Many problems of early vision are ill-posed; to recover unique stable solutions regularization techniques can be used. These techniques lead to meaningful results, provided that solutions belong to suitable compact sets. Often some additional constraints on the shape or the behavior of the possible solutions are available. This note discusses which of these constraints can be embedded in the classic theory of regularization and how, in order to improve the quality of the recovered solution. Connections with mathematical programming techniques are also discussed. As a conclusion, regularization of early vision problems may be improved by the use of some constraints on the shape of the solution (such as monotonicity and upper and lower bounds), when available.

Despite a substantial volume of research on identity in the social and behavioral sciences, identity theory has existed on the margins of the leisure literature and contributed to the understanding of leisure behavior only in occasional illustrative references. The purpose of this dissertation was to incorporate identity theory in the understanding individuals? leisure behavior within the context of recreational golf. Three independent studies were conducted to address different yet interconnected research topics. The first study identified conceptual links between identity theory and the concepts of enduring involvement, commitment, loyalty, specialization and serious leisure. Guided by identity theory, it was suggested that identity-confirmation is the underlying reason why individuals become involved in a leisure activity and develop a commitment and side bets. Further, this study proposed that self-verification processes underline why individuals value certain lines of action (i.e., enduring involvement, commitment, and specialization) and, in turn, become specialists, amateurs or loyal clients. The second study investigated the relationship between gender identity, leisure identity and leisure participation. Using data collected from recreational golfers, results showed that both leisure identity and masculine identity positively influenced respondents? participation in recreational golf. Furthermore, the findings illustrated that masculine identity plays a formative role in the development of a leisure identity, which in turn is an antecedent of leisure behavior. The third study adopted the concept of identity conflict/facilitation to provide a theoretical framework for understanding the experience of constraints to leisure and constraint negotiation. Using data collected from recreational golfers, analyses provided evidence in support of the contention that identity conflict/facilitation is an antecedent of perceived constraints and negotiation efforts. The findings also illustrated that the ability to negotiate constraints depends on the compatibility between the leisure identity and the other identities an individual holds. Finally, a summary and synthesis of the findings and agenda for future research were discussed.

Despite a substantial volume of research on identity in the social and behavioral sciences, identity theory has existed on the margins of the leisure literature and contributed to the understanding of leisure behavior only in occasional illustrative references. The purpose of this dissertation was to incorporate identity theory in the understanding individuals? leisure behavior within the context of recreational golf. Three independent studies were conducted to address different yet interconnected research topics. The first study identified conceptual links between identity theory and the concepts of enduring involvement, commitment, loyalty, specialization and serious leisure. Guided by identity theory, it was suggested that identity-confirmation is the underlying reason why individuals become involved in a leisure activity and develop a commitment and side bets. Further, this study proposed that self-verification processes underline why individuals value certain lines of action (i.e., enduring involvement, commitment, and specialization) and, in turn, become specialists, amateurs or loyal clients. The second study investigated the relationship between gender identity, leisure identity and leisure participation. Using data collected from recreational golfers, results showed that both leisure identity and masculine identity positively influenced respondents? participation in recreational golf. Furthermore, the findings illustrated that masculine identity plays a formative role in the development of a leisure identity, which in turn is an antecedent of leisure behavior. The third study adopted the concept of identity conflict/facilitation to provide a theoretical framework for understanding the experience of constraints to leisure and constraint negotiation. Using data collected from recreational golfers, analyses provided evidence in support of the contention that identity conflict/facilitation is an antecedent of perceived constraints and negotiation efforts. The findings also illustrated that the ability to negotiate constraints depends on the compatibility between the leisure identity and the other identities an individual holds. Finally, a summary and synthesis of the findings and agenda for future research were discussed.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-112). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Using permanent income life-cycle theory, I analyze the effects of liquidity constraints on the household’s ability to smooth life time consumption due to a change in housing and stock market wealth. Using data from the Canadian national accounts and chartered bank balance sheets I test if improved access to housing wealth due to fundamental shifts to the banking industry in the 1980s has lowered liquidity constraints and improved the household’s ability to smooth consumption.

Breathlessness during activity is increasingly recognized as a common symptom in the elderly, in older individuals with minor airway obstruction due to tobacco smoking, and in those with obesity. The underlying mechanisms of perceived respiratory difficulty in each of these populations remain unknown and are largely unstudied. Objective: The main purpose of this original research was to elucidate the alterations in central ventilatory drive and in dynamic ventilatory mechanics that might explain the origin of increased breathlessness during exercise in these three populations. General Hypothesis: In individuals with largely preserved resting pulmonary function, increased intensity of breathlessness during activity will arise as a result of measurable abnormalities of dynamic ventilatory mechanics, central respiratory drive, or both in combination. General Methods: We examined sensory-mechanical relationships during cardio-pulmonary exercise testing in each population (total n=146). We compared indices of ventilatory control (ventilation, pulmonary gas exchange and metabolic load), dynamic mechanics (breathing pattern and operating lung volumes) and ratings of dyspnea intensity in three well characterized cohorts: elderly versus younger; smokers with minor airway obstruction versus age-matched non-smokers, and obese versus lean participants. Results: Individuals across all three study populations had preserved resting pulmonary function. Compared with their respective control groups all three symptomatic groups demonstrated consistent abnormalities in dynamic airway function during exercise [expiratory flow limitation (EFL), dynamic increases in end expiratory lung volume, and restricted tidal volume response]; all had greater ventilatory requirements reflecting variable ventilation-perfusion and metabolic abnormalities. In all three groups, intensity of breathlessness increased as ventilatory demand approached capacity. In the elderly (with or without airway obstruction), breathlessness intensity ratings at a standardized ventilation during exercise correlated with indices of mechanical volume restriction secondary to EFL. In obese individuals, increased ventilatory drive secondary to increased metabolic loading (and not mechanical abnormalities) was the primary factor contributing to exertional breathlessness. Conclusion: Although the origin of breathlessness during physical exertion in the elderly (with or without minor airway obstruction) and in obese individuals is multi-factorial, we identified the central etiological importance of the combination of increased ventilatory drive and restrictive dynamic mechanical constraints to increasing ventilation. / Thesis (Ph.D, Physiology) -- Queen's University, 2008-07-02 14:17:41.602

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The research is aimed at furthering knowledge in the research fields of management accounting, operations management, performance measurement, and management strategy. The research theme of developing a holistic management philosophy based upon the theory of constraints led the research across the various fields of knowledge. Traditional views within some aspects of the literature were challenged and an exploration into the gaps within existing knowledge was made. The research questions were derived from the literature and tested via an action research methodology, which looked at both academic rigour and practical relevance. The methodology was applied to a SME which had successfully adopted the theory of constraints and was experiencing difficulties in translating short-run optimisation into strategic direction. Through the participation of the research team the research questions were tested with the results providing an incremental step towards a greater understanding of the research fields. / The dissatisfaction with the accounting treatment of manufacturing costs resulted in research activity into alternative costing and decision making models. Ultimately the goal of management accounting is to provide information from which to make tactical and strategic decisions. The initial stage of research is aimed at providing an alternative system from which to make operational decisions. The alternative system presented is heavily set within the theory of constraints, with good evidence exemplifying the superiority of such a system for tactical decision making such as outsourcing, pricing and investing. The superiority of this system is hamstrung when the scope of the decision making extends beyond the short-term horizon. To extend the management philosophy beyond this limitation the introduction of an agile strategy was adopted. / Agility was put forward as a solution to achieving and sustaining a competitive advantage within a new manufacturing paradigm of mass customisation. The characteristics of responsiveness and speed epitomise the market demand for customised products at mass produced lead times and prices. The gap in the operations management literature lies in the lack of research regarding the attainment of agility. While the characteristics and benefits of agility are well documented in the literature, the creation of a set of guidelines to achieve agility has eluded researchers and has been the subject of calls for future research. What is argued is that through the merger of several management theories and techniques, agility can be achieved. More succinctly, the key resources of the business, as identified via the resource-based view of the firm, are maintained through the adoption of the theory of constraints’ five step process. This ensures that key resources are supported by the business and maintained to a level sufficient enough to possess agile characteristics. / The catalyst in creating this holistic management framework is the performance measurement system based on the balanced scorecard. The financial measures were replaced with throughput measures, the strategic focus was driven by agility and the population of the measures was derived via a resource-based view perspective. Through the combination of an agile strategy and a performance measurement system the research theme of developing a holistic management philosophy based upon the theory of constraints was achieved. Although the research limitation of one research site may limit the generalisability of the findings, the merger of various management philosophies, techniques, and tools has not previously been undertaken. Furthermore, such an endeavour to lay down the platform for achieving agility by extending the scope of the theory of constraints has not been explored. This unique approach across several well-researched fields of knowledge presents a contribution to knowledge. / Thesis (PhDBusinessandManagement)--University of South Australia, 2007.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Computing Sc.)) - Simon Fraser University, 2004. / Theses (School of Computing Science) / Simon Fraser University.

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