Aggression in wood ants (Formica polyctena Foerst., Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

The relationship between aggression and predation was surveyed in Red wood ants, in the field as well as under laboratory conditions. Aggression between wood ant nests is highest in early spring, and many wood ant wars break out then. The end of these wars coincides with a strong increase in prey density. Since the casualties are taken as food to the warring nests, a hypothesis is formulated that warfare between wood ant nests only occurs in periods when prey demand exceeds the supply. Protein-rich food in early spring is mainly for the benefit of the queens and the sexual larvae. Although the most obvious function of warfare is the defence of a foraging area, the main function may be the advancement of the mating flight dates of the queens in order to make the chance of propagating their genes greatest.     

Multidimensional Inventory for Religious Spiritual Well-Being (MI RSWB 48): Validation with Iranian psychiatric outpatients

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the validation of the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious Spiritual Well-Being (MI RSWB 48) in a convenience sample of 250 Iranian psychiatric outpatients. In addition to the MI RSWB 48, the patients completed the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWS), the WHO-5, the PHQ-9, and the PHQ-15. Cronbach’s α for the MI RSWB 48 was .84, and for its subscales ranged from .33 (Hope Transcendent [HT] Subscale) to .89 (General Religiosity [GR] Subscale). The SWS score had the highest positive correlation with the MI RSWB 48 score. Two factors identified for the scale. The religiosity spirituality score of female patients was significantly higher than the score of the male patients. The MI RSWB 48 can be considered as a suitable tool for evaluating different aspects of religiosity and spirituality in Iranian society. The HT Subscale may need modification to improve its internal consistency.