SEM-CS: Semantic CLIPStyler for Text-Based Image Style Transfer

CLIPStyler demonstrated image style transfer with realistic textures using only the style text description (instead of requiring a reference style image). However, the ground semantics of objects in style transfer output is lost due to style spillover on salient and background objects (content mismatch) or over-stylization. To solve this, we propose Semantic CLIPStyler (Sem-CS) that performs semantic style transfer. Sem-CS first segments the content image into salient and non-salient objects and then transfers artistic style based on a given style text description. The semantic style transfer is achieved using global foreground loss (for salient objects) and global background loss (for non-salient objects). Our empirical results, including DISTS, NIMA and user study scores, show that our proposed framework yields superior qualitative and quantitative performance.Comment: 11 Pages, 4 Figures, 2 Table

ROLE OF PATHYAPATHYAS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF RASOUSHADHAS

Ayurveda is a medical system which has well developed systems of diagnosis and treatment. It is the only medical system in world, which has apparatus to deal with complete human being, which comprises of mind, body and soul. The treatment is highly personalized according to the patients physical nature, age, immunity, mind power, habit etc. A customized diet, life style, exercise, mental support, breathing and meditation techniques also form the part of the treatment. There is a section in Ayurveda called Rasasastra which describes the use of metals, minerals, and poisons with their actions to combat chronic and complicated diseases. As we all know most of the Rasa drugs are toxic. These pass through extensive processing before they are declared fit for internal use. These preparations are sustaining themselves since centuries in clinical use. A thing that does not adversely affect the body and mind is known as Pathya (wholesome) the diet and regimens opposite to these qualities are said to be Apathya (unwholesome). Many Pathyapathya ahara viharas are mentioned in the Rasa classics. The rationale behind the selection of Aharas and Viharas as Pathya (wholesome) or Apathya (unwholesome) mainly depends on the properties of drugs which are used as Pathya as well as that of drug which is used as medicine. The implied meaning is rules and regulations about diet and movements etc. to be advised by the Physician along with treatment. The medicines are ineffective unless these are followed. In the case of Pathya most probable drug interaction will be synergism and of Apathya dravyas will be antagonism. However, their improper processing, misuse, improper mode of administration may cause adverse effects in the human body. Even though the drugs are in assimilable forms, there should be suitable vehicles for their absorption. Here comes the importance of Pathyapathya while using these metallic forms. Suitable Pathya is necessary while using these Rasa drugs for proper absorption of drug, to reduce its adverse effects, to increase its bio-availability etc

Cosmology with decaying tachyon matter

We investigate the case of a homogeneous tachyon field coupled to gravity in a spatially flat Friedman-Robertson-Walker spacetime. Assuming the field evolution to be exponentially decaying with time we solve the field equations and show that, under certain conditions, the scale factor represents an accelerating universe, following a phase of decelerated expansion. We make use of a model of dark energy (with p=-\rho) and dark matter (p=0) where a single scalar field (tachyon) governs the dynamics of both the dark components. We show that this model fits the current supernova data as well as the canonical \LambdaCDM model. We give the bounds on the parameters allowed by the current data.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, v2, Discussions and references addede

Methane and carbon dioxide adsorption on edge-functionalized graphene: A comparative DFT study

With a view towards optimizing gas storage and separation in crystalline and disordered nanoporous carbon-based materials, we use ab initio density functional theory calculations to explore the effect of chemical functionalization on gas binding to exposed edges within model carbon nanostructures. We test the geometry, energetics, and charge distribution of in-plane and out-of-plane binding of CO2 and CH4 to model zigzag graphene nanoribbons edge-functionalized with COOH, OH, NH2, H2PO3, NO2, and CH3. Although different choices for the exchange-correlation functional lead to a spread of values for the binding energy, trends across the functional groups are largely preserved for each choice, as are the final orientations of the adsorbed gas molecules. We find binding of CO2 to exceed that of CH4 by roughly a factor of two. However, the two gases follow very similar trends with changes in the attached functional group, despite different molecular symmetries. Our results indicate that the presence of NH2, H2PO3, NO2, and COOH functional groups can significantly enhance gas binding with respect to a hydrogen-passivated edge, making the edges potentially viable binding sites in materials with high concentrations of edge carbons. To first order, in-plane binding strength correlates with the larger permanent and induced dipole moments on these groups. Implications for tailoring carbon structures for increased gas uptake and improved CO2/CH4 selectivity are discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

ROLE OF AGNI KARMA AND SNEHAPANA IN MANAGEMENT OF PAIN IN CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS: A CASE STUDY

Introduction: Cervical spondylosis (Greevasthamba) is a degenerative condition with pain in cervical region as a major symptom. In modern science condition is usually treated with analgesic, corticosteroids, surgical decompression, traction etc. which not contribute much promising results. But in Ayurveda several methods like Snehana, Upanaha, Agnikarma, Raktamokshana and Panchakarma etc. are specified in management of pain. Case presentation: A male patient aged 42 years admitted CARIN-MSD, IPD with pain in the neck region since 2 months, which was also radiating to the right upper limb along with numbness up to the tip of fingers. Cervical active range of motions were painful during flexion, extension and lateral rotation. Spurling test and lhermittes sign were positive. Along with the support of X- ray and MRI investigations the patient was diagnosed with cervical spondylosis due to chronic postural strain. Management and Outcome:Patient was treated with Agnikarma and Snehapana, the pain score over visual analogue scale and NPQ percentage before treatment was Nine and 87.5 % respectively while after intervention it was reduced to Two and 33.33 % within seven days. Conclusion: In acute painful stage of cervical spondylosis Agnikarma and Snehapana can play a major role in management of pain

Twenty Years of Drilling the Deepest Hole in Ice

No abstract available. doi:10.2204/iodp.sd.11.05.2011</a

Angiopreventive Efficacy of Pure Flavonolignans from Milk Thistle Extract against Prostate Cancer: Targeting VEGF-VEGFR Signaling

The role of neo-angiogenesis in prostate cancer (PCA) growth and metastasis is well established, but the development of effective and non-toxic pharmacological inhibitors of angiogenesis remains an unaccomplished goal. In this regard, targeting aberrant angiogenesis through non-toxic phytochemicals could be an attractive angiopreventive strategy against PCA. The rationale of the present study was to compare the anti-angiogenic potential of four pure diastereoisomeric flavonolignans, namely silybin A, silybin B, isosilybin A and isosilybin B, which we established previously as biologically active constituents in Milk Thistle extract. Results showed that oral feeding of these flavonolignans (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) effectively inhibit the growth of advanced human PCA DU145 xenografts. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that these flavonolignans inhibit tumor angiogenesis biomarkers (CD31 and nestin) and signaling molecules regulating angiogenesis (VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, phospho-Akt and HIF-1α) without adversely affecting the vessel-count in normal tissues (liver, lung, and kidney) of tumor bearing mice. These flavonolignans also inhibited the microvessel sprouting from mouse dorsal aortas ex vivo, and the VEGF-induced cell proliferation, capillary-like tube formation and invasiveness of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro. Further studies in HUVEC showed that these diastereoisomers target cell cycle, apoptosis and VEGF-induced signaling cascade. Three dimensional growth assay as well as co-culture invasion and in vitro angiogenesis studies (with HUVEC and DU145 cells) suggested the differential effectiveness of the diastereoisomers toward PCA and endothelial cells. Overall, these studies elucidated the comparative anti-angiogenic efficacy of pure flavonolignans from Milk Thistle and suggest their usefulness in PCA angioprevention

Maturity determination of red and white pulp dragon fruit

There is a huge potential for dragon fruits grown in India but insufficient information may hamper its production and postharvest handling. The aim of this study was to investigate the right harvest time and maturity indices for red and white pulp dragon fruit. Growth and developmental studies were undertaken using destructive (total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity and TSS: acid ratio) and non-destructive methods (fruit weight, specific gravity, peel colour and heat units). Fruits were collected at seven intervals (7, 14, 21, 26, 31, 36 and 41 days after flowering) to assess the right maturity. All these methods were used to standardize the optimum maturity and right time for the harvest of red and white pulp dragon fruit. Harvesting dragon fruits between 31-36 days after flowering (DAF) was found ideal for optimum maturity and quality. Both red and white pulp fruits harvested at 31 DAF showed better quality in terms of physic-chemical and sensory attributes

Anomalous insulator metal transition in boron nitride-graphene hybrid atomic layers

The study of two-dimensional (2D) electronic systems is of great fundamental significance in physics. Atomic layers containing hybridized domains of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BNC) constitute a new kind of disordered 2D electronic system. Magneto-electric transport measurements performed at low temperature in vapor phase synthesized h-BNC atomic layers show a clear and anomalous transition from an insulating to a metallic behavior upon cooling. The observed insulator to metal transition can be modulated by electron and hole doping and by the application of an external magnetic field. These results supported by ab-initio calculations suggest that this transition in h-BNC has distinctly different characteristics when compared to other 2D electron systems and is the result of the coexistence between two distinct mechanisms, namely, percolation through metallic graphene networks and hopping conduction between edge states on randomly distributed insulating h-BN domains.Comment: 9 pages, 15 figure