Openness to Experience, Divergent Thinking, and Gender Differences: Domain and Facet Traits

Recent creativity studies have provided strong evidence supporting the role of the personality trait of Openness to Experience (Openness) in predicting creative behaviors. These studies have been largely conducted within the framework of the broad Big Five personality traits. In contrast, the validity of narrow traits of which compositing the broad traits has not been adequately addressed. We expected that considering narrow traits might help us deeper understand the role of Openness in creativity. We examined the extent to which narrow personality traits contribute to the prediction of divergent thinking beyond the Big Five factors. To this end, 144 Arab undergraduate students provided data on the domain and facets of Openness. Creativity was measured by Alternative Uses tests. This study has yielded two important results. First, Openness was, at the domain as well as at the facet level, a significant and positive predictor of creativity. Second, the Openness to Feelings is a main predictor for creative female students whereas Openness to Ideas is a significant predictor for creative men students. The limitations and implications of these findings are discussed in the light of previous research

Electrochemical defluorination of water: an experimental and morphological study

This experimental study concerns the elimination of fluoride from water using an electrocoagulation reactor having a variable flow direction in favour of increasing the electrolysing time, saving the reactor area, and water mixing. The detention time of the space-saver EC reactor (S-SECR) was measured and compared to the traditional reactors using an inert dye (red drain dye). Then, the influence of electrical current (1.5 ≤ δ ≤ 3.5 mA cm2), pH of water (4 ≤ pH ≤ 10), and distance between electrodes (5 ≤ ϕ ≤ 15) on the defluoridation of water was analysed. The effect of the electrolysing activity on the electrodes’ morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, the operational cost was calculated. The results confirmed the removal of fluoride using S-SECR met the guideline of the World Health Organization (WHO) for fluoride levels in drinking water of ≤1.5 mg/L. S-SECR abated fluoride concentration from 20 mg/L to the WHO’s guideline at δ, ϕ, pH, operational cost, and power consumption of 2.5 mA cm2, 5 mm, 7, 0.346 USD m3, and 5.03 kWh m3, respectively. It was also found the S-SECR enhanced the detention time by 190% compared to the traditional reactors. The appearance of dents and irregularities on the surface of anodes in the SEM images proves the electrolysing process

Plant-symbiotic fungi as chemical engineers: multi-genome analysis of the Clavicipitaceae reveals dynamics of alkaloid Loci

The fungal family Clavicipitaceae includes plant symbionts and parasites that produce several psychoactive and bioprotective alkaloids. The family includes grass symbionts in the epichloae clade (Epichloë and Neotyphodium species), which are extraordinarily diverse both in their host interactions and in their alkaloid profiles. Epichloae produce alkaloids of four distinct classes, all of which deter insects, and some—including the infamous ergot alkaloids—have potent effects on mammals. The exceptional chemotypic diversity of the epichloae may relate to their broad range of host interactions, whereby some are pathogenic and contagious, others are mutualistic and vertically transmitted (seed-borne), and still others vary in pathogenic or mutualistic behavior. We profiled the alkaloids and sequenced the genomes of 10 epichloae, three ergot fungi (Claviceps species), a morning-glory symbiont (Periglandula ipomoeae), and a bamboo pathogen (Aciculosporium take), and compared the gene clusters for four classes of alkaloids. Results indicated a strong tendency for alkaloid loci to have conserved cores that specify the skeleton structures and peripheral genes that determine chemical variations that are known to affect their pharmacological specificities. Generally, gene locations in cluster peripheries positioned them near to transposon-derived, AT-rich repeat blocks, which were probably involved in gene losses, duplications, and neofunctionalizations. The alkaloid loci in the epichloae had unusual structures riddled with large, complex, and dynamic repeat blocks. This feature was not reflective of overall differences in repeat contents in the genomes, nor was it characteristic of most other specialized metabolism loci. The organization and dynamics of alkaloid loci and abundant repeat blocks in the epichloae suggested that these fungi are under selection for alkaloid diversification. We suggest that such selection is related to the variable life histories of the epichloae, their protective roles as symbionts, and their associations with the highly speciose and ecologically diverse cool-season grasses

Effects of fluoxetine on functional outcomes after acute stroke (FOCUS): a pragmatic, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial

Background Results of small trials indicate that fluoxetine might improve functional outcomes after stroke. The FOCUS trial aimed to provide a precise estimate of these effects. Methods FOCUS was a pragmatic, multicentre, parallel group, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial done at 103 hospitals in the UK. Patients were eligible if they were aged 18 years or older, had a clinical stroke diagnosis, were enrolled and randomly assigned between 2 days and 15 days after onset, and had focal neurological deficits. Patients were randomly allocated fluoxetine 20 mg or matching placebo orally once daily for 6 months via a web-based system by use of a minimisation algorithm. The primary outcome was functional status, measured with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), at 6 months. Patients, carers, health-care staff, and the trial team were masked to treatment allocation. Functional status was assessed at 6 months and 12 months after randomisation. Patients were analysed according to their treatment allocation. This trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN83290762. Findings Between Sept 10, 2012, and March 31, 2017, 3127 patients were recruited. 1564 patients were allocated fluoxetine and 1563 allocated placebo. mRS data at 6 months were available for 1553 (99·3%) patients in each treatment group. The distribution across mRS categories at 6 months was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (common odds ratio adjusted for minimisation variables 0·951 [95% CI 0·839–1·079]; p=0·439). Patients allocated fluoxetine were less likely than those allocated placebo to develop new depression by 6 months (210 [13·43%] patients vs 269 [17·21%]; difference 3·78% [95% CI 1·26–6·30]; p=0·0033), but they had more bone fractures (45 [2·88%] vs 23 [1·47%]; difference 1·41% [95% CI 0·38–2·43]; p=0·0070). There were no significant differences in any other event at 6 or 12 months. Interpretation Fluoxetine 20 mg given daily for 6 months after acute stroke does not seem to improve functional outcomes. Although the treatment reduced the occurrence of depression, it increased the frequency of bone fractures. These results do not support the routine use of fluoxetine either for the prevention of post-stroke depression or to promote recovery of function. Funding UK Stroke Association and NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme

Growth and biochemical response of ocimum basilicum l. plant under critical drought environmental

Study curried out to evolution response growth and biochemical of Ocimum basilicum L. under drought conditions. Plant grown under treatment conditions (24 hours with - 54°C, 21°C, 55-70% RH) and plant were transferred to growth chamber for 6 weeks. The results showed that the rate of increase in chlorophyll a and b was significant with an increase rate of 1.7 and 0.6 compared to control after three days of treatment. The results also showed that H2O2 content was increased and reached to 1.3, 2.8 and 3.5X compared to the control after three, six and nine days of treatment respectively. One the other hand the levels of the enzyme APX activity, Lipid peroxidation and protein which was conducted on the tissue of basil leaves, increase compared with control after three days of treatment

Growth and Biochemical Response of Ocimum Basilicum L. Plant Under Critical Drought Environmental

Study curried out to evolution response growth and biochemical of Ocimum basilicum L. under drought conditions. Plant grown under treatment conditions (24 hours with - 54°C, 21°C, 55-70% RH) and plant were transferred to growth chamber for 6 weeks. The results showed that the rate of increase in chlorophyll a and b was significant with an increase rate of 1.7 and 0.6 compared to control after three days of treatment. The results also showed that H2O2 content was increased and reached to 1.3, 2.8 and 3.5X compared to the control after three, six and nine days of treatment respectively. One the other hand the levels of the enzyme APX activity, Lipid peroxidation and protein which was conducted on the tissue of basil leaves, increase compared with control after three days of treatment

Identification and Isolation of Flavonoids From Iraqi Silybum Marianum L.flowers by HPLC

One of the most important phytochemical compounds with potential applications in medicinal chemistry is the flavonoids which exist in many different parts of plants(fruits, herbs, vegetables). Flavonoids possess many medicinal benefits, including antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition to the cardio and neuro-protective effects. So the present study aimed to identify and isolate flavonoids from the flowers of Iraqi Silybum marianum L. by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-HPLC. The results indicate that the HPLC analysis of plant flavonoids indicate that the flowers contain different concentration of flavonoids which include 119.7143 µg/g of Taxifolin,  307.4991 µg/g of Silychristin A, 137.6423 µg/g of Silidianin,  252.938 µg/g of  Silychristin B, 339.9172 µg/g of Siliybin A, 378.3294 µg/g of Silybin B, 234.6421 µg/g of Isosilybin  A and 127.2572 µg/g  of Isosilybin  B. The results also indicate that the identification of flavonoids in isolated part are the same in the crude flowers but different concentration, 138.0556µg/g of Taxifolin,  283.0717µg/g of Silychristin A, 122.4808µg/g of Silidianin,  190.1345µg/g of  Silychristin B, 310.9728µg/g of Siliybin A, 363.0253µg/g of Silybin B, 214.0452µg/g of Isosilybin  A and 126.3279µg/g  of Isosilybin  B.&nbsp

The Effects of Trans- Polyoctylene Rubber (TOR) as a Compatibilizer on The Properties of Epoxidized Natural Rubber/Recycled Silicone Catheter (ENR-25/rSC) Vulcanizate

In this study, the influence of Trans- Polyoctylene Rubber (TOR) as a compatibilizer on the cure characteristics, tensile and physical properties of ENR-25/rSC vulcanizate were determined. Five different loading of TOR (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 phr) were prepared and added into the vulcanizate. Results indicated that the scorch time (t2) and cure time (t90) bacame shorter as TOR increased, while minimum torque (ML) and maximum torque (MH) increased. The incorporation of TOR with the vulcanizates enhanced the tensile strength (Ts), modulus (M100) crosslinking density and hardness values. However, the elongation at break percentage of compatibilized vulcanizates became lower than uncompatibilized vulcanizates

The Effects of Trans- Polyoctylene Rubber (TOR) as a Compatibilizer on The Properties of Epoxidized Natural Rubber/Recycled Silicone Catheter (ENR-25/rSC) Vulcanizate

In this study, the influence of Trans- Polyoctylene Rubber (TOR) as a compatibilizer on the cure characteristics, tensile and physical properties of ENR-25/rSC vulcanizate were determined. Five different loading of TOR (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 phr) were prepared and added into the vulcanizate. Results indicated that the scorch time (t2) and cure time (t90) bacame shorter as TOR increased, while minimum torque (ML) and maximum torque (MH) increased. The incorporation of TOR with the vulcanizates enhanced the tensile strength (Ts), modulus (M100) crosslinking density and hardness values. However, the elongation at break percentage of compatibilized vulcanizates became lower than uncompatibilized vulcanizates