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More than 70 years ago, Maslow put forward an integrated theory of human motivation that still captures the public imagination. Still, integration with modern theory and research remains elusive. The current study aims to fill this gap in the psychological literature, linking Maslow's theory to contemporary theory and research on personality and well-being. Toward this aim, the new 30-item "Characteristics of Self-Actualization Scale (CSAS)" was developed. Scale validation showed that 10 characteristics of self-actualizing people as proposed by Maslow load on a general factor of self-actualization and demonstrate external validity. Those reporting more characteristics of self-actualization were more motivated by growth, exploration, and love of humanity than the fulfillment of deficiencies in basic needs. The characteristics of self-actualization were also associated with greater well-being across a number of indicators of well-being, including greater life satisfaction, self-acceptance, positive relations, environmental mastery, personal growth, autonomy, purpose in life, and self-transcendent experiences. Self-actualization scores also predicted work-related outcomes and creativity across multiple domains of achievement. The results provide support for Maslow's proposed characteristics of self-actualization and basic motivational framework, bringing the concept of self-actualization so frequently discussed by the founding humanistic psychologists firmly into the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is broad consensus that there are at least two different dimensions of narcissism: vulnerable and grandiose. In this study, the authors use a new trifurcated, three-factor model of narcissism to examine relations between aspects of narcissism and an array of clinically relevant criteria related to psychopathology, the self, authenticity, and well-being. Neurotic and antagonistic aspects of narcissism emerged as the most clinically relevant dimensions of narcissism, bearing relations with outcomes relating to interpersonal guilt, insecure attachment styles, cognitive distortions, maladaptive defense mechanisms, experiential avoidance, impostor syndrome, weak sense of self, inauthenticity, low self-esteem, and reduced psychological well-being. Grandiose narcissism was not correlated with most forms of psychopathology and was even positively associated with life satisfaction. Nevertheless, a surprising link was found between grandiose narcissism and multiple indicators of inauthenticity. Implications for the appropriate conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of pathological narcissism are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Awe is a complex emotion composed of an appraisal of vastness and a need for accommodation. The purpose of this study was to develop a robust state measure of awe, the Awe Experience Scale (AWE-S), based on the extant experimental literature. In study 1, participants (N = 501) wrote about an intense moment of awe that they had experienced and then completed a survey about their experience. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 6-factor structure, including: altered time perception (F1); self-diminishment (F2); connectedness (F3); perceived vastness (F4); physical sensations (F5); need for accommodation (F6). Internal consistency was strong for each factor (α ≥.80). Study 2 confirmed the 6-factor structure (N = 636) using fit indices (CFI =.905; RMSEA =.054). Each factor of the AWE-S is significantly correlated with the awe items of the modified Differential Emotions Scale (mDES) and Dispositional Positive Emotion Scale (D-PES). Triggers, valence, and themes associated with awe experiences are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epichloë endophytes form mutualistic symbiotic associations with aerial tissues of temperate grasses. Intercalary growth of hyphae within the leaves enables fungal growth to be synchronized with host leaf growth, leading to formation of a highly structured and tightly regulated symbiotic network. Mutations in fungal genes that disrupt cell–cell fusion and other key signalling pathways lead to an antagonistic interaction characterized by unregulated growth of endophytic hyphae and detrimental effects on host growth. Transcriptome analysis of these mutant associations provides key insights into the regulation of the symbiosis. In nature a similar switch in growth occurs when hyphae transition into the sexual cycle forming stromata that abort host inflorescences. Endophyte infection of the grass host leads to a major reprogramming of host metabolism and alters host development. Changes in endophyte cell wall structure and the repertoire of effectors secreted into the host apoplast accompany establishment of a mutualistic interaction within the leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Personality traits are associated with well-being, but the precise correlates vary across well-being dimensions and within each Big Five domain. This study is the first to examine the unique associations between the Big Five aspects (rather than facets) and multiple well-being dimensions.Method: Two samples of U.S. participants (total N = 706; Mage  = 36.17; 54% female) recruited via Amazon's Mechanical Turk completed measures of the Big Five aspects and subjective, psychological, and PERMA well-being.Results: One aspect within each domain was more strongly associated with well-being variables. Enthusiasm and Withdrawal were strongly associated with a broad range of well-being variables, but other aspects of personality also had idiosyncratic associations with distinct forms of positive functioning (e.g., Compassion with positive relationships, Industriousness with accomplishment, and Intellect with personal growth).Conclusions: An aspect-level analysis provides an optimal (i.e., parsimonious yet sufficiently comprehensive) framework for describing the relation between personality traits and multiple ways of thriving in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of psychology has done a remarkable job discovering the ways people differ from one another in their abilities and talents, but has long neglected the diverse ways people can unleash those capacities. There is no plausible mechanism by which our genes directly encode skills like how to dribble a basketball, play the violin, or solve an algebraic equation. We are not born knowing how to write a sonnet or flip an omelet. On the contrary, all human expertise-even at the far-right tail of the distribution-depends on experience and training. A more accurate understanding of the development of high achievement should inspire people to push beyond their perceived and often self-imposed limits to reach heights they never would have imagined possible. WIREs Cogn Sci 2017, 8:e1365. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1365 For further resources related to this article, please visit the . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Big Five personality dimension Openness/Intellect is the trait most closely associated with creativity and creative achievement. Little is known, however, regarding the discriminant validity of its two aspects-Openness to Experience (reflecting cognitive engagement with perception, fantasy, aesthetics, and emotions) and Intellect (reflecting cognitive engagement with abstract and semantic information, primarily through reasoning)-in relation to creativity. In four demographically diverse samples totaling 1,035 participants, we investigated the independent predictive validity of Openness and Intellect by assessing the relations among cognitive ability, divergent thinking, personality, and creative achievement across the arts and sciences. We confirmed the hypothesis that whereas Openness predicts creative achievement in the arts, Intellect predicts creative achievement in the sciences. Inclusion of performance measures of general cognitive ability and divergent thinking indicated that the relation of Intellect to scientific creativity may be due at least in part to these abilities. Lastly, we found that Extraversion additionally predicted creative achievement in the arts, independently of Openness. Results are discussed in the context of dual-process theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brain's default network (DN) has been a topic of considerable empirical interest. In fMRI research, DN activity is associated with spontaneous and self-generated cognition, such as mind-wandering, episodic memory retrieval, future thinking, mental simulation, theory of mind reasoning, and creative cognition. Despite large literatures on developmental and disease-related influences on the DN, surprisingly little is known about the factors that impact normal variation in DN functioning. Using structural equation modeling and graph theoretical analysis of resting-state fMRI data, we provide evidence that Openness to Experience-a normally distributed personality trait reflecting a tendency to engage in imaginative, creative, and abstract cognitive processes-underlies efficiency of information processing within the DN. Across two studies, Openness predicted the global efficiency of a functional network comprised of DN nodes and corresponding edges. In Study 2, Openness remained a robust predictor-even after controlling for intelligence, age, gender, and other personality variables-explaining 18% of the variance in DN functioning. These findings point to a biological basis of Openness to Experience, and suggest that normally distributed personality traits affect the intrinsic architecture of large-scale brain systems. Hum Brain Mapp 37:773-779, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate ( NADPH) oxidases ( Nox) are a group of eukaryotic flavoenzymes that catalyse the reduction of dioxygen to the superoxide anion using electrons provided by NADPH. An integral membrane flavocytochrome b558 heterodimer, composed of the catalytic subunit gp91 phox and the adaptor protein p22 phox, is essential for catalytic activity of the mammalian Nox2 complex. Two homologues of the mammalian gp91 phox, NoxA and NoxB, have been identified in fungi and shown to be crucial for distinct fungal cell differentiation and developmental processes, but to date, no homologue of the p22 phox adaptor protein has been identified. Isolation of a mutant from P odospora anserina with a phenotype identical to a previously characterised PaNox1 mutant, combined with phylogenetic analysis, identified a fungal homologue of p22 phox called PaNoxD. The same adaptor protein was shown to be a component of the B otrytis cinerea NoxA complex as supported by the identical phenotypes of the bcnoxA and bcnoxD mutants and direct physical interaction between BcNoxA and BcNoxD. These results suggest that NoxA/ NoxD is the fungal equivalent of the mammalian gp91 phox/p22 phox flavocytochrome complex. Tetraspanin ( Pls1) mutants of P . anserina and B . cinerea have identical phenotypes to noxB mutants, suggesting that Pls1 is the corresponding integral membrane adaptor for assembly of the NoxB complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E pichloё festucae is a filamentous fungus that forms a mutually beneficial symbiotic association with L olium perenne. This endophyte synthesizes bioprotective lolitrems ( ltm) and ergot alkaloids ( eas) in planta but the mechanisms regulating expression of the corresponding subtelomeric gene clusters are not known. We show here that the status of histone H3 lysine 9 and lysine 27 trimethylation ( H3 K9me3/ H3 K27me3) at these alkaloid gene loci are critical determinants of transcriptional activity. Using ChIP- qPCR we found that levels of H3 K9me3 and H3 K27me3 were reduced at these loci in plant infected tissue compared to axenic culture. Deletion of E . festucae genes encoding the H3 K9- ( ClrD) or H3 K27- ( EzhB) methyltransferases led to derepression of ltm and eas gene expression under non-symbiotic culture conditions and a further enhancement of expression in the double deletion mutant. These changes in gene expression were matched by corresponding reductions in H3 K9me3 and H3 K27me3 marks. Both methyltransferases are also important for the symbiotic interaction between E . festucae and L . perenne. Our results show that the state of H3 K9 and H3 K27 trimethylation of E . festucae chromatin is an important regulatory layer controlling symbiosis-specific expression of alkaloid bioprotective metabolites and the ability of this symbiont to form a mutualistic interaction with its host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indole-diterpene paxilline is an abundant secondary metabolite synthesized by Penicillium paxilli. In total, 21 genes have been identified at the PAX locus of which six have been previously confirmed to have a functional role in paxilline biosynthesis. A combination of bioinformatics, gene expression and targeted gene replacement analyses were used to define the boundaries of the PAX gene cluster. Targeted gene replacement identified seven genes, paxG, paxA, paxM, paxB, paxC, paxP and paxQ that were all required for paxilline production, with one additional gene, paxD, required for regular prenylation of the indole ring post paxilline synthesis. The two putative transcription factors, PP104 and PP105, were not co-regulated with the pax genes and based on targeted gene replacement, including the double knockout, did not have a role in paxilline production. The relationship of indole dimethylallyl transferases involved in prenylation of indole-diterpenes such as paxilline or lolitrem B, can be found as two disparate clades, not supported by prenylation type (e.g., regular or reverse). This paper provides insight into the P. paxilli indole-diterpene locus and reviews the recent advances identified in paxilline biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Memorializes Jerome L. Singer (1924-2019). Singer's seminal research, conducted over 50þ years, laid the foundations for virtually all modern investigations of stream of consciousness and mind wandering. During a time when daydreaming was considered pathological, Singer showed it to be a pervasive aspect of human experience that served positive social and creative functions, earning him the moniker “the father of daydreaming.” After receiving his PhD in clinical psychology in 1951, Singer was certified as a psychoanalyst through the William Alanson White Institute, while also holding several part-time research appointments. In 1963, Singer became director of the clinical psychology program at City University, where he and collaborator John Antrobus studied “decoupled attention.” Singer joined the faculty of Yale University in 1972 and assumed emeritus status in 2006. At Yale, he worked closely with his wife Dorothy (who was an exemplary developmental psychologist in her own right), where they codirected Yale’s Family TV Research and Consultation Center for more than 30 years. He died on December 14, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dirty Dozen is a recently developed, concise measure of the Dark Triad (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, & Machiavellianism). However, recent evidence has questioned the validity of this scale. In two studies we provide details about this measure in as much as it relates to the Big Five (i.e., Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Openness) whilst controlling for the shared variance amongst the three (Study 1: N = 123) and examining meta-traits and aspects of the Big Five (Study 2; N = 290). The Dirty Dozen subscales share an unstable core, which was localized to limited emotional stability, conscientiousness, and agreeableness. Each of the Dark Triad traits, however, was associated with unique aspects of the Big Five providing evidence that each trait measures something slightly different. For instance, psychopathy was linked to agreeableness through limited compassion but Machiavellianism was linked through limited politeness. In a series of factor analyses the scale is best explained by a bifactor model. Results provide multifaceted definitions of each of the aspects of the Dirty Dozen and evidence of its structural properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We examined the degree to which the conventional notion of g associated with IQ tests and general cognitive ability tests (COG-g) relate to the general ability that underlies tests of reading, math, and writing achievement (ACH-g). Two large, nationally representative data sets and two independent individually-administered set of test batteries were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis procedures: (a) the Kaufman-II sample (N =2520), organized into six age groups between 4–5 and 16–19years, tested on both the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-2nd ed. (KABC-II) and the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement-2nd ed. (KTEA-II) Comprehensive Form; and (b) the WJ III sample (N =4969), organized into four age groups between 5–6 and 14–19years, tested on both the Cognitive and Achievement batteries of the Woodcock–Johnson-3rd ed. (WJ III). Second-order latent factor models were used to model the test scores. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was used to investigate factor loading invariance across the age groups. In general, invariance was tenable, which allowed for valid comparisons of second-order COG-g and ACH-g factor variance/covariances and correlations across age. Although COG-g and ACH-g were not isomorphic, they correlated substantially, with an overall mean correlation coefficient of .83, and with the correlations generally increasing with age (ranging from .77 to .94). The nature of the relation between COG-g and ACH-g was explored and the best measures of COG-g were examined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The existence of general-purpose cognitive mechanisms related to intelligence, which appear to facilitate all forms of problem solving, conflicts with the strong modularity view of the mind espoused by some evolutionary psychologists. The current study assessed the contribution of general intelligence (g) to explaining variation in contextualized deductive reasoning. One hundred and twelve participants solved 70 contextualized reasoning problems in a computerized version of the Wason Card Selection Task that recorded both accuracy and reaction time. Consistent with prior research, in the sample as a whole, precautionary and social exchange reasoning problems were solved more frequently and more quickly than reasoning problems about arbitrary rules. At the individual-differences level of analysis, however, performance on all reasoning tests was significantly correlated and loaded on a single deductive-reasoning accuracy factor. Further, this factor was significantly correlated with g. There was no relation, however, between g and the speed of arriving at the correct answer for any form of deductive reasoning. We discuss the implications of these findings for evolutionary psychology, intelligence, and reasoning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The ability to automatically and implicitly detect complex and noisy regularities in the environment is a fundamental aspect of human cognition. Despite considerable interest in implicit processes, few researchers have conceptualized implicit learning as an ability with meaningful individual differences. Instead, various researchers (e.g., ; Stanovich, 2009) have suggested that individual differences in implicit learning are minimal relative to individual differences in explicit learning. In the current study of English 16–17year old students, we investigated the association of individual differences in implicit learning with a variety of cognitive and personality variables. Consistent with prior research and theorizing, implicit learning, as measured by a probabilistic sequence learning task, was more weakly related to psychometric intelligence than was explicit associative learning, and was unrelated to working memory. Structural equation modeling revealed that implicit learning was independently related to two components of psychometric intelligence: verbal analogical reasoning and processing speed. Implicit learning was also independently related to academic performance on two foreign language exams (French, German). Further, implicit learning was significantly associated with aspects of self-reported personality, including intuition, Openness to Experience, and impulsivity. We discuss the implications of implicit learning as an ability for dual-process theories of cognition, intelligence, personality, skill learning, complex cognition, and language acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The filamentous fungus Penicillium paxilli contains two distinct geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) synthases, GgsA and GgsB (PaxG). PaxG and its homologues in Neotyphodium lolii and Fusarium fujikuroi are associated with diterpene secondary metabolite gene clusters. The genomes of other filamentous fungi including Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae and Fusarium graminearum also contain two or more copies of GGPP synthase genes, although the diterpene metabolite capability of these fungi is not known. The objective of this study was to understand the biological significance of the presence of two copies of GGPP synthases in P. paxilli by investigating their subcellular localization. Using a carotenoid complementation assay and gene deletion analysis, we show that P. paxilli GgsA and PaxG have GGPP synthase activities and that paxG is required for paxilline biosynthesis, respectively. In the Δ paxG mutant background ggsA was unable to complement paxilline biosynthesis. A GgsA-EGFP fusion protein was localized to punctuate organelles and the EGFP-GRV fusion protein, containing the C-terminus tripeptide GRV of PaxG, was localized to peroxisomes. A truncated PaxG mutant lacking the C-terminus tripeptide GRV was unable to complement a Δ paxG mutant demonstrating that the tripeptide is functionally important for paxilline biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recent evidence suggests the existence of multiple cognitive mechanisms that support the general cognitive ability factor (g). Working memory and processing speed are the two best established candidate mechanisms. Relatively little attention has been given to the possibility that associative learning is an additional mechanism contributing to g. The present study tested the hypothesis that associative learning ability, as assessed by psychometrically sound associative learning tasks, would predict variance in g above and beyond the variance predicted by working memory capacity and processing speed. This hypothesis was confirmed in a sample of 169 adolescents, using structural equation modeling. Associative learning, working memory, and processing speed all contributed significant unique variance to g, indicating not only that multiple elementary cognitive processes underlie intelligence, but also the novel finding that associative learning is one such process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Decreased latent inhibition (LI), reflecting an inability to screen from awareness stimuli previously experienced as irrelevant, has been associated with psychosis. Recent research has suggested, however, that low LI is associated with increased creative achievement in high-functioning individuals (S. H. Carson, J. B. Peterson, & D. M. Higgins, 2003). This study examined the relationship between LI and individual differences in the tendency to rely on intuition to make decisions. Participants scoring higher on a Faith in Intuition factor consisting of items relating to affect tended to have decreased LI. LI was not related to a rational thinking style or to a factor consisting of items relating to a holistic type of intuition. Furthermore, those high in faith in intuition benefitted more from a preexposure condition in which participants received the relevant stimuli in the first phase of the task than did those scoring medium and low in faith in intuition. An explanation is offered for the link between faith in intuition and LI, building on past theory and research on the biological basis of LI and associations with openness to experience and creativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulated synthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by specific fungal NADPH oxidases (Noxs) plays a key role in fungal cellular differentiation and development. Fungi have up to three different Nox isoforms, NoxA, B and C. The NoxA isoform has a key role in triggering the development of fruiting bodies in several sexual species whereas NoxB plays a key role in ascospore germination. The function of NoxC remains unknown. Both NoxA and NoxB are required for the development of fungal infection structures by some plant pathogens. ROS production by NoxA is critical for maintaining a fungal–plant symbiosis. Localised synthesis of ROS is also important in establishing and maintaining polarised hyphal growth. Activation of NoxA/NoxB requires the regulatory subunit, NoxR, and the small GTPase RacA. The BemA scaffold protein may also be involved in the assembly of the Nox complex. By analogy with mammalian systems MAP and PAK kinases may regulate fungal Nox activation. How fungal cells sense and respond to ROS associated with cellular differentiations remains to be discovered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Sex differences in spatial ability are well documented, but poorly understood. In order to see whether working memory is an important factor in these differences, 50 males and 50 females performed tests of three-dimensional mental rotation and spatial visualization, along with tests of spatial and verbal working memory. Substantial differences were found on all spatial ability and spatial working memory tests (that included both a spatial and verbal processing component). No significant differences were found in spatial short-term memory or verbal working memory. In addition, spatial working memory completely mediated the relationship between sex and spatial ability, but there was also a direct effect of sex on the unique variance in three-dimensional rotation ability, and this effect was not mediated by spatial working memory. Results are discussed in the context of research on working memory and intelligence in general, and sex differences in spatial ability more specifically. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Clavicipitaceous fungal endophytes of the genera Epichloë and Neotyphodium form symbioses with grasses of the subfamily Pooideae, in which they can synthesize an array of bioprotective alkaloids. Some strains produce the ergopeptine alkaloid ergovaline, which is implicated in livestock toxicoses caused by ingestion of endophyte-infected grasses. Cloning and analysis of a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene from Neotyphodium lolii revealed a putative gene cluster for ergovaline biosynthesis containing a single-module NRPS gene, lpsB, and other genes orthologous to genes in the ergopeptine gene cluster of Claviceps purpurea and the clavine cluster of Aspergillus fumigatus. Despite conservation of gene sequence, gene order is substantially different between the N. lolii, C. purpurea, and A. fumigatus ergot alkaloid gene clusters. Southern analysis indicated that the N. lolii cluster was linked with previously identified ergovaline biosynthetic genes dmaW and lpsA. The ergovaline genes are closely associated with transposon relics, including retrotransposons and autonomous and nonautonomous DNA transposons. All genes in the cluster were highly expressed in planta, but expression was very low or undetectable in mycelia from axenic culture. This work provides a genetic foundation for elucidating biochemical steps in the ergovaline pathway, the ecological role of individual ergot alkaloid compounds, and the regulation of their synthesis in planta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined ribosomal RNA concerted evolution in an Epichloe¨ endophyte interspecific hybrid (Lp1) and its progenitors (Lp5 and E8). We show that the 5S rrn genes are organized as dispersed copies. Cloned 5S gene sequences revealed two subfamilies exhibiting 12% sequence divergence, with substitutions forming coevolving pairs that maintain secondary structure and presumably function. Observed sequence patterns are not fully consistent with either concerted or classical evolution. The 5S rrn genes are syntenic with the tandemly arranged rDNA genes, despite residing outside the rDNA arrays. We also examined rDNA concerted evolution. Lp1 has rDNA sequence from only one progenitor and contains multiple rDNA arrays. Using 5S rrn genes as chromosomal markers, we propose that interlocus homogenization has replaced all Lp5 rDNA sequence with E8 sequence in the hybrid. This interlocus homogenization appears to have been rapid and efficient and is the first demonstration of hybrid interlocus homogenization in the Fungi. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents information on a study which examined the attitudes and beliefs held by middle school teachers and their students about teaching and learning geometry using Geometer's Sketchpad in a student-centered environment. Methodology; Results and discussion; Conclusions.

Examines the beliefs of teachers and parents concerning the classroom learning environment (CLE) in the United States. Factors influencing teachers attitudes and beliefs on CLE; Differences in the beliefs between teachers and parents on the different aspects of CLE; Importance of core beliefs about teaching and learning in the improvement of use of technology in education.

Investigates the effects of eighth grade students' working memory capacity, preference for amount of instruction, spatial problem-solving ability and school mathematics grades on achievement measures. Recall of factual information; Conceptual understanding of students.

Discusses the implications of the discovery of an extraordinary level of length heterogeneity in ribosomal DNA on concerted evolution of Neotyphodium endophyte hybrid. Cloning of an Lp1 and rDNA unit; Occurrence of heterogeneity within rDNA cluster; Order of two types of subrepeats; Rate of turnover as a result of unequal crossing over.

Discusses the development of the Gorges basin through basin tectonics and sedimentation. Stratigraphy of the Gorges basin; Age of sedimentary succession; Evolution.