Adaptive block-based compressive sensing (ABCS) algorithms are studied in the context of the practical realisation of compressive sensing on resource-constrained image and video sensing platforms ...that use single-pixel cameras, multi-pixel cameras or focal plane processing sensors. In this paper, we introduce two novel ABCS algorithms that are suitable for compressively sensing images or intra-coded video frames. Both use deterministic 2D-DCT dictionaries when sensing the images instead of random dictionaries. The first uses a low number of compressive measurements to compute the block boundary variation (BBV) around each image block, from which it estimates the number of 2D-DCT transform coefficients to measure from each block. The second uses a low number of DCT domain (DD) measurements to estimate the total number of transform coefficients to capture from each block. The two algorithms permit reconstruction in real time, averaging 8 ms and 26 ms for <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">256 \times 256 </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">512 \times 512 </tex-math></inline-formula> greyscale images, respectively, using a simple inverse 2D-DCT operation without requiring GPU acceleration. Furthermore, we show that an iterative compressive sensing reconstruction algorithm (IDA), inspired by the denoising-based approximate message passing algorithm, can be used as a post-processing, quality enhancement technique. IDA trades off real-time operation to yield performance improvement over state-of-the-art GPU-assisted algorithms of 1.31 dB and 0.0152 in terms of PSNR and SSIM, respectively. It also exceeds the PSNR performance of a state-of-the-art deep neural network by 0.4 dB and SSIM by 0.0126.
Blended Learning (BL) is defined as a combination of face‐to‐face and digital activities that, in recent years, has been adopted more and more frequently by Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). In ...the engineering field, the adoption of BL allows creating challenging situations for students with industry‐like problems to foster the acquisition of advanced problem‐solving skills. Thus, it can be used to enhance traditional learning by enriching it with new aspects, allowing to update the Intended Learning Outcomes traditionally defined by teachers. Although prior coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) teachers had the time to prepare and programme the transition to BL, during the pandemic they had to abruptly move to the full digital delivery of the content, requiring technological and organizational adaptation, as well as change in the content teaching and assessment methods. Through a systematic literature review, this paper aims to understand how BL has been implemented in the engineering field by HEIs, discussing if and how the learning expectations of teachers (evaluated through Bloom's Taxonomy) change when using different mixes of face‐to‐face and digital activities and when the target audience changes. More specifically, the investigation addresses how content and learning expectations are split and set in face‐to‐face and digital settings. Additionally, the interest is towards understanding how COVID‐19 impacted the adoption of BL, not only during the pandemic but also after.
In the past eight years, since the election of Francis as the first Latin American pontiff in history, the Church has experienced new manners of being and acting. Even though she has also been in a ...constant state of aggiornamento, Francis’ vision has contributed greatly to this concept of being a perfect image of the ideal Church of Christ (cf. Ecclesiam Suam 10) and a better servant of humanity. The objective of this study is to present an outline of Francis’ main ecclesiological concepts, in the awareness that this endeavour can never be completely exhaustive. For this reason, the article is divided into two main sections. In this first one, the bedrocks of his ecclesiological thoughts are studied. These include his Jesuit vocation, the CELAM conferences and vision, and the Argentine theology of the people. In the second section, his main ecclesiological themes are analysed: the people of God, a poor Church for the poor, ecumenism, reform, and an ecological Church.
Abstract Amputees face a number of challenges when acquiring and using a prosthesis, with major issues being the cost of the device, the time it takes for their custom prosthesis to be developed and ...delivered, as well as the challenges they face to get it regularly serviced and maintained. The other stakeholders involved, including the prosthetists and standard systems manufacturers, have a difficulty to collectively handle so many issues that occur to the different amputees. To address these challenges, our research reported in this paper contributes an approach to how these can be handled, through a Prescriptive approach entitled Adaptive Prosthetic Life-Cycle Service System (adProLiSS) Framework. Unlike other product service systems, adProLiSS is designed to explicitly involve and serve the amputee and their evolving needs during different phases throughout the amputee's life. This impacts how a prosthetic device needs to be designed to ensure a smoother interaction between the amputee and the device. The adProLiSS preliminary evaluation shows an improvement by which amputees can be efficiently provided with a prosthesis that evolves with their changing needs and aspirations, this fostering a longer term 'patient-centred care' service.
The three-dimensional imaging of mesoscopic samples with Optical Projection Tomography (OPT) has become a powerful tool for biomedical phenotyping studies. OPT uses visible light to visualize the 3D ...morphology of large transparent samples. To enable a wider application of OPT, we present OptiJ, a low-cost, fully open-source OPT system capable of imaging large transparent specimens up to 13 mm tall and 8 mm deep with 50 µm resolution. OptiJ is based on off-the-shelf, easy-to-assemble optical components and an ImageJ plugin library for OPT data reconstruction. The software includes novel correction routines for uneven illumination and sample jitter in addition to CPU/GPU accelerated reconstruction for large datasets. We demonstrate the use of OptiJ to image and reconstruct cleared lung lobes from adult mice. We provide a detailed set of instructions to set up and use the OptiJ framework. Our hardware and software design are modular and easy to implement, allowing for further open microscopy developments for imaging large organ samples.
Abstract Despite technological and medical advances, amputations continue to increase. Amputees face significant challenges when acquiring and using prosthetic devices, challenges which are made ...worse as their emotional needs, aspirations, mobility, prosthesis requirements and problems change over time. These challenges require custom solutions for each individual amputee, a fact that current amputee centered prosthesis services tend to ignore. The work reported in this paper contributes an AI based Prosthesis Development Service Framework to cater for the current and evolving needs of amputees.
Todo estudio sobre la figura de Pablo VI resulta de gran actualidad, tanto por su enorme influencia en el papa Francisco, como por el sello que su pontificado ha dejado en la Iglesia del presente. En ...este artículo se investigará el papel que el diálogo desempeñó en su actuación y en su pensamiento, de manera particular durante el desarrollo del concilio. Presentaremos el ambiente en que creció Montini y los momentos más significativos en su vida, es decir, su formación, su labor diplomática y su misión como arzobispo de Milán. Nos fijaremos en algunos momentos del concilio y cómo Pablo VI trató el tema del diálogo en esos momentos, de manera particular nos ocuparemos de la encíclica Ecclesiam suam. Por último, concluiremos el artículo desarrollando cómo se plasma el tema del diálogo en las constituciones conciliares Dei Verbum, Lumen gentium y Gaudium et spes.
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