Prominent Attribute Modification using Attribute Dependent Generative Adversarial Network

Modifying the facial images with desired attributes is important, though challenging tasks in computer vision, where it aims to modify single or multiple attributes of the face image. Some of the existing methods are either based on attribute independent approaches where the modification is done in the latent representation or attribute dependent approaches. The attribute independent methods are limited in performance as they require the desired paired data for changing the desired attributes. Secondly, the attribute independent constraint may result in the loss of information and, hence, fail in generating the required attributes in the face image. In contrast, the attribute dependent approaches are effective as these approaches are capable of modifying the required features along with preserving the information in the given image. However, attribute dependent approaches are sensitive and require a careful model design in generating high-quality results. To address this problem, we propose an attribute dependent face modification approach. The proposed approach is based on two generators and two discriminators that utilize the binary as well as the real representation of the attributes and, in return, generate high-quality attribute modification results. Experiments on the CelebA dataset show that our method effectively performs the multiple attribute editing with preserving other facial details intactly

Consumer Confidence Index and Economic Growth: An Empirical Analysis of EU Countries.

Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) plays an important role through providing decision makers and economic forecasters with required information about present and future economic condition. These indices play a unique role in determining public policies as well as business decisions. Consumer confidence index defines the degree of optimism on the current state of the economy that consumers are expressing through their activities of saving and spending which lead to economic growth of the country. Positive changes in consumer confidence should lead to the economic growth while negative changes impede the economic growth of the countries. This study is an attempt to empirically evaluate the link between the CCI and economic growth of the selected European countries: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark and Netherland. Panel cointegration procedures are applied to establish the long run relationship between the CCI and economic growth for the period of 1996(1)-2012(4). Empirical results show the existence of the long run relationship between consumer confidence and economic growth

Conversion of autoimmune hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism

Background: Graves\u27 disease and Hashimoto\u27s thyroiditis are the two autoimmune spectrum of thyroid disease. Cases of conversion from hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism have been reported but conversion from hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism is very rare. Although such cases have been reported rarely in the past we are now seeing such conversions from hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism more frequently in clinical practice. Case Presentation: We are reporting three cases of middle aged Asian females who presented with classical symptoms of hypothyroidism and the investigations showed elevated thyroid stimulating hormone with positive thyroid antibodies. Diagnosis of autoimmune hypothyroidism was made and thyroxine replacement therapy was initiated. Patients became asymptomatic with normalization of thyroid stimulating hormone level. After few years they developed symptoms of hyperthyroidism with suppressed thyroid stimulating hormone level. Over replacement of thyroxine was considered and the dose of thyroxine was decreased, but they remain symptomatic. After gradual decrease in the dose of thyroxine it was stopped finally. Even after few months of stopping thyroxine, the symptoms of hyperthyroidism did not improve and the biochemical and imaging modalities confirmed that the patients have developed hyperthyroidism. Anti-thyroid treatment was then started and the patients became symptom free. Conclusion: High index of suspicion should be there for possible conversion of hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism if a patient with primary hypothyroidism develops persistent symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Otherwise it can be missed easily considering it as an over replacement with thyroid hormone

Metric dimensions of bicyclic graphs

The distance d(va, vb) between two vertices of a simple connected graph G is the length of the shortest path between va and vb. Vertices va, vb of G are considered to be resolved by a vertex v if d(va, v) 6= d(vb, v). An ordered set W = fv1, v2, v3, . . . , vsg V(G) is said to be a resolving set for G, if for any va, vb 2 V(G), 9 vi 2 W 3 d(va, vi) 6= d(vb, vi). The representation of vertex v with respect to W is denoted by r(vjW) and is an s-vector(s-tuple) (d(v, v1), d(v, v2), d(v, v3), . . . , d(v, vs)). Using representation r(vjW), we can say that W is a resolving set if, for any two vertices va, vb 2 V(G), we have r(vajW) 6= r(vbjW). A minimal resolving set is termed a metric basis for G. The cardinality of the metric basis set is called the metric dimension of G, represented by dim(G). In this article, we study the metric dimension of two types of bicyclic graphs. The obtained results prove that they have constant metric dimension

A Review on Synthesis of Silicon Nanowires by Laser Ablation

Silicon (Si) is the most widely used semiconductor since many decades. Due to the developments in the synthesis and manufacturing technology new semiconductor materials have been introduced in semiconductor industry. Along with the newly developed semiconductors, Si is still considered the most reliable and durable semiconductor. The synthesis techniques of the Si have also been affected by the technological revolution and different Si based materials engineered at the nano-scale have been synthesized. Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) are one of the newly developed semiconductors of Si. SiNWs have interesting features due to their high aspect ratio and small size. The chemical, mechanical and electrical properties of SiNWs have opened new ways for the research in this field. Especially the charge carrying abilities and quantum confinement effects have gathered much attention of the scientific community. Different efforts have been made to synthesize SiNWs over the course of few years. Synthesis of SiNWs by laser ablation is one of the methods widely used due to its simplicity and good control over the parameters of the process. Different modifications have been made in this synthesis process by different researchers. The variations in laser ablation synthesis process and its outputs have been analyzed in this review paper. And effect of different parameters on the properties of SiNWs has been discussed. Keywords: Laser ablation, Nanowires, Supersaturation, Vapor liquid solid mechanism, Lithography, Catalys

Hyponatraemia: etiology, management and outcome

OBJECTIVE: To determine the etiology of hyponatraemia, the treatment instituted and the outcome of treatment in a tertiary care hospital setting. STUDY DESIGN: Case series.PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, between January and June 2004. METHODOLOGY: Case records of 220 patients admitted to the medical service were identified through computerized hospital patients\u27 data. All patients (3) 15 years with a sodium level on admission of (2) 130 mmol/litre were included. The records of those patients were reviewed for relevant demographic, clinical and laboratory data, in addition to the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of hospitalization. The data was analyzed through SPSS software version 11.0. RESULTS: Over a 6-month period, 220 patients were admitted with hyponatraemia (serum sodium (2) 130 mmol/L). Of those 127 females and 93 males, the mean age was 65 + 13.29 years. Neurological symptoms were the presenting feature in 25% patients. The mean serum sodium level on admission was 119.46 mmol/L. The rate of correction was \u3e10 mmol/L/ 24 hours in 17% patients. The average duration of stay was 4 days. The mortality was 6.8%. Medicines accounted for 30% cases of hyponatraemia, of which diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) were top of the list. Other causes were gastrointestinal in 25%, chest infection in 11% patients, depletional hyponatraemia in 10% patients, SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone) in 6% patients, congestive cardiac failure and malignancy in 5% each and chronic liver disease in 3.6% patients. CONCLUSION: Hyponatraemia was seen more commonly in the elderly, major causes being gastrointestinal losses and use of drugs. Serum sodium correction should be less than 10 mmol/L/24 hours. The treatment plan be directed to correction of the underlying cause. Diagnosis of SIADH should be sought with appropriate investigation

Vitamin B12 deficiency common in primary hypothyroidism

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and clinical features of B12 deficiency in hypothyroid patients and to evaluate clinical response in symptoms to B12 replacement therapy. METHODS: One hundred and sixteen hypothyroid patients from our endocrine clinic were evaluated for signs and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. Laboratory parameters including Haemoglobin (Hb), MCV, Vitamin B12 levels and presence of anti thyroid antibodies were analyzed. Patients with low B12 levels were treated with parenteral intramuscular vitamin B12 monthly, and monitored for improvement of symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 116 patients (95 females and 21 males) were evaluated. Forty six (39.6%) hypothyroid patients had low vitamin B12 levels. Males and females had the same prevalence of B12 deficiency. Generalized weakness, impaired memory, depression, numbness and decreased reflexes were more frequently noted in B12 deficient patients, but failed to achieve statistical significance when compared with B12 sufficient patients. The mean Hb in B12 deficient group was 11.9 +/- 1.6 mg/dl and 12.4 +/- 1.7 mg/dl in the B12 sufficient group, however the mean MCV did not differ in the two groups. Patients with B12 deficiency did not have a higher prevalence of anaemia. Thyroid antibodies were checked in half the patients and 67% had positive titers for anti thyroid antibodies. Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency did not differ in patients with positive antibodies (43.2%) compared to those with negative antibodies (38.9%) (p= 0.759). Twenty four hypothyroid patients with B12 deficiency received intramuscular vitamin B12 injections monthly and improvement in symptoms was noted in 58.3% of these subjects. Additionally, 21 subjects complained of symptoms consistent with B12 deficiency but who had normal range B12, levels and were prescribed monthly B12 injections and 8 (40%) had good subjective clinical response at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high (approx 40%) prevalence of B12 deficiency in hypothyroid patients. Traditional symptoms are not a good guide to determining presence of B12 deficiency. Screening for vitamin B12 levels should be undertaken in all hypothyroid patients, irrespective of their thyroid antibody status. Replacement of B12 leads to improvement in symptoms, although a placebo effect cannot be excluded, as a number of patients without B12 deficiency also appeared to respond to B12, administration