Participation of people experiencing disabilities in organized sports

Policy initiatives like the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Switzerland ratified in 2014, demand the full and equal participation of people experiencing disabilities in mainstream and disability-specific sports activities. Organized sports are thought to promote the participation of people experiencing disabilities, as it can provide a platform for creating social networks. However, people experiencing disabilities show lower participation rates in organized sports than the general population. Moreover, they often practice in separate disability training groups and sports clubs because they face social exclusion from integrative/inclusive mainstream sports. A systematic literature review (manuscript 1) of recent research on social participation of people experiencing disabilities in organized sports in separate settings (i.e., only with other people experiencing disabilities) and integrative/inclusive settings (i.e., alongside people experiencing and not experiencing disabilities) shows that organized sports can support but also hinder social participation of people experiencing disabilities. These ambiguous findings imply that social participation strongly relies on specific factors and conditions at the individual level, organizational level of training groups and sports clubs, and at the environmental level. Therefore, this doctoral thesis aims to provide insights into the degree of social integration of sports club members experiencing disabilities and compares it to that of members without disabilities. First, we conducted a quantitative study (manuscript 2) on data from 13,098 members in 642 sports clubs across ten European countries (1,482 study participants experiencing at least one disability). Second, for a qualitative study (manuscript 3) 16 training groups in Switzerland where people experiencing disabilities participate were selected. Out of the 16 training groups, 3 integrative/inclusive training groups were selected for an in-depth multiple case study. Non-participant observations and semi-structured interviews with coaches and participants were analyzed thematically. In manuscripts 2 and 3, social integration is defined as a multidimensional concept that focuses on socio-cultural (culturation) and socio-affective (interaction, identification) dimensions as well as the additional dimension of placement in manuscript 3. The findings of manuscripts 2 and 3 show that members experiencing disabilities are to the same extent socially integrated as members without disabilities, except those experiencing certain disability types. Especially relevant factors for social integration of members experiencing disabilities on the individual level are affiliation with and participation in a club (volunteering, participation in competitive sport, long-term membership, frequency of sports participation, team/group size). In manuscript 2, higher education level is among the relevant factors that facilitate understanding/acceptance of members experiencing disabilities, but it also negatively correlates with identification. Members experiencing social restrictions score lower in interaction and identification. Manuscript 3 shows that members need their own initiative and/or social support for joining a training group. Furthermore, in manuscript 2, we show that participants experiencing disabilities that practice in both settings (separate and integrative/inclusive) are slightly better socially integrated regarding interaction than those practicing in a separate setting only. Overall, this doctoral thesis shows that the degree of social integration seems to rely more on individual than on organizational factors. However, factors on the organizational and environmental levels to compensate for individual disadvantages have to be considered in the future

Abkehr vom Frieden? Eine medien- und politolinguistische Untersuchung von Facebook-Einträgen der Organisation Pegida

Celem artykułu jest wskazanie cech charakterystycznych języka stowarzyszenia Pegida (w obrębie postów na Facebooku) oraz w jaki sposób język może zostać wykorzystany, aby w mediach społecznościowych lub za ich pośrednictwem uzyskać akceptację. Analizie poddany zostanie aspekt wykorzystania przez stowarzyszenie języka jako narzędzie w pozyskiwaniu zwolenników i czy Pegida rzeczywiście używa języka jako środka krytyki złych stanów rzecz i przeciwników politycznych. W tym celu przeprowadzona zostanie analiza pragmalingwistyczna postów na Facebooku Pegidy, w ramach której zbadane zostaną działania takie jak REKLAMOWAĆ i KRYTYKOWAĆ oraz ich wzajemna relacja. Tło teoretyczne stanowią rozważania i metody zarówno z obszaru badań nad językiem reklamy, jak i politolingwistyki, które wraz z perspektywą pragmalingwistyczna zostaną omówione na wstępie.This article aims to show what characterizes Pegida’s language usage (within Facebook entries) and how language is used to achieve approval on or over the social network. It will investigate the extent to which the association uses language as an instrument to recruit supporters and whether Pegida actually uses language as a means of criticizing grievances and opponents. For this purpose, a pragmatic-orientated analysis of Pegida’s Facebook entries will be carried out, in which the linguistic implementation of the text action patterns ADVERTISING and CRITICIZING as well as their relationship to each other will be determined. The theoretical background is formed by findings and methods from both advertising research and political linguistics, which are explained in a first step together with the pragmatic perspective.Die Publikation wurde aus Mitteln des Instituts für Germanistik der Universität Łódź und des Vereins akademischer Lehrer zur Förderung der Kultur europäischer Sprachen finanziert

IL-13R alpha 2 reverses the effects of IL-13 and IL-4 on bronchial reactivity and acetylcholine-induced Ca2+ signaling

Background: The interleukins IL-4 and IL-13 play a key role in the pathophysiology of asthma. The interleukin receptor IL-13R alpha 2 is believed to act as a decoy receptor, but until now, the functional significance of IL-13R alpha 2 remains vague. Methods: Bronchial reactivity was quantified in murine lung slices by digital video microscopy and acetylcholine (ACH)-induced Ca2+ signaling was measured in human airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) using fluorescence microscopy. Results: IL-4 or IL-13 up to 50 ng/ml induced bronchial hyperreactivity. But after incubation with 100 ng/ml this effect was lost and bronchial responsiveness was again comparable to the control level. The effects of IL-4 and IL-13 on bronchial reactivity were paralleled by the effects on ASMC proliferation. Fifty nanograms per milliliter of IL-4 and IL-13 increased the Ca2+ response of human ASMC to ACH. At 100 ng/ml, however, the effects of the cytokines on the Ca2+ response were no longer evident. The expression of IL-13R alpha 2 increased with increasing concentrations of IL-4 or IL-13, reaching its maximum at 100 ng/ml. Blocking IL-13R alpha 2, the loss of the effect of IL-4 and IL-13 at 100 ng/ml on human ASMC proliferation and the ACH-induced Ca2+ response were no longer present. Conclusions: IL-4 and IL-13 induce bronchial hyperreactivity by changing the Ca2+ homeostasis of ASMC. These effects are counteracted by IL-13R alpha 2. The biological significance of IL-13R alpha 2 might be a protective function by regulating IL-13- and IL-4-mediated signal transduction and thereby limiting pathological alterations in Th2-mediated inflammatory diseases. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

Mechanisms altering airway smooth muscle cell Ca(2+) homeostasis in two asthma models

Background: Asthma is characterized by airway remodeling, altered mucus production and airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC) contraction causing extensive airway narrowing. In particular, alterations of ASMC contractility seem to be of crucial importance. The elevation of the cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration is a key event leading to ASMC contraction and changes in the agonist- induced Ca(2+) increase in ASMC have been reported in asthma. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate mechanisms underlying these changes. Methods: Murine tracheal smooth muscle cells (MTSMC) from T- bet KO mice and human bronchial smooth muscle cells (HBSMC) incubated with IL-13 and IL-4 served as asthma models. Acetylcholine- induced changes in the cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration were recorded using fluorescence microscopy and the expression of Ca(2+) homeostasis regulating proteins was investigated with Western blot analysis. Results: Acetylcholine- induced Ca(2+) transients were elevated in both asthma models. This correlated with an increased Ca(2+) content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In MTSMC from T-bet KO mice, the expression of the SR Ca(2+) buffers calreticulin and calsequestrin was higher compared to wild- type mice. In HBSMC incubated with IL-13 or IL-4, the expression of ryanodine receptors, inositol-3-phosphate receptors and sarcoplasmic/ endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ ATPases 2 was increased compared to HBSMC without incubation with interleukins. The enlarged acetylcholine- induced Ca(2+) transients could be reversed by blocking inositol-3- phosphate receptors. Conclusions: We conclude that in the murine asthma model the SR Ca(2+) buffer capacity is increased, while in the human asthma model the expression of SR Ca(2+) channels is altered. The investigation of the Ca(2+) homeostasis of ASMC has the potential to provide new therapeutical options in asthma. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

Wiederansiedlung seltener und gefährdeter Ackerwildpflanzen auf Ökobetrieben. Teilprojekt Freising: Einfluss von Feldfrucht und Aussaatzeitpunkt

Intensive land use has led to a drastic decline of arable weeds in Central Europe. The objective of the project “Restoration of local populations of rare and endangered arable field plants on organic farms in Germany” is to develop methods for a successful re-establishment of arable weeds on fields where absence of herbicides provides favourable development conditions. Two complementary approaches are tested by research teams at Freising and Witzenhausen. In Freising two exact trials were set up in order to find suitable crops and dates for the initial sowing of three rare and endangered species (Consolida regalis, Legousia speculum-veneris, Lithospermum arvense). The study area is located in the Munich Plain which is characterized by limestone gravel. First results show a better establishment of all three species on plots with a reduced sowing density of the crop. Furthermore, sowing in early autumn seems to be beneficial for the establishment of the study species

New approaches to the conservation of rare arable plants in Germany

Der rasante technische Fortschritt der Landwirtschaft während der letzten Jahrzehnte hat einen dramatischen Rückgang seltener Ackerwildpflanzen verursacht. Um diesem Rückgang Einhalt zu gebieten, wurden verschiedene Artenschutzkonzepte wie das Ackerrandstreifenprogramm oder das aktuelle Programm ‘100 Äcker für die Vielfalt’ entwickelt. Für Sand- und Kalkäcker sind geeignete Bewirtschaftungsmethoden zur Erhaltung seltener Arten inzwischen gut erforscht. Für saisonal vernässte Ackerflächen, die ebenfalls viele seltene Arten aufweisen können, ist dagegen wenig über naturschutzfachlich geeignet Standortfaktoren und Bewirtschaftungsmethoden bekannt. Untersuchungen an sieben zeitweise überstauten Ackersenken bei Parstein (Brandenburg) zeigten, dass das Überstauungsregime und insbesondere die Dauer der Überstauung die Artenzusammensetzung der Bestände stark beeinflussen. Die aktuelle Bewirtschaftung zeigte dagegen weniger deutliche Auswirkungen auf Populationen der Zielarten Myosurus minimus und Elatine alsinastrum. Ein weiteres aktuelles Problem des Ackerwildpflanzenschutzes ist, dass seltene Arten oft auf Flächen vorkommen, wo ihr Überleben durch die derzeitige Bewirtschaftung akut gefährdet ist. Da die Richtlinien der ökologischen Anbauverbände intensive Bewirtschaftungsverfahren weitgehend einschränken, bietet der Ökologische Landbau günstige Voraussetzungen für den Schutz gefährdeter Ackerwildpflanzen. Wie deren Populationen erfolgreich in ökologisch bewirtschafteten Feldern etabliert werden können, wird in einem Feldversuch bei Gräfelfing in der Münchner Schotterebene untersucht. Erste Ergebnisse zu den winterannuellen Arten Legousia speculum-veneris und Consolida regalis zeigen, dass sich diese Arten erfolgreich in ökologisch bewirtschafteten Äckern etablieren lassen. Frühe Herbstsaat und eine reduzierte Kulturpflanzenkonkurrenz im Ansaatjahr erbrachten dabei die besten Erfolge. Bei reduzierter Kulturpflanzendichte führte Dinkel zu deutlich höheren Etablierungsraten als Roggen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie können einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Erhaltung gefährdeter Arten in der Agrarlandschaft leisten, wenn der Transfer gefährdeter Ackerwildpflanzen in ökologisch bewirtschaftete Ackerflächen umgesetzt wird.Stichwörter: Artentransfer, Bewirtschaftung, Ökologischer Landbau, ÜberstauNeue Ansätze zum Artenschutz gefährdeter Ackerwildpflanzen in DeutschlandAbstractOver the past decades, the rapid improvement of agricultural technology has caused a dramatic decrease of rare arable plants. This process has stimulated the development of various concepts to protect these species such as the field margin program or more recently the program ‘100 fields for biodiversity’. For fields with sandy or calcareous soils, management practices to conserve the specific arable flora are well explored. For occasionally wet sites, however, which may also harbour various threatened species, little is known about suitable site conditions and conservation management. Studying seven seasonally flooded field sites close to Parstein (Brandenburg) showed that the flooding regime and particularly the duration of flooding strongly affect the composition of the apparent plant communities. Effects of different arable farming practices on the populations of the two target species Myosurus minimus and Elatine alsinastrum were less pronounced. Another urgent problem of arable plant conservation is that rare species frequently grow at sites where they are threatened by current cultivation. As management is less intense under organic farming, this system could provide suitable conditions for the conservation of threatened species. However, locally extinct species need to be actively reintroduced to overcome dispersal limitations. How these plants can be successfully established in fields under organic farming was studied in a field trial at Gräfelfing (Bavaria). Preliminary results on the winter annuals Legousia speculum-veneris and Consolida regalis indicate that rare arable plants can be successfully introduced to organic fields. Early autumn sowing and a low crop competition provide the most favourable conditions for their establishment. At reduced sowing rates, winter spelt allowed a much better establishment than winter rye. If the idea of transferring rare arable plants to organic farmland establishes in practice, results of this study could substantially contribute to the conservation of rare species in arable landscapes.Keywords: Arable weed, flooding, management, organic farming, species transfer, threatened species, wet fiel

Contribuição para a ciência cidadã no Brasil : uma investigação a partir dos currículos dos pesquisadores da área

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Arantes ReisCoorientador: Prof. Dr. Emerson JoucoskiDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor Litoral, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento Territorial Sustentável. Defesa : Matinhos, 28/11/2022Inclui referências: p. 50-57Resumo: A Ciência Cidadã surge a partir de uma ampliação do conceito de ciência stricto sensu, acompanhando iniciativas que se constituem de espaços coletivos e colaborativos de produção autônoma de conhecimento, além do uso de tecnologias livres e sua apropriação social. No Brasil, ainda que a Ciência Cidadã esteja em estágio introdutório e não possua políticas específicas, projetos vem se expandido no país, principalmente na última década. Apesar disso, pouco se sabe como esta abordagem está se desenvolvendo no país. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi compreender quem são os profissionais e pesquisadores que trabalham com Ciência Cidadã no Brasil utilizando a base de dados da plataforma Lattes, que integra dados qualitativos e quantitativos sobre a produção científica brasileira a partir de currículos acadêmicos dos cientistas vinculados a instituições de pesquisa e em atividade no país. A consulta realizada resultou em um total de 477 pesquisadores, configurando a totalidade dos pesquisadores doutores que citaram os termos "ciência cidadã" e "citizen science" em algum momento de seu currículo, no período de agosto de 2018 a agosto de 2022. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que pesquisadores estudados, que compõe o corpus da área no Brasil, estão iniciando suas atividades, ainda não tendo como base de sua formação, a produção científica qualificada sobre Ciência Cidadã. É possível identificar uma predominância de pesquisadores indicando as ciências biológicas e as ciências exatas e da T erra como áreas de atuação. Este fator provavelmente está relacionado às diversas iniciativas que possuem relação com a área ambiental. Os dados obtidos serão utilizados para melhor compreensão do panorama do desenvolvimento desta área no Brasil e suas potencialidades de transformação social, ambiental e política.Abstract: Citizen Science arises from an expansion of the concept of stricto sensu science, accompanying initiatives that are constituted of collective and collaborative spaces for the autonomous production of knowledge, in addition to the use of free technologies and their social appropriation. In Brazil, even though Citizen Science is at an introductory stage and does not have specific policies, projects have been expanding in the country, especially in the last decade. Despite this, little is known about how this approach is developing in the country. Thus, the objective of this work was to identify who the professionals and researchers that are working with Citizen Science in Brazil using the database of the Lattes platform, which integrates qualitative and quantitative data about the Brazilian scientific production from academic resumes of scientists linked to research institutions and active in Brazil. The research resulted in a total of 477 researchers, comprising all PhD researchers who mentioned the terms "citizen science" and "citizen science" at some point in their curriculum, from August 2018 to August 2022. The results obtained suggest that the studied researchers, who make up the corpus of the area in Brazil, are starting their activities and do not have qualified scientific production on CC as the basis of their training. It is possible to identify a predominance of researchers indicating biological sciences and exact and earth sciences as areas of activity. This factor is probably related to the various initiatives related to the environmental area. The results obtained will be used for a better understanding of the development of this area in Brazil and its potential for social, environmental, and political transformation

Einfluss von Deckfrucht und Fruchtfolge auf die Wiederansiedlung gefährdeter Ackerwildpflanzen

Due to recent intensification of land use the arable flora is considered to belong to the most threatened groups of plants in Europe. Therefore, the objective of the project ‘re-introduction of rare arable plants on organic farms in Germany’ is to develop methods for a successful re-establishment of arable plants on fields with favourable management conditions. The present study describes the effects of different cover crops and crop rotations on the establishment of three endangered species (Consolida regalis, Legousia speculum-veneris, Lithospermum arvense) in a field experiment at Gräfelfing close to Munich. Results from the first 3 years indicate that successful establishment mainly depends on crop competition during the 1st year. As individual species respond differently to crop competition, successful conservation may necessitate a spatially differentiated concept where management of different sites is adapted to the individual requirements of different species