Discrimination surfaces with application to region-specific brain asymmetry analysis.

Discrimination surfaces are here introduced as a diagnostic tool for localizing brain regions where discrimination between diseased and nondiseased participants is higher. To estimate discrimination surfaces, we introduce a Mann-Whitney type of statistic for random fields and present large-sample results characterizing its asymptotic behavior. Simulation results demonstrate that our estimator accurately recovers the true surface and corresponding interval of maximal discrimination. The empirical analysis suggests that in the anterior region of the brain, schizophrenic patients tend to present lower local asymmetry scores in comparison with participants in the control group.

Helminth component community of the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, from Madeira Archipelago, Portugal.

The helminth fauna of pelagic-stage loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, is still poorly known. Here, we describe the helminth-component community of healthy, free-ranging juvenile loggerhead sea turtles captured in the waters around Madeira Island, Portugal. Fifty-seven were used in this study. The esophagus, stomach, intestine, liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidneys, trachea, bronchi, urinary bladder, heart, left and right aortas, and coelomic cavity were macroscopically inspected; organs and tissues were removed and washed through a sieve. A search for parasites was made using a stereoscopic microscope; recovered parasites were fixed and stored in 70% alcohol until staining and identification. Prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance values were recorded. In total, 156 parasite specimens belonging to 9 species were found: nematodes included Anisakis simplex s.l. (larvae) and an unidentified species; digenetic trematodes present were Enodiotrema megachondrus, Rhytidodes gelatinosus, Pyelosomum renicapite, and Calycodes anthos; acanthocephalans included Bolbosoma vasculosum and Rhadinorhynchus pristis; a single cestode, Nybelinia sp., was present. Parasite infections were found to have both low prevalences and intensities. Possible reasons for this include the oligotrophic conditions of the pelagic habitat around Madeira; a 'dilution effect' because of the vastness of the area; and the small size, and thus ingestion rate, of the turtles. Results are discussed in terms of the various turtle populations that may use the waters surrounding Madeira. This work provides valuable information on the parasite fauna of a poorly known stage in the life of loggerhead sea turtles, thereby filling a fundamental gap with regard to features of the parasite fauna in this species.

Potassium leakage and maize seed physiological potential

Seed production usually requires fast decisions to improve the efficacy of seed handling during harvesting, processing and storage. Seed technologists have focused on the development or improvement of procedures which allow rapid and consistent identification of higher quality seed lots. This research verified the effectiveness of the potassium leachate test on the evaluation of the physiological potential of maize seeds in comparison to recommended seed vigor tests. Five seed lots of the hybrid Avant were submitted to the potassium leachate, standard germination, first count, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, field emergence and cold tests. The amount of potassium leachate was determined after seed imbibition for 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes, at 25°C; a flame photometer adjusted to 50 mug K+ mL-1 pattern and reading 50 was used to determine the amount of leached potassium. The potassium leachate test consistently ranked the seed lots according to their physiological quality in comparison to other tests, and is a new alternative test for maize seed quality control programs.

A necessidade freqüente da tomada de decisões rápidas, principalmente nas etapas de colheita, processamento e comercialização é habitual durante o processo de produção de sementes de várias espécies, dentre elas o milho. Consequentemente, a pesquisa em tecnologia de sementes tem procurado desenvolver ou aperfeiçoar testes que possibilitem avaliar, com eficiência, o potencial fisiológico das sementes, em período de tempo relativamente curto. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a potencialidade do teste de lixiviação de potássio, para avaliação do vigor de sementes de milho; cinco lotes do híbrido Avant foram submetidos a esse teste, cuja eficiência foi comparada à dos testes de germinação, primeira contagem de germinação, envelhecimento acelerado, frio, condutividade elétrica e emergência de plântulas em campo, recomendados para sementes de milho. A quantidade de potássio exsudado foi determinada em fotômetro de chama (padrão 50 mig K+ mL-1 ajustado para leitura 50), após 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 e 180 minutos de embebição, a 25°C. O teste de lixiviação de potássio foi considerado eficiente para separação dos lotes em diferentes níveis de vigor, constituindo alternativa promissora para avaliação do potencial fisiológico de sementes de milho; essa possibilidade contribui para a obtenção rápida de informações balizadoras de programas de controle de qualidade pós-colheita.

Potassium leakage and maize seed physiological potential

Seed production usually requires fast decisions to improve the efficacy of seed handling during harvesting, processing and storage. Seed technologists have focused on the development or improvement of procedures which allow rapid and consistent identification of higher quality seed lots. This research verified the effectiveness of the potassium leachate test on the evaluation of the physiological potential of maize seeds in comparison to recommended seed vigor tests. Five seed lots of the hybrid Avant were submitted to the potassium leachate, standard germination, first count, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, field emergence and cold tests. The amount of potassium leachate was determined after seed imbibition for 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes, at 25°C; a flame photometer adjusted to 50 mug K+ mL-1 pattern and reading 50 was used to determine the amount of leached potassium. The potassium leachate test consistently ranked the seed lots according to their physiological quality in comparison to other tests, and is a new alternative test for maize seed quality control programs.

A necessidade freqüente da tomada de decisões rápidas, principalmente nas etapas de colheita, processamento e comercialização é habitual durante o processo de produção de sementes de várias espécies, dentre elas o milho. Consequentemente, a pesquisa em tecnologia de sementes tem procurado desenvolver ou aperfeiçoar testes que possibilitem avaliar, com eficiência, o potencial fisiológico das sementes, em período de tempo relativamente curto. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a potencialidade do teste de lixiviação de potássio, para avaliação do vigor de sementes de milho; cinco lotes do híbrido Avant foram submetidos a esse teste, cuja eficiência foi comparada à dos testes de germinação, primeira contagem de germinação, envelhecimento acelerado, frio, condutividade elétrica e emergência de plântulas em campo, recomendados para sementes de milho. A quantidade de potássio exsudado foi determinada em fotômetro de chama (padrão 50 mig K+ mL-1 ajustado para leitura 50), após 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 e 180 minutos de embebição, a 25°C. O teste de lixiviação de potássio foi considerado eficiente para separação dos lotes em diferentes níveis de vigor, constituindo alternativa promissora para avaliação do potencial fisiológico de sementes de milho; essa possibilidade contribui para a obtenção rápida de informações balizadoras de programas de controle de qualidade pós-colheita.