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Alternative splicing, the gene concept, and evolution.

Alternative splicing allows for the production of many gene products from a single coding sequence. I introduce the concept of alternative splicing via some examples. I then discuss some current hypotheses about the explanatory role of alternative splicing, including the claim that splicing is a significant contributor to the difference in complexity between the human genome and proteosome. Hypotheses such as these bring into question our working concepts of the gene. I examine several gene concepts introduced to cope with processes such as alternative splicing. Next I introduce some hypotheses about the evolution of mechanisms alternative splicing in higher organisms. I conclude that attention to alternative splicing reveals that we adopt an attitude that developmental theorizing must inform evolutionary theorizing and vice versa.

Alternative Splicing↗

Memory perspective and self-concept in social anxiety: an exploratory study.

The mental representation of self and observer perspective images are important maintaining factors in cognitive models of social phobia (Clark & Wells, 1995; Rapee & Heimberg, 1997). This study investigates Libby and Eibach's (2002) hypothesis that the observer perspective is used to recall memories that are incongruent with current self-concept. A total of 60 participants (divided into high and low social anxiety groups) completed a questionnaire in which they described current self-concept, recalled four memories of social occasions (two congruent, two incongruent), and rated memory age and vividness. Congruence was defined as memories that "fit" with current self-descriptions. A qualitative analysis of self-concept showed that both groups used a similar range of themes. High socially anxious participants recalled more observer perspective memories in the second incongruent memory. Congruence did not influence vividness, but public self-consciousness did. The implications of the results are discussed and suggestions made for future research.

Anxiety↗

Personal assistants' conceptions of their cooperation in the rehabilitation of disabled persons.

Personal assistants assist persons with severe disability in the performance of their daily activities. The law that covers the right to personal assistance is intended to strengthen the disabled individual's position as a member of society. The aim of the study was to describe personal assistants' conceptions of their cooperation in the rehabilitation of disabled persons. A qualitative method with a phenomenographic approach was used. Six personal assistants were interviewed. Strategic selection of the participants was carried out in order to obtain as wide a variation in conceptions as possible. The results showed that, apart from the factors related to the assistants, factors related to the disabled persons and the environment were of major significance for rehabilitation. The conceptions generated by the study were presented in the form of main categories and subcategories. Four main categories were developed: the meaning of will; the professional role; to consider ability; and awareness of the environment.

Adult↗

Why some kids do well in bad situations: relation of parental alcohol misuse and parentification to children's self-concept.

Between 1991 and 1994 a sample of high- and low-functioning 10-18-year-old children of alcohol misusing and nonalcohol misusing parents were assessed on degree of problematic parental role functioning (parentification) and global self-concept. The high functioning children had been chosen by their teachers to receive training as peer counselors, whereas the low functioning children were in either psychiatric facilities or the custody of family and children services. The parentification scores of the latter significantly exceeded those of the former. Children of alcoholic parents also scored higher on the parentification measure than did those with nonalcoholic parents. Within the high functioning group hierarchical regression analysis revealed that while parental alcohol misuse status accounted for a small but significant amount of the variance in self-concept, the effect of this variable was substantially reduced after entering level of parentification into the equation. By contrast, within the low functioning group parental alcohol misuse status was not significantly related to self-concept whereas level of parentification was. The results are discussed within a family systems framework.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Arboreal clambering and the evolution of self-conception.

A fundamentally new psychology related to the ability to conceive of limited aspects of the self may have evolved in the ancestor of the great ape/human clade. Existing models of the evolution of primate intelligence do not provide an adequate explanation of the apparent restriction of this phenomenon. We propose that the capacity for self-conception evolved as a psychological mechanism enabling large-bodied, highly arboreal apes to cope with problems posed by the need to negotiate their way through a habitat that was fragile due to their body size. First, we briefly outline the case for believing that a new psychology related to self-conception evolved during the Miocene in the ancestor of the great ape/human clade. Next, we examine the existing models of the evolution of primate intelligence and assess their ability to account for the evolution of self-conception. Finally, we offer details of our alternative model, along with a series of predictions that can be derived from it.

Animals↗

Mindfulness and healing intention: concepts, practice, and research evaluation.

This paper deals with the role of the health care professional in creating an optimal healing environment (OHE), with a special focus on which inner state and way of being in the world can create a healing intention. A core thesis is that every healing effort and every healing intention starts within the health care professional. An accepting, mindful, and warm-hearted relationship with self is primary to any healing intention. Important concepts to develop such an attitude are mindfulness, love, compassion, and awareness. The concept of a healing attitude toward the self is described, as is the mirror principle that states there is symmetry between someone's relationship with the outer world and his or her inner world. The mindfulness concept is outlined through a set of mental and heart qualities. Mindfulness is strongly related to compassion, and it is compassion that serves as a source for all healing intentionality. Compassion connects the suffering of the patient with the healer's own suffering, and this emotional connection instantiates a healing relationship. The power and importance of mindfulness and compassion for healing are explored along the Frank model of nonspecific therapeutic components. This is the approach whereby a health care professional can elicit self-healing powers in patients through his or her inner attitudes. Finally, a research program and some hypotheses on how to implement and research this specific approach toward the creation of an OHE are outlined.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Conversational skills in a semistructured interview and self-concept in deaf students.

The starting point for this study is the importance of linguistic competence in deaf students as part of their process of socialization and the formation of their self-concept. With the 56 deaf students who participated in the research, we consider the following sociodemographic variables: age, sex and degree of hearing loss, and the educational factor with respect to the mode of mainstream schooling. Self-concept was explored using the Spanish version of the Self Development Questionnaire (SDQ; I. Elexpuru, 1992) and the TST-Who Am I? test, adapted from M. H. Kuhn and T. S. McPartland (1954). To obtain the data for conversational competence, a conversation was held with a hearing adult. An explanation is given of the criteria for pragmatic analysis. The main results highlight the relationship between positive self-concept and most aspects of conversational competence. The study concludes with pedagogical procedures for integration, including specific strategies for teaching conversational skills to deaf pupils through nondeaf pupils and vice versa.

Cognition↗

Gender differences in self-concept and psychological well-being in old age: a meta-analysis.

Because of women's higher risk of being widowed, having health problems, and needing care, one might expect them to have a more negative self-concept and lower subjective well-being (SWB). However, women may also have greater access to sources of SWB (e.g., relations to adult children) and may engage in processes to protect the self (e.g., lowered aspirations). Meta-analysis was used to synthesize findings from 300 empirical studies on gender differences in life satisfaction, happiness, self-esteem, loneliness, subjective health, and subjective age in late adulthood. Older women reported significantly lower SWB and less positive self-concept than men on all measures, except subjective age, although gender accounted for less than 1% of the variance in well-being and self-concept. Smaller gender differences in SWB were found in younger than in older groups. Statistically controlling for gender differences in widowhood, health, and socioeconomic status decreased gender differences in SWB. Cohort differences in SWB are reported as well.

Aged↗

Self-conception and life satisfaction: integrating aged subculture and activity theory.

This study seeks to expand the traditional activity theory explanation of adjustment to aging by integrating it with the aged subculture theory advanced by Rose. A path model is developed that adds self-conception to social activity, social adequacy, and other predictors of life satisfaction. This model is applied, using an analysis of covariance structures approach, to data from two subsamples of older adults from a national Harris survey. As a result of this analysis, self-conception is shown to be an important intervening variable between social activity and life satisfaction, especially for the subsample of older people who prefer to spend time with others their own age. Finally, a symbolic interactionist perspective is suggested for understanding the importance of self-conception in the process of successful aging.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Aging effects on prototype abstraction and concept identification.

The hypotheses that prototype abstraction is an automatic process unaffected by aging and that different aging effects associated with different types of concept learning can be accounted for by differential effortful memory process involvement were examined. Young and old adults were compared on tests of prototype abstraction and concept identification, and relationships between performance measures derived from these tasks and backward memory span were assessed. In the abstraction task, both age groups used prototypical organizational processes to structure incoming information, but age differences did exist in the specificity of the information used in prototype construction. Concept identification performance, however, declined with age, and the poorer performance of the old adults was related to their poorer memory skills. The results suggest that the different aging effects associated with different tests of conceptual skills are dependent upon the nature of the underlying processes.

Adult↗

Maternal genetic variants associated with aneuploid conception: a narrative review.

BACKGROUND: Human aneuploid conception, a leading cause of infertility, pregnancy loss, and congenital disorders (e.g. Down's syndrome), arises from errors in chromosome segregation during oocyte meiosis or embryonic mitosis. While advanced maternal age is a well-established risk factor, significant inter-individual variation exists among younger women, suggesting a substantial role for maternal genetic determinants. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: This review summarizes the identified maternal genetic variants associated with aneuploid conceptions and highlights directions for future research. SEARCH METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library (up to 12 January 2026), using key terms related to maternal genetics, genetic variants, aneuploidy, and pregnancy. Inclusion criteria were human studies, genetic confirmation of aneuploidy (in oocytes/embryos/products of conception/fetal cells), maternal variants (rare single-nucleotide variations, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and small indels [≤50 bp]), and English-language publications. Exclusion criteria were non-human studies, structural/non-aneuploid numerical abnormalities, paternal factors, and conference abstracts. Extracted data items included study identifiers, population characteristics, variant details, detection methods, clinical phenotypes, type and origin of aneuploidy, pathogenicity or effect assessment, and gene inclusion in currently commercially available infertility next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels. Rare variants were classified per American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) guidelines, whereas common variants were evaluated based on effect estimates and functional validation. Study quality was appraised using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Supplementary searches explored associations between the identified genes and a broader range of reproductive phenotypes. OUTCOMES: From 28 studies covering the broad clinical spectrum of aneuploid pregnancies (including embryo arrest, implantation failure, pregnancy loss, hydatidiform mole, and fetal aneuploidy), we identified maternal variants associated with aneuploid conceptions. These were functionally categorized into meiotic recombination, spindle dynamics, checkpoint enforcement, and the maternal-to-zygotic transition. Among them, variants in several genes are supported by higher-quality evidence, including likely pathogenic rare variants in KIF18A, ELL3, and CEP120, as well as common variants in PLK4 and CCDC66. Although some identified genes (HFM1, MCM9, MEI1, BUB1B, NLRP2, NLRP7, and TLE6) are included in commercial infertility NGS panels, their direct association with aneuploidy requires further validation. WIDER IMPLICATIONS: This review proposes that 'aneuploidy predisposition' constitutes a critical, mechanism-driven dimension for the genetic diagnosis of infertility, complementing phenotype-based frameworks. This approach would best serve women with unexplained infertility and a normal karyotype who have either a history of recurrent aneuploidy or heterogeneous reproductive phenotypes across different cycles. Adopting this perspective refines clinical genetic testing paradigms and underscores the need to prioritize artificial intelligence-enhanced clinico-genomic association studies and develop polygenic risk models integrated with clinical factors. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42025636217.

Humans↗

Towards quality indicators for assertive outreach programmes for severely impaired substance abusers: concept mapping with Dutch experts.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the concept of 'quality of assertive outreach programmes for severely impaired substance abusers' with the aim of developing a conceptual framework as the basis for an assessment instrument. DESIGN: We held a concept-mapping session with 13 experts in 2003. Fifty measurable elements of quality were mentioned and rated in terms of relative importance on a Likert-type response scale. Subsequently, the experts grouped the statements that were similar in content. The resulting concept map and additional interpretation made up the final quality framework. SETTING/STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Theoretical sampling was used to select Dutch managers, team leaders, and service providers from different assertive outreach delivery systems for substance abusers. Variation in both perspective and region was reflected in the sample. RESULTS: Nine aspects of quality were formulated: preconditions for care, preconditions for service providers' work, relationship to regular care, service providers' activities and goals, service providers' skills, the role of repression, optimal care for the client, goals of assertive outreach, and nuisance reduction to society. Each aspect was presented using a selection of measurable elements. CONCLUSIONS: According to the experts, optimal assertive outreach depends on a broad range of aspects that were later classified in three regions: structure, process, and outcomes. Saturation of the elements has not been proved so far. Nevertheless, it is promising that the framework's regions are supported by theory and that it is largely in accordance with clients' perspectives on assertive community treatment.

Administrative Personnel↗

Compliance with treatment for postpolio sequelae: effect of type A behavior, self-concept, and loneliness.

To examine the effect of Type A behavior, self-concept, and loneliness on completion of and compliance with a postpolio sequelae treatment program, all 204 individuals who had been evaluated by the Postpolio Service were mailed the Postpolio Fatigue Questionnaire, the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale. Patients were also asked to rate the frequency of assistive device use, their engaging in self-care activities, and requesting physical assistance from others; they had previously been administered the brief Type A Scale. Of the 46 respondents, 63% had completed the Postpolio Sequelae treatment program (completers), and 37% had either been discharged for noncompliance or refused treatment (noncompleters). Wheelchair use was significantly positively correlated with age at the time of contracting polio, number of limbs affected by polio, the Loneliness score, and months since leaving the treatment program, but significantly negatively correlated with Social Self and Family Self scores on the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale. Family Self score was significantly negatively correlated with crutch use but significantly positively correlated with asking co-workers for assistance. The frequency of taking two 15-minute breaks each day was significantly negatively correlated with a Type A score. Noncompleters reported a 61% increase in muscle weakness compared with a 1% decrease for completers. These results indicate that Type A behavior must be decreased so polio survivors complete and comply with a postpolio sequelae treatment program, be able to make necessary lifestyle changes, and possibly feel less lonely. Friends and family members must help polio survivors to accept lifestyle changes and support new assistive device use if patients are to feel valuable within their families and society and treat their postpolio sequelae.

Adult↗

Nurse role conception.

The Corwin (1960) scale measuring role conception and role deprivation was compared with a newly devised instrument that measures bureaucratic, professional, and service-traditional role concepts. Although further work remains to be done on the new scale, role conceptions of nurses in the 1970s are different from those in the 1950s.

Humans↗

Effect of gender role identity on patterns of feminine and self-concept scores from late pregnancy to early postpartum.

Relationships among gender role identity, feminine scores, self-concept, and perception of comfort in the mothering role were examined. Fifty-two primiparous and 21 multiparous women completed study questionnaires during the third trimester, 2 to 3 weeks postpartum, and 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. Low feminine gender role identity groups demonstrated the greatest change in feminine and self-concept scores over time. Differences in patterns emerged among the groups regarding size and significance of correlations between feminine and self-concept scores. Implications of findings for nursing practice and the study conceptual framework, as well as study limitations, are discussed.

Adult↗

The efficacy of problem solving strategies utilized in professional nursing concepts course to improve problem solving abilities in students enrolled in a two-year baccalaureate nursing program.

Using problem solving strategies in professional nursing concepts course (PS-PNC) was a newly developed core course in a two-year baccalaureate nursing program in an institute of technology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of problem solving strategies used in this new course to improve students clinical problem solving abilities. Prior to the PS-PNC, 12 faculty who participated in the teaching received complete training, and then continued to receive supervision and to conduct group discussions during the whole period of the PS-PNC implementation. A one- group posttest design with repeated measures was used. In total 49 nursing students from one class agreed to be recruited as the study subjects. The PS-PNC was performed separately in three semesters. After each class learning, students would start their clinical practice, were advised by the same faculty group who participated in the PS-PNC, and were asked to submit three written nursing process recordings during each clinic. Assignments from the three practices were named post-test I, II, and III sequentially, and provided the data for this study. A coding strategy was developed by the investigators. Then, data were collected and analyzed by four selected faculty who had been involved in the PS- PNC. The overall score of problem solving indicated that the three post-tests significantly increased, meaning those students clinical problem solving ability improved. However, data on the sub-concepts of problem solving on nursing assessment, nursing diagnosis, nursing intervention, and nursing evaluation showed no constant improvement. It is inferred that teaching of professional nursing concepts utilizing problem-solving strategies may be useful for future nursing students but dignified control should be strengthened.

Adult↗

The effect of social comparison on mathematics self-concept.

Implicit in the frame of reference hypothesis is the assumption that social comparison is one of the causal determinants of self-concept. The present study of Norwegian sixth-grade elementary school students showed that students of low-, medium-, and high-achievement classes did not differ in mathematics self-concept. Mathematics self-concept was, however, significantly influenced by the students' within-classroom position in mathematics. The results support the frame of reference hypothesis, and the support was consistent over gender.

Achievement↗

Learning difficulties, social intelligence, and self-concept: connections to bully-victim problems.

Learning skills, social intelligence, and self-concept were related to each other and to bully-victim problems among fifth-grade children (79 boys and 62 girls, aged 11-12 years). In addition to exploring connections between single variables, a person-oriented approach was applied in order to analyze children's value patterns with respect to learning skills, self-concept, and social intelligence, and how these value patterns are related to bully-victim problems. Social intelligence was found to be positively correlated with learning skills, but negatively related to victimization. Bullying was positively correlated with self-concept scores. However, this was true only of boys. According to cross-tabulations, there were significantly more bullies among children with learning difficulties (LD) than would have been expected by chance. Victimization, on the other hand, was not related to LD. LD children's proposed victim status was in some degree supported by cluster analysis: a group of LD children emerged, who not only scored high on bullying, but also tended to be victimized by others. In addition, two groups of bullies appeared: one whose members could be interpreted as socially unskilled and another as socially skilled. This finding is in line with recent theoretical reasoning, which calls into question the idea of bullies as a unified group, lacking in social skills.

Aggression↗