A biologically based model for recognition of 2-D occluded patterns

In this work, we present a biologically inspired model for recognition of occluded patterns. The general architecture of the model is based on the two visual information processing pathways of the human visual system, i.e. the ventral and the dorsal pathways. The proposed hierarchically structured model consists of three parallel processing channels. The main channel learns invariant representations of the input patterns and is responsible for pattern recognition task. But, it is limited to process one pattern at a time. The direct channel represents the biologically based direct connection from the lower to the higher processing level in the human visual cortex. It computes rapid top-down pattern-specific cues to modulate processing in the other two channels. The spatial channel mimics the dorsal pathway of the visual cortex. It generates a combined saliency map of the input patterns and, later, segments the part of the map representing the occluded pattern. This segmentation process is based on our hypothesis that the dorsal pathway, in addition to encoding spatial properties, encodes the shape representations of the patterns as well. The lateral interaction between the main and the spatial channels at appropriate processing levels and top-down, pattern-specific modulation of the these two channels by the direct channel strengthen the locations and features representing the occluded pattern. Consequently, occluded patterns become focus of attention in the ventral channel and also the pattern selected for further processing along this channel for final recognition.     

“Food for Memory”: Pictorial Food-Related Memory Bias and the Role of Thought Suppression in High and Low Restrained Eaters

The Psychological Record - Building on cognitive theory, the present study is the first to test whether high restrained eaters show an immediate and delayed memory bias for pictorial food cues and...     

Ideal and Non‐ideal Theory and the Problem of Knowledge

This article analyses a hitherto neglected problem at the transition from ideal to non‐ideal theory: the problem of knowledge. Ideal theories often make idealising assumptions about the availability of knowledge, for example knowledge of social scientific facts. This can lead to problems when this knowledge turns out not to be available at the non‐ideal level. Knowledge can be unavailable in a number of ways: in principle, for practical reasons, or because there are normative reasons not to use it. This can make it necessary to revise ideal theories, because the principle of ‘ought implies can’ rules out certain theories, at least insofar as they are understood as action‐guiding. I discuss a number of examples and argue that there are two tendencies that will increase the relevance of this problem in the future: the availability of large amounts of sensitive data whose use is problematic from a normative point of view, and the increasing complexity of an interrelated world that makes it harder to predict the effects of institutional changes. To address these issues, philosophers need to cooperate with social scientists and philosophers of the social sciences. Normative theorising can then be understood as one step in a long process that includes thinkers from different disciplines. Ideal theory can respond to many of the charges raised against it if it is understood along these lines and if it takes the problem of knowledge and its implications seriously.     

On presence in the psychoanalytic relation

This paper discusses presence in the psychoanalytic relation, the analysand’s and the analyst’s. Clinical situations with different qualities of presence will be considered focusing on what kind of interplay between analysand and analyst they may lead to. As examples, I have chosen three different clinical situations: In the first there is an interplay between the analysand’s free associations and the analyst’s ‘evenly suspended attention’. In connection with this I will discuss Bion’s concepts of ‘reverie’ and of ‘O’. In the second there is where the interaction is characterised by what Meltzer calls ‘geographical confusion’. In the third there is a ‘transference delusion’ in the psychoanalysis of breakdown as Winnicott describes it.     

Psychological Hardiness Predicts Success in a Norwegian Armed Forces Border Patrol Selection Course

The present study investigates the effects of psychological hardiness and successful completion of a rigorous 250‐km ski march over 9 days in Arctic winter conditions. This ski march is the final portion of a selection program for border rangers in the Norwegian Armed Forces. Study participants were N = 178 soldiers with a mean age of 19.9 years (range 18–23). Hierarchical regression results showed that successful completion of the ski march was predicted by total hardiness scores, after controlling for nutrition factors, physical fitness and sensation seeking. A second hierarchical regression found that the commitment facet of hardiness was the most significant predictor of ski march success, again controlling for nutrition, physical fitness and sensation seeking. Analyses of daily participant surveys showed that the high commitment group reported the highest levels of positive daily coping, and also evaluated their performance more positively. This group also showed increasingly positive self‐evaluations as the exercise went on. Together, these results indicate that hardiness commitment is a key factor influencing performance in a rigorous and stressful endurance task requiring sustained effort, perhaps by enhancing active coping skills and self‐efficacy beliefs.     

Young adult e-cigarette users’ reasons for liking and not liking e-cigarettes: A qualitative study

Objective: To gain an in-depth understanding of what young adult electronic- or e-cigarette users like or dislike about e-cigarettes. We aimed to determine the reasons that may encourage young adults to use e-cigarettes or discourage them from using e-cigarettes.

Design: Twelve focus group discussions were conducted with 62 current daily e-cigarette users (63% men) of mean age = 25.1 years (standard deviation = 5.5). Data were analysed following principles of inductive content analysis.

Results: Results indicated 12 categories of reasons for liking e-cigarettes (e.g. recreation, smoking cessation) and 6 categories of reasons for not liking e-cigarettes (e.g. poor product quality, poor smoking experience).

Conclusions: Young adults’ motives for using or not using e-cigarettes appear to be varied and their relative importance in terms of predicting e-cigarette use initiation, dependence, and cigarette/e-cigarette dual use needs to be carefully studied in population-based, empirical studies. The current findings suggest that e-cigarettes may serve social, recreational, and sensory expectancies that are unique relative to cigarettes and not dependent on nicotine. Further, successful use of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation will likely need higher standards of product quality control, better nicotine delivery efficiency and a counselling component that would teach smokers how to manage e-cigarette devices while trying to quit smoking cigarettes.     

From ecology to ecosophy,from science to wisdom

Eco‐science (ecology) is not enough. Eco‐wisdom (ecosophy) is needed: How to live on Earth enjoying and respecting the full richness and diversity of life‐forms of the ecosphere.

The cold acknowledgement of dependency upon ecosystems is not enough to motivate responsible policies. To replenish the Earth, we need thejoy of interaction with life and within life. This implies deep reaction against the narrowly utilitarian outlook. We need integration of all levels: abstract and fundamental premises of a philosophy or religion, the derivation of general guideline of global action from these premises, and the conclusion of particular decisions in concrete situations in everyday life. In short: ecosophical total views are called for.     

Application of the Copenhagen Soccer Test in high-level women players – locomotor activities,physiological response and sprint performance

We evaluated the physiological response, sprint performance and technical ability in various phases of the Copenhagen Soccer Test for Women (CSTw) and investigated whether the locomotor activities of the CSTw were comparable to competitive match-play (CM). Physiological measurements and physical/technical assessments were performed during CSTw for eleven Norwegian high-level women soccer players. The activity pattern during CSTw and CM was monitored using the ZXY tracking system. No differences were observed between CSTw and CM with regards to total distance covered (10093 ± 94 and 9674 ± 191 m), high intensity running (1278 ± 67 and 1193 ± 115 m) or sprinting (422 ± 55 and 372 ± 46 m) (p > .05). During CSTw, average HR was 85 ± 2%HRmax with 35 ± 2% playing time >90%HRmax. Blood lactate increased (p < .05) from 1.4 ± 0.3 mM at rest to an average of 4.7 ± 0.5 mM during CSTw, with no changes during the test. Blood glucose was 5.4 ± 0.3 mM at rest and remained unaltered during CSTw. Sprint performance (2 × 20 m) decreased (p < .05) by 3% during CSTw (8.19 ± 0.06–8.47 ± 0.10 s). In conclusion, the locomotor activities during CSTw were comparable to that of high-level competitive match-play. The physiological demands of the CSTw were high, with no changes in heart rate, blood lactate or technical performance during the test, but a lowered sprint performance towards the end of the test.