Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Random-Shaped Image Inpainting using Dilated Convolution

Over the past few years, Deep learning-based methods have shown encouraging and inspiring results for one of the most complex tasks of computer vision and image processing; Image Inpainting. The difficulty of image inpainting is derived from its’ need to fully and deeply understand of the structure and texture of images for producing accurate and visibly plausible results especially for the cases of inpainting a relatively larger region. Deep learning methods usually employ convolution neural network (CNN) for processing and analyzing images using filters that consider all image pixels as valid ones and usually use the mean value to substitute the missing pixels. This result in artifacts and blurry inpainted regions inconsistent with the rest of the image. In this paper, a new novel-based method is proposed for image inpainting of random-shaped missing regions with variable size and arbitrary locations across the image. We employed the use of dilated convolutions for composing multiscale context information without any loss in resolution as well as including a modification mask step after each convolution operation. The proposed method also includes a global discriminator that also considers the scale of patches as well as the whole image. The global discriminator is responsible for capturing local continuity of images texture as well as the overall global images’ features. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated using two datasets (Places2 and Paris Street View). Also, a comparison with the recent state-of-the-art is preformed to demonstrate and prove the effectiveness of our model in both qualitative and quantitative evaluations.
Digital simulation of nonlinear circuits by wave digital filter principles

The known principles of wave digital filters are used to simulate certain nonlinear circuits by digital means. Nonlinear elements-in particular, resistances having a continuous piecewise-linear voltage-current characteristic-are considered. It turns out that a representation of a nonlinear resistance in terms of the wave variables may exist, even if the voltage-current characteristic is neither voltage-controlled nor current-controlled. As an example, Chua's circuit is considered. It is shown that in the wave digital model of this circuit, essentially the same double-scroll attractor can be observed as in the corresponding analog realization. <<ETX>>
Spatial sampling ambiguities in synthetic aperture sonar for broadside and squint look operations

This paper presents results from an investigation into the position and relative magnitude (ambiguity to signal ratio, ASR) of azimuth ambiguities in broadside and squint look synthetic aperture sonar (SAS). The number of track positions for which signal returns are integrated is shown to have a direct influence on the ASR.
Shape memory alloy induced wing warping for a small unmanned aerial vehicle

Abstract : The Wide Area Surveillance Projectile (WASP) is a gun-launched unmanned aerial vehicle designed to be carried as payload in an artillery shell. Due to the 15000 g shock sustained during gun launch, conventional ailerons are too fragile to be a reliable means of roll control for the aircraft. For this reason, the possibility of using shape memory alloys (SMA) to control the vehicle is investigated. A conceptual design is introduced in which pre-strained Nitinol wires are attached to the surface of the wing. When the resistively heated wires pass a transition temperature, a phase change occurs in the wires and they contract to recover the pre-strain. As the wires contract, they twist the wing in what is known as wing warping. This conceptual design is refined through extensive modeling and finite element analysis. Thermal analysis is used to determine how fast the wires heat and cool, which determines how fast the vehicle can be controlled. Structural analysis is used to determine the amount of twist induced in the wing when the wires contract. A preliminary performance analysis illustrates what bank angles and roll rates the WASP could achieve when the actuator is used. Tensile testing of the Nitinol wire is conducted to determine its modulus of elasticity in both its martensite and austenite phases. In addition, cycle tests are performed in which the wire is heated and cooled at constant stress to determine the transition temperatures of the material. Tests are conducted on prototype wings with Nitinol wires attached to determine the actual performance of the actuator. Using epoxy to attach the Nitinol to the wing is found to be problematic, since the epoxy degrades as the wires are heated. Using mechanical means to attach the wires is shown to be much more effective. This thesis shows that an SMA actuator can repeatedly twist the wing of a small UAV to angles in excess of one degree.
An Integrated Framework for Improving the Quality and Reliability of Software Upgrades

Despite major advances in the engineering of maintainable and robust software over the years, upgrading software remains a primitive and error-prone activity. In this dissertation, we argue that several problems with upgrading software are caused by a poor integration between upgrade deployment, testing, and problem reporting. To support this argument, we present a characterization of software upgrades resulting from a survey we conducted of 50 system administrators. Motivated by the survey results, we present Mirage, a distributed framework for integrating upgrade deployment, testing, and problem reporting into the overall upgrade development process. Mirage's deployment subsystem allows the vendor to deploy its upgrades in stages over clusters of users sharing similar environments. Staged deployment incorporates testing of the upgrade on the users' machines. It is effective in allowing the vendor to detect problems early and limit the dissemination of buggy upgrades. Oasis, the testing subsystem of Mirage, improves on current state-of-the-art concolic and symbolic engines by implementing a new heuristic to prioritize the exploration of new or affected code in the upgrade. Furthermore, interactive symbolic execution, a new approach exposing the problem of path exploration to the tester using a graphical user interface, can be used to develop new search heuristics or manually guide testing to important areas of the source code. In spite of all of these efforts, some bugs are bound to remain in the software when it is deployed, and will be discovered and reported only later by the users. With the last component of Mirage, we consider the problem of instrumenting programs to reproduce bugs effectively, while keeping user data private. In particular, we develop static and dynamic analysis techniques to minimize the amount of instrumentation, and therefore the overhead incurred by the users, while considerably speeding up debugging. By combining up-front testing, stage deployment, testing on user machines, and efficient reporting, Mirage successfully reduces the number of problems, minimizes the number of users affected, and shortens the time needed to fix remaining problems.
Economic evaluation (efficiency) of investment in organically grown immortelle [Helichrysum italicum ssp. italicum] in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first report from Mediterranean

The immortelle (Helichrysum italicum /Roth/ G. Don), native to the Mediterranean region grew up and is prevalent on the rockery and rocky grasslands in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The long tradition of growing and collecting the medicinal plants in Herzegovina is the reason of its usage in folk medicine according to its antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant properties. In the last decade we witnessed increased interest of the scientific community and the market demand for this ornamental herb, and the present study evaluated two different rows spacing (0.9 x 0.4 m and 0.8 x 0.4 m) to reveal the economic performance of organically grown immortelle. Results of the research for the both organic immortelle planting spaces revealed that they are economically profitable for producers. Sensitivity analysis with 10% lower yields and with the same retail price revealed that investment is economically efficient.
Dynamic properties of three-dimensional piezoelectric Kagome grids

Piezoelectric Kagome grids can be considered as a kind of functional material because they have vibration isolation performance and can transform mechanical energy to electric energy. In this study, the dynamic properties of three-dimensional (3D) piezoelectric Kagome grids without and with material defects are studied based on the frequency-domain responses. The spectral element method (SEM) is adopted to solve a 3D piezoelectric beam which contains bending components in two planes, tensional components, and torsional components. The dynamic stiffness matrix of a spectral piezoelectric beam is derived. Highly accurate solutions in the frequency-domain are obtained by solving the equation of motion of the whole structure. Compared with the results from the FEM and those in the existing literature, it can be seen that the SEM can be effectively used to study the 3D piezoelectric Kagome grids. The band-gap properties of Kagome grid and defect state properties of Kagome grid with material defects are analyzed. The effect of the piezoelectric parameter on the band-gap property is investigated further.
CMOS transistor-only active inductor for IF/RF applications

This paper describes circuit topologies that are suitable for realising very high frequency transistor-only active inductor in CMOS technology. Based on a low voltage topology, a novel VHF CMOS active inductor is proposed. The proposed inductor can achieve high Q with minimum circuit complexity, thus minimizing noise and power consumption. Comparing to previously reported inductors, the proposed circuit achieves much higher Q for the same power consumption, noise and dynamic range.
A user's guide to compensating low-dropout regulators

The explosive proliferation of battery-powered equipment in the past decade has accelerated the development and usage of Low-Dropout voltage regulators (sometimes referred to as PNP voltage regulators). Compared to the standard NPN regulator, the Low-Dropout Regulator (LDO) can hold its output voltage in regulation with much less voltage across it: the NPN requires about 2 V of "headroom" to regulate, while the LDO will typically work with less than 500 mV of input-to-output voltage differential. The reduced input voltage requirement of an LDO is advantageous in battery-powered systems, since it translates directly into fewer battery cells, less wasted power, smaller size, and lower cost. The LDO's higher level of performance requires the use of external compensation capacitors, something an NPN regulator does not need. Also, the capacitors must be carefully selected for electrical parameters to assure stability. This article will develop an overview of LDO/NPN regulator theory, focusing on loop compensation and the parameters affecting regulator stability.
Comparison of Light Spot Hydrophone (LSHD) and Fiber Optic Probe Hydrophone (FOPH) for Lithotripter Field Characterization

Characterization of the acoustic field of a shock wave lithotripter is important for determining the performance of the device. In this study, we compare the performance of a newly developed Light Spot Hydrophone (LSHD) with the current standard, i.e., the Fiber Optic Probe Hydrophone (FOPH). An electromagnetic (EM) shock wave lithotripter was selected and each hydrophone was used to map the acoustic field of the lithotripter. The peak positive pressure P+, peak negative pressure P−, pulse duration, and effective acoustic energy were calculated using the collected data. Both the LSHD and the FOPH have similar measurement characteristics. They both provide excellent P+ measurement accuracy and response. Although the LSHD was found to provide more repeatable P− pressure measurements, both devices provide excellent pressure measurement of lithotripter shock fields.
Optimising the production of energy from coblended food waste and biosolids using batch reactor studies

Energy production from a coblended mixture of biosolids and food waste was optimised for hydrogen and methane production. Four different blends were prepared by varying the carbohydrate : protein (carb : pro) ratios. The biosolids contained a low carbohydrate fraction and so was not suitable for hydrogen production when used alone. However coblending this waste with a carbohydrate‐enriched food waste produced a greater hydrogen yield, making this option viable. Batch studies showed that the optimised mix had a biosolids concentration of 25.7% (w/w). The largest hydrogen yield of 198.5 mL/gVSremoved was observed when the carb : pro was 2.78, and this was threefold higher than the other carb : pro ratios evaluated in this study. The digestate recovered after hydrogen recovery had a C : N of 17.5, which is in the ideal range for methane production. The biochemical methane potential test showed a methane yield of 239 mL/gVSremoved, and the total volatile solids destruction following two‐phase hydrogen and methane production was 93%.
A guide to teacher work sample methodology

The guide is divided into three sections. Section one looks at the rationale of Western Oregon State College’s teacher work sample methodology (TWSM) and defines what the TWSM is and what it is comprised of. Section two gives an overview of the measures used in the TWSM, as well as TWSM rubrics and a sample of scored teacher work samples. Section three discusses the uses and users of TWSM, its data management and school in-service requirements and issues.
Enhancing Women’s Participation in Turkey through Digital Storytelling

Abstract This paper explores the process of introducing Digital Storytelling (DST) workshop practice to Turkey through a project called “Digital Stories from Amargi Women”, which was part of my Ph.D. research in the Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Australia. In the resulting dissertation, I examined the potential of Digital Storytelling workshop practice as a means to promote agency and self-expression in a feminist activist organization (such as Amargi Women), focusing in particular on whether or not Digital Storytelling can be used as a change agent – as a tool for challenging the idea of a single public sphere in ways that make it more inclusive of women’s participation. In order to explore the issue in depth, my thesis engaged with feminist scholarship’s critiques of the public/private dichotomy, as well as the concept of gender. The conducted workshops, the resulting digital stories, and in-depth interviews were analyzed to seek connections between these topics and narrative identity. The results indicated that the participating women defined new activist usages for digital stories, as well as their overall activated networking habits in the DST workshop settings. Digital Stories from Amargi Women became the first Digital Storytelling project that aimed to enable women’s participation in Turkey through facilitating a co-creative environment where the participants could share their stories and learn digital skills that they could make use of after the workshops.
Executive Functions and Metacognitive Monitoring Are Not Interchangeable in Educational Settings: Shared and Unique Contributions to Academic Outcomes

Executive functions and metacognition are two cognitive predictors with well-established connections to academic performance. Despite sharing several theoretical characteristics, their overlap or independence concerning multiple academic outcomes remain under-researched. To address this gap, the present study applies a latent-variable approach to test a novel theoretical model that delineates the structural links between executive functions, metacognition, and academic outcomes. In whole-class sessions, 455 children aged 9 to 14 years (M = 11.92; SD = 0.93) completed four computerized executive function tasks (cognitive flexibility, inhibition, working memory, and planning), a self-reported metacognitive monitoring questionnaire, a general cognitive ability test, and three standardized tests of academic ability. The results suggest that executive functions and metacognitive monitoring are not interchangeable in the educational context and that they have both shared and unique contributions to diverse academic outcomes. The findings are important for elucidating the role between two domain-general cognitive skills (executive functions and metacognition) and domain-specific academic skills.
Unilateral Emissions Abatement: An Experiment

According to the model of HOEL (1991), a unilateral emissions abatement of a global pollutant leads to lower aggregated emissions in a game with a simultaneous decision protocol. Our experiment tests the Hoel model and examines the question of whether a leader can induce additional abatement of followers in a game with a mixed sequential-simultaneous decision protocol. Using an environment with a unique interior equilibrium, our experiments confirm the stylized outcomes of previous public good experiments. Changes in abatement and profits for the simultaneous decision protocol are in line with the theoretical predictions of the Hoel model albeit not significantly in every case. In the treatments with a mixed sequential-simultaneous decision protocol, during the first periods an abatement near social optimum is mostly chosen by the leader. However, in most cases the leader failed to induce cooperation, i.e. there are few followers who react cooperatively to the leader’s signal. High efforts by the leader and the cooperative followers are exploited by the majority of defective followers.
Strategy Formation and Flexibility : A case study of HaM and KappAhl

Introduction: The idea of strategy has been around for milleniums. It has been present in many situations, one of those being in competitive business. Countless theories have surfaced in an attempt to understand strategy formation. Two of these are two schools of strategy formation, one focusing on planning – the Positioning school, and the other focusing on learning – the Learning school. These schools may also have an influence on the flexibility a company can enjoy. Purpose: The purpose of this investigation is to explore how companies perceive the formation of strategy and how this perception affects the company’s flexibility. Mode of procedure: We have conducted a qualitative case study. Two cases have been studied in the retail market: H&M and KappAhl. The information has been collected through interviews as well as other written material. With the help of two hypotheses we reached two main conclusions. Conclusions: The companies we studied each had tendencies towards one of the schools – H&M towards the Learning and KappAhl towards the Positioning school although neither company adheres completely without influences of the other school. Further, both companies were able to be flexible and thus the choice of school does not affect the level of flexibility that a company within the garment retail business can enjoy.ten i ett foretag i denna bransch.
Design and modeling challenges for 90 NM and 50 NM

This paper provides a description on specific design challenges at the 90 nm node and below. These challenges include modeling issues such as timing, leakage problems, and temperature effects. This paper shows several examples in design and modeling to illustrate the problems that are facing the design community at 90 nm. Based on current experience, we show projections of what could be facing the community at the 50 nm node.
Molecular simulations of interfacial systems: challenges, applications and future perspectives

ABSTRACT We present a comprehensive review of methods and applications of molecular simulations of interfacial systems. We give a detailed overview of the main techniques and major challenges in the following aspects of solid and fluid surfaces: adsorption at solid surfaces, interfacial transport and surface-to-bulk partitioning. We summarise methods to estimate macroscopic properties interfaces (adsorption isotherms, surface tension and contact angle) and ways to extract quantitative information about fluctuating liquid surfaces. We demonstrate the usage of these methods on recent applications from the fields of atmospheric science, material science and biophysics. The two main goals of this review are: (i) to provide guidance in practical questions, such as choosing software, force field, level of theory, system geometry, and finding the appropriate selective surface analysis methods based on the type of the interface and the nature of the physical problem to be studied; and (ii) to highlight domains where molecular simulations can bring about substantial advances in our understanding in important questions of applied science as a function of future method development and adaptation for applied fields.
Türkiye Türkçesinde Tekrarlı Bağlaçların Oluşturduğu Bağlama Gruplarının Söz Dizimindeki Kullanımları Üzerine

: Baglama gruplari tamlayan tamlanan iliskisi bulunmayan bicimsel bir kelime grubu olarak sozdizimi icinde isim sifat ve zarf olarak kullanilmaktadir Baglama gruplari bazi kaynaklarda yapisi ve birligi en zayif olan ve unsurlari ayrilabilen bir kelime grubu seklinde degerlendirilmistir Bu degerlendirmeler ayni zamanda baglama grubunun esnekligini de gostermektedir Bu esneklik soz dizimi icinde daha cok …de …de hem… hem… ne… ne gibi tekrarli baglaclarin olusturdugu baglama gruplarinda ortaya cikmaktadir Tekrarli baglaclarin olusturdugu yapilarin bazi kullanimlari cumlenin yapisini da etkilemektedir Bu calismada genel olarak Turkiye Turkcesinde baglama grubuyla ilgili degerlendirmelere yer verildikten sonra tekrarli baglaclarin olusturdugu baglama gruplarinin kelime gruplarinda ve cumledeki kullanimlari ele alinmistir Anahtar Kelimeler: Baglac baglama grubu sozdizimi
A new method for analyzing boron penetration and gate depletion using dual-gate PMOSFETs for high performance G-bit DRAM design

We developed a method for analyzing boron penetration and gate depletion using N/sup +/ and P/sup +/ dual-gate PMOSFETs. N/sup +/ gate PMOSFETs, which are immune to boron penetration and gate depletion, exhibited the threshold voltage shifts and fluctuation in P/sup +/ gate PMOSFETs. We found that V/sub th/ fluctuation in P/sup +/ gate PMOSFETs is dominated by boron penetration and that it is possible to select high-performance Gbit DRAM fabrication processes that are robust against V/sub th/ fluctuation.
High-stability wavelength-controlled DFB laser sources for dense WDM applications

Summary form only given. A compact, rugged, and commercially viable laser wavelength stabilization technique for dense WDM fibre communication applications was demonstrated. Production units were shown to be environmentally stable and exhibited very small wavelength shifts over extended aging periods. We also showed that the technique can be used for both single and multiple wavelengths applications.
Generic Skills: Concept and Importance of Students Mastery

This article is based on previous studies regarding generic skills that embody the concept of generic skills, issues in generic skills and the importance of mastering the skills. In terms of concept, it will be described in respect of the definition of generic skills and abroad. In addition, the generic skills are described from the perspective of Islam, the prophet generic skills, issues related to the importance of generic skills and final mastering generic skills to students. Further research is also needed to explore the practice of generic skills practiced level of schooling, especially in dealing with the industrial revolution 4.0 and 21st century education that emphasizes human capital that is useful for the country.