PercepFiguras: programa computarizado de estimulación visual para evaluar conductual y electrofisiológicamente la percepción multiestable / PercepFiguras: a computerized visual stimulation program to assess, behaviorally and electrophysiologically, the multistable perception

RESUMEN En la investigación de la percepción visual comúnmente se usan programas computarizados comerciales para la presentación de los estímulos, configurados por lo general para admitir una respuesta por cada estímulo presentado. Sin embargo, el estudio de la percepción multiestable, requiere la presentación de un estímulo que permanece invariable aunque la percepción de éste puede variar en dos o más configuraciones, lo que demanda que el programa admita respuestas para cada cambio en la percepción de un mismo estímulo. Se presenta PercepFiguras desarrollado con lenguaje de programación C++ que es un sistema de estimulación visual que permite al usuario: a) presentar imágenes y recibir una o varias respuestas a cada una, b) sincronizar las respuestas con un sistema de registro electroencefalográfico mediante el envío de pulsos TTL, c) generar un archivo conductual y d) generar un archivo con el total de respuestas y promedios de las latencias a cada tipo de figura. Se realizó un estudio piloto con una tarea de presentación continua de una figura ambigua alternando con dos variantes de menor ambigüedad, se obtuvo mayor frecuencia de cambios perceptuales y menor estabilidad perceptual para la figura ambigua respecto a las de menor ambigüedad, comprobándose la utilidad del programa.

ABSTRACT In the study of visual perception, the use of computerized commercial programs for the presentation of stimuli, usually configured to admit a response for each stimulus presented, is common. However, the study of multistable perception requires the presentation of a stimulus that remains unchanged, although the perception of it can vary in two or more configurations during its observation, which demands that the program admit responses for each change in perception of the same stimulus. PercepFiguras is a system developed with C++ programming language that allows: a) present images and receive multiple responses to the same stimulus, b) synchronize the responses with an electroencephalographic recording system by sending TTL pulses, c) generate a behavioral file, d) generate a file with the total responses and averages of the latencies for each type of figure. In the pilot study with a task of continuous presentation of an ambiguous figure to alternating with two variants of less ambiguity, we observe greater frequency of perceptual and less perceptual stability to the ambiguous figure with respect to the less ambiguous figures, which proves the usefulness of the program.

Eficiência de genótipos de Brachiaria brizanthaStapf. (Syn: Urochloa brizantha) na produção de biomassa sob aplicação de fósforo / Efficiency of genotypes of Brachiaria brizanthaStapf. (Syn: Urochloa brizantha) in biomass production under phosphorus application

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a produção de biomassa e a eficiência agronômica em função do fornecimento de fósforo em diferentes genótipos de Brachiaria brizantha. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, em que os oito tratamentos consistiram em cinco variedades (Arapoty, Capiporã, Marandu, Piatã e Xaraés) e três acessos do banco de germoplasma do Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Gado de Corte (B5, B10 e B12), em função da aplicação ou não de fósforo. As plantas foram cultivadas sob solo originalmente com 4,1mg dm-3 de fósforo. Avaliou-se a massa seca da raiz (MSR), folha (MSF), parte aérea (MSPA) e a eficiência agronômica (EA). Os dados obtidos foram submetidos ao teste de Doon ao nível de 5% de probabilidade. A produção de MSR foi incrementada pela aplicação de P nas variedades Arapoty, Capiporã, Piatã e Xaraés, em que os valores médios sem P foram de 5,1; 7,4; 7,2 e 5,8g vaso-1, enquanto com aplicação de P foram de 9,4; 10,6; 11,9 e 8,4g vaso-1, respectivamente. Para as variáveis MSF e MSPA, o P promoveu incremento da produção de todos os genótipos, produzindo em média 2,1 e 2,8g vaso-1, respectivamente, sem o fornecimento de P, ao passo que, com o fornecimento de P, produziu 3,8 e 5,5g vaso-1, respectivamente, para MSF e MSPA. Os genótipos Arapoty e B5 foram os mais eficientes no uso de P. O genótipo B12 apresentou maior adaptação para cultivo em solos com baixas concentrações de P, enquanto a variedade Arapoty sobressaiu-se quando realizada aplicação de adubo fosfatado. A variedade Arapoty e o genótipo B5 apresentaram maior eficiência no uso de P, podendo-se indicar esses materiais para programas de melhoramento dessa espécie.

This study aimed to evaluate biomass production and agronomic efficiency as a result of the supply of phosphorus in different genotypes of Brachiaria brizantha. The experimental design was completely randomized, with eight treatments consisting of five varieties (Arapoty, Capiporã, Marandu, and Piata Xaraés) and three accessions of the genebank of the Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Gado de Corte (B5, B10 and B12) with the application or not of phosphorus. The plants were grown in soil originally with 4.1 mg dm-3phosphorus. We evaluated the root dry mass (MSR), leaf (MSF), shoot (MSPA) and agronomic efficiency (EA). Data were tested for Doon's at 5% probability. MSR production was increased by the application of P in Arapoty, Capiporã, and Piata Xaraés varieties, where the average values without phosphorus were 5.1, 7.4, 7.2 and 5.8g pot-1 while with P application they were 9.4, 10.6, 11.9 and 8.4g pot-1, respectively. For both variables MSF and MSPA, P promoted increased production of all genotypes, producing on average 2.1 and 2.8g pot-1 respectively, without the supply of P, whereas with the supply of P it produced 3.8 and 5.5g pot-1, respectively for MSF and MSPA. Both genotypes Arapoty and B5 were the most efficient in the use of P. The B12 genotype showed greater adaptation for growing in soils with low concentrations of P, while the Arapoty variety excelled when performed applying phosphate fertilizer. The genotypes B5 and Arapoty had higher P use efficiency, being able to indicate these materials for breeding programs of this species.

Thyroid peroxidase activity is inhibited by amino acids

Normal in vitro thyroid peroxidase (TPO) iodide oxidation activity was completely inhibited by a hydrolyzed TPO preparation (0.15 mg/ml) or hydrolyzed bovine serum albumin (BSA, 0.2 mg/ml). A pancreatic hydrolysate of casein (trypticase peptone, 0.1 mg/ml) and some amino acids (cysteine, tryptophan and methionine, 50 µM each) also inhibited the TPO iodide oxidation reaction completely, whereas casamino acids (0.1 mg/ml), and tyrosine, phenylalanine and histidine (50 µM each) inhibited the TPO reaction by 54 per cent or less. A pancreatic digest of gelatin (0.1 mg/ml) or any other amino acid (50 µM) tested did not significantly decrease TPO activity. The amino acids that impair iodide oxidation also inhibit the TPO albumin iodination activity. The inhibitory amino acids contain side chains with either sulfur atoms (cysteine and methionine) or aromatic rings (tyrosine, tryptophan, histidine and phenylalanine). Among the amino acids tested, only cysteine affected the TPO guaiacol oxidation reaction, producing a transient inhibition at 25 or 50 µM. The iodide oxidation inhibitory activity of cysteine, methionine and tryptophan was reversed by increasing iodide concentrations from 12 to 18 mM, while no such effect was observed when the cofactor (H2O2) concentration was increased. The inhibitory substances might interfere with the enzyme activity by competing with its normal substrates for their binding sites, binding to the free substrates or reducing their oxidized form.