Predicting User-Perceived Quality Ratings from Streaming Media Data

Abstract—Media stream quality is highly dependent on under-lying network conditions, but identifying scalable, unambiguous metrics to discern the user-perceived quality of a media stream in the face of network congestion is a challenging problem. User-perceived quality can be approximated through the use of carefully chosen application layer metrics, precluding the need to poll users directly. We discuss the use of data mining prediction techniques to analyze application layer metrics to determine user-perceived quality ratings on media streams. We show that several such prediction techniques are able to assign correct (within a small tolerance) quality ratings to streams with a high degree of accuracy. The time it takes to train and tune the predictors and perform the actual prediction are short enough to make such a strategy feasible to be executed in real time and on real computer networks. I

Low-intensity continuous ultrasound triggers effective bisphosphonate anticancer activity in breast cancer

Ultrasound (US) is a non-ionizing pressure wave that can produce mechanical and thermal effects. Bisphosphonates have demonstrated clinical utility in bone metastases treatment. Preclinical studies suggest that bisphosphonates have anticancer activity. However, bisphosphonates exhibit a high affinity for bone mineral, which reduces their bioavailability for tumor cells. Ultrasound has been shown to be effective for drug delivery but in interaction with gas bubbles or encapsulated drugs. We examined the effects of a clinically relevant dose of bisphosphonate zoledronate (ZOL) in combination with US. In a bone metastasis model, mice treated with ZOL+US had osteolytic lesions that were 58% smaller than those of ZOL-treated animals as well as a reduced skeletal tumor burden. In a model of primary tumors, ZOL+US treatment reduced by 42% the tumor volume, compared with ZOL-treated animals. Using a fluorescent bisphosphonate, we demonstrated that US forced the release of bisphosphonate from the bone surface, enabling a continuous impregnation of the bone marrow. Additionally, US forced the penetration of ZOL within tumors, as demonstrated by the intratumoral accumulation of unprenylated Rap1A, a surrogate marker of ZOL antitumor activity. Our findings made US a promising modality to trigger bisphosphonate anticancer activity in bone metastases and in primary tumors

Modèle de confinement pour les colonnes de section circulaire en béton armé confiné avec des enveloppes en polymère renforcé de fibres de carbone

Un programme experimental comprenant des essais sur 30 cylindres 160×320 mm a ete mene en vue de determiner le gain de resistance et de ductilite du beton confine par collage externe de tissu de polymere renforce de fibres de carbone (PRFC). Les variables etudiees sont la resistance a la compression du beton non confine f’co, le niveau de confinement, exprime par le nombre de plis de PRFC applique aux eprouvettes. La deformation circonferentielle a la rupture du composite PRF et l’feffet de la pression de confinement laterale effective de l’fenveloppe composite ont ete egalement etudies. Pour l’fensemble des specimens testes, l’faugmentation de la rigidite du confinement entraine a la fois une augmentation significative de la resistance a la compression axiale et de la ductilite des specimens en beton confine avec des PRFC par rapport aux specimens en beton non confine. Base sur les resultats experimentaux, un modele de confinement pratique est propose pour predire la resistance a la compression maximale du beton confine avec des materiaux composites (f’cc) et la deformation axiale correspondante (εcc)

Modèle de confinement pour les colonnes de section circulaire en béton armé confiné avec des enveloppes en polymère renforcé de fibres de carbone

Un programme experimental comprenant des essais sur 30 cylindres 160×320 mm a ete mene en vue de determiner le gain de resistance et de ductilite du beton confine par collage externe de tissu de polymere renforce de fibres de carbone (PRFC). Les variables etudiees sont la resistance a la compression du beton non confine f’co, le niveau de confinement, exprime par le nombre de plis de PRFC applique aux eprouvettes. La deformation circonferentielle a la rupture du composite PRF et l’feffet de la pression de confinement laterale effective de l’fenveloppe composite ont ete egalement etudies. Pour l’fensemble des specimens testes, l’faugmentation de la rigidite du confinement entraine a la fois une augmentation significative de la resistance a la compression axiale et de la ductilite des specimens en beton confine avec des PRFC par rapport aux specimens en beton non confine. Base sur les resultats experimentaux, un modele de confinement pratique est propose pour predire la resistance a la compression maximale du beton confine avec des materiaux composites (f’cc) et la deformation axiale correspondante (εcc)

Evaluation of Bond Strength of FRP Reinforcing Rods in Concrete and FE Modelling

International audienceThe bond behavior of FRP rebars embedded in concrete was studied. A total of forty-eight pull-out specimens were tested. The effects of different parameters of FRP rebars, such as type, shape and diameter, on the bond behavior of FRP rebars and concrete were evaluated. The average bond strength developed by the Aramid, Carbon and Glass FRP bars in pull-out tests was experimentally evaluated. Test results indicated that the average maximum bond strength of FRP rebars varied from 7.6 to 28 MPa depending on surface deformation and diameter. The maximum bond strength of FRP bars to concrete was 28 MPa, which was obtained from sand-coated bars (ISOROD bars). The M-Bar smooth type had the lowest bond behavior in concrete. The surface deformation and type of risen (the mechanical and physical properties of the outer surface) are the characteristics that have the greatest effect on the bond behavior of FRP rebars in concrete. Unlike steel bars, the mode of failure was damage of the outer surface of FRP rebars. Theoretical analyses using the finite element method were conducted to study the effect of FRP rebar type, bonded length and surface characteristics of the FRP bars. The finite element simulation is in good agreement with the experimental results of the pull-out tests obtained from carbon ISOROD bars

Structural behaviour of square RC columns confined with CFRP wraps

Loading capacity and strains of square reinforced concrete (RC) columns, strengthened with external carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets, were tested and evaluated. The experimental parameters include: number of wrap layers, concrete strength and the slenderness of the columns (L/a). All test specimens were loaded to failure in axial compression. Compressive stress, axial and hoop strains have been recorded to evaluate the stress-strain relationship, ultimate strength, stiffness, and ductility of the specimens.Results clearly demonstrate that composite wrapping can enhance the structural performance of RC columns in terms of both maximum strength and ductility. The effects of test parameters are evidenced and compared

Structural behaviour of square RC columns confined with CFRP wraps

Loading capacity and strains of square reinforced concrete (RC) columns, strengthened with external carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets, were tested and evaluated. The experimental parameters include: number of wrap layers, concrete strength and the slenderness of the columns (L/a). All test specimens were loaded to failure in axial compression. Compressive stress, axial and hoop strains have been recorded to evaluate the stress-strain relationship, ultimate strength, stiffness, and ductility of the specimens.Results clearly demonstrate that composite wrapping can enhance the structural performance of RC columns in terms of both maximum strength and ductility. The effects of test parameters are evidenced and compared

Performance of externally CFRP confined RC columns with changes in thickness of the wrap, slenderness of the column and shape of the section

The present study deals with the analysis of experimental results, in terms of load carrying capacity and strains, obtained from tests on reinforced concrete (RC) columns, strengthened with external carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets. The experimental parameters include: number of wrap layers, slenderness of the columns (L/a or L/D) and shape of the section (circular and square). A total of 48 specimens were subjected to axial compression. All test specimens were loaded to failure in axial compression. Compressive stress, axial and hoop strains have been recorded to evaluate the stress-strain relationship, ultimate strength, stiffness, and ductility of the specimens. Results clearly demonstrate that composite wrapping can enhance the structural performance of RC columns in terms of both maximum strength and ductility. The effects of test parameters are evidenced and compared