The art of video MashUp: supporting creative users with an innovative and smart application

In this paper, we describe the development of a new and innovative tool of video mashup. This application is an easy to use tool of video editing integrated in a cross-media platform; it works taking the information from a repository of videos and puts into action a process of semi-automatic editing supporting users in the production of video mashup. Doing so it gives vent to their creative side without them being forced to learn how to use a complicated and unlikely new technology. The users will be further helped in building their own editing by the intelligent system working behind the tool: it combines semantic annotation (tags and comments by users), low level features (gradient of color, texture and movements) and high level features (general data distinguishing a movie: actors, director, year of production, etc.) to furnish a pre-elaborated editing users can modify in a very simple way

Improved methodology for identification of G\uf6ktepe white marble and the understanding of its use: A comparison with Carrara marble

The provenance of marbles used for ancient statuary and architecture is of utmost importance for archaeologists, art historians and archaeometrists. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive characterisation of the white marble exploited in antiquity in G\uf6ktepe (Mu\u11fla Province, Turkey) to increase the reliability for identifying this marble in ancient artefacts. A campaign of interdisciplinary archaeological and geological fieldwork undertaken by the Marmora Asiatica project is based on a multi-method approach and on a representative set of samples used for the archaeometric analyses. Petrographic investigation showed that the G\uf6ktepe marble is more variable with regard to fabrics and grain size than previously suggested, whereas it is generally non-luminescent and dolomite-free. Stable C and O isotope and elemental analyses confirmed the results reported so far. We also report, for the first time for G\uf6ktepe white marble, the results of Sr isotope measurements, which in combination with elemental ratios, e.g. Sr/Mg and Mn/Sr, and \u3b418O values, greatly improve the discrimination among G\uf6ktepe, Carrara and other fine-grained white marbles. Applicability of these proxies was tested on artefacts from Hadrian's Villa, for which Carrara and Goktepe provenance had been proposed. The paper also reports new archaeological findings and results of estimates of stone extracted from the quarries, which allowed for a recontextualization of the significance of quarries at G\uf6ktepe. High-resolution topographic measurements, performed for the first time with the use of a 3-D laser scanner, combined with geological field study, allowed for precise calculation of the volume of the white variety extracted in antiquity. Estimates of 17000 m3 is almost a half less than previously suggested. Moreover, a careful study of the existing literature showed that in some instances assignment of white marble artefacts to the G\uf6ktepe quarries may not be accurate. Verification of provenance for those problematic artefacts and a more reliable identification of G\uf6ktepe marbles in the future can be achieved by application of the set of analyses proposed in this work, which has a higher discrimination potential

Provenance of the white and polychrome marbles used for the architecture and sculpture of roman Sentinum (Sassoferrato, Marche, Italy)

Samples from 22 white crystalline and one greco scritto-like marble artefacts (first-third centuries ce) from Roman Sentinum (Sassoferrato, Italy) were analysed to determine their provenance by thin-section microscopy, X-ray diffraction and stable isotope ratio analysis (delta O-18 and delta C-13). Polychrome marbles were provenanced through macroscopic examination. Results show that relief sculpture and statuary were carved in white marble from Carrara, Paros, Thasos and Naxos. Architectural white marbles were identified as Proconnesian for veneer, and Proconnesian, Parian, Dokimeion and Thasian for capitals and pediments. Polychrome lithotypes include foremost africano, breccia di Sciro, cipollino verde, giallo antico, bardiglio and greco scritto (from Ephesos-Hasancavuslar)