Fast-AT: Fast Automatic Thumbnail Generation using Deep Neural Networks

Fast-AT is an automatic thumbnail generation system based on deep neural networks. It is a fully-convolutional deep neural network, which learns specific filters for thumbnails of different sizes and aspect ratios. During inference, the appropriate filter is selected depending on the dimensions of the target thumbnail. Unlike most previous work, Fast-AT does not utilize saliency but addresses the problem directly. In addition, it eliminates the need to conduct region search on the saliency map. The model generalizes to thumbnails of different sizes including those with extreme aspect ratios and can generate thumbnails in real time. A data set of more than 70,000 thumbnail annotations was collected to train Fast-AT. We show competitive results in comparison to existing techniques

Environmental services and agricultural water in South Asia: evidence from Indo-Gangetic Basin

Irrigation water / Water use / River basins / Environmental effects / Models / South Asia / India / Pakistan / Nepal / Indo-Gangetic Basin

Theoretical studies on structural and decay properties of Z=119Z=119 superheavy nuclei

In this manuscript, we analyze the structural properties of $Z=119$ superheavy nuclei in the mass range of 284 $\le$ A $\le$ 375 within the framework of deformed relativistic mean field theory (RMF) and calculate the binding energy, radii, quadrupole deformation parameter, separation energies and density profile. Further, a competition between possible decay modes such as $\alpha-$decay, $\beta-$decay and spontaneous fission (SF) of the isotopic chain of $Z=119$ superheavy nuclei under study is systematically analyzed within self-consistent relativistic mean field model. Moreover, our analysis confirmed that $\alpha-$decay is restricted within the mass range 284 $\leq$ A $\leq$ 296 and thus being the dominant decay channel in this mass range. However, for the mass range 297 $\leq$ A $\leq$ 375 the nuclei are unable to survive fission and hence SF is the principal mode of decay for these isotopes. There is no possibility of $\beta-$decay for the considered isotopic chain. In addition, we forecasted the mode of decay $^{284-296}$119 as one $\alpha$ chain from $^{284}$119 and $^{296}$119, two consistent $\alpha$ chains from $^{285}$119 and $^{295}$119, three consistent $\alpha$ chains from $^{286}$119 and $^{294}$119, four consistent alpha chains from $^{287}$119, six consistent alpha chains from $^{288-293}$119. Also from our analysis we inferred that for the isotopes $^{264-266,269}$Bh both $\alpha$ decay and SF are equally competent and can decay via either of these two modes. Thus, such studies can be of great significance to the experimentalists in very near future for synthesizing $Z=119$ superheavy nuclei.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1611.00232, arXiv:1704.0315

Structural and decay properties of Z=132,138Z=132,138 superheavy nuclei

In this paper, we analyze the structural properties of $Z=132$ and $Z=138$ superheavy nuclei within the ambit of axially deformed relativistic mean-field framework with NL$3^{*}$ parametrization and calculate the total binding energies, radii, quadrupole deformation parameter, separation energies, density distributions. We also investigate the phenomenon of shape coexistence by performing the calculations for prolate, oblate and spherical configurations. For clear presentation of nucleon distributions, the two-dimensional contour representation of individual nucleon density and total matter density has been made. Further, a competition between possible decay modes such as $\alpha$-decay, $\beta$-decay and spontaneous fission of the isotopic chain of superheavy nuclei with $Z=132$ within the range 312 $\le$ A $\le$ 392 and 318 $\le$ A $\le$ 398 for $Z=138$ is systematically analyzed within self-consistent relativistic mean field model. From our analysis, we inferred that the $\alpha$-decay and spontaneous fission are the principal modes of decay in majority of the isotopes of superheavy nuclei under investigation apart from $\beta$ decay as dominant mode of decay in $^{318-322}138$ isotopes.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures , 8 table

Are there any ‘hot’ spots and ‘bright’ spots of rice water productivity in Bangladesh? A spatio-temporal analysis of district-level data

Employing Bangladeshi district-level time series data as an empirical exploration this paper aims to: (1) estimate two measures of rice water productivity for the main crop seasons; (2) undertake a spatio-temporal analysis; and (3) identify ‘hot’ spots and ‘bright’ spots focusing on the Ganges-dependent (GDA) vis-à-vis other districts (NGDA). The paper finds that (1) kharif (wet) season rice water productivity grew much faster than for the rabi (dry) season across all districts. There was no significant correlation between seasonal growth rates although significant correlation existed between seasonal growth rates and the annual growth rate. Eight Ganges dependent districts experienced faster growth rate in kharif and overall productivity but their rabi season performance was slower relative to other districts. (2) Marginal productivity (MP) experienced fastest growth for the kharif season during 1968-1980. Up to 1990, there was no significant growth in rabi MP. Its growth declined in the 1980s but picked up since the early 1990s. (3) MPs products were slightly lower in the GDA districts for kharif and overall. The study did not find any consistent ‘hot’ spots or ‘bright’ spots in Bangladeshi rice water productivity. The process is highly groundwater intensive and is debatable whether it is sustainable.

Cosmological Constraints from Hubble Parameter versus Redshift Data

We use the Simon, Verde, & Jimenez (2005) determination of the redshift dependence of the Hubble parameter to constrain cosmological parameters in three dark energy cosmological models. We consider the standard $\Lambda$CDM model, the XCDM parameterization of the dark energy equation of state, and a slowly rolling dark energy scalar field with an inverse power-law potential. The constraints are restrictive, consistent with those derived from Type Ia supernova redshift-magnitude data, and complement those from galaxy cluster gas mass fraction versus redshift data.Comment: Minor changes, including an estimate for H_0. ApJL, in pres

Research analysis on the effects of agricultural water and landholdings to rural livelihoods in Indo-Gangetic Basin: with emphasis on Bihar State

Agricultural development / River basins / Water use / Irrigation water / Economic aspects / Land ownership / Water allocation / Models / Case studies / Policy / South Asia / India / Indo-Gangetic Basin