France reaction: Macron wins, but he will lead a divided country

Emmanuel Macron has won the French presidential election, with projections giving him a vote share exceeding 65%. Alexandros Alexandropoulos argues that regardless of Macron’s victory, the problems affecting the country’s economy and society mean that France is heading for a period of division

Prelude to a political crisis? Why France now has an abstention problem in legislative elections

Emmanuel Macron’s La République en marche (LREM) are set to win a large majority of seats in the second round of the French legislative elections on 18 June. But perhaps the biggest story from the first round was the low turnout, with abstentions passing the 50 per cent mark. Alexandros Alexandropoulos suggests that declining turnout in French legislative elections can be traced as far back as the 1970s, and that with the electoral path considered to be futile by many French citizens, the country’s political tensions may well be expressed via the streets instead

The manifesto everyone hates to love

Polls are now giving the General Election a renewed interest: Labour has significantly reduced the Conservative lead, making the final result uncertain. But it’s another poll that truly summarises politics in 2017. A ComRes poll found that a majority of voters support or agree with policies proposed in the Labour manifesto, while at the same time finding that 56% of the same people said that Corbyn “would be a disaster as a Prime Minister”, the very person that introduced these policies in the party’s manifesto. Fingers might point to Corbyn’s leadership to explain Labour’s electoral woes, but for the party the source of the problems run much deeper, and this is evident in its manifesto

Giornata di studi - Dottorato in Storia, culture e politiche del globale

La Giornata di studi è un incontro organizzato all'interno del Dottorato di ricerca in Storia, culture e politiche del globale, corso di dottorato interdipartimentale del Dipartimento di Storia Culture Civiltà (DiSCi) e del Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche e Sociali (SPS). L'occasione è utile ai/alle dottorandi/e del primo anno di corso per discutere i primi progressi della ricerca dottorale con un/a esperto/a del proprio campo di studi. Giunto alla sue seconda edizione, l'incontro si è tenuto l'8-9 maggio 2019 preso l'aula Gambi del DiSCi

Escaping the debt trap: peripheral countries in prolonged debt crises and how to exit

This thesis is an interdisciplinary piece of academic research, situated within Critical Theory but engaging with other disciplines, mainly Political Economy and Politics, to tackle the topic at hand; sovereign debt crises. The thesis deals with the Problem of Debt and, more specifically, the Problem of Prolonged Sovereign Debt Crises, which is described in this thesis as the phenomenon of the “Debt Trap”. The specific question that will occupy us in this thesis is why countries appear unable to exit these prolonged debt crises. By exiting a debt crisis, we mean here a state of affairs in which a country has managed to render its debt sustainable, regain its democratic sovereignty, achieve economic recovery and, what is more, mitigate adverse effects of the crisis, especially in what human development, social inequality and poverty rates are concerned. This question is tackled through the use of an interdisciplinary approach that combines critical theory perspectives -which are grouped in two paradigms, the Subjectivity paradigm and the genealogies of Capitalism paradigm- with financialisation literature. The purpose is to form an interdisciplinary intellectual framework that will allow us to analyse with a critical perspective the two case studies of the Greek crisis from 2009 to 2015 and the Argentinean crisis from 1983 to 2005. The aim of the thesis is to develop a theoretical framework that allows us to deconstruct the various ideological approaches to these two particular cases of Debt traps, including neoclassical and neoliberal approaches, Conservative and Keynesian approaches and uncover the political, economic and class relation that underpin the prolonged crises that the two countries have experienced

Ανάλυση κίνησης ασθενών κατά τη διάρκεια λήψης τομογραφίας κωνικής δέσμης

Εισαγωγή: Σκοπός της εργασίας μας ήταν η ανάλυση του εύρους της κινήσεως των ασθενών κατά τη λήψη οδοντιατρικής υπολογιστικής τομογραφίας κωνικής δέσμης (χωρίς ακτινοβολία), καθώς και χωρίς περιστροφή του μηχανήματος. Επιπροσθέτως, η σύγκριση της κίνησης νεαρών και ενήλικων ασθενών. Υλικά και μέθοδος: Το σύνολο του δείγματος ήταν 60 ασθενείς, το οποίο αποτελείτο από 30 παιδιά ηλικίας 7 έως 17 (22 θήλεις και 8 άρρενες, μέσος όρος ηλικίας: 29.9) και από 30 ενήλικες άνω των 17 ετών (15 θήλεις και 15 άρρενες, μέσος όρος ηλικίας: 14.3). Η μελέτη διεξήχθη στον οδοντιατρικό υπολογιστικό τομογράφο κωνικής δέσμης (NewTom VGi) του εργαστηρίου Διαγνωστικής και Ακτινολογίας της Οδοντιατρικής Σχολής του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών. Ένα εξατομικευμένο, ενδοστοματικό πέταλο στο οποίο είχε προσαρτηθεί πλάκα με διαγράμμιση κατασκευάστηκε από τρισδιάστατο εκτυπωτή. Μια βιντεοκάμερα (Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5) τοποθετήθηκε πάνω σε έναν τρίποδα μπροστά από τον ασθενή στον οδοντιατρικό τομογράφο, χωρίς να βρίσκεται σε επαφή είτε με το μηχάνημα είτε με τον ασθενή. Μια κάθετη λήψη βίντεο εστιασμένη στο κέντρο, καταγράφτηκε κατά τη διάρκεια προσομοίωσης με περιστροφή χωρίς ακτινοβολία και χωρίς περιστροφή του τομογράφου. Συνολικά έγινε ανάλυση 120 βιντεοσκοπήσεων. Τα αρχεία των βιντεοσκοπήσεων της κινήσεως των ασθενών μελετήθηκαν χρησιμοποιώντας το πρόγραμμα Tracker Video Analysis and Modeling Tool. Καταγράφθηκε η κίνηση της κεφαλής στην κατακόρυφη και στην οριζόντια κατεύθυνση και τα δεδομένα υποβλήθηκαν σε περιγραφική στατιστική. Εν συνεχεία, έγινε η στατιστική δοκιμασία two-way repeated measures ANOVA με το στατιστικό πρόγραμμα SPSS, δύο φορές, μία για την οριζόντια και μία για την κατακόρυφη κατεύθυνση. Μελετήθηκαν πιθανές αλληλεπιδράσεις μεταξύ των δύο ηλικιακών ομάδων καθώς και μεταξύ της προσομοίωσης με περιστροφή και χωρίς περιστροφή. Αποτελέσματα: Η μέση τιμή εύρους κίνησης στην ομάδα ενηλίκων χωρίς περιστροφή ήταν 0,87 χιλ. και 0,83 χιλ. για τον x και y άξονα αντίστοιχα. Η μέση τιμή εύρους κίνησης χωρίς ακτινοβολία ήταν 1,13 χιλ. και 0,77 χιλ. για την οριζόντια και κατακόρυφη κίνηση αντίστοιχα. Εν συνεχεία, η μέση τιμή εύρους κίνησης στην ομάδα 7-17 ετών χωρίς περιστροφή ήταν 1,31 χιλ. και 1,00 χιλ για τον x και y άξονα αντίστοιχα. Η μέση τιμή εύρους κίνησης χωρίς ακτινοβολία ήταν 1,42 χιλ. και 1,10 χιλ. για την οριζόντια και κατακόρυφη κίνηση αντίστοιχα. Τα αποτελέσματα του κυρίως ANOVA για την οριζόντια κίνηση κατέληξαν σε στατιστικώς σημαντική διαφορά (p=0.014) μεταξύ της εξέτασης χωρίς περιστροφή με εκείνης χωρίς ακτινοβολία. Επίσης, βρέθηκε μη στατιστικά σημαντική διαφορά μεταξύ των προαναφερθέντων παραγόντων και των δύο ηλικιών. Όμως, στατιστικά σημαντική διαφορά ήταν μεταξύ των δύο ηλικιών (p=0.04). Όσον αφορά την κατακόρυφη κίνηση, μη στατιστικά σημαντική κρίθηκε η διαφορά μη περιστροφής/ μη ακτινοβόλησης μεταξύ τους καθώς και με τις ηλικίες. Τελικώς, στατιστικά σημαντική ήταν η διαφορά μεταξύ των δύο ηλικιακών ομάδων στον άξονα y. Συμπεράσματα: Οι ασθενείς έδειξαν μεγαλύτερη ακούσια κινητικότητα στον οριζόντιο άξονα κατά την εξέταση χωρίς ακτινοβολία και στις δύο ηλικιακές ομάδες. Στην κατακόρυφη κινητικότητα δεν παρατηρήθηκε διαφορά μεταξύ των μετρήσεων χωρίς περιστροφή και χωρίς ακτινοβολία και στις δύο ηλικιακές ομάδες. Επιπροσθέτως, οι ασθενείς μεταξύ 7 και 17 ετών είχαν μεγαλύτερη κινητικότητα κεφαλής από ότι οι ενήλικες. Οι κινήσεις που αναλύθηκαν στην ομάδα 2 ήταν αρκετά σημαντικές έτσι ώστε να οδηγήσουν σε ψευδοενδείξεις της οδοντιατρικής υπολογιστικής τομογραφίας κωνικής δέσμης. Αυτές οι ψευδοενδείξεις που οφείλονται στην κινητικότητα εν δυνάμει μπορεί να είναι αρκετά σημαντικές έτσι ώστε να παρεμποδίσουν την διάγνωση στην ορθοδοντική. Περαιτέρω μελέτη είναι επιτακτική ώστε να προκύψει συσχετισμός μεταξύ τύπου κινητικότητας της κεφαλής σε σχέση με τις αλλοιώσεις που προκύπτουν στις ακτινογραφικές εικόνες.Aim: The main objective of this research was to assess the range head movement during a Dry-run CBCT imaging and compare it with a No-run recording. Moreover, comparison of movement between young and adult age groups was also of our interest. Materials and methods: A total of 60 patients divided into 2 groups participated in our study. Group 1 comprised of 30 adults patients over 17 years old (Ομάδα1: 22 females and 8 males, mean age: 29.9). Group 2, comprised 30 young patients 7 to 17 years old (Ομάδα 2: 15 females and 15 males, mean age: 14.3). The CBCT device (NewTom VGi) was operated at the Department of Radiology of the Dental School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. A 3D printed, custom-made, mouthpiece was constructed, carrying a plate with a millimetre grid. A camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5) was placed in front of the plate in the CBCT unit, fixed on a tripod, without being in contact with either the machine or the patient. A video, focused on a centre point, perpendicular to the millimetre grid, was recorded during a dry-run (DR) and a no-run (NR) of the CBCT. Dry-run recording was performed with revolution of CBCT machine without radiation, while in the no-run recording the subject was standing with the machine not operating. A total of 120 videos where analysed. Video files for analysis of patient movement were examined using Tracker Video Analysis and Modeling Tool. Descriptive statistics were computed, separately for x and y axis. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA were performed, by SPSS statistics, twice, one for the vertical and one for the transverse direction. It was applied to determine potential interactions between the two different age groups and also between the NR and DR recordings. Results: The mean range in the NR adult group was 0.87 mm and 0.83 mm for the x and y axis respectively. Moreover, the mean range in the DR adult group was 1.13 mm and 0.77 mm for the transverse and vertical direction respectively. The mean range in the NR younger age group was 1.31 mm and 1.00 mm for the x and y axis respectively. The mean range in the Dry-run young group was 1.42 mm and 1.10 mm for the transverse and vertical direction respectively. The results of the main ANOVA for the transverse direction showed statistically significant difference (p=0.014) between the No-run and the Dry-run group. Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference (p=0.30) between time (NR/ DR) and age. Also, there was statistical significant difference (p=0.04) between the two age groups. On the contrary in y axis, no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between the Dry-run and the No-run group in both age groups was found. Interestingly, there was a statistical significant difference (p=0.03) between the two age groups. Conclusions: In the transverse direction patients undergoing DR recording showed more movement compared to the movement undergoing in the NR recording in both age groups. In the y axis movement there were no movement differences between No-run and Dry-run recordings in both age groups. Moreover, the patients between 7 and 17 years old had greater head motion in both axes compared to adults. Movements evaluated especially for Group 2 are high enough to contribute significantly to motion artefacts in CBCT imaging. These artefacts might potentially be severe enough to interfere with the orthodontic diagnosis. Further study is essential to prove the impact of these artefacts of head motion patterns to the image quality

A cross-sectional analysis of the prevalence of tooth agenesis and structural dental anomalies in association with cleft type in non-syndromic oral cleft patients

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of tooth agenesis, microdontia, and tooth malformation among non-syndromic oral cleft patients and their potential association with cleft type and gender. Methods Intraoral records and radiographs of 154 patients (97 males and 57 females) were examined. The variables assessed were tooth agenesis, microdontia, dental malformations, and cleft types. The statistics included chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests as well as logistic regression to assess any mutual effects of gender and cleft type on the dental variables. Results Tooth agenesis occurred in 50% of the sample and microdontia in 18%. Non-statistically significant odds ratios for the association of gender and cleft type with tooth agenesis were obtained. Tooth agenesis was substantially higher at the unilateral right CL + P and the bilateral CL + P in quadrant 1 and at the unilateral left CL + P and bilateral CL + P in quadrant 2. It was also higher, at the isolated cleft palate (CP) in quadrants 3 and 4. These results were attributed to teeth 22 (31.8%) and 12 (21.6%) in the maxilla and to teeth 35 (6.1%) and 45 (5.4%) in the mandible. In unilateral CL + P patients, the cleft quadrant that presented tooth agenesis was associated with the side of the cleft. Conclusions Interdisciplinary treatment of the oral cleft patients should take into consideration the high prevalence of tooth agenesis and their association with the different cleft types. The most frequently affected teeth by cleft are by far the upper lateral incisors. Results indicate that tooth agenesis appears to be a genetically controlled anomaly related to the orofacial cleft development through various genetic links and not caused by the cleft disruptive process

Serum-Soluble CD163 Levels as a Prognostic Biomarker in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treated with Chemoimmunotherapy

The majority of patients with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) will respond to first-line treatment and be cured. However, the disease is heterogeneous, and biomarkers able to discriminate patients with suboptimal prognosis are needed. M2 CD163-positive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) were shown to be implicated in DLBCL disease activity regulation. Serum-soluble CD163 (sCD163) functions as a scavenger receptor for haptoglobin–hemoglobin complexes and is mostly expressed by monocytes and macrophages. Its levels are used to determine macrophage activation. We aimed to determine serum sCD163 in a sample of DLBCL patients and study eventual correlations with parameters of disease activity or survival. Serum sCD163 levels were measured in 40 frozen sera from patients diagnosed with DLBCL and 30 healthy individuals (HIs) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 28. The results showed that patients who achieved complete response after standard-of-care immunochemotherapy and were alive and disease-free after 12 months of follow-up but had elevated sCD163 levels (above median) at diagnosis presented a significantly worse overall survival compared to those with initial serum sCD163 levels below the median (p = 0.03). Consequently, serum sCD163 levels in patients with DLBCL may constitute a marker of long-term response to chemoimmunotherapy