Sex differences: From mental rotation to object location memory, an ERP study

Sex differences in cognition have been largely investigated. The most consistent sex differences favoring females are observed in object location memory involving the left hemisphere whereas the most consistent sex differences favoring males are observed in tasks that require mental rotation involving the right hemisphere. Here we used a task involving these two abilities to see the impact of mental rotation on object location memory. To that end we used a combination of behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) electroencephalography (EEG) measures.A computer screen displayed a square frame of 4 pairs of images (a "teddy" bear, a shoe, an umbrella and a lamp) randomly arranged around a central fixation cross. After a 10-second interval for memorization, images disappeared and were replaced by a test frame with no image but a random pair of two locations marked in black. In addition, this test frame was randomly displayed either in the original orientation (0° rotation) or in the rotated one (90° clockwise - CW - or 90° counterclockwise - CCW). Preceding the test frame, an arrow indicating the presence or the absence of rotation of the frame was displayed on the screen. The task of the participants (15 females and 15 males) was to determine if two marked locations corresponded or not to a pair of identical images. Each response was followed by feedback.Findings showed no significant sex differences in the performance of the original orientation. In comparison with this position, the rotation of the frame produced an equal decrease of male and female performance. In addition, this decrease was significantly higher when the rotation of the frame was in a CCW direction. We further assessed the ERP when the arrow indicated the direction of rotation as stimulus-onset, during four time windows representing major components C1, P1, N1 and N2. Although no sex differences were observed in performance, brain activities differed according to sex. Enhanced amplitudes were found for the CCW compared to CW rotation over the right posterior areas for the P1, N1 and N2 components for men as well as for women. Major topographical differences related to sex were measured for the CW rotation condition as marked lateralized amplitude: left-hemisphere amplitude larger than right one was measured during P1 time range for men. These similar patterns prolonged from P1 to N1 for women. Early distinctions were found in interaction with sex between CCW and CW waveform amplitudes, expressing over anterior electrode sites during C1 time range (0-50 ms post-stimulus).In conclusion (i) women do not outperform men in object location memory in this study (absence of rotation condition); (ii) mental rotation, in particular the direction of rotation, influences performance on object location memory; (iii) CCW rotation is associated with activity in the right parietal hemisphere whereas the CW rotation involves the left parietal hemisphere; (iv) this last effect is less pronounced in males, which could explain why greater involvement of right parietal areas in men and of bilateral posterior areas in women is generally reported in mental rotation tasks; and (v) the early distinctions between both directions of rotation located over anterior sites could be related to sex differences in their respective involvement of control mechanisms.

3D-partikkelit aloittelijoille : tarkastelussa 3D-Kalevala-projekti

Opinnäytteeni teososana on 3D-Kalevala projektinimellä tunnetun animaation partikkeliefektit. Tarkastelen tarkemmin elokuvan Lumi-, Kylä-, Paja- ja Luola-kohtauksia. 3D-Kalevala on tietokoneella tehty animaatio, joka kertoo Suomen kansalliseepoksen Kalevalan päähenkilöstä Väinämöisestä. Elokuvassa vanha Väinämöinen muistelee nuoruutensa tapahtumia. 3D-Kalevala-projekti käynnistettiin vuonna 2003, mutta sen alkuperäiset tekijät eivät saaneet sitä valmiiksi, ja projektin teko keskeytettiin vuonna 2005. Vuoden 2006 keväällä projektiin perustettiin uusi kahden verkkoviestinnän opiskelijan projektiryhmä, jonka tehtävänä oli saada elokuva valmiiksi vuoden 2007 kevääseen mennessä. Kun aloitimme projektin tekemisen, olin kolmiulotteisessa mallinnuksessa aloittelija. Tästä johtuen opinnäytteen kirjallinen osa on opas aloittelijoille partikkelien maailmaan. Selvitän raportissani miten elokuvan partikkeliefektit rakennettiin, mitä niiden tekeminen minulta vaati ja miten ne loppujen lopuksi mielestäni onnistuivat. Elokuvan efektit tehtiin 3D Studio Max-ohjelman versiolla 6.0, ja tämän takia kirjoitankin efektien rakentamisesta kyseisen ohjelman keinoin. Projektin suuruuden vuoksi molemmat tekijät pääsivät tekemään monenlaisia töitä, mutta päävastuualueet olivat selvät. Minun osani oli tehdä elokuvaan efektejä. Partikkeliefektit ovat proseduraalisia efektejä, joiden avulla on mahdollista tehdä aidon näköisiä luonnonilmiöitä, kuten tulta, savua, kipinöitä ja veden roiskeita. Koska partikkeliefektit mallintavat reaalimaailman ilmiöitä, on tekijän hyvä olla kiinnostunut selvittämään ilmiöiden käyttäytymistä luonnossa. Raportoin myös projektin aikana huomaamistani hyvistä tavoista opiskella itsenäisesti partikkelien rakentamiseen käytettyjä tekniikoita. On hyvä lukea 3D Studio Maxin tasokasta käyttöohjesovellusta, tutustua Internetissä löytyviin 3D-aiheisiin foorumeihin, käydä aiheesta tutoriaaleja läpi sekä tutustua ohjelman ominaisuuksiin kokeilemalla ja tutkimalla itsenäisesti. Elokuvan efektit onnistuivat mielestäni kiitettävästi ottaen huomioon lähtötasoni. Löysin tapoja kehittää itseäni ja helppoja keinoja toteuttaa realistista jälkeä efektien rakentamisessa. Toivon, että raportistani olisi jollekin 3D-partikkeliefekteistä kiinnostuneelle hyötyä.

Sex differences: From mental rotation to object location memory, an ERP study

Sex differences in cognition have been largely investigated. The most consistent sex differences favoring females are observed in object location memory involving the left hemisphere whereas the most consistent sex differences favoring males are observed in tasks that require mental rotation involving the right hemisphere. Here we used a task involving these two abilities to see the impact of mental rotation on object location memory. To that end we used a combination of behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) electroencephalography (EEG) measures.A computer screen displayed a square frame of 4 pairs of images (a "teddy" bear, a shoe, an umbrella and a lamp) randomly arranged around a central fixation cross. After a 10-second interval for memorization, images disappeared and were replaced by a test frame with no image but a random pair of two locations marked in black. In addition, this test frame was randomly displayed either in the original orientation (0° rotation) or in the rotated one (90° clockwise - CW - or 90° counterclockwise - CCW). Preceding the test frame, an arrow indicating the presence or the absence of rotation of the frame was displayed on the screen. The task of the participants (15 females and 15 males) was to determine if two marked locations corresponded or not to a pair of identical images. Each response was followed by feedback.Findings showed no significant sex differences in the performance of the original orientation. In comparison with this position, the rotation of the frame produced an equal decrease of male and female performance. In addition, this decrease was significantly higher when the rotation of the frame was in a CCW direction. We further assessed the ERP when the arrow indicated the direction of rotation as stimulus-onset, during four time windows representing major components C1, P1, N1 and N2. Although no sex differences were observed in performance, brain activities differed according to sex. Enhanced amplitudes were found for the CCW compared to CW rotation over the right posterior areas for the P1, N1 and N2 components for men as well as for women. Major topographical differences related to sex were measured for the CW rotation condition as marked lateralized amplitude: left-hemisphere amplitude larger than right one was measured during P1 time range for men. These similar patterns prolonged from P1 to N1 for women. Early distinctions were found in interaction with sex between CCW and CW waveform amplitudes, expressing over anterior electrode sites during C1 time range (0-50 ms post-stimulus).In conclusion (i) women do not outperform men in object location memory in this study (absence of rotation condition); (ii) mental rotation, in particular the direction of rotation, influences performance on object location memory; (iii) CCW rotation is associated with activity in the right parietal hemisphere whereas the CW rotation involves the left parietal hemisphere; (iv) this last effect is less pronounced in males, which could explain why greater involvement of right parietal areas in men and of bilateral posterior areas in women is generally reported in mental rotation tasks; and (v) the early distinctions between both directions of rotation located over anterior sites could be related to sex differences in their respective involvement of control mechanisms.

Desenvolvimento de Sistema de Odontologia – Módulo Relatório de Sistema:Odonto Clínica ERP

trabalho descrito neste relatório é sobre desenvolvimento de sistema de informação que possui a função de informatizar uma clínica odontológica de acordo com suas principais necessidades. O sistema, Odonto Clínica ERP é um Projecto desenvolvido na empresa Ada Soluções que tem como objectivo melhorar o atendimento aos pacientes da clínica, garantindo agilidade e facilidade aos seus utilizadores na consulta e documentação de seus serviços. O Odonto Clínica ERP é um sistema simples e eficiente que garante às clínicas odontológicas o controlo e emissão de relatórios de todos os relatórios de sistema. O documento possui informações sobre o sistema, os requisitos do sistema, diagramas para a implementação dos requisitos do sistema e visualização dos conceitos de sistema de informação, descrição da base de dados que armazenará os dados do sistema e sobre a modelação do sistema. Várias abordagens teóricas foram adoptadas para a realização desse sistema, privilegiando os conhecimentos adquiridos durante a formação académica designadamente nas disciplinas de Base de Dados, Desenvolvimento de Aplicação Web, Sistema de Informação, Programação e Desenho e Guião de Conteúdos Web. Para o desenvolvimento desse sistema utilizou-se a plataforma Oracle Application Express 10g com a linguagem de programação PL/SQL, para fazer a modelação desse sistema foi usada a ferramenta Visual Paradigma for UML 6.0. Esse sistema foi dividido em sete módulos, por isso, esse relatório vai focar no módulo Relatório de Sistema.

Desenvolvimento de Sistema de Odontologia –Módulo Contas a Pagar e Receber: Odonto Clínica ERP

O trabalho descrito neste relatório é sobre desenvolvimento de sistema de informação que possui a função de informatizar uma clínica odontológica de acordo com suas principais necessidades. O sistema, Odonto Clínica ERP é um Projecto desenvolvido na empresa Ada Soluções que tem como objectivo melhorar o atendimento aos pacientes da clínica, garantindo agilidade e facilidade aos seus utilizadores na consulta e documentação de seus serviços. O Odonto Clínica ERP, módulo “ contas a pagar e receber” é um sistema simples e eficiente que garante às clínicas odontológicas o controlo de todos os pagamentos efectuados pela clínicas e das contas a receber dos pacientes. O documento possui informações sobre o sistema, os requisitos do sistema, diagramas para a implementação dos requisitos do sistema e visualização dos conceitos de sistema de informação, descrição da base de dados que armazenará os dados do sistema e sobre a modelação do sistema. Várias abordagens teóricas foram adoptadas para a realização desse sistema, privilegiando os conhecimentos adquiridos durante a formação académica. Para o desenvolvimento desse sistema utilizou-se a plataforma Oracle Application Express 10g com a linguagem de programação PL/SQL, e para fazer a modelação do sistema foi usada a ferramenta Visual Paradigm for UML 6.0. Esse sistema foi dividido em sete módulos, por isso, o presente relatório vai focar no módulo de Contas a pagar e receber da clínica.

Implantació de sistema ERP a una entitat financera

L'objecte del treball és la mecanització de les tasques administratives derivades de les operacions de tresoreria comercialitzades per les entitats financeres.

Implantación de SAP ERP en una distribuidora

En este trabajo se pretende reflejar en qué consistiría un proyecto de implantación de un ERP, en nuestro caso SAP ERP, en una empresa del sector de la distribución alimenticia. Para llevarlo a cabo se empleará la metodología ASAP, pretendiendo ser el resultado final del proyecto el análisis y diseño del mismo.

Implantación de un sistema ERP para la gestión de clientes de la Universidad Millenium

Con este proyecto se trata de ejemplificar cómo se haría la implantación del módulo de clientes de un sistema ERP para la gestión de una universidad.

Selección de un sistema ERP para la gestión de EAFI's

The purpose of this ECS study is to develop a theory about the different ERPs on the market, both free and paid software, in order to determine what is the most appropiate for an economic-consultant company, specifically of the EAFI sector (Business Financial Consultancy).

Implementació d'un ERP

Projecte que pretén portar a terme l'estudi i disseny d'un ERP en una petita empresa del sector metal·lúrgic.

Análisis comparativo de las soluciones ERP desde la perspectiva de los recursos humanos

El estudio es una valoración de las empresas de ERP, tomando como referencia sus programas dedicados a la gestión de los recursos humanos.

Implantació d'un ERP en una empresa de reprografia

Treball final de carrera basat en la implantació d'un ERP en una empresa de reprografia. En el projecte es revisen diferents ERP i s'explica el motiu de la tria d'Eurowin. Es descriu l'empresa on serà implantat, es fa un anàlisi funcional i tècnic, i finalment es realitza el disseny de la implantació.