on projects including an interior for a gender-neutral salon and cocktail bar with concrete surfaces and gold accents.Other projects from the studio include a modern restaurant that incorporates classic Ukrainian forms and a house that reinterprets the traditional log cabin using stainless steel and concrete.The photography is by Yevhenii Avramenko.The post "Subtle and sophisticated" interior distinguishes Kyiv sex shop Inside appeared first on Dezeen.

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Artificial Life (ALife) research explores the emergence of lifelike behaviors through computational simulations, providing a unique framework to study life as it could be. However, the field faces significant limitations: a reliance on manually crafted simulation rules and configurations. This process is time-intensive and constrained by human intuition, leaving many potential discoveries unexplored. Researchers often depend on trial and error to identify configurations that lead to phenomena such as self-replication, ecosystem dynamics, or emergent behaviors. These challenges limit progress and the breadth of discoveries.A further complication is the difficulty in evaluating lifelike phenomena. While metrics such as complexity and novelty provide some insights, they often fail to capture the nuanced human perception of what makes phenomena interesting or lifelike. This gap underscores the need for systematic and scalable approaches.To address these challenges, researchers from MIT, Sakana AI, OpenAI, and The Swiss AI Lab IDSIA have developed the Automated Search for Artificial Life (ASAL). This innovative algorithm leverages vision-language foundation models (FMs) to automate the discovery of artificial lifeforms. Rather than designing every rule manually, researchers can define the simulation space, and ASAL explores it autonomously.ASAL integrates vision-language FMs, such as CLIP, to align visual outputs with textual prompts, enabling the evaluation of simulations in a human-like representation space. The algorithm operates through three distinct mechanisms:Supervised Target Search: Identifies simulations that produce specific phenomena.Open-Endedness Search: Discovers simulations generating novel and temporally sustained patterns.Illumination Search: Maps diverse simulations, revealing the breadth of potential lifeforms.This approach shifts researchers focus from low-level configuration to high-level inquiry about desired outcomes, greatly enhancing the scope of ALife exploration.Technical Insights and AdvantagesASAL uses vision-language FMs to assess simulation spaces defined by three key components:Initial State Distribution: Specifies the starting conditions.Step Function: Governs the simulations dynamics over time.Rendering Function: Converts simulation states into interpretable images.By embedding simulation outputs into a human-aligned representation space, ASAL enables:Efficient Exploration: Automating the search process saves time and computational effort.Wide Applicability: ASAL is compatible with various ALife systems, including Lenia, Boids, Particle Life, and Neural Cellular Automata.Enhanced Metrics: Vision-language FMs bridge the gap between human judgment and computational evaluation.Open-Ended Discovery: The algorithm excels at identifying continuous, novel patterns central to ALife research goals.Key Results and ObservationsExperiments have demonstrated ASALs effectiveness across several substrates:Supervised Target Search: ASAL successfully discovered simulations matching prompts such as self-replicating molecules and a network of neurons. For instance, in Neural Cellular Automata, it identified rules enabling self-replication and ecosystem-like dynamics.Open-Endedness Search: The algorithm revealed cellular automata rules surpassing the expressiveness of Conways Game of Life. These simulations showcased dynamic patterns that maintained complexity without stabilizing or collapsing.Illumination Search: ASAL mapped diverse behaviors in Lenia and Boids, identifying previously unseen patterns such as exotic flocking dynamics and self-organizing cell structures.Quantitative analyses added further insights. In Particle Life simulations, ASAL highlighted how specific conditions, such as a critical number of particles, were necessary for phenomena like a caterpillar to emerge. This aligns with the more is different principle in complexity science. Additionally, the ability to interpolate between simulations shed light on the chaotic nature of ALife substrates.ConclusionASAL represents a significant advancement in ALife research, addressing longstanding challenges through systematic and scalable solutions. By automating discovery and employing human-aligned evaluation metrics, ASAL offers a practical tool for exploring emergent lifelike behaviors.Future directions for ASAL include applications beyond ALife, such as low-level physics or material science research. Within ALife, ASALs ability to explore hypothetical worlds and map the space of possible lifeforms may lead to breakthroughs in understanding lifes origins and the mechanisms behind complexity.In conclusion, ASAL empowers scientists to move beyond manual design and focus on broader questions of lifes potential. It provides a thoughtful and methodical approach to exploring life as it could be, opening new possibilities for discovery.Check out the Paper and GitHub Page. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our60k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences. [Download] Evaluation of Large Language Model Vulnerabilities Report (Promoted)

Looking forthe most recentMini Crossword answer?Click here for today's Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands and Connections puzzles.The New York TimesMini Crosswordloves to get smart with its players. Today's puzzle has one clue that requires an answer that's "a little less than 'mega'" and another one that asks for an answer that's "a little more than 'mega.'" Anyway, if you're stuck on any of the clues today, we've got the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times' games collection. If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections and Strands answers, you can visitCNET's NYT puzzle hints page.Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini CrosswordLet's get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers. The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Dec. 30, 2024. NYT/Screenshot by CNETMini across clues and answers1A clue: Rudely straightforwardAnswer: BLUNT6A clue: Where you might see half-inch ticks?Answer: RULER7A clue: A little less than "mega"Answer: EXTRA8A clue: VerboseAnswer: WORDY9A clue: Unit of sunshineAnswer: RAYMini down clues and answers1D clue: Steeped concoctionAnswer: BREW2D clue: Swanky Vegas hotel resembling an Egyptian pyramidAnswer: LUXOR3D clue: A little more than "mega"Answer: ULTRA4D clue: Quirkily enthusiastic about science, maybeAnswer: NERDY5D clue: Breakfast-in-bed convenienceAnswer: TRAYHow to play more Mini CrosswordsThe New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day's Mini Crossword for free, but you'll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.

Looking for the most recentregular Connections answers? Click here for today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.Connections: Sports Editionis often tricky for those who don't have deep knowledge in numerous sports. I didn't find today's terribly tough, but it helps if you know the teams from a certain Georgia city. Read on for hints and answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle.For now, the game is in beta, which means the Times is testing it out to see if it's popular before adding it to the site's Games app. You can play it daily for now for free and then we'll have to see if it sticks around.Read more: NYT Has a Connections Game for Sports Fans. I Tried ItHints for today's Connections: Sports Edition groupsHere are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.Yellow group hint: Join the club!Green group hint: Home of Coca-Cola.Blue group hint: They did it!Purple group hint:Hut one, hut two.Answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groupsYellow group: Ways to add someone to a team.Green group: Atlanta teams.Blue group: Last four World Series winners.Purple group: ____ football.Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English WordsWhat are today's Connections: Sports Edition answers? The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Dec. 30, 2024. NYT/Screenshot by CNETThe yellow words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is ways to add someone to a team. The four answers are draft, free agency, trade and waivers.The green words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is Atlanta teams. The four answers are Dream, Falcons, Hawks and United.The blue words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is last four World Series winners. The four answers are Astros, Braves, Dodgers and Rangers.The purple words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is ____ football. The four answers are American, Australian rules, fantasy and flag.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.TheNew York Times Connections puzzlemight make you hungry today. Both the yellow and green categories involve food and drink. But as usual, it's the purple category that might get to you. Or, should I say, might! Get! To! You! (That's a hint.) Read on for today's Connections hints and answers.There's also news in the Connections world. The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one it's had for some time for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. And players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.Read more:Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every TimeHints for today's Connections groupsHere are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.Yellow group hint: Gimme a sub.Green group hint: Starbucks stuff.Blue group hint: Fork it over.Purple group hint: Aggressive punctuation.Answers for today's Connections groupsYellow group: Lunch orders.Green group: Used to make coffee.Blue group: Pay, with "up."Purple group: Names featuring "!"Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English WordsWhat are today's Connections answers?The yellow words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is lunch orders. The four answers are club, hero, melt and wrap.The green words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is used to make coffee. The four answers are beans, filter, grinder and water.The blue words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is pay, with "up." The four answers are ante, cough, pony and settle.The purple words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is names featuring "!" The four answers are Airplane, Jeopardy, Pink and Yahoo.

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Chinas rail operator has unveiled a prototype of the countrys next-generation commercial bullet train, a vehicle that its developer says is on track to be the worlds fastest and will give Chinese high-speed technology an even bigger global edge.AdvertisementState-owned China State Railway Group said on Sunday that the CR450 could reach speeds of up to 450km/h (280mph), with a commercial operating speed of 400km/h.In a post on social media, the group said the unveiling of the prototype signalled a breakthrough in the CR450 project, work that would greatly raise the level of innovation in Chinas railway technology and improve its capacity for technological self-reliance.[The project] will also further consolidate and expand Chinas leading advantage in high-speed rail technology globally, the group said.A view of CR450 from the drivers cabin. Photo: XinhuaThe CR450 Technology Innovation Project was launched in 2021 with the goal of developing safer, more environmentally friendly, more energy-efficient, and smarter trains.Advertisement

J Cafe / Kanisavaran Architectural GroupSave this picture! Mohammad Hassan EttefaghCoffee ShopTehran, IranArchitects: Kanisavaran Architectural GroupAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:350 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Mohammad Hassan EttefaghManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: FAD Lead Architect: Mohammad Kanisavaran More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Passage, portico, cafe, pause, passage, portico, cafe, interaction - This arrangement of words gives an interpretation of the hidden and obvious scenario of this cafe. A cafe near one of the main squares of the capital and ironically adjacent to one of the suburban terminals and a possibility for a first meeting. The cafe in its nature has the characteristic of creating interaction and companionship, and although this interaction does not necessarily happen through speech and Maybe a moment of pause and look and passing is a memorable interaction itself. Although stoicism was once for stoicism, today they are created in the desire to create a connection. A pause and a gesture, or a greeting, a gesture, or a look and a gesture, all bring to mind one thing, a motivation derived from an inner impulse that tries to communicate. An invitation that is expressed without any care and there are no boundaries to enter.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The porticoes here have a friendly construction not only with the passers-by and its inhabitants, but they have created a delicate co-embrace with their old building. The porticoes were born in their most delicate state and supported by stout columns, they ensured their survival. Their creation did not end with the connection between passing and passing, and this connection has expanded from passing to inside and all its internal layers. The result of this expansion and communication was the construction of self-made spaces whose creation and survival depended only on living together. The project was formed and evolved from layers, whose goal was not to be just a normal layer, but rather an opportunity to create a less space and maybe not experienced at all. The layers that create the scenario of pause, transition and space in a combined way from the outside to the inside of the building and vice versa. A bold look at the central view and the division of the entrance space in the "Z" axis, although the central layers divide the space in the "X" and "Y" axes, but in the central view, this division takes place in the "Z" axis, and also It changes the relationship of the space in the vertical relationship in an oscillation from the highest to the lowest height.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The scenario of pause, passage, interaction continues in the space - On the ground floor, by creating a library space in the small space at the end of the hall, in addition to creating a vertical connection in the space, it emphasizes the physical connection in the horizontal axes of the building. The library space was the product of the connection of the layers with the empty space that they created within themselves and created an opportunity to create interactive and social spaces around them. The social table on the ground floor gives a place to create to the passers-by who have entered to experience togetherness in a new way. On the first floor, the layers continue to live and depend on creating a space to stay. In this project, the portico and its layers have an invitation without a frame to pass through it and retell the portico with a contemporary definition for its contemporaries and provide the opportunity to live the building with its passage. Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Tehran, IranLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePublished on December 30, 2024Cite: "J Cafe / Kanisavaran Architectural Group" 30 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024871/j-cafe-kanisavaran-architectural-group&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream