Modeling linkages between self-efficacy, normalization, and well-being factors among Israeli mothers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Parents' well-being may be challenged by the neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) of their children. This study explored general self-efficacy (personal resource) and normalization (coping strategy) and their possible association with mothers' well-being (satisfaction with life/SWL, positive affect, and presence of meaning in life/P-MIL). METHOD: Data were obtained from 127 Israeli mothers, ages 23-63, of children (M = 12.08, SD = 3.39) with NDs (autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy). All participants completed online self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: After controlling for the effects of group, mother's age, and child's gender, bivariate associations showed that general self-efficacy was positively correlated with SWL (r =.46, p <.001), positive affect (r =.43, p <.001), and P-MIL (r =.37, p <.001). The study's mediation model was partly supported: General self-efficacy was related to normalization, which was related to SWL and positive affect, but not to P-MIL. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study contributes to the empirical knowledge on well-being in mothers raising children with NDs. Findings revealed that mothers' general self-efficacy alongside their strategy to adopt normalcy substantially contributed to their well-being. Hence, psychosocial services should strengthen general self-efficacy in this cohort and support their normalization efforts.

Seeing the siblings: Gender differences in emerging-adult siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: The present study focused on typically developing siblings (TDS) in emerging adulthood of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and sought insight into how gender may interact with positive and negative affects in this population. In addition, we aimed to explore the gender differences as a moderator in the link between personal resources (i.e., family cohesion and flexibility coping strategy) and positive and negative affects among such TDS. An understanding of gender differences in this population should prove relevant to the development of potential interventions. METHOD: A total of 116 emerging adult (age 18-29) TDS of younger siblings with ASD (the latter were under the age of 18 at the time of data collection), 80 females and 36 males, participated in the study. All participants completed self-report measures. RESULTS: Female TDS reported higher negative affect than male TDS, while no differences emerged regarding positive affect. Female siblings reported higher family cohesion and higher flexibility in the forward-focused subscale of flexibility coping strategy, but not in its trauma-focused subscale, compared to male siblings. Additionally, gender moderates the links between family cohesion and positive affect but not negative affect. Gender also moderates the association between flexibility and negative affect, but not positive affect. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the gender differences among TDS in emerging adulthood of individuals with ASD in relation to negative affect, family cohesion, and flexibility coping strategy. Understanding the gender-specific internal and external experiences of TDS as interplaying with their resources, at the unique developmental stage of emerging adulthood, may afford to identify TDS in need and to suggest potential interventions.

A high-quality genome sequence of Rosa chinensis to elucidate ornamental traits.

Rose is the world's most important ornamental plant, with economic, cultural and symbolic value. Roses are cultivated worldwide and sold as garden roses, cut flowers and potted plants. Roses are outbred and can have various ploidy levels. Our objectives were to develop a high-quality reference genome sequence for the genus Rosa by sequencing a doubled haploid, combining long and short reads, and anchoring to a high-density genetic map, and to study the genome structure and genetic basis of major ornamental traits. We produced a doubled haploid rose line ('HapOB') from Rosa chinensis 'Old Blush' and generated a rose genome assembly anchored to seven pseudo-chromosomes (512 Mb with N50 of 3.4 Mb and 564 contigs). The length of 512 Mb represents 90.1-96.1% of the estimated haploid genome size of rose. Of the assembly, 95% is contained in only 196 contigs. The anchoring was validated using high-density diploid and tetraploid genetic maps. We delineated hallmark chromosomal features, including the pericentromeric regions, through annotation of transposable element families and positioned centromeric repeats using fluorescent in situ hybridization. The rose genome displays extensive synteny with the Fragaria vesca genome, and we delineated only two major rearrangements. Genetic diversity was analysed using resequencing data of seven diploid and one tetraploid Rosa species selected from various sections of the genus. Combining genetic and genomic approaches, we identified potential genetic regulators of key ornamental traits, including prickle density and the number of flower petals. A rose APETALA2/TOE homologue is proposed to be the major regulator of petal number in rose. This reference sequence is an important resource for studying polyploidization, meiosis and developmental processes, as we demonstrated for flower and prickle development. It will also accelerate breeding through the development of molecular markers linked to traits, the identification of the genes underlying them and the exploitation of synteny across Rosaceae.

QTL mapping of carrot resistance to leaf blight with connected populations: stability across years and consequences for breeding.

KEY MESSAGE: Combining biparental and multiparental connected population analyses was useful for the identification of 11 QTLs in two new genetic backgrounds of carrot resistance to Alternaria dauci and for breeding recommendations. Leaf blight due to the fungus Alternaria dauci is the major carrot foliar disease worldwide. Some resistance QTLs have been previously identified in one population, but the evaluation of additional genetic backgrounds with higher level of resistance would give opportunities for breeders to combine them by pyramiding. For this purpose, two segregating populations were evaluated twice across 4 years in the same environment (1) to compare the efficiency of the single vs. the connected populations approach for characterizing the new sources of carrot resistance to Alternaria dauci; (2) to evaluate the stability of QTLs over the years; and (3) to give recommendations to breeders for marker-assisted selection. Single and connected analyses were complementary; their combination allowed the detection of 11 QTLs. Connected analyses allowed the identification of common and specific QTLs among the two populations and the most favorable allele at each QTL. Important contrasts between allelic effects were observed with four and five most favorable alleles coming from the two resistant parental lines, whereas two other favorable alleles came from the susceptible parental line. While four QTLs were consistent across years, seven were detected within a single year. The heritabilities for both populations PC2 and PC3 were high (75 and 78%, respectively), suggesting that the resistance of carrot to A. dauci was little affected by these environmental conditions, but the instability of QTL over years may be due to changing environmental conditions. The complementarity between these parental lines in terms of interesting allelic combinations is also discussed.

Nurses' job satisfaction and attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS in Russia.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies internationally have highlighted that working with people living with HIV/AIDS may lead to nurses' stress and burnout. However, this topic has not been well explored in Russia, a country with an exponential growth in HIV/AIDS. AIM: This study focused on nurses' job satisfaction and their attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS in centres where nurses regularly treat such patients, and in a general hospital where nurses rarely treat such patients. METHOD: We distributed three self-report questionnaires: demographics, job satisfaction and attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS to nurses working in six HIV/AIDS centres and the largest general hospital in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Sixty-nine nurses from the HIV/AIDS centres and 66 from the general hospital (about 90% of those approached) completed these. RESULTS: Nurses who regularly treated people with HIV/AIDS were significantly younger and a greater number held master degrees than those who rarely treated such patients. No significant differences between the two settings emerged for job satisfaction but what did emerge were differences in nurses' attitudes: nurses in HIV/AIDS centres reported less avoidance than nurses in the general hospital. Regarding empathetic attitudes, no significant differences emerged, but empathetic attitudes contributed to the explained variance of job satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Although our sample was small, the associations found between avoidant attitudes and job satisfaction highlight the need for stigma-reduction strategies and increased disease knowledge. Healthcare managers should consider attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS as an important factor in ensuring adequate care for them and initiate education programmes for nurses, especially programmes dealing with HIV/AIDS in general hospitals. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Support and supervision can be used as a strategy, for empowering nurses to meet the challenges of working with HIV/AIDS patients.

Overexpression of RoDELLA impacts the height, branching, and flowering behaviour of Pelargonium × domesticum transgenic plants.

KEY MESSAGE : We reported the cloning of a rose DELLA gene. We obtained transgenic Pelargonium lines overexpressing this gene which presented several phenotypes in plant growth, root growth, flowering time and number of inflorescences. Control of development is an important issue for production of ornamental plant. The plant growth regulator, gibberellins (GAs), plays a pivotal role in regulating plant growth and development. DELLA proteins are nuclear negative regulator of GA signalling. Our objective was to study the role of GA in the plant architecture and in the blooming of ornamentals. We cloned a rose DELLA homologous gene, RoDELLA, and studied its function by genetic transformation of pelargonium. Several transgenic pelargonium (Pelargonium × domesticum 'Autum Haze') lines were produced that ectopically expressed RoDELLA under the control of the 35S promoter. These transgenic plants exhibited a range of phenotypes which could be related to the reduction in GA response. Most of transgenic plants showed reduced growth associated to an increase of the node and branch number. Moreover, overexpression of RoDELLA blocked or delayed flowering in transgenic pelargonium and exhibited defects in the root formation. We demonstrated that pelargonium could be used to validate ornamental gene as the rose DELLA gene. RoDELLA overexpression modified many aspects of plant developmental pathways, as the plant growth, the transition of vegetative to floral stage and the ability of rooting.