TY - CHAP
A1 - Abujarour, Safa’a
A1 - Köster, Antonia
A1 - Krasnova, Hanna
A1 - Wiesche, Manuel
T1 - Technology as a source of power
BT - Exploring how ICT use contributes to the social inclusion of refugees in Germany
T2 - Proceedings of the 54th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
N2 - Since the beginning of the recent global refugee crisis, researchers have been tackling many of its associated aspects, investigating how we can help to alleviate this crisis, in particular, using ICTs capabilities. In our research, we investigated the use of ICT solutions by refugees to foster the social inclusion process in the host community. To tackle this topic, we conducted thirteen interviews with Syrian refugees in Germany. Our findings reveal different ICT usages by refugees and how these contribute to feeling empowered. Moreover, we show the sources of empowerment for refugees that are gained by ICT use. Finally, we identified the two types of social inclusion benefits that were derived from empowerment sources. Our results provide practical implications to different stakeholders and decision-makers on how ICT usage can empower refugees, which can foster the social inclusion of refugees, and what should be considered to support them in their integration effort.
KW - culture, identity, and inclusion
KW - empowerment
KW - ict
KW - refugees
KW - social inclusion
KW - technology
Y1 - 2021
UR - https://hdl.handle.net/10125/70936
SN - 978-0-9981331-4-0
U6 - https://doi.org/10.24251/HICSS.2021.322
SN - 2572-6862
SP - 2637
EP - 2646
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Mattern, Maximilian
A1 - Reppert, Alexander von
A1 - Zeuschner, Steffen Peer
A1 - Herzog, Marc
A1 - Pudell, Jan-Etienne
A1 - Bargheer, Matias
T1 - Concepts and use cases for picosecond ultrasonics with x-rays
JF - Photoacoustics
N2 - This review discusses picosecond ultrasonics experiments using ultrashort hard x-ray probe pulses to extract the transient strain response of laser-excited nanoscopic structures from Bragg-peak shifts. This method provides direct, layer-specific, and quantitative information on the picosecond strain response for structures down to few-nm thickness. We model the transient strain using the elastic wave equation and express the driving stress using Gruneisen parameters stating that the laser-induced stress is proportional to energy density changes in the microscopic subsystems of the solid, i.e., electrons, phonons and spins. The laser-driven strain response can thus serve as an ultrafast proxy for local energy-density and temperature changes, but we emphasize the importance of the nanoscale morphology for an accurate interpretation due to the Poisson effect. The presented experimental use cases encompass ultrathin and opaque metal-heterostructures, continuous and granular nanolayers as well as negative thermal expansion materials, that each pose a challenge to established all-optical techniques.
KW - Picosecond ultrasonics
KW - Ultrafast x-ray diffraction
KW - Ultrafast x-ray
KW - scattering
KW - Ultrafast photoacoustics
KW - Nanoscale heat transfer
KW - Negative
KW - thermal expansion
Y1 - 2023
U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacs.2023.100503
SN - 2213-5979
VL - 31
PB - Elsevier
CY - Amsterdam
ER -
TY - CHAP
A1 - Abendroth, Adrian
A1 - Bender, Benedict
A1 - Gronau, Norbert
T1 - The evolution of original ERP customization
BT - a systematic literature review of technical possibilities
T2 - Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems
N2 - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system customization is often necessary because companies have unique processes that provide their competitive advantage. Despite new technological advances such as cloud computing or model-driven development, technical ERP customization options are either outdated or ambiguously formulated in the scientific literature. Using a systematic literature review (SLR) that analyzes 137 definitions from 26 papers, the result is an analysis and aggregation of technical customization types by providing clearance and aligning with future organizational needs. The results show a shift from ERP code modification in on-premises systems to interface and integration customization in cloud ERP systems, as well as emerging technological opportunities as a way for customers and key users to perform system customization. The study contributes by providing a clear understanding of given customization types and assisting ERP users and vendors in making customization decisions.
KW - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System
KW - Customization
KW - Modification
KW - Tailoring
KW - Literature Review
Y1 - 2024
SN - 978-989-758-692-7
U6 - https://doi.org/10.5220/0012305500003690
SN - 2184-4992
VL - 1
SP - 17
EP - 27
PB - SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications
CY - Setúbal
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Vilk, Ohad
A1 - Aghion, Erez
A1 - Avgar, Tal
A1 - Beta, Carsten
A1 - Nagel, Oliver
A1 - Sabri, Adal
A1 - Sarfati, Raphael
A1 - Schwartz, Daniel K.
A1 - Weiß, Matthias
A1 - Krapf, Diego
A1 - Nathan, Ran
A1 - Metzler, Ralf
A1 - Assaf, Michael
T1 - Unravelling the origins of anomalous diffusion
BT - from molecules to migrating storks
JF - Physical review research / American Physical Society
N2 - Anomalous diffusion or, more generally, anomalous transport, with nonlinear dependence of the mean-squared displacement on the measurement time, is ubiquitous in nature. It has been observed in processes ranging from microscopic movement of molecules to macroscopic, large-scale paths of migrating birds. Using data from multiple empirical systems, spanning 12 orders of magnitude in length and 8 orders of magnitude in time, we employ a method to detect the individual underlying origins of anomalous diffusion and transport in the data. This method decomposes anomalous transport into three primary effects: long-range correlations (“Joseph effect”), fat-tailed probability density of increments (“Noah effect”), and nonstationarity (“Moses effect”). We show that such a decomposition of real-life data allows us to infer nontrivial behavioral predictions and to resolve open questions in the fields of single-particle tracking in living cells and movement ecology.
Y1 - 2022
U6 - https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.033055
SN - 2643-1564
VL - 4
IS - 3
PB - American Physical Society
CY - College Park, MD
ER -
TY - GEN
A1 - Paoli, Antonio
A1 - Moro, Tatiana
A1 - Lorenzetti, Silvio
A1 - Seiler, Jan
A1 - Lüthy, Fabian
A1 - Gross, Micah
A1 - Roggio, Federico
A1 - Chaabene, Helmi
A1 - Musumeci, Giuseppe
T1 - The “Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology” Journal Club Series
BT - Resistance Training
T2 - Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
N2 - We are glad to introduce the Second Journal Club of Volume Five, Second Issue. This edition is focused on relevant studies published in the last few years in the field of resistance training, chosen by our Editorial Board members and their colleagues. We hope to stimulate your curiosity in this field and to share with you the passion for the sport, seen also from the scientific point of view. The Editorial Board members wish you an inspiring lecture.
Y1 - 2020
U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk5020025
SN - 2411-5142
VL - 5
IS - 2
SP - 1
EP - 9
PB - MDPI
CY - Basel
ER -
TY - GEN
A1 - Bilgen, Isa
T1 - Freiheit und Nachhaltigkeit im Verfassungswandel
T2 - Verfassungsblog : on matters constitutional
N2 - Mit dem Klima wandelt sich auch notwendig die offene Gesellschaft. Und mit ihr wandelt sich wiederum auch die Verfassung(-sinterpretation). Periodisch wiederkehrende Gesundheits- und Sicherheitskrisen fordern eine dynamische Reaktion des Grundgesetzes auf mit ihnen einhergehende Probleme. In andauernden Krisen wie der Umweltkrise muss die Verfassung gleichzeitig in vielerlei Hinsicht nachhaltig sein. Dabei muss das, was wir unter Freiheit, Klima‑, Umwelt- oder Tierschutz verstehen, immer im Wandel bleiben.
Y1 - 2023
UR - https://verfassungsblog.de/freiheit-und-nachhaltigkeit-im-verfassungswandel/
U6 - https://doi.org/10.17176/20230617-231023-0
SN - 2366-7044
PB - Max Steinbeis Verfassungsblog gGmbH
CY - Berlin
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Mattern, Maximilian
A1 - Pudell, Jan-Etienne
A1 - Dumesnil, Karine
A1 - Reppert, Alexander von
A1 - Bargheer, Matias
T1 - Towards shaping picosecond strain pulses via magnetostrictive transducers
JF - Photoacoustics
N2 - Using time-resolved x-ray diffraction, we demonstrate the manipulation of the picosecond strain response of a metallic heterostructure consisting of a dysprosium (Dy) transducer and a niobium (Nb) detection layer by an external magnetic field. We utilize the first-order ferromagnetic–antiferromagnetic phase transition of the Dy layer, which provides an additional large contractive stress upon laser excitation compared to its zerofield response. This enhances the laser-induced contraction of the transducer and changes the shape of the picosecond strain pulses driven in Dy and detected within the buried Nb layer. Based on our experiment with rare-earth metals we discuss required properties for functional transducers, which may allow for novel field-control of the emitted picosecond strain pulses.
KW - picosecond ultrasonics
KW - magnetostriction
KW - ultrafast x-ray diffraction
KW - ultrafast photoacoustics
KW - nanoscale heat transfer
KW - negative thermal expansion
Y1 - 2023
U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacs.2023.100463
SN - 2213-5979
VL - 30
PB - Elsevier
CY - Amsterdam
ER -
TY - GEN
A1 - Lemke, Tristan
T1 - Keine Reform für die Zukunft
T2 - Verfassungsblog : on matters constitutional
N2 - Am 1. Januar 2021 trat die jüngste Reform des Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetzes (EEG) in Kraft. Sie führte mit der finanziellen Beteiligung der Gemeinden an den Erträgen der Windenergie klammheimlich eine verfassungswidrige Abgabe ein: Durch das Zusammenspiel des neuen § 36k EEG 2021 mit der altbekannten EEG-Umlage fließt eine bei den Strom-Endverbrauchern erhobene Abgabe in die kommunalen Haushalte. Das kann auf keine Gesetzgebungskompetenz gestützt werden. Darüber hinaus führt die Deckelung der EEG-Umlage in den Jahren 2021 und 2022 in Verbindung mit § 36k EEG 2021 dazu, dass in verfassungswidriger Weise Bundesmittel den Gemeinden zur freien Verfügung gestellt werden.
KW - Abgabe
KW - Umlage
Y1 - 2021
U6 - https://doi.org/10.17176/20210130-222740-0
SN - 2366-7044
PB - Max Steinbeis Verfassungsblog gGmbH
CY - Berlin
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Heissel, Andreas
A1 - Sanchez, Alba
A1 - Pietrek, Anou F.
A1 - Bergau, Theresa
A1 - Stielow, Christiane
A1 - Rapp, Michael A.
A1 - Van der Kaap-Deeder, Jolene
T1 - Validating the German Short Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale in Individuals with Depression
JF - Healthcare
N2 - Satisfaction and frustration of the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, as assessed with the 24-item Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS), have been found to be crucial indicators of individuals’ psychological health. To increase the usability of this scale within a clinical and health services research context, we aimed to validate a German short version (12 items) of this scale in individuals with depression including the examination of the relations from need frustration and need satisfaction to ill-being and quality of life (QOL). This cross-sectional study involved 344 adults diagnosed with depression (Mage (SD) = 47.5 years (11.1); 71.8% females). Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the short version of the BPNSFS was not only reliable, but also fitted a six-factor structure (i.e., satisfaction/frustration X type of need). Subsequent structural equation modeling showed that need frustration related positively to indicators of ill-being and negatively to QOL. Surprisingly, need satisfaction did not predict differences in ill-being or QOL. The short form of the BPNSFS represents a practical instrument to measure need satisfaction and frustration in people with depression. Further, the results support recent evidence on the importance of especially need frustration in the prediction of psychopathology.
KW - basic psychological need frustration
KW - need satisfaction
KW - mental health
KW - ill-being
KW - depression
Y1 - 2023
U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11030412
SN - 2227-9032
VL - 11
IS - 3
PB - MDPI
CY - Basel
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Wyckmans, Florent
A1 - Otto, A. Ross
A1 - Sebold, Miriam
A1 - Daw, Nathaniel
A1 - Bechara, Antoine
A1 - Saeremans, Mélanie
A1 - Kornreich, Charles
A1 - Chatard, Armand
A1 - Jaafari, Nemat
A1 - Noël, Xavier
T1 - Reduced model-based decision-making in gambling disorder
JF - Scientific reports
N2 - Compulsive behaviors (e.g., addiction) can be viewed as an aberrant decision process where inflexible reactions automatically evoked by stimuli (habit) take control over decision making to the detriment of a more flexible (goal-oriented) behavioral learning system. These behaviors are thought to arise from learning algorithms known as "model-based" and "model-free" reinforcement learning. Gambling disorder, a form of addiction without the confound of neurotoxic effects of drugs, showed impaired goal-directed control but the way in which problem gamblers (PG) orchestrate model-based and model-free strategies has not been evaluated. Forty-nine PG and 33 healthy participants (CP) completed a two-step sequential choice task for which model-based and model-free learning have distinct and identifiable trial-by-trial learning signatures. The influence of common psychopathological comorbidities on those two forms of learning were investigated. PG showed impaired model-based learning, particularly after unrewarded outcomes. In addition, PG exhibited faster reaction times than CP following unrewarded decisions. Troubled mood, higher impulsivity (i.e., positive and negative urgency) and current and chronic stress reported via questionnaires did not account for those results. These findings demonstrate specific reinforcement learning and decision-making deficits in behavioral addiction that advances our understanding and may be important dimensions for designing effective interventions.
Y1 - 2019
U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56161-z
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 9
PB - Nature Publ. Group
CY - London
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Kaminski, Jakob A.
A1 - Schlagenhauf, Florian
A1 - Rapp, Michael A.
A1 - Awasthi, Swapnil
A1 - Ruggeri, Barbara
A1 - Deserno, Lorenz
A1 - Banaschewski, Tobias
A1 - Bokde, Arun L. W.
A1 - Bromberg, Uli
A1 - Büchel, Christian
A1 - Quinlan, Erin Burke
A1 - Desrivieres, Sylvane
A1 - Flor, Herta
A1 - Frouin, Vincent
A1 - Garavan, Hugh
A1 - Gowland, Penny
A1 - Ittermann, Bernd
A1 - Martinot, Jean-Luc
A1 - Martinot, Marie-Laure Paillere
A1 - Nees, Frauke
A1 - Orfanos, Dimitri Papadopoulos
A1 - Paus, Tomas
A1 - Poustka, Luise
A1 - Smolka, Michael N.
A1 - Fröhner, Juliane H.
A1 - Walter, Henrik
A1 - Whelan, Robert
A1 - Ripke, Stephan
A1 - Schumann, Gunter
A1 - Heinz, Andreas
T1 - Epigenetic variance in dopamine D2 receptor
BT - a marker of IQ malleability?
JF - Translational Psychiatry
N2 - Genetic and environmental factors both contribute to cognitive test performance. A substantial increase in average intelligence test results in the second half of the previous century within one generation is unlikely to be explained by genetic changes. One possible explanation for the strong malleability of cognitive performance measure is that environmental factors modify gene expression via epigenetic mechanisms. Epigenetic factors may help to understand the recent observations of an association between dopamine-dependent encoding of reward prediction errors and cognitive capacity, which was modulated by adverse life events. The possible manifestation of malleable biomarkers contributing to variance in cognitive test performance, and thus possibly contributing to the "missing heritability" between estimates from twin studies and variance explained by genetic markers, is still unclear. Here we show in 1475 healthy adolescents from the IMaging and GENetics (IMAGEN) sample that general IQ (gIQ) is associated with (1) polygenic scores for intelligence, (2) epigenetic modification of DRD2 gene, (3) gray matter density in striatum, and (4) functional striatal activation elicited by temporarily surprising reward-predicting cues. Comparing the relative importance for the prediction of gIQ in an overlapping subsample, our results demonstrate neurobiological correlates of the malleability of gIQ and point to equal importance of genetic variance, epigenetic modification of DRD2 receptor gene, as well as functional striatal activation, known to influence dopamine neurotransmission. Peripheral epigenetic markers are in need of confirmation in the central nervous system and should be tested in longitudinal settings specifically assessing individual and environmental factors that modify epigenetic structure.
Y1 - 2018
U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-018-0222-7
SN - 2158-3188
VL - 8
PB - Nature Publ. Group
CY - New York
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Herold, Fabian
A1 - Theobald, Paula
A1 - Gronwald, Thomas
A1 - Rapp, Michael A.
A1 - Müller, Notger Germar
T1 - Going digital – a commentary on the terminology used at the intersection of physical activity and digital health
JF - European review of aging and physical activity
N2 - In recent years digital technologies have become a major means for providing health-related services and this trend was strongly reinforced by the current Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As it is well-known that regular physical activity has positive effects on individual physical and mental health and thus is an important prerequisite for healthy aging, digital technologies are also increasingly used to promote unstructured and structured forms of physical activity. However, in the course of this development, several terms (e.g., Digital Health, Electronic Health, Mobile Health, Telehealth, Telemedicine, and Telerehabilitation) have been introduced to refer to the application of digital technologies to provide health-related services such as physical interventions. Unfortunately, the above-mentioned terms are often used in several different ways, but also relatively interchangeably. Given that ambiguous terminology is a major source of difficulty in scientific communication which can impede the progress of theoretical and empirical research, this article aims to make the reader aware of the subtle differences between the relevant terms which are applied at the intersection of physical activity and Digital Health and to provide state-of-art definitions for them.
KW - Digital Health
KW - Electronic Health
KW - Mobile Health
KW - Telehealth
KW - Telemedicine
KW - Physical activity
KW - Physical training
KW - Aging
Y1 - 2022
U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s11556-022-00296-y
SN - 1861-6909
VL - 19
PB - Springer
CY - Berlin ; Heidelberg
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Heißel, Andreas
A1 - Bollmann, Julian
A1 - Kangas, Maria
A1 - Abdulla, K
A1 - Rapp, Michael A.
A1 - Sánchez Fernàndez, Alba Cristina
T1 - Validation of the German version of the work and social adjustment scale in a sample of depressed patients
JF - BMC health services research
N2 - Background
Depression is one of the key factors contributing to difficulties in one’s ability to work, and serves as one of the major reasons why employees apply for psychotherapy and receive insurance subsidization of treatments. Hence, an increasing and growing number of studies rely on workability assessment scales as their primary outcome measure. The Work and Social Assessment Scale (WSAS) has been documented as one of the most psychometrically reliable and valid tools especially developed to assess workability and social functioning in patients with mental health problems. Yet, the application of the WSAS in Germany has been limited due to the paucity of a valid questionnaire in the German language. The objective of the present study was to translate the WSAS, as a brief and easy administrable tool into German and test its psychometric properties in a sample of adults with depression.
Methods
Two hundred seventy-seven patients (M = 48.3 years, SD = 11.1) with mild to moderately severe depression were recruited. A multistep translation from English into the German language was performed and the factorial validity, criterion validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, internal consistency, and floor and ceiling effects were examined.
Results
The confirmatory factor analysis results confirmed the one-factor structure of the WSAS. Significant correlations with the WHODAS 2–0 questionnaire, a measure of functionality, demonstrated good convergent validity. Significant correlations with depression and quality of life demonstrated good criterion validity. The WSAS also demonstrated strong internal consistency (α = .89), and the absence of floor and ceiling effects indicated good sensitivity of the instrument.
Conclusions
The results of the present study demonstrated that the German version of the WSAS has good psychometric properties comparable to other international versions of this scale. The findings recommend a global assessment of psychosocial functioning with the sum score of the WSAS.
KW - Workability
KW - Social functioning
KW - Depression
KW - Psychometric evaluation
KW - Translation
Y1 - 2021
U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06622-x
SN - 1472-6963
VL - 21
SP - 1
EP - 11
PB - BioMed Central
CY - London
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Pérez Chaparro, Camilo Germán Alberto
A1 - Schuch, Felipe Barreto
A1 - Zech, Philipp
A1 - Kangas, Maria
A1 - Rapp, Michael A.
A1 - Heißel, Andreas
T1 - Recreational exercising and self-reported cardiometabolic diseases in German people living with HIV
BT - A cross-sectional study
JF - International journal of environmental research and public health : IJERPH / Molecular Diversity Preservation International
N2 - Exercise is known for its beneficial effects on preventing cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) in the general population. People living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) are prone to sedentarism, thus raising their already elevated risk of developing CMDs in comparison to individuals without HIV. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine if exercise is associated with reduced risk of self-reported CMDs in a German HIV-positive sample (n = 446). Participants completed a self-report survey to assess exercise levels, date of HIV diagnosis, CD4 cell count, antiretroviral therapy, and CMDs. Participants were classified into exercising or sedentary conditions. Generalized linear models with Poisson regression were conducted to assess the prevalence ratio (PR) of PLWH reporting a CMD. Exercising PLWH were less likely to report a heart arrhythmia for every increase in exercise duration (PR: 0.20: 95% CI: 0.10–0.62, p < 0.01) and diabetes mellitus for every increase in exercise session per week (PR: 0.40: 95% CI: 0.10–1, p < 0.01). Exercise frequency and duration are associated with a decreased risk of reporting arrhythmia and diabetes mellitus in PLWH. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying exercise as a protective factor for CMDs in PLWH.
KW - HIV
KW - exercise
KW - cardiovascular diseases
KW - metabolic disease
KW - sedentary
Y1 - 2021
U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111579
SN - 1660-4601
VL - 18
IS - 21
SP - 1
EP - 10
PB - MDPI
CY - Basel, Schweiz
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Gellert, Paul
A1 - Häusler, Andreas
A1 - Suhr, Ralf
A1 - Gholami, Maryam
A1 - Rapp, Michael A.
A1 - Kuhlmey, Adelheid
A1 - Nordheim, Johanna
T1 - Testing the stress-buffering hypothesis of social support in couples coping with early-stage dementia
JF - PLoS one
N2 - Purpose:
To test whether the negative relationship between perceived stress and quality of life (Hypothesis 1) can be buffered by perceived social support in patients with dementia as well as in caregivers individually (Hypothesis 2: actor effects) and across partners (Hypothesis 3: partner effects and actor-partner effects).
Method:
A total of 108 couples (N = 216 individuals) comprised of one individual with early-stage dementia and one caregiving partner were assessed at baseline and one month apart. Moderation effects were investigated by applying linear mixed models and actor-partner interdependence models.
Results:
Although the stress-quality of life association was more pronounced in caregivers (beta = -.63, p<.001) compared to patients (beta= -.31, p<.001), this association was equally moderated by social support in patients (beta = .14, p<.05) and in the caregivers (beta =.13, p<.05). From one partner to his or her counterpart, the partner buffering and actor-partner-buffering effect were not present.
Conclusion:
The stress-buffering effect has been replicated in individuals with dementia and caregivers but not across partners. Interventions to improve quality of life through perceived social support should not only focus on caregivers, but should incorporate both partners.
Y1 - 2018
U6 - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0189849
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 13
IS - 1
PB - PLoS
CY - San Fransisco
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Heinz, Andreas
A1 - Kiefer, Falk
A1 - Smolka, Michael N.
A1 - Endrass, Tanja
A1 - Beste, Christian
A1 - Beck, Anne
A1 - Liu, Shuyan
A1 - Genauck, Alexander
A1 - Romund, Lydia
A1 - Rapp, Michael A.
A1 - Tost, Heike
A1 - Spanagel, Rainer
T1 - Addiction research consortium: losing and regaining control over drug intake (ReCoDe) - from trajectories to mechanisms and interventions
JF - Addiction Biology
N2 - One of the major risk factors for global death and disability is alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use. While there is increasing knowledge with respect to individual factors promoting the initiation and maintenance of substance use disorders (SUDs), disease trajectories involved in losing and regaining control over drug intake (ReCoDe) are still not well described. Our newly formed German Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) on ReCoDe has an interdisciplinary approach funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) with a 12-year perspective. The main goals of our research consortium are (i) to identify triggers and modifying factors that longitudinally modulate the trajectories of losing and regaining control over drug consumption in real life, (ii) to study underlying behavioral, cognitive, and neurobiological mechanisms, and (iii) to implicate mechanism-based interventions. These goals will be achieved by: (i) using mobile health (m-health) tools to longitudinally monitor the effects of triggers (drug cues, stressors, and priming doses) and modify factors (eg, age, gender, physical activity, and cognitive control) on drug consumption patterns in real-life conditions and in animal models of addiction; (ii) the identification and computational modeling of key mechanisms mediating the effects of such triggers and modifying factors on goal-directed, habitual, and compulsive aspects of behavior from human studies and animal models; and (iii) developing and testing interventions that specifically target the underlying mechanisms for regaining control over drug intake.
KW - addiction
KW - alternative rewards
KW - animal and computational models
KW - cognitive-behavioral control
KW - craving and relapse
KW - habit formation
Y1 - 2019
VL - 25
IS - 2
PB - John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
CY - New Jersey
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Schraplau, Anne
A1 - Block, Andrea
A1 - Häusler, Andreas
A1 - Wippert, Pia-Maria
A1 - Rapp, Michael A.
A1 - Völler, Heinz
A1 - Bonaventura, Klaus
A1 - Mayer, Frank
T1 - Mobile diagnostics and consultation for the prevention of the metabolic syndrome and its secondary diseases in Brandenburg—study protocol of a regional prospective cohort study
BT - the Mobile Brandenburg Cohort
JF - Pilot and Feasibility Studies
N2 - Background
The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a risk cluster for a number of secondary diseases. The implementation of prevention programs requires early detection of individuals at risk. However, access to health care providers is limited in structurally weak regions. Brandenburg, a rural federal state in Germany, has an especially high MetS prevalence and disease burden. This study aims to validate and test the feasibility of a setup for mobile diagnostics of MetS and its secondary diseases, to evaluate the MetS prevalence and its association with moderating factors in Brandenburg and to identify new ways of early prevention, while establishing a “Mobile Brandenburg Cohort” to reveal new causes and risk factors for MetS.
Methods
In a pilot study, setups for mobile diagnostics of MetS and secondary diseases will be developed and validated. A van will be equipped as an examination room using point-of-care blood analyzers and by mobilizing standard methods. In study part A, these mobile diagnostic units will be placed at different locations in Brandenburg to locally recruit 5000 participants aged 40-70 years. They will be examined for MetS and advice on nutrition and physical activity will be provided. Questionnaires will be used to evaluate sociodemographics, stress perception, and physical activity. In study part B, participants with MetS, but without known secondary diseases, will receive a detailed mobile medical examination, including MetS diagnostics, medical history, clinical examinations, and instrumental diagnostics for internal, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and cognitive disorders. Participants will receive advice on nutrition and an exercise program will be demonstrated on site. People unable to participate in these mobile examinations will be interviewed by telephone. If necessary, participants will be referred to general practitioners for further diagnosis.
Discussion
The mobile diagnostics approach enables early detection of individuals at risk, and their targeted referral to local health care providers. Evaluation of the MetS prevalence, its relation to risk-increasing factors, and the “Mobile Brandenburg Cohort” create a unique database for further longitudinal studies on the implementation of home-based prevention programs to reduce mortality, especially in rural regions.
Trial registration
German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00022764; registered 07 October 2020—retrospectively registered.
KW - Metabolic syndrome
KW - Mobile diagnostics
KW - Prevention
KW - Nutrition
KW - Physical activity
KW - Rural health
Y1 - 2021
U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-021-00898-w
SN - 2055-5784
VL - 7
SP - 1
EP - 11
PB - BioMed Central (Springer Nature)
CY - London
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Heissel, Andreas
A1 - Pietrek, Anou F.
A1 - Schwefel, Melanie
A1 - Abula, Kahar
A1 - Wilbertz, Gregor
A1 - Heinzel, Stephan
A1 - Rapp, Michael A.
T1 - STEP.De study
BT - a multicentre cluster-randomised effectiveness trial of exercise therapy for patients with depressive symptoms in healthcare services : study protocol
JF - BMJ open
N2 - Introduction Although exercise therapy has widely been shown to be an efficacious treatment modality for depression, evidence for its effectiveness and cost efficiency is lacking. The Sport/Exercise Therapy for Depression study is a multicentre cluster-randomised effectiveness trial that aims to compare the effectiveness and cost efficiency of exercise therapy and psychotherapy as antidepressant treatment.
Methods and analysis 480 patients (aged 18-65) with an International Classification of Diseases diagnosis associated with depressive symptoms are recruited. Up to 30 clusters (psychotherapists) are randomly assigned to allocate patients to either an exercise or a psychotherapy treatment as usual in a 2: 1 ratio. The primary outcome (depressive symptoms) and the secondary outcomes (work and social adjustment, quality of life) will be assessed at six measurement time points (t0: baseline, t1: 8 weeks after treatment initiation, t2: 16 weeks after treatment initiation, t3/ 4/5: 2, 6, 12 months after treatment). Linear regression analyses will be used for the primary endpoint data analysis. For the secondary endpoints, mixed linear and logistic regression models with fixed and random factors will be added. For the cost efficiency analysis, expenditures in the 12 months before and after the intervention and the outcome difference will be compared between groups in a multilevel model. Recruitment start date was 1 July 2018 and the planned recruitment end date is 31 December 2020.
Ethics and dissemination The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Potsdam (No. 17/2018) and the Freie Universitat Berlin (No. 206/2018) and registered in the ISRCTN registry. Informed written consent will be obtained from all participants. The study will be reported in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials and the Recommendations for Interventional Trials statements. The results will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals and disseminated to the public.
Y1 - 2020
U6 - https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036287
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 10
IS - 4
PB - BMJ Publishing Group
CY - London
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Schulze, Susanne
A1 - Merz, Sibille
A1 - Thier, Anne
A1 - Tallarek, Marie
A1 - König, Franziska
A1 - Uhlenbrock, Greta
A1 - Nübling, Matthias
A1 - Lincke, Hans-Joachim
A1 - Rapp, Michael A.
A1 - Spallek, Jacob
A1 - Holmberg, Christine
T1 - Psychosocial burden in nurses working in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic
BT - a cross-sectional study with quantitative and qualitative data
JF - BMC health services research
N2 - Background The Covid-19 pandemic led to increased work-related strain and psychosocial burden in nurses worldwide, resulting in high prevalences of mental health problems. Nurses in long-term care facilities seem to be especially affected by the pandemic. Nevertheless, there are few findings indicating possible positive changes for health care workers. Therefore, we investigated which psychosocial burdens and potential positive aspects nurses working in long-term care facilities experience during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a mixed-methods study among nurses and nursing assistants working in nursing homes in Germany. The survey contained the third German version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ III). Using Welch's t-tests, we compared the COPSOQ results of our sample against a pre-pandemic reference group of geriatric nurses from Germany. Additionally, we conducted semi-structured interviews with geriatric nurses with a special focus on psychosocial stress, to reach a deeper understanding of their experiences on work-related changes and burdens during the pandemic. Data were analysed using thematic coding (Braun and Clarke). Results Our survey sample (n = 177) differed significantly from the pre-pandemic reference group in 14 out of 31 COPSOQ scales. Almost all of these differences indicated negative changes. Our sample scored significantly worse regarding the scales 'quantitative demands', 'hiding emotions', 'work-privacy conflicts', 'role conflicts', 'quality of leadership', 'support at work', 'recognition', 'physical demands', 'intention to leave profession', 'burnout', 'presenteeism' and 'inability to relax'. The interviews (n = 15) revealed six main themes related to nurses' psychosocial stress: 'overall working conditions', 'concern for residents', 'management of relatives', 'inability to provide terminal care', 'tensions between being infected and infecting others' and 'technicisation of care'. 'Enhanced community cohesion' (interviews), 'meaning of work' and 'quantity of social relations' (COPSOQ III) were identified as positive effects of the pandemic. Conclusions Results clearly illustrate an aggravation of geriatric nurses' situation and psychosocial burden and only few positive changes due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Pre-existing hardships seem to have further deteriorated and new stressors added to nurses' strain. The perceived erosion of care, due to an overemphasis of the technical in relation to the social and emotional dimensions of care, seems to be especially burdensome to geriatric nurses.
KW - COPSOQ
KW - Nurses
KW - Nursing home
KW - Psychosocial burden
KW - Mixed-methods study
KW - Covid-19
Y1 - 2022
U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08333-3
SN - 1472-6963
VL - 22
IS - 1
PB - BMC
CY - London
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Ye, Fangyuan
A1 - Zhang, Shuo
A1 - Warby, Jonathan
A1 - Wu, Jiawei
A1 - Gutierrez-Partida, Emilio
A1 - Lang, Felix
A1 - Shah, Sahil
A1 - Saglamkaya, Elifnaz
A1 - Sun, Bowen
A1 - Zu, Fengshuo
A1 - Shoaee, Safa
A1 - Wang, Haifeng
A1 - Stiller, Burkhard
A1 - Neher, Dieter
A1 - Zhu, Wei-Hong
A1 - Stolterfoht, Martin
A1 - Wu, Yongzhen
T1 - Overcoming C-60-induced interfacial recombination in inverted perovskite solar cells by electron-transporting carborane
JF - Nature Communications
N2 - Inverted perovskite solar cells still suffer from significant non-radiative recombination losses at the perovskite surface and across the perovskite/C-60 interface, limiting the future development of perovskite-based single- and multi-junction photovoltaics. Therefore, more effective inter- or transport layers are urgently required. To tackle these recombination losses, we introduce ortho-carborane as an interlayer material that has a spherical molecular structure and a three-dimensional aromaticity. Based on a variety of experimental techniques, we show that ortho-carborane decorated with phenylamino groups effectively passivates the perovskite surface and essentially eliminates the non-radiative recombination loss across the perovskite/C-60 interface with high thermal stability. We further demonstrate the potential of carborane as an electron transport material, facilitating electron extraction while blocking holes from the interface. The resulting inverted perovskite solar cells deliver a power conversion efficiency of over 23% with a low non-radiative voltage loss of 110mV, and retain >97% of the initial efficiency after 400h of maximum power point tracking. Overall, the designed carborane based interlayer simultaneously enables passivation, electron-transport and hole-blocking and paves the way toward more efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. Effective transport layers are essential to suppress non-radiative recombination losses. Here, the authors introduce phenylamino-functionalized ortho-carborane as an interfacial layer, and realise inverted perovskite solar cells with efficiency of over 23% and operational stability of T97=400h.
Y1 - 2022
U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34203-x
SN - 2041-1723
VL - 13
IS - 1
PB - Nature Publishing Group
CY - London
ER -