Many tasks in computer vision can be formulated as energy minimization problems. In this paper, we consider a natural class of energy functions that permits discontinuities. We show that minimizing these energy functions is NP-hard. However, the energy minimization problem can be solved by computing a minimum cost multiway cut on an associated graph. This allows the use of approximation algorit...

In this paper, we propose, develop, and implement an exact method to analyze the effect of discontinuities in open planar chirowaveguides. The method combines the buildingblock approach of multimode network theory with a rigorous mode-matching procedure. Both the scattering of discrete spectra surface-wave modes and the continuous spectra radiation and evanescent modes are discussed in this pap...

In this paper, a common problem in diphone synthesis is discussed, viz., the occurrence of audible discontinuities at diphone boundaries. Informal observations show that spectral mismatch is most likely the cause of this phenomenon. We first set out to find an objective spectral measure for discontinuity. To this end, several spectral distance measures are related to the results of a listening ...

Most optical ow estimation techniques have substantial diiculties dealing with ow discontinuities. Methods which simultaneously detect ow boundaries and use the detected boundaries to aid in ow estimation can produce signiicantly improved results. Current approaches to implementing these methods still have important limitations, however. We demonstrate three such problems: errors due to the mix...

H istorically, ecology has focused on continuous distributions and smooth transitions. Only recently have discontinuities and thresholds become an explicit focus in some areas of ecology, especially in the realm of complex systems. The study of animal body mass distributions has been recognized for its potential to provide insight into the underlying processes shaping animal communities. Hutchi...

Twenty years ago Craik (1947) suggested that the output of the human operator performing a perceptual-motor control task consists of a sequence of discrete, “ballistic” movements. In a tracking task this discreteness would be apparent even thought the input to be tracked were smooth and continuous. After Craik there was a shift towards skills where the possible responses are necessarily discret...

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A linear frequency modulated continuous wave (LFMCW) radar is introduced to localize the impedance discontinuities on the instrument cable used in nuclear plants. The LFMCW reflectometry uses a phenomenon that electromagnetic pulses are reflected at the impedance discontinuities to localize impedance discontinuity points on the cable. For localizing impedance discontinuities, time delays betwee...

This paper is concenled with heuristics for segmenting narratives into units that form the basic elements of discourse representations and that constrain the application of focusing algorithms. The following classes of di~ontinuities are identified: figure-ground, space, time, perspective, and topic. It is suggested that rhetorical relations between narrative units are mac~o labels that stand f...

Leyton [1988] developed a set of rules by which process-history can be recovered from smooth natural shapes such as out l ines of tumors, clouds, or islands. In this paper, we extend this analysis to deal w i t h shapes w i t h first-order discontinuit ies such as corners, creases and cusps. A simple extension to the notat ion al lows one extra rule to cover most of these phenomena.