Meta-analytic relations between personality and cognitive ability.

Cognitive ability and personality are fundamental domains of human psychology. Despite a century of vast research, most ability-personality relations remain unestablished. Using contemporary hierarchical personality and cognitive abilities frameworks, we meta-analyze unexamined links between personality traits and cognitive abilities and offer large-scale evidence of their relations. This research quantitatively summarizes 60,690 relations between 79 personality and 97 cognitive ability constructs in 3,543 meta-analyses based on data from millions of individuals. Sets of novel relations are illuminated by distinguishing hierarchical personality and ability constructs (e.g., factors, aspects, facets). The links between personality traits and cognitive abilities are not limited to openness and its components. Some aspects and facets of neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness are also considerably related to primary as well as specific abilities. Overall, the results provide an encyclopedic quantification of what is currently known about personality-ability relations, identify previously unrecognized trait pairings, and reveal knowledge gaps. The meta-analytic findings are visualized in an interactive webtool. The database of coded studies and relations is offered to the scientific community to further advance research, understanding, and applications.

Synthesis and investigation of the cholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant capacities of some novel N'-(quinolin-4-ylmethylene)propanehydrazides against Alzheimer's disease.

One of the worst long-term health issues of the past few decades is Alzheimer's disease (AD). Unfortunately, there are currently insufficient choices for treating and caring for AD, which makes it a popular subject for drug development research. Studies on the development of drugs for AD have primarily concentrated on the use of multitarget directed ligands. Following this strategy, we designed new ChE inhibitors with additional antioxidant and metal chelator effects. In this research, eight novel N'-(quinolin-4-ylmethylene)propanehydrazide derivatives were synthesized and characterized. We then evaluated the inhibition potency of all the final compounds for cholinesterase enzymes. Among them, 4e (IC50 acetylcholinesterase [AChE] = 0.69 µM and butyrylcholinesterase [BChE]= 26.00 µM) and 4h (IC50's AChE= 7.04 µM and BChE= 16.06 µM) were found to be the most potent AChE and BChE inhibitors, respectively.

New thiourea and benzamide derivatives of 2-aminothiazole as multi-target agents against Alzheimer's disease: Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation.

In this study, two series of compounds were designed and synthesized, bearing thiourea and benzamide derivatives at position 2 of 4-subtituted-2-aminothiazole, respectively. Then, the inhibition potency of all final compounds for cholinesterase enzymes were evaluated. Among the thiourea derivatives, 3c (IC50 = 0.33 µM) was identified as the most potent and selective butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor. Additionally, benzamide derivative 10e (AChE IC50 = 1.47 and BChE IC50 = 11.40 µM) was found as a dual cholinesterase inhibitor. The type of inhibition for both compounds was determined by kinetic studies and the results showed that the compounds were mixed type inhibitors. Moreover, all title compounds were investigated in terms of their antioxidant (DPHH, ORAC) and metal chelator activities. In addition, the neuroprotective effects of selected compounds (3c, 3e, 6c, 6e and 10e) against H2O2-induced damage in the PC12 cell line were tested. The experimental findings demonstrated that thiourea-derived 6e (40.4 %) and benzamide-derived 10e (37.8 %) have a neuroprotective effect of about half as ferulic acid at 10 µM. Subsequently, the cytotoxicity of selected compounds was examined by the MTT assay, and the compounds were found not to have cytotoxic effect on the PC12 cell line in 24 h. Additionally, compounds 6e and 10e were also found to be more effective in inhibiting the release of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α and NO compared to other selected compounds in this study.

Synthesis and evaluation of multitarget new 2-aminothiazole derivatives as potential anti-Alzheimer's agents.

In this study, two diverse series of 2-aminothiazole-based multitarget compounds, one propenamide and the other propanamide derivatives, were designed and synthesized. Subsequently, their anticholinesterease and antioxidant (ORAC) activities were tested. Among them, compound 3e was the most potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor (AChE IC50 = 0.5 µM, butyrylcholinesterase [BChE] IC50 = 14.7 µM) and compound 9e was the most potent BChE inhibitor (AChE IC50 = 3.13 µM, BChE IC50 = 0.9 µM). Kinetic experiments showed that both compounds were mixed-type inhibitors. According to the anticholinesterease activity results, five compounds (3e, 4e, 5e, 9d, and 9e) were selected for further activity studies, all of which are dual cholinesterase inhibitors. Then, selected compounds were investigated in terms of their metal chelation activity. Moreover, their neuroprotective effects against H2 O2 -induced damage in the PC12 cell line were evaluated at 10 µM and the results showed that the neuroprotective effect of 3e was 53% compared with the reference ferulic acid (77%). 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) results of selected compounds revealed that the compounds were noncytotoxic. Additionally, 3e was more effective in reducing lipopolysaccharides-induced interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO) production in the human monocyte derived from patient with acute monocytic leukemia cell line compared with other selected compounds. Finally, a molecular docking study was also performed.

Agreeableness and Its Consequences: A Quantitative Review of Meta-Analytic Findings.

Agreeableness impacts people and real-world outcomes. In the most comprehensive quantitative review to date, we summarize results from 142 meta-analyses reporting effects for 275 variables, which represent N > 1.9 million participants from k > 3,900 studies. Arranging variables by their content and type, we use an organizational framework of 16 conceptual categories that presents a detailed account of Agreeableness' external relations. Overall, the trait has effects in a desirable direction for 93% of variables (grand mean ρ¯M=.16). We also review lower order trait evidence for 42 variables from 20 meta-analyses. Using these empirical findings, in tandem with existing theory, we synthesize eight general themes that describe Agreeableness' characteristic functioning across variables: self-transcendence, contentment, relational investment, teamworking, work investment, lower results emphasis, social norm orientation, and social integration. We conclude by discussing potential boundary conditions of findings, contributions and limitations of our review, and future research directions.

A century of research on conscientiousness at work.

Evidence from more than 100 y of research indicates that conscientiousness (C) is the most potent noncognitive construct for occupational performance. However, questions remain about the magnitudes of its effect sizes across occupational variables, its defining characteristics and functions in occupational settings, and potential moderators of its performance relation. Drawing on 92 unique meta-analyses reporting effects for 175 distinct variables, which represent n > 1.1 million participants across k > 2,500 studies, we present the most comprehensive, quantitative review and synthesis of the occupational effects of C available in the literature. Results show C has effects in a desirable direction for 98% of variables and a grand mean of [Formula: see text] (SD = 0.13), indicative of a potent, pervasive influence across occupational variables. Using the top 33% of effect sizes [Formula: see text] we synthesize 10 characteristic themes of C's occupational functioning: 1) motivation for goal-directed performance, 2) preference for more predictable environments, 3) interpersonal responsibility for shared goals, 4) commitment, 5) perseverance, 6) self-regulatory restraint to avoid counterproductivity, and 7) proficient performance-especially for 8) conventional goals, 9) requiring persistence. Finally, we examine C's relation to performance across 8 occupations. Results indicate that occupational complexity moderates this relation. That is, 10) high occupational complexity versus low-to-moderate occupational complexity attenuates the performance effect of C. Altogether, results suggest that goal-directed performance is fundamental to C and that motivational engagement, behavioral restraint, and environmental predictability influence its optimal occupational expression. We conclude by discussing applied and policy implications of our findings.

Nonmetric Variants of Anatolian Crania: A Preliminary Study.

Analysis of nonmetric cranial variants has been essential for identifying the human population through osteologic analysis and genetic affinities. This study aimed to examine the nonmetric cranial variants to evaluate differences among sex and side correlations in Anatolian dry skulls. This study was carried out on 50 Anatolian adult dry human skulls (22 males, 28 females) with suitable features (nonfractured and/or with necessary features) out of a total of 97 dry skulls. After sex analysis, each skull was photographed from the norma frontalis, lateralis, inferior, and superior. Eleven nonmetrical cranial variants were investigated. The cranial variants and side incidences were analyzed to determine their sex differences and interside correlations. After the classification, traits were marked as "present" or "absent" on the charts. Some variants in female crania were seen more frequently than in males. Most of the variants such as the supraorbital notch, infraorbital and zygomaticofacial foramen, showed high correlations between the right and left sides. Overall, there were no statistically significant sex or side differences found in the Anatolian crania.

Phenolic and tannin compounds in subtropical shrubs (Bituminaria bituminosa, Chamaecytisus proliferus, and Adenocarpus foliosus) and the effects on in vitro digestibility.

The objective of this study was to contribute to the characterization of nutritional potentials, with special attention to the total phenol and condensed tannins content and the effects on in vitro digestibility of some browsing shrub legumes traditionally used for ruminant feeding. The varieties selected were Bituminaria bituminosa var. bituminosa (BBB), Bituminaria bituminosa var. albormaginata (BBA), Chamaecytisus proliferus var. palmensis (CPP), Chamaecytisus proliferus var. canariae (CPC), and Adenocarpus foliosus (AF). Chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, and net energy for lactation (NE) were analyzed and compared among varieties; the effects of total phenol (TP) and condensed tannins (CT) compounds on digestibility were estimated. Condensed tannins ranged from 1 to 5 g/kg DM of tannins, while total phenols ranged from 9 to 32 g/kg DM of tannins. In vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD) ranged from 0.52 to 0.71, and estimated net energy for lactation (NE) ranged from 4.2 to 5.8 MJ/kg DM, with significant differences among all the varieties. This Chamaecytisus varieties (CPC, CPP) have higher feeding values, following CPC > CPP > AF > BBB > BBA in order. Although there were condensed tannins and total phenols in all the shrubs analyzed, total phenol contents differed significantly between the shrubs. The effect of the content of the total phenols and of the tannins condensed in the OMD of the varieties of shrubs analyzed, shows that the higher amounts of total phenols in some of the varieties of shrubs analyzed, increased the in vitro digestibility (OMD) of the shrubs but high amounts of CT decreased OMD.

The prevalence of obesity and related factors among primary and secondary school students.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity was previously seen as a problem in high-income countries. It is also a problem in low and middle-income countries today. The sedentary lifestyle has made this situation more pronounced. Childhood obesity continues in adulthood. Adequate and balanced nutrition and mobile lifestyle have a great role in the prevention and treatment of obesity. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity among primary and secondary school students and related factors. METHODS: The sample size was calculated as 1278 (213 × 6) for the gender distribution to be appropriate and for the primary and secondary school students to be included in the district center and villages. Considering 15% of the students' non-response rate, the number of students planned to be reached is 1500. Selection was made after the students were ranked by class, gender and place of residence. Of the 1500 students who were sampled, 1298 (86.53%) were evaluated. RESULTS: There was no difference in body mass index between gender and place of residence. The prevalence of being overweight or obesity among secondary school students (25.2%) was significantly higher than primary school students (20.5%). CONCLUSION: In the childhood age group; sedentary lifestyle, having breakfast and obesity in parents had a significant effect on obesity. It is considered important for children and family members to have proper nutrition and mobile life behaviors.

Design and synthesis of some new carboxamide and propanamide derivatives bearing phenylpyridazine as a core ring and the investigation of their inhibitory potential on in-vitro acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase.

A series of new carboxamide and propanamide derivatives bearing phenylpyridazine as a core ring were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit both cholinesterase enzymes. In addition, a series of carboxamide and propanamide derivatives bearing biphenyl instead of phenylpyridazine were also synthesized to examine the inhibitory effect of pyridazine moiety on both cholinesterase enzymes. The inhibitory activity results revealed that compounds 5b, 5f, 5h, 5j, 5l pyridazine-3-carboxamide derivative, exhibited selective acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition with IC50 values ranging from 0.11 to 2.69 µM. Among them, compound 5h was the most active one (IC50 = 0.11 µM) without cytotoxic effect at its effective concentration against AChE. Additionally, pyridazine-3-carboxamide derivative 5d (IC50 for AChE = 0.16 µM and IC50 for BChE = 9.80 µM) and biphenyl-4-carboxamide derivative 6d (IC50 for AChE = 0.59 µM and IC50 for BChE = 1.48 µM) displayed dual cholinesterase inhibitory activity. Besides, active compounds were also tested for their ability to inhibit Aß aggregation. Theoretical physicochemical properties of the compounds were calculated by using Molinspiration Program as well. The Lineweaver-Burk plot and docking study showed that compound 5 h targeted both the catalytic active site (CAS) and the peripheral anionic site (PAS) of AChE.

Differential innate immune response of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) against Streptococcus iniae.

Streptococcus iniae is a Gram-positive bacteria that causes invasive infections with severe septicemia and meningitis, producing high economic losses in marine and continental aquaculture. Head kidney leukocytes of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were used to measure the differential innate immune response upon infection with S. iniae. The complete inhibition in the production of intracellular superoxide radicals and total peroxidase content was observed in infected cells. This study also elucidates changes in the relative expression of some immune-related genes. Interleukin 1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 reached a peak of expression at 4-8 h post-infection, subsequently decreasing significantly up to 48 h post-infection. However, interleukin-10 and Mx protein increased over time, reaching the pick of expression at 48 h post-infection, whereas caspase-3 showed down regulation until 48 h post-infection. The in vivo study of immune related genes show the same kinetics of mRNAs expression as in vitro experience. The proinflammatory cytokines mRNA transcription levels peaked at an earlier time in vivo than in vitro system. Our findings indicate that there is a direct relationship between the dissemination of bacteria and the resulting infection-associated inhibition of respiratory burst, apoptosis, and the pro- and anti-inflammatory gene expression profiles.

The in vitro immunomodulatory effect of extracellular products (ECPs) of Vagococcus fluvialis L21 on European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) leucocytes.

The immune associated genes, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), ciclo-oxigenase-2 (COX-2), and Mx gene were studied by real-time PCR in head-kidney leucocytes of sea bass after incubation with the extracellular products (ECPs) of the probiotic strain Vagococcus fluvialis L21 and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (POLY I:C), at different times (T1.5, T6, T12, T24, T48 and T72). In general, we can observe how pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6 and COX-2 studied displayed a strong peak after stimulation with 1.5 h of ECPs of V. fluvialis L21, significant differences (P < 0.05) exist with other periods and with the POLY I: C at the same time. Similarly to the case of IL-10 also produced a statistically significant (P < 0.05) peak of expression on leukocytes that were stimulated with the ECPs of V. fluvialis L21. In the case of Mx gene expression, we note that in almost all sampling times there is an up-regulation of the Mx gene in leucocytes incubated with ECPs and POLY I:C compared to the control and Mx expression was higher in leucocytes that were stimulated with the ECPs of V. fluvialis for all times, except in T24. With these results we can consider that the ECPs of V. fluvialis L21 have a great power of stimulating the in vitro expression of immune-related genes and may even be useful as adjuvants for vaccine in aquaculture.

Streptococcus iniae in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata, L.) and red porgy (Pagrus pagrus, L.): ultrastructural analysis.

Streptococcosis caused by Streptococcus iniae has become one of the most serious marine and freshwater aquatic diseases in the past decade, causing large losses in farmed and wild fish worldwide. In this study, we performed an ultrastructural study of major lesions in gilthead seabream Sparus aurata and red porgy Pagrus pagrus experimentally infected with the S. iniae IUSA-1 strain, isolated in a natural outbreak in Spain in the mentioned species. The transmission electron micrographs revealed the resistance of this pathogen inside the phagosome, indicating that the macrophage may provide a significant bacterial reservoir for continuing infection, disease dissemination, and tissue injury by crossing the blood-brain barrier.

Histochemical and immunohistochemical characteristics of elastofibromas.

Elastofibromas are slow-growing and rare soft-tissue tumors. The etiology and pathogenetic mechanisms are still controversial and there are only a few studies in the literature investigating the histochemical, immunohistochemical, and genetic features to determine the pathogenesis. We investigated the cellular composition of lesions with a diagnosis of elastofibroma in 17 patients by using histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. There were 17 cases with a mean age of 53.5 years. Mean lesion diameter was 6.6 cm. The immunohistochemical method showed vimentin and factor XIIIa positivity in all cases. Four cases had focal myoglobin positivity in the spindle-shaped cells between the collagen fibers. Spindle cells were positive for CD34 in 8 cases. Smooth muscle actin, desmin, type 4 collagen and laminin were negative in all cases. The elastic nature of the abnormal fibers was shown histoch with Verhoeff elastin staining and aldehyde fuchsin staining in all cases. Our results have shown that the concurrent positivity of factor XIIIa and CD34 in the cells forming the lesion might show that the lesionoriginates from primitive dermal mesenchymal cells. In addition, the myoglobin positivity found in some cases indicates the possibility of a myofibroblastic origin of elastofibromas.

Introducing the special section on openness to experience: review of openness taxonomies, measurement, and nomological net.

In this introduction to the Special Section on Openness to Experience, we review the historical background of the construct and its measurement. We also provide a meta-analytically based review of its broader nomological net. Specifically, we review relationships with other individual differences constructs, including personality traits, interests, and cognitive ability. We highlight the various roles that openness and intellect play in educational performance, occupational attitudes and behaviors, job performance, career success, and psychological health and well-being. In doing so, we emphasize the unique contributions of the articles published in this special section (Albrecht, Dilchert, Deller, & Paulus; Connelly, Ones, Davies, & Birkland; DeYoung, Quilty, Peterson, & Gray; Roets, Cornelis, & Van Hiel; Woo, Chernyshenko, Longley, Zhang, Chiu, & Stark; Woo, Chernyshenko, Stark, & Conz). Finally, we note fruitful venues for future research involving Openness constructs.

Opening up openness: a theoretical sort following critical incidents methodology and a meta-analytic investigation of the trait family measures.

Existing taxonomies of Openness's facet structure have produced widely divergent results, and there is limited comprehensive empirical evidence about how Openness-related scales on existing personality inventories align within the 5-factor framework. In Study 1, we used a critical incidents sorting methodology to identify 11 categories of Openness measures; in Study 2, we meta-analyzed the relationships of these categories with global markers of the Big Five traits (utilizing data from 106 samples with a total sample size of N = 35,886). Our results identified 4 true facets of Openness: aestheticism, openness to sensations, nontraditionalism, and introspection. Measures of these facets were unadulterated by variance from other Big Five traits. Many traits frequently conceptualized as facets of Openness (e.g., innovation/creativity, variety-seeking, and tolerance) emerged as trait compounds that, although related to Openness, are also dependent on other Big Five traits. We discuss how Openness should be conceptualized, measured, and studied in light of the empirically based, refined taxonomy emerging from this research.

Performance evaluation of the new Roche cobas AmpliPrep/cobas TaqMan HCV test, version 2.0, for detection and quantification of hepatitis C virus RNA.

To evaluate the analytical performance and explore the clinical applicability of the new Roche cobas AmpliPrep/cobas TaqMan HCV test, v2.0 (CAP/CTM v2.0), a platform comparison was performed on panels and diagnostic samples with the Roche cobas AmpliPrep/cobas TaqMan HCV test (CAP/CTM v1.0), the Siemens Versant HCV RNA 3.0 branched DNA (bDNA) test, the Abbott m2000 RealTime HCV assay (Realtime assay), and the Siemens Versant HCV transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) test (TMA assay). The analytical performance of the CAP/CTM v2.0 on WHO and Acrometrix panels and clinical specimens of patients infected with HCV genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 relative to that of the CAP/CTM v1.0 was significantly improved. In a qualitative comparison of the CAP/CTM v2.0 relative to the TMA assay on genotype 1 to 4 samples, the two tests proved to be almost equally sensitive. Response-guided therapy in one of five HCV genotype 4-infected patients previously tested with the CAP/CTM v1.0 would have significantly changed if tested with the CAP/CTM v2.0. In conclusion, the Roche CAP/CTM v2.0 has significantly better performance characteristics than the former CAP/CTM HCV v1.0 and the bDNA assay and performance characteristics comparable to those of the Realtime assay.

Cytokine expression in head-kidney leucocytes of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) after incubation with the probiotic Vagococcus fluvialis L-21.

The European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) is one of the most extensively farmed marine fish in the Mediterranean sea. Under the high-density condition, common in aquaculture, the infectious diseases can cause significant economic losses. Probiotics are presented as an alternative to antibiotics for the control of aquaculture diseases. This study used real-time PCR to investigate in vitro the dynamic of expression of immune-related genes in sea bass after incubation with live and inactivated (heat and Uv-light) probiotic Vagoccus fluvialis L-21 at different times (T1, T12, T24, T48). The immune associated genes, interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin 10 (IL-10), TumourTumour necrosis factor- (TNF-), ciclo-oxigenase-2 (COX-2), caspase-3 (Casp-3) and Mx were studied in head-kidney (HK) leucocytes of sea bass after incubation with the probiotic strain. Transcript of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, TNF-, COX-2) was highly up-regulated after 1 h of incubation with the probiotic strain V. fluvialis L-21. We found statistically significant difference in pick of expression of TNF-, after 1 h of incubation with Uv-light inactivated probiotic strain. The COX-2 expression was highly up-regulated at all times studied, with the exception of 12 and 24 h post incubation for the Uv-light inactivated bacteria. Transcript of IL-10 and Casp-3 showed the higher statistically significant differences of expression after 48 h post incubation with live bacteria. In the contrast, sea bass HK leucocytes expressed Mx at 12 and 48 h without statistically differences among treatments. Our results suggest that V. fluvialis L-21 is able to stimulate in vitro some immune-related genes associated with the early inflammatory response. Future studies in vivo are necessary to clarify this process in sea bass.

Interaction of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis with ovine cells in vitro.

Caseous lymphadenitis is an infectious and contagious disease caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, with a worldwide distribution and high prevalence in small ruminant populations. This disease causes significant economic loss in small ruminants through reduced meat, wool, and milk production. C. pseudotuberculosis can also affect horses, domestic and wild large ruminants, swine, and man. It is considered an occupational zoonosis for humans. As part of in vitro investigations of the pathogenesis of C. pseudotuberculosis, this study analyzed its capacity to adhere to and invade the FLK-BLV-044 cell line, derived from ovine embryonic kidney cells. C. pseudotuberculosis showed a measurable capacity to adhere to and invade this cell line with no significant differences between the four strains assessed. The incubation of the cell line at 4ºC, pre-incubation with sugars, complete and heat inactivated antiserum, and heat-killed and ultraviolet-killed bacteria produced a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the invasion efficiency or inability to invade the cell line. Plate counting and fluorescence studies showed intracellular bacteria for up to 6 days. Non-phagocytic cells may therefore act as a suitable environment for C. pseudotuberculosis survival and play a role in the spread of infection and/or maintenance of a carrier state.

Exuberant mucometra associated with atresia of the cervix in a queen.

This short communication reports the clinical, ultrasonographic and histopathological findings in a cat with atresia of the uterine cervix and mucometra. After 6 months of continuous oestrous behaviour, a remarkable abdominal enlargement was observed in a 14-year-old queen. A presumptive diagnosis of mucometra was concluded after the ultrasound evaluation and based on clinical signs and blood analyses. Ovariohysterectomy revealed a notable symmetrical distension (4-5 cm in diameter) of both uterine horns that were filled with fluid (690 ml); microbiological analyses confirmed the aseptic nature of the uterine fluid. Ovarian follicular cysts and cystic subsurface epithelial structures, >1.5 cm in diameter, were present in both ovaries and no corpora lutea were observed. Gross and microscopic evaluation of the uterus confirmed the development of cystic endometrial hyperplasia and the absence of an internal cervical os. The endometrial hyperplasia and mucometra could have developed as a consequence of repeated oestrogenic stimulation.