Cross-stitch Networks for Multi-task Learning

Multi-task learning in Convolutional Networks has displayed remarkable success in the field of recognition. This success can be largely attributed to learning shared representations from multiple supervisory tasks. However, existing multi-task approaches rely on enumerating multiple network architectures specific to the tasks at hand, that do not generalize. In this paper, we propose a principled approach to learn shared representations in ConvNets using multi-task learning. Specifically, we propose a new sharing unit: "cross-stitch" unit. These units combine the activations from multiple networks and can be trained end-to-end. A network with cross-stitch units can learn an optimal combination of shared and task-specific representations. Our proposed method generalizes across multiple tasks and shows dramatically improved performance over baseline methods for categories with few training examples.Comment: To appear in CVPR 2016 (Spotlight

Shear Wave Elastography of Liver: Measurement of normal liver stiffness in healthy population and factors affecting it

Background: Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) is a recent non-invasive method for determining liverstiffness. SWE is a two-dimensional elastography technique in which an amplitude-modulated beamof focused ultrasound is used to generate shear waves which are then transmitted by the transducerto the region of interest (ROI), where the propagation speed of shear waves is measured. Thepresent study is the first attempt to measure the normal range of liver stiffness using SWE in ahealthy population from North India and to study the effect of age, gender, and BMI on the liverstiffness values in the healthy population. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study wasconducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Government Medical College, Jammuon 117 healthy subjects without any known liver pathology or history of any liver disease. B-ModeUltrasound scan, followed by SWE Examination was performed on all subjects using SAMSUNGRS80EVO using CA1-7A convex array probe with a frequency of 1 to 7 MHz. Results: Successfulresults were obtained in 98.2%. The mean value of liver stiffness in 115 healthy subjects was 4.74± 0.91 kPa, and the 95% confidence interval was 4.58-4.91 kPa. (Range: 2.7-7.8 kPa). There wereno statistically significant differences in liver stiffness values regarding age, gender and BMI in thehealthy population (all p> 0.05)

Hypervascular retained products of conception: dilemma of diagnosis and management

Retained products of conception (RPOC) are a partial retention of placental tissue after dilation and curettage (D&C) procedures or vaginal deliveries. Ultrasound scan reports sometimes mention the presence of increased endometrial / sub‐endometrial vascularity in the context of retained products of conception. This raises the possibility of serious intra‐operative haemorrhage because of the possibility of arterio‐venous malformation. The aim of this article is to discuss the diagnosis and management options of retained products of conception (RPOC) with increased vascularity where simple dilatation and curettage may lead to life threatening haemorrhage and endanger the life of the patient and to enlighten the importance of evaluation of vascularity in all cases of RPOC prior to dilatation and curettage in order to avoid the dreaded complication of massive haemorrhage

Microstructural diversity, nucleation paths and phase behaviour in binary mixtures of charged colloidal spheres

We study low-salt, binary aqueous suspensions of charged colloidal spheres of size ratio Phi = 0.57, number densities below the eutectic number density n_E, and number fractions of p = 1.00-0.40. The typical phase obtained by solidification from a homogeneous shear-melt is a substitutional alloy of body centred cubic structure. In strictly gas-tight vials, the polycrystalline solid is stable against melting and further phase transformation for extended times. For comparison, we prepare the same samples also by slow and mechanically undisturbed deionization in commercial slit cells. These cells feature a complex but well reproducible sequence of global and local gradients in salt concentration, number density and composition as induced by successive deionization, phoretic transport and differential settling of the components, respectively. Moreover, they provide an extended bottom surface suitable for heterogeneous nucleation of the beta-phase. We give a detailed qualitative characterization of the crystallization processes using imaging and optical microscopy. By contrast to the bulk samples, the initial alloy formation in slit cells is not volume-filling, and we now observe also alpha- and beta-phases with low solubility of the odd component. In addition to the initial homogeneous nucleation route, the interplay of gradients opens various further crystallization and transformation pathways leading to a great diversity of microstructures. Upon subsequent increase in salt concentration, crystals melt again. Wall-based, pebble-shaped beta-phase crystals and facetted alpha-crystals melt last. Our observations suggest that the substitutional alloys formed in bulk experiments by homogeneous nucleation and subsequent growth are mechanically stable in the absence of solid-fluid interfaces but thermodynamically metastable.Comment: Submitted to J Chem Phys. Revised version after forst Referee round. 50p, 21 figures, mainly high res. micrograph

Learning by Asking Questions

We introduce an interactive learning framework for the development and testing of intelligent visual systems, called learning-by-asking (LBA). We explore LBA in context of the Visual Question Answering (VQA) task. LBA differs from standard VQA training in that most questions are not observed during training time, and the learner must ask questions it wants answers to. Thus, LBA more closely mimics natural learning and has the potential to be more data-efficient than the traditional VQA setting. We present a model that performs LBA on the CLEVR dataset, and show that it automatically discovers an easy-to-hard curriculum when learning interactively from an oracle. Our LBA generated data consistently matches or outperforms the CLEVR train data and is more sample efficient. We also show that our model asks questions that generalize to state-of-the-art VQA models and to novel test time distributions

New perspectives in modified Gleason’s grading for prostatic cancer and its comparison with original Gleason’s

Background: The Gleason score is the most widely accepted histopathological grading system for prostate cancer since decade despite having many deficiency that can potentially impact patient health care. So ISUP agreed on developing a system of prognostic grade groups from I-V. Aim and objective was to study the new perspectives of modified Gleason’s grading and to compare it with original Gleason’s System with focus on the prognostic significance of the modifications.Methods: A retrospective study of 60 patients, who underwent TURP and Sextant biopsy and diagnosed as prostatic carcinoma in our institute were included in this study. Laboratory requisition forms with clinical history, PSA levels and histopathology reports of these patients were reviewed and graded accordingly to the newer gleasons. New Gleason grade includes five distinct Grade Groups based on the modified Gleason score groups. Grade Group 1 = Gleason score ≤6, Grade Group 2 = Gleason score 3 + 4 = 7, Grade Group 3 = Gleason score 4 + 3 = 7, Grade Group 4 = Gleason score 8, Grade Group 5 = Gleason scores 9 and 10 were assigned. The change in the grading system is tabulated and compared separately.Results: Patients age ranged from 55-80 years. The number of cases were 3,12,15,19 and 11 categorized under grade group I, grade group II, grade group III, grade group IV, grade group V cancer respectively according to modified gleason grading.Conclusions: Modified Gleason is a simplified grading system which may reduce over treatment of indolent prostate cancer. New gleasons grading clarifies the clinicians about the dilemma of gleason scores, offering an excellent prognostic stratification of this carcinoma

A comparison of platelet count in severe preeclampsia, mild preeclampsia and normal pregnancy

Background: Preeclampsia, the most common of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is an idiopathic multisystem disorder affecting 2 – 10% of all pregnancies and together they form one member of the deadly triad, along with hemorrhage and infection that contribute greatly to the maternal morbidity and mortality rates. The identification of this clinical entity and effective management play a significant role in the outcome of pregnancy. Platelet count is emphasized to play a significant role in hemostasis mechanism of preeclampsia and the degree of thrombocytopenia increases with severity of preeclampsia. This study was conducted to find correlation of platelet count in severe preeclampsia, mild preeclampsia and normal subjects.Methods: Total 140 subjects, 70 control and 70 cases were enrolled in the study. Samples for platelet count were collected and estimation was carried out by the auto-analyzers. The statistical evaluation is done using SPSS version 22 along with Anova and student t-test.Results: The mean platelet count was significantly lower (p <0.05) in mild and severe preeclampsia than that in the normal pregnancy. Decreased platelet count in severe preeclampsia was significant compared to that in mild preeclampsia.Conclusions: The frequency of thrombocytopenia was found to be directly related with the severity of disease, so platelet count can be used as a simple and cost effective tool to monitor the progression of preeclampsia, thereby preventing complications to develop during the gestational period

Phytochemical Investigation and Pharmacological Evaluation of Solanum xanthocarpum Endowed with their potential Activity

The study was done to assess the in-vitro antibacterial potential of various extracts was studied and compared with ciprofloxacin as the standard and shows significant action against E. coli, B. substilis S. aureus, S. pyrogenes, P. aeruginosa, and S. typhi. Anti-fungal potential of the aqueous extract also studied using miconazole as standard and shows significant action against A. niger and C. albicans. Anthelmintic potential of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts was also studied on earthworms, Eudrillus eugeniae using albendazole as standard and shows moderate activity. In the present study in-vitro free radical scavenging activity of whole plant material performed. Various crude extracts of S. xanthocarpum was prepared by successive maceration process using various solvents such as; chloroform, petroleum ether (60-80o), acetone, ethanol and distilled water. Each one extract have been chosen to study the free radical inhibitory activity by DPPH radical scavenging method. The preliminary phytochemical screening of extracts showed that sterols, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, saponins, phenolic compounds, carbohydrates and proteins were present in the plant. Petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and distilled water extracts showed 52.69, 46.15, 21.08, 52.72 and 44.35 % respectively compared to standard ascorbic acid. Acetone extract showed poor inhibition of DPPH radical compared to standard and other extracts also