A Fully Unsupervised Instance Segmentation Technique for White Blood Cell Images

White blood cells, also known as leukocytes are group of heterogeneously nucleated cells which act as salient immune system cells. These are originated in the bone marrow and are found in blood, plasma, and lymph tissues. Leukocytes kill the bacteria, virus and other kind of pathogens which invade human body through phagocytosis that in turn results immunity. Detection of a white blood cell count can reveal camouflaged infections and warn doctors about chronic medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases, immune deficiencies, and blood disorders. Segmentation plays an important role in identification of white blood cells (WBC) from microscopic image analysis. The goal of segmentation in a microscopic image is to divide the image into different distinct regions. In our paper, we tried to propose a novel instance segmentation method for segmenting the WBCs containing both the nucleus and the cytoplasm, from bone marrow images

A coastal groundwater management model with Indian case study

The complexity of the hydrogeological setup in coastal areas calls for the adoption of scientific groundwater management techniques. Excessive withdrawal of groundwater in coastal zones will lead to depression of the water table, with associated hazards such as putting the well out of use, rendering abstraction uneconomic with increased lift. A sustained regional groundwater drawdown below sea level runs the risk of saline water intrusion, even for confined coastal aquifers. Uncontrolled groundwater development may lead to reversal of the freshwater gradient, thereby resulting in saline water ingress into coastal aquifers. There are, however, several established methodologies to control and minimise the problems associated with groundwater extraction followed by saline water intrusion. This study developed a convenient and easily implementable analytical model for coastal groundwater management aimed at the control of saltwater intrusion. The technique includes withdrawal of coastal freshwater by means of qanat-well structures associated with artificial recharge through rainwater harvesting aided by percolation ponds and recharge wells. The proposed methodology is suitable specifically for not highly urbanised coastal areas with significant annual precipitation, good hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer and a low depth of fresh groundwater. As a case study, the model is applied to a coastal zone of the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. Adequate quantifications of the efficiency of the methodology are incorporated and relevant conclusions are drawn

RURAL POVERTY, PUBLIC POLICY AND SOCIAL CHANGE: SOME FINDINGS FROM SURVEYS OF SIX VILLAGES

their support and advice. While at Santiniketan I greatly benefitted from my discussions with Vivekananda Datta, Bodhirup

An Analytical Study of Flood Management in Bangladesh

Abstract: -Bangladesh along with the state of West Bengal in India is situated in the lowest area of the Hindu Kush -Himalayan Region (HKH) and is famous as one of the highest flood prone countries in the world. Flood to some extent is an annual expected and well-come event for many reasons for this country. But extreme flood inundates more than half of the country's landmass causing immense suffering to the human life, damages properties and economy. Aim of the flood management in Bangladesh is to minimize damages or to avoid disastrous situation. Though the country is in the eastern part of the lowest ridge of HKH but geography and location of the country make hydrology of Bangladesh very diverse, complex and unique. The North-Eastern part of the country has the river networks with upper hilly catchments having one of the world's highest rainfall intensity and causes frequent flash floods. In the North-Western part rainfall intensity is lower, higher altitude and mighty perennial river network causes river flood. The South-Eastern part has moderate rainfall intensity, hilly as well as coastal plain land, flashy and tidal river network causes both the storm surge and flash flood. The South Western region has also moderate rainfall, coastal plain land and tidal rivers cause storm surge due to cyclone. Principles of flood management in the country based on these different types of floods and geographical conditions either by non-structural or structural measures. As a non-structural measure for flood loss minimization, flood forecasting and warning services has been emphasized. Structural measures began in late 60's by implementing number of flood control projects

"The fruits of independence": Satyajit Ray, Indian nationhood and the spectre of empire

Challenging the longstanding consensus that Satyajit Ray's work is largely free of ideological concerns and notable only for its humanistic richness, this article shows with reference to representations of British colonialism and Indian nationhood that Ray's films and stories are marked deeply and consistently by a distinctively Bengali variety of liberalism. Drawn from an ongoing biographical project, it commences with an overview of the nationalist milieu in which Ray grew up and emphasizes the preoccupation with colonialism and nationalism that marked his earliest unfilmed scripts. It then shows with case studies of Kanchanjangha (1962), Charulata (1964), First Class Kamra (First-Class Compartment, 1981), Pratidwandi (The Adversary, 1970), Shatranj ke Khilari (The Chess Players, 1977), Agantuk (The Stranger, 1991) and Robertsoner Ruby (Robertson's Ruby, 1992) how Ray's mature work continued to combine a strongly anti-colonial viewpoint with a shifting perspective on Indian nationhood and an unequivocal commitment to cultural cosmopolitanism. Analysing how Ray articulated his ideological positions through the quintessentially liberal device of complexly staged debates that were apparently free, but in fact closed by the scenarist/director on ideologically specific notes, this article concludes that Ray's reputation as an all-forgiving, ‘everybody-has-his-reasons’ humanist is based on simplistic or even tendentious readings of his work

A study on saline water intrusion and fresh water recharge relevant to coastal environment

The paper is based on experimental laboratory model study with relevant mathematical analysis followed by field investigation so as to understand the characteristics and flow pattern of saline water intrusion into natural porous medium followed by subsequent fresh water recharge