In-Network Video Quality Adaption using Packet Trimming at the Edge

This paper describes the effects of running innetwork quality adaption by trimming the packets of layered video streams at the edge. The video stream is transmitted using the BPP transport protocol, which is like UDP, but has been designed to be both amenable to trimming and to provide low-latency and high reliability. The traffic adaption uses the Packet Wash process of BPP on the transmitted Scalable Video Coding (SVC) video streams as they pass through a network function which is BPP-aware and embedded at the edge. Our previous work has either demonstrated the use of SDN controllers to directly implement Packet Wash, or the use of a network function in the core of the network to do the same task. This paper presents the first attempt to deploy and evaluate such a process in the edge. We compare the performance of transmitting video using BPP and the Packet Wash trimming, against alternative transmission schemes, namely TCP, UDP, and HTTP Adaptive Streaming (HAS). The results demonstrate that providing traffic engineering using in-network quality adaption using packet trimming, provides high quality at the receiver

Towards High Precision End-to-End Video Streaming from Drones using Packet Trimming

The emergence of a number of network communication facilities such as Network Function Virtualization (NFV), Software Defined Networking (SDN), the Internet of Things (IoT), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and in-network packet processing, holds a potential to meet the low latency, high precision requirements of various future multimedia applications. However, this raises the corresponding issues of how all of these elements can be used together in future networking environments, including newly developed protocols and techniques. This paper describes the architecture of an end-to-end video streaming platform for video surveillance, consisting of a UAV network domain, an edge server implementing in-network packet trimming operations with the use of Big Packet Protocol (BPP), utilization of Scalable Video Coding (SVC) and multiple video clients which connect to a network managed by an SDN controller. A Virtualized Edge Function at the drone edge utilizes SVC and in communication with the Drone Control Unit to manage the transmitted video quality. Experimental results show the potential that future multimedia applications can achieve the required high precision with the use of future network components and the consideration of their interactions

Lab-Scale Study of the Calcium Carbonate Dissolution and Deposition by Marine Cyanobacterium Phormidium subcapitatum

Suggestions that calcification in marine organisms changes in response to global variations in seawater chemistry continue to be advanced (Wilkinson, 1979; Degens et al. 1985; Kazmierczak et al. 1986; R. Riding 1992). However, the effect of [Na+] on calcification in marine cyanobacteria has not been discussed in detail although [Na+] fluctuations reflect both temperature and sea-level fluctuations. The goal of these lab-scale studies therefore was to study the effect of environmental pH and [Na+] on CaCO3 deposition and dissolution by marine cyanobacterium Phormidium subcapitatum. Marine cyanobacterium P. subcapitatum has been cultivated in ASN-III medium. [Ca2+] fluctuations were monitored with Ca(2+) probe. Na(+) concentrations were determined by the initial solution chemistry. It was found that the balance between CaCO3 dissolution and precipitation induced by P. subcapitatum grown in neutral ASN III medium is very close to zero. No CaCO3 precipitation induced by cyanobacterial growth occurred. Growth of P. subcapitatum in alkaline ASN III medium, however, was accompanied by significant oscillations in free Ca(2+) concentration within a Na(+) concentration range of 50-400 mM. Calcium carbonate precipitation occurred during the log phase of P. subcapitatum growth while carbonate dissolution was typical for the stationary phase of P. subcapitatum growth. The highest CaCO3 deposition was observed in the range of Na(+) concentrations between 200-400 mM. Alkaline pH also induced the clamping of P. subcapitatum filaments, which appeared to have a strong affinity to envelop particles of chemically deposited CaCO3 followed by enlargement of those particles size. EDS analysis revealed the presence of Mg-rich carbonate (or magnesium calcite) in the solution containing 10-100 mM Na(+); calcite in the solution containing 200 mM Na(+); and aragonite in the solution containing with 400 mM Na(+). Typical present-day seawater contains xxmM Na(+). Early (Archean) seawater was likely less saline. The division of marine cyanobacterium P. subcapitatum is associated with periodic deposition and dissolution of CaCO3, the rhythms and intensity of which are dependent on concentrations of both OH(-) and Na(+). Thus, the role of present-day marine cyanobacteria in the global carbonate cycle might be reduced to aggregation and recrystallization of available CaCO3 particles in marine water rather than long-term precipitation and accumulation of CaCO3 deposits. For lower Na(+) concentrations, precipitation of carbonates by cyanobacteria would be even less significant. These results suggest that the lack of calcified cyanobacteria in stromatalite-bearing Precambrian sequences can be explained not only by high dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations but also by lower salinity, as well as possible lower pH compared to present-day oceans

Prevalence and risk factors of allergies in turkey (PARFAIT): Results of a multicentre cross-sectional study in adults

The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Allergies in Turkey (PARFAIT) study was planned to evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for asthma and allergic diseases in Turkey. The present analysis used data from 25,843 parents of primary school children, obtained from a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. A total of 25,843 questionnaires from 14 centres were evaluated. In rural areas, the prevalences asthma, wheezing, allergic rhinitis and eczema in males were: 8.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 7.9-9.1%), 13.5% (95% CI 12.8-14.2%), 17.5% (95% CI 16.7-18.2%) and 10.8% (95% CI 10.211.4%), respectively; and in females were: 11.2% (95% CI 10.9-11.8%), 14.7% (95% CI 14.315.1%), 21.2% (95% CI 20.4-22.0%) and 13.1% (95% CI 2.4-13.8%), respectively. In urban areas, the corresponding prevalences in males were: 6.2% (95% CI 5.8-6.6%), 10.8% (95% CI 10.311.3%), 11.7% (95% CI 11.4-12.0%) and 6.6% (95% CI 6.2-7.0%), respectively; and in females were: 7.5 % (95% CI 7.9-7.1%), 12.0% (95% CI 11.7-12.3%), 17.0% (95% CI 16.4-17.6%) and 7.3% (95% CI 6.9-7.7%), respectively. Having an atopic first-degree relative or any other atopic diseases had significant effects on the prevalence of allergic diseases. Housing conditions, such as living in a shanty-type house, visible moulds at home and use of wood or biomass as heating or cooking material were associated with one or more allergic diseases. Although genetic susceptibility is strongly associated, country-and population-based environmental factors may contribute to increased prevalence rates of allergic diseases. Copyright © ERS Journals Ltd 2009

Data acquisition through the model aircraft for mapping purposes

2011 ISPRS Hannover Workshop on High-Resolution Earth Imaging for Geospatial Information -- 14 June 2011 through 17 June 2011 -- -- 111096Photogrammetry and remote sensing have become indispensable in today's surveying with the emerging technologies. Some difficulties are being experienced in applications due to the incredible advances in imaging systems and increasing complexity of carrier platforms, used, in parallel with them. In this context, the most agreeable approach is the achievement of desired precision proportional with the requirements in shorter time span and the reduction of cost utilizing the most suitable mapping platform with basic systems. Towards these aims, a model aircraft, containing a non-metric camera, capturing images for mapping purposes, is considered to be employed in this study. Thus, this will lead to emerge a low cost imaging system. Within the study, besides using a high resolution digital non-metric camera and a carrier model aircraft, the previously produced maps of test field, derived from aerial photos, were used to conduct the analysis. The scope of this study is the integration of a model aircraft and a non-metric camera for mapping purposes to reduce very costly and time consuming photogrammetric map production for narrower areas. Also this will give rise to a method for the achievement of high cost aims with lower budgets. Using a model aircraft, instead of a real one, gives us an upper hand in repeating measurements anytime, desired, so that analyses can be made for the works that undergoes temporal changes. According to the aims of the study, a stereo model has been generated for the extraction of details from aerial photos, taken by the non-metric camera. Estimated results have been compared with 1/1000 scaled maps from photogrammetry and figured out their validity for using in narrower areas with high accuracy

DATA ACQUISITION THROUGH THE MODEL AIRCRAFT FOR MAPPING PURPOSES

Photogrammetry and remote sensing have become indispensable in today's surveying with the emerging technologies. Some difficulties are being experienced in applications due to the incredible advances in imaging systems and increasing complexity of carrier platforms, used, in parallel with them. In this context, the most agreeable approach is the achievement of desired precision proportional with the requirements in shorter time span and the reduction of cost utilizing the most suitable mapping platform with basic systems. Towards these aims, a model aircraft, containing a non-metric camera, capturing images for mapping purposes, is considered to be employed in this study. Thus, this will lead to emerge a low cost imaging system. Within the study, besides using a high resolution digital non-metric camera and a carrier model aircraft, the previously produced maps of test field, derived from aerial photos, were used to conduct the analysis. The scope of this study is the integration of a model aircraft and a non-metric camera for mapping purposes to reduce very costly and time consuming photogrammetric map production for narrower areas. Also this will give rise to a method for the achievement of high cost aims with lower budgets. Using a model aircraft, instead of a real one, gives us an upper hand in repeating measurements anytime, desired, so that analyses can be made for the works that undergoes temporal changes. According to the aims of the study, a stereo model has been generated for the extraction of details from aerial photos, taken by the non-metric camera. Estimated results have been compared with 1/1000 scaled maps from photogrammetry and figured out their validity for using in narrower areas with high accuracy

MORPHOLOGIC QUALITY OF DSMs BASED ON OPTICAL AND RADAR SPACE IMAGERY

Digital Surface Models (DSMs) are representing the visible surface of the earth by the height corresponding to its X-, Y-location and height value Z. The quality of a DSM can be described by the accuracy and the morphologic details. Both depend upon the used input information, the used technique and the roughness of the terrain. The influence of the topographic details to the DSM quality is shown for the test fields Istanbul and Zonguldak. Zonguldak has a rough mountainous character with heights from sea level up to 1640m, while Istanbul is dominated by rolling hills going up to an elevation of 435m. DSMs from SPOT-5, the SRTM C-band height models and ASTER GDEM have been investigated. The DSMs have been verified with height models from large scale aerial photos being more accurate and including morphologic details. It was necessary to determine and respect shifts of the height models caused by datum problems and orientation of the height models. The DSM quality is analyzed depending upon the terrain inclination. The DSM quality differs for both test fields. The morphologic quality depends upon the point spacing of the analyzed DSMs and the terrain characteristics

Contribution of normalized DSM to automatic building extraction from HR mono optical satellite imagery

Building extraction from high resolution (HR) satellite imagery is one of the most significant issue for remote sensing community. Manual extraction process is onerous and time consuming that's why the improvement of the best automation is a crucial topic for the researchers. In this study, we aimed to expose the significant contribution of normalized digital surface model (nDSM) to the automatic building extraction from mono HR satellite imagery performing two-step application in an appropriate study area which includes various terrain formations. In first step, the buildings were manually and object-based automatically extracted from ortho-rectified pan-sharpened IKONOS and Quickbird HR imagery that have 1 m and 0.6 m ground sampling distances (GSD), respectively. Next, the nDSM was created using available aerial photos to represent the height of individual non-terrain objects and used as an additional channel for segmentation. All of the results were compared with the reference data, produced from aerial photos that have 5 cm GSD. With the contribution of nDSM, the number of extracted buildings was increased and more importantly, the number of falsely extracted buildings occurred by automatic extraction errors was sharply decreased, both are the main components of precision, completeness and overall quality

Novel fusion approach on automatic object extraction from spatial data: case study Worldview-2 and TOPO5000

The automatic extraction of information content from remotely sensed data is always challenging. We suggest a novel fusion approach to improve the extraction of this information from mono-satellite images. A Worldview-2 (WV-2) pan-sharpened image and a 1/5000-scaled topographic vector map (TOPO5000) were used as the sample data. Firstly, the buildings and roads were manually extracted from WV-2 to point out the maximum extractable information content. Subsequently, object-based automatic extractions were performed. After achieving two-dimensional results, a normalized digital surface model (nDSM) was generated from the underlying digital aerial photos of TOPO5000, and the automatic extraction was repeated by fusion with the nDSM to include individual object heights as an additional band for classification. The contribution was tested by precision, completeness and overall quality. Novel fusion technique increased the success of automatic extraction by 7% for the number of buildings and by 23% for the length of roads. © 2017, © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group