FInC Flow: Fast and Invertible k×kk \times k Convolutions for Normalizing Flows

Invertible convolutions have been an essential element for building expressive normalizing flow-based generative models since their introduction in Glow. Several attempts have been made to design invertible $k \times k$ convolutions that are efficient in training and sampling passes. Though these attempts have improved the expressivity and sampling efficiency, they severely lagged behind Glow which used only $1 \times 1$ convolutions in terms of sampling time. Also, many of the approaches mask a large number of parameters of the underlying convolution, resulting in lower expressivity on a fixed run-time budget. We propose a $k \times k$ convolutional layer and Deep Normalizing Flow architecture which i.) has a fast parallel inversion algorithm with running time O$(n k^2)$ ($n$ is height and width of the input image and k is kernel size), ii.) masks the minimal amount of learnable parameters in a layer. iii.) gives better forward pass and sampling times comparable to other $k \times k$ convolution-based models on real-world benchmarks. We provide an implementation of the proposed parallel algorithm for sampling using our invertible convolutions on GPUs. Benchmarks on CIFAR-10, ImageNet, and CelebA datasets show comparable performance to previous works regarding bits per dimension while significantly improving the sampling time.Comment: accepted: VISAPP'2

Adaptation of the super resolution SOTA for Art Restoration in camera capture images

Preserving cultural heritage is of paramount importance. In the domain of art restoration, developing a computer vision model capable of effectively restoring deteriorated images of art pieces was difficult, but now we have a good computer vision state-of-art. Traditional restoration methods are often time-consuming and require extensive expertise. The aim of this work is to design an automated solution based on computer vision models that can enhance and reconstruct degraded artworks, improving their visual quality while preserving their original characteristics and artifacts. The model should handle a diverse range of deterioration types, including but not limited to noise, blur, scratches, fading, and other common forms of degradation. We adapt the current state-of-art for the image super-resolution based on the Diffusion Model (DM) and fine-tune it for Image art restoration. Our results show that instead of fine-tunning multiple different models for different kinds of degradation, fine-tuning one super-resolution. We train it on multiple datasets to make it robust. code link: https://github.com/Naagar/art_restoration_DMComment: COMPETITIONS @ ICETCI 202

Urinary Tract Infection: Analysis of Prescribing Pattern of Antibiotics

Abstract Antibiotics are one of most common drugs prescribed in hospital today. It has been estimated that up to onethird of all patients receive at least one antibiotics during hospitalization`. The cost involved is therefore correspondingly high and up to 40% of a hospital's drug expenditure may be devoted to the purchase of antibiotics 1 . The objective of this study was to analyze the prescribing pattern of antibiotics in Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). A prospective cross sectional and observational study was conducted on patients diagnosed with UTI. The study was carried out in the OBG and Urology departments of both in-patients and out-patients, for a period of 5 months (Aug 2011 to Dec 2011). Patients diagnosed with UTI and who were above age group of 15-years were included in the study. A suitable data collection form was prepared to collect the required data. Among 162 patents, 54 were in-patients and 108 were out-patients. Most of the in-patients were prescribed with Ciprofloxacin 13(22.8%), and Ceftriaxone 19(33.3%). In out-patients, Ciprofloxacin 25(23.8%), Norfloxacin 15(14.3%) and Ceftriaxone 14(13.3%) were prescribed frequently. The study found that gram negative organisms like E. coli and Klebsills was the most predominant organisms associated with infection. It was also found that Cephalosporin's were most commonly used and Quinolones were the second most commonly used drugs for the treatment of UTI

Multifunctional magnetic materials prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition

     Pulsed LASER deposition (PLD) is widely recognized as excellent deposition technique owing to stoichiometric transfer of target material, easy preparation and high quality. Thin films from few nanometers to micrometer regime can be fabricated with equal ease. Although a batch process is not suitable for mass scale industrial production, PLD is a versatile technique, efficient and convenient for high quality basic research.  This thesis illustrates the use of PLD technique to study the emerging trends in tailoring multifunctional magnetic thin films both from basic nanoscience and device development point of view.      After a comprehensive review of magnetism in chapter 1: entitled ‘A journey through classical to modern trends in magnetism, and multifunctional thin film devices’ followed by a reasonably thorough discussion on Pulsed Laser thin film technique in Chapter 2, we present: Studies of tailoring composite high energy product permanent magnetic FePtB based thin films for applications in NEMS /MEMS, (Chapter 3). Study of search for new multiferroic materials by investigating the properties of Chromites. Crystalline Chromites are antiferromagnetic below 150oC.  However depositing thin films by PLD of the crystalline 95.5% dense targets produced by Surface Plasma Sintering, we discovered that the resulting films were amorphous and ferromagnetic beyond room temperature. Moreover advanced spectroscopic techniques revealed that the amorphized state is metallic with Cr in a mixed valence state.   An understanding of the underlying physics of the observed phenomenon has been carried out based on first principles calculations.  These results are now being considered for publication in a high profile journal.  Extensive studies on the films showing that these materials are ferromagnetic, but not ferroelectric are discussed in chapter 4. A preliminary presentation of these studies was pier reviewed and published in MRS symposium proceedings. Fabrication of Room temperature, Transparent, high moment soft ferromagnetic amorphous Bulk metallic glass based FeBNbY thin films by PLD, suitable for Nanolithography in NEMS/MEMS device development .  (Chapter 5) From a basic study point of view on new trends on magnetism we present: 4. The use of PLD technique to demonstrate room temperature ferromagnetism in undoped MgO, and V-doped MgO thin films.  Both of these oxides which do not contain any intrinsically magnetic elements and are diamagnetic in their bulk form belong to a new class of magnetic films, the so called d0magnets signifying that robust above room temperature ferromagnetism arising from defects and controlled carriers and no occupied d-states can be tailored in semiconductors and insulators.  These, mostly ZnO and MgO based thin films which may be classified as Dilute Magnetic Semiconductors, DMS, and Dilute Magnetic Insulators, DMI, are now the materials of active interest in future Electronics involving components which exploit both charge and spin of electrons in the arena of SPINTRONICS. Extensive characterization of magnetic, electrical, optical properties and microscopic structure has ensured development of high quality magnetic materials for future applications. Further research on these promising materials is expected to yield new generation spintronic devices for better performance in terms of efficiency, energy consumption and miniaturization of sizes.QC 2012051