This paper proposes an algorithm for solving subsets of typical (canonical) jigsaw puzzles. This algorithm combines shape and image matching with a cyclic ‘‘growth’’ process that tries to place pieces in their correct positions. First, the jigsaw pieces are extracted from the input image. Then, the corner points of the jigsaw pieces are detected. Next, piece classification and recognition are p...

Behavioral economics struggles to explain why people sometimes evaluate outcomes separately (narrow bracketing of mental accounts) and sometimes jointly (broad bracketing). We develop a theory of endogenous bracketing, where people set goals to tackle self-control problems. Goals induce reference points that make substandard performance painful. Evaluating goals in a broadly bracketed mental ac...

In Part 3 of this five-part article,[1, 2] simple graphic properties of entropy are illustrated, offering a novel way to understand the principle of entropy increase. The Boltzmann entropy is introduced and shows that in thermal equilibrium, entropy can be related to the spreading of a system’s occupied microstate over accessible microstates. Finally, constant-temperature reservoirs are shown t...

2.5.1 Study quality assessment and bias 2 2.5.2 Bias and quality assessment 2 2.5.3 Quality threshold for study selection 4 2.5.4 Development of quality assessment instruments 6 2.5.5 Quality assessment of effectiveness studies 8 2.5.6 Quality assessment of test accuracy studies 11 2.5.7 Quality assessment of qualitative research 12 2.5.8 Quality assessment of economic evaluations 13 2.5.9 Key ...

A shift from an emphasis on individual action to community responses has been portrayed as one that will enable a more just response to climate change. Policy and actions will be more inclusive, responsibilities for action may be shared, and the risks and benefits of the low carbon transition more evenly distributed, so the argument goes. But are justice principles really becoming embedded with...

This study examines the determinants of redistribution in advanced market economies by simultaneously assessing the impact of domestic political institutions and globalization. A distinction is made between “collective” veto points and “competitive” veto points, demonstrating that not all veto points have restrictive effects. It is shown that redistribution is significantly and positively affec...

for any lacunary sequence $theta = (k_{r})$, we define the concepts of $s_{theta}-$limit point and $s_{theta}-$cluster point of a sequence of fuzzy numbers $x = (x_{k})$. we introduce the new sets  $lambda^{f}_{s_{theta}}(x)$, $gamma^{f}_{s_{theta}}(x)$ and prove some inclusion relaions between these and the sets $lambda^{f}_{s}(x)$, $gamma^{f}_{s}(x)$ introduced in ~cite{ayt:slpsfn} by aytar [...

we describe a variational problem on a surface under a constraintof geometrical character. necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence ofbifurcation points are provided. in local coordinates the problem corresponds toa quasilinear elliptic boundary value problem. the problem can be consideredas a physical model for several applications referring to continuum medium andmembranes.

Skyline queries represent a dataset by the points on its pareto frontier, but can become very large. To alleviate this problem, representative skylines select exactly k skyline points. However, existing approaches are not scaleinvariant, not stable, or must materialise the entire skyline. We introduce the maximum coverage representative skyline, which returns the k points collectively dominatin...

This study examined how using Likert-type scales with either 5-point, 7-point or 10-point format affects the resultant data in terms of mean scores, and measures of dispersion and shape. Three groups of respondents were administered a series of eight questions (group n’s = 300, 250, 185). Respondents were randomly selected members of the general public. A different scale format was administered...