Friendships in Integrative Settings: Network Analyses in Organized Sports and a Comparison with School

Social networks affect health. In this empirical study, friendship networks in integrative organized sports were examined and then compared with friendship networks in integrative school. Relevant factors for friendship network formation were investigated, with a particular interest in the relevance of intellectual disability. Advanced social network analysis was performed using exponential random graph modeling (ERGM) on individual attributes and dyadic factors, while controlling for network structures. A meta-analysis of estimated ERGMs in each setting, organized sports and school, was conducted. When controlling for all other included factors, intellectual disability is not relevant for friendship networks in organized sports. Athletic ability and gender homophily are relevant factors, while language and similarity in athletic ability are not. Contrary to the results for organized sports, intellectual disability and speaking a foreign language at home are negative factors in friendship networks at school. Athletic ability is important in both settings. Regarding dyadic factors, gender homophily is important in both settings, but similarity in athletic ability is not. To foster the psychosocial health of children with intellectual disabilities, they should be encouraged to participate in integrative organized sports as, there, they are part of friendship networks in a manner equal to their peers without an intellectual disability

Effects of different trainings on nonverbal expressiveness and assertiveness

Die vorliegende Untersuchung vergleicht die Wirkung zweier verschiedener Trainings auf nichtverbale Ausdruckskraft und Selbstsicherheit. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß aufgrund eines Verhaltenstrainings die nichtverbale Expressivität der Trainierenden signifikant gesteigert werden kann. Ein Selbstsicherheitstraining hat hier nur geringe Effekte. Das Verhaltenstraining bewirkt eine Erhöhung der fremdwahrgenommenen, das Selbstsicherheitstraining eine Erhöhung der selbstwahrgenommenen Selbstsicherheit. Zwischen fremdwahrgenommener Selbstsicherheit und nichtverbalem Verhalten zeigt sich ein mittlerer linearer Zusammenhang. (DIPF/Orig.)This study compares the effects of two different trainings on nonverbal expressiveness and assertiveness. The results indicate that nonverbal expressiveness of the trainees can be increased significantly through a training program, an assertivenes training has only minimal effects. The nonverbal behavior training causes an increase in observer attributed assertiveness, the assertiveness training an increase in self-attributed assertiveness. There is a medium linear correlation between observer attributed assertiveness and nonverbal behavior

Evaluation of a Training Program for Nonverbal Sensitivity and Expressiveness

Eine experimentelle Untersuchung wurde durchgeführt, um die Wirkung eines Trainingsprogramms auf die nichtverbale Wahrnehmungs- und Ausdrucksfähigkeit in den Bereichen Stimme, Augen, Blickkontakt, Mimik, Gestik und Körperhaltung und -bewegung sowie auf die Klarheit und Interessantheit von Kurzvorträgen zu prüfen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß sich nichtverbale Wahrnehmungs- und Ausdrucksfähigkeit durch Training signifikant steigern läßt und daß eine Steigerung nichtverbaler Expressivität mit einer Steigerung der Klarheit und Interessantheit von Vorträgen einhergeht. (DIPF/Orig.)An experimental study was conducted to test the effects of a training program on nonverbal sensitivity and expressive nonverbal behavior (vocal delivery, eyes, eye contact, facial expressions, gesturing, and body movement) as well as on clarity and degree of interest of short presentations. The results indicate that expressive nonverbal behavior is trainable and that an increase in nonverbal sensitivity and in the level of nonverbal expressiveness causes an increase in the clarity and degree of interest of the presentations

The training of nonverbal expressiveness and its gender-specific relationship with persuasiveness

Eine neue attributionstheoretische Sichtweise des Überzeugungsprozesses steht neben der „klassischen“ Betrachtungsweise (Einstellungsänderungsprozesse) und wird mit nichtverbalem Verhalten in Verbindung gebracht. Diese Untersuchung zeigt, daß sich nichtverbale Expressivität durch einen Trainingskurs erhöhen läßt. Gleichzeitig wächst die selbst- und die fremdattribuierte Überzeugungskraft eines Senders an. Nur für Männer besteht ein mittlerer positiver Zusammenhang zwischen Überzeugungskraft und nichtverbaler Expressivität und zwischen selbst- und fremdattribuierter Überzeugungskraft. (DIPF/Orig.)The view of persuasiveness as an attribution process is compared to the “classical” type of research (attitude change). It is related to nonverbal behavior. This study shows that the level of nonverbal expressiveness can be increased through a training program. Self-attributions and observer ratings of persuasiveness are improved simultaneously. There is a medium positive correlation for male subjects only between persuasiveness and nonverbal expressiveness and between self- and observer attributed persuasiveness

Multi-dimensional modeling and simulation of semiconductor nanophotonic devices

Self-consistent modeling and multi-dimensional simulation of semiconductor nanophotonic devices is an important tool in the development of future integrated light sources and quantum devices. Simulations can guide important technological decisions by revealing performance bottlenecks in new device concepts, contribute to their understanding and help to theoretically explore their optimization potential. The efficient implementation of multi-dimensional numerical simulations for computer-aided design tasks requires sophisticated numerical methods and modeling techniques. We review recent advances in device-scale modeling of quantum dot based single-photon sources and laser diodes by self-consistently coupling the optical Maxwell equations with semiclassical carrier transport models using semi-classical and fully quantum mechanical descriptions of the optically active region, respectively. For the simulation of realistic devices with complex, multi-dimensional geometries, we have developed a novel hp-adaptive finite element approach for the optical Maxwell equations, using mixed meshes adapted to the multi-scale properties of the photonic structures. For electrically driven devices, we introduced novel discretization and parameter-embedding techniques to solve the drift-diffusion system for strongly degenerate semiconductors at cryogenic temperature. Our methodical advances are demonstrated on various applications, including vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, grating couplers and single-photon sources

Effectiveness and safety of opicapone in Parkinson’s disease patients with motor fluctuations: the OPTIPARK open-label study

Background The efficacy and safety of opicapone, a once-daily catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor, have been established in two large randomized, placebo-controlled, multinational pivotal trials. Still, clinical evidence from routine practice is needed to complement the data from the pivotal trials. Methods OPTIPARK (NCT02847442) was a prospective, open-label, single-arm trial conducted in Germany and the UK under clinical practice conditions. Patients with Parkinson’s disease and motor fluctuations were treated with opicapone 50 mg for 3 (Germany) or 6 (UK) months in addition to their current levodopa and other antiparkinsonian treatments. The primary endpoint was the Clinician’s Global Impression of Change (CGI-C) after 3 months. Secondary assessments included Patient Global Impressions of Change (PGI-C), the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8), and the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS). Safety assessments included evaluation of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). Results Of the 506 patients enrolled, 495 (97.8%) took at least one dose of opicapone. Of these, 393 (79.4%) patients completed 3 months of treatment. Overall, 71.3 and 76.9% of patients experienced any improvement on CGI-C and PGI-C after 3 months, respectively (full analysis set). At 6 months, for UK subgroup only (n = 95), 85.3% of patients were judged by investigators as improved since commencing treatment. UPDRS scores at 3 months showed statistically significant improvements in activities of daily living during OFF (mean ± SD change from baseline: − 3.0 ± 4.6, p < 0.0001) and motor scores during ON (− 4.6 ± 8.1, p < 0.0001). The mean ± SD improvements of − 3.4 ± 12.8 points for PDQ-8 and -6.8 ± 19.7 points for NMSS were statistically significant versus baseline (both p < 0.0001). Most of TEAEs (94.8% of events) were of mild or moderate intensity. TEAEs considered to be at least possibly related to opicapone were reported for 45.1% of patients, with dyskinesia (11.5%) and dry mouth (6.5%) being the most frequently reported. Serious TEAEs considered at least possibly related to opicapone were reported for 1.4% of patients. Conclusions Opicapone 50 mg was effective and generally well-tolerated in PD patients with motor fluctuations treated in clinical practice. Trial registration Registered in July 2016 at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02847442)