Happiness is in the mouth of the beholder and fear in the eyes.

A temporal two-interval forced-choice paradigm is used to evaluate the relative strength of the visual signals conveyed by the eyes and the mouth in happy and fearful facial expressions.  Stimuli were black and white images of faces with a neutral, happy or fearful expression.  The happy and fearful visual signals were conveyed by the eyes, the mouth or by the whole face. A range of signal strengths (0-100%) were created by morphing the neutral and expressive images.  One interval contained the neutral face (0%) and the other the expressive face (varied from 0 – 100%, presented for 200ms).  Observers indicated the interval with the more expressive image.  Performance increased from chance (50%) to 100% correct as signal strength increased in all conditions.   Psychometric functions for happy expressions were shifted to the left of those for fearful expressions indicating that observers are more sensitive to happy expressions.  This suggests that the emotion signals conveyed by a happy face are more salient than those conveyed by a fearful face.   For happy expressions, psychometric functions for conditions with an expressive mouth were shifted to the left of those in which only the eyes were expressive. For fearful expressions, psychometric functions for conditions in which the eyes were expressive were shifted to the left of those in which only the mouth was expressive. This suggests that the visual signals conveyed by the mouth are more salient for happy facial expressions and the visual signals conveyed by the eyes are more salient for fearful expressions. Future research is aimed at understanding the extent to which this perceptual difference can be explained by the nature of the low level visual signal or higher cognitive function

A robust method for measuring an individual’s sensitivity to facial expressions

This paper describes a method to measure the sensitivity of an individual to different facial expressions. It shows that individual participants are more sensitive to happy than to fearful expressions and that the differences are statistically significant using the model-comparison approach. Sensitivity is measured by asking participants to discriminate between an emotional facial expression and a neutral expression of the same face. The expression was diluted to different degrees by combining it in different proportions with the neutral expression using morphing software. Sensitivity is defined as measurement of the proportion of neutral expression in a stimulus required for participants to discriminate the emotional expression on 75% of presentations. Individuals could reliably discriminate happy expressions diluted with a greater proportion of the neutral expression compared with that required for discrimination of fearful expressions. This tells us that individual participants are more sensitive to happy compared with fearful expressions. Sensitivity is equivalent when measured on two different testing sessions, and greater sensitivity to happy expressions is maintained with short stimulus durations and stimuli generated using different morphing software. Increased sensitivity to happy compared with fear expressions was affected at smaller image sizes for some participants. Application of the approach for use with clinical populations, as well as understanding the relative contribution of perceptual processing and affective processing in facial expression recognition, is discussed

Dark Personality and police workers: analysis of an Italian sample

The Dark Triad of Personality consists of three negative and maladaptive traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy. Although these traits are positively correlated, they represent distinct aspects of personality. On another note, a career in law enforcement is known to be particularly stressful, and the experiences in this profession can have an impact on an individual's personality. While psychopathy traits have been observed in police officers, less attention has been given to the other Dark Triad traits. The aim of this exploratory study is to investigate the Dark Triad traits in a sample of Italian police workers, categorized by age and years of service. We administered the Italian translation of the Short Dark Triad to the sample, which consisted of 121 Police Workers (experimental group) and 541 civilian individuals (control group). The collected data was analyzed using SPSS v25 software. An independent sample t-test was conducted to examine any differences in dark triad traits between police workers and civilian individuals. Additionally, a point-biserial correlation was used to explore any correlations between work-related dangerous experiences or exposure to violence scenes and dark triad traits in the experimental group. The results of the t-test indicate that the police workers sample had lower levels of both machiavellianism and psychopathy traits compared to civilian individuals, with no significant differences noted in the narcissism trait. Regarding police workers, the statistical results show a positive association between exposure to work-related violence scenes and the psychopathy trait. Furthermore, work-related dangerous experiences do not influence any of the dark triad traits

Estudo da influência da idade e da dieta sobre a doença periodontal em cães e gatos.

Periodontal disease (PD) is the most frequent disease among those that affect the oral cavity in the small animal clinic. The etiology of this condition is the accumulation of bacterial plaque in the oral cavity of the animals, resulting in gingivitis and subsequent destruction of the tissues that support the teeth. Food and age are some of the factors studied that can influence the degree of PD. The objective is to evaluate the influence of age and diet factors on the stages of periodontal disease in dogs and cats treated at the veterinary hospital of UFPB in 2019. 27 clinical cases of PD were studied, and the data were extracted from medical records. The diagnosis of the PD stage was obtained through the surgical report of periodontal treatment. Analysis of variance and comparison of mean values by Tukey's test were used, with p≤0.05 values considered significantly different. There was a significant difference in the correlation between age and PD, but not between diet and PD. It is concluded that the dogs and cats attended at the Veterinary Hospital of UFPB have no influence on the type of food on the stages of PD, however, PD gets worse with advancing age. The work is the first to be carried out in Paraíba addressing this theme, therefore, there is a noticeable scarcity of studies addressing the relationship between food and age with the onset of periodontal disease.A doença periodontal (DP) é a enfermidade mais frequente dentre as que acometem a cavidade oral na clínica de pequenos animais. A etiologia desta afecção é o acúmulo de placa bacteriana na cavidade oral dos animais, resultando em uma gengivite e posterior destruição dos tecidos de sustentação dos dentes. A alimentação e a idade são alguns dos fatores estudados que podem influenciar no grau da DP. Objetiva-se avaliar a influência dos fatores idade e dieta nos estágios da doença periodontal em cães e gatos atendidos no hospital veterinário da UFPB no ano de 2019. Foram estudados 27 casos clínicos de DP, e os dados foram extraídos dos prontuários. O diagnóstico do estágio da DP foi obtido por meio do laudo cirúrgico do tratamento periodontal. Utilizou-se análise de variância e comparação dos valores médios pelo teste de Tukey, com valores de p≤0,05 considerados diferentes significativamente. Observou-se diferença significativa na correlação da idade com a DP, mas não entre a dieta e a DP. Conclui-se que os cães e gatos atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da UFPB não possuem influência do tipo de alimentação sobre os estágios da DP, contudo, a DP se agrava com o avanço da idade. O trabalho trata-se do primeiro a ser realizado na Paraíba abordando esta temática, sendo assim, é perceptível uma escassez de estudos que abordem a relação da alimentação e idade com o aparecimento da doença periodontal

Revoluções no fotojornalismo: o caso do jornal O Comércio do Porto

Tese apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Doutor em Ciências da Informação, especialidade em JornalismoEsta tese consiste em verificar se as quatro revoluções do fotojornalismo propostas por Jorge Pedro Sousa, em seu livro Forças por trás da câmara – Uma perspectiva sobre a História do Fotojornalismo das Origens até ao final do Século XX, de 2004, aconteceram no jornal O Comércio do Porto, entre 1854, ano da sua fundação, até 2005, ano do seu fecho. Propõe-se, em tese, que essas revoluções ocorreram mas que foram retardadas por causa dos constrangimentos que o jornalismo português, a Imprensa e o jornal O Comércio do Porto sofreram ao longo do tempo, na esfera política, econômica, social, cultural, intelectual e ideológica. A metodologia consiste num estudo de imagens publicadas ao longo dos 151 anos, através de uma análise iconográfica e iconológica, complementadas por análise histórica (quantitativa) de fotos publicadas, e ainda por entrevistas à fotojornalistas, diretores, chefes de redação, chargista e arquivistas que trabalharam no jornal. Observar os gêneros e estilos, as técnicas e revoluções tecnológicas inseridas na linha editorial do jornal é uma tarefa que não descura o contexto historiográfico proposto por Sousa (2004) e demais autores e tem como acréscimo as experiências profissionais obtidas através das entrevistas, um trabalho que procura entrelaçar dois tipos de fontes distintas. Este é um desafio que procura motivar à reflexões não só no aspecto material (físico), como do ponto de vista humano, a uma abertura de diafragma para grandes fôlegos. No seu conjunto, o fotojornalismo praticado no jornal O Comércio do Porto não esteve a evoluir no mesmo espaço temporal proposto por Sousa (2004), entretanto, corresponde às principais variáveis que caracterizam as revoluções, com uma crescente difusão e integração aos novos tempos, na difícil tarefa de cumprir o papel de ser os olhos do leitor.This thesis consists of checking whether the four revolutions of Photojournalism proposed by Jorge Pedro Sousa, in his book Strengths behind the camera – a perspective on the History of Photojournalism from beginnings until the end of the 20th century, from 2004, happened in the Comércio do Porto newspaper, between 1854, the year of its establishment, until 2005, the year of its ending. It is proposed, in theory, these revolutions have occurred but were delayed because of constraints that the Portuguese journalism, the Press and O Comércio do Porto newspaper suffered over time, in the political, economic, social, cultural, intellectual and ideological domain. The methodology consists on a study of images published over the 151 years, through an iconographic analysis and iconological, complemented by historical analysis (quantitative) of published photos and interviews with photojournalists, directors, heads of redaction, cartoonist and archivists who worked in the newspaper. Observing genres and styles, the methods and technological revolutions inserted into the editorial line of the newspaper is a task that does not neglect the historiographical context proposed by Sousa (2004) and other authors and raise the professional experiences acquired through the interviews, a work that seeks to interlace two different types of sources. This is a challenge that pursues to motivate thoughts either in the material (physical) aspect, as human point of view, for an opening of diaphragm of large breathe. Altogether, the photojournalism practiced in the newspaper Comércio do Porto was not progressing in the same timeline proposed by Sousa (2004), however, corresponds to the main variables which characterize the revolutions, with an increasing flow and integration to the new times, in the difficult task of fulfilling the role of being the eyes of the reader.Cette thèse consiste à vérifier si les quatre tours du Photojournalisme, proposé par Jorge Pedro Sousa, dans son livre Forces derrière de la caméra – une perspective sur l'histoire du photojournalisme, des débuts jusqu'à la fin du XXe siècle, de 2004, qui s'est passé dans le journal Comércio do Porto, entre 1854, l'année de sa fondation, jusqu'en 2005, l'année de sa fermeture. Il est proposé, en théorie, ces révolutions ont eu lieu mais ont été retardées en raison des contraintes que journalisme portugais, la presse et le journal O Comércio do Porto a subi au fil du temps, dans la sphère politique, économique, social, culturel, intellectuel et idéologique. La méthodologie consiste en une étude des images publiées sur les 151 ans, grâce à une analyse iconographique et iconologique, complétée par l'analyse historique (quantitative) des photos et des entrevues avec des photojournalistes, des directeurs, des chefs de rédaction, caricaturiste et archivistes qui ont travaillé dans le journal. Observer les genres et les styles, des techniques et des révolutions technologiques insérées dans la ligne éditoriale du journal est une tâche qui ne néglige pas le contexte historiographique proposé par Sousa (2004) et d'autres auteurs et d'accroître l'expérience professionnelle obtenues dans le cadre des entrevues, un travail qui cherche à entrelacer deux types de sources distinctes. Il s'agit d'un défi qui cherche à motiver les réflexions non seulement dans l'aspect matériel (physique), point de vue humain, à une ouverture de diaphragme pour grandes respirations. Dans l'ensemble, le photojournalisme pratiqué dans le journal Comércio do Porto n'évoluait pas dans le même calendrier proposé par Sousa (2004), cependant, correspond aux principales variables qui caractérisent les révolutions, avec une diffusion croissante et l'intégration aux nouveaux temps, dans le difficile travail de remplir le rôle de l'être les yeux du lecteur

Cidades e favelas, pelos olhos de quem?

Como podemos formar representações sobre as cidades? A qualificação de espaços e lugares pode ser mediada por descrições e narrativas que se sobrepõem a nossas vivências e referenciam nosso juízo sobre a realidade. A partir de alguns relatos de alunos de ensino médio de uma escola particular de Marília-SP é abordada a interpenetração entre realidade e ficção considerando estereótipos sobre a “favela”,citados nos depoimentos, e o filme nacional “Cidade de Deus” utilizado como ilustração desse movimento possível de adoção de representações ficcionais como referencial de lugares urbanos dos quais uma parcela da sociedade não tem um contato direto

A Case Report of a Woman Affected with Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder I and Methabolic Syndrome Improved with Aripiprazole Monotherapy

Introduction We present the case of a 51-years-old Caucasian woman with Bipolar Disorder I (BDI), treated for a long time with typical antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. She referred to our outpatient service because she wished to revise her precriptions, which had caused several side-effects, including metabolic syndrome, gain of body weight, sedation, cognitive impairments, and extrapiramidal symptoms. Moreover, treatment was poorly effective, the patient's compliance was lacking and she experienced frequent relapses. Aims We started treating the patient with aripiprazole at a daily dose of 15 mg. Our aim is to describe the substantial clinical and metabolic improvements of a patient who poorly responded to previous prescriptions. Methods Psychometric measures for the assessment of mood and social functioning were administered at baseline and at the follow-up interviews. Body Mass Index was monitored and blood tests were performed to evaluate the lipid profile (LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides), blood glucose, and glycated haemoglobin. Results In the last two years the patient has regularly taken her therapies and attended to follow-up visits. Her social functioning and tolerance to stressful situations have improved, as well as her metabolic profile. Noteworthy, she had not needed further hospitalizations. Conclusions Our clinical observations support the efficacy of aripiprazole in the treatment of BDI. Switching to aripiprazole should be considered in cases similar to the one we have described, characterized by poor compliance, obesity or metabolic syndrome, sensitivity to manifest extrapiramidal syndrome (especially tardive dyskinesia) and other side effects such as sedation and cognitive impairments

Yb-1 oncoprotein controls pi3k/akt pathway by reducing pten protein level

YB-1 is a multifunctional protein overexpressed in many types of cancer. It is a crucial oncoprotein that regulates cancer cell progression and proliferation. Ubiquitously expressed in human cells, YB-1 protein functions are strictly dependent on its subcellular localization. In the cytoplasm, where YB-1 is primarily localized, it regulates mRNA translation and stability. However, in response to stress stimuli and activation of PI3K and RSK signaling, YB-1 moves to the nucleus acting as a prosurvival factor. YB-1 is reported to regulate many cellular signaling pathways in different types of malignancies. Furthermore, several observations also suggest that YB-1 is a sensor of oxidative stress and DNA damage. Here we show that YB-1 reduces PTEN intracellular levels thus leading to PI3K/Akt pathway activation. Remarkably, PTEN reduction mediated by YB-1 overexpression can be observed in human immortalized keratinocytes and HEK293T cells and cannot be reversed by proteasome inhibition. Real-time PCR data indicate that YB-1 silencing up-regulates the PTEN mRNA level. Collectively, these observations indicate that YB-1 negatively controls PTEN at the transcript level and its overexpression could confer survival and proliferative advantage to PTEN proficient cancer cells

Direct and indirect effects of attention and visual function on gait impairment in Parkinson’s disease: influence of task and turning

Gait impairment is a core feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD) which has been linked to cognitive and visual deficits, but interactions between these features are poorly understood. Monitoring saccades allows investigation of real-time cognitive and visual processes and their impact on gait when walking. This study explored; 1) saccade frequency when walking under different attentional manipulations of turning and dual-task; and 2) direct and indirect relationships between saccades, gait impairment, vision and attention. Saccade frequency (number of fast eye-movements per-second) was measured during gait in 60 PD and 40 age-matched control participants using a mobile eye-tracker. Saccade frequency was significantly reduced in PD compared to controls during all conditions. However, saccade frequency increased with a turn and decreased under dual-task for both groups. Poorer attention directly related to saccade frequency, visual function and gait impairment in PD, but not controls. Saccade frequency did not directly relate to gait in PD, but did in controls. Instead, saccade frequency and visual function deficit indirectly impacted gait impairment in PD, which was underpinned by their relationship with attention. In conclusion, our results suggest a vital role for attention with direct and indirect influences on gait impairment in PD. Attention directly impacted saccade frequency, visual function and gait impairment in PD, with connotations for falls. It also underpinned indirect impact of visual and saccadic impairment on gait. Attention therefore represents a key therapeutic target that should be considered in future research