University of Applied Sciences Potsdam

Optimal recovery strategies are crucial measures to ensure high-level performance in athletes. In this context, short sleep breaks during the day, referred to as daytime napping, appear to be an effective means for enhancing performance. However, high-level evidence (e.g., systematic reviews, meta-analyses) on the methods and effects of daytime napping on physical fitness and/or sport-specific performance is currently limited to adults in competitive sport. The aim of the present scoping review was to investigate the prevalence rates, methods, and effects of daytime napping in young athletes. For this purpose, a systematic literature analysis of scientific databases (Medline, Web of Science) was performed between September 2023 and March 2024. Studies were included that examined healthy young athletes with a mean age of 6–19 years, focusing on napping behavior and/or the effects of daytime napping on physical fitness/sport-specific performance parameters. Our literature search resulted in 12 studies with a total of 1186 young athletes. Results indicated that the prevalence rate of daytime napping in young athletes ranged between 37% and 91%. Most napping approaches comprised frequencies of one to two power naps per week, lasting 30–60 min/nap, typically in the early afternoon (12:00–16:00). Small-to-large increases in reaction time tests were observed as a result of daytime napping. The effects on other fitness parameters (e.g., speed, power) or sport-specific performance (e.g., shooting) were less consistent. In summary, the data on napping characteristics and napping effects suggested that naps in young athletes should last approximately 30–60 min, occur in the afternoon (12:00–16:00), and should be separated by at least 30 min between napping and fitness testing. Research gaps that were identified include studies focusing on puberal athletes, sex-specific analyses, controlled longitudinal study design, and protocols addressing moderator variables such as time of day and/or the time interval between napping and performance testing.

This work investigates personal perspectives in visualization annotations as devices for collective data-driven storytelling. Inspired by existing efforts in critical cartography, we show how people share personal memories in a visualization of COVID-19 data and how comments by other visualization readers influence the reading and understanding of visualizations. Analyzing interaction logs, reader surveys, visualization annotations, and interviews, we find that reader annotations help other viewers relate to other people's stories and reflect on their own experiences. Further, we found that annotations embedded directly into the visualization can serve as social traces guiding through a visualization and help readers contextualize their own stories. With that, they supersede the attention paid to data encodings and become the main focal point of the visualization.

Background Dietary nitrate (BR) and caffeine (CAF) ingestion have been shown to increase sports performance. However, the isolated and combined effects of BR and CAF ingestion on time trial (TT) performance as well as the accompanying physiological and perceptual responses have never been investigated in highly trained kayak athletes. Therefore, the present study examined the impact of an isolated and combined supplementation with BR (140 ml beetroot concentrate, ~12.5 mmol nitrate) and CAF (3 mg/kg bodyweight) on 1000 m ergometer TT performance as well as the accompanying physiological (i.e. cardiorespiratory function, muscle oxygenation, muscle activity) and perceptual responses (i.e. fatigue, effort, and exercise-induced pain perception) in male highly trained kayakers. It was hypothesized that the isolated ingestion of BR and CAF would both improve ergometer-based 1000 m TT performance and induce supplement-specific physiological and perceptual responses. Considering the primary effects of BR on muscle function and of CAF on the central nervous system, it was further assumed that the combined ingestion will result in an additional performance increase and supplement-specific physiological and perceptual responses. Methods Using a prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind crossover design, 12 male highly trained kayak athletes from local clubs were investigated. They completed four measurement sessions resulting in four randomized conditions: (i) BR+CAF; (ii) BR+CAF placebo (BR+PLA); (iii) CAF+BR placebo (CAF+PLA); and (iv) BR placebo + CAF placebo (PLA+PLA). An air-braked instrumented kayak-ergometer was used to record 1000 m TT performance, power output, and stroke frequency. Heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (VO2), maximum VO2 (VO2max), respiratory equivalent of O2 (VE/VO2), and carbon dioxide (VE/VCO2) were measured continuously. Furthermore, oxygenation of the deltoid muscle was measured with near-infrared spectroscopy (mNIRS) and muscle activity of nine unilateral muscles with surface electromyography (i.e. deltoideus, serratus anterior, triceps brachii caput lateralis, trapezius, infraspinatus, latissimus dorsi, obliquus externus, flexor carpi radialis, and vastus lateralis muscle) during the 1000 m TT. After the TT, fatigue, effort, and exercise-induced pain perception were queried. One- and two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures were conducted to determine differences between conditions for the entire 1000 m TT and predefined sections (0-50 m, 50-100 m, 100-150 m, 150-250 m, 250-500 m, 500-750 m, 750-1000 m), respectively (p ≤ 0.05). Results The supplements did not have an ergogenic effect on TT performance compared to the PLA+PLA condition, either in isolation or in combination. The same applied to the majority of physiological parameters and the perceptual responses. Nevertheless, VE/VO2 was lower during the sections 150-250 m (-5.00%; p = 0.02) and 250-500 m (-3.49%; p = 0.03) in the BR+PLA condition, whereby VE/VCO2 was higher during the section 150-250 m (4.19%; p = 0.04) in the CAF+PLA compared to the PLA+PLA condition, respectively. Conclusions Data indicate that the isolated and combined ingestion of BR and CAF had no effect on 1000 m TT performance, the majority of physiological responses, and perceptual responses in highly trained kayakers. These findings might be related to the dosage and/or a ceiling effect due to the already efficient vascular, metabolic, and muscle function, including high amounts of endogenous produced nitric oxide, in athletes.

Background Physical activity (PA) is a cornerstone in maintaining a healthy lifestyle as well as in the prevention and rehabilitation of non-communicable diseases (NCD). First analysis of PA showed lower activity rates in adults with NCD compared to the general population. To improve health monitoring and to address World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations to systematically identify and track efforts to reduce inequalities in PA participation, trend analysis of PA in adults with NCD was performed for the period 2014/15 to 2019/20 for Germany. Furthermore, motivational readiness for PA behavior change was analysed based on the transtheoretical model (TTM). Methods Based on two population-based cross-sectional health surveys (GEDA 2014/15-EHIS and GEDA 2019/20-EHIS) for Germany (N = 46,724), the prevalence of meeting WHO PA guidelines was analysed for adults with certain NCD compared to the general population. PA was assessed by self-report via the European Health Interview Survey– Physical Activity Questionnaire (EHIS-PAQ). Trend analyses and logistic regression models were performed to calculate disease specific Odds Ratios (OR) for fulfilment of PA recommendations. Motivational readiness for PA was assessed with the stages of change according to the TTM with data of GEDA 2014/15-EHIS. Results Reporting any NCD is associated with lower fulfilment of health-enhancing aerobic PA in both surveys for almost all NCD, with lowest levels among adults reporting stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity and coronary heart disease. Sufficient muscle-strengthening was higher in adults with musculoskeletal diseases like osteoarthritis, lower back pain and neck pain compared to adults without these diseases. The prevalence of meeting WHO PA recommendations among adults with NCD remains at a low level. Sufficient health-enhancing aerobic PA tend to decrease in adults with NCD from 2014/15 to 2019/20, while sufficient muscle-strengthening increased in the same period. Motivational readiness for PA is lower for most adults with NCD, compared to the general adult population. Conclusion Lower rates of WHO PA recommendation fulfilment is recognized for most NCD groups compared to the population without NCD for both surveys, but the proportion of adults with NCD who meet the WHO PA recommendations differ widely between NCD groups. A positive trend from 2014/15 to 2019/20 can only be seen for adults with osteoarthritis. Based on our findings the implementation of PA promotion particular with regards to motivational readiness and disease specific PA measures is strongly recommended to improve prevention and ambulatory health care for adults with NCD.

Complex sustainability challenges call for transformative spaces where participants are encouraged to move away from conventional thinking. Arts-based and embodied practices can enable new encounters with the world and new forms of meaning-making. We introduce the Theatre of the Innova(c)tors, an interactive theatre tool that encourages reflexivity and learning by creating transformative spaces. Inspired by the techniques of Theatre of the Oppressed, specifically Image Theatre, this tool engages diverse audiences and empowers participants. The Theatre of the Innova(c)tors can serve as a pedagogical innovation and intervention tool to explore different dimensions of care and can be applied in different communities, where it needs to be contextualised and customised to their specific needs.

Purpose: Aging is an inevitable process leading, inter alia, to the loss of muscle mass as well as the decrease in physical and cognitive function. These age-related impairments translate into a reduced gait performance and an increased risk of falls, which can be tackled with resistance training, Unimodal intervention (UMI). However, Multimodal intervention (MMI), i.e. combined motor-cognitive and resistance training, might be a more promising approach to increase physical and cognitive function in old adults. Therefore, this pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of MMI, compared to UMI, on gait and cognitive performance in elderly participants. We hypothesized that MMI will increase gait and cognitive performance to a larger extent than UMI. Methods: In this two-arm randomized controlled pilot study, 29 healthy active elderly participantswere assigned to MMI (15 participants, 72.0±5.5 years) and UMI (14 participants, 70.1±4.7 years). Both groups trained for 12 weeks, two times a week for 60 min, respectively. MMI consisted of motor-cognitive training directly followed by resistance training, while UMI consisted of a stand-alone resistance training. Three weeks before and after the interventions, gait performance (e.g., stride length, velocity, minimum toe clearance) was assessed during single- and dual-task walking trials using inertial measurement units. During dual-task walking, participants walked and concurrently performed different cognitive tasks in a random order: (i) reaction time task, (ii) N-back-task, and (iii) letter fluency task with two difficulty levels, respectively. Data were analyzed with repeated measures analyses of covariance (Time×Intervention×Condition). Results: Although the analyses of the progression of the external load used during resistance training showed a significant increase over the training period (e.g. leg press p<0.001, η ² p =0.618), there was no improvement of gait or cognitive performance in active old adults after neither MMI nor UMI. Conclusion: Against our hypothesis, the present pilot study indicated that neither a 12-week MMI nor UMI seems to have a sizable impact on gait parameters and cognitive performance in physically active healthy adults. Still, a significant increase in the external load used during resistance training was observed, implying neuromuscular adaptations, which, however, did not translate into a higher gait and/or cognitive performance.

During their daily lives humans are often confronted with sustained cognitive activities (SCA) leading to state fatigue, a psychobiological state characterized by a decrease in cognitive and/or motor performance and/or an increase in perception of fatigue. It was recently shown that performing SCA can impair overground dual-task gait performance in older adults, but it is currently unknown whether there is a task- and/or age-specific modulation in gait performance during treadmill walking. Therefore, the effect of a SCA on single- and dual-task treadmill walking performance was investigated in young and old adults. Using a crossover design, spatio-temporal gait parameters of 24 young and 23 older healthy participants were measured using motion capturing during single- and dual-task (including three cognitive interference tasks: word list generation, arithmetic, and Stroop-task) treadmill walking before and after SCA (30 min Stroop-task) and a control task (reading). Moreover, cognitive fatigue, wakefulness, mood, and arousal were assessed. Although the SCA induced age-specific perceptual responses, no difference was found for cognitive performance during the Stroop-task. The cognitive interference task performance (word list generation, arithmetic, and Stroop-task) during walking on the treadmill did not decrease after the SCA. Single- and dual-task gait performance (e. g., step width and step length) specifically changed after the SCA and after the reading control task in both groups. Data indicate that perceived cognitive fatigue has an impact on single- and dual-task treadmill walking performance, with task- and age-specific differences. Although no general age-specific changes in single- and dual task gait performance following SCA were identified, perceived cognitive fatigue should be considered as an intrinsic risk factor for falls.

Background Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its precursors gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (BD) have become a significant concern due to the increase in their recreational use and the high risks associated with it (e.g., overdose, addiction, life-threatening withdrawal syndromes). However, targeted prevention and treatment strategies are lacking, and little is known about the specific needs of users regarding supportive approaches. Methods To address this gap, a mixed-methods longitudinal study was conducted with two waves of online data collection (11/2022–01/2023; 11/2023–01/2024) in Germany. The adult convenience sample (N = 2,196, with n = 240 participating in the follow-up) was mostly connected to Berlin’s nightlife scene and included GHB/GBL/BD users and their (non-user) social environment. Perceptions and needs regarding prevention and harm-reduction, reasons and measures of decreasing use, and the impact of GHB/GBL/BD use were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results Education, harm reduction strategies, and specialized support options were welcomed by users and non-users, while restrictive approaches were viewed negatively, particularly by heavy users. Many participants expressed a desire to reduce GHB/GBL/BD use, driven primarily by health concerns, immediate use risks, and addiction, but only few participants had previously accessed preventive/therapeutic services. The follow-up showed little change in perceptions and experiences over time. Conclusions The findings underscore the need for comprehensive and integrative prevention and treatment strategies for GHB/GBL/BD use, with harm reduction approaches prioritized over restrictions. They provide a crucial foundation for future research and interventions and emphasize the necessity of adequately addressing the growing issues related to GHB/GBL/BD use. Trial registration The study protocol was pre-registered with the German registry for clinical studies (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien; drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00030608) on October 28, 2022.

Persuasive appeals frequently prove ineffective or produce unintended outcomes, due to the presence of motivated reasoning. Using the example of electric cars adoption, this research delves into the impact of emotional content, message valence, and the coherence of pre-existing attitudes on biased information evaluation. By conducting a factorial survey (N = 480) and incorporating a computational model of attitude formation, we aim to gain a deeper insight into the cognitive-affective mechanisms driving motivated reasoning. Our experimental findings reveal that motivated reasoning is most pronounced when persuasive appeals employ a combination of emotional and rational elements within a negatively valenced argument. Furthermore, our computational model, which estimates belief and affect adjustments underlying attitude changes, elucidates how message framing influences cognitive-affective processes through emotional coherence. The results provide support for a negative correlation between shifts in coherence in response to new information and the propensity for motivated reasoning. The research contributes to computational models of opinion dynamics and social influence, offering a psychologically realistic framework for exploring the impact of individual reasoning on population-level dynamics, particularly in policy contexts, where it can enhance communication and informed policy discussions.

Diffusive and contagious processes spread in the context of one another in connected populations. Diffusions may be more likely to pass through portions of a network where compatible diffusions are already present. We examine this by incorporating the concept of “relatedness” from the economic complexity literature into a network co-diffusion model. Building on the “product space” concept used in this work, we consider technologies themselves as nodes in “product networks”, where edges define relationships between products. Specifically, coding languages on GitHub, an online platform for collaborative coding, are considered. From rates of language co-occurrence in coding projects, we calculate rates of functional cohesion and functional equivalence for each pair of languages. From rates of how individuals adopt and abandon coding languages over time, we calculate measures of complementary diffusion and substitutive diffusion for each pair of languages relative to one another. Consistent with the principle of relatedness, network regression techniques (MR-QAP) reveal strong evidence that functional cohesion positively predicts complementary diffusion. We also find limited evidence that functional equivalence predicts substitutive (competitive) diffusion. Results support the broader finding that functional dependencies between diffusive processes will dictate how said processes spread relative to one another across a population of potential adapters.

Practical blood flow restriction (pBFR), using non-pneumatic elastic cuffs, is a feasible and cost-effective alternative to pneumatic systems. There is evidence that cuff stiffness influences haemodynamic and perceptual responses in the upper body during rest. However, the impact of cuff stiffness during exercise is still unknown. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of cuff stiffness on physiological, perceptual, and performance changes during exercise. In a randomized and counterbalanced order, ten recreationally active males performed four sets of unilateral elbow flexions at 20% of individuals’ one-repetition-maximum with two elastic cuffs of different stiffness (low stiffness cuff [LS] and high stiffness cuff [HS]) each applied with two different overlaps (10% and 20% overlap in relation to the limb circumference) as well as a control condition without pBFR. Before and after exercise, maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque was measured to assess motor performance fatigue. During exercise, muscle oxygen saturation of the biceps brachii as well as effort and exercise-induced muscle pain perception were recorded. Statistical analysis revealed that motor performance fatigue was not different between conditions (BF10 = 0.289). The decline in muscle oxygen saturation (BF10 = 8.508 and BF10 = 1039.543) as well as effort (BF10 = 2646.104 and BF10 = 2.773∙106) and exercise-induced muscle pain perception (BF10 = 14087.983 and BF10 = 7.306∙109) were higher when using the stiffer cuff at 10% and 20% overlap, respectively. Conclusively, physiological and perceptual responses but not motor performance fatigue were affected by cuff stiffness when equal relative overlaps were applied.

The skeletons of sharks and rays, fashioned from cartilage, and armored by a veneer of mineralized tiles (tesserae) present a mathematical challenge: How can the continuous covering be maintained as the skeleton expands? This study, using microCT and custom visual data analyses of growing stingray skeletons, systematically examines tessellation patterns and morphologies of the many thousand interacting tesserae covering the hyomandibula (a skeletal element critical to feeding), over a two‐fold developmental change in hyomandibula length. The number of tesserae remains surprisingly constant, even as the hyomandibula expands isometrically, with all hyomandibulae displaying self‐similar distributions of tesserae shapes/sizes. Although the distribution of tesserae geometries largely agrees with the rules for polyhedra tiling of complex surfaces—dominated by hexagons and a minor fraction of pentagons and heptagons, but very few other polygons—the agreement with Euler's classic mathematical laws is not perfect. Contrary to the assumed uniform growth rate (which is shown would create geometric incompatibilities), larger tesserae grow faster to accommodate skeletal expansion. It is hypothesized that this local regulation of global system complexity is driven by tension (from cartilaginous core expansion) in the fibers connecting tesserae, with strain‐responsive cells orchestrating local mineral apposition.

Artificial intelligence (AI) generative tools offer students significant opportunities, albeit posing challenges to academic integrity. Given the constant advancements in generative AI, AI detection, and AI humanizer technologies, we provide three proactive strategies toward assuring such integrity.

Zusammenfassung Dieser Beitrag in der Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie widmet sich der Analyse von Exklusions- und Inklusionsdynamiken in Bildungssettings aus psychodramatischer Perspektive. Der Autor schlägt vor, das sozio-kulturelle Atom als ein Modell für die mentalen Repräsentationen von Beziehungen zu verstehen und es als Ausgangspunkt für inklusive Prozesse zu verwenden. Dabei wird Inklusion als Förderung sozialer Teilhabe definiert und die dafür notwendigen Prozesse als Reparatur(en) sozio-kultureller Atome beschrieben. Ausgehend von Forschungsergebnissen zu sozialen Beziehungen im Klassenzimmer beschreibt der Autor vier Aspekte von Behinderung sozialer Teilhabe als mentale Manipulationen sozio-kultureller Atome durch Abwesenheit, Verleugnen, Ignorieren oder Ablehnen. Es werden mögliche Ansätze für psychodramatische Interventionen zur Gestaltung inklusiver Bildungsprozesse angedeutet.

This paper presents an approach to designing companion technologies for mental health based on a case study on social anxiety disorder (SAD). We highlight the potential of an irritating dimension of user experience and propose including irritating qualities in companions as a strategy to disrupt patterns of behavior and thought, support perspective change, and expand an individual’s comfort zone. Taking the Tamagotchi as a counterpoint to assisting technologies and combining frameworks and concepts from psychology and HCI, we propose the grounding metaphor of ‘caring for the companion as a form of self-care,’ arguing the potential of building reciprocal care relationships as a means by which to support emotional attachment and establish healthy routines. In this paper, we introduce this grounding metaphor and a set of principles for fostering positive irritations. Our framework provides a basis for exploring and developing novel paradigms and poses future directions for HCI.