Back to the ivory tower. Training in psychology without practice?

Es wird gezeigt, dass die Chancen der Einführung von Bachelor- und Masterstudiengängen in der Psychologie nicht genutzt werden. Vielmehr versucht die »Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie« mit dem Argument der Erhaltung der »Einheit der Psychologie« bei dieser Umstellung ihre »naturwissenschaftliche« Auffassung von Psychologie und ihre Interessen mit Hilfe von »Empfehlungen für die Einrichtung von konsekutiven Bachelor- und Masterstudiengängen in Psychologie« durchzusetzen. Die Probleme der alltäglichen Praxis von Psychologen werden aus den konzipierten Studiengängen weitgehend eliminiert. Die praktisch arbeitenden Psychologen und die Studierenden werden mit der Frage der Umsetzung von wissenschaftlichen Ergebnissen in die Praxis allein gelassen und die Erforschung und Reflexion des Theorie-Praxis-Verhältnisses fällt auf den Stand vor 40 Jahren zurück. Damit trennt sich die deutsche Ausbildung auch von der internationalen Entwicklung.Zum Abschluss werden einige Überlegungen für eine Psychologieausbildung vorgelegt, welche die Spannung auszuhalten versucht, die sich aus der Konzeption des Menschen als bio-psycho-soziale Einheit ergibt, und welche die Vermittlung von wissenschaftlicher Theorie/Empirie und Praxis als Aufgabe der universitären Forschung versteht.It is argued that the chances of the implementation of Bachelor and Master programs in Germany are not used. Instead, the »German Association for Psychology« tries to use the restructuring to push through its understanding of psychology as a »natural science« and its professional interests. This is done by »Recommendations for the implementation of consecutive Bachelor and Master Programs in Psychology« in which the necessity of preserving the »unity of Psychology« is stressed. The problems of everyday practice of psychologists are largely eliminated in these programs. The psychological practitioners and the students are left alone with questions of transformation of scientific results into practice. The study and the reflection of the relationship between theory and practice fall back to a level discussed 40 year ago. It can be argued that the German training in psychology parts with the international development.Finally, some considerations are presented concerning training in psychology which tries to accept the tension provoked by the conception of human beings as bio-psycho-social entities. Besides it is demanded that an important challenge to university will be research on the transformation of scientific results into practice and vice versa

Validation of a chromatographic method to routine analysis of transresveratrol and quercetin in red wines.

The objective of this work was to validate a fast method with low-solvent use, for the analysis of trans-resveratrol and quercetin in red wines. The wines were prepared, using a classical method, from the grape (Vitis vinifera) cultivars Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Ruby Cabernet, Syrah, Tannat, and Tempranillo. Samples were filtered and analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a diode array detector (DAD), at 306 and 371 nm, for trans-resveratrol and quercetin, respectively. An octylsilane column was used, and the mobile phase was composed by a gradient of methanol, water, and formic acid. The method was validated according to the following figures of merit: specificity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision, accuracy, and robustness. The proposed HPLC-DAD method may be established for the analysis of trans-resveratrol and quercetin in red wines. Index terms: Vitis vinifera , high-pressure liquid chromatography, polyphenol, quantification. Validação de método cromatográfico para análises de rotina de trans-resveratrol e quercetina em vinhos tintos O objetivo deste trabalho foi validar um método rápido, com baixo consumo de solventes, para a análise de trans-resveratrol e quercetina em vinhos tintos. Os vinhos foram elaborados por método clássico, a partir das cultivares de uva (Vitis vinifera) Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Ruby Cabernet, Syrah, Tannat e Tempranillo. As amostras foram filtradas e analisadas por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) com detector de arranjo de diodos (DAD), em 306 e 371 nm, quanto ao trans-resveratrol e à quercetina, respectivamente. Utilizou-se uma coluna octilsilano, e a fase móvel foi composta por um gradiente de metanol, água e ácido fórmico. O método foi validado de acordo com as seguintes figuras de mérito: especificidade, linearidade, limite de detecção, limite de quantificação, precisão, exatidão e robustez. O método CLAE-DAD proposto pode ser implantado para análises de transresveratrol e quercetina em vinhos tintos. Termos para indexação: Vitis vinifera, cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência, polifenol, quantificação

Variational quantum iterative power algorithms for global optimization

We introduce a family of variational quantum algorithms called quantum iterative power algorithms (QIPA) that outperform existing hybrid near-term quantum algorithms of the same kind. We demonstrate the capabilities of QIPA as applied to three different global-optimization numerical experiments: the ground-state optimization of the $H_2$ molecular dissociation, search of the transmon qubit ground-state, and biprime factorization. Since our algorithm is hybrid, quantum/classical technologies such as error mitigation and adaptive variational ansatzes can easily be incorporated into the algorithm. Due to the shallow quantum circuit requirements, we anticipate large-scale implementation and adoption of the proposed algorithm across current major quantum hardware.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figure

Integrating isotopes and documentary evidence : dietary patterns in a late medieval and early modern mining community, Sweden

We would like to thank the Archaeological Research Laboratory, Stockholm University, Sweden and the Tandem Laboratory (Ångström Laboratory), Uppsala University, Sweden, for undertaking the analyses of stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes in both human and animal collagen samples. Also, thanks to Elin Ahlin Sundman for providing the δ13C and δ15N values for animal references from Västerås. This research (Bäckström’s PhD employment at Lund University, Sweden) was supported by the Berit Wallenberg Foundation (BWS 2010.0176) and Jakob and Johan Söderberg’s foundation. The ‘Sala project’ (excavations and analyses) has been funded by Riksens Clenodium, Jernkontoret, Birgit and Gad Rausing’s Foundation, SAU’s Research Foundation, the Royal Physiographic Society of Lund, Berit Wallenbergs Foundation, Åke Wibergs Foundation, Lars Hiertas Memory, Helge Ax:son Johnson’s Foundation and The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

From Motion to Emotion : Accelerometer Data Predict Subjective Experience of Music

Music is often discussed to be emotional because it reflects expressive movements in audible form. Thus, a valid approach to measure musical emotion could be to assess movement stimulated by music. In two experiments we evaluated the discriminative power of mobile-device generated acceleration data produced by free movement during music listening for the prediction of ratings on the Geneva Emotion Music Scales (GEMS-9). The quality of prediction for different dimensions of GEMS varied between experiments for tenderness (R12(first experiment) = 0.50, R22(second experiment) = 0.39), nostalgia (R12 = 0.42, R22 = 0.30), wonder (R12 = 0.25, R22 = 0.34), sadness (R12 = 0.24, R22 = 0.35), peacefulness (R12 = 0.20, R22 = 0.35) and joy (R12 = 0.19, R22 = 0.33) and transcendence (R12 = 0.14, R22 = 0.00). For others like power (R12 = 0.42, R22 = 0.49) and tension (R12 = 0.28, R22 = 0.27) results could be almost reproduced. Furthermore, we extracted two principle components from GEMS ratings, one representing arousal and the other one valence of the experienced feeling. Both qualities, arousal and valence, could be predicted by acceleration data, indicating, that they provide information on the quantity and quality of experience. On the one hand, these findings show how music-evoked movement patterns relate to music-evoked feelings. On the other hand, they contribute to integrate findings from the field of embodied music cognition into music recommender systems

Using the value creation framework to capture knowledge co-creation and pathways to impact in a transnational community of practice in autism education

Although theories around Communities of Practice have gained significant ground in recent years and have become an important focus for organizational development, there is a gap in studies that investigate what members gain from participation in these communities. This paper explains how the value creation framework was implemented in a transnational research and development project in autism education by examining cycles of value creation and drawing on two types of data identified by Wenger and colleagues. The value creation framework is a theoretically driven framework to assess social learning in communities. Participants involved in the learning space were co-researchers engaged in a process of investigating, sharing and reflecting on their practice. The paper discusses the methodological challenges and strengths of using the value creation framework, with a particular focus on how insights and interactions led to subsequent changes in the practice of the participants. This work has the potential to make an important contribution to methods and analysis in assessing social learning and pathways to impact in participatory research and development projects more broadly

Neurogenic inflammation after traumatic brain injury and its potentiation of classical inflammation

Background: The neuroinflammatory response following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to be a key secondary injury factor that can drive ongoing neuronal injury. Despite this, treatments that have targeted aspects of the inflammatory pathway have not shown significant efficacy in clinical trials. Main body: We suggest that this may be because classical inflammation only represents part of the story, with activation of neurogenic inflammation potentially one of the key initiating inflammatory events following TBI. Indeed, evidence suggests that the transient receptor potential cation channels (TRP channels), TRPV1 and TRPA1, are polymodal receptors that are activated by a variety of stimuli associated with TBI, including mechanical shear stress, leading to the release of neuropeptides such as substance P (SP). SP augments many aspects of the classical inflammatory response via activation of microglia and astrocytes, degranulation of mast cells, and promoting leukocyte migration. Furthermore, SP may initiate the earliest changes seen in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, namely the increased transcellular transport of plasma proteins via activation of caveolae. This is in line with reports that alterations in transcellular transport are seen first following TBI, prior to decreases in expression of tight-junction proteins such as claudin-5 and occludin. Indeed, the receptor for SP, the tachykinin NK1 receptor, is found in caveolae and its activation following TBI may allow influx of albumin and other plasma proteins which directly augment the inflammatory response by activating astrocytes and microglia. Conclusions: As such, the neurogenic inflammatory response can exacerbate classical inflammation via a positive feedback loop, with classical inflammatory mediators such as bradykinin and prostaglandins then further stimulating TRP receptors. Accordingly, complete inhibition of neuroinflammation following TBI may require the inhibition of both classical and neurogenic inflammatory pathways.Frances Corrigan, Kimberley A. Mander, Anna V. Leonard and Robert Vin

Non-verbal IQ Gains from Relational Operant Training Explain Variance in Educational Attainment: An Active-Controlled Feasibility Study

Research suggests that training relational operant patterns of behavior can lead to increases in general cognitive ability and educational outcomes. Most studies to date have been under-powered and included proxy measures of educational attainment. We attempted to extend previous findings with increased experimental control in younger children (aged 6.9–10.1 years). Participants (N = 49) were assigned to either a relational training or chess control group. Over 5 months, teachers assigned class time to complete either relational training or play chess. Those who were assigned relational training gained 8.9 non-verbal IQ (NVIQ) points, while those in the control condition recorded no gains (dppc2 = .99). Regression analyses revealed that post-training NVIQ predicted reading test scores (conducted approximately 1 month later) over and above baseline NVIQ in the experimental condition only, consistent with what we might expect in a full test of far transfer towards educational outcomes

Impacts of cultural dynamics on conservation of Suakin, Sudan

This article was published in the journal Proceedings of the ICE- Engineering Sustainability [http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/content/serial/ensu]. Permission is granted by ICE Publishing to print one copy for personal use. Any other use of these PDF files is subject to reprint fees.The aim of this work was to explore the impact of local cultural dynamics on the conservation of the built heritage of Suakin, an abandoned historic port on the Red Sea coast of Sudan, through a collaborative stakeholder approach. Key representatives of local stakeholder groups attended a two-day workshop and took part in a series of collaborative activities. These encompassed the production of a rank-ordered list of the key local cultural dynamics impacting on the port's conservation, agreement to a number of actions to address obstacles to conservation, identification of local cultural values collectively determined by stakeholder and confirmation of the value of an integrated conservation approach. The workshop enabled a shared understanding and responsibility between stakeholders and established a commitment to further action to address the key local cultural dynamics impacting on the conservation. This collaborative stakeholder participation represented a new step in the port's conservation and invited the development of more formal protocols to enable the equal representation and participation of stakeholders in future conservation activities and initiatives