QoE-Based Low-Delay Live Streaming Using Throughput Predictions

Recently, HTTP-based adaptive streaming has become the de facto standard for video streaming over the Internet. It allows clients to dynamically adapt media characteristics to network conditions in order to ensure a high quality of experience, that is, minimize playback interruptions, while maximizing video quality at a reasonable level of quality changes. In the case of live streaming, this task becomes particularly challenging due to the latency constraints. The challenge further increases if a client uses a wireless network, where the throughput is subject to considerable fluctuations. Consequently, live streams often exhibit latencies of up to 30 seconds. In the present work, we introduce an adaptation algorithm for HTTP-based live streaming called LOLYPOP (Low-Latency Prediction-Based Adaptation) that is designed to operate with a transport latency of few seconds. To reach this goal, LOLYPOP leverages TCP throughput predictions on multiple time scales, from 1 to 10 seconds, along with an estimate of the prediction error distribution. In addition to satisfying the latency constraint, the algorithm heuristically maximizes the quality of experience by maximizing the average video quality as a function of the number of skipped segments and quality transitions. In order to select an efficient prediction method, we studied the performance of several time series prediction methods in IEEE 802.11 wireless access networks. We evaluated LOLYPOP under a large set of experimental conditions limiting the transport latency to 3 seconds, against a state-of-the-art adaptation algorithm from the literature, called FESTIVE. We observed that the average video quality is by up to a factor of 3 higher than with FESTIVE. We also observed that LOLYPOP is able to reach a broader region in the quality of experience space, and thus it is better adjustable to the user profile or service provider requirements.Comment: Technical Report TKN-16-001, Telecommunication Networks Group, Technische Universitaet Berlin. This TR updated TR TKN-15-00

Time Management in Social Networking Sites and Its Role in Preventing the Risk of Addiction to These Sites Among Its Users

This study aimed to identify time management in social networking sites and its role in preventing the risk of addiction to these sites among its users. The researcher used  a descriptive survey method based on data and information collection tools (analysis of documents and records) to answer the questions of the study. The study sample  consisted of (412) male and female university students which was chosen based on simple random selection from (Yarmouk University, Jadara University, Irbid National university. For achieving the purposes of the study,  the researcher developed the study tool (questionnaire) which is  consisted of (22) items. After verifying its reliability and  validity the researcher calculated the means, standard deviations, frequency and percentages. The results showed that the role of time management in social networking sites in preventing the risk of addiction to these sites among its users  ranged from (moderate - very high) . The results also showed that there was a statistically significant difference to the estimates of the members of the study sample on time management in social networking sites and its role in  preventing the risk of addiction to these sites among users from the university students as a whole. It is attributed to the gender variable in favor of males and for the school year variable. The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference for the study sample due to the college variable. Keywords: time, time management, social networking sites (SNS), addiction. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-8-19 Publication date:March 31st 2020

ABC Diffusion in the Age of Digital Economy: the UK Experience

Since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been a call for further research to trace the effects of the speedy changes in business environment on management accounting practices. This study assesses the impact of different information technologies on ABC adoption and implementation. It uses a cross-sectional survey of financial directors and controllers in the UK firms. Postal and electronic questionnaires have been used in order to collect the empirical data. The findings revealed that the rate of ABC adoption has shown a number of changes between 1999 and 2005. The proportions of ABC users and those currently assessing it have dramatically fallen. The percentage of firms rejecting ABC has slightly fallen as well. However, there has been a considerable increase in the number of firms that abandoned ABC implementation and those firms that gave no consideration for its implementation. These results indicate a decrease in the popularity of ABC. ERP systems seem to have a slightly low significant impact on the initial decision of ABC adoption in those firms that do not have any consideration for ABC and firms that have an ERP system before ABC adoption. Furthermore, the results indicate that firms use different information technologies in the ABC assessment and implementation. For ABC assessment, general software applications are the most preferable software packages while a mix of different ABC software packages is the most popular in the case of ABC implementation. Finally, the findings of this study provide an indication on the nature of the possible effect of general IT-related problems on ABC implementation

Molecular markers for predicting end-products quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) are key factors in bread making quality since they are major contributors of glutenin elasticity and polymer formation of wheat dough. DNA markersfor quality traits are currently used by wheat breeders for direct measurement of these traits without waiting for advancing generations of breeding materials to conduct biochemical tests. The goal of thisstudy was to use DNA markers for screening newly developed Saudi wheat varieties for the presence of HMW-GS genes. Four new Saudi wheat lines (KSU 102, KSU 103, KSU 105 and KSU 106) and twoAmerican cultivars Yecora rojo and West Bread (popular in the Kingdom) were utilized in screening for the presence of the HMW-GS using primers covering the three wheat genomes. From the A genome,Ax2* was used. While two sets of primer pairs were used in the B genome. One primer pair for the Bx7 allele and another primer pair for By8 allele. From the D genome, primer pairs for Dx2/Dx5 and anotherprimer pair for Dy10/Dy12 were used. Our results showed that both KSU 102 and 106 were missing Ax2* in the Glu alleles A1 and contain the Dy12 in the Glu-D1 locus which is indication of the poor breadmaking quality. On the other hand KSU 103 and 105 contained subunit Ax2* as well as Dx5 and Dy10indicates that these two varieties are of moderate bread making quality. In contrast, both West Breadand Yecora Rojo contained all the five genes indicating that these two cultivars are of good quality

Activation of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase by proinflammatory mediators

Inflammation is a highly complex and beneficial response of the host innate immune system often characterized by redness or swelling of the infected area as a result of an injurious stimulus. The principal purpose of the inflammatory response is to rid the infected area of the noxious stimulus and hasten host recovery. Though the inflammatory response is both necessary and beneficial, if left unregulated, it can exact a devastating toll on the host. Thus, an understanding of the various mediators that are able to evoke an inflammatory response and the signaling of these mediators is crucial. One such mediator, central in initiating an inflammatory response, is the biologically active phospholipid platelet-activating factor (PAF, 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine). This phospholipid is converted to its biologically inactive form by a calcium-independent phospholipase A2 called PAF acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH). Thus, the action of PAF-AH provides a mechanism by which to hinder the propagation of an inflammatory response. In this study, the proinflammatory mediators, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), PAF, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were investigated for their ability to upregulate PAF-AH expression. The cellular signaling pathways activated by these mediators were also investigated. We have demonstrated the ability of LPS, PAF, and TNF-alpha to upregulate PAF-AH levels. Further, we showed that the LPS-induced upregulation of PAF-AH levels is partially p38MAPK-dependent. The remaining LPS-induced signaling is mediated through the PAF receptor. The TNF-alpha and PAF-induced upregulation of PAF-AH levels is not p38MAPK dependent and the PAF acetylhydrolase induction observed may be the result of increased PAF production or signaling through separate pathway(s). We further demonstrate the ability of reactive oxygen species to induce the expression PAF acetylhydrolase

MicroRNAs as noninvasive biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of liver fibrosis in HCV genotype 4 patients

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major world health problem affecting millions of people worldwide. HCV causes fibrosis of the liver; untreated, it leads to complications such as hepatic cirrhosis, decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Current methodologies used to determine the progression of hepatic fibrosis rely heavily on liver biopsy, a dangerous and invasive procedure, with subjective analysis of the results of the biopsy. Liver biopsies are also difficult to perform in the developing world, where the strain of HCV infection is great. A new methodology, that is both convenient and inexpensive, is needed for monitoring the progression of liver fibrosis in HCV patients. Small noncoding RNAs known as microRNAs are up-regulated or down-regulated when damage occurs in the liver. miRNAs are stable and present in almost all body fluids, therefore the measurement of circulating miRNAs in serum of liver fibrosis as a noninvasive method to evaluate disease severity and progression is promising. Currently, miRNAs have been found to play essential roles in hepatic stellate cell (HSC) differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and migration linking them to aberrant expression variations in the development of liver fibrosis. Several microRNAs have shown promise as noninvasive biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis, and some even in the treatment of HCV. To study regulation of genes at the miRNA level is a huge advantage as gene expression is regulated at an epigenetic level before even the formation of proteins. Hepatitis C-genotype 4 infected patients were selected to detect and study the progression of liver fibrosis. The study consisted of three patient groups: 42 cases of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with early stage fibrosis, 45 cases of CHC with late stage fibrosis, and 40 healthy patients with no CHC or fibrosis as controls. Blood samples were taken from each patient and RNA was extracted using the miRNeasy extraction kit. Expression patterns of 5 miRNAs (miR-16, miR-146a, miR-214-5p, miR-221, miR-222) were measured in each group using TaqMan real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. MiRNA analysis was performed to determine the most specific and sensitive miRNA to be used as a diagnostic biomarker. Serum levels of miRNA-16, miRNA-146a, miRNA-221, and miRNA-222 were all significantly upregulated in early and late stage fibrosis compared to the control (p\u3c0.001). MiRNA-222 had the highest sensitivity and specificity values in both early and late stage fibrosis with values of (69.23 %, 83.83%) and (100%, 96.77%) respectively. MiRNA-221 had the second highest sensitivity and specificity values with the late stage fibrosis group having values of 100% and 88.24% respectively. MiRNA-222 and miRNA-221 suggest promising potential as biomarkers for HCV-induced liver fibrosis as they had the highest sensitivity and specificity values. MiRNA-221 showed significant positive correlations with both miRNA-16 and miRNA-146a in the early and late stage fibrosis groups, with the early stage having a stronger correlation (at the 0.01 level). These correlations have great substantial values for future uses in formulating liver fibrosis diagnostic assays. â€