The contrast effect: QoE of mixed video-qualities at the same time

In desktop multi-party video-conferencing videostreams of participants are delivered in different qualities, but we know little about how such composition of the screen affects the quality of experience. Do the different videostreams serve as indirect quality references and the perceived video quality is thus dependent on other streams in the same session? How is the relation between the perceived qualities of each stream and the perceived quality of the overall session? To answer these questions we conducted a crowdsourcing study, in which we gathered over 5000 perceived quality ratings of overall sessions and individual streams. Our results show a contrast effect: high quality streams are rated better when more low quality streams are co-present, and vice versa. In turn, the quality p

A QoE study of different stream and layout configurations in video conferencing under limited network conditions

One particular problem of QoE research in video conferencing is, that most research in the past concentrated on one-to-one video conferencing or simply video consumption. However, video conferencing with two people (one-to-one) and within a group (multi-party) is different. Particularly, limitations of one participant might have an effect on the QoE of the whole group. This possible effect however is not well studied. Therefore, this paper aims to better understand the impact of individual limitations towards the groups QoE. To do so, we show a study about different video stream configurations and layouts for multi-party conferencing in respect to individual network limitations. For this, we conduct a user study with 20 participants in 5 groups, in a semi-controlled setup. Such a setup, combines supervising participants locally while still using our software infrastructure deployed in the internet. Furthermore, we use an asymmetric experiment design, by putting every participant under a different condition, as this proposes a more realistic scenario. Within our study, we look at three different factors: layout, video quality and network limitations. To foster conversation between participants, the group engaged in a discussion about different survival questions. Our findings show that packet loss and the resulting distortions have a greater impact on the QoE as reducing the video quality by its resolution. Furthermore, our findings indicate that participants are more satisfied in a visually equal layout (showing participants in a similar size) and a more balanced stream configuration

1Mbps is enough: video quality and individual idiosyncrasies in multiparty HD video-conferencing

Most video platforms deliver HD video in high bitrate encoding. Modern video-conferencing systems are capable of handling HD streams, but using multiparty conferencing, average internet connections in the home are on their bandwidth limit. For properly managing the encoding bitrate in videoconferencing, we must know what is the minimum bitrate requirement to provide users an acceptable experience, and what is the bitrate level after which QoE saturates?. Most available subjective studies in this area used rather dated technologies. We report on a multiparty study on video quality with HD resolution. We tested different encoding bitrates (256kbs, 1024kbs and 4096kbs) and packet loss rates (0, 0.5%) in groups of 4 participants with a

Quasiparticle density of states in dirty high-T_c superconductors

We study the density of quasiparticle states of dirty d-wave superconductors. We show the existence of singular corrections to the density of states due to quantum interference effects. We then argue that the density of states actually vanishes in the localized phase as $|E|$ or $E^2$ depending on whether time reversal is a good symmetry or not. We verify this result for systems without time reversal symmetry in one dimension using supersymmetry techniques. This simple, instructive calculation also provides the exact universal scaling function for the density of states for the crossover from ballistic to localized behaviour in one dimension. Above two dimensions, we argue that in contrast to the conventional Anderson localization transition, the density of states has critical singularities which we calculate in a $2+\epsilon$ expansion. We discuss consequences of our results for various experiments on dirty high-$T_c$ materials

Electron momentum distribution in underdoped cuprates

We investigate the electron momentum distribution function (EMD) in a weakly doped two-dimensional quantum antiferromagnet (AFM) as described by the t-J model. Our analytical results for a single hole in an AFM based on the self-consistent Born approximation (SCBA) indicate an anomalous momentum dependence of EMD showing 'hole pockets' coexisting with a signature of an emerging large Fermi surface. The position of the incipient Fermi surface and the structure of the EMD is determined by the momentum of the ground state. Our analysis shows that this result remains robust in the presence of next-nearest neighbor hopping terms in the model. Exact diagonalization results for small clusters are with the SCBA reproduced quantitatively.Comment: 5 pages, submitted to PR

Non-magnetic impurity scattering in a dx2−y2d_{x^2 - y^2} superconductor near a van Hove point: Zn versus Ni in the cuprates

We consider the effect of non-magnetic impurities in a $d_{x^2 - y^2}$ superconductor with \ef close to a van Hove singularity. It is shown that the non-trivial density of states (DOS) allows for resonant scattering already at intermediate potential strengths $|u| \approx 1-2$eV. The residual DOS at \ef, and the \tc suppression rate are found to strongly depend on the carrier concentration. Quantitative agreement with experiments on Zn and Ni doped cuprates is obtained by adjusting a single parameter, $u$.Comment: 4 pages uuencoded compressed Postscript (Minor changes

Heat Transport and the Nature of the Order Parameter in Superconducting UPt3UPt_3

Recent thermal conductivity data on the heavy fermion superconductor $UPt_3$ have been interpreted as offering support for an $E_{2u}$ model of the order parameter as opposed to an $E_{1g}$ model. In this paper, we analyze this issue from a theoretical standpoint including the detailed effects of Fermi surface and gap anisotropy. Our conclusion is that although current data put strong constraints on the gap anisotropy, they cannot definitively distinguish between these two models. Measurements on samples of varying quality could be decisive in this regard, however.Comment: 8 pages, revtex, 15 uunencoded postscript figure

Magnetic polarons in weakly doped high-Tc superconductors

We consider a spin Hamiltonian describing $d$-$d$ exchange interactions between localized spins $d$ of a finite antiferromagnet as well as $p$-$d$ interactions between a conducting hole ($p$) and localized spins. The spin Hamiltonian is solved numerically with use of Lanczos method of diagonalization. We conclude that $p$-$d$ exchange interaction leads to localization of magnetic polarons. Quantum fluctuations of the antiferromagnet strengthen this effect and make the formation of polarons localized in one site possible even for weak $p$-$d$ coupling. Total energy calculations, including the kinetic energy, do not change essentially the phase diagram of magnetic polarons formation. For parameters reasonable for high-$T_c$ superconductors either a polaron localized on one lattice cell or a small ferron can form. For reasonable values of the dielectric function and $p$-$d$ coupling, the contributions of magnetic and phonon terms in the formation of a polaron in weakly doped high-$T_c$ materials are comparable.Comment: revised, revtex-4, 12 pages 8 eps figure

Shadowing in Inelastic Scattering of Muons on Carbon, Calcium and Lead at Low XBj

Nuclear shadowing is observed in the per-nucleon cross-sections of positive muons on carbon, calcium and lead as compared to deuterium. The data were taken by Fermilab experiment E665 using inelastically scattered muons of mean incident momentum 470 GeV/c. Cross-section ratios are presented in the kinematic region 0.0001 < XBj <0.56 and 0.1 < Q**2 < 80 GeVc. The data are consistent with no significant nu or Q**2 dependence at fixed XBj. As XBj decreases, the size of the shadowing effect, as well as its A dependence, are found to approach the corresponding measurements in photoproduction.Comment: 22 pages, incl. 6 figures, to be published in Z. Phys.