Adaptation of the normative rating procedure for the International Affective Picture System to a remote format.

BACKGROUND: The Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), a pictorial scale for the measurement of pleasure and arousal dimensions of emotions, is one of the most applied tools in the emotion research field. OBJECTIVE: We present a detailed description of a remote method to collect affective ratings in response to pictures by using the SAM scale. METHODS: To empirically validate our remote method, we conducted a study using a digitized version of the SAM scale and delivered online didactic instructions that followed the normative rating procedure for the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) to the participants. We presented 70 pictures from the IAPS and an additional set of 22 food pictures to the participants. RESULTS: We found strong correlations between the ratings of IAPS pictures obtained in our sample and those reported by North American and Brazilian participants in previous in-person studies that applied the same pictures and methodology. We were also able to obtain an additional standardized set of food pictures. CONCLUSION: The protocols described here may be useful for researchers interested in collecting remotely valid and reliable affecting ratings.

Scopolamine infusion in the basolateral amygdala after saccharin intake induces conditioned taste avoidance in rats.

RATIONALE: Muscarinic receptor activity in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is known to be involved in plasticity mechanisms that underlie emotional learning. The BLA is involved in the Attenuation of Neophobia, an incidental taste learning task in which a novel taste becomes familiar and recognized as safe. OBJECTIVE: Here we assessed the role of muscarinic receptor activity in the BLA in incidental taste learning. METHODS: Young adult male Wistar rats were bilaterally implanted with cannulas aimed at BLA. After recovery, rats were randomly assigned to either vehicle or muscarinic antagonist group, for each experiment. We tested the effect of specific and non-specific muscarinic antagonists administered either 1) 20 min before novel taste presentation; 2) immediately after novel taste presentation; 3) immediately after retrieval (the second taste presentation on Day 5 -S2-) or immediately after the fifth taste presentation on Day 8 (S5). RESULTS: Non-specific muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine infused prior to novel taste, while not affecting novel taste preference, abolished AN, i.e., the increased preference observed in control animals on the second presentation. When administered after taste consumption, intra-BLA scopolamine not only prevented AN but caused a steep decrease in the taste preference on the second presentation. This scopolamine-induced taste avoidance was not dependent on taste novelty, nor did it generalize to another novel taste. Targeting putative postsynaptic muscarinic receptors with specific M1 or M3 antagonists appeared to produce a partial taste avoidance, while M2 antagonism had no effect. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that if a salient gustatory experience is followed by muscarinic receptors antagonism in the BLA, it will be strongly and persistently avoided in the future. The study also shows that scopolamine is not just an amnesic drug, and its cognitive effects may be highly dependent on the task and the structure involved.

Grasping affordance judgments depend on the object emotional value.

Introduction: The concept of affordance refers to the opportunities for action provided by the environment, often conveyed through visual information. It has been applied to explain visuomotor processing and movement planning. As emotion modulates both visual perception and the motor system, it is reasonable to ask whether emotion can influence affordance judgments. If present, this relationship can have important ontological implications for affordances. Thus, we investigated whether the emotional value of manipulable objects affected the judgment of the appropriate grasping that could be used to interact with them (i.e., their affordance). Methods: Volunteers were instructed to use a numerical scale to report their judgment on how an observed object should be grasped. We compared these judgments across emotional categories of objects (pleasant, unpleasant and neutral), while also considering the expected effect of object size. Results: We found that unpleasant objects were rated as more appropriately graspable by a precision grip than pleasant and neutral objects. Simultaneously, smaller object size also favored this judgment. This effect was seen in all emotional categories examined in equal magnitude. Discussion: Our findings suggest that the emotional value of objects modulates affordance judgments in a way that favors careful manipulation and minimal physical contact with aversive stimuli. Finally, we discuss how this affective aspect of our experience of objects overlaps with what affordances are conceptualized to be, calling for further reexamination of the relationship between affordances and emotions.

[Feeling analysis on allergen immunotherapy on Twitter using an unsupervised machine learning model]. / Análisis de sentimientos acerca de la inmunoterapia con alérgenos en Twitter mediante un modelo de aprendizaje automático no supervisado.

OBJECTIVE: Analyze feelings about allergen-specific immunotherapy on Twitter using the VADER model VADER (Valence Aware Dictionary and sEntiment Reasoner) model. METHODS: tweets related to specific allergen immunotherapy were obtained through the Twitter Application Programming Interface (API). The keywords "allergy shot" were used between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2022. The data was processed by removing URLs, usernames, hashtags, multiple spaces, and duplicate tweets. Subsequently, a sentiment analysis was performed using the VADER model. RESULTS: A total of 34,711 tweets were retrieved, of which 1928 were eliminated. Of the remaining 32,783 tweets, 32.41% expressed a negative sentiment, 31.11% expressed a neutral sentiment, and 36.47% expressed a positive sentiment, with an average polarity of 0.02751 (neutral) over the 11-year period. CONCLUSIONS: The average polarity of tweets about allergen-specific immunotherapy is neutral over the 11 years analyzed. There was an annual increase in the average polarity over the years, with 2017, 2018, and 2022 having positive polarity averages. Additionally, the number of tweets decreased over time.

OBJETIVO: Analizar los sentimientos acerca de la inmunoterapia alérgeno-específica en Twitter mediante el modelo VADER (Valence Aware Dictionary and sEntiment Reasoner). MÉTODOS: Se utilizaron tweets relacionados con la inmunoterapia alérgeno-específica obtenidos a través del API (Application Programming Interface) de Twitter. Se incorporaron las palabras clave "allergy shot" en el período comprendido entre el 1 de enero de 2012 y el 31 de diciembre de 2022. Los datos obtenidos fueron procesados, eliminando las URL, nombres de usuarios, hashtags, espacios múltiples y tweets duplicados. Posteriormente, se realizó un análisis de sentimientos utilizando el modelo VADER. RESULTADOS: Se recolectaron 34,711 tweets, de los que se eliminaron 1928. De los 32,783 tweets restantes, se encontró que el 32.41% de los usuarios expresó un sentimiento negativo, el 31.11% un sentimiento neutral y el 36.47% un sentimiento positivo, con una media de polaridad de 0.02751 (neutral) a lo largo de los 11 años. CONCLUSIONES: La polaridad media de los tweets acerca de la inmunoterapia alérgeno-específica es neutral a lo largo de los 11 años analizados. Existe un aumento anual en la polaridad media positiva a lo largo de los años, sobre todo entre 2017, 2018 y 2022. La cantidad de tweets disminuyó con el tiempo.

Modulation of facial muscle responses by another person's presence and affiliative touch during affective image viewing.

Stimulating CT-afferents by forearm caresses produces the subjective experience of pleasantness in the receiver and modulates subjective evaluations of viewed affective images. Receiving touch from another person includes the social element of another person's presence, which has been found to influence affective image evaluations without involving touch. The current study investigated whether these modulations translate to facial muscle responses associated with positive and negative affect across touch-involving and mere presence conditions. Female participants (N = 40, M(age) = 22.4, SD = 5.3) watched affective images (neutral, positive, negative) while facial electromyography was recorded (sites: zygomaticus, corrugator). Results from ANOVAs showed that providing touch to another person or oneself modulated zygomaticus site responses when viewing positive images. Providing CT-afferent stimulating touch (i.e., forearm caresses) to another person or oneself dampened the positive affective facial muscle response to positive affective images. Providing touch to another person generally increased corrugator facial muscle activity related to negative affect. Receiving touch did not modulate affective facial muscle responses during the viewing of affective images but may have effects on later cognitive processes. Together, previously reported social and touch modulations of subjective evaluations of affective images do not translate to facial muscle responses during affective image viewing, which were differentially modulated.

Viver ou morrer?: a influência das emoções desencadeadas por palavras nos tempos de reação manual / Living or dying?: the influence of emotions triggered by words on manual reaction times / ¿Viviendo o muriendo?: la influencia de las emociones provocadas por las palabras en los tiempos de reacción manual

Estímulos afetivos influenciam o comportamento devido a facilitações/inibições que ocorrem no sistema sensóriomotor. Para estímulos positivos, respostas ipsilaterais tendem a ser facilitadas e as contralaterais inibidas. Para estímulos negativos, o padrão é invertido. Atualmente, 34 voluntários foram submetidos à Tarefa de Compatibilidade Espacial Afetiva, cujos estímulos de valência inata foram as palavras "viver" e "morrer". No mapeamento 1, executaram-se respostas ipsilaterais para a palavra "viver" e respostas contralaterais para a palavra "morrer". No mapeamento 2, ocorreu o inverso. Através da análise temporal, investigamos se e como palavras que desencadeiam emoções inatas modulam a resposta motora. No mapeamento 1, constatamos respostas ipsilaterais mais lentas à palavra "viver" do que contralaterais à palavra "morrer" (a partir do 3º quintil). Porém, no mapeamento 2, houve diferença apenas no 3º quintil. Os efeitos facilitadores da resposta contralateral ao estímulo negativo estão possivelmente associados a mecanismos automáticos de vigilância para detectar/evitar estímulos de ameaça

Affective stimuli influence behavior due to facilitations/inhibitions that occur in the sensory-motor system. For positive stimuli, ipsilateral responses tend to be facilitated and contralateral inhibited. For negative stimuli, the pattern is reversed. Currently, 34 volunteers were submitted to the Affective Spatial Compatibility Task, whose innate valence stimuli were the words "living" and "dying". In mapping 1, ipsilateral responses were executed for the word "living" and contralateral for the word "dying". In mapping 2, the reverse occurred. Using temporal analysis, we investigated whether and how words that trigger innate emotions modulate the motor response. In mapping 1, we found slower ipsilateral responses to the word "living" than contralateral responses to the word "dying" (from the 3rd quintile). However, mapping 2 revealed a difference only in the 3rd quintile. The facilitating effects of the contralateral response to the negative stimulus are possibly associated with automatic vigilance mechanisms to detect/avoid threatening stimuli

Los estímulos afectivos influyen en el comportamiento debido a las facilitaciones/inhibiciones que se producen en el sistema sensoriomotor. Para los estímulos positivos, las respuestas ipsilaterales tienden a ser facilitadas y las contralaterales inhibidas. Para los estímulos negativos, el patrón se invierte. Actualmente, 34 voluntarios fueron sometidos a la Tarea de Compatibilidad Espacial Afectiva, cuyos estímulos de valencia innata fueron las palabras "vivir" y "morir". En el mapeo 1, se ejecutaron respuestas ipsilaterales para la palabra "vivir" y contralaterales para la palabra "morir". En el mapeo 2, ocurrió lo contrario. Mediante un análisis temporal, investigamos si las palabras que desencadenan emociones innatas modulan la respuesta motora y cómo lo hacen. En el mapeo 1, encontramos respuestas ipsilaterales más lentas a la palabra "vivir" que respuestas contralaterales a la palabra "morir" (del tercer quintil). Sin embargo, el mapeo 2 reveló una diferencia sólo en el 3er quintil. Los efectos facilitadores de la respuesta contralateral al estímulo negativo están posiblemente asociados a mecanismos automáticos de vigilancia para detectar/evitar estímulos amenazantes

¿La valencia emocional modifica la eficiencia de la atención y la memoria de trabajo con la edad?: Una revisión descriptiva / Does emotional valence change the efficiency of attention and working memory with age? A descriptive review

Resumen Conforme pasa la edad, se reportan varios cambios funcionales, anatómicos y conductuales en funciones cognitivas, como la atención y memoria de trabajo. Sin embargo, parece que la valencia emocional de los estímulos tiene un efecto en el procesamiento de información. El objetivo de la presente revisión es exponer la hipótesis de que los mecanismos atencionales de amplificación de información relevante y supresión de información irrelevante repercuten sobre la eficiencia en la memoria de trabajo, y proponer que estos mecanismos pudieran ser vulnerables al efecto de la valencia emocional de los estímulos. En esta revisión se expondrán los diferentes modelos de atención que permitan comprender el concepto de filtrado de la información para realizar tareas de competencia emocional. También, se discutirá el efecto de los distractores neutros y con valencia emocional sobre la eficiencia en la memoria de trabajo, contrastando la evidencia existente entre adultos jóvenes vs. adultos mayores. Finalmente, se plantea la hipótesis de los mecanismos atencionales y su impacto en la memoria de trabajo. Hasta donde es nuestro conocimiento, se desconoce cómo cambian estos mecanismos atencionales a lo largo de la vida adulta, cómo la valencia emocional impacta estos mecanismos y, potencialmente, la eficiencia de la memoria de trabajo. Los adultos mayores presentan una disminución en el mecanismo de supresión en comparación con los jóvenes, efecto no observado para el mecanismo de amplificación. Conforme la edad avanza, la valencia emocional impacta diferencialmente la captura atencional. Se presume que los cambios tanto en los mecanismos atencionales como en la valencia emocional tienen un potencial efecto sobre la memoria de trabajo.

Abstract Ageing is accompanied by various functional, anatomical, and behavioural changes in cognitive functions such as attention and working memory. However, it appears that the emotional valence of stimuli influences information processing. This review aims to present the hypothesis that attentional mechanisms of amplification of relevant information and suppression of irrelevant information have an impact on working memory efficiency; and to propose that these mechanisms might be vulnerable to the effect of the emotional valence of stimuli. In this review, different models of attention will be presented to understand the concept of information filtering for emotional competence tasks. We will also discuss the effect of neutral and emotionally valence distractors on working memory efficiency, contrasting the existing evidence between young vs. older adults. Finally, attentional mechanisms and their impact on working memory are hypothesised. To the best of our knowledge, it is unknown how these attentional mechanisms change throughout adulthood, how emotional valence impacts these mechanisms and, potentially, working memory efficiency. Older adults show a decrease in the suppression mechanism compared to younger adults; an effect not observed for the amplification mechanism. As age advances, emotional valence differentially impacts attentional capture. Changes in both attentional mechanisms and emotional valence are presumed to have a potential effect on working memory.

In Vitro, Oral Acute, and Repeated 28-Day Oral Dose Toxicity of a Mixed-Valence Polyoxovanadate Cluster.

Polyoxovanadates (POV) are a subgroup of polyoxometalates (POM), which are nanosized clusters with reported biological activities. This manuscript describes the first toxicity evaluation of a mixed-valence polyoxovanadate, pentadecavanadate, (Me4N)6[V15O36Cl], abbreviated as V15. Cytotoxicity experiments using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), larvae of Artemia salina Leach, and in vivo oral acute and repeated 28-day doses in mice was carried out. The LC50 values in PBMC cells and A. salina were 17.5 ± 5.8 µmol L-1, and 17.9 µg L-1, respectively, which indicates high cytotoxic activity. The toxicity in mice was not observed upon acute exposure in a single dose, however, the V15 repeated 28-day oral administration demonstrated high toxicity using 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg and, 300 mg/kg doses. The biochemical and hematological analyses during the 28-day administration of V15 showed significant alteration of the metabolic parameters related to the kidney and liver, suggesting moderate toxicity. The V15 toxicity was attributed to the oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, once thiobarbituric acid (TBAR) levels significantly increased in both males and females treated with high doses of the POV and also in males treated with a lower dose of the POV. This is the first study reporting a treatment-related mortality in animals acutely administrated with a mixed-valence POV, contrasting with the well-known, less toxic decavanadate. These results document the toxicity of this mixed-valence POV, which may not be suitable for biomedical applications.

Semiempirical Two-Dimensional Model of the Bipolar Resistive Switching Process in Si-NCs/SiO2 Multilayers.

In this work, the SET and RESET processes of bipolar resistive switching memories with silicon nanocrystals (Si-NCs) embedded in an oxide matrix is simulated by a stochastic model. This model is based on the estimation of two-dimensional oxygen vacancy configurations and their relationship with the resistive state. The simulation data are compared with the experimental current-voltage data of Si-NCs/SiO2 multilayer-based memristor devices. Devices with 1 and 3 Si-NCs/SiO2 bilayers were analyzed. The Si-NCs are assumed as agglomerates of fixed oxygen vacancies, which promote the formation of conductive filaments (CFs) through the multilayer according to the simulations. In fact, an intermediate resistive state was observed in the forming process (experimental and simulated) of the 3-BL device, which is explained by the preferential generation of oxygen vacancies in the sites that form the complete CFs, through Si-NCs.

How Do Dogs Behave When Presented with Situations of Different Emotional Valences?

Dogs are good models for studying behaviour and cognition as they have complex social capabilities. In the current study, we observed how human emotional valences (positive, neutral and negative) affected aspects of dogs' behaviour. We expected that dogs would exhibit more approaching behaviours in the positive condition and more signs of avoidance in the negative one. We analysed videos of 70 adult pet dogs of various breeds taken from an experiment in which one of two actors expressed an emotion and dogs could freely explore the environment for 30 s. Our results show that dogs exhibit differential behaviour when presented with different emotional valences. Two behaviours arose that might be linked to a reciprocal positive emotional state in dogs: tail raised between 90° and 180° and physical contact during sniffing. These behaviours are associated with an active search for information. In the positive conditions, dogs were more willing to explore the social environment and gather information from the actors.

On the effect of social cue valence in contextual memory persistence.

Social cues are valuable sensorial stimuli to the acquisition and retrieval of contextual memories. Here, we asked whether the valence of social cues would impact the formation of contextual memories. Adult male C57/BL6 mice were exposed to either conditioned place preference (CPP) or avoidance (CPA). As positive stimuli we used social interaction with a female (IF), while interaction with a male CD1 mice (IM) was used as negative stimulus. Contextual memory was tested 24 h and 7 days after conditioning. Aggressive behavior of CD1, as well as interaction with the female were quantified along the conditioning sessions. IM, but not IF, was salient enough to induce contextual memory estimated by the difference between the time in the conditioned context during test and habituation. Next, we chose two odors with innate behavioral responses and opposite valence to narrow down the sociability to one of its sensorial sources of information - the olfaction. We used urine from females in proestrus (U) and 2,4,5-trimethyl thiazoline (TMT), a predator odor. TMT decreased and U increased the time in the conditioned context during the test performed 24 h and 7 days after conditioning. Taken together, our results suggest that contextual memories conditioned to social encounters are difficult to stablish in mice, specially the one with positive valence. On the other hand, using odors with ecological relevance is a promising strategy to study long-term contextual memories with opposite valences. Ultimately, the behavioral protocol proposed here offers the advantage of studying contextual memories with opposite valences using unconditioned stimulus from the same sensorial category such as olfaction.

Transforming experiences: Neurobiology of memory updating/editing.

Long-term memory is achieved through a consolidation process where structural and molecular changes integrate information into a stable memory. However, environmental conditions constantly change, and organisms must adapt their behavior by updating their memories, providing dynamic flexibility for adaptive responses. Consequently, novel stimulation/experiences can be integrated during memory retrieval; where consolidated memories are updated by a dynamic process after the appearance of a prediction error or by the exposure to new information, generating edited memories. This review will discuss the neurobiological systems involved in memory updating including recognition memory and emotional memories. In this regard, we will review the salient and emotional experiences that promote the gradual shifting from displeasure to pleasure (or vice versa), leading to hedonic or aversive responses, throughout memory updating. Finally, we will discuss evidence regarding memory updating and its potential clinical implication in drug addiction, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Is There a Dose-Response Relationship between High-Intensity Interval Exercise (HIIE) Intensity and Affective Valence? Analysis of Three HIIE Sessions Performed with Different Amplitudes.

The inverse relationship between exercise intensity and affective valence is well established for continuous exercise but not for high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE). The objective was to verify the dose-response relationship between exercise intensity and affective valence in HIIE sessions. Eleven young men underwent a vigorous-intensity continuous exercise (VICE) and three HIIE sessions at the same average intensity (70% of peak power-WPeak) and duration (20 min) but with different amplitudes: 10 × [1 min at 90% WPeak/1 min at 50% WPeak]-HIIE-90/50; 10 × [1 min at 100% WPeak/1 min at 40% WPeak]-HIIE-100/40; 10 × [1 min at 110% WPeak/1 min at 30% WPeak]-HIIE-110/30. During the exercise sessions, psychophysiological variables were recorded (VO2, VCO2, heart rate, perceived exertion CR10, and Feeling Scale (FS)). Higher correlations were found between CR10 and FS for all conditions (VICE = -0.987; HIIE-90/50 = -0.873; HIIE-100/40 = -0.908; HIIE-110/30 = -0.948). Regarding the physiological variables, the %HRMax presented moderate inverse correlations with FS for all exercise conditions (VICE = -0.867; HIIE-90/50 = -0.818; HIIE-100/40 = -0.837; HIIE-110/30 = -0.828) while the respiratory variables (%VO2Peak and %VCO2Peak) presented low-to-moderate correlations only for VICE, HIIE-90/50, and HIIE-100/40 (ranging from -0.523 to -0.805). Poor correlations were observed between the %VO2Peak (r = -0.293) and %VCO2Peak (r = -0.020) with FS. The results indicated that perceived exertion is more sensible than physiological variables to explain the intensity-affective valence relationship in HIIE sessions. RPE should be used for HIIE prescription with a focus on affect.

Emotionally subjective reactivity to cervical cytology pictures is modulated by expertise.

Our aims were to create a catalog of cytological pictures and to evaluate the valence (level of pleasantness/unpleasantness) and arousal (level of calm/excitement) of these pictures in individuals with different occupations. The sample consisted of medical and law college students and cytopathologists. Valence and arousal score for general pictures were not modulated by expertise in cytology. However, students judged the cytological pictures to be lower in valence and in arousal than the cytopathologists. The cytopathologists classified cytological pictures with lesions as lower in valence and higher in arousal than cytological pictures without lesions.

Neuronal and behavioral affective perceptions of human and naturalness-reduced emotional prosodies.

Artificial voices are nowadays embedded into our daily lives with latest neural voices approaching human voice consistency (naturalness). Nevertheless, behavioral, and neuronal correlates of the perception of less naturalistic emotional prosodies are still misunderstood. In this study, we explored the acoustic tendencies that define naturalness from human to synthesized voices. Then, we created naturalness-reduced emotional utterances by acoustic editions of human voices. Finally, we used Event-Related Potentials (ERP) to assess the time dynamics of emotional integration when listening to both human and synthesized voices in a healthy adult sample. Additionally, listeners rated their perceptions for valence, arousal, discrete emotions, naturalness, and intelligibility. Synthesized voices were characterized by less lexical stress (i.e., reduced difference between stressed and unstressed syllables within words) as regards duration and median pitch modulations. Besides, spectral content was attenuated toward lower F2 and F3 frequencies and lower intensities for harmonics 1 and 4. Both psychometric and neuronal correlates were sensitive to naturalness reduction. (1) Naturalness and intelligibility ratings dropped with emotional utterances synthetization, (2) Discrete emotion recognition was impaired as naturalness declined, consistent with P200 and Late Positive Potentials (LPP) being less sensitive to emotional differentiation at lower naturalness, and (3) Relative P200 and LPP amplitudes between prosodies were modulated by synthetization. Nevertheless, (4) Valence and arousal perceptions were preserved at lower naturalness, (5) Valence (arousal) ratings correlated negatively (positively) with Higuchi's fractal dimension extracted on neuronal data under all naturalness perturbations, (6) Inter-Trial Phase Coherence (ITPC) and standard deviation measurements revealed high inter-individual heterogeneity for emotion perception that is still preserved as naturalness reduces. Notably, partial between-participant synchrony (low ITPC), along with high amplitude dispersion on ERPs at both early and late stages emphasized miscellaneous emotional responses among subjects. In this study, we highlighted for the first time both behavioral and neuronal basis of emotional perception under acoustic naturalness alterations. Partial dependencies between ecological relevance and emotion understanding outlined the modulation but not the annihilation of emotional integration by synthetization.

Nanoparticles of Mixed-Valence Oxides MnXCO3-XO4 (0 ≤ X ≤ 1) Obtained with Agar-Agar from Red Algae (Rhodophyta) for Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

The development of efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is of paramount importance in sustainable water-splitting technology for hydrogen production. In this context, this work reports mixed-valence oxide samples of the MnXCo3-XO4 type (0 ≤ X ≤ 1) synthesized for the first time by the proteic sol-gel method using Agar-Agar as a polymerizing agent. The powders were calcined at 1173 K, characterized by FESEM, XRD, RAMAN, UV-Vis, FT-IR, VSM, and XPS analyses, and were investigated as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Through XRD analysis, it was observed that the pure cubic phase was obtained for all samples. The presence of Co3+, Co2+, Mn2+, Mn3+, and Mn4+ was confirmed by X-ray spectroscopy (XPS). Regarding the magnetic measurements, a paramagnetic behavior at 300 K was observed for all samples. As far as OER is concerned, it was investigated in an alkaline medium, where the best overpotential of 299 mV vs. RHE was observed for the sample (MnCo2O4), which is a lower value than those of noble metal electrocatalysts in the literature, together with a Tafel slope of 52 mV dec-1, and excellent electrochemical stability for 15 h. Therefore, the green synthesis method presented in this work showed great potential for obtaining electrocatalysts used in the oxygen evolution reaction for water splitting.

The Excited-State Creutz-Taube Ion.

The excited-state version of the Creutz-Taube ion was prepared via visible light excitation of [(NH3 )5 RuII (µ-pz)RuII (NH3 )5 ]4+ . The resulting excited state is a mixed valence {RuIII-δ (µ-pz⋅- )RuII+δ } transient species, which was characterized using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy with vis-NIR detection. Very intense photoinduced intervalence charge transfers were observed at 7500 cm-1 , revealing an excited-state electronic coupling element HDA =3750 cm-1 . DFT calculations confirm a strongly delocalized excited state. A notable consequence of strong electron delocalization is the nanosecond excited state lifetime, which was exploited in a proof-of-concept intermolecular electron transfer. The excited-state Creutz-Taube ion is established as a reference, and demonstrates that electron delocalization in the excited state can be leveraged for artificial photosynthesis or other photocatalytic schemes based on electron transfer chemistry.

Photoinduced Intervalence Charge Transfers: Spectroscopic Tools to Study Fundamental Phenomena and Applications.

The exploitation of excited state chemistry for solar energy conversion or photocatalysis has been continuously increasing, and the needs of a transition to a sustainable human development indicate this trend will continue. In this scenario, the study of mixed valence systems in the excited state offers a unique opportunity to explore excited state electron transfer reactivity, and, in a broader sense, excited state chemistry. This Concept article analyzes recent contributions in the field of photoinduced mixed valence systems, i. e. those where the mixed valence core is absent in the ground state but created upon light absorption. The focus is on the utilization of photoinduced intervalence charge transfer bands, detected via transient absorption spectroscopy, as key tools to study fundamental phenomena like donor/acceptor inversion, hole delocalization, coexistence of excited states and excited state nature, together with applications in molecular electronics.

Procesamiento emocional en niños y adolescentes según sexo / Emotional Processing in Children and Adolescents According to Sex

Resumen Objetivo: analizar el procesamiento emocional en niños, niñas y adolescentes argentinos de edad escolar según sexo. Método: estudio descriptivo-comparativo con un diseño ex post facto, transversal. Participaron en la investigación 67 mujeres y 74 varones escolarizados de entre 7 y 14 años dividido en tres franjas etarias. Para evaluar el procesamiento emocional se utilizaron las 60 imágenes específicas para niños y adolescentes del International Affective Picture System (IAPS), y para medir los juicios evaluativos se utilizó el Self Assessment Manikin (SAM). Resultados: la distribución de las imágenes muestra una correlación moderada negativa entre dos dimensiones afectivas básicas del procesamiento emocional, la valencia afectiva y la activación fisiológica, con valores similares en ambos sexos. Las mujeres puntuaron más bajo que los varones en valencia y arousal, aunque sin diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Los varones evaluaron los estímulos aversivos con menor grado de activación y los estímulos agradables con mayor activación. En general, se observa mayor agrupamiento de las imágenes desagradables y neutras en las mujeres respecto de las de los varones. Conclusión: en ambos sexos se presentó una relación inversa entre valencia y arousal, evidenciada en mayor activación ante imágenes desagradables, lo cual demostraría una tendencia reaccionaron a las imágenes desagradables con mayor intensidad mientras que los varones, valoraron las imágenes agradables con mayor intensidad.

Abstract Objective: to analyze emotional processing in Argentine school-age children and adolescents according to sex. Method: descriptive-comparative study with an ex post facto, cross-sectional design. 67 girls and 74 schooled boys aged between 7 and 14, participated in the research divided into three age ranges. The 60 specific images for children and adolescents from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) were used to assess emotional processing, and the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) was used to measure evaluative judgments. Results: the distribution of the images shows a moderate negative correlation between valence and arousal, with similar values in both sexes. Women scored lower in valence and arousal compared to men, although without statistically significant differences. The men evaluated the aversive stimuli with a lower degree of activation and the pleasant stimuli with greater activation. In general, a greater grouping of unpleasant and neutral images is observed in women compared to those of men. Conclusion: in both sexes there was an inverse relationship between valence and arousal, evidenced in greater activation in the face of unpleasant images, which would demonstrate an avoidance trend when arousal levels are high. Females reacted to unpleasant images with greater intensity while males rated pleasant images with higher degree.

The Effect of Emotional Valence on Auditory Word Recognition Memory in English as a Foreign Language.

The present study investigated the effect of emotional valence on auditory word recognition memory in English as a foreign language. Participants included 48 native Spanish speakers whose foreign language was English. They viewed four emotionally negative, four positive, and four neutral videos that, in total, contained 48 emotionally valenced target words. After watching the videos, participants completed an auditory word recognition memory task where target words, and the same number of fillers, were presented. The results showed a statistically significant main effect of valence on both reaction times and accuracy. Positive words were recognised more accurately and faster than neutral and negative words, but no difference between neutral and negative stimuli was found. These findings fit in well within the gradient model of automatic vigilance, which implies that emotional valence has a monotonic effect on processing latencies during auditory recognition memory in a foreign language.