Confidence-aware Levenberg-Marquardt optimization for joint motion estimation and super-resolution

Motion estimation across low-resolution frames and the reconstruction of high-resolution images are two coupled subproblems of multi-frame super-resolution. This paper introduces a new joint optimization approach for motion estimation and image reconstruction to address this interdependence. Our method is formulated via non-linear least squares optimization and combines two principles of robust super-resolution. First, to enhance the robustness of the joint estimation, we propose a confidence-aware energy minimization framework augmented with sparse regularization. Second, we develop a tailor-made Levenberg-Marquardt iteration scheme to jointly estimate motion parameters and the high-resolution image along with the corresponding model confidence parameters. Our experiments on simulated and real images confirm that the proposed approach outperforms decoupled motion estimation and image reconstruction as well as related state-of-the-art joint estimation algorithms.Comment: accepted for ICIP 201

Auswirkungen des Basel II Akkords auf österreichisches KMU

The paper discusses the impact of the Basel II Accord on the financing of small and medium size enterprises (SME) in Austria. Although the Basel II Accord has not been established yet, the study tries to evaluate the expected impact of the Basel II Accord on SMEs, on the bases of the current financial data of SMEs. The empirical work used the NACE datapool for Austrian SME provided by KMU Forschung Austria. In the datapool, SMEs are defined as companies with a turnover of up to 100 Mio. In addition to the statistical analysis an empirical data survey has been conducted by Triconsult. The survey focused on the expected impact of the Basel II Accord on SMEs by intermediaries (f.i. consultancies and technology transfer agencies). The results of the study show that most SME and intermediaries are not prepared for the new regulations initiated by Basel II. Accordingly three measures should be taken by policy makers to enhance SMEs capability to adjust to the new requests established by the Basel II Accord: 1. Extension of the information for SMEs on the impact of the Basel II Accord. 2. Companies should be motivated to enlarge indicators that give banks information about their financial development. 3. Measures are required to improve the financial structure of SMEs in Austria. --Basel II Accord,Innovation,Finance of Innovation

Organizational models in virtual teaching cooperation – documentation and evaluation of organisational didactics in a collaborative higher education project

A recent objective of the Saxon E-learning initiative „Bildungsportal Sachsen”, a cooperation of all HEIs of the state, is to trigger the development of „virtual teaching cooperation“. Currently, a network project labelled “Virtual Teaching Cooperation”1 is underway which intends to pilot a cross-university teaching networking, considering the didactics of collaborative teaching and learning, ideally in a specialist domain and possibly between different types of universities in Saxony. Main topics of this initiative are a) the creation of solutions regarding the effective cooperation with international partners, b) the qualification of educational personal in order to strengthen their digital competences, c) the support by the creation of preparatory courses and online self-assessments using and creating OER (Open Educational Resources) material (Bildungsportal Sachsen, 2019). While the network consists of five subprojects, with the common aim to promote networking between the respective 2–4 project partners, authors follow an organizational-didactic interpretation of the virtual teaching cooperation in vocational education. This work presents the organizational models of these subprojects with a focus on their internal communication, as well as their type, method and level of the internal cooperation between the project partners. Theoretically, authors apply rather organizational theory than the usually requested media didactic approach of educational heritage. As each sub-project has developed a different blended-learning scenario and different cooperation relationships with its project partners, who might be other institutions, universities, training centres, etc., in national or international level, it is necessary to analyse these different models by documenting the process and the current results of each subproject separately. A matrix-based comparison will be presented to determine how and with which tools these organizational models have been developed and implemented in each respective educational program