In all cardiac FSE sequences, SNR and CNR at 3.0 T were found to be increased compared to 1.5 T without any major changes of the sequence parameters. The adjusted SSFP sequences fulfilled the expected increase in SNR at 3.0 T but showed no increase in CNR. On the contrary, the overall image quality did not change or was even found to be significantly lower for the SSFP and the FSE sequences at the free wall of the RV. Nevertheless, the results are encouraging for the use of 3.0 T for cardiac tissue characterization and new applications with progressing use of parallel imaging.

No abstract

The monitoring and processing of electrocardiogram (ECG) beats have been actively studied in recent years: new lines of research have even been developed to analyze ECG signals using mobile devices. Considering these trends, we proposed a simple and low computing cost algorithm to process and analyze an ECG signal. Our approach is based on the use of linear regression to segment the signal, with the goal of detecting the R point of the ECG wave and later, to separate the signal in periods for detecting P, Q, S, and T peaks. After pre-processing of ECG signal to reduce the noise, the algorithm was able to efficiently detect fiducial points, information that is transcendental for diagnosis of heart conditions using machine learning classifiers. When tested on 260 ECG records, the detection approach performed with a Sensitivity of 97.5% for Q-point and 100% for the rest of ECG peaks. Finally, we validated the robustness of our algorithm by developing an ECG sensor to register and transmit the acquired signals to a mobile device in real time.

Sustainability through digital transformation is essential for contemporary businesses. Embracing sustainability, micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) can gain a competitive advantage, attracting customers and investors who share these values. Moreover, incorporating sustainable practices empowers MSMEs to drive innovation, reduce costs, and enhance their reputation. This study aims to identify how owners or senior managers of MSMEs can initiate a sustainable digital transformation project. A systematic literature review was carried out, including 59 publications from 2019 to 2023. As a result, this research identifies the first steps owners of MSMEs can take to begin the transition by identifying critical organizational capabilities necessary for successful transformation, explores the technologies that can support MSMEs in their sustainability goals, and emphasizes the significance of stakeholders in achieving a successful digital transformation journey. Firstly, owners or senior managers should change the organizational culture to support decisions and strategies focus on sustainability. Secondly, the leading role of stakeholders is in the innovation process that allows businesses to be more competitive locally and globally. Finally, big data is the technology that can provide the most significant benefit to MSMEs because it will enable analyzing data of all kinds and contributes disruptively to decision-making.

No abstract