A reliable optical transmission system with an improved signal control mechanism that avoids abrupt power variations of light beams, thereby preventing optical supervisory channel signals from experiencing errors. The video encoding device 10 implements backward interframe prediction from a temporally subsequent frame and outputs information indicating that an option to eliminate use of a decoded image of the temporally subsequent frame was chosen. Compounds of Formula I have the following structure:where R1 is a group of Formula IA, Formula IB, Formula IC, or Formula IDand the definitions of the other variables are provided herein. The upper conductive layer includes a third conductive segment overlapping the first and second conductive segments. Te upper end of the grounding rod is extended into the second portion of the tubular member such that the upper end abuts the dividing wall. The player is provided with a ticket having the preselected numbers with a control number for each set of numbers and a validation number for the ticket.