Improvements in functional capacity from Nordic walking: a randomized-controlled trial among elderly people

This study examined the effects of an instructed structured Nordic walking (NW) exercise program on the functional capacity of older sedentary people. Volunteers were randomly assigned to an NW group (68.2 ± 3.8 yr old) or control group (69.9 ± 3.0 yr old). Before and at the end of the 9-wk intervention, functional tests and 2-dimensional ground-reaction-force (GRF) patterns of normal (1.40 m/s) and fast (1.94 m/s) walking speeds were measured. The intervention included a 60-min supervised NW session on an inside track twice a week for 9 wk. The mean changes in functional tests differed between groups significantly. Gait analyses showed no significant differences between the groups on any GRF parameters for walking speed either before or after the intervention. The study showed that NW has favorable effects on functional capacity in older people and is a suitable form of exercise for them.     

Exploring challenges of boundary-crossing performance dialogues in hybrids

Journal of Management and Governance - Literature on performance management in hybrid organisations remains lacking, even though they increasingly are providing public services. This study created...     

Kick It Like Özil? Decomposing the Native‐Migrant Education Gap

We investigate second‐generation migrants and native children at several stages in the German education system to analyze the determinants of the persistent native–migrant gap. In particular, if migrant and native children shared the same socioeconomic family background, would we still observe differences in education outcomes? Applying linear and matching decomposition methods to carefully account for differences in background characteristics, we find no disparities in recommendations for and actual enrollment at secondary school types between migrant children and comparable native peers. Also, the native–migrant education gap at the age of 17 years can be entirely explained by differences in socioeconomic family background. We thus conclude that comparable natives face similar difficulties as migrant children in the German education system. There are more general inequalities in secondary schooling that are not migrant specific, but related to socioeconomic family background.     

Hard Rock Hallelujah! Empowering Reflexive Political Action on the Internet

The role of the Internet is becoming increasingly significant with regard to political participation and mobilisation. The Internet is a powerful tool in gathering coalitions and organising mobilisation of any kind. However, it is also transforming political styles, forms and the organisational structuring of political activities. In this article, the authors analyse the nature of the political struggle and resistance taking place on the Internet by scrutinising the Finnish Internet protest campaigning against gossip journalism in May 2006. This campaign emerged almost entirely in the Internet environment around the emotional turmoil caused by the publications of the Eurovision Song Contest winner Lordi’s unmasked pictures. This example shows how citizens have adopted the logic of computer‐mediated communication, and how they employ information and communications technology for reflexive individualised politics.