Emotion recognition in multiple sclerosis

The effect of multiple sclerosis (MS) on the ability to identify emotional expressions in faces was investigated, and possible associations with patients’ characteristics were explored. 56 non-demented MS patients and 56 healthy subjects (HS) with similar demographic characteristics performed an emotion recognition task (ERT), the Benton Facial Recognition Test (BFRT), and answered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Additionally, MS patients underwent a neurological examination and a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. The ERT consisted of 42 pictures of faces (depicting anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise and neutral expressions) from the NimStim set. An iViewX high-speed eye tracker was used to record eye movements during ERT. The fixation times were calculated for two regions of interest (i.e., eyes and rest of the face). No significant differences were found between MS and HC on ERT’s behavioral and oculomotor measures. Bivariate and multiple regression analyses revealed significant associations between ERT’s behavioral performance and demographic, clinical, psychopathological, and cognitive measures.

Sexual presence and intentional dynamics: deviant and non-deviant sexual self-regulation from the first person stance

Child molesters (n=13) and sexually non-deviant subjects (n=29) were immersed with virtual characters depicting relevant sexual features while their sexual arousal and gaze behaviour were assessed to characterize their sexual preferences and intentional dynamics. Sexual arousal was measured using circumferential penile plethysmography (PPG). Gaze behaviour dynamics was derived from average gaze radial angular deviation (GRAD) and GRAD coefficient of variation (GRADCV). Results show distinct sexual arousal profiles according to sexual preferences and point towards the existence of specific gaze behaviour dynamics guided by sexual intentions. Theoretical interpretations are based on the ecological psychology of J.J. Gibson and the integrated theory of sexual offending (Ward, 2009; Ward & Beech, 2006). Theoretical underpinnings coming from these approaches are advocated as being especially well suited to explain how virtual reality can help probing into child molesters’ phenomenology as lived from the first-person stance.

''Cashless'' transactions : perceptions of money in mobile payments

A limited number of ‘cashless transaction’ studies addressed the issue that the mode of payment affects perceptions of money and purchase behaviour, the majority of the research is in the area of the credit card payment mode. Credit card based research has shown that when a credit card based payment is used, the volume, value and type of products purchased increase. Whether this is due to the credit element or to the ‘cashless or mobile’ element of the transaction is not known. The notion that the tangibility of cash influences perceptions of money is not novel, but it is untested. This discussion paper suggests that under conditions of cash, there is awareness (conscious/unconscious) that a possession of value transferred and this perception may well have a direct impact on people’s perception of money and their spending behaviour.

SME’s Alliance Dynamics in the Mobile Marketing Industry

This paper presents a case study of the two similar sized, new, technology-based firms acting as alliance partners in the Mobile commerce industry. The analysis describes how the alliance dynamics in our case study relate to seminal research in the field of business alliance formation. Contrary to the established predictions we find that the negative influence on alliance performance described as a consequence of the dissolved routinized alliance pattern by seminal authors is not present. At the same time, the case study shows that internalization of complementary assets does not by necessity result in dissolution of the business alliance as argued from a resource and competence based perspective.

Technology enhanced learning and augmented reality : an application on multimedia interactive books

Multimedia Interactive Book (miBook) reflects the development of a new concept of virtual interpretation of traditional text books and audio-visual content. By encompassing new technological approaches, using augmented reality technology, allows the final user to experience a variety of sensorial stimuli while enjoying and interacting with the content; therefore enhancing the learning process. miBook stands for a global educational intention to enable people not only to access but also to appropriate intellectually valuable contents coming from different linguistic and cultural contexts.

Interactions of alpha and beta synuclein proteins in auditory functioning

Alpha-synuclein is found in synaptic terminals at the base of both inner and outer hair cells, while the beta isoform is prominently localized to spiral ganglion neuron cell bodies. The present study assessed the role of beta-synuclein in auditory function, and potential interactions between isoforms.

Kipus: revista andina de letras. 13 (Reseñas)

Presenta las reseñas de los siguientes libros: Alicia Ortega, LA CIUDAD Y SUS BIBLIOTECAS: EL GRAFFITI QUITEÑO Y LA CRÓNICA COSTEÑA, Quito, Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar / Corporación Editora Nacional, Serie Magíster, vol. 2, 1999, 94 pp. -- Cecilia Ansaldo, antóloga, CUENTAN LAS MUJERES. ANTOLOGÍA DE NARRADORAS ECUATORIANAS, Quito, Planeta, 2001, 252 pp. -- Carolina Ortiz, LA LETRA Y LOS CUERPOS SUBYUGADOS: HETEROGENEIDAD, COLONIALIDAD Y SUBALTERNIDAD EN CUATRO NOVELAS LATINOAMERICANAS, Quito, Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar / Corporación Editora Nacional, Serie Magíster, vol. 4, 2000, 90 pp. -- Vicente Robalino, SOBRE LA HIERBA EL DÍA, Quito: Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana / Ediciones de la línea imaginaria, 2001, 40 pp. -- María Augusta Vintimilla, EL TIEMPO, LA MUERTE, LA MEMORIA: LA POÉTICA DE EFRAIN JARA IDROVO, Quito, Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar / Corporación Editora Nacional, Serie Magíster, vol. 6, 2000, 156 pp. -- Rodrigo Pesántez Rodas, LOS SILENCIOS DEL BOSQUE, Guayaquil: Universidad de Guayaquil, 2001, 37 pp. -- Carlos García-Bedoya M., LA LITERATURA PERUANA EN EL PERÍODO DE LA ESTABILIZACIÓN COLONIAL. 1580-1780. Lima, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos / Fondo Editorial, 2000, 300 pp. -- Ney Yépez, MANDOS ABIERTOS, Eskeletra: Quito, 2001. -- Miguel Donoso Pareja, LA MUERTE DE TYRONE POWER EN EL MONUMENTAL DEL BARCELONA, Guayaquil, Imaginaria / EskeIetra, 2001, 309 pp.