scholarly journals Foveation Pipeline for 360° Video-Based Telemedicine

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 2264
Author(s):  
Muhammad Firdaus Syawaludin ◽  
Myungho Lee ◽  
Jae-In Hwang

Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) and omnidirectional cameras serve as a video-mediated communication interface for telemedicine. Most cases use either PTZ or omnidirectional cameras exclusively; even when used together, images from the two are shown separately on 2D displays. Conventional foveated imaging techniques may offer a solution for exploiting the benefits of both cameras, i.e., the high resolution of the PTZ camera and the wide field-of-view of the omnidirectional camera, but displaying the unified image on a 2D display would reduce the benefit of “omni-” directionality. In this paper, we introduce a foveated imaging pipeline designed to support virtual reality head-mounted displays (HMDs). The pipeline consists of two parallel processes: one for estimating parameters for the integration of the two images and another for rendering images in real time. A control mechanism for placing the foveal region (i.e., high-resolution area) in the scene and zooming is also proposed. Our evaluations showed that the proposed pipeline achieved, on average, 17 frames per second when rendering the foveated view on an HMD, and showed angular resolution improvement on the foveal region compared with the omnidirectional camera view. However, the improvement was less significant when the zoom level was 8× and more. We discuss possible improvement points and future research directions.

2012 ◽  
pp. 1088-1095
Author(s):  
Kumi Ishii ◽  
Brittany R. Black

With the diffusion of networked technology in our society, online communication has become an integral part of daily life, and conflict no longer occurs only in face-to-face (FtF) contexts. Many people experience cyber conflict (i.e., a perceived incompatibility of goals among two or more cyber parties over computer-mediated communication (CMC) or online communication) and manages it online. While research in this significant and emerged topic is scattered across contexts and disciplines, this chapter provides preliminary knowledge by discussing the antecedents and outcomes of cyber conflict as well as factors that affect cyber conflict management. The chapter also offers future research directions.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saman Naghieh ◽  
Md Sarker ◽  
Mohammad Izadifar ◽  
Xiongbiao Chen

Over the past two decades, significant progress has been achieved in the field of tissue engineering (TE) to restore/repair damaged tissues or organs and, in this regard, scaffolds made from biomaterials have played a critical role. Notably, recent advances in biomaterials and three-dimensional (3D) printing have enabled the manipulation of two or more biomaterials of distinct, yet complementary, mechanical and/or biological properties to form so-called hybrid scaffolds mimicking native tissues. Among various biomaterials, hydrogels synthesized to incorporate living cells and/or biological molecules have dominated due to their hydrated tissue-like environment. Moreover, dispensing-based bioprinting has evolved to the point that it can now be used to create hybrid scaffolds with complex structures. However, the complexities associated with multi-material bioprinting and synthesis of hydrogels used for hybrid scaffolds pose many challenges for their fabrication. This paper presents a brief review of dispensing-based bioprinting of hybrid scaffolds for TE applications. The focus is on the design and fabrication of hybrid scaffolds, including imaging techniques, potential biomaterials, physical architecture, mechanical properties, cell viability, and the importance of vessel-like channels. The key issues and challenges for dispensing-based bioprinting of hybrid scaffolds are also identified and discussed along with recommendations for future research directions. Addressing these issues will significantly enhance the design and fabrication of hybrid scaffolds to and pave the way for translating them into clinical applications.


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 3147
Author(s):  
YoonSeok Baek ◽  
KyeoReh Lee ◽  
Jeonghun Oh ◽  
YongKeun Park

The development of optical and computational techniques has enabled imaging without the need for traditional optical imaging systems. Modern lensless imaging techniques overcome several restrictions imposed by lenses, while preserving or even surpassing the capability of lens-based imaging. However, existing lensless methods often rely on a priori information about objects or imaging conditions. Thus, they are not ideal for general imaging purposes. The recent development of the speckle-correlation scattering matrix (SSM) techniques facilitates new opportunities for lensless imaging and sensing. In this review, we present the fundamentals of SSM methods and highlight recent implementations for holographic imaging, microscopy, optical mode demultiplexing, and quantification of the degree of the coherence of light. We conclude with a discussion of the potential of SSM and future research directions.


Author(s):  
Justyna Franc-Dąbrowska

The aim of this article was to collect the achievements of luminaries of agribusiness finance and to indicate current and future research directions. The origin of finance of agribusiness – a separate area of research in relation to finance in general – has its anchorage in the specificity of entities operating in the sphere of agribusiness. Starting from the debates of coryphaeus of agribusiness finance, through the research conducted at the turn of the 20th and 21st century, all the uncertainties surrounding the financial decision-making and their effects on agriculture have not been resolved. There is still a wide field of research – and even with the increase in the pace of change in the macro-economy and in the world – more and more doubts arise about the decisions dedicated to agricultural entrepreneurs. There is therefore a wide range of research that can be identified as agribusiness finances, characterized by specificities, including the dependence of production on livelihoods, strong dependence on natural factors, and limited mobility of rural populations.


Author(s):  
Gabriel A. Giordano ◽  
Jason Stoner ◽  
Robyn L. Brouer ◽  
Joey F. George

With the increasing use of technology in the workplace, more organizational communication is electronic and more group tasks are conducted in computer mediated settings than ever before. This includes negotiations, which are an important part of most organizations. Researchers are beginning to realize that the increased use of computer mediated communication in negotiations can change an individuals’ behavior, including their negotiation style and ability to detect deception. However, there is limited research in this area, so many originations are likely not aware of the problems associated with deception in computer mediated negotiations. This chapter reviews past research, a current study, and future research directions related to computer mediated negotiations and deception.


GeoHazards ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-195
Author(s):  
Alexandre Canitano ◽  
Maxime Mouyen ◽  
Ya-Ju Hsu ◽  
Alan Linde ◽  
Selwyn Sacks ◽  
...  

As one of the most sensitive instruments for deformation monitoring in geophysics, borehole strainmeter has the capability to record a large spectrum of tectonic and environmental signals. Sensors are usually deployed near active faults and volcanoes and provide high-resolution continuous recordings of seismic and aseismic signals, hydrological variations (rainfall, groundwater level) and natural hazards (tropical cyclones, landslides, tsunamis). On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the installation of the first Sacks–Evertson borehole strainmeter, in central Japan, we present an overview of the major scientific contributions and advances enabled by borehole strainmeter measurements in Taiwan since their installation in the mid 2000s. We also propose a set of future research directions that address recent challenges in seismology, hydrology and crustal strain modeling.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-277
Author(s):  
Xinyue Zhang ◽  
Peng Gao ◽  
Michael P. Snyder

Human health is regulated by complex interactions among the genome, the microbiome, and the environment. While extensive research has been conducted on the human genome and microbiome, little is known about the human exposome. The exposome comprises the totality of chemical, biological, and physical exposures that individuals encounter over their lifetimes. Traditional environmental and biological monitoring only targets specific substances, whereas exposomic approaches identify and quantify thousands of substances simultaneously using nontargeted high-throughput and high-resolution analyses. The quantified self (QS) aims at enhancing our understanding of human health and disease through self-tracking. QS measurements are critical in exposome research, as external exposures impact an individual's health, behavior, and biology. This review discusses both the achievements and the shortcomings of current research and methodologies on the QS and the exposome and proposes future research directions.


Author(s):  
James Pawley ◽  
David Joy

The scanning electron microscope (SEM) builds up an image by sampling contiguous sub-volumes near the surface of the specimen. A fine electron beam selectively excites each sub-volume and then the intensity of some resulting signal is measured and then plotted as a corresponding intensity in an image. The spatial resolution of such an image is limited by at least three factors. Two of these determine the size of the interaction volume: the size of the electron probe and the extent to which detectable signal is excited from locations remote from the beam impact area. A third limitation emerges from the fact that the probing beam is composed of a number of discrete particles and therefore that the accuracy with which any detectable signal can be measured is limited by Poisson statistics applied to this number (or to the number of events actually detected if this is smaller). As in all imaging techniques, the limiting signal contrast required to recognize a morphological structure is constrained by this statistical consideration. The only way to overcome this limit is to increase either the contrast of the measured signal or the number of beam/specimen interactions detected. Unfortunately, these interactions deposit ionizing radiation that may damage the very structure under investigation. As a result, any practical consideration of the high resolution performance of the SEM must consider not only the size of the interaction volume but also the contrast available from the signal producing the image and the radiation sensitivity of the specimen.


Author(s):  
C. Barry Carter

This paper will review the current state of understanding of interface structure and highlight some of the future needs and problems which must be overcome. The study of this subject can be separated into three different topics: 1) the fundamental electron microscopy aspects, 2) material-specific features of the study and 3) the characteristics of the particular interfaces. The two topics which are relevant to most studies are the choice of imaging techniques and sample preparation. The techniques used to study interfaces in the TEM include high-resolution imaging, conventional diffraction-contrast imaging, and phase-contrast imaging (Fresnel fringe images, diffuse scattering). The material studied affects not only the characteristics of the interfaces (through changes in bonding, etc.) but also the method used for sample preparation which may in turn have a significant affect on the resulting image. Finally, the actual nature and geometry of the interface must be considered. For example, it has become increasingly clear that the plane of the interface is particularly important whenever at least one of the adjoining grains is crystalline.A particularly productive approach to the study of interfaces is to combine different imaging techniques as illustrated in the study of grain boundaries in alumina. In this case, the conventional imaging approach showed that most grain boundaries in ion-thinned samples are grooved at the grain boundary although the extent of this grooving clearly depends on the crystallography of the surface. The use of diffuse scattering (from amorphous regions) gives invaluable information here since it can be used to confirm directly that surface grooving does occur and that the grooves can fill with amorphous material during sample preparation (see Fig. 1). Extensive use of image simulation has shown that, although information concerning the interface can be obtained from Fresnel-fringe images, the introduction of artifacts through sample preparation cannot be lightly ignored. The Fresnel-fringe simulation has been carried out using a commercial multislice program (TEMPAS) which was intended for simulation of high-resolution images.


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