We consider discrete pairwise energy minimization problem (weighted constraint satisfaction, max-sum labeling) and methods that identify a globally optimal partial assignment of variables. When finding a complete optimal assignment is intractable, determining optimal values for a part of variables is an interesting possibility. Existing methods are based on different sufficient conditions. We p...

A pseudo-Boolean function is a function from a 0/1-vector to the reals. Minimizing pseudo-Boolean functions is a very general problem with many applications. In image analysis, the problem arises in segmentation or as a subroutine in task like stero estimation and image denoising. Recent years have seen an increased interest in higher-degree problems, as opposed to quadratic pseudo-Boolean func...

The development of adaptive observer techniques for nonlinear systems in the output canonical form is proposed applying additional impulsive feedbacks in the observer equations. The stability of new impulsive adaptive observers is investigated. It is shown that under some conditions the proposed impulsive feedbacks can improve the rate of the observer convergence or relax the requirement on per...

background : the role of minerals on parasite persistency and the interaction between minerals and animal responses to the parasite infestation is not clear. for these reasons, the present re­search was aimed to compare copper, zinc and iron status in sheep with parasitic myocarditis and healthy ones in 2009. methods : blood and heart tissue samples were collected from 145 slaughtered sheep and...

Lactation curves are a graphical representation of the milk production profile of a doe from parturition to drying up. Their shape provides information about the productivity of the doe and offers a means of explaining features of the milk production patterns of each animal. A total of 2732 daily morning milk records from 610 does of the Kenyan Alpine dairy goats’ genetic groups (50% Alpine, 75...

OBJECTIVE Serum samples taken before the onset of RA suggest that one of the first features of RA is BMD loss. We determined the ability of radiographic BMD loss to predict RA development and arthritis persistency in patients with early undifferentiated arthritis (UA). METHODS Five hundred and seventeen patients with early UA, included in the Leiden Early Arthritis Clinic, were assessed. Of t...

We address combinatorial problems that can be formulated as minimization of a partially separable function of discrete variables (energy minimization in graphical models, weighted constraint satisfaction, pseudo-Boolean optimization, 0-1 polynomial programming). For polyhedral relaxations of such problems it is generally not true that variables integer in the relaxed solution will retain the sa...

Extensive evidence shows that when given the opportunity, people cheat for monetary rewards, but only to the extent that they can keep a positive selfconcept. In this study, we investigate various factors that may influence the degree to which people can keep their positive self-concept while cheating for monetary gains. We find that authentic leadership, gender, cheating norm, experience of ch...