DeepFuse: A Deep Unsupervised Approach for Exposure Fusion with Extreme Exposure Image Pairs

We present a novel deep learning architecture for fusing static multi-exposure images. Current multi-exposure fusion (MEF) approaches use hand-crafted features to fuse input sequence. However, the weak hand-crafted representations are not robust to varying input conditions. Moreover, they perform poorly for extreme exposure image pairs. Thus, it is highly desirable to have a method that is robust to varying input conditions and capable of handling extreme exposure without artifacts. Deep representations have known to be robust to input conditions and have shown phenomenal performance in a supervised setting. However, the stumbling block in using deep learning for MEF was the lack of sufficient training data and an oracle to provide the ground-truth for supervision. To address the above issues, we have gathered a large dataset of multi-exposure image stacks for training and to circumvent the need for ground truth images, we propose an unsupervised deep learning framework for MEF utilizing a no-reference quality metric as loss function. The proposed approach uses a novel CNN architecture trained to learn the fusion operation without reference ground truth image. The model fuses a set of common low level features extracted from each image to generate artifact-free perceptually pleasing results. We perform extensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation and show that the proposed technique outperforms existing state-of-the-art approaches for a variety of natural images.Comment: ICCV 201

Significance of thermal fluctuations and hydrodynamic interactions in receptor-ligand mediated adhesive dynamics of a spherical particle in wall bound shear flow

The dynamics of adhesion of a spherical micro-particle to a ligand-coated wall, in shear flow, is studied using a Langevin equation that accounts for thermal fluctuations, hydrodynamic interactions and adhesive interactions. Contrary to the conventional assumption that thermal fluctuations play a negligible role at high P$\acute{e}$clet numbers, we find that for particles with low surface densities of receptors, rotational diffusion caused by fluctuations about the flow and gradient directions aids in bond formation, leading to significantly greater adhesion on average, compared to simulations where thermal fluctuations are completely ignored. The role of wall hydrodynamic interactions on the steady state motion of a particle, when the particle is close to the wall, has also been explored. At high P$\acute{e}$clet numbers, the shear induced force that arises due to the stresslet part of the Stokes dipole, plays a dominant role, reducing the particle velocity significantly, and affecting the states of motion of the particle. The coupling between the translational and rotational degrees of freedom of the particle, brought about by the presence of hydrodynamic interactions, is found to have no influence on the binding dynamics. On the other hand, the drag coefficient, which depends on the distance of the particle from the wall, plays a crucial role at low rates of bond formation. A significant difference in the effect of both the shear force and the position dependent drag force, on the states of motion of the particle, is observed when the P$\acute{e}$let number is small.Comment: The manuscript has been accepted as an article in Physical Review E Journa

Maximal expiratory flow rates in South Indian sportsmen.

The maximal Expiratory Flow Volume (MEFV) loop is superior to peak expiratory Flow Rate (PFR) and Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) in that it describes total information during Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) test. MEFV loop was utilised to identify ventilatory adaptation in lungs of sportsmen. Twenty non-smoking sportsmen who were active participants in athletics at inter-university and interstate level were selected for the study. After a thorough clinical examination MEFV loop was recorded in the sitting posture using a computerised (P. K. Morgan (U.K.) pulmonary function test equipment and x-y recorder. When the results were analysed, it was found that mean PFR was 7.89 ± 0.29 L/S and flow rates of air at 25 % (V max 25 %) 50 % (V max 50%) and 75% of FVC were 7.12 ± 0.29 L/S, 5.18 ± 0.27 L/S and 2.87 ± 0.24 L/S respectively. Mean Forced Mid Flow (FMF) was 5.09 ± 0.24 L/S. When compared to the predicted values of our laboratory, the mean percentage predicted values of these parameters were as follows : PFR=102.5%, vmax 25% = 107.0%, vmx 50% = 110.7%, vmax 75% = 134.2% and FMF 114.2 %. It is evident from these results that sportsmen have increasingly higher flow rates at terminal part of FVC curve. Mean Flow Volume Loop drawn for the sportsman fails on the right side of the predicted normal curve, indicating thereby that the airways are patent even at every low lung volumes to let the air flow out at faster rate. This may be due to adaptation to habitual ventilatory training on the air ways, especially small airways, in sportsmen

The role of open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of the intercondylar fractures of humerus

Background: Inter-condylar fractures represent one of the most complicated and challenging fractures in the upper extremity. The results of managing these fractures non-operatively are limited by failure to get anatomical reduction and early mobilization, which often results in painful stiff elbow and/or pseudo-arthrosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate and analyse the role of open reduction and internal fixation in inter-condylar fractures of distal humerus.Methods: The present study was done in Malla Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences between June 2014 and June 2017. Out of 34 cases of intercondylar fractures of humerus admitted during the period, 25 patients were selected for the study that satisfied our inclusion criteria. Three patients out of those selected could not be included in the study as one had cardiac issues pre-operatively, one refused surgery and one was lost to follow up.Results: Our study included 22 patients, 14 male and 8 female patients. Their average age was 41.4 years. The fractures were classified as per the AO classification. There were B1-3, B2-1, C1-6, C2-5, C3-7 fractures. Both compound and closed fractures were included. All the patients were operated by posterior olecranon Chevron osteotomy approach by a senior faculty member. Twenty two patients who satisfied our inclusion criteria were treated, followed up and the results analyzed using Cassabaum’s scale of elbow function we had 86% of excellent to good results. Our results are comparable with other similar studies.Conclusions: Posterior olecranon approach was found to be of most satisfactory approach by us. It allows good exposure of the joint and the ulnar nerve

Economic Feasibility of Vegetable Production under Polyhouse:A Case Study of Capsicum and Tomato

Polyhouse cultivation of vegetables is emerging as a specialized production technology to overcome biotic and abiotic stresses and to break the seasonal barrier to production. It also ensures round the year production of highvalue vegetables, like capsicum, especially, during off-season. Cost is the major issue in sustaining this technology. The present study examined the economic viability of production of capsicum and tomato in a naturally ventilated polyhouse of medium cost category with drip irrigation system. Data were generated by cost accounting method for estimating the feasibility of production and was analyzed by using project evaluation methods, like Pay Back Period (PBP), Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR), Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). Cultivation of capsicum in a polyhouse was found to be highly feasible as reflected in higher values of NPV (Rs.3,23,145/500 m2), BCR (1.80) and IRR (53.7%) with payback period of less than two years. Breakeven price for capsicum production in a polyhouse (Rs.11.80/kg) was lesser than average wholesale price. Production of tomato in a polyhouse was found not feasible, as the breakeven price was more than the average market price and all the project appraisal parameters indicated that it was not feasible. Only at about 48% premium price over the prevailing market price or reduction of cost of polyhouse structure by 60% from Rs.400 to Rs.160 /m2, could make the tomato production viable in a poly house

Evaluation of correction of kyphotic deformity in dorso-lumbar spinal injuries by posterior stabilization with pedicular screw rod fixation

Background: Acute injury to dorso-lumbar spine is the second most frequent site after cervical spine in adults. The injury, although not associated with high mortality, causes severe morbidity. The management of the traumatic dorso-lumbar spine injuries has improved considerably in the last few years. The objective of the study was to evaluate correction of kyphotic deformity in dorso-lumbar spinal injuries by posterior stabilization with pedicular screw rod fixation.Methods: The study includes 52 patients with dorso-lumbar spinal injuries with or without neurological deficit treated between 2006 and 2014. Pre and postoperative kyphosis was measured by Cobb’s method on plain radiographs. Pre and postoperative neurological status was evaluated based on Frankel’s classification. All un-stable dorso-lumbar spine injuries where two or more columns are involved on X-ray and CT scan were included in the present study.Results: Majority of the patients were in the age group of 20-30 years (38.5%) followed by 31-40 years (30.8%). Males were more than females. The most common mode of injury was road traffic injury in 71.2% of the cases. The most common level of injury was at L1 in 28.8% of the cases followed by at level D12 in 25% of the cases. In all the groups the mean kyphosis angle is reduced significantly. Overall the improvement rate was 94.2% and failure rate was only 5.8%.Conclusions: In conclusion the posterior reduction and internal fixation is a useful procedure in the treatment of the acute injuries of the dorsolumbar spine.

Annihilation of vortex dipoles in an Oblate Bose-Einstein Condensate

We theoretically explore the annihilation of vortex dipoles, generated when an obstacle moves through an oblate Bose-Einstein condensate, and examine the energetics of the annihilation event. We show that the gray soliton, which results from the vortex dipole annihilation, is lower in energy than the vortex dipole. We also investigate the annihilation events numerically and observe that the annihilation occurs only when the vortex dipole overtakes the obstacle and comes closer than the coherence length. Furthermore, we find that the noise reduces the probability of annihilation events. This may explain the lack of annihilation events in experimental realizations.Comment: 8 pages and 9 figure