Deliberative Visioning: A Critical View Observations From a Scenario Workshop for Water Management in a Greek Island

There is a growing policy interest in participatory processes that combine deliberation with futures visioning. The EU Water Framework Directive, with its mandate for participatory long-term river basin plans, contributes to this “futures turn†in European governance. In this paper we investigate what Deliberative Visioning can do well and what not in the context of resource planning. Our laboratory is a Scenario Workshop for sustainable water management in a Greek island. We conclude that Deliberative Visioning is useful for preparatory and complementary planning activities such as education, community motivation, communication and consultation but it is not well suited for action planning per se. Visions are not substantive decision outputs or bases for a participatory policy options assessment, but effective devices for communication and mutual learning between participants. Our study touches also some broader issues concerning the interface of participation/deliberation, science and decision-making.

Precision and accuracy of single-molecule FRET measurements - a multi-laboratory benchmark study

Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) is increasingly being used to determine distances, structures, and dynamics of biomolecules in vitro and in vivo. However, generalized protocols and FRET standards to ensure the reproducibility and accuracy of measurements of FRET efficiencies are currently lacking. Here we report the results of a comparative blind study in which 20 labs determined the FRET efficiencies (E) of several dye-labeled DNA duplexes. Using a unified, straightforward method, we obtained FRET efficiencies with s.d. between ±0.02 and ±0.05. We suggest experimental and computational procedures for converting FRET efficiencies into accurate distances, and discuss potential uncertainties in the experiment and the modeling. Our quantitative assessment of the reproducibility of intensity-based smFRET measurements and a unified correction procedure represents an important step toward the validation of distance networks, with the ultimate aim of achieving reliable structural models of biomolecular systems by smFRET-based hybrid methods

Quantitative single-molecule FRET and its application in experiments on DNA damage recognition by PARP-1

Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) is a popular tool for characterizing biomolecules and investigating biological processes, as it can monitor distances on the nanometer scale. Most laboratories use their own custom-built setups and data analysis protocols for such studies. In view of these experimental differences, it is important to establish standard procedures which yield reproducible results. The first part of this thesis gives an introduction to the analysis of confocal smFRET data. Different strategies for determining correction factors are presented and discussed using a set of reference samples. The extracted FRET efficiencies are compared to theoretical values and experimental means from other labs. Experimental uncertainties are evaluated and discussed. Additionally, a short comparison of a dynamic species and a mixture of static molecules is presented. In the second part of this thesis, an smFRET assay is used for investigating how the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase 1 (PARP-1) recognizes DNA single-strand breaks. Two N-terminal zinc fingers of the protein are of special interest, as they are crucial for damage recognition. They are known to bind damaged DNA in a kinked conformation. The role of these two zinc fingers in DNA binding is further investigated by monitoring the DNA conformation upon protein binding via smFRET. A combination of quantitative smFRET results with molecular modeling and simulations identifies possible DNA conformations in complex with the zinc fingers and the respective kinking angles are analyzed

Beyond the manual: Practicing deliberative visioning in a Greek island

Deliberative visioning refers to processes of inclusive, multi-stakeholder deliberation over a desirable future. Methodologies include scenario workshops, future searches and community visioning. This paper looks critically at the assumptions of deliberative visioning benefiting from a case study in Greece. We argue that there are fundamental choices to be made concerning how to frame the process, who to invite and how to facilitate it. These are not just a matter of following manuals' good practice guidance. We emphasize the need for epistemological and methodological awareness of: the assumptions which frame DV itself; the assumptions of the users of DV; and the situation in which DV is deployed. We find that whereas visioning motivates participants to work together and provides a good framework to systematize discussion, it is not necessarily effective for developing systemic perspectives and plan actions. This is especially true in contexts such as that of our case study, where there is lack of a collaborative culture and there are insufficient mechanisms that integrate effectively a deliberative process with other processes of policy or social change.Deliberation Visioning Scenario workshops Sustainable water management Greece

Scenario workshops: A useful method for participatory water resources planning?

This article reports on a scenario workshop ( SW) for water resources management at the island of Naxos, Greece. The workshop was part of a European research project studying the advantages and limitations of different participatory methods in the context of the Water Framework Directive. It involved policy makers, scientists, business representatives, and citizens from different parts of the island. On the first day, participants worked to envision a sustainable development future for the island and its water resources. Discussion was inspired by four alternative water development scenarios prepared by the organizers. Participants' vision statements emphasized a diversified development path and balanced water solutions. On the second day, participants worked to plan the actions needed to realize their common vision. The SW turned out to be a good method to initiate a multipartner dialogue, to include new stakeholders in the water policy debate, and to a certain extent, to promote learning between participants. On the other hand, it did not appear well suited to resolve conflicts and aid decisions in the face of scientific complexity and uncertainty. SW seems to be a good method for the "upstream," preparatory, capacity-building tasks of a planning process but not for the production of substantive decision outputs such as consensual agreements or action plans. The Naxos experiment also raised the centrality of framing, participant selection, and facilitation in participatory processes

Type 2 diabetes and its correlates in a first nationwide study among Cypriot adults

© 2017 Primary Care Diabetes Europe Obesity rates in Cyprus are very high and epidemiological information on type 2 diabetes mellitus is limited. The correlates of type 2 diabetes among adults remain unknown in the Cypriot population. Thus, the purpose of this study is to provide the first national estimate of the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and investigate its correlates. A randomly stratified nationally sample of 1001 adults aged 18–80 participated in the study. Only 950 subjects completed the study. All subjects were free of any diseases (known diabetes, kidney, liver), medication and supplementation. The overall prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes based on WHO criteria was 9.2% and 16.3%, respectively. After adjusting for age, energy intake, smoking and physical activity participants with obesity (BMI) (OR = 2.00, P \u3c 0.001), waist circumference (WC) (OR = 2.08, P \u3c 0.001), hypertension (HT) (OR = 1.99, P \u3c 0.001) and hypercholesterolemia (HC) (OR = 2.07, P \u3c 0.007) were most likely to develop T2DM compared with the normal ones. The odds of having diabetes were also found significant between subjects with high levels of triglycerides (TG) (OR = 1.49, P \u3c 0.007), compared with the normal ones and between subjects with low levels of HDL (OR = 1.44, P \u3c 0.008) compared with the ones with high levels of HDL. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Cyprus is relatively medium–high. However, the pre-diabetes rates are very high showing a promising increase toward total rates of type 2 diabetes. Obesity, HT, WC, TG, HC and low HDL are all strong correlates of type 2 diabetes. Healthy education programs should be initiated for young and older-aged people and those with described abnormal risk factors

Non-HDL and triglycerides are independently associated with anthropometrical indices in a cypriot population of healthy adults

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing all over the world and is accompanied by multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Anthropometrical indices are closely related with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. However, data is limited in healthy adults from Cyprus. AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of different cardiovascular risk factors with anthropometrical indices in a healthy Cypriot population aged 18-80y. RESULTS: Age, Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference and Body Fat were positively correlated with SBP, DBP and Non-HDL in both sexes. In multiple regression analysis, BMI, WC and TBF were found to be independently associated with TG in the female group, (Beta: 0.009, %95 CI: 0.001-0.018, P\u3c0.033), (Beta: 0.005, %95 CI: 0.002-0.008, P\u3c0.01), (Beta: 0.003, %95 CI: 0.001-0.007, P\u3c0.046), respectively. In the male group, age and BMI were the only variables that have been found to be independently associated with Non-HDL (Beta: 0.527, %95 CI: 0.209- 0845, P\u3c0.01), (Beta: 0544, %95 CI: 0.44-1.045, P\u3c0.033), respectively. CONLUSION: Non-HDL and triglycerides seem to be independently associated with various anthropometrical indexes. Public health awareness and nutrition education are needed in order to monitor these CV factors

The influence of a school-based intervention programme regarding adherence to a healthy diet in children and adolescents from disadvantaged areas in Greece: The DIATROFI study

Background To evaluate the effects, via a cohort study, of a food aid and promotion of healthy nutrition programme, implemented in areas of low socioeconomic status (SES) in Greece, on students' diet quality. Methods From a total of 162 schools participating in the programme during the 2012-2013 school year, we collected 3941 individually linked questionnaires at baseline and at the end of the intervention, recording sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle parameters and dietary habits of the students. For the assessment of diet quality, the KIDMED score was computed, along with food frequency consumption data regarding milk, fruits, vegetables and whole grain products. Pre-post intervention values were compared using non-parametric tests. Generalised estimating equations were used to explore the factors that influence changes in dietary habits. Results By the end of the intervention, favourable changes were observed regarding healthy eating; KIDMED increased statistically significantly in adolescent girls (p=0.042), while the consumption frequency of all foods promoted by the intervention, namely, milk, fruits, vegetables and whole grain products, increased for children and adolescents, boys and girls (p=0.002). Factors indicating lower SES, such as foreign country of birth, lower education level, no income source and high levels of food insecurity, were associated with lower diet quality. Conclusions As low SES groups tend to adopt unhealthier dietary choices, it is of the outmost importance to take action for the promotion of healthy eating, directed especially to these at risk populations. School-based nutritional programmes can be considered as an effective policy measure towards this direction