REGION-BASED ADAPTIVE DISTRIBUTED VIDEO CODING CODEC

The recently developed Distributed Video Coding (DVC) is typically suitable for the applications where the conventional video coding is not feasible because of its inherent high-complexity encoding. Examples include video surveillance usmg wireless/wired video sensor network and applications using mobile cameras etc. With DVC, the complexity is shifted from the encoder to the decoder. The practical application of DVC is referred to as Wyner-Ziv video coding (WZ) where an estimate of the original frame called "side information" is generated using motion compensation at the decoder. The compression is achieved by sending only that extra information that is needed to correct this estimation. An error-correcting code is used with the assumption that the estimate is a noisy version of the original frame and the rate needed is certain amount of the parity bits. The side information is assumed to have become available at the decoder through a virtual channel. Due to the limitation of compensation method, the predicted frame, or the side information, is expected to have varying degrees of success. These limitations stem from locationspecific non-stationary estimation noise. In order to avoid these, the conventional video coders, like MPEG, make use of frame partitioning to allocate optimum coder for each partition and hence achieve better rate-distortion performance. The same, however, has not been used in DVC as it increases the encoder complexity. This work proposes partitioning the considered frame into many coding units (region) where each unit is encoded differently. This partitioning is, however, done at the decoder while generating the side-information and the region map is sent over to encoder at very little rate penalty. The partitioning allows allocation of appropriate DVC coding parameters (virtual channel, rate, and quantizer) to each region. The resulting regions map is compressed by employing quadtree algorithm and communicated to the encoder via the feedback channel. The rate control in DVC is performed by channel coding techniques (turbo codes, LDPC, etc.). The performance of the channel code depends heavily on the accuracy of virtual channel model that models estimation error for each region. In this work, a turbo code has been used and an adaptive WZ DVC is designed both in transform domain and in pixel domain. The transform domain WZ video coding (TDWZ) has distinct superior performance as compared to the normal Pixel Domain Wyner-Ziv (PDWZ), since it exploits the ' spatial redundancy during the encoding. The performance evaluations show that the proposed system is superior to the existing distributed video coding solutions. Although the, proposed system requires extra bits representing the "regions map" to be transmitted, fuut still the rate gain is noticeable and it outperforms the state-of-the-art frame based DVC by 0.6-1.9 dB. The feedback channel (FC) has the role to adapt the bit rate to the changing ' statistics between the side infonmation and the frame to be encoded. In the unidirectional scenario, the encoder must perform the rate control. To correctly estimate the rate, the encoder must calculate typical side information. However, the rate cannot be exactly calculated at the encoder, instead it can only be estimated. This work also prbposes a feedback-free region-based adaptive DVC solution in pixel domain based on machine learning approach to estimate the side information. Although the performance evaluations show rate-penalty but it is acceptable considering the simplicity of the proposed algorithm. vii

REGION-BASED ADAPTIVE DISTRIBUTED VIDEO CODING CODEC

The recently developed Distributed Video Coding (DVC) is typically suitable for the applications where the conventional video coding is not feasible because of its inherent high-complexity encoding. Examples include video surveillance usmg wireless/wired video sensor network and applications using mobile cameras etc. With DVC, the complexity is shifted from the encoder to the decoder. The practical application of DVC is referred to as Wyner-Ziv video coding (WZ) where an estimate of the original frame called "side information" is generated using motion compensation at the decoder. The compression is achieved by sending only that extra information that is needed to correct this estimation. An error-correcting code is used with the assumption that the estimate is a noisy version of the original frame and the rate needed is certain amount of the parity bits. The side information is assumed to have become available at the decoder through a virtual channel. Due to the limitation of compensation method, the predicted frame, or the side information, is expected to have varying degrees of success. These limitations stem from locationspecific non-stationary estimation noise. In order to avoid these, the conventional video coders, like MPEG, make use of frame partitioning to allocate optimum coder for each partition and hence achieve better rate-distortion performance. The same, however, has not been used in DVC as it increases the encoder complexity. This work proposes partitioning the considered frame into many coding units (region) where each unit is encoded differently. This partitioning is, however, done at the decoder while generating the side-information and the region map is sent over to encoder at very little rate penalty. The partitioning allows allocation of appropriate DVC coding parameters (virtual channel, rate, and quantizer) to each region. The resulting regions map is compressed by employing quadtree algorithm and communicated to the encoder via the feedback channel. The rate control in DVC is performed by channel coding techniques (turbo codes, LDPC, etc.). The performance of the channel code depends heavily on the accuracy of virtual channel model that models estimation error for each region. In this work, a turbo code has been used and an adaptive WZ DVC is designed both in transform domain and in pixel domain. The transform domain WZ video coding (TDWZ) has distinct superior performance as compared to the normal Pixel Domain Wyner-Ziv (PDWZ), since it exploits the ' spatial redundancy during the encoding. The performance evaluations show that the proposed system is superior to the existing distributed video coding solutions. Although the, proposed system requires extra bits representing the "regions map" to be transmitted, fuut still the rate gain is noticeable and it outperforms the state-of-the-art frame based DVC by 0.6-1.9 dB. The feedback channel (FC) has the role to adapt the bit rate to the changing ' statistics between the side infonmation and the frame to be encoded. In the unidirectional scenario, the encoder must perform the rate control. To correctly estimate the rate, the encoder must calculate typical side information. However, the rate cannot be exactly calculated at the encoder, instead it can only be estimated. This work also prbposes a feedback-free region-based adaptive DVC solution in pixel domain based on machine learning approach to estimate the side information. Although the performance evaluations show rate-penalty but it is acceptable considering the simplicity of the proposed algorithm. vii

Evaluation of Fungal Deterioration and Control Methods of Ancient Egyptian Linen Textile and Its Packing Materials

東京藝術大学平成30年

BALANITES KERNEL OIL FOR THE TREATMENT OF DERMATOPHYTES: A CLINICAL TRIAL

In a previous in vitro study, we have shown that the kernel oil of fruits of the tree Balanites aegyptiaca referred to as Balanites kernel oil ((BKO) is active against dermatophytes (i.e. superficial mycosis, ringworms, tineas (T. captitis, T. cercinata and T. pedis). We report here our clinical trials with BKO. Trials were performed on patients presenting at Wad Medani Dermatology Teaching Hospital as well as primary school children in Elsoreeba Town (5 km south of Wad Medani). Not all patients followed treatment till completely cured. Patients treated with BKO (half of the total) achieved complete cure in 3-5 weeks, on average, while those treated with the standard antifungal drug Miconazole (half of the total patients) did the same in the longer period of 3-8 weeks. Photographs showing progress of response to BKO treatments are included. BKO has great potential for development as a commercial drug for the treatment of dermatophytes

Gum Arabic in renal disease (GARDS Study): Clinical evidence of dietary supplementation impact on progression of renal dysfunction

Administration of Gum Arabic (GA) was associated with an increase in estimated Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at three months (pre 24.64 ± 8.89 vs 26.20 ± 10.1p = 0.02). Subsequently there was no significant fall in eGFR. This translated to positive change in Δ eGFR within quarter at three months, (Δ eGFR 4.89 ml/min/year p=<0.001 vs pre) and six months (Δ eGFR 0.79 ml/min/year, p < 0.001 vs pre) compared to pre-intervention values. At 9 and 12 months although the mean Δ eGFR in quarter was negative, this rate of decline in renal function remained significantly less than prior to intervention (9 months Δ eGFR −1.27 ml/min/year, p= <0.001 vs pre, 12 months delta Δ eGFR −1.54 ml/min/year, p < 0.001 vs pre). Similarly, mean reciprocal creatinine, declined by 11% in the pre-intervention period but was no different to the pre-intervention values for the duration of intervention. In conclusion oral administration of Gum Arabic attenuates the rate of decline in renal function

Environment and natural resources as a core asset for wealth creation, poverty reduction, and sustainable development

The table of contents for this item can be shared with the requester. The requester may then choose one chapter, up to 10% of the item, as per the Fair Dealing provision of the Canadian Copyright ActThis comprehensive report analyzes the geography, soils, natural resources, land use, climate, environmental laws and governance of Sudan. Recurring conflicts have plagued Sudan since independence due to a host of inter-related, cumulative and complex factors. The issue of who controls natural resources; has access to them; how they are distributed; and who participates in decision-making processes, has often been among the root causes of conflict. In this regard and since the vast majority of people depend on land and water resources for livelihoods, issues of land degradation, desertification, deforestation, loss of biological diversity, resource base conflicts, and land tenure need to be addressed critically

Liquefaction du bois en deux etapes: solvolyse et hydrotraitement

SIGLEAvailable from INIST (FR), Document Supply Service, under shelf-number : T 83088 / INIST-CNRS - Institut de l'Information Scientifique et TechniqueFRFranc

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries