Dyadisches Coping Inventar (DCI): ein Fragebogen zur Erfassung des partnerschaftlichen Umgangs mit Stress

'Stress und Stressbewältigung werden innerhalb von Partnerschaften zunehmend als dyadische Phänomene begriffen. Um dieser Sichtweise diagnostisch Rechnung zu tragen, wird das Dyadische Coping Inventar (DCI) zur Erfassung des partnerschaftlichen Umgangs mit Stress vorgestellt. Es handelt sich dabei um eine Weiterentwicklung des Fragebogens zum dyadischen Coping (FDCT-N, Bodenmann 2000). Die faktorielle und psychometrische Überprüfung erfolgte an insgesamt N=2399 Personen. Die Ergebnisse sprechen für die Testgüte des Instruments. Die theoretisch postulierte Faktorenstruktur konnte durch Faktorenanalysen empirische Evidenz finden. Die internen Konsistenzen fielen insgesamt gut aus, die Test-Retest-Korrelationen lagen erwartungsgemäß im mittleren Bereich. Die Konstruktvalidität war ebenfalls gut, die kriterienbezogene Validität befriedigend. Weiterhin werden Cut-Off-Werte präsentiert, die erlauben, Paare nach der Güte des dyadischen Copings einzuteilen. Das DC1 eignet sich gleichermaßen für klinische Fragestellungen (z.B. Interventionsforschung), Partnerschaftsdiagnostik und Therapieevaluation sowie für entwicklungs- oder gesundheitspsychologische Fragestellungen.' (Autorenreferat)'Stress and coping in couples are increasingly conceptualized as dyadic phenomena. One tool for the assessment of dyadic coping processes in couples is the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), a further development of the formerly used Dyadic Coping Questionnaire (FDCT-N, Bodenmann 2000). The psychometrics of the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) have been examined in a large validation study involving a total of N=2,399 subjects. The results provide empirical evidence for the quality of the test. The theoretically postulated dimensions of dyadic coping were empirically supported by factor analyses. The internal consistencies of the total scale and the different subscales were good. The test-retest-correlation reveals that the questionnaire is sensitive for change. The construct validity is given, the criterion validity satisfactory. Furthermore cut-off criteria are presented to differentiate between couples depending on their quality of dyadic coping. The DCI is suitable for clinical research (e.g. intervention research), couples diagnostic, evaluation of couples therapy, developmental or health psychology.' (author's abstract)

Contrasting metacognitive profiles and their association with negative symptoms in groups with schizophrenia, early psychosis and depression in a Russian sample

Research has suggested that negative symptoms in psychotic disorders may be in part fueled by deficits in metacognition or the ability to form integrated ideas about oneself and others. One limitation of this work is that it has largely come from North America and Western Europe. To further the literature, we assessed symptoms using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Metacognition using the Metacognitive Assessment Scale - Abbreviated in a sample of outpatients with prolonged schizophrenia (n = 41), early episode psychosis (n = 37) and major depression (n = 30) gathered in Moscow, Russia. Verbal memory was assessed for use as a potential covariate. ANOVA revealed the two groups with psychosis had significantly poorer metacognitive function in terms of self-reflectivity and awareness of the other, than the group with depression. In both psychosis groups negative symptoms were more robustly related to metacognition than other forms of symptoms after controlling for neurocognition. Results support the possibility that metacognitive deficits are a psychological factor which cross culturally contributes to negative symptoms and point to metacognition as a potentially important target for intervention

ON MODELING COMPLEX COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR IN MYXOBACTERIA

This paper reviews recent progress in modeling collective behaviors in myxobacteria using lattice gas cellular automata approach (LGCA). Myxobacteria are social bacteria that swarm, glide on surfaces and feed cooperatively. When starved, tens of thousands of cells change their movement pattern from outward spreading to inward concentration; they form aggregates that become fruiting bodies. Cells inside fruiting bodies differentiate into round, nonmotile, environmentally resistant spores. Traditionally, cell aggregation has been considered to imply chemotaxis, a long-range cell interaction. However, myxobacteria aggregation is the consequence of direct cell-contact interactions, not chemotaxis. In this paper, we review biological LGCA models based on local cell–cell contact signaling that have reproduced the rippling, streaming, aggregating and sporulation stages of the fruiting body formation in myxobacteria.Myxobacteria, collaborative behavior, cellular automata, pattern formation, complex systems, stochastic modeling

Towards standardisation of automatic pollen and fungal spore monitoring : best practises and guidelines

Standards for manual pollen and fungal spore monitoring have been established based on several decades of experience, tests, and research. New technological and methodological advancements have led to the development of a range of different automatic instruments for which no standard yet exist. This paper aims to provide an overview of aspects that need to be considered for automatic pollen and fungal spore monitoring, including a set of guidelines and recommendations. It covers issues relevant to developing an automatic monitoring network, from the instrument design and calibration through algorithm development to site selection criteria. Despite no official standard yet existing, it is essential that all aspects of the measurement chain are carried out in a manner that is as standardised as possible to ensure high-quality data and information can be provided to end-users

Higher airborne pollen concentrations correlated with increased SARS-CoV-2 infection rates, as evidenced from 31 countries across the globe

Pollen exposure weakens the immunity against certain seasonal respiratory viruses by diminishing the antiviral interferon response. Here we investigate whether the same applies to the pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is sensitive to antiviral interferons, if infection waves coincide with high airborne pollen concentrations. Our original hypothesis was that more airborne pollen would lead to increases in infection rates. To examine this, we performed a cross-sectional and longitudinal data analysis on SARS-CoV-2 infection, airborne pollen, and meteorological factors. Our dataset is the most comprehensive, largest possible worldwide from 130 stations, across 31 countries and five continents. To explicitly investigate the effects of social contact, we additionally considered population density of each study area, as well as lockdown effects, in all possible combinations: without any lockdown, with mixed lockdown−no lockdown regime, and under complete lockdown. We found that airborne pollen, sometimes in synergy with humidity and temperature, explained, on average, 44% of the infection rate variability. Infection rates increased after higher pollen concentrations most frequently during the four previous days. Without lockdown, an increase of pollen abundance by 100 pollen/m3 resulted in a 4% average increase of infection rates. Lockdown halved infection rates under similar pollen concentrations. As there can be no preventive measures against airborne pollen exposure, we suggest wide dissemination of pollen−virus coexposure dire effect information to encourage high-risk individuals to wear particle filter masks during high springtime pollen concentrations.</p