CANF-VC++: Enhancing Conditional Augmented Normalizing Flows for Video Compression with Advanced Techniques

Video has become the predominant medium for information dissemination, driving the need for efficient video codecs. Recent advancements in learned video compression have shown promising results, surpassing traditional codecs in terms of coding efficiency. However, challenges remain in integrating fragmented techniques and incorporating new tools into existing codecs. In this paper, we comprehensively review the state-of-the-art CANF-VC codec and propose CANF-VC++, an enhanced version that addresses these challenges. We systematically explore architecture design, reference frame type, training procedure, and entropy coding efficiency, leading to substantial coding improvements. CANF-VC++ achieves significant Bj{\o}ntegaard-Delta rate savings on conventional datasets UVG, HEVC Class B and MCL-JCV, outperforming the baseline CANF-VC and even the H.266 reference software VTM. Our work demonstrates the potential of integrating advancements in video compression and serves as inspiration for future research in the field

Explore the Functional Connectivity between Brain Regions during a Chemistry Working Memory Task.

Previous studies have rarely examined how temporal dynamic patterns, event-related coherence, and phase-locking are related to each other. This study assessed reaction-time-sorted spectral perturbation and event-related spectral perturbation in order to examine the temporal dynamic patterns in the frontal midline (F), central parietal (CP), and occipital (O) regions during a chemistry working memory task at theta, alpha, and beta frequencies. Furthermore, the functional connectivity between F-CP, CP-O, and F-O were assessed by component event-related coherence (ERCoh) and component phase-locking (PL) at different frequency bands. In addition, this study examined whether the temporal dynamic patterns are consistent with the functional connectivity patterns across different frequencies and time courses. Component ERCoh/PL measured the interactions between different independent components decomposed from the scalp EEG, mixtures of time courses of activities arising from different brain, and artifactual sources. The results indicate that the O and CP regions' temporal dynamic patterns are similar to each other. Furthermore, pronounced component ERCoh/PL patterns were found to exist between the O and CP regions across each stimulus and probe presentation, in both theta and alpha frequencies. The consistent theta component ERCoh/PL between the F and O regions was found at the first stimulus and after probe presentation. These findings demonstrate that temporal dynamic patterns at different regions are in accordance with the functional connectivity patterns. Such coordinated and robust EEG temporal dynamics and component ERCoh/PL patterns suggest that these brain regions' neurons work together both to induce similar event-related spectral perturbation and to synchronize or desynchronize simultaneously in order to swiftly accomplish a particular goal. The possible mechanisms for such distinct component phase-locking and coherence patterns were also further discussed

Load and resistance factor design of cold-formed steel: Calibration of the AISI design provisions

In the design of steel buildings, the Allowable Stress Criteria have long been used for the design of cold-formed steel structural members in the United States and other countries.\u27 In view of the fact that the mathematical theory of probability, which has been so successfully applied in other fields of engineering, would seem to be equally applicable to cold-formed steel design by providing a more uniform degree of structural safety, the Limit State Design method based on the probabilistic concept has been used in Canada and Europe for the design of cold-formed steel structural members.\u27 In the United States, a research project on Load and Resistance Factor Design of Gold-Formed Steel Members was condudted by Rang, Supornsilaphachai, Snyder, Pan, Galambos, and Yu during the period from 1979 through 1985. The tentative load and resistance factor design (LRFD) criteria for cold-formed structural members were proposed in the Seventh Progress Report\u27 on the basis of the 1980 Edition of the AISI allowable stress design specification. In 1986, a major revision was made in the AISI Specification to reflect the results of recent research projects and improvements in design techniques. Consequently, the tentative LRFD criteria proposed in the Seventh Progress Report were revised in 1987. This progress report contains the calibrations of the AISI design provisions included in the 1986 Specification. The procedures used for calibration are summarized in Article II. Articles Ill through XI deal with (a) bending strength, (b) web crippling of beams, (c) combined bending and web crippling, (d) concentrically loaded compression members, (e) combined axial load and bending, (f) welded connections, (g) bolted connections, (h) stiffeners, and (i) wall studs and wall stud assemblies. The results of these calibrations will be used in the revision of the proposed LRFD Specification for cold-formed steel structural members

Internationalization in Higher Education – International Student’s Chinese Learning as Serious Leisure in Taiwan

Due to the economic and commercial rise of China, the economic value, political value, and instrumental advantages produced by Chinese have become more significant. The fever for learning Chinese continues to intensify all over the world, and Chinese instruction has become increasingly popular. Taiwan is a country with Chinese as its official language; and an important issue rose in international educational policy is how to attract international students to study Chinese in Taiwan. At the same time, Taiwan has promoted the internationalization of universities in the recent years; it hopes to elevate the visibility of its universities on the international stage, and intends to broaden diplomacy and promote economic development. This study found that international students who came to Taiwan to learn Chinese tended to be Asians. The different original residence locations of international students would significantly affect learning Chinese as serious leisure. International students who rented apartments with others off-campus or who chose home-stays had greater life planning, effort in Chinese learning, continuous benefits from Chinese learning, and a sense of community identification with their learning peers, as compared to international students who lived in school dormitories or lived alone off-campus. International students who had mor e disposable income each month were more likely to gain lasting benefits from Chinese learning and strong community identification with their learning peers. Key words: International education; International students; Chinese learning; Language learning as serious leisure Resumé: En raison de l'essor économique et commercial de la Chine, la valeur économique, la valeur politique et les avantages instrumentaux produits par les Chinois sont devenus plus importants. L'enthouiasme pour apprendre le chinois continue de s'intensifier dans le monde entier, et l'enseignement du chinois est devenu de plus en plus populaire. La langue officielle de Taiwan est le chinois, et l'une des questions importantes dans la politique éducative internationale est de savoir comment attirer des étudiants étrangers à étudier le chinois à Taiwan. En même temps, Taiwan a favorisé l'internationalisation des universités dans les années récentes. Il espère rehausser la visibilité de ses universités sur la scène internationale et il a l'intention d'élargir la diplomatie et promouvoir le développement économique. Cette étude a révélé que les étudiants étrangers qui sont venus à Taiwan pour apprendre le chinois sont plutôt des Asiatiques. Les localisations différentes de résidence originale des étudiants étrangers auraient une influence significative sur leur apprentissage du chinois en tant que loisir sérieux. Les étudiants étrangers qui ont loué des appartements avec d'autres étudiants en dehors du campus ou ceux qui ont choisi une famille d'acceuil avaient une planification de vie plus longue et un effort d'apprendre le Chinois plus grand. Ils bénéficiaient des avantages continus de l'apprentissage du chinois et avaient un sentiment d'identification de communauté avec leurs partenaires de l'apprentissage, par rapport aux étudiants étrangers qui vivaient dans les dortoirs scolaires ou vivaient seuls en dehors du campus. Les étudiants étrangers qui avaient un revenu disponible plus élevé chaque mois étaient plus susceptibles d'obtenir des avantages durables de l'apprentissage du chinois et avaient une identification forte de communauté avec leurs partenaire de l'apprentissage. Mots-clés: éducation internationale; étudiants internationaux; apprentissage du chinois; apprentissage de langue en tant que loisir sérieu

Load and resistance factor design of cold-formed steel load and resistance factor design specification for cold-formed steel structural members with commentary

FOREWORD This progress report contains the following two parts: Part I: Load and Resistance Factor Design Specification for Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members (pp. i-107). Part II: Commentary on the Load and Resistance Factor Design Specification for Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members (pp. 109-161). The load and resistance factor design specification proposed herein is the revised version of the design recommendations prepared in February 1988 and submitted to American Iron and Steel Institute as Tenth Progress Report. This document was prepared according to the 1986 edition of the AISI Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members. The selections of ϕ factors are discussed in the Commentary for various types of structural members and connections. This investigation was sponsored by American Iron and Steel Institute. The technical guidance provided by the AISI Subcommitte on Load and Resistance Factor Design and the AISI Staff is gratefully acknowledged. Members of the AISI Subcommitte are: K. H. Klippstein (Chairman), R. Bjorhovde, D. S. Ellifritt, S. J. Errera, T. V. Galambos, B. Hall, D. H. Hall, R. B. Heagler, N. Iwankiw, A. L. Johnson, D. L. Johnson, A. C. Kuentz, A. S. Nowak, T. B. Pekoz, C. W. Pinkham, R. M. Schuster, and W. W. Yu. Former members of theAISI Task Group on LRFD included R. L. Cary, N. C. Lind, R. B. Matlock, W. Mueller, F. J. Phillips, D. S. Wolford and Late Professor G. Winter. Special thanks are extended to T. V. Galambos, Consultant of the project, T. N. Rang, B. Supornsilaphachai, B. K. Snyder, L. C. Pan, and M.K. Ravindra for their contributions to the project

Load and resistance factor design of cold-formed steel load and resistance factor design specification for cold-formed steel structural members with commentary

FOREWORD This progress report contains the following two parts: Part I: Load and Resistance Factor Design Specification for Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members (pp. i-101). Part II: Commentary on the Load and Resistance Factor Design Specification for Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members (pp. 103-148). The load and resistance factor design specification proposed herein is the revised version of the design recommendations prepared in September 1985 and submitted to American Iron and Steel Institute as Seventh Progress Report. This document was prepared according to the 1986 edition of the AISI Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members. The selections of ϕ factors are discussed in the Commentary for various types of structural members and connections. This investigation was sponsored by American Iron and Steel Institute. The technical guidance provided by the AISI Subcommittee on Load and Resistance Factor Design and the AISI Staff is gratefully acknowledged. Members of the AISI Subcommittee are: K. H. Klippstein (Chairman), R. Bjorhovde, D. S. Ellifritt, S. J. Errera, T. V. Galambos, B. Hall, D. H. Hall, R. B. Heagler, N. Iwankiw, A. L. Johnson, D. L. Johnson, A. C. Kuentz, A. S. Nowak, T. B. Pekoz, C. W. Pinkham, R. M. Schuster, and W. W. Yu. Former members of the AISI Task Group on LRFD included R. L. Cary, N. C. Lind, R. B. Matlock, W. Mueller, F. J. Phillips, D. S. Wolford and Late Professor G. Winter. Special thanks are extended to T. V. Galambos, Consultant of the project, T. N. Rang, B. Supornsilaphachai, B. K. Snyder, L. C. Pan, and M. K. Rarindra for their contributions to the project

Load and resistance factor design of cold-formed steel reliability based criteria for cold-formed steel members

In the design of steel buildings, the Allowable Stress Design (ASD) method has long been used for cold-formed steel structural members in the United States and other countries. In this approach, member forces, or moments, determined on the basis of working loads should not exceed the allowable values. The allowable value is used to prevent the possible structural failure by using an appropriate factor of safety selected primarily on the basis of engineering judgment and long-time experience. Recently, in the United States, the concepts of risk and reliability analysis have been successfully applied to the Load and Resistance Factor Design criteria for steel buildings using hot-rolled shapes, and built-up members fabricated from steel plates. In order to develop reliability based design criteria for cold-formed steel members, a joint research project entitled Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) of Cold-Formed Steel was conducted at the University of Missouri-Rolla, Washington University, and the University of Minnesota. This study included the selection of a reliability analysis model; the evaluation of load factors; the calibration of the design provisions; the determination of resistance factors; the comparative study of design methods for cold-formed steel; and the preparation of the LRFD design manual for cold-formed steel. However, only the development of the reliability based design criteria, and the comparative study of design methods for cold-formed steel are discussed in this dissertation