ARE OPTIMISTS HAPPIER AND MORE SATISFIED WITH THEIR LIFE?هل المتفائلون أكثر سعادة ورضا عن حياتهم؟

استهدفت هذه الدراسة استكشاف العلاقة بين التفاؤل وكل من السعادة، والرضا عن الحياة، فضلاً عن فحص العلاقة بين التشاؤم والسعادة، والرضا عن الحياة. أجابت عينة متاحة (ن = 225) من طلبة جامعة الإسكندرية وطالباتها عن: القائمة العربية للتفاؤل والتشاؤم، ومقياسي التقدير الذاتي لكل من السعادة، والرضا عن الحياة، ولم تكشف النتائج عن فروق دالة إحصائيًا بين الجنسين في كل متغيرات الدراسة، في حين استخرجت ارتباطات دالة إحصائيًا بين التفاؤل وكل من السعادة، والرضا عن الحياة (موجبة)، وبين التشاؤم وكل من السعادة، والرضا عن الحياة (سالبة). وكشف تحليل المكونات الأساسية عن عامل ثنائي القطب لدى الجنسين، سمي: الحياة الطيبة في مقابل التشاؤم . وخلصت هذه الدراسة، إلى أن التفاؤل أحد المتغيرات المهة في الحياة النفسية الطيبة، وهو الموضوع الأساسي في علم النفس الإيجابي

The psychometric parameters of the Spanish Form of the Arabic Obsessive Compulsive Scale (S-AOCS)

The aim of this study was to describe the psychometric properties of the Spanish version ofthe Arabic Obsessive Compulsive Scale (S-AOCS). The original scale was first translated into Spanish by language experts using the back translation procedure, and then administered to a total of 312 Spanish university students from Barcelona. Four-week test-retest was 0.88 indicating its high temporal stability. Cronbach's alpha value of the S-AOCS reached 0.82 indicating its good internal consistency. The S-AOCS correlated 0.72 with the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory and 0.56 with the Kuwait University. Anxiety Scale indicating good criterion-related validity. Finally, a principal axis analysis with Oblimin rotation was carried out. Five factors were extracted, accounting for 37.88% of the total variance. These factors were labeled: Obsessive thoughts and rumination (16.61%), Meticulousness and perfectionism (6.48%), Indecision and doubts (5.59%), Ritualism (4.74%) and Checking (4.45%). The results indicate that the S-AOCS administered to this Spanish sample yields good internal consistency, temporal stability, criterion-related validity and a five-factor structure reflecting important features of obsessive compulsive disorder. In general, the S-AOCS could be recommended in research on obsession-compulsion among Spanish college students

Effect of different microencapsulation materials on stability of Lactobacillus plantarum DSM 20174

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of different microencapsulation materials on the stability of probiotic bacterium (Lactobacillus plantarum DSM 20174). Microencapsulation methods with alginates were carried out using sodium chloride, canola oil, olive oil, and chitosan. The recorded data showed that the encapsulated probiotic bacterium was more stable compared with free cells. Olive oil capsules recorded the highest stability at pH 2 after incubation period of 24h with stability up to 0.00004%. Olive oil and chitosan capsules showed stability with high concentration of bile salts (0.5%) with stability percent of 82 and 65% respectively, after 2 h of incubation. Sodium chloride and chitosan capsules gave the best stability percent of 0.026 and 0.00005%, respectively, at heat treatment up to 65°C for 30 min. Storage treatment at 4°C for 17 days reduced the stability of all capsule types, whereas sodium chloride and chitosan capsule showed stability percent up to 59 and 56%, respectively.Keywords: Microencapsulation, Lactobacillus plantarum, olive oil and alginat

THE BIG-FIVE PERSONALITY FACTORS AS PREDICTORS OF OBSESSION-COMPULSION AMONG A SAMPLE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FROM SUDAN

The aim of the present study was to explore the associations between the Big-Five (B-F) personality factors and obsession-compulsion. A sample of Khartoum University students was recruited (N = 547). They responded to the Arabic Big-Five Personality Inventory and the Arabic Scale of Obsession-Compulsion-Revised. Results indicated that women obtained a significantly higher mean scores than did men on agreeableness, neuroticism, and extraversion, but the size effects were small. Obsession-compulsion was significantly and positively associated with neuroticism, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness (in men), neuroticism, and agreeableness (in women). Principal components analysis extracted two high-loaded components in both sexes and labeled: “Stable personality”, and “Psychological disorder”. Regression analysis indicated that the predictors of obsession-compulsion were neuroticism, openness (in men, R2 = .18), neuroticism, conscientiousness, and openness (in women, R2 = .23). These results refer to the associations between the B-F and obsession compulsion, particularly neuroticism. In psychotherapy, the amelioration of neuroticism may reduce symptoms of obsession-compulsion

The Psychometric Parameters of the Farsi Form of the Arabic Scale of Death Anxiety

The aim of this study was to describe the psychometric properties of the Farsi Form of the Arabic Scale of Death Anxiety (ASDA). The original scale was first translated into Farsi by language experts using the back translation procedure and then administered to a total of 252 Iranian college students and 52 psychiatric outpatients from psychiatric and psychological clinics. The one-week test-retest reliability of the Farsi version in a sample of college students was 0.78, indicating good temporal stability and corroborating the trait-like nature of scores. Cronbach’s α was 0.90 for the college students and 0.92 for the psychiatric outpatients, indicating high internal consistency. Scale scores correlated 0.46 with Death Obsession Scale scores, 0.56 with Death Depression Scale scores, 0.41 with Death Anxiety Scale scores, and 0.40 with Wish to be Dead Scale scores, indicating good construct and criterion-related validity. A principal component analysis with a Varimax rotation yielded four factors in the sample of Iranian college students, indicating a lack of homogeneity in the content of the scale. Male students obtained a significant higher mean score than did females. It was concluded that the Farsi ASDA had good internal consistency, temporal stability, criterion-related validity, and a factor structure reflecting important features of death anxiety. In general, the Farsi ASDA could be recommended for use in research on death anxiety among Iranian college students and psychiatric outpatients

Inner-sphere oxidation of ternary iminodiacetatochromium(III) complexes involving DL-valine and L-arginine as secondary ligands. Isokinetic relationship for the oxidation of ternary iminodiacetato-chromium(III) complexes by periodate

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In this paper, the kinetics of oxidation of [Cr^III(HIDA)(Val)(H₂O)₂]⁺and [Cr^III(HIDA)(Arg)(H₂O)₂]⁺(HIDA = iminodiacetic acid, Val = DL-valine and Arg = L-arginine) were studied. The choice of ternary complexes was attributed to two considerations. Firstly, in order to study the effect of the secondary ligands DL-valine and L-arginine on the stability of binary complex [Cr^III(HIDA)(IDA)(H₂O)] towards oxidation. Secondly, transition metal ternary complexes have received particular focus and have been employed in mapping protein surfaces as probes for biological redox centers and in protein capture for both purification and study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results have shown that the reaction is first order with respect to both [IO₄^-] and the complex concentration, and the rate increases over the pH range 2.62 – 3.68 in both cases. The experimental rate law is consistent with a mechanism in which both the deprotonated forms of the complexes [Cr^III(IDA)(Val)(H₂O)₂] and [Cr^III(IDA)(Arg)(H₂O)₂] are significantly more reactive than the conjugate acids. The value of the intramolecular electron transfer rate constant for the oxidation of [Cr^III(HIDA)(Arg)(H₂O)₂]⁺, <it>k</it>₃(1.82 × 10^-3s^-1), is greater than the value of <it>k</it>₁(1.22 × 10^-3s^-1) for the oxidation of [Cr^III(HIDA)(Val)(H₂O)₂]⁺at 45.0°C and <it>I </it>= 0.20 mol dm^-3. It is proposed that electron transfer proceeds through an inner-sphere mechanism <it>via </it>coordination of IO₄^-to chromium(III).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The oxidation of [Cr^III(HIDA)(Val)(H₂O)₂]⁺and [Cr^III(HIDA)(Arg)(H₂O)₂]⁺by periodate may proceed through an inner-sphere mechanism via two electron transfer giving chromium(VI). The value of the intramolecular electron transfer rate constant for the oxidation of [Cr^III(HIDA)(Arg)(H₂O)₂]⁺, <it>k</it>₃, is greater than the value of <it>k</it>₁for the oxidation of [Cr^III(HIDA)(Val)(H₂O)₂]⁺. A common mechanism for the oxidation of ternary iminodiacetatochromium(III) complexes by periodate is proposed, and this is supported by an excellent isokinetic relationship between ΔH* and ΔS* values for these reactions.</p

Universal Patterns in Color-Emotion Associations Are Further Shaped by Linguistic and Geographic Proximity

Many of us "see red," "feel blue," or "turn green with envy." Are such color-emotion associations fundamental to our shared cognitive architecture, or are they cultural creations learned through our languages and traditions? To answer these questions, we tested emotional associations of colors in 4,598 participants from 30 nations speaking 22 native languages. Participants associated 20 emotion concepts with 12 color terms. Pattern-similarity analyses revealed universal color-emotion associations (average similarity coefficientr= .88). However, local differences were also apparent. A machine-learning algorithm revealed that nation predicted color-emotion associations above and beyond those observed universally. Similarity was greater when nations were linguistically or geographically close. This study highlights robust universal color-emotion associations, further modulated by linguistic and geographic factors. These results pose further theoretical and empirical questions about the affective properties of color and may inform practice in applied domains, such as well-being and design.Peer reviewe

The sun is no fun without rain : Physical environments affect how we feel about yellow across 55 countries

Across cultures, people associate colours with emotions. Here, we test the hypothesis that one driver of this cross-modal correspondence is the physical environment we live in. We focus on a prime example – the association of yellow with joy, – which conceivably arises because yellow is reminiscent of life-sustaining sunshine and pleasant weather. If so, this association should be especially strong in countries where sunny weather is a rare occurrence. We analysed yellow-joy associations of 6625 participants from 55 countries to investigate how yellow-joy associations varied geographically, climatologically, and seasonally. We assessed the distance to the equator, sunshine, precipitation, and daytime hours. Consistent with our hypotheses, participants who live further away from the equator and in rainier countries are more likely to associate yellow with joy. We did not find associations with seasonal variations. Our findings support a role for the physical environment in shaping the affective meaning of colour.Peer reviewe

Personality profiles of cultures: aggregate personality traits

Personality profiles of cultures can be operationalized as the mean trait levels of culture members. College students from 51 cultures rated an individual from their country whom they knew well (N = 12, 156). Aggregate scores on Revised NEO Personality Inventory scales generalized across age and gender groups, approximated the individual-level Five-Factor Model, and correlated with aggregate self-report personality scores and other culture-level variables. Results were not attributable to national differences in economic development or to acquiescence. Geographical differences in scale variances and mean levels were replicated, with Europeans and Americans generally scoring higher in Extraversion than Asians and Africans. Findings support the rough scalar equivalence of NEO-PI-R factors and facets across cultures, and suggest that aggregate personality profiles provide insight into cultural differences

Interaction of Copper-Based Nanoparticles to Soil, Terrestrial, and Aquatic Systems: Critical Review of the State of the Science and Future Perspectives

In the past two decades, increased production and usage of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) has inevitably increased their discharge into the different compartments of the environment, which ultimately paved the way for their uptake and accumulation in various trophic levels of the food chain. Due to these issues, several questions have been raised on the usage of NPs in everyday life and has become a matter of public health concern. Among the metallic NPs, Cu-based NPs have gained popularity due to their cost-effectiveness and multifarious promising uses. Several studies in the past represented the phytotoxicity of Cu-based NPs on plants. However, comprehensive knowledge is still lacking. Additionally, the impact of Cu-based NPs on soil organisms such as agriculturally important microbes, fungi, mycorrhiza, nematode, and earthworms are poorly studied. This review article critically analyses the literature data to achieve a more comprehensive knowledge on the toxicological profile of Cu-based NPs and increase our understanding of the effects of Cu-based NPs on aquatic and terrestrial plants as well as on soil microbial communities. The underlying mechanism of biotransformation of Cu-based NPs and the process of their penetration into plants has also been discussed herein. Overall, this review could provide valuable information to design rules and regulations for the safe disposal of Cu-based NPs into a sustainable environment