Applying a new version of the Brazilian-Portuguese UPSIT smell test in Brazil

Standardized olfactory tests are now available to quantitatively assess disorders of olfaction. A Brazilian-Portuguese version of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) is currently being developed specifically for the Brazilian population. The most recent Brazilian-Portuguese version of the UPSIT (UPSIT-Br2) was administered to 88 Brazilian subjects who had no history of neurological or otorhinolaryngological disease. UPSIT-Br2 scores decreased with age, were lower in men than in women, and were lower in subjects with lower income. The degree to which the poorer performance of subjects with lower socio-economic status reflects lack of familiarity with test items is not known. Although this version of the UPSIT provides a sensitive and useful test of smell function for the Brazilian population, a revision of some test items is needed to achieve comparable norms to those found using the North American UPSIT in the United States

The effects of high pressure on the point of no return in simulated penalty kicks

We investigated the effects of high pressure on the point of no return or the minimum time required for a kicker to respond to the goalkeeper's dive in a simulated penalty kick task. The goalkeeper moved to one side with different times available for the participants to direct the ball to the opposite side in low-pressure (acoustically isolated laboratory) and high-pressure situations (with a participative audience). One group of participants showed a significant lengthening of the point of no return under high pressure. With less time available, performance was at chance level. Unexpectedly, in a second group of participants, high pressure caused a qualitative change in which for short times available participants were inclined to aim in the direction of the goalkeeper's move. The distinct effects of high pressure are discussed within attentional control theory to reflect a decreasing efficiency of the goal-driven attentional system, slowing down performance, and a decreasing effectiveness in inhibiting stimulus-driven behavior

Aplicando uma nova versão brasileira do UPSIT no Brasil

Standardized olfactory tests are now available to quantitatively assess disorders of olfaction. A Brazilian-Portuguese version of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) is currently being developed specifically for the Brazilian population. The most recent Brazilian-Portuguese version of the UPSIT (UPSIT-Br2) was administered to 88 Brazilian subjects who had no history of neurological or otorhinolaryngological disease. UPSIT-Br2 scores decreased with age, were lower in men than in women, and were lower in subjects with lower income. The degree to which the poorer performance of subjects with lower socio-economic status reflects lack of familiarity with test items is not known. Although this version of the UPSIT provides a sensitive and useful test of smell function for the Brazilian population, a revision of some test items is needed to achieve comparable norms to those found using the North American UPSIT in the United States.Testes padronizados já estão disponíveis para testagem do olfato e uma versão em Português esta sendo desenvolvida para o University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), especificamente para a população brasileira. A versão mais recente deste teste (chamada UPSIT-Br2) foi aplicada a 88 sujeitos brasileiros que não tinham história de qualquer problema neurológico ou otorrinolaringológico. Compatível com dados prévios da literatura, a performance no UPSIT-Br2 decaiu com a idade e foi inferior no genero masculino. Os resultados foram mais baixos em participantes de menor nível sócio-econômico e a relação deste achado com a falta de familiaridade para com os itens do teste não é conhecida. Apesar desta versão do UPSIT poder ser útil para o teste da função olfativa da população brasileira, a revisão de alguns itens se faz necessária para alcançar valores comparáveis aos dados normativos norte-americanos.Reta Lila Weston Trust for Medical Researc

Strain-assisted spin manipulating and the discerption of strain-induced spin splitting

We show that the efficiency of manipulating electron spin in semiconductor quantum wells can be enhanced by tuning the strain strength. The effect combining intrinsic and strain-induced spin splitting varies for different systems, which provides an alternative route to understand the experimental phenomena brought in by the strain. The types of spin splittings caused by strain are suggested to be distinguished by the measurement of the electron-dipole-spin-resonance intensity through changing the direction of the $ac$ electric field in the $x$-$y$ plane of the quantum well and tuning the strain strengths.Comment: Revtex, 7 pages, 5 figure

Anisotropic Distribution of Spatial Visual Attention

urpose: : We showed previously that geostatistical methods constitute a promising tool to assess the spatial distribution of visual attention (Canto–Pereira et al., ARVO 2005 # 5653). In the present study, we investigated the anisotropic patterns of spatial visual attention under different tasks. Methods: : Reaction times (RTs) to visual stimuli were measured monocularly in 20 normal participants. Stimuli and RTs were provided by the software E–Prime v 1.1 (PST Inc.) using a 19" monitor driven by a 10 bit graphics board (refresh rate 100 Hz, resolution of 800 x 600). Two different conditions were employed: in experiment 1 participants were asked not to attend to any particular region, but rather try to spread their attention as uniformly as possible over the computer screen (diffused attention) whereas in experiment 2 they were instructed to direct their attention toward the center of the computer screen coincident with the fixation point (overt attention). Results: : In experiment 1, 2D maps obtained through ordinary kriging (an interpolation method of geostatistical analysis) showed an attentional inferonasal advantage. Experiment 2 showed that participants indeed focused their attention toward the center of the screen, with spatial distribution similar to the topography of cone distribution of the human retina (Curcio et al. 1990). Conclusions: : An anisotropic pattern in the distribution of visuo–spatial attention was clearly evident under a diffuse attention situation; whereas in an overt attention situation, participants were able to focus their attention in a specific area of the computer screen

Influence of the Jahn-Teller effect on the Zeeman splittings of the 4T2 level of Mn2+ in ZnS

The Zeeman effect has been used to analyse the fine structure of the lowest 4T2 level of Mn2+ in ZnS. We have measured the Zeeman splittings and the relative intensities for different polarizations in a 100 kG superconducting magnet. In order to interpret the experimental spectra, a cluster model is assumed and Ham effects are considered. A medium Jahn-Teller coupling with an E vibrational mode can explain the Zeeman splittings observed in high magnetic field. A better fit is obtained for S = 2 than for S = 0.6, the value previously proposed from uniaxial stress experiments. However the theoretical intensities are not in good agreement with those observed.La structure fine du niveau 4T2 de plus faible énergie de Mn2+ dans ZnS a été analysée par effet Zeeman. Les levées de dégénérescence Zeeman ont été mesurées en utilisant une bobine supraconductrice de 100 kG, pour différentes polarisations. Dans l'interprétation des spectres expérimentaux, on utilise un modèle moléculaire et l'on considère les effets Ham. Un couplage Jahn-Teller intermédiaire avec un mode de vibration E permet d'expliquer les levées de dégénérescence observées en champ fort. On obtient un meilleur accord pour S = 2 que pour S = 0,6, valeur proposée antérieurement à partir d'expériences de pression uniaxiale. Cependant, l'accord entre les intensités calculées et celles observées n'est pas très satisfaisant

A Geostatistical Approach to Assess the Spatial Distribution of Visual Attention

Purpose: In the past twenty five years visual attention has been described in terms of varied metaphors, among which a spotlight, a zoom lens and a gradient field. An essential aspect of all these metaphors is the distribution of attentional resources in the visual field, which is not necessarily determined by the fixation point, and may depend on both external events and internal mental processes. This study presents a novel approach, using geostatistical analysis, to investigate how visual attention is allocated in continuous regions of space by measuring simple reaction times (SRTs) of subjects under different task requirements. Methods: SRTs to visual stimuli were measured in ten young subjects (27.1±6.8years). Stimuli and SRTs were provided by the software E–Prime v 1.1 (PST Inc.) using a 17’ monitor driven by a Matrox P650 graphics board (refresh rate 100 Hz, resolution of 800 x 600). Five different situations were employed: in experiment 1 participants were asked not to attend to any particular region, but rather try to spread their attention as uniformly as possible over the computer screen (diffuse attention). In the remaining experiments, participants were instructed to direct their visual attention covertly to the center (exp. 2), to the left (exp. 3), to the right (exp. 4) or to both right and left (but not to the center, thus characterizing a divided attention situation – exp. 5). Data were analyzed with the software Idrisi – Kilimanjaro v. 14.2 – Clark Labs – with Gstat geostatistical module. Results: The isoline maps obtained through the geostatistical analysis show much structure, superposed on which there is a general tendency towards shorter times to the left in exp. 3, to the right in exp. 4, and distributed to both right and left (even though not as lateralized as in the previous two experiments) in exp. 5. One–way ANOVA showed that the RTs of experiment 2 were overall faster than those of experiments 3, 4 and 5 (F = 11.56, p<0.001). Conclusions: The results indicates the potential application of geostatistical methods in the study of the spatial distribution of visual attention in normal subjects, opening potential applications to some pathological conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder