Minimizing Cubic and Homogeneous Polynomials over Integers in the Plane

We complete the complexity classification by degree of minimizing a polynomial over the integer points in a polyhedron in $\mathbb{R}^2$. Previous work shows that optimizing a quadratic polynomial over the integer points in a polyhedral region in $\mathbb{R}^2$ can be done in polynomial time, while optimizing a quartic polynomial in the same type of region is NP-hard. We close the gap by showing that this problem can be solved in polynomial time for cubic polynomials. Furthermore, we show that the problem of minimizing a homogeneous polynomial of any fixed degree over the integer points in a bounded polyhedron in $\mathbb{R}^2$ is solvable in polynomial time. We show that this holds for polynomials that can be translated into homogeneous polynomials, even when the translation vector is unknown. We demonstrate that such problems in the unbounded case can have smallest optimal solutions of exponential size in the size of the input, thus requiring a compact representation of solutions for a general polynomial time algorithm for the unbounded case

Life Cycle Employment and Fertility Across Institutional Environments

In this paper, we formulate a dynamic utility maximization model of female labor force participation and fertility choices and estimate approximate decision rules using data on married women in Italy, Spain and France. The pattern of estimated state dependence effects across countries is consistent with aggregate patterns in part-time employment and child care availability, suggesting that labor market rigidities and lack of child care options are important sources of state dependence. Simulations of the model reveal that Italian and Spanish women would substantially increase their partic- ipation rates were they to face the French institutional environment.Female Employment, Fertility, Child Care, Institutions, Decision Rules

Facial Features Detection and Grouping

Tato bakalářská práce se zabývá detekcí obličeje a obličejových rysů v obraze. Zaměřuje se především na metodu, která využívá k detekci barevného modelu lidské kůže. Touto metodou nalezne všechny body odpovídající barvě kůže a pomocí morfologických operací shlukne body do kandidátních oblastí obličeje a následně v nich vyhledá pomocí Sobelova operátoru obličejové rysy. Obsahem je také částečná implementace detektoru v jazyce C za pomocí knihovny OpenCV.This bachelor's thesis deals with facial features detection in images. Especially, a skin color detection algorithm is addressed. This method find all pixels corresponding to the skin color and clusters them into candidate face regions by the help of morfological operations. Afterwards, using the Sobel operator, all facial features are located accurately. Implementation of the proposed facial feature detector based on the well known OpenCV library is presented too.

The relationships between total, electricity and biofuels residential energy consumption and income in Latin America and the Caribbean Countries

Controlling residential energy consumption in Latino America and the Caribbean countries is crucial to reduce CO2 emissions, as it has an important energy-saving potential, and its environmental controls are difficult to displace offshore. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationships between residential energy consumption and income for 22 Latin America and the Caribbean countries in the period 1990-2013. For this purpose, residential energy environmental Kuznets curves (EKC) are estimated by taking into account the heterogeneity among the countries by including two control variables: one representing the possible effect of urbanization on residential energy use and the second representing the possible effect of petrol production. The EKC are estimated for total residential energy consumption, for residential electricity consumption and for biofuels and waste energy consumption. The elasticities of total, electricity and biofuels residential energy consumption with respect to income are calculated for each year and country, analyzing the different behavior between countries. Obtained results show that the EKC hypothesis is confirmed for the residential sector when the biofuels energy consumption is considered. Moreover, the results also show that the turning point has been reached in some countries. Nevertheless, the EKC is not confirmed when electricity or total residential energy consumption is considered. Thus, for total residential energy consumption, the elasticity is always positive, growing also as the income does. For electricity energy consumption, the elasticity is also always positive, since although the elasticity decreases until a threshold, from an per capita income value it begins to grow

Kim Tal-su and Early "Zainichi" Literature

The purpose of this study is to analyze the literary contributions of a founding member of the Korean expatriate literary community in Japan, Kim Tal-su, and by providing several short translations of his works, allow the reader to interact, as directly as possible, with early Zainichi literature. The study further places Kim among his contemporaries and postulates his influence on later generations of Zainichi writers. As I examine the development of Korean minority literature I will consider what characterizes the Zainichi experience and how Kim narrates these experiences compared to later generations of authors. Finally, an in depth analysis of the translated works considers the connection of Kim's own life with his literature, as well as the problems faced by resident Koreans in the areas of education and political organization