Correlations between psychometric schizotypy, scan path length, fixations on the eyes and face recognition.

Psychometric schizotypy in the general population correlates negatively with face recognition accuracy, potentially due to deficits in inhibition, social withdrawal, or eye-movement abnormalities. We report an eye-tracking face recognition study in which participants were required to match one of two faces (target and distractor) to a cue face presented immediately before. All faces could be presented with or without paraphernalia (e.g., hats, glasses, facial hair). Results showed that paraphernalia distracted participants, and that the most distracting condition was when the cue and the distractor face had paraphernalia but the target face did not, while there was no correlation between distractibility and participants' scores on the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Schizotypy was negatively correlated with proportion of time fixating on the eyes and positively correlated with not fixating on a feature. It was negatively correlated with scan path length and this variable correlated with face recognition accuracy. These results are interpreted as schizotypal traits being associated with a restricted scan path leading to face recognition deficits

Interview investigation of insecure attachment styles as mediators between poor childhood care and schizophrenia-spectrum phenomenology

Background Insecure attachment styles have received theoretical attention and some initial empirical support as mediators between childhood adverse experiences and psychotic phenomena; however, further specificity needs investigating. The present interview study aimed to examine (i) whether two forms of poor childhood care, namely parental antipathy and role reversal, were associated with subclinical positive and negative symptoms and schizophrenia-spectrum personality disorder (PD) traits, and (ii) whether such associations were mediated by specific insecure attachment styles. Method A total of 214 nonclinical young adults were interviewed for subclinical symptoms (Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States), schizophrenia-spectrum PDs (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Disorders), poor childhood care (Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Interview), and attachment style (Attachment Style Interview). Participants also completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II and all the analyses were conducted partialling out the effects of depressive symptoms. Results Both parental antipathy and role reversal were associated with subclinical positive symptoms and with paranoid and schizotypal PD traits. Role reversal was also associated with subclinical negative symptoms. Angry-dismissive attachment mediated associations between antipathy and subclinical positive symptoms and both angry-dismissive and enmeshed attachment mediated associations of antipathy with paranoid and schizotypal PD traits. Enmeshed attachment mediated associations of role reversal with paranoid and schizotypal PD traits. Conclusions Attachment theory can inform lifespan models of how adverse developmental environments may increase the risk for psychosis. Insecure attachment provides a promising mechanism for understanding the development of schizophrenia-spectrum phenomenology and may offer a useful target for prophylactic intervention

Montagnea haussknechtii Rab. (Podaxales) a rare agaricoid fungus: first record from Brazil Montagnea haussknechtii Rab. (Podaxales) um raro fungo agaricóide: primeira citação para o Brasil

This xerophilic species is recorded for the first time from Brazil, found on sandy soil from cerrado of the State of São Paulo. A description of the macro and microscopic features from mature basidiomata is given. Pictures of the spores under the scanning electron microscope are added.<br>Esta espécie xerófila é registrada pela primeira vez para o Brasil, encontrada em solo arenoso de cerrado do Estado de São Paulo. São fornecidas descrições das características macro e microscópicas a partir de basidiocarpos maduros e adicionalmente, microscopia eletrônica de varredura dos esporos

Milkfish (Chanos chanos) production and water quality in brackishwater ponds at different feeding levels and frequencies

This study evaluated the effects of different feeding levels and frequencies on milkfish (Chanos chanos) growth, feed efficiency, and water quality in brackish water ponds. Milkfish juveniles (average weight, 1 g) were stocked in 500 m2 ponds at 8000 ha-1 and reared for 132 days. Fish were fed daily after 34 days from stocking (initial average weight, 22 g) either at 3 % of body weight, 3 times daily; at 4 %, 3 or 6 times daily; or at 6 %, 6 times daily. There were no differences (α= 0.05) in production (780–960 kg ha-1), final weight (125–168 g), and survival (81–85 %) among treatments. Maximum feed ration (kg ha-1 day-1) ranged from 23.8 at the 3 % feeding level to 61.4 at 6 %. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly increased (α= 0.05) in proportion to feeding rate, while the percentage nitrogen assimilated by milkfish decreased from 41 % at low feeding rate to 21 % at high rate. Partial budgeting analysis showed that increasing the feeding rate from 3 to 4 % resulted in a positive net benefit, but further increase to 6 % had a negative benefit. Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations at dawn were always higher at the lower feeding level compared to other treatments. Although there were no differences in nitrogenous nutrients and total suspended solids among treatments, pH, total ammonia-nitrogen, and phosphorus increased and DO at dawn decreased with increasing biomass and feed input. Results suggest that supplemental feeding for milkfish grown in brackish water ponds should not be more than 4 % of body weight and 38 kg feed ha-1 day-1 for maintenance of good water quality and for economical operation