Drinking to regulate positive and negative emotions: A motivational model of alcohol use.

The present study proposed and tested a motivational model of alcohol use in which people are hypothesized to use alcohol to regulate both positive and negative emotions. Two central premises underpin this model: (a) that enhancement and coping motives for alcohol use are proximal determinants of alcohol use and abuse through which the influence of expectancies, emotions, and other individual differences are mediated and (b) that enhancement and coping motives represent phenomenologically distinct behaviors having both unique antecedents and consequences. This model was tested in 2 random samples (1 of adults, 1 of adolescents) using a combination of moderated regression and path analysis corrected for measurement error. Results revealed strong support for the hypothesized model in both samples and indicate the importance of distinguishing psychological motives for alcohol use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A fast algorithm for computing moments of gray images based on NAM and extended shading approach

Computing moments on images is very important in the fields of image processing and pattern recognition. The non-symmetry and anti-packing model (NAM) is a general pattern representation model that has been developed to help design some efficient image representation methods. In this paper, inspired by the idea of computing moments based on the S-Tree coding (STC) representation and by using the NAM and extended shading (NAMES) approach, we propose a fast algorithm for computing lower order moments based on the NAMES representation, which takes O(N) time where N is the number of NAM blocks. By taking three idiomatic standard gray images ‘Lena’, ‘F16’, and ‘Peppers’ in the field of image processing as typical test objects, and by comparing our proposed algorithm with the conventional algorithm and the popular STC representation algorithm for computing the lower order moments, the theoretical and experimental results presented in this paper show that the average execution time improvement ratios of the proposed NAMES approach over the STC approach, and also the conventional approach are 26.63%, and 82.57% respectively while maintaining the image quality.     

Comparative effect of probiotic and paraprobiotic addition on rheological and sensory properties of yoghurt

Yoghurt was produced using killed cells of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCCSD 5221 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB‐12. The rheological and sensory properties of the yoghurt were investigated at the end of the fermentation. The results revealed that the samples made with killed cells gave the lowest storage modulus, loss modulus, stress crossover point and loss tangent. The frequency‐sweep of yoghurt samples containing paraprobiotics added before fermentation showed the highest correlation coefficient. In the case of sensory assessment, significant differences were indicated among treatments. Adding killed cells of B. animalis subsp. lactis BB‐12 before fermentation produced yoghurt with the highest total score, whereas samples containing killed cells of L. acidophilus ATCCSD 5221 and B. animalis subsp. lactis BB‐12 added before fermentation exhibited the lowest total score.     

A novel gray image representation using overlapping rectangular NAM and extended shading approach

In this paper, inspired by the idea of overlapping rectangular region coding of binary images, we extend the SDS design, which is based on overlapping representation from binary images to gray images based on the non-symmetry and anti-packing model (NAM). A novel gray image representation is proposed by using the overlapping rectangular NAM (RNAM) and the extended Gouraud shading approach, which is called ORNAM representation. Also, we present an ORNAM representation algorithm of gray images. The encoding and the decoding of the proposed algorithm can be performed in O(n log n) time and O(n) time, respectively, where n denotes the number of pixels in a gray image. The wrong decoding problem of the hybrid matrix R for the overlapping RNAM representation of gray images is solved by using the horizontal, vertical, and isolated matrices, i.e., H, V and I, respectively, which are used to identify the vertex types. Also, we put forward four criteria of anti-packing homogeneous blocks. In addition, by redefining a codeword set for the three vertices symbols, we also propose a new coordinate data compression procedure for coding the coordinates of all non-zone elements in the three matrices H, V and I. By taking some idiomatic standard gray images in the field of image processing as typical test objects, and by comparing our proposed ORNAM representation with the conventional S-Tree Coding (STC) representation, the experimental results in this paper show that the former has higher compression ratio and less number of homogeneous blocks than the latter whereas maintaining a satisfactory image quality, and therefore it is a better method to represent gray images.     

Optimization strategies on the structural modeling of gelatin/chitosan scaffolds to mimic human meniscus tissue

Meniscus lesions are frequently occurring injuries with poor ability to heal. Typical treatment procedure includes removal of damaged regions, which can lead to sub-optimal knee biomechanics and early onset of osteoarthritis. Some of the drawbacks of current treatment approach present an opportunity for a tissue engineering solution. In this study, gelatin (G)/chitosan (Cs) scaffolds were synthesized via gel casting method and cross-linked with naturally derived cross-linker, genipin, through scaffold cross-linking method. Based on the characteristics of native meniscus tissue microstructure and function, three different layers were chosen to design the macroporous multilayered scaffolds. The multi-layered scaffolds were investigated for their ability to support human-derived meniscus cells by evaluating their morphology and proliferation using MTT assay at various time points. Based on structural, mechanical and cell compatibility considerations, laminated scaffolds composed of G60/Cs40, G80/Cs20 and G40/Cs60 samples, for the first, second and third layers, respectively, could be an appropriate combination for meniscus tissue engineering applications.     

A novel binary image representation algorithm by using NAM and coordinate encoding procedure and its application to area calculation

We propose a novel binary image representation algorithm using the non-symmetry and anti-packing model and the coordinate encoding procedure (NAMCEP). By taking some idiomatic standard binary images in the field of image processing as typical test objects, and by comparing our proposed NAMCEP representation with linear quadtree (LQT), binary tree (Bintree), non-symmetry and anti-packing model (NAM) with K-lines (NAMK), and NAM representations, we show that NAMCEP can not only reduce the average node, but also simultaneously improve the average compression. We also present a novel NAMCEP-based algorithm for area calculation and show experimentally that our algorithm offers significant improvements.