High Levels Of Selfing Research Articles

Polygenic selection to a changing optimum under self-fertilisation.

Many traits are polygenic, affected by multiple genetic variants throughout the genome. Selection acting on these traits involves co-ordinated allele-frequency changes at these underlying variants, and this process has been extensively studied in random-mating populations. Yet many species self-fertilise to some degree, which incurs changes to genetic diversity, recombination and genome segregation. These factors cumulatively influence how polygenic selection is realised in nature. Here, we use analytical modelling and stochastic simulations to investigate to what extent self-fertilisation affects polygenic adaptation to a new environment. Our analytical solutions show that while selfing can increase adaptation to an optimum, it incurs linkage disequilibrium that can slow down the initial spread of favoured mutations due to selection interference, and favours the fixation of alleles with opposing trait effects. Simulations show that while selection interference is present, high levels of selfing (at least 90%) aids adaptation to a new optimum, showing a higher long-term fitness. If mutations are pleiotropic then only a few major-effect variants fix along with many neutral hitchhikers, with a transient increase in linkage disequilibrium. These results show potential advantages to self-fertilisation when adapting to a new environment, and how the mating system affects the genetic composition of polygenic selection.

Connection between self-esteem and discontinuation of medication

IntroductionSelf-esteem entails evaluating oneself positively and often involves the need to be special and above average without comparisons with others. It could play a role in many areas of the patient’s life.ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to find the prevalence of self-esteem and investigate the associations between self-esteem and treatment adherence in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.Methods This study involved outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders ,according to (DSM-V) diagnostic criteria, attending the Department of Psychiatry A, Razi hospital between august and September 30, 2023. The level of self-esteem was measured with Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Rating scale (SERS) and treatment adherence with the Medical Adherence Rating Scale (MARS).Socio-demographic characteristics were also collected.Results Thirty stabilized outpatients with schizophrenia (n=18), schizoaffective disorder (n=11), brief psychotic disorder (n=1) were included in the study. The mean (SD) age of the respondents was 43.2years; the mean number of Hospital admissions was 4.7.Almost two thirds of this population (63.33% ) had low self-esteem and 36.67 % had high self-esteem. The level of self-esteem did not differ between diagnostic categories. Self-esteem also positively correlated with higher education and negatively with an increased number of hospitalizations. However, no significant association was found between socio-demographic variables and self-esteem. Adherence was further negatively correlated with age and age of onset of disorders. Patients suffering from schizophrenia had the lowest adherence to treatment.The results of the present preliminary study suggest a positive correlation between the SERS total scores and the MARS scores. It was found that higher levels of self- esteem are related with higher levels of treatment adherence and lower levels of self- esteem are associated with discontinuation of medications without a psychiatrist’s recommendation. This connection was present in all diagnostic groups.ConclusionsThis study shows positive relationship between self-esteem and treatment adherence. Further studies are needed to investigate whether self-esteem is a factor positively influencing adherence to treatment and show if self-esteem training programs like standard psychoeducation and cognitive behavioral therapy could be beneficial to improve treatment adherence among psychiatric patients.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Leverage self‐ and other‐compassion to prevent the abuse trickle‐down

SummaryAlthough previous research has shown that abuse can trickle down from managers to supervisors, it remains unclear why many abused supervisors do not perpetuate the abuse of their subordinates. To address this issue, drawing upon frustration‐aggression and self‐regulation theory, the current research investigated the underlying mechanism of frustration and the mitigative effects of self‐ and other‐compassion in the manager abuse—supervisor frustration—supervisor abuse circle. Across two field studies (a time‐lagged survey study,N = 381, and an experience sampling study,N = 66, with 593 daily observations), we find support for our arguments at both between‐ and within‐person levels. Our findings support that there is a positive indirect relationship between manager abuse and supervisor abuse via supervisor frustration and that the indirect effect is weaker among supervisors who possess higher levels of self‐ and other‐compassion. We discuss the implications for theory and human resource practice.

Special Education Teachers’ Self–Efficacy in Implementing Social–Emotional Learning to Support Students with Learning Disabilities

This study was designed to determine how special education teachers (SETs) in Saudi Arabia perceive their self–efficacy in implementing social–emotional learning (SEL) practices to support students with learning disabilities (LD). The data were collected by surveying 109 SETs of students with LD who teach at elementary and middle schools in Riyadh. The findings demonstrate that SETs had low to moderate self–efficacy in putting SEL into practice, and the participants highlighted the importance of receiving support that can enhance their self–efficacy in SEL. Moreover, the study's findings show some statistically significant variations in the responses of the teachers, as those who attended more professional development programs reported higher levels of self–efficacy. Additionally, middle school teachers and teachers with fewer years of experience showed a higher need for receiving support to enhance their implementation of SEL. Recommendations for future studies and practices are provided.

Tetrasporophytic bias coupled with heterozygote deficiency in antarctic plocamium sp. (florideophyceae, rhodophyta).

Meiosis and syngamy generate an alternation between two ploidy stages, but the timing of these two processes varies widely across taxa, thereby generating life cycle diversity. One hypothesis suggests that life cycles with long-lived haploid stages are correlated with selfing, asexual reproduction, or both. Though mostly studied in angiosperms, selfing and asexual reproduction are often associated with marginal habitats. Yet, in haploid-diploid macroalgae, these two reproductive modes have subtle but unique consequences whereby predictions from angiosperms may not apply. Along the western Antarctic Peninsula, there is a thriving macroalgal community, providing an opportunity to explore reproductive system variation in haploid-diploid macroalgae at high latitudes where endemism is common. Plocamium sp. is a widespread and abundant red macroalga observed within this ecosystem. We sampled twelve sites during the 2017 and 2018 field seasons and used ten microsatellite loci to describe the reproductive system. Overall genotypic richness and evenness were high, suggesting sexual reproduction. Eight sites were dominated by tetrasporophytes, but there was strong heterozygote deficiency, suggesting intergametophytic selfing. We observed slight differences in the prevailing reproductive mode among sites, possibly due to local conditions (e.g., disturbance) that may contribute to site-specific variation. It remains to be determined whether high levels of selfing are characteristic of macroalgae more generally at high latitudes, due to the haploid-diploid life cycle, or both. Further investigations of algal life cycles will likely reveal the processes underlying the maintenance of sexual reproduction more broadly across eukaryotes, but more studies of natural populations are required.

Sources of teacher efficacy in teaching reading: success, sharing, and support

Teacher self- and collective efficacy are important motivational factors in determining teachers’ effort in their professional practice. Teachers’ higher levels of self- and collective efficacy are positively associated with student achievement in specific domains, and teachers’ enhanced wellbeing and commitment to their profession. This qualitative study explores primary teachers’ own views about naturalistic and characteristic experiences and influences that have strengthened and weakened their efficacy in teaching reading. Five themes of naturalistic sources of enhancement in self- and collective efficacy are identified that are consistent with predictions of Bandura’s social cognitive theory and studies involving interventions in schools by expert trainers. The themes are combined into a model of growth in teachers’ efficacy and can potentially inform decision-making in schools in supporting and enhancing teachers’ self- and collective efficacy when teaching reading.

Chronotypes and circadian rest-activity rhythms in bipolar disorders: a meta-analysis of self- and observer rating scales.

Chronobiological models postulate that abnormalities in circadian rest/activity rhythms (CRAR) are core phenomena of bipolar disorders (BDs). We undertook a meta-analysis of published studies to determine whether self- or observer ratings of CRAR differentiate BD cases from comparators (typically healthy controls [HCs]). We undertook systematic searches of four databases to identify studies for inclusion in random effects meta-analyses and meta-regression analyses. Effect sizes (ES) for pooled analyses of self- and observer ratings were expressed as standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The 30studies meeting eligibility criteria included 2840 cases and 3573 controls. Compared with HC, BD cases showed greater eveningness (ES: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.12-0.54), lower flexibility of rhythms (ES: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.06-0.67), lower amplitude of rhythms (ES: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.39-0.70) and more disturbances across a range of CRAR (ES of 0.78-1.12 for general and social activities, sleep and eating patterns). Between study heterogeneity was high (I2 >70%) and evidence indicated a potential publication bias for studies using the Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry. Meta-regression analyses suggested significantly larger ES were observed in studies using observer ratings or including BD cases with higher levels of depressive symptoms. This meta-analysis demonstrates that BD is associated with higher levels of self- or observer-rated CRAR disturbances compared with controls. However, further studies should examine the respective performance of individual instruments when used alone or in combination, to clarify their applicability and utility in clinical practice.

Genetic diversity and population structure in a regional collection of Kersting’s groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Maréchal & Baudet)

Kersting’s groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Marechal & Baudet) is an important source of protein and essential nutrients that contribute to food security in West Africa. However, the crop is still underexploited by the populations and under-researched by the scientific community. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of 217 Kersting’s groundnut accessions from five origins using 886 DArTseq markers. Gene diversity was low and ranged from 0.049 to 0.064. The number of private alleles greatly varied among populations (42–192) and morphotypes (40–339). Moderate to very high levels of selfing and inbreeding were observed among populations (s = 56–85%, FIS = 0.389–0.736) and morphotypes (s = 57–82%, FIS = 0.400–0.691). Moreover, little to very high genetic differentiations were observed among populations (0.006 ≤ FIS ≤ 0.371) and morphotypes (0.029 ≤ FIS ≤ 0.307). Analysis of molecular variance partitioned 38.5% of the genetic variation among and 48.7% within populations (P < 0.001). Significant isolation by distance was detected between populations (R2 = 0.612, P = 0.011) and accessions (R2 = 0.499, P < 0.001). Discriminant analysis of principal components and neighbour joining consistently distinguished eight distinct clusters. These data provide a global picture of the existing genetic diversity for Kersting’s groundnut and will guide the choice of breeding strategies to increase production.

Psychopathic and borderline traits in a college sample: Personality profiles and relations to self-directed and other-directed aggression

Previous research suggests that the association of psychopathic and borderline traits increases overall psychopathology (e.g., depression, anxiety, emotional distress, impulsivity, and aggressive behavior). This study aimed to investigate self- and other-directed aggression in personality profiles characterized by different levels of psychopathic and borderline traits. Participants were 622 university students (79.90% females and 20.10% males) who received measures of psychopathic traits, borderline traits, and self- and other-directed aggression. Hierarchical clustering was used to determine the optimal number of clusters, followed by K-means to assign each participant to one of the identified clusters. We identified four groups: A high psychopathic and borderline traits cluster (H), a low psychopathic and borderline traits cluster (L), a high psychopathic and low borderline traits cluster (P), and a high borderline and low psychopathic traits cluster (B). The P-cluster was characterized by higher levels of other-directed, and the B-cluster by higher levels of self-directed aggression. The H-cluster was characterized by the highest levels of both self- and other-directed aggression. The results of this study suggest that there is a significant minority of university students characterized by the presence of both psychopathic and borderline traits with higher levels of self- and other-directed aggression.

Effects of Inequality on the Relationship Between Gender, Self- Efficacy, and Entrepreneurial Success

There is meta-analytic evidence that higher self-efficacy is associated with greater entrepreneurial success; however, there is unexplained variance in this relationship. We predict that higher levels of self- efficacy might not tend to translate as readily into entrepreneurial success for women as they do for men. To test this proposition, we performed a meta-analytic regression on studies (k=101) that assessed the relation of self-efficacy with entrepreneurial success. In line with social role theory, we find that the relation between self- efficacy and success in entrepreneurship tends to be lower for women in societies with high gender inequality.

Theory of coevolution of cytoplasmic male-sterility, nuclear restorer and selfing

Gynodioecy is a sexual polymorphism in angiosperms, where hermaphroditic and female individuals coexist. This is often caused by a cytoplasmic genetic element (CGE) that destroys male functions, which is called cytoplasmic male-sterility (CMS). On the other hand, nuclear genes tend to evolve the ability to restore male function. The coevolutionary process of CMS and the restoration has been studied theoretically. Recently, a theoretical study suggested that these coevolutionary dynamics could be influenced by the rate of selfing within populations, although it assumed that the selfing rate of a population was a fixed parameter. Accordingly, we theoretically study the coevolution of three traits in this paper: CMS, nuclear restorer and selfing rate, in which we hypothesize that selfing evolution can suppress CMS evolution under some conditions. The analysis indicates three significant properties of the system; (1) CMS-restorer evolution can result in bistability under a given selfing rate, (2) the coevolution of three traits can realize intermediate levels of selfing, and (3) the evolution of high levels of selfing is conditionally associated with no CMS and/or no restoration, which may support our hypothesis.

Genetic variation in

While examining herbarium specimens of Trithuria inconspicua Cheeseman, we observed differences in the stigmatic hairs among plants from New Zealand’s North and South Islands. This motivated us to assess genetic and morphological variation within this species and its sister T. filamentosa Rodway from Tasmania. Samples were collected from lakes in the three disjunct geographic areas where the two species occur. Genetic variation in both species was assessed with simple sequence-repeat (SSR, microsatellite) markers and analyses of genetic distances. We also compared the morphology of northern and southern New Zealand T. inconspicua using fresh material. Samples of each species clustered together in a minimum evolution tree built from genetic distances. Trithuria filamentosa had more genetic diversity than did T. inconspicua. Within T. inconspicua, plants from lakes in the North Island and the South Island formed discrete genetic groups diagnosable by subtle morphological differences. Low levels of heterozygosity in both species are consistent with a high level of selfing, as suggested for other co-sexual Trithuria species, but unusual for a putative apomict. On the basis of genetic and morphological variation, we propose recognition of the northern New Zealand and southern New Zealand lineages of T. inconspicua at subspecies rank.

Stability and Change in Self–Control during the Transition to Parenthood

Self–control is associated with a variety of positive life outcomes, including relationship satisfaction, health, educational achievement, and avoiding criminal behaviour. A largely unanswered question concerns the extent to which self–control changes across the lifespan and in response to major life events. The present research used prospective four–wave data from 539 Dutch individuals to examine the self–control trajectory of first–time parents ( n = 246) as compared with individuals who did not have children during the research period ( n = 293). New parents (especially mothers) reported higher levels of self–control before birth (i.e. during pregnancy) than did nonparents. New mothers showed significant non–linear decreases in self–control, which were especially strong from pregnancy until 6 months after childbirth. New fathers’ self–control remained largely stable. Furthermore, pregnancy–related stress was associated with lower self–control levels during pregnancy in both first–time mothers and fathers. Higher levels of work–family conflict and family–related stress were associated with lower self–control after childbirth in new fathers, but not in new mothers. These results indicate that major life transitions may be linked to changes in adult self–control. Discussion focuses on the implications of the results for theory and research on the development of self–control in adulthood.

Dipteryx alata Vogel (Fabaceae) a neotropical tree with high level of selfing: implication for conservation and breeding programs

Dipteryx alata (Fabaceae) is a threatened tropical tree of the Brazilian Savanna. Due to deforestation of its biome, many individuals and populations are now spatially isolated in forest fragments, pastures, and along roads. Plans for in situ and ex situ conservation of the species are urgently needed. To support conservation, the mating system and pollen dispersal patterns must be better understood as they determine the levels of genetic diversity, inbreeding, and effective size of seed generations. Microsatellite were used to investigated the mating system, pollen dispersal, genetic diversity, spatial genetic structure (SGS), and inbreeding in isolated trees in pastures and along roads from two populations with different densities in the Brazilian Savanna. Our aim is to determine the potential of these trees to contribute to seed collection for genetic conservation. We found that the species presents a mixed mating system, strong individual variation in outcrossing rate (0.01-1.0), and non-random mating. Low population density resulted in lower levels of outcrossing (tm = 0.45) and mating among relatives (tm - ts = 0.12), but longer pollen dispersal distances (δ = 6,572 m) than in the higher density populations (tm = 0.90, tm - ts = 0.26, δ = 1,395 m). Mating among relatives was explained by SGS detected in the populations, associated with near-neighbor pollinator foraging behavior. Correlated mating indicates that a low effective number of pollen donors (1.5-10.3) fertilized the trees. Thus, open-pollinated seedling families present mixtures of different levels of relatedness and inbreeding. Our results are discussed in light of strategies for in and ex situ conservation.

On the Integration of Need–related Autobiographical Memories among Late Adolescents and Late Adults: The Role of Depressive Symptoms and Self–congruence

Within self–determination theory, integration denotes the process through which people accept past and present experiences and harmonize these experiences within their sense of self. We investigated associations between indicators of successful and poor integration of need–related memories and memory–related affect. We also examined the role of depressive symptoms and self–congruence as antecedents of these indicators. Moreover, we investigated whether late adults, compared with late adolescents, were better capable of integrating need–frustrating memories through higher levels of self–congruence. Participants were 132 late adolescents (Mage = 17.83) and 147 late adults (Mage = 76.13), who reported on their level of depressive symptoms and self–congruence. Next, participants generated a need–satisfying and need–frustrating memory and reported on the memories‘ integration (in terms of acceptance, connection and rumination) and associated affect. Whereas depressive symptoms related mainly to the poor integration of need–frustrating memories, self–congruence related positively to the integration of both need–satisfying and need–frustrating memories. In turn, integration was related to more positive and less negative affect. Late adults scored higher than late adolescents on the integration of need–frustrating memories, an effect that was partly accounted for by late adults‘ elevated self–congruence. Results suggest that self–congruence, depressive symptoms and age play a role in the integration of need–based autobiographical memories. Copyright © 2016 European Association of Personality Psychology

High Rates of Self-Fertilization in a Marine Ribbon Worm (Nemertea).

Organisms capable of self-fertilization ("selfing") typically exhibit two evolutionary syndromes: uniting high inbreeding depression with low levels of selfing, or low inbreeding depression with high levels of selfing. We examined the effect of inbreeding on fecundity and time to first reproduction in an apparently self-compatible, simultaneously hermaphroditic marine nemertean worm Prosorhochmus americanus. Adult and juvenile worms were raised in isolation or in pairs. Isolated worms produced significantly more offspring than paired worms (in the adult experiment), and did not exhibit inbreeding avoidance (in the juvenile experiment). The selfing rate of six natural populations was evaluated using 17 species-specific, microsatellite markers, and was consistent with preferential selfing (mean: 0.843, SD: 0.027). Our results showed that P. americanus exhibited an interesting suite of life-history traits, uniting high colonization potential through self-fertilization and high fecundity, with no dispersive larval stage, and with moderate levels of gene flow. We believe that P. americanus is an ideal model system for studies of mating system evolution, inbreeding, and sex allocation.

The taxonomic riddle of Chenopodium album L. complex (Amaranthaceae)

C.album L. complex is a heterogenous assemblage of many taxonomic entities of cosmopolitan distribution. This is because many weedy and semi-domesticated forms have arisen due to hybridization and polyploidy. These distinct forms have been perpetuated by their breeding system characterized by high level of selfing and also by the phenological differences. The interrelationships in this aggregate of various taxa are now beginning to be explored. This is mainly because of the economic importance of many semi-domesticated forms providing nutritious leafy vegetable and grains and the economic impact of weedy forms on other crops. The work done on cytology, genome size estimation and molecular markers on various populations and cytotypes has provided tangible results in explaining genetic relationships among different types as well as in unraveling the genomic constitution and origin of polyploid forms. The studies show a great diversity of morphological types and three ploidy levels (2n = 18, 36, 54) in C.album complex. The 4x type from North West India is genetically different from 2x and 6x types. The 6x types have been shown to be allopolyploids based on karyotypes, genomic in situ hybridization, flavonoid profiles and SOS1 homeologs.

Limited pollen flow and high selfing rates toward geographic range limit in an Atlantic forest bromeliad

Bromeliaceae is a Neotropical family that evolved ecological key innovations in association with extensive adaptive radiation. Its species present a variety of different mating system strategies varying within and among species, within genera and subfamilies. Also, species with a wide geographical range can display large variation in mating system, reproductive success and genetic diversity. Here we combined data from hand pollinations and genetic analysis to assess outcomes of contemporary gene flow and mating system variation at the range edge of Vriesea gigantea. Results from pollen germination rates showed that this species is cryptically self-incompatible. Hand-pollination experiments and genetic analysis of progeny arrays revealed that V. gigantea has a mixed mating system, with high selfing rates (s=0.612), and high inbreeding coefficient (F=0.372). Inbreeding in V. gigantea at southern edge of its distribution range was caused by high levels of selfing rather than by mating among relatives. Moreover, strong pollen pool genetic structure was observed (Φ’FT=0.671), with an increase from north to south. The parameters observed help us to understand historical and ecological conditions under which V. gigantea has experienced moderate to high levels of selfing in the face of reduced pollen flow from central to peripheral populations due to recent southward range expansion.

Wheat alleles introgress into selfing wild relatives: empirical estimates from approximate Bayesian computation in Aegilops triuncialis.

Extensive gene flow between wheat (Triticum sp.) and several wild relatives of the genus Aegilops has recently been detected despite notoriously high levels of selfing in these species. Here, we assess and model the spread of wheat alleles into natural populations of the barbed goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis), a wild wheat relative prevailing in the Mediterranean flora. Our sampling, based on an extensive survey of 31 Ae. triuncialis populations collected along a 60 km × 20 km area in southern Spain (Grazalema Mountain chain, Andalousia, totalling 458 specimens), is completed with 33 wheat cultivars representative of the European domesticated pool. All specimens were genotyped with amplified fragment length polymorphism with the aim of estimating wheat admixture levels in Ae. triuncialis populations. This survey first confirmed extensive hybridization and backcrossing of wheat into the wild species. We then used explicit modelling of populations and approximate Bayesian computation to estimate the selfing rate of Ae. triuncialis along with the magnitude, the tempo and the geographical distance over which wheat alleles introgress into Ae. triuncialis populations. These simulations confirmed that extensive introgression of wheat alleles (2.7 × 10(-4) wheat immigrants for each Ae. triuncialis resident, at each generation) into Ae. triuncialis occurs despite a high selfing rate (Fis ≈ 1 and selfing rate = 97%). These results are discussed in the light of risks associated with the release of genetically modified wheat cultivars in Mediterranean agrosystems.

Segregation of male‐sterility alleles across a species boundary

Hybrid zones may serve as bridges permitting gene flow between species, including alleles influencing the evolution of breeding systems. Using greenhouse crosses, we assessed the likelihood that a hybrid zone could serve as a conduit for transfer of nuclear male-sterility alleles between a gynodioecious species and a hermaphroditic species with very rare females in some populations. Segregation patterns in progeny of crosses between rare females of hermaphroditic Schiedea menziesii and hermaphroditic plants of gynodioecious Schiedea salicaria heterozygous at the male-sterility locus, and between female S.salicaria and hermaphroditic plants from the hybrid zone, were used to determine whether male-sterility was controlled at the same locus in the parental species and the hybrid zone. Segregations of females and hermaphrodites in approximately equal ratios from many of the crosses indicate that the same nuclear male-sterility allele occurs in the parent species and the hybrid zone. These rare male-sterility alleles in S.menziesii may result from gene flow from S.salicaria through the hybrid zone, presumably facilitated by wind pollination in S.salicaria. Alternatively, rare male-sterility alleles might result from a reversal from gynodioecy to hermaphroditism in S.menziesii, or possibly de novo evolution of male sterility. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that some species of Schiedea have probably evolved separate sexes independently, but not in the lineage containing S.salicaria and S.menziesii. High levels of selfing and expression of strong inbreeding depression in S.menziesii, which together should favour females in populations, argue against a reversal from gynodioecy to hermaphroditism in S.menziesii.