Perceptual video quality optimization in AWGN channel using low complexity channel code rate allocation

ABSTRACT In error-prone channels, forward error correction is necessary for protecting important data. In this paper, we use a packet loss visibility model to evaluate the visual importance of video packets to be transmitted. With the loss visibility of each packet, we use the Branch and Bound method to optimally allocate rates of Rate-Compatible Punctured Convolutional codes. The complexity of our prior algorithm can be reduced by k-means clustering before using the Branch and Bound method. Experimental results show that the proposed unequal error protection algorithm can improve upon the received video quality compared to our prior work with much lower complexity. Index Terms-Unequal error protection, packet loss visibility model, perceptual quality

FACTORS AFFECTING THE TRANSFER OF INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS TO CHINA: A CASE STUDY OF HIGH-TECH ENTERPRISES

Due to the huge market potentiality, profuse production resource such as workforce and land, and low production costs in China, many international high-tech enterprises are moving their production line to China. Accompanying production offshoring is the transfer of Information Technology (IT) to ensure that the production processes remain efficient and effective at home and abroad. Many enterprises however encounter problems in transferring their IT to China, especially when the IT is an inter-organizational system (IOS), which is across organizational boundaries and involves the management of relationships among participants. In order to understand how to successfully transfer IOS to China, we aim to find out key relational factors of IOS performance in China through an observation of a binary relationship built upon an e-procurement system between a Taiwanese PC ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) and its Chinese suppliers. Based on the relational view of the firm, four relational factors are proposed and examined. The results show that IOS specific investments and effective IOS governance most strongly affects the result of IOS transfer to China, whereas complementary resource endowment has least influence

THE EFFECT OF MACH DRILLS TRAINING ON THE START MOVEMENT OF IN-LINE SPEED SKATING

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relative muscle activation of the start movement and the Mach Drills training program. 5 in-line skating players participated in the study and 9 Wireless EMG sensors were placed over the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, peroneus longus, adductor magnus, tensor fascia lata, and gluteus maximus. Results showed that significantly lower gastrocnemius IEMG value in skating. However, it also showed that RF, TA, and PL had higher IEMG value in skating and significant difference was found for TA. Another muscle activation didn’t have significantly difference. It suggested that athletes had to increase more specific training program for rectus femoris muscle and peroneus longus muscle which play an important roles for start movement in skating

2,2′-[(1E)-3-Phenyl­prop-2-ene-1,1-di­yl]bis­(3-hy­droxy-5,5-dimethyl­cyclo­hex-2-en-1-one)

In the title mol­ecule, C25H30O4, the two cyclo­hexene rings adopt envelope conformations. The two hy­droxy groups are involved in the formation of intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. In the crystal structure, weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link mol­ecules related by translation along the axis a into chains

INVITATION: An Elderly Friendly ICT-enabled Interactive Installation to Promote Social Participations

Many countries are facing significant challenges posed by aging populations, and many of these elderly people are increasingly socially isolated, raising the need to develop senior-friendly services and settings for community life. ICT-enabled technologies can be used to help the elderly maintain adequate degrees of social participation. This paper reports the design and production of an innovative recreation installation featuring elderly friendly technologies to enhance the social lives of elderly Chinese people. The contents are composed of modernized visualization elements of traditional Chinese painting designed to engage elderly Chinese people and promote interaction and participation.</p

A Pair of Early- and Late-Forming Galaxy Cluster Samples: Implications for Detection of Halo Assembly Bias

The halo assembly bias, a phenomenon referring to dependencies of the large-scale bias of a dark matter halo other than its mass, is a fundamental property of our standard cosmological model. First discovered in 2005 via high-resolution numerical simulations, it has been proven very difficult to be detected observationally, with only a few convincing claims of detection thus far. The main obstacle lies in finding an accurate proxy of the halo formation time. In this study, by utilizing a constrained simulation that can faithfully reproduce the observed structures larger than $\sim 2\,$Mpc in the local universe, for a sample of about 630 massive clusters at $z\le 0.12$, we find their counterpart halos in the simulation and use the mass growth history of the matched halos to estimate the formation time of the observed clusters. This allows us to construct a pair of early- and late-forming clusters, with similar mass as measured via weak gravitational lensing, and large-scale bias differing at $\gtrsim 4\sigma$ level, clearly showing the signature of assembly bias.Comment: MNRAS letters, submitted; 5 pages and 3 figure

Sodium vanadate combined with l-ascorbic acid delays disease progression, enhances motor performance, and ameliorates muscle atrophy and weakness in mice with spinal muscular atrophy

BACKGROUND: Proximal spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a neurodegenerative disorder that causes infant mortality, has no effective treatment. Sodium vanadate has shown potential for the treatment of SMA; however, vanadate-induced toxicity in vivo remains an obstacle for its clinical application. We evaluated the therapeutic potential of sodium vanadate combined with a vanadium detoxification agent, L-ascorbic acid, in a SMA mouse model. METHODS: Sodium vanadate (200 μM), L-ascorbic acid (400 μM), or sodium vanadate combined with L-ascorbic acid (combined treatment) were applied to motor neuron-like NSC34 cells and fibroblasts derived from a healthy donor and a type II SMA patient to evaluate the cellular viability and the efficacy of each treatment in vitro. For the in vivo studies, sodium vanadate (20 mg/kg once daily) and L-ascorbic acid (40 mg/kg once daily) alone or in combination were orally administered daily on postnatal days 1 to 30. Motor performance, pathological studies, and the effects of each treatment (vehicle, L-ascorbic acid, sodium vanadate, and combined treatment) were assessed and compared on postnatal days (PNDs) 30 and 90. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the survival rate, with P < 0.05 indicating significance. For other studies, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student's t test for paired variables were used to measure significant differences (P < 0.05) between values. RESULTS: Combined treatment protected cells against vanadate-induced cell death with decreasing B cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein (Bax) levels. A month of combined treatment in mice with late-onset SMA beginning on postnatal day 1 delayed disease progression, improved motor performance in adulthood, enhanced survival motor neuron (SMN) levels and motor neuron numbers, reduced muscle atrophy, and decreased Bax levels in the spinal cord. Most importantly, combined treatment preserved hepatic and renal function and substantially decreased vanadium accumulation in these organs. CONCLUSIONS: Combined treatment beginning at birth and continuing for 1 month conferred protection against neuromuscular damage in mice with milder types of SMA. Further, these mice exhibited enhanced motor performance in adulthood. Therefore, combined treatment could present a feasible treatment option for patients with late-onset SMA