Understanding Heterogeneous EO Datasets: A Framework for Semantic Representations

Earth observation (EO) has become a valuable source of comprehensive, reliable, and persistent information for a wide number of applications. However, dealing with the complexity of land cover is sometimes difficult, as the variety of EO sensors reflects in the multitude of details recorded in several types of image data. Their properties dictate the category and nature of the perceptible land structures. The data heterogeneity hampers proper understanding, preventing the definition of universal procedures for content exploitation. The main shortcomings are due to the different human and sensor perception on objects, as well as to the lack of coincidence between visual elements and similarities obtained by computation. In order to bridge these sensory and semantic gaps, the paper presents a compound framework for EO image information extraction. The proposed approach acts like a common ground between the user's understanding, who is visually shortsighted to the visible domain, and the machines numerical interpretation of a much wider information. A hierarchical data representation is considered. At first, basic elements are automatically computed. Then, users can enforce their judgement on the data processing results until semantic structures are revealed. This procedure completes a user-machine knowledge transfer. The interaction is formalized as a dialogue, where communication is determined by a set of parameters guiding the computational process at each level of representation. The purpose is to maintain the data-driven observable connected to the level of semantics and to human awareness. The proposed concept offers flexibility and interoperability to users, allowing them to generate those results that best fit their application scenario. The experiments performed on different satellite images demonstrate the ability to increase the performances in case of semantic annotation by adjusting a set of parameters to the particularities of the analyzed data

<i>Epipactis bucegensis</i>—A Separate Autogamous Species within the <i>E. helleborine</i> Alliance

A new species of Epipactis from Bucegi Natural Park ROSCI0013, Southern Carpathians, Central Romania is described. Three medium-sized populations of Epipactis bucegensis (65–70 individuals in total) were discovered in the south-eastern, subalpine area of the park. To properly describe and distinguish the newly found taxon from other Romanian Epipactis, 37 morphological characters were measured directly from living plants and flowers. Moreover, a detailed taxonomic treatment and description with corresponding colour photos and line drawings illustrations of the holotype are also included. Epipactis bucegensis is an obligate autogamous species that partially resembles Epipactis muelleri, from which it differs in the basal distribution of leaves on the stem (vs. median distribution); near-erect leaf posture (vs. horizontally spread, arched downwards); lanceolate–acuminate, yellowish-green leaves (vs. oval–elongate, vivid-green leaves); bipartite labellum lacking the mesochile (vs. tripartite labellum); crimson-red, wide, ovoid–elongated, flattened hypochile (vs. dark-brown to black roundish hypochile); triangular, white epichile with a sharply tapering apex (vs. heart-shaped, greenish-yellow epichile with obtuse, roundish apex); and two wide-apart, purple, pyramidal calli (vs. two closely placed, attenuated, mildly wrinkled, greenish-yellow calli). Epipactis bucegensis is easily distinguished from all other European Epipactis taxa by the bipartite, wide labellum that lacks the mesochile. In addition, information regarding its distribution (maps), habitat, ecology, phenology and IUCN conservation assessments are provided

A Combined Experimental and Computational Study of Chrysanthemin as a Pigment for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

The theoretical study of chrysanthemin (cyanidin 3-glucoside) as a pigment for TiO2-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was performed with the GAUSSSIAN 09 simulation. The electronic spectra of neutral and anionic chrysanthemin molecules were calculated by density functional theory with B3LYP functional and DGDZVP basis set. A better energy level alignment was found for partially deprotonated molecules of chrysanthemin, with the excited photoelectron having enough energy in order to be transferred to the conduction band of TiO2 semiconductor in DSSCs. In addition, we used the raw aqueous extracts of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) calyces as the source of chrysanthemin and the extracts with various pH values were tested in DSSCs. The extracts and photosensitized semiconductor layers were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, and DSSCs based on raw extracts were characterized by current density-voltage measurements

New intergeneric orchid hybrid found in Romania × Pseudorhiza nieschalkii (Senghas) P.F.Hunt nothosubsp. siculorum H.Kertész & N.Anghelescu, 2020.

We describe the first reported intergeneric, which naturally occurs between two subspecies belonging to different genera, Dactylorhiza fuchsii subsp. sooana (genus Dactylorhiza) and Pseudorchis albida subsp. tricuspis (genus Pseudorchis), as × Pseudorhiza nieschalkii (Senghas) P.F.Hunt nothosubsp. siculorum H.Kertész & N.Anghelescu, 2020. The hybrid was found and digitally photographed for the first time by Hajnalka Kertész in June, 2020, within Terra Siculorum, in one of the Natura 2000 protected areas, known as Harghita Mădăraș, ROSCI00090. Following detailed morphometric analysis using 67 characters and molecular karyological analyses, we identified this unique specimen as an intergeneric hybrid, new to science. The hybrid, an F1 generation plant, most likely representing a single intergeneric pollination event, is phenotypically intermediate between its parental species in most of the characters scored, but it significantly closely resembles Pseudorchis albida subsp. tricuspis parent. Since several individuals of the parental species occurred in near proximity, within 1-10 meters distance, we suggest that the production of this hybrid required a minimum travel distance of ca 1-10 meters, by the pollinators and frequent exchange of pollen between the parental species was very likely. The parental species and the hybrid, which display a considerable synchronicity in their flowering time, overlap in the pollinator community, sharing various species of Hymenopterans and Dipterans, very abundant in the heathland. This Terra Siculorum hybrid is thus best described as a rarely occurring intergeneric hybrid that shows strong Pseudorchis albida subsp. tricuspis parental dominance in inheritance patterns