A survey of aesthetics-driven image recomposition

The advancement of digital photography and the popularity of photo sharing social media such as Instagram and Facebook have undoubtedly stimulated growing interest in aesthetics quality improvement. One aspect of photography that contributes to high quality photos is image composition; the spatial arrangement of photo subjects in the image frame. Professional photographers often apply a wealth of photographic composition rules, e.g., rule of thirds, visual balance and simplicity to capture compelling photos. In the recent years, aesthetics-driven recomposition that attempts to computationally modify the composition of an image to mimic a professional photo has started to receive considerable research interest. Researchers have proposed numerous recomposition techniques that utilize a single or a combination of multiple image operators, i.e., cropping, warping and patch rearrangement operators, to modify the composition of an image. In this paper, we present a survey on the state-of-the-arts aesthetic-driven image recomposition. We define the image recomposition problem, outline its objectives, and provide a comprehensive review of the existing image recompositoin techniques, together with a detailed analysis of the effectiveness of each technique in achieving the recomposition objectives. This survey is intended as a good reference for researchers interested in image recomposition.     

Simplifying the weft hierarchy

We give simple, self-contained proofs of the basic hardness results for the classes W[t]$W[t]$ of the weft hierarchy. We extend these proofs to higher levels of the hierarchy and illuminate the distinctions among its classes. The anti-monotone collapse at W[1,s]$W[1,s]$ and the normalization of weft-t$t$ formulas arise as by-products of the proofs.     

Comparison of Gradually Varied Flow Computation Algorithms for Open-Channel Network

This paper presents a comparison of two algorithms—the forward-elimination and branch-segment transformation equations—for separating out end-node variables for each branch to model both steady and unsteady flows in branched and looped canal networks. In addition, the performance of the recursive forward-elimination method is compared with the standard forward-elimination method. The Saint–Venant equations are discretized using the four-point implicit Preissmann scheme, and the resulting nonlinear system of equations is solved using the Newton–Raphson method. The algorithm using branch-segment transformation equations is found to be at least five times faster than the algorithm using the forward-elimination method. Further, the algorithm using branch-segment transformation equations requires less computer storage than the algorithm using the forward-elimination method, particularly when only nonzero elements of the global matrix are stored. Comparison between the Gauss-elimination method and the sparse matrix solution technique for the solution of the global matrix revealed that the sparse matrix solution technique takes less computational time than the Gauss-elimination method.     

A new external sorting algorithm with no additional disk space

This paper is concerned with an external sorting algorithm with no additional disk space. The proposed algorithm is a hybrid one that uses Quicksort and special merging process in two distinct phases. The algorithm excels in sorting a huge file, which is many times larger than the available memory of the computer. This algorithm creates no extra backup file for manipulating huge records. For this, the algorithm saves huge disk space, which is needed to hold the large file. Also our algorithm switches to special merging process after the first phase that uses Quicksort. This reduces the time complexity and makes the algorithm faster.     

Customizing system software using OO frameworks

Today's applications have exploded in their diversity, but most operating systems are still general-purpose and inefficient. One of the benefits of using an OO approach is the ability to modify very small details of an operating system, which makes it easy to tailor the system to the application. My experience indicates that optimizing an operating system for the general case can result in mediocre performance for specialized applications, especially parallel applications. Therefore, I envision a customizable operating system built from components that will allow an optimal match between application behavior and hardware architecture. I propose an object-oriented operating system in which design frameworks support alternative implementations of key systems software services     

Manufacture of Syntactic Foams: Pre-Mold Processing

Manufacturing processes for syntactic foams made of hollow microspheres and starch were studied. Various manufacturing parameters in relation to the “buoyancy method” were identified and inter-related. An equation based on unit-cell models with the minimum inter-microsphere distance concept for a relation between volume expansion rate of bulk microspheres in aqueous starch and microsphere size was derived and successfully used to predict experimental data. It was demonstrated that the inter-microsphere distance can be calculated numerically for microspheres with known statistical data. The equation relating between volume expansion rate and microsphere size was further extended to accommodate a relation between inter-microsphere distance and microsphere size but with limited accuracy for binders of low starch content. An alternative empirical linear equation for the relation between inter-microsphere distance and microsphere size is proposed for wider applications. A simple method for estimation of syntactic foam density prior to completion of manufacture is suggested. Shrinkage after molding of syntactic foam is discussed in relation with different stages such as slurry, dough and solid. A two-step manufacturing process involving molding and then forming is suggested for syntactic foam dimensional control.     

Dependence of pressure on elastic,electronic and optical properties of CeO2 and ThO2: A first principles study

The phase transformation of CeO₂ and ThO₂ from fluorite to cotunnite-type structure under pressure is predicted within the density functional theory implemented with the GGA-PW91 method, the pressure induced structural phase transition occurs at 28.9 GPa for CeO₂ and 29.8 GPa for ThO₂. These values are in excellent agreement with the experimentally measured data. The elastic, electronic and optical properties at normal as well as for high-pressure phase have been calculated, particular attention is devoted to the cotunnite phase. Further, the dependence of the elastic constants, the bulk modulus B, the energy band gaps and the dielectric function on the applied pressure are presented.     

Titanium machining with new plasma boronized cutting tools

Titanium is a commonly used material in various critical applications such as aerospace and biomedical applications. In this article, for the first time in the literature, development and implementation of a novel plasma boronizing process on Tungsten Carbide (WC) cutting tools is introduced. Plasma boronizing on WC tools is performed with gas combination of 10% BF₃, 40% Argon and 50% H₂ at different temperatures and durations. Performance enhancements of plasma boronized WC tools on Titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) machining are investigated under various cutting conditions. It is found that new plasma boronizing of WC is a very cost effective solution for significantly increasing tool life in Titanium machining.